Location of Mombasa
Coordinates: 4°03′S 39°40′E / -4.05, 39.667
Country Kenya
Province Coast Province
District Mombasa District
Government
- Mayor Councillor Ahmed Mohdhar (Serving currently 2008 )
Area
- City 295 km² (113.9 sq mi)
- Land 230 km² (88.8 sq mi)
- Water 65 km² (25.1 sq mi)
Elevation 50 m (164 ft)
Population (1999)
- City 707,400
- Urban 707,400
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)
Mombasa is the second largest city in Kenya, lying on the Indian Ocean. It has a major port and an international airport. The city is the centre of the coastal tourism industry.
The original Arabic name is Manbasa; in Swahili it is called Kisiwa Cha Mvita (or Mvita for short), which means "Island of War", due to the many changes in its ownership.
The town is also the headquarters of Mombasa District which, like most other districts in Kenya, is named after its chief town.
Description
The city has a population of 707,400 and is located on Mombasa Island, which is separated from the mainland by two creeks; Tudor Creek and Kilindini Harbour. The island is connected to the mainland to the north by the Nyali Bridge, to the south by the Likoni Ferry and to the west by the Makupa Causeway, alongside which runs the Uganda Railway. The port serves both Kenya and countries of the interior, linking them to the Ocean. The town is served by Moi International Airport.
The town is mainly occupied by the Muslim Mijikenda / Swahili people. Over the centuries there have been many immigrants and traders who settled in Mombasa, particularly from the Indian Sub-Continent, Persia, the Middle East and Somalia, who came mainly as traders and skilled craftsmen. Even after four or five generations, their descendants continue to contribute highly to the economy of present day Mombasa and Kenya as a whole.
Traditional dress for the Swahili women is a brightly coloured, printed cotton sheet called a kanga, which may have inspirational slogans printed on it. Muslim women wear a covering known as a Bui Bui, that is traditionally black, along with a head covering called a Hijaab, and sometimes wear a veil called a Nikab. Today, teased as the "Ninja".
Men wear a type of sarong, which is coloured in bright bands, called a "Kikoi".
History
The founding of Mombasa is associated with two rulers: Mwana Mkisi (female) and Shehe Mvita. According to oral history and medieval commentaries (also based on oral history), Shehe Mvita superseded the dynasty of Mwana Mkisi and established his own town on Mombasa Island.
Shehe Mvita is remembered as a Muslim of great learning and so is connected more directly with the present ideals of Swahili culture that people identify with Mombasa.
The ancient history associated with Shehe Mvita and the founding of an urban settlement on Mombasa Island is still linked to present-day peoples living in Mombasa.
The Thenashara Taifa (or Twelve Nations) Swahili lineages recount this ancient history today and are the keepers of local Swahili traditions. Even though today Mombasa is a very heterogeneous cultural mix, families associated with the Twelve Nations are still considered the original inhabitants of the city.
Most of the early information on Mombasa comes from Portuguese chroniclers writing in the sixteenth century.
1331 ~ The famous Moroccan scholar and traveller Ibn Battuta did visit Mombasa on his travels on the eastern coast of Africa and made some mention of the city, although he only stayed one night. He noted that the people of Mombasa were Shãfi'i Muslims, "Religious people, trustworthy and righteous. Their mosques are made of wood, expertly built."
The exact founding date of the city is unknown, but it has a long history. It must have been already a prosperous trading town in the 12th century, as the Arab geographer Al Idrisi mentions it in 1151.
During the pre-modern period Mombasa was an important centre for the trade in Spices, Gold & Ivory.
Its trade links reached as far as India, China and oral historians today can still recall this period of local history. Throughout early modern period Mombasa was a key node in the complex and far reaching Indian Ocean trading networks, its key exports then were ivory, millet, sesamum and coconuts.
In the late pre-colonial period (late nineteenth century) it was the metropolis of a plantation society, which became dependent on slave labour (sources contradict whether the city was ever an important place for exporting slaves) but ivory caravans remained a major source of economic prosperity.
1415 ~ The great Chinese fleet of Zheng, is supposed to have visited Mombasa (around 1415).
1498 ~ Vasco da Gama was the first known European to visit Mombasa, receiving a chilly reception. Two years later, the town was sacked by the Portuguese.
1502 ~ The Sultanate became independent from Kilwa Kisiwani as Mvita (in Swahili) or Manbasa (Arabic).
1528 ~ Portugal attacked the city again.
1593 ~ The Portugese built Fort Jesus, in an attempt to colonise, from which time it was governed by a Captain-major.
1638 ~ It formally became a Portuguese colony (subordinated to Goa, as a stronghold on the route to Portuguese India).
1698 ~ The town came under suzerainty of the Sultanate of Oman, but it became subordinate to Zanzibar, prompting regular local rebellions. Oman appointed three consecutive Governors (Wali in Arabic, Liwali in Swahili):
1698 ~ 12 December - Imam Sa`if ibn Sultan
1698 ~ 1728: December - Nasr ibn Abdallah al-Mazru`i
1728 ~ 12 March - Shaykh Rumba
1728 ~ Mombasa returned to Portuguese rule by captains-major Álvaro Caetano de Melo Castro (12 Mar 78–21 Sep 1729), then four new Omani Liwali till 1746, when the last of them made it independent again (disputed by Oman), as the first of its recorded Sultans:
1746–1755 `Ali ibn Uthman al-Mazru`i
1755–1773 Masud ibn Naisr al-Mazru`i
1773–1782 Abdallah ibn Muhammad al-Mazru`i
1782–1811 Ahmad ibn Muhammad al-Mazru`i (b. 17..–d. 1814)
1812–1823 `Abd Allah ibn Ahmad al-Mazru`i (d. 1823)
1823–1826 Sulayman ibn `Ali al-Mazru`i
From 9 February 1824 to 25 July 1826 there was a British protectorate over Mombasa, represented by Governors. Omani rule was restored in 1826; seven liwalis where appointed.
1837 ~ 24 June, it was nominally annexed by sultan of Zanzibar and Muscat Sayyid Saeed Bin Sultan with the assistance of Shaikh Isa Bin Tarif with his tribe Original Utub Al Bin Ali [1].
Isa Bin Tarif , Chief of the Al Bin Ali Al Utbi Tribe, is a descendant of the Original Utub who conquered Bahrain [2].
Fort Jesus in Mombasa was named after Shaikh Isa Bin Tarif .
The name Jesus in Arabic means Isa, therefore it means the Fort of Isa ( Isa Bin Tarif ).
The Al Bin Ali (the tribe of Isa Bin Tarif ) were a politically important group that moved backwards and forwards between Qatar and Bahrain, they were the original dominant group of Zubara area [3].
1887 ~ 25 May, its administration was relinquished to the British East Africa Association.
1898 ~ The sultan formally presented the town to the British.
1896 ~ It soon became the capital of the British East Africa Protectorate and is the sea terminal of the Uganda Railway. Many workers were brought in from British India to build the railway, and the city's fortunes revived.
1895 ~ 1 July it became part of Britain's Kenya protectorate (the coastal strip nominally under Zanzibari sovereignty).
1963 ~ Kenya gets it’s Independence from the British. Mzee Jomo Kenyatta earns his Presidency.
1963 ~ Mombasa was part of the state of Zanzibar until 12 December 1963 when it was ceded to be incorporated into the newly independent state of Kenya.
Geography and Climate
Being a coastal town, Mombasa is characterised by a flat topography. The town of Mombasa is centered on Mombasa island, but extends to the mainland. The island is separated from mainland by two creeks, Port Reitz in South and Tudor Creek in North.
Mombasa has a warm, tropical climate. Winter months are slightly warmer than summer. The amount of rainfall depends essentially on season. The rainiest months are April and May, while in January to February the rainfall is minimal.[4]
It has one of the World’s finest Beaches and natural wildlife to boast about.
Economy
Mombasa's North Beach.Mombasa is a major trade centre and home to Kenya's only large seaport, the Kilindini Harbour. "Kilindini" is an old Swahili term that means "deep". The port is so called because the channel is naturally very deep. Kilindini Harbor is an example of a natural geographic phenomenon called a Ria, formed millions of years ago when the sea level rose and engulfed a river that was flowing from the mainland. Thus giving Mombasa a “Natural Habour.”
Mombasa is the centre of coastal tourism in Kenya. Mombasa island itself is not a main attraction, although many people visit Old Town and Fort Jesus. North of Mombasa island are Nyali, Kenyatta, Bamburi and Shanzu beaches. South of the town there are Shelly, Tiwi and Diani beaches. Several luxury hotels exist on these beaches, while most of cheaper beach hotels are located farther away from the town.
Other local industries include an oil refinery and the Bamburi Cement factory.
Transport
The airport of the city is the Moi International Airport. Mombasa has a railway station and Kenya Railways runs overnight passenger trains from Mombasa to Nairobi, though the service is less extensive than it used to be. Highways connect Mombasa to capital Nairobi, former Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam while northward road link to Malindi and Lamu. Within Mombasa, most local people use Matatus (minibuses) to move between villages and Mombasa Island. Mombasa port is the largest in Kenya but there is little or no scheduled passenger service. International cruise ships frequent the port.
There is no bridge between Mombasa Island and South Coast, instead the distance is served by ferries from Kilindini and Mtongwe to Likoni in South Coast. Operating ferries are aged.
1994 ~ a ferry serving Mtongwe route sank, leaving 270+ people perished.
Culture
Influenced heavily by the Arabs, Swahili's & Indian.
Music
Taarab music, which originates from Zanzibar, has a prominent local presence. Recently, Hip Hop, Reggae & Bhangra has become popular, especially amongst the youth.
Sports
Kenyan Premier League has currently one football team from Mombasa, Bandari F.C. who play at the Mombasa Municipal Stadium. Another team, Coast Stars, relegated from the league. The only Mombasa-based team to win the league is Feisal FC, the 1965 champions.
There are several cricket teams in Mombasa. One of them is Mombasa Sports Club (MSC), whose ground was given ODI status in 2006.
MSC has also a rugby union team playing in the Kenya Cup league, the premier rugby competition in Kenya. Mvita XI men and MSC ladies represent Mombasa in Kenyan field hockey leagues.
The 2007 World Cross Country Championships were held in Mombasa.
Mombasa Marathon is competed annually in Mombasa.
The town also hosts the Biennial classic edition of Safari Rally and annually a Kenya National Rally Championship round.
Townships/Areas
Mombasa Island
Kizingo: Considered the prime residential area of Mombasa.
The State House & Mombasa Golf Club are in Kizingo.
The Aga Khan Academy is an independent school in Kizingo.
Kibokoni: Part of Old Town with Swahili architecture. Fort Jesus is in Kibokoni.
Makadara: Part of Old Town consisting of a high number of descendants of Baluchi soldiers who settled within this area before it developed into a town. The name is derived from the Arabic word Qadr-ur-Rahman meaning fate of God.
Ganjoni: Primarily residential. Middle class.
Tudor: Another middle class residential area with homes and shops.
Outside Mombasa Island
Nyali: Also considered a prime and up-market residential area, it is on the mainland north of the island & is linked by the New Nyali Bridge. It has numerous beach front hotels in the area known as the "North Coast". Nyali has two distinct sections - the posh Old Nyali and the upcoming New Nyali. For many residents, Nyali has now become a self-contained residential area, with a multiplex cinema, shopping malls, banks, schools and post offices. This often eliminates the need for residents to cross the bridge and to go into the congested Mombasa city center. Nyali is home for the Nyali Cinemax complex, the Nyali Golf Club, and some of the most prestigious academic institutions of the Coast Province, examples of which include Oshwal Academy and the Mombasa Academy (both fully-fledged primary and secondary schools) and Tiny Tots Kindergarten (Nyali's oldest and prominent educational institution specialising in early childhood development and education).
Likoni: is a lower class area connected to Mombasa Proper by a ferry. It is south of Mombasa Island and made up of mostly non-Swahili tribes. The ferry was the target of the Likoni Riots of 1997.[6]
Magongo: is an outlying township 10 minutes northwest of Mombasa Island, situated on the Nairobi road. This fringe community lacks any effective electricity, water or sewer systems, with a general lack of infrastructure. Poverty, lack of sanitation, and unemployment continue to be the greatest issues for the Mikindani Township, which have ensured low health and safety standards for its residents. Poor, lower class housing is widespread, ranging from simple stone, two storey structures to mud and earth homes fitted with corrugated iron roofs. Much of the community works outside of the township, within Mombasa Island itself as there is a lack of employment and industry. There are number of small health clinics, shops, and a few public primary schools: Nazarene primary is one school, which is known in particular as being staffed by a revolving volunteer teacher base from Western, and predominately English speaking nations. This small town that serves as a link between the city and Moi International Airport. Magongo is also home to the Akamba Handicraft Cooperative.
Mikindani and Miritini: These are outlying townships on the mainland along the Nairobi road. They are built in the heavy industrial sections of Changamwe and mainly accommodate the working class who either work in the industries, the town centre on the Island and the Port at Kilindini harbor.
Changamwe: Industrial
Bamburi: also an outlying township (fifteen minutes drive) on the way to the town of Malindi. This is area where a cement factory Bamburi is located. Other notable features in the area are Mijikenda public beach and Haller Park, a wildlife conservatory.
Ps: Also note that "I too was Born in Mombasa" thus gives Mombasa it's bright shinning Star.
Sunday 30 November 2008
Saturday 29 November 2008
India~Colonial History
Time Line of Colonial Period
1498 – Vasco De Gama lands in India via the sea route during this time there existed an elaborate Indian ocean economy.
1599 – English East India Company formed
1602 – Dutch East Indian Company formed.
1658 – French East Indian Company formed
1707 – Death of Aurangzeb and end of Mughal rule
1785 – Robert Clive in India
1835 – Maculay plans for civilizing the natives so that a class of people is created who think and do exactly like their masters.
His words were to this effect: I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief.
Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.
(Source: The Awakening Ray, Vol. 4 No. 5, The Gnostic Centre)
The main philosophy was to incrementally indoctrinate the children with principles that are sympathetic to colonisers philosophy. Make future generations weak in mind, body and spirit. Avoid teaching children the basic facts about their own history. Teach them that natural aggression is wrong and docile submission is right. Teach them that any basis of a moral foundation, like the principles of religion, is a weakness to be avoided in the name of freedom and also redefine the concept of patriotism to support colonisers views.
1853 - Sir Arthur Cunningham was the first to archeologicaly examine Harappa in 1853 and 1856. Finding some Kushana coins in the site, he attributed the city to the Kushana period (Imam 1966)
It is shocking to note that about one hundred miles of the Lahore-Multan railway was ballasted by bricks retrieved from the ruins at Harappa by rapacious railroad contractors;
“ No invader of India had ever so ruthlessly and wantonly destroyed her ancient remains as did the railway contractors in the civilized 19th century ”
(Edwin Bryant – Quest for the origins of the vedic culture Page 331-332)
This made the Anglo Saxon realize that the Indians have the remains of civilization just like the Mesopotamia.
The big plan for India was created to eradicate & change the course of history of India.
The British by this time were already doing research on all the other ancient civilization such as Egypt, Mesopotamia etc.
1857 – First War of independence ~ the Sepoy mutiny made British feel against the Muslim Punjabi's of India and also fear of them in the future. This laid the groundwork for a divide and rule policy for the Indian sub-continent.
After the war, Whitehall assumed direct responsibility for the administration of India, ending 250 years of rule by the British East India Company.
This war changed the resolve of the British towards Indians and made them racist towards the native population.
Till then the practice of marriage with the local women was considered normal (especially punjabis and Muslims) and mixed blood was not frowned upon.
After the change in attitude the British made sure that they segregated the native population from themselves and their family and created a class system for previleges and favour.
1863 – Max Muller proposes the Aryan Invasion Theory – Probably due to the absence of any civilization finding this concocted theory was proposed and it took a life of its own. Since the native version of the history was discarded the Harappan phase of Indian civilization was brushed aside.
1867 - Creation of Deoband Muslim school so that ashrafs can come closer to the rest of the local Muslim converts and create a united Muslim front against the British. Till then the ashrafs looked themselves as the higher and the ruling class.
Syed Ali starts the Aligarh Muslim education center to bring Muslims to the forefront of the european education. Deobandis were Muslim reformers who setup the first madrassahs for the purpose of training future clerics.
1875 – First seals of Indian civilization found by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1875( Source: Ancient Civilizations by Hugh Bowden) – This made the Anglo Saxons realize that the Indians have the remains of civilization just like the Mesopotamia.
The big plan for India was created to change the course of history of India by influencing the elite class of the indian soceity and to shape future generations, control the schools.
The British by this time were already doing research on all the other ancient civilization such as Egypt, Mesopotamia etc. They had for the last few centuries already studied the islamic civilization (the first Arabic chair in the west was set up in 1630s).
Indus civilization was not pursued rigorously in case a large section of Indians get nationalistic feelings.
1857 ~ The British had committed a great mistake by accidentally uniting Moslems and Hindus against them in some areas by their policies. They were more careful in their game after that. However, they saw that the true danger to their dominance were the educated Hindus who were in possession of both Western and traditional Indic knowledge.
This was the class that could easily challenge them as it was still wedded to the Hindu ways and capable of using the power of the newly acquired Western knowledge against the British.
1874 ~ Sir John Stratchey (FInance minister): “The existence side by side of these (Hindu and Muslim) hostile creeds is one of the strong points in our political position in India. The better classes of Mohammedans are a source of strength and not weakness. They constitute a comparatively small but an energetic minority of the population whose political interests are identical with ours.”
1879 ~ Sir James Caird of Thanjavur: "There was no class except Brahmins, which was so hostile to the English."
1881 – The first census in British India done. This is a massive project to really classify the largest human group into various classes by their origins and social strata supposidly for benign motive. This has helped the british and later the west to target individual groups for various reliogious and military purposes.
1885 – Indian National Conference formed as a tool of the British government to influence the course of the Independence movement and for the emancipation of the suffering Indians.
The main reason for forming this organization is to create a platform to dissipate the nationalistic sentiments and to control the nature of the debate and pace of the changes in the political class of the Indians.
The political conciousness of the hindus could be moulded and controlled with such platform.
The terms of debate between the Hindus and Muslims were also influenced with the help of key people in the party as it evolved in the next 50 years.
The main philosphy was to shape the political philosophy, infiltrate the government: Whenever and wherever possible place those sympathetic to your philosophy into office at all levels—the higher, the better—so they can sway the direction of the country within every function of government, promising solutions and benefits for all. In such a way you can tilt legislation toward incrementally increasing the control of and dependency on government—a government that you are shaping.
1906 - split of Bengal during Great Game at the heights between the Russians and the British in the Eurasian landmass.
The British needed an ally who would be able to resist the thrust of the Tsars.
Russian expansion started in 1582 and continued to central asia and the pacific till late 1700s.
The next target of the British was Tibet and British were worried about Tibet coming under the influence of Russia.
The plan was to keep India under the British dominion for the next 500 years and was expressed in commonwealth speeches in early 1900-1910.
1911 – Capital shift from Calcutta to New Delhi. This was to reduce the increasing demands for independence in the enlightened Bengal which had the most interaction with the west .
This was a diversion so that the seat of power should be perceived similar to the Mughal empire.
This also broke the deep intellectual nationalist discourse in Bengal and weakened it. The ultimate aim is to make sure that the Muslims would also start seeing a Muslim homeland in Indian sub-continent.
1917 – First World war. Fall of Ottoman empire and creation of middle eastern states under the direct influence of the British. British looked at the Muslims of the middle east and the Muslims of the India as one and buitl relationship with the arabs and the ashrafs of the sub-continent.
1920s - Discovery of mohenjedaro, harrapa – final confirmation of the existence and history of Indian civilization. This may have made the British to push through the plans for division of India.
1930 – Plans to divide the country hatched when the middle east was secure after the first world war and Saudi arabia was already a state. The assessment of the colonial powers was that the history of the natives has been discovered with archeology and they would find their true belonging. It would be difficult to keep the country colonized for a long time.
1939 – Second world war – British still to recover from the first world war and willing to lessen their burden in the empire.
1940 - Lahore resolution for a separate Muslim homeland. Secretly British were siding with the Muslim league/ashrafs to create a homeland for them for future collaboration. There is increasing evidence that Lahore resolution was made in that location and time so that the future homeland of the Pakistan will have Punjab as the cultural/political and military center.
1947 – Indian Independence/partition. And Pakistan formation.
1971 – Split of Pakistan the largest Muslim nation into Pakistan and Bangladesh
1498 – Vasco De Gama lands in India via the sea route during this time there existed an elaborate Indian ocean economy.
1599 – English East India Company formed
1602 – Dutch East Indian Company formed.
1658 – French East Indian Company formed
1707 – Death of Aurangzeb and end of Mughal rule
1785 – Robert Clive in India
1835 – Maculay plans for civilizing the natives so that a class of people is created who think and do exactly like their masters.
His words were to this effect: I have travelled across the length and breadth of India and I have not seen one person who is a beggar, who is a thief.
Such wealth I have seen in this country, such high moral values, people of such calibre, that I do not think we would ever conquer this country, unless we break the very backbone of this nation, which is her spiritual and cultural heritage, and, therefore, I propose that we replace her old and ancient education system, her culture, for if the Indians think that all that is foreign and English is good and greater than their own, they will lose their self-esteem, their native self-culture and they will become what we want them, a truly dominated nation.
(Source: The Awakening Ray, Vol. 4 No. 5, The Gnostic Centre)
The main philosophy was to incrementally indoctrinate the children with principles that are sympathetic to colonisers philosophy. Make future generations weak in mind, body and spirit. Avoid teaching children the basic facts about their own history. Teach them that natural aggression is wrong and docile submission is right. Teach them that any basis of a moral foundation, like the principles of religion, is a weakness to be avoided in the name of freedom and also redefine the concept of patriotism to support colonisers views.
1853 - Sir Arthur Cunningham was the first to archeologicaly examine Harappa in 1853 and 1856. Finding some Kushana coins in the site, he attributed the city to the Kushana period (Imam 1966)
It is shocking to note that about one hundred miles of the Lahore-Multan railway was ballasted by bricks retrieved from the ruins at Harappa by rapacious railroad contractors;
“ No invader of India had ever so ruthlessly and wantonly destroyed her ancient remains as did the railway contractors in the civilized 19th century ”
(Edwin Bryant – Quest for the origins of the vedic culture Page 331-332)
This made the Anglo Saxon realize that the Indians have the remains of civilization just like the Mesopotamia.
The big plan for India was created to eradicate & change the course of history of India.
The British by this time were already doing research on all the other ancient civilization such as Egypt, Mesopotamia etc.
1857 – First War of independence ~ the Sepoy mutiny made British feel against the Muslim Punjabi's of India and also fear of them in the future. This laid the groundwork for a divide and rule policy for the Indian sub-continent.
After the war, Whitehall assumed direct responsibility for the administration of India, ending 250 years of rule by the British East India Company.
This war changed the resolve of the British towards Indians and made them racist towards the native population.
Till then the practice of marriage with the local women was considered normal (especially punjabis and Muslims) and mixed blood was not frowned upon.
After the change in attitude the British made sure that they segregated the native population from themselves and their family and created a class system for previleges and favour.
1863 – Max Muller proposes the Aryan Invasion Theory – Probably due to the absence of any civilization finding this concocted theory was proposed and it took a life of its own. Since the native version of the history was discarded the Harappan phase of Indian civilization was brushed aside.
1867 - Creation of Deoband Muslim school so that ashrafs can come closer to the rest of the local Muslim converts and create a united Muslim front against the British. Till then the ashrafs looked themselves as the higher and the ruling class.
Syed Ali starts the Aligarh Muslim education center to bring Muslims to the forefront of the european education. Deobandis were Muslim reformers who setup the first madrassahs for the purpose of training future clerics.
1875 – First seals of Indian civilization found by Sir Alexander Cunningham in 1875( Source: Ancient Civilizations by Hugh Bowden) – This made the Anglo Saxons realize that the Indians have the remains of civilization just like the Mesopotamia.
The big plan for India was created to change the course of history of India by influencing the elite class of the indian soceity and to shape future generations, control the schools.
The British by this time were already doing research on all the other ancient civilization such as Egypt, Mesopotamia etc. They had for the last few centuries already studied the islamic civilization (the first Arabic chair in the west was set up in 1630s).
Indus civilization was not pursued rigorously in case a large section of Indians get nationalistic feelings.
1857 ~ The British had committed a great mistake by accidentally uniting Moslems and Hindus against them in some areas by their policies. They were more careful in their game after that. However, they saw that the true danger to their dominance were the educated Hindus who were in possession of both Western and traditional Indic knowledge.
This was the class that could easily challenge them as it was still wedded to the Hindu ways and capable of using the power of the newly acquired Western knowledge against the British.
1874 ~ Sir John Stratchey (FInance minister): “The existence side by side of these (Hindu and Muslim) hostile creeds is one of the strong points in our political position in India. The better classes of Mohammedans are a source of strength and not weakness. They constitute a comparatively small but an energetic minority of the population whose political interests are identical with ours.”
1879 ~ Sir James Caird of Thanjavur: "There was no class except Brahmins, which was so hostile to the English."
1881 – The first census in British India done. This is a massive project to really classify the largest human group into various classes by their origins and social strata supposidly for benign motive. This has helped the british and later the west to target individual groups for various reliogious and military purposes.
1885 – Indian National Conference formed as a tool of the British government to influence the course of the Independence movement and for the emancipation of the suffering Indians.
The main reason for forming this organization is to create a platform to dissipate the nationalistic sentiments and to control the nature of the debate and pace of the changes in the political class of the Indians.
The political conciousness of the hindus could be moulded and controlled with such platform.
The terms of debate between the Hindus and Muslims were also influenced with the help of key people in the party as it evolved in the next 50 years.
The main philosphy was to shape the political philosophy, infiltrate the government: Whenever and wherever possible place those sympathetic to your philosophy into office at all levels—the higher, the better—so they can sway the direction of the country within every function of government, promising solutions and benefits for all. In such a way you can tilt legislation toward incrementally increasing the control of and dependency on government—a government that you are shaping.
1906 - split of Bengal during Great Game at the heights between the Russians and the British in the Eurasian landmass.
The British needed an ally who would be able to resist the thrust of the Tsars.
Russian expansion started in 1582 and continued to central asia and the pacific till late 1700s.
The next target of the British was Tibet and British were worried about Tibet coming under the influence of Russia.
The plan was to keep India under the British dominion for the next 500 years and was expressed in commonwealth speeches in early 1900-1910.
1911 – Capital shift from Calcutta to New Delhi. This was to reduce the increasing demands for independence in the enlightened Bengal which had the most interaction with the west .
This was a diversion so that the seat of power should be perceived similar to the Mughal empire.
This also broke the deep intellectual nationalist discourse in Bengal and weakened it. The ultimate aim is to make sure that the Muslims would also start seeing a Muslim homeland in Indian sub-continent.
1917 – First World war. Fall of Ottoman empire and creation of middle eastern states under the direct influence of the British. British looked at the Muslims of the middle east and the Muslims of the India as one and buitl relationship with the arabs and the ashrafs of the sub-continent.
1920s - Discovery of mohenjedaro, harrapa – final confirmation of the existence and history of Indian civilization. This may have made the British to push through the plans for division of India.
1930 – Plans to divide the country hatched when the middle east was secure after the first world war and Saudi arabia was already a state. The assessment of the colonial powers was that the history of the natives has been discovered with archeology and they would find their true belonging. It would be difficult to keep the country colonized for a long time.
1939 – Second world war – British still to recover from the first world war and willing to lessen their burden in the empire.
1940 - Lahore resolution for a separate Muslim homeland. Secretly British were siding with the Muslim league/ashrafs to create a homeland for them for future collaboration. There is increasing evidence that Lahore resolution was made in that location and time so that the future homeland of the Pakistan will have Punjab as the cultural/political and military center.
1947 – Indian Independence/partition. And Pakistan formation.
1971 – Split of Pakistan the largest Muslim nation into Pakistan and Bangladesh
Friday 21 November 2008
Economy - Lehman's Crisis
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about the Lehman crisis. Spending money that they didn't have and going beyond their means is one of the main reasons for their situation today.
In fact that is the cause for the current economic crisis in the US.
When I see all this happening, I can only remember the good old days.
Then, Loan was considered a bad idea.
You were looked down upon those who took loans.
Parents would not give their daughter's hand in marriage to a man with loans.
But of course, the times have changed now. Everyone I know has a loan of some sort.
The buzz word is EMI (Equated Monthly Instalments).
Today, you can buy everything on EMI - a House, a Television, an iPod, BMW 5 series.
I am merely being a critic and analysing the Economy crisis today!
(I too fall in the same category)
Anyway, coming back to what caused the crisis. Imagine having Kshs 2hundred thousand, in your bank account, no regular income, yet buying a house worth Kshs 650,000, in the hope of selling it for a higher price. Even if the price of the house fell by just 5 per cent (that is Kshs 3hundred thousand), you will go bankrupt.
This is what Lehman Brothers did; with around USD 20 billion they went and bought assets worth over USD 600 billion. It was simply foolish and suicidal.
I am sure things would have been different, had I been the head of Lehman brothers.
But who wants a sensible, smart, good looking man like me to head a complex financial institution.
But there are a few lessons that we can learn:
1 Live a balanced life and avoid overspending.
2 Don't buy things we don't need.
3 Don't buy as many Branded good's.
4 Don't buy unnecessary Clothes, Cosmetics, Footwear, Electronics and Fashion accessories, just think before you buy.
5 Not all loans are bad. Loans that are 'Need Based' (Home, Education & Business Loans) can always find a place in your finances against those that are largely 'Want based' (Personal, Car Loans & Credit Cards).
6 Borrow only if repayment is financially comfortable.
7 Try to balance life with work (No one is happy to work in their professions).
Tip: Base your EMI's within 35 to 45 per cent of your monthly income
In that respect, there is one individual American who impressed many millionaires.
Warren Buffet; He has lived in the same ordinary house for over three decades, drives his own medium sized car and leads an extremely regular 'middle class' life.
If that's all it takes for one of the richest person on earth to be happy, why do all of us need to take extra stress just so that we can get things which aren't even essential!
Note: Health is more important than money.
In fact that is the cause for the current economic crisis in the US.
When I see all this happening, I can only remember the good old days.
Then, Loan was considered a bad idea.
You were looked down upon those who took loans.
Parents would not give their daughter's hand in marriage to a man with loans.
But of course, the times have changed now. Everyone I know has a loan of some sort.
The buzz word is EMI (Equated Monthly Instalments).
Today, you can buy everything on EMI - a House, a Television, an iPod, BMW 5 series.
I am merely being a critic and analysing the Economy crisis today!
(I too fall in the same category)
Anyway, coming back to what caused the crisis. Imagine having Kshs 2hundred thousand, in your bank account, no regular income, yet buying a house worth Kshs 650,000, in the hope of selling it for a higher price. Even if the price of the house fell by just 5 per cent (that is Kshs 3hundred thousand), you will go bankrupt.
This is what Lehman Brothers did; with around USD 20 billion they went and bought assets worth over USD 600 billion. It was simply foolish and suicidal.
I am sure things would have been different, had I been the head of Lehman brothers.
But who wants a sensible, smart, good looking man like me to head a complex financial institution.
But there are a few lessons that we can learn:
1 Live a balanced life and avoid overspending.
2 Don't buy things we don't need.
3 Don't buy as many Branded good's.
4 Don't buy unnecessary Clothes, Cosmetics, Footwear, Electronics and Fashion accessories, just think before you buy.
5 Not all loans are bad. Loans that are 'Need Based' (Home, Education & Business Loans) can always find a place in your finances against those that are largely 'Want based' (Personal, Car Loans & Credit Cards).
6 Borrow only if repayment is financially comfortable.
7 Try to balance life with work (No one is happy to work in their professions).
Tip: Base your EMI's within 35 to 45 per cent of your monthly income
In that respect, there is one individual American who impressed many millionaires.
Warren Buffet; He has lived in the same ordinary house for over three decades, drives his own medium sized car and leads an extremely regular 'middle class' life.
If that's all it takes for one of the richest person on earth to be happy, why do all of us need to take extra stress just so that we can get things which aren't even essential!
Note: Health is more important than money.
Thursday 20 November 2008
Fundas of Life
Practice makes perfect.....
But nobody's perfect......so why practice?
Money is not everything.
There's Master Card & Visa.
One should love animals.
They are so tasty.
Save water.
Shower with your girl friend.
Love thy neighbour.
But don't get caught.
Behind every successful man, there is a woman
And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.
Every man should marry
After all, happiness is not the only thing in life.
The wise never marry…..
And when they marry they become otherwise.
Success is a relative term - It brings so many relatives.
God made relatives; Thank God we can choose our friends.
Never put off the work till tomorrow,
what you can put off today.
"Your future depends on your dreams"
So go to sleep
There should be a better way to start a day
Than waking up every morning
"Hard work never killed anybody"
"But why take the risk!"
"Work fascinates me"
"I can look at it for hours!"
When two's company, - three's the result!
The more you learn, the more you know,
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you know - So... Why learn.
A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station.... What more can I say........
But nobody's perfect......so why practice?
Money is not everything.
There's Master Card & Visa.
One should love animals.
They are so tasty.
Save water.
Shower with your girl friend.
Love thy neighbour.
But don't get caught.
Behind every successful man, there is a woman
And behind every unsuccessful man, there are two.
Every man should marry
After all, happiness is not the only thing in life.
The wise never marry…..
And when they marry they become otherwise.
Success is a relative term - It brings so many relatives.
God made relatives; Thank God we can choose our friends.
Never put off the work till tomorrow,
what you can put off today.
"Your future depends on your dreams"
So go to sleep
There should be a better way to start a day
Than waking up every morning
"Hard work never killed anybody"
"But why take the risk!"
"Work fascinates me"
"I can look at it for hours!"
When two's company, - three's the result!
The more you learn, the more you know,
The more you know, the more you forget
The more you forget, the less you know - So... Why learn.
A bus station is where a bus stops.
A train station is where train stops.
On my desk, I have a work station.... What more can I say........
Wednesday 19 November 2008
India lands on the Moon
History Made at 8.31 P.M. Friday 14th November 2008:
MIP successfully ejected and landed on the lunar surface on Friday night.
MIP takes a close up photograph of the Moon’s surface. MIP (Moon Impact Probe) take a Video as it approached the Shackleton crater after separating from Chandrayaan-1.
BANGALORE: “Just as we had promised, we have given India the moon,” said G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, after the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) onboard Chandrayaan-1 successfully ejected and landed on the lunar surface on Friday night. With the tricolour painted on its sides the probe marked India’s presence on the Moon and put India in the elite club of Russia, the U.S., Japan and the European Space Agency, which have impacted probes on the Moon.
Surrounded by scores of space scientists and with the former President and pre-eminent scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam by his side, a jubilant Mr. Nair told presspersons gathered at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC): “It was during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time that the nucleus for a space programme started. It is befitting that on children’s day, celebrated in his honour, that India should plant its flag on the lunar surface,” he said.
The MIP, one of Chandrayaan’s most important scientific payloads, and of undeniable geopolitical importance, had piggy-backed on the lunar craft for about 400,000 km detaching itself successfully from the mother-craft at 8.06 p.m.
After a 25-minute flight, the MIP impacted the Moon’s surface at a speed of 1.6 km per minute, landing on its target near the Shackleton crater on the south pole of the moon, Mr. Nair said.
ISTRAC, situated in the non-descript industrial suburb of Peenya, was on Friday night, a hub of high activity with people lining the streets to greet Mr. Kalam who had flown in from Chandigarh.
“Chandrayaan has kindled a great interest in young minds,” said Mr. Kalam, who had flown in after attending a children’s day function earlier on Friday.
“I hope we will be able to have young astronauts walk on the Moon’s surface in 15 years,” he said.
It could however be sooner, within seven years, that an Indian astronaut will be sent into space, said Mr. Nair.
MIP successfully ejected and landed on the lunar surface on Friday night.
MIP takes a close up photograph of the Moon’s surface. MIP (Moon Impact Probe) take a Video as it approached the Shackleton crater after separating from Chandrayaan-1.
BANGALORE: “Just as we had promised, we have given India the moon,” said G. Madhavan Nair, Chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation, after the Moon Impact Probe (MIP) onboard Chandrayaan-1 successfully ejected and landed on the lunar surface on Friday night. With the tricolour painted on its sides the probe marked India’s presence on the Moon and put India in the elite club of Russia, the U.S., Japan and the European Space Agency, which have impacted probes on the Moon.
Surrounded by scores of space scientists and with the former President and pre-eminent scientist A.P.J. Abdul Kalam by his side, a jubilant Mr. Nair told presspersons gathered at the ISRO Telemetry, Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC): “It was during Jawaharlal Nehru’s time that the nucleus for a space programme started. It is befitting that on children’s day, celebrated in his honour, that India should plant its flag on the lunar surface,” he said.
The MIP, one of Chandrayaan’s most important scientific payloads, and of undeniable geopolitical importance, had piggy-backed on the lunar craft for about 400,000 km detaching itself successfully from the mother-craft at 8.06 p.m.
After a 25-minute flight, the MIP impacted the Moon’s surface at a speed of 1.6 km per minute, landing on its target near the Shackleton crater on the south pole of the moon, Mr. Nair said.
ISTRAC, situated in the non-descript industrial suburb of Peenya, was on Friday night, a hub of high activity with people lining the streets to greet Mr. Kalam who had flown in from Chandigarh.
“Chandrayaan has kindled a great interest in young minds,” said Mr. Kalam, who had flown in after attending a children’s day function earlier on Friday.
“I hope we will be able to have young astronauts walk on the Moon’s surface in 15 years,” he said.
It could however be sooner, within seven years, that an Indian astronaut will be sent into space, said Mr. Nair.
Kenya Inherits 54 States
Congratulations Pr Obama A Barack.
I hear People quoting that Kenya could be the 55th state ... of USA
But I disagree....
I think Kenya just Inherited 54 States of America.
Kenya 54 - USA 1
(I just Like the Scoreboard)
Quotes of the Day !!!
Death is not the greatest loss in life.
The greatest loss is what dies inside us, while we live...!!!!
People Laugh At Me Because I am Different , I Laugh At Them Because They All Are Same....... That’s Call Attitude.
In times of difficulties, comes one opportunity. ... Live well.. Love well..
Be in touch with your true self... be silent once a day, Every day and listen to the heart that speaks to u!
Impossible Itself Consists I M Possible.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
Better die standing than living on your knees....!!! !!!!!
TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation. TRUST !!!
The greatest loss is what dies inside us, while we live...!!!!
People Laugh At Me Because I am Different , I Laugh At Them Because They All Are Same....... That’s Call Attitude.
In times of difficulties, comes one opportunity. ... Live well.. Love well..
Be in touch with your true self... be silent once a day, Every day and listen to the heart that speaks to u!
Impossible Itself Consists I M Possible.
People make mistakes. We are allowed to make mistakes. But the actions we take while in a rage will haunt us forever.
Better die standing than living on your knees....!!! !!!!!
TRUST is a very important factor for all relationships. When trust is broken, it is the end of the relationship. Lack of trust leads to suspicion, suspicion generates anger, anger causes enmity and enmity may result in separation. TRUST !!!
Usingizi
Usingizi... Nautafuta Siupati... Si Usiku Si Mtana
Wanipita Wakati Na Mato Nimeyabana
Silali Siwafiti Na Gomba Sijatafuna
Leo Hii Ni Wiki Wallahi Sijaufumba
Na Wala Sishikiki Najifungia Na Chumba
Natafuna Mishakiki Pilau Na Kachumba
Wale Wano Fikiri Nisemayo Ni Porojo
Musitit Sukari Kwenye Wali Wa Pojo
Mutalewa Chakari Yawatoke Mikojo
Hapa Mangi Sikalimu Yatosha Naloyaamba
Na Kama Nimeshtumu Poleni Nawaomba
Mimi Sina Wazimu Nikinya Najitamba
Usingizi ... Nautafuta Siupati... Si Usiku Si Mtana
Wanipita Wakati Na Mato Nimeyabana
Silali Siwafiti Na Gomba Sijatafuna
Leo Hii Ni Wiki Wallahi Sijaufumba
Na Wala Sishikiki Najifungia Na Chumba
Natafuna Mishakiki Pilau Na Kachumba
Wale Wano Fikiri Nisemayo Ni Porojo
Musitit Sukari Kwenye Wali Wa Pojo
Mutalewa Chakari Yawatoke Mikojo
Hapa Mangi Sikalimu Yatosha Naloyaamba
Na Kama Nimeshtumu Poleni Nawaomba
Mimi Sina Wazimu Nikinya Najitamba
Usingizi ... Nautafuta Siupati... Si Usiku Si Mtana
Tuesday 18 November 2008
Inspiring Quotes .....
Some of the Inspiring Quotes which tell not to give up in life so you can learn something from these Quotes
Falling down is not defeat... defeat is when you refuse to get up...
Ship is always safe at shore... but is not built for it
When you’re successful your well wishers know who you are.
When you are unsuccessful you know who your well wishers were.
It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him / her
Never expect things to happen... struggle & make them happen.
Never expect yourself to be given a good value... create a value of your own
If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity.
But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shine’s like a pearl... So choose the best place where you would shine...
Kuldip Attalia - Get Rich Or Die Tryin...
Falling down is not defeat... defeat is when you refuse to get up...
Ship is always safe at shore... but is not built for it
When you’re successful your well wishers know who you are.
When you are unsuccessful you know who your well wishers were.
It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater to tell him / her
Never expect things to happen... struggle & make them happen.
Never expect yourself to be given a good value... create a value of your own
If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity.
But if it falls on a leaf of lotus it shine’s like a pearl... So choose the best place where you would shine...
Kuldip Attalia - Get Rich Or Die Tryin...
Scrabble Time ......
When You Rearrange The Letters
Dormitory - Dirty Room
Presbyterian - Best In Prayer
Astronomer - Moon Starer
Desperation - A Rope Ends It
The Eyes - They See
George Bush - He Bugs Gore
The Morse Code - Here Come Dots
Slot Machines - Cash Lost In Me
Animosity - Is No Amity
Election Results – Lies, Let's Recount
Mother-In-Law - Woman Hitler
Snooze Alarms - Alas! No More Z 'S
A Decimal Point – I’m A Dot In Place
The Earthquakes - That Queer Shake
Eleven Plus Two - Twelve Plus One
And For The Grand Finale:
President Clinton Of The USA - (With No Letters Left Over And Using Each Letter Only Once):To Copulate He Finds Interns
Information Sharing
Useful phrases you can use in the workplace...
If you don’t know what it is, call it an ‘issue’…
If you don’t know how it works, call it a ‘process’…
If you don’t know whether it’s worth doing, call it an ‘option’…
If you don’t know how it could possibly be done call it a ‘challenge’ or an ‘exciting opportunity’…
If you want to confuse people, ask them about ‘customers’…
If you don’t know how to do something, ‘empower’ someone else to do it for you…
If you can’t take decisions, ‘create space’ for others to operate…
Never criticize or boast, call it ‘information sharing’…
Never call something a failure or mistake, it is a ‘positive learning experience’…
Never argue, have an ‘adult conversation’…
If you need a decision, call a ‘workshop’ to ‘network’ and ‘ground the issue’, followed by an ‘away day’ to ‘position the elephant in the room’ and achieve ‘buy-in’…
If you don’t know what it is, call it an ‘issue’…
If you don’t know how it works, call it a ‘process’…
If you don’t know whether it’s worth doing, call it an ‘option’…
If you don’t know how it could possibly be done call it a ‘challenge’ or an ‘exciting opportunity’…
If you want to confuse people, ask them about ‘customers’…
If you don’t know how to do something, ‘empower’ someone else to do it for you…
If you can’t take decisions, ‘create space’ for others to operate…
Never criticize or boast, call it ‘information sharing’…
Never call something a failure or mistake, it is a ‘positive learning experience’…
Never argue, have an ‘adult conversation’…
If you need a decision, call a ‘workshop’ to ‘network’ and ‘ground the issue’, followed by an ‘away day’ to ‘position the elephant in the room’ and achieve ‘buy-in’…
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Attalia Trophy
Open University MK
