Below is an excerpt from a letter written years back by my friend Manita Deo describing the place she was in love with and this is probably the best letter written by a 12 year old!
Manita wrote-“The Farakka I knew will always be like this:- When you get down the station from the train that is always late, you take a rickshaw and go down the ‘peeche-wali-road’ through the outskirts of the market and onto the bank of the canal. The morning dew and the river send down such an intoxicating perfume that so many of the fishermen (whose boats have been tied at the pier) take for granted. The tall eucalyptus trees line the road and there’s a hint of the barrage road on the other side of the river...It’s monsoon now and the river’s flooded and the roads have been eaten away. You go out, have a blast in the rain and you feel the temptation of the smell of rain on the brown and the green earth got the better of you!....You come to the 1st gate of field hostel and come to the ‘ghat’ and eat ‘gol-gappas’ like maniacs!..I miss those days!....”
I chose to start this post with her description because whatever metaphors I use, however hard I try, I won’t be able to match the innocence of her description.
So this is the place I belong to and owe myself to! The place where my father was posted and I spent 18 best years of life right from the day when I cried for the first time! Farakka isn’t exactly heaven but it’s greenery and the mesmerizing Ganges banks with it’s pleasant winds make you feel that heaven can’t be any better! Your soul is fed with the free flowing warmth of nature that you always crave for!
Not just this it’s the place to be if you are a ‘fishy’ person! You get endless varieties of fresh fish and it’s proximity to Bangladesh certainly helps you to find the best hilsas. Mango groves in and around this place are as much an eye-candy as they are a delight to your tongue each time you are captured in it’s spell.
The people here are warm and courteous and blame it all on the nature which has cast it’s spell. True that it doesn’t have CCDs or Baristas nor its own Pizza Hut but if walk into any of it’s innumerable parks or playgrounds you will know what it’s like to spend time with your friends beneath the sky free from all the artificial rules of sophistication that the society imposes!
Late at night when you go out for a walk near the canal you actually hear the sound of silence amongst the rumblings of the water waves which try to reach out to you and get lost as they hit the banks! There can be no better way to rediscover yourself. Isn’t it?
It’s been three very long years I haven’t been there and I don’t know when I’ll be there again. But even though my friends say I left the place believe me I haven’t left it! I simply cant!
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Sorryfied!!
It’s not another inspiration from ‘How I met your mother’s Barney to add another self invented word to the dictionary! It is not another title just to catch your attention (Well maybe!). But this is only meant to salute this phenomenon which is driving today’s world. You differ? Check this-
Manmohan Singh said SORRY and apologized to the entire nation for 1984 Sikh riots. That move helped to douse the rapidly growing fire amongst the Sikhs after the ‘Jagdish Tytler’ court rulings. So it worked!
Karan Johar said SORRY to MNS and his film got timely publicity and was allowed to release in Maharashtra. In the same way the audience has still not forgiven Ram Gopal Verma and his movies are going down the drain as he is yet to say sorry for ‘ RGV ke Sholay’.
Thierry Henry said sorry to all football fans for his ‘hand-of-God’ goal and most fans stood up for him saying he is a modern day great (I mean except Irish fans).
So it seems more likely that if you genuinely feel that you need to say ‘sorry’ and you do, it works. But that’s not the case always. For example Andre Agassi saying sorry to his fans recently for using performance enhancing drugs during his playing days and his image taking a major beating! Something is clear that this word is a vital weapon to win a losing battle (if that is what your intention is) but not always!
Let me take myself into account. On an average I keep saying 4-5 sorrys every time I’m in a public transport for all the unwarranted and unintended collisions. In personal life I’m a sort of ‘sorry’ person as I use it extensively. But to tell you the truth even though the sorrys don’t exhaust its effect does! Sometimes your sorrys are really taken for granted even though you might have really meant it. Used to happen with me in school as a kid each time I was involved in flouting norms of discipline!
The feelings associated with this word are primarily of despair, anger or emptiness (before you use the word) and the reactions are not always as portrayed in the sweet Vodafone ads! The reactions vary from complete forgiveness and admiration to the commencement of the ‘forgiveness-cycle’ to complete disrespect towards the person using the word. More often than not it works in the beginning and loses its steam after a few hits. So the order of the day is to use it well and with judiciousness so that the desired effect remains!
Now to use it or not to use it is completely on you! Even though my geography teacher would say, “Sorry is the world’s cheapest word”, I would only say that the feelings associated with the person saying it isn’t necessarily cheap!
So stop thinking friends just say it before it’s too late but remember like Ganguly ‘time it well!’.
Manmohan Singh said SORRY and apologized to the entire nation for 1984 Sikh riots. That move helped to douse the rapidly growing fire amongst the Sikhs after the ‘Jagdish Tytler’ court rulings. So it worked!
Karan Johar said SORRY to MNS and his film got timely publicity and was allowed to release in Maharashtra. In the same way the audience has still not forgiven Ram Gopal Verma and his movies are going down the drain as he is yet to say sorry for ‘ RGV ke Sholay’.
Thierry Henry said sorry to all football fans for his ‘hand-of-God’ goal and most fans stood up for him saying he is a modern day great (I mean except Irish fans).
So it seems more likely that if you genuinely feel that you need to say ‘sorry’ and you do, it works. But that’s not the case always. For example Andre Agassi saying sorry to his fans recently for using performance enhancing drugs during his playing days and his image taking a major beating! Something is clear that this word is a vital weapon to win a losing battle (if that is what your intention is) but not always!
Let me take myself into account. On an average I keep saying 4-5 sorrys every time I’m in a public transport for all the unwarranted and unintended collisions. In personal life I’m a sort of ‘sorry’ person as I use it extensively. But to tell you the truth even though the sorrys don’t exhaust its effect does! Sometimes your sorrys are really taken for granted even though you might have really meant it. Used to happen with me in school as a kid each time I was involved in flouting norms of discipline!
The feelings associated with this word are primarily of despair, anger or emptiness (before you use the word) and the reactions are not always as portrayed in the sweet Vodafone ads! The reactions vary from complete forgiveness and admiration to the commencement of the ‘forgiveness-cycle’ to complete disrespect towards the person using the word. More often than not it works in the beginning and loses its steam after a few hits. So the order of the day is to use it well and with judiciousness so that the desired effect remains!
Now to use it or not to use it is completely on you! Even though my geography teacher would say, “Sorry is the world’s cheapest word”, I would only say that the feelings associated with the person saying it isn’t necessarily cheap!
So stop thinking friends just say it before it’s too late but remember like Ganguly ‘time it well!’.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Love Autopsy!
I was searching for poems on broken hearts (Don't ask me why) and it led to an astonishing more than three-hundred thousand results. Well this leads to my second post-Love Autopsy!
There were poems, heartfelt ones (though some were terrible) and most of them reflected nothing but jumbled words. They truly portrayed their state of mind and I could only wish that the poems were written some time later. But what is it that drives someone to such a state? What is it that makes someone believe that he has lost everything in this world? ‘LOVE?’.. Give me a break! Does such a thing exist? Or is it just another un-Platonic thing? So let’s start what I intended to do in the first place-Autopsy!
I had discussions and that to serious ones with people deep into this so called ‘Love’ (I’m glad you noticed that I keep myself out of this post!). All had one thing to say in common- ‘IT HURTS!!’ -cliché way of saying-which is so typical of the diseased! Now when this ends (which on an average occurs thrice a week, with the same person of course!) you see darkness looming everywhere! People say they can’t let it go! And it seems like there is no reason to smile.
It takes only a few skipped meals, a few mornings without a shave (I guess it would be lesser make-up for the fairer sex!) and a specialized attire and there you go-‘THE BREAK-UP LOOK!’ ..’I’m so sorry!’.’It will be alright!’.’Don’t worry!’.etc etc. You are bombarded with such words. Maybe that’s what you sought! But hello! U r just single and NOT SICK! And maybe that too for a few never-to-be-remembered moments!
Was that harsh? But yeah I have strong objections to anyone calling my observations practical! That’s a strict no-no in matters pertaining to your heart (even I agree!).
So why do you feel so? Is it because he/she mattered to you the most and you are scared that he/she might end up with the wrong person? Is it because you are the reason for his/her smile and it is something you fear would be extinct? Or is it because you had to hear those harsh words come out of the same soul that was so fond of you? Is it because she refuses to leave you when you are alone straying through your mind and knocking the doors of your heart?
For me it would be because you probably spent the best moments of your life already with that person! Now think for a moment. Think about all the sweet moments in your life! How many of them can you remember 10? 20? 30? No definitely not 30. You can see for yourself that the same person features in most of them. And what do you recollect? Probably the first time you held his/her hand! Or the first time you bent on your knees and spent the most anxious moments of your life? Maybe when you saw the first smile in his/her and the smile said it all..
The moments like these scare your heart. Your heart forces you to believe that such moments might never come again! Well that is why you are scared. You are not crying because of these moments but it is because of these moments that you are crying!
So it goes on. Time goes on and who knows you make a stunning comeback into the same person’s heart or some-one else’s. Yah you heard me right! Some-one else’s because as it is famously said
You can sweep any girl of her feet but all you need is the right broom!!!
There were poems, heartfelt ones (though some were terrible) and most of them reflected nothing but jumbled words. They truly portrayed their state of mind and I could only wish that the poems were written some time later. But what is it that drives someone to such a state? What is it that makes someone believe that he has lost everything in this world? ‘LOVE?’.. Give me a break! Does such a thing exist? Or is it just another un-Platonic thing? So let’s start what I intended to do in the first place-Autopsy!
I had discussions and that to serious ones with people deep into this so called ‘Love’ (I’m glad you noticed that I keep myself out of this post!). All had one thing to say in common- ‘IT HURTS!!’ -cliché way of saying-which is so typical of the diseased! Now when this ends (which on an average occurs thrice a week, with the same person of course!) you see darkness looming everywhere! People say they can’t let it go! And it seems like there is no reason to smile.
It takes only a few skipped meals, a few mornings without a shave (I guess it would be lesser make-up for the fairer sex!) and a specialized attire and there you go-‘THE BREAK-UP LOOK!’ ..’I’m so sorry!’.’It will be alright!’.’Don’t worry!’.etc etc. You are bombarded with such words. Maybe that’s what you sought! But hello! U r just single and NOT SICK! And maybe that too for a few never-to-be-remembered moments!
Was that harsh? But yeah I have strong objections to anyone calling my observations practical! That’s a strict no-no in matters pertaining to your heart (even I agree!).
So why do you feel so? Is it because he/she mattered to you the most and you are scared that he/she might end up with the wrong person? Is it because you are the reason for his/her smile and it is something you fear would be extinct? Or is it because you had to hear those harsh words come out of the same soul that was so fond of you? Is it because she refuses to leave you when you are alone straying through your mind and knocking the doors of your heart?
For me it would be because you probably spent the best moments of your life already with that person! Now think for a moment. Think about all the sweet moments in your life! How many of them can you remember 10? 20? 30? No definitely not 30. You can see for yourself that the same person features in most of them. And what do you recollect? Probably the first time you held his/her hand! Or the first time you bent on your knees and spent the most anxious moments of your life? Maybe when you saw the first smile in his/her and the smile said it all..
The moments like these scare your heart. Your heart forces you to believe that such moments might never come again! Well that is why you are scared. You are not crying because of these moments but it is because of these moments that you are crying!
So it goes on. Time goes on and who knows you make a stunning comeback into the same person’s heart or some-one else’s. Yah you heard me right! Some-one else’s because as it is famously said
You can sweep any girl of her feet but all you need is the right broom!!!
Rise again!
So here I’m utterly confused how to start!! I spent around an hour only to decide if the name goes in tune with the things I wanted to share through this blog! It’s not that I am fully convinced that I would do enough justice to the plight of this legendary bird but I’m sure I’ll plead his case like a ‘ DEVIL’S ADVOCATE ’(A title which I contemplated for this blog for a few minutes before an outright rejection).
Trust me, this bird has healing powers and no I’m not stating what happened to Harry Potter only. How many times have you yourself been cured and healed of your wounds by someone whose tears indeed have had healing powers? None ? Huh! So true...Now check this- Have you ever been able to heal a person’s wounds just by being yourself? Now to that it’s a sure ‘YES’. If not sure-shot but deep down inside you do feel it has to be a ‘YES’…
Now the earlier paragraph wasn’t intended to show that we humans are mean or frivolous but only to say that we may not be immortal but we are that Phoenix which takes pride in itself, which takes pride in its tears even before the tear drops fall into the wounds let alone cure. A phoenix the Greeks won’t be so proud of...
Don’t be demoralized! There are some stories you might find interesting!
Take my friend who was literally torn into pieces by his favorite professor in a technical viva (because he couldn’t answer a few questions even though he had good grades!) and told that he is disgrace to his parents and his university only to top in the very next semester. Well trust me this professor was crying during the viva and his teardrops fell exactly at the place he intended. When I shared this with my friend he denied it only to convince me that I was so correct.
But don’t forget this friend who rose from ashes! Guess who the real Phoenix is! One who rises again or one who heals?
America was established in 1776, a year that adds to a '21', to begin her national life, at the conclusion of which she was to physically return to ashes. Out of these ashes the new Phoenix was to arise, producing the final form of government, the global New World Order. And with all due respect to world’s oldest democracy I don’t see this new world order!!
So where did it all go wrong?
Now we are humans!!’To err is human’. If your sole motive was to be reborn again, I’m sorry but you won’t be a phoenix ever. If your sole motive is to burn yourself like the lamp only to provide light to others, you will need some help to re-ignite you and you can’t be a phoenix because it rises from itself and by itself. So what to do?
All we need is a simple diagnosis of what we intend to do! It’s imperative that you want to be a ‘Phoenix’. Now don’t think otherwise! I can read your mind and it is a valid assumption. So don’t ever let the phoenix inside you crucify! This life is conspiring for decades to do so. All you can do is be ready to let your tears flow whenever demanded. Yes you will die but why now? Please note that it takes some time to be born again as a Phoenix!
Maybe I went wrong! But don’t worry this ‘Phoenix’ will rise again..
Trust me, this bird has healing powers and no I’m not stating what happened to Harry Potter only. How many times have you yourself been cured and healed of your wounds by someone whose tears indeed have had healing powers? None ? Huh! So true...Now check this- Have you ever been able to heal a person’s wounds just by being yourself? Now to that it’s a sure ‘YES’. If not sure-shot but deep down inside you do feel it has to be a ‘YES’…
Now the earlier paragraph wasn’t intended to show that we humans are mean or frivolous but only to say that we may not be immortal but we are that Phoenix which takes pride in itself, which takes pride in its tears even before the tear drops fall into the wounds let alone cure. A phoenix the Greeks won’t be so proud of...
Don’t be demoralized! There are some stories you might find interesting!
Take my friend who was literally torn into pieces by his favorite professor in a technical viva (because he couldn’t answer a few questions even though he had good grades!) and told that he is disgrace to his parents and his university only to top in the very next semester. Well trust me this professor was crying during the viva and his teardrops fell exactly at the place he intended. When I shared this with my friend he denied it only to convince me that I was so correct.
But don’t forget this friend who rose from ashes! Guess who the real Phoenix is! One who rises again or one who heals?
America was established in 1776, a year that adds to a '21', to begin her national life, at the conclusion of which she was to physically return to ashes. Out of these ashes the new Phoenix was to arise, producing the final form of government, the global New World Order. And with all due respect to world’s oldest democracy I don’t see this new world order!!
So where did it all go wrong?
Now we are humans!!’To err is human’. If your sole motive was to be reborn again, I’m sorry but you won’t be a phoenix ever. If your sole motive is to burn yourself like the lamp only to provide light to others, you will need some help to re-ignite you and you can’t be a phoenix because it rises from itself and by itself. So what to do?
All we need is a simple diagnosis of what we intend to do! It’s imperative that you want to be a ‘Phoenix’. Now don’t think otherwise! I can read your mind and it is a valid assumption. So don’t ever let the phoenix inside you crucify! This life is conspiring for decades to do so. All you can do is be ready to let your tears flow whenever demanded. Yes you will die but why now? Please note that it takes some time to be born again as a Phoenix!
Maybe I went wrong! But don’t worry this ‘Phoenix’ will rise again..
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