Kashmir - The (non)-Issue - Part II

Continuing from my previous post Kashmir - the (non)-Issue I would like to throw some light on the history of Jammu and Kashmir.  It's indeed pretty interesting as I was contacted offline in many discussions where the History of Jammu and Kashmir was sighted to me, various articles were sighted by various Enlightened acquaintances, colleagues and few other contact of contacts... Though none of them had concrete facts with themselves on that and none of them could convince me on that stuff.  I thought of writing down another part, but then thought I might be overreacting.  But today an article was forwarded to me where India was shown in bad light over the issues of J & K and Junagad.  Though the article is from a famous international magazine, but had facts missing from it.  This is when I thought that the facts are to come out (though they are already there in the Public Domain, I thought of reproducing them).  So read on - 

The first mention of Kashmir dates back to almost 3000 year BC, yes I do mean during the Mahabharat Era.  Since then till almost 12th century AD, Kashmir was ruled by Hindu Rulers and the various mentions that we can find around in the books of History are - 

1. King Sandiman - 2629-2564 BC
2. King Sunder Sen - 2082 - 2041 BC
3. King Nara - 1048 -1008 BC
4. Mauryan Dynasty - around 3rd Century BC with the Shrinagari (ancient Name of Srinagar,) was founded by King Ashoka (Shrinagari was founded near the then Ancient Capital Pandhrenatha)
5. Kushan Dynasty - 1st and 2nd century AD, Name of Huvishka & Kanishka are a must mention as the dynasty and these names had good imprints on the state with the names like Hushkora and Kanispora that were derived from the names of Huvishka and Kanishka
6. Lalitaditya Dynasty - 7th Century AD when the Sun Temple was built and the City of Pharihaspura was formed. 
7. King Ajatapida - 813 - 850 AD, Pampore was founded then
8. King Avantivarman - 855 - 883 AD, Built the town of Avantipur
9. King Shankaravarman - 883 - 902 AD, Built Shankarapura-Pattan (now known as Patttan)
10. King Jayasim - 1128 - 1149 AD
11. Mid 12th Century AD - First Muslim Invasion
12. 1322 AD Turks Invade Kashmir
13. 1394 - 1416 AD, Sikander attacks Kashmir and and brings in Mass Conversion to Islam, post this only 11 Hindu Families were left in Kashmir......
14. 1540 - Mirz Haider Invades Kashmir and the territory is annexed to Mughal Empire..
15. Maharaja Ranjit Singh - 1810 - 1820 AD and appointed Gulab Singh to Rule Kashmir.
16. Anglo Sikh War and Battle of Saboran take place around 1845 AD, and is followed by 2 treaties between Maharaja Gulab Singh and Henry Lawrence.  The Present State was created with 'The Treaty of Amritsar" taking effect on March 16, 1846.

So, we can for sure see who ruled the state and where the historic facts point us too.  Kashmir thus was part of India right from the time it was known as "Aryavart".  If there are still doubts and confusions about the history beyond 1846 till 1947, please let me know and the Part III of this series will help throw more light with more facts.

__________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to the Book by Narendra Sehgal - "Memorial of Mistakes - Converted Kashmir, A Bitter Saga of Religious Conversion".

Kashmir - The (non)-Issue

Kashmir issue is something that is an issue made out to satisfy someone's ego. The issue has more to do with the Geo-Political revenge case rather than genuine actual claim of territory.

Those who are learned and who have their senses intact would know that Historically Kashmir was always part of the "Undivided India". However at the time of partition and Independence, the then "Hindu Ruler" of Kashmir decided to have Kashmir as a Sovereign State. The Political Leadership agreed to it. However, Pakistan could not accept it and went in to attack Kashmir and the insurgents tried to Capture over the Territory. It is then the Ruler of Kashmir sought help from India and annexed the territory to India with the creation of "Article 370". Certainly this didn't go down well with Pakistan and they tried their level best to get Kashmir.

As if this was not just the Case, the war of 1971 (when Bangladesh was liberated from Pakistan's regime) rubbed salt on Pakistan's ruling think tank's wounds. However, the issue of Kashmir actually picked up only after Pakistan's failed attempts of the "Khalistan Movement".

So, if we look at the entire history of Kashmir issue, the case is not the liberation of Kashmir or the upliftment of Muslims in Kashmir. So I guess, none of the Muslim Leaders have got any right to make statements that "Muslims around the World should support the Muslims in Kashmir" or any similar comment. They need to know the Historical Truth before making such Controversial statements. And Muslim Community across the world must note that "Such Leaders are unnecessarily Politicizing the Kashmir issue to Bake Their Own Bread." Before making such statements they need to look at the case of Migrant Muslims in Pakistan, who are treated as Second Grade Citizens and are referred to as "Muzahirs".

Kashmir was, is and will be part of Sovereign Indian Republic.

भूल ना पाती वो नाते

कुछ पंक्तियाँ यूँ लिखी किसी ने कि मन हुआ विचलित....
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
कुछ नींदें कुछ स्वप्न चुरा कर जब तुमसे करती बातें,
सज जाती हैं बंद पलक पर, विगत दिनों की बरसातें,
बूँद - बूँद सिमटे जाते पल भीग-भीग कर गीला मन,
सुधियों की कैसी बदली जो, भूल ना पाती वो नाते ||
------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------
पढ़ इन पंक्तियों को विचार कुछ उमड़े ह्रदय में| उठा कलम लिख दीं कुछ पंक्तियाँ हमने भी -

भूल ना पाती वो नाते, आखों में जो स्वप्न जगाते
अधरों पर सिमट सी जाती बरसात कि वो कोमल बूंदें
ह्रदय में यूँ सिमट जाते पल वो जो यूँ बीते
कुछ बीते तेरी बांहों कुछ बीते तेरी पलकों में

स्वप्न में जब तुम आती, मेरे ह्रदय में बस जाती
अपनी काली लंबी लटों से, घटाओं सा स्पर्ष कराती
भूल ना पाती वो नाते, आँखों में जो स्वप्न जगाते
कुछ नींदें कुछ स्वप्न चुरा कर हम तेरी यादों में खो जाते

दास्तान आंसुओं की

आंसुओं की दास्ताँ न पूछ मुझसे
कि आंसू तो यूँही निकल पड़ते हैं
थामना भी चाहूँ इन्हें
मगर तेरी याद में बह निकलते हैं

She Melted in My Arms

When I saw thee on the airport
I was shocked and a lil short
Short of words
Short of time
I just looked at her and Smiled
I knew it would work and take me miles
Miles in the air
Miles of her care

It did happen when she smiled back
She sought my number while serving cake
Her pink lips looked too inviting
Her smooth skin was too tempting
She called me that night
I was at the height of my delight
I asked if we can meet
Talk something while we eat

She came to meet me on the floor
I saw her right at the door
My heart thumped when I saw her
My legs Shivered as on the shore
I went and held her hand
Went right on my knee
When they started the Band
With her Beauty I was Blind

When she brought me close up
To kiss me lip to lip
I was lost in her eyes
I was so much mesmerized
She kissed me so seductively
I was lost in her arms actively
It was then I hugged her tight
Made her melt in my grip that night

Dedicated Corruption

Looking Back when it was at Prime
Government went to declare it Crime
Corruption was taken as an Offense
To the extent it penetrated in Defense
Height was when it entered the Coffin
With our Ministry eating foreign Muffin

Long back they went buying Cannons
Seems they took some from Memmons
Money moved with Leaders Hand in Hand
Leaving the Nation on the Bus Stand
Probe started and went for ages
Culprits even went out of life's cages

There were many other scams to count
We can sit to pile and create a mount
They went to eat the Animal Food
Telephone connections went to Wood
Security cordons put to stake for Land
Irregularities went to Wireless Band

But one thing that came clear
Dedication to Corruption is here
It is here to stay with no move
Even if it cause Government to cove
I say regularize the commission
Cut the pay to move this Motion

Its Not Perfect When I Think it is!!!

When I met you the first
my throat was dry not from thirst
though I liked the way you looked
never liked the way your words spooked
As we met again and I knew you a day
you appearance changed to pave the way
your thoughts and your words
came to my ears as chirping birds
I thought may be I was wrong
liked those lyrics of friendship song
But I guess I was wrong
the distance between us hit the gong
I miss your voice and your words
may be that's the wish from the lords
looking down the way I miss
the warm hug and the sweet kiss
May be I need to change the way I think
to understand times' beautiful wink
that we met as we were destined
where your beauty turned me blind
I now need to open my eyes
my ears must hear the byes
Byes coming from your message
though it hurts like estrange

Patience to Support Corruption?

I went to my first ever TV talk show "We The People of India" on NDTV (India: Game for Corruption?), it was one thought provoking topic that revolved around the big ticket scams v/s the tolerance that has built into the mentality of the People or India that"Without paying for getting work done, work would never be done". The show was a live show and many from my family and friends watched it live.  I got the chance to share the lime light with likes of Bharat Bala (Creative Director - CWG Opening and Closing Ceremonies and a Film Producer / Director), Alok Roy, Vishal Uppal (Davis Cup Player), Paul (Invited for providing his view from a Non-Indian perspective), Kirti Azad (Ex Cricketer and a Politician), Michael Pareira (Six times Billiards / Snooker Champion).

The show provided me an insight of the thoughts on what is the thought of an average Indian, how the youth is reacting to it and so on.  There were many questions that were raised and seemed to be unanswered from the perspective of Corruption and Indian Society.  Some of the Burning Questions that need to be answered can be -

1. Would avg. Indian stop paying Bribes to get the work done??
2. Would we still bid for Asiad 2019 and wait for another corruption case?? as it was highlighted that corruption inquiry on Asiad 1982 is still on (I guess Kirti Azad highlighted that)
3. When would we start focusing on the Games rather than promoting the corruption?? as Vishal highlighted that the success and glory of out athletes is lost in the shades of corruption and irregularities.
4. Would Privatization help in reducing corruption?? I doubt that we will get an affirmative answer because Emmar MGF - the renowned builders from Private sector failed to provide the world class Games Village. Moreover the bids process would bring in more chances for those who want to use corruption tool, it would open another avenue for those who want kick back from the perspective of clearing orders and sign papers to clear files.....
5. Should Politics get involved with games and sports?? as if it is not today!!!!
6. Should we as the citizens join hands to fight against corruption and stand in unison to say NO to bribes and kickbacks?  I doubt on this side as "We do not have patience to wait for things to turn our way and we want to get work done even if we have to pay from our nose to the Public Servants.

One thing is for sure, unless We the People of India do not react in a Negative way to teach these bureaucrats a lesson from their own books of corruption, we would face this corruption for ages to come.  Big Tickets Scams would happen, but the memory of human would forget because "We the Indians have a short lived memory for scams. We forget them pretty easily."

We need to now rise to the occasion and ensure that the Politicians whom we elect are made Accountable for their acts and be held responsible for any irregularity in the area of their performance.  We need to realize that the root cause of Corruption lies in the COLONIAL MENTALITY that we have.  The Colonial Mentality of thinking that those who rule the country are Powerful.  We need to come out of the shades of our Colonial Mentality and Realize that those who rule the country are not powerful, but its our power that we have vested in them to turn the tables for our good.  The Political Leaders need to be made to realize that the Power lies in the hands of Citizens and not in the hands of those sitting at the power centers or running the government.  They must realize the real meaning of the word "Public Servant".

Another thing that I had a discussion on with the "Think Tank" as invited on the show, though on a lighter node, but if taken seriously can lead to drastic change in the entire scenario.  The main points that we discussed were -

1. Government needs to decide on legalizing the Bribe or Commission that is charged by the Public Servants.  What I mean by this is similar to the Tatkal Passport Scheme where you pay a premium for issuance or renewal of Passport, the other areas should also have similar schemes.  The premium rates should be decided in a fashion that the money that exchanges hands illegally today fills in the Government Coffers.
2. Stop paying those DAs to the Public Servant, rather link them to the performance bonuses and to the yearly pay hikes and promotions.  Pay them the commission as proportionate to the amount of work done by them.  Penalties may also be considered for those who create pile of a file on their desks or for those who create endless loop for the "Aam aadmi or common man".
3. Anybody who denies to pay bribe and thus opposes corruption, but still succeeds to get his work clearance / completed from the Office of Public Servants must share his views and experiences with others. I PAID BRIBE is one such wonderful startup by an ex-government employee (incidentally he was on the show too).

Signing off with a Hope that We The People of India will unite against corruption and eradicate it from our society :)

Time to Respect Verdict and Demonstrate Resilience

Normally, I don't like to write on Communal issues.  But today when we are at the verge of getting the Verdict on "Ram Janm Bhoomi - Babri Masjid" case, I could not stop myself from writing.

I don't know what the verdict would be neither do I know what is the truth.  But would Request All and Sundry to maintain Peace and Harmony.  Maintain the Peace that has been prevailing post the shameful act of 1992.

I have been silently following the developments through the time the issue was brought in Public and interestingly have a simple questions for those who might not agree with whatever Verdict is delivered. 

1. Please look back at the period before 1992, did the issue ever was there for a common man?
2. Does the Communal / Religious Sentiment attached would help you earn your livelihood?
3. Would the Anti-Social acts like post Dec 1992 or Godhra incident, help create a better Socio-Economic case?
4. With the country already fighting for its Pride due to shameful incidents preceding CWG, would it be right for us to question the legitimacy of Judicial System for being Biased to a specific community?
   Who will be benefited if there would be communal disturbance?  
5. Would you as a common man will be benefited or would be at loss?
6. Where are those Leaders who had lead the Dec 1992 incident? How many of them are still standing tall as Public figures?

I am not going to answer these questions here, it is for the common people to think, use their senses and answer these questions for themselves, if not for the society or the country at large.  Before you get carried away with the awesome orators or well written speeches, just think on the terms - How will it Benefit you? and Would it help cut the inflation???

Closing with a request to Demonstrate Resilience, Peace and Harmony.....

I demand for only one Reservation - Forward Class Reservation

Thanks to one of my colleague who came with a counter idea to my previous blog on Nation's Case of Shame - Caste Based Reservations. I tend to agree with that counter from him and I would say "What an Idea Sirjee" ;)

I guess it would be the easiest solution to follow the golden rule of 80-20, where you create reservation for the forward classes for upto 20% and rest 80% can be left for the SC/ST, OBC and other minority classes.  I guess that would also solve the problem of reservation quota division and the breach of the Cap that is there on reservations.  I don't think that the forward classes would have any issues with the overall division as forward classes as is do not have much problem with this reservation stuff (I hope so)....

And the benefit, you would get atleast 20% cream and when you open the rest 80% for competition and merit criteria among backward classes, I am sure that they would also generate positive results to give more creame-de-soupe.

Nation's Case of Shame - Caste Based Reservations

I had been following the stories around CWG and well, I wouldn't take my time and waste your time to revisit them.  I guess just mentioning CWG would bring out the case for itself.  You would be thinking "so what am I going to write this time?" so read on how we the Indians have been acting in shameful ways and trying to Internationalize our Local issues.

and yeah if you want to relate to the whole story board below, please do read - "Now, bovine 'flood' to hit Delhi on Oct 3 - The Times of India http://t.co/Dy0Rx7P".  The case where the Jat community in Haryana and Punjab are planning to use cattle to block the roads to Delhi and Cut the essential supplies.  They have even gone forward, procured tickets to the game venues to use the game venues as their protest stage and bring their vows to the international media. now is that not a shameful act??

So what is shameful in that right?  Wouldn't you feel ashamed is your kid starts taking issues at home to his school or around in the community? And what is it their plight and what are their demands?  Something that is the worst things that most of us around would like to see - "Reservation under OBC (other Backword Classes).

Reservations, something that was envisaged to bridge the gap between backward classes to the level normal citizen's case. Something that was planned for initial 20 years from the time India got Independence from British Rule.  But what has happened even after those 20 years got over?  The Ghost of Reservation still haunts us.  We saw a Big Mass movement in 1984 / 1985 time thanks to Mr. VP Singh then to have fueled it.  But now what is the need of reservations? nothing on the economic or community upliftment, it is more Politically Driven Case of Vote Bank.

Shouldn't government now take a straight forward step to Abolish the Caste Based Reservation Systems and draft something on Merit Based?  if they still want to go forward with supporting Classes who are economically not well, then the Reservations should be more based on Economical conditions of the Families... And the Government should know that this information can be well referred from the Census and the Income Tax records.

Quotes for Rumours...worth giving a thought

“What you don't see with your eyes, don't witness with your mouth.” ~Jewish Saying

“Nature abhors a vacuum, but why do most people hasten to fill in the blanks with garbage?” Vanna Bonta

“Rumors are rumors because they are not true.” Author unknown

“Rumor travels faster, but it don't stay put as long as truth.” Will Rogers

“Gossip is sometimes referred to as halitosis of the mind.” Author unknown

“Gossip is the opiate of the oppressed” Erica Jong

“Gossip is a sort of smoke that comes from the dirty tobacco-pipes of those who diffuse it: it proves nothing but the bad taste of the smoker.” George Eliot

“Trying to squash a rumor is like trying to unring a bell.” ~Shana Alexander

“The biggest liar in the world is 'They Say'.” ~Douglas Malloch

“This is a rumor-filled society, and if people want to sit around and talk about whom I've dated, then I'd say they have a lot of spare time and should consider other topics... or masturbation.” Johnny Depp

“Never make negative comments or spread rumors about anyone. It depreciates their reputation AND yours.” Brian Koslow

“I think the hardest part about being a teenager is dealing with other teenagers - the criticism and the ridicule, the gossip and rumors.” Beverly Mitchell

“A mind conscious of innocence laughs at the lies of rumor.” Latin Proverb

“False rumors die of their own stench.” - Paul Chatfield (a/k/a Horace Smith)

“Nine-tenths of the world is entertained by scandalous rumors, which are never dissected until they are dead and, when pricked, collapse like an empty bladder.” - Horace Greeley

“Rumor is a vagrant without a home, and lives upon what it can pick up.” - Henry Wheeler Shaw (used pseudonyms Josh Billings and Uncle Esek)

“Rumor is like bees; the more you fight them the more you don't get rid of them.” - Henry Wheeler Shaw (used pseudonyms Josh Billings and Uncle Esek)


“The tale-bearer and the tale-hearer should be both hanged up, back to back, one by the tongue, the other by the ear.” - Bishop Robert South

“What some invent the rest enlarge.” - Jonathan Swift, Journal of a Modern Lady

“A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way.” --John Tudor

“No sword bites so fiercly as an evil tongue.” --Sir Philip Sidney

“To harken to evil conversation is the road to wickedness.” --Anonymous

“We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them.” --Cato the Elder

“Never tell evil of a man, if you do not know it for certainty, and if you know it for a certainty, then ask yourself, 'Why should I tell it?'”--Johann K. Lavater

gar nazron mein unki

गर तनहाई में खुदा का दीदार मयस्सर ना हो
गर जुदाई में मोहब्बत का दर्द शामिल ना हो
गर झुकी इन पलकों में हया का डेरा न हो
क्या कहूँ में ऐ मेरे मौला
गर ज़िन्दगी में जूनून का असर ना हो
गर जुल्फों में उनकी मेरा आसरा न हो
गर नज़रों में उनकी मेरी तस्वीर ना हो
कि ये मोहब्बत नहीं मेरा पागलपन है
गर मुझपर उनकी नज़र-ए-इनायत ना हो

Rediscovered Myself

In the last week or so I just happened to have some irregular sleep schedule. Not the late nights though, but the ones like sleeping at unusual time and waking up at some odd time.  Other than my work hrs, my whole routine just went for a toss.  Two days in the current week, I suddenly realized that my body has started getting on to its original routine and wow, what a shift.  I just thought over the happening in last week or so and realized that I started getting up at odd hours of 3:30 AM or 4:00 AM I mean anytime before 5 for that matter.  If I look back at my college and early job days, I used to always get up between 4:00 and 4:30 AM, carry out with my routine and then exercise and 2 hrs of Basket Ball practice, study and then off to School/college/work.  the same thing has been happening with me all this time, I used to wake up early, get to read some stuff that was much required, get on to my strict exercise regime and some basic Yoga, refreshing myself with my Stutis and off to work. 

The whole change in schedule has simply rejuvenated my energy levels and has helped me complete things that have been pending for say ages.

The crux of the whole stuff is, if I just would have been able to maintain the disciplined regime in my schedules, I guess things would have been taken care off in time and I would have been in much better a state of affairs aka not bothered with long list of things to do / pending things. I really thank my mind and body to talk to me and get me up to the speed.

My request to you - if you think your mind / body is trying to communicate to you listen to them....adjust to the schedule they are hinting at, and trust me you would Rediscover yourself....with raising energy levels

Miss You in my Life

When eyes miss you in sight

When ears miss your voice

When heart misses your love
O' my Sweetheart

I miss you in my life

Where should I go & look
How to get you back 

To get back your love

To get back your trust

O' my sweetheart

Please tell me the way

To gather the courage

To look in your eyes

To tell you that I love you

To tell you that I miss you

Funny Times

Today when I sat down to consider the consideration that was told to me by you to consider, I went into the trail of consideration to consider the consideration considering that you wanted me to consider, but then the consideration was so big to consider that I considered the consideration to consider the consideration but he consideration trail went for the considered toss and so considering the thought of considered toss I considered to toss out the consideration that you wanted me to consider, considering the fact that it was not even worth considering the consideration to even consider what you wanted me to consider....


Well, please consider to help me understand the consideration emanating out of the consideration thought provided you consider to consider the consideration to understand the consideration given above

Health Management

We all certainly have a big problem of mismanagement when it comes to our Health.  We want ourselves to engage in eating habits that lead us to Doctors as we think just like our Wealth Manager at Bank, we have Doctors as our Health Managers.  The biggest misconception that we all carry, for Doctors can advice and not make you do it.  Unless the self realization for Health Management set in our core existence, we would be careless like hell.  I have been practicing certain basic stuff and have been able to stay away from Doctors for what seems like ages now.  i do not even remember when I had my last medicine prescribed to me. 

One thing that I would like highlight is to ensure that we have 4 to 5 liters of water per day (at the minimum) and the day should start with half a liter of water rather than the bed tea or coffee.  I have been doing this from almost the time I remember it.  Get up in the morning and have half a liter of water, move around the house doing sundry things for next 20 to 30 minutes (do not start your daily chorus or exercises) and then start the daily chorus, freshen up and all.  It is very important to NOT have anything like tea or coffee in that period.  The water that you intake cleans up your stomach and intestinal region.

Another thing that I followed is to shift to liquid diet when I have a feeling that I might have a fever or may be stomach irregularity or other ailment.  Indeed our body does give us the indications and we just need to know when the body is telling us.  A shift from regular food to Liquid diet helps control the ailment.

More importantly it in wise to know how much calories to intake and how much proteins. It depends on the BMI like for someone weighing 115 pounds, 35 years of age, 5'11" height exercising daily for 30 mins, and to maintain the given weight, nutritional balance required is - 249 grams of carbohydrates, 65.7 grams of fat, and 99.6 grams of protein per day for 2174 calories.

Love - the Expression

When you said I love you
All I could see were drops of dew
The tears in your eyes
Made my heart melt as ice

When I looked at your face
All I could see was divine grace
The shine on your temple
The Smile that was ample

Your words were like an art
Made a canvas in my heart
What followed was the sequence
That just broke through my defense

Here from my heart, I confess to you
The feeling for me is not new
Let me say it aloud too
My Sweetheart, I Love You too

Love - The Eternal Bliss

Love as is known today has become a lot materialistic. I am saying this for the experiences I had in my life.

Take this case of a friend who told me that her best friend from childhood confided in him that She loves him. As per his he was floored for she was one of the best gals around and whom he knew. They to talk a lot whenever they used to be free, used to spend time around together. And then she was supposed to be going for some family reunion or like that, though her family knew him and as her Boyfriend, she told him not to make frequent calls and that she would rather call. He accommodated with her wish and accepted it as part of life where if he gets tied up with something, she would also understand. Poor he, didn't know it doesn't work this way and it actually didn't work out that way. Her Love was coming between his love and his career. His career started getting beaten up for he was not able to meet timelines due to more focus on pleasing her. Guess what, she dumped him, why?? for he could not balance between his work life and love life - Good for nothing....

Another case, but this time of a girl whom I knew. She was madly in love with a guy, who apparently proposed her. They were going around pretty well. The guy was possessive and she accommodated with that too. She was so madly in love. He expected her to tell him about her entire day's events like what she did, where she went, whom she met and spoke etc etc, she used to pretty well cope up with the expectations, but day by day the expectations started increasing, his expectations raised to the level of demand and then to the level of commanding the movements of the sweet little girl. Guess what?? Break-up

But was that love??? I guess not. Love in my opinion is boundary less. It is not trying to bind someone with heavy expectations or within a frame / image that we have about that person. Love is something that is a state of selflessness, where as what we see around is selfishness. Love the way it is described as today seems to me as more of infatuation with a Physical form turning out into lust with time.

Love is not gaining, but love is giving. Love is not telling someone to sacrifice, but sacrificing on own. Love is the losing yourself to the presence of your loved one and nothing else, whether s/he is physically present or in your thoughts. Love is the state where heart and mind work in unison and the result is a sweet smile that floats on its own.

Love is not a give and take it is a feeling that reels on its own whether you get something or not.

चाहत

गर हम दिन के पहलु में बैठें
या रात के आगोश में समां जाएं
शाम-इ-सनम हमें न मिल सकेगी
दीदार-इ-सनम न हो सकेगा
गर चाहत सनम कि है दिल में
शाम का पहलु ना छूट सकेगा

इन्तेजार-ए-सनम

नाम गर लिखा हो सनम का शाम पर
जा उसके आगोश में उसका दीदार कर
उसकी साँसों के तरन्नुम में खो कर
अपने इश्क का इज़हार कर
गर ना हो एतबार अपने लबों पर
अपनी आँखों से तू बयान कर
गर गिला हो कोई तो खुदा से अर्ज़ कर
मिलेगा तुझे भी सनम इंतज़ार कर
कि है क्या मज़ा उस दीदार में
जिसकी नज़्म ना लिखी हो इंतज़ार में
हर लफ्ज़ जिसका लिखा हो तेरे आंसुओं से
हर कतरा जिसका सींचा हो तेरे लहू से
कि गर सनम का नाम लिखा हो शाम पर
कहता यही है फ़कीर - इंतज़ार कर इंतज़ार कर

मेरा अक्स

गर खुदा ने कभी मुझसे कहा होता...
रुखसत हो तू हो फारिग अपनी कलम से
मैं कहता ऐ-खुदा
ये कलम है मेरी ज़िन्दगी मेरी तमन्ना
कि ना कर इसको जुदा तू मुझसे
न कर मेरे इश्क को रुसवा
गर कहीं मैं हूँ कगार पर
तो यही है वोह मेरा अक्स....

FIR for "Bee Attack" - Nice way to Distract Public

I guess most of you would have been aware of the situation where one of the Chief Minister is identified as wearing the Money Garland and spending thousands of croses of Rupees on parks and statues. Now the same CM has identified a nice way to Distract Public Attention by assigning a DIG to probe the "Bee Attack' on one of the Party Rally. Interesting an FIR too has been launched as Reported

I had the news of DIG probe order, but then an FIR launched under Sections 435 (lighting fire to cause damage) and 285 (causing disturbance in any public place) is something very much a way to Divert Public Attention and an Attempt to Gain Public Sympathy. Who knows that tomorrow they might slap Section 307 - Attempt to Murder on some one who might be identified as the culprit. Yeah certainly when Section 435 (lighting fire to cause damage) can be slapped, there is high possibility to gain more sympathy for the so called leader. The leader who spent money on parks and statues and wore money garland, and yeah spent lavish money to celebrate b'day.

Sounds funny, but it is the case where the Governance and Public Welfare has been mocked, poverty is ever increasing, but the Leader is busy trying to evade all the public property for one's own welfare. One of the biggest Shame to the world's biggest Democracy......

Save Trees - A campaign Request

Vaibhav's post Save Trees made me wonder on what the Save Tree Campaign is? Why the Save Tree Campaign is? and Why we want to save Trees? After a lot of pondering on the topic and then brain searching I established that it's the selfish nature we have that we want to Save trees. Certainly our selfishness. Then I got confused, where does selfishness come in as we have enough to survive through our life, its more of selflessness towards the coming generations.....

Though confused, but yes I am determined that we need to save trees, we need to save forests and we need to save the wild animals that have their habitat in the wild woods. You must be thinking WHY? Well lets go through the following points to answer this Why -

1. Trees and forests are the source of clean air and most important is they are the source of oxygen that we thrive on.
2. Trees are the source that help us conserve the fertile soil and the water
3. Trees are the source of Food (don't we all love fruits?)
4. Trees are the source of Fuel (Dry wood) (Fossil Fuel - Oil etc)
   
5. Trees make forests that are habitat of the wild animals and these wild animals over ages would turn to be the source of Fossil Fuel for future generations (as is at the rate we are using the current resources, we would drain out all the oil in say next 100 or 200 years)

So Trees are certainly a lot helpful through the lifecycle and even after their lifecycle is over. Paper certainly is one product that we use, but using it in conservative manner is the crux to participate in the drive to save Trees and thus cascading down the effect till wild life. However, just being conservative in using the Paper would not solve the problem, if we are really concerned, we need to join the wave to plant a tree for every tree cut. That is we need to ensure that we set a target to plant one tree for say 50 sheets of paper, every pile of wood that we burn, every pile of wood we use in our furniture etc.

Do you want to join me in this initiative? Do you want to create a wave?????

So do I hear a Yes from you all who read this?

तिरंगे कि कहानी

काफी दिनों से मन में गुबार था
तिरंगे की कहानी का अम्बार था
कि सोचा बहुत कैसे कहूँ
लेकिन दर्द ऐसा है कब तक सहूँ

हुआ कुछ यूँ कि तिरंगा मिला सपने में
कहानी थी उसकी इतनी सर्द
ना थी उसमें हद्द
अब कैसे सहूँ में ये दर्द

तिरंगा खुश होता गर
उसे शहीद पर चढ़ाया जाए
उसे लाल किले कि प्राचीर पर फहराया जाए
उसे आजादी का परचम बनाया जाए

तिरंगा दुखी है क्योंकि
उसे भ्रष्ट नेताओं पर लहराया जाता है
उसे गुंडे बदमाशों कि गाडी पर पाया जाता है
उसे सरे आम बेईज्ज़त किया जाता है

कहना है तिरंगे का कुछ यूँ
कि उसे हर घर पर लहराना है
उसे हमारे दिलों में बस जाना है
उसे जात पात से परे जाना है

चाह है उसकी उस पुष्प सी
कि उस पथ पर दें उसको फहरा
मातृभूमि की सेवा में
जिस पथ चले वीर अनेक
__________________________
आखिरी कुछ पंक्तियाँ श्री माखनलाल चतुर्वेदी कि कविता - "पुष्प की अभिलाषा" से प्रेरित हैं|

मर्द का दर्द

एक फिल्म बनी थी "मर्द" जिसमें अमिताभ बच्चन साहब ने कहा था मर्द को दर्द नहीं होता| किन्तु आज के माहोल में जब हम नज़र उठा कर अपने चारों और देखते हैं तो ये एहसास होता है कि मर्द को ही दर्द होता है| आप ये सोचेंगे कि कैसे?? तो सोचिये कि आज के इस ज़माने में हम International Womans' Day मानते हैं, Man's Day नहीं :))

आज हम बात करते हैं स्त्रियों को काबिल बनाने कि, किन्तु कभी ये सोचा है कि वे खुद कितनी काबिलियत रखती हैं?

मैं आज के दौर में आदमी / मर्द के दर्द को कुछ इस तरह व्यक्त करूँगा -

बेचारा मर्द क्या करे इस ज़माने में
गर औरत पर हाथ उठाए तो जालिम
गर पिट जाए तो बुजदिल
गर औरत को गैर के साथ देख कर लड़े तो शक्की
गर देख कर भी चुप रह जाए तो बे-गैरत
गर घर से बहार रहे तो आवारा
गर घर में बैठे तो नाकारा
बच्चों को डांटे मारे तो ज़ालिम
न डाटें तो लापरवाह
गर औरत को नौकरी से रोके तो झक्की
गर औरत को नौकरी करने दे तो जोरू का गुलाम
अरे आखिर ये करे तो क्या करे
हालात यूँ कहिये कि दर्द है पर बयां नहीं कर सकता
गर बयां कर दे तो मर्द नहीं रह सकता

:))

वक़्त नहीं

आज के दौर में हर किसी को बहुत कुछ पाने कि चाह है और इस चाह में उन्हें अपनों का ध्यान नहीं, ना ही उनके पास वक़्त है अपनो के लिए| इस कविता में कवी ने उसे बड़े ही नायब तरीके से ज़ाहिर किया है| ये कविता किसने लिखी ये मुझे इल्म तो नहीं, लेकिन ये नायाब कविता में आपके लिए यहाँ लिख रहा हूँ| मुझे ये कविता किसी मित्र ने भेजी है....
_____________________________________________________________________

हर ख़ुशी है लोगों के दमन में
पर एक हंसी के लिए वक़्त नहीं .
दिन रात दौड़ती दुनिया में
ज़िन्दगी के लिए ही वक़्त नहीं

माँ कि लोरी का एहसास तो है
पर माँ को माँ कहने का वक़्त नहीं
सारे रिश्तों को तो हम मार चुके
अब उन्हें दफ़नाने का भी वक़्त नहीं

सारे नाम मोबाइल में हैं
पर दोस्ती के लए वक़्त नहीं
गैरों कि क्या बात करें
जब अपनों के लिए ही वक़्त नहीं

आँखों में है नींद बड़ी
पर सोने का वक़्त नहीं
दिल है ग़मों से भरा हुआ
पर रोने का भी वक़्त नहीं

पैसों कि दौड़ में ऐसे दौड़े
कि थकने का भी वक़्त नहीं
पराये एहसासों कि क्या कद्र करें
जब अपने सपनो के लिए ही वक़्त नहीं

तू ही बता ऐ ज़िन्दगी
इस ज़िन्दगी का क्या होगा
कि हर पल मरने वालों को
जीने के लिए भी वक़्त नहीं.......

Hockey World Cup - Shivendra suspended for 3 matches, team appeals against it

I want you to take a look at : Shivendra suspended for 3 matches, team appeals against it

My take on this case -

I saw the incident during the match and then repeated footage also, I find it a genuine case of what a hockey player would call it as - An Accidental incident. I think Read read a little too much in the whole issue and went a little too harsh on the case. There if we see the whole footage time and again, we will find that it was an effort on part of Shivendra Singh to run faster and in the effort he picked up the stick in both hands. Yes that's a natural reaction in the momentum of the game. I am saying so because I myself had been a hockey player. If a player wants to run faster than the opponent to reach the ball, it is natural instinct to hold the stick in both hands so a to avoid toppling over one's own stick.

I guess Read needs to be sent for some good Hockey Coaching Classes

Price Hike By Maruti and Hyundai

Read the news that Leading Auto Makers Maruti and Hyundai have increased the rates of their respective brands by few thousands for the increase in Custom duty to 10%. I was a bit shocked, as for the hike of 2% has been just proposed on February 26, 2010 and would be effective only from April 1, 2010.

I mean I find is ridiculous for the price hike as announced by Maruti and Hyundai with Midnight Feb 26 itself as this is nothing but fooling the customer. If the hiked Customs duty would not be effective for next one month or so, then why the automakers are increasing the rates immediately? what is the urgency in that?? Its not like that they are incurring losses even as of now, then why this dirty trick???

Movement Marathi Manoos - A Mislead Movement

When the midnight struck today, I happen to receive an email forward that turned out to be a nicely drafted mail / letter to a Common Shiv Sainik from Mumbai / Maharashtra. The letter went from highlighting the way the Marathi Manoos concept has been mistreated by Shiv Sena to the level of misleading the sentiments of a common Maharashtrian. Salute to the author who wrote such a thought provoking letter. Hope it reaches the expected destination and brings some sanity in the minds where required.

The letter certainly made me think on the front of the plight of Mumbai in Particular. The plight of Mumbai is not just the North Indians, but the heavy influx of migrants from across India. This influx is coupled because of the Lack of Space, Infrastructure and availability of the Basic facilities for the Common Man. We do see a lot of development happening off late, but again not as good as other cities. Certainly it is for the lack of political focus and lack of responsibility towards own city. I would like to see the movement “Marathi Manoos” turning to betterment of Mumbai, we need to make a movement “Aamchi Mumbai” to particularly focus towards upliftment of the living standards in Mumbai. The “Aamchi Mumbai movement needs to address following concerns -

1. The political influence of certain builder lobby has grown so big that when the state govt seeks sanctions for development of Mumbai’s Infrastructure the Central Govt. seeks cut down on Urban Land Ceiling Act and giving more land to builders. Mangroves are being reclaimed and the wildlife that used to thrive on these is getting extinct. We need to work on this side.
2. Encroachment of public land is another problem that needs to be addressed. Such encroachments lead to occupancy by migrants on lands earmarked for parks or may be parking or say something similar. Off recently I heard that one such piece of land was given to the builder to develop residential space in place of the hutments and also some real expensive apartments will be constructed there. That means the builder will use say around 30% of land to build residential complex for the hutment dwellers, 50% land for the apartments and rest 20% will be open space for park or something like that. However the original plan for the community park at that land went to I guess waste basket and the BMC officials seems to have got paid for throwing away the original plan. This is just one off case, there are many such cases.
3. Growing number of Footpath / Traffic Signal Hawkers, leading chaos on traffic signal and at times turning nightmare for the drivers. The Occupancy of Footpath by these illegal sellers forces pedestrians on roads and thus creates a traffic hazard.
4. Illegal Migrants from other countries obtain fake Ration Cards and other required papers to be the citizens of Mumbai and thus Citizens of India. In certain cases it is the influence of Shiv Sena leaders that works in favor of these illegal migrants (Cases have been recorded in Chembur and allied areas in Mumbai)

These are some of the major things that hit my mind at this hr of the night. There are many other areas that I am sure need more focus from the Mumbiites. I guess if Shiv Sena would focus on the constructive way for development of Mumbai, it would be in much better a situation rather than the current way its dealing with and projecting the issues as.

The high influx of people to Mumbai must be checked and that is for sure as otherwise there would be no space left in Mumbai to even drive a cycle. But we surely don’t need a destructive way to fall in pits and lose the shine of “Aamchi Mumbai”.

Rare wild cats caught on camera - NDTV

I want you to take a look at: Rare wild cats caught on camera

This is really News to cheer about, with the endangered species still being traced, I guess we all need to join hands and work towards ensuring a Safe Heaven for these Wild Cats. After all they are Our National Pride...

Racism and India

Of recently there has been a lot of news on racist attacks on Indians in Australia and there has been a lot of hue and cry over the racism by the Australians. The impact has gone to the tune that there has been a demand by certain influential leader against participation of Australian Players in IPL3.

I was aghast to actually see the reaction going this far and that sent me on an introspection of Indian Societies ties with Racism. I was astonished at the result that was in front of me when I sought answer to the question - Are We the Indians Racist? The answer was a BIG YES. YES we are racists, racists of highest order. Racist to the tune of being mad after Fair Color. Why, you don't agree??? Well check this out -

1. The first criteria for marriage in so called decent and well to do families (सभ्रांत परिवार as we call them in Hindi) - The girl needs to be fair (लड़की गोरी होनी चाहिए)
2. Girls are mad after fairness creams - they want to look fair to look attractive and as if that was not enough, now there are fairness cream for men too....funny
3. We are mad for Whites and we consider Blacks below dignity
4. Our influential political leaders make their bread and butter on the name of Religion, Caste, Creed and Race.
5. What happened in Mumbai for the way it has been publicized tht Mumbai is for Marathi Manus (Marathi People) is one of the biggest example of racism
6. The issue of Telangana is another clear sight of Racism, though there are other issues involved in it

The list may run endless as there are many such cases that can be highlighted across the Indian Society.

I mean it is seriously a BIG Joke when I see this hue and cry on Racism and our political leaders speak so loud about the way we need to react to the issue of Racism. However, in my opinion, the first and foremost thing to be tackled is to change the mindset of general public (the aam janta or the Mango People) towards the way they practice Racism in their daily lives.

I mean the two really Wonderful examples of tackling Racism is - Oprah Winfrey - Tommy Hilfiger case and the British Airways Case. In the former case, Oprah Winfrey openly asked Tommy Hilfiger about his racist comment on designing cloths for whites and not for the blacks, asians etc, to which he said yes he did make that remark and Oprah Winfrey told him to leave her show immediately. In the case of British Airways, a White Woman created hue and cry to be seated next to a Black Man, to which the reaction by the Crew was to shift the Black Man to First Class stating that it was ridiculous that he is seated to someone so ridiculous.

When today I am writing this post, the old saying "दिया तले अँधियारा" (Its always Dark Below the Lamp) is echoing in my mind. Yes - before making hue and cry and before Reacting to any racism stuff, we need to look at ourselves and we need to first change ourselves...else I don't think we have any right to call others as racism

Urgent need to ban porn websites: Chief Justice of India

Another Article and another set of mixed responses on Banning or Blocking Pornography – “Urgent need to ban porn websites: Chief Justice of India”.

I sort of Agree with what CJI has opined for. If people say that there are ways to circumvent the ban, they are forgetting that there are ways to plug the loops that people might use to circumvent them. Technology today helps us banning and blocking anything that we want to ban and block. My question to those opposing it is - if you are accessing porn on a regular basis, aren't you habituated to it?? Porn is something that in a way might be related to this country and as I have already pointed out in another comment regarding the amendment to Indian IT Act, stiff resistance would be faced for banning and blocking these sites. There have been arguments that have poured in that the parents need to take ownership to ensure that their kids do not have access to porn sites. Well yes there are many tools for this matter including Net Nanny and other similar products that may be bought and subscribed for to be deployed on one's computer for blocking the porn / hate etc. But would someone come ahead and tell me on how many parents in India are technology and net savvy??? Bestowing only them with this responsibility (certainly they would be responsible for their kids any which ways)would mean regular counseling for them regarding this and to ensure that they are made acquainted to the issue of Pornography on the net. This will directly lead to more friction between the teenage kids and parents as kids would see it as another disciplinary control by parents. I would say the community needs to come out with a more comprehensive and better thought on this by way of evaluating the pros and cons of various steps / controls that can be put to effect.

Mayank Trivedi

E-mail - mayank.a.trivedi@gmail.com

Blog - http://www.myopinions.name

Tech Blog - http://matricsindia.net.in

Govt can't ban porn websites for obscenity

Just happened to read the Article “ - Govt can’t ban porn websites for obscenity

I was more shocked than surprised. Though this sort of inaction can very much be expected from the Govt, we certainly could not accept it. When the Indian IT Act amendments were being discussed and the amendment to the act were being looked at in 2008, it was a strong feeling and the Cyber Security Professionals were of the idea that the amendments would be making law bit more stringent in nature. Its exact reverse of what had been expected. I had numerous discussions with the various Cyber Security Professionals and Cyber Law experts and each one of them was expecting a drastic change in the way issue of Porn sites is dealt with. It was opined that the Govt would empower Cyber Tribunal or similar organization and convert it as a watch dog to govern the display, access and transmission of Porn material. Alas, it didn’t happen. Govt more so has cleared itself off from the responsibility on this front. Amendments to the section 69A are something that certainly have weakened the power as it was earlier identified for it. Moreover with assigning the power to block the Porn sites has been granted to the Courts and that too if a petition is filed in the Court for jurisdiction. Apparently, the govt has indirectly let Porn be prevalent in the Cyber Society, without giving a thought that this very porn is at times the cause to create nuisance in the society and leading to molestations, child abuses etc. Yeah it would be countered that how can we create the correlation between the two things. Incidentally some bright mind came up with a pretty Creative Thought – “May be Government Machinery and Think Tank would have thought as to when the Country has Given KAMASUTRA to the world, how can we stop Porn that is nothing but an extension to KAMASUTRA. They might have thought that if they block / ban porn in cyber world, the cyber community might come up with an argument that similar things are depicted as Artifacts and Artistic at various temples in Khajuraho.” Well may be, who knows.

But all said and done, don’t we think that too much of Porn is circulating around on the net and is unnecessarily leading to the situation of unrest and creating an atmosphere that would affect law and order negatively?

I am unable to understand as to Why govt can’t Enforce a Blanket Block at ISP Gateway levels? I guess rather than going with an approach of Law and Order, the Govt. can simply go ahead with issuing a notification to the ISPs to go ahead and Block all the Porn Sites right at the ISP Gateway Level itself. I don't understand what is stopping the Govt. from doing that? or do we take it this way that the Govt. machinery is pretty happy to let Pornography be prevalent till it affects the Public Order???

There are Countries where a Country level Proxy is set-up and that blocks all the Porn sites from being accessed. An argument may come up that the countries where this sort of set-up has been deployed are smaller countries with lesser Internet traffic, where in case of India the traffic is humungous to be managed by a central Proxy. So, let me clarify that I am not saying so. What my point is – If the Govt. wants to really act in this direction, it can instruct the ISPs to deploy measures at their levels to ensure that porn sites are completely Blocked out. Govt may also conduct periodic surprise audits of the ISPs to this effect and ensure that the directive as published is well followed by the ISPs.

Mayank Trivedi

Blog - http://www.myopinions.name

Tech Blog - http://matricsindia.net.in

आमची मुंबई, अने मी मुम्बईकर (Mumbai is mine and I am Mumbaiker)

Reading the ongoing debate rather Political Drama over Mumbai where someone says Mumbai belongs to Marathi मानुस (people) and someone says it belongs to entire India, I just think its another gimmick to create another rift on the linguistic basis or between the regions. I am totally unable to understand as to why is this being dragged on this far??? This is nothing but sounds like a Dog Fight for a piece of meat. I mean just for power how low can we go???

And it is more surprising that the आमची मुंबई that we used to say with Pride is being dragged to the level of being called मराठी मुंबई. This is not just astonishing, but sad that for one's political mileage they are targeting the weaker and poorer section of the inhabitants, the North Indians and that too specifically UPiites and Biharies.

Interestingly Mumbai's composition today is in actual a true cosmopolitan. You find people from all over India and foreign nations, plus illegal migrants from some neighboring nations. Ah and our politicians do not target them per say, as these very illegal migrants from the neighboring country are provided with forged / fake Ration Cards, they get enrolled in Voters List, or they are pooled in during the voting process to go and vote in name of some other legitimate voter.

Hell Yeah, the problem with this very आमची मुंबई campaign from certain fractions can be termed as racist in totality. You must be thinking as to "Why the heck am I saying that?" So please consider the following points -

1. If we would look at the distribution of Who's Who in the Corporate World, we will find that out of Top Ten Corporate Houses in Mumbai almost all are from non-marathi sect. They are either Parsis, Gujaratis, or Rajasthanis but they are certainly not Marathis....... They indeed are मुम्बईकर (Mumbaiite).
2. If we look at the Majority of Food Joints, specifically popular snack / coffee houses, most of them we would find are from Kannadigas / Shettys or Iranis. They are not Marathi for sure, but yes they are मुम्बईकर (Mumbaiite).
3. Go to the the grocery shop next door, 60% of them are operated by Non-Marathis, but yeah they all are मुम्बईकर (Mumbaiite).

Then what is it that मराठी मानुस (Marathi People) are specifically afraid of, they are certainly not in the holding position of Mumbai's Business Section, and hell yeah it would be real tough for them to rise so high in such a less time. I am not saying that आम मराठी मानुस (Common Marathi Person) is against North Indians. It is specifically the Political Agenda that is driving this over because someone just wants to score over other.

As if the death of innocents couple years ago when Railway Entrance Exam was conducted in Mumbai was not enough for them to learn, they went out and over this time to even Drag the Martyrs of 26/11 in this Controversial Dog War. WHAT A SHAME!!!!! Indeed they (both sides included) must understand that the overall effort was a join effort by both Marathi and non Marathi Speaking Sons of this Great Country India. But hell no each side went on to make a statement for their own men and in the twist just created a mess out of nothing.

I was thinking would it be a good Idea to Convert Mumbai to a Union Territory with Governers Rule and no State legislative Assembly there. Move the Capital of Maharashtra to Pune and resolve the problem. But somehow if that would be done, I guess there would be more resistance and there might even be bloodshed there. More over the idiocy might spill over to the rest of Maharashtra....who knows.....Politicians stoop to any level for their political mileage
_____________________
1:29AM Feb 4, 2010
Just read an interesting article on Rediff - "An open letter to Balasaheb from a Marathi Manoos" Indeed, The State of Maharashtra means the Great Nation.....something that was Shivaji's Dream, but seems some hardliners are just spoiling the name. Maratha is one clan the warrior clan from that region and thus Maharashtra just does not restrict to existence of Maratha or Marathi Manus......I guess Bala Thackrey needs to acknowledge this loud and clear before messing with Mumbai