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A man can be beaten to death. In fact, he has been. But what can’t be beaten to death is his belief. He was buried, but what wasn’t buried was his belief.
The bell tolls. Who is behind it? When asked a Delhi slum dweller went on to say, “I didn’t ring it because I am too hungry to walk up to a place of worship.” Isn’t that understandable? I think it is.
Our bus rolled into Dhampur, India. It was winter and just before midnight. The temperature was around three degrees Centigrade. I wanted to check out on the foodstuff being hawked at the bus stand.
Truth never fails. And of that universal conviction are born men of honour, who hitch their destinies to truth, in return for a life of ethical fulfilment and prosperity.
Some people, especially the morally coarse, are happy to hitch their destinies to materially galloping values, in return for a life of ceaseless luxury.
Life, long or short, is a walk. And I was chosen by destiny to walk through the incredible India. And I am very happy about that. The walk kicked off on a fabulous and a splendid note.
At the stroke of midnight the pages of our diaries changed, but for some they didn’t. They remained the same. They read the same: struggle, tears and empty promises.
There was a sense of swirling unease because he hadn’t slept for days following a week of communal clashes in which many were injured. His nights were becoming darker and longer for he thought that long knives were still out and shining.
Life, for him, was like a green courtesan walking by and in the process leaving behind a waft — bordering on the amorous — which lingers on for weeks. And on each day of those weeks she is expected to walk back.
December 2, 1971. On this day freedom — lavish life’s most succulent face — unfolded for the Emiratis. They have always had the best interests at heart not only of the Emiratis, but also of all those who live here and around them.
Shaadaab S. Bakht, who worked for famous Indian dailies The Telegraph, The Pioneer, The Sentinel and wrote political commentaries for Tehelka.com, is Gulf Today’s Executive Editor.