On the edge of History

In a little more than a month, the world will witness an exercise in democracy that is nothing short of a miracle. As the planet's second largest population moves to elect its 15th Parliament in its 62nd year of independence, the world will be waiting with breath that is baited. India, with its 1 billion people, a $3.319 trillion GDP, 7.3% growth rate, 600 million strong labour force and with median age 25, one of the youngest societies in the world, will cast its ballot and surge ahead in this century which undoubtedly it is destined to rule. Yes, these are the factors that will help India secure its rightful place on the world stage. While other factors may still hold some sway domestically, it is all about the economy and geo political power internationally and both the nation and the world will be paying close attention.

What makes this election so different from the others? One of the positive side effects of a young educated ballot is the abundance of optimism and expectations among the voters. India's youth today is not content sitting on the sidelines harbouring a cynical and complacent attitude towards politics and its leaders (something which the older generation is often accused of). At the very minimum, they are raring to get their vote out. And at very best, they want to jump in and change the system from within. This is reflected in the increase in the number of MPs under 40 over the last few years, as well as young candidates fielded for this election. Another reflection of the youth's commitment to positive change is mirrored in the stupendous increase in voter turnout in recent electoral exercises for e.g. six assembly elections concluded in 2008. A high voter turnout means that politicians can expect re-election awards for good governance (Delhi, MP and Chattisgarh) and a sacking if they do not deliver the goods (Rajasthan, J&K and Mizoram). A real sense of accountability is entering Indian politics courtesy of the young generation.

Leading newspapers and channels have entered election mode and prepare maniacally to ensure that this election will be covered most exhaustively. The young age of both voters and candidates also brings powerful new social media tools into play. As observed in the Obama mania, political parties are realising and unleashing the power of Internet in India as well. With major parties launching websites, if not blogs even, India is witnessing a new age of campaigning. Deep penetration of and cheap access to such media forums (90 million Internet users, 300 million mobile and TV owners) ensures the nation getting unprecedented exposure to these elections. Politics is speaking in the language of the youth and they are listening as they decide whom to stake their next 5 years of future with.

India has come a long way from a stagnant and closed economy to a liberal and dynamic one. From being a nuclear pariah to an exclusive member of the N-club. From the South Asia circle to the G-20 round table. In a recently concluded survey, the 3 biggest concerns of the youth in India were found to be: the Economy, transparent and accountable Governance and global power and security for the nation. This is a generation which has declared country and its growth to be first and above everything else. Political parties will need well suited manifestos and the ability to deliver them if they are to make any head way with this youth. As our villages look towards our cities and our cities towards the world, domestic politics in India cannot be held captive forever by religious and caste issues and this election will heavily influence our long term future. No wonder then, that it is generating such buzz and attention.

Globally as well, this exercise is being watched keenly. A new administration sits in the White House and the right government in New Delhi could watch Indo-US relations enter another prosperous era. With neighbouring nations fast falling apart, India seems to be the only stable country in South Asia with good prospects. A counter balance to China's power in the region is required and India cannot match its might alone. It will require military support from the west in forms of both weaponry and intelligence if it is to protect its borders against neighbors in rogue hands. The west will also need India more than ever as its biggest ally in the war against terror, Pakistan, tethers on the edge of meltdown.

Much of India's nuclear power business depends on the goodwill of the western nations, specifically the US. With the future of the IPI pipeline not looking very bright, India will need more nuclear energy to fuel its economy for the growth and development it so desires. The west understands that it will have to continue to fight and sometimes concede to India and its G-20 compatriots at the WTO and other economic summits. Greenhouse emissions, unfair trade tariffs and the protectionism extended to western farmers just being some bones of contention. However these differences do not necessarily stand in the way of strong economic and military alliances between civilised and progressive societies.

This election will decide how India fares in the long term socially, economically and politically. The right result can provide the country with the continuous movement required on this path of ascendancy and prosperity. The new world will not be uni/bi-polar in terms of power. Indeed even the US is not naive enough to think that its dominance will continue forever. It will remain as one of many powers of the world, one of which can be and must be India. These elections are the first steps towards a rising and empowered nation. India is about to embark on a journey of a lifetime and it is therefore imperative that the nation exercises its right to vote in this historic moment with great care and with a sense of responsibility towards its future.

A Jihad for Love...

A couple of days ago, I saw an extremely moving documentary. It discussed the state of Muslim homosexuals trying to reconcile their faith with their sexuality. After going through an exhaustive list of Internet definitions of Jihad (not made any easier by articles on terrorism), I have come to understand that it is misunderstood as "holy war". It literally means "struggle". This struggle can be against the evils of the world or within oneself. This struggle with themselves is what modern Muslim homosexuals face.

The Koran explicitly denounces homosexuality as a crime. And though The Bible, The Old Testament and The Gita don't (in as far as I know), the state of homosexuals is not any better in any other religion. It is termed unnatural and considered in many societies a psychiatric problem that can be helped with either medicines or the guidance of God. Some also consider it contagious and fear that if permitted once, the end result will be the whole world turning gay! Never mind the recent medical revelation that it is influenced by various genetic factors and just as contagious as heterosexuality. As a person cannot choose where he is born, to which family and into which religion, he/she also cannot choose their sexual orientation.

I often fail to understand, which definition of natural is it against in the first place? For believers, God made the world and Adam and Eve and to them only creationism is natural. To atheists, evolution and Darwinism is the only natural truth. Whose definition of "natural" are homosexuals violating in the first place?

One of the results of growing up in the Indian society is that you are surrounded by reverence towards the institution of marriage. It is sacred and once established must remain for life if not for all eternity. In a very basic sense, the Indian society respects and celebrates commitment. Commitment of any form, of a student to his education, of a child to his parents, of a sister to her brother and of a couple to each other is given great respect in the Indian culture. But if this commitment is made by a man to another (or a woman to another), suddenly its importance, its sacredness is found to be non existent.

I personally know some homosexual couples who have been through much together. They have supported each other through parental loss, financial struggles, illness and the experience of having a baby. I see no difference between their joys and sorrows and that of any other heterosexual couple I know. Their laughter is real and so is their pain. Their love certainly does not deserve ostracising by their parents and society and in some severe cases, lashings or death penalty. To me, this kind of treatment is unnatural. Not only unnatural, it is also inhuman.

Perhaps as a result of belonging to what is labeled the new generation, I have never felt any ill will towards homosexuality. To me it is as natural as my heterosexuality. I am religious but I don't let it supersede or overtake my innate sense of humanity. Faith must provide strength and the courage to ride out tough times. It must give a devotee peace and a sense of being one with God. When it begins to dictate how you must live, dress, eat then it is no longer faith but institutional form of religion specifically designed by man to restrain and oppress various aspects of society be it women, homosexuals etc.

Fortunately for me, I was privileged and bestowed by God, extremely loving and progressive parents. While they don't agree with homosexuality, they would never impose on me their choices and decisions. One of the funniest moments of my life was me and my best friend arguing with our mothers about this topic and even if I say so myself, winning it! Discussion and a healthy exchange of views was always encouraged by my mother and her way of bringing up us children makes me respect freedom as the most supreme right.

I believe in the freedom of man. In the freedom to seek one's own happiness. This freedom when accompanied by a sense of taking responsibility for our own failures and successes and the courage to live by our convictions liberates us. The Koran says that Allah created Man in his own image. Then how can the image of God, if it is not hurting anyone else, be committing a sin? All the victims in the documentary agreed that they must follow their truth and that it does not contradict their belief because God is kind, loving, benevolent and ever forgiving. For if he were not, what would be the difference between us mere mortals and him?

Perhaps we cannot fight a culture or a religion. But the jihad of every liberated person is to ensure that their children should be brought up free of such prejudices. They must be given every opportunity to discover themselves and pursue their own happiness, wherever it may lie. Intolerance, and not terrorism, is the real disease killing our world.

A sad day for cricket....

Nothing unites South Asia like Cricket. The supreme religion of the sub-continent, it unites people across all borders, whether they are Hindus or Muslims, male or female, rich or poor. The yells and screams (sometimes joyful, sometimes not!) that emanate from every apartment when India plays Pakistan are a testament to this passion that runs through our veins like blood. In such a region, cricket fans thrive when Indo-Pak relations do well and equally fans suffer when relations hit new lows.

However the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai were perhaps the first time when Indian fans unanimously declared that the Indian team must not travel to Pakistan to honour a series commitment. Pakistan, which had not seen any international cricket action on its soil for the last 14 months was desperate and into this void stepped in the Sri Lankan team to save the day for PCB. Whether this was done because SLCB was promised huge amounts of money or because the Sri Lankans are a courageous people who wanted to help out their "friend" Pakistan is inconsequential. The series went ahead and for a minute or two, international cricket paused to see if things were really getting better in Pakistan.

And then the tragedy of the Liberty Square happened. What Black September was to Athletics, Liberty Sqaure will be to Cricket. All innocence of this great sport was lost as the Sri Lankan team's bus was open fired on. Worse was to come. Six policemen sacrificed their lives and all 14 masked gunmen responsible for this travesty escaped unscathed. Cricket, hitherto thought of as so revered that no terrorist could attack it, was slowly stripped of that respect as every bullet pierced the air.

What now is the fate of cricket in this highly unstable country which declares itself to be in a state of war? Indeed, what now is the fate of cricket in this subcontinent? 26/11 in India, BDR mutiny in Bangladesh, LTTE war in Sri Lanka, SWAT valley deals in Pakistan and now this....can we blame any white cricketers when they refuse to tour South Asia? Can we protest if World Cup 2011 is taken away from us? No, we cannot.

One would like to witness an Indo-Pak match frenzy again. Frenzy on which generations on both sides of the border grew up. Painting faces, waiving flags of friendship......but unfortunately the yells and screams that one hears these days are of a different kind. Of terror, of divisiveness, of enmity......

Nevertheless, the human spirit is unrelenting and just as it has risen like a phoenix from the flames of various tragedies in the past, so it shall rise again. This great sport, this great unifier will return once more to its glory in the region. And once more India and Pakistan, through healthy competition will entertain massess across the world, win World Cups and bring home (the sub-continent) the glory that our talented teams and our passionate people deserve.

Inspite of this optimism we must not forget that today's incident has tarnished the image of this great sport in our much divided sub-continent. For by remembering the mistakes of our past and learning from them, can we build our future. Sport in the region will always bear this black mark from this day on and all genuine cricket fans, for whom their love for this sport transcends religion and borders will always mourn this day when their most loved and respected shrine was defiled. Let us hope, for the first and the last time.