Saturday, October 10, 2009

Muslim Kids Searching For Their Future

99,819 items / 604,436 views

Sometimes a picture
speaks louder than words
clipped wings
the aborted flight
of birds
cattle class
traveling the
wagon of life
like sacrificial herds
every time they move up
like crabs in a bottle
by a sick system
pulled downwards
like their script
written off backwards
faith in the maker
moving onwards
a flock appeased
by every political
shepherd
vote for this party
vote for that party
syrupy catchwords
lyricless sad notes
of these little
Muslim songbirds
Muslim
kids searching
for their future
in fruitless
orchards


dedicated to sanjay dutt sanju baba

Lage Raho Munna bhai

Kaum Ke Liye Tumne Kiya Kya Hai ...

99,703 items / 604,151 views

baba yeh toh
batao
is dard ki
dawa kya hai
bedard alam
main
tumhare hath se
hua kya hai
bagair aag ke
tuti hui jhopdi se
dhua kiya hai
bagair khuda ke
insaan ki dua kiya hai

That Is Uncle Ashish Shelar She Says...

99,662 items / 603,934 views

that is uncle ashish shelar she says
pointing out to omkars daddys face
with omkar and lucky the labrador
in our building she plays
but it is mrs ashish shelar
her favorite aunty always
giving marziya
sweets toys chocolates
on her birthday
which is everyday
by the way
vote for marziya
hum tumhare sat hain
she chants all day

The Stunted But Powerful Muslim Vote

99,658 items / 603,930 views

the stunted but powerful
Muslim vote
may note grow taller
makes his presence felt
please note
he wants change
a peaceful life
without encounters
without racial profiling
he does not want to be
your quintessential scape goat
he is a Muslim
a vital organ of India
sailing with you
as an Indian
in the same boat
yes together
you and he
can keep it afloat
you in your kurta dhoti
he in his pathani suit
waistcoat
sartorial serendipity
serenity saving grace
as keynote
sare jahan
se accha
hai hindustan
hamara
to quote

The Samajwadi Party Public Meeting Bandra

99,658 items / 603,921 views

After I had shot the BJP Shivsena Rally , the BSP rally I was informed that Sanjay Dutt was to attend the Samajwadi Pary near Jamatkhana so I immediately rushed there shot these pictures but there was no sign of the star , I came home showered and returned to shoot Sanjay Dutt in absolutele political form in a new power punching avtar, he too spotted me in the crowds and asked me what I was doing here shooting pictures , I had done his costumes for Nitin Manmohans Chal Mere Bhai.. , he did not spare Baba Siddiki in his speeches.. and the Samjwadi Party considers the Congress I and the Democratic Front its greatest enemy and ..they bought in a Mullah who left no stone unturned to brand the Congress anti Muslim party and cited all the incidents that had affected the Muslims directly or indirectly when the Congress was in power..Some of the stuff was virulent and in bad taste by individual speakers , but truthful too, evoking the sad memories of the 93 riots the demolishing off the Babri mosque, the Shrikrishna Report, the encounter killings of innocent Muslims but than this is politics..and here votes will be divided via the two main Muslim contenders against the Congress party, by Rizwan Merchant Samajwadi Party candidate and Rahebar Khan Independent candidate.

Yes everything is being to corner the powerful Muslim vote by all parties , this area JJ Colony Nargis Dutt Nagar , Compund , Transit Camp , the various Muslim pockets holds the key to the elusive chair of politics...

Rizwan Merchant a cogent speaker head of the various Dargah trusteeships, also an advocate appealed to the pubic to give another Muslim a chance to lead them instead of Baba Siddiki..and he too cited cogent reasons citing the powerful politician builder lobby that had taken the Muslim slum dweller for a ride.. to make fast bucks , the builder and the politician hand in glove became richer - while the poor slum dweller suffered..as this is a powerful predominant Muslim locality ..they went out to appease their political cause and to highlight Abu Azim as the mass leader of the Muslims..The meeting ended before 10 pm the cut off time set by the Election Commission.

Yes the Muslim Vote certainly matters .. the poor brow beaten Muslim of the slum .. is overnight an important persona in this Human Comedy called Politics..

It was what I heard and saw , but shot impartially as a photographer documenting the angst of the people in the background of the assembly election fever..vote or dont vote the Muslim is caught between the devil and the deep sea.


But vote he must on 13 October 2009 .. the most important and significant right of his , he must cast his vote impartially , elect a responsible person to form a responsible government...he must forget that he is only a Muslim and as an Indian as a Mumbaikar of Amchi Mumbai remove all blinkers that misguide his thought his mind and his vision..

His vote can change all our destinies too..

Jai Maharashtra.

Vote For Ashish Shelar - Hum Tumhare Sat Hain

99,546 items / 603,733 views

Vote for Ashish Shelar hum tumhare sat hain, these were the words that resounded from all sides as Advocate Ashish Shelar BJP/ShiveSena began his rally at Bandra Reclamation..from here it went through the Muslim pockets of JJ Colony and than Nargis Dutt Nagar and finally moved house to house at the Transit Camp..Marziya accompanied me , and kept shouting Vote for Marziya hum tumhare sat hain the last lines she had quickly memorized from the crowds..

I did not follow the rally into the Transit camp..but came back to drop Marziya...

Ashish Shelar is very fond of Marziya ..who is a friend of his son Omkar and plays with Omkar's pet Labrador Lucky

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