TALE UNTOLD...

There was once a little bird who was always away from the flock. He was free, no chains, no bonding. No one cared where the little bird flew as the rest were busy in their flocks. The bird also didn't care, as he had no ties, he only had his goal...the sky. He thanked God for the courage and strength He bestowed on him to take on his goals. 

One day as the bird was flying, he thought, what it would feel like to be chained. May be God was listening, he got his wish. Now the flocks gave attention to the bird... they chained him. They bound him in their cage. Yes, the bird enjoyed it, every bit of it… the warmth… the care. But then he could see the politics associated with ground. Chaos like: ‘This is mine… that is yours’, ‘I am right… you are wrong’ became the part of life. Trust, faith, betrayal… everything got so much intermixed. And the poor bird had no experience with all this rubble. It was as if he was sagging into the swamp.

He then also thanked God for the wonderful experience He gave him. He was may be getting used to the turmoil…or getting lost in it, when someone shouted from back, “Yeah, what happened man? You were supposed to cross the borders; sky was the only limit… WHAT HAPPENED?”

The bird suddenly came to senses…as being woken from a dream. He just smiled and passed on. But he stood still… he thought, where do I belong: to the ground with all its turmoil (where everyone else is)… or to the sky with the clear goal (and no turmoil).Everything was perfect. He knew that ground will have the shelter & traps, not meant for free souls… but still he went there just to experience this side too. But now he is lost thinking to which side does he actually belong.

One fine day the flock was merry making over the rubble and the bird took a few steps forward and caught the glimpse of the clear blue sky. He was stuck…stuck between two scenarios. Neither was correct nor wrong. To add to the situation there were tunes of ‘jeena isika naam hai’ flowing in the air.

His fear was:

लोग रंग बदलते है

ज़िन्दगी भी रंग बदलती है

इन बदलते रंगों मे

कही मेरा रंग भी ना बदल जाए

-    Anonymous

He had no choice except to ask for guidance from his all time companion. He found may be this time He wanted His child to conquer both sky and ground.

And as the bird analyzed, he realized that he had enough of the ground. Now he had to fulfill his life’s mission, the goal he has set. Otherwise he’ll also be like a robot, keyed to do the work, with no zeal… no passion.

No ….

He just chose his world, where there is a clear sky to rule on… and then what about the ground??? Well all these days he had made a place in ground too, which will always be there for him with its arms open to embrace him in the toughest of times.

Thanks to Him, who trusted him and gave the strength to conquer both the places.

HAPPINESS VS MATERIALISM

Happiness… what is happiness?

Happiness is a concept; it is a mental attitude, more to do with one’s own self than with others. It is something that comes from within, no currency can buy it and it is completely being foolish to search for it in the materialistic possessions. It is rightly said:

Real happiness has to be inherited by the soul and not by the body.

Today man has become hypocritical. He has lost himself amidst the momentary lust of the world. He takes pride in showing his possessions, but deep inside he seeks contentment. Do you know this is the major reason why West is running after yoga and meditation. They have realized now that:

All the lust is going to rust.

So they are seeking happiness in spiritualism, in the ultimate truth.

Materialism is adding fuel to the widening divide between the rich and the poor. And this gap is adding criminals day in and day out, who have no rules and no code of conduct. A very appropriate saying Hindi goes as:

Na biwi, na mayya,na bap bada na bhaiyya

The whole thing is that, ki sabse bada rupaiyya.

Today man has lost his ethical values by running after money. It won’t be exorbitant in saying that materialism has brought in this cut-throat race and stress along with it. Today man has become money-minded. Humanity has become a word to be found in dictionary alone. Brain drain is also because of this craze for money.

At the end I would say that the thirst of greed can never be quenched. So bring contentment into your lives. As this is the only way to be happy.

REVISIT YOURSELF

After such a long time in recent days has something touched me so profoundly that I felt the urge to write it down. Lines so crisp and clear that everyone will understand and agree. These lines also bring forth the strategy which I devised for myself when I was in twelfth (ab lagta hai bachpan k din the).

Those days used to be simple... very simple....only a YES / NO was to be decided and you are done. You had just two options right or wrong. But as the days moved on simplicity gave way to complexity... Now you have a whole lot of things to worry about:

Family and career (are always on the list… the new additions are)

Friends who care for you

Friends who show they care for you

Friends & teachers whom you have to care for (it’s an obligation) and the list rolls on... 

NOTE: ye vichar kisi vyakti vishesh ko nahi darshate… :p

It was a bit tough till I revisited myself...yes, the same old little myself, simple and straight who cared for no one when she knew, she was right. This made almost everything fall into place.

You must be wondering, HOW??? So friends do...

Revisit Yourself

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

and world makes you king for a day.

Just go to a mirror & look at yourself,

and see what that man has to say.

For it isn't your father or mother or spouse,

whose judgment upon you must pass.

The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life,

is the one staring back from the glass.

Some people might think you are a straight shooting chum,

and call you a wonderful guy.

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum,

if you can't look straight in the eye.

He's the fellow to please, leave out all the rest,

for he's with you up to the end.

And you have passed the toughest test,

if the man in the glass is your friend.

You may fool the whole world down your pathway of years,

and get pats on the back as you pass.

But your final reward will be guilt and tears,

if you have cheated the man in the glass.

- Anonymous (I am not the one who penned down these beautiful lines)

Yes if you cheated yourself no one else will ever know but you'll do (hopefully...if you are a genuine person). From my childhood days I have been taught-

A pillow of clear conscience affords the soundest sleep.

If you look the other way round... if you had too many options, how would you choose? Ask papa or mama or anyone else. But none can answer perfectly as the path has to be traversed by you, the goal has to be set by you, choices have to be chosen by you… as at the end of the day you won't get the chance to travel again nor it would be worth putting blame on your fellas who led you to that path.

So just rise face yourself and decide what is appropriate for you. As at the end you'll be revisiting yourself where you'll be just answerable to YOURSELF.

GURU DEVO BHAVAH

FOR MY TEACHERS

After about a couple of years, today i felt the same gratitude for my teachers. Its not that I don't give respect to my teachers, its just that today the effect is profound. And this may be because after so many years I have made a card for my teachers (and thanks to Erudition).

I feel teachers these days think that students don't pay respect to them and I feel they don't have to ask for it, they will just earn it by their selfless devotion to their profession.

What is wrong these days is that people don't come here to teach, instead they come to earn money...this is their last option."kahin na lage...fir teacher to lag hi jayenge" is what drives people to be teachers.

Pity...the situation is grim.

Every dark cloud has a silver lining and I am lucky enough to have most of the silver with me. I take this opportunity to thank all my teachers a very very HAPPY TECHER'S DAY'. Some of the teachers who had profound effect on me are:

KUMKUM MAM
HAZRA MAM
JYOTI GULATI MAM
FATEH SINGH SIR
SANTOSHRI MAM
ASHISH SIR
the list keeps on rolling...I never said how important they were for me, may be because i didn't wanted them to misinterpret me as flatterer (makhan lagane walon se mujhe khud bahut allergy hai).

OK this is for you.

OK this card has a meaning associated with it:

A true teacher adds color to the canvass
He adds soul to the being
and gives meaning to our EXISTENCE...

Thank you teachers for all the simple deeds, simple words which inspired me, gave
me a goal and told me what is write and what is wrong.

Remember we do remember your efforts... :-)

A GIRL IN 8TH...

I was just sitting and was thinking about the course of my life analyzing the opportunities I have grabbed and some of those I have missed. I was in turmoil of all the combination and permutations that my life could have been. It is sometimes funny, sometimes adventurous and sometimes makes you sad and suddenly you realize the path you have traversed is just perfect(100% tailor-made for you).

Then a little girl added her spice. She made me realize sometimes what it feels when a powerful person(coz of position) just doesn't hear you or say doesn't understand you thereby not approving your creation or imagination to be published. You feel "Who the hell are you to judge me? (Point samajh nahi aaya to...you say it's not worth it!)".

The story is...

Few days back an 8th grade girl showed her little poem...with spark in her face and twinkle in her eyes. She was happy to show her first ever poem. As I read the poem, she was eagerly waiting for the words of (obviously) praise.

And seriously the poem had content. These days when you are lost in assignments and projects, this little girl gave her thoughts some words. For a 13 year old girl to notice an object and contemplate its meaning or compare it with real life is awesome.

The poem goes as:

CANDLE

Lo at the candle
discarding the darkness,
And turning it bright
to give others the required light.

As the candle burns
and removes dark as a magic,
The man also turns
superstitions into correct logic.

As the candle is bright at birth
and dark in death,
The man is vibrant after birth
and dull at the time of death.

But not to forget the
services of candle and man,
Which always light
up our lives.

You must be thinking why this poem here? This is because yesterday she came to me with sparkling eyes again...but this time because of the tears and not the twinkle. She was sad...her poem was not selected to be published in school magazine. She said "main to sochi ma'am bahut hi intelligent hain, par ma'am ko to itni simple baat hi samaj nahi aati..." and said "ma'am kehti hain next time".

She knew 'Mam's' next time won't come...

And she innocently asked me again "Sachi, meri poem achi thi na?". I was simply stuck and moved. I just told her "You are awesome dear, tere jaise to main bhi nahi soch sakti...bas aise hi continue kar, main publish karti hoon na tere poem ko".

And so I am here creating this blog...'My personal publisher'. I just request the powerful people to please just don't discard the ideas/creation...atleast tell the ways to improve.

And finally the spark returned in her eyes and that feel...that feel made my day.

Do comment to make the sweet girl happy.

I believe-

Smile is contiguous

And so is happiness... :-)