After I mentioned my feelings about bloggers with their alternate private blogs, I thought more about how the same unsaid rule works in other aspects of life. This game we play of give and take, mostly in relationships. How we struggle to achieve a balance. How we give and expect the same in return. How we stop giving when we don't get enough in return. How the end of giving is the beginning of the end.

Since a few days the Jammu-Kashmir issue has been all over the news. Today was a shameful day - I wore black after I watched the breaking news this morning. BJP came out in large numbers onto the streets asking all "Hindus" to give a day from their lives for the sake of their religion and join the demonstrations for the Amarnath land. In my mind came images of a mob shouting slogans and setting my house on fire. A wise woman once told me that we should ensure a secure environment for the minorities of our country - "what if one day we are in their place?", she said. If not for the sake of humanity, I thought this is reason enough for us to respect minorities and their interests.

This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others what you would not have them do unto you.

Mahabharata 5,1517

I never thought I would quote the Mahabharata - but I understand now the reason behind secular Muslims using the Quran to fight fundamentalists. Tell me, you hooligans who claim to represent me, how can you possibly misinterpret this line from your sacred text? Who gives you the right to do something completely un-Hindu and say that you are doing it for the sake of the religion? Or is it that you are so selfish and short-sighted that you don't care if your children have to suffer the consequences of your demonic actions?

The news channels go on and on with interviews of people from all sides of the debate. They think they can start a dialogue and reach a solution. Their power has made them naive. They say that the solution is for everyone involved to give more and take less. That may be difficult to do in relationships, but its completely impossible in politics.

The only silver lining is that my mom has started praying for the well-being of the common man, irrespective of religion.