Boycotting Red in West Bengal

There once lived a smarty who said,
"We must boycott everything red.
I strongly advise,
Against CPM ties,
Be careful, dear folks, who you wed."

"So henceforth we Bongs, won't have red.
Even colour of blood, will instead
Be re-dyed bright blue
(None other will do)
For you see, we are doubtless purebred!"

"Neither saree, nor sindoor, nor bangle
Should be red -- it's the CPM angle.
The colour we'll rout,
From our palette, no doubt,
It is Marxist -- we must disentangle"

India Today 16/04/2012: West Bengal - State food supplies minister Jyotipriyo Mallick issued a diktat ordering his party members to socially boycott the CPM in Bengal. The startling remarks came as Mallick, at a public rally in Kolkata's adjoining North 24-Parganas' Habra area, asked Trinamool members not to have marital ties with the family members of any CPM leader or activist. Get the story here

Read more at: http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/socially-boycott-cpm-in-bengal-appeals-trinamool-minister/1/184750.html

Why Sending Toons via Mail is Dangerous

In Bengal, you may land in jail
If caught sending toons via mail.
There's a buzz and a rumour,
That our leaders lack humour --
They'll book you for cyber-crime - #fail
              ~***~

India Today 15/04/2012: The arrest of professor Ambikesh Mahapatra for having forwarded a cartoon about West Bengal CM Mamata Bannerjee has legal experts concerned about the use of Internet laws by the government to suppress free speech.Get the story here

The Pawar Slap that Resonated

There once lived a young Indian chap,
Whose nerves, one November, went 'snap'.
The outcome? As hitter,
He trended on Twitter;
The talk of town -- His Pawar slap!

India: Youth Slaps Minister Over Price Rise & Corruption

Let's keep it clean for our CM

The CM's about to arrive;
So we must have a cleanliness drive.
Let's clear out the yard,
Keep those aid workers barred,
And relief work? Can go take a dive!

May 31/09: The Telegraph Calcutta - Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today tasted the fury of Sunderbans’ relief-deprived cyclone victims, who riddled him with accusations during his visit and then chased and beat up the block development officer, part of his entourage, after he had left. [...] Anger boiled at the area’s “sanitisation” for the visit — police locked up the 50-odd villagers distributing relief, mainly tarpaulin sheets, in a tin shed for an hour and a half till Bhattacharjee left.“Relief workers are locked up, all the boats meant to ferry aid have been requisitioned for the visit; so what is the chief minister’s visit achieving?” Bijoy Dolui shouted as Bhattacharjee walked into BDO Amiya Bhushan Chakraborty’s office. Get the full story here

On domestic violence

Domestic abuse -- it is hell.
It's violence that we have to quell*.
Help bring to a halt,
This in-home assault -
Just go ahead, ring that door bell!



Here is a message from Breakthrough asking everyone, both men and women, to get involved in their Bell Bajao campaign.

We're writing to call on you to get involved in our campaign, Bell Bajao (Ring the Bell), calling on men and boys to join women in bringing domestic violence to a halt.
As you know, Bell Bajao, has been already reached millions across India and is encouraging unprecedented engagement on the ground. We want YOU to be part of the action to promote women's rights.
Breakthrough is celebrating International Women’s Day on March 8, by celebrating all those who are speaking out, through their actions, their beliefs, their music or art. Join the blog action week from March 2 - 8 on http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php and tell us your stories. Write about those people who support women’s rights either through their passion, their work or in their personal lives. Stories can include photographs, videos and other visual elements to be posted online. Do include a short description of yourself as well (name, age, location, any additional details). You'll be joining some amazing male leaders like Bollywood actor and Bell Bajao ambassador Boman Irani http://www.bellbajao.org/flim_details.php?id=127 . Notable author and former UN Undersecretary General Shashi Tharoor is writing...Fashion designer Sandeep Khosla is talking…Bell Bajao campaign creator Zenobia Pithawalla speaks out…Ad film director Bauddhayan Mukerji frames his views...Copywriter Ryan Mendonca crafts lines...activist Harish Sadani is taking a stand on The Bell Bajao Blog http://www.bellbajao.org/blog.php.
So join Breakthrough in bringing domestic violence to a halt! Bell Bajao !

This is undoubtedly a good initiative and warrants active support. However, in my mind, domestic violence is NOT only about violence against women. It could be violence against men (yes, it happens), children or the elderly.We need to work towards alleviating all forms of family violence and make the home a safe haven for the people living in it. Help STOP all forms domestic violence. RING THE BELL!

*Quell = stamp out

Billu caught in the cross-hairs of Barbers

The old barber was over the moon
When he heard the news this afternoon.
"We, who trim hair and beard,
Will be henceforth revered,
By those who visit our saloon!"

"Our razor-sharp voice did the trick.
It forced them to rename their flick.
And now I expect
You to show some respect --
Else your face will be sporting a nick!"

The Bollywood film "Billu Barber" has been renamed "Billu", after the film faced protests from the Salon & Beauty Parlors Association. Get the story here

Sole searching in Iraq

Inspired by Limerick Savant's delightful limerick on the issue
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bush admitted, he didn't have a clue
That his trip to bid Iraq adieu
Would leave them so broken
That as farewell token
They'd gift him that not-so-new shoe!
~**~

After ducking that number 10 sole,
Bush laughed off the event as droll.
But the message was clear
From the flying souvenir --
He'd pissed off Iraq beyond control!
~**~

Said George Bush, I didn't know, I swear,
That I'd messed up the Iraq affair.
But the truth sort of bloomed,
When in front of me loomed,
That journalist's stinking footwear!
~**~

The size number 10 left him frowning;
He recalled an old pal from Downing.
How unfair, he rued,
That Blair didn't get shoed -
He jumped ship in time, left me drowning!
~**~

BBC News 15/12/08: Shoes thrown on Bush during Iraq trip. Get the story here

Noise over Nano-II

Picture by Pradip Sanyal
The Telegraph -Calcutta

Miss Mamata was praying, no doubt,
For divine intervention and clout
And asking God's favor,
To grant a face saver,
And stop Tatas from pulling out!

For by pulling the rug from down under
Her feet, they have stolen her thunder.
Now farmers, I believe,
Are wanting her to leave,
And her dharna's* being heralded as blunder!

ExpressIndia 04/09/08:Tide turns in shocked Singur, own supporters tell Mamata to stop. Get the story here

Dharna* = is an Indian practice of exacting compliance with a demand by sitting (and fasting, but not in this case) at the doorstep of the offending party until the demand is granted.

Tata vs. TMC - Noise over Nano

Said Mamatadi, "It's our demand
That farmers be given back their land".
Said the Tatas, "No doubt,
Then we have to pull out,
But we'll still launch the Nano as planned!"


NDTV 02/09/08: Tata working on Plan B for Nano.

For Fouad

A day late....but as they say, better late than never!