Korean Hostages

I'm not much of a news person....but this one hit me pretty hard... it was one of the usual problems in Afghanistan...some Koreans had been taken hostage... it didn't register...till I saw a clipping of the hostages....something about that photograph irked me...and my was flooded with memories from the international volunteers conference last year....

I searched the CNN website for the clipping and when I saw it...a sudden chill went down my spine... I had met these kids...only a few months back... I'd seen their enthusiasm... I had worked with some of them on our presentation...

It all felt like such an amazing time where all of us had gathered to discuss what we could do to make this world a better place....And this is how we pay... I mean...I cannot even imagine how completely scared those kids would be...how much they are being wronged... I mean what's their fault?

If anyone has a problem with a country they capture innocent people and kill them, torture them.... why doesn't anyone take Bush hostage and torture him to death??!! It's so frustrating that the same world that we're trying to change wants to stay gripped in the ignorant, inhuman ways that they themselves curse!!!

My prayers go out to all of these kids and their families... I hope to see them back in a safe place...and maybe meet at some other conference...

Okay....this one has got to be my most metaphoric, and flowery poetry in proper sonnet rhyme scheme(except for the meter)

The Golden Dove

Since time immemorial it’s been prized,
Expectations always oversized.
Its creator and lover obsequiously devised
The vicissitudes in its beauty disguised.

The golden dove knows not to fly,
To spread its wings and say goodbye,
It mesmerizes every watching eye,
But no one can hear the abject sigh.

Vernal winds call with all their might,
And yet unable to inspire a flight,
Such is the menace, such is the blight,
Such is the attrition of this captivating sight.

But I won’t sigh, won’t cry, won’t die…
Even though a golden dove am I!!

The New Gods!!

Where do we look for the new Gods? With the Indian Cricket team thoroughly disappointing in the world cup, this cricket crazy country is in a state of bewilderment over what sport to sport. Many have turned to the English Premier League, the Formula 1 racing, Tennis and even Golf. But it is the self proclaimed most beautiful game of Football that is having a field day. In a way the looming lull over cricket is actually posing as light at the end of a long dark tunnel that Indian football has been perpetually lurking in.

And it’s not just the National Football League that has suddenly found many followers and media coverage, but it’s going deeper into the small fields where kids get together for an evening football match at the local park. Or reach any park on a fresh Sunday morning and the sight is full with padded shins and studded shoes.

Among these are a few lads who decided to take it a step further, under the leadership and vision of Jordan Brahma Wangdi the members of the Nirvana Football Club have been practicing every weekend at their Training Ground in Dwarka Sector 11 and since 2003 are full fledged Club under the aegis of the “Vision India” programme of AFC. This means they will be one of the few clubs looked after by AFC, making them one of the strong footballing entities in India. They have roped in some really qualified members in the form of Sam Sawhney (an FA certified coach from England) and Mike Starkey (General Secretary, Tanners United Football Club, England)

The Monks, as they prefer to be known, have a talented dedicated team with players who’ve been a part of the state team and even members who coach School teams. Nirvana FC (NFC) works with the motto “Enseñar y Aprender” (Latin for what they believe in, that is “To teach and to learn”). They are always on the look out for new sporting talent and have partnered with the Asian Football Confederation and their sponsers to organize an Under-13 Futsal Tournament where young talent can be spotted They have been working with underprivileged communities and coach two teams Goyla Allari U-13 and Paite Allari U-13 which are perfect examples of their dedication towards the game and the community in general.

People’s attention is slowly turning to different sports and even though The English Premier league still has it’s followers, our nation is trying hard not to be left behind. Nirvana FC is working hard to develop raw talent in Delhi and popularizing football in schools and communities. With the passion, intensity and zeal that they have taken up the cause of making Delhi less of a spoilsport, The Monks have really shown that football is indeed the most beautiful game of all!!

on the top!!

As children we have all read, learnt, and debated a beautiful line that seemed to be the vision of our country – ‘Unity in Diversity’. Unfortunately with the kind of communal tension that this country has seen in the past few decades, it seems that our early political leaders were a little too ambitious in their policy towards religion. A secular State with the right, not only to practice, but also, to preach any Religion has brought us to a bad situation where we have become intolerant towards each other. The presence of Religion and Law, two completely different forms of social control has led to conflict of interests. At many stages both systems have confronted each other on issues like Sati, Purdah, Caste System, Personal Laws, etc.

If we look into our history, Law and Religion have only worked when they corroborate each other. Take the example of the Holy Roman Empire. It survived till the time the religion was connected to the state. Whenever they have been juxtaposed it spelled disaster. Religious wars, Feudalism, Colonialism and other concepts have emerged and passed due to the presence of different controlling forces is society. And now with globalization, Religion has become one of the biggest dividers in this world. We are living in a world where, although, we have come to terms with different nationalities, we haven’t been able to overcome or even respect our religious differences.

Having experienced the world wars, having agreed to have peace among nations, having formed the UN, how come it is that we haven’t been able to address religion. How important is the whole concept of religion to us? Is it high time we make religion a purely private affair? Or must we all have single religion countries? In the face of Human Rights, does religion stand up to its worth? Is religion too retrograde a concept? Is it holding us back from achieving our potential? These are some questions, we, as humans, need to answer.

As a nation, our attitude towards religion and other forms of social order are ruining the lives of people. The manifestations range from Communal riots, Minority Communities, lack of Uniform Civil Code, Moral Policing, Reservation, etc. all of which are weakening us in our endeavour to become a developed Nation. Instead of giving strength to the people religion is providing the cracks in an already fragile foundation of a country. At this stage of our development it is an imperative issue that needs addressing. As Indians we need to think - how do we make ourselves a country of people who walk hand in hand with our heads held up high, ready to face as well as embrace anything that comes our way?

The urgency now is to realize that there is a problem, that it needs to be talked openly about, debated and resolved. We need to ask ourselves questions. And most important is the question we needed to ask long back, and one which is still not answered - “What is our chosen form of social control??”

is your blog - > to read or not to read?

why does one write a blog? Is it for people to read or is it for one to write?? there comes a time in every writer's life when s/he thinks about who the reader is going to be or even if there will be a reader!! it's good to ask such questions to oneself...(for improving content).... but never be bogged down by the answers. writing in the end is a balm to the soul...

i've always wanted to write blogs... it's so much simpler than the battle between the pen and the paper that takes place when u're venting onto that personal diary... i would know... i have atleast 4 of them... each with a different purpose i've got Crappy (my first), SNOREZ (my diary on dreams), the SMSer (where i write quotes for SMSes)... and Varuna (my haupt Diary - conatins my experiences and thoughts) and a poetry book. I still write in some while others have served their life and live on as tombstones of a time, an emotion, a dream, a hope, a prayer, a part of me!!

come to think of it...we all write our diaries...but who really reads our diary anyway?? blogs are just personal diaries which may become famous before one dies....and more than famous it may be of use to someone... it may be the balm to someone elses soul...a lost soul...looking for just something out there to get them through....something to let them know they're not alone... just like the writer

so whether or not there is a reader it's important to just write....right away....