The link takes us to a news item on BBC about a woman in Saudi Arabia who was sentenced to 6 months of jail and 200 laces. It is noteworthy that when she appealed, her punishment was doubled by the judges! Her lawyer has also been suspended from the case and faces a disciplinary action, the new further says!
The news provoked a world-wide protest and if I heard the news right, the Saudi King last week condoned the sentence.
So much of the disparity in rights for the men and women!
Saw the movie “The Station Agent”. The lonely character- who happens to be a dwarf (Hypochondroplasia)- shifts to a remote rail depot in New Jersey after the death of his friend. There he meets 2 individuals -Olivia and Karl- and they become friends. The movie also gives an insight into the psyche of a dwarf person.
Much water has flown down to river Jhelam in Pakistan over last few weeks. The dictatorial President Musharraf clamped emergency fearing that the Supreme Court will set aside his election as the civil President. The emergency gave him an opportunity to bundle out Supreme court judges and he let judges of his choice roll in. The Supreme Court with new judges convened and declared that he was a constitutionally elected President. That was easy! In the next move, the same individual hangs off his military dress and takes over as the civil President of Pakistan for another term of 5 years. The US President Bush gleefully welcomes this step! Now President Musharraf is busy lifting emergency and declaring that elections are due soon.
This is simply a mockery of democracy! Democracy is not simply about casting votes and electing members of Parliament and Legislative Assemblies (Senators and Representatives), it is about about building Institutions!
It is amazing that US is supporting this kind of perverted democracy in Pakistan. The simple rules dictate that military dictator Musharraf first undo the wrongs, meaning thereby to end the emergency rule and let the Pakistan go into elections. Not only that, he must restore the previous judiciary. How can a military ruler become a civil president overnight without getting a popular mandate (remember, opposition had boycotted the electoral process). Also, the elections to be held in January, 2008 are most likely to be rigged under his government machinery.
The US and EU and of course India (acting like a mute spectator does not be hove India as this is a matter of democracy) must pressurize Mush to restore democracy in a ‘democratic’ way.
PS: 12/12 I happened to listen to a radio-talk on NPR with Ahmed Rashid- a Pakistani journalist- about the current situation in Pakistan. This was a well-rounded talk and worth listening.
There are some concerns as to how to obtain a wholesome diet if someone is a vegetarian.
I will consider a few points here.
1. Proteins from animal sources (meat, chicken) have a high biological value (B V). The proteins in cereals and legumes have a lower BV. For those vegetarians,who are not averse to eating eggs, this fact is compensated to some extent. Soybeans has the highest percentage of proteins amongst all cereals and legumes, thus more consumption is indicated.
2. Vitamin B12 comes from animal sources (meat). It is not found in vegetable sources. While milk and milk products do provide B12, for vegans (who consider even milk out because it comes from animals) this source is also out. The answer is fortified foods, like cereals which will give you B12.
3. Fish is considered nutritious because it provides rich amounts of proteins and omega-3 fatty acids. For the vegetarians, walnuts (akhrot) and vegetable oils like canola oils will give you omega -3.
4. One aspect about milk is worth mentioning. Although milk is a considered a wholesome item, it is not a good source of iron.
Until the last generation, India was a forgotten nation on the far side of the world. Today it has leaped into the foreground as one of the most important players in world events.
Astounded! These are not my words, nor did I draft them! These are the ‘sermons’ from a US based Christian Missionary that is actively pursuing to ‘take care’ of India! Read this link and see what are the current forces that are trying to change the contours of Bharat that we call India! The tsunamis of Christianities and Islam have already gripped us, but we have not been able to diagnose the malaise! Robert Frost said: “Freedom lies in being bold”. The ‘converters’ are feeling too bold, but ‘convertees’ need to hear this sage voice!
The Haj subsidy given to Muslims by our secular government of India is a well known fact and despite it being against all the constitutional norms continues. Remember BJP also did not overturn this anomaly when it was at the Center for a full term. Outside India, there is a huge Indian diaspora (Hindus including) living is Carri bean countries (popularly known as West Indies, examples include Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Jamaica and nearby country Suriname), Fiji and many other nations spread across the globe. These people fondly call Bharat as the land from where their ancestors came. If you are so magnanimous, give them the subsidy to visit the land of their ancestors!
Last week on the evening of Deepawali, we decided that we will visit a Carribean Hindu Temple and thus headed for a local temple in the Queens which we had visited in the past also. We were impressed to see the people there celebrating Deepawali with the same spirit as Hindus in India celebrate. Majority of these Guyanese Hindus have not visited India in their life times, their children probably do not speak Hindi, nor do they understand, but it was impressive to see them clad in traditional Indian dresses and offering their prayers. In New York, I have often come across many Carribeans Hindus and many of them will say that they want to visit India and see Ganga river and visit other pilgrimages. There are tours available from Caribbean countries to India , but what I understand is that the distance and economy and the receding connexions between the Hindus of two countries are the prohibiting factors. It is clear that West Indian Hindus (who are now in there 4th or 5th generation settled there) and Indian Hindus have no active links. This is a matter of concern. Whereas US Indians -though they majority of them may be 2nd generation of settlers- actively seek to maintain their ties with India in form of visits, matrimonial alliances and other cultural activities, such is not the case between West Indian Hindus and Indian Hindus. The two communities in USA also have not been able to forge good alliances, though there are reasons behind it. It is here that Hindu leaders need to step in and seek more active community interactions.
That day while we were discussing dietary preferences, and one of our Indian colleagues said something. An American physician-who happens to be a cardiologist- who was listening the conversation said: “You might be vegetarian since you are from India.” She said that she was not a Hindu and hence ate meat. Whereas people in general think that Indians are vastly vegetarian, this concept of ‘waiver’ from vegetarianism because you are not a Hindu kind of ‘impressed’ me. Needless to say, I did not jump into the fray there! Anyway vegetarianism is a universal concept that should not be seen through the prism of religion. Having said that, vegetarianism is a fundamental concept to Hinduism. Before starting meals, a typical Hindu will recite the Bhojan -Mantra (Bhojan = Food): Om sahna vavtu, Sahno Bhunaktu…. (the essence being that we pray to the Almighty for peace). The recital of this mantra is not in harmony of sacrificing animals for your food.
Also the growing indulgence in non-vegetarianism, alcoholism and smoking amongst Indians (in India) is of concern. Despite the medical proven benefits of vegetarianism, the West has not been able to adapt to it to the desired extent (it is still difficult to find vegetarian meals with ease and choice in USA, whereas non veg stuff is easily and abundantly available). The variety of meat products and amazing varieties of recipes that we get in the West is sometime mind-boggling for an individual who is looking for a decent vegetarian meal! Back in India are we far behind in this matter, but unfortunately are fast catching up!
Pakistan’s dictator Parvez Musharraf has imposed Emergency in the country on saturday , November 3, 2007. This move was not totally unexpected, though! The worsening law and order situation in Pakistan could not have gone worse! The history of our neighboring country has been replete with the instances of military regimens and this is another addition to the chapter. USA’s ally in the war against terrorism (what a paradox), i.e, Pakistan, is itself in the grips of terrorism (notwithstanding the fact that it has perpetuated terrorism also).The loudest advocate of democracy in the world, that is USA, has so far not given a harsh indictment on this development in Pakistan.
India has no reasons to cheer on this development. India must not only show a great resentment to this move to throttle the democracy in Pakistan, it should exert pressure on the world community to bring Pakistan under pressure to come out of this blind situation (this may not be easy, though). An unstable Pakistan is India’s constant sore!
It may not be out of context to mention here that Newsweek magazine had brought a very timely issue on Pakistan’s stark realities! The October 29, 2007 issue of Newsweek brings out the cover story on Pakistan with the title: “The Most Dangerous Nation in World is not Iraq. It is Pakistan”. And the story moves on! It is ironic that religious fundamentalism culminated into the birth of a new country- Pakistan- and still there is no peace!
As India continues to march forward, some events -which may not be of a bigger magnitue- continue to bring disrepute to us as a society. This incidence which happened in Haryana is a slur on our modernity and social ethos. A new born baby was snatched away from a couple by the community panchayat (Khap panchayat) on the grounds that the couple belonged to the same ‘gotra’ or lineage, hence they had no right on this baby! What a perverted logic and what kind of legal sanctity these so-called community panchayats have!
Whereas the caste based system must be loosened to an extent of it becoming irrelevant, these kinds of acts are a sure impediment in the social progress of the society.
It seems that it is never too late to learn something new! My son -who is 8 years- knows swimming and I have to accompany him to the swimming pool. What I do there: just “water-sitting”! But no more and you know who taught me swimming: my son. Having perfected his swimming skills at the just-concluded summer camp, this week he persistently cajoled me to try my hands at swimming and gave me a mantra: The very first step towards learning swimming is to learn ‘Floating’. He demonstarted it to me a few times too.
Floating – as the term denotes- is to fall freely into water and become still! I tried at this and learned swimming in a matter of 2 days, though I have to go a long way, but I can swim now!!
This adds to our fun because now Subramaniyam will have an active player with him in the swimming pool and not just a “water-sitter”. So who is our next target: obviously my wife. I told Bharti that she too can learn it in 2 days (oops, more than 2 days!!). She does not believe that so far.
The news of attack on Taslima Nasreen- a Bangladeshi woman writer who currently lives in India is a shocking one. In Hyderabad (India), fundamentalist Muslims -led by 3 Muslim MLAs- tried to assault Taslima in a press meet. The MIM party’s MLA- Akbarrudin Owaisi- has reportedly said: ” We are not bothered about our MLA status. We are Muslims first. And its our responsibility to test those who have said anything against Islam in which ever way possible.”
What a shame! Not only these so-called Muslims bring shame to Islam, they are denigrating India also. These acts are contrary to the Indian values. India stands for pluralism, social harmony,religious tolerance and freedom of expression. Religious fundamentalism is already bringing disrepute to us. We want it no more!
The people involved in this shameful act must be brought to the book.