Children's Day

We never really celebrated Children’s Day as Jawharlal Nehru’s birth anniversary when growing up but it was surely a perfect day to exercise our freedom from all the rules at home and school. Here I share a beautifully written letter by Jawaharlal Nehru to the children of India (taken from The Speaking Tree of TOI).

“I hope you will take a long time in growing up” – Indeed!

Dear Children,

I like being with children and talking to them and, even more, playing with them. For the moment I forget that I am terribly old and it is very long ago since I was a child. But when I sit down to write, I cannot forget my age and the distance that separates you from me. Old people have a habit of delivering sermons and good advice to the young. I remember that I disliked this very much long ago when I was a boy. So I suppose you do not like it very much either. Grown-ups also have a habit of appearing to be very wise, even though very few of them possess much wisdom. I have not yet quite made up my mind whether I am wise or not. Sometimes listening to others I feel that I must be wise and brilliant and important. Then, looking at myself, I begin to doubt this. In any event, people who are wise do not talk about their wisdom and do not behave as if they were very superior persons...

What then shall I write about? If you were with me, I would love to talk to you about this beautiful world of ours, about flowers, trees, birds, animals, stars, mountains, glaciers and all the other beautiful things that surround us in the world. We have all this beauty all around us and yet we, who are grown-ups, often forget about it and lose ourselves in our arguments or in our quarrels. We sit in our offices and imagine that we are doing very important work. I hope you will be more sensible and open your eyes and ears to this beauty and life that surrounds you. Can you recognize the flowers by their names and the birds by their singing? How easy it is to make friends with them and with everything in nature, if you go to them affectionately and with friendship. You must have read many fairy tales and stories of long ago. But the world itself is the greatest fairy tale and story of adventure that was ever written. Only we must have eyes to see and ears to hear and a mind that opens out to the life and beauty of the world.

Grown-ups have a strange way of putting themselves in compartments and groups. They build barriers... of religion, caste, colour, party, nation, province, language, customs and of rich and poor. Thus they live in prisons of their own making. Fortunately, children do not know much about these barriers, which separate. They play and work with each other and it is only when they grow up that they begin to learn about these barriers from their elders. I hope you will take a long time in growing up..

Some months ago, the children of Japan wrote to me and asked me to send them an elephant. I sent them a beautiful elephant on behalf of the children of India... This noble animal became a symbol of India to them and a link between them and the children of India. I was very happy that this gift of ours gave so much joy to so many children of Japan, and made them think of our country... remember that everywhere there are children like you going to school and work and play, and sometimes quarrelling but always making friends again. You can read about these countries in your books, and when you grow up many of you will visit them. Go there as friends and you will find friends to greet you.

You know we had a very great man amongst us. He was called Mahatma Gandhi. But we used to call him affectionately Bapuji. He was wise, but he did not show off his wisdom. He was simple and childlike in many ways and he loved children... he taught us to face the world cheerfully and with laughter. Our country is a very big country and there is a great deal to be done by all of us. If each one of us does his or her little bit, then all this mounts up and the country prospers and goes ahead fast. I have tried to talk to you in this letter as if you were sitting near me, and I have written more than I intended.

Jawaharlal Nehru
December 3, 1949

Life Cut Short

It is said that through death we appreciate life and it puts into perspective how we live it. But then how do we deal with the time when a life cuts you short? All of a sudden our hearts skip a beat when dealing with tragic death – and the world stops spinning. That is what happened when I learnt this morning about the terrible news of someone I barely knew long ago – and yet my world stopped spinning for that moment. A vivacious young 23-24 year old girl – recently graduated and about to venture into the prime years of her life; so talented, in fact you would think she is going to go all out and make a difference to those around her and to the world!

Why then did life cut her short?

This is an eternal question that haunts us forever. It is times like these that remind me of how fragile life is; that we are promised nothing for what is to come. What would truly matter then I believe is –

to find those moments each day that make me tick – before life cuts me short

to find solace in those who love me – before life cuts them short

to marvel at the way my family and friends touch my lives – before life cuts them short

and to continue honoring memories of those who have inspired me – as life did cut them short but their flames sparkle forever.

I know - easier said than done - but then again, how does one deal with such situations? I would love to understand what are some of the best ways to come to terms with such instances in our lives. 

My deepest condolence to the grieving parents - extremely difficult to fathom what they would be going through – but I pray that when they reach a point to see beyond this terrifying grief, that they can find peace and love in recognizing the preciousness and that eternal flame their young daughter has brought to their lives.

Steve Jobs

He showed us a way to do things better.

He defined the term ‘perfection’.

He changed the world of music.

He reinvented the business of being mobile.

He pluralized the term 'I'.

He helped ‘connect the dots’.

He gave the world a ‘world’ no one knew existed.

He thanked his ‘extended family’ for making his vision come true.

‘He died peacefully surrounded by his family’.

He Came – Consolidated – Conquered

And thus Changed the world.

Steve Jobs – 1955-2011

May his soul rest in peace.

image taken from the apple website.

Up in the Air

Plane Pull Event

Dulles Airport - 09.24.11

Those Favorite Things

A year ago you were welcomed

into a world that has become your own.

Gandhi for a day - Vora for life;

who knew what your favorite things would be.

A love we felt so strong - in your gentle touch and cries.

Your smiles lift us abound;

the sleepy head that lets us wonder

what your favorite things might be?

And then those times you grew to sense

the things around you;

the songs that make you dance and sing.

Tugging your toys and making faces

that make us laugh.

Books that only let your mind marvel

at all it has to offer.

Feeling so happy when we take your pic!

Could these be some of your favorite things?

The curiosity of not knowing

when things rattle and move and sway!

You amaze us as you learn each step and turn.

These could be your favorite things!

And then there are favorite people to embrace;

those caring looks and loving hugs!

Some so naughty that do delight you.

Some so priceless that time cannot replace.

Eating times are always fun!

Are these your favorite things?

A sense of magic in those very firsts

and moments so exciting

especially those hi-fives and the lovely toys;

With so much to learn - and all that lies ahead.

Oh to those times when you groan,

which the family makes them go away.

So as you turn ONE today,

it makes us wonder

about all your favorite things

and we simply would not trade

a minute of such moments!

God bless you

today and always!

Ma-Daddy

August 29, 2011

Be inspired and Make a Difference

There is no escaping the current wave of movement in India (and for Indians outside of it) concerning the status of #LokpalBill, #AnnaHazare and the #Futureofindiangoverningsystem. From the surge in news through the web of social media, one would think it is easy to understand the basis of this movement. Yet, to be very honest, I feel a bit disoriented about this entire episode. There are so many articles, discussions, forums regarding various standpoints on this movement – whether the Lokpal Bill is good for the nation or Anna Hazare’s movement needs to be supported or will these together harm the overall functioning (in its current manner – right or wrong) of the country. Anna Hazare’s fast seems to be the means to bring out this bill that has the ability to fight corruption at all levels. A true Gandhian would believe that ‘ends do not justify the means’ and this movement is another classic example (aside from the entire independence movement) of the quote. Bill or no Bill, I do not believe it will bring an overnight solution to the problem – it is not a magic wand (Loved your speech Mr. Jaitley and yes, there is no such wand out there!) that would remove the illegal systems that govern our country.

So in all of this, I ask myself whether I support Anna Hazare - Yes I do. Not the man per se but his means to tackle this problem is what I wholeheartedly value. This is a clear example of standing up to one’s principles and it requires a lot of conviction. In current day and age, our generation is so blinded by what goes on that it is rare to find situations that have such integrity and the fact that we get to live through such situations, the least we can do is be inspired and make a difference. There may be a lot of individuals/groups that do not support this man. And rightly so. If you do not believe in Lokpal or Hazare and do not want to support it, that is fine. Everyone has their own views and approach to what they believe in. But the point is whether we make a real impact to what we truly believe in. That in itself is more crucial than merely pointing fingers at those who are atleast attempting to ‘make a difference’.

I personally do not view this movement as a fight to destabilize the existing government or to find faults in the ‘foreign’ ruler. But it is to stand up to our own social and moral responsibilities. This fight is not only about the kind of corruption that goes on at the top level, but more importantly, how we would tackle those kinds of instances that run our day-to-day functioning – traffic violation, drivers’ license, school admissions, taxes, etc. If we do not fight these daily situations in the spirit of ‘Change’, the Bill will result into an even more dangerous entity. After all, it is we the people that contribute to such situations in the first place and not just the politicians and the bureaucrats.

It is not easy to take that first step – but we can use this movement to our advantage. This is by far the best opportunity we have to make the most of the time and its relevance (read = elections) and thereby pave way to ‘create’ a situation for the right kind of people/party worthy of support. Anna Hazare gives us hope – and all we have to do is take those baby steps – be inspired and make a difference.

The Magic Lives Forever

Today is Harry's birthday - and quite apt to launch Pottermore to the fans far and wide. While it all ended in 2007, I am still mulling over the Deathly Hallows part 2 movie. It does a fantastic job of taking us through the finale of a journey into the world we have come to learn and love. To ardent Potter fans, it is indeed an empty feeling that the movie ends with - "What next?" would be the most obvious question. Again, being an ardent Potter fan, the end could not have been any better. A review of the movie of the book series for that matter, is meaningless. Albeit delayed, this post is thus a tribute to Potter-World and relives some of the fascinating moments (IMP) that have made it an everlasting phenomena. When my dad reads this, he would think I have all the time in the world to pen such stuff, yet the hope is that he would atleast read this post if 'nothing-Potter'.

As I reminisce some of the moments of this series, I wonder where to begin. While several scenes flash in my mind, the one dear to me (especially after watching the movie) is that of Snape's dying words, "You've your mother's eyes". Being the under-dog of the entire series, he never really gets the recognition that he truly deserves, especially when alive. His purpose of being thus serves as a classic example to strive for greater good.

I also loved Harry and Dumbledore's brief interaction 'in between Heaven and Earth' (is how I had portrayed it): "Professor, tell me one thing", said Harry. "Is this real? Or is it happening inside my head?" Dumbledore, with his voice strong and clear, "Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry. But why on Earth should it mean that it is not real?" Dumbledore, to me, epitomizes the sanctity of being - a perfect Godfather for life.

Harry never really excelled in any specific activity and epitomizes the normalcy of a hero in him. Yet, he shows the true spirit of heroism - when every challenge brings in him the goodness factor - saving his fellow competitor or tipping them off prior to specific challenges - an advantage he could have clearly kept to himself. Why would he save his enemy from day one? Malfoy, left to die in the Deathly Hallows, "could not be left behind" during the fire in the Room of Requirement. This itself reaffirms our faith in righteousness and is only restored all the way through.

The bond between Harry and Sirius simply cannot be described and wish it could have been better justified in the movie. Even Sirius' death was abruptly shown in the movie while it would have been worth it to give some due to the times they spend together, considering the relationship they share.

The word 'detention' itself gives you shivers and worse of all, when it comes from none other than the most artfully crafted character Professor Dolores Umbridge. While she comes in much later in the story, the character who plays this role has performed the task flawlessly - and does a fantabulous job of letting the viewers naturally hate her to the core. Hence, "we must not tell lies" does go down well for all the Potter fans.

"Dobby has come to save Harry Potter. Harry Potter must not go to Hogwarts". This character comes to life in a form that defines the very essence of the story - friendship, courage, love and above all, respect. This right to be free has existed in us living beings since time immemorial, and is reflected well through our little elf.

To go through more minute details of this epic is futile - covering Hermoine, Luna, mirror of Erised, Elder Wand, and so on. Overall, Potter symbolizes a cultural imagination that has provided an entire generation not just entertainment but also a movement encompassing spells, charms, hoarcruxes and more. Hope K enjoys this fantasy world like the way his parents do.

Finally kudos to J.K.Rowling for creating such an epic story - a story of life less ordinary, of courage, fear, friendship and above all, love. The magic does live forever!

First Steps

Knew the moment would come
When you take your first steps;
I had prayed to be near,
To capture your sense of joy,
without an ounce of fear.

Wobbly at first,
With two tiny steps you advanced;
And you knew no fear,
As I greeted you with cheer.

In days to come, you'll walk a lot
And wander paths alone;
I pray again, as now,
To be near
in case there is any fear.

For now, I savor your moment,
And equally rejoice
the last few times
when you'd still be crawling.

- July 29, 2011

Mumbai Again

There goes the city again.
There goes everyone's wishes and prayers (in vain?) to those who mourn the losses of dear ones that shall only increase by the day.
There goes people's status updates - hour by hour - expressing anger, frustration, pain.
This time, again, the common man in Mumbai was hit. And hit hard.
And yet, the city will wake up to courage and resilience just like it always has in the past.

Yes, there is compassion and mourning - but what next? Hopefully, no negative provocation of any sorts on the streets from our supposed leaders. That would only lead to further carnage which in turn would destroy the very fabric of our nation. It is very easy to blame it on one particular faith and loosely use the term 'fundamentalists' or 'extremists' like it has always been done - yet no answers have been found to totally eliminate such forces of terror. Clearly, the war is beyond borders and has penetrated into our households - but who is the real enemy here? Isn't it an invisible entity that requires more than a warfare to conquer?

I have no strong opinion on how such terror acts need to be dealt with but I have faith that good will triumph over evil one day. I do not want to take a soft spot on such acts but I feel it imperative to comprehend it. One may call me blind and apathetic. Truly so - I may be indifferent and distanced from it all and I hope I am alone if feeling such indifference. But the way I look at it is that I am fortunate enough that I had an upbringing that was devoid of any discrimination; lucky enough to be blessed by a core of dear ones whom I pray are far removed from such acts; privileged with the opportunities to explore the world and life and numerous ideas in any manner possible.

Unfortunately, the very perpetrators of terror are removed from the above opportunities - and have already immersed themselves into a leap of darkness.

I intend to nurture brightness and purity and nondiscrimination into the minds of those that are dependent on me. And I hope I am not alone in expressing such emotion.

Do The Work - Review

***May contain book spoiler***

"On the field of the Self
stand a Knight and a Dragon.
You are the Knight.
Resistance is the Dragon.
The only intercourse possible between
the Knight and the Dragon is
Battle"

I love the above scenario and by simply imagining it in my mind over and over again makes me want to win such a 'battle'.

When I read Do The Work (from where the above is quoted) by Steven Pressfield, it felt like the writer was hammering a nail in my head with his narration. The language of the book could not be any more blunt (and in some instances offensive too) but it is aimed at kicking you in the 'right spot'. Also, imagine reading the line "I was 30 years old before I had an actual thought". While this may sound skeptical to some, having read this book, I consider this statement to be a powerful confession.

Do The Work is a short book but leaves you in a trance for long. I can compare its impact to that when reading The Alchemist and what I particularly like about this one is that it is a quick read with a tone more conversational than prescriptive and the fact that it leaves you energized to fight that Resistance. It is quite easy to fall into the trap of inertia when pursuing an idea or that the outlier in you is shunned due to various opinions from outside (and inner) sources thus falling into the rut of "letting the unconscious do its work". I am thus glad I got to read this book as it has made me look at what I would want to do 'differently'. Not only that, it has suddenly forced me to reflect whether I face Resistance around me or that more often than not, I truly could be the 'Resistance' to someone else around me.

We all have our own sources of inspirational reading and I find this topping my list for now. A strong message emanating from this book is "the last thing we want is to remain as we are". I thus strongly recommend this book to you whether you are working to improve yourself or in pursuit of a new venture or wanting to accomplish your goals.

Further, this is part of Seth Godin's Domino Project and if that is not attractive enough, it is free on Kindle until May 20, 2011.

So grab the (e)copy now, read it and if you like it, Do The Work and spread the word.

The 'Mum' Word

Dear K,

Today is Mother's Day - typically celebrated on 2nd Sunday of May every year here in the US. While its origin is unclear, Wikipedia claims that this day was set aside to honor mothers - for their love and care and hence as an act of expression and appreciation for all they have done and continue to do. I agree, it is a day of commercial value, for now I care little for any such honor.

I never considered myself to be 'motherly' till you came along and clearly, that has meant a lot of changes. Hence I am delighted that I have you as a reason to celebrate whatever little this day means to me as a mother.

More so, I have you as a reason to celebrate what this day really means to me as a daughter.

Through you, I have begun to truly understand the love and care I received from my mom when I was young. I hope I can continue to extend the same to you.
Just like her, I hope I can show you what it means to be a good person.
Just as she has taught me, hope that I can teach you how to love unconditionally, how to enjoy the small things in life, and how to be carefree.
I hope to be the mom that she has been to me and more.

Now that I have you, I understand her more.

I may not always get it right - but expect no less.

So thank you Dear K - for being patient and tolerant as I learn how to be the mother you need and for showing me the mother I can be.

Forever,
Your-Mom-in-Training
&
A-Daughter-for-Life

'Dancing in the Minefields'

This song has been playing in my head since a few weeks now and it just had to make it to my blog. I love this song because it narrates a beautiful story and it talks of bittersweet moments of relationships. No I wasn't married when I was 19 or 21 nor am I married for 15 years. I am not a strong believer in the kind of faith that is expressed in this song, nevertheless, it strikes a chord. It brings out in me a sense of integrity and a reminder, despite all travails and challenges, of what that promise is for.

Play this song, sing to it and treasure it -

'Dancing in the Minefields' by Andrew Peterson

Album: Counting Stars

I was 19, you were 21

The year we got engaged

Everyone said we were much too young

But we did it anyway

We got the rings for 40 each from a pawnshop down the road

We said our vows and took the leap now 15 years ago

We went dancing in the minefields

We went sailing in the storms

And it was harder than we dreamed

But I believe that's what the promise is for

Well 'I do' are the two most famous last words

The beginning of the end

But to lose your life for another I've heard is a good place to begin

'cause the only way to find your life is to lay your own life down

And I believe it's an easy price for the life that we have found

And we are dancing in the minefields

We're sailing in the storms

And it was harder than we dreamed

But I believe that's what the promise is for

So when I lose my way, find me

When I lose loves chains, bind me

At the end of all my faith to the end of all my days

when I forget my name, remind me

'Cause we bear the light of the son of man

So there's nothing left to fear

So I'll walk with you in the shadow lands

Till the shadows disappear

'Cause He promised not to leave us

And his promises are true

So in the face of this chaos baby,

I can dance with you

So lets go dancing in the minefields

Lets go sailing in the storms

oh, lets go dancing in the minefields

And kicking down the doors

Oh, lets go dancing in the minefields

And sailing in the storms

Oh, this is harder than we dreamed

But I believe that's what the promise is for

That's what the promise is for

Hiatus No More

So I welcome myself to my blog after ages. Long time indeed and again, not providing any excuses for the disappearance act. With all that has happened in the times gone by, this blog has surely been neglected and hope to give it some justice now.

Things have surely changed since the last time I jotted something out here – these days now belong to the times of diapers and wipes, poops and drools, pacifiers and baby-sitters, ABCs and nursery rhymes, ToysRUs and BabiesRUs, and the oh-so-predictable eat-play-nap schedule. Of course, who then would ever want to miss out on all of that by ‘sleeping it out’! Leaving that last bit of sarcasm aside, I dedicate my recent past to all of the above and to the overall essence of venturing into parenthood. From hereon, this journey is endless.

Many have asked me to share my experiences of parenthood so far and all I can come up with are those listed above. So while blogging has been non-existent for me for a while, I intend to get back (with ‘regular’ being the operative word here) and hopefully share some enriching moments - discover the full potential of being a parent (3 a.m. cooing, elation of changing Huggies and many more), explore the world from a different lens and mainly attempt to rediscover the person within.

In the meantime, thanks for your continued patience. I will see you soon.