Faith flows fearlessly

Matters of religious faith have started becoming increasingly significant as they have been perceived as impinging not only on our daily lives but perhaps the future too. And it is indeed a pity that if one one hand religion breeds compassion then on the other hand a misinformed individual or group breeds hatred! I have always wondered how any man can actually kill another??? From where does he get the heart to slit the throat of a fellow human being? From where does he borrow the courage to create a bomb that will wreck havoc on his own fellow humans?? and then, another group of people, the politicians, take over. Their role in the carnage that follows in indescribable.This group is lke a vulture who waits for the living to die. And once dead, the patient vulture takes over and leaves only when the carcass is devoid of any further eating matter. Just the skeleton left.
Killing of innocent is totally unpardonable. And indivduals who kill over matters of religious faith need to actually do some introspection and re reading of their scriptures. And then maybe a re interpretation of thier own actions and deeds.This may lead to a relook at the societ in which they live.If only we had a video camera attached to oursleves in our daily lives and then we could rewind and see what we did and how we did what we did.Many an action would be abhorrable! And we would give whatever it takes to erase and expunge those moments when we lacked sanity,justice and the feelings of a normal human being.
We all need a more compassionate, warm and hospitable world. And I am impressed with the actions of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia. His second effort in reconcilliation between faiths has been a great act. He brought the matter to the notice of the world in a very subtle manner. He has actually appealed to one and all, especially the influencers of opinions and beliefs, that mutual trust resides very much within all of us. Just that some trample on it so severely that trust breathes its last. Some of us are scared of the others and push our feelings into a comatose condition. The King has been forthcoming and straight forward. Let us all introspect and see how we can weed out the little satan from our own lives. That satan which grows and prods us to evolve into a dracula!!
I am grieved at what happens across the world.I am particularly depressed when I see how politicians first vitiate and then mutilate. I feel sad when these politicians speak a differnet language depending upon to whom they speak.I am reminded of the Batla house( New Delhi,India) episode. When the VC of the Jamia volunteered to stand by the students untill proven guilty, many politicians hurled accusations against him and came close to labelling him a traitor. Now, following the sensational revelations by the ATS in the Sadhvi Pragya and Purohit case, the same politicians are saying that they will provide legal support to the accused untill proven guilty!! What better case of double speak!!

No one has the right to take the life of another.
No one has the right to create an atmosphere of fear and terror.
No one has the right to suppress the emotions and beliefs of another.
No one has the right to breed hatred.
In matters of faith, let the faith flow fearlessly!!
Make this a more comfortable world. Make this a more warm and livable world.

Calling the Industrialists!Hello!!

Yesterday I wrote about the senseless and sadistic killing of Rahul Raj.And the response from the readers was overwhelming. Especially from my very old friend Thakur Pushpender K Singh. And Thakur had a point and I thought of sharing that with the readers.Let me first quote him, then we shall see how his point really makes a lot of sense and may have actually been overlooked by one and all!!
QUOTE

"However, its ironical that quite a large Mumbaikars also feel that they have the first right on Mumbai ---be it jobs, petty business, reservations (Perhaps also in the theatre for a newly released Bollywood Film!!!),. The logic they put forth is that Mumbai contributes the largest revenue ---almost 40 % ----of Corporate Tax, Excise, VAT to the centre earnings. The logic makes sense for ' One up Man ship' ----However, the fact is that it’s all by default. The Ambanis ( Both Mukesh & Anil ) , TATAS , Godrej , ACC , Aditya Birla , Bajaj , Nestle,,Raymond ,Sterlite etc etc have ZERO manufacturing or Wealth Creation activities in Mumbai ---They merely have their Head Quarters & the Tax returns are filed from Mumbai .

I at times wonder on 'the Social responsibility' commitments of these large Business Houses. Why the hell, HINDALCO should have HQ in Mumbai, when the bulk of manufacturing (INDO GULF -- SULTANPUR & HINDALCO ---MIRZAPUR) are in UP? I am sure that tomorrow if they decide to have their HQ in BARABANKI, even a common BARABANKIAN shall have the same pride as the MUMBAIKARS!!!! Why will then a BARABANKIAN go to Mumbai & indulge in Buffalo Business !!!! Moving out from West Bengal, NANO has broken the ice. It’s high time other large Industries move base from Mumbai & disperse all around the large geographical area, who shall welcome them with open arms."
UNQUOTEWell, what do you say?

I think that Thakur has a point and a valid one at that.This strange imbalance needs sorting and settling.Ambani saheb, Gujarat beckons you! Ah,yes.All the technicians in the Mumbai film industry need to move out.....see what happens?!! And if only the Industrialists act and move their units all over the nation, then we probbaly will have a more universal prosperity than "prosperity in pockets"!
And the role of the media.Unfortunately the role of the media has made things worse. The lynching of a UP lad in a train in Mumbai today may actually be linked to the role of the media. ALl the TV channels have given huge chunks of time to the Mumbai matters. The story of Raj was almost like a serial film in progress!! A sort of a code of practise should be made mandatory on the channels and they should be made to feel rsponsible. TV's should be allowed to show limited footage of such incidents.SOme channel even went to the extent of giving a 30 minutes programme showing the similarities between the Uncle and the nephew!Preposterous! This is how young and impressionalbe minds are influenced. The lynching mentioned above probably was due to such influence.

Sadistic felling of Raj "Hindustani"..mera bharat mahaan???

The sadistic felling of Raj "Hindustani" is poignant and tells a heart wrenching story. The story of apathy and arrogance. The story of stupidity.
India stands a mute spectator to the whims and fancies of individuals. Ironic indeed.
On a macro scale, it was not the savage and brutal murder of a youngster but of the nation. The seeds of regional hatred and intolerence has taken it's first toll. And this is a hydra headed monster unleashed by the petty politicians of today who would continue to tear the breast of our nation with glee. Today it is Raj T of Maharashtra. Tomorrow it will be another Raj in another part of India. And the story will go on. We will protest for a while and then all will be quite and cold again. We will accept another plunder of the motherland.
Politicians get away with anything and everything. Why? Ask yourself. WHY?? The answer lies in our "buzdili" our cowardice. The answer lies in our "khudgharzi" our selfishness.We are unable to face the issue squarely. We keep ducking and playing the role of an ostrich as and when the situation arises.
Our nation grieves but we only sigh and moan. No action.It is writ large all over.We are "darpoks" who only make noises but lack substance.
I wonder how many "Raj Hindustani's" will be sacrificed before we finally wake up.
The Lallo, the Paswan, the Nitesh make a good picture of "marriage of convenience" with a divorce even before consumation !Again, this is pathetic. We can all see through this..cant we? Will this achieve anything? I wonder..
The sleeping Junta of Bharat has to realise that our Mahaan Bharat khatray mein hai. Not from anyone across the border. But from within.From oursleves...the politicians who will trample the nation sans any compunctions and the sleeping junta who lacks the guts and the will..and perhaps the love for the nation.
Let us compose a new national anthem. An anthem which shows us bare.Our inner and true self which harbours no intensity for the nation.

Mumbai burns! India Shining? India Burning!!

Mumbai burns! So what? Let it burn!!
National property is burnt. So what?? Lives are lost. So what??? We have come to such a pass that our skin has acquired the sensitivity of a Rhino. Mumbai will burn, lives will be lost but the "chosen" rulers will turn a blind eye and a deaf ear. Why? Why is it that the power corridors have people who are gifted with such automatic sensory faculties? See and hear only when you want to! Mahatma Gandhi would have to review his famous "bandar"!
People who take law into their own dirty hands should be made to show their ugly faces in full view. But the problem is that our governance is pathetic and does not inspire confidence. The Maharashtra government has been as successful as Ponting in Mohali.
I am reminded of the great romantic poet wordsworth. He said," when oft upon my couch I lie, in vacant and in Pensive mood, they flash upon an inward eye, a bliss of solitude...." I really do not even need to lie...I see it large and huge. I cry. I feel for the nation. We elect people whose mission is not good governance. In fact, governance is not their mission at all. Yet we elect them and feel proud of having used the ballot ...after all we boast of a democracy! It it the duty of the government to ensure the safety adn security of not only the citizens but also the national property. I wonder if a PIL could be admitted where we claim all the lost property from the memebrs of the government? How would it be if money is levied on the ministers? Say the property destroyed in Mumbai is worth Rs 10 crores. Then this amount should be distributed equally on ALL members of the ruling cabinet. After all they are the custodians of the national property. Hence they should be accountable for each penny.Yes?
We must remember that as Indians, we have some very unique characteristics. One is that we feel no pain when national assets are looted or pillaged. But if anyone even attempts to steal even a penny, then the percieved thief is bashed till he is black and blue all over!! How ironical!!
Another feature of us Indians is that as citizens, we fail to utilize our full potential. We also lack the attitude to put the dirty politicians in the dock. Hence, the politician cares a damm. The onus is on us citizens to ensure that a national perspective is established and each one of us plays a role. Each means you and me.
The nation prepares for the next General elections. We should be ready to assess on performance. Prepare a balance sheet of the parties, their candidates. Value your vote. Urge your conscience to talk to your heart. Decide on merits. Trample those who are opportunists.
India needs you, your attitude, your vote for the Best. India Burning.
Yes..India burns not India Shining

Big B a role model for youngsters and the old!

Age normally leads to seclusion, far away from the spotlight so that one can really ease off. But that is for any normal man. Not for the Phenemenon...the super star...the one who rules the hearts and the minds...not for Big B.
Once again the shadow of the Colie accident has cast itself on the legend and his intestines cried out. He battles the pain and the disease. Never one who gives up.
But the fact that is truely remarkable is that even the good old age of 66 does not deter this star from being in the thick of events- live shows, shooting for films, TV, advertising. I really do not know many 66 years old ( or young?) who would be jofully dancing across the globe? He performed on stage across the world- "The Unforgettables", shot for films and yet has time to blog! Whew!
He is a lesson to those who have to make a mark in this world. I look upon him not just as a super star of the film industry but as a model for the GenNext. Indians normally consider 60 years as that benchmark from where expectations begin to decline. Once a Senior Citizen, one gets or rather desires to get, the concessions for non performance. But the Big B has set a new vision, a new attitude to even those who have spent their life well. He becomes a role model for those in the age group of 12 to 72!!
Perhaps a new definition of ageing?
A new attitude towards work where age is of no consequence.
He shows how discipline in life is to be valued. How a systematic approach coupled with dedication brushes aside the rambling of age.
There is actually no age for retirement. It is all in the heart, in the attitude, in the approach.
My one very dear friend may label me as a Big B fan and hence prejudiced. But the fact remains, this man is an enigmatic performer, who is the very fountainhead of energy and vision.
He preaches that laurels of the past need the committment of today to build the laurels for tomorrow.
Can this be denied?

The Monetary Madness

Friday is a day when I normally keep of the TV. Having spent innumerable hours gazing before the idiot box, fridays I devote to some more fruitful chores. But the 10th of October was a Friday with a difference. I was glued to this monstrous creation for the better half of the day!!

I was aghast at the Domino effect visible cutting across regional barriers! I could visualise others like me watching as the drama unfolded across the world! Probably the only ones sleeping with no worries in the world must be the dwellers of the African Jungles or the Eskimos who have no access to the TV nor the stock exchanges!

Indeed, this is the price of industrialization. Lost are the wonderful days of complete relaxation with no worries picking on you even in your sleep. Let me admit, I am not great investor or one who really follows the ECG of the stock exchange, but the unusual turbulance in the financial markets had everyone shivering- I being no exception as I tried tovisualize what happens to my account held declining Euros! And to top this, I received an e mail from one well wisher who was doling out free advice on how to remain calm amidst all the chaos. His Nostradamus instinct smelt a rotten future. And yet he opined that inspite of the strong possibility of world wide recession, there was no need to panic.

Well, of all his suggestions, one did really hit me somewhere. Hold on to your money as a hungry man does to his only small peace of bread! Cash or Gold should be the products of demand in the days to come. Close your ears to real estate, stock exchange and so on.

The Monetary Madness did pose new questions about the possible new world order in the days to come. Is the concept of Global Village a bane or a boon? Would this have happened in the good old days when economies across the world had no iota of information about what happens elsewhere? And yes, the role of the US dollar. And for us uninformed earthlings, the whole scenario is baffling, to say the least. Savour this- The Indian rupee was emerging real strong just some time back as the poor Uncle Sam was loosing value by each passing moment. The rupee roared whislt the Dollar cringed! And now? In a short time, Uncle Sam's country is faced with the most fantastic financial crisis and yet the Dollar Roars as the not so long ago roaring Indian Rupee has bottomed as never before!!?? What a contradiction!!

Obama is raw, McCain is over the hill.

Did you have the chance to see the debate between Obama and McCain last night? well, I did. And I am a wee bit umcomfortable. Why am I feeling like that? well, yes, the signs were both depressing and dangerous. On the one hand I see a sinister hidden agenda lurking ominously. Pakistan and Iran had better watch out!! And the other is the lack of total realisation of the gravity of the financial crises. Questions posed by the audience revealed that the average American is still living in a make belief world. I would have thought that they would have grilled the two hopefuls on firstly WHY such a huge crises was allowed to develop, what about the accountability of those responsible, and then finally, what would be the strategy that such a misadventure is not allowed again. But no. The audience lacked participation and intelligence. Perhaps a rigged audience? An audience that does not ask uncomfortable questions?
McCain reveals a personna that is unsure of the future. He was tentative and probably a wee bit melodramatic when trying to touch the chord of the audience. He was moving in circles!! He would always try to come back to attacking Obama on his inexperience. Obama, was more confident and sure. And was trying his best to reach out to the rather cold and "drugged" audience. I felt that Obama won the day, though marginally.
But, the question that looms large...Is either of the two really Presidential material? McCain is far too old and Obama is far too raw!!
And the audience was far too drugged, cold and withdrawn toreally test the two.