Does love make you sick?

Is romantic love a mental illness, as Plato said, a story that ends in death or the highest human achievement?
Sarah Vine and Tania Kindersley

There are 21 dictionary definitions for the word love. Every woman may come to a point in her middle life when she suspects that she doesn't understand the first thing about any of these. Poets, philosophers, playwrights and pop singers from Socrates to Stevie Wonder have had a great deal to say about love.
It is the sweetest thing; it is a red, red rose; it is a battlefield; it is a drug, a delusion, a lunacy. It is the answer, and the question. It is a balm, and a piercing arrow. H.L.Mencken compared it to perceptual anaesthesia; Keats wrote that it was his religion; Shakespeare called it a familiar, a devil, an ever-fixed mark, a smoke, a fire, a sea, a madness, a fever, a choking gall; it is like sunshine after rain, and does not bend.
Of the various loves, romantic love is the most complicated and inexplicable. It can come on when you least expect it (and with the most unsuitable person), it can cast you from the heights of ecstasy to the abyss of despair, it can roar in you one moment then dissipate as quickly as breath on glass. It is what drives you to offer yourself to another human for the rest of your natural life, but only a few years later you may look back and have no memory at all of that initial ecstasy. Romantic love can be so confusing that sometimes you simply want to give up on the whole thing and concentrate on the nature of dark matter, or macroeconomics, or something else less tiring.
A little biology can be helpful here. In the first throes of romantic love you are under the influence of a powerful chemical cocktail: dopamine (which makes opiates look like aspirin) is rushing through your veins. As if that were not enough, a perfect mixture of vasopressin and oxytocin, the attachment hormones, are raging around your body. Much of this was discovered through extensive study of prairie voles, who mate for life, spend a great deal of time tenderly grooming each other and nesting together, and studiously avoid meeting other potential partners.
If only all men were just like prairie voles, we say, but if wishes were horses we would all be Lady Godiva.
Aside from the chemical cosh, you also have the small-brain problem. MRI scans have shown that falling in love involves only a very tiny part of the brain, a much smaller part than is used when, say, operating heavy machinery. Researchers at University College London have remarked wryly that it was fascinating to reflect that Helen of Troy could have launched a thousand ships through the agency of such a limited expanse of cortex.
It is vital, therefore, to bear in mind that when falling in love and choosing your mate you may be making a decision about the rest of your life based on only a fraction of your cognitive function. This limited section of the brain is also the exact same part that responds to cocaine, which means that you may select a partner for life, move to Anchorage and decide to make many babies, all based on the same area of the cortex that enjoys an illegal substance that makes you talk accelerated gibberish all night long.
Plato said that love is a mental disease. Modern researchers agree enthusiastically, categorising love as a form of madness and echoing what psychologists have been telling tearful patients for years. (There are certain shrinks who refuse to treat people in the early throes of love because they are too insane to do a thing with.) Currently, scientists are having a genteel academic squabble over whether love most closely resembles the manic phase of bipolar disorder or the characteristics seen in obsessive compulsive disorder.
There is also a school of thought that insists love is a cultural phenomenon. As the great French cynic La Rochefoucauld said: “People would not fall in love if they had not heard love talked about.” The culture keeps up a rapid-fire bombardment of the power and the glory of romantic love, and yet it seems curious that so many of the Greatest Love Stories Ever Told - Cathy and Heathcliff, Tristan and Isolde, Heloise and Abelard, Lancelot and Guinevere - end in disaster, if not death and carnage. If we were being really sceptical, we might conclude that it is delusional that “in love” should be regarded as the greatest and most time-consuming aspiration of the modern female.
There is a highly dangerous literary subset to this, most vividly exemplified by Elizabeth Smart's novel By Grand Central Station I Sat Down And Wept, which privileges true love over all other considerations. You can lay waste to families, other people - entire countries - but it's all fine because you are doing it in the name of Love. If you ever find yourself leaning towards this view, we suggest that you have a strong cup of tea and read something enlightening about pig husbandry until the delusion has passed.
It is only when the insane chemical phase of love dies down that you can tell whether it is the real thing. If it is, it will shift into the deep steady love that gets you through rainy days and financial crises and the small quotidian tasks that make up a life. This is why couples who have been together for 50 years always talk about marrying their best friend.
The mysterious thing about this proper love is that it contains no trace of the early lunacy. It does not make you want to rip the beloved's clothes off at inappropriate moments; it is nothing to do with the wild urge to create a universe with only the two of you in it. Instead, it is the kind of profound affection that makes you smile at idiosyncrasies that anyone else would find pointless, or get the joke that nobody else will understand. This kind of love is built of the bricks of a hundred small memories and moments in time. It is the feeling you get when you read a story in the paper, or see a comical character in the street, or overhear a conversation, and know that there is only one person you have to call and tell. It has nothing to do with extravagant hotel suites, or watching the sun rise, or impetuous trips to distant cities. It is not what you see in the shuttered dark of a movie palace; it is finding romance in the unheralded, the mundane: a sudden surge of adoration because a certain person knows how to fix a dripping tap. It may not be the world well lost for love, or “Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?”, but it is less likely to leave your heart in shards on the floor.
Romantic love, however deranged, is still one of the great delights of life. It has given us sonnets and plays and entire sonatas; it has given us The Great Gatsby, Pride and Prejudice and Doctor Zhivago. It lent us Yeats's pilgrim soul and Herrick's sweet infanta, and Keats's bright star. The wild twist in the stomach at the mere sight of the adored one, the random smiling at strangers in the street, the sudden desire to swing from lampposts, all add vastly to the gaiety of nations. (It should be noted that all these symptoms are not just for the very young: the sensible, 40-year-old female can just as easily become unhinged by the glimpse of a delightful pair of green eyes.)
Love can be crazy, delicious, thrilling; it can make you feel as if every atom in your body is dancing. It can bring back lost youth, make you remember forgotten dreams, revive dashed hopes. It's just that it needs to come with a caveat, a health warning, an unromantic but insistent voice of reason. So, the next time you fall in love, you should bear in mind that in those early days you are a little crazy, and it may be wise not to make any sudden moves.
The danger of romantic love
We don't mean danger in the obvious heartbreak way - the cheap betrayals, the broken promises - we mean the dark danger that lurks when sensible, educated women fall for the dogmatic idea that romantic love is the ultimate goal for the modern female. Every day, thousands of films, books, articles and TV programmes hammer home this message - that without romance, life is somehow barren.
However, there are women who entertain the subversive notion, like an intellectual mouse scratching behind the skirting board, that perhaps this higher love is not necessarily the celestial highway to absolute happiness. Their empirical side kicks in, and they observe that couples who marry in a haze of adoration and sex are, ten years later, throwing china and fighting bitterly over who gets the dog.
But the women who notice these contradictions are often afraid to speak them in case they should be labelled cynics. Surely only the most jaded and damaged would challenge the orthodoxy of romantic love. The received wisdom that there is not something wrong with the modern idea of sexual love as ultimate panacea, but that if you don't get it, there is something wrong with you. You freak, go back and read the label. We say: the privileging of romantic love over all others, the insistence that it is the one essential, incontrovertible element of human happiness, traced all the way back to the caves, is a trap and a snare. The idea that every human heart, since the invention of the wheel, was yearning for its other half is a myth.
Love is a human constant; it is the interpretation of it that changes. The way that love has been expressed, its significance in daily life, have never been immutable or constant. The different kinds of love and what they signify are not fixed, whatever the traditionalists may like to tell you.
So the modern idea that romantic love is a woman's highest calling, that she is somehow only half a person without it, that if she questions it she is going against all human history, does not stand up to scrutiny. It is not an imperative carved in stone; it is a human idea, and human beings are frail and suggestible, and sometimes get the wrong end of the stick.

Is Fatima Bhutto dating George Clooney?

Fatima Bhutto, the fiery poet-journalist niece of slain former Pakistani premier Benazir Bhutto, may be dating Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney.
Fatima Bhutto may be dating George Clooney according to reports."Tricky long distance, Pakistan-to-US dating logistics aside, we think the two would make a nice couple. I mean, just look at her CV. She's a far cry from Clooney's last girlfriend... cocktail waitress and 'Fear Factor' contestant, Sara Larson," said a report in American tabloid National Enquirer.
Clooney and Fatima, who lives with her stepmother and half brother in a plush suburb of Karachi, met at an international conference last year.
"He's still out there with his usual assortment of Hollywood eye-candy hanging from his arm. But George insists those days could be coming to an end if Fatima wants to take their relationship to the next level and spend some serious time with him in the US," the report said.
Fatima was recently in the news as she is expected to contest from her late aunt's seat in the next general elections. Sindh National Front chief Mumtaz Ali Bhutto, who is the cousin of late president Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, said that Fatima would run from Larkana constituency.
The seat was won by Benazir Bhutto in all elections between 1988 and 1997 and is now held by president Asif Ali Zardari's sister Faryal Talpur.
Fatima, who has two books to her credit, is now working on a book on the Bhutto clan. She also writes occasional columns criticising the functioning of the government.
Fatima's memoir will explore four generations of her family history, marked by tragedy and division -- including the stories of her grandfather Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, executed in 1979; her uncle Shahnawaz, murdered in 1985; her father Murtaza, murdered in 1996, and her aunt Benazir, assassinated in December 2007.
"Fatima's story challenges the conventional wisdom about Pakistan, about the politics of family, and about the relationship between women and power," UK-based publisher Jonathan Cape said shortly after sealing a deal for the book with Fatima. The book will appear in 2010.
Though Benazir made several warm references in her autobiography "Daughter of the East" to her niece, Fatima believes her aunt tried to split the Bhutto family apart.

"India was asked to make use of Afghan soil for carrying out covert operations against Pakistan in league with CIA, RAAW Mossad and MI-6".

BY ASIF HAROON RAJA

[My Addition: Unless this "terrorist state" called Pakistan is removed from the world map or boundaries of this "rogue state" erased and annexed with India, people all over the world will not be able to sleep in peace.

See, in this article how the facts are being mis-interpreted by an elite. This is called the propaganda mission of the hardliner Islamists, all over World; while the "Great Indian Media" is in deep slumber; due to obvious reasons. India/Indians should be careful of these thugs who come in the form of Journalists, with ulterior motives.

Just look at the the following lines to understand the real essence of this whole exercise, Mr.Asif Haroon Raja writes, "India succeeded in cutting Pakistan to size and creating Bangladesh in the hope of making the two countries client states of India. Contrary to its expectations, the two countries have emerged as strong Islamic states thereby posing a threat to India from either flank. India’s policy of sabotage and subversion in Bangladesh and Pakistan has inflamed anti-Indian sentiments in both the Muslim countries and drawn them closer to each other and both view India as common enemy."

Contrary to this belief or false propaganda by these masked hardliner-islamists, the Bangladeshis still cherish their freedom and the Bengali Hindu/Muslims in that country are indebted to India for this great help which restored their own language, Bangla or Bengali.

This is evident from a number of talk shows in various Bengali Television Channels of Kolkata/Assam of Bangladeshis (Artists, Thinkers, Economists, etc).

Most of you might be astonished to know that there is THE Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB). CPI(M) and CPB are two parties which were born and grew up in their earliest years and parts of the same undivided Party during the days of the British Raj, and both of them are enriched with the rich common heritage of those days. The partition of India in 1947 necessiated the formation of CPB as an independent and separate Party. However, over the last six decades, in spite of being two independent parties, the two parties stood beside each other with bonds of revolutionary fraternity and mutual cooperation.
Let me write from the manifesto of CPB (The Communist Party of Bangladesh): "The rule of the bourgeois parties alternating over the years have mainly served the interest of foreign and local ruling classes, and they all have followed more or less the same neo-liberal and reactionary socio-economic policies".

"In order to pursue and absolutise their exploitation and rule, the ruling classes have used all means to ensure the continued domination of state power by AL (Awami League, now headed by the daughter of Banga-bondhu, Sheikh Mujbur Rahman and is more secular than the BNP) and BNP (Ms.Khaleda Zia), and also to utilise the ultra-communal Jamaat-i-Islam to their advantage. The close relation between USA and Jamaat-i-Islami in Bangladesh is a living example of the shameless collaboration between imperialism and religious fundamentalism".

"But the formula of de facto bi polar political system and of collaboration with ultra-communal Jamaat has failed to ensure for the ruling classes a stable, peaceful and anarchy-free condition for their unfettered exploitation and rule. This bitter experience has compelled them to precipitate the changes of January 11, 2007, seek new formulas of governance and politics and bring about reforms of political convenience for them. Experience is increasingly demonstrating that without a revolutionary democratic transformation of the state and socio-economic system the ongoing process of decay, degeneration and crisis cannot be fundamentally eliminated. The CPB is concentrating on carrying forward this task".

"At the same time it is also attaching importance to work for combating the danger of fascist armed communal forces, communalism, autocratic tendencies, encroachments on democratic rights and safeguarding democratic political process etc".

"The CPB is trying to build up broad popular movements on these questions and take parallel, convergent or simultaneous actions along with other secular-democratic forces".
"You in India are well aware of the great dangers of communalism and imperialism. We all are victims today of the intensified assault of imperialism. This, along with terrorism and cross-border terrorism, religious fundamentalism, poverty, hunger, illiteracy, malnourishment, unemployment etc, is the common problems of the nations of South Asia. This calls for increased unity, cooperation and coordination among the democratic, secular, progressive and Left forces, and above all of the communists of all countries of South Asia. We strongly feel the need of, and once again repeat our proposal for, a meeting of all Communist and Marxist Parties of South Asian countries."

However, there is of course a very small, ugly face in Bangladesh, which survives on Islamic-titillation.

Moreover, the Pakistani Army butchered thousands of Bengali Hindus/Muslims during the Freedom Struggle of East Pakistan, which is known as Bangladesh now and hence I laugh when people like ASIF HAROON RAJA, talk of morality. It is to be noted that many Hindus who came to India and could not go there or did not want to go there, due to Partition of India, which was accepted by Mahatma Gandhi, and Jawarhalal Nehru, lost everything and had to start in a new way in India.

OUR DUTY IS TO FIGHT ALL THESE MUSKED/UNMASKED PEOPLE, WHILE "THE GREAT INDIAN MEDIA" SLEEPS OR SENDS OUT MOTIVATED SIGNALS CREATING FURTHER DIVISION IN THE INDIAN SOCIETY OR FOR THEIR ULTERIOR MOTIVES]

WHEN USA decided to invade Afghanistan after 9/11, India had offered its services and had strongly recommended that both Afghanistan and Pakistan should be dealt with simultaneously, otherwise no worthwhile results would be achieved. USA however considered it prudent to adopt a piecemeal approach by first breaking the nexus between Pakistan and Afghanistan and making full use of Pakistan to topple Taliban regime and then deal with Pakistan once it is isolated and sufficiently weakened from within. In other words, it wanted to deal with its preys one by one.

USA also knew that without taking Pakistan on board and completing encirclement of Taliban, its invasion could become costly and time consuming. While Pakistan was made the frontline state and asked to do all the dirty work, India was asked to make use of Afghan soil for carrying out covert operations against Pakistan in league with CIA, RAAW Mossad and MI-6.
Taking full advantage of its closeness with USA, India succeeded in establishing a strong foothold in Afghanistan after 9/11 and has cultivated deep economic, intelligence, cultural, and educational ties. It is now all set to enhance its military presence so as to assume pivotal position in the affairs of Afghanistan with the blessing of USA. Proposed induction of Indian troops into Afghanistan would allow India yet another corridor for invasion against Pakistan to India. It looks forward to fill the vacuum once US-Nato troops decide to abandon Afghanistan in not too distant future and to ensure that the Taliban do not return to power. Opening up of a land link from Port Chahbahar to Afghanistan would facilitate India’s mercantile goods and military supplies into Afghanistan and to Central Asia. Establishment of an airbase in Tajikistan has added to its military muscle in the region.
USA has been instrumental in paving ground for expansion and consolidation of Indian influence in Afghanistan because of mutuality of interests. It has now given a green signal for gradual induction of 150000 Indian troops in Afghanistan by December 2009. USA must know the track record of Indian military on which it has decided to lean on heavily in South Asia. India succeeded in cutting Pakistan to size and creating Bangladesh in the hope of making the two countries client states of India. Contrary to its expectations, the two countries have emerged as strong Islamic states thereby posing a threat to India from either flank. India’s policy of sabotage and subversion in Bangladesh and Pakistan has inflamed anti-Indian sentiments in both the Muslim countries and drawn them closer to each other and both view India as common enemy.
India was the leading ally of former USSR; it had all along supported USSR occupation of Afghanistan and had condemned American interventionist policies. It’s RAW in conjunction with KGB and KHAD played a key role to destabilise Pakistan through sabotage and subversion but failed to save Soviet forces from getting defeated. Over 100,000 Indian forces had uninvitingly barged into Sri Lanka in 1987 as peacekeepers to defuse ethnic war. After bloodying their nose, they had to beat a hasty retreat after two-year fighting with the LTTE with its prestige rolled in the dust. RAW’s continuous support to insurgents in Jafna Peninsula through Tamil Nadu and provision of training camps in other parts of India failed to keep the LTTE afloat. Sri Lankan forces have done a commendable job by successfully routing the Tamil Tigers and are now mopping up whatever few pockets are left. Leader of LTTE Prabhakaran his fled to his mother country India. The demise of LTTE is mourned by India since it has unshackled Sri Lanka from RAW sponsored deadly insurgency and will now be in a better position to thwart Indian bossy attitude in the region. With an eye on their coming elections, Parnab Mukherjee has belatedly become alive to the plight of Tamil Nadu citizens and other Tamils residing in the enclave who were kept as hostages by the insurgents and used as human shields. Sri Lankan regime knows well how to look after peaceful citizens and needs no tutoring. In fact, it is India which needs to put its own house in order by ensuring the safety of minorities residing in India who are at the mercy of marauding Hindu extremists and communal Indian security forces. Same is applicable to Hillary Clinton and Miliband who have also expressed similar concerns over the humanitarian and human rights situation in Jafna.
Over seven lacs Indian security forces are pitched against few thousand Kashmiri freedom fighters since 1989 but have miserably failed to extinguish the flaming torch of liberty lit by the Kashmiri Mujahideen. Till recent, India was throwing the entire blame on Pakistan for supporting the freedom struggle inside occupied Kashmir. This so-called grouse of theirs was removed by Gen Musharraf by reining in all Jihadi forces in Pakistan and letting India fence the entire length of Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir. Indian civilian and military leaders confirmed several times that cross LoC movement from Azad Kashmir had ceased. The Kashmiris have once again surged with full force and this time the movement is unarmed which has unnerved Indian leaders.
In conjunction with Northern Alliance, CIA and Israel, India wove a web of deceit around Pakistan and is playing a major role in destabilising Pakistan. It has played a key role in colouring the perceptions of US leaders and Karzai against Pakistan to spoil Pak-US and Pak-Afghan relations and is now working hard to create misunderstandings between China and Pakistan and between Iran and Pakistan with a view to isolate Pakistan. India is however maintaining friendly relations both with China and Iran and had a hand in the development of Iranian nuclear program. Nuclear material is still being funnelled into Iran through private sources. Its consulates in Afghanistan are also acting as conduits for funnelling Russian sponsored Uzbek and Chechen agents into restive areas of Pakistan. India is working hard to keep Afghanistan and Pakistan destabilised.
The proficiency of Indian army was well judged by the world in the recent Mumbai terror where ten terrorists gave an extremely tough fight to 4000 Indian security forces including 1200 strong Indian elite force and kept them at bay for 60 hours. 172 people including foreigners and security personnel got killed. Eventually the Israeli and South African commandoes had to bail them out. They could get hold of only one terrorist while all the others got killed in the shoot out. Apart from ineptness of security forces, it was a case of massive intelligence failure in which the Indian Navy should accept the major responsibility. Earlier on, the Indian military strength was tested in the battle of Dras-Kargil in the summer of 1999 where a very small force stalled the entire might of Indian army. The USA led G-8 came to the rescue of India and Pakistan was told by US President Clinton to vacate the occupied peaks. India which had lost the Kargil conflict converted its defeat into victory on the media plane.
Indian security forces are fighting series of separatist movements and insurgencies in various Indian states, some as old as over five decades and none has been quelled despite using excessive force and applying draconian laws. India has so far played no active role in war on terror except for covert operations and that too against Pakistan which is US ally in this war. Yet it wants to capture central role for itself in Afghanistan. One fails to comprehend why did USA rope in Nato when Indian forces were available next door? Why could Pakistan not be assigned the role which USA intends to hand over to India? Although placement of foreign forces in Afghanistan is least desirable, US should have known that Pakistan troops as peacekeepers may be acceptable to the Pashtun Afghans but they would certainly not welcome Indian troops acting as peacekeepers on their soil particularly because of their strong connection with Northern Alliance.
India must realise that placement of its security forces in Afghanistan would not be without paying a heavy price. It must learn lesson from its debacle in Sri Lanka and refrain from adventurism. Moreover, the tight embrace of USA has often proved deathly. Should India not concentrate more on putting its own house in order by tackling dozens of insurgencies and separatist movements on its soil instead of meddling in others affairs? Afghanistan will sooner than later become a quagmire in which its troops will get stuck for eventual destruction. If Britain in its heydays, former Soviet Union and USA could not achieve victory, India too is bound to suffer devastating defeat and annihilation. [The US & Canadian Muslims News Source ].

Note:The writer is a retired Brig and a Defence and Political Analyst.

AC, Mail, Express fares cut by 2%

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Lalu Yadav on Friday announced fare cut in AC and mail express trains by 2%. He also announced the introduction of 43
new trains and kept freight rates unchanged. Railways would introduce wagons with higher capacity. Railways to spend Rs 23,000 crore in 2009-10. He presented an interim budget this time as elections are due soon and by convention the presentation of the regular budget in an election year is left to a new government.

The regular rail budget presented last year reduced fares across the board besides focusing on hygiene, punctuality, new routes, better coaches and mobile ticketing. Lalu presented all the five previous rail budgets for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government since 2004, during which he set a record of sorts in terms of generating revenues despite lowering fares.

The railways posted a 13.17% increase in its total earning in April-January 2009 at Rs 64,876.34 crore, compared to Rs 57,327 crore in the corresponding period last year. While its freight revenue during this period jumped by 13.64% to Rs 44,016.26 crore, passenger revenue went up by 11.82% to Rs 18,042.82 crore.

Railways have not increased passenger fares in the past four years despite an increase in operating costs including spike in global crude oil prices, resulting in much higher diesel prices. The country's largest transporter has replaced the old diesel engines with more fuel efficient and powerful locomotives, and is also focusing more on electric locomotives.

Last year, the railways had cut AC-I and AC-II fares by up to 7%. Earlier in the morning Lalu said, "We cannot make many new programmes in this budget, but be assured the welfare of common people will be taken care of. No, I will not raise fares," Lalu Prasad told reporters as he proceeded to parliament house from his office at Rail Bhavan. "Do not try to connect any announcement with the forthcoming elections.

Elections come and elections go. We have always been people-friendly even in tough times like these and will continue to do so if we come back to power again," he said. "But be assured that we will not hurt common people."

Richard Holbrook: Right man for the Job?
Mr.JAFAR SYED

Mr.Jafar Syed is a Researcher in International Affairs based in New York

[My addition: What is strange is that the writer indirectly supported the ruthless Taliban Regime of Afganistan who were known to have destroyed, the old Bamiyan Buddhist Statues, Wonder of the ancient world; on the plea that they were "Un-Islamic".
On the right hand side is the photo of the taller Buddha towered five storeys high.
The giant Buddhas, carved into a mountainside at Bamiyan in the heart of the Hindu Kush mountains, were among Asia's great archaeological treasures. In antiquity, central Afghanistan was strategically placed to thrive from the Silk Road caravans which criss-crossed the region trading between the Roman Empire, China and India. One of the stopping-off points was the old kingdom of Kushan, whose people were responsible for carving these wonders of the ancient world. The larger statue stood at 53 metres (125 feet) above the town of Bamiyan - as high as a 10-storey building - and was considered to be the most remarkable representation of the Buddha anywhere in the world.
Once, it and its 38-metre-high companion were painted in gold and other colours, and they were decked in dazzling ornaments. All around there was a synthesis of Greek, Persian and Central and South Asian art.
There were countless rich frescoes. On one cave wall, there remain traces of a painting of Buddhas in maroon robes strolling in fields of flowers. In another painting, milk-white horses draw the Sun God's golden chariot through a dark blue sky. It was a place of pilgrimage, and there were 10 monasteries built into the cliff - the home of yellow-robed Buddhist monks, who presided over festivals.

WHAT IS THE MOST LAMENTING PART IS THAT: MOTIVATED INFORMATION ARE NOW BEING OPENLY DISSEMINATED, BY SOME ELITES OF THE SO CALLED "MUSLIM WORLD". THE LAST FEW PARAGRAPHS SUMS UP THE WRITER'S INTENTION OF WRITING .....].

AFTER September 11, Richard Holbrook championed the military action against Afghanistan, ruled out any role of diplomacy to deal with Taliban, labeled all Taliban as extremists, viewed Taliban and al-Qaida as one, advocated the removal of Taliban and destruction of al-Quaida, writes Scott Ritter.

“The diplomat rejected out of hand any sort of diplomacy, arguing that there were only extremists within the ranks of the Taliban. There was, in his opinion, no such thing as a moderate Taliban, and as such the United States had no choice but to lump the Taliban and al-Qaida into a singular target set, and initiate direct military action designed to remove the Taliban from power and destroy al-Qaida in Afghanistan. He argued for a military solution, and, of course, that was the result the Bush administration delivered. The diplomat's name? Richard Holbrooke.” (Scott Ritter, The Wrong Man for the Job, Truth Dig, January 24, 2009).
The same war-monger Richard Holbrook is appointed by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton as special envoy for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“ … at a time when NATO itself questions the viability of the mission in Afghanistan, pushing for a solution emphasizing social and economic stability over military action, the selection of a hawk like Holbrooke is ill-advised. Not only has he demonstrated a lack of comprehension when it comes to the complex reality of Afghanistan (not to mention Pakistan), Holbrooke has a history of choosing the military solution over the finesse of diplomacy. The Dayton Accords, after all, were built on the back of a NATO military presence. This does not bode well for the Obama administration.
“It is highly doubtful that Holbrooke will bring anything more to the table than cheerleading. President Obama's stated intention to increase the size of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and to more forcefully assert U.S.-imposed "security" through continued military action in the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan is a dangerous scheme, one Holbrooke will enthusiastically support. Reinforcing failure is never a sound solution. Take it from the veteran British military officers who have served in Afghanistan and now advise that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. Listening to advice like that would go a long way toward developing stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and neutralizing al-Qaida's ability to organize and operate in those nations. The British recognize that the Taliban is not the problem, but rather part of the solution to what ails Afghanistan.
“There will be no peace without a negotiated settlement that includes the Taliban. To accomplish this, leadership is required which recognizes the Taliban as a force of moderation, and not extremism. Holbrooke does not have a record which indicates he would be willing to consider direct negotiations with the Taliban. He tends to seek military solutions to difficult ethnic-based problems, and he is likely to argue for the deployment of even more U.S. troops to that war-ravaged nation. That would be a historic mistake. (Scott Ritter, The Wrong Man for the Job, Truth Dig, January 24, 2009
Scott Ritter was a Marine Corps intelligence officer from 1984 to 1991 and a United Nations weapons inspector in Iraq from 1991 to 1998. He is the author of numerous books, including "Iraq Confidential, [1]" "Target Iran [2]" and his latest, "Waging Peace: The Art of War for the Antiwar Movement.[3]"
Problem with analysts like Scott Ritter is their dishonesty. They know that American leadership is the most destructive, anti-human leadership in the entire history of mankind. They know that it does not matter it is Senior Bush, Clinton or baby Bush. They know that it does not matter it is Wilson, Roosevelt, Eisenhower or Kennedy. They know that It does not matter it is George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. They know that it does not matter it is Republican or Democrat President. Death, destruction and occupation are the ultimate goals of the American leadership. Death, destruction and occupation are in the psyche of the American leadership and American nation. They were born with it and they will die with them.
Analysts like Scott Ritter know that land from where the American leadership lectures the world about morality is an occupied land. But analysts like Scott Ritter can not confess this reality. Confessing this reality will end their future as a writer. They are more dangerous than Holbrook. Hawks like Holbrook are the true face of America.
Baby Bush did not need the advice of Scott Ritter what to do in Afghanistan. “As a student of the region, I believed that the United States would do well to use tribal concepts of honor to isolate and disenfranchise bin Laden and his Arab outsiders from their Taliban host. If the United States, working through the offices of the Pakistani intelligence services, could convince the Taliban that its hospitality had been abused by al-Qaida-in that the murder of innocents had been committed while under its protection-then Afghan tribal custom and honor and, even more important to the fundamentalist Taliban, Islamic law, dictated that the Taliban revoke the protections and privileges afforded bin Laden and al-Qaida.” (Scott Ritter, The Wrong Man for the Job, Truth Dig, January 24, 2009)
Baby Bush knew what he was doing. Now incorporated Obama also know what he is doing. “It is highly doubtful that Holbrooke will bring anything more to the table than cheerleading. President Obama's stated intention to increase the size of the U.S. military presence in Afghanistan and to more forcefully assert U.S.-imposed "security" through continued military action in the Northwest Frontier of Pakistan is a dangerous scheme, one Holbrooke will enthusiastically support. Reinforcing failure is never a sound solution.

Take it from the veteran British military officers who have served in Afghanistan and now advise that there is no military solution to the Afghan problem. Listening to advice like that would go a long way toward developing stability in Afghanistan and Pakistan and neutralizing al-Qaida's ability to organize and operate in those nations. (Scott Ritter, The Wrong Man for the Job, Truth Dig, January 24, 2009)
In this context, Holbrook is “not the wrong man for the job, he is the right man for the job. Death, destruction and occupation are in the psyche of the American leadership.
And who is this Hillary Clinton? She was there when President Clinton prepared the Americans for two wars (aggressions). Bush did experiment those destructive policies in Afghanistan and Iraq.
And whose war are Americans fighting in Afghanistan? It is Indian war which is footed by American tax payers. The United States can’t wait; we are in a war in Afghanistan, and we fighting that war in part for Indian interests. (Stephen Cohen, India Abroad, November 21, 2008
To fight Indian war in Afghanistan, America rented Pakistani butchers. Butchery of Pushtoons must stop. They are the last hope of the Muslim World. [The US & Canadian Muslims News Source].

Naked Truth: Straight from the Heart!!

Telling Lies or Misleading is a great virtue for some Media Channels and is of "National Interest"??!!

There is a Sanskrit saying, "Satyameva Jayate". Now it seems we would re-phrase it for the Media Goons like NDTV, Times Now, Star TV or Sahara Samay, "Asatyameve Jayete". Now let us see what led me to come to this conclusion.

Yesterday it was all over the media and most importantly those who media channels who are famous for suppressing the truth. The lines had only one meaning and those meaning came from the Media Terrorists---the unfortunate half-learned (getting a degree in any exam does not make on literate).

Yes you have guessed it right, nonsensical, NDTV Ltd, Times Now, Start TV and Sahara Samay are on a rampage again? These are four confused media conglomerates who have lost all their senses. These bania groups are out there to sell a distorted picture of India to the world masses. First they messed it up with the Samjhota Express episode, which gave Pakistan ammunition to pronounce verdict on India's Hindus. The media portrayed the Samjhota Express Blast in such a way, as if it was the work of some Hindu Organisation. Shame!! This is the first instance how a section of the Indian Media can act like the yesteryear's Mr.Mirjafer (The Treacherous man).

Now coming to the second part let me see what Mr.Narendra Modi said: "The Mumbai episode cannot happen without an internal hand". It is a normal statement and I saw it getting echoed in a number of Mails which I got from a number of persons. Even one of my almost relative like Rafik Hussein of Agartala (Tripura) said the same thing to me when on a visit to my work place. It is to be mentioned that Rafik's Grandmother is Hindu and his was at near the site of the blast which happened in Agartala some months back. Even I got a little irritated when Rafik said this to me, but then on analysing I found that this could be one of the possibilities.

What did NDTV Ltd's Vinod Dua (who is known to be pandering to the Muslims to earn his bread) said: "Narendra Modi talked of Muslims and Indian Hand".

What did Outlook's the most confused and selfish, Vinod Mehta Said, "Hey do not say this nonsense".

What did Karan Thapar said, "By this term Modi could have meant only Muslims".

What did Pioneer's Chandan Mitra said, "Why do you jump to conclusion that internal hand could be only Muslims. It could be anyone even the terrorists from the North Eastern States and even LTTE". Looks the most convincing one.....

But the media did not highlight the last point, but instead did what have been doing all these years---spreading misinformation and increasing the divide between Hindu--Muslims, Hindus-Christians, etc. A great section of the media which was thriving all these years just on creating sensitisation and fooling the Indian masses suddenly had nothing to combat "Modi-ism".

The vandalism by the some sections of Indian Media, is what is called "Talibanisation of the Indian Media".

Hence, why not internal hand, be fabricated as "Muslim hand", or may be hands of Islam" so that more and more Muslims could be humiliated and media could have earned more and more ad revenues. Media would not talk of any other internal hand except Muslims, because of the obvious reasons.

IF THE MEDIA IS SO FOND OF SPEAKING THE TRUTH, WHY DOES THESE MEDIA GOONS NOT SPEAK OF BLATANT HUMAN RIGHTS VOLITION IN ISLAMIC STATES LIKE SAUDI ARABIA, IRAN, PALESTINE, ETC.

Just look at NDTV Ltd: It is natural for a company to shout of Moral Policiing ("Array Koi Moral hai to bhi na, he will speak of morals) which shows almost nil and sometimes loss is coming up with channel after channel, by looting the shareholders. How can a company which does not have profit in the balance sheet come up with new channels?? But then who will bell the cat?? If there is "Ghost in the medicine how to cure the disease"?

It is to be reiterated that internal help for any terrorist attack can come from any Indian black sheep; who can undertake any such work just for the lure of money. He can be a Hindu, A Muslim or a Christian or anyone and whose only aim is the money and nothing else.

Therefore by criticising the Modi's statement and giving it only one direction--the "Great India Lunatic Media" has only humiliated Muslims. As if only Muslims could have acted and not the person from any other religion!! Shame!!

I think you have understood the hidden personal agenda before communalising the simple issue. It is to be remembered that some years back Hindu Spies were found selling sensitive information to the foreign countries; so why can't we assume this time also the same thing would not happen.

SO THIS IS ANOTHER CASE OF IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOUR OF THE INDIAN MEDIA GOONS, WHICH IS BOMBARDING THE INNOCENT MINDS INTO BELIEVING THEIR SHITS AND GARBAGE. THIS IS THE "LUNATIC FRINGE OF THE INDIAN MEDIA"

Then the media tries to churn out another gimmick "Modi's speech has embarrassed India and put mud on his mouth. Yes the media will say that, because by not matching the propaganda machinery of Pakistani Media, it has now become confused and does not know how to act and what to say!!

Now let us analyse the situation in another angle: Could we say that, terrorist took the help of an Indian Spy working in the current UPA Government or in the Congress Government of Maharashtra who supplied all the necessary information to his/her masters in Pakistan (read Pakistani Army) and who helped these young men from Pakistan to ferry to India with so much ease?? So now we have found how the "Great Indian Media is trying to fool everyone into believing their garbage and shit".

Hence, instead of saying that, we have to investigate if there was any such spy attack, because we know the current polity in India, headed by the likes of Abdul Rahman Antuley, Mulayam Singh Yadav, Amar Singh, etc, media has taken a diametrically opposite stand for the vested Interest. They want to project themselves as the Champion of Muslims and want to catch their eyeballs......Indians are not fools. You may fool some people sometime but not all the people all the time--media should understand this.....

The moot point is that if the MPs and media channels (remember CNN IBM did the sting operation and now everything is history) could be purchased at the floor of the house for one or two crores, what if they could be purchased for handshaking with the terrorists in Pakistan??!!

What the media is forgetting is that: This is not the case of making the hands of Pakistan Strong because Pakistan is still accused of running full blown terrorists camps and giving moral support to the Kashmiri/Jihadi Terrorists. Hence the media's argument of blaming Narendra Modi, is just a sham; like their policy of dividing the country or abusing the Hindus.

Now comes to the second point why is the media allergic to Modi?? Simple, because once elected Modi could stop all these aberrations (read nonsense) which is being shown on some media channels.
It is unfortunate that media is terming DRINKING OF ALCOHOL as a sign of progressiveness. This goes to show how the media persons are themselves addicted to drug, alcohol and other psychotropic or may be banned substances. The government should immediately go for search and seizure operation as to find out if any persons working in any media channels are involved in illegal "Drug Trade or Not".

The way the media has come in support of drinking alcohol and other psychotropic substances, raises many doubts.

IF ANYONE HAS ANY SUCH INFORMATION ON THIS, PLEASE FORWARD IT TO ME, I WILL FORWARD THOSE MAILS TO ANY LOCAL POLICE STATION FOR STRICT AGAINST THOSE MEDIA GUYS, WHO ARE OUT THERE TO PUSH THE Young Indians to Drug and Alcoholism.

If your charge against any erring media personals is found to be correct, you will be given one year subscription of Paid Groups Free of charge. This would include any illegal behaviour from any media guys......let us take on these lumpen elements head on...........

Morever, it is unfortunate to see how NDTV's notorious Sonia Singh, called the daughter of Union (Garbage) Minister Renuka Choudhury for a studio conversation, and suppoted her "Pub Bharo Andolon". It is to be understood that Irresponsible Minister of the UPA Government, Renuka Choudhury, earlier asked everyone to go and drink in a pub [Pub Bharo Andolon], instead asking the youth of Indian to come with a comprehensive proposal make India strong and free the world from the clutches of Drug, Alcohol and other psychotropic substances. But then what can we expect from a moral less and junk politician, whose only place should be garbage bins. Also here we did see the criticism coming from the likes of Vinod Dua, Vinod Mehta, Barkha Dutt, Arnab Choudhury, Teesta Svetwalwad, etc. Shame upon these "Drug Addict Channels and Spinless personalities"

Just put some restrictions on watching NDTV/Times Now/Sahara Samay/Star TV or else you could also become an addict at the end because it seems that top bosses of these Channels must be drunkards or drug addicts. Watch Zee TV, India TV, India News, DD News, News X and some such good media channels.

I need your utmost co-operation to free this world from the clutches of Alcohol, Drug and other psychotropic substances. Let us join hands and defeat these demons. I urge Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Parsis, Jews, all like minded persons to support me in my venture. Jai Hind!

India’s Erratic and Irrational Behaviour
ASIF HAROON RAJA

THIS KIND OF HIGHLY COMMUNALISED AND MISLEADING ARTICLES ARE ORDER OF THE DAY (Commonplace) IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF PAKISTAN.

Mahesh Bhatt and Barkha Dutt who champion, the Unity Mission for India and Pakistan should to be made to read these kinds of naked outburts from the Elite of Pakistan. Moreover, the highly Paid News anchors of Times Now, NDTV Ltd, CNN IBN, Star News, etc, should also be made to read these kinds of misleading articles coming out from the Pakistani Media.

I wonder if Dr.Manmohan Singh, Mr.Hamid Ansari, Ms.Nazma Heptullah, Mr.A K Antony, Mr.Laloo Prasad Yadav, Ms.Mayabati, Mr.Tarun Gogoi, Mr.Narendra Modi, Dr. Kalaignar M Karunanidhi, Mr.Ashok Chauhan, Mr.Omar Abdullah, Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan, etc. are at all Brahmins!!

WHILE India has made impressive improvements in the domain of military, technology, economy and education, these improvements had little impact on Hindu extremism and political culture. The Hindu extremists have become more and more intolerant, bigoted and fickle-minded when in seen in context with their behaviour towards the minorities of other religions residing in India. Their venom against Indian Muslims in particular is astonishing.

The Brahmans who consider it their birth right to rule and to enjoy all the perks and privileges continue to look down upon low caste Hindus.

Their ambition for Akhand Bharat burns as strongly as ever. It is this desire to rule the whole of Indian subcontinent and to turn Indian Ocean into Indian lake which makes the Indian ruling elite suffer from megalomania and arrogance. Governed by superiority complex and hegemonic ambitions, their behaviour with neighbours is marked by chauvinism, belligerence and irrationalism.
While dealing with neighbours much smaller in size, resources and military strength they are always in a mood to bully, to terrorise and to dictate terms. They always try to impose their will on others and any country trying to resist their pressure tactics and their intrusion in domestic affairs is punished through various means. The typical means are diplomatic pressure, economic blackmail, military coercion and application of military instrument. The favourite means to make the defiant neighbour bend to its dictates are propaganda war, use of Kautylian tactics, sabotage and subversion and aiding and abetting insurgency. It has trained RAW in this game and over a period of time it claims to have excelled in the art of disinformation campaign, espionage and sabotage. There is no country in its neighbourhood which has not been jolted by India through immoral methods, be it Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Bhutan, Tibet and Pakistan. The latter has suffered the most at its hand and continues to endure. Sri Lanka too is an old victim of Indian machinations and Tamil Tigers insurgency is Indian manufactured.
It is essentially because of their high-handed tactics, erratic and irrational behaviour and covert operations which makes all the neighbours wary. Despite being the largest and strongest country it has failed to earn respect of any. It behaves in a petty and miserly manner whenever it comes to give and take. India believes in taking only and giving nothing. Other than India, none harbour aggressive or expansionist designs. Whereas India has disputes with almost all its neighbours, others have no complaint against each other. SAARC has essentially failed to takeoff in true sense because of India trying to monopolise it. No member of this organisation can raise any bilateral issue since all issue are connected with India.
Social inequalities are inherent in Indian polity which have given rise to separatism and terrorism. At the momentum 19 full blown insurgencies are raging in various parts of India and there are over 100 terrorist groups operating in India. Maoist movement which has its roots in central India but has spread to over 200 districts of India is the most dangerous which has the potential to break up India. Kashmir whether with Pakistan or India or independent is a volcano that is simmering for a very long time and may burst anytime with fatal consequences for India. Terrorism has enveloped India completely and there is hardly any day in India when an act of terror doesn’t take place. From 2000 to 2008, there were 11200 terror related deaths in India. In the last five years, India ranks second in the world in deaths caused through terrorist acts. As per US Institute of Counter Terrorism Report, between 2004 and 2007, 3674 deaths took place in India due to terrorism; only Iraq surpasses this figure.
The intolerance of Indian leaders get exposed after seeing their volatile reaction whenever any act of terror take place in India and Pakistan is impulsively blamed for it. The xenophobic frenzy was witnessed during Kargil crisis in summer of 1999, attack on Indian parliament on 13 December 2001, Mumbai blasts in July 2006, Samjhota Train bombing in February 2007, suicide attack on Indian embassy in Kabul in July 2008, and now Mumbai attacks. Each time, the Indians went wild with rage and wanted to crush Pakistan.. Later probes proved that Pakistan was not involved in any of the incident over which so much of hue and cry was made. Many a times a drama was staged by the sitting regime to either bail itself out of a difficult domestic issue or to corner Pakistan and extract some concessions. India has never apologised for wrongly blaming Pakistan even when its own investigative teams revealed the truth as in the case of Samjhota Train incident.
Some of the motives behind Mumbai drama are to deflect attention from trouble brewing up in occupied Kashmir; claim that Lashkar-e-Taiba, linked with ISI is still active in Kashmir and has now reached mainland of India; get ISI declared as a rogue organisation; instigate militancy in Punjab by getting welfare outfits based in Punjab engaged in charity and educational works banned; seek UNSC permission for surgical strikes inside Pakistan to destroy Jihadi infrastructures; once Punjab gets destabilised paint Pakistan as an ungovernable and unviable state; pave the way for UNSC sanction to denuclearise Pakistan on the plea that world security would remain in danger as long as nuclear bombs and delivery means are stored in Pakistan. The ultimate aim is to turn Pakistan into a compliant state. Greatest wish of hawkish elements within India which are in plenty is that each Pakistani should keep its head bowed in submission irrespective of the humiliations inflicted upon them.
Pakistan has caught tens of RAW agents red handed carrying out acts of sabotage in Baluchistan, FATA, and Swat. George Bush on his visit to Islamabad in March 2006 was shown clinching evidence of RAW involvement in Baluchistan but he simply turned his face. Imagine if ISI agents were caught in any of the troubled regions of India where home-grown separatist movements are raging for decades. One can imagine how India would have reacted if Pakistan was in a position to stop the flow of river water into India and it had done so or constructed a dam in violation of Indus Basin Treaty, or if Pakistan had blamed India for Marriott suicide attack. USA, UK as well as other western nations would have immediately ganged up and all hell would have broken and Pakistan condemned in strongest words. We have seen how Pakistan was taken to task by US led G-8 during Kargil conflict. Could Pakistan have possibly sat over UN Resolution on Kashmir for 62 years? Could Pakistan have ever got a UNSC resolution within 24 hours on any issue in which India was involved? It could not get a UN resolution for ceasefire when Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto desperately pleaded for days to prevent fragmentation of Pakistan in 1971.
As long as hawks dominate the corridors of power in India, Indo-Pakistan peaceful co-existence based on mutual trust will remain a pipe dream. The scheming minds in India would continue to cook up stories and indulge in falsehood to gain political mileage and to harm Pakistan. Suchlike self-created hypes and dirty tricks would never extinguish the embers of hate. South Asia has lagged behind in the field of economic growth essentially because of Indian interventionist policies, unfair dealings and erratic behaviour.
The writer is a defence and political analyst. Email: ah.raja@yahoo.com

"Nobody could shake the party's faith in Lord Ram, for whom a magnificent temple will be built at Ayodhya", Mr.Rajnath Singh.

Nagpur: The BJP chief Mr.Rajnath Singh on Saturday declared that nobody could shake the party's faith in Lord Ram, for whom a magnificent temple will be built at Ayodhya.
"Jahan tak Ram Janambhoomi ka sawal hai, koi ma ka lal Bhagwan Ram me hamari aastha aur nishta ko diga nahi sakta (No one can shake BJP's faith and reverence to Lord Ram)," he said in his inaugural speech at the two-day National Council meeting that began today.

BJP chief Rajnath Singh Rajnath's statement led to chants of "Jai Shri Ram" from several of the assembled gathering consisting of thousands of party leaders and workers. The BJP had kept its pet issues like Ayodhya, Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir and Uniform Civil Code on a backburner when it came to power in 1998 and tied up a coalition.

He lamented that during the last five years the Congress-led coalition at the Centre had failed to spare "even five minutes" for initiating dialogue to resolve the Ram Janambhoomi issue.

He said if the party comes to power it would work towards an effective solution of the vexed issue and could even set up a fast-track court and could take other measures after taking allies into confidence.

Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been scathing of Saudi Arabia, highlighting its uneven application of executions -- 102 in 2008 and 153 in 2007 -- and strict Islamic policies.

GENEVA (AFP) — Saudi Arabia told the UN Human Rights Council on Friday that its status as an Islamic state should safeguard fundamental rights rather than fuel abuse, as it faced western calls for action to stop violations.
Zeid Al-Hussein, vice president of the country's three-year-old human rights commission, acknowledged there were violations in the country, often as a result of "individual practices" rooted in its tribal history.
But he insisted that Islamic law and practices should complement the legal standards the United Nations upholds.
"I wish to emphasize that -- and I weigh my words very carefully -- religious particularities, as correctly viewed in Islam, supplement rather than detract from international human rights standards," he told the Council.
"I am aware that, in most Islamic countries, individual practices do not always reflect the true essence of Islam and much remains to be done to ensure that human rights are promoted and protected," Hussein said.
Saudi Arabia's human rights record was being examined by the body's 47 member states under its first 'universal periodic review.'
"We acknowledge that there are some human rights violations attributable to individual practices," Hussein said.
"Many of these violations fall within the context of domestic violence, to which confusion between the true Islamic Shari'a and customs and traditions is a contributing factor," he added.
Human rights groups such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have been scathing of Saudi Arabia, highlighting its uneven application of executions -- 102 in 2008 and 153 in 2007 -- and strict Islamic policies.
Those include the way women are subject to a male guardian's permission to travel, work and marry.
They also complain of abuse of women, torture, widespread arbitrary arrest, indefinite detention without charge or trial and jailing of political activists in the Gulf nation.
Several countries, including Britain, Canada and Norway, recommended that Saudi Arabia abolish the family guardianship system and do more to prevent customs and traditions from harming women and children.
"While progress has been made, particularly in recent years, Saudi Arabia has more to do to ensure that its legal framework and domestic implementation meets international human rights standards," a British delegate told the Council.
Switzerland and Italy called for a moratorium on the death penalty, while several countries criticised corporal punishment.
Hussein said the government was "constantly" trying to prevent domestic violence, control by husbands on their wives and children, pointed to a range of measures introduced over the past two years.
"In actual practice, the concept of guardianship, for example, often loses its connotation of responsibility and care, which are transformed into domination and coercion," he acknowledged.
Hussein also accepted that the kingdom was "not exempt" from some forms of human trafficking, including financial pressures on migrant workers and the smuggling of children to be beggars, and highlighted forthcoming legislation designed to eradicate it.
Human rights groups say that domestic workers especially are subjected to abuse and exploitation that is sometimes tantamount to slavery.
Despite guarantees for freedom of belief, non-Muslim religious worship could only be free within private homes in the Kingdom, Hussein said, largely due to the "sensitivities" that arose with its status as host to Islam's holiest shrines at Mecca and Medina.
"There is no point in discussing this issue from the standpoint of positive man-made law, since religious belief stems from the heart and not from rational proof," he explained.
"This our belief, which we expect others to respect and not contest, in the same way as we respect and do not contest their beliefs," he added.

It is Impossible to Separate the Muslim components from the Hindu Components in Hindustani Music.

Kaleem Kawaja

Music continued to flourish in medieval India in spite of the acquisition of political power by the Turks, Afghans and Mughals. It was patronized and thrived at the imperial courts of Muslim kings in Delhi and Agra and at the centers of provincial kingdoms like the Sharqui kingdom of Jaunpur, the Khilji kingdom of Malwa and the Bahmani kingdom of Bijapur and Golcunda.
In his memoirs Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, has named several leading musicians of his time including Sheikh Ghuran, Sheikh Adhan, Khawaja Abdullah Marwareed, Sheikh Nai, Sheikh Quli, Ghulam Saadi, Meer Anju and many others. It is believed that the renowned musician Baiju Bawra was among the musicians in Humayun’s court.
In the reign of Akbar there were many immortal musicians like Mian Tansen, Sujan Khan, Tantarang Khan, Bilas Khan, Baaz Bahadur, and Pirzada Khurasan. During this period some well known ragas such as Darbari Kanhra, Jogia, Mian-ki-Malhar, Mian-ki-Todi, Mian-ki-Sarang were introduced by Tansen. Similarly Nayak Bakshoo, a musician of the court of Raja Mansingh of Gwalior created many ragas like Bahaduri Todi, Nayaki Kanhra, Nayaki Kalyan, etc.
The Sufis from the countries of Central Asia who started coming to India with the establishment of the Muslim rule in North India in the eleventh century made a major contribution to the growth of musical institutions in India. Music played a central role in all of their congregations. They skillfully blended the Arab and Persian styles with Hindustani music and utilized it as a medium of communication for their messages of moral and spiritual uplift for the common man.
Among a number of Sufi sects in India the contribution of two sects, the Chishtis and the Suhrawardis is most noteworthy. The contribution of Hadrat Nizamuddin’s disciple Amir Khusru is only too well known. He broke away from the old traditions and introduced new forms such as Qaul, Qawwali, Qalbana, Naqsh-e-gul and Nigar. Khusru is said to have created about twelve new melodies, among which are Zilaf, Muafiq, Ghanam, Farghana, Zangula and Sarpada. In the court of Jalaluddin Khilji the ghazals of Khusru were regularly recited by the famous musicians.
Several new musical forms were developed during the medieval Muslim period. Two of the most outstanding forms are Dhrupad and Khayal, which are still dominant in today’s Indian music. The beginning of Dhrupad occurred in the thirteenth century and it reached the zenith of its popularity in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Two renowned books of the era Ain-e-Akbari and Raga-Darpan state that most of the musicians of that time were Muslims. Kitaab-e-Nauras written by Ibrahim Ali Shah the ruler of Bijapur also mentions the popularity of Dhrupad as far as Deccan. Today the well known Dagar family is continuing to uphold the traditions of Dhrupad.
On the other hand the genesis of Khayal can be traced to the eighth century. The old musical forms of Khayal were influenced by Qaul and Qawwali. Sultan Hussain Sharuqui, the ruler of Jaunpur took keen interest in the development and popularization of this style. In the Mughal court of Mohammad Shah Rangeela his court musicians Niamat Khan and Feroz Khan composed hundreds of Khayals with a high degree of perfection. A large number of Muslim musicians were accomplished Khayal singers in the medieval period.
Another contribution of the Muslim musicians has been the establishment of the Gharana system starting in the eighteenth century. Several such Gharanas have flourished in various parts of the country. Among some of the prominent Gharanas are those of Gwalior, Agra, Jaipur, Kirana and Delhi. The Gharanas specially emphasized disciplined singing or playing an instrument according to the traditional style established by an extraordinary musician.
Among other musical forms Tarana, Thumri and Tappa are also popular styles which developed through the synthesis of the indigenous Indian music with influences brought in by the Muslims. The origin of Tarana is associated with Amir Khusru whereas Nawab Wajid Ali Shah is credited as one of the early patrons and composers of Thumri. Tappa style of singing is believed to have been the innovation of Shori Mian of Lucknow.
During the later medieval period a large number of standard works on music, both original and translations from Sanskrit, were undertaken. The three major works belonging to this period are: Raga-Darpan by Faqirullah; Tohfat-e-Hind by Mirza Khan; Naghmat-e-Asfi by Ghulam Raza.
Tracing the history of the contribution of Muslim musicians to the growth of Indian music it becomes evident that the Muslims of medieval India were what the indigenous Indian culture had made of them in the course of six hundred years.

They became Indian in thought, speech and action and religion was part of the culture, but not the whole of it. It is obvious that music has been an unmatched medium to bring Muslims and Hindus together in India through the last six hundred years, and it is impossible to separate the Muslim components from the Hindu components in Hindustani music.