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If there is anything I cannot forget about my visit to Mangalore, some years ago, it is the “Gadbad” Icecream. Though this post says 'Gadbad' means something missing, this post does reveal it really means hodge-podge or commotion as in “gadbad – ghotala” in Marathi!
But the recent “gadbad” (commotion) has frayed tempers among one and all. Rightly so, I feel! Self appointed custodians of Indian culture cannot assault someone to enforce what they think is immoral, can they? Can we accept that people who go around slapping and manhandling women (if I may say so) be considered custodians of our culture? A shameful incident of this kind is worthy only of condemnation and nothing else.
When shocked citizens of our country demands such right-wing organizations to be banned, politicians call them “activists”, which incidentally is a slur on activism itself. Even calling this act “pseudo-activism” smacks of leniency and gross underplay of reality. “Just one incident cannot justify a ban”, we are told. So we need to wait for a dozen such attacks before they can be banned, right? But, what is more surprising, our wonderful politicians have chosen to justify their actions by pledging to put an end to “pub culture”! While citizens demand action against vandalism and attacks on innocents, they are committed to put an end to PDA – public display of affection! Beloved Mantriji (s), the citizens want you to put an end to PDA - the public display of anger by such self-styled extremists being unleashed on innocent, law-abiding citizens.
Gadbad, I scream!
2. Global Gadbad ahead!
So couples holding hands in malls in our country will soon be hounded by hoodlums (I refuse to call them “moral police”) on the pretext of ‘protecting our culture’. My friends from the USA tell me, “they wouldn’t tolerate any such nonsense here. But then, of late, if you are holding your wife’s hand in a mall, it is because she will just go buy something if you don’t, you see!” So who could be against one holding one’s wife’s hand in the USA? The US government would! Not because it is considered an immoral act. The US Government is worried about the reluctance of the Americans to spend. If they don’t spend the ‘American Dream’ will come to an end. And with that dream are linked the fortunes of so many countries. By fortunes, I actually mean jobs - livelihoods, not wealth. Everyone is worried about the Americans not spending 120 % of what they would earn in the next ten years. The hand that is being held back from spending is causing millions of jobs to disappear the world over!
I received a video link by email, of a one-hour talk by Mr M R Venkatesh, an economist, which, I sincerely hope all readers of my blog MUST MUST WATCH, whenever time permits.
Link to the Video of Mr. M R Venkatesh’s lecture on Globalisation , the Dollar domination and the present state of the American Economy.
DO LEAVE A COMMENT ABOUT THIS VIDEO - PERHAPS DO ALSO WRITE A SEPARATE POST ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK IS THE SOLUTION TO THIS GLOBAL PROBLEM FACING ALL COUNTRIES DEPENDING ON USA'S ECONOMY!
Do also read M R Venkatesh's open letter to Ben Bernanke here.
Bloggers’ Post-scripts
1. My blog has been awarded the lovely “Versatile Blogger” and “I love your blog" Awards by fellow-blogger Sahaja! Thank you , Sahaja, I am honored! Readers already know how much I like this idea of bloggers awarding other bloggers,when I have said that "It happens only in Blogosphere"!
I pass the “I love your blog” award to all those whom I have blog-rolled alongside.
2. A tweet has been doing the rounds, which I am sharing with my readers, which goes thus
“Without a pub, our republic will only be a mere relic”.
Btw, do join Twitter, it is a micro-blogging platform where you can post short and sweet wonderful beauties.
3. National Commission for Women's Nirmala Venkatesh’s findings on the pub incident and the video link of her revelations on CNN IBN here.
I wonder what she means when she says, “the girls were wearing so many ‘nude clothes’…. ”? Some new brand of clothing that she is promoting, do you think?
30 comments:
It's good to know a man who is blogging about this! I always wonder why more women blog about these issues when it is a human rights issue. And by the way, the National Commission of Women has put a spanner in the works by blaming the pub owners for the incident as the pub was not licensed. Ofcourse if the pub is not licensed it's a crime and this just confirms my suspicion that the so-called moral police were in fact trying to extort money.
Oh yes, having lived in Mangalore, in the early nineties, I do remember the Gadbad ice-creams... the kids loved it especially for all those surprises you found in it, nuts, jellies.. :)
The gadbad now, is a nasty surprise! No two ways about it! But Sir, not hoodlums, or hooligans.. we have the word of their National Secretary, Vinay something, live on Times Now, telling Arnab, that NO, they are not hooligans, but party members..:) Had blogged about it a while ago!!
Lol@ the tweet! That has to be my line of the week!! Thank you for that!
And the latest brand of clothing.. Nude clothes...? hyuck hyuck... *giggling wildly!!
And congratulations on the Awards! Well deserved!
Just watched the video of the NCW, fact finder!!!
Why blame those hoodlums? She's the biggest of them all!!!
nude clothes hehe...may be thats y we stii need to speak our mother tongue!!
and really, its avery nice post ....balanced i should say!
its just not abt women....its women now and who knows who later!!
I actually did not like the fact that its being more as a women reaction on blogosphere!
These things happen as a result of certain class of people being wicked enough to abuse and take advantage of certain beliefs !
It can happen to any human...this is something that needs to be acted upon without exceptions!
There are only 2 certainties:
1. If India's future depends on Hindu taliban, we are doomed.
2. If world'sa well-being depends on US, the world is doomed.
Nothing to say about some women's commission, they leave me speechless. Wonder what Ms. Renuka Chaudari has to say about this.
I heard the video Gopinath!! Though I dont quite buy into some stuff, few things he said hold perfectly true for my perspective!! It needs to be debated....and even I am among those, who believe Indian [minus bribe] Economy is sustainable one ....and few things about America i cant comment much, but I remember reading an article of which what caught my eye was....what u wrote here, 120% stuff!
Its not all to be taken but few points might wake us up to live in reality!
The video was an interesting watch. We are not familiar with so much of macro economics to begin with. So, not really able to understand his Dollar depreciation theory. But I agree to his views on the sub-prime crises. What internal consumption is he talking about? Most of the products that we consume today are from the MNC's! And if the Government continues to levy the excise duties on internal manufacturing and gives SEZ's for the MNC's to set up shop and even keeps reducing the customs duties on the imported products, how will we be able to encourage internal manufacturing to increase consumption? And his connection to savings and the family was interesting to note. We should really try to understand what the planning commission is trying to do! Also interesting to note the admiration he showed towards the Chinese and their economic policies. Should definitely learn a thing or two from their progressive economy.
He is not taking a shot at globalization but wants us to be selectively global!! So much theory there. But I wonder if he has tried practically implementing any economic activity - like trading or manufacturing(beyond teaching)?
Destination Infinity
Amazing post as always!And yes I am happy too that you are blogging about this...though 'knowing' you this was expected:)
I cant believe there were icecreams named 'gadbad' of all things:D
The incidents have been discussed a lot..the proof is there caught on camera...and yet these people will divert attention to the licensing of the pub!
So by that logic in all unlicensed(god knows how many of them are there)bars/joints/hotels/pubs etc..one has full freedom to bash up people?
They are all goons the ones who did it and the ones protecting them..
And really feel like doing some bodily harm to that NCW woman!
''the girls were wearing so many ‘nude clothes’….''lol!The woman needs to get a brain first to make any sense whatsoever!
lol at the tweet too:D
Congratulations on the awards!:)
It's good to see a man blogging about it. Shows we are not all being fooled by such pretensions of moral policing. 'What happened in Mangalore was harassment. Not moral policing. Harassment. Violent, and deeply sexist harassment. It was a form of terror, actually. Using violence in the name of nation/religion/ideology. The attack was political and deserves to be treated as premeditated political violence.'. I am horrified by some sites that are saying such acts will put an end to drugs and drinking by women in 'nude clothes'!
What about drugs by the poor in the slums? Don't they matter?
Love that twitter .. what a republic day shock we got!
Will take a look at the video now.
@ Nita, the incident was about vandalising, attacking innocent citizens. Incidentally, because young women were beaten up, the women bloggers became vocal. If young males were beaten up, do you think males only would have raised concerns? Women would have joined in too! By going into endless debates about pub culture and dress codes, etc. the issue of what is being done to stop this attack to public property and citizens is taking a back seat!
Usha, yes i am sorry "party workers" may be more derogatory considering that ordinary hooligans dont enjoy the special status of political protection they get! But I just wanted to say that this is not activism and no way to reform our society. Thanks!
Sahaja, yes it is not about women and it could happen to men too. If you thik this post was balanced, I dont think so. I am not even presenting you what the Rama Sene wanted to achieve in this shocking attack. That would be a balanced post...but I never wanted to balance it! What I have done is moderated the tone of the post, while still condemning the act. I believe that it is wrong that only women should raise concerns because it is directed to them Or that if any section of society is attacked, only they should raise it. Firstly it is wrong to think that it was a Hindu or a Dalit or a man or a woman that is being attacked. It is a human being, a citizen of India.
Destination Infinity, Thanks for commenting openly about the video. I put it up for that very purpose. Firstly the speaker is attacking "globalisation" though it is this very globalisation which opened up the frontiers of businesses to become globally competitive. We need to hear what other economists say before we can either praise it or condemn it.
Indyeah, thanks! Many female bloggers are surprised about my post. I wonder why! It wasnt a male vs female match out there! Besides I do think these incidents are "stage - managed" to divert attention from the real issues of the several charges they face including the terrorist attacks in Malegaon blasts. Besides look how a totally unknown small-timer became so prominent all over India! Now do you understand why he keeps smiling as he gets arrested and released every other day?
Swaps, What i like about the certainties you have listed is that they begin with "if"!
IHM - you got it - it is violence of a kind you dont want to see happen again. Sometimes I think that the hue and cry raised by us when it is still a small problem compared to the Taliban banning girls from going to schools and attacking schools that teach girls is justified because we dont want our country to go even one step in that direction - what if we are a hundred steps away from such eventuality?
Nirmala Venkatesh is a joke. She is trying to reason with a bunch of lunatics.
So many nude clothes?? Now that must be a new brand Ms. Venkatesh is launching for Summer and may be already started advertising.
That tweet is sweet :)
Those words in quotes are Annie's from Known Turf, a blog I love :)
I have added that tweet to my sideBAR :)
gopi,
Again a great blog, this time on the moral policing, i have my views on generally against such activities, i feel that general mentality of a human being is to oppose to change, if you are heading a group which is called oppose to change, what else would be the charter of activities you can have ? Basically such association & people are Immature towards acceptance of trends and changes coming ahead evolution. It is the time the country supreme leaders who we feel have a vision to bring up the country as one of the global economic leader should feel,understand and react.If Pub door is shut, the another door is open for the same business with a different shape and color, after all the netas also do need business !! I request you continue writing with more frequent topic such flaming issues, often. thanks kalyanaraman
Solilo, Nirmala seems to have provided the world with the assaulter's reasons and it almost seemed as though she was convinced and they were justified! Shocking!
IHM - thanks for the information about the source - will try to visit that blog but right now i am unable to log into yours either!
Kalyanaraman, nice to know you liked my post about the moral policing issue. I generally dont touch these subjects until my innards are shattered by extreme reactions!
Why is our friend Billu silent???
Come out Vinod, say something.
Gadbad hai bhai, sab Gadbad hai.
Ya a pretty pathetic sate of affairs we are part of on one hand we have morons 'upholding the Indian Morals' without being asked to do so or cared about.
There is a lady on the News taking nonsense, and her job is to fight of women across India, what she does is "Talks to convicts" and forgets the women.
But still hope is there.
BTW, congrats on the awards :) .
You are tagged!:)http://ofsongsforthesoul.blogspot.com/2009/02/tagged-once-more.html
Gopinath, I am baffled at your talent to give a humorous twist to virtually anything. I am coining a new term: Gopinathification.
Gopinathification, noun:
Transformation of virtually any news, situation or information into a totally different perspective by looking at it humorously.
e.g. He Gopinathified the sad events at Mangalore in this blog post.
Do use this phrase in your future post (its the only award I can offer) :P
Indyeah - you've tagged me! So I did read your tag-post to understand what its all about. I am slow as a snail and may take quite some time to do this one. This being tagged is another thing that happens only in blogosphere. But phew, I say it is better to be tagged than gagged!
Priyank @ Final Transit, Thanks! How i love the award you have bestowed on my blog! A new word! How much I love new words! Especially if they are based on ones' own name! I will certainly feature it in my next post.
@ Swaps - The big cat and his whiskers are busy roaring loudly about various things. I envy his roaring business!
@ Chirag - Certainly hope is there! Thanks!
Every blogger wrote about the Incidence of Mangalore pub attack by RamSena.
I was the first to mention the case nonetheless as I made my 26th Januray post right after seeing that news on NDTV.
I also mentioned it as rouge action of saffron group.
But later on I thought more on the issue. it was not a saffron group attack on youth.
it was rather the issue of Date Rape and the way feminists take on it.
Why Do these people, or any person advocating girls to not to go to pubs, not to drink alcohol not to go to dates, not to mingle with boys, suggests so?
They do so because of the increasing number of date rapes.
I know every feminist will criticize men on that issue, and will start demanding more stringent action and laws etc…
But its futile. Women Must understand that by forcing/cajoling government to act unequally and discriminate on the basis of gender will destroy our own society.
The lady uses oxymoronic words..
Yes, Winnie the Poohi, indeed oxymoronic words from that Madam from NCW. Ha Ha loved your comment!
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