Perhaps it was the one moment where their thoughts were in sync. The thoughts of love!
While Siddhartha fell asleep thinking of his wife; Ankur was dreaming of the pretty girl with a beautiful smile lying on the grass of the meadows!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Death: The end of the beginning.
What happens after one has drawn in the last breath of air? After the last blink of the eye lids? Are we just a lump of hydrocarbon with a limited shelf life? At the end of which we cease to exist? Are we at a constant war with the micro organisms in our body, awaiting till they take over and decompose us back to the earth?
If that be the case; then what is the purpose of life? Why do all religions preach of an 'afterlife'? An eternal hope that no matter what your circumstances are in the present world, that your good deeds will be rewarded in eternal life.
These were the thoughts running through the mind of Siddhartha as he sat on the rocking chair and watching the birds fly home at sunset. Soon the sky would turn from the pale blue he saw now to the fiery red and then darken gradually to fade into the darkness of the night.
Since the past twenty three years he would come out and sit at the porch watching the sun set into the lake of Bikshi. Yes, it was today, twenty three years ago that Pooja had left him; forever. Since then he would come and sit down and watch the end of the day. Often his thoughts would drift towards his beloved wife. For her skin was as golden as the evening sun. Her eyes had the same sparkle as the sun's reflection in the water. Her passion was as fiery as the redness of the sky... In every sunset he would see a part of his wife; and would wish her goodnight and later move indoors as the chilly winds got to his bones.
But tonight was special. He got so far engrossed in his thoughts of life and death and the purpose of it all that he didn't realize that Ankur, his grandson had not returned from the fields.
If that be the case; then what is the purpose of life? Why do all religions preach of an 'afterlife'? An eternal hope that no matter what your circumstances are in the present world, that your good deeds will be rewarded in eternal life.
These were the thoughts running through the mind of Siddhartha as he sat on the rocking chair and watching the birds fly home at sunset. Soon the sky would turn from the pale blue he saw now to the fiery red and then darken gradually to fade into the darkness of the night.
Since the past twenty three years he would come out and sit at the porch watching the sun set into the lake of Bikshi. Yes, it was today, twenty three years ago that Pooja had left him; forever. Since then he would come and sit down and watch the end of the day. Often his thoughts would drift towards his beloved wife. For her skin was as golden as the evening sun. Her eyes had the same sparkle as the sun's reflection in the water. Her passion was as fiery as the redness of the sky... In every sunset he would see a part of his wife; and would wish her goodnight and later move indoors as the chilly winds got to his bones.
But tonight was special. He got so far engrossed in his thoughts of life and death and the purpose of it all that he didn't realize that Ankur, his grandson had not returned from the fields.
Monday, June 14, 2010
An old love story...
On a quiet windless night, a young lad climbed up the hill and sat there gazing at the stars. It was a cloudless sky and slight wind. He could hear the chripping of the grasshopper; for it was early in the summer, and the rain had given new life to the vast meadows that lay beyond...
Sitting there he let his thoughts wander... To that new girl who gave him that special smile! She was here on a holiday; that was all he knew of her! He had a glimpse of her when he was working his cart in the market. Just a glimpse!
But tonight while gazing at the stars he trace the outline of her face in the stars! Those luscious lips; the hazle brown eyes; the arch of her neck... and her smile! It was a captivating smile! For some reason he thought it was a special smile only for him! How red his cheeks had been then!
He lost the count of hours in his thoughts... and fell asleep under the open sky... in his dreams too that same pretty face, the slender neck and that very special smile greeted him till the morning sun hit upon his brow...
Sitting there he let his thoughts wander... To that new girl who gave him that special smile! She was here on a holiday; that was all he knew of her! He had a glimpse of her when he was working his cart in the market. Just a glimpse!
But tonight while gazing at the stars he trace the outline of her face in the stars! Those luscious lips; the hazle brown eyes; the arch of her neck... and her smile! It was a captivating smile! For some reason he thought it was a special smile only for him! How red his cheeks had been then!
He lost the count of hours in his thoughts... and fell asleep under the open sky... in his dreams too that same pretty face, the slender neck and that very special smile greeted him till the morning sun hit upon his brow...
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Freedom.
Today everyone seems to want freedom!
Freedom to draw any cartoon he/she likes; The freedom to stop work and destroy property as and when one wishes to hold a bandh; The freedom to set ablaze buses and tires and hoardings and flags and effigies when they want to protest!
However, Somehow we have forgotten a more intimate and personal freedom. The freedom to choose one's own life partner. To be able to say freely, 'This is the person I would love to spend the rest of my life with.' To have the freedom to convert this dream into reality. The freedom to be allowed. To be heard, believed and to be true.
Every freedom needs courage. And here, the courage to be able to stand alone. To be able to reason with the family. To be able to listen to their reasons and concerns.
It is perfectly acceptable to have a life partner you might not have fallen in love with on the very first day you met! It is a persons choice to be happy and content being married to a person who he/she knows to be compatible. Someone who can support you, Someone you know you can support. Someone you can trust. Someone who might be able to understand you, even if he/she doesn't always agree with the way you think.
Hence it must be understood that the freedom to choose the person you marry does not only apply nor does it imply that you always marry the person you love.
For you might fall head over heels for the most beautiful person on earth; one perfect in every way. But it be so likely that he/she; or their lifestyles would be so far apart! The essence of a marriage is to get a man and a woman to live together, to support each other and start a family. Procreation; The survival of the human race! What is the point of marrying someone you tremendously love, but are irritated to your wits' end by their habits and manners!
It is here that the counsel of parents and elders comes to play an important role. For with their maturity and experience they can foresee and judge many a things that the youth in their brave and bold hearts cannot!
Gone are the days when the elders would pick the match for their children, and the children would obediently agree! In todays society, the parents and elders should ideally listen to their children's wishes, their views and ideas and then understand and evaluate the compatibility of a match!
Hence, in todays world I feel that the role of a parent in match making has become a lot more tough and challenging that it was ever before! Where the parents fail to see their changing role, you often find broken marriages, divorced mothers and unfulfilled dreams of true love!
What can be worse than a life that has lost its spirit of life? In this context, Love is the mightiest of all forces on Earth. For it can transform the common man into the bravest hero; as also the strongest and the mightiest of all are brought down to their knees when the arrow of cupid strikes in the bottom of their hearts!
Freedom to draw any cartoon he/she likes; The freedom to stop work and destroy property as and when one wishes to hold a bandh; The freedom to set ablaze buses and tires and hoardings and flags and effigies when they want to protest!
However, Somehow we have forgotten a more intimate and personal freedom. The freedom to choose one's own life partner. To be able to say freely, 'This is the person I would love to spend the rest of my life with.' To have the freedom to convert this dream into reality. The freedom to be allowed. To be heard, believed and to be true.
Every freedom needs courage. And here, the courage to be able to stand alone. To be able to reason with the family. To be able to listen to their reasons and concerns.
It is perfectly acceptable to have a life partner you might not have fallen in love with on the very first day you met! It is a persons choice to be happy and content being married to a person who he/she knows to be compatible. Someone who can support you, Someone you know you can support. Someone you can trust. Someone who might be able to understand you, even if he/she doesn't always agree with the way you think.
Hence it must be understood that the freedom to choose the person you marry does not only apply nor does it imply that you always marry the person you love.
For you might fall head over heels for the most beautiful person on earth; one perfect in every way. But it be so likely that he/she; or their lifestyles would be so far apart! The essence of a marriage is to get a man and a woman to live together, to support each other and start a family. Procreation; The survival of the human race! What is the point of marrying someone you tremendously love, but are irritated to your wits' end by their habits and manners!
It is here that the counsel of parents and elders comes to play an important role. For with their maturity and experience they can foresee and judge many a things that the youth in their brave and bold hearts cannot!
Gone are the days when the elders would pick the match for their children, and the children would obediently agree! In todays society, the parents and elders should ideally listen to their children's wishes, their views and ideas and then understand and evaluate the compatibility of a match!
Hence, in todays world I feel that the role of a parent in match making has become a lot more tough and challenging that it was ever before! Where the parents fail to see their changing role, you often find broken marriages, divorced mothers and unfulfilled dreams of true love!
What can be worse than a life that has lost its spirit of life? In this context, Love is the mightiest of all forces on Earth. For it can transform the common man into the bravest hero; as also the strongest and the mightiest of all are brought down to their knees when the arrow of cupid strikes in the bottom of their hearts!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Loving A Sailor...
Loving a sailor is a high price to pay,
Loving him truly is hard when he's away..
There comes a kiss, and promise for more,
As his ship gently glides away from shore...
Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go,
While you are dying inside for wanting him so..
Watching him leave with eyes full of tears,
Standing alone with ur hopes, dreams & fears...
Days go by, no mail for a spell,
You wait for some word, to hear that he's well...
Then a letter arrives & you are given in,
To open his letter & read it with a grin...
Yes, he's well & misses you so
And is filled with the love you wanted to know...
Yes, loving a sailor isn't much fun,
But its worth the price when the battle is won...
And remember he is thinking of you everyday,
He’s sad and lonely while so far away...
So love him & miss him & hold ur head high,
Be strong & have faith, wipe that tear from your eye.
Your man's a seafarer, like that old ancient trader,
It's a high price you pay for 'Loving A Sailor'.
Loving him truly is hard when he's away..
There comes a kiss, and promise for more,
As his ship gently glides away from shore...
Reluctantly, painfully, letting him go,
While you are dying inside for wanting him so..
Watching him leave with eyes full of tears,
Standing alone with ur hopes, dreams & fears...
Days go by, no mail for a spell,
You wait for some word, to hear that he's well...
Then a letter arrives & you are given in,
To open his letter & read it with a grin...
Yes, he's well & misses you so
And is filled with the love you wanted to know...
Yes, loving a sailor isn't much fun,
But its worth the price when the battle is won...
And remember he is thinking of you everyday,
He’s sad and lonely while so far away...
So love him & miss him & hold ur head high,
Be strong & have faith, wipe that tear from your eye.
Your man's a seafarer, like that old ancient trader,
It's a high price you pay for 'Loving A Sailor'.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Jumping Jack...
There was a frog in a well; So said my teacher one day in class!
I am sure we all know the story... of how secure he was in the well, and how ignorant of the outside world!
Today I write about a similar person... A Jumping Jack.
Jack was brilliant, excelled in studies... ace'd his exams, and work for him a piece of cake! It was so easy that he felt bored working where he was! He wanted a change... A bigger challenge, a different work routine and a better package!
But there was a recession in the market! So many people lost their jobs! So many people waiting to grab a vacant chair!
Would it be a wise decision to switch now, when the market is still just edging its self out of a bad financial year? Or would hard work, performance and sheer brilliance work towards getting Jack the position and the package that he desires?
Jack is still confused and scarred... Coz he knows that during the transition phase, he has his feet in two boats! He needs to tread very carefully to avoid falling in the water!
I am sure we all know the story... of how secure he was in the well, and how ignorant of the outside world!
Today I write about a similar person... A Jumping Jack.
Jack was brilliant, excelled in studies... ace'd his exams, and work for him a piece of cake! It was so easy that he felt bored working where he was! He wanted a change... A bigger challenge, a different work routine and a better package!
But there was a recession in the market! So many people lost their jobs! So many people waiting to grab a vacant chair!
Would it be a wise decision to switch now, when the market is still just edging its self out of a bad financial year? Or would hard work, performance and sheer brilliance work towards getting Jack the position and the package that he desires?
Jack is still confused and scarred... Coz he knows that during the transition phase, he has his feet in two boats! He needs to tread very carefully to avoid falling in the water!
Monday, February 22, 2010
Anonymous…
Why would anyone write an anonymous letter? Or a poem? Why would someone not want to give his or her name to an expression, a feeling, a thought or an act?
I wonder…! Why would we chat so freely online while we are shy and reserved in real? Is it coz we are anonymous? We are just an Id; a virtual name, that could be anything… and more importantly, hide, go invisible or totally disappear if need be!
Why don't we be the very person we are when we have the liberty of being anonymous? Or is it that we put up an act in public, in society; and be our actual selves when the cloak of invisibility is donned?
It was an incident that made me wonder; an incident where I had the chance of being an anonymous stranger! I was chatting with someone, and having never met before, never even exchanged pictures or personal details, I could choose to present myself any way it pleased my honorable self…
I often notice that in the virtual world, it is very easy to find people do away with their inhibitions… Is it because we feel that the consequences are not so real? What about the general ethos of establishing a relationship? When you meet someone, it is the verbal and the non verbal communications that help the other person form a perception about you. But when you meet online, what of gaining the confidence of the person spoken to? What of his intentions when pursuing a chain of topics; his very purpose of initiating the conversation!?
Its the conversation over the last few days that makes me wonder so! I hope that the more I communicate, the clearer the picture will be for us… to know ourselves, our intentions and our objectives… collectively and individually.
I hope and I pray. For myself, for us, and for all.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)