The Phoenix's Ashes

If there is anything you learn from television, movies , video games, and always life, NOTHING, and I mean absolutely nothing compares to a fresh start. I think all of us could do with one right about now. This country could really use one. The fall of 2012 was correctly called the end of humanity. In God’s own land, multiple instances of molesting a woman’s modesty, the fall of Democracy. The  almost symbolic  transition of the world’s largest “democracy” to an authoritarian,  unabashed, disgraced government.  Having our Tianmen  Square to boast about. That is what all of us saw. Though perhaps we should see this year in a different way. The crimes undoubtedly shameful did actively make the problem real.  The common man, finally realized the many instances of rape occurring in the country had reached a horrendous level. This is perhaps the nadir of our society. When no one, be it a  three year old infant is brutally assaulted and left disturbed emotionally and physically all the way to the aging. The thing is the apathy, people are finally realizing has to stop. I hope that at least. The usual comment “Iss desh ka kuch nahi ho sakta “ is faltering because,  everyone hopefully has had enough of it. Perhaps this is our own Jasmine Revolution. Maybe this is how it starts. With an epiphany that this country and its citizens deserve more. They deserve to be proud, and walk confidently.  They deserve a chance to LIVE, not just exist. For that they need a fighting spirit and chance. These declarations might seem pre-mature. My assumptions and hopes might be easily dashed in  the future, but I would like to believe every individual today witnessed first hand   why a Democracy is called a government of , by and( hopefully in the future) for the People.

People have talked about this being a fad like phenomena. About how it’ll just die down, and soon no one will care. So does that mean, now when we have a chance to make a difference we should be all resigned to  fate on the basis of past. As previous instances have shown there will be no success means that we shouldn’t even try? Every small action does move the wide force. Every little star that twinkles, makes up the galaxy. Every   small action due to its occurrence causes a consequence. So when a number of such actions occur I think logic dictates that they  will have a major effect. Anyway, its better than just being naysayer.

A country isn’t what defines a person. Rather the people define the country. A Democracy shows effort. So we have a choice. What do we want our country to represent? Do we want it to be a correct expression of the will of the people, or is it just better off being ruled by a plundering  political class and an apathetic, cynical body of citizens?
They say that politics will destroy this country and that there is nothing we can do about it. Well perhaps we can’t, but in the words which always send a chill through me ”we can damn well avenge it!” We need to show that its time for the change to happen, and if not then a long struggle as essential as that of our freedom lies ahead.
This is OUR country. It is embodies our hopes, faith and belief. We have left it to the mischievous  caretakers for enough time now.  We need to make it a better place. A place fit for its citizens.  A place deserving of its existence. A Democratic Country.   

Please Refrain from Celebratory Gunfire.

 

If there is anything that helps a writers block, it has to be a nose block. Funnily it makes me at least more philosophical. Like being faced with my own mortality (yes  I am a bit of a drama king). Today’s post focuses on what is one of the major pillars of our country’s diversity, festivals. Numerous author’s, have told us that India is the land of festivals. Plus we all must have memorized essays in hindi which begin with the same statement. However in the past one year I have started feeling a little disillusioned by this phenomenon. I mean yes we celebrate all our festivals with great joy and devotion, but a majority I feel do it as a farce, or just because “Mrs. Sharma next door is  planning to.” It is sad. There is no other word for it. Agreed our generation might not be the most religious, but that doesn’t mean we have any less faith. Similarly if someone chooses to celebrate a festival like Diwali by folding their hands in front of God and just saying a prayer I don’t see why it should raise any eyebrows. Bursting crackers is now a lost tradition, in fact how it came into being in the first place baffles me. I mean I am pretty sure pyrotechnics was not such a big thing when Lord Ram returned to his kingdom. Why are people more busy with following medieval traditions rather than actually  doing something spiritual and noble?

Why is it more important to have a session of cards rather than go out and do some charity work? How does it make sense to invite the neighborhood  and burst crackers rather than try to clean up a little bit. People look at festivals to be a time when they can be closer to God. Shouldn’t every day be like that? Festivals are to propagate a sense of common belief and community, so is it not better to do something  which does good for society in general? Something memorable. I mean ok, bursting crackers  makes you feel happy, who wouldn’t derive fun from being in close proximity  to deafening sounds and blinding sparks not to mention the constant risk to burns and the pollution being caused. But shouldn’t a festival be defined by something more than such juvenile activities? Like even during Holi instead of just playing mass water fight all over the country how about trying to work at shelters? During Dusshera instead of having everyone destroy a “Ravana”, how about destroying the actual evils plaguing our country like dowry deaths, female infanticide, child abuse, corruption?

Its not that I have never burst crackers, I have. It’s not like I am stopping you from bursting crackers. All I am asking you to do is, just think  how should a festival be celebrated, by loud chants, show, temporary instances of religious piety and other such facade. Or by doing something beneficial for the less fortunate/the environment or perhaps working against the poisons in our society? We always will have time for celebrations, why not try to make the world a better place to live in and pass on to our future generations? Will that not be a better testimony to our beliefs, hopes, and our religion itself? I think the brightest light we can light is in our hearts, to diminish the darkness of ignorance, and cynicism. The loudest  impression we should make in is the heart of society by restoring belief in humanity and goodness in the world (Mom’s cooking can do that too though), by striving to make sure that a festival is not defined by kiddish activities rather by the benefits it gives to society, our tribute to society, to humanity, to mankind.
Cheers to that!   

The Season of A Lifetime!

Delhi Winters.

There is something about this city in winters that connects with me the way no other season, in any place world over can.Is it the fact that I have stayed here for the longest duration? Perhaps, not really. Being an army kid you tend to realise "Home is in fact where the heart is". Perhaps its a sort of unspoken bond which gets forged over years.Why is Delhi important to me? Well, first of all I was born here. Secondly both my immediate maternal and paternal side of famly reside here but that is still is not it. My attraction to this place stems not only out of fondness for relations, but also out of something deeper, which funnily I cannot describe in words.Its in the cool temperatures of the afternoon.In the cold temperatures of late night and early morning.

In the fact that sometimes you need two layers of clothing. In the fact that you sleep by the glow of a halogen heater, slightly creaking but giving you warmth nonetheless. Snuggled under your blanket at  temporary  peace. Perhaps THAT is the thing about it! The feeling of being in your own bubble.
Other than that when I think of winters I see a montage play in my mind. Beginning with school annual day(s), progressing to exam fevers, hanging out in front of the school canteen drinking coffee  and laughing over something we called a "problem".Then growing up and travelling in the weather.Being in the airport line at a time when it is still dark, covered in your jacket  and in a semi-conscious state. The mad rush of humanity at Rajiv Chowk. Flashing images of Om Shanti Om and Delhi 6. Walking in H block while a cold gust blows in your face. The feeling of the warm sunrays being just perfect enough to make you bear the cold and proceed through the day with a crazy level of optimism.

For me its not just a season, its a time to  reminisce and reflect. A time to  call upon the fond memories that I cherish and hold always on to dearly, as with time they are the only witness to life itself and the only gossamer thread that ties you to what made you and gives you an inkling as to who you are (THE million $ question).

So why do I write this post? Basically, for the same reason that this blog started. Recording memories and thoughts and trying to give a small tribute to essentials yet ignored simplicities of life.
Cheers!Happy Winters!:)

Engineer's Day

15th September.

Today I write not about some rousing cause, or about some idea/emotion. Rather todays post is to honour a profession, like no other.
Why did I take up Engineering? Well because I took science. That might be the most honest reason I can give. I took science so it made sense for me to take engineering. However, now that
I have completed 25% of my course, regarding my decision I really don't regret it.

All said and done Engineering is not a way to get a job, rather it becomes a lifestyle. Analysisng, critical thinking, appreciating the importance of simple changes giving tremendous changes in results. Engineering is an outlook to life. It’s the best way for anyone to know existence. Engineering marvels all over the world are like time capsules, preserving in them the thought process and working of some of the brightest minds of their time. It lets you challenge yourself, and helps you realise the simple logics of life. It helps you define what the world is, what power thoughts and thinking actually have.

I don't want to sound like an elitist, or something, all professions have their function, purpose and importance. Why I praise this particular one is in fact the second reason as to why I chose it in the first place, proof. Slightly vague? Yes, let me elaborate, anything in engineering works on proof. All claims backed up and justified, no funny business.
 
Engineering is a trove of knowledge, giving you a set of skills no other stream can.
People often change their stream after doing engineering, if you see it actually makes sense.
Engineering is a way for people to acquire knowledge and hone in themselves a “way of thinking”, so they do that and then proceed to do something else. With a thinking mind comes an active mind hence its no surprise these stream shifters tend to do quite well. Of course I am sympathetic towards those who don't want to do engineering in the first place but are forced to do it. It’s like being forced to appreciate a work of art you cannot understand!

So towards the end I would like to wish all past, present, future, engineers and those who appreciate the contributions of this invaluable stream, a very Happy Engineers Day!

Tryst With Destiny Revisited

15th August 1947,

India gains the status of being an Independent country. Having broken the bonds of slavery and finally gaining the control of their own destiny.

The times are Tumultuous. Uncertainty hangs over the head of the country having a population of 350 million. What is in the future? No one knows, but what every  person shares then is the feeling which has no substitute, which can never be faked, which can not be given  partially, which when a person desires it, there is no stopping them. Freedom.  The status of finally being able to call themselves, an Indian.  
Cut to 65 years later. Present day India, far from what anyone at that time could foresee , from a country taking its first steps, to what is now a soon to be super power in the world. Don’t think that I do not know about the problems our country is facing. The corruption, the apathy, the ignorance has definitely reached a breaking point, but what we really need to appreciate today is the fact that we can voice our opinions. We have the liberty to demand accountability. We have a right to be creators of our own destiny. We do not have to imagine “What if..” or wish for “If only..” we have the opportunities and the shot. I am not praising our present government in any way. If anything I  think they should know that this freedom which we have has a potential for making or marring the destiny of our "political masters" and not the other way round. I praise the spirit of this beautiful country. I praise the people. I applaud the independence that  drives us as citizens to support our country. I  praise the liberty assured to me by the will of this country, that makes me want to be known as a native of it. The constitution is but a piece of paper, it is the ideals on which it is based that truly assures me of freedom. Unlike the leaders or paper, ideals can never be killed, and can never be lost. Ideals cannot be destroyed, subdued at the most but never crushed, as to destroy an ideal would mean to destroy every believer of it, which by far cannot be done by anyone. This day I ask you, not only Indians, but all people who reside in a free  nation, to give a minute of your time to acknowledge the freedom which you have. To embrace it. To love it. To cherish it. To fight for it and to protect it, for without our freedom we are nothing but  puppets. Nothing but subjects. Nothing but mindless drones not seeming fit to mind themselves.
So today, for our country, for its civilization, for the ideals, for the principles, but most importantly for you and for me let us remember  the importance of this   right we have, and vow to defend it and justify it to the best of our abilities. Even though I don’t don the uniform  of a government official/ armed force member, today as a citizen of this country I say the following phrase with utmost belief, hope and courage because I believe in freedom. I believe in India  
Jai Hind!

This point of Time In My Life. Now.

Today was a pretty good day. I just had 3  hours of classes, and was otherwise free, and generally spent the day hanging out with my friends. I still however for some reason have a feeling that something is not complete. No its not about my electronics homework. I think it has something to do more with how I am biding my time, so putting on my proverbial philosophical hat here goes,

What is the most important thing for anyone? To be happy. Not in the way of having the last piece of cake, but like a deeper feeling of contentment. The ever so elusive, moment of "zen". So naturally it should follow that we spend our entire time striving to stay in that heavenly zone. Why is it that such moments are so fleeting for the majority? Why do we have that nagging feeling of "bleh" (excuse the lingo). A sense of irritation mixed with two part discontentment. It might be because we often allow small things to dictate our moods to quite an unhealthy extent. We tend to focus so much on the small details that we tend to miss the bigger picture. A consistent sense of anxiety and tension fuelled by a society that praises the achievers who are there ironically because they enjoy what they do. They know the essentials and what to work on, while most of us start losing our cool over small barely noticeable issues (in the larger scheme of things).


So what is the solution? Just giving a retarded smile when your boss/professor/satan is demanding an explanation for your mistakes? No, the solution would be to actually try to find  out "where did I go wrong?". To realise that the guy doesn't have any personal bone to pick with you. Try to interpret it as he expected a much better standard from you and was so dissapointed that he hid it by going to classic psycho defense mechanisms (Works for me :P). As for the personal feeling of loss and dissapointment, that is what would sting the most, but the thing to remember here is, " The battle is not over till the last man fights." So keep swinging with optimism  because  giving up does surprisingly nothing to help you get a solution.

So perhaps the solution to leaving this state of angst is to always tackle any problem with a positive attitude and to know that nothing is the end of the world!
Cheers to that mates! :)

One of "Those" Days

In the words of the slightly irritating, Miley Cyres, yes "Everybody has those Days".
Funnily enough, mine seem to occur at regular intervals, basically whenever I feel that my life is at its nadir, and some other friend/acquantince/enemy/random guy who i met at a random party  is having the time of his life.(Patrick Swayze, envy man :/)

As one of my greatest flaw, my tendency to dwell upon the futile to irritating extents, kicks in here and I start pondering on how  I landed up here, and ultimately it all boils down to the samething, MY sorrow is not because I am sad at my own fate, it is because lady luck, chose to shine upon, "That guy/girl".As a matter of fact, there are few things which I regret doing in life (thinking I like bittergourd is one of them).
Does it sound petty?Yes.Does it sound childish?Yes.Infact it even sounds a little narcissitic, but THAT is an entirely different minefield, lets not go there.

So what makes us humans tick this way?The desire of happiness, I guess. I believe ultimately all our feelings which we despise, have their root in what we desire. For example a person who expects the world from himself, will never actually be satisfied. A person who looks to dominate over others, will never actually be able to become a leader, etc. Ultimately I would believe it all boils down to two things,1) how long you can carry baggage like this with you.2) How good of a facade can you keep up(including to yourself).

Ofcourse it is different for different people, If say my best friend qualified for something that he deserved I
would be ecstatic, not writing as if the world is my agony aunt :P.

So is this post immature. Maybe.Is this post talking about stuff that only happens to me?No!.
In the epic saga 3 Idiots (saga because I personally believe, the life of every engineering student is a battle that deserves its own, book/movie/merchandise)
The protagonist, and his best friend, are at first shocked when they fail to see the name of their best friend on the result sheet, but when they get to know that he stood first, the protagonist notes "Today we learnt something new about human nature, agar dost fail hota hai toh dukh hota hai.Agar first aata hai, toh double dukh hota hai" (the gist ) (If a friend fails, its sad.If he comes first its sadder.)

Does this mean I do not like that friend/random guy ?No What it means is I think "I just wanted more".I am pretty sure this would be a recognised social phenomena, occuring right from sports, to terrorism!!
I wish I had a poem for this time, but sorry!So let me just type a few lines randomly.

I wish for my friend success
I guess I asked the Lord in excess.
And now when he finally grants my wish,
I feel as if I have been stuck with the stinking fish.

Its funny I come second to blame,
the primary target is my fate, and its aim.
Funnily enough I know how this works, this discrepancy
had I been my friend, and my friend me
the same thing would occur , the irony I swear would not be lost on him or me!

Sensitising Youth Towards The Differentially Abled

In our university, there is a compulsory subject common to all streams for their duration of studies. Behavioural Science. Now in this subject we get out marks for a mid term exam, our journals, end of semester viva, and a SAP (aka Social Awareness Project). Now the reason for this is so as to have an overall development of the student. For this semester, and this post infact, the topic is "Sensitising Youth Towards the Differentially Abled".

The first time that we got this topic in class, half of us were, asleep.Barely paying attention. Though in the last week the amount of projects, movies and presentations  we have seen I have atleast found a change in my attitude towards the differentially abled.

It is wrong for us to discriminate against them, make them feel as if they are lesser beings than us. Ofcourse neither should we pity them to an extent that it makes them feel morose about thier own condition, as it might only be a minute of our time, but they would feel like that for the rest of their life.

The need of the hour is to change our outlook. Give them just a helping hand, but do not make them feel they NEED it. Do not be proud or complacent about helping them, rather just think of it as helping just another fellow human. Nothing more, nothing less. A shift of this kind might actually remove the stigma in our society that dictates the end of  productivity if one becomes physically or mentally challenged.

A poem which summarises it better than the prose above :-

A life born a little different from me and you,

does not mean their existence is any less true.

Do not treat them as a second citizen,

give them a chance they can be the President.

They dream and desire,

even they have passions burning like fire.

Give them a chance to show their skill,

you'll then see the true power of determined will.

They are not handicapped just differently abled,

to hell with this pratice of giving a label.

Einstien, Beethoven, others in thier field unrivaled,

to them their disability was a mere trifle.

Wake up! Embrace the wind of change,

because no matter what might be their challenge, the sky is the range!!

War...A Soldiers Shout.

The loss of happiness, the set of gloom
these tell you the ushering of doom.

Death is barging through the door,
taking anyone new or from before.

All because of some fight over some land
or what one worships with folded hands.

The grim reaper appears ready for his job,
he fails to see the families sob.

The leaders decide when its time,
to them the personal effect is not worth  dime.

Children still exploring the world,
into the battlefield they are hurled.

Soldiers still in their active prime
maimed and injured, their life is now a mime.

To see the fall of friends and "foes"
each death a horror dose.

A polite request i ask of you,
do not honour war the way you do.

impressive is the fact they sacraficed their lives,
useless the need for such a sacrafice.

Respect the people departed in their death before time.
Make sure humanity never again falls to this grime.

Do not tell them its their job to die,
even they will tell you, "Sir you lie."
My job is defending the country, not dying like a lamb,
protecting the country till the extent i can.

"I wont mind walking in the blaze,
but, you i fear cannot see beyond the 'glory' haze"

If yoou see, you will observe the reality, the truth,
War is not necessary for survival of me and you.

It is on Judgement Day,
when God asks me"Where do you want to go?"
I will say to the almighty, "Give me one last chance,
to destroy the sorrow of present and past."

I shall then with my bare hands
destroy War, as painfully as i can.