The year gone by!

Its that part of the year,when every section of media - whether print or electronic -seems bent on impressing upon your senses the need to look back on the year gone by.

They analyze,dissect,glorify and cremate - people and performances.

Minimal research to fill a slot or sell an edition.

Selling opinions,which we all are entitled to have,not news.

Arm-chair experts presenting "a year-end review !"

Almost like a ritual.

Ever wondered how much of our existence do we devote in such exercises - discussing and glorifying acheivements of those "others",for whom we exist as "crowd" or "masses". At the risk of sounding selfish,more time spent on self-enhancement and self-evaluation may yield better dividends for the self as well as the society.

Having expressed my distaste for most of such opinionated rankings and reviews,dished out by the media,I could not resist going in for a similar exercise. But I won't present another ivory-tower study about "people".Rather,how about retracing my own footprints and gathering memories from an "eventful" year on personal note!

From scaling the peaks of Himalayas to a snorkelling experience in the Indian Ocean, the spirit of adventure which often gets snubbed in our mechanical existence got a chance to explore the unknown dimensions.The year helped me trace out the love for travel and adventure resting somewhere deep within me,impressing the importance of experiencing to discover the untapped and dormant tastes within.

Traversing the biosphere reserve across the Nilgiris and witnessing nature's virgin beauty in a week long trekking experience to the thrill of speed at karting track and speed boating. The daring stunt to cross a hundred odd feet high dam by walking atop it on a narrow path will be relished with elan forever.

Also etched will be the week long stay at an obscure village (Garispudi,Andhra): a learning experience,not only as my first rendezvous with simplicity of village life,but also with a India,we refuse to embrace.

From realms of books to reality.

Emotions are transient,Impressions imparted are forever

One such impression was that how a small policy change from the corridors of power and honest commitment of all(in whichever position)to their jobs can change lives; re-instilled a sense of responsibility and vigour to bring smiles to faces.

Another high point,as I reflect,was witnessing the humanity in a form we brand as "tribes".The Jarawas,inhabitants of rich wilderness of Andamans,are numbered and protected.

Our eyes scan them,amused,frightened.

Theirs' have a frightened innocence.

Much like us,yet much different.

Sprinkle it with a bit of professional success, delight of watching limestone caves, corals and flying squirrels, encounter with leeches, thrills of 3D shows and a crazzy upside-down swing, chills of Andamanese malaria(104deg), learning a new game-tennis(always wanted to), smiles for parents, some theatre, some writing and a successful attempt to socialise by shedding off some inertness and introvert streaks helped to round off a rather "happening" year.

What took a backseat in the process was "reading" and so have plenty to catch up on!

Agenda set. Batteries recharged.

A few satisfying "strike-off" acheived in the ever-increasing "to-do" wishlist.

Monotony,in any form,in emotions or actions,Pinches.

So as time rolls on,it unfolds a new game.

Safely expected,(on relative grounds)a more static,yet challenging time beckons.

In pursuit of a bite of moon...

Toil awaits...

Game on !!!

Man versus Nature

The woods were silent,
The night was dark,
Breeze rustled the leaves,
Fear,had made its mark.

My safari had crashed,
I was all alone.
In the lap of mother nature,
A stranger seeking home.

An uninvited guest,
Was treated like a son.
My mother nature fed me,
Fruits - rich and plum.

I quenched my thirst,
At a pure cold stream.
And caressed me to sleep,
With a swift cool breeze.

So where is the tussle?
I question,I Ask.

A choked river gurgled,
A wasteland cried.
Each axe on tree,
Made it bleed.
Oil spills in vast oceans are dreaded,
Animals chased by poachers pleaded.

Noises we hear,
Enjoy music of choice.
BUT We have gone deaf,
To nature's voice.
Its crying for help,
And we turn the other way.
A child may do that,
Single word won't mother say.

She'll always give and care,
Never,ever demand.
Love is what she wants,
From every son on land.

Nature's Delight

The fractional raindrops kiss my face,
The cool breeze gives me warm embrace,
The smell of land -
Damp,Moist,Freshening
Though overcast, my mood made bright,
I bring you a speck of nature's delight.


The veil of clouds like cotton soft,
Pierced by golden sunbeam's craft,
The spread of colours -
Art,Joy,Rainbow
My heart exclaims " a beautiful sight !",
I bring you a teaspoon of nature's delight.


Chirping in morning or humming of bees,
Unending orchards with fruit laden trees,
Instant meditation -
Health,Food,Gain
The palette on birds,like hues in flight,
I bring you a scoop of nature's delight.


Towering peaks aspiring for sky,
Streams as blessings for lands too dry,
Flora and fauna -
All images of life
Gifts of nature through day and night,
I bring you a handful of nature's delight.


Love nature,
Caress nature,
Little concerns,but huge returns.
Our life thrives,only if nature survives,
I bring you my world of nature's delight!!

The Crusade Within

My ship has weathered stormy seas,
Moments of indecision, rage and frustration,
Social pressure and heaps of expectation,
A chapter is closed,
Dusted and done,
But still I feel
My crusade has just begun…


The path is tough, I was often told,
I smirked,
Smiled,
It made me bold.
What next? I ask,
Opportunities galore,
Things to be learnt,
And people to explore.
Dreams to be built,
Some promises to behold.
Crowd Noise Distraction
Still miles to run…miles to run…
My crusade, I feel, has just begun…


At times, life may not seem all that fair,
I may be alone,
Pain Agony Despair
So what? I ask
I chose this
I remind
I revisit my friends-my innocent resolutions,
My convictions, My faiths
Those springs of inspirations
They give me solace,
Time and again,
This life has a purpose,
Just find a new aim.
The battle may be over,
But wars to be won
My crusade, I know, has just begun…

Apology...

"So, whats up on your blogging front ?"

"hey!what is the latest product of your mind-churning? its on your blog,right!!"

Well, i've faced several such questions over the last few months. At times from others, at most other occasions from a voice within.With months passing by without any addition to the posts, i've begun feeling ashamed of calling myself a blogger.

Thereby, the much essential apologies!!

Though i'm not sure about the direction in which my apologies should be oriented. Perhaps the major benefactor should be my own mind,which has been loyally churning out food for thought along with bearing a constant guilt about me not pouring it out through this blog.

Being a non-believer in excuses,I should not offer any myself.I have been plain lazy most of the times,busy at some others and waiting for that "perfect" mindset to create that "perfect" post!

The backlog is huge,the task at hand is to re-visit and re-live those feelings of past few months and pour them out for eternity.

Promises are bed-partners of apologies,so no exceptions here too.Hoping to be a more regular "blogger" and not delaying by waiting for a sacrosanct moment to express myself "perfectly"!!

Call it "art"...

Just thinking bout art…I believe it opens a world which can develop u as a person…more than any science can ever do….science can make u logical..helps in decision making..expand ur mind’s capacity to think…..but art gives u a unique challenge—a challenge of interpretation—which can simply expand ur horizon.

Art can be in any form—a movie,play,painting,poetry,writng or simply life.. Isn’t it all about your perception and interpretations. Any piece of art will attract myriad views, often radically different from each other. It manages to transcend the boundaries of right or wrong and there lies its beauty. It is an all-encompassing and ever so accepting . It connects u with god as even he never categorized things into right or wrong. He created it all pure, but we somewhere got entangled in this business of judgement. We started defining parameters, conventions, the do’s ant don’ts of each religion and imposed on ourselves a slavery which was never meant to be.

Art liberates u .

Art gives u freedom.

Freedom to think beyond the conventions imposed by the society, by our upbringing and by our parochial visions.

Freedom to have ur own vision.

It challenges u to reconnect to yourself—the real u ---whom perhaps u lost in a tragic accident called “growing-up”.

It allows u to see the world, the way u want to. And there rests the beauty of any honest form of art.

And so whenever u like a piece of art, appreciate it b’coz that will help u grow as an individual…that will get u closer to life….perhaps help u demystify an aspect of life…may solve a troubling problem, an issue with friend, or simply bring u closer to urself.



At the same time, I also feel that we should not force our appreciation of any work on anyone else….let us not rob art of its subjectivity…..some art may touch chords in your heart, but just may not connect with your friend…u may be all crazy about a performance, a piece of music, a particular poem or a painting….but that does not make it universally pleasing. Simply enjoy the feeling of ur liking that art…yes,u would want to share that feeling with other, especially with close friends and loved ones, but that should not be by force.

I think one should be careful here. U must suggest or recommend…but also make sure to stop there. Don’t overdo showering of your opinion, prior to that person getting a chance to judge it in an unbiased manner. How often have we felt let down by a movie or a book, just b’coz we heard a little too much of its worth from our best buddy or the omnipresent media which is expert at generalizing stuff. In retrospect,we realize that the work may not be that bad, but still we miss the thrill of that work just b’coz our mind was cluttered with high expectations. Also, the opposite may operate at times. Often we wonder that why a particular performance or song or movie failed to get recognition though it may appeal to you in the very first go.

Simply b’coz arts allow u to be—you.

Let the person judge that art with his own sensibilities and sensitivities. Let him form his own opinion. Then u can proceed to have a warm coffee table discussion bout that, perhaps also knowing the person in process. In this way, we’ll not only respect art but also the individuality of the other person.

So next time you come across an amazing performance, a beautiful painting, a touching song or an incredible movie, don’t pounce upon people to educate them bout ur liking or the goodness of that piece.

Simply celebrate art, celebrate your taste, celebrate yourself and that is the celebration of life.

Waqt hi shayad khuda hai

To realise the value of one year,
Ask a student who has failed in his exam.

To realise the value of one month,
Ask the mother who has given birth to a premature baby.

To realise the value of one week,
Ask the editor of a weekly.

To realise the value of one hour,
Ask the friends who are eagerly waiting to meet.

To realise the value of one minute,
Ask the person who missed the train.

To realise the value of one second,
Ask the person who survived an accident.

To realise the value of one millisecond,
Ask the person who missed gold medal in the Olympic yard.