Saturday, November 13, 2010

Some people wonder why I am "obsessed" or "criticize" or "am against" Ms Arundhati Roy.

I am fixated with her coz she is misusing her Right to Freedom of Speech & Expression. Freedom to express oneself does not cover sedition, either directly, or indirectly; overtly, or covertly.

I have always found her manner of putting things across impressive, as well as incisive, and do not agree to some people's opinion that she is a bad writer. She has a terrific & powerful command over words & language. The fact is, she knows what she is saying.

In the framework of our judicial system, she had specifically referred to in the precise context of Afzal Guru, whom she claims is denied adequate justice by the Indian Judicial System.

I agree that there are flaws in our judicial system, but which judicial system is "Perfect"?

We have had an example where even a former Prime Minister had to go to jail. Compare it with the system in USA where a former President, who had misused his office & had to unceremoniously resign, was "Pardoned" by his successor!

Realities are acknowledged and understood, in Kashmir, Punjab, Assam, Tamil Nadu, & the Seven Sisters. But mindless violence is not the way out. And extreme versions of Maoist philosophy are found in almost every country, the 'Shining Path' being a classic example. But it failed, due to certain socio-economic-political policies adopted by the government of that country. Yes, I agree with you that we need to do more.

But are we given a chance, when govt. buildings, schools, railway tracks, etc are being blasted? No country wants to fight against it’s own people! What do you expect the security to do when acts of sedition and anti-state violence are perpetuated by people who are politically, ideologically, economically, strategically & militarily supported, explicitly, & / or clandestinely by certain nations & people like Ms Roy (& a few others) to dismantle the Indian Union? Remember the famous public statement of a certain leader from one of our neighbouring countries of "bleeding India through a thousand cuts"?

Being right to the center is not being “nuts”. As there are people who belong to the left to the centre, so are there who belong to the right to the centre. And no one is “nuts”. They have their versions and opinions, and are entitled to them. Show me one person who is a perfect centrist. Opposing extreme leftism does not mean that you belong to the “right”. The “centrist” people & parties have criticized Arundhati Roy too, and they certainly are not “right wing nuts”. Indian Democracy is mature enough to absorb all their views. But at times the views become too extreme to be ignored.

Samuel Johnson had once famously sayd, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel"

If patriotism had always been the last refuge of the scoundrel, then people like Abe Lincoln are the greatest scoundrels. Remember, Abe Lincoln took a firm stand from his country being split up! Was he a patriot or a scoundrel?

Were Gandhiji, Subhash Babu, Lokmanya Tilak, Bhagat Singh, et al scoundrels?

All sayd and done, Arundhati Roy, who criticizes “nationalism” & “patriotism”, still, writes her nationality as “Indian”.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Went to meet an old resident of my locality on Saturday. And, interestingly, the history of my locality isn't exactly the same as it is popularly supposed to be. 4 Bungalows, the area where I stay, was supposed to comprise of, once upon a time, just 4 bungalows belonging to some Parsi families; hence the name “4 Bangla”.

And 7 bungalows were supposed to contain just 7 bungalows, again belonging to some Parsis. The rest of the area was supposed to be all creeks. All the bungalows are believed to have been demolished now.

Well, according to this elderly gentleman, this isn't really the case. The history is different. Much much different.

I personally went to visit him in a huge "wadi", more than 100 years old, that I never knew existed before in my area.

I am gonna research on this further, streamline it, and spice it up with some photographs.

More on this later, as I gather some more fascinating info . . . :)

I am, at present, just interested in the stretch from 4 Bungalows “naka” to the road where I stay. And this “wadi”, and many other interesting features, still lie scattered over this small stretch.

Remarkably, there also used to be an area called “12 Bangla” once in the neighbourhood. Who sayz history is a boring subject?

Sunday, November 7, 2010

I wish to just look into the eyes of my partner and smile and say nothing . . . Holding hands is an option . . . :)

There are things that the reader talks of in between by giving an example of how a govt official fined a person for throwing a ciggie butt in a gutter, and he feels this is wrong. Come one, arent govt officials supposed to fine you for smoking in public? That is NOT inappropriate or wrong or being corrupt or being "baaps". You do something wrong, an official fines you, and you feel he is being "arrogant"? There are definitely instances of corruption in our system, but there are ways to address them. But we do not have the time and patience to follow them up. And then, we blame the system!

Spent the evening of 4th November 2010 researching a wee bit abt my locality, 4 Bungalows. Met 3 diff ppl; received 3 diff experiences :) Next appointment Saturday evening, hopefully with sum1 who sounds interesting :) Nvr knew such ruraleque gems still exist in 4 Bungalows. My area of interest is just one street: from 4 Bungalows naka to the road where I stay. And the little diversions in betn :)

We observe the small negative quality in others, but overlook the vast positive qualities in the same person. As the following anecdote goes:


Once in a seminar the speaker put a black dot with his marker on the white board. And he asked the audience what they all saw. All replied they saw the black dot. The speaker retorted, “Every one of you said you saw the small black dot in the centre. But no one said he/she saw the big white board.” In the same way, we see the negative quality in others first, however small it might be; but overlook, or fail to see the positive qualities in the same person, however immense they might be.

A snappishly angry mind is the worst sword: it slashes both; the slashed and the slasher.

They say "True Friendship" never ends. But some relationships come with an expiry date. All things must pass. Whatever is created, is maintained for a duration, and then is destroyed. Perhaps to be reborn. Recreation cannot take place without destruction.