A Red 'DOT' Kiss!! Too "Hypocrite" to Resist Afterall.

Disclaimer: The letter below should not be deemed offensive in any manner, as the thoughts expressed in it were being very naively nurtured in my brain for quite a long time and finally they found their way out today in the same naive way through this sacrosanct message to God - The Almighty, without any intention of inflicting any kind of malice on my "Meat" loving friends out there. This just vents out my genuine feelings in open. Anyone is free to comment on the same with all the worldly freedom :)

Dear Almighty,

Since the time I have come to Goa, every single day so far, I have seen all kind of fishes, chickens, prawns, lobsters, crabs,....Wait a minute...List seems to be eternal - So, rather I should say - the complete animal kingdom you have created so far - being savored by my fellas on each of the dining tables I had my meals on. Well! That's indeed a splendid spectacle. They are the non vegetarian friends of mine. I respect their appetite and the avid love they possess for their innocent kingdom mates. Wait a Minute! Are you......? Nooo! Not at all! They are not like that as you think they are. Please Lord! Now who says they are bad? Woe Be'tide to those who feel or say so!! After all they are the part of the food chain and are certainly adhering to the theories and rules proposed by all the Darwins born in this world so far.

Here, I must tell you about one very important and adorable trait you are missing in them. They are very religious souls. They have full faith and an irrefutable belief in you - Yes! The God yourself. O Almighty, in this 21st century,where on earth you will find so many followers, when its brimming with atheists all around? You should be proud of these true devotees of yours. So what, if they stuff their tummies with Butter Chickens? How does it matter if they gormandize those delicious Rogan Joshes and Kababs as soon as they get served on the table? What difference does it make if they don't spare any single chance to grab their favorite palatable Crabs, kill them, rip their shells off from their body and relish their curries with a divine satisfaction, remembering you at the same time with extreme sense of culinary satisfaction?

Yes. I outrightly refute all the allegations you make against my friends on the basis of the above points. BECAUSE - O Lord! The Almighty! You would be moved by the disclosure which is going to come now - Today is Maha Shivratri! Your day, God - and you would be glad to know that my friends are fasting - Just having some leafy stuff - that's what they call a veg food - indeed a big deal for them. Also guess what? Yes! no non veg cuisine in the college mess. You are ought to appreciate that fortitude, Lord. No, its not a once in a while affair. Some of my mates fast on Tuesdays too (For The Hanuman Ji in you) and wait - Some on Thursdays too(For one of the abc God's in you). Ya. Trust me! Now are you convinced with the fact that how justified they are in having a perfect diet they have?

Don't be so rude O Lord! Are you trying to call them hypocrites? Well! I must not object to all your opinions. I am in the good list of yours. Don't want to tarnish my image for sure. Wink ;). But Hey! You have to consider my plea. You ain't that bad. Are you?

Do consider their considerations they make while grabbing a "RED DOTTED" food can. They just can't resist the temptation. But they do. They do it for you, O Lord! And you call them hypocrites? Huh. So Rude of you! :(

'Sorry" - More than just a Word Said!

As I removed the wrapper from one of my favourite Cadbury's Fruit and Nut after lunch at 'Casa De Cha' and saw my watch, it said 5 minutes to 1. In the fear of missing the MLR class, which was going to start at 1, I hurriedly took out the chocolate and conjecturing the actual coordinates of the dust bin, tossed the blue cadbury paper towards it. As I turned back, grabbing the change from the restaurant manager, I saw my chocolate wrapper on the floor besides the trash box. The very next word which automatically came out of me was "Ohh...Sorry". A mate immediately asked me whom I said sorry to and gave a vociferous guffaw. This didn't happen for the first time to me. Very often I would be found being asked - "Sorry??? .. To whom buddy?" and every time I would smile and walk along. Did you ask me why don't I answer them? Oh C'mmon! If they could understand the reason, this question would not have been asked at the first place. Right?

You should apologize only when you feel that you have done something wrong - this is what a common philosophy is, isn't it? I am no loner. I too have the same thinking. Its just that what others feel is not wrong, is wrong for me and to an extent where I must say sorry as it puts a great impact on my identity as a sensitive and responsible human being. Every action of mine impacts some one or the other in different ways. The chocolate wrapper, not placed inside the dustbin, was littering the place I walk into very often. This was giving my foreign guests a wrong signal about our lifestyle. I feel every action of mine and weigh its consequences at each point. Be it the statement I make, the way I walk, the stances I take or the behaviour I display - I am answerable - thats my way of life. I thank my father to imbibe these values in me. I am happy that I am adding value to my existence in many ways.

Love me, love my dog :) - If you like it, adopt it.

Cheers!

Happy Teacher's Day!

This post is dedicated to the teachers all over the country who have made me reach to where I am right now. Educating me all through and making me a nice human being. I express my gratitude, on this auspicious day dedicated to teachers, towards the sacrifices made by them in order to inculcate the right learnings, right attitude and right culture within me. A humble thanks to you my teacher for your invaluable contribution in my life. Wish you all a very Happy Teacher's Day! I am using the poem to express my heartfelt thankfulness to all my teachers - (Courtesy - iloveindia.com).

"If I could teach you, teacher,
I’d teach you how much more
You have accomplished
Than you think you have.
I’d show you the seeds
You planted years ago
That are now coming into bloom.
I’d reveal to you the young minds
That have expanded under your care,
The hearts that are serving others
Because they had you as a role model.
If I could teach you, teacher,
I’d show you the positive effect
You have had on me and my life.
Your homework is
To know your value to the world,
To acknowledge it, to believe it.
Thank you, teacher."
- Joanna Fuchs

Life Pursuits - Kabhi This, Kabhi That!!

I cleared my wallet today, tearing and disposing off those CCD bills, movie tickets and ATM receipts. It took me to the wonderful moments I used to be into few months back. That day, on 2nd June'09, as the guard waved the signal, he insinuated me to momentarily forget those comfortable and joyful days I was into, in the cyber city. But I couldn't stop myself doing so. I gaped at the New Delhi railway station, receding in size. The trees, the farms, the electric poles, the waving kids - all bidding me good bye with a mysterious smile. I had no option but to reply with a grin. It was a self chosen change for me which, at that moment, was not at all pleasing. I was deliberating hard on my decisions. I was leaving all those wonderful moments lived there with people whom I loved to be with. Those people had become a part of my life. I still believe the fact that it's the people who make the place worth living and not the place by itself. This is the reason, a city like Gurgaon -which has nothing as such to offer, except a spectacle of a concrete jungle which I used to detest badly - has become one of the nicest places I have ever visited in my life so far.

After around 2 and a half months from this journey as I write this from Goa Institute of Management, where I am currently in, to pursue my PG course of 2 years, I find myself confused and indecisive. Confused by instincts, confused by my desires, confused by my purpose in life. Does someone really think that he or she has just a single objective in life? If someone says so, I refute it outrightly. Ok, let me put it this way which might sound a bit cliched - At any point of time, you have an aim in your life, you run for it badly. You think about it day and night. You put your best efforts to achieve it. But what once you get it? There's another greed to run after. Another short term objective to target for. Another milestone to reach and before we actually realise what we want from our life, it becomes too late. Am I being too philosophical? Ammm!! I dunno. Perhaps Yes.

This is not the first time that someone is writing all these stuffs, many have written it in various forms numerous times. What is the thing to note about here is do we really deliberate on these aspects? Aah. Ya I heard your synchronous NOs. You know what, I left those back, whom I value the most and whom I don't know whether I would be able to meet again in my life. I really doubt that by March' 2011 when I would be leaving this place, I would be content. May be or May be not. Aah, c'mon. Lets move now - wasn't this what you all wanted to say to me. See, I guessed that. :)

I have to stop all this nonsense as the coming Monday is showing its scary face studded with Externalities Theory underlying in the "Congestion Charges in Central London" and the works of B.F. Skinner in the concepts of Organizational Behaviour and loads of other stuffs. I sign off here with yet another short term plan - an obligation that I have to meet and not the purpose I have to achieve in life. Take care all. May God gives us the sanity to achieve the state of self realisation. Lollzzz :)

'Ganpat' - The Chaiwala!! - Inner Strength Exemplified!!

With the break of the dawn, he comes at his small kiosk, at a, not so conspicuous, corner of Sector 23 Market. He has his carrier along with him, which is a worn out tricycle on which he carries all the paraphernalia to set up his, not so famous, 'Tea Stall’. The carrier bears the load of his own(as he drives it), a gas cylinder, a burner, few tumblers - large and small, some jars and few countable tea glasses - which he has purchased after much thought and becomes too disturbed if, unfortunately, one of them breaks. It costs him a half day earning of his to purchase a new set and also has to listen to their customer's abuses failing to serve tea in a glass. So by the time his small tea stall sets up, the clock ticks 30 past 5 of the morning. Yes a chilly winter morning - when most of us prefer to cuddle ourselves into our cosy blankets. Now you will ask, who has asked this idiot to come to work so early? I too asked him this one day. His answer was "Bhaiya, few night shift blokes visit for the early morning sip. So my 2-3 glasses of tea gets sold daily between 5.30 and 6.00". Immediately I shot my next question - "But yaar just for 2-3 cups, why do you spoil your sleep and bear the brunt of this freeze?” He just added with a gullible smile "Bhaiya bahot ho jaate hain". I dint have anything to say after that.

He prepares one of the best teas of the market, as per his abilities, putting all the necessary ingredients - Tea Leaves, Milk, Sugar, Ginger - to start his day and to make his customers start their day with a bang!! But unfortunately, not so many people turn up to his kiosk. So he takes delivery orders too - from Pan-Wala, Electrician, Barber, Tailor, Medical and General Stores around, Reliance Fresh staff, Spencer staff and all those who are convinced with the 'Ganpat'(his name) Brand of tea. After preparing the tea for delivery, he swings into his carrier, along with the kettle and tea glasses and pedals through the shops where he has to deliver. He sometimes loses few visiting customers in the process of delivery. But he never deters from this. 

Then comes the collection of glasses from the delivery points - In the evening, when I come back from office and watch him in this phase of his day, it gives me shiver down to the bottom, as he never takes his carrier along. He says each time he can't drive his carrier. He feels tired. He simply swings down his small stool, on which he sits, and sports his slippers on his palms and with all the smoothness, he crawls briskly on the road, with people towering over him. Yes, you saw it correctly - he wears his slippers on his palms and crawls. He has purchased the slippers for his palms itself, as he doesn't have legs to walk. Both his legs are polio crippled. When he walks with the help of his palms on the rough road,( we can't even walk bare foot), that creates one of the most painful scene for that moment to watch at as it seems anyone can crush this man anytime, who seems so tiny down the road with humans and animals around paying no heed to his presence.

But Ganpat is not an ordinary human being. He has all his strength inside which is his willpower and eagerness to survive on his own. He may seem a tiny creature physically but he is the man of substance. He deems himself just an ordinary man. It’s his inner strength which has fetched lot of respect for himself. He dislikes any sort of sympathy and no one even gives that sympathy to him. The very stroll of his, which has so much valiance and pride within itself, would coerce you to smile in eulogy for this superhero of Sector 23.

This is what I would call a self strength and a desire to survive with a self esteem. We all must learn from the fortitude, the will power, and the tenacity he displays for his survival because had there been any ordinary person he would have definitely chosen to sit in front of any Gurudwara or a Temple with a begging bowl in hand. I agree that not all people of his ilk would be having the same determination to survive in a self esteemed way as Ganpat has but we - The “ables” - can surely encourage them to go for this by citing Ganpat's example. Can't we? I don't encourage beggars. I don't give anything to beggars who are very much able to earn their bread but have chosen not to work by their will and instead went for such a disgusting thing as begging. If Ganpat can do, why can't you damn it, with all your limbs at their places? We have lot of opportunities; we choose ourselves what to take and what not to shrug off. Everyone has options. It’s the attitude which helps you taking your call on this. It’s all there in your mind. It's just about to take the right decision believing in your abilities. Can't we educate these people who feel that begging is the easiest job to do? We should make them aware that they can make their life much better if they choose to drive their lives by themselves rather than depending on others. This would be a self realisation for them if we stop giving the able beggars anything. Stop encouraging beggars!! By entertaining beggars we are making an individual's life more miserable. Help only those who you feel can't help themselves. Think once.

Just a Nice Quote to share!!

AB has mentioned this quote in his blog entry, which I found very interesting. So just sharing for those who don't follow his blog -

"There is nothing good or bad in this world, but our perceptions make it so. What people call ‘congestion’ in a train, becomes ‘atmosphere’ in a night club"

A great thought conveyed by a funny example. :)))

Responsibility - Not an Appendage to Education!! - Its a Realisation for the Good!!

The other day, when I was whiling away my time during the post lunch session, one of my office colleagues said "Dude!! Education is just not enough to change our country.....". I smiled and we dispersed with those words in my mind, to brood over later. I gave a thought and suddenly all the events started flashing in front of my subconscious mind.

A Consultant in Ernst and Young, driving a spanking new 'Accord', stuck in a traffic jam, honking incessantly, using all the sound energy HONDA has made it to generate - How much do you think this gentleman would have studied? Must had been an IIM or a good B School graduate!! Right?? Now with all his intellect inside, what was he trying to do actually, stuck between hundreds of cars, leading and trailing him? Can any of you explain me? Ahaaa!! Lemme guess then!! Perhaps he was trying to smash off the leading vehicles and clear the traffic by this cacophony. Sir!! Am I Right?? I would simply say that you are a complete jerk!!

Be it any queue, Railway reservation, Office Lunch Coupon, Movie Tickets, Vehicles on a busy road : I should be the first one to get the privilege, and I can go to any limit to seek the same. If it results in creating a mess around, I am least bothered. After all, I am the most insensitive person on this planet. I forget, that the Lord has made we humans, stand unique in the lot of animals since we are supposed to be more cultured, more organized and arranged - On the contrary we are in competition with each other in showing our barbarism, to this world. And remember!! We call ourselves educated. God save us!!

We often laugh our hearts out, while discussing that we love breaking rules. 'Rules are meant to be broken dude' - so much passion oozes out while uttering this small statement, isn't it? Rules are just some well documented list of formalities for us. We enjoy flouting them to an extent that we forget that one day it would fall back on us causing a vicious problem for one or many of us; and it always does. We call it an accident. Who's the cause? We, ourselves. Rules are always broken and when questioned - we give a simper and utter one of the most disgusting statement of the world - 'Sab chalta hai yaar'!! Hoardings say 'Please don't spit here!! Kindly use dustbins to dispose off the litter!! Help us make our city clean!!' Who cares man?? Come, lets start a competition who can make this city one of the filthiest place to live. Why can't we deem the places we visit, our own dwelling space? For our very homes, we have a set of rules defined, which we follow so religiously. Any flouting by our kids, can cost them one of the biggest reprimands they must have ever faced. Do we ever spit on our bed room floors? Can we do that? Why can't we do that? Because we live there, we have our comfort associated with it. If a guest happens to see the same, they would deem us some one very insensitive, very untidy and uncultured. Why not being more responsible towards your city, your country and more necessarily towards ourselves, that if a guest lands in our country, he has nothing to say except the flurry of words in appreciation for our nation and its beings. But what happens in reality, can be more appalling for a very few 'sensitive lot' of the society - The reality is that in Switzerland, the hoardings at the famous tourist spots are bound to say in HINDI - "Kripaya yahan gandagi na failayein" (Kindly don't litter this place) - This is the image of our people in their eyes. This is a sheer disgusting thing and not at all a thing to laugh on. Please, for God's sake!! Lets do something to redress this image.

Oh ya!! In complaints, we are the leaders. The human conscience does not allow us to complain if we are not playing our part in the improvement. We should understand a stark fact that a country consisting of 1.12 billion people cannot be managed by any damn government of this world. Start taking our own responsibilities - towards ourselves, towards our society, towards our city and thus towards our country. Redress ourselves first, in all terms. Play our part in improving our own life. In this process you would come across so many things which need to be corrected. Then no body can point fingers on you when you go to the administration, taking the list of complains you have and make the expectations. That would be the time when we will learn the importance of voting in real terms. We will vote because we have played our part in improving ourselves and thus our nation and now looking out for a worthy helping hand in the form of a good governance. We will know then, why we are voting and whom should we vote? We must understand one simple thing that ignorant and irresponsible citizens are bane to their country. Don't let ourselves be a load on our country; it's already overloaded my dear!!

Come lets bring the right attitude within us to redress our nation's lost image in the eyes of our guests. Lets play our part, feel our responsibility towards each and every action we do every day. Think before each step you take and its consequences. For ourselves, for the people with whom we are living and most importantly, for our very own beloved country.

In the words of Confucious -
"To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right."