b L U E C Z A R

sense and non-sense!

2012-01-30T19:47:00.000+05:30

..And Norway is no.1 in the Human Development Index!

Note that the HDI has only 3 parameters - life expectancy, school enrolment and adult literacy, and "standard of living, as indicated by the natural logarithm of gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity"
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_Development_Index).

All three are measured in numbers. Quantity, not quality. These numbers state which societies are less or more "human". And the society that scores the highest with these numbers is, by definition, the most developed human society.

How well a society treats its children is irrelevant to human-ness?

Consider wiki's definition of "psychopathy" - "a personality disorder characterized by a pervasive pattern of disregard for, or violation of, the rights of others. It is defined in different ways, but can involve a lack of empathy or remorse, false emotions, selfishness, grandiosity or deceptiveness" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopathy).

Now read that article again carefully.

Norway's is a psychopathic society?

And the way Norway "develops" its humans is obviously the way to be emulated by all other "lesser" humans!!

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/article2843489.ece

The iron hand that rocks the cradle

Marianne Haslev Skånland

Share · print · T+

I must compliment Indian newspapers, not least The Hindu , for giving a thorough coverage to the case of the Indian couple deprived of their children by the Norwegian ‘child protection services' (CPS).
Very many of the comments to the articles, too, are exactly to the point. But you all need to know that this is the way the Scandinavian CPS carries on in general. Sweden is actually the worst of the Scandinavian countries.
One commentator says: “It would be interesting to see how many other white Norwegian children are taken away from their parents just because they don't have ‘proper toys'.” The answer is: thousands, on exactly such a pretext, or any other. Parents who are frightened or who protest are stamped with a quack psychiatric diagnosis. There is not much need of real social work in Norway and what there is (helping out with practical tasks such as washing and cooking in homes where the parents are ill), the social workers do not want to do. The CPS, in order to have work, wants children and they attack anybody who is vulnerable. That means mostly poor people, Norwegians as well as foreigners, because they are helpless to defend themselves. The general population chooses to disbelieve and despise the families, to believe CPS lies, and to believe that they themselves could never be hit because they are such good parents.
The truth is: Almost all families attacked by the CPS are both good and loving. Some need help, e.g. financial; but most of them need nothing other than to be left in peace by this vicious agency and its helpers. The CPS smashes the family and destroys the individuals. In their ideology, family ties are unimportant; they speak not of parents but “caregivers.”
Living off foster care
CPS lives by depriving children of their parents. It is an industry, which pays incredible amounts, especially to psychologists, for “reports” and to foster “parents” (they advertise for people to be foster parents and announce a yearly pay of, say, NOK 430.000 (€ 30.000) plus paid holidays and regular “time off” from the foster children plus allowances for building their house or buying an extra car plus pension entitlement. The business also, of course, provides extra income and extra jobs for social workers.
Frequently, the social workers themselves will take as their own foster children some of the children they remove from parents. Tens of thousands of teachers, kindergarten personnel, health workers, etc., report their “worry” over this and that child to the CPS. The court procedures are those of kangaroo courts. No matter how well those of us who fight against this are able to document the disastrous effects on the lives of both parents and the children, all the changes in legislation and procedures keep going in the wrong direction: The children are the property of the state and every parent who questions anything is accused of being an ill-doer and a danger to his/her children.
“What is this confidentiality about?” another commenter asks. Answer: The Norwegian state is trying to blackmail everyone to shut up about Norwegian child “protection” atrocities as a condition of letting the Indian children out of their clutches. That way Norway can: a) have the case die down by letting the children return to India, b) prevent outspoken comments abroad and avoid several of these countries perhaps joining forces, c) still continue to protect its social “services” — an industry feeding tens of thousands of people doing unproductive “work”, and d) avoid having to face heaps of other cases quite similar to the Stavanger/Kolkata one, some involving Norwegian families, some foreign families.
Another case involving India, because the child's mother is Indian (the father is Swedish), is that of Domenic Johansson, taken by Swedish police on behalf of the Swedish CPS off an aeroplane to stop him and his parents from going to India, and then abducted by Swedish CPS. The charge against the parents was that they wanted home schooling for Domenic:
(“The Domenic Johansson Case. Home schooled boy snatched from plane in Sweden” http://www.nkmr.org/english/ dominic_johansson_case_ home-schooled_boy_snatched_from_ plane.htm)
Fighting state abuse
Cases similar or identical to the Stavanger/Kolkata case are many. There are people trying to fight against this criminal abuse perpetuated by our state, of course, but they themselves are often threatened. Anyone trying to help children who flee the CPS is prosecuted and jailed. It is encouraging for Norwegians trying to get publicity out about CPS abuses (the press is very state-subservient and uninterested) to see, in the bottom right hand corner of the large poster carried in the demonstration in Kolkata (the picture from the newspaper Stavanger Aftenblad is shown on the front page of http://forumr-b-v.net, a little way down from the top), a picture of an ogre with the text “Barnevern” (child protection). That picture has been taken precisely from this website. So, some intelligent Indians seem to have discovered “us”. It warms our hearts.
Although CPS persecution in Norway happens mostly to Norwegian families, foreign families are disproportionately represented. One case, with the same head of social services, Gunnar Toresen, as in the Indian case, concerns two Turkish children, a case from which I have numerous details. I wrote about it in 2006: “The Manavgat case in Turkey — Norway is the kidnapper” on the website “Redd Våre Barn”: http://forum.r-b-v.net/viewtopic.php? f=56&t=628
The case has recently come to life because at long last, a Stavanger newspaper went after some details of the city of Stavanger having paid out half-a-million crowns to be spent as graft to take the children illegally out of Turkey. The man who engineered this is a private investigator who previously worked for the Norwegian crime force and now did this job for the CPS. But, in my view, there are far more important facts: The children had been placed with a Norwegian foster “father” who had already been accused by two previous foster girls to have abused them sexually. (No attention was paid to this, of course, since the CPS do not tolerate criticism of their foster “parents”.) The boys were kidnapped and taken back to Norway, to the very same foster “father” and his partner. This foster “father” has only now been on trial for child pornography and child sexual abuse, and been found guilty.
Back in 2006, the social services and their Norwegian lawyer derided the boys' parents in a Turkish court for making such claims of abuse, expressing contempt and irony towards the parents, holding that the mother wanted her boys back out of prestige and not out of love, since she made no attempt at that time to get back her daughter, only her sons. (The mother had been only 14 when her daughter was born, and the CPS had immediately taken the daughter because of the mother's “immaturity” and never let her know where her daughter was. The sons were born much later and had lived with their parents for several years before they were taken. It was possible for the parents to find them.
I am full of admiration about the actions taken by the family of the Bhattacharyas, the Indian people and newspapers in general. You need to continue being on the alert: You cannot trust a single thing said by the Norwegian CPS, the Norwegian Foreign Minister or any other politician or official. It was foreseeable that Norway would try blackmail in the form of making it a condition for returning the Indian children to their family that everybody must promise to shut up about the case. In that way, Norway can continue to do what it does, the kangaroo courts can go on as before, the foster “parents” and psychologists can go on earning money, myriad social workers trained each year can get jobs. Needless to say, I hope Norway does not succeed with this blackmail.
(Marianne Haslev Skanland is Professor Emeritus, Bergen, Norway.)
Almost all families attacked by Norway's ‘child protection services' are good and loving. Some need help but most of them need nothing other than to be left in peace.

दरबारे वतन में जब इक दिन

2011-12-16T23:47:00.000+05:30

दरबारे वतन में जब इक दिन

दरबारे वतन में जब इक दिन सब जाने वाले जायेंगे
कुछ अपनी सजा को पहुंचेंगे, कुछ अपनी जजा ले जायेंगे

ऐ खाकनशीनों उठ बैठो, वो वक़्त करीब आ पहुंचा है
जब तख़्त गिराए जायेंगे, जब ताज उछाले जायेंगे

अब टूट गिरेंगी जंजीरें अब ज़िन्दानों की ख़ैर नहीं
जो दरया झूम के उठे हैं, तिनकों से न टाले जायेंगे

कटते भी चलो, बढ़ते भी चलो, बाजू भी बहुत हैं सर भी बहुत
चलते भी चलो के अब डेरे मंजिल पे ही डाले जायेंगे

ऐ ज़ुल्म के मातों लब खोलो चुप रहने वालों चुप कब तक
कुछ हश्र तो इनसे उट्ठेगा, कुछ दूर तो नाले जायेंगे

- फैज़ अहमद फैज

2011-12-08T22:58:00.000+05:30

Sinhasan Khali Karo ki Janta Aati Hai.

सदियों की ठंढी-बुझी राख सुगबुगा उठी,
मिट्टी सोने का ताज पहन इठलाती है;
दो राह,समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,
सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

जनता?हां,मिट्टी की अबोध मूरतें वही,
जाडे-पाले की कसक सदा सहनेवाली,
जब अंग-अंग में लगे सांप हो चुस रहे
तब भी न कभी मुंह खोल दर्द कहनेवाली।

जनता?हां,लंबी - बडी जीभ की वही कसम,
"जनता,सचमुच ही, बडी वेदना सहती है।"
"सो ठीक,मगर,आखिर,इस पर जनमत क्या है?"
'है प्रश्न गूढ़ जनता इस पर क्या कहती है?"

मानो,जनता ही फूल जिसे अहसास नहीं,
जब चाहो तभी उतार सजा लो दोनों में;
अथवा कोई दूधमुंही जिसे बहलाने के
जन्तर-मन्तर सीमित हों चार खिलौनों में।

लेकिन होता भूडोल, बवंडर उठते हैं,
जनता जब कोपाकुल हो भृकुटि चढाती है;
दो राह, समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,
सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

हुंकारों से महलों की नींव उखड़ जाती,
सांसों के बल से ताज हवा में उड़ता है,
जनता की रोके राह,समय में ताव कहां?
वह जिधर चाहती,काल उधर ही मुड़ता है।

अब्दों, शताब्दियों, सहस्त्राब्द का अंधकार
बीता;गवाक्ष अंबर के दहके जाते हैं;
यह और नहीं कोई,जनता के स्वप्न अजय
चीरते तिमिर का वक्ष उमड़ते जाते हैं।

सब से विराट जनतंत्र जगत का आ पहुंचा,
तैंतीस कोटि-हित सिंहासन तय करो
अभिषेक आज राजा का नहीं,प्रजा का है,
तैंतीस कोटि जनता के सिर पर मुकुट धरो।

आरती लिये तू किसे ढूंढता है मूरख,
मन्दिरों, राजप्रासादों में, तहखानों में?
देवता कहीं सड़कों पर गिट्टी तोड़ रहे,
देवता मिलेंगे खेतों में, खलिहानों में।

फावड़े और हल राजदण्ड बनने को हैं,
धूसरता सोने से श्रृंगार सजाती है;
दो राह,समय के रथ का घर्घर-नाद सुनो,
सिंहासन खाली करो कि जनता आती है।

~ Shri Ramdhari Singh Dinkar

Nepotism in Indian Politics

2011-06-19T19:17:00.000+05:30

Patrick French in his work "India: a portrait" has done a good job of documenting for the first time the extent of Nepotism and Family Politics in Indian Democratic scenario.

http://www.theindiasite.com/family-politics/

Here he gives the reason why the Indian middle class is alienated from the Indian Politics, though there could be many more reasons.

http://casi.sas.upenn.edu/iit/french

Enjoy the read and Think!!

Basis of all 'Sukha' is 'Dharma'..

2011-06-11T12:03:00.002+05:30

There are works by Chanakya other than Arthashastra like Laghu Chanakya, Rajneeti Shastra, Chanakya Neeti, Chanakya Sutra etc. Chanakya Sutra has 572 sutras. These are the first 10 sutras from Chanakya Sutra:

सुखस्य मूलं धर्मः , धर्मस्य मूलं अर्थः

अर्थस्य मूलं राज्यं , राज्यस्य मूलं इन्द्रिय जयः

इन्द्रियाजयस्य मूलं विनयः, विनयस्य मूलं वृद्धोपसेवः

वृद्धोपसेवाय विग्न्यानं , विग्न्यानेनं आत्मानं सम्पद्येत

समपदितात्म जितात्मम भवति, जितात्मा सर्वार्थे संयुज्यते

1. Sukhasya moolam Dharmah
The basis of “sukha” or all Bliss is “dharma” or righteous conduct.

2. Dharmasya moolam Arthah
The basis of all “dharma” is “artha” or means and resources.

3. Arthasya moolam Rajyam
The basis of all “artha” is “rajya” or the State.

4. Rajyasya moolam Indriya Jayah
The basis for the stability of the State lies in control over the “indriya“ or sense faculties providing pleasure.

5. Indriyajayasya moolam Vinayah
The basis for control over the sensual faculties is in “vinay” or humility.

6. Vinayasya moolam Vruddhopasevah
The basis for humility is devotion to those grown old through wisdom.

7. Vruddhopasevaya Vijnanam
Through devotion to the wise, one attains proficiency with the maximum efficiency.

8. Vijnanena atmaanam Sampadyet
It is imperative for all the functionaries of the State to perform their duties with the maximum efficiency.

9. Samapaditatma jitatmama Bhavati
To perform State duties with the maximum efficiency, the functionaries of the State must learn to control their sensual needs, and maximise their internal potential.

10. Jitatma sarvarthe Sanyujyate
Those who have vanquished their baser selves will become prosperous naturally, can retain their prosperity, and (will) be successful in their endeavours.

MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY

2011-05-04T10:30:00.000+05:30

Germany is a highly industrialized country. It produces top brands like Benz, BMW, and Siemens etc. The nuclear reactor pump is made in a small town in this country. In such a country, many will think its people lead a luxurious life. At least that was my impression before my study trip.

When I arrived at Hamburg , my colleagues who work in Hamburg arranged a welcome party for me in a restaurant. As we walked into the restaurant, we noticed that a lot of tables were empty. There was a table where a young couple was having their meal. There were only two dishes and two cans of beer on the table. I wondered if such simple meal could be romantic, and whether the girl will leave this stingy guy.

There were a few old ladies on another table. When a dish is served, the waiter would distribute the food for them, and they would finish every bit of the food on their plates.

We did not pay much attention to them, as we were looking forward to the dishes we ordered. As we were hungry, our local colleague ordered more food for us.

As the restaurant was quiet, the food came quite fast. Since there were other activities arranged for us, we did not spend much time dining. When we left, there was still about one third of unconsumed food on the table.

When we were leaving the restaurant, we heard someone calling us. We noticed the old ladies in the restaurant were talking about us to the restaurant owner. When they spoke to us in English, we understood that they were unhappy about us wasting so much food. We immediately felt that they were really being too busybody. "We paid for our food, it is none of your business how much food we left behind," my colleague Gui told the old ladies.

The old ladies were furious. One of them immediately took her hand phone out and made a call to someone. After a while, a man in uniform claimed to be an officer from the Social Security organization arrived. Upon knowing what the dispute was, he issued us a 50 Mark fine.

We all kept quiet. The local colleague took out a 50 Mark note and repeatedly apologized to the officer. The officer told us in a stern voice, "ORDER WHAT YOU CAN CONSUME, MONEY IS YOURS BUT RESOURCES BELONG TO THE SOCIETY. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS IN THE WORLD WHO ARE FACING SHORTAGE OF RESOURCES. YOU HAVE NO REASON TO WASTE RESOURCES.´”

Our face turned red. We all agreed with him in our hearts. The mindset of people of this rich country put all of us to shame. WE REALLY NEED TO REFLECT ON THIS. We are from country which is not very rich in resources.

To save face, we order large quantity and also waste food when we give others a treat. THIS LESSON TAUGHT US A LESSON TO THINK SERIOUSLY ABOUT CHANGING OUR BAD HABITS.

(From a forwarded email)

A critique of 'The Hindu'

2011-01-29T15:05:00.001+05:30

One day a respected gentleman had advised me to stay away from talking about media. The media doesn't forgive its slightest 'contempt' and notes it even more than a court does for a 'contempt of court'!! But i am compelled to write this article in good faith and out of pain and being let down by this newspaper.

i think for a country to run smoothly and in the best interest of the people of the land, the role of the Fourth Estate becomes immensely important. This role can be carried best when the media keep themselves away from any sense of attachment (ideological, financial etc) except for the attachment to providing objective news in a honest and unbiased manner.

About 6 months back i had got a chance to talk to an editor with about two decades of journalistic experience with a popular national daily. I was inquisitive about the tools and technologies used in the media world in general and he had obliged by sharing some such tricks of the trade, which i always kept in mind thereon. They mainly pertained to presentation of the news, their positioning in the news-page, ordering, phrasing, paraphrasing, downplaying something and emboldening others, pictures used etc.

Finally, i was advised to think on the articles (and any writing in general) after reading them, what they conveyed on the whole and trying to identify what they aimed to achieve. This would help in taking a valid and considered stand.

It is true that the best decision can be taken by any person when he has access to objective information from all the participants of a story. It is here that The Hindu daily (and its online version) has utterly failed.

Having religiously read this newspaper for last 3 years i found myself utterly biased in my thinking, where some things and people looked always good and others always 'dangerous'. Only when i started comparing news from other sources i saw how only selected 'suitable' news were covered in the newspaper being discussed. The 'unsuitable' topics were reported at best in the form of their critique. It is a thorough attempt at cultivating a mind with a particular ideology.

I read the newspaper because i was advised that this news paper upholds a high quality and intellectual analysis. Unfortunately, many times, the high standards of quality was limited to writing in a high-sounding language (which even the native English have stopped doing! ) and intellectual analysis was limited to finding far-fetched relations and logic to prove what they always wanted to. Objective analysis was missing and mostly views were passed of as news. It is not that they did not criticize their own 'agenda'. But the style of criticism can best be understood by the example "Clive's problem was that he was full of energy and a risk-taker" as used by Kaplan in his recently published book "Monsoon" while talking about a cunning and corrupt Clive.

One will find profuse usage of words like 'democracy', 'secularism', 'freedom', 'liberalism' etc in this newspaper but it is a thorough travesty of these very ideals which one finds on reading from many more sources. On many occasions i wrote my alternative views on few issues covered by this newspaper and none were allowed by the online version which, unlike in print, does not have any constraint of space etc. You will find this trend in the users' comment section of this newspaper. All the user comments will be endorsement of 'the ideology' and few 'critical comments' drafted in the 'soft sense' as mentioned above. Such is the tolerance for other views by this newspaper. i tried criticising articles in many other newspapers but they published (online) the opposing views after initial scrutiny unlike 'The Hindu'.

Paid news, planted news and package deals etc are in news these days. But i think what is more dangerous is when a newspaper develops its own 'ideology' (like a supercomputer developing its AI) and starts reporting every event from that perspective. it is dangerous for the society because many more would resort to similar tactics and newspapers will be reduced to 'views-paper' only. This leads to a bigoted and polarised society which will only lead to disharmony and clashes, which is already on the rise in all societies. When the reader of a newspaper with ideology-X points out the fault in another, the other reader of newspaper with ideology-Y is also equipped with enough ammo to point out the faults in X. No consensus, because they have been 'cultivated' that way by 'dishonest' newspapers.

'Sensationalism' is somethings which i did not find in this newspaper, however. And that helps it in passing off as an intellectual reporter, perhaps. But that virtue is just too short of off-setting the damage it does in so many other ways.

I have not taken any specific examples in my write-up, nor given any proof, intentionally. It is a very fine but very important issue and every reader can understand this provided he/she diversifies the reading base. It is the most difficult of things to explain, similar to the fact that the angry leaders and mobs (in a colonised India) couldn't understand the 'divide and rule' game being played on a common people for years.

Panditji and the Iron Man of India

2011-01-20T11:22:00.005+05:30

15th august 1947. A young India had phoenixed itself from Bharat, in a modern world. This was the beginning of the fall of colonialism and imperialism worldwide. The newborn countries had to gather pieces, which were broken, blackened and contorted for obvious reasons that any colonizer has in doing so.

The relation between the newborn country and its two great executive leaders who took the task of building the country can be best understood by an analogy. Pandit Nehru was the right part and Sardar Patel was the left part of the newborn's brain. Yes. Had it not been for the joint efforts of both together (on independence and onwards) we would not have had a united and free, though struggling, India in the present form.

Pandit Nehru had well taken care of the direction the newborn was to take, the foreign policy, the economic stance and the like. He could do all this because an adept and self-less Sardar (as the deputy PM and the Home Minister) provided him with a country by uniting more than 500 small-and-big independent provinces many of them singing their own song. It was not an easy job. Looking at it in the historical perspective one can easily identify how impossible a task it was. Even when it was done the entire world predicted its doom sooner than later. But the ancient roots of the new sapling kept it alive and growing. Sardar, for various reasons, was not so successful in case of J&K and the country still bleeds. No student of history can say that Pandit Nehru would have been able to achieve this, considering the dynamics involving him till independence.

However one can only guess what the 'Iron Man of India' could have done in the absence of Pandit Nehru in an independent India. With all his energy and focus in keeping the country together he would have found it difficult to play the role that Panditji carried out with elan. Panditji's visionary actions relating to Non Aligned Movement took the country in a leadership position by uniting the newly freed countries who aspired to make it big one day rather than falling an immediate prey in the skirmishes of the big. Taking the country on a path of industrialisation was a huge task. Knowing the pulse of the people well, he called the dams as the "modern temples" of India. Many hearts melted and people gave away their lands for the country's cause. Dams were built, electrification started, industries installed, Science and technology education got a push. But unfortunately, it was assumed that agriculture will automatically be benefited with new industries and technology. In any case the country started growling to protect and promote all its people in a hostile neighborhood.

These leaders were a class apart.

[The miss that Ramachandra Guha gives to Sardar Patel (in light of the present writing) in his book "Makers of Modern India" is conspicuous. The book would have done well being called "Eminent Indians" or "Selected Makers of Modern India". Even then 'Iron Man of India' couldn't have been missed.]

~HarshW

chariot yatra is on; Tagore

2011-01-18T00:54:00.003+05:30

A poem by Tagore, roughly translates as:-

“The great chariot yatra is on, amidst fanfare; devotees prostrate on the road in adulation

Road thinks: I am God
Chariot thinks: Me!
The Idol thinks: it is me

God smiles”

just musings

2011-01-07T10:27:00.028+05:30

=============================

* 'Pseudoism' - a global pandemic. Prevention is the only Cure.

** Coterie: the strength of the weak, Ego: the weakness of the strong.

*** The way things are today, everyone's freedom is everyone's shackles.

~harshw
=============================

age old study !!

2011-01-03T20:54:00.000+05:30

It was near Connaught Place that i saw an old man practicing alphabets religiously. I and a friend stood by and looked at him. He remained unmoved as if we were non-existent to him. Or maybe finishing his chapter was more important to him than caring a hoot for meddlers like us. Well, we sought his permission to click a picture, but he remained unmoved. We went on anyways and clicked the picture (above). He didn't care. My friend wanted to talk to him at which he gave a rare look at us and sank back into his ruled-pages with his natraj pencil once again. Someone in the heart of this capital city was so keen to learn alphabets in the autumn of his life, oblivious of the corruption that the very air carried, was a respectable sight. Respect flows at such people and such moments make your day..

"दिनकर" जी की कुछ पंक्तियाँ..

2010-12-26T20:48:00.006+05:30

"समर शेष है, नहीं पाप का भागी केवल व्याघ्र,
जो तटस्थ हैं, समय लिखेगा उनका भी अपराध। "

''कुरुक्षेत्र'' से

..शान्ति खोलकर खड्ग क्रान्ति का जब वर्जन करती है,
तभी जान लो, किसी समर का वह सर्जन करती है।
शान्ति नहीं तब तक, जब तक सुख-भाग न नर का सम हो,
नहीं किसी को अधिक हो, नहीं किसी को कम हो।

ऐसी शान्ति राज्य करती है तन पर नहीं, हृदय पर,
नर के ऊँचे विश्वासों पर, श्रद्धा, भक्ति, प्रणय पर।
न्याय शान्ति का प्रथम न्यास है,जबतक न्याय न आता,
जैसा भी हो, महल शान्ति का सुदृढ नहीं रह पाता।

''कुरुक्षेत्र'' से
_____________________________________________

..कहो मार्क्स से डरे हुओं का गाँधी चौकीदार नहीं है !
सर्वोदय का दूत किसी संचय का पहरेदार नहीं है !!

''नील कुसुम'' से
_____________________________________________

The Women's Coach

2010-12-25T18:46:00.002+05:30

"Hell O"

...that's what i felt like saying when in a hurry i didn't realize and boarded a Women's Coach (it was newly introduced that the first coach in all metro-trains in Delhi will be for Women). The doors were too keen to close as if a prey had fallen in the pitcher plant, and they closed.

I shuddered (i don't know why) the moment i saw it was women all around and i realized what i had 'committed'. A thought occurred that i should find my way to the other coach but it was too crowded inside. Atleast, that is what the 'legal travelers' of the coach made it look like. For, these specimen needed some more 'personal' space than their lesser male counterparts in the adjascent coches.(I realised why a friend back in office had said that women carry a 1BHK along with them) I saw a granny nearby and i apologised (for she seemed to be not taking it kindly that i had intruded). Before she opened fire i tried to explain her that i was in a hurry and it was by mistake and that i will change at the next station. Her expressions relaxed and i felt little comfortable and permitted though not accepted. I stood pressing against the door facing it while the drama was unfolding behind. Afterall it was not everyday that they would get a poor 'creature' like me caught in their zone.

I consoled myself that it was a matter of 2 minutes and will pass in 2 minutes. But had it been so, how could that day be 'fateful' in my mind. So, it happened that some train was moving immediately ahead of us and hence our train had to take halts in between. And in the meanwhile the drama inside had begun.

I think a group on my left in its 20's (but u can never be sure with the specimen in question!) took the lead and started booing and shooing and doing what they were best at (i think, passing comments!!). Taking the cue another group on my right followed. But they mostly giggled and maybe laughed. I chose to think they were not laughing at me but alas! they were. I felt they were shameless in doing so and i was for listening to all that. The comments covered a wide spectrum from my history to geography to sociology and i knew none was even close to truth. My self-confidence would have been irreparably dented had i not known that they were just ready-to-serve dialogues (as used in some hindi movies). Well, while the comments i could ignore the giggling was getting under my skin. It was so silly. It was so pointless. It was so girlish that i chose to close my eyes and do some meditation. But neither Sri Sri, nor baba Ramdev came to rescue that day.

But the scheme of things were not so rude afterall. Suddenly i heard someone on my left saying "...........jane de yaar, dekh wo galti se aa gaya hai"...........

The comments were immediately re-oriented, the giggling had become loud and vampiric. Some new commentators were added. And I had immediately opened my eyes seeking that kind soul. Now there was a 'sympathetic heart' to share my agony in that hostile kingdom. Now there was a reversal in prayers and i didn't want the doors to open. But the next station had come and the doors opened against all my wishes. Darn!! Darn!! Darn!! I did not want to come out. But I had to and i did.

I couldn't help myself from looking back, infact searching for the source of that sweetest and most kind of voices in that coach!! I couldn't see her but i saw that all were smiling, even the granny was grinning. and someone shouted " Tanvi ke liye fir kabhi aa jana, galti se ........".

There was a loud HA HA HA in which i think all the remaining women had joined....and the pitcher plant closed. I took the next metro after some time feeling younger after a long time!!

मैं तुम्हारी मौन करुणा..

2010-11-25T21:35:00.003+05:30

मैं तुम्हारी मौन करुणा का सहारा चाहता हूँ,
जानता हूँ इस जगत में फूल की है आयु कितनी,
और यौवन की उभरती सांस में है वायु कितनी,
इस लिए संसार का विस्तार सारा चाहता हूँ,
मैं तुम्हारी मौन करुणा का सहारा चाहता हूँ...

ये उठा कैसा प्रभंजन!! जुड़ गयीं जैसे दिशायें,
एक तरनी, एक नाविक, और कितनी आपदाएं...
क्या करूँ मझधार में ही मैं किनारा चाहता हूँ..
मैं तुम्हारी मौन करुणा का सहारा चाहता हूँ...

- रामकुमार वर्मा

सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं ..

2010-11-25T20:34:00.005+05:30

सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं,
सच है सतत संघर्ष ही..

संघर्ष से हट कर जिए तो क्या जिए हम या की तुम,
जो नत हुआ वह मृत हुआ ज्यों वृंत से झड कर कुसुम |
जो पंथ भूल रुका नहीं, जो हार देख झुका नहीं,
जिसने प्रणय पाथेय माना, जीत उसकी है रही ||
सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं..

ऐसा करो जिससे न प्राणों में कहीं जड़ता रहे,
जो है जहाँ चुपचाप अपने आप से लड़ता रहे |
जो भी परिस्थितियां मिलें, कांटे चुभें कलियाँ खिलें,
टूटे नहीं इन्सान, है सन्देश जीवन का यही ||
सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं..

हमने रचा आओ हमी तोड़ दें इस प्यार को,
यह क्या मिलन, मिलना वह जो मोड़ दे मझधार को |
जो साथ फूलों के चले, जो ढाल पाते ही ढले,
वह जिंदगी क्या जिंदगी जो पानी सी बही ||
सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं..

अपने हृदय का सत्य अपने आप हमको खोजना,
अपने नयन का नीर अपने आप हमको पोंछना |
आकाश सुख देगा नहीं, धरती पसीजी है कहीं,
हर एक राही को भटक कर ही दिशा मिलती रही ||
सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं..

बेकार है मुस्कान से ढकना हृदय की खिन्नता,
आदर्श हो सकती नहीं तन और मन की भिन्नता |
जब तक बंधी है चेतना, जब तक हृदय दुःख से घना,
तब तक न मानूंगा कभी इस राह को ही मैं सही ||
सच हम नहीं सच तुम नहीं..

-जगदीश गुप्त

United we flourish, divided we perish..

2010-06-03T09:50:00.001+05:30

I found this interesting & telling graphic at www.twocircles.net and thought of sharing with all. We must utilise the huge population and resource benefits this nation offers for an all-round development. With an eye on this development, which can be guaranteed only by peace and harmony, we will find it easier to dodge the propaganda to divide the masses on various lines of caste, religion, language, economics, grievance and gender. All of them co-exist but none of them alone can bring peace and progress. Hence the message United we flourish, divided we perish..

media kind of gender equality !!

2010-05-31T22:49:00.007+05:30

Miss Pseudo read the newspaper more than she used to see it. Today she decided to SEE it more, following some hunch, just after she had read something more on gender equality.

Gender equality is a in-thing today being actively propagated by the de-facto powers-that-be like media--of the paid-news fame, primarily. And people across the gender divide are made to believe this dominant version, left, right and center. Let all have their own versions to uphold the spirit of same freedom and equality that is propagated. What does this gender equality strive for? What has it achieved so far? Who are its proponents? Is it a fight against history and for a new pre-designed future? (don't look for answers in this blog)

Pseudo thinks that since all this clamour for gender-equality and feminism (in its many many versions) started, all it has done is push one particular version of lifestyle for men and women equally across the globe, irrespective of the original culture and genre de vie (lifestyle). People and societies who have accepted it willingly, without question have been hailed as progressive.

Now coming back to "SEEING" the newspaper, Pseudo did an experiment. An interesting one. She counted the number of pictures of women and men in the newspaper for a week. Then she counted the pictures that were 'revealing' or 'provocative' or 'suggestive'!! She found that almost 60 % - 90 % of female pictures fell in this category, printed regularly, and thus 'gender equality' was 'upheld' and 'promoted'. The feminists felt happy that woman's body was her's and she had every right to use it and flaunt it the way she wanted to. The men were happy that they had been successful in their scheme of convincing womenfolk to bare all, without any strings attached, unlike before when women were very conservative in matters considered profane.

And Pseudo also found that the men had won in commodifying and 'robotifying' women as seen in most of the advertisements, endorsements and entertainment. To give the same "gender equality" a chance in the work field whole lot of 'femalish' jobs were created which are mostly brainless and monotonous in any organisation. Thus reality remains where we started.

However it was not all futile. All this gung-ho has given the chance to a few to have their 2-minutes of fame shouting slogans somewhere or debating somewhere on this non-issue. The old order has to change from time to time and it has to give way to the new one. True.

Pseudo concludes that the new is not always different from the old, in reality, though it may be packaged differently. She also noted that men will always rule either by beastly force or by dirty scheming wherein the prey will be made to believe that she is exercising her free will while happily walking into the beast's lair.

The shepherdress (1889)

2010-05-27T08:25:00.000+05:30

Could she ever have existed in flesh-and-blood anymore beautiful than this..
I wonder who the inspiration was. Now, if anything, she could just be a part of anyone's imagination, at best.

Jesus wants you!!

2010-05-24T07:49:00.002+05:30

Came across this thing. and have been wondering since. it's a LOCAL call to Jesus-believing men to guard their motherland and join air-force, army and navy in the far far WEST. innovative people use something for anything it seems.

don't really think J would like it.

Times and Sentiments..

2010-04-23T23:29:00.004+05:30

Going through some of my past collections I suddenly felt how the call of the societal-leaders in the past were so very different from that of today. The people and situations create leaders and the leaders create the people and new situations. Falling standards in one affects the other and the process is cyclic until some Krishna, Jesus, Rousseau or Gandhi arrives.
Lets revisit some lines from the past and see how the popular mood, ethics, and thinking standards were in those times.

Jis khait say dehqan ko mayassar na ho roti,

us khait kay har khosha-e-gandum ko jala do..

[Iqbal, the great, referring to any land that does not produce any thing useful for the farmer/people calls to burn every grain of wheat of that land, because britishers used to force the farmers to work hard and produce crops and then at the right time they used to capture the land and take everything away...leaving only penury for the already exhausted farmers.]

Deh khudaya yeh zameen teri nahin –

Teray aaba ki nahin, teri nahin, meri nahin.

[Iqbal referring to feudal lords and their tendency to capture everything for themselves, and in todays context where everyone is too willing to take ownership of anything he can lay his hands on.]

The current Indian leaders (politicians, sportsmen, film stars, MEDIA-PRESENTERS et al) are contributing their level best to the all-pervasive rot that has set in. If a person is 'simple and uneducated' he is helping in mines or fodder kind of ghotala, and if some one is 'charming and educated' he is getting into 3G and sweat-equity kind of ghotala, and some others are contributing their 'two cents' by promoting and popularising such trash events and personalities ignoring their very responsible goal. There are few others too who have either been virtuous or haven't got their 'golden chance' to get enlisted in this in-thing. Like any good phase this phase also wouldn't last forever and the silent majority will get up soon saying enough-is-enough. I am certainly not referring to Naxals.

The Gandhians will rise but they won't need Guns.

my take on corruption..

2010-03-19T01:07:00.001+05:30

Definition- Corrupt: willing to act dishonestly in return for money or personal gain.

i was wondering why do we do corruption? do we do it or it happens? is it easier doing corruption or it takes pains and efforts??

you may like to think on these for 'some time' before reading my opinion.

we do corruption because we think it is easier and trying an alternative may be difficult. though it may not also be so. we do corruption because we think thats the only way to do it. Lets rethink and act fresh. there are many many people who get-up in reverence to such individuals who humbly state their intent to do things 'straight'. and many times they too pick up the thread-of-honesty you have held. We do corruption for getting more than we 'know' we need and deserve. but it is just a matter of time that such things come undone and we lose everything thus 'achieved'. we do corruption to make our lives little extra-comfortable. not going into philosophy but very factually speaking you never get the 'peace and comfort' you may have expected having had the best bed, house and bank-balance. most of the times doing and hiding such acts takes as much effort and pain as it would take in refusing to buckle under pressure. one only has to think if the deed is worth it. MOST OF THE TIMES it is not.

Well, there is another, and equally important, part to this thought. there are moments when 'corruption' saves lives and situations (during health emergency, getting a fast ticket booked in emergency for old parents, paying 'extra' for carrying/cremating a dead body, etc). At such point one may very well refer to the definition of corruption. Such acts may be termed illegal (and legality changes with time and space) but not corrupt.

Finally, the intent must always be the good of all and not just one's own self and not causing harm/loss to anyone for personal, undeserved, 'profit'.

Corruption, though widely prevalent, doesn't have deep roots, and it proliferates only for lack of any serious thought given to the seemingly complex but really simple issue.

See image above for some thoughts on integrity.

-harsh

what appealed to eyes and touched the heart..

2010-03-17T21:53:00.005+05:30

found few oil paintings, worth sharing...

woods and the road.. I would like to walk this place in real, or may be fly slowly, without touching anything..

two little girls, with nice cap and slippers...

frozen in eternity...

atlast, whacky walking, clear colors... err do u have a name grl??

-harsh (Posted with a 'Thank You' to whoever made or clicked them)

recent experiences

2010-03-17T21:12:00.004+05:30

Of late, i have had many many experiences-good and otherwise. It seemed life creeps slowly, as if recoiling, and then too many things happen in a burst, as if unwinding. You may expect me to have grown one full year in just one month.

The joy and the pains of life have been excellent, and i appreciate both. Good times are nothing but the way one looks at things. And this 'art of looking' one just can't think and decide - okay boy, now on I will have all 'good times' but one has to go through the grills and tortures presented by life and emerge winner to master 'The Art'.

Well before i sign off, a happy update is I have started respecting my father more- for both, he and i, have changed for the better (I never thought it would ever happen). I am proud of him.

- harsh (Unsoiled still)

Multi-cultural, multi-racial India

2010-02-16T01:10:00.003+05:30

Blog written by Nita @ http://nitawriter.wordpress.com

(Though i have some reservations about the N-S multi-racial theory to the extent it is based on a false premise and is devisive, it is a good read. ~harsh)

Indians are very very different from each other,’ I said casually to a teacher once. He was American. I, an Indian.
‘Really, how different?’ the American asked me, staring at me with his pale blue eyes, eyes as alien to me as his blond hair. But he was a teacher who was interested in the peoples of the world and I could talk to him. I was a substitute teacher in the same school in Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, in a school called IST, the International School of Tanzania.
‘We are multi-cultural, like no other country in the world,’ I said.
‘You mean different religions? Lots of countries are like that,’ he said.
‘Not like India is. We are majority Hindus but we have the second largest population of Muslims in the world, Plus we have a sizeable population of Jains, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Zoroastrians, and Jews. That’s all the major religions of the world,’ I said.
There was a touch of arrogance in his blue eyes. ‘America is a multi-cultural society too. In fact we have people of different races living together.’
I sighed. ‘In India it’s the same. Only difference as that our different races have kept their identity…but in your country everyone talks the same, wears the same clothes…’
‘What are you talking about? Indians are all ethnically the same!’ he said.
‘No. People from the state of Kerala for example are different ethnically from lets say Maharashtra.’
‘Different accents you mean…’ he said.
I could see that he was irritated.
‘No no,’ I said. ‘Different racially, There is as much difference between a Keralite and a Maharashtrian as between a Spaniard and a German.’
You could see that he didn’t believe me, and I knew what he wanted to say. That he didn’t see the difference and that he knew quite a few Indians personally. I wanted to tell him that I too wouldn’t be able to see the difference between a Spaniard and a German. Or for that matter between a Britisher and an American. Sure I knew some people from these nationalities but to me they looked the same, from the same country. As for accents, I am still confused about them…
‘Look,’ I said in a diplomatic tone, ‘I’ll give you some examples of how different we are. A Hindu in Kerala or Kashmir or Bengal eats different food, and wears different clothes. In Bengal, Diwali is not as important as Durga Pooja while no other state in India celebrates Durga Pooja, and we are talking of people from the same religion. The Ganesh festival is a big thing only in Maharashtra. And I haven’t even got to the religious differences as yet! But I can assure you that there is far less difference between a Punjabi Hindu and Punjabi Muslim that between a Punjabi and a Sindhi! There is less difference between a Bengali Muslim and a Bengali Hindu than between a Bengali and a Bihari. There is less difference because they are the same race, they speak the same language, wear similar clothes…’
I could see that I had lost him.
‘That’s interesting,’ he murmured.
‘We have a different languages, more than thirty of them!’ I exclaimed, not a little proudly.
‘Dialects?’ he asked.
‘Oh no! Languages! Knowing Tamil doesn’t mean you can understand Gujarati or Punjabi…the languages are very very different. As different as English and French! Plus we have different scripts!’ I was enjoying myself now because he was surprised. ‘Doesn’t Spanish and Italian use the same script as English? And what about the Americans? Don’t they too use the same language as the British? English? And the same script as well?’ I asked.
He was silent, but I could see that he was fascinated.
‘We have an ancient culture. Almost as old as the Egyptians. Maybe older,’ I continued deliberately, because just a day earlier another teacher had asked me whether Indians were tribals before the British established the education system. ‘Ancient Indians were educated in maths and astrology and science before the west was. We had an ancient library called Nalanda in Bihar, which was destroyed by invaders.’
Well, this teacher was open to new knowledge. He pulled out a map of the world and spread it out in the empty staff-room. He pointed to India. ‘That’s a very large area, you are bound to have such differences. And yes, I know that India has a rich culture…’
‘Yes, rich and diverse. Do you know that the Parsis left their homeland of Iran hundreds of years ago just so that they could practice Zoroastrianism in peace, here in India? Today, Parsis are Indians, though they have maintained their distinct identity.’ I was getting late for class, but as I walked out I couldn’t resist my parting shot. ‘We are the most tolerant country in the world,’ I said.

(This is an actual conversation I had with a teacher at IST. I have combined two conversations into one.)

sense prevails...

2010-02-11T12:57:00.005+05:30

Sense is taking over nonsense. Its good for the country and the nation-still-in-the-making.

"End Violence and come for talks" Mr. Chidambaram tells maoists.

Lets hope sense prevails over nonsense on the other side of the line too, and the maoists and others grab the opportunity and go for the talk. While, this kind of 'internal security' problem is best dealt with the "Talk-way", we can't prescribe the same medicine for all security-diseases caused by professional terrorist whose acts emanate with ulterior motives and whose intentions can never be relied upon.

Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt | Video on TED.com

2010-02-09T21:55:00.001+05:30

Peter Eigen: How to expose the corrupt | Video on TED.com

Insecurity or Immaturity or Imperialistic?

2009-09-21T07:28:00.003+05:30

There were gory pictures showing the killing of our country men by the ""cold blooded murderers" (Naxals) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs in major dailies. Considering the fact that there are murders at even larger scale (both: cold-blooded and 'suave') by other Terrorists, Mafia, sometimes directly and indirectly supported by the SYSTEM itself (remember ALL the blasts throughout, the parliament attack, mass massacare of the Kashmiri Pandits, Manjunath Shanmughan..there are many which can't be even mentioned- Suicides by the farmers is a murder, let's say..). Which ministry took a note of those?

If by issuing these pictures the home ministry thinks that it will garner support in their cause against Naxals then let us think about this: the people who actually support Naxals do not(mostly can not) read these mainstream dailies. and if the target is the people who actually read them then i am afraid its a dubious propaganda. The System and the Naxals, both are my compatriots. If my govt refrains from taking any substantive action (even in self-defense) against those who keep on gnawing at our very existence (be it Taj, LOC, LAC, N-E..) and prefers to blabber meekly things like "dialogue is the way forward" then why does it not prefer the dialougue-route with Naxals. Are they psychopaths on a killing spree or do they have some demands 'genuine' to them? i feel if someone goes to a farmer who is about to commit suicide and tells, Look! here is a gun and rather than killing yourself kill the one who has brought you to suicide, what will he do?? There is a Naxal movement lurking in all those places where there is poverty and no sign of socio-political-economic recovery.

A tropical cyclone dies automatically when the warm ocean water supply to it is cut off. In this age of austerity the 'holy-cows' should act in bringing about inclusion of all sections of Indian society in the development process rather than wasting money on such immature, imperialistic propaganda.

..to sum it up i would like to ask something to our honourable Home Minister who recently declared that we will eliminate the Naxals and then immediately follow it up with development work in those areas. Sir, had you not been placed so high up in the system I would have had the courage to ask you to take up the development work honestly along with dialogue and you will not have to eliminate any of your countrymen.

Seeking Redemption..

2009-05-21T16:35:00.003+05:30

26-March-2009 [around 1030hrs]
Its been quite some time [i don’t know how exactly much] since i have been having this feeling of hope sans any hope. ‘H.O.P.E’ Its there one moment and gone in the next. These are the very best words I can find to express what had been going on within me and may be what still lingers, reduced in intensity, though. [right now i feel “am i merely playing with words or do i really have an option to stop thinking about this crap and get on with my study”] Maybe, the more i think on it the more complicated it becomes. Alternately, i can at the most postpone this issue by may be going out somewhere or involving myself with something interesting, forcibly. I think that’s the way of life. This maze of thoughts and emotions is gradually getting the better of me as I unfold them in this write-up. I do so with the hope that capturing these haunting thoughts and feelings [which are so chaotic, so confusing] in words would make my ‘enemy’ visible, if nothing. In short, i am trying to face it.

26-March-2009 [1530hrs]
Things keep happening in our lives, almost every moment. May be i am being affected too much by events happening with me or maybe too many things are happening in too less a time [for me to come to terms with] may be it happens with everybody or may be nothing of such quantum has happened and its only my mind playing games with me. Maybe i am just stressed. Perhaps its my expectation from all such events that is playing the spoil-sport as it stops me from’ enjoying ‘the events just as they are. I try to analyse this now when those moments have already passed and the damage is already done, those tons of useless, un-solicited, feelings of defeat, dejection have already passed my mind and soul and wreaked havoc. As a result i feel less free, less energetic, less alive and more dead. There has been lot of mental turmoil going on within me since this noon. Even now my head and heart feel heavy. LOTS of thoughts [accumulated over past so much time] are crossing my mind and I am not even able to completely think on all of them.

27-March-2009 [0640hrs]
Having graduated in engineering, I try to be ‘systematic’ in my approach. While I attempt to resolve this, I have this strange feeling that the problem lies with my perception of ‘myself’. In last many contemplations i used to think so, and today i give it a serious thought. So i put this question to myself and seek a clear answer. I am determined to come across a convincing answer.

28-March-2009 [0510hrs]
Lot of time has passed. I have been able to get some honest answers [more is the turmoil and pain, more honest come the answers, with the hope that it will help faster redemption]. I come with lot of ego. This ego arises from and is constantly fuelled by my sense of absolute self-righteousness. Self-righteousness comes because of the feeling that I possibly know everything, correctly. I have huge belief in my own ideas/plans (which have always worked, till recently), potentials (with the limited vision and desired success in almost everything i tried for, till recently). Most eccentric of all is that i viewed people as i ‘guessed/felt’ they were and not as they actually might be. Further i saw all their activities from the prism of that ‘guess/gut-feeling’. This uncanny practice is genius sometimes (note the self-righteousness) but dangerous at others (note again). I also have this presumption that all people out there are too willing to change and improve in the sense that i take the liberty [without asking] in pointing out their ’mistakes’ so that they can be better humans. However every person is unique and some may not appreciate the suggestions coming out of my concern. This makes me a lesser friend in comparison to the one who carefully avoids such personal turf and talks all the good things about.

I may continue from here..

[By writing this I am not showing my 'tears' but trying to pen down some thoughts, so ladies, gentlemen and 'otherwise', please do not sympathise. I am cool as you are :)]

analogy or irony !!

2008-03-30T12:48:00.002+05:30

The teacher was teaching. He was teaching economics to a class of approx 200 in one of the best 'developing' countries of the world. He spoke of average per head calorie norms for rural (2400) and urban (2100) people and how more than 50% of the people of the nation had a tough time getting that. (In fact most don't get).
-
Everyone listened. But she ebulliently whispered "I have only 1500 calories" She, young and seemingly from a decent family, could not have financial compulsions to consume less that that. But it was something else, and no prizes for guessing.
-
The analogical irony is, both the people have 1500 calories but for hugely contrasting reasons. The first group can not have any more calories even if they want to and she does not have anymore even if she can afford to... and the beauty is, she is wanting to get into governance and facilitate things so that the other group can also become choosers as she is, possibly. Considering this to be true, who will decide if this wanting is out of convenience or conviction?

weired thought eh....chuck it.

-harsh

The Eighteenth Camel !!

2007-04-03T14:05:00.000+05:30

Who is the traveler? Where is the eighteenth camel?

A farmer died leaving 17 camels to his 3 sons. But he kept a condition that the first son should get one-third of the total camel, the second son should get the half of remaining camels and the third should get the balance 5 camels. Entire village was confused and did not know how to do it without killing it. No one could see a solution to this deadlock.

Just then a traveler came by riding his own camel. He listened to the whole situation and pondered on it for a while. Finally, he had an idea and everyone was happy with it. He added his own camel- the eighteenth camel; to the seventeen camels of the farmer and the solution was there. First son took 6 camels (one third of eighteen), second son took 6 camels (half of remaining) and out of the remaining six camels the third son took five camels and the traveler walked away with his camel. The solution has not got much to do with mathematics. There is something else that it speaks about. It speaks of the willingness and the magnanimity of the traveler to give his own camel to solve the problem. It tells us about the foresightedness of the man.

We all are in similar situation. The situation of this nation is puzzling and it requires some quality contribution. In absence of able and effective leadership around us we have to take up the role of 'the traveler' and have to make the contribution of the "eighteenth camel". Are we ready for it?

-Jai Hind

Democracy of the sheep and the fox ?

2007-03-22T06:43:00.001+05:30

and, is our east the same as that of the russians or the mexicans or australians?

Thanks to the SUN which ends the controversy and helps us to decide which is east (It rises) and which is west(It sets.. I guess I am right).

Similarly, there are two other directions - Right and Wrong. some people say X is right or Y is wrong; and some other people might say Y is right etc etc. The question is which "SUN" will decide what is right or wrong.

To add to the pain, we live in a democratic society and every fool (read:citizen) has the right to open his mouth and break wind.

we have the democracy but I still feel we don't know how to use it or even what it means. democracy means nothing to berks. rather it is a misnomer.

it reminds me of a story i had read long back. Once all the animals decide to implement democracy in the Jungle. nominations were filed, election dates were declared, campaigning started. now, if some herbivorous nominee won, she would ban killing of all animals in the jungle. so some intelligent carnivores discussed this issue. it was decided that a fox would stand in elections. But the majority lay with the lambs, the sheep, the deer and other peace-loving herbivorous animals. A week before the elections, the exit polls by CNN-IBN, NDTV, Aajtak etc very clearly indicated who is gonna win in the game of numbers. The carnivores were in deep shit. Merely standing in elections would not help them. They would be saved only if they WON. So they had a meeting again. a decision was taken and action started. a sheep grazing in a flock was attacked by some carnivores and the fox and his men saved him (while the other sheep ran away). then the sheep was given the best treatment in terms of funds and luxury by the carnivores. it was made to believe that now democracy has come and the carnivores also wanted to be a part of the new and civilsed society. but alas!! their past records would just not let this happen. and moreover it was made to believe that a herbivorous animal can not protect all the occupants of the jungle. the jungle required someone who is powerful but peaceful and protective. and the fox had proved both these things. he seemed to be the best candidate who can definitely save the rights of the herbivores from other powerful animals. next day fox's campaigning stared with the sheep as the star campaigner. The sheep used all its resources and called for a gathering of all the herbivores for a special campaign-session. on the day of the gathering, seeing the fox as the chairperson, many sheep were afraid and peed. but our trained and enlightened sheep (which felt as if it was saving the entire community by doing all this) calmed everyone down and requested to listen to the reformed fox for some time before going to the polls. The fox repeated the same logic to the crowd with folded hands. The enlightened sheep cried and gave a very emotional testimony to all that had happened and requested its brothers and sisters to elect the fox for a larger purpose. The elections happened and all CNN, NDTV polls fell flat on the face and the fox won with heavy majority. CELEBRATIONS!! the sheep celebrated it the most. but it calls for some wine and mutton too, felt the winning party. so one sheep which was celebrating the victory was silently pulled over and the fox and team had a feast. and the slogans were only louder "We are the largest working democracy" and the sheep danced all across the jungle.

That is kind of democracy we have here in our country. and there is no "SUN" which can guide the citizens what to do and what not to do. we follow what we are taught by the fox and by the enlightened sheep (and today Star news, CNN, NDTV etc etc all go as the enlightened sheep or may be a step further).

Nishabd..

2007-03-03T00:35:00.000+05:30

really...

I watched the movie and was stunned.

I watched the budget and was stunned.

I watched the nithari case and was stunned.

I watched prince (and many following suit) falling in the well and was stunned.

I asked my brother to do good - he got hurt and i was stunned.

I watched the effect of advertisement/marketing on we people and was stunned.

I heard the earth rotating from west to east and was stunned.

But just now, when I am convinced that anything can happen and everything is possible with shifting time frame; I am at peace....atleast for this night...

with this peace m off to sleep...let the world go to dogs till then.

see u wll next time when I am disturbed and feel like writing something...

-harsh

Stop Judicial Tyranny !!

2006-09-14T09:13:00.000+05:30

Why is it that the people who should be convicted are declared acquitted?

Why is it that the people who should be acquitted are declared convicted?

This is happening at all levels starting from saddam hussein to memons to shobhraj to george F bush...

Can I do something for it... Am I doing something for it ???

Or will I keep doing the same work for my lovely company...
Nothing bad in it, but am I made to earn my bread only...
Even a dog does so... all through its life...

My apologies to you !!

2006-09-12T17:13:00.000+05:30

I do not know if 11 is lucky or not ???

But of late it has been witness to many happenings..

Why after all do they procreate ??
Why after all do they kill ??
Why after all do they Love ??
Why after all do they rape ??
Why after all do they marry ??
Why after all do they divorse ??
Why after all do they create ??
Why after all do they destroy ??

FYI - Time is not so well timed
Life is not so well lived

I do not know why I write
I do not know what I write

But I am sad at heart...
I am lonely deep within...

My sincere apologies to whom-so-ever I have caused pains...
My sincere apologies to whom-so-ever I have hurt till today....

I feel a little lighter now... not much... hope you help me further by forgiving...

You own me... I will be happy...
-harsh

Guten Tag...

2006-09-04T13:43:00.000+05:30

I woke up this morning, and it hit me.
What am I going to do with my life?

Will I do the same things, that i did yesterday, again...

The Highest Ideal

2006-09-03T17:31:00.000+05:30

The highest ideal of man is not bhagti, mukti, vision of god, reaching heaven or sitting in samadhi. It is a state of well-balanced and smooth-functioning body and mind, in which body, mind and soul are able to live in harmony with each other as well as with their surroundings.This may not sound a very high ideal to many. But every passing year of my life is confirming my belief that there is only one lasting satisfaction, and that is the passage of our life in a balanced and smooth manner, that is to say, without any part of it getting lop-sided. If the tiny boat of our personality is balanced on the sea of life then even the greatest waves will not be able to harm it. And it will even be able to carry a heavy baggage, provided it is loaded evenly. But if any side of it - front, rear, left, right - is lop-sided, it will always seem at the verge of overturning even empty what to talk of carrying any heavy baggage, and we will live in dread of it every minute.

To achieve a well-balanced and smooth state we will have to know our body, our brain, our mind, and the forces surrounding us. This state can only be achieved with much hard work and much knowledge. This is the state which can be called the state of jeevan-mukti.

The body which is the home of our personality, to know it fully is our first need; the brain through which this personality is to prosper, to know its importance and strengths is our second need; and the mind through which this personality can manifest itself, to know it is our third need. These needs cannot be fulfilled by ordinary, irregular and half-hearted exercises, these cannot be got as boons from some holy men, these have nothing to do with performing parkarmas (going around) of holy places or having holy dips there or drinking water off the feet of idols, or offering flowers and sweets to idols. Just as no body can become a wrestler without exercising in an akhara, similarly, no body can fulfill his above mentioned three needs in some other way except by knowing the laws of Nature and the working of his own body, brain and mind.

And above all, is his fourth need: to familiarize himself fully with the powers surrounding him, to use the powers sympathetic to him in his favour and to secure himself from the opposing ones. To fulfill this need the man will be required to explore the whole of Nature. Sun, moon, stars, air, water, fire, society, polity, civilization, sex, love - all will require that man fully reconciles with them. Whatever is not fully understood and reconciled with, its presence will create unease. He who does not know how a radio speaks, or how an electric bulb gives light without oil or fire, how armies and armies fly through air, how submarines run through the deepest waters of the sea, when he sees such things, first he gets awed by them, and then feels himself hollow because of his inadequate knowledge.

Society, love and sex have a deep relationship with man, but he had never cared to know about them. The result is the present uncontrollable, fluid state. Marital discords, misunderstandings, disinterestedness, impulsive behaviours, hysteria, madness are the result of this very ignorance.

Man made great temples, suffered unbearable pains for the sake of a deceptive mukti, wrote abstract philosophies, made difficult rites and rituals, tortured and got tortured, heard soundless sounds, received revelations - but did not further his knowledge of himself and his surroundings, nor realized his unity with Nature.The result is the hell that we have prepared for ourselves on this earth, where nobody is free to do anything, everything is in chains taut and tense. To live, to be, to enjoy, to see, to appreciate, nothing is dared. Fear stalks every step. Restrictions cover every inch. Every happening is frightening, every moment one is afraid of an omnipresent power happy to run down our efforts. Sermons are delivered from all sides to remain bowed before this very power for hours together and rub noses. He who tries to look up by lifting his neck a bit gets his neck cut. The man will not face more frightening hell anywhere else - he lives in this very hell now.But to live in heaven should be his ideal. Heaven, not after death, but now, and in this very world. Every kind of happiness is man's birthright, provided he can have it without usurping any body's right and without giving any body pain. That image of God is mistaken and harmful which keeps man in fear, and making him a sinful nonentity shows the only hope for him in asking for forgiveness. This image does injustice to man and God both. If no God can be thought of without such an image, then man is in need of no God. Building temples for such a God are useless, and worshipping him has no effect except making man slave and lazy.
But what prevents us from imagining a better and more beautiful God? Stars are beautiful, moon is beautiful, sun is splendid, sky is clear and limitless, forests are full, deserts are wide, seas are unmeasurable and unfathomable, earth's potential is unlimited, love is ecstatic, hug has a wonderful electric current in it, sweet words have magic in them, to sacrifice is to gain fullness of life, health is happiness, hunger gives a unique taste of its own, food gives wonderful satisfaction, good wishes are harbinger of peace, beauty has bloom, sympathy has embrace, tears have some memories dissolved in them, flowers have messages, birds have music, music has intoxication - and in the laughter of this intoxication is the tingle of God.

Is it a small worship to understand this God? Do the eyes closed in blind-faith depict a better state than the knowledge of such a God? Isn't the God which remains present as happiness and beauty in skies, in the hearts of everything a far better and beautiful imagination than the one who sends those who do not worship his name to hells and to repeated cycles of births and deaths?

-anon

I have a dream...

2006-09-03T16:02:00.000+05:30

If you believe the wonder of a fairy tale
You can take the future even if you fail
I believe in angels
Something good in everything I see
I believe in angels
When I know the time is right for me
I'll cross the stream - I have a dream

-(Lines by anon, feelings are mine)

musings...

2006-07-23T16:47:00.000+05:30

Faithfulness is a social not a biological law...

A truly moral life requires a great deal of luck..
- Tracey Ullman

I used to think that the brain was the most wonderful organ in my body.
Then I realized who was telling me this

-Emo Phillips

I exist..

2006-07-23T16:46:00.000+05:30

A man said to the universe, "Sir, I exist!"
"However," repliedthe universe,
"The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation."

- Stephen Crane

i have committed

2006-07-23T16:35:00.000+05:30

I have committed the worst sin of all that a man can commit.
I have not been happy.
May the glaciers of oblivion drag me and mercilessly let me fall...

khayal aata hai..

2006-07-15T22:26:00.000+05:30

Sirf Mohabbat Nahin Kuch Aur Bhi Hai
Zulf-o-Rukhsaar ki Jannat Nahi Kuch Aur Bhi Hai
Bhookh Aur Pyaas ki Maari Hui Is Duniya Mein
Ishq Hi Ek Haqeeqat Nahin Kuch Aur Bhi Hai
************************************
wafa ka naam to sab ki juban par aata hai,
magar ye rasam kaun nibhta hai.
talash karti hai "Sohni" ko aaj bhi nigahen,
kumbhar aaj bhi kache ghare banata hai.
************************************

Dil - Dard
Dard - Tum
Tum - Main
Main - Tanha
Tanha - Raat
Raat - Taare
Taare - Chaand
Chaand - Daag
Daag - Dil
Dil - Dard..

Orkut has swept us off

2006-05-17T22:24:00.001+05:30

all of a sudden it has come in our lives and has taken all of us by awe ..... orkut.... all of a sudden scrap has become important to all of us.... earlier it was juss scrap... scrap... crap...

ajkal, jisko dekho laga rehta hai.... infy wale hue ya satyam wale ya atos wale ya fir CROMPTON ke sher... orkut har jagah jindabad...

sochta hoon boss ko bhi orkut-invitation bhejoon.....aap log bhi bhejiye.... sab mil ke scrapping karenge... or 30th ko number of sent and received scraps ke basis pe salary demand karenge...

Which Wolf Won ?

2006-05-17T20:53:00.000+05:30

One evening an old grandfather told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said,
"My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside all of us.
One is Evil. It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret,greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false, pride, superiority, and ego.
The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather,
"Which wolf wins?"

The old grandfather simply replied, "The one you feed."

will I eat a dumb & deaf human coz its a rich source of Protein, and incapable otherwise !!

2006-05-16T19:58:00.000+05:30

when civilistaion started long long back....ppl lived naked and just killed anything and ate raw...then they became a little civilised and knew to cook meat before eating, (also started hiding/protecting their body parts), then they became a little more civilised and stared agriculture and eating chosen vegetables. By now they also started living in homes and started grouping and society started forming. Many many years down the line Islam, Hinduism etc came into existence as a result of thoughts and experiences being converted into actions. Different people followed different philosophies...some chose ahimsa and tried to go as closer to not hurting others as possible, others did research and proved that non-veg is not meant/that good for humans (and its true, but that is another detailed story). Also some ate meat because they lived in no-vegetation area, where they had/have nO option. So that is human history in a nutshell.

Now, whenever this question is asked, all of us start taking stands, rather than rationalising, unbiased. According to me ideal situation will be when we can stop plucking/killing and eating vegetables also (and not only animals) and live just on
fallen and dying plants etc...But that is not possible (I fail to see this for the masses) so we have to take our own calls and choose the extent to which we can tend towards idealism.

Looking from the vitamin,protein etc point of view also there are vegan substitutes (like milk) for the meat of every goat,cow, fish that we kill, and they seem to better serve our need for food and the purpose of ahimsa and spirituality,though not fully. Speaking culturally, I can not imagine revered personalities like Jesus Christ or Prophet, Ram, or Buddha etc eating a goat, cow or lamb, but yes they have all saved and nurtured these animals in many instances in history.

So, finally, i feel that it is not that my God wants me to eat meat or forbids me from eating meat, it is more of every individuals own intellectua/cultural status and understanding the evolution of humanity (not humans..eh..), and civilisation
that one eats or does not eat meat....
-Harsh

idea of Sanaatan dharma...

2006-05-13T21:39:00.000+05:30

Quite Plausible...read on....

well, hinduism is a pagan religion. there is no concept of God in Hinduism but several gods representing different forces of nature, indra, varun, etc. the purans and upnishads were written in medevial time by corrupt brahmins to fulfil their own interests. they all are well contradicting. shiva mahapuran states that in the beginning there was shiva, and he created brahma and vishnu, while vishnu puran states the same for vishnu.

as for shivling, one puran states that it's a representation of virility, ling means male genitals. scriptures say that once shiva was making love with parvati and agatsya muni knocked the foor. shiva couldn't open the door and was cirsed by agatya that he'll he'll be worshipped in the same form (ling over yoni, the common depiction of shivling).

another legend states that some sages who were jealous of shiva's masculinity cut his genitals, which fell through all the worlds(loks) creating tremors. parvati was requested to stop the ling, so she stopped it on her yoni. so you can see how much the purans differ.

as for the pagan hindu gods, they are considered to be the souce of/or eveloved from the same source as greek and roman pagan gods (like zeus:indra, uranus:varun, jupiter:brihaspati/guru).

some even say that abraham and sara are obscure forms of brahma and sarasvati, but this is debatable.

the legend of noah or nooh is stated in vedas as the legend of manu. manu saved the mankind from the flood, so the sanskrit word for man is "manav", son of manu. and it's so similar to the word "man".

i can go on forever but in a nutshell, humanity evolved at a single place and migrated, and carried along with it the legends. which changed significantly as generations passed. and also due to the later inter mixings and migrations.

-anonymous

Nation Rises...

2006-04-23T21:34:00.000+05:30

aghaaz kar diya hai hamne,
anjaam dilana baki hai.
har bachche ki ankhon ko sahi,
mukaam dikhana baki hai.

"we have only one passion,
the rise of our great nation."

kal shaam

2006-04-23T21:17:00.000+05:30

Har pal meri aankhon mein jo basti hai
Kal shaam, mujhse naaraaz thee...shaayad
Meri khaamoshi ko jurm meraa maan baithi wo
Par...ye khaamoshi meraa paighaam thee...shaayad

Youth Conference

2006-01-17T20:57:00.000+05:30

hi world,

Recently, i attended a youth conference in Orissa. It was organised by "Initiatives of Change- Orissa" youth team. That was fantastic. I would like to share about my experiences gained over there also....but may be some other time....life can be so hectic I never knew....

Let's make a difference...

just wanted to share..

2005-11-17T19:41:00.000+05:30

Hi frnds, recently I had been to Vadodara. By chance I met a person called Savak, who had also come to enjoy his Diwali vacations there...away from mumbai...we talked for almost 3.5 hrs on varied topics. And I felt so very much intellectually stirred that it took almost a day for me to get ground...very soon i will share some of our discussions...with u all...I keep you all in my prayers....-
-Harsh

James Bond

2005-11-12T20:48:00.000+05:30

On a flight James bond was sitting next to a Telugu guy. (born and brought

up in Andhra with strong Telugu sentiments)

The conversation went ahead as under

Telugu Guy:

"Hello, May I know your name please?"

James Bond: "My name is Bond"

Continuing in his inimitable style, " ....James Bond."

Then Bond asks:

"And you?"

Telugu Guy: " My name is Rao...

Siva Rao...

Samba Siva Rao...

Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva Rao...

Vijayawada Sitaramanjaneyula Rajasekhara Yarlagadda Venkata Samba Siva
Rao..."

Since then whenever anyone asks Bond his name he simply says "James Bond"

Fight or Flight?

2005-11-10T20:13:00.000+05:30

Fight or Flight?

1. A gentleman traveling on a coast-to-coast flight
Was the king of person who had real insight.
A five-year old youngster was really a fright
Running up and down aisles and giving a fight.

2. The people in business were trying to work
Near those who were sleeping, the youngster did lurk.
He yanked off the headsets of some music lovers,
And took all of the peanuts
that he could discover.

3. The passengers complained, “He must becontrolled,”
And threatened the flight crew to knock him out cold.
Theflight attendant buckled him in his seat
But his screams and his hollers were less than a treat.

4. The passengers, desperate, want him bound tight and gagged.
“Arrest the boy’s parents, or let them be nagged.”
At last comes our gentleman, who spoke to the crew.
They loved his idea; into action they flew.

5. They found a seat for the boy in the front of the plane.
They were willing to do it to keep themselves sane.
They fashioned a steering wheel from a large plate;
A stick was a rudder’ he thought it was great.

6. Flying instruments were made from some odds and some ends.
The pilot came back; the two became friends,
The pilot then asked for help flying the plane.
Because it’d be tough if they ran into rain.

7. The kid was delighted’ he was taught how to fly.
Flight attendants all smiled; the copilot came by.
The pilot saluted and left the boy in command.
He kept pretty quiet and thought it was grand.

8. The passengers rejoiced; the gentleman was praised.
How did you think of it?” the question was raised.
The gentleman answered in a voice calm and low,
“It’s really quite simple, if you go with the flow.

You tried hard to solve your own problem, the noise;
But the problem I solved was that of the boy’s.”

~not~confused~

2005-11-06T10:46:00.003+05:30

Propaganda leaves us blinded

Mesmerize the simple minded;

Ask those kids at Tiananmen Square

Was fashion the reason they were there;

Why go away, ask widow of Satyendra Dubey

By blowing whistle, did he get extra lives;

Lives!! yes we are cruising in our lives

thinking about ways to socialize;

can anyone tell me, if we are free

or 15th of august '47 was just a mockery

~harshw

true say...

2005-10-30T17:50:00.000+05:30

'Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition'

'Men kick friendship around like a football and it doesn't seem to crack... Women treat it like glass and it falls to pieces...'

"Man is born to live, not to prepare for life" ( from 'Dr. Zhivago')

"Today, love seems to be an exaggeration of emotions only. Only fools cherish it and the ultimate fruit of love is pain and sorrow"

purely my personal opinion! ;-)

Who is responsible ???

2005-10-30T11:34:00.000+05:30

Are we Responsible?

“US sees Pakistan’s bloody hand in 9/11, but prefers to close its eyes ” that was the headline a few months back. The rest of the world sees US’ hand in Vietnam War, Iran-Iraq War, USSR-reduced-to-only-Russia episode, Afghanistan War against terror and its proxy war in Iraq (and the drama continues) but prefers to close its eyes. It is found that every other person is in the wrong. The big question is – “Are we responsible…enough? ” ‘We’ can be the rest of the world, the nations, the different religious and ethnic communities, or as small as just you and me. It is a fact that attempts made by the international community so far were either just symbolic or they could not maintain their fervor to the winning point in many of the cases mentioned above. The reasons may be varied - ranging from personal to political. The irony is that such atrocities that are done on human beings by the so-called civilized and upwardly mobile people fail to attract the attention of Human Rights Body also which is otherwise always ready with arms in hands to stand against a court’s decision of punishing a terrorist.

Let us analyze the causes behind certain (mis) happenings going on around us. The nations are failing because the people comprising it are very occupied with their own lives; most of the politicians are basically practitioners of corruption at different levels depending on their ‘capacity’. The snap showing Telgi with some top politicians has very recently been released. BUT, the big question is, who elected these people, who are uneducated, have criminal backgrounds and are devotees of corruption, to the positions they are currently occupying. It is ladies & gentlemen like you and me. We helped them either by voting for them or by not taking part in the polls. Both the ways we helped them. And the interesting part of the story is that we are continuing our help to them in some way or the other.

Last June, in Asia Plateau, I got a chance to talk to Mr. Prabhat Kumar, Senior IAS Officer and former Governor of Jharkhand. I asked him if a government can run without indulging in corruption and if at all it indulges in corruption; to what extent could it do so. To this he had replied, “Every Government misuses the power. It is bound to happen, as long as the people allow it. They do so only up to Public Opinion.” So, if the public is sleeping, or is itself practicing corruption, then the government will go on with the corruption and misuse of power. No wrongs will be set right, no justice will be delivered in the absolute form, and no development will take place in this condition. Mind you, even you can be the victim of the system we devise today.

At this juncture, when I use the word ‘Public’ a feeling creeps in that it is a third party we are talking about. But, in reality ‘Public’ is just you and me multiplied many times. Now if I hold you responsible, you may not like it all of a sudden and may be tempted to pass the buck on. That is exactly what is happening with all of us.

You must have heard of Satyendra Dubey, a young IIT passed, NHAI engineer, who wrote confidentially to the PMO about misappropriation of funds in the Golden Quadrilateral project in Bihar. His letter was not treated properly and the content was divulged. Dubey was soon shot dead in Bihar. Shame on rest of us who could not feel that responsibility and take that first step which Dubey chose to take. But we are such cowards that when someone else took that first step for us we could not even save him. Sometimes, one is forced to feel that we have reached such a ‘dangerous’ level of ‘civilization’ where such things seem to be non-issues to all of us. What grips our thoughts most are “Should the drinking age be lowered?” “Should sleeveless dresses be allowed in colleges or not”, “Should there be a censor board or not?” blah blah… We are ourselves making such a system where everyone of us will be prone to such incidents.

When somebody says,”Can corruption be countered”, we say ”Wow, that is a perfect topic for debate.” The state of affairs has reached to its nadir. Today we can’t even imagine in our wildest thoughts that corruption can not only be countered but it can be encountered to total annihilation. The only thing is that we all have to work towards it unitedly. We have to take a step towards it however small it is, towards achieving a better world. And that is the only thing, which is going to work, and it will work for sure. I bet every one of you must have felt something similar to all that I have written but it is just a matter of chance that I chose to pen my thoughts down. Otherwise, I am not a saint myself, and at times I also feel weak and helpless. Now its time to put in a small effort by all of us to shake this “hota hai, chalta hai” attitude. We just have to be mentally strong enough to carry our own responsibilities honestly. And believe me, once you decide to be strong there are so many people to help you out at every stage of life.

[I wrote this 5 months back, and I am really thankful to blogspot.com having enabled me to share it with all my friends who will read it.]

i found it..

2005-10-27T18:31:00.000+05:30

I have to live with myself, and so

I want to be fit for myself to know

I can never hide myself from me;

I see what others may never see,

I know what others may never know;

I can never fool myself, and so,

Whatever happens, I want to be

Self Respecting and Guilt Free

i lost it..

2005-10-27T18:20:00.000+05:30

i just wanna live the life i please
i don't want no enemies
i don't want nothin if i have to fake it
never take nothin don't belong to me
everything's paid for, nothin's free
if i give my heart, will you promise not to break it?

-Lucinda Williams

may be I'm wrong...

2005-10-26T19:03:00.000+05:30

I had a philosophical discussion with a friend the other day about the nature of people's perceptions about other's. I think it really bothered him that I don't share his opinion...

Sometimes people are going to think things about you that are misguided, or they may misinterpret the signals that you are consciously or unconsciously putting out. I don't think it is an individuals responsibility to try and clear up those misperceptions. If someone thinks you are a jackass, it is not your responsibility to go to them and "prove" that you aren't.
If someone thinks you are a slacker, it is not your responsibility to "fix" their thinking.

I guess my point is that I can't control what people think of me, the only thing I can control is me and my actions--everyone elses reactions are beyond my control.

He felt that if someone has a misconception about you that you should go to them and confront them and straighten them out. If they think you are a loafer, you ask them, "why do you think I am a loafer?" and they will tell you and then you argue it out that you aren't a loafer because of this, this and that....

Maybe he's right.

me and rajan

2005-10-26T18:17:00.000+05:30

that is rajan (L) and me (R) in this beautiful place called Mulshi...

be natural...

2005-10-26T17:37:00.000+05:30

We should slow down [study] to find out the value in things.
[the value in quickness the value in force and reaction, the value in the voices, the value in the blues].

Become natural.

Bhagavadgita...

2005-10-24T10:34:00.000+05:30

Having read a large part of the Gita offer a basic summary of each of assigned five sections of the Gita. You may want to address whether the Gita argues for one road to god? Does it argue for one god? What is the overall message here? Place this writing in the Religious Literature section of your website. One can also post this material if one wishes to.

Read chapters 1, 2, 3, 8, and 11 (five total).

Chapters 1 The Distress of Arjuna - Arjuna is in the dilemma where he has to fight for his Kingdom, but he doesn't believe it's worth it if he has to risk the lives of his people for victory.

Chapters 2 The Book of Doctrines - Krishna (God) tells Arjuna to fight because going to the War is what is important to a warrior. One should does one's duty regardless of its outcome that follows. If those people are destined to die they will be and that's not Arjuna's concern that fighting may cause casualty. Do the duty with God in mind but not to worry about failure and success the outcome will be is the right way to go.

Chapters 3 Virtue in Work - Arjuna is asking why fighting the war is needed (perform of ones' duty) if one already obtain the transcendental knowledge. The God (Krishna) replies even thought there are multiple paths to reach God, it's not excluded. All work done should be dedicated to God, think of oneself is just the instrument of doing God's work.

Chapters 8 Religion by Devotion to the One Supreme God - Krishna sayes to Arjuna the he is the BRAHMA - the One Eternal God. the One Supreme God will manifest Himself in many forms (ADHIBHUTA - Lord of Lives; ADHIBHUTA - Lor of all the Gods; And ADHIDAIVA - Lord of Sacrifice). To attain God, one just has to keep God in mind all the time and set God as his ultimate goal. The predominate thought of previous life will lead one to it so if one has God in mind then that's where it's leading one to and out of the life cycle (or incarnation).

Chapters 11 The Manifesting of the One and Manifold - When Arjuna asks God to appear before him, God shows Arjuna the universe: live and dead separated but in a way altogether in one. Krishna (GOD) says Himself cannot be seen using the human eye or physical eye, but through the eye in heart without highly devotion to Him; God also says the enemies Arjuna is fighting will be destoryed by Him regardless, so Arjuna should fight for glory.

hmmm...

2005-10-21T10:55:00.000+05:30

sometimes you're a Louisville Slugger....sometimes you're the ball.

Collide

2005-10-19T20:50:00.000+05:30

The dawn is breaking
A light shining through
You're barely waking
And I'm tangled up in you

I'm open, you're closed
Where I follow, you'll go
I worry I won't see your face
Light up again

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the wrong words seem to rhyme
Out of the doubt that fills my mind
I somehow find
You and I collide

I'm quiet you know
You make a frist impression
I've found I'm scared to know I'm always on your mind

Even the best fall down sometimes
Even the stars refuse to shine
Out of the back you fall in time
I somehow find
You and I collide

Thanks to all friends who have come gone and to a few who r still with me

2005-10-14T19:03:00.000+05:30

Every one of us lives a life colored by individual and changing experiences, perceptions, needs, and desires. We connect with others, becoming friends and confidants, most often because they share something with us, such as an interest or need. But as time goes on there is change, and the bonds that brought you close to a treasured friend may not be enough to sustain the relationship. You may find your lives have gone in wildly different directions and you no longer share the same aspirations, or you may have changed on an energetic level. It is not unusual in such a situation to find that the comfort you found in the other person has vanished and that you have trouble relating as you once did. Outgrowing a friend can be confusing or painful, but it is a natural part of one's personal growth.

You have a right to choose to surround yourself with those people who understand you, are helpful and compassionate, and put you at ease. Months or years into a friendship, you may find your friend no longer seems like the same person he or she once was. The change may have been within them, but may also have come from within you. Moving on does not mean that your past shared experiences were not meaningful or important to you both, but rather it acknowledges your needs in the present. Ending a friendship can be difficult. You may not feel comfortable explaining your reasons for doing so. Even so, you can still be kind, respectful, and considerate, and simply state that you can no longer devote time to the friendship. When you have made the conscious decision to let go of the relationship, it will most likely happen naturally.

The people who are or have been a part of your life each taught you something. Some friendships are long-term while others are brief. In all relationships, however, it is important to embrace changes and to let go of regrets. While you may outgrow the need to maintain a friendship with someone who was once very special to you, that person will nonetheless always occupy a place in your heart.

I have been lucky to find friends who have taken care of me and to a few who were more like acquaintence , but sorted me out .U guys know who u r soo at the end of the day i hope i have been a good friend to people who have known me and if not then u can sort it out urself!!!

Love..

2005-10-14T12:17:00.000+05:30

"Only God's creations can compare to the beauty that I see in you! My love for you is infinite, without limits."

Zakhmon ko marhum kehtaa hoon..

2005-10-14T12:13:00.000+05:30

Zakhmon ko marhum kehtaa hoon, Qaatil ko maseehaa kehtaa hoon
jo dil me guzraa kartee hain Mein pardaa-pardaa kehtaa hoon

zulfon ko ghaTaayein kehtaa hoon, rukhsaar ko sholaa kehtaa hoon
tum jitne acchhe lagte ho Mein usase acchaa kehtaa hoon

ab reet yahee hai duniyaa kee, tum bhee naa bano beghaanaa kaheen
ilzaam nahee dhartaa tum par ek jee ka DhakDaa kehtaa hoon

Ei soze-wafaa jal-bhujne me, kyaa lazzat haasil hotee hai
jis shaamaa ne daaman fook diyaa us shamaa ko apnaa kehtaa hoon

Ei peere-mugaan khud ko tishnaa kehte huye gairat aatee hai
jo ghoonT piye hai zahar bhare unkho bhee sehbaa kehtaa hoon

har chaak me sau-sau tuhmat hain, har taar me sau-sau rusvaayee
us moD pe hai aashuftaasaree daaman ko dhabaa kehta hoon

arbaabe-chaman jo kehte hain, wo naam mujhe maloom nahee
Jis Shaakh pe koyee phool naa ho Mein usko tammanaa kehtaa hoon

"Harsh" wo nawaa laa-haasil hai, jo sirf laboon pe lehraaye
Choo le jo dilon kee gehraayee, Main usko Naghmaa kehtaa hoon

When I go to my grave...

2005-10-13T19:06:00.000+05:30

I will not go down under the ground
"Cause somebody tells me that death's comin' 'round
An' I will not carry myself down to die
When I go to my grave my head will be high,
Let me die in my footsteps Before I go down under the ground.