Hindu household, Urdu nameplate

Over the last couple of decades I have seen Urdu signboards and nameplates disappear fast across the country.

Languages have a region, not religion. Still, it is a fact that such name plates are now rarer to find.

As Urdu is not supposed to be a language that will attract the consumers, shop-owners are also not keen on having display boards in Urdu.

In Muslim localities also Urdu nameplates are now hard to find except in a few cities. That's why such nameplates fascinate me.

Still, in some Kayastha houses you can spot old Urdu nameplates. On the left is the photo of one non-Muslim house sporting an Urdu nameplate.

The owner's name is Awadh Narayan. He is not a Kayastha though. And that's Circa 2008.

Photo (C) Shams Ur Rehman Alavi

Selected couplets of famous poet Munawwar Rana: Urdu Shayari

In Mushairas, Munawwar Rana is one of the most popular poets across the country. A native of Rae Bareli, Rana grew up in Kolkata. His simple language, the idiom of North India and the generous use of Hindi words, are among the reasons for his popularity.

Rana has attained wide acclaim for his couplets on 'maa.n' (Mother). They have been compiled and published by people in many scripts. His poetry is available in Urdu, devanagari, Bangla and other languages.

There has been criticism of his poetry. But the fact remains that he connects with the crowd.

Here are ten selected Urdu couplets:

hum kuchh aise tere diidaar meN kho jaate haiN
jaise bachche bhare baazaar meN kho jaate haiN

naye kamroN meN ab chiizeN puraani kaun rakhtaa hai
parindoN ke liye shahroN meN paani kaun rakhtaa hai

mohaajiro yahii taariiKh hai makaanoN kii
banaane waalaa hameshaa baraamdoN meN rahaa

tujhse bichhDaa to pasand aa gayii be-tartiibii
isse pahle meraa kamraa bhii Gazal jaisaa thaa

kissi bhii moD par tumse vafaa-daarii nahiiN hogii
hameN maaluum hai tumko yah biimaarii nahiiN hogii

tujhe akele paDhuuN koii ham-sabaq na rahe
maiN chaahtaa huuN ki tujh par kisii ka haq na rahe

talvaar to kyaa merii nazar tak nahiiN uThii
us shaKhs ke bachchoN kii taraf dekh liyaa thaa

farishte aake unke jism par Khushbuu lagaate haiN
vo bachche rail ke Dibbe meN jo jhaaDuu lagaate haiN
kisii ko ghar milaa hisse meN yaa koii dukaaN aaii
maiN ghar meN sabse chhoTaa thaa mere hisse meN maaN aaii

sirphire log hameN dushman-e-jaaN kahte haiN
ham jo is mulk kii miTTii ko bhii maaN kahte haiN

Munawwar Raana

Read these couplets at Best Ghazals and Nazms in Urdu and Hindi [devanagri script]

India must protest French ban on Sikh turban with Sarkozy

India must strongly take up the ban on Sikhs wearing turban in French public schools during the visit of President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy.

It is true that France follows a different secular model. But the Sikh religious identity is also unique and for them turban is an essential part of their identity. Ironically the fact that we have a Sikh as Prime Minister, who may not be able to assert his religious identity because he is on a constitutional post.

The government and other top functionaries can make a strong case. But the Sikh community must not be made pay for it. If Manmohan Singh feels uncomfortable, his government and other parties--or a joint delegation, can present the case.

It's an emotional thing, which most of us understand. And, at least, the Sikh children who grow up in France, shouldn't get the feeling that their religion is not in sync with rules of the modern world. Sikhs have fought in France in the World Wars and the adherents of the religion are now more spread across the world.

If India takes up this issue, Sikhs in India will also feel proud of the decision. All of us irrespective of our caste and creed, understand the problem of French Sikhs.

If India can take exception to lot of things going on in other countries, we can definitely speak about this issue and make them listen. Of course, it will be there decision in the end.

Photos: First photo shows Sarkozy and Manmohan

The second photo of La Chapelette cemetery, Paronne, in France where the Sikh soldiers of First World War rest in peace)

Shhh...don't talk about Holocaust

Arun Gandhi, the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, should have known that there are different standards of free speech in the Western World.

If you wish to demonise Muslims or make objectionable caricatures, you will have the free speech advocates firmly standing behind you and calling it your birth right to ridicule Muslims.

But if you 'dare' suggest that Zionists (I am not saying Jews) are exploiting Holocaust, you are in for trouble. In his essay published in the Washington Post, Gandhi wrote that "Jews today not only want the Germans to feel guilty but also the whole world to regret...."

He further wrote that the future of Jewish identity appears bleak as Israel doesn't want to befriend any nation rather wishes to live by dominating others. Now that was enough for Zionists to cry foul.

So much hue and cry was raised that Gandhi was made to resign from the MK Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence, an institute which he founded 17 years ago. So you can't even dare ask Zionists to introspect.

Though I don't like to write much about Israel and Jews (already Urdu papers have spent tonnes of ink and given the penchant among many of us to dub any thing as a Jewish Conspiracy), such incidents are surely unsettling.

Strangely, holocaust remains a holy cow. Germany persecuted Jews. Before them for centuries Britain, France and other countries persecuted them. In many countries they were made to wear distinguishing clothes or marks and were blamed for plague and every epidemic.

The Muslim countries like Turkey and Ethiopia treated Jews better and opened their doors to them. But Europe, in one master-stroke shed its collective guilt by settling the Jews amid Muslim populace, and shifting the battlefield.

Now Jews, a practical race, discovered that Muslims have to be their enemies, and forgot the whole experience of Inquisition. Let us for a moment forget all the historical burden. And wonder what makes the mention of Holocaust such a big crime?

On this blog two years back I had written a similar post when historian David Irving was jailed for denying Holocaust. Ahmedinejad makes the West uncomfortable because he refuses to bear the burden of this strange moral guilt of the Western world.

Of course, Holocaust was bad, a terrible phase. But why should the entire Jewry, all the time, expect the world to be sorry for Hitler's deeds. When Indian Jews, African Jews and Jews in other countries never had a holocaust experience, why should they also expect this.

And when someone like Arun Gandhi says that openly, he is labelled anti-Semite! It's also hounding the 'other'. No lessons from holocaust. It's a Hitlerian thinking. You drop bombs on others in the name of peace. And if somebody dares to suggest, he is called names.

That's unbecoming of the race that gave the world, Spinoza and Einstein. What about Freedom of Speech!

Here is the link to Arun Gandhi's essay

Hindus and Husain: Muharram, Yaum-e-Ashurah and composite culture in India [Communal Harmony Project-6]

See the photo on the left: A tazia in urban India, prompts a woman to nudge her husband, who stops the scooter.

She takes off her footwear, walks up to the tazia and pays her respect to the Tazia that is on its way to the main procession.

Once at the procession, most of the women who make their kids pass under the Tazia, are Hindu. Many Muslims now frown upon the practice and such rituals.

But this is Indianised Islam, a blend of Hindu and Muslim traditions. It's so easy to reject things.

Many Muslims call it a form of idolatory and of course some Hindus now object to this Islamisation of Hinduism.

But these millions of Hindus and Muslims who observe it together, also have an absolute right and a freedom to observe their faith. There is something in this soil that makes an Indian a believer.

What else explains the devotion of Hindu women who don't apply oil in their heads for the ten days of Ashura, to commemorate a battle that occurred far away in Iraq in which the Prophet's grandson sacrificed his life.

Isn't it a wonder! And then it also makes us think how, we, despite our common heritage and composite culture, turn communal and indulge in riots?