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News event of the year

The Palghar Facebook arrests showed us the foolhardy side of police action, thus forcing the Government to make swift reprisals.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

It was an innocuous post on Facebook, as most posts go. A student from Palghar, 21-year-old Shaheen Dhada, was upset over the total lockdown of Mumbai and its outlying suburbs after the death of Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on November 17, 2012. Taking to Facebook to vent her anger, little did Shaheen know that a simple post questioning the logic behind the shutdown would soon get her arrested.

Similarly unaware of the impending storm was her friend Rinu Srinivasan, also 21 and also a Palghar resident. Rinu ‘liked’ the post.

And there the matter would have rested.

However, the post was brought to the attention of Bhushan Sankhe, Palghar’s Sena shakha pramukh,  who was suitably upset by Shaheen’s remark and Rinu’s appreciation of it. Very soon,  a mob of Shiv Sainiks was mobilised into action, they went to Shaheen’s house, vandalised her uncle’s clinic, and that night, Shaheen and Rinu were arrested.

These arrests marked a watershed moment in a year that saw the imprisonment of cartoonist Aseem Trivedi and the taking down of his website, the jailing of a Kolkata professor after he forwarded a cartoon of Mamata Banerjee over email, the abrupt cutting off of video channels like Vimeo at the hands of entertainment giants like Reliance and the mass blocking of Twitter and Facebook accounts in the aftermath of the Assam violence, to name a few.

The public, already bewildered by the seemingly indiscriminate clampdown on its internet freedom on various pretexts, was pushed past the boiling point after the two girls were arrested. Already furious over being forced to wait out Thackeray’s funeral in their homes, the city erupted in protest after Shaheen and Rinu were not just arrested, but a local magistrate awarded them a 14-day judicial custody term.

Spurred into action by the rising protests, first from Mumbai and then from all over the country, the State Government ordered a probe into the matter, then after the police action was deemed inappropriate and hasty. The girls were finally let off, the charges against them were subsequently dropped, and both the girls are now back on Facebook.

But perhaps the biggest offshoot of the entire incident was that the public, used to not voicing its opinions on the Shiv Sena, went full throttle in its criticism of the party’s strong-arm tactics.

‘Diaries’ is a series of stories on one theme. The Yearender Diaries seek to capture the most telling moments, happenings and people in the city this year. Watch out for Personality of the Year tomorrow.

(Picture courtesy indiavision.com) 

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Event of the year

The biggest funeral in Maharashtra this year, after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s in 1956, came with its fair share of controversies.
by The Editors | editor@themetrognome.in

Part 2 of our Yearender Diaries 

It was expected to be a funeral of somewhat large proportions. The city of Mumbai was to pay a silent homage, and was told to be off the streets. Some unkind people even said that if you had the money and the muscle power, it wasn’t that tough to get a big crowd together. That fear of retribution would force people to attend the funeral, just as fear had compelled every Mumbaikar to silently take whatever the dead man had thrown at the city all his life.

Bal Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena, passed away on November 17, 2012. It was a Saturday, and when the announcement was finally made from his residence, Matoshree, it was 3 pm. In a few minutes, the city began to shut down – first the shops, then its offices, then its transport. As the grieving at Matoshree began, so did another momentous phenomenon: a bandh which the late leader had not called for, for the first time the Sena’s life.

It was probably a fitting tribute to Thackeray; bandhs had characterised his party’s workings for a better part of forty-odd years, and a bandh it was that saw him through on his last journey.

Everything remained shut till Sunday night, by which time the late leader’s funeral had already taken place at Shivaji Park. But those two days of a total lockdown were difficult to get past – most people, accustomed to doing their shopping on Saturday evening, found they had no milk, vegetables or anything to eat. Sunday dawned without respite, and in some places, without newspapers. By evening of that day, all entertainment channels on TV had been blocked. So all one could do was watch the funeral live.

On the other side, there was a genuine outpouring of grief. Not after Dr BR Ambedkar’s funeral in 1956 had Maharashtra witnessed such a deluge of mourners descending on the city in such a short span of time. It would be churlish to say that all of those gathered were Shiv Sainiks and their families alone – the crowd largely comprised Sena voters and Bal Thackeray admirers – and nobody was ordered to be part of the funeral procession.

And even before his mortal remains had reached the cremation grounds, rumblings over what the party would do without his stewardship began. Questions about the Uddhav-Raj equation resurfaced. Declarations of ‘The Shiv Sena is finished!’ were made, sometimes on TV. But all the screaming rhetoric quietened as the body was finally laid to rest. When the funeral pyre was lit, everybody cried.

It has been over a month since his death, but the man is anything but forgotten, and not just because of controversies linked to where his memorial should be, or if people should be arrested merely for stating an opinion on a social networking site. It is said that the measure of a man’s life is made by the numbers of people who show up at his funeral. If the numbers at Bal Thackeray’s funeral were anything to go by, he lived a very successful life indeed.

‘Diaries’ is a series of stories on one theme. The Yearender Diaries seeks to capture the most telling moments, happenings and people in the city this year. Watch out for News Event of the Year tomorrow.

(Picture courtesy bbc.co.uk)

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Spin A Yarn: Because he doesn’t like it

Mohsina Ahmad’s tweet-story was a short spin on a girl missing the days when she didn’t have a jealous lover.

Mohsina Ahmad, 28, does business development for a New Media company. She says, “What I liked about the contest was the interesting concept of the challenge and the entertaining stories that were spun.” She likes stories “with a twist, and no, not like the plot in Talaash. I lean towards Jeffrey Archer.” Her interests, apart from writing, are “travelling and cinema. Also, wishful thinking.” Mohsina won a Special Mention for her effort.

Her yarn went like this: “It hadn’t always been like this. Well, at least for the last two years…

I still remember the days when I could look at the handsome ones all around me without getting that glare of disgust from him.

When I could compliment or praise the fine bone structures or superior grooming on other males without any guilt.

The days when I couldn’t resist playfully feeling ’em and yearning to be around and play longer.

And then Cooger came into my life, he makes me very happy, but doesn’t like it when I am friendly with other dogs. That’s All.”

(Picture courtesy donjuaninc.com)

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Spin A Yarn – The ‘inspired’ musician

Pankaj Ahuja’s tweet-story might actually explain a certain thieving Bollywood musician’s modus operandi. Who knows, it may just be true…

Pankaj Ahuja, 27, is a real estate consultancy owner. He says he loved the open-ended starting line that we provided. “I have only been writing poems since age 10. Apart from writing, I like travelling and trying out new food. And I can read minds,” he grins. He won a Special Mention for his effort.

Pankaj’s yarn went like this: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times…

Best times coz his music in bollywood was getting all the awards in every award function.

Worst coz the musicians he copied were all taking a retirement.

He had no clue on where and how he would come up with new stuff as ‘inspiration’ for his next movies.

Sum1 told him to visit a famous baba to find a solution of his problem, who asked him to cut his hair short.

But these long hair were always his protector from public and other artists he copied, to hide away from them.

His hair were specially designed by Dr. Batra’s advance hair growth medicines to save him from public glare.

Time to move to another solution which was to remix his bollywood songs to down south indian movies.

But then he later realised that they have rajnikant who already gave inspiration to international artists.

So that idea was scrapped too. Family frnd recco going to himalayas for new inspiration and way out.

There was special area assigned to artists from al the world facing such issues of nt getting ‘inspiring’ stuff.

With his hair do and look, he got mistaken by everywhere around as the music baba they came to see for inspiration.

This was his opportunity to encash this mistake done by other international artists around him.

He showed them on how he worked to take inspiration from others and made it big, he taught them his secret.

The last day was practical time, where he asked everyone to show him what they have learnt so far b4 heading home.

Once everyone was done, he said ‘Bravo’ and asked them to meditate one last time.

As and when they all opened their eyes, he was no where to be seen, and all the ‘pratical’ stuff done was gone too.

His aim to get inspiration turned great as he returned home with ready tracked waiting 2turn in2 bollywood songs.

So while movie director copied scenes for *cough* barfi *cough*, this music director matched the same.

See you at Bollywood award functions in 2013.”

(Picture courtesy themusicshelf.com)

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Spin A Yarn: A very cool yogi

Silverlightgal’s tweet-story was an amusing take on a boy’s disoriented confusion and how his mind plays funny tricks on him.

Silverlightgal (that’s how she chooses to identity herself) didn’t even board her train till she finished tweeting her story for Spin A Yarn! After it was over, she told The Metrognome that she really enjoyed participating and “would have made it (her story) much better but the time pressure was unnerving.” She won a Special Mention for her effort.

Her yarn went like this: “It hadn’t always been like this. Well, at least for the last two years…

It all started on a Sunday morning .

That Sunday, he felt something strange happening. He couldn’t explain it to himself let alone to ppl around him.

He dreamed of things, saw vision-like hallucinations, felt he was walking on clouds, and air even.

Day by day it was getting bizarre and eerie. Who would have believed him? Just 2 years ago he was fine.

Was he going insane? Or was it a spiritual experience? Was he dead already, in heaven now? So much confusion.

The old man deduced his plight & confusion without him saying a word. Be calm, boy, it will all fall in place.

said the old man, in a soothing manner. The old man’s presence brought him some relief but when he was gone.

the confusion and doubts returned. To divert himself, he tried the intricate poses he’d seen in the books.

1 day smthing funny happened. Even he had to laugh at what took place.He got stuck in one of the poses and had to

be pulled out from the pose, by 3 people! His head, arms, neck, feet, everything’d become entangled so badly

that he looked like a ball of wool badly mangled by an angry kitten. When they finally managed to disentangle him

all were so relieved that they laughed and laughed for hours. They said he looked radiant when he smiled.

There were moments like these but most days it was all bizarre. And to think it was all so diffrnt few yrs back.

He’d come down to India from Spain to meet a guru and learn yoga and since then his life was changed forever.

Sure he’d learnt yoga but he’d also unknowingly picked up ganja & many other things. Now his life was changed.

Even today you can find him loitering abt in hills of Rishikesh, murmuring, sometimes striking a cool yoga pose.”

(Picture courtesy antaratma.photoshelter.com)

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Spin A Yarn – The cricket dream

Aniruddha Pathak’s tweet-story was about a budding cricketer trying to fight corruption, and whose well-laid plan goes really, really well.

Aniruddha Pathak, 30, is a finance professional. He is an Andheri resident. His story won him a Special Mention.

Aniruddha’s yarn went like this: “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times…

He had seen India win the World Cup and then get a thrashing from England and Australia.

Cricket fascinated him, studies didn’t. After all it was the cricket ground where he met her.

Cricket selectors were seeking bribe. Anna awakened the nation. It was an ethical matter. He wanted this bad.

Sharing Vada Pav with his girlfriend he seeked her opinion. She refused. He knew cricket was his only chance.

He decided to pay bribe. Money was not the problem. Problem was asking dad for it. His pal ravi had a plan.

Ravi got a huge bag full of notes. Off they went to the selector. It was their chance for glory.

Selector accepted the money. They came back and now was the time for glory. Open www dot youtube dot com.

It was right there in front of everyone. Sting operation had worked. 3 million hits overnight. He had done it.

The notes were fake. They had exposed how corrupt the selectors were. TV channels were after him.

His dad was proud of him. He got his ticket for London to join his dream cricket academy. The nation lost a talent.”

(Picture courtesy ibnlive.com)

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