Episode # 23 : For the people? By the people? Of the politicians?
Today, I walked past waiting patients to the quadrangle at the heart of AIIMS, where striking doctors prepare to go hungry for another night. There were candles all around, remnants of a quiet vigil from an hour ago. Little groups of students huddled everywhere, some on benches, others stretched out on red carpets in the centre of the ground. Around them, strung up everywhere, are banners.
There’s a joke painted on one. It’s about Manmohan Singh telling George W Bush of a plan to send Indians to the moon next year. “How many,” asks Bush. “100,” Singh replies. “25 OBCs, 20 SCs, 15 STs, 5 handicapped, 5 sports personnel, 2 Kashmiri migrants, 8 politicians, 18 generals and, if possible, 2 astronauts.”
Another poster reads: “I am leaving for the US. I was disowned by my own country.”
This is what it has come to?
Episode Notes:
- “The last time I checked India was a democratic country,” says Aamir Khan
- Film Fraternity stands united with Aamir; but, Shatrughan Sinha thinks otherwise.
- Democracy is dead - Arjun Singh has no answers to Karan Thapar’s well researched questions
- Chetan Bhagat of Five Point Someone fame advises the youth to protest creatively!!!
- While the Government sleeps over the reservations issue, Smile India Foundation has shown the way!
Yours Internetally,
Abhishek,
P.S : Intro & concluding music provided by Alms for Shanti
Listen Online (64 kbps) :/Episode lenght : 18 mins
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Congrats guys, on your BBC interview!
I live in Vienna, and had discovered your podcast back in Dec (the Investment and Tendulkar podcasts), although I confess I haven’t been a very regular visitor. Both of the issues you discuss today were very interesting…. I had come across the Arjun Singh interview a few days ago, and it is quite scary that such obstinate people immune to logic and sense are in charge of development of human resources of our country. Or is it an agenda that Thapar hints at? Reservation being the holy cow, no one from the goverment can really refute him (neither can any of the political parties protest) once he’s jumped the gun. And he knows very well that the one of the main reasons the VP Singh government fell was this very issue. I will resist temptation to be abusive (to the Hon’ble Minister of course) on your website.
I am very happy that Aamir Khan refuses to back off. Go Aamir!
Comment by A.S. — May 31, 2006 @ 11:45 pm
Hi guys,
I am a fellow podcaster with an Indian Christian podcast - would you believe it?? I am an Indian too. Love your podcast and the banter that you guys exchange.
Your episode is still labelled as #22 on iTunes which was confusing, infact I deleted it once thinking that I had downloaded a duplicate.
Congratulations on your spreading fame&7 hopefully fortune will follow as well
Ben
Comment by Ben — June 1, 2006 @ 7:28 pm
A.S : We had researched about how people from different castes, have different temples (the god inside is however the same) and also have different water sources. The higher and lower class have their own seperate wells!!! So the castism very exists in rural india and now it could spread to the urban area via the educational route. it just saddens me.
A politician in his right senses will never say anything against the reservation issue. I mean look at Shatruganh Sinha, he’s gone bonkers!!!
Ben: Whats your podcast called? Thanks for pointing out the mistake. Its been taken care of and thanks for the wishes
Comment by Aditya — June 2, 2006 @ 10:01 am
hey guys. that was a really good podcast, as always. Abhishek complaining about the weather was quite funny. definitely got a few weird looks when i laughed out in public.
oh god, the reservation issue really IS some sort of agenda, isn’t it? i mean, nobody except maybe the 5% of people who really need it actually approve or want it. its just going to drive more and more people out of india to study elsewhere, who knows maybe that IS what the govnt wants. but oh well its not like anyone can actually do anything about it, its fate lies in politicians more concerned with votes than the welfare of the people.
and also congratulations on the bbc mention. =). you’re definitely celebrities now.
Comment by Lavanya — June 3, 2006 @ 4:37 pm
Lavanya : Abhishek wont be complaining anymore. We’ll tell you more about it in the next episode and I know what you mean by laughing in public while listneing to my ipod. I am a huge fan of P.L Deshpande (He is #2 after Sachin on my list) and I have attracted a few eye balls while listening to him.
Comment by Aditya — June 5, 2006 @ 9:40 am
@ Aditya
Yes indeed, even after 59 years of Independence and 22.5% reservation, castism continues to exist, all the more arguing for a fresh look at how this should be tackled. Reservation in higher education might still make sense ONLY if coupled with good grass-root level education and opportunities– schools, good teachers, legal and social encouragement to send children to schools, generous scholarships and fellowships, special coaching if required, etc.
How would one expect people who don’t have schools to go to, or even if they do, their teachers are not interested in teaching, or even if they are, they don’t have resources to continue with education, to actually compete for the 59.5% of the seats planned to be reserved in the IITs, for example? The only ones who’ll benefit would be the ones who certainly don’t require or deserve it, the so called creamy layer.
Comment by A.S. — June 5, 2006 @ 10:49 am
Hi Aditya,
This is Ben. My podcast is called Benz desi podcast, it is not as famous as yours although I have had an average of 500 downloads per month since April. Not bad I guess!!
Would love to get to know you guys more and maybe talk some about being an Indian Christian .. maybe??
Regards
Ben
Comment by Ben — June 8, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
haha oh goshhhh you guys i have withdrawal symptoms now because of the lack of new podcasts….. and also, what about doing a tribute to your most loyal fans?
Comment by Lavanya — June 9, 2006 @ 12:44 pm
Lavanya: The last week has been awfully eventful for both Adi and I. But, no excuses. We will be back soon, very soon! Till then, check yourself into a Podcast rehabilitation cell!
Comment by Abhishek — June 11, 2006 @ 11:23 am
Hey guys,
heard about your views on amir’s quandry at Gujarat because of his comments. Just the other day, I was reading something similar happening in the US. Natalie Maine of Dixie Chicks spoke against President Bush in London, so the groups concert tour is being boycotted in the red states of US. And Dixie Chicks has been a popular country music group . Its funny how people make images of their entertainers and then cannot see the seperation between their artistic talent and political views.
Comment by santosh k — June 14, 2006 @ 1:13 am
Santosh K : I guess people everwhere are the same. i.e easily influenced by political agendas
Comment by Aditya — June 17, 2006 @ 3:51 am
what?
Comment by ganesh statue — June 29, 2009 @ 6:02 am