Mauka Mauka !!!

Yet another eventful hectic week passed by. Yet another fun weekend is about to end. And here I am one more time, culminating my thoughts to pen down yet another blog. It is irrelevant what is on my mind, what is relevant is that whole of India is all geared up to cheer for the Men in Blue for their semi-final match against Australia next Thursday. Probably the toughest opponent they will face this season. Come to think of it a lot of us were cheering for Pakistan win in the quarters and dreaming to crushing them yet again in the semi-finals. Alas Indian proposed, Australians disposed.  It’s an open secret nothing gives us more high than a win against Pakistan in a cricket match.

There has been a huge speculation around the Mauka Mauka Ads, which has been a runaway hit this season beside the blockbuster world cup matches. As the chorus grows stronger by the day #Wewontgiveitback, it will be one gripping battle for Dhoni’s men to beat Aussies at their backyard. While we will have to wait and watch, whether India grabs the Mauka and retains the cup, it will be interesting to look back and note our own share of Mauka Mauka as a Nation – also Hits and Misses.

In a country, where lunches are not free, but opinions are pretty free flowing, discussing politics is as regular as cuppa of tea every day morning. While we celebrated Modi’s victory few months back and lauded it as the biggest Mauka to become world’s largest economy, little did we know that there was long drawn exhaustive battle ahead between Economics and Populism. Worst, our enemies within pose much larger threat than our external enemies. So what we witnessed was a very feudal approach by all political parties to all measures current government proposed including the much debated Land Acquistion Bill. 

The selfish interest of fringe religious groups and Opposition, Media houses with vested interests and occasional self goals by the Ruling party ensured that we are in the news for all wrong reasons – Communal attacks, Conversions, the so-called Bans be it Beef or AIB or the disruption in the Parliament. What is worrisome is as we talk, we have larger issues to address like Farmer suicides and the potential attacks by Lakshar-e-Toiba who are all geared up to repeat 26/11. Only silver lining perhaps was passage of Coal and Mining Bill in this session of Parliament.

When it comes to double standards, we are unmatched. We raised huge hue and cry over ban on Nirbhaya movie while we completely chose to ignore a fierce less lady called Suzette Gordon because she did not conform to the so-called set standards of an idealistic woman we wish for. Or worse would not give the media right kind of Mauka for TRPs. Suzette Jordon died a lonesome tragic death in one of the hospitals in Kolkata. Women of India can take heart from the cows. At least they would feel loved in this country. For the records, Suzzette was the Park Street Rape survivor who refused to hide her identity and who was not shown any Mamata by her own state government. Thankfully India has not forgotten story of another hero who died last week, IAS officer Ravi under mysterious circumstances. He was fighting against corruption and Land Mafia.  Each time we hear a story like this, we are filled with cynicism whether this country will ever get a real Mauka to become a corruption free nation or a nation which would start treating women as human. Ironical it is then to observe our misplaced priorities, we worship Gods who happens to be women and beat and rape the same women when they happen to be humans.

Talking about priorities, one sneak peak at Twitter and we know how misplaced we are. Be it #AdarshLiberals vs #Bhakts or the regular trolls, we just need one Mauka to score against each other. So it was not at all surprising to see a reply on Virat Kohli’s wall when he praised #NH10 and his lady love Anushka Sharma. On or off social media, we just wait to punch each other. Not only priorities are misplaced, our egos are too. We live in an age where Gadgets are viewed as friends and Emotions as aliens.  Talking about emotions its complex and not always easiest thing to express. So it was extremely heartening to seeing Deepika Padukone coming out and speaking of Depression in details. Goes on to prove irrespective of stature, we all are human. Having experienced the same in my own life, I know how difficult it is to talk about it. Thankfully today we have growing set of people in our society who are open to talk about uncomfortable topics and set up a social platform thus giving Mauka to rest of the people to discuss and engage. Isn't that the true form of democracy we represent rather than a mere ban?

Talking of ban, we the working class always wish there were bans on Monday. But then if we do not have Monday in our lives, how will we appreciate our Saturday and Sunday. While in Mumbai, a large part of our time, is spent commuting from home to office and vice-versa, often alone lost in thoughts, thankfully I am blessed with a friend who not only generously offers me a ride to office but an awesome DJ in his own rights playing some really cool music amidst the busy streets of Mumbai. Not to forget the ones in office who offers me their share of food when hunger strikes me at odd hours. Talk about humanity, Mauka Mauka J !!!!!!

The pictures used are taken from Google Images.