The Peace Loving Indian Muslim and His Terrorist Counterparts
July 20, 2006 | Filed Under Point of View | 8 Comments
I am a muslim in plain clothes. I do not sport a beard or wear a skull cap when I pray. I am mostly dressed in jeans-tshirts and sometimes Kurtas (the fab india kinds). My name isn’t a very common muslim name either. Not too many people realise that I am a muslim, until they know me well enough.
Religion has always been something personal to me. I do not need to flaunt it. I do not need to spread it. I do not need to claim it. I was told about Islam when I was young. I don’t remember when it started but there was a phase in my life where I had completely rejected religion. Today, when I say I am a muslim and am at a state where I accept religion, I must also say that I am completely at ease with who I am and what I am. If you call me Hindu, Christian, or attach the name of any religion on me, I will not be offended, on the contrary I will call you enlightened.
Today religion is used more as a political vehicle. People give false illusions to their fellows that they are there for them. When in reality, you will probably never know who helped you in time of crisis. If you rely solely on people who champion the cause of your religion, sooner or later you will be confronted with a void of sorts. Cause leaders have a life, even Mahatma Gandhi did. Although we call him a Mahatma and call him the father of the nation, his influence seems to have clearly ended.
There was a time in India when religion was synonymous with culture. Culture now seems so much like a thing of the past it is almost synonymous with history.
Many muslims in my country are poor. Many are illiterate. They have not been fortunate enough to have had a first-hand experience of religion. The Koran is written in Arabic, there are translations available in many local languages but I can assure you that very few Muslims in India would have read a version that they have understood. (Many muslims can read arabic but not understand it). Most muslims have to rely on someone else’s word. Some preachers of religion do not know the responsibility on their shoulders, they do not know how any word they say can be counted as the word of God by those who have not bothered to verify it on their own.
The three first words of Islam – Bismillah, Al-Rehman, Al-Rahim, mean: In the name of God, the most gracious, the most merciful. If one thinks about it, the two greatest qualities of God, that God wants humans to emulate is that of kindness and of being able to forgive. Unfortunately, these very simple and basic principles are forgotten somewhere.
Any peace-loving muslim will condemn terrorism with fervor. But there are terrorists in our country who are active politicians, there are parties who indulge in terrorist activities. We are too soft on these people. These people seem to be above the law. When will these people be put under trial and punished?
While there are terrorists who dress up and think they are Muslims, I must say that not all terrorists are muslims.
We need a stronger police force and a judicial system that is truly empowered to be above the political system.
To Vincent Van Gogh
July 12, 2006 | Filed Under Poetry | 1 Comment
i did this here – http://artpad.art.com/artpad/painter/
I Love Bombay
July 12, 2006 | Filed Under Point of View | Leave a Comment
They decided to hit us yet again. Some of us were a bit unfortunate and died, some of us were badly injured. Some of us are still shaken. Some of us cannot help but ask why. But we are confused at whom to direct this question.
God tested us with 26th July last year. That day also showed how angels manifest in this city. It proved to be a city that God loves more than hates. I don’t know how many people will eventually die today. But I know that even if I go away from this city someday, I will only miss it badly. May be I will carry the warmth that the city has bestowed upon me or may be I won’t but I will curse the people who have repeatedly molested this city of mine that they rot in hell ever after. That probably is my first black prayer to God. If God can forgive them, then we know why God is God. Maybe God can forgive me too.
I am hoping all your friends and folks are all well. One of my friend’s dad was very lucky and I thank God for it.
2 Discussions
With Sidd - The bombs seem to have been planted by someone who had good local knowledge. Whichever organization has done it, knows the nitty gritties of train travel in bombay very well. The time was just before the actual peak hour and a little late and the people planting the bombs may not have been able to do their job well. Bombayites should be more alert in future. Time and again its been proved to us that we can’t really depend on authorities, we have to take care of each other.
With Dad - People in Bombay are soft targets. It’s difficult to manage, purely because of the population. But then again, it is because of this population that Bombay wakes up everyday, fresh and raring to go.
My condolences to everyone who lost their loved ones today. I live another day and may be someday I too will perish like them.