An Indian's Blog: India Was One, page 6
November 14, 2016
November 12, 2016
November 9, 2016
Us vs. Them
An excerpt
“You mean to the region where the aliens—,” Don caught himself before offending Tom, “your people live?”
“No,” Tom replied. “I mean different regions on this side.”
“Don’t you have countries? Borders?” Don asked.
“No. We don’t need them.”
“Why not?”
“As I said, people very rarely go to other regions.”
“It’s very different on our planet. Countries and borders are very well defined.”
“Tell me, has it worked?” Tom asked innocently. He already knew the answer. He was drawing Don out.
“Of course. Our nationality is our identity. It defines us. It separates us from the rest,” said Don proudly.
“And therein lies your problem,” he said.
“What problem?”
“Don’t you see? Without realizing it, you’re saying ‘them’ and ‘us’. Define ‘us’ and define ‘them’? Is ‘us’ something based on your nationality?”
“Yes.”
“So people from your planet are not one but different by country,” Tom continued.
“Yes.”
“So when does ‘us’ stop?”
“What do you mean?” replied Don.
“Let’s break it down. You have states within countries, right?”
“Right.”
“So, breaking them down further, you have cities within states and neighborhoods in cities. Are you with me?”
“So far, yes.”
“Good. Let’s continue. Houses in the neighborhoods, families living the houses, and some of them are joint-families.”
“Joint-families?”
“Families living together in one house.”
“Oh, right.”
“So when does ‘us’ stop?”
“Okay, you’ve lost me. I still don’t get it,” Don replied.
“Is ‘us’ as in your country and ‘them’ as in other countries, or ‘us’ as in your state and ‘them’ in other states?”
“Well…er…”
“But the states are in the same country,” Tom continued. “So, I ask you again, when does ‘us’ stop? ‘Us’ as in your country, ‘us’ as in your state or ‘us’ as in something else?”
“I see,” said Don, realizing what Tom was saying. He didn’t know what to say.
“And what happens if you move to another city or to another state?”
“Then I’ll be welcomed,” he replied. “We take care of our own.”
“’Take care of our own.’” Tom laughed sarcastically.
“What? Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?” Don asked.
“What’s ‘our own?’” Tom replied. “Is it religion, nationality? Or is it the human race? Is it gender, the color of your skin? What is it?”
“You mean to the region where the aliens—,” Don caught himself before offending Tom, “your people live?”
“No,” Tom replied. “I mean different regions on this side.”
“Don’t you have countries? Borders?” Don asked.
“No. We don’t need them.”
“Why not?”
“As I said, people very rarely go to other regions.”
“It’s very different on our planet. Countries and borders are very well defined.”
“Tell me, has it worked?” Tom asked innocently. He already knew the answer. He was drawing Don out.
“Of course. Our nationality is our identity. It defines us. It separates us from the rest,” said Don proudly.
“And therein lies your problem,” he said.
“What problem?”
“Don’t you see? Without realizing it, you’re saying ‘them’ and ‘us’. Define ‘us’ and define ‘them’? Is ‘us’ something based on your nationality?”
“Yes.”
“So people from your planet are not one but different by country,” Tom continued.
“Yes.”
“So when does ‘us’ stop?”
“What do you mean?” replied Don.
“Let’s break it down. You have states within countries, right?”
“Right.”
“So, breaking them down further, you have cities within states and neighborhoods in cities. Are you with me?”
“So far, yes.”
“Good. Let’s continue. Houses in the neighborhoods, families living the houses, and some of them are joint-families.”
“Joint-families?”
“Families living together in one house.”
“Oh, right.”
“So when does ‘us’ stop?”
“Okay, you’ve lost me. I still don’t get it,” Don replied.
“Is ‘us’ as in your country and ‘them’ as in other countries, or ‘us’ as in your state and ‘them’ in other states?”
“Well…er…”
“But the states are in the same country,” Tom continued. “So, I ask you again, when does ‘us’ stop? ‘Us’ as in your country, ‘us’ as in your state or ‘us’ as in something else?”
“I see,” said Don, realizing what Tom was saying. He didn’t know what to say.
“And what happens if you move to another city or to another state?”
“Then I’ll be welcomed,” he replied. “We take care of our own.”
“’Take care of our own.’” Tom laughed sarcastically.
“What? Why are you laughing? What’s so funny?” Don asked.
“What’s ‘our own?’” Tom replied. “Is it religion, nationality? Or is it the human race? Is it gender, the color of your skin? What is it?”
November 7, 2016
Tired of the elections?
Want to see what can happen to the lives of common citizens who are divided by politicians?
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/145...
November 5, 2016
Ostriches vs. Believers
There is overwhelming evidence that our world is going through some major changes at an alarmingly breakneck speed. Some of the changes are irreversible, some of them are not, and some of them can be decelerated. Some are natural disasters, while some are manmade. And some are natural disasters that are caused by man. And that is where the arguments and the debates start. Many of us still refuse to accept that those natural disasters are caused by us, and truly believe in their conviction. And some just don’t accept it for multitude of reasons, such as, politics, economics, or pure greed.
There are those who look at the scientific proof. And there are those who reject it, infuriating many. They tend to lean more towards religious beliefs. And then there are the political puppets whose strings are pulled by a few greedy who want to advance their cause at any cost. Any cost! May it be harming the environment (thus affecting the future generation) by the policies they want to implement. However, the policies they want to enact are limited to their own country. They have absolutely no jurisdiction over other countries.
Many years ago, when smoking on airplanes was allowed, there were a few rows of seats, called the smoking section, at the back of the plane. And those who wanted to smoke chose those seats. But the smoke didn’t know this. It would travel to those who were sitting in the non-smoking section and harm them. It just didn’t make sense to smoke on the plane. Finally, the airlines completely banned smoking on the plane.
Drawing a parallel, we are doing the same. We are affecting others. Whether we want to call it a ‘scientific fact’, ‘wrath of god’, ‘doomsday’, ‘Armageddon’, or anything else. The fact is that it is happening. We can either believe that the change is happening or we can choose to be like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand, and thinks it is safe.
We pride ourselves in thinking that we have made progress. But have we? There is more poverty, more disparity between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. People kill more, whether in the name of the religion to protect their ‘own-kind’, in the name of the country to protect their ‘territory’, in the name of ‘morality’ to protect their ‘way-of-life’, so on. But the fact of the matter is people are dying, may it be a result of war, hunger, or anything else. And we are responsible.
Scientists estimate that our Earth is 4.5 billion years old, that is 4,500 million years. And they also estimate that our ancestors, Homo erectus, first appeared about 2 million years ago. So we have been around for just a fraction of the earth’s life. We are always thinking that the earth will be destroyed. But I don’t think so.
I think it will be there, It will be there much longer after we are gone. We will be destroyed.
Even if we humans take another million years, it is inevitable with the way we are going. How many species have gone extinct just in our lifetime? Will we become extinct? Will our blue planet turn into a brown planet or will it stay blue for a very long time? Or will it be completely blue with no brown? Will the blue waters submerge the brown land? It’s up to us. We can either be in this together, or fight each other.
Observe the water draining in a sink. It starts to circle slowly as it drains, and then the vortex gathers speed as its level goes down, rapidly snowballing the drainage.
Similarly, before the vortex of the oceans drains us all down, we all have to do something.
You need not be a religious person to believe in this. Just believe in the facts written all around you. Nobody is going to come from above to help you. You have to do your bit to help—if not for anyone else—yourself. It’s very easy to point the accusing fingers at others. But while doing so, ask yourself honestly, “am I also one of them?” After all, honesty is: doing the right thing when no one is looking.
We can either be like the ostriches, and ignore all the warning around us, or be believers, and do something about it.
The only thing is that we may not have a land to bury our heads in.
Ask yourself, “what am I?”
An excerpt from my second book, Beyond The Milky Way.
There are those who look at the scientific proof. And there are those who reject it, infuriating many. They tend to lean more towards religious beliefs. And then there are the political puppets whose strings are pulled by a few greedy who want to advance their cause at any cost. Any cost! May it be harming the environment (thus affecting the future generation) by the policies they want to implement. However, the policies they want to enact are limited to their own country. They have absolutely no jurisdiction over other countries.
Many years ago, when smoking on airplanes was allowed, there were a few rows of seats, called the smoking section, at the back of the plane. And those who wanted to smoke chose those seats. But the smoke didn’t know this. It would travel to those who were sitting in the non-smoking section and harm them. It just didn’t make sense to smoke on the plane. Finally, the airlines completely banned smoking on the plane.
Drawing a parallel, we are doing the same. We are affecting others. Whether we want to call it a ‘scientific fact’, ‘wrath of god’, ‘doomsday’, ‘Armageddon’, or anything else. The fact is that it is happening. We can either believe that the change is happening or we can choose to be like the ostrich that buries its head in the sand, and thinks it is safe.
We pride ourselves in thinking that we have made progress. But have we? There is more poverty, more disparity between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have-nots’. People kill more, whether in the name of the religion to protect their ‘own-kind’, in the name of the country to protect their ‘territory’, in the name of ‘morality’ to protect their ‘way-of-life’, so on. But the fact of the matter is people are dying, may it be a result of war, hunger, or anything else. And we are responsible.
Scientists estimate that our Earth is 4.5 billion years old, that is 4,500 million years. And they also estimate that our ancestors, Homo erectus, first appeared about 2 million years ago. So we have been around for just a fraction of the earth’s life. We are always thinking that the earth will be destroyed. But I don’t think so.
I think it will be there, It will be there much longer after we are gone. We will be destroyed.
Even if we humans take another million years, it is inevitable with the way we are going. How many species have gone extinct just in our lifetime? Will we become extinct? Will our blue planet turn into a brown planet or will it stay blue for a very long time? Or will it be completely blue with no brown? Will the blue waters submerge the brown land? It’s up to us. We can either be in this together, or fight each other.
Observe the water draining in a sink. It starts to circle slowly as it drains, and then the vortex gathers speed as its level goes down, rapidly snowballing the drainage.
Similarly, before the vortex of the oceans drains us all down, we all have to do something.
You need not be a religious person to believe in this. Just believe in the facts written all around you. Nobody is going to come from above to help you. You have to do your bit to help—if not for anyone else—yourself. It’s very easy to point the accusing fingers at others. But while doing so, ask yourself honestly, “am I also one of them?” After all, honesty is: doing the right thing when no one is looking.
We can either be like the ostriches, and ignore all the warning around us, or be believers, and do something about it.
The only thing is that we may not have a land to bury our heads in.
Ask yourself, “what am I?”
An excerpt from my second book, Beyond The Milky Way.
October 31, 2016
October 27, 2016
October 19, 2016
October 10, 2016
What if there was a wall or a fence dividing India?
India Was One is not an easy read. It is not a love story, a mystery/thriller an adventure, a travel book or anything that fits into a structured genre. But India Was One is all of those things and so much more.
Looking deeply into the culture and mores of a country that most Westerners don't understand, it takes the reader on a journey that is at once heartbreaking and life affirming. This novel will take you to the heart and soul of both the geographic land that is India and the richly diverse culture that is its people.
While none of us can fully understand a people or a culture unless we are part of it, it does open the doors to more comprehensive knowledge of why India is at a crossroad politically and economically.
But this isn't a history book or a travelogue, it is a story of people who love. Living their lives as all of us do. Working, laughing, joking and taking care of themselves and their families. As they celebrate festivals and buy homes you will see people who are living their lives much as we do. Falling in love as we do.
But there is an undercurrent in this rich and warmly penned story. What if India were divided physically? How would that change the lives of the people of India who live there and the lives of those who now live, work and contribute to so many other countries? Are the cultural divisions that are happening so radically in India akin to a physical division. What if there was a wall or a fence dividing India?
For those readers who want a love story and an understanding of a rich diverse culture India Was One will deliver that with warmth and skill. For those that want to understand why India is at such a cross-roads, why so many people are leaving India and emigrating to other countries you will find many of the answers here.
I am glad I read this novel. It increased my understanding and I enjoyed the story. I was disconcerted all the way through the novel by the italic words explaining every native East Indian term used. It took away from the flow of the novel and if the author really felt it was needed a list could have been added to the end of the novel. Most of the words used are not so difficult to figure out in context and for most readers they are not unfamiliar. Other than that and a few editing errors, it was well written. It does use British English so those readers not familiar with usage and spelling will find some differences but they are minor.
It is high on my recommend list.
Looking deeply into the culture and mores of a country that most Westerners don't understand, it takes the reader on a journey that is at once heartbreaking and life affirming. This novel will take you to the heart and soul of both the geographic land that is India and the richly diverse culture that is its people.
While none of us can fully understand a people or a culture unless we are part of it, it does open the doors to more comprehensive knowledge of why India is at a crossroad politically and economically.
But this isn't a history book or a travelogue, it is a story of people who love. Living their lives as all of us do. Working, laughing, joking and taking care of themselves and their families. As they celebrate festivals and buy homes you will see people who are living their lives much as we do. Falling in love as we do.
But there is an undercurrent in this rich and warmly penned story. What if India were divided physically? How would that change the lives of the people of India who live there and the lives of those who now live, work and contribute to so many other countries? Are the cultural divisions that are happening so radically in India akin to a physical division. What if there was a wall or a fence dividing India?
For those readers who want a love story and an understanding of a rich diverse culture India Was One will deliver that with warmth and skill. For those that want to understand why India is at such a cross-roads, why so many people are leaving India and emigrating to other countries you will find many of the answers here.
I am glad I read this novel. It increased my understanding and I enjoyed the story. I was disconcerted all the way through the novel by the italic words explaining every native East Indian term used. It took away from the flow of the novel and if the author really felt it was needed a list could have been added to the end of the novel. Most of the words used are not so difficult to figure out in context and for most readers they are not unfamiliar. Other than that and a few editing errors, it was well written. It does use British English so those readers not familiar with usage and spelling will find some differences but they are minor.
It is high on my recommend list.
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