Racism

The word by itself can stir up quite a cocktail of emotions. It could make you feel uncomfortable, it could make you hiss with anger, it could make you adopt a holier-than-thou attitude, or (for a very small proportion) it could make you feel sympathetic. I am not going to condemn the racists or make them feel guilty because I am pretty sure that they did not get up one day and decide “Hey I know what I want to be I wanna be a racist.” No the racist does not choose to be a racist he picks it up. You know like sex, no one really tells you how it is done, you just pick it up. It is only later that you fully understand what it really means. I am just going to make a humble attempt at guessing why a racist is a racist. Xenophobia comes almost naturally to most people. Humans just have it inbuilt in them to frown upon anything different.

Why do we immediately laugh when we hear a different accent? What is so funny about someone wearing his or her traditional dress in a different zone? A small girl with whom I was on friendly terms once told me she did not like her School Bag because it was Bihari type. Now she was fond of me and had no clue who a Bihari was. I politely pointed out that I was a Bihari myself. She was pretty shocked and did not say anything further. She will have grown up by now and learnt to respond by saying “Of course I don’t mean you. You are not like them.”

Where do these thoughts come from? The girl of course must have picked it up from parents and neighbours but why did she keep it? My explanation would be that it’s because it made her feel better. It is nice to know that we are superior to others. So is that the source of it all, a desire to feel important and special. If that is so will it all go away if we feel we are important and confident of ourselves? It seems like a plausible solution. So I sign off wishing that we learn to love and respect ourselves so that we can love and respect others.

Freedom

Freedom is a word very close to my heart. I am a fiercely independent person so it difficult for me to think that it(freedom) may not be the very heart of existence for others. But my interaction with others has led me to believe that many people do not attach any importance to it. For me freedom is being able to say what I feel and being able to pursue my dreams. Yet these may not matter to others.
For example, in class teachers express opinion without any restriction whatsoever. Even if the thoughts are contradictory to our belief we keep our chops shut. I can understand that! What I cannot understand is that people have so gotten used to teachers having their way that they no longer consider this an injustice. It reminds me of novel 1984 by George Orwell. When I first read it I considered it a highly fantastic novel, not in terms of technology but in terms of the social structure and the protagonist accepting that 2+2 can be 5. But now it seems some people think reality is what teachers say.
Another astonishing sight is the lack of self-respect. We have got so used to being abused by parents, teachers and any other guy with power that misuse of power is accepted as the norm. Instead of listening to our heart, standing firm for what we know is right and standing up for ourselves we submit. We wail, we complain, some distort their very thoughts to accept the social structure but never stand against the wind.
Anthony Robbins is a motivational speaker who is very rich now and is living his dreams. When Tony was seventeen he became, through hard work, the student body president. He became influential and started organizing pep rallies and school clubs. This did not please Tony’s mother. His mother was used to having Tony at home and taking care of household chores. His mother would not let Tony spread his wings and fly. So on one Christmas Eve Tony left his mother’s home with nothing but the clothes he was wearing. Tony loved school so he tried very hard to hold a job and to get a high school degree. Soon he was homeless. He worked at night cleaning banks and attended school during the day. Soon Tony got a salesman job and started earning money though he had to leave high school. Soon he became very successful in his field from then on he never looked back. Today he is one of the most influential persons on the face of earth not to mention rich. Where would he have been today if he was the kind of guy who let others dictate his life?


Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqder se pehle
Khuda bande se ye pouhe bata teri raza kia hai

Sitaron se age jahan aur bhi hai aur bhi hai
Abhi ishq ke Imtehan aur bhi hai aur bhi hai
Sitaron se age jahan aur bhi hai aur bhi hai
Abhi ishq ke Imtehan aur bhi hai aur bhi hai

Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqder se pehle
Khuda bande se ye puche bata teri raza kia hai

Tu shaheen hai, Tu shaheen hai, Tu shaheen hai
Tu shaheen hai, Tu shaheen hai Parvaz hai kam tera kam tera
Tere samne Aasman aur bhi hai
Tu shaheen he Basera kar Paharon ki chatano per
Tu shaheen hai tu Shaheen hai tu shaheen hai

Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqder se pehle
Khuda bande se ye poche bata teri raza kia hai

Khudi ko kar buland itna ke har taqder se pehle
Khuda bande se ye poche bata teri raza kia hai
bata teri raza kia hai
bata teri raza kia hai

Musings on Gandhi

I recently read the book “My Experiments with Truth” by M.K. Gandhi. Gandhi is a global phenomenon no doubt about that but how many of us truly know who Gandhi was, what his principles were and why he is so popular? The answer: very few. He is such an iconic figure that we constantly hear rumors about him. Distorted stories of which there can be no possible verification. Phrases like Gandhi “Majboori ka naam Mahatma Gandhi” are heard every day. I heard this phrase first time when I was a little kid. Ever since, I have wondered what it meant. I have received several ludicrous explanations like he had no clothes so he wore just a dhoti but said it was for some higher reasons. The ugliest one explanation being that he slept with a goat on a cold night.
When I had read just a few chapters of “My experiments with truth” two things stood out. One, he was a very simple man. He had no ego. Truth was his motto and he was as truthful about himself as about other things. That he has no qualms describing his mediocrity in law bears proof to this. Second thing that stood out were his high ideals which to me are impractical. He was not realistic which is a good things because at the time breaking free from shackles of hegemony of British was unrealistic, impossible; but he thought it was possible and that too through non-violence. It is tough to imagine what life would have been for us today if Gandhi hadn’t been impractical.
What pains me most is the number of people who spit venom at his name without thought. Till now I had remained quiet whenever people did so. But now that I have gained some knowledge of his life and what his ideals were I am willing to oppose them quite vehemently. A word about these people though. People who immediately spit venom the Gandhi’s name is mentioned are those who do not know anything about him. They do so because he is “supposed” to be a revered icon and saying such sacrilege things makes them appear cool.
Now a word about truth, people who believe in Gandhism often believe that we should not take his actions, words or ideas literally. We should focus on the spirit that drove him. Gandhi stated that he was not yet fully a master of Non-Violence. However, he claimed to be a master of “truth”. That he always spoke truth is not very remarkable when compared to doing what was “right”. Truth is actually translation of word “satya” and as we all know satya doesn’t just stand for truth but also for what is right and just. That is why the slogan “Satyamev Jayate”. We all know what is right. What we ought to do. But how many of us actually do it? How many of us actually have the heart to listen to our inner voice and raise our voice against what we know is wrong? Comparing to Gandhi I had say none. We do not take the right action because we are afraid of the consequence. Here was a man for whom the consequences were same yet he did not falter.
Make no mistake I am not a blind supporter of Gandhi. I barely understand his concept of Ahinsa or his principles which led him to make decisions like not giving his children proper schooling. I do not understand why he chose to risk his own life and more gravely his child’s by obstinately refusing to listen to medical science and relying on home medicine. Though I do understand why he halted Civil-disobedience after Chauri Chaura incident and why he did not try to save Bhagat Singh and his associates, I do not think those decisions were practical. He believed that ends cannot justify means. His suggestion that Jews should have willingly let Hitler take their life, in fact offered their lives to Hitler, is proof of his ridiculous extremism.
What I do admire is a person of no ego. One who always did what he knew was right. I admire a man in whom a whole nation laid faith when they had no means to fight, a man whom everyone forgot as soon as it became convenient so that they could slaughter each other. Now I understand why they say “Majboori ka naam Mahatma Gandhi”, when you can’t fight British Empire use Gandhi’s principle as a last resort, call it Non-Violence. But when they are gone forget Gandhi and butcher each other in name of religion.

10 Things I learnt this world cup

10 Things I learnt this world cup (An Indian Perspective):
1. Netherlands is also called Dutch and Holland.
2. Paul octopus is not some Indian phenomenon created by Aaj Tak (like I initially thought him to be).
3. If you find the arguments of Netherland and Spain fans more amusing than the match you are not a football fan.
4. If you are not an ardent fan you can fall asleep in finals especially if it drags goes into extra time
5. If Sania Mirza and Maria Sharpova don’t make it to first Page during Wimbledon, the World cup is going on at the same time.
6. Footballers are not unknown to wrestling moves. I am sure I saw a Rock Bottom and a Karate Kick.
7. Even if you don’t support a team you should get your face painted it makes a nice profile picture…. Seriously.
8. It’s a good reason to stay from home late at night.
9. Shakira is as sticky as Himesh Reshamiya (Still can’t get the Waka Waka out of my head).
10. Shakira is still alive.

Interview

A room with three people sitting behind a desk. A chair is situated in front of them.
A knock is heard.
“Come in.” the mustached guy in the middle, Mr. Malhotra, says.
A guy timidly enters the room.
“Good Evening Sirs. Good evening Madam.” He says addressing the lady in green sari.
“Please have a seat!” Mrs. Goswami says.
The interview is for a post of teacher in a college.
The third member of the panel, Mr. Patel, who is almost bald asks,
“Do you hate students?”
“Why yes sir. I just can’t stand them.” the guy says losing his nervousness and becoming eager.
“Good! Good!” says Mr. Malhotra.
“Do you discriminate between your students and show partiality?”
“Why yes sir. You see I even lost my previous job because I gave high marks to a girl and not to our donator’s nephew.”
“I like you young man. What is your name and what is your qualification?”
“My name is Khan, Sir and I am a sadist. I recently completed my Ph.D.”
“Well Mr. Khan we like you but we can’t be sure that you deserve this job can you give us a demonstration?” Mrs. Gowsami asked.
“Sure Madam” Khan replied nervously.
“Ok say I am a student in your class who does not do well and Mr. Patel,” she points to Mr. Patel “is a great student. How will you deal with us?”
Khan gets up, points at Mrs. Goswami.
“You! Get up!”
Mrs. Goswami plays along. She gets up and says
“Yes Sir.”
“Tell me how to solve this sum using the method I will teach you in a couple of days.”
“I don’t know.”
Smirks.
“I am sure you will know the night before the exam.”
Khan breaks character and says,
“Madam you do realize I am assuming you are not a girl.”
“Of course, of course we are very chivalrous people after all.”
Mr. Patel gets up at this point and says,
“Sir, I know the answer.”
“Speak when you are spoken to.” Khan shouts.
“Your young generation has no respect. You guys are going to be the future of our country and you can’t even behave.”
“Bravo! Bravo!” says Mr. Malhotra.
“You have got the job. Just keep being unreasonable and make students life hell and you will go far.”
“Thank you, Sir. I won’t disappoint you.”

Net

I love the net. You know, you are always in touch with everyone you send nice messages and receive great forwards. Recently I got a very nice forward saying all the nice things like if you had a quarrel fix it because the person might still want to be your friends. If you love someone tell him/her, he/she might love you as well. But they may not love you tomorrow. The end had a sweet message that you had to forward to everyone you cared about. I was so touched that the guy cared about me so much that he had forwarded it to me. The only problem was I did not know the guy. Love the net.

Forcing charity down the throat

To celebrate the auspicious occasion of Dashera a “langar” was started in the outskirts of our college. The Mess staff of most hostels decided to get holy and closed the messes so everyone is forced to eat in langar. As the only food joint is owned by the person giving the langar you have to eat the langar food you have no alternative except if you remaining hungry. But what if someone did not want others charity? Who cares! The thing has religious feel to it so going against the arrangement in anyway would be blasphemous.
As me and my friend did not want to eat on charity we went to the perhaps only mess which was open and ate on seniors account. On the way back I was fuming with indignation of injustice. When I told my friend how wrong it was and that I planned to complain he replied “It does not affect me.” I enquired why he had not eaten in the bhandar then.
“I will never do that.” He replied.
So what he had meant to say was “I am bothered by it but I will not take any action.”
We are Indians where conformity is everything. Going against the authority is unthinkable the consequences too great. Besides why even bother? Better to go hungry as most of my other friends did.
I would suggest that such charity could be put to better use if it was served to those who need it. There are many people in the surrounding area below the poverty line why not use the money to provide a day’s meal to them. Why force it on us who don’t want it.