Brewing Life

Flip on one side

2012-01-06T22:24:00.000+05:30

When was the last time you had to take a decision? And what did you choose?

Lets start this year...

2012-01-03T14:16:00.001+05:30

... with some valuable lesson passed to me by my mother.

Under Any Conditions, The Key To Achieving Happiness Lies In Being Confident That One Will Definitely Not Be Defeated, That One Will Win.

ps: My mother has not written it.. I think it comes from Buddhas teachings.

Ki dasan ki baat sunava ishq dia..

2011-12-09T22:22:00.001+05:30

Ranjha Ranjha Kardi Ni Mein, Aapay Ranjha Hoyi
Ranjha Kaho Saheliyon
Meino Heer Na Aakho Koi

Daastane-e-Ishq

The wave of change

2011-11-24T16:08:00.001+05:30

After bringing in a significant change in Tunisia, the wave of revolution reached Egypt on 25th January 2011.

The Egyptian Revolution of the masses against the pseudo republic nations former-President Hosni Mubarak, met an interim victory when Mr. Mubarak stepped down from the throne he had held for nearly 30 years , since 1981. This revolution has taken a fresh turn when thousands of protesters and activists took to the streets and occupied the historical Tahrir square once again last week demanding an immediate handover from its current military management to a power in the hands of people (read, a democratic form of government) and revoke the emergency laws once set up and never lifted by former president Hosni Mubarak – an act which they are calling as ‘reclaiming the revolution'. So what made these million people take to the streets in the first place? After the indecent exposure of the vested interests of powerful westerners had been researched and disclosed and hugely talked about, it has almost become a trend, to very conveniently turn and look at them the moment anything happens anywhere in the world. Of course, there is no denying that someone who is the mighty and powerful, will certainly have something to do with most things happening – good or bad, but at the same time, one cannot just get up and say, ‘You did it.’ All the time, mostly just out of habit or mere suspicion. Additionally, I think it is not possible for any power to bring a million people from the civil society on the streets to stand up against one of their own, just because someone wants it that way. Nah, because if that was possible, then probably those 1 million people had to be some sort of robots for that particular someone to program! And most importantly, this is a revolution, not a war. And there is a fundamental difference between what a revolution is and what a war is. A revolution needs passion and intent and is prolonged (unlike an uprising). A war on the other hand could be instinctive and needs money and power to sustain itself.

Now the question is that is this Egyptian revolution really a revolution? If yes, then what were the most significant reasons for this to happen?

Now since this mass uprising of civil society against the government has been continuing homogenously in a peaceful and defined manner since the past 11 months, and their intention has not wavered, this most definitely can be called a revolution. Now for the reasons,

Post the revolution of 1952, in 1953 Egypt turned a republic from being a monarchy. Since then there had been 5 presidents. Hosni Mubarak was the 4th (the 5th one was assassinated). Even through Egypt was termed a republic, but actually it used to practice a very authoritarian form of government. Unrest, resentment and anger against prolonged unemployment, mistreatment, police brutality, lack of freedom of speech, corruption, inflation, misdemeanors under the wraps of emergency laws etc had been long brewing in the Egyptian society. Stories of oppression under the hands of Mubarak can be easily found and researched, so I shall not site them here. In fact you can find a lot of the prime reasons for the discontentment here .

But it was only when another Arab country, Tunisia stood up against its’ tyrant, that, Egypt got the much needed push to break into a revolution themselves. And as David Remnick rightly wrote in his article ‘Judgement Days’ , I quote,

Egyptians, secular and religious, poor and middle-class, flowed into the public square to express their outrage after years of voiceless suffering; they protested injustice, the endlessly documented incidents of torture and corruption, the general stagnation and disappointment of their lives.

These people were there because each one of them had the misery and hopelessness which engulfed them since the past so many decades. These were the people who witnessed or heard stories of Egypt once being the trend setter of the Arab world to what it is now – a country besieged with poverty, corruption, illiteracy, unemployment and injustice.

Were these men and women sent by America? Most logically not, at least not for Egypt. I am saying so since Hosni Mubarak was still very pro-America and also it was the first and probably the only Arab nation who agreed to the peace treaty with Israel, much to the disapproval of civilian Egyptians themselves. Additionally the only oil relation Egypt has is the Suez Canal, and the Suez Canal is anyway too small for large oil ship tanks to pass, hence the Oil Prices wont be majorly affected by any change in the current administration of the canal. So, I really do not see any obvious reason why US would have any direct advantage in getting Hosni out and getting someone else in.

The revolution in itself should not be surprising. It is a known fact, that the concentration of absolute power together with prolonged unchallenged duration is a perfect recipe for corruption, brutality and injustice. Anger, under those circumstances, is nothing but obvious. Today the people are being vociferous in a bid to reclaim their freedom, their right to have free/honest elections, equality, justice, and opportunities etc., most of which seem impossible to them if the Mubarak regime continues. Moreover, the 1952 revolution in Egypt was done to overthrow a monarchy and establish a republic, and with Gamal (Hosnis son, who is even more disliked than Hosni himself) being prepared to become the next President of Egypt, was almost reestablishing the anarchic form and going back into history.

This is also the reason why most of the countries with authoritarian form of government have a need to worry. Because sooner or later, it will be their turn and chances are that the need or desire for democracy will arise from within the civil society rather than thru intervention of foreign nations or western capitals (!).

The next obvious question is, will this revolution bring a significant positive change to what life has been in Egypt, or will it further damage the country. To this, I feel that any change, especially when brought about very quickly with force and out of frustration, does not lead to instant gratification. But what I do believe is that tomorrow whatever happens in Egypt, it will be known that the civil society of Egypt had re-woken and the people took charge and tried to be the catalyst to the change they wanted to see. Whatever will happen to them now will be because of something they did, or tried to do today.

To be in control and to be able to make a choice is a huge freedom. And that makes a whole lot of difference.

Find an entire series of photos from the revolution, here.

I remember..

2011-11-09T18:46:00.005+05:30

A beautiful poetry by Md. Iqbal

Aata Hai Yaad Mujhko

Aata hai yaad mujhko guzara hua zamana
 vo baag ki baharen vo sab ka chah-chahana

Aazadiyan kahan vo ab apne ghonsale ki
 apni Khushi se aana apni Khushi se jaana

Lagati hai chot dil par, aata hai yaad jis dam
 shabanam ke aansuon par kaliyon ka muskurana  

Wo pyari pyari surat, Wo kaamini si murat
 aabaad jis ke dam se tha mera aashiyana

I was reading about Dr. Iqbal and I learned that the two nation theory was in fact his brain child. It was he who visioned a separate nation for the Muslims. I am not sure of this information. This has opened a new area for me to read and explore.

Anyway, today I am writing this entry on his 134th birth anniversary in the memory of him as a great poet.

Ps: You can find the english translation in the comment section.

What a shame!

2011-11-02T12:40:00.003+05:30

The double standards of a few western countries like the 'great' US of A is so shameful. On one hand they passionately guard their human rights and claim justice to be prime for themselves, however, on the other hand they don’t treat people of other countries the same way. It is such a shame. This boy could have been someone from our family.

Women on top!

2011-08-30T18:36:00.001+05:30

I am a photo enthusiast. I love to browse through tastefully clicked pictures. There are many photographers whose work I really appreciate, but this post is not about them.

In so many years of following pictures clicked around themes of portraying different emotions, life, beauty, sins, indulgence etc, I have noticed that photographers pre dominantly use a woman as their subject.

I have very rarely seen men being the posers, especially when it comes to shooting an entire series around a certain theme.

I being a woman am quite proud if we have what it takes to be an artists muse for every emotion, however I really want to know why men are less preferred when it comes to photography.

If any of you have any links to some interesting pictures of men (not single picture -- I am looking for a series) depicting human emotions (not jails or wars) then please do share.

What keeps India Busy?

2011-07-27T11:50:00.003+05:30

Rural development minister, Jairam Ramesh goes for an official work to Bikaner where he was welcomed by cotton spun garlands. Mr. Ramesh keeps it on the table and later uses it to wipe out something off his shoes.

Now the entire nation is offended because of this. The BJP leaders are saying that this act was an insult to Gandhi!!!!

This is totally insane. It just could be a one of situation where someone wipes something off their shoes or dresses with the most accessible linen that s/he finds at that point of time.

To add to this drama, they now demand an apology not only from Jairam, but also the CM!

Linking this to national shame is not really the most intelligent thing to do. Especially when the same news paper has reports on 2G corruption and India being one of the top most depressed nations of the world.

Numerously bitten, never shy!

2011-07-14T08:16:00.006+05:30

There were bomb blasts in Mumbai yet again, and I think we (Indians) are responsible for this mayhem. Our basic attitude of tolerance of injustice, ignorance of the politics around us and our 'I don’t care till I am not directly affected' is bringing us to this pitifully dangerous existence.

This culture of inappropriate aloofness is also allowing the government to take our homeland security for granted.

Imagine the Rupert Murdoch incident happening in India. No one would have batted an eyelid. But since this happened in UK, the entire world is talking about this and it and this news is making world headlines. People abroad are sensitive about their privacy and rightly they should be. But the same thing if it happens in India, no one would have really cared much, maybe there would have been a little murmur but nothing when compared to the scale of what is happening in the western world. If you come to think of this, then maybe the only reason I see is the culture. It’s the culture and conditioning of our people where firstly it is difficult to clearly establish what ‘privacy’ means at a personal individual level and secondly we are made to believe that invasion into our lives is no big deal. This ‘adjusting’ culture in this super transient world of complexity, survival struggle, disparity, technology and access (or the lack of it), is allowing injustice to take place without an appropriate remediation or response.

The response is and can never be violence. It can only be solved if the root cause is addressed.

If each of us do our part of the duties honestly – be it awareness, education, health, knowing and demanding our rights, working for a living, paying our taxes, take into politics, be compassionate and learn to fight against injustice – to self or to others.

It is difficult for me to accept that if a nation is firm, honest and compassionate, it will still be subject to atrocities.

If we are dishonest ourselves, if we cannot look at ourselves in the eye, we are not doing our bit.

It’s time we should stop giving leverage to India saying its big, populated and diverse. Security is basic. And no one’s got any excuse. Including us.

May the souls of the 21 people who died yesterday rest in peace, and may their families get the strength to bear the loss which can never be compensated.

PS: Yesterday there were 3 bomb blasts in Mumbai, the financial capital of India. 21 people were killed and over a 100 injured.

Almost my end of stay in KL

2011-07-11T19:15:00.002+05:30

The 2 months i spent in this fast city of Kuala Lumpur was full of food, taxis, learning about a different culture and ofcourse lots of work. A picture of one of the most prominent structures of KL.

Learn, Unlearn and Learn Again

2011-07-05T16:04:00.001+05:30

Since quite some time, my actions appear unexplained to none other but me. Yesterday I realized that how shallow I had begun to think. How I had started to silently put myself before I put others. I was never like this. The only pleasant character that I knew in myself was humility, kindness and the ability to put others happiness ahead of my own. But I realized last night that I was being my antithesis. I was slowing giving in to the powerful force of self.

A friend shook me out of the spell, told me how I forgot the definition of love and I realized that it was nothing but true. I have been in fact doing this since quite some time and I did not even realize when an action became a habit. I owe an apology, to this person. I am sorry. And I am shameful that I disrespected the greatest emotion in this world.

But as they say 'Jab Jago, tab Savera' (i.e. If you have woken up, then this moment is morning for you'). Thanks for making me realize. I have started my conscious effort to change the ugly habit that I had slowly imbibed.

Incidentally I had been listening to this song called 'Hor vi neevan ho' by Noori from the Coke Studio (Pakistan), since the past couple of days. Yesterday I figured out the meaning. And I fell in love with the song all over again. Sharing it with all of you. (The translation I picked up from some lyrics website and I hope its accurate).

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head even further down (in humility)

Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your even head further down (in humility)

Uccha saroon gharoor mein
There is great pleasure in holding the head high in arrogance

Kaddi naa phall paiye, fakira
But, that pleasure will never be fulfilling

Hor vi neevan ho fakira
Fakir, bow your head further down (in humility)

Paiye gaa deedar sahib da
One day you will be bestowed with His presence

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)

Ho rabba koi meray dil diyan kadraan pachanay
Lord, if only someone could understand the deliberations of my heart

Mein sawali jinna naeen koi sawal
I am a seeker who seeks nothing

Mein jogan ban dar dar phir diye
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another

Koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me

Mein jogan ban dar dar phiriyaan way
I am a wanderer, roaming from one land to another

O koi na meriyan, ramzaan pachanay
No one can unravel the secrets within me

Mein jogan…
I am a wanderer

Chal meray naal
Come along, come with me

Hor vi neevan ho
Bow your head further down (in humility)

and time goes by

2011-05-26T20:13:00.004+05:30

Chasing Cars

I can never know what I want. Maybe someday things will be different.

The Ignored Monkey

2011-02-04T17:25:00.001+05:30

I was actually searching google pages for a tattoo that would fit to my liking and then I saw one which had the famous ‘3 wise monkeys’ – just that the monkeys were replaced with frogs.

As far as I remember I always thought these rules depicted by this sculpture (it supposedly came from a Japanese folk religion) were brilliant, but yesterday, I had a different take on it.

I thought, if I were to build a fresh sculpture of these monkeys, I would have kept only one and fired the other two. They are not required and you will see why. :-)

The monkey that I would have kept would have his hands placed on his heart depicting acts of love – with a meaning that ‘DO NO EVIL’. If people don’t do evil things then no one would have had to shut their eyes, ears or mouth. :-)

As I was writing this post I was trying to find out if these ‘wise-monkeys’ had any specific name. I did not find any name, however I found out that there indeed was a fourth monkey which had his hands crossed depicting the same idea – and hence I decided to title this post as The ‘Ignored’ Monkey.

Just for a laugh: Maybe the artists of the sculpture were hard core communists, they could not allow 1 monkey to take away the job of 3 others, so instead they chose to omit him and keep the other 3!

Interesting Read..

2010-08-24T15:10:00.001+05:30

Interesting read (from Vijay Simhas 10 Things, Tehelka)

INDIA IS NOT THINKING OF

1.PLAN B
It’s what every government puts in place, even in Hollywood thrillers. When will we?.

2.LIFE AS A SUPERPOWER
What will our Islam policy be? What do we do about the UN? Will we have world-class products?.

3.2050
What should our population be? How many states will we have? How do we travel? The works.

4.FOOD
We are dangerously addicted to potato and edible oil. Our food joints sell junk. It shows in the way we look.

5.CHINA
Barring icy civility, we don’t have a clue. There are incursions in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. We watch.

6.DRUGS AND BOOZE
Our biggest blind spot. The number of addicts and alcoholics is rising in every state. We wait.

7.POOR LIFE ETHIC
We are not good with ambition and efficiency. We are poor executors. We are not the stuff of dreams.

8.CLIMATE
It’s hot in Srinagar. It’s parched in Bihar’s Gangetic belt. It’s pouring in Delhi in August. What gives?

9.HYGIENE
Gandhi was right. We are masters at spitting and urinating. We don’t wash enough. We fall sick too often.

10.BEASTLINESS IN PEOPLE
Can’t smile. Can’t greet. Can’t give way on the roads. Can abuse. Can beat. Can kill.

10 THINGS SHE IS OVERDOING

1. Fear of Maoism
2. Sense of well-being
3. Importance of CWG 2010
4. Pre-eminence of family
5. Role of Bollywood, they don’t deserve Padma awards
6. Sanctity of courts, they should be accountable too
7. Politics
8. The media, mostly mediocre
9. Religion
10. The Pakistan bogey

JK-A -2

2010-08-06T12:11:00.004+05:30

children and boys with stones or maybe nothing, against a trained army with sophisticated artillery. Does it not say something? Everything obviously is not right.

Jannat Abused.. (JK-A)

2010-08-05T17:58:00.005+05:30

Everyday when I open the newspaper, I am saddened.
When I spot reports about the valley, I fearfully try and quickly read if the attacked places are the places where my friends live, is it about anyone I know, or is it about someone who’s their relative.
If I being a non-kashmiri feel this terror, I can well imagine whats going on within the state.
Historically, the basis of J&K to be a part of India was fraudulent. The fact that it continues this way inspite of India calling itself a ‘Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic’ assuring its citizens of justice, equality and liberty, is nothing but shameful.
After years of neglect, oppression, false promises, injustice and betrayal, Kashmir has once again re-ignited the anger in their hearts and are out on the streets to protest against the step-motherly treatment and to fight for their rights.
Sadly, they again seem to forget what they face is a ruthless enemy which has absolute power and the best of ammunitions, as against them who are just some random disorganized groups of disillusioned, troubled and unarmed people (primarily youngsters).
Why would a healthy 17 yr boy would take to the streets and pelt stones if there is no reason for him to do so? If you think the government of India is not responsible for this trouble, you are basically saying the people of the valley are mad. Life in the valley is not normal. Visit it to see and read well to know.
I think what Kashmir needs now is an educated and rational leader who connects with the people of Kashmir and lead this fight for rights and justice. No great fights were won without a great leader. What Nelson Mandela did for Africa, what Gandhi did for India (barring a few reasons why I not totally appreciate everything about him), what Hon-Chi-Minh did for Vietnam and like many other leaders, Kashmir is today in need of the torch bearer who would show the right and well thought way.
If this does not happen soon and the civilians continue their non-focused, unplanned and poor protests, sooner or later either they will be suppressed, or cause even further destruction and damage and death.
As I write this, I recall what the Late Mr. Vijay Tendulkar had once said, ‘Ever time atrocities happen, riots happen, the powerful leftist unions are non-existent. Once the riots stop, they come out in the streets with peace marches’. Sad but true. I wonder what I can do, perhaps I can just write something which hardly anyone will read. But there are so many people in powerful positions, why are they not getting together and raising their voice. Atleast someone will flinch after knowing the reality and who knows, maybe a leader will be born!

As I end, I would like to quote a bit from Sahir Ludhianvi’s ‘Khoon phir khoon hai’:
"zulm phir zulm hai, barhta hai to mit jaataa hai
Khoon phir Khoon hai, Tapkega to jam jaayega
...
...
zulm ki baat hi kya, zulm ki auqaat hi kya
zulm bas zulm hai, aaghaaz se anjaam talak
Khoon phir Khoon hai, so shakl badal sakta hai
aisi shakleiN ke mitaaoo to mitaaye na bane
aise shole k bujhaao to bujhaaye na bane
aise naare k dabaao to dabaaye na bane"

2010-08-04T16:02:00.001+05:30

Read this on Discovery Health:

Myth: Cohabitation is just like marriage, but without "the piece of paper."

Fact: Cohabitation typically does not bring the benefits - in physical health, wealth and emotional wellbeing - that marriage does. In terms of these benefits, cohabitants in the United States more closely resemble singles than married couples. This is due, in part, to the fact that cohabitants tend not to be as committed as married couples, and they are more oriented toward their own personal autonomy and less to the well-being of their partner.

Do you agree?

VISION

2010-08-04T12:49:00.002+05:30

I am very fond of films, but I am not a sincere audience – what I mean is that I most often watch films at the end of my day, just before I sleep, and hardly watch the entire film in one go (yes, you can frown!). But yesterday was different, I watched a film by Govind Nihalini called, ‘Drishti’.
This film is about a couple played by Dimple Kapadia (as Sandhya) and Shekhar Kapur (as Nikhil) who have a 7 yr old daughter, and who eventually part ways after a 9 year long relationship.
It’s difficult for me to describe the entire story in a systematic way, but I shall try and discuss the plot.
If we question why at the first place Sandhya had a fling with the young musician (played by Irfan Khan) when she looked pretty content in her life with Nikhil and her child, I think the answer is maybe she was bored with the routine and the mundane activities and repetitions and predictability that a marriage brings. And so the moment she met this young mysterious man who shared the common interest of Music with her and displayed much affection and passion towards her, she got into a ‘harmless’ relationship with him. However, when she felt that soon this fling could spill over and destroy her stable family – whom she loved – she backed out and called off the relationship with Irfan. All this while, she was very sure that her relationship with Irfan was not of love, but of passion and adventure, and at no point was she ready to pursue it at the cost of messing up her family life. At a certain point, she also says that Irfan had the eyes of a newly born calf – very ‘vulnerable’ and ‘dependent’. So maybe she also had this feeling of being ‘prime’ / ‘important’ / ‘perfect’ which added to the fervor and her attraction towards him.
Now talking of Nikhil, I suppose, he was looking for the same Sandhya he fell in love with years ago – the one who was energetic, new, fresh and lively. And when he failed to find the person with whom he could communicate and enjoy like he used to, he was drawn away and drifted towards a much younger woman who filled up that void.
Anyway, proceeding with the story, one night Nikhil sat with Sandhya and told her about his affair and informed her that he would be moving out immediately since it is difficult for him to spend even a single day with her. Quite a few months passed and just a day before their divorce, Nikhil visited Sandhya and expressed his desire to return to her giving her reasons that even when he was with this new woman, Sandhyas’ memories never left him (not to forget, he said the new woman had become strange and domestic and perhaps in love with another younger man). This area is a bit gray, since they show a shortly revived passionate moment but the very next scene hints that they had the divorce anyway and later became friends.
Now if I come to think of this particular story and analyze why their marriage did not work, I think it just the lack of efforts by both of them to overcome the obvious consequences that familiarity and routine brings to ones life. I am saying the above statement in context to relationships which have matured and is based on more intelligent reasons like intellect, sharing similar ideas about life, appreciation of the partner and his/her personality and character. I don’t know very clearly, since I am not saying that couples have to stay together even when they don’t have the desire, but what I am saying is that maybe one should not walk out simply because there is no passion in their relationship. Passion is transient – what you are passionate about today, may become boring / familiar tomorrow. And we are talking of people here, not objects. I think its grossly unfair for the other person (You may argue that staying with someone you don’t love is being unfair to yourself and in a way also unfair to the partner, but that is another debate). I agree that to maintain a bare minimum health in a relationship there should be a mix of discipline, trust, respect, space and adventure. And it would work only if the couple shares this responsibility of maintaining sanity, peace and affection. Its easy to say, its not working, but its only fair and honest to discuss, talk and then respectfully decide what needs to be done.
I know may be I am talking of ideal relations, but life is anything but ideal. I have hardly heard of thinking people having one marriage. But I still have not completely understood why it can be impossible to maintain a unique and ‘custom-made’ relationship with their partner – particularly when the initial deciding factors were not frivolous.
You are born with most of relationships, only friendships and partners are chosen by us. Don’t choose if you are not sure. And if you get in, you must have a very good reason to walk out. Don’t you think?

The great american dream

2010-08-03T16:42:00.002+05:30

Watch this
one by George Carlin.

Aye-Ghame-Dil

2010-06-12T11:44:00.002+05:30

Oh how much I love this Nazm.
I would like to thank Sandeep who gave us an insight on Majazs' life in one of his comments on my previous post on Aawara. I would urge people to read what he wrote.

RangDo - Project 2, Uttaranchal Beckons!

2010-05-10T20:49:00.003+05:30

With the overwhelming success of our previous event at Delhi, we now head further north to a picturesque village somewhere in the beautiful valleys of Uttaranchal.

This time we are painting a 'Balwadi' (a Pre-school) run by an NGO called Chirag.

Like last time, we again invite you to come with family and friends to this place called Simail Gaon, near Spila in Nainital District and participate in painting their little place with the colors of love, laughter, care, compassion and ofcourse bright paints!

The participants are expected to contribute Rs. 1000 for the cause to help us meet the expenses that we would incur to execute the event. Given the nature of our jobs, I am sure the contribution will not be a deterrent for most of us. After all we all know we need the money to make the change. :-)

Participants from Delhi can take the Ranikhet Express which leaves at night and reaches Kathgodam (the closest station) in the wee hours of morning. This place is another 3 hrs taxi ride from the station. We could arrange a car for pick up and we could put you up with a host family in the village.

Pure 'swadesi' experience is assured. You can spend the Saturday painting with the team (we already have 7 enthusiastic canadian participants) and spending time with the kids, and on Sunday we all could chill out.

It will surely be a weekend well spent! Think about it, if you are interested, pl leave a comment with your email id, and I will get back

Convicted, 26/11

2010-05-04T11:03:00.002+05:30

Its judgement day for the lone surviving attacker of 26/11.
I was listening to a few video clips which highlighted the divided views of the lawyers on the kind of punishment that they felt appropriate for Ajmal Kasab.

Half of the people interviewed thought capital punishment was the only punishment which could be given in order to get even with the crimes he committed, and another section of people thought that life imprisonment was more suitable, since men on such missions are generally in acceptance of death.

While these men in black robes confidently declared the best punishment for this man, there was a screen rolling behind them which repeatedly kept showing the pictures of Kasab, one in which he had an AK47 in hand, another where he was lying in a hospital bed, then there was one where he sat handcuffed in a police station, and another one at the court, and a last black and white close up of his face. Those pictures almost silenced the video, and I thought if such punishments are only way to deal with people who are victims themselves.

Ajmal Amir Kasab was a son of a poor man from Faridkot. He was a petty thief in the streets of Lahore, when one day he decided to take arms training so that his job of stealing became easier. Little did he know that the people who were prepared to give him free arms training would slowly poison his mind in such a manner that he will become ready to kill others for a meagre sum of money (which would be given to his family later) and a confirmed place in 'jannat' after he achieved martyrdom. The indoctrination was such that this young man of 22 years set out on this dangerous mission without much thought and knowledge. Of course, we cant excuse him for his stupidity -- more because his stupidity has caused misery to hundreds of families and also to the entire country, but are punishments like death or life in prison fair for people who are puppets in the hands of fatalist fanatics? The question is, is it fair to kill the messenger?

I think India should use the information Kasab can provide and try to nail the big pins. India should allow him another chance and by giving him an environment where he is able to realize the agony he caused to so many people and then send him back to his hometown to tell his story and maybe save more innocent young men like him from becoming soft targets of the real terrorists. This way may be we could get a little closer to the real culprits and also save another boy from becoming another Ajmal Kasab.

Many will argue that had I been a victim, I would have thought differently. I cant say for sure, but for now, as Gandhi said, 'An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind'.

Alif

2010-04-11T01:05:00.003+05:30

Parh parh ilm te faazil hoya
Te kaday apnay aap nu parhya ee na

Bhaj bhaj warna ay mandir maseeti
Te kaday mann apnay wich warya ee na

Larna ay roz shaitaan de naal
Te kadi nafs apnay naal larya ee na

Bulleh Shah asmaani ud-deya pharonda ay
Te jera ghar betha unoon pharya ee na

Bas kareen o yaar

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar
Ik Alif teray darkaar

Bas kareen o yaar

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan

Nee main jaanaa Jogi de naal

Jo naa jaane, Haqq ki taaqat
Rabb naa devey us ko Himmat

Hum Mann ke darya mein doobey
Kaisi nayya? Kya manjhdhaar?

Bas kareen o yaar

End the race, my friend

Ilm-oun bas kareen o yaar

Allah Sayyaan Allah Sayyaan

Best Place to Live

2010-02-12T22:08:00.005+05:30

1. France
2. Australia
3. Switzerland
4. Germany
5. New Zealand
6. Luxembourg
7. The U.S.
8. Belgium
9. Canada
10.Italy

Read more here

Promises unkept

2010-02-12T22:07:00.002+05:30

Its been a little more than a year since the time America had chosen its new leader. A leader who had mobilized the masses, the youngsters and the optimists, showing them a dream and giving them a hope of bringing back their lost dignity.

Huge strategic promises were made while the entire world watched -- everyone thought that this man could be the leader a nation as big and powerful like the United States was waiting for.

Bringing an end to the Overseas Contingency Operation, bringing back the lost jobs, assisting in Palestine-Isreal conflict and more..

I read here Obama admitted and apologized for not being able to understand the difficulties involved in restarting the peace process (bet. Israel and Palestine).

Like its said, playing a leader on stage is much different than actually being a leader.

You cant have what I have!

2010-02-12T22:05:00.001+05:30

More often than not, when I read any news item, there has to a mention of the United States. I am amazed with the ability of this nation to some how make itself a part of virtually everything - play the devil and then pose as the greatest well wisher.

Recently the news Iran developing Uranium Enrichment Plants is making the powerful and pseudo-threatened countries frown.

According to Iran, the big powers had promised to provide it with fuel rods made from low-enriched Uranium for a medical reactor. But since this UN - brokered plan collapsed, Iran decided to go ahead and develop technology to enrich the Uranium to upto 20% from its existing capability of enriching it upto 3.5% thereby sufficing its own needs.

Now, why is the west so afraid of letting a nation do what it wants to with its own resources and without causing harm to others? Say for a moment we even believe that Iran is steadily moving toward making nuclear arms (given the fact that Uranium needs to be enriched to almost 90% to make bombs), even then countries like US, France and Israel should not get angry, simply because they are themselves armed with hi-tech nuclear and biological warfare. It almost reduces to being fear of losing the position of power which a deadly weapon brings.

If these nations are seriously concerned and are against nuclear armmaments, then why dont all of them destroy their weapons or they all come together at a central place and deposit their weapons into safe custody. As funny as it may sound, if they cant do this, they should not expect that the rest of the world does not have the right to build up their own defenses.

Fable from Heaven on Earth. Part 1

2010-02-09T23:13:00.007+05:30

It was a green spring morning and the eagle soared high in the sky, on one side there were tulip valleys all around and the fragrance of flowers filled the air and on the other side were the valleys full of the mighty chinars and tall pine trees. Amid the spectacular landscape was a kingdom of birds. Beautiful birds - of every color and every kind, amongst them was the 'Raaz-E-Haanz' - he was the one with the sharpness of a new sword, the body of a carefully handcrafted sculpture and unmatched royalty. Just like they have in fairy tales, it was a utopian kingdom - with no jealously, no pride, abundant food and peace and happiness. But like fate had it, one day ..

Part 2 to follow..

Bowling

2010-02-09T22:26:00.001+05:30

I was first from last!

Learn!

2010-02-09T22:18:00.004+05:30

Did you just say that you are waiting for the weekend to arrive soon, so that you get to meet your special person who gives you hope and strength to walk thru these twisted roads of life? Take my advise, dont wait. I learned it the hard way, and like its often said that advice is like kissing, always pleasant to give, so please let me indulge. :-)

However, I am quite certain that none of you will listen to me. Each one of you will learn the hard way - thats life. No one can save anyone from going thru another little hell .. we all learn the lessons of life the way they are supposed to be learnt -- by experience.

Oh by the way, I am not saying that you should not wait because you should do it right here right now and all that jazz.. I am saying this because you are responsible for your own happiness. If you thought its someone elses duty to make you happy, you are grossly mistaken. Trust me. I learnt it. And earlier I used to be defensive about it because I used to think loving someone also meant what you want to do certain things for that someone which on a regular day you might not do. :-) .. I remember reading somewhere 'with great love comes great responsibilities' .. but i think the meaning of 'great' and 'responsibility' here are ambiguous... I think there is certain intellectualism in ambiguity. :-) .. If you cant understand something, its intellectual - its beyond you!

YOU are reponsible for your own happiness and there is nothing in this world you cant live without. Not even 'Hope'. I used to be a very strong believer that till the time a person has 'hopes' (read dreams) a person is not poor (read dead). I realized that all these are just mere concepts. You can live without everything -- provided you dont desert yourself.

You should love people from whom you expect nothing, you should not waste your energies loving people whom you need.
Love the less fortunate, the happiness you will get cant be explained in words -- all I shall say is that it will be much better than the happiness that you expect to get on the weekend for which you were waiting.

The opposite of Love is not Hate. It is indifference.

Freedom from wires!

2010-02-09T22:15:00.003+05:30

After years and years of hearing about wi-fi enabled homes, today I am staying in one!
Hopefully, that means that I can now be 'online' at the comfort of my bed.

And hopefully that will translate into frequent posts.

Am not sure if any of you are glad to hear this, but I am..

I get so many ideas.. I wish to write but then I get lazy.

So now with wi-fi, I have only less excuse!

:-) .. cheers to my first wi-fi post!

After long..

2009-12-21T20:44:00.001+05:30

So much on the news that its difficult to channelize thoughts on one subject. With the risk of making readers feel that I am trivializing issues, I will just randomly write with the flow.
1. Oh, Tiger Woods! -- Why?? I mean if a highly successful rich man who has what it takes to have magnificient women throwing themselves at him just enjoys the attention that he's getting, then what problem does the entire world have? I mean if at all someone has to have a problem, it should be the people involved with Woods and not the world at large. Disengaging him from endorsements and removing all ads on which he appeared, and almost emotionally forcing him to declare a break from golfing makes no sense. Its truly a WTF (as amitV would call it) non-issue.
2. Telengana - TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao got into a 11 day hunger strike and won Telengana. How about PC getting a bit worried about Irom Sharmila who has been on a hunger strike for the past 10 years for the roll back of AFSPA? On the other hand, without debating if it was a good move or a bad move to have a separate state, I wonder if everyone started thinking getting separate was the solution, we would land up having some 600-something states (considering we have some 600-something districts) in this nation.
3. Narayanpatna -- Shame on our system. As nisha susan rightly puts it, someday 'You will not be more afraid of the police than a rapist.'
4. Prostitution, Make legal? - Well I think yes, but make legal with stricter control on the licenses. A good article on outlook, highlighting what happened in places (Australia, Netherland etc) where it has been legalized vs the places (eg. Sweden) where the traffickers have been gotten after, is a good read.
5. Overseas Contingency Operation -- Mr. Obama, 2009 is over and soon will 2010 go by. Do you remember your promise? The world is watching, give us up'dates'!
6. Blue-eyes, Blonde, a sparkling smile, artistic, gentle mmm preferably with a pinch of naughtyness - Scientists say thats how babeis will be 'made' in 2020! The fear that diversity of gentic codes will progressively be lost (considering no one would want to have short, dumb, blind children with crooked smiles) and ofcourse relationships will have different meanings, and the whether it is ethically right to play 'God' are being debated on. But as a respite, parents would not have a tough time explaining their kinder garden kids about how they came into this world!

After long..

2009-12-21T20:44:00.000+05:30

No time for love

2009-10-27T19:09:00.001+05:30

Almost 2 decades ago, Andrew (Andy) Warhol said in future everyone will have “15 minutes of fame”.

With a zillion mediums and a zillion things to do, there is ample chance of the prediction turning out to be true.

15 minutes of fame may come easy but making it last longer is a challenge.

Was actually reading up some stuff on highly successful people like Michael Jackson, Marylyn Monroe, John Lenon and the likes, and even though on the surface most of these people had a star studded flashy lifestyle, but underneath their shiny skin lived a unrest and unfulfilled soul.

Maybe the discontentment, the disillusionment, the sadness was their recipe for genius, but then each one of them, at certain times in their lives had expressed unfulfilled desires and longing for genuine relations.

Recently I read about the tapes that MJ had recorded earlier this decade where in he was talking about his life, his family, his work, his relationships and his belief system. It was saddening to hear that he said he was craving love, for genuine feelings. He had become so disillusioned that he had started doubting the intentions of everyone he met. He acknowledged that he was on the road to self destruction.

The more I read about the lives of artists and geniuses, I find some facts that are eerily common with all of them. One is that most of them have disturbed childhoods, they have sudden stardom, they have multiple complex relationships in quick successions, they have drug abuse problems, they have high levels of emotional stress, they earn negative media publicity, they run into huge debts and they eventually die unnatural sudden deaths. I believe they start out with a passion for their art and aim for humble beginnings and then the fame, popularity and strange fixations ruins the balance of their lives and they lose control . I know by saying this I am over simplifying things, but however complicated a picture you draw, the gist would more or less be this.

You work all the way to the top and then you realize that the money you earned becomes so worthless because you cant buy love and maybe you somehow cease to have time for it.

So what does it come back to? Contentment? Peace? Love?

I wonder if having-no-time-for-love is same as having no desire to feel loved. Is it the same thing?

Ghalib..

2009-09-28T09:45:00.001+05:30

Jo had tapey so auliya, behad tapey so pir
Jo had, behad dono tapey, us noon aakhan fakir

..

2009-08-13T23:46:00.002+05:30

backlog 4

2009-08-13T22:16:00.000+05:30

I was recently reading an article on the conspiracy theory that Prez Barrak Obama is not a legitimate US President because he has not yet produced long form birth certificates and college records stating that he was born in Hawaii.

The rumor is that Obama was born in Kenya. A Kenyan ambassador and Obamas grandmom have gone on records stating the Obama was born on Kenyan soil.

However, what was particularly interesting is that in the comment section of that debate, I found quite a few Americans (atleast they claimed to be americans) being absolutely cool about the fact that their president is theoretically not one amongst them. Most of them have said that they would be more than keen to outsource all the jobs to people of different nationalities if they could match the skills and prove to be the best person for the task in question.

I hold similar views.

But then maybe this is possible in countries like America where the diversity in terms of people, religion, caste, terrain, economy and neighborhood politics is not as complex as say for a country like India.

Coming to think of it, how many Americans, unlike Indians, would care or be even bothered that their president may not have been born in US. Perhaps very few (of course, given the very infamous high IQ (ignorance quotient and not intelligence quotient), I think most of the Americans would not even know where Kenya is, so you could easily coax them into believing that its a state in United States itself, and get done with all troubles!). Jokes apart, I remember how when Mrs Sonia Gandhi opted not to become the Prime Minister of India and in turn made Mr. Manmohan Singh take the throne, was actually perceived as a great and correct political move. More because most people kind of knew how the people of India would react to having a 'foreigner' as their prime minister. Even though, Sonia Gandhi has proven herself to be just as much Indian as any other politician in India. In addition, I am convinced that she is far better than many of the other so called leaders.

I feel bad and ashamed of these acts and views of pseudo national pride which prejudiced citizens (mostly the educated lot) are proud flaunting.

Anyway, I have been told that I am narrow minded in several things as well. Whatever! (Am not dismissing the claim though ;-))

Reading..

2009-07-21T22:15:00.004+05:30

It has been quite sometime that I wrote. Not that nothing occurred to me, but just that when they did, I could not write.

Past couple of weeks I have had a strong urge to again start reading the kind of books I love the most, which are essentially the very rich texts from the late 19th to early 20th century (around the time of the Victorian Era i.e 1837-1901). Books from great writers like Thomas Hardy, Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy and the likes.

Right now I am reading 'The death of Ivan Ilyich' by Leo Tolstoy. I began with this book just to get a feeler of Tolstoys writing style before starting with his very famous 'War and Peace'. However, now that I am near to completing the novella, I think I would read 'Anna Karenina' before I read 'War and Peace'.

I am simply awe stuck at the beauty with which Tolstoy has written every line in this book. It is commonly believed that this book also gives a glimpse of how his life was during the time he wrote this book.

Having read quite a few books from authors of the Victorian Era, what ammuses me further is that unlike popular belief, human reactions and behavioural patterns have really not changed over the centuries. The characters that these works of fiction have are characters we can relate to even now. What I mean is that the 'progression', if I may call it so, that the modern era has brought about has actually failed to transcend or alter the very essense of human behaviour. How men and women think, how the society works, what were the driving forces, what were the basic desires, how various professions functioned and what was thought of them.. All of that is almost same in the fundamental level, its just that, carriage has become car, candles have become lights, card games have become casinos, hats have lost its glory and most importantly the words have lost their royalty.

Will write about Anna Karenina once I finish reading that.

Sanjay Rajoura..

2009-07-20T23:07:00.001+05:30

Some more love to our greatly loved friend.

Backlog 3

2009-05-12T22:42:00.002+05:30

Salman Rushdie said in an interview that if, injustice is no longer done on minority communities and if reversible wrongs were undone, would terrorist groups cease to exist?
He think, possibly no. And he reasons out.
Before I tell you why he thinks this way, I would like to know your view, Pl write.

Backlog 2

2009-05-12T22:36:00.002+05:30

PPP's political agenda remains same as it was during the time of Benazir Bhutto - roti, kapda aur makaan. In addition to that, they have another agenda -- to find the killers of Benazir.

At this time when Pakistan is increasingly becoming a breeding ground for terrorists and when it herself faces threat from the taliban and angry foreign nations, does it mean anything to look for Benazirs killers? Or, rather they should focus on securing their nation and their people and thereby securing the world at large.

I know its easier said than done, but devoting time at this hour of urgency for spilled milk is uncalled for.

Backlog 1

2009-05-12T22:26:00.002+05:30

Eminent theater person, Late Vijay Tendulkar said in an interview that ever time atrocities happen, riots happen, the powerful leftist unions are non-existant. Once the riots stop, they come out in the streets with peace marches.
Interesting!

tick tock

2009-05-12T22:22:00.002+05:30

I have been wanting to write for a long long time but there is so much of work pressure these days that I cant even take a breath of relief through out the day.. and at night my energy fails me. Not finding time to write is making me quite upset.. but what to do...

What did Obama do for War on Terror?

2009-03-26T13:19:00.002+05:30

.. he re branded the phrase to 'Overseas Contingency Operation'.

Some Facts::

Iraqis Displaced Inside Iraq, by Iraq War, as of May 2007 - 2,255,000
Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan - 2.1 million to 2.25 million
Iraqi Unemployment Rate - 27 to 60%, where curfew not in effect
Consumer Price Inflation in 2006 - 50%
Iraqi Children Suffering from Chronic Malnutrition - 28% in June 2007 (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)
Percent of professionals who have left Iraq since 2003 - 40%
Iraqi Physicians Before 2003 Invasion - 34,000
Iraqi Physicians Who Have Left Iraq Since 2005 Invasion - 12,000
Iraqi Physicians Murdered Since 2003 Invasion - 2,000
Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 1 to 2 hours, per Ryan Crocker, U.S. Ambassador to Iraq (Per Los Angeles Times, July 27, 2007)
Average Daily Hours Iraqi Homes Have Electricity - 10.9 in May 2007
Average Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 5.6 in May 2007
Pre-War Daily Hours Baghdad Homes Have Electricity - 16 to 24
Number of Iraqi Homes Connected to Sewer Systems - 37%
Iraqis without access to adequate water supplies - 70% (Per CNN.com, July 30, 2007)
Water Treatment Plants Rehabilitated - 22

Complete retreat is estimated Dec 2010

More to follow....

Being Lazy

2009-03-21T20:41:00.002+05:30

Off late I have been so lazy that even when I do think of various things, I just cant make myself to write about them..
Since I notice that there are people who visit this blog, it gives me enough motivation to buckle up and post an entry soon..

Gaza from the shutters of Sameh..

2009-01-15T22:04:00.003+05:30

Add Sameh Habeeb on facebook and get first hand information of Israeli war on Gaza. He said his life is in danger, that he is receiving threatening calls. We must support him and tell the offenders that the world is watching.

Blogger friend from Gaza

2009-01-14T20:09:00.000+05:30

http://gazatoday.blogspot.com/

.. Take the siege away

2009-01-14T20:06:00.000+05:30

… Other side of the story

2009-01-14T19:19:00.000+05:30

This is not my title, it’s the title given by Sameh Habeeb, a Palestinian.

I request all the influential people of the media and show biz to come up and take the due advantage of their capability and communicate to the world about the grave atrocities acts of barbarism done by the Israeli army on the civilian population of Palestine.

The claim of Israel, when they say that the civilian population is getting killed because they are being used as shield by the hamas is totally untrue. These are nothing, but white lies. Recently a school, where terrified civilians were cramped up together to protect themselves from the constant attacks, was bombed – many died and many more got injured to the hilt of being practically dead. The justification given by Israel was that Hamas men were firing from in front of the school gate – they even came up with a picture of the ‘shooters’, which of course was later confessed to be more than a year old. When the lie behind the picture became known, the Israelis changed their story to say that the hamas was firing from inside the school – which also was untrue, since as per the UN records there were no armed men / terrorists, but only civilian population of mostly women and children.

This is only one such example friends. There are many – and you really don’t have to try too hard to find out. Israel is clearly violating international law in broad day light, and if we, as an international nation do not oppose to it, then shame on us.

To give Indians more reasons, I would like to inform that even Gandhi opposed to the idea of Palestine belonging to the Jews. However, this time I don’t want to quarrel about whom the place belongs to – because at this very hour as you are reading this very post, innocent people in Palestine are dying. We need to do whatever we can to help them. I wish I were a journalist and I could bring this up much more powerfully in the media. Or even a lecturer at a college so that I have a huge audience to talk with. But alas, I am nothing but a regular office goer. However, I would like to do what ever little I can in my capacity, and I need your support.

I want to arrange a peace demonstration in front of Israel Embassy in New Delhi on a Saturday (say, 24th Jan 2009). I am not urging you to take a political/historical stand and form an opinion on the issue of ownership (that can be handled once the bloodshed is over). What is important now is to voice against war on civilians. Accepting the gross unfairness about the war should not be difficult for you, and hence your participation should be justified for yourself. I request you to spread the word around and volunteer to come and show our support and concern towards world peace and peace to Palestine.

You can email me at deepshikha_baisya@yahoo.co.in about your interest to join and I will take it forward. We need you at this hour of distress – we will get together make banners, print posters and come up in as many numbers as possible to demonstrate our opposition to the hurt caused to civilian populations.

I request you again to please come forward, because I cannot do this alone – unless we have a decently big group, the news will not reach where it should. I am dependent on your support for this.

You can email me or write in the comment section and I will get back to you.

Lets get together and Oppose the Israel War on Gaza.

Unwelcome Fireworks

2009-01-05T18:42:00.003+05:30

It has been more than 60 years now since the start of the Israel Palestine Conflict.
What I write below is my understanding of the situation, and hence is up for discussions and debate.
If I may permit myself to simplify history and bring out the beginning of the conflict, then it eventually will boil down to the time Nazi's were executing the 'ethnic cleansing' process, compelling the Jews to escape out of Germany in search of a new home, Palestine. Why Palestine? It was because of Jerusalem - which is also the most holy place for Jews. ( If we rewind some more, then I would say Britain played smart -- in 1916 it convinced Arabs to revolt against the Ottoman Empire and then, in 1917 a British Foreign Minister, Lord Arthur Balfour issued a declaration supporting the establishment of 'a Jewish national home in Palestine'. Palestine then was inclusive of what Israel is now.) After world war 2, with support from UN, Israelis occupied a large portion of the land of the Arabs and called it Israel -- even when Jews were a minority population there, they were given majority of the land. (Israelis (Jews) most often got special consideration because of the horrendous crimes committed against them during the reign of Hitler). Hence after the partition and proclamation of Israel in 1948, what was left of the Palestine was essentially the Gaza strip and the west banks and a totally dissatisfied and cheated Arab population who clearly rejected the partition of Palestine and the existence of Israel. In addition to this, the other issues include the internationalization of Jerusalem - which was promised by UN but never really done and also driving out the Palestinians from Israel into refugee camps (there are thousands of Palestinians who have been born, grown up and died/killed in refugee camps).

Have more to write on this.. will continue in the next post soon.

Nusrat Sahab's.. Gorakh Dhanda

2008-12-30T21:49:00.002+05:30

Kabhi Yahaan Tumhein Dhonda, Kabhi Wahaan Pohncha
Tumhari Deed Ki Khaatir Kahan Kahan Pohcha
Ghareeb Mit Ga'ay, Pamaal Ho Gaye Laikin
Kisi Talak Na Tera Aaj Tak Nishaan Pohncha

Ho Bhi Nahi Aur Her Jaa Ho
Ho Bhi Nahi Aur Her Ja Ho
Tum Ek Gorakh Dhanda Ho

Archie

2008-12-18T21:50:00.001+05:30

A must read on Media Failure while covering the Mumbai Attacks

2008-12-02T21:58:00.001+05:30

I would advice everyone to read this post.

Terrorism??

2008-11-28T22:53:00.004+05:30

Everywhere I go, the only words I hear are Mumbai and terrorists. So much that it really makes me doubt the intentions of people talking about them -- do they really understand what it going on or are they just expressing sorrow on the cruelty which is very apparent. I think I am being too edgy -- I would have been upset if people would not have given it its due importance and I am even angry to see how this sensitive issue is being casually talked about over smoke breaks and beer.

I however had a very interesting discussion with someone on how the terrorists can go about doing what they are without feeling bad about their action. At first it looks like an obvious point to wonder about, but I think otherwise. I dont think it is too difficult for a person from the oppressed section of the society to do what these young men are doing. Ask me why I feel this way, and I shall tell you exactly what I feel.

Take yourself into consideration -- think you are a young boy/girl of hardly 12 yrs of age, I need not say that these are formative years. Now place yourself in a place like Iraq or Afghanistan and think you live there. What would happen to you if you saw your entire family is mercilessly killed and your culture and livelihood destroyed by bombs or bullets, and instead of feeling sad, the majority of the world rejoices calling it a 'war on terror'. Then you see your sisters being raped by men of different origins who have invaded into your own motherland raging atrocities in your own house - in front of your eyes. Would you not wonder what is happening with you

What more? Imagine living with a fear of this sort 24*7, months after months, years after years. Do you appreciate that we are unable to cope with it even thru the 48 hours of the 'terror-war' -- think about it.

Now, if some rigid, ruthless and inhuman religious leader lures you into his group and fills you up with horror stories and acts of crime committed against your people, and tells you that the only way to liberate yourself and do good to your people is by doing what these 'terrorists' that we see are doing -- then dont you think it is unfair to blame these young boys and girls? They are not the problem -- they are just grenade shells, the pins are in the hands of the fanatics and the explosive inside the grenade is given partly by their leaders and partly by all of us. My friend argued saying, dont these boys have a mind of their own, how can they sleep after having killed so many? I say, perhaps they were too young to develop a sound and healthy emotional belief system of right and wrong, of compassion, of love -- perhaps because they have not seen too much of love around them. Otherwise why on earth will any 20 yr old pick up a rifle and set out to kill people knowing that he will surely die in the process. This is the age to be free, have fun, go to college and enjoy life.

So, 'terrorism' is not as simple as it looks. Its easy to say that you hate these terrorists and if you could do something, you would perhaps shoot each one of them. Death is not what they fear my friends. They come prepared to give up their lives -- so death is not a fear factor at all. Is it so difficult to see the little soft children behind these faces? Is it so difficult to brim their hearts with forgiveness and love? Perhaps yes, but does that mean we give up on them totally and fan the forming of more of their kinds? Definitely No.

If we want to believe that this act of terror was done by a Muslim organisation then the worst that can happen now is that vulnerable non musilms start irrigating their anti-muslim / intolerance towards other religious groups, and treat all muslims as terrorists and wage greater disharmony. We have to give the young minds a world where they see that things are not as described by the fanatic religious leaders. Till the time there is no acceptance and compassion, there will be no solution. We have to understand that these incidents are not just a result of religious fanatics alone -- it has something else to it -- It is also the result of the years of suppression, the years of being treated with doubt, contempt and disgust which has grown so deep into the minds of a mid sized section of every minority religion of a region. Hence I cant totally blame them for falling prey to the concept of Jihad, not till the time I am confident that we as individuals have respected and shown tolerance towards people with a different belief system.
If these feelings are not curbed, then Mumbai is for sure leading towards a communal war which will engulf the entire nation. Maybe the Islamic nations will suffer but the rest of the world will also not be left unharmed. Its time for the citizens of the world to be compassionate and forgiving. We should not allow let hatred dwell within. Its time to hold hands and walk together and not point fingers. Defy the obvious reaction of revenge, and we will win. Continue to fan the burning chunks of coal, and we lose.

The argument and business of tit for tat can go on for centuries and these crimes will never stop. But what can we as citizens do? I think, Each of us should respect and kindly tolerate people of other religions and beliefs. Each of us should have an open mind and not let others influence us easily -- there is no better knowledge than the knowledge gained by thorough analysis and by a sound and open mind. Each of us should be aware of what is happening to our tax money. Each of us must stand up to the rights of our men in the defense and police. Each of us must protest and make the government treat the protectors of this nation with respect -- allow them good salaries, trainings etc. Lastly and most importantly Each of us should elect leaders based on skills and competence and not based on religion and community. The very first and obvious way of doing that is by having talented and honest leaders. If our leaders are good then we will be good.

Lastly I would like to talk of the ATS hero, Hemant karkare, perhaps the only officer who has put light on the Hindu terrorism going under sheets thru the Malegaon blast investigations was also killed in this terror attack. It is interesting to note that it was just yesterday that the Pune ATS received a threat to life and home for this officer. Now if these terror attacks are believed to be done solely by the mujahedeen’s,and it is by their bullets that the life of this talented officer (perhaps the only officer in recent times who was so close to busting the hindu terror racket) was taken, then it brings us to at least one conclusion, and that is the terrorists were firing indiscriminately. There is also a possibility that someone (from the hindu terror group) must have taken advantage of this situation to get him out of the way? Our state is so corrupt that this could as well be true, but we of-course will never know.

Anyway, I would end by reinforcing that I am not advocating terrorism, I am just trying to understand it.
And the world truth, "Terrorism is not the answer but neither is counter-terrorism".

drought

2008-11-26T08:57:00.001+05:30

of enthusiasm to write anything.. Sorry. Will try and be back in form..
Much Love.

teesta river, gangtok

2008-11-18T22:45:00.002+05:30

A bit from Sahir Ludhianvi's Khoon Phir Khoon Hai

2008-09-18T17:57:00.001+05:30

zulm phir zulm hai, barhta hai to mit jaataa hai
Khoon phir Khoon hai, Tapkega to jam jaayega
...
...
zulm ki baat hi kya, zulm ki auqaat hi kya
zulm bas zulm hai, aaghaaz se anjaam talak
Khoon phir Khoon hai, so shakl badal sakta hai
aisi shakleiN ke mitaaoo to mitaaye na bane
aise shole k bujhaao to bujhaaye na bane
aise naare k dabaao to dabaaye na bane

Who will hear them out?

2008-09-15T16:12:00.001+05:30

Dr Binayak Sen, Ajay TG are a few lucky ones who are at least being heard, if not given justice.
But who would hear people like Prashant Rahi?
Read this article.

Right

2008-09-15T15:48:00.001+05:30

A must read article on the constitution failures -- The right to a fair Trial, by Mukul Sharma

Tahelka Article - A New Day a New Mastermind

2008-08-29T12:48:00.003+05:30

I personally request you to please read this article from Tehelka on the Ahmedabad Blast ‘supposed’ mastermind.

You will be angry to read how the state is conspiring against innocent people and how the ignorant media is foolishly and irresponsibly backing them.

It is very unfortunate to see how Muslims of our nation are being subject to vandalism and torture, and how they are being denied their rights in broad daylight – all this just for being a Muslim in the Hindu majority nation of a grossly corrupt government and equally ignorant citizens.

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main40.asp?filename=Ne300808Anewdayanewmastermind.asp

Time and again, innocent muslims are falsely framed as terrorists and convicted for crimes they have not done.

For an example, Afzal Guru’s case is a very recent example of how the police and intelligence has miserably failed. Any sane human who reads the case will be able to understand how baseless the allegations are.

Of course, if these are not the real culprits, the actual ones must be lurking out there somewhere getting ready to launch another attack (although the recent blasts appears more like a politically channeled fiasco)… So, it is a gross failure. If you cant catch the right guy, you should not at least catch a wrong guy and fill more unrest, resentment, anger which would eventually seed the fire of revenge in the hearts of these otherwise harmless people.

Plus, this also adds to the already overflowing insecurities that the musilms live with – that they can be falsely implicated any time – they can be called a traitor or terrorist anytime – that they are seen as threats and anti social elements by the rest of the population. It adds to the stupid belief of the majority non-muslims, that all muslims are terrorists and that they are ‘bad’.

They are not bad, but if this continues, they will eventually be left with no choice than to fight back, revolt and take revenge.

We are already seeing the freedom movement which is uprising in the Kashmir valley.

what can i do?

2008-08-29T12:41:00.003+05:30

Submitting to the steep fall in enthusiasm, I am blogging far less than what I used to. But that does not mean that I am reading less or am having fewer opinions, in fact it is just that I am blogging lesser, actually much lesser.

Read this post by shekhar kapur, and gave in my comment, which you can also find below:

It is sad to know that people need a front page write up on a news paper to know this fact. But, if people read it and registered it and understood what it means, then too i think the print media did some good. Instead of only highlighting chest thumping news about mergers acquisitions and all the money that is flowing into our country which every media does best, they sometimes do a bit to educate the ignorantly blissful indians who think India is Shining!

What people like us can do abt it??
1. Be aware.
2. Have an educated opinion.
3. Practice and preach what is true.
4. Inform peers of the unjust prevalent in the society.
5. Do our bit to save world resources.
6. Live a decent and not a lavish life.
7. Nurture the feeling to give.
8. Let go of our prejudices.
9. Stand up to injustice -- even if it is happening to someone else.
10. Let go of the thought that ‘how can I make a difference when the rest of the billion people are giving a damn’.
11. Stop thinking that I have too many issues in my life to think abt others, because you dont have to look too hard to find someone who is in deeper mess than yourself.
12. Be tolerant of people who are different but not wrong.

I am not preaching, I constantly try to practice everything that I listed -- some things come easy to me, for others I make a conscious efforts.. But the beginning and truth of change is that it has to start with you.

We are partly responsible for the current state of our people. As the old adage goes "Every country gets the government it deserves"

We need to make ourselves better to get better leaders.

The day every person sleeps with a full stomach, justice is not limited to the powerful, when education is not a privilege, when our women can do what they please and still be safe, maybe then we can say that india truly is shining.

Olympic Bronze way too expensive!!

2008-08-21T16:17:00.003+05:30

So, here again we go again, we have another medal for our country.

Sushil Kumar won the bronze for himself and did India proud, and within minutes of his winning, the ministries and other associations from all over India started showering him with insane amount of money as rewards for his achievement. And by insane amounts I mean sums as much as 1.85 crores of Rupees (that is what I had heard last night on television)!

This really disturbs me for more reasons than one.

Firstly, I completely believe that efforts and success should be recognized and suitably rewarded, but there should be some sanity in it. I think it is also unfair to the other participants who could not win a game because winning is so much dependent on spur of the moment performance. And when you bring stories of athletes like Monica Devi, all this looks even more vulgar.

Secondly, with huge sums of quick money, comes power and aggression. Who can guarantee that Sushil is capable of the responsibility that comes with it? And now since he will get an out of turn promotion to being the DSP, there are all the more chances of him getting into a power trip.

Thirdly, I wonder if the state realizes that the money it is so proudly distributing is actually the money of the hard working citizens of India who are diligently paying their taxes with a hope that life in India will eventually improve – that the common man will get electricity, water, food and education – it is totally unacceptable to allow the states to throw up enormous amount of money this way to just one athlete – ( If you really come to think of it, 1.85 crore is more than the combined income of a mid sized village taken over 50 years!)

I totally respect Sushils achievement, and rejoice on his success, however, I think he should have been given a permanent job and additional perks involving education and food, so that he could concentrate on his game without worrying about his family’s basic necessities.

I had written a similar post when after the T20’s how our cricketers were honored in a similar fashion.

Education System

2008-08-12T15:42:00.002+05:30

Check out this video put by eduvisionary on the global need of changing the education system. I wrote in a comment there and am just replicating the same here:

I loved the speech.. It is so true that we are in great need to change the education system -- especially in countries like ours, where the children are simply learning things which perhaps they will never use in their lifetimes and will most probably forget after appearing for tests on them.. Our study system in the grassroot level hardly helps anyone to get any job anywhere.. I teach slum children in mumbai who are going to government schools, and I realize that they are just wasting their time trying to learn something which they dont like and which will never help them sustain themselves. I would rather have them go to vocational schools and develop their areas of interests so much so that they can eventually become economically independent and happy. It is disheartening to see that many children there want to be doctors and engineers just because they have been conditioned to think that these are the options for someone who goes to school, whether or not one has the potential to be one.

"I blame No One"

2008-07-28T15:19:00.002+05:30

Forward from Shekar Kapur's post, I read the comment section, and the majority of the people say 'I blame no one' (Of course, there are some who stupidly go on saying I blame the Terrorists without understanding how a simple man is being turned into a terrorist!).

This is my reaction to them:

"I am surprised to see that people don't have an opinion. Saying something like 'I blame NO ONE' shows that one cares less -- is unaware -- thinks that he/she is living in the Utopian world.. If one has to be a responsible citizen, he or she should first be aware and develop an opinion -- a sound opinion. A majority of the comments here say 'I blame none'.. How is that possible?? If you hold no one accountable/responsible, how will you take steps to ensure it doesn't repeat? If the people of this nation say, 'I blame no one', then the future of the country is also as ambiguous as the the 'no-ones'. Truly sad -- especially in this era of information.. Like I think quite often, availability of information is doing no good.."

Will it be MP next?

2008-07-28T14:11:00.002+05:30

There we had it again -- Bomb lasts in Ahmedabad --
I posted the following as a response to Shekar Kapur's post on Ahmedabad Blasts.

"It is such a shame that we are witnessing such inhuman random killings done by a bunch of frustrated, disoriented and probably fanatic bunch of hooligans. And if you ask me, who should be blamed -- it has to be the politicians topping the list. Followed by the state machinery, the terrorists themselves and us.
Yesterday I was discussing about the blast with a friend in UK, and during the talk, I actually said that there was no surety that the blasts were not supported or funded or masterminded by the state themselves. I for once cant completely trust my leaders -- most of our leaders are people with horrific histories -- with enormous unaccounted wealth, with numerous criminal records and no education. How can we be sure that Indian Mujahideen is not a brain child of a political plan? Maybe this time it is not (I totally believe Godhra was, for that matter even Babri Masjid Mess was to an extent..), but who can vouch that our government is for working for us? With a population like ours -- which has diverse belief systems, how can we be fair democratic nation?? When we pay heed to 51% vote (considering that to be a majority) and ignore the views of the rest 49%? We are pseudo democratic and also pseudo secular. You and I may not be discriminating on the basis of religion – but look at the majority and you will sadly see that you are wrong. Sometimes I feel, maybe India would have done better if it was under dictatorship of a learned and authoritative person. Anyway, looking at the trend, the blasts are being targeted in BJP states -- Jaipur, Bangalore, Ahmedabad .. So the next in line is MP. I hope it doesn’t happen .. But I would like everyone to be careful .. The least we can do is spread the message of love and peace -- of genuine love -- that can be the only savior."

.. paints her face like an Indian. Huh???

2008-07-24T16:09:00.002+05:30

Last night I watched the film 'A good woman' -- it is based on the play 'Mrs. Windermere's fan' by Oscar Wilde. SO, ofcourse there are some fabulous dialogues, Hovever I found this one in bad taste..

"She's old for God's sake.
She dyes her hair.
She paints her face
like an Indian.
She's a cold,
selfish woman.
Not all attractive
once you know her."

Am wondering, if all Indians paint their faces!! Well, I guess Indians living abroad do.. Plus this film has a plot in late 1930's... the time when Indians could not think of anything but freedom -- access to makeup??? sounds tough..

Well, who knows?

Temporarily out of service

2008-07-18T12:04:00.003+05:30

I am tied up with too much of both, work and play, so not getting enough time to blog..
Wanted to inform my blogger friends, that I will be back soon :)

Meaning of life

2008-06-17T15:46:00.003+05:30

"meaning to life ?

you are the problem
and the solution too
and everything that lies between
is also you

and so goes on
the endless struggle
to find meaning to life
"

Read this in Shekar Kapurs blog.

My take on it:

"I don't think one should sit and try to figure out the meaning of life -- for, a meaning almost doesn't exist -- there is no definitive answer. Instead, one should invest time to make a difference -- even if it means making a difference to one person -- to someone who can not directly be of any benefit to you. Many of my extremely intelligent friends just spend too much time trying to find answers to such cryptic questions. The word 'life' has so many different meanings -- how can one possibly find a meaning of something which is so vague, unknown and transient? Instead, one should work -- contribute whatever he can offer -- write to enlighten others, teach to spread knowledge, share and love to give hope -- spread the smile and affection.
And if at all there is a meaning of life, then it shall come someday to you. Just thinking of it over mugs of coffee or beer does no good. The only thing to realize about life is that It is not limited to you and your happiness. It is far, far beyond that."

Unaviodable Industrialization??

2008-06-04T17:45:00.002+05:30

.. "This year, the latest assessment of 2008 by
ICRA will show a growth rate of 4.5 to 4.7 percent
in agriculture. We are going to end up
with 227 to 230 million tonnes of food grains.
So agriculture in itself is doing well. Yet farmers
are poor because of the vast numbers dependent
on agriculture. If the numbers were
much smaller, let’s say half, you would say
agriculture is doing very well in India." ..
- P. Chidambaram says this in a recent interview

The answer which he proposes (getting farmers into the non-agricultural industries) is the most obvious solution. But we then see the repercussions of industrialization -- and how unwelcome it is to the poor people in rural India -- again, mainly because of the failure of proper implementation of the 'well-being' laws and policies. Given this fact, do we really not have any other way out than driving the poor people away from their own lands for a promise of a better India 50 years later -- which they might not even live to see.

Drumzz

2008-05-15T14:04:00.006+05:30

I love the drums: It looks so stylish, powerful and sexy..
And watching Rahul Bose behind the Kit is nothing less than a treat for the eyes!!
I have a friend who works for 'The Foundation' -- Rahul Boses NGO -- and she gets to meet him very often .. Phew!! I am so jealous of her :( :(

Bandeya

2008-05-14T16:40:00.004+05:30

Found the lyrics of this song from a website, thought of sharing it:

The song is in Saraiki language and it is written by Baba Bulley Shah.

Bulley nu samjhawan aayan behna te bharjaiaan,
Munlay bullehya sada kehna chad de pala rayaan
Aaale nabi Aulade Nabi nu tu kyon leeka laayaan
Jehra sanu Syed saday doozakh milan sazayaan

Raaeen Saaeen subhni Thaeee Rab diyan be parwa yan
Sohiyaan pare hataian te kojiah lay Gul layaan
Jay tu Loray Baagh baharan Chakar ho ja raai yan
Bulley shah di zaat ke puchni Shaakar ho Raziaaan

Bandeyaaa hoooo ,Bandeya

And the story behind it is written below: (picked it up from here)

Actually bulle shah is being asked by his relatives to leave his murshid or guru whom he call as ‘raaean’ or ‘raaniya”

probably that was the caste of his mursheed or peer - hazrat shah anayat which was lower then bulle shahs own caste. every one was after his life to leave his guru.

thats why he explains through this song, who ever calls him sayed( bulle shahs caste) will be punished in hell and who ever calls him raaniya will be showerd with blessings. because for him his mursheed is everything and his caste is now his gurus and in whatever guru orders and decides for him - shakar or raziaan

apne mursheed ki raza mein razi rehna, thats what love is. jo woh khuda deta hai usi mein khush rehna.

this songs itself answers questions of people above saying how can a muslim girl marry a non muslim.

if love is pure truthfull and selfless then its becomes form of god. jab woh khuda, allah kisi caste system ko nai manta , uske liye to sab uske bacche hai to bhai tum kyon mante ho ?

khuda ka saccha aashiq sirf khuda ko manta hai aur kisi ko nai, na kisi caste system ko, na kisi majhab ko.

khuda se saccha ishq karo, ishq hi khuda hai.

*End of explanation*

I loved the film 'Khuda Kay Liye' -- and this song is my current favorite!

1BHK

2008-05-13T15:17:00.002+05:30

Today I spoke to an old friend, a friend from college and it was as usual wonderful speaking to her and getting connected.
There are some people who give positive vibes and she is one of them.

But this is not what I want to talk about in this post. Its about something else – its about staying independent – staying alone.
She said she had a good news to share with me – and the good news was really a very delightful one. She moved out of her parents house and has started staying by herself in a 1BHK house close to her workplace. I remember she wanted to do it for a long time and now she finally managed to convince her parents into accepting this and she was telling me that her parents took it wonderfully and really helped her out with setting up her new house. Now isn’t that lovely!

I think everyone should stay alone – by themselves – at least for sometime. It gives a different dimension to their personality. I agree that there are negatives of solitary existence, but I think there are far more goods than bads.

I was discussing this with another friend of mine, and he was telling me that when it comes to places like Delhi / Noida / Gurgaon, perhaps it is not all that easy for a single girl to take up a place of her own and be assured of her safety. And reading about all the dreadful things that are happening these days, I kind of agree with him. Apart from this, I also wonder if there is a concept of 1BHK apartments in Noida and how ready are land lords to rent it out to single people? It is sad to see how difficult it is for a person to live a life of his/her own choice.

My latest Canvas

2008-05-12T12:38:00.003+05:30

Did this one on Sunday.

Ditches

2008-05-12T12:33:00.003+05:30

I reported about this ditch which is at Sakinaka Junction to the local authories and also to a radio channel initiative of getting ditches in mumbai fixed before the monsoons. You can report a ditch by phoning 44104104 (mumbai number) or send an email to divya@fever.fm -- They promised to follow up and inform me about the progress.

All of us should try to make a difference instead of just complaining.. Hai naa..

Kahet Tagore ..

2008-04-29T18:07:00.003+05:30

I did not really want to do an MBA, but got 8th rank in the entrance test for NM Part time MBA Program.
I really wanted to study Design, but failed in the NID's PG Entrance Test.

Dad came to Mumbai yesterday and after knowing about the results, quoted something that Rabi Thakur (Rabindranath Tagore) had said:

"Jaha chai, taha bhul kore chai. Jaha pai, taha chai naa."

Which mean, "What I want, I want by mistake. What I get, is something I dont want".

Now, you might wonder why Tagore said that what he wants is something he wants by mistake. Think..

Afzal Guru

2008-04-24T16:49:00.012+05:30

I am dumb struck and I feel so shameful and helpless. I wish I could do something -- but I dont know what and how to do it. Maybe I can just try to spread the word around. I request each one of you to please read this article by Arundhati Roy on the Parliament Attack case and how evidences that were brought against the prime accused Afzal guru were mostly fake and doctored. Also, read the letter written by Afzal Guru's wife, Tabassum which was published in Kashmir Times.

PS: I FOUND THIS BLOG WHERE THE AUTHOR HAS SUGGESTED WHAT WE CAN DO ON OUR PART. FOR NOW, I HAVE SIGNED ON THE ONLINE PETITION AGAINST THE DEATH PENALTY -- I DONT KNOW HOW USEFUL THIS IS, BUT I WOULD RATHER DO WHATEVER I CAN. I WOULD REQUEST YOU TO SIGN AS WELL BECAUSE IT WAS QUITE DISAPPOINTING TO SEE THAT I WAS THE 1561st PERSON TO SIGN THE PETITION. INDIA, HAVING A POPULATION OF BILLIONS, 1561 IS REALLY DISHEARTENING.

Because I know I'll never find another you ... A Wishful Search

2008-04-23T14:36:00.003+05:30

Sometimes I wish I could see a result when I search for 'Deepanwita Baisya'.

This time in Delhi

2008-04-23T12:55:00.005+05:30

A few pictures from my visit home this time::

My mum and my nani (granny):

Friends from my previous office:

Me giving Arch a bath:

Arch hung out to dry,

Then he being himself all over again:

Lunch with old school friends:

..

Met a few more friends and did many more things -- but could not take pictures of all of them .. :(

Free rides, anyone?

2008-04-22T16:40:00.007+05:30

On my way to work today, I saw feeble hand waving out to the cars -- quietly hoping, that someone would stop.
And I did -- I opened the door and the man bent down to say 'I want to go till the end of the road to post this letter, will you be kind enough to drop me till whatever distance you can', and I let him in.
I was going the same way, and the distance was not too long actually -- but since it was sunny I am sure walking thru the crowded roads for a near 80yr old man would be really nasty.
We sat quietly for almost half the way, and then the man broke the silence saying 'The auto rickshaws are on strike today, and so I had to trouble you by...'. I was flushed with embarrassment.
I don’t know if this happens to any of you -- I feel ashamed when I am in a position where I feel I am enjoying a comfort that many people are deprived of -– and when I say ashamed, I really feel so guilty and embarrassed that I almost wish I could jump out of my own skin. In this case, the comfort was the comfort of an AC car. Flushed with guilt, I said 'Yeah, its crazy -- especially the reason of the strike is unfair.'.. I was so embarrassed and guilty conscious that I thought maybe I should wait till he finishes his work and drop him back, because I was not sure if he will find another person to drive him back. I was mentally behaving as if I had asked the auto’s to go on a strike – Anyway, eventually I did not offer him a ride back --thinking he might find it creepy.
By then we had reached the end of the road, where the man had to go and he gave me one of the most kind smiles I have recently seen, blessed me, thanked me with folded hands like I had done a super big favor to him – all this added to my discomfort,in my mind I was silently pleading him to stop -- It was almost getting suffocating to be where I was -- the point where I had to allow that person to go back into the scorching heat -- the fear of whether he will be able to find a transport back home – and then the uneasiness of my own comfort. I was numb for the rest of my travel.

We often see people on the roads asking for lifts (free rides), but most of us seldom stop – mainly because of all the mishaps which have managed to make us skeptical about the intentions of people you are trying to help. I know it is unsafe -- and maybe I was just lucky that nothing bad happened to me, and that old man was actually a nice and honest person who meant no harm.
But it is sad that because of a few scoundrels, a whole lot of goodness is getting lost.

I have had a bad experience with giving lifts some years back after which I have kind of become a little more careful -- but sometimes, I just leave it to chance and stop anyway.

I am sure many of you will think I over reacted -- or I am super sensitive -- but I am not really like that -- I am touchy feely only when it comes to coming face to face with the unfairness in the world. I feel very guilty. Maybe I should go see a shrink .. its abnormal naa?

Strokes

2008-04-22T15:23:00.003+05:30

Yesterday, I painted a small canvas -- held the brush after a long time -- I had no picture in mind, so just made whatever came to me naturally..

Salsa

2008-04-22T10:19:00.011+05:30

The good new is, I have started working out and eating healthy food.
My aunt in London had taught me how to make a Salsa salad - It is healthy, filling and very tasty. These days I eat 1 large serving of it for lunch and 1 small portion of it along with a small brown bread sandwich for dinner.
I would like to share the recipe of the salad for all the readers who would like to try it either as a meal to lose some pounds, or just as a snack:

1.Finely cut every juicy fruit and vegetable you can think of -- pineapples, apples, oranges, watermelon, cucumber, carrot, tomatoes (i put lots of them) and a few green chillies (Do not put Bananas - if you are thinking of losing weight -- you should avoid bananas -- it is actually a balanced fruiit but it is high in calories).
2.Put some lemon juice, salt and a little honey (I put some chaat masala as well - to give a little Indian feel to it).
3.Keep refrigerated and eat whenever you feel hungry.

The key is to cut the fruits and veggies as finely as you can. The more finely you cut, the better it tastes.

PS. I am hopeful about the mid May mission of mine ;)

2008-04-10T15:13:00.002+05:30

I dont want to fight no war - I dont know what I am fighting for -- Divided, I dont want to be, and United I am not able to be.

2008-04-10T14:41:00.004+05:30

When I say I want you, why does it scare you if you love me too?

The Egg or the Hen

2008-04-10T14:31:00.004+05:30

.. No, I dont want to know about this. What I want to know is what comes first, Peace or Love? Does, peace comes out of love; or love comes out of peace?

A scene from London tube

2008-03-28T21:12:00.001+05:30

Can Tantric power kill humans?

2008-03-19T15:39:00.004+05:30

An interesting read on a weird incident that happened in my country.
I dont know if I should be angry on the news channel people as well..

Ad 2

2008-03-19T15:22:00.002+05:30

Take a look at this one:

The first two words in last line reads, Benefit Fraud...

Ad 1

2008-03-19T15:15:00.007+05:30

I had mentioned about an Ad stuck in the local buses of UK on joinng the Army?? Well, I managed to click a picture of it today.

What could it be..

2008-03-18T21:24:00.005+05:30

I found an ironic picture on a fifty pence coin.
It had a picture of a soldier carrying an injured man.

Is this injured man a fellow britisher or could he be a harmless Iraqi civilian?

How do you feel..

2008-03-17T02:38:00.008+05:30

.. when you gain weight without eating good food?? :( .. Okay, It is the golden brown water that I keep drinking.. Not my fault really, In this country, beer comes cheaper than water, plus it is a great thirst quencher ;)..

But now there is a mission: I will post another picture around mid May after I dedicate a month to regular workouts and a 'watch what I eat/DRINK' routine and then we can have a 'Before' and 'After' picture for all your laughs ;)

Shameless American Leaders

2008-03-16T03:08:00.000+05:30

This one is on the Vietnam War..

Is everyone listening??

2008-03-16T01:43:00.002+05:30

This is a very simple to understand video on Iraq war -- I think it is the responsibility of every person to know about this and do their bit to help the world.

You just CANT afford to miss this..

2008-03-15T18:53:00.001+05:30

.. I am so proud and amazed to see what my people can do.

Covering IRAQ War

2008-03-15T18:42:00.000+05:30

http://www.back-to-iraq.com/

I know..

2008-03-15T18:08:00.002+05:30

Took this one from Mindless Mumbai..

another funny comment by a popular networking site..

2008-03-15T17:39:00.001+05:30

What will you be?

2008-03-12T20:36:00.006+05:30

When we were small, one of the very patent and regular question the uncles and aunties used to ask was 'Bade hokar kya banna chahte ho?' (What would you like to be when you grow old (read:what will you do for a living)), and most often I used to say 'pata nahi' (I dont know) and that would embarrass my folks. So to compensate they would say , 'Oh, she is good at science, I think she would like to be an Engineer or a doctor', and I would stand there smiling sheepishly, thinking what the fuck is does an engineer do.. repair TV Sets? Who wants to do that!!

Anyway, after many such blush instances, I eventually, even when I secretly wanted to be a teacher / a chef or something bizzare, I still said 'Mein doctor banna chahti hu' (I want to be a doctor).. and just as much dis-satisfied the world is, my folks used to break in complaining 'What doctor!! She doesn't study a bit.. Doing badly at school.. blah blah'.. So I realized that there is no correct and safe answer to this question and so I stopped entertaining these questions all together.

Its been quite sometime now, I have been working for almost 4 years. The regular road map now is to do an MBA and jump the corporate ladder. Trust me, my folks are after my life to get myself enrolled in a B school, but that is not what I want to do. I am not happy in this corporate set up. My parents and friends keep asking me, that if not an MBA, what is it that you want to do? But now, unlike before, I have an answer. Though not a convincing one, but I do have an answer.

I want to get into the development sector or become a designer or just write.

These activities give me unspoken satisfaction -- The sense of creation, the sense of being able to pass a smile to someone who really needs it -- it gives me a huge kick -- a feeling of fulfilment.

I do these things which make me happy, but they are limited to only weekends -- maybe once, twice or thrice in a month -- not more than that. But I want to do it full time -- I tried to persuade a NGO to hire me, but looking at my technical background, they don't even consider my application. :(

They are ready to give me voluntary work (something that I already do) but not a 'on the roll' job. I don't mind doing voluntary work actually, but the only fuck up is that if I justdo voluntary work full time, who will pay for my existence? Then someone has to do voluntary work to sponsor me!! :) And sadly I have not found that kind hearter sponsor yet !! :) :)

I am not sure if this is the problem in developing nations -- that we can't do what we want to -- I mean, atleast we cant do it easily. Like for the UK -- there are a plethora of opportunities for every kind of work you can think of. You want to be a driver of a bus, no problem. You get a valid license and you get paid 8 pounds an hour -- you work 35 hrs a week and get paid 1120 pounds a month -- not bad at all.. You want to get into the development sector like me, they have many options -- you want to work for the immigrant workers - no? okay, elderly people - no? okay, how about the AIDS patients in a remote village in Africa -- sounds ok? Come on, and you are good to go. How about joining the army? I have seen posters in the local buses here which read that the recruitment people from the Army will come to your house and you can sit and choose which sector you would like to join. You just need to call them up and say 'I want to..'. And, money is not a problem at all -- almost all jobs pay enough to live a decent life. Of course if you want a fancy life, then the competition becomes global. In places like UK (I think US too), if you want to do something, it can be done. But in places like India, you have to worry too much -- firstly, you will have to prove that you are fit for the job, next you will have to fight the competition, then you will have to worry if the money that earn will be enough to pay your bills .. all this apart from facing the regular reactions associated with the 'status' of the kind of work you choose to, the social taboo attached, if any, etc etc ..

I recently read an article of a Londoner who works at a soup kitchen (soup kitchens are kitchens which provide food for the less fortunate) where she talks of her experience of watching a hair dresser come and give haircuts for free to the people visiting there. What a wonderful thing to do.

I suddenly want to be a hair dresser myself and go around giving free haircuts to people who cant afford to go to a parlour.

Now I turn to reality and see what I really am doing -- a stupid IT job that any jack ass can do -- which presumably many jack asses are doing -- filling up the pockets of the already rich and getting no spiritual benefits, doing nothing really worthwhile.. and most of the idiots cant even comprehend what I am talking of, however good in binary logic they might be..

Alas.. when will be the day when I can proudly say -- I am doing what I want to do, that I love my work and that I have become what I wanted to be.
(Secretly, I think I will at some point of my life be able to say all this..)

The little blue tin..

2008-03-11T23:01:00.000+05:30

.. has actually nothing blue in it :(

Spaces

2008-03-11T19:40:00.006+05:30

My office here is very beautiful (atleast from the outside!) -- there is everything a person can think of when I say the word picturesque: ponds, ducks, large sprawling gardens, pretty wooden benches, clean air .. but still there is something missing -- maybe the warmth of a home -- the feeling of belongingness..

This one made me happy

2008-03-11T19:37:00.001+05:30

Aawara - Majaz

2008-03-10T20:47:00.002+05:30

Shaher ki raat aur main naashaad-o-nakaraa phiru
Jagmagaati jaagati sadakon pe avaara phiru
Gair ki basti hai kab tak dar badar mara phiru
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu.

Jhilmilate qumqumon ki raah mein zanjeer si
Raat ke haathon mein din ki mohani tasveer si
Mere seene par magar chalati hui shamasheer si
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vahashat-e-dil kyaa karu

Ye rupahali chhaaon ye aakaash par taaron ka jaal
Jaise sufi ka tasavvur jaise aashiq ka Khayaal
Aah lekin kaun jaane kaun samajhe ji kaa haal
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Phir vo Toota ik sitara phir vo chuyi phuljhadi
Jaane kis ki god mein aaye ye moti ki ladi
Hounk si seene mein uthi chot si dil par padi
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Raat hans hans kar ye kehti hai ke maikhane mein chal
Phir kisi shahnaaz-e-laalaarukh ke kaashaane mein chal
ye nahin mumkin to phir ai dost viraane mein chal
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Har taraf bikhri hui rangeeniya ranaiya
Har qadam par isharaten leti hui angdaiyan
Badh rahi hai god phailaaye hui rusavaiyan
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Raaste mein ruk ke dam le lun meri aadat nahi
LauT kar vaapas chalaa jaau meri fitrat nahi
Aur koi hamnava mil jaaye ye qismat nahin
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Muntazir hai ek tufaan-e-bala mere liye
Ab bhi jaane kitne darvaaze hai vaha mere liye
Par musibat hai mera ahed-e-vafa mere liye
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Ji mein aata hai ki ab ahed-e-vafa bhi tod du
Un ko pa sakta hu main ye aasara bhi chod du
Haan munasib hai ye zanjeer-e-hava bhi tod du
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Ek mahal ki aaa se nikala vo pila mahtaab
Jaise mullah ka amamaa jaise baniye ki kitaab
Jaise muflis ki javani jaise bevaa ka shabaab
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Dil me ek shola bhadak uthaa hai aakhir kya karu
Meraa paimana chalak uthaa hai aakhir kya karu
Zakhm seene ka mahek uthaa hai aakhir kya karu
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Muflisi aur ye mazahir hain nazar ke saamane
Saikdon changez-o-naadir hain nazar ke saamane
saikdon sultan jabar hain nazar ke saamane
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Le ke ek changez ke haathon se khanjar tod du
Taaj par us ke damakata hai jo patthar tod du
Koi tode ya na tode main hi badhkar tod duu
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Badh ke is indar-sabhaa kaa saaz-o-saamaan phunk du
Is ka gulshan phunk du, us ka shabistan phuk du
Takht-e-sultan kya, main saaraa qasr-e-sultan phunk du
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu

Ji mein aataa hai ye murdaa chaand-taare noch lu
Is kinaare noch lun aur us kinaare noch lu
Ek do ka zikr kya, saare ke saare noch lu
Ai Gam-e-dil kyaa karu, Ai vehshat-e-dil kyaa karu