Like Diwali, Jews Celebrate 'Hanukkah'

                     "Hanukkah is Jewish Festival of Lights, as Diwali for Indians" 

Lighting up houses with bright candles, chanting songs of victory and peace, distributing sweets and gifts and wishing each other well-being and prosperity, this is how Hannukah is celebrated, also known as the Festival of Lights. Surprisingly, this festival significantly resembles the iconic Hindu Diwali.

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Candles and Diyas symbolic of Festival of Light | © abhinabahtt and chosenpeople.com

Diwali Festival

Diwali is another festival of lights observed for five days in India by Hindus. There are many similarities between the two. The Jewish festival of lights, Hanukkah, is celebrated for eight consecutive nights sometime between late November and late December – determined by the Hebrew calendar – in Israel and by Jewish people all over the world. Hanukkah could be called the ‘Jewish Diwali,’ celebrated to commemorate the victory of good over evil since ancient times.

Diwali Celebration | © Pradip Mahato/Flickr

In India, the festival of lights, Diwali, usually falls in October and November – determined by the Hindu calendar – and is celebrated by the lighting of Diyas(lamps/candles) in and around the house and windows, wearing new clothes, preparing special dishes and sweets, opening festive crackers, and giving or receiving surprise gifts from relatives and friends.

In the same way, Hanukkah is celebrated with lightning of candles on the menorah(a candelabrum with nine branches) followed by the chanting of songs and the distribution of presents.

Hanukkah Lights | © Djampa/Wiki Commons 

Both festivals owe ancient importance, in their respective religion, to instances of war and victory, of good over evil. As per Hindu mythology, Diwali is celebrated in the name of Lord Rama (Hindu God) of Ayodhya, after his victory over the evil Ravana, when the people of Ayodhya lit lamps to celebrate his return and illuminated the whole city.

Diwali is observed for five days substituted by other small festivals including Dhanteras, Chhoti Diwali (Small Diwali), Diwali, Gowardhan Pooja and Bhai Duj.

Hannukah Traditions

The story of Hannukah is the remembrance of the Jewish victory of over the Syrian-Greek Army and reclaiming of the Jewish Holy Temple in Jerusalem over 2,100 years ago. You can visit the sites from the story still today.

Hanukkah Celebration © Rebecca Israel/WikiCommons

The story is that the army struck the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, leaving them with only enough oil to light one day, but that it stayed lit for eight consecutive days and nights, once they had won the war. This is why the Jewish people light the menorah using a single candle (the shamash), and commemorate Hanukkah to the mark the miracle that the oil lasted, by lighting candles from right to left each day from one to eight. They also eat deep-fried traditional dishes to symbolize this.

Diwali and Hanukkah, celebrated throughout the world, are the reflection of victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil, and hope over despair.

‘Country of Conflicts’

      24 hours, 365 days, struggle continues between life and death, for the existence, bombs and rockets are every second on the target, here the difference of life and death is merely 15 seconds, they have to escape, and they have to be alive so that they can save their Country. Here the 15 seconds stands for siren warning against air attacks alerting people to hide under bunkers to save their lives.

Every day, there is a new fight for their survival, the word like war, terror, bomb, rocket and missile has now been inherited in the soul of citizens.It’s the story of the Country, which has been in conflicts since its inception in 15^th May 1948, which has been fighting for its very existence on Map, where war in is the nerves of its citizens, The State of ‘Israel’- The land of Three Faiths-The Bone of Contention.

In last 70 years the Jewish country has been in direct fight with all its Arab neighbors, who consider Israel as their motherland.

In Israel the young generation prior becoming engineer, doctor, scientist, think of Nation, think of Army the foremost to all. Youths, Students, regardless of their gender and status, go to School and College or Work, only after ensuring safeguard of their nation. What will be use of Education when there will be no Nation to live, this what they have in their souls.

Army is their religion, Army is their culture, and Army is their deed. This is the country where from Prime Minister to Peasant, Richest to Poorest, Laborer to Leader and Capitalist to Communist, everyone is first supposed to serve Nation.

Israel has different connotation of terrorism and its supporters, and has very strong urge to save its citizens.

Israeli cities appears much more like cantonments where each and every corner is captivated with bomb proof bunkers whether it is home, office, ground, university, market, shopping mall, to save precious lives of its citizens, as no one knows when a rockets is going to destroy Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. Palestine and Gaza is round the clock preparing to launch missiles, rocket here.

The State of Israel, on June 5, 1967, was going to be disappeared from Earth, after being invaded by Egypt, Syria and Jordan armies via three sides. It was the situation of Do or Die for Israel who did not leave any stone unturned for the sake of their land, losing more than 1 percent of its citizens in famous Six-day War.

It must be charisma that Israeli Air Force got lead against trio-army, defeating and scooting them from their own land with Israel capturing Gaza Strip, West Bank and Sinai Peninsula up to Suez Canal in Egypt, more than three times of its size.

It is certainly a matter of amaze that how Israelis are accustomed to such kind of life.

Even after being in fight with neighboring countries from 70 years, spending a big chunk of GDP for continuous renovation of military, how it stood up as most advanced country, certainly tells its story of struggle. The Tel Aviv city is among the most modern, beautiful, smart and safe cities in the world. 

As I Landed on The Land of Three Religions

                                       

                                            Always presumed as a Country of war, conflicts, relentlessly engaged in cross-border territorial disputes with neighbouring countries and fighting against terrorism since its Inception.

Talking to anybody in Indian about going to Israel, evidently, gives them goose bumps as they always heard the name of Israel with the frightning words like Violence, Terror, along with the unstable middle eastern countries like Syria, Palestine Iraq, Iran, etc. Israel has a reputation and image of very unstable and war-torn country among Indians and nobody ever wants to come. 

But, however, as soon as landed at the Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, I made myself prepared for any untoward and embarrassing situation regarding immigration, security checks and other VISA related issues, which is what I have heard from friends before who came here earlier. Nonetheless, I got my immigration slip from immigration counter without any effort, questions and security checking to my surprise.

I exchanged 100 USD for 350 Israeli Shekels (Israeli Currency) at exchange centre and came outside of Airport to get a train to Tel Aviv University; unfortunately it was the day of Shabbat the weekly festival of Jewish people, starting from every Friday afternoon to till Saturday evening. During this period all the bus, trains, shops and other public places remain almost closed in whole Country. Thus I had to take a taxi for University for which I was charged 175 Shekels, while via train it would have been only 20 shekels. (1 Shekel = Rs 16.90 Approx).

Although, I was in grate amaze and surprise with a phobia and fear of being a new in Country, where everything seems to be strange from People and Language to Food and Culture, made me think how would I am going to live here for one year. 

However, in due course of time, I got a bit of familiar with the city Tel Aviv, the people, culture, language and way of living. The people, who have been fighting to save their existence from last seven decades, would be such warm, easygoing and helpful especially to the Indian people, I didn’t ever expect.

And, of course, obviously, I want to convey to the Indians and people of other nationalities too, who may be aspiring to come to Israel and have scary image of Israel, that I didn’t feel here any difference from any Indian or European Cities in terms of safety and security. Moreover, all the cities in Israel are no less smart than any European and American cities.

Although, I never planned and thought of coming to the country of conflicts, but after coming here I didn’t feel like being over-questioned, over-checked, treated like suspects by security personnel because of different nationally, however, Israel is much vigilant for its security as compare to other European countries; of course they have to be due to prolonged experiences of terrorist activities.

And undoubtedly Tel Aviv city is the most advance and High-tech city in the Middle East, with amazing beaches, beautifully crafted landscapes, roads with free Wi-Fi in whole city and exciting night life. 

Indo-Israel Relations

                                                The Undercover Story

                                      

India and Israel relations have been kept secret since before its officials beginning in order to balance the international relations of both countries with appropriate politics and diplomacy. Even before the fall of Soviet Union it has been very good friend of India in all terms, but however, after USSR's collapsed both countries felt to extend officials hand of relationship in 1992, for their vested interest.

In 1971 and 1999 Indo-Pak war, Israel provided secret intelligence information to Indian forces, proved to be best friend when India needed it most.  Unfortunately both the countries have been prey of border disputes and terrorist backed by neighbouring countries since independence for many decades. Israel has emerged stronger per se learning from its past bitter experiences while India, even being such a big country, always failed to curb external violence.

Coming back on the point, however, even after fall of USSR, in order to maintain good relations with Russia, India has not stopped purchasing weapons from Russia, but had to opt to other sources also except USA as it would have proved to be bitter for India-Russia relations. Thus the option was obviously Israel. 

And now Israel is the second largest military partner of India after Russia. 

In 2003, for the first time Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited India to extend the bilateral ties even further of weapons. However, although India maintained good relation with Israel but did not attempt to publicize it, due to Indian relations with Arab World and of course to allure the 15 percent of Muslim populations of the Country.

On one hand, Indian National Congress (INC), which ruled India for more than 60 years since independence have a secular image in country in order to protect Muslim Vote Bank and maintain good relations with Arab World did not try to establish relations with Israel. But it was also during their tenure that India-Israel relations started in 1992. 

However, it was originally at the time of government of  Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee that the diplomatic relations got strengthened between both countries. The BJP government is considered to be backed by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) which is extremist Hindu nationalist group of India fighting for Hindu rights. 

Anyhow, after the return of BJP government after 10 years in 2014 the relations between countries are again seems to be strengthening.

Since RSS and BJP are the admirer of Israel and it will not be surprise if any Indian Prime Minister come to Israel for the first time in history.

Recently, Indian president Pranab Mukherjee visited Israel in October 2015 ( first by any Indian President) actually in order to pave the way for the median visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Israel with inviting Benjamin Netanyahu to India.

De facto visiting Israel may proved to be very crucial for India relations with Arab countries from where India purchase all crude oil and also millions of Indian work in these countries. But India is in itself has become big and strong country that it must not to be worried about other countries in its international diplomacy.

Indian Look East Policy

Indian Look East Policy 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 3 Country visit i.e. China, Mongolia and South Korea may be seen as East Asia Policy, but it may prove to major turning in India’s international relation with Asian Countries.

Indian Prime Minister’s visit to three eastern counties is certainly going to change the Indian outlook towards Mongoloid world forever. The Western world is keeping close eye on Indian relations with these countries as Modi’s Look East policy has raised their ears.

The Modi’s visit to China is certainly going be a turning point in international relation and cooperation of India with other western countries and Asia. While, first visit of any Indian Prime Minister visited Far East Asian country Mongolia, which does not hold substantial role in international politics, and South Korea is also good move towards look east policy and unitizing the Asian countries against America and Europe powers.

India proposed $1bn credit limit to Mongolia while Korea promised to incest $10bn in India in next 5 years. It will help India in reformation of railway infrastructure, ports and making start cities. China also declared to invest in India in development of Country.

Korea, which was at the same position half decade ago where India was after independence, a small country in South China Sea, suppressed by British rule then Chinese power,  how beautifully polished themselves in a way that it has become manufacturing hub of east with world largest Mobile Company like Samsung and Automobile Company Hyundai.

Indian prime minister signed MoUs with his Korean Counterpart to help to India to renovate ramshackle Indian Railway, (Largest Employer in World) modernization of dilapidated Indian cities and renovation of Indian outdated Indian military.

However, India which was in much more good shape then South Korea, but could not stand itself  in the race of development and lagged behind more than 3 decades from this country. And now the situation is such that India is bound to import technology from a country which is merely 1,00, 000 sq km even smaller than its state of Gujarat (1,96,000 sq km), with population merely 50 million .

It may me ironically that South Korea has made such development on their own and in their own language (Korea), didn’t need to  importing any foreign language for development just like India opted English as language of development, though it remained far most behind from English speaking Counters like Britain, Australia, Canada, United Stated of America or New Zealand.

When I tried to know what Korean people think of Indian India a Korean student residing in New Delhi said, “as capital of India, I thought New Delhi It would be like big cities like Seoul, Hong Kong, Beijing or Shanghai, but when I came here it appeared like third world country from of Africa country, with no traffic rules, no good roads, to proper transport system and lake of basic amenities. I can’t think of Seoul like this.” 

However, now it will be interesting to see how Modi’s visit to some many countries for the sake of investment, comes into reality and Modi’s dream of developed Indian come true.

Killer Heat Wave

                                                         
                                        Killer Heat Wave

                                 In a country where people are bound to die due to cold waves  and hot winds not even its extreme then it will be called as misfortune of the citizens, whose government can't even save them from the cold and heat condition which are very common in northern and central parts of India leaving hundreds dead every  year.

When administration is helpless in saving people from heat and cold then it is purely dream of saving them from epidemic Swine Flu (H1N1), which claimed more then a thousand lives this winter all over the Country.

In southern east state of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana more than

1400 people have died in past on week, but government could only afford to provide drinking water to people outside that's its. Isn't it sufficient on Government's end and why it did not pre-prepare for such kinds of situations.

It is not the only thing to which we have failed to cope up, If Nepal's devastating Earthquake would have been much more closure to Indian Capital then it would have been reached to stone age. Even after knowing then Swine Flu catch its strength in winter, government did not pre-pared and let it claim more than 1500 lives.

Each summer witness temperature as hot as 50 degree Celsius in most of the Northern and Central parts of  India, leaving thousands striving for drinking water, specially in states like Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, but Indian government, in the age of technology where Countries like Israel have learnt how to cultivate in desert,  could not even provide drinking water.

Poor Helpless India

                                                                 Poor Helpless  India

 The Government and Bureaucrats has made Indian so much week from its code inside that it has become so much  helpless and poor to take to help from such a country which is even smaller then it Capital. Although western countries were far more developed than Asian countries due to early independence, revolution and industrialization but the Asian Age has come form Mongoloid People only.



In past few decades the countries which made fast development are Obviously China, Singapore, Macau, Japan, South Korea etc but why Could not India made it up. India has followed non assignment policy since its Independence but of no use as before breakdown of USSR, Indian enjoyed healthy relationship with Russia with good cooperation in almost every field ranging from military help to education,research and infrastructure, but just after its breakdown and emergence of United States of America the soul superpower of world in 1989, India automatically leaned towards it.






United States of America ,Canada and other advanced countries are home to millions of Indian migrants who don ever think of returning once they establish themselves there then don't think to contribute their native country in some way. However, Mr Narendra Modi, Prime Minster, called Indian Diaspora living in various countries to contribute for development of their country, lets see how much they help India in its development.

The people are still it it still bound to live and sleep on roads,children labor is now at its height.In last 3 decades 3 classes have been come into existence in India, i.e Very high class like Ambanies and Birlas, and very lowest which comes in below poverty line and spend their night on roads, railway platforms, bus stands etc.

Misfortune of India!

Misfortune of India!

Nagaland’s tribes have been demanding separate Country since independence. On the other hand India could not control its external and internal security. Terrorist and smugglers and, separatists have involved violent actives and hurt the country’s integrity many times but Government always failed to overcome the issue. 
Maoists, a separatist group made by a people dissatisfied by government due non availability of job and other source of income and other facilities to be provided by government aid so far.  The Kashmir issue is the foremost international dispute India faced since its independence fighting 3 Major wars but could not find any substantial result.

It may be called as misfortune of India that Indian Government took it 50 years back in last 60 years. When the countries like Singapore, Israel, North Korea, China Malaysia, and Indonesia got developed in merely 50-60 years, then why India left behind so far in terms of development from these countries which were at the same point 60 years ago where Indian was.

India got its independence in 1947 from British rule, while Singapore was created in 1959, 12 years after India’s independence. Singapore is merely as big as any small as Indian city of Bhopal. During its independence from Malaysia, Singapore was suffering from poverty, corruption, poor infrastructure even it had to import water. But merely in 50 years it became Asia’s four big economic power house with land area of merely 700 sq km, which is almost half of the City of Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh state of India.

It is unimaginable for such a small county to become world economic power house, with outstanding infrastructure becoming foremost tourist destination not for Asians but Europeans and Americans too. How it transformed from poorest country to most beautiful county of the world. However, Indian need to learn some lesson from this country which did not have even enough food 50 years back has become hotspot tourist destination. Ironically, Indian has more than 32 Lakh sq kms of land with wide verity of land space, snow-capped mountains to meows, tropical forest and plains. But Indian could not improved its tourist infrastructure due to which Indian could not even fruitfied  its so called haven viz Kashmir which is far more beautiful than Switzerland.

Israel, also known as War country of the World has been involved in war since its inception in 1948 after division from Palestine during British rule. Since then it has been fought numerous major and minor wars against its five ordering Arab countries. It fought a number of wars against Egypt, Syria, Lebanon and Iraq and defeated them every single time.

With its land area just 20,00 sq km which is exactly half of Indian state of Kerala, it still has made itself strong enough that even United States of America do not dare to underestimate it. India, hundred times bigger than it, is the largest military importer of Israel. All the modern agricultural techniques like drip irrigation, arid agriculture are discovered in Israel only.

 Even after being situated at most conflict affected zone how this country has made itself so much strong and immunized is definitely praiseworthy. 

The most disputed territory Gaza strip has been the reason of numerous wars between Israel and Palestine. In last Gaza war in 2014, More 1500 Palestinian civilians were killed whereas merely 10 people including Army personnel were killed on Israeli side, this tells the success story of Israel that how it has made its military so power full. From this instant, we should learn that that peace is not only the solution of conflict when opposite side is repeatedly provoking the cease fire. 

                      

Had India given appropriate answered to Pakistan, such situation has not been created. Such a giant country could not control a smaller and poorer country like Pakistan whereas such a small country like Israel has made chew iron grams to countries far more power full then them.

China the upcoming world power pacing fast to overcome America in next 10 years. With double digit growth rate in last 3 decades China has become second most developed county after Unite States of America. In last 20 years it grew tremendously fast leaving all the advanced countries behind in the world.  It has become largest electronic products manufacturer in world. All the electronic equipment from Mobile phone to watches calculates are being manufactured and assembled in China and imported by all the advanced countries. Even the world’s best phone manufacturer Apple, Sony and Samsung also assemble their phones in China only.

And it China only reason that mobile phone could reach to such grater extent of urban and rural India. ft China did not export mobiles to India, the middle class and rural Indian could not afford the expensive phones made by Sony, Apple, Nokia and Samsung. Thanks to Chinese phone that forced big companies to slash their prices. All the times India claimed to be World’s greatest civilization but our times had been gone thousands of years ago. We had been slave for more than 1500 years that destroyed our education, research and intellect and literature. First Mughal then British ruled India and destroyed its culture from its core and now India even after 60 years of independence could not stand on its own,

The problem India after independence Indian confronted was its diversity. Due to so many Religion, Race, Cast and Creed integration of Indian is almost impossible. That is the reason that there has been communal violence occasionally. Moreover, Northeastern states are still isolated from main stream even after 60 years of Independence. They are always made feel like outsiders.