Should Law and Religion mix?

I wanted to write this post for quite sometime ever since I read this news article. The article about how a high court declared a Muslim man's marriage to a Hindu girl null and void based on the religious rule that the girl should convert to Islam before the marriage. The fact that the man already has a wife is not lost on me and would have appreciated the ruling if it was based on this fact.I completely respect the religious rules and wouldn't have had any concerns if the Islamic body had declared this marriage null and void based on their religious practice. The freedom of religion would very well apply here. But the law stating the marriage void based on a religious rule does not seem right to me.

What happens to freedom of religion the girl in question has here? Is the law forcing her to convert because she wanted to marry the man she loves?Suppose, someone is not following the rules of his/her religion, would the court rule that the person should not practice or claim to be from the religion?

We have seen instances of caste discrimination all over the country. We are seeing honor killing in some parts of the country. Would the court rule all those marriages null and void just because a caste prohibits its people from marrying people from other castes? Isn't the basis of democracy is for a person to do what he wants to do as long as it is not against law and is exercising his free will? In this case, is the couple allowed to exercise their free will? Aren't we striving for a society where free will is not crushed in names of caste and religion?

Again, I am not against any religious rule as long as it does not discriminate or crush the freedom of a person, but is it the case here? Is this judgement in the right direction of religious freedom and free society?

10 reasons why I should have a girlfriend!!!

10. Because it is going to make your friends look at you with more respect. Imagine it like adopting a sad, lonely, cute looking puppy (the only thing i lack is tail, but again there are people who think the other way). Your friends will love you for your kind heart

9. Because I am a little lazy (ok a lot lazy), immature, naughty guy. Having a girl friend will change all this and make me a better man (atleast in theory). One of the greatest acts of kindness is to change a guy like me.

8. Because I am great listener. You talk to me on the phone or in person for hours together and I wouldn’t say a word. Listening is something I do best (err, you might have to wake me a few times though)

7. Because I am a very cool kind of guy. I am not gonna embarass you in front of your friends by calling you mushy names or by sending flowers and chocolates to your work place or wait hours outside your friend’s house to drop you when you have a all girls slumber party

6. Because you never have to worry that people might think that your boyfriend is a ‘fruit’ (non tamil speakers, ask your tamil friends what this means). I mean, I am not going to do fruity things like do pooja (not the girl you dimwits, the prayer in the temple) on your birthday or accompany you to temple every week or come to your friends marriage in complete formal wear

5. Because I dont maintain the chocolate boy image with decent haircut, shave my face every week, wear clean clothes and wash my socks. who would want to be with a boring guy like that, duh!!

4. Because I am not going to let your friends think of me a geek. I mean I am not going to be geeky to help with your ipod, mobile and laptop problems. I do know my place and if it is okay with you I will give you the google search results for shops that repair these things

3. Because I am not going to act stupid like coming to our meeting place before you and wait for you and not to make you wait. I mean, where are we? In the army?

2. Because I am not going to make you nervous by driving the bike at high speed in the ECR with you in the back. I will make sure that even your hair is not out of place by not driving at more than 20 k/hr.

1. Because it is going to win you awards. Just imagine how happy the girls in this country would be if I have a girlfriend. It is going to stop from ogling at the girls like ‘pattikattan mittaikadai’ dialogue (well at least in theory)

Now, tell me. Is there any reason why I should not have a girl friend?

காதல்

திரைபடத்தில் முத்தக்காட்சி வரும் பொழுது உன்னை பார்ப்பது
உன் முத்ததிற்காக அல்ல
சீ என்று சொல்லும் உன் வெட்கதிற்காக

நான் சண்டைக்காரி, குழந்தை போல் அடம் பிடிப்பேன்
என்னை ஏன் காதலிக்கிறாய் என்றாயே
இன்னுமா புரியவில்லை ?
இதனால்தான் உன்மீது பைத்தியமாய் இருக்கிறேன் என்று

நான் உன்னுடன் சண்டை போடுவது கோவத்தினால் இல்லை
சமாதானம் ஆகும் பொழுது உன் முகத்தில் தெரியும் காதலுக்காக

The Proposal

Today is the D-Day. Today is the day I am going to propose to her. And the place is the railway station where we first met. It was exactly two years ago and I still remember our first meeting.

We were waiting for the train and I was talking to my friend who had gone to his native village.

‘Cmon da. This is not fair. What I am asking you to do is very simple. Why are giving stupid reasons like no time? You damn well know I love these next to Cam Diaz and Pam anderson. Have I asked you this before? Be a sport buddy. I just can’t resist the thean mittai (honey candy, a favorite sweet for most of us during our childhood) and you know very well that the one they sell in the city are not that good man. If you come back without them, I will never talk to you again’, saying this I disconnected the call.

Only then I realized that my vocal cords had worked extra time and everyone including the guy at ticket counter two storey’s down would have heard it. Quite a few people we laughing now and it didn’t really help me to see a very cute looking girl standing next to me laughing (obviously she heard everything standing next to me). Absolutely embarrassed, I went out of the station.

The next day in train, I could hear a lot giggles coming from behind me. Out of the blue, a voice shouted ‘Thean Mittai venuma? Totally dumbstruck, I turned slowly and found HER along with a few of her friends laughing at my expense. Completely embarrassed, I turned back. She was waiting for me when I alighted from the train.

‘Sorry about my friends there? I didn’t expect them to behave like this”, she said.

“It’s ok. No problem. BTW my name is Sarathy”, I said.

“So, am I supposed to tell you my name?’ she said teasing.

“Well, even though you are a sweet girl, I don’t think it would be nice if I go around calling you Thean Mittai’, I said with a sly smile on my face.

“Man, you are unbelievable” she said laughing and our friendship started.

It has been two years now and I started loving her a year ago. There were times when I had wanted to blurt my feeling out, but just couldn’t do it. But it’s time now. Her parents want her to get married and I have to express my true feelings to her. That’s why I am waiting for her in the same station where we met the first time.

“Hi da. Sorry for being late. The traffic is unbearable man. Anyways, my parents have got an alliance for me. The guy looks good and has a good job. I am confused da. What do you say?” she said.

“Will you marry me?” I said.

She reacted the same way Mallika Sherawat would reach if was asked only wear sarees in a whole movie.

“You are joking, right?” she said.

But the look on my face said it all.

“Listen”, I said, “don’t mistake me. I know you for two years now and I think we would make a wonderful pair. Sorry for telling this so suddenly, but I just couldn’t bare it anymore’.

“I need time”, she said and left.

Now, I am walking down the street wondering what went wrong. My worst fear was not rejection, but losing her friendship. And she called…

“Listen”, she said “I will call today evening. But you got to promise me something” she said.

“What is it?” I asked with a heavy heart.

“You should not name our kid after Cam Diaz or Pam Anderson”, she said.

“Ok, will talk to you in the evening “, I said and disconnected the call.

Then it hit me. Whoa, did she just talk about naming our kids? Man, you are one absolute log head, I thought.

I called her immediately and asked “Where are you?”

“Where do you think I will be?” she said.

I started running towards the station and there she was sitting in the same place where we met wearing the same dress she wore that day.

“Hey. Would be angry at me if name our kid Thean Mittai?” and we both started laughing.

P.S: This is story I posted in my company's internal blog

Yet Another Day!!

This is my first post from the US. I have just jotted down what I see everyday when I go to office

Here I am, walking down the fire exit starting off to the office on yet another morning. As I exit the apartment building through the car park, I see her again today in the same place, smoking. I see this girl/lady everyday (I find it difficult to guess the age of the US women :)). She works in the Italian restaurant in my apartment. I see her smoking at the same time every morning with the same resigned expression on her face (It took me a few days to finally define her expression as being resigned). Immediately I start thinking as why she has that expression on her face. Is it because she feels that her life is not good and nothing can be done about it or is she one of the people who have faced so much hardships in life that they surrender themselves to life? I can only wonder!!!!

As I cross the road, I see the same group of people standing under the building. Is it some kind of employment office which helps them find a job or is it some kind of community center for these people (who are from the same country). What happens in this building every day? Are these people really happy and joyful as they appear or is it just a mask? I can only wonder.

As I walk towards the bus stop, the elderly lady is already there. I am completely amazed by her. She would be definitely 70 and is still working. I see her at the bus stop when I reach there (FYI, I reach there by 6.45, guess she comes even before that). When I see her, there are two things that run through my mind

1. The confidence and self respect of not just this elderly woman, but a lot of elderly people here in the US. I also respect and admire the elderly friendly policy the government has. It just hurts to see the way elders are treated in our country.

2. At the same time, I wonder every day as to why she is still working? Is it because she is all alone without any family or has her family abandoned her? Reminds me of our own country and culture where the elderly have an option to live peacefully with their family (at least in most cases)

There is this gentleman who is employed with my customer. I might be completely wrong here, but I have a strong feeling that he is not exactly happy with us being here, taking away their jobs (technically speaking) or it might be just me bringing the worst out of people ;) Finally, how can I not mention Cindy? This lady somewhere in her mid thirties is BLESSED. No matter what time of the day, she will always be a big genuine smile on her face. I strongly feel that her smile emanates from her heart. She is one of those people who bring the warmth right out of their heart. She is an absolute inspiration to me on how to make friends even with people who are from a different country/religion. Ha, finally the bus enters the driveway into the office. Out of the 30 minute drive, the last 2 minutes down the driveway is my most favorite part. My office is surrounded by forest. Nope, I am not joking. I am completely serious (in faces bears have been spotted near the office). Well, the bus has stopped. Yet another day to spend with the usual calls, meetings and trouble shooting

கனவு

"திருடண்டா நீ"
"யாரு நானா? நான் என்னடி பண்ணினேன்"
"தெரியாத மாதிரி கேக்காத. நீ திருடினது என்னனு உனக்கு தெரியாதா?"
"சத்தியமா இந்த chocolatea நான் காசு கொடுத்துதான் வாங்கினேன்.
என்ன நம்பு"
"ரொம்ப சாமர்த்தியமா பேசறதா நினைப்பா உனக்கு? இந்த பேச்சுக்கெல்லாம் யாரும் மயங்க மாட்டங்க தெரியும்ல"
"அப்படியா, அப்ப நீ மட்டும் எப்படி மயங்கின?"
"என்ன பண்றது. காதலுக்கு கண் இல்லையே"
"கரெக்ட். எனக்கும் கண் இல்லாம போய்டுச்சே"
"போடா. வேணும்னா அந்த குதிரை வால் ரேகா கிட்டயே போ"
"நான் என்ன மாட்டேனா சொல்றேன். ஊருக்குள்ள எல்லாருக்கும் நம்மள பத்தி தெரிஞ்சி போச்சே. நான் என்ன பண்றது?"
"அட பாவி, இப்பவே இப்படி பேசறியே. கல்யாணத்துக்கு அப்புறம் என்ன சொல்லுவியோ நீ. உன்ன நம்பினது என்னோட தப்பு"
"ச்சே ச்சே அப்டில்லாம் இல்லடா செல்லம். சும்மா விளையாட்டுக்கு சொன்னேன். கல்யாணத்துக்கு அப்புறம் உனக்கு சாக்லேட் கிடையாது. ஏன்னு தெரியுமா?"
"ஏன்டா??"
"ஏனா ஸ்வீட் இருக்குனு எறும்பு கடிச்சா என்ன பண்றது. இப்பவும் பாரு ஒட்டிகிட்டு இருக்கு."
"எங்கடா?? "
"இரு அத கையால எடுக்க முடியாது. அதனால…."
"டேய் பொறுக்கி. சீ போடா……."
அவன் அவள் அருகில் நெருங்குகையில்
"Major, its time to move sir"
மூன்று வருட காதலுக்கு பிறகு, திருமணத்திற்கு நான்கு நாட்கள் மட்டும் இருந்த சமயம் திவிரவாத தாக்குதலில் அவள் பலியான பிறகு, தன் வேலையை விட்டு விட்டு, தன் கனவு கருகியதை போல் வேறு யார் கனவும் கலையக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக ராணுவத்தில் சேர்ந்து திவிரவாதிகளை வேட்டையாடும் சிறப்பு படையின் தலைவன் மேஜர் சரவணன், தனது அடுத்த வேட்டைக்கு புறப்பட்டான். கண்கள் நிறைய கனவோடு காத்திருக்கும் பலரின் கனவை காக்கும் கனவோடு.

அத்த மக

ஆத்தோரம் அலையடிக்க அரசமர காத்தடிக்க
ஊர் குருவி பாட்டு
படிக்குதுநெஞ்செல்லாம் உன்
நெனவாநெனப்பெல்லாம் உன் முகமா
நானும் தவம்
கெடக்கஅண்ணாந்து பாக்காம அடி அடியா போறவளே
அத்த மக ரத்தினமே
ஆத்தோரம் வளந்திருக்கும் அரளிச்செடிய கொளுத்தினது போல
நெஞ்சோரம் பொதச்சிருந்த கனவையெல்லாம் கொளுத்திவிட்டு
புருசனோட போறவளே
விடியலுக்குள்ள சேதி வரும்
உயிரே, உன்ன பிரிஞ்சு வாழும் உடம்ப வந்து பாரு

கனவு

"திருடண்டா நீ"
"யாரு நானா? நான் என்னடி பண்ணினேன்"
"தெரியாத மாதிரி கேக்காத. நீ திருடினது என்னனு உனக்கு தெரியாதா?"
"சத்தியமா இந்த chocolatea நான் காசு கொடுத்துதான் வாங்கினேன்.
என்ன நம்பு"
"ரொம்ப சாமர்த்தியமா பேசறதா நினைப்பா உனக்கு? இந்த பேச்சுக்கெல்லாம் யாரும் மயங்க மாட்டங்க தெரியும்ல"
"அப்படியா, அப்ப நீ மட்டும் எப்படி மயங்கின?"
"என்ன பண்றது. காதலுக்கு கண் இல்லையே"
"கரெக்ட். எனக்கும் கண் இல்லாம போய்டுச்சே"
"போடா. வேணும்னா அந்த குதிரை வால் ரேகா கிட்டயே போ"
"நான் என்ன மாட்டேனா சொல்றேன். ஊருக்குள்ள எல்லாருக்கும் நம்மள பத்தி தெரிஞ்சி போச்சே. நான் என்ன பண்றது?"
"அட பாவி, இப்பவே இப்படி பேசறியே. கல்யாணத்துக்கு அப்புறம் என்ன சொல்லுவியோ நீ. உன்ன நம்பினது என்னோட தப்பு"
"ச்சே ச்சே அப்டில்லாம் இல்லடா செல்லம். சும்மா விளையாட்டுக்கு சொன்னேன். கல்யாணத்துக்கு அப்புறம் உனக்கு சாக்லேட் கிடையாது. ஏன்னு தெரியுமா?"
"ஏன்டா??"
"ஏனா ஸ்வீட் இருக்குனு எறும்பு கடிச்சா என்ன பண்றது. இப்பவும் பாரு ஒட்டிகிட்டு இருக்கு."
"எங்கடா?? "
"இரு அத கையால எடுக்க முடியாது. அதனால…."
"டேய் பொறுக்கி. சீ போடா……."
அவன் அவள் அருகில் நெருங்குகையில்
"Major, its time to move sir"
மூன்று வருட காதலுக்கு பிறகு, திருமணத்திற்கு நான்கு நாட்கள் மட்டும் இருந்த சமயம் திவிரவாத தாக்குதலில் அவள் பலியான பிறகு, தன் வேலையை விட்டு விட்டு, தன் கனவு கருகியதை போல் வேறு யார் கனவும் கலையக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக ராணுவத்தில் சேர்ந்து திவிரவாதிகளை வேட்டையாடும் சிறப்பு படையின் தலைவன் மேஜர் சரவணன், தனது அடுத்த வேட்டைக்கு புறப்பட்டான். கண்கள் நிறைய கனவோடு காத்திருக்கும் பலரின் கனவை காக்கும் கனவோடு.

பிரிவு

நீ உதறிச்சென்றது என் கைகளை மட்டும் அல்ல நான் உன் மீது கொண்டிருந்த தீரா காதலையும்
நீ உருவிச்சென்றது என் காதலை மட்டும் அல்லநெஞ்சாங்கூட்டில் நட்டு வைத்திருந்த நேசத்தையும்
மாற்றத்தை எதிர்கொள்வேன் என்று மார்தட்டியவன் இன்று மாற்றத்தை மாற்றத் துடிக்கிறேன்
தெய்வங்கள் கொல்லும் என்று தெரிந்தவன் தேவதையும் கொல்லும் என்பதை அறிந்தேன்
உடலை விட்டு உயிர் பிரிந்தால் பிணமாம்!!!உன்னை பிரிந்து உயிர் வாழும் நான்??