My cousin Girish wrote something about last November's attacks on Mumbai, and I thought I'd post it here on the anniversary of the attacks.
- Deepa
Violence in Mumbai, 26 Nov 08 onwards.
More than 100 killed, 300 injured.
More than 100 killed, 300 injured.
The horrendous acts of violence
Laced with sweetness of religion
Garnished with mindsets of division
Are these acts of chaotic blindness or
Colossal stupor ?
Armed organizations with black heads
Black scarfs, black weapons
Blackness looming large
Black minds, black shouts of freedom, victory
Who are they, where do they come from,
Individual or collective consciousness ?
Remnants of the undesired or
Splinters of past hurts ?
There may be no quick answers to violence,
but surely a long term one,
When a child is told -
That the skin colour differs but when pinched hard,
one sees red blood
That the long hair is the one that’s rolled,
to be covered with a turban
That to kneel down or to join palms,
are both acts of surrender and prostration
That Pani, Neeru, Thani and Jal mean the same
That the Spirit is to be embraced and not the façade
That the visage changes but the expression is one,
And this expression is the language of the heart spoken through the eyes
Which is universal and belongs to the ONE who is common to all
There is an answer……………if we believe in one.
Laced with sweetness of religion
Garnished with mindsets of division
Are these acts of chaotic blindness or
Colossal stupor ?
Armed organizations with black heads
Black scarfs, black weapons
Blackness looming large
Black minds, black shouts of freedom, victory
Who are they, where do they come from,
Individual or collective consciousness ?
Remnants of the undesired or
Splinters of past hurts ?
There may be no quick answers to violence,
but surely a long term one,
When a child is told -
That the skin colour differs but when pinched hard,
one sees red blood
That the long hair is the one that’s rolled,
to be covered with a turban
That to kneel down or to join palms,
are both acts of surrender and prostration
That Pani, Neeru, Thani and Jal mean the same
That the Spirit is to be embraced and not the façade
That the visage changes but the expression is one,
And this expression is the language of the heart spoken through the eyes
Which is universal and belongs to the ONE who is common to all
There is an answer……………if we believe in one.
8 comments:
what lovely thoughts. Unfortunately our baser human instincts often overpower our humane side.
All this is nice in poems but in reality there is inequality in all walks of life. Mr Girish let me ask you this: if you are unmarried will you marry a muslim woman? or would you let your children do so?
Mr. Anonymous -
What a silly question. Strength and wisdom lies in understanding, accepting and living with differences, not obliterating them with mixed marriages!!
What the poem is saying that we must recognize the underlying same humanity - (actually, the underlying truth or divinity) - in all of us.
Next time, please post your name. I prefer not to address people who write strong comments without the courage to post their names.
- Deepa
what's wrong with the anonymous comment? when you talk of equality it should be there in all spheres so why get ticked off?
maragaret
There is nothing "wrong" with an anonymous comment.
However, an anonymous comment tells me something about the person who is posting it, it tells me they don't have the courage to stand behind what they say.
I have not much respect for that particular behaviour trait.
- Deepa
I think Mr Anonymous has asked a question which you need to address and I don't think its silly. If you say that the basic truth is that all are one, then what prevents you from accepting a Muslim spouse. The fact that the comment upset you shows that some just talk about the one spirit that is all pervading but have double standards when it comes to implementing it. Sorry, but this is the fact.
Sophia Wasik (sophiawasik@yahoo.com)
"I think Mr Anonymous has asked a question which you need to address"
- I believe I addressed the question quite clearly. If you think I have ignored the question, obviously you are not reading anything I have written.
"I don't think its silly. "
- Sorry, but I do. In a multi-cultural world, the key lesson to learn is that we must accept differences, respect each other's beliefs, not necessarily subscribe to other beliefs that are incompatible with your own.
"If you say that the basic truth is that all are one, then what prevents you from accepting a Muslim spouse."
- I am already married. But to answer your hypothetical situation: Accepting someone as a spouse is based on multiple factors, as I am sure you know. Whether you have compatibility of belief, compatibility of value systems and compatibility of mind is one of them. If you do, and if you feel you can take on a life where you are outside the mainstream, then there is no harm in a mixed religion marriage. That is my personal view. There is a price to be paid for any marriage that is outside the realms of commonly accepted behaviour, but if you are willing to pay the price, that is fine. It is a personal decision. For this reason, I also support gay marriage. To each his or her own.
I do believe all people are the same, underneath. To ask me to marry a Norwegian or Ethiopian or Lebanese or Mongolian man to prove this point is completely irrelevant and downright stupid. It is not necessary for me to have a same-sex marriage just to prove that I believe gay people are the same as non-gay people. Get it? It is silly.
"The fact that the comment upset you shows that some just talk about the one spirit that is all pervading but have double standards when it comes to implementing it. Sorry, but this is the fact."
- First, I was not upset. I merely stated my point of view, that it was a silly/stupid question. I continue to hold that point of view. You do not have to agree, but I still respect your right to have your view. Given our differences, I still hold that you and I are both part of the same essence or truth, and I must understand you, and live with you. It is not necessary for me to demonstrate my tolerance by marrying you. That, my dear Sophia, is the whole argument.
- Deepa
hahahah. cool. i like your blog. mumbai is fascinating.
niya.
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