Things coming out over the past one week have peeved me to the core. As a citizen of India, it pains to see your beloved city being ravaged by a bunch of vultures. But, in the aftermath of such a heinous crime, I wasn’t too sure of the long lasting imprints being carved in my psyche. I have never ever been so concerned about anything. I mean, literally anything. My heart goes out to all who lost their near and dear ones in this battle. The sandstorm refuses to die down and I am glued to whatever media has to offer on paper or by electronic means. I can hear a distinct voice reverberate through these times and that is of anger and frustration towards our polity. Never before in my entire lifetime of understanding the political class and their shenanigans, have I heard this voice so strong. Suddenly a country of one billion seems to have found its voice. A political class responsible for projecting this country as soft spoken and an epitome of stoicism has suddenly begun to realize the gravity of the situation. We no more seem to be mere pushovers. No one can now afford to take us for granted. The sooner the essence of our emotions dawns on them, the better. The sincerity is unmistakable.
But these times have compelled me to think. As has the case been with others like me.
What exactly ails India today? Is it the bureaucratic system set up by our politicians?
I don’t think so. India is because of Indians and not politicians. In a democratic setup like ours, the ultimate powers of electing our leaders lie with us. Then, why do we falter? Instead of engaging in blame games, we should engage in introspection. A country of one billion was held for ransom by a bunch of 20 year olds for 60 odd hours. In retrospection, we nitpick every minute detail of government’s ineptness to act proactively. But do we ever pinpoint fingers at ourselves? Do we have the courage and wisdom to look within ourselves and ask questions; questions which are very much pertinent.
It’s the time for self realization. Politicians engage in politics because we let them to. It’s what we did 5 years ago has come back to haunt us. In various manifestations, in various forms, but the signals are very clear. It is a question thrown back at us –“Do we have it in ourselves to unite and stand up for a cause?” Indians are known never to disappoint. But the question staring right into our eyes is –“Do we have that passion?”
I hope I won’t be disappointed. We owe to those who have laid down their lives for this country. Let their sacrifices not go in vain. We have to learn as well as teach few lessons, the most important of those being the message that “We stand united.”
Jai Hind.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Silent Lucidity
Hush now, don't you cry
Wipe away the teardrop from your eye
You're lying safe in bed
It was all a bad dream
Spinning in your head
Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day
Your dream is over... or has it just begun?
There's a place I like to hide
A doorway that I run through in the night
Relax child, you were there
But only didn't realize it and you were scared
It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
Commanding in another world
Suddenly you hear and see
This magic new dimension
I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help you see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you, in Silent Lucidity
[spoken during solo]
(Visualize your dream)
(Record it in the present tense)
(Put it into a permanent form)
(If you persist in your efforts)
(You can achieve dream control)
(Dream control)
(How's that then, better?)
(Hug me)
If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see
The walls you built within
Come tumbling down, and a new world will begin
Living twice at once you learn
You're safe from the pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head
Master of illusion, can you realize
Your dream's alive, you can be the guide but...
I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help to see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you....
PS: Do listen to the song as well!!!
Wipe away the teardrop from your eye
You're lying safe in bed
It was all a bad dream
Spinning in your head
Your mind tricked you to feel the pain
Of someone close to you leaving the game of life
So here it is, another chance
Wide awake you face the day
Your dream is over... or has it just begun?
There's a place I like to hide
A doorway that I run through in the night
Relax child, you were there
But only didn't realize it and you were scared
It's a place where you will learn
To face your fears, retrace the years
And ride the whims of your mind
Commanding in another world
Suddenly you hear and see
This magic new dimension
I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help you see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you, in Silent Lucidity
[spoken during solo]
(Visualize your dream)
(Record it in the present tense)
(Put it into a permanent form)
(If you persist in your efforts)
(You can achieve dream control)
(Dream control)
(How's that then, better?)
(Hug me)
If you open your mind for me
You won't rely on open eyes to see
The walls you built within
Come tumbling down, and a new world will begin
Living twice at once you learn
You're safe from the pain in the dream domain
A soul set free to fly
A round trip journey in your head
Master of illusion, can you realize
Your dream's alive, you can be the guide but...
I- will be watching over you
I- am gonna help to see it through
I- will protect you in the night
I- am smiling next to you....
PS: Do listen to the song as well!!!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
The Friday ride!
A typical software engineer doesn’t know what he is doing and loves his/her Fridays. I am no exception. Every Friday starts with a thought that I have to leave early today. It never really matters if I have anything special to do or not. The joy of leaving early can’t be felt unless you have experienced it. And I sincerely hope, nobody gets that chance! And mind you, I am not a sadist.
Nevertheless, I packed my bags and rushed towards the bus stand. I made myself comfortable at the window seat and pulled out my iPod in a regal style. It is one of those few things which catches attention of others sitting beside you, as if I had got something which came from mars. And that’s not why I treasure it. I genuinely like this product coming out of Jobs’ factory. The bus was getting filled by each passing minute and I was just waiting for the bus to start. And finally the moment arrived with a lovely damsel sitting by my side. Mind you, it doesn’t happen that often but I wasn’t complaining. You can rest assured that my lips were to be kept zipped till either of us got down of the bus.
With the opportunity sitting to my left, my face found some kind of polarity towards right and that meant my view sweeping everything in its sight except the one which mattered. But it bothered me the least not because I wasn’t interested but because I was quite used to it. I have had many chances in the past, but as they say, I squandered it all! The bus kept on moving and so did the precious moments. Don’t call it timidity. I choose to call it ineptness or ineptitude. You see, some kind of training and I will be right on track!
Resigned to the fact that I will be the only one of my kind, I decided to count the number of vehicles overtaking my grand vehicle. One, two, three... The time kept on passing. That’s the incentive of leaving early on Fridays! As our bus advanced towards one of the many known bottlenecks, another bus came along with ever reducing speed. Now we were almost in sync. And I happened to take a look at one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life. It seemed that my heart skipped a beat or two. Her eyes darted back at me and I, as if in oblivion, could not respond suitably. What is expected of chivalry? I seemed to forget this at that very moment. I could not take my eyes off her.
And as if in retaliation, she also chose to respond in a similar way. Mind you, these are rare of the rarest occasions for me. I was in a trance. And how I wished that it should never end!
For a change I cared to look the other way, the gate of opportunity which was closed long back. It was more because I didn’t want to show that I was gasping for breath. To get rid of the lumps of throat, you need to do it intelligently. I hesitated to look back towards my favorite side. As a manager, you are required to think on your toes. I thought god could have given me a better situation to test the same. I had to take a decision, and I took. As if she was expecting the same from me, she got defensive. And to tell you the truth, I loved every bit of it. Suddenly her bus started speeding. I looked at my driver and his inability to surge ahead as a car was stuck in front. I cursed the car driver with all my might. Why such things happen only to me? And then I realized that my bus too has engaged itself in the most important business of catching up with each passing moment. I took a big sigh of relief. As expected, I neared the bus. Now my eyes were hooked not to her but on the one sitting next to her. And I again took a big sigh of relief. Now our looks were playing hide and seek. As expected, we were not complaining.
Suddenly the bus surged past and took, what I thought at that point of time, an unbeatable lead. But soon I was to be proven wrong. I could see in the distance, the bus offloading some of its passengers. These were some crucial moments for my bus to make a march as fast as it could. And it did. Soon, she got down the bus. I was happy that my journey was one to be cherished. But soon, I was to be proved wrong.
There she walked hand in hand with a guy. I can never understand why all the gorgeous women are never single and most importantly with a guy you would never want to be. My first opportunity too had vanished into thin air by the time I stepped out of the bus. The second one, I thought was never an opportunity. It was like a mirage. But I am not complaining!
My iPod was playing Linkin Park’s In the end. Nice way to wind up your Friday!
Nevertheless, I packed my bags and rushed towards the bus stand. I made myself comfortable at the window seat and pulled out my iPod in a regal style. It is one of those few things which catches attention of others sitting beside you, as if I had got something which came from mars. And that’s not why I treasure it. I genuinely like this product coming out of Jobs’ factory. The bus was getting filled by each passing minute and I was just waiting for the bus to start. And finally the moment arrived with a lovely damsel sitting by my side. Mind you, it doesn’t happen that often but I wasn’t complaining. You can rest assured that my lips were to be kept zipped till either of us got down of the bus.
With the opportunity sitting to my left, my face found some kind of polarity towards right and that meant my view sweeping everything in its sight except the one which mattered. But it bothered me the least not because I wasn’t interested but because I was quite used to it. I have had many chances in the past, but as they say, I squandered it all! The bus kept on moving and so did the precious moments. Don’t call it timidity. I choose to call it ineptness or ineptitude. You see, some kind of training and I will be right on track!
Resigned to the fact that I will be the only one of my kind, I decided to count the number of vehicles overtaking my grand vehicle. One, two, three... The time kept on passing. That’s the incentive of leaving early on Fridays! As our bus advanced towards one of the many known bottlenecks, another bus came along with ever reducing speed. Now we were almost in sync. And I happened to take a look at one of the most beautiful things I had ever seen in my life. It seemed that my heart skipped a beat or two. Her eyes darted back at me and I, as if in oblivion, could not respond suitably. What is expected of chivalry? I seemed to forget this at that very moment. I could not take my eyes off her.
And as if in retaliation, she also chose to respond in a similar way. Mind you, these are rare of the rarest occasions for me. I was in a trance. And how I wished that it should never end!
For a change I cared to look the other way, the gate of opportunity which was closed long back. It was more because I didn’t want to show that I was gasping for breath. To get rid of the lumps of throat, you need to do it intelligently. I hesitated to look back towards my favorite side. As a manager, you are required to think on your toes. I thought god could have given me a better situation to test the same. I had to take a decision, and I took. As if she was expecting the same from me, she got defensive. And to tell you the truth, I loved every bit of it. Suddenly her bus started speeding. I looked at my driver and his inability to surge ahead as a car was stuck in front. I cursed the car driver with all my might. Why such things happen only to me? And then I realized that my bus too has engaged itself in the most important business of catching up with each passing moment. I took a big sigh of relief. As expected, I neared the bus. Now my eyes were hooked not to her but on the one sitting next to her. And I again took a big sigh of relief. Now our looks were playing hide and seek. As expected, we were not complaining.
Suddenly the bus surged past and took, what I thought at that point of time, an unbeatable lead. But soon I was to be proven wrong. I could see in the distance, the bus offloading some of its passengers. These were some crucial moments for my bus to make a march as fast as it could. And it did. Soon, she got down the bus. I was happy that my journey was one to be cherished. But soon, I was to be proved wrong.
There she walked hand in hand with a guy. I can never understand why all the gorgeous women are never single and most importantly with a guy you would never want to be. My first opportunity too had vanished into thin air by the time I stepped out of the bus. The second one, I thought was never an opportunity. It was like a mirage. But I am not complaining!
My iPod was playing Linkin Park’s In the end. Nice way to wind up your Friday!
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