Universal Brotherhood Day

It was a warm summer evening. The monsoon had been playing hide and seek and so far no one had been able to find it. The people were in place and they were waiting for the birthday boy. No, don't get me wrong, I am still talking about the Universal Brotherhood day celebrations at Lodge Star of Agra on 24th June, this year. It is just that one of the oldest and senior most member of our Lodge also celebrates his birthday on this auspicious day. Very Worshipful Brother, G.G. Mathur celebrates his birthday along with all the Freemasons in the world on Brotherhood day.

This year, when the Lodge is in its 128th year of holding its meetings, we are proud to have not a few but over half a doxen members who have been serving Lodge for over 25 years, with a couple of them being around for over 40years. We are also proud to have a few father-son members to the likes of W.Bro.S.B. Agarwal and Bro.Sumit Agarwal, V.W.Bro.H.R.Debara and W.Bro.P.H.Debara. In fact, V.W.Bro. Debara and W.Bro.P.H.Debara are 3rd and 4th generation Freemasons. In fact W.Bro. P.H.Debara was initiated as a Lewis at the age of 18 and is one of the youngest master in the Lodge Star of Agra's history. He is a devout mason, travelling the length of the country to attend regional and grand lodge meetings. He has a plethora of of knowledge on Freemasonry, both from first hand and also through his interaction during his travels as a Freemason. He was recently appointed the ARGM (Assistant Regional Grand Master) in the Northern Regional Grand Lodge, earning him the nick name from us as the PHD (his initials) in Freemasonry.

Overall, this Brotherhood Day celebrations were just like former years, with games for ladies and guests with the gents enjoying the casual conversations over drinks. The highlight of the evening, obviously, was V.W.Bro. G.G.Mathur cutting his birthday cake, thronged by his family and friends from the Lodge.

Jaywalking: Politically incorrect.

The Indian political scene is getting from bad to worse, to down right nasty. Achuttanand (forgive the spelling) was crucified for being pro-party (or was it anti party). Mayawati and congress, read Sonia Gandhi, are at loggerheads for a small pie of the most populous state.
Recently, the beaten down BJP has been quite and licking its wounds after being defeated in two elections, back to back. It is the BSP vs Congress battle that is taking center stage right now. CBI is ready to file the charge sheet against Mayawati for disproportionate assest case from 2003. Imagine that Maywati was not even the CM at the time. Now with the construction of a few thousand crores worth of parks, where would the real income of Ms Mayawati stand???
She is trying everything to make life tough for her political rivals, no wait, that is the UP Govt. without any political agenda. From lathicharging (baton charging) the peacful protestors in Amethi, to arresting the UP Congress chief, for commenting against women and communal harmony (she is woman, mind you). It is all holds barred in the political arena today.
As one of my friend says, "I would run for politics, but I would be killed or threatened to withdraw the next day" That is the problem today. There are people who want to make changes, and know how to bring them about. But the current crop of Leaders are relentless to allow anyone who is not their son, nephew, grandson, even grand nephew to take the lead and actually do something.
I don't like any particular party too much, but the move to get one of India Inc.'s honchos, out of Infosys and into the government's ambitious unique id project was really steal. It really signalled that this time the PM is in control and he wants a corporate approach to governance than the psuedo-socialist approach that left out the needy and helped the greedy.
If NREGS is to achieve its actual target, it should employ people to build roads and infrastructure to help develop the country, and not just have the landless farmers dig soil endlessly, just so that he does some work for the day's pay. Most people in the urban India don't even know that NREGS only asks the labours to dig soil, most of the time, to no constructive result.
We are being told is that inflation is negative. While I used to get pulses at an average of about Rs.45-50 in the beginging of the year, today the rates are almost touching 100 bucks. And they say that with the monsoon in its present state, don't expect it to get any cheaper soon. The dal-roti idom is dieing, forget about housing and clothing. If a person can't feed himself, how do you expect them to work to earn their meals, and living. Although India Inc. is happy and hiring again, but India Inc is only about 15% of the 1.25 billion people in this country.
Lastly, I must agree with Shekhar Kapoor (of Mr. India fame). We must do something soon or loose even Water, Gods gift to man, in a country that worships nature as God; God save us all.