tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55420944402155863382024-02-19T09:06:45.072+05:30AL-HAQU MURUN ( Truth Is Bitter )Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-39365555569379791692012-05-15T23:42:00.001+05:302012-05-15T23:45:18.952+05:30Blog Moved to Wordpress<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Hola Dear friends and my dear friends, I would like to inform you that I have moved my blog from Blogspot to Wordpress. So this is going to be my last update here but the journey continues at <a href="http://www.alhaqumurun.wordpress.com/">Wordpress</a> so if you haven't been bored by me, your are welcome to visit me there.<a href="http://www.alhaqumurun.wordpress.com/">www.alhaqumurun.wordpress.com</a></div>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-48540082496440343332012-05-05T00:10:00.000+05:302012-05-05T00:10:05.303+05:30May Day, Mayday!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
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1st of May has been celebrated as a springtime
festival since 13th century and later on from 1880 it also was celebrated as
labor day, to give due recognition to the working people. Here in Kashmir we
are not sure whether to celebrate it or not, we haven't seen much of spring yet
nor are we known for giving due reorganization to people for their work. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Since ages Kashmir has been very famous for its
handicrafts, woodwork, paper-machie , silk, Saffron etc., but recently all
these arts are dying a silent death. The taste of people has changed, the
architecture has changed, priorities have changed and in the middle of all this
change our culture is vanishing. The craftsmen have tried and are trying to
survive this wave of change but the question is how much have the successive
governments helped to promote these crafts. To summarize all the help that
these skilful people have received nothing more should be required to be said
then that these people are making every effort to make sure that their sons and
daughters do not get into their father's & grandfather's trade. Recently a
genius of a craftsman, the creator of "The Lonely Tree", Khazir
Mohammad Qasba, died but none noticed. With death of the masters, the death of
art itself will follow and with it another part of our rich culture is destined
to die a silent and lonely death. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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In Kashmir the thinking minds and the able bodies are
being exploited in open day light and nothing is being done about it. Well what
can one do when the Government who is supposed to be the protector of week is
actually facilitating this exploitation.
Government took the saying "something is better than nothing"
a bit too seriously and the young generation is bearing the brunt. Teachers,
agriculture graduates, forestry graduates etc (many a times even PhD's) are
being hired by government on temporary basis on remuneration of fifteen hundred
rupees per month, yep you read it right just Rs 1500/-. This has acted as a
blessing for the private players (NGO's, Private companies etc) in the state,
now they have made this remuneration amount as a benchmark. Teachers in private
schools are being paid around Rs 3,000/- per month but the amount that these
schools show to their benefactors and Government authorities (from whom they
receive grants & Donations) is not less than Rs 10,000/- (as salary per
teacher). It is an open secret not hidden from any one, but still no action is
being taken against the perpetrators. The Labor Department who are supposed to
take action against these violators of law is a just namesake department. Just
outside the office of Labor Commissioner, Batamalo ,we can observe child labor;
children are working in the mechanic shops, they are working as conductors /
helpers in public transport vehicles. When the labor department is so blind to
something in front of their eyes then how can we expect them to check whether
"Shops & Establishments Act" or "Contract Labor Act" or
"Remuneration Act" etc are being implemented and adhered to or not.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The government never lets an opportunity go begging
when it comes to claiming accolades
(even for someone else's work) but when it comes to punishing the corrupt, well
a probe is setup and nothing more is done. This has had a very bad effect on
the whole setup. Nothing moves forward unless you grease some palms. Now a day’s
even the Jobs are on sale and there is a proper rate list. All this is being
done unofficially but governments is even through its official policies
promoting only certain class of people (elitist). The government is not
providing equal opportunity to everyone to compete in competitive exams or in
government jobs. The government uses High application fee for competitive exams
and for applying in the government jobs as a deterrent. To describe the
situation in a better way let me give a comparative example of fee structure
for different posts and exams recently advertised by J&K PSC and UPSC:<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tbody>
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Post/Exam<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Recruiting Agency<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 54.05pt;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Fee (RS)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 173.9pt;" valign="top" width="232"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
IAS<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
UPSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 54.05pt;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
100<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
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KAS<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
J&K PSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 54.05pt;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
800<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 173.9pt;" valign="top" width="232"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Asst. Provident Fund Commissioner<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
UPSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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25<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 173.9pt;" valign="top" width="232"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Court Manager<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
J&K PSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 54.05pt;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
400<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
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IFS (exam stretched over 10 days) <o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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UPSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
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100<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td style="border-top: none; border: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 173.9pt;" valign="top" width="232"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
Asst. Surgeon (Veterinary)<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 96.2pt;" valign="top" width="128"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
J&K PSC<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
<td style="border-bottom: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-left-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid #A3A3A3 1.0pt; padding: 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt 4.0pt; width: 54.05pt;" valign="top" width="72"><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
500<o:p></o:p></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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Now you can yourself see and compare the exaggerated
charges that that J&K PSC is charging from the candidates (who do not have
a source of income). It is a general concept among the youth of J&K that
whenever the government doesn't have funds to pay salary of it employees it
advertises couple of posts and then forget about these post just to be
remembered in time when most of those who had applied have become over-aged,
then the process is repeated over again. An intelligent plan for a continuous
source of income one can say.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Now coming back to the question whether to celebrate
May Day or not, I think you all will agree that we here in Kashmir have nothing
to celebrate. We can only cry Mayday hoping that someone will hear us, is
anyone listening!<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/FKYG1iP5y9I?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: xx-small;">Also Appeared in "The Kashmir Monitor" <a href="http://kashmirmonitor.org/kashmonitor/05052012-ND-may-day-mayday-25802.aspx">http://kashmirmonitor.org/kashmonitor/05052012-ND-may-day-mayday-25802.aspx</a></span></div>
</div>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com0Srinagar34.0836581 74.797368133.9784501 74.6394396 34.1888661 74.9552966tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-75638430371328206182012-04-28T09:30:00.000+05:302012-04-30T19:29:00.012+05:30The Forbidden Valley<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">From my childhood I have been hearing & have been
writing umpteen number of times, that the world has transformed into a global
village, but it seems to hold true only outside our forsaken valley. With each
passing Day, coming to or going out of this valley is becoming a herculean task
and not everyone is up to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Jammu-Srinagar
Highway is one of the most dangerous highways with an enormous fatality rate
(almost 100%) in case of an accident. If one survives an accident on this
highway it is a miracle. Now due to this reason not many people prefer to
travel by road, but the only other option i.e air travel, is fast becoming out
of bounds for the common people. Air travel to & from Kashmir is becoming
an elitist activity. The “Maharajah” syndrome is kicking back in, due to the
prohibitive cost of air travel, the only people who can afford it are the rich
and powerful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the early nineties with Indian economy opening up,
the Air Corporation Act, 1953, was repealed to end the monopoly of the public
sector and private airlines were reintroduced. This was done to promote healthy
competition and it was thought that the benefits would trickle down to the
common people. This has been proved true for rest of India minus Kashmir.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the Srinagar route the airlines have monopoly and
the customer has no say. It is the airlines only that decide the fares and
there is no one to question them. The airlines are acting as a cartel and seem
to be deciding the pricing with mutual consultation, which illegal &
completely nullifies the basic goal with which the Air Corporation Act, 1953 was
repealed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The civil Aviation Ministry, Central & State
governments are turning a blind eye towards this issue. It is not only an issue
of me not being able to afford air travel but a lot of other things are
interwoven with this issue. We get a better idea what other things are being
affected by the airfare by taking a look at the objectives of civil aviation
ministry which are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; margin-left: 27pt; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a) To
ensure aviation safety, security<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b) Effective
regulation of air transport in the country in the <b>liberalized environment</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">c) Safe,
efficient, reliable and widespread quality air transport services are
provided at <b>reasonable prices</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d) <b>Flexibility </b>to adapt to changing needs
and circumstances<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e) To
provide all players a <b>level-playing
field</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">f) <b>Encourage Private participation</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">g) <b>Encourage Trade, tourism and overall
economic activity and growth</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">h) Security
of civil aviation operations is ensured through appropriate systems, policies,
and practices<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's discuss the objectives one by one:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">a)
Talking of
safety & security that seems to be only part that it is being taken
seriously in Kashmir, in fact too seriously leading to inconvenience to
commuters and they wish they had never come here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">b)
We can call the
environment in which the companies operate on Srinagar route anything but
liberal. If prefer to call it monopolistic because customers have no say in it
and they have to accept each and everything that is being offered to them by
the airlines.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">c)
If we can call the prices on Srinagar route
reasonable then what do we call reasonable! When one can get a stay of two
nights in Bangkok, plus the travelling cost from India in about Rs 11,000 and
at the same time the ticket fare from Dehli to Srinagr or vice versa is above
Rs 15,000, is this what we call fare pricing (in tourism season the prices go
as high as Rs 30,000). Is it that Kashmir is on a different planet altogether!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">d)
Government has
never been flexible to anything when it comes to Kashmir so how can we expect
them to flexible with respect to air travel. People have been demanding for
long for making Srinagar Airport operational 24x7, instead of the current
operating window of morning till evening. This will increase the availability
of the seats thus matching with the demand and taking away the undue advantage
that the airlines have currently due to which they are able to charge so high
charges.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">e)
Government with
its attitude is providing more than a level playing field to the airlines, they
are giving them undue leverage to operate as they wish and to charge people as
much as they can.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">f)
Government is
not allowing any public transport to travel from city to the airport, if you
don’t own a car then either you have to walk approx 3 km's uphill or hire a
private cab (extremely costly), so what encouragement can be expected to be
given for private participation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">g)
Many studies
and researches have shown that air transport has a direct effect on trade,
tourism and overall economic growth of any region. Now at one hand Government
is trying to show that it is trying to promote all these things in Kashmir but
on the other hand is having a very dismal approach towards the Srinagar
airport. It is not bringing its foot down on the airlines and telling them that
they cannot charge customers over the sky prices. After all that was why the
Air Corporation Act, 1953 was withdrawn in the first place. (h) So the civil
aviation ministry & state and central Government’s have to set their
systems, policies and practices with respect to Srinagar airport right.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">The
condition of the Jammu-Srinagar Road and the extremely high airfares to &
from Srinagar only act as deterrent for people from coming or going out of the
valley. This completely negates the governmental rhetoric of them promoting
economic development, tourism or people to people contact. It is not something
that authorities are unaware of but what amazes me is their inaction, unless it
is exactly what they want, turning Kashmir into a forbidden Valley! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Also appeared in </span><a href="http://kashmirmonitor.org/04282012-ND-the-forbidden-valley-25372.aspx" style="line-height: 17px;">"The Kashmir Monitor"</a><span style="line-height: 17px;"> </span></span></div>
</div>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com2Sopore34.2579784 74.451463634.2514164 74.441593099999992 34.2645404 74.4613341tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-23906329408936971592012-04-13T22:57:00.007+05:302012-04-26T16:45:11.357+05:30Of Traffic Jams, Water Transport & Mess<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Couple of days ago one of my friend's father while discussing the days gone by told me that back in 1980's he used to travel from Pulwama to Kupwara and back each day. He said that he used to leave from Pulwama around 7 in the morning and reach Chowkibal (Kupwara) by 10 am. And I began to think is it possible to pull off this feat today and I concluded, only in one's dream.</div>
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Why is that when the whole world has shrunk (with respect to communication & travel), Kashmir seems to be expanding; places, people seems to be growing farther apart. Well for that credit must go to the highly intelligent people responsible for planning.</div>
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There are almost 9,08,083 vehicles registered with the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) in the state. Of these 5,60,690 vehicles stand registered in the Jammu division and 3,47,393 in the Kashmir division, but as far length & breadth of roads is concerned it is pretty much same as it was in 1980's. With every day the number of vehicles seem to be doubling, a lot of people can't help it but blame J&K Bank for this explosion of vehicles.</div>
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Now when the water has risen above our heads we are throwing our hands around. The Govt is talking about water transport, it isn't something new for kashmir. Kashmir, especially Srinagar, came to be known as Vince of East only because of its excellent and extensive water transport. What I fail to understand is how is the Govt going to revive water transport when all the channels have been filled and a road has been build over the main stream (Nallah Mar). Govt can Start water transport only along the river Jehlum and nothing more than that can be achieved. Thanks to some selfish morons the Vince of east has been reduced to a dustbin. These were the people who allowed construction around Dal lake (Boulevard) and removed the clause of mandatory approval from state legislature. Shouldn't these people be put on trial and punished for what they have turned Srinagar into?</div>
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Coming back to the traffic issue, Govt has been widening roads but it feels like that it has been going on for ever, never to complete. It feels like ages since the work for widening of Srinagar-Baramulla highway was started and there is no hope that it will be completed soon. The sopore bye-pass bridge even after more than 25 years has not been completed, has some one contacted "Guinness Book of World Record's" yet. Expansion of roads needs lot of effort but what I fail to understand is the underutilization of even the current infrastructure. What is stopping Govt from making both the lanes of all important Qamarwari-SKIMS road operational. These ill conceived and ill implemented projects rather than easing the travel of common people have become pain in the wrong place for them, besides endangering lives. Share of accidental deaths is more than violence related deaths now and people die for the need of timely medical attention because there vehicle was stuck in a traffic jam.</div>
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Govt has build flyovers which hardly serve any purpose (Jehangir Chowk) while where there is a real need for one, none is build due to funds shortage. It almost took an eternity for Hyderpora flyover to complete, oh wait it is still incomplete! Or at places (near Pattan) such flyovers were built which I personally am not too sure that they can be called a flyover, overhead foot bridges are broader then them. Shouldn't the Govt. be held accountable for such wastage of public money and people responsible for such wastage punished?</div>
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What all this gives us is traffic jams, lots of traffic jams and to add icing on the top the people who are supposed to handle & manage traffic, say that it is all because people don’t have sense of driving. Well my dear friends even God had to invent Hell to try to keep humans on the right path then how do you expect them to drive the right way when you don't punish them for driving otherwise. It is not a secret that traffic police is a namesake department in Kashmir, half a dozen people with nothing more than sticks to manage traffic of a whole state. There is no denying the fact that people themselves to some extent are responsible for this mess but at the same time authorities can't shrug off their responsibility.</div>
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Thinking of my friend's father's daily journey in 80's and how successful one would be if attempted today. If he/she is lucky enough will be caught in traffic jam at Pantha Chowk for only about half an hour but then for sure will have to spend another two hours stuck in traffic at HMT which will force him to start the return journey from there only. But why the hell will authorities care, it is not their lives which have been taken hostage by traffic jams.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;">(Also Appeared in "The Kashmir Monitor" </span><span style="font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;"><a href="http://kashmirmonitor.org/04212012-ND-of-traffic-jams-water-transport-mess-25058.aspx" style="text-align: left;">http://kashmirmonitor.org/04212012-ND-of-traffic-jams-water-transport-mess-25058.aspx</a> )</span></div>
</div>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-63645270376550669702012-04-06T11:25:00.008+05:302012-04-13T23:01:09.628+05:30Let's Bow-wow China<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; line-height: normal; "><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify; "></p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">India; a nation which has been presenting itself as the rising power of the East, an economic giant and above all is the world’s largest importer of weapons ! The recent leak of the army chief's letter addressed to the PM must had been enough for embarrassing the whole nation but to add to the insult the ill timed meet of the BRIC countries in the Capital city was more than enough. So again for face saving some diversion topic had to be found and it had to be implied on the visiting dignitaries that India is not weak. Thus resulting in sealing of the entire central Dehli (where meet was to be held)and increasing the visibility of gun totting security personal. Well! this worked, as nobody bothered to check whether the guns had bullets in them or whether the similar looking security personal at each turn along the root of motorcade was a for real or just a life size cardboard cutting and above all China talked peace!</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">For all the security arrangements still some invincible beings managed to breach the security cordon and what is astonishing is the frequency with which they repeat the act at all sort of platforms; be it at Buddha Circuit or at cricket stadiums or at political rallies or at airports, even these beings were the first visitors of the world renowned Tulip garden of Srinagar (which boosts to be Asia's Largest) when the commoners had just to be satisfied with the sight of frowning security guard only. Our Miss Menika Ghandhi's favorite animal (Dog yes Dogs!) seem to be trying to prove the point that they can't be kept out of any action no matter on what stage it is taking place, now how could I exclude them here and run a risk of being a victim of their covert action. To me they seem to more invincible & cruel than Mossad!</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">Well coming back to Elephant & Dragon, one can't afford to believe the Dragon, it has often struck with its tail while smile was on its face. So the Elephant can't take it for granted that the Dragon has let this chance just go by, remember Elephants hope of exploring South China sea. Even when the Elephant was scaring the world with its tanks (good enough for scarecrows only) the Dragon had been taking large chunks of land in Laddakh region of Indian occupied Kashmir. Each time the Dragon intruded couple of Miles in the Elephants territory the Elephant was forced just to repeat the rhetoric of friendship and understanding. Well not many understood the misery of the Elephant then, but it is no more a secret.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">The Dragon has been terrorizing, openly & secretly, the Elephant for long and all the owls, foxes, etc .etc, who form the Elephants advisory council had been praying to God to give them just a single chance to terrorize the Dragon back, even for a title bit. Well most of them would now be thinking that their prayers are not going to be answered in this life time. While some optimistic ones would be thinking that this is the appropriate time to hit back when the Dragon would expect it least. But hit back with what? India can ill afford a full scale war right now, it can't arm the separatists in Uighur region when it doesn't have enough arms for its own army. Well then what possibly can Elephant terrorize the Dragon.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">To the respected advisory council I would Like to suggest unleashing of "Mission Bow-Wow" on China, under current circumstances this is the most feasible, cheap and a proven weapon that the Elephant can afford. Not only will the Elephant be able to terrorize the Dragon but will be able to take back the land annexed by Dragon, In addition to that there is a realistic chance that the Dragon will be forced to give up the claim of its own territory. Wouldn't it be a great win and achievement for the Elephant.</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">Oh! In my enthusiasm almost forgot that most of the readers don’t know about this secret weapon. Well lets not waste too much time then; this secret weapon is non other than the national animal Mexico (Xoloitzcuintli, a Hairless Dog) . They have been used as a weapon in Kashmir successfully and they have been so successful that some unverified reports are claiming that the Kashmir's are ready to give their State Subject to these angels of terror and thus their claim to Kashmir. Which means what the huge army of the Elephant couldn't do in 65 years they have done in less than 10 years, Kashmir issue resolved!</p><p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="text-align: justify;margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">The Bow-wow brigade has been able to thrust such fear in the hearts of the Kashmiri's, who even dare one of the largest army's of the world with nothing but stones, that they don’t dare to leave their homes before or after daylight. The areas that have been claimed by the Bow-wow brigade, no one dares to tread around them. To keep their terror fresh in the hearts of these people they have made it a point to mutilate some one or the other each day. And no one dares to take action against them, unconfirmed reports claim even the no more young CM of the state doesn't dare to speak a word against them. Even If by chance some authorities try to reign the Bow-wow brigade, Menika Ghandi with some friends from New York comes to their rescue even without them requesting for it.</p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; ">Now you tell me can this this mission fail? Yep that is what I said, not a chance in this world. So what is the Elephant waiting for, let's Bow-wow China.</p><p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "><br /></p> <p style="margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0in; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; "> </p> <p style="margin:0in;font-size:8.0pt"><span style="font-family: Arial; ">This also appeared in "The Kashmir Monitor" </span><a href="http://kashmirmonitor.org/04072012-ND-lets-bow-wow-china-24148.aspx"><span style="font-family:Georgia">http://kashmirmonitor.org/04072012-ND-lets-bow-wow-china-24148.aspx</span></a></p><p></p></div>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-38617722053515415092012-03-26T17:02:00.004+05:302012-04-08T22:34:59.540+05:30Kashmir's Human Resources in Disarray!<p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">A recent survey has revealed that Jammu and Kashmir has the highest rate of unemployment among the northern states of India. Unemployment in itself is a big monstrous problem but J&K, especially Kashmir is fighting against a bigger monster (violence and turmoil). More than often the state machinery portrays the first monster as the mother of the second monster, making it more important to tackle unemployment more seriously and in a proper way.</span></p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">For any State which considers unemployment as its greatest nemesis the first step towards taking it head on would be setting up of an efficient and highly active Human Resource department. Well the state of Jammu & Kashmir has setup Human Resources Management units (HRM units)in five Govt. departments (Health and Medical Education, Power Development, Public Works, School Education, PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control) rather than a central department. The main aim with which these units have been formed is to exclusively look after seniority, promotion, vigilance cases etc in these departments. Well I would say it is an ill aimed move in the right direction and thus a waste of a very important resource. A well designed HR tool can take care of the seniority list or promotions list, these should had been add on activities of these units rather than exclusive. A better use of this resource would be made by employing them to fine tune the HR Policies of these departments, all the ruckus that arises in different departments regarding hiring or promotions is due to wrong or unclear HR policies, it would help in nipping bud at the base altogether . Recent report in an English daily (Greater Kashmir, published from Kashmir & Jammu) has revealed that as many as 18817 posts are vacant in 18 Govt department. Well this revelation puts a big question mark on Recruitment Agencies and makes the establishment of a central HR department altogether more important. The central HR department can decide and design HR policies for all the departments, do all the HR related work and at the time of hiring they should decide requisites of any job, based on ob analysis (eg qualification, experience etc required) and then forward it to recruitment agency for hiring (PSC or SSRB). This will result in better clarity, better coordination and better accountability (no blame game).</p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">The second step would be to have a proper recruitment policy (in other words, hiring policy, which becomes first step of HR dept.). By recruitment policy I mean a proper well defined rules, who should be hired for what, which should be backed by logic & reason and should not be based on whimsical thinking or should not be twisted and turned for the benefit of near & dear ones. One can find umpteen number examples where the existing policy (in J&K) was twisted to give undue advantage to certain people. And at other times due to lack of clarity wrong people were (are) hired. It is said that the hardest part of job of a HR professional is to find an appropriate person for a job and hiring him. Well in J&K we seem to ignore the importance of this very basic fist step. It can happen only in Kashmir that for a post of labor officer candidate having a degree other than MBA-HR (one who has studied Labor welfare & law)is given preference or where for teaching a management subject the corporate experience is given no importance Or where a student from Barkatullah University (localy known as BOPO) or Dehradun is given preference over a student from Kashmir University or Jammia Millia or Jammia Hamdard or Aligarh Muslim University etc ! More recently the J&K public service commission advertised for the post of Court Manager and MBA set as the required qualification. But again due to lack of clarity problems seem to arise, the PSC authorities are very reluctant in accepting applications from candidates who have PGDM (Post Graduate Diploma in Management) which is approved by the AICTE ( All India Council for Technical Education) . MBA degree can only be awarded by a University and PGDM is awarded by autonomous education institutes, even the IIM's don't award MBA they too award PGDM! This needs to be addressed immediately.</p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">Let us try to understand the recruitment procedure (mostly followed by SSRB, Universities, Colleges, Schools and other Private Companies in J&K) for any post in any department in J&K; be it Govt, non-Govt, Permanent or contractual. The first step of the recruiting agency is to advertise for the post, in the notification itself it is mentioned that the selections will be on the basis of merit and then details the distribution of Marks for different aspects are listed as such:</p> <p style="font-size: 100%; "></p><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Degree Marks</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Phd 5</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">M.Phil 3</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">B.Ed 15</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Masters 10</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><span style="font-size: 100%; ">Interview 20</span></div><p style="font-size: 100%; "></p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">Now when the response in form of applications come in overwhelming numbers, the recruitment agency has to come out with a short list (merit list) as to who have qualified for interview. Now it seems to be a good policy, but what we don't pay attention to is how this short listing is done. For short listing they take in to consideration the percentage of the qualifying degree, with out taking into consideration from which ( college or university) the degree has been earned from . Well we all are well aware and understand that all education institutions can't stand on the same pedestal in terms of their student selection process or education imparted there after. So now I ask you is short listing on basis of only percentage (when students of Prist etc have marks %age well above 80 even 90, while students from reputed college only lay between 70-80 ) a good way of gauging talent. Now let me put it this way, can a student who competed on all India level to get admission in a certain college be held equal to a student from PTU (Punjab technical University) or PRIST or any other such institute, wouldn't it account to being unjust. I am not saying that students from PTU etc are not good enough, what I am trying to convey is don't mix cream with rest because after wards if you try to search for cream it would be same as searching for a needle in heap of hay. The process directly reflects in the quality of the employees that are being hired by different department, these are same people who are entrusted to serve the public in general, Teach our kids in schools & Colleges, sit in chairs of high responsibility and decide what is good for us and what not. Now taking into consideration the far reaching effects that a wrong person can have on the society at large, who would you want the responsibility to be bestowed on?</p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">A better way to deal with this problem is by clubbing different college or universities into groups (Tiers) (A,B,C,D). Then at the time of short listing or selection process giving preference to the students from upper most tiers. Now you would say that the process of forming this list (Tiers) is time consuming and needs discretion as to which college should be included into which tier. To all those people who have this question in mind would like to tell them, well somebody else has already done this hard work for us we just need to compile. NAAC & AICTE (many other private bodies) give recognition and ratings to colleges and universities. We can make use any one of them or a mixture, but the thing that needs to be kept our mind is what ever we choose should be able to satisfy our needs, if not completely then most of our needs. Later on when the Human Resource Department of our state is competent and efficient enough we can make our own list. Where ever need for screening test is felt & is feasible, it can be included in the whole process.</p> <p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; ">This will increase the quality of the new hires drastically thus slowly having an affect on the over all working of the whole Govt. and Non-Govt. apparatus. This will make the whole procedure more just and transparent. To make this system more effective it needs to be communicated in a very robust way to all the stake holders. And hopefully we will see less litigation after any selected candidate list is released, thus time and resources will be saved. The bright minds will stop cursing themselves for working hard and getting admissions in good colleges and Universities. I am not claiming that this is the Solution of all that is wrong but over all this can be the first step towards the adoption & implementation of the world renowned Human Resource Policies in J&K.</p><p style="font-size: 100%; text-align: justify; "><br /></p><p style="text-align: left; "><span >This Article also appeared in "The Kashmir Monitor" <a href="http://www.kashmirmonitor.org/kashmonitor/04012012-ND-kashmirs-human-resources-in-disarray-23803.aspx" style="text-align: left; ">http://www.kashmirmonitor.org/kashmonitor/04012012-ND-kashmirs-human-resources-in-disarray-23803.aspx</a> </span></p>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-40549774140050206262012-03-09T20:21:00.006+05:302012-03-15T09:13:26.820+05:30The Loss of Pain<p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;"><span style=" line-height: 115%; text-align: left; font-family:Calibri, sans-serif;"><span>This article was first published in Bloggers Park (Jan 2012, edition).</span></span></p><p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">It is a weekend and to add icing on top it is the last weekend of year 2011 and where am I; in Kashmir’s biggest hospital (SKIMS), among the dead and those waiting to be. You would say I don’t have a life, yep true my life doesn’t matter the last time I managed to run a check. I Am a Kashmiri and to make things worse a Muslim, not a good combination to have in this part of the world!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">This particular hospital is very famous (or should I say infamous) among the Kashmiri’s, a local (kind of) legend has grown around this hospital according to which, “from here either you leave cured or you leave dead”. Some sections of the society blame this particular characteristic on the name itself {Sheri (Loin of) Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences}. Many a times the issue of name change has been raised and there was once Shakespeare saying, “What is in the name”. In this hospital almost every 6 hours there are couple of deaths in a ward.Here I saw people wailing over there dead and the whole atmosphere of ward, with almost 50 other patients, turning very gloomy and heavy and at the same time a small room in the corner is upbeat with smiles flying around and smiles turning into laughs occasionally due to some funny joke being shared. This upbeat room belongs to no other but the doctors! You might be thinking, how unsympathetic, rude and ill-mannered our doctors are. But the question that is rising in my mind is, “How and what made these people so immune to other peoples pain?”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">This same question had risen in my mind couple of months ago when Amnesty International in its report had disclosed the discovery of the Mass Graves in Kashmir valley and the subsequent response shown by the international fraternity, politicians and the media at large. Even the general masses behaved as if nothing significant had been uncovered. Is it because the people have seen too much bloodshed and no amount of killings will move them now or is it because of the fact that these deaths didn’t affect them personally? While I was brooding over this, there came another possible reason, perhaps people were just too busy earning their livelihood and making ends meet. The later seemed to be more logical and human, as I couldn’t accept the first two causes which would simply mean that we no longer are humans! Accepted the fact that the masses are fighting for their livelihood and hardly have time for anything else, what happened to the institutions which the masses had entrusted for upholding the social and human morality. It seems that these institutions (elected representatives, NGO’S, Media<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">etc) have themselves become morally corrupt and chose economics over morality. All chose not to speak about it, but when someone else (Mr. Steve Baker, British parliamentarian) tried to highlight the issue and bring it in notice of the world fraternity the Indian Parliament raised the issue of their authority of discussing India's internal issue (even when India is the largest beneficiary of British foreign aid) rather than discussing the issue itself! And simultaneously with help of some jokers an attempt (I must say a successful one) was made to divert the attention in some different direction by raising some non issues like, Cinema’s, Liquor and skillfully transforming them into issues, they also raised some genuine only to help them in diversion like AFSPA . So what do we do when entrusted breach our trust; we introspect a little, take the reins in our hands and show them that we can’t be taken for a ride.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> Whenever I hear the term Mass Grave in no instance the scenes from the movie “Behind the enemy lines” flash in front of my eyes. The movie got 1 award and 2 nominations because of good acting by Owen Wilson & co. and the importance of the issue which it brought among the masses. Now trying to bring forth magnanimity of the issue in Kashmir let me put forth some figures and facts. The Issue of Mass Graves in Kashmir is not a standalone issue but with it is entangled the issue of torture and enforced disappearance. When we talk about torture it is the most underreported phenomenon in Kashmir, it seems that both authorities and people have accepted it as a norm. If you go to any village almost every single person has been tortured be it physically or emotionally not just men but women, children and even old. I happened to read recently about the torture of a 60 year old man on <a href="http://www.projectcensored.org/">www.projectcensored.org</a> narrated by Parvaiz Khurram, Liaison of the International People’s Tribunal on Human Rights and Justice in Indian-Administered Kashmir (IPTK), “I have documented very horrible cases, but this is the most horrible.” The army kept a 60-year-old man in solitary confinement for one month. During that time, he wasn’t given anything to eat, but his own flesh. They cut the flesh from his body and served it to him. This was all he was given to eat for a month. Recounting the torture Parvaiz said, “This was something that shook me. We have hundreds of Guantanamo Bays here. Why is nobody talking about it?” there are more gruesome stories like these; Kunan Poshpora: a village, where woman were mass raped by Indian army<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"><a href="http://www.thekashmirwalla.com/2011/03/kunan-poshpora-a-forgotten-tragedy/">http://www.thekashmirwalla.com/2011/03/kunan-poshpora-a-forgotten-tragedy/</a>,<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">Sopore Massacre on 6th Jan 1993 </span><span style="'font-size:"><a href="http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977469,00.html">http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,977469,00.html</a></span><span style="'font-family:;font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">These are only a few and there are many more but the thing is who will report them to you!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">In July 2011, the State Human Rights Commission of Jammu and Kashmir (SHRC) released a report documenting 2,156 (according to Amnesty the number is 2700) unidentified bodies in 38 graveyards People are fearing that the dead in the mass graves are those who were reported disappeared (enforced disappearance) and to add to their fears 574 bodies (out of 2700) have been already identified as disappeared locals – 17 of these have already been exhumed and shifted to family or village grave sites. So if we are to deduce that all the disappeared people found their way to mass graves then the numbers are going to increase many folds, almost 8000 people have been reported disappeared till now. Recently more mass graves have been identified and investigation regarding them has started. Here would like to mention that till 2004, 16500 bodies were recovered from mass graves in Bosnia (considered to be this centuries holocaust, even a movie “Behind enemy lines” was made regarding this issue). Now you can imagine the magnanimity of the issue and amount of human rights violations that is happening in Kashmir. Even now should we turn a blind eye and accept anything and everything in the name of national interest and security. Don’t you feel that it is our moral duty to raise our voice against the injustice and human rights violations?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">It will not be wise to blame security forces only for all the rights violations (Mass Graves) out and out; no doubt they are responsible and should be held accountable but there are others equally responsible. If the media had showed a little bit of interest and investigated the story a bit they would have added a new dimension to the story. They didn’t do it that doesn’t mean we can’t do it, so let us try to retrace the footsteps leading to Mass graves. As the mass graves and enforced disappearance are linked so following one should reveal something about the other. If we try to figure when did people start disappearing (or when did the process of disappearances intensify, at the same time let me clarify the process is yet to cease) it overlaps with the birth of Ikhwan (the dreaded pro Govt. brigade). Now let’s try to answer another question who created Ikhwan and we reach the erstwhile people who are in power even now in the state. So it is not so surprising after all to figure why they created a comedy circus to divert and distract the attention from the burning issue of Mass Graves. They were trying to cover the footprints which led to their home.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; margin-top: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-left: 0in; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span style="';font-size:11.0pt;">Even after all this pondering was not able to figure what made the doctors immune to others pain. Finally gave up my so called intellectual quest and decided to ask a Doctor. So I went ahead and shot the question, “how & what makes you so immune to others suffering?” bemused , staring at me, doctor not knowing what to say say he could just utter “What!!!” so understanding that he never expected this question, I slowly broke it down to him exactly what and why I want to know. So doctor took some time and finally said that it is due the combination of a lot of things; during degree it is made sure that you don’t freak out seeing a dead body so you are given a lot of exposure wrt dead bodies and experiments, then when you join hospital as an intern you have long, hectic work hours and you tend to work on lot of seriously ill people all of whom don’t make it. It is sort of conditioning, which is very necessary to make you emotionally strong as it is very much needed in this profession. Hope we as a society are not being treated to same sort of conditioning by the media and other institutions to make us emotionally strong and with a promise that we are going to enjoy the loss of pain!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style=" line-height: normal; text-align: justify; font-family:Georgia, serif;font-size:100%;"><span lang="EN-IN"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Al-Haqu Murunhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14741300197191318992noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-53699247770541086542012-02-07T15:53:00.003+05:302012-03-01T01:16:01.781+05:30Kashmir's Eternal Wait For The LeaderKashmir is remembering Maqbool Bhat, the founding leader of the Kashmir Movement who was hanged by Indian authorities in Tihar Jail, under controversial circumstances on 11 February 1984 and buried there only. Ever since people of Kashmir have been demanding the return of the mortal remains of their Leader but Indian authorities seem to be so afraid of what Bhat stood for that they can't even afford his dead body to leave Tihar Jail, thus making him an eternal prisoner of Indian Democracy.<br /><br />Kashmir has transformed from a solvable dispute into a sort of Hilbert's Problem. For the achievement of this feat the credit must be given to the Leaders (Indian, Pakistani & Kashmiri). The dilemma of the forgotten conflict ( Kashmir) is that it is one of the least represented conflicts and yet every Tom, Dick, Harry presents himself as the well wisher of the godforsaken people of Kashmir. With time the three parties of the conflict have added many sub groups and each group having its own point of view of the conflict. Thus there no more are only three parties to conflict (in a micro sense), this has only complicated the issue.<br /><br />From time to time, need for unification of Kashmiri Leadership has been felt. And on days like today (Maqbool Bhat Day) the topic of Kashmiri Leadership becomes talk of the town. People of Kashmir know the importance and value of leadership, but still Kashmir is divided, Kashmiri Leadership is divided. After Shaikh Abdullah Kashmir has not seen a Leader who could unify people behind him like he did, people followed him with an unwavering belief (what he did with that belief, lets not discuss it right now). Since then Kashmir is waiting for its leader.<br /><br />Why has the wait been eternal? For that, in addition to socio-political, the mental (Psychological) status of Kashmiri's needs to be into account. The people of Kashmir have seen some great betrayals. Many a times the hopes of the people have been raised sky high only to be smashed. These betrayals have made people apprehensive of the every person who presents himself as their Savior. Kashmiri's have evolved to believe that for them to survive they have to trust none. Such an environment put extra pressure on the genuine people and at times the pressure & scrutiny is so intense that people find it feasible to bail out mid way rather than carry on. Public seems to be only waiting for any flimsy issue to raise it head and it is good enough reason for them declare him/her a traitor. So under such condition; where people are afraid of another betrayal, another sellout, the wait is meant to be eternal unless for any divine intervention!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-89866312128120954542011-12-22T00:06:00.001+05:302012-03-01T00:07:16.638+05:30Kashmir A Fire Ball In The Making!From time to time in history there has been a call raised by people who cared (or seemed to care) for Culture, Architecture, Language and even Religion. The call has always been, “back to basics”. This call can be heard in Kashmir these day’s, in fact the tone of the call is too aggressive to qualify to be called a “Call”.<br /><br />Kashmir has always presented itself as a place where religious tolerance is taken seriously, even Mahatma Gandhi accepted this when during partition riots he said that he saw the only ray of hope coming from Kashmir.<br /><br />During Ramadan this year I was in Kashmir after a long duration of almost five years. When Iftar time (time for breaking fast) came I realized a lot had changed since the last time I was here during Ramadan. I was confused about when I was supposed to break my fast, on hearing which azaan (call for prayer) was I supposed to allow my lips to touch first drops of water for the day. Later I was to discover that this was just the tip of the ice-berg. The whole Kashmiri society was subtly in conflict with itself or to put it more appropriately, it is in conflict with a younger self (the generation-next, mostly).<br /><br />Kashmir has been centre or hub of Suffism for centuries (most refer to suffism as the moderate form of Islam), it has had its effects on how the people of the valley perceive & practice Islam. There are certain practices [like Duaye Subuh; special morning prayer supplement etc.] prevalent in Kashmir which can not be found in any part of the world. All (majority of) such practices can be traced to some suffi saint. Now the new generation (a sizeable number & growing continuously) with all the worldly knowledge at its fingertips, thanks to internet and other technologies, is kind of rebelling against all these practices and are even declaring these un-Islamic. This has created kind of rift among the old and young. Old people are of the opinion that the younger generation doesn’t respect them or the suffi saints and the younger generation feels that the older generations were sheer ignorant with little or no religious knowledge, what ever they had been practicing for ages is un-Islamic. Thus leading a call for back to basics from these energetic young people, so as to correct all that has been going wrong.<br /><br />People who are well versed with Islamic history know that this is not something absolutely new, from time to time there have been similar calls but the only thing that seems to have changed are the people and their way of approach. The religious scholars of the earlier times would bring the conflicting parties together at a single platform and try to discuss the problem, if possible hammer out a compromise (that is how the Sunni's became the largest firqa/ sect amongst Muslims). currently in Kashmir with this conflict raging on subtly (for now), are there any scholars or intellectuals of such intellect and caliber who can facilitate this discussion in a proper and appropriate way, so as to stop the intoxication of young minds with hatred against fellow Muslim brothers and avoid a blood bath in future (as we are seeing happening in Pakistan on daily basis; bombings of mosques and other religious places).<br /><br />With no one seemingly concerned about this, thus avoiding acceptance of existence of a problem in society, the future doesn’t seem to be too bright. We can only hope that the scholars and intellectuals realize the gravity of the situation and decide to address it other wise the ray of hope which had given Ghandi hope, may be soon turned in to a big fire ball!!!!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-72656612875713646612011-11-19T11:54:00.005+05:302012-03-01T01:18:31.474+05:30A Country where Chetan Bhagat is known as a writerStrange how in a country there are people who consider Chetan Bhagat (1) an extremely good writer and at the same time there are others who wouldn’t even trust him with dictation. Such is the country and such are its extremes.<br /><br />The country boasts of its diversity. Diversity in weather, which goes from freezing cold (almost -50 degrees) to frying heat (above 50 degrees)! Diversity in topography & geography (has Deserts, green meadows & even snow clad mountains). It has Diversity in Culture, Diversity in language, and diversity of Religion. The diversities are so intense and diverse that if you travel in any direction, it seems as if you are watching a non stop marathon show, with artists wearing colorful dresses, speaking varied array of languages. In short I can say you are in for an entertaining and enthralling ride.<br /><br />But still it is the same country where Minorities are confused whether they are followers of an independent and unique religion or their religion is just an offshoot of what the majority follows, thus they end doing what every body else is doing & celebrating what every one else is celebrating (2). Recently a leader of a political party publicly called for Muslims to be made to proudly pronounce their Hindu linage otherwise not to be allowed to vote in elections! (3) It is country which is a regional (somewhat international) economic power & strong contender for permanent seat at UN security council and at the same time the condition of women is appalling, second only to Afghanistan! (4) The country has more than couple of people who figure in the list of worlds richest people and still we find farmers who can not make ends meet and thus are forced to put an end to their lives only. It is country with Freedom of speech as one of the six fundamentals rights granted by constitution, countless news channels and news papers seem to validate this and still it is the same country where a whole region is blocked unlawfully for more than 100 days and no one bother to report (5). It is country where a newly born baby girl in the family of super stars (Actors) makes headlines and trends on twitter but discovery of mass graves in a disputed part of the country doesn’t raise any eyebrows forget about getting covered in mainstream media (6).<br /><br />What else do I need to say than that it is a country where Chetan Bhagat is known as a writer and it is the same country where another writer raises her voice against government and its modus operandi she is declared a traitor and ant-national(7). Once it was this country only that lead the Non-Alignment movement and now its foreign policy lacks vision and spine. That is India shining for you my dear friends and sold to you as Incredible India.<br />___________________________________________________________________<br /><br />Note:-<br /><br />1. Would like to clarify that I am not trying to pass any judgment regarding the writing skills of Chetan Bhagat, in fact have never read him. Used him as an example only due to the extremely different (apposite) emotions that mere mention of his name induces people to express.<br />2. Until Chandragupta’s reign (of Gupta dynasty) Hinduism (religion of majority) did not have idol worship. One more thing to take notice of is that during that period the more favored religions where Buddhism & Jainism and these continued to grow stronger and stronger because of their simple teachings. So as to counter this growth Chandragupta introduced idol worshiped and many scripture (which Hindus hold pious) were written or edited. Both the founders of Buddhism and Jainism wanted to take their followers as away from Hinduism as possible so the question of these being two religions being off shoots of Hinduism doesn’t arise. Same applies to Sikhism.<br />3. Dr.Subramanian Swamy (the party president of Janta Party) had made these comments in a very inflammatory write-up an open-ed in DNA news paper, which even made minority commission to send him a notice. The write-up was so inflammatory that Harvard chose not to renew his contract as visiting faculty.<br />4. A recent report on woman welfare ranked India just above Afghanistan.<br />5. The state of Manipur had to face road blockage for more than 100 days which led to commodities prices sky rocketing, shortage of essential supplies thus endangering lives.<br />6. In Jammu & Kashmir recently about 3000 mass graves were found and there is certainty that these number are going to increase, Human Rights groups are calling for international impartial probe but the government is hiding behind one after other smokescreens. What was more appalling was the way the media took the whole incident, as if nothing had happened. And the same media went gung ho over the coverage of birth of Abishek & Ashwariya Bachan’s daughter.<br />7. Miss Arundhati Roy was poster lady of India till she began asking uncomfortable questions and thus became anti-nationalUnknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-34278534735026442192011-09-13T09:57:00.006+05:302012-01-01T10:43:32.392+05:30Open Letteron 15th of $eptember 2011 the British Parliament is going to discuss Kashmir for the first time after partition of India in 1947. Mr steve Baker an MP for Wycombe recently prapossed this dicussion before Parliament’s Backbench Business Committee and was supported by Jason McCartney MP, Andrew Griffiths MP, Denis MacShane MP and Nic Dakin MP. Argueing for a debate on Amnesty International’s recent report on human rights in Indian-occupied Kashmir (East Kashmir). With these developments in hindsight i was forced to write this open letter to Mr. Baker and the British Parliamnet.<br />
<br />
Dear Mr. Baker,<br />
Thanks for taking notice of what is<br />
happening in East Kashmir (which<br />
you prefer to call Indian Occupied<br />
Kashmir). It seems that our body<br />
count has finally become worthy to<br />
be discussed.<br />
With the two countries (India &<br />
Pakistan) happy with the status quo<br />
it has become necessary for the<br />
world powers to intervene but alas<br />
their attitude towards kashmir<br />
made us (kashmiri’s) wonder if even<br />
we were considered human. But thanks to<br />
your initiative we are seing a<br />
change in the making but yet are<br />
forced not to hope for anything <br />
(learning from past experiences).<br />
Even with many UN resolutions<br />
regarding Kashmir nothing has<br />
changed (infact it has worsened)we are still being<br />
butchered unabated in broad day<br />
light thanks to world community<br />
which is acting like an ostrich.<br />
Let me try to answer the question<br />
”why the two countries are happy<br />
with status quo and why there is<br />
need for the world to intervene at<br />
earliest.” Well kashmir has become<br />
the stick with which both beat each<br />
other. In addition to this both the<br />
countries are sharing (plundring)the natural<br />
resources of kashmir otherwise to<br />
which they have no legal or moral<br />
ownership. With these things in<br />
mind do you think that the two<br />
countries would want to resolve<br />
the issue with out any external<br />
pressure, i don’t think so. But till<br />
the world powers decide to<br />
intervene , one thing for sure is<br />
going to change that is our body<br />
count.<br />
Now its upto you people how large<br />
a tophy (of human bodies) you want.<br />
<br />
Thanks<br />
Resident of<br />
East KashmirUnknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-17563653474149230912011-07-21T18:53:00.002+05:302011-07-21T19:24:10.268+05:30Prisoner of FateHi, hope you all are doing well. Has been a long time since my last update and you people might have sighed a relief thinking finally we get rid of this weirdo, no more receiving updates from this blog. But here comes one more update.<br /><br />Leaving apart all the other things and coming to the point, from past couple of weeks, unintentionally, have been reading some literature which one way or the other way had something do with topics like fate, destiny. To put icing on the top it, met couple of people talking with whom ultimately led to the discussion of fate or destiny. I don't know whether it was fate or destiny at work trying to prove its presence to me.<br /><br />One author writes success is not just dependent on your hard work and capabilities it also depends on your luck (in the way how your environment supports). The author tries to prove his point by giving an example of father and son who do the same things but father fails and son becomes successful. The author is pointing to an unseen force which lies down the rules such that if we happen to work according those rules we achieve success. But the problem is rules never remain same, if at one time a+b=c but the next time a+b≠c. so if you are trying to achieve c you get lucky in the first set of conditions by adding a and b, but that is not always going to be right. So we can say in some way the rules decide who is going to be successful. <br />Trying to simplify what I was trying to say above I would like to give another example, that of Bill Joy sometimes called the Edison of internet. The story goes like this; it's 1971 and joy happens to be 16 and time for him to join college. He was a math geek , the kind of student that MIT, Caltech ad university of waterloo attract , in short were the preferred universities of any student. With all these choices available Joy happens to chose the University of Michigan with the intentions of becoming a biologist or a mathematician (computers no where on his mind). In the same year i.e 1971 the University of Michigan happens to open its new computer centre, in a brand new building on Beal Avenue. Because of this new computer centre the university of Michigan had one of the most advanced computer science programs in the world. One fine day Bill Joy while passing through the computer centre where he is awestruck and hooked for life. After that he just drowned himself in computers, him being in the category of "no-date nerd" helped as there were no distractions allowing him to hone his skills in programming. With him there are lot of other things that just happened to be getting to him at the very right moments, to know more about him or similar other stories of success you can read Outliers .<br /><br />With things in my life going in only one direction i.e fate and destiny, I came to know about a 800 year old document written by Shah Naimatullah wali (R.A). The document is a collection of prophesies that the saint made in a poetic manner (Qaseeda), it is written in persian and it is almost impossible to find an intact physical copy of the same, the prophesies are more specific to the subcontinent but there are prophesies regarding other parts of world as well . The document was banned by British empire, to be more precise by Viceroy Lord Curzon as he couldn't digest the prophesy about the British Empire ruling India for only 100 years! And the current Governments also do not promote its publishing due to some very harsh prophesies for the current rulers of land. To give an example of how accurate and precise these prophesies are am reproducing a translation of couple of stanza related to Mughal Empire :<br /><br />Page-10<br />1. I am telling the truth, there will be a King in this world. Taimur his name and he will be the Conqueror.(l)<br />2. After Him, Meeran Shah appear in this world who will be the friend of the conqueror Taimur Shah.(2)<br />3. When he passes away from this world, and then will appear the King of Humans and Jinns (Ginns).(3)<br />4. After Him, Umer Sheikh will be the King and he'll be a claimer and a very Kind person.<br />5. After that, Umer Bin Sheikh will be the owner of this land and he'll indulge into a lot of riches and luxuries.<br />Page-11<br />6. After him shall come The King Babar who will be the king of Kabul, later he will appear in Delhi as a ruler of India.<br />7. After Sikandar [Lodhi], till the time of Ibrahim Shah (King), Behold there will be unrest and discord in his Kingdom.(4)<br />8. Then the God will appoint Humayun as the King of India but meanwhile an Afghan will appear.(5)<br />Page-12<br />9. Then God will grant kingdom to Humayun. Then will happen an incident in Humayun's life. Meanwhile an Afghan will appear. Afghan's name shall be Sher Shah. Humayun will run to the land of Iran, to the bloodline of the prophet so that they can honor humayun. The Iranian King will help Humayun so that Humayun can be honored as a King. By the time Humayun will attack India again, SherShah will be dead and his son will be ruling the land.(6)<br />10. So Humayun will conquer India. Then will come Akbar as the King of the land.(7<br /><br />The above is just an example of the prophesies that the saint has made, I am not pasting any prophesies that you may link to the current scenario as they may perturb and disturb you. But will tell you this that one of the prophesies talks of a great war that is coming (may be world war III) and what has made me more concerned and reinforced my belief on this prophesy is another prophesy made by another saint from my home town about 90 years ago. He had said, " when the bridge would be completed there would be a great war". Now talking about this bridge, he said so, so long back when even the idea of making a bridge at that particular place would be ridiculed. The idea of making a bridge at that place was conceived in around 1980 ( almost after 60 years ). The work on the said bridge started in 1984 and it still has not been completed! Couple of years ago the work was nearing completion but suddenly the whole bridge collapsed. Now it is being believed that the time for the completion of bridge has come and for the war too! Let's hope this one prophesy turns to be wrong.<br /><br />Reading all this you may say, what is use of doing all the hard work when it has already been decided what we are going to achieve and we will be achieving it any way. I would say, first you don't know what you are going to achieve and secondly your deeds can change your destiny. <br /><br />Even though one may feel like a prisoner of fate, who can't affect or alter anything beyond the boundaries of his cell. But what one can alter and affect, are the things inside his cell, the way he/she lives his/her life inside that cell. You can call this cell what ever you may like but I choose to call it circle of life. It is in this cell that you spend almost all of your life So the least you can do to make things better in this cell is by being a better human being, by choosing to talk to people in a good way, by trying to be helpful & humble and at last but not the least , by giving importance to your family, the people you love & care for, people who love you & care for you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-72825576584909842282010-12-14T02:53:00.002+05:302010-12-14T10:28:20.340+05:30ObituaryIn the loving memory of my Friend who left me yesterday evening.<br /> <br />My dear friend was with me through the thick and thin for almost a year now.Had been with me like a true companion even when everybody else thought that they had too much of me and couldn't tolerate me anymore (but now it seems that it too couldn't shield from my ill effects, as they say access of anything is bad and excess of me can be really toxic).<br /> <br />Still remember the first day that my eyes caught the first glimpse... . my gaze stopped there and then. I had made my decision... , it was love at first sight... still remember the surprised look on Miss Mehta's face who was accompanying me on that day ( think she was trying to convey. "hey dude what the hell, at least ask me if I approve of the choice").<br /> <br />Then our unforgettable journey began ... <br /> <br />We were inseparable, we travelled to where ever I went no matter if anybody accompanied me or not... accompanied me when i was leaving Mumbai, all alone , for the hilly terrain of north.... was there with me when I travelling in the local bus in Punjab, .. was there when I was walking down the hill, drenched in rain in Haryana... together we admired the beauty and the beautiful people of Chandigarh.... was there when I travelled home.... was there when I travelled to the city of temples... was there with me on my B'day, when every one was trying to reach me but were not able to... was there when I returned back to Mumbai.<br /> <br />During all this time has been responsible for many of your smiles . Was responsible for the all those beautiful pics that you admired, was responsible for the those beautiful pics of Dal and the shikara's (even Strawberries) that I dedicated to Mrs Mallik. was responsible for those rare clicks of Mr and Mrs Mallik, was responsible for all those pics which reminded us of all those moments which we had forgotten (Mr & Mrs Mallik, Mota Bhai, Akshat, Bulbul, Astha, Miss Mehta, Vampy, Sumi and all the people in my contact list) ... was responsible for keeping you updated (via facebook, twitter etc) about my endeavours and misadventures.. reminded me of your birthdays, reminded me that how lonely I am with out you by playing all the weired music... reminded of the beautiful moments i spent with you by making me visit all those moments by the means of pics. <br /> <br />Till the end it kept me connected with my Family, with my loved ones, with my friends, the ones i call "spice of my life", it kept me connected with you. In the last moments was trying to make me talk with Ani.<br /> <br />There are no words to describe how much I will miss you. Sure nobody will be able to take your place but may be an Android will replace you soon provided my friends pitch in to fund for that. You will be missed my dear Nokia.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-66187138433106833152010-12-11T18:58:00.002+05:302010-12-11T19:01:11.729+05:30New Order ...Strange how certain things (incidents) change one's life dramatically and from that moment there is no turning back, you can't change back to what you were. The plans that you had till then are no more valid. You no more are you … the only thing that defines you now is that moment , that incident , that person.<br /><br />When ever you get to this moment either (if you are lucky) your directionless, meaningless life suddenly finds direction and meaning or (if you happen to be unlucky) your all meaningful and sorted out life becomes chaotic and a mess. Either way feels like you have been hit by a meteor.<br /><br />Don't expect, when this meteor hits you, it is going to bother anybody or anybody is going to bother about you, the world has come a long way from the Victorian era. Currently a major info war (world info war I) is going on and nobody seems to be bothered about. Every bad dream from the futuristic scifi movies and Ayn Rand novels is taking shape, no body seems to be bothered about them so why the hell do you think you matter.<br /><br /><br />What ever happens we humans never stop hoping for the best, we always think that the best times are just round the corner. Hope hope hope …. What keeps us up and kicking , hope!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-10269860262744863062010-10-30T13:07:00.003+05:302010-10-30T13:31:09.638+05:30Freedom At Stake .... Last Front!Freedom.... a great word , a great feeling, a great expression; but now a dyas can be found only in Tales, movies and internet. Now the freadom on internet is also under attack, but almost all of us are unaware of it.Internet has become the only place where we can express ourselves freely and where from we can get the unbaised information, but seems that it is going well with the so called flag bearers of Freedom and Democracy. Here i am trying to warn you about this inevitable threat, am trying to let you know what is coming.(am reproducing an article by Chris Arsenault)<br /><br />A new trade agreement being negotiated behind closed doors by officials from the United States, European Union and other countries could drastically reduce internet freedom, a group of more than 70 legal experts have warned.<br /><br />The government of Barack Obama, the US president, could initiate the far reaching Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) at the beginning of next year, without a vote in congress, leading critics to call it anti-democratic in a letter released on Thursday. <br /><br />"In serious negotiations like this, where standards are being imposed, there should be some debate," Chris Sprigman, a law professor at the University of Virginia, told Al Jazeera. <br /><br />"Instead the Obama administration has brought this to an international forum where there is no legitimacy."<br /><br />Normally, trade agreements dealing with intellectual property and other crucial issues are dealt with through established international forums such as the World Trade Organisation (WTO) or the United Nations.<br /><br />These organisations, while frequently criticised, have established negotiating procedures and some degree of openness.<br /><br /><strong>Secret talks</strong><br /><br />ACTA, however, is being negotiated by trade representatives in secret on a government to government basis, so critics say there is no accountability to the talks. <br /><br />The agreement could force internet service providers to deny net access to people who repeatedly download content, lawyers have said.<br /><br />The US and EU are promoting the agreement "at the bidding of content production industries" including Hollywood movie studios, record labels, software firms and drug companies, Sprigman said. <br /><br />But the entertainment industry and other content producers say ACTA is crucial for protecting intellectual property, stopping digital piracy and stimulating new ideas and products.<br /><br />"Increased broadband speeds and penetration make it easier to steal creative works through illegal revenue-generating sites around the world," US television and movie actors wrote in a March 2010 letter to Barack Obama in support of ACTA.<br /><br />"American workers are … the most immediate 'victims' of rampant copyright theft over the internet - a threat which erodes their ability to earn a living," the actors wrote, applauding Obama for his remarks on "aggressive law enforcement" to "battle intellectual property theft".<br /><br />Sprigman believes that large institutions who systematically infringe on copyright should be prosecuted, but the diffuse nature of the internet means arresting or charging average computer users who share content is a sign the government is going too far.<br /><br /><strong><strong>Draft copy</strong></strong><br /><br />After facing mounting pressure over its negotiating tactics and secrecy, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) first released a draft copy of the agreement in April 2010.<br /><br />"The idea of the text is to get countries to ratchet up criminal penalties for copyright infringement," Sprigman said. <br /><br />If the agreement comes into effect, security forces in countries which sign on could be under more pressure to criminally charge individuals who download movies or music from the internet if they are infringing on copyrights, he said. <br /><br />The USTR has not invited comments on the text from the public and the US government has blocked the release of updated versions of the draft agreement, lawyers say.<br /><br />The most recent consolidated text of the proposed deal is on the USTR’s website and dated October 2, but lawyers say this text is the same as what was released in April.<br /><br />Sprigman said he became an activist on this issue because the "Obama administration promised they would run an open government" but now they are "pushing this non-transparent back room deal".<br /><br />"They did it this way because they were afraid they wouldn’t be able to do it in the open," he said.<br /><br />The agreement could come into effect at the beginning of next year.<br /><br />Take care and start Downloading (music, ebooks, movies...) as much as you can, who knows what happens next year ;)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-12417338904714818772010-08-01T21:11:00.007+05:302010-08-02T00:19:20.213+05:30God Save Us ......<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNj03SXqOAf9cIAsphS8KP16rdqm0NUnA95gR5ODsxbcNddD3uUM5ZU_8MWiv-ZdAZT2Kic0iNDj42U4wUw5C2m7e940SmP5jEIEBvmF84tC3d1-OfPGLxyFF0yaIEHtYeKqhI40vYpc/s1600/35054_132794873419655_100000674288551_191987_6497053_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLNj03SXqOAf9cIAsphS8KP16rdqm0NUnA95gR5ODsxbcNddD3uUM5ZU_8MWiv-ZdAZT2Kic0iNDj42U4wUw5C2m7e940SmP5jEIEBvmF84tC3d1-OfPGLxyFF0yaIEHtYeKqhI40vYpc/s320/35054_132794873419655_100000674288551_191987_6497053_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500470200196770674" /></a><br /> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lz9ZAlCh9J09mgGxuSHYuAbf3AZCovkaSlTnm8SFBznS8qMxHEPGOySv8WqTrtSpiB8VJRPp5dIioe-GhIfsRoJzKt-hK0e5pC48nss03sG66J30YCdpwG-hBhKfAiwh4r8OR2ZGhOY/s1600/photo_1_8_2010_213.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 242px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Lz9ZAlCh9J09mgGxuSHYuAbf3AZCovkaSlTnm8SFBznS8qMxHEPGOySv8WqTrtSpiB8VJRPp5dIioe-GhIfsRoJzKt-hK0e5pC48nss03sG66J30YCdpwG-hBhKfAiwh4r8OR2ZGhOY/s320/photo_1_8_2010_213.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500470196648832962" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKbd0V6XINsNqLbaKSJ2xSiurttozTmIRyXcCHAsjISlNUYquV_dZQO-2Y-vYzN8qgBnTFyNmVoS83Bg-G5BPd6puMjvgeJ-7N3lItf0noQjKjHDG8beZNZYJCcidlBlAIiAcYKA9lLuM/s1600/photo_1_8_2010_211.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-_KsZc9bX8QQZxCo833IPtacqUMphjvRSsMP6NyhUW6k10a0uCcdyDWTt8I4Ad9d7UL_E8G9WpHiSk0J587ksk-hlwCPupOscw2g6fnwbI_gSEphZ8ZbAJ_lZkIs10QbglL06yXqXhc/s320/36478_132711010094708_100000674288551_191728_1695151_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500469314693404242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5isyDydXPppRbJhzxU2oVEVLjkSBcZzBWqde1_oBGECg4H6vE1i3lVGyrhKFqbs8wGnFUotEslZU4sHWe0HP1Pb0GhmBNRnvOpQApO3y2tMlLIsFYec962qYE_AvLcNS914Ooxj7Oa1U/s1600/35054_132794866752989_100000674288551_191985_2940264_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 234px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5isyDydXPppRbJhzxU2oVEVLjkSBcZzBWqde1_oBGECg4H6vE1i3lVGyrhKFqbs8wGnFUotEslZU4sHWe0HP1Pb0GhmBNRnvOpQApO3y2tMlLIsFYec962qYE_AvLcNS914Ooxj7Oa1U/s320/35054_132794866752989_100000674288551_191985_2940264_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500469296394506194" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOSSpezjX9dRuyQ5cTL794U08dRgpsQMa9CeNxHQ7ty-ph_TU2vYPn-AvZx7hlN61wf4ZlU9B183AXP8oFDP_Wa1MAbptgBaMD8gIrejtHU-Fg-H4YMWGMP4kXQFtWmxtMjurWtNudqk/s1600/30_20100729_1239711085.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 198px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvOSSpezjX9dRuyQ5cTL794U08dRgpsQMa9CeNxHQ7ty-ph_TU2vYPn-AvZx7hlN61wf4ZlU9B183AXP8oFDP_Wa1MAbptgBaMD8gIrejtHU-Fg-H4YMWGMP4kXQFtWmxtMjurWtNudqk/s320/30_20100729_1239711085.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500469292339439026" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaCOJU25yjlEcbJknq0I3IkHCaxI-qFb7UEeF0I6vsJX5a9CiSgsEFrk5pWSZxqU7GUV9nqxfN6bxd6KuZ0Rn5rEjD-HkdjJb1r9zz6GGpekquXqsWq00Qv9SXnQg1Emu2UXWVKTJwro/s1600/photo_1_8_2010_229.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 221px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpaCOJU25yjlEcbJknq0I3IkHCaxI-qFb7UEeF0I6vsJX5a9CiSgsEFrk5pWSZxqU7GUV9nqxfN6bxd6KuZ0Rn5rEjD-HkdjJb1r9zz6GGpekquXqsWq00Qv9SXnQg1Emu2UXWVKTJwro/s320/photo_1_8_2010_229.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500468639530966946" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDtBYj8TPR5S6ZgftPFXeF8i8VbfwO2hIZak3qZq3qT4Bx2vfe3PWawS5l0pNw_ZZwW3GtE4gobqtfXAc2pTayllNdx_HltrEsIqwoEefMROkqgsbXQOcpA2e5rFe-Yu7w3UYYS5aHLQ/s1600/photo_1_8_2010_230.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDtBYj8TPR5S6ZgftPFXeF8i8VbfwO2hIZak3qZq3qT4Bx2vfe3PWawS5l0pNw_ZZwW3GtE4gobqtfXAc2pTayllNdx_HltrEsIqwoEefMROkqgsbXQOcpA2e5rFe-Yu7w3UYYS5aHLQ/s320/photo_1_8_2010_230.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500468634902113826" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQlWRdeD3-74zyekt4dZn2XGrwyv53CwoH-SBm9AMLefpMF7yj0D20gMzeC7oq09ZK3p_ZXu8NETa85-y8gSE3tyO10Hg11sLGKvs4JmulB48j4XZJGvxkCqJJQxVqS4hfBye5rlrg4I/s1600/19_20100719_1214934844.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjQlWRdeD3-74zyekt4dZn2XGrwyv53CwoH-SBm9AMLefpMF7yj0D20gMzeC7oq09ZK3p_ZXu8NETa85-y8gSE3tyO10Hg11sLGKvs4JmulB48j4XZJGvxkCqJJQxVqS4hfBye5rlrg4I/s320/19_20100719_1214934844.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500468630628889506" /></a><br /><br />On the morning of April 13, 1919 a boy had gone to Jallianwala Bagh, but in the evening he returned as Bagaht Singh. We all know history, we all know what happened and what were the consequences , but still we learn nothing from it. Baght Singh once said "deaf need a bang to hear", at the time he was referring to the British public ( even a portion of Indian People) who didn't seem to be bothered about what ever wrong was being done by the British Empire on Indian Soil.<br /><br /> History is Repeating itself , everyday Jallianwala Bagh is being repeated in Kashmir. But who bothers to take notice as long it not effecting their lives. But what we tend to forget is that every Jallianwala Bagh gives birth to a Baght Sing and every Baght Singh wants to make deaf people hear his voice. And When we hear a bang we are taken by surprise and try to figure out where it came from, when that bang effects our lives we tend to ask the questions why us , we have done nothing wrong to anybody. Without trying to figure out the reasons, we end up pointing fingers. Once my boss told me, "when ever you point a finger towards anybody remember that the rest three finger are pointing towards you". <br /><br />Small events can have very great consequences. What triggered the metamorphosis of Gandhi into Mahatma Gandhi, a small insignificant event for British ( humiliatingly thrown out of the train). Let us suppose this event had not taken place, there is a chance that Gandhi would have never returned to India and continued to live a successful life in South Africa and Britain as a successful lawyer. Strange how small incidents can turn simple human beings into hardcore rebels.<br /><br />There is a saying that the people who watch something wrong happening and do nothing about it are more responsible for the act than the person who commits the crime because it is the their silence that encouraged him to commit the crime. Same applies to us all, it seems that we no longer are bothered about what is happening around us. We keep silent no matter how inhuman and cruel our governments are, so we should be ready to bear the consequence of this silence later in future. Hope we all rise from our slumber and find the courage & humanity in ourselves to raise our voices against the brutality. Hope we don't need the bang to hear the voices of wailing mother whose teenage son was shot dead in front of her, the voices of the young widow whose husband was shot dead because he ventured outside his house to search for milk for his hungry son. I just hope that voices of the millions of Kashmir's are being heard and understand. Hope …… just can hope<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkPv2KvgY-dFuw4wRDotKz3DfEr5WK2PYTjx7hkYkSrMvmm5MjhZhQWabR6NVxYfM8u_4XdirkJHuC0DHtwRyDpKiJw8mikLdstV5MIwxbq77IgxkVzuWqXs2Z1D3WtOPG21OXOHMqtI/s1600/36478_132711013428041_100000674288551_191729_8273590_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 223px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdkPv2KvgY-dFuw4wRDotKz3DfEr5WK2PYTjx7hkYkSrMvmm5MjhZhQWabR6NVxYfM8u_4XdirkJHuC0DHtwRyDpKiJw8mikLdstV5MIwxbq77IgxkVzuWqXs2Z1D3WtOPG21OXOHMqtI/s320/36478_132711013428041_100000674288551_191729_8273590_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500470190975815506" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEnlMek9x9Q3XmeLw_NIZXDDkQbiIUpXHkSi4pBQ-RqHoh0Ke9F0DvZcmpV1LfYgZz2dKkWTnoLmIhl00AuglkTZtzBtigYvRmNzdGQX2mpkPBaW8Nf_Laqd6zovIH8vGWomKwRxHlwg/s1600/36465_132717733427369_100000674288551_191762_7877599_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqEnlMek9x9Q3XmeLw_NIZXDDkQbiIUpXHkSi4pBQ-RqHoh0Ke9F0DvZcmpV1LfYgZz2dKkWTnoLmIhl00AuglkTZtzBtigYvRmNzdGQX2mpkPBaW8Nf_Laqd6zovIH8vGWomKwRxHlwg/s320/36465_132717733427369_100000674288551_191762_7877599_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500469308494795298" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikj_YBoXmwxfQ_32vuM-BUqCnbyXtSF5l6DUiejoDGHvXkiVACEkFnZzdtzrBnxNlmEyuy8HXmG52r6ZJm3dg-HxYy3v4yXK7irhDXRkY1BfmRI-lKJ0QHG_tTWpyow_NpO-eBpJMoE-4/s1600/35054_132794873419655_100000674288551_191987_6497053_n.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikj_YBoXmwxfQ_32vuM-BUqCnbyXtSF5l6DUiejoDGHvXkiVACEkFnZzdtzrBnxNlmEyuy8HXmG52r6ZJm3dg-HxYy3v4yXK7irhDXRkY1BfmRI-lKJ0QHG_tTWpyow_NpO-eBpJMoE-4/s320/35054_132794873419655_100000674288551_191987_6497053_n.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500469301639225442" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd3AA98oWdtgdwSB7mnrx329HUcW_yABYaiTSqRApPkV4GqWc0vVwtUPhmZS-xwBkkENx_cbELMVxl7tAqXMf4eiorwqC3A3eo4QjAlac5e7j1Fd59oYMAlWvWUSqYAmhXN2dM6S7VQA/s1600/20_20100620_1476619408.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd3AA98oWdtgdwSB7mnrx329HUcW_yABYaiTSqRApPkV4GqWc0vVwtUPhmZS-xwBkkENx_cbELMVxl7tAqXMf4eiorwqC3A3eo4QjAlac5e7j1Fd59oYMAlWvWUSqYAmhXN2dM6S7VQA/s320/20_20100620_1476619408.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500468122210718018" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-77192452186534218742010-07-21T11:27:00.003+05:302010-07-21T11:34:48.026+05:30LAMHAA .... Movie Review<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyJJD__d08ZmELeZNvjAwtIIMWGGfCNyfeswRcqKGL0xj70n42q5pzRhTusuIFh7v2nB1uWYVUmAtt43gkikpErJ5YD5XZX4hS_G2Oe5utfIbzjbVGY9J39C8I6t9C0Q85uKeP0iCd6o/s1600/lamha.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 314px; height: 209px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPyJJD__d08ZmELeZNvjAwtIIMWGGfCNyfeswRcqKGL0xj70n42q5pzRhTusuIFh7v2nB1uWYVUmAtt43gkikpErJ5YD5XZX4hS_G2Oe5utfIbzjbVGY9J39C8I6t9C0Q85uKeP0iCd6o/s320/lamha.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5496236256133570034" /></a><br /><br />Now days i am quit bussy trying doing nothing, so here i am reposting the movie review by Mr. Masook A Dar. Hope everybody is fine and busy with their lives .... wishing you best of everything. so now i leave you with LAMHA and till next time take care :)<br /><br /><br />LAMHAA IS NEITHER A PRO KASHMIR FILM, NOR AN ANTI INDIA FILM, REVIEWS MASROOK A DAR<br /><br /><br />Is Kashmir all about money? Do Kashmiri schools train their students to turn into Lashkar? Are innocent children used as human bombs in Kashmir? Have sex scandals to do anything with pro freedom groups? Are women used as Human shields in Kashmir? Is every pro-freedom group corrupt in Kashmir? And every pro-Indian group the messiah, these are the question that one has, when one comes out of the movie theater. Is this true or not can be a debate, but for Rahul Dholakia there is no such debate as his film ‘Lamhaa’ attributes all these things to this section of Kashmiri society.<br /><br />In 2008 upsurge (Ragdaa – as was the name given by local Kashmiris), National Award winning director Rahul Dholakias' film came in news flashes. Since then millions of people like me have been waiting for the movie to release. The movie came into news and made headlines in June 2010 when Dholakia took the movie to Sri Lankan International Film Festival. The Government of India and the Censor board had some reservation in promoting the movie at International film Festival (Srilanka), But Dholakia and his crew stood firm and took the movie to Srilanka.<br /><br />Rahul Dholakia in one of his statements said that, "'Lamha' is different from other films made on the plight of Kashmiris. This film is not from the point of view of the government or the politicians, it is from the point of view of the people of Kashmir," and even stated further that, "We faced no problems in Kashmir. Omar (Abdullah), the chief minister of Jammu and Kashmir is my friend and he provided us with full security. Also there was full support from the people."<br /><br />It has been two years since I like million others were waiting for the movie to release. Finally, it was 16th of July 2010 when the veil was lifted and the wait was put to an end. Eager to see the movie I woke up early as I had to fetch the tickets, at the back of my mind I had the apprehension that the movie is from the Award winning director who has the credit of directing the much appreciated movie ‘Parzania’. When I reached the theater I found quiet a handful of guys waiting for the movie to start. I went straight away to the ticket counter and asked the guy if he could give me a better seat to sit. I was surprised by his statement, “sit wherever you want,” as a small crowd was turning to watch the much media hyped movie.<br /><br />Now said this, I have two interpretations for the movie: a) as an insider – Kashmiri, and b) as an outsider – moviegoer. I will start my interpretation of Lamhaa as a moviegoer and later on come to interpret it as an insider in the second section of this writeup.<br /><br />Lamhaa is about the highest militarized zone and conflict hit region Kashmir. The movie opens in 2009 and tells all about what was the condition in 1989 when the Natives of Kashmir turned refugee in their own country. Contrary to other movies based on Kashmir, in which Pakistan is depicted as villain (promoting insurgency and destabilizing not only the region but whole India) and India as hero (upholding its democratic principles and fighting for the noble cause), Lamhaa takes a middle route. Lamhaa ridicules all political leadership (across the borders), Military agencies, corrupt Businessmen, and Militant and Moderate factions. We are shown the miseries of Kashmiri people – Muslims and Pundits at surface level. Although the migration of Hindus from Kashmiri and the disappearances of Kashmiri Muslims at the hands of security agencies has nothing to do with the plot of the movie still it forms the essential part of the movie. It also shows us Dardpora village of Northern Kashmir where a large chunk of the women are half widows.<br /><br />Vikram (Sanjay Dutt) is sent as an undercover agent, the parallels can be taken from any James Bond movie, on a high profile secret mission to Kashmir when the Indian intelligence gets information of a probable big terror attack in the valley. Separatist leader Haji (Anupam Kher) has been fighting against the Indian government since 1989 for freedom of Kashmir. Aziza (Bipasha Basu) supports her mentor (Haji) in his mission and Aatif (Kunal Kapoor), who is now a reformed militant, wants to contest elections from the valley to win his people and province.<br /><br />Like in any conventional Hindi movie, for the protagonist Vikram, his job seems to be a child’s play. Vikram easily sneaks into much guarded police commissioner’s office in broad daylight and has easy access to all the information. He in no time finds a local tailor who has all the information about Kashmir- from politicians to intelligence agencies to separatists. Vikram, like any hero can easily convenience any body be it Peer Baba (Mahesh Majrekar) or Aziza (Bipasha Basu) and in this way he comes close to Aziza in unearthing the plot.<br /><br />One finds it a little difficult to absorb the diverse characters and their ideologies. When the movie finishes the first thought which gets ones attention is do I know all the characters of the movie? The movie has overall got a good story and good star cast but really what matters is silence and slowness of the movie, which downgrades the quality of the subject. Though the movie attempts to touch several concerns like half widows of Dardpura village, sex scandals in which politicians are involved, disappearances of thousands of Kashmiri people and psychosis of Security forces (A reference in which one solider says that he has to work for mere 7000 bucks in such a difficult region). But these concerns are peripherally touched and are not a part of core narrative. Besides the picturesque land scape of Kashmir which is shown through the lens of Jamie Fowlds camera, there seems no editing work done in the movie as the camera movements from one seen to another annoys the audience however the background music is reasonably good. The next part of this review will be the interpretation of Lamhaa as an insider.<br /><br />Looking at Lamhaa as an insider, I found a shift from the traditional Bollywood movies based on Kashmir. Lamhaa is neither a pro Kashmir film, nor an anti India film. It actually becomes difficult for the audience to place the movie on the conventional platform of either being pro or anti to something. Dholakia and his co-stars in all their interviews where of the view that the film reflects the feelings of common Kashmiri, which for me as a Kashmiri was hard to digest. If I had to sum-up it in one phrase I would borrow the phrase from Lamhaa itself - 'Beautiful Bollywood Drama'. The main problem of the movie is looking at the subject matter superficially as a layman. One can’t account financial transactions to every account of what is happening in Kashmir. Dholakias’ analysis of Kashmir problem seems to be political gimmick and financial transactions to which every organization as well as local people are a party, sidelining the sentiments and aspirations of Kashmiris. The movie in a way does not give weight to the political dispute of Kashmir and instead mocks at it. For Dholakia it is all about money, as he uses the word 'company' quiet a few times in the movie. It looks as if no intellectual thought is put in the movie; rather it looks some nationalist Indian in narrating the story from the heights of Surat (a city in Gujrat).<br /><br />Being a Kashmir one can easily relate Haji and his associates to Veteran Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani and APHC respectively. Dholakia’s movie is no different from other Indian movies in a sense that all Kashmiri separatists are not true representatives of Kashmir. It shows them as professional moneymakers, which a large chunk of Kashmir population and Diaspora will disagree. Haji is shown as a schoolteacher who exploits his students and shows them the path of ‘violence’. The film portrays Kashmiri separatists and militants exploiting not only these innocent children but also women. The movie shows small children being used as human bombs and women folk as the torchbearers of Kashmiri freedom struggle. In a scene where Aziza is humiliated by a number of Kashmiri women wearing green bands on their forehead and veiled in black dresses, it does not take a minute for a Kashmiri to relate these women with Dukhtarani Millat. As I said earlier there is a scene where sex scandal, which made to news headlines in Kashmir is shown. But in the movie it is Aziza, a pro Kashmiri women leader who exposes the scandal. Vikram again comes to the scene where he gives proof to Aziza that it has links to Haji – Kashmiri separatists. An ordinary Kashmir will feel the pain the way Dholakia portrays him. It is a direct attack on Kashmiri sentiments and the concept of Kashmiryat.<br /><br />It would not be unfair if I use dholakia’s phrase ‘Company’ here and argue that Kashmir is a big company for Bollywood. Film directors now and then come up with movies on Kashmir and try to do some sort of poetic justice with the sentiments of Kashmiris. But the truth is it is a company where they can earn not only name but also fame by playing with the sentiments of Kashmiri people.<br /><br />A large part of the movie focuses on the conflict within the separatists; there is a section of them, which boycotts elections, and the other section, which are of the opinion that elections are the solution to the problem. One can find the references to the times before 80’s when Sheikh family came in favor of elections and some of Kashmir’s prominent leaders distanced themselves from the electoral process. Although the timeline Dholakia gives is present but relating it with past becomes more obvious. The movie ends up with young Kashmir leader (Aatif) wining the minds of people and eventually elections. It becomes difficult to understand whether Dholakia is of the opinion that electoral process is the solution of the problem or justifying pro-Indian political leaders as the messiah of Kashmir.<br /><br />(Masrook A Dar is Research Scholar at EFL University, Hyderabad. Feedback at masrook@gmail.com)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-13568110647614825152010-06-18T11:49:00.000+05:302010-06-18T11:52:48.135+05:30The Big Bad Enemy, The Big Unifying ForceOnce a famous psychologists said that every nation needs an Enemy to keep its people united, the bigger the enemy better it is. Whenever people of a nation have tried moving in different directions, threatening the fragmentation of a nation or when the people start asking questions regarding their development and progress, or some questions are raised which the people in power don't want to answer ….. Here comes the big enemy to their rescue. Whether it be IRS for Britain (Britain bombed its own people and blamed it on IRS), be it Germany or communism or terrorism for USA all came to the rescue of USA when it most needed them, be it communism for Germany (Hitler burned the German Parliament in order to pass the Enabling Act, which is similar to the current Patriotic Act of USA). Whenever India or Pakistan need its enemy to come to their rescue they just need to quote the term "Foreign Elements" so their work is done even without taking each other’s name!<br /><br />I completely agree with the theory that the presence of a big bad enemy unites the people of a nation and converts millions of meaningless shouts in to a single vibrant and powerful voice. Just a thought, why can’t the fight with our enemies lead to development and progress! It is a universally accepted fact that fight with your enemy only can lead to destruction. So it seems idiotic to think of fight and progress at the same time. But won't you agree that if we all had just one enemy then we would work together to win against it. The collaboration thus generated among nations would help in the progress and prosperity of the people. So we can say that we don't need to change the way and determination with which we face & fight our enemies, we just need to change our enemy, we just need a different enemy. Now who can that enemy be, if we look at every country be it developed or developing and try to find a common enemy, who is so ferocious that every country is engaged in a losing battle with it. This enemy of all humanity is none other than POVERTY! Now is the time to come together and fight, fight for prosperity, fight for the right of every human being to satiate its hunger, in short ( the ending sentence of J.F Kennedy’s last speech before he was shot dead) " … with your help man will be what it was born to be - free and independent ". Mohammad Younus said, "Poverty is unnecessary", what do you think! Now the onus is on us whether we want to fight this fight or not.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-38799383898887849712010-06-07T20:55:00.001+05:302010-06-07T20:55:52.164+05:30Wana live in Memories ...Strange how sometimes memories are more beautiful then fantascies. Today i just wanted to live in my memories, wanted the to begin my day on the same swing and wanted it to come to an end in the same way as it had ended ... But i am not God . I have been on road for over a month and have experienced many things. I came across a poem which could summerise every thing beautifully. But i am using my mobile blog so it would be better for me to leave it for next time, tilk then you take care :-)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-66668562493147787062010-04-05T02:09:00.003+05:302010-04-06T23:38:38.220+05:30"It Is A Beautiful Day"Recently physicist said that they nearly simulated the Big Bang by colliding the sub-atomic particles . I too some how simulated the pre-Big Bang environment, where your existence becomes meaningless, silence is deafening and you try to make yourself busy with the meaningless things in order to divert your mind from thinking and asking questions like, what...? Why….? Where….? You try to invent different ways of killing time. Now I think I know why God created the world, why he created us.<br /><br />It has been very long since I read something sensible or for that matter read anything at all and this should be evident from the waywardness of my thoughts . I tried many things to forget the existence of myself (everything else seemed to be too important to be forgotten) even tried music as a way. <br /><br />"….. What ever you say , what ever you do<br />I will always say that you are the best thing <br />that ever happened to me…"<br /><br /><br />"….It's a beautiful day, the sky falls <br />And you feel like it's a beautiful day <br />Don't let it get away <br /><br />You're on the road but you've got no destination <br />You're in the mud, in the maze of her imagination <br />You love this town even if that doesn't ring true <br />You've been all over and it's been all over you <br /><br />It's a beautiful day <br />Don't let it get away <br />It's a beautiful day <br />Don't let it get away ……." <br /><br />Turned to "Invictus" for inspiration but it didn't turn up to my expectations, seems that at times like these "kick-Ass" or "How to train your dragon" would had been a better choice, so looking forward to them. Some how feel like the lieutenant in "Forest Gump" at the time of the storm, perched on top of the boat shouting " … its time for a show down, you and me , I am right here come and get me … eee haaa".Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-63452891550911977092010-01-17T12:50:00.003+05:302010-01-17T12:56:21.000+05:30Dedicated to The Ever Elusive Freedom .....Here is a translation of kashmiri poem written by zarif Ahmed Zarif, hope you like it<br /><br /><br />Young boughs, burnt buds<br />Flames are at the garden too<br />Dreams of love turn to ashes<br />Sleep scorched by fire too.<br />Who to tell, who’ll listen?<br />Read deeply each word,<br />In deep winter, summer’s blaze<br />The heart’s frozen in summer too<br />Mirror after mirror distorts faces,<br />Distorted too my own image ...<br />Waiting , waiting in vain for<br />The spring wind to come my way;<br />Drunk and frenzied, autumn’s grey<br />Covered its own redness too.<br />Inside, deep inside I’m ground to dust<br />Eyes robbed by the thief of sight<br />Heart after heart- a grave<br />Mourning quietens conversation too<br />Letter after letter pierced with lance<br />These times have banished learning<br />Pen after pen with tongues torn out<br />Shackles ring the city too<br />Flower after flower , wind scarred<br />The poppy heart glows with the scar<br />All my being bruised, says Zarif<br />Nothing left for the balm too ...... (Zarif Ahmed Zarif)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-55233046835941554002009-12-21T00:05:00.003+05:302009-12-21T01:52:02.439+05:30DREAMER .......<span style="font-weight:bold;">"your clock has started ticking"</span>, gasping for air, finding it hard to keep her eyes open,but these words sounding loud and clear in her mind. she realized she had almost forgot about it. Her mind went wandering to her childhood when her cousins would tell her that they dreamt her flying a helicopter, riding a big white horse, riding a loin and she with enthusiasm declaring, "yeh i remember , that was me , did you see how beautiful clothes i was wearing". these self deceleration were what the older cousins of her liked, they enjoyed these wild exaggerating of her imagination, for them it was an enjoyable performance. Her mother encouraged her to dream bigger and bigger, even after knowing that others where everyday cooking up stories and letting the girl to complete those wild imaginations. one day in the morning the little girl came running to her mother and said that she dreamt herself riding a white elephant and a herd following her. Her mother told her not share this dream to anybody, it was a dream dreamt by those who were going to rule over a kingdom. <br /><br />She grew up, but her thoughts and words always made her to look much older than the other kids of her age group. when other girls were playing with dolls, she was discussing politics with her grandfather,these kinds of behavior always made her the odd one out among her age group. The other thing that she was gifted with was winning of hearts, making people smile in worst times even though she was terrible with jokes, helping people even if she didn't know them. With time her dreams became bigger and bigger, she started to dream about other people, she had started to dream for them, she started to dream about a Utopian state. she used to say, <span style="font-style:italic;">"dream big and keep your eyes open while dreaming , u will get it"</span>. She even dreamt about her exit from this world, half of the world with moist eyes saying her good bye, she wanted herself to be remembered long after she was gone, she wanted to continue to live even with out physical presence. she wanted to be there in the hearts of people till eternity.<br /> <br />As is the case with dreams , all can't be true. her dream also was broken even before she had finished dreaming, with these very words, "your clock has started ticking". She visited a doctor for an ailment which seemed to be a not so serious thing, but the doctors words changed her whole life for ever. it had been five years since then and she had kept on moving from one place to another, not being at a place for more than a year. Trying to not to get attached to people, but where ever she went every single soul that she touched was overwhelmed by her caring and charming nature. but with the passing years she had mastered one Act of her's - "Vanishing". When ever she felt that she was getting attached to any place or people she would just vanish in thin air, no goodbyes.<br /><br />she had been in the current place for more than a year and was finding it hard to do what she did best, "vanish". she had tried to vanish twice but her heart had failed her, she had always tried not get in a relationship but all her precautions had gone out of the window when she met a guy, who always had a mysterious smile on his face , eyes filled with strange shine, a strange kind of attractive force was all around him which pulled her towards him. she tried to give herself false hope that she can vanish from here also and with time everything would be back to normal. but she had never imagined that it could be so hard for her to vanish from here. with every passing day vanishing from here was becoming more and more harder. She new that she had to leave this place quickly. but before leaving she wanted to say <span style="font-weight:bold;">GOODBYE</span> for the very first time, but she didn't know how to say it as she never had.<br /><br />Her dream of her exit from this world was no more her dream, she wanted to leave this world as quietly as possible, she didn't want anybody to miss her or even remember her name. she no more wanted her kingdom, which had grown exponentially with each passing day of her life, The Kingdom of Hearts.she no more wanted to <span style="font-weight:bold;">DREAM</span> <span style="font-weight:bold;">!</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-84947024280285192102009-12-13T03:43:00.000+05:302009-12-13T03:44:28.440+05:30The Myth of Free Will“Do whatever you wish to do”, this is a sentence that we have all heard be it from our parents / siblings / friends / girl friend / boy friend / even politicians and the so called liberators. The sentence seems to be simple and clear but the question that arises is do we really do what we wish to do even when we are told to do so. The answer to this question is tricky as the question itself, it is a fact that whenever we are told to do whatever we wished to do , at these very moments we actually are supposed to do the opposite i.e to do whatever we are expected to do or simply whatever the other person wishes us to do. So most of the times we tend to do whatever others wish us to do. Now the question arises does the free will exist?<br />“Free Will” has been linked to freedom, freedom of expression, freedom of thinking, but how free is our mind today, how free and independent is our thinking? The media is controlling what we think and how we think; media is proclaiming the accused as criminals even before they have been proved so in the court of law. This has led to jury being influenced by the media trails and recently many faulty judgments were passed which many intellects opposed. what is right what is wrong , what is moral what is immoral is being decided by the people other than you, other than your own intelligence and analytical mind. Whatever we do is always dependent on the fact what others will think of it rather than what “I” as a person think of it. Let me try to give an example, let us say a college girl in a western country does not wear miniskirts or other such clothes, what is the image she creates for herself- that of a bore, unattractive, idiot and nobody pays attention to her or gets too much of undue attention…. she is forced to wear the kind of clothes which helps her to move with the crowd. Now take the example of a college girl in a conservative Asian country, if she dresses the same way as girls in west she would be considered a slut and looked down upon. What happened to her freedom of wearing whatever she thinks is good for her , what about her free will. This is just one example, this applies to almost all walks of life be it when we vote for a political party , it not we who decide whom to vote for but the some other person who tells us this political party is good that is bad, who tells us these policies are good those are bad. It is same when deciding about whether a movie is good or bad, say you have heard a lot of good stuff about a particular movie from almost every friend of yours and you decide to watch it. After watching the movie you do not find it up to the expectations but when your friends ask you how you liked the movie you have doubt about your own assessment and join choir praising the movie. Almost everything that we have to decide is being decided for us by somebody else, but we fail to realize this.<br />Free will goes for a toss in every aspect of now days life, the only place I think of where it may still exist is the solitude of Himalayas. But it isn’t easy to go there and be there so we better continue to cherish the pseudo freedom , pseudo democracy, pseudo equality …..Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-36302385486960448132009-11-20T14:35:00.002+05:302009-11-23T00:09:59.574+05:30short trip homeOnce more I fly home, fly home to my home. Upon reaching the Srinagar airport the first thing that struck me was that I needed to get into the airport building as quickly as I can, I was shivering with cold even when it was 11:30 and the sun was shining. The next thing that struck me was the gauge on freedom of communication enforced by the Govt. My cell phone was not working nor could I find any public phone in the so called international airport. Somehow I managed to make the necessary call requesting a co-passenger.<br />After leaving the airport when I was passing through the city, I felt that something was missing, the city which is usually full of hustle bustle seemed to be dead ..... something had changed. The winter made its presence felt; be it through the shivering of my body or the people around me fully clad in woollens especially the pherans, the pink cheeks, the kangris, red noses ......<br />After reaching home the first thing I asked for was a kangri and pheran. Later in the evening the lack of freedom of communication haunted me again, the land line phone in my home has not been working for past 4-5 months but still we pay the Govt. owned telephone company (BSNL). I needed to make a call so came out of my home and started to scan the market for a S.T.D booth, after scanning the whole market could find just one. The booth was full of people, finally when I got the chance to make the call , people behind me told me to make it quick. The next whole day did not venture out , only in the evening did I visit one of my uncles and a close friend of mine. While returning it was dark and with no street lights it was pitch black, the result I slipped in the open drain about which I had no idea. I think these freak accidents have become part and parcel of my every trip to home.<br />As I finished typing the above lines message came that an elderly lady in our neighbourhood had passed away, so I left everything and went to offer the last prayers (Jinazah). Once more the death made it overwhelming presence felt. No matter what ever we do, whatever we achieve at last we leave this world empty handed on others shoulders. As we moved in the form of a procession towards the graveyard , every incoming vehicle stopped on the side of the road to let the jinazah pass, this made me realise no doubt a lot had been lost but still something remains intact here ....Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5542094440215586338.post-48186061347530376752009-11-08T13:02:00.001+05:302009-11-08T13:04:32.638+05:30All the world's a stage ....Shakespeare wrote “All the world's a stage” and depicted that we are puppets in the hands of destiny, we are just brought, made to play our respective parts and made to leave the stage. He gave equal importance to all the stages, but to me the stage when we are playing our roles is more important. At this stage we have control of what we intend to do and what we do.<br />If we see around ourselves we can observe that almost everybody is acting, pretending to be what they are not. Some people pretend to be not hurt when they actually are, some pretend to be caring when they dame care about anything, some pretend to be all good when they too have a very dark side, some pretend to be themselves when they don’t know who they are, some pretend to be intellectuals..... , the list is never ending but the question is why to pretend after all. For some, the reason might be that they don’t want to hurt others feelings, some want to be accepted as one of the kind, at the same time some want to be recognised better than rest. The worst reason to me seems to think that the other person may be useful in future and pretend what you think he/ she wants you to. I have got fed up with pretending what I am not , fed up with pretending that I am a stone, fed up with giving hope when I know I won’t be able to help, fed up with pretending that there is no end , I am fed up!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1