RebelRabee

'Stop! Open your bag.' She froze. She thought she is almost out of this wretched airport air that made her gag. She had just let out a relieved breath she had no idea she was holding, put the sling across her pregnant belly and walked towards the Arrival exit when the officer in the orange uniform asked her to stop. 'What's the matter?' Play it cool. Play it cool her mind warned. 'We got an anonymous tip that you are... well miss.. just open your bag'. He had placed the bag on the dreaded customs table and beckoned her to open it. She felt worried. But decided to go with it. On the table across from hers, she saw a another lady, identified Muslim from her shawl, shaking with fear, as the officer in front of her ruffle through her bags, and the officer behind her put his hand inside her Pardah and scarf, roughly searching for God knows what. 'Here you go officer', she smiled sweetly at him. For good measure, she held her back an...

As posted by  Maktoob Media   Here we are celebrating the 101th International Women’s Day with every wall , every tweet , every jingle stating the importance of women in our lives be it as a mother, daughter , sister or wife. To prove our point, we invite on stage the sexy Miss xxxx for a sizzling “Item” number. Enjoying the paradox?

'Do I see darkness in my eyes? Do you see in yours? Darkness hasn't woven our lives together. Dreams. Its only Dreams that can make anyone's eyes clearer, giving the ability to see'  The above excerpt is taken from 'Music in Light' was part of many other essays, short stories, poems, interviews and memoirs that created history on 20th January 2015. An eye-opening anthology was released by the Centre for Advanced Studies and Research in English Language and Literature, Farook College, Kozhikode which is the start to the end of the many blind stereotypes we have about the visually impaired. Dance along with the rhythm of these poems, ponder on the theories and academic essays that sparks a new light, smile at how Sudheer explains how 'being blind can be fun too', relax in the short stories and play and question yourself along with the interviews. All in all, 'I vs Eye, an anthology of the visually impaired' will make you see like never before i...

Why can’t a woman visit the husband-to-be’s house just like he does? Is even stating such a wish considered to be so evil , a joke, that makes her look like a cheap selfish egoist? I received many answers for this query, but the funniest was “um. I guess because, no one does that”. The most romantic one involved, “ooh , it will feel so special to enter that magical house for the first time in your wedding dress”. The more realistic answer was how that movement from the girl’s side will not get her any respect in the family she is going to. Then let me ask again- why does a woman who visits the husband-to be’s house with her family, gain no respect from the groom’s side? Wait, continue reading. Because here I finally ask a bunch of questions that has been eating me alive for the last couple of years, about the many uncanny, tacky, unwritten “customs” to be followed pre wedding, at the wedding and post wedding.

The day the light dawned on me... I day I changed my ways and followed a new path...was not when I Became a palliative volunteer. It was many months after effortless homecares , nursecares , long determined rallys, daily meetings and tiring camps, and those fund collections that made sweat a regular visitor that I had an epiphany of what a huge hypocrite I am.

The phrase "Unity in Diversity" is often used with much pride by almost every Indian in every speech ever made since school days. Its been in the text books, in tourist guides, in the media everywhere. But somehow "India is the most racially discriminating country" as the documentary "Unity Yet Diversity" (UYD) puts it. And when you come to think of it , it is. We discriminate each other not only bu the color, religion and caste of a person but also by their language and region. How many movies have we watched that made fun of  "dosa-eating dark Madrasis", the Bombay goons from the slum, the  alcoholic Punjabi spendthrifts? We may be the top in the world for making fun or discriminating our own countrymen in this world. But there are a set of people from the place we proudly call "the seven sisters" in our geography book that undergo the worst stereotypes and discrimination- The people from the North East. These Indians are not eve...

From the land of the misogynists,  From a world that considers a Hijab clad women to be a nobody,  There arose a Hijabi, who traveled all over India by the Jagrtiti Yathra. A Hijabi, not afraid to stand for what she believes in.                                                          a Hijabi who Dreamed and achieved,  Rifa Sanbaq, a journalist student in MBL, Calicut became the only Hijabi to be part of this year's Jagriti Yathra, an initiative to make the promising youth to know the inner India. She shares her experience as a Hijabi who under the social stigma is considered not "appropriate" to be a part of such movement. Get ready to get inspired   

"But whoso does good works, whether male or female, and is a believer, such shall enter Heaven and shall not be wronged even as much as the little hollow in the back of a date-stone (Al Quran 4:125)"  Time and again, we claim in words how the mighty religion shows no bias against the genders and all are equal in the eyes of God and yet time and again we prove to act otherwise. I saw such a hypocritical imbibed social negligence today that made my blood boil over. Running around the Markaz Complex in Calicut looking for sponsors for a social event, I found that one of the highlighted Masjids of Calicut town, didn't have a single room for women to enter. Looking around for a place to pray, I found one, a tiny little room hidden away in the darkest corner where no one can see and anyone who does see mistakes it for a toilet! Such is the importance given to women who believe in God and likes to keep their prayers intact. 

Amidst the mighty rose bush, Stood a tiny lonesome weed. The roses glow with their blush The weed bowed his heavy head, indeed. The rosy charm was glorified. The cursed weed watched silently, mystified.

Dear Mr.Modi, All prejudices aside, let me first congratulate you on your victory. Only a man of caliber, great leadership and cunningness can achieve this great milestone. I mean not everyone gets to be the PM of a country ,especially a man who was barred entry into the United states, have 1000s of people's blood on his hand and have a lot of angry betrayed people who like to get their justice. But I guess it pays to have a huge blind and faithful illiterate followers at your side.

" You can never say goodbye if you love with your heart" " Even though we are miles apart... you are here with me always" " Distance do not kill relations ... doubts do" Ya ya..we all heard it.. we all said it. All of us had that moment ...that farewell speech which promised to stay in touch, that tears when we hugged our friends moving to a different place, that determination to make the friendship work when you jump into a plane to go to college, away from your school buddies and  simply even split into a different class as your best friend. And here we are years or months or weeks or days later.. and do we even know what our EX best friend is or even doing ??? 

For those of you have'nt read the back cover of an A05 textbook prescribed by the Calicut unversity for third sem students, here is what it says: " Literature and contemporary Issues , is an attempt to sensitise students to some of the complex socioeconomic realities of the world around them. It presents a variety of viewpoints on a range of interrelated issues- human rights, discrimination based on  racial and caste boundaries, gender issues, issues related to globalisation and the new economic order" Giving proper stress to the above underlined words, read the following headline seen in a paper in July 2013 issue: " Ibrahim Al- Rubaish's Ode To The Sea pulled from Calicut University Syllabus " Still don't understand the irony ? continue reading... It was in 2007, the book 'Poems From Guantanamo : The Detainees Speak' in which Rubaish's poem 'Ode to the Sea' was published.At that time, American poet-critic, Rober...

I am an NRI. From the most “orthodox; Antifreedom” monarchy in the world. Saudi Arabia. And guess what ? my school had a liberal policy regarding Hijab. It was a choice. That’s right, in a country where the world criticizes about lacking freedom of religious expression , degrading women, a Muslim nation where non-Muslims have no say in its political matters, have schools that makes Hijab a choice –not  a compulsion. Most of the Muslims don’t bother covering their heads let alone the others. Oh that is because it was a Indian embassy school you say ? Well it is the same in all girls schools and colleges. Outside we did have to wear Abayas. But that was mostly because of tradition rather than for the concept of Hijab. But a headscarf was something even Muslims took lightly. That is the case of “THE monarchy” dear readers.

                                                     It was getting late. In fact it was past midnight. I still could not sleep . How could I, when I had to make a decision that could actually change the direction of my life, in the morning. Two roads diverged and I had to choose one. Devagiri or Farook. Which college should I choose? Tomorrow is the admission. And I still haven’t decided which college is the one I get to call mine. The campus which I can, years from now look upon with fondness and possessiveness. I had done it all,  visited both the campus, checked their websites, asked the students , the pass outs and even looked up into the heaven for guidance. I sighed. Made a final prayer for guidance and finally closed my eyes.  A huge gate was what I saw, one that was once upon a time majestic like the gates of the Taj but now ...

More than tens of  thousand protesters,a heavy rain, empty stomachs and a will as hard as steel. That is what the people of Ernakulam saw on 3 august. A Jaamaate-Islami protest programme in support of the Anti-coup protests in Raba'a Al Adwiya , Egypt against the military coup by general Fatah Al Sissi who is trying to replace the elected president Muhammed Morsi.

'Can I go?' I asked with a sinking heart, I had explained it all & played my part Well of a daughter seeking permission, With all respect and humble submission. "NO" My ears were exhausted, My heart was offended. My brain tried to explain, of reasons that were so absurd. The devil blew in me anger. Anger at hearing NO. Anger at the humiliation. Anger for asking again. Sure they have reasons to give. Sure I try to understand and live. But that single word cuts away my wings. The wings that long to always fly. To see places that always lie only in my dreams. To gain the thing they use as a reason. Those wings are cut and carefully kept away, For I have a good girl's role to play. I still look at it longingly And hope one day they would understand. And hope one day I get to fly.

Dedicated to my special friend, may her eyes be filled with light soon… When I became blind, The whole world became kind. Pity faces full of sympathy, And kind hearts full of empathy, Came up to help and guide, Oh! The people were so kind. But little did they understand, That I am optimistic & can’t Stand the pity faces & sorrow, I always hope for a better tomorrow. Though I am blind, I still see, Because there’s a light inside me. Independent and determined am I, To succeed and rise up to the sky. So don’t worry about me, I can –No – I WILL, coz I am keen                                                 And have God’s help & blessing with me

On this beautiful Ramadan day, All I can pray is, Please show me the way. The worldly pleasures are slowly beckoning, And my mind is fast wandering. Many sins have I committed. On this day my report I have submitted. By the days yet to come,Oh God, I request you to forgive my sins & not, Put me in the burning hell fire, Where I belong with my whole attire. By the days yet to come, Oh God, I ask you to increase my good deeds & not, Make me go on a path of astray As many pray everyday! Many sins I committed I repeat, And the days are short for me to repent. I don't stop here, repenting and praying, For I badly need God's forgiveness, if you only knew what I was saying!

100s of college boys. 15 girls. 20 male police and 3 female. Yelling slogans with spirit we tried to burst through the barricaded gates of Calicut university. The police force tried to stop us. Hitting us with their lathis. Arresting us. Trying to demotivate us. The female police?? Well they simply tried to demotivate and descarf us. They pulled at the scarfs and shawls that we had on our heads forcing us to withdraw. On 13 June the SIO workers conducted a University march protesting the University's atrocities, demanding that they release the ever chained up results of the private institutions and the last year's exam reaults. For those who don't know about Calicut University- this a routine procedure we always follow. Months ,even years pass before we get the result of a exam. Unless someone actually raise some slogans and fight with those police at the gates, the results just vanish. We have to fight for our rights here. We struggle to study here. We won that day! A...

Never heard of this before? Actually you have. Think again. Nope it’s not one of those chocolate-not-good-for-you thing. And it definitely have nothing to do with the amount of chocolate we consume a day. In reality, it has nothing to do with chocolate! GOT YOU! Don’t get me wrong, I am among those who can’t live without chocolate every day. Chocolate is my first love. But this is all about that criticism “popular culture” or campus culture get. Some people call it chocolate culture. And those books that are based on these chocolate culture dear naïve readers are termed chocolate books. Apparently these books don’t deal with serious issues, Its main target audience is the youth( that I agree upon), it has mostly bad language ( what ‘they’ mean is you know language that is not sophisticated and complicated with weird metaphors and idioms) and they are mostly about love, environment, friendship, girls worried over a pimple and guys dead keen on buying the latest model cars. ‘T...