The Full Moon !

And there was no one left to speak out for me...

2011-11-06T01:23:00.001+05:30

20^th Oct, 2011. India had just nailed the ODI series by a thumping win and we all were looking forward for a 5-0 whitewash. Like every other die-hard Indian Cricket supporters, 7 friends in Amboli restaurant, Mumbai too were busy celebrating the victory. They had just come out of the restaurant, when they heard a drunken man passing lewd comments about the girls in the group. The boys confronted him, protested, slapped him and sent him away. After 15 minutes the drunken man was back with more men who were armed with sickles, knives, stumps and other weapons and attacked the group. 2 of the boys, Keenan and Reuben were badly stabbed, while another boy Avinash was injured. The girls were screaming for help – there were hundreds of by-standers, 2 shops, and one posh restaurant, where they often visited and it was happening on one of the busiest streets of Mumbai, not a secluded place. Yet, not a single hand came to their rescue. While hundreds of eyes witnessed this happen, but all of them preferred to be mute spectators. Both Keenan and Reuben succumbed to their injuries, while the rest were subjected to bear the scar of disbelief and distrust about their own kind. To summarize it, 2 young, precious lives were lost out to brutality, just because they chose to stand up and protest.

Shocked? Disgusted? Shaken? Whatever may be your reaction, let’s not act that surprised!! I mean very often we have read in the newspaper how someone was dying of some illness or due to some accidents in the streets, but nobody came to the rescue……even people preferred to pass by without giving a second glance and finally when our very ‘own’ police arrived, it was all over. For a few days, there would be debates carried on news channels about the apathy of the people in general…..some politicians would inevitably there, to do the honors. Some politicians would be blaming the government, some the opposition party and it will carry on. There would be few angry protest march held, netizens would vent out their anger in the virtual world, smses would be shared about these atrocities and how stupid all the politicians are, so on and so forth. Give it a month or so, or if you are more of a skeptical type, a few weeks perhaps and then everyone will ‘Move on’ with their lives, like the famous ad tag line of a commercial company and all these will become archive and gather dust.

Aye! This is the reality my friends and I daresay even I am not infallible from this vice. Even I at times had chosen to remain mum when words were necessary. Was I afraid to speak my mind? Yes. Was I afraid to get into messy affairs? Yes. Why? Why? As a female, I can tell you this that most of us have faced eve teasing of some sorts once or more than once in our life time and most of the time, we have ignored them, or shamefully remained silent, even while getting disgusted from within.

Why? Why this fear within? Why this apathy within? One of my friends today was telling me that maybe it stems from the Jungian ‘Collective Unconscious’. I don’t know. I really don’t have the answer. I only know one thing, as incidences like these show, you may remain quiet when others are facing the consequences, saying “It’s none of my business.” What will happen when it’s your turn? Will you be able to find helping hands around you, to save you in danger, or like what you too have done - the same kind of treatment would be doled out to you?

Right now I don’t have any answer, or maybe I’ll never get the answer. Today I’m feeling strong emotions, tomorrow when I wake up, I may forget it completely, may be once or twice would be uttering few words of pity for the two lost lives and ‘move on’ with my life. But now in this passionate state I can just express my feelings by the words of German pastor Martin Niemöller, who had said this about the inactivity of German intellectuals following the Nazi rise to power in Germany, which was shared by a senior in our University.

First they came for the Jews

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for the Communists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a Communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists

and I did not speak out

because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for me

and there was no one left

to speak out for me......

Writer's Block

2011-09-06T23:57:00.001+05:30

Well I cannot claim to be a writer as such (though I would love to fantasize so).....I just write occasional blog posts (actually 'wrote'...its a thing in the past), Facebook posts...and update my status every alternate days on Facebook.......so these can be called my only evidences of writing.

Today evening after going through my usual routine of checking my FB account...I thought of visiting my blogs and after checking through my posts and the various comments and the blogs of my friends - specially our group blog 'Straight from the Heart'.....I felt a a sudden tug in my heart...from that of the past 'Me'....the one who used to crave for artistic stimulation....the one who was spontaneous...not afraid to speak her mind.....the one who was a regular Blogger!!! I don't know what has become to her? I mean I don't see her at all!!! And Aye!!! I do miss her a lot........and I certainly do miss blogging.

Blogging for the past 'Me' was a source of Joy, an outlet to channelize thoughts....emotions.....feelings.....a creative outlet.......a way to let others see the world through her own eyes!!!! What happened to her? Why hasn't she been able to write any blog post for more than a year?? I mean it's not that she did not try..she did try once...even wrote a few lines, characterized by her so-called signature humorous, self effacing style...but could not complete the post and it remained as a saved draft in the blogger's dashboard. Is it 'Writer's Block' or something like that???

And then after lamenting over the past 'Me', I came to realize that this present 'Me' has actually lost her main characteristic....spontaneity...... Previously when thoughts would come to her mind, she would try and type them down as soon as possible....just as the way they came...never trying to decorate with too many intricate word works (thats actually due to lack of good bank of vocabulary!).....just straight from the heart...bilkul dilse!!!!

Thus whenever I would get the urge to write something...I would not do that in the pretense of organizing it into a better whole...then would give excuse that don't have the time to write...never mind the several hours I waste in checking Facebook and other social networking sites.... and the best excuse would be to blame it on my hectic days in CIP...as if I never have had any leisurely time for indulging into my hobbies!!!!

So enough of excuses... enough of lamentation..... I'm really looking forward to revive the past 'Me'.....to get back that old joy of writing....let it be silly and stupid enough....but none the less satisfying to the core......So cheers to the future :)

Scrambled thoughts....

2010-04-28T11:53:00.000+05:30

I know that you have all heard about the term 'scrambled eggs' (it's delicious too), but don't know if you have ever tried to associate thoughts with it....aye! I don't know what am I blabbering about...coz well....my thoughts are really scrambled today!!! Ok, so why has this situation arrived??? Hmmm....because I'm leaving today for Ranchi for my M.Phil in the Central institute of Psychiatry. I had been dreaming of this for years...this is more like my dream has come true...and yet I feel so depressed!!!! I should be happy, excited.....but I'm feeling as if I'm leaving my country, my people and going to North Pole!!!! Ok maybe I'm overreacting...maybe I'm being emotionally vulnerable that's why I'm behaving like this. My dad is constantly telling me that" Beta, you have made your own decision. Now you have to bear the effects."...I understand all these philosophical notions, but somehow self doubt is creeping in within me....what if whatever decision I had taken is not good for me...will I be able to adjust to hostel life (with just 1 hour or less time of running water supply through out the day, 8.30 am classes), what about the studies??? Am I intelligent enough to understand everything...will I be a good psychologist??? My goodness!!!So many questions and I seem out of answers!!!!

Anyways, I won't keep on blabbering ...I would end now.Already I'm feeling like a bipolar patient (right now suffering from depression!!)...I might end up as a patient there!!!

Ciao and I will let everyone know how's life going on there.

'Wake Up Sid'......

2010-03-27T01:16:00.005+05:30

Somehow I don't understand today's politics very well. I mean somehow the political science that I have had in my +10 syllabus, the concepts that we were taught...today's political concepts don't seem follow the definitions written in the books, or quoted by our teachers those days.We used to write for the definition of Government that a government is of the people...by the people and for the people. The opposition party was there to keep a tab on the running government....how effectively they are working...criticize their faults...showcase those faults to the people and work together with the government too for the well being of the citizens.The Constitutional rights and the fundamental duties mentioned in the Directive Principles were considered as the pillars for the democracy.

But aye!!!Look at the Dance of Indian Democracy now!!!Show me a government that follows the above definition...show me an opposition party that effectively does its duty rather than just opposing each and every policies taken by the government just for the sake of it!!!Forget about rights and duties, we are not even citizens of India in the eyes of our esteemed politicians...we are mere voters...we are supposed to be shown promises of bright future...and then when the elections are over, we poor voters fade into oblivion!!!!All the fancy promises then disappear like a midsummer's night's dream!!!!Leave aside these 'trivial' matters...we can't even speak out our minds...if you criticize one party....you are branded as the supporter of the other party. A common man cannot even make a not-so-political statement, forget about making a slight political one!!!Once you dare to make one( added to that if you are also a celebrity)...you are treated as if you have done the most heinous crime and you should apologize immediately or face the dire consequences!!!If you don't believe me...just look at the number of apologies that any celebrity is supposed to make for his/her not-so-political comments, from a Khusboo to a latest Shah Rukh Khan!!! (If celebrities are treated like that you can very well guess what will happen to us commoners, with no strong sources, if we dare to speak our minds anytime!!!)

Sometimes I feel looking at all these incidents that as if we common people don't live nor own this country.......we make a Nation.....but we can't speak no evil against the political parties!Political parties through out the world look down upon "Talibanism".......but this attitude here, is nothing less than that!!!!!This is the same as Fascism,Talibanism,where people lose their rights!!!!!

I'm no learned on all these topics, but yes all these make me feel troubled!As a young voter of the Nation it makes me wonder about the real state of our nation.I mean we are the future of the Nation ...if we don't pay any heed to all these things happening throughout the country, if we don't try to rectify all these by the power of our voting rights ( which unfortunately are not exercised by some because of political pressure and others because they were supposedly too busy to vote that day or are too apolitical to even vote!) ........then its better we stop calling ourselves an Indian.

With the hopes of seeing our Nation as the"Sare Jahan se accha"......................................................

Crushes and Crashes!!! Part I

2009-12-03T17:04:00.002+05:30

Definition of crush:

i)To break, pound, or grind (stone or ore, for example) into small fragments or powder or,

ii)A person you like or love, that that person does not know about

No, no this is no scientific research on the definition of Crush...I just want to direct the attention of my dear readers to the above definition....look at the definition and then you will see how the word Crush is somehow integrally related to a Crash!! Ok, so why am I hell-bound on proving this relationship......well..errrr......my crushes have usually met with thuds in the end...some loud and some not...but the end result have always been the same!!!! So you can say this is a confession of sorts...of my series of crushes and crashes....

My first crush was unofficially Rishi Kapoor,when I was 5/6 years old...I still don't know whether to call it a crush or not...I just thought he's so cool and handsome when I first watched him dancing to the tune of "Om Shanti Om...."...I don't think I wanted to marry him or something like that, but surely I'd always remain glued to TV screen,whenever he was shown...and dance along with him whenever he would dance.

But my first official crush was Leonardo Di Caprio...actually to be honest 'Jack Dawson' from Titanic. I was in class VII, when Titanic was released and like thousand other girls I officially gave away my heart to the "so cute!' Leo!!!! I bought pictures and posters of Titanic and of Di Caprio wherever I would get them......along with my friends used to act scenes from Titanic and thought that kissing one's hand is so romantic!!! And 'Every night in my dreams', I would "see" and "feel" Leo...and actually believed wholeheartedly that he is going to come to Kolkata and like Jack Dawson would sweep me away from my feet!!!! But alas!! I continued waiting..but he did not come and meanwhile my studies were hampered...I failed in two subjects in my Half yearly exam....and my Mum was furious to the power of infinity....Lets not talk about the scoldings and beatings that I got in front of my friends...but the worst of them all was that she tore away all Leo's posters and pictures which I had being hiding so successfully in my school bag till that day. Nothing made me feel so miserable than this 'cruel' act!!I took solace in the bathroom for 1 hour...cried my heart out....thought that like Rose too, my Jack has been cruelly taken away from me by the 'Zaalim Duniya'!!! That night, when everyone was sleeping, I slowly crept out from my room, took out the torn posters and pictures from the dustbin and the next day when I got some time I glued all the pictures one by one and again hid them in another torn bag. I did not talk to my mother for the next 2 weeks (since I was sent to my Granny's home as a punishment for my horrible exam), and along with my physics teacher in the school, I identified my mum as the biggest villain in my love story.

Later on when other Di Caprio movies were released like 'The Beach' and 'Man in the iron mask', I tried desperately to watch those movies, but somehow I could not manage to watch them (though I thought he did not look that 'Cute' in the later movies)....also I got to know that he was rather busy dating some Brazilian model or whatever and it broke my 'heart' completely. Slowly with the tide of time I forgot about the torn bag where I had hidden the mended pictures of Leo and oneday I found out Mum had thrown it away coz she found it creepy!!! Somehow I did not feel the same pain that I had felt earlier, somehow I found that I had grown out of that indomitable 'crush'... ... Such was my love story....my Crush and the Crash along with it!!!!!

Movies, reviews and I

2009-08-10T20:29:00.007+05:30

Movies are my business......no,no...I don't mean I act in movies...or my Dad is a movie producer..I actually love movies.....my parents tell me that I'm an addict precisely....Yes, I do get involved while watching certain movies....n I do cry at movie theaters shamelessly while watching emotional scenes...but, Naye...I vehemently deny the above allegation...so I'm not guilty, till proved.

If you watch a movie with me at theater or at home...n sit beside me, my friends (actually my Dad too) would tell you to sit beside me at your own risk...Naye...I definitely don't bite...all I do is (innocently!) pass comments and well...eh....head butt (not like Zidane) n....err.....constantly tug one's arm, or slap one's arm when I get excited (mind you only when I get excited). So watching movies with me is a constant active phase.....if it's a good movie..i.e, I like it...I will head butt, tug /slap your arms more..i.e, all these head butts, tugging and slapping are directly proportional to the quality of the movie!

Another that I'm good at(or thats what i guess) related to movies, is reviewing or better criticizing them.....This trait of mine started first with the movie "Yaadein' - starring Hrithik Roshan n Kareena Kapoor. I still remember that day ...it was in Santoshpur Minibus. Three of us - Sami, Bubu (or was it Moni?) n I...we publicly dissected the movie like u dissect a frog in the biology lab!!From how absurd it was to show Hrithik swimming in the ocean with a boat tied on to his back to how could he ride a bicycle hands- free, when the doctor told Kareena that he was in a critical state just moments before that...... we sort of criticized each n every scene of the movie!!! & man we were actually shouting so loudly in the bus, as if we were discussing a silly thing in our drawing room!!!Believe me.....I daresay, none of the bus passengers who were riding with us in the same bus, watched that movie in their entire life after listening to our review of the Film ;P....So now you know why the movie did such a miserable business!!!!!

Well this is just one instance of my(actually our) movie reviewing sessions..there were and still are quite a few......but I don't want to reveal them all....I don't want the producers of those movies to sue me or slay me ;)....So for the rest...you need to accompany me in one of those sessions...n believe me....you would truly get entertained...till then adios :)

Emosanal Attyachar!

2009-04-09T17:25:00.002+05:30

I have become Dev D. Naye , there is no problem like Gender Identity Disorder....but truly I have become Dev D! N my Paro in this case is the huge Part II syllabus which doesn't seem to end!I've tried and I'm still trying , somehow like the other Paros, this Paro also seem to be eluding me big time!

Ok lets start from the beginning......I've my exams starting from this 17th April & I've 5 papers from which the 3 theory papers are going to be held this month...the next 2 on May. Now the problem lies with the theory papers.....I'm still clueless about them the way our Intelligence Department was clueless about the Mumbai attack!Ok now you can ask why am I not studying.Well to be honest I'm trying to study ( which I started from the end week of March), but my mind has got rusted because of the lack of any concrete academic activity...now nothing seems to enter my mind that easily......my condition is more like the bengali saying "Moron kale Harinaam!"

And to add that I'm a mistress of Distraction...not that I distract people very much (except when I'm head-butting someone, while laughing loudly).......I get distracted very easily!My concentration level is totally impaired and any sound Clinical Examiner would have vowed for that (not that my Mum doesn't).......Also when I'm complaining of getting Insomniac....somehow .......anyhow all these symptoms of insomnia vanishes whenever I start studying! I feel like another Rip Van Winkle......n that I can sleep for hours. If Mr. Sigmund Freud would have listened to this, he 'd have said that I'm getting "regressed" or using "escapism" as a defense mechanism.According to my good friend Richa ...these are nothing but symptoms of Exam Phobia...commonly seen in students like me.

Let me tell you another instance.....this monday I suddenly got late night texts from my friends that our H.O.D has anounced that our admit cards would be available from the next day , i.e, tuesday...so we should collect it imediately.Now usually in University exam, you collect the admit card on the exam date itself.....so this came as a surprise.So we all decided that fine..chalo lets collect the admit cards next day itself. In du time I got ready went to catch the train.I was in the train (after waiting for another 20 mins) when I got this call from my friend Nabu that guess what.........we are not getting our admit cards...we'd get on 17th itself!!! So you can imagine how pissed I'd have got ......after all making a journey to our Uni...which is quite distant from our home...n that too for not being fruitful...coz of what.......coz of the stupid whims of our old HOD!!!I felt like killing her then....after all if I did not have to make this journey,I'd have easily studied in home.......So I got down at the next station and again returned home. Mine was still all right......but there were several others who had already reached Uni earlier only to return home(ofcourse me being the habitual late comer got little compensation) After I returned home, my dad gave me a good lecture that only an unplanned person like me can do this stupidity!So it pissed me off more!So when my dad left for C.A.B , I turned on the computer and starting listening to the Dev D songs, specially both the versions of 'Emosanal Attyachar' in full volume..........n when my Mum returned home she gave me a good thrashing due to it.I know i deserved it...only mum could not realize that this whimsical act of mine was driven by sheer frustration ....of not being able to concentrate while there was a huge syllabus left to be finished on 1 hand ....n add to it was the stupidity by our HODon another hand( by the way we've diagnosed that she suffers from Dissociative Disorder).I was indeed then feeling like another Dev D....frustrated, heartbroken, hopeless........

So this is my story of Emosonal Attyachar....n the following verses are dedicated both to upcoming exam+huge syllabus and to our HOD........

Tauba tera jalwa, tauba tera pyaar
Tera Emosanal Attyachar!!!!

Me n my insomnia.........

2009-03-27T00:28:00.001+05:30

Before anyone gets a wrong idea..I'd like to clarify that no I don't actually suffer from Insomnia....actually I suffer from Hypersomnia (excessive sleep)...n I absolutely love sleeping...n I can actually go to sleep anywhere, anytime.So whats with this Insomnia case?? Ok so this is the latest disorder that I've diagnosed in me(actually it was 1st diagnosed by my mom).......apart from Bipolar Disorder n Somatization of stress......

The problem started with my anxiety regarding submitting my Dissertation conjoined with the fact that my exam starts from April and I've not started studying at all.....for the first time in the dept of Applied Psychology someone will pass in the practical papers and will fail in all the theory papers......so you can well say I'm on the verge of a new record.....and those who know me...they know it very well that I'm very lazy...my condition can be clinically termed as "Attention raised but not sustained"......I'm totally a wacky person who only realizes the seriousness of any problem, when she's neck deep down in it.....ok I know I know I should improve ....but what can I do...I try ...seriously I do...somehow..I guess it's not in me...I can never be hard-working ...even if I try!!!

One thing that is prominently in me is that I get into a nervy situation whenever it's a crunch situation...for me it must be something related to academics.......n exam phobia is a common problem suffered by many...and I'm one of them.

So, on 30th March we were supposed to submit our Dissertation...n from 17th April our final year exam starts...so either you can concentrate on your theory , or you can concentrate on the Dissertation.
N the lazy me ...as usually left most of the work undone...as if somebody else would do the work for me!!!So when the time came I actually needed a miracle......n google became the miracle for me...All I'd do is to search on google on my topic and download stuffs.In the meanwhile, to add the spices, I'd also fight with my sis about 'Who's gonna use the P.C'......usually after 12 am I feel so drowsy that I'd have to rush to bed(except when I'm reading a story book ..it doesn't matter how much late am I getting)....but all these days...even when I felt sleepy ...n went to bed, n shut my eyes, all the things related to my dissertation would dance before me!!!i'd think about what mistakes I might possibly made in my methodology...how to write the last chapter....even what to write in the acknowledgment......Believe me...even when I tried I could not stop the flow of thoughts...n there I would lie awake ...staring at the ceiling......You know what..I even tried Relaxation techniques on me, specially those which are tried on Insomniac patients...but I could not sleep...the 'psychologist' could not even try therapy on herself!!!!And even when I'd finally fall asleep...I'd even dream about my studies and dissertation work.....yes I was completely turning into a wacko!!!

But don't worry...I've finally submitted my dissertation...it means that now I've to only lose sleep about my studies.....so I'm relieved in a way.......But lets see how far this insomnia goes....if I don't get sleep these days...you never know, I might continue writing stupid notes like this!!!Till then................

Beaches and Friendship

2009-01-11T13:46:00.004+05:30

A few days back I watched this movie called 'Beaches' starring Bette Midler &Barbara Hershey.It's a very old film (1988).........a tale about the friendship between two women (No Dostana story like John & Abhishek) ........ofcourse it had its share of romantic angles but primarily it was a tale of friendship.To be precise it was the story starts with the odd friendship between a New York child performer CC Bloom and San Fransisco rich kid Hillary who meet in a holiday resort in Atlantic City, & it marks the start of a lifetime friendship between them.While CC becomes a successful stage performer,Hillary becomes a successful lawyer.They face different trials and tribulations in their lives...even breaks up as friends at one point of the time....but as it happens in true friendship they make up.....n try to follow their respective careers with zeal.Finally when Hillary dies because of viral cardio myopathy and CC takes her child Victoria under her care & the movie ends with CC narrating Victoria about the story of how she & Hillary met as children.

The movie apparently is a simple story about friendship,but somehow it had touched me a lot!It reminded me of some of my old friends,with many of whom, I've either lost touch or have fallen out.Somehow, I had forgotten the good memories I've shared with them.....somehow I had forgotten the fun,the tears,the dreams we shared together.....it was almost as if I had repressed them down to my Unconscious or had put them inside a box and cast them away in the Sea!And I feel glad and sad at the same time........Glad of the fact that we have had such great time together and Sad of the fact that somehow most of them did not work out as it seemed it would. So through this, I want to thank all of them with whom I have had the opportunity to share a friendship, be it the old friends or the new ones or altogether the existing ones.Individually, to each one of them I am indebted in some way or the other.And to each I want to say sorry if I've had hurt them in any ways. I'm finishing this post with this beautiful song "Wind beneath my wings" from the movie Beaches sang by Bette Midler.......This is to friendship and each of my Friends.

It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that's your way.
You always walked a step behind.

So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strain.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.

Did you ever know that you're my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.

It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I've got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.

Did you ever know that you're my hero?
You're everything I wish I could be.
I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings.

Did I ever tell you you're my hero?
You're everything, everything I wish I could be.
Oh, and I, I could fly higher than an eagle,
for you are the wind beneath my wings,
'cause you are the wind beneath my wings.

Oh, the wind beneath my wings.
You, you, you, you are the wind beneath my wings.
Fly, fly, fly away. You let me fly so high.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.
Oh, you, you, you, the wind beneath my wings.

Fly, fly, fly high against the sky,
so high I almost touch the sky.
Thank you, thank you,
thank God for you, the wind beneath my wings.

Me and my misadventures!!!

2008-12-27T21:13:00.003+05:30

Well whenever it comes to me,somehow all adventures turn into misadventures......so whenever i use the term adventure for me.....be assured that it would be some kind of misadventure!Anyways so lets come to the story.

The story goes back to this year's 'Navami', Durga Puja.Me n my friends Pilu n Momo decided that we'd go out together for pandal-hopping like last year.So we had planned everything...like we 'd visit Badamtala Sangha,66 Palli n other pandals near Rashbehari n then after having lunch at Bachchan's Dhaba,we'd visit the other pandals near Behala n the rest.As planned,we had decided about meeting at Rashbehari crossing at 11am n as usually we reached late(n mind u,I was 1st one to reach!) Then as planned we proceeded towards Badamtala.Just when we were going for our Lunch,suddenly I heard, naye actually felt something bubbling inside my stomach!.......Those who know me very well,they know i mightbe termed as female version of "Pelaram", a "Petroga" to the core!I usually survive on 'Imodium' - a medicine on these pathetic days.

Anyways,at that juncture I could very well understand what I needed at that moment,ofcourse not any lunch.........but something else!I seriously did not know what to do...n I was feeling very embarrassed to express my real 'need' to my friends.So I thought that for a while I'd suppress my 'need'.....but aye!I couldn't suppress it for long.And finally I turned towards my friend Pilu n told her that I was feeling very sick n I needed to go to her home desperately.(by the way she lives in Chetla)Obviously,they could not make out the seriousness of the situation,as they were desperately hungry.But amongst the murmured protest,I finally told them about the seriousness of the situation...that if I dont go to her home....well I didnot want to recreate any of infancy moments at that situation..........So,my friends yielded....but Aye!did you think that everything was okey-dokeyafter that?Naye!in that emergency situation,there was a big....n i mean a BIG traffic jam on the Chetla bridge.All the vehicles weren't moving an inch.....though we had boarded a bus, but that 'rest in motion' condition was affecting me like hell!I was feeling that very soon I was going to burst out...n my stupid friends kept on teasing me in that emergency condition!What they were saying i can't tell you, ........What can I say...they didn't even understand what i was going through...I daresay if they fall into this condition in their lifetime...they'd understand what I was going through then!!!!!!

So,finally after a 30 minutes wait (it seemed like a lifetime to me), we reached Pilu's home and I rushed to her home and obviously I was the 1st one to ring the bell, and without even saying 'Hi' n the other formalities to Kakhima, I rushed to the ultimate place of 'Solace' and ofcourse didnot return before 10 minutes!!!!!!And my friends...I can say you 1 thing surely from experience that nothing gives you more heavenly n relieved feeling than this one......LOL!!!!!

Friendship as defined by Khalil Gibran

2008-12-17T22:50:00.002+05:30

And a youth said, "Speak to us of Friendship."

Your friend is your needs answered.

He is your field which you sow with love and reap with thanksgiving.

And he is your board and your fireside.

For you come to him with your hunger, and you seek him for peace.

When your friend speaks his mind you fear not the "nay" in your own mind, nor do you withhold the "ay."

And when he is silent your heart ceases not to listen to his heart;

For without words, in friendship, all thoughts, all desires, all expectations are born and shared, with joy that is unacclaimed.

When you part from your friend, you grieve not;

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absence, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

And let there be no purpose in friendship save the deepening of the spirit.

For love that seeks aught but the disclosure of its own mystery is not love but a net cast forth: and only the unprofitable is caught.

And let your best be for your friend.

If he must know the ebb of your tide, let him know its flood also.

For what is your friend that you should seek him with hours to kill?

Seek him always with hours to live.

For it is his to fill your need, but not your emptiness.

And in the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter, and sharing of pleasures.

For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.

Chanakya Sloka

2008-12-17T22:22:00.002+05:30

Chanakya was one of the most celebrated ,shrewd n able statesman in India,during the time of King Chandragupta Maurya. This great statesman and philosopher has been often compared to Machiavelli, Aristotle and Plato, exemplifying his potentiality and influential status. I'd like to write down down some of the famous quotes by Chanakya here.If you go through them you will realise how this wise man's words holds true even in this era.

Test a servant while in the discharge of his duty, a relative in difficulty, a friend in adversity, and a wife in misfortune.

He is a true friend who does not forsake us in time of need, misfortune, famine, or war, in a king's court, or at the crematorium (smasana).

Avoid him who talks sweetly before you but tries to ruin you behind your back, for he is like a pitcher of poison with milk on top.

Do not put your trust in a bad companion nor even trust an ordinary friend, for if he should get angry with you, he may bring all your secrets to light.

Do not reveal what you have thought upon doing, but by wise counsel keep it secret, being determined to carry it into execution.

Rain which falls upon the sea is useless; so is food for one who is satiated; in vain is a gift for one who is wealthy; and a burning lamp during the daytime is useless.

There is no water like rainwater; no strength like one's own; no light like that of the eyes; and no wealth more dear than food grain.

Krazzy 4

2008-10-01T21:38:00.002+05:30

No......No this is no review of the film...neither the song Krazzy 4...its actually a name or term we use to describe 4 of us ...in the Uni.actually to be very precise..I mean me n 3 of my friends in the Uni.....Pilu,Momo,Nabu....apart from me n Pilu ,nabu n Momo r both from different colleges...but somehow we all 4 gelled from the 1st week of our 1st year classes...n now 'touchwood' we r still going strong.

The reason why we call us 'krazzy 4' is that we r really crazy to the power of insanity....or how else will you explain the uncontrollable laughter we give whenever there is any serious class going on!........the Mithunda ishtyle dance we do in the lift......the drama classes we give ourselves absolutely free (can't explain the content...sorry)......or the best mimicries we do, which would put the stand up comedians even into shame!

The real prob now is that our specializations are different now....me n nabu r in clinical while Pilu n Momo r in HR...but naye!...we still try to find out time for eachother whenever we get time....go to an empty classroom...close the door...put on the music....n dANce...n dance like hell....no it's no salsa or bollywoody thumke...these are what we call the "Keora Dance"...or the "Bisorjoner dance"....n we dance without no inhibitions.....

you know what thats the best part of our friendship...we behave with eachother without any pretence...totally comfortable....uninhibited......thats why other look at us with a different point of view...as if we have been released from the assylum....we r totally insane....but we dont really care about what they think of us...because in the end we are happy....we are having fan...we r enjoying our life...I think this is what it matters....ultimately you must be really happy...but not at the cost of anyone!!So long you are happy...it doesn't matter if people call us 'krazzy'...coz it's better to be 'krazzy' n be happy rather than be'normal' n be glum.....

My first Case

2008-09-13T12:30:00.002+05:30

Ok I am no detective like Hercule Poirot or Sherlock Holmes....so don't get distracted by the title....I am just a buding Clinical Psychologist....still doing my Masters........this is our Specialization year...i.e, we choose different paths for us.....HR, Industrial, Community or Clinical psychology........as for me I chose Clinical (those who know me intimately...they know how desperate how i was to be in clinical from my very childhood).Here after a while you get to see patients....Naye....Clients( I'm a Rogerian...so can't use the word 'Patient')....not that you have to do the therapy part....since we are still amateurs....we are supposed to do the diagnosis part.At first you are supposed to see clients along with your partner (not Life partner!)...and then after a while when you gain enough experience...you get to see them alone.Ok so its over with introduction part...lets come to the real story!

Me and Ruhi are partner here....Ruhi is basically from D.U.........and she still hasn't mastered bengali......it's kinda fun talking with her.....we often utter 'Sudhya' bengali...leaving Ruhi totally helpless .....her only reaction would be "Accha Accha .....Thik acche!".......though she can understand little bit of bengali....but still most of the things are "lost in translation'....so,I kinda play the role of the translator in most cases!From the very beginning Ruhi had insisted on getting some Hindi-speaking clients too(it's very necessary as a psychologist to do effective communication)...so finally it seemed God has listened to her...and we both got a hindi-speaking client party as our first case.

Can't describe the case...it's against our ethics....but I think more than the Client party...we both were scared and apprehensive......at first it seemed to me that everything is surreal......couldn't even concentrate in the first few mins...as I could hear my heart beating loud......didn't even start with the proper introduction that we had planned (we didn't even tell our names....until later on the Client party asked us!)......actually felt like a fish out of water....theoretically everything seems easy...practically facing clients wasn't that easy...........but I think what touched us most...was the eagerness,the pain,the need for empathy shown by the Client party.........somewhere down the line I felt...everybody is looking for that empathetic person who'll tell them,when everything is not going great......don't worry I'm with you...everything will be fine.....and I felt so helpless....I felt like saying , "God!give me the strength to help others"...I felt so incapable.....

It's kinda of strange.....each one of us are facing some kind of problem at a time...feeling helpless...looking for that unconditional support and love.....and search goes on......
Just think if each one of us can stretch our hands in support to others......not only them...but also we too will be helped....by holding eachothers' hand we would form a human bond.....of love.......then we won't even need any psychologists in the world!

Durga Puja

2008-07-27T19:34:00.003+05:30

All about nothing!

2008-07-15T14:51:00.002+05:30

Thus I'm stranded again in the middle of nowhere.The pathway has ceased to exist...it's no longer there..it has become one with stone,gravel and dust.Now I've to decide myself which path to follow....it's totally my choice now...the choice I'd make, would direct my journey now onwards.

It's so tiring to wait and watch like this;patience has its own virtues...but for an impatient person ,it's always the contrary.

It's a curse to know things sometimes..so it seems as if it's better to be naive....but after facing life from its close quarters,it's not possible to keep intact one's naivity or innocence.

It's a vain effort to write...it's vain effort to try and feel like others...it's a vain effort to make everyone satisfied,including urself!...It's a vain effort in trying to create something that will burst into the Arena like a victor and create Magic!

The Changing face of Indian Family

2007-09-13T21:17:00.000+05:30

The Great Indian Family saga is a well coined terminology - celebrated in varieties of magazines,newspaper ,internet...even in K serials and sweared by a certain Mr.Johar or a Mr.Barjatiya.As it is often shown in the serials,the men in the family usually go to their offices in suits ,while the women manage the kitchen and their kids wearing kanjivarams and heavy makeup.But Indian Family is not so simple or cliched as that .......it is a complex,customized..often liberal......in a whole an interesting social institution.

If we can trace the earlier days of Indian Familyhood,we would find that Family came into existence with the institution of Marriage.As people got married and gave birth to children,they thought of strengthening the bond by staying together as a unit and by this idea the concept of family came into being.Previously the main system in the family was that of joint family system.People who shared the same blood came together and formed a family.But not only that,even the neighbours and the domestic helps even were considered a part of that BIG Family.All these helped the family members to share a feeling of togetherness,belongingness and even in forming a separate identity as a whole.

If the question arises that whether the family system was that of Patriarchal or Matriarchal in essence,I would rather opine that it was Both.The men being the main earning member of the family used to take part in most of the decision making,but it was the women who used to run the show inside the family.Be it being the treasurer(it's an open secret that the men either give their earnings to their mother or their spouse) or the being main spearhead in the household activities,women used to play crucial roles.So usuallly the seniormost man in the family would be regarded as the Head of the family ,while his spouse would also share the mantle in matters of household activities.

As it happens all the time,there was no dearth in quarrels or arguments within the family,whatever might be the reason......be it for power,or recognition or money , or even love.In the yester years ,the custom of a man having many wives was quite prevalent.So there were enough reasons for the women to fight amongst themselves.But all these fights were not only limited within the female section,the male section also used to take part in it equally.And their reasons also varied among power,properties or money

But inspite of all these human shortsomings,the joint family system survived for a long time,becuase where there was fighting ,there was love too;where there was lust for power ,there was the essence of sacrifice too.In a way the joint family system was like the Indian 'Khichdi'- mixture of different personalities.

But as modern age ushered in the advent of urbanisation,joint family system slowly began give way to its counterpart nuclear family system.As the male members went in search for better opportunities in the cities and finally settled there,nuclear family came into being.Now the modern family began to consist of the parents and their children.People started living in small apartments - a separate world of their own.The older members of the family mostly are either not given much importance in matters of the family,or else in an extreme way regarded as a burden.The relatives are for the occassional festive times or any kind of ceremony...else for the rest of the year apart from a 'hi hello' relation,not much contact is kept.In this time of multistoreyed bulidings,we often dont know who our neighbours are,while some of the more curious ones are treated with either suspicion or irritation.The parents are mostly busy with their own lives and the children with their studies.Instead of playing with friends on a ground or listening to stories from the Grandmas,the children have either internet or a fancy playstation to accompany them.

Even in the risk of sounding like a boring person,I would like to comment that I don't like this new modern lifestyle.Somehow,I feel suffocated ,as if I am not getting enough sunshine,water or air.This new lifestyle has its merit in many ways,but somewhere life has become very robotic,where in the pursue of material happiness ,people have forgotten one thing - sharing and caring.I am not criticising the nuclear family system here, I am criticising the lifestyle.After all we may be paupers or fools in real life,but its your family which will still treat you as the "Best".

Maybe we still yearn for this old charming essence of familylife or what else would explain the popularity of the family soaps or movies today.Maybe looking at the families shown in the soaps we fantasise for a family life like that.So long live the K serials ,long live the Johars and the Barjatiyas- as long as we crave for our families ,they will be no less popular.

Demons in the Desert

2007-08-24T20:45:00.000+05:30

Once upon a time there were two merchants, who were friends. Both of them were getting ready for business trips to sell their merchandise, so they had to decide whether to travel together. They agreed that, since each had about 500 carts, and they were going to the same place along the same road, it would be too crowded to go at the same time.

One decided that it would be much better to go first. He thought, "The road will not be rutted by the carts, the bullocks will be able to choose the best of all the grass, we will find the best fruits and vegetables to eat, my people will appreciate my leadership and, in the end, I will be able to bargain for the best prices."

The other merchant considered carefully and realized there were advantages to going second. He thought, "My friend's carts will level the ground so we won't have to do any road work, his bullocks will eat the old rough grass and new tender shoots will spring up for mine to eat. In the same way, they will pick the old fruits and vegetables and fresh ones will grow for us to enjoy. I won't have to waste my time bargaining when I can take the price already set and make my profit." So he agreed to let his friend go first. This friend was sure he'd fooled him and gotten the best of him - so he set out first on the journey.

The merchant who went first had a troublesome time of it. They came to a wilderness called the 'Waterless Desert', which the local people said was haunted by demons. When the caravan reached the middle of it, they met a large group coming from the opposite direction. They had carts that were mud smeared and dripping with water. They had lotuses and water lilies in their hands and in the carts. The head man, who had a know-it-all attitude, said to the merchant, "Why are you carrying these heavy loads of water? In a short time you will reach that oasis on the horizon with plenty of water to drink and dates to eat. Your bullocks are tired from pulling those heavy carts filled with extra water - so throw away the water and be kind to your overworked animals!"

Even though the local people had warned them, the merchant did not realize that these were not real people, but demons in disguise. They were even in danger of being eaten by them. Being confident that they were helpful people, he followed their advice and had all his water emptied onto the ground.

As they continued on their way they found no oasis or any water at all. Some realized they'd been fooled by beings that might have been demons, and started to grumble and accuse the merchant. At the end of the day all the people were tired out. The bullocks were too weak from lack of water to pull their heavy carts. All the people and animals lay down in a haphazard manner and fell into a deep sleep. Lo and behold, during the night the demons came in their true frightening forms and gobbled up all the weak defenseless beings. When they were done there were only bones lying scattered around - not one human or animal was left alive.

After several months, the second merchant began his journey along the same way. When he arrived at the wilderness, he assembled all his people and advised them -"This is called the 'Waterless Desert' and I have heard that it is haunted by demons and ghosts. Therefore we should be careful. Since there may be poison plants and foul water, don't drink any local water without asking me." In this way they started into the desert.

After getting about half-way through, in the same way as with the first caravan, they were met by the water-soaked demons in disguise. They told them the oasis was near and they should throw away their water. But the wise merchant saw through them right away. He knew it didn't make sense to have an oasis in a place called 'Waterless Desert'. And besides, these people had bulging red eyes and an aggressive and pushy attitude, so he suspected they might be demons. He told them to leave them alone saying, "We are business men who don't throw away good water before we know where the next is coming from."

Then, seeing that his own people had doubts, the merchant said to them, "Don't believe these people, who may be demons, until we actually find water. The oasis they point to may be just an illusion or a mirage. Have you ever heard of water in this 'Waterless Desert"? Do you feel any rain-wind or see any storm clouds?" They all said, "No" , and he continued, "If we believe these strangers and throw away our water, then later we may not have any to drink or cook with - then we will be weak and thirsty- it would be easy for demons to come and rob us, or even eat us up! Therefore, until we really find water, do not waste even a drop!"

The caravan continued on its way and, that evening, reached the place where the first caravan's people and bullocks had been killed and eaten by the demons. They found the carts and human and animal bones lying all around. They recognized that the fully loaded carts and the scattered bones belonged to the former caravan. The wise merchant told certain people to stand watch around the camp during the night.

The next morning the people ate breakfast, and fed their bullocks well. They added to their goods the most valuable things left from the first caravan. So they finished their journey very successfully, and returned home safely so that they and their families could enjoy their profits.

The moral is: "One must always be wise enough not to be fooled by tricky talk and false appearances ."

The Golden Plate

2007-08-24T20:43:00.000+05:30

Once upon a time in a place called Seri, there were two salesmen of pots and pans and hand-made trinkets. They agreed to divide the town between them. They also said that after one had gone through his area, it was all right for the other to try and sell where the first had already been.

One day, while one of them was coming down a street, a poor little girl saw him and asked her grandmother to buy her a bracelet. The old grandmother replied, "How can we poor people buy bracelets?" The little girl said, "Since we don't have any money, we can give our black sooty old plate." The old woman agreed to give it a try, so she invited the dealer inside.

The salesman saw that these people were very poor and innocent, so he didn't want to waste his time with them. Even though the old woman pleaded with him, he said he had no bracelet that she could afford to buy. Then she asked, "We have an old plate that is useless to us, can we trade it for a bracelet?" The man took it and, while examining it, happened to scratch the bottom of it. To his surprise, he saw that underneath the black soot, it was a golden plate! But he didn't let on that he had noticed it. Instead he decided to deceive these poor people so he could get the plate for next to nothing. He said 'This is not worth even one bracelet, there's no value in this, I don't want it!" He left, thinking he would return later when they would accept even less for the plate.
Meanwhile the other salesman, after finishing in his part of town, followed after the first as they had agreed. He ended up at the same house. Again the poor little girl begged her grandmother to trade the old plate for a bracelet. The woman saw that this was a nice tender looking merchant and thought, "He's a good man, not like the rough-talking first salesman." So she invited him in and offered to trade the same black sooty old plate for one bracelet. When he examined it, he too saw that it was pure gold under the grime. He said to the old woman, "All my goods and all my money together are not worth as much as this rich golden plate!"

Of course the woman was shocked at this discovery, but now she knew that he was indeed a good and honest fellow. So she said she would be glad to accept whatever he could trade for it. The salesman said, "I'll give you all my pots and pans and trinkets, plus all my money, if you will let me keep just eight coins and my balancing scale, with its cover to put the golden plate in." They made the trade. He went down to the river, where he paid the eight coins to the ferry man to take him across.

By then the greedy salesman had returned, already adding up huge imaginary profits in his head. When he met the little girl and her grandmother again, he said he had changed his mind and was willing to offer a few cents, but not one of his bracelets, for the useless black sooty old plate. The old woman then calmly told him of the trade she had just made with the honest salesman, and said, "Sir, you lied to us."

The greedy salesman was not ashamed of his lies, but he was saddened as he thought, "I've lost the golden plate that must be worth a hundred thousand." So he asked the woman, "Which way did he go?" She told him the direction. He left all his things right there at her door and ran down to the river, thinking, "He robbed me! He robbed me! He won't make a fool out of me!"
From the riverside he saw the honest salesman still crossing over on the ferry boat. He shouted to the ferry man, "Come back!" But the good merchant told him to keep on going to the other side, and that's what he did.

Seeing that he could do nothing, the greedy salesman exploded with rage. He jumped up and down, beating his chest. He became so filled with hatred towards the honest man, who had won the golden plate, that he made himself cough up blood. He had a heart attack and died on the spot!

The moral is: "Honesty is the best policy."

Seashore

2007-07-14T12:44:00.000+05:30

On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.
The infinite sky is motionless overhead
and the restless water is boisterous.
On the seashore of endless worlds
the children meet with shouts and dances.

They build their houses with sand
and they play with empty shells.
With withered leaves they weave their boats
and smilingly float them on the vast deep.

Children have their play on the seashore of worlds.
They know not how to swim, they know not how to cast nets.
Pearl fishers dive for pearls, merchants sail in their ships,
while children gather pebbles and scatter them again.
They seek not for hidden treasures, they know not how to cast nets.
The sea surges up with laughter
and pale gleams the smile of the sea beach.

Death-dealing waves sing meaningless ballads to the children,
even like a mother while rocking her baby's cradle.
The sea plays with children,
and pale gleams the smile of the sea beach.

On the seashore of endless worlds children meet.
Tempest roams in the pathless sky,
ships get wrecked in the trackless water,
death is abroad and children play.

On the seashore of endless worlds is the
great meeting of children.

Rabindranath Tagore

Prisoner

2007-07-14T12:32:00.000+05:30

Prisoner, tell me, who was it that bound you?'
`It was my master,' said the prisoner.
`I thought I could outdo everybody in the world in wealth and power,
and I amassed in my own treasure-house the money due to my king.
When sleep overcame me I lay upon the bed that was for my lord,
and on waking up I found I was a prisoner in my own treasure-house.'
`Prisoner, tell me, who was it that wrought this unbreakable chain?'
`It was I,' said the prisoner, `who forged this chain very carefully.
I thought my invincible power would hold the world captive
leaving me in a freedom undisturbed.
Thus night and day I worked at the chain
with huge fires and cruel hard strokes.
When at last the work was done
and the links were complete and unbreakable,
I found that it held me in its grip.'

Rabindranath Tagore

2007-07-09T17:01:00.000+05:30

I am restless. I am athirst for far-away things.
My soul goes out in a longing to touch the skirt of the dim distance.
O Great Beyond, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget, that I have no wings to fly, that I am bound in this spot evermore

I am eager and wakeful, I am a stranger in a strange land.
Thy breath comes to me whispering an impossible hope.
Thy tongue is known to my heart as its very own.
O Far-to-seek, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget, that I know not the way, that I have not the winged horse.

I am listless, I am a wanderer in my heart.
In the sunny haze of the languid hours, what vast vision of thine takes shape in the blue of the sky!
O Farthest end, O the keen call of thy flute!
I forget, I ever forget, that the gates are shut everywhere in the house where I dwell alone!

Rabindranath Tagore

To my Teacher

2007-07-01T20:23:00.000+05:30

You know how life springs up surprises at every nook and corner....This has happened with me too! When I was in Class 10..I was constantly in touch through letters with my uncle Barun. He used to Study in London and would write us rather big letters...sometimes emails too...which reflected his own thoughts and experiences. It was in one of his letters that he mentioned about the book "Lectures from Colombo to Almora".....This book contained a series of lectures which Swami Vivekananda gave after his return fom Chicago.He mentioned how this book changed hios life...so I got really interested...i thought lets buy the book and see what is so amazing about this book that Barunmama is just going Ga-ga over it!

And finally when I bought and started reading it ...it really changed my whole life...I'm not saying that I'm a very religious person by any means...but this book made such an unbelievable impact on me...that my whole thought process changed...I realized many a things...I'm still realizing them....A new world opened in front of me...there was indeed light at the end of the tunnel....from that moment ther was an evolution in me...I was not me anymore but someone else. From that moment S.V as I fondly call him...became my teacher..my Guru...

I cant say that I've followed each and every details of his teachings....Can't say that I've been that much sincere in my efforts....but as you know in a class theer are always the good and sincere students and there are the naughty ones who dont often follow the class....but the respect and intentions are the same...only I'd take a little bit of time to settle down ...but I'd definitely and thats a promise to my beloved Teacher!

Bavra Mann

2007-05-30T10:32:00.000+05:30

This post is about a song I really love...this is from the Movie "Haazaron Khwayisen aisi".The song is "Bavra Mann",lyrics by Swanand Kirkire.The lyrics is so soulful that it touches your heart.....feels you with a with an unexplainBavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapnaable pain....a feeling of missing something in life.

Bavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavre Se Mann, Ki Dekho Bavri Hain Baatein
Bavre Se Mann, Ki Dekho Bavri Hain Baatein
Bavri Se Dhadkaane Hain, Bavri Hain Saansen
Bavri Si Karwaton Se, Nindiya Door Bhaage
Bavre Se Nain Chaahe, Bavre Jharokhon Se,
Bavre Nazaron Ko Takna.
Bavra Mann Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavre Se Is Jahan Main Bavra Ek Saath Ho
Is Sayani Bheed Main Bas Haathon Mein Tera Haath Ho
Bavri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Bavra Ek Raag Ho
Bavri Si Dhun Ho Koi, Bavra Ek Raag Ho
Bavre Se Pair Chahen, Baavron Tarano Ke,
Bavre Se Bol Pe Thirakna.
Bavra Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

Bavra Sa Ho Andhera, Bavri Khamoshiyan
Bavra Sa Ho Andhera, Bavri Khamoshiyan
Thartharati Low Ho Maddham, Bavri Madhoshiyan
Bavra Ek Ghooghta Chahe, Haule Haule Bin Bataye,
Bavre Se Mukhde Se Sarakana,
Bavra Mann, Dekhne Chala Ek Sapna

The Alchemy

2007-05-07T12:33:00.000+05:30

Wise men say that alchemy or as known in bengali "paraspathar" if it touches anything then that thing is turned into gold.In literary or even in spiritual term "paraspathar" is often termed as something that makes your life golden, i.e as fire is supposed to purify gold......alchemy is supposed to purify you on a spiritual level.I am not talking about God,Religion,or Dogmas of any kind but I'm talking about spirituality i.e being in touch with your spirit!

I've often wondered what can be called the alchemy of our life....My personal life experiences and also the lives and works of others that perhaps Sorrow is the main alchemy in our life.As wisemen ay sorrow is like the fire that purifies us and makes us beter human beings.Not only that it acts as a guideline.....People say that unless you haven't experienced sorow in life you won't be able to understand happiness......you won't be able to experience sympathy or empathy of any kind....you would be missing one of your basic emotional experience.As Tagore says,
"amar e dhup na porale,
gondho kichue nahi dhale
amar e dweep na jalale
deye na kicchue alo.
ei korocho bhalo nithur
ei korocho bhalo"

If we give thought to it we would certainly find that it is really true that alone sorow can actually light the extinguished fire inside us......it may make us come closer to our soul.....it may inspire us for creating master pieces.......Aye the most celebrated songs of the world is that of tragedy...that of sorrow......the same can be said about poems too!I don't want to go into the details of differentiating the causes of sorrow.But somewhere down the line I still believe and would continue believing that sorow is really the alchemy in our life.We just have to accept the fact that there's somewhere hidden in sorow is the essence of happiness!

Living.....etc

2007-05-01T20:16:00.000+05:30

Well as it's often said.....Much to do about nothing.....so this is what I've been doing all these days...nothing!And mind it doing nothing also takes a lot of effort...you sit in just one particular place...either watching the Tv screen(doesn't matter if u like anything on it or not)...wasting your time on a simple cup of Tea(specially in my case Bedtea) or looking outside the window in such a way as if you are the world's greatest Philosopher!But Aye!all these efforts are not understood by your parents...specially your mother....and she'll start pursuing you to do some studies or atleast some household works.The least you can do then is to turn deaf(no prob with me,I've already affected both my ears in a miraculous way!)or be indifferent like a Philospher.

The most favourite activity of mine is sleeping ofcourse.But somehow my this favourite pasttime is detested by my family members....however I may try I can't make them understand the importance of sleep....i can give a whole lecture on it.If you don't believe me I can tell you that in REM sleep,i.e when you are dreaming,it helps you to process all the information you got during a day and helps in Long term Memory storage.and also Growth Hormone is secreted then which is essential for human growth.I can go on raving about the neccessity of sleep ,but what's the use my parents simply won't understand!Hope you peoiplke will agree with my vision.Till then......

Memories last forever

2007-04-17T16:25:00.000+05:30

In this journey of life ...you meet with so many people...some stay with you forever ...some you leave behind...some disappears suddenly......but all these people make you truly what you are.But as they say memories last forever......

When I was a kid, I had for company all the books I could possibly read then...my dreams...my superheroes....And oneday I met with this skinny girl .....she had boy's cut hair with specs ..and looked just like me...scared...She was our neighbour sort of...her maternal Grandma lived besides our apartment.Though she was 1year junior to me ,we stuck up this unusual friendship....we both of the same kind chose to visit each other's Neverland together.

I still remember they had this huge mango tree in their garden and we used to climb up that tree to show heroism to others.Everyday we used to play together.....and eventually our mothers had to literally drag us back to home....

The best thing we liked in our make a believe plays was that of Dark room- it was this abbreviated version of Haunted houses.And this was somewhere we would be best at.All we used to do act as if it was this stormy night and we two,along with her baby brother went to take shelter in a house,which would eventually turn up into a haunted house....We would be sleeping and then there would be disturbances...Ghosts would chase us...one of us (usually the baby brother would be the bali ka bakhra) would come under the spell of spirits and turn one of them...and we bravehearts would finally save him and us.This paly was so realistic that one night while playing this we really thought that there was someone in the room!!

We would be culturally inclined too and we had arranged successfully twice a Rabindrajayanti programme in our respective home.We did two plays of "Hassya koutuk"of Rabi Thakur "Chatrer pariksha " and the other's name I've forgotten but it was about stealing of eggs.we even made two little boys dance to rabindrasangeet(it wasn't Rabindra nrittya by any chance)

So we had this beautiful childhood together but somehow after I passed out from school I lost touch with her.All I knew about her that she was studying in Shikshayatan college.But a few days back,a local friend of mine told me that my first friend's life has been destroyed by a motor accident in Bangalore...she went there for reviving her life's aspirations...but it was shattered by a man made machine......she's no more now..................all that remains is the ugliness of her death...the opain ,the tears and some memories..................I wish like we played in the Darkroom game,I knew some magic to shatter the spell that has separated her from our world......

Her name was Dorothy Bhattacharya ,my first ever friend ,forever and eternity........................

Coffee Talk

2007-02-12T20:02:00.000+05:30

A group of alumni,highly established in their careers,got together to visit their old University Professor.

The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life........

Offering his guests coffee,the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups-porcelain,plastic,glass,crystal,some plain looking,some expensive,some exquisite -telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffe in their hand ,the professor said:"If you noticed ,all the nice looking ,expensive cups were taken up ,leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.It is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves,that is the source of your problems and stress.What all you really wanted was the coffeee,not the cup,but you consciously went for the best cupsand were eying each other's cups.

Now if life is coffeeand the jobs,money and position in society are the cups.They are just tools to hold life ,but the quality of life doesn't change.Sometimes,by concentrating only on the cup ,we fail to enjoy the coffee in it.So don't let the cups drive you.....enjoy the coffe instead.....

College Days

2007-02-06T20:00:00.000+05:30

Ok so the official days of our college is finally over.....these days we can only go to college to check the notice board..or to do some library works(which I don't quite fancy).Can't totally describe how it feels...a bit odd I may say...after all I had been quite habituated with the regular rituals of college going days...waking up early (not before 8am!).....running thru' all the morning rituals in an express speed...and boarding the 9.o5 am E1 bus....many a days I'd get as usually late ...and as I'll make a run and peep from behind the door to see if the teacher has arrived or not!!!And then smiling gallantly I enter the classroom as if I belong there not some silly teacher.....

I had some wonderful time..and not some wonderful times too...there had been moments when I felt like being on top of the world and then sometimes so depressed that I had to open the DSM IV(a book on the criterion of mental disorders) to check my mental prob!But over all can't complain much after all it has taught me some important lessons...made me wiser(or thats what I belive).

I always belive how much you may hate doing something...but ultimately the experience itself makes you evolved as a person...that's why one shudn't underestimate any experience.......

What is living?

2007-01-29T20:36:00.000+05:30

U know wat these days u'd find people are so stressed that they wud get agitated all the time...always running after one thing or another...be it the bus/train or the ambition itself....n all through life they run and run...as if there is no other thing of importance to them in their lives...they run all through their lives...and finally in one crossroad they find themselves all alone....tired ...scared....old!!!!They have missed all the good things in life ....just Good wine and Salary doesn't always mean the "good things" yeah?They had been too busy making house,educating children,and competing in their work life.....I don't think that's called living...if that's living then death is more merciful........
So what's life?Can any one tell me?

The Great Experimenter that my Mother is!

2006-09-13T20:30:00.000+05:30

I daresay my mother is a very inquisitive experimenter! And she is so much full of new ideas that she just need motivation from me to implement them! You dont seem to believe me ....thats too bad ......but I daresay you people would believe me after reading this post!

So as I was telling you people my mother is a very inquisitive experimenter...though she's a M.A in Bengali....but she is rather interested in experiments! She gathers her ideas by talking with her fellow teacher-colleagues and of course the mothers of all the students who come to her for tutions,the kins etc etc. Just getting ideas would lead to nothing...so to implement them she takes my help....or rather make me the subjct of the experiment. The Basic Concept of her experiments is simple: To determine the effects of ...............on making the subject get fat.To carry out the procedure to make the subject(the guinea pig poor me) fat...the materials required are different kinds of almonds,"chatu",kesar,nuts etc etc and milk to add the nutrient element! But the subject is rather a naughty one...whenever she sees the experimenter coming with the materials, she gives a marathon run, making the poor experimenter run after her. After a good cat and mouse chasing game...sometimes the experimenter wins by inserting all the materials into the subject's mouth, forcibly....sometimes the subject wins by getting inside the bathroom and not coming out till an hour has passed.

This experiment is still continuing and will continue ... God only knows for how long...but as soon as I get the final data I'd tell you people about the conclusion.I dont know if after reading the full post you people have now got a new version of my mother as a great experimenter or not...but somehow I'll continue to believe that she is a damn good and tiring experimenter who has got a good tenacity!

A Long Leave

2006-09-08T11:25:00.000+05:30

Well ,I had been on a long leave coz I had been practically battling with my Part I exams.Now that its over doesn't mean that I'm heaving a sigh of relief ....coz my results are yet to come out!So another wait for the results (and I'm literally dreading that day when they will be announced!

So what was I doing these days?Well I went to Belur math oneday to watch the "Sandhya Arti"!Man!it was awesome!I really believe once in a life time you should go to Belur Math in the evening and that too by a boat ride on the Ganga,and enjoy the caressing winds of Ganga on your face and then you will feel like an uncaged bird with no meaness or materialistic petty things to hold you back! And the Arti was totally mind boggling!The whole hall of the Mandir seemed to filled with the "Aratric Bhajan " of the brahmacharies.You would then at that moment feel as if you are closer to God like never before!I know many a people will think that,"what a silly thing!"....but I tell you my friends ,once you should go there and let me know.I really believe that You will feel like me too.

Would have loved to write down all the details.But I don't have that capability to express that experience into words...words have failed me in this case!Till then

Sionara!

Didimar Jhuli

2006-04-28T11:59:00.000+05:30

When I was kid,we had all these fairy tales to amaze our kiddish imagination......it may be Cinderella for some it may be even the good old "Thakumar Jhuli"(which is on the road to extinction now) for a few others.I had spent most of my childhood in my Didima's home(our dear old didima whom we lovingly call"Namma").And my Namma had this amazingly stock of stories to tell........starting from mythological stories to ghost stories even the stories of "Rajputtur and Swadagarputtur".

Every evening after our studies were over, Namma is done with her "thakur puja" n the rest........me, my cousin brother Tutuda n sometimes even my elder sister used to snuggle near Namma and ask her to tell us stories.After the usual cajoling she would finally give up and then start a story.Our hot favourite was that of "Neelkamal and Lalkamal" and another Upendrakishore Roychoudhury story"Cheel ma".While telling us the story of "Neelkamal and Lalkamal",whenever she used to tell us about the incident when the "Khakhos" would ask Lalkamal "Who is awake in the house?"......we used to shiver in fear and anticiaption of what would happen next.And every now and then we would interrupt her by saying-"Tar por?"

She used to love that undivided attention and adulation.Sometimes she used to tell us jokingly"If love to hear my stories so much then record my stories so that you will be able to hear it even when I won't be there!"At this inevitably we used to protest by arguing that she would have to stay with us forever and tell us those amazing stories everyday.

Years have passed by.Obviously we don't need anyone now to tell us stories now.We now can read more intellectual and more purposeful books ourselves.A Neelkamal or a Lalkamal isn't so interesting enough now to amaze us, grown ups!And the amazing Namma who introduced us to the world of childhood fantasy is now herself recovering from a brain tumor operation and suffering from chronic lack of sodium and potassium!She,who can't even remember whether it's day or night or whether she really had her bath,has lost her ability to mesmerise us with any of her stories.Like the good old "Thakumar Jhuli" her "Jhuli" is empty now and on the road to extinction.

Thus every Fantasy would turn into hard core Realism,Imagination would be loathed by Intellect.Peter Pan won't be able to remain a happy boy in his Neverland...........he will finally grow up!!!!

Avril and Me

2006-03-30T20:22:00.000+05:30

I really do like Avril and I believe that if I try I may start looking like her .....though my friends are rather discouraging...But i seriously believe that I can too look like her with this tie and socks on the hand and a Ganjee.....What do you think?

Me and My ambitions!!

2006-03-22T19:20:00.000+05:30

When we all were nothing but kids...we all had ambitions of something big! Well just like any other kid I had my share of ambitions!!!! I had all these silly ambitions of becoming a police officer(like Kiran Bedi),a doctor(the most common)n the most daring and favourite of mine was that of becoming an Astronaut!!! To be very honest this was not my original idea ....my partner in crime was my cousin brother Tutuda!

We'd all mugged up from the various encyclopaedias all about space n aircrafts n astronauts....n we had this strong belief that it's very much possible to make a rocket n off to the moon!!!!! With this strong belief and stars in our eyes we decided that we are all set to build our own rocket!! Our factory was a small rooftop adjoining chamber in my aunt's apartment and all through the summer vacation the main thing that we used to do in the noon time was to make our own rocket!! Obviously our main inputs were some old packing boxes,some broken pieces of a basin......n our vivid imagination! We had even decided that my brother is going to be the pilot n me the co-pilot! We had almost finished our work(dont ask how)when 1day my aunt caught us on the roof top during the noon time amidst all these! and that was the end of our Mission Impossible!

So that was one of my childhood antics .......I know they are very much silly ....but thats my signature perhaps!

Love ......Passion.....Gen Y

2006-03-22T19:08:00.000+05:30

Just a few weeks back I watched the movie"Rang de Basanti".....Infact I know many of you have watched this movie and had the urge to do something......well it happened with me too....and in a kind of josh I sent a SMS for help for Jessica Lal case,talked about it,followed every bits of news for the Jessica Lal case..........and thats it!Thats it!Thats what an inspired Gen Y gal like me did!Then I realized I had done nothing....it wasn't something great.......infact I am not doing anything extraordinary....just blindly following the trend!

Is this is what the tag line of Rang de Basanti means....Generation Awakens!!Are we awake!NO we aren't!It was the youth which was once the pulse of the pre independent India...it was the Will,Determination and Courage of the youth which was the main foundation of the freedom of India......then what happened today!

I would rather say it's not only the influence of easy life style from the west....also lack of any role model!In these days who are our role models....Cricketers or Filmstars!How many of us have A P J Kalam as our role model....a Kalpana Chawla for a role model?The cause is the real lack of those poeple who would pose as the ideal rolemodel in front of us. A person who will inspire us to strive for Excellence......who would ask us to "Arise Awake and stop not till the goal is reached!"We are confused bunch of kids who in absence of real role models vainly try to emmulate some rather glamourous personalities!

One request I would like to make to you people....why dont we instead of complaining for absence of role models try to become role models ourselves....Maybe in this pursuit we may not have success....but atleast our children won't be able to complain like us!Let us try to get a better future for the future generation!

""abhi abhi hua yakeen
ke aag hain mujh main kahin
huyi subah main jaal gaya
suraj ko main niggal gaya!
roobaru roshni!"

The 'Princess' and I

2006-03-13T19:36:00.000+05:30

I was then a small kid, about 5 years old, when I first met the "Princess". She was a lanky,extremely fair and a rather thin girl who bore a proud look on her face....never used to initiate any kind of conversation with anyone and answered in monosyllables. Frankly speaking I disliked the very sight of her! From that moment I nicknamed her "The Princess".

Years went by, but we never had a good relationship. In fact I always believed that she was a big snob! It was when we were in class V ,i.e about 10 years old, we started to know each other. She used to come to my mother for help in Bengali and in return used to help me out in English. Slowly a kind of need based friendship started to blossom between us...but a rather inconsistent one! We were not the bestest friends...it was that whenever we used to be there together we used to have fun! Never knew when from being just having "masti"type of friends,we moved into a new dimension....of sharing little secrets......happiness......pains..........sharing out a laughter together,having new adventures together,wiping out each other's tears.

Some of the special things we experienced in life were together......like bunking classes......reading Mills and Boons romance under biology book......cheating and so forth. In fact we used to go to a Maths tuition together...and we used to share a mutual hatred towards that Maths tutor, who used to scold us vehemently on our lack of mathematical abilities.On those days I'd get ready in the morning...go to her home and wake her up from the sleep and most of the time she would refuse to come with me and missed the classes...while I had to attend the classes alone...cursing her and promising to myself that I will never talk to her anymore!

We used to dream together and still do........of being very rich,having a big mansion.....with Ferraris and BMWs and Mercedes. In fact it was our mock lawyer debates which had inspired her to study law! We always had this unique love hate relationship.....and in reality we were each other's biggest critic!

Things have changed.........we have changed......relationships have changed........but whenever I think of her ....I'm reminded of a girl who used to buy expensive gifts just to cool down her rather grumpy and angry friend! And whatever happens in future, the memories that I have shared with her, I'll never forget. Cheers my friend :)

Too much of Everything leads to Nothing!

2006-02-08T20:15:00.000+05:30

When i was a kid, i used to have a small diary where i'd ask my friends or relatives to write something.....be it about me or anything they want to write!As usual being an obedient daughter i started it with my mother.She's a teacher and i've always remained an amazed admirer of her knowledge.So she wrote.......
"Ati darpe hata lanka
Ati manena kaurava
Ati dane balir bardhan
Sarvan atyantya garhitan"

Those who are familiar with Hindu mythology would definitely know the characters of Bali,Kauravas and Ravana ofcourse!In plain english that too much of pride brought an end to the great Rakshash dynasty of Lanka,too much of vainness brought an end to the great clan of Kauravas,and too much of giving brought an end to the King Bali.So it concludes that too much of everything is not appreciable.This is something which has been advocated by the Vedas,long time back.But i dont believe in it just because its written in the Vedas or just because my mom wrote it to me,i believe in it because i've experienced it in my life,naye not only in my life but also in the life of others!I've seen people who had been practical throughout their lives,but somewhere down the line they haven't been satisfied with their achievements because somewhere they've used their brains to counter attack situations which should've been best countered by the heart...yet their habit of referring to the brain when needed,made them forget about the existence of deeper feelings,sentimentalities etc.So perhaps that sanskrit phrase holds true in the larger context.I dont want to comment further on this topic coz i believe i'm still not matured enough to do so.I dont know about the rest...but i believe in it and thats all i need to do at this moment i guess!

Smile

2006-02-02T19:58:00.000+05:30

A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.

Life is short but a smile takes barely a second. Every tear has a smile behind it.

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight.

If you see a friend without a smile; give him one of yours.

A smile starts on the lips, A grin spreads to the eyes, A chuckle comes from the belly; But a good laugh bursts forth from the soul, Overflows, and bubbles all around Because of your smile, you make life more beautiful.

Too often we underestimate the power of a smile, which have the potential to turn a life around. Smiles are the language of love.

The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.

A smile is an inexpensive way to change your looks

All people smile in the same language. Children smile on the average 400 times /day; Adults: 15 times /day. Ever wonder why? A warm smile is the universal language of kindness. If I thought that a smile of mine, might linger the whole day through and lighten some heart with a heavier part, I'd not withhold it -- Would you? ?? Smile becoz God gave Human this beautiful gift - A Smile....I sometimes wonder do animals have this beautiful gift of smiling??? Smile, not becoz it costs you or not, but because you can make someone smile and make their day So Smileeeeeee please :-)) ...... Hmmm... Good, looks very good, infact suits you the best :-)

Gurdian Angel

2006-01-28T19:20:00.000+05:30

There was this little girl sitting by herself in the park. Everyone passed by her and never stopped to see why she looked so sad. Dressed in a worn pink dress, barefoot and dirty, the girl just sat and watched the people go by. She never tried to speak. She never said a word.Many people passed by her, but no one would stop. The next day I decided to go back to the park in curiosity to see if the little girl would still be there. Yes, she was there, right in the very spot here she was yesterday, and still with the same sad look in her eyes.

Today I was to make my own move and walk over to the little girl. For as we all know, a park full of strange people is not a place for young children to play alone. As I got closer I could see the back of the little girl's dress. It was grotesquely shaped. I figured that was the reason people just passed by and made no effort speak to her. Deformities are a low blow to our society and, heaven forbid if you make a step toward assisting someone who is different.

As I got closer, the little girl lowered her eyes slightly to avoid my intent stare. As I approached her, I could see the shape of her back more clearly. She was grotesquely shaped in a humped over form.I smiled to let her know it was OK; I was there to help, to talk.

I sat down beside her and opened with a simple, "Hello." The little girl acted shocked, and stammered a "hi"; after a long stare into my eyes. I smiled and she shyly smiled back. We talked until darkness fell and the park was completely empty. I asked the girl why she was so sad.The little girl looked at me with a sad face said, "Because, I'm different." I immediately said, "That you are!"; and smiled. The little girl acted even sadder and said, "I know."

"Little girl," I said, "you remind me of an angel, sweet and innocent."

She looked at me and smiled, then slowly she got to her feet and said,Really?"

"Yes, you're like a little Guardian Angel sent to watch over all people walking by."

She nodded her head yes, and smiled.
With that she opened the back of her pink dress and allowed her wings to spread, then she said "I am."

"I'm your Guardian Angel," with a twinkle in her eye.

I was speechless -- sure I was seeing things.

She said, "For once you thought of someone other than yourself. "My job here is done". I got to my feet and said, "Wait, why did no one stop to help an angel?"

She looked at me, smiled, and said, "You're the only one that could see me," and then she was gone.

And with that, my life was changed dramatically.

So, when you think you're all you have, remember, your angel is always watching over you. Like the story says, we all need someone... And, every one of your friends is an Angel in their own way. The value of a friend is measured in the heart.

The Essence of Innocence

2006-01-10T19:43:00.000+05:30

My treasure hunt

2005-12-28T19:13:00.000+05:30

When I was a kid....rather an imaginative one, I used to spend my past time in reading adventure books and inevitably I used to get so influenced or rather impressed by the characters that I'd read ,that I used to imagine myself as the 'hero'ine and believed each and every words that I used to read!

It so happened that after reading so many books on treasure hunt especially 'Treasure Island' I got this idea that getting treasures are very easy...especially if there's an old house (of course if it's a bit ruined that's the icing on the cake!) you are sure to get some kind of treasure if you have the tenacity and persistence!!!

Now we had this ancestral house at Dakhshineswar which was quite old and a bit ruined ofcourse...so I decided that this would be my happy hunting ground! So in all the weekends we used to go and visit there...I used to spend most of the time hunting for my precious treasure!

We had this old room, sort of an attic room at the rooftop where the disused, old and broken things were stored...i.e it was basically a sort of store room! So I got into this crazy idea that perhaps this was the room where my treasure would perhaps be hidden...coz this was the least obvious place for others to search for it....and I decided that I would not relent until and unless I find out my precious treasure from there! Hence, as soon as I decided my target I spent the whole noon hunting for my "precious"! No scoldings or repeated warnings could make me lose my focus...the others were just obstacles(as it happens in the books the deadly "villains", including several cockroaches and spiders!) Aye! you know what my friends it's truly said that persistence bears fruit....so at last after a neverending search I got a 'ring' - which I called "boidurja moni"! Atlast I was the victor. though at that present moment I was looking more like a lunatic from Ranchi assylum coz of being smeared with the cobwebs and my hair resembling like a 'bird's nest'! And victoriously I went back to my folks (read angry dad whom my grandma was busy coaxing!)and showed them the prize......"boidurja moni"!!!!!

Aye my friends...I was so terribly proud so happy......I felt like the richest person on earth or perhaps like Columbus.....but my villianous relatives didnt welcome my discovery...they didnt yield my friends and they announced boldly...."So you got hold of this 'tuti futi' cheap, old, thrown away ring" !!!!!

Nobody listened to my point of view...instead I got a good thrashing from my mom.....and repeated threats "If you dare to do it again then.........!!!!!" So my friends for that time being I had to discard my ideas of treasure hunt...the villains were too villainous to fight with.....but hope never dies and I promise I will go for another treasure hunt this time to AFRICA!!!!!! And I hope that you will encourage me in this adventure...and if you want to be part of that...no problemo.....just pay all the necessary costs...and I promise you won't regret it!!!!

Till then
Adios.....

The Window

2005-12-06T14:51:00.000+05:30

Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation. Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his room-mate all the things he could see from outside the window.

The man in the other bed began to live, for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlightened by all the activities and the colour of the world outside.

The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while the children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every colour of the rainbow. Grand old trees graced the landscape, and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance. As the man by the window described all these exquisite details, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.

Days and weeks passed by. One morning the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the change, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.

Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the world outside. Finally, he would have the joy of seeing it for himself. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.

It faced a blank wall.

The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased room-mate to describe such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."

Epilogue :
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared is doubled. If you want to feel rich just count all the things you have that mpney cannot buy. "Today is a gift, that's why it is called the Present."

Keep smiling always.

Welcome

2005-10-29T21:05:00.000+05:30

Welcome to my blog. This is my very first attempt in creating any, so you can very well guess that I'm quite novice at this... hopefully you'll forgive my shortcomings and point out mistakes or areas for improvement. I will try not to make a futile effort in being a 'Writer' , rather try to entertain within my limits. Hope you like it :)