A very touching moment indeed! 
Ufffff……. April 23, 2009
Well if you are not bored of politics these days, I am. I have been discussing with people about politics through mails, blogging and talking to my college friends. Sometimes i have gone overboard and sent mails to some anonymous people in my email address book and even sometimes i got hounded for imposing my political idealogies on people whom i dont even know. But, we are in the midst of an important make or break elections and we really cannot afford to stay away from keeping a close watch on what all is happening.
So, it was a welcome relief for me to have exercised my franchise today.
Some of the things that made me vote against this government was:
1. Its inability to handle terror. Inspite of all these, our government has announced pensions to the families of those terrorists killed in encounters, please watch this video:
So, whats next Manmohan Singh?
Reservations for children of terrorists killed in encounters.
2. Reservations in premier institutes:
The two wreckers-in-chief of the UPA government -
—> Human resource development destruction minister Arjun Singh, and
—> the evergreen hero of the downtrodden Anbumani Ramdoss
They both made sure that admission into premier institutes like AIIMS, IIT’s and IIM’s are not according to the merit, but purely on the basis of their caste identity.
3. Last but not the least, I still feel the congress party has some exceptional leaders in Pranab Mukherjee, SM Krishna, Karan Singh etc. But the sad thing is that only loyalty pays in the party. I still feel Pranab Mukherjee would have been a better PM than Dr. Manmohan Singh.
MAY THE BEST PARTY WIN THESE ELECTIONS
So, I am taking a much deserved break from all these and I would be going on a class trip to the Western ghats in Karnataka over the weekend.cya soon, bye
DOUBLE STANDARDS April 18, 2009
It has been long since i wrote something on my blog. Since it is election time in India, i have come up with this write up.
Before you come up with the first impression reading the title of this blog, i want to clarify a few things:
—>
I shall make it clear that though I’am a supporter of RSS and BJP, i do not subscribe to some of their ideologies.
—>
This article might be pro hindu., but this does not mean it is against Islam or Christianity. MY LIFE IS INCOMPLETE WITH MY MUSLIM AND CHRISTIAN FRIENDS.
—>
This is against the two sinisters of modern indian society-the media and the politicians.
My first messege is to India’s worst hypocrite- the so called balanced secular media:
—>
I’am a hindu who felt sad seeing Varun Gandhi make very provocative statements against the muslims. I really dont subscribe to such hate speeches. But why did the media turn a blind eye when an atheist chief minister from Tamil Nadu[we all know who] makes a statement like this- “If you see Brahmins and a snake together, brahmins should be killed first”
Isnt this a hate speech? Why did the so called balanced, nationalist, secular media did not focus on this? Is it just becuase Brahmins are not a big vote bank.
—>
I’am a hindu, who was literally in tears seeing the massacre of innocent people during the 2002 gujarat riots, but what hurt me the most was that media only highlighted only the muslim victims totally neglecting the hindu riot victims. If there is one thing more dangerous than a lie, it is half truth
Like every other mature indian, i laugh with agony at the report which said that the fire on the godhra trains was an accident. Every mature head in India knows that it was a well planned heinous crime against the RAM SEVAKS
I recently got a mail which said that Rajdeep Sardesai and Barkha Dutt working with NDTV at that time got $5 million to cover only muslim victims.
I wont say that i completely believe in that report. It was made to believe that Hindus sporting tilaks were the ones who brutally massacred the muslims. After all what you see is what you believe right?
MY NEXT MESSAGE IS TO THE SO CALLED SECULAR PARTIES:
During elections, in order to score brownie points, many so called secular parties rake up the babri masjid demolition. I was a 4 year old kid when the babri masjid was razed down in 1992. It was indeed a black day in Indian history. But many times it is just used to pit one community against the other.
I have a few questions for the secular parties:
1. Many beautiful and ancient temples are being razed down in Kashmir. The minorities in Kashmir i.e the Kasmiri pandits are being driven away[ the worst human rights violation ever]. Why doesnt your secular mindset protest this?
oooooopsssss i forgot, kashmiri pandits dont form a sizeable votebank
2. When you accuse some right wing parties of being communal, then why the hell you[ the communist and the congress] are openly flouting with a party headed by a terror accused Madhani and the Indian Union Muslim League in kerala?
this is vote bank politics of the worst kind
What do these parties think? just by appeasing the minorities, they think they can win these elections. BULL SHIT! The minorities are much more clever than what these dumb fellows think.
Please note that I’am one of those Hindus who believe in the age old Vedic saying-”Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam”. meaning this one world is one big family
I will certainly vote in the coming elections to a better person else a lesser thief.
Last but not the least, I do have an advice for the BJP:
They shouldnt impose thier ideaolgies on the Youth of India in the name of Indian culture.
I do call upon my countrymen to vote this time on national issues rather than petty local issues.
NATIONAL ISSUES INCLUDE: TERRORISM, RESERVATIONS IN PREMIER INSTITUTES
Please make your voice heard this time atleast.
I’am surprised i came up with such an article. I’am a risk averse guy who absatins himself from writing such sensitive issues.
If i have written it, you might very well sense what should have been brewing all these years. I had to vent my anger today
comments, hate mails, howlers etc. are all welcome
A small clarification March 19, 2009
In my previous post, i had mentioned the protogonist’s name in the movie Slumdog millionaire as Ram Mohommad Thomas. Well, actually the name is Ram mohommad thomas according to the book Q&A written by Vikas Swaroop, on whose novel the movie is based on. My intention to use this name was just to highlight some of the unrealistic aspects of the movie. Due to some urgency while editing the post, i didnt mention the protogonist’s screen name.Well, actually his name in the movie which won an oscar is Jamal malik.
Slumdog Millionaire March 5, 2009
I felt Proud when my fellow Indians, A.R.Rehman, Gulzar Saab, Resul Pookutty won the Oscar award. I must say it was a very proud moment for India. My hearty congratulations to all of them, who have put their heart and soul into making the movie.
Yup, I did watch the movie yesterday evening and I must say it is one of the most realistic movies I ever watched and it does deserve an oscar. I did like the movie to a certain extent. The concept was good!! A slum boy by the name Ram Mohommad Thomas [A wierd name] abusively called Slumdog goes on to win a fortune and also finds his love. Hats off to Vikas Swaroop for this extraordinary work.
A GREAT MOVIE, BUT
India is not a poor country anymore. It is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Yes, we do have slums which you may not find it in the posh countries of Europe and the USA. But, this is not the way one would picturize India with slum as a backdrop. As, an Indian i seriously felt ashamed at this potrayal.
It is understandable when a British director directs such a movie. Is it bloody possible for a non Indian to understand the intricacies of the Indian way of life. And no Indian director would dare to make such a movie. We have had enough of 200 years of British rule in India. The least we would want is a complete mock on India for the viewing pleasure of the western audience.
There is one instance in the movie where the slum boy robs a foreigner, gets caught and gets beaten up and he audaciously says-”This is India” and that American lady hands him a 100$ note and says, “Son, this is America”. This scene really got on my nerve. I would like to ask you is this the story of India??? Is, this the reason why this movie got an oscar even at the cost of good movies like Dark Knight?
IS THIS THE STORY OF INDIA THAT YOU WANT TO TELL A WESTERN AUDIENCE?
If your answer is -”I dont care as long as this movie got an oscar”, I have nothing to tell you.
Some of you who are still not convinced, I want to bring to your notice that the western countries still believe that, we Indians are descendents of Snake charmers and fake godmen. They just cant digest the fact that a country of snake charmers and godmen is on developing rapidly.
As an India, everyone ought feel proud when a music wizard from our country wins an oscar. I still feel some of his compositions in Lagaan, Roja, Jodhaa Akbar had equally great composition. But the difference was that these movies were not directed by Danny Boyle.
To conclude with, I was amused when the government took credit for the movie winning an oscar saying that its policies helped India to shine on the world stage. I want to ask them, “Is this what you call as India shining”?
IF….. February 21, 2009
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or being hated, don’t give way to hating,
And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream–and not make dreams your master,
If you can think–and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build ‘em up with worn-out tools:
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: “Hold on!”
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings–nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,
And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
–Rudyard Kipling
Everything is gonna be alright, baby……….. February 17, 2009
This is a conversation between a Dad and his child:
The train was about to leave the Chennai station. 5 year old Shyam was quietly playing with his Penguin toy that I bought him at the station. I made him sit on my lap and started playing with him. He looked up suddenly and said, ‘Daddy, when will we see Mommy?’.
‘Mommy will be at the Bangalore station, child. You are going to see her as soon as we reach bangalore’, his dad assured him. He gave a faint smile and got himself engaged in playing with his Penguin again.
‘Daddy, when will I see you again?’, he asked again looking up. My heart sank at the question. How was I going to explain to him that he was not going to see his parents together ever? His dad explained ‘You will come to see me during the summer, sweetu’ and his dad tried to look away, trying to escape the questions in his eyes . He held his dad’s hand tight and asked, ‘Why?. Why will you not be with me and Mommy in Bangalore?’.
‘Because Daddy and Mommy are not going to live together, child. But you as soon as the summer arrives, you will come to Daddy and we will spend time together. Daddy will take you to the park and you can play on the slides and swings. Daddy will bring you ice cream and chocolates. But first you must be a good boy and spend time with your Mommy.’, his dad said with a heavy heart, trying hard to keep his gaze into the uncertain eyes of the child.
‘Will Mommy come with me to see you then?’
‘No child, Mommy will not see Daddy. You will come alone. Daddy and Mommy will not meet each other.’
‘But why Daddy? Why?’
And a tear rolled down his left cheek. It has always been like this with him. It is always the left eye which gives way to his tears first. And he started sobbing then. Pressing his head against my chest and curling his little arms around me. I did not know how to comfort him . I did not have logical answers to his ‘Whys’. I did not know what went wrong. All I know is Shyam did not deserve this.
I held him tight. Trying to calm him sobbing. The deep humming of the train engine went on in the background.
P.S. – Inspired by a little boy and his father, sitting next to me in one of the Shatabdi trains I took once. The conversation didn’t take place actually. Just a work of fiction.
Tryst with Nature……… February 4, 2009
ANGER
SADNESS
PASSION
AGILITY
HOPE
WISDOM
PEACE
INNOCENCE
JOY
LOVE
YOUTH
Sri Sri on Sanathana Dharma January 11, 2009
Gurudev, HH Sri Sri Ravi Shankarji gave this following talk on 8th Dec, 2008 at Bangalore
For the continued sustainance of Sanathana Dharma in the society, dharmic institutions are a must.
When I was travelling around the country, i realised that, wherever the dharmic institutions & peethas (seats) are present, the dharma has been protected. Where they are not, there has been a decline in the number of temples.
Take Andhra Pradesh for example. Out of 38,000 temples, nearly 28,000 of them have closed down today and just 9 to 10,000 have survived. The main reason for this is – unlike Karnataka, there are very few dharmic institutions there. They are present, but in a very small number.
If our Dharma has to be revived in the society, each one of us has to work towards it.
All these days we thought that – dharma was for an individual and confined it to our homes.
But today, if this individual dharma is not spread at a societal & national level, then it will be disappear.
In Arunachal Pradesh, when I went 10 yrs back, numerous local dharmic institutions were present – which were following Sanathana Dharma. Today, the followers of Sanathana Dharma in Itanagar has reduced to just 20% of their number! Rest have all got converted. Why have they done this? It’s because of the decline in the activity & the eventual disappearance of these dharmic institutions.
If as good citizens we have to give back something to our society, then its possible only through our dharmic and spiritual peethas.
Today, terrorism has pervaded all over the nation. There are various types of terrorism – one is the naxalite/communist ideologies; anti-social elements in the society resorting to violence; And then there is the jehadi.
If this terrorism has to be eliminated, then our dharmic institutions and ashrams have to disseminate more and more spiritual education to the people. There are many dignitaries here who are doing it.
We have to give a new face to our nation.
A leader who is leading our society has to have – ‘dooradarshi’ (visionary), ‘paaradarsi’ (transparent), ’satya darshi’ (truthful) and ’samadarshi’ (equanimous). He will be able to lead the society only if these 4 qualities are present in him.
To become such a leader, his right education is the key.
Today, we have to imbibe in the youth of our nation – the strength and valour, in the same way as Lord Krishna kindled it in Arjuna.
If the youth today can stay focussed and not waver in the face of difference of opinions and ideologies; and if they can maintain their enthusiasm, then they can bring forth our nation’s glory and dharma as a gift to this world.
If every Hindu starts doing satsang, then we can definitely bring about a transformation in our country. Many times, if you ask – how many people have read the Bhagavat Geetha, there will be lot of people who wouldn’t have read it.
Bhagavat Geeta is the foremost literature in our dharma. If you don’t read it even once, then how can you understand our country? We can’t afford to forget our own roots – Vachana Sahitya, Bhagavat Geeta, Ramayana, Mahabharata – they are all the very roots of our country, of our culture.
We should save our roots and nurture them – and fill enthusiasm in the people.
I wish more and more youth walk on this path.
Happy New Year! January 1, 2009
Wish you a very very happy New Year.
2008 has been a fantabulous year for me. My gratitude to Gurudev, he has literally guided me in every step that I have taken. For me the year started on the Art of Living advanced course in Bangalore Ashram. I was in silence and Guru Pooja was going on right at 00:00 of 1st Jan 2008. Previously, I used to jump, dance, make noise, hug friends but this year, I was in complete silence, even the hug was quiet; no halla-gulla, no dance, no singing, and still blissful from inside.
After a gap of nearly two years, I spent the dawn of a new year in my house in bangalore. I’am not a guy who believes in having a blast and revellry to celebrate new year, so I promptly went to sleep after wishing many of my friends and gosh, I was woken up at midnight 12 due to bursting of crackers in the neighbourhood. And, this reminded me of the the new year celebrations I had in the ashram doing the YES+ winter break during the last two years wherein we welcome the new year in silence, wishing everybody in silence, praying for everybody in silence and believe me that was the most fulfilling celebrations I ever had for new year in my life. The celebrations, which happen in our neighbourhood, bursting crackers, making merry, drinking, dancing, yelling, i felt is so superficial.You feel so hollow at the end of it.
And, yesterday night I couldnt forgive myself for not having been on this Years YES+ Advance course. Just had to feel contended by the fact that my friends- Balki, Harsha, Karthik, Rikku, sanath and my whole YES+gang were doing the course on behalf of me.
And, for those of you who havent experienced the power of silence, I really pity you.
Jai gurudev,
Vinay
