For Egypt and its people

“Does anybody know where to find Democracy?”

Inna lillah hi wa inna ilaihi rajioon – For all those who lost lives in Egypt.

“Riots are the voices of the unheard” – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

With respect to the civil riots all around the world.

Live for a better world

Arazu, a single Afghan mother of four smuggled herself with 2 sons from Afghanistan to Germany after bribing exorbitantly at the borders.  This was in 2011.  She still awaits the reunion with her daughters.

Hyeonseo Lee, a North Korean national escaped the country for the better world only to reunite with her family after 14 years.

Kunsang, a Tibetan woman who left her home country with her daughter in order to survive from ruthless invading Chinese army.  Though she is over 90 she has never been able to return to her country. Living an exiled life.

And it’s just not them. There are thousands of people every day who put their lives at risk to find out ways to escape from extremist countries. I am left flabbergasted with the immense courage and determination (of course loads of money!!) displayed by these people to leave that toxic political and social environment in desperation.

Living in a democratic country I still crib about the corruption and bureaucracy prevails in India however when I read such stories I feel so fortunate to be a part of it.  It is sad that some of us are very unfortunate not because we are born in poor families or with some disorders but to take birth in a country like Afghanistan or North Korea!!  There, the life of an individual is not his or her but it is heavily dependent on the political scenario of the country.  In North Korea not even that option as there is only one man rule. I have been wanting to write on Kim Jong-un since long but have never been able to understand how one family has been able to hold its control on its people for that long even after incidents of insurgencies all around the world. Pick up a history of any subdued nation there is always one section of society raising its voice against autocratic rule and starting some sort of Guerrilla Warfare against the ruler but it is disappointing how we haven’t read any such revolt in North Korea.

It is quite despairing, you take birth in this world only to find yourself on the behest of country leaders.  Suddenly your life is not yours. You are scrutinized, monitored and live in constant surveillance. And making matter worse if you are born with shit luck you would either end up losing your life in a suicide bomb attack or a vegetable life in a concentration camp.!!!

Adieu Chavez!

“Give me your crown, Jesus. Give me your cross, your thorns so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people. Do not take me yet.”  – Hugo Chavez

Only for Women!!!

So here is the moment for which every Indian citizen waits for -The Financial Budget. The budget for FY2013-14 is out and brings with it set of joys to some and woes to others. Since the time I have started understanding the functioning of a country, I have never seen any one set of people satisfied totally with the country’s budget. There will always be a section of society cribbing and grumping about it.  So what am I bemoaning about..Rs.10 billion or about US$185 million of funds for women’s upliftment. For those who think Indian Government is not concerned about their women hear it out a whooping Rs.10 billion for us.  But what I am concerned about is the utilization of it. Yesterday, the Financial Minister announced that the Government is coming up with a first all-women Bank by 2013 end i.e. a bank run solely by women from top to bottom, additionally the bank will serve only to women as in not only women account holders but also women run NGOs, women run companies etc. My concern is this gender segregation no matter how well intended it is. Isn’t there enough gender segregation in this country already- special trains only for women, women compartments in trains and metro, only women policies etc. and now a women Bank!!! that was the last straw. I understand these actions are only for women safety and empowerment but what about the collective progression towards women empowerment taking along men of the same society. Just to provide everything specially for women is not a solution to everything, that will only make them aliens in their own country.  In my view the idea of all women bank is a total rubbish and should be discarded right away instead why not introduce the policies to promote women empowerment in present ‘Unisex’ banks.

If the idea of a women bank means increased employment for women then there is an equal dearth of employment for both the genders and I have seen more women working in Unisex Banks than men. And if the idea means escape from sexual harassment then how will you save a woman from another woman!!! I mean they are not always best of friends. I have never face any sexual harassment at my workplace but yeah harassment by women I do have seen. So, i would rather choose not to work at a place full of women. So, my point is I don’t see any strong change that this all-women bank will produce. I am an Indian women of modern India and I would appreciate my government taking steps for my betterment but I don’t want to go ahead in my life like an outcast from the rest of my people. So stop being sexist in disguise when I am ready to become a non-feminist. What I want is both men and women progressing together for each other’s betterment.

Say It…for youself

 “Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even incapable of forming such opinions.” – Albert Einstein

To be opinionated or not to be that is the question. I have always observed that having opinions on everything and having none at all both are not taken in a very good light. It gets annoying sometimes with opinionated people but that’s genuine as there can’t be two lions living peacefully in a territory, they ought to fight to survive. They may not agree with each other’s opinions but are conscious enough of each other’s presence. On the other hand, I feel sorry for those who lack any thought or idea of their own. They are like shadows following voiced souls. There may be a variety that holds opinion but are meek to express them as they think their expression might be rejected or remain unheard. But what is wrong with the rejection, even president’s policies are sometimes rejected by people? You got to try over and over again and soon you will get used to of rejection. Sometimes I think, these non-opinionated people are dangerous for a democracy, as they wouldn’t even know whom to vote in elections. But it is equally true that these non-opinionated people are angels, as you know they will never disagree with you so you will always get their nods. Hmmm, does not sound fun. May be they opt to be mutes most of the times so that they can be in good books of others. Well, there are enough good people on this planet, I still like to be counted as a headstrong.

It is not my business but I still would like to give an advice to such people. Stop being good if you are trying to. Look around and think. You will soon get some thought on India’s deteriorating politics, global recession or civil wars in Gulf. Say it, even if it doesn’t make sense or is insensitive statement. But you have to say it, otherwise you will be soon termed as DUMB both literally and figuratively.