#Travelogue: Humayun's Tomb, New Delhi

All Pictures Taken On: 30-09-2018; (C) Rahul Tiwary

#Travelogue: Lotus Temple, New Delhi

All Pictures Taken in May-2018; (C) Rahul Tiwary

#Traelogue: Sanjay Van near Vasant Kunj, Delhi

All Pictures taken in March 2018; (C) Rahul Tiwary

#History: Queen Victoria and Abdul Karim 'the Munshi'

After watching the movie ‘Victoria & Abdul’ I am left wondering at this piece of work from the history. Did a bit of internet search to read more about the movie and the historical account of events and I am left baffled. Here are some of my reflections. 

Disclaimer: I am a native Indian and hence would give opinion based on my cultural exposure. Someone from the UK may feel it differently; but I believe Indians are best to be reconstructed by fellow Indians. 

Was Abdul really handsome? 

The movie categorically focuses on Abdul’s handsomeness. It shows Queen even mentioning it after seeing him for the first time. The role of Abdul in the movie was played by Ali Fazal who has a professional model like looks. But a look at the real picture of Abdul tells a different story:

Real Abdul is definitely tall; but by no standard handsome. He is not even cheerful as it is shown in the movie. He has rather a grim face.

Was Abdul selfish and greedy? 

Having read the real historical account, it appears to me that Abdul was a smart and cunning person. He seems to have used Queen’s affection for his own self very well. First, he secured quite a wealth in India for himself with Queen’s grants. Meaning, he very well knew that he had a life to lead after Queen leaves this world. It also proves that his so-called love or devotion to the Queen was not ‘unconditional’. Thereby he was not as ‘holy’ and ‘pious’ as the Queen used to think about him!  

The fact that he took quite a good deal of money not for the services he did but for the affection he was bestowed upon by the Queen, is seen immoral as per Indian culture and society. It changes the way we look at such a person.  

Karim told lies 

The movie shows Karim telling lot of lies to the Queen or hiding lot of facts about himself. It tells negatively on his character. It also tells against the pious and religious image Queen had made for Abdul.  

Was Abdul a manipulative Islamist? 

The movie as well as historical accounts definitely conclude that Abdul was a manipulative person. But he used his manipulation and influence over the Queen to change her opinion in favor of Muslims and against Hindus and it makes him a manipulative Islamist.  

As I read, historians agree that the Munshi influenced the Queen's opinions on Indian issues, biasing her against Hindus and favouring Muslims. 

Shrabani Basu writes in her book ‘Victoria & Abdul':  

“The Queen, influenced by the Munshi, continued to write to Lord Lansdowne on the issue of Tyler's promotion and the administration of India. She expressed reservations on the introduction of elected councils on the basis that Muslims would not win many seats because they were in the minority; and urged that Hindu feasts be re-scheduled so as not to conflict with Muslim ones. Lansdowne dismissed the latter suggestion as potentially divisive, but appointed Tyler Acting Inspector General of Prisons in September 1889.” 

Karim’s family migrated to Pakistan 

After India’s partition, Karim's family migrated to Pakistan. That itself tells negatively about the feelings and beliefs of Karim’s family and loyalty towards India.  

Queen’s son was not that bad 

The movie shows Queen’s son Bertie in a bad light. It shows as if he was selfish, manipulative and plotted to gain power. But upon reflection, all these characteristics rather fit Abdul than Bertie. Put yourself in the shoes of the prince and wonder if you would feel differently about Abdul; than what Bertie felt? I don’t think so. Someone else in his place would have got Abdul killed to begin with. Who could risk royal disgrace for a slave?  

When I read from the true historical account that despite his dislike for Abdul, Bertie, now Edward VII after Queen’s death did allow Abdul to be the last on to view Victoria's body before her casket was closed and allowed him to be part of her funeral procession; I felt very positive about him. Bertie must have a big heart in order to allow so.  

The fact that the prince tried to destroy or hide Queen’s correspondences with Abdul looks only natural given how much embarrassment this affair was causing to the royal family. The Queen was at such a stage of her life that she did not care how people perceived her affections for her Indian servant; but Edward and others from the royal household could have only felt bad about it. 

Did Karim really liked the Queen or only her Power and money? 

The way Karim has been portrayed in the movie, it rather seems that Karim had the inclination to try to impress any person with power. The way he behaved with the Queen was plain personal slavery without any respect. I am sure he would have tried the same tricks of flattery and personal slavery even if Queen was of a different nature and temperament. That could be understood – Karim seems to have looked at the opportunity as an opportunity of lifetime and tried to chance his fate. Ironically, in the end he died rather young and without any children despite having secured two wives for himself.  

These are some of my observations and opinion based on those. What do you think about it? 

- Rahul Tiwary

#Trivia: Taapsee Pannu = Bankelal

Ever since I saw actress Tapsee Pannu; it felt as if her face reminded me of someone I knew from before. I just could not make out who it was.

Then finally, it was revealed to me. It is Bankelal from Bankelal comics. See for yourself: 

PS: This is 100% honest post.

- Rahul 

#Travelogue: Mehrauli in Delhi

#National: How NPA of Merged Bank is Better than Individual Banks NPAs

Yesterday, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced merger of three public sector banks - Bank of Baroda, Vijaya Bank and Dena Bank. You can read about it here: https://www.bloombergquint.com/business/government-announces-merger-of-bank-of-baroda-dena-bank-vijaya-bank

Some people failed to understand how NPA situation will improve due to the merger. I can explain it as follows: 

All banks have NPAs but at different level. Average NPA% of the new (merged) bank would be much healthier to make it competitive. They said on TV last evening that it will be around 5 point something. Current NPA% of Dena Bank is as high as 22%. So benefit is due to "averaging". Not too difficult to understand, right?

Secondly, as Mr. Jaitley said, the criteria used was: two healthy and strong banks would be merged with a third weak bank so that the merged entity can digest this third small one without hiccups. In current case, this was Dena Bank. This is called good strategic planning.

People should be surprised, how Government of India is thinking of better strategies than Private companies and best consulting firms can think of! This is called governance with a difference!

- Rahul Tiwary

#National: The Human Development Index (HDI) of India - Latest Data

The Human Development Index (HDI) is a composite statistic or index of life expectancy, education and per capita income indicators, which are used to rank countries into four tiers of human development. A country scores higher HDI when the lifespan is higher, the education level is higher, and the GDP per capita is higher. The HDI is used to measure the countries' development by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). [1]

India being a developing country has been ranked among the lowest among all the countries. But if we look at the past statistics and trend, good news is that India's HDI has been improving every year in the past years:

Year: HDI [2]

------------

2012: 0.600

2013: 0.618

2015: 0.627

2016: 0.636

2017: 0.640

Recently, latest HDI data has been released. India has climbed one spot to 130 in the latest human development index released by the UNDP. India's HDI value for 2017 is 0.640.

It is worth noticing that within South Asia, India's human development index (HDI) value is above the average of 0.638 for the region. [3]

We still have a long way to go.

- Rahul

References:

[1] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/definition/human-development-index

[2] http://hdr.undp.org/en/composite/trends

[3] https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/indicators/india-ranks-130-in-uns-human-development-index/articleshow/65812719.cms

#Moment: The Kid

While returning from office, as I started on the footover bridge, I noticed that a small kid and its grandfather were just getting to sit down on the top most of the stair-case. It seemed they were going to sit on the topmost stair of the footover bridge and watch people go by and also the vehicles go under the bridge. It might be their favourite past time at this hour. But in that moment I also noticed that the kid was looking at me.

When I reached the top of the staircase and tried to pass by, the kid who appeared to be a baby girl, got up and started looking up at me as if she was expecting me to pull her up in my arms! Perhaps I reminded her of someone she was fond of. Her grandfather also realized what she was trying to do and immediately started telling her “bye bye”. Mechanically the baby raised her arm and started waving “bye bye” to me which I reciprocated by smiling back at her and waving her “bye bye”.

As I went away, I noticed how touched I was by the pure innocence of the kid and how eagerly I wanted to be able to hug the baby... 

- Rahul

#Mythology: When Draupadi Calls Krishna as Saviour

In the infamous episode from the Mahabharata, where Draupadi, the wife of the Pandavas is in trouble as she is lost and owned by Duryodhana during game of dice, as people recall, she first tried to call upon all elders present in the court and asked them to help her. When no one saved her, in the end she prayed to Krishn, her friend and brother, and he, using his divine power saves her by giving her the ability to keep extending Saree into an endless thing.

There is an interesting aspect about this incident.

We can note that she first called out all elders in the court for protection. During the time she would not have remembered Krishn because she was a 'logical mind' and hence she was arguing with her husbands and all other elders. Because of her arguments she is considered a feminist symbol today. But when nothing else helped, in the end, she gave up i.e. shut down her logical mind and turned ‘inwards’ spiritually. After she did that, she got God's help and was protected.  

Thing to note here is that she was helped by God when she accepted that she was 'helpless' and weak and needed protection. (Something which modern feminists may not like to acknowledge because for them religion is one more constraint.) Until she had her strong ‘ego’, she did not recall Krishn and hence remained vulnerable. Message is that if we have to choose spiritual protection, ego is our biggest enemy.  

This can also be extended in the matters of all relationships – ego is an enemy.  

- Rahul Tiwary