Problems are part and parcel of life. But for every problem, there exists a solution. All we need to do is to show the will to achieve a favorable solution. Here is what I refer to whenever I end up in a serious problem in any relation.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Life with(out) an Angel - V
The clear image of the Moon was reflected in the pool of
water before me. Immediately afterwards, it started raining. The clear image
had turned to a distorted one. Her words echoed along with the sound of rain in
my minds. “When the waves of water in the pool settle down, we get a clear
picture of the life beyond those waves.” How true she was! But the basic
instinct of water was flowing instead of standing still at place. And that is
what brings changes the picture every now and then.
Change, people say, is the only thing constant in life. I
second that. The change can be desirable or undesirable; natural or forced;
good or bad, but it is always there – being an integral part of our lives. I
believe we need change because lack of it would lead to stagnation and a dull
and boring life. Change washes away the past behind and lets us explore newer
dimensions of life. However, change is still one of the most unwelcome things
in our life. We are reluctant to change because of the fear of losing
something. But we forget that nothing in life is permanent. It’s our love or
affection for certain things, people and places which binds us to them but at
the same time, leads us to a still. We stop exploring other horizons and as a
result, miss the better options and opportunities. There is nothing permanent
in this world and we need to accept that. Accepting the change helps us to get
rid of the ghost of the past also. It’s not that change is always unwelcome. In
the bad times, one badly wishes for a change. If it asks us to try and not lose
hope in bad times, it also teaches us to be calm and composed in the good
times.
I have always tried to accept the change around me;
especially in the people around me. But sometimes people change too much and more
importantly, they change to what they promised they’ll never be. I still try to
resonate with them but there comes a point in life when you need to stop lying
to yourself and accept the change, no matter how undesirable that is. You need
to accept the fact that some people can stay forever in your heart only, not in
your life. People change, but life goes on; and that is what is most important.
In a previous post, I’ve discussed how things will change
but there will be certain things which will always be there. As the moon rises
this night, it reminds me of my imperfect choice. The Moon will always be
there, without any change, and remind me of her, the one whom I lovingly called
‘The Imperfect Angel.”
Monday, July 30, 2012
Satyamev Jayate: Just another talk show?
For the past 13 weeks, the Sunday morning slot of the idiot-box was reserved for Satyamev Jayate in most of the households in India. The first episode was premiered on the 6th of May, 2012 and it culminated today with a special episode. Ever since its inception, the show received both accolades and criticism from critics and general public.
Episode after episode, the show discussed various sensitive topics prevalent in India such as female feticide, child sex abuse, dowry, medical malpractice, honor killings, casteism, alcoholism, domestic violence, water crisis and plight of the physical disabled and the old people. Every episode tried to inform, educate and make people aware of the corresponding social issue. The show managed to garner overwhelming TRPs and response on social networking sites during the initial episodes.The reasons were many and included the small screen debut of Aamir Khan, who was also the producer of the show. He left no stone unturned for publicizing the show to the maximum extent.
The show started with the image of a change agent as if it was created to remove all the social evils. It was evident from the response post first episode but the true story was yet to be unveiled. Unfortunately, the show just presented the problem and then stepped back expecting the government to take action against the culprits. What it forgot is that laws have already been there to prevent such social ailments but they alone cannot suffice. What we actually need is awareness among the people. Yes, the show did try to generate that but don't expect an hour or two of a TV show to be enough for the people to fall in line.
It's very easy to point fingers at others; to find errors in the system. What is difficult is rectifying that error. Whenever, someone points out something wrong, the person is expected to correct it or if he is not able to do so, think of other ways to fulfill the aim which might include pushing the government to rectify the error. Satyamev Jayate didn't try either of them. Every Sunday, the show started with a new topic, bringing few ugly truths of the society in front of the society; Aamir sheds a few tears, the audience shed a few tears and the show passes into oblivion with a song. Next day, Aamir would request a politician or meet another to look into the matter. If a single request or meeting to get something correct accomplished in our system, Anna Hazare and team would not have to fast for numerous days for a cause.
Some people also said that Aamir used the show to make money by highlighting societal evils and projecting himself and the show as an agent of change. Someone tweeted that hundreds of activists have been working for years to eradicate these social issues. The only difference between them and Aamir is that he charges 3 crores to speak the same things. However, I don't think that he can be blamed for anything. He is an entertainer meant to entertain people. He is an actor, a role model, a great human being but not an agent of change. He'd raise the issue with great concern but will not see them through to a solution. He has to and will eventually return to making films. This was just another talk show for him not his life like those unsung heroes he talked in the last episode who have been working wholeheartedly for various causes without any other concerns.
One more thing I don't consider Satyamev Jayate a total failure as you might infer from the above stated text. One great thing which it accomplished was that it introduced several heroes coming from the masses who had suffered that menace and later overcame that with their will power and determination. It was a show with an aim to generate awareness among the people. It has partly succeeded in doing that. It was never meant to change the conditions. The onus to eradicate every social evil from the society lies on our shoulders. It's the first three words of the Constitution, "We, the people" which can bring about the required change. It's our job. After 13 episodes, Aamir's job is now over. I just hope Satyamev Jayate does its bit of job and doesn't end up being just another Sunday morning talk show which people enjoy and forget.
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Satyamev Jayate.
Episode after episode, the show discussed various sensitive topics prevalent in India such as female feticide, child sex abuse, dowry, medical malpractice, honor killings, casteism, alcoholism, domestic violence, water crisis and plight of the physical disabled and the old people. Every episode tried to inform, educate and make people aware of the corresponding social issue. The show managed to garner overwhelming TRPs and response on social networking sites during the initial episodes.The reasons were many and included the small screen debut of Aamir Khan, who was also the producer of the show. He left no stone unturned for publicizing the show to the maximum extent.
The show started with the image of a change agent as if it was created to remove all the social evils. It was evident from the response post first episode but the true story was yet to be unveiled. Unfortunately, the show just presented the problem and then stepped back expecting the government to take action against the culprits. What it forgot is that laws have already been there to prevent such social ailments but they alone cannot suffice. What we actually need is awareness among the people. Yes, the show did try to generate that but don't expect an hour or two of a TV show to be enough for the people to fall in line.
It's very easy to point fingers at others; to find errors in the system. What is difficult is rectifying that error. Whenever, someone points out something wrong, the person is expected to correct it or if he is not able to do so, think of other ways to fulfill the aim which might include pushing the government to rectify the error. Satyamev Jayate didn't try either of them. Every Sunday, the show started with a new topic, bringing few ugly truths of the society in front of the society; Aamir sheds a few tears, the audience shed a few tears and the show passes into oblivion with a song. Next day, Aamir would request a politician or meet another to look into the matter. If a single request or meeting to get something correct accomplished in our system, Anna Hazare and team would not have to fast for numerous days for a cause.
Some people also said that Aamir used the show to make money by highlighting societal evils and projecting himself and the show as an agent of change. Someone tweeted that hundreds of activists have been working for years to eradicate these social issues. The only difference between them and Aamir is that he charges 3 crores to speak the same things. However, I don't think that he can be blamed for anything. He is an entertainer meant to entertain people. He is an actor, a role model, a great human being but not an agent of change. He'd raise the issue with great concern but will not see them through to a solution. He has to and will eventually return to making films. This was just another talk show for him not his life like those unsung heroes he talked in the last episode who have been working wholeheartedly for various causes without any other concerns.
One more thing I don't consider Satyamev Jayate a total failure as you might infer from the above stated text. One great thing which it accomplished was that it introduced several heroes coming from the masses who had suffered that menace and later overcame that with their will power and determination. It was a show with an aim to generate awareness among the people. It has partly succeeded in doing that. It was never meant to change the conditions. The onus to eradicate every social evil from the society lies on our shoulders. It's the first three words of the Constitution, "We, the people" which can bring about the required change. It's our job. After 13 episodes, Aamir's job is now over. I just hope Satyamev Jayate does its bit of job and doesn't end up being just another Sunday morning talk show which people enjoy and forget.
Jai Hind. Jai Bharat. Satyamev Jayate.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Life with an Angel - IV
The rain gods have not been very kind to the people of Delhi this year. The monsoon showers seem to be in a mood to play hide and seek. Often the sky was filled with clouds making the sunset a picturesque moment with the clouds lined in gold and the sun rays reaching upwards. There were numerous frames which can be kept in your memories and brought to mind whenever you need something beautiful and peaceful. The only thing missing was rains.
I have always loved the rains (apart from a few instances, of course, when I got into trouble because of it). I believe that rains are a great way to rejuvenate our life and feel blessed. They bring in a renewed beauty and charm to everything around us. They wash away all the unwanted things and clean the atmosphere. The trees appear greener, the flowers fresher than ever and the sweet smell of Earth after rain feels like bliss.
The rains bring back several sweet memories from the past. Some beautiful mornings, some amazing afternoons and a few nights- all those moments when it was raining. They remind me of a girl standing in the rains, stealing her eyes away from the people, stretching out her arms and enjoying the rain drops touching her face, body and soul.
However, this year, the pages have turned. I am missing the rains more than ever. The monsoon this year has been more or less similar to my life with Angel. The sky was almost always covered with gloomy clouds, preventing a bright sky. There were a little sprinkles now and then but the joy of getting completely drenched in downpour was missing. Yes, the silver lining was also there; with every passing moment, I could feel my growing affection for her. Certain unwanted things are having a ball and a few things a tough time in its absence. I hope that the rain gods will shower their blessings as soon as possible to clear the mess and provide a fresh life to all in need.
When it's not her, the next best thing I can think of is Nature only. Sitting in the rains, under the open sky, with my eyes closed, listening to the sound of the falling raindrops, feeling the cold wind along with the pleasant smell of the Earth gives almost the same pleasure as sitting in front of her and gazing into her eyes. That carefree look of hers gives much more pleasure than the majestic views of any place around the globe. If there is any escape from her, it has to be in the lap of nature. Nothing else compares to her; to the Imperfect Angel.
I have always loved the rains (apart from a few instances, of course, when I got into trouble because of it). I believe that rains are a great way to rejuvenate our life and feel blessed. They bring in a renewed beauty and charm to everything around us. They wash away all the unwanted things and clean the atmosphere. The trees appear greener, the flowers fresher than ever and the sweet smell of Earth after rain feels like bliss.
The rains bring back several sweet memories from the past. Some beautiful mornings, some amazing afternoons and a few nights- all those moments when it was raining. They remind me of a girl standing in the rains, stealing her eyes away from the people, stretching out her arms and enjoying the rain drops touching her face, body and soul.
However, this year, the pages have turned. I am missing the rains more than ever. The monsoon this year has been more or less similar to my life with Angel. The sky was almost always covered with gloomy clouds, preventing a bright sky. There were a little sprinkles now and then but the joy of getting completely drenched in downpour was missing. Yes, the silver lining was also there; with every passing moment, I could feel my growing affection for her. Certain unwanted things are having a ball and a few things a tough time in its absence. I hope that the rain gods will shower their blessings as soon as possible to clear the mess and provide a fresh life to all in need.
When it's not her, the next best thing I can think of is Nature only. Sitting in the rains, under the open sky, with my eyes closed, listening to the sound of the falling raindrops, feeling the cold wind along with the pleasant smell of the Earth gives almost the same pleasure as sitting in front of her and gazing into her eyes. That carefree look of hers gives much more pleasure than the majestic views of any place around the globe. If there is any escape from her, it has to be in the lap of nature. Nothing else compares to her; to the Imperfect Angel.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
OS ki Kashish
I wrote the following lines a long time ago during the third semester of my college life. Came across this on a friend's blog and thought I should share it. The mid semester exam of Operating Systems (OS) was scheduled for the next time and I had not even started the preparations. Anxiety was at its peak when I and GG, one of my besties, started chit-chatting and came up with a parody of the popular Himesh Reshammiya song.
OS ki Kashish
(OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahein ye course karke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2) – 2
OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
Bairiyaa threads ka,process jo chal gaya
pagal main hua, system bhi mar gaya
halka dhuan uth,processor jal gaya
roshan hua sama, monitor jal gaya
jaaga re jaaga re main khoya
OS ki kitaab me dimaag duboya
ab mera jahan,OS ki aagosh hai
OS ka nasha yu madhosh hai
kya kahe ye course leke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2
Dooba rahu sada OS ki kitaab me
uljha rahu sada coding me sawaal me
number ke bina ab na karaar hai
jaaneman number pe to neend bhi nisaar hai
jaana re jaana re maine jaana
mere bas ka nahi hai ye course paas kar pana
na meri khata na google ka dosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahein ye course leke jaane jaa
gum hua hosh hai
OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahe ye course karke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2
OS ki Kashish
(OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahein ye course karke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2) – 2
OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
Bairiyaa threads ka,process jo chal gaya
pagal main hua, system bhi mar gaya
halka dhuan uth,processor jal gaya
roshan hua sama, monitor jal gaya
jaaga re jaaga re main khoya
OS ki kitaab me dimaag duboya
ab mera jahan,OS ki aagosh hai
OS ka nasha yu madhosh hai
kya kahe ye course leke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2
Dooba rahu sada OS ki kitaab me
uljha rahu sada coding me sawaal me
number ke bina ab na karaar hai
jaaneman number pe to neend bhi nisaar hai
jaana re jaana re maine jaana
mere bas ka nahi hai ye course paas kar pana
na meri khata na google ka dosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahein ye course leke jaane jaa
gum hua hosh hai
OS ki kashish sarfarosh hai
OS ka nasha yun madhosh hai
kya kahe ye course karke jaane ja
gum hua hosh hai..-2
Friday, March 9, 2012
Life with an Angel - III
The day was passing. The Sun was sinking slowly behind the high rises and
its red rays lit up the sky above the western horizon. We stood on the side of
a Delhi flyover. Bent on my knee, I looked up to her. The Sun blocked by her
head created a halo of gold around her. With her serene white gown and her
hairs flowing in the wind, she looked absolutely stunning; an Angel straight
from the heaven.
My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. It was one of the most exciting and nerve-racking times of my life. I had prepared a speech in my mind on what to say when I go down on my knee but when the moment came, I failed to execute it. I was so nervous I started mumbling something which I cannot recollect till today.. except that it ended with the three magical words. I closed my eyes and the world came to a standstill for the next few seconds. I could not hear anything, could not see anything except her.
The next sound I could hear was that of my alarm; which went on growing louder in intensity and annoying in nature. The dream was over. Again. I was back from the dream world and the reality was I could never gather the courage to tell her what I felt about her. Yes, there were a few blog posts dedicated to her along with some time-to-time personal messages. But I never had the guts to put it in a straight way. No matter how much I preached the “Live for the moment” theory, this was something I always delayed till the next time. It wasn’t because I was afraid she would say “NO”. Perhaps, I knew that I was only going to be able to do it only once in my life, so I had to do it perfectly. Perhaps, I was not sure why it was to be done.
She is undoubtedly one of the best things that ever happened to my life. She is the only one I had ever thought about. Having gone through the ups and downs in the relation we shared, I realized no one ever makes me feel the same way before. Nobody makes me happy like she does. She fills my soul with immense pleasure and delight. I just feel complete with her. And I realize all I want is to grow old with her.
And we were really having a ball till the apocalypse year arrived.
My heart was beating so fast I thought it was going to burst out of my chest. It was one of the most exciting and nerve-racking times of my life. I had prepared a speech in my mind on what to say when I go down on my knee but when the moment came, I failed to execute it. I was so nervous I started mumbling something which I cannot recollect till today.. except that it ended with the three magical words. I closed my eyes and the world came to a standstill for the next few seconds. I could not hear anything, could not see anything except her.
The next sound I could hear was that of my alarm; which went on growing louder in intensity and annoying in nature. The dream was over. Again. I was back from the dream world and the reality was I could never gather the courage to tell her what I felt about her. Yes, there were a few blog posts dedicated to her along with some time-to-time personal messages. But I never had the guts to put it in a straight way. No matter how much I preached the “Live for the moment” theory, this was something I always delayed till the next time. It wasn’t because I was afraid she would say “NO”. Perhaps, I knew that I was only going to be able to do it only once in my life, so I had to do it perfectly. Perhaps, I was not sure why it was to be done.
She is undoubtedly one of the best things that ever happened to my life. She is the only one I had ever thought about. Having gone through the ups and downs in the relation we shared, I realized no one ever makes me feel the same way before. Nobody makes me happy like she does. She fills my soul with immense pleasure and delight. I just feel complete with her. And I realize all I want is to grow old with her.
And we were really having a ball till the apocalypse year arrived.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Ghost of the Past
The other night I was talking to her when we started talking
about truths of life, past and related fears. As always, she was reluctant
talking about it. After a while, I paused and started wondering why we fear our
past. We all have a past, a deep dark past. There are always certain things
which we wish we had not said or done; things which we don’t want anyone to
know.
Why do some of us spend so much time thinking about their
past? Why do they fear talking about it? The most prominent reasons which come
to my mind are that we didn’t expect ourselves making so many mistakes as we
made and we assume a lot of things will turn out as we expect them to. This
post briefly summarizes my viewpoint on how to let go of our past and not fear
it. It is one of the most important lessons
of life – living in the present is the key to happiness. The past is over and
gone; never to return. The future is not guaranteed.
Most of the times, we are able to put our mistakes of past (regrets?)
behind us, especially the ones which are not major disappointments. And once we
overcome them, we don’t fear them; personally or while sharing them with
others. However, there are a few things which we are unable to get over in our
minds. Those are things we regret about our past and fear sharing them. The main
reasons behind this fear are the sense of losing something/someone and the
belief that it might affect your present. Our minds keep returning back to what
“might” have been, “could” have been and “should” have been. The more we think
about the events we regret, the more the associated fear deepens. It follows us
wherever we go and stops us from achieving our aspirations.
How to let go of your past?
The most critical fact about past is that it cannot be changed.
The events that you regret have already happened. And since there is no way to change
the past, it is better if we learn to accept it. I believe that we should never
regret our past decisions because they are what we considered the best at that
particular moment. In case of failures, we just need to learn from those and
move ahead. “Let it be” is one of the best phrases I’ve heard which helps me
get rid of the past.
Once we learn to accept the things the way they are, we
should stop thinking about them. The problem is that when we think about those
events, we start imagining how the things could have been and then we realize
that things have changed, which upsets us. It starts with a single thought but
as soon as we start, it is almost impossible to stop. One thought leads to
another and a vicious circle is formed.
One more important thing in this process is to realize the
truth of impermanence. We should realize that outcome of the next second is
unpredictable. Death can come at any moment. Therefore, we don’t have enough
time to keep worrying about the past and ruining our present also. If someone
tells us that we had only a few days of life left; we would regret spending so
much time thinking about the past. As the time passes, we would be able to
train our mind to ignore such thoughts, ultimately leading to complete dis-attachment.
The next thing is to learn to accept that we can be wrong
sometimes. We often don’t allow ourselves and others to be less than perfect.
We need to learn to forgive not only others but also ourselves. Lastly, to
overcome the fear of sharing our past, we should realize that people who care
about us would accept us the way we are; with our mistakes and past, no matter
how dark it is. Sharing always helps to overcome fears.
Letting go of past is
like lifting a weight off our chest. It prevents us from being stagnant, allows
us to move on and enjoy our present. It might be hard to accomplish but if we
believe in ourselves and realize the aforesaid points, it is possible to overcome
every fear related to your past and live completely for the present.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
The Moon
As he stepped out of his college building, something wonderful happened. The first image he received was that of the full moon. Round, clear and spotless. A Chinese poem states:
He set his eyes on the Moon. It reminded him of the past. The one he was trying hard to forget, the one he was trying to let go of. It reminded him of her. Her carefree laugh started to echo in his ears and their talks captured his mind. They would always fight over who had a better choice. Her choice was Moon, his was she herself. And this was the only thing where he didn't love to lose against her. He stood by his beliefs, she stood by hers. Never coming to an end. And then one day, a new chapter started. She had vowed to prove him wrong. He had always asked her to be strong, confident and fight till the end with a great willpower but he never knew these skills could also be used against him. He stood shocked as she went on to prove how bad a choice he had.
Tomorrow, she may not be with him. He may forget everything about her. But what about the moon? The moon would always be there. And remind him of his imperfect choice. Always.
"The fresh and beautiful moon is traveling in the utmost empty
sky. When the mind-rivers of living beings are free, that
image of the beautiful moon will reflect in each of us."
He set his eyes on the Moon. It reminded him of the past. The one he was trying hard to forget, the one he was trying to let go of. It reminded him of her. Her carefree laugh started to echo in his ears and their talks captured his mind. They would always fight over who had a better choice. Her choice was Moon, his was she herself. And this was the only thing where he didn't love to lose against her. He stood by his beliefs, she stood by hers. Never coming to an end. And then one day, a new chapter started. She had vowed to prove him wrong. He had always asked her to be strong, confident and fight till the end with a great willpower but he never knew these skills could also be used against him. He stood shocked as she went on to prove how bad a choice he had.
Tomorrow, she may not be with him. He may forget everything about her. But what about the moon? The moon would always be there. And remind him of his imperfect choice. Always.
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