One monkey doesn't start--or stop--a show.

9

The first time I got a case registered against me under the Indian Penal Code was in college. It was a cold Shimla morning and the provocation was hospitalization of a college mate. He was beaten up by students from a rival college over a sitting dispute in a bus. We went in three buses and the casualty was the rival college canteen. A case was registered against 12 of us, we were arrested and as we were being taken to the court we happily sang "We shall over come some day" to be followed by slogans like "what says Bhagat Singh, we shall fight we shall win". Teachers and elders typified it as a case of youth led astray but we had reasons to believe otherwise. Several years later the case was withdrawn after one of us got selected to the Indian Army. Surely preventing someone from serving....

disturbing signs

8

Not every farmer caught in a debt trap will commit suicide. Ending a life full of misery could be a panacea for some but other options are also being explored. Maoists already have a base in more than 170 districts in the country. Someone from amongst the ruling elite will have to take note otherwise it will be difficult to organize mega events to announce relief packages. Mere lip service won't do. What next for the desperate farmers of Dindori district in Madhya Pradesh who made their women folk plough the fields topless to please the rain gods who didn't oblige? Surely not every one will commit suicide. What about those who were booked for robbing Urea in Ratlam district of Madhya Pradesh last week. Many farmers have committed suicide by consuming urea but again those sacs were not lifted from a goods train to commit suicide.....