Finally...

Just 4 more days to go... go away 2008.. it's been a year of a lot downs n downs...
i am eagerly waiting to start afresh... to breathe.. to live...

Mumbai, the city of my dreams - well, not really !!!

I am not really willing to write tonight. I am speechless, hurt, angry, frustrated, worried, cynical, tired... there are a plethora of emotions that are budding within me with the way things have unfolded since WEDNESDAY, 26-11-2008! This day is now gonna go down in history as a red-letter day, a day when my city of dreams-Mumbai witnessed the worst terror attacks. 60 hours of pain, agony and standstill.

I remember going to the Gateway of India when i was merely 3 or 4 years old. Perched on my dad's arm, I faintly remember touring around the magnificent structure and the resplendent Taj. A few months back, I visited the Leopold Cafe. I was taken aback with the number of foreigners dining at this outlet. And having been at these two places, i just cannot express how troubled i feel when i see them ravaged. I've have had fond memories of these two places, but from here on, these fond memories will be tarred with terror.

14 attacks in the past 4 years! Do these figures really indicate "India shining"??? How much more are we supposed to endure? With bombs planted in buses, trains, offices, malls, hijacking of planes, and now open firing at the common, innocent man on the road... What else do these terrorists need to do to prove a point? Haven't we taken enough? We talk about the brain-drain from India, right? Well, with all such things unfolding I am pretty convinced that the youth of today wouldn't really like to stay in such an unstable nation.

And yes, those famous quotes - "Spirit of mumbai", "resilience of the people of mumbai". On the day after the train blasts that took place in Mumbai in 2006, people went to work as if nothing had happened. On the day after Mumbai was flooded on 26th of July 2005, people jumped back to their routine as if nothing had happened. Well, we must applaud each other for showing such "never-say-die" spirit. But forgive me,if we still continue with our routine after what has happened on the 26th november,2008 then we are surely losing what is called 'humanity'! With so many political heads rolling, India is hopefully awaiting to see light at the other end of this dark tunnel. Isn't it dumbfounding that since 2001, US hasn't faced even a single attack? This is the kind of security and power that India ought to have now.

A passing thought- I really wonder what the parents of school-going kids must have gone through during those 60 hours! It must have been so so difficult to not let kids get a glimpse of those atrocious images being flashed live on the television sets. Even after 6 days today, it really cuts me when i see those images and videos on the screen and in newspapers. I can't pen down how disturbed i have been... and i am sure, like me, many many Mumbaikars are having tough time tackling the aftermath of the trauma.

Before i end this post, i pray from the depth of heart to God to give rest to the souls of those who have died in these attacks and to give IMMENSE courage and faith to their families and us 'mumbaikars' to move on.

These few lines gave me the strength that i was looking for...

Hope abides; therefore I abide.
Countless frustrations have not cowed me.
I am still alive, vibrant with life.
The black cloud will disappear,
The morning sun will appear once again
In all its supernal glory.

Mi "Marathi"

What can i say about this day! On one end, we hear news about the successful lauch of India's First lunar mission- Chandrayaan and take pride that India has also joined the league of America, Russia, the European Space Agency, Japan and China.

And on the other end, we hear that mumbai- one of India's most strategically important city is burning !

It feels sad that mankind has stooped so low that for selfish reasons the peace and harmony of a nation is impaired. I just read Mr. Amitabh Bachchan's blog and these 4 lines were quoted in his latest post that aptly bring out the irony of life:

“A seed while growing makes no sound.

A tree while falling makes huge noise.

Destruction shouts and the creation is always quiet.

This is the power of silence.”

Well, coming back to the issue at hand... it was high time that made a blog entry on the so-called issue of 'justice to marathi manoos'.

I am a maharashtrian, born and brought up in this city of dreams- Mumbai, and so are my parents as also my ancestors but i completely abhor what 'some people' are doing in the name of caste. I was talking to a friend of mine this morning and he jokingly mentioned that whatever is happening is for the good of my community... so i should be happy! Not that i took his words seriously, but just that most of us tend to have a generalised opinion about a 'basket of mangoes' even though only a few 'mangoes' in that basket are rotten. Reiterating my point- the way every muslim is not a terrorist, every maharashtrian isn't a part of the corroborative network of these peace-invaders.

The problem with our country is that the politicians are so involved in crusading for personal grudges, they barely notice what the commonman ever wants! Everyone knows that Bihar is one of the most corrupted states in our country; it, therefore, wouldn't be surprising to know that the railway examination papers are leaked to the students of Bihar. It was reported that out of 54000 students who took this exam- only 2-digit figure 'maharashtrian' students cleared whereas a thousand-digit figure of bihar students cleared this exam. Similar cases were registered for other states of India; however, these cases weren't blow out of proportion (or should i say- brought to the notice of commonman) the way the case about 'mararashtrian' students was! My point here is, the problem is about corruption (leaking of exam papers) and not that 'a certain community is never given a fair chance'. Why can't these politicians concentrate particularly on this point? Why does this peace-invader 'leader' (rather- misleader) need to keep the gun on the shoulders of 'maharashtrian' man and shoot at his target? Just because he wishes to drain out the votes of a rival party (which happens to be formed and run by his own family), do WE need to suffer???

And the best joke is - the father preaches that everyone in mumbai must practice 'marathi' as their language of communication; the signboards, hoardings, billboards, etc. be written in bold-face marathi and the son of this great leader(misleader) opts for German over Marathi as an optional subject in college! People are such hypocrites!

'He' is fighting for the rights for the maharashtrian men claiming that the boot-polishwalas, the taxiwalas, the rickshawalas who mostly hail from the north-indian states have all usurped the jobs of maharashtrians... what does this fellow want?? A maharashtrian to work as boot-polishwala? taxiwala? rickshawala?? He has basically even forgotten the nitty-gritties of his protest...!

And above all this lies the point that who has given these peace-invaders the right to kill, burn and torment innocent people? We- the commonman- struggle,toil and travail day-in and day-out to set up shops,to set up our businesses, to buy a car ... just so that all these objects of our hardwork are reduced to pieces by inhumane activities of some nonsensical followers? What is the use of violence?? Why do we all forget that above all, we are one nation-we are INDIANS. The essence of Indian lies in the Diversity with Integrity and why is one Indian trying to kill another Indian in the name of caste, religion or creed? If all states in our country start fighting similarly, India will not remain India- every state would want to proclaim itself as an independent nation... it wouldn't take too long then for some more "kashmir"s to be born where a beautiful heaven would get converted into an atrocious valley of death!

Our country definitely needs better, responsible, level-headed leaders who can show the path of harmony and equality than squabble over impertinent, impudent issues.

It isn't about - "mi marathi" ... it's about - 'Us Indians'!

The Secret ...

A few months back, upon maa's insistence, i read "The Secret" by Rhona Byrne. And i also committed a grave mistake of watching one of the most 'ugliest' movies of the year- Om Shanti Om. But one thing that struck me is that, both the book and this movie have a common msg and that is, the power of believing in your dreams.
"... Woh kehte hain na.. Tum agar kisi cheej ko sachhe dil se chaho, toh puri kaynat tumhe usse milane mein jut jati hai ! "

Below is one of the articles i had wriiten for a client, a year back, on the same... happy reading ...

The Power of Visualization
“I am thought. I can see what the eyes cannot see. I can hear what the ears cannot hear. I can feel what the heart cannot feel.”
- Peter Nivio Zarlenga, American Businessman.

That how powerful visualisation can be! It goes beyond any chains of fear or any other limits. Visualising is daydreaming but with a purpose. It is a form of testing how far you can go in achieving your goals. There is this uncanny grandeur in knowing that in the realm of thought - you are without a chain, that you have the right to explore all heights and depth, that there are no walls nor fences, nor prohibited places, nor sacred corners in all the vast expanse of thought!

Imagine what the great achievers like scientists, athletes, etc would have done if they had not visualised there victory or if they had not believed in their dreams and worked towards them. There would have been no great achievement, no discovery, no uniqueness that would have come to light if these people had not visualised. The power of visualisation is what gave them faith and courage in moving ahead to make such humongous achievements and thus becoming legends. History has proved time and again that all the peak performers mentally go through the important events or tasks even before they happen.

It is said that ideas cross mountains, borders, and seas. They go anywhere a man may not go. With visualisation, your mind starts formulating ways to get closer to your goal. Visualisation gives us the zeal and patience to reach the podium of victory.

Imagine an ideal life for yourself; who would not then strive to paint such an ideal life in reality too? Get yourself accustomed to visualising your aim. Mould your mind in believing that you can do better with each day and with each try as what you actually get is just what you see. Instead of being preoccupied with worry and concerns, daydream and visualise with an unwavering faith that whatever you dream of will come true. Visualisation is what will give you strength in crossing all the hurdles in your path towards your goal, it will give you the energy to withstand any negative forces, it will give you the enthusiasm to get what you truly want and deserve.

So, do not waste time worrying about failures or problems; just visualise yourself confronting your fears in your mind's eye and handling those fears like a winner in the pursuit of attaining your desires, your dreams, your fantasies!

And they'll always inspire me...

It's been quite long since my last post.
But anyways, better late than never ;)
My this post is about all those people who have influenced me, touched me in some way or the other. May be it wil get a bit boring for the readers but i must owe this bit to all those people who have made even an iota of difference by being in life.

The first person whom i am gonna name here is none other than the one who gave birth to me... my Mom. She's not only a woman of substance but also someone who personifies positive attitude, undying courage and a rare spirit! My family wouldn't have been where it is now if she wasn't there to uplift it single-handedly when my father got a paralytic attack. She's like that piece of clay that moulded itself into a claypot at the right time only so that the water (my sis n i)inside it could be well safeguarded. Thanks Maa, Di n I love a lot and we owe our existence to you.

The next person on the list is my sister- a young girl who had to shoulder the responsilbilities suddenly thrown at her at a tender age of ten... and I am so proud of her that she has been doing that with sovereign diligence. She's one person who stands rock-solid by her decisions no matter what the consequences may be. She's the one from whom i have realised what it takes to travel the untrodden path in this world of harsh realities and narrowminded people. She has what you call "gutts"! Whatever she has achieved in her life is only and only because of her hard work and "never-say-die" attitude. 3 cheers to u Di... !

Then there are many other people whom i wouldn't like to name but just that i am grateful to them that they have taught me some lessons in life. Some of them've come in my life and left at the right time. There's one point that i would like to emphasize here is that somewhere down the lane i have learnt that one must not sulk over people who have come and left... no matter what and how... life must move on, and if so, why not move on gracefully? At any point in time, we must not regret anything in our past... just consider it as an enriching experience. And believe me, however good or bad an issue might seem at the start, in the end... it only leaves us much stronger than we were before.

The next on the list isn't a person but some specific books that have made me change my thinking and attitude drastically. The first one is an autobiography -"A child called It" by Dave Pelzer. i remember reading this book when i was barely 15 yrs or so. ; and it completely touched me... i could somehow feel the pain that the author went through and i realised when you are in pain you only need to look around to understand that your pain is nothing as compared to thousands of other people who live in far worse situations.

Another book is "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho- this author has till date, with each and every writing of his, has managed to touch my soul. "Not without my Daughter" is one book that gave me goosebumps; it is based on one topic that every woman will be able to relate with... motherhood!


To end with, here is a beautiful poem that caught my eye::

As I drive my truck each day I wonder what it is I will see today?
Each day brings something new for my eyes and ears
From state to state, from coast to coast what new things will I see this day?
The sunrises from my front window to my back from day to day
The colors are different each and every day from that sunrise
The scenery is never the same even though I’ve been here dozens of time
Where does my inspiration lie?

Some people have to get up to go to work and it is the same old thing day after day
But here in my old truck things are not that way.
I look forward to the days drive and the sites I’ll see and just what’s ahead of me
I have been very lucky to be able to travel and see this most beautiful land
The seasons change and I drive from season to season for just that reason
The seasons are never quite the same the colors are very bright with the changes
Where does my inspiration lie?

The people I meet, the things I’ve seen God you have blest me through my travels
Snow on the mountain peaks, creeks where fish are seen, great rivers miles long
Mother bears teaching her young to fish, deer’s, antelopes, long horned mountain goats
Flowers in a field of gold, windmills that you make go fast in the breath of your wind
Craters that have fallen from the sky large enough to make a hugh bright blue lake
Cactus that bloom in the hot desert sun, sand storms that scared us to death
Where does my inspiration lie? !