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!!!

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....

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...

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???

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....

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 on India’s news channels.Set against the very popular "Operation laila-majnu" in meerut in 2004.The 'event' in which 'lovers' were attacked and beat up by the police and tv crews shamelessly recording it, was overplayed by the media.The film tries to explain how it was nothing but a mere set-up by the Meerut police. It also records the so-called-operation's take by various people.A local channel which was a joke in the name of a news channel.The editor proudly explained how all the 'news stories' are "edited", although no editing ever happens, its just lots of visuals compiled with a maximum of 2 bytes.The take by locals some of them who pictured it in a communal way.Although a counter argument of the same was absent.Laso various media persons take who played a huge role in converting a "systematically sponsored" set-up into an issue of national debate...



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...

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....

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.

16 October 2006 is the best day of my life….well I am consciously using ‘is’ instead of ‘was’ because it isn’t past already for me…all thanks to you…

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’

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...

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....

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...