I blame Mr. Chetan Bhagat for spoiling my day not just the day but
weekend. His article 'Looking for scapegot' on page 18(printed TOI Mumbai
version) made me start my weekend on a very serious note. When I was actually looking
for amusement (As the author is well known for) The synopsis of
the article in bold says 'We Indians are not known for logic. Be it
our movies or political pitches - emotions matter more than reason., or even
truth'. Let me assure Mr Bhagat, that this is a very true statement. Hence it
applies to Marathis as well as he himself. Based on this statement we can
safely conclude that Marathis are to be blamed jointly or in addituion to other Indian for any issue which is
local(Indian).The issues articulated in the article, are local , but, marathis,non marathis , both are
involved ,. Hence Marathis as well as Non Marathis are responsible, both being
equally illogical and emotional.
He states later that 'Marathis are as entitled to go to any
other state for jobs, join colleges IITs etc.'. Let me inform Mr Chetan Bhagat
that Lau Prasad, then Railway Minister did not advertise Railway jobs in
citites and towns in Maharshtra thus depriving them of the opportunities in
other states. So as he states in his
article let me inform him that Marathis are not entitled for the jobs in other
states the way people from other states are entitled for jobs in Maharsahtra.
Why is it that Water bodies in Mumbai and other towns in Maharashtra
only are dirtied during a festival celebrated
by north Indians but not in some other
state like Tamilnadu or Karnataka? Is it because Marathis are tolerant and
readily compromise on their own freedom and resources which are becoming
scarce?
There are few marathis who
got to IITs in Chennai, Kanpur Kharagpur etc. There are some Marathis who get
transferred as part of Govt jobs and do migrate and settle in other states.
What is important is that so far I have not heard from any party in other
state, migrant Marathis hogging down the infrastructure up to the level
of choking up the systems. Never any other State has complained about
Marathis forming the major portion of the criminal records in that state. Also
not dirtying the area around the water bodies , during Ganesha festival up to
the extent that it starts affecting ecological balance of the surrounding. The answer
is straight forward. The numbers are too low to have any noticeable impact. Why will a Marathi leave Maharashtra
(Which is offering opportunities to Indians from all the states and
people from all those state are coming to Mumbai and Maharashtra- Does not make
sense for the locals to leave state
of opportunistic where you are borne to go to the state
that is being deserted by their own people-due to lack of opportunities) and go
to some other state? If they go , they go due to job opportunity and not to settle
under the bridges, on the foot path etc. They go there to live in their proper habitat,
legally rented or given by the companies and start contributing to
the state from the day one, paying local taxes too. The numbers are of
minuscule percentages anyway and does not create vote banks
in these states to finally get appeased by local parties , giving
them opportunities to use regional issues or swinging the polls
for the benefits during elections at all levels.
Also the issues faced by Mumbai differ by 180 degrees by issues
faced by other cities. Issues faced by Maharashtra due to local politicians are
universal for India. Are Marathis responsible for woes on Tamilnadu? Or local
political parties led by Tamilians?Patnaiks are very much local to Odisha. Does
Buddhababa and /Or Mamata have their roots in some other non bengali state in India?
Tell me which state is not corrupt today?
Marathis were never so industrious and capable of having long
terms visions of settlements. and visions of corruption and power (of the handfuls
of those controlling politics in the state) are also restricted to exploiting
their own state .
Poor Marathi farmer resorted to suicide instead of migrating into
UP or Bihar which is full of abundant natural resources and extremely conducive
for farming. Poor Marathi farmer was not even able to foresee that prices of that
pulses, Dals are rising for last 15 years , and it may be lucrative to move to
some other crop instead of cotton . Which many Andradite and Karnataka farmers
did over last 10-15 years. Stupid emotional attachment to the type of crop and
land. Also not being able to even migrate to Mumbai to drive a taxi. Which UP
ite and Bihari farmers have been doing. While enjoying the benefits of fertile
lands there , enjoying the fruits of those, and earning in this city to send
money back. (Spent in the other state to help economies elsewhere). I truly appreciate the
spirit. Also those who come here and become fruit ,vegetable and fish vendors
etc. While no one is stopping Marathi farmer to move to other state or start
driving taxi in Mumbai or become price competitive vendor in Mumbai , the fact is
that they are not doing it. And and are suffering.
If Lalu had advertised
Railway jobs in local newspapers in Maharashtra, Maharshtrians would have
probably migrated to other states for railway govt jobs. And over all number of
Marathi Manus migrating would have been slightly higher. Currently Marathis are mostly migrating to other
states for jobs in private companies, MNCs and higher govt. jobs(through UPS
exams etc. ). Maharastrians are being deprived of the equal right for applying
to Class 3 Class 4 level central govt. jobs . Marathi politicians in central
ministry are not playing the similar illegal tricks to promote Indian wide jobs for Marathi
population.
As far as effects of the irrigation scams are concerned I agree
that migrants too have to stand in the queue for the bucket of water in Mumbai
as long as local Marathi manus is standing in the same queue along with. But
migrant has an option of going back to his own home town and not standing the
queue for water. He as an option of demanding jobs from local govt which he/she
and his/her folks have been selecting in the home state? He can chose to become
local fish.fruit.vegetable vendor or taxi driver in his/her own state . He/she
is not exercising that right but making local Marathi Manus stand in the queue longer
alongside. (which he.she may not have to if migrant population vacates the queues.).
In case migrant population feels that they are suffering due to their living
conditions in Mumbai I will urge them to leave immediately to and for better
conditions in their home states. Chetan Bhagat at the same time appreciates
Marathis as hard working. Else they will demand separate reserved queues soon.
As far as scams in Maharshtra are concerned I have a feeling that UP and Bihari
politicians are looking for Maharshtra as another grazing ground for scams as
they have exploited many opportunities already in their own states(up to the
level of dried grass)
Any state will appreciate migrants who are not impacting local ecosystems adversely .
And will not even voice anything against them.
The discussion about ministers resigning and rest too threatening
of the resignation, is party politics. Similar things, totally politically
motivated, to settle power equations happen in all states. And most of the
times it involves ministers who are locally borne/bred , belonging to local
majority community . Their actions usually lead to sufferings of locals
belonging to same community. This is an
India wide phenomena . In other states too masses are not able to do anything
about it. And have become silent sufferers in most of the cases. There are
local efforts in spurts which too is prevalent in Maharashtra.This state is no
different in that sense. Why blame Marathi masses for the same. This is typical
Indian nature . demonstrated also by the immigrants who leave their oen states
instead of fighting local exploiting govt. and politicians to the grazing
grounds of Mumbai and Maharashtra. Off course they find that grazing is not
easy and as difficult for them as local Marathis.And then this hue and cry.
I myself worked for some time in the state of Jharkhand. Not even
once I came across any group Marathi activity that was spoiling local cultural,
environmental or political ecosystem. In fact everyone around me looked at
Marathis as very talented people. Cricket, Singing , disciplined , hardworking
etc. Why? In fact they fully accepted that Will they have same opinion if Marathis start spoiling the area around their plush green
water bodies for Ganapati immersion? Will they have same opinion if Marathis
start committing unspeakable crimes exploiting local population? Even today there is mass Marathi population in
Gujarath and and MP. Mainly Baroda, Gwalior, Indore etc. What is the
impression? Are they contributing to the local crimes? Are they creating
imbalance in local various ecosystems. Are they threatening to conduct local
rallies to enter into politics to form local government.(BTW..I wish they had
guts to do this ..)
Chetan also adds that Marathis are very hardworking etc. and need
better leaders. Who or which state does not need better leaders today?(Probably
with the exception of Gujarat). Each state today in India is need of better
leader. UP /Bihar too require better leaders so that their population does not
have to migrate to other state. UPites and Biharis (at least those who migrate)
as per my knowledge are very hard working. I too feel sorry for them as they
are forced to leave their own state due to bad leadership and resort to
expanding slums of Mumbai. (thus helping them expand at faster rate-adding to the
woes of local Marathis from all pockets-slums and non slums).(I accept that
there have been indications of improvements in Bihar and Nitish Kumar has been
appreciated a a lot. However the effects of those have still to be seen in Mumbai. When there is mass
exodus of migrant returnees or local Marathis exodus to Bihar happens we will
know the effectiveness).
I also request Chetan Bhagat to look at the crime statistics of
Mumbai. And the percentage of non Marathi suspects and convicts. I still
remember the early morning of 15th Aug(of 2005 or 2004). While we
watched the marches and speeches of Lal Killah, and Raj Bhavan, The News paper
cover story flashed a news item of mentally challenged 14 year old local girl
raped in the train by Bihari who had migrated just 15 days before. What a way
to start independent day celebration. We have a right to be emotional. But we
have still not turned into criminals.
I can very well see where Mr Bhagat is coming from. He, himself
being an Indian obviously ‘not known for Logic and Emotions Matter More than
results’.
At the same time I want to iterate that Chetan Bhagat is one of my
most appreciated Author. I specially liked his book ‘One Night at Call Canter’.
It really brought out the sufferings of those belonging to that industry in a
very positive manner, leading to hope. As against there were movies like ‘Life
an Metro’ etc, which were trying tarnish the image of their community by painting
them as those of lose characters. Two states is out of the world. As I could
get almost 100% confirmations for most of the behavioral traits of North
Indians and Tamilians as I got chance to work in both these states from time to
time.
