Our Aware Ignorance…?

We live in a world of duality.
Just Imagine: You are settled abroad. You work there…
…Suddenly, you meet an Indian! Your happiness knows no bounds…You show warm affection to him. There is generosity…kindness…and a sign of affection.
You will treat him like your family…
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Now, here comes the interesting part…
You live in India. You meet hundreds…and thousands…and lakhs of Indians.
Do you ever treat them as the way you would do to an Indian abroad?
Just think about it…what do we exactly do? how do we behave?
We normally do nothing but snub the person standing next to us in a train…so all we do is AVOID THE PERSON!
Why all this?
Why this double-standard?
Value your fellow countrymen…
Value your Indianness!

A Tinge Of Optimism…

First of all, this is my 50th post! Hurray!!!
Since my blog mostly preaches or rather distributes optimism, I would like to again give you a similarly-themed message…

This paragraph was written by a 15-year-old girl. She wrote it for her handwriting analysis (read my previous post to know more about handwriting analysis). I think this paragraph should be hung at every house, workstation and school to motivate and encourage people:

There is nothing left in my mind. No thought, no guilt, no anxiety. I don’t even know who I am. Not talking to anyone makes me just feel complete. It’s now not a matter of me with an association with someone. But, it’s just me. I feel I have found God today. Moreover, it may be just because of this year of mine. I feel I can concentrate much more. Concentrate on all the positive aspects. No such negative thought. It’s a change. A revolution for me. I feel I am much stronger. I feel who I am today. I feel what I do may have not been correct but it wasn’t even wrong. There is no confusion left. I know what I am doing. I am aware of everything. Life has become a celebration now.

I found this paragraph to be deeply inspirational. It’s actually unbelievable that a 15-year-old girl can pen down such prophetic words!
What do feel after reading this passage?

What would you do for India?

I am repeating this statement once again – India is a nation of critics. Why do we always find faults in others? Be it the Indian Government or the Bureaucracy…or even the police force…we just can’t stay still without criticism!

We are ready to blame others, but we refuse take the blame, isn’t it? We always stress on this statement – “The system is a big flaw. It can never be improved…” But, you know what…?

…We are the system.

Why blame corrupt politicians if we don’t know whom to vote for? Why do we find fault with everything in existence if we can’t act…or so if we can’t even suggest improvements?

So, at this moment, I ask you – What would you do for India?

Answers like ‘I can do anything for India…I can even sacrifice my life’ and stuff are cliché and are pure flattery. You need to think seriously… what can you do you for your nation?

I don’t want you to obey any rules or whatsoever…but always respect your motherland.

At this juncture, I remember a website I recently stumbled upon:

This website called One Letter A Week (ONLW) aims at addressing socio-economic or cultural issues of our nation. Created by two NRI’s, this initiative was born after the 26/11 aftermath which literally shocked the whole world.

The main aspect of this site is to urge Indians to take up issues and write to the PMO for seeking solutions! As the name goes, one letter is sent every week to the authorities. Sanket Korgaonkar, co-creator of ONLW remarks, “ONLW is an online initiative to organize people response and to increase public awareness - ONLW stands for One Letter A Week - where by we write to the Prime Ministers Office seeking answers to every day (social) problems of the commoner.”

“I feel ONLW coupled with RTI is a real viable solution that can get citizens DOING something about everyday injustices as opposed to being mere helpless victims - personally for me ONLW came about out of sheer frustration post 26/11 attacks - because all that people were doing was talking and I wanted to DO something”, he adds.

So, I feel every Indian should at least have a look at this site…and by all means, join hands and volunteer to send letters for addressing national issues.

Anyway, don’t you think this site is indeed contributing for the betterment of our nation, directly or indirectly? What do you think?

My Top 15 Picks

Several new readers of this blog have not read my earlier posts. So, in this post, I would like to list 15 must-read posts of my blog. The following posts are my personal favourites and I feel visitors will love these posts.

So, here I go with a short summary of each post:

• An Incident To Remember – A description of an incident that changed my viewpoint about several things. Read on to find what I mean…
• 10 Ways To A Happier India – 10 Ways through which we can make our India, a happier India!
• 5 Paradoxes Of The Great India – Well, this is a must-read for all Indians, especially the young generation.
• India Revisited – A general overview of India through my eyes.
• The Era Of Young Politicians – A post explaining the scope for the youth in politics.
• Don’t Rely On Freedom Fighters – A very thought-provoking post about living in the present moment!
• Our (Namesake) National Pledge… – A post where our national pledge is bisected and thoroughly explained. A definite must-read!
• 10 Ways To Save Electricity – Now does that need an explanation?
• How To Make The Most Out Of Movies – A post about watching movies in a different angle…
• Why Indian Media Needs A Renovation – This post severely lashes out at the Indian Media for its drawbacks.
• What have YOU Learnt From 26/11? – A post marking 6 months of 26/11.
• 52 Degrees Only!!! – A humorous way of explaining global warming.
• Let’s Race With Racism… – A post discussing about the recent racist attacks in Australia.
• God: Captured In Lens – A post redefining the existence of God!
• The Return Of The Great Nehruvian Speech – Remembering Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s golden words…

And for my regular readers, I have a small message – You can go through these posts again, if you want…and you can always leave your mark by a valuable comment on these posts! …And thank you for your continuous support!

Why Population Is A Tricky Coin!

India's No.1 Speciality - Population!

Just observe the above picture carefully...What does it signify? The Earth is not sufficient for our living...WE NEED MORE SPACE!

Take for example - Mumbai trains. You won't notice a single Mumbai local train without crowding and congestions. Here is another issue at stake - There are innumerable traffic snarls these days!

...And what's more? Our government has finally realized traffic congestion is proving tough time for the people...so preventive measures are being devised...

I feel our public transport system should be more efficient to handle overcrowding. When this happens, then only people would opt for trains and buses than private vehicles.

Just reflect and realize the situation, all my dear Indian friends...we are 1 billion people with 1 billion minds...so we all need to actively provide support to our government, we all need to think as responsible citizens of our beloved country.

Don't think this country is overpopulated...but think that we are a group of fantastic and brilliant minds which can be compared to none.

If you ask me one solution to traffic snarls, I would recommend car pooling and using bicycles to travel short distances.

My final message to all of you out there - Don't depend on the government to do anything...Let us all actively co-operate and co-ordinate with each other. The government will surely follow suit!

What's say?

Do you think there is a solution waiting to be discovered...??? What are your views about overpopulation and traffic snarls?

[Image Source]

What Exactly Is India?

We all criticize our own nation - India. We scoff at every possible thing, right from corruption and terrorism to roads and railways...

...But why can't we appreciate the greatness of our motherland?

Here are a few quotations compiled by me which do nothing but appreciate and shower praise on India!

We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made!

--Albert Einstein

So far as I am able to judge, nothing has been left undone, either by man or nature, to make India the most extraordinary country that the sun visits on his rounds. Nothing seems to have been forgotten, nothing overlooked.

--Mark Twain

India conquered and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to send a single soldier across her border!

--Hu Shih ( former Ambassador of China to USA)

Civilizations have arisen in other parts of the world. In ancient and modern times, wonderful ideas have been carried forward from one race to another...But mark you, my friends, it has been always with the blast of war trumpets and the march of embattled cohorts. Each idea had to be soaked in a deluge of blood..... Each word of power had to be followed by the groans of millions, by the wails of orphans, by the tears of widows. This, many other nations have taught; but India for thousands of years peacefully existed. Here activity prevailed when even Greece did not exist... Even earlier, when history has no record, and tradition dares not peer into the gloom of that intense past, even from until now, ideas after ideas have marched out from her, but every word has been spoken with a blessing behind it and peace before it. We, of all nations of the world, have never been a conquering race, and that blessing is on our head, and therefore we live....!

--Swami Vivekananda

If there is one place on the face of earth where all the dreams of living men have found a home from the very earliest days when man began the dream of existence, it is India!

--Romaine Rolland (French scholar)

Well, there are many more divine sentences about our Mother India...


Do you wish to say anything about our India...?

I Believe...!

This time, I want to share with all of you an e-mail forward...


I Believe...
That just because two people argue,
doesn't mean they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
doesn't mean they do love each other.


I Believe...
That we don't have to change friends if
we understand that friends change.


I Believe...
That no matter how good a friend is, they're going
to hurt you every once in a while and you must
forgive them for that.


I Believe...
That true friendship continues to grow, even over
the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.


I Believe...
That you can do something in an instant
that will give you heartache for life.


I Believe...
That it's taking me a long time
to become the person I want to be.


I Believe...
That you should always leave loved ones with
loving words. It may be the last time you see them.


I Believe...
That you can keep going long after you think you
can't.


I Believe...
That we are responsible for what
we do, no matter how we feel.


I Believe....
That either you control your attitude or it controls
you.


I Believe...
That heroes are the people who do what has to be
done when it needs to be done, regardless of the
consequences.


I Believe...
That money is a lousy way of keeping score.


I Believe...
That my best friend and I can do anything, or
nothing, and have the best time.


I Believe...
That sometimes the people you expect to kick you
When you're down, will be the ones to help you get
back up.


I Believe...
That sometimes when I'm angry I have the right to
be angry,
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.


I Believe...
That maturity has more to do with what types of
experiences you've had,
and what you've learned from them.....and less to
do with how many
birthdays you've celebrated.


I Believe...
That it isn't always enough to be forgiven by
others.
Sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.


I Believe...
That no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.


I Believe...
That our background and circumstances may have
influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.


I Believe...
That you shouldn't be so eager to find
out a secret. It could change your life Forever.


I Believe...
Two people can look at the exact same
thing and see something totally different.


I Believe...
That your life can be changed in a matter of
hours by people who don't even know you.


I Believe...
That even when you think you have no more to
give, if
a friend cries out to you........you will find the
strength to help.


I Believe...
That credentials on the wall do not make you a
decent human being.


I Believe...
That the people you care about most in life are
taken from you too soon.

I Believe....
That you should send this to all of the people that
you believe in. I just did.


The happiest of people don't necessarily have the
best of everything;

They just make the most of everything.
Thank you God for all the wonderful people who
help us throughout the journey of life.
May Angels guard you and guide you every day.

What do you think about this topic?...or perhaps, this e-mail?

First Things...First!

I would like to share a beautiful poem with all of you...

Go not to the temple to put flowers on the feet of God,
First fill your own house with the fragnance of love...

Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,
First remove the darkness of sin from your heart...

Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,
First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen...

Go not to the temple to pray on bended knees,
First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden...

Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,
First forgive from your heart those who have sinned against you.

--Rabindranath Tagore

This poem is so divine, apart from being relevant to today's India...Today's India where riots are nothing new, where regional discrimnation exists and where the quality of human resource is plummeting down the graphs!

We are a nation of a billion people, of a billion wonderful people...so why does violence persist in India?

Riots only have 1 motive - To prove you are right and the other person is wrong. And when you are proved right, there is a sense of pride and satisfaction. At such a point, national unity and integrity is completely shattered!

What is our problem? Why can't we live and let others live? Why to behave differently with people belonging to different religions and castes?

Let us all get the message from the above poem...and let us all live together with equality and justice in a pleasant environment...

First things...first! Before all military deals, politics and cricket, comes the strength and unity of all Indians!

JAI HIND!

What do YOU, as a responsible Indian, feel about this subject?

Do You Really Care?

Today is World Environment Day.

Just ask yourself a question - Do I really care about the environment?

We are a nation of a billion people, and a billion minds. So, we all must put our best efforts for preserving our environment. Always remember this - Survival of man depends on the environment and its preservation.

There are numerous problems to be tackled...there's global warming, deforestation, climate changes, natural calamities and a lot more...

So, let us all promise ourselves that we, as a nation, shall put our best efforts, to plant trees...maintain cleanliness...reduce our carbon footprints...and protect the environment in as many ways as possible.

My dad once said to me, "It is human nature, son. We never ever value those things which are free of cost". Our environment is one of those free things...Once you will pay for it, you will start understanding its value.

The environment is degrading...and we all need to take action. We all should take the initiative and create awareness about our environment.

So, as a start, what ideas can you think of for saving our so-very-precious environment?
[ Image Credit - http://www.wethechange.com/40-ways-you-can-save-the-environment]

Let's Race With Racism...

We are all boiling with anger....

The recent incidents in Australia have created a huge spark among us. We are all against racism...

But just think for a while - Are all these brutal incidents justified? Do you think anybody would now look forward for touring Down Under?

Anyway, racism has victimized not only those innnocent Indian students, but also indirectly, the whole of India.

But why are we being so sensitive? Don't you think racial discrimination exists even in India? Don't you call names to your neighbour-next-door who has a swarthy complexion? Aren't we racist to foreigners visiting India from different countries..???

Now, do you still think racism is justified???

Let us all unite and fight racism!