Gandhi....Civil disobedience...Non Violence....

Today, peace lovers remember and pay homage to Gandhi on his death anniversary. I first read Gandhi's autobiography when I was twelve years old. The book fascinated me mostly about his life in South Africa, London, India and the struggles. I could not understand very well about the self experiment he was doing in his journey towards truth. I was even upset that he did not take care of his children. As a kid at that time I thought that was unfair.
Later, I also read Thoreau's Essays on Civil Obedience and Tolstoy's War and Peace to understand or tried to know how these two great people have influenced Gandhi. Then, my journey with the books and World continued in many directions. Particularly Gandhi or his writings did not play any major role partly because I have not given attention to explore his writings or write-ups about him. However, I always adored his tenacity to stand by the truth.

In 2007 when I visited Johannesburg, I went to the Tolstoy farm where he began his early years of experimenting with natural remedies.  I bought some books. The more I studied about him even the controversial one where some one questioning his altruism or he acted to be leading a simple life I started seeing him as a soul who could reach out to millions of poor people in India with his non-violent teachings.

He promised nothing but difficult life and imprisonment. How did he get that charisma? It is not easy to lead a peaceful struggle in a nation of diversity. He did it with his utter belief in truth and love for the people.

Unfortunately, we are witnessing the wraths of violence in one form of other all over the world. May be an autocratic regime, ethnic cleansing, tribal and Eco exploitation, wars, terrorism against civilians, to name a few. When the World is becoming a global village, promoting peace and harmony through non violence is possible only in a collective way. All the countries must sign up for a non-violent movement. Ultimately only non-violent means will push the humanity towards peace and democracy. May be an Utopian dream! But, dreams are possible... Right!

 
All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.

Regime...Resist...Revive...

Another disturbing news from Egypt. Another episode in human history that autocratic regimes will collapse by its own burden. Another drama unfolds in front of our eyes where people get killed yet valiantly stand up for freedom. Yes, Egypt the cradle of civilization is in the cross roads of history again.

When I visited Egypt in December 2009 it was relatively peaceful except for a bomb exploded in a church on Christmas day in Luxor.  One cannot miss Mubarak's house on the way from airport to the city with its numerous barricades and armed personnel around.  Egypt looked like a volcano ready to explode at any time.  The great gap between the affluent of Cairo and the people who live literally in the tombs for lack of residence,  a small percentage of middle class entangled in a weak economy cannot sustain for a long time. Autocratic regime cannot provide a solution to bring harmony and progress. Its means of force and corruption are like a molatov cocktail!.  My heart goes out for those people, be it the artisans in the small village of Sakkara, the camel men in Giza, the wonderful staff at the Hilton,  the patient guide from the Cairo Museum or the archaeologist who showed us the great treasures of Luxor.  I hope peace prevails soon.

The autocratic regime must be replaced by an elected democratic government. The resistance must use non violence methods. Sure there will be revival if there is a secular agenda with freedom of speech, worship, free press and a determination to move away from corruption. Can it all be done? Why not?

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.

Tunis....WSIS....Crisis....

This weekend there are news reports about the state of emergency in Tunisia. Watching the news,  I remembered the days I spent there in 2005 when I attended the WSIS conference as a panelist and also as a tourist. President Ben Ali (then!), hosted the UN sponsored WSIS summit with world class arrangements. I had the opportunity to discuss with professional Tunisian women on the constraints and opportunities they have in ICT. I was quite impressed by the freedom enjoyed by the women in this Islamic North African country compared to other Islamic countries. My impression was Tunisia could become a role model for other African countries especially for women educators, entrepreneurs and ICT professionals to deploy Information technology for economic growth and development. http://www.itrealms.com.ng/2005_08_01_archive.html

Now coming to the travels-  being a WSIS delegate I was given an ID and I had a reliable taxi arranged by the hotel. With all set for my adventure, I started off with the visit to Carthage. It is now a city with archaeological remains and one cannot wonder imagining the lost splendors of this great city. My driver cum guide pointed out an ancient form of Swastika symbol which was later copied by Hitler and became a symbol associated with his heinous crimes. Another important place to visit is the Murals Museum which has the largest collection of murals.

Tunis unfolds its history from the Phoenicians, to Romans, Greeks, and later Islamic caliphates. The Roman aqueducts, byzantine churches that are converted into museums, mosques, modern buildings and cobbled stone streets of the inner city (Medina) indeed are living pages of history. Some are tattered though!                                
The oldest mosque in North Africa is located in the Medina Area or the Islamic quarter of the old city. The bazaars spews out aroma of spices and vendors selling jewellery and crafts. I walked into the Mosque wearing the scarf but without knowing almost entered into the prayer hall! The kind guard graciously explained that women were not allowed inside and I can take pictures outside. He even offered to take a picture with the Imam!

A visit to Tunis is not complete without sipping a nice hot cup of Mint tea in the city cafe of this Mediterranean city and the beaches in Sidi Bou Said. This is now a UNESCO heritage site.
 The houses are painted with the beautiful turquoise blue and white reminding the Hellenistic roots. In the city center the palace was converted as a museum and one can marvel the beautiful tiles, murals and overall the architecture of the palace itself with its gorgeous hand crafted furniture and the decorated doors and windows.

After spending sometime in the beach and drank lots of mint tea and pastries made with almonds and dates I started my journey back to Tunis. My driver started telling me about the yonder desert and the Berber people, his village, oppression, poverty, life in Tunis and the unique culture. The beaches and the land played hide and seek. Mediterranean sea looked calm knowing all the secrets of rise and fall of the authority in all political and social forms and the tenacity of human beings to fight or fit and move on. Yes, this current crisis in Tunis will also pass!.

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.

Martin Luther King....Dreams....Justice....

On January 15th we will celebrate Martin Luther King's birthday.  A Nobel Laureate, Civil rights leader, and an extraordinary human being. Gandhi was his inspirational leader along with great thinkers like Howard Thurman and Bayard Rustin. Very rarely in history one can find leaders like Gandhi, King or Mandela whose choice was to pursue non-violence means to fight for justice and freedom.

As an immigrant to the US in the early 80's I do not have any first hand knowledge of the severity of the segregation and the civil rights movement of the 60's and the 70's. Today, America can proudly say,"Yes our past has instances of slavery and segregation. But, we had the courage to admit and to abolish slavery. We had the courage to abolish segregation and racial discrimination. We are constantly learning and improving the democratic principles and freedom for all".

Any civil rights movement with a non-violence approach cannot succeed in a coercive and non-democratic political system where the state or a dictator has enough power to destroy the group who are vocal about injustice.  Luckily, the political system in the USA paved the way for Martin Luther King to go full steam in the southern states in pursuit of his dreams and quest for justice.  Many sacrificed their lives. Yet, he had the will power to continue the non-violent method amidst the pressure from people who believed in revolutionary methods.  He gave his life at the end but not in vain.  Today, in the southern states, one can walk into any restaurant or rest room not as black, white or brown but as an American.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hate multiplies hate, violence multiplies violence, and toughness multiplies toughness in a descending spiral of destruction. The chain reaction of evil--hate begetting hate, wars producing more wars--must be broken, or we shall be plunged into the dark abyss of  annihilation.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Strength To Love, 1963

We need more MLK's to spread peace and be change agents to break that chain of violence and terrorism anywhere in the World.
 

 
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Grand Canyon....Janus....Auld lang syne.....

End of the year travel has become very special for me.  A time to contemplate, reflect and re-energize the mind to start another year. This time, we flew to Las Vegas and from there went to Grand Canyon and the Valley of the Fire.  When I went with my Mom in 1997 we visited the South rim, which has a beautiful vista. This time we decided to visit the
West rim.  The Hulapai native Americans are instrumental in undertaking this monumental effort to build a horse shoe shaped walkway completely with glass. The sky walk juts into the canyon and the Colorado river running quietly down below while the tourists are immersed in animated conversation up on the rim. That river must have seen the changes in the environment, natural carvings on the canyon, human settlements, and now helicopters whizzing past the canyon floors. Yet, it looks very pristine, flows wildly or calmer determined to reach its destination whatever that comes in its path.

My heart jumped with joy on seeing the clear blue sky and the dancing sun's rays on the ridges on the canyon creating a light and shadow effect on the rocks.  A time to merge with the nature without any questions or bothered by any surrounding tourists or talk.

Returned back to Vegas late in the evening. The bejewelled city with lights and neon signs looked like a child's drawing compared to the moon and the stars on the sky.  Vegas was making preparations for the upcoming 2011 celebrations. During the 46th century BC Julius Caesar dedicated the month of January to the Goddess Janus and the new year was born. Did this calendar make any difference in the cosmos? No, but the new year brings hope, joy and a vigor to live, to achieve, to be compassionate, to change self and to share love, joy, and happiness. Yes there is always hope and a new beginning.

Happy New Year! Let us celebrate Nature and Humanity!

All content copyright © by Sobana Iyengar.