X- Wo/Man

It is a moment of shame for us, as a society, as a country, and as a human being. We, humans, consider ourselves to be at the helm of evolutionary process. But are we really that evolved. These heinous acts that we come across at a regular basis are just a reminder that we are not yet evolved!

Be it recent shooting in Connecticut, USA or the brutal rape case of a 23 year old girl in Delhi, India, aren't these all events pointing at a bigger issue? Is it not the time to act? We definitely need X- men or I should say X-Wo/men. No no.... It doesn't mean people with extraordinary powers, like flying, mind control, etc... All I am saying is that we need to evolve as human beings. We need to show compassion.
His holiness the 13th Dalai Lama always talks of showing compassion. Compassion is sharing feelings, sharing the sad and happy moments of others, helping others in the time of need, taking help of others, feeling complete- mentally, physically and spiritually. This compassion can come only by realizing God in every single living body.
We don't need X-wo/men outside us. We have to develop it within us. Not one person, not a group of persons, but we all have to do this. Then only, we, humans, can evolve to next levels.
I feel hatred and agony at the same time to see news headlines full of these discomforting cases. Hatred not from the people who commit these crimes but from this society that has created those people. I feel hatred against myself because I am also the part of this very society.
Newspapers say that the person who brutally killed 26 people in USA might have been suffering from a mental disorder called Asperger’s Syndrome. 'It is a psychiatric disorder usually noted during early school years; characterized by impaired social relations and by repetitive patterns of behaviour.'
Have a careful look at the definition of the said syndrome. This might have happened during his school days where people were reluctant enough to talk to him about his problems. We, the people around him created the monster within him. So, who is the actual culprit?
Having strong laws and regulations is not the ultimate solution to the problem we are facing. Yes, strong rules will definitely reduce the crime rate, but the number of mentally retarded people, people who can't channelize their potential (and move towards crime, rape, etc) will keep on increasing. The need of time is to develop a society where people have equal rights to learn, grow and implement. A more humane society is needed. A society where people rush for help when they see a brutally raped and naked girl lying on streets and don't just stand there to see the 'drama'. A society where people have somebody to talk to, someone to share their feelings and problems with.
I can imagine a world like that. The main concern is can you and can this whole society?

My birthday

Today, I completed 21 years of my life. These years, not many though, have given me so much that I don't even have words to express it. In Hindu mythology, its said that the things that happen to us in the first 20 years of life are in direct relation to our karma of past life. Now having completed these years, I have a great feeling that I must have done something wonderful in past life that has resulted in this beautiful life, full of people I love and who love me back.
I have always cherished relations over anything else. I am blessed to have a great family that love me a lot. My mum, papa and my sister....they all complete me. Friends have been more than family to me. I have a bunch of great, naughty, stylish, critical, philosophical and caring friends. Today on my birthday, I am really blessed to have five of them with me to share my happiness. There are some others too who may not be physically here but I know they think of me and bless me.
The birthday started with showers of eggs on my head. It proceeded with some unexpected birthday celebrations.

      

This post is to thank all of those five dearest friends of mine who complete me in many ways. They care for me; they scold me; they motivate me; they humiliate me (yes, they do!!!, not publicly though!:D :D). But above all, they love me for who I am. People come in one's life for many reasons. They come to teach us, help us, or use us. I don't know why you people came to my life and I really don't know for how long you will be there. But I always wish to have you for my whole life, coz I am 'me', when I am with you. I don't have to wear any mask. You know my strengths and you know my weaknesses.
I also want to apologize for every time I had lost my temper. I never meant to hurt you. You people are the best. Happy to have you with me!

Santa Claus (Merry Christmas)

One of the problems we have in this world is that too many adults believe in Santa Claus, and too many children don’t
Lee Lauer 

A critic is a man who found out when he was about ten that there wasn’t any Santa Claus, and he’s still upset.
James Gould Cozzens 
 
Santa Claus has the right idea: visit people once a year
Victor Borge 

I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was six. Mother took me to see him in a department store and he asked for my autograph.
Shirley Temple

Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it.
Richard Lamm

Alas! How dreary would be the world if there was no Santa Claus! There would be no childlike faith then, no poetry, no romance to make tolerable this existence.
Francis P. Church

Santa Claus is anyone who loves another and seeks to make them happy; who gives himself by thought or word or deed in every gift that he bestows.
Edwin Osgood Grover

Let me see if I’ve got this Santa business straight. You say he wears a beard, has no discernible source of income and flies to cities all over the world under cover of darkness? You sure this guy isn’t laundering illegal drug money?
Tom Armstrong

There are three stages of a man’s life:
He believes in Santa Claus.
He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus
He is Santa Claus.

Being Alone (Any Problem?)

I have a strong feeling that I should throw away my cell phone. Sometimes I feel, these gadgets are the real problem. It has become really hard to imagine what this life would be without my laptop or my cellphone! But then again, even our social circles don't allow us to have 'a quiet time', a time to think over... a time to be with ourself!Why do I have to justify my every move. Why do I have to give reasons to a lot many people for why I switched my cell off. Why the answer that I wanted to be with myself is not sufficient? You give an answer like this and people start asking even more questions.... What happened dude? Any problem? Is there anything you wanna share?...etc etc....
Yes, I know. They ask because they care. It bothers them. But sometimes, I can't even stand my best buddies. I get irritated easily and yes, that makes sense. I am the only person in this world who knows everything about me and still love me.I just want to have a one to one talk with me. Is it that difficult to understand? Is it too much to ask?
I think cell phones are the biggest problems. They will definitely buzz when you least want them to. And most of the time, its because somebody needs you or somebody wants to talk about their problems. We have become addicted to socialization. Look at any student (like me). He must be with his friends. At the same time, he might be messaging on his cellphone and working parallel on facebook.The problem is that we have huge lot of time to talk but we don't actually communicate. We are not listening, we are just vomiting out our words, our thoughts. Communication has to happen bidirectionally. Then only we can accept and conceptualize an actual relation.

I consider people's life as circles. Some intersect more then others and they become good friends. Some don't align themselves together and don't get along. But there will never be any two similar circles completely merging with each other. Everybody needs space and we should honor it. Even best of friends should understand this.

That little Extra!!!

Life's going pretty well, and then one day, you think of screwing it! You try to get that little extra. A little more care and attention in a relationship, a little more money for a job, a little more fame... And this is where all problems begin. Why do we need that little extra! Why is there always a 'possibility for improvement'. Life's never perfect, yes. And yes, we should try to make it perfect, but we should know our boundaries. We should know where there is a possibility for that improvement. Some things, especially relationships, are always best the way they are. A little more you expect and chances are that you are at the verge of losing it.
What I have learned is that we should accept life the way it is. People come and go. I had read somewhere that people remain in your life as long as you really need them. They leave when their work is over. Remember, Nanny MacFee only comes when children need her and not when they want her. There a great difference between want and need. We spend our whole life wanting things that won't do any real good to us. They may give us pleasure for sometime, but eventually what matters is the relations we have or ever had in the past. Every single person on this earth have a reason to be. Some are their to do great work, lead others, discover something great, to produce a great movie, to write a bestseller, to compose something mesmerizing, but some others (the majority) is their to create the real difference in a few people's life they come across. A person who makes you smile everyday, a person who cares for you without any intentions, someone who will be there when you need help, someone who will accompany you whenever you want, who will advise you on crucial matters of your life, who will walk an extra mile with you, who will listen to you when you are down, who will share food with you, reserve a seat in the class room, watch a movie with you. These people have a reason to be in your life. They are making it worth living. These are the people you should care about. They are friends, family and lovers. They are not making great difference to 'the world', but yes, they are making a great deal of difference to 'your world'.
One advice, never ever expect anything extra from these 'special people'. They are this way because you need them this way. It will be a great mistake if you try to change a person according to your need. They are perfect the way they are. I learned it the hard way by losing some very good friends. I don't want this for the people who are reading this blog. So, cherish the people in your life the way they are.

I ASKED GOD...

I asked for strength and God gave me difficulties to make me strong
I asked for wisdom and God gave me problems to solve
I asked for courage and God gave me dangers to overcome
I asked for favors and God gave me opportunities
I received nothing I wanted I received everything I needed
My Prayer Has Been Answered.

Happythankyoumoreplease

Happythankyoumoreplease...

This is the mantra of life... Always say HAPPYTHANKYOUMOREPLEASE to everybody you meet. At least, start with your friends.

Broadly, it means, I am very happy that you came in my life, thank you for doing and changing my life in the ways that you have and please be with me for more time, keep your blessings on me always.

It helps me feel better. May be it will help you too...

I also take this opportunity to THANK YOU all for visiting my blog... Please be here again for more posts...

हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

Today, I am sharing a very great poem by Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. I want to clarify that I am not an extremist of any kind. My views are completely secular but this poem surely have a class. So happy reading...

हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥
मै शंकर का वह क्रोधानल कर सकता जगती क्षार क्षार
डमरू की वह प्रलयध्वनि हूं जिसमे नचता भीषण संहार
रणचंडी की अतृप्त प्यास मै दुर्गा का उन्मत्त हास
मै यम की प्रलयंकर पुकार जलते मरघट का धुँवाधार
फिर अंतरतम की ज्वाला से जगती मे आग लगा दूं मै
यदि धधक उठे जल थल अंबर जड चेतन तो कैसा विस्मय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मै आज पुरुष निर्भयता का वरदान लिये आया भूपर
पय पीकर सब मरते आए मै अमर हुवा लो विष पीकर
अधरोंकी प्यास बुझाई है मैने पीकर वह आग प्रखर
हो जाती दुनिया भस्मसात जिसको पल भर मे ही छूकर
भय से व्याकुल फिर दुनिया ने प्रारंभ किया मेरा पूजन
मै नर नारायण नीलकण्ठ बन गया न इसमे कुछ संशय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मै अखिल विश्व का गुरु महान देता विद्या का अमर दान
मैने दिखलाया मुक्तिमार्ग मैने सिखलाया ब्रह्म ज्ञान
मेरे वेदों का ज्ञान अमर मेरे वेदों की ज्योति प्रखर
मानव के मन का अंधकार क्या कभी सामने सकठका सेहर
मेरा स्वर्णभ मे गेहर गेहेर सागर के जल मे चेहेर चेहेर
इस कोने से उस कोने तक कर सकता जगती सौरभ मै
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मै तेजःपुन्ज तम लीन जगत मे फैलाया मैने प्रकाश
जगती का रच करके विनाश कब चाहा है निज का विकास
शरणागत की रक्षा की है मैने अपना जीवन देकर
विश्वास नही यदि आता तो साक्षी है इतिहास अमर
यदि आज देहलि के खण्डहर सदियोंकी निद्रा से जगकर
गुंजार उठे उनके स्वर से हिन्दु की जय तो क्या विस्मय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

दुनिया के वीराने पथ पर जब जब नर ने खाई ठोकर
दो आँसू शेष बचा पाया जब जब मानव सब कुछ खोकर
मै आया तभि द्रवित होकर मै आया ज्ञान दीप लेकर
भूला भटका मानव पथ पर चल निकला सोते से जगकर
पथ के आवर्तोंसे थककर जो बैठ गया आधे पथ पर
उस नर को राह दिखाना ही मेरा सदैव का दृढनिश्चय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मैने छाती का लहु पिला पाले विदेश के सुजित लाल
मुझको मानव मे भेद नही मेरा अन्तःस्थल वर विशाल
जग से ठुकराए लोगोंको लो मेरे घर का खुला द्वार
अपना सब कुछ हूं लुटा चुका पर अक्षय है धनागार
मेरा हीरा पाकर ज्योतित परकीयोंका वह राज मुकुट
यदि इन चरणों पर झुक जाए कल वह किरिट तो क्या विस्मय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मै वीरपुत्र मेरि जननी के जगती मे जौहर अपार
अकबर के पुत्रोंसे पूछो क्या याद उन्हे मीना बझार
क्या याद उन्हे चित्तोड दुर्ग मे जलनेवाली आग प्रखर
जब हाय सहस्त्रो माताए तिल तिल कर जल कर हो गई अमर
वह बुझनेवाली आग नही रग रग मे उसे समाए हूं
यदि कभि अचानक फूट पडे विप्लव लेकर तो क्या विस्मय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

होकर स्वतन्त्र मैने कब चाहा है कर लूं सब को गुलाम
मैने तो सदा सिखाया है करना अपने मन को गुलाम
गोपाल राम के नामोंपर कब मैने अत्याचार किया
कब दुनिया को हिन्दु करने घर घर मे नरसंहार किया
कोई बतलाए काबुल मे जाकर कितनी मस्जिद तोडी
भूभाग नही शत शत मानव के हृदय जीतने का निश्चय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

मै एक बिन्दु परिपूर्ण सिन्धु है यह मेरा हिन्दु समाज
मेरा इसका संबन्ध अमर मै व्यक्ति और यह है समाज
इससे मैने पाया तन मन इससे मैने पाया जीवन
मेरा तो बस कर्तव्य यही कर दू सब कुछ इसके अर्पण
मै तो समाज की थाति हूं मै तो समाज का हूं सेवक
मै तो समष्टि के लिए व्यष्टि का कर सकता बलिदान अभय
हिन्दु तन मन हिन्दु जीवन रग रग हिन्दु मेरा परिचय॥

Difficulty of Being Good!

Can good or bad be defined precisely?

         How can one assert a person as good or bad! Can a person be completely good or completely bad? What I think is that it is just a frame of mind. Humans are strange creatures. A brutal terrorist or a murderer, all will have somebody or something, to which they act emotionally! Someone they love, someone/ something they care about! However harsh they may be, they will be good to their loved ones. When I look around myself and see people I don't like, I have a strange feeling of hate. What I think of is the bad things they have done to me or my loved ones. But, when I look closely, I always reach the same conclusion. They did what they did because they thought in their own interests. May be in same situation, if I were to be replaced by some other person whom they love, they might have acted differently.

        So, how does the perception of being good or evil changes? What can be categorized as good things? Is doing social work or thinking about others is the only way of doing good things? Is the definition of 'good thing' so narrow? I have seen people who might not be categorized as 'social workers', but yes they will be there if you need them. They are ready to help even the strangers. I don't think that doing some big works, educating people, feeding poor, etc is the only way of doing your bit. Yes, it has its own importance, but everybody can't do this! Small gestures like lending a pen, running some papers, giving a lift, etc are equally and sometimes much more important.

         As Anthony 'Tony' Robbins, Life coach and NLP Trainer in his talks points out the need of human spirit as 'contributing beyond ourselves.' No matter what we do, how we do, we always want to contribute. The secret of living is giving.

       So, never judge a person for what he looks like. There are always some sides of a personality you will never see. Take chances, learn from everybody. There's nothing good or bad, it is what you want it to be.

What makes life beautiful?

Beauty lies in the eyes of beholder. (Pantnagar during Rains)

Beauty: Is it superficial! Why is it that when you look at a person and instantly, you are in love? Actually, not only person, it can be a thing, or place or any situation. A person I see on the first day of the class; he speaks his heart out in front of all the students and I had a feeling that he is gonna be my very good friend! And yes, three years rolled over, and he is my best buddy! That's what happens when you believe. When you believe in yourself and your feelings, you are definitely going to get rewarded. Do we really have to do what others are doing? We don't have to prove ourselves beautiful. We don't have to chase anything.
What is the ultimate aim of our life? Is it money or comfort or luxuries?? NO...Its satisfaction, Happiness.... Can't we find it right now? Why do we have to wait? Why do we have to have a little more, a little extra beauty, a little more money, a little better job, a more spacious house, a better place? I don't understand why many of my friends are not happy studying here at Pantnagar! They are always unhappy being here. Despising mess food, humid weather, light conditions and what not! Why can't they see what this place has taught them. I have lived some of the best moments of my life here. I love this place with all my strength. I have known people who live out their in cities with all the big malls, multiplexes and food corners. But then, they don't have anybody to go  out with, enjoy with. This place gives us that little (actually the biggest) thing. It gives us time to talk with friends, to live life to its fullest, to know each other, to know life. What humans actually need is the company of some fellow humans, whom they love, tease, and do all kinds of weird stuff with! This is what Pantnagar has provided me.
This is what that makes it different.
SO, I urge my fellow Pantnagarians not to despise this place and try to understand the real beuty within it. These four years are never gonna come back... Live them, enjoy them.

Song of Creation

Following is the Song of Creation from Rig Veda, the oldest of the Hindu Scripture originated more then 4000 years ago. It gives the real essence of Hindu Philosophy. Who is the ONE creating all these patterns, that the human mind perceives as chaos? The complexity of human mind that is still undiscovered!!! Is he the ONE governing all this or is HE not?


Song of Creation
There was not then what is nor what is not.
There was no sky, and no heaven beyond the sky.
What power was there? Where? Who was that power?
Was there an abyss of fathoinless waters?
There was neither death nor immortality then.
No signs were there of night or day.
The ONE was breathing by its own power, in deep peace.
Only the ONE was: there was nothing beyond.
Darkness was hidden in darkness.
The all was fluid and formless.
Therein, in the void, by the fire of fervour
arose the ONE.
And in the ONE arose love. Love the first seed of soul.
The truth of this the sages found in their hearts:
seeking in their hearts with wisdom, the sages found
that bond of union between being and non-being.
Who knows in truth?
Who can tell us whence and how arose this universe?
The gods are later than its begnning: who knows therefore
whence comes this creation?
Only that god who sees in highest heaven: he only knows
whence comes this universe, and whether it was made
or uncreated.
He only knows, or perhaps he knows not.
[Rig Veda x. 129]

Relations- Are they meant to be broken!!!

मुझको भी तरकीब सिखा कोई यार जुलाहे
अकसर तुझको देखा है कि ताना बुनते
जब कोई तागा टूट गया या खत्म हुआ
फिर से बांध के
और सिरा कोई जोड़ के उसमे
आगे बुनने लगते हो
तेरे इस ताने में लेकिन
इक भी गांठ गिरह बुन्तर की
देख नहीं सकता कोई
मैनें तो एक बार बुना था एक ही रिश्ता
लेकिन उसकी सारी गिरहें
साफ नजर आती हैं मेरे यार जुलाहे
-Gulzar The oscar winning poet, Gulzar Saab beautifully describe the pain of reinvented and renewed relations. Once broken, its very difficult to mend a relation. Even if it is reinvented, there will always be a weakling in the relation. So, the question raised here is what do we do? Should we stop loving only because in the end, we will be left shattered! Or should we embrace all the love we can get! I will go with the second thought. I have a friend, who with all his strength try not to show me his feelings. But I know, somewhere sometimes, he does care for me. Sometimes, I do feel like I am being used. But then, let it be like that. People try to exploit us all the time. Isn't it better to get exploited by someone you really care about! I read it somewhere that if someone doesn’t love you the way you want them to doesn’t mean that they don’t love you with all they have.
May be they are not blessed like you.People have a strange tendency to take things for granted. We don't look at what we have and run for everything that is better than what we have. I think this is the main reason for all the unhappiness in life. In the movie New Year's Eve (release 2012), the only message they try to express through it, is this...

It is okay to forgive. It is okay to repeat a mistake, to get hurt. Life is all about getting another chance; a chance to forgive. To do better, to do more, to give more and to love more.

Stop worrying about 'what if'.... Start embracing your life...

In Hindu mythology, it's said that human form is given to a soul after passing through crores of other life forms. Even the angels envy human form. 

So, this life is not to be ruined being isolated. Feelings are the only thing we have different from other animals. Reveal your feelings; say 'thank you', say 'I love you'; say 'I care for you'....

My village: Now and then...

A beautiful View from my Home

Kaafal

Ten years ago, when I was visiting my village in Pauri district of Garhwal region, there was a lot of excitement. I was a kid then. I had my uncle's marriage to attend. Excitement was more because of the various pahadi(ethnic) dishes and fruits I got to eat in the village. Cold water from the roots of Banjh(a high altitude tree), Kaafal and hinsar(kinds of wild fruit), nuts, and many other things that my grandmother used to prepare for us children. It was fun to see various types of house architect, to see my grandmother milking our cow or to see the customs of  a garhwali wedding. We had to walk a small distance from road to reach our home in village. Taking all the cows to grasslands for feeding above village with my uncle was another adventure for me. All the family members (I must tell you, we have a very big family with Grandmother, Grandfather, my  mother-father, six uncles, some married, around ten small brothers and sisters. At that time, my great grand mother was still alive.) used to sit in the veranda for long hours after dinner. Talking and laughing at various events when they all were children. Grandfather telling the story of how their marriage took place. And many more stories including folk tales of the region.

Me with my Dadi

But, alas, road now comes just to the gate of my home.!! :( Now, we don't have to walk. Those small streams of cold water are dead. Jungles are burning so no Kaafal, hinsar or anything else. Monkeys have made a permanent home in our village. (There was none ten years ago. They destroy all kind vegetation they can found.) There are only five people living in the village. All my uncles are out for jobs. People are leaving village. Old house structures are ruining. As one of the best known artist of Garhwal, Shri Narendra S. Negi puts it, "houses in villages are being used by lizards and cockroaches".

My Village (most of it hidden within trees)

Its good to have development but at what cost!!! Don't you think, its time to start a sustainable development. We have to save our villages, if we want to grow cities. Self sustained villages are a necessity. I really want to go back in that old village where everybody lives in harmony. May that time comes back again.