Saanams Mind

Just reading about Shiv Sena and their histronics I just wonder why we , the most evolved of all beings are so stuck up on superficial n silly differences we make between ourselves. I wonder why where we are born or how we pray stops us from thinking about being human beings first …made of flesh n blood like any other human ?Why does being from Madras or Maharashtra become more important than being an Indian?To me its like my hand saying I dont belong to the body … am just a hand. Why cant we be a part of the whole and work collectively towards the best interests of the country and the world as a whole …work towards being good human beings instead of looking at everything through peep holes and with such small minds?

Cant the Shiv Sena work towards removing poverty, illiteracy, hunger and violence and free the country from the humongous problems we are facing instead of making a big issue about sports, about people from other parts of India working in Mumbai etc.

Its a shame that educated and well read people act as if they dont understand what it is all about and go along. I applaud Shah Rukh for speaking his mind out! The people who have vested interests and want to be in the limelite and choosing all the crap reasons for being there , should be dealt with seriously by the Govt and put away or banned for messing the peace of the country and creating disparity in society.

Shouldnt they be seen as the extremists they are disrupting law and order in a country that boasts of Unity in diversity? I feel a firm stand should be taken on minds that work adversely and put a stop to the growth of our country.

I would like to salute not just Shahrukh for speaking up but also applaud the times of India Group for the Aman ki Asha , a brilliant initiative to build bridges rather than break them .

Watch this “Aman Ki Asha ”

Instead of moving forward we seem to have groups like Shiv Sena n the so called Ram Sena creating more issues than mending them. Shame on them , the bullies who think brute force can speak better than education n common sense and resort to that to make themselves heard.

As John F Kennedy said “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country”. As a citizen of our wonderful country that is what each one of us should strive to do… work and contribute towards the betterment of our country, pay taxes without fail, vote for sensible leaders and support when things are right and protest when things are wrong. Keep the country clean, not just in the hygenic sense but also in the sense of keeping the country clean of dirty corrupt politicians and officials who are raping the country of her resources and looting her wealth thus not allowing progress. Support literacy drives and help fellow countrymen as much as you can.

That in the sense is true patriotism to me. Its not about fighting who is a hindu who is a muslim or a christian, who is a brahmin or a shudra, which caste I belong to or which I dont. Its not about taxi drivers speaking in marathi or kannada.Its not about we north indians and you Madrasis. Its not about globalisation or eating burgers or chinese. Its not about which state speaks what n eats what.

I think as a true patriot , one should just look at how you can go the right way, correct the wrong way we have gone , support education and help the less fortunate. Help each fellow countrymen and look at a far peaceful country, build better relationships with our neighbors and collectively strive together towards a more progressive thinking, progressively growing and peaceful country.

A Happy Republic Day to fellow Indians from me . I hope and pray that we move forward hand in hand towards a better understanding of what patriotism is and work towards making India a hub of peace n progressive thinking God bless you all!

Muharram is here! Muharram is the first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year in which fighting is prohibited. Since the Islamic calendar is lunar, Muharram moves from year to year when compared with the Gregorian calendar. Muharram is so called because it was unlawful to fight during this month; the word is derived from the word ‘haram’ meaning forbidden. It is held to be the most sacred of all the months, excluding Ramadan.

The word “Muharram” is often considered synonymous with the event of Ashura. Ashura, which literally means the “Tenth” in Arabic, refers to the tenth day of Muharram. It is well known because of historical significance and mourning for the martyrdom of Hussain ibn Ali (Hussain, Son of Ali), the grandson of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680). It is a day of speeches, public processions, and great grief. Men and women chant and weep, mourning Husayn, his family, and his followers. Speeches emphasize the importance of the values for which Husayn sacrificed himself, his family, and his followers. For centuries Shi’a pilgrims flocked to Karbala during Muharram to see their imam and be there for the mourning.

Ashura is significant as the day that Allah (God) saved Moses (Peace Be Upon Him) and the Israelites by parting the Red Sea and drowning Pharaoh. When the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) migrated to Medina, the Jews told him that Moses (Peace Be Upon Him) fasted in gratitude on Ashura, and Jewish practice was to fast Ashura as well. Upon learning this, the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) replied, “We have more right to Moses than you,” and he commanded Muslims to fast Ashura. Later, when fasting the entire month of Ramadan became obligatory, the Ashura fast was declared optional, and Muslims were instructed to differentiate their fast from the Jews by fasting the 9th or 11th of Muharram along with the 10th. Many Muslims fast from the 1st of Muharram till the 10th of Muharram.

As all know, there are two groups Sunnis and Shi’as. Sunnis only fast for the reason above and believes fasting on Ashura offers the reward of having their previous year’s sins forgiven. This is based on the hadith in which the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) said: “For fasting the day of Ashura, I hope that Allah will accept it as expiation for the year that went before.”

While Shi’as observe the 10th of Muharram for an entirely different reason – it marks the day that Hussain, son of Ali and grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), was killed as a martyr at the Battle of Karbala. Ashura is a major festival of self-reflection for Shiites, and they commemorate the tragic death of Hussain with outward displays of grief and mourning.

Such displays of grief, however, contradict the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). Ashura (10th Muharram) was not declared a holiday by the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him), who cautioned Muslims about religious innovations: “Those of you who live after my death will see many disputes. I urge you to adhere to my Sunnah (teachings and traditions) and the Sunnah of my rightly guided successors who come after me.”

This year Muharram started on December 18th (1st Muharram) and will end on January 16th, 2010.

I wish you all a blessed new year. May Allah (swt) answer all your prayers, give you good health, forgive your sins, answer your prayers and bless you with all that one desires. Strive harder to reach your goals, forgive and forget, prayer for peace in the world and remember each other in your prayers. And remember, Humanity is above all.
God Bless!!!!!

Wishing you all a very very blessed Eid Mubarak & Happy Navrathri. May this holiday season bring a lot of good health, smilies, peace, joy, happiness & a beautiful life ahead to all of you.

Personally, I’m very sad because Ramadan has ended. It seemed to have gone by so fast. Feels just like yesterday when it started. However, I’m very happy for Eid to have come. I sure hope it’ll be a happy occasion all around the world.

One thing I always like to add during this time of the year especially is to please always remember those less fortunate. Keep them in your prayers & try to help out all those you can. It doesn’t matter you’re a Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jewish or any other religion follower. Each religions teaches Peace & Harmony. Keep each other in your prayers as we all are Humans first

Once again, Eid Mubarak & Happy Navrathri.

God Bless

Well a post made on commenting on a friends blog ‘Life or something like it’( check the blog roll)  got me thinking of the lurkers who come and read what is written here silently and slink away without commenting or contributing to our page I guess after writing a lot of posts on silence and the benefits  of communicating in silence , our dear readers who do drop by to read the  random thoughts and   rants that Anam n I write, have taken it upon themselves to really read in silence but hey guys we would enjoy hearing what you guys think and feel as well.  As you can see from the content we do enjoy talking a lot and what better way to improve on what we talk about than engaging you all in dialogue .

Actually a comment goes a long way in helping us learn more on what we have written on, it could be a different thought , a different way of looking at things , something my mind may not come up with. Apart from that I think it would help if we got an honest opinion on what we write.I guess criticism, whether good or bad would help us improve on our style of writing. Its also a way for us to build a link with our readers and would help is in communicating better with them. It also tells us of how the readers engage  in the content of the post.

So am sure each of you reading us  would have your own opinion on what we write about. Would give us an opportunity to learn as well as look at how another mind thinks It would also encourage us into improving either on the way we write or on the content.. Suggestions are welcome as well .

So here is an appeal to all the readers  of Saanamsmind , do spend a couple of minutes to tell us what you feel, think or  want to say about the topic up on the post ….and participate n comment.To do that either click on the comment next to the topic or click on the topic itself and the page will open out to one that adds your valuable thoughts to our posts

Thank You in advance ..

“Superstition is a belief or notion, not based on reason or knowledge. The word is often used basically  to refer to folk beliefs deemed irrational. This leads to some superstitions being called “old wives’ tales”. It is also commonly applied to beliefs and practices surrounding luck, prophecy and spiritual beings, particularly the irrational belief that future events can be influenced or foretold by specific unrelated prior events.`

Friday the 13th being an unlucky day, Spilling salt bringing bad luck, walking under a ladder proving to be unlucky, a cat crossing your way when on a journey making the journey an unfruitful one…all these old wives tales or basically susperstitions that have been carried forward for centuries. They have basically no roots, no proof, no explanations but are handed down generations after generations, just making their presence felt with the blind way people follow them.

In the subcontinent we do have some extremely bizzare superstitions one follows . Recently when the solar eclipse took place , one saw the news channels covering the wierd practice followed in a certain region in India where kids with physical and mental disabilities were buried upto their neck under mud of some holy shrine and  left there for hours together, with the belief that they would be cured. They were not given food  and water and it was heartening to see them crying and howling for water. I was watching the people crowding around the kids and not a single person seemed moved by all the kids plight. I wonder what kind of belief is it where people forget even basic humane qualities and follow them without a thought for children.

Another inhumane superstition a friend  was talking about, spoke of a place where people ask for a child … a mannat…where in one prays to have a baby and when the child is born, the child thrown from about 25 feet height on to a cloth held below . Just imagine the torture the poor child has to undergo just because of the lack of education in the parents. Dont they  sense the danger in the whole act? What if the cloth gives away? The very child they prayed so hard to get may lose its life.

While am a believer in faith, in God doing wonders when faith is strong, I do not believe in  blind faith. Little harmless superstitions like not cutting nails in the night could have had some reason like a fallen piece of nail that goes unnoticed in the evenings can hurt n get infected when stepped on it. Eating curd and jaggery before going to do something auspicious are not that noticable or bad if followed as they form a part of  traditions bequeathed but blind faith that cause harm to another life should be confronted and  stopped as they are inhumane and anything could go wrong with them .

“The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” and probably when it misses …its too late. As they say “Superstition is to religion what astrology is to astronomy: the mad daughter of a wise mother”.

How many times do we criticise, demean, put down or just plain curse people without a single thought for the feeling human being inside. Without a thought that your anger may damage another person so much that they may just lose that zest for life. We leave them to figure out so many things for themselves, expecting them to make something of our reactions, make some sense of it. We get so judgemental,prejudiced and  hell bent on making that person feel so small, so low we do not leave any room for any consideration or any room for compassion. In other words we allow our words to make them rot in a hell of thoughts without a care for the damage in their psyche.

We are infact a cruel selfish self centred race, most often not able to look beyond ourselves . I sometimes wonder if we stopped just once and put ourselves in another persons shoes , we would be forced to look at things in another way. We could probably undo a lot of the wrongs we do to another person. We probably would be able to help another person grow instead of killing all that is positive in them.

Are we frogs in the well that refuse to see beyond the well? Is our thinking so narrow that we manage to isolate and make sure in this whole wide populated world  those people we criticise or demean find no one who helps them but are left fending for themselves. Maybe that person has another way of thinking, maybe their life’s experiences and circumstances have made them the way they are . Or just maybe …they are the way the are because it suits them to be that way.

We live in an unfeeling cruel and self centred world .One that is prejudiced, judgemental and believes in isolating, ostracizing and breaking people down to feel nothing good about themselves. If I have been a part of any such exercise I hope God forgives me and shows me the right way. If I have been that way I aologise.

To me Life is about learning and doing as much good you can..its about not hurting another intentionally .Its about my faith in God and in some goodness in people, but I do see shades that make me see and feel Life is not all that I see .Life has its cruel shades, its cynical, demoralising and narrow minded side too, one that makes one live like one whose soul has died….The cruel unfeeling world shows this side to everyone sometime or the other…can it ever change?

Australia attacks over Indian students, a scarved  pregnant woman stabbed to death in a courtroom in Germany etc…What is the world coming to???Are we the same so called “CIVILISED” race ??I dont think so.There is a big hue and cry about racism happening in the world with violence reaching unheard of peaks, killings taking place every other day in different parts of the world  over ones race, religion, color etc. So what is Racism??

Racism is the belief that a particular race is superior or inferior to another, that a person’s social and moral traits are predetermined by his or her inborn biological characteristics. Racial separatism is the belief, most of the time based on racism, that different races should remain segregated and apart from one another.It may be defined as the hatred of one person by another — or the belief that another person is less than human — because of skin color, language, customs, place of birth or any factor that supposedly reveals the basic nature of that person. It has influenced wars, slavery, the formation of nations, and legal codes.

Now as we understand racism  we notice that we are raising voices over the attacks abroad and we speak of racism, we are totally blinded by the racism that exists within our own borders. For example in India you find punjabis, madrasis , gujratis etc never indians on the whole…I mean we all belong to one country dammit…You go to North India and you automatically become a Madrasi … well I guess your school didnt teach you the south of India consists of 4 states and each one has a different language.  Forget that… you have divisions in caste, creed, religions, states, language etc etc…Look at it this way we have more boundaries dividing us than holding us together.

So while racism is an issue all over on the whole why dont we try to iron differences within our own countries and stop racism at the grassroot level…respecting a person for the person he is sans all the paraphanelia of color, caste, creed, language and geographical  status…start with baby steps to totally remove this social evil that has basically nurtured violent acts of bloodshed and killings.

On a lighter note after the cloud of gloom me been dishing out here is some time pass stuff .Bilkul a moongphali eating note … Time pass …. I was  thinking, people you know, bad conversationalists  try and  have a conversation  starting with some questions .Hehe. Silly ones.Got to tell you all that though my answers are polite when they reach my mouth, the ones in my mind were anything but that So here we go with a select few that came to my mind…

At  a movie theatre I would  say its the most obvious that you have come to watch a film and when you get asked  “Came to watch a movie?”  , my mind always says “Nope I just came for the popcorn”  You also find students  at examination halls asking “Studied?”  Well you would’nt be there to start learning at that point would you?  With a camera around my neck and chasing Geese to get a pic , I was asked  “Clicking pictures??” by a cousin and I went “Nope” vigorously shaking my head ” am just enjoying getting them to run and practice for a real chase How about when you are carrying your grocery bags and hunting for some more stuff to be stopped and only to be asked “Came shopping?” No No No you got it wrong I am practising weight lifting Running across the road for an auto , when it was pouring, bumped into an ex colleague  who says Hi and goes “getting drenched no?” That time I just could not keep quiet and went “Nah , am just drying off in the rain ” .

Yeah Sarcastic me But beats me why people make such inane remarks that make no sense at all …I mean come on why state the obvious, there are so many ways to start a conversation .Anyway these incidents manage to tickle a few laughs and  they are well worth the amusement they provide absolutely free of cost You guys remember any such situations when you wanna literally your eyes????

Memories…our mental ability to store, retain , recall information, Memories or thoughts from our pasts , ones that shape us  to be who we are, thoughts that keep us connected to each other, thoughts that give us an identity, thoughts sometimes which are our only hope to carry on… thoughts that make one who they are. Imagine if one had no memories  the life would be one blank sheet of paper…. nothing on it. While it is ok to forget bad memories what about the good ones??

A friend of mine has to undergo a medical procedure to remove clots from her brain and that means she  is going to lose her memory …. dont know how many years . This is happening for the enth time and sometimes I just wonder why her? why so many times. The trauma of not knowing who she is, where she comes from and what are her roots, the trauma of accepting so many changes that have happened in her life, the trauma of rediscovering truths about circumstances, the trauma of being totally unable to relate and  connect with those around her …I hurt when I think of it all…. No memories… nothing at all.

We attribute so much of  importance to memories… like maintaining a scrapbook, pictures, videos… we cling to them because they give us a sense of belonging .They give us a  sense of who we are and not to have them anymore is such a scary proposition. Not to know who to trust and who is a friend, to be wary of everyone, what a nightmare…After one dies… all they leave behind is memories, what if those memories themselves are not there???? What are we left with then ???
I just ask everyone who peeps in here to just spare a couple of moments and pray for my   friend to get back to a normal life soon .