The Crust of Life

It is one thing to aspire for something and its entirely another thing to achieve it. Even though I am a left-leaning liberal, I admire Narendra Modi for having the ability to achieve what he aspires for. He has created such a cult like following that he is considered to be no less than a super-human. Forget about criticizing him, even if you term his achievements as ordinary or less than ordinary, you will invite wrath from die-hard Modi-fans. And, never even try to highlight achievements of his opponents. If anybody can turn a Modi-fan away from Modi, is Modi himself! On one hand I admire him as an able leader and on the other hand I dread his far-right ideology of authoritarianism. Whether I like it or not, the perception that he has created for himself (which is reaping benefits for his party), he will be in Delhi for a long long time. As an authoritarian, his first agenda will be to systematically weed out any challenger within or outside his party. He has smart...

There are three basic political ideologies. Conservatism, Liberalism and Socialism/Communism. Since independence, Indian politics is centered around liberal ideology - Sometimes leaning towards Conservatism and sometimes towards Socialism/Communism, but predominantly on Liberal lines. 2014 is bringing in an ideological shift in Indian politics. It seems to be moving right towards Conservative ideology. Farther right to this would take us to Anarchy. This will certainly make the Liberals lean heavily towards left to keep the balance. If they move too far towards left, it would take us to Anarchist Communism. Over a period of time, Indian politics will become bi-polar like in the west, Conservative and Liberal. What will be the impact on citizens? Economy, human resource development, environment, law and order and social harmony are defined by the dominant political ideology. Since we are witnessing a shift, initially there will be a degree of resistance to change. If resistance i...

Whenever 2002 Gujarat riots are spoken about, 1984 riots are used as counter arguments. Whenever 1992 riots are spoken about, 1984 riots are used as counter arguments. When 1984 riots are spoken about, 1992 and 2002 riots are used as the counter arguments. Please allow me to take the hue out of these incidences and present to you a black and white picture to clarify what my stand is. If you agree with this stand, I urge you to share this view. In 1984, a leader of a political party was assassinated. After her assassination, people who sympathized with that political party and leader incited their Indian supporters to kill Indians to avenge the death of their leader. They used the emotion of an average Indian to inflict mayhem on their fellow Indians. In the process, thousands of Indians were killed and hundreds of thousands of Indians were rendered homeless. In 1992, a political party and another group of Indians, incited large part of Indians to demolish a 40...

Who is worthy of my vote? This question was troubling me since last many months. I was not satisfied with my own answers to this question. But, today, at B.PAC organized meet with the candidates clarified many things and I could come up with one definite answer that I was satisfied with. After a series of scams that rocked the UPA-II, I was feeling quite lost for an answer. Then came assembly elections and AAP won 26 seats in Delhi. I saw a ray of hope. I started liking AAP. However, my happiness was short-lived. AAP could not provide a model of governance which was self-sustaining and long lasting. There was no diplomacy or polity in their approach. AAP came across as a confrontationist party to me. I was back to square one with the question. I started seriously considering BJP for my vote. Somehow, I did not feel it right to vote for just any BJP candidate just because Narendra Modi, who has provided stable governance in Gujarat for last 12 years, was at the helms....

सूरज की गर्मी और बादल की नरमी एक कली को फूल बना देती है दुनिया के फासले और दिल की मोहब्बत हर रिश्ते को मुक़म्मल बना देते है मेहनत और मशक्क़त के ज़ख्म कामयाबी के मरहम से भर जाते है ज़िन्दगी का हर एक लम्हा ज़िन्दगी का एहसास दिलाता है ग़म से मायूस न हो मुस्तन ग़म ही ख़ुशी का ज़रिया बन जाता है

"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." - Oscar Wilde Such a simple quote that sets you free from the shackles of "have to be" and you start floating freely and aimlessly in celebration of this freedom "to be". Celebration, as usual, lasts only for a few moments that make you happy and cheerful - make you forget the pain that you had to go through number of times to earn this moment of celebration. In this moment, everything is forgotten and everyone is forgiven. Sadly, this moment is also destined to the confines of good, cherishable  memories. Memories are deceptive. Moments that you really want to forget crop up every now and then and make you cringe. Hastily you try to shrug it off by getting busy in doing something that you did not plan to do. Somehow those painful memories cry out louder to get your attention. Once it succeeds in getting your attention, it curses you for causing such memories! How thankless these memories can be! You ...

In 2003, Rotary Club of Bangalore, the premier Rotary Club in Rotary International  District 3190, decided to recognize excellence in the vibrant voluntary sector of the city  – to identify and honour organizations working for the community - and give an annual ROTARY SERVICE AWARD. As the voluntary sector is very large – over 2000 NGOs in Karnataka and 1000 in Bangalore – they select one group or activity each year for recognition. Rotary Club of Bangalore, recognizes eminent people and organizations in many areas, annually. The club give the Corporate Citizenship Award to a company who achieves social responsibilities with excellence, the Citizen Extraordinaire Award to true leaders in Bangalore, and the Vocational Service Award to people working in services like the BBMP or State Transport, or in an NGO. Equally, they recognize young persons for their scientific inventions, debating and quizzing. For this year we invite appli...

हर वक़्त निगाहें टिकी रहती है आसमान पर काश वोह आसमान मेरे पिंजरे में आ जाए हर वक़्त खोया रहता हूँ वोह बचपन की यादों में काश वोह खुशहाल  बचपन वापस मेरी ज़िन्दगीमें आ जाए हर वक़्त सर रखता हूँ मरहूम तेरी कबर पर काश तेरे बेजान जिस्म में वापस जान आ जाए क्यूँ नहीं? आखिर सूरज और चाँद ने भी तो मनमानी की है! उसने भी तो आसमान से अपनी दीवार और छत बनाई है! क्यूँ नहीं? बारिश की वोह बूँद ने भी तो सूरज की किरण को चूमकर बादलको गले लगाया है! क्यूँ नहीं? सूरज भी तो सारी रात रूठकर सुबह मुस्कुराता हुआ वापस आता है? क्यूँ नहीं? केहते है मांगो तो खुदा भी मिल जाता है तो फिर मरहूम की जान कौनसी बड़ी बात है? - Musten Jiruwala

Muharram is the first month of Islamic Hijri Calendar. Today is 2nd of Muharram of Hijri year 1433. Muharram is one of the most significant month for Shia Muslims because it marks the martyrdom of Husain Ibn Ali (A.S), grandson of Prophet Mohammed (SAW). During this month there are special congregations for the first 10 days where the life and time of Husain Ibn Ali (A.S.) and his family is narrated. Let me limit this note to Muharram for Dawoodi Bohra community of which I am a member. For Dawoodi Bohra community, who are followers of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), month of Muharram is very significant. People of the community would travel long distances to listen to the sermons by Syedna (TUS). This year, Syedna(TUS) is presiding the congregation in the city of Mumbai (India) and people from all over the world are pouring in there. Resident Bohras of Mumbai would make comfortable arrangements for stay and food for people coming from outside of Mumbai. Apart from...

Eid-ul-Adha is the festival in Islam that marks the end of annual Hajj pilgrimage. The ritual of sacrificing an animal is in fact an irony of this festival! This ritual has its roots in an event that supposedly took place 4000 years ago. Prophet Abraham was asked by God to sacrifice something that is most dear to him. For Abraham, his son Ismael was most dearest since after several decades of yearning and prayers he was blessed with his son Ismael. So, he chose to sacrifice Ismael. Ismael, as an obedient son, consented to his father's wish and willingly chose to give up his life. God, supposedly pleased with this devotion, spared Ismael's life and happily accepted sacrifice of a lamb instead. The spirit is that the believer must give up something that is dear to him/her for the needy (personifying God). The spirit also highlights the willingness and obedience of a son in fulfilling his father's wish. In today's material world it is very much appl...

किसीके सामने बड़ा, तो किसीके सामने छोटा किसीके सामने दुबला, तो किसीके सामने मोटा किसीके सामने लम्बा, तो किसीके सामने नाटा किसीके सामने अच्छा, तो किसीके सामने बुरा तरस गया हूँ में अपनी असली सूरत के लिए ढूंढ रहा हूँ वोह आइना जो दिखा दे मेरी असली सूरत मुझे जब कभी भी आईने पर डाली रौशनी और धुंधला गयी सूरत मेरी गुस्से से तोड़ दिया वोह आइना चकना चूर हो गयी सूरत मेरी तनहा महसूस कर रहा था कोस रहा था हर आईने को अचानक दिल की गहराई से जानी पेहचानी सी आवाज़ आई 'बेवक़ूफ़, गर देखनी है तुझे  असली सूरत तेरी डाल रौशनी अपने आप पर तू क्यूँ बेवजह कोस रहा है आईने को? हर किसीका भी तो आइना है तू! गर देखनी है तुझे  असली सूरत तेरी ठीक कर पहले सीरत को तेरी दिखा साफ़ सूरत सबकी सबको तब देख पायेगा तू  असली सूरत तेरी' - Musten Jiruwala

Vijaya Dashmi or Dashara marks a milestone in one's life by celebrating victory of Good over Evil. I am sad that I don't have anything to celebrate for since I have not attained any victory over evil. Lord Rama is known as Maryada Purushottam, (The Greatest Man of Self-Control and Patience) owing to his victory over Ravana, the ten-headed rakshasha (devil) who personified ten evils - Krodh (anger), Ahankar (ego), Irshia (jealousy), Vaasana (lust), Lobh (greed), Moh (attachment), Ahamm (pride), Manas (mind), Ichchha (will) and Matsara (intellect). This festival reminds us of these evils present in our life and Lord Rama inspires us to fight these evils in a way depicted in Ramayana. When we defeat these evils in our own person, what will emerge is Rama-Rajya. As I look at myself, I am governed by many of these evils big time. This Vijaya Dashmi has inspired me to think, introspect and work towards defeating these evils in coming year so that I can also cel...

जब कल नहीं था , पछतावा भी नहीं था जब कल नहीं था , कोई उम्मीद भी नहीं थी जब कल नहीं था , कोई मायूसी भी नहीं थी जब कल नहीं था , कोई ख्वाइश भी नहीं थी जब कल नहीं था , कोई तड़प भी नहीं थी जब कल नहीं था , कोई फखर भी नहीं था जब कल नहीं था , कोई गुस्सा भी नहीं था जब कल नहीं था , कोई अफ़सोस भी नहीं था जब कल नहीं था , बहुत मोहब्बत थी जब कल नहीं था , बहुत ख़ुशी थी जब कल नहीं था , बहुत सुकून था अफ़सोस की आज " कल " है इस लिए मोहब्बत की शदीद ख्वाइश है ख़ुशी के लिए दिल तड़प रहा है सुकून की तो सिर्फ उम्मीद ही है आज " कल " में जैसे की खो गया है - मुस्तन जिरुवाला

In the beginning of the universe, I was one. There was no one to call me names There was no one to classify me as male or female There was no one to label me as Hindu or Muslim Nobody was there to make me rich or poor Nobody. None. Just me. I yearned for someone to talk to me I yearned for someone to acknowledge me I yearned for someone to notice me So, I decided to divide me. Again and again. More and more I divided me, yearning multiplied Now, I am no one. I am Yearning. - Musten Jiruwala

I am Body caught between the tug of war of Mind and Soul Mind has concerns Soul has desires I have feelings Who cares? I want to feel happy and peaceful Help me! I plead with my mind and the soul Mind thinks and says "first handle my concerns" I turn to the soul with the hope in my eyes Soul chirps "all you have to do is fulfill my desires!" I buckle under the weight of concerns and desires I become numb I let it go let it all just go I stop listening to the mind I become deaf to the soul they shout yell threaten I remain numb silent devoid of life after a while there is a deafening silence no shouting of the mind no chirping of the soul all there is is just a void. Nothingness. I start to like this state tentatively I dare to smile a little I start to feel the life again I start to feel the strength within And a realization dawns onto me Despite a million concerns of the mind Despite countless unfulfilled desires of the soul I can choose to feel happy and peaceful...

I am Body caught between the tug of war of Mind and Soul I am a slave to these two masters of finicky nature who should I listen to? The mind? or the soul? Mind is clever has memories of past and visions of future Soul is naive has no sense of time or place Mind has many tricks to save me when I am down tricks like lie, cheat, blame, accuse soul is dumb has only desires that lands me into trouble desirous of joy, love peace, passion only one thing common in them both are attention seekers I listen to one and other yells for attention I am a slave to these two masters of finicky nature Who should I listen to? Who should I ignore? Mind has concerns Soul has desires I have feelings Who cares? Who cares? - Musten Jiruwala

five feet below the ground with logs of wood all around burning happily round the clock with loved ones poking to stoke wind got a whiff of my joy determined to douse me with a ploy started to play with me like a toy with a strong intention to annoy I smiled and let it play since it didn't bother me in anyway I am the fire of faith wind of malice can't bring me death as the wind of rumor gets stronger I start burning brighter and longer wind, in its fury and anger ends up playing an encourager! I am the fire of faith wind of malice can't bring me death nor can it sway me away into revenge or wrath I am what I am I am faith - Musten Jiruwala