How to score a self-goal?

I don't think anyone could have said it any better. A must read for all 'reasonable' people.

Gurcharan Das's article on the Cola Pesticide Matter

Should cause a serious rethink, if you have already made up your mind.
Am not writing a separate piece because as I said before, no one could have said it any better. Plus, not in the mood to be verbose on such a beautiful Sunday morning.

Unforgettable!

This is one of my most favourite songs, keeps playing the whole time. Nat King Cole’s the best!

Unforgettable, that’s what you are
Unforgettable though near or far
Like a song of love that clings to me
How the thought of you does things to me
Never before has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, its incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too

No never before
has someone been more

Unforgettable in every way
And forever more, that’s how you’ll stay
That’s why, darling, its incredible
That someone so unforgettable
Thinks that I am unforgettable too

Don't you think so?

I accuse!

Today marks the 62nd anniversary of the noting of the last entry by Anne Frank in her famous diary. For those who don't know who is Anne Frank, well, this article should be informative enough. What is so remarkable about a diary entry, you ask? 

Only because this diary serves as the human face of the Holocaust, of the mirror that reflects back the horror, the terror, and yet the humanity with which the victims of the Nazi scourge lived their last days on Earth. Ms. Frank's diary, in the words of the Dutch journalist and historian, Jan Romein, stammered out in a child's voice, embodies all the hideousness of fascism, more so than all the evidence at Nuremberg put together. She has, for decades, represented or rather symbolised the millions systematically massacred by the Third Reich, and to this day, her diary remains one of the most haunting and impressive accounts of the lives of the persecuted masses. 

 So why the sudden focus on a diary? Because Ms. Frank died not because of her political views, but because she happened to be an adherent to the Jewish faith. The state of Israel came into being, and with renewed urgency, so as to preempt any such systemic annihilation of their race in the future. One would expect that such a State would then be sensitive to the value of innocence. 

But sadly, Israel chooses not to, and justifies its jaundiced vision with Augustinian logic. The writings of Saint Augustine of Hippo, pre-eminent Doctor of the Church, have often been used to put forth the tradition of the just war. Israel contends that its war on the Hizbollah is justified, in keeping with the criteria of jus ad bellum. 

Jus ad bellum justifies a war should it be for a just cause, such as to defend against an external attack or to recapture something taken illegally. In Israel's case, it contends that the capture of its soldiers by the Hizb fits within the criteria. Again, although Israel has never denied that the Hizb and in particular the people of the Golan Heights have suffered as a result of its conflict, the injustice that it has suffered or could suffer should it remain silent significantly outweighs that suffered by the Lebanese people now. 

 Again, Augustine justifies war should it have been waged for a right intention, as to correct a suffered wrong. Israel contends that it has suffered a grevious wrong, and that the Lebanese State, by tolerating the Hizb, has indirectly acknowledged its own responsibility in this whole matter. Israel also believes that the overall destruction that may happen in the course of its campaign will be significantly outweighed by the good achieved should the Hizb's machinery be destroyed therein. 

And last but not the least, Israel submits that since the Hizb has rejected all attempts to arrive at a peaceful solution, there remains no other option before the Israelis, save that of war. 

 Ok, so jus ad bellum is vindicated, in this case. One point to Israel. 

Now moving to point two: Jus in bello, or how to conduct a just war. The tradition of St. Augustine strictly forbids the bombing of civilian residential areas, which do not include any military targets, on the grounds that the war must be strictly directed against those who have perpetrated the wrong. 

Again, the force used must be proportional to the wrong endured. Meaning, if you start having too many civilian casualties, your claim to justness becomes even more hollow. Also, a just war must use minimum force, to limit unnecessary death and destruction. This tradition is retained in the Geneva Conventions as well, to which Israel is a signatory. So far, Israel is failing on all points. 

Israel has bombed civilian areas indiscriminately, and has killed hundreds in the two weeks since the escalation of the struggle. True, the Hizb's machinery is also taking a hit, but couldn't there have been a more practical alternative? Also, the Israeli armed forces have had a continuously horrendous accuracy as far its targets have been. Israeli airstrikes have hit clearly marked Red Cross ambulances, UN posts and convoys, grain silos, medical and relief trucks, fuel containers and service stations, the Jiyeh power plant (which incidentally caused the worst environmental disaster for the Mediterranean region) and Lebanon's largest dairy farm. Wonder what Mr. Peretz was thinking? 

The worst charge however is yet to come. The Israeli Defense Force is reportedly using depleted uranium warheads against the Hizb. True, desperate times calls for desperate measures, but this desperate? 

The Holocaust took the lives of nearly 6 million Jews, and in total of nearly 9 to 11 million people. The world stood watching as this happened. Innocence died once then. I accuse Israel of killing it once again.

Baccalaureus In Arte Ingeniaria!

Finally, it's over. Engineering could well classify as one of the Seven Plagues of the Heavens, what with all the trials and tribulations it inflicts upon those who seek to walk in its path. And yet, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life so far. I have found friends, friends whose company I have come to treasure more than anything. I also got to understand that although failure is to be avoided at all circumstances, but it isn't the end of things; rather, it is the beginning of a new struggle, to better oneself, to face the world in a better and more effective manner. I also came to realise that I wasn't as dumb as I thought myself to be. True, my friends would beg to differ, and I might even agree, but then I never deny that I am sometimes dumb, maybe just as much as to be completely condemned to an institution.

Having those two letters B.E. (with the two periods in between as well) is perhaps the greatest prize that one can achieve after having tolerated tortuous lectures, numbing practical sessions, and dumb assignments and journals. Suddenly all that time seems so very bearable, because now in a moment, one has suddenly grown from a nervous student to a confident engineer, a person in one's own right. The convocation is in December, and maybe I will be here in Mumbai, or maybe not. Whatever it may be, there's no force on earth (other than my boss) which can stop me from attending my convocation, and wearing that black robe, with the chocolate (don't ask me why chocolate) sash.
Could there be a more delightful thing in life? I am still trying to figure it out.

Humanity at its best!

I guess it was expected. Mumbai would fight back, it won't be cowed down. She has seen too much of this to now be affected by this. This may seem inhumane, for one needs time to recover from such a fatal blow, and yet, Mumbai knows that to stop, even for a moment, in its pace would be even more fatal to it. And won't she be playing into the hands of those who have desecrated her peace? Won't she, by slowing down to grieve, demean the memories of those who have died, for did they not live to work, in all their industrious and determined spirits? No, she must go on, as before. She will survive this day, and many more like these. Justice will be done, one day, but it will be done, either on earth or above.

It is humbling to see the people of this fair city come forward and assist total strangers in this crisis. And this comes from a city called the 'rudest' city by a periodical? Wonder what they will say now? The timely assistance delivered by the passer-bys to the injured may have saved countless lives, for had one waited for the official arrangements to arrive, god knows how many more would have died. And the system also must be credited in its quickness to react. One could see policemen at every corner, in a reassuring manner, to tell people that even if such dastardly acts have occured, they must maintain their calm and composure. The radio spoke of the need to be calm, people poured in with information, about the traffic conditions, about their desire to be of assistance. This is the true face of Mumbai, a city of love, compassion, humanity. Stripped of her garb of fame and glory, and stark in her humane glow. Living her motto, 'I Will Survive'. Gloria Gaynor would have been pleased.

A city bleeds!

My city bleeds again, and I weep for it. I weep for its people, industrious, noble, good at heart, unconcerned with what their neighbour is doing, and yet eager to rush to his succour should he need it. I weep for the land that has seen so many of her children fall to the crazed mania of demented souls. I weep for the skies that had to behold the painful sight of watching the tongues of fire consume bodies and souls. It is in these moments of anguish that one questions, "Has He forsaken us? If not, why does He torment us so? Why does He question our faith in Him?"
And weeping is not the only thing I wish to do. For there is rage, anger, wrath to be felt as well. Anger at those who believe the senseless killing of innocents, oblivious to the cause of their to-be murderers, will serve any purpose. Rage at those who assist these demons in the guise of human beings, and condemn their fellow beings to a most dastardly death. Wrath at those who will offer these sons of Lucifer support, even if it even be moral and diplomatic.
What good will this violence serve? Will the blood of innocents be the standard of the nation they seek to form? Will the cries of widows and orphans be the song of their rejoicing? Will the tears of those who suffered be the water that they partake of? And do they expect their own state to be in peace when bought at such a horrific price? Thou shalt reap what thou hast sowed.
I can offer nothing but my condolences to those who have lost their loved ones in these cowardly incidents. It is hard, and I cannot even begin to imagine the pain, the suffering, and the horror that they are going through right now. I ask of them to take some comfort in this that their beloved at least must have felt no pain when they died, that the unholy cataclysm in its flares granted them the most peaceful of departures. Of those whose beloved have died of injuries, believe that he/she has finally been freed of the pain, the suffering, and that it is just a silent sleep for them. Those whose loved one(s) are still in hospital, I pray and hope that they recover well and as soon as possible.
To the government, I ask: Will we get to see a State that is for its people, or will you again bungle up and deny people justice? Let this be a warning, the penultimate one! No more, I pray!