Me Taliban

I belong to the Taliban and I am a Talib.....says who? Says Honorable Supreme Court Justice Markandey Katju.

Oh did he...I guess he must have strong valid reasons, right? Well, he does have a reason, yes.

Gosh...so you guys have infiltrated into Indian mainland, you must be a spy, right...what else would you be in India for? Hmm...I've always been in India, you see, I was born here, have been brought up here, studied here (though we hardly study in engineering colleges:D), intend to work here too if a certain IT major does not forget me...ohh n btw, I love India too but that I suppose is besides the point.

Hmm...so why did he call you a Taliban? Lemme see, I guess you practice hate, right? Hardly...love is the very fuel of life is what I believe in.

Probably, you do not support girls getting educated along with boys if at all they should get educated, right? Let's just say that one of the foremost reasons for me traveling almost one hour from Central Calcutta to the outer fringes of Southern Calcutta to attend college was the incentive of ogling at a couple of really pretty faces in Electrical '05!!!

You must be having AK 47s stashed in your locker, right? The only things that I have stashed in my locker are DVDs of movies (mostly Holly flicks) and a pack of cards...in fact, I don't think you could even call it a locker considering it doesn't have a lock:D

Ohh I suppose you deliver sermons denouncing USA and advocating killing of innocents in a high pitched tone of frenzy, right? The only time I get in a frenzy is when Maria starts smashing those one handed baseline winners:D

Damn you, then what did you do to warrant that statement from Justice Katju? I sport a beard and that's what makes me Taliban because you see according to the Hon Judge, a beard and burqa are symbols of Talibanisation of India.

It so happened that this young 16 year old guy studying in a convent school in MP started sporting a beard which he was promptly asked to shave off by the school authorities citing school regulations...the boy surprisingly went on to challenge the decision in the highest echelons of justice in the land. The petition of the boy was rejected on the grounds that the convent being a private enterprise did have authority to formulate it's own sets of rules as long as it did not go against any indispensable part of any religion and the beard was deemed not to be an indispensable part of Islam. Justice Katju then went on to say "We don't want to have Talibans in the country. Tomorrow a girl student may come and say that she wants to wear a burqa. Can we allow it?"

So keeping a beard makes me Taliban...OK, got it. BTW, Sir...is it a general rule for all and for all types of beards or does the beard have to be of a certain free flowing kind and the face has to go by a name only belonging to a certain community...you see, am curious coz I have this goatee sort of stylized beard and as for the all people thing that's just because if it's a general rule for all people then am in exalted company, right from Manmohan Singh to Amitabh Bacchan to Vijay Mallya...ohh n shucks, are we being governed by a Taliban member for the last almost 5 years...I don't think so.....I suppose it does have to be a certain kind of beard belonging to only certain people with certain sounding names that you are talking about, right?

Ohh and pray tell me Hon Sir, what is wrong if a free minded girl in a free minded country of her own free will decides to wear a Burqa, how does that Talibanise the country. Isn't it entirely a matter of individual free choice in a working democracy.

Coming to the judgment based on the fact that the private school has rights to set it's own set of rules...it should not be a problem when you want to practice secularism in it's strictest sense, that of having nothing to do with religion...it should not be a problem if you ban all religious exhibitionism...it should not be a problem if you lay down rules that every student should be in trousers and shirts, polished shoes and necktie with smartly cropped army style hair and with no other visible symbols to differentiate him in any way whatsoever from the basic class of "student of the school"...the problem however arises when there is selective stipulations on selective things for selective people...hate to be reactionary but I suppose you must also disallow tikas on the forehead, turbans on the skull and kadas on the wrist based on the basic logic of equality.

I have studied in a convent school...I have even attended the mass on a number of occasions and I don't think it was wrong at all..in fact, it was great. I had friends in school who sported beards, who wore turbans, who had tikas on their forehead, who had kadas on their wrist, who had crosses on a chain round their neck and we all assimilated together...we obviously believed in "Unity in Diversity". Now,, it should be either be that or it should be "Unity in Commonality" wherein everyone looks the same and is just a "student". There is no middle path and if someone follows it, it must be derided and challenged and spoken against.

Do I come across as a hard nosed and regressive propagator of burqas n beards...hell no, all am advocating is free will...all am talking against is generalizing...all am ranting against is projecting beards n burqas to be symbols of Taliban...all I am asking for is equality...all I am propagating is it should be either all or nothing.

If that makes me regressive, so be it.
If that makes me Taliban..so be it!!!

The 'shoe' mantra

So, there has been a lot of show throwing off late! For one it was Bush and then our very own P. Chidambaram. I stand witness to the fact that the ‘shoe’ off late had become so important that some one hour or maybe two at my institution went discussing it. My classmate argued and argued upon the emotion that shoe has become a symbol of suppressed agony which is finally finding a way out. Well, I think, if this is what it is, there would be soon a good demand for shoes. Now, we all know that in and across cultures the throwing of shoe is seen as an act of doing an insult and am not going to bore you with all that history of the shoe-be it Bata or Lakhani but would highlight some quirky thoughts which my mind could just not do away with…

• In some years, when the journalists would enter a press conference they would be asked to open their shoes outside. Because they wouldn’t want a room full of stinking socks, even the socks…
• If you are planning to throw shoes at some dignitary, take care to carry along another pair. It doesn’t look good that you walk out with a bare foot. Izzat ka sawaal he bhai!
• Look out for a show which is old and useless. This would also give you a reason to buy another pair in its place (supposing you are one kanjoos)
• But if you’re concerned about your reputation, make sure the shoe is a quality one. The least you can do is polish it before the throw.
• If your wife has been pissing you off late, take her latest and most expensive pair to throw. If she gets back to you with all her other pairs, don’t blame me:\
• Keep a good stock of shoes. You never know when they would run out. (demand is always more than supply in such situations, you see)
• Remember, it’s more about missing your target than hitting it.
• If you’re not the kind who would throw shoes at anybody, just wait and watch. Yes, who knows you can make a collection from the collected shoes and put them on some exhibition. Modern art ka naam nahi suna?

Well, that’s it for now. Time to get ‘shoe-d’ before you ‘shoo’ me away…

Hail thy shoe!

An e-mail forwarded to us

One day a florist goes to a barber for a haircut. After the cut he
asked about his bill and the barber replies, 'I cannot accept money
from you. I'm doing community service this week.' The florist was
pleased and left the shop.. When the barber goes to open his shop the
next morning there is a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for
him at his door.



Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his
bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm
doing community service this week..' The cop is happy and leaves the
shop. The next morning when the barber goes to open up there is a
'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door..



Later that day, a college professor comes in for a haircut, and when
he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept
money from you. I'm doing community service this week..' The professor
is very happy and leaves the shop.

The next morning when the barber opens his shop, there is a 'thank
you' card and a dozen different books, such as 'How to Improve Your
Business', and 'Becoming More Successful.'



Then, a Member of Parliament comes in for a haircut, and when he goes
to pay his bill the barber again replies, 'I cannot accept money from
you. I'm doing community service this week.' The Member of Parliament
is very happy and leaves the shop.





The next morning when the barber goes to open up, there are a dozen
Members of Parliament lined up waiting for a free haircut..



And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between
the citizens of our country and the Members of Parliament.

How should I look upon this one ?

This experience of mine which I am about to share just now...Is one of those experiences which I have shared with quite a many till date, I suppose...

The reactions to the same were of course quite unexpected and surprisingly painful as well…lets first tell you this experience and we will come back to this point in the end…

It goes like this…

I was hit by the cold air of the very winter morning when my mother just opened my balcony door for some fresh air to come inside. It was a Sunday morning, I remember clearly. There was nothing to do much on that very cold day, so mom thought why not we people go for some shopping. Lying on my bed, I yawningly agreed..

We people got ready and sat in the car. We were getting late and I was a bit hungry so I took my breakfast along with me in the car. Halfway from our place, we stopped at a signal…And my eyes fell on a beggar who was coming towards our car.

You find beggars everywhere in India…isn’t it? But this time this ‘beggar story‘ took a very peculiar turn…Lets check it out…

The beggar I was talking about…was half naked…he was wearing no shirt and a shorts(that too was torn from many places)…I looked upon myself…who was wearing a inner as well as a jacket on top, with gloves on both of my hands, and still feeling cold in the enclosed car. I don’t know whether he was feeling cold or not (!!)…but after looking at him and that too dressed like that…made me feel cold for him. I urged my mother to help him. She refused. I looked at her with confused eyes, eyes which were trying to find out the reason for such a refusal, an act which was filled with so much of insensitivity.
He was still a bit far away from our car. I got down of the car and gave my breakfast to him. Of course my mom was shouting at this very act of mine. I came back and sat again in the car. Complete silence was what we observed in the car. The signal turned green. I was just looking at him, just to find out whether he was eating the food given by me or not…when suddenly what I saw just AMAZED ME……

That beggar hurriedly wore a sweater which was just kept beneath the signal…………

Many of the readers might be feeling amused right now…just like the others did when they heard this very same story…
My mom of course gave me a nice lecture as to why cant I just listen to her… (So very expected)..she said again and again " dekha..mujhey to pehley sey hi pata tha " [ see, I already knew it ]

But the scene I saw…somehow made me feel very weird that day. A feeling which I am unable to describe , just caught me and I was lost in the complacency of emotions…For sometime I felt like I am a emotional fool…and the other time, I tried coming out of this enigma. But I never got a direction in which I could think about the same..what should be my reaction ?? Is the word "emotions" only found on papers ? Are we so insensitive ?? How can we play with each others emotions like this ?? Is money making and business the top priorities of everyone ??

The dilemma still exists so as to How should I look upon this one ?

The Idioticity of the Words Secularism & Communalism In India

Apologies for such a long title and Greetings to all of you on the occasion of Baisakhi (Belated).

One of the most absurd debates and discussions held on any front or medium is about Communalism and Secularism in India and in Indian politics.

I say, in a country where Hindu shrines are managed and run by the Indian Government and Muslims get subsidy for their pilgrimages, why on this land, they mentioned Secularism in the Preamble of the constitution?
Maybe because it looked good and cool there? Because secularism would mean, complete disassociation of religion by the government.

Since polls are around in India, I will bring up the political debate here.
It's the most stupidest thing we do to debate on religious issues in relation with the Political parties.
Which Political Party except the Left I guess, can truly stand up and say I am Secular, in the true sense of the word???
The BJP will have no answer on the Godhra Riots of 2002
The Congress will have no answer as to why under the aegis of their party banner, its men slaughtered Sikhs in 1984.
The Samajwadi Party can or I bettwe say should never should explain why it has mentioned reservations for Muslims, in it's Election Manifesto for the coming election.

No one here, except Left I guess, can claim morality here. If you tell me that what Varun Gandhi may have really spoken those words, then I will ask you, Why is the Congress Party begging to Sikh Voters in Punjab to vote for a Sikh Prime Minister. I mean, is that the criteria to choose a P.M.? Set by a nationalist party? And you tell me that, this party is more secular?

True, we all can criticize the B.J.P for say, the Babri Masjid, but can we shy away from the fact that the in the Congress allies' list, there is a party called the Muslim League, and then there is the DMK, who does not want us to believe in Lord Ram?

So I say, this debate or discussion will be infinite, because every house here is made of glass, you throw stones and only shattering will happen. Nobody will win, and only India will lose.

In conclusion, I can say that it is the Congress, that is coming out to be the worst in terms of religious issues this election season. Modi has turned away to development and Advani wants a Ram Temple, but with consensus. Congress, first gets that clean chit for Tytler, when witnesses are speaking up openly against him in the press. Then they alot ticket to him and Sajjan Kumar, and when they take it back, they claim high level of morality or values. Then acting like true hypocrytes, they go on asking votes to Sikhs for a Sikh P.M.

I mean, it is high time, we drop down the word Secualrism. Who is secular here? Worse, how much it is mattering people?

Eunuchs

The country called India, or for that matter most countries in the world, have been lax in providing what they should have, to some under-privileged people. No, I am not referring to the beggars, not the SC/ST's or any other class. I am talking of EUNUCHS.

Helping a beggar with alms, or say feeding small kids, some monetary help to the needy- all these have been debatable issues. We all have our reasons of helping/not helping them. Some say, they misuse it for drugs, some say, this money doesn’t really benefit them, it doesn’t go into their hands only, and many similar stories. The most common being, that they are people who CAN work so why get into begging. Okay, I won’t get into what they "CAN" and what they "CAN'T" do. But do we think of those who can’t help but be in the condition they are in.

Reservation can be done at all levels, we can even have protests against it, we can have the policy makers defend it also. But do we see that while we are estimating our capacity and intelligence, we have over looked people who need help to realize their potential? Does a mother disown her physically challenged kid? NO. That is because however the kid is, he is god's gift. So, why are Eunuchs treated any differently? Just because they have been given a different physical form doesn’t imply, they aren’t as sharp as we are.

And one thing I don’t understand is why do people fear them. I have heard this so many times, that it isn’t good to take the ill wishes of a Eunuch coz they turn true. Excuse Me? I thought ill wishes from anyone in this world aren’t desirable. It isn’t that what the say turns true; it is our insecurity that leads us to think like this.

We can have primary schools, we can have "each one-teach one" campaigns. But who is all this for? For small kids. But why only them? A school is suppose to lay the foundation of what kind of individuals do we become. That foundation can be laid for anyone, any age. I don’t say have reservations for them, but please at least help them attain the necessary skills to earn a living. Why do we treat them like a different community, different from ours? We are judged by what we make of ourselves, not by what our Sexual orientation is.

Through this article, I just want to request people to not treat them any different from any of your friends. It is the capability to optimize the opportunity given that matters coz not everyone has the zeal or the courage to create them. On a mass level, Eunuch’s have not been provided with the opportunities and fighting for the right one seems a tough task for any minority.

PS: I know there are some NGO's who fight for them, but that isn’t what I am trying to highlight coz that isn’t sufficient. I want you, him, her and me to unite and do something. It’s only us, who can make this place a better place to live for all. To hell with Darwin's theory-SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST.

PPS: There have been developments on this front that I noticed of late. There is this show called Sarkar Ki Duniya, it’s on the lines of Big Boss/Brother. And it has a Eunuch as a participant. Now, I really don’t know or care if this is a TRP stunt. I believe that any step taken in this direction is a step in the improvement of the class that is truly “under privileged”.

Is India truly Secular??

A horror of present India >> http://ibnlive.in.com/news/book-on-kandhamal-raises-uncomfortable-questions/89972-19.html


Along with rising sex discrimination are we leaving behind our secular tag? Will India ultimately become a theocracy??

I shudder to think of the day when we openly start discriminating. Seeing the happenings over the past year all i can see is us taking multiple steps backwards. We have to learn to move forward. Once the most tolerant of all nations we are now moving back into the intolerant mindsets of the European middle ages.

If there are any journos on this blog or who read this blog i request you to bring up and highlight issues of secularism in this country. We need to move forward not backward!!

-> SJ

Space Anyone?

Every individual has their own space and it is the space that has to be respected in order for a healthy relationship or atmosphere. wondering why my sudden obsession with space? well i got into an argument with mom and that reemphasized just how important space is in our lives.

When a child is being born there he/she should be nurtured and guided but once the child crosses his/her teens she should be trusted enough to make the right choices if required she can be suggested on the things she is doing, but not directly taking over his/her life and their making decisions. india it is not uncommon to hear parents exclaim "for me no matter how old you are, you will remain my baby to me" this may sound soo endearing to most but has a negative impact otherwise. once a child grows up, she should be given her space to be who she/he wants to be and what she wants to do. it is this lack of space, that often leads to the elders disrespecting the young adults that leads to so much strife within the family.

Now you will tell me why should elders respect their children? well respect is not something you demand but your attitude should be such that your personality should command respect. if we all respect one another, irrespective of age, then live is much smoother. being elders or parents it is difficult for them to appreciate or understand the youth because of their different ways, so instead that go about trying to change them. but instead if they respected the younger generation for who and what they are then things would have been much easier. it is applicable to youth respecting the elders too. if there is mutual respect and scope of space then this so called generation gap would not exist.

And this is not just applicable to parent-child relationship but to friendships, marriages and relationships too.i hope people are able to accept and appreciate each owns' want of space and respect them for everything that they are and everything that they are not.

Social Menace

i had to travel a long distance in a yet another jam packed bus to go to a job interview. what i had to experience was horrendous... just imagine the lady standing right behind me was digging her nose and wiping her fingers on the rod she was holding to stand up? not just that she was stinking. gawd! and moreover she was talking to her friend in the loudest of voices, about some master she works for and his habits and his conjugal relationship with his wife.

somewhere a young boy was talking to his friend about what happened that day at the tuition's that his friend had missed; the topic was for all to hear, what is the best strategy to make the girl agree to date him.there was an elaborate discussion with peels of laughter and mirth for everyone to hear as the bus was stuck in a jam. then a strange looking mad man got up, and started broadcasting his own news channel with personal inputs. no this is not the end to my woes today. but there was more to come.

two women in their late 50's got up in the bus and one literally hung on to me while the other merely leaned against me to stand. my hands were already paining from all the strain of standing for a long time and then to manage such people. then there was this guy who wouldn't budge from a ladies seat to allow a lady to sit down! god! the conductor had to tell him to get up only then did he get up that too he kept on abusing and arguing. as the crowd cleared somewhat the man sitting opposite to me became visible, i almost immediately wished this didn't happen. the man was spitting on his shirt more than outside the window and mind you he was scratching his crotch merely in full public view..yewww!!!

i wonder why people don't develop some simple civic sense. personal hygiene should come to all and also we should be aware if we are being the cause of inconvenience to anyone.

Space Exploration

Hi all,

I always wanted to discuss this topic…space exploration(SE).Is it really necessary?. So i thought it would be good if i could raise this topic in this space and elicit views of the Wiproites.

The case FOR SE is pretty simple and straight forward. SE(unfortunately) represents a country’s prowess in scientific advancement. It has, over the years, come to indicate a country’s clout in the international arena. Moreover, proponents of SE, claim that many aerospace technologies are spin offs from the research time and money spent on SE.

The case AGAINST SE is as follows. We all know how much countries around the world spend on SE. The expenses of preparing the basic infrastructure for SE is humongous to say the least. Then there is the cost of the space vehicle and not to mention to the high tech gadgetry inside it that transmits back data to the ground centre, the fat pay cheques for the scientist and technical staff working there.

The other thing about SE is that it tends to be impractical. We all know that other than the earth there is no planet that is hospitable for human existence. No planet has the right set of “ingredients” for humans to reside in it. So what the probes we sent to mars managed to find water in it. Mars’s atmosphere still doesn't have the right composition for humans to live in. Then how about the soil..who is going to make it cultivatable.

Last but not least, the planet that we are all living in can accommodate all of us. I read somewhere that we can fit into a texas in groups(read families) of 4 with a dwelling and a garden for each group. So there is enough space for everyone and there can be(with proper policies) enough food and opportunities for each and everyone of us.

I have intentionally not stated my position in detail here so that it will not influence you people. I hope to have a debate on this issue. Waiting for your comments and replies

Achcha Hi Hai

Achcha hi hai gam kabhi dosti chodta nahi
jiske liye sada saath rehne ki mannate mangi jaye!
hum phir bhi chikh chikhkar kehte rahe
ki hum akele hai aur hamara koi nahi
isi gam ne kya shikayat ki thi kabhi ?
jisse chuthne ke liye hum nikle the yuhin,
jaanta hai woh ki khud hamare saaye ne saath choda tha
hamara mushkilo ke andhiyare main kahin!


Achcha hi hai ki khushi koi cheez nahi
jise kharidne logo ki bheed jama ho sake!
bhale hi ameeron ke chaukat pe uska aana-jana ho
par gareebo ko bhi kabhi naseeb hoti hai khushi !
kuch paane ki tamanna puri na bhi huyi ho
kabhi na kabhi meharban to hoti hai zindagi
koshish karna insaani fitrat hai janab
dekhna kisiki hoton pe hasi kabhi humse bhi hogi!

Achcha hi hai ki aman kisi bageeche mein khilti nahi
jise todkar koi insaan zindagi ka sukun paa sake!
bhagna chodh do daulat ke peeche janab
soncho kabhi ki kitni khushi kisiko de sake
Jab kisi besahaare ko doge apna kandha
ya lachar ko kisi, waqt doge tum apna
to mere dost yaad rakhna,khuda ki kasam
tumhe yahin jannat hai naseeb hona!

P.S : This is my first contribution to jagruthi-the awakening. Please let me know if you think i should do any corrections to it/or i should add something to it, i would look forward to it. Feel free to let me know your thoughts.. :)