Common-sense-ism...

With market heading south in since August of last year, Mullah Luis and I have lost a lot of money in the market like milions of others around the world. We bitch about the Wall Street greed and how investors were taken for a ride by bunch of over smart people.

In order to get back in black we try to do our bit by advancing the cause of humanity. Everyday we try to fix the economy and the world supply-denmand disruption at lunch time. This morning he and I began saving the world a little early. Here are a few lines from our email exchanges that I found to be revealing (about Mulah's personality). 

It should be a good read for those that wonder what an average blue blooded repub American thinks about the state of economy and the root causes for it. Enjoy...

Mullah: I don’t know what else to say. Human Beings have Technological problems. Not political, not social. Technology is what will keep us moving forward as a species. Politicians think they can solve problems by making laws, when in fact, only technology can save us. Technology will let us leave the middle east alone, technology will allow us to work remotely from anywhere in the world.

We’ll see what happens next. If everything is going to be good, then why are we still losing jobs by the hundreds of thousands every month? The economy has to contract and shed the fluff that has been built in to the system via financials since the 1990’s.

Me: What are you talking about man? I think human beings have “only and only social problems”, and all these ills are a manifestation of it…the sooner we fix social/humanitarian problems the better-off we would be…

Mullah: You are such a socialist! LOL!

Me: Humanist……I can live with that…What is up for lunch? I have to go to the post office at Peachtree Center...

Mullah: Anyone can be a humanist…even a capitalist. Socialism breeds complacency, there should be no limits placed on how far someone can take their life. So long as they don’t negatively affect someone else’s life.

The government should be around to protect people’s freedoms and liberty. The government should insure that the companies of this country are following guidelines too. They shouldn’t be left to run wild and then expect the government to bail them out. That is what we did because we are no longer capitalist; we no longer follow the constitution. We have some form a fascism and that is very bad!

Me: How about following “Humanism”, which can bring the best from all us? Because every “ism” has some negatives. Let us work on something that combines best of all. What u described can be a good start…

The future is here...

Thank You!

Maharashtra College

Ramesh Kumar, Butiya Manoj Ramesh, Siddiki Rubina, Mansori Heena, sheikh Farina, Ansari Nida, Ansari Taiyaba, Mahroz M. Mohsin, Gulshan M. Qauyyom, Zakiya Bano M. Zakariya, Khan Naziya Parveen M. Sharif, Sana Anwar Khan, Noor Afsha, Ansari Razia, Sarvat Qureshi, Ansari Lubna, Shaikh Nazreen, Momin Firdaus, Ansari Nazish Naaz, Shaikh Tabassum Mhod Hanif, sheikh Arshiya G. Mohammad, Shaikh F shafi, ansari Yasmeen samiullah, Butiya Manjoj Ramesh, A Aqub, sheikh M Tahir, Ansari Heena Kausar Mushtaq, sayed azhar ali Qamar Ali, Mohammad Ahmad Siddieque, Imran Tamboli, Zafar Sayed, , Fakhri Khusnod, Zakariya A. Ukai, Abdul Hameed, Mohd Nafees, shamsuddin, Masood Alam siddiki, Ansari Nazreen, Shaikh Tassudduk, Khan Asma, Sheikh Saeeda,Khan Zainab, Kazi Rumana, Ansari Shama, Ansari samina, Ansari Saniya, Ansari shaista, Sahaikh Zakerun, Fehmida Moinuddin, Sayed Tabassum, Qureshi Saima, Khan Mehvish, Khan shaheen, Khan Mehjabeen, Ansari Sidra, Ansari Umaira, Ansari Naziya, Ansari sadiya, Ansari Afreen, Saifi Ali Varsh, Khan Ashraf.

SNDT - Ghatkopar

Rukhsar Khan, Vaishali Cureaw, Hetal Zadbuke, Amulya Raskar, Prachi Pawar, Praneli Vd Patahk, Simi John, Madumita Biswas, Mohini Lokhande, Monica Kene, Chetna Marvane, sneha Sharma, Kalpana Muddilyar, Sumathi Mooopnar, Preeti Sakpal, Monika Sharma, Sameen Mushtaq,, Jyoti sikarwar, Kusum Gupta, Hafsa Farooqui.

And...

Rashmi Bansal, Piyul Mukherjee, Pia Verbic, Prof M.Z Shahid, Prof Siraj Chowgle, Prof Majid Ansari, Prof Ilyas Shauqui, Principal Shakeel Urzak, Prof Waheed.

Faizan Sayed, Shagufta Farouqui, Z. Sayed, P.N. Sayed, Altaf Paloba, Nasir Surti, Late Siddik Divecha....

Think about it....

If all the insects were to disappear from the earth, within 50 years all life on earth would end. 
If human beings were to disappear, all forms of life on earth would flourish' - Jonas Salk

Threshold India 2009 - Slide Show

A crew from UTV was at hand to record history ( at least historical moment from our perspective!). They put together a Republic Day special edition of Cracking Careers and telecast it 6 times between January 24th and 25th, 2009. For those of you that might have missed it, here it is again...

Please realize that we may not see some of the groups, but all the 8 groups returned with a profit and had interesting stories to share. For details about other groups and more photographs, please visit Kashif-ul-Huda's Two Circles.

Get inspired and join us please..it's about time!

Adios MD...

I am still grieving for a dear friend and will continue to do for a long time. It was a heart shattering shocker. They say, with each friend you die a little...a part of me died this Saturday!

A friend, trying to get me out of this phase, explained well. She said , "We all are headed that way. You were not here 50 years ago, nor would you be here 50 years from now. Do the best you can".....

So, let me do the best I can...

ps: I used to call him MD. MD as in Doctor for knowing answers, to life's most of the problems...

Why now?

Siddik bhai,

There is a Quran recitation going on in Mumbai as I write this, so that your soul may find peace in heaven. It took me more than a day to realize you are really really gone.

The question that is botherring me is why now my friend? Why now? Why did you not die when we were expecting it in December of 2007.

After speaking to the doctors and finding out what ails you, I had planned a day to honor you, by doing whatever you wanted. I asked everyone to show up in the morning. The plan was to rent a big van, and go wherever your heart desired. Do whatever you wanted to do...

No one showed up that morning...

We still went ahead with the plan. I took you with me wherever you asked. I  just wanted to see you happy, for when I returned to India in December of 2008, I  felt I would not see you. I  turned my cell phone off, told my family to forget about making any plans, and looked at the world with your eyes that day....

It was sad to see you unable to walk without my help, unable to even open the door of the car on your own. You had stopped riding your bike long time ago. It was a sad sight as this was the man who taught bike riding to many.

You wanted to do three things, and the last one was to see a Bollywood masala shoot out film. You, being a typical mumbai street wala, were a cheerleader for these kinds of movies. I hated it. I lied to you when you asked me of my opinion at the end of the film.

It was your day, whatever you said and did was suppose to be great, as I was not going to see you again....I knew.

But you proved me wrong. You came back from the dead. It was like a dream to see you riding your bike again this December. I thought those damn doctors were wrong and was happy about it. With it, came back the days of fun and nights of sitting by the footpaths of Mumbai discussing everything under the moon. Those cycles of chai, stories after stories of all kinds and colors never used to end.

This time though, I reminded everyone of how I devoted a complete day to fulfill your last wishes and what we did. This time I was honest, and told you how I hated every minute of that movie and had developed a headache. You laughed hard and appreciated my friendship...and more.

And now I hear you are gone in a hurry.

I am crying as I write this, but tell me Siddik Bhai, who the fuck is going to tell me why now? You dropped me home on your bike just two weeks ago , in the wee hours of morning and everything was cool. Why are you dead now? This time you were suppose to live my friend , this time you were going to be with me for a long time...

Why now?

THRESHOLD India 2009

Florida based Kashif-ul-Huda, of Two Circles.net helped us in spreading the word out. Please visit his web site for a detailed account of the fun we all had in hosting this watershed event of our lives!

As someone said "the best way to predict a future is to invent it!"
God willing, We will...

THRESHOLD India 2009 - On UTVi

Threshold India 2009 show on UTVi this weekend

I am back in the good ol' US of A and am too caught up with life. Please watch TUVi for what transpired on the D day....More later!

Folks,

The session where all the wonderful young students of Maharashtra College, Mumbai as well as SNDT, Mumbai proved they definitely have the entrepreneurial spirit, and was covered by the media, is to be telecast on Saturday 24 th Jan as well as Sunday 25th Jan, on Channel UTVi. 

Please spread the word and look forward to many more of you join in here on the Orkut community!

Details are :

Program Name : CRACKING CAREERS

Channel : UTVi
(a business channel. For those taking Tata Sky, it comes on channel number 541)

Saturday, 24 January 2009 : Telecast timings are : 8 am; 3.30 pm and 6 pm

Sunday 25 January 2009 : Telecast timings are 8.30 am; 1.30 pm and 5 pm


Effectively, will be telecast 6 times over the weekend...Dont miss it!

Raat Yun...

Raat Yun Dil main teri Khoyi hui Yaad Aayi..

Jaise Veerane main Chupke se Bahar aa Jaye

Jaise Seharaon Main Haule se Chale Baad-e-Naseem

Jaise Beemar ko Be Wajah Qarar Aa Jaye...

No generation gap here....

Before I began my session with students I asked them about the challenges they are facing today. The girls were very forthcoming with information and listed these issues:

- Discrimination

- Lack of oportunities

- Communalism

- Poverty

- Polution

- Population

- Corruption

- Lack of civic Sense

- Reservation

- Violence

- Second class citizen status

- Terrorism

- Lack of infrastructure

- Unemployment

- Illiteracy

- Inequality between men and women

- Caste Barriers

If someone had asked us this question during my college days I am pretty sure we would have spelled out the same issues. That means two decades have passed but the issues have not. Two generations, two completely different world....yet same old issues.

Certainly India can do better then that.....

For days like these....

This Indian vacation is turning out to be the most productive and memorable one for me and for a few more. For me because with the help of friends I could put into place a process, that,  executed well could help in creating the next generation of  committed citizens and perhaps, business leaders. For a few more because their excitement tells me that they are having a ball on this journey that began this morning at Maharashtra College, Mumbai.

I had invited a bunch of student leaders from Maharashtra college to initiate a dialogue on entrepreneurship in the Muslim community.  A sweet little relative from SNDT, brought her entire class to the forum and it became an SNDT v/s Maharashtra College competition. I would have been happy with  a group of 30/40 students. Instead,  I ended up  with twice  that size.

My young guests were in for a surprise when they were divided into 8 groups (the original plan was to have only 5 ) and offered RS 1000 each. It was my heartfelt request that with the help of a few tips and insights, they had the freedom to do whatever they chose to do with the money. All I wanted in return was for them to engage in some creative brainstorming to generate ideas, utilize their talents in making the money grow.  It was impressed on them that it was not important  if they made 50 paisa or 200 rupees,  or even if they lost their allotted amount,  as long as they made a sincere and honest effort in going through the process.

Their enthusiasm and energy took over the classroom and spread like magic. Some of them had doubts - could  this offer be real, others accepted it  immediately as  a challenge,   eager to prove themselves. It was a great sight to see a gamut of emotions run through the faces. I loved every minute of it.

What was amazing about the session is that they expressed  their dreams and aspirations,  their fears and apprehensions. The raw plans, their own fearless predictions of all that they could do, to me, was a sign that these were the stars of the future of our nation, as we move ahead in life with 8% GDP growth all around us. 

My guests have since gone back to pursue this challenge, and intend to return triumphant next week. Our prayers are that they all succeed - not just in making some money. But in learning about themselves, about team work, their sense of self-worth, their so far un-capitalized talents, and about turning unrealized needs into awesome business opportunities. 

I look forward to next week. To see what this new generation is made up of and what plans /proposals they will bring forward.  

For me, the biggest challenge is to find a way to sustain this momentum, to keep it going and involve more potential leaders. 

 It was a  day straight from Abraham Maslow's book.  I intend to have many more days like today. 

God willing....

Mullah is lonely - again!

Mullah’s longest running FPN left him for another man!

It was a shocker! Even though Mullah says he saw it coming and that he is prepared to deal with it.

I am not sure if one can be prepared to handle loneliness. A loss of companionship from one’s life is too much to be prepared for. How in the world can you bring back those subtle communication that come with knowing someone for a long time? How could you be prepared for a lonely cup of coffee on a Sunday morning?

Mullah and his FPN left for Florida the same day. While Mullah went to Miami to be with his childhood friends, she went to Panama City to be with her new found love. 

I have been fortunate enough to have experienced all kinds of emotions and circumstances that a well lived life can offer, those experiences came handy. I tried to make sure Mullah Kept working on his relationship to make it last as long as possible. When everything failed I made sure he looks forward to a brighter tomorrow. There is no way I am going to let a buddy stay depressed under my watch.....kiya apun jo kar saka!

What Mullah cannot get over is the fact that she made him spent $4500 for breast augmentation which would benefit the desires and aspirations of a jailbird with bunch of tattoos on his body. She kept insisting that she went plastic for Mullah only, but now it’s clear that Mullah was a plan B for this woman. I used to joke with Mullah that $4500 can get him a agreeable-wafa-parwar wife from India that may not require additional help from plastics as well!

My major concern at this time is to make sure Mullah does not slip into depression. He is a great friend with an awesome sense of humor and it will be a real loss if he falls apart.

“ kuch to majboriyan rahi hongi”

Yun hi koi be wafa nahi hota!”

BTW if you are someone who believes that “ a day without humor is a day wasted” and if you are a well read, well spoken person with interests in cinema, arts and things un-usual, Mullah would like to hear from you. Also an ability to stay “all-natural” with no love for things plastics would be an asset.

Tum mujhe....

Bhook aur piyaas ki maari hui is duniya main....

Detroit Three...

Justice denied somwhere....

Its been a week since collective innocence of Mumbai city was lost. I felt violated. It was hurting to see city of my dreams raped in front  of my eyes. I went through the same emotions as any mumbaikar. The areas attacked are my stomping grounds too. However, watching the pundits and commentators on TV added to my frustration.

When  a lady on NDTV made a baseless allegation that she has seen Pakistani flags near Four Seasons hotel in Worli and advocated carpet bombing, I gave myself this assignment of visiting this locality in my next visit to the city to find the Pakistani flags. 

Next day the lady in question apologized for misinforming the public and that was end of one controversy, but I believe she has not given up on carpet bombing idea. When American Generals are on record that carpet bombing is counter productive in fighting terrorism, then why on earth you propose such an Idea on National TV?

This is what page 3 crowds does not get it. Easy cook book solution to an increasingly complex world is not the answer. We need deeper understanding of the enemy and the issues at hand. We can not fight terrorism in isolation anymore. It is as connected to e-commerce as  Dow Jones  flutucates with market sentiments world over.

While this lady experienced the action of evil on 12/26 for the first time,  I was exposed to the politics of hate when in 1984 Bhiwandi riots a classmate lost his house and possessions. We in school collected donation for him. I will forever remember the fear and anger on his face...

My point is that we need to be more pro-active when we see the evil for the first time. We can no longer feel safe when artrocities are committed elsewhere on our globe. Take for example this  story  Times of India ran of a woman named Shanti Lata who was paraded naked on the street of Bangara villege in Jajpur, Orissa. Her crime: Her son fell in love with  a girl and ran away with her. While she was paraded someone opened her mouth and peed in it ( Yeah, I know how you feel...please feel it). When she went to register the police complaint she was harassed further by the men in khaki. She finally went to the court. 

You might say it is horrible and walk away from it. Well, fyi that is not an option anymore. We all must feel violated at this horrible crime. If you search google for " women paraded naked in India" it brings  109,000 results worth 10 pages.  This has been going on since we started documenting these crimes. How long can we allow majority of India to be living in 16th century while Bangalore and Noida are leaping into 21st?

What will happen to this woman? A bunch of brave men and women in an NGO will fight on her behalf but will she ever get justice? Even if she gets justice would she be the same person before she was dishonored? How would her son react to this atrocity against her mom? Who would be held accountable if he picks up guns and joins terrorist gangs to take revenge? 

MLK once said" justice denied somewhere is justice denied everywhere" and it could not be more truer then these times.....

I am glad people of Mumbai rose to the occasion and saw evil in this lady's provocative statements and made sure she is corrected before its too late. 

Enough is enough...

CST Martyrs

I read about flowers being placed at the attacked sites in memory of those that died. The same news source (Rediff.com)  mentioned that no flowers were placed at CST.  

We, again decided that even in death Rickhsaw-walah, Taxi-walahs and day laborers of the World bear thier own burdern. This time the burden of death....

I cried one more time...

Aye safar...

Raye-gan: waste
Poet: Javed Akhtar

Man ki Kitaab se Tum...

Man ki Kitaab se Tum...

Mera Naam hi Mita Dena

Gun to na Tha Koi bhi...

Ava-Gun Mere Bhula Dena!

Deepak Chopra - interview

Home under seige...

This american life...

One of my favorite times of the day happens around 10 pm and later. This is when I sit in my balcony with chai to reflect back, to think and to dream. These are special moments as I feel very alive enjoying serenity and peace. The only sound that I hear is that of water flowing along the creek that runs some 20 yards away from me and occasional sirens of the cops taking care of business nearby or rushing to an auto accident. Some time If am lucky, I get to see the bunch of deers hang around the creek unmindful of my presence.

Last month, I was enjoying my moments under the Moon when I heard a woman scream. She seemed to be in pain. Then I heard a man who too was in some kind of a trouble. The trouble was not ordinary.  These are the only troubles in life when no one asks for help. You are on your own buddy. The beauty of these sounds is that it makes you nervous, curious, and envious in that order. In addition to raising your heart beats to 175 per minute without going to the gym.

Homes and apartment in America are usually constructed from the locally available cheap material which is usually wood. As a result the walls or partitions are wafer thin and with a little sensitivity one can hear what is happening next door. 

My curiosity helped me figure out that the "miracle" is played out right below my apartment. Oh my God!  Now, how am I going to sleep in this hara-kiri was the first thought that came to mind? I tried to take my mind off by reading a book, watching Sarah Palin speeches to writing a poem. Nothing worked. I slept only after Storm subsided and calm prevailed..... which was pretty late at night.

The next day I shared the story with Mullah Louis and the gang, and all of them enjoyed my discomfort thoroughly. 

Mullah1: Man you should have used your film making skills to record it. These kinds of films are the only ones that never flop.

Me: Thanks for the idea...

Mullah2: How do you know it is just one man and one woman?

Me: Because, I am not as pervert as you are..

Mullah3: Come on man, you are from the land of "Kama Sutra", you should know how to handle this?

Me: I don’t think Kama Sutra has answers to lifes all the problems, besides kama-Sutra without Rekha makes no sense to me...

Mullah4: One way to handle this would be to get married, brother!

Me: Get married because someone is handling the situation carelessly...

Mullah5: Why don’t you just join them? More the merrier...

Me: Now, that sounds like a plan - you idiot...

Mullah6: Well, this could be women too, you never know....

Me: oh My God...

In short, they all made fun of me for paying attention to small "pains" like these.

I spoke to a buddy in Mumbai. He too laughed “How do those voices sound?". If anyone has any doubt of my sharafat here is your answer. My best friend, married with children, has no clue to what sounds a woman is capable of making. " Namaz padha kar" was the only advice he offered.

My "problems" are getting "longer" and are happening at odd hours now. It is like free for all at any time from 10 pm, 1 am, and 3:30am. One time it even happened at 6:45 on a Monday morning. Don't these guys have a job to report to, and why do they make so much cheek pukkar as if there is no tomorrow? 

ps: Its 11:15 at night. I know what you thinking!!

BRB...

a cartoon is worth 1 Mil words...

(Courtesy: Time)

Barkat Husain Obama...

“Yet even as we speak, there are those who are preparing to divide us, the spin masters and negative ad peddlers who embrace the politics of anything goes. Well, I say to them tonight, there are not a liberal America and a conservative America -- there's the United States of America. There's not a black America and white America and Latino America and Asian America; there's the United States of America. The pundits like to slice-and-dice our country into Red States and Blue States; Red States for Republicans, Blue States for Democrats. But I've got news for them, too. We worship an awesome God in the Blue States, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the Red States. We coach Little League in the Blue States and have gay friends in the Red States. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq and patriots who supported it. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the stars and stripes, all of us defending the United States of America”

It was at 2004 Democratic convention that when I heard this black politician by an un-usual name of Barrack Obama give a passionate speech. We all had gone through the pain and agonies of "hanging chads" in 2000, and were glued to the TV sets to see how Democrats plan to mount a challenge to a war President.

I felt electric current run through my body when he delivered those lines. I reached out to the nearest “ khbusurat muskurahaton" wali FPN and said " Banda bada zabardast hai – Presidential material. This guy will run for office one day!” She agreed with me, which was very rare occurence those days.

Soon after the speech that jebroni came down the stage. Gwen Iffil of PBS interviewed him further revealing his inner personality. I found a consistency in his thoughts and some frank honesty. It is easy to act out a speech on stage but difficult to survive an onslaught from the reporters. He was impressive with his clarity of thoughts and choice of words. I found him to be a thinker and intellectual type, something to look out for...

So, when I saw him that chilly morning of February 10, 2006, outside the old state Capitol building in Springfield, Illinois announcing his candidacy, I was not surprised. He spoke from the heart and was full of hope and wisdom. So far so good, the question that I had was how far he would be “allowed” to go before he was knocked down by the establishment? He had said “This campaign has to be about you and not me”…..

Thus began a journey that history will hold dear for millenniums to come. Schools, colleges, holidays will be named after this man called Barack Husain Obama. Films will be made on his life and he will occupy the imagination of the writers and thinkers for hundreds of years to come. What a story….what a man!

I have followed his every speech, his every move, every act on the campaign trail in the last two years. For a student of political science his journey is a great case to study. I saw how main stream America reacted to him and how all the events played out.

When John McCain suspended his campaign to go to Washington DC to help pass the bailout package I thought it’s over for Mr.Obama. That was a clever move from a veteran as one should stay away from politics to help the nation. He refused to suspend his campaign and said "a President is supposed to do many things at once", thus forcing Mr. McCain to show up for the previously scheduled debate.

This was the first time I made political contributions as anyone who is willing to knock down man-made boundries ought to be supported. I do not see him as black or someone with a Muslim name. For me, any politician that uses the sentence “let us change the world” is an automatic ally. Someone to help out with, someone to make room for, someone to fight for….

I am hoping for a day when he makes a speech that goes like “ There is no Muslim World, Hindu World, Christian World and a Jew World – there is one just World. We have friends in Israel as well as in Saudi Arabia. We hang around with Africans and fall in love with the Turks. We worship the same Abrahmic God in a synagogue as in a Mosque. We may have different colors of skin, speak hundreds of languages, eat all kinds of food and live in 183 countries but we all are ONE PEOPLE – all 6.602 Billion of us.

We will not let them divide us in the name of religion, color and nationality. We will not let them make us take arms against each other in Iraq, Dafur and Kashmir. If a Kasmiri Pandit is thrown out of his home then we all becomes homeless. When a 50,000 lbs bomb is dropped on an Afghan family then we all would consider it a crime against all of us. We will rise and shut down these bazaars of narrow-mildedness that sell nothing but hatred for fellow human beings…we stand together as one people, one nation so help us God!”

Insha-allah!

BTW that “nearest FPN” ended up watching the acceptance speech of Mr. Obama farthest from me - with someone else. What differnce a mere four years can make.I wonder if anyone noticed that she was thinking of the last democractic convetion in 2000 and more. Good for her!

I had tears in my eyes when Barrack Obama walked up to the stage and said “And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world – our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared”……

Sure Mr. President our destiny is shared...

Wouldn't it be nice...

While they are at it, wouldn't it be nice for these ladies and gentlemen to come up with a consistent definition of a terrorist?

Terrorism of all shapes and forms affects us with same brutality as do these unregulated financial markets. It leaves death, poverty and tears behind similar to what subprime lending and other financial engineering instruments have done to so far. How about deciding on a clear definition of a terrorist and then agreeing to hunt them down wherever they might be...

Our future generations would have a good shot at peace and prosperity, if we tackle this single most issue of our times in a fair and consistent manner. To me that would be much more significance than talking dollars and cents!