The left and right of RIGHTS

It was shocking to read how the Supreme Court of India is violating the basic fundamental right to practice one’s religion, in the papers that day.

In a recent judgment passed by the SC on 30 March 2009, it rejected the plea of a Muslim student who said that he be permitted to sport a beard in his convent school.

Justice Makandeya Katju quoted: “ We don’t want to have talibans in our country. Tomorrow a girl student may come and say that she wants to wear a burqa.”

It is rather unfortunate that the Supreme Court sees ‘the beard’ as a sign of ‘Islamic Extremism’ that will lead to the ‘talibanisation’ of the country. What it does not see is that by giving such judgements, what effect it is having on the country and its youth is worse than that.

Eevn in today’s era Muslims are time and again subject to suspicion. In order to prove their national identity they are expected to erase all possible signs that project their religious image. A Muslim is either referred to as an extremist Muslim if he has any possible signs that prove his religion, or he is termed as a liberal Muslim if he tries to break out in order to seek a regular ‘accepted’ identity.

It is highly unfortunate that the very basic pillar that secures rights for all citizens of the country and that ‘treats them as equals’ has passed a judgment that is so very non-secularist. One has a right to practice his/her own religion freely and sporting a beard is an indispensable part of Islam. Why is it that Muslims have to prove their nationality in a way that in itself is un-secularist?

In a recent case Politician Varun Gandhi made a hate speech against Muslims in Pilibhit and almost caused a riot like situation in his very obviously staged arrest. His mother was however quoted saying in an interview to a TV News Channel that whatever he said was ‘true’. What the Indian Media doesn’t report is that the young ‘Gandhi’ is a product of decades of communalization. Even though he made use of his basic right of speech ,after this judgment by the Supreme Court we don’t even went to get into the premise of ‘Justice’ and his speech being un-democratic and extremist. The fact that there are more Varun Gandhis out there and the SC will hardly make any difference to their acts makes one wonder – what state of affairs are we talking about and whether we need to question on the politics and science of the term Democratic and Secular India.

After the recent attacks in Mumbai on November 26 , the media immediately launched an open attack on Pakistan and created war hysteria among the masses. Newspapers and news channels used terms like “Islamic terrorism” and “Muslim fanatics” evidently raising fingers at the Muslim sect. In the case of the Malegaon Blast arrests of Sadhvi Pragya Thakur and other alleged accused, when the media used terms like “Hindu terrorism”, BJP immediately thrashed the media for using the term. However if in a similar manner had Islamic groups come forward to object the use of terms like “Muslim Fanatics” and “Islamic terrorism” , they would have been termed anti-national.

It is rather unfortunate that we don’t even question ourselves when such acts happen, perhaps they still wouldn’t matter to a non-Muslim. Perhaps if we could really understand the terms Democracy and secularism India would be a better place to live in.

No emotional attyachar , this is a piece of art

One of the landmark films in modern Indian cinema , Dev D. (finally) goes out of the box to capture a cinema lover’s attention.Dev D is Anurag Kashyap’s modern interpretation of Sarat Chandra’s 1917 classic ‘Devdas’.One thing is for sure that in this creation the film maker does not try and reach out to the viewer for an emotional connect with its character rather detaches them and portrays shades and conflicts and hubris that could be best understood by a thinking audience. Anurag’s version of devdas is perhaps the most honest version made and he surely does deserve a thumbs up for this piece of art.

 The character of Dev is played by Abhay deol who does fairly well in portraying the character of the modern Indian devdas who is a rich spoilt brat whose love for his childhood friend Paro is thwarted not by patriarchal pressures rather due to some misunderstandings. Paro’s character has been marvelously portrayed by Mahi Gill. However Mahi astonishes the viewer with a superb performance portraying different shades in her character- the anger, the sexuality, the ego. Finally, Dev finds solace in drugs, booze, paharganj lanes and chanda, a prostitute who is a DU student by the day. French born Kalki Koechlin give another stunning performance as chanda whose past was doomed by an MMS scandal.The character of Chunnilal alias chunni is played by Dibyendu Bhattacharya whose character is that of a pimp.

 With amazing cinematography Rajiv Ravi captures the viewers mind as well as he captures paharganj’s frosty blue neon lit lanes with the Twilight players dancing away to Dev’d doomsday. The marvelous efforts put into the music for the film by Amit Trivedi is also worth a mention. His other work, Aamir was a stunner and the emotional attyachar has just begun as the film industry finds one of the most talented music directors.   

 It will be unfair to compare anurag kashyap’s creation to any previously picturised version of the novel. This film operates in a psychedelic space He dares and achieves in portraying human sexuality, inner conflict, hubris and creates a space in the Indian cinema which at instances forces its viewers to use which they are not used to using in ‘bollywood’ movies- their brain. Perhaps this is the reason why the film invokes mixed reactions, some touting the movie as a marvelous creation while some say that “drugs and sex is still not accepted in Indian cinema”.Well those who say that take a dig!

 Not recommended for Yash Raj , SRK lovers.Kindly go with an open mind and try using some brain.

Rags to riches-British Style!

A critical review on Slumdog Millionaire

Based on a novel by Vikas Swarup the film is based on a teenage boy Jamaal Malik.Directed by Danny Boyle ,screenplay by Simon Beaufoy and background score by our very own A.R Rahman,the film is being counted as among the best film of all times. It released in India on 23 January but most of us had already caught a pirated copy! 

Jamaal Malik grows up in the slums of Mumbai and one day becomes a contestant on a T.V. show-Who wants to be a millionaire. he is Arrested on charges of cheating on the show. The film unfolds through flashback as he recalls real life events that enable him to correctly answer all the questions. The film has received critical reviews all over the world for the way it shows the ups and downs in the life of Jamaal,his brother Salim and his love interest Latika.

However there a lot of things that most critics have failed to notice, rather say about the movie openly owing to the huge response that it is receiving. 20 % of the film is in Hindi and young Jamaal and Salim are shown to be the 'Slumdogs' who rarely even attend their Municipal school, but they grow up to speak in heavy British accent as Dev Patel's "are you nervous?". From the storyline, Jamal and Salim probably learned from tourists. It must be pointed out that one possibly cannot catch up on such heavy English accent just by learning and interacting with foreign tourists as fake guides who show around the taj mahal , monument build by King Khurram for his wife who died in a road traffic accident!". 

Another point worth mentioning is that when all the questions in the game show are asked, and Jamaal goes into flashback to relate how he knows the answer , everything happens in a chronological time period. From every question, Jamaal's age increases!

The original TV show is recorded in a studio and then telecasted, whereas in the film, when the final question is asked the whole world sees it live and Latika answers Jamaal's call live from the studio and can simultaneously see him on TV. The film has a commendable cinematography and natural lights are used very well to cater to the street shots and most other shots. The director used needless violence in some scenes like the police torture and also the scene where the TV show host played by Anil Kapoor hands over Jamaal to the police and then goes on to say that it is 'his show'. Is such a behavior expected from a mere TV Show host who is paid to do his job? Such parts of the film were overdone and some were highly underdone, like the portrayal of the child-sex industry. However the film clearly does not show India in all good light. One can say that such a portrayal was demanded in the script, but even the other parts were not as inviting as our own portrayal of 'incredible India', like the way the Sikh family reacted when Jamaal steals a chapatti in the train scene.No human being would ever bash up a child and then throw him from the train the way it was shot! 

Simon Beaufoy, the scriptwriter in one of his interviews says that Dev' Patel's acting as Jamaal was incredible even though 'he doesn't even have that much dialogue in the film and in most of the scenes he is merely sitting on the chair and his eyes say it all'. Well I couldn't agree more to that Mr. Beaufoy,but to add to that the real actors of the film i.e. the actors who play young Jamaal and Salim have not received any credit for the movie which according to a Google search has 10 Oscar nominations. another  42 wins and 36 nominations. Incredible Britain I tell you!

In all a well-made film, apprecialble efforts and fingers crossed for the oscars!!

what's so valentine's about it!??

This year Valentines’ Day in India has been played up to a level that even Saint Valentine wouldn’t have imagined.From Sri Ram Sene to Renuka Chaudhury, from college students to student activists everyone is eagerly waiting for the day, and they have special plans for it.

Sri Ram sene, political outfit in Bangalore raided a Pub and beat up young boys and girls and made a subsequent move to ban women from pubs claiming it to be against Hindu traditions.This action drew attention towards the party and once again on the issue of religious policing.Freedom lies unquestioned.

Their Leader Pramod Muthalik says that on Valentines Day, he and his party members will not only hold protests outside colleges, hostels and hotels, where Valentine’s Day celebrations are held, but also forcibly marry off couples found dating in public. Also if the couples resisted the move, the girl would be forced to tie a ‘rakhi’ to the boy.However, Muthalik says that his party members will not take law into their hands. Ironically this action will be a total disgrace to Indian Customs and traditions and Muthalik will only be making a fool out of Hindu traditions, as opposed to his claims on saving Indian culture.This is merely a public gimmick to seek attention for himself and his party. But by giving him such coverage and publicity the media is actually feeding to his aim.

Renuka Choudhury , Union Minister of state for Women and Child Development,is starting a “pub bharo”andolan in response to Sri Ram Sene’s Mangalore pub raid.And in the city a series of activities have been planned to turn this Valentines’ Day into “the biggest India has ever seen” as a protest. A National Panther’s Party has also come up which claims to protect couples on Valentines by using ‘pepper spray and kung fu’ from possible attacks by self-proclaimed culture police. Also, as a mark of protest Pub owners in Delhi are giving special offers and organizing special ladies nights.

Among all these protests and arguments , all that they city’s youngsters seek is some peace and freedom.They are getting unnecessary media mileage. Its a fact that Valentine’s Day was never a part of Indian culture but no one has the right to curb our freedom.Such actions must be condemned and serious action be taken against people who beat up women on streets and take law into their hands.They are not leaders but hoodlums.

Similarly in different parts of the country, valentine’s day is being played up as a festival and other parties are cashing on Muthalik’s deed and acting pro-valentines day and in some cases as the Nationalist Congress Party who have ste up a shop in mumbai to sell special valentine’s day gifts.

The pink chaddi campaign has become a huge hit but it is a mere eyewash in this age of new-parties-coming-up-to-save-hindu-culture.A party which otherwise wouldn’t even have been on the rear end of newspapers is now the talk of the country and by giving them such importance we are not only feeding them fodder but also helping them chew it !

i feel bad for people like Muthalik and Raj thakrey.There is no anger.I think instead of showing our anger by sending over pink chaddis ,in exchange of which he’s giving sarees ( they better be pretty!) , we should show our concern for their weak minds.They need help and good teachers.GROW UP PEOPLE!!… and someone send him a teacher please!….

Source: commondreams.org News Center

The Bush Administration's Top 40 Lies about War and Terrorism Bring 'em On!

1) The administration was not bent on war with Iraq from 9/11 onward. 2) The invasion of Iraq was based on a reasonable belief that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction that posed a threat to the U.S., a belief supported by available intelligence evidence. 3) Saddam tried to buy uranium in Niger. 4) The aluminum tubes were proof of a nuclear program. 5) Iraq's WMDs were sent to Syria for hiding. 6) The CIA was primarily responsible for any prewar intelligence errors or distortions regarding Iraq. 7) An International Atomic Energy Agency report indicated that Iraq could be as little as six months from making nuclear weapons. 8) Saddam was involved with bin Laden and al Qaeda in the plotting of 9/11. 9) The U.S. wants democracy in Iraq and the Middle East. 10) Ahmed Chalabi and the Iraqi National Congress are a homegrown Iraqi political force, not a U.S.-sponsored front. 11) The United States is waging a war on terror. 12) The U.S. has made progress against world terrorist elements, in particular by crippling al Qaeda. 13) The Bush administration has made Americans safer from terror on U.S. soil. 15) U.S. air defenses functioned according to protocols on September 11, 2001. 16) The Bush administration had a plan for restoring essential services and rebuilding Iraq's infrastructure after the shooting war ended. 17) The U.S. has made a good-faith effort at peacekeeping in Iraq during the postwar period. 18) Despite vocal international opposition, the U.S. was backed by most of the world, as evidenced by the 40-plus-member Coalition of the Willing. 19) This war was notable for its protection of civilians. 20) The looting of archaeological and historic sites in Baghdad was unanticipated. 21) Saddam was planning to provide WMD to terrorist groups. 22) Saddam was capable of launching a chemical or biological attack in 45 minutes. 23) The Bush administration is seeking to create a viable Palestinian state. 24) People detained by the U.S. after 9/11 were legitimate terror suspects. 25) The U.S. is obeying the Geneva conventions in its treatment of terror-related suspects, prisoners, and detainees. 26) Shots rang out from the Palestine hotel, directed at U.S. soldiers, just before a U.S. tank fired on the hotel, killing two journalists. 27) U.S. troops "rescued" Private Jessica Lynch from an Iraqi hospital. 28) The populace of Baghdad and of Iraq generally turned out en masse to greet U.S. troops as liberators. 29) A spontaneous crowd of cheering Iraqis showed up in a Baghdad square to celebrate the toppling of Saddam's statue. 30) No major figure in the Bush administration said that the Iraqi populace would turn out en masse to welcome the U.S. military as liberators. 31) The U.S. achieved its stated objectives in Afghanistan, and vanquished the Taliban. 32) Careful science demonstrates that depleted uranium is no big risk to the population. 33) The looting of Iraqi nuclear facilities presented no big risk to the population. 34) U.S. troops were under attack when they fired upon a crowd of civilian protesters in Mosul. 35) U.S. troops were under attack when they fired upon two separate crowds of civilian protesters in Fallujah. 36) The Iraqis fighting occupation forces consist almost entirely of "Saddam supporters" or "Ba'ath remnants." 37) The bidding process for Iraq rebuilding contracts displayed no favoritism toward Bush and Cheney's oil/gas cronies. 38) "We found the WMDs!" 39) "The Iraqi people are now free." 40) God told Bush to invade Iraq. The actual article is too long...but very interesting...the writer has kicked some serious US ( read:Bush) ass...Check it out...

its time we know what we want from our leaders...

1. Accountability-the govt has to make sure that they act on what they are supposed to be doing as representatives of a billion plus citizens.Do not formulate plance and hold "charchas"...we have seen enough of those...we now want to see action.

2. If our neighboring country is cooperating with us they better make sure that the terrorist training camps in and around POK are removed and the world is a witness.

3. A federal agency is formed so as to tackle terrorism and cases of power abuse by politicians.

4. The state police forces SHOULD NOT be accountable to any national or regional party so that they are not a party to any dirty politics.

5. Let our protectors not be underpaid.Lets give them what they deserve.

6. Ample utilisation of existing resources and funds.A lathi holding havaldar standing at a busy marketplace cannot tackle ORGANISED and TRAINED terrorists making proper use of their AK 47s and AK 56s and the rest.

7. Politicians who make public statements inciting violence and divide among region,race,caste,religion etc should be dealt with strictly. People like raj thakrey make statements like "the north indians will get what they deserve" and get away with it...HOW??

8. organizations like MNS , RSS , Shiv Sena and others who incite divide among citizens should be banned.MNS attacked and beat up non-maharashtrian students and the whole world was a witness and there was not actaion against them.

9. We pay taxes as responsible citizens,the govt better be responsible in handling them.

10. Security does not mean a 100 black cat commandos running around and protecting an 80 year old idiotic politician who anyway will die of heart attacks and repeated knee replacements , and whom nobody is going to attack other than the common man(who generally make use of more utilable resources such as their slippers) .

P.S. the post shall be updated on and off....suggestions are welcome

terror and fear...what it takes to survive today...

i hope there will be a day when such acts of terror will be viewed as attacks on our democracy and integrity and our politicians realise so.i hope that,at least on that day our politicians do what they are supposed to do as our leaders instead of turning it into a political issue and worrying more about their vote bank rather than the number of innocent lives that are lost.i hope that day i when i call myself an Indian i am proud of my country,its citizens and our leaders.that day my country shall be free.

During the last three days everyone including me has been glued to their TV sets.Prayers,condolences,anger,disgust,pity,empathy and pride followed.Come to think about it these days when one goes home and switches in their TV sets,its not because we want to see "whats happening around the world",its to see if there been a bomb blast that day.

it is sad what happened in Mumbai.So may lives lost without a reason...i seek an answer...whose fight is it anyway??...at what cost??...where is humanity??...PLEASE inform us when you think you are anywhere near winning it...

i fear...i fear for this generation and the future ones...what impression of life and humanity is it??...200 people dying every month...i fear for those who are suffering...i fear for those dying i fear for the families who have lost their loved ones...i fear for my protectors who wear worn out life jackets to try and save me when they are as much human as i am and a family to provide for...i fear for those carrying out such attacks as they are made to believe their act is in god's name when terrorism has no religion...i fear for their families who love them as much as we love our friends and family...i fear for my leaders who still dont give a fuck about my country and are trying to convert this into a poltical issue and saying "this will work in our favour,people are unhappy with the government"( BJP's CM candidate V.K. Malhotra in Delhi...he also cancelled his last phase campaigning following the attacks due to 'security issues"...why werent such assholes in taj or oberoi?? ...i also fear for his family...)...i fear for a country where hatred,death and violence is the new 'peace' as a day with minor attacks and deaths is a peaceful day...i fear for a life lost as it isnt counted anymore...i fear for the existence of peace...i fear for my Muslim brothers and sister who will bear the brunt of such inhuman people...i fear for my country...

P.S. Today i am proud to say i have no religion and i have my reasons.God bless atheism.amen.

'GOD' is just an explication for what the mankind can't answer for the time being.

The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence.

the same old story...older than ever!!!