Divide and Rule

• Hindus...Muslims....Sikhs...Christians.....
• Upper Class....Lower Class....Backward Class....'Other' Backward Class....
• Upper Caste....Lower Caste....Scheduled Class....Scheduled tribes....
• South Indian.....North Indian.........
• Marathi 'Manus'...........Bihari 'Babu'.............UP 'ke Bhaiya'..........
• Literates........Illiterates..............

I grew up talking about and listening to people describing 'India' as the land of a variety. We were and continue to be an ensemble of cultures, religions, tribes, races, languages , dialects, lifestyles, architecture and a lot more.....These combinations made us unique and worthy of Awe.....

As kids we learnt that the Britishers ruled over us by using a divide and rule policy......Now after ALL these years I wonder if it was them or US who caused the divide & rule...........Our politicians have done a much better Job than the British could have ever imagined.

The combinations & variety amongst people of our country  - something we should be proud of is NOW the greatest topic for collecting votes............. and that scares me....

We live in a country today where being a convicted criminal with a prison record is worth putting on your resume if you want to 'serve the people'.

At this point I believe I should make it clear that I AM PROUD to be an Indian and Love my country. This write up is not because I am losing faith but more because I am concerned about the direction we as a country and as Indians are moving in. 

The recent events in Mangalore make me wonder....when Islamic extremists take violent steps to 'protect' their 'culture' and 'way of life' - we label them terrorists.......When Hindu extremists do something similar - we discuss 'Culture' on our 'news' channels............

Does your love for your religion & culture come above your love for humanity ?.......If it does - you must be from a different planet cause on planet earth - NO religion or culture that I have ever heard of teaches it.

Does your love for your language or state come above your love for your country & the pride of being an Indian ? -- I hope not.

I don't know 

if I am righteous.....

If I am on the right path..........

If I am cultured.....

If I follow ANY religion.......

I don't even know what the term 'GOD' really means to me.......

But I do know this........

I am a PROUD INDIAN & I believe in the religion called HUMANITY.

Growing Up....are we ?

"Do words change meaning as we grow older or do we just learn too many words to remember their true meaning?"

 The question keeps coming back into my head everyday as I watch Arhaan grow and notice the other kids around him.

Funny

Anything or anyone can be funny. It depends on 'your' mood not the 'quality' of the joke or the other persons 'sense of humour'.

Persistence/Risk

'Never give up' used to be a way of life not 'tried & tested (and failed)'. Everyone falls a LOT before they start walking, we still kept working on it till we walked and then ran..........Try learning something difficult now.

Risk is a part of life. So u'll get hurt.......lets try it anyway....Climb a chair....fall down....cry.......and when u are done crying.......:) TRY again.

Achievement & Pride

Every small achievement is worth celebrating. You don't need to wait for recognitions & rewards. Never need to wait for someone to tell you that you've been a 'good boy'......You know it and you don't have a problem telling others about it.

Love & Romance

Love doesn't need a commitment, or returns for that matter. Romance is a quiet & personal affair......again no returns, not even an acknoledgement is needed, no one needed to know and just the thought of the other person will make you smile.

Time to learn from the kids..........Have you ever realized that kids are more observant & respectful of people around them than most adults. They actually smile at 'street vendors' & even acknowledge the beggars at traffic signals with a grin......... 

"The Child is the father of the Man" isn't that what William Wordsworth wrote.........never really understood it.............but I think I am begining to get the idea now..................I am Growing Up all over again.

Be Born Every Morning

Heard a new analogy today...."we should live everyday like an entire life". Made me think about how my son (or any kid for that matter) spends their entire day and wonder if we 'grown ups' could at least start our day that way.

Be born every morning.....

Allow your mind to start each day anew.

Don't let troubles/issues of yesterday linger on.

Don't be worried about what you will do when you are grown up (later in the day).

Allow yourself to enjoy and find pleasure in every activity around you.....even breakfast time can be fun.

You are gonna LIVE the day....Don't rush it.

Grow up into the day......

Face you responsibilities.

Do what you want to :)

Work hard.

Plan for the future (later half of the day) & how what you do NOW will impact it.

Work towards what you want your future (evening) to be like.

Go through the 'mid-life' crisis during mid day.......

Live the unsure period.

Will you make it ?

Are you on the right track ?

Do you have to be doing what you are doing ?

Die everynight.....

Nothing you earned, learnt, bought or owned during the day, matters when you sleep.

Die (sleep) in peace.

You are dead (asleep) so things that 'didn't get done' or 'didnt work out' during the day dont't matter.

If you want to lookback (or reflect) on your life (that day)...think about what you accomplished, Things you managed to do. Don't worry about tomorrow you are dead (you can't do much about tomorrow while you are sleeping so why bother the mind with those thoughts).

Be Born Again :)

Life is Beautiful

Wake up at 6 am (not the best feeling in the world)

Wait for the newspaper (its never on time)

Get late leaving home for office

Have breakfast on the move

Get stuck in bad traffic (feels like all bad drivers travel on the same route)

Reach office late

System takes ages to start up

Go through loads of 'Important' official mail

See loads of spam on your personal email IDs.

Same work different day.

Lousy lunch

Back to work - waiting for the day to end

Get last minute work

Finally get out of office

Drag self to the gym.

Pay money to slog & sweat

Pains in various 'muscles'

Head back home

Bad traffic - Same bloody drivers

Finally reach back home tired & dazed

Open the door.....walk into the house

Drop the gym bag

Mom, Dad & D say, "Hi !"

I softly say "hello"

peep into the first room - Arhaan is awake.....



He sees me and smiles :)

I say - "Hey Babyyyy"

Arhaan says, "Coooooooo" and then laughs.

I am smiling again

D asks, "how was your day ?"

I say, "Beautiful".

Leaving on a Jetplane

All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye....Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane.

Off to Pune for the next 2 weeks.

Happy.........Excited........Scared..........and not realy sure what to expect.

By the time I write my next blog, I am likely to be a 'Daddy' :)

Wow..........I must be getting old....but then........maybe I can stay young longer.......Am I making sense.......I dont think so.......Do I know what I want to write......Nope.

I am in the mood to celebrate........but its not time yet.............

For those on my phone list - expect an SMS

For those in my mailing lists - expect spam - Like it or not ;)

The way I feel right now - I am likely to stand on the rooftop and scream once the baby arrives.

Till Daddy finds time to write again.........................Ciao.