Mee Mumbaikar...Silent Spectators!!

Warmest season's greetings!! I have been away. Busy. Too busy to look at myself carefully. No no no... not busy as in the socialite types or anything like that..... Before you call me a hypocrite, give me a chance to justify myself. I have been a silent spectator...all this while. Now I am not talking about a week, a month or a year. I am taking into leverage the entire duration of my life. More importantly, i realize i am not alone. It seems like a sad, lonely thing to do. To do nothing but stare. To just watch what is happening without ever raising a finger or moving a limb to change a thing. Surprisingly, that is what most of us actually do. Take for example the recent uprising by the MNS activists. There is no point discussing how those brainwashed individuals held a whole bustling city to ransom - they already have had more than their fair share of media frenzy. How a bunch of brainwashed idiots managed make mockery of the democracy that we boast of. Those people whose businesses were affected, shops looted, damaged, destroyed or burnt down can do nothing but look at the heavens above and try to pick up the strands of life all over again. Whereas, the perpetrators of such evil thoughts still roams freely in his A/C car... Arrests are usually not made in such cases because it is the mob that attacks. Even when arrests are made, most of them usually get out on bail very easily. Sometimes one wonders why the police needs to intervene if all they do is capture and then let them go. Enough said about the people who are trying to drive us back into the stone age. Mumbai, says Wikipedia, has a population around about nineteen million, a total potpourri of cultures, religions and trades. Also, the city has been inhabited since the stone age. (Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai). When the rains poured over Mumbai, we Mumbaikars stood by each other, bringing strangers into our home. Many stood on the roads and provided food, water or if nothing else showed them the way home. That is the Spirit of Mumbai - undying. Anyone who dreams of being a someone is drawn to this city. There is something about the very air of this city, it makes you want to dream. And if you already have a dream it fans that spark within you, till the little amber turns to a full fledged roaring blazing fire inside. To try and differentiate people in a city like this is injustice. Its blasphemy. Still, however unjust the happenings in the city, most of us remained silent; watching from behind the curtains of our homes. Some of us speak now, albeit still not very openly. That is when i self-introspect. I too remained silent. I think we have remained silent too long. I think we need to speak up. Speaking up does not always kill. Look at the US, when the people turned up to vote in the largest number - democracy (& hopefully even peace) shall prevail at the hands of Barrack Obama. Somehow, the city seems to have gone into a slumber. I am currently reading "Discovery of India" by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. Its a beautiful book, written in a beautiful language, about a culture, a country that is even more beautiful. One of the things I learnt from whatever I have read so far is all the while when India was openhearted accepting people of all faiths and cultures, exchanging knowledge, spreading knowledge - India was at that time the most famous in the world and was know as "Sone ki Chidiya". However, when she tried to close her fist, tried to not let people come in and affect her "culture" she started stagnating. The openness of the heart and mind which had led her to her glory - whence the fist was closed - was slowly and steadily lost.... I believe that is true even today. Any one who is highly learned can tell you this, to learn, to grow, to reach the pinnacle of your success you will need to keep your mind and your hearts open to all... for a closed fist can never capture enough........... In the end all that I can say is.... while my city, my country is being held to ransom...at the present moment...i just stand like a silent spectator. However, I am sure this immobility shall not last for long....and when the moment comes...i shall not be found looking for reasons.

Speak For Yourself

Greetings Earthling! Ramazaan has kept me really busy this year. Now, that it is going to come to a close very soon, life is getting even more hectic by the day. However, since blogging is one thing I definitely like to do, here I am today. So, getting on with my most recent ramblings. A few days ago, a friend of mine asked me if I was turning into a "hard-core". Since then it has persisted as the proverbial itch that needs scratching. Let's analyse this. According to the Little Oxford English Dictionary, the word hard core is the most committed or uncompromising members of a group. That is the lexicographical meaning. In our daily lives the word is associated with the most extreme, the most manly, the kind that pushes to the limit. In short, an extremist would be a type of hard core. Now, for those who know me in-person, usually know me a the very happy-go-lucky, the fun type of person. Some know who knows what to do when and how much. I am not saying i am perfect - not in the least - i just believe in doing what I think is right. And the path to righteousness never hurts anyone else in its wake. So, this question took me completely by surprise. In fact, I kind-of tumbled over it. I have questioned myself several times over since - especially with all the bombs blasting all over the country. Moreso, because for those who do not understand Islam, every believer is a hardcore. This has also led to a lot of introspection - within myself and the Islamic world in today's time. Islam. A religion that says Allah is one and the all powerful. All humans are equal. Meccah is the house of Allah. Mohammed is His Prophet. Quran is the holiest book of Islam. This is the truth. Beyond this, I feel is a lot of speculation. In recent times, terrorist activities have increases manifold all over the world. A lot of these terrorists proclaim that they are Muslims. However,I feel, most of them have never understood Islam. Or Jihad. Or even themselves and their surroundings for that matter. These seem to be highly disillusioned and brainwashed people. Most of them are very young - not very worldly wise either. Now, because of these people or these terrorist, shall we say, a lot of other simple and innocent men and women all across the globe have unwanted gained the title of being hardcores. To the point, that in today's time, if you are a Muslim and a beliver and diligently follow your traditions and religion, you are automatically labelled a hard core. And this could not be farther from the truth. Islam teaches you humbleness. It teaches you brotherhood. It teaches you tolerance. It teaches you community living. As much as I have looked into the teachings of Islam, I have learnt that it is the most beautiful religion ever. Simply because it shows you how to live like a human. And, how to live and let live. I am a believer. But, I refuse to be labelled as a hard core. I believe in my values. I believe in my traditions. I believe in my Prophet. I believe in my religion. I believe in Allah. I believe. Therefore, I am.