DIG THE NEWS

I’m sorry, you don’t have beggar knocking on your door!

2011-12-24T06:30:00.000-08:00

Few months back, while distributing invites for a social gathering in my city of Kalyan, an odd feeling struck me as I made my way from one housing society to another gated colony. The compulsory ritual of entering your name in society register and residents feigning ignorance about their immediate neighbours was too much for me. I started feeling privileged to have grown up in a mohalla, ormohallas to be precise, because growing up in a mohalla means not remaining confined to just one. For the benefit of my friends living in big housing societies, modern gated colonies or high rises who have no idea whatsoever of a mohalla or life in a mohalla, I shall give a glimpse.

In our mohallas we are woken up in the morning by rhythmic sounds of pawwalas, machhiwalas,bhangarwalas and beggars. As we step out of our doors we see life full in action: from shopkeepers opening their shops too sweeper doing her job; from labours on their duties to schoolchildren on their way to schools. We find ourselves in the mid of all this churnings. It rejuvenates us and fills us with fresh energy. Now just compare it with the sleepiness of housing complexes… Dreary!

Take the case of neighbours. Mohallas can loosely be translated as neighbourhoods –implicating thatmohallas are perhaps the only place where you find real neighbours. Not the ones who don’t even know the names of the people living adjacent to their houses, as I encountered recently. To us neighbours are more than people living in the immediate vicinity; they are simultaneously our friends, kith and kin and trustful companions. Many of us have a habit of handing over keys of our homes to neighbours when we set out for a journey. Some families are so close to each other that you don’t even need permission to enter each other’s homes. There’s hardly anything about your life and relations that your neighbours don’t know –of course the traditional Indian nosiness also plays a role in it. But you never feel lonely here.

We make our first friends not in school but in mohalla. And they remain fast friends entire our lives. One of the biggest advantages of mohallas is that most of the houses are in chawls or low rises. This physical closeness translates into closeness of hearts. It gives us a better opportunity to socialize. I’ve sweet memories of playing cricket, beyblade, marbles, hide-and-seek and what not in gully-mohallas of Old Kalyan. We even cultivated rivalry of a sort with guys from other mohallas. Today, while those of you in high rises are glued to your computer screens chatting on facebook we gather in front yard of someone’s place or nukkad to indulge in more human form of conversation.

On the other hand the life in high rises is bereft with a kind of isolation. And much of it has to do with the attitude of its inhabitants themselves. Gated colonies are being projected as dream homes. Today residents of these housing complexes feel safer that their houses are well secured and no one can enter their societies without running into the watchman. No beggar, hawker or company salesman to ‘disturb’ them. They don’t need to go to the market outside. Their food requirements are catered by the shops inside their colonies. Residents themselves like to live a cocooned life. They go to work early in the morning and return late in the evening without bothering about their neighbours or neighbourhood. Even on weekends they prefer watching TV in their homes to socializing. This makes me sometimes wonder as to why media and intellectuals call lower middle-class Muslims as ghettoized? I mean I find these people from the upper echelons of society living in these modern gated colonies more ghettoized!

And look at its social cost: Your minimal socializing with the ones who live in your immediate neighbourhood doesn’t help in your evolution as a better human being. The one who doesn’t bother about those living near him can’t really be expected to have concern towards the entire society. Living in a mohalla, we could interact and empathies with people from all strata of society. In housing societies you are simply cut-off from the entire world. You lack ‘a human –humane interaction’ –to borrow Arundhati Roy’s phrase – with the less privileged of the society. You don’t have a beggar knocking on your doors so that you could appreciate poverty. The sounds of political rallies and other social churnings don’t reach you, making it unable for you to participate actively in public life. In ourmohallas it’s the neighbours who are first to respond and extend a helping hand in a situation of crisis. We find none of this sort happening in high rises. What we did find was, neighbours who were ignorant of a murder in their neighbourhood for a long time -until the stench arising from dead body grew too strong.

That’s why when I see high rises and modern housing societies being constructed in our mohallas it fills me with sadness. And I turn towards the virgin parts of city, full of chaos; but humanity too. The familiar sight of women haggling with hawkers and neighbours indulging in animated conversations lifts my spirits and I merrily ride through lanes and bylanes of the mohalla on my bicycle. It’s the air of mymohalla that I love!

Being Orphan

2011-12-24T06:26:00.000-08:00

The other day I was talking to my younger sister, who studies in 9th standard, about her School life and sharing some of my experiences, too, as both of us had some time to kill. As she was informing me about her teachers, friend circle and classmates, she started telling me about this ‘weird’ classmate of hers whom she was not really interested befriending or for that matter talking to. That girl, I was told, was a bit ‘strange’ in many ways. Many of times she would talk ‘nonsense’ like living in the jungle bordering the city. Or as once, in the school, when she was asked why she was late, she started crying and mentioned about her encounter with a knife wielding man who beat her up on her way to School. She was said to be in a habit of stealing money from home. She would say conflicting things about her family members. She hardly had any friends.

Later in the talk it turned out that she was an orphan living with her poor grandma. Rumor has it that, my sister told, her mother was killed by her father who was consequentially sentenced to jail. The picture became complete. At this instance my mind jumped to one of my school friends who was also ‘weird’. Children would call him ‘scientist’ for the larger part of his ‘nonsense’ talk was about his future scientific invention plans. I don’t recall if there was anyone he could call a friend besides me. He was also an orphan, having lost his mother in an accident and his father left him and his sister at the mercy of his uncle.

I started thinking about the tragedy of children rendered parentless at tender age. We who are brought up in the comforting shade of our parents and warmth of family life tend to take our parents for granted. That sense of security, belonging, love and being cared that we so much enjoy is simply absent in the case of those orphans, resulting into unpleasant consequences. The relatives, however loving and caring, can never be substitute for the parents.

So when these kids see other kids with their parents, they feel terribly lonely. They find no one they could share their joys and sorrows and anxieties with. No one they could ask for guidance or goodies. For they know that those taking care of them are simply not their ‘own’. What’s more, if the departure of child from his parent(s) involves certain degree of violence or conflict, as in the case these two kids, then it has grave psychological effects on their tender minds.

Most often our parents are our gateway to the society. Especially when we’re young, people recognize us by our parents. That’s why the orphans, most of the times, live a detached life wherein they find solace and company in the world of their own fantasies. So you can’t really blame them for telling some of the stories of that world to their schoolmates. And this results in further alienation.

There’s one more aspect of their misery: insecurity. Even if your parents are poor you have a sense of financial security and support and an assurance that you won’t be abandoned or treated as a burden, which is not the case with orphans. Besides, whom do you think can they complain about irate bullies at school? Most of the times they don’t get those essential lessons of mannerisms and morality and vice and virtue. This combined with their unfulfilled aspirations and sense of insecurity makes them feel vulnerable and turns many of them into criminals.

Prophet Muhammed (pbuh) said, “Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his account for every hair over which he passed his hand”. The message is to never let an orphan feel lonely and assure him of parental support which he wants so desperately. Encourage kids to befriend such ‘weird’ boys and girls and keep them in close company instead of running away from them. Support them financially, if we can, without embarrassing them.

At a time when divorces are happening at an alarming rate, the no. of single mothers is increasing, babies are born to unmarried teens (most of whom lack proper care especially from paternal side) and homosexual couples are legally having kids we should, for the sake of well being of children, defend the traditional family system with full force. Statistics show that in Britain, where the rate of teen pregnancies is the highest and the family system is damaged beyond repair, a crime is committed every two minutes by youngsters. It is high time that we realize that parents are not just an invaluable gift of God but an essential need of child and fight all those social evils that deprive a child of one or both of them.

Musings: Engineers, Environment & Society

2011-12-24T05:42:00.000-08:00

At a time when “Eco-friendliness” & “Going Green” is flavor of the season and engineers, especially from Civil branch, and builders are squabbling to project their next real estate endeavor as “Green” and technical journals are full of “Green Technologies” with yet new, and intricate, jargons doing rounds, I find myself a bit confused. Because, on the other hand, I find newspapers and TV full of glossy commercials, selling us the latest gas guzzling SUVs or CFC ejecting ACs, and government ads , boasting of new infrastructure projects and power plants – all recipes of environmental disaster. Big media houses and corporations which run campaigns about ‘Going Green’ scoff over activists protesting big infrastructure projects and environment ministry regulations, calling them “Green hurdles”! What’s happening on the earth?

When you dig deep into it – something we the engineers seldom do when it comes to economics and politics (All that boooring stuff, ya know!) – you’ll come to the conclusion that all this Green talk is a bit farcical. Either way the big corporations and politicians are trying their next trick to make big buck; environment be damned! Even when they are asserting their green credentials they are making an attempt to be in the good books of Activists/NGOs and make soft corner in the consumer heart. Keep watching them till they show their true colours – which certainly don’t include Green.

Much deliberation has led me to a conclusion which, I think, holds as much true for individuals as for organizations: Being Green isn’t about being fussy, it’s about being simple. Think it over. We may discuss the myriad technical ways to curb noise pollution, but don’t mind breaking all the barriers of Decibel during festivities. We may post wise little statements about preserving water on FB and make excellent presentations on rain water harvesting, but fail to follow simple guidelines of using water judiciously: Use bucket instead of shower; Keep water tap closed while brushing or shaving. We may bemoan over the spiraling fuel prices and express gloom over the future scenario with some of us giving serious thoughts to alternate energy or green energy, but riding a bicycle or using a public transport service, like bus, instead of bikes is below our standard.

Load sheddings and electric bills may bother us, but we aren’t at all bothered by tube lights left glowing and fans rotating for nobody at our homes and workplaces (Especially in the college, I’ve figured, the best way to ensure light and air our your head when you enter a room is to turn on all the switches on switchboard… Why bother your head about finding the correct one?). We may be concerned about the hole developing in Ozone layer and subsequent global warming and climate change, but will never figure out that CFCs responsible for it are mainly emanated from our ACs - a luxury at best which can be done away with. Yes, being green isn’t about being fussy, it’s about being simple, silly!

That brings us to the logic of introducing EVS as a subject in Engineering (and other gradation courses) – something we much fret about. Let’s go back to the basics. What’s the definition of Engineering? Is it anything other than utilizing natural resources for the benefit of humanity? And if the benefit of mankind is the ultimate goal, we should appreciate the fact that there already exists a perfectly engineered system put in place by the Almighty for our benefit. Look around you: Water cycle, mountains, your own body… Aren’t they marvels of flawless engineering? As engineers we can strive for the betterment of society using our God-given genius, but should take care that we don’t disturb the delicate balance of nature.

INDIA IS MY VALENTINE...!!

2010-02-12T05:03:00.000-08:00

A peaceful protest will be organized at Bandra Station on 13 Feb, 4 pm-5 pm to highlight the ill effects of celebration of valentine day by SIO India.

West and Veil

2010-01-29T23:13:00.000-08:00

ISLAM v/s WEST or ISLAM v/s REST, isn't it what you're being told, the last decade was all about? Well, the fight(whatever it maybe) is getting more and more evident with west getting more & more confused and getting entangled in its own trap! None, explains it better than France's latest attempts to ban all covering Burqa on its territory. It seems that when all attempts of spreading bikini-culture by West are yielding nothing and on the contrast more & more Girls from West are opting for Burqa and Islam, west's frustration is becoming apparent. It forgot its own doctrine of personal and religious freedom and secularism while trying to ban Burqa in France and minarets in Switzerland. Mr. Obama and US who are much Vocal about so called Human rights violation in Iran, China, Korea chose to keep mum on these instances.But we as Muslims aren't worried. Rather we are amused, for Holy Quran says "They have their plans, Allah has his own. And Allah is the best of planners".

9/11 was an inside job!

2009-09-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

Today is the 8th anniversary of perhaps the most important event that shaped the history of 21st century i.e. the attack on WTC buildings. It has not only changed the demography and politics of a vast region of the world but also the mindset, social and political values of a sizeable amount of the people all around the world. Still, there are more questions than the answers provided.
The videos on the sidebar - startling, as they may seem to you - have raised such questions and tried to find correct explanations for them, a task in which - more or less - they succeeded.
These videos simply use publicly available footages of WTC and simple logic attacks and prove that 9/11 was a handiwork of American government.

For more such evidences click here.

Kunduz Burning

2009-09-06T04:16:00.000-07:00

The large scale civillian casualities in an air strike on fuel tanks hijacked by Taliban by NATO forces in Kunduz Afghanistan (click here to see full report) aren't first of its kind.Civilians have been victims of NATO forces’ atrocities right from the beginning of the war. This incident cleary shows that there isn't much difference between Obama and Bush Administration. Rather there have been more Drone attacks - which kill more civillians than millitants - after Obama assumed the office. Ironically, Obama has condemned the civilian casualities in Sri Lanka and Iran but has no issues over civilian causalities in Afghanistan. The thing is that, the war which is based on atrocity will yield nothing less than atrocities. Alleging Osama bin Laden as chief conspirator of 9/11 (there are videos suggesting that 9/11 is an inside work) attacks, Bush Administration asked Taliban to hand over Osama to them, without providing any proof. Failing which America bombed Afghanistan without bothering so as to who is dying. Is such an attack justifiable even if Taliban had provided shelter to a terrorist? 8 years on, NATO forces are still struggling to ‘defeat Taliban’ and ‘establish democracy’(which was never on their agenda!). Who gave America the right to uproot an establishment if it isn’t democratic or whatsoever? Opinion polls suggest that Afghans were happier in Taliban regime rather than in a ‘democratic’ establishment. It’s high time NATO forces are fighting in Afghanistan. They should live it for the betterment of Afghans.

Stop this Misuse of Public Money!

2009-08-28T09:57:00.001-07:00

Maharashtra state government's 200-crore rupees' project to build a 150-ft high Shivaji statue in Arabian Sea is a very immature decision. At a time when we are going through serious problems such as century's worst drought, security lapses and slums, this decision of state government is nothing but mean Vote-Bank politics. EVEN SHIVAJI MAHARAJ WOULD HAVE DISAPPROVED SUCH A GROSS MISUSE OF PUBLIC MONEY!

For the details of the project log on to 1<<http://http://www.indianexpress.com/news/this-is-what-you-will-see-soon-on-an-island-off-marine-drive/500546/2

2<<http://www.mid-day.com/news/2009/jun/040609-Shivaji-Maharaj-mid-sea-statue-Rs-300-crore-statue-Mumbai-news.htm

WELCOME, RAMZAN

2009-08-23T05:52:00.000-07:00

THE SIGNIFICANCE:
Ramzan is the month in which the revelation of the Holy Quran – the book of guidance for whole humanity – from Allah The God Almighty to Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) through the angel Jebraeel (Gabriel) began. This is the reason of Ramzan’s divinity.

WHAT RAMZAN IS ALL ABOUT:
Ramzan is a month of self control, sacrifice and purifying ourselves. In this month Muslims are forbidden to do some activities which are permissible in normal days. In Ramzan we try to offer more prayers, give more alms (donations) to the underprivileged ones and abstain ourselves more from sins and wrongdoings. This month-long training enables one to lead a more pious and self-controlled life in remaining 11 months.

GETTING STARTED:
A lunar month starts from the first appearance of the moon after one or two moonless nights (Amavas). This year Ramzan is due to begin from August 22 or 23 depending on whether the moon appears on the night of August 21 or 22. There’s much enthusiasm amongst the Muslim so as to on whether on which night the moon appears first. It’s quiet a fun, when people in large nos. throng to terraces of buildings and local mosque and try to have a glimpse of narrow, arc shaped pehli tareekh ka chand. The slogan of ‘Chand Dikha’ joyously chanted by small children marks the arrival of the holy month.
P.S.: Moon was spotted yesterday night that means Ramzan began today!

THE RAMZAN SCHEDULE:
Ramzan aims to check three basic & legitimate needs of human beings viz. food, sex, relaxation – all of which in the event of crossing the prescribed limit become luxury. For this purpose we one is not allowed to have a single morsel of food or a drop of water from dawn to dusk i.e. from some 5:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. That means one has to have a pre-dawn meal called as sehri at about 4:30 a.m. One breaks his fast at sunset with a small meal (Iftaar, as we call it). Breaking fast is a very delightful moment for us after a day-long hunger period. One is not allowed to have sex with his/her spouse during the fasting period. In the night, we offer along prayer collectively (in the local mosque) in which the whole Qur’an is recited. It is called ‘Tarawih’. Such a long prayer demands patience. One gets little sleep in Ramzan. As one has to get up very early for pre-dawn meal. Thus, Ramzan enables one to go even with less rest.

THE ALMS:
In Ramzan, Muslim people donate 2.5% of their savings to needy people. This donation – called as ‘Zakat’ – is mandatory for every Muslim family who has at least 75g gold or an amount equal to the market price of that much gold in store from last year. Such a donation helps to bring social justice in the society.

HEALTH MATTERS:
Fasting in Ramzan doesn’t make one weak, though one may feel temporary weakness during the fasting period. Rather, fasting helps one’s digestive system work smoothly. Fasting is the best cure for the digestive problems.

THE EXEMPTIONS:
Elderly, immature children, ill people and women going through their period are exempted from fasting.

WHAT YOU’RE THINKING:
You may be thinking that it is everyone’s game to fast (or keep Roza), but, believe me my friend, even 7-8 year old children do fast merrily, And once you are used to it, you even won’t feel the hunger or thirst much. So what, you wanna fast and avail yourself from its benefits? Well, you’ll definitely enjoy this experience. Especially, when you’ll sit in the evening to brake your fast you’ll realize that God has indeed bestowed his mercy upon you by providing you the food which is not available to many of your brethren. Simply, follow the following dos and don’ts while fasting and you’ll experience such a spiritual satisfaction and internal happiness that you never experienced before!
a) Don’t lie to anyone – even if speaking truth is harmful for you.
b) Don’t fight with anyone – if someone causes you some harm try to forgive him.
c) Donate some money from your pocket-money to some needy person.
d) Don’t cheat with anyone – even if it costs you some worldly loss.
e) Don’t watch voyeuristic and rousing films/videos/serials/pics – better still, lower your gaze if you happen to see opposite sex, unless he/she is your close relative.

THE LESSON RAMZAN TEACHES ONE IS THAT, IF ONE CAN PREVENT ONESELF FROM DOING A RIGHTFUL THING LIKE EATING JUST BECAUSE HIS GOD WISHES SO HE CAN EASILY PREVENT HIMSELF FROM DOING SINFUL ACTIVITIES TO PLEASE HIS CREATOR.

State of the Nation: Part-5

2009-08-16T03:24:00.000-07:00

State of the Nation: Part-3

2009-08-16T03:21:00.000-07:00

State of the Nation:HT CNN-IBN Survey part-2

2009-08-16T02:01:00.000-07:00

State of the nation - Homosexuality

2009-08-14T01:49:00.000-07:00

HC verdict on legalizing homosexuality may have come as a relief to gay community and those fighting for their rights but I won't support HC verdict. Homosexuality is a menace for society and family system. Those who argue that article 377 was coming in the way of curbing HIV/AIDS should know that homosexuality is one of the major means of spreading HIV/AIDS. Those who advocate for gay rights have ever thought about the plight of gay couples’ children? They are going to miss either a fatherly or a motherly figure, desperately.

God has created men and women and has endowed them love for each other, which is essential for a strong social fabric. Homosexuality disturbs the whole social balance. Two girls will be deprived of a bride because of one homosexual couple. Is government responsible only for economic growth of country? What about social and moral growth? HC should have remembered how prophet Lut (Lot)’s community (Sodom) faced God’s wrath for their homosexual inclination, before legalizing homosexuality!

Islamic finance & banking is still booming despite the recession, and business schools are cashing in

2009-08-02T23:46:00.001-07:00

Those who think that Islamic laws are for medival times and outdated should read this report by Guardian of U.K.., which proves divine origin of Islam and how all encompassing Islam is!

Buzz up!
Digg it
Harriet Swain
The Guardian, Tuesday 28 July 2009
Article history

Khalid El Sheikh, left, is taking Bangor's Islamic finance MA. Philip Molyneux (right), head of the business school, says demand has also come from sharia scholars Photograph: Colin McPherson
With global finance on its knees, this summer's business graduates face an even trickier jobs market than most. But there is one area of banking still experiencing boom time – Islamic finance – and universities have been quick to grasp its possibilities.
This September will see new courses and postgraduate qualifications in Islamic finance springing up throughout the UK and elsewhere in Europe, reflecting the fact that it has become one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global banking industry, expanding by between 15% and 20% a year. Assets held by institutions adhering to Islamic finance principles now amount to nearly 1 trillion dollars.
In the UK, interest in the sector also reflects the government's commitment to promoting Britain as an Islamic finance centre. The UK already leads Europe in the number of Islamic finance training courses it offers, from entry to postgraduate level, and in 2006 saw the launch of the Islamic Finance Qualification, a joint initiative between a Lebanese business school and the Securities and Investment Institute.
London gateway
Last December, the Treasury published a paper setting out the government's aim for London to be "Europe's gateway to international Islamic finance". This acknowledged that the industry was still young and therefore not yet experiencing skills shortages, but predicted that it soon would be. It stated: "The pool of potential applicants in the UK will have to keep up with the rapid growth of the market."
Universities have responded enthusiastically. Newcastle University is offering an MSc in finance and law with Islamic finance from next academic year. Henley Business School at the University of Reading has been offering an MSc in investment banking and Islamic finance since last year, with students spending the second part of the year in Kuala Lumpur. The University of Bangor in Wales has also been running its Islamic finance MA and MSc for a year and is considering introducing a new MBA in the subject, while the first students to take an Islamic finance option as part of an executive MBA offered in Dubai by Cass Business School will graduate this summer. Durham, which has been offering postgraduate research degrees in Islamic finance for some time, is now introducing a taught MA and MSc (the MSc is more quantitative), to respond to demand. Elsewhere in Europe, Reims Management School is offering a new specialist course in Islamic banking and finance for students on its masters in management programme, taught in English.
Student demand is driving the subject as much as any urging from governments. According to Rodney Wilson, founder and director of the Islamic finance programme at Durham, it is coming mainly from south-east Asia, particularly Malaysia, and the Middle East, although there is plenty of interest from the UK as well.
Joanna Gray, professor of financial regulation at Newcastle Law School, says she is keen that their new degree course is not just seen as something for Muslims. "It's for anyone interested in a fast-developing industry that in the UK has been quite busy in the past few years to accommodate forms of investment in finance that are sharia-compliant."
Sharia principles
Islamic finance really dates from the mid-1970s, with attempts to make products available through conventional banking, such as loans and mortgages, compatible with sharia principles. Sharia law prohibits any transaction that involves paying interest or investing in certain economic sectors such as gambling or pornography. It demands that both the investor and recipient of the investment must share any risk, and transactions have to be underpinned by tangible assets.
In the years immediately after 9/11, anything involving money and Muslims was viewed with suspicion by many in the west because of fears about terrorism, and Islamic finance is still taking off faster in the UK and France than in the US. But in the current global financial climate the principles it is based on have struck a chord.
"There is an extent to which, to a westerner, Islamic finance products look very similar to ethical finance products," says Stefan Szymanski, professor of economics at Cass. "There is a demand for morally upright investment vehicles, and Islamic finance is the Islamic version of that."
Philip Molyneux, head of the business school at Bangor, suggests that even if western banks do not want to introduce specific Islamic finance products – and an increasing number do – they still want to know how it is that many Islamic institutions escaped the worst effects of the credit crunch.
He has been surprised that demand for the MA and MSc has come not just from recent graduates and bankers wanting to improve their career prospects, but also from sharia scholars, who play a key role in Islamic finance. Any new financial product must be passed by them as sharia-compliant, so many financial institutions must now have scholars standing by ready to give their verdict. These scholars often disagree, and can even change their minds, but this offers plenty of scope for the kind of intellectual arguments that universities relish, not to mention graduate jobs.
On the whole, most of the new Islamic finance courses steer well clear of religious issues in favour of legal and financial questions because these are what most interest students. Khalid El Sheik applied for Bangor's Islamic finance MA because, having taken a first degree in computer science in Sudan before switching to a career in marketing, he felt his CV needed a business boost. He saw it as a chance to mark himself out from other students and to have a headstart in an area that was likely to offer plenty of future employment opportunities. "I had read about Islamic banking and how it was going to increase in future, and how most of the banking sector is now looking to it," he says. His fellow students at the university, including one from China, had the same idea, he says.
Szymanski agrees that it is the idea of the moment in many universities, and while Cass is still waiting to see how the market develops before introducing any similar courses, it is certainly considering the possibility.
"You just have to measure how many billions of dollars Islamic finance already handles in a year," he says. "If that grows over the years, it will become a universal part of every business school."

An Open letter to INDIAN LIBERALS, who oppose banning "Sach Ka Saamna"

2009-07-30T00:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Indian Liberals,
This is my response to a couple of your arguments you put opposing Ban on Sach ka Saamna in particular and other TV programmes in general.
First of all regarding the question whether the show Sach ka Saamna violates 'Indian culture'. You argue that a culture never remains stable and evolves with time. If we swear by so called 'Indian culture' we will have to approve 'sati' tradition also (That's why' I rather swear by Islamic culture. It has been preserved since last 14 centuries). So, yes, cultures do evolve; but then I will still argue that Indian culture has not yet westernized that much. We still have marriages and seldom live-in relationships. Still talking sex is considered taboo in Indian Society. Bolywood films don't represent true Indian culture; they represent culture of cosmopolitan cities, that too with a lot of exaggeration. Thus, today's Indian culture doesn't approve those bold (vulgar-to be precise) questions of Sach ka saamna.
Now, to the another point. You insist that even though a T.V. programme is bad it shouldn't be banned. Rather, you think that, it should be left to the viewers to decide what they should see and what not. Question is that to what extent does he want censorship to be curbed? Will he just switch the channel even if the cable T.V. starts broadcasting something uglier, say Blue Film? Will he just stick to his stand of 'just not watching' if a person walks nude on the main street? Question is not just about banning a reality show, but about banning something which is hazardous for the society (One should know that Moment of Truth has caused a number of divorces and would have shattered the faith many people had in their near and dear ones.) and about curbing a mentality of peeping in others' private life.
You also argue that it should be left to the people whether they want to watch a particular programme or not, because they are mature enough to know what's good for them and what's not! Really? Don't those who smoke cigarettes or hookas, chew gutkha and take drugs know that these things are really bad for their health? Or are those who watch porn unaware of its ill effects on their psychology and eventually on character? Or aren't those who have multiple sex partners aware of fatals of STDs? The thing is that indeed sometimes we really don't know if something is good for us or not, but many a times it happens that, because of human lust, addiction or desire
for pleasure and entertainment, we do what we weren't suppose to do.
May Allah give you wisdom.

Controversy over Such ka Saamna

2009-07-26T23:58:00.000-07:00

Rajya Sabha members cutting across party lines on Wednesday have expressed concern over mushrooming of TV reality shows involving "dirty" content aimed at improving TRPs and earning additional advertising revenues.A section of senior Parliamentarians in the Upper House mainly belonging to Opposition parties took serious objection to the telecast of Star Plus's new reality show, called Sach Ka Saamna, citing objectionable content that goes against the morality of Indian society.Last week, MP Sharad Yadav had voiced his reservations against Colors' show Balika Vadhu, stating that the show promoted child marriage. Now, its the turn of Samajwadi Party MP Kamal Akhtar, to be the moral police.Raising the Sach Ka Saamna issue during zero hour, Akhtar said, "Obscene questions are asked by the anchor of the programme."Akhtar cited an example when a woman was asked in the presence of her husband whether she would have physical relationship with another person. "When she said no, polygraph test said the answer was wrong."Subsequently, the Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has also served a show-cause notice to Star Plus over the continued telecast of Sach Ka Saamna. The Ministry has given Star India Pvt. Ltd., the company that owns Star Plus, time till July 27 to respond to its notice.According to senior I&B officials, the broadcaster has been asked to clarify its position on the various objections raised by the MPs. Uday Shankar, chief executive officer, Star India, did not respond to a query sent in the matter.It is known fact that when figures like former India batsman Vinod Kambli and TV actress Urvashi Dholakia bared their heart and soul on Sach Ka Saamna, everyone sighed and said - "Yes, we are all listening."Recently, in this emotionally-charged show, Kambli also created a huge controversy, when he said that his childhood friend and former India captain Sachin Tendulkar didn't do enough to stop him going down a self-destructive path, which ended a glorious career.Now many among us may want to know Kambli's dark secrets, apart from Akhtar's concerns. But what possesses people let it all hang out on telly? We have thought that no one would be interested in our humdrum lives. But how wrong we were, there is a great slavering public out there lapping up every bit of humiliation suffered by others.

What do I as a young Muslim think of the programme? Well I simply dislike/don’t approve the format as well as the content of the programme and strongly feel that it should be banned. Here is why:

Consider two of the prophet Mohammed’s (peace be upon him) sayings (Hadeeths): i) Don’t try to find others’ secrets and if at all you come to know about them don’t spread them. ii) Don’t raise the veil over those crimes of yours on which God has kept veil.
Words used by me in above two statements may not be similar to those used by prophet (pbuh) but I think I have conveyed the message. The above mentioned rules are essential for a society where people have confidence over each other. They are even more necessary for strong ties amongst friends and family members. This is why, I can’t approve a game showwhere people are asked bold-vulgar to be precise- questions about their personal life and people shamelessly unfold their black deeds in front of an audience which contains their near and dear ones. Can you imagine how much faith a husband will have in his wife after hearing that she is ready to sleep with another man if he isn’t around? Or what a daughter will think of her father when she comes to know that she has an illegitimate sibling also! One may argue that one feels relieved after confession, so what’s wrong with it? The simple answer is that one should rather confess before God and seek forgiveness from him. It will not only make him feel relieved but also hoping that he/she will be forgiven.

Divorce caused by moment of truth (actual Sach ka Saamna) @ www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=38398&cat...

Orphans of history

2009-07-12T23:19:00.001-07:00

China is witnessing its worst civil crises
Orphans of history

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2009-07-09T08:43:00.000-07:00

SHIVAJI - HERO OR REBEL?

2009-07-07T02:46:00.000-07:00

The ongoing controversy over Dadoji Konddev, the mentor of Maratha warrior king Shivaji – as we studied in our 4th std. history book – has came to an end with the Maharashtra state’s decision to reduce Dadoji to just an ‘able administrator’ from mentor and inspiration of Shivaji.<<http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?sectionName=RSSFeed-News&id=209a2e94-9440-4c96-aa8f-b4f70da33f99&Headline=History+book+row%3a+Sena+slams+Maratha+organisations>>
This kind of incident is not new. Earlier also ruling the ruling classes have altered the history books to their liking. I vividly remember that throughout my fifth std. history book Indian National Congress was mentioned as ‘The National Party’, as the book was prepared under BJP rule. Similarly, BJP had also removed assassination of Mahatma Gandhi from the school history book, which was later introduced in just a single sentence.
In my school days it would have made no difference to me had Dadoji konddev not been mentioned as the mentor of Shivaji because small as I was and being a Muslim I was quit unaware of Brahmin-Maratha drift. But some things, really, did matter.
The ongoing controversy reminded me of the mental conflict I had when I was in 4th std. in my Urdu medium school. Our 4th std. history book was all about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his struggle against the rulers like Nizam Shah, Adil Shah and Aurangazeb. Now, Shaivji happened to be a Hindu and the rulers happened to be Muslims. Besides, since our book had given this struggle a slightly communal colour it looked more like a Hindu-Muslim affair (This communal colour is more evident in the texts of some historians and TV serials). It’s why I hesitated to accept Shivaji as a hero. Rather I looked at him as a rebel.
It was amusing to see how our teacher innocently neutralized the communal tone of our textbook. The textbook said: Before Shivaji, the people of Maharashtra were victims of the rulers like Nizam Shah and Adil Shah. Hindus didn’t have the freedom of pujapat (Worshipping)…… Our teacher explained it this way: Yes, those were really hard times. Hindus weren’t allowed to perform puja, Muslims weren’t allowed to go the mosque……
As days passed I studied how Shivaji conquered the forts one by one, defeated his enemies and his influence increased in the area. Now, a conflict began in my mind over accepting Shivaji as a hero. Who doesn’t want to be with the winning side? Moreover we were told that Shivaji came as a rescuer and messiah to the local people. He was an able administrator and he brought dignity to the people.
On the other hand, we were told, the rulers were really devils. But then, I would think how can Aurangazeb be a bad soul? He was, in my mind, the most pious ruler of India living a modest life not using even a single paisa of royal treasury for his personnel expenses. I took a stung exception to what the book said. And in order to justify my craving for Aurangazeb I would glance through the map which suggests that Shivaji rules over a small land whereas Mogul empire is spread all over India.
As for my friends, some of them took Shivaji as a hero. Others didn’t because a) he was fighting against ‘Muslims’ and b) He used to attack from backside and without prior notice – a guerilla war. Some even got a derogatory word for him: Pahadi Chooha (Mountain Rat) – despite the fact that he was a brave warrior – because of the same reason.
But I, even at the end of the year, wasn’t sure if Shaivaji was a hero or not!

ABOUT BLOG

2009-07-07T01:02:00.000-07:00

Hi, read my blogs to to find a young Indian Musalim's take on every important news.