Proud to be an Indian, Really?

Mark Twain had once said "India is, the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition. our most valuable and most instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India only." 63 years back when India became a "free" country(Pun Intended) thousands of Indians were in Delhi to celebrate and hear Nehru speak. At the stroke of midnight Nehru spoke, In English. The first Prime Minister of Independent India spoke to his people in a language gifted by those whom he himself was very much opposed. The language which majority of the Indians did not understand.Today when India completes 63 revolution around the sun as an Independent country we make Macaulay a proud man(in his grave) by making his project of creating "people who are Indians in blood and colour, but English in taste, in opinions. in morals and in intellect" a grand success.

Come Independence day or republic day I see people using the phrase "Proud to be an Indian"(PTBI), are they realy proud or is it just a customary lip service. I myself feel that the phrase PTBI has become a cliche. Most of those people who use this hardly know anything about India and I must say they don't even care to know anything about India. Most of these people prefer English over any Indian Languages and Pizzas over Parathas.Its like the proverb "Muh Mein Ram Bagal Mein Churi". In an IT company the employees are asked to reduce the Mother Tongue influence in their English accent, the HR sends a mail inviting everyone for the celbrations of Independence day where they are served with pure European food which the employee is supposed to Eat with a Knife and a Fork, the mail ends with the favorite quote "Proud to be an Indian". I was searching on web for the places I can visit on 15th to celebrate Independence day and I come across a Resturant which was celebrating Indian Independence day by serving pure Italian food on 15th, another restaurant is celebrating Independence day with a western musical concert . One of the Restaurant's website which was not updated said "Come Celebrate American Independence Day in Desi style".

We are all just trying to Emulate the west which has become a role model by default, in this process we end up becoming caricatures. We need to realize what we are and what our country is, only then it makes sense to say "Proud to be an Indian".

Happy Independence day to all my friends

Hate Monger

Maqbool Fida Hussain had a spectacular journey of life from the job of painting the cinema hoardings in Mumbai to Qatar citizenship. He is one of the well known Indian face (not sure if i can still take the independence of calling him an Indian) across the globe. Since few days MFH has become the favorite topic of discussion in all the media houses. Citizens against the obscene paintings of Husain were blamed for his decision of taking up Qatar citizenship while sponsorship for Husain was the main reason. The so called brainless liberals want the government to spend the tax payer’s money to get him back from a SELF imposed exile. A person who insults the national personification by making her nude painting does not deserve so much.

I have nothing much to write here as much has been said and written about MF Hussain, I just have few questions to him and people like Barkha Dutta and Serdesais who are much worried about him as they will be left with one topic less to discuss on prime time slots. I am sure if Moaist leader Kishanji decides to leave India and take up Chinese citizenship these people will break down in tears

Q1.If Hussain considers his work as art then what is his opinion about Danish Cartoons which was unanimously condemned by the Muslim community worldwide, I am sure he does not support Danish cartoonist if he does he would have never got Qatar citizenship.

Q2. What are his opinion about Sulman Rushdie and Taslima Nasreen’s work, can he make an open statement saying that Sulman Rushdie has done nothing wrong and the Fatwa issued against him was not correct

Q3. Recently in an interview he said that he does not believe in the security arrangements in India, he cited the example of Rajiv Gandhi and Indira Gandhi being killed so what is he expecting a security cover better than the prime minister? While he knows that there can be no fool proof security arrangements, many US presidents were assassinated despite having good security

Q4. Is he expecting Indians not to speak anything against him and wants to get away with any mischief, is he expecting a special provision in the law?

Q5. Finally can you get another Madhuri in Qatar?

The News that wasn't

Both the issues are different but still both doesn't make any sense

Mumbai For Maharashtra

Well Mumbai is geographically in Maharashtra and is also the capital city of Maharashtra, no doubt in that but how can Mumbai be only for Maharashtrians and not for other indians. How can a city which was developed by British, parsis, Gujaratis and people from other parts of the country become an alien land. I agree that because it is part of Maharashtra all the government jobs should belong to Maharashtrians, but what right has any one got to ask me for my domicile certificate when i want to work in a non government sectors or start my own business. I have equal right over Mumbai as any other citizen residing in the territory of Mahrashtra. How can the campaign "Mumbai for Maharastra" be just.

How can a poor bihari operating a taxi be threat to any Maharashtrian Jobs, who has stopped Maharashtrians from operating taxis, why don't Raj himself buy some taxis and give it to Marathi Manoos, it would be a better way to show his love for Marathi Manoos. How can a person born in a chunk of land called Bihar become less Indian, he comes to Mumbai on his own, buy an auto rickshaw, obtain a license at his own cost, now which law of land states that he cannot do that in a state other than his home state. Constitution of our country has given him every right to reside in any part of the country and he posses every right to own property across this country(Kashmir being an exception due to article 360). If Mumbai is for Maharashtrians and Bangalore for Kannadigas then the very idea of India the idea of unity in diversity dies.

IPL for Pakistan

I am not questioning the patriotism of SRK, but the timing of his statement could not have been better. MNIK was slated to be released. IPL auctions were over and none of the teams including his own team was not interested in buying any pakis, but still SRK accuses others of discriminating against our Good neighbors, well what did he do then. Pakistan is our neighbour and nothing can be done about that, but are they good neighbors?, just because they are our neighbors doesn't mean that we need to cuddle them(well srk and salman khan are neighbours but they rarely speak to each other). How can he even forget 26/11, may be if terrorists had attacked bandra he could have known the agony. No doubt SRK owes an apology to the nation. May be he is planning to add a dialog in his movie "My Name is Khan I am not a terrorist, Pakistanis are good neighbours and there are no terrorists"

Another article on SRK by Rohit Kulkarni: http://sutlej86.blogspot.com/2010/02/shahrukh-khan-neighbours-envy-owners.html