An open letter to Sri. Manmohan Singh

Dear prime minister,

I am highly distrubed by the sequence of events happening in the nation, which I have been loving and serving since my birth. The continuous failures of the world's biggest democracy has become irritating and its the time for people like me and you to act.

I am a great fan of yours for the kind of economic reforms you started and your team is continuing with, which has obviously changed our lifestyles. I respect you for the strength and determination you showed during signing of the HIDE act with the United States. All of them has helped the Indian economy to grow faster.

But, before we change our lifestyles, the first and foremost concern that the common man here need is the right to live in a peaceful way, the assurance to sleep peacefully. You have been elected as the prime minister of India BY THE PEOPLE, and you have the responsibility for their lives.

What has your goverment done to the people of India and their security in the last four and a half years of your administration? The time has already ran away and if your government do not take any more action, it is high time that we act.

There had been many loop holes in our system which needs immediate attention. I request you to not consider these problems as regional to a particular state and address them as an issue of national concern.

Bombay and Maharashtra: Before coming on to the bigger picture of 26/11, there are many other issues that require immediate attention:

• Raj Thackarey and MNS: Problems with regional propoganda: I do not see any differences between the modus operandi for Lashkar e Toiba as well as Maharashtra Navanirman Sena. Both of them has regional intersts and motives. While Raj Thackaray is a political coward, the other party makes use of modern ammunitions. A day where MNS activits arrive in another city with AK-56 and grenades cannot be completely ignored. It is time to ban this party. This party has already done enough damage to the national spirits. What is the difference between they killing a common man from Bihar just for the reason that he is from Bihar.
  

• Malegaon blasts and BJP: One of the best gimmicks found in the recent days. On wednesday, I saw an article about BJP/Shivsena planning to hold a Band against Hemant Karakre, the ATS chief (salute him for his bravery and martyrdom for the nation). A truly loyal officer, who believed in the age-old proverb of "work is worship". The next day, the great leader LK Advani comes to his home and consoles his family. I respect his family for not accepting the money that another fox in the game, Narendra Modi provided. Do not worry, the entire Nation is with you. There are corrupt hands in the great Army of our nation. Let us stand together to first clean our hands.
  

• Investigation into the 93 Blasts and Riots: It is already 15 years since horrific incident occurred. And till now, our so called instituations are not able to complete the investigation and jurisdiction. It is high time that we do something in order to fasten our probes into such sensitive cases. The judiciary needs to work towards better productivity.
  

On 26/11:

I have not had a peaceful sleep since thursday since the news about terror attacks were flashed. There used to be a small restaurant named Bade Miya, which I used to frequent on weekends for their tasty shikh kebabs. Thank god that the incident occurred on wednesday or else I would have also been one of them. My deep felt condolenses are with the families who lost their dear ones in the massacre, I would call it.

My Salute to all our heroes, who had been extraordinarily brave to save our country: the NSG commandos who smashed all terrorits, the firefighters who ensures that the damage had been far more lesser than it could have been, the brave police officers who could catch one of the guys alive, the army men and to all human beings who helped others risking their lives like the chefs, the employees and management of the hotels etc...

Dear Prime miniter,

1. I thank you for your proposal to have a central agency similar to FBI, which could ensure that the investigation into sensitive issues could be started as soon as possible, to ensure no evidences are being lost.
   
2. I request you to ensure that we have a more able, capable and responsible home minister who is stern in actions, not just in changing clothes.
   
3. I request you and your team to setup the NSG commando groups at multiple zones in the country. There had been about 10 hrs of delay in getting the NSG commandos on action which if not happened could have resulted in saving more lives.
   
4. I request you to put the country's best officers into this probe and get the investigations done as soon as possible.
   
5. I request you to establish a fast track court for the issue to ensure that the case is complete as soon as possible.
   
6. I request you to capture all those involved, either dead or alive as they have been responsible for taking away the innocent blood from our nation. If there are evidences about a different country's arms in the prob (Pakistan, Afghanistan), I request you to work with them to ensure that the convicted are caught alive. If the countries are not williing to help, I request you to attack the same. India need not stand this anymore.
   
7. I request you to strengthen our forces, in all measures to ensure that the lives of innocent people are given due respect.
   
8. I request you and your party not to play vote bank politics with this. Remember, this is a problem that we as a country is facing. This is not a problem which is specific to a religion, region or an ideology. This is a problem faced by common man.
   

The value of life is more than the way in which we live it. Your economic policies have helped in bettering the way in which we live. However, the security policies have been very weak, which does not ensure that we could live our life, in the way we live it.

DEAR SIR,

WE STILL HAVE FAITH IN YOU. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING WHICH YOU AND YOUR GOVERNMENT IS NOT CAPABLE OF DOING. YOU DO THE RIGHT THING AND THE ENTIRE NATION WILL STAND WITH YOU.

Rajappan opens BnR bAr in McCallum Corner

By Our Special Correspondant.

McCallum, 11th Aug 2008: Rajappan Associates, a well known name in Dallas area for their own reasons entered into a new business last weekend. The proprietor and managing director of the company, Mr. Rajappan Narra inagurated the new "BnR bAr" in McCallum Blvd on Saturday night. The bar and drinks served has already become the talk of town out here in Dallas McCallum area.

"This is a dream come true", Rajappan told to the Times on the auspicious occassion. Currently being run by the manager himself, he told to the Times that he had been longing for a long time to open one in McCallum corner.

"We had a dinner party on this friday with friends at On the Border. One of my friend ordered a Mojito and I just got a chance to smell the drink. At that moment, I realized that I was born to make others' life happier. It just took my brain away with my thoughts. This is a humble beginning. I dream it big, make more more bewadas out of my bar". Rajappan became quite emotional when we asked about the inspiration behind the new venture.

The glamorous inaguration was also attended by the great Samba Panda (also known as fattu among Dallas business circles), Mud-it Junior, SuperStarER JK and followed by a DJ hai/huy/mhey/mho/hmmm Sheena.

"I felt like I was flying", told Samba Panda who was caught while having Kungfu-Mojito on the rocks (need to clarify here, he was just jumping on the small stones outside the bAr). The curd-king was overwhelmed by Rajappan's efforts in preparing the drink.

Times have also confirmed from trusted sources that the BaR was designed by the tallented Interior Designer Ms. Hmm/Hem/Hein. The Martini set and other equipments were imported from L-n-T Dallas by the latter on Saturday. The designer was presented a special drink on Sunday for the efforts.

The best drink served till now is named "g i r l - f r i e n d". Rajappan prepared a special edition of "girl friend" for Mr. Mud-IT yesterday night. When asked about the speciality, Rajappan told "This is to celebrate a new beginning. I am beginning from where others have ended...".

Please note...this is a purely fictitious piece...any resemblance or inspiration from any individual living or dead is purely intentional and non-coincidental! Rock on...

Religious extremism continued…

Thanks to all my friends for the comments on my first attempt to pen down the thoughts. It is really encouraging and here I try again...

Well, I talked about Islamic extremism earlier but there is a far more prevalent form of extremism India faces today. Perhaps, I am wrong when I say “today” because it has started long back (older than independent India).

The country recognizes “Mahatma Gandhi” as the father of nation. But how many of us know that the saffron party, who was held responsible for the great Gandhi’s murder is all set to come to power in the next elections? Most of us know that Godsay killed Gandhi for the reason that he stood for the cause of minorities in nation. When Gandhi took his final breath versing “Hey Ram”, it was the end of a completed devoted Hindu, who respected every other religion with equal respect as he did. “Mathamethayalum manushyan nannayal mathi” – “It’s not the religion, but self which has to be good” (as told by Sree Narayana Guru).

Though the RSS was active in the country from the pre-independent days, its role became very evident with the 1991 Rath Yatra, led by Advani. Though the Yatra helped Advani and his team to become a power center in the country, it also led the country to a major religious divide. The Babri Masjid demolition took it all to a high. Most of the muslims in the country know about the masjid demolition but only a few know that it was not used for prayers for a long time. No extremist is born, they are being made. The same happened with the Babri masjid demolition too. Karsevaks, do you really think that Rama would be so happy if you build a temple after killing some descendants of the same Rama Rajya?

Our country is also infamous for the fact that not even a single person has been punished for the communal riots after independence. Everyone knows about the Bombay blasts that happened and the riots followed after that. But nobody knows about the riots that happened before riots. The movie “Black Friday”, which talked about the Bomb blasts, had a single scene that showed the riots that triggered Tiger Memon to plant bombs around the city. But nobody knows how many lives were being taken in the earlier riots. The Sree Krishna commission investigated about that but the report never came out. There are reports coming out that mentions that Bal Thackeray had been involved in these riots.


And then comes the Gujarat way of it… A story that humiliates any concerned Indian citizen… We have a godfather chief minister who even planned a fake encounter, killed many people in the name of religion, just to secure his position. The movie “Parzania”, which talked about a real story of the search of a family for the child they lost during riots. Modi, shame on you… You didn’t even allow the movie to be released in the state.

Extremism of any kind is not good. Extremism has never won… It just kills… be it in the name of Jihad or Hindutwa… US helped the extremists in Afghanistan to fight Russians and now everyone knows what happened on 9/11 and post 9/11.
Politicians and Prists, please do not attempt to split us in the name of religions, please do not break the communal harmony that we live in. While using the name of religions for your personal goals, please try to understand the meaning of the religion.

Daiva Naamthil - Khuda ke liye - In the name of God

I just watched a Malayalam movie “Daiva Naamthil”, directed by the award winning Jayaraj. An excellent movie that deals with one of the biggest threats world faces now – “Religious Fundamentalism”. The movie has shown complete justice to this tough subject. Set in a Malabar Muslim community background, the movie talks about the emotional dilemma that Anwar (played by Pritwhiraj) and Sameera (played by Bhavana) go through.

The movie begins with Anwar getting married to Sameera, both well educated and representing modern Muslims. Soon, Anwar has to leave for Aligarh to complete higher studies, where he gets transitioned to an extremist. This leads to a clash between ideologies and emotional dilemma. The movie ends at a point when Anwar realizes his mistakes but his soulmate loses her life.

The story is very similar to the critically acclaimed Pakistani movie “Khuda Ke Liye”, which was recently released. This movie had earlier broke all box office records in Pakistan and was well received in India and other countries as well.

I was lucky to get a chance to watch both movies. Off late, many movie makers have started dealing with complex subjects like religious fundamentalism (Parzania, Black Friday). Not to mention the older Mani Ratnam flicks Roja and Bombay, which also dealt with similar issues.

How do people become extremists and how are they able to kill their own friends in the name of faith?

The world Islam literally converts to “Peace”. Still, most of the killings that occur in the world are in the name of this peaceful religion. Why is this happening? Where are we making the mistakes?

In the name of god, the most gracious, the most merciful…

This is the oath that a Muslim takes before doing any work. The word Muslim literally translates to “one who submits (to God)”. Being born and lived under Islamic culture, others call me also a Muslim but I am not sure yet as the submission part has never been complete.

Some questions I had at the back of my mind from many days:
- It is recorded that many wars were there during the early rise of Islam. Also there are multiple records indicating that most of these conquests helped in expanding the Muslim world. Does the religion justify these wars?
- There are multiple issues that the contemporary priests fight about, but nobody understands (or rather do not accept to believe) that the biggest threat that Indian Muslim faces now is religious fundamentalism. Why are they not doing anything for handling this?

In India, the root of the problem goes back the British Raj days. When Gandhi, who studied religions deeply, wanted India to be a secular state, it was Jinnah who wanted the country to be split on communal basis. Jinnah was considered a messiah for the helpless muslims during that time by the Muslim League. The funny part about the founder of Islami Country of Pakistan is that he never learned Qur’aan and he used to drink alcohol, which is prohibited by the religion.

It is recorded that the India-Pakistan split lead to one million deaths and many more million people losing their near and dear (do not forget to watch the movies Hey Ram and 1947-Earth, which also deals with the subject).

The next biggest threat to Secular India had been Babri Masjid demolition. Thanks to Sangh Parivar for triggering another extremist thoughts. Though the pariwar could secure their political interests, it corrupted many more minds and created the insecurity worm inside Indian hearts.

Coming back to Kerala, I am ashamed to talk about a political party named “Indian Union Muslim League” which is still very much active in Kerala politics. Both MLA and MP that represent my place have been representing this party. The party still comes to people requesting for votes based on the divinity of “Panakkad Thangal”. Qur’aan says “Iyyaaka na’budu va iyyaakaa nastha’eem” – “we pray only to you, we request for help only to you”. Many more religious extremist parties still exist in Kerala. National Democratic Front and People’s Democratic Party are to name a few.

Islam calls itself a religion without castes. The reason for everyone wearing only two pieces of white clothes during Hajj is to make us feel all are same in front of god. There is no rich no poor, no white no black, no scholar no stupid. But in Kerala, there are at least seven different sects of Muslims (Mujahid 1, Mujahid 2, Sunni AP, Sunni EK, Jamaath, Thareeqath, Ahmediya, and the list goes on). All of these are strong organizations with strong monetary funds too (especially being funded from the Middle East).

But none of them are interested in dealing with religious extremism because they have issues within themselves to fight for.

Swami Vivekandan told once “Keralam Oru Bhraandalayalm” – Kerala is a home of mentally retarded people.

The best way to learn religion is to go back to the books specified by the religion, and you will understand it. Our’aan says “It has wisdom for people who think”.

It is time that we need to understand our self. Let us start in the name of god, khuda ke liye, daiva naamathil, for a better tomorrow.

References:
- BBC Series on Islam - http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/islam/
- Review of Khuda Ke Liye - http://indianmuslims.in/khuda-ke-liye/
- Daiva Naamathil movie part you’re your tube - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10xfgiWAuTk
- Series on Islam: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam