Dude.....seriously????

So there I was, sitting at the dining table on a Sunday morning reading the jokes in the paper ( say what you will; fat,lazy orange cats are always hilarious), when I noticed the supplement. You know, the nonsense that gets printed on flashy paper with pictures of supposedly seductive looking B grade actresses.

On said flashy paper, was a rather delightful ( for lack of a better word) article named- 3 Mistakes of the decade ( apparently a play on the name of some cheap, random book) . The author's name escapes me ( predictably, a very forgettable one). I do remember reading about him in the past though. You know, the leader of the NEW breed of Indian fiction authors. One of those IIT and IIM graduates who decided that being investment bankers just isn't enough for them.

But I digress. The writer decided that at the end of the decade, it was time( and apparently loads of fun, because the article had a picture of him on the side smiling like a 1000 watt advertisement sign) to remind the country of its worst mistakes this decade. And the winners are- ( If you like, you can picture Scarlett Johannson or some other blonde bombshell saying this; whatever gets you going)

1- The Agra Summit ( July 2001)

2-The Godhra Riots (Feb 2002)

3- The Commonwealth Games 2010

For a variety of reasons, i've decided to comment mainly on the last one.

Take your pick from the list of reasons

1- The first two occurred when I was too young to even know or care about what was happening to the country

2- Generally when there are 3 mistakes/options...the author intends that the 3^rd would be the biggest

3- I'm lazy ( read point 2)

The Commonwealth Games 2010
A disaster all the way ( yeah... tell that to the 101 medals that we won, and all the new talent that has sprung up) and enough has been said on why it is so(and yet you keep writing , I wonder why ). The games cost too much(printing stuff like that previous line on flashy paper also costs quite a bit ,did u know?), most of the world doesn't even care about them (the US, China, Japan and most of Europe is not part of the Commonwealth)(for someone who keeps writing about how we shouldn't suck up to the western countries , you seem to really want to do stuff that grabs their attention), there was rampant corruption, it didn't change the sporting culture in the country(again...101 medals,ring any bells? ), there were quality and hygiene issues(as you have pointed out in all your books, This Is India...what have you come to expect? FYI, Secunderabad railway station is supposed to be the cleanest railway station in India..ever been there?), India got its worst PR in decades internationally(no, the worst PR was when an iit/iim graduate decided that he could write well and should therefore...become an author. He actually managed to write 3 or 4 of them!), the government has still not punished the culprits and frankly, the athletes would have won their medals abroad even if we didn't host them( we won 101 medals in 2010, 50 in 2006....and since you've been so quick to mention that there has been no change in the sporting culture....i wonder how we managed it) . Under the garb of good intentions, one of the biggest scams in independent Indian history was executed (try as I might , I can't disagree *sniff* ). The only silver lining is that the scam was exposed and it somewhat changed the public's passive attitude towards corruption. More scams have come out since, and people are following the story, waiting for the culprits to be punished this time. It is an expensive way to fix things, but may still be worth it.( I'm sorry...we're making headway when it comes to curbing corruption....and it's still a mistake? I'm sorry, I seem to have lost track of time...since when has corruption NOT been the biggest problem in this country?)

Seriously, how do you call peace talks and communal riots ' mistakes of the decade'? Thats as bad as saying that Justin Bieber is the ' artist of the century'!! ( ok...ill admit...its not that bad..but still! ) True...they weren't exactly the happiest times for the country...but to call them mistakes?

You want mistakes? I'll give you some examples.

Government not legalizing marijuana . Mistake

Letting Himesh Reshammiya act. Mistake

Letting Rakhi ka Swayamvar infect our televisions. Mistake

Letting the Twilight series release in India. Big mistake

My point being this....you want to be critical of our country...do it in your books. Dont let it take up precious space in the paper. Just so you know, they could easily have fit pictures of 2 hot models in the space that your article took up. Perhaps even three if they were of size zero... Think about that.......

NOTE TO AUTHOR-

While the tone of the above article might make you think I don't like you, I should let you know I'm a huge fan. I've got a 'smashingly' original idea for a novel that you can write. Its about a young pale looking girl who gets into IIT. On her first day she falls in love with this hot 10 pointer nerd who turns out to be a vampire.... I'm telling you.... It's going to be legen.....

Losing My Senses

Employee

8.45 pm ....hmm...15 minutes before the 'big' man left the office. Yes... I mean the President himself, the master of puppets in this pathetic excuse of a workplace. Don’t get me wrong, being the Head of Marketing of a huge company does have its perks.But still...all i could dream of in my inebriated state was having his life! Now, the Boss was one man who definitely had it good. Look at him...He had everything!! Loads of money, good looks, the works! His social groups included the rich and the mighty. He partied with the new Governor, a personal friend of his. He had a beautiful beach house. He was married to one of the most beautiful women of the world. Rumour had it that he was even going at it with the wife one of the vice-presidents of the company( The wife of the head of Logistics, i hear)

And yet....it seemed unfair. Why was he the Boss and not me? I remember twenty years ago, we were good friends; teenagers with a big dream. A vision, that one day, we would make it big in the world. And by God, did we manage it! But here's the problem.Everyone knows that I've always been the smarter one. Everyone, including him, knows that it was my brains that got the two of us to the top. And yet,for some inexplicable reason, he was the Boss, and not me. I, on the other hand, was made to watch as he soared in the financial circles. I was rich as well, no doubt about that, but just not as rich as him! While he was going around with a multitude of gorgeous women, I had to go home late every night to my pregnant wife( who, for some reason, just didn't seem to want me around any longer)

Why?

What had he done that I hadn't ??

And in one fell swoop, I made a decision. Enough was enough. For too long had I been the man in the background; and I was sick of it. Perhaps it was the whisky that was doing this to me. Yet somehow, in that haze of alcohol, things seemed crystal clear to me. It was time to take matters into my own hands. Everything that he had rightfully belonged to me. And now was my chance to take it back.

Except for the two of us, the office was deserted ( Being ONE of the big guns did have its advantages) . I opened my drawer and took out my prized possession. Yes, there it was…a .45 Walther pistol . That really did bring back memories. It had originally been part of a set of two. And guess who had the other one? Yes, twenty years ago, when we were still the best of friends, the Boss and I had decided to pick up the set. A token of our …well, brotherly love for each other. But why go there? All that was important to me at the time was the fact that it was still loaded….and it felt so good.

I slowly made my way to his office. Everything seemed to happen so slow, and yet inexplicably , a blur as well. Everything else seemed pointless to me. All I knew was that I wanted blood. His

I walked into his office. He was sitting right there at his desk, staring into space. I called out to him. He looked up, and in his eyes I saw something strange…resentment. Odd! But I had more important things to take care of. I raised the gun, and kept pulling the trigger.

By God, it was loud!! And surprisingly painful… I looked down, and watched the blood spurt out of my chest…. This was not going to be fun.

Boss

Why him? Of all the men’s wives who I had to fall for, why did it have to be the man who brought me to the top? The man, who as a boy, and shared a dream with me. A dream to make it big.

Everything had been going fine till last year. True, I had been overworking him, but for a reason . Having mingled with all the right people, I knew some things that most others didn’t. The state needed a new Governor, and They had asked me for a suggestion. And I had given his name. Sadly,to make him seem like a viable candidate, he had to be tested. He had to prove that he could take the pressure. He couldn’t.

And then, as he turned to alcohol, I tried to help him. I went to his wife to see what we could do about him. Oh God!! Everything went so wrong then..I couldn’t control myself. She was a beautiful woman, in an unhappy marriage. They had been trying to have a child for a year, and it wasn’t going so well. She was vulnerable, and I …like a fool, unwittingly took advantage of that…

When she told me she was pregnant, everything became clear to me. I wanted the life he had. It didn’t seem fair. I was the richer one obviously, but it was his wife I fell in love with. I was so bloody jealous of him. He had everything he needed. And I wanted it.I wanted to be able to father that child that was growing inside of her. My child…

It seemed so unfair. I loved her, and he was the one who got to go home to her every night. He was the one who got to kiss her when he got home. Not me.. And why?? God alone knew.

All I knew was that I wanted him out of the way. That child would be mine, not his.

I realized what I had to do…and It wasn’t going to be easy. He had, after all been like a brother to me in the past.

And then suddenly, he walked in. And I just lost it. I was mad at him, and I would make him pay. In a flash, I had the drawer opened and I had taken out the Walther. I was going to sever every bond we had. I pulled the trigger.

Funny…I never expected it to hurt so much. I watched as he fell slowly to the ground. And then, I noticed the gun in his hand. My vision started to blur. Everything was going cold.

Bridging the Gap

Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi and Rohan Bopanna lost in the US Open finals. Big deal….someone always loses right? Yet, Their feat still deserves applause. Qureshi and Bopanna lost to the top seeds, Bob and Mike Bryan, after a well-fought match. Again,if your not an avid follower of tennis, you must be wondering, who cares? Let me tell you. What gives the tennis duo's success an extra dimension is the unusual pairing. Indian and Pakistani citizens rarely join hands, even in sport. Sure, you see them in the IPL…but consider this…it really isn’t by choice, is it? Probably the only reason why sportsmen from the two countries would even bother to play together is the big fat cheque that they receive ( not to mention the fact that they were bid for by rich socialites and businessmen) .

The two tennis players have offered us a scenario rarely imagined in the subcontinent, a partnership involving Indians and Pakistanis. The Qureshi-Bopanna partnership is evidence that such a prospect can be real and rewarding. It's a model worthy of emulation not just in sports but in other spheres of human activity. I know…on first thought…the possibility of this happening is quite remote, but here is living proof ( proofs? ) that athletes from two different countries CAN forget the cultural and political differences and together indulge in their passion.What's possible in sport is surely possible in business, trade, education, and so many other sectors, isn’t it?

Here, it may be worth asking what made Qureshi and Bopanna click as a team. Bopanna summed up their success in a single word: trust. The baggage of the past may weigh down heads of states and restrict their capabilities to rise above mutual suspicion and forge a climate of peace.Now…I for one can never imagine them(the heads of states ) sitting down and have a nice chat about the latest Resident Evil flick, but shouldn’t civil societies be able to transcend such animosity and work together for a single purpose?

Look,the facts are simple. As a nation, we don’t trust Pakistan. Not one bit. And why should we. The relations between the two states are far from cordial, what with the Kargil War and the Kasmir situation. Granted, although there is no direct proof that Pakistan was in any way related to the event, the terror attacks on 26/11 have not helped strengthen our bonds either. But why should we hold it against the people of Pakistan.After all,they are human as well right? Im confident that as I type this this out… there must be some youth over 2000 km away,writing down the same about us. The relationship that exists between the two governments shouldn’t really come in the way of how one Indian citizen views his Pakistani counterpart.

One way to marginalise this adverse effect on Indo- Pak relations is for civil societies to build alliances that are not restricted by the logic of the nation state, like the Qureshi-Bopanna bonding. Once such alliances gain momentum, even states could be brought to realise the transformational potential that is present in collaboration.

Both Qureshi and Bopanna claim that they had no political motives to play as a team. In their opinion, they were brought together by sheer love of tennis. Perhaps that is true. But that one simple act of theirs has proven that we can set aside our political differences for a greater cause. Who knows? Perhaps someday, Qureshi and Bopanna might be remembered as the tennis players who brought two countries together. The flagbearers of peace. That remains to be seen.. But I hope that in the future, more sportsmen will stand together with flags of both India and Pakistan printed on their caps, ready to truly play as a team….

It’s time to bridge the gap.

Can Roger Pull Off A ‘RAFA’?

The US Open 2010 is probably the most anticipated tennis event of this year. Tennis fans all over the world ask themselves.” Can Roger Federer pull off a ‘Rafa’ , or will the King of Clay, Rafael Nadal grind his way to a Career Grand Slam”?

By the beginning of 2010, it seemed clear in every tennis fan’s mind that Roger Federer was almost unstoppable. He had cemented his place in tennis history, by winning a record 16 Grand Slam titles.The other face of tennis, Rafael Nadal, on the other hand, could not defend his Wimbledon or French Open titles( a fact which Federer calmly took advantage of),and had dropped to rank 4 in the world, his lowest in over 5 years. It seemed doubtful that he would ever make a comeback.

And then came the clay season. And out of nowhere, Nadal returned. With new dynamics and a stronger will to win( and knees…mind you) he made his way back to the grand stage.He rushed through the 3 ATP tours before the French Open, losing only 2 sets in all ( and also created two new world records) . While Federer was knocked put of the French Open quarterfinals, Nadal smoothly bludgeoned his way to the finals, without dropping a single set.In the finals, he faced his arch rival and nemesis, Robin Soderling, who had been the one to knock him out of the Open the previous year. In a stunning display of strength and agility, Nadal destroyed his opponent, leaving no doubts in anyone’s mind. The King Of clay was back, And He was there to stay.

His successful streak continued at Wimbledon,a tournament he had been forced to withdraw from the previous year. Nadal was moving ahead with a vengeance. And no one could stand in his way. In one of the shortest finals ever, he defeated his opponent, Thomas Berdych, to reclaim his Wimbledon crown.

Federer , on the other hand, was on a losing streak. He had not won a single tournament since the Australian Open. Many presume that the thirst in him had just died. After surpassing Pete Sampras in terms of Grand Slam victories, the Swiss maestro just could not deliver.

which brings us to the US open! Will Federer pull off a comeback similar to the one Rafael Nadal had? Better yet, can he? At 29 years of age, he’s no spring chicken.Yet tennis greats like Andre Aggasi had made similar comebacks and gone on to win 5 more Grand Slams. Obviously, there’s no real need for federer to even try to make a comeback. He’s already gone down in history as one of , if not the greatest player of all times. He can either bow out gracefully, or (more likely), summon up the will to make a fitting comeback. There’s only 1 glitch on federer’s resume: a 7:14 record against Nadal . I for one, am confident that federer would not want to end his career without having a say in the matter.

And can Nadal continue to win at the Arthur Ashe stadium, a Grand slam in which he has never reached the finals? His game is severly hampered( relatively of course ) on hard court, a surface on which he has the least victories. Can he make his way to the finals by sheer grit? Will federer be there to meet him?

Let’s find out…. It’s only just begun

Suicide Solution??

For the past few nights I’ve been sitting in front of my computer, thinking of something profound to write, but it may be too presumptuous to assume that my short life experience is enough to impart any great wisdom. And then suddenly, I looked around my room for inspiration and I see an old newspaper lying beneath my bed.In the dim light , he only word that I could discern was “ Suicide”. Intrigued, I went and picked it up. The paper was about two weeks old (yes,my room is that messy). And on the front page it said “ Student from Osmania University commits suicide”.

I the first time I had heard about the term suicide. I was in class 6(yes, my vocabulary was that pathetic) and writing some examination, when the principal came in and made an announcement that a student three years my senior had committed ‘suicide’ . Apparently she was scared that she had not studied enough for an exam, and reasoned that life was no longer worth living. While I did sympathize with the girl and her family, I couldn’t stop thinking to myself “ Why the hell would anyone want to do that?”

Having never really attemped to kill myself, I really cant give you the ‘insider’s view’. I’ve never had any tangible reason to want to do so. However, I will at least share with you something that I have learned.

First off, Life isn’t a bed of roses. It would be wrong for me to even pretend to dispute this fact . Sometimes it feels that everything your doing is pointless, and that you’re of no use to anybody; that no one would care whether you lived or died. This mortal existence of ours is filled with struggle and strife. In a world filled with such hate and violence, I can state with a degree of certainity that yes, Life can be a B****.

On the other hand, One needs to understand that life ( contrary to some beliefs ) IS a gift!. Despite all the problems in your life, you have to understand that life, in itself is a manifestation of such beauty that words themselves cannot fittingly express. Life is suffering. It's anguish. It's pain. And yet, we must have it--at any cost. Are you so enchanted by the thought of killing yourself that you'll overlook your love of life? And you do love it. Smell the sea, gaze at the stars at night. Watch the sunrise? Look into your heart and tell me that you're willing to make the choice of killing youself or enjoying what little time you have left .

Its said that you can either be sad that the rose came with thorns, or be happy that wih the thorns came a beautiful rose. The same holds true in the case of your life and its problems. Life is beautiful for God’s Sake! I have never been able to understand the logic of willfully surrendering such a treasure.

How dark can One’s existence be when compared to an eternal void? Unless, of course, one has faith that there is something beyond. What do a suicide victims see? A bright light at the end of the tunnel? Is it a ray of hope? A glimmer of something better? Or will it burn you like the rising sun? Do they hear the trumpeting of St Peter’s angels, or the tortured screams of Lucifer’s many slaves?

We can't really answer that, can we? Because we’el will never know the answer until after the deed is done. Are you really willing to go to such lengths to test your faith?And is your faith really that strong? If it is, then know this too! Every faith teaches that life is a treasure itself, and is meant to be lived and enjoyed as such.

I understand the need to move on. Sometimes the pain does become seemingly unbearable. It is something that happens to us all. But if your time has truly come, I also understand that with the beauty of this life, there comes pain and despair. No one is immune. But consider what you have in your hands! Don't trade a treasure for an empty box!

Look, I know that I haven’t suffered as much as a lot of other people have, so Im probably not the best person to be giving a discourse on how beautiful life is. I do know this however. Life is short, and its meant to be lived to its fullest until the last moment. Don’t try to cut it short. Stick around and enjoy the ride!

What IF??

A few days back I was sitting in the back of a car when the car stopped in front of a red light. Looking outside the window I saw a beggar approach the car, begging for alms. He was about the same age as I was. The difference : He was a beggar on the streets and I was a college student who went by car to college everyday. And then came the doubt-“ If I had been born into harder circumstances, would I still be able to shine like I had?”

Until then I had had a rather perfect life. I grew up in a good household . I had a loving brother,amazing parents and grandparents who doted on me and did almost everything for my happiness. I had had a good education. I had been one of the top students in school.I had excelled in debating, swimming and table tennis.I had joined one of the best colleges in the country and was very happy there.

The nagging thought persisted. Could I? What if? I begun to secretly fantasize about myself being born in an underprivileged home and succeeding at school through sheer grit. The thought was constantly present at the back of my mind, ”Like familiar weights in my hand” , just waiting to be pulled out and thrown around the edge of my conscious. However, it remained unassailable and unmoved. And it gently taunted me. There was no way I would ever know the answer to my question.

And it is this unanswerable question that fils me with rage .And it is this rage that endeavors me to push harder. To prove to people that I have achieved this success by MY effort and determination. That I am where I am today due to my own merit.

Could I have made it if I was born into harder circumstances? I’d never find out, and spending each day trying to prove that I could doesn’t help. But some questions can be answered. What do you want to achieve in this life? Are you ready to work hard for it?

I do not know if that beggar has asked himself this as yet.I do not know if he could achieve more in life but is just so disillusioned by the world that he refuses to work any more.

It’s been said that you only have one life, so you should try to live it. I don’t know about him…. But I intend to do so.

A Day In The Life

Monday

When I woke this morning and began to go about my normal routine I slowly became aware that I was different. I had, in short, become a rock.(Sorry Alok!!)

"I am a rock; I am an island”…..I loved the concept when Simon and Garfunkel sang about it. Now however, it seemed a little strange.

Feeling a little unsettled I decided I wasn’t hungry and anyway I had never heard of a rock eating breakfast. So instead I set off to the LTC(late for class as usual) with my simple rock thoughts. The journey to the LTC was uneventful and no one seemed to take any notice of my ‘rockishness’. When I arrived I felt it was only fair to discreetly tell a few of the key people around me what had happened.

“Err, Sir, I thought I’d better tell you. I may not be functioning quite to my best potential today. You see I’ve become a rock. I think I should skip classes for a week or so.”

He laughed and walked off. ‘Well’, I thought in that laid back way that only rocks can, that was a success, he doesn’t seem to mind.

I was filled with confidence. “Hey dude, Look I can’t really make the DEPP meeting today. You can probably tell by now that I’m a rock”

He told me to get stuffed in a playful manner. Telling me he would see me at one-o’clock. “No, you see I won’t be any use to you. I’m a Rock”. He looked at me strangely and told me to get to the meeting regardless.

Well what work do you do in my condition? So I sat still, as you do when your well, you know. I simply sat and felt…well great. About an hour later I was called into the dean’s office. He asked me what was going on. I explained of course. He asked me what I was trying to pull. I felt the urge to explain that rocks do little pulling, but that there are many great rocks in history that have been pulled, and for quite spectacular purposes, Stonehenge for one. He rubbed his temples. He began to explain, in strange tones that suggested disbelief, that rocks do not travel to work on the bus, do not walk around talking to people, and quite definitely would not struggle to survive once they had been kicked out of college, if I get the picture.

I laughed. “Well obviously” I said, “obviously I’m not an ordinary rock” I shook my head in dismay. “You could say I’m an exceptional rock, a very special unique piece of ‘stoneishness’(coming up with new words can be so much fun!!!). There are many things that in my superior state that I can do that no other rock can achieve. Isn’t that great. I feel great. I am without doubt the greatest rock you will ever have the honor of having in this college. He rubbed his temples some more and told me to leave the building and be back ready to study the following Monday. For some reason he told me to see a Doctor.

So I left, still feeling special and pleased he had acknowledged all those things that I could do that no other of my kind could. Walk, talk, breathe, special things. I spent some time that afternoon rolling down the slope, staring at the huge rocks in the lawns. Those majestic beings who could never move like me!! I felt I needed to do something more traditional to my kind. I didn’t want to be totally alien. I could sit and roll, just like every other rock, but also so much more. It was going to be Legend(wait for it…) dary!!

Tuesday
I woke up on the sofa. I had spent the evening sat so totally still, appreciating my new self, but this morning things were different again. I suddenly realised that I was less rockish than before, considerably so, and soon managed to work out that I was now a toaster.

It came as a bit of a shock at first because I quickly found out that I had no bread in my room. Fortunately my dismay was short lived as I rejoiced in the fact that no other toaster in history could nip down the shops and buy its own ingredients. I was still special. I ran to the mess with speed that belied my “toasterishness” .

“Hi” I said. “This morning I found out I’m a toaster and I need some bread.” The mess guy was confused, thinking that it was some sort of career move. She was amazed that someone would get paid just to toast bread.And in his predictable style he said “ LIMITED!!” I soon put him straight(with help from our mess in charge of course).But soon they were out of bread.. So I sat in front of the grocery store for a while and twisted the browning knob on the side of my head and smiled at passers by. “Could I toast you some bread” I would call out, “only I don’t have any. Do you?” No one was hungry. The knob on the other side of my head must have been an additional new feature. I couldn’t work out what it did just then but I must have been a very advanced model.

Since I had the week off(medical reasons apparently!), I decided to roam around the city. I visited an electrical store and looked lovingly but somewhat pitifully at the other toasters they had there. How sad they must feel now that they knew what the competition was like. I gently caressed a few, and playfully teased the sprung levers on their sides.. A shop assistant came over after about 10 minutes and asked if I was going to buy one. I stood and used my hands to direct his gaze to my full superior stature and exclaimed. “Do I look like I need any other toaster” I laughed and walked out feeling fantastic.

Wednesday

I rolled out of bed feeling thirsty and filled a bowl with water. Placing my feet in its refreshing depths I sat and basked in the sun shining through the window. I quickly accepted that this was strange behaviour for a toaster, water and sun and all that. It then dawned on me that I was a tree.

I wriggled my roots in the bowl and felt truly alive. I remembered the Ents from LOTR and how they could move their roots too, and walk. So could I! I looked at the tree’s outside, set rigid and unmoving in the ground. I could breathe too. Then I thought further and realised that all trees breathed in a way. Well, being able to move about was a real advantage. To prove the point, and because there wasn’t much sun left in my room I moved outside and found a really bright patch of grass.

I spent the day hunting out the sunniest places, reveling in my peerless skill. I saw dogs peeing up against many of my kind and felt relieved that any dog trying that trick on me would get one hell of a surprise as I swiftly move away and leave it peeing freely into the air for all to see. It was only a shame that I was such a small tree, diminutive in comparison to those around me in the campus. The trick would be to get plenty of sun and water and I could find as much of both as I wanted. I would catch up in no time. It would be a doodle. I breathed the air deeply.

Eventually night-time came, of course and I began to feel very weak. I retired to my room and turned on all the lights. It felt better I suppose, out of the darkness and wind. The lights weren’t as good as the sun but it must have been better than it was for those poor sad souls outside. I soon slept.

Thursday

I woke feeling starved. I had no food in the room and I needed to get to the bank and my severely depleted current account. I rubbed my brow to ease the headache behind my eyes. I was defiantly human again. I looked outside. My vague reflection in the window fully confirmed my sad transformation. My feet were just feet that moved all of my kind around in a truly mundane fashion. My arm was just sore, and my second arm was just…well, an arm. I crawled back to bed, my stomach churning and my muscles weak. I would stay there and wait, and maybe tomorrow, with a little luck I might be a rock again.

Introduction (finally :D )

After posting 6 articles I noticed that this blog lacked an element that was present in every blog I've read upto now. A friggin introduction. So for all you non existent readers, THIS IS IT!!!! (MJ lines sound so lame now).

This blog is just a place for me to express my views and opinions. Congratulations are always welcome.:D Criticism is also accepted.However, I'm sure you've got better things to do than criticize me and I'm sure we're both happier this way.

The blog has no fixed theme.All the articles just express my outlook towards society and the world in general. Ideas for these articles come to me when I'm trying to sleep,and i drag myself out of bed to write them down.My point being: Ignore the typos and other grammatical errors, I was half asleep.

Roots, bloody roots

It's been said that your roots define you.When your life passes by day by day,your roots are all that stay with you.

What are roots?Are your roots your family history? Your blood relations perhaps?Are they the friends you hang out with? Are your roots defined by the songs you listen to?Your hobbies and interests? Quite frankly, I have absolutely no idea.

A simple google search for 'tracing your roots' reveals over 13 million links. 13 frigging million!!! (for all you non existent delinquents reading this , that's 6 whole zeros). So basically, there could be 13 million people out there each with his/her own views.So in the end,who's right?

At the end of it all, who am I? Are my roots my family? I hope not, because until now I've had no interest whatsoever in meeting most of my relatives. Even remembering their names becomes a herculean task occasionally.

Are my roots my motherland? I may be called a Tamilian because of my parents. Then again, I've never had the desire to learn the language? Does my country qualify as a root? Does nationality really make a difference? Does patriotism define my character and make me the man I'm supposed to be?

Are roots even important? Yes, I'm sure that they can give you stability when you really need it.But don't these same roots prevent you from leaving the ground and soaring towards the 'heavens'. After a point,don't roots just hinder your progress?

So I'm finally back to the same question: Who am I? I've been around 19 years ( No more a kid Sahil!!) and frankly, I'd like to know where my roots lie. Does it matter at all? Does my outlook towards life change when I figure out where my roots lie? More importantly, is it immoral or inhumane of me to even question my own identity? Or in the end, am I just a teenager who ponders about such stuff at 4am just hours before an exam?

Fight Fire With Fire??

Originally written sometime in Jan 2009

Ahimsa.A word that all over the world today is associated with one man, Mahatma Gandhi ..the father of our nation.But in times like these;is ahimsa even a practical concept??

If you've reached this far,you've probably started criticising me...'Who's this guy to question the ideals of the man who freed our country from tyranny and opression???'The answer is simple...im one of the billions of humans who just pray for peace.

On 26th November 2008,Indians all over the world watched in horror as one of the jewels of the great city of mumbai crumbled.A sad day in Indian history: The day the so called "revolutionaries" decided to bring the terror to india.It was then that the war for peace truly began.

Terrorism isn't a new concept.It's been around for decades.The 9/11 attacks in the US of A was the beginning of the era of global terror,when organizations of power hungry madmen decided to try and take over the world.

We all know that terrorism must be stopped.We cant just try to ignore the fac that terrorists have started their reign of terror in India as well.But how do we tackle this problem. The US of A decided to literally fight it out.The Iraq war was just one example.

But how will India tackle this problem.Granted: Im no soldier or politician so neither am i trying to fight a battle out myself nor am i one who is privy to what goes on in the government.Im just an Indian citizen whose heart goes out to the victims of the terror attacks in Inndia.Im one of the billion citizens who wants to know what the new Central government intends to do about this problem.

Are we going to go out with our guns blazing shouting war cries,or are we going to continue with gandhi ji's policy of non violence.

But the question is...which is the right way.

We finally get stuck in this paradox.Do we walk with our heads held high into the hail of bullets proclaiming ahimsa;or do we pick up a gun and fight to keep our mortal lives??

It's like reaching a fork in the road.there are 2 different paths which theoretically lead to the same result.But these paths can never meet.We can choose only one path...and there are no second chances.We just cannot fail.Our ultimate aim is peace and it's in our best interests to take the path that will get us there faster.

But how do we do it? Do we follow the ideal 'Fight fire with fire'?And if we do so,can we fight only for peace and not for revenge.If we let these thoughts of anger and revenge enter our minds do we still remain morally just or are we now a new form of evil?

Gandhi ji believed in non violence and his ideals united a nation and finally brought us independence.But have his ideals stood the test of time??Will they have the same effect on the terrorists that they had had on the British?Can they bring us peace again??Or will this just aggravate the situation.Evey religious book preaches non violence in one way or the other.So if we pick up arms doesnt it make us go against the ideals that were handed down by our ancestors millenia ago???

In today's world,violence has become the creed.Serial blasts,public displays of violence and street shootouts have almost become commom.However,what always remains is the pain and anger in our hearts.the pity and sorrow that we feel for the victims and their loved ones can never die out.Everytime i read about these horrors and look at pictures of the victims, a thought comes to mind "This could have been me."

How much longer must we suffer like this?How do we make it end?

That sadly, is a question i cannot answer...... I hope you can.

Sea Of Madness

Originally written sometime in Jan 2010

Let’s face it. We live in a crazy world. It’s a fact we can no longer fail to ignore. From the moment we are born we are exposed to this violence. Violence in advertisements. Violence on television. All around us are scenes of anger and greed; of dominance and persecution.

We live in a sea of madness, and our governments fail to notice this. This latest ‘telangana’ issue is a perfect example of human stupidity. Men and women out there are committing suicide everyday. And what for? To lobby for a state that they will never be able to live in because they are killing themselves for it. Their peers may call it heroism, martyrdom and self sacrifice. I call it plain stupidity. They call themselves followers of Gandhi and in his name undergo fasts so that the central government will form another state. A little fact that they seem to have forgotten is that Gandhi was fasting to save us from the British rule. He was also opposed to the partition of Bharat into India and Pakistan. Wouldn’t he then be opposed to the very separation of our state??And its’ not only the political activists who seem to have gone mad. Even students from Osmania University, one of the most respected colleges in the country are taking part in this act of protest. And for what ? For the hope that they will get better jobs when a new state is formed?? If they can truly believe this then Osmania needs to check it’s screening process for new students.

If you think that only the state of Andhra Pradesh is pitiful, think again. People all over the country are still reeling after the Ruchika case hit the media. To think that our own police officers could sink to such low levels!

I could go on and on about the horrors that go on. But that would be of no use. We have to find a solution. Isn’t it time we made changes? I mean, what better time and place is there?

Say that I’m the one who’s crazy; Say that I’m the one who is wrong. Say it doesn't matter. But nothing is going to alter the course of my destination.
I know I've got to find some peace of mind, or else I'll go crazy.

Holy Smoke

Originally written sometime in Jan 2010

“Hey dude! Wanna light up?” “Sure. Why the hell not?” – A general conversation starter at the IIT Bombay fest. It’s sad ;but true. Colleges these days frown on drinking but turn a blind eye to smoking.

Let’s face it. Smoking kills. But you already know that, don’t you? You don’t need me to tell you this. You’ve probably read about it in the newspaper—MAN DIES OF CANCER. Probable cause- smoking.

Everybody knows that smoking can cause cancer. More often than not ;Cancer is fatal. Two basic, simple facts that we all know. But do we all understand them? I doubt it .If we did, wouldn’t smoking be illegal?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not blaming or criticizing smokers. I do however, blame the tobacco companies . Tobacco companies are famous for their insidious marketing techniques. More than 200,000 adolescents are lured into smoking because of these advertisements. These companies aren’t allowed to advertise on television, so they put up huge billboards that catch everyone’s eyes. They hire glamorous models to market their products as hip and trendy. Department stores have cigarette packets at the shopper’s eye level hoping to increase sales. And you know what? These methods actually work. The number of smokers is rising day by day.

You may ask why I bother so much. Why do I even give a damn? Recent studies show that passive smokers have a high chance of contracting cancer as well. So excuse me if I’m not comfortable having people all around me smoking, knowing that I too could suffer because of their actions.

I think the media deserves it’s fair share of the blame too. Some sleazy rag gets a picture of a famous actor taking a few puffs from a ‘harmless’ cigarette. And before you know it, young kids are following suit.

Why is smoking even allowed? Is it because freedom of speech is an ideal worth a person dying every six seconds? I’m not sure myself. Tobacco companies talk of having a conscience and doing their best to protect the sanctity of human life. How can they claim to do so when their own products are killing their customers.

I can’t tell you not to smoke. I can’t decide your future for you. I could tell you of the ill effects of smoking; But let’s face it. You probably knew that before you took your first puff. I will tell you this. If I could choose how I would die, I’d rather it not be the five rupee cigarette bought at some roadside stand.

Fade To Black

Originally written sometime in September 2009

It was dark all around. All the light around Him had disappeared. He knew that his time was short.

He could see that he was alone. And yet for some strange reason ,he knew that he wasn’t. Death loomed above him like a dark cloud and would at any time swoop down upon him. He had resigned himself to his fate. He would die. His mind was plagued with fear and doubt.

He only wished that he had a little longer. A short period in which he would be able to bid farewell to the ones he loved most. For whom he would readily do anything for….He knew that they had been there by his side during his illness. They had spent countless hours holding his hand watching as helpless as he fought a losing battle against the virus that plagued his body.

And then it struck him. His life was incomplete without them .And for them, he would live through the pain. He would survive, if not for himself, then for the ones who mattered most to him. And with that thought came courage. Death would not be able to take him so easily. He would fight Death, and win the battle for now. He would live to see the joy on their faces.

He knew that all he had to do was open his eyes, And the fear and doubt would fade to black .

Something Stupid

Originally written sometime in Jan 2009

Everbody is born stupid.Some abuse that right.

Everyone's heard ofthis one.Its one of the most famous of Murphy's Laws.But the question is, whydo so many people want to abuse the god given gift of stupidity? Why cant we all stay stupid??? Why is there a so called fire burning within us that makes us want to be smarter? Ignorance and stupidity are such natural traits; why dont we want ignorant. Ignorance is after all bliss, isn't it.If the aim of human life is eternal bliss, then reaching this state is pretty simple.Just sit down and do nothing.But as it turns out,that's just too easy for such great souls such as yourselves. Instead of just trying to remain stupid and ignorant, many go about trying to learn more and more so that they may some day become enlightened souls which will,in turn , make them happy.Why put ourselves through so much trouble to achieve what has already been given to us??A state of mind in which we perceive only happiness. Isnt that what stupid,ignorant people acheive without any strain to their brains??

Accept it; if we had all been stupid, the world would have been a better place. We'd still be what today's "intellectuals" call sapiens,hunting down sabre tooth tigers and wild mammoths.We'd live in caves and sleep around a camp fire.We'd only have one responsibility and that would be to feed ourselves and our families.We'd live in a pollution free atmosphere and we'd all be "Kings" of our own domains.What a life!!!! Today people actually pay good money to go on safaris and wildlife tours so that they can experience such trills.

But instead today,we're all part of one big system.Each one of us has a specific role to perform.And the ones who run the system are the rich businessmen who abused their right to stupidity and decide to take control of the whole human race.
Look at the life we live today.There's corruption in almost every walk of life,terror attacks take place almost everyday,Countries form and break alliances everyday.The stock market crashes and people go bankrupt.Suicide rates keep rising.Why do we have to suffer like this?Turns out that the root cause to all our problems is that some people are smarter than others and decide to take advantage of it.

The only way to solve this problem is to convince people to remain stupid.So to all those reading this, id like you to take an oath to remain STUPID and pass on this message to the future generations.