His name is Khan.
Married to a Hindu he is also an example to the nation that religion does not divide us. Humanity and love are far more important than religion. He is also a proof that our country provides us the democratic right to choose and live happily with anyone we wish.
He is a living legend. He chose to call himself Rizwan in his film. He could have been any Khan but he chose to be Rizwan. Borrowing Rizwan’s name is in some ways a tribute to Rizwan. And who could have paid a better tribute than someone who has done the same both in real and in reel life – marrying a Hindu Girl. It is possible that the choice of name was co-incidental. It is also possible that being closely linked with Kolkata Knight Riders gave him some understanding of the city. Some awareness of the love and affection Kolkata showed to Rizwan. In either case no one should grudge the choice of name. Whatever the motive the name unlike the film is not copyrighted.
It is a pity though that Rizwan in real life was not as lucky as Rizwan in the film. They never are!
Rizwan in real life did try very hard to get his love too. Fighting against a corrupt system that continues to protect the rich and powerful he lost his love and his life to an amalgamation of religion, corruption, misuse of power and money. He lost the battle to make our country a better place for all of us. All of us who want the freedom to choose the way we want to live, the freedom to love and marry the person we wish without having to be chased like a criminal and having to pay with one’s life. All of us who wish to have faith in the law of the land and the rights it provides us.
Lot of famous and everyday faces joined Rizwan’s unfinished battle to make our country a better place. So it just is a little painful to witness that someone who shared Rizwan’s name either by chance or by design failed to do so. Not joining the fight is not so painful but to actually associate himself with those who are at least morally responsible for Rizwan’s death is certainly depressing.
He did have this one chance to become a hero not just in his films but also in life. But he remained Khan [coming from the epiglottis] never Rizwan [coming from the depths of our hearts! ]. But we wish him well. We wish his film well too. We could not wish anything bad upon anyone who shares the name RIZWAN even if they do not mean it…
God Bless RIZWAN.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, October 16, 2009
When will we ever learn!
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
-Pete Seeger-
This song was originally written in early 1960’s- Nearly half a century later with the deaths of Rizwanur and Rajneesh (Jammu-Valley love story ends in tragedy, when silence tells a story) it seems we still haven’t learnt.
Innocent lives continue to be lost for insane reasons! While the grief of the immediate family members is indescribable; as a member of the general public not directly involved with the incident most of us are filled with 2 main emotions: disappointment and Anger.
Disappointment at the fact that another life has ended for no sensible reason. Another person has been condemned to a life time of misery, sorrow and guilt. Disappointment that with all our technical advancement and all the progress we have made on the worlds’ stage we keep on proving why our country is still considered to be “third world”- Disappointment that we keep on showing the world our pathetic, primitive and brutal face! Disappointment that we are unable to respect the rules of our own country of our own constitution!
Anger: Anger at a system which meant to protect us but time and time again terrorises us. We pay for them so we can be safe in our homes but they continue to scare us, torture us, hunt us and treat us like we are nobodies! Anger at this organisation called “police” which could easily be called so many other names. Anger at this collusion between the police, the politicians and the powerful! How can someone commit suicide in a police cell? How can someone be found dead on a railway track miles form his home when he lived next to a railway track? How can they think we are nothing but idiots who will accept anything will tolerate anything and continue to live with anything? Yes anger at all of this!
And then this leaves us frustrated, frightened and feeling hopeless!
Oh! when will they ever learn!!
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?
-Pete Seeger-
This song was originally written in early 1960’s- Nearly half a century later with the deaths of Rizwanur and Rajneesh (Jammu-Valley love story ends in tragedy, when silence tells a story) it seems we still haven’t learnt.
Innocent lives continue to be lost for insane reasons! While the grief of the immediate family members is indescribable; as a member of the general public not directly involved with the incident most of us are filled with 2 main emotions: disappointment and Anger.
Disappointment at the fact that another life has ended for no sensible reason. Another person has been condemned to a life time of misery, sorrow and guilt. Disappointment that with all our technical advancement and all the progress we have made on the worlds’ stage we keep on proving why our country is still considered to be “third world”- Disappointment that we keep on showing the world our pathetic, primitive and brutal face! Disappointment that we are unable to respect the rules of our own country of our own constitution!
Anger: Anger at a system which meant to protect us but time and time again terrorises us. We pay for them so we can be safe in our homes but they continue to scare us, torture us, hunt us and treat us like we are nobodies! Anger at this organisation called “police” which could easily be called so many other names. Anger at this collusion between the police, the politicians and the powerful! How can someone commit suicide in a police cell? How can someone be found dead on a railway track miles form his home when he lived next to a railway track? How can they think we are nothing but idiots who will accept anything will tolerate anything and continue to live with anything? Yes anger at all of this!
And then this leaves us frustrated, frightened and feeling hopeless!
Oh! when will they ever learn!!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Because I could not stop for Death!
It is two years. Two years since Rizwanur is no more.
“The great tragedy of life is not death, but what dies within us while we live.” We have gone through various emotions, prayed in many places of worship; debated and philosophised endlessly- some of us have looked for solace, some justification for the ways of the world and others just a reason to carry on. And in the great tradition of life we have carried on holding on to our reasons.
“The great tragedy of life is not death, but what dies within us while we live.” We have gone through various emotions, prayed in many places of worship; debated and philosophised endlessly- some of us have looked for solace, some justification for the ways of the world and others just a reason to carry on. And in the great tradition of life we have carried on holding on to our reasons.
Has anything changed since Rizwanur’s death? Yes we saw one of the biggest public outcries, one of the biggest protests against corruption, against injustice, against religious bigotry but two years on where do we stand? Has his death changed anything? Our world, our country, our Kolkata, even just our hearts! Has anything changed at all? That is a question we need to ask ourselves. His death cannot go in vain -it has to change the ways of our world, the ways of our hearts! Please keep trying in whatever little way you can to make this world a better place for our children! God Bless!!
Because I could not stop for Death,He kindly stopped for me;
The carriage held but just ourselvesAnd Immortality.
We slowly drove, he knew no haste,
And I had put away My labor, and my leisure too, For his civility.
We passed the school, where children strove At recess, in the ring;
We passed the fields of gazing grain,We passed the setting sun.
Or rather, he passed us;
Or rather, he passed us;
The dews grew quivering and chill,
For only gossamer my gown,My tippet only tulle.
We paused before a house that seemedA swelling of the ground;
The roof was scarcely visible,The cornice but a mound.
Since then 'tis centuries,
Since then 'tis centuries,
and yet eachFeels shorter than the dayI first surmised the horses' heads
[A Poem by Emily Dickinson (1830-1886)]
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Just when one thought it cannot be any worse!
One of the key witnesses Assistant superintendent Arindam Manna, who was also the first investigating officer in the Rizwanur case and later turned witness, is dead. The whole thing is reminiscent of Rizwanur’s death and the similarities are chilling.
- The body is found with the head severed on the railway tracks and marks of injury to the right leg, left eye and cut marks on his neck.The head is found 20 feet away from the body, there were cut marks on the neck but Officer in-charge of Sheoraphuli GRP S Bhattacharya said that it was prima facie a case of suicide.
- The identity of Arindam Manna lay in his pocket but the police could not figure it out and his body was sent for PM as an unidentified male.
- Just like Rizwanur who was going to meet his lawyer before he was found dead; Arindam Manna calls up from his mobile, speaks to his mother, says he was returning soon and then is found dead.
- Just like Rizwanur, who lived 50 metres from the railway tracks and his body was found on railway track miles from his home it appears surprising that Arindam Manna travelled across two districts--
- Last but no the least, allegedly, Arindam Manna, used to get threat calls from different people and apparently his seniors were putting pressure on him.”
While the facts are being probed, it would perhaps be too hasty to say that this is an effort to eliminate key witnesses by the culprits; however, one certainly cannot deny that there is something shady, satanic, and sinister about the death of Rizwanur. Just how sinister is the question!
Monday, December 1, 2008
12 DAYS..maybe more!
12 days of custodial sentence for the time being for the prime accused Mr Todi.
They say what goes round comes round: they used the state machinery to bully Rizwanur and now its the state that is bringing them to book. If only Rizwanur was around to witness this. We hope that Rizwanur can somehow see "the law of the land" he so passionately and desperately pleaded to is finally taking notice. The "untouchables" are no longer bigger than the country. Their dark shadows can no longer engulf into darkness the life of common law abiding citizens of this country. The light of justice is beginning to shine.
They say what goes round comes round: they used the state machinery to bully Rizwanur and now its the state that is bringing them to book. If only Rizwanur was around to witness this. We hope that Rizwanur can somehow see "the law of the land" he so passionately and desperately pleaded to is finally taking notice. The "untouchables" are no longer bigger than the country. Their dark shadows can no longer engulf into darkness the life of common law abiding citizens of this country. The light of justice is beginning to shine.
Monday, November 24, 2008
The Hunter becomes the Hunted..
All their lives they hunted people down. Quite often they were innocent people. They abused the power given to them by us to abuse, torment, and threaten us.
They bullied Rizwanur, making him so scared that he did not sleep at home at nights; He stayed at friends and relatives to escape the manhunt started by the police. Finally they got him. Whether he was killed or driven to the brink to commit suicide we know not and perhaps shall never do.
While at times it did feel that going by the accepted norms the culprits behind his death would go unscathed; it does not however seem to be the case now. The hunters have now become the hunted. The law of the land which they abused all this time is now looking them into their eyes. The threat of putting behind bar which they so eloquently dished out to Rizwanur now is a reality awaiting them.
Is their a lesson here somewhere? Will those in public offices learn from this? Will the other police officers learn from this? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure: Rizwanur’s death has started a slow but sure sea of change. In the first few weeks and months following his death we witnessed the power of common man as never before; we witnessed the passion, the anger, the fire and now when the emotions seem to have plateaued we are beginning to see the change Rizwanur would have loved to see- the law of the land being upheld.
The Judiciary with a heart;
The apex court refused any further protection to the Todi’s [ "Why will we by-pass all the procedure which is applicable to all citizens,"] and in response to their argument that the Todis have suffered a lot observed that Actually the Boy (Rizwanur) seems to have suffered a lot
They bullied Rizwanur, making him so scared that he did not sleep at home at nights; He stayed at friends and relatives to escape the manhunt started by the police. Finally they got him. Whether he was killed or driven to the brink to commit suicide we know not and perhaps shall never do.
While at times it did feel that going by the accepted norms the culprits behind his death would go unscathed; it does not however seem to be the case now. The hunters have now become the hunted. The law of the land which they abused all this time is now looking them into their eyes. The threat of putting behind bar which they so eloquently dished out to Rizwanur now is a reality awaiting them.
Is their a lesson here somewhere? Will those in public offices learn from this? Will the other police officers learn from this? Only time will tell but one thing is for sure: Rizwanur’s death has started a slow but sure sea of change. In the first few weeks and months following his death we witnessed the power of common man as never before; we witnessed the passion, the anger, the fire and now when the emotions seem to have plateaued we are beginning to see the change Rizwanur would have loved to see- the law of the land being upheld.
The Judiciary with a heart;
The apex court refused any further protection to the Todi’s [ "Why will we by-pass all the procedure which is applicable to all citizens,"] and in response to their argument that the Todis have suffered a lot observed that Actually the Boy (Rizwanur) seems to have suffered a lot
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
You can run, you can hide; but for how long?
There is a saying “ uske ghar mein der hai magar andher nahin”
Millions have kept their faith and hope with this one line over the years and many more seem to believe it now. When money and power seemed to be all pervading, when the nexus seemed all consuming; the common man has finally been shown some light.
The last few weeks we have seen it all- from threats to a member of the judiciary to the culprits hiding from the country’s law- to exercising their clout and protecting themselves, albeit temporarily, from their deserved abode- the prison; its all happening.
There is another saying “you reap what you sow”- perhaps its payback time now!!
Millions have kept their faith and hope with this one line over the years and many more seem to believe it now. When money and power seemed to be all pervading, when the nexus seemed all consuming; the common man has finally been shown some light.
The last few weeks we have seen it all- from threats to a member of the judiciary to the culprits hiding from the country’s law- to exercising their clout and protecting themselves, albeit temporarily, from their deserved abode- the prison; its all happening.
There is another saying “you reap what you sow”- perhaps its payback time now!!
Saturday, September 20, 2008
End of Year 1
A year has passed since Rizwanur lost his life for his love.
Lot of questions been asked, views exchanged, candles lit, consciences introspected, the social and religious dogmas shaken; the concept of civil liberties, the right of social justice discussed exhaustively. People have wept for Rizwanur, they have stood up for him, and they have fought for him.
A lot has happened for someone who could easily be classed as “a nobody” in our country. Somebody not connected to the police, the politicians or the underworld and did not have filthy amount of money to lavish on all of the above. Sadly that is the profile of most of us. And perhaps that is why Rizwanur feels so close to us. For it could easily be you, me or her.
Most of us are pragmatic. We accept the chains of society and religion that tie us. We do not dare and at times do not even yearn to break free. We accept our limitations. We know we cannot fight the power of religion on one hand and the police, politicians and the underworld on the other. So we give up, at times with bitterness and on occasions with frustration. But deep down, the ordinary nobody in us always wants to be somebody. Somebody who wants to make a difference, somebody who can break free. And that is why Rizwanur feels like a hero to us. For he was the nobody who actually became somebody.
But was it all worth it?
There are lots of questions lot of us need to answer. If not to others then at least to ourselves.
In a moment of pure speculation the mind wanders and asks what would the person who may have actually killed Rizwanur be thinking one year on? What did they do with the money they got? Bought their kids their school books, a new pair of shorts! Every time they caress the messy hair of their little one do they remember Rizwanur!
Perhaps he was not murdered. Perhaps he was driven to suicide. Anyone feels responsible!? One year on Perhaps a tear of repentance, an unspoken apology- would it lessen their burden of guilt- who knows? In their solitude do they ever feel they made a mistake? Could they have done things differently?
To those who hold power and are supposed to look after the law of the land-the police and politicians alike- it is hard for them to do any soul searching for their cannot be much of it left in them. But still it’s worth a try. The nexus, the bullying, the high handedness, the disregard of the constitution was it all worth it? You can be moved around, shuffled, demoted and promoted, you can run and hide from the media gaze but can you hide from yourself. When your kids go to school do you worry about their safety in the jungle you have created and perpetuated? History is at least read if not learnt from. Doubtless the next generation in your families will read this history in years to come. Will they be proud of what you gave them?
Lot many questions remain- some we need to answer or at least think about? Have we changed our perspectives? Are we ready to sacrifice our dogmatic views and prejudices? What are we doing for developing a fairer and more tolerant society? What are we doing to protect our kids? Shall we chain them and tell them never to break free or should we give them the wings to fly? Shall we keep reminding them they are nobodies and should always remain so just like us or shall we teach them to be somebody?
Love seeks nothing. Love fears nothing. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. [1 Corinthians 13:4-8a]
Can we still believe in love?
Lot of questions been asked, views exchanged, candles lit, consciences introspected, the social and religious dogmas shaken; the concept of civil liberties, the right of social justice discussed exhaustively. People have wept for Rizwanur, they have stood up for him, and they have fought for him.
A lot has happened for someone who could easily be classed as “a nobody” in our country. Somebody not connected to the police, the politicians or the underworld and did not have filthy amount of money to lavish on all of the above. Sadly that is the profile of most of us. And perhaps that is why Rizwanur feels so close to us. For it could easily be you, me or her.
Most of us are pragmatic. We accept the chains of society and religion that tie us. We do not dare and at times do not even yearn to break free. We accept our limitations. We know we cannot fight the power of religion on one hand and the police, politicians and the underworld on the other. So we give up, at times with bitterness and on occasions with frustration. But deep down, the ordinary nobody in us always wants to be somebody. Somebody who wants to make a difference, somebody who can break free. And that is why Rizwanur feels like a hero to us. For he was the nobody who actually became somebody.
But was it all worth it?
There are lots of questions lot of us need to answer. If not to others then at least to ourselves.
In a moment of pure speculation the mind wanders and asks what would the person who may have actually killed Rizwanur be thinking one year on? What did they do with the money they got? Bought their kids their school books, a new pair of shorts! Every time they caress the messy hair of their little one do they remember Rizwanur!
Perhaps he was not murdered. Perhaps he was driven to suicide. Anyone feels responsible!? One year on Perhaps a tear of repentance, an unspoken apology- would it lessen their burden of guilt- who knows? In their solitude do they ever feel they made a mistake? Could they have done things differently?
To those who hold power and are supposed to look after the law of the land-the police and politicians alike- it is hard for them to do any soul searching for their cannot be much of it left in them. But still it’s worth a try. The nexus, the bullying, the high handedness, the disregard of the constitution was it all worth it? You can be moved around, shuffled, demoted and promoted, you can run and hide from the media gaze but can you hide from yourself. When your kids go to school do you worry about their safety in the jungle you have created and perpetuated? History is at least read if not learnt from. Doubtless the next generation in your families will read this history in years to come. Will they be proud of what you gave them?
Lot many questions remain- some we need to answer or at least think about? Have we changed our perspectives? Are we ready to sacrifice our dogmatic views and prejudices? What are we doing for developing a fairer and more tolerant society? What are we doing to protect our kids? Shall we chain them and tell them never to break free or should we give them the wings to fly? Shall we keep reminding them they are nobodies and should always remain so just like us or shall we teach them to be somebody?
Love seeks nothing. Love fears nothing. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. [1 Corinthians 13:4-8a]
Can we still believe in love?
Thursday, August 14, 2008
A ray of hope!
When one gets tired of fighting, exhausted, almost on the verge of giving up, any ray of hope brings tears to ones eyes. The fact that we can still have faith in our judiciary is simply overwhelming. The Calcutta HC could not give a better tribute to the nation, on the eve of our Independence Day.This is the summary of the courts verdict:
So after this glimmer of hope we await the verdict; we await justice!
Courts directive to the CBI
- to start criminal proceedings against all the accused[Ashok Todi, Pradip Todi, police officers Gyanwant Singh,Ajay Kumar, Krishnendu Das, Shantentu Chakraborty] under Section 306 of the IPC abetment to suicide.
Courts view on the Kolkata Police:
- the court said its investigation was at best shoddy.
- the state CID did not act in accordance to law
- did not offer protection to Priyanka and Rizwanur when they went to ask for help
- should not have interfered in to the personal matters of Priyanka and Rizwanur as they were legally married
Courts View on the EX Police Commissioner Prasun Mukherjee
- acted very irresponsibly
- fuelled the fire instead of diffusing tension
- The police commissioner withheld facts and was acting in a way so as to favour the high and the mighty
So after this glimmer of hope we await the verdict; we await justice!
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Strange but true!
What do the murder of teenaged Aarushi in Noida, grisly killings of 18 children and a woman in Nithari, and the mysterious death of Muslim computer graphics designer Rizwanur Rehman in Kolkata have in common?
- In all three high-profile crime cases, the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) probe was led by joint director (Special Crime) Arun Kumar.
- All three cases were transferred to the central agency after the police of the respective states drew flak for their initial handling of the investigations.
- In all three cases the accused were acquitted.
The Nithari Killings:
“Pandher was not at all aware of the killings by Koli and he has not committed any murder,” Arun Kumar said March 22, 2007
Aarushi in Noida
“The Noida Police case diary does not have any evidence against Talwar. We have also not found any evidence against him so far,” Arun Kumar told reporters here.
Rizwanur
The CBI probe, again headed by joint director Arun Kumar, concluded the high profile industrialist was not involved in Rehman’s death, and that he committed suicide.
Excerpts from article in the Thai Indian
These are mere observations and not accusations on any individual
Monday, June 30, 2008
Today is Rizwanur’s Birthday
Traditionally Birthdays are happy occasions. However, it is hard to find much happiness in the day today. The various thoughts that come to mind seem to have lots of “what if…?” and “if only…” in them. These thoughts connected to Rizwanur’s death seldom leave but they haunt the mind much more today…
Traditionally, candles are integral part of celebrating birthdays. However, never before hundreds and thousands of candles have been lit for one person. Never before the flames been kept alive for so long. In Rizwanur’s case, candles reflect much more than mere richness of his life. Through the dark alleys of bigotry, religious hatred, social inequalities and a power hungry corrupt state administration Rizwanur managed to light up our minds. He fired up our soul both to condemn the evil and also to fight it. The light remains much after the candles are burnt out..
While lot more goes through the mind when one thinks of Rizwanur here is a piece from William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
Juliet:
"Wilt thou be gone? it is not yet near day:
It was the nightingale, and not the lark,
That pierc'd the fearful hollow of thine ear."
Romeo:
Night's candles are burnt out, and jocund day
Stands tiptoe on the misty mountain tops.
I must be gone and live, or stay and die.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Another mother fighting for justice..
The site dedicated to Rizwanur refers to this ghastly miscarriage of justice because of obvious similarities. Yet again it is about the collusion and brutality of those in power, the suffering of another innocent well meaning individual and the fight back from people who care! The story is Rizwanur all over again..
The victim this time is Dr Binayak Sen
"I ask this question not just for myself and for my son, but also on behalf of all mothers suffering from the injustice meted out to their children. Is justice so elusive in our free, democratic country?" .......Mother of Dr Binayak Sen
.
The victim this time is Dr Binayak Sen
"I ask this question not just for myself and for my son, but also on behalf of all mothers suffering from the injustice meted out to their children. Is justice so elusive in our free, democratic country?" .......Mother of Dr Binayak Sen
.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Few documents ..
In the last few months some more documents have been made public and are brought together.
The marriage certificate
The Plea for help
The Promise that was never kept
The Brutal end
If any of the top 3 were respected, Rizwanur would be alive today.
The marriage certificate
The Plea for help
The Promise that was never kept
The Brutal end
If any of the top 3 were respected, Rizwanur would be alive today.
Monday, April 28, 2008
The mystery of Prayers
Once upon a time, as the legend goes, the dacoits prayed to “Mother Kali” before they went and looted and murdered innocent people. At the same time those innocent people prayed to the same “mother” and asked for her blessings, her protection. So why did all the bloodshed take place? Whose prayers did the mother listen to? Did mother endorse the actions of the dacoits and bless them? So what happened to those who prayed to her at the end of an honest days living? Or all involved were merely guided by their “Karma”. It is too deep and complex a mechanism for most of us to unravel.
Most of the temples, especially the more impressive ones were built by the “Maharajas and the Zamindars”. So whose prayer was more powerful? Those who built it with lot of devotion and wealth or those who travelled from far and wide with nothing much to offer? Or are prayers much above the efforts and love and wealth of us mortals? Again the mechanism by which the divinity answers those prayers is beyond us to fathom.
Most of us pray to God. We all ask for different things. Sometimes a prayer answered for one means somebody else loses everything. They say prayer is extremely powerful and perhaps its deliverance is laced with complexities which only a divine force can unravel.
Once again we are confronted with too many people asking the divine, things which are contradictory. Those who love Rizwanur still pray for justice. Todi went to “Tarapith” to pray too. We all are praying to the same divine force and there is no way as a mortal one can see all these prayers being answered. It could be “human limitation” or “divine mystery”
They say god acts in mysterious ways.
Friday, April 11, 2008
The noose tightens
Months have passed since the death of Rizwanur. The culprits have in some ways succeeded in their attempt to bide their time. The fire of anger that engulfed Kolkata is now doused, however the sparks remain. The family of Rizwanur remain hopeful like a lot of us that eventually justice will be done. The pursuit of justice is never an easy one. There are innumerable examples in history where justice has caught up with the culprits. So as much as they try to play legal chess, as much as they try to exercise the power of their influence and wealth one has to remind them that people much stronger, richer and powerful have been brought to justice in the past and it is unlikely that they would be an exception.
CBI which was initially quite sympathetic towards the accused has perhaps realised its folly and has requested the court to try the accused.[read the report] It is just a matter of time. We are watching and praying for justice.
CBI which was initially quite sympathetic towards the accused has perhaps realised its folly and has requested the court to try the accused.[read the report] It is just a matter of time. We are watching and praying for justice.
Monday, March 10, 2008
It would be funny if it was not so pathetic!
Well it may seem funny but one has to feel sorry for Todi: Poor chap has completely lost it; he has developed a complete amnesia to the events of last few months. Now he says PRIYANKA DID NOT MARRY RIZWANUR. It is an amazing feat for him to find his way back home…perhaps someone a bit more intelligent and memory drives him back.
If you did not find it funny try this:
“From now on, we will only take action prescribed by the law”
You guessed it right-It is a comment from a law enforcer- hilarious and sounds almost confessional- one has to be a moron and then multiply it few times before one can come up with something like this! What on earth have you lot been doing so far??? Whose prescription have you lot been following until now…
While games continue to be played in the courts of law, journalists all over the world refuse to give up. The fight is still on and people in Kolkata and all over the world are still seeking justice.
If you did not find it funny try this:
“From now on, we will only take action prescribed by the law”
You guessed it right-It is a comment from a law enforcer- hilarious and sounds almost confessional- one has to be a moron and then multiply it few times before one can come up with something like this! What on earth have you lot been doing so far??? Whose prescription have you lot been following until now…
While games continue to be played in the courts of law, journalists all over the world refuse to give up. The fight is still on and people in Kolkata and all over the world are still seeking justice.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Governement rejects CBI report! thats a surprise!!
The state government submitted an affidavit to Calcutta High Court today, declining to accept the CBI probe report on Rizwanur Rahman’s death..Read the full report
Why we are not surprised?
In the CBI report the culprits did not come out smelling of roses.
The CID who investigated the case earlier look like what they are –Morons
Government continues to do what it does best- protect those who fill their coffers and we expected no less from them.
Common thinking was those seeking justice would fight tooth and nail against the verdict of suicide. That did not happen- partly because as the Rahman’s requested CBI enquiry they in some ways have to respect the verdict even though they may not agree with it. Part of the reason could also be that when the state, the police and the rich and famous get together it is hard for an individual, however well supported, to fight a sustained battle.
But interestingly, it is the state that refuses to accept the credibility of the CBI report. They were very happy with the CID report. They were happy with the judicial enquiry and they saw no fault with the outrageous comments of their police chief..
Thus the government leaves no doubts as to where their allegiance lies and its certainly not the people they pledged to protect..
Why we are not surprised?
In the CBI report the culprits did not come out smelling of roses.
The CID who investigated the case earlier look like what they are –Morons
Government continues to do what it does best- protect those who fill their coffers and we expected no less from them.
Common thinking was those seeking justice would fight tooth and nail against the verdict of suicide. That did not happen- partly because as the Rahman’s requested CBI enquiry they in some ways have to respect the verdict even though they may not agree with it. Part of the reason could also be that when the state, the police and the rich and famous get together it is hard for an individual, however well supported, to fight a sustained battle.
But interestingly, it is the state that refuses to accept the credibility of the CBI report. They were very happy with the CID report. They were happy with the judicial enquiry and they saw no fault with the outrageous comments of their police chief..
Thus the government leaves no doubts as to where their allegiance lies and its certainly not the people they pledged to protect..
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Preliminary Hearing of the Report
So the accused have not been able to recollect their deeds and have not filed the affidavit yet. While they are not obliged legally to do so; the obvious question is why would someone with a clear conscience with no involvement in the death of Rizwanur be reluctant to tell the courts what exactly they did? The answer is equally obvious- they have something to hide. And they are just waiting to see what all of their deeds have been discovered.
Meanwhile the court seems to have given up on the integrity of the accused and read the preliminary report. The gist of which is:
Rizwanur’s death was a SUICIDE.
The following have been charged with “abatement to suicide”-
Ashok Todi, Pradeep Todi, Anil Saraogi.
Ajoy Kumar, Sukanti Chakroborti, Krishnendu Das
Pappu
Gyanwant Singh- faces a mere departmental enquiry
Prasun Mukherjee- asked to submit affidavit; may be charged by the central government.
Now the legal battle starts. And money power, legal power which the accused have in abundance will play an important role as it has done all along.
But let us remind the culprits that people power which has brought the “untouchables” to be called the “accused” is still alive and vigilant.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Let the madness prevail
The following media report makes very uncomfortable reading:
“It appears Prasun Mukherjee, who was shunted out of the post of Commissioner of Kolkata Police following a public outcry over his alleged role in separating Rizwanur Rahman from Priyanka Todi, would be rehabilitated in full glory and honour as Bengal's Director General of Police”
The full report can be read here.
While it remains to be seen if Kolkata really has to undergo this torture but it certainly would not surprise anyone if it did happen for it would be merely in keeping with the administrative madness. Only in a country like ours a murder accused [“todi” ]was not arrested even for “ONE” second. Only in a city like Kolkata someone implicated in disgracing their position [Prasun Mukherje] would be rewarded with a promotion.
Communism turned capitalism turned totalitarianism often requires corrupt, ruthless, power hungry despots at the helm. However, this is not what Kolkata deserves and certainly not Rizwanur’s family.
“It appears Prasun Mukherjee, who was shunted out of the post of Commissioner of Kolkata Police following a public outcry over his alleged role in separating Rizwanur Rahman from Priyanka Todi, would be rehabilitated in full glory and honour as Bengal's Director General of Police”
The full report can be read here.
While it remains to be seen if Kolkata really has to undergo this torture but it certainly would not surprise anyone if it did happen for it would be merely in keeping with the administrative madness. Only in a country like ours a murder accused [“todi” ]was not arrested even for “ONE” second. Only in a city like Kolkata someone implicated in disgracing their position [Prasun Mukherje] would be rewarded with a promotion.
Communism turned capitalism turned totalitarianism often requires corrupt, ruthless, power hungry despots at the helm. However, this is not what Kolkata deserves and certainly not Rizwanur’s family.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Another day
Papa has bought your mind
Papa has bought your senses
You are under watch,
In the prison of iron fences.
Papa said,"You need protection"
You said,"I shall be free"
Papa said,"You have lost your husband, Again want to lose me?"
You said,"All right, Pa,
What I could do for you?"
Papa said,"All you have to do
Just say to the reporters as I'll say to you."
Reporter said,"Do you still love Riz?
You said,"Yes, He is forever for me
Reporter said,"Who has to blame for his death?"
You said,"Not us, not police,only his brother and his family."
But you could get back your own mind
Could get back your own senses
Could get back your own life
Could break this iron fences
But It is all over now
We are at end of the long journey
Riz might be forever for you
If you could overcome the lies
And support his mother and his family.
" written by Theo"
Papa has bought your senses
You are under watch,
In the prison of iron fences.
Papa said,"You need protection"
You said,"I shall be free"
Papa said,"You have lost your husband, Again want to lose me?"
You said,"All right, Pa,
What I could do for you?"
Papa said,"All you have to do
Just say to the reporters as I'll say to you."
Reporter said,"Do you still love Riz?
You said,"Yes, He is forever for me
Reporter said,"Who has to blame for his death?"
You said,"Not us, not police,only his brother and his family."
But you could get back your own mind
Could get back your own senses
Could get back your own life
Could break this iron fences
But It is all over now
We are at end of the long journey
Riz might be forever for you
If you could overcome the lies
And support his mother and his family.
" written by Theo"
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
NO FAREWELLS AND NO GOODBYES
There were no farewells and there was no goodbye. The breath of life departed suddenly from a son, a friend, a brother, a teacher, a husband ..and all that remained was a body that was too heavy to be carried with the soul. Too heavy with grief, disappointment, disillusions! The soul they say feels no pain. Hope that is true. Hope his soul unlike his body felt no pain. Rizwanur was not given the chance to say one final goodbye to those he cared for; he was not allowed to smile one more time at his loved ones- perhaps he did smile one last time, perhaps he did say goodbye but it all got lost in the roar of the trains..
Rizwanr’s farewell would have been too tender to express in words and too subtle for anyone but those who loved him dearly to feel it; And those who did love him dearly they perhaps do not need a goodbye or a farewell for the pain of losing him and the joy of knowing him will never ever leave them..
For the rest of us I have chosen a farewell song that in no way attempts to express what Rizwanur would have felt that day…or today…
Rizwanr’s farewell would have been too tender to express in words and too subtle for anyone but those who loved him dearly to feel it; And those who did love him dearly they perhaps do not need a goodbye or a farewell for the pain of losing him and the joy of knowing him will never ever leave them..
For the rest of us I have chosen a farewell song that in no way attempts to express what Rizwanur would have felt that day…or today…
Farewell Angelina [clicking on this link takes you to youtube; sung by joan baez]
Farewell Angelina
I must follow the sound
The triangle tingles And the trumpet play slow
Farewell Angelina
The sky is on fire And I must go.
There's no need for anger There's no need for blame
There's nothing to prove Ev'rything's still the same
Just a table standing empty By the edge of the sea
Farewell Angelina
The sky is trembling
And I must leave.
The jacks and queens Have forsaked the courtyard
Fifty-two gypsies Now file past the guards
In the space where the deuce And the ace once ran wild
Farewell Angelina The sky is folding I'll see you in a while.
See the cross-eyed pirates sitting Perched in the sun
Shooting tin cans With a sawed-off shotgun
And the neighbors they clap And they cheer with each blast
Farewell AngelinaThe sky's changing color
And I must leave fast.
King Kong, little elves, On the rooftoops they dance
Valentino-type tangos, While the make-up man's hands
Shut the eyes of the dead Not to embarrass anyone
Farewell Angelina
The sky is embarrassed
And I must be gone.
The machine guns are roaring The puppets heave rocks
The fiends nail time bombs To the hands of the clocks
Call me any name you like I will never deny it
Farewell Angelina
The sky is erupting
I must go where it's quiet.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
And they keep playing their games!
Everyone is innocent till they are proven guilty-
And how easy is it to prove the guilt when the person involved is someone who has all the money and clout; who has close liaisons with the police force- and when the police themselves are implicated in it.... I suppose that is anybody’s guess.
So they may not be proven guilty ever and by the above law they may remain innocent.... in the eyes of law at least.
But what about the people who follow their mind and intellect; who do not stand to gain by the millions of the accused; who are not swayed by tirades against another religion?
So let us take a look at the whole fiasco and the game that is being played by the so called “innocent” people.
Todi: How difficult is it to tell the judges and the people as to what exactly he did? Did he or did he not pay someone to break the marriage? Did he or did he not threaten Rizwanur and his family? Did he or did he not hire someone to kill Rizwnaur? Did he or did he not prevent his daughter from contacting Rizwanur? Did he or did he not actually speak to Rizwanur or get a text from him?
Why does he need to find out what the CBI thinks what he did? OR how much have they managed to find out?
The POLICE: It could not be easier for them for they have denied everything. Because they did not threaten Rizwanur. Priyanka has already absolved them by saying they did not pressurise her. They perhaps did not threaten the friend of Rizwnaur either who was a witness to the marriage.... except the call was received by another senior police officer-Nazrul Islam- and is on record.
So after all this time they have asked another 3 weeks to submit the affidavit. Well, one wonders why? Are there still some loose ends they need to tie? Some more incriminating evidence wiped out? Some more discussion among themselves so that they all say the same thing and so that they dont look like what they are- LIARS! So that their guilt does not get proven. So that they can remain Innocent.. at least in the court of Law.
Time will tell meanwhile we can only watch them play their games!
And how easy is it to prove the guilt when the person involved is someone who has all the money and clout; who has close liaisons with the police force- and when the police themselves are implicated in it.... I suppose that is anybody’s guess.
So they may not be proven guilty ever and by the above law they may remain innocent.... in the eyes of law at least.
But what about the people who follow their mind and intellect; who do not stand to gain by the millions of the accused; who are not swayed by tirades against another religion?
So let us take a look at the whole fiasco and the game that is being played by the so called “innocent” people.
Todi: How difficult is it to tell the judges and the people as to what exactly he did? Did he or did he not pay someone to break the marriage? Did he or did he not threaten Rizwanur and his family? Did he or did he not hire someone to kill Rizwnaur? Did he or did he not prevent his daughter from contacting Rizwanur? Did he or did he not actually speak to Rizwanur or get a text from him?
Why does he need to find out what the CBI thinks what he did? OR how much have they managed to find out?
The POLICE: It could not be easier for them for they have denied everything. Because they did not threaten Rizwanur. Priyanka has already absolved them by saying they did not pressurise her. They perhaps did not threaten the friend of Rizwnaur either who was a witness to the marriage.... except the call was received by another senior police officer-Nazrul Islam- and is on record.
So after all this time they have asked another 3 weeks to submit the affidavit. Well, one wonders why? Are there still some loose ends they need to tie? Some more incriminating evidence wiped out? Some more discussion among themselves so that they all say the same thing and so that they dont look like what they are- LIARS! So that their guilt does not get proven. So that they can remain Innocent.. at least in the court of Law.
Time will tell meanwhile we can only watch them play their games!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Why this Amnesia?
The state, the police and the todi’s insist they will only submit their affidavit after they have seen the CBI report. Why is it so? Why is it so difficult for them to remember what happened and what was their role in the whole thing?
Even the CBI lawyer is against the findings to be circulated before the affidavit as quoted in The Telegraph.“Ranjan Roy, the lawyer appearing for the CBI, said his client was against the circulation of the report at the moment.”
The collusion between the state, the police and the todi’s is now apparent. They obviously need the findings provided by the CBI very badly; otherwise they might look like what they are- liars!
A final thought-with the power of the state, an unscrupulous and brutal police force and of course the filthy money in use by the todi’s one wonders how difficult will it be for these forces to get the report through means other than the court. Surely, the Judge does not take the report home everyday with him. And are they merely trying to delay things till they can somehow lay their hands on the report through means they are so used to??
Even the CBI lawyer is against the findings to be circulated before the affidavit as quoted in The Telegraph.“Ranjan Roy, the lawyer appearing for the CBI, said his client was against the circulation of the report at the moment.”
The collusion between the state, the police and the todi’s is now apparent. They obviously need the findings provided by the CBI very badly; otherwise they might look like what they are- liars!
A final thought-with the power of the state, an unscrupulous and brutal police force and of course the filthy money in use by the todi’s one wonders how difficult will it be for these forces to get the report through means other than the court. Surely, the Judge does not take the report home everyday with him. And are they merely trying to delay things till they can somehow lay their hands on the report through means they are so used to??
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
The CBI report
CBI has submitted the report.While the contents of the report is being reviewed the so called "suicide theory" is flawed by CBI's own admission and the questions raised here on its credibility still remain relevant.
The following comments by CBI officials says it all:
“Several unanswered questions leading to his death were buried with his death. There are some vital gaps in the reconstruction of the case which probably only Rizwanur himself could have filled,” admitted the CBI official.
Why was a repeat Post mortem not carried out?
According to the CBI official, the agency has failed to piece together the events on the morning of September 21, the day Rizwanur was found dead on the railway tracks in Patipukur.
Incidently that is the day about which CBI was supposed to shed some light on -
“We do feel that he committed suicide. We have reconstructed almost everything, but some vital questions — like what was going on in his mind on that day, why did he go to Patipukur, was he called by anybody — have not been answered,” said the official.
The following comments by CBI officials says it all:
“Several unanswered questions leading to his death were buried with his death. There are some vital gaps in the reconstruction of the case which probably only Rizwanur himself could have filled,” admitted the CBI official.
Why was a repeat Post mortem not carried out?
According to the CBI official, the agency has failed to piece together the events on the morning of September 21, the day Rizwanur was found dead on the railway tracks in Patipukur.
Incidently that is the day about which CBI was supposed to shed some light on -
“We do feel that he committed suicide. We have reconstructed almost everything, but some vital questions — like what was going on in his mind on that day, why did he go to Patipukur, was he called by anybody — have not been answered,” said the official.
Isn't this the question everyone wants an answer to? And did the CID not tell us that Rizwanur got a phone call on the morning on his mobile from a telephone booth 20 mins walking distance from where his body was found.
CBI may have failed to gather murder evidence but let us not forget "Absence of evidence of murder is not evidence of absence of murder"
And DONT MISS THIS:
Joymalya Bagchi, representing the Todis, said: “My clients want to file the affidavit only after they receive the preliminary CBI report from the court.”
An affidavit in this context means "an account of the incident and their role in it- it could mean what they were doing during that period; who did they give money to; what exactly did they tell Rizwanur and his family"...
So the Todi's want to see what the CBI thinks their role was and then assess what they should tell the court - wow! After strategically planning to become ineligible for the "lie detector" test they want to plan the lie which is in keeping with the CBI report.
And by the way, Rizwanur's family had submitted the affidavit ages ago. So it is pretty obvious who is speaking the truth and who wants to change the story to suit them.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
The little Prince
There was once a little prince who fell to earth from another planet.
The most important thing in his life was a very proud flower. She told him she was unique but when he came to earth he realised she was just one of the many. And yet she was unique for him; for he had tamed her. For he loved her and treasured her. And he placed her under a glass globe and sheltered her behind a screen. He watered her and for her he killed the caterpillars. For all that he did for her she was no longer an ordinary flower.
During his journey he made some friends. And one day he went back to where he came from all for the love of his flower. And he left his friends with some tears, memories and some thoughts…which comfort and sadden one at the same time…
“when you look up at the sky at night, since I shall be living on one of them and laughing on one of them for you it will be as if all the stars were laughing…And when you are comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be happy to have known me..”
Some days it is nice to look at the stars and imagine him laughing…On others it seems he may be sad and the stars turn into tears…
(Extracted from “The little prince” by Antoine de saint-exuprey)
The most important thing in his life was a very proud flower. She told him she was unique but when he came to earth he realised she was just one of the many. And yet she was unique for him; for he had tamed her. For he loved her and treasured her. And he placed her under a glass globe and sheltered her behind a screen. He watered her and for her he killed the caterpillars. For all that he did for her she was no longer an ordinary flower.
During his journey he made some friends. And one day he went back to where he came from all for the love of his flower. And he left his friends with some tears, memories and some thoughts…which comfort and sadden one at the same time…
“when you look up at the sky at night, since I shall be living on one of them and laughing on one of them for you it will be as if all the stars were laughing…And when you are comforted (time soothes all sorrows) you will be happy to have known me..”
Some days it is nice to look at the stars and imagine him laughing…On others it seems he may be sad and the stars turn into tears…
(Extracted from “The little prince” by Antoine de saint-exuprey)
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Christmas without Rizwanur
Christmas is a time to look back and reflect. The Christmas that was never to be for Rizwanur. While we spend the time with our friends and families let us spare a thought for Rizwanur’s family and pray that they can come to terms with their loss.
Have you seen a jet streaking a silver thread
Across a blue sky?
Have you seen a bubble simmering with myriad colors?
Have you seen a rainbow appear
making you believe in magic
and pots of gold...
Then..
Then the bubble bursts
the jet leaves no trace
Just an emptiness
Filled by memories
Which fade away and die with time
And dreams die with them.
(written by Beas)
Three months have passed of my deathI know,
still she wants me in her every breathThough,
some cruel menPut me away from her
Could they understand her pain?
But in her love, there is nothing to mend
'Cause she knows, death is not the endnot the end,
not the endDeath is not the end
Then all of you came to sing and write
And promised to take the wrong to right
The pepole and my dear students
All they cameto fight and protest
I know, one day you'll uncover their conceal
I still hope to seeThe break of their licenses to kill.
Ma, Papa n all of my brothers n sisters I hope you all stay well
Gonna end this long letterI've no more words to tell
Though, I hate the menWho put the chainAround my feet
My heart is still beating in my small home
Someday I'll come back to reclaim it.
(written by Paswa)
Have you seen a jet streaking a silver thread
Across a blue sky?
Have you seen a bubble simmering with myriad colors?
Have you seen a rainbow appear
making you believe in magic
and pots of gold...
Then..
Then the bubble bursts
the jet leaves no trace
Just an emptiness
Filled by memories
Which fade away and die with time
And dreams die with them.
(written by Beas)
Three months have passed of my deathI know,
still she wants me in her every breathThough,
some cruel menPut me away from her
Could they understand her pain?
But in her love, there is nothing to mend
'Cause she knows, death is not the endnot the end,
not the endDeath is not the end
Then all of you came to sing and write
And promised to take the wrong to right
The pepole and my dear students
All they cameto fight and protest
I know, one day you'll uncover their conceal
I still hope to seeThe break of their licenses to kill.
Ma, Papa n all of my brothers n sisters I hope you all stay well
Gonna end this long letterI've no more words to tell
Though, I hate the menWho put the chainAround my feet
My heart is still beating in my small home
Someday I'll come back to reclaim it.
(written by Paswa)
Thursday, December 6, 2007
End of week eleven: some questions..
Was it a Suicide or a Murder?
Does not matter what the CBI report says most of the logically thinking people with no benefit from Rizwanur’s death; think he could not have committed suicide. It was a Murder. One will obviously accept whatever the CBI, the supreme agency in the country, says but then again- have they never been wrong before?
Is love worth losing one’s life?
Throwing away a life for love of a person never makes sense. However, Rizwanur was not the kind who would give up or give in. Coming back to the question: is it worth losing one’s life over love?
It sort of depends on one’s idea about love and life. Most of us are average (or normal, as we call ourselves) and we love and live within the brackets of normality. The likes of Rizwanur love and live exceptionally. They prefer to be ashes than dust!
“Zindagi tujhse har baat pe samjhauta karoon
Shauk jeene ka hai mujhko, magar itna bhi nahin”
Rizwanur died for Priyanka’s love; Today, Rizwanur has a nation’s love with him. He is dead but he is still among us- in our actions, our thoughts our discussions.
What has his death done for us?
Rizwanur’s death exposed the decay, the brutality, the corruption and the injustice prevalent in our society in general and the police force in particular. It has also made us look inwards about our religious attitudes and beliefs and to question the extent we should go to follow them. Is religion more important than life? Can we and should we tolerate killings in the name of religion?
His death has made us assess the society we live in. It has made us ask some very basic questions- Are we safe in our own homes? Why does this society not give us [the average normal people with no political, police, underworld connections] our basic right to live life without interference? Can we say “NO” when they appear on our door steps for “chanda”? Can we protest when they stop us on the road for some meaningless check? How are those with not a lot of money and power meant to carry on?
Where do we go from here?
While not all of us are capable of risking our lives for any cause; all of us are capable of making small differences by taking small risks which collectively will have a big impact.
Please say “NO” to corrupt practices.
In our day to day living almost everyday we may have opportunities where we choose the easier option- paying the policeman to avoid any hassle when stopped; paying the tout to get our work done; paying the custom officers to get a music system through; paying someone to get files moving; work done; buying pirated media... the list is endless. Every time we indulge in a seemingly harmless corrupt practice we become a piece in the jigsaw of major corruption- and then it becomes so big we cannot fight it.
Please start now. Everyday, every little move will be a blow on this monster we call corruption. And while we do not know how long and how many blows it will take at least we would have made a start.
Please stand up for your rights.
This does not mean earning your rights or even fighting for them. It just means expressing some protest. We can no longer keep quiet over small matters for they will escalate into bigger ones.
Let us be part of a global community
We have to think beyond our rights and privileges. We have to stand up for the rights and privileges of those around us.
People power and politics
It is also important to show the politicians that we cannot live at their mercy. In fact they have to be at our mercy. The phrase “the other options are equally bad” can no longer justify a particular party to be in power. They have to be good or try to be so or else they HAVE to be shown the door.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES FOR NO ONE ELSE WILL.
Rizwanur started the fight we need to carry it on...
Does not matter what the CBI report says most of the logically thinking people with no benefit from Rizwanur’s death; think he could not have committed suicide. It was a Murder. One will obviously accept whatever the CBI, the supreme agency in the country, says but then again- have they never been wrong before?
Is love worth losing one’s life?
Throwing away a life for love of a person never makes sense. However, Rizwanur was not the kind who would give up or give in. Coming back to the question: is it worth losing one’s life over love?
It sort of depends on one’s idea about love and life. Most of us are average (or normal, as we call ourselves) and we love and live within the brackets of normality. The likes of Rizwanur love and live exceptionally. They prefer to be ashes than dust!
“Zindagi tujhse har baat pe samjhauta karoon
Shauk jeene ka hai mujhko, magar itna bhi nahin”
Rizwanur died for Priyanka’s love; Today, Rizwanur has a nation’s love with him. He is dead but he is still among us- in our actions, our thoughts our discussions.
What has his death done for us?
Rizwanur’s death exposed the decay, the brutality, the corruption and the injustice prevalent in our society in general and the police force in particular. It has also made us look inwards about our religious attitudes and beliefs and to question the extent we should go to follow them. Is religion more important than life? Can we and should we tolerate killings in the name of religion?
His death has made us assess the society we live in. It has made us ask some very basic questions- Are we safe in our own homes? Why does this society not give us [the average normal people with no political, police, underworld connections] our basic right to live life without interference? Can we say “NO” when they appear on our door steps for “chanda”? Can we protest when they stop us on the road for some meaningless check? How are those with not a lot of money and power meant to carry on?
Where do we go from here?
While not all of us are capable of risking our lives for any cause; all of us are capable of making small differences by taking small risks which collectively will have a big impact.
Please say “NO” to corrupt practices.
In our day to day living almost everyday we may have opportunities where we choose the easier option- paying the policeman to avoid any hassle when stopped; paying the tout to get our work done; paying the custom officers to get a music system through; paying someone to get files moving; work done; buying pirated media... the list is endless. Every time we indulge in a seemingly harmless corrupt practice we become a piece in the jigsaw of major corruption- and then it becomes so big we cannot fight it.
Please start now. Everyday, every little move will be a blow on this monster we call corruption. And while we do not know how long and how many blows it will take at least we would have made a start.
Please stand up for your rights.
This does not mean earning your rights or even fighting for them. It just means expressing some protest. We can no longer keep quiet over small matters for they will escalate into bigger ones.
Let us be part of a global community
We have to think beyond our rights and privileges. We have to stand up for the rights and privileges of those around us.
People power and politics
It is also important to show the politicians that we cannot live at their mercy. In fact they have to be at our mercy. The phrase “the other options are equally bad” can no longer justify a particular party to be in power. They have to be good or try to be so or else they HAVE to be shown the door.
WE HAVE TO TAKE CONTROL OF OUR LIVES FOR NO ONE ELSE WILL.
Rizwanur started the fight we need to carry it on...
Thursday, November 29, 2007
End of week Ten
Ten weeks ago we heard how the fairly tale love story of Rizwanur and Priyanka ended in Rizwanur’s death. But we all felt love was alive. Priyanka, weighed down with grief, still came out and endorsed her love for Rizwanur. She also stated the bullying and harassment they had suffered at the hands of the law enforcers at the behest of her father and family.
We were moved and outraged at the same time. Moved by the fact that Priyanka’s love indeed transcended all class, social and religious barriers and outraged at the complete denial of rights to her and Rizwanur. We pledged to fight against this injustice. We forgot out religious beliefs, our social status, and our political affiliations and came out one and all to protest and fight against the injustice meted to Rizwanur and Priyanka.
But today we seem to be a little lost at the turn of events. Among the lies and accusations, among deliberate attempts to malign and alienate we are desperately looking for the love and honesty that touched our hearts ten weeks ago and we are filled with despair when we see just more and more lies. So, why is this so? What has changed?
We can talk about many things but the change that has hurt most is in Priyanka. Surely, she does not need to prove her love for Rizwanur to anyone and surely we can understand that she wants to protect her dad but equally how can we forget that at the end of all this is a young talented boy who lies buried in the earth because he dared to love priyanka; because he dared to fight to get her back.
So how can we understand the contradiction in Priyanka that has come about lately? The same person who signed a letter holding her father responsible should anything went wrong with her or Rizwanur now issues a statement that her father could never do anything like this? Also what is extremely perplexing is the story dished to us by her and her family. Apparently while on a well timed holiday she was told that Rizwanur was involved in some accident. However, she did not call Rizwanur or his family to find out his well being. Then she was told he was dead. Again she did not manage to make one phone call to his family who had accepted her with all their hearts and anything else they could manage. There are only two possibilities for not making a phone call: Either she was not allowed to or she did not care! For the last ten weeks we have been trying to convince ourselves that the latter cannot be true, however, with every passing day, her silence on the issue; and her statements contradicting what Rizwanur wrote in his dossier; it is getting harder to maintain that belief.
In an attempt to protect her father she is sacrificing the truth and history has taught us that in the war between truth and evil; truth is always the winner. The difference between Arjuna and Karna was all about being on the side of truth. May god and love help her make that decision.
Important Media reports this week:
Rizwanur's Death : A shameful black hole of Bengal Rizwanur's Death : A shameful black hole of Bengal
We were moved and outraged at the same time. Moved by the fact that Priyanka’s love indeed transcended all class, social and religious barriers and outraged at the complete denial of rights to her and Rizwanur. We pledged to fight against this injustice. We forgot out religious beliefs, our social status, and our political affiliations and came out one and all to protest and fight against the injustice meted to Rizwanur and Priyanka.
But today we seem to be a little lost at the turn of events. Among the lies and accusations, among deliberate attempts to malign and alienate we are desperately looking for the love and honesty that touched our hearts ten weeks ago and we are filled with despair when we see just more and more lies. So, why is this so? What has changed?
We can talk about many things but the change that has hurt most is in Priyanka. Surely, she does not need to prove her love for Rizwanur to anyone and surely we can understand that she wants to protect her dad but equally how can we forget that at the end of all this is a young talented boy who lies buried in the earth because he dared to love priyanka; because he dared to fight to get her back.
So how can we understand the contradiction in Priyanka that has come about lately? The same person who signed a letter holding her father responsible should anything went wrong with her or Rizwanur now issues a statement that her father could never do anything like this? Also what is extremely perplexing is the story dished to us by her and her family. Apparently while on a well timed holiday she was told that Rizwanur was involved in some accident. However, she did not call Rizwanur or his family to find out his well being. Then she was told he was dead. Again she did not manage to make one phone call to his family who had accepted her with all their hearts and anything else they could manage. There are only two possibilities for not making a phone call: Either she was not allowed to or she did not care! For the last ten weeks we have been trying to convince ourselves that the latter cannot be true, however, with every passing day, her silence on the issue; and her statements contradicting what Rizwanur wrote in his dossier; it is getting harder to maintain that belief.
In an attempt to protect her father she is sacrificing the truth and history has taught us that in the war between truth and evil; truth is always the winner. The difference between Arjuna and Karna was all about being on the side of truth. May god and love help her make that decision.
Important Media reports this week:
Rizwanur's Death : A shameful black hole of Bengal Rizwanur's Death : A shameful black hole of Bengal
Thursday, November 22, 2007
End of Week Nine
In the last 9 weeks or so; we have seen police brutality and arrogance; we have seen underworld connections of the rich and attempts to gain mileage from a death by political leaders; we have seen a shambolic post mortem and a pathetic CID enquiry. We have also seen the power of money. We have seen that money is stronger than justice, friendship, even love perhaps. We have seen it turn everyone into a suspect: a friend, an uncle, a brother now tainted with the mark of betrayal. We have seen Priyanka, “the love of Rizwanur- in life and death” clamouring more for her personal belongings than justice for her beloved. We continue to see the conversion of a murder into suicide with inexorable certainty.
If the recent media leaks are to be believed it could well be that CBI may call this a suicide in contrast to what people believe to be true. And it may seem that justice has still eluded Rizwanur ; but without a shade of doubt justice will be delivered , either in this lifetime or another; either in the court of law or in the court of God; in some form or the other.
In fact in some ways it does not really matter as to what happens to Todi, Prasun Mukherjee and their ilk. For they never will be able to live life with their head held high. The stain of a innocent's blood will never wash off their hands. They will never regain the respect of people, their own family, perhaps their own daughter.
As far as we are concerned, we, the people, will never forget Rizwanur. He will live forever in our hearts. He died for the love of one person but today Rizwanur's death has brought him the love of an entire nation. He lived life like any other simple, common man. But now he is immortal. The country knows that someone has lost a loving son, a brother, a friend, a teacher, a husband- an irrevocable loss.
And his death will not go in vain. While, the police, the politicians, and the moneyed class have eaten away the very foundations of law, order, and truth leaving us all on very, very, shaky grounds; Rizwanur’s death certainly has taught them a lesson or two. It has taught them never again to take the power of common people for granted. It would have taught them that the usual placid people of Kolkata will not accept injustice lying back, quietly. They will fight back and gain ground, inch by inch till one day they do not have to fight anymore.
Rizwanur even in his death has achieved what the politicians of the country have failed to do in their lives: He has awakened our generation- against injustice, against bigotry against religious hatred. Riwanur lives on in us every time we stand up against injustice and every time we love.
[written by "beas"]
"Carry on Lying" Todi was meant to be having a lie detection test today. Earlier CBI had said that the test has been carried out but later denied this suggesting that because of recent heart surgery he was not fit to undergo the test.
If the recent media leaks are to be believed it could well be that CBI may call this a suicide in contrast to what people believe to be true. And it may seem that justice has still eluded Rizwanur ; but without a shade of doubt justice will be delivered , either in this lifetime or another; either in the court of law or in the court of God; in some form or the other.
In fact in some ways it does not really matter as to what happens to Todi, Prasun Mukherjee and their ilk. For they never will be able to live life with their head held high. The stain of a innocent's blood will never wash off their hands. They will never regain the respect of people, their own family, perhaps their own daughter.
As far as we are concerned, we, the people, will never forget Rizwanur. He will live forever in our hearts. He died for the love of one person but today Rizwanur's death has brought him the love of an entire nation. He lived life like any other simple, common man. But now he is immortal. The country knows that someone has lost a loving son, a brother, a friend, a teacher, a husband- an irrevocable loss.
And his death will not go in vain. While, the police, the politicians, and the moneyed class have eaten away the very foundations of law, order, and truth leaving us all on very, very, shaky grounds; Rizwanur’s death certainly has taught them a lesson or two. It has taught them never again to take the power of common people for granted. It would have taught them that the usual placid people of Kolkata will not accept injustice lying back, quietly. They will fight back and gain ground, inch by inch till one day they do not have to fight anymore.
Rizwanur even in his death has achieved what the politicians of the country have failed to do in their lives: He has awakened our generation- against injustice, against bigotry against religious hatred. Riwanur lives on in us every time we stand up against injustice and every time we love.
[written by "beas"]
"Carry on Lying" Todi was meant to be having a lie detection test today. Earlier CBI had said that the test has been carried out but later denied this suggesting that because of recent heart surgery he was not fit to undergo the test.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Please don't communalise Rizwanur's death - part II
...Or okay, since our request is not paid heed to, let us call a spade a spade.
One of the post in this blog has a long and winding trail of comments, and inevitably, as in any long trail of comments under a post on Rizwanur Rehman, the entire argument heated up when someone named 'anonymous John' brings in religion into the issue.I try my best to browse fast on any writings on the issue these days, but I have noticed that except negligible exceptions, hardly any posts are being written to which we, as citizens for justice, might disagree to. Only in the comments such counter-discourses are provoked leading to a vortex of sledging and angry reasoning. Ignoring might one of the strategies to avoid few minutes of precious times and loss of temper in our lives, but ignorance is certainly not an option. We should keep in mind, as I said in the earlier part of my writings here, that there is a strong discourse going on to communalize the entire event, hardly a tip of which appears in the cyberspace...therefore we need to engage, passionately, though it might mean - when you are shadowboxing with walls of obstinacy - we will lose temper, lose our appetite and become so bitter that we might acquire a distaste in further engagement. At least it happened to me, after fisting bricks in the walls...
But we might take a different strategy, becoming walls ourselves. Walls: obstinate, blunt, unnerving. You might start enjoying the process. To place it more seriously, there is a dire need to be militantly anti-communal. We might not get our chances to be so. Our detractors talk in the rhetoric of violence and ravage, they never give it up: their verbal violence...we can speak in the rhetoric of militancy too.
I am an atheist and also leftist of sorts, but I am not anti-religion (to quote Ramanujan: "I don't believe in God, but I believe in people who believe in God") and I have high regards to spiritualism as intellectual and poetic processes. So one should start making these distinctions clearly: religion and spiritualism is not always synonymous. Rabindranath Tagore was known for his unique and individualistic spiritualism, but it is hard to club his thoughts (except a brief transitory period) under religion. Dharma had a different connotation altogether in our languages; thanks to Modi & Co. and their spokesperson in this blog - the anonymous named John in the comments of the last post - those earlier connotations are gradually losing ground these decades.
Let me make a curious statement: their 'Hinduism' is the modern face of the 'hegemonic upper-casteism'. Therefore, I think my friends here will hardly disagree, even anonymous Johnies (Rambo or Lever) out there, that Rizwanur Rehman would have met the same predicament had he been a lower-caste Hindu, a Dalit, a Harijan.
Refraining from further distractions. This is not a religious issue. What they ignorantly or very-cleverly mask in the name of religion is a sort of communal Culture and Politics. Please try to make another distinction: that between Art and Culture. Culture is the realm of codes and conventions, defined and fixed, highly societal. Art is the realm of liberation of thoughts, a critique of the existent and imaginations beyond the normative. Art is many a times critical of dominant culture; Art, many a times, is dangerous, liable to be censored and the author(s) persecuted. There were those days when Bauls were never part of culture, they belonged to the realm of art.
A political culture which is showing its intolerantly parochial and rapacious patriarchal face. This is another important aspect of the event which I need to stress: though the victim is Rizwanur Rehman, it reveals a highly masculinist and patriarchal culture with its claws and fangs ready to curb all Priyankas. Very striking is the fact that there isn't a single feminine voice erupting against us in the Blogosphere (unless a Johnie Basanti surfaces next! tumhara naam kya hain Basanti?). All feminine voices are highly critical, I can cite one exemplary and very touching instance: Did my father murder Rizwanur Rehman? Yes. Rizwanur's death reveal atrocities against women.
To those irritated Johnies (Rambo or Lever, Janardan or Jingoist) out there, who never understand why we - peculiarly secular - are always in a habit of identifying with underdogs and subalterns: women, dalits, minorities, proletariats (okay! okay! that multisyllabic sound stands opposite to Todis: filthy faltu rich!). Because that is the ideal mode of being a citizen: be critical! To you, being an Indian citizen is a fully-formed sacrosanct entity imposed from above which is to be belligerently protected. To us: it is a process in flux, always under formation and never finalized, always liable to be re-written and re-vis(it)ed, a process which is born inside...not an identity sculpted outside our consciousness and to be taken for granted. It is a process beyond census and plebiscite...it is a dream of a better being living in a better country beyond our lifetime.
This site will remain named Rizwanur not because he was a thinker or an ideologue, but because he lived a life and died a death and loved a daring dream...which shakes us back to awareness that the dream mentioned above should be consciously and painfully dreamt; because oblivious bliss is the disease of our era; because shallow mediocrity is the USP of this age; statistics and information rather than vision and knowledge are the tools of the times and being devoid of questions is the order of the day.
Extended version of this post: Please Don’t Instill Religion into Rizwanur’s Death! - part II
ADDENDUM:
It seems the easiest way to distract attention from Rizwanur is to give the whole thing a communal colour. Now some of the minority groups have indulged in violence (whether it was induced or politicalised; we do not know)- leading to curfew in various areas of the city. Rukbanur, the elder brother of Rizwanur, on the television, has urged people notto give this a communal colour and stay away from any violence- we in keeping with what we have said before, repeat the same request to one and all- Please don't communalise Rizwanur's Death.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
A hard wind is blowin'
A hard time is passing by
No time to laugh or cry
No room for live or die
A hard time is passing by
Just hold on and see
What is going to be
There's a-hard rain and hard storm
I know, you're prisoned in your home
Wait 'til end of the rain and the storm
Then the sun will shine again
But the lost love stories
May not come back again
A hard wind is blowin'
Some memories aren't still cryin'
In your heart?
They're making stories about you
The media man says
"Shame to You"
Still answerless?
Sister, Are you feeling guilt
For loving Riz?
But, a thousand stories built
Or even thousand people killed
Everybody will support you
Everybody still want justice
Another poem by Paswa( Theo)
No time to laugh or cry
No room for live or die
A hard time is passing by
Just hold on and see
What is going to be
There's a-hard rain and hard storm
I know, you're prisoned in your home
Wait 'til end of the rain and the storm
Then the sun will shine again
But the lost love stories
May not come back again
A hard wind is blowin'
Some memories aren't still cryin'
In your heart?
They're making stories about you
The media man says
"Shame to You"
Still answerless?
Sister, Are you feeling guilt
For loving Riz?
But, a thousand stories built
Or even thousand people killed
Everybody will support you
Everybody still want justice
Another poem by Paswa( Theo)
Thursday, November 15, 2007
End of Week Eight
In the last few weeks, the two women whom Rizwanur loved the most have been left to pick up the pieces of their lives without him. They were brought together by the most bizarre twist of fate. Rizwanur's love for his mother and Priyanka brought them together; and along with perhaps the happiest and the saddest moments these two will ever experience in their lives or whatever is left of it.
One of them was related to him by blood; the other by love. One knew him for the last 30 years the other for 30 months. One gave him his life; the other gave him love. One taught him how to walk; the other taught him how to dream. One gave him his spine the other his wings. One sat beside him countless nights stroking his hair, putting wet mops on his forehead to keep the temperature down in a small room they called home; and it was this illness which drew the other for the first time to this home, she wanted to call her own. One worked tirelessly all her life to give him the best in life; the other gave up the best to live his life.
Today Rizwanur is no more. Who knows what his last thoughts were. Who knows how he yearned for one warm touch of his mother or his wife as he fell on the cold steel track. And how he wanted to see them one last time before the eyes would see no more, the ears would hear no train roaring by, the voice would no longer plead to hear her voice just one more time.
Following, Rizwanur’s death,these two women are the biggest losers. One had to watch her little boy being buried into the earth; the boy she brought into this world.And, while he was breathing his last, the other was thousand miles away from the man she wanted to spend every minute of her life with. Neither of them could touch that forehead one last time. Neither could kiss that wound better. Neither could make that heart beat again. Neither could fill his life with one more breath. A mother and a widow try and pick up the shattered pieces of their lives but the sharp ragged edges only make them bleed more.
Rizwanur lost his life. Kishwar Jahan his son. Priyanka her husband. They both loved Rizwanur. Despite that and just weeks after sharing some of their happiest moments together today they pursue conflicting goals. After burying her son; Kishwar Jahan is seeking solace in getting justice for her dead son; after failing to protect her husband, Priyanka perhaps feels she has lost a lot already and seeks consolation by trying to protect her father. It all appears inexplicable and perhaps love alone can explain it.
After Rizwanur’s death they have been left with nothing and yet it seems both still have plenty more to lose.
One of them was related to him by blood; the other by love. One knew him for the last 30 years the other for 30 months. One gave him his life; the other gave him love. One taught him how to walk; the other taught him how to dream. One gave him his spine the other his wings. One sat beside him countless nights stroking his hair, putting wet mops on his forehead to keep the temperature down in a small room they called home; and it was this illness which drew the other for the first time to this home, she wanted to call her own. One worked tirelessly all her life to give him the best in life; the other gave up the best to live his life.
Today Rizwanur is no more. Who knows what his last thoughts were. Who knows how he yearned for one warm touch of his mother or his wife as he fell on the cold steel track. And how he wanted to see them one last time before the eyes would see no more, the ears would hear no train roaring by, the voice would no longer plead to hear her voice just one more time.
Following, Rizwanur’s death,these two women are the biggest losers. One had to watch her little boy being buried into the earth; the boy she brought into this world.And, while he was breathing his last, the other was thousand miles away from the man she wanted to spend every minute of her life with. Neither of them could touch that forehead one last time. Neither could kiss that wound better. Neither could make that heart beat again. Neither could fill his life with one more breath. A mother and a widow try and pick up the shattered pieces of their lives but the sharp ragged edges only make them bleed more.
Rizwanur lost his life. Kishwar Jahan his son. Priyanka her husband. They both loved Rizwanur. Despite that and just weeks after sharing some of their happiest moments together today they pursue conflicting goals. After burying her son; Kishwar Jahan is seeking solace in getting justice for her dead son; after failing to protect her husband, Priyanka perhaps feels she has lost a lot already and seeks consolation by trying to protect her father. It all appears inexplicable and perhaps love alone can explain it.
After Rizwanur’s death they have been left with nothing and yet it seems both still have plenty more to lose.
Monday, November 12, 2007
To Priyanka Todi
When Rizwanur's story first broke, my heart went out to you. What a courageous act of defiance against a feudal family, only to end in such tragedy!
And when the media hounded you, I wished they would leave you alone. I wrote letters (not a single one of which got published though) and argued with people online that you were, first, a victim, and should be left alone to grieve and come to terms with your loss. An otherwise sensible person suggested that you had shown a remarkable lack of judgement, that you should have anticipated your family's reaction better than Rizwanur and should not have led him down the path that ultimately ended in his death. There were people who compared you to Bharati Yadav. And I hated how people were so quick to blame the victim for what had happened.
In short, sister, my heart was yours to lose.
And then came the shocker. The irreconcilable contradiction between your statement to the CBI that your family could not have got Rizwanur killed and the letter that you had signed with your late husband asking the police for protection from your father. And still, I kept quiet... the universal sisterhood thing, you know?! Maybe you were confused. How would I ever know how difficult it could be to think the worst about your own family? And so on and so forth, I tried to rationalize, to myself.
But now the letters, Priyanka... the letters!! Not at all the confused rambling of a mind blinded by grief. So well thought out, especially the subtle attempt at maligning your brother-in-law. How on earth am I going to justify these? We have all seen the brother who is out there every day fighting for your dead husband. And the mother who lost her son to such a horrible death...how could you write her these letters? Really Priyanka, how could you?? Are they really the enemy to be fought now? Why??
And when the media hounded you, I wished they would leave you alone. I wrote letters (not a single one of which got published though) and argued with people online that you were, first, a victim, and should be left alone to grieve and come to terms with your loss. An otherwise sensible person suggested that you had shown a remarkable lack of judgement, that you should have anticipated your family's reaction better than Rizwanur and should not have led him down the path that ultimately ended in his death. There were people who compared you to Bharati Yadav. And I hated how people were so quick to blame the victim for what had happened.
In short, sister, my heart was yours to lose.
And then came the shocker. The irreconcilable contradiction between your statement to the CBI that your family could not have got Rizwanur killed and the letter that you had signed with your late husband asking the police for protection from your father. And still, I kept quiet... the universal sisterhood thing, you know?! Maybe you were confused. How would I ever know how difficult it could be to think the worst about your own family? And so on and so forth, I tried to rationalize, to myself.
But now the letters, Priyanka... the letters!! Not at all the confused rambling of a mind blinded by grief. So well thought out, especially the subtle attempt at maligning your brother-in-law. How on earth am I going to justify these? We have all seen the brother who is out there every day fighting for your dead husband. And the mother who lost her son to such a horrible death...how could you write her these letters? Really Priyanka, how could you?? Are they really the enemy to be fought now? Why??
The letter
Papa, This is the letter I wrote to you
I love a simple boy
He can't give me the things that you gave
But, He can give me a life, full with joy
Papa, You may not know him well
But, If you want to know
I can tell
But, you'll never like, what I'll say
Papa, when you'll find the letter on my bed
Please forgive me
For the awful words, I said
There's no wrong, in what I'm doing
The way, a dark alley of Tiljala Lane
I know, It'll strike on your fame
As all the true lovers do
I'm doing the same
The fences you built, around me
Now the time is for it to break
Papa, is there any wrong?
So, I'm going
I'm going
I'm gone
-written by "theo" a teenager who is extremely moved by the death of Rizwanur.
I love a simple boy
He can't give me the things that you gave
But, He can give me a life, full with joy
Papa, You may not know him well
But, If you want to know
I can tell
But, you'll never like, what I'll say
Papa, when you'll find the letter on my bed
Please forgive me
For the awful words, I said
There's no wrong, in what I'm doing
The way, a dark alley of Tiljala Lane
I know, It'll strike on your fame
As all the true lovers do
I'm doing the same
The fences you built, around me
Now the time is for it to break
Papa, is there any wrong?
So, I'm going
I'm going
I'm gone
-written by "theo" a teenager who is extremely moved by the death of Rizwanur.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
End of week Seven: Deepawali
Diwali a festival of lights is upon us. It is a time for renewal of hope, a time for prayers.
So let us say a prayer today. Let us start by saying a prayer for Rizwanur’s family.A family which lost its brightest star. A family which is submerged in darkness due to the evil in our society. The people of Kolkata have stood by them. They have wept for them. Let us now pray for them.
Diwali is about good prevailing over evil. So let us say a prayer for Justice.
Every dīpa in the city, every candle lit in kolkata and elsewhere will renew our faith in justice. It will remind us all over again that the time to lift the darkness, the time for victory of good over evil beckons upon us. It is the time of homecoming for goodwill and faith. It took Rama fourteen years to conquer the evil; we are only seven weeks in the fight. The path ahead may be long and tortuous but let us pray that Rama returns victorious again.
It would not be in keeping with the spirit of Deepawali if we just prayed for Justice for Rizwanur. So let us pray even for the perpetrators of this heinous crime too. Let us pray that may the goodness in their hearts uplift the darkness in them. Let us pray that the festival of light awakens their conscience. Let us pray that the light of Diwali ignites a spark of love in their hearts too.
Let us pray for Priyanka that the lights of Deepawali give her the strength to stand by the truth. Let us pray for her happiness; for Rizwanur would have wanted her to be at her happiest on her first Deepawali after being married.
Lastly let us light a dipa for Rizwanur. Let us say a prayer for him.
Important reports this week:
1. "Kali Pujo"with a differnce
2 The flawed post mortem report –important questions asked on the post mortem report?
Thursday, November 1, 2007
End of Week Six
A marriage between two consenting adults which in a more mature society would be nothing really to talk about has raised many disturbing issues in our society.
Police bullying, Political gains from a tragedy, Involvement of underworld, Class barriers, Religious prejudices, have engulfed and completely overshadowed something rather pure and innocent: Love. We do not seem to be talking about love that brought Rizwanur and Priyanka together. It seems that the talk of Love has been buried with Rizwanur.
CBI carries on investigating. However, in between ever so often there appears to be a desperate attempt to make Rizwanur’s death into a Suicide. Somehow new twists and allegations ranging from “another woman” theory to “financial gains by the family” seem to grab the headlines. None has been substantiated. Is this to distract people; who knows? Is this to create a doubt in people’s mind about Rizwanur and his family? Quite likely.
What is rather strange is no one seems to be talking about the obvious. Why the death of Rizwanur is nothing but Murder? How come no one is able to or even attempting to answer the most obvious questions raised on this website and elsewhere? Why are the bullies in uniform still walking around unrepentant? How deep is this nexus between politicians and the investigating authorities? In order to deny justice to what extent will the authorities go to tarnish Rizwanur and his love?
Rizwanur was seeking justice which they denied in his life; only time will tell if they allow the purity and sanctity of his love intact even in his death.
Some important media reports this week
1. A mother speaks [A very touching account of Rizwanur's Mother]
2. A touching letter by Priyanka.
3. CBI tracks down that Rizwanur was on the phone talking to his lawyer about the case as late as 10:28. This was conveniently omitted in the leak that the calcutta police engineered
4. CBI claims to have solved the case
Police bullying, Political gains from a tragedy, Involvement of underworld, Class barriers, Religious prejudices, have engulfed and completely overshadowed something rather pure and innocent: Love. We do not seem to be talking about love that brought Rizwanur and Priyanka together. It seems that the talk of Love has been buried with Rizwanur.
CBI carries on investigating. However, in between ever so often there appears to be a desperate attempt to make Rizwanur’s death into a Suicide. Somehow new twists and allegations ranging from “another woman” theory to “financial gains by the family” seem to grab the headlines. None has been substantiated. Is this to distract people; who knows? Is this to create a doubt in people’s mind about Rizwanur and his family? Quite likely.
What is rather strange is no one seems to be talking about the obvious. Why the death of Rizwanur is nothing but Murder? How come no one is able to or even attempting to answer the most obvious questions raised on this website and elsewhere? Why are the bullies in uniform still walking around unrepentant? How deep is this nexus between politicians and the investigating authorities? In order to deny justice to what extent will the authorities go to tarnish Rizwanur and his love?
Rizwanur was seeking justice which they denied in his life; only time will tell if they allow the purity and sanctity of his love intact even in his death.
Some important media reports this week
1. A mother speaks [A very touching account of Rizwanur's Mother]
2. A touching letter by Priyanka.
3. CBI tracks down that Rizwanur was on the phone talking to his lawyer about the case as late as 10:28. This was conveniently omitted in the leak that the calcutta police engineered
4. CBI claims to have solved the case
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Week 6: More questions?
At 9:32 am Rizwnaur had called up his cousin in his aunt's house saying he would be back after an hour.But this call was made from a PCO. The CBI has not yet been able to unravel why Rizwanur who possessed a mobile phone used a PCO to make a call.
Was somebody else in possession of his mobile during the time?
Also according to his phone records between 9:10 and 9:21 am he made at least two calls and sent three SMS within a gap of two to four minutes.
So while Rizwanur was out making a call from the PCO someone was churning out messages from his phone.
SO now it is the turn of CBI to heap insult on the Rahman family. They are investigating the Bank accounts of Rizwanur's uncles and other family members.
However, so far there is not much of an investigation on the Todi's or on the Police officers.
What about the phone calls made by or received by Todi's while on holiday- he was obviously contactable as the news of Rizwanur's Death reached him the same day. Who were in contact with him? Who else did these people were in contact with during the last days of Rizwanur?
What authority did the police have to Tap Rizwanur's phone/ Why is everyone ignoring this?
What about the alleged phone call made by Gyanwant singh enquiring about Rizwanur's body? How did he know/ Who told him about Rizwanur's death?
Thursday, October 25, 2007
End of week Five- Could this be How they killed him?
Rizwanur was called to patipukur /laketown area with the assurance of mediating a patch up with the Todi’s. It was suggested that if Rizwanur sent some empty threats of suicide to his in laws they would be scared and get his wife to talk to him. So Rizwanur sent the following texts and call:
9.10 am: ''Papa, there is five minutes before I kill myself. Talk to me last time.''
9.14 am, To, Bimla Todi. (content unavailable)
9.15 am calls Ashok Todi (promises a note)
9:21 am sms to Ashok Todi (content unavailable)
This did not work for it was not meant to work from the very start. After sometime it was decided that this was not going to work and hence Rizwanur should perhaps just leave things for the moment and think of something else. 50 minutes went by and Rizwanur was going to be late for the meeting with Sujoto Bhadra so he calls him up to reschedule the meeting.{not to commit suicide}
10.11 am Calls Sujato Bhadro to fix a meeting at 2:30
Rizwanur was then perhaps escorted back in a car to somewhere from where he could take a bus back home. He was killed in the car. In keeping with his injuries perhaps His neck sliced. Hit on the head with something heavy.
His mobile then went into over drive churning out texts and calls to random people who may not be very good at recognising a tearful voice suggesting he was going to commit suicide. Not to his brother not to his mother not to anyone who mattered most to him, not even to his wife…for they would know it was not him..
1028: someone typed My so that people would believe he was sending a text before he was hit by the train.
1030 his body was discovered BUT the mobile was in his pocket not in his hands or away from the body.
In less than two minutes he obviously had enough time to save the “my” in drafts, keep his mobile back in his pocket, choose just the back of his head to be hit by the train, then lie on the back of his head, fold his hands across his chest and be found dead.
And yes Could the SIM card be doctored?
9.10 am: ''Papa, there is five minutes before I kill myself. Talk to me last time.''
9.14 am, To, Bimla Todi. (content unavailable)
9.15 am calls Ashok Todi (promises a note)
9:21 am sms to Ashok Todi (content unavailable)
This did not work for it was not meant to work from the very start. After sometime it was decided that this was not going to work and hence Rizwanur should perhaps just leave things for the moment and think of something else. 50 minutes went by and Rizwanur was going to be late for the meeting with Sujoto Bhadra so he calls him up to reschedule the meeting.{not to commit suicide}
10.11 am Calls Sujato Bhadro to fix a meeting at 2:30
Rizwanur was then perhaps escorted back in a car to somewhere from where he could take a bus back home. He was killed in the car. In keeping with his injuries perhaps His neck sliced. Hit on the head with something heavy.
His mobile then went into over drive churning out texts and calls to random people who may not be very good at recognising a tearful voice suggesting he was going to commit suicide. Not to his brother not to his mother not to anyone who mattered most to him, not even to his wife…for they would know it was not him..
1028: someone typed My so that people would believe he was sending a text before he was hit by the train.
1030 his body was discovered BUT the mobile was in his pocket not in his hands or away from the body.
In less than two minutes he obviously had enough time to save the “my” in drafts, keep his mobile back in his pocket, choose just the back of his head to be hit by the train, then lie on the back of his head, fold his hands across his chest and be found dead.
And yes Could the SIM card be doctored?
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Day 33: The lost Mission
Rizwanur’s death started and remains an issue about Law and order and our rights. It is also about a “police state” in a democratic republic. It is about the anti-people policing. It is about anti-people politics.
People welcomed the police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee when he first started the job under three years ago. They were looking for a saviour of the collapsing law and order situation in the city and looked up to him in hope.So in his almost three years of being in office what did he achieve?
On his day one in Dec 2004, elaborating on his mission, Mukherjee said
“he wanted to instill a sense of trust among those who need to lodge a complaint with the police. ? There has been a lot of talk about good behavior and community policing, but not much has changed,? “he said then.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041214/asp/calcutta/story_4112411.asp
And where do we stand today:
The police hounded Rizwanur till he was dead. It was the police he was in charge of. What did he do? Not only did he not demonstrate any sensitivity towards the family of Rizwanur he openly supported the main accused. He reeked of arrogance. His comments were hurtful to some, and coming from someone meant to protect the law it was scary to others. Most of us quietly lost hope that the rights of an ordinary citizen can ever stand up to the power wielded by money.
One has to ask Mr Mukherjee, to think about this whole thing- we the people of Kolkata had put our faith in you when you started the job. You gave us promises but when the time came to deliver them why did you let us down? We understand, and sadly, to a certain extent; accept the collusion between power and money but it is not Rizwanur and his family alone who are distraught today; you have left the people of Kolkata with no faith in your policing. Why did it have to be this way?
People welcomed the police commissioner Prasun Mukherjee when he first started the job under three years ago. They were looking for a saviour of the collapsing law and order situation in the city and looked up to him in hope.So in his almost three years of being in office what did he achieve?
On his day one in Dec 2004, elaborating on his mission, Mukherjee said
“he wanted to instill a sense of trust among those who need to lodge a complaint with the police. ? There has been a lot of talk about good behavior and community policing, but not much has changed,? “he said then.
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1041214/asp/calcutta/story_4112411.asp
And where do we stand today:
The police hounded Rizwanur till he was dead. It was the police he was in charge of. What did he do? Not only did he not demonstrate any sensitivity towards the family of Rizwanur he openly supported the main accused. He reeked of arrogance. His comments were hurtful to some, and coming from someone meant to protect the law it was scary to others. Most of us quietly lost hope that the rights of an ordinary citizen can ever stand up to the power wielded by money.
One has to ask Mr Mukherjee, to think about this whole thing- we the people of Kolkata had put our faith in you when you started the job. You gave us promises but when the time came to deliver them why did you let us down? We understand, and sadly, to a certain extent; accept the collusion between power and money but it is not Rizwanur and his family alone who are distraught today; you have left the people of Kolkata with no faith in your policing. Why did it have to be this way?
Monday, October 22, 2007
Day 32 Please don't communalise Rizwanur's death - part 1
It has been a month since he died. Through his brutal death we came to know that such a courageous and noble heart existed amidst us. His death redeemed our existence in more than one way, at least something I am doing everyday for the last month appears to be purposeful.
Everything I am stating henceforth is my personal opinion; I don't want the organizers of this site who had been kind enough to invite me to be a contributor to be responsible for anything which is authored by me. Emotions are high-strung now, a sort of movement which has been generated after Riz’s death is about certain emotions in the welling up of which lies the redemption of this city which is tainted and tarnished.
Felt bitter. At least in my blog I had never exposed my fangs before and never intended to do so. But consider the following; I received this thing this morning and have promptly deleted it since I would hate a war raging in my blog. It appeared like this in my email client:
A new comment on the post #448 "Take that Todi! More to Come..." is waiting for your approval
http://lovesragpicker.wordpress.com/2007/10/20/take-that-todi/
Author : RSS (IP: 24.11.174.23 , c-24-11-174-23.hsd1.mi.comcast.net)
E-mail : rss@rss.com
URL : http://www.bjp.com/
Whois : http://ws.arin.net/cgi-bin/whois.pl?queryinput=24.11.174.23
Comment:
THE RSS WILL NOT GIVE UP//
when hundreds of thousand kashmiri hindu's are killed where is the hue and cry.and now when a muslim youth with wahabist islamic fundamentalist leanings kills himself..we cant find enough places to cry.
WHy is it one day before RIZWANUR vanished, his family recieved deposit from saudi arabia bank/
ISLAM DESTROYED INDIA For 500 years.
HAVE YOU FORGOT THE PILLAGE OF SOMNATH
NO ONE CAN COME BETWEEN SRI KRISHNA AND HINDUSTAN..
islam will be wiped out. NO CHINESE< NO PAKISTAN< NO COMMUNIST CAN PREVENT US
TILL ETERNITY WE WILL PERSIST.
billion rizwanurs will persih.. UNTIL islam is wiped out.
jaI MATA DI, JAI MATA DURGA<
JAI HIND..
I am asking you readers, what else do you need to lose except your temper after you receive gems like this? I gained patience immediately. The email ID and url provided by my friend is obviously a fake one but I am collecting these reactions, because it documents historical reactions hitherto undocumented in the media.
But an anxiety is nagging me that merely deleting a comment from my blog might turn me into the proverbial ostrich shoving its face into the sand and assuming that no one can see him. Keeping my blog relatively clean does not mean that the streets and bylanes and pavements are cleaner, that these elements are not trolling there too! Cyberspace is virtual after all, many more things happen down there on the streets.
Therefore I think a militant sort of anti-communalism is necessary to counter such attempts of instilling religion into this tragedy. Earlier, during occasions of emergency, we couldn’t garner strength enough against this tirade of communalisation of issues. But this time, the entire movement started from a perspective beyond religious concerns and we need to hold on to it firmly inspite of troll campaigns like I have cited above…I intend to follow this post with another one which will attempt to analyse – with a cooler brain of course – what appears to be ‘religious’ to many are actually ‘cultural’ issues. There is a need to disassociate the cultural from the religious and I think that’s the call of the day.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Day 31: CID - what does that stand for?
While the CBI enquiry has been ordered by the High Court, people must not take their eyes off the shambolic investigation carried out by the CID. We pay to sustain their services and one has to ask how they can get away with such comprehensively incompetent detection.
Some of the facts reported by CID in the media are:
Pointing to the severe injury to the back of his head, CID officers’ claim that at the final moment Rizwanur could not dare to face the rushing train and was looking away from it. The train, they say, hit him from behind.
“So some one hit on the head from behind fall on their back-do they? ” Sure you need to be a detective to figure that one out”.
CID’s argument for suicide is Rizwanur was under tremendous pressure from day-one of his marriage
“this is what Rizwanur wrote in his dossier to APDR, also this is what his family and friends, the media and those fighting for him have been complaining about.. yes ,(believe it or not)from day one- apart from being dumb are they just unable to read or listen
CID claims that Rizwanur had told his friends that if something happened to him, they shouldn’t leave the matter there. The sleuths argue this indicates Rizwanur wanted to commit suicide.
At this point one has to just abandon all hope for the CID. When an intelligent, young man is hounded by top cops, with threats to his life being made by various sources almost daily is it surprising that he “feared for his life?” For the benefit of the CID (if someone cares to explain to them) it means “fear of being killed” or “ being murdered” – strange the police commissioner (ex!) as well as CID seem to be fixated with Suicide.
CID interrogated more than 80 people but couldn’t tie loose ends. CID doesn’t even know what transpired between Rizwanur and Todi in the alleged four-minute talk he had before heading for Patipukur?
Now if it was not pathetic it would perhaps be funny- They could have perhaps asked Todi about what they spoke- that would have been quite smart!
Now they refuse to share information with the CBI- they are also sulking at being reprimanded by the high court.
news:www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/230583.html
One has to wonder what the acronym CID actually stands for- who knows- could be any of these:
Careless and Insensitive Detectives, Crying In Disgrace, Cash Induced Detection, Cop’s Institute of Dumbness, Certified Inefficient Detectives; Cashing in Death, Consider It Done( Sir!);
Some of the facts reported by CID in the media are:
Pointing to the severe injury to the back of his head, CID officers’ claim that at the final moment Rizwanur could not dare to face the rushing train and was looking away from it. The train, they say, hit him from behind.
“So some one hit on the head from behind fall on their back-do they? ” Sure you need to be a detective to figure that one out”.
CID’s argument for suicide is Rizwanur was under tremendous pressure from day-one of his marriage
“this is what Rizwanur wrote in his dossier to APDR, also this is what his family and friends, the media and those fighting for him have been complaining about.. yes ,(believe it or not)from day one- apart from being dumb are they just unable to read or listen
CID claims that Rizwanur had told his friends that if something happened to him, they shouldn’t leave the matter there. The sleuths argue this indicates Rizwanur wanted to commit suicide.
At this point one has to just abandon all hope for the CID. When an intelligent, young man is hounded by top cops, with threats to his life being made by various sources almost daily is it surprising that he “feared for his life?” For the benefit of the CID (if someone cares to explain to them) it means “fear of being killed” or “ being murdered” – strange the police commissioner (ex!) as well as CID seem to be fixated with Suicide.
CID interrogated more than 80 people but couldn’t tie loose ends. CID doesn’t even know what transpired between Rizwanur and Todi in the alleged four-minute talk he had before heading for Patipukur?
Now if it was not pathetic it would perhaps be funny- They could have perhaps asked Todi about what they spoke- that would have been quite smart!
Now they refuse to share information with the CBI- they are also sulking at being reprimanded by the high court.
news:www.indianexpress.com/sunday/story/230583.html
One has to wonder what the acronym CID actually stands for- who knows- could be any of these:
Careless and Insensitive Detectives, Crying In Disgrace, Cash Induced Detection, Cop’s Institute of Dumbness, Certified Inefficient Detectives; Cashing in Death, Consider It Done( Sir!);
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Says a CBI official
“The CID has not taken so many angles into account. Their questioning of Todi and the police officers seems too cursory, almost a formality. Now that we have gone through all the documents — the court order, the petition and the CID report — we are pretty certain it is a case of murder. However, nothing can be said till investigations are complete,” the official added.
Day 30 - Looking Ahead into the Back
With
- A CBI inquiry initiated
- A case of murder registered
- Police officials transferred (away from the public eye ?)
the immediate and intermediate milestones seem to have been covered. Its time for us to take stock, brace ourselves for the days ahead, but also to thank our peers.
This has been a journey unlike any other. Though the journey is far from complete, I personally cannot but express my deep and overwhelming sense of indebtedness towards everyone who helped power this ship we are on. Martin Luther King Jr had once said, "The arc of the moral universe is long but it bends toward justice". The shipmates of our rag-tag flotilla that was set afloat unplanned on these hostile waters, have made that arc a little bit shorter and have made us look us look little more human.
We would not have made it without Anwar Ali and Durjoy Guha of the candle light vigil (beautifully captured by this photo journal by love's ragpicker) at St Xavier's College and all who worked relentlessly to keep the fire burning into the Kolkata night. The vigil became the symbol, the focus, the confluence of all that we wanted to express. Thrust suddenly into a totally alien territory of blogging, it would not have been the same at rizwanur.com, without bloggers Rimi B, Fullymad, Love's Ragpicker, and Indscribe to inspire us, to show us the way with beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking posts. It would not have been possible without so many email groups and social network communities that sprung up, JusticeforRiz's Srabani for chipping in with posts when we could not, Arena Multimedia Chowringhee, Justice for Rizwanur Rahman, Rizwan sirs fan club, Rizwanur Rahman the real hero, The Martyr of love, thinking and acting on how to take things forward. They did not let the anger and the despair that we all felt go spiraling into nonconstructive desolation. There had been times when we badly needed that bit of encouragement and hope. Amidst all this Rizwanur's family showed us how its done with heads held high.
The credit also goes to the city that I am so proud to call home. It could have got so easily derailed into a communal discourse, there were conscious efforts to give it that obnoxious colour. But the city refused to budge from the issue that was essentially that of civil rights. So easily it could have taken a more ghastly form. Swap(or do not) the religion of Rizwanur and Todi, the location to some other part, and the response could easily have been evil honour killings and retaliations on those who had nothing to do with it. Ethnocentrism aside, I am proud that we held on defiantly to propriety and to the moral high ground. This is what we want India to be.
This unplanned post of mine seems have taken a tone of those canned votes of thanks that I have had to bear through often. So before I damage the post's emotional authenticity and genuineness any further, I will stop.
On a different note, a month and a few days from now we will be stepping into the 23rd anniversary of one the darkest time of peacetime human history. It is an industrial disaster that equals hundreds of Chernobyls and countless 7 mile island accidents in terms of death count and casualty. The death count stands at 20,000s, casualties at 500,000s, many of them suffering from cross generational effects. The mortality rate has settled after 23 years to 30 more deaths above normal per month. No one yet has served a sentence. At less than 1/5th that body count the US have launched a wrong war and India at present is wooing the parent company, Dow Chemicals, by considering to drop all charges against them. But even under such odds and after so many years the survivors have persevered in spite of their physical frailty with upright defiance.
As readers would have guessed by now, I am talking about the Bhopal disaster, but why have I hijacked the theme of this blog like so. The connection is in how the authorities reacted then and how they have acted now: explaining away a crime with an obscene facetiousness through lies and rumours.
When investigation started on how 40 tonnes of MIC gas escaped from a facility that under international safety laws should not have stored in excess of 0.5 tonnes, why all safety measures to contain any accidental leak had been de-operationalized months before, such as the flare towers, gas scrubbers, water curtain, run off tank and mandatory refrigeration; the response of the company to all this was to conjure up, much like the CID did, a rumour. The rumour was that a disgruntled employee sabotaged the plant by letting water into the tank. This fictitious employee was never named, never charged, even the investigation that reached this conclusion was locked away from public scrutiny, let alone even explain how someone could manually inject sufficient amount of water in a tank of an automatically controlled plant. This ghost of an employee that they created, forms the backbone of their denial to address rehabilitation issues even now. Unfortunately some of us fell for believing in that ghost.
What is abhorrent is that the CID tried to pull off the same trick. They leaked to the press rumours of a last minute call by Rizwanur to an unidentified girl, conveying that he intended to discontinue teaching her. This call, according to the CID report was evidence enough of intent to suicide.
In a city of a population of 4.5 million and who knows how many mobile users, one can only guess the number of "i wont teach you from tomorrow" messages that are let fly everyday. How many of those messengers end up shattered on the tracks with arms neatly folded ?
Let us not rest in peace till we bury the ghost and until we bury the ghost we have to watch out for their dirty tricks
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