Newspaper reading

Heaveno,

One Sunday morning, I picked up the newspaper and as I had no other plans for the next two hours, I decided to devote this time to it and suddenly it dawned on me that I should utilize the 4-5 rupees which I invest on it thoroughly and I started reading each and every inch of the newspaper. But I was soon exasperated by the monotonous political articles by intelligentsia criticizing the government or the opposition or demonstrating their prowess as the great psephologists. After all the match fixing controversies came to light, I started to gradually lose interest in cricket (the only sport I followed) and so the sports page was also out of question. I had serious doubts about my economics and business acumen and so the business page got a mere glance from me. Then I  glanced through the entertainment page and felt ridiculous when I read the news of a potboiler hindi film setting precedents in terms of earnings. The world is too big to be understood so the international news page was turned over within no time as I was least interested that day to find out which bill was passed by the Chinese legislators. Then, there were two pages dedicated to the news from the city and nearby areas which had the same morbid news scattered over these pages about robberies, thefts, sexual assaults and homicides. I skipped those pages and I was back on the front page (I read the newspaper from behind).So the whole newspaper fiasco ended with me reading nothing substantial (as if there was something substantial for me to read!).

I put the newspaper on the table and lazed on the chair. The tranquil morning breeze felt great so I decided to close my eyes in order to savour the serenity in the atmosphere. After all, the best things in life are for free.

I somehow felt the frivolity of the newspaper reading exercise and something within me said why should I care when 20 people died in a bus crash  near Mumbai or a bomb explosion killed 200 people in Baghdad? Then suddenly I went into a pensive mood and I thought ‘has death became just a statistic for us? What about their near and dear ones whose families were destroyed. There are mortality statistics but are there any mathematical models to measure the emotional trauma that the families of the deceased go through? Why is it that we don’t care anymore? Is it because we have matured spiritually and imbibed the lessons of Bhagwad Gita that the soul is indestructible and the body is like a piece of clothing and the soul abandons the old clothes and takes up new ones?’

I don’t think we have matured. Death, like yesterday, is today too the greatest bogeyman of which everyone is afraid . It is the only eternal truth in the universe and still we run away from it and some of us are so scared of death that this fear translates into psychological problems caused by continuously drowning the mind in morbid thoughts.

Then what is it that has made us so accustomed to death of fellow beings that we treat such losses of precious human lives as mere statistics? It is because we have grown accustomed to all the violence, riots and murders that it has become a part of our lives  and we don’t feel deeply sad about it anymore. At most we utter a painful sounding Ohh!! And then we move on.

Accidents may not be averted all the time but at least we can strive for a world where no man kills another fellow being and which is more peaceful than the previous day. One must not take away from a fellow human, the chance of accomplishing his task in this world for which he was sent for, by murdering him.Lord Mahavira,the epitome of non violence wanted to lead a renounced life from a long time but at the same time didn't want to cause an emotional trauma to his parents.So he left his house to be a monk only after their death.This is the highest form of non violence.This sounds utopian but is implementable if we decide to practice non violence at an individual level.All that we can practically achieve is to be a little more tolerant and modest. Let us leave a more peaceful world for our future generation where there are less reasons to cry and more excuses to smile. And next time when we see any more ‘statistics’ lets spare a second to pray for the departed souls...

May the force be with you...

Booze Party-Patiala Peg laga ke ;)

Heaveno...

As I was just going through the previous posts ,I realised that it has been a complete SEASON since I last updated this blog.I wrote the last post shivering in the chilling winters and now it's swelteringly hot.I had thoughts in my mind but due to indolence and negligence it has been a long time.Moreover,I was unable to find a good topic to write about and when I genuinely started looking for it, there was a plethora of things to write about.They are scattered everywhere right from a short conversation with someone to a folklore or a petty street quarrel.I just realised that it's all a matter of perspective.The world appears as we want to see it.This reminds me of an old hindi proverb perhaps by Tulsidas which translates to-

"One perceives God according to the emotions/feelings/thoughts he cultivates"

and there is a funny one too:

"Everything Is Yellow To The Jaundiced Eye"


Anyways ,a lot has changed since then.I have finally reached the final year of my undergraduate course after passing a horrendously difficult semester (matter of perspective) and now there is an apprehension about what next?(Reminds me of the song koi na jane apna future kya hoga...).But its just a part of life.Some of my friends have completed their undergraduate courses and are now feeling emotionally robbed all of a sudden as they have to part with their friends and colleagues who helped them sail through four 'wonderful' years of college life.While parting,everyone is promising the other that they'll keep in touch with each other,come what may, but deep inside,they know that it will be nothing more than an occasional 'Hi How are you?' and 'Happy Birthday' on Facebook.Facebook is flooded with emotional status updates.Someone is missing 'samosas' of canteen while other is missing 'Samosa-wala' and 'Chaiwala'  not to forget the pictures from farewell parties with never seen before gorgeous ladies clad in saris and traditional dresses. J

Then there are the much awaited Booze parties in Boys hostels(Girls are matching steps with boys nowadays. The writer has not witnessed such happenings in Girls Hostels due to restricted entry but has come to know from trusted sources that they do happen J).Anyways, I being a simple easygoing fellow,tend to avoid all controversy. Women have all the right to eat or drink whatever they want and is legal and this is not at all a male chauvinistic post.I don't want petulant National commission for women activists protesting in front of my house.The booze parties are an arena for catharsis.People get high and then release all of their emotional burden and then you realise that inside every Iron Man,there is a Devdas hidden somewhere.

Ravi organized a booze party at his house with his friends after their respective colleges were over. His family members were out of town and hence the choice of the venue was obvious. It was 10.pm and the streets were slowly turning deserted and slumber was slowly creeping up with night.People were planning to take rest for the night to recharge themselves to face the challenges that the upcoming day had in store for them. Ravi was eagerly waiting for his 3 school friends who were arriving at his house that night for a small reunion.Then he heard the much anticipated doorbell and there they were on the door: Bijoy,Venu and Akhil and with them,were the 'show-stoppers' (booze) in a small bag.After some informal greetings were exchanged,the paraphernalia was set up on the carpet in the drawing room.Cigarette packets,two bottles of whiskey and Vodka  each were placed in the centre with a bottle of Thumbs up for Akhil who was a teetotaller.The great thing about the other three was that they never coaxed Akhil  to take alcohol.It was totally subject to his wish and self control.

Soon pegs after pegs started vanishing and Ravi,Bijoy and Venu were totally intoxicated and then the fun began. Bijoy had a good job but had a turbulent love life.He was stressed after a recent breakup and Venu had a good romantic life but he was highly dissatisfied with his job as he felt he was underpaid. Around 1 a.m. all the booze was over and then began the catharsis....
Venu:  "Bros!! I sometimes shudder to contemplate the situation after 10 years.I think i'll be left behind and you guys will move far ahead in your career.This will eventually end up our long cherished friendship and we will lose touch. Bhai bhool mat jana ".After that he started crying badly.The other two friends consoled him.

Bijoy:" Why did you ever let a thought like this come to your mind.?We will always be friends like this ,come what may..."
After that,Ravi hugged him and they started singing 'Ye Dostiii Hummm Nahiiii Toooodenge,,,,'
Then came Bijoy's turn. He was distressed by his broken relationship.

Bijoy:"Yar she left me without any sound reason.Just called and said that we cant take it any further and just like that it all shattered into pieces.All the moments spent together.She forgot everything..How can she...??

This continued for about half an hour and then Bijoy felt nausea and after some time he threw up.After that,he felt a bit relaxed and the other three friends escorted him to the bedroom.He hugged his friends and said "Tell Her that I still love her...Don't let her forget me" and then he fell asleep.After some time they all slept."
There is nothing intriguing or romantic about this story as it is no College romance oriented Chic-lit. It is the story of how we suppress our feelings and then they subconsciously demand a stimulus from the body to come out,which in many cases is alcohol.Also there is a need for some 'Real Friends' who are palpable and tangible to provide comfort in times of distress.

Everyday millions of us seek solace in alcohol just because it gives them the audacity to express their inhibited feelings.Why do we need external stimulants like alcohol just for a catharsis or solace in times of mental agony.The above incident appears funny to sober ones and even the characters of the story would find it funny when they are not under the influence of alcohol.

Why don't we just express ourselves?Is it the fear of rejection or we just wait for the other to say it.If you have a problem,discuss with your friends and family.Its just a matter of words.If you feel something just express it.Inhibited feelings slowly make us hollow from inside and when we feel completely empty and devastated,we seek refuge in alcohol and other intoxicants.Feel it...Say it ..Life is too short to regret over petty issues.

And as we all know Cigarette smoking and Alcohol consumption are injurious to health....


Stay Happy..
May the force be with you J

"Lesson from Shashi Kapoor" :D

Heaveno!!

I am writing a post after a long period and by now I think that “I am Lazy” kind of jocular starts to a post are no more amusing to the reader. Anyways, If you have read any of my earlier posts, you will be surely acquainted with the ‘authenticity’ of these beginnings. I have accepted my laziness  as an inherent part of my personality and apart from missing a few morning classes(boring),it hasn’t  cost me much and by God’s grace ,everything seems to be running smoothly. I have, in this period, discovered a name for this kind of laziness-“Writer’s Block” is what they call it. Sounds Good!! It’s the same feeling of greatness you get if your arm is paining and someone tells you that you’ve got ‘Tennis Elbow’.  Now  that’s what you call a disease! Cough, Cold and fever are pedestrian diseases. J

After the faith series, I was looking for something to write but I couldn’t find a topic that appealed me and so this blog went to a dormant phase and also there is always an element of indolence involved.

 I have always believed that if you want to say something from your heart(and want people to listen to it),you must be honest in your purpose .It is not always necessary that everything you express must be RIGHT in everyone’s perspective, but it is of paramount importance that you should not be even remotely dubious about the righteousness of your purpose. Say whatever YOU feel is right. Rhetorical works may fetch you the audience but not satisfaction. This leads to the clarity in thoughts and eventually reflects what you desire to express ,effortlessly.

While reading my past posts, I have often thought  that  they might appear to be preachy and when there is everything going wrong in the society(ranging from corruption to heinous crimes against women),I am writing about faith and virtues. When I reversed my self-critic mode, I thought that there are other people and media doing exceptionally well to combat these perils, why not take out a single moment  for ourselves and focus on the nuances of life on which we hardly pay any attention.This may appear to be selfish on superficial level but if you delve deeper(with your oxygen masks ofcourse!!),you will realize that when you focus on yourself, your  inner being, your spiritual being, then you are in a way practicing spiritual Kaizen. And when you improve yourself, you are in turn,improving the whole Zoo(Man is a social animal).Comprehending why the word ‘Zoo’ is used in place of a ‘forest’ is left to the reader.

The topic I wanted to write about today is Hypocrisy. It is inherently embedded in our characters. As an old proverb goes-“Practice what you preach”. The bitter truth is that we hardly do!!Here it is not implied that we are morally corrupt by nature but what I intend to say that we subconsciously act in a way that is defined as hypocrisy in most of the standard dictionaries. We have double standards. We measure our actions and that of others on different scales. For instance everyone in protests against the Delhi Rape case was not  reverent to women or everyone in protests against corruption was not honest.

I want to relate an allegory in this context:

Rajiv was a general manager in a reputed organization in Mumbai. He was an Amitabh Bachchan aficionado. His favourite movie was ‘Deewar’(The same movie which contains the epic dialogue-“Mere paas Maa hai”) and it is the biggest irony in this story. One day, Mohit, his college friend visited his house. Mohit  lived in Calcutta and had his own business.  Busy  in their professions, they rarely met but  kept in touch by means of telephone and internet. Mohit  was on a business trip to Mumbai so he decided to pay a visit to his old friend.

Rajiv: ” Brother! It’s great to see you after such a long time. You look the same apart from your hairstyle   ”

Mohit: ” Its great to see you too and change is good isn’t it?”

Rajiv: “In your case change is great brother!! Your previous hairstyle was awful”

Both  burst  into a chortle.

After exchanging niceties both of them sat down and started talking about their good old days and the atmosphere in the house turned nostalgic. They talked for a long time until they started to feel unbearably hungry. They ordered their all time favourite dish from a restaurant and ate gluttonously.

 Mohit started to leave after dinner but Rajiv requested him to stay for the night, to which he first refused  as he had planned to complete some pending tasks but then agreed reluctantly because he too didn’t want to leave.

As both of them were engaged in stock trading,Rajiv switched on the television for Stock updates. Mohit  too, was paying attention. When the bulletin was over,Rajiv started flipping  channels and somehow remote batteries wore out at Zee Cinema. Deewar was being telecasted and even if the remote worked, nothing could have changed the channel as it was Rajiv’s favourite film. Mohit  too started watching.

There was a scene in which Shashi Kapoor’s character  goes for an interview for a job  and is almost selected for the position. But ,in the midst of the ongoing interview, the interviewer receives a call from his boss who asks him to recruit one of his relatives for a job. Shashi Kapoor’s character is politely refused the job. He walks out and dejectedly asks a fellow job seeker waiting for his turn “I have the necessary competency, degrees ,skills  and certificates but no recommendation by a person in power.Do you have one?”

Boy replies” no”

Shashi: “Then you are wasting your time here. There is no job for people like us here”

As already mentioned, Rajiv  loves this movie and unsurprisingly  he was moved by this scene. He passionately said” I hate this practice of nepotism. It  deprives the deserving  ones  of  the opportunities  to succeed. It  is like murdering their hard work and perseverance. ”

Mohit silently nodded.

After sometime the television was switched off and they chatted till late night and then went to sleep. Both of them had to leave early for their official commitments.

In the morning,while getting ready to leave, Rajiv had a phone call. He had a long conversation on phone and then took down a number. When  he hung up the phone, Mohit asked him about the call.

Rajiv” It was my uncle’s call. His son is appearing for an interview in my company today and one of my colleagues  is in the interview panel. I’ll make sure he gets selected. After all, he’s like my younger brother!!”

Shashi Kapoor’s image holding a folder containing his degrees  and certificates crept up in Mohit’s mind.His face had an inscrutable smile as they moved out of the house.