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!!

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.

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.

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

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

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!