The World We Live In!

समर शेष है, नहीं पाप का भागी केवल व्याघ्र, जो तटस्थ हैं, समय लिखेगा उनका भी अपराध। ना जाने क्यों दिनकर जी की यह कविता आज बहुत याद आ रही हैं। शायद यह कविता अधूरी है। आज सिर्फ़ व्याध नहीं है, बल्कि व्याध के साथ खड़े लोगो का हुजूम भी है, जो उन्हें शाबाशी देता है, और दूसरों को तटस्थ रहने या फिर बहलाने का काम भी करता है। वह स्वयं कुछ नहीं करते, बस व्याघ्र का पक्ष लेकर उन्हें रक्षक घोषित करवाने में मदद करते है। वह ऐसे लोग है, जिन्हे उत्तर प्रदेश की घटना एक दुर्घटना लगती है, और साथ में मीडिया पर इस दुर्घटना को सांप्रदायिक रंग देने का आरोप भी लगाते है। वह ऐसे भी लोग है जो इस आतंकवाद के लिए पीड़ित परिवार को ज़िम्मेवार ठहरा रहे है। मैं अधिक नहीं लिख पाऊँगा, क्योंकि मैं स्वयं तटस्थ वाली श्रेणी में आता हूँ। शायद मुझे आज इस सांप्रदायिकता और धर्मांधता के खिलाफ़ लड़ाई शुरू कर देनी चाहिए। पर मैं ठहरा एक साधारण इंसान, दो वक़्त की रोटी कमा कर अपने और अपने परिवार का पेट पालने वाला, यदि समर में कूद गया, तो मेरे परिवार का क्या होगा! इसी स्वार्थ की वजह से मैं यह अन्याय देखकर भी चुप रह जाता हूँ। यहा...

उसकी फाँसी की सज़ा तय हो चुकी थी। बीस वर्षों कि कानूनी ज़द्दोज़हद के पश्चात अब बचने की कोई उम्मीद नहीं थी। परसों उसे फाँसी होनी थी। आज उससे मिलने उसकी 21 साल की बेटी आ रही थी। आख़िरी बार वह उससे 3 साल पहले मिली थी, और आज तक उसके अपनी बेटी के कहे शब्द याद थे।  "आपने अपना रास्ता ख़ुद चुना है, और मेरे या माँ के बारे में सोचे बिना चुना है। आपका रास्ता आपको मुबारक हो। मुझे आपसे यह नहीं समझना है कि आपने 300 लोगो की जान किस वजह से ली है। मुझे नहीं लगता कि मैं आपकी वजह को समझ पाऊँगी। मुझे अपनी ज़िंदगी जीना है, और आपके नाम की वजह से मुझे हर जगह घृणा और दुत्कार का सामना करना पड़ा है। आज से मैं अपने आप को आपसे अलग कर रही हूँ। आपको जो सही लगा वह आपने किया, अब मुझे जो सही लग रहा है, वो मैं कर रही हूँ। मैंने आपसे सफ़ाई नहीं माँगी और मुझे आपको किसी तरह की सफ़ाई देने की जरूरत नहीं है। मेरा खुदा जानता है कि मैंने आपसे कितना प्यार किया है, कि मैं आपको बेगुनाह समझती रही हूँ। जब भी मुझे एक आतंकवादी के बेटी कहा जाता था, मैं आपके लिए लड़ी हूँ। पर अब और नहीं। मैं अपने खुदा से आपके लिए दुआ माँगूँग...

I came across information related with mobile rule in Turkey. All IMEI numbers of locally sold mobile phones are registered at service providers’ network. Any foreign phone, with non-registered IMEI number can work without any issue, if it is using its original foreign network SIM card. That would come under international roaming and user will have to pay stiff charges as per international roaming rates. But if someone visiting the country with foreign phone and try to use the local SIM card, it will be blocked within days as that would be categorized as non-registered IMEI number. So, you have 3 options for mobile phone use in Turkey: You can use a foreign phone and SIM card, and pay international roaming charges for all your calls.  You can buy a phone at local store, along with a local SIM card. There are places in Turkey where you can get phones on rent as well. This option is like anyone using a local phone.  You have to register your phone (basica...

"पापा, आज भी आप ऑफिस चल दिए? आपको याद हैं ना अपना वादा?" "हाँ बेटी, अच्छे से याद है, शाम को घर आकार आपके स्कूल के प्रोजेक्ट के लिए हम एक अच्छा सा चित्र बना देंगे।" "और पापा, मुझे वो आपके अख़बार वाले कार्टून जैसे चित्र नहीं चाहिए। मुझे वो अच्छे नहीं लगते हैं। पता नहीं क्यों आप ऐसे कार्टून क्यो बनाते है!" "बेटी, तुम अभी छोटी हो, जब थोड़ी बड़ी हो जाओगी तब समझ जाओगी। वो कार्टून बच्चों के लिए नहीं बड़ों के लिए होते है।" "पर बड़े लोग तो कार्टून पसंद नहीं करते! तभी तो अक्सर आपके बारे में भी बुरा भला कहते रहते है। फिर क्यों आप उनके लिए कार्टून बनाते हो?"

I don't support derogatory cartoons, and last year I was opposing the series made by Aseem Trivedi, which shows our national symbols in a very derogatory way. But I can never support terrorism and killing people! I have problem with lots of people who post loads of rubbish on their wall, say insulting things in newspapers or TV etc. But I don't go out and kill them! I don't support Charlie Hebdo, but I strongly oppose the attack and murders! 

Happy Independence Day to all my Indian friends across the world! And there are two different greetings I would like to give, to the two different set of Indians across the globe. Indians living abroad, in developed countries like UK, USA, Singapore etc, enjoy this day, have party, show some patriotism by wearing tri-colour dress, host Indian flag, play some patriotic songs, dance and have a good time today. Indians still forced or choose to stuck here in India, please stay safe, have a quiet time today, and pray to god that the day pass by without any terror attack on our country, basically, be safe today. 

I was in school, and I wrote a small poem in Hindi, on 31st October 1989, 3 years prior to the actual demolition. Those were the days when Ayodhya was main topic, and was every day on the front page of newspapers.  I saw that poem tucked somewhere in my old diary, and thought of sharing this. Its about request from God to all, for not taking the route of violence! But it seems we did not listen to our God, and went ahead with bloodshed of our brothers!

I am drunk today! It’s a dry day in India, as it’s the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi! The Father of Nation! Known as Bapu! I know you must have heard about him, or his name atleast! But why I drink on the day of his birth? Well, it’s my way of showing him, that India has changed, and we don’t need a Gandhi to free us anymore! We are free! India is one of the, or I think the biggest democratic country of the world! We, the people are responsible for our country! We select our leaders! We choose how the country should be run! We are free now! Bapu, thank you for helping us when we needed you, to get rid of British, and become a free India! Thanks, but no thanks, we don’t need you anymore! The rule of game has changed now! We have terrorism in India now! Gandigiri will fail against terrorism! As you know, your satyagrah will only work if a lot of people participate in that! But if you do something like that today, you will not be put in jail, but someone will kill you on the spot! You ma...

It seems like we will have the court verdict on Babri Masjid land dispute on 30th Sep 2010! Do we really want to know what was there? And how much back in time can we go? What if there was a temple earlier? What was there before that temple? What if it was the birth place of lord Ram, what was there before Ram was born? This is endless! We cannot go back and change the history! No matter how wrong or bad it was! What’s done is already done! Britain has taken a lot of stuff from India during their period; can we ask them to return everything they have taken? It’s like you brought a land, build a nice house for yourself, and then all of a sudden, someone comes and asks you to vacate this house, as his ancestors were living there 200 years ago! WTF! And that’s not all; he will kill you and your family, distance relatives as well, if you don’t give him the house! This is ridiculous! I fail to understand why court took so many years! And I fail to understand why our govt allowed 6th Dec 19...

This time terror strikes at Pune. Again, some innocent people are killed in the blast at German Bakery! And in another few days, we are going to start our Indo-Pak talks again! Even without any anti-terrorist activity shown by Pakistan! Are we so desperate for this? Why can't we just accept Pakistan as our enemy and leave the things as it is? Why can't we disconnect ourselves completely from Pakistan? No ties at all! No Business, No Sports, No Art (specially No AMAN KEE ASHA), nothing at all!

Don't be surprise by the "Be Safe" part in title, as it is a normal wish I use on every occasion now a days. We are in today's world of terrorism, and specially in India, you never know what terrorist act is in store for the next hour! So, "Be Safe" is my wishing mantra for everyone! We have completed 60 years as a Republic, and achieved the most tough task of forgetting the meaning of Republic today! Go ahead, and ask anyone on the street, specially aged between 5 to 35 yrs about if they know the meaning of Republic or understand what this work "Republic India" stands for, and you will come to know that no ones understand that today! Why go out and ask around, YOU, who is reading this, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? Don't try to Google it in another tab! Its ok not to know, as it is normal for our period! In 2010, Republic Day means, a chance to get a long weekend by taking Monday off! Thats what it stands for today!

Its one year since two blasts - one in my city Delhi, and another in my line of work, Investment Banking. Last year, Delhi was shocked with multiple blasts, and Lehman went bankrupt, sending multiple shock waves and panic to the industry! How we have cope up so far in last one year after these incident? The world economy went into recession, and now on the recovery path. Governments had to shell out much more money to banks in order to survive the economical breakdown. Had the Lehman was saved with Government funding, things could have been much better. But not all is lost, and it help reducing the overspending of the Banks. Now, Banks across the world are cautious about how and where to spend money.

Its almost a week for the incident to be over, and slowly, people are returning to discuss other things, like movies, music, politics, economical meltdown, petrol price fall etc.. So, is the life coming back to normal? I don't think so! If anyone think like that, just wait for another attack to another city, or another bomb blast somewhere to remind us again of our fears! It will happen, very soon, as with the current trend, every month there is one or two such incidents happening ! So, it will happen again, as we have not done anything to stop it! Changing few ministers will not stop the terrorists to act again!

We are helpless, and waiting to be chosen as next victim of this terrorist attacks! Some protest and expression of anger is going on everywhere, but not sure if that will help us feel safe again! Not sure if I can let my kids go to market alone to buy a candy! Not sure if we can have a vacation somewhere on a tourist destination in India! I spend my childhood in India, and I felt safe, I spend 4 years in Singapore, and I felt safe, I felt safe in traveling alone to various part of South and West India during 90s, in my first job! But not anymore! I do not feel safe now! Today was 6th Dec, the day better remembered for Babri Masjid demolition! Being a Saturday, I did not step out of my house! Its not that I am safe in my house, but the fear of unknown, something which can happen anytime, anywhere... did not let me venture out in the market! I will go to office on Monday, as that is required, but avoid going to movies, or new year party or any other celebration! I have an excuse tha...

Almost everyone has an opinion and solution to the current terrorist activity in Mumbai. Just to remind you, I am talking about the attack happened during last week of November, lasted 3 days and there were gun battle at various locations in Mumbai. I know this is needed, as a week from now, no one will remember what happened, we will have other multiple, and maybe more deadlier attacks to talk about. So, if you ask me, do I have an opinion? Yes, I do, but I don't think it matters. What does an ordinary citizen of India can do in this situation? I can hide I guess. But when they are coming inside the house, I don't think hiding is an option now. What will anyone do in such situation? We can not fight it, and we don't have a govt who can fight it. Our leaders will repeat the same condolence messages, packed with some "guilty will be punished" comments and some encouragement messages like "The spirit of people of India" and life will go on like it wa...

He is a terrorist! Yes, that's how people will see him for the rest of his life! His life is ruined forever! Its not innocent until proven guilty, but guilty from the day one! With the international media coverage, its already confirm that he is not going back to the civilized world again; there is no place for him anywhere but in terrorist camp! I am not sure if he has the guts to pull the trigger or go as human bomb and kill innocent people. If he can not do that, he is jobless as there is no other job he can do now! Why am I thinking abut him anyway? Does this has anything to do with me? No and Yes! No because I don't know him, and I don't care what happen to him, its like just another news item to me. Yesterday a building collapsed and till now 28 people are dead, with chances of toll going up. I see 28 innocent people dead, including kids, he is alive! But there are a lot of other reasons which prompt me to think and write about it, the Yes part of its impact on ...