Shocked beyond measure.. !!

I was reading the newspaper the other day (Yes!! I've decided to become worldly wise!!) and I came across an article which shocked me to my very core.

It was about this young couple (a Dalit boy and a Muslim girl) in Meerut, India who was murdered because they married outside their communities!! These killings are apparently termed 'honor killings', are pretty common in this part of the country. What is wrong with these people?? Marrying outside their respective castes maybe wrong, but surely, the crime isn't big enough to deserve death. Why? Why do people kill? Apparently, the locals were heard justifying their actions on television and none of the them showed even the slightest sign of remorse!!

The news article went on to say that though a few people were arrested in this regard, no legal action would be taken against them. The more shocking part is that the Panchayat in these parts do not have much control in the happenings of the village. Instead the village elders control most of what happens around and they in turn chose to ignore it or worse yet, be a part of it. Aren't we still in the 21st century or did I miss something? The article says that this is the aftereffect of decentralization, but can we really place our blame on it? Decentralization was, in the first place, provided as a means for the empowerment of these rural areas and as an answer to local problems.

Isn't it just the sheer illiteracy of people that prompts them to do such monstrosities and believe in mindless superstitions? Or do these people function on some other level which forces them to be indifferent to the basic human values? Well.. I guess we might never know!!

Ma FIRST driving class.

After more than four years of insistent pleading, Dad's finally given me permission to take a driver's license. Woooohooo! :) So after countless days of waiting, last week saw my first driving class. I was supposed to reach the institute by 8:00 am (that's too early to suit me..but still..!! ). There are two other juniors from college who are also studying in the same slot as me. I reached the institute to find one of them had already reached. We met our instructor, sort of introduced ourselves and decided to start off. But there in the usual manner that things happen around here, the car wouldn't start. Talk about rotten luck!! :) We both had to actually get out of the car and push the damn thing for a few meters to get it to start. It was embarrassing to say the least. Finally, we got the car up and running and started off. Well, I should say it wasn't as bad as I expected. Initially, we went through this certain part of town which was buzzing with tiny school kids waiting for their school buses and when I say waiting, I should mention that in the process of waiting, they'd managed to take up a part of the road too. So driving through there was a bit unsettling. Another thing would be the fact that I have a new-found respect to all those drivers I've jumped in front of during my reckless crossing-the-road sessions. Now I do know how it feels to have a pedestrian jump in front of your vehicle. Its a my-heart-is-in-my-throat feeling and after that feeling passes, you have an uncontrollable urge to stop the vehicle, get out and strangle that person with your bare hands. :) Anyways, so far so good, but my gear-changing skills need a lot of practice. But I should add that this was definitely worth the wait and I'm enjoying every minute of it! :)

~DaRkNeSS!~

Its chokin me,
With its cold dark, hands.
Around my throat.
Its engulfing me,
in its huge ugly arms.
Driving me to the brink of insanity.
I feel all alone and miserable,
travelling in this silent darkness
without a proper destination
Darkness all around me,
silent darkness...
which forces me to do things,
I would'nt have done otherwise.

I've been walkin for as long as
I can remember.
My legs hurt and my throat is parched.
Even my sandals are worn out.
and I have lost all hope in life.
But I go on and on
with that bit of life left in me

Ah! In the distance I see,
a spot of dim light,
which gives me a ray of hope,
to travel on and on.
To finally reach that spot,
happy that now atleast,
I've found my final destination.
But then alas! the pessimist
in me arises n questions me.
Will I reach in time?
Or will I fall halfway thru?
I really don't have a clue.
But still I continue.
My only hope being that the spot
now looks brighter than before.

I'm now drained of all energy.
But I still haven't reached that spot.
I consider giving up,
and then quickly against it.
B'cz now I shouldnt give up,
with only a couple of yards to go!

Atlast, when I'm almost there,
barely fifteen steps more.
I'm very sure I cannot go any forward.
My heart breakin,
I fall down on my knees
in the darkness
and look up into the skies.
Wanting to ask fate
Before all trace of life leaves me,
"What was it I did,
so very wrong in life,
to become so unlucky
that I was unable to fullfill
even that final wish of my life?"