Who is 'Thee' ???

Here I am, this is me,

Listening to my heart and thinking 'free'.

How many times have I done that before?

Once or twice and not more!

Pondering over all those moments,

When I called myself supposedly 'free'.

Strangely though, my thoughts were shackled,

By chains which bear the name of 'thee'!

Who is 'thee'? I cannot see,

But is somewhere near you must agree!

I can feel thy presence each and every day,

Let's hope that we'll meet one day.

Knowing well that our chances of confrontation,

Vary inversely with this gigantic population.

Till then we have promises to keep,

Loads to smile and a few reasons to weep.

Waiting for the day we are destined to meet,

Hidden secrets to share and wishes to greet.

I hope 'you' are there, this is what I feel,

That there is one thing I cannot conceal.

It is 'thee' who has made me 'FREE'!

It is 'thee' who has made me 'ME'!!

The Big 'Q'

There are times in life when we have to undergo pains and suffering (where both the terms have their usual meaning) especially during physical illness or emotional trauma.

Though these tough days disturb your regular schedule, they actually make you think beyond the same. Though they take you away from a simple and tranquilized life, but they make you realize the true worth of it. Though you are the weakest you can ever be for these few days, they make you stronger than usual to lead the rest of your life.

Though we have to suffer for sure, but to adjudge the whole experience as good/bad is something that 'lies entirely in our own hands'. It is easy to say, but very difficult to realize it, especially when it is needed the most.

This is the crux of everything. At 'all' times in this game of life, we should ask ourselves what I call The Big Q which says, "Right at this very moment, am I the player who is deciding his own moves or am I just sitting back and waiting for things to happen to me?" Answering that question for yourself will bring you back on track (if at all you are drifted). Bingo!

Is that all? Hmm... not exactly. The smallest and yet the toughest part still remains. How do we remind ourselves to ask The Big Q to ourselves? Some say it comes with practice, others prefer to set certain things which can act as reminders (say an unusual mobile wallpaper or something). And I'll say you are the best judge for yourself :)

Science or Commerce ???

A recent statistic says, "Out of a total of 261 students taken in for the post grad. MBA program at IIM-K, 236 were engineers and 12 were from commerce background." Sounds stunning. But what may be the reason?

These MBA institutes take some Common Aptitude Tests for selecting the students clearly indicating that the engineering students have stronger aptitude. Why is that so? Is the graduation education that different for the two streams? Not really. Then what?

I remember my uncle saying, "My son got 65% in Class 10th boards, I don't think he'll be able to cope up with Science. I'm putting him into Commerce." This may not be always true (thankfully!). But isn't this true in most cases?

If majority of students with stronger academic skills take up Science (mostly PCM) at 10+2 level, they will end up doing Engineering thus amounting to the mammoth 236/261 ratio in MBA colleges. I am not neglecting that there are Commerce students who do well too, but only to the tune of 12/261.

What compels the society to make this Science-Commerce discrimination is out of the scope of my interpretation but isn't this the root cause???

It definitely must be the moral duty of the society to stop creating such differences and instead promote the interest of the student, not just between Science and Commerce but also for other areas like Arts.

Sounds simple. But how does a student decide his interests? In case of doubt (which generally is the case), they tend to follow what is prevalent thus falling back into the vicious circle.

We need a radical change in the education system and the first and foremost step must be 'awareness', not just for the students but for their parents too. They need to be well informed to do proper counselling of their teens. The education system should also complement them in giving the children an overview of 'all' the future options available.

It is only then that we can look forward to an all-round development, not just of the individual, but of the society itself.

PS: The writer himself, an Engineering student, is preparing for management entrance exams. So he has tried his best not to involve any personal stuff into this :D

LOVE AAJKAL

There was a time when we all loved the 'love' of Heer-Ranjha and Laila-Majnu. Even today, we look upto them as the so called 'ideal' couples, but somewhere within, we know that we cannot be them. Not just that we cannot, but simply we do not want to be them. What's the big deal in making them our ideals then? Our ideals today are Neha-Sameer and Priya-Raj who handle multiple opposite sexes to (probably) finally come together.

Come on man, be practical, who wants to spend an entire life 'waiting', hoping for him/her to come, someone whom you only saw for a fleeting moment! Life moves on and if we stop in today's fast-paced world, we lose everything, possibly even the so-called 'one sided love' we were waiting for. This ready-to-die love may have well suited and flourished in the era in which Laila-Majnu existed, but things have changed now, and so should love.

There was a time when Dalton ruled. Atom was indivisible. And people believed. But, today we laugh at it. Similarly, Majnu would have said that his heart was indivisible and wholly contained the love for Laila. Can you say that today?

Today atom is divisible. And so is the heart of a man. It has different chambers. Not for different women at the same time (though it is the case for some sick fools), but for different things including a woman. Sameer now says, "Neha I have secured the most valued chamber of my heart solely for you, but I do have other chambers to look after. I do loads of social networking, have other friends whom i like to share a drink with, etc. It is definitely you, but not just you." And Neha loves him for the frankness and lots more.

The question is, have we forgotten the age-old die hard love? Or has it been confined to a smaller special chamber in the heart (and still exists carefully cradled in its raw form)? I would personally agree with the latter, but only if Sameer assures me that he understands the value of the 'most valued chamber' in his heart. And I will be happier if science puts a stop on further subdivisions of the atom.

FAVOURS & THANKS

I went up to the chaiwalla and confirmed, “Bhaiya, Indore-Patna Express comes on this platform, right?” and he, probably for the third time, nodded with a grin. I thanked him again for his ‘favour’.

But was that all I could do? Just a mere ‘thanks’ could suffice. Why didn’t he ask for another favour? Isn’t it obvious in science and economics, that whatever is gained must also be returned.

Let’s not think it as an ‘on-the-spot’ exchange between two persons, else it would go on forever!

But what we can observe is how a person spends his life. In simple words, towards the end of his life, what is his net counter of ‘Favours’ v/s ‘Thanks’, i.e. a difference between what he did for others and what he expected others to do for him.

Now that every exchange of favour credits one count each in the global total of favours and thanks, implies that the grand totals are always the same for both the heads. But we will always have some who end up having much more ‘favours’ accomplished than ‘thanks’ spoken by them in reply to favours.

Can this be a simple objective criterion of differentiating between the candidature for the posts in ‘heaven’ and ‘hell’? More favours than thanks and the heavens are all yours! What if this is god’s secret way to make the toughest of all decisions seem so simple and objective.

Looks good till it has the element of uncertainty, had the process been disclosed to mankind, it would give a picture of chaos and loss of purity in the genuineness of the term ‘favour’. It would then lose its meaning and the whole objective process would turn into an utter failure.

I’m happy that life is not that objective in reality.

I’m happy that there is at least one thing in which science and economics lack.

And I’m glad that there are some things in life which are still left on the almighty to decide!

---xxx---

I Wish I Had the 'Time' ... (Poem : 15-07-07)

I Wish I had ‘TIME’ …

I wish I had the ‘time’,

Not just to spend it’s entire value,

But to realize the same, essentially before  time !

 

I wish I had some more ‘time’,

Not only to see it slipping away,

But to stop the same, safely in time !

 

I wish I had a little more time,

Not only to plan well for the future,

But to act out the same, exactly on time !

 

I wish I had sufficient ‘time’,

Not only to see the clock ticking,

But to run with the same !

 

I wish there was some more ‘time’,

Not only to ask for happiness,

But to give the same !

 

I wish I had ‘time’,

Not only to see how life goes,

But to live the same !!!

 

I wish I had the proper ‘time’,

Not just to know myself,

But to be the same !

 

An Inspiration (Article : 11-05-07)

AN INSPIRATION

 

It all begins with an inspiration ... and ironically, ends at the same !

 

As life begins, it is your parents inspiring you to start a journey which may seem happily short at one moment and tiringly long at another ...

 

And as you march forward, you find friends ready to be the next inspirers or better to say, companions in true respects, ready to share all it takes to lead a carefree life ...

 

And then, it's your turn to filter the best ones out of them, i.e. Keep those who never find inspiring 'others' (esp. 'you' !) something 'tiring' !

 As you grow older, you find inspirations in famous people, celebrities, mentors, ideals, etc.

In this due course of time .. you unknowingly become an inspirer for yourself ...

 

And this is when you start thinking that you are complete in all respects ...

failing to memorise the universal fact that nobody in this world is complete .. simply because whatever is complete will not change ... and whatever that will not change will gradually become inert... and ultimately  wither away in loneliness !!!

 

In this course of entanglements, you suddenly find yourself gazing at a woman who is supposed to be your wife ... and unfortunately , your inspirer for the next major chunk of your suddenly shortened life !!! 

So you are 'warmly' welcomed to the world of responsibilities, tensions and then children ... and this it's time your own children !!!

 

And now, it is you who tries to gain inspirations from them ... realizing pretty late that you've missed the enjoyment of your earlier life simply in search of 'inspirations' from everywhere !!

 

Oops ! That sounds weirdly awkward ... but that's what you have been spending your life doing ... and that's what you are doing now ... while you watch your children grow old and prepare themselves for the same feelings which their 'dad' once 'had' ...

 

But above all ... you give most of your inspirational credit to the 'almighty'! Whereas in real sense, you actually remember him only once you are lying down on the 'thorny' death-bed ...

 

And you confidently ask,“Oh God ! I would get into 'heaven', won't I ?”...

A short pause.. and God asks his usual question, “What have you done, my son ???” ...

 

You begin with your well-prepared answer, ”To start with, it was a very inspirational lif...”

God asks,”Inspirational ! For whom ?”.

 

You think a lot. This time a long pause and finally decide to say the truth atleast now that you are facing the Judge of all, remembering well that neither his 'law' is blind and nor his 'judgement' fraud !!!

You sheepishly mutter,”Hmm.. I think, it was inspirational for 'myself', but...”.

“That would suffice !”replies God sternly.

“So, any strong point behind wishing 'heaven' ??”asks God.

You think ... and keep thinking until you find yourself in the so-called 'hell' with possibly just one good feeling in heart .. infact with an 'inspiration'!

 

Oh no ! Not again ... there's nobody to listen .. and so you think it's better to continue ...

 

With an 'inspiration' that the next time you come into this world, in whichever form that maybe ...

You'll try your best to inspire others and no doubt that would automatically inspire you too ...

provided that you clearly remember all the 'inspirations' which you collected in your previous life ...

 

“But will I remember all this ? Do I need an inspiration for that too ??? !!!“

 -----xxx-----

Can I Hear 'ME' ??? (POEM : 10-11-06)

Can I Hear ‘Me’ ???

 

Let’s see how can one define ‘Life’ …

Is it a game , or a silly desire to earn ‘fame’ ?

Or is it a challenge to be lost before accepting .

Is it a battle between what you get and what you like ?

Or is it a book to be understood before even reading !!

 

No ! It is a decision , to be made with compulsion ,

Before listening to your own intuitive perception !!!

I’ve heard from you , I’ve heard from them ,

But there is one voice , unheard for a long time ,

They call it ‘intuition’ , Hey ! Does it belong to ‘me’ ?

 

When the going gets tough , they say ,

Don’t worry buddy ! We’re with you .

Thanks everyone for being with me .

But can I ask you something …

Why am I not with ‘me’ ???

 

Oh God ! I beg you to please ensure ,

That while I am squeezing my mind with loads of lessons ,

Hope I am not killing my heart and conscience !

Hope I am not losing my feelings and emotions !!!

 

This is all I wish , no less and no more ,

That while running after laurels and medals ,

In this materialistic world ,

Hope I have not lost myself , my own true self !!!

Hope I have not lost myself , my own true self !!!

If you can , please get ‘me’ back ,

I’m missing ‘me’ , I’ve lost myself !!!

 

But one thing I’m sure of ,

Until I find myself , I won’t give up ,

Until I find myself , I won’t give up !!!

 

Hold on ! Who do you think said that ?? !!

Wasn’t it ‘me’ ? The lost ‘me’ ?

Oh yes ! I’ve found ‘me’ ! I’ve heard ‘me’ !

That’s ‘me’ ! The ultimate ‘ME’ !!!

 -----xxx-----

 

My Ordeal in the Desert (POEM : 02-07-2003)

MY ORDEAL IN THE DESERT

Since the time when I was a student,

I had made a decision very confident.

That atleast once in my life, I would have a look,

At the Pyramids of Egypt, by hook or crook.

 

I got a golden chance, to have a glance.

But in order to reach the Pyramids,

I had to cover the desert, all on my legs.

The sun was scorching, but I kept on walking.

 

It appeared as if the desert was endless,

I went in all directions and landed up in total mess.

One step was looking as one mile,

I could not even find the river Nile.

 

I had no ray of hope,

And there was no choice other than to cope.

I was totally exhausted and tired,

Hot blows of wind were pushing me hard.

 

I had run out of water and food,

Ah! This had spoiled my mood.

At many instances I saw water on the land,

But they were mirages, which I couldn’t understand.

 

I ran in the direction of the voice of the bird,

And was delighted to find a Pyramid!

I was surprised as well as elated,

That all my dreams and wishes were completed!!!

Ambition (POEM : 2004-05)

AMBITION

 

When I came out after attending a session ,

My mind and heart together asked me a question.

That did I have something in my life  called “Ambition”.                                                                                                                                                                                                         

So, I decided with firm and strong determination,

That I would figure out what exactly was Ambition.

 

I went into a society to take views from every section ,

Mr. Richie Rich told me it was money and wealth ,

But Mr. Body Builder said it was fitness and health.

The News Reporter wanted to create a sensation ,

Whereas the politician wanted to lead a big procession.

The designer wished to change the world’s fashion ,

My friend wished to increase his stamp and coin collection.

‘A’ wanted to become an officer at a high position ,

But ‘B’ was hungry for appreciation and admiration.

 

All these views did nothing but added up to my confusion.

I sadly walked down the street with dejection ,

And recalled my meetings with each and every person ,

Oh! Yes!! I got something which was common.

All of them strongly desired ,

To achieve what they aspired.

And this strong aspiration to achieve your goal ,

Is the meaning of ‘ambition’ as a whole.

 

At last I successfully achieved my ambition ,

Which was to find the meaning of the word AMBITION !!!

-----xxx-----

Who is 'HE' ??? (POEM : 11.03.2006)

WHO IS HE ???

 

Many-a-times in this moribund life,

I sit down and have something to wonder.

Isn’t there somebody behind this world,

Who runs us all and makes me ponder.

 

The moment I feel alone, he’s there !

Who is he ? I don’t know.

If I’m fallen, he lifts me up.

How does he do that ? I don’t know.

 

How good is he, ensures for sure, that

You’re back on your feet with just a sigh !

How bad am I, the very next minute,

Leave the ground and try flying high.

 

No doubt, he is back again,

Ready to make me come down. Above all,

Hats-off to him, I need not suffer a strain,

It’s just a glide down and not a big fall !

How does he do all that ? I don’t know.     

 

I find him here, there, everywhere,

In you, in me, in everybody.

When I study, he’s the teacher.

When at home, he’s the parent and sister.

But, what if I’m alone and solitary,

Bravo! He’s the mentor and preacher.

 

For the capitalists, he’s dollar and rupiah,

For the poor and needy, he’s the Messiah !

I wish I were the poorest of all,

I could then proudly say, that for me,

His blessings are wherewithal !!!

Those who are still in the dark,

Think he’s simply frail and fraud.

But those who are in the bright light,

Feel he’s the one and only, the GOD !!!

 

If you’re dormant, he’s the Generator,

If you’re working, he’s the Operator,

If you’re planning to go via the Wrong Way,

Fear him, he can even be the Destroyer.

 

If you’re the body, he’s the spirit,

If you’re the winner, he’s the energy.

If success is the effect, he is the cause.

 

What if failure is the effect ???

Don’t worry ! He is the cause.

And do thank him for that,

Hey man, he is painstakingly,

Laying down the stepping stones,

For your ‘success’ !!!

 

-----xxx-----