Kashmir.... A response... Part 2

Kashmir occupies a special place in my heart as my soul lives and dreams of that heaven on earth... A casual read on an article on Kashmir in the economist, I realized a biased opinion by an author pretending to be representing the interest of the majority.. Hyper me! I decided to set records straight by two posts... You must have an opinion, here's mine. Here's my post 2 which basically is countering the argument of Liberal Jinnah Vs fundamentalist RSS and Hindu Indians:
Great comments Goodmaan! I pity your biased treatment of the subject. Hindu Indians? India's muslim Population is higher than yours and you speak of Hindu Indians. Please don't read articles from one side only and form opinions about a nation as large and as diverse as India. People can be good or bad, politics might be dirty or not. It always will be only one component of a nation and not the nation. Its a nation and culture of diversity, much beyond what you would have ever experienced, but not your fault! If you read your own statements, you agree that it was all about Power sharing and you call Jinnah a liberal. It was power mongering between him and congress which costed us more than a million dead bodies. They were dead bodies and raped dead bodies of no religion, cast or creed. Hindus and Muslims alike slaughtered and saved... both ways... Now, the entire world is watching what whisky drinking and chain smoking Jinnah's Pakistan has turned into! And for muslims in India, again check your records and they will cry out for themselves. A Sikh is the prime minister and we had a massive Hindu Sikh communal riots in this country in 1984. Still he was given a choice and a chance and he made the most out of that. Najma Heptullah, gD/O Maulana Abul Kalam Azad is one of the most respected politicians in India. APJ Abul Kalam Azad, is probably the next popular person in this country after Mahatma only. Latest; A group of Ulemas in India has requested for not granting permission to bury the perpeterators of Mumbai attack in their own country INDIA and you talk about Hindu Indians. As they say it lightly "It happens only in India".

History has scarred everyone and any form of fundamentalism has to be punished. Indian agencies have gotten hold of the highest Hindu seer in the country and not a single hindu has come to oppose it because if it is just, law will decide its course. Not a single time has a govt been overthrown by military in this country. An attacker who attacked the very symbol of our democracy, our parliament has been ordered to be hung and sadly this nation doesn't seem to be in mood of doing that also. How many examples you want me to quote? On contrary, How many scholars of lal masjid have been prosecuted in Pakistan. I mean, Masood Azhar, Dawood, lakhwi and so many more are in Pakistan and we are fundamentalists and you liberals. Pakistan, today is known as Islamic republic of Pakistan and India is the same old diverse India, and not a Hindutva republic of India. BJP being a Hindu party does not even have a simple majority. Its a nation of many relegions and not of one relegion.

I do not want to say that we are the best. All I want to say is that our judiciary & democracy is a well oiled system and it has proven to be unbiased for eternity and we, "somehow manage to do just enuff to keep our head above water". So please get over the burden of history and visit some corners of India. I am positively sure that you will be amazed at just how many different societies, relegions and faith live and prosper here. You won't find that anywhere in the world. Narrowing your vision is easy. The greatness is in looking beyond the scars of history and looking ahead rather than behind...

Kashmir... A response... Part 1

Kashmir occupies a special place in my heart as my soul lives and dreams in that heaven on earth... A casual read on an article on Kashmir in the economist, I realized a biased opinion by an author pretending to be representing the interest of the majority.. Hyper me! I decided to set records straight by two posts... You must have an opinion, here's mine. Here my post 1:
Interfere in the fight of others and to papparize a matter without a fundamental understanding of the subject matter, is a speciality of british media. Be it BBCs tirade of not calling the attackers in Mumbai as millitants while those who attacked london as or this cheap article from economist labelling opinion of a biased journalist on us. I have few questions which I believe are never addressed:
1. Why is it always about Kashmir only? There's Jammu and Ladakh as well. For a fact Kashmir has 20% of the area and Jammu has 35%, while ladakh has 45% of the area...
2. Everyone refers to Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru's statement on Kashmir, but why doesn't one talk about Shimla agreement or 1971 war? I mean if you make a statement after loosing, you expect that accord not to be adhered to and an older one? why and how is that justified? Is the environment and population mix same as 1947 for voting and refrendums? So how does the author intend to address the anomaly of scared Kashmiri Pandits who have left, mistreated Muslims who are either sometimes ill treated by forces or my millitants and thus disillisioned. Educated societies take educated steps and not steps due to hasty feelings of an ill educated journalist
3. Why is it that, there is a tacit assumption that part of POK is happy and flourishing and that they don't want a refrendum? and no one ever talks about that?
4. Why is it that people want to divide a state based on a 1947 status only? Why not go back and look at Kashmir when the entire belt was non-muslim?
5. I am from Jammu & Kashmir and not a migrant, and have braved the bullets and have stayed with hindus and muslims alike and i stay there. I don't want a Pakistani to come and think for me, especially when he can't control his own country. So why is it that my opinion is never listened to?
6. Kashmiris in Pakistan are called as Mohajirs and are treated as B grade citizens. My family and many more are earning our wages and running family and still spending much less than an average indian due to special subsidies and you want tell me to be unthankful to Indian Govt? Why doesn't the press and the elitists like Economist ever throw some light on their plight?
7. Who is this author to label "all kashmiris" as pro pakistan or pro independence?
8. Why is that a 60% participation in a democratic process is refuted by a society full of barbaric, hostile, ustable and rouge politics?
9. Why is it that me and my brothers in J&k, after voting in such large numbers are being told that, see you have voted, but you meant this, not that. For heaven's sake, we know our reasons and know what we have voted for.
10. Does any literate and educated person stand up and demonstrate how an Independent or pakistani Kashmir will sustain its economy? Oh no.. Don't give me that lame excuse that we will decide as that this "we" includes me and my family. So please tell me by which economic model or great discovery are we going to self sustain?
To cut the long story short, It is great to have good questions for others without looking into the mirror. But, please don't belittle this great victory of democracy & sanity over mindless advocacy of death and destruction. Please don't treat a youth throwing a stone at you as entire kashmir. Even if you have to, ask him the right questions and non-incting questions and you will realize that after he has seen both the sides of the picture, he will appreciate the one he is living in. Independence is a great human concept, but it has to be logical and everyone has to be involved, not only the author, economist editorial staff, seperatists and pakistanis. Never forget there are more human beings that dwell and prosper within the same confines and who don't share the same line as you Mr Author...

Maaya ki Maaya...

No no... I'm not talking about Mayawati... I am talking about Lakshmi... Not the lady... The currency....
Just about 6 years ago a friend of mine complained about the fact that his company (Obviously an IT firm) is not giving him a nice raise.. Reason.. Currency was not stable and his company which was earning dollars, showing rupee income types was at loss... So, No Hikes....
Then came the green back days.. Dollars gave more rupees when en cashed and a SAP names animal was born.. Everyone was gung-ho about its prospects till entirety... People started to go abroad to implement software... The hikes were still missing for few.. Reason... We are expanding, we will pay after we get returns on it...
Then came the great sub-prime crisis of 2007, Dollar was in dumps.. A country which was doing well against the dollar, oil which went up in absolute dollar terms was cheaper as value of dollar went downwards. The IT wallah still didn't get a hike, with companies crying out loud... Dollar is low, though in dollar terms we are earning great... But we show profits in rupees, Govt is not supporting us, We can't do anything about it... So better luck next time with hikes...
The story lives on.. Greenback at its usual highs, Oil cooling off a nice 30% of its highs, 2 BIG Investment Banks went down (R.I.P.)... And guess what.. No hikes... Reason.. Dollar is high... Oil is low.. But our clients are closing their business... So, well... Here is your reward for standing with the thick and thin of our business, for so many years that we had made a mistake of unduly pleasing the CNBC TV-18 on results conference call, for greedily looking at my pocket when we were earning more and looking deeper in my pocket when earnings went down... Here is your PINK SLIP!!!
And I am sure... This is not the end... Its just the beginning of just another chapter... New banks will open, business will come... IT will prosper... Ramalingam Raju, premji and so many like them will add few more millions to their kitty... My friend will again be employed... The pressures will still remain, the margins will be heading southwards, stock markets might not be receptive (After all people will get educated), India will prosper (So, R.I.P. Low cost dirty jobs), Dollar might again dip or rise by 30%... And guess what.. The Hikes.. Will still be elusive... as some old sage scripted in Hindi... Maaya ki Maaya Anokhi...

Kachrewallah..... (The Rag picker)

How many times have we noticed a rag picker? using an old handle to pick up old dirty bags, iron pellets and in his own small selfish way.... Cleaning the roads? Have we ever noticed his work? His job? and thought of it as an important person? A person who has the maturity to distinguish right from wrong? Or simply a person who might steal at the first chance ... Amusing as it may seem is our human nature.. At the outside we speak of dignity of labour and respect for everyone, but somewhere in out heart and mind we look down on some jobs as pithy, piddly or meaningless or more so as a risk to society than a help....

And today a lot of us stand corrected and they ... Well you decide! A city reeling under the strike of a violent and brutal terrorist attack... in a usually busy hour of North India on a weekend... Inflicted by those who don't care for or respect humanity... 5 blasts on the trot, expected to break the back of spirit of the city and that it did to an extent.. But then there was an unassuming victory for its citizens...

2 rag pickers at different points in time, behaved with responsibility and reported some surreptitious activities and doubted intentions of some... In a world where we are afraid of going to Police and they, who bear the maximum brunt of police, dared to go to police and report the incident... and guess what... They SAVED precious lives and more so... resurrected the sagging spirits...

My friend who till last nite were skeptical, worried and doubted the intention of his neighbour and expected this to go on communal lines today called back, telling me that Delhi is back on its foot. Not scared, but determined to demonstrate what kind of stuff are we Indians made of... Laxity in govt information systems, lack of empathy by govt, politicians again using this as a point to get some more votes or save some... These two guys have done a big deal of favor to the normal public...

The real hero is not the bomb disposal squad, its his job. The real hero is not Delhi police who's tom-toming about some string leads. The real and unassuming heroes are these two guys, who did few things different

1. Went to police, knowing very well that they themselves could have been detained ... as that's what out police is good at....

2. Believed their instincts and had the maturity to separate rite from wrong and did what they feel right.

I salute the spirit and these two guys and believe with all my heart that in a country where we have people like these, even with a force as pedestrian as ours.. We will not stop, we will not be scared and we will look after each other. A toast to the unflinching, unstoppable spirit of Delhi and India...

Vande Mataram!!!

Kashmir tumhare baap ka hei kya?

Everyone in news channels now a days talks about Kashmir's fight for independence or "Azaadi". Lets try and analyse it for creating some base ground for understanding
1. The pain was about few hectares of land, already in use by amarnath pilgrims, ordered by the High court of jammu and kashmir after looking at the improvements brought about by Vaishno devi shrine board after professionalizing it and stamped by the assembly of Jammu and Kashmir under our draconian article 370. No where there is a participation from anyone outside J&K or religion coming in between? Its done by people of Jammu and Kashmir, for it to enable better revenue earning capability.
2. Seperatists used illiterate and ill informed kashmiri muslims to spread rumors that Govt intends to make thousands of flats for HINDUS, created a story of tirade against muslims in Jammu and finally made up a story of economic blockade against Srinagar. All the points are wrong.
a) All the govt allocated was 40 hectares of FOREST LAND, far away from their so called civilised town limits
b) Jammu muslims are as much a part of this mass movement as are hindus and sikhs. Reason is simple, they are tired of the aura of kashmiri leadership in dragging them everywhere when no, absolutely no benefit has been shared with them and they do not relate either to pakistan or to the narrow minded self propelling prophecies of the aged Geelani and demented Mirwaizes
c) Times now, a news channel has proved by an aerial survey that there is absolutely no instance of blockade. Plus, Kashmir gets occasionally cut off from the rest of the country due to land slides and snow and it has a very strong back up mechanism for emergency supplies by-air straight from mumbai or delhi. So there can never be a question of economic blockade. Remember we have a very high military presence which also needs to be fed.
d) The seperatists are themselves fighting causing a 3 day stoppage to the stir. Geelani wants to be the demi god and so are the moderatist. They themselves don't know where to head... So what are we talking about here?
3. News channels. I treat them as the biggest culprits. In Jammu, people are waving national flags, 80 year old ladies, men, women and kids alike are on the roads and its peaceful. Yet, channels treat this with disdain, as its peaceful and we do not give any "spicy" stuff to them. Where as those war mongers, green flag wavering, anti nationals who insult, hate and loath our beloved country are treated as the specials. To them stone pelters on military and Indians is much more meaningful, flaying indian constitution and abusing self restraint by forces is much much better than bland, but true fight of Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs in Jammu fighting for their right and deserved place! I mean what is it about this KASHMIR thing without JAMMU? How can a geographically smaller area with lesser population enjoy such a high visibility? Classical congress metality. Promote the minority. Thats good! We must ensure that rights of minority should be priority, after all thats the fabric of this great nations. Mutual tolerance and growth, But hey! who's the minority here? Minority in Kashmir is Hindus, whose rights have been violated for 60 years. Minority in Jammu is Muslims and Sikhs who do not support this unconstitutional decision by congress under pressure to save its Govt.

So, its may be a 20% and that too illiterate and ill informed populace of J&K who think they are the representatives of Jammu and Kashmir. And they forget that the name is Jammu and Kashmir not kashmir. "Tumhare baap ki jaagir nahi, jo Paakistan ke hawaale kar dein". But INDIA and its majority and minority alike have to take a call? What is right? and what is WRONG?

For Jammu & Ladhakhis and for educated Kashmiri brothers, Its absolutely clear... Not an inch... Mark my words... Not an inch... will we budge... We are yet to take half part of our state which is with pakistan and is in tatters... forget about the part that anyway is an integral part of INDIA.

Cheers to the spirit of Harmony and spirit of togetherness prevailing in Jammu!!! India is the best thing to have happened to this hilly state and we have taken only from this great country. Its out time to give back and stand firm. I am sure, Fellow INDIANS will follow soon...

The Weekend Flyback...

The life of a consultant is full of amusing lifestyle.... He lives out of hotels, flights and airports... He eats three different variety of food every week; of his home, client's food service and of airlines... He interacts with the biggest of the group in organizations and is known to be a key influencer but yet he takes decision on none... He speaks to many people in many different languages and is supposed to be a jack of all trades... even if he has no clue of one... He has the gold and platinum card memberships of all the airlines and still he's planning for more...The day will not be far in the life of a young consultant, when his child will tell his mother... "Mom, Sunday uncle has come.... Who comes only on sundays". Yet consulting is a yearned field for a lot many in the biggest of business schools... People desperately wanting to jump in the ditch and have their happiness and family life mothered... Well I also belong to that group...

So what is it that excite me the most? Whats is it that keeps the blood gushing thru the veins? What is it that keeps him awake on wednesdays and thurdays after commiting such a blunderous decision (Joining consulting).. A simple truth of his life... The weekend flyback... More than the kick that a victory or winning a deal gives, or a successful client meeting gives... Its this bliss of going home and visiting his nears and dears, an outing to the best pub or the quietest pub in the town that keeps his heart thumping... The reader must be wondering why I am bragging and confusing and blabbering about it? Well the answer is simple...

"Today is my good friday.. I am flying home..."

Now don't expect a mail on monday morning blues

The Amarnath fiasco An unimaginable shame for us

Someone ... Long time back told me... People ineherently are good creatures... I believed in that... What he forgot to tell me was the fact that... If not directed properly... we are the most gulible creatures of the world... And the biggest failure I have witnessed with what we all have seen and heard on the Amarnath Land issue... A shameful yet very very true depiction of human mind...
Here are my 2 pences on the argument and the incident that pained my heart and soul and cut deep marks in it... A cave of holy hindu god Shiva, found by a muslim and maintained by his caste and family for ages bacame one of the biggest identities for the regions. Today to give a small tract of land for its pilgrims' better comfort & facilities, the very same race came up in arms... Here is how bluntly spooked the story is...
1. Kashmir's road to history and legacy, had the hard work of local muslims who worked tirelessly to do the tame chores of everyday work and the local kashmiri pandits who were very famous for their intelligence and looked after the development of the area... Today Kashmiri Pandits are a just a trace.. Thrown away from their home towns, wives, sisters and daughters raped,,, uncles, fathers and sons brutally murdered,,, Ancesteral property taken over by those who were their servants,,, they are scattered all over the country.. and still as humble as they have always been, they are again establishing themselves and spreading the frangrance of saffron to whatever they touch... So when did they and their religion become an outsider?
2. INDIA, is home to the biggest population of muslims in the world in one country... It has the best arrangement for Haj pilgrims going to Saudi Arab. To a city which does not allow Hindus or Sikhs to enter its territory.. It gives heavy discounts to ensure people can practice their faith as they want to. This happens from the cities which have the highest population of hindus & Sikhs.. and No one has ever objected to it. Today in my country, I am being asked to vacate a place which is again not for worship but to ensure that the biggest source of revenues (i.e. Tourists) can have a smooth ride and would want to come back... And people object to it? And govt listens to them and cancels the order? The other party withdraws support on moral grounds? Justified......? I wonder
3. There is no city in the country which was not ravaged by Mughals. Indian still adopted the race after their kingdoms were wiped off the maps, after we allowed a country to be made for muslims (Pakistan & Bangladesh). Whoever was left, was an INDIAN first and a muslim or a hindu later. And here we are, allowing people to strike on roads, formally demanding wiping off one's right to practices his or her religion? and we hear it, see it and believe it? And do Nothing.....
4. The biggest masjids & imambaras of the country are located in Hindu & sikh dominated cities. They have been made on the biggest ancient hindu temples... No one reclaimed that back.... All I am questioning is that when govt passed a logical order of improving the life of a pilgrim and thus helping the economic stature of the locals... Who gave them the rite to roll it back and that why should a normal citizen in my country (Be it Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian) not be irritated by and wanting an end to this needless, illogical, uneducated tirade on humanity... more than anything else....
I am deeply hurt, anguished and ashamed. I will now ask every kashmiri muslim ever wanting a help, a job or a guidance.... Why do you think you deserve it? As Lord Krishna had said... "You reap as you shall sow" and for the inquisitive ones... I am not a Kashmiri Pandit.. But moved by their plight and innocence... May the same lord shiva open his third eye one day on the defaulters... Amen!!!