Rakshabandhan: Recalling Karnawati's 'rakhi' to Humayun

Almost 500 years ago, Karnawati had sent a 'rakhi' to Emperor Humayun and sought his help when her kingdom was besieged by the enemy forces. Humayun left Delhi and reached Chittaur in keeping with the age-old tradition of Raksha Bandhan.

The attacker Bahadaur Shah Gujrati had annexed Malwa in 1531 AD and was marching on. As his forces surrounded the fort of Chittor, Rani Karnavati, the Raja's mother, appealed to Badshah Humayun for help.

Along with her letter, she sent 'rakhi', the sacred thread that girls tie on the wrists of their brothers and in turn they pledge to take care of them. Humayun accepted the 'rakhi' and proceeded to Chittor though Bahadur Shah didn't expect the Emperor to rush to Chittoar and fight him.

Humayun did reach Chittor and Bahadur Shah had to flee. He escaped to Malwa but Humayun followed him to Fort Mandu and later on to Champanir where he took refuge but Humayun reached there also and captured it as well. Bahadaur Shah saved himself by reaching to Diu island.

Though Humayun he had got delayed in starting off, he did honour this tradition and taught a lesson to the aggressor. Even historians with a Saffron bent don't dispute this occurrence, as it is no myth and is recorded in history.

Isn't it strange that so little we hear about this episode these days. While the myths (and truths) regarding Muslim kings' persecution of other community are blown up all the time, such aspects are ignored.

Such glorious aspects of Indian history that are shining examples of the composite culture need to be highlighted. And this is just an example. In fact, in countless homes across the country, Hindus sisters tie rakhi to Muslim brothers and there are also Muslim girls who tie rakhin on the wrists of Hindu brothers.

'Playing flute to a buffalo'

Having spent lot of energy in replying to hatemails and Islamophobic comments, I have finally understood the great Indian saying 'Bhains ke aage been bajaana' in the real sense.

This ancient saying can be translated as: 'It is futile to play flute to a buffalo'. The buffalo is a different species and one can't fault her. Unfortunately it is more difficult to deal with your fellow species.

Take for instance Mr Kuldeep Trisal. In the context of Kashmir, he gives me a long feedback that 'the problem began when Islam first showed its face on the valley' and then goes on to mouth the same theory about 'most militants being Muslims' and that 'Islam teaches to kill' and after all his venom, dares me 'if you have the balls, publish my comment'.

I would love to publish his comment along with his photograph, I hope he has the courage to send me the photo and own up the comments. But I can't tolerate badtamizi. There has to be a bit of decency. I respect all religions and take the names of the religious figures respectfully.

I have always written either Ramchandra Ji and Krishna Ji. If you want your comment to be published and want a real debate, either stop being disrespectful to holy figures of other religions including Islam (at least, don't mention the names if you can't be respectful). Else, you can start your own blog and write whatever you want on that space.

I will say Harmony Harmony. Their slogan will always be Hate Hate.

The fact is that one can deal with all sorts of guys but it is useless to talk to such hate-filled creatures whose only aim is to spread communalism through their propaganda in the form of comments on sites, blogs and forums. It is interesting to see how all these people seem to know the same anti-Islamic propaganda sites which they frequently quote and make similar charges against Muslims. They may also smell their success in my outburst.....anyway.

inke aage kyaa, sar par bhi baith kar been bajaao to koi faaida nahiiN...

Meanwhile, wishing you a Happy Independence Day.

Hindu-Muslim prisoners hug outside jail

Isn't it a cute photo? A middle-aged Muslim guy with a long beard and the Hindu guy with the tilak, hugging each other. Both have the typical looks of a Hindu and a Muslim hailing from the country-side of India.

Their smile conveys the feeling of freedom and happiness. Together they must have spent quite some time in the jail. And as they come out they bid each other adieu, before going towards their respective families who have come to the jail to receive them.

There is nothing unusual about this picture except their facial expressions. The smiles are genuine. And it is people like them who are still a majority in this country.

These are the people who may not have studied books and got degrees but have naked wisdom in abundance. When they meet again, they will smoke a bidi together and have a conversation over a tea.

They are the guys who don't care a damn about communalism or nurse grievances against other religion unlike many of us with urban upbringing who appear polished but have numerous biases against each other. At least, that's what my experience has been.

It's a photo taken at the jail's main gate. Generally prisoners are released from the jails all over India at the time of Independence Day and the Republic day. All the state governments reduce the sentences ranging from a few months to a couple of years, depending on the age and other factors.

Indian Kids: Playing marbles & catapult

In my childhood, it was a common sight to see kids playing with marbles or boys running with the tyres and wheels. The slightly elder ones graduated to games like gulli danda and later on to kabaddi and other desi sports.

It's rainy season. Two decades back it was usual to see kids playing in the sand and making mud houses. Also, kids would enjoy for hours playing much more 'silly games' like the one with a rod. The boys would throw the iron rod and the depth to which it went into the ground, determined a boy's success.

After India's world cup win in 1983, the advent of television and the steady rise of prosperity, all these 'unsmart' things faded away from urban India. Even in villages you no longer see the games which kids played in the past.

On a recent visit to a 'lost town'* in Central India, I felt as if I was again back to my childhood. In the first photo, you can see kids sitting on a platform, around a mazaar, and immersed in their games--two kids are counting their glass marbles (kanche), two others are comparing their collection of cards with movie titles and stars printed on them.

Others are playing one of the desi version of ludo-type games in which kids use chalk to make a pattern and then play with pieces of stones or the gotis (gotiyan). In every street or corner, I found the kids loitering, collecting matchboxes or playing games.

The two kids with innocent and earthy looks one of whom aimed at me with the ghulail (slingshot or catapult) were sitting in the morning when I passed the area and again when I walked back in the evening, they were sitting there.

Yaaraana!

The Indian Muslim street (or for that matter any ghetto) is quite similar in most cities of North India, and the unemployed youths and kids are still seen simply sitting and whiling away time or playing such games.

As I was busy in my job, I couldn't roam around and get many pictures, but the town had a strange effect on me. I will write about it more in coming days. Though the trip brought back nostalgia, it made me sad to see the lack of schools and dispensaries.

Goernments won't open schools (long back it seems state governments have stopped opening schools and left the field open for private schools). The parents have no option but to let kids roam and play. A few years from now they will also help their parents in weaving, carpet making and bidi industry.

One political party will announce a commission a la Sachar, the other will oppose it and things will remain just the same. [*I call it lost town, because there is no railway connection and nowhere iin this town you can see the signs of an emerging and shining India, which is being talked about all the time.]

Abusive messages, anti-Muslim comments & this blog

It's tough to deal with abusive comments that keep coming every day. There are regular such emails and comments on the posts. Most of these guys don't even bother to read the posts and it appears they are full of hate towards Islam and Muslims.

I was forced to start moderating comments sometime back when I felt that almost every day I was getting such comments that used to hurt and unsettle me. Often, they are full of so much hatred that you shudder and think, is this real? How much percent of people in this country hate Muslim and do they really hate us so much?

Then I would always console myself that cyberspace is different from normal world. Here people who don't have the cheek to say or do anything openly, can make anonymous comments or send emails, and they are a handful of people who keep doing that regularly and makes you feel that there are so many Islamophobes.

You write a post on harmony, the ganga-jumni culture and then you get an email that starts with 'Saale Kat*&*' and keeps on telling you every atrocity which he believes Muslims have committed on him and his ancestors interspersed with English and Hindutani gaalis.

I feel bad, very bad.

No matter how much you think that you won't give a damn to them, the fact is that everytime you get such a mail or comment, it hurts. Sometimes when it is terribly abusive, you feel why not get this guy tracked and booked for his action.

After all, if someone abuses you openly on the street, it is tough to act against him legally but if someone sends you an email or writes an abusive post, it is possible to teach him a lesson that he will not forget.

The evidence is strong, the IT [Information Technolog] Act makes any such crime punishable and the sentence is much more but nobody bothers. Sometime you feel you should take the lead and get a few guys caught. At least, this will send the message across. Racism and hatespeak aren't taken seriously in India yet and people often forget, but it's a serious crime.

If you hate me just for being a Muslim and will keep calling me names, it is irrational. You can write in proper and decent language. Anonymity gives you freedom to abuse. You don't fear that a friend of you, who is a Muslim, may come to know that you have such deep biases. But if you are courageous enough, why don't you stop every passing Muslim on the street and abuse him.

I still want to believe that such guys don't form more than 1% of the populace.

Write your full name, address and also post your photo, if you dare, in forums, sites and blogs. Else talk in a civilised way. Blame me, be critical but enough of abuses. Don't wear the mask of anonymity to spread hate on internet.

Sometimes I really wonder, what could be the cause of such deep hate?

Today there are bombs exploding and Islam is linked to terrorism. But why was such a similar hatred, 16 years ago or even before that, when Babri Masjid was destroyed and when Muslims were openly abused.

Tab Tushtikaran thaa...the so-called appeasement of Muslims by politicians. And people had suddenly become such experts in history that they could tell you how many atrocities Aurangzeb and Babur had done on Hindus in this country. Even then, it was not easy for Muslim to get a house on rent (I am not talking about jobs or any other thing).

Simple hatred. Why?

After Ahmedabad blasts: What India needs to do?

It's clear now that India is one of the worst victims of terrorism. Two major cities have been targeted in consecutive days--I don't remember this happening in any other country ever except Iraq or Afghanistan.

When 17 explosions occur in 70 minutes, it is clear that Indian government, intelligence agencies, the State government of Gujarat and the local police and intelligence have all proved to be a colossal failure. It's childish to blame any party or either the centre or state. Everybody has failed.

Even a layman can think how much of groundwork would have been done by the terrorists in engineering so many blasts in just a day. Huge money and manpower must have been used. The police were simply caught napping, even when a day ago Bangalore had been hit by similar serial blasts. Would these real culprits be caught! Have they ever been! Do you believe that such a big network would be busted?

Equally foolish is the assertion that POTA would have stopped it. When we don't catch the real culprits, what's the use of any law. After the blasts, its usual to see mass roudings-up in which dozens of poor people of slums are caught, forced to make confessional statements and some are brought to books.

Do we remember when was the last time the real culprits were caught. Have we ever felt that this particular case has been solved and justice has been done. From Hyderabad to Mumbai Train Bombings or anyother such terror attack in India, the story is similar after every blast.

Jingoists get into anger and claim we are a Soft state. So what a hard state is? What we need to do? The truth is that we are not a soft state, we are an INEFFICIENT STATE with one of the most inefficient police force and intelligence agencies. The need of the hour is a drastic overhaul of Indian police system, as the harsh truth is that Indian policeman is perfect in everything except investigation.

People who say India is a soft state don't understand a bit about society and security. They are the ones who would love to get a passport made through bribe to a policeman or any similar law-breaking activity that damages the system.

We have one of the most inefficient police forces in the world. Right from the beat constable, (BTW do you know who is your beat cop and have you ever met him or has he ever said a Hi to you) who is all the time busy in getting 'hafta' from vendors, extort money from bootleggers, satorias, thieves etc, to the top officers whose aim is always a good posting and keeping the politicians in good humour.

And they are even lacking in skills to do the most basic 'Scene of crime investigation'. Yes they know which person can be detained for a week and who can be let off on just a phone call from a minister's house.

The Indian cop is busy in security of political masters, the VIP visits and tackling dharnas and demonstrations. He is never made to learn investigation, leave alone the kind of training and bent of mind required from the policeman in a country that is now fighting terrorism.

The cop is just a babu, dressed in khaki, who is interested in making money, as he is the worst paid government employee who hardly gets a day's off. (The cops don't get weekly offs, like most of us do). The crimes in India are solved by default or due to major slips of criminals, not because of cops' intelligence or tact.

Despite media glare, a high-profile case like Arushi murder case was botched up. Do we seriously expect this police force to track the terrorists! BJP claims that POTA can deter terrorism. Really!

Why don't the BJP ruled governments implement the Police Reforms despite Supreme Court's direction, so that the cops don't have to handle the issue of VIP security and can focus on investigations.

We all know what kind of police force we have in our country. Politicians have done their best to damage it. They use cops to take care of their works, legal or illegal, and love to have them around, to flaunt their status (just like landlords).

Whatever. The situation is critical. India needs a really drastic overhaul of our policing system. But it won't happen. Politicians don't want police to be independent (and efficient). Neither the Congress, nor the BJP. Transfers have to be done by politicians.

A couple of days later, everybody will forget and things will unfortunately be the same. Alas!

Of political opportunism and Indo-US Nuclear deal

Shahid Siddiqui, who till the other day, was defending Samajwadi Party, in TV debates, suddenly switched sides and joined Mayawati.

Call it opportunism but this is politics. Coming from Shahid Siddiqui, it shouldn't be a bit of surprise. Siddiqui, the editor of the fiery Nai Dunia Urdu weekly, was always more a politician, less a journalist.

Not many remember that in the aftermath of Babri Masjid demolition when Muslims were angry with Congress and Arjun Singh had left the party, the same Shahid Siddiqui was the head of the Propaganda and Publicity Cell of the Congress. It was unimaginable but not many knew it even then and he continued befooling everybody, right from his readers to the electorate.

That's why he wouldn't have given a thought to it once how readers of Nai Dunia will digest it all of a sudden. After all, the paper that was pro-Samajwadi Party for almost a decade, will now have to take a different position.

In the last issue, when the paper had published a poll that 70% Indian Muslims were against the deal, most of us were surprised. Whatever may be the mood of the Indian Muslims, I was certain that it was a desktop poll. Khair.

He owns a newspaper that has a fair circulation but is on the decline due to the editor's interest in politics rather than paper. He needs a Rajya Sabha seat, which Mayawati may have promised her.

In the past, many Muslim leaders from Arif Mohammad Khan to Akbar Ahmad Dumpy and Rashid Alvi to poet Malikzada Manzoor Ahmad, joined the BSP. But none could stay there for long.

Just like SP that centres around Mulayam Singh Yadav's personality, BSP is also one-woman show. But Behenji hardly gives the space, which even second rung leaders in other parties get.

Siddiqui now says that Mayawati's Dalit vote is transferable. He says that for a Muslim candidate of BSP, the Dalits enthusiastically vote while the Yadavas don't vote for the Muslim candidate of SP.

It is true to only some extent. But the reality is that Yadavas constitute barely 7% of UP's population while Dalits are now 21%. Muslims account for 19% and most of them went with SP or the winning Muslim candidate. The fact is that Siddiqui succeeded in making a noise though he doesn't even have a vote (he is a Rajya Sabha member).

Meanwhile, SP has its own set of problems. It arose out of anti-Congressism but its core constituency are Muslims and thus can't align with BJP. When it thwarted Congress' bid to form government at centre, it was alleged that Mulayam had a secret deal with BJP.

Even with nearly 40 MPs, the party has failed to wield any influence on national politics. However, Mulayam should have realised that when they failed to get any mileage during the first four years of this government, they should have taken the lead in opposing it.

Now if the government falls, Mulayam Singh will get nothing. In case it survives, Amar Singh and Anil Ambani will be the chief beneficiaries. Whatever, it's unfortunate for Indian politics that opportunism has become order of the day and horse-trading is on.

Ajit Singh has got the Lucknow airport named after his father, but now needs more, perhaps the Food Ministery. Devegowda and his son, Chautala, Omar Abdullah, Shibu Soren and every other guy with a vote in Lok Sabha, is being sought after.

And this drama will go on for another two days.

Roadroller: The Raja of Roads

Nobody dares to mess up with Ram Sanehi on the roads.

He doesn't move fast but still he rules over the road. The rash drivers are also cautious when they see him and don't take risk or try to overtake him unless he allows them to do so.

Who can dare challenge a road roller? Even those who don't care much about getting dents on their cars from the tempos and loading autos that have sharp edges jutting out of them, get careful when they see the huge roadroller moving on the big metal wheels.

The roadroller doesn't move fast. It has its own speed. It barely exceeds 20 kmph. But those owning the most expensive automobiles lose confidence on a narrow road with a roadroller ahead of them.
And this gives him Ram Sanehi kick, the sort of high. He doesn't earn much but has the satisfaction that he can drive at his own pace.

He stands no chance of being the victim of a road rage on Indian roads that are getting more riskier by the day ad with nobody honking or daring to graze past him.

He calls it 'Sadak ka Raja'. The Road roller that moves graciously like an elephant is a good option for Indian roads, if you like solitude and don't need to hurry. Given the scary figure of accidents on Indian roads. Think of it. Seriously!

An Advertisement in Urdu

This advertisement that shows a small boy wearing a skull cap, caught my eye, naturally.

It feels nice to see our language (or script) in places we don't expect. Doesn't this happens to most of us?

It is rare to find any corporate group advertisement in Urdu, anywhere. Even in cities where Urdu speakers comprise 25-50% of populace, hoardings in Urdu are rare.

One reason is that Urdu-speaking population in India is scattered, not concentrated in a particular state and the Urdu speakers (euphemism for Muslims) were never considered a 'big market'.

That's why the 'Kaise ho' written on the top, struck a chord. If creating impact is one of the aims of advertising, the surely such ad succeeds in reaching its target.

Muslims favouring Hindu stand on Amarnath Shrine Board issue

On the left is a photograph of Muslims in Delhi protesting the J&K government's decision to take back the transferred land from the Shrine Board.

The placards have messages like 'Gilani hosh mein aao' and messages urging the government to return the land to the Board.

The news didn't appear anywhere else. At least, I couldn't find it. In other cities of North India also many Muslims came out on their own and expressed their solidarity with Hindus of Jammu and Kashmir.

Even in Jammu, the Muslim Federation criticized the government for reversing the decision. The point is that the issue arose out of the Kashmiri distrust of New Delhi because of the past 'betrayals' and may be Governor's excessive zeal, turned it into an issue.

It was a Kashmiri leadership Vs Governor dispute that acquired a Kashmir Vs Jammu Colour and later turned into a Hindu Vs Muslim battle. (Read my earlier post.) How easy it is to divide us!

Not just protesting Muslims on the streets of Srinagar, but every Muslim of this country was seen as an 'enemy'. The BJP, RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal again raised the pitch, and the same old statements about 'appeasement' were heard everywhere.

In the cacophony, the sane voices are lost. The news about Muslims in the valley taking care of stranded Hindu pilgrims or that of Hindus in riot-hit areas of Indore taking care of Muslims, are simply forgotten.

Unfortunately the photographs and images we see on TV and newspapers are only that of aggressive Hindu protestors of Jammu and the hordes of Muslims in Srinagar. How can VHP dare say that they will stop Muslims from going to Ajmer Sharif.

It was such a pathetic statement, which I don't believe any practising Hindu can make. And this organisation claims to speak on behalf of Hindus. As an outsider I don't understand the politics of Kashmir.

But personally I feel that if Hindus feel hurt, then the land should be given to them. There may be Muslims and Hindus, who have every right to feel for and against this. It is a democratic nation.

The aim of the post (and especially the photo) is that things can't be generalised. Elections are nearer. BJP leaders openly say that they have got an issue for the election and still we don't understand. How long will this keep happening?

It is disgusting to see Hindus and Muslims shown are shown as pitted against each other, which is absolutely false. Just like Hurriyat or any Kashmiri group alone is not representative of entire Muslim population and the opinion of Indian Muslims, how can Bajrang Dal, VHP or any other organisation hijack the voice entire Hindu community?

[The photo by Mr Biplab Mukherjee appeared in the Asian Age.]

Indore riot: How governments can stop and 'allow' a riot

For two days Indore burnt and the government officials said that they were not prepared for this. Didn't they know Indore has become one of the most communally volatile cities in India where every few months there is a communcal clash, because of the free hand given to hooligans by the administration.

Barely a fortnight back the event to celebrate the coronation of Shivaji had seen the preparedness of VHP and Bajrang Dal when even kids had fired with guns amid chants of Har Har Mahadev. Though open display of arms and firing is banned. Ye kis baat ki taiyyari thi?

During the nationwide bandh, the activists knew that nobody would stop them. They knew even after violence, no cases would be registered against them and no action taken. As a result, six lives were lost in a riot. Now entire Indore is living under curfew.

Again the dead were mostly poor--Hindu and Muslim. With a compensation of Rs 1 lakh, can the loss of a breadwinner for a family be compensated? Riots don't occur in India. They are allowed to happen.

Else, can anybody explain why there are no riots when Prime Ministers, Presidents and other VVIPs are on a visit to a place or when there is an occasion governments don't want any trouble. The troublemakers are always known to police and they are arrested as precautionary measure when it is felt needed, else they are used like in this riot.

Officials act at the behest of politicians because they don't want to be transferred or lose plum postings. And when the directive comes from the top, 'Ab kaafi zyaada ho gaya, rok do', then suddenly more police companies are brought and situation gets 'peaceful'.

The Assembly elections are nearer in MP. When leaders feel they may lose the election, a communal riot is the best remedy. There will be polarization and again all issues will go backburner. Those who seemed losing, will win again, courtesy a few funeral pyres and qabrs.

Indore riot has once again proved that.

[Image courtesy Times Now. Read report in Time of India and watch the video here]

Indian Muslims' stand on Nuclear deal!

First the Communists said it. And now Mayawati also gives the same impression, as if Muslims are opposed to the Nuclear deal. Other parties have also in the past, tried to manufacture this myth.

The fact is that a majority of Muslims, just like the tens of millions of ordinary Indian citizens, don't understand an iota of Nuclear deal. But they would definitely back their government and would support whatever is best for this nation.

The reality is that Muslims are as ignorant about it as the rest. Except the 'self-styled intelligentsia' not many are able to go through the merits and demerits of such a comlex issue. And debates make it even more confusing.

But, we as citizens of this nation, hope that our leaders would do the best as far security India's interests are conernes. And that's it. One Mr MK Pandhe of CPI (M) gave this statement that the deal would cost Congress its Muslim support.

What a joke! Muslims hardly have enough time out of their daily lives and earning their livelihood, that they care to think of an issue like Nuclear deal. If, at all, Indian Muslims had a pan-Islamic concern apart from Arabia, then it was Palestine that was close to Muslim hearts.

I have deliberately not written 'is'. But did you hear ordinary Muslim ever raise a voice when Indian government cosied up to Israel in all ways including military exercises.

Howsoever irresponsible our politicians may be, we have elected them and we expect them to get the best deal for our country. And we hope they will come to a unanimous decision in the best interets of this nation. This is what they have been elected for and sent in the parliament.

And this is what most of us feel. Please don't try to imagine things. Ask us, if in doubt!

Amarnath Yatra & Kashmir: Communalizing the Composite Culture

After a long time when things were fast returning to normal in Kashmir, the controversy over the land granted to Amarnath Shrine Board, ignited passions in the state.

It's tough to write on Kashmir especially when you are far away from the place. But it's quite easy to see how non-issues become issues and how things get communalised in our country.

One may feel surprised at the scale of protests against the land transfer in the Valley. Naturally, a temporary settlement for the pilgrims can't alter the demography of Kashmir. Yes I also felt the same initially.

But Kashmiris have never trusted Delhi ever since the days of Sheikh Abdullah whose government was dismissed and he was sent to jail where he was kept behind bars for over a decade. And there is a history of 'betrayals' thereafter with the dismissal of elected governments and all other issues we are aware of.

The Kashmiri anger, however misplaced it may be or it may seem, stems out of their suspicion of New Delhi, but is unfortunately viewed as a conflict between Hindus and Muslims, which it is certainly not.

In a country where lawlessness has become a norm (just recall the images of Gujjars on rampage in Rajasthan recently), the Kashmiri anger can also be seen with the same prism, rather than looking at it from a communal angle.

Personally, I would like the Board to get the land. And that there should be all possible facilities for the pilgrims who brave tough conditions to reach the shrine. And most of us feel the same but not by letting the 'separatists' and 'saffronites' take adantage of the existing crisis which both want to exacerbate.

But it's so easy to communalize things. And it's not so simple either: The yatra was initially of a fortnight but Retd General GK Sinha, during his stint as Governor took a confrontational stand and forced the state government to extend it.

As Indian Express writes, 'The Governor pushed his own ideas'. His Principal Secretary Arun Kumar directly wrote to Forest Secretary Sonali Kumar, who was his wife, and manged to get 4,000 kanals of forestland transferred to the Shrine Board. The suspicion was raised then also and the order was struck down then.

But a few months back, Sinha again sought forestland for setting up an independent development authority and though government didn't agree the land was handed over to shrine board. So there was a backdrop. For decades the land was used for the same purpose and why was the need for sudden transfer of it?

Now, the separatists sensed an opportunity. Hurriyat that had become irrelevant also got an issue. Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and their sister organisations were quick to add fuel to fire.

Alas, we have not just inherited the British policy of divide and rule, we have mastered it to perfection. With polls drawing nearer, every party had a stake except Congress that had botched it up.

The BJP just loved it. 'Afzal and Amarnath', they will be our main issues in the election, declared the party leaders, unabashedly. With LK Advani, the old warhorse with a a record of communal and divisive politics, at the helm, it wasn't unexpected.

And with protests intensifying in the valley, the Hindutva hardliners who have no concern with the state, either with Kashmiri Pundits or Muslims, declared that 'food and other supplies to valley will be cut', without realising that this will cause a further backlash. And this is what the hardliners in Kashmir would like to hear from their counterparts in the Sangh Parivar, so as to alienate the Kashmiri Muslims. Pravin Togadia also jumps the gun.

By pitting Hindus against Muslims, Jammu against Valley and Kashmir against Rest of India, they are doing great disservice to the nation. It is either the Kashmiri Pundit who has suffered in exile or the local Muslims who lost lives in the violence all these years. It has taken a long time for Kashmir to come out of blood and gore.

And it's no war. It's an issue that can be resolved but raising rhetoric to this level is simply unjustifiable. It's the duty of government to provide the best possible facilities to the pilgrims. But the BJP gets an opportunity to buttress its charges of appeasement by comparing the Yatra with Haj.

I too would like to hear saner, secular and more moderate Muslim voices emerging from Kashmir. But then the Saffron organisations also need to tone down their feverish jingoistic pitch.

In a hard-hitting editorial on Monday, Indian Express writes: However, short-sighted as the local political leadership has been, the central responsibility rests with the outgoing governor, S.K. Sinha, and those who sent him to Kashmir in the first place after he had amply proved in Assam that he was capable of making sensitive situations worse through irresponsible and ill-informed public assertions as well as partisan political interference...

As far as Haj is concerned, you can read my post written on this blog when I had welcomed the court order that had asked government to stop the subsidy. The BJP should end its hypocrisy. It should have taken a decision when it was in the power at the centre on the issue. At least, this time it should do away with it, if it gets to form the government.

Today people may mock at Kashmiriyat and claim that it never existed but they can't erase the fact that the Amarnath shrine was discovered by a Muslim and the Yatra symbolised the bond between both communities. And in the violence, it is always the Kashmiri Hindu and Muslim who has been the loser, not an outsider.

No wonder, the protests and politics of hate eclipsed the stories of ordinary Muslims taking care of stranded pilgrims and holding makeshift kitchens for them. See the report in Daily India and an Indian Express report.

Meanwhile, read Praveen Swami's article 'Piety, paranoia and Kashmir's politics of hate' published on The Hindu's editorial page.

The Candy-seller on Cycle is back: Magic of Mithai-wala

In my childhood, the guy on cycle who sold this unique 'mithai' (sweet) was always a most sought after person.

The guy would pull a bit of 'mithai' from the top of the pole and then create any shape out of it--ranging from a small whistle to a tree, a bird or even a car.

Of course, the bird and the whistle were the cheapest and in those days not everybody could afford to pay more than 50 paise or Re 1.

Most of the kids went for the 'chidiya' that cost just 25 paise. It was like a desi chewing gum, though much tastier. Or, perhaps memories of childhood are always more tastier. After a long time, I recently spotted a mithai-seller.

He told me that business was no longer good. He said that he had come from Malegaon and mostly sold this mithai in slums and outside schools.

Surely, not English medium schools but government schools where children still eat ber, imli, jamun et al.

That is another reason why we don't come across these mithai-walas, as much. I gave him Rs 5 and he deftly created a cycle for me, within seconds.
Back to Bachpan

It did look like a magic in childhood when the mithai-wala made the chidiya and would blow a customary whistle without any lip movement while dishing out the creation to the kid. That was a sales trick as children would feel that the sound came out of the 'bird' and always tried to imitate.

Of late, I was feeling that these mithai-walas have become extinct. And when I found it decades later, again I was fascinated by the art. In the photo along with the post, you can see this little ' sweet cycle' made of the sugary floss. As it was quite hot, I rushed to my destination, showed it to a couple of friends before it melted into my mouth.

Really delicious! Is there anybody who hasn't tasted it? If only a Pepsi or an Uncle Chipps markets it, this would be sold for five times the existing price and it would be fashionable to buy it.

But the poor mithai-walas continue to earn barely in the range of Rs 100-Rs 150 on their best days and confine themselves to areas inhabited by the poor.

Pictures: 1.The desi sweetmeat seller on his cycle that holds a pole covered with umbrella to prevent the sugary material from melting.

2. In the other photo a child looks at mithai-wala's art, engrossed. 3. Here the 'mithai wali cycle' is ready for consumption.

Nida Fazli's poetic journey: Urdu poets' profile and poetry

Today Nida Fazli is considered a big name in Urdu poetry especially after the deaths of entire generation of veteran Urdu poets in the last couple of years. But this is not to belittle Nida's contribution to literature.

Along with Shaharyar and Ahmad Faraz (Pakistan), Nida is among the rare Urdu poets who have achieved fame across the sub-continent and outside. Nida Fazli has been writing lyrics for Bollywood movies but he didn't let this affect his literary output.

apnii marzii se kahaaN apne safar ke ham haiN
ruKh havaaoN ka jidhar ka hai, udhar ke ham haiN

waqt ke saath hai miTTii ka safar sadiyoN se
kisko maaluum kahaaN ke haiN, kidhar ke ham haiN

Success hasn't come the easy way. It has been a life, full of struggle for the Gwalior-born poet. He is often bitter that critics (and also poetry lovers) made fun of him back in the late sixties, because of the particular couplet:

sooraj ko chonch meN liye murGha khaDaa rahaa
khiDkii ke parde khiinch diye raat ho gayii

It was a simple couplet written at the height of modernist movement that highlighted the difference between urban and rural life style. Living in air-conditioned rooms, one doesn't come across the birds and the sounds of nature.

Living amid towering skyscrapers and moving in cars you don't get to see the sight of moon which used to be an every day experience in villages where lying on the cot in open, moon was a 'rafeeq' (companion).

The ghazal has other couplets also but people didn't bother to read them or react to them:

raste mein voh milaa thaa maiN bach ke guzar gayaa
uskii phaTii qamiis mere saath ho gayee

naqsha uThaa ke koii nayaa shahar DhunDhiye
is shahar meN to sab se mulaqaat ho gayee

It is the loss of home that haunted Nida in the early part of his poetic journey. After independence, Gwalior had witnessed more bloodshed that any where else in Central India. Most of his family memebrs migrated to Pakistan.

Thus 'ghar' remains an elusive dream for him despite the comforts of later years, apart from 'child' who is always present in his poetry:

bachchoN ke chhote haathoN ko chaand sitaare chhune do
chaar kitaabeN paDh kar yeh bhii ham jaise ho jaayenge

A humanist to the core, Nida's poetry has often stunned the traditionalists:

masjidoN meN sajdoN kii mashaaleN huiiN roshan
liye chiraaGh galiyoN meN kheltaa Khudaa dekhuuN

He asks God to come down to earth and help people out:

Nile gagan par baiThe kab tak chaand sitaaroN se jhaankoge...
khaali hai aaTe ka kanastar geNhuu ban kar usmeN aao
TuuT gaaa hai maaN ka chashma sheesha ban kar use banao
gum sum haiN aangan mein bachche, ban kar gend unhein bahlaao...

Nida has read a lot. Unlike other poets who restrict themselves to reciting their own poetry, Nida has read Latin American literature, East Asian, European and African poetry. He pores over Kabir, Wali Dakhani, Amir Khusro, Rahim and classical poets.

Nida is no longer the struggler. He now lives a comfortable life in Mumbai. He has learnt the tricks of the trade. He used to criticise Ali Sardar Jafri but has also picked up some of those habits.

He knows what sells. When TV channels' crew comes to him for interview, he exactly gives soundbytes which they want. He blasts globalisation for all the ills, though he is also a beneficiary of it and loves all the luxuries which modern day lifestyle offers.

He wants to be known as Nazir Akbarabadi of this era. But sophisticated Nida despite wearing it on his sleave, has shed the 'phakkad-pan' far behind. Still, he has his place secure in the annals of Urdu language and literature.

Read Nida Fazli's selected ghazals and Nazms in Urdu, Roman and Devnagri scripts at Best Ghazals & Nazms. Click
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Don't brand Muslims as terrorists: RSS & bomb blasts

With the arrest of Hindu Janjagriti Samiti office-bearers for the blast at a theatre in Thane, it has again been proved that members of radical organisations linked to RSS are involved in terror acts. This punctures the attempts of the communal forces who wish to brand Muslims as terrorists.

The fact is that no religion sanctions such terror activities and any of the misguided belonging to any sect or religion could be involved in killing innocents but their acts shouldn't be used to demonise an entire community.

After it was proved that the blasts in Nanded (Maharashtra) were the work of Bajrang Dal activists and that the bomb blasts in Tenkasi (Tamil Nadu) early this year was engineered by Hindu Munnani workers, now comes this latest revelation about those responsible for Thane theatre blast.

The arrest of Ramesh Gadkari and Mangesh Nikam, the activists of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and Sanatan Samstha by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) should come as no surprise. They were upset with film Jodhaa-Akbar and also wanted to protest a Marathi play, which they felt showed Hindu gods in poor light, according to ATS chief Hemant Karkare.

But the truth may be that they would have thought that nobody would suspect a Hindu organisation for the blast. After all, it was not their first act--they had attempted similar blasts in the past also. Read report in Hindustan Times.

Earlier, the activists of Hindu Munnani were arrested for the blasts at RSS office and at the Bus Stand in Tenkasi that was apparently planned to cause a communal clash in the City. Obviously, they believed that the Muslims would be blamed for blast at RSS office.

But Tamil Nadu police nabbed the activists unlike their counterparts in UP and Maharashtra who believed that any blast has to have a Muslim hand. Even the fake beards and topis recovered during the course of investigation were ignored by the local police.

The police often looks askance when it comes to the possibility of involvement of a non-Muslim in the blasts. The blasts in Mecca Masjid and Malegaon where the terrorists had struck on the on Shab-e-Baraat, are yet to be solved.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil had recently stated in the Parliament, replying to a question, that multiple investigative agencies who conducted investigation in the Nanded blasts found the involvement of Bajrang Dal cadre.

Most of us have either received Emails or SMS messages in the past that 'All Muslims are not Terrorists but all Terrorists are Muslims'. The fact is that: A terrorist has NO religion.

And the aim of this post is just to highlight the fact that there is neither a Hindu terrorist nor a Muslim terrorist. Neither a Christian terrorist nor a Sikh terrorist. By identifying terrorism with a religion we also play in the hands of the forces who are involved in such inhuman acts.

Read the news about Tenkasi blasts that was published in The Hindu. I haven't deliberately linked to any website run by Muslims. Ironically, such reports were not published prominently by the mainstream media.

Also, read this report published in Tehelka: 'The Hindu Hand' about involvement of Sangh activists in blasts in the state. RSS is known to have been involved in such acts from the days wheof killing of Mahatma Gandhi. In inquiry reports of several communal, the RSS cadre has been indicted.

Of course, there are Muslim groups who have justified their inhuman acts in the name of Islam. And similar is the case of fundamental organisations belonging to other religions. But we shouldn't let their acts cloud our vision, hijack the religions with their narrow interpretations and let them divide us.

Compensation to Bhagalpur riot victims: A welcome step

This is one decision of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government that is surely going to strike a chord with a large section of populace especially the Muslims. It has taken nearly two decades but it's definitely a step in the right direction, a move that will help hundreds of households that had lost their family members.

The riots had occurred in 1989 and the lawlessness in Bhagalpur had continued for months. The figure of deaths was estimated as high as 4,000. After the Jabalpur riots of 1961 , the Ahmedabad riot of 1969 and Moradabad riot , it was the biggest carnage in Independent India along with the Neilly massacre of Assam.

It was a different era in eighties, much before the advent of electronic media and it had taken months for the outside world to get to know the extent of death and destruction in Bhagalpur riots where bodies were dug out from fields much later.

Though the decade had witnessed major riots in Northern Indian cities including Meerut, Firozabad, Moradabad and Hashimpura-Maliana killings, the magnitude of riots in Bhagalpur had eclipsed all previous killings.

The passions had been building up for quite sometime after later Rajiv Gandhi's former aide Arun Nehru ensured the opening of locks at Ayodhya. The aim was to appease the 'Hindu voter' who was apparently upset due to the Congress' stand on Shahbano issue.

Before Bhagalpur, Bihar didn't have a history of rioting on such large scale. The rural area of Bhagalpur district was also affected. At Longain alone the figure of Muslims who were killed was 15oo. The rioters had butchered the innocents, buried the bodies and planted vegetables over them to conceal the deaths.

After sanctioning compensation for victims of Gujarat pogrom, the decision of UPA government to earmark Rs 3o crore for the Bhagalpur riot victims has come as a piece of rare good news. Hundreds of women were widowed in the riot and for them and their families lost their every bit. The ex-gratia of Rs 3.5 lakh will help has come too late, but at least, it will help them in improving their lives.

At least, Nitish Kumar has the civility to accept that the financial package was necessary. He did make a pitch for riot victims and had also appointed commission to probe the riots after coming to power. This is unlike the BJP that had put up a shameless stance after the UPA government had announced the package for the victims of Gujarat riots.

Anti-Ahmadiyya rage in Indonesia

The sight was impressive, tens of thousands on streets of Jakarta protesting against the Ahmadiyyas (Qadianis) but the cause wasn't.

Sea of Muslim demonstrators protesting against a micro-minuscule minority in Indonesia. It is true that most of Muslims consider the Ahmadiyyas as heretic and outside the pale of Islam but it is unjustifiable to come out in such massive strength on the streets, against your own countrymen because they have a different set of beliefs.

The rage is clearly manufactured by the mulla for his own interests. Haven't heretic sects existed in Islamic world for centuries. Religious groups as diverse as Nusayris, Druzes and Yazidis have been living together in Middle-East.

Or is it that Ahmadiyyas are the latest of the group, barely a century old. Many fundamentalists among mainstream Islamic sects also keep accusing the other sect of heresy and there is no end to such internecine disputes. Despite their propaganda, the Ahmadiyyas don't seem to be growing and it's clear that the figures are also exaggerated.

In Pakistan, the community has been persecuted for long and they (including the Lahori group) have been declared non-Muslims. Lately the same anger against the sect is witnessed in Bangladesh and even Indonesia, countries that could have shown the way to monarchies of Arab world by establishing democratic law-abiding societies.

Unfortunately this disease has spread up to Indonesia. The government is giving in to the demands and making life difficult for the sect. Rather than succumbing to the pressure of clerics, the society and government in these countries can do well to strengthen democratic values.

It is not only un-democratic and unjust to harass a sect or group of people but also un-Islamic. This should be condemned. I had written a post on Ahmadiyyas including and on Urdu poet Obaidullah Aleem, who was an Ahmedi.

In a column in Jakarta Post, Jennie S Bev reminds Muslims about the stress on compassion in Islam. And this form of bullying that because we are in greater number we will crush you, is outrageous.

It is sad to see the energies of Muslims getting channelised in the wrong way. No wonder, a columnist had remarked that all Muslim countries together haven't achieved anything in magnitude compared to the achievements of a tiny country like Korea.

Meanwhile:

A programme of the Ahmadiyya Jamat in Hyderabad Deccan (India) was cancelled by the administration on Sunday after Muslim groups including MIM and Majlis Bachao Tehreek held protests and threatened to take law in their hands if the programme was allowed to be held.
[Photo: Map of Indonesia]

Faiz Ahmed Faiz' poetry: Selected Urdu couplets

Until my teenage I hadn't read much of Faiz and only a few of his couplets I could recall. Of course, he was one of the most important names in Urdu poetry and his popular Nazms like:

bol ki lab aazaad haiN tere
bol ki zabaaN ab tak terii hai....

yeh daagh daagh ujaala, yeh shab gaziida sehar
voh intezaar thaa jiskaa yeh voh sehar to nahiiN' ...(in the context of partition)
&
nisaar maiN terii galiyoN ke aye vatan ki jahaaN
chalii hai rasm ki koii na sar uThaa kar chale...

...were known to most of us. But I could never find his divan in those days though works of Jigar, Josh, Firaq and others were easily available apart from Mir, Ghalib and other masters. Of his generation, poets like Majaz, Makhdoom Muhiuddin, Kaifi Azmi, Ali Sardar Jafri and Janisar Akhtar achieved great popularity but Faiz went on to attain international fame.

It was after reading his Nazm 'Raqeeb Se', that I fell in love with his poetry. It was an overwhelming experience to read the Nazm, every time I read it. Raqeeb is your competitor in love.

And here the poet recalls how both of them had fallen in love with the same woman, and only they can understand each other's pain and passion. How failure in love becomes an inspiration for the poet to understand the pain of others and it becomes a mission for him to fight for the poor and underdog. I have written a post on this Nazm in the past also.

Here are some of the oft-quoted couplets of Faiz:

na gul khile haiN, na unse mile haiN, na mai pii hai
ajab rang meN abke bahaar guzrii hai

guloN meN rang bhare, baad-e-nau-bahaar chale
chale bhii aao ki gulshan kaa karobaar chale

zindagii kyaa kisii muflis kii qabaa hai jis men
har ghaDii dard ke paivand lage jaate haiN

chaman meN Gaarat-e-gulchiiN se jaane kyaa guzrii
qafas se aaj sabaa be-qaraar guzrii hai

terii suurat se hai aalam meN bahaaroN ko sabaat
terii aanKhoN ke sivaa duniaa meN rakhaa kyaa hai

ham parvarish-e-lauH-o-qalam karte rahenge
jo dil pe guzartii hai raqam karte rahenge

huii hai hazrat-e-naaseh se guftguu jis shab
voh shab zaruur sar-e-kuu-e-yaar guzrii hai
viiraan hai maikadaa khum-o-saaGar udaas haiN
tum kyaa gaye ki ruuTh gaye din bahaar ke

uTh kar to aa gaye haiN terii bazm se magar kuchh dil hii jaanta hai kis dil se aaye haiN

voh baat saare fasaane meN jiskaa zikr nahiiN
voh baat unko bohat naagavaar guzrii hai

dil meN ab yuuN tere bhuule hue Gham aate haiN
jaise bichhDe hue Kaabe meN sanam aate haiN

duniyaa ne terii yaad se begaanaa kar diyaa
tujh se bhii dil-fareb haiN gham rozgaar ke

tumhaarii yaad ke jab zaKhm bharne lagte haiN
kisii bahaane tumheN yaad karne lagte haiN

kab Thahregaa dard-e-dil kab raat basar hogii
sunte the voh aayenge, sunte the sahar hogii

aaye kuchh abr, kuchh sharaab aaye
uske baad aaye jo azaab aaye

tum aaye ho, na shab-e-intezaar guzrii hai
talaash mein hai sahar, baar baar guzrii hai

Faiz Ahmed Faiz was born in Sialkot (Punjab, Pakistan) in undivided India in 1911. He achieved remarkable fame and emerged as most outstanding voice among the poets of Progressive Writers' movement. He was jailed in Pakistan and also spent years in exile. He passed away in 1984.

A few more couplets:

dil naa-ummiid to nahiiN, naakaam hii to hai
lambi hai Gham kii shaam magar shaam hii to hai

raat yuuN dil meN terii khoii huii yaad aaii
jaise viiraane meN chupke se bahaar aa jaaye

jaise sahraaoN meN haule se chale baad-e-nasiim
jaise biimaar ko be-vajah qaraar aa jaaye

mataa-e-lauH-o-qalam chhin gayii to kyaa Gham hai
ki khuuN-e-dil meN Dubo lii haiN ungliyaaN maiN ne

zubaaN par mohar lagii hai to kyaa ki rakh dii hai
har halqa-e-zanjiir meN zubaaN maiN ne

Apart from the above mentioned ghazals and Nazms, I specially love his verses on Palestine, the nazm he wrote on his return from Bangladesh, Sar-e-Vaadi-e-Sina, Karbala-e-Beirut etc. Faiz's poetry is now easily available in Hindi. Every poetry lover must have a collection of Faiz. Get it if you don't have one.

Read Faiz' popular ghazals and Nazms in Urdu, Hindi and Roman scripts at Best Ghazals and Nazms

Will BJP form the next government at the Centre?

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has smelt the scent of power. The party leaders are already believing that LK Advani is the next Prime Minister and there are talks as to which leader would get the particular portfolio.

One can't fault the BJP leaders even if they are daydreaming. The thumping victory in Karnataka that has taken the Saffron dream beyond the Vindhyas has come as a major boost and the Congress' magic seems on the wane despite Rahul's efforts to capture the lost votebank.

For the BJP the next elections are a great opportunity to pursue its agenda. It hopes to get much more seats alone than it got in the past and thus dictate terms unlike the last reign when allies called the shots.

Inflation is one issue that can take LK Advani to the ramparts of Red Fort in August 2009. Fuel hike and unchecked price rise will surely work to the advantage of BJP that hopes to gain from anti-incumbency at the centre.

But all is not well for the BJP either. The party has lost it in UP and the Bihar unit is in a bad shape. If BJP plays its cards well, it can hope to get, at best, 200 seats, which will also be a miracle.

Much will depend on the role of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which is likely to secure anything from 20 to 35 seats. The party is aware of its limitations and that's why Advani's last hoorah would require a wider acceptability. The BJP is now planning to seriously approach Muslims and Christians.

But both the parties have their own problems. What works for the BJP is that it has an ideology whether semi-fascist or right-wing unlike Congress that now seems bereft of any ideology. It doesn't allow state leaders to grow. And Congress is not going to get rid of its culture of sycophancy and Gandhi family's dynasy rule in near future.

For the BJP, it is important to win as it still has both the pan-Indian leaders Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee around and they can seek votes. After 2008 elections, they will be too old and there is no second line of leadership.

Arun Jaitleys, Rajnath Singhs, Sushma Swarajs and Ravishankar Prasads may talk well on TV but have hardly any following. The era when hardworking RSS activists worked for the party is also gone. Now its no longer frugal lifestyle, rather flashy cars for even organisation leaders, who just join the Sangh to get to the party positions.

BJP is trying to woo all sections. It may have messed up Rajasthan but Karnataka win has given them hopes to go further down South. The party wants Muslim vote as well. The only problem with it is its 'niyat'.

It doesn't like Muslims much and in states where it has been at the helm, its regional leaders have taken extra care to ensure that Muslim institutions get damaged, which doesn't behove a national party.

In states, the local leaders still retain the old anti-Muslim bias inherited from the days of Ram Janmabhoomi movement and the Rath Yatra. Their friendly cadres of VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena remain wary of Muslims.

Though there is still sometime before the elections, one thing is most certain. BJP is going to gain, just the question is 'how much'. If they succeed in making price rise a national issue, they will strike chord with common man. Once price rise becomes the issue, everything else takes the backseat.

Inflation is hurting the Indians. And if 'mahangai' becomes the 'mudda' and the BJP gets to the power with lesser allies, it will have to thank P Chidambaram. Does the Fin Min ever go out buying vegetables or grocery? There is a rage, which Congress doesn't seem to either read or it doesn't know how to tackle the situation.

[Photo: Advani, eyes set on Red Fort]