Forgotten Natives

World celebrates Barrack Hussain Obama. True it is a great moment in the history that a black man is elected as President of USA. But I gave a second thought to it when my Italian friend asked ‘why a native Indian can’t be President?’ It is true world seems forgot about the plight of native Americans, about a a culture being wiped out from the history. It reminds me what Oscar Wilde told to his American host at a party, ‘You Americans are philistines who’ve invaded a sacred temple of art’. Native Americans never believed in possessing the earth as private property instead they worshiped the nature. They never exploited nature for material gain which begun with the invasion of Europeans. The ‘sophisticated whites’ considered native’s way of life and culture as primitive and uncivilized.
The real American culture and history is that of Native Indians. They are the original people of north America. But they are removed from the pages of American history. I learned in school that ‘Columbus discovered America’. We children repeated that on and off during my school days. Later I thought how Columbus can discover America that is already there. Now I view it as a cruel joke. Unfortunately history is that of ‘winners’, losers are forgotten foreve So today’s America is that of Europeans, Africans and Asians. Probbly Native Americans are a closed chapter there.

On being single

Being single is not very interesting in India. You have to answer even to strangers ‘why you are not getting married’? I don’t like somebody asking personal questions, but this is the way we are. Indians, probably everybody in the sub continent, are curious to know about you. If you are a single woman and travel alone, you have to deal with lot of silly questions. They don’t mean anything bad, but they are not used to women traveling alone. And of course marriage is considered a sacred institution in India. We are supposed to move through a track that is drawn by society. Indians don’t generally accept rebels ,or they don’t feel the need for privacy. It is quite usual , people to interfere in your affairs.
I am not against marriage, but against getting married just for the sake of it. I often wonder how people get marry to a person who is a stranger as it happens in the arranged marriages here. I am pretty choosy about a life partner. I think one needs to have certain compatibility with the person who would be your life partner. Besides I feel it is absolutely an individual choice whether to get marry or not to. But this kind of ‘individualism’ doesn’t exist here. And you have no choice or power to decide on your life in the conservative social system. Perhaps I think too much about every little thing. However I find myself quite unfit in this way of life.

People will start find their own reason if you don’t give them reason for your single status. At least they will warn you of the consequences of being single. I must say that I enjoy my single status though it can be boring sometimes. I crave for a company while traveling, particularly to help me with my luggage and other stuff. But being single is better than being in an unhappy marriage.

Indian political thamasha

Indian politics is a great thamasha. 'Mein prime minister banna chahtha huin’is the mantra of even chota political leaders. Everybody from Sharad Pawar to Mayavati and Deve Gowda to Jayalalita wants to become Prime Minister. Some flirt with other parties, even while stay ‘married’ with Congress or BJP. They joined in the third front formed at the behest of left parties, whose agenda is anti-BJP and Anti-congress govt. But the parties who joined with Left don’t even have a national vision, let alone a national agenda. An alliance with regional parties having too many Prime Minister aspirants is a vain exercise. NCP leader Sharad Pawar has already said that this time people want a Maharashtrian to be Prime Minister. I feel it is quite a narrow perspective and an Indian Prime Minister should be above regionalism as well religionalism.

Left is known for their ‘antism(read anti-America, Anti- development, anti-BJP )though blind at Chinese aggression. Besides left parties hardly have any impact in other states except Kerala and West Bengal. Some of their allies in the newly formed third front is infamous for non reliability and some face even corruption charges. I think this ‘love affair’ is not going to last.
What we lack here is a charismatic leader having devotion and sincerity. There is no way for sincere and intelligent people to enter into the political system. Only means to enter into politics is the primitive way of rallies and protests that is certainly not appealing. Hope this political thamasha won’t end with the election, but it is probably the beginning. This may result in marriage of convenience and divorces.

Mumbai meri Jan

Mumbai slum life is romanticized by Robert Gregory Davids in his book ‘Shantaram’. Now ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ adds glamour to its slums. But there is a Mumbai beyond its slums and poverty, beyond bollywood and sky scrappers. Glamour, penury, beauty, dirtiness, dreams, frustrations - all stay hand in hand here. But one must probably find that by oneself.

When I decided to move there, my friends discouraged me saying it a dustbin of Asia. They told me that you can’t cope with the fast life of the megalopolis. As someone from a small place in Kerala, life in Mumbai seemed quite scaring for me. Underworld rivalry, riots, bollywood, crowded local train - Mumbai was a mix of all in my imagination. Besides, I never lived in a big city before. Yet I thought better to explore by myself than seeing things through somebody’s eyes (I have a tendency to take decisions by myself eventhough I respect others advices).

But Mumbai changed my perception, my attitude and I found out myself in the faceless crowd. I found myself in a brave, confident and young Mumbai. I became a more confident person. I met bhayyas, bongs, mallus and Gujjus (local term used for people of different languages) there. In my office there might be a Bengali sitting one side, and a Parsi opposite (those who are from Persia). But there we are all ‘Mumbaikar’. This cultural mix was so appealing to me and an opportunity to learn. Mumbai opened the door of a new world before me.

There are prostitutes and bar girls who land in this city to make a quick buck. There are pimps around you in railway stations and at crowded places to trap those helpless girls who run away from home to evade violence or poverty. When I travelled in the crowded local train among smelling fisher women, I would regret for being there, when I saw people shitting on road I would chose to shut my eyes and nose against this city. When I saw beggars follow you like an illness I would curse our poverty.

Yet I would wake up with a new hope next morning, I would go to south Mumbai and buy an export quality dress at a cheap price, I would go to a road side book vendor to buy even the latest book at a lower rate. What not, there is drama, dance, music, painting to feed your mind and heart. If you are still hungry, you can relish on Mumbai Burger (Vada Pav). It won’t cost you much. Street food culture is very active in Mumbai. Besides Vada pav, there are Sev Puri, Pani Puri, Dahi Puri and different kinds of chatts to make you feel the taste of Mumbai. On sitting at the sea side near Gateway of India, you can dream of Taj. Mumbai is charming even in her dirtiness, She is like a bewitching woman who beckons to you even when ugly. She has a caring soul, and there is life in Mumbai.

Mumbai survived riots, terrorism, underworld blood bath. Many build up their business empire here from nothing. Many became rich and famous. Mumbai is the back born of Indian economy. Everything is possible in this city of opportunity. There is a local joke about Mumbai that ‘you can buy anything here except your parents’. Rich and poor alike pour in here insearch of a better future. Whether it is a fugitive from Australia or a beggar from a remote village of India; she receives all with an open arm. she reminds me the words of one small business man from UP that ‘In Mumbai nobody die of hunger’. They say Mumbai is blessed by Mumba devi(Goddess Mumba).

Many faces composes Mumbai: this is the city of ivory tower dwellers and slum dwellers alike. City of celebrities and road side vendors. City of those employees who ran faster than fast train. Here nobody asks you questions about your home, parents or religion. Nobody interfere in your affairs, even house maids maintain a dignity in dealing with you. It is a place where you can have your individual space in the crowd, and besides safer to women than any other Indian cities. I am happy I chose to come to Mumbai. I always love you Mumbai.

With hatred from Pakistan

When world fights with global economic melt down, India is forced to fight with Terrorism. But it is extremely unfortunate few foreign leaders as British foreign secretary David Milliband connect Kashmir issue with terrorism. Many countries in the world faces separatist issue, even UK had problem with IRA. China faces many separatist issue, but world doesn’t have any idea what is happening inside communist China. So it is natural a multi-cultural, multi-lingual, and multi-religious country like India has to live with too many problems. Whether one supports separatists or not is a different issue, but how many govt. will be ready to part with its land? It would be better to check their own backyard before issuing statements about other countries.

Besides Kashmir was never part of Pakistan. I really don’t understand what is the basis for their claim on Kashmir despite the fact that it is a muslim majority area. But we have muslims in all parts of India, she has the 2nd largest muslim population in the world after Indonesia.
But western leaders and medias are myopic in their understanding about India. For example after 26/11, BBC kept on reporting that ‘the many Hindu terror attacks that had taken place in recent times…’ when it give a Hindu tag to terror, it never mentioned ‘Islam terror’ in its reporting. I feel BBC is too eager to air anti-hindu sentiments in its reporting. I don’t say Hinduism is without flaw, it has got fanatical elements in it. Despite the oldest religion in the world, it doesn’t have a history of bloodshed as Christianity or Islam does have. India’s tolerance is essentially Hindu. When I say Hindu, I differentiate between Hindu fanatism and true essence of Hinduism.

When it comes to Indo-Pak conflict US too has her contibutin in it. Washington supported dictators and used Islam fanatics to counter communists (Soviet Union). It encouraged Pak army’s stand on India as a bully. The tragic climax is Osama bin Laden any many other militants. Obviously it is India who suffers worst through the insane policies of US in the past.

Today democratically elected Pakistan governement is a joke, the reality is that they are controlled by army and ISI which is more or less Talibanised. Even a liberated lady like Benazir couldn’t do much about that. The governement can’t trace the assassins of Benazir Bhutoo, but it is everybody to know that ISI is behind that. My friend in Pakistan told me sometime back that governement is afraid of Army and US controls it. I know common public left with no choice. There is good feeling among people of both the countries. There are instances that some shop keepers and taxi walahs refused to accept payments from Indians when they visited Pakistan. But unfortunately we have less chances to interact and to know each other.

Pak Army and ISI‘s India bashing is quite baseless except jealousy towards its rather successful neighbhour. A section of them do seem to share the mindless hatred in the words of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (Lakshar-e-Taiyaba), “there can’t be any peace while India remains intact. Cut them, cut them, cut them so much that they kneel before you and ask for mercy”.
Obviously he is dreaming India to kneel down. India is tested many times of her patience. Yet she didn’t push herself into war as US did after 9/11. That is why India is a reality with all her limitations. That contributes to the success of India as a strong democracy while her neibhours are toiling with internal problems. I feel India can show the world that is already torn with violence, that Peace is not the option of a coward, but it is the choice of the strong and dignified.

Whenever Pakistan is accused of terror strikes in India, they would lament ‘we are also victims’. True, but victims of their own breed of hatred. So I suggest them to set their home right instead of shedding crocodile tears about terrorism.