farooq – Page 17 – Revering Thoughts

Changing Ideas and Thoughts

On February 8, 2017

Have you not felt dejected on how certain sections of our society doesn’t see evil in a lot of societal customs and rituals?

How certain things which have become “normal” over the years, appear just plain wrong, and yet acceptable as a societal norm ?

Whenever we’ve allowed ourselves to open up to new ideas and immerse ourselves into new experiences, this thought has definitely crossed our minds.

However, we’ve accustomed ourselves to react to those issues or line of thought abruptly. We question those concepts in a rather negative connotation that puts the people practicing those customs on the defense. We not only end up making them feel bad for what they’re doing and shouting loudly in their heads with, “whatever you’re doing, is stupid”.

In our head, the more questions we throw towards those concepts, the more the minds of those practicing it, will open up. They’ll be able to see through our eyes.

Questioning is good. And it definitely works as well.

But it isn’t easy to shred through age-old concepts with just questioning. More often, these make people defensive and the questions become a sign of disrespect.

Imagine questioning your grandmother on something you don’t agree with. You get the picture, don’t you ?

We should treat everyone who doesn’t agree to shun practices that aren’t right but part of their khaandan ki parampara (Traditions carried forward by generations) or as my grandma would say, “baap dada ke zamaane se” (From the times of your great grandfather).

The only way to convince is to explain with love, on how something isn’t right. Our thought process can be put forward in front of them, but with love.

I was watching a Youtube video of Aamir Khan being interviewed for a “Women in the World” conference where he talks about Satyameva Jayate. He goes onto describe the process of conceptualizing the show, and says that they place a huge emphasis on hitting emotional notes to make people change the “normal”. You can watch it here:

This talk gives you an insight on how to make a larger issue heard and make people understand, shouting or ridiculing them isn’t the answer.

When we question people on their support or the lack of it for an idea or a personality, in a rather negative manner, they end up developing a defensive wall and worse case, they’ll even start an attack on your ideas to counter it.

Of course, we cannot change anything if people don’t want to, but if we intend to see a change, we should always try the Grandma approach of explaining to them with love.

What are your thoughts on this?

[Read similar other posts in this section called: Random Philosophy]

Why Superiority complex is the root of all problems

By farooq

On February 7, 2017

In Politics & Social Issues, Random Philosophy

I logged onto Airbnb (https://goo.gl/ZO2cdz) to check for accommodations and the first message I get is a non-discriminatory message that I have to “Agree” to.

“We believe that no matter who you are, where you are from, or where you travel, you should be able to belong in the Airbnb community. By joining this community, you commit to treat all fellow members of this community, regardless of race, religion, national origin, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age, with respect, and without judgment or bias.”

It’s been a while since I used Airbnb after a not-so good experience in Goa last year. But i was pleasantly surprised by this and felt good.

But as you know, there’ always a reason behind messages like these. For some reason, this news had skipped through my social circle.

So, here’s what had happened, when a certain Gregory Selden’s request to book a room for his travel to Philadelphia was denied. However, when he created two fake profiles that purported to be white men after he realized the room was still available. Both of these profiles, upon sending a booking request, were accepted. [Source: http://www.triplepundit.com/2016/10/airbnb-users-must-agree-non-discrimination-pledge-week/]

Wow!

I’ve always wondered how and what makes certain people feel “superior” to others based on any factor. Especially the ones for which they didn’t have to move a brick. Any other form of discrimination arising out of this “superiority complex” is a big threat. There’s a very thin line between being proud and this trait. This is the root of everything.

We tend to think we are not like this. But on introspection, we come to know how deep-rooted these thoughts are in the society. The problem is, we don’t see this as “wrong”.

The fear of the Unknown

By farooq

On February 6, 2017

In Politics & Social Issues, Random Philosophy

I’m currently utilizing my free-month-subscription from Amazon and in the course of it, started watching “The Good Wife”. It is engaging and good in parts. Just another one of those American Law-dramas. Although, I’m still in season 1, and should not speculate.

In one of the episodes, a teenager gifts a Music Casette to another, claiming that his parents will agree to anything if he starts listening to this! He needs a little rebellion in life. Now, what’s this ?

It is the Azaaan. Or as they referred it as, “Islamic Music” in the show.

A paranoid grandmother complains to her grand-daughther about the incident and how she should take the children more often to the Church.

The other puts on a smile. And so did I.

It is funny.

However, it makes me realize how paranoid people can be. It doesn’t take much for people to become afraid of any idea. What they don’t understand, they fear.

Everytime someone wants to talk about Islam, I’m more than happy to explain whatever little I know. More often, because of these questions, I learn more about it. But I do sense a lot of hesitance in people whenever they start asking a question. The often used, “You don’t mind me asking this, right” is quite normal.

But then why won’t it be ? A lot of people shy away from talking about “complex” things. They fear they’ll be misunderstood. People are hesitant to ask, thinking about the very same thing. It works both ways.

This hesitance gives rise to fear which then gives way to hate. And we all know how that’s turning out to be.

Delhi Travelogue: The Wazoo Khana

By farooq

On February 5, 2017

In Random Philosophy, Travel & Food

The Wazoo-Khaana.

While walking towards Humayun’s fort, I walked into this mosque to offer Zohar prayers. Old, not-taken care of, withered over time and hardly anyone at the mosque. The Wazoo-khana at the mosque reminded me of innumerable other mosques of the yesteryears. Now, they all have swanky tile-fitted-running-water wazoo khanas. Don’t mistake me for speaking of this modernization in a dismissive tone. I’m more of a purist and cherish the sacrilege-like feeling associated with a Wazoo khana.

A good number of mosques still have this, but perhaps I rarely visit the ones which don’t have a tap running with a board mentioning, “Wazoo ka paani zyaya na karen.. Paani Allah ki rehmat hai”. Only to see people read it while water while the water flows out at speed faster than their reading.

Anyways, at this mosque, one needed to take out water from the adjacent well, fill it out in the badna and then perform wazoo.

Every-time the mosque near my office runs out of water and the water-tanker doesn’t arrive, we have to take two small mugs, out of a bucket of water, for use. Inconvenient. But we all end up saving almost half the water we’d normally use.

And more importantly, we read the signage: “Wazoo ka paani zyaya na karen.. Paani Allah ki rehmat hai” without letting the water flow away down the drain.

Post offering the prayers at this mosque, everyone gave me sort-of welcome smile. As if they recognized that I’m not from the place. Probably, I clicked a lot of pictures to make sure of that.

The mosque I was talking Masjid Khairul Manzil. You can read about the mosque in this post about Delhi’s architectural marvels, here.

The Missing Puzzle Piece

By farooq

On February 4, 2017

In Random Philosophy

You know how when a cut or a wound, once it starts healing, gives us this strong urge to scratch it ? Even when there’s a plaster, the urge persists.

We cannot stop ourselves from scratching it and sometimes even making it worse.

The symmetry between the wounds that bleed and the ones that leave imaginary scares is profound. Time and again, we love to scratch them to re-live it. Re-live the pain.

And it doesn’t take more than a conversation to spring that thought back to life. It’s all etched in a corner and comes bouncing out from the vacuum that persists. The puzzle pieces are irreplaceable. Fitting a new one, no matter how perfect it is, is not possible.

We need to clean up the slate and create a new puzzle. Difficult ? Yes! But much better to start a new puzzle than assume trying to find the perfect piece to replace is better. It is not. We may think that only the missing piece has to be replaced but the entire board has changed. The puzzle isn’t the same anymore. The lost piece, (Yes, stop terming it missing, it is lost), took a lot of other pieces along with it.

Whether it was for good or not, is just not the right question. Is this question even help, is he question.

Let’s build new puzzles. Shall we ?

The half-read books

By farooq

On February 2, 2017

In Random Philosophy

The half-read books.

There are a couple dozen books in my makeshift-shelf. Lying there gathering a layer of dust with each passing day.

There was a time before I came to bangalore when I’d usually finish books in one sittings or in a couple of days. And then I became lazier than I was before.

If I envy any kind of people, then it is the bibliophiles. You are the kind who makes me want to become a wannabe, and feel good about it. People who read are the best people. Sadly, no matter how much I try, I just haven’t been able to get back to my old run-rate.

I take them over to my vacations and they come back with me. On days, when I’m not cycling to work, and I take Uber, I even keep them in my bag. And yet, all I do is, look out from the window and dive into my reveries.

There was a time when I’d be broke and not able to buy books and yet I was hungry for more. And now, at least at the start of the month, I’m not broke and I even buy those books, but all i do is scrape through a handful of pages and switch on the next “exciting” tv series.

Although, I do plan to start reading one (re-start) after finishing this episode of Suits.

The Books: “Yea, Right!”

How not to become what we hate?

By farooq

On February 1, 2017

In Random Philosophy

Do we become what we hate?

This is a question that occupies a fair amount of real estate in the thinking gardens of my head. It’s difficult to cross-check whether this is an actual question or a reflex of the fear generated by the mere thought of it.

On some level, the “hate” itself is manufactured by the fear of it, taking over. The hate is nothing but a protective shield to not let that fear form structures.

Fear can be for breaking societal decorum or simply carried forward ideologies. The inertia of moving away from an accepted notion by others or by ourselves in the past, is arduous.

Is it a blurred line we’re running from ?

Explaining the answer to, “why we hate something?” is critical. It brings clarity and tries to shake the foundation on which that hate stands for. You can apply this to any circumstance and it comes out with a form of certainty.

This is the easier part. The difficult part is to Un-hate.

Unhate. Because if we don’t do that, we gravitate towards those very pits which we hated in the first place. It doesn’t take much to become what we hate!

31 Days, 31 Posts!

By farooq

On January 31, 2017

In Random Philosophy

31 Days, 31 Posts!

Phew! I seriously thought it won’t be possible for me to do this. But then, what do I know ?

Thank you all for reading, commenting, sharing, liking or even disliking it. It means a lot.

From the first post which looked back at 2016 to a series of random philosophies that I penned down every-night, which can be weird sometime. But thanks anyways, for understanding those as well. I love the people who get those kinds of weird posts.

Over the course of doing this exercise…

Oh wait, let me tell you about the “exercise” first. I wanted to experiment with my writing (which I’ll continue doing) and hence decided to write for 30-minutes everyday. In these 30 minutes, I’ll write whatever I wanted to and post it directly, without giving it a second read. And yes, I did do that. In case, you’ve been reading, that would have come to your notice as well.

A lot of people also shared their valuable suggestions by explaining certain language issues or even grammatical errors. Thank you so much for that. You guys are awesome. Please continue to point out any other issues that you may find with my writing.

I received a lot of responses for this post of mine: (Click here) and I’m glad that people could connect with this.

I’ll be editing out the posts (the 31 posts!) over this month and would continue writing these 30-minute-no-edits posts and look forward to more suggestions from your side. I’m continuing with the same approach of no-edits with this post as well and have to post this soon before heading out for a movie. Rewarding myself for the hard-work 😛

Do share your Revering Thoughts on this.

Where did all this hate come from ?!

By farooq

On January 30, 2017

In Politics & Social Issues

We are a divided lot. With or without geographical boundaries, we’ve come to see each other as different.

I was at a point where I genuinely hated the ideology that I didn’t conform to. I just could not understand how and why would anyone believe in ideas like that. There was no possible answer to those questions that I asked myself or discussed with anyone who held a similar POV.

A lot of hate directed at Muslims is due to terrorism. Blaming the religion or its followers for extremism or being sympathetic towards the perpetrators or how backward the thought process is. But most of it, became prime time, only after 9/11. If I ask myself, was there no hate before that? The answer is never a No! And I’m only analyzing the Indian context here.

There have been multiple riots in India and it doesn’t take much to fan communal tension. As has been demonstrated by miscreants, placing a cow/pig carcass on either side can ignite the fire. (No pun intended)!

I’ve been asking this question of “Why this hate?” for a while now. Where did all this hate come from?

When I see people I’ve played with, people I’ve studied and shared tiffin-boxes with, people with whom I’ve spent discussing random 3 AM thoughts appear very different in the online world. The world where non-subtle references and confirmation bias over-zealously flows out.

Each time, I’m left wondering, “Where did all this hate come from ?!”

Trump Protests: It affects us all

By farooq

On January 29, 2017

In Politics & Social Issues

Last several hours has seen a stark rise in people “baffled” at the prospect of a #MuslimBan from select countries by the Trump Administration. His talk about building the Wall and making Mexico which seemed unreal is still a possibility, and one cannot deny that he can make it happen.

But how different is this administration as compared to Obama’s or how shit-crazy it can go when compared to the Bush-administration? Sure, when one can get to rank them in order, he might score higher than his predecessor and of course his successor. Going forward, they can even have a scale which starts with The Donald!

US government policies have hardly changed drastically. Even without the much-talked-about Visa Ban, it has been difficult for Muslims or even colored races from specific countries to find entry to the United States. This move by Trump just spells it out clearly.

The more significant problem with the Trump Administration, or for that matter any government with alt-right ideologies, is how it emboldens the miscreants. The license to practice racism, bigotry and the authority to decide who is superior, pure and patriot, is what comes as part of the package. There is the bigger problem of changing narratives to suit one agenda.

I’m sure a lot of folks will be like, “It’s America’s problem. Why are we even bothered”. If you’ve not lived under a stone, you’d know how everything in the world is connected economically. And yes, that’s what matters. Economics affects every other facet of our globalized world, which we all are part of. Countless examples of financial meltdowns witnessed have their origins in one country which then trickled across the geographies of the human inhibition.

And more than economic factors, although this is key to everything else, the overall mood of a nation that changes the discourse and public thinking.

I’m happy that people over are determined to protest against the head of the state which they think isn’t right. I’m glad that people across mediums, industries, art and varied professions aren’t afraid to voice their opinions without thinking of repercussions.

And if you think, this is going to stop with a #MuslimBan and not being Muslim won’t harm you. Think Twice.

It won’t stop with this.

Author: farooq Page 17 of 45