To veil or not veil........

Many a time in life I came across religious bigots. Well, that is a very tough phrase to use as not all of them were aggressive. But they actually ignite the thought in me what is the role of religion in our life? I personally strongly believe that religion is the anchor that prevent us from drifting away. It is the breeze that soothes you after all exhaustion in life. Religion or the religious acts then should be performed with love and respect, not by being compelled by external forces. Recently I visited Masjid Putra, the famous mosque in Putrajaya in Malaysia where the staff members were managing the women tourist and according to the rule of the place made them hiring Burqah (long gown to cover from head to toe) to go inside the mosque. "You have to dress according to Islam if you want to go inside" they said. I completely agree with them as this is only to respect the religious custom and belief. It is well acknowledged even in my country also. All the European, Australian and other tourists were hiring the Burqah from the mosque counter and entering happily. But I as not happy when they forced us to hire Burqah, I found it quite rude as both me and my mom-in-law were dressed according to Islam; clad in clothe from head to toe. We, being Muslim ladies, offer our prayers in Sari which covers us totally. Isn't it a bit too much to force us to wear the veil to go inside? The man reasoned it up saying my trouser is not loose enough! Wow! I just remembered the Mullahs in my country. During my work as a reporter, one day even I covered my head subconsciously when some of them in front of Gulistan were yelling with a microphone 'ma bonera mathai kapor den"  ........

In this global world it is easy to focus on the paradox, I thought. here, in some parts of South Asian countries, we are being forced to wear Burqah  where as in France, Muslim women are not being allowed to wear veil! Even last week 4 Muslim supervisors were sacked for fasting during a summer camp. who knows when some small incidents like this ignites big troubles? Why can't we, the Ashraful Makhlukat become a little more tolerant?                

Crossing the border

When we had planned the trip to Kuala lumpur by bus there were many apprehensions. My five year old boy was excited to see a new place. His excitement was contagious and we were also looking forward to it.So off we go from Singapore to KL by a bus. A double-decked one which were to be added to list of liking of my son.
The 5 hour long journey was a mixed feeling where initially you enjoy the scenic beauty but eventually look at your watch restlessly. The rubber plantation and other greenery are there to sooth your eyes for sometimes but then you can feel the scorching heat outside although tucked in an air conditioned bus.

The only fun was crossing the causeway, a small bridge that takes you from Singapore to Malaysia. How exciting isn't it! The sea seems to be a small bay and flanked by the two countries. So we cross the border and get ourselves cleared by the immigration and customs unlike the currant in the sea, the birds on the sky or the fish in the sea. They are free from the hassle of passport or visa. But the quiet border in both sides makes me to flash on my memories where I savour the hullabaloos of Bangladesh India border. Oh, how I miss the jhalmuri, daber jol and the shingara. Oh my Bengal of gold, I miss you a lot. :-(

          

Thinking aloud.....

There are few moments in life when you have enough time to sit down and ponder on what is the meaning of life. What is your ultimate goal in life or how do you enjoy it? Living a cosmopolitan life where you begin your day with corn flakes and milk followed by rushing towards bus stop or tube station and then dipping down your head into laptop or files, you hardly have a chance to think. This is what happens to us, the urban people. We are always in a motion. It may seem as the post modernists say: everything is in flux;  but in reality nothing changes. When you are in diapers, you're in the queue of getting into a good school. Your youth is spent to create a niche in the society with good job, status and so on. After achieving all those you cannot heave a sigh of relief because again you are in the same rat race where your offspring are performing. So how do we have the time to look at the morning sky and enjoy the azure rather than being anxious whether it will rain or not? Can we just sit idle in the winter sun and savour the warmth without calculating the cost of beach holiday? When was the last time you touched a dew drop with your toes? Just take a look back to yourself.