JNU: All about Jingoism Nationalism Uproar

There's not much that one can say at a time when things like JNU happen.

It is truly irksome when one is left with only two choices - a) to ponder over what is more tragic or b) what is more horrible.

Whatever happened at JNU is a matter of shame and disgust.

But what is horrible, is that people are using even this instance to score political points, and further their own agendas. From both sides of the political spectrum.

I had written earlier about us, becoming a highly polarized and divided nation today.
More than ever before, it is today that whatever happens, it is becoming an us versus them issue today, for everything.
I know this video leaves no room for doubt about which position it leans on, but despite that, I share this because it does resonate sentiments, that most people would agree with, if they view so apolitically.

My only hope and urge is that this is not the time to make hay out of issues that concern national interest and  national pride.

Let us not be swayed by anything with ulterior motives behind every event.
Neither by ultra-sensationalized politically-colored jingoism, nor by fake, the much-abused, much-misused freedom-of-expression googly.

Let sense and impartiality prevail.
Let scoring brownie points or petty politics be negated and extirpated.
If not, at least them remain a slave to national pride and national interests.
Jai Ho!

Happy Birthday, Nice Guy!!

"If you can’t get along with Rahul Dravid, you’re struggling in life." - Brett Lee.

It is one thing to be a nice guy while not doing (achieving) much else in life.
As one of the Siddhuisms goes, "he is a humble person, but he has a lot to be humble about"!

Well, let's just say, Rahul Sharad Dravid is certainly a man who wears his legendary status very well.
All his accomplishments have only made him even more humble, even more endearing, and he remains a gentleman to the core.

There are many people who excel in their chosen field. Many become legends too.
Yet, it's only a handful who go on to cap their achievements with the sort of conduct that transcends them from being "excellent" to being an "idol".

A complete team man, and unflinchingly selfless, here was a guy who did all he could, sacrificing his personal comfort/preferences happily, even almost unnoticeably (if given a choice).

Team struggling on overseas conditions.
No one else ready/capable/willing to open the batting.
Need an opener?
There he was. For his team, for his country, selflessly.

Team needs to play an extra batsman in its XI? (Yeah, the pre-Dhoni era).
Sure captain, will also keep wickets, to have the extra man included in lieu of the 'keeper.

Need someone to hold one end up, winning the battle of attrition against hostile bowlers?
Sure captain, will do.

One can find batsmen at a dime a dozen, when it comes to plundering bowlers on flat tracks.
But when all others in the team are struggling to even survive, it takes the class of a Rahul Dravid to flourish and excel, consistently, time and time again, the world over.
It always needs skill as well as big match temperament to dominate Australia in Australia.
England in England.
South Africa in South Africa.
New Zealand in New Zealand.
Without any chest-beating bravado, without fuming any expletives.
By just plundering oppositions (with his bat), while still remaining a gentleman.

If our demigod - Sachin Tendulkar was the Ram of Indian cricket, I dare say Rahul Dravid was the quintessential Hanuman - the quiet, unassuming hero in his own right, happy to scale superhuman landmarks, yet stay rooted, grounded, quiet and behind-the-scenes out of his own volition.

Time and time again.
To borrow a Shastri'ism this time, cometh the hour, cometh the man!

They say, the true mirror of a man's character is how he conducts himself when he is at the peak of his powers.
Even when he had all the bowlers in the world at his mercy, you would never find Dravid behave in any way that would be unbecoming of an idol.
He always accorded due respect to all, even when it could have seemed convenient for him to dismiss some of his lesser equals.

Even after retiring from the game, he continue to do his bit in giving back to the game, coaching the  India Under-19 side, and spotting as well as honing upcoming/promising young cricketers.

The kind of person you appreciate not only for his abilities, but also for his deportment, both on and off the field.
The kind of person you can readily and unhesitatingly showcase to your children to emulate, as a role model.

To such a gem called Rahul Dravid, wish you many happy returns of the day!!

To Love, With Love!

She was there, he was here.

They knew they could not become a pair.

Yet, their hearts, could never stop loving any less.

Being without each other, they were a complete mess.

They kept fulfilling their duties, gave everything their blood and sweat.

But away from one another, though their hearts cried, only the eyes looked wet.

They always knew that loving each other did not seem, as per analysis, like a deal which would give gain.

But for them, continuing to love and do everything for their beloved, was worth taking up life’s every pain.

They learned that love never snatches, just happens, and stays, even if you deny or make a fuss.

How we treat it, honor it, fulfill it, and live for it, fail for it, doing all we can for our love – is upto us.

They kept loving each other, without thinking of looking like selfish, stupid or clever.

All they knew was, that this love was Genuine, Irresistible and Unconditional, Forever.

On tolerating intolerance

The last few days and weeks have been a sad commentary on seeing a nation getting divided.

Like it or not, want it or not, only two words have dominated all the headlines of late:
असहिष्णुता and Intolerance

You know there is something seriously amiss if, despite what's going on with our (and the global) economy, the Paris attacks, and umpteen other far more important things, we seem to be hellbent on fighting about where there is tolerance or not, in our country.

The only thing we seem to be doing, is to make intolerant attacks against each other - making it an us vs, them ugly spat fest, where we simply can't tolerate any remark against our side!
If we can leave aside and forget our respective political affiliations or camps for a moment, what does that do or say about us as a nation?

Irrespective of whether one likes it or not, we are today at a state where we, as citizens of a nation that prides on its inclusiveness, are taking positions on which side of the fence they are.
I mean, what are we achieving by doing so?

I understand politicians jumping over each other to make a killing and score points for themselves.
Unfortunately, practically speaking, why should one expect any different or any better from them?

However, what bemoans us?
We, the people of India?!
What stops us from being impartial and objective, at least when it comes to national interest?
Are we doing a good job of uniting the country in our own little way by doing (or not doing) whatever we can or are our actions or inactions creating fissures, negativity and divisiveness within people, within the nation?

I am sorry.
I am sorry I cannot relate to either of the two positions:

Not the Hindustan Hindus ka hi hai nor the India ab (hi) intolerant ho gaya hai!

I don't agree that those who think India has become intolerant need to be thrown out to Pakistan, nor do I believe that intolerance has come to be only now.

Doesn't the fact that people are talking about intolerance, debating it, protesting against the perceived lack of it, convey something in itself?!

Also, if India is truly as tolerant as it always has been, why are we getting so touchy about each other's camps?
Are you pro-Kejriwal or pro-Modi?
Are you "sickular" or "communal"?

We might have a preference or bias towards any of them, but how better are we than those who are milking people like us, to talk and fight amongst ourselves?
Look at your social media feed today.
Look at any lunch/coffee table discussion.
Look at any news channel's coverage.

Aren't we running each other down too much for too little?
Isn't it time that we stopped such divisive talk and talked meaningful stuff?

Today is 26/11.
If there is anything I would like all Indians to not tolerate, it is our unfortunate experience(s) of terrorism.
If there is anything we should not tolerate, it is inaction against those who are still unaccounted for, even 7 years after that horrific day.
If there is anything we should not tolerate, it rather be something we all stand for, it rather be something that units us, and not divides us.

For everything else, there must be tolerance and mutual respect for every opinion and for every point of view, if it already isn't there, that is.
If we have to consider, then let's consider objectively and dispassionately.

Let us choose to not tolerate anything other than:
No appeasement of ANY religion, no pandering to the vote bank of core/extremist Hindu or core/extremist Muslims, not making selective references to intolerance, keeping the same benchmarks, remembering the reactions and sense of outrage from the media, the intellectuals, and the public at large, during all time periods and not just after May 2014.

And once we consider all the opinions and still find some people at a divergent opinion, on the diametrically opposite side of whatever our stand/view/conviction may be, let us learn to co-exist peacefully, happily, and lovingly.
Without any hatred or ill-will while also ensuring its merits are made known, instead of it being misinterpreted as appeasement or weakness.

It seems like a funny irony (almost like an oxymoron) to say so in the same breath, but the only thing we should not tolerate, is intolerance itself.