On the 63rd Independence Day ....

PEOPLE, AND FEELINGS OF NATIONALISM

Today we are Independent, enjoying all Liberties and Freedoms provided by the Constitution of the Democratic Republic: INDIA . But I see that we have become selfish.

Our country witnessed the wars of 48, 63, 65, 71, 99 and also the tensions at various other instances within the country. If your life is so precious to you, then were they fools who gave up their lives for the country? But no common man can understand what it feels like to die for your country. Intoxicated by the love for motherland the passion, the zeal, the fervour you have when you are defending your country at the war front is outlandish. The soldier says, “I regret I’ve but 1 life to lay down for my country”. They are honoured but sadly posthumous. What about those who are guarding our borders right now living away from their families? They say that they can feel, the letters they receive from their families are soggy. Do they receive the respect they deserve?

But then people are not totally indifferent to their sacrifices. Everyone is so keen to forward an email that spreads sentiments of nationalism, but do they understand it. Or does its impact on them lasts for more than 5 minutes? People wish each other Happy Independence Day; do they understand what they are saying? It is just lip service. We don’t understand what freedom is because we haven’t been enslaved. To some it’s nothing more than a gazetted holiday. Do they realize how grateful they should be to those who lost everything to get us freedom? Those were brave souls who had this sentiment of love for their motherland. It was so strong that no adversaries could ever break it. They used to sing songs in praise of the motherland and alike on their way when they were being transported together to jails in ships or other such instances when they used to get together. That used to be their mode of entertainment.

With Independence we also witnessed the Partition of the Country into India and Pakistan. Was it required is though debatable? Do we ever tend to realize how sad was the partition of India? What a human massacre it was? 15 million people moved across the border. About 1 million of them were killed. How people killed their age old neighbours in frenzy? How people killed their own wives and daughters? How people awaited death ?How harsh it was physically, mentally and emotionally to go through all that trauma? People lost their loved ones, their property, their whole life’s savings; they were looted in every sense. People died of hunger, of diseases they caught on the way, no drinking water. The lucky ones got water from the paddy fields. The people were uprooted from their established homes and forced to live as refugees. So many lives were changed permanently. Some even today tell their grandchildren about the beautiful houses they had in Lahore. The country burned during that time.

AH !! Today, we are celebrating Independance Day... But many of those who actually devoted their lives for this cause couldn't celebrate (on) the day we actually got Independence. Either they were dead, mourning or on the other side of the Radcliffe Line.

What did we learn? We still fight many a times on the lines of religion or caste. But these days there has been a national awakening in this regard; I am glad we are really becoming secular and are on the right track.

Yes, we have our internal issues but, we stand together as one family during hardships and celebrations. Whenever there is an attack on the country (it is a pity that I've to include it as a regular affair), a natural calamity in any part of the country, the whole country empathizes. Aid from all over the country reaches the affected area. All we need is more such benevolent people. Almost, the whole country celebrates festivals like Diwali and we are equally happy for our Muslim brothers when they celebrate Eid. The whole country passionately watches the cricket matches and cheers for the national side. At such times we forget our petty issues.

There are so many issues ahead of us-poverty, population, education, corruption, terrorism, communal harmony, social vices and environment. It is an irony that all these problems are created by people and only people can solve them.

On this Independence Day, Lets resolve to make India a "Superpower" and make our forefathers proud.

Happy Independance Day...

A Talk WIth Yourself....(on satisfaction)

If you summarize a paragraph into few lines ...it becomes poetry... n i guess not all understand it...

Temporary Satisfaction= Compromise = Tool for getting over Failure....

A trick to trick the mind... Look (at people) above you while climbing , below you when you slip a few steps; Close your eyes and remember your Lord during a freefall.....

Lord Mahavira rightly preached:
The world is full of misery and sorry. The cause of misery and sorrow is desire. The way to peace is overcoming desire i.e. being satisfied.

The question is when to be satisfied? And does being satisfied means inaction?

Had we been satisfied with whatever knowledge we had, we should not have studied after K.G. or why are we studying any further? Had late Mr. Dhirubhai Ambani been satisfied with all that he had before, we wouldn’t have got the Ambani Group? Or in general if man had been satisfied, would we have witnessed the technological revolution.

A stupid personal e.g. While I was in Haridwar for summer training, I changed my accommodation 6 times in 3 weeks. The last one had a double-bed, lobby, bathroom toilet, kitchen, T.V., air cooler. They also served food thrice a day while the first one had only 2 sq metres of area and it was on the top floor and terribly hot. And it’s funny that the last one was cheapest. I could have been satisfied and could have compromised with comforts as I don’t carry any such whims or fancies but why to refuse if I could get it at a cheaper price. And believe me I had better things to do than looking for rooms. After I got sixth one, I could say I was a bit satisfied.

Satisfaction can be short term or long term. Short term satisfaction is related with short term goals. While long term satisfaction is what we long for and work for our entire lives, to achieve when we are retiring from work or from life.

With your every action or your circumstances, you can either be satisfied or unsatisfied. The benefit of being unsatisfied is only when you can change what you are unsatisfied with i.e. your actions, your circumstances.

So, it is best to be satisfied until you find an alternative if you want to remain sane. The last line contradicts itself.

How can you be satisfied if you are searching for an alternative? So does that mean you should not look for an alternative i.e. satisfaction=inaction? No, it means you accept what you have for the time being and would try to change things for the better as well but won’t mind if things remain the way they are for a stipulated time that you define for yourself. This is temporary satisfaction.

And the answer to the question” when to be satisfied” is totally personal. But I can suggest that at least one should not be satisfied in the prime time of our lives, when we are working to build up a career for ourselves and a good future for our country. I like this particular campaign of Dainik Jagran “zidd karo, duniya badlo”. Here I’ve just shifted perspective from personal satisfaction and achievement to National Progress but it helps me convey the message.

You should have a goal, and passion to achieve it. Satisfaction will come automatically when you achieve it. But what if you fail? Some people can’t handle failures that well. Sometimes you are broken down to the roots. Think of a time when you were too much distressed (other than the present situation if you are today), when you couldn’t see any hope. What happened after that? Time didn’t stop. You moved on, world moved on. Eventually you lived by it or you got a solution. By personal experience I am telling there is always a solution for any problem, any situation howsoever grave they may be.
And if you want inspiration at those hard times look at any poor rickshaw puller or labourer or female labourers who are working in those adverse conditions for survival of themselves and so many other mouths to feed they would be having at their homes. It is not that I pity them rather I admire them. If you think you have a troubled relationship with some stupid guy or girl, try to know some of these stories. Some women have drunkard husbands, bad in-laws who beat them, harass them. It will bring tears to your eyes. And if you want to see what satisfaction looks like, look at any father’s face who works hard to feed his children and family with his share of bread.

Never Give Up !!

My Country, People, and our Moral Obligations!!

I’ve a dream-- To see my country developed, each and every citizen educated,everyone having the basic amenities of life- food, shelter, clothing (and education), no corruption in society, negligible crime rate, a feeling of unity and brotherhood amongst all, peace, an ideal democracy, everybody sincerely engrossed in task of national progress, everyone performing their duties earnestly, and Indians achieving laurels in the international arena. And you would be very pleased to know that it is in our hands.

ROUTINE CONDUCT
I was about to begin with ---“Today,………….”
But I don’t know if it has started to happen “today” or it was like this since always because it hasn’t changed since I’ve held my senses. Though, in my personal circle it has degraded as I have grown older. And yes the fast paced life style does seem to aggravate the gravity of the situation.

What kind of nationalism or national unity we talk about? We people are so hypocrite! We envy each other, our so called neighbours, our colleagues and even friends. Some even envy their relatives. This is the bitter truth. The people harass the vulnerable womenfolk wherever they get opportunity, in buses, in trains, at public places, having no regard of age whatsoever. This is sick.
Why do we have to be protective of our women? Well, this would be like demanding a crime free society first. But it is a pity that we don’t even expect that could ever happen. I believe United States has the best Police Force, but their jails aren’t enough in capacity to accommodate all of the prisoners and they have to leave some of them on parole. The point is-- that is it the Police and fear of the punishment that should check crime?

And similarly about other crimes, if the economic divide between the rich and poor grows like this, crime rate is definitely going to increase. The society would become unsafe for the rich and they will grow more hostile towards the poor and there will be tension in the society than brotherhood. And why am I talking as if it is hypothetical and might happen sometime in the future, when this even happens in the present.

There was this widely debated issue of reservation. The government has been able to successfully implement it fairly without any disadvantage to the general category people. I wish some deserving people are really helped by it.

If we throw some light on smaller daily instances, we would find unnecessary tension and hostility breeding among people, even among women. That shouldn’t be there. Why do some women have superiority complex? They are indifferent to the feelings of the destitute and are cold with their friends as well. I simply laugh at their situation.

When you are traveling abroad if you spot any Indian of whatever religion or caste, you feel glad from inside and tend to mix up with them and share information. They put aside all those fake masks that isolate them from others in their own country. Had they met each other in some mall in New Delhi would they even notice each other? You don’t value what you have in plenty unless you are deprived of it.

Then there are instances of road rage. Can’t we greet a fellow being with a smile and overlook their minor mistakes. And on the other hand can’t those people accept their mistake gracefully, if they’ve committed.

I am not talking about some ideal land. All this is not so hard to implement if we just resolve to behave well.

That best portion of a good man's life; His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. --William Wordsworth

On other instances when people push, quarrel with each other in queues for paying bills or where food is being distributed.
Even kids begging in front of temples fight with each other for alms. It is sad. We have to struggle amongst ourselves to exist. Some in our country have so much extra lying in their bank accounts that they won’t even use in their lifetimes while others won’t get to see enough for their survival throughout their lifetime. So many people starve to death and so many die due to no medical aid.
The point is we should be kind, gentle and civilized at least at places where it isn’t about survival.

Corruption: how is that justified? When a favour is available to you after paying the money why isn’t it available before? Oh! Because it’s illegal. Then why do you need it? Does it help save an innocent life? If someone’s life is at stake I would break a law if I have to because there is a law above the law of the land that I need to follow i.e. the law of humanity. Gandhi ji broke so many unjust laws of the British because he believed that. We all remember the Dandi March and breaking of the Salt Laws. I don’t mean that you get up tomorrow morning and start breaking the laws of the land. Use your brains. And Yes Gandhi Ji had to go to jail many a times.

ARGUMENTS GIVEN BY PEOPLE TO JUSTIFY THEIR BEHAVIOR

The rich tell the poor. Don’t beg. Work for a living. They also tell this sometimes to the small children who approach them. Why don’t they tell them to go to school? I believe only education can transform the country. What if they go to schools? Are the teachers over there teaching with sincerity? Not many. But there is hope. There are good people like my grandmother who taught science in government school/s for 40 years and did her duty with extreme dedication. Her students have got good jobs and they respect her from the bottom of their hearts. Personally I am indebted to her. She is the one because of whom I’ve achieved whatever little I have in my life. She taught me in my building years and I’ve not forgotten a word. That’s not the point though. The point is that one should do his duty honestly.

You got to be rational. Sometimes you just know that the other person’s problem is genuine.”Don’t beg, work for a living”. It is not a computer program that tells you not to help any poor. Nor does it help you escape your moral obligation to help a fellow being in need. If everyone thought like that, people like Mother Teresa would never have been born. If you really want them to work for a living why don’t you help at least 1 of them to be able to stand on his/her feet? You could send one of them to a school. Or get someone a job if u can.

If you inculcate in yourself as a permanent virtue, a fraction of gentleness that you express when you are with your girl friend on your first date, it would help avert a lot of problems.

The feeling of empathy is gone. Or perhaps there is no response to it. Just 15 years back things used to be quite different. People used to have a lot of time for friends, relatives and neighbours. Now, the people are so busy sorting their own lives that they don’t even have time to think about others, our middle class especially. Plus the idiot box and similar stuff has come into their lives. If you conduct a survey, there would be so less no. of people who could say they are happy. Everyone has one problem or the other. Someone’s some close relative is ill; someone has to arrange for dowry for his daughter’s marriage(though it’s banned, but there are a lot of things that are not ethical but are still prevailing in the society) or has financial problems. Some woman’s husband is a drunkard, son isn’t good in studies and is wasting their hard earned money and extorts money from them. Some mothers only son died in an accident. People have all sorts of domestic, health or financial problems. Sometimes they are just helpless in front of the problems. The one in problem seeks for every possible solution. You can see those practically illiterate people fooling other suffering people in the name of rites and black magic or something. It is a pathetic site to watch when a helpless lady of the house is sitting next to a so called “saint” with long tears in her eyes and the “Baba” trying to read her hand and perform rites to solve her problems. But they say faith can move mountains. Even if it just provides temporary solace (psychological effect) to the grief stricken soul, I would consider it useful.

So is it justified that if we have our own problems, we can’t help others? Well, if we can’t help a situation, we should at least avert from further deteriorating it(i repeat,by at least performing our duties honestly). What about the students of good colleges, they could spare a little time?
You join the NSS and only bother to collect the certificate at the end of the year. And what about “Each One, Teach One”! If you don’t have time today, maybe tomorrow when you settle down or after retiring but do teach someone. You owe society a little. We all want to see our country amongst the most powerful in the world.

Students often say that they don't have the right to distribute in charity their parents hard earned money. Well if you have the right to spend it on your girl friend at Dominoes, i guess you have the right to donate it for a good cause as well. And its not just monetarily that you can help someone.

Some argue,"what difference can I(a single person) make ? boondh-boondh se hi saagar banta hai! Gandhi Ji said," main akela hi chala tha , karavan banta gaya." "Be the change you want to see in the world".

I also wish to talk about Nationalism as well. (I' ll do that in my next article).

So what do I conclude out of all this. If we people earnestly resolve to build a strong moral character in ourselves, and stick to its ideals and principles, we can make a difference. Do whatever is within your means to help the mankind, environment, country, and world. Love all fellow beings.

“Do your bit and leave the rest to us”. I read this in a hotel. Catering to their environmental concerns they had put this tag up near the bed. We could put this tag on our beds if we didn’t want our bed sheets to be changed (washed), so that detergents are not drained into the water bodies. Well, I was impressed and btw we did use the tag.

All I can ask you is --- “Do Your Bit and lead by example”.

HIS WIFE’S REPLY........(Grandma's remedy)

P.S....The articles hereby are linked.

It would make sense if you read the lower articles first.

Just as Mr. Chidambaram says that the principles of our Indian economy are strong, we can say with the same optimism that Indian culture follows the suit. It’s just that we have to believe in that and thrive on hope.

Getting enslaved to anything is a weakness. Portrayal as reckless brats is a cover up used by the Gen-Next to hide flaws. They are novice to their purpose in life. At their deathbed many people realize that they have not done anything significant and repent for what they have wasted---a beautiful life. Our youth has strayed away from the right track. Honest self assessment is of pivotal importance. They will have to decipher what they are born to do in this world, what they are born to do for this world, take action, build up a strong will power, and overcome their weaknesses and only then they’ll die contented. The execution of any spontaneous process increases the entropy of the universe.

Hence getting rid of addictions, bad habits and vices prevalent is not spontaneous. Effort has to be made. Who should take action? Well I suggest--- “Every man for himself and God for us all.”

A GRANDPA’S LETTER TO HIS LATE WIFE……………….(the social scenario)

They call themselves the Gen-Y or the new and modern generation. Modern technology, primarily the internet and media, has completely revolutionized our society by the exposure of the western culture. Much influenced by this culture the urban youth has become all the more ostentatious and irresponsible as is evident from the verity that drug and liquor consumption, smoking, etc are considered fashionable by some of them. But it’s not just the urban youth, the effects are trickling down as well, just as they say, “If Uncle Sam catches cold, the whole world sneezes.”

Time has certainly changed, now girls are no longer shy and no less than any guy. An obvious reason is that parents of the Gen-Y girls being literate are “more open” with, more supportive and fair towards their girls. Children today seek independence and wish to do whatever pleases their mind. It’s good to see that children know their “Constitutional Rights”. They have learnt to speak “Swaraj is my birth right” but for altogether different motives. I wish they were as responsible towards at least the “Constitutional Duties and Obligations” if not any other.

Love is no longer selfless but has become a trade of benefits. People are living together in symbiotic relationships but the tragedy is that they instantly separate as soon as it even tends towards becoming parasitic. I’ve grown a bit sceptical about love and its existence.

Man used to be a social animal and still is, but pet to his master having the riches. Hypnotized by the spell of wealth, he has become a mere puppet. Biologically descended from apes, today man has evolved into several hybrids of varied species depending on the extent to which corruption has corrupted his genes. People are pretentious and fake. Even our grandson (calls himself Casanova) has become such a MAN.

REPLY by the SMALL TOWN GIRL

Try somewhere else for your sake

If you just want to have pie or cake.

On a serious note………

You know I am a bit shy & introvert type of creature

Not at all interested in telling the tales of nature.

Frankly, I am surprised. It’s just like on a smooth road, a sudden bend

I might sound old fashioned but never thought about you as more than my best friend.

Love, liking, attraction are words I am unable to resolve

Though they hold deep meaning for most but in me, they don’t dissolve.

I just cannot solve this…. “Love equation”.

Don’t even know for me if it has a rational solution.

I am not sure about my future plans.

By obligation I must do whatever are the wishes of my clan.

You talk about holiday in Germany, U.K. & France

I’ve just been to Shimla that too by chance.

I realize one should not bite off more than one can chew.

All this must be a dream, it cannot be true.

The grass on the other side is too green to resist

But I fear if tomorrow the green turns dry, I will not be able to exist.

So think over it again, no point in haste

Be sure about it, two lives are at stake.

It’s more than I could express myself, so let me stop at this place

Wow this all I could write, though at snail’s pace.

Oh! Sun has come up. What has happened to me? The whole night I was awake.

Now got to get ready for college or like you I’ll get late.

Yours sincerely

D…………

Reply by a westernized girl

I know you must be expecting some sort of reply

I am writing it for you before you begin to cry (lol)

Don’t think you are the only guy struggling to win over me

I receive many proposals, almost uncountable, for me.

Doesn’t seem shocking if Katrina is waiting to get fixed with you

To reveal the truth--SRK, Aamir, Imraan are waiting for me in a queue.

Yeah, I appreciate the fact that I am too good for them

But no worries, I’ll manage even if I get to select any one of them

Oh! Seems I am boasting about myself more

In a reply I should also praise about your score

So here we go, I’ll let the rain pour…………………….

You said, if I take time you’ll run away with a “katrina”,

Means that you will also ditch that poor darling Reena.

I know that you are a typical “K*tta Kami*a”.

Your tongue comes out & you start wagging your tail as soon as you see a “Sunder Haseena”.

Can’t deny that you are a hunk with brains

as you never lose any opportunity to offer umbrella to a girl when it rains.

Sorry .Damn it. For you, good words are not coming out of my throat

But then, I think, I should fulfill the last wish of the scapegoat.

Already mentioned so many times the quality I like in you

Is the romantic, flirty & seductive way of talking you pursue.

Your looks are--- superb & features---- great!

Multitalented, rightly named, and skills at top most level of state.

You may write poems, or dance or sing

I know that you just want one thing.

To blow you out of your wits

Well, I can say, “ We can work over it.”

Signing off …….hopefully Your’s…… SUGAR

“MY EXPERIMENTS WITH LOVE” (reflecting the youth of today)

Hi, I’m……….. (You can call me Casanova). Just experimenting, I wrote a poem and sent it to two girls, my so called “Good Friends”. Here below is the original text of the poem and the replies that I got………..

You, my second love…….

It happened when we were in class 11^th

My first major affair though happened in 7^th.

In the first case it was love at first sight

This time over I wished we could “make love” at first site.

Hey, I don’t mean it. Now don’t pick up a fight.

One day her (first one’s) dad got transferred,

And she left us all with questions unanswered.

I somehow passed the next two years of gloom and doom

Then came you, wearing “Britney’s Midnight Fantasy” as your perfume.

Thus I decided to turn over a new leaf

So here I am trying to butter the new loaf……..

You are the perfect specimen of beauty with brain

I am a bit ugly sample ---stupid, crazy and insane.

But don’t worry, don’t bother

You must have read opposites attract each other.

Your hair, I love its each strand

Whether you set them loose, or tie them with a band.

Your eyes are deep like a river or a sea.

So it’s not your fault when you find everything fishy in me.

Rosy lips, chubby cheeks, dimpled chin

And everything else better than “MURDER” movie’s heroine

The last line I am not very sure about.

So, only if you want, you can help me clear my doubt.

Don’t jump out of your seat.

If not the warmth, I can sense the “heat”.

For the time being, I have ended my quest.

If you say yes, I hope there won’t be any next.

You are afraid because it is too early to commit for life.

It’s truly acceptable, even I can’t commit that I’ll make you my wife.

This relationship of good friends is fine.

Just add to it-- an occasional movie and WINE.

You know it’s difficult for me to deny when “Katrina” asks for my hand

My dilemma, I hope you’ll understand.

So tie me up, before I fly.

Anjali and Teena are also waiting for my reply.