loosing,winning or learning

Real success is moving from failure to failure without losing the enthusiasm, read a quotation, I read on a matchbox and it reminded me of a senior doctor, who was on verge of his retirement from government services, complaining about a mason who had cheated him. He looked very upset and a fellow doctor tried to pacify him by saying that one learns from such mistakes and the next time he cannot be cheated again but the aggrieved doctor made a thoughtful statement in reply saying that he has been learning throughout his life but has never been able to avoid being cheated. During my early school days I read from our school magazine that one who cheats anybody should be cursed but if the same person cheats the same person again, the person who is cheated should be cursed. Moving from failure to failure without learning is definitely disastrous and one reaches nowhere but the person will definitely be called an experienced one and a learned one. One of my friends on Orkut has attached a beautiful line with his name, I never loose, either I win or I learn. I wanted to crack a joke on this, telling him that he has been learning only and I have never seen him winning. But does winning and not loosing really have the same meaning and effect on any human being. One, who wins, feels satiated and one who doesn’t loose wins psychologically and this psychological victory keeps a person moving ahead without letting his enthusiasm die. Sometimes failures play an important role in building bigger aspirations in one’s mind and many achievers in this world who have contributed a lot to this world would have remained unknown to the whole world and would not have been so fruitful to the mankind, had they succeeded in their early life in their smaller aspirations. In fact failures in their earlier life have made many famous people so famous and great achievers. At the same time we cannot ignore that majority who are lost in the state of obfuscation after facing the early failures in their life. So failures can either be the driving force for further achievements or can be the source of confusion and frustration. One needs to learn from failures and move ahead without repeating the mistakes. Successful are those who don’t repeat the mistakes but learn from them. And those who keep on repeating the same mistakes will only move from failures to failure without either learning or winning. Let’s ask ourselves in which category we fall.

killing in cold blood

Army killed three youth at bomai sopore and as usual the army spokesmen had different versions about the incident. One denying the allegations and putting blame on unidentified gunmen in army fatigues and another claiming of killing two militants by them who tried to flee from the spot when they were challenged by the army personnel. We have witnessed thousands of gruesome killings all these years in this landlocked vale of Kashmir, once claimed to be the paradise on earth. Blame game has become the norm and till now we have never seen any culprit in Indian army put to task although the government always claims that they have punished a few. Killings are taking place in the whole Muslim world and Muslims have nobody to blame for all this as they have been responsible for their downfall themselves. They stand divided on trivial issues and almost all the Muslim countries are being governed by kings are dictators who serve the interests of western powers to remain stuck to the power. They are least concerned about the welfare of their own citizens. The literacy rate in these countries is the poorest which results in unawareness about ones rights and duties. Major economic and political upheaval is needed in all these countries

bondage of traditions

Tomorrow marks the fourth day of a relative’s death and today I saw people there preparing for tomorrow’s grand event of so called fateh khwani.three days of mourning has turned out to be a preparation time for the fourth day’s feast. Anyhow, everybody has his own way of life and it is none of our business to poke our nose into anybody’s personal matters. What then prompted me to write these lines when it is none of my business? In fact the person, who left this world for a world not known to us, was a very simple and good person in whose eyes I always found lots of love for me and it really hurts when something is being done in his name and it is never going to help him. Instead his descendants should have followed the path of our prophet Muhammad SAW, so that other people could follow the same. This all seems show off, nothing else.
Some months back in our locality here in srinagar I found a number of females having lunch with delicious wazwan.Upon inquiring, I found that it was not any marriage party but rasm e chaharum being celebrated to offer fateh to the departed soul. This society has made itself absolute slave of its traditions. It is the people who form these traditions and it is shameful that we have made our life miserable because of our own creations. Event of death should remind us about our ultimate destination and make us sober and righteous. We continue to live a life of backwardness. More hurting is the attitude of so called learned people towards such traditions. Perhaps a day will come when the reality will dawn upon the people of this land and they will learn to act how the should.

where are we leading

The moment I arrived back from my Delhi trip, my first experience of my beloved land Kashmir was so bitter that I’m once again forced to be dejected with the inhabitants of this piece of land. After witnessing the troughs and crests on the political landscape of Kashmir in the year 2008, everyone stands shocked about the behavior of the Kashmiri people who change their loyalties like the dresses and are so hypocritical in their action. From a common layman to the highly trained professional almost everyone is driven by self interest which manifests in their behavior. This valley is unfortunately called the land of rishis or pir-vour, where the people are considered to be highly motivated by religious doctrine but in real sense the people in Kashmir have shed off all the religious obligations from their character. Of course the religion has taken a backseat in the other societies of the world also but that has happened because of the evolution they have gone through from the religion based society to a morality based society, a society where equality, justice and scientific attitude have gained primacy. Ours is a society in chaos, where lawlessness is the law and where normal is dubbed as abnormal.

After a deep sleep last night which relieved me of the fatigue and weariness of the long journey from Delhi to Srinagar, I once again started my daily routine which isn’t like that of metros where the people don’t find time even for themselves. Here we have enough time to indulge in all sorts of non sense activities. Reading Greater Kashmir in the morning has become a habit and a part of the daily routine. All the top separatist leaders are away from the valley, was one of today’s headlines, igniting yet another debate about the significance of separatist leadership in the re emerging political scene of the valley. Some may say that the separatist leadership has lost the ground but the reality is that Kashmir issue has become a cricket match where one is not sure which way the match is leading to and whether it may end in a draw. In this whole process, the Kashmiri society is getting deteriorated and sick.REHBAR HI REHZAN HAIN YEHAN, IS WATTAN KA KYA ANJAM HOGA.either a catastrophe or a revolution can bring reprieve to this hapless society

kashmir

It was very hurting to read from newspapers that the so called torch bearers of freedom struggle in Kashmir have started to indulge in a blame game openly showing the world that they are shattered after the state elections. Instead of showing maturity regarding the future strategy, they are bent upon proving each other wrong before the whole world.

terrorism in india-the truth

Terrorism and killing of innocent people anywhere in the world are not only condemnable but portray the worst face of human behavior in this world. Regarding terrorist activities in India, the government of India has always been neglecting the reality; instead it has always put blame on Pakistan. The fact is that the majority of the people arrested and booked for terrorist activities are innocent people. The police and intelligence agencies always pick up a few Muslim youth and try to get the reward in the shape of awards and promotions. These innocent people don’t get the fair trial and are demonized as terrorists.
Regarding the growth of Ismalist terrorism, it is the reaction to the growing insecurity and feeling of alienation in the Indian Muslim community. This is the community which chose to be the part of secular India but still after contributing everything for their country is always dubbed as anti national. After every few years an episode takes place that makes them feel dejected and discriminated. Bihar riots, Babri masjid, Bombay riots, Gujrat genocide etc.These episodes would not have deterred the secular Muslims but what pushes them to the wall, is the discriminatory attitude of the so called secular governments. The people like Narendar Modi and Bal Thackeray who openly threaten the Muslims to get hinduised or leave the country , are worshiped in India.Modi got elected in Gujarat second time after committing the genocide of Muslims there.
How can Muslims take the lead in secularizing the country where they are facing worst kind of communal frenzy.Mr Nayar claims that majority of the population in India is secular, but where was this majority when the Muslims were being charred to death in Gujarat and the Christian nuns were burnt alive.I believe Mr. Nayar may be correct in saying that the majority is secular, so it becomes the responsibility of this majority to identify the conditions that breed these terrorists. For the last sixty years India has not been able to come out of the partition of India. India should accept the realities and face those realities with sincerity. They can’t keep on denying the basic human rights to a particular community and still try to expect loyalties in return. Muslim community in India is the second largest population of Muslims in any country of the world after Indonesia. India needs to accept this community as a part of their nation and give them their due rights. Feeling of alienation has to be curbed. One cannot kill a thousand mosquitoes and feel he is safe from dengue unless the conditions that breed those mosquitoes are not taken care of.

2008-an eventful year in kashmir

As I Replaced the calendar of 2008 by a new one, I started to mull over the events that unfolded on the political front of the state of Jammu & Kashmir in the year bygone. It was an eventful year with political pendulum swinging between the two extremes of total azadi and the popular elections within the Indian constitution. Political pundits throughout the year were left guessing about the turn of events.Amarnath land row awakened the entire Kashmiri population from the deep slumber and it seemed that the whole nation had understood the imperialistic designs of India and the role its stooges are playing in this regard. For the first time, we saw Indian news channels debating azadi for Kashmir. Million marches were conceived as referendum by Kashmiri people for azadi by none other than the likes of Arundhati Roy, Gautum Navlakha and others who are considered as saner voices within the Indian intelligentia.Seeing the sea of people submerging all the myths of fatigue and reconciliation, the so called moderates in freedom camp joined the extremists in the resurgent kashmiri uprising for freedom. Even those who were readying their party workers at the gross root level for participation in the forthcoming assembly elections, were forced to join the bandwagon. Although the kashmiri people forced the leadership to share the stage but the difference in the thoughts surfaced as an open secret.Geelani’s claim of leadership and the subsequent apologies generated a confusion in the masses and the people in general were left wondering whether their leaders are representing the nation or trying to score points over their rivals within the freedom camp. Initially the government didn’t do anything to stop the mass uprising as they didn’t expect that people in such large numbers would storm the streets of the valley and it was not only the government which was taken by surprise but the political leaders across their ideologies were also stunned by this behavior of the people. At the peak of this uprising the common people were only waiting for the programs of Coordination committee and suddenly we saw the abandonment of the whole uprising when the people were asked to resume their routine work. This was followed by the curfews and strict measures to thwart any attempt to continue this struggle. Real Indian behavior of muzzling the popular voice came to the fore. Tens of youth were killed and hundreds are still nursing their wounds. A number of them have been left handicapped for the whole life. The cry for azadi and symbolic crushing of India and its puppets with famous ragda ragda was followed by short lull with everyone keeping the fingers crossed as to what was in store for future. Sensing the popular mood, even UJC, the conglomerate of militant groups, decided not to interfere in the assembly elections. The jails were filled up with the resistance leadership who had wowed to launch the election boycott compaign.Even Sajjad Lone gave the calls for long marches against elections although he later confessed that he was not personally convinced by the boycott call but joined only to show solidarity with the leadership of CC.I wonder how a leader was going to convince others for doing something which had not convinced his own mind.
Elections were seen as a risk by PDP and even the election commission except Dr Farooq who knew that the total boycott is going to give him back the lost throne of Kashmir. Everyone was expecting a total boycott as the cries of freedom were still reverberating in the streets of Kashmir. This made pro freedom leadership complacent in their approach. Although they charted out their programs of marches towards the areas of polling but that was perceived by the people just as slogans. In this modern world of information technology, one doesn’t need to reach everybody personally to communicate, print and electronic media does that and it is a fact that everybody knew what CC stands for and what the pro India parties stand for. The people have their priorities set and one thing was clear that since 1993 when the hurriyat conference came into being, it has failed to change the priorities of the people. It has also failed to establish its roots at the ground level. One can not convince the peole by doing closed-door meetings and issuing statements. All these years of struggle, have we seen any ground level workers of APHC, who could have reached to the people, understood their problems, and made a relationship with them? In such a situation politically immature peole have become receptive, they are taken for ride by anyone. Hollow promises of jobs, roads, electricity and even the 100 rupee notes draw them to the polling booths. Political emancipation through freedom can bring all these benefits to the people but who among the leaders has ever reached the people in the far flung areas and made them understand this. The people in general still believe that azadi is a far off dream and what they need are the basic needs for the living. We should ponder upon the trend in the polling where we have seen a sharp wedge between cities, towns and villages.
It is not the time to blame government of India and its agencies for everything that went wrong. They are in fact playing their cards well. When Sajjad Lone says that we should do the introspection, he is right but at the same time fuming in the press conferences and indulging in scathing attack on other leaders, shows the immaturity in his approach. When Mirwaiz named his teams for boycott compaign, he had Prof Gani for north Kashmir but professor sb flew to PAK and enjoyed the state guest status there. If the leaders are not determined for a cause, how can we blame the common illiterate people who cannot judge between wrong and right? People; of course have shown their political immaturity while negating their own cause of freedom for which they themselves have rendered countless sacrifices but it is the characteristic of the common people to get swayed away by anything unconsciously. Subjugation for a long time has also played an important role in determining the behavior of the people.
If India feels that it has overcome the separatist sentiment, it will be one more political blunder on its part as Sajjad Lone said that 1987 was followed by 89.The new elected government should remember that they were begging for votes separating the government formation from the resolution of Kashmir issue and they should not try to trespass their boundaries which they themselves have drawn during the election compaign.If they are true to their nation they must concentrate on the development of the state and let the pro freedom leadership strive for the resolution of the festering Kashmir issue. The pro freedom leaders must sit together and ponder upon the domestic as well as international dimensions of the movement, cut their exorbitant expenses on lavish lifestyle, live the life of the common peole, identify themselves with the poor and deprived people of the nation, bridge the gaps between them and the masses so that no anti movement element can force themselves in and take the advantage of the void, try to address the social, economic and political concerns of the people and above all reach a consensus on the strategy to move forward in the right direction. The movement has witnessed lots of setbacks but as long as the aspiration for the freedom lies in the hearts of the people, the movement for freedom is not going to die. We need to transform these emotions and aspirations into an institutionalized effort for our goal.

clash of civilizations-myth or reality

Samuel P Huntington in his book The Clash of Civilization and the remaking of world order proposed that cultural and religious identities will be the primary source of conflict after Cold war. Although the debate continues whether this political scientist's propositions are right or wrong but proponents of this theory find vindicated by US led war against Iraq,Afganistan and the continuous threatening of Iran by the US and its allies. It really seems that western world is bent upon clashing with the Muslim world for establishing their new world order, which noted Islamic scholar Dr Israr Ahmad says, is Jew World Order. A large section of scholars contradict this theory claiming that cultural values and religious beliefs have nothing to do with the wars going on in our neighborhood or elsewhere in the world saying that these wars are just for the economic interests of the developed world. Whatever be the reason for these clashes, the reality is that U S and its Allies are safeguarding the interests of their own citizens at the cost of the citizens of the rest of the world. Civilizations have been distinguished by their means of subsistence, types of livelihood, settlement patterns, and forms of government, social stratification, economic system, literacy and cultural traits.

Those who say there is a clash of civilizations between western civilization and Islamic civilization seem to be wrong because we do not see the Islamic civilization existing anywhere in the world in practice. There are 57 countries where Muslims are in majority and Kosovo is one more addition but we don't find Islamic civilization even in a single country where it can be claimed be in its purest form. Islamic civilization lies in the books ,The Holy Quran and the sayings of Prophet Muhammad(peace be upon him).There are glimpses of this civilization in the past when as a dominant civilization Islam spread to almost whole world and foundation of all the sciences was laid by the Muslim scientists, the scholars translated the treasures of knowledge from different languages of the world to Arabic and the local native languages, economic prosperity was at its peak, transparency and accountability were the hallmark of this civilization and this fact is acknowledged by the whole world. When Europe was passing through the Dark Ages, the Arabs stole a march over the rest of the civilization. They translated the Greco-Roman literature into Arabic and helped preserve ancient knowledge. Those who say that Islam was spread by sword are ones who claim to be civilized but are involved in ruthless wars against poor and hapless countries in the name of spreading democracy. Islam as a complete way of life was demonstrated by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his companions practically. And those who lead by example are followed by all. Such people do not preach what they don't do themselves. The corruption seeped into the Islamic world slowly and gradually-corruption in thought as well as corruption in practice. What we see in the present time, is a Muslim world devoid of its basic identity that is Islamic civilization. No field of life is guided by Quran and hadith.Islam has been limited to the prayers only divorcing it from all walks of life like what Europeans did to religion after Rennaissance.Western world had coined terms, moderates and extremists to create a confusion and chaos in the minds of Muslims around the world and strangely the Muslim world has accepted these terms as concepts and the likes of Parvez Musharraf are so vocal about this concept that he has divided his society into two groups. The Muslim world has accepted the concept of modernization as westernization, what the western world claims to be.Modernisation is seen as de-linking religion from all walks of life-governance, judiciary, economics, trade and even from the daily routine affairs of life. This is the type of civilization which the whole Muslim world is striving for and a few voices of Islamists who believe
Islam as a complete way of life are dubbed as extremists and enemies of progress, trying to take the world back to the era of Dark Ages. Western world doesn't accept such elements even if they are able to come to power through democratic means, like Hamas in Palestine and Islamic Salvation Movement in Algeria. Looking into the present Muslim societies, we see that the religion has been thrown out of the lives and limited to offering prayers or practicing the un-Islamic rituals in the name of pleasing Allah. People do everything in their lives what pleases them without any sense of accountability in the hereafter. Muslim societies are the most corrupt societies. They have made it a habit to blame west for everything. What is the role of West, when the Muslims indulge in corrupt practices? Even the religious parties which fight the elections in the name of religion are not pure enough to be seen as torch bearers. When it comes to their personal affairs they are least bothered about Islamic principles. They may talk of ADAL-O-INSAF from the pulpits of mosques but they don't practice this theory
I.e. why people do not follow them. The Muslim world takes no time in coming on to the streets to destroy properties of their own people when someone disrespects Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) as a mark of protest and they must protest but not by inflicting miseries to their own people. When it comes to their own lives, they have no honor or respect for beloved prophet (peace be upon him) while doing everything what the prophet (peace be upon him) has forbidden from doing.Organising NAAT mehfils but forgetting the same guide prophet (peace be upon him) even during these mehfils, forget about their personal affairs. Muslims as a whole should feel ashamed for this hypocrisy.
What used to be a taboo in a Muslim society is now accepted happily like any normal thing. Watching dances, movies showing vulgarity is not seen as something bad in any Muslim society now. The first thing a child learns is a film song and the parents feel proud when the kid starts singing and dancing. Who is teaching morals to the new generation? Generation next is following what their elder generation is doing. Deeds speak, not the words. No one should be surprised by the waywardness, corruption, heinous crimes, and inhuman acts in the present Muslim societies because the western civilization is being followed blindly. Ironically these Muslim societies do not follow the so many good things present in the western civilization. In fact the scientific approach, objectivity and quest for research were taken
by western society from Muslims and they have built tall buildings on the foundations which were laid by the Muslims in their golden era.
Muslims need to understand that westernization doesn't mean modernization.China is a good example of modernization without westernization. China as a nation has conserved its own culture and identity while progressing by leaps and bounds. It didn't sacrifice its culture whatever it may be, while modernizing its society. The Muslim world has been rendered into the colony of the west being governed by the favorites of western world. Defeatist attitude has grown in the minds of rulers of Muslim world. They have lost their self esteem and have reached the yielding point long back. Now they don't need any pressure from western world to serve them, they do it of their own. This is bound to happen when one looses its identity and ideology. In such a scenario the whole Muslim world is facing the worst kind of agony in the form of poverty, political wars, foreign occupation, violation of basic rights, economic exploitation, bloodshed etc. The solution doesn't lie in surrendering before the New World Order but the Muslims need to stand up, identify themselves because they themselves do not remember who they are, regroup themselves, identify their potential and take the guidance from their assets-The Quran and Hadith,follow their prophet(peace be upon him),make Islam their way of life and march ahead. Definitely they are going to face the hurdles and the challenges. Who doesn't? Didn't the prophets face the worst kind of opposition? The Muslim world doesn't need to be at war with the west. They need to put their house in order first and show the world that there is a civilization called Islamic civilization which is a solution to the world problems and the best way of life. If Muslims are able
to establish Islamic civilization in real sense which would definitely be without corruption, wars, deprivation, poverty and a society identified with peace, security, equal rights and opportunities for everyone and a system based on justice, which sane person would not love to have such a civilization in the world? It has to start from the individuals. Individuals make the families and families make the society.