ME, SCOTLAND AND THE SCOTS

I consider myself lucky for spending 15 months in a paradise called Scotland. Heaven does have a synonym – Scotland. I spent the 15 months in Aberdeen aka The Granite city aka the silver city with golden sands aka ‘Energy Capital of Europe’ as a student. Aberdeen is very small compared to our huge densely populated cities, but ‘Small is beautiful’. Aberdeen has won Britain in bloom contest 10 times. Aberdeen has a rich history and is inhabited by humans for more than 8000 years. It’s situated between 2 rivers river Dee and river Don. For some time I Iived on the bank of river Dee. The river water was fresh and clean, Dee reminded me of our (Pune’s) unfortunate river Mutha, ha well, someday it will resemble Dee.

If you want to have glimpse of medieval Scotland then you’ve ought to visit old Aberdeen. It’s like rolling back in time. The old city layout is green and well organized; the old buildings on both side of the asphalt road are still in excellent condition and the icing on the cake is University of Aberdeen. If U left Aberdeen without visiting this remarkable institution then Ur trip is incomplete. Established in 1495 University of Aberdeen is one of the oldest in UK.

Due to my part time student job @ Tesco I visited Westhill thrice a week. Riding the bus to Westhill will always be a happy memory. The dense woods on the side of the road, small hamlets on the way and mist during the nights were mesmerizing. While returning in the mornings the sunrise was always spectacular, clouds kissing the earth, pack of birds flying high and a green blanket spread everywhere (accept in winters). The Westhill suburbs are located at the foot and on the side of a hill. The job was cool and paid really well compared to what other students earned. Thanks to Tesco as a student I lived a luxurious life.

I was a student at The Robert Gordon University; honestly speaking it is a pretty descent university; the downside was that 2 faculty member’s sucked big time but the rest were good. The library was well equipped and the university infrastructure was excellent and well maintained. There were ample of computers, printers for the student use and the librarians were helpful. There were no water dispensers and water needed to be purchased, I preferred coke. The classrooms were big, well lit and fully equipped. Studying at RGU was a cool experience. Often I ended spending 12 hours in the library. There was a gym next to the university building; it was good one. I lived in Woolmanhill university hostel, me and my mates in the block used to have a blast.

Now a little about Scots. If you want to learn how to live - learn it from the Scots. They are hardworking, peaceful, lively, romantic, polite, helpful and fun loving people - Live and let live is their motto. Not once did I experience racism, the Scots are very warm people and they will treat U respectfully irrespective of your color or creed. They are hard drinkers and no one can beat them in drinking. Scots are social people, after a hard day’s work they prefer to spend peaceful evenings in pubs and bars with their friends drinking beer. Friday and especially the Saturday nights are a bash. Union Street floods with happy and lively people. On the early Sunday mornings on their way home drunk you will hear them sing loudly. I loved hearing them sing, their voices sounded happy and carefree.

We Indians are not like them (I am not insisting on drinking but living). We do not express ourselves, something holds us back. What is it? Is it in our genes, is it our society or is it the way we are raised? I think it’s our culture. We spend most of our life worrying about things which are superficial. Religion, caste, intolerance, unnecessary indulgence in politics, ridiculous rituals, carelessness and fear of being criticised all come into play to ruin our life. Whatever might be the reasons we compromise a lot in our life e.g. I have observed that once a person gets married half of the fun in his /her life dries up and the remaining evaporates after they have babies; it’s not the case with the Scots. After marriage they become responsible but not bored & tired with their life. They handle the responsibilities of a family guy/gal and simultaneously enjoy the thrill they had as a bachelor. They balance their social and family life well, I think this helps in mental well being and also results in a happy family life. I think this is the secret behind their happy and contended life. I would like to end this piece by saying ‘I plan to live my life the Scottish way – responsible but lively’.

-Pritash Chaudry

BARACK OBAMA

I will describe Barack Obama as centre of the world. Why not? Today he is the man who matters the most, he is the man who can make difference, and he is the man with absolute power. As the saying goes ‘with great power comes great responsibility’, Obama must be experiencing this first hand after sitting in the oval office. The world looks at him to bring the change he promised - a safe, peaceful and prosperous world. For some parts of the world Barack Obama will bring peace with bullets and missiles. Well, words do not have much significance in that part of the world.

Americans have put him in the white house with great expectations. On domestic turf depression, crumbling infrastructure and security threats will be his primary objectives. If he wants to be in white house for 8 years (4*2) he needs to turnaround the things in his country and the change which he has promised needs to be delivered in his first term or he can kiss white house goodbye. Seeing his past record and considering his ‘extra ordinary’ achievements (as a black man in white America) I bet he will bring a momentous change in USA. Obama knows what needs to be done, he knows how to do it and most importantly he knows how to get it done right. He is smart, talented (he is a Columbia University & Harvard Law graduate) and the way he handled his presidential campaign against Clintons and McCain depicts that he knows his way around in the dirty business of politics. I am sure he will go on to become one of the best presidents ever.

QUESTION: Were George Bush’s policies controversial (Please don’t laugh)? Whatever the answer be there is no doubt that his war on terror has spun out of control. It has cost US more than $2 trillion dollars till now and will cost even more as the war drags on (of course US has its interest in it which are worth more than $2 trillion). I do not see the war on terror ending in his first term, it will drag on beyond his second term but his term will be a turning point in war or on terror. Obama’s foreign policy will be well balanced and he will not be entertaining any opinion, person or nation that undermines US and world security. He will deal with terrorism with an iron fist. One major component of his foreign policy will be ‘How to deal with Pakistan’. He means business and Pakistan can assure itself of no more free lunches. He has already introduced ‘performance based incentive’ policy and every penny that US will pay to Pakistan will be fully exploited. Latest I heard US auditors have deducted $55 million out of $156 million which Pak had demanded as reimbursement for the cost it incurred in war on terror. Obama has made clear that the US strikes in FATA region will continue & its just matter of time before US sends its ground troops inside Pak. The next couple of years are going to be filled with action, drama and hatred.

One of the biggest challenges for Obama after 8 years of Bush regime (read debacle) will be gaining confidence of the Muslim world, at one end he is talking about finishing pro-Islam Al-Qaeda and Taliban and at the other end he is asking the Muslim world to stand by him in this fight against radical Islam. Not all will stand by him, today even moderate Muslims question US’s double standards in handling Palestine issue. They will first ask a solution for Gaza & Kashmir, they will demand to implement his strategies first on Israel & India. US cannot do much about Israel or about India. Whatever the situation be I see hope under his administration, a hope of better future. Let’s be honest Obama will not succeed to bring peace to the entire world, till date who has? Should a country look up to a foreign leader to solve their problems? No. But he will help to bring end to the menace of terrorism, he will assist the key economies to race ahead, he will lead America like never before. He will definitely deliver the change he promised.

- Pritash Chaudry

AVTOMAT KALASHNIKOVA 1947 a.k.a. AK 47

When Mikhail Kalashnikov designed AK 47 rifle in 1947 little did he know that it would turnout to be the mother of all rifles. The weapon he designed to defend USSR would go on to become a part of revolutions and atrocities taking place around the globe. AK 47 has indeed played a major role in reshaping the political and social structures of several states & in fact AK 47 has secured itself a place on national flag of Mozambique. The purpose it was designed to defend, USSR, is long gone and more than 60 years after its birth AK 47 still serves with the same ferocity and it will keep serving for a very-very long time.

More than 100 million AK 47’s produced it is the most mass produced rifle in the world. It gained wide acceptance because of its simple design, compact size and adaptation to mass production. It is inexpensive to manufacture, easy to field strip and maintain and is well known for its ruggedness and reliability. AK 47’s are less accurate compared to other modern rifles but its lethality is undisputed. When compared to its rivals AK 47 fares very well in power & according to experts it is more suitable to term AK 47 a machine gun & not a rifle. AK 47 does not jam, break, and overheat no matter what state it’s in; one of the major reasons why the mujahedeen’s love it. Over million men in NWFP are armed with AK 47. For American’s it has turned out to be the bad guy’s gun. It was used by USA’s main and only rival USSR, AK 47’s made America bleed in the Vietnam War and Somalia. It has made the war on terror difficult for the NATO forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even in movies criminals and terrorist always carry an AK and never a M16 or a bullpup.

I wonder if Mikhail Kalashnikov feels sorry to see Kalashnikova used against innocent unarmed people. Does he feel guilty when he see’s atrocities committed around the globe using his invention? Does he feel sorry when small children are handed his rifle to unleash hell? I would not blame him for the cruelty unleashed by insane. Is he responsible for the trigger happy mind set? Of course not. Thug’s using AK 47’s (& other weapons) for their personal benefit under the name of country, religion or justice are responsible for its misuse.

One needs to remember a weapon is designed to protect yourself and your people, it is meant to defend your values and thinking in an armed conflict. It does not care who is right or wrong.

- Pritash Chaudry

ONCE UPON A TIME

The jargon ‘ONCE UPON A TIME’ is familiar to all those who have heard bedtime stories. The stories I heard had a beginning some thing like this – ‘Once upon a time long ago’ or ‘Once upon a time far-far away’ etc. Those were the good old days when our maturity wasn’t any where near to spoil the fun.

Speaking of ‘Once upon a time’ this term will be used in future to refer back to several happenings that are taking place today for e.g. Once upon a time there was a guy called Dubya, Once upon a time far-far away was a huge kingdom called ‘USSR’ or once upon a time India had a notorious neighbor called Pakistan’. In 2008 Pakistan ranked 9^th in failed states list. In 2007 it ranked 12^th. Looking at the turmoil and chaos in Pakistan it looks like Pak will be joining the ‘Once upon a time’ league. Current turmoil in Pakistan has not emerged overnight or because of one single problem but several ‘TIME TESTED’ problems have led the country into its current situation. ‘Ultra Corrupt’ incompetent leaders, advance of Taliban, rising extremism, friction between government policies and public, rising inflation, deteriorating economy, constant pressure from US and NATO forces to ‘do more’ in war on terror, ISI, terrorist attacks on neighbors, illiterate and misinformed angry populace, intensifying demand for Baluchistan and Pakthunistan, high expenditure on military, decades of incompetent and destructive military rule all have or are contributing for Pakistan’s advance in failed state list. Pakistan is may be the only country in the world where suicide bombers are auctioned to settle personal scores. Support to War on terror has turned out to be a catastrophe for Pakistan. If Pak does not stop supporting America’s war on terror and if does not adopt a pro-Islam state policy I see two possible future scenario’s for Pak –

1) Disintegration

2) Islamic revolution of Pakistan.

None of the above is appealing for the Pakistani state. Disintegration will break the morale of the country. Pakistan has faced disintegration earlier in 1971 when it lost East Pakistan. East Pakistan was already distant from the mainland Pakistan and had relatively less impact compared to what will happen when mainland Pakistan breaks up. It will kill the Pakistani spirit. Secondly disintegration does not eliminate religious extremism or possibility of Islamic revolution under which sharia will be imposed on the country. Considerable population wants sharia to be the constitution and they believe it will eliminate all the problems currently present in Pakistan. In international front implementation of sharia will distant Pak from its western friends. Saudi Arabia has sharia law and the only reason why American’s are friends with them is oil. When the Saudi oil well’s dry up Americans are going to kiss them goodbye. Uncle Sam will be really pissed if Sharia is imposed in Pakistan. India too will bear the brunt of this 7^thcentury rule because Hindu’s are branded as Kafir’s (non-believers). In either situation Uncle Sam or west does not give a damn about the well being of Pakistani state but what concern them are the Pakistani nukes. West (and India) will make sure that if Sharia is imposed in Pak all the nukes are taken care off.

Currently one of the biggest cause of worry for Pak is president elect Barack Obama. Barack Obama is man with lot of demands from Pakistan, the demands which Pakistan is reluctant to comply with. He has already said (warned) several times that he will attack Pakistani tribal areas along Afghan border. He holds the theory that Pak is the cause of trouble in Afghanistan and until Pakistani extremist elements are not eliminated there is no hope for peace in Afghanistan. No matter how much Pakistan yells about its sovereignty Obama is not going to listen. Obama has mentioned that he will‘persuade’ Pakistan to cooperate in relocating the war on terror to Pak tribal areas in other words he will force Pakistan to allow attacks on its territory. Further the rising pressure to act upon the 26/11 perpetrators is another matter of concern for the incompetent Pakistani leaders. Here Pakistan is caught between radical Pakistani populace and pro-Indian international community, Pakistani leaders cannot dare to extradite the 26/11 extremists to India because it will cause unrest among the public and if it does not India and West will make things difficult for Pakistan e.g. like declaring Pakistan a terrorist state.

At this time while finishing this piece Barrack Obama is about to take oath. I am going to end this piece here and be a witness to a historic moment. A moment which will be a symbol of equality and respect for all. May be couple of decades down the line I will be telling my grandchildren 'Once upon a time there was a madness called racism'.

- Pritash Chaudry

PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

The one country that has always attracted my attention is Pakistan. I have always paid attention to any news that is related to this country. I am not a very big fan of Pakistan but the fact that this ultra volatile nation is our neighbor and has always created problem for us is the reason I always keep watch on it. It is very interesting and worrying to study the social, political and economic aspects (read problems) of Pakistan. In 60’s Pak was considered as a role model of economic development for the developing nations and 50 years later the country is on the brink of economic collapse.

Jinnah would not have dared to ask for Pakistan if he would have got a peek-a-boo of the country in its current state. What a shame. What a colossal disappointment. Pakistan despite getting the best pieces of Indian sub continent, the Indus valley and Bengal, could not prosper. The loss of East Pakistan and intensifying demand for separate Baluchistan and Pakhtunistan describes how united the country is. Adding to the woes of Pakistan is the increasing religious extremism in the country. Lal Masjid incident and increasing fidayeen attacks are primary indicators of Iran like fate of the country. I thank Jinnah for demanding separate nation for fanatic and religiously blind people. If ‘Akhand Bharat’ means inclusion of Pakistan in India then I would prefer a ‘Khandit Bharat’.

I cannot remember who but someone said it right that Pakistan has always been ruled by 3 A’s – Allah, Army and America. Today all these three A’s have come together to haunt Pakistan. The religious extremism is spreading like wild fire in the nation. Musharaf’s pro-western policies have resulted in civil war on Western Frontier and have led to political and social chaos in the country. America is openly killing innocent people in Pakistan under the name of ‘war on terror’ and it is the real king maker in the country. Is Fidel Castro listening?

I believe that economic stability is the second most important factor in well being of a country ranking behind social stability. For Pakistan none of these are working. The social fabric of the country is getting ripped off due to religious extremism. The country is almost bankrupt and is running to its so called ‘friends’ in Middle East, in West and in Asia Pacific (read China) for help. Today Pakistan is learning it hard way that there are no friends in politics but just allies seeking their interests. After getting a finger from it’s ‘friends’ IMF bailed out Pakistan by approving $7.6 billion loan package which is still inadequte. What a shame - a nuclear power carrying a begging bowl.

Couple of days back I read news that Pak is finalizing a deal with Germany to purchase 3 submarines worth $1.3 billion. I don’t know what words I should use to describe Pakistan’s leadership. The country’s economy is going down the drain, the country is begging for money and these people are buying war equipment. Pakistan is one of eight countries worldwide that spend less than 2% of GDP on education. Why cannot they use this money for a noble cause like education (not the terror oriented madarssa education), why cannot they use this money to revive their economy? What kind of hare brained and intellectually bankrupt people are running this country?

Gifted with such ‘unique’ leaders I see future of this nation is bleak. I hope I am wrong. I hope Pak gets out of its miseries. Some day, may be, Jinnah’s dream of Indo-Pak relation taking form of US-Canada relation will come true and let’s hope by then Pak will not be a Yugoslavia part 2. Till then PAKISTAN ZINDABAD!

- Pritash Chaudry

MY OPINION

6.7 billion human souls. Every soul has its own story and has its own opinion. I am one of these 6.7 billion souls with my story and my own opinion. My opinion will not matter to anybody at this point of time but I have a presence on this planet and my presence shapes the world, though in a very-very minute way, but it does shape it. In this blog I am expressing my opinions about the world and how I interpret it.

- Pritash Chaudry