The day I ran away from home!!!

"Three may keep a secret if two of them are dead" - Benjamin Franklin

I never share secrets with anyone; not because I do not trust anyone. But I find it hard to come to a conclusion on what exactly a secret is all about.Mr.X knows about a few incidents that has happened in my life and these are some of the things that I have never told anyone. Now I am scared that he might spill it out. So here I am performing my first ever confession after I stepped foot on this earth. The following incidents is one of the biggest secrets that I have kept in my heart all these years of my existence.

When I was in class two I ran away from my home. Guilt was the reason for the run away act. My mom used to force me to have green Vegetables for breakfast. The hatred that I have for Rakhi Sawant now and the hatred that I had for Vegetables, then were of the same intensity. The rule at home was to have Vegetables according to the age. I never had much problem when I was in kinder garden because I was forced to drink milk but if I said no to vegetables, everyone agreed. But things took a wild turn when I grew older and older things began taking a nasty turn.. By the time I was 6, I was in class two and I had to eat Vegetables for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I could not take it any longer. I stopped eating with my father altogether as he used to threaten me with dire consequences if i did nit eat vegitables. Slowly i developed a trick to finish off the veggie stuff. They use to magically disappear from my plate and they used to land

i) in the neighbor’s backyard,
ii) in the Kitchen garden,
iii) under the bed ,
iv) inside the closet,
v) in my sister's plate
vi) even under the carpet( I used to push it under the carpet and jump on the carpet so that the bump is flattened)
I was finally caught one day when I tried to sneak the dreaded Vegetables inside my text book. The Vegetable dampened the text book tore it. The punishment was to eat an extra Vegetable for the next one week. I could not take it anymore. So I decided to run away from my house. I ran as fast as my little feet would take me and before long I was 50 meters away from my house. I have never gone this far from my house before that. So I sat there on a stone near my street corner. I sat there for five hours and soon I was hungry. I came back home. These days, I am a Vegiterian, I love Vegetables. specially the green ones.

Mirror

Properties of an image in a plane mirror are:

1. The image and the object are equal distances from the mirror.
2. The image is laterally inverted. (Which is why an object appears to be back to front in a mirror, left becomes right and right becomes left.)
3. The image is virtual or imaginary as there is no light actually meeting at that point. You see the image because your brain thinks it is there - your brain always assumes that light has travelled in a straight line!

" In a mirror, right appears left". I clearly remember these words uttered by my physics teacher during my lower grade schooling days. I am purposely referring to the opening sentence as "WORDS" and not "SENTENCE" as I feel those WORDS are more than that SENTENCE. Those WORDS carry more weigh than the whole SENTENCE; the SENTENCE is incomplete without those WORDS.

Often, we, the humans, calling ourselves the thinking species, get lost in the cobwebs of the imperfections of the life and then, this very thinking species fails to think for an answer to his question. My views in this particular piece may be a victim of this non-terminating behaviour of the humans……

Somewhere I read in a book, "wake up every morning, and smile at yourself in the mirror, your day will be nice." So did I. But sure you do must have noticed and would sound affirmative to what my physics teacher said in those days. But somewhere down the line, if you look closely to that SENTENCE, and look beyond that SENTENCE, you will find WORDS to satisfy one of those quests of life which you pondered over.

In a mirror, right appears left. So is in life…… whatever is left appears right to you. Psychologists have termed this particular phenomenon as " Dissonance". We humans always brood over what has happened, and often feel that in his or her life, when one has made a decision when he or she was confronted with two options, the option left was right. I argue that it's the inability of we, the humans to " Enjoy the moment". Instead we think of the past, of things, which starts with ifs and buts, things that your destiny never programmed to be there.

But we humans have confined our minds to such space-less limits that we fail to see a person beyond the mirror. We judge ourselves by looking at the mirror because we have taken it for granted that our mirror reflects what we are. Just imagine that one day you wake up in the morning and to your horror, you realise that all these years what your mirror reflected was not you but someone else. (I know its something weird to think about but do spare some time on that thought.) It would be a total lost of identity for you. Your face value will be zero. Because all these years, you recognized yourself by what was reflected in the mirror. As such your identity to yourself is just the mirror. Or else, how will you recognize yourself??

But the point here I want to make is something different. If all these years your identity was your mirror, you were what your mirror showed you. And all these years you tried to make yourself perfect in all sense, all these years you tried to make everything correct about you (and that's what we humans do all our lives, i.e. to make ourselves correct in all respect), all these years you tried to make yourself RIGHT in all respect, then………………………. Remember what did my physics teacher utter that day??????????????????????

रंग क्या है (What is colour? )

जो फाल्गुन में बिखरता है
जो मौसम में निखरता है
वही है रंग........

जो होली में फुहारों पर
और दीवाली दीवारों पर
वही है रंग........

जो दुनिया को लुभाता है
जो महफ़िल को जमाता है
वही है रंग.........

हिना में जो बसा करता
जो होठों पर रचा करता
वही है रंग........

यह दुनिया जिसपे मरती है
और जिसमें भंग पड़ती है
वही है रंग..........

जो खुशहाली में छाता है
जो गम में याद आता है
वही है रंग.......

होली बहुत बहुत मुबारक ........

The Holi Blues

Today is Holi!!!

I am dreaming of playing with colors and gulal,
It is the Holi celebration after all.
I can't play inside my home, the carpets will get tainted,
I cant' play it in the yard, the grass and outer walls will get painted.
I thought I would go to the temple,
and enjoy the traditional Holi festivities,
Once again I am banned from playing with colors inside the temple,
I can't play the drums and sing "Holi hai" outside, as the neighbors don't like the noise.
Little disappointed, I surf the TV channels,
The news channels beam the festival directly in my living room,
and remind me of my cultural heritage,
I hear all the nice Holi songs and watch dances,
I enjoy Puas(sweets) and mutton curry as a special Holi treat,
but I still miss the colors and Gulal on my face.

As a kid, the full moon night before the Holi,
we had a big bonfire in the middle of little Indian City,
Next morning we will get up, make buckets of colored water,
No one in the neighborhood will be spared from colors,
When we ran out of the colors, mud, paint and coal tar,
would cover our faces in the cheerful spirit of Holi festival.

There was some special meaning playing Holi with girls,
this is the only day when we can get close to them....with some hesitation,
the wet colors dignified their bodies,
the dry colors showed their beauty in multi colors.

After our morning session, we came home to the big feast,
All the puas, puris, pulav, meat and vegetable curries made our mouth water.
In the evenings, we wore our new kurta and pajamas,
went door to door, played gulal with young and got the blessings of the old,
everyone offered their best sweet treats,

That was the real Holi, now it is only in my dreams.
And i just wonder weather i will ever.... relive my dreams.
Now I have a keyboard at my fingertips insted of "pichkai" but no colours....

Significance of Holi

In spite of being such a colourful and gay festival, there arevarious aspects of Holi which makes it so significant for our lives. Though they might not be so apparent but a closer look and a little thought will reveal the significance of Holi in more ways than meets the eyes. Ranging from socio-cultural, religious to biological there is every reason why we must heartily enjoy the festival and cherish the reasons for its celebrations.

So when, its time for Holi, please don't hold yourself back and enjoy the festival to the hilt by participating with full enthusiasm in every small tradition related to the festival.

Mythological Significance

Holi gets us close to our religion and our mythology as it is essentially the celebration of various legends associated with the festival.

Foremost is the legend of Prahlad and Hiranyakshyap. The legend says there once lived a devil and powerful king, Hiranyakshyap who considered himself a god and wanted everybody to worship him. To his great ire, his son, Prahlad began to worship, Lord Vishnu. To get rid of his son, Hiranyakshyap asked his sister, Holika to enter a blazing fire with Prahlad in her lap, as she had a boon to enter fire unscathed. Legend has it that Prahlad was saved for his extreme devotion for the lord while Holika paid a price for her sinister desire. The tradition of burning Holika or the 'Holika dahan' comes mainly from this legend.

Holi also celebrates the legend of Radha and Krishna which describes the extreme delight, Krishna took in applying colour on Radha and other gopis. This prank of Krishna later, became a trend and a part of the Holi festivities.

Mythology also states that Holi is the celebration of death of Ogress Pootana who tried to kill infant, Krishna by feeding poisonous milk to it.

Another legend of Holi which is extremely popular in Southern India is that of Lord Shiva and Kaamadeva. According to the legend, people in south celebrate the sacrifice of Lord of Passion Kaamadeva who risked his life to revoke Lord Shiva from meditation and save the world.

Also, popular is the legend of Ogress Dhundhi who used to trouble children in the kingdom of Raghu and was ultimately chased away by the pranks of the children on the day of Holi. Showing their belief in the legend, children till date play pranks and hurl abuses at the time of Holika Dahan.

Cultural Significance

Celebration of the various legends associated with Holi reassure the people of the power of the truth as the moral of all these legends is the ultimate victory of good over evil. The legend of Hiranyakashyap and Prahlad also points to the fact that extreme devotion to god pays as god always takes his true devotee in his shelter.

All these legends help the people to follow a good conduct in their lives and believe in the virtue of being truthful. This is extremely important in the modern day society when so many people resort to evil practices for small gains and torture one who is honest. Holi helps the people to believe in the virtue of being truthful and honest and also to fight away the evil.

Besides, holi is celebrated at a time of the year when the fields are in full bloom and people are expecting a good harvest. This gives a people a good reason to rejoice, make merry and submerge themselves in the spirit of Holi.

Social Significance

Holi helps to bring the society together and strengthen the secular fabric of our country. For, the festival is celebrated by non-Hindus also as everybody like to be a part of such a colouful and joyous festival.

Also, the tradition of the Holi is that even the enemies turn friends on Holi and forget any feeling of hardship that may be present. Besides, on this day people do not differentiate between the rich and poor and everybody celebrate the festival together with a spirit of bonhomie and brotherhood.

In the evening people visit friends and relatives and exchange gifts, sweets and greetings. This helps in revatalising relationships and strengthening emotional bonds between people.

Biological Significance

It is interesting to note that the festival of Holi is significant for our lives and body in many other ways than providing joy and fun.

We also need to thank our forefathers who started the trend of celebrating Holi at such a scientifically accurate time. And, also for incorporating so much fun in the festival.

As Holi comes at a time of the year when people have a tendency to feel sleepy and lazy. This is natural for the body to experiences some tardiness due to the change from the cold to the heat in the atmosphere. To counteract this tardiness of the body, people sing loudly or even speak loudly. Their movements are brisk and their music is loud. All of this helps to rejuvenate the system of the human body.

Besides, the colours when sprayed on the body have a great impact on it. Biologists believe the liquid dye or Abeer penetrates the body and enters into the pores. It has the effect of strengthening the ions in the body and adds health and beauty to it.

There is yet another scientific reason for celebrating the Holi, this however pertains to the tradition of Holika Dahan. The mutation period of winter and spring, induces the growth of bacteria in the atmosphere as well as in the body. When Holika is burnt, temperature rises to about 145 degrees Fahrenhiet. Following the tradition when people perform Parikrima (circumambulation or going around) around the fire, the heat from the fire kills the bacteria in the body thus, cleansing it.

The way Holi is celebrated in south, the festival also promotes good health. For, the day after the burning of Holika people put ash (Vibhuti) on their forehead and they would mix Chandan (sandalpaste) with the young leaves and flowers of the Mango tree and consume it to promote good health.

Some also believe that play with colours help to promote good health as colours are said to have great impact on our body and our health. Western-Physicians and doctors believe that for a healthy body, colours too have an important place besides the other vital elements. Deficiency of a particular colour in our body causes ailment, which can be cured only after supplementing the body with that particular colour.

People also clean-up their houses on Holi which helps in clearing up the dust and mess in the house and get rid of mosquitoes and others pests. A clean house generally makes the residents feel good and generate positive

Quo Vadis

Why is my life so boring?Why do I getup in the morning and have a headache?......... Why is it that I don't like to hang around with friends any more, considering until few years back it came naturally to me¦..Why do I think so much and feel as if all my energies drained out. Why do I feel fatigued? Why do I feel hopeless?....................... Why do I feel so unloved? Where am I headed?...................................

Today, I woke in the morning to ask myself these questions.I thought I am losing my ground, I was feeling very depressed. I was wondering: what I am doing with my life. I have already lived half of my life if considering I live till sixty, and here, I get up one morning, head achy from too much thinking over night, pondering over whats wrong with me and my life.

Then I realized I don't have a reason-to live. I don't look forward to being somebody, one day, whom I idolize. I didn't have a purpose in life.I wondered why it is so important to have a purpose in life to live.It took few days more to realize why.
I was reading news online when I came across the news of a suicide bomber in Pakistan blowing himself up in a busy market.There was nothing new here, I have read so many times, the news of similar kind in newspapers, but that day, fresh from my depression and questioning the ideals of life made me wonder why and how can someone kill himself for something as unromantic and illogical as religious fundamentalism.

How can killing oneself be a persons ultimate goal in life?

What does the person get out of it? Whats that powerful motivation, which pulls someone to that level?......

After much thinking, I decided religious extremism or national extremism.¦ Gives purpose to otherwise un-purposeful life of thousands of humans. Its a release valve for tensions within a person, and questions pertaining life.

I started visualizing about a middle aged man, highly educated and intelligent, placed in good level in social hierarchy having a supportive family and everything one could ask for, joining an terrorist organization,leaving all his wealth, society, family aside.

What would have motivated such a life changing move?.......

Only one rationale I could come up with.

It gave the man in question- a purpose in life, to live. It gave him- Ideology to die for.It made him feel important and his life important for a cause.

So. How important is it to have a purpose in life?I think that's the most important necessity in life..Otherwise life seems so meaningless.
Having a purpose in life-If the above man had a better purpose in life,he would be a different man.. A life saving physician .a great painter, a great engineer .a great philosopher.a great humanitarian.

Now I am convinced, its sometimes dangerous, to not have a purpose in life. It could lead to disastrous consequences in societies, if it didn't provide its citizens something worthwhile to die for..

I am searching for the purpose of my life, .and I think I have many choices to make and lots to chose from. Life is full of options.We just need to know-where to look.

Hamare dil main koi khwaab pal baitha to hungama

The buzz of my phone woke me up this Sunday. It was a call from my old pal who called me and started the conversation with some sad news. Later we discussed about valentine day, old pals.... work. He cribbed about his office problem and how he sorted things out in office which in itself was a motivational story and the punchline of his story " Hamare dil main koi khwaab pal baitha to hungama " True to his Lucknowi andaz he recited a beautiful poem in mushayra style which left me speechless. All I could say was Wah! Nawab sahab.

Here is the full poetry. Author Dr kumar Vishwas

कोई दीवाना कहता है, कोई पागल समझता है,
मगर धरती की बेचैनी को बस बादल समझता है,
मैं तुझसे दूर कैसा हूँ, तू मुझसे दूर कैसी है,
ये तेरा दिल समझता है या मेरा दिल समझता है.....

मोहब्बत एक एहसासों की पावन सी कहानी है,
कभी कबीरा दीवाना था, कभी मीरा दीवानी है,
यहाँ सब लोग कहते हैं मेरी आँखों में आँसू हैं,
जो तू समझे तो मोती हैं, जो न समझे तो पानी हैं.....

बहुत बिखरा बहुत टूटा थपेडे सह नहीं पाया,
हवाओं के इशारों पर मगर मैं बह नहीं पाया,
अधूरा अनसुना ही रह गया यूँ प्यार का किस्सा,
कभी तुम सुन्न नहीं पाए, कभी में कह नहीं पाया......

भ्रमर कोई कुमुदनी पर मचल बैठा तो हंगामा,
हमारे दिल में कोई ख्वाब पल बैठा तो हंगामा,
अभी तक डूब के सुनते सब किस्सा मोह्हबत का,
में किस`से को हकीकत में, बदल बैठा तो हंगामा......

मैं उसका हूँ वो इस एहसास से इनकार करता है,
भरी महफिल में भी रुसवा हर बार करता है,
यकीं है सारी दुनिया को खफा है हमसे वो लेकिन,
मुझे मालूम है फिर भी मुझी से प्यार करता है ...

मैं जब भी तेज़ चलता हूँ नजारे छूट जाते हैं,
कोई जब रूप गढ़ता हूँ तो सांचे टूट जाते हैं,
मैं रोता हूँ तो आकर लोग कन्धा थाप थपाते हैं,
मैं हस्त हूँ तो मुझसे लोग अक्सर रूठ जाते हैं ...

समंदर पीर का अन्दर हैं लेकिन रो नही सकता,
यह आसू प्यार का मोटी हैं इसको खो नही सकता,
मेरी चाहत को दुल्हन तू बना लेना मगर सुन ले,
जो मेरा हो नही पाया वोह तेरा हो नही सकता...

सजी है खुशनुमा महफिल सभी दिलदार बैठे हैं
जिधर देखो उधर ही इश्क के बीमार बेठे हैं
हंसीनो की अदाओं पे सभी दिल हार बेठे हैं
हजारों मर-मिटे और सैक्दो तैयार बेठे हैं...

मत पूछ की क्या हाल है मेरा तेरे आगे,
तू देख के क्या रंग हैं तेरा मेरे आगे ....