Finally I managed to watch a full Pakistani movie. I had high expectations from the movie after the euphoria it generated in Pakistan.
Yes! I'm talking about Pakistan's latest blockbuster 'Khuda Ke Liye.' The movie tackles the sensitive issue of ordinary, moderate Muslims who are caught in the cross-fire of religious extremists and the West's crackdown on Muslims post 9/11. Unfortunately, I never heard of Shoib Mansoor (another indication of my ignorance of world affairs) before the release of this movie. His direction was almost flawless and his characters so very real. The movie was written by him, which shows the passion for his work. One dialagoue from the movie stayed with me, "Andar aag lagao bahar khud ba khud ayegi, warna yahi hoga ki log haram ki kamaiyee jeb me daale halal ghost ki dukan dhoondte phir rahe honge." It's a sad but true state of affairs today.
The entire star-cast gave their (he)art and soul to the movie. Shan is a star material for any industry. His understated but brilliant performance matches the equally powerfull portrayal of a Taliban style Maulana Tahiri by Rasheed Naz. Iman Ali and others stood out in their characters. The soundtrack of the movie carries the essence of the movie. Whoever gave the azan in this movie has a heavenly voice.
If you haven't watch this movie, please do. It's in the same league as our very own, "Rang De Basqanti."
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Back with more Books
As Arnie said it, "I'm back!" The only difference being it's books and not bombs.
For a change I read a hindi novel, "Adhoora Khawab," by an Indian criminal Babloo Shrivastava. He wrote the novel from his prison. I was pretty curious to know how the mafia work in India, and this novel tells exactly that. It's basically a series of kidnappings, internal disputes within gangs, criminals-police-politicians nexus, big bad corporate world, and the hunger for money all rolled into one.
I would recommend the book, only, if you are as curious as I was about the underworld!
The second novel was long on my to-read list. It's called aptly, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." The novel by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid revolves around the life of a Muslim youth in US and how the 9/11 attacks changed everything. I was particularly impressed by Hamid's style of story telling. The language is simple but the thoughts deep.
The book transcends regional boundaries. I'm sure you too will indulge in self-introspection if you care to read!
For a change I read a hindi novel, "Adhoora Khawab," by an Indian criminal Babloo Shrivastava. He wrote the novel from his prison. I was pretty curious to know how the mafia work in India, and this novel tells exactly that. It's basically a series of kidnappings, internal disputes within gangs, criminals-police-politicians nexus, big bad corporate world, and the hunger for money all rolled into one.
I would recommend the book, only, if you are as curious as I was about the underworld!
The second novel was long on my to-read list. It's called aptly, "The Reluctant Fundamentalist." The novel by Pakistani writer Mohsin Hamid revolves around the life of a Muslim youth in US and how the 9/11 attacks changed everything. I was particularly impressed by Hamid's style of story telling. The language is simple but the thoughts deep.
The book transcends regional boundaries. I'm sure you too will indulge in self-introspection if you care to read!
Friday, October 12, 2007
An Eid without my A.N. Singh Uncle
It was 1979. Due to family reasons my father got a job transfer from Allahabad to Lucknow. I was a small kid then. All my dad’s friends were in Allahabad, so it must have been a hard decision for him to make.
For me and my younger brother, Lucknow was certainly more fun. And why not, many of our cousins lived there. Actually my mom came from the same city.
I think it was after a couple of years when A.N. Singh uncle first visited our place. He was a fairly tall, dark complexioned man with a good physique. For us he was the familiar 'thakur' on screen in our drawing room. From the very first meeting, uncle struck a bond with the entire family. He was full of humour and good manners.
Over the years dad and uncle became the best of friends. I can’t forget the sight of the two of them riding together on uncle’s Bajaj Priya, and later on my dad’s Bajaj Chetak. Both of them were in the Meter Inspection department of the Lucknow Electricity Supply Undertaking (LESU). During the area inspections they were mostly together.
For us uncle became all the more special during Eid. I don’t think he ever missed either of the two Eids (Eid-al-Azha and Eid-al-Fitr). Even during the heightened tension in the aftermath of Babri Masjid episode, his scooter found the way to our home. Such was our bond! We used to wait for our ‘eidi,’ and it was a relatively good figure.
Uncle was very fond of ’siwain’ (sweetend vermicelli) and the kababs. He was pretty vocal about it. No amount was more for him. Sometimes he used to surprise me by praising even a mediocre preparation. I guess that’s why his share of goodies was always reserved for him.
Uncle retired from service during the late nineties, a few years after dad’s retirement. This was a little surprising as he was elder to dad by a few years. In fact, my father used to openly joke about this with uncle.
The last time I met uncle was in 2006 before coming to Dubai. Age did catch up with him, unlike dad who was fine till his heart operation, but his spirits were as high as ever. He told me, “Jaha bhi jaiyye apne maa-baap ka naam raushan kariyega, abidi saheb (my dad) ko bhi 1-2 mahine ke liye apne saath le jaiyega. [Trans: Wherever you go make your parents proud, and take your dad as well for a couple of months].”
Unfortunately, I was in Dubai when Singh uncle last visited our home in Lucknow during Eid. The same year I left India, uncle passed away sometime during late night due to a heart attack. I got the painful news on phone. It was not just my father who felt the loss of a dear friend; my family lost a great human being that day.
And as we start to prepare for the coming Eid, it’s a mixed feeling. Everything will be the same again, just that there won’t be a tall, dark, lively man who absolutely adored the 'siwain' prepared by my mom. Only his words of wisdom will try and fill in the vacuum.
May his soul rest in peace!
For me and my younger brother, Lucknow was certainly more fun. And why not, many of our cousins lived there. Actually my mom came from the same city.
I think it was after a couple of years when A.N. Singh uncle first visited our place. He was a fairly tall, dark complexioned man with a good physique. For us he was the familiar 'thakur' on screen in our drawing room. From the very first meeting, uncle struck a bond with the entire family. He was full of humour and good manners.
Over the years dad and uncle became the best of friends. I can’t forget the sight of the two of them riding together on uncle’s Bajaj Priya, and later on my dad’s Bajaj Chetak. Both of them were in the Meter Inspection department of the Lucknow Electricity Supply Undertaking (LESU). During the area inspections they were mostly together.
For us uncle became all the more special during Eid. I don’t think he ever missed either of the two Eids (Eid-al-Azha and Eid-al-Fitr). Even during the heightened tension in the aftermath of Babri Masjid episode, his scooter found the way to our home. Such was our bond! We used to wait for our ‘eidi,’ and it was a relatively good figure.
Uncle was very fond of ’siwain’ (sweetend vermicelli) and the kababs. He was pretty vocal about it. No amount was more for him. Sometimes he used to surprise me by praising even a mediocre preparation. I guess that’s why his share of goodies was always reserved for him.
Uncle retired from service during the late nineties, a few years after dad’s retirement. This was a little surprising as he was elder to dad by a few years. In fact, my father used to openly joke about this with uncle.
The last time I met uncle was in 2006 before coming to Dubai. Age did catch up with him, unlike dad who was fine till his heart operation, but his spirits were as high as ever. He told me, “Jaha bhi jaiyye apne maa-baap ka naam raushan kariyega, abidi saheb (my dad) ko bhi 1-2 mahine ke liye apne saath le jaiyega. [Trans: Wherever you go make your parents proud, and take your dad as well for a couple of months].”
Unfortunately, I was in Dubai when Singh uncle last visited our home in Lucknow during Eid. The same year I left India, uncle passed away sometime during late night due to a heart attack. I got the painful news on phone. It was not just my father who felt the loss of a dear friend; my family lost a great human being that day.
And as we start to prepare for the coming Eid, it’s a mixed feeling. Everything will be the same again, just that there won’t be a tall, dark, lively man who absolutely adored the 'siwain' prepared by my mom. Only his words of wisdom will try and fill in the vacuum.
May his soul rest in peace!
Saturday, October 06, 2007
Why Celebrate only ‘The Mahatma?’
Few days back on the occassion of Gandhi Jayanti a friend of mine wrote this on a forum:
And so the article goes on…
I’ve several reservations against my friend Manoj and all those who share this view. Mahatma is the sanskrit for “Great Soul.” I’m sure, based on his humble life and principles, most will agree that Gandhiji was really a great soul.
The reason why I admire his views on non-violence is because of the background they stemmed from. When in South Africa Gandhiji faced the discrimination commonly directed at blacks and Indians. One day in court at Durban, the magistrate asked him to remove his turban. Gandhiji refused and stormed out of the courtroom. He was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg, after refusing to move from the first class to a third class coach while holding a valid first class ticket. Traveling further on by stagecoach, he was beaten by a driver for refusing to travel on the foot board to make room for a European passenger. He suffered other hardships on the journey as well, including being barred from many hotels. Now consider his slogan of “ahmisa” inspite of being the target of violence so many times, and that too at a young age (less than 30).
If being physically weak is the criteria for a violent or non-violent approach then, like so many others, Savarkar was no strong man — he chose the other path. It’s all in the will and not the body structure!
As far his stand on the partition is concerned, he was never in favour of it. So much that on the day of independence he was alone in Calcutta, mourning the partition and working to end the violence. After India’s independence, Gandhiji focused on Hindu–Muslim peace and unity. In fact it was his insistence which forced the Indian Government to pay Pakistan the Rs. 55 crores due as per agreements made by the Partition Council.
Few also highlight the fact that he never won a Nobel prize inspite of being nominated 5 times. This excerpt taken from an article on nobelprize.org explains to an extent why he never won.
To sum it up, Gandhiji was as much a freedom fighter as Bhagat Singh or Rajguru or so many others were. It’s just he was all alone in his quest as a non-violence preacher, others took the opposite means. I respect them all! Maybe it’s gandhiji’s involvement, right from the freedom struggle till the eventual independence, which gives him a little more focus. Whatever be the reason, to me he’s every inch the ‘Father of the Nation.’ And so we celebrate “Gandhi Jayanti!”
I wonder, was this the only guy who got us free from the british rule ? why not we celebrate the birthday of BAHADUR SHASHTRI ,on same scale & with same happiness, whose date of birth was also the same as of MR GHANDHI ?
The reason i see is obivious ,MR GHANDHI was clever enough to make his image as MAHATMA! AND BE AWARE OF THESE SO CALLED MAHATMAS I SAY!My personal belief is that all the mahatmas of india envisage such lofty ideals that a commoner can not rise up to them. It can immensely impress but can not be practisedinto action & the net result of it has been that a very few person did rise but the country and people have become worse than the worst.”
Further….
“The reality is he was a perfect politician but for sure not THE MAHATMA as people used to think. To keep himself in good books he won the heart of the majority of india THE HINDUS…………..He was never in favour of hindu muslim bonding but as a being a good politician he definately showed it .if he was really interested in doing the bonding the hindu & muslims ………….there would be no Pakistan in today’s date . I would like to remind you the last hunger strike of him in calcutta before partition jahan unhone kaha ki ‘ jab tak yah maar kaat band nahin hogi mien yeh hartal nahin todonga ‘…………and like always nobody was in favour of killing this guy for anything and like always unki baatein maan li gayin aur paida hua PAKISTAN.
I am ready to accept him as a good politician but never a man of good marality possesing the great qualities of a mahatma.”
And that non-violence was the only solution for his as he was physically a weak man.
And so the article goes on…
I’ve several reservations against my friend Manoj and all those who share this view. Mahatma is the sanskrit for “Great Soul.” I’m sure, based on his humble life and principles, most will agree that Gandhiji was really a great soul.
The reason why I admire his views on non-violence is because of the background they stemmed from. When in South Africa Gandhiji faced the discrimination commonly directed at blacks and Indians. One day in court at Durban, the magistrate asked him to remove his turban. Gandhiji refused and stormed out of the courtroom. He was thrown off a train at Pietermaritzburg, after refusing to move from the first class to a third class coach while holding a valid first class ticket. Traveling further on by stagecoach, he was beaten by a driver for refusing to travel on the foot board to make room for a European passenger. He suffered other hardships on the journey as well, including being barred from many hotels. Now consider his slogan of “ahmisa” inspite of being the target of violence so many times, and that too at a young age (less than 30).
If being physically weak is the criteria for a violent or non-violent approach then, like so many others, Savarkar was no strong man — he chose the other path. It’s all in the will and not the body structure!
As far his stand on the partition is concerned, he was never in favour of it. So much that on the day of independence he was alone in Calcutta, mourning the partition and working to end the violence. After India’s independence, Gandhiji focused on Hindu–Muslim peace and unity. In fact it was his insistence which forced the Indian Government to pay Pakistan the Rs. 55 crores due as per agreements made by the Partition Council.
Few also highlight the fact that he never won a Nobel prize inspite of being nominated 5 times. This excerpt taken from an article on nobelprize.org explains to an extent why he never won.
“Why Was Gandhi Never Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
Up to 1960, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded almost exclusively to Europeans and Americans. In retrospect, the horizon of the Norwegian Nobel Committee may seem too narrow. Gandhi was very different from earlier Laureates. He was no real politician or proponent of international law, not primarily a humanitarian relief worker and not an organiser of international peace congresses. He would have belonged to a new breed of Laureates.
There is no hint in the archives that the Norwegian Nobel Committee ever took into consideration the possibility of an adverse British reaction to an award to Gandhi. Thus it seems that the hypothesis that the Committee’s omission of Gandhi was due to its members’ not wanting to provoke British authorities, may be rejected.
In 1947 the conflict between India and Pakistan and Gandhi’s prayer-meeting statement, which made people wonder whether he was about to abandon his consistent pacifism, seem to have been the primary reasons why he was not selected by the committee’s majority. Unlike the situation today, there was no tradition for the Norwegian Nobel Committee to try to use the Peace Prize as a stimulus for peaceful settlement of regional conflicts.
During the last months of his life, Gandhi worked hard to end the violence between Hindus and Muslims which followed the partition of India. We know little about the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s discussions on Gandhi’s candidature in 1948 – other than the above quoted entry of November 18 in Gunnar Jahn’s diary – but it seems clear that they seriously considered a posthumous award. When the committee, for formal reasons, ended up not making such an award, they decided to reserve the prize, and then, one year later, not to spend the prize money for 1948 at all. What many thought should have been Mahatma Gandhi’s place on the list of Laureates was silently but respectfully left open.”
To sum it up, Gandhiji was as much a freedom fighter as Bhagat Singh or Rajguru or so many others were. It’s just he was all alone in his quest as a non-violence preacher, others took the opposite means. I respect them all! Maybe it’s gandhiji’s involvement, right from the freedom struggle till the eventual independence, which gives him a little more focus. Whatever be the reason, to me he’s every inch the ‘Father of the Nation.’ And so we celebrate “Gandhi Jayanti!”
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