The circle of freedom ...

A couple of rain drops through the window woke him up. The train was approaching his native town. It just started to rain outside and was quite chilly too. His hands went to his left pocket where he used to keep the cigarettes. But suddenly he realized that he already said a good bye to his dear companion. A month ago on a rainy evening he had his last puff along with his last peg.

He looked at his mobile to check time; it was approaching 7 in the morning. He saw two missed calls too, but don’t feel like calling her back. Something was wrong somewhere. His mind seemed more confused. His whole life was in search of answers. But when he seemed to reach close to the answers, some where he missed out the questions. He was never bothered about the paycheck or the promotion like many of his colleagues. He cannot be so normal; at least he believed so. He always believed that he was not just another normal guy, but one sent out here for a purpose. He thought someday he is going to change the world. He was always aware of a void around him, a lot of empty spaces. Always there was a feeling of imbalance. He wished to fill the spaces, make things in order. But he never did or he never could. All he managed is to stretch his head and have a look at the world from his arm chair, thinking and sympathizing about it. He could never get out from his thoughts and never from that armchair.

But somewhere inside him there was a one who liked challenges. He quit smoking just because of an old man who came in the Discovery channel one day. He told it’s impossible for a smoker to quit it completely. He thought the old man was challenging him. He went a step ahead and said alvida to drinks also. It was difficult to resist the temptation. But it gave him the feel of a challenge, which he was winning. He knew that as long as he can manage to resist that urge, he can at least feel a success within him...But now its almost a month. He needs something more to keep his spirit going, some fresh challenges. He was realizing that he cannot always keep himself away from the empty spaces. The spaces were taking the shape of a monster, enlarging in size and about to swallow him. He finds it hard to breath. But he was chained to a rod and his movement was always inside its parameter. Its one thing to challenge and win over yourself, but he wish to go beyond. He wished to break the chain, he wished freedom. But suddenly he felt some mist is covering him, he felt helpless and weak. He felt the chain is tightening on him on his every attempt to free him from it. There were a lot of people around, laughing at him. He preferred to close the eyes.

He woke up as the train stopped at the station. Giving a break to the thoughts he get down and started walking slowly to the exit. He was walking as if in a dream. Suddenly he noticed two little children walking in front of him. The elder one was about twelve years old and the younger one was about five. He saw those sisters many times in the train, singing those old Hindi songs for the changes that the passengers will throw to them. The little one was talking nonstop to her elder sister and a smile was never out of her little face. The elder one was in a sort of deep thought and occasionally was nodding her head as a response to the little ones questions. Watching the innocent children he also started to feel a bit lighter.

Suddenly the little one hit her head in a pillar. She started to look at her sister first and started to cry. The elder one was more tensed now; she looked around and then scolded the little one. Nobody in the station was watching them. Everyone seemed busy and was walking past them, never giving a gaze to those sisters. He felt sorry for the little one. He wanted to console her, do something to bring that smile back. His mind was telling him excuses for why he should not do it as he just stood there watching the elder sister taking younger one out of the station. He felt a lot of noise inside him, the noises of discussions and debates inside his mind. The noise was telling him that its none of his business. The sound was hard and sharp as usual. He felt the noise as deafening now. He closed his ears with his hands and finally opened his eyes. He could see a glimpse of light. Neglecting the words coming out of the noise from inside, he moved towards the light.

He bought a couple of oranges from a shop nearby and walked out of the station. He could see the sisters walking through the road outside and the small one was still weeping. He walked briskly towards them, handed the orange to the little one and gave her a smile. Suddenly there was a light on her face, that sweet innocent smile came back. The elder one was even brighter and surprised. He never told anything to them but just a smile. But it was enough. The little girls must be feeling now that there is someone in this big world to give them a smile, a token of love.
As he was walking passed them he felt that the light was spreading out from those little girls. He felt it was removing the darkness that was around him a while ago. He knew he was still a prisoner of chains and was still inside the circle drawn by them. But now he was relaxed, now his mind is clear, he seemed to find the questions and its answers. He was realizing the beauty of life; he was realizing that inside the circle, he still is a free man...

Who is destroying the Indian Culture ? – Lets hear them both

Probably one of the most discussed and debated topic in these days.  And most of the times the accused side will be filled with the youngsters – the so called modern guyz and gals. Yesterday we saw the hippie culture and today we are hearing the Pub and the IT culture. We can see different voices around, some supporting the new trend and some others opposing the change. Let’s try to see various perspectives. 

An incident which triggered it …

One of the main incidents that ignited the discussion recently is the Mangalore pub incident. A group of ‘Moral police’ attacked a pub or in other words aimed their attack at the women folks out there. And of course when some men folks came in between their business they gave them their share too. Well let’s try to figure out what each side would have to say, 

Note: The below conversations is a pure work of fiction and imagination. This is derived purely based on what a normal person might feel from what he/she see around them.

Interview 1 :  Moral Protector's version 

(Q) Why were you targeting the women folks?

Moral protectors (MP): We attacked the women because they are not supposed to come to the pub and drink along with their men folks. This is against the Indian culture 

(Q) Then according to Indian culture what is the role of women?

(MP): (Looking at the interviewer with a sarcastic smile as if “u doesn’t know it yet??”) Indian women are supposed to sit inside home, prepare the food and wait for their men late at night. 

(Q) Then what about the men? Are they allowed to go to the pub and drink?

(MP): Well men are the one who is working hard and earning the daily bread for the family. So there is no fault if they relax a bit at the end of the day. Even in purana’s you can see the divine men drinking Surapanam, which can be considered as alcohol. But we can’t see any where any divine women drinking any think like that!!! 

(Q)But beating women in front of TV camera’s … is it a right thing according to Indian culture?

(MP): Ofcourse its right. For us aim is important and path is always insignificant. You know what happened to Shoorpanaka in Ramayana. This is not even close to that. TV camera was used so that we don’t need to repeat it every where. Now every one know what we can do (A smile on his face , more like a grin) 

(Q) So according to you who is actually responsible for destroying the culture here?

(MP): These youngsters who thinks this is America. Just because they have money or job in some big IT company does not mean they can do what ever they want. This is our country and our culture and we have our own rules here. We have some family values and moral systems here. We won’t allow these freaks to destroy the age old system and values here. (temperature raising) 

(Q) But what about the fundamental civilian rights? This a democratic country, isn’t it?

(MP): We have a war out here man. And we don’t need to tell you that at the times of war civilian rights are insignificant. We are having a broader outlook and individual freedom is our least priority.

Interview 2: Youngster's version 

(Q): Do you think the pub culture is suitable for our country?

Youngster(Y): Why not??? It’s a matter of individual right. This is not any Taliban. We have a constitution and we have our rights. If pub culture is against the Indian culture then let the government have the balls to stop all the pubs here. (follows up with naughty smile)

 (Q): But is it right for the women also to follow this culture?

(Y): Which year are you living dude. (a little sarcasm) Women sitting inside house and cooking food can only be seen in old movies nowadays. If you say going to the pub is bad I can understand, but if you say just woman going to the pub is bad…..Then I would say you are not defending a culture, but you are defending your petty complex. 

(Q) But what if I say that today’s generation is blindly following the American culture?

(Y) So what’s new in that? We always did just that. Every fashion and every life style here were influenced by foreign countries. Let it be the European style brought here by British, or the hippie culture from US or even the Elvis Presley’s style. It’s a global village now and we have the right and we have the sense to know what is good for us. 

(Q) So does that mean the future family system and values in India will also be similar to what we see in US?

(Y) Look buddy, a family is ultimately built by persons. We youngster’s following western style does not mean we are all turning ourselves to a westerner. A civilization is like a river, which is not built by staying where it is. But it will grow by moving and accepting different cultures and different civilizations along the way. A change of lifestyle is a part of life. If we were not doing it, we will still be living inside the caves. 

(Q) So what do you want to say about the attacks aimed at you people?

(Y) We believe it’s nothing but some dirty politics. It is an attack of some organised people against the unorganised. People who have nothing to loose against the ones who have every thing to loose. This is a slap on the face of the democratic India. (Hmmm a little rush of adrenalin !!!) 

******

Hmm so you have seen both sides of the story. I might be no one to decide who is right and who is wrong here. We got our freedom some 60 years back from the British. It’s been a long journey since then with a lot of changes. When we look at this whole thing the question is not about who is right and who is wrong. But the real question is whether you can say YES when you look around and ask yourself the question “Am I really free?” 

The Most beautiful moments of life ...

When some one asked you what was the most beautiful moment in you life , what will you say ? There will be a lot of moments in you life which you will cherish to live again.... Here I am putting three different moments where I felt I have realized the most beautiful moment of my life.... Even though there are much more breath taking moments I felt these three are special.....



Moment one
Every evening I wait for her near the college bus. Every day she comes along with her friends. That day too she came and I was looking at her without taking my eyes off, as that day I felt she looked more beautiful than ever. And just like every other day ignoring me completely she walked her way in to the bus. As usual she was busy talking to her friends. But I couldn't just take my eyes from her even though I knew that I might never get even an acknowledgement to all these love I am pouring on her.
The bus slowly began to start as my eyes keep on following her all along. When it was just about to leave my sight some thing unusual happened. She looked back at me and gave that most beautiful smile I had ever seen in my life. That was not just a smile; it told me a million things. It was not just an acknowledgement but a whole reply to all the love I was giving her. At that moment I felt "to love and to get it back" is the most beautiful moment in life.

Moment two
Days were moving just like the needles in a clock. At the same directions and almost at the same speed every day. Moving restlessly as though it had to reach some where but at the end it ends up at where it was all started. That day also fighting with all those lifeless computer programs and the deadlines I was back at home. Due to some server break down I was free to go a bit early that day. Even though it was already night I was early at home as no one else among my roomies had returned from work. After taking a shower and a light dinner I went to the terrace and sit there looking at the starlet sky which was filled with clouds at some places. It was calm all around and no noises of keyboards or conference calls. The whole nature was calm and quiet and I sit there for a while enjoying the sweet music of silence. At that moment I felt that "this silence and this peace" is the most beautiful thing you can have in your life.

Moment three
It was another dark night and I was walking my way home from a busy day at office. My thoughts were still very much on what I will have for dinner that day. I was really hungry and was in no mood to have the "2 minute noodles". The bread with Omlet no longer keeps me happy, as it was also becoming a routine food. There is enough raw materials for a good dinner at home. But it is not my fault that I don't know the art of cooking. And besides I was never interested in putting any effort on cooking more than making noodles or Omlet. I cursed my friend who used to cook food at room. He had some stupid support work today and will return home late. "Oh god why are you doing this to me and I have to live with that Noodles and Omlet today too ....". I asked god.
Some people believe that God will listen to what ever we say to him. But not much people believe in God replying to us. But that day he did.The next moment after my question to God I saw a man completely dusty and just wearing a torn towel searching some thing in the waste bin near the road. I always had my nose covered tightly when ever I walked near that waste bin. After some search he got some thing in his hands which seemed to be some thrown away food remains. He started to eat that food with much delight. Walking my way back, I started to feel Noodles and Omlet much more delicious. At that moment I realized that there is nothing like a beautiful moment in life. But then I knew that at every breath I am taking, I am having the moments which are nothing short of greatness....



Disclaimer : The stuff written above are not related to any persons dead or alive nor to any incidents that ever really happened. This is written just for the sake of a good read (as I call it) and purely came out of my imaginations.

Smile, because tomorrow can be worse - A pessimistic version

Pessimism is a word that people over the years always rated as a negative phrase, some thing that always blows out the light of joy in our lives. People are always discouraged to be pessimists by the so called wise men. And in the other side I can see the people showering all praises on optimism as if it is the only positive force that drives the mankind to prosperity.
But when I sit down putting my thinking cap on, I feel some thing is wrong. Pessimism is not all that bad as it is being made by people. Because at the end of each pessimistic thought you can find a positive light. You might be wondering what the bullshit is this all about??? But some times truth is different from what you see or at least hear.

"Smile, because tomorrow can be worse”. This phrase is considered as an ideal instance of Pessimistic thought. Just think ... when you say tomorrow is going to be the worse or say tomorrow will be some way a bad day than today is, you are indirectly implying that today is better than tomorrow and that means you have to be happy for the moment and infact should enjoy the happiness because tomorrow is any way bad. And if you listen to all those wise verses, they always say " Past is gone, future is unknown so enjoy today”. Is it the same idea conveyed by that simple pessimistic thought???

On the other hand if you are a pure optimist who believes that tomorrow is going to be great or in other words lot better than today then you are taking away the surprise factor because even if tomorrow becomes better you already knew that . Also there is a real possibility of you waiting to enjoy the moment of tomorrow because you know (or believe) it will be better than today and that means you are starting to live on tomorrow.

Being a pessimist you are giving a chance to your self to be ready to face all the blocks that comes your way tomorrow. You are always ready to combat it, you are ready to fight it. While an optimist always lives in his dreams believing that every thing will become good one day.

Let me take an instance. Just imagine a ship like Titanic hitting an ice berg. A pessimist believes that he will die and for that reason he will give a try for escape. And what about an optimist... even most part of the ship is already under water he will still feel that some super man will come and rescue him or to be more precise he is hiding away from his responsibility to escape.

I am not saying here that we should all become pessimists from this moment onwards. I know it is not that easy to accept changes even if you know that it is the better choice. But there is nothing wrong in being a bit balanced, to open your eyes and see things with your own eyes. It is true that we can see better in day than at nights, but remember ….. day will never be called a day if there is no night at all.....

Getting started

Nothing is disturbing my mind now .....

Even though I don't feel its calm. Some one said "just when U want some thing , some thing won't be there". Feels the same now. I thought of blogging because I had an immense push of thoghts and ideas that were trying to get out. It seems to be hiding some where now. No problem we can get back to it later ....

Some times U need peace and some times U wish there were distubances .... as always the leaf is greener on the other side ...
Just like the world , just like the life ...

... will continue