Tiger of Mysore

Tipu Sultan forever remained a silver lining in the modern history as the only ruler in modern Indian history who not only challenged the might of imperialist Britishers but was also able to snatch some glorious victories from their jaws.A defeat,ultimately,merged with his death in 1799.He did not led down his arms until he had breath,holding the highest ideals of bravery and kingship being followed in our country through ancient times.And his death was not only a result of fate but by the collaboration of mighty 'traitors' Maratha chieftains with the British Army.Apart his deewan too was bought by the Britishers.This as much is the recorded history of at least his last period,sufficient to earn him a place among the greatest rulers India ever had and the biggest challenge England ever faced in their colonialism of India.Only yesterday I had the pleasure of learning,after his icon was displayed in the R-Day parade that he was the 'traitor of Mysore'.Tipu Sultan ever bowed to the Britshers,no historical record suggest that.What is indeed controversial is his history before he became the nightmare of the Britishers.His zeal for his religion or conquest lead him to commit heinous crime against Hindus or Christians,including destruction of temples and ethnic cleansing of entire communities on suspect for being faithful to his enemy Hindu kings.But,Tipu Sultan was no Aurangzeb fighting for establishing the supremacy of Mughal Empire.He was a king fighting to protect India from foreign clutches.In fact,he later changed his anti-Hindu stand so that he gets enough support across the religious lines for his chivalry against Britishers.He was one of the rare Indian rulers of modern history who recognized the importance of navy in the changing world scenario and developed a powerful fleet along India's west coast.The diplomatic capacities of the ruler was exceptional in Indian history.Although Indian rulers frequently invited rulers from Afghanistan and further East to settle their scores over enemy states,Tipu Sultan read the world order right and forged an alliance with none other than powerful competitors of Britishers in world market,French.That European upstir slowing down French help should always be remembered as a lost chance of Indian independence.But Tipu Sultan was not the one who was much concerned with allies tuning hostile or stab by his own people.He fought alone against the colonization of our country when all odds had turned against him,even building probably the world's first missile.The history will certainly be kind to him while remembering the atrocious of his successors in Indian might,Britishers or even the selling of national soul by the Maratha chieftains.He may was a religious fanatic,but his exemplar and inspiring courage in India's fight against world order will certainly ensure the 'Tiger' will not be bestowed an honour below the jackal,both being wild and preying,Tiger commands respect for his valor that jackal lacks.His life is best summed in his own quote "It is far better to live like a lion for a day than to live like a jackal for a hundred years".

Far Above Lokpal

The political battle for Parliament has become hotter in December cold with AAP sweeping Delhi.Alright,not sweeping,but becoming a considerable player and ultimately forming government at the Legislature.Whatever media has to say about the revolution,for a twenty-four-into-seven coverage,from bathroom to metro is giving the feelers of a Quit India movement or closer still the political drama of post-emergency in 1977,the corruption eradication revolution is unmistakably a revolution based on knowledge,past its prime.The more important matters of real ground-check is being seriously avoided by all,from politicians to journalists.May-be debating Delhi,Modi and Kejriwal will fetch more viewers to votes.The war for Delhi was mostly a two-way affair between BJP and AAP thanks to Congress suspicion for social-media thereby making youths suspicious of it.Coming closer to the heels of political debacle of ruling party,a bill that was stated to change the course of Indian governance forever and which was derided for almost five decades now,was passed with an unanimous applause from all sides.None other than the new carved almighty of Indian politics,AAP and the old-horse SP voiced against the bill.For entirely different reasons though.For AAP,the bill was not perfect thus it gave ample space for the forever merry-making corrupt practices and for SP,another five decades of debate was needed so that the alleged disproportionate asset case against their favourite leader never calls for harsher punishment.Nevertheless,all parties agreed that the bill was a monster leap against corruption and the small changes can be addressed later.A similar,but dilute bill was promised last year too but Anna and his team,riding high on public support had opposed citing many flaws.The flaws where addressed,alright but not in an exact manner as was wished by civil society.Why they compromised on the relevant point,especially one putting PM outside the loop of Lokpal,for the technicality of calling PM is more of a safe-guard,can not be ascertained at once.May be fractured ranks has taken the sheen out of their struggle.More importantly,an all-subduing authority,in the form of Lokpal is not very safe for democracy,specially what if it itself indulges in corruption.Afterall,other powerful agencies and authorities have been marred with several cooked or who knows,startling charges ranging from CJI,PM,CEC to chiefs of nodal agencies like CVC or CBI chief.But this debate can be rested as of know,since corruption has become a nerves formula,destroying the entire central system on which the governance functions and the country runs.The most shocking aspect of Lokpal,which no parties having a stake in the corruption movement  pays a heed upon,is the rainbow federation of employees coming under purview of Lokpal.The authority is all now set posed to control five million government employees along with handful of powerful ministers.All voices talking about the mammoth work-load for Lokpal was silenced with harsh reasons,better still taunts.But its important to underline that all five millions,except the mighty few,already come under the vigil of different watch-dogs.These mighty few are the most respected and powerful occupants,the black-coat clad senior-most bureaucrats and the khadi wearer humble servant of the people.No authority or vigilance had the muscle powerful enough to fix them.All the massive corruption figures,from CWG,2G to Coal-gate,which caused so much furore in the nation,was not the work of a government clerk accepting few forgotten hundreds in some petty deal.Powerful officials from PMO to cabinet ministers were involved and business-man earning name,fame and reputation around the world were doubted.Yet a sinister attempt is being made to cover this multi-billions scam and concentrate instead on the corruption being faced by public in day-to-day life.So,there is a Lokpal.He will arrest and persecute peons and clerk,the lower-most effete of our society for taking a bribe of fifty or hundred rupees.While the people selling national asset like coal will wipe their hands clear of any black,before the Lokpal gets the time to look above the clinging corruption in lower honchos to a corruption being rising from a  government policy fixed by none other than the Telecom Ministry in accord with the Finance Minister at the Lutyens.This Lokpal is not Akbar holding a big and powerful empire but its Bahadur Shah holding an empire big enough to be weak.