Q w/o A - I ....

Is everything written or "maktub".

Is the future charted by destiny or free-will.

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I have no answers.

Associative Nostalgia - III ... Children's Comics

This is an attempt to write about the more beautiful things that thankfully exist on earth; after what had been a series of serious posts.

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Tinkle, Chandamama (not strictly a comic, but still...), Amar Chitra Katha, Champak, Billoo, Pinki, Chacha Choudhary (whose brain works faster than a computer), Mandrake, Chacha Bhatija, Gokulam, ...... and the universal Tintin, Asterix, Richie Rich, Casper, Archie (and the Little Archie ones..; never really liked them though), ......

The one thing that is common to all of them, is that they would remain beautiful no matter how old, matured and worldly the once-upon-a-child becomes. Each comic has its own USP. Each is colourful. The good and the bad exist (as real as it can be). It is always the triumph of the good over the evil. The characters are as real as real life ones. Of course, in some of these, like Champak and some stories in Tinkle (Kalia the crow, Kapish, etc.), the characters happen to be animals. Who cannot but remember the Jataka Tales of Wisdom and the ready wit of Birbal and Tenali Rama brightly captured as comic strips. Amar Chitra Katha does cover many topics ranging from fables to biographical accounts of the historical greats to spotlight on Indian culture to what not.

Such simple children's comics do have valuabe lessons for us, no matter how old we are. I recently came across a Mathnawi by Rumi which was similar to a tale from the Panchatantra. The lessons remain the same, but in different forms and languages. It is not a shame to continue to read these comics. They often bring a smile onto us. The very Obelix and his cravings for wild boar, the Thompson and Thomsons (one with and without the "p"), the gifted language of Captain Haddock, Cacophonix and his musical abilities, the duel between Fullyautomatix and Unhygienix, the intelligence of Asterix and our very own Chacha Choudhary (both happen to be short persons), ....

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The truth is a big circle and at times a paradox too. A person is always in search of the truth, and more often than not, he/she comes back to the same point of departure. This is to remind us.. We have come from the earth and we would go back to the same. So, when we are here, it would be best for us to love the beauties that the earth has to offer us in so many forms; without any pride and prejudice, whatsoever.

August 15....

The Independence Day of India. Back in 1947, the partition of India lead to the birth of two new states - India and Pakistan. India has come a long way since then, with her own share of ups and downs. A few of her dreams have been realized and a few shattered to pieces. Yet, she goes on dreaming with the hope that people begin to realize and act.

The middle class youth and the educated would be disenchanted with the politics. Politics, my dear reader, is the same everywhere. Every country has its own share of turmoils and politically motivated masterplans. People, the very educated ones, once they settle down towards a decent living, begin to criticize at India. It is like dishonouring her. She is what we make her to be. This is more so among the Indians out here in the US (the NRI's or as Geeta from the movie Swades puts it - "The Non-returning Indians"). This is not to mean that all the Indians in India are proactive and working towards her development. This is not to mean that the Indians in India don't criticize.

There are a few organizations like AID, ASHA, etc. out here in the US which do significant work towards the development of India. It all depends on the attitude of the people. These organizations have a limited yet dedicated volunteer base. It doesn't really matter as to where one is.

It is time we did something rather than just sit laid back, talking and criticising. I urge everyone of you to be a lighthouse, spreading light in whatever significant/ insignificant manner. This is the only solution thanks to which the concept of "India Shining" would become more of a reality rather than remain a virtuality or an impossible dream.

Jai Hind.

PS: Coverage of July 04.

Health Consciousness...

As a sequel to the previous post. It merits mention that the author felt that it was high time we looked for the inner beauty in ourselves and others. This article presents a different viewpoint on the subject of physical well-being.

Is it wrong to be physically conscious. Is it all right to wallow in self-pity over our seemingly ill-toned and ill-structured bodies. Is it not time now to do something about them.

Yes. It is time. But then, why should one do it? Is it to get into the books and looks of the people around us. I would say a definite big NO to that. The only sensible answer would be - for our very own physical well-being. Obesity is known to cause certain fatal complications later on in life. Moreover, a well-toned body gives that divine peaceful easy feeling. Exercise keeps one active too. I have seen 60+ men jogging their way to glory. So looking at it at the micro level of our very own self, we need to have a well-toned body.

But then, in some cases, people desperate to put on weight stay lean despite their eating a lot of junk stuff. On the other side, people desperate to lose weight remain as they are despite their compulsive dieting (which at times reaches heights of paranoia). In such cases, I guess we need to learn to accept ourselves as we are; and yet continue to exercise to keep ourselves "fit".

Well, Why do I seem to contradict myself, every now and then? Its all got to do with paradigms.

PS: Btw, for those factors beyond our control and influence, like our skin color, we have to be happy as we are. Commenting on the beauty of a person based on skin alone is down-right vulgar and shameful.

PS2: I have known of instances where a person with spectacles looks down upon an another because she/he is wearing spectacles. An inexcusable case of double standards.

Beauty (Revisited)....

Who defines beauty in a woman? One of my friends went this far to comment that He/She made women during his/her free time with great creativity and craftsmanship. Most romantic images, be it words, pictures, poems, paintings, songs, etc. have emphasised greatly on this feminine beauty. There does happen to be a rich repertoire of metaphors ascribed to the concept of feminine beauty, grace and charm.

Images of lust conjure up in the minds of young men and old men too, and preferences seem to be greatly different. Men, especially when in a group, "critically" rate the women under their purview on a scale of 10. I have known places where they have great means of referring to the women in question and consideration. For e.g. say 3 o'clock can be given a CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) of 6. The other would say, "Oh! Come on. She deserves more." Guess, this is a routine in the life of an average male. That is the irony of it all. The average male passes critical reviews on the beauty of women, totally unconscious of his lack of masculine beauty or handsomeness.

Can everyone be a diva or a madonna or the perfect epitome of a well-chiselled sculpture? What about the less fortunate ones. Does beauty translate to the plane of materialism where it boils down to just the physical structure. What about the inner beauty which when rightly appreciated would overwhelm the most stoic of a person himself? Sadly, with so much emphasis being placed on the physical beauty, women strive their best to uphold the norms of the masculine society. Women less endowed would be wrongly judged and would have to live with that inferiority complex for ever.

But then, are the women less beautiful in the eyes of the cruel world really not happy? Are they single. Don't they find their someone somewhere? The only thought that comes to my mind is the poem about Laila and Majnu, that has been beautifully captured with words by Rumi.

A gist of it is this.

Caliph : Laila, What did Majnu see in you? You are just like any other ordinary woman.

Laila : In the eyes of Majnu, I am the most beautiful woman; and your eyes are simply not his.

It is time, we as men, learnt to reach out towards the inner beauty in a person. I guess the same applies to women too. The inner beauty is neither feminine nor masculine. It is something, which, both men and women possess; and which remains pregnant most of the time within the person. It gives birth when the doors of the impregnable fortress, read the soul, open through the means of connectivity, with an another soul.

PS: This article is on women from the point of view of men. I do not know about the other side's opinions on men.

PS2: Lastly, this article is dedicated to my friend, (let it be anon.), who triggered it all off today, with his seemingly innocuous comment mentioned earlier on.

PS3: The previous thread on beauty of a different kind is also beautiful in its own sweet way.

Money (Revisited)....

More at the micro level of the self. The reader can refer to an earlier post for the author's views on the same at the macro level.

Does possession of money necessarily translate towards a paradigm shift where in a luxury becomes a necessity. Is it a case of "sour grapes" for the "lesser fortunate" souls who do not have money. Is man (for that matter, an woman) ever contented with the money he/she has. Is it wrong to be a materialist. Is it worth spending vulgarly on those "necessities" when a definite change can be brought about in an another's life. Who are we to help others - are we breeding parasites?

Opinions on these confounding questions are more than welcome.

F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Most people know you for what you seem to be. Few know as to who you really are.

Why do we need friends? In most cases, they come into our lives, become dangerously close only to diverge. I am talking of divergence in the form of physical separation. There is a more unfortunate case of divergence, when friends part not as friends, but strangers. I would like to talk of the first scenario. I will talk about the case of dissonance and mutual severing of the relationship later on.

The world is full of people. Most times, bystanders, acquaintances and friends, serve as omens to provide us with valuable lessons of the world. At times, the lessons are only too bitter and bring forth betrayal, treachery and unhappiness. There are times, when the friendship is so so beautiful that there is amazing connectivity and resonance. Such friendships are rare to come by. Hurt is a part and parcel of this process of seeking friends. However, the soul is always on the lookout for another soul that would match it beautifully. The fear of hurt is always lurking in the corner of the mind or in the heart.

First of all, why do we have friends when we all know that we would be parting ways sooner or later, hopefully as friends. Separation and farewells are difficult but inevitable. Why do those few people who know you really really well later on turn to those strangers who not know you that well? They cannot be blamed; because a person keeps changing with the hope that the change is for the better.

Is it a difficult thing to do - being friends for life. I truly do not know. I guess that feeling needs to be mutual. As is important in any relationship - as long as there is mutual respect and love, the friendship should stand the tests of time. The only "sane" way at looking at the bigger scheme of things - We encounter so many people in our lives - as bystanders, acquaintances, friends, best friends, etc.; maybe more so to appreciate the "right" ones that come along.

PS: As a rejoinder, even the serial F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is no more so. Sadly, all beautiful things do come to an end. This really gives me the shivers. Or is it that one beautiful thing leads to another beautiful thing? I truly do not know. I would really appreciate your opinions on this bewildering topic. I must admit that this is one of the most incoherent pieces written by me. Kindly excuse that.

PS2: This blog is dedicated to all the people in my life, who have provided me with lessons. Each and every experience with another individual has brought forth its own share of joys and sorrows.