Perhaps I'll burn the entire Dave Dash archives... before Ahmed exposes it publically again...

The more I read about the history of my people, the more it motivates me that I too must live up to the standards they have set. Our cruel British masters who put us through the worst living hell gave rise to a strong movement for the Indian people. True desi nationalism. Nationalism in the sense of self-rule, Swaraj. Why do so many Indians in this country stay quiet? Whatever... at least I haven't forgotten to struggle.

layout: post title: Swaraj Ghar — So… I’ve annexed Ahmed’s bunker since he’s out of town for the weekend… and it’s dawned on me for the last week, that I should have been his neighbor rather than living in a house of nine people. Don’t get me wrong. I like my house. But I think I’d like the independence of living on my own, next door to Ahmed. Then I’d remember to close his freezer door so his ice-lollies wouldn’t all melt.

Life would have been so much better… and peaceful… oh well… mental note, if I get a time-machine.

Finished... for now. Yesterday we had our big rally of over a hundred. It was well coordinated. It's our finale for the year. I hope that people remain active about this. I think they will. Shafaq might need to be cloned, but I'm sure others will lead the movement.

I'll be honest with you I hate war in all it's forms - Physical, psychological, spiritual.... emotional... environmental I hate war... And I hate having to struggle - I honestly do Because I wish I had been born into a world when this is not necessary This context of struggle and being a warrior and being a struggler Has been forced on me by opression Otherwise I would have been a sculptor or a gardener Carpenter - you know, I would be free to be so much more... I guess being part of me or part of who I am, a part of what I do Is being a warrior - a reluctant warrior, a reluctant struggler But... I do it because I am committed to life We can't avoid it. We can't run away from it Because to do that is to be subservient... to devils Subservient to evil and so that the only way to live on this planet with any human dignity at the moment is to struggle Subservient to evil and so that the only way to live on this planet with any human dignity at the moment is to struggle

So it would appear that I have an unconscious penchant to anger people... well not really. I don't do that intentionally. It also seems lately that I've been more irritable as of late as well. These two things aren't unrelated. I think I just need to buckle down and deal with all those things that cause me immediate worry.

This is an article I wrote for the Hindu Students Council at the UIUC. [NOTE: There are alleged incidents that happened on the train that provoked the immolation. This was not premeditated as previously though, and I had thought. Regardless, the issue I address is communalism, and specifically the attack on Muslim minorities.]

My intent to focus only on Palestine/Israel has failed. India had 500 deaths. Mostly retaliation against Muslims in general. This involved the burning of bodies of men, women and children. This disgusting manifestation of Hindutva and its ideal to drive Muslims “back to Pakistan” is the most cruel and backwards racism I’ve heard of in a long time.

Meanwhile, Palestine and Israel is a growing mess of reactionaries.

Why does life get harder and harder...

Late notice, but I will be on WORT-FM in Madison talking about the Divestment Campaign at UIUC that has been spearheaded by Urbana-Champaign Unity and Struggle. The show starts at 6PM, I'll be on at 6:35PM. I'll have mp3s available.