Nusrat Sahab's.. Gorakh Dhanda

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

A must read on Media Failure while covering the Mumbai Attacks

I would advice everyone to read this post.

Terrorism??

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

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

teesta river, gangtok

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

Who will hear them out?

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

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

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?

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!!

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

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"

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?

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???

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

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

"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??

.. "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

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

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

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

Did this one on Sunday.

Ditches

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 ..

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

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

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

This time in Delhi

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?

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

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

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 ;)

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.

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

The Egg or the Hen

.. 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

Can Tantric power kill humans?

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

Take a look at this one:

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

Ad 1

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..

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..

.. 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

This one is on the Vietnam War..

Is everyone listening??

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..

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

Covering IRAQ War

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

I know..

Took this one from Mindless Mumbai..

another funny comment by a popular networking site..

What will you be?

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..

.. has actually nothing blue in it :(

Spaces

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

Aawara - Majaz

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

Wet Wet Wet

Today I reached office drenched to my skin with rain water..

Had to wait 50 mins at the bus stop for the bus which finally never came.. And then took another one which halts 15 mins away from my office..

From there I came walking ..

It was raining too hard but the wind was so wicked that it soaked me wet and kept me dripping.. As I write this post, I am shivering with cold, my jeans all wet and fingers all numb.

Sitting bare feet because my socks are wet, just managed to dry my hair in the hand drier installed in the bathroom.. actually I tried drying my Jeans and shoes as well.. Yeah my favourite new maroon shoes and not that new anymore :(

Anyway, wrote a huge crib post..

All because I took the suggestion of a buddy and dropped my idea of taking a cab to office.

I was out of my house at 9 am .. And I have reached office at 11am when it just takes 20 mins otherwise..

A wet start to the week.

Did you know?

Kismet is an English Word as well...

kismet \KIZ-met; -mit\, noun: destiny; fate.

Saturday

khoye khoye..

Zindagi sawaalon ke jawaab dhundne chali,
jawaab mein sawaalon ki ik lambi si ladi mili.
Sawaal hi sawaal hain soojhti nahi gali
ke aaj haath thaamlo ek haath ki kami khali.

Quiet or Silent

Quiet is peace. Tranquility. Quiet is turning down the volume knob on life. Silence is pushing the off button. Shutting it down. All of it.

Khaled Hosseini (Kite Runner)

Its raining Men

A report says, given the rate of female foeticide, India will end up with about 1 female per 10 males by year 3000.

You may also like to read this.

JUST-ice

Some places there is absolutely nothing called Justice, and in some, it is almost become a joke!
Check this out.

A wonderful story teller

Khaled Hosseini

Archie Update

.. becoming more and more adorable by the day..

Oxford wheels

Last time when I went to London - Oxford Street, I saw cycle rickshaws. Dont know what it really was -- a step towards reducing Global Warming or, just another mode of income -- or, was it both!

CCC

Compulsive Crib Champ :(

?

I was reading a book today and it again made me realize that I was being a stupid self centered person who was so contained whining under self pity until I was made to come face to face with reality yet another time.

The book I was reading was greatly about Afghanistan, about Kabul, and how life changed for the people after the atrocities first done by the Russians and then the Talibans.

It is hair raising to read how an entire civilization got washed out -- how the already scared, defenseless and oppressed people were and still are, being subjected to inhuman treatment. It is so disheartening to think how the rejoicing of the Afganis turned into mournings when the talibs took to their way of controlling an already devastated nation soon after the roussies were made to leave after creating much damage themselves.

They say that many women have lost their husbands, fathers and brothers, and since they are not allowed to work, they are left with no option but to survive on alms collected my their children or just be on the mercy of the Talibs. The people who grew up eating meat can no longer think of affording a stomach full of meal for everyone in the house. A mutilated dead body is common there -- the children are growing up watching violence and are deprived of all childlike innocence. They are being raped -- not even the little boys and girls are spared. And then the Talibs roar that they are doing what they do in the name of Allah!! Fathers are selling off their artificial limb just to get enough money to feed their hungry children. The learned men and women, who were once professors imparting education to the children of Kabul were now on the streets -- homeless and hungry.

And then there are people like me -- aware but still so oblivious of this for a large duration of our day, and instead we spend it on ghamkhori (self pity) and thinking how unfair out lives are. Even as I write this post, or even as one of you read this on something called a Computer, there are people in this world who have not heard or perhaps have not even cared to hear that something like a PC exists -- people who's lives revolve around just surviving another night and if lucky, get a meal to even partially fill their shrinking stomach.

I was thinking of what subject I should give to this post, and I really could not think of anything that could define what I am feeling right now, so I chose to leave it blank.

Sunday

Was mainly spent reading and cooking sinful food for everyone in the house..

Saturday

This is how the place where I stay looks from the outside:

These,

are enough to buy me this,

at a typical English Pub

Resulting in a smiling me!

One of my fav bengali songs..

.. By Manna Dey

Nusrat Saheb

.. Gorakh Dhanda ..

Sunny Sunday at Tower Bridge, London..

.. and meeting daddy.. Actually I have something about Friday about which I want to write.. but not today, maybe some other time..

karaoke night at an English Pub.. Luvd this one

foREIGN

Ipswich has too many Indians. The bus no. 66, the one I take to office everyday is flocked with so many Indians that I almost forget that I am in a different country.

Yesterday, I was on my way back from the town center (the only hang out place here), and I thought of counting.

I did, and there were 14 Indians and 5 Europeans in the bus at that point ie. approximately a ratio of 1:3. This was about the state in the Bus. But so is the state in the shops, the common hang out places etc etc...

Now, replicate this situation for India. Say, Mumbai. Imagine you get into the crowded local train and just as you enter, all you see around yourself, are foreigners -- so many of them -- all around you. They are there, no matter where you went -- in the shops, the pubs, the gym .... Talking in a language you don't understand, looking distinctly different --

How would you feel? Disgusted, lost? Or, will you feel at one? Will you feel proud of yourself if you were ready to share your space with them. How do they feel, like intruders or they are as confident as you are?

Salsa...

Trying to teach Salsa

And then a student performed

Thought for the day

Its better to be stupid than arrogant. ~ By ABC

The heating system is not working..

Judging is what people do best. Sometimes I wonder is giving up on your wishes is more cruel than expressing your desires? Why is it that something that looks dark to someone can wash out all the silver of the past? Why is that one always need to stand tests -- I guess two rights may never make a right, but one wrong can very easily make the entire show wrong. Funny, I tell you. One day you might see me in WWF, not world wildlife foundation, but world wrestling federation.. After all I am just getting stronger :) :) .. I hate using laptop mouses!! They are so god damn tacky -- so unlike me .. Listening to Don McLean's Vincent (Starry starry night) and American Pie.. Nice old stuff.. Nostalgic -- these songs are of the days when I could not speak a decent line of English, I remember how my sis used to bully me abt it .. Aaah.. makes me smile .. These small pleasures I tell you.. keeps me ticking .. :) .. Will sleep happy now :) Cherio.

Over the weekend - Ips..