The Bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki....

Please do not be surprised with this seeping in of a post with heavy political overtones. The thought for this post came up after a discussion over lunch with my American colleagues.

Imagine this.

You are a young child, say a teenager. You have a debate at school. You are asked to defend the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki on a purely rational basis. What would you do?

Having been brought up in India, this same topic would have assumed an altogether different angle. What makes it harder for the American children, is their need to justify the savage act of their previous generations. The war reached such horrendous proportions, that at that point of time, hurting the enemy in any manner was an acceptable solution.

How would a German justify what the Nazi's did to the Jews. How would a Spaniard/Portuguese justify the horrendous acts of his/her forefathers with the rape of Latin America. How would a Japanese justify the rape of China? How would one justify the aftermath of the Partition of India? How would one justify the slavery and harsh treatment meted out towards Africa? Infact, how can anyone justify the acts of the imperialists, dictators and terrorists?

Well, no justifications, whatsoever. Have you ever thought of this? The world has never been peaceful. There has always been a simmer of discontent, violence and war. It is no different now from what it had been all this while.

We need to find that peace and harmony amidst all chaos.

The Importance of Sinning....

How does one know what to avoid without getting burnt once?

From the lust, dawns the love.

From laziness, comes the dynamism.

From the profane, comes the sacred.

From the cynic, comes the sensitive soul.

From the rejection of the self, comes the acceptance of the self.

From the base metals, comes the gold.

From the pain, comes the ecstacy.

From the impure, comes the pure.

From the sin, emerges the virtue.

The circle of life - a complete circle.

PS: Getting burnt is a process in itself.

One need not stop with just one experience.

Not all experiences are the same.

We just get cooked better the next time.

Bournvita....

White....

The definition of pure white.

The play of colors - snow with the dark wood.

The game of hide and seek.

A beautiful day in paradise.

A fairy tale.

Madras...

The city you might very well fall in love with. Nothing spectacular about the city. Yet, charmingly seductive in every possible manner. If you hate it, please do re-consider your decision. Everything in the world deserves a second chance.

Elliot's beach, Kapaleeswar Temple, Parrys Corner, Saravana Bhawan, Adyar Ananda Bhawan, Spencers, Mount Road, Gemini, L.S.S., PTC, 29C, Landmark, December Season, P S Senior, Luz Corner, Ranganathan Street, Nalli's, Marina Beach, TTK Road, Music Academy, LB Road, Adyar Signal, Cooum, Murugan Lending Library, Valluvar Kottam, IIT Madras, Raj Bhawan, Sathyam Theater, Vijaya Stores, Madras Central, Kalakshetra, East Mada Street, Marundeeswar Temple, Thiruvanmiyur, "1 Express", Velachery, Tidel Park, Egmore, Cancer Institute, ICF, Avadi, Ambattur Industrial Estate, Guindy, Tambaram, Alaipayuthey, Electric trains, Adyar Bakery, Madisar Mami, Iyer, Iyengar, Street Cricket, Chepauk, India vs. Pakistan, Light house, Mahabalipuram, Nanganallur, Sapthagiri Express, Trisulam, Meenambakkam, Nungambakkam, ATP Gold Flake Open, Palimar, Traffic Jams, Theosophical Society, Banyan Tree, Narada Gana Sabha, Summer Season, Kancheepuram Sarees, Jasmine flowers, Two leaves, Rising Sun, Dravidan Politics, TN Express, Stella Maris, Madras Book Fair, Pori, Kadalai, Veg. Puffs, Coaching Classes, Masilamani Street, KSR, Santhanam, Govi, Balsu, TRS, DOTE, Aavin Park, Sathya Studio, Ranga Road, Rex Fashions, Krishna Cafe, Narasu's Coffee, Leo Coffee House, Sangeetha's, Water Lorries, Telugu Ganga Project, "Hot, Hotter, Hottest", Cyclones, and what not.

The lonely crusader....

We are all alone in this journey called life, seeking answers to our very own questions. At times the questions themselves change. However, the answers are never the same at any point of time. Every person's experiences are unique and each face has a story to tell worthy of respect. No matter what the connectivity is between two souls, it is indeed difficult to share happiness and pain of a person. No one can truly share both of them. A harsh statement but perfectly true in almost every sense.

Important people at times cause hurt in our lives because of this very expectation from them - that they can and should share our happiness and pain. Deep down, that expectation is there. It is best not to expect anything from anyone; no matter how special or important they might be in our lives. I suppose this approach would work out the healthiest in all relationships - be it between mother and son, father and daughter, sister and brother, friend and a friend, soulmates(?), husband and wife, and what not.

Solitude becomes the most cherished, and yet painful possession for all of us. Yes, we are all alone! Our experiences are limited and what the important people in our lives can do for us is also limited. The same holds for what we can do for them. However, the joy of living is a blessing, and it is our foremost and the most important reason for existence. This is not being selfish. If we are happy, people in our lives are also happy. As Paulo says in his book, "By the River Piedra, I sat down and wept",

"Joy is sometimes a blessing, but it is often a conquest. Our magic moment helps us to change and send us off in search of our dreams. Yes, we are going to suffer, we will have difficult times, and we will experience many disappointments - but all of this is transitory; it leaves no permanent remark. And one day we will look back with pride and faith at the journey we have taken."