Celebrating the Democracy of India

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The Republic Day Parade.. An overwhelming view

Republic Day Rants

We, The people of India, celebrated our 56th Republic Day, yesterday. I have just read the full text of address to the nation by The President of India on the eve of 56th Republic day, 2005. Its definitely not another boring speech by another political leader, it is in fact a mission statement, focussing on need and means of employment generation and there by transforming India into a developed nation by 2020.

Mr. President Dr. Kalam, undoubtedly is the most thoughtful and visionary leader India has seen in last few decades. He finished his address to the nation (like most of his speeches) with quoting following piece from Thirukkural:

People who elevate the thoughts,
through constant reflection,
and be steadfast in their action,
will positively achieve,
what they originally thought.

- Thirukkural (200 BC) 666

After reading these lines by Thiruvalluvar, I started thinking and then I elevated my thoughts, and there were reflections of those thoughts. These thoughts are non-sequential, random, unorganized, inconclusive, some rational and some perhaps irrational ... but they are what they are... they are what I am thinking today.

~.::.~
In school days it used to be a special day (along with Independence Day) for number of reasons...
-One, it was Indian Republic day, even if I did not really know what it meant, i felt very proud about this fact.
-Two, saluting The Tricolor being unfurled at school and singing national anthem with all enthusiasm and as loud as possible made me feel like a real patriot.
-Three, it was a day when i used to buy/steal from friends as many national flags as possible and decorate my study table.
-Four, listening to those speeches during Republic Day cultural program @ school about the great Indian freedom struggle, made me feel proud of freedom fighters. I also used to be sad thinking why was I born in independent India? if only I was born during those days I too would have given my life for nations cause, having little realization of what it actually means to leave every single thing you have.. (money, status, family, career), and dedicate all your life for your country.. nothing else but your country.
-Five, this day there were no boring classes, no homework, no tests in school.
-Six, somehow we were crazy about the sweets distributed in the school on this day.

~.::.~
Today 26th Jan.. its just a Holiday. A day when I perhaps do not feel any of the things that I felt in childhood, and why should I? I have grown up now, and its only natural that I do not react to this day in the fashion I used to as a kid. Okay I may not sing loudly the national anthem, I may not run around the streets holding Tricolor in my hands, but that does not make me lesser patriotic than what I was in my childhood.

But still there is something missing somewhere, even if I still feel strongly about my country, why don't I feel any enthusiasm about this day at all? Why is Republic day (or for that matter Independence Day) reduced to just another holiday, to a day when terrorist organizations always want to attack & disrupt govt celebrations in Delhi or other state capitals, to a day when police arrangements to prevent any terrorist action very ironically end up making us feel less independent.

~.::.~
In contradiction to what I used to think in my childhood days about giving away my life for country, today all I did when Tsunami occurred, was to donate some amount out of my pay cheque. Is that enough thing to do? I know even this small contribution will perhaps help bring a smile on someone's face, but again was that all I could have done???

I thought of taking few days vacation from my job and actually going to affected places and physically contributing to relief and rehab measures being taken post tsunami. As is the fact, there is no dearth of relief material, but what is lacking is the number of volunteers actually helping people with this money/material to build up their lives all over again. I thought of doing it, and within a day I was convinced that I can not really take work-off right in the beginning of the year because of professional compulsions, the project deadlines that i have to meet and all that bull shit...

Eh... so much from a person who once thought of giving away his life for country if he was born in british ruled India.

~.::.~
I those kid days, i used to paint my own paper tricolor, and also used to buy several tricolored flags from street kids of my age, and I never found anything strange about it. Now as I think about it... Those street kids are still there, making there day-to-day living by selling tricolor flags which celebrate our independence, our democratic fabric. But what does independence mean to that kid? what does India being republic mean to that kid?

....
I know there is lot more I can do, in fact by doing my job effectively too I am in someway contributing to the country. In fact this IT boom that India has witnessed over the past decade, which has done wonders to Indian economy, I am a part of it, and I am contributing my bit in making India one of the known and recognized forces in knowledge/IT industry.

But that alone is not enough if we really want to see changes in our life time, because changes wont come just by cribbing or talking or blogging about our problems, they need some action. An action in positive direction, an action with determination, why do we need to be under foreign rule for a true revolution to take place? Why cant we stop cribbing about our politicians, bureaucrats etc etc, and actually do something to change the scenario, which we all do not like.

Will I stop here? Will I forget about it? Will I work towards it? or will I again take shelter of my pressing work schedules, project deadlines etc etc to convince myself that I have already done my bit by writing this post?

Jai Hind!

Weekend, that was

After much hue and cry in media over Kareena & Shahid smooching in public, I witnessed something even more bizarre last friday. I was at Priya, where I spotted a pretty girl licking Shahrukh Khan's lips, and even as she was doing it, a friend of her was taking pictures. Hold on... before you start crying for not being at Priya on friday evening, Shahrukh Khan is still there unphased, smiling, endorsing his brand as he does everyday looking out of the 'Tag Heuer' advertising board. Girls.... are you insane, there were so many dude's around, and yet you choose to smack a advertisement board with your lipstick. Think Beyond.... for Gods sake!!!

As if the kiss-SRK event was not enough, I ended up watching Kisna - The Warrier Poet. AAAAAAHHHHH!!!!! How can someone make such a movie?? It's such a crap. I don't even want to talk about it. Oh yes, it reminded me of the old doordarshan tv series 'Vikram aur Betaal', where Betaal used to dangle on a tree upside-down in every episode.

***
Met Swati yesterday after a long long long time. As she said, she narrowly missed giving me a 'Royal Ditch' before going back to Hyderabad :o) For once we thoroughly enjoyed her delayed flight, as this gave us a couple of hours to talk our heart out to each other. As usual two hours were way too less for that, given that we were meeting after more than a year. She has also promised (aaah!!) that she'll be letting me know her views on few things by posting comments on my blog. Swati, you better do it fast.... btw, it was wonderful to meet you. If you think I'm being modest, then you are absolutely right ;-)

Quotes from 'The Alchemist'

"Its the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."

"The dunes are changed by the wind, but the desert never changes, that's the way it will be with our love for each other."

"When a person really desires something, all the universe conspires to help that person to realize his dream."

A Shadow Lost In The Night

Why do you want to get rid of me?
We are inseparable
I exist because of you
I exist for you
I am your shadow, am I lost in the night?

I don't fear the night
Coz night is just a phase
The darkness gives me fright
Oh! so tough to erase.

This night is no real
Coz nights come and go
The day arrives in between
Presenting my show.

Have you closed all the windows
Even the slits between doors
And confined yourself to darkness
Hoping that I would go.

This artificial night
Will never see a day
And I may eventually die
Though I really wanna stay.

If ever comes a time
When you'll need some light
I'll have a re-birth
When the candle shines bright.

Because.....
We are inseparable
I exist because of you
I exist for you
I am your shadow, and I am never lost in the night.

(c) Kopyrite 2005
Addicted... by AmitKen

Hehe ... Well this certainly is not an attempt to outdo genious of Enembius. Reading the poem by E, which i posted in my prev post, set me thinking. And somehow this triggered flow of some of my rarest creative juices, which resulted in something which "I" prefer to call a poem. This is a very humble yet brave attempt, and it adds to my 'countable-on-fingers' collection of self written poems.

All you guys better write some rave comments about this attempted poetry. The poet in me needs encouragement. C'mmon what are you waiting for? Everyone atleast write 10 comments each..... hahaha :))

Praising E!

My Blog-Yaar Enembius is a genius. He writes proses and poems, he draws wonderful sketches, he comments candidly, and the weird pictures that he posts on his blog are amazing. In all his blog is a collage depicting various moods and moments.. So colorful. Visit Him.

E!, I am borrowing one of your poems which I liked much and posting it here. Hoping that you wont mind. :-)

:~............:::::::............~:

Just you and the sky
A cave by the sea
Fire in your heart
and Ashes on your soul

Try try like youve never tried before
Climb climb even though your heart is torn
You cant kill an immortal soul
You cant reap what hasnt sown
The child inside has never grown
Some things just wont die

Does she cry when she thinks i cant see her
Does she hide from the fact that i need her
Does she want me at all or am I just nothing more
Than a shadow lost in the night

Is there a certain look in her eye
A crookedness in her smile
Does she know that im there
Does she know how i care
Does she dream about me at night?

- by Enembius.

Good Day

It's a wonderful sunny morning. The winds still have that chill in them, and the sun is comforting. I am set to begin my day a little earlier than a usual Wednesday to complete some urgent work even before I get to office. All geared up to combat the chilled winds, with jacket, gloves and helmet I start vroooming rapidly in the busy streets of Delhi, riding bike in pure 'dilli ishtyle' with pace, swiftly changing lanes as per my convenience. The winds sometimes dodge my helmet, managing to sneak inside and touch my neck. They cause a sweetly painful feeling.

And finally the inevitable happens... I reach the dreaded traffic signal, and its showing Red. The red color annoys me, I slow down and finally halt cursing the truck driver who didn't give me enough side to cross the signal before it changed color.

The counter on the signal shows there are still 113 seconds for it to turn back to green. As i am waiting for 'green' thinking about i-donno-what, I suddenly realize that i dont really have any reason to get annoyed about anything. Its a perfect morning, and I am going to do some work which i wanted to get over with eagerly. 'Its going to be a good day' ... I tell myself, still wondering why was I annoyed at God-knows-what a few moments back. The pretty-girl-from-behind (alas! I could not see her face) who is on the wheel of the car ahead of me somehow strengthens my belief. 'it's already a good day' i tell myself again, this time with a smile.

I see a lightening somewhere, taking me out of my momentary visit to 'the LOST'.

He is just 7/8 years old(or rather young). And its his unusual smile which caused that lightening. He is wearing a navy blue loose trouser, dirty shirt which must have been white in color someday. The dirt is also visible on his face and the uncovered parts of his hands. He is holding a dirty cloth in his hand, rapidly moving between halted cars on the signal, wiping the dust on the car windshield and asking the car owner money in return of his service. Most of the car owners shoo him away, some perhaps fearing that the already dirty cloth in his hand will get their car dirtier, and some car owners with that look of disgust in their eyes which says that they hate the mere existence of half-naked, dirty kids asking for money on the roads. A very few car owners oblige, and take out a Rupee coin for him.

But the kid is unaffected by the looks that people give him. He has that innocent smile on his face almost constantly, which should be their on every kids face. He doesn't seem to be bothered by his poor state. He looks excited, vibrant, all charged up and that amusing innocent smile is shown through his body language. This kid perhaps should have been in a school, studying and playing with kids of his age, leading a pleasant childhood, being pampered by his parents. But here he is.. all ready to earn for his days living, and perhaps also for his younger bro/sis or a sick mom. And still he has that pure smile on his face....

His eyes finally meet mine, I cant help but smile at him, he smiles back, i can sense the spark and naughtiness in his eyes. He comes towards me, and asks 'Gaadi chamka doon?', and without waiting for my response he goes behind me towards another car. Perhaps he thought of making more money by cleaning a Car rather than a motorbike. I turn back and watch him disappear behind the cars waiting for the signal to turn green.

The colour finally changes to Green, I vroooom ahead, still thinking about that lightening smile, that spark in the eye....

Will 'he' have a Good Day today?

LOL

Saturday night we(= Me+Sachin+Sheelu+Nitin+Pinky) had dinner at Sheelu's place. And it was a hillarious evening.. I dont remember laughing so much in recent past. All of us shared some stupid, crazy moments and incidents pulled from memory lanes, and all of us were rolling on the floor with lungs daring to come out of our mouth...

One of the incidents that made us laugh the most...

Cast--
TOAO : The One and Only (a dear friend of us, one of those high-on-muscles-low-on-brains-but-pure-of-heart guys)
AFGF: Another Friends' Girl Friend

Scene--
TOAO is riding his motorbike, with AFGF on pillion seat. They stop on a Traffic Signal, just then out of no where a Stray Bull - 'the Bail' comes strawling on the road and stops very near to the bike. AFGF, the poor girl, is terrified to find the four legged animal so close to her)

AFGF : "TOAO Bhaiya!! .... TOAO Bhaiyaaa!!!" (screaming)
TOAO : (no reaction - perhaps unable to hear anything because of traffic noice)
AFGF : "TOAO Bhaiya!! .... TOAO Bhaiyaaa!!!" (Again)
TOAO : (realises that something is wrong, turns back and sees the Bull, right behind him)
TOAO : "Why the hell are you shouting 'TOAO.. TOAO..' , when you should shout 'Bull.. Bull..' "
AFGF : (puzzled with this unexpected outburst of TOAO) "Is there a difference ?!?"

Maktub!!!

I am reading 'Alchemist' these days. Initially I found it to be a very ordinary and perhaps overhyped book. But as I am reading through the pages, I am finding it interesting. I still have not finished it, but after my last nights reading, it set me thinking. I have not yet reached to any landmark in my thinking process, once I do will write more about it...

One thought though... If given a choice what would I like to be 'A Santiago' or 'An Alchemist'? I am still unable to decide. May be I need an 'omen'....

Maktub!

God, Gajar and Winters

God has blessed us all with some really cool abilities, and the more we enjoy them the closer we get to God. I somehow believe that winter season is the right season to feel God.In winters the ability to create those mini-clouds from the breath-turned-smoke coming out of my mouth makes me feel closer of being 'The Creator'. However it's not exactly this 'creating' ability which is that close to my heart and it is certainly not something rest of my post will focus on.

Out of many things that God has blessed us with, two of my all time favorites are Sleeping and Eating. Wise men (and women) may argue that in case of both these abilities, its the quality which matters and not the quantity. However my 'Garfieldness' begs to differ ...

I believe that sleeping and eating both give immense pleasure when you have them in great quantity along with the all important quality. If one does accomplish these two activities the right way it brings us closer to God. Who can deny the heavenly pleasure one gets in sleeping a few minutes more in that warm n cozy blanket/rajai on a foggy winter morning. Similarly the variety of vegetables and food that winters offer is unmatched.

During the recent vacations and weekends I did my best to sleep a lot and cover for the deficiencies that were caused in prior months due to my hectic work schedules. And these days I feel pretty much content about the amount of sleep I get. However on this saturday morning a strange thing happened....

I was still in my warm blanket, half asleep - half awake, there were millions of thoughts coming in and going out of my mind indiscriminately at the same time, i was in that strange undescribable stage which i was probably enjoying. I was floating in a pond of laziness, hoping that Sachin - my cousin, who was perhaps reluctantly getting ready to go to office (courtesy his boss), would come and ask if I would like to have a cup of coffee or chai with him. And even as i was going through all this, i heard a distant voice and after a brief gap the same voice came again.. I tried to wake up little more and listen to that voice. Few moments passed and the voice seemed to be coming closer to me, and then finally i could hear it. It was a vegetable vendor, shouting aloud even as he was selling Carrots... "Gajar Le Lo....."

CARROTS!!!

I was suddenly as fresh as a bright red fresh carrot. Carrots brought the taste of 'Gajar Halwa' in my mouth. "Gajar Halwa" is to winters what Mango is to summers. That moment passed and I was feeling bad... feeling bad for not having visited home since Diwali and hence not having tasted 'Gajar Halwa' made by the best cook of the world - My Mom. The realization that its just two more months, Jan & Feb, and then winters will be over and I have not had any good Gajar Halwa this winter season, filled me with anxiety. I have already bought it from various sweets shops in town, and tried it in almost all wedding parties that i attended this winter season, but none of them came even close to Mom-made Gajar Halwa. Suddenly i felt home sick, i wanted to be back home in Kanpur, with my mom and dad (a great food lover). But i knew that it would be atleast two more week before i can go home over a weekend. It was on that moment that I made my first new year resolution.

On sunday evening I took up my biggest ever cooking project. After a long discussion with mom on how to's of preparing gajar halwa, i had bought all necessary ingredients. The chilling january winds and a gloomy weather made me even more determined. I had decided that it was time to act myself to satisfy my taste buds. I was dedicated to my mission. Even as I was very much within the walls of my kitchen, now smelling with fragrance of milk and carrots, outside the house a thick layer of fog had started covering the sky. After two and half hours the roads were covered with fog and the visibility had reduced to 100 meters, and inside my kitchen i was proudly seeing the completion of my project, with which i had loads of hopes. Final product was ready, it was looking and smelling good. I decided about being a bit religious this evening and offered Naivedya to Sri Ganesha. It's rather a funny ritual, on all auspicious occasions we offer Gods with some good food first, before we consume them ourselves. Do we do it just because we know that the idol of God is never actually going to consume that food? I wonder what will happen to this ritual if people find that God is actually eating the Naivedya offered to Him. However in my case if was even more funny.. I had prepared Gajar Halwa for the first time in my life, not knowing how it was going to taste, and I offered it to God. God must be thinking 'this guy is acting smart, he is testing his food on me' :-))

Anyways... I assumed that God has accepted my offering and then I gave it to Sachin to first taste it, he tasted a spoonful of Gajar Halwa, I was watching him closely, a moment passed and he finally said.. "Sahi hai Yaar!!! ... "

That was it, I had successfully accomplished my first project of the new year. It came out to be really tasty and delicious.

My first ever and unprecedented project of 2005 was a huge success. I hope the entire year is equally sweet, delicious and full of success.

Yum!!! my mouth is watering. I'll go have some more Gajar Halwa!

:o)