Rest in peace Dr Kalam

Former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam passed away today following a cardiac arrest while delivering a speech at IIM Shillong. Known as the 'missile man', he was truly a revolutionary. He came from humble roots and showed that knowledge is the key to success becoming the 11th President of India. But he was not just an intellectual, he was a man with great compassion and understanding. He was an inspiration for many. He envisioned a better India. When he retired, he chose to teach. He loved to teach and he loved to spend time with students. He loved to answer their queries and he spent his last moments with students. Forever a teacher, forever a student.
I had always wanted to meet Dr Kalam and now it's not possible in this life, but in my heart I pay all due respect to his departed soul and condolence to the entire nation.

My parents

With my mother dead and my father living across the globe, I was thinking about their struggles while they raised me and my siblings. My mother who carried me I her womb, who nursed me, who cleaned me, who provided for all my needs when I was a baby and as I grew up and my father who worked hard to see that I get everything. I thought of how they tried to provide us with the best of clothes, books, food, toys, everything. I thought of how on a hot summer afternoon they went to market on a scooter to buy me a new dress because I wanted one. I thought of how they managed to buy an expensive doll house for me because I liked it. I thought of how they went out in rain, how they went out on cold, foggy days to fulfil my requirements. How hungry and thirsty they would first go out for me. I thought of how I would find my mother standing outside worried if I would be late by just five minutes while returning from school and how my father would wait outside my school gate. How they took me for my exams, for my extra classes, for my hobby classes. How my mother would always cook my favorite food. I thought of how much they struggled for me and how much they loved me. And I thought of how I would never be able to pay them back.

The lesser humans

Car bombing in Afghanistan and Iraq
If a man is killed in Europe or the U.S. It becomes a big news and everybody gets involved in it but at the same time suicide bombings in places like Afghanistan, Iraq, Nigeria, Syria, gaza have become as routine as newspaper with morning tea. News of suicide bombing in Afghanistan outside U.S. Military base, 18 dead, no big deal. News of suicide bombing in Baghdad, 6 dead, 20 injured, no big deal. It seems like the lives of some humans is worth less than others. These are evil times when a man can kill and get away from it. It is a sad time that the lives of hundreds and thousands of innocent people have ceased to matter.

Road safety

The recent accident involving the Bollywood actress Hema Malini and the poor family that lost their two year old daughter and the media coverage of the same alongwith the social media has exposed various flaws in our system. For one, the media coverage of the film star is much great as compared to the ordinary citizens. Secondly, stars use social media to play the blame game and shift responsibility. Thirdly, stars get better and expedite medical facilities as compared to the ordinary citizens involved  in the same accident. Fourthly, social media has also helped in public bashing. Fifthly, some people even started indulging in the conspiracy theories.
The fact remains that emergency medical facilities are lacking in India and numerous lives are lost because of the same. People are afraid of getting involved in accident cases because of police harassment inspite of the Supreme Court ruling to protect them. There are number of things that need to be done like;
(1) establishing better emergency care units. Ambulances should be dispatched immediately and first aid as well as emergency treatment should be provided on the spot to improve the chances of survival.
(2) using checks for speed and better implementation of traffic rules to curb the chances of accidents
(3) providing immediate medical attention on the priority of injury and not of social status
(4) implementing traffic rules like use of seat belts, not letting small children ride in front seat, use of car seats for infants
(5) condition of roads including lighting should be improved to improve visibility at night.
(6) public should be encouraged to take accident victims to the hospital and be assurance that they will not be involved in police cases and unnecessary harassment.
While the life that has been lost cannot be returned, and the parents are going to grieve all their life, it is important that steps are taken to ensure that no other family has to end up in a similar situation.

A Jewish al baghdadi

There have been reports claiming that the head and self proclaimed caliph of the Islamic state is a man of Jewish background and is a part of israel's plan of taking over the Middle East. Even if these reports are true how do they matter in the current scenario. Even if the head of the organization is a non Muslim, those following him, supporting him, entering a blood bath at his call are Muslims. Those who accept him as their leader are Muslims. Those who consider his barbaric ways right are Muslims.
While it is true that the Islamic state has harmed Islam and Muslims more than anything else, both by making the world despise them as well as by directly killing innocent Muslims. A large number of lives and property is being lost in this battle. Countries are being destroyed and men, women and children are victims of evil designs.
The need of the hour is that the true meaning of Islam is spread by the true followers of the religion. A need is that message of love, peace, equality and brotherhood is spread. Hate cannot defeat hate. We need people to come out and defend the ethical and moral structure of the religions.