Baba Yetu!

As an atheist I am always open to religious music that sounds good. Yet, often some of the most awful music sells only because it is religious. Then there is the religious music, which is so truly beautiful, that I can quite empathize with those among the faithful engaged in its trance; those, who wouldn't give that up for anything in the world.

Today I had a different experience. I came across this track, 'Baba Yetu' by Christopher Tin (You can stream it from Tin's samples page, first track). I heard it first as Civilization 4's theme, and have loved it ever since. The lyrics seemed like something in an Afrikaan's dialect and the vocals were hauntingly beautiful. Today, I thought I'd dig up some info on the composer and the song's lyrics.
While I assumed it to be a song that was supposed to mean something profound, I wanted to find out what these lyrics actually meant:


Baba yetu, yetu uliye
Mbinguni yetu, yetu, amina!
Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.

Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, milelea milele!

Ufalme wako ufike utakalo
Lifanyike duniani kama mbinguni. (Amina)

Utupe leo chakula chetu
Tunachohitaji utusamehe
Makosa yetu, hey!
Kama nasi tunavyowasamehe
Waliotukosea usitutie
Katika majaribu, lakini
Utuokoe, na yule, simama mwehu

Baba yetu, yetu, uliye
Jina lako litukuzwe.

And my! What a revelation, it was. I was in for a shock as I found the translation from here.

Its one thing for an atheist listening to music forewarned of its religious underpinnings. Its quite another for him to love a piece of music so much and listen to it enough number of times to memorise its lyrics, only to realise that all this time, as he was singing along, he was chanting, oh horror, 'the Lord's' prayer!

I don't think I'd go so far as to call this a spiritual experience, but it was certainly a humbling one. I love this song even more for it.

Then again, I found that the Church choirs were quick to start using this beautiful song to 'draw more of their lost sheep back into their fold'. Music is probably the most enchanting tool that religion uses to have its way. Of course, when that fails, there are always the suicide bombers and the Republicans.

Trial by Media, Trial by Court

"Any society that would give up a little liberty to gain a little security will deserve neither and lose both."

-Benjamin Franklin(1706-1790)

Its not like me to post matters that aren't frivolous on this blog. Yet, I can't help myself from saying what I see as hilarious in this whole episode of what is called a 'debate' over whether to represent the surviving terrorist involved in the Mumbai terror strikes. Hilarious, but more than a little frightening.

Firstly, let me start off by talking about the naive media we have in our country. Just when I was beginning to think that we have a fair and balanced press in our country, I see these stories aired, calling the whole affair a 'raging debate' and under captions of 'Duty Vs Concience'. The Fourth Estate is often the reflection of public sentiment. From this case, I see that sometimes it ought to correct the popular (if that) opinion too, for, the right answer is not always a matter of popular choice. The media should have rubbished these views outright as they were quick to do on many other occasions rather than playing to the gallery and fanning these irrational sentiments that they helped more than a little to fan in the first place.

Secondly, I see that even organisations which would have been expected to behave more responsibly in such a situation are losing their wits. For eg, the Esplanade Court Bar Association has passed a resolution saying that none of their members will defend the terrorist. These are people who are entrusted with the moral responsibility of ensuring that when all odds are against him/her, the law will stand four square behind the righteous. These are the people who I am supposed to go to for help when the Government frames me as a terrorist just because I choose to criticize their policies.

Thirdly, most people in India don't even realise why this is such a big deal. Test the public opinion and you'll find an overwhelming response in favour of sending the bastard to the gallows without further ado. Small wonder then, that Shiv Sena, Navnirman Sena and all the other *Sena (who were conspicuously missing from the scene when the real Sena, the Indian Army was going about its job during the terror strike) were back on the streets in full strength pelting stones at a lawyer who offered to discharge a constitutional responsibility that all his co-evals couldn't deign doing.

And its all these things, that frighten me.

So why is this such a big deal to me?

1. What prevents this from setting a precedent where the powers that be, on another day, hang a political opponent without trial? It was in the not so distant past that politicians sought to settle scores by misusing the POTA. This case, if Kasav is not defended will give them a frightening carte blanche.
2. I thought I lived in a democracy. I see it turning into a mob-ocracy where you don't need to go to the courts anymore. You only seem to need to visit the Shiv Sena/Navnirman Sena head office with a generous donation to have your way.
   
3. If we send a man to the gallows without a trial, then what would be the difference between us and the Islamofascists who brought this upon us?

If you think that I am riding the moral high horse here, completely out of touch with the brutal reality, think again. Could it be that it is your feigned morality that makes you think that legal defense of an accused, no matter how heinous the crime, can be disposed of with in this case.

I agree with us hanging the bastard. Let's just see if he has something to say for himself before we do. Thats what makes us, human, far greater than this monster who did not give that opportunity to those he shot dead without any qualms.

More than anything, try him, for its not in his best interests that we give him a trial. Its in ours.