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No.8, August 2008 The Importance of Communication
The moment I say anything about communication, I get a feeling that I am not being understood. Not understanding has nothing to do with our intelligence. It has everything to do with our attitude.
But it is important for us to try and understand each other. We are singularly lucky that we are born in an age where we have some of the highest developed languages, to communicate. When the human beings had not even learnt to use words to communicate, they would still use tedious sign language to try to understand each other, because the need to understand was ever present in human life. With the society becoming more and more complex by the day, the need to understand by the good use of language, in order to communicate better, has only grown more. BaKhabar is one such instrument to communicate. This instrument has the potential to train you in language skills, as well as help you to use communication for better understanding of each other. Better understanding helps you organize, and better organization helps you to achieve your common goal, such as let’s say, to save your religious identity which is under pressure of getting blurred.
When 1 said good use of language, it was to distinguish communication from noise- making. Communication has little to do with sound bytes. It has its own set of rules and requirements, because mere use of sound bytes results in cacophony which is as blank as silence. It has a lot to do with reading/listening, and concentrating for a while for the meaning; It has to do with listening with love and affection, and only much later it has to do with replying back by observing all the rules of etiquette. To my common-sense readers, my exhortation is not to ask me to write less difficult, but to try to discern the meanings (take help of dictionaries and friends and reflect; at least I do) because I will be failing in my duty if we do not together climb up to a higher level of understanding. But please do not get disheartened either. You are free to write me any which way you can. Even Roman Urdu will do for us.
(Manzurul Haque)
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The Murder Most Foul
by Md Enam Khan
The twin murders of late Janab Manzar Alam sb and his wife, in the dead of night on the 2nd of July is an event of diabolic proportion. This loss no doubt was a personal loss to all of us, residents of Haroon Nagar, which has kept us stupefied for all these days. By the time this piece comes to public view I am sure much of the investigation of the case would have proceeded along the professional lines. But this tragic incident does throw up a number of issues of general public interest.
The way deed was done has little parallels in the history of crime and is clearly indicative of a general deterioration in the deterrent capacity of the law of the land as is under practice today, in Bihar generally, and in Patna in particular. It is obvious that this kind of incident, where a totally defenseless person in the midst of his sleep, inside his well secured house, is brutally murdered, has a potential for unseen adverse consequences in any society. It is hoped that the police authorities and the judicial authorities have taken due note of the incident with the seriousness it deserves. It is understood that the Bihar Administrative Service Association (BASA) and the Haroon Nagar Society have placed a demand for a CBI enquiry into the matter. It will certainly add to the prestige and credibility of the present government if the investigation is held by the CBI.
Having said that, we cannot absolve the citizens of their own responsibilities. The strain under which police agencies are working is public knowledge. Investigations by the local police station on a modern scientific line is just not possible until the police department is overhauled thoroughly. But is there any pressure from the citizenry in this regard?
Under the circumstances the best solution is self-help. There is a need for Muslim mohallas and colonies to organize vigilance groups and vigilance forces. The vigilance groups should be alert to the presence of intruders and should not hesitate in asking the strangers a question or two. At night, surprise rounds of police mobile patrolling must be demanded by the residents but at the same time own groups should also monitor the strangers and observe even the police parties to see how they work. Every household must have powerful torches and whistles ever ready and at night licensed arms should be kept in readiness by their respective owners. Fortnightly club meetings must be organized in every mohalla to discuss common problems, after every second and fourth Saturday Meghrib or Esaha namaz. 
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