Horizons - Filled with Hope

55er: Missed Opportunities

2012-04-17T22:48:00.000+05:30

This summer's first raindrops appeared on the windscreen when I was half-way home.
Much as I longed to get wet, soak it up; I rolled up the windows, planning to enjoy it all after reaching home. Sadly, by then it stopped raining.

****************

The opportunities we miss in life; letting go when we have the chance!

Privilege

2011-09-01T07:30:00.000+05:30

Dear Parliament of the Union of Suparlia,

If you don't mind, may I ask you a question? Wouldn't it do the nation and the people of Suparlia a whole lot of good if you concentrated on making laws (for instance, discussing and debating the provisions of a recently agreed-upon bill) rather than wasting time bringing in privilege motions against some poor souls who just vented their frustration?

OOPS … Oh no … Uh oh .. wait .. I'm extremely sorry. I profusely apologize for insulting your holy institution – the Parliament, by asking this question. I am so very very really really SORRY. I shouldn't have uttered these words .. they are blasphemous. How dare I, an ordinary citizen, ask such a question of you, the very reigning deities of our great country?

This is equivalent to insulting Suparlia herself. In fact, this act is more shameful than insulting the Suparlia flag, insulting the Suparlia national anthem, and looting, plundering and raping the entire nation – all put together. I once again repeat – I tender an unconditional apology for bringing your virtuous shrine to disrepute.

To prove just how deep my remorse is regarding my outburst against you, I shall:

Start a campaign to educate the people of the country about the sanctity of the Parliament and Parliamentarians.
Call for the entire monsoon session of Parliament to only look for cases across the country where the righteousness of the Parliament has been brought into question, and to act on each of them in turn.
Lobby for bringing in a bill that makes it mandatory for the Parliament to set aside an hour every day to bask in its own glory.
Mobilise the public to such an extent that they demand setting aside 5% of the annual Union Budget just to bring to book, anyone who dares to challenge the supremacy of the Parliament.

Whatever you do, please please pretty please spare me. I beg you to not bring a privilege motion against me. I am just an ordinary citizen and I did not mean whatever I said. I should never have asked that question. I withdraw my question in word and spirit. I consider it my privilege to prostrate myself in front of the supra-consecrated Parliament of Suparlia.

Yours Sincerely,

A meek, unprivileged Citizen of Suparlia.

Book Review: "Annexed" by Sharon Dogar

2011-07-04T09:00:00.003+05:30

So, we've all heard and read about Anne Frank, who is arguably the most famous victim of the Nazi-perpetrated WW II holocaust. Anne Frank has been made immortal through her diary "Kitty", which is now a book "Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl". We have read about what went through the early teenager's mind, body and life as she was holed up in a warehouse somewhere in Amsterdam trying to escape arrest by the Nazis; for two years. We have also all read about her crush on Peter van-Daan, the boy two years older than her, whose family was also in hiding along with the Franks in the same house.

Now, can you imagine the entire incident from Peter's point of view? Had he maintained a diary too, what might he have written in it? Would he see it differently from Anne? Anne was a proud Jew and she wanted to get back to her roots once the war was over. Peter, on the other hand, just wanted to be him – Peter van-Pels (in Anne's diary he is mentioned as van-Daan) – without any racial or religious tags. Are these two opinions really as mutually exclusive as they seem?

Sharon Dogar, in her book "Annexed" writes up an imaginary diary – one that Peter might have penned. Anne's diary abruptly stops at the date when the 2 families were finally arrested and sent out on the last train to Auschwitz camp. However, in "Annexed", Sharon goes beyond the arrest and into the concentration camps, the gas chambers, the lives which are worse than death, the death marches.

What struck me about this book is the depth of Sharon's imagination. She has gone deep into Peter's soul and understood his character in mind-boggling detail. You would be forgiven for thinking that this actually is Peter's diary!

The other aspect of "Annexed" is how it makes you feel for the residents of the hide-out, for Peter, for Anne, for the victims of the holocaust. It reminds you that the simple things in life that you take for granted – are not really so. Peter keeps talking about "outside" in his diary. Can you imagine being indoors for 2 years straight, without ever stepping out, and yearning with all your being just to be outside for a few minutes?

The closing chapters describe the conditions in the concentration camps in detail – and leave you horrified. How is it possible for one human to nurse so much hatred against other? How can Anne's father Otto Frank stay focused and advocate against "an eye for an eye" even in the face of such impending doom?

All in all, I would highly recommend "Annexed". If you have read The Diary of Anne Frank, then this book is a great read to make you appreciate the sometimes contradicting, sometimes agreeing views from Peter's point of view. Even if you haven't read Anne Frank, "Annexed" is still a recommended read (although I also suggest you read Anne Frank first!).

55er: Child Next Door

2011-06-08T09:35:00.000+05:30

This child in the slum next door? Her constant smile puzzles the observer.

Her drunkard father beats her.

Mornings she's a maid at a dozen households.

School occupies her afternoons.

Evening she cooks and cleans.

Such turmoil at this tender age, yet she manages that perennial smile?

Is there something to be learnt from her?

An Open Letter to Mainstream Media

2011-05-26T07:55:00.001+05:30

Dear Indian Mainstream Media,

So, the cat is out of the bag. David Headley has reaffirmed what we already knew. But YOU heard it straight from the demon's mouth. LeT did make use of YOUR live coverage of 26/11 to guide the attackers, alter instructions and make the attack more effective.

What strikes me about this matter is the way YOU played right into LeT's hands. LeT knew YOUR greed in such matters, and knew that YOU would even pimp yourself for a chance to get those exclusive visuals. I guess that using the live coverage as a tool to adapt the attacks – that was a key part of the plan. They knew YOU would cover it live. In short, the LeT used YOU in a manipulative way, without YOU even realizing it (although practically everyone else did!). Even LeT deserves credit for this shrewdness.

So, can YOU finally come round and issue a collective acknowledgement that YOU were wrong? That YOU were irresponsible in YOUR coverage that day? An apology, and a commitment that YOU will be more responsible in the future? Just so that We The People are reassured that there is at least an iota of ethics retained in YOUR highly esteemed self?

Or, do I ask for too much?

Yours Truly,

Just one Among “We, the People”.

************************

Previous Posts on this Topic:

Book Review: Worth Every Gasp

2011-05-16T09:37:00.000+05:30

What's it About?

Image source: Flipkart page for this book.

Meet Anamika Mukherjee. While on a trek in Markha Valley in Ladakh with her husband and friends, she suffered from pulmonary oedema, and had to abort the trek mid-way. She returned to Leh for rest and recuperation.

Ok, that's just he beginning of the story. What happened after that is the real thing. While her husband returned home having completed the trek, Anamika stayed back. And, after she had recovered enough, set her sights on completing the trek that she had left unfinished!

This journey is what the book “Worth Every Gasp – A Lone Woman's Journey In the Himalayas” is all about. Anamika was joined by an acquaintance Ballu, who had in the past accompanied them as a guide on a few treks in Uttaranchal. Yes – you read that right. A lone woman, trekking in the Himalayas with a man who is not her husband!

Anamika spent a few months trekking in the Himalayas. She started in and around the “lower altitude” (ya, right!) Manali . This was to get a feel for her readiness for the higher altitude treks in Ladakh. Once she was reasonably sure she could pull through, she got back to Ladakh, where she completed, among others, the Markha valley trek which had been her nemesis last time round. That accomplished, she also spent a few weeks back in Himachal Pradesh, rounding off her adventures with the trek to Chandertaal, and then one final visit to the Valley of Flowers in Uttaranchal.

Salient points?

For one, the adventure itself is extraordinary. I mean, can you even begin to imagine the adventure quotient of this trip? In addition, the writing style is so endearing and alluring, I almost packed my bags and left for Ladakh while reading this book.

The language, the wit and humor. You would be pleasantly surprised at the number of philosophical questions that are put forth in the book, disguised as anecdotes.

Then, the writing is also very candid. It is full of matters which we all think about but never say out loud.

“What? A married woman sleeping in the same tent as a guide?”
How does one cope with toilet issues on journeys like these?
How does a woman cope with unwanted attention, especially if she's a solitary traveler?

But, most of all, the thing that made me absolutely riveted to the book is the author's description of the places. Believe me when I say that describing natural beauty is a gift. And the author is gifted. I found myself repeatedly doing a Google image search for the places she mentions, and quite often finding that the image she drew for me very closely matches the image on screen.

Verdict

All in all, if you are a travel enthusiast, a trekker, a nature lover or a Ladakh-addict, then this book is for you. I guarantee you – you will not be disappointed.

Desh Raag

2011-04-06T09:30:00.003+05:30

Meet me. I am the modern, 21^st century, Indian youth. I have a deep mine of knowledge about anything and everything in the world.

Forget about the Indian map, I even know the Polynesian, Scandinavian and Baltic maps by heart. When it comes to USA, I speak in terms of states and their capitals.

I know the names of coaches of all football teams in the EPL. I even know the amount for which player X moved from club A to club B.

I have in-depth knowledge of the tug-of-war going on in Silicon Valley; about the cut-throat competition between Apple and Google to gain control of the mobile market.

I can rattle off the engine specifications of German, Japanese and Korean cars to astonishing detail; heck I can even give you a crash course on fighter jets.

In spite of all this, when I watch Desh Raag on TV after a long long time, I discover that I cannot even name all the instruments used in it – let alone the names of the artistes playing those instruments!

And I write this blog post, in shame. Directed at my own self and nothing else.

55er: Agony

2011-03-28T09:00:00.000+05:30

The law could not help her.

Ethics were mute spectators.

Intellectuals debated her fate.

And she suffered silently, incapable of expressing herself.

No-one, but no one understood what she was going through; what was going through her.

How could she tell them that Euthanasia or not, all she wanted was release from this endless misery?

Book Review: Children of a Better God by Susmita Bagchi

2011-03-21T08:30:00.003+05:30

Children of a Better God is a novel by Oriya writer Susmita Bagchi. It was written originally in Oriya (Deba Shishu) and has been translated into other languages, including English.

This is one novel which first by-passes the brain and proceeds straight to the heart. However, it eventually asks several questions of the reader.

The story is about Anupurba, who has just returned from the US with her husband and two sons. Anupurba was an art teacher in the US, but she doesn't find any suitable job for herself back in Bangalore. She ends up volunteering to teach art at Asha Jyothi, a school for spastic children.

This experience turns out to be a life-changing one for Purba. The story takes the reader through Purba's journey, which begins with the realization that she had very wrong notions about cerebral palsy. Her initial apprehensions are found to be unfounded. She ends up being emotionally attached and also succeeds in making a difference, even guiding the children to an art exhibition.

Children of a Better God is more than a story. It attempts to give people a glimpse into the lives of children who suffer from cerebral palsy, to remove misconceptions, to answer several questions, to pose others.

Spastic children may have physical deformities, but they are often shunned by society because of misgivings.
Dealing with children requires lot of patience, dealing with spastic children even more so. For example, the book has one character, Uma, who has almost no legs, has a very bad temper. So, how does one deal with such children? Ignore their excesses? Or strike a balance by being strict with them?
What such children lack in anatomy, they make up for in something else. They are brilliant in art or poetry or academics - something or the other. By no means are they to be dismissed.
What is the future for spastic children? What happens when they are at the threshold of adulthood? Do they crave for romantic and sexual fulfillment?

Above all, the book reinforces the point that has been made about special children time and again: They do not need your sympathy. It is the understanding and support that they seek from this society.

I would definitely recommend this book. Apart from educating me about spastic children, it has sent me on a soul-searching mission. It has also increased my respect for the countless nameless teachers, volunteers, ayahs and other staff who work selflessly and tirelessly to give hope to special children.

Landmark

2011-03-17T08:30:00.000+05:30

I just completed 1000 days serving as the President of FakesLand. And Phew! What a busy time it has been. I've been up to my neck in work. All the time. It isn't easy running a nation of 50 million people, is it?

What's that snicker for? You don't believe me, do you? Ok, here's my list of achievements

I completed 1000 days in office. You have no idea how big an achievement that is in itself.
I presided over 100 celebrations (completion of 100 days, completion of 200 days, acquittal in a case of corruption, onset of monsoon, my birthday, departure of monsoon, castration of a donkey, ... and so on and so forth)
I conducted roughly 200 bandh's in protest against everything from the big bang to solar flares to my neighbor's cat peeing on the road-side at the exact spot where my dog is supposed to pee. “Wait a minute”, I hear you say. “If you were ruling, then who were the protests against”, you ask? Well, I don't consider it necessary to answer that question.
I set the world record for the number, magnitude and frequency of disruptions caused to the lives of the general public in my capital city. Considering the immense competition in this field, and the unquestionable talent and capability of my counterparts from other nations in this respect, I hold this accomplishment of mine in highest regard.

There – does that suffice? Now wipe that smirk off your face and scoot. I have business to attend to. I am planning to hold a massive rally to commemorate the 100^th case of corruption registered against me. So, if you will be so kind as to excuse me …

Books: Good. TV: Bad

2011-03-07T12:41:00.000+05:30

Reading is generally considered a good hobby. Watching TV, on the other hand, is supposed to be a waste of time. Ok, who am I kidding with this third person narration? I've been guilty of making this distinction myself. But now that I think of it, what is the basis?

Is it because TV has “objectionable content”? But then, so do books. Remember, books don't go through a censorship process, are more easily accessible and are more “private” compared TV viewing. So books are guiltier than TV of corrupting minds with such content.

Is it because TV is not good for one's eyesight? But books don't score very well on that count either (especially if you are like me – reading in moving vehicles, in less-then-ideal lighting conditions … and .. you get the point).

Is it because TV “distracts” people, particularly children? Books do too, don't they? I remember reading Alfred Hitchcock's “Three Investigators” series even during exam season in my pre-high school days.

So, why the prejudice against TV?

I have come to the conclusion that TV can be not only an entertainer, it can also be a great quencher of the thirst for knowledge. It can be as effective a companion for the inquisitive soul as books. It is all a matter of what one chooses to watch; just as it is a matter of what one opts to read.

55er: Enemy

2011-03-03T08:30:00.000+05:30

The enemy soldier lay lifeless in his trench.

He bent over the body, systematically looking for belongings.

He found a letter in the shirt pocket.

On reading it, he broke down, wondering about futility of war; of sacrifice for reasons unbeknownst.

For, the letter was from the deceased's wife, with a photo of their newborn.

Abble iStink

2011-02-27T09:08:00.001+05:30

Abble Computers today announced the release of its latest earth-shattering, life-changing product – the iStink. The iStink is the latest gadget from this company which has been a pioneer in the space of mouth-watering products. This follows the release of the hugely successful iFad last year, and the run-away successes, the iDrone and the iSod the year before that.

Showcasing the product in a press conference, Abble founder and CEO, Jeev Snobs, said that the iStink experience will seamlessly integrate with that of previous Abble products. For example, users can purchase “craps” for the iStink from the Abble CrappStore. The iStink is powered by Abble's flagship, critically acclaimed OS – the iOhShit. Snobs said that iStink will feature version 6.1 of the legendary OS, and that it has been fine-tuned specifically for this product.

How the iStink is received by consumers remains to be seen, but it is widely expected to emulate the stupendous success of its predecessors. Watch this space for further updates on this, and other products from Abble.

55er: Full Circle

2011-02-24T23:38:00.000+05:30

As a student:
Neighbourhood stand-and-eat self-services (Darshinis et. al.)

As an intern:
Upgradation to A/C halls of the Sagars

Early days of employment:
Graduation to CCDs and restaurants serving impressive sounding cuisines

That's when reality dawns; The concept of "savings" beginning to make a non-negligible impression.

Soon, back it is to the neighbourhood stand-and-eat self-services.

Who's the Patriot?

2011-01-20T09:02:00.000+05:30

Exhibit A: A politician, businessman or celebrity. Twice a year, he hoists the flag and sings the national anthem, his chest swelling with pride at those two occasions.

Exhibit B: A Defence personnel, a security guard, a policeman, a fire-fighter. They dedicate their lives for the country. They are the first breed that come to mind when we think “patriotism”.

Exhibit C: A driver, municipal sweeper, house-maid, toilet cleaner, daily wage labourer, coolie, primary school teacher. Most of these people are probably illiterate; chances are that they don't know what a “flag” is and have never heard of something called a “national anthem”. But these are the people that keep the nation running.

So, who among these should be counted among true patriots? In other words, what place does tokenism and symbolism have in patriotism and nation-building?

Five Faces of WikiLeaks

2010-12-14T22:05:00.000+05:30

A lot has been said about the WikiLeaks saga already. There's nothing that I could possibly add. Instead, I'll summarize! I'll take the five “actors” in this drama, and state my opinion on each of them in turn.

WikiLeaks:

What the site is doing is, supposedly, illegal. I don't see how speaking the truth out can be considered illegal. Sure, the documents it is leaking are “classified”. But then, one shouldn't use such a channel to insult senior foreign leaders, should one?

If I were WikiLeaks, I would hold my head high today.

Verdict: Illegal, but undoubtedly ethical.

Julian Assange:

It takes guts to do what this man did – taking on the biggest bunch of hypocrites in this world isn't exactly my idea of a “challenging job”. Having said that, the other, unrelated track (the one for which he has been projected into the limelight for the wrong reasons) merits mention here too.

Charges of sexual offences have been levelled against Julian. He is not exactly charged with rape – it has more to do with engaging in unprotected sex with a sex worker in Sweden, where the law forbids it.

I think while making a martyr out of Julian, this track needs to be kept separate. Lets face it – Julian Assange apparently violated the law in Sweden, and he needs to be punished for it.

Verdict: Illegal and Unethical

US:

US has been trying to pull every string to try and stop the leaks. This puzzles me no end. US is the biggest champion of free speech. If they are hell bent on making a terrorist out of Julian Assange (as Sarah Palin reportedly demanded), doesn't that render hollow everything that the US has ever stood for? Where does that leave the Afghan war? The US stand on Aung San Suu Kyi? That on Tibet? How does that make Julian any different from Liu Xiaobo?

Verdict: Unethical to the core. Dont know (and dont care) whether the methods they are employing to silence WikiLeaks are legal or not.

Service Providers and Other Companies:

Amazon kicked out WikiLeaks citing illegal activities. MasterCard, PayPal, twitter, Facebook – all followed suit by “censoring” WikiLeaks or its sympathizers in one way or other. Ironically, some of these companies depend on freedom of speech for their very existence.

It has been argued that these companies might have taken the step of evicting WikiLeaks under pressure from the US Govt. That is hard to digest – given that these companies operate out of US – not North Korea for Gods' Sake!

Verdict: Unethical. Full Stop.

Operation Payback:

This is an attempt by a group of hackers to get back at those companies which pulled the rug from under WikiLeaks at the opportune moment. They are trying to do this by means of launching DDoS attacks on the wesbites of the service providers in question. Carrying out such kind of attacks is illegal in several countries. In my opinion, this shouldn't have been done. There must be other ways of supporting WikiLeaks.

Verdict: Bordering on the unethical, outright illegal.

So there you are. That's where I stand as far as WikiLeaks is concerned. I view the antics of the US govt in its desperate attempt to plug the leaks, as an assault on democracy and freedom of speech. Not sure where this showdown is headed though. Will have to wait and watch.

55er: Versus

2010-11-25T09:30:00.007+05:30

Good against bad.

Success versus failure.

All or Nothing.

Concrete takes on Abstract.

Courage over Fear.

It all boils down to this: What I Understand - up against - What I Know Not Much Of.

Which is why, once I take the trouble to understand the other side, the distinction between positive and negative blurs.

55er: What He Means, What She Thinks

2010-11-18T09:00:00.000+05:30

It was their first anniversary. She had planned to cook a grand dinner for him.

However, just before leaving for office, he said "Let's dine out this evening"

His intention: "Let me spare her the trouble of having to cook at least for a day"

Her interpretation: "He's bored of my cooking already. So insensitive".

7 things I'd like to Photograph Before I Die

2010-11-11T09:45:00.000+05:30

Presenting the list of seven things I'd really like to photograph in this lifetime. The fact that this quest would take me far and wide across several continents is a pure coincidence.

The magnificence of an erupting volcano.

Just imagine – A dark sky. An ominous looking mountain. Lava spewing out from the top. Yellow, red and every other shade in between. And me being there to witness the destructive, yet awe-inspiring phenomenon. I think this'd be as close to moksha as I'll ever get. The picture I have in mind is this

[This photograph of Pacaya volcano in Guatemala is sourced from wallpaperweb.org]

The impossible colour riot of a coral reef ecosystem

Innumerable species and countless variety of life. Fish. Mammals. Plants. Un-categorizable life forms. Colours that can never be captured in lens. Now wouldn't that be one hell of a visual treat?

[Image Source: http://nature.desktopnexus.com/get/209668]

Migration of Wildebeest

This is the largest migration spectacle seen on earth. I would love to get a shot from above – where all you can see are wildebeest (not even an inch of the land visible). And of course, the dust that they kick up! More details about this migration at wikipedia. Or just tune in to Discovery/Animal Planet :)

[Image courtesy Burrard Lucas Photography]

Northern Lights

This is yet another spell-binding natural phenomenon. I don't know whether my camera (or any camera) would be able to capture the real beauty of aurorae, but it's worth a try.

[Image source: NGC photography]

The Emperor Penguin Huddle

During the peak of the Antarctic winter, thousands of emperor penguins huddle together to beat the brutal blizzards. This huddling generates heat that keeps them going. The birds take turns being on the perimeter of the group. What a sight that'd make!

Aerial view of the Pantanal

Pantanal is the largest swamp in the world. It is part of the Amazon basin. The marsh is home to thousands of species of wildlife – including the famous anaconda. I'd trade a kidney for the chance to get a shot of Pantanal from the air. Who knows, I might even get a snap of an anaconda while at it.

[Photo sourced from NGC travel]

A wild animal nursing its newborn – in the wild

That bond between mother and child – nature's biggest gift of life. I hope to capture that one moment that portrays several emotions. Something like this:

[Photo courtesy: The Big Photo]

So, what's on your list?

55er: Business As Usual

2010-10-28T09:00:00.000+05:30

The senior management was regretful. The incident shouldn't have occurred. Lives were lost.

But, the show had to go on. A handful of deaths didn't justify an additional safety budget. Or the ensuing cut in profits

So, it was back to business as usual; the potentially fatal flaw un-rectified. After all, it's a capitalist world.

55er: Thankless

2010-10-21T09:00:00.004+05:30

All day long, through sun and rain, I man the signal.

Often without a post, in the center of the road.

Sometimes hapless, sometimes helpless.

Swallowing dust, breathing in smoke, directing unruly motorists.

And what does my city reward me with, at end of the day?

Ruthless, biased criticism. With not a single thought spared.

An Ode to Lai - The Cancer Fighter

2010-10-17T23:23:00.000+05:30

I'll remember the late nights at office, when your jokes succeeded in keeping the work pressure at bay.

I'll remember the lunches and dinners when we traded thoughts about each others' cultures.

I'll remember the drives, the drops, the cars, the parking lots.

I'll remember what we taught each other of our respective languages (“Ennadei” in particular).

Above all, what you will always be remembered for, is the way you turned your predicament into a mission – that of giving hope to the countless others suffering from the same disease.

You will forever be remembered for your fight against cancer, for the manner in which you took the bull by the horns.

You will live forever in our memories for inspiring innumerable patients to stay alive and fight the dreaded disease.

The tips, the wit, the advice, and most importantly, the fighting spirit, that you imparted through your blog – will, no doubt, give new life to some cancer patient one day.

And through that new life, you shall live. Forever. In our memories and in our hearts.

Lai Chin Lun, I am proud to have had a friend like you. May your soul Rest In Peace.

************************

My close friend, Lai, had been diagnosed with nose cancer last July. He refused to be bogged down by the situation, and started a blog (The Story of a Cancer Fighter) with details of his fight against the killer. His intention was to give hope and inspiration to other patients like himself, to prevent them from surrendering themselves to the disease.

A year of fighting took its toll on him. He breathed his last yesterday. This post is an ode to everything Lai – his courage, his spirit and his attitude.

The Religious Freedom Paradox

2010-10-12T09:30:00.000+05:30

I, Kiran, founder of the religion of Convertism. This is a brand new religion, and I think it has come about at just the right time. This country (in fact, the world), is in a grip of religious freedom-ness. So, I guess I can be assured that I will have the right to practice my religion freely, anywhere in the country.

Convertism is very simple really. There are no holy books, no places of worship, no deity, no rituals, no guidelines, no God. There is only one simple principle and one simple goal of Convertism:

“To convert every human being on Earth to the religion of Convertism”

There. Isn't that great? Show me one other religion that can state its entire existence in a single sentence! And what's best – since most countries in the world have stated that they guarantee religious freedom, I can practice my religion without worry. Now, to find people from other religions so that I can start converting them … …

Hey! What do you mean? Leaders of all major religions are opposing my move? But .. but .. this is my religion. This is all there is to Convertism. How can the world, a professed “religious-freedom-guarantor” one, deny me the space to propagate mine?

What's that? My religion contradicts another? So, you mean, practising Convertism implicitly denies other people the freedom to practice their respective religions? Hmmm .. that's quite a paradox.

Hold on! Are none of the existing major religions into conversions? Aren't they treading on each other's freedom? When the major religions have failed to compromise on some of their practices (if they violate another religion) for the sake of World peace, then why should I, the founder of the predominant religion of tomorrow, step back?

This is getting really messy. If all major religions had more than sufficient followers, then the world should have made a conscious effort to minimize conversions in any form long ago. More importantly, the religious freedom guarantee should have come with a caveat – that the act does not violate any other religion in any manner.

But, since there is no such explicit effort to bridge the abyss, I will go ahead preaching and converting. Come what may.

Army - Caught in the Line of Fire

2010-09-20T09:47:00.000+05:30

In the past few months, we’ve been reading a lot about Kashmir and how the so-called draconian AFSPA is to blame for all of the valley’s troubles. We read about fresh reports of violence every day, more deaths every day. For the first time in decades, all of Kashmir was placed under curfew a few days back.

The Indian Army was caught in the line of fire. Everyone from separatists to the CM of J&K laid the blame squarely on the Indian Army’s shoulders. What everyone conveniently chose to ignore was the fact that the Army was not directly responsible for even a single death in Kashmir during the past few months. The bullets were all fired by J&K police or by the battalions of CRPF!

M.J.Akbar's article in this Sunday’s ToI (reproduced on his blog - link here) helped in reinforcing my stand. Do read this article to get a crystal-clear context of the state in Kashmir. The cacophony against the Army is clearly a ploy to get the only force capable of holding the valley together, out of there; thus allowing Pak-controlled elements a free run. There are a few unanswered questions though:

Why is Omar Abdullah joining the tirade against the Army? Is it just a survival tactic or is there more to it?
What made the GoI to sit on the simmering cauldron for so long before calling for an all-party meet?

There may be a few bad elements in the Army, and there may be ill-treatment of the locals. This should not be allowed to continue. However, meddling with the affairs of the Army in Kashmir is a bad idea given the current situation and how Pakistan and extremists are raring to go. I believe the Army needs to stay - for they are the only ones capable of upholding the integrity of the region, and thus the nation.

Help Ladakh: Photo Exhibition in Bangalore

2010-09-16T10:03:00.000+05:30

This July, I had been on an almost heavenly journey to Ladakh [see the end of this post for details on the travelog]. Less than 2 weeks after I returned from there, tragedy struck this paradise. Cloudbursts and flash floods devastated the region, leading to massive losses of life and livelihood.

As anybody who has visited Ladakh will tell you – it is impossible to get the experience out of your psyche. The massive scale of everything that makes up the terrain (mountains, lakes, valleys) which make you feel insignificant; the simplistic culture and lifestyle of the very affable populace; the feeling of being one with nature and being lost. That's the kind of emotional connect that you develop with this place.

The natural calamity no doubt gave sleepless nights to whoever has visited Ladakh, myself included. I wanted to do something about it, but did not know in what way I could contribute. I kept asking myself hazaar questions. Should I donate? Should I volunteer? How? How much?

The answer presented itself in the form of the “Glimpses From Ladakh” photo exhibition [link]. This is being organized by PhotograhpyOnTheMove and 1 Shanthi Road. The theme is simple – you submit snaps that you clicked of Ladakh, and they shortlist some of these photos. The short listed ones will be exhibited; and the proceeds from the exhibition will go towards rehabilitation work in Ladakh.

I submitted 5 of the photos that I had clicked, and one of them has been shortlisted. The thumbnails of all the shortlisted snaps can be seen here. Mine is the 21^st snap from top (it is also available at my Flickr photostream here ). The exhibition will be held at the design studio, 1 Shanthi Road in Bangalore. It will run from 17^th to 26^th September; 11 a.m to 8 p.m. Please do spread the word, especially to Bangalore-based people, to ensure that people attend in large numbers and make this event a success.

Event Details

What: Glimpses From Ladakh Photo Exhibition

Where: 1, Shanthi Road [Address Details Link]

When: 17^th to 26^th September

More details: Facebook Page. Also, check the Facebook Event link for RSVP.

********************************

There are few other avenues to help/donate towards this cause. While looking for ways to do so, I came across the following:

Save The Children: Allows you to donate in denominations of 2.5, 5, 10 or 20 thousand rupees, which will all go towards helping the affected children.
RESET: Allows online donation in Euros. Details of projects are available on the web page.
LeDeG: Stands for Ladakh ecological Development Group. This is the organization through which the proceeds of the photo exhibition will be channeled. You can also donate to them directly.
SOS Ladakh: This is a campaign being run by NDTV. They provide a bank account number of The Hope Trust through which donations are accepted. I did not find much info on what work is being carried out etc.

********************************

Over the weeks since I returned from Ladakh, I have penned down the travelog on my travel blog . Here is the link to my picasa web album. I have recounted by experience over a 4-part series. Here is a snippet from my Part 1.

In Ladakhi language, “La” means pass and “Dakh” means land. Ladakh, thus, means land of passes. It is easy to see why. There's hardly any 2 places in Ladakh that don't have a pass between them! But Ladakh is much more than just that.

Ladakh is a land of seemingly never-ending valleys, punctuated with streams and rivers, and the patches of greenery they bring about.
Ladakh is a land of snow-capped mountain peaks, mountains which are often completely barren.
Ladakh is a land of yaks and ibex, wild asses and horses, marmots and double humped camels, of migratory birds.
Ladakh is a land of lakes that seem to change colour and shade according to their mood.
Ladakh is a land of deserts and pastures, of nomads and tourists, of Gompas and monks.
Ladakh is the ultimate get-away destination, a magical land sure to linger in your psyche long after you've returned to your normal life.

For the complete travelog, visit my travel blog. In particular, here is how the travelog has been split

Part 1: Days 0,1,2.

Bangalore-Delhi.
Delhi-Leh.
In and around Leh.

Part 2: Days 3,4,5,6.

2-day trip: Leh-Pangong lake and back
2-day trip: Leh-Nubra valley and back

Part 3: Days 7,8,9.

Leh-TsoMoriri lake
TsoMoriri-TsoKar lake
TsoKar – Keylong

Part 4: Concluding part (Days 10,11,12)

Keylong-Manali
Manali sight-seeing
Manali-Delhi-Bangalore.