माशाअल्ला
नयनों में सुरमा लगाए जब,
तीर सा कुछ चल जाता है,
बढ़ती है धड़कन दिल की,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
लाली ओठों की कुछ ऐसी,
मादक मंद मुस्काती है,
सांस मेरी थम जाती है,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
हिरनी जैसी चाल तेरी जो,
करती मौसम अस्त व्यस्त,
मैं भँवरा बन मंडराता हूँ,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
काले घने जब केश तेरे,
बन बादल घिर आते हैं,
लगता जैसे सावन आया,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
माथे मुख पे श्रृंगार तेरा,
आभा एक झलकती है,
हो मंत्रमुग्ध मैं बस देखूं,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
हाथ में जो कंगन डाले,
खन-खन खनक जाते हैं,
अंतर्मन मधुर ध्वनी चहके,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।
सौंदर्य से भी कुछ ज्यादा,
है मन में मेरे अक्स तेरा,
बंद आँखों से दिख जाता है,
तू लगती है माशाअल्ला।।
Liberal Extremism and The Guilt Syndrome
Oxford dictionary defines a Liberal as “Willing to respect or accept behavior or opinions different from one’s own”. By the sound of it liberal sounds better than conservative. Who wouldn’t like to be called a liberal in light of the above definition, Right?
Well the reality is a bit strange. If you are willing to accept different opinion you are a liberal. Things were fine till then. Liberals stood for equal rights to women, minorities, same-sex marriages and other such issues you can think of. They respected the views of other persons. There was a time in history when liberal movement grew across the world and wiped out the extreme people who called themselves conservatives. Well almost!
Slowly the liberals hard grained into their own “liberal” beliefs. So much so that didn’t realize when they became extremists. They stopped respecting views different from theirs. They started hooliganism in the name of liberty. If you differ, you will be dealt with. How dare you differ?
The rise of liberal extremism is scarier than conservative extremism. I’ll tell you why. Liberal extremists are like unknown foes. They confuse people that they are not extreme by attaching liberal to it. They trick people. With Conservative extreme, you already know what you getting into. There is no trickery. A friend of mine once said, “You have to be careful with your friends. With your enemy you know he will hurt you and you are vigilant. It’s the friends you have to be more careful with as you don’t expect”.
Same goes for liberal extremists. They disguise themselves as liberals when in reality they are extremists.
Now about the Guilt syndrome. This is the perfect weapon of liberals. Shame someone to the point of guilt for getting their way. To them anyone who is against illegal immigration is a racist; anyone who values religion is a fanatic; anyone who says anything against women, even if true, is a sexist. They go to extremes and then shame the person often into submission. If that doesn’t work, they don’t hesitate getting violent. The Guilt Syndrome works mostly. Character assassination by liberals is a common phenomenon these days.
I would any day take conservative extremism as it is a known and I will be cautious. With Liberal extremism I know they will dagger me in the back one fine day.
Modi Degree issue and underlying hypocrisy
Let me make my position clear on the Degree issue of PM Modi before going into the critique of the situation. I don’t think degree holds any weightage for becoming a PM/CM or any elected official. Unless public education becomes free, State can’t put any weightage on formal education at least for election purposes. Informal education which comes from hardships of life does not make anyone less human. First the society makes education out of the reach of poor people and then wants to put bar on people for the lack of it. This can’t work. Although no one is barred in India but I have seen a trend brewing.
For me if Modi has or doesn’t have a degree, it doesn’t make him any less qualified to lead our nation.
Getting that out of the way let me come to the current issue. This is not primarily about PM’s qualification but about the disclosures made in election affidavits. Here comes the hypocrisy part. For me anyone is free to enquire about PM’s degree disclosed in the affidavit and has every right to file an RTI demanding the same. But I see a lot of people taking exception to it. “How dare someone ask for Modi’s degree?” is the sentiment. I feel it is utterly wrong.
When Sonia’s qualifications are questioned, When Smriti’s qualifications are questioned, When Tomar’s qualifications are questioned, When Lalu Yadav’s son’s qualifications are questioned, one should keep some parity. We react as per our liking of the leader in question. Sonia degree issue crops up and BJP slams her to be a liar. Tomar’s degree issue and he spent few nights in jail and had to resign as a Minister. But when Smriti Irani and Modi are questioned, it is sacrilege.
Same I will say about Congress and other opposition parties. When their leaders are questioned its witch hunting but when you question the other side, it’s your right?
I feel enquiring Modi’s degree via RTI is okay. Anyone has the right. No one should cry foul. If you do then you have to address all the past positions taken by you. And if you don’t address them, it will expose your hypocrisy. Fun part is I haven’t seen Modi himself complaining, just the new breed of sycophants shouting their lungs out.
e-Volution: The WhatsApp Group and Human Interaction
There was a time when we used to hear how in future there will be robots to do everything. When Matrix movie was released, the hype went even further. How the virtual reality would be? Then we heard about robots might even replace the need for companionship.
WhatsApp has reached quite close. Before you get naughty thoughts, let me clarify. The need for a companion to share thought; talk to, has been addressed at some level. Consider this; I have a WhatsApp friend group, with people living in different time zones. At any given time at least one of them is active to have a chat.
Chatting on WhatsApp is non-intrusive too. You sit in the coziness of your house; safety and security. Chat, share jokes, share emotions. If you need any help someone is there. If you are in grief, people are there to cheer you up. Of course you need a real group of friends first. I have a friend circle which I made when I was in college.
With WhatsApp group, the connection has gone to a new level. Any new movie we see, first thing we share with the group. Promotion in job, rejection in love, from going to gym to stomach indigestion, we end up sharing. I feel there is always someone to listen.
I feel it takes away a lot of loneliness. It is like a personalized Siri; a group of friends which matches your thought process. However this might lead people to stop looking for interaction in real life. Since there is no loneliness, where is the need to find someone to kill it?
To predict future is too tricky. But one thing is sure; we already are living the future we used to read in sci-fi during childhood. We are not able to realize as it is happening run time. I call it e-Volution of humans.
Hillary vs Obama
Now that it is evident that Hillary and Trump will clash off this Nov to be the leader of the free world, the analysis have started. With #NeverTrump and #NeverHillary doing rounds and un-favorability ratings of both candidates huge, this is going to be an election beyond compare. Today I want to concentrate on Hillary. Let’s try and see how 2008 and 2016 are different for Democrats.
Just like 2016, 2008 too was an uprising against the status quo. Higher unemployment, never ending wars and crippled economy motivated voters to choose an outsider. While Obama was the disruptor, McCain represented the continuum.
Coming to the 2008 Democrat primaries, initially the super delegates were with the Hillary, just like this time. Obama channeled the young voters and forced the party to toe the line. Eventually his 4% margin in primaries forced super delegates to jump the ship.
This time round the youth is with Bernie. Hillary has benefitted with initial momentum and lack of early awareness about Bernie. As months have passed more and more people have come to know Bernie and things have changed for him. However Hillary has been supported by African Americans and Latinos big time. But the main problem is youth. They are not with Hillary.
This is what makes 2008 different from 2016. Last time young voters propelled Obama and party fell in line. This time party has propelled Hillary and it wants young voters to fall in line. I am not trying to take away anything from the lead Clinton has across other voter categories. It’s just that youth represent the future of any movement. Also youth are the ones which resulted in huge voter turnout in 2008. Going by Democrat primaries, there is a question mark over quantum of Democrat voter participation in Nov 2016.
While Trump is plagued with issues of his own making, Hillary is plagued with the magic of Bernie. How the General Election pans out is anybody’s guess. One thing is clear, Hillary is no Obama.
Sri Sri and the Herd that follows
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has said in an interview that he rejected Nobel Peace Price some time back. Also he said that Malala Yousafzai should not have been awarded the prize when asked specific question on Malala. I don’t contest Sri Sri’s views as it is his personal opinion and everyone is entitled to it.
What I laugh at is what’s going to happen next. The herd that worships him will go ballistic defaming Malala. For those who think I am being cynical, just wait a few days. I don’t feel either ways about Malala getting the award. Just want to put it on record, lest the herd call me biased.
The fun part is there will be a lot of Sri Sri’s followers who would have liked and supported Malala getting the award. The very same people will go ballistic against her, now that the God has spoken. This is the kind of cult mentality that obscures our independent thinking. The Gurus have to cultivate it to get the following.
I don’t question his comments or what he does. I do for sure mock the herd mentality of the followers. Hope I am proven wrong and we don’t see barrage of abuses hurled at Malala. But I am sure I won’t be.
Why media got Trump prediction wrong?
Since Trump started topping polls and started winning primaries, media pundits are having a hard time explaining why they got predictions so wrong. It’s not an easy thing to introspect about ones failures. Most in media are passing through the same phase. They are blaming Trump voters, calling them angry, bigots and every name under the sun. Few have admitted they were wrong in their analysis. Still they are not ready to admit as to why they went wrong. Let me do it for them.
They were wrong as they were not impartial. They were wrong as they analyzed from studios. They were wrong as they were disconnected from public. They were wrong as their fat paychecks plugged their ears from the pain of the common man. They were wrong as they had a secure job, nice house and were paid for by those in power. They were wrong as the media houses they worked for and swore allegiance to, are owned by same elites who own politicians via campaign funds. More importantly they were wrong as they reported what they wanted to be true, not what was indeed true.
When polls started coming late last year, many in media knew that Trump had a solid chance. But they wrote otherwise. They wrote what they wished to be true. They wished Trump was not the nominee. Had they done unbiased analysis, they would have known the Truth, which was so evident.
Most of the Pundits are paid for by big business houses. Anything coming out of their mouths is thus tainted. They never say what they feel, they say what pays. Hence the disconnect.
Whether Trump will be a good nominee or a bad nominee, only time will tell. But to have said that he had no chance just coz they wanted him not to be a nominee, is where media went wrong. It’s time for biasness in media to go away or else people will force the exiting media to go away.
Agusta Scam: BJP, Congress, Media all culprits
AgustaWestland scam which was relegated to the sidelines by BJP, Congress and Media for last few years is back in news. Courtesy Italian Court which handed sentences to bribers and named prominent Congress leaders.
BJP has been quick to condemn Congress leaders to come clean. Wait what? Yes you heard it right. BJP is asking the thugs of Congress to come clean. Has any thug ever come clean voluntarily? Never! Let’s be every clear, it was gullible on our part that BJP wants to nab the corrupt. Nobody wants to do that. This was just a charade. Even now the posturing against Congress will continue till media flashes the story. No more. Ah! Yes, also during elections.
Media, which has also proven to be a commodity which was bought by these middlemen, will also sooner or later drop the headlines; either by getting paid off or in lieu of breaking news.
To me, more than the scams of Congress, what hurts is the inaction of BJP. Coz I had so high hopes of Modi. Maybe I was naïve.
Two years on, Vadra is still out. Vadra which whose name made many Indians’ blood boil; whose corruption was poll plank of BJP. He is still out of jail. What can we expect of other such promises? We should come to realize that nothing is going to happen to these bigshots. The best that will happen is they might not be allowed to do more of corruption. We should start feeling content with this.
I seriously hope, soon a national party, alternate to BJP and Congress emerges at the National Scene, with less history and lesser baggage. These seasoned politicians have done us in.
Sanskrit in IIT’s: Playing Devils Advocate
HRD Ministry has asked IIT’s to teach Sanskrit. The aim is to leverage the study of science from ancient literature. This literature is primarily in Sanskrit and hence the need to study the language first.
At this point it is not clear if these courses will be optional or compulsory. As much as I know IIT’s, the courses would be optional. Somewhat like the humanities subjects. The reaction to the decision has been mixed. Some have welcomed, some have laughed at it.
Is the decision any good? Is there any harm if Sanskrit is taught? Is the backlash valid or is it just because we think little of Sanskrit. Would the backlash be same if it was Spanish or German? A lot of aspects need to be looked at. Let me play the devils advocate for now.
Pros:
- Back to the roots: Due to better job and research opportunities abroad, every year there is a mass migration. The sense of pride in our own legacy has gone missing. Hopefully study of Vedas from scientific point of view might instill some much needed belief. What I most like about Japanese and Chinese people is the pride they take in their traditions and beliefs. If teaching Sanskrit gives us an insight into the uncharted treasure, would be good to have.
- Fact vs Fiction: We all have read as to how Sanskrit is the most scientific language. How we can use Sanskrit for technological advancement. How our ancient literature was way ahead of its times and can even compete with the contemporary. The study of Sanskrit will give us an opportunity to vet these topics. Since it will mostly be optional, those who want to they can choose to.
- Fight the ills of society: The biggest of the ills of our society has been propagated by people who held on to Sanskrit. I am talking about the so called Brahmins. They monopolized the religion and religious rituals by understanding or simply by-hearting Sanskrit Shlokas. If Sanskrit study kicked off, hopefully these people will not be able to make fool of the populace. The need for the Panditji will subside when we could recite the Shlokas ourselves. This will take time and would require teaching Sanskrit in all colleges and not just IIT’s.
Cons:
- May become compulsory: There are chances that after a trial run, Govt. might make it a compulsory subject for the 1st semester. This might cause the grades to suffer as Sanskrit is hard to master. Most of the students haven’t been in touch with it from some time. This might take away from the time which the students would have otherwise spent on technical curriculum.
- An attempt to propagate myths: There have been attempts to propagate myths such as presence of flying objects during Ramayana era (Vimana). There is an attempt to push through unsubstantiated reasoning’s in the name of ancient literature. Sanskrit might end up just being right wing propaganda to spread such beliefs. Beliefs which go against continuity of advancement.
- Going backward: Top IQ students spending time on an almost extinct language is akin to going backward. India requires urgent development and reading Sanskrit is not going to give us that. Better would have been global language like Spanish through which we would be able to connect to the world better and help in job creation.
Eventually time will tell if Sanskrit is helpful or not. Lets wait and watch!
That Happiness Shirt
Everyone strives for better shape. For most of us it is an eternal fight to fitness. My body weight fluctuates a lot depending on my eating habits and exercise regime. There are times when I am fit; there are times when I am unfit.
But there is always that one shirt which was bought at the height of fitness. When I am able to wear, it makes me happy. Couple of months of unhealthy lifestyle, junk food, late nights, break from workout and I can’t fir into my perfect shirt.
When I gain around 5-6kgs, and start huffing and puffing, I get back to diet and workout. Junk food gets replaced with fruits and home made food. Regular workout, cycling, Baba Ramdev come back into picture.
I try that perfect shirt daily. It starts from not being able to button up. Moves to buttoning up but with bulging Moobs. A month or so later comes the moment when I am able to wear it to office. The joy of the Perfect Shirt.
I am sure this trait is shared by a lot of people. Whoever you are, where ever you are, I am sure you have that perfect Shirt, waiting to make you happy.
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