Dont let Faith be Hijacked

By Firoz Bakht Ahmed

Islam is once again under the scanner with the unearthing of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) terror trail. With the logo of its offshoot, the ‘Indian Mujahideen’ displaying guns on either side of the Quran, the connection made with Islam is UGLY &MISGUIDING.
I wonder if this fringe group knows that in the words of theological expert Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the Quran states that ”treason against the State, combined with treason against ALLAH is a crime with punishments like execution, crucifixion, maiming or exile as per the situation”?
JEHAD is highly misunderstood not only by non-Muslims but also by Muslims. Islam sanctions wars but under very strict rules. The true Concept of Jihad is the waging of war against one’s own selfish nature, vices & shortcomings. It is also the war to be waged within Muslim society to fight evil, injustice inequity, illiteracy & ignorance.
The terrorists aims were clear in Hyderabad, Gujarat, Jaipur & Bangalore – to drive a wedge between Hindus & Muslims & create a riot like situation. Further, in such tragic situations, irresponsible statements & mud slinging by political parties have only helped terrorists outfits that were, until now, marginalized.
Though Both the communities acted in restraint after the recent attacks, we need to prioritise security & vigilance. The Saner elements in both communities must take lead in foiling attempts by fundamentalists to play up such incidents.

Truth

TRUTH…………………?

What is Truth.?What is the difference between Truth & Lie,and is there any difference,or there exists a thin line.Then why is that one’s Truth is another’s Lie………
Let’s keep aside Truth & talk about lie’s,what is a Lie;when we say-ya mom had lunch,or ya will be there in 10 minutes(when we haven’t even left) or what we live everyday.The lives most of us are living,the life we say we were destined to live,or do we choose to believe so………? Or is it each of us True Truth .What makes Truth;Truth? What gives it it’s true identity?The decisions we take or the decisions LIFE compels us to take.I guess the debate can go on for years to come.but it is worth pondering as to WHAT IS OUR TRUTH OR YOUR TRUTH………….

I'm sure like me even you wonder,I have yet to know mine.

The Alchemist Untold.

Yesterday I attended the Fine Art Photography at Tao Art Galley-Worli of ‘The Alchemist Untold’ produced by Aswin Gidwani Productions & covered by CNBC –TV 18 Network..It was a curtain raiser of the theatrical adaptation of the bestseller coming to uour city soon.
I haven’t read The Alchemist yet,as was keen on Paulo Coelho’s Brida more,but his this masterpiece is one of those few books which is published every few decades & changes the lives of it’s reader’s forever.I’m looking forward to read it & experience how it will change my life or my perspective toward’s life.
The magical ‘The Alchemist’ was presented in an amazing form of visual art,by renowned names in photography, advertising & other respective fields.They were Mr.Aswin Mehta,Mr.Amit Mehra,Mr.Ashok Dilwali,Mr.Ashok Roy & Mr.Vinay Mahidkar.
Whatever I could grasp was that ‘The Alchemist’ is about believing yourself,it is about your attitude standing out against all odds.It is not about big bank balances,BMWs,villas,but about that smile brought over by content.Content- that I tried,tried to tread the untrodden path, I tried to dare customs,I tried even if in the process fell & marred my self with dust ,sweat & blood.It’s far better than being one of those timid souls who never attempted for the fear of falling.
I have also broken customary expectations that were expected of me,a management student,i.e. to pursue master’s in finance & land up a viable & secure job,but I chose to follow my heart,It lay in the media & entertainment industry.I aspire to be a newsdesk reporter & to anchor shows on TV.It didn’t go down well with my dictor cum business man father.Daddy’s little girl indeed had grown up from being unconstructively stubborn to taking her stand & staying there long enough,for him to relent too.
Now back to where I started from-Tao Art Gllery.Why was I there?Coz my family have always been art connossiuers & this time I had to learn .Boy! did I ? I did ,I did !
Lets end it ‘The Alchemist’s ‘way in Paulo Coelho’s magical words” The book describes peoples inability to choose their own destinies.And it ends up saying the everyone believes the worlds greatest LIE,i.e. at a certain point in our lives,we loose control of what’s happening to us & our lives,believing its controlled by fate,THAT ‘s THE WORLD’s GREATEST LIE.

Bombay v/s Mumbai.

Though the time isn't now,still something I had attempted during the blasts,would love to share with you guys,coz I take pride in Being from Mumbai,& here it is:-
Though I wouldn’t want to remember the gory past ,yet the 11/07/06 blasts made me realise how much I knew Bombay or Mumbai.In Mumbai I revelled in pricking the inflated notions that we Mumbaikars harboured about our anointed selves, but 11/07 changed it all. This July Mumbai’s lifeline the railway was blown up at 11 different stations, but instead of the expected epiphany, within moments strangers were pulling victims out of the still spluttering & consuming wreckage, not waiting for ambulances & stretchers to arrive people ferried them unstintingly to hospitals, within hours blood banks were filled by donors not waiting to be asked.The terrorists expected Mumbai to die a silent death, But the very next day offices limped back to normalcy, bandaged but unbowed even the lifeline was back on track, in true Mumbai spirit !!,the bomb planters should have known better than to taunt a citizenry whose steel is tempered twice daily in the hell-fire of the rush commuteMumbai slaps one with the most brutal realities ,& then socks you with the elevating antidote, can you think of any other Indian city being shaken down to its DNA yet with a spine of steel.My guess is that the clue lies in Bombay rather than Mumbai, in the polyglot pastiche of communities rather than in the parochial monoculture. The can do & won’t die spirit comes from a heterogeneous bunch of people whipped ahead by their individual dreams, they won’t allow anyone to detonate them.The ultimate distinction lies in the attitude to power, Mumbai has made authority irrelevant. Its people don’t wait for the state they pick up the pieces themselves & re-cast them to their own, improved specifications, In case you didn’t know dreams come only in do-it yourself kits.THAT’S MUMBAI FOR YOU!!Just notice the next time someone mentions he/she is from Mumbai, the pride dwelling up in their eyes.

Wish-Quiz

hi there came across a nice quiz,so thought I'll share it with all u people out there,its fun & hopefully trustworth & this is how it goes (go get pen & notepad)

Don't cheat, If you are honest, this tells the truth It's pretty good. Write your answers on a piece of paper,
and NO cheating!! The answers are at the bottom. 1. Which is your favorite color out of: red , black , blue , green , or yellow ? 2. Your first initial? 3. Your month of birth? 4. Which color do you like more, black or white? 5. Name of a person of the same sex as yours. 6. Your favorite number? 7. Do you like Flying or Driving more? 8. Do you like a lake or the ocean more? 9. Write down a wish (a realistic one). When you're done, scroll down. (Don't cheat!)
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Answers 1. If you choose: Red - You are alert and your life is full of love. Black - You are conservative and aggressive. Green - Your soul is relaxed and you are laid back. Blue- You are spontaneous and love kisses and affection from the ones you love. Yellow - You are a very happy person and give good advice to those who are down. 2. If your initial is: A-K You have a lot of love and friendships in your life. L-R You try to enjoy your life to the maximum & your love life is soon to blossom. S-Z You like to help others and your future love life looks very good. 3. If you were born in: Jan-Mar: The year will go very well for you and you will discover that you fall in love with someone totally unexpected. April-June: You will have a strong love relationship that will not last long but the memories will last forever. July-Sep: You will have a great year and will experience a major life-changing experience for the good. Oct-Dec: Your love life will not be great, but eventually you will find your soul mate. 4. If you chose: Black: Your life will take on a different direction, it will seem hard at the time but will be the best thing for you, and you will be glad for the change. White: You will have a friend who completely confides in you and would do anything for you, but you may not realize it. 5. This person is your best friend. 6. This is how many close friends you have in your lifetime. 7. If you chose: Flying: You like adventure. Driving: You are a laid back person. 8.. If you chose: Lake: You are loyal to your friends and your lover and are very reserved. Ocean: You are spontaneous and like to please people. 9. This wish will come true,fingers crossed. !!!

Missing...

I'm terribly missing college,Bandra-my college area comes to life so vibrantly in the monsoons,missing all the fun ,the colour in the backdrop of pitter patter of rainfalls,the mouthwatering piping hot sandwiches at Jai's,the fiercely attention commanding waves at bandstand.............ummmmmm indeed I miss my college days.

Summer 2007

This is the month of surprises for me,& in came another yesterday in the face of Summer 2007(a movie),anticipated it to be just another youth funfilled movie on romance,dismissed it before seeing it,had no option so was game for it,when it began my opinion didn't change much,but boy how wrong I was,it turned out to stirr strong emotions in me,not quite expected though,but yes a must watch for all of us who are so indifferently unaware,I;m touched & moved,but still no idea how much I'll be able to make a difference,but I leave it here with the hope of bringing in a change sooner or later in my little way...........