Dr. Sanjeev Trikha

Image Source: Flickr | The Good Old Days of Radio W henever I switch on my FM radio of the car, I dive straight into the early '70s when we had just one radio for the entire family. To avoid any conflict, time slots were allocated according to the preferences of family members. The afternoon belonged to my mother who would not miss ' Behno ka karyakaram' and her all-time favourite 'Hindi Natya Rupantar'. 'Aapki Farmaish' and 'Aapki Pasand' programmes that played music on the request of listeners were liked not because of the songs but simply listening to our names in the list.    The Urdu service of All India Radio was the favourite of all. Except for the time when ghetto box was placed in the living room, updating us on the news and routine music, the electronic piece, smartly attired in a brown leather case, kept on changing hands as per the time slots agreed to.     Of all the music programmes, Binaca Geet Mala that was later christened Cibaca Gee...

  We are living in a country where paradoxes galore. The walks and talks tend to differ substantially. Such dual behavior extends to almost every sphere we are into. Females in the form of Maa Kali, Saraswati , and Luxmi are worshipped on one hand but the other is subjected to every kind of gender bias and torture, the need for our Matra Bhasha Hindi to be at the core of all communications is propagated from various platforms but we accept with utmost pride and soothing amusement, our children communicate in chaste, flawless, and fluent English. Corruption is vehemently criticized as the greatest monster eating into the development and growth of our country but we very conveniently become part of it.   Maa Durga puja in the form of Navratras is celebrated amidst serene ambiance in homes and bazaars.   The puja infrastructures in which the ‘eatables for fast’ are conspicuous by their presence adorn the market. The importance of young girls in the form of ‘Kanjaks...

Food cooked by mother ‘Maa ke haath ki roti’   is cherished by all but mostly at times when it is not available. I remember we siblings were fussy eaters and used to complain that the food served is not tasty. “The taste resides not at tongue but is nurtured in stomach where hunger and appetite flourish to make anything tasty, wait for some time and come on the dining table only when hunger in you controls your tongue” was her usual reply and advice. At that time we used to reject such comments thinking that our mother was trying excuses for flaws in her culinary traits.  I feel she was right to a larger extent. Anything can be mouth watering, relishing, and sumptuous if it is tried at the right time when strong signals from stomach are beamed to mind, which in turn directs the tongue to respond accordingly. A few years back when construction of my house was on, I used to prefer brunch to escape the hassle of rushing home for lunch and then coming back. One day I ...

The blame game with regard to our relationship with the neighboring country Pakistan continues amidst slightest glimmer of the hope somewhere and wide splinters of hatred all around. The countrymen especially our brethren in Kashmir continue to suffer and face the ordeal while politicians on both sides of the border miss no opportunity to exploit the situation to their own respective political advantage. Only claims and counter claims of exposing the nefarious designs and wills of each other seem to be the sole agenda of today’s breed of politicians. The extremist forces continue to get strengthened; their striking power getting dangerously widened threatening the humanity and peace worldwide. It is quite evident now that statements made by politicians of reaching the point of ‘No tolerance’, enough is enough attitude, befitting replies to the country breeding terror nurseries, the 56 inch chest have all proved to be hollow claims and countrymen on both sides are completely f...

Amidst much talked about and widely publicised Govt. Initiatives of ‘Make in India’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Skill India’ the focus has very naturally been projected on growth and employment opportunities generated through these schemes. The treasury and opposition benches continue to make claims and counter claims in the hackneyed manner, creating the annoying confusion in the minds of a common man. Playing with statistics or numerical data is like trying your hands at clay which can suitably be moulded to create God or devil. Our politicians who have developed the expertise of shaping the things in the manner most suitable to them, very strategically use or misuse such figures to have their respective ends meet.   In order to arrive at real and trustworthy results, the data or statistics must be objectively analysed and interpreted in the light of various factors clustering around a particular phenomenon. The unemployment data which has often been presented and projecte...

Economy, defense structure, foreign relations, internal peace and security, cultural bondage and heritage are the pillars on which any country can stand tall and firm. If we test the strength of these pillars in our country, there seems to be total fragility cued by an element of uncertainty with regard to these very important sectors projecting Nation’s pride and prestige. A stable Govt. at the centre navigating the country’s policies and programs undoubtedly carries the responsibility of making and crafting policies in such a way that the all round growth and development is achieved and experienced. Political stability eluded our system of governance for quite a long period after 2004. The Janta Party Govt. in 1977 which was installed with much fanfare proved fiasco as it was combination of many ideologies, varied thoughts bound temporarily for a cause which could not be sustained for a long time. After the bitter Janta party experience apart from the period when Congress regai...

Gender distances and gaps are deep rooted in the psyche of us Indians. Right from the childhood stage these gaps are forced into our thinking. Even the so called enlightened society and its constituents nurture such perceptions in a concealed and hypocritical manner which beyond a point can prove harmful to society in dangerous proportions. Experiences clearly show that with the spread of education, these gaps have reduced. But the question which disturbs is that with the spread of education have we been morally upgraded in a fair manner. Mitigating these gaps totally would only be a copybook wishful thinking in the present scenario. Nature itself has created these gaps which should not be interfered beyond a certain point. Sexual crimes and other gender based harassments are not due to these forced gaps, but are results of improper education being imparted at different levels. These gender gaps have been inherent part of our society since ages. The ancient society seldom witnes...