Shadow on the sun…..

I took the liberty of using the rock group Audioslave’s track for the title of this article. Honestly, I could not think of a more fitting title for the unfortunate hostage crisis in South Bombay (Sorry Mr. Raj Thackeray, sorry Mr. Bal Thackeray, I know I didn’t use ‘Mumbai’, but I just don’t give a F***). Even as I am typing this article, rescue operations are still on, with our NSG commandos, part of an elite force to deal with such untoward events, risking their lives in painstakingly trying to capture the militants Dead/Live and free the hostages. We salute them and the army personnel deployed in the area.

My city Bombay, where of my 23 years on this blessed planet, 19 years have been spent in this fast paced, metropolitan, replete with slums and corrupt officials, tiring, never asleep city, I love so much.. How do we face such disaster time and again?? In the words of my friend, ‘Why this city? Why my city?’ But, I ask over here, ‘Why this country? Why any country?’ When has anyone heard militancy and violence resolving the problems of the people of any sect!!

Hindsight deliberations, rumours, cooked-up tales will last for another 2 weeks at least. But, as we live in a country where more than anyone the politicians know, that public memory is short-lived. The Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had come out yesterday with a ‘very strongly worded’ address to the nation condemning the actions of the militants and the usual rant of, ‘We will put forth a stronger law, won’t leave any loopholes, constitute a Federal investigating agency, improve intelligence services, develop a crises infrastructure (The last one I thought was funny.. We don’t even have a decent ‘regular’ infrastructure.) All, he had talked about after the series of blasts beginning with Jaipur, Hyderabad, Bangalore. Nothing has changed since then, we still don’t have tougher laws (Ok, I understand the reluctance over there, thanks to the way the previous central government misused it), still not even the slightest signs of movement towards constituting any agency, still reeking under poor intelligence (I wonder if we can still call it ‘Intelligence’). The Congress party has time and again failed this nation while the BJP resists to show any remorse seeing only an opportunity to regain power, and the never-ending saga of continual bickering goes on..

They say ‘Choice is the most salient feature of Democracy.’ So here are our ‘choices’, a party which is inactive on combating terror (read, Congress and allies) or a party which is over-active on combating terror from the outside while allowing terror within (read, BJP and allies). In the state elections we have a 3^rd choice in a party who defines terror based on the faith of a person and not by the bomb in his/her hand (read ShivSena, who has actually called for a State Bandh on 1^st December in protest of the alleged ‘torture’ of the Sadhvi involved in the Malegaon blasts.) Since day before's disheartening images, I’ve been getting this constant feeling of how the military should take over and disband all parties, so we may live with no fear and free of sick politicians. But then I get this chill down the spine thinking about the apathy of people living under Military rule (read, Burmese Junta).

I wonder if there is a common ground between Military rule and Freedom of speech, movement, press, judiciary. I guess I’m asking for too much in life these days. Until we don’t find that sacred ground of hope, I will continue to hold my head high in the city I love so much… ‘Bombay meri Jaan’…………

Anthony Palathingal

I-day message

Moving forward! I realise that we live in an age where there’s a lot of ‘Optimism’ particularly as a dominant force, about India, not just within the confines of The World’s biggest ‘Democracy’, but even in the Western world. I also realise that there’s copious amounts of negative energy among the commoners in this great nation, with the way this Democracy is being mutilated by the Political community. The system has been so perverted by those in power that even the Supreme Court, our last symbol of truism, had to state that, “Even God cannot save this country!” Sixty one years of pretence-Independence and yet I have this undiluted feeling that we actually are moving forward. Right from Raj Thackeray’s Marathi Manoos antics to BJP’s, almost fascist-hindutva agenda to Congress’ alleged immorality, the nation is stricken with non-secular, immoral, regionists. When these men and women masquerade as beacons of hope come election time, there’s an obvious helplessness that people suffer in choosing their representatives. I think the word ‘Representative’ in itself over the years has become a misnomer.

The Indian Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) for example are the biggest shams in this nation. Neither, providing even basic facilities to our many thousands and potentially millions of sportspersons. When KPS Gill was finally ousted and the Indian Hockey Federation disbanded, by the IOC President Suresh Kalmadi, it was hailed as a great step to rejuvenating our National sport. But, as Gill departed, what was forgotten was that Suresh Kalmadi, at the helm of the Olympic Committee for almost an eternity, has done no more than what Gill has in hockey. Both have lacked true commitment and almost seem uninterested in the way sports is developed in India, or in their case, are very committed to keep sports underdeveloped. The biggest positive among millions of negatives is how India is slowly but steadily turning into a Corporate giant. Involvement by the Industry in various social initiatives like rural development and recent foundations funded by LN Mittal and other such to assure medals at the Olympics, is a sign that the rich are willing to force some changes, for the good. But the undeniable truth is that unless our politicians pull up their socks and make swift structural and moral changes, we will become that high school cricketer who had so much promise but would never make it big. I do believe that poverty and corruption are not a Politician’s creation but facets of Human nature. You and I, we are all corrupt and immoral in our own limited sense. We all have our prejudices and hypocrisies. We all take advantage of those who are less fortunate and blow horns over other mistreatments. But, we also have other emotions like passion, commitment, patriotism, empathy and self-belief. What we need to promise is that we will wage wars daily, to evoke these emotions rather than their evil-cousins, which have plagued us for so long. In spite of all our failings as a country, I cannot help but feel optimistic, that one day we will prevail over all that is noxious. We will survive in harmony and equality in justice, freedom and economy. We will someday truly deserve to be called INDIANS…

Jai Hind!!!!!!

Anthony Palathingal

Omar! A speech, he himself will never forget...

Ok, before you read the full text of the speech given by Omar Abdullah (pasted below), you need to follow certain instructions in order to be able to read the Hindi text, which is the 3rd part of the speech and arguably the more passionate part.

The Fonts (files) to be downloaded and the instructions for the same are in the link pasted here. http://164.100.47.134/newls/hindifonts.htm It is a very easy installation process and files are very small, so won't take up your time... After you have done that, close the browser and open the link again, but remember to do so only in Internet Explorer. It will not work in any other browser.

I urge you'll to please make time (only a couple of minutes, for downloading the fonts) to read this.

It might be argued that Farooq Abdullah has had a major role in destroying Kashmir and its Integrity, all for the glorification of his self. It also might be argued that his son Omar Abdullah has followed similar methods of working as the leader of The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&K NC). But, what cannot be argued is the passion Omar showed in the speech he gave during the Trust vote in the Lok Sabha...

SHRI OMAR ABDULLAH (SRINAGAR): "Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I think that it is a matter of great misfortune for Parties like mine.… (Interruptions) I do not know whether the Rs. 1 crore that was shown here is genuine or not. But I think that it is extremely unfortunate that if nothing else, this Rs. 1 crore is seeking to buy the silence of Parties like mine who are not being given an opportunity to speak in a correct manner in this House.… (Interruptions) I have been a Member of this House for 10 years, and I have never disturbed this House in these 10 years. I have sat with them and I have sat on this side, and I have never disrupted a speaker and yet here they do not have the courtesy to listen to what I have to say.… (Interruptions) I am a Muslim, and I am an Indian. I see no distinction between the two.…

(Interruptions) I see no reason why I, as a Muslim, have to fear a deal between India and the United States of America (USA).… (Interruptions) This is a deal between two countries. It is a deal between, we hope, two countries that in the future will be two equals.… (Interruptions)

Sir, the enemies of Indian Muslims are not the Americans, and the enemies of the Indian Muslims are not 'deals' like this. The enemies of Indian Muslims are the same enemies that all the poor people of India face, namely, poverty and hunger, unemployment, lack of development and the absence of a voice. It is that we are against, namely, the effort being made to crush our voice.… ( Interruptions)

I am not a Member of the UPA, and I do not aspire the Membership of the UPA. But I am extremely unhappy with the way in which my friends in the Left have taken on this self-imposed position of being the certifiers of who is secular and who is not.… (Interruptions) Until a few years ago, I was a part of the NDA and I was a Minister with them. The same Left people considered me as a political untouchable, and they considered me an outcaste because I was a part of the NDA. Today, the same Left people are telling me that all secular Parties must unite with the BJP to bring down this Government.… (Interruptions) I made a mistake of standing with them once. I did not resign on the question of Gujarat when my conscience told me to do so, and my conscience has still not forgiven me. I need not make the same mistake again.… (Interruptions)

आप लोग अमरनाथ की बात करते हो, आपने अमरनाथ का आरोप लगाया,...(व्यवधान) आप एक जगह दिखाइए, जहां पर किसी कश्मीरी ने यात्रा के खिलाफ बात की हो, जहां किसी कश्मीरी ने कहा हो कि हमें यात्री नहीं चाहिए, जहां यात्रियों के ऊपर हमला हुआ हो।...(व्यवधान)

हमारी जमीन का मुद्दा था, हम अपनी जमीन के लिए लड़े और मरते दम तक अपनी जमीन के लिए लड़ेंगे, लेकिन हम आपकी तरह फिरकापरस्त नहीं हैं।...(व्यवधान) हम आपकी तरह कम्युनल नहीं हैं। हम मस्ज़िद नहीं गिराते और मंदिर भी नहीं गिराते। ...(व्यवधान) वहां एक सौ साल से ज्यादा अमरनाथ की यात्रा चलती आ रही है और जब तक कश्मीर में मुसलमान हैं, श्रीनगर और अमरनाथ में आपकी यात्रा चलती रहेगी। ...( व्यवधान)

अध्यक्ष महोदय, मैं यह बात दावे के साथ कहना चाहता हूं कि इन लोगों की तरह मेरी सियासत बदलती नहीं है, आज इस तरफ और कल उस तरफ। ...(व्यवधान) हमने सेक्यूलर फोर्सेस के साथ हाथ मिलाया है और मिलाते रहेंगे। The Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (J&K NC) will vote to support the Motion moved by the Prime Minister. Thank you."

(The above text has been taken from the Lok Sabha website at http://164.100.47.134/newls/textofdebatedetail.aspx?sdate=07/22/2008)

If this speech has not evoked a sense of hope, that we will fight and we will be free from all that is communal and non-secular, even if it is felt momentarily, then what will?

Anthony Palathingal