Ashoka S Holla

Last Sip

2011-11-17T01:20:00.001+05:30

A joy in its darkness

a thrill in its depth

a pleasure in its confusion

A scorched, blackened face

laughing like a madman

brighter than any moon

a shadow on a night journey

Hiding your deepest secrets

blindness is all that you can see

faint murmurs of time & space

beyond the realm of reason

a world so far away

Where there is no god or the devil

Nothing is sweeter

than its bitterness

let me have one last sip

to live as if

I am already in heavens above

Finally

2011-06-27T01:50:00.001+05:30

He followed the birds thinking

They may be going to meet her

He counted the stars

Hoping that she may come, when the counting ends

But as time passed only the number was mounting

He could never finish counting them

There were too many

But he never got tired

He kept asking his friends

Do they count too, to meet her?

One day he decided to dive into the waves

To ask them if they have seen her

He didn’t know how to swim

But he was following a dream

He kept going deeper and deeper

Until he saw her in the water

But he no longer could breathe

He finally met his mother at death.

Dark Night

2011-06-08T02:12:00.003+05:30

A joy in its darkness

a thrill in its depth
a pleasure in its confusion

A scorched, blackened face
laughing like a madman
brighter than any moon
a shadow on a night journey

Hiding your deepest secrets
beneath the bright daylight
faint murmurs of time & space
beyond the realm of reason

Blindness is all that you can see
a world so far away
there is no god or the devil

Nothing is sweeter
than its bitterness
let me have one more sip
to live as if
I am already in heavens above

Let Me Pretend

2011-04-20T02:09:00.000+05:30

Everyday reminds of memories of old,

Of words, thoughts, hugs, kisses

Anger, sulks & tugs of war

It brings back sighs of days of heat and cold

And days we stared and wondered what was more

The pristine breeze is reminiscent of your radiant face

Embellished in various hues

Adorned in shades of innocence

Creases opening into a smile of grace

Of all glorious days & quiet nights

That traveled with us

Dreaming, gazing, soaring

In a foolish stupor

But then I stop to look behind and forth

Since now alone we know, and thus obey

This transient game will one day gain its worth

When he or she steps in and we nod

So till time grimly comes to draw the line

Let me pretend to dream, and think you are mine.

A Heart that Beats

2011-02-14T22:56:00.001+05:30

A multitude of voices

Call u at once

Stabbing at your heart

With poems, paintings

Selling their romantic sonnets

With a dash of color

On their vast canvas

A prince from fairyland

Armed with the best degree

On their knees

Professing their love

Offering a glittering array of jewels

At your tender feet

A mute voice with palms to the sky

With no gold in his pocket

But a few pearls of glistening droplets

All he has to offer is some solitude

Where words fail

But there is a heart that beats

And this love that awaits

One Moment

2011-01-22T03:42:00.000+05:30

A wisp of breeze kisses my cheeks

I pause to touch its tenderness

Trying to hold its softness

Like your velvety skin

It pervades my soul

You are the sound of rain droplets

The full moon which tries to hide behind the trees

The gentle whispers which echoes

And sways through ardent winds

We travel on parallel paths

Destined to never meet

But always together

Gathering flowers along the way

And sharing the music of their fragrance

You exist between winds

At the start and end of somewhere

like a moment

Here, there, everywhere

But can’t find it

.......It has passed.

Testimony

2010-11-27T02:01:00.001+05:30

I am a liar

A pretender

A player, playing the game

A hypocrite

Watching

and hoping that no one sees

the real me

The secrets that I hold

The fear I hide

The sadness I mask

The wounds I conceal

The scars I cover

The pain I bury

A truth I can't tell

I stand accused

By friends

By enemies

I have no regrets

nor any remorse

I do not intend

to defend myself

or hire a lawyer

to save me from the gallows

I just want to say

Only once

Just this once

I did not kill anyone

Only I carry

A truth I can’t tell

What a fall!

2010-11-22T01:21:00.004+05:30

Floating at a height
Afraid, I clutch and cling

to a sea of softness

This is my home sweet home

But I have to leave

Don’t know the time,

but the time has come

Have to let go of my grasp

A freefall tumble

with my brothers & sisters

We all fall kissing a torrent of air

The fear too enjoying the lovely weather

Downward, my flight continues

wobbling with the wind

Anxious to find, what lies ahead

when I complete this awesome ride

The end seems near

The air feels warmer

And then we all fall

softly to the ground

Hand in hand

we glide along the wet terrain

A mighty stream we have become

in which I am no more than a drop

November Rain

2010-11-16T01:48:00.002+05:30

Why do you stand all alone?

On a cold winter night

With petals so tender

Leaves so clean

So beautiful you are

A tender touch

Thorns which hurt

Fragrance of lost wishes

Wilting in my hand

So lonely you are

Let’s lie together

On this cold winter night

Blood oozing

Smearing our palms

Smelling of gentle pain

While we watch

With fury it lashes

Cleansing our skin clear

Goodbye my dear

A Rose of November rain

Music of Life

2010-11-14T00:34:00.004+05:30

I will break all my promises

I will never keep my word

I will lie to get away each time

I will give you false hopes

I am defiant against all odds

I don’t believe in your culture

I will break every law that you have enacted

I will use your pity to make you miserable

I will make you an addict to a habit

that will ruin your life
I will make you follow a ritual

even at the cost of your dear ones
I will create the excitement,
to make you feel good
I will entice, seduce
and mesmerize your mood

I will confuse you

I will make you retreat from every frontier

I will create an illusion
of all the things you want to be.
I will make you contemptuous
scornful, superfluous
I will make you pointless in whatever you do.

I will make you resentful
I will hold the mirror of ridicule

I will mock you in your grief
I will bring misery

I am death
making you dance to the music of life

Last Breath

2010-10-25T01:40:00.002+05:30

I feel the descent of the morning dew

Waking with you in an enchanted wood

Our souls float in the gentle wind

Under the umbrella of a dazzling sunrise

Our feet touch the flowing rivulet

While lying under the tree of life

Caressed by the calm breeze

I feel lucky to live another day with you

As the evening greets the crimson sunset

Your breath reaches the twinkle of the stars

I watch your enchanting silhouette,

Bringing alive the shadows of twilight's net

Your sparkling diamond eyes, awaken the passion in me

Shimmering red dash of your juicy lips,

I caress it to sink in the taste of love

To perish in this heavenly bliss

Crash

2010-10-20T02:30:00.001+05:30

I retreat into my vast shell

Like waves from the shore

Its time to sail my oceans

On a voyage to discover nothingness

Switch off the light tower

Close the port

I ask you not to stand the night vigil

On the shoreline of memory

I carry some moments

Like the sand on those golden beaches

While I drift the tides

And charter a ride to the sea bed

Our togetherness

Will reverberate in the ocean currents

Breathing the strong winds

And gliding into void of freedom

Ashore, on a full-moon night

When you see a reflection of me

Remember that I have come

Crashing many a time

A Lonely Heart

2010-10-15T01:31:00.005+05:30

A lonely heart sheds no tears

Lost in a ocean of solitude

All alone it lies

Smelling of no wishes

Breathing the gentle breeze

Captivated by this darkness

Seeking neither fullness nor emptiness

Clinging to all its fears

Sealed lips whispering

"what's next “

Sombre eyes

Wanting to make a plea

Simmering visions

Pictures, thoughts

Timid at the core

Only the mirror knows

No promises made

Still waiting endlessly

A lonely heart sheds no tears

Lost in a ocean of solitude

Marks

2010-10-10T00:12:00.002+05:30

Places we go,

Marks we leave

Some we want to

Some we forget to erase

We wear its weight

Happily, not so happily

Thinking of what we have done

Some we are proud of

Others we wish we hadn’t

We wonder

What we could do now

What to do now

With it, without it

What it can do

What it is doing

What it will do

Places we go

Marks we leave

I Will Not Die

2010-09-26T19:35:00.002+05:30

See me

In the morning light caressing your silky skin

In the thick mist on a winter morning

In the whiteness of a snowy evening

In the mellow twinkling of the stars

In the dim of a crescent moon

Hear me

In soft bubbling beats of your heart

In the strange whispers of rustling leaves

In the tender screams of the birds

In the flowing stream on a moonlit night

In the mellifluous noise of lashing waves

Feel me

In the quiet corner of your love yard

In the gentle breeze on a autumn morning

In the fragrance of your velvety body

In the muted rumble of faraway clouds

In thoughts of your thousand dreams

Look at me

In the eyes of the rising sun

In the shadow of silvery darkness

I will live for a thousand years

I am alive, here, there, somewhere

I will not die, I will not die

A Wish

2010-09-11T03:33:00.005+05:30

If a wish of mine could come true

I wish to wake up everyday

To the sound of your breath on my neck,

The warmth of your lips on my cheek,

The touch of your fingers on my skin,

And the feel of your heart beating with mine

I wish to catch the twilight glimpse

That burns in your eyes,

I wish to soak in the warmth of the cool evening breeze

Whenever your lips brush against mine.

I wish to walk arm in arm

And feel your love surround me

Like a swift blowing current

That never changes its path.

If a wish of mine could come true

Tears

2010-09-08T04:55:00.002+05:30

In the darkness of the night

His eyes glow with a tinge of red

They suck everything that he’s got

Mind, Body, soul

Never to be whole

You will not see his tears

Cause he would rather die,

Than to let you see him cry

They say men don’t cry

or so he was told by all

Despite the pain that he goes through

Only he will let him

see the tears in his eyes

Cause he would rather die,

Than to let you see him cry

Men he grew up with

Taught him how to be a man

Through his father

He learned the price

of pain and sacrifice

and despite everything

one thing

His father did not do was cry

Cause he would rather die,

than to let you see him cry

But when the pain is too great to bear

The tears are waiting to burst and tear

Still you will see no tears

Cause he would rather die,

Than to let you see him cry

Welcome Halcyon

2010-05-17T23:19:00.002+05:30

The myriad is greeted with a tinge of hope

The children sing in unison

In the pond of purity, the masses rejoice

Indians finally taste ecstasy

Where the sloth is isolated

the brood is in despair

the rhetoric is silent

Indians are finally free

The guise of pseudo is known

The vision of evil is foreseen

The face of oblivion is scarred

Indians are finally enlightened

The 'SHE' respected

The 'WE' elated

The 'I' felled

Indians are finally united

P.S.This poem was written in 1996 for my college magazine.Found a copy of the magazine and thought should share the poem with the world

Colors

2010-03-02T00:29:00.016+05:30

I see a million of them every day

of various hues & shades

then I wonder

what is the color of life?

white like the snow on those Himalayan peaks

or crimson red as the brilliant sunrise over those faraway mountains

or transparent like water from the spring

or opaque like a misty winter morning

Is life like the color of the birds

soaring high over the sky

chasing dreams, joy and happiness

refusing to see reason, fear

a rebel without a cause

a child forever

I know life is sometimes grey

conditional

subjective, selective

lovely yet cruel

patient and potent,

impatient, immoral, impulsive

an unrepentant sinner

life is like those sepia colored memories

even the best ones

you remember with sadness

haunting, teasing,

but present in some corner

refusing to leave

Some say they like red, blue, yellow, green….

But they all come out from black and white

I see a million of them everyday

of various hues and shades

ME

2010-02-27T01:37:00.026+05:30

The life we live is

what makes us who we are

if it’s a life in denial

it won’t go very far

It’s never too late to clean and polish your slate

begin to undo the wrong

find the strength to move on

fixing the damage that you have caused in the past

stay focused on your future,

the peace you feel now will continue to last

Before you can love someone

you love yourself first

this is the secret of life

not just some line or just a verse

Put yourself first

find the respect you have lost

and the joy you seek now

will be well worth the cost

Shooting Star

2010-02-13T02:32:00.014+05:30

Gazing over a vast sea of stars.

missing the fullness of the moon

memories come gushing down of the days gone by

eyes wandering from constellation to constellation

As special memories float in your mind

a shooting star burns across the sky

re-kindling the togetherness of those beautiful times

Under the blanket of the darkest night

when stars were the only one to sight

a shooting star invades the night

‘see there!’ she exclaims with a face so bright

forever etching her smile in my heart

As the North Star shines so bright.

my love for her lingers into the night.

and I wait for another shooting star

One More Night

2010-02-10T02:24:00.013+05:30

In the silence of the night,

I sneak into your dreams
tearful, joyful
I hear you call my name

In the innocence of your sleep
you see many a dream
flashing in your eyes
closed, alive,
In the silence of the night
I hear you call my name

Dreams, like broken glass

sometimes hurting, but always shining
wish you seize them in your eyes

to live them one day

I feel the trembling, rumbling

a battle raging within your dreams
gently holding your hand
to quiet the raging fire
in the silence of the night
I hear you call my name

I am not with SRK

2010-02-07T16:58:00.017+05:30

For the past few days there has been a wave of support from the media intelligentsia for SRK and the release of his new film My Name is Khan. Most of this frenzy is being whipped by the amazing PR machinery that both SRK and his friend Karan have built over the past decade or so in mainstream media especially in the TV segment.

Though no sensible or a rational person would support ShivSena and their vandalistic tactics, but still the moot question does remain that why did SRK say what he had to say. SRK’s own Kokalta Knight Riders (KKR) got together with the other IPL franchises and took a unanimous call to not bid for any Pakistani player. This decision would have been taken atleast 48-72 hours before 19 Jan, 2010, the date of the IPL auction. The question to ask is why SRK in the first place agreed to be a part of such a decision, though subsequently he does seem to deny that any such pact was reached. However the press conference that IPL Chief Lalit Modi had 2 days after the auction suggests otherwise.

Most baffling is post the furore created of not having a single Pakistani player in the IPL, SRK choose to remain silent for a full 5 days before he realized his love for Pakistani cricketers and that they should have been chosen. Obviously in those 5 days SRK figured out that most of his movies directed by his one-time dear friend Karan Johar, have made more money abroad than in

India

particularly in

and the Middle-east. And to be seen as a party to a plot to keep out Pakistani players, he risked losing a large section of his overseas audiences comprising the Pakistani Diaspora. And specifically in the case of MNIL where the pre-release buzz of the film is not very encouraging, it was a master stroke on part of SRK to make sure that he has a sizeable section of audiences in his pocket by this unique marketing strategy (Many cynics even point out to his detaining drama at Newark Airport as the start of the marketing campaign for MNIK). And in true Sheikh-Chilly style, the Shiv Sena fell into the bait and it made a drab looking film a rallying point for freedom of expression.

Now with everyone including BJP getting on to the bandwagon of supporting SRK against the Sena, SRK has in one stroke made MNIK the most talked about film this year and a very strong contender for a hit status at the B.O. Poor Shiv Sena has not only been outwitted by the master entertainer, but also by SRK’s close friend Rahul Gandhi.

As expectedly after the controversy has broken out, the film is expected to do record business in

Pakistan

. Already the Pakistani Diaspora in countries like

USA

, and Middle-East are buying bulk tickets for the weekend to watch their ‘favorite’ hero who has stood up for them against the Hindu fundamentalists!

Also there has been a section of media (belonging to the Karan Johar camp) who have been tweeting vigorously on how timidly the people of Bollywwod have behaved by abandoning SRK in this ‘noble’ battle. They have been preaching on how Bollywood should come together to support SRK and have even cast aspersions on many other film personalities for not standing up to SRK. I want to humbly ask these journalists that how many times your beloved hero has stood up in unequivocal terms for either Mr. Bachchan when he was brazenly attacked by MNS or Amir Khan when his film was vandalized in Gujarat by the Modi brigade. Infact SRK did not have enough courage to testify in court against the underworld for their connections with Bollywood when the feisty Priety Zinta stood by her testimony.

Shiv Sena's sudden u-turn on the controversy has ensured that SRK can now expect a bumper opening for MNIK all across the globe. A job well done( as the Cliché goes, he can now have his cake and eat it too).

P.S. SRK had publicly expressed his displeasure on being detained at Newark and vowed never to return to

America

unless they respect his religion and status. However he was seen ringing the bell in the citadel of American capitalism and enjoying an American studio's hospitality

Knock Knock

2010-02-01T18:43:00.008+05:30

It’s well past midnight

unable to sleep

tossing and turning,

I don’t know what to do;

my mind is wandering aimlessly

in search of something

that I once had and

somehow slipped out my hand;

Struggling to understand this

tug of war between the mind and heart

I try to search for a solution

so as to agree on a compromise;

Trying to pay attention

to what’s happening around me,

I try to decipher the clues and hints

that I believe are there for my picking;

Like a fish out of water,

out of innocence into adulthood

too soon into this fast paced game

where I am just a spectator, lost and bewildered;

So, what happened?

where did I all go wrong?

what am I supposed to do?

what is it that I have to do?

Plenty of questions and

answers all out there,

is what I am told?

yet I am totally lost;

Going round and round

in a place where the streets

have no name, I bobble

in and out of life;

As the storm rages on unabated,

the leaves blow and the trees sway,

all I know is that I am here to stay,

till the day my heart gives up on me;

Alone?

2009-10-08T01:11:00.022+05:30

In this room

on the phone

across countries

over oceans

under sheets,

I hear your feet

tap, tapping away

getting farther each day

as you leave me

alone, with love

half measured,

messages late,

forgotten dates,

with I'm not sure

and I don't know,

with maybe, perhaps,

or oh you'd believe me

sweetheart

if only

you could see me

but i don't,

because you do,

you just

leave me alone.

i cross the skies

with all my whys

and ever each empty

seat beside me

is for you. Are you

fact or are you fiction,

I have become

your contradiction

You leave me alone

even if my love

does not know

how to leave you.

I am a 'Nobody'

2009-09-11T19:12:00.008+05:30

Not your boyfriend, husband or lover

Nor the boy who was your first crush

Nor the handsome sailor with whom you danced the first time

Nor your generous boss who taught you all the rules

I am the faceless distraction of your life

I am the lubricant to the life, dreary and lonely

I am unleashed energy when life gets lethargic

I am fantasy and the smell of anticipated sex

I am nothing more than a surrogate without a face

I am everything you need with no release

I am sin without guilt or absolution

I am the question in the face of your solutions

You won’t remember me tomorrow

Don’t look in my eyes today

I am nothing more than escape

In a hallway of mirrors with false doors

Don’t follow me

Don’t remember me

I am Happy

2009-08-29T19:46:00.007+05:30

Today I sat all alone staring at the night sky

And midst the excited winds and the wildly swaying trees

I stared at the stars, which are out of my reach

Twinkling and dancing on the wide black canvas

I once dreamt I would be reaching for them

Making each one of them my own

But I am happy sitting here on this day

With my feet firmly on the ground

I feel this is where I belong

To this place and moment

I feel so at peace with myself and my life

So content with everything I have got.

Many years ago I was chasing many dreams

Some fulfilled and some not

But I know that I have had the best of the lot

So as I sit here, looking at the stars

I have to thank them as my lucky stars

I am happy with all that has happened to me

I am happy with all that I have turned out to be

I am Here

2009-08-25T18:47:00.004+05:30

Now it seems that you’ve

disappeared.

drifted away.
no longer in touch with so much of this world.
you no longer speak to your family,
you no longer call your friends,
you only speak with me,
and so many of our words
are spoken in silence.

in those quiet moments, it’s as if sometimes
we say so much,
speaking of our love undying devotion.
but sometimes in our silence
a wave of awareness drowns me in uncertainty,
as if even when I’m calling out to you,
you only hear
that faint voice in the distance,
with you wandering on the shores of your distant dreams
in a world even I cannot know.

I always hope there will come a day
you’ll find your way back,
yet each day, you’re one step further.
I think, if you hold my hand you can walk back with me,
but it’s like I’m the rope in the tug-of-war,
always trying to come a little further with you,
always trying to stay rooted back home,
and not sure which hand to let go.

My love, don’t drift too far.
I see you need this.
I see you’re seeking,
trying to find a root for yourself,
not knowing what it will be
or if you’ll ever find it.
my love, hold onto me.
I will be near.

sometimes, oh, I am so tempted
to ask you to take me with you,
but you’ve gone to a place I don’t belong.
I’ll wait
while you’re gone,
and while you’re there
I will be with you, here.
my vigil is yours.
my heart is beside you.

our souls have touched, my love.
my only solace is —
that if you become lost,
a part of me will be lost with you.

Is there nothing more to do?

Is there nothing more to say?

I am just, after all, another mere soul,
lost in this world, lost far away.

You could have brought me back.
You were my only confidant.
For you I shared what I thought,
for you I shared all that was in me.

Never once did I open up like I did to you,
my thoughts and emotions,
never once did any other know of,
You were my friend, my only best friend.

But now I could only smile,
I guess it's all just from self-pity.
After all, who wouldn't feel stupid,
angry and guilty, after opening up

To a person who could merely drift away,
to a person you thought you knew,
to a person you thought would always be.
to a person you thought would stay.

I was ready to give more to you,
to be the best friend I could ever be.
But see, you left, or maybe I did.
Things weren't just right anymore.

I guess that's life.
Nothing stays, nothing remains,
And all I know now is that this is life,
And I hate it for being so

Is 49-0 an Instrument to Bring about Change?

2008-12-04T13:42:00.000+05:30

Did you know that there is a system in our constitution, as per the 1969 act, in section ” 49-O” that a person can go to the polling booth, confirm his identity, get his finger marked and convey the presiding election officer that he doesn’t want to vote anyone!

Yes such a feature is available, but obviously these leaders have never disclosed it.This is called “49-O”.

Why should you go and say ” I VOTE NOBODY”... because, in a ward, if a candidate wins, say by 123 votes, and that particular ward has received “49-O” votes more than 123, then that polling will be cancelled and will have to be re-polled.Not only that, but the candidature of the contestants will be removed and they cannot contest the re-polling, since people had already expressed their decision on them.
This would bring fear into parties and hence look for genuine candidates for their parties for election. This would change the way of our whole political system... it is seemingly surprising why the election commission has not revealed such a feature to the public....

Seems to be a wonderful weapon against corrupt parties in India ... show your power, expressing your desire not to vote for anybody, is even more powerful than voting... so don’t miss your chance. So either vote, or vote not to vote (vote 49-O).
Hopefully this would help in enriching the quality of political class in this country

Where is RajSaheb?

2008-11-28T18:24:00.001+05:30

Dear Mr. Raj Thackeray,

Where are you sir? We have been trying to reach you for the past 2 days ever since Mumbai has been attacked. I think it is the mobile network or your cable connection that must not be working. We miss you sir? We know how you love Mumbai and its people especially the Marathi Manoos.You must be collecting your brave Sena to come and help us. Like all the brave Marathi people who laid down their lives fighting this terror. I am sure you must be mourning the loss of brave Marathi policemen like Hemant Karkare, Vijay Salaskar, Ashok Kamte and various others, who risked their lives, so that you and I can sleep peacefully in this city.

Also sir, let me tell you the 200 Commandos, that have been sent in the last 2 days to fight terrorists are not Maharastrians. They could not find a unit which had 80% reservation for Maharastrians. Actually, they are a mix of people from all over India i.e.north, south, east and west. Infact one of them has lost his life fighting the terrorists. And he was a south Indian, I think.

I think the admirable courage that you and your Sena showed in fighting the poor immigrants from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh will hopefully stand in good stead if and when you decide to fight these terrorists. Also I found many people from different communities coming together in JJ Hospital and GT Hospital to donate blood for the vitims of this attack. And funnily they never asked if the blood is for Marathi Manoos or for everyone. I did not see anyone from your Sena though. Maybe they are busy somewhere else with more important work.

Sir you please take care as we need brave leaders like you to lead Maharastra, as we enter this new age of terror

Best Regards

The Power of ONE

2008-11-10T01:28:00.000+05:30

Some are born as princes; some are born to families who plot their way up to power. However there are others who are born in the dark alleys of poverty and have to struggle their way, assiduously to power and glory. This insatiable quest to glory often leads them to perform extraordinary feats that any ordinary human will not dream of. That is the power of a single human mind.

Though the victory of Barack Obama is a significant event in history and real triumph of human spirit, it also raises pertinent questions about the times we live in. Democracy as they say is the rule of the people, the rule of consensus. But never before in a democratic process, has a nation and the world in general, placed so much faith in one individual to pull them out of serious economic quagmire than we have got ourselves into.

Many a nation in the past has placed their bets on a single individual to bail them out from economic and military crises. Some have risen to the challenge; some have misused the power, while some have just been unable to shoulder the responsibility and have withered away.

While there are many examples in the past, but in recent memory, Germany is the prime example of a nation battered economically post World War –I by the draconian Marseilles treaty, placing their entire faith in one man and his ideology. The first few years of Adolf Hitler’s rule was remarkable, as Germany made rapid progress to reclaim its position as an economic and military super power. However, after Hitler started the First World War, the German people realized the enormity of the situation. Germany soon realized with disasterous consequences that a powerful orator or a charismatic personality does not necessary make a good leader.It took a few more charismatic but astute leaders like Winston Churchill and Stalin to foil the rampaging German dictator from conquering the world.

Our own Mahatma Gandhi is another individual, who not only took India towards independence, but showed a shining new path which formed the cornerstone of modern human ideology

There are other recent examples in democratic setups like, Indira Gandhi, George Bush Jr & Sr, Fujimori, Robert Mugabe, Vladimir Putin, to name a few, who smartly subverted the democratic process and set up quasi dictatorship governments. They still commanded huge respect from the people whom they represent because of their clever mix of populism and authoritarism and this ensured their longevity.

Mankind is prone to invoke and deify a single individual to pull it out of many crises. Gautama Buddha, Jesus Christ, Prophet Mohammed actually epitomized the power of a single human mind, it’s myriad and unending power to think, mobilize and change the course of history and thus mankind. In a democratic setup too, this human trait is all pervading and people do expect individuals to weave the magic wand and pull them out of misery.

Barrack Obama has a monumental challenge ahead of him to do exactly this in the 21st Century. And that would be another test of the Power of ONE human mind.

Brave New World

2008-11-04T18:57:00.000+05:30

The foundation of the current economical order was to ensure or coax people to buy and buy and buy. And more so, it empowered people with irrational tools to do so. The genesis of this crisis is that many people, corporations, and governments have been living beyond their means through debt financing like credit cards, valuations of the unknown and untested, creating bizarre ideas like Derivatives, to make more money and accumulate irrational wealth.

The concept of paper money acquired such gigantic proportions that we started to believe in its infallibility. It’s like the classical case of illusion being mistaken for reality. But this illusion is shattering many innocent lives and not the least the perpetrators of this illusion. We heard so often that ‘life is not fair’…but this adage has acquired new meaning and tends to make even the hardcore optimist sit up and take notice.

Capitalism was a great dream that the Americans exported to the world and we in other countries lapped it up with such fervor. However, this dream which was to celebrate individual enterprise is being reduced to a macabre show of a few self serving nations and individuals who subverted the entire financial system by creating paper wealth.

Not before in the history of mankind we have had a case, where we are unable to identify the enemy amongst us. When an enemy is identified, we see him in flesh and blood and we can devise ways and means to tackle him. But here, everyone is a victim and an offender at the same time but in different simultaneous situations.

This kind of moral decline has been the single most reason for every civilization’s demise in the past. Every institution however small or big today, is suffering from this disease of moral depravity and selfishness. Self serving individualism at the expense of brotherhood and community living, has placed us at the edge of a precipice.

However every crisis is an opportunity to change, and change for the better. This current economic instability like every crisis in history, can in fact lead to a new world order based on societies which support each other during such crises and create a new economic paradigm. While the economic crisis may be the worst in human history, it could be paradoxically the greatest impetus to spiritual renewal and awakening of humanity to finally build a society that works for all—starting in each of our communities. We can create a new world order where we are able to balance the cerebral, spiritual and the material needs to live in complete harmony with nature

This is a time to break down the barriers that we ourselves have erected that only serve those who would divide us and keep us from seeing the fundamental truth right in front of us and within us - we are one interconnected family. Now is the time to demonstrate what has never happened in the whole history of the human race - to consciously choose to build a new society from within the old that does not reproduce the ignorance of the pas

Does Religion Empower Mankind?

2008-11-01T20:59:00.001+05:30

Using god as a tool for political power, was religion’s dirty little secret, which has lost its covert quality by now. Most of us who pray, want God to make us more affluent, successful, and influential. However the fundamental premise of religion was to achieve liberation from these very worldly pleasures. Yet this elementary premise along with compassion, selflessness, forgiveness has been violated over the ages and we have seen new theories floating around, which change the original essence of most of the religions. Every religion was institutionalized to bring fairness in society. However, every religion that exists today has failed to bring cheer to the lower strata of society, who believe and worship the faith the most. More so in many cases, religion has persecuted them without them realizing it.

When you see politicians and famous personalities making a trip to the nearest temple/mosque/church to pray in full media glare, for their continued success, you do feel that it is the most effective advertisement of religion and god. Even Sarah Palin asked God to back her run for office in Alaska. All this footage, gives hope to the millions of people struggling in their everyday life for a better tomorrow. This reinforces their belief, that religion and god does show the true path towards prosperity. The element of fear that abandoning the faith will invite the wrath of God keeps them committed to their religion.

Religion also meant empowerment of a different kind - personal empowerment. Here too religion has had a very dubious record, and has failed to achieve any meaningful results. This makes you wonder if religion has been able to achieve anything positive at all.

However there is a new awakening in the spiritual space outside the realm of organized religion which provides hope for the younger generation.

This quest of mankind to connect with god through the medium of religion is being challenged by the younger generation. The need to connect with oneself is gaining ground and their lies the true emancipation of mankind.

Mumbai RAJ

2008-10-27T21:03:00.000+05:30

While most blogs and newspapers across the country are berating and reviling Raj Thackeray and his Maharastra Navnirman Sena, most Maharastrians (Marathi speaking that is) have quietly placed their bets on his ‘sons of the soil’ agenda. In cities like Mumbai. Pune, Nashik ,Thane, even the most affluent Maharastrians in the coziness of their homes have applauded Raj Thackeray for taking up the so called cause of Marathi manoos.

Raj has struck a chord with Maharastrains and that’s the reason the government is soft peddling his arrest and subsequent action against him. The following reason can be attributed to his growing influence

1. Mumbai, the state capital of Maharstara is reduced to a city of the migrants as very few Maharastrians can afford to stay within the city limits and are pushed to far away suburbs like Kalyan, Dombivli, Virar, Thane etc.They have to endure more than 3-4 hours of train journey to reach their work place in the city.

2. Except a few affluent, most Maharastrians in the city stay in chawls and work as maids or drivers to the city’s affluent class. Hence when even the so called government posts are being usurped by other state people, most Maharastrians prefer to support Raj Thackeray and his vandals. In other states like Tamil Nadu or Kerala, non-tamilians or non-keralites getting any kind of local jobs is unheard of.

3. Unlike other lingusitic communities like Gujrathis, Punjabis, South Indians, the migrant class from UP and Bihar in Mumbai,have tried to organize themselves into a strong political force with active support from Mayawati, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Lalu Prasad Yadav. This trend is also unprecedented and is not seen or herad in any other lingusitic states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka or West Bengal

4. With depleting resources and crumbling infrastructure, Maharastrians have come to blame the people from UP and Bihar for their everyday ills due to their sheer numbers. Raj Thackeray has used this opportunity to exploit the discontent and establish his fledging party and its agenda

5. Even a stray incident like gunning down of a 23 year old youth, brandishing a revolver in a crowded bus in Mumbai and firing indiscriminately, has provided fodder for political khichdi cooked by leaders from Bihar. They have made reckless statements as if the Mumbai police killed the youth because of his linguistic background. The primary duty of the police is to protect the lives of the innocent and not sweet talk to a gun trotting ruffian.This kind of opportunism emboldens politicians like Raj Thackeray to fire fresh salvos at the north Indian community.

The need of the hour is for the north Indian community to organize themselves to a political force and give a distinct local identity to protect themselves from their so called own leaders.

2008-10-20T12:07:00.000+05:30

A few weeks ago readers woke up on a lazy Saturday morning to read a review of the ghastly film Harry Puttar getting 4 star reviews in the premier English newspaper of the country,The Times of India. Equally pathetic is the attempt of the leading Indian film portal Bollywood Hungama, to paint the latest oddity of a movie Karzzz as a mass masala film. Also a well know film journalist, who keeps running down the Bachchans for not getting invited to a wedding in the family, has become a laughing stock in the media circles

The fundamental duty of a media vehicle should be its unbiased reportage. However in this age, most media vehicles get intoxicated in their supposed power to influence public opinion. This leads them to believe that they could push substandard products/ people and ideology as genuine quality on the back of its hype, which they generate at any cost.

Sadly Journalists and people in the media get inebriated in the power the media entrusts them with and cross the thin line between opinion and propaganda. Some do it without realizing it while some blatantly thrive on it.

It’s a very difficult in today times to maintain a neutral and objective position vis-à-vis the current happenings in the society. However media is a beacon, which has kept the institution of democracy alive in our society.

Political parties are known to reward their favorite journalists, post their retirement with plum Rajya Sabha posts. Many favorable journalists are known to be gifted plots of land for their propoganda services, by their political masters.

This trend is inimical to the very concept of media as a watchdog in a democratic society and the faster it gets curbed better for all of us.

Rulers- Enlightened Elite

2008-08-10T23:32:00.001+05:30

Socrates propagated a political theory, that the government should be an enlightened elite, and not by those who represent the sentiments of a majority of people that can easily be misguided by inciting negative emotions such as hatred and envy.

Further, his junior and student Plato ranked the rule by the enlightened elite from best to worst
1. Aristocracy (rule by intellectual elite, not hereditary nobility)

2. Timocracy (rule by “guardians”, a dedicated military junta)

3. Oligarchy (rule by the rich)

4. Democracy (rule by demagogues who address the sentiments of the uneducated)

5. Tyranny (rule by a whimsical dictator)

Socrates and Plato may not find too many takers for their theories, but to dismiss them as completely outdated may be inopportune

We all agree that times have changed since these two gentlemen walked on earth, so too the society and people and the political environment.However, how many of us would wish to be ruled by a combination of point 1 & 4?

The respect that a Manmohan Singh or an Angela Markel commands in world polity is not because of their political acumen, but for their intellectual prowess. Even today a majority of people across the world would prefer to be ruled by highly educated class( enlightened elite) as compared to mere politicians.

Majority of development in the west has been a result of the efforts of the enlightened elite; be it in the field of science, medicine or other key areas. However these enlightened elite have remained anonymous, whereas large corporations and the state have taken the entire credit under the garb of nationalism.

Democracy along with the birth of media has spawned a dangerous demagogic illusion. This illusion gave birth to the American mis-adventure in Afghanistan & Iraq. The majority was led to believe in the bogus theory of illusory terror, which is out to devour them.

Moreover, Media, marketing and branding has enslaved the political class in America and most of the western world. This trend is catching on in parts of Asia as well. These tools make ordinary mortals who have neither intellectual nor administrative skills, popular and powerful rulers.Junk foods, Soap/news Television are a few illegitimate children of this demagogic phenomenon.America actually decides its rulers on this platform by debating frivolously on important issues. The growth of media is a very positive sign, but not when it’s captive to popular perception rather than CORRECT facts.

‘No system is perfect’ as they say, but we need to find a system close to perfect. To find the enlightened elite in the democratic process is the only way towards lasting peace and worldwide prosperity

Divorce Ka Side Effects

2008-08-09T17:39:00.001+05:30

1. Overheard in office
“If he could not make the most important relationship in his life, work for him...what will he do here?”

2. Mother
“You can get many girls....let me talk to Savita Mausi(Aunty)...She was telling me of a niece of hers who is pretty, homely and got divorced recently”

3. Sister
“My Brother is a gem....I will make sure he gets a beautiful, rich and homely girl this time”

4. Neighbors
“It takes 2 hands to clap...I am sure he must have done something...don’t go by his innocent looks...Someone told me he use to beat her”

5. Neighboring Shopkeeper
“I think he had an affair with someone. His wife wasn’t bad looking.... These days you can’t tell...and especially when you have such pretty girls in office”

6. Father
“My son is smart, successful, and intelligent...He needs to start his life afresh”

7. Friend
“Hmmm....Life is never easy....He needs to calm down...He needs to chill....Even I am having problem with my marriage..”

8. Aunt
“I am telling you all these love marriages never last...He should have married a girl from our community....at least we would have been there to help”

9. Uncle
“Son you don’t worry....I will find a girl for you...And you won’t be disappointed... I can tell you that...come let us have a drink now”

10. Divorce Lawyer
“Congratulations!....I mean we got the divorce...your divorce that is....Don’t know what to say....you need to find a good companion...I heard these online marriage sites are not bad...A distant relative of mine, found a good match through one of them..... No harm in trying...”

No One Understands Anyone

2008-08-07T20:32:00.000+05:30

Wife tells her husband...

you don’t understand...why are you so insensitive?

Husband tells his wife

you don’t respect my feelings...do I mean anything to you? when will you understand?

Child tells his parents...

you are too old fashioned and won’t understand...Better off not telling you about my feelings

Parents tell their children..

you don’t understand life..life is not so easy..we have worked very hard to bring you up

Sister tells her brother..

you can’t have your way always..Please understand!

Brother tells his sister.

you girls don’t understand boys

Teacher tells her students...

today’s kids seem to get everything so easy... I don’t understand what is happening ?

Student tells his/her teacher...

you don’t understand...we are trying...we are stressed

Employee tells his employer...

You don’t understand... how hard we work for you and your company....but still we get paid this...

Employer to his Employee...

You don’t understand... do you know, how difficult it is to run a company?... and still you ask for more benefits..what can I do?

So they all pray to God....

Please god..Please understand.. can’t you make everyone at least once to look at my point of view..
wish there was someone who can understand me!!!!!!!!

Mystery of Consciousness

2008-08-06T23:04:00.000+05:30

We have come to believe in the age-old theory of consciousness being the product of the brain. If that is the case, is it ever possible to objectively analyze your consciousness,so as to take your mind into the next level of performance( Just like you keep upgrading your computer for better performance)

The entire performance of the mind is influenced by the events/experience that it encounters in its life cycle.Is there another scientific method to enhance its performance without depending on external factors, but by delving into its own realm and looking for answers?

Different forms of meditation evolved over time ,to keep the mind healthy so as to perform at optimum level. However, since no apparatus has been invented to correctly measure the power of the mind, mankind is yet to reach the higher consciousness of the mind to see if we can perform tasks/feats which defy the conventional scientific wisdom.

Logic and natural laws are the parameters that mankind has set to explain the happenings in the universe.However nature keeps asking many questions from time and time, and man fumbles to answer them within the set boundaries of scientific knowledge.But he has seldom been able to decipher the mind apart from deducing data from a set sample size.Since we all understand that every mind is made and conditioned differently, these tests are at best a lame attempt to untangle the complexity of our concisenesses

However the challenge is, it is your own consciousness that has to analyze your consciousness and come with an answer... In a sense the hunter and the hunted are the same.

The closest some one has come to do it( by historical evidence) is the great Gautama Buddha... However he has not been able to pass this secret to future generations and his teachings sadly was consigned narrowly into yet another religious belief , and not towards a path of self realization.

As more and people feel the intellectual vacuum after we reach saturation with materialistic comforts, we may see a new messiah like Gautama Buddha coming into this age and leads us towards a fresh path of higher consciousness

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God Must Be Crazy

2008-08-06T11:21:00.000+05:30

I have a few questions to God?

Why would Indians try to propitiate you and many of your fraternity at numerous temples and risk getting killed in stampedes, when you are suppose to protect them?

Don’t they believe in the greatest discourse you gave in Bhagwad Gita, where you tell Arjuna to do his Karma and leave the rest to destiny?

Don’t they believe that good deeds will always bring good results, which is the cornerstone of your discourse in various holy texts of different religions?

Why would they not see the blatant mis-deeds of your so called custodians( the various temple trusts and their trustees) who seem to give VIP treatment for return of favors in kind and cash for a select few, in various places of your worship when we all are supposed to be equal in your eyes?

Why they risk the lives of not only their own, but also their small children in this mad rush to catch a fleeting glimpse of your stone idol?

And why do they put their hard earned money into the coffers of various temples in your name, when you yourself are the creator of this universe and by default own everything?

Why would they not use this money for either their own families betterment or for a noble cause of charity, which I am sure you will appreciate more?

And if every religion preaches that GOD IS ONE, why do we have many versions of you and hence so many more temples?

Do you or your so-called supporters cringe at the ghastly images of small children and women in the Himachal temple tragedy and many other tragedies that have taken place at your altar?

If you think I am asking stupid questions, I would appeal to please arrange for a crash course in educating me and my band of fellow logical thinkers on the many many more ways and means of pleasing you and your followers.

If you think I am asking pertinent and sensible questions, I would make an earnest request for a super crash course for all celebrities/politicians (Amitabh Bachchan and Amar Singh included) on logical thinking and using their popularity and reach to help get rid of widely prevalant superstitions for greater good of society.

And above all, I DO NOT fear you if you are indeed the creator of me and all that I see and feel in this universe and hence , I have the right to question/debate/disagree with you in the same way as I do even with my 7 year old son.

The Power Of Cinema

2008-08-06T11:14:00.000+05:30

We have heard again and again many film celebrities in India who have given quotes after quotes on How Cinema cannot change society. I suspect through these quotes they want to absolve themselves on the way cinema changes society for the worse...

Let me illustrate....

How many kids bought fancy Bikes after seeing the two editions of the film Dhoom?

How many biker borne thieves have police caught in Hyderabad and other parts of India again modeled on Dhoom?

How many parents named their new born boys Hrithik in the year 2000?

Why did kids asked Aamir Khan about the supposed fight between Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan on Katrina Kaif’s ill fated Birthday Party on the launch function of the Taare Zameen Par DVD at Darsheel’s school in South Mumbai?

The answer to all the above is just not a co-incidence and lies deeper in the power of cinema that we are failing to capitalize effectively to highlight the many shortcomings in our society.

Indian Cinema post the golden era of 50’s and60’s, unfortunately has stopped addressing any of our social ills in a meaningful way apart from providing lip service at best. It can’t be denied that Cinema played a vital role in the amalgamation of different racial communities in USA and UK.
Cinema also played a vital role in the socialist movement of 1950’s with films by Bimal Roy, Raj Kapoor, Guru Dutt and others, shaping the consciousness of the entire nation. Satyajit Ray’s films spoke of the social cultural milieu of the 60’s in an extremely poignant manner and even shaped its path towards a more progressive society. Through Do Bigha Zameen, Sujata, Bandini, Bimal Roy brought forth some of shortcomings in our society and offered meaningful solutions. Guru Dutt through his films epitomized the individual angst against the state and society at large and left an indelible mark on countless youth of that age. However with the advent of the 70’s, Indian cinema lost its way and veered more and more towards populism and pandered to it wholeheartedly. Even the great Raj Kapoor, through his films in the 70’s failed towards meaningful cinema which he exhibited with such aplomb and finesse in the 50’s. This led to the parallel Cinema movement financed by the government through National Film Development of Cinema (NFDC) but that too died an untimely death as it failed to amalgamate popular taste with relevant social issues. Even the so called Angry Young Man phase was escapist cinema at best offering little intellectual food for thought and espousing violence as the only route for social change

From 1992 onwards, Hindi Cinema broke completely free from the last shackles of meaningful realism and offered saccharine coated NRI/Mushy romantic fare to a whole new generation. Today most film goers view cinema as the best form of escapism from their daily grind. Also the advent of Multiplexes and their high ticket prices have ensured that Cinema going remains by large an urban phenomenon. Fortunately a few films like Taare Zameen Par or Swades have still proven that cinema remains our best bet of addressing pressing issues and offering meaningful solutions.

In short we DO NOT HAVE any potent media vehicle like cinema to shape adult opinion in this country and it should be our endeavor to nurture and preserve this medium in every format that we can.

Bombs Bombs Everywhere

2008-08-06T11:12:00.000+05:30

As most of us watch in horror, as every hour a new bomb is found in Surat, and in some other parts of Gujarat, a far bigger problem stares at us and at the new generation of India.

A few weeks ago I had visited my sister’s house in Mulund (Mumbai’s Central suburb), where several affluent Muslim families reside. I had causally gone down with my nephew to the building gardens where a few Muslim kids were playing. They had made a replica of a temple with the sand which looked very nice. I was impressed with its detailing and shape. However to my horror, one of boys actually brought a cracker( small one) and placed it on the top of the replica and lit it. Most of the other kids clapped and cheered him on as the cracker shattered the temple ( Mandir ).That incident disturbed me and would stay with me probably rest of my life.

The feeling of alienation amongst the Muslims in this country and in the world at large is total. The more we deny it, we would be faced with graver consequences. An entire new generation of Muslims have grown with a feeling of isolation and coercion from 1992 onwards since the Babri Masjid demolition. The Gujarat riots in 2002 have furthered that feeling from almost a point of no return. We are seeing the manifestations of that seething anger towards the majority and the state, in several terrorists’ acts.We should be very inclined to believe that to execute the mass explosions in Bangalore or in Gujarat you need a vast network of people who are deeply motivated with a strong sense of anger and frustration with the Indian State and its people.

History has proven again and again that when the state fails its people, it breeds rebellion and finally Civil war. We in India would be fooling ourselves if we don’t see that coming in the next 5 years, if this situation continues.

Islam is a religion which fosters brotherhood and that is the cornerstone on which it survives and breeds. And any political ideology or faith which subscribes to the belief that only stringent laws will curb terrorism is obviously living in a fool’s paradise. And comparison to West is again foolhardy, since we have the second largest population of Muslims after Indonesia in the world. So we need radically new thinking minds to first understand and then solve this problem.

Now if the majority of educated Indians retrospect I am sure they would agree with me that bringing down Babri Masjid was a colossus mistake.For one, it has not even fulfilled even the Hindu urge ( again of a small minority) of a glorious Ram temple hence a pilgrimage identity a la Vatican or Mecca. So it was an exercise in futility with such grave after effects.

The political fraternity needs to introspect and introspect fast and for starters we need to identify Muslim community as a family member. And when one family member pursues a wrong path...we first have a dialogue.

The time for dialogue has come and if it means to say sorry...then so be it. By acknowledging ones own mistake is the first step towards any meaningful process of integrating Muslims into mainstream society.