Human is the best of animals because it has a brain and it is the worst of animals because it has a brain. To deal with human, we can’t afford to be humane. We ought to give a chance or two. But the more chance human gets the more he/she will get used to it and will abuse the leniency.

Since last 1.5 year, I’m reading about the violence in Melbourne’s Central Business District (CBD). I don’t think there is any lack of police protection in CBD during weekends. There is no lack of money to spend on toys to reduce the crime. But the menace persists and it continues to deter normal Joe like me to venture out to CBD especially during late night over the weekends. I think the reason for this alcohol fuelled menace is the kid-glove approach of the law enforcement agencies. What else can the reason be? There is lack of concerted effort to discipline the drunken mob. Solution can be in putting these drunks in jail, hitting hard on their wallet and giving a lot of press to drum public awareness. And I can guarantee that the mob will disappear in no time. It is really a cause of concern that a first-world country like Australia is unable to guarantee safety of its residents at the heart of Melbourne, which claims to be the most livable city in the world. What kind of image these never ending incidents in the heart of the city is projecting to the outside world. Had it been a poor, third-world country, it is quite understandable. But unfortunately it is Australia. The mob has to be controlled with iron feast. I would like to sight an example. Few days ago an utterly drunken bloke hopped on the tram with a bottle in his hand. He was wobbling and completely out of control. But to my surprise he tried his best to validate his ticket. But well he failed as he could not find the slot in the machine. But the bottom line is that a drunk could not forget the fact that if he gets caught he will have to cough up 200 odd $ and there won’t be any excuses. So why can’t we have similar formula in CBD. Last week a mob attacked a guy who landed in hospital fighting for his life. But I read in the newspaper that it is unlikely that anybody will be charged. Tolerance is really encouraging violence. Sometimes punishment is the best way to discipline people. I’m not an advocate of fear-psychology but public safety is absolutely important.

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I’m not deviating from my blog rule i.e. I won’t criticize any country other than India. I’m a resident of Australia at this point of time and I’m paying tax to the Australian Government. So it is my right to demand proper security at least in CBD.

Religion is just a way of living. Religion is nothing more than expression of faith. None of us choose a religion; rather we are born into one. At the end of the day we are all human beings all flesh and bone. You will never find an iota of religion in the anatomy of a human. As there are many means to do something, there are many religions to achieve a common objective e.g. peace and happiness. Yet, why we become slave to a religion? Why it becomes a case of my religion is better than yours? Is not it foolish? If we turn the pages of history then the foolishness of human becomes more evident with scores of battle fought in the name of religion. It has always been the case that a small section of wayward always hijacks the spotlight and creates havoc. Just yesterday a group of vandals roughed up women in a pub in India and the same group justified its act by saying that it is the custodian of Indian values. But what is that Indian value?? I bet my month’s salary on the fact that the people involved are hired thugs. They have no idea of why they are doing this, except the fact that they are being paid for it (well I did not know that the ‘Indian value’ is all about beating up of women. Incredible India!!!!).

‘Indian value’ is a very broad term as the civilization has almost five thousand years of history.

Boozing is bad and everybody knows it. Yet at the end of the day we are all individuals and we have our own judgement and values. People should be made aware of the downside through education but we need to realize that it is impossible to force value down the throat of a person. We can do so much. So let’s not try to create a moral police force to rub people of their human right.

General election is round the corner. I hope people won’t forget this shameful incident. However much BJP tries to distance itself from these splinter Hindu extremist organizations, at the end of the day the foundation of BJP rests on ‘Hindutva’. And without small extremist organizations BJP can’t survive. I hope citizens of India can clearly see the evil nexus. I hope people of India hold political leaders accountable. I hope people don’t forget the fact that India is burning since the rise of Hindutva movement in late 80s and early 90s. I have nothing against any political party but I’m concerned about the role of religion in politics of a secular country.

Let’s say NO to the ‘Talibanization’ of India. Let’s live up to the true ‘Indian value’ that is respect and tolerance of diversity.

 The arrest of Hindu activists in India in connection with bomb blasts is a fact that I want to forget. How can somebody kill innocent people in the name of religion? India has always been conquered yet never tried to conquer. The reason is the passive nature of Hinduism. But at this point of time militant Hindus are trying to reverse the thousands of years of legacy. But are these people in right course? No. Rather than cleaning up their own house they are trying their level best to put the blame on others.

 Conversion is a big ticket item in Indian politics now. But has any Hindu leader has really tried to understand what is the reason for tribals and SC/STs to embrace Christianity? I don’t think so. Had the Hindu leaders tried to understand the real reason for Conversion they won’t be at loggerheads with Christians and burning down churches. Centuries of systematic segregation/humiliation of a set of people in the name of caste is the reason for Conversion. Why an individual is superior to another individual because of birth? As a human being does not have control over his/her birth, it is very absurd to measure the importance of a human based on his family. A human is an individual first before he/she belongs to a caste, a country. We need to understand this. Buddha, Gandhi, Mother Teresa and Mandela reached the pinnacle of success not because of their lineage but because of who they themselves are. Rather than giving respect to individual, Hindu society subjugates a section of society to third class status. I respect human spirit and I feel I’ll go where I get respect. I’ll always leave a society, a country where I’ll be treated as third class citizen. And I don’t blame tribals and other section of Indian society to embrace Christianity. At least they are getting respect as an individual that is the most important thing in life. Now this bunch of Hindu activists can neither give equal right to individual nor can they tolerate when individuals leave the wretched religion. What these activists want? God only knows. Perpetual feudalism?

 Yesterday I was at ISCON temple at Melbourne. I saw a number of Anglo-Saxon and individuals of African origin at the temple. It gave me a great joy as these people are trying and embracing a great culture (not religion). They were standing in front of Lord Jagannath and seeking wisdom. But the real land of Lord Jagannath is Puri, India. And only Hindus are allowed to enter Jagannath temple in Puri? Why? As the name suggests ‘Jagat’ means universe and ‘Nath’ means master. So ‘Jagannath’ means master of universe. Why not everybody is allowed to enter his temple? Why a bunch of ignoramus, illiterate individuals has hijacked the right of rest of the world? Why we are so narrow in our mentality? Why the Hindu organizations that are fighting so hard to save Hinduism are not trying to eradicate the rot in Hindu society? I know I won’t get answers to my questions. I know I’ll be frustrated at the end.

 Killing innocent people won’t change the truth as the cold blooded murder of the father of nation could not change the truth. Murder and social disturbance will only exacerbate the problem.

 But what hurts me most is that these militant Hindu organizations have absolute zero contribution to our society, our country and Hinduism. But they have hijacked the religion. I sincerely hope that my fellow country men will realize the danger and choose the right course of action.

I saw three documentaries and I’m confused now…

Few years ago I’ve seen a documentary which was based on a true story of a child custodial battle. But the battle was not between estranged spouses but it was between the father and the State. If I can remember correctly the concerned country was Ireland (but not sure). The story goes like this. Mother of the family ran away with another man. As per the law of the land, concerned department decided that father is not rich enough to care for his kids. But the bond between the dad and the kids was too strong. The guy tried his best but he could not find a job that could convince the department to hand him over his children. Then an American layer heard the plight of the father and decided to help him without any fee. They fought the State and at the end won the case. There was a quote from Bible that said ‘Nobody, not even God can snatch away the right of a father on his children’. It was such a nice story and was a victory of an individual’s right.

Few months back Australian Parliament extended a formal apology to the aboriginal people for the mistakes that the State perpetrated over an extended period of time. The matter is known as ‘Stolen Generation’. There was a political debate but the ruling party went ahead with its apology. It was a triumph of individuals over the State. Australians are remarkably brave in the sense that they acknowledged the wrong done in past and took steps to amend the same. So what I want to point out is that the right of individual is supreme and the State can’t interfere.

I saw a documentary last evening and it was about children in red light district of Kolkata, India. The name of the documentary is ‘Born into Brothels’. It was quite interesting to see that an American woman fighting for the forgotten children and trying to rescue them from the hell. Some of these children won photographic prizes and she managed to put them into schools with great difficulty. But few years later most of these children were back to where they belong. In most of the cases the reason for their inability to continue studies was parental pressure. Parents can’t just realize that a brothel is not the right place for kids. Parents love is unconditional. But they are blind in that love. When those little girls reach the ‘sellable’ age, they will be an object for men. How far a man can degrade to use a woman as an object of desire? Just for few minutes of pleasure man can shatter a life. But I hate those mothers and fathers whose blind love is responsible for the plight of those small girls. What is their life? What is love for them? What is their world? What is their right? When a thirteen years old prostitute stands in front of a mirror, what will she see? Is it her reflection? She should be a free spirit exploring the world at that age. But here she is just a living dead.

Well, the point I’m trying to make is whether the future of a child has to be solely decided by his/her parents? Can the State and community be a silent spectator? Are we doing justice to the child? No. Then where to draw the line? I don’t know. I’m asking myself this question since yesterday but I’m yet to find an answer. By giving three examples I just wanted to find an answer, which is still eluding me.

Further Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stolen_generation

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_into_Brothels

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0388789/