Ramadan in Nigeria
It has been four weeks since we landed in the capital city of Nigeria. Initial fears of malignant mosquitoes and risky reptiles crawling around have withered but not over, it is still alive in the morbid imagination that takes over me in the scary silence of the secluded room. Even friendly encounters with the colourful lizards frolicking in the lawns and roads, freezes my feet. During the evening hours, I usually confine myself within the familiar walls of my comfortable abode, thanks to the friendly advises of the fellow residents. They cautioned us against the prowling mosquitoes coming out of their safe hidings for their routine postprandial walk (with their extended family) when the tiered sun is on its way back to the safety of the darkness.
It was not just another Saturday - ignoring the advice was the only possible choice ,I broke the self imposed curfew to have a glimpse of the delicate shy crescent that would mark the beginning of the ninth month of the Arabic calendar –holy month of Ramadan*. After failing to find the trace of the moon in the thinly overcast sky, I returned back to my residence with a profound sense of disappointment
Solitary place, unfamiliar culture and elusive sense of objective are distressing and disturbing but it also provides an opportunity to look into the mirror of past and cherish the beautiful memories. There was a time- long way back during my school days when the moon sighting particularly for Ramadan* and Eid* used to be exciting and thrilling occasions. We used to stand in the open sky outside the mosque after Maghrib prayer* competing for the first glimpse of the crescent.
Ramadan* is an auspicious month of spiritual reflection, worship and charity. Indian culture of Iftar parties, aroma of traditional Iftar, delectable and mouthwatering delicacies makes it further special.
Alas –The fervor and enthusiasm of the yesteryears are nothing more than faded memories covered with the dust of time. Needless to state -I would miss the unique buzz and excitement of the weekend Iftar parties and the delicious Iftar.
The Great Fall- Dwindling Dreams
World was watching with abated breadth - Journalists , economic experts and rating agencies across the globe were providing the minute by minute update from the proverbial boxing ring where the arch rivals Republication and Democrats were fighting for one-upmanship. Largest economy of the world was on verge of debt default that has already crossed $14.3 trillion (currently borrowing at roughly $47,000 per second.).Another interesting insight comes from the fact that the single biggest holder of American public debt is the Chinese government, which owns some 26 per cent of U.S. Treasury securities (a total of $1.16 trillion worth). Economic giant of 20th century is tumbling and trembling in 21st century.
Fall of American economic prowess does not augur well for the economy of the rest of the world as witnessed during the most recent of the US recessions caused by the subprime mortgage crisis. Its reverberation will be heard across the globe – though scale may vary.Economic progress, affluent society, unlimited opportunities and the razzmatazz of the American cities have attracted many young professionals from India. For the great Indian middle class dream of going to USA is cultivated by the young generation throughout their formative years. Those who accomplish are respected by the society, admired by the friends, envied by the peers and their parents feel proud and elevated in their neighborhood.
Economic downturn will reduce the opportunities for the fellow Indian computer savvy professionals who nurtured their American dream for years. Their desire to join the self proclaimed elite club of NRI and enjoy the glitz and glamour offered by the American cities may shatter like a sand castle washed away by the rising tide.
Human history is full of the stories of rise and fall of the companies, communities and countries. Every fall and decline of the country’s economic and political influence has its own dynamics – It creates serious and complex social and political imbroglio that strengthens the hand of jingoists and encourages the policy of protectionism
It is time for the new generation to chisel and reshape their dreams, to discover and explore the new destination. I would conclude the discussion with the beautiful and pertinent phrase- ‘Move with the cheese’ (This phrase was coined by Spencer Johnson in her motivational book ‘Who Moved My Cheese’)
Nigerian Literature
Literature is the mirror of the society- it reflects the cultural, social and political conditions of the people through the captivating tales of romance and revolution, heart wrenching stories of human tragedy and the anecdotes about redemption and hope. The written tradition of literature was introduced to Nigeria in the 15th century by Arab scholars and trader that was further enriched and augmented with the subsequent arrival of Christian missionaries. Nigerian literature in English has evolved over a period of time thanks to the collective efforts and endurance of the great writers that include Nobel laureate ‘Wole Soyinka’ ,’Chinua Achebe’, Amos Tutuola ,Abu Bakar Gimba and Ben Okri who won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1991 for his book "The Famished Road"..
Nigerian women writers have made significant contribution to the development and evolution of literature in Nigeria. Flora Nwapa was the first woman in Africa to publish her work that inspired many other feminist writers. Renewed female writers of Nigeria include ‘Buchi Emecheta’, ‘Zulu Sofola’ and ‘ Zaynab Alkali’ who attained prominence with her debut novel ‘The Stillborn’.
_____________________________________________________
*Glossary:
Iftar: Meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan, to break the day's fast
Ramadan: It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. For Muslims it is the month of fasting.
Maghrib Prayer: The Maghrib prayer is prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims
Eid: An Arabic term meaning "festival" and more specifically any of the following festivals celebrated by practicing Muslims
Eid ul-Fitr which marks the end of the month of Ramadan
Eid al-Adha which is celebrated to commemorate prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God
It has been four weeks since we landed in the capital city of Nigeria. Initial fears of malignant mosquitoes and risky reptiles crawling around have withered but not over, it is still alive in the morbid imagination that takes over me in the scary silence of the secluded room. Even friendly encounters with the colourful lizards frolicking in the lawns and roads, freezes my feet. During the evening hours, I usually confine myself within the familiar walls of my comfortable abode, thanks to the friendly advises of the fellow residents. They cautioned us against the prowling mosquitoes coming out of their safe hidings for their routine postprandial walk (with their extended family) when the tiered sun is on its way back to the safety of the darkness.
It was not just another Saturday - ignoring the advice was the only possible choice ,I broke the self imposed curfew to have a glimpse of the delicate shy crescent that would mark the beginning of the ninth month of the Arabic calendar –holy month of Ramadan*. After failing to find the trace of the moon in the thinly overcast sky, I returned back to my residence with a profound sense of disappointment
Solitary place, unfamiliar culture and elusive sense of objective are distressing and disturbing but it also provides an opportunity to look into the mirror of past and cherish the beautiful memories. There was a time- long way back during my school days when the moon sighting particularly for Ramadan* and Eid* used to be exciting and thrilling occasions. We used to stand in the open sky outside the mosque after Maghrib prayer* competing for the first glimpse of the crescent.
Ramadan* is an auspicious month of spiritual reflection, worship and charity. Indian culture of Iftar parties, aroma of traditional Iftar, delectable and mouthwatering delicacies makes it further special.
Alas –The fervor and enthusiasm of the yesteryears are nothing more than faded memories covered with the dust of time. Needless to state -I would miss the unique buzz and excitement of the weekend Iftar parties and the delicious Iftar.
The Great Fall- Dwindling Dreams
World was watching with abated breadth - Journalists , economic experts and rating agencies across the globe were providing the minute by minute update from the proverbial boxing ring where the arch rivals Republication and Democrats were fighting for one-upmanship. Largest economy of the world was on verge of debt default that has already crossed $14.3 trillion (currently borrowing at roughly $47,000 per second.).Another interesting insight comes from the fact that the single biggest holder of American public debt is the Chinese government, which owns some 26 per cent of U.S. Treasury securities (a total of $1.16 trillion worth). Economic giant of 20th century is tumbling and trembling in 21st century.
Fall of American economic prowess does not augur well for the economy of the rest of the world as witnessed during the most recent of the US recessions caused by the subprime mortgage crisis. Its reverberation will be heard across the globe – though scale may vary.Economic progress, affluent society, unlimited opportunities and the razzmatazz of the American cities have attracted many young professionals from India. For the great Indian middle class dream of going to USA is cultivated by the young generation throughout their formative years. Those who accomplish are respected by the society, admired by the friends, envied by the peers and their parents feel proud and elevated in their neighborhood.
Economic downturn will reduce the opportunities for the fellow Indian computer savvy professionals who nurtured their American dream for years. Their desire to join the self proclaimed elite club of NRI and enjoy the glitz and glamour offered by the American cities may shatter like a sand castle washed away by the rising tide.
Human history is full of the stories of rise and fall of the companies, communities and countries. Every fall and decline of the country’s economic and political influence has its own dynamics – It creates serious and complex social and political imbroglio that strengthens the hand of jingoists and encourages the policy of protectionism
It is time for the new generation to chisel and reshape their dreams, to discover and explore the new destination. I would conclude the discussion with the beautiful and pertinent phrase- ‘Move with the cheese’ (This phrase was coined by Spencer Johnson in her motivational book ‘Who Moved My Cheese’)
Nigerian Literature
Literature is the mirror of the society- it reflects the cultural, social and political conditions of the people through the captivating tales of romance and revolution, heart wrenching stories of human tragedy and the anecdotes about redemption and hope. The written tradition of literature was introduced to Nigeria in the 15th century by Arab scholars and trader that was further enriched and augmented with the subsequent arrival of Christian missionaries. Nigerian literature in English has evolved over a period of time thanks to the collective efforts and endurance of the great writers that include Nobel laureate ‘Wole Soyinka’ ,’Chinua Achebe’, Amos Tutuola ,Abu Bakar Gimba and Ben Okri who won the Booker Prize for Fiction in 1991 for his book "The Famished Road"..
Nigerian women writers have made significant contribution to the development and evolution of literature in Nigeria. Flora Nwapa was the first woman in Africa to publish her work that inspired many other feminist writers. Renewed female writers of Nigeria include ‘Buchi Emecheta’, ‘Zulu Sofola’ and ‘ Zaynab Alkali’ who attained prominence with her debut novel ‘The Stillborn’.
_____________________________________________________
*Glossary:
Iftar: Meal served at the end of the day during Ramadan, to break the day's fast
Ramadan: It is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. For Muslims it is the month of fasting.
Maghrib Prayer: The Maghrib prayer is prayed just after sunset, is the fourth of five formal daily prayers performed by practicing Muslims
Eid: An Arabic term meaning "festival" and more specifically any of the following festivals celebrated by practicing Muslims
Eid ul-Fitr which marks the end of the month of Ramadan
Eid al-Adha which is celebrated to commemorate prophet Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son for God
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