Chhath Pooja is being politicised. What about Ganesh Chaturthi or Dahi handi

MNS chief Raj Thackeray said yesterday that he is not against Chhath Pooja (after going against his earlier statement that he was opposed to the festival being organised by Biharis in various parts of Mumbai).

However, this turnaround on his last statement is on one condition – that Chhath Pooja will not be politicised. Mr. Raj Thackeray, can I know what do you exactly mean by politicising the festival?

Does politicising the Chhath festival mean alleging support or funding the festival?

If yes, I would like to show you a quote by one of your own party members during the recent Ganesh Chaturthi festival. Source: Indian Express

“Leaders across parties will be funding and supporting Ganesh mandals this year because elections are approaching. It is our festival and with the recent focus on the Marathi issue, it is a good publicity technique for the parties,” said Raju Palande, an MNS leader.

One more leader of your tribe says:

“We have put up five times more banners compared to last year. We have put up names and photos of local office bearers so that they can be recognised by the people. We are gaining in on the publicity garnered over the last six months,” said Andheri vibhag MNS leader Sandeep Dalvi.

What do you have to say on these Mr. Raj Thackeray?

I hope you will have answers ready to prove that this is not politicising. I think you will apply the same “son of the soil” alibi to save your face now; i.e. you can do such politicising of your own festivals because you are the son of the soil.

By the way, you seem to give more such illogical logics these days. Only yesterday you said this:

“When Lalu Prasad was the Chief Minister of Bihar, there were 1,200 murders. But, there was no demand to book him under NSA. When Biharis were killed in Assam, there was no uproar. A Goan minister opposed starting of a Goa-Bihar railway by saying that the state did not want more beggars. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit also spoke against people of Bihar and UP. But, only when Raj Thackeray speaks, there is a nationwide uproar and the Prime Minister has to intervene.”

Does murder and exploitation become legal if many people are doing it?

You really seem to be a maniac Raj? God knows when these political parties will be tieing your hands rather than just gaining political mileage of the situation.

My humble plea to all mumbaikars who have decided to do Chhath in mumbai is that they do not believe Raj Thackeray. Who knows what act of yours gives him the excuse of defining your act as political and he rampages your festival mood. May Chhath ma give him some sense and restore peace in Mumbai.

Why no TAM for Bihar

Did you know this?

Except for Bihar, Jharkhand, J&K, and the North Eastern states, TAM meters are available in all states.

For those who do not know, TAM meters are used to calculate TRP or Television Rating Points.

The voice of biharis (jharkhandis included) is considered insignificant in media. and therefore no TAM for bihar.

For J&K and the North Eastern States, this is well understood because they are war torn and certain rights of people living in these states are curtailed.

but why Bihar and Jharkhand.

Don’t media habits of the people of these states have any impact on the advertisers?

this explains why bihar finds so little mention in print and electronic media.

and whenever biharis find mention in media, it is to make fun of their rustic habits.

being rustic for a punjabi sikh is worth showing. being rustic for a bihari is worth nothing.

The Bihar of the Future

Also read this article at Indimag

(The idea to pen a futuristic story about Bihar came when my parents called me up to know if I would be home for Holi. Watching the Delhites here enjoy the festivals with their near and dear ones makes me jealous. Why didn’t we stay back in Bihar? Because bihar would have given very few to no opportunities for growth. So the Bihar of the future would be one where the people are able to get all opportunities for growth, education, and a good life in their own state. The achievements may be quite a feat for Bihar today, still we can always dream and focus in the direction. The article may not be factually correct.)

Laxman Sharan was taking his evening stroll in the newly built Gulabi Bagh in nearby Patna when a group of kids catch up with him and start pressing him to talk of the time when a few bandits attacked Gaya town. Laxman Sharan, in his 70s and baba to the kids here, has narrated the story so many times; yet the excitement of the kids here shows no exhaustion.

Bihar in Sorry State

The recent backlash in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra and directed against the people from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh was depressing. And I was sorry not for the biharis and bhaiyas who were beaten and molested; neither for Amitabh Bacchan and other celebrities who were regularly referred to in news as belonging to the eastern states.

I felt sorry for Bihar though.