A Fine Line Called 'Tolerance'

“I have a dream….that all men are created equal”. Many a great people believed in this, the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and many more, they lived and died for what they believed in, yet their obsession had not the slightest hint of revenge or violence. They were filled with passion for a religion that they believed in, the religion of harmony, serenity and peaceful cohabitation. Today's religious fanatics however subvert the notion of religion to suit their own narrow interpretations, call it tunnel vision, if you may, and through this try settle their own personal vendettas. This sow the seeds of intolerance, which are then lapped up by people, largely incapable of critical thinking.
A religion as per most dictionaries is a set of practices often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, or religious law. All religions preach and practice peace and tolerance and the main aim of most is to discover yourself as a unique individual, created to fulfill a mission in this temporal existence.
On the other hand fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with excessive, critical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious cause. It means looking at religion through a coloured lens. Fanaticism appeals to those people who believe in making their religion the only true religion by using means that are not only socially unacceptable but also damaging to the structure of religion as a concept.
“Simon go back”, “Jai Hind” and “Vande Mataram” were all slogans Indians’ shouted, irrespective of their religious affiliations. Unity was one thing that was most noticeable among the Indian people, but with the advent of independence came the renaissance of religious differences and after becoming independent from colonialism, India became a hostage of the ugly face of communal tension and violence. India was once a beautiful amalgamation of cultures. Today, intolerance has made it a cesspool of disgrace. This intolerance is not bad as compared to some other countries of the world, but what makes it bad is that we're a reasonably advanced country and our constitution guarantees us the freedom of religion.
The great ‘Mutiny of 1857’ was built on trust, dependency and friendship not only within one particular religion but within communities of people belonging to different Gods and stratus of society. If at that time with that kind of a unity we could ruffle British colonial feather, now we would be able to eradicate social evils, poverty, corruption and who knows, probably we could even become a super power!
The South Goa riots, the Gujrat riots, the Graham Staines murder, the Sikh riots, the Partition riots etc are all living, breathing examples of religious intolerance.
The difference between religion and fanaticism is apparent but not crystal clear. It does however depend upon the individual or the community to draw the line between the two, because if you look at the broader picture, the difference between religion and fanaticism is a fine line called tolerance. “I have a dream….that all men are created equal”. Many a great people believed in this, the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and many more, they lived and died for what they believed in, yet their obsession had not the slightest hint of revenge or violence. They were filled with passion for a religion that they believed in, the religion of harmony, serenity and peaceful cohabitation. Today's religious fanatics however subvert the notion of religion to suit their own narrow interpretations, call it tunnel vision, if you may, and through this try settle their own personal vendettas. This sow the seeds of intolerance, which are then lapped up by people, largely incapable of critical thinking.
A religion as per most dictionaries is a set of practices often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, or religious law. All religions preach and practice peace and tolerance and the main aim of most is to discover yourself as a unique individual, created to fulfill a mission in this temporal existence.
On the other hand fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with excessive, critical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious cause. It means looking at religion through a coloured lens. Fanaticism appeals to those people who believe in making their religion the only true religion by using means that are not only socially unacceptable but also damaging to the structure of religion as a concept.
“Simon go back”, “Jai Hind” and “Vande Mataram” were all slogans Indians’ shouted, irrespective of their religious affiliations. Unity was one thing that was most noticeable among the Indian people, but with the advent of independence came the renaissance of religious differences and after becoming independent from colonialism, India became a hostage of the ugly face of communal tension and violence. India was once a beautiful amalgamation of cultures. Today, intolerance has made it a cesspool of disgrace. This intolerance is not bad as compared to some other countries of the world, but what makes it bad is that we're a reasonably advanced country and our constitution guarantees us the freedom of religion.
The great ‘Mutiny of 1857’ was built on trust, dependency and friendship not only within one particular religion but within communities of people belonging to different Gods and stratus of society. If at that time with that kind of a unity we could ruffle British colonial feather, now we would be able to eradicate social evils, poverty, corruption and who knows, probably we could even become a super power!
The South Goa riots, the Gujrat riots, the Graham Staines murder, the Sikh riots, the Partition riots etc are all living, breathing examples of religious intolerance.
The difference between religion and fanaticism is apparent but not crystal clear. It does however depend upon the individual or the community to draw the line between the two, because if you look at the broader picture, the difference between religion and fanaticism is a fine line called tolerance. “I have a dream….that all men are created equal”. Many a great people believed in this, the likes of Martin Luther King, Mahatma Gandhi and many more, they lived and died for what they believed in, yet their obsession had not the slightest hint of revenge or violence. They were filled with passion for a religion that they believed in, the religion of harmony, serenity and peaceful cohabitation. Today's religious fanatics however subvert the notion of religion to suit their own narrow interpretations, call it tunnel vision, if you may, and through this try settle their own personal vendettas. This sow the seeds of intolerance, which are then lapped up by people, largely incapable of critical thinking.
A religion as per most dictionaries is a set of practices often centered upon specific supernatural and moral claims about reality, the cosmos, and human nature, and often codified as prayer, ritual, or religious law. All religions preach and practice peace and tolerance and the main aim of most is to discover yourself as a unique individual, created to fulfill a mission in this temporal existence.
On the other hand fanaticism is an emotion of being filled with excessive, critical zeal, particularly for an extreme religious cause. It means looking at religion through a coloured lens. Fanaticism appeals to those people who believe in making their religion the only true religion by using means that are not only socially unacceptable but also damaging to the structure of religion as a concept.
“Simon go back”, “Jai Hind” and “Vande Mataram” were all slogans Indians’ shouted, irrespective of their religious affiliations. Unity was one thing that was most noticeable among the Indian people, but with the advent of independence came the renaissance of religious differences and after becoming independent from colonialism, India became a hostage of the ugly face of communal tension and violence. India was once a beautiful amalgamation of cultures. Today, intolerance has made it a cesspool of disgrace. This intolerance is not bad as compared to some other countries of the world, but what makes it bad is that we're a reasonably advanced country and our constitution guarantees us the freedom of religion.
The great ‘Mutiny of 1857’ was built on trust, dependency and friendship not only within one particular religion but within communities of people belonging to different Gods and stratus of society. If at that time with that kind of a unity we could ruffle British colonial feather, now we would be able to eradicate social evils, poverty, corruption and who knows, probably we could even become a super power!
The South Goa riots, the Gujrat riots, the Graham Staines murder, the Sikh riots, the Partition riots etc are all living, breathing examples of religious intolerance.
The difference between religion and fanaticism is apparent but not crystal clear. It does however depend upon the individual or the community to draw the line between the two, because if you look at the broader picture, the difference between religion and fanaticism is a fine line called tolerance.

I: The Indian, the Dream!
“At the stroke of midnight while the world sleeps India awakes to life and freedom”. In 1947 Jawaharlal Nehru’s “Tryst with destiny” was heard, a few years later January 26th 1950 a new republic was formed and India became a democracy. Fifty-nine years later however, ‘At the stroke of midnight while the world sleeps India does awake but neither to life nor to freedom, instead it awakes to death, terrorism, corruption, communalism, poverty, selfishness and inhumanity’. The martyrs of yesterday have become mere holiday givers today.
Respect was commanded by our forefathers but today it has no value, life has no value. Hands down and factually speaking, India has achieved a lot in every field however improvement can increase in leaps and bounds, unfortunately for us, corruption has become an intricate part of Indian democracy. At every juncture of democratic functioning, the blame game is ever so present. Apathy on the part of government servants is of the highest standard. It is said that a government is s reflection of the people, and rightly so, because a democracy is of the people, by the people and for the people. But we as voters choose representatives who are selfish, lack moral reasoning, and use force rather than discussion. They need to change, and only we can make this change possible. I can make this change possible; each and every one of us can make this change possible. It is time to ask ‘Not what the nation can do for me but what I as an individual can do for the nation!’ Yes, we are resilient! Yes, we are strong and determined Indians! But the question that remains is ‘Why are we resilient?’ ‘For what are we strong?’ and ‘For what are we determined?’ From the looks of it, they seem to be for the wrong reasons.
My dear friends, when are we going to rise from the ashes we have engulfed ourselves in? We as a community of Indians need to work towards’ change in India’. The blame game has to stop! A time for responsibility has arrived! A day as dawned when we need to rise up and say “Yes, we believe!” “Yes we will change!” It is now time for us as individuals to say “I have a dream for India, and I am that dream!” Jai Hind!!

Goa-in my eyes!!

Goa -365 days on holiday- that is what the Goan atmosphere makes you feel like. The scintillating sunsets, the crystal clear water and the snow coloured sand all attract not only tens and hundreds but thousands of tourists from all over. Tourists, foreign or native, black or white, vegetarian or non-vegetarian, Hindus or Muslims, Sikhs or Parsis, Christians or Jews after being tormented my either extreme heat or bitter cold find that the climate of Goa and her beaches provide an earthly heaven for their tortured souls!!

The waters and the sand cater to the needs of the skin and with its refreshing freshness, it brightens up even the gloomiest faces. Each and every beach right from the tip of Goa to its tail have their own specific characteristics; from velvet like sand to rock wave breakers, from pebble strewn beaches to shell laden castle making material, not only cause endless happiness and satisfaction but also leave you with emotion filled memories enough to last you a life time!!!
The best part about Goa is its culture and people: once here, no matter what your religion or race you will always find a friend or more!!
Disclaimer: this is a thing of the past; things have now changed, or are on the verge of change!!!

A tribute to one I love

When you see nothing but dryness and sand,
When you feel lonely and alone you stand,
When you feel the world has left you alone,
And the only one you trust is your clone,
You desperately look for someone to meet,
But all you find is only deceit.

Friends you once had, disappear,
And anger disperses all that fear,
You wait for an opportunity to hit back,
But as time passes, you lose track.

Your heart believes in no one,
And you realize your life is done,
You look for ways to escape,
But feel like you’re bound by tape.

Your body starts becoming weak,
Your future seems bleak,
You see no light at the end of the tunnel,
You feel like your being sucked through a funnel.

Your heart with pain begins to yell,
To the devil your soul you sell,
You begin to lose hope,
With life you cannot cope.

When you feel today is your last day,
I will come to you and say,
“I’LL BE THERE FOR YOU,
These five words I swear to you,
When your life seems blue,
I’ll make sure you get through.”

da truth about governments-spl in goa!!

You live your lives like refugees in the shadows,
You speak like lions behind closed doors,
You loot people from behind their backs,
You go home and with their money you fill your sacks,
Your promises say 'milk and honey will flow',
But in reality all you do is make people's minds blow!
Dead bodies are cleaner than your own,
Because of you, by people suffering is bourne,
POLITITIANS BE SCARED AND FEAR FOR YUOR LIVES!
People want your heads and are hence sharpening their knives,
Thousands of people have put curses on your head,
And soon you will be hoping that you really were dead!!