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... |
Friday, December 5, 2008
Source: commondreams.org News Center
Sunday, November 30, 2008
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
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
Saturday, November 29, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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Monday, May 26, 2008
ill miss u.....
In Loving Memory of my 'Raju Bhaiya'....
When i was 3 , i was d lone child n d festival of rakhi was d last thing on earth to be enjoyed ... but then there was this person who lived near my house n was my mom's fren's son....i fondly called him raju bhaiya....a brother who cared for me like one and made me feel as special as his other two sisters even in the absence of any blood relation between us....every year during the festival of rakhi i used 2 wish for his long life...in return he'd gift me cadbury celebrations......n if not dat...then loads of money...one day i asked him...bhaiya why do sisters have to pray for a long life for their brothers n why do brothers promise to protect them in return...isnt that just obvious....being a sister ill always wish for ur better.....he smiled back n handed a dairy milk as an answer....wat more i did not ask anything more...his wedding was one of the special days of my life...the day when my brother got married....i was overwhelmed by the fact that ill hav sum1 to call "bhabhi" now....he was very happy too...i was too...for him...eventually after his wedding he shifted to noida....i hav never been 2 his place in noida in 2 years....25 may was the day i came back to delhi from mumbai .....n durin d way back home dad told me that raju bhaiya had committed suicide in his office a week ago..the news was shocking...depressing...devastating...unbelievable...tears flew unstoppably from my eyes....for the next few days i planted myself in a cocoon...not talkin 2 anyone....just sitting...standing...crying... remembering the days i spent with him...why he took such a huge step....n how he must have suffered...its depressing that ill never be able 2 c u again....not on rakhi...not ever ...the last words if i can recall that he told me a long tym ago was to cum to the house that he had bought wid his own money...not a penny from his parents....unfortunately....his last wish from me has still remained a wish...i did not visit his place ....and i do not intend to......his suicide note said he committed suicide due to financial trouble...perhaps the house cost him his home...his family...his life.As tears still flow by....i can only say ill miss u...n u didnt have to do this....
When i was 3 , i was d lone child n d festival of rakhi was d last thing on earth to be enjoyed ... but then there was this person who lived near my house n was my mom's fren's son....i fondly called him raju bhaiya....a brother who cared for me like one and made me feel as special as his other two sisters even in the absence of any blood relation between us....every year during the festival of rakhi i used 2 wish for his long life...in return he'd gift me cadbury celebrations......n if not dat...then loads of money...one day i asked him...bhaiya why do sisters have to pray for a long life for their brothers n why do brothers promise to protect them in return...isnt that just obvious....being a sister ill always wish for ur better.....he smiled back n handed a dairy milk as an answer....wat more i did not ask anything more...his wedding was one of the special days of my life...the day when my brother got married....i was overwhelmed by the fact that ill hav sum1 to call "bhabhi" now....he was very happy too...i was too...for him...eventually after his wedding he shifted to noida....i hav never been 2 his place in noida in 2 years....25 may was the day i came back to delhi from mumbai .....n durin d way back home dad told me that raju bhaiya had committed suicide in his office a week ago..the news was shocking...depressing...devastating...unbelievable...tears flew unstoppably from my eyes....for the next few days i planted myself in a cocoon...not talkin 2 anyone....just sitting...standing...crying... remembering the days i spent with him...why he took such a huge step....n how he must have suffered...its depressing that ill never be able 2 c u again....not on rakhi...not ever ...the last words if i can recall that he told me a long tym ago was to cum to the house that he had bought wid his own money...not a penny from his parents....unfortunately....his last wish from me has still remained a wish...i did not visit his place ....and i do not intend to......his suicide note said he committed suicide due to financial trouble...perhaps the house cost him his home...his family...his life.As tears still flow by....i can only say ill miss u...n u didnt have to do this....
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Where is humanity???
have u seen humanity??...i think he...oh no she....hell watever....(hmm..let us assume humanity is a 'he'...)....yaah so i think he's lost somewhere...or maybe he has lost his way....because i cant find him anywhere...neither in my neighborhood...nor in or near my college...neither on the roads...nor in the temple...not even on t.v. or newspapers...he cant be found anywhere...i hope he's alive....its improbable though...
Delhi is the rape capital...mumbai has the largest no of people involved in commercial sex trade...everyday n number of people are killed...a woman in mumbai dumped her 9 year old boy on railway tracks because he was paralysed...he is now taken care by his grandmother who lives with him on the streets...no food no shelter....a man raped his daughter...a few days back a rickshaw puller raped a blind girl in north campus then beat her up...a domestic help killed his 80 year old employer....
these cases are innumerable which suggests the absence of humanity...i hope he wakes up someday or finds his way through...and if u can help us find him...please do....we need him...
Delhi is the rape capital...mumbai has the largest no of people involved in commercial sex trade...everyday n number of people are killed...a woman in mumbai dumped her 9 year old boy on railway tracks because he was paralysed...he is now taken care by his grandmother who lives with him on the streets...no food no shelter....a man raped his daughter...a few days back a rickshaw puller raped a blind girl in north campus then beat her up...a domestic help killed his 80 year old employer....
these cases are innumerable which suggests the absence of humanity...i hope he wakes up someday or finds his way through...and if u can help us find him...please do....we need him...
Monday, April 28, 2008
The un-known Religion
just another discussion with a friend one day turned out 2 b a 'weird' one.....i always thought India is still not free...still not secular.... but listening to the fear from a friend was disturbing.....The discussion re-affirmed my thoughts about GOD.......even though he might exist....i t is improbable that he is cloned into...the prophet....jesus....ram....waheguru...and so on....(only today i came 2 know there are about 33 crore god and goddesses in India....phew maan!!!....)
well back 2 d issue...a cousin of hers who is studying at IIT Kharakpur was not granted the visa for a trip to the US because he was a Muslim n his name matched 2 d one of some terrorist.....the officer told him..."if ur a Muslim why don't u live in Pakistan???"...hell man...wtf is he to tell him whr he shd b livin??.......what right does he hav 2 say that????
We are all such big racists.....the whole world.....bloody religionists....i cannot in any way imagine the state of mind she is in....coz i cannot understand the fear...the fear of being a Muslim.....my religion never affected me although im not even a firm believer in it....i never thot religion could form barriers around you dat it wud limit ur physical movements....its sad...its tragic....its hideous...this country is as much hers as mine...then why shud she b scared ????.....the fear is not limited to her ....its actually because of all of us....each one of us.....
such an attitude is above all disgusting....we talk of racism and claim Indians can never b one coz we are secular....!!!!.....cum on.... up people....why shud one's religion be his/her identity???....isnt there anythn else on earth that we have started makin religion such an issue?? .....why??...why???
well back 2 d issue...a cousin of hers who is studying at IIT Kharakpur was not granted the visa for a trip to the US because he was a Muslim n his name matched 2 d one of some terrorist.....the officer told him..."if ur a Muslim why don't u live in Pakistan???"...hell man...wtf is he to tell him whr he shd b livin??.......what right does he hav 2 say that????
We are all such big racists.....the whole world.....bloody religionists....i cannot in any way imagine the state of mind she is in....coz i cannot understand the fear...the fear of being a Muslim.....my religion never affected me although im not even a firm believer in it....i never thot religion could form barriers around you dat it wud limit ur physical movements....its sad...its tragic....its hideous...this country is as much hers as mine...then why shud she b scared ????.....the fear is not limited to her ....its actually because of all of us....each one of us.....
such an attitude is above all disgusting....we talk of racism and claim Indians can never b one coz we are secular....!!!!.....cum on.... up people....why shud one's religion be his/her identity???....isnt there anythn else on earth that we have started makin religion such an issue?? .....why??...why???
just exploring.....
the faith of religion....
if it comes to define myself i cant...its just something next to impossible...so wen a few days ago a fren asked me asked wat my religion was, i said...i had no religion but wen he askd again i said technically i shd be a hindu....he was obviously laughing his guts out at my wierdness n also said "everythn u say evokes another question"...well iv just accepted d fact dat im wierd.....n i dun wanna du nethn about it....i just dont care....
at least i dunt blindly go to d temple n ask for "gud marks n money n more money n more money...." well folks cant i jst believe in myself???.....i might sound like an atheist but im not exactly one....im not anti god....just individualistic...cant i jst be....jst an individual..... ..undictated......undisturbed....why is it so difficult in dis world to do what u want 2 do....to say what u want to say....to be what u want 2 b........n not analyzed n interpreted n misinterpreted.....
why is it essential to go to d temple n pray??.....even if one does believe in god why cant he just pray anywhere......or is god's address fixed??....well in that case he must b a terribly busy soul...soo many places 2 b at d same time....phewww!!!......well its not that i don't visit places of worship....d only difference is dat i only go to seek some solace n peace of mind...be it any place....a temple...a church...a gurudwara (plus langar...heehee) or a mosque....i do not disrespect those who are god-loving people...perhaps its my shortcoming that i could not understand His importance....His presence....
if it comes to define myself i cant...its just something next to impossible...so wen a few days ago a fren asked me asked wat my religion was, i said...i had no religion but wen he askd again i said technically i shd be a hindu....he was obviously laughing his guts out at my wierdness n also said "everythn u say evokes another question"...well iv just accepted d fact dat im wierd.....n i dun wanna du nethn about it....i just dont care....
at least i dunt blindly go to d temple n ask for "gud marks n money n more money n more money...." well folks cant i jst believe in myself???.....i might sound like an atheist but im not exactly one....im not anti god....just individualistic...cant i jst be....jst an individual..... ..undictated......undisturbed....why is it so difficult in dis world to do what u want 2 do....to say what u want to say....to be what u want 2 b........n not analyzed n interpreted n misinterpreted.....
why is it essential to go to d temple n pray??.....even if one does believe in god why cant he just pray anywhere......or is god's address fixed??....well in that case he must b a terribly busy soul...soo many places 2 b at d same time....phewww!!!......well its not that i don't visit places of worship....d only difference is dat i only go to seek some solace n peace of mind...be it any place....a temple...a church...a gurudwara (plus langar...heehee) or a mosque....i do not disrespect those who are god-loving people...perhaps its my shortcoming that i could not understand His importance....His presence....
Sunday, March 9, 2008
FILM REVIEWS
MORALITY TV AND THE LOVING JEHAD
DUR:29 MIN
DIR: PAROMITA VOHRA
The film is largely a mockery of the concept of Breaking News onIndia
OCCAM'S RAZOR-ISHRAT JAHAN'S VERY EASY DEATH
DUR:24 MIN
DIR:PRITI CHANDRIANI
A very well made film it raises questions about the manner in which encounter killings are carried out in India.Ishrat Jahan Raza who was 'murdered' be the Ahmadabad police along with three others for allegedly plotting the murder of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.The film questions the way in which the so-called-encounter was carried out.Considering that the "terrorists" were traveling in a car with an original number plate,had i-cards which were not found to be fake, and the gun about which the Gujarat police claimed that the terrorists first open fired (there were no bullet marks on the police vehicle and no policeman was injured) for which they had to counter attack, was still locked.After this whole operation there was no explanation by the 'brave' Gujarat police and it ais a possibility that Ishrat was innocent and had no knowledge as to what was awaiting her on that ill fated day.19 year old Ishrat was killed in a cold blooded murder by the Ahmadabad police which time and again has been regularly continuing this practice each time in the name if assassination of Narendra Modi...
DUR:29 MIN
DIR: PAROMITA VOHRA
The film is largely a mockery of the concept of Breaking News on
OCCAM'S RAZOR-ISHRAT JAHAN'S VERY EASY DEATH
DUR:24 MIN
DIR:PRITI CHANDRIANI
A very well made film it raises questions about the manner in which encounter killings are carried out in India.Ishrat Jahan Raza who was 'murdered' be the Ahmadabad police along with three others for allegedly plotting the murder of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.The film questions the way in which the so-called-encounter was carried out.Considering that the "terrorists" were traveling in a car with an original number plate,had i-cards which were not found to be fake, and the gun about which the Gujarat police claimed that the terrorists first open fired (there were no bullet marks on the police vehicle and no policeman was injured) for which they had to counter attack, was still locked.After this whole operation there was no explanation by the 'brave' Gujarat police and it ais a possibility that Ishrat was innocent and had no knowledge as to what was awaiting her on that ill fated day.19 year old Ishrat was killed in a cold blooded murder by the Ahmadabad police which time and again has been regularly continuing this practice each time in the name if assassination of Narendra Modi...
Friday, March 7, 2008
SOLD...
"WHEN I WAS TOLD I WILL BE SOLD
I THOUGHT MY BODY PARTS WILL BE CUT OFF AND SOLD....
I WAS WRONG.....
WHEN 'IT' HAPPENED TO ME EVERYDAY EVERY TIME I THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD MY BODY PARTS SOLD OFF...."
Identity: prostitute
Age: 14
when she was told that she is being sold she thought that her body parts will be cut and sold off....little did the innocent mind of a child realize that what would happen to her would be worse....
her parents could not afford her anymore so they 'sold' her like she was some vegetable... had that been the case it wold not have such an effect on her... she was made to sleep with six 'men' at one time....
men- wondering why i highlighted the word??.....well because those don't even deserve to be called men nor animals because even animals are not so heartless....i wonder what could be the psyche of the 'man' who would do it to a child the same age as his own children....
child prostitution is a billion dollar industry in India with child trafficking being easily possible from different states and no laws to control them... India's child sex industry is the second largest in the world next to Phillipenes...and nothing is being done to save those trapped....even if laws are there..implementation is absent...there is enough evidence to prove that even those claiming to 'save' and 'protect' us are a part of it....
I THOUGHT MY BODY PARTS WILL BE CUT OFF AND SOLD....
I WAS WRONG.....
WHEN 'IT' HAPPENED TO ME EVERYDAY EVERY TIME I THOUGHT IT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER HAD MY BODY PARTS SOLD OFF...."
Identity: prostitute
Age: 14
when she was told that she is being sold she thought that her body parts will be cut and sold off....little did the innocent mind of a child realize that what would happen to her would be worse....
her parents could not afford her anymore so they 'sold' her like she was some vegetable... had that been the case it wold not have such an effect on her... she was made to sleep with six 'men' at one time....
men- wondering why i highlighted the word??.....well because those don't even deserve to be called men nor animals because even animals are not so heartless....i wonder what could be the psyche of the 'man' who would do it to a child the same age as his own children....
child prostitution is a billion dollar industry in India with child trafficking being easily possible from different states and no laws to control them... India's child sex industry is the second largest in the world next to Phillipenes...and nothing is being done to save those trapped....even if laws are there..implementation is absent...there is enough evidence to prove that even those claiming to 'save' and 'protect' us are a part of it....
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
My Elysium
Well finally I am pulling all thoughts (read: memories of a lifetime….) together to write about the love of my life….zack. Well this one is for you zack.
you changed and irritated, mindless ,short tempered, not-caring-for-emotions , feeling-less, insensitive ,pessimist into…a well…instead of acting narcissist I’d rather say…a better person…..(only if the readers who know me agree to it…discretion not advised…I am trying to be serious and emotional….)
Its been one and a half years since we first met and I held you in my hand…my hands trembled….you must have been barely a week old…I couldn’t spot your ears or your tail…u hadn’t opened your eyes by then…that moment….most special in my life….happens again everyday every hour…even though you’re big now (and have bitten me twice…)….
Thank you for all those times you growled at my friends who playfully tried to raise their hand on me. And also those two days when I didn’t eat food and you also didn’t eat because of me. Thank you for making home….a magnetic field ….
Even though I know you love mom more than me ….i love you
Even though you pull my hair….i love you
even when you bark like hell on passing motorists every time I take you out…I love you
and you still eat chapatis like chewing gums (and eventually spit them out)…I love you
you (sometimes…) intentionally pee on my Almira and run away the next moment (indicating how naughty you are that out of all the others you only pee in my room… )…I love you…
you get into dogfights with Browny and Suzie (I know how much you hate them..)… I love you
Even though you are still pulling my pants so that I take you to the terrace and play football….i love you
Before I close…a few words for you…straight from my heart…(and eric claptons too..)
Would you know my name, if I saw u in heaven
Would it be the same, if I saw u in heaven
And since we still have a long way to go … thank you for choosing me out instead of all the other ‘needy’ people who are still deprived of this special feeling….love you more than anything else…
your ‘didi’
Sunday, February 24, 2008
a human by birth..a hijra by choice...
guess the above line says it all...
the other day i was on a bus and at one particular stop a 'hijra' entered the bus....she said one hijra from their community had died and they needed money for the last rites...i kept looking at her....i couldn't get my eyes off her....i was trying to face read...'is she lying or does she really need the money?'...i asked myself...she went to every seat begged every passenger....i kept on thinking...should i or should i not...is she lying or not...she came to me too...i had a few coins in my hand which i held tighter...but why?? i kept on thinking about her for days....some days later i saw a documentary on eunuchs in mumbai who had resorted to prostitution to earn a living.... they had no qualms about it...they were 'happy' or so?
they narrated how they reached here and what all problems they have to face being an eunuch....
how they ran away from their homes and reached here....how their families disowned them....one of them narrated what all she had faced...i was shocked...fascinated and intrigued all at the same time...she narrated how she was castrated....her penis removed without any medical aid...no anesthesia....nothing sterile...she stood there naked while her gurus surrounded her the room occupied to the fullest...the others were preparing for a 'celebration'...she looked around her...the walls full of pictures of their gurus and various other gods and goddesses...she was scared,excited,nervous...and happy all at the same time...she would now be a complete woman...she didn't care about the unsterile environment or because she might get infected...such thoughts didn't bother her....and suddenly...her guru slit her 'male organs'....that night there was a celebration....she was a woman now....a few weeks later she went back to her village... somewhere in south India...her parents were 'happy'...their boy was now a girl....the word spread like fire amongst the villagers and they visited in hoards to see how ramesh was no longer ramesh but rani...
the other day i was on a bus and at one particular stop a 'hijra' entered the bus....she said one hijra from their community had died and they needed money for the last rites...i kept looking at her....i couldn't get my eyes off her....i was trying to face read...'is she lying or does she really need the money?'...i asked myself...she went to every seat begged every passenger....i kept on thinking...should i or should i not...is she lying or not...she came to me too...i had a few coins in my hand which i held tighter...but why?? i kept on thinking about her for days....some days later i saw a documentary on eunuchs in mumbai who had resorted to prostitution to earn a living.... they had no qualms about it...they were 'happy' or so?
they narrated how they reached here and what all problems they have to face being an eunuch....
how they ran away from their homes and reached here....how their families disowned them....one of them narrated what all she had faced...i was shocked...fascinated and intrigued all at the same time...she narrated how she was castrated....her penis removed without any medical aid...no anesthesia....nothing sterile...she stood there naked while her gurus surrounded her the room occupied to the fullest...the others were preparing for a 'celebration'...she looked around her...the walls full of pictures of their gurus and various other gods and goddesses...she was scared,excited,nervous...and happy all at the same time...she would now be a complete woman...she didn't care about the unsterile environment or because she might get infected...such thoughts didn't bother her....and suddenly...her guru slit her 'male organs'....that night there was a celebration....she was a woman now....a few weeks later she went back to her village... somewhere in south India...her parents were 'happy'...their boy was now a girl....the word spread like fire amongst the villagers and they visited in hoards to see how ramesh was no longer ramesh but rani...
Friday, February 15, 2008
WE-DAY
it came....it stayed....it rocked everyone's pockets.....and finally it went.....and HOW....
Every year....14 February comes in India with a hullabaloo ....on one hand are the 'lovers' and on the other are the so called "anti social elements"...with so much moral policing around....freedom is hunting for a meaning....
those who are against it call it a western phenomenon which is --------- the indian society. And for whom the day has a 'meaning' call THEM the anti social elements....amidst all this the meaning of love and relationships is folded, molded and bettered to its worst....
A daily newspaper Metro Now celebrated Valentines day in a hatke style...what i loved about their way of celebrating this day was that...they handed roses to all those people who -through their artistic styles- were trying to make the city a better (read:stinkier...dirtier...actually...worse) place to live in. Through their style of 'Gandhigiri' they caught all those who were peeing in public and handed them a rose. They even took their pictures which were published in their newspaper.But it was not only those who were peeing in public were celebrating the 'special' day....there were more....the autowala bhaiyas who always refuse to go by the meter(or dont go at all!!) .... jaywalkers etc etc....
In all ...a commendable attempt by Metro Now....and also a very nice way to celebrate valentines day....
It needs to be understood (and accepted...) that valentines is not only for those who have those 'special someones' in their lives....its just another way of expressing love....to anyone, with anyone...be it your friends....family....or your city....
Every year....14 February comes in India with a hullabaloo ....on one hand are the 'lovers' and on the other are the so called "anti social elements"...with so much moral policing around....freedom is hunting for a meaning....
those who are against it call it a western phenomenon which is --------- the indian society. And for whom the day has a 'meaning' call THEM the anti social elements....amidst all this the meaning of love and relationships is folded, molded and bettered to its worst....
A daily newspaper Metro Now celebrated Valentines day in a hatke style...what i loved about their way of celebrating this day was that...they handed roses to all those people who -through their artistic styles- were trying to make the city a better (read:stinkier...dirtier...actually...worse) place to live in. Through their style of 'Gandhigiri' they caught all those who were peeing in public and handed them a rose. They even took their pictures which were published in their newspaper.But it was not only those who were peeing in public were celebrating the 'special' day....there were more....the autowala bhaiyas who always refuse to go by the meter(or dont go at all!!) .... jaywalkers etc etc....
In all ...a commendable attempt by Metro Now....and also a very nice way to celebrate valentines day....
It needs to be understood (and accepted...) that valentines is not only for those who have those 'special someones' in their lives....its just another way of expressing love....to anyone, with anyone...be it your friends....family....or your city....
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Build a bridge-results may vary
The religion of politics….
….The politics of religion
Off late both traditions have been widely observed world over .Be it India or any other country…politics has been widely dominated by divide. However it may be based….communal…caste…gender…regional…and the list is endless. the recent uproar by Raj Thakrey’s comments on non-maharashtrians in Maharashtra has again speculated the debate that has been existing since the birth of the first dinosaur. What is surprising is Shiv sena’s stand on the whole issue….and more surprising that they have no stand at all…considering the fact that the whole Maharashtrians vs. Non maharashtrians issue was given birth by the shiv sena itself….and that Raj thakrey although doesn’t anymore belong to shiv sena but shall carry on the legacy….Or even the US presidential elections…Race vs. Gender…..apart fron all the adjectives that can be used to describe this , what I find most appropriate right now is HOW LAME!! Have all the issues in the world ended that we have to resort to divisions like this?? And why...Please comment....come as you are...
….The politics of religion
Off late both traditions have been widely observed world over .Be it India or any other country…politics has been widely dominated by divide. However it may be based….communal…caste…gender…regional…and the list is endless. the recent uproar by Raj Thakrey’s comments on non-maharashtrians in Maharashtra has again speculated the debate that has been existing since the birth of the first dinosaur. What is surprising is Shiv sena’s stand on the whole issue….and more surprising that they have no stand at all…considering the fact that the whole Maharashtrians vs. Non maharashtrians issue was given birth by the shiv sena itself….and that Raj thakrey although doesn’t anymore belong to shiv sena but shall carry on the legacy….Or even the US presidential elections…Race vs. Gender…..apart fron all the adjectives that can be used to describe this , what I find most appropriate right now is HOW LAME!! Have all the issues in the world ended that we have to resort to divisions like this?? And why...Please comment....come as you are...
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
DIVIDE AND RULE( 1947-you decide)
Looks like we are still not 'free'....It has been 60 years to our independence.....but the word itself is still trying to find a place for itself in a country governed by cheap vote-bank politics and communal dialogues....it seems that we have inherited a bit too much from the 'goras' (except from the railways --thank you 'goras' and way to go Mr. Lalu)
The recent 'incident' in Maharashtra has again speculated the whole debate of how the divide and rule policy has such deep roots in the indian politics....
the constitution says that indians can reside and travel in any part of the country....but looks like there are some who are willing to change it.
When Raj Thakrey had saperated from the shiv sena and had started his his own outfit Maharashtra Navnirman Sena his first speech was all about 'secularism' ,'unity' and all that jazz.... but he seems to have diverted from the song....the lyrics have created a wide uproar....the music is worse than any d-grade movie, and everyone sings as bad as Himesh Reshammiya....
And the worse part is that in the process of attack-counter attack between the MNS and the samajwadi party ....its the the layman who is suffering....
Be it the taxiwallahs or the roadside vendors.....all were attacked...their vehicles and articles damaged to the core....was it written on their faces if the were maharashtrians or non-maharashtrians???? who will pay for their damages??? a poor man leaves home in the morning with the intention that he will earn for his family and offer them a better life....what does he have to do with votebank politics?? what kind of a democracy is this??? Is this what the state has to offer.....and yet the 'culprit' is walkin lose....
Raj Thakrey asks what Amitabh Bachchan has done for maharashtra.....does he not pay taxes or does he have to be the "brand ambassador" of Maharashtra for not to be qualifies enough to appear in speeches of 'great politicians' like Mr. Raj Thakrey....
Wonder why Mr. Thakrey has so much time that he has no other person in the world to include in his speeches to woo the voters....Did he not have anything else in the world to say and so he had to resort to such measures to attract attention??? (too many Rakhi Sawant followers i suppose....)
so the moral of the story is........ nuthin actally.....i dont think we will ever learn this way...so we better leave morals for kindergarten students....
The recent 'incident' in Maharashtra has again speculated the whole debate of how the divide and rule policy has such deep roots in the indian politics....
the constitution says that indians can reside and travel in any part of the country....but looks like there are some who are willing to change it.
When Raj Thakrey had saperated from the shiv sena and had started his his own outfit Maharashtra Navnirman Sena his first speech was all about 'secularism' ,'unity' and all that jazz.... but he seems to have diverted from the song....the lyrics have created a wide uproar....the music is worse than any d-grade movie, and everyone sings as bad as Himesh Reshammiya....
And the worse part is that in the process of attack-counter attack between the MNS and the samajwadi party ....its the the layman who is suffering....
Be it the taxiwallahs or the roadside vendors.....all were attacked...their vehicles and articles damaged to the core....was it written on their faces if the were maharashtrians or non-maharashtrians???? who will pay for their damages??? a poor man leaves home in the morning with the intention that he will earn for his family and offer them a better life....what does he have to do with votebank politics?? what kind of a democracy is this??? Is this what the state has to offer.....and yet the 'culprit' is walkin lose....
Raj Thakrey asks what Amitabh Bachchan has done for maharashtra.....does he not pay taxes or does he have to be the "brand ambassador" of Maharashtra for not to be qualifies enough to appear in speeches of 'great politicians' like Mr. Raj Thakrey....
Wonder why Mr. Thakrey has so much time that he has no other person in the world to include in his speeches to woo the voters....Did he not have anything else in the world to say and so he had to resort to such measures to attract attention??? (too many Rakhi Sawant followers i suppose....)
so the moral of the story is........ nuthin actally.....i dont think we will ever learn this way...so we better leave morals for kindergarten students....
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Au-to(w)-ing along... a tale of an auto traveller
After a very inspiring lecture a few days ago in class my friends and i have really taken it seriously and are doing our bit to what we call "exercising for our rights"....
since the past few days the delhi police's PCR service has been getting regular calls from us as we complain of auto rickshaw drivers who either refuse to go to the destination or refuse to go by the meter...even though it doesnt take us time dialing 1oo and complaining(toll free!!) i've been pondering over it ....something disturbs me....even though we all are being so vocal (aise kaise nahi chaloge meter se bhaiya??) i get a mixed feeling whenever i do it.... 'mixed' as in....i dont understand the whole purpose....the whole aim of getting one challaned....how do we know if he is in need....if he is poor...do we understand his point of view??...
the other day my mom and i had to come back fom south ex...when i asked an auto to take us to saket he demanded 60 rupees and so did his other accomplices... and what was strange was that all of them were doing so....everyone!!!! "kis kis ka registration number bataun??". i yelled.....but no use...they just simply dont care.... i went further and stopped one ..... he was no different...." bhaiya sone ka auto hai kya aapka??".....i immidiately ....without thinking dialed 100 and complained about him....."you wont get an auto if you keep complaining like this....will u?? its of no use...they dont care.If not us he'll have many others to pay according to his demand...whereas we cannot afford to stand like this fo hours.... its getting late we have no time for your' natak' ...lets take ANY auto now that we have no choice "...she yelled...i HAD to agree....(you cannot disagree with your parents specially when they scream at you in public places and when they are amost correct...i couldnt either) all through the journey i thought about it..."she's right" i repeated to myself....i could not get an auto by complaining about them to the police ....they would anyway 'reject' my plea and i'd hace to settle in....but why?? what is the meter for then(in cases when it is there in the first place...since most of the times it is 'not working') ??? and even when they are there they are easily tamperable....yaah we indians are experts in this department....i can recall my brother when he was in kindergarten and every time we used to visit the nearest marketplace he would cry and wail in front of the toy shop so that mom and dad buy him those car toys and as soon as we would reach home he would proudly show us different parts of it...."mom this is the engine and this is the...." ....i think we all are like that.....im not being narcissistic ....its true...we have the brains....(except some...) and it only depends on how we utilise it.....
...so after all this....i guess some things are left better to be decided by oneself...
since the past few days the delhi police's PCR service has been getting regular calls from us as we complain of auto rickshaw drivers who either refuse to go to the destination or refuse to go by the meter...even though it doesnt take us time dialing 1oo and complaining(toll free!!) i've been pondering over it ....something disturbs me....even though we all are being so vocal (aise kaise nahi chaloge meter se bhaiya??) i get a mixed feeling whenever i do it.... 'mixed' as in....i dont understand the whole purpose....the whole aim of getting one challaned....how do we know if he is in need....if he is poor...do we understand his point of view??...
the other day my mom and i had to come back fom south ex...when i asked an auto to take us to saket he demanded 60 rupees and so did his other accomplices... and what was strange was that all of them were doing so....everyone!!!! "kis kis ka registration number bataun??". i yelled.....but no use...they just simply dont care.... i went further and stopped one ..... he was no different...." bhaiya sone ka auto hai kya aapka??".....i immidiately ....without thinking dialed 100 and complained about him....."you wont get an auto if you keep complaining like this....will u?? its of no use...they dont care.If not us he'll have many others to pay according to his demand...whereas we cannot afford to stand like this fo hours.... its getting late we have no time for your' natak' ...lets take ANY auto now that we have no choice "...she yelled...i HAD to agree....(you cannot disagree with your parents specially when they scream at you in public places and when they are amost correct...i couldnt either) all through the journey i thought about it..."she's right" i repeated to myself....i could not get an auto by complaining about them to the police ....they would anyway 'reject' my plea and i'd hace to settle in....but why?? what is the meter for then(in cases when it is there in the first place...since most of the times it is 'not working') ??? and even when they are there they are easily tamperable....yaah we indians are experts in this department....i can recall my brother when he was in kindergarten and every time we used to visit the nearest marketplace he would cry and wail in front of the toy shop so that mom and dad buy him those car toys and as soon as we would reach home he would proudly show us different parts of it...."mom this is the engine and this is the...." ....i think we all are like that.....im not being narcissistic ....its true...we have the brains....(except some...) and it only depends on how we utilise it.....
...so after all this....i guess some things are left better to be decided by oneself...
Sunday, January 20, 2008
phir bhi dil hai hindustani....
"hum sab ek hain!!" i guess only in movies....and even if its true its an old one. we have a new version ost developing india...."ek main aur ek tu!!"
Off late certain issues have been disturbing me so much so that i always ended up fighting with people...since 'fighting' or raising our voices is something that we are such experts at...we call ouselves a free economy but take less time in overreacting to issues that in many cases are not even 'issues'...
Be it the Danish cartoon or the banning of AXN for two months in India or the controversies surrounding M.F. Hussain and Salman Rushdie or many others like them… . Just today NDTV’s office in Ahmedabad was vandalized by goons claiming to be a part of some political outfits (who clearly disowned them…). The larger question is … Where is the India which was an example of peace brotherhood and “aadmi hoon aadmi se pyar karta hun” feeling?? Which society are we heading towards??
In a country where a politician calls the opposition leaders ‘hijras’ at a public rally and everyone plays a mute spectator and on the other hand a news channel conducts a poll and its office is vandalized and employees injured…just because they were offended to one of the nominees in the poll. Where is the freedom of expression now??
Come valentines day and our dear Shiv Sena and VHP workers venture out and attack all couples in their vicinity, vandalize restraunts, card shops etc etc….calling it a western phenomenon and more…when a leadng actress from south India when asked in an interview presents her views on pre-marital sex she is attacked several times…. when Richard Gere kisses Shilpa Shetty, his effigies are burnt and there are widespread protests . But when a girl is harassed and molested in broad daylight at a public place we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear... noone tries to help her. Because we all are so scared.…
But why??
How can we denied of our rights so easily and the best part is that we don't raise our voices against it. We really don’t care whom we are voting for or how our country is being governed?? The truth is that when we vote (well, this is for those who vote because for most of us it is that perfect holiday when we dine out and watch movies) . so for those of us who vote its almost like a family tradition where we vote for those candidates to whom our elders have been voting for... We need to keep the tradition alive you see!! But wait I guess in a country like India we will have those who shall prove this wrong...and those are the ones who care for the future of their country
Where are today’s Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh ?? can we only promise to put our lives at stake or is a fake pledge we take in front of the cameras when we are auditioning for MTV Roadies???
But when i read the newspaper today i got some answers...it was muharram yesterday and members of a hindu family in Uttar Pradesh sent out a special message, "we fast for muharram and ramzan just as we do for navratras.For us both Hinduism and Islam are equal" .... So hence proved ....Is it true that we haven't changed much ...just a little?? ...But that doesn't mean that whatever i said is not true!! considering what's at stake (my whole article) ill try to give the only example dribbling inside my head...its just like whenever our mother cooks kheer for us ...even if its does not have that perfect taste we dont mind....at the end of it , its cooked by our mother (and yah because its kheer)....
Similarly, i guess we shall remain what we were just a little change here and there....some less sugar but after all "phir bhi dil hai hindustani"....
Well i cant find a proper conclusion so i guess ill leave it to you ....does it all even matter to you?? when was the last time you tried to listen to your heart and make an effort to help someone or to set an example ?? to change for the good...for your country..your people...and you!!!
Off late certain issues have been disturbing me so much so that i always ended up fighting with people...since 'fighting' or raising our voices is something that we are such experts at...we call ouselves a free economy but take less time in overreacting to issues that in many cases are not even 'issues'...
Be it the Danish cartoon or the banning of AXN for two months in India or the controversies surrounding M.F. Hussain and Salman Rushdie or many others like them… . Just today NDTV’s office in Ahmedabad was vandalized by goons claiming to be a part of some political outfits (who clearly disowned them…). The larger question is … Where is the India which was an example of peace brotherhood and “aadmi hoon aadmi se pyar karta hun” feeling?? Which society are we heading towards??
In a country where a politician calls the opposition leaders ‘hijras’ at a public rally and everyone plays a mute spectator and on the other hand a news channel conducts a poll and its office is vandalized and employees injured…just because they were offended to one of the nominees in the poll. Where is the freedom of expression now??
Come valentines day and our dear Shiv Sena and VHP workers venture out and attack all couples in their vicinity, vandalize restraunts, card shops etc etc….calling it a western phenomenon and more…when a leadng actress from south India when asked in an interview presents her views on pre-marital sex she is attacked several times…. when Richard Gere kisses Shilpa Shetty, his effigies are burnt and there are widespread protests . But when a girl is harassed and molested in broad daylight at a public place we turn a blind eye and a deaf ear... noone tries to help her. Because we all are so scared.…
But why??
How can we denied of our rights so easily and the best part is that we don't raise our voices against it. We really don’t care whom we are voting for or how our country is being governed?? The truth is that when we vote (well, this is for those who vote because for most of us it is that perfect holiday when we dine out and watch movies) . so for those of us who vote its almost like a family tradition where we vote for those candidates to whom our elders have been voting for... We need to keep the tradition alive you see!! But wait I guess in a country like India we will have those who shall prove this wrong...and those are the ones who care for the future of their country
Where are today’s Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh ?? can we only promise to put our lives at stake or is a fake pledge we take in front of the cameras when we are auditioning for MTV Roadies???
But when i read the newspaper today i got some answers...it was muharram yesterday and members of a hindu family in Uttar Pradesh sent out a special message, "we fast for muharram and ramzan just as we do for navratras.For us both Hinduism and Islam are equal" .... So hence proved ....Is it true that we haven't changed much ...just a little?? ...But that doesn't mean that whatever i said is not true!! considering what's at stake (my whole article) ill try to give the only example dribbling inside my head...its just like whenever our mother cooks kheer for us ...even if its does not have that perfect taste we dont mind....at the end of it , its cooked by our mother (and yah because its kheer)....
Similarly, i guess we shall remain what we were just a little change here and there....some less sugar but after all "phir bhi dil hai hindustani"....
Well i cant find a proper conclusion so i guess ill leave it to you ....does it all even matter to you?? when was the last time you tried to listen to your heart and make an effort to help someone or to set an example ?? to change for the good...for your country..your people...and you!!!
Thursday, January 17, 2008
....not me, WE
Killing in the name of….
Mahatma Gandhi said , “ I have nothing new to teach the world truth and non-violence are as old as the hills…”. I, a lesser known (actually an unknown) soul would rather quote “hatred and communal violence are as old as truth and non-violence…” . so much so that it has become a world of convenience.We have come in terms of accepting them in our day to day lives and yes.....we have no qualms about it. I remember my younger brother in his nursery class....one day he came up to my parents and said, "mom i want shoes with spikes in them like the ones cricketers and footballers use"....my mom amazed, enquired of the reason. he then replied that he had a scuffle with some other classmates and so he wanted to 'smash them up'..... of course we didn't buy them for him ....
In today’s world as we long for peace and happiness it is sometimes so strange to see some spreading fear and terror. Be it Bush uncle, Osama uncle, Pervez uncle or their ancestors like Hitler ….all of them are being named together in the paradigm of fear, terror and hatred that they have created.
Terrorist attacks, communal violence, “invasions”, war, “jihad” ….are some words with which we are so familiar that if now we hear of some bomb blast, we don’t bother to care much about it since it has become such a common phenomenon. And its scary….what knowledge are we imparting to our future generations? What is going to be the future? And will there be a future at all?? Who are we killing each other for? In whose name? The ONE who created us?? I wonder what he must be thinking…probably himself trying to find the answers…
It’s so sad that forget humans rather every living being is fighting for their basic right to survive in this age. It’s become a rat race …a lion race ….a survival race. And it is startling how one can so easily snatch away another’s right to survive. How can we be so merciless??? How can we let this happen??? Why are we quiet?? When are we going to speak out and say , that we don't need terror rather peace...and a better world for everyone…. Why don’t we exercise this power….the power of oneness….the power of unity…the power of ‘we’……
Mahatma Gandhi said , “ I have nothing new to teach the world truth and non-violence are as old as the hills…”. I, a lesser known (actually an unknown) soul would rather quote “hatred and communal violence are as old as truth and non-violence…” . so much so that it has become a world of convenience.We have come in terms of accepting them in our day to day lives and yes.....we have no qualms about it. I remember my younger brother in his nursery class....one day he came up to my parents and said, "mom i want shoes with spikes in them like the ones cricketers and footballers use"....my mom amazed, enquired of the reason. he then replied that he had a scuffle with some other classmates and so he wanted to 'smash them up'..... of course we didn't buy them for him ....
In today’s world as we long for peace and happiness it is sometimes so strange to see some spreading fear and terror. Be it Bush uncle, Osama uncle, Pervez uncle or their ancestors like Hitler ….all of them are being named together in the paradigm of fear, terror and hatred that they have created.
Terrorist attacks, communal violence, “invasions”, war, “jihad” ….are some words with which we are so familiar that if now we hear of some bomb blast, we don’t bother to care much about it since it has become such a common phenomenon. And its scary….what knowledge are we imparting to our future generations? What is going to be the future? And will there be a future at all?? Who are we killing each other for? In whose name? The ONE who created us?? I wonder what he must be thinking…probably himself trying to find the answers…
It’s so sad that forget humans rather every living being is fighting for their basic right to survive in this age. It’s become a rat race …a lion race ….a survival race. And it is startling how one can so easily snatch away another’s right to survive. How can we be so merciless??? How can we let this happen??? Why are we quiet?? When are we going to speak out and say , that we don't need terror rather peace...and a better world for everyone…. Why don’t we exercise this power….the power of oneness….the power of unity…the power of ‘we’……
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
... so i write
That same old story…
Hey hey!! Please don’t close the tab already since now u have read the heading. These headings sometime kill the whole fun of the story , they make the whole story so predictable at times…whatever ill not go on and on now and stick to my ‘heading’ ,now that I m not writing this story to prove that they do kill the whole fun…well this is not just any other same old story ,it is a collection of my experiences with the city…
lately Hindustan Times’ ‘I love Delhi campaign ’ has been an eye opener…the newspaper highlighted all the nice things about Delhi and what was mote interesting was the overwhelming response that they received from their readers …it was a commendable thought now that we love to hate everything around us…the horrible transport system ,always nagging auntys, cheap men, irritating autowallahs , dirty roads and people that litter and have converted the whole city into a BIG toilet and yes not to forget the government (it is always so convenient to blame the government whenever we cant find anyone else to blame!).
A radio channel RED FM also attempted to make Delhi a better place for those residing and those visiting…the campaign “dilli ke chamakte sitare” was a funny and sarcastic take on those ‘’ shining stars of the city such as seeti bhaiya the ‘eve teaser’ whose aim is to stare and ogle at every girl…the susu uncle due to whom the walls of the city are not alone covered in paint…and many other ‘stars’ whose contribution to the city is ‘inevitable’ …the campaign was so carried out in such a spirit that the message was also delivered and the entertainment quotient was also maintained…so much so that I once called my mother “kachra aunty” when once she threw something from the car window… in the light of all this I try to recount some of my experiences with the city…
And living in delhi who can forget the very popular and (now) very unpopular ‘killer’ blueline buses ….and everyday I experience something new including some near to death experiences (apart from those men staring at you) ...and you cursing environmentalists for discouraging the use of deo sprays…dumb men yelling their vocal cords out...and budhdhi aunties giving those glances for wearing that sleeveless top...for the sake of timepass..... I attempt to try my hand at ‘face reading’ those around me .....it is such a ‘joyful ’ ride at times…it teaches you so much at times that you hate traveling in them yet you do… faces expressing worry(oh no I’m late to work again and probably ill be fired today!!), anger(I hate my boss….i hate my boss!!), happiness(now that’s a difficult one to spot!), irritation(trust me when you leave home all ‘fresh’ the least you expect is to be covered in sweat and smell like hell when you reach your destination ) etc etc…children selling pen torches, and beggars singing for money…all this I guess prepares you for the life ahead…and at the end of it you realize that India has a long way to go before it becomes a superpower ,the competition is not the U.S. but the society itself …we first need to accept how we are to move ahead and ensure that everyone has a say and feels a part of the so called ‘mainstream’ …transsexuals, gays , lesbians , people with disabilities etc should enjoy the same amount of liberties and freedom as you and I do…it is so sad to see people deprived of their basic right to live when we exercise such rights so liberally…and so I hope for a better tomorrow for the country ....
PS. Cudnt find an appropriate conclusion....*sob sob*
Hey hey!! Please don’t close the tab already since now u have read the heading. These headings sometime kill the whole fun of the story , they make the whole story so predictable at times…whatever ill not go on and on now and stick to my ‘heading’ ,now that I m not writing this story to prove that they do kill the whole fun…well this is not just any other same old story ,it is a collection of my experiences with the city…
lately Hindustan Times’ ‘I love Delhi campaign ’ has been an eye opener…the newspaper highlighted all the nice things about Delhi and what was mote interesting was the overwhelming response that they received from their readers …it was a commendable thought now that we love to hate everything around us…the horrible transport system ,always nagging auntys, cheap men, irritating autowallahs , dirty roads and people that litter and have converted the whole city into a BIG toilet and yes not to forget the government (it is always so convenient to blame the government whenever we cant find anyone else to blame!).
A radio channel RED FM also attempted to make Delhi a better place for those residing and those visiting…the campaign “dilli ke chamakte sitare” was a funny and sarcastic take on those ‘’ shining stars of the city such as seeti bhaiya the ‘eve teaser’ whose aim is to stare and ogle at every girl…the susu uncle due to whom the walls of the city are not alone covered in paint…and many other ‘stars’ whose contribution to the city is ‘inevitable’ …the campaign was so carried out in such a spirit that the message was also delivered and the entertainment quotient was also maintained…so much so that I once called my mother “kachra aunty” when once she threw something from the car window… in the light of all this I try to recount some of my experiences with the city…
And living in delhi who can forget the very popular and (now) very unpopular ‘killer’ blueline buses ….and everyday I experience something new including some near to death experiences (apart from those men staring at you) ...and you cursing environmentalists for discouraging the use of deo sprays…dumb men yelling their vocal cords out...and budhdhi aunties giving those glances for wearing that sleeveless top...for the sake of timepass..... I attempt to try my hand at ‘face reading’ those around me .....it is such a ‘joyful ’ ride at times…it teaches you so much at times that you hate traveling in them yet you do… faces expressing worry(oh no I’m late to work again and probably ill be fired today!!), anger(I hate my boss….i hate my boss!!), happiness(now that’s a difficult one to spot!), irritation(trust me when you leave home all ‘fresh’ the least you expect is to be covered in sweat and smell like hell when you reach your destination ) etc etc…children selling pen torches, and beggars singing for money…all this I guess prepares you for the life ahead…and at the end of it you realize that India has a long way to go before it becomes a superpower ,the competition is not the U.S. but the society itself …we first need to accept how we are to move ahead and ensure that everyone has a say and feels a part of the so called ‘mainstream’ …transsexuals, gays , lesbians , people with disabilities etc should enjoy the same amount of liberties and freedom as you and I do…it is so sad to see people deprived of their basic right to live when we exercise such rights so liberally…and so I hope for a better tomorrow for the country ....
PS. Cudnt find an appropriate conclusion....*sob sob*
Thursday, January 10, 2008
what am i thinking???
Its 2 a.m. ....11 January...my birthday. After chatting on the phone for 2 hours im feeling extremely sleepy but i hav to write a blog or ill be dead in class. After listening to the usual 'happy birthdays' and "congratulations you finally turned 18!!!" I’m clearly not as excited!! I’m probably ranting because they all just killed my sleep (but I don’t regret ….i love my friends ...thank you Graham Bell!! This would not have been possible without you…) Well what exactly do they mean by ‘finally’?? was i not supposed to turn 18??
Honestly what’s with 18 anyway???....as I turn 18 today I m thinking a lot of things (some of which I’m making public)...so I’m a ‘major’ after all?? How does that even matter? Does it make me more mature and intelligent to take important decisions of my life? Does it make me a better person? WHATEVER……I don’t think so!!!! Well I have proof….George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Narendra Modi…I don’t think crossing even 40 helped them at all!!! So here I come back to my to my original question….and I want to ask you all (if there is anyone at all ,that is) what is the whole fuss about 18 anyway??? And who actually decided on that number??? It could be 20 or 30 or 14 (remember child labour???) who was that ‘intelligent soul’ who decided on that number? The ‘age’ which brigs with itself a lot of ‘responsibilities and (ahem!!) liberties’…. So I can vote now(how does that matter)….and I can marry now(who wants to marry at 18!!!!!)….watch ‘A’ rated movies (oops!! Too early or too late) ahem….!!! So the fact of the matter is how does that even matter after all ??? But wait….i can vote!! That means I have the right to choose the best government for the country…well honestly here in India “har bachcha apni maa ke pet se politics seekh ke aata hai” (as said by a ‘popular’ actor on national televisin…Ravi Kishan to be precise) . well I think he is partially correct…we all DO know so much about politics even before we are thorough with its spelling(….oops is mine correct?) . “mom there was class voting for the monitor …but the teacher herself chose the same boy who comes first and is the monitor since years…why don’t I get to be the monitor and he does even though there is no actual ‘voting’?? ”… “beta…don’t worry….in fact its good that you get to concentrate on your studies rather creating more enemies and wasting your time”….but I want to ask….why not the child be given a chance to do something he really wants to?? He may become a good leader and participate for the betterment of the future of his country!! “politics toh gandi naali hai”….we say but does anyone even care of cleaning it?? (no !! im not asking for MCD’s help…honestly I don’t think they are equipped to clean any ‘naali’ ….leave alone that of politics) .everyone wants to become a doctor ,engineer, pilot and businessman, but no one wants to be a politician….no one wants to lead their country….we can vote at the age of 18 but to lead the nation the only criteria are white hair , falling teeth, displaced bones etc etc etc……I now remember one comment made by Mallika Sherawat (she is an ‘actress’ by the way!!) “70% of our population is youth but those who are leading the nation have their feet hanging in their coffins” (please don’t be surprised if she plays some hot mindless politician I some c grade movie….but trust me she can take the credit of working a lot better than her ‘older counterparts’)…. Anyways she looks ‘somewhat 18’……(oops!! sorry!...my bad)
Honestly what’s with 18 anyway???....as I turn 18 today I m thinking a lot of things (some of which I’m making public)...so I’m a ‘major’ after all?? How does that even matter? Does it make me more mature and intelligent to take important decisions of my life? Does it make me a better person? WHATEVER……I don’t think so!!!! Well I have proof….George Bush, Osama Bin Laden, Hitler, Narendra Modi…I don’t think crossing even 40 helped them at all!!! So here I come back to my to my original question….and I want to ask you all (if there is anyone at all ,that is) what is the whole fuss about 18 anyway??? And who actually decided on that number??? It could be 20 or 30 or 14 (remember child labour???) who was that ‘intelligent soul’ who decided on that number? The ‘age’ which brigs with itself a lot of ‘responsibilities and (ahem!!) liberties’…. So I can vote now(how does that matter)….and I can marry now(who wants to marry at 18!!!!!)….watch ‘A’ rated movies (oops!! Too early or too late) ahem….!!! So the fact of the matter is how does that even matter after all ??? But wait….i can vote!! That means I have the right to choose the best government for the country…well honestly here in India “har bachcha apni maa ke pet se politics seekh ke aata hai” (as said by a ‘popular’ actor on national televisin…Ravi Kishan to be precise) . well I think he is partially correct…we all DO know so much about politics even before we are thorough with its spelling(….oops is mine correct?) . “mom there was class voting for the monitor …but the teacher herself chose the same boy who comes first and is the monitor since years…why don’t I get to be the monitor and he does even though there is no actual ‘voting’?? ”… “beta…don’t worry….in fact its good that you get to concentrate on your studies rather creating more enemies and wasting your time”….but I want to ask….why not the child be given a chance to do something he really wants to?? He may become a good leader and participate for the betterment of the future of his country!! “politics toh gandi naali hai”….we say but does anyone even care of cleaning it?? (no !! im not asking for MCD’s help…honestly I don’t think they are equipped to clean any ‘naali’ ….leave alone that of politics) .everyone wants to become a doctor ,engineer, pilot and businessman, but no one wants to be a politician….no one wants to lead their country….we can vote at the age of 18 but to lead the nation the only criteria are white hair , falling teeth, displaced bones etc etc etc……I now remember one comment made by Mallika Sherawat (she is an ‘actress’ by the way!!) “70% of our population is youth but those who are leading the nation have their feet hanging in their coffins” (please don’t be surprised if she plays some hot mindless politician I some c grade movie….but trust me she can take the credit of working a lot better than her ‘older counterparts’)…. Anyways she looks ‘somewhat 18’……(oops!! sorry!...my bad)
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