McCluskieganj: A Place to Remind the Colonial Past

My visit to McCluskieganj was quite refreshing after the constant lockdown and continuing Work from Home in Ranchi, the town where I live now. The distance between Ranchi and McCluskieganj is around 70 KMs.

Place to Stay, there are others besides this

Anglo-Indian Bunglow

Interior of the Bunglow 1

Interior 2

Interior 3

I was accompanied by my two colleagues from Amity University Jharkhand on 17th January 2021. The place appeared to be a space where time can be revisited, the colonial times. The legacy of Britishers was visible everywhere. It was an Anglo-Indian colony before. Now it is a tourist spot with new constructions built by the tourism department, Government of Jharkhand.

New construction

Renovated Bunglow

Dining Space for Tourists

Another Bunglow in the Woods

The greenary around was quite fascinating. Three of us walked down the road amidst the jungle. We enjoyed the scenic views of the place.

If you are in Jharkhand, you must visit McCluskieganj. The name is enough to tell the story - McCluskie + ganj, Anglo + Indian name!

With Dr. Rahul Kumar

With Dr. Ravi Bhushan

Ghost Town: A Poem

Ghost Town

I wandered and wondered

why the roads were deserted?

Birds soared high as if they never could,

humans were confined as if never could. 

Far and far in the town

the usual clamour was lost.

The only folks seen

were those who once left the town!

Forced to return they seemed,

their faces were pale and grim.

Every human I saw that day,

told a story of long painful journey.

They had left their own home

to find a better vista of dreams!

Did they ever wish to return?

Did they want to destroy dreams?

Nobody left glimmering towns

to relocate, to return, to rebuild.

Unwelcoming their own place had become

for they were deemed to be carrier of doom!

The fear, the cynicism, spread

Faster than the looming deaths!

They appeared to believe as I did

that their sojourn will be warring.

Hapless their journey was

but hopeful were those steps into the ghost town!

© Suraj Kumar Saw

COVID-19: A Pandemic that Signalled in the Past

Presently, in India, COVID-19 cases have risen close to 1 Lakh per day! The scenario is terrifying in the wake of 'Unlocks' to soothe the vast population. Well, Lockdown was a necessity. But were we alarmed by the rising cases of Corona virus disease outside India that started at the close of the year 2019? Again, did the scientific community of our country alarm the government? Also, did the health ministry take note of the already depleted health facilities in various parts of the country?

I raise these questions because in my attempt to explore the disease COVID-19, I found certain facts in research articles in reputed (online) journals published by Taylor and Francis and Oxford University Press. I am neither a scientist nor a medical professional but as a curious layman I thought to decipher the virus which has already perplexed the global scientific community. The influenza virus spreads very fast as we all know that when one person catches cold at home the other family members also get infected quickly! Then such viruses, as the present one, would certainly spread like a wildfire for they are advanced version of cold and flu virus which may even cause death. 

Corona virus is not an unknown entity to the world. The current one is new corona virus which causes fatal respiratory disease. The following is a list of such viruses which I discovered in various research articles:

1. Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome corona virus (SARS-CoV) outbreak in 2003

2. H1N1 influenza A virus outbreak in 2009

3. Middle East Respiratory Syndrome corona virus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in 2012

4. H5N1 and H7N9 avian flu virus oubreak in 2013

The above viruses had already gave the threat of a pandemic long back as the years of outbreak suggest. That is why, published in 2016, one of the article's title rightly suggested that we were "in the era of corona virus". MERS-CoV unleashed havoc in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and until  4 June 2014, 688 confirmed infections and 282 deaths were reported (Ali M. Al Shehri, 2015). The potential of MERS-CoV in human-to-human transmission is easily understood for the disease spread to 27 countries in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa. One of the articles reports that in June 2015, Korea faced the largest outbreak after Saudi Arabia (Yin Mo and Dale Fisher, 2016). Another report says that as of May 16, 2016, 1388 cases of MERS had been reported in Saudi Arabia with dangerous 43% mortality (Sarah Batawi and others, 2016).

My point is that why could not we draw a lesson from these outbreaks and prepare ourselves better to combat the current CoViD-19? In 2003, when similar virus (SARS) hit Canada, their health public system was revamped and the formation of Canadian Agency for Public Health happened in similar lines of the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC). Then, MERS again shook the world. But we were waiting for another virus to enter our territory and bring chaos. The Indian public has already seen the failure of health system and preventive measures in news reports, mass media and various social media platforms.

However, in these phases of Unlocks we must have noticed that how people are still not cautious and conscious of hygiene and following the guidelines released by the stakeholders for prevention of the COVID-19 disease. Hand hygiene is very significant including appropriate use of masks and practising social distancing. I do not need to repeat it here as whenever you pick up your phone to call someone these things are always repeated by the network operators in various Indian languages.

We understand that coronaviruses are "biologically diverse and rapidly mutating" (Yin Mo and Dale Fisher, 2016), these are new viruses and unpredictable in terms of origin, means of transmission and behaviour, however, good public health system must consider such circumstances and be ready for managing the situation without interrupting economic activities and creating turmoil for common people, specially those belonging to unorganised sector and labour class.

It would have been better that instead of building a 'statue of unity' we could have built advanced healthcare system keeping in view the large and dense population of our country and the undisciplined public. I think money should flow to the basic need which does not mean to provide free ration but to provide a medical infrastructure that could be trusted by common, mostly poor, public in India.

Please note that SARS came 17 years ago when I was a school student. It alarmed the world then. After this came MERS 8 years ago. It  also alarmed the public, governments and scientists! And now this COVID-19 stresses on the most urgent need to reform and reconfigure the national public health policies that may provide affordable treatment for such flu outbreaks, communicable and non-communicable diseases and other health challenges emerging from time to time. Only beating thaalis, lighting diyas and declaring unplanned lockdowns will not stop the disease besides diverting the attention of popular imagination to Sushant Singh Rajput case, the Holy temple and LAC dispute.

Thank you!

Works Consulted on the CoV

1. Yin Mo and Dale Fisher. A review of treatment modalities for Middle East Respiratory Sundrome. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy. 2016. doi: doi.org/10.1093/jac/dkw338

2. Ali M. Al Shehri. A lesson learned from Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in Saudi Arabia. Medical Teacher. 2015. doi: doi.org/10.3109/0142159X.2015.1006610

3. Sarah Batawi et. al. Quality of Life Among Survivors of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. 2016. doi: doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofw172.527

4. Yu-Mei Wen and Hans-Dieter Klenk. H7N9 avian influenza virus - search and re-search. Emerging Microbes and Infections. 2013. doi: doi.org/10.1038/emi.2013.18

5. Ali Alfahan et. al. In the era of corona virus: health care professionals' knowledge, attitudes, and practice of hand hygiene in Saudi primary care centers: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives. 2016. doi: doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v6.32151

6. Paul D. Gardner et. al. Viable Viral Efficiency of N95 and P100 Respirator Filters at Constant and Cyclic Flow. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. 2013. doi: doi.org/10.1080/15459624.2013.818228

Maharashtra Turmoil: Another Political Opportunism

Since morning today, we have been coming across a news that astonished everyone including the so called omniscient media and the political pundits. The visuals of Mr. Fadnavis taking oath as the CM of Maharashtra jolted many especially the Shiv Sena, hitherto ally of BJP,  including the NCP and INC.

It does not require much intelligence to understand that politics in India has been marked by opportunists throughout the history. For example, consider the post-poll alliance between Shiv Sena, NCP and INC. Here there is another level of opportunism that brought the nephew of Sharad Pawar to support BJP in formation of the government. Mind-blowing!

Now, there remains twist in the story because the number-game is going to be more intense now. Press conference followed after the oath taking ceremony showed us the parade of the MLAs "coming back" to the OLD deus ex machina of NCP. What will Ajit Pawar do remains to be seen.

However, it reminds us of Mulayam Singh Yadav and Akhilesh Yadav feud that ended up in the fragmentation of the Samajwadi Party in UP. Will the same happen to NCP? Let us wait and watch.

This political drama is to continue for some time now making the political scenario of Maharastra unstable and bereft of any hope of recovery from this continuing political opportunism in the country!

Songs of Kabir- I

Kabir-granthavali 29

Everyone keeps saying 

But no one knows where is Paradise.

Who do not know one perimeter, they describe paradise in their talks. 

When hope for paradise ignites, God's refuge respites. 

How will you know paradise through hearsay, until you check out the place yourself. 

Paradise, says Kabir, be sought in good company. 

KG 29 (my translation)

          Kabir's expression of the mythic Paradise catches attention. His mocking tone is reminscent of the bhakti movement which propelled the tradition of the poet-saint. The mockery of the belief in paradise (बैकुंठ) and the intense desire to secure entry to the unknown, unseen, unmapped paradise tickles thoughts of cynicism. Religion, irrespective of the kind or type, always create a dream surrounding the positives and blissfulness of the Paradise. 

Those who talk or release a discourse of paradise are themselves logically lame to comment on paradise. Why there is this want of a life after life? Let the life on earth be made peaceful, joyful and meaningful. Again, those who are agnostic they could understand the above poem or else will doubt the poet himself.

However, Kabir does refer to hari (God) and His refuge that can lead to paradise. But he emphasizes on possessing a good company which can furnish heaven, or make a "hell of a heaven" to borrow Miltonic tagline. 

Now, the question rests on how many of us look for a good company? Whether it requires further philosophising? 

Tivari, Parasnath, editor. Kabir-granthavali, Allahabad, 1961.

Mehrotra, A.K. Songs of Kabir. Translated by A. K. Mehrotra. Hachette India, 2011.

War: A Review of a Masala Action Movie

     Terrorism is a global menace. This has been a constant theme of many Hollywood and Bollywood movies. The recent hype created around the movie War is no exception to this fact. This Siddharth Anand action flick has all the masala for a popular bollywood movie. The USP of the film is not the plot or the story but the action scenes. Just like his previous venture Bang Bang!, Anand has attempted another action filled drama thriller under the banner of Yash Raj Films.

     The story revolves around the duo of the intelligence wing of Indian armed forces, Kabir (Hrithik Roshan) and Khalid (Tiger Shroff). Kabir is a seasoned officer who is on the hunt of the most wanted terrorist Rizwan Ilyasi aka Firoz Contractor and his peers. In the course of his investigation Kabir finds out that one of the army officers, his superior and an eminent scientist are assisting Rizwan Ilyasi in his anti-India activities including destroying the Indian defense satellite. Kabir realizes that he cannnot destroy the these enemies of the nation being a part of the system which they dominate, therefore, goes rogue and vows to kill each one of them. But in one of his operations to catch Ilyasi his close aide, Sourav, betrays him and saves Ilyasi. Sourav is chased down by Khalid but it is Khalid who in the end turns out to be the fourth aide of the Ilyasi gang of terrorists. Only in the end it is found that through plastic surgery Sourav is given the face of Khalid to dupe Kabir.

     The plot seems repetitious of other films based on counter-terrorist activities by the intelligence agencies. Salman Khan has already played such roles in past in "Tiger" series. This film tries to show that patriotism is above all relations and affiliations through the character of Khalid whose father, Major Rahman, went rogue in the past and was killed by Kabir himself. That is why Khalid is adamant in his efforts to clean the blot on his family's name through his sincere and intense service to nation. Though Kabir doubts his intentions first, however, with the insistence of his superior (Ashutosh Rana) he allows him to be the member of his team. Also, Khalid's alacrity and prowess in the operation in Iraq impresses Kabir and bring them close to each other.

     Anand has tried to present a never experienced action visuals to the audience and is partially successful in doing so. The action scenes of operations in Iraq, the aeroplane stunt, the bike chase, car chase are some of the attractions of the film. I found the Iraq operation episode specially interesting. The cinematography reflects the hard work and dedication put in to give finesse to the action scenes. the two songs, "Ghungroo toot gaye" and "Jai Jai Shiv Shankar" are already hit songs in the chart-busters. There are scenes shot in Australia, Portugal and other countries. The movie revolves around Hrithik and other actors like Tiger and Vaani Kapoor are overshadowed. Although Tiger has significance as a character in the film, Vaani (as Naina) has a little but important role to play in the movie as a beloved of Kabir.

    Thus, with Hrithik's looks and action stunts, this movie is a one time watch. The plot is loose but the visuals may cover up for that if you are not bothered much about logic behind scenes and sequences in watching a Bollywood movie. There is action, love, romance, and peppy songs which could be a reason to go to theatre in the weekend. I would give 3.5 stars to the movie. What about your viewing experience?



     

Rambo: Last Blood Movie Review- An Exhibiton of Raw Power!

     This week released Sylvester Stallone's apparently the last sequel of the Rambo franchise. The series began in 1982 with First Blood which brought the actor huge popularity across the world. Stallone from then on built a reputation of an action hero. The same strain of an angry, violent and powerful character of a fighter finds a superlative echo in Adrian Grunberg film, Rambo: Last Blood.

     The opening shows John Rambo as a saviour to people stuck in heavy rainfall in Arizona region of the United States. The Post Traumatic Stress Disorder patient Rambo is seen recollecting his past failures to save his own people in wars. This leads John Rambo to struggle in establishing a connect with people. But in 'Last Blood' he has finally found his feet on American soil, and a family in Maria (Adriana Barraza) and her granddaughter Gabrielle (Yvette Monreal). John has inherited his father's farm in Arizona which he lives on with the two women. In Gabrielle he has found a daughter. However, Gabrielle's obstinacy to meet her father, Manuel, in Mexico lands her into trouble. She goes to Mexico without the permission of her uncle John and the grandmother to meet Manuel who had abandoned Gabrielle in childhood leaving her mother to die of cancer. Gizelle, her friend in Mexico, takes her to the place where Manuel lives. Snubbed by her father again, Gabrielle, in despair, goes to a pub with Gizelle where she is trapped by the agent of a drug and sex racket. Rambo then goes to Mexico himself to rescue his niece and enters the compound of Victor Martinez, the operator of a drug and sex mafia, where Gabrielle and other girls are captivated. However, Rambo is beaten almost to death by the goons although left alive. Carmen (Paz vega), a journalist saves Rambo's life. In his second attempt to rescue Gabrielle, John succeeds to find her and takes her away to the U.S. but drug overdose takes her life away. This makes Rambo furious and the revenge begins which ends in Rambo's victory over the perpetrators.

     There is never a dull moment in the 90 minutes film. However, the violence is of extreme level. The Mexican goons are lured by John to enter into his territory where he has built the plan to "draw the last blood". The tunnel, the weapons and the classic Stallone bow and arrow action scenes give a real experience of guerrilla warfare in which Rambo has been at his best in all the previous sequels. One incident defies logic where the criminals leave John alive in Mexico in their first encounter with him. Besides, even at 73 Stallone has performed the action scenes brilliantly!

     The diegetic sounds are effective though I watched the 2D version of the film. The camera angles are emphatic enough to show the depleted boy parts and severed limbs and legs! The last scene is outrageously violent in which John slits the chest of his enemy and takes the heart out! Further, the stereotyping of Mexico as a hub of crime and mafias could be debated (follow the link for further information- https://fas.org/sgp/crs/row/R41576.pdf). But drug abuse and human trafficking is a serious matter of concern for any country. Overall, the movie succeeds in presenting John as a warrior having never-say-die attitude.

    Thus, the film is a good one time watch; and if you are a Sylvester Stallone fan, you can watch it many times. Viewers discretion is also advised due to the range of violent scenes. I would give 3.5 out of 5 stars to this film. What do you think of the 'Last Blood'? Well go and watch and let me know in the comment section below!