Has the World Lost its Humanity?

"Fact is Stranger than Fiction"

The Taliban, though they call themselves the 'students of Islam' have become an organization which have spread terror not only in their country, but also all around the world. Here are a few attacks planned by them in recent years:

1. Assasination of Benazir Bhutto 2007
The Taliban group of terrorists assassinated Bhutto. Although they deny their connection with the assassination, there is enough proof that the assassination was, indeed, planned by the Taliban.

2. Marriott bombing 2008
The Taliban claimed responsibility for the Marriott Hotel Truck Bombing in September 2008 in Islamabad which killed 153 people.

3. Times Square Plot 2010
Hakimullah Mehsud had pledged to use suicide bombers in the USA for the Times Square Bomb Plot.

4. Malala Yousafzai Shooting 2012
Malala, a young schoolgirl speaking for the rights of women was shot in the head by the Taliban in 2012.

5. Karachi Airport Attacks 2014

After peace talks with the Pakistan government in June 2014 failed, the Taliban attacked Karachi Airport, killing 26 people.

The UN responded to each of these attacks, recognizing them as a breach of human rights and against the ethics of the world. However, the world did not expect the Taliban to commit as pathetic, unethical, and inhuman an act as was comitted by them on the 16th of December, 2014 which has been recorded as the deadliest of their attacks till date.

The Taliban infiltrated a school in Peshawar on the morning of 16th December 2014. They open fired at the students and teachers of the school killing 141 people, including 132 children.

Several children who survived have told wrenching, horrific stories to Reuters. Some describe the militants as speaking either Arabic or Farsi, others describe lying among their peers as the gunmen swept through rooms, and still more evince the untold scars that the experience has left them with.

One student, Jalal Ahmed, 15, could hardly speak, choking with tears: “I am a biochemistry student and I was attending a lecture in our main hall. After some time we heard someone kicking the back doors. Then the men came with big guns.” 

Ahmed started to cry. Standing next to his bed, his father, Mushtaq Ahmed, said: “He keeps screaming: ‘take me home, take me home, they will come back and kill me.’”

One nine-year-old boy, who asked not to be named because he was too afraid to be identified, said teachers shepherded his class out through a back door as soon as the shooting began.

“The teacher asked us to recite from the Koran quietly,” he said. “When we came out from the back door there was a crowd of parents who were crying. When I saw my father he was also crying."

These are the nature of the gory, inhuman acts being comitted today by the terrorists on the Taliban who mercilessly murder innocent citizens with non chalant attitudes.

Not only has this affected the families of the victims, but also all the survivors who can never forget the picture of the blood covered battlefield filled with bodies of their friends, peers and teachers.

Is this what our world has come to?
Is this the future of the human race?
Is this what humanity believes in?

Lost Generation by Jonathan Reed

I am part of a lost generation
and I refuse to believe that
I can change the world
I realize this may be a shock but
“Happiness comes from within.”
is a lie, and
“Money will make me happy.”
So in 30 years I will tell my children
they are not the most important thing in my life
My employer will know that
I have my priorities straight because
work
is more important than
family
I tell you this
Once upon a time
Families stayed together
but this will not be true in my era
This is a quick fix society
Experts tell me
30 years from now, I will be celebrating the 10th anniversary of my divorce
I do not concede that
I will live in a country of my own making
In the future
Environmental destruction will be the norm
No longer can it be said that
My peers and I care about this earth
It will be evident that
My generation is apathetic and lethargic
It is foolish to presume that
There is hope.

And all of this will come true unless we choose to reverse it.

Now, read the poem line by line in reverse, and maybe, we will not be part of a Lost Generation

Excursion 2k14

Note: This is a very brief write up on our school excursion this year. I hope the reader finds it descriptive, informative and fairly interesting

Excursion. We translate it to a time when memories are made. This year, we went to Coorg for our excursion. Our first impression of our destination was the cool whiff of air that refreshed us as we disembarked from the train, hot and claustrophobic. We reached our resort, stopping for breakfast along the way.

On reaching our resort, we were given time to relax till Formal Night. However, most of us utilised this time to play a sport or explore the resort.

Formal Night was exciting- we enjoyed dancing to upbeat songs while outside, it poured incessantly.

The following day, we went sightseeing to the temple where the river Kaveri originates. We were told the fascinating legend on the origination of the river Kaveri. The trek to the refreshing Chelavara falls was tiring but pleasant.

Our journey back was rather forlorn, but we would remember all the fun we had and cherish all the memories made in excursion this year.

Review: The Krishna Key by Ashwin Sanghi

It was my father who had purchased this book, just as a pastime read on his flight to Kolkata. On his return, he had high praise for this book, and recommended it to me. 

Normally, I'm not a big fan of Indian authors(mostly because of Chetan Bhagat's ventures in the field of urban Indian literature) I did not keep high expectations for the book. However, when I started reading, Sanghi's introductory note, and his approach to the commencement of the book was fantastic. 

His research was thorough- he started the story with the story of the Blue God, the eighth avatar or incarnation of Vishnu, Krishna. The fact that he started Krishna's story from the very beginning- giving the reader an insight on Krishna's ancestry was commendable.

The main plot started with the gory murder of archaeologist and historian, Anil Varshney who was believed to be the possessor of four seals and a baseplate, which, together formed the Krishna Key. The murderer has stabbed him on the foot with a scalpel, had put a stamp of a chakra on his forehead and had painted a shloka in praise of Krishna above his head. Varshney however, was a visionary. Knowing the importance of these seals, he had left each of them with four friends of his. 

In a frantic rush after his murder, his close friend and possessor of one of the seals, Ravi Mohan Saini is accused of the murder. On the other side, the story of Sampath Sharma[alias Taarak Vakil] who is guilty of the actual murder is illuminated by the author. Professor Ravi Mohan Saini along with his dedicated doctorate student Priya Ratnani escapes from the clutches of aggressive policewoman Radhika Singh. 

Saini who is aware of the other intellectuals Varshney had left the seals in possession of intends to find them and warn them about the serial killer on the loose. 

In a mad quest for the seals and base plate, along with inspiring back stories of all the main protagonists- Sanghi has also included interesting pieces of information from the ancient Vedas and Upanishads; thrown light on many misconceptions; and enlightened the reader on Hindu mythology. 

Two- thirds through the book, the plot gets heated as a plot twist changes the face and place of action in the book. At the end of the book, the author does teach the readers the expected moral or lesson- 'the philosopher is more important than the stone.'

Before I disclose anymore information, I do recommend this book to readers of all ages. It is not only interesting, but also informative. 

Diwali: The Festival of Lights

It's that time of the year again. Diwali. For us Hindus, this festival is probably one of the most important of all celebrations. However, the ignorance of many Hindus(mostly the younger generations) as to the reason of celebrating this festival, still strikes me as astonishing. I thought that I should compile information to create a brief account which highlights the main reasons for the celebration of this festival, and the rituals and procedures associated with it.

Day 1 - Dhanteras- It is the day we worship goddess Lakshmi. The word Dhanteras is derived from Dhan- which means wealth and teras- meaning thirteen[it is celebrated on the thirteenth day of the Krishna Paksha- the dark fortnight- as per the Hindu lunar calendar.] On this day, we worship Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and prosperity to keep us happy and prosperous the rest of the year.  Lamps are lit in the evening and colourful alpanas or rangolis are made, symbolising the footprints of Lakshmi, welcoming her home.



New clothes and jewellery is worn to venerate the occasion. We also worship lord Kubera, the god of assets.
The legend attached to it: King Hima had a sixteen year old son, whose janampatri or horoscope predicted that he would die of a snake bite on the fourth day of his marriage. On the fourth day of his marriage, the son's newly-wed did not allow him to sleep. She placed  diyas or lamps, ornaments, gold coins and silver utensils at the threshold of the sleeping chamber. She then proceeded to keep her husband awake by singing devotional songs, and telling him stories. When Yama, the God of Death, arrived at the chamber in the guise of a snake, his eyes started gleaming at the sight of all the diyas, ornaments, silver and gold. He slithered on to a pile of gold and sat there the rest of the night, listening to the bride's stories and songs. The next morning,Yama got off the gold and left. Thus, the newly-wed bride's intelligence had paid off. 
According to another popular legend, when the Devas or the gods and the Asuras or the demons were churning the ocean of milk for Amritam or ambrosia, Dhanvantri(an incarnation of Lord Vishnu) appeared carrying a jar of elixir on Dhanteras.

Day 2 - छोटी दिवाली. It's also known as Naraka Chaturdashi. On this day, goddess kali defeated the asura Narakasura, who was a symbol of laziness and evil- the two things that create hell in our lives. As a result, we normally clean ourselves well by applying sandalwood paste and apply kajal to our eyes, to wash away any evil and to keep evil eyes away.

Day 3 - Our main day. It coincides with the darkest, new moon night of the Hindu lunisolar month Kartika. Although the main reason for our celebration is that this was the day Lord Ram returned to Ayodhya after fourteen years of exile, there are numerous reasons for the celebration. One of them is that Diwali marks the end of the harvest period in India. Another is that after the birth of goddess Lakshmi from the churning of the ocean of milk, she chose Vishnu as her husband on the night of Diwali- she is believed to visit different peoples' houses and grant them health, wealth and prosperity. This day also marks the return of the five Pandavas after twelve years of vanvas or exile, and one year of agyatvas. Another reason(because of which the Jains celebrate Diwali) is that this was the day Mahavira attained moksha or salvation. The Sikhs celebrate Bandi Chhor Divas. This day also marks the new year according to the Hindi calendar. 
On this day, we clean our houses; decorate them and ourselves- both externally and internally. This day is supposed to be a time when good triumphs over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, hard work over laziness and hope over despair. Thus, it is a day of light and colours. Fireworks of a variety of hues illuminate the skies of India on Diwali- bringing colour, light and happiness to the lives of the spectators. We go shopping for necessities on this day- and take oaths to turn over a new leaf in the year ahead.

Day 4 - Diwali Padwa. It is dedicated to the bond created by the husband and wife. On this day, they reaffirm their vows they took to each other, and pray for the longevity of their relationship. The husbands give thoughtful gifts to their spouses. 
On this day, devotees perform the Goverdhan Puja in honour of Lord Krishna.

Day 5 - Bhai Dooj. Brothers visit all their sisters on this day to pay them respect. The sister is supposed to prepare something special for the brother so that they protect their sisters. This is mostly done by feeding the brother with the sumptuous meal prepared by the sister and then putting a Tika or Tilak on the brother's forehead, as a mark of the oath taken by them to protect their sisters.

This majestic festival, with no particular reason for celebration, never fails to amaze me. Its intricate rituals and spiritual meaning is what makes it the most important festival of the versatile subcontinent that is, India. 

Corruption: It Starts at Our Fingertips

Corruption. It has been defined as a fraudulent or dishonest conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. Most of us think- or rather, know- that today, our country India is renowned for her corrupt politicians. However, what most of us don't understand that we are to be blamed for corruption and bribery. 

Whenever we need to get some work done, for instance, get our passport renewed; instead of going to the passport office and waiting in a queue for hours, we just send our passports through a 'middle man' with a number of thousand rupee notes, and voila! our work is done. Isn't this bribery, and isn't this the start of corruption? 

Six months ago, my mother sent her passport to the passport office to get a change in address. She didn't send it through a 'middle man.' She went to the passport office herself to get it changed. The passport office should have been able to carry out this address change in less than a week. However, since my mother did not put a heavy sum with her passport, it is still 'under review' in the passport office. My mother has been called for a police verification twice for a mere change of address. On the other hand, if she had given some money with her passport, she would've got it back within a week. 

This corruption, that starts with us affects millions of the 'lower-middle class' families who wait for hours everyday in government offices- for a passport, for pension. Even in courts, families have to wait for months- even years- before they finally get justice.

Another aspect of corruption- whenever we go shopping to a fairly expensive store, we have the habit of 'bargaining.' A few days ago, I'd gone to our local grocery store to buy a few things. While waiting at the cash counter, I overheard an educated woman(I deduced this from the fact that she was wearing a lab coat over her expensive- looking saree, and she had a hospital ID card around her neck) asking the shopkeeper to give her a bottle of ketchup with a fixed MRP at a lower price. This is, in reality, an attempt to get something with a fixed price- which cannot be changed- at a lower rate. It can even be considered a punishable offence, as it could be assumed that the buyer is not willing to fulfil taxes. 

Thus, most government officials are unwilling to work efficiently unless they are bribed. If we, on one hand, stop bribing them, we could potentially prevent the two elephantine problems currently being faced today because of our misdemeanour - bribery and corruption.

Recipe- Croissants!

Ingredients:
For the dough
900 g Flour
21 g Salt
150 g Sugar
560 ml Milk
14 g Dried Yeast
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500 g Cold Butter
extra flour
1 egg (for eggwash)

Method:
Combine flour, salt and sugar in a bowl. Add the yeast. Wait for 5 mins before whisking together. Heat the milk to 37degrees Celsius. Add to the flour mixture and mix well with a wooden spoon. Cover in numerous layers of plastic and refrigerate for 8 hours.
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8 hours later, pound the cold butter with a rolling pin into a rectangle. Then, roll the chilled dough into a rectangle. Distribute the butter, so that it covers 2/3rd of the dough. Fold the dough like a letter on the butter, then rotate the dough by 90 degrees. Pound this dough and roll into a rectangle again. This time fold the dough like a wallet twice. Wrap in plastic and rest in the fridge for 8 hours.
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Preheat the oven to 200degrees Celsius. Roll the dough into rectangles 1/6 inch thick. Cut into triangles. Make a small slit at the base of each triangle and start rolling upward. Place the rolled croissants on a baking sheet for 30 mins. Then, brush with the egg wash and bake in the oven for 15 minutes.
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Cooking: A Way of Life

Cooking - a simple way of life which has become a sophisticated art, quite difficult to master. The big question is- how did a mere everyday task like cooking become a worldwide recognised skill in just a few years? Well, the answer to this question is- Masterchef. 

Of course, cooking was a respected passion and chefs were being produced in scores each year, but it was never a recognised dexterity that is, to say, something everyone was appalled by. Masterchef was originally created in 1990. It was then revived by the UK in 2005, and it's theme was adapted by more than 140 countries. Over the years, it has become a worldwide sensation.

It was Masterchef Australia that kindled my interest for cooking. I clearly remember watching my first episode of Masterchef Australia which was incidentally, the Grand Finale. The subtle complexity of the Snow Egg by Peter Gilmore fascinated me. To be able to replicate  such a chimera would be a challenging task.

Greatly inspired by the contestants' efforts, I walked into my kitchen. I thought baking chocolate chip cookies would be a good way to kick-start my to-be hobby. I found a 'decent- looking' recipe(I only say this because of the display picture near the recipe) on the Internet and started. I put my 'dough'(which looked more like cake batter)in the oven, brought a chair, and sat in front of the oven, anxiously waiting for my cookies to bake. Unfortunately, they turned out to burnt, bitter, and terribly floury- a disaster. However, this did not stop me. 

Croissants and Pain au chocolat

This is a picture of some croissants I baked recently. I have developed my cooking skills since the chocolate chip cookie incident three years ago.