thanks

Thanks to the ones who took the poll and I am encouraged to continue writing some other pieces of the story, will go on posting as and when they are ready.....

The post 'Rebels and results' is an excerpt from a set of stories I am planning to write based on my college life experiences. I just wanted to run it through you guys to check whether I am completely off, or at least somewhere near 'readability'...

Rebels and results

From the dark corners of the hostel corridor, Ramesh came running, panting, yelping for Hari. Opening Hari's room door with one hand, still breathing very heavily, chest thrusting up and down, sweat falling down his forehead - he cried "We have done it man! we have done it! Let us pack for home ... glee ... glee ... can't wait to attend my sister's wedding ceremony!"

Hari, as calm as ever, so very acquired characteristic of a small town boy - gave a sigh. Left his books on his bed, slowly got up and glanced at Ramesh. "So man, credit goes to you!"

And again, so very true of those small town boys, thought in his mind - 'Rascal, he has to attend a wedding, for that, the whole class has to suffer with a rescheduling of the exams! What happens to my hard work of 10 days preparatory holidays? Does somebody, the so called friends, care about it? All selfish guys, so full of themselves! What do I go and tell my mom, exams are postponed, yet again? How many times will she have to pay for my trip to village? Will Ramesh's dad pay for it? For how many of our batch mates ? Hoon... "

Aah, and there he goes again, with the outward politeness. 'Ramesh, how did you do it, it seemed so unachievable with the new discouraging principal at the helm?'

'Don't you know a thing? Come on man, don't study so much that you lose all clues about what is happening around this place. It is a long story - can't say it now.' Ramesh said, and started running ahead to other nearby rooms of his classmates to break the news.

'Go back to your bed and continue studying, you will get 5 more percentage of marks this semester with the extra time .. haaa haaaa ....' . Ramesh's voice was heard from a distance, slowly fading, from the other corner of the long hostel corridor.

Hari sighed again, even more deeply this time. Continued looking towards Ramesh's path and wondering what to do now. Neither can he concentrate on studying now, nor can he close the books and take part in the supposed-to-be-happening party in the hostel this evening. It is against his principles, he does not want to encourage anti-exams campaigns or take part in the victory celebrations. But does he have a choice? He closed his room doors and locked it from inside. Sat down noisily on the bed, forced his thought to concentrate on the chapter he had open in front of his eyes.

At the other end of the hostel, a group was slowly gathering in front of Vish's room. There was excitement everywhere, loud shouts, door bangs, running footsteps all around. Ramesh was thinking hard on what should be done to make this evening as memorable as possible. .....

Cleansing the parliament/vidhansabhas in India

Saying that our political system is a mess - is a big under-statement.

There are 1000 parties in India listed under the election commission for elections this year -> see this . What a huge list of choices with only few worthwhile candidates?

Now one more startling fact is 120 MPs have criminal record in the current parliament -> See this one .

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar says that good politicians do exist, provided people are aware and can take a good decision. I think it is an impractical solution, at least in 2009 - asking for majority voters to be aware and to choose right/wise-ly.

What I wonder is, why can't we pass a bill saying that nobody can contest for MP/MLA posts if they have a criminal record? As in,
- pending case where s/he is not cleared yet.
- if there are any proven criminal record in any lower level court even though applied/pending in a higher court.


Now now, if you think about it, it also seems impractical :) no political party will like to support such a bill in parliament (check out the list of political parties fielding candidates with criminal records to support what I am trying to say here).

But then, can the election commission bureaucrats make a rule like that?