khoobsurat gam

gam ki khoobsurti ko kya samjhega ye zamana,
muskaan ka dard kaha hai isne pehchana..

Save The Humanity

"Welcome to the world of the girl child, where promise meets despair and hope is overshadowed by gloom. The woman, who rocks the cradle and shapes the destiny of civilization, is tragically one of humanity's gravest concerns today. With numerous summits, conferences, and events being held to address the issue, even the world's top leaders are involved in the cause.

Indian traditions and rituals define the existence of the girl child. Despite clamors for gender equality and law enforcement, female infants are still found abandoned in trash, while unborn fetuses are relentlessly eliminated in the womb. Our society, steeped in discrimination and bound by rituals, has dealt a cruel hand to the girl child, from the moment of conception until the darkness of life."

I won't reiterate what we read in newspapers, nor will I provide reasons for why we should save the girl child. The problem is that people hear but don't listen, read but don't understand.

I pose these questions: Why does the girl child need a "SAVE" title, as if she were an endangered species? What drives society's callous attitude, and does the concept of society even exist in India? At times, it feels like we live in a lawless place more dangerous than a jungle, where even the standard rules don't apply. Just a few months ago, I saw on television how a group of goons killed two young men who resisted their advances towards girls, while hundreds of bystanders watched the horrific scene unfold. These helpless, shameless, remorseful individuals may lament society's ills, but when given the chance to make a difference, they choose to be mere spectators.

I could write thousands of words on the subject, but I will end here. I hope you were born of a woman you call MOTHER and in a nation you call your MOTHERLAND. If you have duties and responsibilities towards your family, you have at least the same obligations towards your nation. And if you cannot respect and love the daughter in your home, don't even consider yourself human, for even animals protect their offspring.

** I changed the title of the post. This title does justice to the article.

लोग कहते है

लोग कहते की डर के आगे जीत होती है लेकिन कितने आगे है ये कोई नहीं बताता
लोग कहते है की अन्याय का अंत होता है लेकिन कब होता है कोई नहीं बताता
लोग कहते है की अच्छाई की जीत होती है लेकिन कब होती है कोई नहीं बताता

कभी सुबह कभी शाम होती है,
कभी दिन कभी रात होती है,
हवाएं रुख बदल लेती है,
मौसम भी जल्द बदल जाते है,
लेकिन जो बात लोग कहते है वो नहीं होती...

लोग कहते की डर के आगे जीत होती है
लोग कहते है की अन्याय का अंत होता है
लोग कहते है की अच्छाई की जीत होती है

The Festival

बाहर जगमगाहट,
भीतर घना तम,
त्यौहार की धूम में,
मन को चुभ रहा एक गम I

फटाको की गूँज
तो कही तबाही का मातम,
त्यौहार की धूम में,
मन को चुभ रहा एक गम I

घर से निकला मैं लेने त्यौहार का साजो सामान,
देखा सड़क पर बैठी  थी  एक नन्ही सी जान,
बेच रही थी वो फूलों की माला और रंगोली के रंग,
एहसास हुआ मुझे कितना तंग था उसका जीवन,
त्यौहार की धूम में,
मन को चुभ रहा एक गम,
बाहर जगमगाहट,
भीतर घना तम I

From The Past To The Present

As I was reading some old paper cuttings I got a few quotable quotes from them and I couldn't resist sharing them. I added one of my writeup too ;)
The picture below also from a newspaper... observe it carefully, it's hope..

If you do not hope, you'll not find what is beyond your hopes.

The best way out is always through.
 

That you really believe in always happens. And the belief in a thing makes it happen. ~Frank Lloyd Wright

The fearless are merely fearless. People who act in spite of their fear are truly brave. ~James Lewis

There is nothing like a dream to create a future. ~Victor Hugo

To create, sometimes you must rebel. ~Isabelle Duschenay

I try to keep it simple, so if complications hit me. They'll die.

The self is not something that one finds. It is something that one creates. ~Thomas Szasz

Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but be fearless in facing them. ~Tagore

The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men. ~Plato

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. ~Miyamoto Musashi

Strength does not comes from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. ~Gandhi

If a man hasn't discovered something that he would die for, he isn't fit to live. ~Martin Luther King Jr

The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you are still a rat. ~Lily Tomlin

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life. ~Charles Darwin

A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. ~Michel de Montaigne

The Night Is Darkest Just Before The Dawn

I want to tell you, before I go to bed, that I am a little afraid tonight. Whatever I am or my dream is, might hit the rock bottom, I fear losing, I fear failure. It is still quite easy to keep making money by what I am doing now and not only that, it is secure, I am settled here, this is my comfort zone. But.... but still for once I want to reach out, I want to feel the solace in my heart that I did it, I tried and I never gave up. Will I be able to do that? Can I find some decent people in this institution who respects the value of education?

I don't know my own capabilities and limitations completely but I will try not to let my spirit break. I will...

An Education Revolution

The Indian education system has got enslaved in capitalist society. Among the rat race to acquire a white collar job, our education system is producing more cattle folk than farmers. The educational heritage which imbibed 'guru-shishya parampara' has been destroyed. The Indian Education System whose objectives were acquisition of knowledge, inculcation of social duties and character building is now just focused on wealth generation. A teaching authority and fair-mindedness is lacking in our society. The fascination and craving for knowledge is missing among the students.

After volunteering for Teach For India, a thought struck me, I felt compelled and motivated to bring about a change in Higher Education, so that students can be educated rather and not just be degree holders. For I firmly believe that an educated soul is an enlightened soul and are the future of our society. With high hopes I decided to reach out to the educationalists. My first few experiences were bitter-a Dean Academic of a very prominent college openly announced cash for seat in the college to one M.Tech aspirant in front me and I knew that it was not my place to be, the other college whose director boosts of 41 years of rich teaching experience, renowned scientist and educationalist, gold medalist in M.E., holds Ph.D. from IIT(Bombay) and claims to chairman/expert/member of several academic bodies and institutes turned out to be a big dummy fed with money and no authority, crestfallen when I was about to decide to quit on my mission, I found a few people, who shared the same vision and respect for education as mine. I could not express my delight by the way they encouraged and revived me. I am roaring to go now.

I'll follow my belief, my belief that true education can shape the India I envisioned. My plans are clear I'll develop leadership among the students and teach those who have been deprived of education through night schools and classes. One me will find another me, and then so many believers will shape the India.

EDUCATION BUILDS THE MAN SO IT BUILDS THE NATION.

Lessons for ManMohan Singh & Team Anna's Philosophy

Lesson's for Manmohan Singh:

• Don't wait to fight corruption. To wait is to waste time and opportunity. 
• Don't surrender leadership to outside forces(like Sibbal, Chiddu).
• Better do something imperfectly than nothing flawlessly.
• Never reject an idea because its not your way of doing things.
• You won't be able to eradicate corruption, if you won't begin.
• Don't surrender your soul to KURSI.

 Team Anna's Philosophy:

• If we do good, people will accuse us of selfish ulterior motives. But we'll do good anyway.
• Honesty and frankness makes us vulnerable. But we'll be honest and frank anyway.
• What we spent years building may be destroyed overnight. But we'll build anyway.

Why I'd rather be Anna than Arundhati

Don't miss this one -- Why I'd be Anna and not Arundhati

All credits to the author. Hats off.

आंधी

मेरी ख़ामोशी को मेरी कमजोरी न समझ लेना,
जिस दिन मेरा खून चला तुम पानी से बह जाओगे..
मैं चुप हूँ क्यूंकि अभी तक मैं जला नहीं हूँ,
पर मैं जला तो समुन्दर में भी तुम जल जाओगे..
मत लो मेरे सब्र का इम्तेहान मत लो मेरे सब्र का इम्तेहान
अगर सब्र का बांध टूट गया तो जीते जी तुम मर जाओगे..

The Conspiracy Theory

Manu – Chairman

Sona – Chief Executive Officer

Rohit – Sona’s son (the to be chairman)

Kapil and Diggaj  – Board members

Kalu & Raja – The ex-workers of the factory now in jail (they were found to have duped the factory workers and were responsible for factories recent downfall in market)

Hajji – The union leader

Aru and Kira – Workers in the union, termed by others as Hajji’s hands.

There was no solace for the factory workers in Rohit’s statement, “It was just a minor fire in the finance unit, such minor incidents do happen and we cannot do anything about it. We deeply regret for the loss of the life of the workers though. We will have a board meeting to decide the compensation for the victims; we have our sympathy with the workers.” While there was anger among many factory workers, the families who lost their sole bread earners were not able to check their tears and wails.

Aru found something suspicious in the statement, ‘… such minor incidents do happen and we cannot do anything about it’. Why was it, that a day after Diggaj’s visit, the finance area was on fire? Why did Diggaj even after knowing that Kalu and Raja were culprits termed them as innocent victims? Aru’s mind was racing, Hajji is a month away from the threatened strike against the board’s misruling and a fire in the finance unit diverts the mind of the workers. It can be a plot to derail the strike. The board knows well that the workers are very agitated and they have deep faith in Hajji, any strike that Hajji leads will result in the downfall of the board. The board cannot risk themselves getting behind bars. So was it a plot by the board? Was the fire planned?

Aru disclosed his fears to Kira, “Kira, there is something suspicious about yesterday’s fire breakout. Did you hear how Rohit addressed the whole incident?”

Kira, “Aru, you just read my mind. A day before yesterday when Diggaj visited the factory and expressed his concern for Kalu and Raja, I noticed that wry smile on his face. He is surely fooling the innocent workers and I am sure that Kalu and Raja’s misdeeds were very well known by the board and they too were involved in it. But Aru we cannot let such incidents derail our movement, out strike is for the workers and the factory and our victory alone can bring to the guilty to justice.”

Aru nodded silently, but Kira and Aru both knew that the battle is not easy.

In the board meeting room, Sona is pacing furiously while Manu is sitting at the chairman’s desk visibly dejected when Kapil, Diggaj and Rohit enter the room.

Rohit “They had a stern look, the workers… the workers are quite agitated mother.”

Sona shouts at Rohit, “So does that explain why you announced that they will be given compensation. Those workers, those no class workers, they are born to die and if they die in an accident why should we…”

Kapil intervened, “Sona you don’t worry about the money, we have already managed all that with their own money, not even a penny moves out of our pocket and even if they realize what we did to them, they cannot fight back, poor workers have family to take care of, kids to feed and educate.”

Sona, “But even then does that mean that we are going to give in charity the factory’s fund.”

On this Manu meekly speaks, “The factory runs because of the workers, it is their right to…”

Diggaj, “You keep your mouth shut, don’t you realize that you are the chairman because of Sona madam. You just act as a spectator till Rohit takes over the chair from you. And Sona it is important to announce the compensation because if some day they will find out that the fire was not just an accident but a plot by us, we will have our defenses ready. We need to throw money because there is a lot of blood shed and we need to clear it.”

Sona ”but what will be left for my son Rohit, if you keep splurging money like this.”

Diggaj “Sona don’t forget there is a lot that we have and a lot that we can make, this factory is still running well due to the workers, we just need to keep them at toes.”

Rohit, “What about Hajji? How are we planning to silence him?”

Kapil “Kid you just play your part and leave the bigger game to us, we will take care of him when time comes. We already lured him last time promising him justice at the board. This time we will eliminate this weed.”

All except Manu share a vile smile.

After one month, a day before Hajji’s strike and factory’s annual results, again a fire broke out in the factory this time many workers were caught. Hajji could not carry out the strike and what happened next…

**A conspiracy theory is a fringe theory which explains a historical or current event as the result of a secret plot by exceptionally powerful and cunning conspirators to achieve a malevolent end. **

hope....

Epilogue:
It was pouring heavily today when I first saw him, silently sitting in the garden on a rusted green bench. For a moment it seemed that he was lost in the sound and sight of the heavens washing away the dirt and dust of the world and after a while he started to shiver. I walked up to him "hey, you should not be sitting here anymore" and he glanced at me with bleary eyes that was the first time when I noticed his face. He looked despondent and fragile. Tears flooded his eyes and he covered them with his hands. He was visibly struggling......

The speech:
"The words expectation and hope are separated with a very fine line. Expectations are driven by mental logic and there are particular areas of our life where we should be filled with expectations. Like I expect that I should be paid each month for the work I do. Managers expect that their employees should work effectively and deliver in time. Whereas hope is something that is a wish, a dream sometimes you work for it sometimes you don't -- but you don't expect it to happen. That way there are fewer disappointments and more pleasant surprises. So the advice is to keep our hopes high and expectations low.
A man once came to me heartbroken, financially depressed, facing a complete mayhem. I asked him what was hurting him the most, to which he replied that I often find myself in the place of expectation and nothing turned out according to the expectations. I broke up with my fiance, I got trapped in a heavy debt, my job is also not paying me well and I can't find a way out. I just provided him with a little hope, a little pep talk. He clung to hope without expectations and things stopped hurting him anymore, he was able to smile again, he was able to feel love again, a new life... a new beginning all because of hope from his heart.
The morale is no matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible. Every area of trouble gives out a ray of hope; and the one unchangeable certainty is that nothing is certain or unchangeable. When you put faith, hope and love together you can live positively in a negative world."

The Story:
The mornings infused a new life in him, he woke up and listened patiently to the sound of the cool breeze and bird chirping before he climbed out of the bed. In an hour he was all set to go to work. He rehearsed his speech for one last time, and with the last word the door bell rang. "I am sorry, I am sorry" is all that they said. His wife and kids were killed in a road mishap. A case was filed for negligent and drunken driving against the driver, who was pronounced not guilty by the court today. A decision that defied all the expectations of justice.

*This is inspired by a real life incident.

Raped

The Congress party's 2009 election motto read:
Aam aadmi ke badte kadam, Har kadam par Bharat buland.

Not sarcastic but the truth, the words behind the motto meant:
Bhrashtachar ke badte kadam, Har kadam par Bharat khatam.
                                                   or
Aam aadmi ke bate kadam, har kadam par jurm ki takat buland.

What has corruption done to India? I'll jot down what has been in newspapers in the month of June, just one single month:


17 Jun 2011,21:44
Pune police have booked a 29 year old person for allegedly raping a woman on the pretext of marrying her
16 Jun 2011,21:06
A tantrik was arrested for allegedly raping a 17-year-old teen at Larankelo village of Kullu on Thursday evening. The incident came into light when girl narrated her horrific experience to her mother that how tantrik, Sher Singh of the same village raped her on the pretext of removing the scars on her face on Wednesday.
14 Jun 2011,23:09
Gurpreet Singh of Sangrur has been booked under charges of raping a minor girl
10 Jun 2011,19:47
A person was booked on the statement of a woman in Nirmand village that he tried to rape her while she was alone in her garden. Accused has been identified as Bir Bahadur. A case u/s 354 of IPC act has been registered against him.
10 Jun 2011,02:55
A 15-year-old was allegedly raped by another minor in Sultanpuri area.
9 Jun 2011,23:42
Two persons, identified as Sadh Ram and Santosh Kumar, resident of Nirmand village have been booked for 'attempt of rape' at public place in Nirmand today.
9 Jun 2011,21:39
Pune police arrested one person for allegedly raping a 42 year old woman and making her obscene video clip.
7 Jun 2011,18:18
A minor girl belong to the Dalit community was abducted and raped from a slum area in Sikar district of the state. Police have lodged a case but was yet to arrest the accused.
2 Jun 2011,13:45
Sukhpal Singh of village Samao booked for raping a minor girl.
1 Jun 2011,18:48
A person, identified as Dhyan Singh, resident of Chehni village was arrested on Wednesday for raping a girl in Kullu. According to police, the accused first kidnapped the girl and raped her without her consent on May 26. He has been arrested u/s 365, 366, 376 of IPC act.

Every single day n-number of such cases reported/non-reported happen in India and the government says it is worried about the declining sex ratio. Save the girl child. Save her for what? For getting raped one day.

To top that, in many of the rape cases, which come in light now-a-days, the perpetrators of the heinous crime are the ones who are part of the government-POLICEMEN and POLITICIANS. These people with power find it easy to escape any punishment for the crime, all thanks to the Indian Judiciary System. There are no stringent laws to punish the guilty.

Corruption has raped the nation still government says it WILL TRY to tackle corruption. Are you trying to tell me that POLITICIANS can come up with a system which will allow them TO RAPE THEMSELVES.

The Civil Society is demanding the law breakers to draft the laws... There are three more years before the next election. The freedom fighters fought for 200 years can the civil society last for the next three? And even after that will they be able to free India from corruption?

What next Annaji?

My question- "what next Annaji?" is pointed towards the common man.

Quite concisely I knew the fate of Lokpal on April 22, 2011 as I highlighted in Vande Matram, still in some corner of my heart I had some hope not in government but the democracy which is non-existent.

And it is not only me who is perturbed, I read what Kiran Bedi tweeted today, at this moment - "Govt bill reinforces practice of two sets of laws in enforcement. With PM, judiciary and MPs for corruption in the house out of lokpal bill. By its new draft govt makes it three inquiry\ investigating overlapping agencies. CBI, CVC and Lokpal. Not one single anti corruption body. It also bifurcates the bureaucracy into higher and lower. And provides non effective relief for a common man. It also leaves the state ayukts out. Which means states will need to struggle for effective anti corruption institution too. The selection panel is a political heavy weight. Ours was a mixed balance. The removal of a corrupt lokpal was direct. Now indirect via Govt. What is the point of agreeing on minor issues while not agreeing on a basic independent structure proposed for Lokpal needed most."

What will I do next? I'm bound by my own shackles, so should I sit quietly and watch the drama. I'm highly perturbed. My tolerance is not my weakness... the battle has to begin now, it's the time for the wishes to be fulfilled.... I'll keep you posted.

Satyagraha

The government which never questioned why so much corruption is now questioning why so much agitation. The dogs of the corrupt system who are barking over the news channels and in the media that, such agitations are not worthy and have suspicious motives, should atleast do a soul search for what have they done for the nation. They all are corruption beneficiaries wagging their tails for the ministers and now someone, a man, is trampling on these dog's tails and they have started barking. All the political parties and their dogs have vested interest in corruption, and they take care of each other. Corrupt practices are not imposed from outside; people choose to practice them to further their interests!

For how long did the government think that they would continue their naked display of corruption and the nation will keep itself blindfolded to what is happening, aren't six decades enough. We have had enough of scandals, loots, rapes, abductions and murders by the legislators of the democracy.
 
After 64 years of utter frustration in common men, this one time someone is at least raising his voice against corruption. These are rays of hope, I am not sure how far can they penetrate the black cloud but we should fully support every such agitation which ensures to save the country from corruption, let not this be an individual's campaign. We have to fight this cancer of corruption. People are skeptical/pessimistic, some are fully confident that this is just a futile wail or cry and no outcome is going to come out of this. Still the objective is worth pursuing. A true warrior is the one who is almost sure of defeat but still gives his best to defeat the defeat. It is time that we rise above the facebook and twitter campaigns and become real revolutionaries and not internet warriors.**
Let's refurbish our souls and become a SATYAGRAHI...

**Internet as a medium to reach people and raise our voice is highly effective but it is not enough. Shanknaad to jung ka elan karne ke liye hota hai, jung to aakhir kurukshetra me utar ke hi jitni padti hai.

The Comment from :) --
Satyagraha is not the answer for such a long and revolutionary change to take place... If we have dirty politics, then they also possess unbound power of destruction. We have to be tacticle in handling this situation, participation is necessary but change too... First all the people should be united, do you think there really is unity in diversity when we fight on small matters like celebrating festivals and also about those old religious wars? Is there any realisation on the greater front about being one for your better life? Do we ever talk about peace and betterment of this society? We never do.. and when we are not even together, do you think satyagraha is of any help?

"Principles are of help with knowledge, but with conditions applied."
To use any law,or principle there is an exception and are if's and but's... the same is here..

But somewhere to start, unity should be created. The internet is just a medium, creating fan pages and fight groups is not all..we have to go beyond it, and find real courage to fight. In reality no one wants to dirty his or her hands in this fight... but since its the need of the hour rebellious attitude may work wonders..

Dont write it in a newspaper manner, it needs touch of strength and bold courage to make a difference with satirical writings..

Just a little wish for you, Maa

"In pain when my heart cries, mom's embrace is the balm to my pain."  

All I am and I ever will be, if you ever want to thank me or praise me for what I do- thank my maa and praise her. Whoever I am, I owe to the two ladies of my life- my maa and my naani maa.

Maa taught me that her boy should not give up on anything and Nanimaa taught me not to complain or regret.

Maa taught me that life is an endless challenge and Nanimaa taught me that no challenge is good or bad.

From Maa I learned to be eager and from Nanimaa to be humble.

From Maa I gained my courage from Nanimaa my patience.

They taught me to fear only the Almighty and the wrongs I do.

They taught me to respect the elders and love the younger ones.

As a child, I used to be stubborn but she never fulfilled all my demands. She taught me that sometimes it is important to lose and sometimes it is important to gain. She taught me not to take pride in my possessions and not to feel ashamed for what I don't possess. I was not born as someone destined to be great, no prodigy. I had no big and real dreams either but then one  day I realized my mom's dreams, dreams which she saw for me and they made me what I am. Her belief in me, became my belief and I dare not wrong her ever.

Maa... just a wish for you... may your smile fade never ever. Because my life began when you took me in your arms and smiled looking at my face.

Vande Mataram

I was not one among the many Indians who felt euphoric after the government caved in to Anna Hazare's movement against corruption. I was skeptical of the government's move and they did not disappoint me either, they proved my theory right. My theory- that the government could sense the spark and the heat, so it immediately decided to extinguish it before it catches widespread fire and then remove the originators of this fire out of the system by any and all means possible. The Indian judicial system works in a simple manner, if someone stands for true justice, walk up beside them slowly and stab them in their heart, keep the culprits in a safe custody till then. This is how almost every movement, every agitation in our country dies.

What chance does a country have when the good people do nothing? Common men have learned to bury their responsibilities with their silence. They need to learn to confront it and face the truth. They know how to fight for their food, they need to learn to fight for their right. They have learned to live as impotent who couldn't fight injustice. Remember, corruption is not a curse set upon us it is an evil that has to be fought. We can chose to perish and make our lives miserable or we can chose to stand up and fight. The efforts are equivalent.

People need dramatic examples to come out their coldness. I speak to shake them out of their apathy. I don't know exactly what to do but I know that out there, there is evil. I am just gonna do what is right, nothing heroic and I'll keep doing that again and again till I am alive. I won't regret and I won't complain, I'll keep facing the challenges. So that one day may be from God's nest when I look down I see that the Indian common man has trampled the corruption.

INDIA, our motherland, does not belong to the criminals or corrupts. And I am not going to watch it burn.

a message from ............. : (felt like sharing)
Common man is common because of his struggle for livelihood, its not about silence, its about his life. Corruption is something which is created by the rich and wealthy, the powerful and greedy. They have everything, its all but empty mind's devil's workshop. First you should take care of their basic needs, talking about so many stuffs is useless if the people of your country are hungry and poor,they don't have proper clothes to wear or proper education. Corruption comes far later, because its just a part that makes Indian government stink. Good people are who? Define them? How can you call good people good when they don't do anything, these good people are good for nothing. There are no people in fact in India who genuinely will fight for their rights, the ones who do are ridiculed, not supported by. Corruption is a big thing, but for things to improve the fundamentals should be clear, many people can't read, they are duped by the clever..but its not their fault, education comes in play over here... look into the basics sort out the needs and then talk about it. I would like to know what you do? And what right you want to keep doing? The movement by Anna Hazare was not a agitation, it was just the start of realisation, and for the Indian peole it was necessary.. Government won't change, till the time people take control. And corruption won't stop till you make every human being the way he is supposed to be, with things necessary for a civilised society, those are called values. If you can think, its time to act... this piece of yours sounds like a monotonous news, saying all the same things that critics say, stop being diplomatic if you love your country that much. India needs character of truth, not tacts. And if you feel so red, do something!

Corruption and Common Man

"The dream of India as a strong nation will not be realized without self-reliant, self-sufficient villages, this can be achieved only through social commitment and involvement of the common man." These are the words, the vision of the man who commenced a fast upto death on 5th April 2011- Anna Hazare.

Anna Hazare's protest led to the resignation of Mr CORRUPT Pawar from the governments Lokpal Bill committee but is that enough. Pawar is not the only corrupt politician. How can a guilty convict a guilty. The politicians are all robbers of the same gang, we need someone from outside this system to nab these corrupts. If this country has to be cleansed then the job cannot be trusted with by the current set of politicians. This movement has to be led by efficient leaders bring Narayan Murthys, Anna Hazares and cleanse the system.

A movement is in the beginning, the people are coming out of their shells and raising voice, let's make this voice-a roar. SHOUT LOUD, so loud that the corrupts go deaf.

Thanks Anna Hazare for showing us the ray of hope. You are on the way of fulfilling your duty towards your motherland.  

Also, Team India we stood by you and supported you when you were battling for the world cup, now it is your time to step up and stand for us. Say no to Indian Paisa League till the Lokpal bill is drafted. Will you?

I just hope that this movement turns out to be a stirrer and not a moments 'josh'. The agitation should pick up and people should support this movement and share this feeling in the same manner we shared the proud of winning the world cup. This time the stakes are much higher and so are the rewards, if we can make this movement a revolution...we can win the battle against corruption.

हो गई है पीर पर्वत-सी पिघलनी चाहिए,
इस हिमालय से कोई गंगा निकलनी चाहिए।
आज यह दीवार, परदों की तरह हिलने लगी,
शर्त लेकिन थी कि ये बुनियाद हिलनी चाहिए।
हर सड़क पर, हर गली में, हर नगर, हर गाँव में,
हाथ लहराते हुए हर लाश चलनी चाहिए।
सिर्फ हंगामा खड़ा करना मेरा मकसद नहीं,
सारी कोशिश है कि ये सूरत बदलनी चाहिए।
मेरे सीने में नहीं तो तेरे सीने में सही,
हो कहीं भी आग, लेकिन आग जलनी चाहिए।

- दुष्यन्त कुमार

A few more shouts:

Azadi Ka Jashn
Khoon chala
Commonwealth- A big treason  

76 Soldiers Killed by Politicians

Mayawati- Steward of daulat

Separate State Satire 

Encroached, Enraged India

A Letter from INDIA to the Indian Cricket Team

Dear Team India,

You know that cricket is celebrated like festival in India. It runs like blood in the veins of every Indian, be it rich or poor. No Wonder the anxiety and anticipation of India-Australia cricket quarterfinals on 24^thMarch 2011 overshadowed the death anniversary of Shahid Bhagat Singh that fell on 23^rd March, 2011 (his 80^thdeath anniversary). No one for once remembered, forget paying tribute, the young man who sacrificed his life at the age of 23 for independent India. The nation was enthralled with the anticipation of witnessing Sachin’s 100th century in international cricket and his 18000 run feast. Let’s not forget how many ‘havans’ and ‘special prayers’ were done for your victory against Australia in the quarterfinals.

The martyrs of the past are now the part of history textbook but you the Indian Team are the current heroes of the Nation. We look up to you to give us something, a recognition of “sporty India”; a recognition apart from the “poor victims of corruption”.  It feels good to be titled as ‘Cricketing Nation’ than ‘Corrupt Nation’.

All the political parties and the ministers (not leaders- it is a very dignified word), whom we elected have showed us the ugly side of the game and shamed us with their dismal performance in all the fields - team(with integrity and honesty), captaincy (leadership), batting (top order- giving good guidance, middle order- providing solid growth, lower order- playing sensibly not ducking with bribes), bowling (restricting runs- restricting corruption, getting wickets- nabbing the corrupts and criminals) and fielding (containing inflation, population explosion, crime rate and unbridled construction).

So Team India in your victory we’ll find the balm for the excruciating pain that is caused to us by the 2G spectrum scam, the Commonwealth scam, the note for vote and the prevalent corruption  (We wonder why the news calls these sinister crimes as scams), which has scarred our souls and wounded our hearts badly. In your victory we’ll find the joy, the solace, the pride of being an Indian- a winner and not a corrupt.

If you, the Blue Brigade, fail us in the days to come, don’t worry, we won’t be more heartbroken and lost than we already are. We’ll gulp the news of loss in the same manner like we have gulped the poisons of n-number of scams till now just with a few noises and going silent thereafter, expecting nothing.

But remember we want to see the ‘Men in Blue’, you,  lifting the cup, we want to hear the world applauding us for being victorious and feel the glory of India- the nation of cricket lovers not the land of scams.

An Indian

** I tried my best to get it in some national english daily... missed out. Probably not a newspaper material or even the print media works on 'solid jugaad' :)

Between You And Me

No matter how worse it gets, You'll be there that's something I know...
It's not because I'm too good, it's just because you are a wonderful YOU.

Teach For India

This month I'll finish my tenure with Teach For India as a volunteer. Soon the kids will have their exams and all that they were taught will be tested. My test still won't be over as I was not trying to teach them just maths or english, I was trying to motivate them to learn. The lesson I wanted to imbibe in their hearts was of hard work and honesty. They'll fail the day they feel that they can't do it and I'll fail if as a teacher I let them believe it. My footprints might be lost in the sand of time but one day I want them to rise and mark their footprints, become a good human being and serve their motherland. The rising digits in my salary bring me no solace, it's just a need but an hour spent in teaching these kids becomes my hour of serenity.
Probably now will be the time for me to say goodbye to my kids... with a heavy heart I have to move on and find out a way through which I can reach out to other kids and give them the same lesson and move on and on and on.

I have miles to go before I sleep,
Stay awake with me for a few nights,
Walk with me - a few miles,
Help me as I have a long bridge to be built,
Help me.... please TEACH.


P.S.- Those who read this and want to appreciate me or my efforts... just try to understand I don't do it for anyone, I do it for myself. This is how I buy happiness for myself. I'll try to mend your heart because this is how my heart is contented. I'll be your friend because I see that compassion in you that I crave for. I teach them because I desire to see honest countrymen in my country, who don't rob, rape, kill, burn my nation, my country, my motherland.
Educate a child and I'll be indebted.

hope our paths cross again and the hearts stay true till then

"..hope our paths cross again and the hearts stay true till then". Aren't those lovely words, a beautiful message from a stranger to me.
I'll keep it real short. I hate when a close friend and I drift apart. We once used to talk for countless hours. Now we don't even have time for conversations. We have become the part of the rat race, things have changed. We’re going on our own separate ways and heading at different directions. If I’m lucky, maybe our paths will cross again one day, someday. Until then, be true to your heart and your dreams will come true. Until then, I hope you know I miss you. I promise you my friend I'll be me, be it now or then.

To Reach The Silence Behind

He sleeps in his bed tonight and remember those things which he never thought of doing but he did them. He was not born to follow rules and regulations, he was born to follow his dreams. The restlessness inside did not let him reach the silence within him. His words stood between silence and silence; and he listened quietly. It was his heart that showed him the way... all the way. His inside is his outside. He is not always right but he does what he feels is the best. With bleeding hands he tries to heal, unknowingly stains the white in red. He owns his words. He is writing to reach you but he might never reach you. You talk without speaking, you hear without listening and he keeps whispering in the sounds of silence. And he keeps whispering in the sounds of silence...

Life Tells Me Otherwise

Time and again life taught me various lessons. Some lessons I accepted with grace and some I just could not digest. I saw good things happening to bad people and bad things to good and sometimes I questioned myself who am I to decide who is bad or who is good. But one thing is for sure that people get what they want if they work arduously for it, whether they be good or bad. 

I have known people who need people just in their bad times. I have seen people talk about love and friendship without realizing that they don't know any of it. I have met people who remember close ones when they need money and after that write them off as 'their' bad debt. I have seen lovers being unfaithful and swindlers in cloak of saints. I have seen leaders robbing the nation and children deceiving their parents. I have seen criminals killing the innocent and the innocent being nailed to death. Tell me one reason one reason why should I not stray? Why should I not learn the life's lesson?

Because life tells me otherwise. I live the way I do for even the million corrupts can't digress me, they can throw stones at me and I might bleed but still they can't break me. My soul is protected by the love and trust of my family and friends. And above all God sends His angels to me whenever I feel low and I'm about to cross the boundary. They came in being- as the kids who teach me, as the stranger who once saved me from getting run over by a local train, as a friend whom I'll probably never meet but talk about my life, as the gal who loves me so blindly. I have taken the life's lesson with heart and soul. I have never cheated upon people; my friends still share their secrets and sorrows with me though they know that I am the wildest and naughtiest(khurapati :P ) brain in the gang... What about you? Can you say these things with the same elan as mine or you have learned what life taught you otherwise?

The Moments

It was my childhood friend Anurag's wedding and I thought to give it a miss. As my family was going, so I thought I can just excuse myself and keep on with work. A day before his marriage he called me up and asked, 'Rajat, kaha hai tu?' and I replied that 'I'm so sorry yaar, I could probably not make it though I'm trying' to which he replied, 'aisa mat kar yaar, shadi baar bar nahi hoti, tujhe aana hi padega kaise bhi karke, tu aa bus'. I rushed to grab the tickets for Indore and left for his wedding. Had I missed his wedding I would have missed a lot. It had that silent sharing of happiness, a very genuine feeling of friendship and the joy of being in my friends wedding. He kept me close and held my hand when I went on stage. At phere and shadi he kept looking at me from time to time, as if saying to me 'accha lag raha hai ki tu dekh raha hai ki meri shadi ho rahi hai'. Heartfelt... every single moment.
Then I returned to Pune and went to school the next day. A kid, Ruksar, came running to me held my hand and asked me 'Rajat bhaiya tum kaha the, itne din tak kyun nahi aaye... aaj to tumhe mere sath rehna padega' and then I sat there watching her finish her lunch with her friends. She was content in that and so was I. The love this kid showers me with.. though I have never done anything for her, not even brought a single chocolate for her.
Two days, Two persons... both held my hand, shared their joy with me, indebted me with their love and a feeling called APNAPAN.

Ravi has gone

A few days ago, I shared the story of Ravi, a watchman's son and one of the 400 million children in India. He came to school every day wearing the same tattered clothes, yet always remained calm and cheerful. I had the chance to teach him a few times and found that he excelled academically. His only area for improvement was English, as he came from a Hindi-medium school. Ravi was consistently present at school and eager to learn, but then he vanished. He never returned after the Christmas vacation.

Kaushik suggested that Ravi might be on an extended break and would return later. I waited, but Ravi never reappeared. One day, Kaushik informed me that he had visited Ravi's home and learned that Ravi had left with his family for Uttar Pradesh without notifying anyone. He left just as he was about to complete 2nd grade and advance to the 3rd grade. I had planned to support Ravi's education financially and in other ways, but he was gone. I wanted to confront his parents, to ask them how they could make such a decision. This child had potential and could have become someone, but now he has been denied even a basic education. I felt heartbroken, helpless, and sorry for Ravi. He represents one of the millions of Indian children with great potential who yearn to study but are deprived of the opportunity. I hope he gets to pursue his education someday.

It is a startling fact that India, a rapidly developing nation boasting impressive industrial growth and economic progress – with 70,000 crores spent on hosting the Commonwealth Games, 1.5 lakh crores lost in telecom spectrum auctions, and a chief minister spending 4,000 crores on parks and statues bearing her name – only has 15% of its population reaching high school and 7% graduating. Our national education budget is not even half of what was spent on the Commonwealth Games.

** I wanted to paste Ravi's pic in classroom but unfortunately I don't have one. I have seen him studying and it looks exactly like someone praying...

The One in Life

Agar khud par hosla rakhon to main sekdo se bhi lad jaunga,

Aur agar na rakhon to khud hi ladkhada kar gir jaunga.

life is all about finding that one thing
you really care about.
That one special thing
that means more to you than
anything else in the world.
......And when you find it,
you fight for it.
You risk all
You put it
in front of everything...
your future, your life...
all of it.

Even if I try and put in my best to explain by what I mean by this I might not do justice to it. It's very introspective, just introspect.

I Kept Faith

Day before yesterday (18th Feb, 2011) I met with an accident. Though I was not unscathed but I definitely escaped any fatal injury. Seconds after (seconds) I was up on my feet analyzing my torn trouser, bleeding knee, bruised left hand and ready to move again on my scooter. The people, who gathered to help, asked me to sit and take some breathe but to stop and let my pain and blood be seen is the last thing I wanted after the skid. I don’t know why I try to skip the fact that even I can be hurt, be vulnerable at times. I just hold back these emotions and smile and say, ‘I’m as good as I can be’.

Where did this ‘As good as I can be’ come from. Why am I growing too conscious and too fearful of everyone around, even the best friends of mine? I hope there is no pride in me, just some emotional issues that I needed to resolve within myself. It’s harder than anything I have ever had to do before. I knew the fact that the world isn’t all sunshine and rainbows but somehow was protected for long from every dark night. This world is a mean and nasty place, and things hit you so hard sometimes that you dare not get up again. I was hit hard and I didn’t want to be hurt again so I remained on my knees… still moving but on my knees. I could have taken a lot more and kept moving. That day, the same day when my accident happened, I got this message from my friend, ‘Hey r……whr r u? Y hv u disappeared???? :( ’. I never disappeared but I was apprehensive. I really wanted to hear from you. I was feeling low, quite low. I expect many things from myself and my friends, and when I don’t get them I grow impatient. I try to communicate something and when anyone understands me I feel some optimism, calmness… in simpler terms I feel good. Thanks God for guarding my faith in people, in love and in life.

I had to make a note of it and remember this day. There will be many times in my life when I will be hit hard and feel that I have problems that I can never solve, there will be times when I’ll feel that life is unfair and too painful to live. But I’ll have to keep going as I know every problem is not going to last forever. Now I am back on my feet… moving and what I did that evening was to call up a friend, an almost forgone friend and told him how much I missed him. I invited him for dinner on Sunday and we felt nice, happy… yes we, I could feel the vibes :)

The Humbles

I know the winners and I have seen them,
I know what winners are like
Winners are not like you and me.
They do not mourn, they do not rejoice
They do not cry, they do not smile.
They don't have time for all this
Until they cover the extra mile.
They don't do all this
Until they reach the destination they sight.
I have seen winners and they are not like you and me.

Winners are not born, they do evolve
Time challenges them and they fight with a resolve.
They can't be stopped, they can't be destroyed.
You can put hurdles, you can try to resist
Winners are winners and they know how to exist.
I have seen Winners and they are not like not you and me.

The end may also be the beginning

Before I started writing this today, I re-read my previous posts. The year that was, not a great one though rather rough, but it had a beautiful beginning and a beautiful end. It had all the flavors love, laughter, pain... surety, uncertainty... decisions- right and wrong... hearts- pure and shallow... people- good and bad, but I survived them all with my spirit of being me :) 
I'll live like this till the last. I won't mourn over yesterday cause I have a lot to celebrate than to waste time over the blows that were struck. I just won't turn back to people who turned their back on me, for I know it is easy to hurt but difficult to heal. I will live my life to the best and work hard till my muscles ache and keep going on until the life comes to an end. I will welcome my day with love in my heart, make new friends, cherish the older ones, capture tears from their eyes, spread smiles all around. They might not hear me, they might not trust me, they might reject me but I'll win all the hearts, with the gift of God that I have. I will live with my belief that I am God's son and He'll protect me unless I'll do anything wrong. I might not know the significance of the things that I do but I'll do them as it is important for me to do that. I'll strive to make the impossible possible, I'll strive to power my dreams. If life tries to knock me down, I'll get back up, I know the only thing that defines me is not how I look, what I eat or drink, whom I meet but what I do. After all it's better to die trying to live meaningfully and achieve something than just trying to feed ourselves.