The Day The World Stood Still

11th september 2oo1 or 9/11.This one day changed the world forever.

what do i mean,well the destruction of the world trade center in manhattan struck a blow not only at the institutions of American and global capitalism but at the self-confidence that under girded them, the self-confidence of a social and political system that, without needing to think about it too much, believed it had found the answer to life’s challenges and could conquer them all.

it shattered the americans sense of invulnerability,the U.S despite fighting a dozen major wars in its history, had not seen a direct attack on a major city in living memory. No foreign force had attacked Washington since the British burned the fledgling American capital in 1812.Stunning

on 9/11, geography — America’s distance from the rest of the world, separated from everyone else by two oceans — offered no protection. If only by bringing home to Americans the end of their insulation from the passions that have bedevilled the rest of the globe, September 11 changed the world forever.

This was a crime of the 21st century,the horrifying events of that one day are emblematic of our new century in another crucial way. The defining features of today’s world are the relentless forces of globalisation, the ease of communications and travel, the shrinking of boundaries, the flow of people of all nationalities and colours across the world, the swift pulsing of financial transactions with the press of a button. The planes, the cell phone, the computer, are the tools of our time. These very forces, which in a more benign moment might have been seen as helping drive the world towards progress and prosperity, were the forces used on 9/11 by the terrorists in their macabre dance of death and destruction.

after 9/11, we have seen the opposite of the earlier attitude of the Bush administration: war in Afghanistan and the toppling of the Taliban government in Kabul; the invasion of Iraq and the fall of Baghdad, followed by occupation, Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, and now the ‘‘surge’’; the ‘‘global war on terror,’’ with the attendant curtailing of civil liberties, Guantanamo and rendition; and the addition of Madrid, London and Bali to the list of places targeted by Islamic terrorists loosely affiliated with al-Qaida.

The 21st century has been born in fire and baptised in blood.

what does it mean?

I often ask myself"what does it mean to be Indian".I'll never know if i'll ever have the right answer,but here are my thoughts

I hail from a land where 2 of the major 4 religions of the world were born,i.e Hinduism and Buddhism,a land where christianity was introduced before it saw light in europe,before the creation of the Vatican,if that helps!Jews have lived in india for centuries without prosecution or fear,coexisting with other faiths.And lastly we come to Islam,hindus and people of other faiths have lived in relative peace for millenia,sure there was violence between hindus and muslims,many predicted this would lead to the breaking up of India as a country.These prophecies have remained just that,prophecies.

Having said all this,we as Indians have the freedom to pursue any faith or road to spritual enlightenment without any fear of persecution,this is the greatness of India.We are free to go to a mosque or a temple,such freedom is priceless in todays world of hate and mistrust.

We have a free and fair judiciary,which yes maybe slow,but its integrity cannot be questioned.a free press,i.e the freedom to express ones views openly and freely.

Now wecome to everyones favorite whipping boys,the politicians.the public at large is dissillusioned at what they see,they see santimonious windbags clad in khadi,spewing socialist rhectoric,but secretly ammassing huge wealth.This may be true,but our true power lies in our youth,the youth of India belive in India!they belive in the power of change,and are willing to sacrifice,to get at that change.They belive their time is now and nothing and stop them.i wouldn't bet against that!

Through The Looking Glass

Have you ever felt like there was no where to run?

No one there, when all you need is a shoulder to cry on?

Where can you go when you get caught up in the drift of everything that is flowing through your head?

You feel so faraway from the world and you are lost in thought.

Can we make it throught the rain?i belive we can.Even though we may feel alone,and miserable,there's always a glimmer of hope!Though you may be under a dark tree, always look for the light shining through the branches

what an epic!!

what more can one say?The july 6th wimbledon final between Roger Federer&Rafael Nadal was one for the ages.Awe inspiring and timeless,it is arguably the greatest final played on the lawns of the all england club.some now say,it heralds a change of guard in mens tennis,after 6 long years,a new king will be crowned.

This may be true,Roger federers form has not been top notch this season,and for his lofty standards 2008 has been a poor year.only one tournament victory at Estoril,and that too via an injury default to his opponent.People say now doubt his ability,because for the past 6 years he has been so very dominant,a few more losses are magnified and taken apart.such is is the irony;the public expect him to win every single match,they forget even he is human.

what of the demolition at Roland Garros final,tis a mauling i admit,but that is mainly due to his opponent,Rafa Nadal has been so dominant on clay,that if for one year;if roger did not come up against nadal in the final,not many would doubt his chances.but with the Wimbledon crown Rafa Nadal is now the uncrowned world no 1.

Back to the final,down 2 sets Roger looked down and out for the count,but then with the rain break,he came out a new man having found his heart again,winning the next 2 sets on tie breaks and producing some of the most unbeliveable shots with his opponent on match point.This is the sign of a champion.he almost made the impossible seem possible.

But then again,on the other side of the net was the muscleman from Mallorca,Rafa Nada's pure strength won him the title in the end.but his mental strenth is a thing to behold,to lose 2 championship points with a double fault on his own serve,and then through the sheer magic that is Roger Federer.Even though he would have undoubtedly felt hollow inside,he didn't lose heart,the rocky marciano of tennis kept coming back,that speaks volumes of his grit and level headedness.that is also the sign to a true champion!

All this said,Roger Federer is still the U.S Open champion and it would be most unwise to write him off as a relic of a bygone age.all great champions face a slump,after all Tiger Woods went 3 years without a major title.same goes for Roger!

MAGIC AND MYSTERY

There are so many people,who want an answer,a defenitive answer,for everything in life,and even for everything after life.They study and they test,and want to find answers fo some simple uestions,What was the world like before there were people?Was there nothing but darkness before the sun and stars?Was there anything at all?What were we,each of us before we were born?and What more importantly will be be become after we die?

I for one hope these questions are never answered!

For what are we left with if there remains no mystery?what is it within us that so desperately seeks to unravel mysteries and deny magic?fear, i presume,based on the many uncertainities of life and the greatest uncertainity of death.

There is magic all around us!magic that is unexplainable by numbers and formulas.what is the passion evoked by the stirring speech of the commander before the desperate battle,if not magic ?what is love if not magic?

No,i would not like to live in a world bereft of magic!for that is a world without mystery,and what is life if not a mystery!