Truth Hurts

# 79 Shah

:confused: Why would u want 2 give me ``confused``? And ``sure`` of what precisement? *ummm... like, totally lost now*

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dost-mitter ji

Why western countries have not started installing jets on the toilet seats till now? It is time they do or atleast south asians start this practice.

Regards

harimau #70,
You must shut up once in a while.

No regards

Dear Dost-Mittar,

I`m not trying to offend you but You`re a Sikh, right? I say this `cos on my last trip into a Gurudwara and the usage of its loos, I noticed that every loo (that`s just a statistical assumptition - I wasn`t checking out all the toilets) had a lota??? I`m just a bit confused as to why you pose that question.

Umer M.

Since there is serious discussion going on on this board about lottas, can anybody enlighten me how the lotta brigade ( the one who carry the lotta everywhere) manage to use same lotta for washing bottoms, washing their faces etc ( for ablutions) and also rinsing their mouths? Yuck, thoo, thoo, thoo.

And second, has lotta brigade now started washing hands with soap after using the toilet?

Cystitis.

Umer M.

poison ivy is usually a good substitute!! : )

Ref ali_1 #68
[Talking about lottas... I have always had problems using toilet paper...Sometimes after cleaning myself I have had some toilet paper sticking outta my azz.. how do i prevent this. CAn Godot,Hamidm or any other westerner help me?]
Please read the Sunnah and the hadiths. I am sure there is somewhere some mention of how Prophet Muhammad cleaned his bottom and you have all been enjoined to follow the Prophet in every one of his actions.
If in fact he used sand, you will have to import sand from the Arabian desert. Kitty litter may not be an acceptable substitute.
Anyway, fatwa-online will be able to give you a definitive answer rather than Chowk. Unless Mullah321 chooses to weigh in with his answer.

Ref dost-mittar #69
[Can anyone tell me how people use lota on Western toilet without messing up the seat?]
They don`t. They spill water all over the floor. Try any flight out of London to India.
[ali-1
Use a premium quality toilet paper!]
Ali is a cheap-sh!t bum.

Aubergine
If the ``our`` in ``our culture`` includes the Japanese, then I agree.
http://www.totousa.com/toto/productpage.asp?PID=135

Talking about lottas... I have always had problems using toilet paper...Sometimes after cleaning myself I have had some toilet paper sticking outta my azz.. how do i prevent this. CAn Godot,Hamidm or any other westerner help me?

Rsaxena:

New pickup line for desis:
Is that a lota in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

:))

re: aubergine

{The one thing I wish Westerners would adopt from our culture, with thanks from us, is using water as well as toilet paper after they use the bathroom. That would be a great step forward in Western culture, in my opinion. }


...assuming you live in the West, do you carry a lota in your pocket?...

The one thing I wish Westerners would adopt from our culture, with thanks from us, is using water as well as toilet paper after they use the bathroom. That would be a great step forward in Western culture, in my opinion.

:P

RE friend # 62
``Yes. And what amazes is creativeness of people that spans across religion and nationalities. In this case, party collecting money for Ganesha is a ``muslim`` vegetable exporter!! ``
I would recommend reeading ``God, Graves & Grandmothers`` by Namita Gokhale - it has a wonderful take on this theme.
Subroto

Arjun_m #60

``This sounds nuttier than the ganesha drinking milk hoax. ``

Yes. And what amazes is creativeness of people that spans across religion and nationalities. In this case, party collecting money for Ganesha is a ``muslim`` vegetable exporter!!
On a similar note, producers of Flags and candles in USA made huge profits after 9/11. Many hoaxes, like satellite image of candles, flags in front of home etc were floating around. Even though Ganesha appears more bizarre, it is no more bizarre that photos of weeping Mary that pops up here and there evey other year.

Coming back to topic of this article, at least this culture of stupidity is indigenous to all socities.

Asif: You`re ideas seem to be as outdated as u. Do u EVER think before u write? I dont care how well u can regurgitate someone elses crap.

``It is the mixing of genres from totally opposite cultures and music styles which I am against. It ruins both! )IMHO).``

People integrate aspects of their enternal environment into their lives. Environment can be family, culture, religion, social groups etc. LOGICALLY if a desi migrates to the west, She will be shaped by TWO(+) cultures. If werent a sheep u may be able to pick up on this SIMPLE observation. Only an IDIOT would spend time defending the purity of something which is dynamic and cannot be pinpointed. When western desis LIVE in the west, they dont ``COPY`` the west; western culture becomes their culture.

Whenever i read ur posts I am taken aback by the type of bulsh1t thinking which passes for sufism these days.

``Drums--I have heard enough of this type of music to have an opinion --so whether I have heard a particular singer or not is irrelevant; the arguments still apply to the archetype.``

Only a fool would discuss the merits of a song when he doesnt know what type it is, who the singer/producer is, nor its lyrics.

``mamma drive car more taizing no warna roadaan par kaaraan ka rush lag jaain ga and we`ll be late..``

LOL, That`s hilarious...more Hyderabad than Bombay as far as the ``roadaan`` and ``kaaraan`` are concerned.

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And we will all melt into one, Scared is virtue ...........!!!

Chowkies,

Here is an interesting link (though unrelated to this article).

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_663962.html..



Pilgrims flock to `divine potato`

Pilgrims are flocking to a house in Bombay where they believe that Elephant headed Hindu Lord Ganesha has appeared in the shape of a potato.



The potato is said to be shaped like the Lord Ganesha and people are offering money and gifts to seek the blessing of the ``divine vegetable``.

The vegetable was grown in Uttar Pradesh and bought by Najmuddin Alibhai Jessani, a fruit and vegetable exporter.

It was about to be eaten by the family, when Mr Jessani`s sister-in-law noticed the resemblance to Lord Ganesha. The potato`s fame spread after it was featured in local newspapers.

The main living room of the family home has been turned into a shrine to the potato.

Around 60 or 70 people a day are visiting the shrine to leave gifts of marigolds and money. It`s understood that the money will be given to a religious charity.

samina;

I used to live with this gora punk rocker dude. He initiated me in the Ramones, Sex Pistols, MC5, Janes Addiction, all those types. Its alright to listen to occasionally, but this guy used to put it on at night to chill out!!

-h-

nooralain - meant chebi sabah!!

ladyAna: choona kattha are pasted on beatle leaves alongwith chopped beatle nut....called paan......very popular in subcontinent and south east asia. peeli patti is flavored tobacco also goes with paan as well as directly consumed. joshanda is ayurvedic mixture of local herbs used for treating cold symptoms, similarly asib gol ka bhoosa is loaded with fibre and used as lexative.
since we were talking about importing east to west, i gave few eastern specialties. I am surprised that you do not know about rural areas not used to underwears. How can they use open air toilets with underwears? I think west will not adopt it with skirts and mini-skirts. Besides it provides support for pads of all kinds.

Oh for goddess`s sakes,
Mehrbani seh, please let the goras and farangis put on some saris and shalwar kameezeh; on one hand we are all bound by that one trait above all others, no my sweets, not respect for one another, or even love, and lust only happens for single people....no, its our materialism. The Arabs are bound by their love of Coca Cola, South Korea by our hiphop culture, and Americans are no slouches at this game either...

I`ve seen my friends wear South Asian stuff as a sign of admiration and joy-and really, whats not to love about ebullient and serene blouse or my favorite, glass bangles? Yes, hopefully the purchase comes with some looking into the history, culture, people and awareness of the responsibility of where you put that dollar...my two paisas? Here and There, make sure that the makers of these products get a fair and living wage price for their labor...otherwise, it aint so pretty....its criminal.

Harp yaar,
How do you know about the MC5`s?

Sameer#50... I have no idea what u r talking about. :completely and utterly lost: What is khatta chuna, peeli patti, josanda, etc etc ??

But r u serious..they don`t wear undergarments in rural areas? Really? Cool. I think the west should adopt Itar. By far the best.

Ref DRUMZ #11
[The dumbest rapper ever (Nore) crucified his beat, and Redman/Erick Sermons chorus is ``Whatever she say`s then im that`` over an Indian woman singin about suicide.]
Have you heard ``Welcome to India``, a rap song, by Vikram?
Hilarious!
Search for it on the Web.

LadyAna:
[In the East, I don`t think people used to wear bras and undies a long history ago. So, that`s a good thing, ain`t it, that the west gave us this etiquette. ]
undies are still not popular outside Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. When do you think, the other good stuff like shaving legs....only..will be adopted? And what about Joy by Jean Patou or Shalimar, Samsara, Opium, Red,.............replacing ``rooh kewRa`` for perfume. Joy is the best.
Let`s make west adopt out sagoo dana, isab gol ka bhoosa, sattoo, joshanda, joshina, safi, bio-amla, falsey, garundey, jamum, batatas and sessame chikki (well they are already here thanks to Shah and Patel brothers), beedies, peeli patti Hyderabadi, shrimp achar from Kerala (yuk) and of course agar battis..........let`s put westerners to kattha choona and qawam!!!
kya chahta hey her insaan
kattha choona aur qawam
kya chahta her be-iman
roti kapRha aur makaan
kya chahta her musalmaan
kashmir, palestine, Talibaan
Musharraf ka yeh deen iman
rahe humaisha hukm`araan
Ana, al-ains key ublofying armaan
jaldi jaldi banaeN woh hafiz-e-quran

istopidistuka

anNy and QuratulaiN are one, ana and noorulain another..since we are both beautiful and gifted and lovely, confusion is bound to occur

harpreet
i know what ure saying...my brother when he was young used to insist that everyone but him was a gadhae dee tail and myself a witch kee nani..nothing like bilingual gaalian

Aren`t Nooralain and AnNy the same person??

anNy & noorie;

You should hear my dad when he swears in Punjabi/English. We sit there laughing our heads off and he gets more vexed and confused and makes up even more funny Punglish cuss words!!

(I cant repeat them here because I will get banned)

:)

-h-

Umm.. another thing. I haven`t watched the movie (I`m assuming it`s Addictive). But why for the love of God does it ``hurt``? I mean, we ``easterners`` have been wearing undergarments, jeans and tee shirts like forever na? In the East, I don`t think people used to wear bras and undies a long history ago. So, that`s a good thing, ain`t it, that the west gave us this etiquette. And they (westerners) sure as hell didn`t have any problem with us using their ideas and stuff. So, when it didn`t hurt them to see us adopt their cultures, why does it hurt the author to see them adopt ``our`` stuff? We all still live on the same planet, don`t we? Or am I missing something here??

Chowk has smileys now? Jeez. :rolleyes: And this used to be a high-funda site. It`s like totally bigRufied now. (bigard - spoil).

noorie, harpreet
you guys lagaofying english nice n proper...jaldying please and ublofying and taizing are personal favourites..once heard little 6 year old cousin with strong roots in bombay say smthg like `mamma drive car more taizing no warna roadaan par kaaraan ka rush lag jaain ga and we`ll be late..`...go figure that out

The difference between Abrar ul Haq and the Brit-Asian pop [paap!?!]/bhangra/God-knows-what-it-is! singers is that he sticks firmly to his own roos and language and doesn`t try to be a black gangsta from the East Coast at the same time. The same is true for Indian Punjabi singers like Gurdaas Maan. It is the mixing of genres from totally opposite cultures and music styles which I am against. It ruins both! )IMHO).

**
Drums--I have heard enough of this type of music to have an opinion --so whether I have heard a particular singer or not is irrelevant; the arguments still apply to the archetype.

***

re:Dost-Mittar # 39

Don`t you think Chowk should REQUIRE all its interactors to pass an exam on the basics of simple data analysis, hypothesis testing, and Baysian reasoning?

Heck, that shouldn`t be so hard as passing a graduation examination!

harpreet..
as long as the ideas are ublofying..there is hope...mine seem to be thandofying, or should i say they have thandofied!
:D...like the `wickedly mengaa-fied`.
noor

nooralain

The writing is coming out in fits and starts...but the ideas are ublofying in my brain nicely...

:)


[More fusion in languages, like ublofying and karoing, and one we used often as children when we would stare at each other..`why are you takoing?`]

- I was in a department store in Birmingham afew weeks ago and this 16 year old Punjabi girl was looking at a pair of expensive shoes for like £200 pounds and said ``No way man...thats wickedly Mengaa-fied!!``

(mengaa= expensive)

-h-

…the song, albeit with a colorful video and catch beat, is nothing much to write home about…missy e’s subtle use of the sitar in “get your freak on” was, imho, much better…

Dost #33

Right you are re: Do Boond Pani ... Pital ki mori gagri, Dilli sheher se mol mangai ... a big fave of mine is from that movie !

reading previous posts, i had to chuckle when i read, `look dekho aasman sky, pigeon kabootar udan fly`...i haven`t heard that in years! great way to learn two languages, na? More fusion in languages, like ublofying and karoing, and one we used often as children when we would stare at each other..`why are you takoing?` :)

ZafarA
[Fadela’s voice rules]--doesn`t it just though? N`sel Fik is one of my favorite songs. I agree with you about her later stuff not being as good...Khaled falls somewhat in that respect as well.

Harpreeto...
Hi baby right back at you. How`s the writing going? How am I? Interesting q. jee, will let you know when I`ve figured it out :)....and as those old colorful trucks, and my dad said, last i saw him...`khair naal aa, te khair naal ja!`

Stuka,
I knew that both about Mami and Ofra Haza...they used to play her `Galbi` (among other songs) at nightclubs here. Like her stuff as well.

re: Dost-Mittar # 32

You are a genuinely good person; and THAT is very scary for those whose every waking moment is dedicated to waging 1000 year wars with their shadows.

I, on the other hand, have just not been evil enough :(

I don`t get this. Why is the author ``hurt`` by the fusion of Western and Eastern culture? The author says:

``Watching ‘Addictive’ hurt. Yes, it did. Our culture being embraced by ‘foreigners.’ Watching the ease with which they carried it off. Is nothing sacred anymore? Motis, cholis, gota even our thumkas and jhatkas…things, which are held so close to one’s heart. Things taken for granted. But loved all the same. ``

Why does it hurt to see your culture being adopted by firangis. Why be so mean spirited about our culture that we refuse to share it? Our motis and thumkas are still sacred to us, and hey, if others enjoy it so much the better, doesn`t take away the value of those things from us.


And Scout is right about Missy Elliot. Damn Scout, you`re quite ``with it`` I must say :)

And from a previous board, an Agnostic does not deny God, that`s an atheist. You can simply be agnostic about organized religion.

``The 500 million dollar suit states that Truth`s lyrics offend Hindu culture (what the fukk does that mean?). ``

??? Damn!!! What the hell is that??? The Guardians of Hindu Culture have no idea what offensive is till they listen to me recite the Gayatri Manter in my Punjabi Accent with Trance music playing in the background. Now THAT hurts.

``Thus compare poetry and music from the Punjab: though both Punjabi the music and poetry of Muslim Punjab `West Punjab` is of a spiritual nature whereas that of the non-Muslim punjab is mostly of a carnal and sensual nature. ``

Accha?? Then how come rate of population growth in ``Muslim Punjab`` or West Punjab as I prefer to call it is so much higher than ``East Punjab``...looks like that may have to do with a bit of carnality and sensuality, right???

Also, to get an idea of Pop culture from West Punjab, listen to Abrar Ul Haq, esp songs like Majajani and Billo Dey Ghar. If you get offended, and wanna listen to some religious/nationalist Music, the same guy also sang ``Allah Allah Allah, Yeh Pyara Pakistan``, which is actually a pretty cool song, though I`m sure you find it understandable if I`m not a big fan of it`s lyrics. :)

Noor Alain:

Mami is Algerian. Maybe Mami was being confused with Ofra Haza, who is Israeli.

How`s this for Desi-Western integration:

``Udan Kabootar Pigeon Fly

Look Dekho Asman Sky``

and ``Take na hai to Take, nahi tey aglee dukan vekh``

Guys - Hindustani Classical Music is fusion too ... so are violin recitals in Carnatic Classical Music and Indian Film music has been ripping off western tunes (and story lines) for ever so why get worked up if the pendulum is swinging the other way now ? BTW to the ``aaja nach lay`` = east punjab music/culture ... hello ? .... ever heard of Gurbani ?

Zafar;

hehehe!! Loads of people thought that Ali G was a Pakistani when he first came out, they said he was a Pakistani taking the mickey out of wannabe gangsters and it turns out he`s a dark skinned Jew from Hampstead!!

nooralain;

Hello baby how are you?? I like your new name.

DRUMZ;

You crack me up man. Did you ever hear of this New York punk band the called the MC5?? The name of their album reminds me of you: ``Kick out the Pricks, Motherf*****s!!``

Yeah and you are right ADF are a phat band

(But Nashqbandi wont like them because they are all Hindus...)

Nashqbandi;

I totally agree with you. Pakistanis in England should be very weary of associating themselves with non Muslim Punjabis...we are like the pied piper of hamellin who with our boliyaan and dhols and bhangras will turn Pakistani boys and girls into whisky~drinking, sex~crazed bacon~eating maniacs!! Our plans have been foiled.

(From now onwards I appoint DRUMZ to answer every point you raise on my behalf, because he is the man...)

take care

-h-

Lets not ignore that a lot of this East/West fusion (who gives a fukk about Kipling`s foolish azz) has taken place for hundreds of years in he Caribbean. Reggae (RAGA) and Soca have subtle NDN themes. CHUTNEY Music is mainly West Indian and uses NDN beats/instruments (see this at any W. indian club).

Asif: If i recall correctly, Asian Dub Foundation did a song WITH Nusrat so i dont know what the hell ur talking about.

``Why on Earth Pakistanis and Indians in the UK want to dress like and behave like NY gangters is something which completely puzzles me!``

People generally live by the culture which is prevelent in their day/place. Of course western desi`s would dress western (WHY are we discussing this)???

PS: Does Sufism tell u to speak on things u ADMITTEDELY know NOTHING about (she sang neither rap nor reggae). Please check urself before acting all holy on a computer. And isnt Music HARAM?

Reply Harpreet #8

…when I was growing up in Birmingham half my school were goray and kale and lots of them could speak Punjabi because we would teach them the swearwords…”

If it`s not too much of an inconvenience, would you be so kind as to provide Punjabi dialogue for Ali G interviewing Cherie Blair/Margaret Thatcher?

Reply Prem #13

[``Truth`s lyrics offend Hindu culture (what the fukk does that mean?)``
“Can`t stop laughing......DRUMZ`s inimitable, unerring words”]

Mashallah. What more can one say?

Nooralain

“I love Rai music...especially Khaled, Mami and Fadela!”

Fadela’s voice rules…sadly I like her earlier stuff better (N’Sel Fik, Hana Hana)…later stuff is too smooth and…a bit vapid…

Dost-Mittarji – First Ali_1 calls you poisonous, then Mr Nasbandi accuses you of carnality (taubah!) – what have you done to offend these people?!!

Mami is Israeli!!! Ohmigoodness, this is news to me. Mami is Algerian. He sings of his `bledi` Al-jazay`r. from whence came this information that he is Israeli??? With his gorgeous voice, it wouldn`t matter if he was from Antarctica...but someone should get their facts straight. Mami was born and raised in Algeria :). I love Rai music...especially Khaled, Mami and Fadela!

asif Naqshbadi: It is impossible to have definite barriers to cultural overlap, partcularly for youngsters frowing up in diaspora. More important thing is that if it coming at the expense of pure Punjabi or pure western music. The fact is that it is not. The traditional Punjabi music as you pointed out is alive and well and actually progressing. However, in our traditions, music was never focussed on unrbanite youngsters. Both Sufi and folk music is more for adults to enjoy. For each Jazzy-B there are many traditional popular singers even from diaspora. Malkit Singh lives in UK, Manmohan Waris and Harbhajan Mann are Canadians. Possibly Harbhajan Talwar is also from UK. Similarly Sufi music is also alive and well in Indian Punjab, if you follow the best of Punjabi artists such as Hans Raj Hans, Gurdas Mann and Manpreet Akhtar; others are more into folk music. Actually folk music is in bad shape in Pakistani Punjab with everybody targeting the yurban oungster market.
Just listen to Kuldip Manak`s koka and you will forget about Jazzy-B. Even 100 Jazzy-Bs can not be compared with this song. Basically it is a mater of choice and fortunately plenty of choice is available right now in Punjabi music.

harpreet...:)

Personally I think it sucks! (I`m not talking about this particular song--I rarely, if ever, listen to western music by which i mean music from the Graeco-Roman/Judaeo-Christian culture). How annoying is it to begin listening to a Punjabi (or even Urdu!) song and suddenly you have some twat start rapping or doing reggae in the middle of it! It is a case of neither here nor there! Na idhar kay rehe hum na udhar kay! I don`t think it is inherently bad in itself--but what is bad is when this is then supposed to represent this mythical thing called `desi` culture in England.
The only thing desi about much of this `desi` (`British-Asian`) culture is the colour of the performers` skin: it is nothing but Western culture which has been adopted wholesale but with an Indian skin on top to try to pass off as `desi`.

Wasn`t it Kipling who said, East is East and West is West and never the twain shall meet? I think he had a point when it comes to musical mixing and to an extent cultural too!

What is most annoying is how it takes perfectly good Indo-Pakistani music and then ruins it by re-mixing it! For example the late great NFAK
was a qawwal and his music and lyrics are all about spirituality and love of Allah--then you get some idiots who decide to remix it and add some reggae/r n b/ gangsta rap in the middle of it to produce a hybrid which is criminal! Yet this is supposed to be desi and `cool`! Ask the vast majority of those who listen to this crap and they wont even be able to understand half of the lyrics of NFAK or their meaning!!

Call me a purist but I think that Muslims in general and Pakistanis in particular should be wary of this so called British Asian culture!

I do agree with harpreet (?) that to lump together everything as `eastern` is wrong.By the same yardstick I also think that using the word `desi` --as if India and Pakistan had one identical culture!--is also wrong. Most Pakistanis are Muslims--our identity comes from Islam first and then indeed there are cultural aspects but it is a fact that Islam modifies each culture it comes into contact with-retaining the pure and getting rid of that which is against its basic premises. Thus compare poetry and music from the Punjab: though both Punjabi the music and poetry of Muslim Punjab `West Punjab` is of a spiritual nature whereas that of the non-Muslim punjab is mostly of a carnal and sensual nature. I don`t know about Indian Punjab but I don`t think men and women dancing together in a nightclub on the dancefloor to the tunes of `aaja nach lay` (or whatever) is Punjabi culture in Pakistani Punjab? Is it?!

The songs at the MayooN and Mehndi rasams on the other hand is Punjabi culture....

The converse is true for Pakistani rock bands like Junoon--why have they ruined some wonderful lyrics of Baba Bulleh Shah by putting them to a rock tune?! Then this suddenly becomes `Sufi rock` music! Please! Baba Bulleh Shah must be turning in his grave!

...and look how `original` these so called representatives of `desi` culture in the UK are:

LL Cool SINGH!
Jazzy B (I think he`s Canadian right?)
Punjabi MC?!!
(there`s even a LL Cool Khan now!)

And even the way they dress shows they are just cheap clones of American gangster rappers. Why on Earth Pakistanis and Indians in the UK want to dress like and behave like NY gangters is something which completely puzzles me!

re: DRUMZ #11

``Truth`s lyrics offend Hindu culture (what the fukk does that mean?)``

Can`t stop laughing......DRUMZ`s inimitable, unerring words :)

...chill out...Addicitive is just entertainment...stop taking everything so damn seriously...if you don`t like it, don`t listen to it...if some goras and kalas enjoy indian beats, let them...bollywood has been stealing from hollywood (rather poorly i might add) for ages...no one complains about that...how is this any different...

No one has mentioned that the morality police (some NDN company) is suing DRe for taking the Lata Mangeshgar`s sample and using it on his Label (the song was produced by DJ Quick). The 500 million dollar suit states that Truth`s lyrics offend Hindu culture (what the fukk does that mean?).

Personally, Im not feeling this trend. I respect those that started it (missy/cube/jay-z-Big Pimpin) but now theres just a bunch of fools jumpin on the bandwagon. The dumbest rapper ever (Nore) crucified his beat, and Redman/Erick Sermons chorus is ``Whatever she say`s then im that`` over an Indian woman singin about suicide.

I do like people going back to simple beats like flutes (Ashanti) drums etc cuz I HATE these overly produced synthetic tracks they have these days.

Theres still a LOT of good untapped raga material out there. Certain flute tunes could murder a track.

PS: The Canadian rock band ``The Tea Party`` have been using sittars and NDN music for decades, long before this hip hop trend.

from the Indian Express - the infamouse modi speech;

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WHAT MODI SAID AT BECHARAJI

‘Should we run relief camps? Open child producing centres?’

On September 9, the Gujarat Gaurav Yatra rolled into Becharaji, where Chief Minister Narendra Modi delivered his by now infamous Hum paanch, hamare pachees speech. This is the speech that the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) now wants a text of for its apparently inflammatory content. And this is the speech that the Gujarat Government claimed that it had been unable to trace a copy of—Modi’s Principal Secretary P K Mishra had earlier told The Indian Express: ‘‘Since the government has neither any tapes nor a transcript of the CM’s speech, it is not in a position to send the same to the NCM.’’ Excerpts from a translation of an audio recording of the speech, courtesy NDTV:

Power hungry people are out to defame Gujarat. At such a time, the five crore people of Gujarat will gain strength from the blessings of Becharaji to build tomorrow’s glorious Gujarat.

We are dubbed Hinduwadi because we have allocated Rs eight crore towards the development of Becharaji. Is it our fault? Are we communal?

The Congress also accuses me of bringing the Narmada waters to the Sabarmati river in the month of Shravan. But the dam has already been built... I want to ask the Congress, why do you object if people on the banks of the Sabarmati derive spiritual peace through the Narmada waters brought in the month of Shravan? When you come to power, you are free to bring water during Ramzan.

When we allocate funds for Becharaji, they do not like it. And if we bring Narmada waters in the month of Shravan, then too they say they dislike it. So what should we do? Do we go and run relief camps? Should we open child producing centres?

We want to firmly implement family planning. Hum paanch, humare pachees (We five, our 25) (laughs). Who will benefit from this development? Is family planning not necessary in Gujarat? Where does religion come in its way? Where does community come in its way?

The population is rising in Gujarat, money isn’t reaching the poor? What’s the reason? They make a beeline, fix cycle punctures (Audience laughs).

If Gujarat is to be developed, then an economic system has to be developed where every child born in Gujarat gets education, manners and employment. And for this, those who are multiplying population at a rapid rate will need to learn a lesson. If we object to population growth, then too they dislike it. Will someone please tell me is there any (such) country in the world? Is there BJP rule in China? Yet, China has enacted laws to control population growth. Arrey, what does religion have to do with this?

We talk of madrasas. Madrasas have flourished in Gujarat. A child has a right to primary education. But a child going to a madrasa is deprived of primary education. What will such a child do once he grows up?

Those who have got no education, and got only religious education, would they not become a burden on Gujarat?

We started thinking about madrasas in Gujarat. When we express concern over madrasas, they call us communal. Why? The Communist government in West Bengal applies laws in madrasas, curbs their activities, and it is still secular? And if we try to regulate madrasas in Gujarat, we are dubbed as communal? After all, any institution has to be regulated.

If Gujarat needs peace, a long-term plan has to be drawn. The merchants of death will not be allowed to run their activities in Gujarat as they like.

And as I sit here at this seat of strength, standing at the feet of mother Becharaji, I want to assure you that the high seat (of power) may go today or tomorrow, but I will not allow the merchants of death who want to destroy Gujarat and harass the innocents to settle here.

Gujarat needs prosperity, it needs peace. Gujarat is forging ahead on the unity and strength of its five crore people. The days are gone when Dawood Ibrahim sitting in Karachi could instruct the merchants of death here and Gujarat could be set on fire. We will not allow this.

What for? For power? Power may go today or tomorrow. We have not applied Fevicol on the chair. We are sitting at the feet of the people of Gujarat. If people feel we are performing, they will welcome us, otherwise they will throw us out.

If the Congress is afraid of going to the people, then they should come out openly and say that since they are sure of their defeat, the election should be delayed. Indira Gandhi had done it too. You do it, who’s stopping you?

But no, they abuse Gujarat and Gujaratis instead. If you abuse Gujarat, that is not acceptable to us. Come out openly and give us a fight if you are strong enough. Why do you escape instead?

It is I who has been defamed. Yet, I am ready to go to the people. You go straight to Italy, plead with the Election Commission to stop polls. But we are not like you, we are proud of approaching the people. We take pride in applying the dust from people’s feet onto our foreheads.

Italy’s daughter has insulted Gujarat and its five crore people. The land of Sardar Patel is insulted. This has got to be explained. Sanjay (Gandhi) was only Maneka’s husband. Yet, it is his samadhi that lies in Delhi, not that of Sardar Patel. The Congress is out to erase Sardar Patel’s name, but beware.

TRUTH LIBERATES

Recently I had been to an ``aunum``, kerala festival in Australia. All of the local malayalees were dressed in traditional clothes, the dishes were so traditional that they are no more popular in kerala. Even they managed to get banana leves to eat on.

Tradition is like an endangered animal, in its natural habitat it is being anhilated by the introduced species. It has to survive in the sncuary of the zoos, in foreign countries. The day is not far off when malayalees will be traveling to australia to experience authentic aunum celebrations.
If that is what the evolution dictates, then truth should be a liberating experience.

I cant stand it when desis living in the west start getting precious about Indian culture and fashion being used and explored in music and popular culture. Seriously. What is this mentality that puts boundaries around “our” heritage. People griping because white women start wearing bindi’s and mehndhi. There is one reason why this happens, in England anyway, because there are one million Indians that live here and white people get curious and grow up side by side with Indians…when I was growing up in Birmingham half my school were goray and kale and lots of them could speak Punjabi because we would teach them the swearwords and then they would come to Diwali parties with us because it was fun and they could have samosas and kebabs, and the girls sometimes wear shalwaar kameez because they think it looks elegant, so whats the big deal? No! They have violated ``our`` ``precious`` ``pure`` ``holy`` ``Eastern`` culture! Oh no!

The Dr Dre track is wicked, but you go to an Indian nightclub over here and you will hear reggae and bhangra and hip-hop being played side by side. Its not cultural appropriation or any other kind of thing, its just people using different things because they work together and sound good. This silly begrudging because “our” culture is being used and appreciated by others, oh wow, how terrible. How many times have I read a convoluted thesis about western cultural imperialism and all that garbage written by some smart-arse sociology student. So lame. It’s a sign of the vitality of British and American popular culture that it is alert to the new. And in England anyway the MASSIVE talents of the super cool Indian youth who are innovative, creative and great in their proud re-shaping of Indian music and culture. And there’s nothing as culturally void and tokenistic as the desi decrying their “pure” culture being appreciated by the “goray”.

And what is “East” anyway. I have never been able to work it out. The “East” is used variously whenever some people wish to describe, the Arab middle East, South Asia, or East Asia (China Japan etc). The implication being that everything east of Suez is one amorphous melange of exotica that can be surmised as being the “other”. Forget that. I think the Indo-Pak culture stands on its own and shouldn’t be lumped in with other orientalist constructs, or Arabic or Chinese culture for example. There is no differentiation, no subtlety in this at all.

So there.

(Sameer you should listen to Punjabi MC. He has been doing hip-hop like Truth Hurts for years now except with Punjabi music. Did you know also there is this gora who grew up in Punjabi area of London called Hounslow who is one of the top bhangra DJ’s in England?? Long live cultural miscegenation!)

oh yeah hira if you are being ironic I apologise then I dont include you in the above, but I cant tell you see...

The best Indian song sung by an american artist was a Sanskrit song sung few years back by Madonna in her album ``Butterfly``. Does anybody remember?

Personally I don`t think it`s such a big deal. How many Bollywood movies copy Western plots (and I mean really copy scene for scene) and how many Indian songs have taken Western tunes and reset them to Hindi lyrics? Turnabout is fair play, if you ask me, and Addicted is at least somewhat of an original idea.

when i first heard the song, i was like `holy $hit` what the hell is this.....but it grew on me.

missy elliott fuses eastern music into her music as well....way before `truth hurts.`

but isnt that a good thing?? Fusion - an accquired taste perhaps but always good in the long run. And it injects much needed color in this bland culture. There are a lot of artists out there attempting the same thing - from Karsh Kale to Cheb Mami(??) who I was told was - apparently Israeli!! And I havent seen Truth yet!! And talking of gota - that was the rage 2-3 years ago - gaudy tissue with heaby gota in each and every dept store display. I wonder what will happen when they discover mithai pink benaras sarees.
And I also think people get carried away when it comes to fusion food - after all technically speaking shortbread cookies are nankhataee (my personal fav) and dosas are essentially crepes and empnadas are samosas - so it is more of an overlap rahter than fusion. Ignorance !!

I had mixed feelings about listening to `Addictive`, and watching the video...but I don`t begrudge Truth Hurts for using a song that wasn`t necessarily a gem in the annals of Hindi film songs.
Some hip-hop/rap/black artists, from early on have been experimenting with eastern music...middle eastern/african/indian music, because for them it`s like going back to `the roots`....the lament here is valid, i`m sure, but in terms of musique, Kipling has been proven wrong, both in the east as well as the west.

Addictive is a good remix song. I could not believe listening when I heard it for the first time on car radio. You are right about eastern culture entering mainstream western culture. Previously the best example was chinese food and pockets of believers and practitioners of eastern philosophies. It will certainly enrich western music if not one shot or short lived like many other experiments before this. Indians are also experimenting and reggae-Indian music remixes have been quite popular for a while. Wait until you see Indian folk (not the movies song) enters western music. I can`t wait to listen fusion of carnatic, rajisthani and panjabi folk in english songs.