Something About the Author

 Life is a journey from cradle till grave embraces someone. But what comes in a journey is not always by someone’s choice, and still we live our lives with our own set of goals. We are triumphant at very many times, and then sometimes there are trials and errors that make us learn to do something else that was not in our personal set roadmap. It is called learning from events, life lessons and the experiences that shape our personalities. Ask us to be strong, confident, learn new things, and then an individual is all settled to swim in the deep oceans. One thing that goes for me from my childhood is trying to learn new and innovative things. If you give me a book then I don’t need to have any social activity or media to shadow me with loud and dramatic sounds.

Well, I am not in any way anti-social in any way if you assume from my earlier description. I love to interact, communicate, read, and write blogs, articles, poetry, music, movies and social media. Off course, reading and writing wear and still are my passion from the childhood. I did my first Masters Degree in Business Administration. It was something of a dream by the youth of 90s. It was really interesting to go through such diverse subjects, and to come to know about new theories and concepts. My majors was in Marketing. It was all fun to study but the craving to read and more than that to get a degree in literature was in my veins, pushing me to move for another degree, and the one I always love to attain! So, there I went with an admission in Masters in English Language and Literature. It opened my eyes to a new world. Full of ideas, thoughts, thought provoking philosophies by different authors and poets.

I guess that was the point in my life when I felt that I must be a writer and to have my own book by my side one fine day. My hunger to read more of world’s literature didn’t stop me top English only. I read the cream of Urdu literature, Russian, Brazilian, French, Latin, German, American and Chinese literature. There I feel my outer and inner eyes got a wider opening, and I could sense the human nature and psychology to a greater depth. I moved with people and cultures and tried to understand human miseries, sorrows, joys and generic emotions. Literature helped me be a better, sensible, calm, silent observer, to understand the value of integrity and self-esteem which are my prime focus where I am living or working. So, these things are not compromised otherwise I am a very compassionate person.

Even I try to forgive and forget the typical professional politics and other such games. Being professional and keeping yourself to your own tasks, and within your comfort zone is mostly up to you. I studies and learnt it from proper professionals who were my mentors at different stages of personal and professional life. I got my third degree in Philosophy as anybody who thinks quietly or loudly is a philosopher in my opinion. The study of philosophy made me realize the fact “Grass in Not Green for Everyone”. So, all we need to do is to keep on moving with our own goals, and with our best pace.

To never lose motivation and optimism for the sake of some people or experiences. Who actually came in my way to teach something new and how to be a part of the bandwagon of obsessive cult of people who can bulldoze anyone for the sake of saving their jobs or to make points? I am a simple, normal and a sane person who loves to do what he is assigned to do, and then there is my comfort zone that is out of my job and daily chores. I am self-blogger and a love to read, write, watch movies and travel if get chance and fine time.

To never lose motivation and optimism for the sake of some people or experiences. Who actually came in my way to teach something new and how to be a part of the bandwagon of obsessive cult of people who can bulldoze anyone for the sake of saving their jobs or to make points? I am a simple, normal and a sane person who loves to do what he is assigned to do, and then there is my comfort zone that is out of my job and daily chores. I am self-blogger and a love to read, write, watch movies and travel if get chance and fine time.

British Colonial Rule Made Transgender a Subaltern Community in India

Transgender Rights Protests in India

The rule of law changed when the great Mughal Empire collapsed and the whole sub-continent was taken over by British authorities. The result was a disorientation and exploitation of so many classes of the society. The eunuchs did not enjoy the same positions as they had in the Mughal times. The colonial power had so much hatred against the transgender community as they introduced a separate act of law against these folks. It was called Criminal Tribal Act (CTC). It was necessary for all eunuchs to get a registration, and their movements were restricted and controlled. Some historians are of the opinion that colonial power was afraid of the valor and power that Transgender community had enjoyed in the earlier times, and they found it vulnerable to their own existence.

What was the Criminal Tribal Act, and how it affected the status of Transgender community?

       The Criminals' Tribal Act (CTC) was introduced to restrict the activities of the eunuchs in the society. It was pre-supposed that the transgender community was actively involved in kidnapping of kids, castration of male children for their own purposes of begging, and sodomy was an active state of their daily lives. The facts were quite different as they owned not just the royal pensions, places to live but agricultural lands to grow and earn. It was taken over by the British Empire.

       Under the act of CTC, men who were crossdressers and pretended to be like women were subject to legal punishment

“Under the CTC, wearing female clothing was a punishable offence for men. According to this law, “any eunuch ... who appears, dressed or ornamented like a woman, in a public street or place, or in any other place, with the intention of being seen from a public street or place, or who dances or plays music, or takes part in any public exhibition” could be sentenced to up to two years of imprisonment plus a fine. Moreover, the CTC criminalized “all persons of the male sex who admit themselves or on medical inspection clearly appear to be impotent”.

       The Colonial law rundown eunuchs to let go of their basic sources of generating income, and they were deprived of all public and civil rights. The Black Law didn’t favor anyone or anything but pushed the transgender community into deeper level of poverty and social isolation. The English people could only comprehend human beings having just two sexes, male or female. Even homosexuality was a punishable state as per British law and perception. The result was the separate living and the secret ways of earning like begging, theft or the prostitution. 

British Colonial Heads were Afraid of Power Enjoyed by Transgender Community

       Historians have reported that the British authorities desired to obliterate the Hijras as a clear and distinctive socio-cultural community, and having a separate gender identity. But the matter of fact was that they could not find success in their deliberate efforts, and the result was that many leaders had picked up the real psyche of the colonial power. They could not save the transgender community from desolation and deprivation but accepted them as a third gender in their circles. The colonial psyche prevails in India even nowadays, and many conservative leaders oppose the Hijra rights in India and even in Pakistan. The subaltern minds are still captivated by the new colonial power, and that is Hindu Extremist rule in India. The Hijras had no special or mentionable place in the Hindu Mythology. This is what Roy is her novel under discussion mourns of.

Theresa May – British Prime Minister Apologized about Colonial Black Laws

        Recently, we have heard and read British Prime Minister “Theresa May” taking a big setup to recognize and to put an apology in front of the former colonial states where the British ruled. She has admitted that British colonial rule had left many marks of marginalization and producing so many subaltern communities due to the black laws that were implemented in South East Asia, Middle Eastern and African countries under the British Empire. She has proved to be a civil enough to understand and speak about the strange and discrimination based laws like the CTC in Sub-continent.

        Well! Nothing can change the course of history but a recognition of a prime and measures to protect the world from further damages is a positive mindset. Not, it is time for the local rulers of India, to recognize that they could not follow suit the wrong legacy of the foreign powers that ruled over them, and keep such large number of Indian society out of bound for the sake of difference of languages, castes, faith, gender identities, and economic factors. The current Indian elections have not proved to be a sign of progress and change of subaltern mindset.

       As in the words of Arundhati Roy “Making another Hindu Colony is the aim of the ruling party and its alliances”. People like hers are ray of hope to continue to struggle for the rights of people like Anjum, Tilo, Sadam Hussain, Musa Yeswi, Revathy, Udaya aka Miss Jabeen, Msulims of India, People fo Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and many more like them. Otherwise, things seem to be moving towards the older concept renewed by BJPs past five year rule, and their agenda to make India “Pavittar”, by converting it into Hindu India. Rashtriya Savek Sangh’s Ideology (the ancestor and sister organization of Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) in India). 

Muslims have Become Marginalized and under Hindu Extremist BJP Party Rule

Muslims have never gained that real freedom in India that Congress, Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru along with Muslim leaders of the same part claimed. The genocide, mass rape and kidnapping and stealing of assets of 1947 is part of documented history. The statement doesn’t end here as there was always a class difference while dealing with Muslims of higher ranks in India. The results of the subjugation is visible in Arundhithi Roy’s novel under discussion named “The Ministry of Utmost Happiness”. 

It is not a writing by a Muslim otherwise the fundamental Hindus must have labeled it as a biased opinion. She is Half Hind and half Syrian Christian, and she is depicting a clear picture of suburbs of red Fort and Jama Masjid of Dehli. It was an ancient walled city built be Mughal Emperor Shahjahan. So, the name is still chanting there as Shajahanabad and Roy has used it as the same.

 Here we meet Mulaqat Ali, his wife Saeeda begum, their transgender son Aftab/Anjum, the teacher, musician and the other characters. They are the predecessors of Mughal Royal family but they live a marginal life. They live in smelly, dirty and filthy old small alleys. They do not enjoy the luxuries of modern life and they are offered with little of what a capital of a multi-community country like India must have offered.

The recent CAB law by Modi government has proved that Hindus either want to do a complete genocide andethnic cleansing of Muslims or want to convert them into Hindus like Queen Isabelle and Emperor Ferdinand did in Muslim Spai (Andlusia). Whole India is on riots and even the positive minded Hindus and Sikhs have stood with Muslims, and the attacks of Jamia Delhi or Aligarh University are highly condemned by world community.  There is light and sound show on regular basis, and the state activities are performed in Red Fort as well but the surrounding area and people are marginalized, not by white colonial rulers as Gayatri Spivak keeps on pointing. But the colored ruling elites who either belong from the same city or at least from the same country.

Urdu – A Diminishing Language Only as it Represents Mughal and Muslim Presence in the Sub-Continent

Urdu is vulnerable to get diminished as people have stopped using it, considering it a language of Muslims of India. In Mughal era it was a public, educational and literary language of whole Sub-Continent that includes India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Now the language spoken by Anjum in the novel and the great heritage of Mir Taqi Mir, Mirza Ghalib and rest of Urdu poets will no longer be cherished by Indians, being a language of Muslims. Narrative of extremist Hindus whose representative is the present government in India. Roy has shown her own grief of the situation in her current novel. 

Kashmir is Calling

My kids of Kashmir
I am silent
Though I stated to
Be
With you
Till last breath
But
You are facing
The brutal Indian forces
The Rape, Massacre
and
Humiliation
All by Yourself
My sisters, daughters and mothers
You are molested
But
My rulers are silent
I am helpless to help you
But forgive me here
And
In eternal world
I am ashamed, trust me
May you win freedom
Be in your normal world
But
Do you still know the meaning
Of
Normalcy.....!!

Don’t Move – A Film about Human Misery and Psychological Conflicts (Non ti Mouvere)!

Don't Move

Being a great fan of Drama Films and passionate about the expertise that is exhibited through the storyline, dialogues, screenplay, acting, casting, direction, art direction, and production is a matter of my deep observation. I am a fan of non-contemporary movies that might get a Premier in some Film Festivals. These are really a delight to watch, and I am not even concerned about how many awards it has gotten, and not about IMDB or Rotten Tomato Rating and even about the Gross Earning.

So the different approach of mine has led me to the corridors of experimentation and wonderful insights on films that might not be highlighted in general. Here I am telling about an Italian Film named “Don’t Move” and its Italian name is “Non ti Mouvere”. For Penelope Cruz fans this movie is one of her best assets, and she has performed par excellence. 

Penelope Cruz is one such actress who is a great combination of Beauty and Brain, and it is clearly depicted in the selection of roles and her choice of films that she works in. In fact, I got a chance to see Non ti Mouvere with English Language Subtitles. I tried to watch this movie that is translated as Don’t Move for Penelope Cruz. But the beginning just paralyzed my emotions when I saw a single heeled RED shoe amidst a passage to a building which later revealed as a hospital. 

Why that Red Shoe was there and Who placed it there just entangles a mystery bound around, and you are spell bounded in it till the end. When the end comes and you see the reel of names then you want to cry out loud, and ask one question to yourself. Is it all Life and What is the Use of Living it when everything will end like that? 

Italia being the name of Penelope Cruz in the film made me feel reluctant to live like a normal being who runs behind worldly success and gains. My Perceptions about Life and Human Existence has changed, owing to this film. A poor woman who was raped by a Rich and Famous Doctor when he was overheated and drunk, and then as aftermath when he felt guilty. The guilt conscious took him again and again to that ordinary woman who did not belong to his class. 

The irony of the situation is that he is married and having quitter a comfortable life. Italia is so different from her life, thought process and has her own opinions about LIFE. When they got closer than he realized that people become insane and pathetic due to extraordinary situations and sufferings. He got so close to her that he tried to flee away with her to another land. But she died on a way, and there is a whole climax behind all events.

I can never forget one dialogue when he said to her colleague while his daughter as a teenager has a fatal accident, and being operated. He said to his best friend and colleague “I do not know where people go when they die but I surely know where they remain, and that is the heart”. Watch it out for seeing a mature cinema of the world, and “Don’t’ Move” deserves a standing ovation with respect to many fields of artistic presentation.

Soul at Peace is Far more Important than to be on Happiness Quest...!!

Happiness and Soul Satisfaction

I keep on thinking about the patterns of life and what kinds of things make one person happy and the other sad at the same time. When a person does wrong to others like rob or kills someone then he is happy. It may be out of revenge or suppressed desires. But the dying person would never feel the same and his loved ones will go through a whole process of agony. Same is the case with building a relationship that is too good but ends up after a short time!

Why the human race is ins Quest of Happiness when it is crystal clear that it is going to be either a momentary pleasure or a small time joy. Then logic will play its part and each person will feel it quite useless to be excited over things that are no more important. I read from a philosopher and writer’s book that the real pleasure lies in the quest and struggle to attain something and it is destroyed once we achieve it!

Well, I think it is a wonderful quote that explains a lot about the uselessness of looking for clichéd happiness. I think peace of mind and soul are much more important than the short-lived happiness. So why not we must try to attain a feeling of internal peace and a closeness to nature. Every sane person knows that he or she will die one day and nobody knows about AFTERLIFE, and there is no need to waste this small time in hatred for other races, nations, civilizations, and norms!

If we think about the peace and prosperity of the whole of the human race on the planet EARTH then I think it will really give us lasting happiness and act as a soothing effect. I would love to tell you that my love for life goes on for things that are going to have a lasting impression on my life and that of others. So I prefer to look for happiness that comes with making another person smile or to fulfill his or her small desire or need.

Happiness is temporary as we are too indulged in getting its full flavor that we forget the lapse of time. While the period of agony will let lose us in gloominess and bleakest days, and our Minds and Souls ore occupied with Depression and Hopelessness. So it seems to us as a non-ending period. But I am happy that you read my blog and will definitely try to find some New Meaning of Word HAPPINESS. For me, it is so multidimensional and very complex issue. I want to know your perceptions for that sake of my knowledge!!

Being Clever is a is a Bliss or an Issue in These Times!!

Most of times, I do wonder what is the reality of human psyche and how people spend their short terms on this world. Do they spend it positively or keep on planting negative seeds for others. What is the real impulse behind all EVIL Deeds that People do for others? I am on a continuous Research on this, and unfortunately I haven’t reached at a conclusion!

Now I have another query in mind as if a Clever Person is having a “Natural Bliss or a Curse”. I am really not going to be convinced of what the meaning of being CLEVER is, and what is the difference between a clever and a smart or intelligent person. I think a clever person keeps on looking at the surroundings and finds a safe passage to implement his ideology by hook or crook. 

On the other hand a Smart Person with best IQ and EQ level tries to turn things in his favor but not at the cost of ruining others. They believe in Motivation and Optimism, and how to fight away anxiety and daily life’s stresses. But they follow a positive and rightful path, to go on a long journey of SUCCESS. Life is never easy for most of people on Globe but it is smart choice to tackle the difficult situations, in a way to live a happy, peaceful and prosperous life!

Life gives every person different tests and trials, and it is all predestined to some level. So a person who works with clear mind deals with difficult situations in a clear headed way. He or she will make choices that are really necessary to go on a path of Growth and Success. But they will never like to disturb to destroy other mentality. So they are smart, intelligent and clever in a rightful way. It is all good and one needs to be in this way in present times!

But a search for freedom and prosperity for the sake of ruling observe others, and to think that we can rule and ruin others for our benefit. But this kind of thinking pattern only leads to Negative Mind-set, and to produce evil ambitions. No sane person in the world can endorse such negative cleverness.

So I ask you to see the global scenarios and try to pick up different situations, and discuss on this platform which action of an individual or a state is clever devices of infusing bad vibe around. It might not be true that people or nations who claim to be Human Rights Activists, and they are doing all kinds of damages to Humanity and to World’s Peace and Prosperity which we can easily move forwards as a whole human Species!!