Islam...needless cartoons

I am a hindu, and having lived and worked extensively in Islamic countries like Algeria, Iraq, Indonesia & Malaysia coupled with the fact I am a citizen of a nation which has second largest Muslim population in this world, I am not left untouched by the controversies that Islam finds itself mired into.

While the way Islam is practiced may be conservative in one country, or liberal in an another, or pretty staunch somewhere else, the fact remains the tenets and basis and routine of Islam are pretty similar. I have developed a certain respect towards Islam, there has to be something great about this religion which made entire south east Asia convert from Hindus or buddhists to muslims just over five centuries ago, millions of masses, kings and noblemen adopted this religion, without coercion and bloodshed... why?

Even today followers of this religion are prepared to die for what they deem a noble cause... why?

Simply, there is something unique about this religion that many are overlooking. This religion teaches universal brotherhood, Muslims share same food and drink, but the fact remains...they only bow before Allah...If west thinks they can make muslims their subordinate, they are way off their marks...If they feel Islam will become the single most major religion of the world, why do they fear it? To be honest, wherever there is unrest in Islamic nations, west has a dirty hand in it.

Now add to it the cartoons of prophet Mohammed...in today's world, where Muslims are the most opressed amongst all religions... such insults thrown at them by western non civilized people, should have attracted tremendous violence, rhetoric and forceful opposition. Honestly let me ask, how would have christians or hindus would have behaved if their gods wre made a butt of such a joke. I would have revolted.

However, muslims around the world have shown great composure, barring a few incidents, everywhere else a civilized protest has been demonstrated. If this is not a sign of a mature religion, then what else is? This should serve as a wake up call to all doomsday prophets...there is something good about Muslims, and something terribly wrong with the people of a faith which tries to make a caricature of other people's faith because it proves only to be a sign of juvenile delinquency when compared with the matureness of Islam.

Chappals for Chappell

Yes, that's what we should offer to Chappell...he deserves a kick in his back and transported to Australia on a donkey's back with head painted black.

No single person has damaged Indian cricket more than he has in just few months...the theory of foriegn coaches should be dumped, any Indian coach will be more for country than him.

All his spat with Ganguly, Dungarpur and Dravid the nincompoop discarding Ganguly so that he doesn't infuriate Chappell, are sadly the true reason for this damaged Indian cricketing side.

Mr. Sharad Pawar shoould kick Chappell... otherwise we will surely have Endulkar...Goneguly...Draived away and Lax men and a loss producing unit for next few years.

What is chappell up to? Is he making Indian team powerful for the next world cup, or is out to insure that Australia is left without competition?

ODI'S Do you need an astrologer to predict the result?

So Finally after losing the test series, India Pakistan ODI'S are taking off tomorrow. After disappointing result in the tests few things are crystal clear.
1) Tendulkar isn't firing.
2) Sehwag has got older, he does not possess the same eye...and apart from hand eye co-ordination he doesn't have much technique... Sehwag is not a derby candidate of Indian cricket.
3)Dravid's game is not apt for one day cricket...thanks to Ganguly who made him don gloves he had a regular place in the side, with Dhoni...jolly well he deserves to be out of the 16.
4) Pathan is genial and will find no purchase from one day tracks...it is highly unlikely that he will NOT go for plenty.
5) Kumble is not selected.
6) Harbhajan is selected, though he doesn't fit in the squad, he is a ghost of the bowler he used to be.
7) Agarkar... Agar karega tau...which he usually never does.
8)Yuvraj...can anyone predict where he will bat?
9) Kaif... he needs to cement his place in the side.
10) Kartik...he will be carted far and wide and this would be his final tour.
Sreesanth, RP Singh, Zaheer Khan... please does anyone still lives who expects these guys to survive without speed!
14) Raina, Venugopal Rao...will get a look in if tendulkar and another senior player falls sick...it's a sickening thought as the two are better than the best, what use if they will not be picked?
16) Dhoni... he'll definately do well, in one out of three four games... sadly we have just five against Pakistan.

Finally Greg Chappell... till he is at the helm...forget India winning against teams level with them, and forget India going down fighting against better teams... Pakistan is a better team.

All this doesn't prove that i am un patriotic...simply that it wouldn't take an astrologer to predict where India is headed to....unless Chappell is headed to Australia sooner than later.

Somaliland an Independent Nation

Normally i do not comment on politics of the world, but cannot but remain untouched by the happenings at AU on the issue of the recognition of Somaliland. Just finished reading this article, the link to which is : http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/CBH003001.htm.

Somaliland was always an independent nation historically, but for a brief alliance with southern (Italian Somalia) it is again independent since fifteen years. Today Somalia is not only a country without government, but is actually a government in search of a country. While Somaliland is a truly democratic Nation, with elected government, unarmed police and independent constitutional institutions. So why the world is not issuing recognition to a nation, which has remained stable, an island of peace between, severly war torn regions, especially Somalia, where even red cross also needs protection! (the only other place red cross needs protection is Chechnya.)

Somaliland was an Independent Nation much before OAU (Organisation of African Unity) was established, and was Independent before current AU was established!

Then why does the world shudder to grant Somaliland Independence? The proclamations of US/ UK and developed world that they wish to foster democracy and freedom in the world sound hollow in practice. Somalilanders are fiercly independent people, democratic, and freedom loving...and most importantly in a terrorism infested world they are absolutely peaceful, it is a slap in the faces of developed world and shame upon their hollow ideals when a nation like Somaliland stands tall, with such grace, WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL SUPPORT IN A GLOBAL VILLAGE THAT WE HAVE BECOME! We all should pay rich tributes to it's people for this. However, I guess the developed world is so used to dealing with dictators for their self interest, that they fail to hail the very basic ideals on which their nations are founded upon.

So whether anyone issues recognition or not, Somaliland stays independent and free minded souls around the world are connecting to this rising nation, which can easily show to other countries a thing or two about true democracy.

This country today doesn't exists on the maps that my kids are taught in school, but undoubtly Somalilanders are lions of a future nation.Not only me, but many are telling the young ones this... however AU is too juvenile to be told this...is it four years old? Not quite.