THE JUDGEMENT
Amit leaned forward in his chair to listen carefully to each word being uttered by His Lordship in a husky, barritone voice. The judge had begun:
“ This case had generated more than required media interest, though I doubt it merits so much attention. But I suppose in the INFORMATION AGE, every one wants to create information out of information. We, as a society, are becoming slaves of spicy titibits which media excels in generating”, his lordship had taken the dig at new found ‘Media Activism’ as a rejoinder, probably, to counter media cocncocted phrase of ‘Judicial Activism’.
Amit told himself quietly, “ No doubts, we media-men poke our nose everywhere, whether most of us understand the issue at hand or not. Under the banner of freedom of expression, we comment on issues that the knowledgeable and informed persons can only pull their hairs at our degree and dimension of ignorance.” As he was thinking like this, the heavy voice of the Judge began to resonate his ears, once more:
“ I am a man of law. I do not go by emotions and human passion, certainly not by media created pyramid of reasons and counter-reason. It is not required and the law does not approve of it. All the same, one must remember, judges are also human beings. They ,too, have emotions—both positive and negative. They also react, over-react, and under-react on every piece of information finding its way into the ‘Gossip-Bazaar’of media. But all this is within our selves. Our emotions do not and can not spill out of us. There have been times when I got sick of irresponsible arguments. I never understand as to why each one of us views issues in an isolated manner and not in a holistic manner. Security forces only think of security; Media only of information; politicians only of politics and lawyers only of legalities. Why can not we debate in our inner-self about the impact of our intended act on the other limbs of society and the polity? Why don’t we define our limits to check us from being dubbed as irresponsible in pursuing single-minded objective? Shouldn’t we say, ‘ Thus far I go, for, territory beyond this is a prohibited area ?’ Notwithstanding our well-meaning intentions and motives, but as members of a civilised and a dignified society, we are lacking in self-discipline and self-restraints. Take this case.”, The judge said with a deep sigh and then continued:
“ I have tried my best to keep my personal feelings out of it. As a judge, my job demands a hard solid evidence to separate the chaff from wheat. I can not go by inferred logic and say, “ Lo, behold! It is QED.” That is a mathematician’s job. I am not here to enhance my judicial TRP to swim along with popular sentiments. Well! it is the domain of the TV channels and they are welcome to try all the tricks up their sleeves. As a judge and upholder of our laws, I must note that THE ERRORS LIKE STRAWS UPON THE SURFACE FLOW, THOSE WHO ARE IN SEARCH OF TRUTH MUST DIVE BELOW. I , therefore, had to do deep-sea diving in this raging sea of arguments and counter arguments; followed by counter-counter arguments and counter-counter-counter arguments. I had to sift the real evidence from the heap of non-evidence. I am bound by this evidence in coming to certain conclusions on this case. It might disappoint some and cheer up others. But as I have already said I am not here for a popularity contest”, His lordship stopped a while to take a few sips of water and then resumed.
“ My judgement runs into 148 typed pages. I am going to read only the operative parts of my judicial verdict. It is a unique case. Here, the law enforcement organ of the state was accused of violating the very code of law enforcement. The protectors of citizens were accused of taking lives of the honorable citizens. Alferd hitchcock, the doyen of Horror Movies, had said, ‘I AM NOT ANTI -POLICE BUT I AM AFRAID OF POLICE.’ Is it true in our case, too? Have the policemen become law unto themselves? Do they nourish a notion that they were above law? Then, the questions also rose in my mind as to how the enemies of the state are to be treated, particularly, those who had taken up arms against the state? The biggest question which kept nibbling at my conscience during the hearing was: Why should law and the constitution give refuge to those who not only disrespect it but refuse to accept its validity? The accompanying corrollary to this was: DO THE MEMBERS OF AN ORGANISATION, WHETHER NATIONAL or INTERNATIONAL and LAWFUL or UNLAWFUL, WHO CLAIM TO KILL THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF YOUR COUNTRY IN A COLD BLOOD, HAVE ANY LEGAL RIGHTS TO SEEK THE PROTECTION OF OUR COURTS? I must say that these were emotional questions. But law has no human sentiments and it has its own connotation of so called human rights—whether fundamental or otherwise.”
“ It should be by now obvious that it was not a simple case of double murder. I had to determine if it were law-enforcer’s own brand of justice or it were a murder most cruel and brutal. The death of two persons in encounter or police custody, either at KOLKOTTA or in Punjab was crystal clear? I had to look into the circumstances and assigned motives. This was very important in this case. Even the defendants did not deny the death of the couple? The question, and very important one, was not as to why did ‘the accused’ kill but how did it happen? This was the basic yardstick for my judicial pronouncement.”
“ I asked myself some questions and then answered them. These were: Was it a case of law enforcer’s own brand of justice after his frustration with passivity of the general public in providing witnesses? Is it acceptable? If not, Why not? What should the Law enforcers do? Allow the murderes and terrorists a free run? In my 30 years of judicial sevice, I have never found an accused and guility readily accepting his/her sin. Law lays emphasis on evidence and things have become so horrendous these days that to obtain evidence and a witness in militancy and terror infested areas, it was a nightmare for Law Enforcers. In the judicial parlance of dispensation of justice we continue to standby the maxim: let 100 criminals go scot free but not one innocent be punished. It is a very high moral principle of our legal system acquired from the British judicial system. Unfortunately, what happens these days? Virtually, now-a-days, this principle is made to stand on its head. Ironically,today, due to reasons of expedient witnesses and inept police, 100 innocents might get punished while rarely a single real culprit can be sentenced. Will it happen in this case, too? The question has been bugging my mind. I want to ensure it doen’t.” The judge stopped, surveyed the courtroom in an air of moral triumph for having shed the load from his conscience and began to gulp water down his dried up throat. Amit could feel an air of mental relief around honourable judge’s face. It was a kind of self –belief that says you were on the right track.
“As I pronounce my judgement, some questions will continue to haunt me. Over the last few years, after the incident took place on May 17, 1993, this case has been kicking dust not only in the media but also in the legal circles. Some distinguished members of legal profession have given their verdicts one way or the other.They have raked up moral, ethical,social,legal,political and security issues. I have heard and read a lot, both within the courtroom and outside, on fake and orchestrated encounters by police to eliminate anti social and antti national elements(ANEs). Definitely, in a free, civilised and a democratic society there was no justifications for such acts. But in certain official and administrative circles, this semmed to be the favourite response to deal with the the issue of non-responsive witnesses. All the same, whatever the difficulities in procuring witnesses, such acts can not be condoned at any cost .
I have, also, read about known terrorists organisations making vociferous claims on brutal killings of innocent civilians by their organisation members. We generally know about local members of such organisations, who carry out these gruesome murders. Are they justifiable acts on the grounds that the group or the organisation has not got its dues from the authorities? Does law of any nation permits individuals to attain their objectives or remove grievances through violence and terror? Does it sanctify brutal killings of innocents by these organisations? Unfortunately we do, because we do not take notice of vociferous claims of the heads of these organisations for taking responsibility of brutal killings?It happened in Punjab and Assam. It is happening in J&K. Militant organisations, within and outside India's borders, make claims of gruesome killings in trains, buses, temples and public places with much fan-fare. There is a sense of 'bravado' in such pronouncements.It silences future witnesses. Our security forces are, thus, handicapped. Orchestrated encounters are , therefore, a fall out of the lacuna in our code of criminal procedures, which is exploited by modern out-laws, murderers and criminals. The security forces can be hauled up for violating the law. However, due to inept and outdated policing system and lopsided clauses on ‘CrPC as well as Evidence’, it is extremely difficult to bring to book the organised terrorist and criminal groups who not only ridicule but mock at our social, legal, political and administrative systems. Not only the police but our legal system cries for dynamic reforms to make them more responsive to guiles of law-breakers. Why don’t we try out these organisations and their members in absentia?Why not take ex-parte decisions, if the accused fail to present themselves in the trial courts? It is a food for thought for our law makers and law enforcers” . The honourable judge made a forceful assertion of his point. Amit was further confused as to where the judge was heading. So far his lordship had not given any indication of the shape of things to come.
“ We often go by the edict that all accused are innocent till convicted. But how do we convict a person? The prosecuters have to provide evidence. The problem of the delivery of justice comes when evidence is muzzled, blocked or distorted. It is compounded when law-enforcers, whose job is to collect evidence, resort to adulterating it or ignore it. The worst problem is when the witnesses are silenced or co-erced to give mutilated evidence to save the accused. How about those who do not recognise the law itself? In such cases, what should the policeman do? Should the policeman allow the law breakers or the offenders of law to exploit the principle of ‘INNOCENCE BEFORE CONVICTION’ by silencing witnesses by threat, elimination or the money or Should he dispense his own brand of justice? Is it permitted in a liberal, democratic and a civilised society? Is the modern society, really free and civilised? Does a society, torn by militancy, terrorism and violence qualify to be called a civilised and a free society? Isn’t it allowing itself to be exploited by those who have no respect for its laws? How ironic, those who do not respect law, ultimately take the shelter of the judicial principle of innocent till convicted? There is definitely a case for making our laws and definitions more dynamic to remove these ananmolies. Police reforms is the cry of the day.” The judge had hinted at the shape of things to come.
“Take the instant case of the death of Bashir khan and his wife Sabina Bai. Both of them lived under disguised identity of Lakhmir Singh and Rashmi Singh in the Kailash Nagar colony of Central Kolkotta. Why should they have change their identity? Did their past haunt them? To their neighbours , they were a respectable couple and known as ‘Do-gooders’ in the locality. Evidence before me proves beyond doubts that they had a shady past. ‘Defence’ has reasons to state that they had connections with terrorist organisation of Punjab. If their old identity is correct, then police of Punjab had a large number of cases of extortion, murder and kidnapping against the couple. Could they be the victim of police outrage or harassment? This has not come from the prosecution or the POACHERS. Instead , they have accepted their old identity. This implies there was something fishy about their past before they came to Kolkotta and merged with the normal public. I know the past character can not be taken into account but it is important to look for the motives of Punjab police. As things stand today, they were a law-abiding couple living at Kolkotta but they had violated the law in the past. Again, I am not comfortable to know as to how a low-paid ex-constable of Punjab police could manage so much of funds and live in a posh locality. He owned a taxi and lived a comfortable life. Why did he leave Punjab police? I know the dead can not speak but neither the organisation fighting their case, the POACHERS nor the prosecution, has any viable reasons to explain this. But one can only conjecture. Yet I am not going to base my judgement on mere conjectures.”
“You see the law does not accept violence against the person of anybody unless it is carried out against the enemy of the state. It is a truism that law also accepts that anybody who had taken up arms against the state was her enemy. In the present case my job was to determine if the killed couple were an enemy of the state. Even if I accept their shady past and plethora of accusations by Punjab police, it has not been provem in my court that they had taken up arms against India. I do acknowledge that they had links with some terrorist organisations. But this could be due to the lure of money or sheer blackmail or anyother reason. Therefore, were the accused justified in eliminating the couple as they did on 17 May 1993? I am not deliberating on the fact as to where did the killing take place? It is immaterial for the purpose of this judgement? Fact remains that the said couple was killed. I have no doubts, it took place in Kolkotta. But was it a cold–blooded killing? This is avery important aspect of the case.” The honourable judge was now veering around to his final verdict.
“ Let me recount certain important facts. Firstly, Lakhmir Singh and Rashmi Singh are the same couple of Bashir Khan and Sabina Bai as has been alleged by the accused and not contested by prosecution and POACHERS. Secondly, the couple was killed by the accused, as has been alleged by prosecution and not denied by the accused. Thirdly, the couple had been peacefully staying in Kolkotta over the last few months before their death. Fourthly, Bashir Khan was a constable in the punjab police which he had deserted in 1991. Fifthly , there is adequate proof to suggest his links with some terrorist outfits. Sixthly, it has been proven that the killer squad of Punjab police came in a helicopter to central Kolkotta and engaged the couple in an encounter or probably killed them and took their bodies to punjab where they stage- managed an encounter to cover the incident. All this has been established by CBI, the investigating agency. The guilt of the five accused is proved beyond doubt. But why did they do so? How did the accused get the lead to kolkotta? Why were they provided helicopter by the state of Punjab? Evidence does suggest that Bashir Khan was probably involved in large cases of extortion and some cases of killing innocent people . There are indication of his involvement in the Massacre of bus passengers near Bhucho Mandi, Bhatinda in Punjab on January 15, 1992. But all this does not mitigate the guilt of the accused. However, it does go to suggest the motive. It does establish that there were no personal interests. Yet, the accused are also found guility of taking law into their own hands. Even if I accept defence counsel’s version that accused were arrested in Kolkotta and not killed here but in Punjab, it does not dilutes the gravity of the offence. On their own admission , the couple was in their custody. Therefore, safety of the couple-in-custody was their prime responsibility. They have dithered in their responsibility. I do accept their point that they were performing their duty and killing was incidental in the performance of that duty. I feel they might not be alone in this venture. They were provided helicopter to carry out this operation. I am sure very high level government decision should have been taken to carry out a swift operation to nab them , if not kill. I do not know why there was no central government agency coordinating and controlling such operations. If the central agency was involved, there would have been no gruesome murders and probably the dead couple would have been answering for their alleged crimes in some court of law. I hold the five accused guility of not only homicide but also taking law into their own hands. However I do give them the benefit of doubt that no one had any personal motive. It therefore mitigates the guilt to that extent. I sentence them to 14 years of imprisonment on all three counts. The defendants and the prosecution have seven days to appeal to a higher court. The court now rises for the day”, saying this the honourable judge quickly disappeared into his chambers, leaving stunned silence in the court-room. No one had expected such harsh punishment after the judge had been passing strictures on the media and human rights organisations. In fact, he had once asked the prosecutor as to how would he deal with a person who had been proven to be involved in cold bloded murder of 30 women, children and old men.
Amit felt while the judge gave his judgement based on his head but his heart was somewhere else. What the honourable judge did not say but definitely conveyed that he very well understood the compulsions and helpness of security forces in gathering evidence against faceless prepetrators of most heinous violence, who live in and terroise the very society which provides them human and civil rights while they mock at it. “What a dilemma for a democracy”, thought Amit.
-------------- To be continued in Part-5 “ The Roots”
Read more...
Saturday, May 03, 2008
Friday, May 02, 2008
AN ODE TO MY MOTHER!
I know not, where you have gone, my great mother?
I have images in my memory of our existence together;
You were goddess to me as all mothers are to their sons,
And you bestowed on me your love and affection, in tons.
O' Ma, your strong resolve and tons of patience,
Your melodious voice with words condensed-
Could make iron-rods bend and shake mountains,
For, excelling in self-belief, you personified action.
Who cares if they say you had no formal education ?
Isn't it enough you taught me how to stand on my own?
I do remember how you goaded me to take my first stride?
And you also did teach me how to walk with my head high.
You were not only my teacher but philosopher too,
"Do this", if you commanded, could I defy you?
You were my world and every thing within it,
Your sudden departure has rendered me unfit.
How would this world be without you, O' Ma?
I never did imagine the drudgery of this trauma;
Now when you have gone into your heavenly abode-
I can only cry looking at these evil-soaked gods?
Must say, you did try your best to make me worldly wise-
Of scheming and hungry sharks in the family and outside;
At times, I got angry at repititive doses of moral lectures,
Patiently you absorbed my non-sense without any strictures.
What ever I am today, I owe it to you ,my mother dear!
You gave me such a character that I have nothing to fear;
You not only stood by truth but also lived by it every inch-
If you made a promise of any sort, you had never flinched.
Read more...
I have images in my memory of our existence together;
You were goddess to me as all mothers are to their sons,
And you bestowed on me your love and affection, in tons.
O' Ma, your strong resolve and tons of patience,
Your melodious voice with words condensed-
Could make iron-rods bend and shake mountains,
For, excelling in self-belief, you personified action.
Who cares if they say you had no formal education ?
Isn't it enough you taught me how to stand on my own?
I do remember how you goaded me to take my first stride?
And you also did teach me how to walk with my head high.
You were not only my teacher but philosopher too,
"Do this", if you commanded, could I defy you?
You were my world and every thing within it,
Your sudden departure has rendered me unfit.
How would this world be without you, O' Ma?
I never did imagine the drudgery of this trauma;
Now when you have gone into your heavenly abode-
I can only cry looking at these evil-soaked gods?
Must say, you did try your best to make me worldly wise-
Of scheming and hungry sharks in the family and outside;
At times, I got angry at repititive doses of moral lectures,
Patiently you absorbed my non-sense without any strictures.
What ever I am today, I owe it to you ,my mother dear!
You gave me such a character that I have nothing to fear;
You not only stood by truth but also lived by it every inch-
If you made a promise of any sort, you had never flinched.
Read more...
Whence in life, hard-times come,
Whence in life, hard-times come,
Great become they, who do not succumb.
History is replete with numerous examples –
Greatness follows a unique preamble;
A small incident may trigger an avalanche –
Of thoughts and actions, of resolute stance;
A white-man pushed ‘Gandhi’ off train –
That stirred a storm in a fragile frame,
‘Naked –Faquir’ – Whom Churchill so called –
Shook the empire and made it recoil.
Whence in life……………..
Changing times have unleashed confusion,
Materialistic life is creating an illusion;
Cheating and corruption is a way of life,
Hatred is the cause human strife;
People are engaged in self-seeking pursuits,
No one cares for the ‘Propriety of the route;
Short-cut methods so craftily designed,
Values and moralities into dustbin consigned;
Alas! It ensures no life – time aplomb –
As bubble soon bursts like atomic bomb.
Whence in life……………
Three principles, I tell ye my child!
Contours of ‘Greatness’ on whom glide;
First, be called, “knowledge is power!”
‘Reading will make ye ‘EnlightenedTower!!’
Second is named, ‘Hard work will pay’ –
'Failed – attempt’ becomes a guiding ray.
Then comes the rule of ‘Self-Confidence!’
Always, it opens courses of providence.
Whence in life……………
All these ingredients are present in you,
My sweet little child, “I am proud too!”
I know it, too, ye are cut above the rest,
Any thing ye do will be better than the best;
Remember, small things always matter in life,
For, hidden in them are opportunities wide;
But, a word of caution, I must impose,
Moralities of life must not be disposed.
Whence in life……………
Finally, I sum up my ode to you,
In my humble and modest but words true;
Set thy Goal and define thy aim,
Vigorously pursue, unmindful of pain;
Success may smile after a great ordeal,
Once it comes over- joyed ye feel;
Sense of achievement shall make ye a flier –
On ‘Himalayas’ of life, ye go higher and higher.
Whence in life……………
Great become they, who do not succumb.
History is replete with numerous examples –
Greatness follows a unique preamble;
A small incident may trigger an avalanche –
Of thoughts and actions, of resolute stance;
A white-man pushed ‘Gandhi’ off train –
That stirred a storm in a fragile frame,
‘Naked –Faquir’ – Whom Churchill so called –
Shook the empire and made it recoil.
Whence in life……………..
Changing times have unleashed confusion,
Materialistic life is creating an illusion;
Cheating and corruption is a way of life,
Hatred is the cause human strife;
People are engaged in self-seeking pursuits,
No one cares for the ‘Propriety of the route;
Short-cut methods so craftily designed,
Values and moralities into dustbin consigned;
Alas! It ensures no life – time aplomb –
As bubble soon bursts like atomic bomb.
Whence in life……………
Three principles, I tell ye my child!
Contours of ‘Greatness’ on whom glide;
First, be called, “knowledge is power!”
‘Reading will make ye ‘EnlightenedTower!!’
Second is named, ‘Hard work will pay’ –
'Failed – attempt’ becomes a guiding ray.
Then comes the rule of ‘Self-Confidence!’
Always, it opens courses of providence.
Whence in life……………
All these ingredients are present in you,
My sweet little child, “I am proud too!”
I know it, too, ye are cut above the rest,
Any thing ye do will be better than the best;
Remember, small things always matter in life,
For, hidden in them are opportunities wide;
But, a word of caution, I must impose,
Moralities of life must not be disposed.
Whence in life……………
Finally, I sum up my ode to you,
In my humble and modest but words true;
Set thy Goal and define thy aim,
Vigorously pursue, unmindful of pain;
Success may smile after a great ordeal,
Once it comes over- joyed ye feel;
Sense of achievement shall make ye a flier –
On ‘Himalayas’ of life, ye go higher and higher.
Whence in life……………
Read more...
A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE FUTURE!
A TELEPHONE CALL FROM THE FUTURE!
“Hi, is anybody there?”
“Yes, what’s it dear?”
“I am your 'future'' on line.”
“What is your message divine'.”
“Why are you in soldier’s uniform?”
“Violent earth, I want to reform.”
“I must say, it is a noble mission!”
“Tired of our leaders sloppy vision!”
“Do you feel the earth is likely to explode?”
“Unless we eliminate the man-made gods?”
“Why do you have such negative thoughts?”
“Because ruffians fill the leader’s slot.”
“Hey! violence is not the answer.”
“But 'Jihadis' act as Islamic bouncers”
“Do you dare to be ‘evil-busters?”
“This is the courage, we do muster.”
“Are you then, a crusader of white man?”
“Such though just don’t figure in our plans.”
“ Are you not acting as white man's saviour?”
“No, No! we are responding to Islamic terror.”
“Is it some kind of a 'backlash' approach?”
“Consider it as a stand against evil thoughts.”
“Well! Well!! Do not talk in knotty riddles”
"Terrorists have no religion' is a similar puzzle .”
“Then, moral discourses must be a sham”
“Like a well-metalled road on a seeping dam.”
“Does the hole widen with falling bricks?”
“Innocence falls prey to emotional tricks.”
“How do you account for this value-erosion?”
“Obliging yes-man’s passport to promotion.”
“All right! How does this system operate?”
“Leaders look sideways when terrorists dictate.”
“But 'freedom-fighting' is a noble venture?”
“Frustration acquires an artificial denture.”
“So, freedom movements are losing their teeth.”
“Because,‘globalization’ is rising on its feet.”
“So, why are you, then, dressed like soldiers?”
“Along its path, removing human-boulders.”
“But I will not allow your hegemony, here.”
“The days of ‘brawn’ have gone, my dear.”
“I am the ‘Jihad' and you are still a child.”
“Submit gleefully, else we would be wild?”
“But, you see, I am not a human boulder.”
“Why do you carry past on your shoulders?”
“This is jungle, dear, not a human habitat.”
“Yes, we want to make this world flat.”
“I do not get it, what does it imply?”
“The notion of ‘nationhood’ is about to die.”
“What? Nationhood dying? It makes no sense.”
“It means border less world without any fence.”
“Hey, what is so new? Our jungles are like this.”
“Soon the flattened world will have the bliss.”
“You mean to say the rules of jungles will apply.”
“Yes! Yes!!, it would be future man's staple diet.”
“Shut up! Do not utter a sheer white lie.”
“It is darkness when you close your eyes.”
“Come on, dears; check this moral down-slide.”
“'Flat world' will have no ‘groom’; also no bride.”
“Do you say marriages will have no social stamp?”
“Yes! Yes, it is on display on the ‘Western’ ramp.”
“Well! Religions will not approve this murky affair.”
“Where jungle rules matter, who would care?”
"Will religious 'heads' put down the shutter?"
"In lit up areas, dying insects do flutter ."
"You mean the role of religion will decline."
"You must know it is losing its glossy shine."
“Shocking, dear! It is shocking revelations!”
“Infallible will explode with inner implosion.”
“Is this our ‘future’ ,then,on a corrosive tray?”
“Draw your conclusions, whatever you may.”
“Then, how come you are making a loud noise.”
“As 'future' unfolds' itself you have no choice.”
“Hey, you mean future has broken through?”
“Old order changed yielding place to new.”
“Are we, of the old genre, now history books stuff?”
“Well! Better you kiss reality now, it is not a bluff?”
“Can you give ‘the old’ some space to live?”
“Whirr……..whirr…….whirr………”(Line gets noisy!)
“Hey, do you hear? It is time to quit.”
“Whirr………..whirs……….whirr……”
”Hullo! Hullo!! Are we still connected?”
“Whirr…..whirr…….whirr……whirr…..”
“It will take time before past is resurrected”
“Whirr……..whirr…….whirr…………”
“Hey, ‘kids of the future’! Are you still there?”
“Caller please leave the line, your time is over.”
“Whirr…………..whirr………….whirr………”
“Hi, is anybody there?”
“Yes, what’s it dear?”
“I am your 'future'' on line.”
“What is your message divine'.”
“Why are you in soldier’s uniform?”
“Violent earth, I want to reform.”
“I must say, it is a noble mission!”
“Tired of our leaders sloppy vision!”
“Do you feel the earth is likely to explode?”
“Unless we eliminate the man-made gods?”
“Why do you have such negative thoughts?”
“Because ruffians fill the leader’s slot.”
“Hey! violence is not the answer.”
“But 'Jihadis' act as Islamic bouncers”
“Do you dare to be ‘evil-busters?”
“This is the courage, we do muster.”
“Are you then, a crusader of white man?”
“Such though just don’t figure in our plans.”
“ Are you not acting as white man's saviour?”
“No, No! we are responding to Islamic terror.”
“Is it some kind of a 'backlash' approach?”
“Consider it as a stand against evil thoughts.”
“Well! Well!! Do not talk in knotty riddles”
"Terrorists have no religion' is a similar puzzle .”
“Then, moral discourses must be a sham”
“Like a well-metalled road on a seeping dam.”
“Does the hole widen with falling bricks?”
“Innocence falls prey to emotional tricks.”
“How do you account for this value-erosion?”
“Obliging yes-man’s passport to promotion.”
“All right! How does this system operate?”
“Leaders look sideways when terrorists dictate.”
“But 'freedom-fighting' is a noble venture?”
“Frustration acquires an artificial denture.”
“So, freedom movements are losing their teeth.”
“Because,‘globalization’ is rising on its feet.”
“So, why are you, then, dressed like soldiers?”
“Along its path, removing human-boulders.”
“But I will not allow your hegemony, here.”
“The days of ‘brawn’ have gone, my dear.”
“I am the ‘Jihad' and you are still a child.”
“Submit gleefully, else we would be wild?”
“But, you see, I am not a human boulder.”
“Why do you carry past on your shoulders?”
“This is jungle, dear, not a human habitat.”
“Yes, we want to make this world flat.”
“I do not get it, what does it imply?”
“The notion of ‘nationhood’ is about to die.”
“What? Nationhood dying? It makes no sense.”
“It means border less world without any fence.”
“Hey, what is so new? Our jungles are like this.”
“Soon the flattened world will have the bliss.”
“You mean to say the rules of jungles will apply.”
“Yes! Yes!!, it would be future man's staple diet.”
“Shut up! Do not utter a sheer white lie.”
“It is darkness when you close your eyes.”
“Come on, dears; check this moral down-slide.”
“'Flat world' will have no ‘groom’; also no bride.”
“Do you say marriages will have no social stamp?”
“Yes! Yes, it is on display on the ‘Western’ ramp.”
“Well! Religions will not approve this murky affair.”
“Where jungle rules matter, who would care?”
"Will religious 'heads' put down the shutter?"
"In lit up areas, dying insects do flutter ."
"You mean the role of religion will decline."
"You must know it is losing its glossy shine."
“Shocking, dear! It is shocking revelations!”
“Infallible will explode with inner implosion.”
“Is this our ‘future’ ,then,on a corrosive tray?”
“Draw your conclusions, whatever you may.”
“Then, how come you are making a loud noise.”
“As 'future' unfolds' itself you have no choice.”
“Hey, you mean future has broken through?”
“Old order changed yielding place to new.”
“Are we, of the old genre, now history books stuff?”
“Well! Better you kiss reality now, it is not a bluff?”
“Can you give ‘the old’ some space to live?”
“Whirr……..whirr…….whirr………”(Line gets noisy!)
“Hey, do you hear? It is time to quit.”
“Whirr………..whirs……….whirr……”
”Hullo! Hullo!! Are we still connected?”
“Whirr…..whirr…….whirr……whirr…..”
“It will take time before past is resurrected”
“Whirr……..whirr…….whirr…………”
“Hey, ‘kids of the future’! Are you still there?”
“Caller please leave the line, your time is over.”
“Whirr…………..whirr………….whirr………”
Read more...
Thursday, May 01, 2008
RETIREMENT BLUES- A SHORT STORY!
1.
“Hey, come on man! Why tomorrow? Come right now.” Sumesh was euphoric.
“No, No, friend. Just the other day we were there. What would BHABIJI (SISTER-IN-LAW---Sumesh’s wife) think?” Raj Singh sounded cautious.
“Come of it, man, I am alone. Yes, all alone. No one here now for a few days to boss around.”, Sumesh was showing his excitement
“What? Where is Sunita?” asked Raj.
“Oh, she has gone to some interior place in HIMACHAL to attend the marriage of her some distant cousin’s daughter. She won’t be around till 25th June. I AM FREE, MAN. TOTALLY FREE! How I have been longing for this day for the past 30 years?” Sumesh was unable to hide his jubilation.
“Oh, so this is the secret of euphoria?” Raj added sarcasm to his tone.
“Come on, dude. Join me. Let us enjoy the FREEDOM OF A WEEK. Come and see I am my own boss here. I can do what I want to do. Come on, Raj.” Sumesh invited Raj.
“How lucky you are? Ok, it is, 10 AM, now. I will be there in half an hour.” Raj could not refuse the temptation.
“LUCKY? You don’t know what is it like? It is a relief from 30 years of NON-STOP –HOME- SLAVERY, momentary, though. You see I don’t have to get up at 6 AM to take the delivery of MILK from the milk boy. I get up at 10 AM. I don’t have to run with that KACHRA TIN (GARBAGE BOX) to hand over to garbage collector at 7 AM daily. I told these guys to buzz off for next 10 days and don’t disturb me. I don’t want to drink that damn milk. I always vomit. The best part is I don’t have to take out clothes from the washing machine and hang them in the gallery for drying up. Many many more such things, friend.” Sumesh had amplified the benefit of his sudden bout of FREEDOM from daily chores.
“Wow! What luck man? I have to do worse—dance on every command of Ranjana. She SAYS ‘GO’; I GOETH. She says ‘COME’; I COMETH. I have to cycle to vegetable market every day to remain fit. I have to do that SWAMI RAMDEV’s exercises with her at 5 AM onwards to keep her diseases away. I can not eat sweets. I can not eat salty food. I have to eat bland boiled VEG food every day. Drinks? It has been eons since I last had them.” Raj explained his miseries.
“Come, then, come and let us enjoy today, for, who knows IF Tomorrow comes.” Sumesh provoked him.
“Ok, I am coming, dude.” Raj shrieked.
2.
“Who were you talking to, darling?” Ranjana was inquiring from Raj Singh.
“Oh, that was Sumesh, Sweet heart. He is in the bank, you see. He had gone to get his TDR renewed. The manager told him about rejection of my annual certificate on PENSION. You know that annual certificate of pension given in NOVEMBER had some anomalies” Raj Singh was making excuses.
“OK, but you seemed very ecstatic darling. Is Sunita there?” Ranjana WAS NOT CONVINCED.
“No, I did not ask about Sunita. She must be at home only?” Raj replied.
“What was he saying?” Ranjana enquired.
“Yea, you know that damn Sumesh. Don’t you? He cracked that funny joke—a NON VEG one—MERI BAGIYA KE PHOOL TERI SAREE MEIN KAISE (How come the flowers from my lawns have been imprinted on your SAREE) -----Blah blah”
“You ‘Buddha KHADOOS’ (You old foggies)! Even at this age, when your grand children have been married, you will only talk of silly things. You men will never change.” Ranjana reprimanded.
“Yes, my darling. Because MEN ARE FROM MARS AND WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS—never the thinking of TWAIN SHALL MEET. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Raj Singh thought he had delivered the dialogue of his life.
“Don’t crack this silly joke? Behave your age you rotten fellow.” Ranjana was serious.
“Come on don’t get serious Ranjana.” Raj looked at his watch and said, “Oh it is already 10.30 AM. I must be there before the Manager leaves.”
“How much time will u take? I am sure you will be back by lunch?” Ranjana enquired.
“Oh, I will try darling. If I am late, then, don’t wait for me.” Raj told her
“Hey, Listen, Why don’t you drop me at SUNITA’s place? Pick me up when you are on your way back. ” Ranjana made a reasonable request.
“No, No, You don’t keep company with that woman. I don’t want her to teach you wrong things, darling.” Raj refused the request deliberately hiding the truth.
“Ok, go but come back soon. And don’t sit with that BOOZE MASTER friend of yours. What is his name? Yea----MANOJ Rana. Understand.” Ranjana commanded
“Trust me darling” and RAJ was gone.
3.
Knock !Knock!! Knock, but no response. ‘Don’t tell me this guy has been knocked off at 11.30 AM” Raj said to himself. Then, he remembered, “But no. He is off drinks. He had left it some six months back. He had made a big promise to SUNITA after that FISTING BOUT with TARKESHWAR in the SILVER JUBILEE ANNIVERSARY celebratioins of UMESH and UMA.” “Must be the guy has gone off to sleep. I will try once more and then go back, if no response. ” Raj promised himself.
Knock and the door swung open with Sumesh rubbing his sleepy eyes with right hand.
“It took you so long, you lazy bum?” Raj said while surveying the room. He noticed that every thing was in a state of FUNCTIONAL CHAOS. There were beer bottles thrown around the room. Used utensils lay on the dining table as if they have not been cleaned for days. There was dust all around.
“ Oh, I waited for you for 15 minutes and then poured half a bottle of VODKA down my throat and went off to sleep” Sumesh explained.
“Vodka? Beer Bottles? What is this? I thought you were off drinks Sumesh” Raj showed his surprise.
“Oh, that was just to pacify Sunita after that fist-fight with TARKESHWAR. She thought I behaved like an animal after drinks and I had punched him very badly on the nose.” Sumesh justified his drinking freedom.
“Does she know your hidden tryst with LIQUOR?” Raj asked.
“Oh, I am a HOLY COW for her now. She won’t believe you even if you show my video to her” ,Sumesh exuded an air of confidence.
“Why, what have you done to change her impressions about you?” Raj was curious.
“I let her buy a diamond set every six months---You see with her own money only” Sumesh said with a mischievous wink.
“With her money? How?” Raj expressed curiosity.
“ You see --------She has no clue of finances---I keep putting her money in mutual funds---book profit---when markets shoot up---keep it with me----when she wants to buy jewelry I release that money. She is only bothered that her principal amount of Rs one million should not come down—so she thinks I‘ve put it in fixed deposit with rate of interest around 6-7 percent for six monthly deposits---where as I make a neat 20-25 percent profit through my direct trade on the net” Sumesh explained his investment jugglery and wizardry.
“Smart guy. I might also try.” Acknowledged Raj.
Thereafter both of them got into guzzling VODKA and yapping. Yap! Yap!! Yap, and nothing else. Time slipped past like a supersonic jet. They didn’t realize it was past six in the evening. They had chatted their afternoon discussing whole life from school to college to retirement. Time to time they cried for those wonderful days gone by. The reminiscences of those days, as top executives in the MNCs, were haunting them. It was the time when the whole world was at their beck and call. They were lords at homes, too. Their wives never questioned them on their iterinary. They did not have to do household chores. It was below their dignity. But, no, not now. The times had changed. They were the UNPAID SERVANTS of the lady of the house. Both of them cursed the life of RETIREMENT. It was a big joke of the fate, they concluded. But this was the present reality. They must obey their employer at home. Their daily meals for their survival were through courtesy of the ladies of their houses. Today, the long lost friends of childhood were really having a rollicking time when Raj Singh’s mobile started making the noise.
“Where are you?” thundered Ranjana.
“Oh darling I’m stuck in the road block” Raj sing sounded confident
“Road block? On IT Park road? Where?”, Inquisitively Ranjana showered her questions.
“Hey, not road block but TRAFFIC JAM—it was slip of the tongue” Raj corrected himself.
“Traffic Jam? Sounds funny, dear.” roared Ranjana.
“But it is there” Raj was assertive.
“What time did you leave the bank?” Ranjana was getting suspicious.
“EXACTLY AT 2 PM.” RAJ replied.
“So, you have been there in this JAM for four and a half hours. Are you kidding?” shouted Ranjana.
Raj realized the faux pax he had created but he sheepishly responded, “Truth is bitter. But I know it will clear in half an hour, sweetie.” Raj asserted his confidence.
“I hope so” and Ranjana switched off her mobile.
“I must be going” declared Raj.
“Sure, you do let us finish off this damn bottle” suggested Sumesh. They again got down to Vodka. Another hour had gone by.
It was almost 8 PM when the door bell rang. Sumesh opened the door and all hell broke lose with Ranjana fuming hot with anger. She shouted, “Where is he?”
“Inside” was the instant reply of Sumesh. Ranjana surveyed the room and almost fainted. Beer bottles were strewn in the room like a pearl necklace scattered on the floor. She gained her composure and exchanged glances with Raj—who was standing unmoved with VODKA glass in his hands.
“So, this is your TRAFFIC JAM or a JAM SESSION with a drunkard?” Ranjana was furious.
“Bhabijee, you are violating rules of decency?” Sumesh mustered courage to save his friend.
“Oh, SHUT UP. Where is Sunita?”, Ranjana cut him short.
“She has gone for a marriage of her niece.” Raj butted in.
“Oh, I see. So you do not want me to keep her bad company but you want to enjoy with this man who is cheating his wife” Ranjana was accusing.
“Bhabijee, you are being discourteous, too” Sumesh had no other words to rebut her.
“Oh, get lost. To hell with you two RATS” ,so saying Ranjana walked out of the house. Raj Singh had no choice but to run after her to calm her down.
4.
Time was 9 pm. Sumesh’s mobile rang.It was Sunita.
“Oh darling, I hope you could manage”, Sunita was so concerned.
“How can I without you darling? It is very difficult to stay without you.” Sumesh was pleading with his wife.
“Don’t worry darling, I would be back in 10 days. One Problem, sweetheart?” Sunita was opening up her cards.
“What is it?” Automatically, responded Sumesh.
“I forgot to get my Diamond set. Every one is decked up in dazzling jewelry, here.” Sunita explained.
“Where are yours? You had three of them darling?” Sumesh quizzed.
“In the locker. But the keys are with me. You can not take them out.” Sunita clarified.
“What to do now?” Sumesh asked naturally
“Ask Mrs. Raj Singh to lend her set for some days.” Suggested Sunita.
“No, No, never ever Sunita. I do not want you to borrow from this woman. I will buy another one for you, darling. Remember the one you selected last DIWALI.” Sumesh was certainly buttering.
“Oh, dear how nice you are? I will send my nephew to fetch it day after.” Sunita was overjoyed.
“Certainly. And bye” Sumesh switched off his mobile in a hurry, lest his voice betrayed his condition.
5.
Raj was chasing Ranjana like a policeman goes after a thief. The only difference being he was pleading and requesting.(It is a different matter that policemen actually do this these days!) But Ranjana was not listening. She was climbing the steps of her flat like PT USHA jumping across the hurdles. In this race Raj suddenly fell with a thud and probably twisted his ankle. His losing of the balance might have been due to the effect of amount of liquor he had consumed. But a BIG ACTOR as he was, he made a big moaning sound, which forced RANJANA to check her steps and look back. This was the golden chance for RAJ to wash off his sins and he cried loudly in pain, as if he was badly hurt. Ranjana shouted, “What happened?”
“My ankle is twisted. I can not walk. It is the same old ankle, I had got hurt last month.” Raj was exploiting his chance. Ranjana came down. She could see Raj holding his ankle. She helped him get up. With lot of 'OOHs and AAHs' he got up, giving Ranjana the impression that he was badly hurt. As a good actor, he had managed to cool her down and she slowly and slowly carried him towards their house. In the house, she massaged his foot with saline water. And------there was no problem that night. He had perhaps blind folded her with his exxaggerated injury. Or maybe, Ranjana had given up trying to cure an incurable disease.
6.
It was 11PM. There was a message on RAJ’s mobile. It read:
“HAS THE TORNADO COOLED DOWN OR ARE THE WAVES STILL RISING IN THE OCEAN?
Raj saw his wife sleeping, he intoned the reply:
TIDAL WAVES HAVE CALMED DOWN AND QUIETNESS RULES THE OCEAN. HOPING FOR NO 'TWISTER' TOMORROW?
The reply came in a jiffy:
WHENCE THE WINDS BLOW, SET AT SAIL; LET YOUR BOAT WITH THE WINDS SWAY.
Raj promptly put down:
" Yes, I am swaying with the wind b'coz of TINA, should you think otherwise , it is :THERE IS NO ALTERNARIVE, Friend!"
Read more...
“Hey, come on man! Why tomorrow? Come right now.” Sumesh was euphoric.
“No, No, friend. Just the other day we were there. What would BHABIJI (SISTER-IN-LAW---Sumesh’s wife) think?” Raj Singh sounded cautious.
“Come of it, man, I am alone. Yes, all alone. No one here now for a few days to boss around.”, Sumesh was showing his excitement
“What? Where is Sunita?” asked Raj.
“Oh, she has gone to some interior place in HIMACHAL to attend the marriage of her some distant cousin’s daughter. She won’t be around till 25th June. I AM FREE, MAN. TOTALLY FREE! How I have been longing for this day for the past 30 years?” Sumesh was unable to hide his jubilation.
“Oh, so this is the secret of euphoria?” Raj added sarcasm to his tone.
“Come on, dude. Join me. Let us enjoy the FREEDOM OF A WEEK. Come and see I am my own boss here. I can do what I want to do. Come on, Raj.” Sumesh invited Raj.
“How lucky you are? Ok, it is, 10 AM, now. I will be there in half an hour.” Raj could not refuse the temptation.
“LUCKY? You don’t know what is it like? It is a relief from 30 years of NON-STOP –HOME- SLAVERY, momentary, though. You see I don’t have to get up at 6 AM to take the delivery of MILK from the milk boy. I get up at 10 AM. I don’t have to run with that KACHRA TIN (GARBAGE BOX) to hand over to garbage collector at 7 AM daily. I told these guys to buzz off for next 10 days and don’t disturb me. I don’t want to drink that damn milk. I always vomit. The best part is I don’t have to take out clothes from the washing machine and hang them in the gallery for drying up. Many many more such things, friend.” Sumesh had amplified the benefit of his sudden bout of FREEDOM from daily chores.
“Wow! What luck man? I have to do worse—dance on every command of Ranjana. She SAYS ‘GO’; I GOETH. She says ‘COME’; I COMETH. I have to cycle to vegetable market every day to remain fit. I have to do that SWAMI RAMDEV’s exercises with her at 5 AM onwards to keep her diseases away. I can not eat sweets. I can not eat salty food. I have to eat bland boiled VEG food every day. Drinks? It has been eons since I last had them.” Raj explained his miseries.
“Come, then, come and let us enjoy today, for, who knows IF Tomorrow comes.” Sumesh provoked him.
“Ok, I am coming, dude.” Raj shrieked.
2.
“Who were you talking to, darling?” Ranjana was inquiring from Raj Singh.
“Oh, that was Sumesh, Sweet heart. He is in the bank, you see. He had gone to get his TDR renewed. The manager told him about rejection of my annual certificate on PENSION. You know that annual certificate of pension given in NOVEMBER had some anomalies” Raj Singh was making excuses.
“OK, but you seemed very ecstatic darling. Is Sunita there?” Ranjana WAS NOT CONVINCED.
“No, I did not ask about Sunita. She must be at home only?” Raj replied.
“What was he saying?” Ranjana enquired.
“Yea, you know that damn Sumesh. Don’t you? He cracked that funny joke—a NON VEG one—MERI BAGIYA KE PHOOL TERI SAREE MEIN KAISE (How come the flowers from my lawns have been imprinted on your SAREE) -----Blah blah”
“You ‘Buddha KHADOOS’ (You old foggies)! Even at this age, when your grand children have been married, you will only talk of silly things. You men will never change.” Ranjana reprimanded.
“Yes, my darling. Because MEN ARE FROM MARS AND WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS—never the thinking of TWAIN SHALL MEET. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!” Raj Singh thought he had delivered the dialogue of his life.
“Don’t crack this silly joke? Behave your age you rotten fellow.” Ranjana was serious.
“Come on don’t get serious Ranjana.” Raj looked at his watch and said, “Oh it is already 10.30 AM. I must be there before the Manager leaves.”
“How much time will u take? I am sure you will be back by lunch?” Ranjana enquired.
“Oh, I will try darling. If I am late, then, don’t wait for me.” Raj told her
“Hey, Listen, Why don’t you drop me at SUNITA’s place? Pick me up when you are on your way back. ” Ranjana made a reasonable request.
“No, No, You don’t keep company with that woman. I don’t want her to teach you wrong things, darling.” Raj refused the request deliberately hiding the truth.
“Ok, go but come back soon. And don’t sit with that BOOZE MASTER friend of yours. What is his name? Yea----MANOJ Rana. Understand.” Ranjana commanded
“Trust me darling” and RAJ was gone.
3.
Knock !Knock!! Knock, but no response. ‘Don’t tell me this guy has been knocked off at 11.30 AM” Raj said to himself. Then, he remembered, “But no. He is off drinks. He had left it some six months back. He had made a big promise to SUNITA after that FISTING BOUT with TARKESHWAR in the SILVER JUBILEE ANNIVERSARY celebratioins of UMESH and UMA.” “Must be the guy has gone off to sleep. I will try once more and then go back, if no response. ” Raj promised himself.
Knock and the door swung open with Sumesh rubbing his sleepy eyes with right hand.
“It took you so long, you lazy bum?” Raj said while surveying the room. He noticed that every thing was in a state of FUNCTIONAL CHAOS. There were beer bottles thrown around the room. Used utensils lay on the dining table as if they have not been cleaned for days. There was dust all around.
“ Oh, I waited for you for 15 minutes and then poured half a bottle of VODKA down my throat and went off to sleep” Sumesh explained.
“Vodka? Beer Bottles? What is this? I thought you were off drinks Sumesh” Raj showed his surprise.
“Oh, that was just to pacify Sunita after that fist-fight with TARKESHWAR. She thought I behaved like an animal after drinks and I had punched him very badly on the nose.” Sumesh justified his drinking freedom.
“Does she know your hidden tryst with LIQUOR?” Raj asked.
“Oh, I am a HOLY COW for her now. She won’t believe you even if you show my video to her” ,Sumesh exuded an air of confidence.
“Why, what have you done to change her impressions about you?” Raj was curious.
“I let her buy a diamond set every six months---You see with her own money only” Sumesh said with a mischievous wink.
“With her money? How?” Raj expressed curiosity.
“ You see --------She has no clue of finances---I keep putting her money in mutual funds---book profit---when markets shoot up---keep it with me----when she wants to buy jewelry I release that money. She is only bothered that her principal amount of Rs one million should not come down—so she thinks I‘ve put it in fixed deposit with rate of interest around 6-7 percent for six monthly deposits---where as I make a neat 20-25 percent profit through my direct trade on the net” Sumesh explained his investment jugglery and wizardry.
“Smart guy. I might also try.” Acknowledged Raj.
Thereafter both of them got into guzzling VODKA and yapping. Yap! Yap!! Yap, and nothing else. Time slipped past like a supersonic jet. They didn’t realize it was past six in the evening. They had chatted their afternoon discussing whole life from school to college to retirement. Time to time they cried for those wonderful days gone by. The reminiscences of those days, as top executives in the MNCs, were haunting them. It was the time when the whole world was at their beck and call. They were lords at homes, too. Their wives never questioned them on their iterinary. They did not have to do household chores. It was below their dignity. But, no, not now. The times had changed. They were the UNPAID SERVANTS of the lady of the house. Both of them cursed the life of RETIREMENT. It was a big joke of the fate, they concluded. But this was the present reality. They must obey their employer at home. Their daily meals for their survival were through courtesy of the ladies of their houses. Today, the long lost friends of childhood were really having a rollicking time when Raj Singh’s mobile started making the noise.
“Where are you?” thundered Ranjana.
“Oh darling I’m stuck in the road block” Raj sing sounded confident
“Road block? On IT Park road? Where?”, Inquisitively Ranjana showered her questions.
“Hey, not road block but TRAFFIC JAM—it was slip of the tongue” Raj corrected himself.
“Traffic Jam? Sounds funny, dear.” roared Ranjana.
“But it is there” Raj was assertive.
“What time did you leave the bank?” Ranjana was getting suspicious.
“EXACTLY AT 2 PM.” RAJ replied.
“So, you have been there in this JAM for four and a half hours. Are you kidding?” shouted Ranjana.
Raj realized the faux pax he had created but he sheepishly responded, “Truth is bitter. But I know it will clear in half an hour, sweetie.” Raj asserted his confidence.
“I hope so” and Ranjana switched off her mobile.
“I must be going” declared Raj.
“Sure, you do let us finish off this damn bottle” suggested Sumesh. They again got down to Vodka. Another hour had gone by.
It was almost 8 PM when the door bell rang. Sumesh opened the door and all hell broke lose with Ranjana fuming hot with anger. She shouted, “Where is he?”
“Inside” was the instant reply of Sumesh. Ranjana surveyed the room and almost fainted. Beer bottles were strewn in the room like a pearl necklace scattered on the floor. She gained her composure and exchanged glances with Raj—who was standing unmoved with VODKA glass in his hands.
“So, this is your TRAFFIC JAM or a JAM SESSION with a drunkard?” Ranjana was furious.
“Bhabijee, you are violating rules of decency?” Sumesh mustered courage to save his friend.
“Oh, SHUT UP. Where is Sunita?”, Ranjana cut him short.
“She has gone for a marriage of her niece.” Raj butted in.
“Oh, I see. So you do not want me to keep her bad company but you want to enjoy with this man who is cheating his wife” Ranjana was accusing.
“Bhabijee, you are being discourteous, too” Sumesh had no other words to rebut her.
“Oh, get lost. To hell with you two RATS” ,so saying Ranjana walked out of the house. Raj Singh had no choice but to run after her to calm her down.
4.
Time was 9 pm. Sumesh’s mobile rang.It was Sunita.
“Oh darling, I hope you could manage”, Sunita was so concerned.
“How can I without you darling? It is very difficult to stay without you.” Sumesh was pleading with his wife.
“Don’t worry darling, I would be back in 10 days. One Problem, sweetheart?” Sunita was opening up her cards.
“What is it?” Automatically, responded Sumesh.
“I forgot to get my Diamond set. Every one is decked up in dazzling jewelry, here.” Sunita explained.
“Where are yours? You had three of them darling?” Sumesh quizzed.
“In the locker. But the keys are with me. You can not take them out.” Sunita clarified.
“What to do now?” Sumesh asked naturally
“Ask Mrs. Raj Singh to lend her set for some days.” Suggested Sunita.
“No, No, never ever Sunita. I do not want you to borrow from this woman. I will buy another one for you, darling. Remember the one you selected last DIWALI.” Sumesh was certainly buttering.
“Oh, dear how nice you are? I will send my nephew to fetch it day after.” Sunita was overjoyed.
“Certainly. And bye” Sumesh switched off his mobile in a hurry, lest his voice betrayed his condition.
5.
Raj was chasing Ranjana like a policeman goes after a thief. The only difference being he was pleading and requesting.(It is a different matter that policemen actually do this these days!) But Ranjana was not listening. She was climbing the steps of her flat like PT USHA jumping across the hurdles. In this race Raj suddenly fell with a thud and probably twisted his ankle. His losing of the balance might have been due to the effect of amount of liquor he had consumed. But a BIG ACTOR as he was, he made a big moaning sound, which forced RANJANA to check her steps and look back. This was the golden chance for RAJ to wash off his sins and he cried loudly in pain, as if he was badly hurt. Ranjana shouted, “What happened?”
“My ankle is twisted. I can not walk. It is the same old ankle, I had got hurt last month.” Raj was exploiting his chance. Ranjana came down. She could see Raj holding his ankle. She helped him get up. With lot of 'OOHs and AAHs' he got up, giving Ranjana the impression that he was badly hurt. As a good actor, he had managed to cool her down and she slowly and slowly carried him towards their house. In the house, she massaged his foot with saline water. And------there was no problem that night. He had perhaps blind folded her with his exxaggerated injury. Or maybe, Ranjana had given up trying to cure an incurable disease.
6.
It was 11PM. There was a message on RAJ’s mobile. It read:
“HAS THE TORNADO COOLED DOWN OR ARE THE WAVES STILL RISING IN THE OCEAN?
Raj saw his wife sleeping, he intoned the reply:
TIDAL WAVES HAVE CALMED DOWN AND QUIETNESS RULES THE OCEAN. HOPING FOR NO 'TWISTER' TOMORROW?
The reply came in a jiffy:
WHENCE THE WINDS BLOW, SET AT SAIL; LET YOUR BOAT WITH THE WINDS SWAY.
Raj promptly put down:
" Yes, I am swaying with the wind b'coz of TINA, should you think otherwise , it is :THERE IS NO ALTERNARIVE, Friend!"
Read more...
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
SIACHEN -A SOLDIER's GRAVEYARD!
I wrote this poem in the winters of 1986-87. Explanatory notes are at the end of the poem.The height of SIACHEN GLACIER varies from 12000feet above sea level at Base Camp,snout of the glacier, to 21,000 feet at INDRA COL. The base of Indra Col is at 20,000 feet. Rarified air above 9000feet leads to breathing problems. Pluminary oedema is the most common disease for everyone followed by extreme cold injuries, such as frost bite, chill blains & hypoxia etc.
SOLDIERS AT SIACHEN-PRISONERS OF NATIONAL UNGRATEFULNESS!
Nestled amongst Himalayan peaks--
‘Soltoro’ on west, ‘Karakoram’ on East;
Icy bed of a great glacier runs,
This ‘Valley of Roses’,called Siachen .
‘Sia-la’ in North, ‘Bilafond’ in Centre;
‘Old Silk Route’ through them entered;
To those trekkers of years begone –
Bartering ‘goods’ was purpose known .
From glacier ‘base’ to Indra Col ,
Sheet of whiteness upwards rolls;
Littered with snow, nasty winds blow,
At its snout River Nubra flows .
Nature at its best, free of any pest !
Hefty black crows do have their nest;
Oh, surround this vale, snow-crapped hills;
What a natural prison , devoid of grills !
No fenced–walls and no solitary–cells,
Open compound , without alarm bells;
No tough jailor with barking guards;
Yet prisoners of national ego, do not dart.
Rough is life on glacial surface –
Lots of folds with deep crevasses;
A careless step at this place –
One will disappear without a trace.
Tied with ropes, many dare do walk!
Crawling and panting on non-existing paths-
Laden 'human–mules', carry survival stocks;
Occasionally supplanted by a helicopter drop.
Morning comes, hopes grow ;
Evening shatters Life’s glow ,
Silently curse men their lot --
What crime had them brought?
Memory gets normally impaired,
Eating becomes sometime affair;
Emotional tension abounds in lads,
Some lose nerves and go mad .
Isolation sparks nasty illusions;
Ever-bad-weather adds to confusion !
Sub zero mercury; high speed blizzards-
Even ‘toughies’ sulk under such like hazards .
Bankrupt thoughts! No dreams ever errupt !!
Life, there, goes on in aimless context ;
Men do work like programmed machines ;
‘Death’ and ‘injuries’ are normal routine !
Silent eyes! no questions bespake,
Ever and always towards sky they gaze;
Through clouds some ‘drop’ may come!
Perhaps, a letter from near and dear ones!
‘No Bath’, they must be crazy;
‘No Shave’, Aren’t they lazy?
‘Head to toe’ what clothes they wear ?
No zoo can boast of animals rare ?
Each one counts each one’s days,
No one wants a prolonged stay;
Yet time for them moves very slow,
Each day seems, years in a row .
Some lucky ones go on ‘parole’!
Some spend time singing ‘carroll’.
Self-pride and the 'Regimental image',
Make ‘some’ bear nature’s rage.
Everyday here, as machine guns rattle;
Thundering noise dampen human mettle:
Purposeless fighting thus goes on –
Where not a blade of grass grown.
Leaders across borders make tall claims,
Honours bestowed on heroes of Siachen fame!
‘Sense of reality’ though seemed to be lost,
Amidst emotional minds and prestigious boasts.
EXPLANATORY NOTES!
1. This is a poem on the plight of soldiers on the Glacier. Siachen Glacier is the second largest glacier in the world. It is 105 km long and 8-10 kms wide. (Lambert Glacier in Australia is the largest. It is 406 km long). The posting on the glacier gives a feeling of jail because the soldiers posted there have no connection with the outside world. In the winter of 1986-87, the living conditions were aweful. These were the initial years of SIACHEN OCCUPATION. Temperature would go down as low as minus 50 degree celsius and wind speeds touch as high as 150-200 knots. It was difficult to shave and was a horrendous experience to attend to nature's call. Appetite banished; sleep was disturbed . These conditions apply even today. Memory is affected and people behave in an abnormal manner. Isolation and extreme cold, coupled with high speed winds, create psychological disorders. It is a fallacy that Siachen has a strategic significance. Vested interests have fooled the authorities and the general public. The cost of occupying Siachen Heights is explosive. In 1986, a single ‘Chapati’ a soldier ate, cost the nation Rs 80/-. During the same period, the cost of maintaining a force of half an infantry battalion (Approximately 450-500 men) worked out to Rs two crores per day. And 22 years later, it must have touched some 30-40 crores per day, i.e. a staggering figure of Rs 10950 crores to Rs 14600 crores per year, which is almost 8 to 10 percent of annual defence budget. Think of it, India needs only Rs 28000 crores for the construction of GOLDEN QUARDILATERAL.But annual expenditure on SIACHEN OCCUPATION is just half of this. Economically, the nation has been bleeding since 1985. Further, if 70% of the defence budget goes for pay and allowances; 10 % for Siachen; 10-12% for maintenance of defence assets and about 2% for defence production and research, then it leaves only 6-8% for up-gradation and modernization of armed forces. Poet feels Siachen was a deliberate ploy by Pakistan to bleed India economically. When ‘Zia' said, "--Not a blade of grass grows", he actually taunted at its so-called strategic significance. Those who know the geography would not agree more.Just for the information of general reader--Karakoram pass from Indra Col, the northern most point on the glacier is some 80 miles crow flight, due East, over most hostile terrain and the KHUNJERAB PASS, through which the so called KARAKORAM HIGHWAY passes and links China to POK, is 120 miles crow flight to the North West of indra Col.( I was located at the base of Indra Col in 1986-87 winters)
2 References.
2.1 Line 2 ‘Soltoro’. A ridge line that takes off at Point NJ 9849 and runs North along the Western edge of Siachen Glacier. It separates POK from Indian Kashmir and is also called AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line).
2.2 Line 2.‘Karakoram’. It is a pass East of the Northern most but Eastern Edge of Siachen Glacier. The ridge line from Karakoram Pass, separates Chine from India (Kashmir). The area East of the Siachen Glacier is Aksai Chin which is under Chinese occupation since 1962. The Karakoram Pass joins Aksai Chin Area of Kashmir with Chinese province of Sin Kiang. Today it is only the Siachen Glacier corridor which joins the Indian ashmir with the Chinese province of Sinkang but it is all glaciated on both sides of Indira Col---a northern most point on the Glacier and one of the most hazardous and rugged terrain any where in the world. Even Siberia and Antartica do not match this corridor in its ruggedness and degree of difficulty.
2.3 Line 4. ‘Siachen’. In local dialect, ‘Sia’ stands for valley and ‘Chen’ denotes roses. But this is a misnomer.At Indira Col, the ice is so hardened that hardest stones, too ,would not be as hard. It is million of years of hardened ice. It is only at the base of Siachen Glacier,called 'Snout' where River Nubra takes off that one finds rose-wood shrubs. This glacier takes its name from the Nubra Valley where the Rosewood shrubs abound.
2.4 Line 5.‘Siala’. A pass on the Northern most point on the Siachen Glacier at the junction of Soltoro and the Boltoro ridge lines. Boltoro ridge line takes off North est from here towards Khunzerab pass, through which runs the famous Karakoram highway from Chinese province of Sin-Kiang to Gilgit under Pakistan occupation. In local dialect ‘Sia’ stands for the valley and ‘La’ for the pass. It is a gateway to Siachen valley (i.e In fact Nubra Valley).
2.5 Line 5. Bila Fond. Mid way between point NJ 9849 and Indira Col on the Soltoro Ridge line, is the famous pass of Bila Fond. This part of the glacier was in news in 1987 because of Pakistan’s desperate efforts to get on the Soltoro Ridge line which is effectively dominated by Indian troops from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col.(Subedar later hony CaptBana singh got his PVC for defending this post.)
2.6 Siachen Dispute. The whole Siachen dispute hinges around Map Pt NJ 9849. In 1949 when Karachi agreement was arrived at, the ceasefire line ended at Pt NJ 9849. It was very difficult to survey the line beyond this by both India and Pakistan as the most hazardous and a glaciated area lay ahead. The present dispute is all about the way the cease fire line should run beyond point NJ 9849. India interprets it as running North from this point all along the Soltoro Ridge line. Pakistan sees it as running North East from this point to Karakoram Pass. If this is conceded then Siachen goes to Pakistan and it gets linked to Aksai Chin area under Chinese occupation. Soltoro Ridge Line is occupied by Indian Army from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col and this is also called AGPL.
2.7 Line 12. 'Snout’. Base of the Siachen Glacier, which is its protruding nose.
2.8 Line 14. "Hefty Black Crow ---------”. Other than the Soldiers, only other creatures who live here are crows which are almost double the size of normal crows. They have been there from time memorial.
2.9 Line 20. ‘Dart’. Run away.
2.10 Line 22.'Crevass’. An opening in the snow which is a deep abyss.
2.11 Line 57 ‘Go On Parole’.Medical evacuation of patients.
2.12 Line 58 ‘Carrol’. Religious hymns.
2.13 Line 67.‘Sense of Reality’.Practical wisdom and pragmatism.
Read more...
SOLDIERS AT SIACHEN-PRISONERS OF NATIONAL UNGRATEFULNESS!
Nestled amongst Himalayan peaks--
‘Soltoro’ on west, ‘Karakoram’ on East;
Icy bed of a great glacier runs,
This ‘Valley of Roses’,called Siachen .
‘Sia-la’ in North, ‘Bilafond’ in Centre;
‘Old Silk Route’ through them entered;
To those trekkers of years begone –
Bartering ‘goods’ was purpose known .
From glacier ‘base’ to Indra Col ,
Sheet of whiteness upwards rolls;
Littered with snow, nasty winds blow,
At its snout River Nubra flows .
Nature at its best, free of any pest !
Hefty black crows do have their nest;
Oh, surround this vale, snow-crapped hills;
What a natural prison , devoid of grills !
No fenced–walls and no solitary–cells,
Open compound , without alarm bells;
No tough jailor with barking guards;
Yet prisoners of national ego, do not dart.
Rough is life on glacial surface –
Lots of folds with deep crevasses;
A careless step at this place –
One will disappear without a trace.
Tied with ropes, many dare do walk!
Crawling and panting on non-existing paths-
Laden 'human–mules', carry survival stocks;
Occasionally supplanted by a helicopter drop.
Morning comes, hopes grow ;
Evening shatters Life’s glow ,
Silently curse men their lot --
What crime had them brought?
Memory gets normally impaired,
Eating becomes sometime affair;
Emotional tension abounds in lads,
Some lose nerves and go mad .
Isolation sparks nasty illusions;
Ever-bad-weather adds to confusion !
Sub zero mercury; high speed blizzards-
Even ‘toughies’ sulk under such like hazards .
Bankrupt thoughts! No dreams ever errupt !!
Life, there, goes on in aimless context ;
Men do work like programmed machines ;
‘Death’ and ‘injuries’ are normal routine !
Silent eyes! no questions bespake,
Ever and always towards sky they gaze;
Through clouds some ‘drop’ may come!
Perhaps, a letter from near and dear ones!
‘No Bath’, they must be crazy;
‘No Shave’, Aren’t they lazy?
‘Head to toe’ what clothes they wear ?
No zoo can boast of animals rare ?
Each one counts each one’s days,
No one wants a prolonged stay;
Yet time for them moves very slow,
Each day seems, years in a row .
Some lucky ones go on ‘parole’!
Some spend time singing ‘carroll’.
Self-pride and the 'Regimental image',
Make ‘some’ bear nature’s rage.
Everyday here, as machine guns rattle;
Thundering noise dampen human mettle:
Purposeless fighting thus goes on –
Where not a blade of grass grown.
Leaders across borders make tall claims,
Honours bestowed on heroes of Siachen fame!
‘Sense of reality’ though seemed to be lost,
Amidst emotional minds and prestigious boasts.
EXPLANATORY NOTES!
1. This is a poem on the plight of soldiers on the Glacier. Siachen Glacier is the second largest glacier in the world. It is 105 km long and 8-10 kms wide. (Lambert Glacier in Australia is the largest. It is 406 km long). The posting on the glacier gives a feeling of jail because the soldiers posted there have no connection with the outside world. In the winter of 1986-87, the living conditions were aweful. These were the initial years of SIACHEN OCCUPATION. Temperature would go down as low as minus 50 degree celsius and wind speeds touch as high as 150-200 knots. It was difficult to shave and was a horrendous experience to attend to nature's call. Appetite banished; sleep was disturbed . These conditions apply even today. Memory is affected and people behave in an abnormal manner. Isolation and extreme cold, coupled with high speed winds, create psychological disorders. It is a fallacy that Siachen has a strategic significance. Vested interests have fooled the authorities and the general public. The cost of occupying Siachen Heights is explosive. In 1986, a single ‘Chapati’ a soldier ate, cost the nation Rs 80/-. During the same period, the cost of maintaining a force of half an infantry battalion (Approximately 450-500 men) worked out to Rs two crores per day. And 22 years later, it must have touched some 30-40 crores per day, i.e. a staggering figure of Rs 10950 crores to Rs 14600 crores per year, which is almost 8 to 10 percent of annual defence budget. Think of it, India needs only Rs 28000 crores for the construction of GOLDEN QUARDILATERAL.But annual expenditure on SIACHEN OCCUPATION is just half of this. Economically, the nation has been bleeding since 1985. Further, if 70% of the defence budget goes for pay and allowances; 10 % for Siachen; 10-12% for maintenance of defence assets and about 2% for defence production and research, then it leaves only 6-8% for up-gradation and modernization of armed forces. Poet feels Siachen was a deliberate ploy by Pakistan to bleed India economically. When ‘Zia' said, "--Not a blade of grass grows", he actually taunted at its so-called strategic significance. Those who know the geography would not agree more.Just for the information of general reader--Karakoram pass from Indra Col, the northern most point on the glacier is some 80 miles crow flight, due East, over most hostile terrain and the KHUNJERAB PASS, through which the so called KARAKORAM HIGHWAY passes and links China to POK, is 120 miles crow flight to the North West of indra Col.( I was located at the base of Indra Col in 1986-87 winters)
2 References.
2.1 Line 2 ‘Soltoro’. A ridge line that takes off at Point NJ 9849 and runs North along the Western edge of Siachen Glacier. It separates POK from Indian Kashmir and is also called AGPL (Actual Ground Position Line).
2.2 Line 2.‘Karakoram’. It is a pass East of the Northern most but Eastern Edge of Siachen Glacier. The ridge line from Karakoram Pass, separates Chine from India (Kashmir). The area East of the Siachen Glacier is Aksai Chin which is under Chinese occupation since 1962. The Karakoram Pass joins Aksai Chin Area of Kashmir with Chinese province of Sin Kiang. Today it is only the Siachen Glacier corridor which joins the Indian ashmir with the Chinese province of Sinkang but it is all glaciated on both sides of Indira Col---a northern most point on the Glacier and one of the most hazardous and rugged terrain any where in the world. Even Siberia and Antartica do not match this corridor in its ruggedness and degree of difficulty.
2.3 Line 4. ‘Siachen’. In local dialect, ‘Sia’ stands for valley and ‘Chen’ denotes roses. But this is a misnomer.At Indira Col, the ice is so hardened that hardest stones, too ,would not be as hard. It is million of years of hardened ice. It is only at the base of Siachen Glacier,called 'Snout' where River Nubra takes off that one finds rose-wood shrubs. This glacier takes its name from the Nubra Valley where the Rosewood shrubs abound.
2.4 Line 5.‘Siala’. A pass on the Northern most point on the Siachen Glacier at the junction of Soltoro and the Boltoro ridge lines. Boltoro ridge line takes off North est from here towards Khunzerab pass, through which runs the famous Karakoram highway from Chinese province of Sin-Kiang to Gilgit under Pakistan occupation. In local dialect ‘Sia’ stands for the valley and ‘La’ for the pass. It is a gateway to Siachen valley (i.e In fact Nubra Valley).
2.5 Line 5. Bila Fond. Mid way between point NJ 9849 and Indira Col on the Soltoro Ridge line, is the famous pass of Bila Fond. This part of the glacier was in news in 1987 because of Pakistan’s desperate efforts to get on the Soltoro Ridge line which is effectively dominated by Indian troops from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col.(Subedar later hony CaptBana singh got his PVC for defending this post.)
2.6 Siachen Dispute. The whole Siachen dispute hinges around Map Pt NJ 9849. In 1949 when Karachi agreement was arrived at, the ceasefire line ended at Pt NJ 9849. It was very difficult to survey the line beyond this by both India and Pakistan as the most hazardous and a glaciated area lay ahead. The present dispute is all about the way the cease fire line should run beyond point NJ 9849. India interprets it as running North from this point all along the Soltoro Ridge line. Pakistan sees it as running North East from this point to Karakoram Pass. If this is conceded then Siachen goes to Pakistan and it gets linked to Aksai Chin area under Chinese occupation. Soltoro Ridge Line is occupied by Indian Army from Point NJ 9849 to Indira Col and this is also called AGPL.
2.7 Line 12. 'Snout’. Base of the Siachen Glacier, which is its protruding nose.
2.8 Line 14. "Hefty Black Crow ---------”. Other than the Soldiers, only other creatures who live here are crows which are almost double the size of normal crows. They have been there from time memorial.
2.9 Line 20. ‘Dart’. Run away.
2.10 Line 22.'Crevass’. An opening in the snow which is a deep abyss.
2.11 Line 57 ‘Go On Parole’.Medical evacuation of patients.
2.12 Line 58 ‘Carrol’. Religious hymns.
2.13 Line 67.‘Sense of Reality’.Practical wisdom and pragmatism.
Read more...
THOUGHT- MACHINE
SAND DUNES OF MIND!
Ladies and gentlemen, of a great esteem;
Welcome aboard the ‘thought-machine’!
Thoughts,dear,are the sand-dunes of mind-
Keep shifting their base from time to time.
Your eyes do observe what is directly in line,
The brain shapes it into a ‘thought’ sublime;
Process repeats like a programmed machine,
Images germinate, though, as a normal routine.
We shall soon embark upon a tour of history,
Our pro-active minds will unveil its mysteries;
Kindly have a glance at the menu in your tray-
'King Shah Jahan and 'Sculptor 'Rodin' on display!
Well! these images are two statements in stone-
Of two themes on life, without flesh and bones;
While one defines love of a king in its pristine form-
The other is an embodiment of ‘thinking storm’.
Well! unique in concept, both have no peers--
Though separated by time by two hundreds years;
Dignified and graceful, they have their own shine--
Undoubtedly, the classy ideas from the womb of times!
First one displays ‘Taj Mahal’s’ grandeur,
Which graces the list of world’s seven wonders;
On the banks of river Yamuna, it stands so fast,
River might be polluted, its splendor does last.
A number of buildings make Taj Mahal complex-
From a 'marbled mausoleum' to 'red stone' mosque;
A thousand elephants were used to cart the stores,
Artisans came from Baghdad, Bukhara and Lahore.
Built slowly over two decades by 22000 workmen-
It commemorates a queen who bore 14 children;
She died in child-birth, when she was thirty nine-
In 19 years of marriage, she conceived 14 times.
Was it royal love or simple lust of a Moghul king?
When history is doctored, do we ought to cling?
Tragically, another gory fact we ought to know--
To guard exclusivity, craftsmen‘s hands had to go.
The King and the queen, no doubts, are immortalized,
Today, land-sharks want the place to be commercialized !
Some times back there was a plan to build a ‘Taj corridor’-
Supreme Court stalled the project of multi-million crores.
The second one on your mind is a statue in bronze-
It was sculpted as ‘The Thinker’ by Auguste Rodin;
It evokes many visions though eyes do not blink;
Also,very pensive mood does force you to think .
Born in 1840, ‘Rodin’ was past forty two years-
When ‘The Thinker’, ‘Adam and ‘Eve’ did appear;
At the age of twenty-four he had married ‘Rose;
At forty three, love banished and it led to divorce.
‘Balzac‘ and ‘The Kiss’ were his other creations-
Then, ‘Walking man’ too, created a sensation;
Rolling in fame he discarded two more wives!
‘Rose’ came back, months before they both died.
‘Rodin’ is an example as to how a ‘thinking man’-
Makes gem for the society but lacks marital elan;
As name and fame comes, one craves for more-
And treats one’s ‘lady-love’ as a disposable whore.
These are the thoughts which come to my mind-
Realities of historical myths we ought to unwind;
Don't you blindly accept what history books say ?
Glamoured tales always, real truth they betray.
'Taj' and the 'Thinker' are the product of selfish deeds,
Both of them used women for their sexual needs;
If 'Rodin' ditched three women for name and fame-'
Mumtaz's' 14 children over 19 years, who will explain?
Strange but true, both were married for 19 years-
'Rodin' to 'Rose' and 'Shahjehan' to 'Mumtaz', dears!
And when success smiled, Rodin left the lady in learch;
Building a monument for the queen, the king did splurge.
Ladies and gentlemen, of a great esteem;
Welcome aboard the ‘thought-machine’!
Thoughts,dear,are the sand-dunes of mind-
Keep shifting their base from time to time.
Your eyes do observe what is directly in line,
The brain shapes it into a ‘thought’ sublime;
Process repeats like a programmed machine,
Images germinate, though, as a normal routine.
We shall soon embark upon a tour of history,
Our pro-active minds will unveil its mysteries;
Kindly have a glance at the menu in your tray-
'King Shah Jahan and 'Sculptor 'Rodin' on display!
Well! these images are two statements in stone-
Of two themes on life, without flesh and bones;
While one defines love of a king in its pristine form-
The other is an embodiment of ‘thinking storm’.
Well! unique in concept, both have no peers--
Though separated by time by two hundreds years;
Dignified and graceful, they have their own shine--
Undoubtedly, the classy ideas from the womb of times!
First one displays ‘Taj Mahal’s’ grandeur,
Which graces the list of world’s seven wonders;
On the banks of river Yamuna, it stands so fast,
River might be polluted, its splendor does last.
A number of buildings make Taj Mahal complex-
From a 'marbled mausoleum' to 'red stone' mosque;
A thousand elephants were used to cart the stores,
Artisans came from Baghdad, Bukhara and Lahore.
Built slowly over two decades by 22000 workmen-
It commemorates a queen who bore 14 children;
She died in child-birth, when she was thirty nine-
In 19 years of marriage, she conceived 14 times.
Was it royal love or simple lust of a Moghul king?
When history is doctored, do we ought to cling?
Tragically, another gory fact we ought to know--
To guard exclusivity, craftsmen‘s hands had to go.
The King and the queen, no doubts, are immortalized,
Today, land-sharks want the place to be commercialized !
Some times back there was a plan to build a ‘Taj corridor’-
Supreme Court stalled the project of multi-million crores.
The second one on your mind is a statue in bronze-
It was sculpted as ‘The Thinker’ by Auguste Rodin;
It evokes many visions though eyes do not blink;
Also,very pensive mood does force you to think .
Born in 1840, ‘Rodin’ was past forty two years-
When ‘The Thinker’, ‘Adam and ‘Eve’ did appear;
At the age of twenty-four he had married ‘Rose;
At forty three, love banished and it led to divorce.
‘Balzac‘ and ‘The Kiss’ were his other creations-
Then, ‘Walking man’ too, created a sensation;
Rolling in fame he discarded two more wives!
‘Rose’ came back, months before they both died.
‘Rodin’ is an example as to how a ‘thinking man’-
Makes gem for the society but lacks marital elan;
As name and fame comes, one craves for more-
And treats one’s ‘lady-love’ as a disposable whore.
These are the thoughts which come to my mind-
Realities of historical myths we ought to unwind;
Don't you blindly accept what history books say ?
Glamoured tales always, real truth they betray.
'Taj' and the 'Thinker' are the product of selfish deeds,
Both of them used women for their sexual needs;
If 'Rodin' ditched three women for name and fame-'
Mumtaz's' 14 children over 19 years, who will explain?
Strange but true, both were married for 19 years-
'Rodin' to 'Rose' and 'Shahjehan' to 'Mumtaz', dears!
And when success smiled, Rodin left the lady in learch;
Building a monument for the queen, the king did splurge.
Read more...
COMPROMISE
One August evening,
Amongst –
Ladies and gentlemen,
Of –
A great esteem;
I –
Set at auction;
My –
Soul and dreams.
Eye brows got raised,
Vibrating –
Love and hate;
Resonating –
Deliberation and haste;
Shaking –
Frames above waist,
They added –
Only confusion to my mental state.
Some called their bid,
With –
Offers so insipid;
Others –
Merely talked hybrid;
Some-
Of the cost cribbed;
Faulting –
My make and build.
As a motion less hill,
With –
Only isolation and chill ,
With –
Self generated frills,
I –
Thought of the principles,
My –
Mind possessed still.
Rigid in emotions,
With –
Cries of value –erosion,
I –
Created a commotion,
Halting –
An old man’s motion,
Who –
Prescribed me a lotion.
‘Compromise in life’
He shot –
“Between ‘truth and lies’,
Amongst –
‘Sects and tribes’
Between –
Husband and wife
Brings –
End to all strife”.
Caring his advice,
Shedding –
All emotional disguise,
With –
Lowering of price,
Once more –
I threw the dice,
And
My boss got enticed.
Faces grew pale,
Amidst –
An emotional gale,
With
Cries, sobs and wails,
But –
The deal I hailed,
As –
‘Reality’ over ‘Idealism’ prevailed.
Read more...
One August evening,
Amongst –
Ladies and gentlemen,
Of –
A great esteem;
I –
Set at auction;
My –
Soul and dreams.
Eye brows got raised,
Vibrating –
Love and hate;
Resonating –
Deliberation and haste;
Shaking –
Frames above waist,
They added –
Only confusion to my mental state.
Some called their bid,
With –
Offers so insipid;
Others –
Merely talked hybrid;
Some-
Of the cost cribbed;
Faulting –
My make and build.
As a motion less hill,
With –
Only isolation and chill ,
With –
Self generated frills,
I –
Thought of the principles,
My –
Mind possessed still.
Rigid in emotions,
With –
Cries of value –erosion,
I –
Created a commotion,
Halting –
An old man’s motion,
Who –
Prescribed me a lotion.
‘Compromise in life’
He shot –
“Between ‘truth and lies’,
Amongst –
‘Sects and tribes’
Between –
Husband and wife
Brings –
End to all strife”.
Caring his advice,
Shedding –
All emotional disguise,
With –
Lowering of price,
Once more –
I threw the dice,
And
My boss got enticed.
Faces grew pale,
Amidst –
An emotional gale,
With
Cries, sobs and wails,
But –
The deal I hailed,
As –
‘Reality’ over ‘Idealism’ prevailed.
Read more...
THE TALE OF A RELIGION! --IN HINDUSTANI
DASTAAN-E-MAZHAB
Main mazhab hun insaan ka,
Mujhe waqt ne diye kayi naam;
Koi mujh ko sab kuchh maanta,
Koi bechta mujhe sar-e-aam.
Ik daud lagi hai jeevan mein,
Sab ‘jeet’ ke peechhe bhaag rahey,
Kahin ‘CHOR’ hai meri khidmat mein,
Kahin ‘QAATIL’ rehmat maang rahey.
Ik din ki, main kya baat kahoon,
Mere naam pe ik bazaar lagaa,
Maal baech rahey sab ek hi thaa,
Par awaam ko sab ne khoob thagaa.
Shor huaa thaa yun ‘Neelaami’ ka,
Koi baat samajh nahin paata thaa;
Dhun lagti sab ki ek si thhee,
Par Sangeet alag ho jaata thaa.
Main ‘Dang’ hua yeh dekh ‘Nazaara’--
Jo Gali ‘Gurudawarey’ jaati thhee,
Uski Nukkad pe ‘Mandir’ aur ‘Girja’;
Woh ‘Maszid’ ho ke aati thhee.
Aaj poochha khud se, kya CHEEZ hun main?
Kiya sabko miloon virasat mein?
Kya ‘Paidyasi’ mohar ke jazwon mein?
Insaan aa jaye meri hirasat mein.”
‘Hindu’ ‘GARV’ se kahen jise ek ‘Mandir’,
Fir maante ‘Prabhu’ rahey uske andir;
Kuchh Daawa karen, “Masjid ‘Allah’ ka ghar”,
Har ‘Musalmaan’ jhukaye wahan apna sir.
‘Sikh’ maanne ‘Gurudwara’ ‘Guruon’ ka dhaam-
‘Guruvaani’ ka wahan mile unhen GYAN,
Jis ‘IMAARAT’ ko milta ‘Girja’ ka naam;
Wahan ‘Isaai’ soonte ‘Jesus’-Paigam.
Yeh ‘NAMOONE’ hai maire naamon ke kuchh;
Albatta, main hun sirf ek JEENE ki RAAH:
Us Gujre WAQT ka NAYA Savera hun main;
Jab Rasmon ne kiyaa mera roop Tawaah.
Aaj fir woh hi chal raha hai daur;
Log Peete hai roz NAFRAT ke jaam;
Nek hone ka Sab bharte “RAJEE” dum,
Dafan NEKI hoti magar ‘Subah-o-Sham’.
Read more...
Main mazhab hun insaan ka,
Mujhe waqt ne diye kayi naam;
Koi mujh ko sab kuchh maanta,
Koi bechta mujhe sar-e-aam.
Ik daud lagi hai jeevan mein,
Sab ‘jeet’ ke peechhe bhaag rahey,
Kahin ‘CHOR’ hai meri khidmat mein,
Kahin ‘QAATIL’ rehmat maang rahey.
Ik din ki, main kya baat kahoon,
Mere naam pe ik bazaar lagaa,
Maal baech rahey sab ek hi thaa,
Par awaam ko sab ne khoob thagaa.
Shor huaa thaa yun ‘Neelaami’ ka,
Koi baat samajh nahin paata thaa;
Dhun lagti sab ki ek si thhee,
Par Sangeet alag ho jaata thaa.
Main ‘Dang’ hua yeh dekh ‘Nazaara’--
Jo Gali ‘Gurudawarey’ jaati thhee,
Uski Nukkad pe ‘Mandir’ aur ‘Girja’;
Woh ‘Maszid’ ho ke aati thhee.
Aaj poochha khud se, kya CHEEZ hun main?
Kiya sabko miloon virasat mein?
Kya ‘Paidyasi’ mohar ke jazwon mein?
Insaan aa jaye meri hirasat mein.”
‘Hindu’ ‘GARV’ se kahen jise ek ‘Mandir’,
Fir maante ‘Prabhu’ rahey uske andir;
Kuchh Daawa karen, “Masjid ‘Allah’ ka ghar”,
Har ‘Musalmaan’ jhukaye wahan apna sir.
‘Sikh’ maanne ‘Gurudwara’ ‘Guruon’ ka dhaam-
‘Guruvaani’ ka wahan mile unhen GYAN,
Jis ‘IMAARAT’ ko milta ‘Girja’ ka naam;
Wahan ‘Isaai’ soonte ‘Jesus’-Paigam.
Yeh ‘NAMOONE’ hai maire naamon ke kuchh;
Albatta, main hun sirf ek JEENE ki RAAH:
Us Gujre WAQT ka NAYA Savera hun main;
Jab Rasmon ne kiyaa mera roop Tawaah.
Aaj fir woh hi chal raha hai daur;
Log Peete hai roz NAFRAT ke jaam;
Nek hone ka Sab bharte “RAJEE” dum,
Dafan NEKI hoti magar ‘Subah-o-Sham’.
Read more...
IN MY TIMES;IN THY LAND!
IN MY TIMES; IN THY LAND!
Grand Pa! Grand Pa!! Where are thou?
Grand Pa! Grand Pa!! Where are thou?
Dare ye answer my questions so?
What kind of freedom ye sought?
Against foreign rule, whence ye fought;
Was it to obtain freedom of expression?
Or to assume the right of suppression?
Did it envision a license to kill?
Or ye meant ‘corrupt at will’!
Were ‘law’ and ‘out law’ to move hand in hand?
So ye desired, for my times in thy land!
‘Complete Independence’ was the slogan,
‘Complete Independence’ was the slogan,
If ye remember the ‘Lahore’ resolution;
Freedom came in forty-seven,
Whence ye ensconced safely in heavens;
How could ye see houses uprooted?
Transmigration of humans mooted!
Men were slaughtered, children maimed,
Blood gushed through alleys and drains;
Women smothered, girls raped in dust and sand,
That’s the freedom of thy times for my land!
Grandson! Grandson!! I hear thee lad,
Grandson! Grandson!! I hear thee lad,
Our dream was noble, some acts went mad;
Freedom we longed of a different kind;
Issues ye raise never crossed the mind;
Yes! We strived for freedom of expression-
Free of regional and communal passions;
‘Self -rule’ with dignity what we wanted,
‘Chaos’ and ‘disorder’ were not to be granted;‘
Freedom’ sought equality in all our schemes,
‘Religion’ and ‘regions’ were excluded themes.
Grand Pa! Grand Pa!! What thou raved?
Grand Pa! Grand Pa!! What thou raved?
A kind of obsession harbours each slave;
‘Freedom’ ye wept; ‘Freedom’ ye screamed!
Did thou know what real ‘Freedom’ mean?‘
Foreign-rule-hate’ was the only one bond-
Tied ye till ‘independence’, not beyond;
Emotionally blinded, ye had no other vision,‘
Self-Rule-thought’ was a myopic mission;
Yes! A slave only longs to be free of chains,
Concern of the future is seldom entertained.
Thy idealistic logic of a secular polity -
Thy idealistic logic of a secular polity -
An alien thought, was devoid of reality!
Fractured into regions, cut by religious lanes,
How could ‘Secularism’ mould it into one frame?S
elf -interests emerged when freedom came,
Regional virus spread like forest flame;
Religious gulf widened, Language obfuscating,‘
Self-Rule-dream’ soon turned frustrating;
Each group promoted its selfish brand,'
Freedom’ so hailed for my times in thy land!
Grand Son! Grandson!! Thou forget thee history-‘
Grand Son! Grandson!! Thou forget thee history-‘
Tyranny’ and ‘infighting’ led to doom our ancestry;
‘Slaves?’ thou said, ‘yes, we were slaves’-
Of foreign intrigues, not mindless craze;
Thou are slaves of money and vicious thinking,
Thy mind is decaying, thy acts are stinking;
We laid down lives to make ye people free,
Ye kill thy brethren on a selfish plea;
Marriage have become thy money-spinning fads,
Evil rules the roost in thy times in my land.
Grand Pa! Grand pa!! I respect thee emotions,
But, surely, we differ on various notions;
Boast ye may of self-less ideals,
We promote our self with utmost zeal;
Ye dreamt of India as one big frame,
We segmented it as lingual grains;
Thy endless jail-sojourns sought no rewards-
‘Pass port’ they became to make us over-lords;
‘Selfless-sacrifices’ placed power in the hands-
Of self-serving families,of thy times in my land.
Freedom ye conceived of an utopian kind;
Freedom ye conceived of an utopian kind;
What we practice is freedom of mind;
Mind is free to think and perceive;
Whatever one deems, as one believes;
Thou shackled thyself in peaceful processions,
Our ‘Freedom’ hates such impotent obsessions;
Policemen are free to poke ‘under-trials’ eyes,
Crime in politics is a budding enterprise;‘
Free-for-all’ is the symphony of our cultural band,
‘Unshackled Freedom’ reigns my times in thy land.
Grandson! Grandson!! Hold thy tongue;
Such clumsy thoughts do make me dumb;
We won the freedom; ye enjoy its fruits,
What freedom we desired, ye corrupted its roots;
We renounced riches for freedom sake,
Thy passion is money, rest every -thing fake;
We steered the boat out of a stormy sea;
Ye are drilling holes on self -seeking plea;
Time ye stop running foreigner’s errand!
Lest India balkanize like ‘Soviet Land’.
Grand pa! Grand pa!! Ye do make a point,
Do ideals and ethics in our context count?
Yes! ‘Rama’ and ‘Krishna’ glorify television,
But their central diktat is no one’s mission,
Deadly wars followed, when women sacrileged-
‘Sita’ by ‘Ravana’;‘Draupadi’ by ‘Kaurava-breed’,
Behold! Today no conscience is pricked,
If a girl fed to flames like a wooden-stick;
Alas! Our culture has turned so bland,
What a freedom? For my times in thy land!
Right you are! Grand pa, you are right!!
Right you are! Grand pa, you are right!!
Desensitized people deserve this plight;
Incest is common; mass rapes aplenty,
Being sister or daughter is just no warranty;
In temples and shrines no priests reside;
Butchers and sages together seek a hide;
‘Criminalized politics’ makes no one dazed,
For, money as ‘God’ has all other displaced;
Democracy runs on caste-creed brands!
Upturned morals rule my times in thy land!
Read more...
Friday, December 08, 2006
KASHMIR, MUSHARREF AND PRANNOY ROY!
IT IS GOING TO BE A DAMP SQUIB!
In his interview to PRANNOY ROY of NDTV General Pervez Musharref, President of Pakistan has supposedly said that he and Pakistan were prepared to forgo their claim on Kashmir, should India accept FOUR POINTS plan of General Musharref to resolve the issue. This post is in response to this statement. According to me, it was an eyewash and it is going to be a damp squib. My reminder to PRANNOY ROY IS:-
PRANNOY ROY ,SIR, You are wasting your time and inadvertantly leading INDIA up the garden path. If You think Musharref and PAKISTAN will forgo their claim on KASHMIR, you are sadly mistaken. KASHMIR is the only fulcrum of "ANIMOSITY- WITH- INDIA- POLICY" of Pakistan which is at the very core of Pakistan's survivability. REMEMBER, THE DAY KASHMIR ISSUE GOES, PAKISTAN GOES. Forget the TRACK-II diplomacy---Reality can not be wished away. And the reality is PAKISTAN survives as a nation because of anti-India feelings.
Read and listen to your own interview of Musharref, he has just not said what you are feeding the nation with. Sir, have you forgotten AGRA SUMMIT--how he used you through your question to trash and rubbish Indian viewpoint. In front of flashing cameras and PTV sending him live on air through you, he had ridiculed you and India by calling situation in KASHMIR AS FREEDOM STRUGGLE. Now you claim he says, "NO INDEPENDENCE". Do I have to remind you that he has a slippery mind? Have you forgotten how SHEKHAR GUPTA of INDIAN EXPRESS was used by NAWAZ SHARIEF through his interview in January 1999 to invite AB Vajpayee to LAHORE and then make him look small through KARGIL-99. Do you still believe, this shifting and rolling panorma of DNA of his 'FOUR POINTS' is genuine?
I tell you what? Have you heard of three laws of ABSURDITY? If interested , I will give you a brief on them, but note the THIRD LAW which is actually of a "LOVE- FAILED-ROMEO" : IF SHE CAN NOT BE MINE, SHE CAN NOT BE ANY ONE ELSE'S. Since 1988, after ZARB-E- MOMIN, Pakistan has resorted to this policy on KASHMIR. "Destroy KASHMIR", are the key words in Pakistan's Kashmir policy since then. AND TERRORISM/ MILTANCY IN KASHMIR IS THE DIRECT RESULT OF THIS POLICY. INNOCENT KASHMIRI YOUTH FALL PREY TO EMOTIONAL CALL OF RELIGION IN DANGER. Please note religion is the easiest way to rake up emotions of the people and blind their rational faculities so as to serve your purpose without any opposition.
Finally, let us note that over the last 59 years, Pakistani Establishment had been stuffing their populace with anti-India venom and romanticising them with their final VICTORY OVER INDIA ON KASHMIR. People of Pakistan are as emotionally charged about KASHMIR as their military is. It may take another 59 years to stomach- wash this poison before Pakistan can forgo its claim on KASHMIR. But certainly not now and definitely NOT IN MUSHARREF'S time.
As a parting shot, let me inform you about what my Kashmiri friend K****din once told me. I quote: IF YOU ADD SUGAR TO POISON IT DOES NOT BECOME A SWEET DISH OR PUDDING. IF YOU CONSUME, YOU WILL SURE DIE. According to him ,as on date, PAKISTAN is a pure poison for India. May be after stomach wash things look up after4-5 decades. KASHMIR SOLUTION,sir, lies in the womb of 22nd Century. HISTORY of KASHMIR will ensure this.
Comments
question sir Wednesday, December 6, 2006 4:26:35 PM
Sir,So do you think we should wait for 22nd century? I don't trust any paki but I don't go with your theory either. I believe solution needs to come from people of Kashmir. In fact I believe to sustain peace in Kashmir; Herculean effort is needed from people of Kashmir. It needs some sort of revolution. But at the end Kashmir will be an integeral part of India. Neither you nor me will deny this. Thank you
yaveshrana Wednesday, December 6, 2006 5:25:24 PM
Dear Question, Sir,I do respect your views. Like a true Indian I, too, want an immediate solution but unfortunately certain facts on Kashmir militate against our wishes. I am not an astrologer but there are certain strange facts which force me to say what i'm saying. HOW I WISH THIS THEORY OF GRAND CYCLE IS WRONG? But it isn't, Sir.
again Wednesday, December 6, 2006 6:03:17 PM
Sir,I don’t believe in God nor do I believe in fictitious story. I do and say things by heart. At present my heart says Kashmiri’s are suffering not because of the ill deeds or curse but because of selfish and greedy people possessing power. Once this is realised by people of Kashmir, it is just matter of time. The same is true in case of problems that prevail in our nation. I don’t believe in theory of “Karmaâ€. I will be getting fruits of my ill deeds in this birth. Life after death, fruits of karma are carry forwarded in your next birth; makes me believe that our minds are not well developed yet. People talk about “judgement day†and you are talking about 22nd century for justice to prevail. Sorry sir I don’t go with these theories. God is within us. Have u heard that the famous saying in Hindi “Bagal me churi aur sher me dindoraâ€. If extent this a bit more it will like solution will come from Kashmir people.Thank youPSI am sorry I am language is bit harsh.
yaveshrana Wednesday, December 6, 2006 6:43:51 PM
No,"AGAIN" Sir, You are not harsh. you are agonised and I can see the pain. I do agree with you the KASHMIR issue will be resolved by people of KASHMIR. You said it is a matter of time---I say it is by the start of 22nd Century. I am being definitive and you are unsure of the time. It is not the KARMA theory sir. It is based on the analysis of the history of KASHMIR. Please CHECK YOURSELF-the recorded HISTORY from 1900BC To 2006 AD. You will authenticate me. Thanx
Shersingh Wednesday, December 6, 2006 9:16:54 PM
Musharraf is the only person who has the credibility and authority within Pakistan to take any major decisions witn regard to Kashmir, or make any compromises. No civilian Prime Minister could do so in the forseable future, as the Opposition parties as well as the military would immediately condemn it as a sellout. Can you imagine Nawaz Sharif, or Benazir ever being able to make any concessions? On the contrary, they would need to keep the Kashmir issue alive to divert public opinion away from domestic issues, failures, and corruption. India needs to recognise this, and make equal efforts to reach a solution.
jkeshav Thursday, December 7, 2006 6:29:08 AM
AS YOU RIGHTLY SAID PAKISTAN GOES IF KASHMIR GOES. PAKISTANIS FROM THEIR SCHOOLDAYS ARE FED WITH ANTI-INDIA & PRO-KASHMIRI MILITANCY FEELINGS. IF KASHMIR IS NOT ANNEXED & IS LOST IN THE PAKISTANI SENSE MUSHARRAF OR WHOEVER IS IN CHARGE WILL BE IN DIRE STRAITS FOR CERTAIN. FOR THE PAKISTANIS IT WILL BE A HARD TO DIGEST MATTER.
ruzan_shah Thursday, December 7, 2006 7:15:55 AM
well its really amusing that we are discussing Kashmir without kashmiris.....lolCome on folks Musharraf & Pak is the second stage the first thing is UN resolution of plebescite in Kashmir.Right of self determination.The question is do we really want to implement UN resolution on Kashmir or are we ready for a plebescite or are we serious about Kashmiri right of self determination ?Be honest guysreality is we dont want a plebescite on kashmir just because we know what kashmiri people want or what they will do.Pakistan is second feedle but we are the one who can solve this without Pakistan.Let kasmiri decide their fateDo we have courage or conviction for trueth ?If yes we can solve it ourselvesIf nowhats the point cursing others for our inability or unwillingness ?
Tiara Nova Thursday, December 7, 2006 10:43:54 AM
Well, not allowing the Kashmir issue to die down (because there is no mutually acceptable solution any way) is the concern of not only Pakistan, but also of the world bully, US. There are speculations that having enacted the bully job in Vietnam, Afghan, Iraq etc. and with the awareness that Kashmir is climatically more suited to their marines, USA may have a hidden agenda to ensconce itself in Kashmir in the garb of a third party mediator. Once they are in, Kashmir will be theirs. It will be the story of two cats and a monkey.
prateek_sri Thursday, December 7, 2006 11:44:06 AM
I think the peace process between india and pakistan is one sided, where pakistan is bent on to devastate india, india is very keen to make frindship with him.
ashith kamath Thursday, December 7, 2006 12:17:41 PM
yavesh,quite a stunning point"THE DAY KASHMIR ISSUE GOES, PAKISTAN GOES" its so true, who would think about pakistan if not for the kashmir issue and terrorism. but i think the soft stand of our government has got to end. i am all for the peace process to move forward, but our past experience has been so bitter, every peace process has been taken advantage of.... there cant be a bigger example than kargil or the 7/11 mumbai blasts. we must always put forward the hand for friendship, but i dont think we should ever let our guard down, neither should we ever let pakistan, china or any other neighbour take advantage of our naiveity. we have always come across as a country with false bravado, probably if our politicians had taken a tough stance, rather than talk big we wouldnt have seen the dismal track record that we have in situations where we are pressed. i feel its better to loose 300 of our own flesh and blood than release 1 terrorist in lien. its surprising how independance has softened us indians....
Simpleguy Thursday, December 7, 2006 12:59:25 PM
Ruzan says that the Kashmiris need to be included in the talk. Surely the elections do say that they are involved. Is it not?The Kashmir politicians, across the party line have promoted and participated in pogrom to drive out Hindus. Do we talk to these criminals?If Kashmir should go, it shall be the second partition in the name of religion. Secular India should not allow this to go ahead. The cost of partition should be borne by Kashmir and Pakistan that supports this partitioning along religious lines
Learner Thursday, December 7, 2006 1:35:13 PM
Dear yavesh i understand your point and completely agree with you. but one suggestion dear please write in black normal colour don't use red, green and blue colors.if there are some words which are very interesting then write them with in any color but not the entire post Hope you take this suggestion in a good spirit.ThanksLearner
CS Thursday, December 7, 2006 2:53:06 PM
On the contrary it gives color and beauty. I am also trying colors imitating rana. People who suffer from colorblindness may not appreciate or read colored blogs. it is their headache.
yaveshrana Thursday, December 7, 2006 3:34:59 PM
LEARNER Sir,I have tried to tone down the colours of the POST--Hope it serves the purpose. AND THANK YOU "CS" Sir. Both of you, sir, I will invite your valuable attention to my other post-" KASHMIR-A BOOK with a difference". I will like to know the views on the synopsis of my draft of the book.
Gone Thursday, December 7, 2006 5:01:40 PM
You have said if Kashmir goes, Pakistan goes. What does that mean? Where will Pakistan go? Will it cease to exist? Will it dissapear? Please dont talk nonsense.
yaveshrana Thursday, December 7, 2006 5:26:21 PM
Hullo GONE,You seem to be agitated b'coz You are not prepared to accept the fact that PAKISTAN EXISTS ON THE BASIS OF A FALSE PREMISE AS A PURPORTED HOMELAND FOR THE SUB-CONTINENTAL MUSLIMS--WHICH REFUSES TO RECOGNISE THAT INDIA WAS A SECOND LARGEST MUSLIM COUNTRY IN THE WORLD. KASHMIR is the rallying point for the MUSLIM POPULATION of Pakistan against a "HINDU INDIA". Should it drop its claim--it loses its rationality of existence.
yaveshrana Thursday, December 7, 2006 5:29:31 PM
GONE Sir,If you are a PAKISTANI national, which seems to me, I do understand your anger--I can only sympathise. You have been fed with "HATE 'HINDU' INDIA" as a staple diet for last 59 years. You are not prepared to accept the fact that India could also be the HOME FOR MUSLIMS. This is why the "UNFINISHED AGENDA" of 1947 goes on and on. Accept reality, sir-"MAZHAB KE BINA AAPKA WAJOOD NAHIn HAI."
MIRROR Thursday, December 7, 2006 6:22:05 PM
dear yavesh was pakistan came in to existence for the purpose of snatching kashmir from india? if you think so then your understanding of the issue is very less.
yaveshrana Thursday, December 7, 2006 7:12:50 PM
Dear Mirror/Gone etc./ Changed names types- "GONES"I am very clear on every thing. I haven't said anything of the kind you are trying to attribute to me. Did I say Pakistan came into existence b'coz of Kashmir? NO, Sir, it is the reverse of it. Don't fool yourself ,whoever you are--PAKISTAN JUST CAN NOT SURVIVE WITHOUT "HATE INDIA". And KASHMIR obsession is the fuel that lights that flame.Agenda of 1947 is your life. Try n come out of it.
MIRROR Thursday, December 7, 2006 7:44:19 PM
Dear yavesh i do understand that leadership of Pakistan cannot afford to take a unilateral decision and relinquish the claim over kashmir.As this will result in unrest in the whole of pakistan.and the govt there cannot control that unrest and civil war cannot be ruled out in that situation.
Gone Thursday, December 7, 2006 7:54:18 PM
Dear Rana, I am very much an Indian. Also,I am not Mirror, please dont jump to conclusion. Whatever the reasons for creation of Pak, it is a fact, a sovereign nation. A fait accompli. It cannot be changed. You are creating a spurious linkage between Kashmir and existence or otherwise of Pak. Kasmir issue only used by politicians on both side of border to distract from domestics issues, particularly in Pak. Jingoism and nationalism, divert public from real problems and issues.
sirtidda Thursday, December 7, 2006 7:55:24 PM
well, whoever here said things about the Kashmiri people deciding for themselves on whose side to join and UN resolutions, why don't you talk about the displaced Kashmiri Hindus? And whose side they want to be in? In perhaps a couple of years from now, thanks to the vote-bank policies of the ruling party in India, these displaced people will cease to be even recognised as Kashmiris. Already, much of the current generation of these displaced people are born outside Kashmir.And whoever believes that deals made by Musharraf would stand the backing of successive Govts in Pakistan, stop kidding yourself. Pakistan stands united only in two causes .. and that is Kashmir and Cricket.Pray that some good visionaries/ leaders are born in Pakistan who can lead them out of the madness.
yaveshrana Thursday, December 7, 2006 9:10:51 PM
Mr GONE, I am not questioning the creation of PAKISTAN. It is Pakistan who does not want to exist without KASHMIR. Don't fool as to who u r ? Your bitterness Shows that you are a national of PAKISTAN, I have my sympathies for u.I'm not creating a spurious link for the existence of Pakistan :It is visible even on the darkest night to everyone, barring those who are blind.'HATRED FOR INDIA' IS your oxygen of life and KASHMIR pumps it.
harsh Thursday, December 7, 2006 9:51:21 PM
test
Read more...
Friday, December 01, 2006
RAMAYANA AND MAHABHARTA !
ARE THE EPICS BASED ON TRUE EVENTS?
There is a school of thought of INDIAN archaeologists and VEDIC historians who are veering around to the view: IF ARYANS WERE NOT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEN, AND also, IF RAMAYANA WAS ENACTED BEFORE MAHABHARTA, then the place of enactment of RAMAYNA was not present day India but present day AFGHANISTAN.
It is also said river HEMLAND in Afghanistan was the original SARASWATI river--surprisingly it has a tributary called GANGA even today. Those of you who know our RIG VEDA( A collection of 1056 SANSKRIT HYMNS), should know that River Saraswati was mentioned
60 times in the verses while GANGA only once. And GANGA is our holiest of Holy River. Rig Veda is the oldest religious scripture of VEDIC people. Another view exists that probably GHAGHAR river is the long
lost SARSWATI River( Disappeared around 4500 BC in a major earthquake which diverted the path of its tributaries YAMUNA and SATLUJ to present day course) is a latter day SARASWATI--as per the tradition of VEDIC people who carried the geographic names of their
ancestral place , as they moved further EAST.
Contrary to the above, most Indian thinkers, historians and spirituals Gurus maintain that ARYANS were indigenous people. They rubbish Aryan -invasion theory. If so, then the archaeologists who insist on the Afghanistan -evidence of RAMAYANA, ask whether MAHABHARTA preceded RAMAYNA. This is because of the geographical layout of the areas of enactment as per our beliefs. It Is becoming a "CHICKEN AND EGG STORY". Let us explore the truth. Have your take.
Read more...
There is a school of thought of INDIAN archaeologists and VEDIC historians who are veering around to the view: IF ARYANS WERE NOT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE THEN, AND also, IF RAMAYANA WAS ENACTED BEFORE MAHABHARTA, then the place of enactment of RAMAYNA was not present day India but present day AFGHANISTAN.
It is also said river HEMLAND in Afghanistan was the original SARASWATI river--surprisingly it has a tributary called GANGA even today. Those of you who know our RIG VEDA( A collection of 1056 SANSKRIT HYMNS), should know that River Saraswati was mentioned
60 times in the verses while GANGA only once. And GANGA is our holiest of Holy River. Rig Veda is the oldest religious scripture of VEDIC people. Another view exists that probably GHAGHAR river is the long
lost SARSWATI River( Disappeared around 4500 BC in a major earthquake which diverted the path of its tributaries YAMUNA and SATLUJ to present day course) is a latter day SARASWATI--as per the tradition of VEDIC people who carried the geographic names of their
ancestral place , as they moved further EAST.
Contrary to the above, most Indian thinkers, historians and spirituals Gurus maintain that ARYANS were indigenous people. They rubbish Aryan -invasion theory. If so, then the archaeologists who insist on the Afghanistan -evidence of RAMAYANA, ask whether MAHABHARTA preceded RAMAYNA. This is because of the geographical layout of the areas of enactment as per our beliefs. It Is becoming a "CHICKEN AND EGG STORY". Let us explore the truth. Have your take.
Read more...
KASHMIR-THE CURSE AND CURE OF ITS HISTORY?
"KASHMIR: ITS CURSE AND CURE OF HISTORY"-------
A SYNOPSIS OF BOOK WITH A DIFFERENCE!
"Kashmir”! It has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan over the last fifty-nine years. Accusing fingers have been raised at individuals and leaders since 1947. It only shows how little people know about its history, which is the real cause of its current miseries.
“Kashmir” is known as the land of 'Neela Nag'—a Son of Kashyap Rishi and his wife Kudru, a supposedly serpent girl, who produced 'half-human and a half-Snake' children. Incidentally, 'Kashmir' is the name derived from Kashyap i.e. Kashyap Mar). The beautiful valley of River Vitasta (Jhelum) has no one to blame but its own history for its current miseries. If it is now in the center stage of current Indo-Pak face- off, it is the handiwork of its history.
Frankly speaking, since 1820, Kashmir has been under the spell of the curse of its own history. And the cure will also come from its history only. I bet you will dismiss this as a joke. But recorded facts are otherwise. This logic (or truth!) of history of Kashmir was revealed to me, some three years back, by an illiterate Kashmiri guzzar of North Kashmir, when I had gone there to study the Kargil- 99episode. My friend, K****din, was convinced about it and I was stunned by it. And more I read about its history, more I am enamored by the sheer veracity of this logic. Here are some of the key points of my friend, K****din’s theory of 'Grand-Cycles-of-Kashmir-History': -
- Every 780-800 years of Kashmir's recorded history, it has been under the domination of a particular religion. This period of 780-800 years is called Grand Cycle of History.
- Every Grand Cycle is further subdivided into three sub Cycles of 265-275 years each.
- First Sub- cycle of each Grand Cycle relates to emergence, development and progress of a particular religion.
- Second Sub- Cycle pertains to consolidation and prosperity of the religion.
- The first two sub cycles of 500-530 years, above, make the golden period of domination of a religion.
- The third sub cycle leads to decay and degeneration of the predominant religion and
emergence of a new religious philosophy, which will dominate for other 500-520 years.
- The term ' religious domination' is to be read as 'State Patronization' of the philosophy of 'Worship and rituals' by human beings in a particular manner.
Keeping the above in mind, let us have a brief glance at the recorded history of Kashmir. The best sources are RAJTARANGNI by Kalhan and 'Nilamat Puran' of 2nd century AD. 'Rajtarangini' begins with the year 1184 BC when Gonanda-I, a 'Shaivite' king was ruling Kashmir. It roughly relates to Mahabharta period. The grand son of Gonanda-I was Gonanda- II who was deposed by one-Haran Deva- a brother of 'Janamejya' and Grandson of Arjun (Great Arjun of Mahabharat war). Most western and Indian Historians agree that Mahabharta war took place around 1000-1100 BC, although some Indian scholars put the date around 3000 BC. We will go by the majority opinion.
It will be interesting to note, prior to the coming of Aryans (Worshippers of Lord Vishnu – the Vegetarians), major portion of Northern South- Asia (Present day India, Pakistan etc) was inhabited by Shaivites (Worshippers of Lord Shiva - the non Vegetarians). Look at the 'Shiva Temples' spread along the length and breadth of the sub continent. 'Shaivism' and 'Vaishnavism' were different temporal philosophies. They were altogether different cults or what you call religions today. Let us look at them: -
- The 'SHAIVISM' period in Kashmir ended with the deposition of Gonanda-II by Harandeva – a VAISHNAVITE. This was the end of Ist Grand Cycle of its history. It was around 1050 BC. We do not have any recorded version of history prior to this. There are only mythological tales. But all legends tell us it was the abode of Lord Shiva and his followers were of Naga race. Remember, Prince Takshak, who killed Parikshat- Arjun's son. He was a Naga. It is a different matter Aryan literature dubbed him as a 'Nag'- a 'Serpent'.
- The second grand cycle of Kashmir began around 1030-1050 BC. 'Vaishnavism' dominated it and it ended around 250 BC when great 'Ashoka' came to Kashmir and
founded SRI NAGAR in honour of goddess LAXMI (Approximately 800 years). Note, he was a Buddhist king and he established a city in the name of VAISHNAV goddess. It explains that cults (or so called religions of today) had no separate identity. They were intermixing and inter-mingling.
- The third grand cycle heralded BUDHISM in Kashmir and ruled the roost between 250 BC to 530 AD. 'Kushan' kings patronized it. 'Kushans' came to Kashmir from China around 260 BC. Shakas and Huns followed them. This grand cycle ended with the emergence of Huns (a Chinese tribe), whose first king of Kashmir was MIHIRKULA-a known tyrant in history (Approximately 780 years).
- The fourth grand cycle, which established ' Hinduism', began around 530 AD, when Gopal Ditya, Mihirkula's son, come to throne. It is he, who gave religious recognition to the term 'HINDUISM' as we know it today. Here-to-fore, the term 'Hindu' was used only as a geographical identity for the land East of River Indus. It is pertinent to note the word 'Hindu' has a Persian origin and derived from 'Sindhu'--a Sanskrit word. 'Sindhu' was the name given to River Indus (From Sindhu it became 'Hindu' in Persian and from Hindu it became 'Indus', Indic or Indi in Greek). As ancient Persians pronounced 'S' - as an aspirate
'H', so 'Sindhu' became 'Hindu'. No Vedic literature or religious scriptures mention the word ‘Hindu’, whether it is 'Vedas', 'Upanishads' or the great epics. In the written from, first time the word 'Hindu' appears on a tablet dated back to 518 BC when king Darius- I was ruling Persia. He used it to describe the geographical extent of his kingdom upto
and beyond River Hindu (or Sindhu or Indus). Anyway, to cut the story short, till Gopalditya became king in Kashmir in 530 AD, the term 'Hindu' had only a geographical identity for the people living East of River Indus. To Gopalditya, these people were a Curious mix of conflicting beliefs and ideologies but with traits of liberal tolerance and peaceful co-existence. He, therefore, saw 'Shaivites', 'Vaishnavites' and 'Buddhists' as a composite mix of a larger philosophy. He termed it as 'Hinduism' and converted himself to it. Thus, it was a Chinese Hun, who gave 'Hinduism' its religious identity as a composite 'Culture of the Way of Living' of people. This Grand cycle of 'Hinduism' flourished between 530 AD to 1325 AD. (Approximately 795 years). It ended when Rinchen Shah, a Tibetan prince, came to power after marrying Rani KOTA DEVI, whose husband had run away when the Turks invaded Kashmir in 1324 AD.
- The fifth grand cycle, which brought in ISLAM, began around 1325 AD when Rinchen Shah, the King, converted to Islam as he was snubbed by a Brahmin Mr. Dev swami, who stopped him from converting to Hinduism. An outsider, Gopalditya-a Hun, had initiated the reign of HINDUISM in KASHMIR, but another outsider was prevented and he brought in Islam. Even before this, all famous Buddhist kings of Kashmir had been outsiders- Kushans from china- such as Jalushka, Haluska and Kanishka. Do not forget Harandeva (A
Great Grandson of Arjuna of Mahabharta) - an Aryan, was also an outsider.
- The golden period of 500 years of Islam in Kashmir was upto 1820 AD - when it was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The third sub-cycle of this grand cycle began around 1820 AD. This sub cycle is of decay and degeneration. If you add other 265--275 years to the 1820 AD, this grand cycle will close around 2085 to2095 AD.
- In other words, by the end of 21st century, the sixth grand cycle will take over. What will be its characteristics? It could be more liberalized 'Secularism' or 'Globalism'. I RECKON BY THEN THE MANKIND WOULD HAVE GOT RID OF RELIGIOUS GRIP AND THE MAN WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE COSMIC AGE. We would have left THREE WAVES of Agriculture, Industrial and Information/Knowledge far behind. The last wave of KNOWLEDGE will drive away religion to the privacy of our homes only. I suppose it will take another90- 100 years for COSMIC MAN to emerge on the scene. Therefore till then, Kashmir pot will keep boiling? History itself will seek answer for the problem that has roots in history. Rests, all of them are mere actors in this drama of history.
Having said this much, let me also make two points on the current day problem of Kashmir. First of all, it is a misnomer to equate Kashmir with the erstwhile territories of the state of J&K of Maharaja Hari Singh. The J&K territories of Maharaja Hari Singh comprised six different regions, which historically, ethnically, geographically and linguistically had nothing in common except a lose central control of 100 years by the descendants of Raja Gulab Singh. These regions were Jammu, Laddakh, Kashmir, Baltistan, Dardistan, and 'Naushehra - Poonch - URI - Mirpur' extension of Western Punjab. While Jammu, Laddakh and Kashmir valley are with India; Baltistan, Dardistan (both making Northern areas of Pakistan) and 'Naushehra- Mirpur' extension of western Punjab (NOW POK) are with Pakistan. It is misunderstood and lost identity of other five regions and confused synonym of Kashmir with J&K which is the cause of problem between India and Pakistan. J&K is not Kashmir but Kashmir is part of it. To find a solution to this problem, Kashmir must be delinked from other regions. My second point emerges from this. If India committed blunders in 1947-1950, so has Pakistan. If only Pakistan had not forced the hands of Maharaja Hari Singh by sending tribal raiders in Sept 1947, the history would have been entirely different. This was the biggest blunder of MA Jinnah who acted on the ill - timed advice of his military advisor, Major General Akbar Khan (The infamous General Tariq of Tribal Raiders in Kashmir in 1947). Mount batten, a so-called friend of India, had ensured that Indian leadership of the time, remained drowned in its self-created sea of moralities. But Jinnah lacked patience or time (he was dying of cancer!). However, Jinnah and Nehru could do nothing about it as 'History of Kashmir' had scripted their roles as much. Ordained by History, events in Kashmir moved, as it desires. All these Gilainis, Bhatts, Salahuddins, Yasin Maliks, Javed Mirs, Omar Farouks, Dhars, Sheikh Abdullahs, are pawns in the hands of the history of Kashmir. Kashmir had known tyrants (terrorists!) in its history: from 'Jaldevs' in the ancient times to 'Mihirkulas' in the medieval times. All were outsiders. Today's Salahuddins, Azhar Masouds, and their elk are the replicas of yesteryears 'Jaldevs' and 'Mihirculas'. History of Kashmir is using the terror groups to move on its pre-ordained path. Right, Sir, history will find a cure at the right time. Wait till the end of the century.
One passing remark I will make. Looking for a solution to Kashmir problem? Are you? Then, India and Pakistan must get out of the vicious grip of history. In simple terms, 1947 is not 2006 as 2006 will not be 2099. And today's solution is that LOC must be accepted as 'INTERIM IB'. Leave the rest to future generations. Do they have the courage to do so? If not, then, keep playing into the hands of history. Simla agreement of 1972; Lahore Declaration of 1999 saw the vision of such a possibility but it got scuttled because Nawaz Sharief & CO, realizing this possibility at a future date, pre-maturely ventured into 'LOC-Nibbling- Act' in Kargil in 1999. His Kargil misadventure was aimed at occupying important heights in Kargil before LOC became accepted as IB. Basically, it was to safeguard his Northern Areas-where a problem of independence is brewing up.
But history outsmarted him through his generals, who enlarged the scope of 'Nibbling act' to a total misadventure. And it derailed the whole process. History of Kashmir is too strong to allow anyone to tinker with its well-charted course. You need men of steel nerves on both sides of the fence to override this monster. Lawlessness in Kashmir, sir, isa creation of history and it will die when it would have served its purpose. Till then live with it or make its mother infertile. It needs men of vision on both sides to understand this alternative option.
Read more...
A SYNOPSIS OF BOOK WITH A DIFFERENCE!
"Kashmir”! It has been a bone of contention between India and Pakistan over the last fifty-nine years. Accusing fingers have been raised at individuals and leaders since 1947. It only shows how little people know about its history, which is the real cause of its current miseries.
“Kashmir” is known as the land of 'Neela Nag'—a Son of Kashyap Rishi and his wife Kudru, a supposedly serpent girl, who produced 'half-human and a half-Snake' children. Incidentally, 'Kashmir' is the name derived from Kashyap i.e. Kashyap Mar). The beautiful valley of River Vitasta (Jhelum) has no one to blame but its own history for its current miseries. If it is now in the center stage of current Indo-Pak face- off, it is the handiwork of its history.
Frankly speaking, since 1820, Kashmir has been under the spell of the curse of its own history. And the cure will also come from its history only. I bet you will dismiss this as a joke. But recorded facts are otherwise. This logic (or truth!) of history of Kashmir was revealed to me, some three years back, by an illiterate Kashmiri guzzar of North Kashmir, when I had gone there to study the Kargil- 99episode. My friend, K****din, was convinced about it and I was stunned by it. And more I read about its history, more I am enamored by the sheer veracity of this logic. Here are some of the key points of my friend, K****din’s theory of 'Grand-Cycles-of-Kashmir-History': -
- Every 780-800 years of Kashmir's recorded history, it has been under the domination of a particular religion. This period of 780-800 years is called Grand Cycle of History.
- Every Grand Cycle is further subdivided into three sub Cycles of 265-275 years each.
- First Sub- cycle of each Grand Cycle relates to emergence, development and progress of a particular religion.
- Second Sub- Cycle pertains to consolidation and prosperity of the religion.
- The first two sub cycles of 500-530 years, above, make the golden period of domination of a religion.
- The third sub cycle leads to decay and degeneration of the predominant religion and
emergence of a new religious philosophy, which will dominate for other 500-520 years.
- The term ' religious domination' is to be read as 'State Patronization' of the philosophy of 'Worship and rituals' by human beings in a particular manner.
Keeping the above in mind, let us have a brief glance at the recorded history of Kashmir. The best sources are RAJTARANGNI by Kalhan and 'Nilamat Puran' of 2nd century AD. 'Rajtarangini' begins with the year 1184 BC when Gonanda-I, a 'Shaivite' king was ruling Kashmir. It roughly relates to Mahabharta period. The grand son of Gonanda-I was Gonanda- II who was deposed by one-Haran Deva- a brother of 'Janamejya' and Grandson of Arjun (Great Arjun of Mahabharat war). Most western and Indian Historians agree that Mahabharta war took place around 1000-1100 BC, although some Indian scholars put the date around 3000 BC. We will go by the majority opinion.
It will be interesting to note, prior to the coming of Aryans (Worshippers of Lord Vishnu – the Vegetarians), major portion of Northern South- Asia (Present day India, Pakistan etc) was inhabited by Shaivites (Worshippers of Lord Shiva - the non Vegetarians). Look at the 'Shiva Temples' spread along the length and breadth of the sub continent. 'Shaivism' and 'Vaishnavism' were different temporal philosophies. They were altogether different cults or what you call religions today. Let us look at them: -
- The 'SHAIVISM' period in Kashmir ended with the deposition of Gonanda-II by Harandeva – a VAISHNAVITE. This was the end of Ist Grand Cycle of its history. It was around 1050 BC. We do not have any recorded version of history prior to this. There are only mythological tales. But all legends tell us it was the abode of Lord Shiva and his followers were of Naga race. Remember, Prince Takshak, who killed Parikshat- Arjun's son. He was a Naga. It is a different matter Aryan literature dubbed him as a 'Nag'- a 'Serpent'.
- The second grand cycle of Kashmir began around 1030-1050 BC. 'Vaishnavism' dominated it and it ended around 250 BC when great 'Ashoka' came to Kashmir and
founded SRI NAGAR in honour of goddess LAXMI (Approximately 800 years). Note, he was a Buddhist king and he established a city in the name of VAISHNAV goddess. It explains that cults (or so called religions of today) had no separate identity. They were intermixing and inter-mingling.
- The third grand cycle heralded BUDHISM in Kashmir and ruled the roost between 250 BC to 530 AD. 'Kushan' kings patronized it. 'Kushans' came to Kashmir from China around 260 BC. Shakas and Huns followed them. This grand cycle ended with the emergence of Huns (a Chinese tribe), whose first king of Kashmir was MIHIRKULA-a known tyrant in history (Approximately 780 years).
- The fourth grand cycle, which established ' Hinduism', began around 530 AD, when Gopal Ditya, Mihirkula's son, come to throne. It is he, who gave religious recognition to the term 'HINDUISM' as we know it today. Here-to-fore, the term 'Hindu' was used only as a geographical identity for the land East of River Indus. It is pertinent to note the word 'Hindu' has a Persian origin and derived from 'Sindhu'--a Sanskrit word. 'Sindhu' was the name given to River Indus (From Sindhu it became 'Hindu' in Persian and from Hindu it became 'Indus', Indic or Indi in Greek). As ancient Persians pronounced 'S' - as an aspirate
'H', so 'Sindhu' became 'Hindu'. No Vedic literature or religious scriptures mention the word ‘Hindu’, whether it is 'Vedas', 'Upanishads' or the great epics. In the written from, first time the word 'Hindu' appears on a tablet dated back to 518 BC when king Darius- I was ruling Persia. He used it to describe the geographical extent of his kingdom upto
and beyond River Hindu (or Sindhu or Indus). Anyway, to cut the story short, till Gopalditya became king in Kashmir in 530 AD, the term 'Hindu' had only a geographical identity for the people living East of River Indus. To Gopalditya, these people were a Curious mix of conflicting beliefs and ideologies but with traits of liberal tolerance and peaceful co-existence. He, therefore, saw 'Shaivites', 'Vaishnavites' and 'Buddhists' as a composite mix of a larger philosophy. He termed it as 'Hinduism' and converted himself to it. Thus, it was a Chinese Hun, who gave 'Hinduism' its religious identity as a composite 'Culture of the Way of Living' of people. This Grand cycle of 'Hinduism' flourished between 530 AD to 1325 AD. (Approximately 795 years). It ended when Rinchen Shah, a Tibetan prince, came to power after marrying Rani KOTA DEVI, whose husband had run away when the Turks invaded Kashmir in 1324 AD.
- The fifth grand cycle, which brought in ISLAM, began around 1325 AD when Rinchen Shah, the King, converted to Islam as he was snubbed by a Brahmin Mr. Dev swami, who stopped him from converting to Hinduism. An outsider, Gopalditya-a Hun, had initiated the reign of HINDUISM in KASHMIR, but another outsider was prevented and he brought in Islam. Even before this, all famous Buddhist kings of Kashmir had been outsiders- Kushans from china- such as Jalushka, Haluska and Kanishka. Do not forget Harandeva (A
Great Grandson of Arjuna of Mahabharta) - an Aryan, was also an outsider.
- The golden period of 500 years of Islam in Kashmir was upto 1820 AD - when it was annexed by Maharaja Ranjit Singh. The third sub-cycle of this grand cycle began around 1820 AD. This sub cycle is of decay and degeneration. If you add other 265--275 years to the 1820 AD, this grand cycle will close around 2085 to2095 AD.
- In other words, by the end of 21st century, the sixth grand cycle will take over. What will be its characteristics? It could be more liberalized 'Secularism' or 'Globalism'. I RECKON BY THEN THE MANKIND WOULD HAVE GOT RID OF RELIGIOUS GRIP AND THE MAN WOULD HAVE ENTERED THE COSMIC AGE. We would have left THREE WAVES of Agriculture, Industrial and Information/Knowledge far behind. The last wave of KNOWLEDGE will drive away religion to the privacy of our homes only. I suppose it will take another90- 100 years for COSMIC MAN to emerge on the scene. Therefore till then, Kashmir pot will keep boiling? History itself will seek answer for the problem that has roots in history. Rests, all of them are mere actors in this drama of history.
Having said this much, let me also make two points on the current day problem of Kashmir. First of all, it is a misnomer to equate Kashmir with the erstwhile territories of the state of J&K of Maharaja Hari Singh. The J&K territories of Maharaja Hari Singh comprised six different regions, which historically, ethnically, geographically and linguistically had nothing in common except a lose central control of 100 years by the descendants of Raja Gulab Singh. These regions were Jammu, Laddakh, Kashmir, Baltistan, Dardistan, and 'Naushehra - Poonch - URI - Mirpur' extension of Western Punjab. While Jammu, Laddakh and Kashmir valley are with India; Baltistan, Dardistan (both making Northern areas of Pakistan) and 'Naushehra- Mirpur' extension of western Punjab (NOW POK) are with Pakistan. It is misunderstood and lost identity of other five regions and confused synonym of Kashmir with J&K which is the cause of problem between India and Pakistan. J&K is not Kashmir but Kashmir is part of it. To find a solution to this problem, Kashmir must be delinked from other regions. My second point emerges from this. If India committed blunders in 1947-1950, so has Pakistan. If only Pakistan had not forced the hands of Maharaja Hari Singh by sending tribal raiders in Sept 1947, the history would have been entirely different. This was the biggest blunder of MA Jinnah who acted on the ill - timed advice of his military advisor, Major General Akbar Khan (The infamous General Tariq of Tribal Raiders in Kashmir in 1947). Mount batten, a so-called friend of India, had ensured that Indian leadership of the time, remained drowned in its self-created sea of moralities. But Jinnah lacked patience or time (he was dying of cancer!). However, Jinnah and Nehru could do nothing about it as 'History of Kashmir' had scripted their roles as much. Ordained by History, events in Kashmir moved, as it desires. All these Gilainis, Bhatts, Salahuddins, Yasin Maliks, Javed Mirs, Omar Farouks, Dhars, Sheikh Abdullahs, are pawns in the hands of the history of Kashmir. Kashmir had known tyrants (terrorists!) in its history: from 'Jaldevs' in the ancient times to 'Mihirkulas' in the medieval times. All were outsiders. Today's Salahuddins, Azhar Masouds, and their elk are the replicas of yesteryears 'Jaldevs' and 'Mihirculas'. History of Kashmir is using the terror groups to move on its pre-ordained path. Right, Sir, history will find a cure at the right time. Wait till the end of the century.
One passing remark I will make. Looking for a solution to Kashmir problem? Are you? Then, India and Pakistan must get out of the vicious grip of history. In simple terms, 1947 is not 2006 as 2006 will not be 2099. And today's solution is that LOC must be accepted as 'INTERIM IB'. Leave the rest to future generations. Do they have the courage to do so? If not, then, keep playing into the hands of history. Simla agreement of 1972; Lahore Declaration of 1999 saw the vision of such a possibility but it got scuttled because Nawaz Sharief & CO, realizing this possibility at a future date, pre-maturely ventured into 'LOC-Nibbling- Act' in Kargil in 1999. His Kargil misadventure was aimed at occupying important heights in Kargil before LOC became accepted as IB. Basically, it was to safeguard his Northern Areas-where a problem of independence is brewing up.
But history outsmarted him through his generals, who enlarged the scope of 'Nibbling act' to a total misadventure. And it derailed the whole process. History of Kashmir is too strong to allow anyone to tinker with its well-charted course. You need men of steel nerves on both sides of the fence to override this monster. Lawlessness in Kashmir, sir, isa creation of history and it will die when it would have served its purpose. Till then live with it or make its mother infertile. It needs men of vision on both sides to understand this alternative option.
Read more...
Thursday, November 30, 2006
KASHMIR, KHUDA (GOD) AND KHUDA BUX--A KASHMIRI TALE
DRAW YOUR OWN CONCLUSIONS!
I have a friend from North Kashmir. He gave me this story to motivate me to write a book on Kashmir. I've completed the draft and waiting for a publisher's nod. This story is part of the book, titled, "KASHMIR- THE CURSE AND CURE OF HISTORY". My friend hails from Kachhama-Tregham area of North Kashmir. His name is K***din. He is very intelligent and well informed but poor and illiterate as is the fate of most ordinary but well-meaning people. The year he gave me this story was the year of KARGIL Episode. Now read the story----------
There lived a man named KHUDA BUX in TAREGHAM, North Kashmir. He was god fearing, pious and sagacious. He was so gentle and nice that he couldn't hurt a fly. He was respected and likened by everyone. He offered NAMAZ five times a day. It is said that the tales of his piety and saintly ways reached the GOD. He did not believe that in such hard days there could be a man of KHUDA BUX's description. GOD decided to see it for himself. Also the tales of the beauty of KASHMIR enamored him. He handed over the reign of HEAVENS to his deputy GOD and came to see KHUDA BUX in Kashmir. GOD landed in GUL MARG and saw KHUDA BUX. He was impressed. He decided that he would take KHUDA BUX to heavens along with him. He checked up the details of KHUDA BUX’s earthly life and realised that he had some more time left so HE decided to have some holidays in GUL MARG. Thus god became busy in merry-making.
It so happened, one day in the year 1990, there was an encounter at CHOWKIWAL amongst the militants and the security forces. Both sides suffered heavy casualities. Unfortunately, in the cross fire, even KHUDA BUX got killed. All the dead persons were taken to the chambers PRESIDING GOD of the heavens. As soon as a person of security force will march in the presiding god would ask him the place he had belonged to. Each one would give out his state in India. The presiding GOD would command, "A SOLDIER DIED IN BATTLE! MARCH HIM INTO HEAVENS." Next was the turn of the militants. As soon as a militant would tell him that he had come from PAKISTAN, the PRESIDING GOD will announce, "MILITARY & POVERTY PUSHED HIM INTO THIS, HE HAD NO CHOICE; MARCH HIM INTO HEAVENS." Finally came the turn of KHUDA BUX.
As soon as Khuda Bux majestically walked in for a royal treatment, for he was a man of no sin, the presiding GOD, shouted, "Where do you come from"? Holding his head high and Chest straight, Khuda Bux replied, " Kashmir, Sir, Kashmir". The presiding GOD snarled, " Go back you RASCAL." Instantly, KhudaBux was thrown to earth in Kashmir. In the meanwhile, the actual GOD was happily enjoying his holidays in GULMARG. One day the real GOD met the spirit of Khuda Bux in GULMARG, by chance. GOD was stunned. He asked the Spirit as to what had happened? KHUDA BUX narrated his tale of woe.The real GOD was totally cut off with his deputy for his lack of justice and judgement and he decided to undo the injustice to KHUDA BUX. He asked the spirit of Khuda Bux to come along to heavens with him.
As soon as they reached the gates of heavens, the real god sent Khuda Bux ahead of him to the chambers of the presiding GOD. Moment he entered the presiding god got furious and shouted," I told you to go back you rascal". Immediately, The REAL GOD entered and scolded his deputy for his poor judgment and injustice." The erstwhile DEPUTY AND NOW PRESIDING God retorted," You too go back, u ras---"Real God was shocked and asked ,"WHAT FOR?" The Presiding God responded," TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH AS TO HOW KHUDA BUX AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE CONVERTED A LIVING HEAVEN INTO HELL". It is said ever since then the REAL GOD and the spirit of KHUDA BUX have been roaming in the valley of Kashmir to find out as to how it happened. Every time they work out an answer some more KNOTTY questions spring up. They are thus stuck in the time capsule.
When K***din narrated this story to me, I chuckled, " Oh! Goodness gracious! GOD on their side, yet Kashmir is tormenting." My friend, K***din butted in , " NO Sir, Even GOD can not find solution to Kashmir Problem." Thus, the KASHMIR POT KEEPS BOILING for continuously. ANSWER? Wait for my book , KASHMIR--THE CURSE AND CURE OF HISTORY?"
Read more...
I have a friend from North Kashmir. He gave me this story to motivate me to write a book on Kashmir. I've completed the draft and waiting for a publisher's nod. This story is part of the book, titled, "KASHMIR- THE CURSE AND CURE OF HISTORY". My friend hails from Kachhama-Tregham area of North Kashmir. His name is K***din. He is very intelligent and well informed but poor and illiterate as is the fate of most ordinary but well-meaning people. The year he gave me this story was the year of KARGIL Episode. Now read the story----------
There lived a man named KHUDA BUX in TAREGHAM, North Kashmir. He was god fearing, pious and sagacious. He was so gentle and nice that he couldn't hurt a fly. He was respected and likened by everyone. He offered NAMAZ five times a day. It is said that the tales of his piety and saintly ways reached the GOD. He did not believe that in such hard days there could be a man of KHUDA BUX's description. GOD decided to see it for himself. Also the tales of the beauty of KASHMIR enamored him. He handed over the reign of HEAVENS to his deputy GOD and came to see KHUDA BUX in Kashmir. GOD landed in GUL MARG and saw KHUDA BUX. He was impressed. He decided that he would take KHUDA BUX to heavens along with him. He checked up the details of KHUDA BUX’s earthly life and realised that he had some more time left so HE decided to have some holidays in GUL MARG. Thus god became busy in merry-making.
It so happened, one day in the year 1990, there was an encounter at CHOWKIWAL amongst the militants and the security forces. Both sides suffered heavy casualities. Unfortunately, in the cross fire, even KHUDA BUX got killed. All the dead persons were taken to the chambers PRESIDING GOD of the heavens. As soon as a person of security force will march in the presiding god would ask him the place he had belonged to. Each one would give out his state in India. The presiding GOD would command, "A SOLDIER DIED IN BATTLE! MARCH HIM INTO HEAVENS." Next was the turn of the militants. As soon as a militant would tell him that he had come from PAKISTAN, the PRESIDING GOD will announce, "MILITARY & POVERTY PUSHED HIM INTO THIS, HE HAD NO CHOICE; MARCH HIM INTO HEAVENS." Finally came the turn of KHUDA BUX.
As soon as Khuda Bux majestically walked in for a royal treatment, for he was a man of no sin, the presiding GOD, shouted, "Where do you come from"? Holding his head high and Chest straight, Khuda Bux replied, " Kashmir, Sir, Kashmir". The presiding GOD snarled, " Go back you RASCAL." Instantly, KhudaBux was thrown to earth in Kashmir. In the meanwhile, the actual GOD was happily enjoying his holidays in GULMARG. One day the real GOD met the spirit of Khuda Bux in GULMARG, by chance. GOD was stunned. He asked the Spirit as to what had happened? KHUDA BUX narrated his tale of woe.The real GOD was totally cut off with his deputy for his lack of justice and judgement and he decided to undo the injustice to KHUDA BUX. He asked the spirit of Khuda Bux to come along to heavens with him.
As soon as they reached the gates of heavens, the real god sent Khuda Bux ahead of him to the chambers of the presiding GOD. Moment he entered the presiding god got furious and shouted," I told you to go back you rascal". Immediately, The REAL GOD entered and scolded his deputy for his poor judgment and injustice." The erstwhile DEPUTY AND NOW PRESIDING God retorted," You too go back, u ras---"Real God was shocked and asked ,"WHAT FOR?" The Presiding God responded," TO FIND OUT THE TRUTH AS TO HOW KHUDA BUX AND HIS PEOPLE HAVE CONVERTED A LIVING HEAVEN INTO HELL". It is said ever since then the REAL GOD and the spirit of KHUDA BUX have been roaming in the valley of Kashmir to find out as to how it happened. Every time they work out an answer some more KNOTTY questions spring up. They are thus stuck in the time capsule.
When K***din narrated this story to me, I chuckled, " Oh! Goodness gracious! GOD on their side, yet Kashmir is tormenting." My friend, K***din butted in , " NO Sir, Even GOD can not find solution to Kashmir Problem." Thus, the KASHMIR POT KEEPS BOILING for continuously. ANSWER? Wait for my book , KASHMIR--THE CURSE AND CURE OF HISTORY?"
Read more...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)