Miscellaneous Facebook posts & comments in or around August 2021
When author of post or comment is not mentioned, it should be assumed that it is me (Ravi S. Iyer).
To save time, I am usually not providing my FB post links but only contents. I am also not hyperlinking links. So readers will have to copy-paste links from this post onto a browser link box and then browse to that link.
==========================================
Last US Troops Leave Afghanistan Ending 20-Year War: Pentagon, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/last-us-troops-leave-afghanistan-ending-20-year-war-pentagon-2524242 , 31st Aug. 2021.
Ravi: That's a watershed moment (whether one likes it or not with me currently being on the side of not liking it) in current history of South Asia. Now Taliban (Taliban 2.0) has full control of Kabul and most of Afghanistan.
Let us hope and pray that Taliban 2.0 will be more tolerant of Islamic sects and groups that differ from their interpretation of Islam, and of followers of religions other than Islam.
...
Taliban take over Kabul airport - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZhuYLpHh1E , 12 min. 11 secs., published on 31st Aug. 2021.
--------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3201941203355768
Intolerance of languages other than the majority language in a large & diverse country like USA, or India for that matter, is not good. History teaches us that majority languages in countries/states/kingdoms also change over time.
We should celebrate the diversity of languages rather than be intolerant of such diversity.
Post shares post on history of Spanish language areas in USA.
-------------
Bill Gates on India achieving 10 million vaccinations in a day milestone: "Congratulations, India, on reaching this tremendous milestone. The collective efforts of the government, R&D community, vaccine manufacturers, and millions of health workers have made this feat possible. @PMOIndia @MoHFW_INDIA https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-administers-one-crore-vaccine-doses-on-friday-highest-one-day-tally-since-immunisation-drive-rollout-7474346/ ", https://twitter.com/BillGates/status/1431389983164616705 , 28th Aug. 2021.
-------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3201472816735940
10 million people in India were vaccinated for COVID-19 on 27th Aug. 2021; PM Modi gives kudos
1 crore is 100 Lakhs which is 10 million. 10 million people in India got vaccinated for COVID-19 on 27th Aug. 2021! That's an awesome positive statistic in this fight of India against COVID-19.
A related news article: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/-momentous-feat-pm-modi-lauds-record-1-crore-vaccination-doses-in-single-day-101630073109245.html
Main post shares PM Modi's post: "Record vaccination numbers today!
Crossing 1 crore is a momentous feat. Kudos to those getting vaccinated and those making the vaccination drive a success."
---------------
Decided to share this sensitive video after some debate in my mind.
It was tragic that a civilian (a US armed forces veteran) was shot by the police in the violent riot in US capitol in January this year, with the civilian dying from the bullet wound.
But she was part of the rioters! The US capitol police had to protect the lawmakers in the capitol from the rioters.
The hand of the officer that shot the lady civilian has been seen earlier, in many videos of the riot. Now we see the face of the officer and hear his views on the tragic incident. The interview also covers the support the officer has received from other police officers on his action as well as the threats and verbal abuse the officer has received from some other persons.
Capitol Police Officer Who Killed Ashli Babbitt While Defending House Chamber Speaks Out, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MuByQ7Pp5Gg , 6 min. 23 secs, published by NBC News on 27th Aug. 2021.
--------------
What more horrors does Kabul have to face! A suicide bomb attack on the US led non-combatant evacuation mission in Kabul! My God! What a terrifying and depressing situation!
At least 60 dead in bomb carnage at Kabul Airport - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VC7W6WPL_oY , 8 min. 33 secs. published on 27th Aug. 2021.
-------------
Lovely 2016 live orchestra rendition of Hindi film oldie goldie Hum To Tere Aashiq Hain from 1967 movie Farz, with original song singers being Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. The rendition singers are Mukhthar Shah and Madhuri Dey. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MwTFVaWRIps , 4 min. 29 secs.
-------------
Lovely 2014 live orchestra rendition of 1969 Hindi film oldie goldie - Je Hum Tum Chori Se, sung originally by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar. This rendition singers are Mukhthar Shah and Sangeeta Melekar, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ba98wij0sDA, 3 min. 52 secs.
---------------
Terrific comeback by England in the test series by dominating the first day's proceedings of the 3rd test. They bundled India out for a paltry 78 and scored 120 without losing any wickets! I mean, what more could England have asked for, in the first day of the 3rd test!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TisATbpyxw , 15 min. 42 secs, published by England & Wales Cricket Board on 26th Aug. 2021.
---------------
Falcon Rising (2014), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Rising , is the movie in the video link given below (the youtube video title is misleading). It does not come across as realistic and is more of a Rambo type movie, except the hero is not fighting an army but tackling a vicious Japanese origin gang that's into child prostitution in Rio de Janeiro, kidnapping children from the favelas.
The hero, John 'Falcon' Chapman, is an ex US marine who suffers from PTSD after his tour(s) of duty. Michael Jai White, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jai_White , is awesome in that role. I think the movie is worth watching just to see White do the fight/action scenes. But, I repeat, the movie does not come across as realistic. One has to keep one's logic by the side, and just watch the muscle and martial arts moves of White in the action stuff.
The movie is around one and a half hours. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTDVnwa10xA (Not only the youtube video title but also the preview pic is misleading and does not seem to be from the movie). The movie starts around 33 seconds into the video.
------------
After some debate in my mind whether I should share this, I decide to share.
Watch: Pakistani students celebrate Taliban takeover at radical seminary | Afghanistan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnj07hFYR_c , 2 min. 32 secs, published by Hindustan Times on 22nd Aug. 2021.
Right in Pakistan's capital of Islamabad, we see girls of a radical Islamic seminary praise the Taliban for capture of power in Afghanistan. Later parts of the video show the radical preacher & rector of the seminary speak about his desire for such Islamic emirates to be established in the entire Muslim world and then across the whole world!
There is no hiding of what this radical group wants! And it is based right in the capital of Pakistan!
India must be on its guard against such radical Islamic elements that want to overthrow democracy and establish Islamic rule. Today, India has over a billion people of various religions - Hindus (of various sects & other groups), Muslims (of various sects: Shia, Sunni, Ismaili & Bohra (within Ismaili) etc.), Christians (of various sects: Catholic, Protestant ...), Jains, Buddhists, Jews - as well as people of no religion (agnostics/atheists) who largely are free to worship as per their religion or not worship, as long as they abide by the laws of the country. This inter-religious harmony/tolerance must be protected and nurtured.
Ishwar Maalik! Allah Maalik! Yesu Maalik! Sabka Maalik Ek!
[Ishwar is the Lord! Allah is the Lord! Yesu (Jesus) is the Lord! The Lord of all is one!]
-------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3198507773699111
Awesome guts shown by this Afghan lady (who studied for some time in Delhi)!
Main post shares post about Afghan lady protesting against Taliban.
---------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3198506027032619
I recall seeing the movie Gandhi at Regal (Mumbai) during those years (early 1980s) along with some Ruia college chums. I was a college student then.
Main post shares post with pic of Regal theatre when Gandhi was being shown there.
----------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3198299227053299
Great work by Indian Air Force!
Shared post is about IAF evacuating Indians from Kabul
-------------
How bad Taliban rule is for minorities like Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan can be assessed from the views of this Afghan Sikh MP who was able to escape to India: Watch: Afghan Sikh MP in tears after reaching India on IAF plane I Taliban Takeover, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Elzeeff2yEY , 3 min. 8 secs, published by Hindustan Times on 22nd Aug. 2021.
-------------
I enjoyed this view of Bhutanese life in today's times.
Bhutan – change comes to the Himalayan "Happy Kingdom" | DW Documentary, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oki0kftEm-Y , 42 min. 26 secs., published on 10th Sept. 2020.
-------------
Taliban Kill DW Journalist's Relative While Hunting For Him: Broadcaster, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taliban-kill-deutsche-welle-journalists-relative-in-afghanistan-2514669 , 20th Aug. 2021
Ravi: Freedom of expression has been vital for me, since I started my journey as a social media writer (blogs & Facebook) around ten years ago with part of my writings being on sensitive topics related to spirituality & religion, and also some whistleblowing of some sad power mongering and abuse of power in a spiritual movement after its founder bodily passed away. It is Indian democracy protected by Indian armed and paramilitary forces, Indian judiciary, Indian legislative bodies and Indian police forces, that has enabled me to be such a social media writer. If I were living in some other places in the Indian sub-continent including, of course, Afghanistan, I would have been either forced to stop my social media posts on sensitive topics/whistleblowing or ...
It is horrifying for me as a social media writer (blogger and ...) to see how the Taliban are now hunting down media in Afghanistan who have been critical of them.
-----------------
Hear air traffic controller's stunned reaction to C-17 flight load as it leaves Afghanistan, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqzlbvmDhoI , first 4 min. 25 secs of the around 11 mins video, give the story behind the video profile pic shown below. When I first saw the pic a day or two ago, I was not sure whether it was genuine or fake. Now it is clear that it is genuine. The video below gives the details.
--------------
Very emotionally powerful video with Afghan women being the main narrators of the good and bad times they have been through since 1960s. From the video's description: "In a first, this film is told exclusively from the point of view of Afghan women, who talk about how their lives have changed. Six women, including the former "Miss Afghanistan 1972" and the current minister for human rights, take the audience on a journey through the splendor and misery of the country. They show the tangible effects of endless war, and how women in particular have become victims of violent politics. But they also show how much courage Afghan women have. Using mostly unseen archival footage, the film shows how girls grew up, went to school and were socially engaged in the vibrant Kabul of the 1960s. But this "golden age" ended when the monarchy was overthrown and ideological battlelines were drawn between communists and Islamists. Even the Soviet Union could not maintain control, its mighty army falling to Islamist forces, who eventually took control of Kabul. Thus began a downward spiral that darkened the lives of Afghan women. 20 years ago, the fall of the Taliban seemed to open a path to a more promising future. For two decades, women and girls in Afghanistan were able to envisage and live a life in which they could decide their fate, in a country that provided ample choices and chances for them. They wanted their country back, the country they once knew. With the Taliban’s swift coup to seize power in just a few weeks, the women’s dreams seem more unattainable than ever."
Afghanistan - Land of endless war | DW Documentary, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7e6tejlTNw , 1 hr. 22 mins, published on 17th Aug. 2021
...
I would like to add that I was very moved to see the parts of the video having narration of Mohammed Najibullah's daughter, Heela Najibullah (who now seems to live in Europe). Her father wanted her to learn English well so that she could come back to Afghanistan to help him in his work to build a better future for Afghanistan. Whether that vision of a better future was something that had the support of the majority of the Afghan people is another matter - I don't know.
She speaks excellent English and seems to be saying the truth as she saw it, in well expressed words. I was very moved by her talking about the nightmare she would have when she was a child about Najibullah's opponent (Gulbuddin Hekmatyar) assassinating their whole family with her pretending to be dead to escape (from around 37 min. 20 secs in the video)! Note that in 1978, the then President of Afghanistan, Mohammed Daoud Khan, was assassinated along with most of his family. Perhaps it was this knowledge of what happened to a somewhat recent past President and his family, that triggered the nightmare that Mohammad Najibullah's young daughter would have.
My God! What suffering the entire families of Afghan political leaders have endured, along with suffering of the Afghan masses. The political leaders' families may have been well off as compared to the masses, and so their suffering has been of a different kind from that of the masses. But it seems that all of Afghanistan has gone through immense suffering during these four decades of unending war since 1978.
----------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3195419390674616
Great relief that Indian embassy staff at Kabul were able to be evacuated safely, despite many challenges. Many thanks to USA armed forces and high-level diplomatic staff who gave the clearance to the Indian plane to land at Kabul airport for this evacuation. Note that Kabul airport is under control of USA armed forces, as of now.
Main post shares related Times of India article.
--------------
Oh! There are Afghan students (11 postgraduate and undergraduate students totally) studying in JNTU Anantapur! Somehow I had not expected that. Let's hope and pray that these Afghan students in Anantapur get the support they desperately need now.
Afghan students in Anantapur stare at an uncertain future, https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/afghan-students-in-anantapur-stare-at-an-uncertain-future/article35988363.ece , 19th Aug. 2021.
------------
Afghan Students In Pune (India) Share Their Views On Afghanistan Crisis| Reporter Diary, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAsHZkSini0 , 8 min. 50 secs. published by India Today.
I think these views of Afghan men and women students studying in India tell us how much fear is there among progressive and modern Afghanis about the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. These students are in touch with Afghanis in Afghanistan and so their views seem to be based on ground realities of Afghanistan today. The interviews with the two women students is particularly telling. I mean, there is no way these ladies want to go back to Afghanistan and live under the Taliban.
Some of them have applied for refugee status in India. As a citizen and resident of India, I think India should accept their refugee applications provided they pledge to be supportive of India. In particular, I think their being Muslim should not make it difficult for them to be accepted as refugees in India. Afghani Muslims who are friends of India should be supported by India.
----------
Video gives us a clear idea of the continuing chaos at the perimeter of Kabul airport: Taliban fighters accost CNN reporter and crew, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfbS_8K-a7g , 9 min. 4 secs, published by CNN on 19th Aug. 2021.
...
Taliban "shooting protesters" as thousands try to flee Afghanistan - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4rvIz5B0PxQ , 12 min. 12 secs.
-------------------
https://twitter.com/rgsippy/status/1426800196369805312 by Ramesh Sippy, director of Sholay sharing a pic from the shoot of the film with the key stars - Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjeev Kumar, Hema Malini, Jaya Bachchan and Amjad Khan.
Sholay - A Hindi film I will never forget! Released 46 years ago! The role that made the strongest impression in my teenage Bombay (Mumbai) city boy mind when I saw this movie, was that of the villain Gabbar Singh, played by Amjad Khan. Gabbar Singh character is a sadistic dacoit in rural North India (though shooting of the rural scenes seems to have been in Karnataka, I was informed by a Facebook friend). The character is so famous that he has his own wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gabbar_Singh_(character) !
-------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3194011894148699
I salute the courage of this Hindu priest who continues to do his worship functions in his ancestral Hindu temple in Kabul.
May God protect him!
[Shares related post.]
----------
Enjoyed the turn-around victory on last day.
India Claim Thrilling Win! | England v India - Day 5 Highlights | 2nd LV= Insurance Test 2021, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1J9_9-vNcU , 15 min. 31 secs. published by England & Wales Cricket Board on 17th Aug. 2021.
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3193094880907067
Afghan women's rights activist's plea to the world from Kabul
Chaos at Kabul airport as Afghans try to flee Taliban - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tH6l9qtWiA , around 15 mins., published on 16th Aug. 2021.
The latter part of the video has an interview with a woman's rights activist in Kabul now, whose voice alone is shared (name & face hidden). She wants her voice to be heard by the world. I thought of doing my small bit to help her voice being heard by sharing the video. Note that the woman seems to be Muslim. Let me share some of her words that are very moving and hard-hitting: (from around 12 min. 15 secs into the video) "Its hard for me what should I say to my daughters and to their generation. Why they are not able to go to school or university or continue their study (where) they like to or where they wish to? Why Afghanistan should be a marginalized place from the entire world?"
She says, as per my understanding, that it is political Islam and the cold war associated with it, that has caused this crisis in Afghanistan and not the great religion of Islam itself.
She asks the international community to help protect women's rights in Afghanistan.
...
In response to a comment I wrote: Corrected comment: The tragedy of Afghanistan in our times, started with communist or pro-communist governments in Afghanistan in the 1970s which were not friendly to traditional Afghans who followed Islam religion. That led to Mujahideen resistance movements which were, at one time, supported by USA. The Taliban emerged from these Mujahideen movements in later years (1994 as per Taliban wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban ) ... Afghanistan is a horrific story, of our times, about what happens when a small country gets caught up in a cold war between major powers with some radical religious movements also getting involved in the dangerous mix.
...
In response to a comment I wrote: Saw it. I am not sure whether it is presenting a biased pro monarchy view.
...
In response to a comment I wrote: That documentary was Rory Stewart's view based on some book I think. The Zahir Shah video I saw a couple or so days ago which I have shared in a comment on this post, I felt is more informative and accurate than the Rory Stewart video when it comes to 1930s to 1970s. I think the Rory Stewart video seems to be a good account of 19th century Afghanistan and British Raj role in it, and has also covered the Soviet invasion period quite well. From what I recall of the Rory Stewart video, I think it has not covered well, the Zahir Shah period (1930s to 1970s) and the changes brought about which resulted in political parties like the PDPA (communist party allied to Soviet Union) rising to prominence, and eventually gain political power. The other videos I have shared give a good account of this. We see how, once communists came to power in Afghanistan (1978), there was repression of Islam, resulting in rise of Mujahideen armed resistance to communist government of Afghanistan then. That in turn led to Soviet Union coming under pressure to prop up the communist regime with its armed support, which it did with the late 1979 invasion of Afghanistan which was ill-fated, not only for Soviet Union but also for Afghanistan, as that has made Afghanistan a civil war like country in parts, ever since. That is a period of over 40 years! My God! What hell most of Afghanistan has been through in this horrible period!
In that context, I am now able to better understand the fond nostalgia with which King Zahir Khan's rule is being viewed today, as there was stability and there seems to have been a balance between modernisation and respect for traditional Afghan tribal leaders and their traditional Islamic way of life. Zahir Kahn was deposed in 1973 by his cousin, Mohammad Daud Khan who got rid of the monarchy, proclaimed a republic but of which he was boss. Daud Khan was assassinated by the communist PDPA which took power in a coup in 1978 which initiated the Mujahideen resistance followed by the civil war horrors that Afghanistan has been mired in.
...
I saw this video a few hours back and it has improved my understanding of the rise of the Mujahideen in Afghanistan in response to Soviet Union backed communist or pro-communist regimes in 1970s, some years before the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The Afghan-Soviet War - The Road to War (1953-1979) - Part 1, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAmEp89rB7M , 15 min. 40 secs.
...
An interesting video giving vital 20th century history of Afghanistan from 1930s to 1970s:
The Last King of Afghanistan (1933-1973) - King Zahir Shah | History Documentary, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIXJ4WP4ESE , 29 min. 2 secs.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: I did not follow this. Zahir Shah's father King Nadir Shah was assassinated after which Zahir Shah ascended to the throne at a young age of 19. ... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Zahir_Shah
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: Rural Afghanistan with its tribes and traditional Islam asserted itself. Unfortunately the lack of unity amongst Afghan tribes led to horrific conflicts amongst them after communist rule was overthrown in early 1990s. Essentially tribal civil war kind-of thing.
That seems to have led to Taliban becoming popular among the masses (Taliban seems to have got formed in 1994), and get to power in most of Afghanistan including Kabul in 1996 till USA and its NATO allies deposed them in 2001. Now the Taliban are back. I think the Taliban continues to be popular in rural Afghanistan. Perhaps that's the key reason why it was able to capture power so quickly after the USA and its NATO allies withdrew from Afghanistan.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: Taliban 1.0 was horrific on women's freedom, education and work opportunities - I think there is no doubt about that. Let's hope & pray that Taliban 2.0 (the current regime that is getting formed) is better given the international pressure on it about women's rights.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: Noted your view. Thanks.
...
I am now seeing (have seen about 5 minutes of it so far) this video: The Afghan-Soviet War - The Bear Trap (1979-1989) - Part 2 (feat. Cynical Historian), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MxjdZEwzGs , around 26 mins. So far it seems to be a good, informative video.
...
Just finished seeing the whole of it. It is a good, informative video.
--------------
I am not endorsing Rory Stewart's views, especially on the resettling part as that would be quite a contentious issue in the nations that have to accept the refugees.
Rory Stewart's other comments about the speed of the Taliban advances and the nature of the Taliban regime that will govern Afghanistan, come across to me as pretty knowledgeable. That's the main reason I am sharing the video. Stewart has spent a lot of time in Afghanistan and has also been the key narrator in a documentary type video on Afghanistan history.
Rory Stewart: Britain has a 'moral duty to resettle Afghans' with other NATO nations, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T5vTT44IiI , 7 min. 13 secs., published on 15th Aug. 2021 by Sky News.
...
The Afghanistan history documentary type videos I mentioned above (which I think are ten years old): Afghanistan: the Great Game (Part I), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m7uL4Q44ws , around an hour.
...
Afghanistan the Great Game (Part II), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6jItZF5ZeU , around an hour.
--------------
Tweet has a 1 min. 29 sec video showing Taliban fighters in Afghan presidential palace in Kabul. So it is clear now that Taliban are in Kabul and seem to be in control of the presidential palace there.
Stunning!
And tragic as most if not whole of Afghanistan, including Kabul, will now come under a regime's rule which has little tolerance for religious practices other than their own. What will happen to women's education and women's freedom is yet to be seen but it will be no surprise if women's education opportunities and freedom are severely curtailed.
https://twitter.com/AJEnglish/status/1426985745206677504, 16th Aug. 2021
...
Taliban seize power in Afghanistan as President flees country - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5yCbi4qcpk , 13 min. 30 secs., published on 16th Aug. 2021.
-----------
Hmm. Bewildering speed of collapse of Afghan government! Perhaps the Taliban taking Kabul part of the headline may be an overstatement as of now. But multiple news agencies are reporting that the Afghan president has fled Afghanistan with some saying that he went to Tajikistan.
President Ghani Flees Afghanistan, Taliban Takes Kabul, https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/taliban-enter-afghan-capital-kabul-news-agency-afp-2510885 , 15th Aug. 2021.
-----
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3192623434287545
Astonishing! Just shows how important military force of a country is for protection of its people, government and constitution. I am very, very grateful to Indian armed forces (army, navy and air force, and allied forces like Border Security Force) as well as paramilitary forces who fight internal armed uprisings, for the protection they provide to the general citizens of India (including me) as well as foreign residents and visitors in India, against armed attacks by insurgent groups from outside and within India.
Who would have thought a couple of weeks ago that Afghan national forces would be on the brink of this total defeat so quickly: Taliban takeover: Fighters surround Kabul ‘from all sides’, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRizHY32WGs , 10 min 5 secs, published today (Aug. 15th 2021) by Al Jazeera English.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote:
That the Taliban may overcome the (now previous) Afghan government forces was a possibility when the US withdrew most of their forces some weeks ago. But that the (now previous) Afghan government forces would cave in so quickly, in some places without a shot being fired, surprised many observers and watchers.
---------------------
Very depressing but I prefer to come to terms with reality in my part of the world - South Asia - rather than try to ignore that reality. Hats off to the lady BBC correspondent, Yogita Limaye (going by her name she seems to be a Maharashtrian i.e. a native of Maharashtra which is my former home state), for having the guts to go to Kabul to do her reporter's job. I should add that her name shows that she is most probably a Hindu. The Taliban would not take kindly to Hindus in Afghanistan.
A few weeks back, the Taliban killed a Muslim Indian journalist, Danish Siddiqui, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danish_Siddiqui , who was with Reuters, and was reporting from Afghanistan's war frontlines embedded with the Afghan government forces. Reports are that he was executed and his body was mutilated.
Given this background, I salute Yogita Limaye for her guts in going to Kabul for this reporting.
“Afghan capital may fall within weeks" as Taliban" fighters advance across country - BBC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPVcsj6KfoA , 4 min. 50 secs., published on 12th Aug. 2021 (today).
The video shares the plight of refugees in Kabul - very, very sad.
What can come close to the horrors and suffering of a war in our times! Nothing - not even a horrible COVID pandemic! War is the worst horror that can befall a populace in our times, and I think that would be true of most of history, except perhaps periods like that of deadly plague in past centuries when science and civil government were not so well developed and could not tackle plague outbreaks effectively.
My prayers to Almighty God for peace and harmony between the various Muslim tribes and religious sects living in Afghanistan, and also the very few non Muslims living there.
As per this wiki page, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam_in_Afghanistan , around 99.7% of population of Afghanistan is Muslim. So it is an overwhelmingly Muslim country. Of these Muslims, around 90% are Sunnis and around 10% are Shias.
---------------
Taliban के हाथ में जाती दिख रही Afghanistan की सत्ता, खिसक रही Ashraf Ghani के हाथ से | World News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zei76owo-gM , 11 min. 28 secs, published on 11th Aug. 2021 (today) by Zee News.
-----------
Horrific suffering in Afghanistan among those who disagree with the Taliban, as Taliban captures more and more towns & cities
Tolerance of religious differences is a very important value for me. It is depressing to see how those Muslims in Afghanistan who disagree with the Taliban's religious views and practices (and any from non-Muslim religions, of course), are terrified with the Taliban gaining control of more and more towns & cities in Afghanistan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taliban tells us of the history of intolerance that the Taliban has with those, including other Muslims, that do not accept their religious views and practices.
News agencies provide video reports that give us a direct view of the suffering of those people who disagree with the Taliban.
The first two to three minutes of the first video below show reality on the ground as the Taliban in Afghanistan move into towns & cities after defeating the government forces. From around 28 seconds into the video, you can see people in Kunduz city running on the streets to get away, as the Taliban forces drive in.
Afghanistan: Taliban extend takeover of regional capitals, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muSXT7j9teI , 10 min. 20 secs., published by Channel 4 News (UK) on 10th Aug. 2021.
The second video below shows the refugee crisis in Kabul: Thousands flee as Taliban eye full control of northern Afghanistan • FRANCE 24 English, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOHYXjeUDWs , 1 min. 51 secs. published on 10th Aug. 2021.
-----------------
I trust Dr. Francis Collins, head of NIH, USA; Here's what he is saying about COVID vaccines as USA sees a fourth COVID wave
I had the privilege of receiving short email responses from Dr. Francis Collins in or around 2012, as I was checking with him whether he was OK with me putting up a transcript of his 2009 Caltech lecture on God & Science, on one of my spiritual blogs. He was OK with it and so was the orgn. that had sponsored his Caltech lecture and so was copyright owner for it. Here's my 2012 post in case readers want to see it: Francis Collins – The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence of Belief, Caltech. 2009 – Transcript, https://iami1.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/francis-collins-the-language-of-god-a-scientist-presents-evidence-of-belief-transcript/ , 10th Aug. 2012.
As the Caltech 2009 lecture shows, Dr. Collins is a straight-talker who also is a top-notch medical scientist and physician. So I trust Dr. Collins. IMHO, he is a superb communicator who delivers the message loud and clear.
Here are his recent remarks on (USA) ABC News program where he was posed a series of important and interesting questions by George Stephanopoulos: 'We are failing' to contain delta variant surge: NIH director | ABC News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSJMkCgJoEg , 8 min. 45 secs, published by ABC News on 8th Aug. 2021.
--------------
Recent Aljazeera video that tells us one version of what is happening in Afghanistan today with their team visiting an area that recently came under control of the Taliban. The latter part of the video has the views of an American security consultant who seems to be quite knowledgeable about Afghanistan security/power realities.
Al Jazeera team visits Taliban-held city Lashkar Gah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auFkofBTQpM , 11 min. 18 secs., published on 8th Aug. 2021.
As I have said earlier, Afghanistan is not too far from North Western borders of India.
---------
Interesting to see this end 2018 video from Cambridge University having researchers talk about the 1918 Spanish flu and their fears about a future pandemic. Around a year later, the COVID pandemic struck!
Spanish Flu: a warning from history, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3x1aLAw_xkY , around 11 mins., published by Cambridge University on 30th Nov. 2018.
-----------
Life in past centuries before 20th century was terrible for the poor and exploited, as compared to how it is now in early 21st century in most parts of the world, I think (I could be wrong but that's the impression I have gathered).
This around 10 minute video gives us a glimpse into the horrors of slavery in USA which was abolished in 1860s after USA civil war (with slavery being main issue over which the civil war was fought), but which took some years to get properly implemented: The Real History of Slavery - Southern Negro, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx0xhwzdLl8 .
------------
Army types are trained in using weapons with devastating effect. In 1985-86, two US army veterans turned rogue and committed many crimes of robbery and murder in or around Miami, Florida. The FBI team that finally tracked them down, got into a shootout with them with 8 FBI agents in many cars against these two criminals in one car. But the army vet criminals were heavily armed as against the FBI agents who were lightly armed and perhaps not so well trained to tackle army vets. The outcome was quite bad for the FBI even though the two murderer-criminals were eventually killed.
The made-for-television movie shared below would surely have added dramatic touches (exaggerations) to the real events to make the movie more popular. However, all of the key events covered in the movie seem to be mentioned in the wiki page covering what really happened then.
In The Line Of Duty: The FBI Murders (1988 Film), https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS0-YU1eNNw , 1 hr. 34 mins.
Movie wiki page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_the_Line_of_Duty:_The_F.B.I._Murders
Wiki page of the real events on which the movie is based: 1986 FBI Miami shootout, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1986_FBI_Miami_shootout
--------------
Reality bite about gun violence in India today (this happened in North West India): Youth Akali Dal leader shot dead in Mohali | Caught On Camera, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U5Dbxy99L10 , 1 min. 36 secs., published today (7th Aug)
-------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3186521161564439
Hmm.
[Shared post has this quote: “To be (alone) is the fate of all great minds.” — Arthur Schopenhauer]
-----------
While we know of 'spiritual tourism', the COVID pandemic seems to have created a new term of 'vaccine tourism', as per this report: Rich tourists visit US for Covid-19 vaccine, says US airport official, https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/rich-tourists-visit-us-for-covid-19-vaccine-says-us-airport-official-101628160974328-amp.html, 5th Aug. 2021.
A small extract from above article:
"Rich people from various countries of the world have been travelling to the United States to get shots of the Covid-19 vaccines, do some shopping and then fly back to their home country after a short stay."
----
San Francisco International Airports claims to have administered 1000 vaccine doses to visitors from 58 countries of the world.
Only 8 of this 1000 are from India and the reason ascribed for this low number is the travel from India restrictions imposed by USA.
--------------
https://www.facebook.com/ravi.s.iyer.7/posts/3185729364976952
Inspiring in these horrible COVID times!
[Shared article is about a Xth standard girl who scored 99.8% in CBSE exams despite losing both her parents to COVID.]
--------------
Nice live orchestra rendition of 1975 Dharam Karam Hindi movie song: Ek din bik jayega maati ke mol: Ek Din Bik Jaayega Mati Ke Mol | एक दिन बिक जाएगा माटी के मोल | Aadvita Multimedia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pcm93Uqd6uo, 5 min. 23 secs, published in May 2020.
The main singer of the original song is Mukesh, the music director is R.D. Burman and the lyricist is Majrooh Sultanpuri.
Here is my rough translation of the first lines of the song:
Hindi: Ek dik bik jayeega maati ke mol
Jag mein rah jayenge pyaare tere bol
English: One day you will be sold at the price of mud (dust/clay)
O beloved, your words will be left behind in the world
Hindi: Dooje ke hoothon ko dekar apne geet
Koi nishaani chhod phir duniya se dol
English: Having given your songs to the lips of others
Leave behind some mark and then (leave?) this world
...
Another nice live orchestra rendition: Daxesh Patel Musical Group...Ek Din Bik Jayega By Mukhtar Shah, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXbOG8pCN1o , published in Jan. 2019
...
Nice rendition by a group of youngsters in the presence of Randhir Kapoor, one of the stars of the movie, 'Ek Din Bik Jayega Mati Ke Mol Happy' पे सब ने दिया एक मस्त Performance! | Indian Idol Season 10, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfdqDEJIMMU, 1 min. 15 secs., published in Nov. 2020.
-------------
Wonderful to see singers and musicians provide such great renditions even in COVID pandemic times! The song is another famous philosophical oldie goldie Hindi film song - Ek Pyaar ka nagma hai from 1972 movie Shor. Original song singers are Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh, the music directors: Laxmikant-Pyarelal and the lyricist: Santosh Anand.
Ek Pyar Ka Nagma Hai*SHOR**Mukhtar Shah*Dr PayalVakharia*Laxmikant Pyarelal*Santosh Anand, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hafeaMFnyGk , 8 min. 1 secs. (the song starts around 2 min. 53 secs into the video), published on 11th July 2021 (less than a month back).
---------
Lovely Jan. 2020 live orchestra rendering of philosophical Hindi film oldie goldie song from the movie Apnapan (1977): AADMI MUSAFIR HAI AATA HAI JATA HAI | SARVESH MISHRA | GUL SAXENA | APNAPAN | SIDDHARTH ENTERTAINERS, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-CRFBxQdr4 , 4 min. 43 secs.
The original song singers are Mohammad Rafi and Lata Mangeshkar, the music director(s) are Laxmikant-Pyarelal. The song writer is Anand Bakshi.
My rough English translation of the main lines of the song:
Hindi: Aadmi musafir hai, Aata hai jata hai
English: Man is a traveller, (he) comes and goes
Hindi: Aate jate raste mein, yaadein chod jata hai
English: In (on) the roads (of his) coming and going, (he) leaves behind memories
...
The original movie song-video: Aadmi Musafir Hai Aata Hai Jata Hai (I) | Lata Mangeshkar, Mohammed Rafi | Apnapan 1977 Songs, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipePh7hAkYc, around 4 min. 10 secs followed by Ads.
...
Nice live orchestra rendition: Aadmi Musafir Hai By Vishwanath Batunge & Aanal, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mPX0yYE_b6k , 4 min. 18 secs., published on 2nd Aug. 2017 (don't know the event date).
-------------
On https://www.facebook.com/ramadas.mannattil/posts/10159551572677920 , I wrote: I too had some HMT wrist watches in the 80s.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: Hmm. My memory is a little dim on the winding part.
...
In response to a comment, I wrote: I think in early 1980s I too would have had the hand-wound HMT watches. I think I too would have been winding them everyday but my memory is hazy on this. What I can recall clearly is the small screw top like thing on one side of the watch dial (which I think is what one used to do the winding), but I can't recall me doing the winding! I think my memories are a little funny in the sense that, in general and not for these wrist watches alone, some things I remember clearly and some things I just can't recall.
-----------
On https://www.facebook.com/eve.gardener.980/posts/2031339623689814 (about US evacuation and fall of Saigon) , I wrote: I was too young when Vietnam happened. While I did not really understand this well in the 1980s when I became an adult (was 18 in 1980), today as I recall the world political events of the 1980s, I think the dominant issue was capitalism+democracy vs. communism. I think that was the lens through which all these world level power games happened. Vietnam perhaps was just one more small country that got caught up in this top-level ideological power struggle.
Communism as a world force, seemed to be gone with the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, but now we see the rise of China as a world power with its brand of communism which they call "communism with Chinese characteristics" but some wags call "capitalism with Chinese charactersitics".
It is a great relief for theists like me, that Russia is now a majority Christian country. So even if USA+NATO allies vs. Russia is still a major power game in the world, the anti-religion part is out of that power game.
----
Comments
Post a Comment