Ummatic diasporic nationalism - Bullshit!

Without a doubt, I have always been a Bengali nationalist. At times, it's been a difficult thing to explain to people, especially to good Pakistani friends of my generation. There may be differences of opinion between the both nationalities, where - seated side by side - we would wonder - as the current generation - whether the East and West Pakistan split was really worth the ummatic divide? I know for sure there will never be a general consensus from the wounded souls of both sides.

I read a book recently, and it helped me understand matters better from the 1971 dimension. Some might think it was overly exaggerated and propagated by East Pakistan's hunger for power. To have suggested that East part with West Pakistan, it would seem - as Muslim Bengalis - we were going against the will of God to divide the Ummah. Yet there was more to than just religion for Bengalis... our identity also encompasses our heritage and the economic sense of well-being. Bengal has and continues to lament since 18th Century from the fall of Siraj-Ud-Daula but, by the grace of pure economics, we knew better this time. Things needed to be fundementally re-structured by West Pakistan in the administrative sense; a faction would ensue given that revenue generated had unevenly been allocated across geographical parts of Pakistan, especially with more preference towards the West of Pakistan. The guerilla uprising from the East was inevitable.

Some might ask, are we as Bangladesh any better off than when we were with (West) Pakistan? All I can say is that I'm not sure which side I would favour had I witnessed the 1971 war, yet the brutality and torture suffered by many in the name of keeping unity is enough to remind me that I am glad to have come from the dented part.

Conversation Log

Date: 24th August 2009
Professor G: Athiest
S: Monotheist

Time: 9:30 AM
Location: Corridor in Department of Immunobiology at Guy's

S: Hello (Prof) G, how are you today?

Prof G: Very well, thanks. How do you do?

S: Good good... a bit hungry; i'm fasting today, it's Ramadan.

Prof G: Oh, you stupid girl, religion's not worth it!

Time 12:30
Location: S's Office

Prof G: [comes over to S] I have a delicious chicken sandwich in the kitchen.

S: Are you going to rub it in any further? or do I just say to myself it's not worth breaking my fast for?

Prof G: Ha ha ha... the things you people do in the name of Holy Trinity!

Ponzi Prince and the Jewish Princesses

Once upon a time,
there lived a filthy rich swine

When times were good,
he was better than Robin Hood
When times were bad,
the Jewish Princesses were mad

How could he?
the sheer audacity, to rob the rich and then try to flee
He was no ordinary Madoff;
tell his foes, they will bite my head off

But no doubt he was clever,
That is why the damned say, Bugger!
They gave him money because he was a Jew
Alas, that money went to a handful of few!

Unravelled to become a classic tale,
this is the fate of one Alpha Male
You may think such thoughts are crude,
suffice to say, this man was shrewd.

Indira

After one month, and some intense practice in verbal reasoning (result - moderately improved), I have found a topic worthwhile to write on Shatranj. Indira.

Yesterday I was asked about my political stance on the independence of Bangladesh. Despite being pro-liberation, I was unable to articulate my argument to the degree Indira has done so in this interview with BBC. This interview amused me a great deal, to a degree where I felt the controversy stirred by Indira Gandhi - at the time - could potentially be compared with the likeness of a present-day political government (reclusive to the actual motive) intervening in support of the causes presented by The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. The Guerillas.

To this date, many Bengalis state that Indira Gandhi and India's intervention in this war was solely to hit back at Pakistan. It is plausible, yet what does appear vague is whether East Pakistan was capable of fighting it's own war in 1971. Indeed, it wasn't a new war; the struggle for self-governance was one which was spewed out from the day when East Bengal fought for the language movement in 1952.

Though my knowledge of Indira Gandhi is severely limited, including instances not knowing as to why she was known as the 'Lady Hitler' and the storm revolving around the forced sterilization programme, I have tremendous respect for her. Surely she was a lady of substance who was absolute for the sake of argument? A rarity of a politician, she was passionate. Her profound legacy has left me indebted, in the name of identity.

Baby, where's my counter gone?

it disappeared. can't find it