Comments on: Who is your hero? http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/ Thoughts on Technology, Photography, Design and Inspiration! Sat, 21 Aug 2010 14:31:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: navneet http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-60 navneet Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:05:24 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-60 I liked http://faraz.org I liked http://faraz.org

]]> By: Cerebrus http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-58 Cerebrus Wed, 01 Apr 2009 06:23:18 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-58 I don't think that Varun Gandhi really believes what he said and would really have the stomach to do anything remotely resembling all his claims, even if he was elected in Pilibhit. To me, his attempt at demagoguery is reflective of his and the BJP's frustrations on the eve of the next elections. I have been a staunch BJP supporter all my adult life and I find it surprising that this time around they seem to have no agenda whatsoever. The only shaky plank they are relying upon seems to be "what the UPA government did not do". Pity is that they seem to realize that it isn't going to be enough to convince a country to vote for them. The BJP has great leaders, people who could really transform this country but IMHO, the lethal problem that has plagued the BJP since inception has been that they aren't wily or shrewd enough to be politicians. Their instinctive candour is a cardinal sin in politics. Admittedly, Varun went quite overboard with a speech originally meant to assuage the fears of the Hindus in Pilibhit (especially after a series of rapes of Hindu girls) and you correctly attribute it to his immaturity in the realm of politics. His speech is merely symptomatic of a larger problem; the growing insecurities faced by the majority religion in this country. It is common knowledge that at this point in our country's history, the most insecure and most ignored part of the country is the Majority religion. With politicians hankering after Christians, Sikhs and Muslims for their votes, offering crucial enticements such as Job reservation, the Hindus feel neglected and insecure. Politicians realize that Hindus have never been a vote-bank and not even the 'Ram-Mandir' issue can mobilize their voting preferences, anymore. It's very similar to how educated white Americans feel towards blacks after <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Affirmative_action" title="Wikipedia" rel="nofollow">Affirmative action</a>. Therefore, your friend only echoed the pervasive feeling that atleast there is someone who talks about Hindus, their right to equality and opportunity. This insecurity is just the seed sown by vote edacious politicians and is largely responsible for the rising discord between the communities, when none should exist. I don’t think that Varun Gandhi really believes what he said and would really have the stomach to do anything remotely resembling all his claims, even if he was elected in Pilibhit. To me, his attempt at demagoguery is reflective of his and the BJP’s frustrations on the eve of the next elections. I have been a staunch BJP supporter all my adult life and I find it surprising that this time around they seem to have no agenda whatsoever. The only shaky plank they are relying upon seems to be “what the UPA government did not do”. Pity is that they seem to realize that it isn’t going to be enough to convince a country to vote for them. The BJP has great leaders, people who could really transform this country but IMHO, the lethal problem that has plagued the BJP since inception has been that they aren’t wily or shrewd enough to be politicians. Their instinctive candour is a cardinal sin in politics.

Admittedly, Varun went quite overboard with a speech originally meant to assuage the fears of the Hindus in Pilibhit (especially after a series of rapes of Hindu girls) and you correctly attribute it to his immaturity in the realm of politics. His speech is merely symptomatic of a larger problem; the growing insecurities faced by the majority religion in this country. It is common knowledge that at this point in our country’s history, the most insecure and most ignored part of the country is the Majority religion. With politicians hankering after Christians, Sikhs and Muslims for their votes, offering crucial enticements such as Job reservation, the Hindus feel neglected and insecure. Politicians realize that Hindus have never been a vote-bank and not even the ‘Ram-Mandir’ issue can mobilize their voting preferences, anymore. It’s very similar to how educated white Americans feel towards blacks after Affirmative action.

Therefore, your friend only echoed the pervasive feeling that atleast there is someone who talks about Hindus, their right to equality and opportunity. This insecurity is just the seed sown by vote edacious politicians and is largely responsible for the rising discord between the communities, when none should exist.

]]> By: sarfaraz http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-55 sarfaraz Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:15:28 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-55 Nice article. Nice article.

]]> By: Ruchi Mann http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-50 Ruchi Mann Fri, 27 Mar 2009 11:10:44 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-50 I am really confused. To Nitika's point, why do we all have the inherent hatred? What inherent hatred are we talking about? Is it against some people or some community or some cause? I have no such feelings. If it's the community, then I am acutely aware that I also belong to a minority in this country. But that is no reason for me to have undying love for others like me and unending hatred for those who are the majority. If it's the people, I don't hate them unless they give me a reason to. And in this case, I don't think we need to elaborate on who has more reasons to hate!! And hatred to a cause I think is beyond the purview of the above comment. We are not in the dark ages anymore. As for Varun Gandhi having the guts to come out in the open with what he truly believes and endorse his hatred on national television, I think that is the one thing he is not doing. He is merely sleep walking hoping that some good samaritan will guide him through. He needs to know, that's not happening. And really what guts and courage are we talking about here..he denied ever having made that speech!! What courage I tell you. Lastly, I don't believe I want to be a mute spectator while some silly man wakes up in the midst of his silks and decide he is going to run my country and decide my future. I don't think so!! I am really confused.
To Nitika’s point, why do we all have the inherent hatred? What inherent hatred are we talking about? Is it against some people or some community or some cause? I have no such feelings. If it’s the community, then I am acutely aware that I also belong to a minority in this country. But that is no reason for me to have undying love for others like me and unending hatred for those who are the majority.
If it’s the people, I don’t hate them unless they give me a reason to. And in this case, I don’t think we need to elaborate on who has more reasons to hate!!
And hatred to a cause I think is beyond the purview of the above comment. We are not in the dark ages anymore.
As for Varun Gandhi having the guts to come out in the open with what he truly believes and endorse his hatred on national television, I think that is the one thing he is not doing. He is merely sleep walking hoping that some good samaritan will guide him through. He needs to know, that’s not happening. And really what guts and courage are we talking about here..he denied ever having made that speech!! What courage I tell you.
Lastly, I don’t believe I want to be a mute spectator while some silly man wakes up in the midst of his silks and decide he is going to run my country and decide my future. I don’t think so!!

]]> By: Ruchi Mann http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-48 Ruchi Mann Fri, 27 Mar 2009 08:34:53 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-48 :) (you know the rest!!) Am really glad you finally put this up and I did share my reaction with you. So you know. I have a take two (too) and I shall pen it really soon.. Enjoy the accolades (and the brickbats, if any) :) (you know the rest!!)
Am really glad you finally put this up and I did share my reaction with you. So you know. I have a take two (too) and I shall pen it really soon..

Enjoy the accolades (and the brickbats, if any)

]]> By: faraz http://faraz.org/blog/2009/03/who-is-your-hero/comment-page-1/#comment-46 faraz Thu, 26 Mar 2009 17:15:40 +0000 http://faraz.org/blog/?p=429#comment-46 Hammad!! Haha... not bad!! I love the Abecedarian metaphor and your wishes for our 'new lamb of the lost sheeps'. Nicely done! Raghav! Your spirit and your Pakistan trips are the reason this country is great and Varun and his stinking ideas can only be an aberration. Stay this way! :-) Hey Nitika! Thanks for writing in, I truly I appreciate all that you said. Here's what I think, If this bunch is screwed then I just wouldn't pick my heroes from amongst them. There are tons of great thinkers outside politics that we could hail. James Nachtwey, Marc Andreessen, Francis Crick, Gates(for the philanthropy!), Hilton(for the hotels!!!), Godin, those guys make great heroes! :-) Sweetie, It's all good!! :-) Hammad!! Haha… not bad!!
I love the Abecedarian metaphor and your wishes for our ‘new lamb of the lost sheeps’. Nicely done!

Raghav!
Your spirit and your Pakistan trips are the reason this country is great and Varun and his stinking ideas can only be an aberration.
Stay this way! :-)

Hey Nitika!
Thanks for writing in, I truly I appreciate all that you said.
Here’s what I think, If this bunch is screwed then I just wouldn’t pick my heroes from amongst them. There are tons of great thinkers outside politics that we could hail. James Nachtwey, Marc Andreessen, Francis Crick, Gates(for the philanthropy!), Hilton(for the hotels!!!), Godin, those guys make great heroes! :-)

Sweetie, It’s all good!! :-)

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