Gay Parade in New Delhi for Equal Rights

The first ever gay parade ( although better word have been Homosexual Parade for lesbians also participated along with eunuchs ) took place in New Delhi on Sunday from Regal Building in Connaught Palace to Jantar Mantar for a period of two and half hours over a distance of about 2.5 kms. Indeed I alongwith many of other guys over here are finding difficult for what to say over this topic. First of all I am of straight sexual orientation. This one is not to say that I either stand for or disapprove the notion and rights of Homosexual. We (even my generation X) have been brought up in a society where let alone to approve of this category but to even discuss them is considered to a fault/sin/mistake. But for the way in which the society has opened up in last 10-12 years and the western influence the murmurs have started and except with parents we are (almost) able to discuss this within our circle and now on such public forums. Now whether our society U Me aur Hum will approve of this is not or does this really matter whether we approve of it? In my opinion it is of importance that we as a society take a stand on it we have avoided it for centuries but we can't do it anymore in this times when we are day in and day out are speaking of human rights. Why can't a person in this free world have relationship mental or physical or spiritual with a person of same sex ? Because it's against nature ? NO. In my opinion sexual orientation of a person can't be determined by that person. Whether a person likes person of similar or of opposite sex is what comes naturally. So how can nature act against nature. In my view most of the opposition to this issue in India is due to the fact that we have been brought up with notion of this being a bad thing. Those who have been giving the call of it being not in our culture and history then for that matter we abolished sati/dowry and many other things which were part of our culture (Sati is considered correct in Rajasthani/Rajput culture) . So we should not keep beating the age old bush again and again.

In Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalizes "unnatural sex", should now be debated upon and rectified. The law, a remnant of Victorian morality, was made in 1860, when any sexual activity that was not meant for procreation was considered a sin. Now the time is ripe for the concerned people to think fresh and think right. Afterall it is there choice.

Soldiering with Dignity: SHFJ 'SAM' Manekshaw

The sun has set on the life of one of the bravest and legend of Indian motherland. Sam Bahadur has passed away. I hope his feats will inspire the generations and will instill the sense of love for motherland which looks to be eroding fast. That would be our true tribute to that great personality. I will not say that I have read extensively about him but whatever I had I would share one or two stories which would keep us in good humour about this great personality.

Once he was appointed on the commission which was looking into the matter of increasing the pay of Armed Forces. When they were discussing to increase the separation allowance (which is given when soldier is posted at non family station) for the forces then the commission asked why this should be increased. Then Sam Bahadur told a story that in 1940 he was posted far away from his family for 3 years and he could not see his family. When he came back his wife had given a birth to a daughter. Then he told that only reason for him to believe that she was his daughter was that her face was looking like him. Case good enough to increase the so called allowance.

I have always wondered how the man with a parsi looking can be from Amritsar, Punjab. Curious enough point !! Then I found this story behind this. Father of Sam Bahadur has just completed his medical studies and then he was unable to excel in mumbai in his practice then somebody suggested to him that he should goto Lahore where he can succeed in his field. So he along with his newly wed bride set off for lahore. Sam's mother had never seen the well built Punjabis (read Sikhs here in partiicular and also Muslims like pathans with beards) when she saw them at Amritsar Railway station. There a sikh with beard and open hair was taking bath and when she saw him he was shocked (couldn't find better word) by there builts and hairy looks. She started to weep and then Sam's parents got down from train at Amritsar and then settled there and lived there for almost 5 decades. Another case of destiny !!??

There are many stories like this related to the life of Sam Manekshaw .. some other time. For now kindly join me prayers so that his soul may rest in peace. A tricoloured salute to SAM.

(Soldiering with Dignity stolen from somewhere from internet .. It's a book on Sam Bahadur)