The Indian Parliament

 Thanks to a very well connected friend working in the Parliament, I could finally visit the parliament. There is a lot of security which is understandable and so no mobiles, phones etc are allowed but being with this friend, we had the privilege of having our pictures clicked, going around the building, admiring it and the well laid gardens and meeting various people working there. We also stood in front of the plaque that had the names of martyrs who laid their lives while protecting the Parliament. We could see the bullet marks etched on stone walls. Finally we reached the Lok Sabha and took our seats to watch the proceedings. The session started and slowly our Ministers and other dignitaries came in. Saw Owasi, Mulaayam Singh Akilesh, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sashi Taroor. Jayram Ramesh, Ravi Shankar,Nirmal Sitharaman, Harsimrat Kaur Badal,Kiran Rijihu and other whom I did not recognise. Mr. Modi and Amit Shah did not attend the session much to my disappointment for would have loved to see them also along with the other dignitaries whom I have never met in person. When Mr. Om Birla, the speaker came and sat in his chair the opposition as if in a pre planned move all rushed to the well and a lot of shouting and commotion took place. They had banners of Shah Resign, Amit Shah shame, shame, Amit Shah go back and what not. I found it strange that Rahul, Sonia, Mulayam, Owasi did not waste their energy shouting and all the others whom I did not recognise did all the shouting and screaming. A lot of paper was torn and thrown while all thesse other leaders sat with a stoic face. I felt bad for the lady who sat below the speaker's chair and pitied her for the noise pollution that she had to deal with and go through. It became unbearable after twenty minutes for the shouting and slogan raising continued and few bills were passed with the, BJP members presenting their case. I just could not bear this din any longer and we came out and had lunch at the beautiful canteen for MLA's where even the crockery had a symbol of the Parliament engraved in it. The Lok Sabha was meanwhile adjourned. When we finished lunch and went in again it began but the same drama continued and the session was adjourned once again. I thought to my self we teach children in school and Colleges to maintain discipline and behave but the highest body of the country does not follow any decorum for protest and goes with the issue of just blocking the proceedings.I imagined the cost to the exchequer, the public money being blown in the name of democratic rights and what not. The whole scene looked like an unruly class which I had never encountered in my life but saw it in few movies. We went around a little bit more,saw the library, the publishing section, the various rooms alloted to MP's. Though one has watched the proceeding often on Television, a live experience is a very different experience. A very fruitful day and indeed a very high powered visit to the capital as I leave Delhi to return home.