In the love of God.

Bangalore is my home. This is where I have my family and friends. This is where I studied. This is where I work. This is where I grew. I am pissed with a lot of things in life and with the way things move here... so,will I blow up or hurt people ? Cant even think of doing something like that!!!
But I personally know a lot of people who would have the same thing to say about bangalore and still be able to say ,"All fair in jihad". Bangalore has been my home for just close to a decade, and these are people who were born here.
My genial demeanor at college and a mouth with an under-developed filter system would promptly pop questions to people(were and still are my friends) who would support Bin Laden, as though i was a reporter who lost her way into an engineering college. It was only an attempt at trying to understand their point of view. Why would people think it was ok to kill others ? In the name of what? Were they feeling left out or something? And the grand finale would arrive with the no-answers-question: "Are you saying that, its ok with you if these guys came and bombed some place near your home or our college? that you would completely understand, their cause and deal with your loss ?". In the end, I felt that even these people wouldnt have thought all too far them selves, they are just emotionally charged, and nothing more- given a chance, I dont think these people could think of anything that could harm the people around them.
But now, since the 28th Dec shoot out at IISc, I am afraid that I'd have to rethink on my opinion, that people couldnt bring any harm to the people they lived with, laughed with, cried with... cos the 2 people caught were both Indians and Key people in LeT's operations in South India- one from Karnataka and the other from Andhra Pradesh. Its the first incident of terrorist activity in Bangalore. We bangaloreans have always thanked our stars that bangalore has always had good tolerance for communal problems. But with this shoot out... its become evident that bangalore will be the focus of terrorist operations. Our lives from now on will change for ever, and the people responsible might (only MIGHT) be someone we know, or someone we might pass by on the road or even worse- someone you hug and wish on Id and wash down delicious biryani and kababs with. This doesnt mean i distrust the people around me but in the back of my mind, there will be a tiny voice that whispers this fear everytime another such incident happens in bangalore- my home.
How can people ever think of standing by somethin so atrocious ? In their homeland? HOW?HOW?HOW?!!! What could make them think like this? Why are these people hell-bent on tarnishing their own image? Islam preaches tolerance. Then why this intolerance, and towards what? this is not just the case with India ... why are they against the whole wide worlds... which part of this world isnt singed by their mindless hatred? Fundamentally what all religions preach are all the same- dont kill, dont steal, dont lie, dont cheat... the path to riteousness. How will Allah, the most Graceous, the most Merciful forgive these blind people for breaching all these basic values in His name?
Man- black, brown, white, super-white, yellow, purple or what ever.... arab, african, finnish, american, afghani, pakistani, scandinavian, indian, british, french, croatian, somalian, japanese... all have basic needs... food, water, shelter, clothing- without which none of these people can survive. its only if people can survive that they can fight for secondary needs- rights and freedom. For which of these reasons are the jihadis fighting the whole world for? Causing such unecessary pain to people who have nothing to do with them? Do they have a clue as to how much their actions impact the lives of innocent muslim brothers who live in the countries they attack? how I wish these emotionally charged men and women could declare jehad(meaning: striving or determined effort) upon them selves and put some thought into what they are doing and for what? how I hope they could see the ulterior motives of the people who key the dolls of destruction?
India is a nation that looses thousands and thousands of people every single year to terrorism more frequently than many of the western nations. So, shall we just order our soldiers to go and bomb the concerned nations and occupy them- i know they would be more than willin to do it, at least their families can have some peace of mind then- a mother wouldnt have to experiance the agony of waiting for her son, a wife wouldnt have TO train her self everyday to deal with a possible news that her husband was tortured and killed? If we did then how different would we be from the jihadis? we would live upto the cliche "Fighting for peace". Leaving innocent people of another nation in more misery and agony.
India's problem now is that these organisations are using Indians against India. There itself,it indirectly points to the fact that people take their freedom for granted and fall prey to jehadi-brain-wash specialists just cos they cant appreciate the freedom they have every right to. This applies to fundamentalist of any community... Hindu, Christian, Sikh, etc.
But why this lack of appreciation for freedom? Cos we are blissfully oblivious to the fact of how many men and women and their families are making compromises day-in & day-out to protect this freedom.
What i am going to tell you now is someting thats been on my mind since years. And i want your views on the topic...
I think compulsory participation in the army should be expected from the people of the nation... could be for a short while 2/3/4/5 years , but it shouldnt be voluntary but compulsory- i feel its only then that people will feel more responsible towards their home. If they understand what it costs them to keep it safe, then they will realise there is nothing in the world that can out-weigh that cost. Its similar in principle to having share in a company- you have right to know and perform in it, cos you have a stake in it. Along with it, will have to change our education system- a system that will support the growth of such responsiblities in young minds along with their academics.
I am not addressing the topic terrorism directly here. And it isnt my intention. I am addressing our disregard for the freedom thats bestowed upon us. I have only used the extreme case of the shoot out, as a means to get to here. Share your views...

Viva BMC!

BMC has been running on top gear , fuelled by all the complaints that we, its proud residents, Bangaloreans have been hurling at them. So rightfully,their asses have been on fire and its challenged them so much, that they woke up and in their sleepy stupor challenged the Bangaloreans back... "We are starting a competetion. If ever, you find a pot hole we will pay you Rs.100". The morning I read that in the papers, I told my dad that I plan on quitting and sitting at home. I had found my route to being a millionare. But my hopes , and as I learnt later, many others' hopes too were crushed when BMP decided to add some clarity to the definition of the competetion, which was, '...this is valid only from a date we will declare, till a specific time.' As you noticed the specific time is not defined.
So I resorted to the only option I had ,breath a heavy sigh, stay employed and then wait to see what the BMC would do.Its been about 1 month since their ultimate challenge.
I should admit, I am impressed with speed at which BMC addressed the issue. Everyday when i ride back home, I am surprised with convex fixtures replacing the old concave one ,esp the 'off-road' road at the trinity circle near the petrol bunk. Do you find some on your way home /work too? Is it a pleasant surprise? Well, I need to ask my back who had to bear the brunt of the fantastic design... mmm, it says that its better than before.
Now picture your favourite junction or circle. Now see the same junction from a bird's eye view. Doesnt it make you proud- the abstract combination of different grays so beautifully woven... what textures,what planning,what colours... it can beat the best quilt-of-the-year any day! I am sure the BMC are proud too. What they have achieved in the last one month is no achievement since its no different from the good old shoddy job they were always good at. The only difference is that this time they were super fast with their lousy job. This is the same bloody patchwork they have always been doing since years- patches that last not more than a couple of months.
Can the BMC declare the duration of the contest as atleast two year?
Can they ever build a road that will last for atleast 2-3 years with no repairs?
Can they build a road and guarantee 'no pot-holes' for 2-3 years?
I am fed up and angry when i see our money being spent so badly in the pretext of serving us. Does it come any where close to serving the purpose it was destined to when we paid our taxes?!!
My dream road is a small stretch of the Golden Quadrangle that I have driven on while travelling to Kerala. I remember my brother telling me that that stretch,which felt like the path to paradise,was built by Larsen and Toubro. I know now that they(L&T) will for sure have a place in heaven- God could use their services. When ever I hit the roads in Bangalore,there is not a day that I dont yearn for a road as heavenly as that one.

I want you people to tell me why do you think that these asses have the audicity to put up such a bad show using our money?!! Please for the sake of your backbone!