लगता नहीं है जी मेरा.......

लगता नहीं है जी मेरा उजड़े दयार में
किसकी बनी है आलमे-ना-पायदार में

बुलबुल को बाग़बां से न सय्याद से गिला
क़िस्मत में क़ैद थी लिखी फ़स्ले-बहार में

कहदो इन हसरतों से कहीं और जा बसें
इतनी जगह कहां है दिले दाग़दार में

एक शाख़े-गुल पे बैठ के बुलबुल है शादमां
कांटे बिछा दिए हैं दिले-लालज़ार में

उम्रे-दराज़ मांग के लाए थे चार दिन
दो आरज़ू में कट गए दो इंतिज़ार में

दिन ज़िंदगी के ख़त्म हुए शाम हो गई
फैला के पांव सोएंगे कुंजे मज़ार में

कितना है बदनसीब ज़फ़र दफ़्न के लिए
दो गज़ ज़मीं भी मिल न सकी कूए-यार में

The epitaph of Bahadur Shah Zafar (written by himself), the last Mughal emperor of India

WTF is this

WTF is hapening in India? As if the moral policing on Valentine's day and the attacks on Christians in Karnataka was not enough, comes another shocker from the so called "Cultural Police" when they barged into a pub in Mangalore and attack the people there, including the ladies.

Is this what our culture has taught us. Don't these guys know that it is cowardly to hit women, and that India being a democracy - every one has a right to do what he or she wants, as long as it is within the law. And, this action did in no way abode with the law.

The Bajrang Dal and the Ram Sena were quick to claim responsibility of this shameful attack. Infact, a spokesman of the latter elaborated on the reason of the attack - which was that these girls were hindus, and were with muslim men. So, does this mean that now hindus and muslims can not even mix together. Should I be afraid to talk to my friends just because they are hundus, or should they stop socializing with me just because I am a muslim?

When will these people realize that it is this stupid, idiotic, and demeaning thought of theirs that is affecting the unity of our country, and helping our neighbours spread discord and enimity among the youth of India.

I sincerely hope that the guilty are bought to book, and this investigation does not end the way the investigation to Godhra riots ended.

My thoughts and prayers go with the victims of this barbaric attack

This is Hashir, signing off (with tears of anger and frustation in his eyes)

Over and out

P.S. This video has been taken from youtube.com

Thanks IndiBloggers

A quick update. IndiBloggers have accepted my blog in their listing. 

Most probably those guys liked the fact that I had pasted almost all of their badges to my blog, or may be they were sympathitic of the huge effort that I would have to do to remove these badges from my blog, and so they have approved my request :D

This means that all Indian bloggers who are registered with IndiBloggers can see my blog in the listing and may even visit it. 

This may result in some new friendships being forged, friendships which hopefully will last a lifetime and will spill out from the virtual world to the real world.

For all those Satyamites out there who are aware of our corporate blog site, which unfortunately non-satyamites can not see, won't it be nice if others could also view and comment on our posts?

I know that there is always the issue of corporate governance and policies, but there is no harm in wishful thinking and day dreaming, is there? so, let me dream

This is Hashir, dreaming off(oops, signing off)

Over and out

Update on changes... and some doodles

for the (privileged) few of you who are following this blog, here are the updates and changes i have done in the layout - 

i was planning to change the theme of my blog. but i did not like the change, so it seems that i am stuck with this layout for the time being. (Waise how would it be if i create my own layout. lets see!!)

Added a whole lot of logos from IndiBlogger. i have also registered my blog there - hope they accept it. (waise i believe that it will be accepted - after all the main criteria is that the blogger should be of Indian origin - which i know i am ;))

I actually planned to add just one or two of the IndiBlogger logos - but i could identify with a lot of them, so i added all of them. hope it is not looking bad. please do give in your comments (another feeble ploy to increase hits and get some comments)

I also added all three pics of SPCH(Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Blogs) - as i liked all of them. lets see when they update their collection.

I added a hit counter from easycounter.com to track the number of hits on my blog - hope it gives me inflated statistics ;)

At last, at the bottom of the page, I added "member of IndiBlogger" logo - again in the hope that they will accept my membership request

Apart from these updates on the changes in the layout, i just wanted to write something because i am feeling down at the moment. the reason being that i am stuck with an issue at work - and can not resolve it till i receive some clarifications from the users. and the good users that they are - they are not responding to my mails. and, as the delivery date comes nearer - the same users will shout at us :(

i am also surprised at the attitude of the leaders when it comes to dealing with the clients. agreed that they are the only reason why we have work - but this does not mean that we should not correct them when they are wrong.

there have been cases where the client has changed the BRD after the development is over, and then raised a defect against our defect. i understand that we can fix it pronto - but we should bring to their notice that the said case is not a defect in the development - on the contrary it is due to an incorrect and incomplete BRD. but no... no one has the guts to say so. and now, when the client is saying that they will not pay for the rework efforts, we are forced to look into the old defects and find such cases. such waste of time and effort.

baki at the work front the news, as you all know, is less grim than last week... now we have a few companies interested in merger or acquisition.... lets see what happens in the future.... hope everything falls into place soon enough

this is Hashir, signing off....

Over and out

Ramblings of an Indian muslim

I am a Muslim…. And an Indian. As a Muslim, I have certain duties. As an Indian, I have certain responsibilities. Being an Indian, I am angered when someone attacks my country. Being a Muslim, I am pained when people condemn all Muslims just because the attackers claimed to be Muslims.

I feel that this religional divide is more deep rooted than we think. Maybe that is why my Sanskrit teacher praised me when I topped in her paper, saying that I mastered the language inspite of it not being my language. I have met people who are surprised that in an Indo-Pak cricket match, I always support India. I have interacted with people who say that it is strange for me to abuse Pakistan….

What pains me the most is when educated, well to do people harbour such prejudices against Indians of my faith. Just because I am a Muslim does not mean that I am not Indian, or that I do not love my country. But still, even after 60 years of my fellow brethren proving their loyalities, we are asked to do so time and again by raking up issues which are painful. The Babri masjid act, the genocide of Muslims in Godhra, the vande matram controversy and many other actions ask us to prove our loyalities…… but don’t these people realize that they are just dividing the country – specially at a time when there is a need for us to stand united.

On top of all this, we have people who regard Narender Modi as the prime minister in waiting – maybe his economic policies are good – but what about his role in the Gujarat riots and selective killing of Muslims? Are we not citizens of this country? What proof is needed for the majority to realize that we are also Indians, we too are elated when India triumphs, we also weep when something bad happens in India……

I have also met people who think that Muslims do nothing other than plan terrorist attacks and disrupt peace. After the Delhi bomb blasts and subsequent killing of the terrorists by the Delhi police, one of the parents had disowned his son for attacking his country. This act was very brave – and should be recognized. And the comment I hear is – he did this because of social pressure. I mean, come-on guys - give me a break and please give the old man his due – but no. no matter what we do – we are still branded terrorists.

If so, what about the bajrang dal activists who instigated communal violence in Southern India and killed scores of Christians – do their actions make 80% of our population terrorists. Or the Maoist and ULFA make others who follow their religion terrorists?

What about those who refuse tenants just because they are muslims, or make fun of my religion without knowing about it.....I can go on and on….. just wanted to pent out my feelings after hearing some comments by my team member…..

This is an Indian, and a Muslim, signing off

Over and out

** I do not want to offend anybody - just had to clear my mind and write my take on the "All muslims support terrorists and/or Pakistan" impression

Shame on the insensitive media

Here I am, sitting in front of my laptop screen and trying to analysing the happenings of the last few days and how they are going to affect the lives of people working in Satyam in particular and in the Indian IT outsourcing industry in particular.

The first thing that comes to mind when I think of the past few days is the insensitive and unprofessional manner in which Indian media has handled the scam done by founder of Satyam computer service limited. By now, you must have guessed that I too am a Software engineer working in Satyam.

Maybe the scam was big, and the media needed to get sound bytes and to get the mind of Indians from the Mumbai terror attacks. But this does not mean that they have the right to spread baseless rumours without thinking about the affect they might have on the families of those who are staying away from home. Me and my colleagues were hounded with calls from concerned friends and relatives trying to confirm news about “No salary for two months”, “Satyam being locked”, and “Satyam fires 15000 associates on bench”. We had a hard time explaining them that all these are baseless rumours and nothing else, and all we want at this critical juncture of our professional life is to be left alone so that we can concentrate on the bigger task on hand, which is to do our job to the best of our abilities.

Apart from these calls from friends and family who had no way of knowing what is happening inside, what irritated me most was some of my fellow associates pinging me and asking me about my future plans. Well, let me answer all their queries in the only way I know – which is point blank and 100% truth – that I am sticking here. I am not being emotional or loyal, I too am concerned and worried about the financial mess I may land up in if I have no job (which actually is inshallah not going to happen), but I really believe that now is the time to work for the company not just in monitory terms by earning moolah from the client, but by being useful in our own small ways…. And for all those who are running away or are planning to run away – all I can say is that my organization does not need cowards like them. It is in times of difficulty that the true character of a man emerges – and I am really sorry to note that many of those whom I held in high regard have fallen from my esteem. I can do nothing, but atleast I am warned!

I am touched by the support that most of my friends and family has shown towards me. They have told me not to worry about anything – and are only concerned that I do not get tense because of what has happened.

Having said all this, I really believe that it is time that Media is taught about ethics and morals. How would they feel if their job was in the firing line, and their parents and family were far away with nothing but the idiot box to tell them what is happening? I think they should stop for a moment and think on these lines. I am really impressed by The Times of India, which atleast has the guts and the thoughtfulness to retract any wrong info they published, and to mention the rumours that are being spread by some insensitive channels and papers looking for a scoop. For the rest of the media, I just have one sentence to say – SHAME ON YOU GUYS!

I will keep updating this space with the latest happenings in Satyam and my thoughts on their affects on our lives.

This is a proud Satyamite, signing off…..

Over and out

The Conscience of a Hacker

==Phrack Inc.==

Volume One, Issue 7, Phile 3 of 10

 

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

The following was written shortly after my arrest...

\/\The Conscience of a Hacker/\/

by

+++The Mentor+++

Written on January 8, 1986

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

     Another one got caught today, it's all over the papers. "Teenager Arrested in Computer Crime Scandal", "Hacker Arrested after Bank Tampering"...

     Damn kids. They're all alike.

     But did you, in your three-piece psychology and 1950's technobrain, ever take a look behind the eyes of the hacker? Did you ever wonder what made him tick, what forces shaped him, what may have molded him?

     I am a hacker, enter my world...

     Mine is a world that begins with school... I'm smarter than most of the other kids, this crap they teach us bores me...

     I'm in junior high or high school. I've listened to teachers explain for the fifteenth time how to reduce a fraction. I understand it. "No, Ms. Smith, I didn't show my work. I did it in my head..."

     Damn kid. Probably copied it. They're all alike.

     I made a discovery today. I found a computer. Wait a second, this is cool. It does what I want it to. If it makes a mistake, it's because I screwed it up. Not because it doesn't like me...

        Or feels threatened by me...

        Or thinks I'm a smart ass...

        Or doesn't like teaching and shouldn't be here...

     Damn kid.  All he does is play games.  They're all alike.

     Damn underachiever.  They're all alike.

     And then it happened... a door opened to a world... rushing through the phone line like heroin through an addict's veins, an electronic pulse is sent out, a refuge from the day-to-day incompetencies is sought... a board is found.

     "This is it... this is where I belong..."

     I know everyone here... even if I've never met them, never talked to them, may never hear from them again... I know you all...

     Damn kid.  Tying up the phone line again.  They're all alike...

     You bet your ass we're all alike... we've been spoon-fed baby food at school when we hungered for steak... the bits of meat that you did let slip through were pre-chewed and tasteless. We've been dominated by sadists, or ignored by the apathetic. The few that had something to teach found us willing pupils, but those few are like drops of water in the desert.

     This is our world now... the world of the electron and the switch, the beauty of the baud. We make use of a service already existing without paying for what could be dirt-cheap if it wasn't run by profiteering gluttons, and you call us criminals. We explore... and you call us criminals. We seek after knowledge... and you call us criminals. We exist without skin color, without nationality, without religious bias... and you call us criminals.

     You build atomic bombs, you wage wars, you murder, cheat, and lie to us and try to make us believe it's for our own good, yet we're the criminals.

     Yes, I am a criminal. My crime is that of curiosity. My crime is that of judging people by what they say and think, not what they look like. My crime is that of outsmarting you, something that you will never forgive me for.

    I am a hacker, and this is my manifesto. You may stop this individual, but you can't stop us all... after all, we're all alike.

+++The Mentor+++

What is going on?

we all know what has happened in Mumbai and how our brave soldiers, cops and civilians laid down their lives resisting the terrorist attack. we all stand behind these brave souls and their beraved family in their time of sadness mingled with pride. 

all over the country, citizens have found their own ways of showing solidarity. most of the cities have seen candle light vigils that have been organized to pray for these brave sons and saughters of India.

sadly, this grief has not touched our politicians. even in this time of tragedy, they are hell bent on playing the games of onemanship - trying to pull some political gains out of this tragedy. while the leading party is trying to shift the blame, the opposition parties are trying to show how if they were in power, things would have been different. there seems to be a competition in who announces more reward.... the same leaders who till yesterday were claiming that the ATS was corrupt because they had caught a so called sadhvi in connection with the malegaon blast are now in praise of the same ATS.. and had even anounced a huge monetry compensation for its chief, who sadly laid down his life while fighting for the country.

the CM of kerala rushed to bangalore to the house of the brave major Sandeep Unnikrishnan after he came to know that he was originally from kerala..... and was unceremonously thrown out by the bereaved father, who did not want a political drama to unfold in his house or the condolence of someone who does not even feel the pain of loosing a fellow countryman, let alone a son...... 

and now we have Mr Naqui claiming that the candle light vigils are nothing but following the "Western culture", and has women who have used lipstick and powder..... well Mr Naqui, maybe they were dressed - but atleast they were there to show their solidarity - to assert that we as a country stand united in such troubled times - that we do not care from which state the martyrs belonged or which religion they followed - all we care about is that our motherland has lost a few brave sons while the so called leaders where sitting in their pulsh bunglows - discussing the situation and doing nothing....

if this is the kind of leaders we have then i believe that it is time we take things into our own hands - maybe it is time the citizens of this great country rise above the petty politics, unite - and show these leaders that they exist because of and for us - and not vice versa.

This is an Indian, signing off...

Over and out

A cyclist is reborn.............

During my school days, I was an avid cyclist - and had many a ride with my friends Alikesh, Prashant, and Raju and explored the outskirts of my hometown, Unnao. The two rides that I remember most vividly are as follows - 

Once, I and Prashant rode out to go to a iron factory located around 9 Km from our city (and around 11 from where we stayed) - and all this just to get a certificate saying that we have inspected their factory - to be attached to the project file we had to make as a part of our ICSE board exams, all for a measly 20 marks. Needless to say, the guard at the front door shooed us away (I suspect he must have had a laugh with his co-workers later)

The other time, we were getting bored of sitting at home, and so decided to visit a mutual friend. But when we reached his place, we were told that he had gone to Kanpur. Rather than turn back, we decided to ride on and discovered a centre for training of fire fighters after around 6 Km. (I know I know, but it was a discovery our own private universe)

In those days I used to have a Hero Ranger MTB (which was just launched in the splattered dual colour model). Later, when my Dad got fed up of paying for the repairs of fallen screws and flat tyres, he gave it away while I was away from home – and bought me a Hero Jet plus.

But somewhere down the line, the good old cycle lost its sheen and was replaced with bikes and scooters.... (In those days scooters were still in use and were considered a nice ride). I tried to blackmail my parents into buying me a bike - but they somehow were able to resist all such demands of mine.

Then came the time of coaching for engineering – where I shifted to Lucknow for my classes. Since my coaching was far from home, and because of the erratic timings, my father absolutely forbade me using the cycle as a mode of travel. Also, as I had started to feel ashamed of travelling on a hero jet (as it is the bicycle most associated with the milk mans, who prefer it for its sturdiness), I too did not insist on using a cycle.

After the coaching came the four years of studying for my engineering degree – and since my college was about 9 Km from the city, the preferred mode of travel of mine was the ever present tempo and (later) my Dad’s scooter.

After completing my degree, I was offered a job in a Software company and was transferred to Hyderabad. By now, cycles had again come into prominence – not as a mode of travel – but as a mode of recreation, meeting new people, and remaining fit. But since my office was like 25 Km from my place, and being a notoriously late riser and a very lazy person to boot, I could never get myself to go to a shop and purchase a new bike.

We even had a cycle show in our office, but they displayed the firefox range, and for a guy earning a measly 12000 bucks, even the thought of purchasing a bike for 25000 bucks is like wishing to buy a Ferrari……

And then I got into a project and was transferred to an office which was near to my place. I could have bought a cycle then, but I pacified myself by claiming that my home was not secure to park a cycle (Indeed, we did not even have a parking  - and so the cycle had to be parked on the road – and the area was not very good when it comes to security).

And then we shifted to a new house – which is in a gated community and has guards at the gate round the clock. The first thought that came to my mind after coming to the new home was that I can now buy a cycle – but I kept postponing my visit to the showroom…..

And then, last month, one of my friends posted the picture of his cycle on his blog site…. And I fell in love once again. But time was a big constraint – as I was working over the weekend also.

And finally I got a Saturday free last weekend, and the first thing I did after waking up was to go and purchase a cycle for my own. I bought a Hercules Atom with 18 gears – and I have been going to office on my new bike since then. And the reactions of my colleagues and bystanders are fun …. Some of my office mates and one of my roommates has tried to deter me from going to office on a cycle as it is meant for the guards only (what sad thinking!!)… Others smile, and still others have praised me and have promised to purchase a bike of their own…. I have been asked by strangers about the bike, its cost… and today I was praised by an auto driver for doing the right thing.

Such comments make me happy – and make me curse myself for having waited for so long for purchasing the bike…..

The only thing is, I am so out of tune and my fitness level is below zero – so I am still not in top gear. The distances which I used to cover without a curve on my brow now leave me thirsty and a tad tired. Add to that the fact that I had started smoking in my B.Tech – and I am left with burnt out lungs…… but I will get to it. I am gradually increasing the distances I cover every day – and soon I will be in prime shape (hopefully)

Till then, this is a reborn cyclist, signing off….

Over and out.

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है

(ऐ वतन,) करता नहीं क्यूँ दूसरा कुछ बातचीत,
देखता हूँ मैं जिसे वो चुप तेरी महफ़िल में है
ऐ शहीद-ए-मुल्क-ओ-मिल्लत, मैं तेरे ऊपर निसार,
अब तेरी हिम्मत का चरचा ग़ैर की महफ़िल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

वक़्त आने पर बता देंगे तुझे, ए आसमान,
हम अभी से क्या बताएँ क्या हमारे दिल में है
खेँच कर लाई है सब को क़त्ल होने की उमीद,
आशिकों का आज जमघट कूचा-ए-क़ातिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

है लिए हथियार दुश्मन ताक में बैठा उधर,
और हम तैयार हैं सीना लिए अपना इधर.
ख़ून से खेलेंगे होली गर वतन मुश्क़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हाथ, जिन में है जूनून, कटते नही तलवार से,
सर जो उठ जाते हैं वो झुकते नहीं ललकार से.
और भड़केगा जो शोला सा हमारे दिल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

हम तो घर से ही थे निकले बाँधकर सर पर कफ़न,
जाँ हथेली पर लिए लो बढ चले हैं ये कदम.
ज़िंदगी तो अपनी मॆहमाँ मौत की महफ़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

यूँ खड़ा मक़्तल में क़ातिल कह रहा है बार-बार,
क्या तमन्ना-ए-शहादत भी किसी के दिल में है?
दिल में तूफ़ानों की टोली और नसों में इन्कलाब,
होश दुश्मन के उड़ा देंगे हमें रोको न आज.
दूर रह पाए जो हमसे दम कहाँ मंज़िल में है,
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है

ज़िस्म भी क्या ज़िस्म है जिसमे न हो ख़ून-ए-जुनून
क्या लड़े तूफ़ान से जो कश्ती-ए-साहिल में है
सरफ़रोशी की तमन्ना अब हमारे दिल में है
देखना है ज़ोर कितना बाज़ू-ए-क़ातिल में है

Ram Prasad Bismil