Vikas Kalra

Where did humans come from?

2011-12-03T06:54:00.001-08:00

On a Friday afternoon, as I was having lunch with a work colleague, a casual chat about culture turned into an extremely stimulating discussion on religion and origin of humans. My colleague, who has been a non-practicing Muslim for many years, articulated his human behavior analogy in such a philosophical manner that I was convinced humans are a dangerous group of species and our creator didn’t care for us anymore. His theory was neither influenced by any spiritual teachings nor any religious text. He was simply narrating his beliefs that came from his subconscious mind which had been searching for answers on our existence.

According to him, we were perhaps designed by unknown Martians or simply extraterrestrial creatures. If you believe in the concept of Adam and Eve, you are a direct result of a mistake/sin committed by Adam and Eve by eating the forbidden fruit. Had they not done that, we wouldn’t be here which means we are basically here by mistake. According to Science, we are descendants of apes which probably makes the most sense but did you ever think we could have been designed by scientifically advanced people from the outer space as a test which went wrong? This is because, as humans, we have no physical variations as opposed to 84 million other species that come in all forms of shapes, figures and sizes. Even dinosaurs who dominated earth for many years had variations – 3 legged, 4 legged, some had ability to fly and so much more. Same family birds, reptiles and mammals have so much variation in their appearance but humans have had the same structure ever since it all started. Those Martians perhaps came to experiment with a new breed, they created us and they realized they made a mistake because humans became dangerous the way they thought and acted. They left us and now from time to time they try to make contact without much success. As humans uncover the mysteries of this universe through advanced technologies, they are constantly getting closer to our creator. After all, people in olden times thought lightening in sky was a result of GOD’s anger but now we know it’s nothing but an electricity discharge.

As my colleague and I discussed religion, which supposedly has all the answers, we concluded that it was an institute which was a band-aid solution. If a child suffers from a little burn on the hand, parents would simply tell them I told you not to do it but never give proper explanation. They wouldn’t tell the child that if your skin comes in contact with fire, it will destroy some cells which in return will cause pain. Religion acts in a similar way. Religion is a great source of spirituality and we must respect that. These mammoth and extravagant places of worship that generate millions in donations have been in existence for hundreds of years and they only reflect human idiocy. It’s a form or bribery which is not going to please our creator. Experiencing the energy that surrounds us is the way to move forward which is what our great messengers did. Science is helping us achieve a lot of things and we must carry on.

UPANISHADS – “Energy can neither be created, nor be destroyed”

NRI Patriotism

2011-08-22T16:41:00.001-07:00

India celebrates her 64th year of Independence from British Raj today. In this day and age of social media, you see umpteenth videos being posted about glorious India and receive wishes for “Happy Independence Day” (or “Mera Bharat Mahaan) but as an Indian, living abroad, I am uncertain on how to react to these messages. I, for one, will soon lose my Indian citizenship in exchange for a more advantageous Canadian citizenship and secondly, I feel Patriotism has no value in this globalized world anymore.

Every year, millions of Indians living abroad, most of whom have already given up their Indian citizenship; celebrate August 15th by marching on the busy streets to mark yet another year of Indian independence. That celebration reflects the passion and sentiments NRIs carry for India but at the same time we don’t contribute in India’s growth (at least not the majority), we conveniently ridicule every scam in India, we mock India’s Legislative and Judicial system, we have no faith in India’s civil society functioning and most importantly, we propose solutions on improving the system but never take part in it. How do we then go out and audaciously swing the Indian flags on foreign streets to glorify the independence which, if at all did anything, perhaps provided us the opportunity to cross-over and look for a better lifestyle? If I can’t stay in that society and bring about a change, I have no right to comment on its shortcomings or feel part of its progress.

In a vast country like India where providing parity in any field is a challenge, you will find almost every other citizen wanting to leave its shores for better prospects elsewhere. With majority of the population categorized as backward classes, no one has any sense of belonging there. Rich send their kids to expensive universities abroad so they can live and settle there and others are just looking at any other possible way to intersect to other side. Despite the tremendous economic growth in the country, if given the opportunity to settle abroad, majority of the Indians would take that in a heartbeat. It’s not the problem of the people who wish to seek more comfortable life even if it means moving away from homeland. A secure and comfortable life is our right. Personally, I am first loyal to my loved ones and then to any other union, society or government. I definitely conform to certain laws manufactured by a society but I will never put a country over my family.

Culturally, we remain rooted to our background and family values but there’s no need to mix that with Patriotism, Nationalism or Jingoism. All these sentiments have no value if you are feeding off each other in this free market. My identity will always remain Indian despite living anywhere but it only means that I must take pride in the cultural values inculcated in me. I must resent and shun any discrimination against people of the Indian community but I shall also not get carried away by any patriotic emotion as it will only create division among people. I have utmost respect for all Indian freedom fighters because imperialism is a curse and they did exactly what was right for India. I just refuse to be a part of Indian movements mirroring nationalism on foreign lands where those acts have little or no significance to locals and majority of Indians.

Cricket – My Passion and Love... before I met my wife

2011-02-14T13:39:00.001-08:00

The first cricket match I ever watched was between India and West Indies in 1991 that took place in Perth, Australia. I had just come back home with a friend after playing marbles (or maybe hide & seek) and my friend requested me to put cricket to check on scores. Prior to that moment; I had no interest in the game as I was just a 9 year old who preferred all the gully sports – lukka chhupi, marbles, cycling and just running around with friends for no reason. The match was delicately poised with WI needing 1 run to win with 1 wicket remaining. The next ball from Manoj Prabhakar got the edge of the bat and Azhar took this impossible catch to tie the match. That was my first ever exposure to a cricket match and how could I not become fan of this greatest sport ever. That moment changed my life forever.

My passion for the sport knew no bounds. Just like many other Indian kids, I played cricket on every damn place – inside the house, rooftops, middle of the street, empty home plots, closed factories, unkempt grounds and in front of the mirror admiring my shots. Not only did I break window glasses and lamps of neighbours’ houses, I broke so many things in my own house that I can’t even remember. My mother cringed and pleaded but I was not the one to be stopped. Cricket had gripped me completely. I turned out to be a decent player playing regularly for different gully teams and winning them matches with my quick bowling. My batting was laughable, just a notch above Courtney Walsh and Ashish Nehra, but I improved later on. With tennis ball cricket, I was ruthless. I once hit a hundred in 24 balls! I went on to play district cricket and played against Yuvraj, who now plays for India. I nurtured so many dreams of playing for India that I couldn’t sleep in the night before a morning match, I bunked school to watch matches, I sneaked out of school during recess to catch some cricket (only I know how I got back inside the school again),I skipped meals when India lost... the list goes on. Alas, all hopes were dashed when you find out how tough things can be so you eventually end up taking the easier route – Study in Canada.

Now I only watch cricket because I can’t find those 7 hours, I mean really, those 7 beautiful hours that you require completing a match. I blame it on Canada... Even if I had the 7 hours, I am sure it would either snow or rain in between...How cruel...

World Cup 2011 is just around the corner and I just can’t wait for it to begin. To all those critics of the game, who think it’s too long and confusing, I have to ask you this – how many other sports have three different formats where each format requires you to play differently with same rules? Even though a 50-over match is long but 99% of the time you will get a result unlike world’s most popular sport Soccer. Compare a tied soccer match to a tied match in cricket – the pleasure in cricket is beyond comprehension. Don’t even compare Cricket with Baseball. Not only is baseball the worst game ever invented where you can swing all you want but your bat won’t touch the ball, the game has 9 innings and the scorecard in the end still reads 1-0. What the hell does that mean? And what on this earth are sports like Curling, Luge track racing, Lacrosse... And Golf??? It’s a sport? Why do you want to spend all your day trying to put a tiny ball in a hole 18 times...

Okay, enough said now... I love Tennis too :) love watching and playing it...

2011 Cricket World Cup begins on February 19. If India wins, I will celebrate like crazy but if Canada wins at least one game, I will celebrate even more.

Are we all corrupt

2011-02-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

Corruption – one word that is synonymous with current affairs these days. You would identify with the term even more if you are from subcontinent. Every day a new scam unveils its ugly surface only to be nipped in the bud later on. Corruption is quite rampant in developing countries as it exists at grass root levels. In developed countries, or so called first world, it mostly exists at a higher level. Numerous Ponzi schemes, BP gas leak, Wikileaks, Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan prove it. Are we all part of this? No matter what we protest against, the powerful and mightier always wins. How does one put an end to it? The ugly truth is – no one in this world is clean. We are all corrupt. We all stop at MONEY. Here’s my take on corruption.

We become corrupt the moment we are born. If corruption means bribing someone to get work done, then every child is corrupt. Try stopping a toddler from crying without giving him something in return. If toys are not provided, a child is not happy. As we grow older and start going to school, we want what other kids have. Do we not hate our fathers for refusing to provide us with what we want? Haven’t we all been there? If you get what you want suddenly love for your parents increases by many folds. We want favours in return of a good behaviour.

As we grow older, we start going out with friends and have relationships. How much do we spend on our bfs/gfs so they are pleased? A LOT. What’s that? Bribe? In a way it is, otherwise why would you spend even a penny on a stranger? Of course there’s human bonding but buying expensive gifts to please someone is nothing but bribery. It’s the purest form of corruption. If we don’t get that kind of attention from our partners we don’t like the relationship. There are exceptions but most of us succumb to the material way of taking a relationship forward.

Corruption is human nature. It’s a part of our lives and we don’t seem to understand it. Yes, we all want money in order to fulfill our needs but it doesn’t stop there. Once we get money, we want more. Bigger house, bigger car, bigger everything... How does it come? Trust me; it’s always at the expense of someone else. People living in west enjoy many luxuries because poor kids are employed in other countries to build products they desire. They don’t need to bribe someone because somebody above them has already bribed many. Why is there a need to outsource? In the name of trade, we say it helps both the countries but why does a task become menial in your country at the first place? We never want to keep others at same level as us. We want to be above others. They say China’s labour is cheap and that’s why we outsource. Why is it cheap? Because you made it through your corrupt policies!

Corruption is within us. We will exercise it whenever it is required.

Let’s end this with a Buddhist Quote I read recently – “All wrong-doing arises because of mind. If mind is transformed can wrong-doing remain?”

Food Supply

2011-02-14T13:37:00.001-08:00

I recently read on an ad that we produce enough food to feed everyone on this planet and yet 1 out of every 7 people is malnourished. This means almost a billion people don’t have enough to eat every day. Now if there is enough food for everyone then where’s the food for these billion people going? Are some of us overeating? Or may be wasting? It has to be true because this morning I heard Ethiopia has asked for urgent food aid for almost 6 million people. According to UN even North Korea’s food situation is desperate as food aid is only reaching 1/3rd of the people. 20 million people need food aid in Africa due to poor rainfall. Food prices are also going up because of poor rain fall in Asian countries where much of the wheat and rice is grown.

Despite all the shortages and inflation, we here enjoy the luxury of sitting in a nice restaurant regularly devouring various cuisines from around the world, over stacking our fridges with food and throwing away food that is 1 day past its expiry or food that got spoilt because we just forgot to eat it. I don’t know if this lifestyle is right or wrong but morally it certainly sounds wrong. How can I now go to an Ethiopian restaurant to eat when I know people in Ethiopia are dying for that same food? If those same ingredients can be brought here so we can all enjoy that delicacy then why not in Ethiopia itself. If there is lack of food supply in a particular country then I am sure we have enough surpluses elsewhere to cover that shortage. That food doesn’t reach the needy because it’s kept in reserves so just in case there is drought or any other disasters, people of that country are saved. Drought may not happen but food remains in those warehouses. I am not saying countries don’t send food aid wherever required but there is obviously something wrong in the system that so many people go hungry every day.

I remember reading a book called “The Skeptical Environmentalist” written by a Danish author, Bjorn Lomborg. It came back in 2002 and took everyone by surprise with its audacious content. Hailed as a revolutionary book, it claimed we have enough resources in the world to feed more people than we currently have on daily basis. Many criticised for misinterpreting scientific data but then many were convinced. I support Lomborg because looking at western countries (and now even Asia) where obesity rate is all time high and where weight loss diets/plans are fast becoming billion dollar industries, certain portion of the population is more than just well fed.

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Me, Myself and Technology

2010-05-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

Going to Toronto to work has been somewhat an eye opening experience for me. Working in docile town of Guelph for 3 years, I was so used to an easy commute and relaxed work life that working in Toronto now seems a whole new world to me. Taking morning train and then walking on streets with hoard of people looking to get to work is something I don’t look forward to. People say downtown has energy and you feel charged up to work but I apparently don’t think so. I want a laid back life with not too many worries. My job is challenging and I enjoy it but the fight to get to work every day is something I am not cut out for. Hopefully when I move closer to work it’d be better. And hopefully, very soon I will do what I want and not what my expenses want me to.

Anyways, coming back to the focal point of this essay, I want to discuss how technology today has changed our lifestyle for worse. This thought came to me after travelling every day to work. When I see every individual with some new communication gadget and constantly consumed by it, I feel how do I speak to somebody just to have a little conversation after a hectic day of work? I feel we are heading towards this age where face-to-face communication might become redundant. Tech companies in today’s age have very smartly focused their attention on products/gadgets that only cater to individuals and not groups. Live chatting, iPod, iPad, iPhone, Video Games, Twitter, Facebook and just every other revolutionary application is focused on boosting your ego. Every kid wants to be a part of this generation by investing in-depth knowledge in these applications.

Somehow these companies have made us believe that letting personal information out is very important. Letting others know what you are up to is very important. These products are nothing but a mirror to narcissistic individuals. I often find people spending more time on Facebook or Twitter are lonely in personal lives. They make many online/virtual friends simply because they are able to spend more time on it and in return feel obliged to stick to it with the fear of losing attention if they stopped. People with busier and happier personal lives don’t spend as much time. These forums are nothing but a way to express your ego. People posting pictures to share with friends don’t necessarily want to share but they intend to tell the world how happy they are. And not always will they post all the pictures, only the ones they like will be posted - all the ones where they are looking good or doing something unusual. It relates to boosting your ego. Similarly on twitter or even Facebook, sharing in 150 characters what you are up to is nothing but a reflection of our ego. We won’t go out to socialize with people but we would rather post a message that we are bored or can’t sleep anticipating somebody will reply to our post and feel they actully care for us. In reality, people always respond because they have an ulterior motive. It’s a popularity contest. You scratch my back; I will scratch yours when you need me. Similarly, we want latest phones or other gadgets not because we need them, but because that’s a good way to tell others how cool and hip you are. iPhone offers millions of applications but what do I see people mostly using it for?

1) Playing games on it while they are waiting for a movie to start at a cinema.
2) Watching YouTube videos on it even though a computer is next to them
3) Showing videos to friends on it while they are partying with them
4) Playing music at a party because they feel they have better music on their iPhone.

I can go on and on. This is nothing but bereavement of social life. Mind you these applications and forums have advantages too, and some incredible advantages, but unfortunately we don’t use them well. According to a recent study, 50% of children under the age of 10 in Canada and USA are obese. I wonder why? Why would they go out and play actual soccer when they can play it on their TV with the touch of a remote control. I personally feel Video Games should be banned in a civilized society. It’s not a source of entertainment but it’s a source of depression.

I am not against these technological advances but I would not accept them at the cost of losing my social life. Being with friends and family has to be the best feeling in the world. I want to communicate my views that involve number of the people but letting others know things like I fell down in my bath tub and now my butt hurts will only lead to my personal downfall. I value your time too much to inform you about my nonsensical personal moments.

Kurbaan (Sacrificed)

2009-12-01T17:32:00.000-08:00

I finally got to see a Hindi movie in a movie theater after quite some time. Kurbaan, a thriller with terrorism as its background, didn’t impress me much but it made me write on an issue which would probably never be resolved. The movie showed a few Muslim characters carrying anti America flame in their heart trying to spread terror in US through bombing planes and subway trains. Their reason is pretty obvious – American bombs are killing innocent Muslim civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq, why shouldn’t we do something. Apparently, blood calls for blood and just like great Gandhi said, an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind.

Not that any attack on innocent civilians in justified, but if I think of those young boys who lose their loved ones in these American military attacks, it’s quite understandable that these kids are going to have lot of rage against America. Now theory of becoming terrorists and bombing public places to teach a lesson to enemy is debatable. I personally think it’s wrong but then who am I to say it’s wrong. I haven’t lost anybody to Americans. I don’t know what rage I would have if I were sleeping with my family under some shelter and a bomb just destroyed my home and took away my family’s life. It’s a tough question to answer but at the same time if my loved ones are victims of a terrorist activity, I would probably be supporting Americans.

In the movie an American girl asks a Muslim that if you guys hate America so much then why don’t you leave our country? The guy answers we will leave as soon as you leave our land. A very smart answer but go into the depth of it and you will notice what religion does to humans. Americans might be fighting in Iraq but an Islamic man in other part of the world will stand up and say stop killing my people. In Mumbai last year when terrorists went into a Jewish house and captured a Rabbi and his family, Israel wanted to send their forces to negotiate their release. I am sure they wouldn’t have done that if other religious leaders were being captured. The terrorists obviously targeted the Jewish house because of Israel-Palestine conflict that has seen Israeli government’s atrocities on innocent Palestine civilians. But then what did that harmless Rabbi do to deserve such an end to his life?
I may say religion is the root cause for these problems but ask people who believe in religion and they would say don’t blame religion. We humans will always fight. It’s just our nature - if not for Religion, we will find other reasons to fight. Funny thing is each religion believes in harmony. Just come to think of it, how many people actually change their religion? How many people actually take time to understand other religions? We are brought up with such an attitude where we refuse to accept other religion’s teachings even if they are good. We ridicule other beliefs because accepting them would mean betraying our own people.

Such discussions solidify my idea of not being a part of any religion anymore. I quit religion many years ago and that serves me well now. Humanity works for me.

Measure of Success

2009-07-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

I turned 27 yesterday. I am definitely wiser, smarter, richer, more knowledgeable and everything else that comes with age. Unfortunately, I am also looking older which probably means I am not aging gracefully. It’s also due to my inability to stay active all year along. I hate gyms and I can never find someone to play with me the sports I enjoy (Tennis, Squash and Cricket). On top of all this, summer days are numbered in Canada – it’s either raining or snowing here. Busy work place doesn’t help either.

Anyways, I wanted to write my thoughts on how one measures success as they grow old. So I think to myself, am I successful? Or an under achiever? Or just average? It all depends on what standards I set for myself. Well, I do own a home, a car, I travel around as much as I can, I wear relatively expensive clothes, I eat at good restaurants regularly and I regularly enjoy my favourite concerts/festivals/parties. I am thinking so what? Millions of others have same lifestyle. Bill Gates was a millionaire in his 20s. There is a huge list of Entrepreneurs, Sportspersons, Politicians, Writers, Moviemakers and so many other spirited individuals who made a mark on world stage in their 20s. Does my success compare to their success in any way? May be or maybe not. It’s all in my mind how I perceive my growth.

I probably will always feel I am under achieving because I am overly ambitious. I love fame so I would have loved to make a mark on world stage in some way or the other. I would have loved to own a business too. I would have loved to publish a book. I would have loved to be an Economist who worked for multinational organizations such as UN, IMF or World Bank. Nothing of that sort happened although everything was a possibility. Now do I call myself a failure? Absolutely not! I work hard for my current lifestyle and my ambitions shouldn’t take anything away from my achievements.

For me, my success lies in things I am able to do now which I couldn’t do in past. I am able to help my family in more ways than ever I could before. I am able to support a poor kid’s education/healthcare who is not even related to me. I am able to afford the luxuries that I couldn’t imagine few years ago. I am able to consult business owners on the work I do. That is my growth - now small or large it may be it’s something that has kept me going. I am doing my bit and will continue to do so as long as it satiates my appetite for a more meaningful life. I will do everything in my capacity that gives me better sense of contentment. Of course the real joy would be to unravel the mysteries of this universe so at least you know the reason of your existence because each success yardstick we set for ourselves will outlast us. After all everything success for us is inspired by someone else’s life experiences. You may set an example for others to follow but you will not live long enough to know how many others feel that’s success for them too. You may only follow someone else while you are alive. What a shame!

Subcontinent Chaos

2009-05-17T12:36:00.000-07:00

The whole subcontinent region has been going through some rough time in recent past. Turmoil in Sri Lanka is well known and recent offensive against Taliban by Pakistani military was long overdue. Both the countries are fighting hard to flush out the terrorist elements but I am not sure if it’s going to be a permanent success. Millions have been displaced already and many more are living in extreme conditions. I cannot doubt Sri Lankan Army’s intentions to finish LTTE’s aggression but Pakistani government’s decision to go against Taliban comes after the much deliberation from US. Taliban has already done the damage and defeating them is probably a dream.

Recent reports suggest that total of about 1500 Taliban militants have been killed in the swat valley. I wonder out of how many? 50,000 or possibly 100,000. That’s the grip of Taliban. They have 10 year old kids seeking revenge, who are willing to deliver a suicide bomb attack at the drop of a hat. Killing others in the name of religion is so profound in these people’s mind that Terrorism is not an act for them but an Idea. How does one fight against an idea? An idea where humans have little fear of death! How many of these ideas can you kill? Pakistani government has to be blamed for all the mess that has taken so many lives. First of all, letting so many Taliban members enter Pakistan so frequently, then not acting at the right time to douse their anger, then the approach of supporting both Taliban and America simultaneously, then giving SWAT valley to Taliban knowing fully it will promote 15th century values. While Taliban was strengthening base in northern Pakistan, other terrorist outfits were planning attacks on India. Pakistan then had another headache – how to stop barrage of questions from India and world community for giving home to so many other terrorist outfits? The final result? Country in complete disarray. It’s definitely not easy fighting terrorists with so much vengeance and little education but a country where a stable government is still a delusion, a country where Army has taken over the government time and again doesn’t stand a chance to win people’s trust to fully operate in one direction.

How is Sri Lanka doing fighting the LTTE for last 2 decades? Sri Lankan PM says we are done with them and they have surrendered but UN says otherwise. Government says there are no civilians left in the war zone but UN says otherwise. Who does one believe? I am sure Tamil community protesting on the street on Toronto is listening to UN only. What a hue and cry by them here in Canada. Countries next to Sri Lanka haven’t sent their troops to help Lankan government, how do they expect Canada to take action when 90% of their Army is already based in Afghanistan. Army in Canada is still a concept! Moreover, what are these protests going to achieve? When you were leaving your country for a better life in Canada, you must have left for precisely the same reasons that are occurring now. So many people die of malnutrition there, why aren’t they asking Canada to send food aid for them? Of course bullet death is loud. And why disrupt the lifestyle of the people of the country where you are earning a livelihood? I completely understand the motive behind the protests and my heart goes to all the Sri Lankans. Sri Lanka is a wonderful place and has some extremely hospitable people and my heart goes out to such a fantastic community for facing a horrible war. I hope it finds peace soon.

Now even Nepal has seen violence in recent past. Gosh, what to say about that. China is probably waiting to take over that land. Bangladesh too had some horrific times with so many deaths of civil service men just for a better salary of Border Guards. Sounds very suspicious as scores of dead bodies were found after just two days of agitation.

Back home in India, Congress is back in power. I couldn’t be happier as it’s probably the only government that can take India into right direction without separating several different communities. Another kind of terrorist attack is inevitable but timing of it is unknown.

Departures

2009-05-07T18:23:00.000-07:00

My first write up after almost 3 months... Since I enjoy writing, it hurts me when work keeps me away from one of my favourite past-time. Even reading has taken a hit.. Seriously I don’t like myself right now... but nevertheless; there is lot of activity in life otherwise. Lot of new things happening - a new condo, Piano and a new friend...

While I write, I am watching my current favourite show – Departures. A very distinct travel show done by 2 Canadian boys. Just two backpackers going around the world and exploring the ethos of different countries. Wow, what a job! Travel everywhere and get paid for it. Am I jealous? May be a little I guess. I would leave my job any day to travel around the world and experience the thrill of meeting variety of people. That’s life. Money is almost dictating my life... not good :(

So these guys are in Chile today. What an exquisite landscape! The place almost feels as if it’s the microorganism of the world. Everything just starts and ends here... only if I could take 2 months off now and just travel. May be I will. So many thoughts doing the rounds now :)

And the show has ended now. They finish it with the quote – spend your life experiencing different things rather than collecting them. After all, when you are about to die, you are going to regret what you didn’t do. So taking a leaf out this book, I am going to fly again this summer. Go for parasailing after the sky dive adventure. Scuba dive???? may be... water scares me.

News around the world is sad, as usual. Recession, bombings, killings, protests etc. Don’t feel like venting my anger on anything today. Lot of other things bother me too but what can I do. As a famous Urdu poet once wrote:

No one ever gets the entire universe Somewhere the earth and somewhere the sky is missing

Whoever you see is lost in their own sorrow They have thoughts to share but no companion to listen

Who is able to douse the embers of time This is a fire that has no smoke

It's not like there's no love in your life (universe) Where you hope for it you won't find it there

Useless UN

2009-01-14T21:40:00.000-08:00

Israel's offense on Gaza strip enters its 20th day. No solution seems possible at this stage. In Israel's defence, the country says hamas started it all by firing rockets into southern Israel. Hamas says it did it because Israel imposed economic blockade on gaza and its citizens were suffering because of that. More blah blah from both sides and eventually nothing concrete comes out. Israel is even throwing chemical bombs now and defending the act. It's apparently within the laws of international court of justice. They might as well throw some nuclear bomb and consider it as an act of defense. In the fight for hegemony in the region, human life has lost its value. All Jews will support Israel and muslims Palestine no matter which country they belong. Osama has called for Jehad on Israel. This ugly blame game will never end in the name of religion. I don't know which side is wrong but I know it's the survival of the fittest. Stronger you are, more support you have and more damage you will cause to your opposotion.

Coming to UN after saying all this, I feel the organization should only focus on doing volunteer work. Ban ki moon has probably come on TV 100 times in last 20 days in support for ceasfire on this whole issue but has anything happened so far? They keep signing papers and sending humanitarian aid to Gaza but pounding from Israel hasn't stopped. Where are all the economic sanctions they can impose on Israel to stop them? Where is the world community's consensus on this whole issue that UN always delivers? Who will actually put economic, diplomatic or any other blockade on Israel?? Answer is No One... Israel is a strong nation and no one will stop them unless another set of thousands die and they are morally obligated to end it. US supports the attacks so UN can't do anything even if they want. It's simply a useless world organization that has no credibility. History will tell you UN's intervention has done nothing for the long lasting disputes.

Tour Diary - Indian Winter

2009-01-03T03:17:00.001-08:00

Never have I ever experienced an Indian winter where weather condition dominates news channels? Living in Canada one gets used to hearing weather news all the time but in India it’s almost trivial. It does get some space in daily news but not to the extent where it almost overshadows news related to bombings, army fighting militants and many more grave situations that plague the nation. Foggy conditions throughout the day, dew in the night and low temperatures have really slowed down everything here. People are advised to stay indoors unless it’s really urgent. Hmm… I wonder how it is different from a Canadian winter???

I still haven’t seen real sunshine for over a week that I have been here. Tea is basically order of the day and along with it number of appetizers to die for - Samosas, Laddoos, Home-made sweets and many other finger licking delicious items. Laden they may be with Oil, Butter, Lard and so much more, one cannot avoid them. I have no worries of putting on weight J. They are apparently served with my mother’s love and affection so I enjoy it even more. I always seem to be losing weight for her so she doesn’t mind stuffing all that in my mouth at once. If that’s not enough, you have various other spicy and eclectic dishes that are just as spectacular as others. Just like Indian folk music they bring a feeling of serenity after you consume them. Eating all that on the rooftop in the company of sunshine would have topped everything but I guess I will have to wait a bit more for that.

Despite the bad weather this year, the visit so far is quite relaxing and enduring. I don’t feel I ever left this place and Guelph flashes in front me as a place I visited on a small visit to Canada. But I am like that – once I go to a place, I forget about other places although India is something different and I never seem to get over it. You are so drawn and sucked into its myriad traditions that it’s hard to come out of it. I met an elderly Australian couple on my flight to New Delhi this time and their enthusiasm for the country was unbelievable despite recent bombings in Mumbai. it was their second visit to the country in 2 successive years and this time they are exploring different parts of the country and spending almost a month doing so. They plan to come again next year as they know there is so much else to see.

I just hope I soon get time to trek in Himalayas and go on highest altitude possible. And yes, journey will have to be only on a Motorbike (my love).

Trip to Singapore

2008-12-29T20:53:00.000-08:00

Just came to India after spending a few days in Singapore. A very cosmopolitan place indeed. Almost like a western city based in Asia with hoards of restaurants offering cuisines from all over the world. I enjoyed food more than anything else. Seafood especially was incredibly scrumptious with wide variety. It's a city almost made for tourists - one cannot be dissapointed with their facilities. Foods from all over the world, impeccable public transport system, inexpensive cab rides, swanky hotels, exceptionally good looking gardens and parks, umpteen massage places at every corner and beautiful beaches. Humidity is almost unbearable so I can rule out living there :) A society very much looking to ape western culture so not much local culture there. City is so green sometimes you feel as if you are in a park only even though you are on a main street. A good outing overall. I also got to meet some very good friends from University which was even more satisfying.

Slumdog Millionaire

2008-12-14T17:54:00.000-08:00

Just saw this year's golden globe nominations and Slumdog millionaire got 4 cruical nominations. Danny Boyle's this feature is my this year's favorite. A boy growing up in slums of Mumbai becomes a millionaire through a reality show - how does he do it against all odds? That's the beauty of the movie. It captures 2 Indias - One that's developing at rapid pace and the other which is still in dark and abject poverty. A love angle, fabulous music and some great locations make the whole movie a treat to watch.

The essence of movie lies in it's unique story telling which somehow captures the current state of India. A country with over billion people still stuggles to provide basic necessities to millions but has all the money and brains to build satellites to send to moon. A country where many people in rural areas still plough lands using cows and bulls has some of world's best IT schools. This is the same country where over 80% of the population doesn't speak english but has largest network of call centers catering to english speaking population of the western world. A country where illiteracy rate is over 50% but has over 1000 different newspapers (in over 30 different languages) circulating all across the nation.

Almost synonymous with the term bollywood, the country now needs to live up to its fun and frolic image. Long gone are the days of yogis and Gandhi. The present country is capable of exporting much more than just spiritual thoughts. It's the time of TATAs and Mittals to show the might of Indian enterpreneurship at world stage. A flawed democracy it may be, but it has all the channels in place for people to raise their voices for better equity. With over hundred news media channels and some thousand (or many more) entertainment channels, people are well connected to the world.

This is exactly what slumdog millionaire captures and that makes it a delightful watch.

Economic Imperialism II

2008-12-05T18:41:00.000-08:00

Some more light on Economic Imperialism or as many say - Neocolonialism.

In World war II, Germans tried to steal natural resources from neighbouring countries and now US does it very subtly through their financial power. They patent seeds, genes and medicines and then applying pressure on countries to cut their productivity through the application of intellectual property law.

World Bank and IMF - America's Puppets - make life hell for poor countries. They make predatory loans to desperate countries knowing fully they cannot pay back.

Jamaica, in 1990s, going through one of their worst crisis, was loaned money by IMF to overcome their money supply crisis but in return they were forced to import American food products. Flour, Bananas, Milk and all kinds of products that Jamaica had in abundance already were pouring in from US. What did it do? Thousands lost employment and more depression in the country. Interest rates were so high on the loan, the island crumbled in loan which took the country into deeper recession. Today, the contribution of agriculture to the national economy has fallen significantly. In 2007 it was 5.3 per cent, compared to 8.5 per cent in 1980. Deteriorating economic conditions led to recurrent violence as rival gangs affiliated with the major political parties evolved into powerful organized crime networks involved in international drug smuggling and money laundering.

WTO threatens to impose trade sanctions on Asian countries if they tried to ban cigarrete advertising. Today, more than a third of Chinese men are addicted to cigarrete generating billions in annual profits for Big Tobacco companies who are right now producing more Chinese casualties than any war in China's long history.

Movies like Blood Diamond, The constant Gardner and many more expose western countries' economic pressures on African countries. Just to import their medicines which are of substandard quality, they kill thounsands but make their millions. Similarly, kids are exposed to find diamonds in the mines that are precariously dangerous. Kids grow up in the shadow of guns and bombs. See these movies to get taste of brutality inflicted on these poor nations.

There are many more instances but this should give you a good glimpse of how trade sanctions can turn everything upside down. The whole process filters down to bigger problems such as drug trafficing, gang violence and terrorism.

Feel free to share your thoughts!

Economic Imperialism

2008-12-03T17:10:00.000-08:00

My first Blog comes just after the deadly strikes that stunned Mumbai. I wish I had started my blog on a happy note but alas, it's not the case. How does one define a cowardly attack that took place in the heart of India? All of us will condemn this act, go out light candles, protest against goverments through various channels, send mass emails for unity and discuss with friends and family how disgusted we feel about all this. In a few days, we will all forget about this and wait for another attack to be instituted by some extremists and then say everything all over again. There is nothing that can describe the anguish, grief and pathos of people who lose their dear ones in these attacks. It's a tough pill to swallow and the real pain is only known to those ones.

What will stop these attacks? Tight security? Bombing terrorists sites where more innocents die than actual terrorists? Negotiations? The real question is - what satisfies terrorists? How does one counter that insatiable hunger for killing humans that stand against the people of their sect? The terrorists are human too but their thoughts are not. As quoted by Buddha, "All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think we become". Now how does one change their mind? I don't know that but what we can do is stop the access of arms to them.

Terrorists can't fight without fancy guns, RDX, bombs and sophisticated gadgets. Who provides them with these invaluable instruments? Where is all that money coming from? Who is that person or a group that's funding these terrorists? That's the real question. One needs to go after these culprits hiding behind the shadow of their fake righteous path. Who are these people then? My guess is as good as yours.

World economy in true sense is orchestrated by a few large players. Rest of the world just accepts their decisions. Small and developing economies are heavily dependant on the major economies. Common man in these smaller economies suffers from ridiculous one sided trade agreements. We will only come invest in your country or lend you money if you import our stuff without any tarrifs, if your exports are cheaper than world prices, if you import stuff that you don't even need, if you export stuff that's scarce in the world and if you give us a piece of your land to occupy for our army base. What happens to the common man? Many lose jobs and are forced to venture into ideas that were never explored before. One of them - vandalising. Which leads to more anger after government oppresses them. Then? More violence, Jails, creating gangs within communities to fight and eventually leading to extreme options such a terrorism. Of course, religion is other reason but root cause there too is of the similar nature. Will write on that soon.

Major economies need to keep a balance with developing nations. There are number of instances where smaller economies suffered after their trade agreements in the name of free world. I will post a few cases in my next blog. For now, let's hear your views.