“We the people” – are the problem

Long since I complained about something, so decide to rant about my recent experience at Consulate General of India in New York. I had to get my passport re-newed and the faster way to get it done was to visit the embassy in person. While completing the application I looked up on the web for help. What I saw was tons of people complaining how bad, inefficient and unorganized the embassy is. Trust me I am not going to complain about the embassy. Anyways, I filled all required forms, took photocopies as required and took originals documents for proof. (Note: all this is mentioned on the embassy website).

After taking a token number I went to the line in front of enquiry counter, got the documents verified by and asked some questions I had. Then I went to the main hall and started waiting for my number to be announced. Here are some of the interesting instances I got to witness while waiting:

1. A very well educated (at least looking) man went to the counter and submitted documents to the lady consulate officer.

Officer: 'This is the wrong form you need to fill the form corresponding to minor since your daughter is minor.'

Man: 'No.. no this is the correct form.. I downloaded it from your website'

Officer: 'I can't accept this application since you have not filled correct form'

Man: 'The information is same.. can you please "Adjust" with this form.

Wow... first you disagree you made a mistake.. then you want her to adjust....

2. A Sardar goes to the counter and starts speaking to the lady officer in Punjabi and gives his documents.

Officer: 'Aaapke green card ka original dijiye'

Sardar: 'Yeh lo mere driving license ka copy'

Common!!!... you are giving her absolutely wrong document while she is asking for an original!!!. She rejected his application and sardar gave her some mouthful of good Punjabi gaali! I agree he is a day wage worker and coming back another day is a big deal for him. But she is just doing her job and she does not deserve to be verbally abused.

3. There were some 40+ people holding on to their token and waiting for their turn. This one gentleman (very well dressed and looking highly professional) decides to go to the counter even when his number was not announced.

Gentleman: 'Madam, please take my application now. I have all the required documents in order. It will take you only few seconds. Kindly take this'...

Officer: 'Come back when your number is called'

All I could think was 'Saale hum log yahaan jhak maar rahe hai kya??'. What an ahole... Cutting line!!

4. Husband and wife asking for Tatkal passport on some medical emergency grounds:

Husband: 'My wife needs to travel in 3 days so I am applying in Tatkal'

Officer: 'Please give me your ticket or itinerary for this travel as proof'

Husband: 'I have not booked tickets yet, but I have explained my problem in this letter'

Officer: 'Sorry I can't help you without proof, get me the tickets we are open till evening'

Husband: 'I am willing to pay the extra Tatkal fees.. can you give it to me'

Officer: 'Every one coming here is capable of giving the extra $ but that does not mean we can accept all applications under Tatkal'

The argument continued......

I agree the man and his wife (probably) are in distress. But the lady is just trying to follow some rules. Tatkal has a procedure and that need to be followed.

Well.. besides these incidents other observations were:

- Talking loudly on mobile phone using hands free... Even if the rule/instructions said turn off your mobile

- Not flushing after using the restrooms

- Kids running around all the place

- Harassing the enquiry lady with stupidity!

Ok I think I will stop here. As soon as I entered the consulate I had thousands of complaints about it. After spending an hour + inside I figured 'hum bhi kuch kam nahein'. I read many blogs that described the problems with the consulate. But I wanted to write a bit about the other side, that is 'We'. We always expect everything to be fine from government and others but never make an effort to correct ourself. All these people when they go visit DMV/RMV or Social Security office I am sure they behave. I am sure they will take all the correct required relevant documents. And keep their mouth shut even if they were sent back or rejected for no reason. This is Indian consulate so we have the right to be terrible!

I think if we (thats including me) who have some education needs to do the correct thing. I agree the system is bad and corrupt but at least we could do some things right. Just following few rules. I know its a slow process but for the good.

Maqbool Fida Husain - Did India lose anything??

First let me start by saying:

I do not preach my religion/faith to others.

I do not say other religion is bad or my religion is the best

I do not listen when some one tries to preach me other religion.

I do not have problem when some one says their religion is the BEST.

So, I do not take politely when some one speaks ill or tries to offend my religion/faith.

M.F. Husain: famous artist who walks without chappal and a great fan of Madhuri. Well that’s all I am interested in him given that I am no big fan of paintings. Recently when he renounced Indian citizenship and decided to live in Qatar suddenly huge issues got created. “It was a great loss to India” “No one is safe in India” “No Freedom of expression” “Death of Artistic liberty”. Here is my take on his departure.

India is made of hundreds of religion, thousands of cult and billion plus people. Huge number of Indian population is uneducated, below poverty line & unemployed. When you club the variety/diversity and the problems it’s really hard to live in harmony. With the corruption it’s really difficult to have justice. Given all these (and many more) problems, some how India is doing its best. Yes, things can be improved. Yes, life can be better. When a country is thriving for development and success, last thing it needs is an intellect like M. F. Husain. I understand Artistic freedom, but one has to look at its implications too.

His paintings offended several Hindus and Hindu representing groups.

1. Many got irked since he subscribes to Islam and was painting Hindu goddesses naked. Several people threatened him, and many disrupted his art exhibitions. Yet, he was alive but his exhibitions/artwork was not safe. He could have silenced such protestors by just drawing one more picture, a picture pertaining to the religion that he subscribes. All he had to do was draw prophet in sexually indecent posture with his several nude but burqa wearing wives and facing WEST. He did not do that. Cos he knows he will surely be dead. But this issue and the solution is just the revenge politics & communal intolerance.

2. Many felt offended because Hindu deity was portrayed in obscene form. Of course…. I am one among them. Husain’s art & creativity may not look like nudity to him but it does to others. “Goddess Durga in union with Tiger” “Goddess Lakshmi naked on Shree Ganesh's head” “Naked Saraswati” Naked Shri Parvati with baby Ganesh” “Naked Lord Hanuman standing next to naked Goddess Sita sitting on thigh of naked Ravana”. People worship these gods and goddesses and pray to them. Tell me what’s wrong if one feels angry at Husain? Just because it’s his artistic liberty I need not tolerate. OK let’s take religion out of the topic for a while. His paintings would then be “Woman having sex with animal” “Naked mother playing with son” “Naked woman in sexual posture with a child” “Naked woman being forced by a naked villain”… This is no art; it’s just filthy worst pornography!!!... It is so tasteless…

While arguing about this topic, some one described “Artistic freedom is where one can paint what he/she wants and doesn't have to justify his/her creativity” . Yes very true. When M. F. Husain created Gajagamini movie no one objected. He was free to direct it and yet did not have to justify anything. But everything has a limit that comes with the circumstances, situations and common sense. Let’s say some one who is very good at photoshop and digital image modification gets creative. Say this person is very innocent and suddenly one night comes up with a creative idea for art. He decides to take a photo of person X’s wife and digitally morph it into a nude picture. Say he comes up with a picture of that woman involved in a sexual orgy. X will be upset and angry no matter how good of a job that innocent artist has done. I know I am speaking extreme but I do have a point.

Many people say why India would have problem with nudity & sex. This is the land where ‘Kama Suthra’ was written. This is a country with temples filled with naked Shila Baalikas and sculptures. Many ancient paintings depict nudity and sex. So with this premise can we say Indians should not oppose Husain’s art? Absolutely not. We are human and we evolve over time. What was right hundreds of years ago does not make sense today. Take for example the ‘Sati’ system, do we want to bring that back? Agreed India was less sensitive to nudity and sex several hundreds of years ago. But with the advent of Moghals (Islam) and Europeans (Christianity) Indian life style was changed. We became more sensitive and started censoring.

Now that Husain is gone to Qatar he is giving one after another interview to our TV channels. Our shameless sensationalizing media dogs are ever ready to air such things. Husain says he is hurt.. so is several other Hindus. Husain says he loves India.. he should have thought about it before painting the map the India draped with naked mother India. Husain “Express regret” for all the commotion that was created…. Buddy expressing regret is not apologizing!! In my simple view Husain was just selling his paintings by making them sensational.

As I had said earlier… India has several problems. Husain’s departure is good for the country. We do not need a brainless nutcase who does not understand what’s sensitive and what’s creative.