Mohamed Aseel's Blog

Swiss voters back ban on minarets

2009-11-30T04:39:00.008+05:00

(read article on BBC)

I'm not all that surprised actually.

Sure, I am outraged that one of the most liberal countries in the world would vote to pass such a ridiculous motion. It's a gross violation of peoples right to freedom of religion and of expression. But that does not mean I cannot digest why it is so.

Today we Muslims are largely misrepresented. We are stereotyped to be disciples of a religion that calls for violence and hatred, as opposed to the peace and understanding it propagates.The reason for that is not too hard to accept either.

There are so many men and women instilling fear in the hearts of people by carrying out acts of terrorism and gross violations of human rights in the name of God, and in the pretense of Jihad. They portray themselves as men of God, and symbols of what Islam stand for.

So, when 2 towers in New York collapse, or when trains are bombed in Madrid, or when Buses are exploded in UK, and the responsibility is taken by "Al-Qaeda","Lashkar-e-Toeba" or any other Muslim extremist group; the world naturally frowns on the Muslim majority.

So why would the peaceful Swiss people want "such a religion" to spread in their country?

It's the domino effect of hate against Islam. One that was started by bearded tribesmen and trigger-happy mullahs who couldn't stick to praying quietly in their caves.

Ironic?

ނިޔާމަ ދަތުރަކަށް...

2008-12-08T00:27:00.017+05:00

ވަޠަން އެދުނުގޮތަށް ދިވެހި ދީބުގެ ޖުމްޙޫރީ ޙަޔާތުގެ އޮޑި މިވަނީ އާމިސްރާބަކަށް ދީލާލައިފައެވެ. މިއޮޑިއަށް ޑިމޮކްރެޓިކް އުސޫލުން އިންތިޙާބްވެވަޑައިގަތް ކައްޕިތާން، ރައީސް ނަޝީދުއާއި އެމަނިކުފާނުގެ ފަޅުވެރިކަމުގެ ދަށުން އިޢްތިހާދީ ސަރުކާރު، "އަނެއް ދިވެހިރާއްޖެ" ހޯއްދެވުމަށް މިވަނީ ދަތުރު ފައްޓަވައިފައެވެ. "މިތުރުންގެ ހިތްތަކަށް ދަތިކުރި ކަޅު އަނދިރި އެތައް ރެއެއް" ތަޙައްމަލް ކުރުމަށްފަހު، "ފިތުރަތުގެ އުސޫލާއި ހަމަތަކުގެ މަތިން އާފަތިހަކަށް" އަލިވިލެން ފަށައިފިއެވެ.

މިއާއިއެކު އަނެއް ދިވެހި ރައްޖޭގެ ސަލާމަތުގެ އައްސޭރިއަށް ބަނދަރު ކުރުމަށް ކުރަމުންއައި އުއްމީދުތަކުގައި ހަގީގަތުގެ ކުޑަނަމަވެސް ކުލަވަރެއް ޖެހިއްޖެއެވެ. ނަމަވެސް..."މި ދިވެހި ރާއްޖޭގެ" ފަޅުންބޭރަށް ނުދެވެނީސް އުދަރެސް ބަނަކޮއްލައިފިއެވެ. ސުމުއްވުލްއަމީރް އިބްރާޙިމް ނާސިރް އަވަހާރަވެއްޖެއެވެ.

ބާވީސް ނޮވެންބަރު 2008 ވަނަ ދުވަހުގެ ހަވީރު 07:15 ގައި "ހަވީރު އޮންލައިން"ގެ ފުރަތަމަ ސަފްހާއިން އަޅުގަނޑަށް ފެނުނީ އިބްރާހިމް ނާސިރްގެ ފޮޓޯފުޅެކެވެ. ޝާނާއި ޝައުކަތުހުރި އެފޮޓޯފެނުމުން އަޅުގަނޑު ހިތައް އެރިއެވެ. އެމަނިކުފާނު ރާއްޖެ ވަޑައިގަންނަވަނީ ބާއެވެ؟ މިއާއެކު އުއްމީދާއި ޝައުގުވެރިކަމުގެ ރޫޙެއްގައި އެފޮޓޯފުޅުގެ ތިރީގައިވާ ލިޔުންކޮޅު ކިޔާލީމެވެ. އާނއެކެވެ. އެމަނިކުފާނު ރާއްޖެ ވަޑައިގަންނަވާ ޙަބަރެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް ފުރާނަފުޅު ނެތް ޙާލުއެވެ. އެމަނިކުފާނު ވަނީ ދެމިއޮތުމުގެ އާލަމަށް ދަތުރުކުރައްވާފައެވެ.

އިބްރާހިމް ނާސިރާއި ބެހޭގޮތުން މާގިނަ މައުލޫމާތެއް ލިބިފައި ނެތްނަމަވެސް، އަދި އަޅުގަނޑުގެ އުމުރުގެ ހަގުކަމާއިއެކު އެމަނިކުފާނު ފެނުމުގެ ނަސީބު ލިބިފައި ނުވިނަމަވެސް، އެހިނދު ދިވެހި ގައުމަށް އެލިބުނު ފޫނުބެއްދޭނެފަދަ ބޮޑު ގެއްލުން ހިތަށް ތަސައްވުރު ކުރެވުނެވެ. އަޅުގަނޑުމެންނާއި ވަކިވެގެން އެދިޔައީ ދިވެހި ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ ރައީސެކެވެ. ދިވެހި ގައުމުގެ ވެރިއެކެވެ.

އިބްރާހިމް ނާސިރު އަވަހާރަވި ހަބަރާއިއެކު ދިވެހި ގައުމީ ދިދަ ބައި ދަނޑިއަށް ތިރި ކުރެވުނެވެ. ކުރިއަށް އޮތް ތިން ދުވަހަކީ ގައުމީ ޙިތާމައިގެ ތިން ދުވަސް ކަމުގައިވެސް ހަމަޖެހުނެވެ. އަދި ދިވެހި ރާއްޖޭގެ ދެވަނަ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ ފުރަތަމަ ރައީސްގެ ހަށިކޮޅު، ރަސްމީ އިއްޒަތުގައި ފަސްދާނުވެޑުވުމަށް އެމަނިކުފާނުގެ އުފަންބިމަށް ގެނެވޭ ޙަބަރު ލިބިއްޖެއެވެ.

މިއީ ދިވެހި ތާރީޙީ ފޮތްތަކުގައި ތާރީޙް ލިއުއްވާ ބޭބޭފުޅުންގެ ގަލަންކޮޅުތަކުން ވަރަށް ރަނގަޅަށް ރިކޯޑުކުރެވިގެން ދާނެ ވާހަކަތަކެކެވެ. އެހެން ނަމަވެސް، ތާރީޙުގެ އާސަފްޙާތަކެއް ލިޔެވިގެންދިޔަ މިވަގުތު އަޅުގަނޑަށް ފާހަގަކުރެވުނީ އެހެން ކަމެކެވެ. އެއީ މާޒީގެ ސަފްޙާތަކެއް ހުޅުވިގެންދިޔަކަމެވެ. ތާރީހުގެ ތެރެއަށް "އޮބާލެވިފައިވާ" ބައެއް ހަނދާންތައް ވުޖޫދައް އަލުން އައިކަމެވެ.

ކަންވާނީވެސް އެހެންނޫންތޯއެވެ. މާޒީގެ ހަނދާންތައް އިއާދަވެގެން އަންނަނީ ދިމާވާ ތަފާތު ހާދިސާތަކާއި ގުޅިގެންނެވެ. މިމޭރުމުން ނާސިރު އަވަހާރަވުމާއިއެކު އެމަނިކުފާނުގެ ވާހަކަތައް އަލުން ބަލުން ދެކެވެން ފެށިއްޖެއެވެ. ނޫސްމަޖައްލާތަކުގެ ފަލަ ސުރުޙީތަކުގައެވެ. ޓީވީ އަދި ރޭޑިއޯ ޗެނަލްތަކުގައެވެ. ގޭގޭގެ ފެންޑާތަކުންނާއި ބާޒާރު މަޖްލިސްތަކުގައެވެ.

އެއްބަޔަކު ދައްކަމުން ގެންދިޔައީ ނާސިރުގެ ގައުމީ ޙިދްމަތްތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. 26 ޖުލައި 1965 ވަނަ އަހަރު ހޯއްދަވާދެއްވި ސީޔާސީ މިނިވަންކަމުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. އިޖްތިމާއީ ގޮތުންނާއި، އިގްތިސާދީ ގޮތުންނާއި، ސީޔާސީގޮތުން އަދި އުމްރާނީގޮތުން ކޮއްދެއްވި ޙިދްމަތްތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ .މުވާސަލާތަށާއި ތައުލީމަށް ކޮއްޓަވާދެއްވި އަލިމަގުތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ވޯރާވިޔަފާރިވެރިންގެ މުށުތެރޭގައި ކަނިވެ ނިވެމުންދިޔަ ދިވެހި އިގްދިސާދުގެ ހުޅުކޮޅު ދިއްލާދެއްވިގޮތުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ޝުކުރާއި ތަރާނާއެވެ. ތައުރީފާއި ސަނާއެވެ.

އަނެއްބަޔަކު ދައްކަމުން ގެންދިޔައީ ނާސިރުގެ އަނިޔާވެރުކަމުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ދެކުނުގައި އުފެދުނު "ބަޣާވާތް" "މަތަކުރުމަށް" ކުރެއްވި ކަންތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ޖަލުގައި އަދި އެނޫންވެސް އެފަދަ ތަންތާނގައި ކުރިކަމަށްބުނާ ލާއިންސާނީ އަމަލުތަކުގެ ވާހަކައެވެ. ބައެއްގެ ހައްގުތަކެއް ނިގުޅައިގަތް ވާހަކައެވެ. "ހަވަރު ތިނަދޫ" ، "ދެކުނުގެ ބަޣާވާތް" ފަދަބަސްބަސް ބޭނުންކުރުން އާއްމުވެއްޖެއެވެ. މަޝްހޫރު އިންޓަނެޓް ސައިޓެއެއް ކަމުގައިވާ "ފޭސްބުކް" (Facebook) ގައި މިކަމާއި ގުޅޭ ގްރޫޕްތައް ހުޅުވެންފެށި، މަޤްބޫލް ވީޑިއޯ ސައިޓް "ޔޫޓިއުބް" (Youtube) އިން ކަމާއިގުޅޭ ތަފާތު ވީޑިއޯތައް ފެންނަންފެށިއެވެ. ނަފްރަތާއި ރުޅިވެރިކަމެވެ. ހިތްހަމަނުޖެހުމާއި ދެކޮޅުވެރިކަމެވެ.

ތާރީޙަކީ ނުވަތަ ފަސްމަގަކީ ކުރިމަގުގެ މޫނުބަލާ ލޯގަނޑެވެ. އެހެންނަމަވެސް ހުސްއެކަނި މާޒީ އަށް ބަލަބަލާ ތިބެގެން ވެވޭނޭ އެއްވެސް މޮޅެއްވެސް ނެތެވެ. މާޒިވެދިޔަތަނުގައި ހިނގާދިޔަ ކަންތަކާއިމެދު ވިސްނާ ފިކުރު ކުރުމަކީ، ކުރިމަގު ބާއްޖަވެރިކުރުމަށް ހެދޭނެ އެންމެ މޮޅު ފަންޑިތައެވެ. ބޭނުމަކީ ކޮބައިތޯއެވެ؟ އެއް ބޭނުމަކީ މާޒީ ތަކުރާރުވިޔަ ނުދިނުމެވެ.

އަލްމަރްޙޫމް އިބްރާޙިމް ނާސިރާއިމެދު ނިންމުންތަކެއް ނިންމާ ފާޑުކިއުމަކީ އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ވާޖިބެއް ނޫނެވެ. އަދި މަގްސަދެއްވެސް ނޫނެވެ. މާޒީވިދިޔަތަނުގައި ކަންހިނގާދިޔަ ގޮތާއިމެދު އެކި މީހުން ދެކޭގޮތް ތަފާތެވެ. ވިސްނާގޮތްވެސް ތަފާތެވެ. ކަންވާނީވެސް އެހެންނޫންތޯއެވެ؟ އެއީ އިންސާނީ ތަބީއަތެވެ. ކަންތައްތަކާއި ގުޅިގެން އެކިމީހުންނަށް ކުރެވޭނީ ތަފާތު ތަޖުރިބާއެވެ. ތަފާތު އިޙްސާސެވެ. އެއީ ތަނާއި ވަގުތާއި ގުޅިފައިވާ ކަމެކެވެ. މިއީ ހަޤީގަތް ކަމުގައި ވާއިރު، ކަމަކާއި މެދު ތަފާތު ދެހިޔާލެއް ގެންގުޅޭ ދެމީހަކު "އެއްގަލަކަށް" އެރުމަކީ ދުރު ކަމެކެވެ. އެހެންކަމަށްވާއިރު ޒުވާބުކޮށް އަޑުގަދަކުރުމުގެ ބޭނުމަކީ ކޮބައިތޯއެވެ؟ އަރައިރުންވެ އަތްއިސްކުރުމުގެ ބޭނުމަކީ ކޮބައިތޯއެވެ؟ އަޅުގަނޑަށް އަޅުގަނޑުގެ ގަލެވެ. ތިޔަބޭފުޅާއަށް ތިޔަބޭފުޅާގެ ގަލެވެ.

The Story of the Maldivian Mermen

2008-07-13T19:20:00.020+05:00

A few months back, when I came home at around 8 in the evening, I saw more blood than I had ever seen in my life. There in the middle of the road, were two puddles full of it.

“Good lord! We’ve been breached!” I thought.

Our neighbourhood, which was perhaps one of the last remaining areas in Male’ untouched by gang violence, had been penetrated. It appeared as though a very gory fight had taken place there not too long ago. I noticed two guys with heavy duty video camera’s filming the scene; I figured it was the press. As I made my way further in, I also noticed a dagger and a blood coated fisherman’s knife tossed nearby. For a second I thought as though I smelt fish blood. At this point I was obviously desperate to know how things we’re like at home. It came as no surprise that there were no cops around.

I walked through the doors of my home, half expecting to see my grandma and mom running up and down, worried and furious. I figured an uncle would be on the phone with the police.

Not quite.

“OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOH WHO LIVES IN A PINEAPPLE UNDER THE SEA?” (TV)

“SPONGEBOB SQUARE PANTS!” (Sitting room)

Yeah, things sure sounded normal.

My sister was on the couch watching cartoon, giggling away at SpongeBob annoying Squidward. Granny was lecturing the cook while my brother was bringing the house down with my one year old cousin. No signs of paranoia or frenzy, none that I’m not accustomed to anyway.

This got me thinking about the whole scene outside.

Based on the things I saw my conclusions were;

A. They were either shooting a scene for one of Yousay’s “Is this life?”(Dhiriulhumakee Mee baa?) Episodes. (This would explain the TV crew)

B. King Triton and the mermen had a blood-spattering “fish-fight” (this would explain the smell of fish blood).

I never got to figure out what really happen. However it did force me to accept the harsh reality that none of us are safe anymore. You never know for certain that you won’t be mugged on the way back home from work, or stabbed for no apparent reason when you’re out shopping. I’ve come to accept that anything’s possible out on the streets of Male’.

Then, some days later, while I was having lunch, TVM reported the monster of all breaking news.

MALDIVIAN GANGS AGREE TO BRING A HALT TO THE ONGOING GANG VIOLENCE

To read News Article in Dhivehi

To read News Article in English

My first thought was why mom hadn’t put more chillies in this. (I was having homemade pasta)

I knew the news was too good to be true, and frankly to me the news seemed like a joke.

The issue of gang violence had been escalating in the past months. Numerous deaths had been recorded. Dozens of people were still in intensive care with critical injuries and dozens more in recovery. Over 72 cases related to street violence were pending at the Attorney General’s office. The militia had been deployed to “calm” the streets of Male’. Property loss was at hundreds of thousands, and there’s no putting a price to the mass hysteria and fear instilled in the hearts of the public.

And the “Climax” to all of this mumbo jumbo was the gangs, these heartless ghouls, these wildebeests out to kill each other at any cost, “Declaring Peace” overnight.

Sure, the declaration of peace was much appreciated and much needed too. However, something fishy was surely going on, behind the innocent and apologetic faces that they were showing in the news conference.

Wait, it got better. Apparently the gangs were ready to give blood for all the blood that they had spilt, in a very unusual way.

“Under the slogan “Give life, get love” they will collaborate with the department of public health, National Thalassaemia Centre and NGO the Society for Health Education (SHE) to encourage the public to donate blood”

No comment.

The whole point of enabling the establishment of these Groups was to create a competitive sporting environment. Games like Baibalaa in Eid for Instance or Tug of War in Ramazan. And Zone division volleyball, basketball, football and netball tournaments. There was a great deal of friendly competition for some amount of time. Then, as all humans do, the groups became more money oriented. Eventually it attracted rich businessmen looking for some sort of security. Then it fascinated politicians and government bodies keen on having a say in what went “down in the streets”. Like all classical Gang stories, then came Drugs into the picture, “doping” things up. It ruined a whole generation fortnight. Ultimately the purpose of these groups changed from winning sports trophies to making more money, expanding their turfs and to being more notorious.

We’re just 300,000 people. Everyone in the Maldives is related to every other person. We have to interact with so many people every day, people whom we usually know by first name. This is one country where you can expect to see politicians, actors, accountants, students and housewives all out for tea at one place. A country where chances that you have close relatives at the parliament and in the national football team is higher than anywhere else in the world. That is how small our country is and that is how close we are to each other.

Unless we learn to live with each other, it is WE who will bring doom to ourselves. Global warming my right foot!

Forget our differences.

Change.

Now then, shall we all go for a swim?

Living with aliens...

2007-11-15T00:55:00.012+05:00

"..the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.." -unknown

http://www.flickr.com/photos/benzenes/1348342636/

I was walking home the other day, after finishing my semester exams when an elderly woman stopped me. She was in the middle of a deep argument with another woman. Holding her hands was a little girl, no more than 5 years old, grasping the Quran and wearing a headscarf. I could see that the little girl was confused. Seeing my school uniform and the fact that I was carrying a file, the old lady asks me,

“...son, do you think the blessings (rizq) you get from a place where there’s a stone idol (budhu), is rightful...”

I figured she was referring to the lifesize granite Buddha erected at landaa giraavaru, as part of British billionaire Philip Green’s birthday celebrations. I was neither bothered nor had the time to stay and talk, so I told her

“...Sister, I really don’t know...”

By nirvana all hell broke loose at that moment! Her expression changed dramatically and she looked me straight in the eye and told me,

“... you kids, scum of the society! You bastards are ignorant to the ways of Islam, you know nothing...do you even study Islam?”

Flabbergasted as I was, I was only able to utter a mere “Yes”.

I didn’t expect her to be so rude. So I asked her, as politely as I could

“...sister have YOU ever studied Islam?” “Of course I have, I study the book of Allah, not the ridiculous text books you lot have”

This lady had everything about me figured out. We talked for less than a minute and she was sure that I had a spot reserved in hell. So much for first impressions! It’s a sad thing really. People tend to think they know everything about everyone. Sometimes, people can be so full of their ways. Not exactly self centered, but literally narrow minded.

The point here is that it’s as though some of us are living in our own “bubble” of a world, consumed by our own set of beliefs, ethics, rights and wrongs. Failure to acknowledge the beliefs of other people simply means you are absolutely sure that you are right and everyone else is wrong. This happens when you have a prolonged “one sided view” of things. This then leads to extremisim. I don’t believe in extremism. Be it religious, political or anything else for that matter. I believe in being intermediate in nature. What good comes from extremism?

The recent “Himandhoo crisis” really took the entire religious extremist issue to another level. For a long time I was under the impression that these people preferred isolation, and didn’t really mingle with other peoples affairs. I liked that about them. But, watching the interviews of the people of himandhoo amidst the showdown between the “soldiers of god” and MNDF, I found out that they had stirred so much fear and terror in the island. Evidently these men would run around the streets, daggers in hand, proclaiming everyone else but them as disbelievers. There had even been a murder case in the island, but obviously no one was charged owing to the lack of evidence.

There is so much separation at every level. Their kids received separate education, they earned a living working for each other, and they even built themselves a mosque! I don’t mind these things about them, so as long as they keep their ways to themselves. I think they are better off isolated. You have to realise the limits of your independence. Where your freedom starts could be where another's stops.

What worries me the most is that these people are raising their children to accept the same beliefs as them. It brings up the question of how much more the issue would escalate in the generations to come.

With a population of a mere 300,000 people we cannot afford to have large scale religious disputes. Given our track record in handling political issues, I don’t think we are ready to engage in it. Our neighbouring Pakistan is a testament to the horrendous nature of religious radicalism.

Tackling the problem at the source is important. And in this context there are a few points that can be taken into consideration.

One problem we have here in the Maldives is that most people are totally oblivious to the existence of other people’s views. The irony in it is that even if two people do share the same views, (be it religious), it’s hard to come to terms with one another. I guess that’s where lack of communication comes to the picture. By the time we see someone; we have everything about him figured out. Much like the old lady I came across. It’s like every bearded man is a terrorist. Every rock star is a druggie. Every politician and every lawyer is a corrupt bloodsucking leech. (Although I might have to agree with politicians and lawyers being corrupt)

However, when it comes down to it, we’re all different. No two people are the same in every way. Our differences form the basis of one of the most important of human bonds. Being dependent on one another. No one can survive alone. Everyone is dependent on someone else. However much we talk about independence, it just goes as far as the point where you need someone else’s help. Independence is overrated. And that’s not a bad thing. So why are we so determined to isolate ourselves from everyone else?

One man alone can make a huge difference. But it is when everyone collaborates that something truly extraordinary happens.

Revolution.

Life-as we know it

2007-10-03T03:12:00.010+05:00

The thing about life is, there’s so much to explore and literally too little time to go wandering off. Life’s full of endless possibilities and opportunities. But as the saying goes, only those who seek shall find. So why don’t we?

No, no I'm not talking about having a go at that new weed joint you’re “kanmathi” friends got. But a different kind of exploration. I’m talking about the freedom to pursue. The freedom to chase the free will of your heart. There’s so much more to life than coffees’, instant messengers and text messaging. Or finishing your Ols’ and Al’s with straight A’s or simply finishing your school life. Why don’t we all just pack our bags and set off exploring. Just like that! Maybe you can go hiking, cure cancer! Find the long lost city of Atlantis, or as they say in national geographic, simply (and literally) get lost! This is our youth. The time when our hearts are still young and when our bodies are able. But it’s easier said than done right?

Ask yourself. Who are you? What’s your story? Think about it. What makes you unique? There are 6 Billion+ people living on our planet. Chances are that you, me and 98% of them are all a bunch of nobodies. Sure we all have dreams. We have friends who look up to us, some of you may get the best grades in class; some of you may be talented sportsmen or musicians. But consider the bigger picture. What difference do you make?

Life has become so routine. Its 3 years in nursery, 7 in primary, 3 in secondary, 2 in higher secondary and give or take 4-5 years studying abroad if you’re lucky, get married, have kids, work in the government/private business and before you know it you’re living off your pension and eventually you’re six feet underground! Just look around you. Take any random person. Trust me; they are caught up in this routine cycle which we now call life. No one feels a need to break free because it all seems so right. It feels perfect doesn't it? It’s as though there’s nothing more to life. Are we really this dull? It’s really ironic once you think about it. When you’re a kid you have these dreams to become a neurosurgeon,a world class lawyer etc... You have these “fail proof” ways to be a multi millionaire in no time. But, as life goes on, we end up compromising and settling for so much less. Who or what is to blame? The government? Your divorced parents? The bullies at school? Lack of determination or motivation??

But the truth is at this point in our lives, we as students or rather “the youth of the nation” don’t have the freedom to “explore”. You think you have it all figured out right? But trust me; the system is kicking your butt big-time.

If you’re under 19 and if you can read this, you are probably following the “Preschool-Primary-Secondary-Higher Secondary School Cycle Complex”, (P2S3HC) Just like your older brothers and sisters, uncles, aunts and cousins did. Your mom and dad call it the pursuit of education. But I like to call it (as the locals say) “amaakeethee farah dhiun”. Do we really have to spend that many years supposedly preparing ourselves for our future?? Pity, it’s such a waste of time. It’s as though starting from when you’re 6 years old the next 13 years of your life is planned out. Day after day, in a classroom, listening to a teacher. The P2S3HC becomes your future. You have to go through with it. It’s your destiny. You better make it out with good results and a clean record! Otherwise you’re a social outcast. A black sheep. You’ve crushed you’re parents dreams. You’re a failure. A disgrace.

Sadly by the time you’re done wearing uniforms, the system would have already taken its toll on you. The 13 years you spend doing just about the same thing over and over again (the only things that change are your teachers, school badge and syllabus) will make you or break you. You either come out with all A’s, an awesome CV, your fair share of certificates. Or you come out with all traces of hope drained out of you. You’re convinced that you’re a looser. Why wouldn’t you? You wernt smart to begin with. You sat there in class year by year watching your “book devoted” friends have it all. But hey, you have to adapt right? So eventually you just accept it and decide that you go to school only so that you can say you finished school!

Imagine P2S3HC like a labyrinth. Inside, you’ll find preplanned and adjusted conditions. When 6000 of us students are led into that labyrinth, we face the same challenges and have the same (very limited) opportunities. Call it survival of the fittest. You’ll survive if you you’re smart or intelligent. You’ll survive if your parents can afford tuition. Or else you’ll be left back like apple seeds on a juice drainer. ( its probably irrelevant, but they say that a cup full of apple seeds has enough cyanide to kill you!)

We enter that labyrinth hoping that we can find some meaning in life. Hoping that we can find our place in the world. But instead, all you get is a monster of a syllabus, exams every now and then, your fair share of bullies, limited resources and a lousy teacher with an accent that you’re going to mock for the rest of the school year.What is the alternative? You need education right? It’s the window to the future. After all it is vital. You’re a nobody if you can’t speak proper English and find the square root of 25, by the least! And that is exactly why we become dull people. That is why we compromise in life. Its because we are forced to believe that we have no choice. Theres only one thing worse than not knowing. Its wondering what could have been

They say aim for the moon; that way even if you fail you’ll be among the brightest of stars. So what do you say? Let’s pack that backpack, grab a compass, a map, your life savings (if any) and head for the moon!

Are you in?

(Houston we no longer have a problem!)

“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time”
T. S. Eliot

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