Blasts : Boston and Bangalore

"A bomb-like material on a motorbike exploded around 10:30 am injuring 16 people, including 11 policemen, near the BJP office at Malleshwaram in north-west Bangalore."

- Lalrokhuma Pachau, state DGP.

Bengalore had suffered bomb blast on the same day 3 years back i.e. 07th April 2010 in M. Chinnaswamy stadium, in which 15 people were injured. any connection between the two? cant say for now.

yesterday it was Boston...now, Bengaluru. The sad truth of our time is, there is no place thats safe from terror attacks. what next? will Sushil kumar Shinde say that he had prior intelligence about the terrorists' plans? or will he again blame it on Saffron Terrorists? Will Digvijay Singh come out and say once again "iske piche RSS ka hath hae"? Though not the same old characters, but something similar came out. Shakeel Ahmed tweeted : (see image at right)

lets compare the aftermath in Boston and Bangalore. yesterday we witnessed how after the blasts the country united as one against the attack. Sadly, it was just the opposite here. Shakeel Ahmed had Politicized the tragedy, adding salt to the wounds. What was even more appaling that instead of apologizing, he stood by his words and tried to explain it on camera to news channels.

Roshan Baig

ABP News held a debate in which Roshan Baig raised his suspicion saying "is this just a coincidence? when elections are so close and BJP is losing its credibility day-by-day, ye patakha phoot'ta hae. daal mein kuchh kaala hae". Seriously? is a blast such a trivial incident now that you'll term it 'Pathakha'? If this is what these two politicians really believe, should we expect a few more blasts (fire-crackers as Baig would call them) in front of Congress' office so that they can encash sympathy votes?

recalling the past blunder-full tweets of Politicians and celebs, shuldnt it be made mandatory for all of them to join Twitter and tweet atleast once a day? seems like Twitter somehow brings out all the bullshit that sits inside their head. No?

Boston Marathon Blasts

The day started with the tragic news of Boston Marathon twin bomb blasts which claimed at least 3 lives and injured over 140 people. Going through the available online write-ups and news, a feeling of helplessness took grip. Having faced similar situations, its a feeling a Mumbaikar is not alien to. In fact most Indian city-dwellers share the sentiment. Thoughts and prayers flow out to the victims. Amidst all the chaos and fear, emerged shining examples of bravery and courage that enkindled faith in Humanity.

• The Marathon runners that crossed the finish line continued to run to Mass General Hospital to donate blood for the victims.link
• People in Boston area offered to house and pick up those who were stranded. 
• Area restaurants fed locals and runners, even when they weren't able to pay. 

It was heartbreaking to read stories of people who lost their loved ones. 

a man was waiting to propose his girlfriend at the finish line, now mourns her loss.

Martin Richard, 8, was killed as he waited to give his father a hug at the finish line.

while going through articles on facebook, I came across a quote by Mr. Rogers someone shared :

When I was A boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, "Look for the helpers. you will always find people who are helping." to this day, especially in times of 'disaster', I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers - so many people caring in this world.

As I recall my experiences of Mumbai bomb blasts, drawing parallels between the two tragedies, besides the loss, fear and horror...the only thing that consoles this restless mind is that there are still people who are ready to stand against terror with courage...that Humanity's hope still prevails. 

There will always be suffering. But we must not suffer over the suffering. 
~ Alan Watts.

why should we celebrate Women's Day?

।। यत्र नार्यस्तु पूज्यन्ते रमन्ते तत्र देवताः ।।

Yatr natrastu pujyante
Ramante Tatr devatah

Gods reside where Women are respected.

 The world celebrates Women's Day on 8th March - a day to remind ourselves how much we owe to the fairer sex, to acknowledge their part and celebrate life itself, for it begins in a Woman's womb.  Cynics may argue differently, but with the alarming rate of Female Feoticide, Rapes and other crimes against Women, it becomes all the more important to stress the need to value and respect Women in society. While the west was yet going through the Dark ages and was busy with Witch-hunts, India witnessed strong women like Kaikeyi, Draupadi and Seeta, to name a few. Even Adi Shankaracharya was defeated in a debate by Ubhaya Bharti, a woman. Strong, independent and well educated women were'nt an aberration in the Vedic society. Somehow, the Legacy of that Vedic Bharat is lost and now we live in India with a capital where every two hours a rape is committed!  For this situation to change, not only men but women too will need to change the way they conduct themselves and treat other women. 

Having said that, I'd refrain from joining the Feminist Brigade. 
Its tricky how extremism of any ideology can harm the very cause for which it stands...how mindless insistence of an Ideology can be manipulated against itself. 

Why do I mention this? Its because, I was shocked sometime back at the silence of all those who claim to be Feminists while 'The Guardian' termed Aishwarya Rai's post natal weigh gain as 'National shame'! furthermore,
I am shocked at girls on facebook sharing Chetan bhagat's article 'Home truths on career wives' (TOI) where he so conveniently reduces a Housewife to a Phulka making machine and a Nanny. I personally do not see how a working woman is better than a dedicated Housewife (and vice-versa). I refuse to succumb to the views of people who reduce a woman to a glamour doll and criticise her when she refuses to abandon her newborn and sweat in gym to gain a size zero figure. I still would want someone to explain it to me how a mini skirt and tank top is liberating and modern while Salwar kameez makes a girl a 'Behen jee'? 

Objectification, tho may seem to be much harmless an evil than foeticides and rapes, but the latter ones are just physical expression of the former. 

Lets see this day for what it should be seen as and not let it become another one of 'Hallmark Days'.

So, why should we celebrate Women's Day? 
to remind us how we need to conduct ourselves for the next 364 days.

NB: I am a huge Aishwarya Rai fan and she looked absolutely gorgeous even with the extra pounds!