A Few Good Men

"साईं इतना दीजिये जामे कुटुम समाये
मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ साधू न भूखा जाए । "

Oh God! Give me that much so that my family can sustain. Neither I remain hungry nor the guest at my door.

Kabir

     The longstanding fight between virtue and vice of human mind is well known to everyone. When the virtue dominates the vice, human shows his benevolent face to society whereas when vice becomes commanding human turns into a malevolent creature. But at times few incidents in life do change our view point of looking into various aspects of our actions and compel us to re-think on the same. Such an incident happened in the life of an auto-rickshaw driver and fortunately I became a part of the story.

               Sometime back I was in Bangalore and paid a visit to the ISKCON temple over there with some of my close friends. What a pleasant feeling it was to visit a Krishna temple after such a long time! As a child I used to visit temples very often with my mother but these days the busy schedules have taken a lot from our social and spiritual lives; in fact we have almost forgotten visiting our deities except on few special occasions when we have to bribe them for passing some exams or for clearing an interview. Prospective brides and grooms do make sure they please the God for quite a long time to get their better halves. The 350 crore ISKCON project at Bengaluru (read Bangalore), which is a blend of modern architecture with ancient spiritual consciousness, is definitely a worth visiting destination for all Krishna and Non-Krishna lovers.
                    After spending a few hours there we started for Majestic (Bengaluru Bus Depot) and tried to hire an auto. The auto fare which was 50 rupees during arrival has become 90 rupees while departure. After a heated discussion with the auto driver we settled at sixty. A young man in his late twenties was the driver in charge. I just tried to pull his leg by asking how he gets sleep at night after cheating so many commuters throughout the day and what do I see! He was really surprised and asked how I could know his actual problem. He informed that he had not been able to sleep properly for last 6 months. I found a suitable "bakra" after a long time and started my Gyaan on spiritual consciousness that his vice has piled up where as his heart is still pure which tries to awaken his dormant self-consciousness during his sleep. It seemed that my "Bol bachhan" has touched his heart and he sincerely admitted how the auto-rickshaw drivers make a profit of 400% over every rupee spent. Then he went on sharing the story of his life about how he came to Bangalore with mere 5000 rupees 8 years back, how he toiled hard to drive auto-rickshaws for a long time. With a pride note he informed that now he owns two auto rickshaws and with the money earned over years he has got all his three sisters married. When my friend curiously asked about his marriage plans, he shyly replied with a smile that without marriage itself he is looting the passengers to such an extent. What would he do to fulfill his wife’s demands once he gets married? How much can he cheat the commuters? Then I could realize why a Govt official becomes more corrupt after marriage. Only God can fulfill the demands of the creatures from Venus. It takes lot from the people of Mars when they even try to fulfil one of their desires.

               The conversation became more interesting when I asked him about his future plans. With a grin on his face he expressed his desire to serve the people of his community and uplift them. He intimated that his caste is “Curba”, which is generally a shepherd community and the people of his community are not well established. He wanted his community to become equally respectable like the other two high profiled communities, “The Lingayats” (read B.S. Yedudarappa ) and “The Gowdas” (read H.D. Devegowda ), of Karnataka . None of the hospitals and schools in Karnataka is named after people of his community; he spoke with a dejected voice. With an optimistic tone he firmly said that he has born as a common man but he does not want to die the same way. He wants to create an impact on the society by serving his people. But he is not finding any way to do so which is keeping him awake all through the nights. He told that he has read till class 7 and daily spends 10 rupees on news paper to know what is happening around the world. I was really impressed at his curiosity to gain knowledge. The discussion went on till we reach our destination.

                    Upon arrival when I started paying him off he requested that we pay him only 50 Rs, which is the actual fare, and not 60 bugs as dealt earlier. He told that he is an honest guy and does not cheat commuters much like his fellow auto drivers. In his broken Hindi language he tried to communicate that he was so overwhelmed to meet us that he could not express his feelings. He promised us that he would not cheat the commuters for some time and see whether he gets proper sleep or not. Finally I paid him 60 bugs as promised earlier but asked him to be honest to himself first and then to others. I was really touched by this driver’s honesty and confession. I could see a spark in the eyes of this young man with a lot of dreams and aspirations. I was pleased inside my heart because I could at least revitalize the honest side of the young man through our conversation.
               Gone are the days of old generation in India which is more known for its corruption than anything else. This is the new young India (Yeh hai Youngisthan , Meri Jaan ) which thinks completely different from its predecessors , which is really frustrated from the current inefficient and incumbent system, which wants to see India as a super power, which is determined to bring the change. An India where a 7th class pass auto-driver thinks about bringing a change in the society is the new face of Youngistan. This is the young blood we need to capitalize so that the drastic reformation can be realized and then India’s desire of becoming a super power would no longer be a distant dream.

Give me some sunshine ....... I wanna dream again

A New Year's gift

For someone you love the most....

               31st December 2009, it was the new year's eve around 4 o' clock and cubicles near me were getting emptied as people had started leaving a bit early to enjoy themselves the last night of the year; some with their families, some with their partners, some with friends and some of them alone with Bagpipers & Johnny Walkers. Some "Still single ...ready to mingle" youth had made their own small gossip groups here & there and were cursing their fates for not having partners for the rocking night. And of-course there were few "odd men out" people like me sitting at their desks & looking at the down-pouring of New Year’s greeting mails, each of them with a little more frustration. "What the hell is good about this eve? I don't have any plans for it as of now". Submitting the assignments at last moment throughout the college days, reaching the station just before the departure of the train etc. etc. all of them have seriously impacted our life styles these days. Unable to think any flimsy & quick-fix plans, I started pondering over the incidents of last few days at work. Life has not been a bed of roses or a cake walk for me at office for last couple of months. When all the horrible thoughts started hovering in the mind, my soul revolted and I woke up from my so called introspection. I prayed to God for a better tomorrow & fruitful New Year. Breaking the "odd men out" jinx I too joined the "Aam Aadmi" and left the office.

                              With a simple cake cutting with my flat mates at 12, I welcomed the "2KX" and then I was on phone for next one hour wishing my close friends & relatives. It's a gift of technology that we have come a long way back from "New Year Greeting Cards" days to just a ring or an SMS. Like a bolt from the blue, there she was wishing me a "Happy New Year". Thanks to Vint Cerf(The father of internet) & Google TALK , she was pinging me from 7 seas & thousands of miles away. The "3 Idiots" have refreshed my college memories couple of days back and there she.... the first and only love of my life, the soul of my heart, the princess of my dreams whom I have always loved from the purest corner of my heart. Her simplicity & frankness bowled me over. I knew she was different from the very first day in the class, obviously it was "love at first sight"....... was popping up at my desktop. I thanked God for listening to my prayer & making the night special after all she pinged me after a long six month's break. It was the best gift I could have had for the New Year. My heart danced with joy & butterflies ran in my stomach. She was the first one to ping me in the New Year. Does she ever think about me sometimes? Like the Uday Chopra in Dhoom2 I too started dreaming a bit. "Aila" my hard luck and the power failed. Never ever in my life I have felt such urgent need of electricity as I felt at that very moment. All my thanks took an U turn and I started cursing my deities. I guess the electric dept took pity on me and the bulb glowed in five minutes. God fearing I took all my curses back and waking from my dream I replied her back. New Year wishes, how do you do, how izz life, any New Year resolutions, plans etc. etc. we continued for a while.

               The lover boy in me, Rahul .. naam to suna hoga ,was provoking myself to propose her again. "Dil hai ki maanta nahi" even after being turned down by her twice, once off line and once online, still "Kuch Kuch hota hai". What can I do? God has made us guys like this. We always think from our hearts & never use our brains when it comes to a matter about love & girls. Unlike us fools, girls are always smart and they act mature using their brains. God might be one of us only; that's why he has never been able to understand girls after creation. Some of the scriptures do speak the same. I was about to type the three golden words when the reply popped up "Gotta go .. Good bye". My hands froze & dreams scattered; there it was only the harsh reality, the truth of life. I wished I could tell her once more “Hum ek baar jite hain, ek baar marte hain, shaadi bhi ek baar hoti hai, aur pyaar….ek hi baar hota hai”. I know after reading this she may never ping me again, may never talk to me again. But there is a hope, a new year's hope, an "All Izz Well" hope that things will change. Some day or other she will understand my selfless love and my life will be normal again. Because....

"Picture abhi baaki hai mere dost"

Independence Day

Let me pen down before the writer inside me dies without salvation ......

To Hollywood movie buffs the title may seem familiar but this article is neither about the Will Smith's 1996 flick nor is it about United States of America. Rather it is all about 15th August, the Independence day of my beloved country India (Mera Bharat Mahaan, Kajol's favorite dialogue in K3G). How various incidents within 24 hours can shake someone’s patriotic emotions, is the essence of this column.

It was a Friday evening, the day before Independence Day and I was stuck in the busy Hyderabad traffic at Jubilee check-post on my way to a friend's house. Some casual thoughts were flashing through my mind “This time Independence Day has somehow fallen on a Saturday again & I have lost another sure-shot holiday." I am sure this must have definitely been in the minds of all 5 days office a week MNC cultured folks where as all the 6 days office a week people must have enjoyed this extra holiday in the weekend. But none between the two classes is least bothered to celebrate the Independence Day. Actually 15th August has become another holiday in the diaries of Indian people except the so called politicians in white khadis. They are indeed the busiest people on this auspicious day as they have got the official right to hoist the tricolor national flag. Amid these wild thoughts my attention got diverted towards a kid when he touched my hand. He was a small boy may be around 7-8 years old (a typical traffic signal brand) and was selling the tiny plastic tricolor flags. "Take some 10 flags sir and I will give you a good discount" uttered the seller with a great enthusiasm. My inquisitive mind casually asked him "What are these flags for? Is there anything special tomorrow?". His gloomy stare with a smile on his face depicted more of his curiosity than ignorance. As the signal turns green and traffic moved forward but my eyes were still fixed at those innocent eyes that had lots of unanswered questions. Couple of horns from the back and I was forced to drive ahead. There was only one question in my mind “Will the kid ever know the significance of tomorrow”?

When the clock stroke one I woke up from my dreams and only then I realized that I have missed another flag hoisting ceremony of my life. I can't even recollect when was it last time I attended a flag hoisting ceremony or watched the live telecast of PM addressing the nation from Red fort. Actually I am not the only sinner of this brand in fact majority of my generation endorse the same brand. Sometimes it looks to me like my generation has already lost its interest in this auspicious day. Whom to blame? But are we solely responsible for this apathy? - These are really debatable questions. But if I reflect back into my childhood memories, 15th August used to be one of the busiest days in my school life. As a Boys' Scout commander I have led my troop in various parades & saluted the tricolor in uniform with the most patriotic spirit. But every time the long somnolent speech after the national anthem sounded the same even though time, place & speaker changed. Never ever I have heard a speech, which is spoken from heart; which can inspire people; which can recite the true significance of our Independence day. In Russia it is a custom for newly wedded couple to visit a military park on their wedding day to pay homage to the war heroes because of whose sacrifices they have been able to live peacefully where as Indians like me don't even bother to wake up early on a weekend to attend the flag hoisting ceremony of the Independence day.

It was around four in the evening and I was at a barber shop. While the barber was busy shaving me I was struggling to watch one of my favorite bollywood flicks "K3G", which was being played on the TV, in the multiple reflections of the mirrors. When the scene where the British students sing the Indian national anthem came the barber asked me to stand immediately. Half-shaved I, when stood up hastily, felt the same sense of pride in listening to the anthem as I used to feel in my childhood. Standing at the cross-roads of torn patriotism I was really amazed at the patriotism of this barber who not only respects his national anthem but also makes people like me realize the same.

The same evening I was at a dinner party with my friends. These days we need some excuses or other to go for a treat on someone else's money. The giant screen at the restaurant was playing some patriotic videos. There were kebabs & cocktails almost on every table. There were laughs & jokes coming out from some table every now & then. Something happened I didn't know what but I stood up instantly. Before I realized what had propelled me to do so I saw the tricolor flag waving on the giant screen & heard the national anthem being played. Lost in the melody of the anthem for few seconds when I looked around there was a deadly silence on the entire floor. The waiters froze for a while when everyone on the floor was giving standing obsession to the national flag & the national anthem. It was then I realized "This is my real India". We might have dozens of languages spoken with their various dialects in different parts of the country, we might believe in different Gods from different religions, we might hate each other viz. Hindus vs. Muslims, metro vs. rural or even four-wheelers vs. auto-rickshaws, still the country prospers, still India has the second largest growing economy. What is that hidden force that drives us among all these diversities. I understood that it is this patriotic feeling of being an Indian which unites us, propels us which is in the form of curiosity in the eyes of the 7 years old kid, I met yesterday, to know what is the tricolor meant for; which is in the form of enthusiasm in the voice of the barber that makes others show respect to the national anthem ; which is in the heart of sinner branded Indians like me who still love their country India (Mera Bharat Mahaan) even though they are pretty much influenced by the western effects.

There I could hear my heart pounding with every beats of

"Jaya-he .... Jaya-he.... Jaya-he.....
Jaya Jaya Jaya Jaya-he .........".

A new beginning

Let me pen down before the writer inside me dies without salvation ......

         Life comes to a halt when I start thinking what I have achieved so far in the struggle of my life. Bhagwad Gita says " Karmanye vadhikaraste maa phalesu kadachanam" which means carry on your "karma"/deed without thinking much about the "phalam" / result. Just do it now,considering it as your duty, and results will bear fruit on their own. May be Lord Shri Krishna has told this divine truth some thousands of years back, which seems to be very much logical as such, but does it stand valid in today's competitive world ? Can we expect our Indian cricket team to just play the matches (that too World cup ones) without even bothering about the results ? If things go well then fine but if they lose don't we curse them till the last word of our patriotism come out? Can we ever separate the result from the deed or in simpler words can we separate the reactions from the actions ?

      My poor knowledge in physics always reminds me of one of Newton's laws which helped me in deriving lots of formulas in my intermediate which says "To every action there is an equal and opposite reaction". When you disregard a beggar with out dropping a penny in his palm you get an immediate reaction on his face & if he is of our so called "Traffic Signal" brand then you may end up listening to "Sahastranamas" of yours like that of "Vishnu-Sahastranamas". The action/deed & reaction/result can not be separated in this case. There are numerous examples in daily life where we cannot segregate these two items. Moreover even if you try to visualize both the entities separately our society will not let you do so. Ever since,the day from which I have gained my consciousness,my childhood I have been asked to chase a dream as if I am here on this earth to fulfill someone else's unrealized desires. "Be the topper of the class" & you will get the cricket kit , "Obey these orders" & you will get a chocolate , "Finish these tasks" & you will be allowed to watch a movie and so on the list continues. Always there was a condition attached or I will say a result attached to my every action which always persuaded me for my next task. Basically I have never been asked to visualize the tasks ahead of the results. How many of us have been asked by our parents / teachers / elders to enjoy the task while doing so rather every time we are supposed to focus on the end result. Our society has become result oriented ,so to it only mile stones matter not the journey. The result is always waiting in the destination as soon as you finish your journey. So how can it be separated from journey ? That is what matters to the whole world ,"Phalam .. result .." is the only success Maha mantra of today. This so-called result analysis methodology similar to that of after writing a MOCK CAT has really shorten our vision to see beyond the horizon.
   We are only confined to results of petty tasks in our hand, no one even bothers to think beyond that because the society rewards us based on the results. Almost every individual as well as every organization has turned himself/itself into some sort of "short-term Memory Loss" identity like the protagonist in the "GHAZINI" which can only remember & appreciate the results of short span of time. So when it comes to an aggregation /conglomeration of entire life our brain fails to perceive the result and goes blank like a newly formatted hard disk. May be Lord Krishna has to re-iterate Gita for millions of "Arjunas" like me in today's world.

" Karmanye ........................"