Dedications

One of those years that coincides the beginning of Ramadan and Lent were on the same date. So decided to attempt a Ramadan Fast which is more severe than an Ash Wednesday Fast. Ramadan Fasting is even not drinking water.

As the day progressed, the hunger pangs grew and alongwith that thirst. Normally hunger can be quenched for a while with water. Though I rinse my mouth, as refuse to believe that any God would want a sacrifice to abstain oral hygiene. Only to realise that it is not about only oral hygiene, but what I speak orally. 

Reminding me of Mathew 15:11, It is not what goes into the mouth of a man that defiles and dishonors him, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles and dishonors him.

Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) reinforced this by stating, "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or remain silent". 

Then as day progressed to noon, hunger was making me restless and I was making myself look miserable.

 

Reminding me of Matthew 6:16-18, When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

The Quran does have similar guidance on fasting in Surah Al-Baqarah 

Fasting is a private act between you and God; avoid showing off (related concept in 2:271, 4:142).

As evening approached it was thoughts of food to be consumed after sunset. Attending the Ash Wednesday religious service, it was less of the religious aspect, where the priest broke the symbolic bread, but my thoughts of breaking bread and devouring dinner.

Wondering if both the Islamic Allah and Catholiic God were happy? Was I happy? The answer I got was no. No God wants your fasting, if it did not awaken in me the hunger felt by the millions who go to bed hungry. Along with the fasting if it was breaking bread with someone hungry, all Gods in heaven would have been happy. For the person receiving the food, he or she sees God in you and you realise the purpose of God in you who has blessed you with abundance. 

Instead of only blabbering a grace before a meal, reach the grace to the underprivileged not just your food, but your talents, your time to educate. As no God wants your prayers uplifted to him, if you cannot uplift someone in life.

A college fest at NM college in India to celebrate Valentine's Day was vandalized?

https://youtube.com/shorts/L-kBpzJUlCc?si=9hwNUFQPxVBoUxqk

Is it culturally enjoy and participate in a festivity that is to express love? The expression of love is not only between two teenagers who could be in love, but an expression to anyone. It could be your family, friends or just an occasion to have fun with a get together.

Even when Adithnath Yogi came to power he had a Romeo Squad that came down heavily on teenagers or young consenting adults going out or meeting in public place? What is the message? That if you want to love, you should go to Epstein's island? If it is alleged that it is a western culture then ensure we abolish everything that is western. 

Dont just run bulldozers over poor people properties, but also bulldoze starting with the Parliment House, Rashtrpathi Bhavan, which are western colonial constructed structures. Don't just rename colonial names to streets or places, but ensure no trace of anything western exists. 

Dont be selective on soft targets like people who are in love or people who want to express love to the near and dear ones and friends. Even the recent atrocities and vandalisation of Christian places of worship and educational institutions? Will that be justified quoting the Bible, where Jesus said, "If someone slaps on the right cheek, offer the left cheek?"

Where are we going as a nation? A nation that propagates hate and violence? A land of the Mahatma Gandhi who preached non violence. A land which prides in Lord Krishna and his love for Radha. Lord Ram who went to extremes to get his wife back that in the pursuit to unite Lord Ram with his wife Sita, Hanuman burnt down Lanka. A nation that was ruled by Ravan who ruled it with evil and hate?

What are we doing, destroying a country of love, peace, unity and harmony? It's Valentine's Day and not Frankenstein Day, where we are making a monster out of communities and religions to hate, kill and vandalise? A nation where rapists are out on bail and people who want to express love are victimized?

It was an emotional occasion where the class of 82 had a memorial religious service for those who passed away. Emotional to realise the blessings of nature, God and destiny that I was blessed with. Blessed to be alive, healthy and with a family. Alive and hoping to make it to my 60th year of life in the next few months. 

The religious service was a Catholic mass and most of the deceased were non Catholics. Despite that families of the deceased came for the religious service, confirming that we all will be going to one creator who made us. Living at a time where the country is being torn apart on religious hate, here was a group uniting in prayer

The preacher Fr. Joe Gonsalves who was a 'reacher' of a beautiful message, that we need to be like salt. Salt that preserves and gives taste. Me being me and not yet grown up, grinning on how I use salt to rim my glasses. The beautiful choir led by Shayne and a beautiful rendition of a hymn on the saxaphone by Simon and he reading a gospel scripture. Audifax ringing the bell during the holy moments in the mass ritual. Making me a ring a bell in memory on how I used to wait for the bell to ring when school was over. 

One of the organizing team dude, Archan, was the ultimate spirit of life. Though on a wheel chair he was more full of life and refused to be bound to the wheelchair. Making all attempts to stand in respect for holy moments of ritual of the religious service. 

The service connected many of the old boys together with friends during the school years. Like I was thrilled to meet Ashlin a day scholar who used to share his lunch with me. Being a boarding student, home food was something we boarders craved for. One of the deceased boy Inderjit Singh sister, Happy, was really true to her name Happy, when many remembered her brother and especially the food they would be pampered at their home. I for sure will visit her for the parathas that many were lucky to have gorged on

There were pictures clicked outside the beautiful majestic Church of Don Bosco and in my heart was a prayer for a long life of all surviving class of 82 and their families. The evening ended with a beautiful session of bonding over tea and lovely snacks. A bonding not just of the boys of 82 but also with their families. One of the families were children, of Tony Quadros who passed away, and they came all the way from Goa. Tony's Dad used to teach us music and when most of the boarders learnt to play many musical instruments, I was kicked out as I could only play the fool.

A big shout to those who were thoughtful and  organised this beautiful reunion of memories of those who are not there in our midst today and those alive and all their families. Thank you Glen, the brain and heart of this thought, Archan, Simon, Sanjay, , Rajesh, Audifax for all the effort and palmning. Shayne and all families who were a part of the beautiful choir. Praying and wishing for a loooong life for all of them and they stay alive till all the rest leave this earth and they remember us this same way in prayer. With Simon on the saxaphone and Shaye giving the eulogy, and Glen ensuring he does not bunk like this time where he could not make it. Missed you Glen and thank you for this beautiful throught of remembering the souls of our departed brothers.

Left the evening connecting with friends and families. It was a teleportation back to my teens. Especially with families joining to sing the Don Bosco Anthem, with a line of the lyrics that say Don Bosco be with us, Don Bosco watch over us, Don Bosco forever our model be. 

I am praying for you

Don't know if it works

But many things if life

Were attempted with a hope

Hope has definitely helped with evolution 

Don't know if hope was with prayer

Or prayer was with hope

Then both are a roll of dice

If it works with prayer

Then praise God

If it does not, God is testing us

Wondering why would any God test us

If hope works, then it is the courage

Courage irrespective of whether prayers work or not

If it does not work, we test ourselves again

No God to blame, but us to keep going

So as you battle your crisis

Keep your faith in prayer along with hope

Keep your faith in hope along with a prayer

If it works maybe it is a combination of both

If it does not work

No God is testing you, no hope was bad

it was just never meant to be

The budget which is supposed to be looked at with anticipation and joy is now more or fear of the axe of the tax. Fear of how much more will a person income be taxed. Less that 5% of the population pays income tax. On the tax paid money they pay tax on purchases. On the tax paid for example a flat, they pay tax on sale of the flat. 

Then is fooling the masses of no income tax upto 12 lakhs income per year. It is only if you earn income of 12 lakhs and below that is tax free. It is not a standard deduction like 75000/- deducted from your income and the rest taxed. So if you earn 13 lakhs, you get a standard deduction of 75000/- and the rest is taxed on the slab levels of income tax. 

Even the current budget had no relief to the less than 5% income tax payers, besides a animal like growl from the Finance Minister, when questioned on it?

 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DUQbY6gCe6D/?igsh=bzF6dzk2ZGNoMzM0

A growl which was like a hungry animal who has not had her fill? How long will a nation be run on the backs of less than 5% of the population paying tax? Tax which is more than 40% of earnings contributed by income tax payers? This is besides tax earned on everything, including the poor man's staple food of dal? 

The focus is on how to keep taxing the tax payer, instead of exploring how to reduce it. Atleast not fool with optics that income upto 12 lakhs is tax free and not a standard deduction. The least the government or any government can work is TCS Tax Collection at source / BTT Banking Transaction Tax /Purchase Tax.

Abolishing Income Tax though possible but presume cannot be done, can not Filing Income Tax be abolished. A govt. who prides to the world with it's UPI platform of payment where even a 1 Rupee payment can be done digitally. Then why not a tax collection system that can be digitally done and the tax burden is spread more across the population and not on less than 5% of the population. 

So next budget we dont have a Finance Minister that growls on being questioned what is the relief for income tax payers. The least relief is abolishing the burden of filing Income Tax, which is an income axe. The worst is the income noose where TCS is deducted and you can claim it back or would be Tax Returned post filing your taxes. So if you are axed more than what is your taxable limit, you will be refunded. So file your tax to beg the excess that was axed as tax?

If Osama Bin Laden was the worst Terrorist in the world, then who are Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu? Are they also not more worse than Osama Bin Laden? If allegation is that Venezuelan President was involved in drug smuggling into America, then could not America not protect its borders from this smuggling? Could stringent laws be not made for people involved in the trade inside USA? 

Why this desperate need and greed for oil making an alleged number one nation in the world, behaving like a pack of scavenger animals? Can wage war with any nation to squeeze the last drop of oil? Now Trump wants Greenland? It's like a sex starved man walking into a brothel and deciding which prostitute he wants? That's besides the point, Trump is a sex starved maniac. The Epstein Files exposes has exposed it all?

If human rights in Iran is a concern, then how come the same concern is not there for North Korea, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India and many other nations ruled by brutal dictators, regime or democracy used as a facade to cover human atrocities and capitalist interests of few?

Despite the history of wars created by United States for their economy to prosper with arms trade, surprising the world is silent or frightened? How long will the world stay silent of the atrocities of USA and Israel? Palestinian communities called bedouins that lived for centuries in Palestine being uprooted. There was never an Israel. A imagination of a fiction writer Moses whose writings form the earliest writings of the Torah and then juxtaposed with some changes into the Bible and Quran

What is shocking is the silence or the fear of the world against a terrorist, Donald Trump? Nothing but a loser who threatens the world with sanctions, tariffs or war. A terrorist who cares a damn for a world body like United Nations. United Nations was anyways the bed partner of USA. Likewise USA being the bed partner of Israel. USA controlled by the Jews is a no brainer. A control cleverly devised by Intellect and proven as a chosen God's race of humans.