Well well well! This is the 75th post of my blog. As always on special milestones, I would write today on something which I have done for the first time in my life – a Karaoke Concert, here in GE campus. For beginners, Karaoke is an event where the original track of a song is played in a music system on stage, and the singer has to fill in the song itself into the track. The lyrics of the song are displayed on a big screen as it is being sung.
For the past two weeks or so, as part of our decennial celebrations here, we have been organizing various events in our campus. The Karaoke Concert was also one of the many events that are taking place. Till today morning I did not even know when the concert was supposed to be held. Suddenly at 10.45 am an email arrived saying that people who are still interested in taking part in the competition may get themselves registered latest by 4 pm. The registered candidates would be subjected to auditions and the final round of singing would start at 6 pm. They had also sent a list of about 250 songs, whose tracks were available and among which we had to choose one.
I went for registration at 3.55 pm and I was the last entry. I was confident about passing through the auditions, and I did so. They selected 16 people for the final round of performance. I had the privilege of choosing a solo number for myself, as some people were also selected for a group song. I preferred a solo number from the movie Gangster.
As I walked on stage at my turn, I was waiting for a totally new experience. I have never sung a song with an original soundtrack before, but always wanted to do so. So this was very special indeed. The lyrics kept floating up, but I hardly required them while singing. Luckily for me, I managed to integrate the lines well in between the interludes and the preludes. The song went well.
We were having the event in our open-air Amphitheatre, and it was unfortunate at the end that rain played spoilsport. We had to abandon the concert before finishing all participants and the results could also not be declared hence. That would have been an ideal culmination of such a wonderful and eventful day. However, it was an experience worth cherishing.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Sobbing of women after marriage day, an unanswered question..
One aspect that has always intrigued me throughout is the fact that almost all women sob heavily when they leave their paternal house a day after the marriage ceremony gets over. This is even more astonishing in case of love marriages.
It was perfectly logical for the bride to cry in the good old days, when they were married off as teenagers to elderly people. In those times, there were hardly any love marriages. Even in arranged marriages, the prospective bride and the groom never saw each other before marriage, forget talking to each other, which has become commonplace today. In effect, the poor girl was marrying an unknown person, and embarking upon an unknown destiny in an unknown household. She had every reason to cry for her parents when she would leave them forever.
Now, in an era of women liberation, where half of the marriages are based on choice of the couples than that of the families, and also in an era when the prospective couple spend so much time together before marriage getting to know each other, such acts of sobbing by women on leaving their parents makes no sense to me. The fact is that even in arranged marriages, the would-be bride and the groom start loving each other before the marriage actually happens. So why does she cry when she is about to be with her dream partner forever? Is it because her parents cry in front of her? Or is it something spurious just for the sake of attracting attention?
I have asked this question to many women, including my mother. They opine that the girl is aggrieved by the fact that she is leaving her parents forever. Well, in today’s world of nuclear families, even males stay away from their parents. They don’t cry on leaving their home for a job or studies, do they? At least I did not.
In fact, I feel that such acts put the groom in an awkward situation if the entire family of the bride start sobbing heavily just before he is about to part with his wife. A feeling of guilt engulfs him, when he feels as if he is inflicting capital damage on an innocent family.
It was perfectly logical for the bride to cry in the good old days, when they were married off as teenagers to elderly people. In those times, there were hardly any love marriages. Even in arranged marriages, the prospective bride and the groom never saw each other before marriage, forget talking to each other, which has become commonplace today. In effect, the poor girl was marrying an unknown person, and embarking upon an unknown destiny in an unknown household. She had every reason to cry for her parents when she would leave them forever.
Now, in an era of women liberation, where half of the marriages are based on choice of the couples than that of the families, and also in an era when the prospective couple spend so much time together before marriage getting to know each other, such acts of sobbing by women on leaving their parents makes no sense to me. The fact is that even in arranged marriages, the would-be bride and the groom start loving each other before the marriage actually happens. So why does she cry when she is about to be with her dream partner forever? Is it because her parents cry in front of her? Or is it something spurious just for the sake of attracting attention?
I have asked this question to many women, including my mother. They opine that the girl is aggrieved by the fact that she is leaving her parents forever. Well, in today’s world of nuclear families, even males stay away from their parents. They don’t cry on leaving their home for a job or studies, do they? At least I did not.
In fact, I feel that such acts put the groom in an awkward situation if the entire family of the bride start sobbing heavily just before he is about to part with his wife. A feeling of guilt engulfs him, when he feels as if he is inflicting capital damage on an innocent family.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Humility is a very difficult virtue to possess…
Learning to be humble is of paramount importance in most religions and spiritual traditions, and humility can also help you develop as a person and enjoy richer relationships with others. In reality, however, perhaps the hardest of our natural passions that we can subdue is pride. Disguise it, struggle with it, beat it down, stifle it, mortify it as much as you please, it is still alive, and will every now and then peep out and show itself.
Even then we can definitely strive towards achieving humility. Being humble doesn't mean you can't feel good about yourself. Self-esteem is not the same as pride. Both come from a recognition of your own talents and qualities, but arrogant pride, is rooted in insecurity about yourself. It is imperative to understand your limitations and to always remember the fact that there is always somebody who is better than you, in whatever skill that may be. Another aspect that we find to be very difficult is trying to stop judging others before finding our own faults.
Letting go of meaningless, simplistic comparisons with others will definitely make us enjoy doing things without worrying about whether we are better or worse than others. This would make us humble, as that would bring peace of mind. Praising others for their special qualities, as I had written about in one of my earlier posts, also enhances humility. Rejuvenating your sense of wonder, just like children, and having the curiosity so that you can be keen observers and capable learners also makes you humble. Helping others in every way possible, seeking guidance from people around you and gentleness are, of course, cornerstones of any humble person.
Having said all this, I still maintain that humility is always the toughest virtue to possess. For even if you could conceive that you have completely overcome pride, you would probably be proud of your humility. This is especially true when we live in a society that encourages competition and individuality.
Even then we can definitely strive towards achieving humility. Being humble doesn't mean you can't feel good about yourself. Self-esteem is not the same as pride. Both come from a recognition of your own talents and qualities, but arrogant pride, is rooted in insecurity about yourself. It is imperative to understand your limitations and to always remember the fact that there is always somebody who is better than you, in whatever skill that may be. Another aspect that we find to be very difficult is trying to stop judging others before finding our own faults.
Letting go of meaningless, simplistic comparisons with others will definitely make us enjoy doing things without worrying about whether we are better or worse than others. This would make us humble, as that would bring peace of mind. Praising others for their special qualities, as I had written about in one of my earlier posts, also enhances humility. Rejuvenating your sense of wonder, just like children, and having the curiosity so that you can be keen observers and capable learners also makes you humble. Helping others in every way possible, seeking guidance from people around you and gentleness are, of course, cornerstones of any humble person.
Having said all this, I still maintain that humility is always the toughest virtue to possess. For even if you could conceive that you have completely overcome pride, you would probably be proud of your humility. This is especially true when we live in a society that encourages competition and individuality.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Ensure a smooth ride of life with Lord Ganesha…..
Ganesha Chaturthi is an extremely prevalent festival throughout India, and Lord Ganesha, having the head of an elephant and an endearing round belly, is also a favourite idol among all sections of Indian society.
Today, the 11th of September, is being celebrated as Bhadrapada Ganesha Chaturthi which is supposed to be the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The lord is seen as Vighna Vinashaka, the Remover of Obstacles, and is always invoked before embarking on any new venture. The legend also goes that if you look at the moon on Chaturthi nights like today, you would invite false charges against yourselves. This is because Lord Ganesha is said to have cursed Chandra (the moon) as she had once teased Vinayaka over His peculiar form.
To me, there is an innocence and naughtiness about the face of Lord Ganesha. He is like a cherub, who you feel like pampering like anything, but also somebody who you can cry your mind out to. Some pictures which depict a baby Ganesha on the lap of Parvati with Lord Shiva standing alongside, is also very cute indeed. To me he sometimes elicits a similar expression as Bal Gopala. An obsequious bow before him, just before you leave for work everyday, gives you the confidence that you can gallop past any obstacle that is in store for you that day.
Today, the 11th of September, is being celebrated as Bhadrapada Ganesha Chaturthi which is supposed to be the birthday of Lord Ganesha. The lord is seen as Vighna Vinashaka, the Remover of Obstacles, and is always invoked before embarking on any new venture. The legend also goes that if you look at the moon on Chaturthi nights like today, you would invite false charges against yourselves. This is because Lord Ganesha is said to have cursed Chandra (the moon) as she had once teased Vinayaka over His peculiar form.
To me, there is an innocence and naughtiness about the face of Lord Ganesha. He is like a cherub, who you feel like pampering like anything, but also somebody who you can cry your mind out to. Some pictures which depict a baby Ganesha on the lap of Parvati with Lord Shiva standing alongside, is also very cute indeed. To me he sometimes elicits a similar expression as Bal Gopala. An obsequious bow before him, just before you leave for work everyday, gives you the confidence that you can gallop past any obstacle that is in store for you that day.
The message of Eid should eradicate radicalism…
Ramzan, or Ramadan, the Islamic holy month was when the Holy Quran was revealed to the prophet. Eid-Ul-Fitr, which is the culmination of this month-long fasting, celebrates the revelation of the Quran. It is believed that this revelation occurred on the 27th night of the month of Ramzan. Muslims pray throughout this Night of Power and they are advised to seek forgiveness and also ask for what they desire.
The month long fasting is not only about not having food from dawn to dusk, but also entails sexual abstinence, refraining from quarrels, lies and entertainment, and staying away from war and other forms of inflicting violence on humanity. These manifestations of renunciation is said to cleanse one’s soul, teaches patience and humility and ensures that man is not a slave to his desires.
Today is the 11th of Sepetember, the infamous 9/11, memories of which still sends shivers down the spine of many around the world. It is highly symbolic that Eid-Ul-Fitr is also being celebrated on this day this year. Will the message of tolerance spread across the victimised and the accused alike? Yesterday, a Christian priest in the USA had also threatened to burn the Quran in protest against 9/11 attacks. Will he oblige or relent?
In the month of Ramzan, Kashmir is burning; Pakistan’s cricketers have been caught in match fixing allegations and Palestine is attacking Israel. People who fight in the name of religion should sit down and scan through their holy books sooner rather than later. If they understand and implement the message of sacred months like that of the Ramzan, we would surely have a world which would be free of all radicalism, revenge and greed.
The month long fasting is not only about not having food from dawn to dusk, but also entails sexual abstinence, refraining from quarrels, lies and entertainment, and staying away from war and other forms of inflicting violence on humanity. These manifestations of renunciation is said to cleanse one’s soul, teaches patience and humility and ensures that man is not a slave to his desires.
Today is the 11th of Sepetember, the infamous 9/11, memories of which still sends shivers down the spine of many around the world. It is highly symbolic that Eid-Ul-Fitr is also being celebrated on this day this year. Will the message of tolerance spread across the victimised and the accused alike? Yesterday, a Christian priest in the USA had also threatened to burn the Quran in protest against 9/11 attacks. Will he oblige or relent?
In the month of Ramzan, Kashmir is burning; Pakistan’s cricketers have been caught in match fixing allegations and Palestine is attacking Israel. People who fight in the name of religion should sit down and scan through their holy books sooner rather than later. If they understand and implement the message of sacred months like that of the Ramzan, we would surely have a world which would be free of all radicalism, revenge and greed.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
The average Indian male has learnt to look good…..
There used to be a time, not so long ago, when attractive Indian actresses fell for foreign male cricketers. Neena Gupta for Vivian Richards and Anju Mahendroo for Sir Garfield Sobers are burning examples. There were several Indian starlets who used to fantasize about Imran Khan. Wasim Akram, even at 44, manages to set hearts aflutter, as Sushmita Sen might well have found out how.
In the years gone by however, the average Indian male has lacked sheer physical appeal, botched up their looks and has been convincingly eclipsed by his ravishing female counterpart. That is why you might not have seen any foreign starlet bowled over by the looks of any Indian male. People attribute the lack of good looks to bad grooming. Detestable habits like letting yellow nails grow, picking their nose in public, eating noisily, talking loudly over phone, and lack of chivalry summed up the Indian male of yesteryears. They used to be blinded by smugness and incorrigible self-love.
In the last decade or so, things have changed dramatically however. The average Indian male is much more serious about grooming, fitness, skin and his good looks overall. I have witnessed young men in their late 20s applying face wash gels after they come back from work, trimming their nails and hair regularly, looking sober in dress codes and using mouth wash gels after meals. I do not think this was prevalent even 15 years back. Even middle to old aged people try their best to protract their good looks over a longer time span. However, one fact has survived the test of generations of the ugly looking Indian Male, and holds even today. Despite the way they look, Indian men have mostly been paired with beautiful looking women!
In the years gone by however, the average Indian male has lacked sheer physical appeal, botched up their looks and has been convincingly eclipsed by his ravishing female counterpart. That is why you might not have seen any foreign starlet bowled over by the looks of any Indian male. People attribute the lack of good looks to bad grooming. Detestable habits like letting yellow nails grow, picking their nose in public, eating noisily, talking loudly over phone, and lack of chivalry summed up the Indian male of yesteryears. They used to be blinded by smugness and incorrigible self-love.
In the last decade or so, things have changed dramatically however. The average Indian male is much more serious about grooming, fitness, skin and his good looks overall. I have witnessed young men in their late 20s applying face wash gels after they come back from work, trimming their nails and hair regularly, looking sober in dress codes and using mouth wash gels after meals. I do not think this was prevalent even 15 years back. Even middle to old aged people try their best to protract their good looks over a longer time span. However, one fact has survived the test of generations of the ugly looking Indian Male, and holds even today. Despite the way they look, Indian men have mostly been paired with beautiful looking women!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Understanding your most critical need….
It is far easier to understand the needs of others than yourself. The simple reason is we cannot observe our own behavioral patterns so scrupulously, which we can do for others whenever we want to. Most people including ourselves are so confused about what they want in life, the reason being they do not understand themselves or their inner desires.
People want money and hence happiness, those who get money want a nice wife, those who get both crave for social respect, then for a child who would top all exams throughout and the list goes on. There is no end to their “needs” but the true need remains unattended and elusive. People do not know how they would react in certain situations, they do not know what clothes they prefer to buy in a fashion store, they do not know how others are reacting to their behavior, they do not understand whether their style of talking is hurting others, and they do not know how they can improve themselves as individuals.
I feel that the most important component that any living being wants, even subconsciously, is PEACE OF MIND. Nobody realizes, but we strive for everything in life so that we can achieve it. We want to be the best in whatever we do, we want to win, we want to have a happy family, a nice high-paying job, a foreign trip every year, and the latest car model, eventually for the sake of peace. We want to pamper our ego at every possible opportunity just for attaining peace of mind. We fail to comprehend however that in doing so we tend to ignore our core requirement in life, focusing instead on the peripheral imperatives.
Without peace of mind, no happiness lasts long enough. It is not necessary also that possession of material wealth would bring peace of mind. I believe that once we start to live our lives to attain peace of mind, all other things will fall in place and none of us would demand for extraordinary pleasures in life. When I pray to God, I do not ask for promotions, a car, a flat or money. I ask God to bless me with peace of mind all my life, because I know that if I get peace, I would get all the other pleasures of life as a complimentary offer.
People want money and hence happiness, those who get money want a nice wife, those who get both crave for social respect, then for a child who would top all exams throughout and the list goes on. There is no end to their “needs” but the true need remains unattended and elusive. People do not know how they would react in certain situations, they do not know what clothes they prefer to buy in a fashion store, they do not know how others are reacting to their behavior, they do not understand whether their style of talking is hurting others, and they do not know how they can improve themselves as individuals.
I feel that the most important component that any living being wants, even subconsciously, is PEACE OF MIND. Nobody realizes, but we strive for everything in life so that we can achieve it. We want to be the best in whatever we do, we want to win, we want to have a happy family, a nice high-paying job, a foreign trip every year, and the latest car model, eventually for the sake of peace. We want to pamper our ego at every possible opportunity just for attaining peace of mind. We fail to comprehend however that in doing so we tend to ignore our core requirement in life, focusing instead on the peripheral imperatives.
Without peace of mind, no happiness lasts long enough. It is not necessary also that possession of material wealth would bring peace of mind. I believe that once we start to live our lives to attain peace of mind, all other things will fall in place and none of us would demand for extraordinary pleasures in life. When I pray to God, I do not ask for promotions, a car, a flat or money. I ask God to bless me with peace of mind all my life, because I know that if I get peace, I would get all the other pleasures of life as a complimentary offer.
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