Kasab Closure

A day after Kasab's execution, reading all the news articles on the 'incident' and discussing the topic with friends; I thought back on that dreadful November when it all happened. I had become extremely emotional and all that mattered through those long hours was the 24x7 news updates on TV. I had written out a letter and a poem and carried out a long public campaign around it. I got signatures from my school and we formed groups and sent in this letter and poem to each newspaper in the city and I also e-mailed it to the then Governor of Kolkata. Those were the days of hyper-activity around such events. The poem goes.....

DEAR GOD,

They say what YOU do is always for the good

But what happened in Mumbai can't be understood

YOU created a million humans who looked the same

But YOU made 1 big mistake and it's a shame!

YOU allowed them to adopt different paths to thank you

Now, in that name, they fight and argue.

These arguments have now taken a violent turn

They don't hesitate to kill, slash, hit and burn

They say when something goes wrong YOU send an angel to set it right

In this darkness, I see no light

No, I haven't lost a close relative or even a mere acquaintance

But yet there are reasons for which I'm upset- humanity, for instance!

They say people die when they are destined to-

The trainee chef was just 22

A Mr. X was on a holiday with his family, relaxing in the hotel room

When she left for work in the morning,

                 the receptionist didn't know her life would end so soon.

They say people die, because YOU choose their soul,

They also say YOU have a heart of gold

But today, I think quite otherwise

YOU'RE probably lazy, even if YOU'RE wise

YOU'RE selfish I feel,

From a 6 month baby, his mother YOU did steal.

On his birthday, he's left as an orphan!

They say whatever happens, YOU'LL take care

What's happening right now is worse than a nightmare!

Dear GOD, send us an intelligent brain,

A little bit of conscience and a sense of shame,

Send in YOUR angel or YOU be the Saviour yourself

Dear GOD, do something,

PLEASE HELP!

Warm regards,                                                                  

 AN INDIAN

Today, I seem to myself as character out of a typical Hindi blockbuster. I started out with this excessive feeling of nationalism and justice. Now, I am a person who is itching to get out of the country because I've taken it for granted that nothing here, will change!

The festival of Lights

A hope lingers in my heart when the Diwali lamp is lit on my doorstep, every morning and evening for five days the doorstep is almost deified. Shoes are in place and not an element of dust can be seen anywhere. If you're unlucky, you might just see the soot settling off the diyas on the door frame.
The rice lights adorn the pathway and much else, too! (Considering that these lights are now manufactured and brought in from China, its no fallacy to claim Diwali an international festival!) This year my parents added LED lights to the beauty of the house and I'm not sure how that makes a difference but it sure adds to the shine and shimmer.

As the different colours on the string of rice lights took their turns to come on, as the flame of the lamp fluttered in the cool, evening breeze; my heart made a score of wishes today. I wanted this, and that and maybe God could give me that as well. It shouldn't be so tough for God, 'cuz She has everything at her disposal, right? Yes, my wishlist is long, and usually secretively silent too but there's no harm in that, I feel.

What got me thinking was the whole celebration of the victory of good over evil and how we choose this festival to replace the idols of the famous Ganesh-Laxmi, in our own little temples at home. It is as if you renew the forces of the Lord and Lordess and put forth your wishlist all over again: a fresh, new one. It needn't be consolidated, and perhaps not even well explained because the Almighty is after all 'Know-it-all'.

Standing on a threshold and moving towards the end of my college life: opportunities, responsibilities and diverse experiences awaiting me after the April of 2013;this Diwali, I have a lot to ask for. The seemingly funny one and perhaps the only one I can share so publicly is that: Tomorrow for the Ganesh-Laxmi puja, I shall place my Passport before God! After all, unless the skies have stamped it, no other Visa authority can allow you into their country!

Tomorrow, as you welcome the 'new' Gods to your home, what will you wish for?