No religion for me

I don’t feel human again. I don’t feel human each time I read a horrific news like this. The Hindu outfits raped and burnt a girl suspecting her to be a Christian. Damn those bastards ... and sorry for my blasphemy, damn Hinduism too, if it advocates such methods to preach itself.

A few days ago, two motorcycle riders threw a bag at a small canteen and fled away. Out of general goodwill, a child working as a servant there picked that package to return it to them. And then boom …. An innocent life gone in this fight of honour-jihad …. What honour and prestige? Ask the Prophet.

Why ask Him, ask those persons who created these jihadis in the first place. In an attack to destroy Taliban and their base, the American aircrafts bombed the Aghani civilian settlements. What price these civilians are paying for? How can the whole world be so inert to all this going on in this part of world? Instead, in return is fomented a prejudiced view on Islam. Again, a diktat from the other God?

So will people say, who are the anointed keepers of their religion. But I don’t want to be a party to all this, by being a part of any of these religions. Oh God! I only wish there were no religion for the world, or at least for me.

It is morning, God

Today's morning was not much different: of another Tuesday, of another day of office, in fact, of another 30th of a month. But it was not any other morning. Today after waking up, I did say, "It is morning, God"

Every other morning I was saying, "Oh God, it is morning". I had longed to say it the other way. But I could never muster enough enthu to say so. But today was different. Reason: I don't know, but it felt fantastic.

Kohinoor and Da Vinci

There is no co-relation between the two, however far you stretch your imagination. But I could strike one, even if in the most unusual of ways, today. I saw the Kohinoor, the diamond of immense fascination, in Jewel House in Tower of London today.

Long before entering the museum, I had set out my mind and eyes to look at it. Even then, I missed it among the other crowns and diamonds of the Queens, laid in a row. The stand containing these precious jewels is flanked by an automatically moving pathway on either side; so, if you miss what you are looking for, you can’t just stand and search for it. As soon as I reached the other side, I approached an attendant to ask about it. Before I could open my mouth, she said with a smile, “It’s there, beside the Mother Queen’s crown.” She would have answered about Kohinoor so many times, that she need not second guess what the question would be, coming from an Indian. Indeed, we Indians are so intrigued and involved by Kohinoor, that even after so much time, we consider it an Indian property, wrongfully looted by the British. The Kohinoor was given to Queen Victoria by the Nawab of Patiala in 1863 as a gift, and since then it has adorned the crowns of many Queens. At that time, its value was evaluated to be about 60% of the world’s wealth. I was simply astounded to read the same. I also read about Cullinan’s diamond, the world’ biggest diamond found in South Africa, and brought to UK subsequently by the colonial masters. I didn’t feel very highly of these larcenies by the British.

I went to the British Museum next. The entrance is free for the visitors, and it is really a welcome change from other museums which charge a lot for antiquities of significantly lesser worth. The Museum is so big that it is impossible to see and study everything in one week, leave aside one day. I went to the Egyptian section where the artifacts and antiquities, including mummies, were kept. I also saw the original Rosetta stone, the replica of which I had seen in Egypt. There are Greek and Roman sections too, containing these civilizations’ statues, writings etc. In fact, the Museum contains materials of almost all the Civilizations found till date, and you know what, most of them, if not all, are authentic materials. The British did a good job of amassing these. But still these don’t belong to them. “When I go to British Museum, I expect to see things from British culture, not things accumulated from different places.”-my accompanying friend fired this line, seemingly feeling the same. I had just moved to the corner of one section, when I espied one room, curiously secluded from other areas. I peeped inside it, and buoy, it was unexpected. There were people reading books, working on computers, writing notes etc, but all trying to look beyond the present into the past to educate themselves and the world. Needless to say, it was the library. I always had a dream about that kind of place after reading the novel, The Da Vinci Code, and I stepped into the hallowed room with excitement abound. There were materials of unlimited information, and on the basis of which, old world is unfolded before us.

There was a swift change of thoughts. If the British would not have gathered these, we would not have been even looking at them now. Lots of studies are funded by the Museum. There is always a prospect of someone finding something new here. Isn’t it a proverbial cradle of knowledge then? Ashamed a bit, I looked at the antiquities again for a while, and then quickly left. I could find the co-relation between Kohinoor and Da Vinci only for myself today; but if there is indeed one, it would be surely found out, if not today, then tomorrow- courtesy the all-embracing world we live in.

Time to Regroup

Whenever you feel worn out, you tend to think of the past days-the days which were full of promise. I certainly feel worn out now, not of anything else but something of my own making. The days have thus become harder. There is no better time than now to regroup.

My UK stay has been nothing short of intense. Besides making me worn out, as said above, in every respect, it has thrown so many different posers and challenges to me. Some latent feelings were brewed, while some were sobered. I certainly enjoyed the most part of it, but when the questions were left unanswered, I felt the distinct unease that I hate. I made a hash of my work life too, making it pound over me like anything. I had worked on it so much in the last few months. A part of it was undone. Thus there is no better time than now to regroup.

Sorry for writing such trash. I don’t want to piffle, but sometimes you can’t help it- especially when you believe that it will be the last time of piffling, and things will change for the better in future. Believe me, I won’t write, or at least try not to write, such abstruse hokum. Didn’t I say before- there is no better time than now to regroup?

A step forward

Thank God, the UPA government survived. I had been praying for its survival ever since the confidence motion was mooted to be put in the Parliament. I am not a UPA government supporter per se, but a common citizen who can discern what is right and what is wrong. You don’t need a big perspective to realize the fatuity of the farce going out there in the national polity. Now that it is over, I can seriously look forward to, and in fact, again pray for, some of the developments.

First, the Left parties need to be eliminated from the Indian political system. They are a blot on our country. However harsh the words may sound, it is true. They held the government to ransom for four years, but now they have got what they deserved. Hope in the next elections, they get negative seats, if that is possible.

Second, the UPA government push not only the N-deal, but also a number of held proposals in its remaining one year. There are many Acts lying in limbo in the Parliament. They need to be pushed for the betterment of the economy.

Third, the NDA headed by BJP realize what it takes to win an election. The country has changed much, and so has its polity, even if minimally. I hope it concentrates on building its own profile, rather than confronting the government just for the sake of it. The NDA, for all its publicized communal ideology, was the first government to actually arise in a new Shining India. I want them lead the nation next year.

Fourth and final, I want everyone to draw inspiration or reaffirm his or her faith from the above development that the time has indeed come or not gone away, to usher in a new developed era. The charlatans can’t hold the erudite now. If we manage to pull it off, then we would be proud of today several years later. It just needs a bit more belief; acts will follow, I am sure.

A bit distorted

Things have not been moving as expected or planned. So, life has gone haywire to an extent. And it has taken a toll on blogging too. Worse, it is going to be in limbo for some more time .

Ah! Someone had observed an out-of-lane car always takes time to regain its position. So, never waver your speed or lose your track.

The World Will Pass Underneath You

My friend asked me to write this, so I am putting it up on my blog. He has devised a unique plan of controlling the oil problem that has the whole world in convolution. But the nonchalant way in which he presents this to everyone is the most impressive part. So, I won’t be able to emulate him a wee bit here.

Ever wondered why does the earth rotate on its axis? Yes, or may be not, but we all would have definitely studied about it at some part of our learning. But did you ever think about harnessing this natural phenomenon? It can indeed be done. Whenever an aero plane takes off from its runway, make it go vertically upwards and not forward. After it has reached a comfort zone among the clouds, rest it there. The damn earth will nevertheless keep on moving underneath it, and after sometime when the destination is reached, let the plane descend gently on its new place. Whacky!!! This is bloody double whacky.

I had my food dropping out of my mouth, when he narrated this grand idea to me while we were having lunch. Despite knowing fully well in advance that it was ludicrous, my mind started working out the reason why it was not feasible. The famous Physics problem, “Why our body doesn’t get hit by a moving train when we jump inside it?” No, this case is different. I did find out the reason; the whole exercise of this churning of mind being a non-exercise in itself. But the important thing is that his plan did strike me and got me thinking; and it struck others also who were listening to this. Bravo! Well done, and hats off to you, Sunil.