juslyktht

Short Story; Untitled; Part One.

2011-07-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

21 years and 8 months are not enough for someone to know life inside out. Teenage is the age of committing incessant errors and after that comes the age, where one reflects back to their errors and try to mould their characters, accordingly. Even though when the introspections and circumspections of past are missing in one's life, one develops a character, nevertheless, but it will fail, when judged on the parameters of morality.

On that day it was raining heavily. Everything was gray and dark, including a small coffee shop. The age of that coffee shop must be over 100 years or so it seemed. Even the man sitting behind the counter looked much older than what he may actually was. There were about 4-5 tables in total, which, mostly were unoccupied, except one. The redolent smell of coffee beans, pancakes, which filled the room in abundance, along with the posters of great philosophers, thinkers, and writers of the past on the wall, was acting as an aggregation to the whole anachronism of that place.

On one of the occupied was sitting a young man, which seemed as an aberration, in juxtaposition with the ambiance and flavor of the place. He was wearing a white shirt along with a blazer (on the left pocket of which was a monogram of a university), tight pants, which in my opinion were a little short for him as his legs (without socks) were very much visible. He was wearing a black or may be gray or possibly brown shoes below his trousers (It was very difficult to identify the true colors of his shoes as there was a thick layer of dust and mud on them). From his external appearance or get up he seemed quite bourgeois. But his face and eyes were betraying his external projection of himself, in spite of his clandestine methods(dress-up) to make it obscure, as they were full of radiance, and were revealing his childlike curiosity to know everything about life.

(Contd....)

My Own Experiences And Realizations In BPO Industry.

2011-07-07T17:09:00.000-07:00

"If a man is called a streetsweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and Earth will pause to say, Here lived a great streetsweeper who did his job well."

~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Why I quoted the above lines of Martin Luther King, Jr.; when I am supposed to be writing about life in BPO industry? I shouldn't have done it, if, I would have not been living in India. In the bourgeois circle or class of our Indian society, which is the mass manufacturing factory of engineers, doctors, MBA's etc. etc., BPO industry is considered to be a mere trifle. So this post might put-off a few people belonging to the same typical bourgeois circle, because I am going to advocate here about the BPO industry, through my own experiences and realizations, which are not vicarious, but real.

When I first landed into a BPO, as an employee, I got this feeling from looking at life all around (people chattering, laughing, smoking, eating) that I got into a new world where I can apply and testify my philosophical, moral codes and, whatever I had felt, realized and tried to learn vicariously through books, now I can live each bit, all on my own.

"The sea's only gifts are harsh blows, and occasionally the chance to feel strong. Now I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong. To measure yourself at least once. To find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions. Facing the blind death stone alone, with nothing to help you but your hands and your own head."

These words from the movie 'Into The Wild' started a cadence in my head.

Lessons, Realizations, And Feelings:

At the very beginning the contrasting shift timings made my this realization more and more firm that life is never constant; it's the change that is always constant.

During the V&A training I realized the grandeur of sounds, which I would have missed, otherwise. My eyes used to get stuck at the mouth of our trainer, in order to comprehend the formations required to produce that particular sound with it's subtle variations.

In an environment where male-female ratio is healthy, one tends to lose his/her temperament of not judging a book by it's cover.

"George O'Hearn: Beautiful women are invisible.

David Kepesh: Invisible? What the hell does that mean? Invisible? They jump out at you. A beautiful woman, she stands out. She stands apart. You can't miss her.

George O'Hearn: But we never actually see the person. We see the beautiful shell. We're blocked by the beauty barrier. Yeah, we're so dazzled by the outside that we never make it inside."

This above conversation from the movie elegy came to my mind, and I thought that this is something I need to implement, in-order to prevent myself getting beguiled from the mere pretense of things or their pretentiousness, so that the priority of knowing people from inside, from their hearts, remains.
'Now I find myself surer in this task.'

Whatever you do, give it your heart, and carry a feeling of humility towards your work and the company which is paying you, for your work. This world is not fair at all. It's not like 'I work and I am getting paid for it'; it's 'I work and they are paying me for that'. I realized that one should always carry this feeling of gratitude towards the people or organization who are paying you for your work, in an unfair world.

There is a spectrum of people from different age groups, backgrounds and thinking, which is very exhilarating in itself and fundamental in bringing out the flavor, essence or color of human character. But I was very gullible or credulous, because of my transparency, and tended to give away my personal thoughts and feelings to people (I had this habit of trusting people very readily), who either made a mockery out of it, or disclosed it to others, which in turn lambasted me a lot. But now I learned the art of keeping some very personal thoughts and feelings, secret.

The best part I liked about BPO is that it teaches you the art of controlling your moods and emotions. It is a requirement that whatever happens you have to sound energetic and enthusiastic, either you can repress your moods and emotions or you can practice Vipassana meditation, I'll go with the latter.

In the end...

'Only unconditional, and love without expectations can bring you happiness, wisdom and peace' One more thing that was vicarious, now turned into real experience.

I'll end this post with a quote.

"The wise man makes his own heaven while the foolish man creates his own hell here and hereafter."

~A Buddhist Saying

Transmogrification

2011-06-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

This simple looking old man in the picture is a tattoo artist. India have had a history of tattoo making, I learned this from my Grandmother. She used to tell me that women in her time used to get tattooed not for a style statement, but to secure their identities. In her time there was a big insecurity of forced conversion from one religion to the other. So women used to get their names tattooed on their hands. Writing a name with too simple a font, requires no or some aesthetic qualities.

Now the purpose of getting a tattoo has changed tremendously, and demands trendiness. This old, simple looking tattoo artist belongs to the period of my Grandmother. But I was amazed to see the transmogrification he was able to pull off, and that too in such an age. He had all trendy designs under his little roadside setup; from tribal to celtic font tattoos. I was thinking from where did the motivation came, to learn, when learning becomes more and more difficult as you start growing older and older. There was a whisper in the winds there, that 'with life; possibilities are endless'.

A picturesque or personification of an ingenious tattoo artist in this modern era is that of a long haired, immensely tattooed, immensely pierced individual. It is now the era of 'Judging a book by it's cover'. In such an era; this old, simple looking tattoo artist compels us to believe in those anachronistic lines 'Never Judge A Book By It's Cover'.

Love; Perception; aesthetic qualities.

2011-06-25T17:29:00.000-07:00

You walk down a road, or stand on your balcony, or drive a car, bike, cycle, or anything else. Do you see anything ecstatically jubilant, worth noticing (Unless you are not in Laddakh or Alaska) ? I guess it will be a meek yes or probably a no. Have you ever wondered why people want to break free, why they have this connotation of being a footloose, and break this chain of irksome obligations and oppression?

I cannot say about anyone else, but I pondered over this subject for many years. In my 24 years of life I read many sages (of the likes of Buddha, Kabeer, Bulleh Shah, Tolstoy etc.), but no one emphasized on leaving your home, family; and live a deserted life of an ascetic. Yet the idea of such life fascinates us and stirs up a kind of wild fascination. Why is it so? Are we not content with the life we are leading? Is there a kind of hidden beast, inside all of us? Or are we too busy in affectations? Or is it our curiosity towards the ultimate truth?

I cannot be sure, nor can I provide you with a readymade answer.

But what can I do is that; I can discuss love, complacency, and inexpectation. But to doubt is humane. Who am I to talk about such intricate issues? I am not Lord Jesus, nor I am Gautama The Buddha or any other enlightened or wise soul. I’ll quote Dostoevsky here

“When the whole essence of an ordinary person's nature lies in his perpetual and unchangeable commonplaceness; and when in spite of all his endeavors to do something out of the common, this person ends, eventually, by remaining in his unbroken line of routine--. I think such an individual really does become a type of his own--a type of commonplaceness which will not for the world, if it can help it, be contented, but strains and yearns to be something original and independent, without the slightest possibility of being so.”

Again Dostoevsky says

“Of such people there are countless numbers in this world--far more even than appear.”
I am an apotheosis of the same commonplaceness.

But since there are countless numbers in this world of the same commonplaceness; so many will be able to connect with what I write from now on.

I’ll take up love; since perceptions and aesthetic qualities all depends upon love.

But before that let me put up this audacious question, that ‘what makes up a sophisticated human?’

Sophistication? Intricacy? Circumlocution? Politics? Philosophy? Nah!

My experience says, simplicity, ingenuousness, and innocence.

I used to go to this tea shop every weekend. There are many vehement forms, contours, formations and arrangements of nature which usually goes obscured and dissimulated, under the kaleidoscope of resentment, apathy, aversion, craving and other such mind dwellings.

But when the mirror of the same kaleidoscope changes with the mirror of love, everything becomes so conspicuous. Beauty shouts at you, subtleties of things exhilarates you, simplicity towards ingenuousness amazes you, and you expect no more, at that space and time.

Above picture is the same clichéd arrangement of nature, I go through every weekend. But this weekend was a bit different. When I encountered this same old clichéd arrangements of nature with the goggles or spectacles or kaleidoscope of love, empathy, complacency, I was awestruck with the magnanimity of it. It was huge and unexplainable.

Love is the base of every magnanimous perception which in turn becomes an aesthetic quality. Without experiencing crystalline love, human life is incomplete, and without getting habitual of it, human life is a waste.
Unadulterated love has the power of such; to turn obtuse into acute. It gives you a clean pair of glasses to look at the world and childlike world is what I call paradise. I do not know how to develop such kind of love and how to sustain it. I just know that don't create an affectation of it.

Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera Swadesh Hai Tera - Incredible India

2011-06-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

Mixed a few pictures, I took, while wandering around in India, mostly
delhi, with the OST (Yeh Jo Desh Hai Tera Swadesh Hai Tera) from
the movie Swadesh. All the pictures I have also uploaded in many
of my posts as in:

Incredible India

Water Boy - Not A Painting But A Digital Photograph

The Dhebari (Indian Lamp)

On The Turning Away....

Jama Masjid, Delhi, India

Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

Black And White Delhi

This is for all NRI's and Indians living abroad...enjoy guys!! :)

The List Of Ten Things To Be Done, Before Hitting My Deathbed.

2011-06-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

During my V&A training our trainer threw many questions upon us which were carrying this epitome of 'how much you know your own self'. I realized that we know about everything which is unimportant, without knowing what is most important. This Gap, or self-ignorance reduces and limits our perception of perceiving the external world. This wish list exercise is a very minute step towards knowing your own self, because it hardly tells us about our deepest inner self, but no gigantic step is sudden, but an aggregation of such minute steps. And as the famous saying goes 'Know Yourself To Know God'. So I thought to commence with this exercise. Day before yesterday I thought out my wishlist, somewhat performed a soliloquy, articulating my thoughts into speech, and today I'll be putting them into a blog post.

Following are the ten things which I want to do before my song gets over:

1) There are these six books which I want to read before dying : Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak, War And Peace And Family Happiness by Leo Tolstoy, White Fang and The Call Of The Wild, both by Jack London, and Being and Nothingness by Jean Paul Sartre.

2) Attain Enlightenment. The whole purpose of life, in my point of view, is an opportunity to redeem yourself from your old habit patterns, break the chains of bondage, fear, aversion and craving, and eventually harmonize your being with nature, with people around and most importantly with your own-self.

3) I want to love a woman, with all my heart and being. I am not talking about that typical and cliched love we witness around us. I am talking about love, in it's most crystalline form, unadulterated by expectations and craving. But this should happen naturally and should come from within, otherwise that love will never be unconditional.

4) I want to adopt 2-3 children and raise them as healthy (both mentally and physically) individuals, by inculcating in them high morals, values, and providing them with good education. I will never reproduce, as there are so many children already on this planet.
There is so much to learn from children. They are the apotheosis of innocence and love.

5) Open up a tea shop, somewhere high up in a Himalayan village, where everyone working in it will be the owner of the tea shop, sharing equal usufructs. We will practice communism in that small institution, spreading good will. The shop will have it's wall full with graffiti, there will be good music playing all through from Pink Floyd to Bhimsen Joshi to Sabri Brothers, shop's ambiance will be benign, peaceful, and full of harmony.

6) Quit smoking. I don't want to die, craving for a cigarette. My last thoughts at the time of my death, should not be persistent with smoking.

7) Participate in both marathon and triathlon.

8) This is from one of my childhood fantasies, that I always wanted to become an engine driver, not an engineer, doctor or advocate, but an engine driver. So I want to work as an engine driver for maybe two or three years. The reminiscence of that view, which I experienced from an engine cabin, when I was a kid, still exhilarates me.

9) I want to swim across, from Rameswaram in India to Mannar in Sri Lanka.

10) To put a tick mark in front of every point in my wishlist.

What Is Vipassana And Why One Should Try It, Atleast Once, In His/Her Lifetime.

2011-05-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

I have been trying many meditation techniques in my life. Initially I had a connotation of meditation as something, after doing which, will fill me with all good, soothing, assuaging sensations in and on my body. So all my efforts and techniques were based upon looking for those particular thoughts and sensations. In the process I was trying to discard all that is unpleasant. Nothing wrong in that; who does not want peace and tranquility after all. But this is a temporary fix. The reason (which I understood later) behind this is the concept of misery. Misery in human life is because of only two reasons. Number one is Craving, and second one is Aversion. And I was doing the same through my meditation. Craving for some particular feelings or sensations or thoughts, while averting the other unpleasant ones.

Then one day I was google-ing Vipassana and came across dhamma website. I registered for a 10 day course, attended it, and survived those 10 days. In those 10 days my connotation for meditation changed. It is now that meditation is all about changing the basic human nature of aversion and craving. And I very well understood the relationship between our mind and body, not by some discourse but by practical application of Vipassana. I realized that there is a very small difference between my Basketball training camps and Vipassana. Practice and practice to change old habit patterns, take the control of mind and body, and to create more equanimity. The rules of this game are very simple, work hard, diligently, patiently, and persistently, and you are bound to succeed.

Now what hard work, what is the work here? The work is very simple too, sit in a posture with back straight, eyes closed. Start from the tip of your head, and move downwards, scanning each body part (initially keep the diameter of the scanner a bit broader, gradually with the period of time, as you get used to this technique, scale it down), upto the feet, and again from feet to the head. But what are we looking for? We are looking for nothing in particular, whatever the sensation is there on the part you are scanning, witness it and move ahead. What if nothing is there? Then witness that nothing is there and move ahead. One have to sit in the same posture and with the eyes closed for 60 minutes. To sit in one posture, eyes closed for 30-40 minutes is easy, but the latter 30-20 minutes are hell, initially. That is the practice of changing the old habit pattern, pain will come, but you have to witness it as a sensation, trying not to create aversion, then aversion comes even after you try very hard not to create it, but then again witness the sensations, moving ahead. And sometimes there are very pleasant assuaging sensations, try not to create craving for it, watch it and move ahead.

The whole simplicity and austerity of this technique lured and impressed me very much. There is no garrulous talk, no fancy music, no place to go to. All one needs is a body and consciousness.

Anna Hazare, India Against Corruption: First Brush Stroke On The Painting In Making. Lets Take A Pledge To Complete It.

2011-04-08T03:08:00.000-07:00

A Painter, Painting At Jantar Mantar.

Kick Off, Racing Start, Eruption. Acceptance of Joint Panel to draft the Jan Lokpal Bill is kick-off, racing start towards democratic awakening. We as the people of India need to carry this momentum till it's last stage, i.e. democratic empowerment and implementation.

After this there are two more crucial steps needed to be taken.Number one, we as citizens of India, have to make sure that Jan Lokpal bill passes through both the houses, i.e. Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. Number Two, we as citizens of India have to insure the effective Implementation of Jan Lokpal Bill.

After such large scale and high-octane awakening, we need to carry this momentum forward, till it's last stage. Then only we can afford to catch some breath.

Let us all take a pledge that we will not sit-back and relax till the picture is painted luminously, and completely.

Why Jan Lokpal Bill, Why Anna Hazare?? Abridged Differences Between Existing System And System Proposed By Civil Society.

2011-04-06T13:36:00.000-07:00

Existing System	System Proposed By Civil Society
No politician or senior officer ever goes to jail despite huge evidence because Anti Corruption Branch (ACB) and CBI directly come under the government. Before starting investigation or initiating prosecution in any case, they have to take permission from the same bosses, against whom the case has to be investigated.	Lokpal at the centre and Lokyaukta at state level will be independent bodies. ACB and CBI will be merged into these bodies. They will have power to initiate investigations and prosecution against any officer or politician without needing anyone’s permission. Investigation should be completed within 1 year and trial to get over in next 1 year. Within two years, the corrupt should go to jail.
No corrupt officer is dismissed from the job because Central Vigilance Commission, which is supposed to dismiss corrupt officers, is only an advisory body. Whenever it advises government to dismiss any senior corrupt officer, it’s advice is never implemented	Lokpal and Lokyaukta will have complete powers to order dismissal of a corrupt officer. CVC and all departmental vigilance will be merged into Lokpal and state vigilance will be merged into Lokyaukta
No action taken against corrupt judges because permission is required from Chief Justice Of India to even register an FIR against corrupt judges.	Lokpal & Lokyaukta will have powers to investigate and prosecute any judge without needing anyone’s permission.
Nowhere to go – People expose corruption but no action is taken on their complaints.	Lokpal & Lokyaukta will have to enquire into and hear every complaint.
CBI and Vigilance departments lack transparency. Their functioning is so secret that it encourages corruption within these agencies.	All investigations in Lokpal & Lokyaukta shall be transparent. After completion of investigation, all case records shall be open to public. Complaints against any staff of Lokpal & Lokyaukta shall be enquired and punishment announced within two months.
Weak and corrupt people are appointed as heads of anti-corruption agencies.	Politicians will have absolutely no say in selections of Chairperson and members of Lokpal & Lokyaukta. Selections will take place through transparent and public participatory process.
Citizens face harassment in government offices. Sometimes they are forced to pay bribes. One can only complaint to senior officers. Hardly any action is taken on complaints because often senior officers also get their cut.	Lokpal & Lokyaukta will get public grievances resolved in time bound manner, impose a penalty of Rs. 250 per day of delay to be deducted from the salary of guilty officer and award that amount as compensation to the aggrieved citizen.
Nothing in law to recover ill gotten wealth. A corrupt person can come out of jail and enjoy that money.	Loss caused to the government due to corruption will be recovered from all accused.
Small punishment for corruption. Punishment for corruption is minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years.	Enhanced punishment – The punishment would be minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment.

"At 78, Anna is not fasting for himself, he is fasting for the future of my kid. I will myself fast on 5th April for a day and ask my 5 year daughter also to skip a meal on 5th April,"
Rakesh, a software engineer.

VICTIMS OF A ROTTEN SYSTEM

There was much worse corruption in Hong Kong in 1970s than we have in India today. Collusion between police and mafia increased and crime rate went up. Lakhs of people came on the streets. As a result, the government was forced to set up an Independent Comission Against Corruption (ICAC), which was given complete powers. In the first instance, ICACsacked 119 out of 180 police officers. This sent a strong message to the bureaucracy that corruption would not be tolerated. Today, Hong Kong has one of the most honest governance machinery.

Arvind Kejriwal
(The author is eminent RTI and anti-corruption activist and Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner)
E-mail parivartan_india@rediffmail.com

India Against Corruption, Support Anna Hazare, Posters Designed By Subodh Singh, From USA. Concept Dilip Dwivedi

2011-04-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

We've created a poster and are distributing and pasting the printouts in the neighborhood. You can download the PDF and take printouts, and distribute and paste in your neighborhood.

Anna Hazare Fast Unto Death India Against Corruption, Promotional Poster .pdf

2011-04-04T13:40:00.000-07:00

http://writingcave.com/anna-hazare.pdf

Des Mera...

2011-02-23T05:55:00.001-08:00

The Departed

2011-02-15T05:08:00.000-08:00

These were the new arrivals, for this winter,

Flourishing and growing among humans and nature,

Sucking on their mother's nipple,

Barking, playing, grabbing, nabbing,

All seemed like a frivolous playing.

Until one day,

Grabbed, nabbed, in a mosquito net,

Loaded up in a car chest,

Thrown into an unknown world,

Separated from their motherly love,

All grew so gloomy and dark,

I pray for thee departed creatures of god,

And I kneel before you, almighty lord.
Was This Humane On The Human Part??

Aitbaar - With Some Edits, Including The Famous Speech By Pt. Jawahar Lal Nehru, 'Tryst With Destiny'

2011-02-14T13:39:00.000-08:00

WITH SOME EDITS...
An Initiative By www.juslyktht.blogspot.com , With The Due Support Of Mr. Madan Mohan Dwivedi, Apoorva Tiwari, Tanuj Syal, Karthik Ramakrishnan...

Aitbaar Phase One

2011-02-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Aitbaar Phase One Complete...Send Me Your Valuable Feedbacks!!

Binayak Sen's Verdict "Travesty Of Justice"

2011-01-23T08:21:00.000-08:00

Found This Poster Outside Press Club Of India, New Delhi.

SUNSET

2011-01-17T14:06:00.000-08:00

Write A Story On This Picture!!

2011-01-17T13:42:00.000-08:00

Apoorva Tiwari Came Up With This...

Trudged so far on this path eternal

Mesmerized by a mirage of bliss

Laid this track on faith ephemeral

Set to rectify what was never amiss

Behold this thoughtful impudent

Marching with a passion discreet

Civilized a kingdom hitherto verdant

With jungles of steel and concrete

An insatiable thirst of being the first

Renders him cold to a hunger divine

Trying to quench it with gold and lust

Only emaciates him further to repine

Ground to a halt at this piquant signal

Despite the power the zeal is riven

They say it portends a path abyssal

Could I chug my way back to heaven.

I am so obliged for his expressions and such intricate usage of English language which fell upon my Blog...Thanks A Tonne Ponds!!

I Heard It On FM

2011-01-12T03:20:00.000-08:00

Today while listening to FM, suddenly a few words fell into my ears, like donate clothes, and I became alert. Because I was also doing the same thing for past couple of weeks. Mine was a bit disorganized and less effective, nevertheless I find it as my duty to inform my readers about the clothes donating drives, being carried out in a more organized and effective manner over the NCR region. Here are a few links:
http://www.radioandmusic.com/content/editorial/news-releases/big-fm-launches-delhis-biggest-warm-clothes-collection-drive

http://www.goonj.org/

http://koteswara-sarma.blogspot.com/2008/01/dhl-i-donate.html

Your donation is now just one click away!!

I am not the only one

2010-12-28T06:55:00.000-08:00

Found this outside a shop in Palam Vyaapar Kendra, Palam Vihar, Gurgaon, Haryana.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-25T09:09:00.000-08:00

Jeevan Chakra - The Wheel Of Life...

2010-12-23T08:30:00.000-08:00

Many lives depend upon this simple setup. This is Raju Bhaiya's Tea Shop's Chulha 'Stove'. He earns his living from it, supports his family, and cooks his and his assistant's food on this. Somebody's trifle can be other people's lives.

Grotesque

2010-12-22T10:32:00.000-08:00

I clicked this outside a mall in Gurgaon. I find it grotesque.

Delivered...But Need More Clothes+Altruism+Philanthropy From You.

2010-12-18T07:51:00.000-08:00

Too Much Comfort Becomes Uncomfortable, And Too Much Discomfort Is Always Uncomfortable. So, Give Out Some Comfort From Too Much Comfort To People Living In Too Much Discomfort So That Everyone Becomes Comfortable.

Today I felt India's population with it's poverty, and this time not vicariously.

I heartily thank Alka Bua for her valuable contributions. And my sincere thanks to Ankur Tyagi Sir, for his promise and support.

I went with a big rucksack, full of clothes, with a feeling of adequacy. But the rucksack was empty within 30 minutes. If anyone of you guys reading my blog have any piece of not-in-use warm clothes, either hand it over to me and I'll distribute them on your behalf, or take out a weekend, and you guys, yourself collect clothes from your respective communities and provide our brothers and sisters some warmth.

'Provide and support them with some warm clothes and make their winter pleasant' This is my very kind request to all you people.

City Centre

2010-12-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

I met these kids outside M.G. Road Metro Station. Begging is their part time job, as they do it only on Saturdays. They asked me for some warm clothes, as it is December with an approaching harsh winter, and these shivering lads and girls have little on their bodies to abate their frigidity. They told me that I can meet them next Saturday, between 1900hrs-2000hrs, outside the M.G. Road Metro Station. 'Provide and support them with some warm clothes and make their winter pleasant' This is my very kind request to all you people. I am going to these kids next Saturday.

Hot Steaming Gulaab Jaamuns Le Lo!!

2010-11-29T01:36:00.000-08:00

Cradle Of Filth

2010-11-29T01:23:00.001-08:00

Child Labour

2010-11-29T01:22:00.001-08:00

What Do The Delhi Games Mascot And Emblem Signify? As In September 2010 Issue Of Yojana.

2010-09-16T17:43:00.000-07:00

What Do The Delhi Games Mascot And Emblem Signify? As In/per the September 2010 Issue Of Yojana Magazine.

"The logo of the Delhi Commonwealth Games is inspired by the chakra, the symbol of freedom, unity and power. The upward spiral depicts India's growth into a proud and vibrant nation powered by the coming together of her over over a billion people. The tagline "Come out and Play" is an invitation to all to let go of themselves and participate in the Games to the best of their abilities, in the true spirit of the Games, It is also a call to the people of India to play the perfect hosts to the visitors.

Shera, the Games mascot represents the mordern Indian. He is an achiever with a positive attitude, a global citizen but justifiably proud of his nations's ancient heritage, a fierce competitor but with integrity and honesty. Shera is also a 'large hearted gentleman' who loves making friends and enthusing people to 'come out and play'."

I wonder when the above affectation, in terms of significations and representations, will become perceivably righteous. As our politicians and organizers have failed tremendously, in this above said task of really signifying the significance of Delhi games mascot and emblem, the only hopes now, are our athletes, participating in the competition.Now they are the only ones who are capable of turning affectations into righteousness, by performing to the best of their abilities and in the true spirit of the Games at Delhi Games. With the inclusion of Tennis, Archery and Wrestling (Which were absent in 2006 CWGs) in this years CWGs we can expect more medals in Delhi than what we had in Melbourne 2006 (total of 50 medals).

Realization Of The Day

2010-08-20T10:42:00.001-07:00

Realization Of The Day: Common man's Course Of Life Depends Upon Choice. The act of ignoring a set of thoughts, while, relating with others - Choice. And The Aim Of A Common Man Should Be To Rise Above This Life Of Choice, between Thoughts.

Random Country, Random Pictures.

2010-07-30T06:42:00.000-07:00

PONDY (SEXY BOOKS)

NAZAR NAA LAGE (GOOD LUCK CHARM)

PURE VEG

THULLA PARTY - I

THULLA PARTY - II

JUST CHILL

One Need Not Be Very Affluent, To Be A Philanthropist.

2010-06-27T14:12:00.000-07:00

I had this feeling, for very long, that one need not be very affluent to be a philanthropist. Even a destitute, indigent person can be an altruist, philanthropist. Just, one has to be a magnanimous person overall. Only a big heart is needed, and nothing else.

My this feeling turned into a conviction, when I read this article called Beggar who gave alms to the poor on 'The Times Of India' web site. After reading this article, I realized that the act of philanthropy coming from any affluent person is nothing, as compared to Khimjibhai Prajapati.

When you have something in abundance, it becomes easy to share, but if you have only one bread, the same act of sharing becomes very difficult in this different and changed circumstance. It is easy to offer a seat to a lady when there is ample space to stand and journey is not very long, change the scenario to, over crowded bus and 4-5 hours journey, and observe the reluctance brewing in people.

Mayanti Langer Is Not Just An Eye-Candy, On The Pre-Show Of FIFA Football World Cup .

2010-06-24T13:51:00.000-07:00

Image Source :News.About-Knowledge.Com

Mayanti Langer the host on the pre-show of FIFA football world cup, is not just an eye-candy. She is beautiful and elegant, no doubt, but not dumb like Mandira Bedi. I googled her and discovered that she was in her college football team. Also from watching her hosting a football show, it is evident that she knows the game.

So for the people, who just by a snapping glance at Mayanti Langer, tag her as the likes of Mandira Bedi :

'Never Judge A Book By It's Cover'

Bhopal Gas Tragedy, A Comment On Supreme Court's 1996, Verdict.

2010-06-21T11:45:00.000-07:00

If according to Supreme Court, the verdict against the seven accused in Bhopal Gas Tragedy is under section 304-A of I.P.C., i.e. Causing death by negligence.--Whoever causes the death of any person by doing any rash or negligent act not amounting to culpable homicide, with only 2 years of imprisonment and not under I.P.C.'s section 304 of culpable homicide, then Ajmal Kasab is innocent and should be freed.

What a shame, on the part of Indian Judiciary System.

And I have not covered Mr. Warren Anderson, and the other 2 foreign accused(both are companies) here. And also I have not talked about the compensation Issue here, which I will cover in my next post, after a few more reading and research.

Pepsi Max 2010 Advertisement, Commercial. Oh Africa, Akon. An Ingenious, Carefree Ad, Featuring Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Ricardo Kaká, Frank Lampard, Andrei Arshavin, Didier Drogba And Akon

2010-06-18T23:42:00.000-07:00

Who Says Jabulani Doesn't Bend, Dip, And Curl? Diego Forlan, Shuts All, With His Long Range "Wonderstrike" Against South Africa

2010-06-17T02:44:00.000-07:00

Who says Jabulani doesn't bend, dip, or curl? Diego Forlan, shuts all, with his long range "Wonderstrike" against South Africa. Forlan proved that all statements, about the official World Cup Ball, are maligning in nature, with his fabulous long range Goal against South Africa yesterday. Instead of being garrulous, why not adapt with Jabulani (The First Post, Goal.com, ESPN), and 'Celebrate' just like Diego Forlan, the Atletico Madrid's striker, did.

Saina Nehwal Wins Yonex Sunrise-Indian Open Grand Prix gold badminton championships.

2010-06-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

Hindu Article LINK
Hindustan Times Article LINK

Saina Nehwal winning the Yonex Sunrise-India Open Grand Prix gold badminton championships, is a matter of great pride and honor for any Indian. Living in a Cricket dominated country, where half of the country may not be even aware of Nehwal's great accolade.

It is a shame for me as well, that I missed her conquest, and had to watch the repeat telecast.

She also received the nation's distinguished civilian award, Padma Shri this year in 2010. Same Padma Shri was offered to the ignorant and shallow captain of our Indian Cricket Team, Mr. Dhoni, who did not even bother to attend the ceremony. Actually he was busy. Busy with some modelling consignment, you know! After all now he is country's number one sports person, in money making, or bank balance. This last piece of information was in last week's Brunch.

FIFA World Cup 2010 Started. My Feelings Till Now.

2010-06-15T07:01:00.000-07:00

Image Source Examiner

First of all ban the 'Vuvuzela' , is my feeling as well. Watching world cup football with my headphones and music on, is an indication that something is definitely not right about the Vuvuzelas or the 'African Horns'. Apart from being vociferous, they are the symbol of aggression and antagonism as well. World Cup event is a fusion of cultures, with every other culture holding equal right and place. Where African Horns are definitely dominant.

Secondly I have not seen any long range "wonderstrikes" till now, and every clash is ending in a very low scoring match. Except for Germany Vs Australia (scores 4-0).

Cadaver, Cadaverous...

2010-06-10T12:14:00.000-07:00

Now a days I am preparing for CAT (stands for common admission test), which is to get into top B-schools in India. CAT requires a fair amount of vocabulary to be imbibed. And to learn new words there are different techniques. The one that is being practiced at my coaching center, MBA-guru, is audio-visual.

To remember the words 'Cadaver, Cadaverous', above picture, which I took near Connaught Place, can be of immense help. This guy along with a lady is the part of a begging duo or couple, who works as a team, near Palika metro station entry. His job is to lie down and demonstrate his cadaverous, gaunt, haggard, frame, upon which his team partner, the lady, begs.

When I saw him walking, it was a sight worth mentioning as 'the death, reincarnated'. And all this just because of 'smack'. Why to get into such things? When it is capable of turning you into a cadaverous beggar.

Choose life, Say NO to DRUGS.

Guardian Angel

2010-05-19T14:45:00.000-07:00

In Delhi's Scorching Heat, The Pani Wallas (Water Sellers) Are Indeed Playing The Role Of 'Guardian Angels' Across The City. Re. 1 Per Glass Of Cold Water. Where Kinley, Aquafina, Bisleri, costs Rs. 15 for a Litre. I Trust These Water Sellers And Drink The Water, They Offer In Re. 1, and Never Fell Sick Once, In Four Years.

Old D.T.C. Vs The New D.T.C.

2010-05-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

The new low floor D.T.C. buses, instead of it's alluring, glamorous, and magnetic properties, have one major shortcoming. And that is it's seating capacity. In a country, with the population of 1,150,000,000 (1.15 billion) people, buses with more seating capacity should and must be preferred. Also in India, where people are so unwilling to offer their seats to women and senior citizen, that they have to literary fight for it, to claim it; buses with low seating capacities, is definitely not a very wise decision. This is the only advantage that old D.T.C. enjoys over the new one, i.e. it's enormous seating capacity, apart from it's vintage value.

Making The Invisible, Visible .... Part II

2010-05-09T09:14:00.000-07:00

These are the other two, of the three posters, behind the Karol Bagh bus stand, facing the barren land, where sometimes Indian males go for a leak. So, mission accomplished, finally, with all the three socially active posters, sticking on my blog. :)

Making The Invisible, Visible....

2010-04-26T09:39:00.000-07:00

This is one of the three posters, behind the Karol Bagh bus stand, facing the barren land, where sometimes Indian males go for a leak. So just thought, to bring the idea forward, here it is finally.

Every Drop Counts - Save Water

2010-04-14T13:09:00.000-07:00

Megalomania

2010-04-13T13:02:00.000-07:00

Become A Social Investor At RangDe

2010-03-18T18:25:00.000-07:00

"An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea."  -Buddha

A few months back, I deactivated all my social networking accounts. Because for me it was a sheer waste of time. Wasting time, is what no one likes, but because of the infinite loop created, it becomes difficult to come out of it.

Those sites and activities may recreate you or even help you building a social network or circle. Social interactions - Is it all about recreation, chatting, sharing pictures, videos, thoughts and news? If it is so, then where is the real deed? In real sense, are we making any difference, in society? And society should not be according to, where you live, or what you do. This is the era of internet and communication i.e. The World Shrinkers. If the world has shrunk so drastically, that we are calling it a global village, if it is so, then it would be unfair to exclude the poor, and underprivileged.

So to take you out of unfair scenario, there is a site called RangDe which carries the slogan "Knock out the poverty, become a social investor". On the site you can lend money to poor, in the multiples of 100. Micro-loan, is what the concept is termed out to be.

The idea it carries is a good one. Way apart from the typical concept of typical Social Networking Sites.

   Mr. Ravinder Kaushik (My College Senior) refreshed me with the following stats:
Borrowers Impacted 2641
Social Investors 1083
Social Investments Raised Rs. 1,30,61,000
Social Investments Repaid Rs. 68,12,942
Repayment Rate 98.9%6:49 am

Small, Social Awareness Venture, Initiative. Poster Making. Message - Do Not Litter.

2010-03-18T08:33:00.000-07:00

Delhi Metro - Bringing Humans Together, In Some Sense.

2010-03-17T05:10:00.000-07:00

From poor to rich, from Bihari to Punjabi, Hindu to Muslim, Children To Senior Citizens, Delhi Metro is bringing people of all forms and spectrum together, as one. Like a color wheel, when spun, shows only white. This was not possible in Indian Railways system, because of various coach classes. (A.C. 2 tier, 3 tier, Sleeper, General), drawing a line between the rich and the poor.

Lazy Sunday Pictures

2010-03-15T03:09:00.000-07:00

Kill Bill (Soundtrack) (Vol.1) - Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Nancy Sinatra Lyrics (He Replaced By She) :(

2010-03-14T09:57:00.000-07:00

I was five and she was six
We rode on horses made of sticks
She wore black and I wore white
She would always win the fight

Bang bang
She shot me down, bang bang
I hit the ground , bang bang
That awful sound, bang bang
My baby shot me down

Seasons came and changed the time
When I grew up, I called her mine
She would always laugh and say
Remember when we used to play

Bang bang
I shot you down, bang bang
You hit the ground , bang bang
That awful sound, bang bang
I used to shoot you down

Music played and people sang…
Just for me the church bells rang…

Now she's gone I don't know why
And till this day some times I cry
She didn't even say goodbye
She didn't take the time to lie

Bang bang
She shot me down, bang bang
I hit the ground , bang bang
That awful sound, bang bang
My baby shot me down.

Realization Of The Day

2010-03-11T12:50:00.000-08:00

"Thinking And Living Have An Inverse Relationship Between Them."

Fyodor Dostoevsky's Description Of Ordinary, "Commonplace People" In His Book 'The Idiot'

2010-03-11T12:39:00.000-08:00

There are certain people of whom it is difficult to say anything which will at once throw them into relief--in other words, describe them graphically in their typical characteristics. These are they who are generally known as "commonplace people," and this class comprises, of course, the immense majority of mankind. Authors, as a rule, attempt to select and portray types rarely met with in their entirety, but these types are nevertheless more real than real life itself.

When the whole essence of an ordinary person's nature lies in his perpetual and unchangeable commonplaceness; and when in spite of all his endeavours to do something out of the common, this person ends, eventually, by remaining in his unbroken line of routine--. I think such an individual really does become a type of his own--a type of commonplaceness which will not for the world, if it can help it, be contented, but strains and yearns to be something original and independent, without the slightest possibility of being so.

There is nothing so annoying as to be fairly rich, of a fairly good family, pleasing presence, average education, to be "not stupid," kind-hearted, and yet to have no talent at all, no originality, not a single idea of one's own--to be, in fact, "just like everyone else."

Of such people there are countless numbers in this world--far more even than appear. They can be divided into two classes as all men can--that is, those of limited intellect, and those who are much cleverer. The former of these classes is the happier.

To a commonplace man of limited intellect, for instance, nothing is simpler than to imagine himself an original character, and to revel in that belief without the slightest misgiving.

Many of our young women have thought fit to cut their hair short, put on blue spectacles, and call themselves Nihilists. By doing this they have been able to persuade themselves, without further trouble, that they have acquired new convictions of their own. Some men have but felt some little qualm of kindness towards their fellow-men, and the fact has been quite enough to persuade them that they stand alone in the van of enlightenment and that no one has such humanitarian feelings as they. Others have but to read an idea of somebody else's, and they can immediately assimilate it and believe that it was a child of their own brain. The "impudence of ignorance," if I may use the expression, is developed to a wonderful extent in such cases;--unlikely as it appears, it is met with at every turn.

This confidence of a stupid man in his own talents has been wonderfully depicted by Gogol in the amazing character of Pirogoff. Pirogoff has not the slightest doubt of his own genius,--nay, of his superiority of genius,--so certain is he of it that he never questions it. How many Pirogoffs have there not been among our writers--scholars--propagandists? I say "have been," but indeed there are plenty of them at this very day.

I Like His Blog...

2010-03-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

Lonely Traveller

Cartoon Channels "24X7".

2010-03-09T12:33:00.000-08:00


"Everything in excess is opposed to nature." Hippocrates

“In everything the middle course is best: all things in excess bring trouble to men.”
Titus Maccius Plautus

Cartoon channels everywhere, broadcast their programs 24X7. Is it ethical on their part? They carry no responsibility, what so ever, on their part. Money is what matters to them. Children are very soft targets, and through them parents can be targeted very easily, but what about the health of the child. Is it healthy that parents have to forcefully send their children out to play? Not only unhealthy for the child but also very unnatural.
Children, they, resist sleeping at natural sleeping hours. Why to broadcast after 9 P.M.? It is not only the responsibility of parents that their children should be healthy, but as a human, it is your (Child T.V. Media) responsibility as well that the whole humanity should be healthy.
Child media had evolved very much in their content, from the 'learning' perspective. They are making programs, with a full understanding of the psychology of a child's mind. But there should be a timing protocol to be followed, among all the cartoon channels.

Insanity In Humanity

2010-03-05T09:33:00.000-08:00

"Sunitha Krishnan fights sex slavery"

Her NGO'S Website Link

Humanity
Definition: The quality of being human; the peculiar nature of man, by which he is distinguished from

other beings.

Now I guess this 'insanity' has become the very nature of man, which distinguishes it from other beings. Because no other being is as insane as humans.

Definition From ardictionary

Realization Of The Day

2010-03-05T06:21:00.000-08:00

"Fear is the correct antonym for Love"

Realization Of The Day

2010-03-04T15:37:00.000-08:00

"It is not necessarily true that, the way we are leading our lives is 'right', and what seems 'wrong' is necessarily 'wrong'."

Realization Of The Day

2010-03-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

"People love the personality of a person, not the person, in general"

Memorable Quote, Movie : Elegy

2010-03-02T10:17:00.000-08:00

George O'Hearn: Beautiful women are invisible.
David Kepesh: Invisible? What the hell does that mean? Invisible? They jump out at you. A beautiful woman, she stands out. She stands apart. You can't miss her.
George O'Hearn: But we never actually see the person. We see the beautiful shell. We're blocked by the beauty barrier. Yeah, we're so dazzled by the outside that we never make it inside.

Source: IMDB

Realization Of The Day

2010-02-26T12:20:00.000-08:00

"Confusion is the key to knowledge"

Sachin Tendulkar 200 not out

2010-02-24T09:40:00.000-08:00

Image Source : cricinfo

I was in the office working, so as a result missed the glorious innings of a true master class. I do not like cricket, but I do follow Sachin Tendulkar.

I was lucky enough to catch up the presentation ceremony, where Ravi Shashtri was interviewing Sachin.

Just one comment on the interview:

"Sachin Tendulkar is one of those few privileged people, who had indeed followed his heart."

Refer to: Difference Between Heart And Mind. And the comment will be more clear.

'Crying' Is The Birth Right Of A Child. Cry With Freedom

2010-02-21T03:00:00.000-08:00

Picture From: http://crunchiemummy.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/thou-shalt-covet-thy-mothers-recycled-water-bottle/

Recently my company changed drastically. A few days before my company comprised of just-teenage-out, confused boys, and now it is mostly a baby girl. My cousin sister. Now a days majority of my thoughts are one way or the other related to her. Kids, understand human nature more than the grown ups do. So to understand them, you have to be really really meditative.

One thing which became clear to me was that, a life starts with a cry, an innocent weeping. But since the grown-ups do not like a crying baby (I have seen people frowning to the mother or parents when they see a crying baby somewhere in a bus or metro), they try to distract the child. It is child's nature and birth right i.e. 'to cry', give them this freedom, whether you like it or not, let them cry, but one should understand the difference i.e. when they are crying out of necessity and when they are crying over futile or mundane things. Crying 'through' will put a realization in the child's mind (realization and kids?? you must be wondering. But kids are more prone to realizations than any of us, grown ups) that crying is futile, and he/she will device new methods to be happy. Every soul is in a pursuit towards happiness, and during our pursuit we tend to avoid unhappiness and sadness, instead of accepting it, and letting it come. Without being sad, true happiness cannot be discovered. Just like, there is a day after night. Day will be useless if night does not exist, or you can say, it is the difference between day and night, which makes day visible. Sadness or unhappiness has it's own significance in life, just like night have, to make day distinguishable.

How to handle words from an enlightened soul, when you are a non-enlightened one

2010-02-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

People starting their journeys on the path of spirituality, often read or hear words from many masters (an enlightened soul), and gets confused. It is natural. On my course, I learned or realized a few things, which I will share with you. It is good to learn from the mistakes of others. I am not yet enlightened, but quite a handful of things, listed below, I learned:

Never directly apply, what masters say, in your own life, they are talking from a different plane. Through their words just derive a motivation for meditation.

Many masters say that meditation and effort are paradoxical terms. For them meditation is effortless, again, their whole being is in meditation every moment. We (the non-enlightened ones) need effort in the beginning, maybe for many years or maybe for a few hours, to meditate and to transform. Effort is needed because of the accustom-ism , the accustom-ism of living in past and future. Giving up old accustom-ism and acquiring a new one, needs a great deal of effort in the beginning, but as one gets comfortable with the new accustom-ism, the magnitude of effort reduces (more the comfort, less the effort).

Realizations Of The Day

2010-01-29T11:11:00.000-08:00

1) If you take care of your own self, in a way you are taking care of god.

2) Acceptance is the only way to endure all and any pain.

Wisdom Is All Around Us

2010-01-19T05:19:00.000-08:00

'The Book I am Reading'

"In this way is justice done, because justice is a judgment that is both fair and forgiving. Justice is not done until everyone is satisfied, even those who offend us and must be punished by us. You can see, by what we have done with these two boys (actually they were fighting on religion in the slums of Bombay, those 'two boys'), that justice is not only the way we punish those who do wrong. It is also the way we try to save them."

These are one of among, a few words of wisdom from the book 'Shantaram', delivered by Quasim Ali, owner of one of many a slums in Bombay, with 25,000 different souls residing. This is just one, there are many more wisdom from many different people, shooting like a shooting star on a dark moonless night, in every chapter of the book I've read so far. Surprisingly none among wisdom deliverers, are respectable position holder in the society. Quasim Ali is a slumlord, few are drunkards, one is an illiterate guide, one is a mafia lord named Khaderbhai, a slut, junkies, Kalra (I don't know yet, what she does), and I guess many more will come.

Reading the book, I realized that everyone in this world has got some wisdom with them. But the nature of the societies, or so called respectable societies in India, is to discard all the wisdom, however precious they are, coming from non-precious people. The servant working in your household, he also have some wisdom with him, just try to explore with an open heart, and you'll find a few. Wisdom comes out of human experiences, and not through books or degrees. Kabeer, the greatest mystic and hell of a great poet, was illiterate, and was a weaver by profession. Wisdom can come from anywhere and everywhere, all we need is an open and a seekers heart.

My secret love "muzik"

2009-10-01T06:39:00.000-07:00

makes me smile,in the silence
makes me cry wid the violens,
touches my heart with the guitars,
can't see him cuz he's so far,
takes away my pains and heels my sorrows
relaxes my senses and makes a better tomorrow,
turns me on wid his rythem and blues,
tries to reach my soul with the spiritual views,

makes me burn on the dance floor,
makes me loose wid the loud roar,
breaks my head and bang it hard,
when rock and roll and metal goes apart,
and the hip-hop forces to shake n spin around,
with drums beats driving wicked and surround,
takes my breath away with the old gold classics,
which makes the air go so romantic,
and the base goes running along,
across the southern rock with the country so longed.

and the jazz and raggae comes in action,
with the sweetness and suntan goes in attraction,

he's taught me so much about life
that i knw i can make myself no more strive,
i can feel him in my ears,
but he can't wid all those gears,
i can't see him newhere,
eventhough he catches me evrywhere.

he's immortal and neva bids gudbye,
but i sometyms have to fall apart n go so shy.

Longing for a Camera

2009-10-01T01:57:00.000-07:00

When at home, in summer vacations, I had a 1.3 megapixel camera, and I was quite happy. That was my Grandfather's camera enabled mobile phone. Now when in hostel, I am again camera-less :( . I bet I'll buy a camera from my first salary. :) And again start blogging with pictures. Pictures adds an completely new touch to the blog posts. No one in this world have time to waste on unattractive stuffs. Pictures attract.

Half Moon...

2009-07-29T10:33:00.000-07:00

Hey Jst Clicked it... Hp u Enjoy!!

Time to settle scores

2009-07-27T08:30:00.000-07:00

The great sage Gorakhnath has said: "When you don't ask you get milk when you ask you get water and when you take you draw blood". This quote clearly indicates the way mother nature takes care of us.As infants we don't know what to eat and what to abhor we just cry when hungry and in return we get mother's milk to nourish us.Even water is enough to keep us alive and see what happens when our taste buds start to drive our hunger, we eat not out of a need to survive but to satiate our senses which is impossible.In the process we keep on adding more and more karma in our eternal account by slaughtering more and more animals.In fact there's no such thing as bad or good karma.It's just that we have to pay back what we take.The recent trend of making meat production an industry is quite striking in this context.We all know that that a tonne of pulses can feed much more mouths than the same amount of beef or pork.Also the nutrients are of a much higher value in case of vegetarian sources as they come from lower levels of the food web.The input required to produce is also much less in case of pulses or peanuts as compared to pork or beef. In spite of these well known facts the developed nations are engrossed in pleasing the tongue. I am amused to see that these fast 'developing' people can't develop their tastes into more sattvic realms.Then they jump on the bandwagon of world peace. The results are pretty obvious- more hostile response from any area of the world they venture into.I believe it's the curses of the animals that were tortured and killed that are working when we see pandemics like swine flu taking shape and other disorders affecting meat eating societies.Meat generates tamas or grossness which makes the mind cling more to the senses.No wonder we see increase in animalistic behavior in people.Animals love to procreate,see where the population is heading to.Animals are very territorial,then increase in communal and border disputes is no news. One may argue that according to that logic the plants also curse us.Of course it's true plants do curse us when they are used but their curses are not so severe as the animals as animals are closer to us biologically.Absolute curb on slaughter is ofcourse a foolish notion(you can't relish bananas in the arctic).We should appreciate how efficiently people there utilise the body parts of the animal killed.Even the sinews of seals are used up as threads by the eskimos( thankfully we don't have factories there!!!).In hostile conditions like arctic the animal is killed out of need not greed.It's interesting to note that most of flu outbreaks originate from the tropics only.The scientists will intelligently assert that to favorable conditions for the pathogens in these areas.The nature's message is very clear here. In the end it all boils down to the proposition that maybe those animals owned some debt which they have paid in this life.But what about the debt that we owe them now?

Itch - Vicious Circle

2009-07-25T23:23:00.000-07:00

1 Objects in life are like itches, ever tempting.

2 If you itch, they grow in intensity, upto a tipping point.

3 From the tipping point they tip and go.

4 But leaves something, and again if you make that something,

an object, goto line 1

vicious circle eh??

Solar Eclipse... frm my camera's eye..

2009-07-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

Words Of Wisdom, From Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

2009-07-22T05:23:00.000-07:00

Words Of Wisdom

All the parents all the society tell their children to

stay away from bad company, drugs, and other

intoxicants, which is a good thing, from their

perspective and society's perspective. But

it creates a curiosity in the child mind if you

go on repeating it. On the more these things

arouse quickest and the strongest curiosity,

than other 'say no' things, that is because of

the emphasis we put. And as the child grows

in age, these things tends to attract him/her.

Even the clean guys have a curiosity in them,

but they fight with themselves and try their best

to suppress it.

If in the process of growing up of a child we teach

him/her, how to hunt down lust, anger, greed,

attachments, and ego, i.e. meditation, instead

of telling him/her, to do this and not to do this,

after a certain age, we can bring in a revolution.

Question Answer

2009-07-17T11:11:00.000-07:00

There are answers to the simple problems.

There are answers to the difficult problems.

There are even answers to the toughest problems.

But the answer to the simplest problem is never there.

Barog Railway Station, Perspective Changed, Height Factor Added

2009-07-12T14:28:00.000-07:00

Barog Railway Station, From A Distant Height.

For more pictures of the same place, from the same place, click the link below:

Barog

Toy Train From Kalka To Shimla, Leaving Barog Station, From A Distant Height

2009-07-12T14:23:00.001-07:00

Toy Train leaving the Barog Railway Station, looks like a

snake crawling in the lap of nature. I took this video from

a distant height, just from a hill near Barog Railway Station.

Money Earned By Our Indian Tennis Players This Year

2009-07-09T02:28:00.000-07:00

Paes : 132,399 USD

Bhupati : 195213 USD

Sania Mirza : 274,084 USD

I came across these figures in some hindi daily, today. Sania Mirza, who can be even beaten by our baddy star Saina Nehwal, not in Badminton but in Tennis, which I am sure of, is earning more in terms of money than Paes and Bhupati (who actually used to win). I do not know for what this girl is earning more that Paes and Bhupati, for losing? and that too in the opening rounds. World is not fair as Calvin's Dad say in Calvin and Hobbes, I guess holds true.

Water Boy - Not A Painting But A Digital Photograph

2009-07-07T11:41:00.001-07:00

A boy fetching water, somewhere In Gurgaon.

The Dhebari (Indian Lamp)

2009-07-07T11:29:00.000-07:00

The Dhebari (Indian Lamp)

I still remember these Indian Desi Lamps. Prepared by filling an empty bottle with kerosene oil, putting a small hole on the cap of the bottle and using an abandoned piece of cloth as a wick. I love the way these lamps leaves soot, and the sweet smell of burning kerosene. My grandmother used to make such lamps. These lamps were used in my childhood when there would have been a power cut, as a result of that we all used to gather around this ordinary lamp, leaving all the serious work, (like for me, getting away from studies) and chat, joke. All ambience suddenly used to turn gay. I still remember, myself, playing with the soot.

On The Turning Away....

2009-07-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

A beggar boy begging and people turning away

I used to encounter a conversation with many beggars now a days. The only reason for that is when they approach me I look into their eyes, not with sympathy, or pity but with a smile. This smile naturally comes. sometimes I give them my smile, sometimes I hold a conversation, and very rarely I give them money, as I hardly possess any extra money, I do not earn and still dependent on my parents, guardians, so is the case.

But it naturally becomes impossible for me to ignore even those so called filthy and gross existences of the nature. But I have observed that mostly people ignore these filthy existences, which for me are delicate and innocent souls, only the small children who are in the business of begging. People those who offer money, they give it as a payment for getting rid of the shit. I can see on their faces. Good, at least they are supporting their business. I even appreciate people giving food to beggars near temples, the only good religion had done, till now.

But the in above picture, there is somthing different. This boy, as a daily routine was asking for food or money, but the gentlemen who are all set to get away, before getting away asked the boy several brutal question which if repeated again and again can turn him into a serious criminal or can turn him suicidal. They asked him, for their fun sake "for what your parents have brought you on this earth, just to abandon you? go and ask them, bring us an answer and then we will give you money, 'bastard' ". I wanted to ask you guys, for what did your parents have brought you, on this earth?

Kabeer have said, and he is absolutely right

पोथी पढ़ पढ़ जग मुआ पंडित भया ना कोई

ढाई आखर प्रेम का पढ़े सो पंडित होई

Wimbledon Finals - Mens, Roger Fedrer Vs Andy Roddick

2009-07-06T10:27:00.001-07:00

Photo : http://assets.espn.go.com/photo/2009/0401/ten_federer_roddick_576.jpg

First of all, what a final it was. I was never interested in watching Andy thrashed by Roger, if we depict from the past. But just on the day of the finals, in the afternoon, I came across an article about the influences of each player's wives on them. I came to know that Andy wished to quit tennis, and his wife influenced him to make a come back, and indeed it was hell of a come back. When a true quitter (in a sport or life or profession), comes back, he comes as a different person, reformed person. This was the thought that occured to me after reading that article, that this is not going to be the ordinary Roddick we have seen so far, but a reformed Andy Roddick. The match proves my point. No doubt he lost the championship, but not in his trademark style, but in a legendry style.

I watched the whole game. In the last set it occured to me, that we just do not have the sort of energy left to cover that extra one mile, which matters the most, to complete the journey. Which Roger Fedrer have in him. That is why, I guess 15 bears on his jacket.

I know that now Andy's not going to quit tennis for a long time, and will become the next number 1.

Come Aboard!!

2009-07-05T01:18:00.000-07:00

Reminds me of my childhood, when I used to climb the back of an Indian Hercules (Mammoth Bicycle of India), in the mornings and afternoons, for home to school, and from school to home. I just used to enjoy those rides, because I hated going to school.

Yet again 'all Williams' Final at Wimbledon

2009-07-02T23:11:00.000-07:00

Photo: img.skysports.com
I always hated this, 'all Williams' final. Which seems to be happening quite frequently, lately. Serena playing Venus, whom to support? or rather whom you hate less. I hate both of them because of their sheer power game, and my love for under docs. In semifinal, Elena Dementieva almost won herself a spot for the finals, do not know why she was constantly playing lose at crucial points. Mr. Serena Williams, rather Miss Serena Williams, who looks invincible (and also a wwe wrestler), many a times in the match looked like an elephant on knees to a lioness. I hate Venus less, so wish that Venus wins the finals!!

P.S. :- Serena and Venus Williams should also compete in mixed doubles. :)

Incredible India

2009-07-01T00:28:00.001-07:00

The Indian Doper, Choosing between drugs and food. Going with Drugs Because they are cheaper than Food.

The Indian Playground

The Indian Piercing

The Indian Mouth Freshner

Indian Ancients 1

Indian Ancients 2

Jama Masjid, Delhi, India

2009-06-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

A fakeer at Jama Masjid

Beggar At Jama Masjid

I was sitting near Palika Bazaar, listening to some music and reading Anna Karenina. When suddenly an Urdu Qawwali started playing in my ipod, and with that an urge to visit Jama Masjid aroused in me. And I went there, for the second time. But after reaching there it occurred to me that I am visiting for the first time only. I realized my eyes, ears, sensory organs, mind, everything has been changed or replaced since. I thoroughly enjoyed the ambiance, and atmosphere there. Here are a few pictures of that place I took.

All rest of other pictures I have uploaded on picasa, here's the link:

Jama Masjid and Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

The Grand Entrance

A man washing off...The water is supposed to be taken out from the pond first, then in the drain you wash...to keep the pond clean...

Crowded It Is...

Pigeons all around

Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

2009-06-30T19:36:00.000-07:00

A Signboard Reading Meena Bazaar In Hindi, Urdu and English

A Shop Full Of Phrases From The Holy Quran

Meena Bazaar A General Outlook

Another Shop

Yet Another Shop

A lovely and congested place is Meena Bazaar. The best thing here, is to listen to the customer - shopkeeper conversation. If you understand a little bit of Hindi and Urdu, you will thoroughly enjoy it.

How to Reach?

Catch a metro train from anywhere for Chawri Bazaar. Come out of Chawk Hauz Quazi exit. Either you can take a rickshaw from there or you can walk. Here is a google map's link. Otherwise you can also ask anyone out there.

I Love Urdu.

I just do not know, but I have developed a great love for spoken Urdu language. I consider it the sweetest language, on planet Earth. Now a days listening to loads of Urdu Quawaalis!!

All rest of other pictures I have uploaded on picasa, here's the link:

Jama Masjid and Meena Bazaar, Delhi, India

Black And White Delhi

2009-06-26T04:58:00.000-07:00

Thadi...I love These Thadis!!

Hmmm...Astrologer's....CP's Subway!!

THE DTC Bus!!

Nice Place Chosen For A Nap...Hot Concrete Ground...Just Beside The Traffic, This is Life

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh...Chapter Closed With A Conclusion

2009-06-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh.

I would now like to conclude my whole trip in this post. Many a things I observed. Firstly travelling alone has an undiscovered beauty in it, just try it and you will discover the beauty.

2) If you are authentic and innocent, I am not talking about acting authentic and innocent, but if you are, people no matter how bad or good loves you, and you love them.

3) One can survive, in any world. Everyone is born with that gift of survival. On the more if you surrender to existance, it will take care of your survival, so you do not have to worry, just be in the present, here in the moment.

Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Finally Reached. Day 2

2009-06-20T07:31:00.000-07:00

My Book, And A Water Bottle

I woke up the next day 7:30 in the morning. After the usual stretching and rubbing, I got back to the canteen to ask for a place to shit. He showed me the direction to the open vastness. That means I was going to shit in the lap of nature. Found a nice and compatible place and had a good shit. After that brushed my teeth had a good meal. After having food I had no idea what am I going to do now. I just started walking for a change. After around about 10 minutes of walking I reached a place full of rocks and ahead a grazing ground (These grazing grounds I met many. And they are like a hope in a despair). Explored the terrain, climbed a few rocks, followed a few paths, met a few grazing cattle (includes horses, buffaloes and cows). After the whole exploration I opened the book I was carrying (Anna Karenina, Leo Tolstoy), read a few chapters in the state of bliss, which was there due to the nature and meditation.

The Food Joint, Prashar lake

I met a porter, in a while. His name was Mr. Bhagwan. I forgot to mention but there was a fair coming ahead. So he was there to put a toy stall. I talked with him, took his photograph, and promised him to meet in the evening for the food. In the afternoon had a good meal at 'THE' food joint, had a spiritiual conversation with the local people. Among them the watchman of the guest house (There are now three guest houses, which belongs to Forrest Department of India) became a good friend of mine. In the evening I met Mr. Bhagwan, had a few gulps of liquor with him. He took me to his family members who were present there for an Indroduction sort of thing. I took their photographs as well.

Mr. Bhagwan...A friend

Forgot my book camera at Mr. Bhagwan's place. These himachali people are so innocent, so pure, so honest that I started falling in love with those people. I got each and everything back. As I was a bit drunk and it was all dark, so I asked Mr. Bhagwan to guide me to the food joint. He offered me a stay. I was so willing to stay with them but my rucksack was with the watchman at the guest house. So I came back and after food, with the watchman made my way to the guest house, as he also had offered me a stay with him.

Mr. Bhagwan's Gang

Had a continues 3 hours spiritual talk with the watchman friend. Atlast he told me that, man you just spun my head, 360. After the talk I slept at 12 and the next day descended back following the right path this time.

Back To Delhi.

Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Finally Reached. Day 1

2009-06-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

The Prashar Lake and Prashar Temple.

After having a couple of cups of tea and snacks. I took my camera and went towards the lake. That day there were thick black clouds covering the entire sky. Prashar lake was as calm and soothing as it could be. It was situated with a lush green surrounding. The site of the lake looked like, as if a Crater had fallen and left an impact, and result of that impact formed a lake. There are many high grounds surrounding the lake.

A shot of the Lake.

So, I climbed the high ground and did a sort of parikrama of the lake, looking the lake from different perspective or projections (isometric, dimetric and trimetric). It was as I am looking towards the colors of life i.e. pain, suffering, happiness, depression etcectra, etcectra from different perspective and projections. It seemed that all those terms are mind made.

Another shot, from another point.

Took photographs.

From beyond the boundary of Prashar Lake

Reached the highest point, inside the fence (Temple and lake is surrounded by a fence defining it's boundary). There was a rock. Sat on that rock. Meditated there for a few moments and started coming closer to the lake. Visited the temple, met a few people, chatted, and went near the lake for the first time, then. It was raining a little bit. Wind was blowing, carrying coldness. Just about perfect.

The very presence of lake was so peaceful, soothing that when I felt the lake consciously, there was some sort of gravity into it, which says stop running. Sat there on a plank for about an hour or so. Then lied down beside the lake and went into Akriya Dhyan. After I came back, I saw a man standing. He was looking very puzzled. He asked me, are you drugged? I said no ofcourse not. And I was not. He told me that doing drugs is not allowed here. He was a caretaker of the temple. I said 'I know that, and I assure you that I'll not do anything of that sort. Then surprisingly he whispered, that if you want to do, I have some and I used to smoke those stuff. I said 'no thank you'. There was no need actually, when so much meditation is flowing. I asked him for a night's stay in the temple's sarai.

I got a room. So after having food, from the food joint,

The exotic food.

chatting with the people there, then tea, I went to the sarai, for a good night's sleep. Room was perfect, just above the living room of goats. They were producing some very innocent voices once in a while.

My Hide-Out At Prashar Lake

I took out my sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and with Akriya Dhyan, slowly went into my sleep.

Bagi To Prashar Lake, On Foot

2009-06-16T01:08:00.000-07:00

Australia in the sky

After the marvellous and yet simple food at Bagi, I removed my slippers and putted on my boots. Started all alone, with a strange feeling of excitement. There was a river flowing and a broad path was surrounding it. The tea - stall boy showed me the initial direction and told me that you will meet enough people in the way for assistance. I started taking the shortcuts which joined the broad road from one point to another, from low to high. I met a small village girl in my way who was not knowing any of the languages I speak. I asked her, which way to Prashar? She told me something in Himachli Language, which I got nothing of. But by her hand movements I got the direction.
From a grazing ground (on the way to Prashar Lake)

Followed the showed direction. After walking about 30 minutes I met a man, asked him about the trekking trail to Prashar lake. He told me you will find a visible trail, just you have to keep your eyes open to your right side. I took a break of 10 minutes, and started off again. One Important thing I want to tell you is, take with you 2 bottles of water, instead of one.

I missed the right trail completely, which I discovered later, and took a random trail, a few metres further from the right one. The path was full of thorny plants and guess work. At many places there were no visible trails. At some points there were thick thorny bushes which I crossed, damaging my sleeping mat and slippers (hanging at the back of my rucksack), got a few, very minor injuries, and met no one in the way after, over an hour of walk. Walking almost lost, alone in the woods was really a thrilling experience. I revisited through many emotions and feelings during my entire journey, that I have known or learned so far in my 22 years of life. May be this time I was more conscious of them. Hope, despair, fear, happiness, confusion, chaos, silence...was through all of it in a span of merely 1 hour or so. At times meditative at times not meditative at all. I was having the 60 minutes of my life.
Wrong but a beautiful path

After that one psychedelic hour, I saw a temple. There were 2 local girls praying there. They got a bit shocked seeing a stranger all sweat ed up. I asked them again the same old question, 'which way to Prashar Lake'. They first asked me from where I am? Then, how come I came this way? Normally no one choses the path, I had chosen for Prashar Lake. Then I came to know that I had taken an abnormal trail. I got a bit hopeless, from the thought that I have to go back and start all over again. But immediately I got assurance from those kind ladies that from here also you can reach Prashar. They offered me some food, bread and local butter, and showed me the way. The food was very bland and simple, but there was something in it. After eating it all up for the rest of my journey I never felt thirsty.
'The' food offered by 'the' local girls (I call it the thirst extinguisher)

After 2 hours I was on a sort of road. Saw a few boards (pictures of which are here) and rushed towards the lake. After having a momentary glimpse of the lake, I rushed for the food joint (as I was dead hungry). Had samosas and tea....And the story continues.....

A bug caught in a cotton ball

Found This On One of The Many Grazing Grounds On The Way To Prashar Lake.

Sign Board about Sage Prashar and a few Tips

So, Initially I was welcomed by this Iron Board

From Mandi To Bagi (Bataula), Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

2009-06-14T13:00:00.000-07:00

The next day after staying for a night in Mandi, I got up, finally, at 5:20 AM. Reached Mandi Bus Terminal at 6:15 AM. Inquired many people about the bus to Bagi, and not Baggi. After many enquiries a staff member of Roadways told me that the bus scheduled to leave for Bagi will arrive between 8 and 8:30. I waited for the whole hour and when the expected moments arrived, it was really hard for me to spot a bus with Bagi written on the Board. When the clock clicked 9 I got really desperate. Asked another staff member of Himanchal Roadways, if there is Bagi written on the bus to Bagi, he said yes it is there. I thought I missed the bus. There was a very kind man observing me desperate and agitated for now about over 3 hours. He knew that I was planning to go to Bagi, because I had asked him about the bus, the previous day. He told me many things about the bus, but I did not pay much attention at that time, I only knew that there are a few buses running, from Mandi to Bagi. When I started marching back and forth like an agitated pendulum, at around 9:30 AM, this guy came to me and pushed me literaly towards a bus. I was really surprised, but did not resist. He pushed me into a bus and told me that this is your bus, Boy! But there was no where Bagi written on the bus plate, so I asked him. He told me, don't you pay attention. I told you yesterday, that catch a bus with Bataula written on it. BATAULA. Finally I was in a bus and was moving.

Reached Bagi at 11 AM. There is a tea stall. Had a couple of cups of tea. Enquired about the trekking route from Bagi to Prashar from a boy working at the tea stall. Had a heavy Breakfast and was off to Prashar lake. There are two paths one for motor vehicles and one for trekkers. Anyone can tell you which way to go.

From Gurgaon To Mandi Via Delhi, Chandigarh, Final Destination - Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

2009-06-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

I left my Gurgaon resident at 8:30 PM to catch a bus for ISBT New Delhi, with final destination, Prashar Lake, Just Like That. I reached Gurgaon bus stand at around 9:00 PM. There were 2 Volvos (A.C. Buses) waiting for their departure, destined to Chandigarh. I took a 50 buck ticket for ISBT. But if you are a delicate darling, and don't like much 'the Indian Summer', I will suggest you to take a volvo from Delhi to Chandigarh. Anyways, from ISBT I easily got a bus to Chandigarh, 'Himachal Path Parivahan Recongpeo', at around 11:30 night. It dropped me at Chandigarh bus stand, sector 43, at around 5 AM. From there I got a Punjab Roadways bus to Mandi. If you are heading towards Himachal Pradesh, always take the Himachal Parivahan buses. Rest all are snails.

That bus was controlled by two sikhs, sardars (Driver and the conductor). Conductor was very impolite and shouted somthing in punjabi about my rucksack which I missed compeletely. Then after seeing no reaction from my side he got more angry and said somthing again in punjabi, which I figured out was about my rucksack to be thrown away if not moved from it's place. The bus took around 8 or 9 hours to reach Mandi, which is 2-3 hours more than the usual. I was a bit tired, but searched 5/9th of Mandi for a cheap hotel room. Crashed in Hotel Koyal, for 150 bucks. Do not know whether it was the cheapest, but it was a bit cheap. There was a busy road just opposite to my room. Just about perfect. Went out to buy some general stuff, like soap and toothpaste. Crapped, brushed my teeth, took a bath, and went out for a walk in Mandi. Found nothing and came back after taking a solo photograph of a clock in the centre of Indira Market and making enquiries about the buses to Bagi. Which I was Informed in tits and bits by the local people, except the lady sitting at the enquiry, at Mandi Bus Terminal. Read 'Banbhatt Ki Atmakatha' in

My Hotel Room, Mandi (Hotel Koyal)

Hindi by Harjari Prasad Dwivedi, and went into a sound sleep.

Woke up at 8:30 and went to eat some food. Got 6 chapati's and a Potato dish for 30 bucks. Again dozed off at around 11.
Indira Market, Mandi

Pictures From The Trip To Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh, India

2009-06-14T06:01:00.000-07:00

I have uploaded all the pictures on picasa, here's the link:

Prashar Lake, Himachal Pradesh

It was a nice trip. Enjoy the pictures guys.

अछूत प्रथा उच्च या मध्य-उच्च श्रेणी में अभी भी है

2009-06-06T19:52:00.000-07:00

अछूत प्रथा उच्च या मध्य-उच्च श्रेणी में अभी भी है | चमार और हरिजन की कोटि उनके वयवसाय से बनी थी | वे उस ज़माने में लोगों की टट्टियाँ उठाने काम किया काम करते थे, जिसमें कुछ भी अजीब या ऊँचा - नींचा जैसा कुछ भी नही था, पर लोगों ने उसे एक दर्जा दे दिया, नीच| चलिए दे दिया तो दे दिया, पर अब जब अछूत प्रथा ख़तम होने की बातें होती हैं तो बड़ी नकली सी लगती हैं | लोगों ने अछूत जाती के लोगों को अपनाने की कोशिश तो भरसक की पर सफल न हो सकें | अगर कोई चमार या हरिजन अभी भी अपने वाव्यसाय से जुडा है, तो अभी भी हम उसका जूठा पीने को या उस्ससे हाथ मिलाने में संकोच करेंगे | पर कोई नीची जाती का व्यक्ति हमारे साथ पढ़ रहा हो, या साथ दफ्तर में काम कर रहा हो तो सारे संकोच समाप्त हो जाते हैं | ये मतभेद क्यूँ? हमने सिर्फ़ बहार से, दिखावे के लिए ये एलान कर रखा है की अछूत प्रथा समाप्त हो गई है, ये दिखावा उन सब रोज़ मर्रा के दिखावों के अंश के एक हिस्से के अलावा और कुछ भी नहीं है| अछूत प्रथा का अंत तब तक नहीं हो सकता जब तक हम इंसान को इंसान की तरह देखना नही शुरू कर देते हैं| अगर हमको कीचड से प्यार करना नही आया है, तो ये कहना ग़लत होगा की हम कमल सकते प्यार करना जानते हैं| हमने प्यार करना सीखा ही नहीं है| जब तक हम दफ्तर के काम करने वाले व्यक्ति से लेकर पैखाना साफ़ करने वाले व्यक्ति से सामान वायवहार नहीं रख सकते, तब तक हमे ये भी कहने का कोई हक़ नहीं है की हम अछूत प्रथा नहीं मानते|

Total acceptance is accepting even your non-acceptance totally.

2009-06-05T11:41:00.000-07:00

Total acceptance is accepting even your non-acceptance totally, which I am unable to do totally. I guess things happens when they are bound to happen. I have to accept too, that I am not able to accept things totally. Phew! vicious circle. Accepting things and pretending to accept things are different. You cannot deceive yourself, that is what I figured out. One line I remember here from a Hindi movie 'Padosan' : "जो - जो जब - जब होना है, सो - सो तब - तब होता है" , which means, I guess, things happen when the right time comes, never early, never late. So patience is the key. Now, here you can't fake that too. Patience comes, out of meditation. That is what my experience is. But for patience you again need an initial patience and that comes from life itself, out of many ups and downs, many experiences in life, not out of life, because I have not yet had the experiences of life, it comes later I guess.

It Takes Much More

2009-05-28T10:15:00.000-07:00

It takes much more to stand apart from situations,
Not being the part of it and standing aloof being just a witness, I guess. They affect you in one way or the other, without any doubt it takes much more than meditation, events plays a vital role. Events in life lead you to do, it makes you a do-er. Almost everyone relates himself with events in life. Events triggers something in you. Say the event of screwing up a paper triggers a depression, in someone. I understand that these events have nothing to do with my existence, I understand that being here now is the only ultimate and right karma, but may be this understanding is not strong enough. I have no experience, or saw psychedelic colors during my meditation. It just developed a few understandings, which I am going to mention below:

1) Happiness and sadness, depression and cheerfulness, gloom and light, it's all created by our own mind, they are just a perspective of looking at things.

2) One is always away from events happening in one's life, It is the mind which associates

3) Being here now is the only right karma, acting in the moment, but you cannot fake it and try it. Trying makes it impossible.

4) Just meditate when happy, and enjoy it. Enjoy your meditation, this is your moment. Don't make it a device for getting out of your unhappiness. Why to undo your unhappiness into happiness, when it is a creation of mind. Getting out of unhappiness is very easy. Just you have to know that this is something my mind has created, and accept it(unhappiness) with great acceptance.

I am getting to understand but these understandings are not so strong, that's what I make. Nevermind, just enjoy, meditate, this is the moment.....

Never just go to mclaudganj....

2009-05-27T06:08:00.000-07:00

Never travel, with only mclaudganj, to visit in mind. Go somewhere else, someplace higher, where people are less and pure.

Eiger Dreams and Into Thin Air. What It Takes To Write Books Like Those, If You Are An Indian And Living In India?

2009-05-15T04:32:00.000-07:00

When I read those books from Jon Krakauer, the first thing that occured to me was, why can't Indian's write those books?? When there are so many, really beautiful places to travel, here in India. I was pondering on this thing, and came up with the following observations:

1) Majority of youth fall into the category of a middle class family. And consequently, because of the family and society structure he/she have to join the rat race.

2) No real courage. Here, respect means timidity. How timid you can be in front of your parents, that is the measure of the real respect. Instead of telling the things one should tell on their faces, young guns talk it on their backs, either with a friend or somewhere in their thoughts. In a nutshell, no real authenticity with parents.

3) Most of the young guys who can travel and explore, and write, are either mugging, or too much concerned about sex, or a girlfriend(everything else follow, like bikes, branded clothings, etc. etc.). Sex is the most repressed entity here in India. That is why it has become an important feeling or desire or urge in most of the Indians. Actually sex is nothing, but because of progressive repressions from society and family it has become everything, in most of the Indians.

4) First stand on your own feet, beta (son), and that too in our way, and then do whatever you feel like. It's like guiding a child on his/her first, walk of life. But the only difference here in India is that, this process continues till the child is 22-26 years old. So, as a result no real maturity comes in most of the 26-28 year olds.

Guys, why go into the rat race if you do not want to go in there. If you want to join it then it's fine. I find no reason why you young guns cannot be authentic to your parents. In worse of the worse cases your life will not end. What if you have smoked, what if you went to a prostitute for a paid sex? Tell it to your parents. Be and feel responsible for your actions.

I just feel that those differences between east and west are made by us only. Do not fall into the trap of being an eastern or western, just be youself (which is the most toughest job or thing to do, I know).

P.S. Kindly read those books, if you have'nt.

Do we really need a Religion? 15% of U.S. population do not think so.

2009-05-13T13:58:00.000-07:00

This question kept on haunting me right from my very early age. Why should we pray, or go to temples (as I was a Hindu), who are these people with flutes in their hands, or snakes around their necks, and more importantly do we really need a Religion, to survive? or for any goddam reason. Recently I figured it out that we do not need religion at all. Religion is just a device created by our so called holy and sacred gurus or pundits, to exploit the insecurity residing in most of the human minds.

This survey in United States Of America shows the growing population of 'nones'. The people who when asked upon, what religion you follow, answers 'none'. 'Nones' are now 15% of population, up from 8% in 1990. And when this figure shoots up to 100% of Earth's population, Kaliyuga is going to end that very day. This 7% rise in 19 years also seems very reformatory, to me.

These are the links to the articles on US news and USA today, containing the details on the survey about 'nones' :

US News.

USA Today.

Play Football, Basketball, Badminton, Or Anything but Do NOT Play Cricket. Cricket Vs Sports (Cricket Is NOT a Sport)

2009-05-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Cricket. What can I say about this retarded game, played by fat and lazy bunch of so called 'gentlemen'. These players tops my list of Fattest Cricketers:

Dwayne Leverock

Inzamam-Ul-Haq

Arvinda De Silva

1) Dwayne Leverock
2) Romesh Powar
3) Inzamam-Ul-Haq
4) Arjuna Ranatunga
5) Shane Warne
6) Arvinda De Silva
7) Virender Sehwag
8)Darren Lehman
9) David Boon
10) Sachin Tendulkar or Kallis

Cricket is definitely not a game that demands fitness. There is also no actual thrill in watching the game too, except a very few rare games. The game's pace is very slow, comparable to that of golf or chess. I wonder why people in India are so crazy about such an ugly game, under a 'gentleman's game' tag. If they call it a gentleman's game, why do they not make it one. People abusing each other, racial comments, slapping etc. etc. I am not saying that these things are wrong in a game. But at least do not pretend to be a gentleman if you are not.

Brazil playing against Russia, in Russia, under -13 degrees, and playing in shorts and a T-shirt. Oh! but our delicate gentlemen, they are going to run for their woolen uppers even if they are playing in Shimla, and that too in Summer. The game is such, what these poor guys can do.

Such an unnecessarily over hyped game is Cricket, in India. Just because maybe Indian people are lazy, and carry the 'who cares attitude', the same as the game is or because India is only good in Cricket. Because of this unnecessary over hyping and monopoly of the game, here in India, no other games flourish or galore. Hockey died gradually. I wish the same happens with cricket as well.