Do We need to STOP calling ourselves Canadian Desi ?
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Location: Ottawa (Now in Bangalore)
Posted on: 08-07-07 18:59:51
I just have a question for you guys... Suppose a new person from India lands up. He happens to be a person from a certain peaceful religion... would you, after this incident, like to associate with him ? Its like a 2-way sword :
Dammed if I do (what if he turns out to be another Kafeel Ahmed),
Dammed if I dont (where is my sharafat ?)
So what do you folks say ? Read the article below
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Dark_side_of_India_Rising/articleshow/2186995.cms
Shocking though it may sound, Kafeel Ahmed is one more sign of India's new-found internationalism. He must be seen as part of that overflowing basket of 'India Rising' commodities, now on display to the world.
The Bangalore engineer who set himself on fire and crazily drove a blazing jeep into Glasgow Airport has to feature in our world-facing profile along with the following: all the companies listing on AIM, the junior market of the London Stock Exchange; Kiran Desai's unexpected triumph in winning last year's Booker Prize at a time Indians seemed 'written out'; Bollywood's attempt to raise money on the international capital market and wow new, global audiences with its oomph and pizzaz; the newly-documented demand for Indian 'C'-level executives, ie the international multi-racial meritocracy composed of a highly sought-after, mobile group of CEOs, CFOs and COOs; Vijay Mallya's £595 million cash purchase of Whyte & Mackay; corporate India's so-called 'big bang' when Tata acquired Corus; India's muscular move to acquire a permanent seat on a new, reformed UNSC.
Ahmed is, to use the words of Pink Floyd, the dark side of the moon. He is the darker side of our moon; the glowering edge of 'India Shining'. We are unwillingly forced to acknowledge him as one of our exports to the West; this is one 'son of India' we would rather have not claimed.
But he is — for good or bad — a marker of our increasing interaction, indeed importance, to the world in almost every respect. Till June 30, Ahmed and his Iraqi cohort and "best mate" drove the burning jeep into the departure terminal of Glasgow Airport, India had an important, but second-rung status in the so-called GWOT or global war on terror. Our long and tragic experience of terrorism prompted us to claim — and receive — international sympathy as part of the community of victims. The blowback from the unfinished business that is Kashmir gave us credibility as yet another member of the list of sufferers from Islamist radicalism.
Our status as the West's fellow-sufferer was not in doubt. But we did not rank high as purveyor of information and exporter of terrorism. That dubious distinction was reserved for Pakistan, colloquially known as 'Terror Central' and 'Jehadistan'. Till June 30, Indian police and intelligence could supply their Western counterparts with little more than grim suspicions about potential jehadi suspects.
Pakistan was a fully paid-up player in the international tango that is the GWOT.
Kafeel Ahmed has smashed that beautiful interlude of respectable victimhood. India is now firmly esconsced as a player in the GWOT. On Sunday, Ahmed was described as being an associate of senior Al Qaida figure and convicted terrorist Abbas Boutrab. He reportedly met the Algerian Boutrab in Belfast while studying for a master's degree in aeronautical engineering. Boutrab and Ahmed are thought to have had many pleasant if gruesome conversations about the Algerian's scheme to blow up an airliner.
According to security sources in Ireland, the two men may have belonged to the same Al Qaida unit, which had embedded itself in the country because Northern Ireland and its southern half, the Republic, was viewed as a "quiet base".
The revelations change the world's view of us. Till June 30, Sonia Gandhi could quite justifiably assert, as she did in Oxford on November 28, 2002, that Indian Muslims were not of an Al Qaida bent of mind. I was in the audience, listening to Mrs Gandhi's speech, and I can faithfully report that no one demurred when she suggested the post-9/11 suspicions did not apply to Indian Muslims. "We don't do Al Qaida," she seemed to be saying, without fear of contradiction. Kafeel Ahmed smashes that innocent belief.
He appears to tar our homegrown Muslim community with the same brush as everywhere else. He represents the internationalist terrorist links newly forged by our professional classes as they fan out across the globe, taking prestigious jobs, earning kudos and building the brand image of 'India Poised', TOI's moving anthem that believes we are a country "whose faith in success is far greater than its fear of failure".
Quote:
Pointless to argue against the grim fact that Kafeel Ahmed brings our global stock tumbling just a tad. But that does not change our investment grade ranking as a blue-chip to watch.
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"Aur Vaise Bhi, Sharafat ki jab kapde utarti hai, sabse zyaada mazaa shareefon ko hi aati hai"....(From The Dirty Picture)
Warning !! SCAM ALERT !!
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This is a Useful Health related Tip
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Please visit
http://www.cmje.org/religious-texts/quran/verses/009-qmt.php for some interesting Information ! (Especially 009.005 )
After more than 500 years (of migration from france), french canadians are still known as french canadians.
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A Proud Indian Canadian
Quote:
Originally posted by Garvo Gujarati
After more than 500 years (of migration from france), french canadians are still known as french canadians.
Even my pitiful knowledge of canadian history tells me this is something they are fine with. They revel being "separate". Don't they?
Hi !
The link above is a mistake probably since it takes you to personal photos of a family ..
Ashwani
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Growing Old Is Mandatory ..Growing UP is Optional
Quote:I know of many Brits who will still support England over Canada in any sport.
Originally posted by heaven
Last week in a FIFA U-20 world cup soccer match held at toronto in between Canada and Chile, Canadian citizens of chile origin have supported Chile and celebrated victory of Chile over Canada, the TV commentators proudly said about them and shown those fans waving.
They have left Chile and became canadian citizens. Should not they have supported Canada? Should they celebrate defeat of Canada?
Similarly, many Brits in Australia still support England.
As the world becomes a more open and mixed place, all of these things are bound to crop up.
If you have immigrated to Canada from India, and India is playing a cricket match against Canada, should I expect you to support Canada over India?
I personally won't.
Just as I won't criticize Canada at every possible opportunity, sometimes without valid facts.
Similarly, I won't simply put up with someone bad mouthing India and demeaning it's culture, diversity or religion.
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"Mah deah, there is much more money to be made in the destruction of civilization than in building it up."
-- Rhett Butler in "Gone with the Wind"
Quote:
Originally posted by pratickm
If you have immigrated to Canada from India, and India is playing a cricket match against Canada, should I expect you to support Canada over India?
I personally won't.
Just as I won't criticize Canada at every possible opportunity, sometimes without valid facts.
Similarly, I won't simply put up with someone bad mouthing India and demeaning it's culture, diversity or religion.
Eggggjately
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Mumbai Maazi Ladki ...
