Muthalik - Suspected Terrorist?

Reports suggests that Muthalik- the master mind behind the molestation of girls in a pub in my state - may as well be connected with a Bomb blast funded and organized with the support of Bharatiya Janata Party in a Muslim dominant place in India. He has been interrogated by Anti Terror Squad now!

Time has gone where any bomb blast would only bring the Muslim fanatics to the picture. The so called morale brigands / protectors of Indian brothers and sisters has made a successful entry into the arena of terrorism. Its a pity that they don't realize they just killed a fellow Indian - whom they were pledged to protect. It doesn't matter whether they are of different religion - they were Indian who would probably bring no harm to them!

Coming back to the subject - Muthalik; against whom there are 48 cases charged (wonder why he was left scot-free till now - I can't take the fact that his parent organization is ruling the state at the moment as just a coincidence for his freedom!) are finally caught. But what did our beloved - still brain under developed chief minister of state said? "We can't let the pub culture grow". May be it would sound wiser if he had made this statement in a remote village where nobody really knows what’s pub culture is all about.

Bangalore an aspiring cosmopolitan city is well known for its pubs at least for about 20 years now. Still its a city where restaurants and pubs are supposed to close by 11:00 PM. Can you imagine a tourist destination - silicon valley of India where thousands of foreign delegates come and go every day - having no pubs or any means of unwinding yourself? Wake up morons - how about millions of rupees you receive through tax for these facilities? How about thousands of people who have jobs now. I mean I am some one who would suggest the government to legalize escort services in India... LOL

Really ... such a shame... if you can't keep up the pace, at least you shouldn't try running backwards!

Hindu Hooligans… the real slumdogs!!!

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/ram-sena-chief-arrested-but-not-for-mangalore-pub-attack/83793-3.html

For all these years the great Indian philosophy of treating woman as a “Devtha” (Goddess) was showcased almost successfully infront of the world. All this make-ups are going to go off after an incident where girls were beaten up by a bunch of hooligans in a pub in Mangalore. But the most worrying fact for me is that the hooligan’s who is responsible for this incident doesn’t believe that its an act of cowardliness mixed with the male ego of superiority. But they allege those girls who were present in the pub of “defaming the image of Indian woman” and not following the “ethics”. Ram Sena – My ASS!!... Sorry, I couldn’t help my self there…. You morons… I have some questions here, if you have guts – eat it!

In which holy book is it written that a woman can not drink? In ancient days the wife’s of the great Godman’s used to have “Soma Rasam” which is nothing but alcohol

Now, if drinking alcohol is a dishonor to the Indian culture, would you dare going and beating up a bunch of men? If it’s a sin to support drinking, what do you morons do to stop people of your religion running liquor shops? The biggest liquor producer in the entire Asia region is a Hindu if you remember.

If you guys beat up those hapless girls for misconduct or dancing in an indecent manner, what did those ancient characters of Urvashi, Rambha and Thilothama use to do? One of them was even sent to seduce Godmen. If you were so high on morale, why do you have temples where ladies from very tender ages are deputed to do sex service to the Godmen visiting the temples? Pitty you!!!

In which book of Indian Culture is it written that a man can beat up a woman?

Afterthought – We can’t just blame these guys. After all, they are named after a Godman who even dared to doubt the faithfulness of his wife and even made her consumed by fire to prove she is still clean!

Slumdogs!

Finally, the much coveted, golden glob comes to India. Well done you little genius A. R Rahman!. For those who don't know him, YouTube will have plenty of his songs. He is unique, he is adaptive - not copying ;), he is smart and he is probably the best sound technician and music composer - thats a rare breed!

As always, the film Slumdog Millionaire for which he actually did the background score and the one which has few more golden globe's in the showcase and probably be looking for few Oscar entries - has indeed raised some controversies as well. Tell me about it - India and controversies - whats new, one might ask:)

When many saw this movie as a unique and nicely done art-work, many were circumspect and taken a back that a movie such as this would only defame India as a third world country because it highlights the life in our slums. Come on now people of India - aren't we really a third world country? I mean, I am a true Indian and I love my country as any true statesmen would. But fact remains fact. If a country has more than 70% of its people below poverty line, where people are deprived from those basic amenities such as food, water and shelter - it is not even a developing country!

Don't be deceived by the glorious pictures you might receive on your TV set top boxes on how good Indian metros are, if you just take a walk behind the doors its a different world out there. And if you happened to travel to Bombay - now re named as Mumbai for what ever silly reason it might be - just look at the side windows of your jet and you would see one of Asia’s biggest slum just near by.

Interestingly, the government with so many IAS and so many highly qualified task forces could never come up with a solution for it. Give me a break will ya? We landed a robot on moon - is this complex than that? Truth be told, politicians need the slums to support them as a bulk vote bank who can be purchased by money as thats something they don't have.
So for those who crib that Slumdog Millionaire was a disaster, got a question for you - what did you do today for your fellow Indian who just happened to live a different lifestyle than that of yours ?

Few Good Men - Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan !

The war is finally over - was the headlines of most of the news papers in India. The entire country is in trauma as people still can't believe a bunch of terrorists could hold the entire city in ransom. The blame game starts and it wouldn't take long before we humans would forget as some would call it a blessing and some call it’s a curse. So here, I try to leave an impression of those few good men who stood between the terrorists and the civilians as a shield and couldn't make it back alive.
Being in the forefront of the National Security Guards operations at the Taj Mahal Hotel in Mumbai, Major Sandeep Unnikrishnan not only waged a valiant battle against the terrorists but also did his best to save his injured colleagues and in the bargain lost his life. He showed the real warrior in him before laying down his life.
Thirty-one-year-old Major Sandeep is the only son of retired ISRO officer K. Unnikrishnan, who is settled in Bangalore.
His father told presspersons: "I lost my son in Mumbai on Friday. Though I do not like to call him a martyr, I can proudly say that he has done something for this country."
He was informed of the death of his son by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police (National Security Guards).
According to information reaching the family, "Major Sandeep was leading a team and during the operations two of his colleagues sustained bullet injuries. In a bid to save them Sandeep turned back. The bullets fired by the terrorists pierced him. On November 26, he had called us and said that one of his childhood friends is getting married in the city on December 17. He had planned to attend that marriage," Mr. Unnikrishnan said.
Major Sandeep was ambitious, talented and a brave soul, said his friends and neighbors. He joined the National Defense Academy and was commissioned in the Bihar 7th Regiment in 1999.
He was drafted to the NSG after his gallantry was recognized," Kiran Srivasthav, a childhood friend of Major Sandeep told The Hindu.
According to Anirudh Uppal, Inspector-General (Headquarters) National Security Guards (NSG), Major Sandeep had exposure to counter insurgency operations after having served in Jammu and Kashmir for two terms.
He was deputed to the NSG on January 20, 2007 and participated in various operations conducted by the elite force.
The gallant officer of the team commander of 51 SAG was deployed to clear Hotel Taj Mahal of extremists on November 27.
He led the team from the front and engaged the terrorists in a fierce gunfight. When one of the NSG commandos was injured in the exchange of fire, he arranged for his evacuation and regardless of personal safety chased the terrorists who, meanwhile, escaped to another floor of the hotel, and while doing so Major Sandeep continuously engaged them. In the encounter that followed, he was seriously injured and succumbed to injuries.

Whom should I thank on this thanksgiving?

So it’s the thanks giving season here… and here goes a list of people you should thank
GOD: For letting u get into this world.
Mother: For helping GOD fulfill his wish. For carrying you in her womb, going through all those emotional stress, going through the labor and for those countless sleepless nights
Father: For helping GOD fulfill his wish. For being the person whom you would always look forward to. For keep moving the family forward. For protecting you, financially, mentally and physically.
Grand parents: For all those sweet memories, for letting you hide behind them when your parents are angry up on you. For consoling you, for all those beautiful bedtime stories…
Wife / Husband - For being the partner when I cry, when I smile, when I rejoice and when I repent... couldn't have walked all this way alone!
Teachers: For letting you help learn what this world is all about. Its not just the alphabets they taught you which counts, but the way they nurtured you as an individual.
Employer: For helping you move forward, for helping you achieve your targets, or simply for helping you survive
Your children – For carrying on your legacy and for all their support when you needed the most.
Your grand children – For all those wonderful moments, for letting you know that you are still important!
Friends – Perhaps the greatest gift of all, for being there when it mattered the most!
And finally, GOD again, for letting you meet all these wonderful people….and letting you survive yet another day… many couldn’t make it!

Ray of hope!!

The Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI)arrested two priests and a nun in the case relating to the murder of Sr. Abhaya. The two priests Fr. Thomas Kottoor and Fr. Jose Putrike and the nun Sr. Sephy will be produced before the Judicial First Class Magistrates court at 2 pm Wednesday afternoon. The CBI started investigating the unnatural death of Sister Abhaya on March 29, 1993. Sr. Abhaya(21) was found dead in a well in the compound of St. Pius X convent in Kottayam, India, on 27 March 1992. She was a member of St. Joseph's Congregation for women under the Catholic diocese of Kottayam and a second year pre-degree student in B.C.M. college at the time of her death.
It took about 14 yrs of investigation and almost same number of investing agencies to have the first arrest made. From the very first investigation report itself there were so much of uncertainty and scope for ambiguity floating around. Everybody in my state knew there is something fishy about the incidents since her family was so sure that she wouldn’t commit suicide for absolutely no reason. But somehow the local police wanted to finish off the investigation and make it look like a suicide. But the public outcry was so much that CBI (Indian version of FBI) took the case about a decade back.
But the political pressure was so much that during this period the teams were dismantled, directors were sacked and some couldn’t just handle the pressure and had to retire early. This also confirmed that if the real culprits were found, the much hyped image of Christian dignity would be lost for ever. It went to an extend where when one team was just about make an arrest the biggest political leader at that time prevented it from happening. Yeh, believe it or not, Catholics do have some serious hold J
But being a follower of Christianity (I would never call me a Christian coz I know what a real Christian means) I always wanted the truth to come out no matter how significant the impact would be. May be there are few exceptions where you can find a real good priest or nun who does what they are meant to do. But majority are just another guy/gal and I wouldn’t blame them either. Its human to fall into temptation but how you recover as a Christian is important.
Hope these arrests would be the beginning of the much pending cleansing process in Christian community. Hope all those noxious weeds would be hunt down… wish if Jesus was still around…most probably he would’ve dismantled the regime of church and re-instated peace!! Or even might have looked for an AK-47 instead of rope to slash the sick ones out of the divine temple!!!!

Incredible Iraq!!

So much has been talked and disccussed about Iraq for all wrong reasons by the media for an awful lot of time that one would never notice the good things like its history, culture and all the good things it had before we ourself ruined it! So this blog is just to see if I could see something positive about it.
Geography
Iraq, a triangle of mountains, desert, and fertile river valley, is bounded on the east by Iran, on the north by Turkey, on the west by Syria and Jordan, and on the south by Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. It is twice the size of Idaho. The country has arid desert land west of the Euphrates, a broad central valley between the Euphrates and the Tigris, and mountains in the northeast.
Culture of Iraq
Iraq has one of the world's oldest cultural histories. Iraq is where the Mesopotamian civilization began, which went on to influence the European and Asian civilizations. So as far as culture is concerned, Iraq has a rich heritage. The country is known for its poets and its painters and sculptors are among the best in the Arab world, some of them being world-class. Besides this, Iraq is also known for producing fine handicrafts, including rugs and carpets. The architecture of Iraq is best seen in the sprawling metropolis of Baghdad, where the construction is almost entirely new, with some islands of exquisite old buildings and compounds.
Unlike many Arab countries, it embraces and celebrates the achievements of its past in pre-Islamic times. What is now Iraq was once part of the Cradle of Civilization in ancient Mesopotamia and the culture of Sumer, from which the first known wheel was recovered, flourished there. In the 8th century and 9th century the Islamic Abbasid Caliphs presided over what was then the world's leading civilization, rich in science, art and literature.
Heritage
Iraq is a country of a wide and varied heritage, home to Muslims, Christians, Jews, Assyrians and "Marsh Nomads", amongst countless others. As such, many have contributed to the wide spectrum of Iraqi Culture.
Traditional music consists of instruments such as ouds, flutes, violins, drums, and tambourines. Now however, there are many young artists generating pop, rap, and wider types of musical genres. Umm Kulthum and Fairouz are two woman singers renowned for their voices and especially cherished in Iraq. In fact, the common guitar, an American emblem, evolved from the guitar of ancient Iraq.
Tea houses are commonly scattered over Iraq, and in the afternoon it is a habit for shopkeepers to retreat into the back with a close circle of friends to sip tea over gossip, an Iraqi "siesta".
Rites of passage are mainly centered on children being schooled enough to correctly read the Quran, quite the challenging task. The Quran is perhaps one of the hardest texts to read, both because of depth of meaning and due to the difficult range of sounds Arabic demands from the human vocal cords. The child with least pronunciation errors is called the "hafiz" or "memorizer". There is usually a large celebration in the child's honor.
Marriages and births are enormous arts of Iraqi life. It is common to have hundreds of people attend weddings. Although there are some arranged marriages, a couple must agree before entering into it, and there are very low divorce rates in Iraq, though it is acceptable and fairly easy under Islamic doctrine.
Nonetheless, Arabs believe that wisdom comes with wrinkles in old age, and as such grandparents and parents are highly respected. It is seen as a huge disgrace and very embarrassing if a child publicly sasses or is rude to someone of the elder generation.
As in other Arab nations, the left hand is used for sanitary activities including the restroom, and the right hand is used for food and greeting; offering to shake with the left hand may be perceived as an insult, and eating with the left hand embarrassing. Iraqis are a very passionate people, and their conversations will often be adorned with many hand gestures.
Generosity is highly valued in Iraqi culture, and it is seen as rude to snub someone asking a favor. This is heightened especially during the month of Ramadan, when it is necessary to give zakat or donations to the poor. Many families, rich and poor alike, cook for the homeless, or even invite them to dinner. Some prepare plates of baklavah or a dish of kebob to take to them.
Something so-different than what u usually hear about Iraq isn't it? Infact there are so much more to write about this one of the most culture rich country where its roots reaching back up to 2000 BC!. But the human greed has got the best of it and looking at its current state, one can only pitty.... hope one day.. she would get back to her old glory!

Obamafication!

It’s been a festive season for all the media for last 48 hrs or so. I haven't seen such hype for any of the election conducted in any part of the world so far. So let me also join the herd and shout hail Obama J!!! But what exactly has made this election catch the eye of the world?
Religion: The biggest challenge I believe for Mr. Obama would be to change the image of Islam in the minds of the entire world. He should at least try to release the innocent souls from the clutches of corrupt and hatred filled Mullah’s and bring them to the mainstream. I know its not that easy for Islam being the most orthodox religion- that’s why I said he should “try”.Though a Christian, with Muslim roots, it should make things a bit uncomplicated for him. I hope he can try to bring this “Change”.
Race: I know many would disagree if I say the ghost of racism still persists in US. Infact this was the biggest fear Mr. Obama himself might have had in his mind for the last one year or so. I don’t find any reason why the media couldn’t just say Mr. Obama is USA’s President. Instead they just kept of saying …”the first black president of USA”. I just hope he brings some “Change” to it.
Timing: The timing couldn’t have been any better that people wished for a change. American economy is in troubled waters for sometime now and so does the worlds economy. Whether we like it or not, the vegetable price in India shoots up if the US stocks go for a toss! Kidding apart! Millions are jobless and many a thousand homeless. Infrastructure is ailing (we Indians are used to it u see J ) and so does the budget of an average family in US. The recovery will be slow, wish if he could bring some “Change” to it.
Relationships: In the last 8 years US has changed its image from the friendly neighborhood to the oil thirsty gangster. It has come to a state where even Maria – my 3 year old daughter would match Oil with USA in a mix and match competition. Kidding again J but yes, I don’t see any other reason why US “invaded” Iraq and “executed” their president. If it was for the sake of humanity and the worn off word “better world”, why not Zimbabwe? Why not Uganda? But hey, who cares a shit for Africa isn’t it? And how about its blind support for Israel? All this using the tax payer’s money! Get your home neat before u go try to clean up your neighbor’s laundry. I hope he would bring some “Change” to it.
Last but not the least, I wish if I could foresee a peaceful, war-free world where countries could co-exist sharing their culture, their values and of course love!

Love, as if its your last chance!

I've been getting lots of comments/messages on my blast of late... :) Sure it has got some serious attention ... LOL
Well, those who "know" me sure does know I mean it. Except for a very few "selected" ones, I have always loved my friends here - I still do and have tried to be very polite with each of them! And I have felt that most of them do have same feeling towards me as well.
So why me, a married man, father of two still do have fantasies and thoughts of some serious romance? it all depends on how me, as a single entity define love which is the root cause of all these emotions. Many have tried to define it, let me see if can do it.
I love my parents, I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my friends, I love trekking, I love photography, I love eating ice creams.... the list of what I love just goes on ! :)
But see, I would never dare to give up my wife for an ice cream...LOL so as you move on as an individual through different phases of your life, the precedence and the priorities on who and how u love changes but most of them remain unchanged!
Now comes my perception of romance. I am very sensitive and do love sensual things as well. I believe lust and romance co-exists which many may disagree with. Its a thin red line which separates a pervert and a sweet rascal...LOL. I prefer to be the later. Its when u cross that line when you start "using" your friends here than "meeting". It might still look hazy, the reason is... I just don't know why I am so romantic... guess that’s the way I was molded ...LOL
When you love some one, you never intend to cause them any harm - neither physically, nor mentally. And there are some, who would never express their love for what ever silly reason it may be. I find it so damn silly… I mean, what’s the use if the one you love never feel about it? It’s like you have the most powerful weapon in your hand you don’t know how to operate it. I like expressing myself and let the other person know how I feel – if it doesn’t hurt or annoy the other person. Love is one such emotion which never gets dried out, the more you give the more you get it back. That’s why I say love all, as if it’s your last chance!

Stop killing

Been a while, I know… was busy on weekdays and was traveling to my native to be with my loved ones on weekends. So many things happened in last two months… Kevin’s birth, Maria’s adventures with her new found brother, Kevin’s Baptism, my sister’s visit from US, mom going ill… damn it was hectic!
So many things happened across the Globe as well, the Olympic was a great success, Obama is the prime Presidential candidate, Global markets continues to nose dive sending shockwaves on all the sectors of employments with more and more job-cuts. More Hurricanes, more earthquakes, the great particle collision experiment so on….
The last time what I wrote was about a serial bomb blasts in the city where I live. Unfortunately, it was just a beginning of the desperate acts of Muslim fanatics to unsettle the calmness of a peace-loving country like India. There have been three more serial blasts across my country including the latest one in our capital killing people in hundreds and injuring many more.
The kids who gave their mom a good bye kiss to their mom on their way to school would never be home again…
The husband who went to office promising to buy chocolates for his kids on his way back home would never be home again…
The wife who went out to buy groceries to make a lovely meal for her family would never be home again…
The elderly couple who went for an evening walk to meet their friends will never even see each other…
For heaven sake, why is that only blood can solve the issues? Why GOD is gifted us with sense to think and act unlike just being animals who pounce on their innocent pray?
And yes, I would still say “Muslim Fanatics” … don’t you fools know 80% of your victims are your Muslim brothers and sisters themselves who used to wake up on early hours and pray to the same “Allah” you used to pray?. On the judgment day, whom would HE listen to? The killers or the victims?
The silence of the Mulla’s and the high clerics of Muslim religion send a shiver through my spine! High time they stand up and say enough is enough! Or soon, the day will come when people would turn their back on them and say “We don’t believe in a religion who doesn’t teach how to co-exist”.
I know there are many Muslim brothers who would agree with me… but they are either helpless or just outnumbered!

Faded reflections of differently abled!

Last week I was home, in Kerala to be with my angles. The new born is just doing fine and Maria is excited as well to see her new brother J Just that we have to watch her closely when she is playing with him coz she thinks the new born is just as fit as her and would start running any moment J
My sister and my nephew Maxwell is also home for their vacation. Maxwell is a kid with special needs. His brain was damaged during the birth and it’s a miracle that he is still around alive. Right now, he is undergoing Ayurvedic treatment and we could already see the improvements which allopathic medicines couldn’t do in years.
I just happened to visit one home for such kids – run by nuns where my sister was offering some help. We decided to give those little angels some treat one day and was to join them for lunch. This home also runs a settlement for the old. Just wonder how ever a son or daughter could abandon their parents and just go ahead with their life!!
The kids were mostly differently abled, somebody with down syndrome and some with permanent brain damage. But they were all happy – in their own ways. They enjoy every moment they live and are blessed to have people around them to support. This thought just came to my mind - How many more of such kids might be out there- not so lucky to have such facilities and what do we do for them?
There, while I was standing among them just happened to get a glimpse of my own reflection on a faded, murky glass pane. It just struck me how lucky me and my family is and realized how little we are doing for the needed. Their exteriors are same as mine, yet they are different… what a thin line!
Planning to visit another such facility – or say home of the angels next time I am in my native… to get the glimpse of me in the midst of the differently abled!

Shame on you USA, Shame on you Israel, pitty you UN !

The land variously called Israel and Palestine is a small, (10,000 square miles at present) land at the eastern end of the Mediterranean Sea. Yet probabily this land might have seen more wars/killing than any other region in this entire world. The recognized borders of Israel constitute about 78% of the land. The remainder is divided between land occupied by Israel since the 1967 6-day war and the autonomous regions under the control of the Palestinian autonomy. The Gaza strip occupies an additional 141 square miles south of Israel, and is under the control of the Palestinian authority.

According to the Bible, Moses led the Israelites, or a portion of them, out of Egypt. Under Joshua, they conquered the tribes and city states of Canaan and formed the country of Israel much later. The assyrians and Babylonians conqured Israel and destroyed most of their properties including Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem. At the time of the birth of Jesus, Israel was ruled by romans, who put down Jewish revolts in about A.D. 70 and A.D. 132. In A.D. 135, the Romans drove the Jews out of Jerusalem, following the failed Bar Kochba revolt.

During the seventh century (A.D. 600's), Muslim Arab armies moved north from Arabia to conquer most of the Middle East, including Palestine. Jerusalem was conquered about 638 by the Caliph Umar (Omar) who gave his protection to its inhabitants. Jerusalem (Al-Quds) became holy to Muslims as the site where, according to tradition, Muhammad ascended to heaven after a miraculous overnight ride from Mecca on his horse Al-Buraq. The Crusaders, invaded Palestine and they captured Jaffa and Jerusalem in 1099, slaughtered many Jewish and Muslim defenders and forbade Jews to live in Jerusalem. They held the city until 1187. In that year, the Muslim ruler Saladin conquered Jerusalem..... and ever since there have been enough wars including worldwars and so far this small piece of land has not seen peace – mainly because more than one religion has the same place as a holy one and want to gain control of it. More of a prestige issue than a "must have"

The evolution of man kind saw the formation of many countries and dissolution of many as well. If people try to gain control of their pre-historic or early century's land, it would just be the end of the world. So far Jews have been so adamant to regain the lost empire and instead of doing it with the mantra of co-existence and dialogues (if at all they have to do it) - they resort to mass murders of innocent people. It has come to a level that they have killed enough Palestinians to match the number of Jews killed by Hitler himself.

I pity US - for being so blind folded - just to ignore the cry of the innocent babies who lost their parents, parent who lost their child. Yet they try relentlessly to restore law and order in other parts of the world. Shame on you US for the double standards. Perhaps they don't want to loose the constant revenue which they get from Israel to buy US made weapons.

I pity Israel for ruthlessly killing people, by doing which they just create more enemies and just act as any other militant organizations. You are the real demons ruling a holy land.;

I pity UN - I've been doing this ever since US invaded Iraq - for oil. They are nothing but a bunch of puppets who can't take a decision for the betterment of man kind and yet they preach world peace. The only organization I believe is RED cross, but a definite NO NO for UN. Atleast if they dissolve this non-functioning machinery they could save some money. Hope - I just hope only the guilty gets punished - though that’s not the story these days!