israel: the battleground we all know
Jewish tradition holds that the land of israel has been a Jewish holy land and promised land for three thousand years. The land of Israel holds a special place in Jewish religious obligations, encompassing Judaism's most important sites (such as the remains of the 1st and 2nd temples of the Jewish king, Solomon).
Predictably so, Jews from all over the world have always sought to migrate to their "holy land", Israel. Waves of immigration have taken place right from the thirteenth century till 2006.
As we all know, israel is situated in the middle-eastern world. the world of the arabs.
thus it is rather obvious that arabs would have already settled in the israeli land, whether or not it is holy for them. During the first large immigration in 1881, Jews bought land from the ottomans and the arabs. This increased tensions between the resident Arabs and the Jewish communities.
During the holocaust, immigration of jews into israel increased exponentially. Subsequently, there was a revolt in 1936-39 by the resident Arabs who were against their becoming a minority in israel and demanded elections. This compelled the British to issue the White Paper of 1939 which restricted the number of jew immigrants to 75000. The jews were also restricted from buying land. The White Paper was seen as a betrayal by the Jewish community and Zionists, who perceived it as being in conflict with the Balfour Declaration. The Arabs were not satisfied either, as they wanted Jewish immigration to be halted completely.
Many scuffles followed and even though Israel was recognised as a state in 1948, the enmity between the Jews and Arabs was never reduced to zero.
There were numerous wars not just inside the territory of Israel but between Israel and other Arab nations like egypt, jordan, syria etc. like the six-day war, the war of attrition and the yom kippur war.
Even though these wars were of the "conventional" nature involving the four dimensions, the dominance of the fifth dimension cannot be ignored. These wars had occured due to the fundamentalist nature of two different cultures and their quest for dominance in a small territory.
Could this wars have been prevented by facilitating cultural changes? Or can we still do it?
(to be continued)
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
pope's remarks against islam:
On september 14 2006, pope benedict XVI while delivering a lecture at the university of regensburg quoted a passage from a 14th century book written by the then emperor of byzantine. The passage said, " Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."Naturally, there was immense opposition from Islamic leaders and islamic lobbies from around the world.This is another example of a war in the fifth dimension. A war not fought with guns and explosives, but with words.Why the pope chose to quote such a controversial passage in an unanswered question, although one may safely comment upon it. The rivalry between the religions of islam and christianity is well known. this rivalry has been fuelled by islamic fundamentalism and terrorism that has done much harm to states with a christian majority.Today, in the United states, a lot of people despise muslims. After the september 11 attack, there were many cases of muslims being killed or tortured all across the "christian" world. Why did this happen?Many people in the US don't know enough about islam. for them, a muslim is the man who prays five times a day and wears a skull cap most of the times.In short, there has not been enough cultural assimilation among the muslims and the christians.A cultural change may help us out in this situation. By a cultural change, I mean cultural assimilation between the muslims and the christians. How many christians know about famous muslims?People should be allowed by the society and the religion to mix freely with other religions and be culturally one with them. There should be a number of agencies and events through which muslims and christians can come together and work on similar grounds. One may go even further to say that the scriptures of religions should be modified, so as to increase the tolerance against people of other religions.Just think of the americans who killed muslims post-9/11. would they have resorted to such violence had they been intimately related to a muslim, or visited mosques or tombs? would they have been so lethal if they were taught the positive aspects of the islam religion and its contributin to today's world? would they have killed muslims if in their neigbourhood, there wasn't a single world spoken against muslims?and, would the pope, in full media presence, have chosen to quote just that particular passage, had he been culturally educated and culturally friendly with islam?
On september 14 2006, pope benedict XVI while delivering a lecture at the university of regensburg quoted a passage from a 14th century book written by the then emperor of byzantine. The passage said, " Show me just what Muhammad brought that was new and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached."Naturally, there was immense opposition from Islamic leaders and islamic lobbies from around the world.This is another example of a war in the fifth dimension. A war not fought with guns and explosives, but with words.Why the pope chose to quote such a controversial passage in an unanswered question, although one may safely comment upon it. The rivalry between the religions of islam and christianity is well known. this rivalry has been fuelled by islamic fundamentalism and terrorism that has done much harm to states with a christian majority.Today, in the United states, a lot of people despise muslims. After the september 11 attack, there were many cases of muslims being killed or tortured all across the "christian" world. Why did this happen?Many people in the US don't know enough about islam. for them, a muslim is the man who prays five times a day and wears a skull cap most of the times.In short, there has not been enough cultural assimilation among the muslims and the christians.A cultural change may help us out in this situation. By a cultural change, I mean cultural assimilation between the muslims and the christians. How many christians know about famous muslims?People should be allowed by the society and the religion to mix freely with other religions and be culturally one with them. There should be a number of agencies and events through which muslims and christians can come together and work on similar grounds. One may go even further to say that the scriptures of religions should be modified, so as to increase the tolerance against people of other religions.Just think of the americans who killed muslims post-9/11. would they have resorted to such violence had they been intimately related to a muslim, or visited mosques or tombs? would they have been so lethal if they were taught the positive aspects of the islam religion and its contributin to today's world? would they have killed muslims if in their neigbourhood, there wasn't a single world spoken against muslims?and, would the pope, in full media presence, have chosen to quote just that particular passage, had he been culturally educated and culturally friendly with islam?
Saturday, November 25, 2006
"And Then There Were None" ... Agatha Christie
I know this book was published long ago and has been read and adored by thousands, but I stumbled upon it recently and couldn't think of not writing a decent review for it so here goes...
Ten people. Only ten people on a lonely island. No means of communicating with the outer world. All perfect strangers. An unknown invitee.
And an untimely death.
Nine people left, totally astounded when amongst them, another dies.
And the toll continues....
This is probably the most thrilling of all Agatha Christie novels, with a splendidly strong storyline supporting the chilling story of ten strangers who were invited to a mysterious island by an unknown person.
The island mentioned above, called the Soldier Island, was caught in a nation-wide media-hyped controversy about its ownership. Amidst this came an invitation to eight totally different people for different reasons, to come and spend some time at the island.
A butler and his wife are commissioned to attend to the guests.
When these eight people arrive at the island and are introduced to the magnificent bunglow the bulter announces that the person who invited all of them won't be able to come for a few days.
Slowly as the strangers start knowing each other, an untimely incident shakes them all. Just as they are all trying to cope with this, there occurs a sudden death. And the saga continues.
This book speaks of the hard work Christie must have put in , considering the complex-ness of the plot and the need for clear explanations to the deaths occuring. She does the excellent job of not letting the reader settle his conviction on any one character.
Read this if you are interested in reading something mysterious, something that tickles your suspicions. Read this novel if you want to see for yourself how an author can weave webs of suspicion, mystery and thrill... from simple words.
I know this book was published long ago and has been read and adored by thousands, but I stumbled upon it recently and couldn't think of not writing a decent review for it so here goes...
Ten people. Only ten people on a lonely island. No means of communicating with the outer world. All perfect strangers. An unknown invitee.
And an untimely death.
Nine people left, totally astounded when amongst them, another dies.
And the toll continues....
This is probably the most thrilling of all Agatha Christie novels, with a splendidly strong storyline supporting the chilling story of ten strangers who were invited to a mysterious island by an unknown person.
The island mentioned above, called the Soldier Island, was caught in a nation-wide media-hyped controversy about its ownership. Amidst this came an invitation to eight totally different people for different reasons, to come and spend some time at the island.
A butler and his wife are commissioned to attend to the guests.
When these eight people arrive at the island and are introduced to the magnificent bunglow the bulter announces that the person who invited all of them won't be able to come for a few days.
Slowly as the strangers start knowing each other, an untimely incident shakes them all. Just as they are all trying to cope with this, there occurs a sudden death. And the saga continues.
This book speaks of the hard work Christie must have put in , considering the complex-ness of the plot and the need for clear explanations to the deaths occuring. She does the excellent job of not letting the reader settle his conviction on any one character.
Read this if you are interested in reading something mysterious, something that tickles your suspicions. Read this novel if you want to see for yourself how an author can weave webs of suspicion, mystery and thrill... from simple words.
"And Then There Were None" ... Agatha Christie
I know this book was published long ago and has been read and adored by thousands, but I stumbled upon it recently and couldn't think of not writing a decent review for it so here goes...
Ten people. Only ten people on a lonely island. No means of communicating with the outer world. All perfect strangers. An unknown invitee.
And an untimely death.
Nine people left, totally astounded when amongst them, another dies.
And the toll continues....
This is probably the most thrilling of all Agatha Christie novels, with a splendidly strong storyline supporting the chilling story of ten strangers who were invited to a mysterious island by an unknown person.
The island mentioned above, called the Soldier Island, was caught in a nation-wide media-hyped controversy about its ownership. Amidst this came an invitation to eight totally different people for different reasons, to come and spen some time at the island.
A butler and his wife are commissioned to attend to the guests.
When these eight people arrive at the island and are introduced to the magnificent bunglow the bulter announces that the person who invited all of them won't be able to come for a few days.
Slowly as the strangers start knowing each other, an untimely incident shakes them all. Just as they are all trying to cope with this, there occurs a sudden death. And the saga continues.
It shows how much hard work Christie must have put in making this novel, considering the complex-ness of the plot and the need for clear explanations to the deaths occuring. She does the excellent job of not letting the reader have his conviction upon a certain character for long.
Read this if you are interested in reading something mysterious, something that tickles your suspicions. Read this novel if you want to see for yourself how can an author weave a web of suspicion, mystery and thrill from mere words.
I know this book was published long ago and has been read and adored by thousands, but I stumbled upon it recently and couldn't think of not writing a decent review for it so here goes...
Ten people. Only ten people on a lonely island. No means of communicating with the outer world. All perfect strangers. An unknown invitee.
And an untimely death.
Nine people left, totally astounded when amongst them, another dies.
And the toll continues....
This is probably the most thrilling of all Agatha Christie novels, with a splendidly strong storyline supporting the chilling story of ten strangers who were invited to a mysterious island by an unknown person.
The island mentioned above, called the Soldier Island, was caught in a nation-wide media-hyped controversy about its ownership. Amidst this came an invitation to eight totally different people for different reasons, to come and spen some time at the island.
A butler and his wife are commissioned to attend to the guests.
When these eight people arrive at the island and are introduced to the magnificent bunglow the bulter announces that the person who invited all of them won't be able to come for a few days.
Slowly as the strangers start knowing each other, an untimely incident shakes them all. Just as they are all trying to cope with this, there occurs a sudden death. And the saga continues.
It shows how much hard work Christie must have put in making this novel, considering the complex-ness of the plot and the need for clear explanations to the deaths occuring. She does the excellent job of not letting the reader have his conviction upon a certain character for long.
Read this if you are interested in reading something mysterious, something that tickles your suspicions. Read this novel if you want to see for yourself how can an author weave a web of suspicion, mystery and thrill from mere words.
Saturday, September 02, 2006
MAD II - End of Madness
(by the way, this is the second part of the previous post so i would suggest you to read that first and then this one...)
I was in a really miserable condition when I worte the last post.
Well, more miserable times followed.
I cleared the interview of UoH, dammmit. My parents told me to go for it and forget fergusson. I weighed my options and decided that, keeping in mind my future and my ambitions, I should continue in Fergusson College.
So, well, here i am in pune, enjoying college life to its fullest and savouring the decision that made me go through real MAD times!!!
(by the way, this is the second part of the previous post so i would suggest you to read that first and then this one...)
I was in a really miserable condition when I worte the last post.
Well, more miserable times followed.
I cleared the interview of UoH, dammmit. My parents told me to go for it and forget fergusson. I weighed my options and decided that, keeping in mind my future and my ambitions, I should continue in Fergusson College.
So, well, here i am in pune, enjoying college life to its fullest and savouring the decision that made me go through real MAD times!!!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
MAD (My ADmmissions)
1. Decide on a SINGLE course in a SINGLE college.
2. Apply for the course.
3.See your name in the merit list.
4. Pay the fees.
5.Start education.
Five steps.
Five simple steps to pursue the proper "higher education" of your choice.
What can be easier than that?, you would ask.
Unfortunately, it is never as straightforward as that...
Well some of you may have been so lucky that you actually followed only these.
Oh, even I was dreaming it to be the same! I had a single college on my mind, a single course until I wrote my XII CBSE exams and got the result.
Then everything started changing. So this is my story, and as of now it is still continuing......
After I got my mark sheet, transfer certificate, migration certificate etc. etc. from the school authorities, I had only one place in mind: Pune. and in there only one college: fergusson college.
I had been following the India Today annual college rankings every year and was thus keen on going to one of those elite colleges like Stephers, Xaviers,Loyola etc. but found them logistically impossible as they were in cities that were totally alien for me and since I had been in Hyderabad all my life there was little chance that I could adjust there and yet continue to be myself (academically and otherwise).
Now, since pune is my home town and I have been there hundreds of times I had decided on the good college in pune, the fergusson college.
There was only one obvious course in the universe that I could take which would have suited me to fulfil my aim: Journalism.
Ah, the world was so simple and smooth: take admmission in FYBA of fergusson college.
Bug #1 hindering the simple steps given above : Professor Uncle from University of Hyderabad
One fine day, a friend of my parents' had come home for lunch. He was (and still is) a professor of Economics @ the university of hyderabad. He told us about an integrated MA course in economics that they were going to offer for the first time.
Parents got impressed, made me apply for that course immidiately.
There was an entrance exam and later an interview.
Damn, another option, and a good one at that! Now where: fergusson on UoH?
and oh man, there is an exam i have to write!!
Bug #2 : Cut-off marks
Anyhow, I decided to continue with my plans for pune and went there to get the application forms of and to apply in fergusson college. Since I had done my XII in science stream, I thought there is no harm in applying for FYBSc too. Afterall, how does it matter?
Tentatively, I applied in two other colleges: symbiosis and s.p.college.
Work was done smoothly. Got some contacts placed here and there in fergusson college.
As I waited for the first merit list of FYBA of my favoured college to get released, I kept my fingers crossed, hoping that I would make it within the first cut-off.
As it turned out, I didnt.
Missed by 0.2%. Damn.
No problem, wait for the second merit list, contacts said.
On the same day, the merit lists of the other two colleges were released.
I was number 11 in symbiosis list.
Numero Uno at S.P.
Damn. I made it to these places, and not where I wanted to? Now what?
Go take admmission in one of the places, just to be on the safe side, contacts said, as did everyone else.
Now which one?
Bug # 3: Symbiosis and S.P.
After lot of consultations, questions, comparisons and turmoil, Symbiosis was scrapped.
Go for S.P., it is next best to fergusson, contacts said.
So I followed their advice and took admmission there. Attended one day's class.
Dont get settled here, Nihar!, the mind said.
Same morning, merit lists for FYBSc and second list of FYBA of fergusson were released.
Got it in BSc. No list in FYBA for Open Catagory. and no third merit list.
don't worry, take admmission in BSc, we will still try for your admmission into BA, contacts said.
Damn. Now what?
Bug # 4: BSc?
Now, the BSc of fergusson was also very reputed but BSc?
I met some of the faculty there and they told me to go for it.
They said that BSc may prove to be more useful for journalism as the course, compared to BA, will help me have a broader outlook and a good logical understanding.
Half-heartedly, I agreed.
I cancelled my admmission in S.P.College, and took admmission in BSc.
Okay... life was smooth. In between I had written those university of hyderabad exams, and was not sure how I had performed.
As I slowly began accepting that after all maybe BSc is the course I was destined, there was a phone call.
Bug # 5 University of Hyderabad
I had cleared the entrance test. Interview in two weeks, same week as my classes were gonna start.
The following few days were the most confusing for me: where should I go? People gave varied advices. By now I had even forgotten my contacts at fergusson college. I had come back to hyderabad too, so my going to meet them was ruled out.
A phone call that changed things like hell
And, we come to the date 08.07.06
My BSc classes were gonna start on 10.07.06
My UoH interview on 14.07.06
My packing done.
And a phone call.
Caller ID opined it was from pune. Unknown number.
Voice of one of my contacts @ fergusson.
Fergusson College has granted me admmission into their 2009 batch of Bachelor of Arts.
and here I am, exactly 2 hours after the last phone call, writing this whole account for you to enjoy(in case you survived till here!) , and maybe learn as well.
Just scroll up and again read those five steps to admmission.
Man, I have deviated from them like hell!.......
Thank you all for reading such a big story....
Have a nice day, while I still finalise what I should do about the university of hyderabad in case I clear their interview!!!
THE END
1. Decide on a SINGLE course in a SINGLE college.
2. Apply for the course.
3.See your name in the merit list.
4. Pay the fees.
5.Start education.
Five steps.
Five simple steps to pursue the proper "higher education" of your choice.
What can be easier than that?, you would ask.
Unfortunately, it is never as straightforward as that...
Well some of you may have been so lucky that you actually followed only these.
Oh, even I was dreaming it to be the same! I had a single college on my mind, a single course until I wrote my XII CBSE exams and got the result.
Then everything started changing. So this is my story, and as of now it is still continuing......
After I got my mark sheet, transfer certificate, migration certificate etc. etc. from the school authorities, I had only one place in mind: Pune. and in there only one college: fergusson college.
I had been following the India Today annual college rankings every year and was thus keen on going to one of those elite colleges like Stephers, Xaviers,Loyola etc. but found them logistically impossible as they were in cities that were totally alien for me and since I had been in Hyderabad all my life there was little chance that I could adjust there and yet continue to be myself (academically and otherwise).
Now, since pune is my home town and I have been there hundreds of times I had decided on the good college in pune, the fergusson college.
There was only one obvious course in the universe that I could take which would have suited me to fulfil my aim: Journalism.
Ah, the world was so simple and smooth: take admmission in FYBA of fergusson college.
Bug #1 hindering the simple steps given above : Professor Uncle from University of Hyderabad
One fine day, a friend of my parents' had come home for lunch. He was (and still is) a professor of Economics @ the university of hyderabad. He told us about an integrated MA course in economics that they were going to offer for the first time.
Parents got impressed, made me apply for that course immidiately.
There was an entrance exam and later an interview.
Damn, another option, and a good one at that! Now where: fergusson on UoH?
and oh man, there is an exam i have to write!!
Bug #2 : Cut-off marks
Anyhow, I decided to continue with my plans for pune and went there to get the application forms of and to apply in fergusson college. Since I had done my XII in science stream, I thought there is no harm in applying for FYBSc too. Afterall, how does it matter?
Tentatively, I applied in two other colleges: symbiosis and s.p.college.
Work was done smoothly. Got some contacts placed here and there in fergusson college.
As I waited for the first merit list of FYBA of my favoured college to get released, I kept my fingers crossed, hoping that I would make it within the first cut-off.
As it turned out, I didnt.
Missed by 0.2%. Damn.
No problem, wait for the second merit list, contacts said.
On the same day, the merit lists of the other two colleges were released.
I was number 11 in symbiosis list.
Numero Uno at S.P.
Damn. I made it to these places, and not where I wanted to? Now what?
Go take admmission in one of the places, just to be on the safe side, contacts said, as did everyone else.
Now which one?
Bug # 3: Symbiosis and S.P.
After lot of consultations, questions, comparisons and turmoil, Symbiosis was scrapped.
Go for S.P., it is next best to fergusson, contacts said.
So I followed their advice and took admmission there. Attended one day's class.
Dont get settled here, Nihar!, the mind said.
Same morning, merit lists for FYBSc and second list of FYBA of fergusson were released.
Got it in BSc. No list in FYBA for Open Catagory. and no third merit list.
don't worry, take admmission in BSc, we will still try for your admmission into BA, contacts said.
Damn. Now what?
Bug # 4: BSc?
Now, the BSc of fergusson was also very reputed but BSc?
I met some of the faculty there and they told me to go for it.
They said that BSc may prove to be more useful for journalism as the course, compared to BA, will help me have a broader outlook and a good logical understanding.
Half-heartedly, I agreed.
I cancelled my admmission in S.P.College, and took admmission in BSc.
Okay... life was smooth. In between I had written those university of hyderabad exams, and was not sure how I had performed.
As I slowly began accepting that after all maybe BSc is the course I was destined, there was a phone call.
Bug # 5 University of Hyderabad
I had cleared the entrance test. Interview in two weeks, same week as my classes were gonna start.
The following few days were the most confusing for me: where should I go? People gave varied advices. By now I had even forgotten my contacts at fergusson college. I had come back to hyderabad too, so my going to meet them was ruled out.
A phone call that changed things like hell
And, we come to the date 08.07.06
My BSc classes were gonna start on 10.07.06
My UoH interview on 14.07.06
My packing done.
And a phone call.
Caller ID opined it was from pune. Unknown number.
Voice of one of my contacts @ fergusson.
Fergusson College has granted me admmission into their 2009 batch of Bachelor of Arts.
and here I am, exactly 2 hours after the last phone call, writing this whole account for you to enjoy(in case you survived till here!) , and maybe learn as well.
Just scroll up and again read those five steps to admmission.
Man, I have deviated from them like hell!.......
Thank you all for reading such a big story....
Have a nice day, while I still finalise what I should do about the university of hyderabad in case I clear their interview!!!
THE END
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
"The Fist of God" by Frederick Forsyth
Hi.. well i know this book was released ages ago but i read it recently i couldnt refrain myself from writing a review of it!!
Well here is a typical Frederick Forsyth real-life situation-based
thriller.The novel is based on the Gulf War of 1991. Saddam Hussain has attacked Kuwait and soon the Coalition forces are asked to clear the iraqis from kuwaiti land.
The story majorly revolves around a british spy planted inside the heart of the matter-Baghdad. Then there is an Iraqi high-ranker who offers to exchange critical iraqi army information for lot of money. The Coalition agrees.Things go on well when suddenly the insider gives an unconfirmed piece of information about something that was
thought impossible by the Americans, the British, and also by most of
the Iraqis-The Fist of God.This leads to operations inside Iraqi ground to find out and destroy
this mysterious weapon.
Frederick Forsyth has succeded in maintaining the thrill and
excitement all through this novel, and in the end you feel like
returning from a long journey. There are numerous characters (most of
them with names of real-life people) and a very useful catalogue of
their names and ranks is given in the beginning of the novel.
If there is anything that Forsyth could have improved upon in this
book it is the way he drags the story in the middle. Interesting
situations give way to boring routine reports and particulars. At one
point the reader gets tired of reading the same type of phrase-work
used to describe tense situations.
Still, All-in-all a good read for someone interested in World-politics and of
course thrillers!
Hi.. well i know this book was released ages ago but i read it recently i couldnt refrain myself from writing a review of it!!
Well here is a typical Frederick Forsyth real-life situation-based
thriller.The novel is based on the Gulf War of 1991. Saddam Hussain has attacked Kuwait and soon the Coalition forces are asked to clear the iraqis from kuwaiti land.
The story majorly revolves around a british spy planted inside the heart of the matter-Baghdad. Then there is an Iraqi high-ranker who offers to exchange critical iraqi army information for lot of money. The Coalition agrees.Things go on well when suddenly the insider gives an unconfirmed piece of information about something that wasthought impossible by the Americans, the British, and also by most of
the Iraqis-The Fist of God.This leads to operations inside Iraqi ground to find out and destroy
this mysterious weapon.
Frederick Forsyth has succeded in maintaining the thrill and
excitement all through this novel, and in the end you feel like
returning from a long journey. There are numerous characters (most of
them with names of real-life people) and a very useful catalogue of
their names and ranks is given in the beginning of the novel.
If there is anything that Forsyth could have improved upon in this
book it is the way he drags the story in the middle. Interesting
situations give way to boring routine reports and particulars. At one
point the reader gets tired of reading the same type of phrase-work
used to describe tense situations.
Still, All-in-all a good read for someone interested in World-politics and of
course thrillers!
Friday, May 19, 2006
'THE DA VINCI CODE' RELEASE-- A CODE IN ITSELF
The last few days witnessed an interesting set of uproars from the various christian
"religious communities" regarding the release of the movie The Da Vinci Code, based on the
book by Dan Brown. Their arguments were simple and straightforward: don't release the
movie. Now why did they rise suddenly against the movie while letting the original book
(and its bestseller edition) throng book-shops all over the country, is a mystery in
itself.But okay, let us forget that controversial point and keep in mind that they didn't want the
movie released.
Why?They say, it attacks the Basic christian faiths.I have read the book, and it does NOT attack any basic christian faiths. In fact, the book
is not even based on that. All it does is tell you a story about Robert Langdon and Sophie
in their quest for something (sorry, no spoilers here!). OK, so there are comments on Jesus christ.Hardcore christians might have found hard to read undesired (and unknown?) things about
the person they have their deepest faith in, but is the book really blaming Christ? Maybe
they book blames those who changed the story of Jesus Christ?
Anyways, thats not our topic so let us not waste time over it; just think over it later.
The thing is, why are they trying to stop the movie. If they, for once, put on their
spectacles and squint over the few initial pages of our constitution, they will find the
"Freedom of Speech and Expression". What is the movie after all? It is only a talky version
of someone's opnion about something. In short, the protesters have no right to stop the movie from releasing.
Or are they really only trying to do that? Are they really concerned about people losing
their faith in christianity?
Since when have people become so insane that they stop the movie on a book that has been
declared a sensational bestseller across the world and has been read by over a million
readers? And especially since no such "religious coup" has occured inside christianity till
date?
No, there is more this "protest". The moment I found the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B)'s intrusion, I found a
fish in the wrong pond.
This my opinion:Some people did not like the book. So, they dont like the movie either. And these "some
people" form a large pool of voters.
Yes, i said voters.
This whole protest thing is purely a public gymic. A gymic to attract the attention of the
people. A gymic to tell the people (I mean, the voters) of India that yes, we (the
government) are doing something. A gymic to remind voters when they vote next time that
yes, when we, the people did not want some movie to come the government helped in
protesting! So what if the movie eventually did get released?So what if people saw it; anyways they had read the books. But, the Govt helped us protest!
The government was good! Let me vote for it then....**THE END** (or, the continuation of the same old trick?)....
The last few days witnessed an interesting set of uproars from the various christian"religious communities" regarding the release of the movie The Da Vinci Code, based on the
book by Dan Brown. Their arguments were simple and straightforward: don't release the
movie. Now why did they rise suddenly against the movie while letting the original book
(and its bestseller edition) throng book-shops all over the country, is a mystery in
itself.But okay, let us forget that controversial point and keep in mind that they didn't want the
movie released.
Why?They say, it attacks the Basic christian faiths.I have read the book, and it does NOT attack any basic christian faiths. In fact, the book
is not even based on that. All it does is tell you a story about Robert Langdon and Sophie
in their quest for something (sorry, no spoilers here!). OK, so there are comments on Jesus christ.Hardcore christians might have found hard to read undesired (and unknown?) things about
the person they have their deepest faith in, but is the book really blaming Christ? Maybe
they book blames those who changed the story of Jesus Christ?
Anyways, thats not our topic so let us not waste time over it; just think over it later.
The thing is, why are they trying to stop the movie. If they, for once, put on their
spectacles and squint over the few initial pages of our constitution, they will find the
"Freedom of Speech and Expression". What is the movie after all? It is only a talky version
of someone's opnion about something. In short, the protesters have no right to stop the movie from releasing.
Or are they really only trying to do that? Are they really concerned about people losing
their faith in christianity?
Since when have people become so insane that they stop the movie on a book that has been
declared a sensational bestseller across the world and has been read by over a million
readers? And especially since no such "religious coup" has occured inside christianity till
date?
No, there is more this "protest". The moment I found the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (I&B)'s intrusion, I found a
fish in the wrong pond.
This my opinion:Some people did not like the book. So, they dont like the movie either. And these "some
people" form a large pool of voters.
Yes, i said voters.
This whole protest thing is purely a public gymic. A gymic to attract the attention of the
people. A gymic to tell the people (I mean, the voters) of India that yes, we (the
government) are doing something. A gymic to remind voters when they vote next time that
yes, when we, the people did not want some movie to come the government helped in
protesting! So what if the movie eventually did get released?So what if people saw it; anyways they had read the books. But, the Govt helped us protest!
The government was good! Let me vote for it then....**THE END** (or, the continuation of the same old trick?)....
Saturday, April 01, 2006
GENERALLY STUDYING...
Few months ago, we had a "GS" exam. Now, what is this GS exam, let me explain it clearly. GS stands for general studies. In fact for the last two years I had been having one GS class a week and every time I thought and so did my classmates that this meant that we studied whatever subject we wanted. Naturally, we translated the meaning of "General" to be really general!
Many times certain teachers took this class as an extra class In order to finish the portion. There was also a rumor that this class was "belonging" to principal sir!!
Anyways, after almost one year and eight months of plain Illusion In the name of GS one day there was the final revelation.
GS turned out to be a real full-scale subject. It Includes subjects like pollution, human rights, India’s freedom struggle, constitution and everything about contemporary India. Basically a couple of blokes wanted to make social studies universal in nature and stumbled upon the Idea of a GS subject, I tell you.
For the last twelve years In KVK I had never ever written this GS exam nor had I seen its grades appear in my report card. But now I think because of the new principal every student has to write this exam. Grades will be given that would reflect not only in the other class students' report cards but also on our CBSE mark sheet!! Bad, very bad; jumping around with some GS stuff is something but using it on our CBSE mark sheet?
Anyways, so we were told that day the topics that were to be covered in our examination. I was pretty tense 'cos any employer wouldn't be too happy, ESP. In journalism if he sees a D2 grade on the CBSE mark sheet. So on the morning of the exam-day I flipped through the pages of my old 10th class social studies textbook.
(Incidentally, its title is also "Contemporary India"!!).
I read whatever was matching with the list of topics.
Finally came the moment of writing the test. As I saw the paper, I almost laughed. This contained most of general knowledge questions like "what is noise pollution" and "discuss the jallianwallah bagh massacre".
Of course there were some bombshells like "what is meant by Indian ness" and "write the preamble of India".
OK, so I got through the paper and am expecting a pretty good grade (better than D2, at least) but what I would like to point out is the Irresponsible behavior shown by the school.
If this is a really serious subject and if that bloody grade is gonna appear in some mark sheet, somewhere then It Is a normal subject right? Then why did we always study organic reactions and electrochemical cells when we were supposed to know what happened in the quit-India movement? Maybe with the new principal everything will set in place, or else this is yet another way in which KV Is dishonouring its national character and its mandatory duties.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
REVELATIONS....
After talking to a friend of mine, a question popped up into my mind: Why do some people have the knack of revealing secrets which are like pandorra's boxes?
There are somethings which are valid only upto a certain interval and should not be remember or dealt with after the validity!
Will such people ever correct themselves or will they go on revealing unnecessary secrets and catalyze break-ups and strained relationships...
After talking to a friend of mine, a question popped up into my mind: Why do some people have the knack of revealing secrets which are like pandorra's boxes?
There are somethings which are valid only upto a certain interval and should not be remember or dealt with after the validity!
Will such people ever correct themselves or will they go on revealing unnecessary secrets and catalyze break-ups and strained relationships...
Sunday, March 26, 2006
COMPETITIVE EXAMS
Although I am not writing any of the engineering or medical competitives, I feel there are just too many of them.
Afterall, their objective is to clearly define the intelligence, knowledge etc. of a student, then why not have a common test and give admission according to the rank of this common exam?? ....
Although I am not writing any of the engineering or medical competitives, I feel there are just too many of them.
Afterall, their objective is to clearly define the intelligence, knowledge etc. of a student, then why not have a common test and give admission according to the rank of this common exam?? ....
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