Last few days in India belonged to Gujarat as far as the print and electronic media is concerned. Chief minister Narendra Modi’s  three-day fast  for “peace, unity and harmony” in the state, his remarks-”Constitution of India is supreme for us. As a chief minister of the state, pain of anybody in the state is my pain. (Delivering) Justice to everyone is the duty of the state”, are being interpreted as his first ever expression of regret over the post-Godhra communal riots. Modi’s detractors have dug out Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 2002 letter to Modi. His followers are projecting him as the next PM of the country. I get a feeling of “you are either with us or against us”.

I don’t want to endorse or criticize Modi. In this age of media wars, don’t know when victims become perpetrators, and perpetrators become victims. Last week there was a lot of talk of Supreme Court judgement in the Zakia Jafri’s case, Congress expressed outrage and the BJP glee. I am not a lawyer but I agree with a senior journalist who Tweeted- SC wants to invest the trial court with authority to proceed in this issue. The fact is that Cong shouts about post-Godhra riots and  BJP counters it with  1984 and so far there has been no justice, no punishments and no indictments.
I don’t know much about Ehsan Jafri except that he was burnt alive during one of the worst ever riots in Indian history and he was accused of firing at the mob and planning terrorist activities. I read this verse from his book called “Qandeel” ( A Lamp)  published in 1994 and thought of sharing-
“Geeton se teri zulfon ko Meera ne sanwara
Gautam ne sada di tujhe Naanak ne pukara
Khusro ne kai rangon se daaman ko nikhara
Har dil mein muhabbat ki ukhuwat ki lagan hai
Ye mera watan mera watan mera watan hai.”

A joint fine art photography exhibition “ From Infinitesimal To The Infinite” by Anidra Hom Chaudhuri, Jishnu Changkakoti and Prerna Jain will open on 23, 24 and 25 of Aug at the Convention Centre Foyer at India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110003. In this exhibition, the work of three artists who explore divergent paths of photography is on display.

Be introduced to the myriad colours and shapes of the infinitesimal through Prerna’s macro and abstract photography, journey through the hues and colours of human life through Anidra’s work, and marvel at the beauty of infinitely large vistas of the earth captured in Jishnu ‘s photographs .

These photographers, who are part of the Delhi based World Photography Partners, have earlier been a part of different successful exhibitions at the Habitat Centre and Alliance Francaise De Delhi.  All profits from this exhibition will go to support Sarthak Prayas, an NGO working for Voluntary Blood Donation Promotion, HIV/AIDS, Thallassemia, Children Education and Senior Citizens Welfare (www.sarthakprayas.org)
Photographers  exhibiting-
Anidra Hom Chaudhuri- www.flickr.com/photos/anidrahomchaudhuri/
Jishnu Changkakoti- www.jischang.com
Prerna Jain-  http://prernasphotographs.com/

Indian version-

The Ant works hard in the scorching heat all summer building it’s house and laying up supplies for the winter. The Grasshopper thinks the Ant is a fool and laughs & dances & plays all summer.

Come winter, the shivering Grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the Ant should be allowed to be warm and well fed, while others are cold and starving. NDTV, BBC, CNN show up to provide pictures of the shivering Grasshopper next to a video of the Ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. The World is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this poor Grasshopper be allowed to suffer so? Arundhati Roy stages a demonstration in front of the Ant’s house. Medha Patkar goes on a hunger strike along with other Grasshoppers demanding that Grasshoppers be relocated to warmer climates during winter. Amnesty International criticizes the Indian Government for not upholding the fundamental rights of the Grasshopper. The Internet is flooded with online petitions seeking support to the Grasshopper. The opposition stages a walkout in Parliament and demands an apology from Sonia Gandhi. Left parties call for a “Bharat Bandh” in West Bengal and Kerala demanding a Judicial Inquiry. CPM demands a law preventing Ants from working hard in the heat so as to bring about equality of poverty among Ants and Grasshoppers. Mamata Banerjee allocates one free coach to Grasshoppers on all Indian Railway Trains, aptly named as the ‘Grasshopper Rath’. Finally, the Judicial Committee drafts the ‘Prevention of Terrorism Against Grasshoppers Act’ [POTAGA], with effect from the beginning of the winter. There is a demand for ‘Special Reservation’ for Grasshoppers in Educational Institutions & in Government Services. The Ant is fined for failing to comply with POTAGA and having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, it’s home is confiscated by the Government and handed over to the Grasshopper in a ceremony covered by NDTV.

Arundhati Roy calls it “A Triumph of Justice.” Lalu-Mulayam call it “Socialistic Justice.” CPM calls it the “Revolutionary Resurgence of the Downtrodden.” The Grasshopper is invited to address the UN General Assembly. . . . . . . Many years later… The Ant has since migrated to the US and set up a multi-billion dollar company in Silicon Valley. Hundred’s of Grasshoppers still die of starvation despite reservation somewhere in India. As a result of loosing lot of hard working Ants and feeding the Grasshoppers, India is still a developing country!!!

PS-  a friend shared this story with me