Backlog 3

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

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

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

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?

.. 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

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..

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

http://gazatoday.blogspot.com/

.. Take the siege away

… Other side of the story

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

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

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.