Questions

Is our world today a happy place?

Thinking specifically of our urban world - it's the inherent loneliness and helplessness in us that leaves us with despair and pain. And it's this loneliness, insecurity, and despair that brings people to drugs, self destruction, depression, and crime. Incest. Domestic violence. Rape. Murder. Thoughtless shooting down of classmates. Throwing acid at the girl next door.

Rage.

More than poverty or hunger, I think it's these psychological disturbances are a scarier root to crime today, and in the future. Terrifying.

Can we look out at our world and say, Ah, here's a happy place?

And how can we set it right?

Freedom of Expression

The price of freedom of religion, or of speech, or of the press, is that we must put up with a good deal of rubbish.
- Robert Jackman

So true. Think about anti-India communities on Orkut. Freedom of expression?

It's a tricky topic to discuss, and here's my take.

Freedom of speech and expression is incredibly vital and important for a healthy society. Though, this freedm only has healthy reflections on society when it is used with good judgment and rational thought. Of course, what the basis of rational thought is, is a whole different argument altogether.

But I do think that as long as this 'free' expression is not offensive, or vulgar to the point of being offensive, and pays respect to the free will and opinion of others, it is healthy and regular.

But, as each person has a unique point of view, there will always, and forever exist 'relative' violations of this freedom. It's only human.

20 Songs

I’ve easily and often blamed our generation for being insensitive, careless, and irresponsible towards issues with large implications. The most important and threatening issues facing us are:

1. War.
2. Environmental Destruction.
   

And with that worrisome note, I present a list of songs that I have come across that speak loudly and clearly about these issues (and others) that directly affect us, or will soon, and are quite powerful messages. Here goes, and also here is a disclaimer: These are in random order, and are limited to my limited knowledge and exposure. (However, Road to Peace would be my top song)

1. Road to Peace – Tom Waits

2. Kyoto Now – Bad Religion

3. War Pigs – Black Sabbath

4. Imagine – John Lennon

5. Arrested in Shanghai – Rancid

6. Great Hosannah – Kula Shaker

7. Do the evolution – Pearl Jam

8. Revolution – The Beatles

9. Know Your Rights – The Clash

10. Kill the poor – Dead Kennedys

11. Unknown Soldier – The Doors

12. Earth Song – Michael Jackson

13. Boom – System of a Down

14. In a world gone mad - Beastie Boys

15. Under the same sun – The Scorpions

16. Holy Ghost Machine Gun – Split

17. Masters of War – Bob Dylan

18. Winds of change – The Scorpions

19. Put out the fire – Queen

20. Universal Soldier - Sainte Marie Buffy

Quite a mixed list, and am sure we could add much to it. And am happy to have Split included in the list too. And am not being biased.

Privacy Concerns

Oh, btw, am writing this post immediately after finishing the previous one. The previous one ended with me claimed to go off to see a film. Unfortunately, that did not happen, coz I’m still a bit hung–over and decided to lie in a bit. And while I was lying in, I thought of something else I simply have to write about. And what better time than now.

(It is important to know this important lesson that I have learnt and that I’m sure everyone knows.) When you think of something you have to do, there is no better time to do it, than the time you thought of it. Especially when it comes to something that can be so fleeting and subject to situation and position as writing or creating some art.

Anyway, that’s the important lesson, but is not what I wanted to write about. And if I don’t write what I wanted to write about, I will defeat the lesson myself.

Privacy concerns. Very buzzy topic these days. Everyone is concerned about their privacy, and also the privacy of their neighbor. Which possibly defeats the idea, but nevertheless. I mean, the idea of privacy is that your neighbor also has his privacy, from YOU.

I thought of this with reference to my previous post. I was wondering if it is ok to put the names of my friends in my post, in my blog. I know of people who would post about their friends, but never mention their names. Am not sure why it’s a bad thing. And anyway, I like to be honest, blunt, and not be too worried about what society pronounces as norms. And if Varun or Priya have a problem, they will tell me, and I will fuzz out their names from the blog.

A week back, when I was in Bombay, meeting with Audrey, and I told her about Google’s brilliant new Street View, where there is real life imagery and almost video of people, homes and cars, streets. Audi said, without even admiring the brilliance of the idea, was “wont this bring up lots of Privacy Issues? And right now, in the US, privacy is the biggest issue.” After terrorism and their messed up President, I assume, anyway I don’t want to get politic here. So, I was a bit surprised that Audi brought this up so quick, but I told her that this was generally Google’s style, and also that if anyone appearing on Street View has a problem, Google would blur or fuzz out their image. Seems like a reasonable solution to me, and I would be happy to blur out the names of anyone who is mentioned on my blog, and wants instead, to be a blur.

Oh, btw, Microsoft Word did not recognize the word blog, and had underlined it with the wiggly red, and suggested I replace it with blob. What a shame.

Last note, while we’re still on the issue and possibly politic topic, last night, before we went to the party, we decided to drop in to the local (and only bearable) pub/club here in Hyderabad, Firangi Pani. It was only 10:30, and they let us 5 get in for free, without paying the usual Rs 800 per couple cover charge. So, we were happy to go in, we were dressed up, (except Varun, who was sulking coz he hadn’t shaved, but he was looking cute anyway) and I was just about to order my drink when around, get this right, TWELVE policemen walked in, all armed with radios and what-nots. I thought maybe they’re looking for some run-away fugitive, or checking to see if there are any drugs happening. But that wasn’t the case.

In the next three seconds, there was a policeman at my elbow, directing me to the door and asking us to leave. He said, time to close, very late. I was annoyed and looked at my watch which said 10:32.

“Late? Its only 10:30!” I complained loudly. Of course, no one heard me, because by then the other 11 policemen were blowing their whistles, and leading people out. It was outrageous, a Saturday evening, and the place was filled to brimming.

I’ve seen cops come in to lots of places loads of time, but never this early, never in such a number, and never actually not leaving and letting the party continue a bit at least.

I think the Firangi Pani management must have refused to bribe these guys and pay them their usual ‘hafta’ and the cops don’t appreciate rebellion to their dirty tricks.

But yea, thinking about it is making me angry again. As if cops don’t have enough to do anyway! Stop crime, stop the problems on the streets before you come barging in to a perfectly respectable pub and disrupting normal, happy civilian life.

Really ridiculous. People were actually pushed out even if they hadn’t finished their food or drinks. I hope the FP management does something serious in protest and I will be happy to support them.

Say something, and leave a comment if you feel seriously about how annoying cops are, disrupting a nice Saturday evening for absolutely nothing.

Global Warning

Everytime I fell ill - cold, cough, headache or anything - my dad would say, 'This is a warning from your body, don't abuse it and don't ignore it.' It might sound silly and of course, I'm also full of the arrogant ingredient that young people have - I don't care, but. But, I know that there's truth to it. There's always some truth to what daddys and mommys say, and some lesson to learn. So, heed my body's warning or not, there is another parallel I must draw.

The Global Warning.

Its getting hot. And not because of hip-hop culture. I'm writing this blog not out of scientific enlightenment. I'm writing it because I can't bear the heat. And I wonder, its only April. It's going to get much worse this summer. And what will it be like next year? And the year after? Will we be able to step out into the sunlight? Or will we be 'dangerously' prone to skin cancers and other horrors if we basked in the sun?

How soon before the water runs out? And how soon before the oceans rise? This issue is now bothering our political leaders, or well, at least visionaries. The Times of India thought enough to print a first page article about it. Al Gore made a film about and dramatically warned The White House. Apocalypse is coming.

What I'm scared about is, in whose hands lie the important decisions? Who can save us now? Can we all make a difference? Or is it really too late?

Jane Goodall visited Google Hyderabad a few months ago. Her talk was incredibly inspiring. She's living the life of those we read about. The One Man Army. Woman, I mean. She goes around the world, touching lives, writing books, making speeches. She inspires young people to start doing something. And kids from around the world have responded.

Jane Goodall told us about Roots and Shoots. Her little program that allows volunteers from anywhere in the world to start their own little Roots and Shoots in their city, town, school, home. Each Roots and Shoots group takes up 3 projects. Community level, environmental level, urban, rural or natural levels. Anything their want to make an effort towards, that becomes their project. And there's no compulsion. No monitoring. Just your own will to do something.

It's not too late. Jane Goodall came here a few months ago. I wanted to do something then. That little fire in my belly died out easily. But a little guilty spark remains. Tomorrow, Jeetu and I will start our little Root and Shoot.

More soon.

Being a Parsi

I'm proud of being a Parsi. I'm part of a tribe. We're so few now, that we're officially a tribe. The days of the old glory have gone. Parsis, for a long time, but time long gone, were the most prosperous people in Bombay and many parts of India. Rich, wealthy, industrious and honest. Very successful, well read and cultured. Religious and of strong faith.

But, with time, things changed.

Parsis live to be of a very ripe old age. So, children often had grandparents and plenty of uncles, aunts and even great grandparents telling them what to do and what not. And they remained orthodox.

It's hard to point out reasons for why we are where we are today. Lots of things I guess. Parsis have, perhaps, for generations, married within the same family. In-breeding has caused many young people being born with ailments, deformities, handicap and weak constitutions. Recently, my sister lost a young Parsi friend due to a heart attack. How can a 20 year old just have a heart attack?

Another major reason is the strict marriage laws. A Parsi cannot marry a non-parsi. If he/she does, he/she is not considered a Parsi anymore. And, one can only become a Parsi by birth. It's a painful concept. And the reasons for it are stranger.

So far, I've believed them. But now, I feel silly when I explain. It's almost like a 'superiority theory'. It doesn't make sense to me any more.

Often people have told me that they're very curious to step into a Parsi fire temple. Because they aren't allowed. This always annoyed me. I always thought, if you can't go, you can't. Just leave it at that and respect it. I would still never encourage anyone to go into one. Simply because it is disrespectful to another's faith. But, I feel ashamed, about the injustice.

There are many nice things about being a Parsi. A lovely heritage to look back at, maybe. Not much to look forward to, though. When I visit a friend in a Parsi colony in Andheri, am saddened by what I see. Young people wasted. Leading mundane lives, almost as if helplessly surrendered to being 'as things are'. No more ambition, no drive to change. No rebellion. Of course, I'm as much to blame as anyone , in that case. There are a quite a few organizations for the youth, where they try to bring about changes in the directions to where Parsis are heading. And other fighting against the strict religious demands, especially for marriage, adoption. But its a difficult struggle.

I haven't been a good Parsi for ages. I haven't visited the temple, said my prayers. And other things I observe, just out of habit. I don't know if I believe anymore. Or if I ever did. It's hard coming to terms with it.

Sometimes I'm content with the ideas of Parsis dying out. Maybe its just time for us to fade away. I dunno what the future holds and I'm not quite sure what role am going to choose to play in it. But, whatever it is, it will be for the best.

Until then, I'm still happy to be a Parsi and eat Dhansak and meat, and hope that someday I'll marry a Parsi boy.