"Excerpt 1.4"

It is easy not to be inspired albeit rather head for the shadow. Eventually, the shadow will fade away. The lights will remain as it is. The day before yesterday, the JCILP committee called for the 38 hours statewide bandh in Manipur. That day, we were suppose to be in Imphal to meet our local MLA Manga Vaiphei (Henglep constituency). By ‘we’, I meant our local youth club leaders. In spite of the bandh, we went ahead with our plan as the appointment was arranged earlier than the bandh that was planned later by the JCILP committee. We already knew that people who supports the bandh will stop us on the road and will tell us to return back or even worse. In fact, we were stopped more than 10 times but we reached on time for our appointment and back safely. 

Ever wondered, how did we overcome the stringent bandh that day when we could have cancel the appointment? A boy stopped us for a lift before we hit the main road at Ningthoukong gate or popularly known as Loktak gate. We decided to give the boy a ride. Fortunately, the boy turns out be a college student who have an examination at Imphal that particular day. I’d say it was a blessing in disguise for us. Whenever we come across the bandh supporters, we told them we were dropping the boy for his college examination. In fact, we dropped the boy right at his college examination centre. Also, we had a successful meeting with our local MLA as per the appointment. On our way back, I put up a sticker written as ‘EXAM’ on my car front mirror and we managed to escape the bandh. 

I guess ‘karma’ has it own wonderful work ethos. Moving on to the title Excerpt 1.4, “Citizens live with heroic spirit”. Excerpts from Inaugral address (April 27, 1980) by Swami Ranganathananda. 

It is the heroic spirit that came to the Western people and made them great. England sent its best people to die in the oceans, in the forests and mountains, and far-away islands; and they went fearlessly and cheerfully, for the love of their country, and for the sheer love of adventure. It was that that made that country great. I shall live in ease, I shall save myself, and yet my nation will be great--that can never happen. But we have been doing that very thing. We try to avoid all difficult assignments to hilly, forest, or rural areas, we circumvent all postings to situae offering challenges to our courage and daring, and seek the maximum advantages to oneself and one’s family. In all these, we see the good grihastha, no doubt, but fail to see the quiet heroism and patriotic spirit of the enlightened citizen. 

It is the minimum of spiritual growth that enables the citizen to take care of the national interest while protecting his own personal interest. And even that personal interest is not just money and more money only, which is all what most people understand by that expression, but also honour, dignity, creative life, and heroic adventure. And these come only from the spiritual growth involved in enlightened citizen. 

When this growth comes to a person, public spirit and human concern manifest spontaneously; he or she has not to struggle for it; seeing somebody in distress on the road, the impulse comes : I will go and ask the person in distress: What is the trouble with you? In what way can I help you? If, in all situations, I move far away, thinking, I don't want to be involved, I don't want to be caught, then there is the complete absence of citizenship-awareness. Yes, I am prepared to be involved and to face the consequences in the service of my fellow-men. That is how the humanistic impulse operates in a citizen. 

"Excerpt 1.3"

Then two women who were harlots came to the king and stood before him. The one woman said, “Oh, my lord, this woman and I live in the same house; and I gave birth to a child while she was in the house. It happened on the third day after I gave birth, that this woman also gave birth to a child, and we were together. There was no stranger with us in the house, only the two of us in the house. This woman’s son died in the night, because she lay on it. So she arose in the middle of the night and took my son from beside me while your maidservant slept, and laid him in her bosom, and laid her dead son in my bosom. When I rose in the morning to nurse my son, behold, he was dead; but when I looked at him carefully in the morning, behold, he was not my son, whom I had borne.” Then the other woman said, “No! For the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son.” But the first woman said, “No! For the dead one is your son, and the living one is my son.” Thus they spoke before the king.

Then the king said, “The one says, ‘This is my son who is living, and your son is the dead one’; and the other says, ‘No! For your son is the dead one, and my son is the living one.’” The king said, “Get me a sword.” So they brought a sword before the king. The king said, “Divide the living child in two, and give half to the one and half to the other.” Then the woman whose child was the living one spoke to the king, for she was deeply stirred over her son and said, “Oh, my lord, give her the living child, and by no means kill him.” But the other said, “He shall be neither mine nor yours; divide him!” Then the king said, “Give the first woman the living child, and by no means kill him. She is his mother.” When all Israel heard of the judgment which the king had handed down, they feared the king, for they saw that the wisdom of God was in him to administer justice.

The story is from the old testament 1 Kings 3:16-28(New American Standard Bible). The king is praised and feared for the wise judgement he administered but the real mother offering her son to the other woman in order to save him is the undying love, and I received that love everyday from my mom.

Happy Mother's day!

"Excerpt 1.2"

The campaign to save our planet earth we usually see on social media. I am not against the campaign to save our planet rather very intrigue to know how many of us really got the message? By the way, the campaign messages we received on WhatsApp and on Facebook account are without doubts beautifully structured with facts and figures.

I wonder if our solution to the message is just to forward it again to another friend. If that's the goal of the message, then we are just trying to save our planet by words not by deed.

Awareness is good. There are 1.65 billion monthly active users on Facebook and WhatsApp has a user base of 1 billion. It is easy to be overwhelmed by the scale of the figures and to think, can we really make a difference? Is there anything we can do as individuals?

This spring season I have planted few trees. Hopefully by next year, all the trees will grow up another feet and so on. Nelson Mandela said, ‘It's not the kings and the generals who make history but the masses of the people.’

Moving on to the title Excerpt 1.2, “Citizens live through positive contribution”. Excerpts from the prologue by Swami Budhananda.

The first point to remember is the glory of man. That was one that Swami Vivekananda, time and again, taught us: ‘Never forget the glory of man’. When we all live for ourselves, think that the whole universe is accountable to us and we are not accountable to the universe, we are at the wrong end.

Therefore, two things must go hand in hand. They are:

1. Awareness of the great potential of every human being and that
2. we have to grow towards attainment of self-fulfilment, not by each of us singly, but together.

We must also believe that all of us can be looked after well. Our sorrows and sufferings can be minimised and there can be ever so much more happiness for all, of all, if only we own all of us our own.

The important point to remember is that to help manifest everyone's great potential is the business of every advanced civilisation. Our ancient teachers taught us to set in motion within oneself a self-chastening process to go together with keen ‘other-regarding’ process. In other words, self-development and the development of everybody else should go on simultaneously. It is not enough if we have a vast land, rich natural resources, mighty rivers, highly talented people and other endowments. What is important is to learn the art and science of turning these things to good account, in the service of man. To learn to do this and to teach to do is the business of enlightened citizenship which is of supreme importance for every nation in this world, particularly, India. As the Buddha says, that which is most needed is a loving heart.

Up next, Excerpt 1.3.

"Excerpt 1.1"

Most people say love is the most beautiful thing in this world. Although I'm not a love guru but maybe in hindsight I appreciate the greatness of love which compelled me to blog about it. The truth  is that I write for those who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they are so terrified, for those who are afraid to fall in love because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves.

We've been taught that silence would save us, but it won't. Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with ACTIONS and in truth. I John 3:18

Anyway let’s come back to the topic. In my last blog, I posted an excerpt from the book “Journey to enlightened citizenship”. Today as well, it is another thoughtful excerpt from the book. Afterall I plan to post all the excerpts from the book here on my blog periodically. I hope you will like it.

Citizenship is every individual’s responsibility. Excerpts from prologue by Swami Budhananda.

When we light a small earthern lamp, without a question and with least hesitation it sheds its humble light. It does not look around to watch if any other lamp is shielding its lustre. It is not dismayed also if no other light is burning in the vicinity.

It is content to be given to shed it's own little light. It is not worried how much more darkness needs to be removed from the world. Is it a small privilege to be given to remove even a jot of darkness?

The small is beautiful. Have you not seen a tiny grass flower? Nature needed to exercise all its talents to create that tiny flower, complete in its own size of glory. If little things had no meaning they would not be there. Scientists have by now told us how much power, mystery and glory are there in the tiny atom.

Let us not be nervous about our smallness. For, without grains of sand even the loftiest monuments could not be built. In fact, the ultimate brick of the greatest monuments is the sand particle.

There are people who think too highly of themselves. They have what is called a superiority complex. That abominable thing is too bad for themselves, and not good for others.

There are, again, those who think too lowly of themselves. They have an inferiority complex. This is worse than the superiority complex. They think that they are good for nothing. By continuously thinking that way they really become so.

Such people can never become good citizens. When we discuss momentous issues concerning mankind, and the responsibility of doing our mite, they throw up their hands and dogmatically declare that small persons like them can do nothing about these great problems.

So they shy away even from discussing these problems. Taking shelter behind their so-called or supposed smallness, they take an inverse pride in declaring that they have nothing to do with the ambitious scheme of solving world problems.

We should clearly understand that even a small lamp has the capacity and the privilege to give light. Enlightened citizenship is every individual’s responsibility. That is the spirit of the times.

Up next, Excerpt 1.2.

"Excerpt 1.0"

Precisely a week ago, while I was smoking a cigarette in the storeroom, I found this old book ‘Journey to enlightened citizenship’ laying on the floor, perhaps misplaced. The rats had their own some share of the book cover but the main pages stays intake.

The book has exceprts from the speeches given by some of these thoughtful individuals. I believed the book aims at helping the reader gain yet one more perspective of the multi-faceted ideal of citizenship. In fact, it is an interesting book and it yearns me to blog about it.

And here, I feel I'm obliged to share one of the excerpts ‘Paraspara Bhava’ or mutual concern by Swami Budhananda from the book.

The very concept of citizenship presupposes that we are aware of the fact that we live in a society. In this society others also live, besides oneself. And everyone is intrinsically important. These are the basic facts.

Remember, man, by and large, has not yet proved by his conduct that considers everyone as intrinsically important as himself. In India at least we have not proved it!

It is in this context that some Vedic concepts would appear to be simply amazing. Take, for example, the Vedic idea of Paraspara Bhava or mutually of concern. This idea has its root in a highly developed social consciousness, which is not so much in evidence in our times, as it should have been good for us to have.

Cultivation of purposive mutuality of concern is entirely possible and most urgently needed in a modern  state and society. Only when honestly and wholeheartedly we respect the fundamental rights of one and all, can we be enlightened citizens. 

But psychologically, the best guarantee of everyone's fundamental rights is in the discharge of everyone's fundamental duties to others, taking into account the fact that we all live in a world of rising aspirations and dimishing natural resources.

Therefore, control of appetites is one of the individual important disciplines for the enlightened citizen. You take from the world what you barely need and give to the world as much as you can.

If you feel disquiet when you find so many high-power lights burning in the open railway yard, and go to the person concerned to request to put the lights off, you are an enlightened citizen.

If you stop to close a wayside municipal tap from which water has been flowing to no purpose, you are an enlightened citizen.

This is being great in little things, without being watched. The enlightened citizen is a concerned citizen. Wastage anywhere hurts his sense of economy. A saving anywhere improves the credit balance of all.

FYI: Excerpt 1.1, coming soon.

"Continuation"

In my last blog, I wrote about hope and love. Strangely, I’m doubting myself if it was really me who posted the blog. I thought I knew what I was writing about although it was not wrong. However reality is stubborn and unforgiving. Or, maybe I'm forgetting ‘patience’. Damn right, patience is the need the hour.

Recently I came across a beautiful verse about love from the Bible. It says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” —I Corinthians 13:4-8

By the way, I’m no evangelist or a hardcore Christian but just a guy trying to understand what I'm  feeling, no matter what it takes. In fact, who want to be the person wandering about in a library not knowing which book to read or even without touching the books?

The general consensus with trying to “find” love in our dating lives, is that too often we look at physical appearance, popularity, or wealth. And too often we, unfortunately, negotiate love when it has nothing to do with the surreal things. I believe love is best seen as devotion, patience and action, not exclusively based on how we feel.

Obviously our emotions are involved, but they cannot be our only criteria for love. And sometime our emotions can become too impatience. Like the maxim from the Bible verse, love is patient, and so on.

Food for thought: It is easier to find men who will volunteer to die, than to find those who are willing to endure pain with patience. Julius Caesar.

"Hope"

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness. Desmond Tutu.

To some extend or even more,hope seems to the engine in our life after we have come of age. I believe ‘hope’ keep us away from committing suicide when the chips are down. And no offence to people who think of committing suicide today.

I recently met a girl whom I really want to share the rest of my life with. There and then, I felt she is the one. HOPE….. without love is hopeless.

I wish the romantic movie we see today are true wherein a guy fall in love with a girl and then, a happy ending. Reality is strange though it is worth it. We pray to God for strength and He gave us mountain to climb. I guess the mountain is the strength. In the same manner, I pray to God for love and He gave me one but I got to earn it.

Food for thought: You can't blame gravity for falling in love. Albert Einstein.

"Cattle Class"

I remember very well the “Cattle class” tweet by Shashi Tharoor when I was on my flight from New Delhi to Imphal more than a month ago. And I realized the controversial statement tweeted by Tharoor was not very offensive rather very humorous. No offence but I thought an AC coach ride will be more enjoyable than travelling in a low cost air carrier. 

Obviously, low cost means I don’t need to set my expectation very high and I were well prepared for the plastic services and the smile. By the way, this is no way a complaint or dissatisfaction about low cost carrier like Indigo rather my pleasant thoughts...:)

The ticket price was so enticing I had to book the ticket immediately like a mindset of deadline submission of examination forms; so I don’t miss the lucrative price at the final check out from my web browser. Well, that was quite a task because you never know the price changes just in a flash.

After I've booked my ticket with Indigo and was confirmed, the journey starts from the terminal 1D (New Delhi International Airport). Recently, I came to know Terminal 1D is the designated spot for Low Cost carrier. Anyway I enjoyed every moment starting from boarding until I sat on my seat on the plane. There were 4 air hostess, I think, and obviously the attractive ones. But then I didn't quite understand any of the announcements they made as it was quite fast unlike the machine voice. Thank God for the written instructions lying just in front of my seat.

There were three seats in one row and I was thinking if one of the single seats will relax an obesity guy with the height of 6 feet 11 inches during the course of the flight or the journey. That was just a

devilish thought! Anyway I’m a 5 feet 5 inches tall but still my knee can easily touch every now and then the back of the seat in front of me. I always thought a low carrier flights should mean affordable

prices of the snacks and lunch sold inside but that’s not the case. Believe it or not, a cup of masala tea alone cost Rs. 150/- which is quite three stars. And a bowl of Chana Dal alone cost Rs. 250/-

Don’t even think about joining the Miles High Club when travelling in Low Cost carrier. The loo is too small for two people to be in .. whatever it is…. Of course! Anyone can try but I believed it will be a desperate attempt to be a member of Miles High club.

A teeny-tiny edition of Business Standard was all I got to kill my time. Next time, if I travel again, I promised myself to load a good movie or music on my phone or laptop. Believe me! I do enjoy the dull humane announcement from the pilot before the take off and before landing rather the announcement from Air-hostess. I have nothing against air hostess and I can understand their job description but I’d like to hear from and speak with HUMAN.

The question is shall I travel again with a low cost carrier like Indigo? Indeed, I shall travel again if I need to. After all, this is one of the airlines in India offering ticket price at reasonable rate for a cattle class like me. And it quite efficient as it saves time too!

Food for Thought: "The scab is a traitor to his God, his mother, and his class." Jack London.

"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.

"A cup of Tea"

"Hope"

It might be crazy to be alone

It might might be selfish to be alone

It might seem, an act of coward

Make no mistake, for you're not responsible

I made the choice not hungover

I'm grateful to you but glad it's over

It gave me time to dig the world.

Alone I swim, across the river

The pain and cold I have to endure

It's worth the fight for what awaits

To find the place, where I belong

Without you there, to hold me back

To tell me that the world is black.

Alone I walk into the dark

And hope alone, becomes my light

I'll walk and wait for time will come

Along with music my heart will beat

Then I will kneel and say the word

But hope is all I have for now.

By Lawrence Sevan.

Few weeks ago, I asked my brother to contribute an article for my blog. Obviously, he is busy with his work life and I cannot keep on pressing him for the article. But fortunately, I came across the above poem in his phone note he wrote from his office. And I really like the poem for it simplicity. A big "THANK YOU" to him for allowing me to post it here. I hope you will love it.

If you like the poem, follow him on twitter at: https://twitter.com/sevanlawrence. You may also like his first book "Break Free: The reflection you have always dreaded" already released on Amazon.in at: http://www.amazon.in/dp/B00QDTZLHO .

Food for Thought: “Life is really simple, but we insist on making it complicated.” Confucius.

Platform

Probably, everyone knows who Bill Gates is! According to Forbes magazine, he is the richest man in the world and the founder of Microsoft. Few weeks ago, I started reading his blog on daily basis and it gave me new perspective on how I can contribute for the welfare of our present society. And I can assure you this, reading his blog is a way to know more about him as a philanthropist rather than the billionaire or the founder of Microsoft who revolutionized technology.

When I was in junior high school, I was provided the platform to learn computer science in theory as well as practically for the first time. Frankly, before I was introduced to computer science subject, I didn't have any clue about computer and Internet except for the typewriter machine..:) Those days, around 3-4 students would share one computer for practical, and that too, once in a week. But now, everything has changed for the better. I bet the visit to cyber cafe in regular basis has drastically reduced which has been impacted by the revolution of smart phones and the easy access to Internet. Of course! I'm also enjoying it.

But I don't understand why some of us can't use this platform to better use. In my opinion, negativity is all we see and spread rather than come up with a better solution. May be one opinion matters more than the other; but is it worth the time to move forward? I believed that's the only analysis needed whereas individual efforts is a choice. After all, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

My blog post doesn't matter at all because it is more or less about awareness. However, if you have a time to spare, please visit and read Bill Gates blog at: http://www.gatesnotes.com/ so you can experience the way he used his platform in order to change the lives of millions people around the world for better.

Food for Thought: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” Winston S. Churchill.

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 Headlines!

I wonder how God is going to feel if some of His people are preaching hate message when He clearly told us to love one another. How is He going feel if there are institutions that writes rules and regualtions on how to love, hate and judge people based on color, appearance, origin, etc.? And I guessed He is feeling the heat going by the wrath of capitalisms and killings in present world today… :) But what if God doesn't exist and we made a fool of ourselves when we can be better human beings? However I believed in God and I can be a better human being because I’m aware enough to know what’s right and what’s wrong for me. Hate is strong word and equally powerful like its counterpart 'love'. The difference between the two words is love builds bridges while hate only brings down the bridges to ashes.

The world is not short of religious fanatics and its followers. I’m a Christian and it appalled me to see some of the leader’s not interpreting Jesus Christ message for the spiritual enlightenment of individuals. He died for cause but His message to love one another is used to designate meaning perhaps not in the manner in which He intended. Though I’m not a theologian or an expert but I’m intelligent enough to know God is loving kind. I feel the Church as it stands is for the glorification of its achievement at the cost of people’s faith in it rather than the invisible God who sees all. What we can do well for the people from our individual end is no different than the church does. And I don’t agree with the compartmentalization of what the Church can do and cannot involve or stay as neutral.

The Westboro Baptist Church is one Church which does not represent the message of Jesus Christ intended for all. How could a placard with the message like “GOD HATE FAGS” or “GOD HATE YOU” is the result of interpretation from the Bible verse when the Bible itself is a Book of loving one another? I meant one cannot leave the entire verses of Bible but pick one out saying “Vengeance is Mine says the Lord” from the New Testament Roman Chapter 12 verse 19 to propagate hate when the context of the verse is about forgiveness. But the complete line from the verse actually is, “Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY," says the Lord. In my opinion, the message is to accept and love one another whereas the room of revenge (I believed Judgment) is for God.

Religion is not supposed to be purported in a way short headlines are written in the front pages of every day newspaper. Do you not agree? And we are better people if we think just right. Ultimately, love always wins no matter what.

Food for Thought: “Where there is love there is life.” Mahatma Gandhi.

Spine

 “Be sure of what one wants in a partner.” The overrated statement used by most relationship experts and endorsed in popular trending magazines. Damn it! And they are getting paid for the statement by endorsing it to people seeking guidance who are confusedly in love or in dilemma with their relationships...:) Of course! Love has become more or less relative in relationships although it is still the spine binding the pieces together. But when it is not, blame the heart and avoid the craps from the relationship expert who can let one to become a narcissistic rather than spilling out the bitter truth to move on constructively. Why would they tell the truth when it is not a free counseling session?

As a matter of, it is lucrative business in our world of materialism.The context of counseling is no different from the edible goods with good packaging. I believed the words written on the packaging do not entirely represent what it is inside the package. For example, the recent controversy of Maggi noodles when it failed to meet the food safety standard. Before then, we already knew how could a Maggi noodles cooked for 2 minutes would be good for our health. Frankly, I liked Maggi. Despite the fact, many of us still like it because of the stupendous packaging wherein it did not exactly mention the level of quite harmful permissible ingredient in the noodle whereas it is killing our body slowly.

Most counselors as well as the relationship experts are the master in Etymology and they will beat around the bush for hours with sweet words everyone wants to hear. I meant it is nonsensical for a person to say ‘I love him/her but I can’t stand the sight of him/her and we have different personalities in conflict’ and yet still trying to work it out with the help of experts. Guess what! An Oxford dictionary is the best advice so that the person can check out the meaning of love before proceeding further. Anyway, I will paste the meaning of love copied exactly from the dictionary and it’s free of cost:

1. A strong feeling of affection.
2. A great interest and pleasure in something.
3. A person or thing that one loves.
4. Feel deep affection or sexual love for (someone).
5. Like or enjoy very much.

Antonyms of love: hate, loathe and detest.

I want to replace the statement “be sure of what one wants in a partner” to “be sure of what you can offer to your partner unconditionally”. It is because love is giving and if one cannot give from the heart, it is no love. There has never been a parameter set for love as it is eternal. And the environment of love is not like the Wall Street. Without love, no relationship can survive. Do you agree or not? No doubt, anyone can masquerade to be in love. But the heart is very strong and knows how it feels to be in love and be love.

Food for thought: “You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.” Dr. Seuss.

#Widows

In life, we believed there is always a second chance. And I believed everyone deserve that second chance especially for the very deserving without any conditions. I recently read a very well written article “The Widows of Manipur” by Shaswat Malik posted on Roads & Kingdoms.com website, an independent journal of food, politics, travel and culture. The article breaks my heart after knowing the present social circumstances of the widows of Manipur who have lost their husbands to the regions insurgency related conflicts, and per se the ultimate victims of the draconian Armed Forced (Special Powers) Act. It is very sad to know that the widows have not only lost their husbands but the worst is the society lack of empathy and respect to the widows going by the article.

In our society where we have always held high regards and respect for women; and who have always taken an active role in shaping the history of Manipur but how unfortunate is for the widows who deserve to start anew notwithstanding their lost which could have been prevented otherwise! It is very presumptuous of us to question a widow character when ours can be more or less questionable. Alright, I’m a bit harsh with my statement but why not? It is because we can accept a widower coming home at night after work whereas it is questionable for a widow. And here we are finding ourselves at the aisle of gender discrimination once again.

Rather than accepting the core principle under the ground of humanity and equality about a person who's working on her fair share of very deserving second chance to start anew but instead we let our egoistic and sadistic minds to feed on the victims just because they are widows. Tell me, is this not gender discrimination? If the general consensus is, a Sati would be more honorable for the widows; look into the eyes of your grandmother or your mother or aunt or sister or wife or daughter or niece and make your stand, once and for all. Otherwise we are no saintlier than the sexual offenders languishing in jail. However, don’t forget the fact that we come from a society where our women contribution to our society is larger than life.

Remember the Nupi-lan, when our Manipuri women folk waged two historic wars in 1904 and 1939 against mass exploitation and artificial famine triggered by the British imperialists. Remember the 12 women who stripped their clothes at Kangla fort screaming their outrage at the rape and alleged custodial murder of Thangjam Manorama, a 32-year-old, by Assam Rifles, and thereby to safeguard the chastity of our state from sex predators in future. Remember our Iron Lady in Irom Sharmila, who is still fighting for us so we can have better future free from the draconian law ‘Armed Forced (Special Powers) Act, 1958’. Remember our Meira Paibi, our torch bearers. Mary Kom, the face of Manipur who have brought nothing but triumphs and laurels for our country! Please note that these people have something in common, i.e., they are all WOMEN!

The widows of Manipur deserve nothing but our love, respect and support. Same goes for all the widows around the world.

Food for Thought: “A girl should be two things: who and what she wants.” Coco Chanel.

"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.

#Anti-Spitting law

Why would anyone spit out their saliva in public places and on walls? Well, spitting is the act of forcibly ejecting saliva or other substances from the mouth...:) For your information, the saliva from your mouth is an important essential substance for your health. The enzymes found in saliva are essential in beginning the process of digestion of dietary starches and fats. These enzymes also play a role in breaking down food particles entrapped within dental crevices, protecting teeth from bacterial decay. Furthermore, saliva serves a lubricative function, wetting food and permitting the initiation of swallowing, and protecting the mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity from desiccation.

I also thought what the hell, and I used to treat my saliva like an excreta from my mouth which I should spit it out for my own convenience. Oh well! What a rookie ignorant I used to be until my hostel Warden Father P.O. Sebastian made us aware of the importance of our saliva and how spitting is considered rude and a social taboo in many parts of the world especially in European countries where he have visited and studied there, and including Western countries where it is frequently forbidden by local laws. That was the goodnight talk from my warden in 2006 when I still in higher secondary but a lifetime lesson for me everywhere I go. 

The reason why we Indian spit a lot in walls and public places is mostly because of the consumption of pan and gutkha. Anyone eating pan or gutkha is ought to spit out the stains of it one way or the other way. I guessed this is one reason for spitting in India which kind of stained India in the eyes of outsiders or even many of us. Beside there are other reasons of spitting but that’s just the rude nature or the doing of an ignorance. In my opinion, the hindsight of spitting problem in India is asocial. It is like ‘why is that a crime for spitting’ and ‘is it anyone concern whether I spit or not?’ but the spitting in public places and on walls are after all affecting the image of India in large when we could have been more sensible.

However, some people are not so and the anti-spitting innovative law that combines monetary punishment with mandatory community service initiated by the Maharashtra state government is a groundbreaking move to combat spitting in public places and on walls in Maharashtra.  It is said the law will be in place within the next six months. The anti-spitting bill will now have to clear in both the state legislature houses. The first time an offender is caught spitting, he or she will have to shell out Rs 1,000 as fine and take a day out to do social work at a public hospital or a government office. Second-time offenders will have to pay Rs 3,000 plus three-day community service, and repeat offenders Rs 5,000 plus five-day service, respectively. The amount collected in fines will be used only for healthcare services. This is great news for Maharashtra.

As a concern citizen, I’d recommend the anti-spitting law also be initiated at a national level. This would not only improve our country image but also our culture as well. In Singapore, the fine for spitting may be as high as S$2,000 (Rs. 95,180.00 approximately) for multiple offenses, and one can even be arrested. It’s no wonder Singapore is one of the cleanest cities around the world. In some other parts of the world, expectoration is more socially acceptable even if it is officially disapproved of or illegal and spittoons are still a common appearance in some cultures.

Do you think the anti-spitting law be initiated at a National level? If you think so, please share this with your friends and family in Facebook, Twitter, Reddit, etc. 

Food for thought: "To be or not to be that is the question." William Shakespeare.

Happy Father's Day!

"Homo sapiens World"

The day before yesterday, I went out with my brothers and we saw the movie Jurassic World in 3D. I don’t have any better words to praise the movie because it was simply outstanding and entertaining. The dinosaurs which have been extinct for millions of years came alive just in front of my eyes and so are the intelligence of human beings making it possible in film reel. I’d recommend anyone to watch the movie with your friends or family for the sheer joy of amazement and entertainment. Enough said about the movie.

Alright, let's come back to our present human world; how are we doing? Oh uh! Recently, Antonio Guterres, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, said ‘the world is a mess'. He told the BBC:  'The drama is that if people think that humanitarians can clean up the mess. It's no longer possible. We have no capacities to pick up the pieces. 'More and more people are suffering and unfortunately for many of them there is no chance to support them.' In fact, the number of people displaced by war, conflict or persecution reached a record high of nearly 60 million around the world in 2014 as per the UN report.

In separate comments, he added: 'We are witnessing a paradigm change, an unchecked slide into an era in which the scale of global forced displacement as well as the response required is now clearly dwarfing anything seen before. 'It is terrifying that on the one hand there is more and more impunity for those starting conflicts and on the other there is seeming utter inability of the international community to work together to stop wars and build and preserve peace.'

I don’t know who are responsible and who are to be blamed for all the conflicts and wars in different places all over the world. Thank God! The mass extinction of Dinosaurs millions years ago is scientifically known as the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event. However, if we as human do become extinct tomorrow or anytime in future, I guessed that’d be ourselves to blame. And I'm not sure how we can help ourselves when we all do is bringing out differences in every ways rather than accepting one another as human. It is very childish of us to say my race is better than yours or my religion is truer than your religion.

The only good thing that comes out from our differences benefits only the weapon industries. All they need is our differences to create conflicts so they can sell their weapons and we kill one another. Obviously, my assumption of origin of conflicts is easy and simple but it is for real. And sometimes I get frustrated with the idea of government around the world because what it stands for is not exactly what the government does for the good of people. It is more or less the institution of power mongers who takes only lives rather than saving.

But as a human, do we deserve every bricks thrown upon us? We don’t deserve at all only if we learn to accept we are all together the master of this world and deposed the power mongers. After all, no one will dare to be beneath rather all will dare to be above one another though we are all equals in the eyes of the master of the universe. But honestly, do you want the history to blame you and me for our own extinction? Hell ‘NO’ for me, I don’t want to be blamed for my own extinction rather let the nature take its course of action when the time comes. 

Food for Thought: “If we didn't know better we would love one another.” Aaron B. Powell.

Thank you.

"......., where are you?"

How fortunate are the couples to have fallen for each other since high school or college! The last thing you do not want to be reminded by your parents is your age and marriage. I got to admit, I’m not sure why am I writing my personal life here on my blog, or is this the sign of desperation? Every time I speak with my parents, marriage is the only topic I want avoid. Yeah! I’m 27 and I thought I have passed over only 26 which obviously is still a small number… :) Age are kind of tricky and that's it. Don’t you think so? However when I see some of my friends in Facebook uploading their marriage pictures, the nonsensical emotion creep in like I need to see a Shrink.

The popular idiom “single and ready to mingle” doesn’t necessarily anoint me as the finest “Vodka” for cocktail but rather the ingredients in the form of lemon, gin, pimento-stuffed green olives, etc. Confidence is not the issue but it the urgency to come along with the perfect Vodka and produce a fine cocktail. Definitely, I believed in the universal law that there is someone out there for me and we haven’t just met yet. It does make me feel better but I’m just afraid if I will be able to identify her knowing our mind having its own set of judgment unlike our soul.

Here comes the weighing in between arranged marriage and love marriage. Both have their own pros and cons. And I’m not surprise with the fact why most of the families from the rich and the middle class in metropolitan cities going in for the arrange marriage with another family of same social strata. I had an interaction with a friend of mine who recently got married to a guy arranged by her family. I enquired about her experience with her in-laws family during her first week of marriage.  She told me, “I was already considered as their daughter since the day my marriage was arranged” which certainly implies her understanding of Indian culture and honoring it rather than the teeny tiny feelings of doubt I anticipated. 

Please note that my question was purely for understanding arrange marriage with no intent of infringement in her personal life. Anyway, she is happy and very much in love with her husband. Even if her answer to my question was rather diplomatic, it doesn’t mean that she is unhappy with her marriage. The irony of her marriage is more or less accepting her fate conclusively with her mind in terms with her soul. And I strongly believed her attitude is one of the main attributes of strong woman. If this is the standard of present day's woman, and if I'm not wrong, I have to be the right guy for one of them and fall in love rather than looking for the perfect woman I invented for myself.

Food for thought: “A woman is like a tea bag – you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water.” Eleanor Roosevelt.

Thank you. 

"Why Mahatma Gandhi?"

I'm still amaze on how Mahatma Gandhi discovers himself as a person and freeing India from the British rule. To summed up Mahatma Gandhi life's, he was born in 2 October 1869, he got married when he was only 13 years (a fate decided by his family), matriculated in the year 1887, studied law in England and became a barrister, moved to South Africa to practice law but was discriminated because of his skin color yet he was defiance and he played an important role in helping the blacks gained the right to vote, came back to India and the rest is history.

Boring? I can understand however I can assure you that Mahatma Gandhi is a very interesting character and personality. I have let you know in advance that this blog is not about his biography or about the politics during those days. Maybe, it will only take 3-4 minutes of your time to read this blog but I'll ensure that it is worth your time.

I find it very incomprehensible to see that our today's generation hardly considers Mahatma Gandhi as role model. Try asking anyone starting from senior high school students to university students. If I'm not wrong, most of the students will consider, the Ambanis brother, Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Steve Jobs, etc., as their role models. It's not that these people are bad role models, and in fact, I don't have a say with anyone choice. However, if the reasons for not considering Mahatma Gandhi as role model are the following 3 pointers below then I'll explain why it is worth reconsidering.

1. Mahatma Gandhi sounds too ancient/old and seemed very conservative to be a role model.

2. Gandhism is totally in contrast with our present day popular culture.

3. How can I consider Mahatma Gandhi as role model when I'd never offer my other cheek if anyone has slapped me?

In my opinion, Mahatma Gandhi stands above all the other renowned leaders when it comes to progressiveness and future. In fact, in the year 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity and ending untouchability. Campaigning for women's right in 1921 in India! Can you believe it? His campaigns during those days defied all logic and our conservative culture. Mahatma Gandhi generation may be old but "India" as we see and live today is the result of what he envisioned for us at that time. Literally, Mahatma Gandhi was very futuristic and progressive minus iDevices, Twitter, Facebook, etc... :)

Well, you got to look in two ways, i.e., Gandhism and his personality differently. If you consider Gandhism as role model, obviously, it is tough and undoubtedly clash with our present day's popular culture. And of course, nobody would want to be the odd one (though I'd still prefer Gandhism). Anyway, Mahatma Gandhi personality is the role model. In short, Mahatma Gandhi was simple, remains true to himself, grounded, and many other good qualities which will take years for me to complete this blog... :) It is either the Gandhism or the personality of Mahatma Gandhi for role model.

This is the hardest part; and frankly, I even don't know how I will react if anyone slap me. But I willing to risk myself and find it out for myself. The truth is "if there is no risk, there is no reward."

Food for Though: "Nobody can hurt me without my permission." Mahatma Gandhi.

Thank you.