"Selfies"

The age of selfie or selfish-ism! You may choose one of the two words and it will still make a perfect sense by the end of the day. Of course, a selfie is a self-photograph, a style of portraiture that became popular in the 2000s till date. And I'm also a fan of selfies portrait. However, it came to me as a shock when the American Psychiatric Association(APA) officially classified taking 'Selfies' as a mental disorder on March 2014.

Can you believe it? I thought I might also be suffering from mental disorder because I took few selfies although I hardly upload and share it on my Facebook. 

Thank God! The news turned out to be a hoax as per the article "The 'Selfie': Mental Disorder Or Insight To Getting Better Results?" written by David Sturt and Todd Nordstrom which was published on Forbes news online. Obviously, the article is more than a year old... :) But then I was still in the notion that taking Selfies is still a mental disorder until I read the article yesterday. The moment I realized taking 'Selfies' is not mental disorder, I'm sharing with you all that 'we are not mental' although I'm pretty sure I'm the last one to know about it...:(

Despite the fact, it seemed to me 'selfish-ism' might be the origin of 'Selfies' which actually gives the perfect example of giving importance to ourselves. Do I sound negative? Well, I thought so but I hope I will get you to my point later on. After all, we are living in the age of Internet where there is no secrets about positive or negative except the government...:) Like I said, I'm also a fan of 'Selfies'. And having said that, have anyone of you posted a 'selfie' portrait without thinking for a second or without looking at it after clicking on your Facebook or Twitter account? I meant just like that.....you know.

I guessed most of us will obviously check the selfie or do some touch up before sharing it with the world. Of course! There's nothing wrong with self consciousness about how we look. Am I right?

However what it really scares me is, are we taking our self consciousness to the height of self-pitying just because we have to look good every time to everyone or get all the 'like' from our friends and others? And do we have to be too conscious to be in the league like the celebs 'Selfies'? I'm afraid if this is the case, I guessed "Selfies" might be just the case of disordering our mind to the point of mental state.

To be sure that I'm not that mental but I'm OK with myself, I need to post a random selfies of mine just to say "This is me"!...:) 

'The first click'

'The last click in another room', not bad!

Food for Thought: "Self pity is easily the most destructive of the non-pharmaceutical narcotics; it is addictive, gives momentary pleasure and separates the victim from reality." John Gardner.

The road with the street lights!

Yesterday, I spent an entire afternoon trying hard to sort out my Wi-Fi internet connection but without any success. In spite of giving my best, I made the situation even more worse as I disabled the Wi-Fi configuration without any idea how it happened…:) I were like a monkey holding on to coconut dearly until a friend of mine reconfigured the Wi-Fi connection for me. For a moment, I really thought my friend was a genius even though he was humble enough to admit the issue was not complex. My initial reaction was like, ‘really!’ and 'what was the issue?' He told me, I kept on rebooting the router when I should have log in the routerlogin.net on my PC to reinitiate the internet connection.

Obviously, what a generic fool I made out from my selves not knowing what I have done! Anyway, that was quite a lesson for me about Wi-Fi router connection. The important thing is that everything is fine and here am I sharing the experience with you…:)

Sometimes I believed we push ourselves too hard, although with determination, in the wrong direction thinking it will somehow work at the end. Like for example, a student who is really good in arts subjects opting to pursue subjects opposite to arts in higher secondary or college or a person with mediocre singing talent wanting to be a rock star. Of course, there is no doubt one can achieve anything in life with determination and perseverance. However, I felt it is also important to know the real quality within because knowing oneself is one of the key to happiness. I meant if a standup comedian doesn’t understand one of the acts written by the comedy writer, I don’t think the comedian would play that act because it will be nearly impossible for the comedian to relate the act to the audience and make them laugh.

After all, will you go for a standup comedy show starring a comedian who quite doesn’t know how to make the audience laugh? I understand the case I’m assuming is hypothetical but not invalid because it is no rocket science in order to know the things we are good at and very happy to pursue. Think about it!

Food for Thought: “We are unknown to ourselves, we men of knowledge - and with good reason. We have never sought ourselves - how could it happen that we should ever find ourselves? It has rightly been said: "Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also"; our treasure is where the beehives of our knowledge are.” Friedrich Nietzsche.

"The Conductor"

Ladies and gentlemen, history is more than the path left by the past. It influences the present and can shape the future. We meet today here on my blog which began nearly 3 months ago when I finally found one of my passions what would become the Athoi Sevan’s. Even if it is Blogger.com providing me the platform, it is me who will subsequently demonstrate the blogger art of posting blog anytime or anywhere without the trauma of deadline but claiming all the credit in the end. This blog has witnessed the socialism, idealism, AFSPA, my worthless ideas…:), the Manchester United games, and most of all the passion I have for blogging.

Few places reach so far into the heart and soul of people. Yet nearly 3 months since, I’m damn sure, some part of me belongs here. It is my honor to write here rather like a statesman on newspaper....:) Well, statesmanship is the cement which seals our shared idealism. It makes meaningful the unity of ambition, passion for freedom, and abhorrence of injustices which is call of our conscience. It is fallen to you and me to tackle any injustice in our country, to protect the health of those without wealth, and human rights which are too often denied to us. Abraham Lincoln once observed that nearly all men can stand adversity. But if you want to test a man’s character, give him the power.

And we have given our power, and it’s up to us to nurture that power on how we want to shape our future.

History is not the burden of any one man or woman alone. But some are called to meet a special share of its challenges. By “some” I mean we the people. It is our duty that discharges with the dignity, determination, and distinction that are widely admired throughout history. That’s what set mankind apart from the wild animals. Knowing that the hood of mankind in us, it is also rather important to know what set us apart from the 'being'. Tell me if I’m wrong; we are not here just to exist for 70 to 90 years and take something away from this world but rather give something for the continuity and the sustainability of future.

Food for Thought: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.” Mother Teresa.

Thank you.

"Insomnia"

“The last refuge of the insomniac is a sense of superiority to the sleeping world.” Leonard Cohen.

Good morning!

Scenario 1: It’s already 4:00 AM, and I'm still awake and I'm not ready to sleep because I cannot. I thought there must be something terribly wrong with me. Yet, I’m trying to control my mind and dream as if I'm sleeping in a five star hotel. But it doesn't help me much. My mind and body are at war when it should be in coherent. Physically, I'm very exhausted and all I want is a good night sleep since 00:30 midnight. I’m mentally aware I need the sleep but it seemed my mind is restless and quiet not ready to listen to my body hormones of naturally going into sleep mode. In the end, I ended up sleeping only for few hours in morning and I have to get ready for my work by 10:00 AM. And unfortunately, it has become my daily battle. I have even considered if I need daily coitus to drain out my strength so I can overcome my insomnia.

Scenario 5: But now, I'm very delighted to have overcome my insomnia I have had experience few months ago. My mother used to tell me, get yourself a glass of water or milk and you will sleep. Believe it or not! How I used to wish if my mother sings me a lullaby so I can just sleep like a baby. Thank God! My insomnia cured sooner than later or else I might have requested my mother to sing a lullaby for me… J

Scenario 2: I thought about medication if it will just help me sleep for few hours so I don't exhaust myself at work. I convinced myself to be practical and I went straight to drug store and ask the pharmacist for sleeping pills. He looked at me and asks ‘which one?’ I replied; any pills that will help me sleep. He gave me around 5 to 6 pills however advised not to take the pills with empty stomach. Fun Fact: I bought myself the sleeping pills from Medicine counter without any doctor's prescription! When I have the pills in my hand, I convince myself thinking this is just a medication to overcome my insomnia. First night, I pop in one pill and while I was waiting for the reaction of the pill, I guessed I was already asleep. When I woke up in the morning, I thought this is great and it helps. It goes on for weeks until my sister intervened at the right time. She told me that I speak a lot in my dream and sometime, I even shout as if I was fighting with someone in my dream.

Scenario "Side-Effect": I guessed it was the side effect from the sleeping pills by making me hallucinate even when I'm asleep. I told her about the sleeping pills and she warned me it is not going to help me in the long run. By the way, she already thought I was a junkie which kind of creep me out knowing she has never gone through insomnia. Anyway it is not her fault but mine. And I realized I have to clean up before I'm way down the gutter.  Becoming a drug junkie is just a cup of tea; try once and if you like it, you are in for a roller coaster ride and it is difficult to stop the ride. I didn't even realize I have become so dependent on sleeping pills. I’d say to myself, this is the last one and I am not going to have it again but I'd still have two to three pills in my bag. I knew I was just lying to myself every night.

Scenario “My will or the highway”: It started with insomnia, just a normal insomnia which can happen to anyone. However, I have become my own devil digging my own grave not realizing I am trying to put myself to sleep forever. After all insomnia is just a bad case of guilt's - you know when you lie in bed awake and replay all those things you didn't do right? Because nothing solves insomnia like a nice warm glass of regret, depression and self-loathing. All I did was I was fighting myself with my mind and body when I should have just relax and let it go. The worst thing I did again was numbing my mind and body with sleeping pills which is rather a cowardice act. And I had to stop myself from killing myself but how? It was not that easy however with some few good books, it helps. Avoid the medicine store and order a book from your online library or from the online bookstore. Read the book before going to sleep. And nothing can make you sleepier than a book... :) 

The fact is that our mind need a little bit of refreshment like knowledge and wise counseling from a book rather than our regret, depression and self-loathing before it can help our body sleep. 

Food for thought: “A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted at the end. You live several lives while reading.” William Styron.

Thank you. Have a good day!

Better late than never!

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” Thomas A. Edison.

Good Afternoon!

I bought the novel titled "The Girl Who Played with Fire" by Stieg Larsson two years ago. I left the novel untouched after reading only the first chapter as I considered the story-line as not interesting. Few weeks ago, I was arranging some of the novels I have with me and I found the above mentioned title. Whoa! I'm very fortunate that I did not misplace the novel over the past two years. As I haven't read it completely except for the first chapter, I thought I'll give it a try to read and complete it. After all, I paid for it and now it definitely requires my reading or else I owe myself the price of the book... :)  

After reading the second chapter of the novel, it kept me engrossed every day on my way to office in coach till the end of last chapter. Now I have to endorse it as a gem among the best suspense-thriller genre. I'm very fortunate to have bought the book and read the book after two years ago... :) That’s my bad! The main character in the book, Lisbeth Salander, is one of the most intriguing characters, and she is one of my favorite anti-protagonists in fiction book. Now that I've completed the book, I learned few things that hit me really hard though ironically.

No matter even if the first chapter of a book or a novel might bore me but judging or concluding a novel or any kinds of book before reading it completely makes me no better than an ignorant prick. The fact is that our intuition cannot be right all the time and after all we are far from perfection. But if we can widen our mind and feed our intuition with knowledge, it is always worth it. We also have this tendency to quit when the going gets tough and I'm not an exception. As long as the going is easy, it doesn't matter but a slight pinch on the back is a good damn reason to quit with all kinds of creative explanation to justify one's decision.

Imagine if Thomas Edison had quit after his first failed experiment of electric bulb, who knows we'd still be living in darkness. But he kept on going forward even after thousand times of failed experiments and candidly said, “I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.” In the end, he emerged as the triumphant and invented the electric bulb above our head. We can never predict the outcome until we have reached the finishing point. And to reward ourselves with the best possible outcome, moving forward is the only key to unlock the pool of experience and opportunity. 

About the novel, what I really like is the main character, Lisbeth Salander. I never felt for once neither her character is over the top nor very superficial. Yet, she is one hell of genius, a hacker, a self-taught mathematician although socially inept. There has been a lot of debate about woman empowerment and equality between man and woman, etc. The simple truth is that modern societies feel insecure about the ability of women because when they make a decision, it is always based on her mind and heart, equilibrium of both the factors. Neither I support feminism nor the anti-feminism, but the equality of both gender matters.  And what I learned from the novel is that man use fear and intimidation as tools wherein few women stood up and fights back.

The author of the book, Stieg Larsson, also highlighted the present-day human trafficking or slavery though he used it as backdrop of the story. In fact, human trafficking is considered to be one of the fastest growing activities of international criminal organizations which are rather very alarming. The recent news report of bride selling in Bihar is no exception to human trafficking when girls especially from poor families are sold like cattle. And it is not only in Bihar but also the other states like, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, etc., known for human trafficking as reported in major newspaper, The Times of India. If this is how we treat woman in our society, we are not that behind the ISIS, a barbaric terrorist organization known for brutality.

Food for thought: “Non-violence leads to the highest ethics, which is the goal of all evolution. Until we stop harming all other living beings, we are still savages.” Thomas A. Edison.

Thank you.

"The Road Not Taken"

Good Afternoon!

I'm getting an epiphany of the poem "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost. The poem keeps on playing in my mind since the last Friday when I have decided a change of course with my career. The clock keeps on ticking and I'm trying my best to reason myself with practicality that I'm not going down rather I'm trying to build a new bridge. What if I taking the road not taken? Anyway, the poem gives me the strength to go for it. In a lighter note, the positive thing about "the road not taken" of mine is that this is my last summer here in New Delhi and I'm not going to miss it. Now, I like the saying 'it is good to start a new journey with a smile on your face'....:)

I have always and still in love with whatever I have been doing for the past one year. And believe it or not, I have learn quiet a bit from the people whom I see everyday. It is not going to be easy with the new road because I have to plant my foot before I can get it started. Above all, I'm going start seeing new people. I thought I was clear with the road I have chosen a year ago but after all life is like a maze. In maze, you seems to have figure out the road but it is always not the right one until you have tried all the possibilities. But at the end, you'll always figure out the right one. Likewise, I hope I taking the right path. Without any doubt, I'm not afraid even if it going to be difficult and I'm ready to face any kind of obstacles like every one.

Speaking about maze, it is an interesting topic. I'm sure we all are aware of rats use in laboratory in order to study their brains? And rats are particularly gifted in finding out the right path in maze. Especially, rats has been used in experimental mazes to study spatial learning and their memory. The study has discovered general principles about learning that can be applied to many species including humans. For me, the uniqueness of the study with rat and maze is that a rat start the maze from the perspective of reality in order to find out the right route whereas human we usually starts from the end of the maze narrowing down towards the starting point. Of course, a rat will not run simply in a maze unless it is a hungry rat with a food reward at the end. It is very interesting concept when our life is also like a maze where there many twists and turns in order to achieve what we are after. However, the maze of our life is not like an experimental maze rather we are like a rat inside a complicated classic maze.

The countdown has already started for me, and it is unlike the countdown of New Year eve celebration. Without any fanfares but rather with just a leap of faith, it is going to be a step worth remembering because it is still a new journey or say a new classic maze. There's an old Chinese saying: “as long as you’re planning a journey, you own the journey. The minute you embark on that journey, the journey owns you.” I believed the old Chinese say and the poem that I really like "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost compliments each other. You can read the poem below:

I'm pretty sure the poem make sense to everyone. The most valuable thing in life is love, and I'm going to be missing the love I felt everyday on my journey from my nodal point to office. God! I have been too rigid and practical. Guess what! I can't even tell the most beautiful girl in the world, "You are the most beautiful girl in the world." I have been traveling with her in the same coach to office for nearly around 5-6 months now. And sometimes, she sat next to me but I turned myself into a stone cold face as if I don't feel anything for her. But it is just that I rather admire her everyday from a distance. By now, I'm sure my silence would have been misunderstood a lot.

Food for thought:

"Do the difficult things while they are easy and do the great things while they are small. A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step." Lao Tzu.

  

Thank you. Have a lovely evening!

"My Voice"

"You teach a child to read, and he or her will be able to pass a literacy test." George W. Bush.

A friend of my mine asked me, "Why are you concerned regarding the recent developments of Maharashtra government although you are not a residence of Maharashtra?" Obviously, my friend have his own opinions and I respect that. However, Maharashtra is equally a part of India and I am a citizen of India. My reply to his honest question was, my blog is my voice in social network and even if a single person can hear me, it is worth writing the policy of governments which clearly are not in the interest of people who are sweating everyday and then to suffer the consequences of the policy which seemed to benefits only the interested parties. The ban of beef in Maharashtra highlights the government apathy towards minorities and promoting communal disharmony. In addition, the plan to shut down 4000 government school in Maharashtra clearly portrays the attitude of an autocratic capitalist.

Does it not make more sense if the governments invest in quality education system rather than closing down the 4000 schools? At anytime, I'd prefer the government school if it is in league with the private schools. But then, the government has other plan when millions of children in India are missing out in education. According the 2011 census report, 82.91 percent is the literacy rate of Maharashtra. What about the 17 percent population who are illiterate? The problem with illiteracy rate in India is not fault of rural people who do not understand the value of education or the poor people who cannot afford the private institution. It is basically the lack of education awareness in rural India where certain politicians intent to let it the way it has been since India's independence. For the poor people, it definitely the lack of adequate number of government schools providing quality education.

After all, it is not only Maharashtra but almost every states of India. The latest 2011 census reported 74.04 percent of Indians are literate. And it really appalled me to know that the literacy rate of India has increased only 12 percent after India's independence from British in 1947. It means, for the last 68 years and so on, the governments in states and central doesn't care and still do not care. Even if there are only two students in a classroom of government school, it is way better than not having a single student at all. Like the saying, where there is free food, everyone comes forward to have their own share. So, why close down the 4000 government schools rather invest more in quality and infrastructure? The government schools tragedy is not only with Maharashtra but with every states of India. More schools will only help us improve the literacy rate in India, and the outcome will help us improve our country economy, skilled manpower, standard of living, self-dependent, etc.

Maybe I'm just a blogger from a small room in Delhi but I shall not let my silence be misunderstood. This is my platform where I felt my opinions can be heard louder than from a megaphone. I also hope to write about my state Manipur as well. But I need some more time to research and analyse. Anyway, we shouldn't marginalize ourselves by saying 'that's not my state and therefore it is not my concern'. After all, we belong to the same race, i.e., human beings.

Thank you. Have a blessed Sunday!

"Mistake"

"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." Albert Einstein.

Good evening!

It all starts with ABC.., 123..., A for apple, etc., from kindergarten. And it's amazing now that we are able to read and write almost everything. I wondered if we have learned ABC incorrectly from kindergarten and our teachers forgoing all our mistakes rather than correcting us to read and write correctly, I think the institution of education is no less than idiocy as per the given scenario. I believed the interpretation of Education is the guidance to right path which ultimately helps us to differentiate between right and wrong.

Mistake is one of the qualities that completes us as a human being setting us apart from robots or computer. The ability to accept mistake and to be able learn from mistakes is the education which starts from the very beginning, i.e., kindergarten. After all, we were not born with all the alphabets and numbers preset in our brain. The fact is that we are able learned alphabets and numbers with proper guidance from our teachers despite making umpteen times of mistakes. After all, what is the point of being an educated person if we do not accept our mistakes? Mistake does not come with a skull mark rather it presents an opportunity to learn. However, it seems we are unable to tolerate our own mistakes rather preferring the alternative blame-game card which clearly display our coming of age in reverse cycle.

Ratan Tata, one of the most influential name in business world admitted that the marketing of Tata Nano car as the cheapest car was a mistake. He went on to explain, the stigma surrounding with the word "cheapest" was the mistake with the marketing of Tata Nano. In fact, the word "cheapest" influenced the major outcome of lukewarm reception from the public on Tata Nano car. And if I were in his place, I would have blamed the marketing team or the board of directors who have given the green signal for the marketing tag as "cheapest car". But I know deep inside, I'm just trying to save my own skin and it is completely unjustified to let the other person take the fall for my mistake. In the end, rather than accepting the mistake and learning from it, I'm also throwing away my self respect and integrity.

I guessed that's the difference between us and Ratan Tata who have the guts to admit his mistake regarding the final decision he made in marketing Tata Nano car as the cheapest car. In kindergarten, if a student reads the alphabet as A, B, D, F, I, and so on, obviously the teacher is there to correct the student and to help identify the mistake. Thus, not only we learned the alphabets correctly but the real substance that we learned is about accepting the mistakes identified by our teachers so we can read and write properly. It is just my simple evaluation on education, and I'm not sure at this stage if we require our teachers to help us identify our mistakes once again. However, as we grow older, we are becoming more and more hostile with our mistakes. Henceforth, we are only nurturing ourselves to be our own worst enemy.

I thoughts the 1st and 3rd law from the Newton's three law of motion can be applicable as well in philosophy of life. The first law states, every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. And the third law states, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. I guessed the above mentioned are not only theory but also proven practically. The first law can be related with our daily routines. If something is wrong, there is a always a reason behind it. Therefore, identifying the reason and finding the resolution is almost same as accepting the mistake and learning from it. Anyway, what's the harm in accepting mistake when you also have the opportunity to make make it right?

The third law, just think about it! Have a good night!

Thought for the night before sleep: "Failure is the key to success; each mistake teaches us something." Morihei Ueshiba.

"Purpose"

“The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” Mark Twain.

Honestly, for the past few days, I ran out of thoughts provoking ideas to write on my blog page. And I starts to ponder if I have been too idealist and preachy on my blog and making it harder for me to follow up. Maybe it is relevant or irrelevant but it has nothing to do about preaching otherwise I would have opted to be a theologian rather than working in a private sector. However, writing and sharing my thoughts on my blog does give me happiness and I believed its part of human condition to want to share things like ideas, opinions, and thoughts. After all when our time comes, nothing will remain of us except our imprints that have made an impact or not…:)

No matter how we die, people will never forget about the good imprints left behind. And so is the case for Paul Walker, an actor who passed away in December 2013 and still remembered by his friends as well as families. A few weeks ago, the song “See you again” (Audio version) was uploaded in YouTube in tribute to Paul Walker. After listening the song, I have become so obsessed and madly in love with every verses of the song. Believe it or not, I've played the song more than 200 times and yet I’m still ready for more. I would say the song is indeed a fitting tribute to Paul Walker in just 3:58 minutes. Unlike the thousand pages in biographical books experimenting with every available word to mortified life’s story but the lyrics of the song managed to express the impact of Paul’s life with his friends and families in just around 200 words. The irony about the 200 words is that every single word became so magnitude yet truthful in a simple way. And we can relate to our closed and dear ones who also have left us like Paul.

Lately, the mercury has been rising swiftly in Delhi and the weekend for me was more about sitting in my room right below the fan. Definitely, it had made me to think more about my real purpose of life below the humming sound of fan…:) I guessed the words of Mark Twain had a profound effect inside me. Mark Twain said, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” Obviously, the day I was born has well passed over me but I'm still wondering the other one “what is the real purpose of my life?” Am I born to become money making entity? Or, am I born to be able to make my family bloodlines to continue for another century? Or, am I born to just make my life happy?

Many possibilities but the question is, is any one of the possibility I choose to live for is worthy enough for my life? In the end, people always judged and will continue to do so. Maybe, it is fair or it isn't fair. But, is it not worthy to remember as a good person like Paul Walker? And the truth is; no one would want to be remembered like Adolf Hitler.

Thank you. Have a good day!

"Consequence"

"Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands." Anne Frank.

Good morning!

Do we still remember what our parents used to say when we play with a knife when we were growing up? I'm pretty sure the answer to the question is “son/daughter put away the knife and you do not play with it again or else you'll get yourself hurt.” I thought about it, and it seemed to me the precautionary advice from our parents seemed to be one of the greatest lessons we have learned, i.e., “consequence.” Hopefully, I will be articulating every lesson learned from my parents when I have a family of my own.

The lesson about “consequence” is that it enables us to think before taking any kind of action.

If one thing that can be interpreted as the reason for the senseless killings and hating, it has to start with a statement or an action without knowing the consequences of it. In democracy, we believed in the power of people but seldom do we realize the Machiavellianism tactics of politicians exploiting the very power of democracy. More or less, the hope for a better future clouded our judgement when choosing our representatives. That’s where when the politicians are able to penetrate within our mind and manipulating it in every possible way to have an upper hand against us. Yet, we are still happy because we still live in a democracy country rather than a country under dictatorship. But after all, the present democracy is like a mirage in a desert but the reality of mirage is an illusion.

Everyone, and of course, has the right to ask and know, how do we make this right? It is as simple yet it does need your judgement from your conscience in order to be in terms with your decision based on your intelligence. Imagine a big country like us where more than billion people are repeatedly let down by our own power entrusted to 545 people after every five years. And the irony of our country democracy is that a common man is happy when the price of onion is dropped although the standard of living remains the same. But we have to know that a real democracy do not give from his right hand in order to steal it again from with his left hand. And there is no room of negotiations like 50:50 when it comes to freedom and the entitlement as a rightful citizen.

In fact, the people of Delhi has experience the consequence of choosing the same representatives again and again but they have also make it right this time around in the month of February 2015 Delhi election. The result was groundbreaking because it let me to believe in democracy once again. It is not about endorsing a particular party rather there leader out there who are willing to work for the people and also there are looters masquerading as leader. Every single day, we have to use the very lesson of ‘consequence’ we learned as a child from our parents. After all, parents have the best interest for their children.

Food for Thought: “Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is not to stop questioning.” Albert Einstein.

Thank you. Have a good day!

"Genesis"

Good evening!

“There are two great days in a person's life - the day we are born and the day we discover why.” William Barclay.

I’m not feeling anything emotionally as well as mentally although I’m getting one year older again. But I have to thank God for the countless blessings since the day I was conceived in my mother’s womb. Obviously, today is my birthday and coincidentally, so is my youngest brother. We both share the same date and month except the year and the day. I wish him the best like I have always. And I hope he is ready and excited to be joining the next steps of adults. It is not that he is turning 18 rather he is no longer a teenager but joining the club of 20's. Both of us sharing the same date and month seemed to benefits my family. They don’t need to buy two birthday cake… :)

I can still remember very clearly celebrating my 13th birthday and becoming a teenager. The birthday was special because we usually do not celebrate birthday as part of our tradition before then. And I cannot recall attending any birthday party as a kid hosted by close family or relatives from my own community. Now, it has changed with time and I'm sure most family from my community are celebrating birthday. However, I'm still not sure why the celebration of birthday is not part of our tradition. It is not that my traditions do not allow birthday celebration. Maybe, those days we were not aware or greatly influenced by popular culture of western countries or maybe we felt it is not that important to observe our date of birth. I think the influence of western popular culture make more sense. And also, our conversions to Christianity in the late 1960’s and 70’s have more to do with the outcome of our tradition we follow presently.

Here in our country India, the origin of birthday celebration has more to do with the shaving of head on a child’s first birthday. It is believed shaving head cleanses any evil from past life and renewing of soul. Male children of Hindu especially the Brahmins celebrate the 12th or 13th birthday with a grand thread ceremony. The child takes the blessed thread and wears it, symbolizing his coming of age. I feel the celebration of birthday is also important as it is with marriage. Besides the singing, cake cutting, dancing, dinner, etc., in a birthday celebration, it is always good to be reminded of our age every year. Especially, when boy or girl turns 18, he/she is an adult legally and is granted the universal suffrage, the right to vote. It means as an adult, we are all equally responsible for our actions and we will be accounted for it. And the right to vote is one we should be exercising in coherent with the future we plan for ourselves and live a better life. Note that, this is one great weapon we have and be able to pull the trigger to shape our future.

The saddest thing about becoming an adult citizen is that some of us still hold on to the childish behaviors and some of us still think like a child. It is very uneasy and nauseous to see an adult not being adult in news, T.V, etc. And it doesn't make sense at all. Either the person has to be in mental hospital or deported to a place where civilization is out of reach. But the proposition I've mentioned is impossible because we do know and understand we are not mentally incapable yet we behave like one.

Therefore, in a lighter way with sarcasm… :), it is always good to be reminded of our age every year with birthday celebration. And gradually, we can start seeing the thing we'd close our eyes before and face the thing we'd avoided rather than not to experience at all. Think about the Jewish tradition, they considered a 13 year old boy as coming of age and celebrate the moment in the form of Bar Mitzvah. And here in our country itself, a 12 or 13 year Hindu boy is considered coming of age yet for some people, even after turning 18 or 19 or 30 or 40, and that too legally. Honestly, what’s wrong with us? Our rich Indian culture and tradition can be interpreted in a way to back us up and to move forward but not the other way around.

This is purely my interpretation of us being not an adult enough. I believed our life in fast track lane, constraint of jobs and primarily our state of economy can also be factors not helping us in identifying ourselves rather making us live our life in dystopian age even though we live in the present. But sometimes, it is also good to start living an ordinary life so we can reboot and reborn ourselves with new roots keeping in touch with our culture and tradition. And I'm no preacher rather an 'idealist.'

I’d like to conclude this blog with the wishful thoughts of Voltaire, “God gave us the gift of life; it is up to us to give ourselves the gift of living well."

Thank you. And have a good night!

"Ability"

“There has to be innate circuitry that does the learning, that creates the culture, that acquires the culture, and that responds to socialization.” Steven Pinker.

Good Afternoon!

I was confused for the past hour trying to figure out interesting subject for my blog. While I was figuring out, I made a cup of tea for myself without sugar. God! The tea was horrible but still I emptied the cup. Like we need sweetness in our life, I'll always vouch for a cup of tea with a teaspoon of sugar. They are like partners and they complete each other. You can assume tea as man and sugar as woman… :) I have always liked the idea of pairing things with connection to our life. Anyone! Who is still figuring out your honey? Go get it, they out there… :)

Lately, I have written two poems and I'd love to share my favorite one here. But before you read it, I'd like to remind you that I'm still amateur in this field. Anyway, the title of the poem is “Solitude Cactus.”

I am the solitude cactus in a desert,
Death looms large and surrounds me; but I will survive.
Weary travelers riding on humps dare touch me.
Yet I shall bestow my life for desiccated; and no man will see.

Sun and sand haunts me; stars and moonlight are my friends.
My thorns shall shield my innate; and no tears shall drain.
He in abode molded me for a reason-
ready to lay down my life all through the season.

Neither illusion nor mirage shall curtain my existence.
Man may doubt from afar; pierce me to make sense.
Fools and cynical will coined me the untouchable “Beast.”
Till death, innate within me shall never cease.

I hope the substance of the poem will always reverberate like an echo in my mind and soul. The point is that we have this very strong quality within us and it can prove to an ace. Most of the time, we failed to identify it when we should be. Maybe we are too busy with our life or we have not identified our strongest quality.

Recently, I took part in a session organized by our RPO (LOB) in office. It was a very refreshing session and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The speaker spoke about keeping our eyes and ears open while we are working. It is not about encouraging to let our ears awake about all the talks going on around you or to peep in your colleagues. Rather it is about widening your horizon even though you are face to face with your workstation monitor for majority of the day. Most of the time, we have become so involved with our work thereby narrowing our horizon. And it’s true; our daily chores are so monotonous in nature.

It seemed to me we are gradually in the company of “A Frog in a well”. However we always have the potential to fight back and rise again from ashes. Obviously it takes an effort to rise once again, and I personally believed this is right time to identify our inner quality. The “Solitude Cactus” poem I wrote is purely in relation with inner quality. For me, I really enjoy writing on my blog and I believed this is one of my qualities. No language is acquired. Take any kid from any race or place, bring them up in any culture and they will learn the language of that culture very quickly. Therefore, no particular language, including mother tongue, national language, etc., is in the genes. However, what might be in the genes is the ability to acquire language.

Happy Easter Sunday and have a great day!

Thank you.

"Be Fruitful"

Good afternoon! 

I was browsing the internet to find a beautiful quote dedicated to our special day "MONDAY". And I just found one as I type "quotes on Monday" on Google search and I hope it would do justice to my least effort... :) "Monday is the perfect day to correct the last week's mistakes".

I think most of us have already heard the story about the barren tree and the fruitful tree. My dad also told me the story when I was growing up. I hear the story again when I was in Hostel during one of our daily morning mass from a Gospel reading. Both the story is same but my dad modified to make the story more related to our traditions. Those days, neither I was an obedient son nor was I good mannered. I either create problem or worsen the problem even more... :) My dad was really unhappy with my behaviors, and I totally agree with him if I am to recollect all those memories for the times when I have make him lose his mind literally. And even now, I don't count myself as good son unless he says, "You are my good son".

One night, we were sitting together in the kitchen warming ourselves by the fire pit in our village. He told me, "I am going tell you a story about the barren tree and the fruitful tree". I said, Ok. He asked me, "What do you think I will be doing with my 10 years old Mango tree if it doesn't bear me any fruits?” I answered, we can still wait. And he replied, "What if my patience can no longer bear?” I answered, "Maybe we can cut the Mango tree and it can be useful as firewood". He stopped and concluded, "That’s the story about the barren tree".

After the barren tree fate has been sealed, he came up with the fruitful tree. He asked me again, "Do you know why I do not cut down the orange trees in our field, and instead I had to pay others to renovate the fences every year although it is quiet far from our house?” I answered, "The orange trees always bear fruits during the season, and every year during our winter vacation we eat the orange". And he concluded the story by saying, "Now you know the difference between a barren tree and a fruitful tree, and it is also same with our life". And then he concluded the story, I thought it was just a story about fruits tree.

Now that I understand the essence of the story, it is very inspiring and motivates me every day in every aspect of my life. "Be fruitful" is a simple fact, and the message is clear as it is literally as well as theologically. And I hope my week will be fruitful as well as yours.

Thank you. Have a good evening!

Change???

After spending nearly 60 hours of the past 5 days in office including travelling time, finally it's weekend. The excitement of weekend is like watching the final minutes of 1980s Hindi movies when the hero suddenly fights like "The Hulk" although he was beaten black and blue in the beginning. Today, I woke up early with full of energy....:) I played the song "Headlights" by Eminem (feat. Nate Ruess), "Guts over fear" and followed by Sia's album "1000 form of fears". All of the songs are great with good lyrics. Especially, I really like the Eminem's Headlights and Sia's "Elastic heart". Eminem's Headlights lyric surprised me the most in a very good way. Of course, there are few explicit words but the essence in the music is a message which can influence a person.

During the start of Eminem's career in music industry, he invented his alter-ego "Slim Shady" and he dissed everyone starting from his mother, wife, and gay people and objectifying women in most of the songs released in early 2000s. And I won't recommend anyone to look into those lyrics. As an artist, he is one of the best selling artists and he is also known as the king of hip-hop. Believe it or not, I got a cassette of Eminem 2nd album "The Slim Shady LP" from a friend when I was in 7 standards. I didn't know anything about hip-hop or rap music at that time. 

The only thing that I knew was those explicit words "F##k" and "B***h", and out of sheer ignorance, I just wanted to listen those words in the rap music. I can still remember playing the song "Please stand up" in my portable Phillips tape very loud when our village Church Pastor visited our home in Christmas. I don't understand why I did that.

The Eminem music I like those time is not same with the Eminem music I listening this days. There was a tear in my eyes when I listened to the song "Headlights" for the first time. The song is a tribute to his "MOM" and seeking her forgiveness for all the things he had said in the past out of anger and immaturity. I'm sure his mother will be very pleased to listen to the song dedicated to her. Above all, she'd be really happy to know his son has grown. It is not only this song from the latest released album "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" that stood out. "Beautiful pain" and "Guts over fear" both feat. Sia are also those songs you can listen repeatedly. The lyric in the songs are very inspiring and has a clear message of maturity over immaturity.

We always talk about the word "change" with reference to our life, system, government, etc. I've seen many times in News channels professing 'change' we need in our Government system, Policing system, judicial system, etc. Seldom have we remembered 'change' need to start from our heart. A change in a Budget report is not going to change a common people overnight because he is working on daily basis to feed his family by the end of the day. A change in our judicial system is not going sentence all the criminals with pending cases overnight. A change in a price of petrol or diesel is not going to benefits all. A change in a government is not going stop the corruption and bring back the black money overnight. The issue with the word 'change' we profess is based on monetary benefits; and it is too logic and rational. It appears we have forgotten to contribute our conscience in our build up to change we want.

All we need is a change in our heart and listen to our conscience; and even our twisted mind can overcome the hurdles and fears we have created on our own. According to the United Nations Population Fund estimate, there are more than 7 billion people in this world since 2011(please note that the estimated population can vary with other agency census on human population). Won't it be the best achievement in human history if we all can change our heart to love one another and make our world a better place to live? Although it may appear impossible to make our world a better place to live but it doesn't mean it is impossible to have a change in our heart and make our life better. There is a reason why God has made us superior than any other living beings on earth. And we can do it make out world a better place.

Thank you. Have a wonderful weekend!

Argument

I thought of writing in my blog once a week reviewing only for the Manchester United matches. But today, it is not related United game nor it is about any football matches played recently. And frankly, I had a very bad start for the day and it make me reflects on my every action as well as reaction which has been orchestrated after I woke up. And can you believe it? My Office is kind of become my best friend and my confidante, and here we are. Anyway on my way to office via coach, I had a good time listening to songs of Ozzy Osbourne's Dreamer and Mama I'm coming home, John Legend's All of me, and other songs in my playlist. 

The reason why I mentioned the name of the songs tiltle is that it gave me a goose bump after the bad start to my day. It was soothing to my mind and my heart that I weren’t able remembers about the bad start I had. Some of you might be wondering, "What is your reason for your bad start?" and "Why do you have to be that passive and not optimistic?" I'll get to the point but I kind of think myself as one of those people in drama where the character is always misunderstood. In the end, the misunderstood character always falls and has to restart again all over. I believe this is the character that I can relate to myself. If not, am I that person who is very impatient not knowing when to act and when not to act? Or, are my words like a blunt knife which can hurt a person badly?

In my opinion, arguments can only be classified into two categories: 1. Positive and 2. Negative. Anyway, it is a universal truth...  In the morning, as I was getting ready for my work; I had a very heated argument with one of my closed one. I won't disclose the name nor will I ever elaborate to an extent of assassinating character. However, the fact that I'm writing about the incident is not going to be in details rather the lesson I learnt from it. The lesson kept on bugging me unless I share with my new friend, my blog.

No matter whether you have the best rational decision in your mind or you have agreed within yourself it is the right thing to say however if the one to whom it is addressed is not ready for the big talk, you end up being the villain in their eyes. And what a crime to be part in it! I have never doubted the love of my closed family or relatives. But today, the principle of believing in your family without any doubt is a false truth. Can you ever agree to the formula when two is treated as one however when outside of the territory, one is still one? I mean how is it possible at all two can be one unless it benefits the one who professed. It is really appalling when one only thinks for itself when you can see clearly that the other person is suffering. And I really do not want to be part of this system. If you don't value the things around you, how is it going to be possible that you will make it on your own?

For God sake, words are to be spoken out to eliminate pre-judgment. It is in fact that truth can be bitter and no one wants to taste the bitter part. Sometime the truth words always come out in the form of frustration or when you start thinking I can't tolerate this anymore. And when the words started rap out of your tongue, maybe it is too blunt, it doesn't mean that the truth can be ignored. The words spoken are usually pre-mediated. As the other person has been ignoring the fact, I felt I was absolutely right to speak out the truth. Say for example, I can afford only five pencils and my best friend can afford ten pencils for the drawing class. One day, our teacher informs us to bring 7 pencils each without fail for drawing competition. What do you think my best friend would do in this case? He can either let me borrow his two extra pencils or does not anything in spite of knowing that I can afford only 5 when he can afford 10 pencils.

This is all I have to write for today. And I hope you all will think about the last paragraph because this is the scenario that led to the heated argument that nearly ruin my day. Anyway I had a good time here in office with my friends and colleagues. And last but not the least, music can sooth any emotions in our life. I'd recommend all of you to listen 'All of me' by John Legend before going to sleep.

Thank you.