Lessons from Karbala

The name “Karbala” in itself is sufficient to elicit a wide range of emotions and a multitude of questions. It not just evokes grief but also a sense of responsibility in life. It raises the level of human thought beyond the bounds of self. Yet, above all these, it also teaches a number of lessons. First of all, it tells that religion in itself is not sufficient to ensure that human values are cherished, it requires a great effort, great both in magnitude as well as perseverence to ensure that the fundamentals of freedom and equality are preserved. It tells that society will always have oppressors and oppressed and it is the duty of each and every individual to choose the right side. Those who keep quiet when people are oppressed are no less oppressors themselves.

Secondly, it tells that it does not matter what color, race, age or social or economic status you belong to, but that every individual has the capacity to make a contribution that will effect the world for ages to come. It tells that in every battle between right and wrong, it matters what side you fight for. You cannot justify your wrongs while your right action needs no explanation.

Thirdly, it tells that men of God are not those who offer prayer in a articular form. Prayer no doubt cleanses the heart, but for that the prayer should come from a heart that wishes to cleanse itself. No amount of following a tradition without meaning it can help anyone. It will be just a means to deceive one’s own self because one cannot deceive God. Men of God are those who fight against injustice and fight till their last breath.

Karbala says stand for the weak and the oppressed. It calls for action. It is not dependent on tears, what it wants is that people become better human beings.

I wish

Mumma, I wish you were here
So that I could show you the emptiness I feel without you
Mumma, I wish you were here
So that I could share my pain
Mumma, I wish you were here
So that I wasn't so alone
Mumma, I wish you were here
So that you could make everything right again
Mumma, I wish you were here
So that you could hold me in your arms and have said its alright
Mumma, I wish you were here
So that I wasn't so afraid
Oh I wish, I wish mumma you were here with me always

Missing you, as always

I do not have words to even say what I feel. Sometimes somethings are better left unsaid. It is not even grief or a sense of loss. It is something that is beyond expression. Something that can only be felt. And yet, I want to say, but still I feel that maybe I shouldn’t. Some things can never be explained. Some don’t need explanation. Some things are made to be broken. Some to be cherished forever. Sometimes even regret brings satisfaction. Sometimes the pain is inspiring. Sometimes smiles leave you empty. Sometimes tears complete you. I do not have words to say what I feel. But wish what I feel is understood. Because sometimes you never know. Because sometimes even a life is not enough.

Another disgrace

Sale of women during diwali

The custom in Rajasthan to buy young girls during diwali in order to marry them off to older men who pay the highest price is pure shameful. How can they claim they worship the goddess when they actually dishonour her likeness. Every single girl is the goddess incarnate, she is the light and the wealth, how can she be sold in the name of religion? Is humanity worth nothing? Is all that is left is greed for wealth and lust for women? Shouldn’t strict action be taken against such shameful acts of human trafficking? The Constitution protects all individuals from traffic in human, then where are the guardians of Constitution, why don’t they protect these innocent lives? It is time that we understand the worth of our fellow human beings and stand against such shameful practices.

Why I love scooty’s ads

Commercial advertisements have taken over a new role of criticising the social evils and also of awakening the citizens into taking some positive action. One of the brands advocating this belief is scooty. I really like the way they have captured the two very common issues of eve teasing and moral policing in their advertisements. While one shows boys that even you will get harassed if a group of girls surround you and make wolf calls, the other simply hits the nail when it shows that vulgarity lies in the minds of those who see it. Those who claim that only a particular dress code is respectful, should realise that no dress is wrong. It is all in the perception. Well i like it. Keep it up.

For shame

A country that cannot protect its citizen’s basic right to speech is indeed a weak nation. Where individual’s cannot even question government actions without being sent behind bars, where they dread to express is their opinion is not the nation that Tagore visualised. A nation that cannot guarantee its people’s speech needs to rethink about its own existence. How long can fear sustain life, it needs to be overcome.

Right to live

A young woman dies in a hospital because the doctors refuse to terminate her pregnancy. The doctors say that abortion is unlawful as it takes one life. Little do they care about the life that is lost in order to preserve what cannot be saved. It is the moral duty of a doctor to terminate a pregnancy that can kill the mother, specially when the unborn child cannot be saved in any circumstance. Just waiting for the fetal heart to stop and risking the mother's life is a crime and a sin. An innocent life was lost just because the false notions of religion make a man's heart stone. Religion should not be brutal, it should be humanitarian. A religion that cannot accept the basic rights of an individual is not a religion. It is means of deceiving the masses. Right to live is basic of all rights and it cannot be taken away for that which is not even there.