My Freedom of Expression

My birth day and I....

2013-06-14T07:48:00.002-07:00

I am one year closer to the core. Another petal has fallen off, from the rose today. As decided, I’ve been on the move to let ‘life’ happen to me…and still wondering what the core holds.

There are people who try to define life. For me, that’s a futile endeavor. The more time spent on defining it, the lesser time is left for living. I have decided to live, without pondering over the definition. I have no target to achieve, but certainly have some things to be included while I walk the path…to the core.

The world is strange. Human life is strange. Strange, because of its unpredictable and ever-changing nature. Strange, because the awareness of this unpredictability do not stop human beings from planning their lives. This is human nature to follow their personal will, no matter what the reality is. They live within their personal reality and created truth. That is why the truth is relative, the truth is personal. Your truth is different from my truth.

While I walk my path with no absolute agenda, may be at the back of the mind, a thirst for finding the absolute truth haunts me. The thirst keeps me going. That thirst strengthens me to accept life as it comes. That thirst empowers me to move on, to carry on the journey, so that I can see the end of everything. I wait for the day when I will be in the core of my life. It’s death. Death is a pause between each journey, to look back and find out what I learned and what all I had to unlearn.

At the core of my life, I expect a curtain raiser, to take me one step closer to the absolute truth. I stopped resisting life and events from happening when I understood that resistance just delays the things. Whatever happens will happen, and happen for a cause. And the cause will induce the effect and decide an outcome, may not be desirable, but certainly meaningful in a bigger picture.

But yes, being a part of the ultimate source of the universal energy, I accept my personal nature of giving a direction to the flow of time and energy. I may not know, at times the bigger picture, yet I feel the necessity of directing. May be that is why I do not give in, I am persistent, as a good learner. I keep walking, along with the Nature, accepting my natural connection with Her…accepting the universal connection between the souls. I accept everyone, knowing that all are in a journey towards the core. Some are so much puzzled, some are mesmerized, some are stupefied, some are passionately attached to the world around them, some are lost in ignorant self, some know what and why they are walking, some do not bother. But at the end, we all have to come to the core…we must learn while we walk.

Learn what? Learn to look beyond personal realities. Learn to break the walls of unknown. Learn the fact that taking risk is not a big thing actually. This is how it is supposed to be. Because life never promised certainty. I do not know but this much. I must keep walking, no matter what.

Group activity and mediocrity

2013-06-12T03:43:00.001-07:00

There is nothing in the world that I loathe more than group activity, that communal bath where the hairy and slippery mix in a multiplication of mediocrity. ___Vladimir Nabokov

This quote has intrigued my mind. Although I consider myself a mediocre, I would not like to be lost in the sea of mediocrity. But what Vladimir has said, is a proof of his passion for excellence and his self-consciousness. Isn't it?

I need to think more on this and then talk/write. But surely, this is a thought to ponder over, worth a deep analysis. There are more dimensions to this statement than the apparent ones, including intra-personal, interpersonal, and social perspective . What say!

Let me come back to share my understanding of it.

A song for the soul...

2013-06-07T01:16:00.003-07:00

Mumbai, 2013

It's morning when the rays of the sun
Touch you to reach me

A whisper of love gently waking me up

The chirpy birds bring along
A few words from you,

You give me life and hue
My mornings are touched by you.

You fill my heart with joy
While lighting up the dark roads

An angel to touch and change

The dull and the untrue.
You give me life and hue

My mornings are touched by you.

I'll color the sky for you

My love,

With cheer, hope and dreams

Let me fill the mornings

With fresh, fragrant winds.
For you gave me the hue of life
touched by you my beautiful mornings.

Let me bring you the cup of life

That brims with moments of love

Hours of joy and days of hope

Nights of passion and groove

You give me life and hue
My mornings are touched by you.

Crossing the oceans and seas
Far away to the high,

Hold my hand,

Let's float in sky blue

You give me life and hue
My mornings are touched by you.

Awaiting Monsoon in Mumbai

2013-06-07T00:34:00.002-07:00

The tinkling of the wind chime
At my window, told me,
It's about to rain.
From my window I see,
Covered by the rainy clouds
The far away hills await peacefully,
It's about to rain.
The crowded roads, the city concretes,
The tree branches, and the birds on them
Just like the wind, are restless in thirst,
Yes, it's about to rain.

Sense organs: Are we the slaves of our sense organs?

2013-05-21T00:50:00.000-07:00

The five sense organs of the human body: vision, hearing, smell, taste, and touch. Human existence revolves around these senses acting as the modes of communication for every human being. Obviously, for they are the channels through which our brain receptor cells get information from outside our body. By processing that information, our brain decides and controls the body and its actions to ensure its survival. We cannot imagine living without these sense organs. Our five senses are freeing us from the darkness of ignorance we surely experience without them.

By now, you must be wondering about the point I am trying to make here. Although these five sense organs free us from darkness, these are also tools used to enslave us. The decision of ‘whether to rule or be ruled’ is taken by the level of control one has over the sense organs of the other. Consider any industry including the Government, which incurs profit and loss, each one, is catering to the needs (original or created) of one or more sense organs.

Media, Fashion, Entertainment, Travelling, Vehicles, Ammunition, Food, Education, Sex, Religion… take any industry! Every consumer good or service, as it’s supposed to be or trying to, engage our sense organs. Consider local, national, international politics. Consider the immense power of propaganda, consider the role of media. What are they doing? They are controlling our lives by controlling the choices we make in everything we do. We think ‘We’ do it. But in reality our minds are controlled, our choices are made much before we think we make. We are the slaves of consumerism. We are the slaves of media aka politics aka government. We are the slaves of materialism.

The entire human race is trapped in a net weaved by its own sense organs. Each one of us is caught by one such net, connected to each other, making us a mass. A trapped mass to be used by the few higher powers, and they are to be used by the super powers. This is the hierarchy of slavery. Everyone is trapped. There is no escape. Not until we cut ourselves off from all five sense organs or at least stop being ruled by them, and look within to open the most truthful sense organ, which we named as the Sixth Sense.

Should prostitution be legalized?

2013-04-23T09:04:00.000-07:00

Every time I come to know about another case of rape, brutal or otherwise, this is the first thought that crosses my mind. Should prostitution be legalized?

I never wrote a single Facebook status regarding rape incidents, not even shared any message. May be I found it too futile or maybe I had nothing to say. Today, when I decided to share my thoughts, let me tell you that this write-up is neither an attempt to voice my repulsion towards the loathsome series of brutal rapes in the country, nor I’m going to dig out the minds of the rapists to understand the ‘why’s behind their satanic actions. The collective contempt of the entire nation toward the outrageous events could not stop rape. Well-known psychiatrists discussed the issue, social activists were interviewed by the prime TV channels, broadcasted during prime-times to shoot up the TRP, news papers published many columns to come up with a theory behind increasing incidents of rape in the country…. all said and done. High time, we should come up with a solution to this problem.

If I were to decide, I would have given command for shoot-at-sight in case they‘re caught red-handed, when convicted, nothing but death sentence. And how they die, should depend on public opinion. But this is not going to happen in our so-called socialist country.

So, here I come up with an idea. Legalize prostitution and give it a status of systematic and salaried profession.

My arguments for this proposition:

Unlike the Sanatan Hindu culture, if you go back to history, you’ll find that Semitic cultures and beliefs have always suppressed human sexuality, and portrayed it as a sin. The whole world is completely influenced by Semitic culture and beliefs. Any natural instinct or behavior, when suppressed or stopped from flowing normally, causes distortion of its original condition or form. As a result, that suppressed instinct finds an unusual route to express itself and demonstrates itself as ‘abnormal’ and ‘unacceptable’. Rape is such an outcome of such action. (Remember, we still are not allowed to express and talk about sex, though we can’t live without it. Hypocrisy! )
Kamasutra, the science of pleasure in sex, is more than the description of position for sex and achieving orgasm. Our ancient sages, who actually were scientists, knew the role of carnal desire or libido in human mind and how this affected human behavior on social and interpersonal relationships. In Vedic era, prostitution was known to be legal.
Prostitution becomes systematic, and the women, willing to be prostitutes, are provided with the knowledge of human sexuality and fulfilling desire including scientific and psychological part of it. Men are provided with the knowledge of their own sexuality with complete transparency. With the help of the trained prostitutes, they learn to understand their behavior, control it when necessary, enjoy and explore their own sexual side.
In case of uncontrollable or distorted libido, (chances will be very low if point #2 is already being followed) those guys with this problem may visit trained prostitutes and satiate their dark fantasies. Venting out has always worked as a successful therapy for innumerable mental problems.
The government will be earning the major chunk of yearly tax from such organizations.

These are my arguments in support of legalizing prostitution. Please share your thoughts, in support or against this proposition. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.

The mother in me

2013-04-03T04:59:00.000-07:00

What the Macedonian Emperor Alexander’s mother wished for him? What did Gandhiji’s mother wished for her son? What did Swami Vivekananda’s mother prayed from God for her son? What all mothers’ of famous, infamous, sharp and dull, genius and general children wish for them? I think that wish is pretty common…. of long and healthy life and of over-all prosperity.

From conception to birth, to the child’s becoming a full-grown person, what all a mother feels, expects and does, every woman who becomes a mother, knows. Being a mother is the most precious joy and fulfilment for a woman. Of course depending on the situation in which she became a mother controls a lot of things, owing to the fact that the lives and expectations of women have changed in the process of receiving education and then achieving financial independence. Still, the joy of being a mother cannot be replaced by anything else in life.

In every culture around the world, mother-child relationship is considered to be the most divine of all. This is divine indeed, but it’s not divine in the same way as depicted by Hindi/Bengali movies I have watched. Not at least for me.

Of course Hindi/Bengali movies are the partial or full reflection of our society and culture, yet I differ. We hold a mother’s love as the most selfless, giving and great. Because she sacrifices her sleep, days and nights of her life in nursing her child, nurturing and taking care of his overall growth. She puts her son’s well-being as her highest priority…in this process, most of the time; she forgets or ignores her own well-being. That’s why she is great, her love is great. Yes, no one can love like a mother. I, as a mother, also think that no one on earth can be better than me in loving my son and taking care of his well-being.

I pray each day that he should grow up as a strong human being, with an honest character and independent mind and soul. Rest, how he decides to earn his livelihood and who will be his companion, completely depends on his own choice. Yeah, though it seems to be tough and near impossible for a Bengali mother, but this will remain a fact. ;) I’ll never try to control his life, that’s a lesson I have learnt from life: Not to control anyone and not being controlled by anyone.

However, I don’t consider that my love for my son is something so selfless…that I loved him and nursed him and kept awake for days and nights, sacrificed many pleasures of life for him….makes me someone great and divine. Simply because whatever I did for my son Moktaavya, I did out of selfish happiness. The day I saw him for the first time wrapped in a white clothe, reddish face, closed eyes and mouth…he was the most wondrous thing on earth… the day he smiled and looked at me, that was the most pleasing sight for my eyes…the day he called me Maa was the most fulfilling word for me. For a long period of time, he was the single most reason of my survival. I learned and unlearned so many things because of him. His birth gave me the status of a mother, without which every woman is incomplete, seeing him grow up was the most precious treasure of my life…after all the joy he has already given me, how can I say that my love for him is selfless? He already gave me everything that I might want from him.

My son, if ever you come across my blog in your life, I want you to know that I just want to be your mother, not someone great and divine, a simple mother, who does not think that she had sacrificed anything for you. I love you and will always love you for you took birth through me, and made me a mother, gave me the honor and immense joy of bringing you up to be a lovely boy with the cutest smile and the most beautiful and compassionate eyes on earth. I am so very proud of you, today. Tomorrow, I’ll feel proud of each and every growth I see in you as a good human being, and I will forgive you for all vices that might be in you, and knowing that you will overcome all of those with your own inner strength, sooner or later. You’re an extension of me…wherever you go, whatever you do, you remain a part of me.

Growing Up with Jingles:Jab Main Chota Bachcha Tha

2013-03-19T06:58:00.002-07:00

Bari shararat karta tha, meri chori pakri jati….Jab roshan hota Bajaj!! Remember the jingle? It has been registered in our minds, and it is still there…running in a remixed version. I have literally grown up with my favourite jingles… as a kid and later as an adolescent, there was nothing else which I could catch so easily. There are jingles which I can sing for you even now…

· Khushbu daar anti-septic cream boroline!

· Doodh Doodh Doodh, Doodh hai wonderful pi sakte hai roj glassful (Though I hated milk!!)

· Na na meri jaan, meri jaan murgi ke andey

· Nirma Nirma, washing powder nirma, dush se safedi nirma se aye, rangeen kapra bhi khil khil jaye, sabki pasand nirma!

· Buland bharat ki Buland tasveer…hamara Bajaj!

· Mammi bhokh lagi, bas do minute! School se aate dhoom machaate
Ek hi baat pe manaate, Maggi Maggi Maggi!"

· Pyar hua ikraar hua hai, pyar se phir kiun darta hai dil…(ad for promoting condom use in India )

· Glucon- D, yeh jaan mein jaan daal de - peete hi!"

· Yehi hai Right Choice Baby…Aha!

· Bhul na jana, ECE bulb lana, Jyaada de ujaala din-o-din chalne waala ECE bulb aur ECE tube!

· Ras ki rachna Rasna! I love you Rasna…

· Amul : Zara si hansi…doolar zarasa…Taste of India …

· Life Buoy: Tandurusti ki Raksha karta hai Life Buoy…

These were the jingles with which I have grown up, and am not ashamed of the fact that even now I don't look around when I just sing my heart out, and most of the times, these are jingles, and these are encrypted on my brain and comes out with the slightest attempt of similarity between the commercial and real life. That day Mom was nagging with my papa on a certain demand, when he was about to dismiss the idea, “ jo biwi se kare pyar, woh ….se kaise kare inkaar? ” came out from my throat so spontaneously that he was trapped even before I could notice! See the AD-addicted! When I serve someone coffee, I can’t help myself from singing “ Ho shuru har pal aise…Nescafe! Pap-pa-para ra ra ra… ” You must be wondering how people tolerate all these stupidities throughout the day…let me tell you whenever I feel someone is irritated…I just sing out “ You and I, in this beautiful world.. ” and when one smiles at me…I will just say “ Kya aap close-up kartein hai? ”

These are the snap shots of my life in which jingles are mingled. I am sure I am not alone; there are more jingle crazy people around. Jingles appeal to us so much, because they directly hit the basic emotional as well as practical needs. They are simple but subtle, real but touching, you don’t have to pay attention, because they are there, even if you do not like them to be there. You ignore the jingles, but they will find a way out, to haunt you, because they are designed to follow you where-ever you go…like the dog in the Hutch/Vodafone ad. They do control our minds, not just like that! The makers of jingles go through audience research and many rigorous tests. So the ad-effect is inevitable.

They literally are after our lives, even if you don't like to listen to them, they will make sure and find the best time so that you just cannot avoid these jingles, like the sales calls…they would always find out the best way to reach us. Even sometimes we do replace real music with these jingles. Let me give you an example; earlier when it rained, I used to hum the tune of an old classic “Bole re papihara papiha..ek man pyasa ek man tarse re”. Today unknowingly I sing “ Bundo mein jane kya nasha hai ”. I don't even try to amend these unconscious wrong preferences, as they are there and I, honestly speaking, do enjoy singing jingles, they are short, effortless and handy…I am happy to sing and listen to jingles, "jingle sunne wale always khush!!" :-)

Originally published on Oct 19, 2006 02:04 PM

Source: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Ten-Best-Television-Commercial-Jingles-review-sorrnnonmm

‘Irritating’ Ads: to My Eyes, Ears and Intellect! (Published on Mouthshut.com on Dec 22, 2006 04:49 PM )

2013-03-19T06:30:00.001-07:00

When I think of worst television commercials, I refer to those I cannot stand for a minute! I rather escape to another channel; even a scene from Ekta Kapoor serial appears less irksome at that moment.
People have their own liking and disliking based on their set of parameters. The question is, what are my parameters based on which I categorize the commercials as worst? I decide on the quality of an ad and mark it as BAD, WORSE OR WORST, based on the following aspects;
·         Stupid concept: When the ad fails to convey creative and rational value.
·         Misuse of resources: Using good location, cast for foolish presentation.
·         No recall value: When the ad does not register on the viewers’ mind
·         Negative image building: BAD ads that leave negative impression of the brand itself, most of the times, the fault is of misuse of resources.
Here is the list of worst advertisements from me:
1. Kya aap ke toothbrush mein Namakh hai?? : Colgate
Stupid concept: Does it denote the mushrooming news channel’s stupid way of reporting and journalism?
2. Sona-chandi khata to ho ja ta: Himani Sona Chandi Chavanprush
Misuse of resources: When SRK says ‘Sona-chandi khata to ho ja ta’, is that soothing to ears?
3. Its so hot, its so soft: Pepsi CafeChino
Misuse of resources+ Stupid concept: I don’t know how these hot babes managed to act so stupid in the stupid ad.
4. All ads of Harpic: YUCk!!! A big No-NO…can’t categorize it!
5. Sunny, the kid and Samosa: Lux Cosy
Stupid concept+ Negative image building: The wrong concept leaves negative impact.
6. Thanda Thanda Cool coool: Navrattan Tel
Misuse of resources: They use famous heroes, but turn them into a laughing stock.
7. Handsome hai…Centro wale hai….: Centro
   Stupid concept+ Misuse of resources: Again SRK talking like a stupid!
8. Muh mein Rajnigandha, Kadmon mein Jahan: Rajnigandha
Stupid concept: Business tycoon and Miss Universe (or India) winning because they chew Rajnigandha!! HUH!
9. Oye bubbly, oye bubbly, be my lover bubbly: Pepsi
Stupid concept+ Misuse of resources: Think and decide yourself!!
10. A boy asks the viewer, “Bahoton ke man mein Pepsi ke bare mein sawaal hain…Kaun dega jawaab?”: Pepsi
Stupid concept+ Negative image building: The Chairman of Pepsico says Pespsi is safe; it’s obvious that the CEO will never say negative about his own product! Coke did a better job using public personalities speaking for them.

I don’t know how the makers of these ads conceptualized the idea, how they could be so dumb!! Even if I think that they have created the ads to target particular audience, I am sure that these have not served their purpose. There are other ads in this list as well, like Fair n Lovely, Rupa Underwear, etc...but these have become tolerable with time and I had to give only 10 names so...:-(

Source: http://www.mouthshut.com/review/Ten-Worst-Television-Commercials-review-proumtmrmm

The women of every species are the center of this 'Creation', every day is her day.

2013-03-08T04:07:00.002-08:00

With sms, calls and other means of one-to-one as well as mass communication wishing Happy Women’s Day since morning, my mind started pondering over the significance of this day. By afternoon, it could not hold up any more and accepted that the whole idea of celebrating a special day for being woman was bizarre…hypocritical. I know that by now, all your minds are already coming up with many words of wisdom for and against what you think I am going to write next.

Hmmm… there is no point repeating what is obvious. Living life of a woman is not simple. Women’s body, mind, and life…all are complex and difficult as compared to their counterpart. Again, I’m not going to elaborate on this point also. A little scientific knowledge and unbiased perception on life is required to understand the statement above. So, I’ll expect that my kind readers are smart enough! ;)

“Frailty, thy name is woman!” said Shakespeare through Hamlet. Never would I say that he was wrong. Women are the personification of weakness, of physical, of mental, of spiritual...‘weakness’. What makes her very special and unique is her capacity to turn her weaknesses into a tremendous source of strength. Again, I’m not going to give reasons for my statement, simply because a little deep thinking is enough to understand my points. And also, I am not the first one to say this. A woman’s strength lies in her weaknesses….this is a fact.

Women, falling within the category of Homo sapiens, have all dark as well as bright sides. Though we are weak, live life depending on our male counterparts, seeking their approval in every aspect of life and society, there is no way to deny the fact that we, the women, are the source of ‘life’ on earth. We bring life on earth. This simplest natural process is the basic requirement of entire ‘creation’. And this very reality that we create life makes life itself revolve around women, around us.

Mother & son

I’ll help you understand. In this male dominated society, look at any household, any country, any nation…in any stratum of society, no matter how much the women are oppressed, battered, exploited… if you study the women, you’ll see that it’s the women who influenced, it’s the women who worked as catalysts. It’s the women who make things happen…through men.

Not only within human society, this trait is also valid for every living species on earth. Womankind brings life to earth, so life itself revolves around her.

I find it funny to celebrate Women’s day once in a year while the whole universe is celebrating womanhood in each and every moment. We, the women, forgot who we are. We are the source of power… being what we are, is enough. Dear girl, if you don’t believe me, look into Nature…. then look within you. You’ll see that you’re not vulnerable at all! You just don’t know your reality. You’re the power. You are the Shakti. The society, when failed to hold your power, tried to suppress you, hypnotized you with false understanding of your own reality.

I took a long time to understand this…I thank someone who made me realize what I am. Women rule. Let the fools continue thinking it’s their world. :D

Mob attack...do you think it's fair?

2013-02-23T07:49:00.000-08:00

In my school days, getting chased and teased by boys were normal. Ours was a girl’s school, so we had to face more of such problems. I remember an incident when I was in class seven. At that time, we had a very strict principal. He took care of every student individually, spoke to parents and used to be in touch with parents and each students of every class. During his time, eve teasing problem was controlled to a great extent. One day, during recession, we were informed that one eve teaser was captured and brought to the school field. All the girls were asked to come and see. So, out of curiosity, we all went there.

A boy of about 18 to 20 years was kneeling down, amidst girls, a police constable, a few teachers and our principal. The principal asked the girls to slap that eve teaser. Many girls did slap that boy, and one or two from my class also did the same. The principal then asked me to slap him…he was sure of my guts to do that because I was the daughter of a police officer and also was into NCC (National Cadet Corps). Yes, I was the daughter of an honest and fearless police officer, and was a Cadet at that time. But I could not slap him. Our principal and teachers later criticized me of being a timid daughter. But then it was not that I could not slap that boy, the fact was, I did not slap that boy. And yes, at that young age also, I clearly knew I was not timid.

Later, as a grown up, visited and lived in many other states, whenever I saw incidents of mob attack of thieves, eve teasers, and other law-breakers…I loathed it, abhorred it from the bottom of my heart.

I remember another occasion of mob attack of a poor boy in his teens, a minor, right in front of our apartment in Kolkata. He was being punished for stealing iron bars from nearby building construction site. At least 6/7 grownups were hitting him. I lived in 2nd floor of the apartment, my son was one year old at that time, and there was no one in the house at that time. I was feeling helpless as my son was sleeping, the sun had just set, and I should not leave him alone at home to run downstairs to save the boy. Doing something is better than doing nothing. So I started by requesting them to stop beating that boy from my window, so did another lady from another window of another apartment. But they did not bother to pay attention to two stupid emotional women. They kept on hitting feverishly, and the boy was screaming in pain, we also saw him bleeding.

What to do next? I instantly thought of using bitter words for hurting them, ‘You guys are hitting that boy because you know he is weak. Have you ever thought of doing something about the political thugs we have in abundance in our area? No, you will never dare doing so! Because you know you don’t have that capacity. Your physical and mental capacity is limited only till torturing this poor boy suffering from mal-nutrition….” I saw that four of them already had stopped beating the boy and looking stupidly at me… while two of them were still hitting. Then I shouted again, ‘Another hit, and I am going to call the police and get you arrested for hitting a minor so ruthlessly!” and other two stopped. My blood was boiling after I saw the condition of badly battered kid lying on the dust. By that time the owner of the construction site had arrived and he apologized to me on behalf of those guys. He also took care of the boy who was trying to steal his construction stuff. I saw them leaving the place in silence while I was in my anger fits. One of them looked up to me, and said that I was right; they shouldn't have beaten the boy so mercilessly, and then left. I closed the window and sat silently for several minutes to cool myself down.

Till now I wonder what is there in mob attack for minor crimes like stealing and eve teasing? Isn’t it like attacking a single person in a group… like wild dogs attack the elephant or a tiger? And how the same crowd remains indifferent to millions of crimes happening in front of their eyes on daily basis? They do compromise with corruption on daily basis, they be hypocrite indoor and outdoor on daily basis. But when they catch hold of someone who is weak or alone, they will pour down their frustration of being truly weak or compromising in every sphere of life on that fellow.

True that mob attack was, is and will be relevant. Do you think that the public lose control after their tolerance crosses all limits and then they embark upon to hit that corrupt person? Well, I beg to differ. They do it because they enjoy doing it, because it is good to feel stronger than someone on earth at least once in a while. Or else, remember the recent Delhi rape case…. Why the girl was not even provided a blanket by anyone after those rapists threw her on the road side? Why many criminal investigations remain unsolved just because no one dared to speak the truth? There are so many situations, when the same people chose to do nothing at all!

I still remember that I was teased or judged for being weak that day by my classmates. But who was weak according to them has never compromised with anything unjust in her life. I was not successful always, but I never stopped protesting against injustice, which happened in front of my eyes. Even the rude, dangerous and rustic Delhi localites could not stop me. I have protested and made a difference within and even outside my capacity. But a mob attack? I would never touch a hair of that person who is being battered by many for his offence /crime/sin. Mob attack makes the criminal understand that he is weak and he is recognized as a criminal. But it does not help the criminal realize his crime.

My beautiful memories of Tezpur include the memory of my reaction to mob attack when I was just in my adolescence. After so many years, I must say that my perception has not changed. The only difference is that now I clearly know why I didn't choose to try my hand on that eve teaser. And I had not made a wrong decision that day. Feeding on other’s hunt is just not my type! ;)

My childhood memories of Tezpur and some traits which remained with me

2013-02-23T06:21:00.002-08:00

Tezpur city view

I close my eyes to remember the hilly roads of turns and twists alongside the small and not so small lakes, trees standing tall on both sides of the roads to provide shade to the passerby…chirpy birds…the vast and fast flowing rivers, my school, the teachers, learning to ride a bi-cycle, morning walks by the river side with father, learning to drive scooter, my friends, my first crush, roaming about alone on my cycle…and the RAIN!!!! O beautiful Tezpur, how can I ever forget thee!

Kalia Bhomora Setu

Tezpur, a historical city situated besides the river Brahmaputra in Assam. It’s said that during the battle between Krishna's army and Banasura's army fought for the rescue of Aniruddha, the grandson of Lord Krishna, there was so much bloodshed that the whole place was stained in red. The city was known as Tezpur after this historical incident, ‘Tez’ meaning blood, ‘Pura’ meaning town. The ancient city bears the ruins from the 8^th and 9^th centuries and even from 4^th century AD!

Kanaklata Udyan

I remember my father taking us to Agnigarh Hills, Kanaklata Udyan, Bamuni Hills, Kalia Bhomora Setu, Da Parbatia, several Shiva temples including Mahabhairav temple, Ketakeshwar Dewal, and Padum Pukhuri etc. He used to tell us about the historical significance of all those places…and we would listen to him with rapt attention. We also came to know from him how China almost invaded India till Tezpur during World War II, and about the Seven Sisters of northeastern hills…. My father is a natural guide, an explorer, and till date travelling with him means knowing everything about the place and enjoying the journey to the fullest! Only because of the travel experiences with him, I miss my childhood so much!

Agnigarh Pahar

This ancient city is the single place on earth where I wish to visit again. My school was all girls’ school. I used to walk from home to school till I learnt to ride a cycle. On my birth day, when I was in class seven, I received the best birth day gift of my life, which was my bi-cycle. :D I remember jumping into road-side sewage while learning to ride that…and how my brother laughed at me and I cried. Now it seems so much fun!

I also remember that I could never reach school before the prayers started. It was a routine that I would stand outside the school gate waiting for the prayers to end. Apart from the National Anthem, we used to sing a prayer composed by Srimanta Sankar Dev… don’t correctly remember the words… it was something like ‘tumi sitto briti muro, parbatako narayana, diya muko ei nathavanta…”

Tea garden

I also remember my class teachers being very annoyed by my habit of reaching school late. One day, I remember my class teacher telling me, ‘Ask your father to buy a helicopter, see if you can reach on time.’ No punishment ever worked to change this bad habit…actually I was never punished strictly, as compared to my other classmates…when I look back and think, the reason for this could be, coming late was my only bad habit…otherwise I was a very innocent and obedient kid. :D But I wish I was punished enough strictly to change this habit. After school, I never reached college, university and my workplace on time. This bad habit remains with me forever.

Tezpur, I really miss you… I really miss me when I was there with you…I miss Kamala Chhetri, my friend, I dream of visiting Tezpur again, someday… soon…

On tears and rain...

2013-02-08T04:48:00.000-08:00

Tears flow

Yeah they do

To bathe my soul,

Let it back to me

Clear and true.

Needs I’d buried within

Things I’d brushed aside

Demand moments alone

To sit back and face me

Let loose the tide inside

I cry my heart out

Push me to the brink

Never mind what they say

For I'm neither scared

Nor I'm weak

Tears roll down

To wash the heart off the bitter brew

Like the rain rinses the earth and air

I be back to myself

As clear and as true.

Time, in between...

2013-02-05T10:44:00.000-08:00

Learn to move on or accept the decaying. Time waits for none! But yes, at times, it helps you with a little push here and there... but it's you, who has to pull yourself together and walk on....

All the best!

An idle thought on a lazy Sunday...

2013-01-20T11:40:00.000-08:00

Moktaavya, my son. He has in his possession the small edition of almost everything that an adult person may need to live in a house, i.e.; his own vehicles, chair, reading table and chair, separate chambers in the wardrobe for his clothes, a big wooden box to keep his toys, and things that are not worth mentioning. He doesn't have a separate room yet, as he’s just crossed five years. He will have a room for himself soon. Now, I know you must be wondering why on earth I am listing what my son has! This is because, like all other children, he considers that whatever there is in our home belongs to him. He will scream and fight when he is told that not all in the house are his.

So what? Yeah, nothing. Just that it reminds me of the fact that ignorance is bliss! We fondly remember our childhood…what was so good about childhood? It was the ignorance of the harsh realities of life. As we grow up, the worldly knowledge let us understand mainly about what is not mine, then what is mine. We crave to get things, people, position, property which/whom we can consider as ours… ‘mine’. ‘My’, ‘mine’…then ‘our’, ‘ours’…

I->My family->My personal/professional circle->My caste->My community->My religion->My land->My planet

The selfishness associated with ‘I’ keeps losing its intensity as we broaden the perimeter and include more people and concerns. We fight and struggle to keep the individuality of the set of perimeters. The intensity of struggle in a particular perimeter is equivalent to the percentage of ‘I' in it.

But I wonder, why do we call it knowledge? Is there any major difference between the child and the grown up? Don’t we realize that every damn ‘I’ on earth, no matter how much it’s surrounded by near and dear ones, is actually walking with many till the time it’s fulfilling some set criteria or terms and conditions of the given system? Yes we do.

At the back of our minds, we know and life makes sure that we know. But still we are afraid of being left alone with the ‘I’. So, we spend our lives, trying to fulfil the terms and conditions that will secure our lives with more of ‘My’ and to some extent ‘our’.

To secure that ‘My’ and ‘our’, we have created countries, religion, caste, and so on, whereas Mother Nature, or God…whatever you name it, had created only male and female in every living being. Didn't we invite pain and suffering by dividing whatever we had? Isn't that ignorance? Then how can we say that ignorance is bliss?

Now, a thought to ponder on: Why are we afraid of walking alone? Don’t we love this ‘I’ the most?

Words are not enough...

2012-12-15T05:37:00.000-08:00

Yes. Words are not enough. That’s how it appears most of the time. Even though ‘words’ have earned me bread and butter, I have discovered that ‘words’ in shape of speech or writing, is one out of many confining elements that tend to limit the mind from complete understanding , fathoming the depth, or realizing beyond what is visible. Right now, when I am trying to jot down my thoughts to communicate with you, I am struggling with vocabulary. I am really not sure, whether I am able to convey what I want you to understand.

Words are very powerful, yet, simply words are not enough! No knowledge or understanding can be replaced by words. It has to be perceived, understood and realized through experience. It limits and even manipulates or changes the description of experience, thoughts and the reality of everything.

A man encounters many relationships in a lifetime in professional, social and personal levels. Words, being the most common mode of communication, are the most common confining element as well. Just go back to your memories and analyze… compare the number of times you have felt correctly understood with the number of times you were trying hard to communicate but were not satisfied. Conversations ending up with disappointments are always more in number. And my personal experience says that people with excellent oratory skills tend to be very manipulative as they overpower the thinking process of the person on the other side, and start controlling it. This idea is very unwelcome.

Counselors and therapists often suggest that couples who undergo relationship problems should talk more. But merely talking will never work when good emotions related to intention of saving the relationship are not working behind their minds. When two individuals are not on same emotional /intellectual plane, it’s rare that they understand each other. The bridge of communication is never built by words. The bridge is made of feelings and emotions getting exchanged between two individuals, intentionally or without intention. Words are the weakest links in that bridge. Every so often, words become redundant. And everyone encounter such situations in life.

I wish, the human race evolve to such mode of communication where there will be no room for cunningness, manipulation and lies. Our minds have that capability, and most of us are not aware of it or don’t know how to use it. They say that silence speaks a thousand words. But we never use that silence…we never learned to use silence as a mode of communication. If we could, half the troubles and conflicts of our life would be resolved or never occur!

For me, I identified my problem while communicating through words, yet I don’t know how to use silence.

Life: Here and Now (Part 3-last )

2012-11-26T04:34:00.001-08:00

Think of beauty, joy, hope, love, and everything that is good

The more you embrace what is positive and beautiful in your life, with all your thoughts and feelings and expressions, the more you attract positivity. The more you chose to ponder on or react to what is not good, painful, and shameful or embarrassing in your life, the more you invite negativity. There WILL be negativity, always around. You can decide not to include it in your life by not reacting negatively at the negativity. Replace whatever is negative, like a feeling, an event, with positivity. How? Just by changing the way you feel or react to it.

For example, one fine morning, when I reached office, I came to know that my colleague was promoted to the post, which was my target for the year. I felt a sense of betrayal and jealousy at that moment. But I simply replaced that with hope, “who knows may be there is something much better than this in store for me” and I went back to work happily. A few days later I came to know that the post, to which my colleague was promoted, involved a change of location, which was impossible for me. And then again I got an additional role, which later let me pursue my dream career, plus a hefty increment!

Life does not happen, you create it

By changing the way how you feel right now, you take charge of your life. Life does not happen to you any more, keeping you at the receiving end. You start giving out what you want to receive back. Be loving and happy in your thoughts, feelings, and reactions with people and situations around you. You will receive love and happiness…and all that you want.

This is YOUR life, and YOU are to choose your destiny. By choosing between positive and negative energies at this moment, RIGHT NOW, you change your life, the way You want.

---------------------------------------------END-----------------------------------------------

Life: Here and Now (Part 2)

2012-11-26T04:24:00.000-08:00

There is one Cherokee Indian Legend:

An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."

Again a difficult task. Human mind is the most complex and wonderful creation of the creator. It holds the key to all kind of powers in the universe. How do we know how to explore, evolve, and then direct this power? Because of mind, we suffer, and the same mind make us feel ecstatic.

The same 'mind' holds the key to all what we want from our life. But how do we know how to use it?

Rhonda Byrne created a wonderful cocktail from the crux of all religious as well as philosophical knowledge, as old as the time when the human race started recording their understanding on life. Her books: The Secret, The Power and The Magic... she has repeated almost same teachings, with her honest endeavor to make people understand. Although her understanding and discovery of those ancient knowledge was very impressive and effective, but somehow, I did not agree with her on the suggestion to focus only on the goal, and not on the process. My understanding and values tell me to focus on the process, here and now, following which I want to achieve a desired goal. But the technique she asked her readers to follow in order to season the mind to think on the right track, is just amazing and very effective.

I will convey those in my own style ;)

Give and you will receive

“Give and it will be given to you…for by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return” Jesus said.

This is just a simple fact that we tend to forget every now and then. If we give out positivity, we will receive everything positive in return. As our life is a combination of positive and negative forces, every moment, here and now, you are making your choices and deciding how you are living your life. If you know how to strike the balance of these two forces in your life, you have the KEY to HAPPINESS.

Turn yourself into a positive magnate; you will attract all positive aspects of life, and likewise for negative. When you become positive with your thoughts and feelings, you will give out positivity to all around you, so you will receive positivity. At times, circumstances may force you to feel negative. Think of the most lovable and positive aspect of your life, think of the time you enjoyed doing something you love to do.

Remember the thousand times repeated advice “Count your blessings”! Do so, it actually works! Find time to sit alone, knowing that you must do so. Or else you will attract more negativity. For now you know why they say “Misfortune never comes alone”. So you can stop it and change it as well.

(Continued...)

Life: Here and Now (Part 1)

2012-11-26T03:45:00.001-08:00

Many a times we find ourselves saying: "What have I done to deserve this!" Even the person, who seems to be the happiest, suffers in his own way. The questions “why do we suffer?” always runs at the back of our mind. Many philosophies describe this phenomenon as the law of karma; as we sow, so we reap. Our past actions (including past lives) decide how we will live in the present. This is the most common definition which appears to be somewhat logical, and so we accept it.

Right here, right now!

We interpret 'destiny' in a wrong way. At any given point of time, in every single moment, we are making choices. In each moment, we have more than one way to choose from. We direct our life with each decision/action we take or do not take at this moment, which is NOW.

As Buddha and many other beliefs including Hinduism, say that past and future do not really exist. What exists is the present moment, which is eternity. Right NOW we have the power to rectify mistakes of the past, as a result, change our future.

Question is, how do we make the right choice now? It is very difficult...very very difficult at times. Because, we don't know how to live the present moment. Our life style, the way we were brought up, all combined, always have asked or taught us to analyze the past and plan for the future. But we never learned how to live and use the present moment, except during exams, when we were students. ;)

Let's learn few things before moving ahead on this.

The energies: Equal and Opposite

In this universe, nothing can be all good or all bad, all positive or all negative. Without bad or negative, we will never know the existence or meaning of good or positive. Would you know the meaning of light if there were no darkness? Would you ever feel happiness without feeling sorrow? Likewise, you will always have negative feelings, events and situations in our life as well as positive.

This universe consists of good and evil energies: referred to as positive and negative. Everything around and within us, is the result of the work of balance/imbalance between these two forces. They co-exist and complement each other.

(continued...)

Reassurance...

2012-11-05T07:35:00.000-08:00

As a human being, we tend to look for reassurance to re-establish the faith, which is questioned or shattered by unexpected changes in life's situations. I recently watched the movie, Scent of a Woman. And it worked as a reassurance for me.

We like to be in our comfort zone....until we are faced by cross roads.....yeah, I consider these as cross roads...as we always have more than one way to chose from.

More often, 99.9% of times, that right path takes us out of our comfort zone. Comfort Zone... where we are secured, we are safe mentally, financially, socially...The challenge is to go out of that comfort zone and follow, what they call 'your heart'.

Those, who ignore that voice in their head, and choose to be safe within the comfort zone are considered as smart and practical. Those who go out of their comfort zone, choose the 'right path' according to their values and understanding of life, are considered to be foolish, stupid, crazy and so on. They are considered so until they prove themselves successful walking on that path. And that success would require persistence, consistency in order to establish integrity of character. To achieve such integrity, they have to walk the path till the end...accepting and facing whatever it brings along with it.

Bottom line is... it may be crazy not to sell the soul to secure the future... but at the end, all the pain and struggle is worth it. To save the soul.... :))

Lalon Shah er Gaan 2

2012-10-26T03:16:00.000-07:00

A few more Lalon geeti...close to my heart.... :)

আমার পছন্দের কিছু লালনের গান (Lalon Geeti)

2012-10-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

লালনের গান শুনে মনে হয় যেন মিছেই সময় নষ্ট করে যাচ্ছি ...কিছুই ভালো না লাগাটা আবার ফিরে ফিরে আসে।।সময় গেলে সাধন হবেনা ...সত্যি হবেনা ।

কিছু পছন্দের গান ধরে রাখলাম। আবার দেব পরে ।

Bangalore, as I see it after one year of stay

2012-09-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

The month of September reminds me of the first time my feet touched the soil of Bangalore. This city welcomed me with a heavy rainfall of comparatively big droplets on 3^rd September, 2011. “This is a city of whirl wind, gardens, and yes…the rain”, I told myself, while the cab struggled ahead slowly through the drenched roads, towards the hotel for the day’s stay. Somehow, I was feeling good; may be because Bangalore had an apparent resemblance with Tezpur, a beautiful city nestled in the lap of hillocks in upper Assam. Another reason could be the rain itself… I always have accounted rain as a good omen. And it continued raining of an on, for the whole month last year. I was already in love with the Bangalore sky…the sun and clouds in the blue sky, playing all day long…

While setting up the new apartment, settling down to be here and to live in this city, the surroundings slowly started opening up. The city had a calming effect which was working on me. When I walked on the streets, people seemed to be calmer and tolerant as compared to Kolkata. I recount Kolkata as an aggressive city for its leftist character and hot and humid climate. And to experience Kolkata as a city of joy, one must understand the people and their philosophy…if you can, you will enjoy the Kolkata city life immensely, in spite of its various irritating and overly political nature, and you also have the chance of falling in love with it. :)

Coming back to Bangalore, I had no way to communicate but in English and Hindi, the locale always appeared to be sweet and helpful. While still in the process of knowing it, I can tell that this is a truly cosmopolitan city. Considering the multi-ethnicity, the acceptance and tolerance it shows to the outsiders, and a slightly indifferent approach to everything around…all of these factors and more, give it a truly cosmopolitan nature. I would not like to mention the incident of violence against the people from North-East, as I still have some doubts. It could be a result of a misunderstanding given a political color, a very unique event to be generalized.

Till date, a few things I have observed about Bangalore to strike my attention…such as….

First of all, it is so difficult to find ladies’ beauty parlor compared to men’s parlor and even spa! In every ten parlors, five would be men’s parlor and spa, and four would be unisex and only one would be a parlor exclusively for women. So this is something very unusual.

Second peculiarity is the liquor shops. You will find them open since morning! More to it is, at the morning hours, when the whole city traffic is rushing towards its destination for earning bread, the liquor shopkeeper is equally busy serving the customers with quick shots in plastic cups, usually used for drinking tea or water! And around that area, you will also find a few of the drunken men fast asleep just beside the busy roads. And the number of liquor shops are in each area is noteworthy…they are more in number even compared to Delhi and Chandigarh, where people are said to gurgle with beer in the morning!

Final observation till now is the dense frequency of Hindu Temples, Churches and Mosques. This is actually another factor that adds up to Bangalore’s cosmopolitan nature. But, after some more observation, I saw that wherever a temple is there in a certain area, a mosque and a church has to be there in the close vicinity where the temple is situated. This aspect can give such idea to an outsider as some kind of religious competition is on in this city.

One striking similarity of Bangalore with Kolkata and even with Delhi is the laid back nature of the autowalahs. They will sleep in their autos during the noon, would not mind saying no to the areas far from their home and so on. They are equally rude and hate to run the meter. A friend correctly said, “Autowalahs are same everywhere”.

With these thoughts, I say “Hi” to Bangalore once again… on completing a year of my stay here. :) Thank you Bangalore, for being good to me.

Kandisa: Close your eyes and listen to this...

2012-09-17T10:07:00.002-07:00

Music has no language barrier...a music that brings you face to face with your soul.

By Indian Ocean

Kandisa is an ancient prayer in Aramaic. The literal translation of this word may be Holy/ Holy Praise / Divine Praise. This prayer is chanted even to this day in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Churchand the Syriac Orthodox Church of the Syrian Malabar Nasrani people from Kerala, South India.

Kandisa Alahaye, Kandisa Hylsana,
Kandisa Alahaye, Kandisa Hylsana.
aalam aalam Aalam, Aamenu Aamen.
sliha Mar Yose, Almaduba-ha Qudisa-ha,
angene Dhanusa, Nyahveh Dukrana.

aalam aalam Aalam, Aamenu Aamen,
sliha Mar Yose, Almadbaha Qudisa-ha.
angene Dhanusa, Nyahveh Dukrana.
Kandisa Alaha, Kandisa Hylsana, Kandisa La Ma Yosa Isaraham Alem.

Meaning:

Holy God, Holy Strong One (epitome of divine strength-Omnipotent),
Invocation (3),
Truly, Truly, Truly (So be it) (Sanskrit: thathaasthu)
Our father Joseph, at your Holy altar,
humbly I submit (Sanskrit: Sarvam Samarpayaami), may that be forever in memory (heart and mind).
Holy GOD, Holy Strong One (epitome of divine strength- Omnipotent),
Holy immortal (epitome of immortality-Omnipresent), please have mercy on me.

The last two lines are the ancient Christian Trisagion (thrice holy) prayer, which is part of all Orthodox and Eastern Catholic church services and forms the summit of the Roman Catholic Good Friday service. Indian Ocean's rendering is in East Syrian whereas the West Syrian pronunciation is: :ܩܕܝܫܐ ܐܠܗܐ، ܩܕܝܫܐ ܚܝܠܬܢܐ، ܩܕܝܫܐ ܠܐ ܡܝܘܬܐ، ܐܬܪܚܡܥܠܝܢ :Qadisha Alaha, Qadisha Ħilthana, Qadisha La mayotha, 'Ithraħim 'aleyn.

from wikipedia.

Some songs can be life-long friends...

2012-09-15T01:42:00.001-07:00

Some songs always remain there in every step of your life, be there for you...as a true friend. This is a ghazal which remained with me always like a friend...

Thank you Nida Fazli, for writing these words... :)

बदला ना अपने आप को जो थे वही रहे
मिलते रहे सभी से मगर अजनबी रहे

दुनिया ना जीत पाओ तो हारो ना ख़ुद को तुम
थोडी बहुत तो ज़हन में नाराज़गी रहे

अपनी तरह सभी को किसी की तलाश थी
हम जिसके भी करीब रहे दूर ही रहे

गुजरो जो बाग़ से तो दुआ मांगते रहे
जिसमें खिले हैं फूल वो डाली हरी रहे