Gandhigiri and Dadagiri

Imagine all living life in peace and prosperity

"That is dadagiri" - I said to myself as I watched a rooster snatching food from young roosters in backyard of the cottage of a poor tribal in Mayurbhanj, Orissa. While waiting for farmers to join for a public meeting I was watching the ducks and roosters play. The dadagiri act of the matured rooster urged me to think.

The young roosters and hens accepted the might of the matured rooster and eventually surrendered. He would capture the grains of rice, bhel and everything else thrown towards the flock and the young and weak roosters would feed on his leftover. Albeit the matured rooster eats more and grows stronger, while the young weak roosters eat less and weaken further. This is how a cycle of suffering was created.

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Probability of exploitation

Hey, that’s a snake! No, no, no. That is a fish, out of water and jumping eagerly. It will be an irony to advise the fish to have patience. When I tried to help her, and catch in my hands so that I can put her in the side by pond, she kept slipping out. Why doesn’t she realize that I am the one trying to help her and not kill her? I guess, because the probability of somebody helping a fish out of water is very low and the probability to kill her is very high. Her mother must have taught her these probabilities. 

Asks a tribal...

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Are they man-eaters?

Lord Rama and Lakshman

“…aha..ha..la la laa..” – humming as usual and riding my bike I noticed from a distance four young, almost naked men walking like cops. It was 6 am. I could not decide whether I should slow down or speed-up. “They must be the Maoists” – I said to myself as I prayed to God to protect me. After a while, when I got closer to them, my big eyes could see bow and arrows in their hands. “Oh, my God! They are man-eaters...” – I murmured. I was nervous (say afraid) to see that sight. I was sure that they are man-eaters and I am going to die today. Ironically though, had it been Treta Yuga, I may have believed to have seen Ram and Lakshman, but it is Kalyuga to my misfortune!

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Tell me, what is the Best?

I could not forget the pleasant sight of about two hundred women seated in ordered manner. This was the first ever public meeting I attended in Kalama Panchayat, Mayurbhanj, Odhisa. They even arranged their slippers in a beautiful way. I could see the excitement in the women who stood up to respect our presence, however, I do not feel to be revered so much.

Some people are so poor that they cannot think for themselves. What kind of poverty should be this? May be thoughts poverty or vision poverty or hope poverty... I mean, ask them what do they want to do for their development, and they have no idea! They cannot think for themselves that what should be good for their families and what should be done. But some are smart enough to ask for ‘double-loan policy’. She cannot be as poor as the other women, I bet.

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Orissan Safari

             

Balasore Railway Station

I am very excited to be in a small town of Balasore. In Oriya and Hindi they call it as Baleshwar and in English as Balasore. I am still excited to recall the sight of a flock of birds flying over my head. This happened as I landed on the platform of Balasore railway station! That was the best welcome I could have, I guess.

I never had the slightest idea that I will feel so helpless in Orissa. I cannot read even a single alphabet. This script is quite different from Bengali. At least, so different that it does not amuse me at all. I know I am in trouble. My half Bengali is not going to help me anymore…Help!

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