Hi!

Thanks for all the messages posted in the last week.

The reason of my absence from blogging since last 10 days has been  that I am in India (Delhi) now, and I got access to internet only today after a week's haul to set back the connection and home, which was closed for a year.

It is nice to be back home, a sense of relaxation and fun meeting friends.

I was feeling lost, when I was away from you all, and was just not able to comprehend how I missed our blogging circle.

Now I would read the blogs gradually and revert. Thanks!!

Hi Guys! I have not been able to come back with a new post for pretty long, due to a hectic schedule with kids at school. I could also not revert with full zeal to all the valuable comments that I have received on my last blogs (thanks!), though have been reading most of your blogs, finding time here and there.

I wish to share a dream that I saw recently. This is about a crane (bagula) infant that accidently dropped from its nest and joined a flock of wild fowls in a jungle. Soon it forgot its identity and started living a life of these land mongering birds, living on leaves and insects.

Once, a saint was passing by, and he noticed the crane in this situation, and felt pity for it. The saint called the crane and said, “ dear child, you are a bird with a different character. You can fly high, dive in the sea, fetch fishes and build your nest in the trees! This is not your place to live your life. You have forgotten your identity with time due to unfortunate circumstances. Try to identify yourself and go to your real place.” The crane was astonished looking in to his eyes, abstaining from any gestures. It went back in to the flock, and nervously started pegging on the ground.

The saint felt desperate, and again went to the bird to re- convince. This time, the bird became more adamant not to even talk, and requested that the saint should leave it alone, as it was in the right place and there was nothing wrong.

The saint now felt pity and became more determined to make the bird re- incarnate into its original existence. With his wit and wisdom, the saint forcibly picked up the bird and took it to a nearby cliff, throwing it down the valley. The bird became nervous seeing down the end of the world, and its heart started pounding. Out of desperation to overcome the fall, it opened its wing and started flapping against the air. Suddenly, it realized that it was flying catching up with the sky. It yelled with happiness looking down at the winking saint, with an element of thankfulness and gratitude. Slowly it galloped off a few hills in minutes, and zeroed into the sky towards the sea.

This dream has been lingering with me every moment, has given me many reasons to think situations in my life as well. I would like that you also try to find yourself in this story, and share your views.

A religion is a guideline or discipline for a serene life in this world. God is a fear to limit us to follow the right path, and be afraid of an external power that rewards or punishes you, as per your deeds.

Hinduism is one of the oldest religions, evolved after covering one of the most tortuous paths of reforms and varied civilizations. The cult is one of the most cosmopolitan and respected race, for its technical and commercial skills, besides a unique brotherhood relationship with all fellow religions.

Recently, there have been too liberal outbursts by us Hindus, about the history of Ramayana and Mahabharata, which are the core basis of our religion. Controversies have been created through media and certain social dignitaries on some key elements including the character of our Gods itself, which have put occult de- links in the basis of Hinduism itself.

For instance, it was mentioned recently in a news channel that Hanuman was married, where as we have always praised him for Brahmacharya assimilations. How come?

Second, the Rama Setu across Lanka has been out under a deep controversy by our Hindu brothers, for their mere political benefits.

Also, there were some impressions of Ramayana being tracked in the hills of Sri Lanka. Were these not known earlier, and preached even today as a pious teerth for us?

If you go to a temple, it is your social status that will assist you for a closer darshan of God.

Sita has been told of doing lose talks with Lord Laxman, before the formation of Laxman rekha incident.

Krishna in Mahabharata has always been criticized time and again for his stance against Duryodhan, during execution. This is besides the Veer Abhimanyu incident.

 And so on…..

God is pious (if you believe), and one cannot analogize Him with the social life of mankind. This makes us lose respect, and we start even comparing with him. As Hindus, we are an example, as I personally see other religions not even thinking of such indifference and atheism. Christianity has a varied ex-pression, where it has also lost ground in some places due to similar reasons. Probably, this has been a great reason for increasing Islamism, as they respect Allah as eternity, and the faith and instructions are clear from Quran…. so more people are accepting this religion as a sacred path and discipline.

At least, no other religion would leave people live who have been challenging the religion with the above type of overtures and creating controversies.. and that no one would dare to continue life on earth. Then what is the faith left if the teachings are made controversial?

PS: The picture above.. have you ever seen any other religion depicting their God like this/ isn't this mockery?

We need to revive our great religion, and re- look at it with respect and defend all such malaise from the offenders, which is getting lost in the ongoing hybridization and din. We will keep becoming thinner like this, and the day is not far when we will be repenting on our personal short- term goals that will kill Hinduism…

Levis blue jeans, plush Revlon lip paints, Chanel toilettes, chick Nike shoes and a sliding Nokia… its all fabulous for a stroll in Connaught place. That’s the trend baby… if you don’t have.. u are dunce!

We at school were quite away from all this, preferring salwar- kurta or max. skirt. Boys were left with a locally stitched shirt and pant, along with a Bata shoe. Vimal, Raymond, Mayur… were the favorite names in fabric. However, there has been a starking hybridization of the dresses to improvise the east and west reflection together for both- fabric and design.

Sweaters and pullovers had their own story to tell.. hand- woven by dadis and mummys over a platter of gud- sweets, chai and groundnuts, clinging knit- sticks while basking in the sun with other aunties… telling 10 times to each other that is WOOLMARK and not cashmilon (??!) …Wearing those made from Lal- Imli or Raymond oon was a big deal of sophisticated guys. The caps, mufflers and gloves came from re- aligned oon of old sweaters, with all possible haggard impulsive color combinations, just to make it complete from all remnants stored in a cardboard Lal Imli oon box… remember?

Today, we don’t find a single person wearing a knit sweater, unless an infant with dadis and pardadis surrounding, or too old,  or from a remote place.

Who’s got the time yaar to make it, and what will my friends say if I wear than shoddy looking dress?

Weekender, Levi’s, Park Avenue…that’s the call of time for attention. Maybe, the brand reflects how hot my pockets are!

The only thing I remember time immemorial, as strong and successful branding sector, has been cosmetics and personal care. Creams, powders, perfumes all advertised extensively in Saritas, Grihshobhas, hoardings… the only change I see today is the hybridization with international (and highly expensive) brands, but advertising remains today through same modes. Abroad, you can see sales guys standing outside big cosmetic malls handing sprayed strips of perfume of your choice to entice with the last try!

Electronics have a different story… with lot of things have come which we literally dreamt off. A Jolly or Beltek TV was enough to see, but now we do not talk anything less than SONY, SAMSUNG or at least LG (@ minimum… hahaha!); sometimes enough taxing on the home budget through a loan.

Not to forget the mobiles marketing, exploiting the brandishing behavior of the human cult to the max.

The theme is.. why do we run for brands? What is the psyche behind this? Is it-

Positive side-

1.      To stick to quality?

2.     Longer lasting

3.     Better performance

4.     Latest technology

5.     Inquisitiveness of the west?

6.     Better after- sales service

Negative side-

1.      Status symbol

2.     Parity with fellow guys

3.     Image building

4.     Show- off

I guess you got my message. Your comments and views will make the purpose of this blog stronger. So.. I welcome and look forward for your liberal comments and views…  J J

1976.. that’s too nostalgic.. waiting for 8 o’clock Wednesday evening.. finely simmering the SW Radio to tune in to Ceylon Broadcasting Corporation.. yes its going to be Amin Sayani on the air (with his magical voice)…. Playing the top ‘n’ hot 20 Hindi songs.. right from SHOR, Abhimaan, to the Kapoors and the Chopras and so on., as we kept stepping on time during late 70s.

Usually, we had families gathered, with kids busy lobbying and betting with the expected countdown this week.

With a lot of people coming back from west, disseminated a startling future of capitalization that we were yet to witness…like seeing movies at home (TV), TV with color screen, music on tape and records, and even computers. For us, it was something crisp going to happen.. a dream come true, taking us out of all this boredom. The USA and USSR were busy wooing us to influence in their culture and civilization, by free magazines at doorsteps every week e.g. SPAN, SPUTNIK.. some of them that I can recall now.

During early 80s, things did start changing, and we shifted listening to DELHI- B everyday 10 o’ clock in the night.. BORN IN THE USA, HELLO…. from MADONNA to MICHAEL JACKSON to….. yes the new sun was awaiting for a dawn (after taking its toll in the west?) .. stretching our night time to midnights…

As Doordarshan picked up, Chitrahaar was another passion on the Wednesdays, and later Fridays as well. Hum Log, and later Buniyaad soaps, added a new dish in the supper. Ramayan has its own story, with curfew- like situation on Sunday mornings.. and the elderly lot sitting hands closed in front of Arun Govil (the actor for SHRIRAM in the serial)!

Then OHHHHH, came the VCR… the technology that blasted our culture and home science. We were usually awake.. running from home to home.. scouting where there is night out today??! It may be Mithun, or Bappi da’s stuff… but hey that’s what was my favvy pastime. Going to school in that hangover…with the crush on a quick time actors, images running from ear to ear during the Geography class…. More was a prestige issue to see the movie first day first show as soon as the cassette was available. Media was catching on us.. like slow poison. Yes.. my world was changing everyday..

Gradually, we got in to the cable business and now the Dish… first captured our recreation time… now even challenging judiciary decisions! That’s the good part of it.. but the other side of the table has made it very monotonous through soaps, chirpy news channels, share market, cartoons, song and dance competitions… sort of trendy. It has befitted in our lives taking it more to a mechanical way of living and more commercial outlook.

The only thing that has not changed is Doordarshan, cos’ it never changed even today. However, its surprising to know the latest stats that 80% of India sees only DD even today.. but that section is living the same life we lived in those golden days…with those chaupal gatherings, saanjha choolhas etc., and I have recently witnessed all this in a village near Delhi.

Yes, we have lost our personal time to media.. and is affecting our relationships at home, as well as social circle which seems almost lost now. This includes deficit of all physical activities (kids prefer to play soccer and tennis on Playstations), encouragement to fast food culture (we are short of time to give more to the idiot box).. we seldom meet with the neighbours and friends but prefer to talk on phone, chatting etc.,,, even if we decide to meet, it is better to go to some restaurant for another fast food meal over liquor etc. The frustration is increasing seeing more crime through media, and we are resorting to counseling with medical agencies for habit illnesses (blood pressure, diabetes), as well as psychic problems.

Do we learn something from all this, before it is too late?

fi yuo cna raed tihs, yuo hvae a sgtrane mnid too. Cna yuo raed tihs? Olny 55 plepoe out of 100 can.

i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rseearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno't mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mni d deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs forwrad it.

* Received from a friend.. thought to share with you!

Egypt is a mystery in the History. I did realize that after my visit to this Pandora Box a couple of months back.

Geologically, it does resemble India, but is mainly distinguishable by the dominating Arabic Sunni Muslim population. Christians do have a substantial share (to about 30% in Cairo), with a fine mingling of architecture and food.

The country is dotted with old monuments through numerous mosques, pyramids, and astonishing aged community areas where people live with the same zeal and passion.

The country is down- ridden with poverty and exploitation by politics and high- handedness, making people greedier everyday to make their ends meet. Surely, they are very good and emotional at heart but STILL “all in the end is a struggle to earn somehow… every minute everyday’. Precisely, I experienced going back by around 15- 20 years back in India.

My first memorable event was the sight of all pyramids in the dusk.. flying over them, as we approach the Cairo airport. Was I dreaming, going to live them in colors, what I saw in our NCERT books of history 20 years back? Yes… I was really excited!

Our plane landed in time, and we were busy for a while encashing Egyptian pounds and immigration formalities. The arrival airport is quite small and sparingly mechanized, like our small regional domestic airports. They are building a new one which we could see outside (and we used it at departure), as they have a huge population inhabiting the middle- east as expats.

We had done a package deal, therefore entered the tourism cartel right away, with a placard car drifting away from the airport. Ahmed, our chauffeur, was a nice guy and was to stay with us for the whole tour. His courteous gestures showed that he would indeed be good to us, and that was a good comfort factor. We did complement him (with few carrots for a fat tip, if he could give us his full time showing everything), as we usually do in India… and it did work!!

We were to stay in Giza (a couple of kilometers away from the sphinx and pyramids), and so we had to cross Cairo city, and then across the Nile. On the way, we could see some of the oldest colonies still surviving the heat of time and civilization, and people do live there. Often, we crossed heavily congested area, as it was around 7PM.. the office hours. Roads were pretty narrow, and it did give us a sense of pride seeing MARUTI 800s, Swift and Altos in the traffic.

Despite all this visible deficiencies in public convenience systems, we came across the President’s residential area, where umpteen number of military police could be seen cordoning any civilian to venture across the 3 streets area, and understandably causing inconvenience to common man.

We reached our hotel, and settled for good. Late evening, Ahmed took us to an ancient restaurant just near the pyramid, where they welcomed us with fresh bread (khaboos; the Arabic bread…. Yummy!!) being cooked in a tandoor at the entrance (mentioned as- 2000 years old). It was quite peculiar to learn then, that they asked us to pay tips to their guys, and this happened everywhere with us throughout the trip.

After a conventional ala carte Arabic dinner, we took some snaps of the pyramids from the window, and these looked even more beautiful due to changing colors of the laser show in progress. They were as big as the mountain as these looked just on the other side of the road, though were at least a km or two away. Then we realized that we had not come to see something extra- ordinary!

We were back to the hotel adrenalized, assured of our next day’s visit to this amazing world out of this world..

I shall share my next day’s experience in my next blog… (Just not to make this boring). See u later!

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AN INSPIRATION...

I visited Darjeeling sometime back, and took these snaps there in the zoo. It was drizzling.. and so most of the animals were out to enjoy the rain.

Though the confinement was depressing, but their attitude to enjoy each moment of life was mersmerizing.

Our mental alignment has become too mechanical with the daily routine course, not to give a single moment as we want. May be we are attached to so many similar mechanical things, that we have become like a gear in a machine. We move and make things move.. that is what left today in our lives.

Kaash hum kuch aise hi bindaas pal nikaal paate apne rozmarraa ke kaam mein se!