9 Gems – Music for All

This is a celebration of nature and life with music and words.

Please listen to new original songs being released under the Album- 10 Sitare. The music is composed by a well-known Mumbai based musician and vocalist- Sudeep Jena. Songs are recorded in Bhubaneswar and Mumbai studios. Mixing and mastering has been done in Mumbai studios.

Please do not forget to subscribe to our YouTube channels, and share with your family and friends.

Songs: 9 Gems Music Album 10 Sitare

To know more about 9 Gems: Reach 9 Gems

If you are a music lover, then you can also listen all the songs through Spotify, JioSaavn, Amazon Music, Apple Music and YouTube Music.

Looking forward to your kind support and valuable feedback. Thank You.

Book Published: Miles and Memories

Recently we have published a book – Miles and Memories.

While the base of this was built during my stay at IIT Bombay, it was later well supported by my better-half.

Notion Press: https://notionpress.com/read/miles-and-memories

It is also available in Amazon, Flipkart, Kobo, Google Play, etc. Please read and share your feedback with us.

Thank you 🙏🏽

Attention Please: COVID-19 and Exams

When the entire nation is struggling to survive/revive from the COVID-19 pandemic attack, it is essential for all of us to plan for our future and to educate our next generation. The country is in series of Lockdown and Shutdown since mid-March 2020. Hence all the educational institutes are also completely closed now. And all the Students are confined to their homes. Many have been struggling with on-line classes, without knowing the final outcome. While on-line classes are good as a temporary measure, classroom education is essential. Low networking speed, inadequate number of smart-devices (phones, laptops, desktops, etc.), insecure software and power outages are some of the major hindrances which we all are facing as we quite simultaneously arrange for the on-line classes, work-from-home and home-based services.

Now we have reached a stage where we have to take some bold decisions for our Migrant Workers, Young Generation, Industries, Farmers, Small Scale Industries, Hotels and Tourism Industries, etc.

However, the biggest responsibility for us now is carving an overall uniform policy for our Young Generation. Their current academic year is yet to be over! Without any respite from COVID-19, starting of new academic year is also getting delayed. Today, almost all the Students, Parents/Guardians, Teachers and Academicians do not have a clear picture about the present and future of education in India. While different States are coming up with different plans, it looks like the Central Govt (MHRD) is in a mess. One should sincerely think about the mindset of our young Students, when there is either no news about classes or exams, or when there are multiple contradicting news regarding the exams!!

Is this what we all want in India and our plan to become a superpower? Why cannot we plan the exams and academic years in a considerate and thoughtful manner? Our plan should consider the difficulties being faced by the Students from rural and suburban areas as well!

Here are some observations/ suggestions based on the current situation, both for the passing out and non-passing out Students.

1. For non-passing out Students, it is not clear whether normalisation will be done for all the streams. Their schedule is also not clear. Why cannot we have an uniform policy across the country (all the Boards & Universities) ?

2. For the passing out Students in non-professional categories (without any research project), there is no clarity here too. For them, normalisation or/and exams can be considered, depending on the overall situation. But there should be an uniform policy across the country (all the Boards & Universities).

3. For passing out Students in professional categories (with research project), “extra time” should be given to Students to complete their projects (survey, experiments, slides preparations, documentations, etc.). For them, normalisation or/and exams can be considered, depending on the overall situation. Unfinished practical classes and exams are also important for these courses. Authorities concerned should plan out an alternative way, without compromising the essence of the professional courses!!! Since lot of internal exams /quizzes/ assignments are there for professional courses, normalisation process can differ on the courses and even across Boards/Universities. But there should be an uniform policy across the country (all the Boards & Universities).

For passing out Students, “end-date” of the current academic year is significant for their further career plans- job, higher studies, competitive exams, entrance exams, etc. In my opinion, with the prevailing situations, the “end-date” should be extended at least until September-2020. This will ensure smooth completion of their research projects & gradations.

4. Both Central & State Govts. should consult Academicians, Teachers, Students & Parents without any bias, and come up with an overall uniform plan across the country (all the Boards & Universities).

5. While the Central Govt. notifications are largely directed towards Higher Education, there must be a plan for vocational courses too including ITI, Diploma, Polytechnic, Skill Development, etc.

Recently as per the notification of MHRD, they’re taking inputs for the “next” academic year, while the “current” one is in an utter mess!!!

It is highly concerning for the Students passing out this year. Students-Teachers-Parents are obviously very worried. It is causing psychological stress too, especially since COVID-19 is peaking now. Today in utter desperation, Students are trying to reach out to authorities concerned through various social media posts- Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, etc. But still there is no assurance for a clear-cut plan from our otherwise able Govts. !!

Request the Authorities concerned to take up this matter seriously and immediately. Right to Education is a fundamental right. So also Judiciary should intervene, if necessary.

Migrant Workers Need State-supported Counselling

It feels terrible to see Migrant Workers walk in the scorching heat on roads built by them where we drive our luxury AC cars..where we live in luxurious homes built by them. And they are doing it for hundreds of miles, with their kids in arms amid hunger, exhaustion, mistrust & uncertainties!! Some have even pawned their last remaining or little jewelleries to survive and travel back to their homes!!!

In the Maharashtra train accident case, do you know the 4 Survivors were put along with the dismembered bodies of the 16 Dead, in the same special train they attempted to board after walking 36 kms? There were no reports anywhere of any Govt Official accompanying them. They all hailed from two very remote villages in MP. And 8 among them came from Tribal communities.

It was absolutely heart-wrenching and unfair!!! 💔 What makes us believe that only the rich or the educated ones have psychological issues??

Money is not everything always. Central & State Governments should also counsel them by sending Officials /Psychiatrists /Social Workers for direct interactions with them, to assure them, win their trust back and heal their wounded souls.🙏🏼

Hope things don’t further haunt us in months to come…..

How Odisha may Excel post Lockdown 4.0

Namaskaar

These are some top points that came to my mind for rebuilding and expanding growth of ODISHA state. Pls share your inputs as well.

1. Ration & Other Essentials Management : with the influx of native Migrant Workers, the distribution quantities and supply chains intra & inter States need to be reshuffled.
2. Employment Issues :
   • Native Migrant Workers who are going to stay back need to be given jobs. For same type of job, it will be a competition between them and their counterparts already living in Odisha.
   • Skill-sets need to be sharpened or redefined or reshuffled.
   • All these shall apply to both the organised and unorganised sectors.
3. Space Issues : may not be substantial, wherever the native Migrant Workers’ ancestral or/and self-acquired properties are already in place and litigation-free; and with most of offices going online now, in any case, Real Estate prices must be lowered now; Waste Management and Afforestation to be duly maintained.
4. POSCO and Vedanta like mega-projects : let’s try to win them back!!
5. Explore the Bay of Bengal (BOB) : for research on global climatic changes and how to better forecast the weather.
6. Seafoods : catches have to be done without disturbing natural habitats; explore advanced preservation techniques, marketing and increase exports.
7. Food Processing Units : pickles, juices, jelly, dry snacks (baddi, lia, papadd, amba-saddha etc. ) – explore advanced preservation techniques, marketing and exports.
8. Farming & Fruits : explore advanced techniques, graft varieties lawfully, better preservation against pests, bacteria & fungi, and increase exports; ensure direct reachability with Farmers & Fruit-cultivators.
9. Dairy Products and Odisha Sweets : apply the GI tags as soon as possible; better preservation, marketing and exports.
10. Deep-Sea Mining, Minerals & Natural Gas : explore BOB and its adjacent Seas but with due regard to the oceanic environment.
11. New & Renewable Energy : start windmills, install more solar power panels and explore other alternative energy sources.
12. Defence :
    •  increase presence of Navy and Coast Guards along the Odisha coastline.
    • root out Maoists with “sustained” efforts – allow them to surrender and get rehabilitated, or let them face the bullets!
    • increase R&D facilities in DRDO, Chandipur and also build similar new centres elsewhere in Odisha; these centres should be at least supportive in nature to the existing DRDOs in the country.
13. ITI and Diploma Trainings : increase various practical sessions for the youth in the state, so that they find at least some good job after they reach the age of 18; also the industries will need their tremendous support. Redefine their work rates, allowances, bonuses, pension plans, volunteer retirement plans, accident coverages, foreign training options, academic exchange programs, etc.
14. Academia :
    • implement Vedic ways of life in all Schools to enhance discipline, strength, focus and harmony in children i.e. irreligiously!!
    • encourage “fundamental” Sciences, Arts, Humanities & Commerce degrees at par with Engineering or Medical degrees; build more R&D campuses and invite foreign academia, tie-ups, etc.
    • build necessary academies like Law Academy, Music and Film Academy, etc.
15. Hospitals : increase number of quality Government hospitals throughout Odisha; do not limit things only to Bhubaneswar & Cuttack; there should be all departments including special treatment for Acid-Attack Victims, Intellectually Disabled and people affected with Rare Diseases; information databases must be maintained with other good hospitals in the country.
16. Make an all-inclusive Society : build proper & permanent shelter-homes, and good job facilities for Transgenders, Acid Attack Victims and other members of similar category.
17. Panchayats /Sarpanchs : empower them at the grassroot levels; provide them all latest information and adequate support to operate best with transparency.
18. Sea Tourism across Bay of Bengal (BOB): secure fine-weather cruise expeditions to South East Asian countries.
19. Art & Artisans (including Textiles mills) : enhance their work reachability and regularize their due sources of sustainability (including pension, allowances, etc.) from both Odisha Govt and Customers.
20. Historical Revival : of century-old temples, monuments and museums across Odisha; name or rename certain places after the state Freedom Fighters and other personalities e.g. Netaji Nagar, Baji Rout Museum, Mohd. Mohsin Music & Theatre, Ranganath Mishra Law Academy, etc.

National Policy for Lockdown 4.0

POSCO and Vedanta were disallowed in the last decade in Odisha due to environmental, land acquisition and labour issues. That would have given Odisha a cutting edge in growth and retention of its labour force, in addition to incidental advantages.

I fully agree that the environment has to be conserved. But when the wheel has started rolling, you can’t stupidly press the brakes either!! Just look at the optimum balance factors.

The fall out of all such one-sided stupid cries, wherever, was that the educated, unskilled, organised & unorganised sectors migrated to other parts of the country. It not only created vacuum at their home States but also overloaded resources at their places of work. This also resulted in imbalanced growth in the same country. While the native State Governments continued to retain power mostly by declaring pro-poor schemes at the Taxpayers hard expenses. It made the poor more indolent and demanding!! And the continuing stagnancy of development in such States has been stifling the chances of “willing Returnees” to move back. What are they going to do after arriving back at their native State ? They have also learnt progressive things, and are better off in other States offering ample opportunities and socio-economic empowerment.

This is where we need a NATIONAL POLICY on the now “expected reforms” : land acquisition, changes in labour laws, environmental conservation, decentralisation chapters, empowerment of Panchayats/Sarpanchs, litigation episodes, etc. However, there can be few exceptions in every State or UT, with due regard to very specific Constitutional provisions.

Otherwise within 2-3 years, we are going to witness huge discrepancies in any kind of Resources Management – natural or man-made. And that will be an overall negative blow to the country, despite all the fabulous chances and our hard efforts!!! We are also aiming at welcoming foreign companies – so things have to be clearly defined and well-distributed. No lobbying unlike earlier times!

So let’s call for “uniformity” and “collective” actions. 🙏🏼

Trade Unions are of course on their way to the ILO, funded by Congress, Communist parties and unknown foreign agents (pls refer attached link). It depends on our own intelligentsia and rapport with progressive World Leaders to negate every move of theirs but lawfully.

And before that, yes, we must compensate them for their losses during the Lockdown. None of the Governments handled their issues proactively. Unfortunately, even the Hon’ble Supreme Court failed to take a ‘suo moto’ cognisance of the same and issue timely directives!! They should have been duly taken care of by the host State Governments, with substantial assistance from the Centre.

But the chaos set in, though it was much avoidable. And then, it was at best, an unclear and passive response by the respective State administrations. Some of the stranded Migrant Workers and jobless Daily Wage Labourers survived only due to the generosity of some individuals, groups, NGOs and their Benefactors.

Therefore, it is my humble request to Central and all State Governments to duly compensate the Migrant Workers and Daily Wage Labourers, before queuing them up for their next tasks as per expected new scenarios.

Let us please keep everything fair and uniform, and leave no room ever to be morally or politically questioned on any platform.

Jai Hind 🙏🏼🌿🇮🇳🌿🙏🏼

Trade Unions to move ILO against dilution of Labour Laws by BJP-ruled States

Should Students in India get into Politics?

I have been active in teaching, and associated with many universities since 1990 – as an ordinary student, as a student leader and as a faculty.

What I experienced is as follows:

(1) Students are usually brainwashed by big political masters and for a future ticket; the more one gets into violent activities, higher the chances of getting a ticket.

(2) Today, other than active education, everything else happens in the universities. That makes faculties’ lives easier; no work and all other personal activities. Productivity and quality of education too has gone down.

(3) Politics is only not to hate or fight. It is also to serve the nation. Nation comes first. Unfortunately today, political identities and hunger for power are at the top. This can bring short-term benefits to students, but later it becomes the main reason of utter regret.

(4) Today, students are being driven by media, corporate-houses and political parties “to invite Alexander to fight with Porus”. This should be condemned and stopped immediately. Very few understand the safety and integrity of the country. Most indulge in “nara-bazi” and anti-social activities.

(5) Free or heavily subsidized education is actually the major reason behind all these. One doesn’t understand the value otherwise.

Students definitely had a big role in throwing out the Britishers. But unfortunately today, British mentality has gone to the academia!

A nexus of minds – be that from academia or corporate or media or entertainment or political parties, are instigating the students for their own/selfish benefits. Students are definitely the losers, and the country is the ultimate loser!!!

Today in universities, where education is subsidized, it is impossible to find students without any political affiliation. Political affiliation is a must for their survival, which has to be stopped at any cost!

CAA – where are we heading?

Instead of instigating the students and some people of our country for political support and “vote rajniti”, can’t we channelize them in a constructive way? The recent agitation against CAA across the country is more or less a political drama. By using the youth for their vote banks, I don’t know what are we going to achieve? Is this the India we are dreaming of?? While the agitation is ill-timed and completely misguided by the “opportunistic” opposition parties, the ruling party is also to be equally blamed! While many deserving and struggling people are going to get Citizenship because of CAA, it is unwarranted to bring this kind of ammendment which only adds fuel to fire in a multi-ethnicity country. Today, illegal migrants are only being used by political parties as their vote bank. There is no consensus on how to solve this issue. Let the scars of partition heal first!!!

It could have been handled in a better way, starting with an ‘address to the nation’ by the Prime Minister of India, and/or a meeting with the Chief Ministers of all the Indian states. Many people are still “unaware of the facts” and “apprehensive of the imaginary consequences”!! The entire episode of CAA was ill-advised. Why didn’t they bring the Tibetan issues as well, and bring them to the main stream? Is the refugee status suiting them?

Don’t understand the timing of this ammendment as well. Media which is mostly controlled by political parties is giving different colors to this agitation – freedom movement, police atrocities, democratic rights, authoritarian rule and the like. Country is getting divided in many lines. While religious sentiments are important, humanity too has to be respected; can they glue the division which is becoming prominent today?

The matter has gone to the Honorable Supreme Court of India, and let them find the constitutional validity of this rule?!? It has to be thoroughly argued and debated at various levels; should not be implemented overnight or instigated as we see now❗

🇮🇳 Jai Hind 🇮🇳

Azadi – is my right or responsibility?

I completely condemn the anti-national sloganeering at JNU campus ! Particularly, it being an iconic university and the way political parties such as Congress, Leftists and AAP supported it. Ultimately it turned out to be another political agenda of non-BJP parties / supporters just like the ‘awardwapsi‘ !!

A lot of ‘tamasha‘ and ‘dramabaazi‘ – inside and outside the Parliament, in the court rooms, in the news studios, in the main stream media as well as in social media. Just wastage of our time, money and intellectual discourse. Media houses are divided completely based on their political inclinations, not on facts. People on the social media are too divided mostly as a result of their frustrations, political inclinations and common sense.

Surprisingly after 67 years of Independence we are debating over ‘Azadi‘. Like ‘garibi hatao‘ sloganeering this will only become another slogan; only to fool people for votes. ‘Dissent’ and ‘Freedom of Speech’ are being misused only to achieve political goals. It is not being applied where it should be or can be.

Recent acts of certain media houses certainly opens the debate whether the media houses act for the country or against the country !!! Do they only see these events as opportunities to score their political or business mileage in the name of’Free Speech’ and ‘Azadi’ ? Many like me certainly cast serious doubt on this.

Disgusting editorials, opinions and front-page news items only reflect that the self-proclaiming ‘intellectuals’ are ‘intolerant’ and jealous of the development India is witnessing these days. The spirit and language of the so-called elite /educated /intellectual mass has sometimes made me think that I  would perhaps prefer to be uneducated, but dedicated towards the uplift of the society, and preserving the pride and dignity of my country.

However, I am also concerned with the Central Government’s response on this JNU row.

It is not yet a matter of being right or wrong; soft or harsh. But why was this hotchpotch approach and seemingly ‘no-control’ over even basic law and order ?!? Who were these ‘lawyers’ and why did their action repeat even after the SC order ?? Initially why was there no quick and solid directive? Why was a delay in taking action?  Why was then no specific /consistent statements from the Police (under Union Home Ministry) and the Ministry ?  There should have been quick and proper investigations and actions.

All these so contrary… so disappointing, especially when the supporters of the present Central Government are expecting a constitutionally justified, strict and non-sympathetic response… and additionally, some strong provision which will deter such nuisances in the future !

These nuisances and ‘dramabaazi‘ erupting often nowadays, only prove that though this country has a glorious history and unmatched legacy of brave hearts, kind hearts and geniuses, it has got miserably infected with the ignorant mass, the ‘chamchagiri‘ public, the utter selfish, the ‘satta‘ hungry and the traitors !!!!

What worries millions like me is the unwanted, disrespectful dragging of our Armed Force. Media houses, political shouting in the streets of JNU and other so called liberal universities are only pointing their frustration towards our Armed Forces. By calling them rapists, and comparing them with Maoists, these people not only show their low mentality, immature brain, selfish agenda against the nation, but also bring chaos in the society and spread hatred in many sections of it. How can they dare to insult the heroes of our Armed Forces? Is this called ‘Free Speech’ or ‘Azadi’? Are we all stupid to allow such kind of nuisance in the society?

Surprisingly, the same India where the Parliament used to get united against any external complications or aggression as well as internal turmoils, is now getting divided over silly political reasons and selfish attitude of some ‘netas‘ and their supporters. While RaGa has shown his true color after losing election, AK has shown his after winning election.

I am afraid that the BJP may again lose the next state elections – bad for the states, bad for the country – just as desired by its useless opponents, and the new breed of ‘anti-nationals’ who have been otherwise happily sleeping for the last decade over crores of corruption, appeasement, goonda-raj, and non-development chapters !!!

The ‘Make in India’ week lost the lustre on media columns. A rocky Budget Session has already started struggling in order to pass major bills and laws so awfully needed.

Again repeating what I said some months ago : absolutely high time for the Central Government to refocus, reorganize and act differently !

Aamjunta – it is your time to judge the right and wrong. Your action is needed ; not the golden silence.

Jai Hind.

Death Penalty in India – should it stay or go ?

The Law Commission of India has recently recommended abolition of the death penalty except in terrorism-related offenses and waging war against the country.

There are dissent notes within the Law Commission itself…

Nevertheless, let me say that if I were to debate as a common man, then these points would be my fundamental questions to the Commission :

(1) To what extent do you define ‘terror’ ? Or is it only limited to ‘waging war against the nation’ ?

To cite some scenarios :

(a) “Terrified” by the frequent incidents of rapes and assaults on women (including acid-attacks), many women are unwilling or scared to travel alone !!!

(b) Senior citizens living alone are “terrified” to open their doors to domestic-services staff or friends or relatives because of incidents of murders or attempts to murder, for pecuniary greed by persons even very well-known to them !!!

(c) Parents in villages are “terrified” to send their female children to schools because of instances of luring by powerful men along the routes for their sexual gratifications !!!

(2) What about the rights and justice for the victims and their families ???

(3) When certain serious crimes (numbers or types) have increased, as against yet lagging Police and Judicial reforms, then should it not be the other way, i.e., to try continuing implementation of death penalty as a deterrent ??

It may not work for all cases but definitely, it deters many potential perpetrators !!

In this regard, I favor certain aspects of the Sharia Law like it happens in Saudi Arabia. We actually need those kind of justice system in some cases !!!!

(4) By abolishing death penalty in all other cases except “terror” ones, the maximum punishment then would be only life imprisonment : that means, we are rather going to feed, entertain and provide security to the criminals at taxpayer’s expenses !!!!!

And this term ‘life imprisonment’ (though the SC has said it means for the entire life) is still handled unclear, with regard to certain provisions of bail and constitutional powers of states !

(5) And in any case, if the imprisonment is merely limited by certain number of years, then you know what – anything can just go fatally wrong again, revenge or whatsoever !!!!!!!!

Wouldn’t this worsen matters, along with an increase in the number of litigation (which could be avoided) ??

(6) How do we then differentiate severity of various crimes and the appropriate punishments ? So, even the “rarest of rare” or “brutal” crimes like Nirbhaya’s case, would not be punished with death penalty ?? Is a rape-victim not “terrorized” in any way ????

Another heinous and rarest-of-rare example is the Nithari killings, where 19+ innocent children were killed and then raped.

(7) Our scriptures speak about punishing the evil… Particularly, then considering the numerous and ages-old preaching /illustrations /’gyaan‘ from the Vedas, Upanishads and Bhagvad Gita – all of them are utterly wrong ????

Forgive all criminals even if they have terminated lives and tormented souls forever !?!

Would then such a recommendation be apt ?

Eagerly waiting to hear the Hon’ble SC on this matter……………