The Indian economy is growing, so is the population, everything in this country is on an upward trend - for the good, people say-, and the market is a proof. The exploding urban scenario is here to stay. Glass castles called workspaces and neighborhoods that have become 30 storied apartments dot the landscape. Playgrounds and open spaces are a thing of the past, and no, I am not talking about 2100 or some alien planet, but the very places that we are living in.
As we walk in the streets today, we can see these simple realities surrounding us. Roads are overcrowded, buses eyeing for space where only a car can go, cars eyeing for space were only a bicycle can go, bikes on footpaths if there was one. I see children playing out in the roads as their places of play have been taken over. Morning walks can be accompanied with the whiff of stench from uncleared garbage as roads have become their residing ground, houses with boundary walls an artifact to be preserved.
The way we are hurtling forward, wars will not be fought over religions or boundaries, but over want of space to live. No wonder the outer space and the arctic seabeds have become the next focus of the so-called developed nations. Before its too late to be unwinded, let the creative spaces get to work to get the open spaces out in the open. Let there be more spaces created for the future generations to grow up.
Wednesday, 17 October 2007
Thursday, 11 October 2007
Life out in the fast lane
Well I am 26 years old, and I can write upto this very point. Grew up listening to the summer of 69 and the boy bands, playing cricket in the gullies of my neighborhood. From were I was to were I am today thoughts, images and memories crosses in those little times that I can spare now, like those by gone days only to be questioned for what we are today. Was it right or wrong?
Life has become like a countdown to the launch of a space shuttle. Time matters even to say hi to your loved ones to meeting deadlines. Everything has to be done within those limited period, as we humans keep on inventing newer machines to do our jobs, our lives have become more and more mechanical. We are always on the run, for the fear of loosing out or missing out on something, but in the process we have lost our contact with self. Not even finding time to reciprocate the love that people try to give and even to return the smile from the passing friend as though he was a stranger. Behind the unattainable glories that awaits in this mindless world we desire to live.
Are we going wrong some were, did we get lost in the transition from the childhood that we once cherished for the dreams that we desired for? More to do in lesser time with a just in time principle. Yes we have to work, we have to live a life, we have to earn, we have to give back to all those who cared, but is this out of a reason of so called necessity or is it for that we don’t have choice or is it for the life that we want to live to. A choice that we need to choose, before its too late, just like some of my friends had realized. Have seen marriages being shattered in short life spans, have seen workplaces getting changed over the night, have seen friends become foes. Is this the life that we truly need to live?
As I sit back, I wonder do I still have the time to change all these perception, these events. With performance a yardstick to live, I wish I could change life and live for a better cause, if not for me for the ones that cared.
Life has become like a countdown to the launch of a space shuttle. Time matters even to say hi to your loved ones to meeting deadlines. Everything has to be done within those limited period, as we humans keep on inventing newer machines to do our jobs, our lives have become more and more mechanical. We are always on the run, for the fear of loosing out or missing out on something, but in the process we have lost our contact with self. Not even finding time to reciprocate the love that people try to give and even to return the smile from the passing friend as though he was a stranger. Behind the unattainable glories that awaits in this mindless world we desire to live.
Are we going wrong some were, did we get lost in the transition from the childhood that we once cherished for the dreams that we desired for? More to do in lesser time with a just in time principle. Yes we have to work, we have to live a life, we have to earn, we have to give back to all those who cared, but is this out of a reason of so called necessity or is it for that we don’t have choice or is it for the life that we want to live to. A choice that we need to choose, before its too late, just like some of my friends had realized. Have seen marriages being shattered in short life spans, have seen workplaces getting changed over the night, have seen friends become foes. Is this the life that we truly need to live?
As I sit back, I wonder do I still have the time to change all these perception, these events. With performance a yardstick to live, I wish I could change life and live for a better cause, if not for me for the ones that cared.
Monday, 9 July 2007
The Crown
Many a heads bowed
For the little that had worn
Many a heads rolled
For the little that had to bear
They were in their various elements
From the priceless gems to the thorns
They were the creators and destroyers
For many a war was fought for the only one
The very symbol of authority
Only to be in stripped away on freedom
Their existence a mere memory
For many a little survived
For the little that had worn
Many a heads rolled
For the little that had to bear
They were in their various elements
From the priceless gems to the thorns
They were the creators and destroyers
For many a war was fought for the only one
The very symbol of authority
Only to be in stripped away on freedom
Their existence a mere memory
For many a little survived
Friday, 6 July 2007
The Women behind the uniform
He walks with his head high
And you know why?
For a Lady to hold fort home
When he hold fort the boundaries
He makes us sleep in peace
Because she makes him sleep with ease
She, Is a mother, a wife, a daughter
She is the women, behind every uniform
When he keeps Vigil, she is the unseen companion
A champion in her own rights
And as he fights, she waits
With an open arm
To welcome his home coming
On his legs or others…..
And you know why?
For a Lady to hold fort home
When he hold fort the boundaries
He makes us sleep in peace
Because she makes him sleep with ease
She, Is a mother, a wife, a daughter
She is the women, behind every uniform
When he keeps Vigil, she is the unseen companion
A champion in her own rights
And as he fights, she waits
With an open arm
To welcome his home coming
On his legs or others…..
Friday, 15 June 2007
Crossroads
At every stage in life
You are there
To do or not to do
From the color of the dress
To the lifestyle you choose
Decisions to make or break
From Seconds to life throughout
Sometimes in impulse
Sometime well thought over
Course of direction unknown
Until you reach the destiny
This life with no replays
For With life is what you pay
You are there
To do or not to do
From the color of the dress
To the lifestyle you choose
Decisions to make or break
From Seconds to life throughout
Sometimes in impulse
Sometime well thought over
Course of direction unknown
Until you reach the destiny
This life with no replays
For With life is what you pay
A Marriage Made in the Known Heaven
It was supposed to be a getaway from the regular hectic week of work and the chaos of city life. Well, I got much more than what I asked for and an unforgettable lesson most of us fail to learn in our growth, in our search for higher dreams, when we let go of our roots.
In a matter of five minutes, my friend and I changed our decision, about the bus trip that was to take us to his village in God’s Own Country. Well, we did make our trip, roping in another of our friends, and just for the fun of it, driving down instead of taking the bus. We wanted to make our own rules. The writing on my friend’s T-shirt said it all - ‘Rules don’t apply to me’.
We took off and covered our first phase of twenty kilometers in 3 hours. Neither were we driving a bullock cart, nor were we enjoying the beauty of the Garden City in the night’s rain. We were simply stuck in the ever-growing traffic. Seems like the entire city was out in the open to get drenched in the summer shower. I remember the same city, which was my summer destination for the last 12 years. Those days when you could lazily walk in the middle of the road without being worried of being honked at by a zooming vehicle. Now you need to be careful to walk even on the pavement, for that has become the road for the new kids on the wheels to bypass the traffic. That’s what has become of this once beautiful city, loosing its charm day by day. It was nearing midnight when we could finally hit the Hosur road on way to our destination.
The reason we were making the trip was the occasion of ‘a marriage in the family’, as my friend called it. This marriage was a unique one, never heard of before. It was to be among two beauties - a Banyan tree and a Neem tree. Shocked? So was I. My first reaction when I heard this was, “WHAT the heck?” Well, as it turned out, it proved to be one of the best days that I had ever had - so far at least.
And so, on to the trip. With my friend at the wheel and music from the Maestro’s best, I am not sure when I dozed off. When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t sure if I really did open them, for what I saw was mesmerizing. A proof of why this piece of land is called ‘God’s Own Country’. On one side, the early morning clouds kissing the Western Ghats with their carpet of paddy fields, and on the other side, the sun just awakening with plain green land stretching off to an unseen distance, all the while, zipping along on the new L&T highway, a proof of the growing economy.
I was still coming to my senses, a sea change from last night’s metropolitan city, to the morning village tucked away from the hustle and bustle of even the insects. Silence was defined here, I would say, with what I saw and what I felt. The destination was Chembai, the home of the renowned Carnatic musician, where a close-knit family of 57, constituted this Agraharam. My friend proudly called this place ‘Known heaven on earth’, and so it truly was, for those two days were simply a slice of heaven.
Whoever said that water has become a scarcity? I had four baths that day, all at Nature’s feet, from the running streams, to the temple pond, to the god’s own river Bharathapuzha. Eating just for the fun of it, from the numerous eateries, I discovered my hitherto unknown appetite. I still savour those meals and the McDs and the KFCs pale in comparison to the wholesome and flavourful fare that these simple eateries offered. They could beat those fast food chains hands down, for the price, quantity and hygiene, and above all in letting you eat in peace/ relish your meal, without eyes watching you and waiting for you to get up. Well the whole day just went by in eating, bathing and just lazing around in the afternoon sun.
As the day of the marriage dawned, I was up with my camera to capture the moments. I did click a few pictures, but more importantly, there were lessons that were captured in my heart that day: To value your eco system, to value your environment, to value your tradition. Well it came from the mouth of the eldest in the entire clan of 57 families, fondly called the karanavar, (the eldest and respectful) 85 and running quite strong. Hmmm, literally he could, for that’s how healthy he was even at that age. His appetite would throw any of those health conscious souls at the newly sprouting fitness centers to shame. As I had mentioned, the occasion was anointing the Banyan tree- the groom as a Brahmin and getting him married to the Neem tree- the bride. Weird? Well it did sound so at first, but not after some insight.
Initially I just took up the event as some age-old tradition of blind orthodox belief, when, the karanavar sitting next to me popped a question to me, “What do you think about this whole thing?”
I thought for a while and gave a guarded reply, so as not to hurt his sentiments, “It’s a different and unique one.” He just smiled and looked as though weighing my reply. “ It is in a sense, yes, but carries much more relevance to this world that we live in today. A tribute to the environment to say we care, we respect and above all, that it is part of our family.”
This kind of made me think. How many of us today really care for the environment that we live in? How many of us take the time out to just look out at the trees that help us live? Here was the entire village celebrating the wedding of two trees. We take time to say thank you to those that help us, but what about these gentle giants who have been feeding us and providing us with the air that we breathe for centuries?
Well, the whole ceremony in his words was a tribute to say that we care, a way of saying thank you. These age old traditions and customs which today’s generation tend to think as old worn out thoughts and beliefs I carry much more significance in this world today.
In a matter of five minutes, my friend and I changed our decision, about the bus trip that was to take us to his village in God’s Own Country. Well, we did make our trip, roping in another of our friends, and just for the fun of it, driving down instead of taking the bus. We wanted to make our own rules. The writing on my friend’s T-shirt said it all - ‘Rules don’t apply to me’.
We took off and covered our first phase of twenty kilometers in 3 hours. Neither were we driving a bullock cart, nor were we enjoying the beauty of the Garden City in the night’s rain. We were simply stuck in the ever-growing traffic. Seems like the entire city was out in the open to get drenched in the summer shower. I remember the same city, which was my summer destination for the last 12 years. Those days when you could lazily walk in the middle of the road without being worried of being honked at by a zooming vehicle. Now you need to be careful to walk even on the pavement, for that has become the road for the new kids on the wheels to bypass the traffic. That’s what has become of this once beautiful city, loosing its charm day by day. It was nearing midnight when we could finally hit the Hosur road on way to our destination.
The reason we were making the trip was the occasion of ‘a marriage in the family’, as my friend called it. This marriage was a unique one, never heard of before. It was to be among two beauties - a Banyan tree and a Neem tree. Shocked? So was I. My first reaction when I heard this was, “WHAT the heck?” Well, as it turned out, it proved to be one of the best days that I had ever had - so far at least.
And so, on to the trip. With my friend at the wheel and music from the Maestro’s best, I am not sure when I dozed off. When I opened my eyes, I wasn’t sure if I really did open them, for what I saw was mesmerizing. A proof of why this piece of land is called ‘God’s Own Country’. On one side, the early morning clouds kissing the Western Ghats with their carpet of paddy fields, and on the other side, the sun just awakening with plain green land stretching off to an unseen distance, all the while, zipping along on the new L&T highway, a proof of the growing economy.
I was still coming to my senses, a sea change from last night’s metropolitan city, to the morning village tucked away from the hustle and bustle of even the insects. Silence was defined here, I would say, with what I saw and what I felt. The destination was Chembai, the home of the renowned Carnatic musician, where a close-knit family of 57, constituted this Agraharam. My friend proudly called this place ‘Known heaven on earth’, and so it truly was, for those two days were simply a slice of heaven.
Whoever said that water has become a scarcity? I had four baths that day, all at Nature’s feet, from the running streams, to the temple pond, to the god’s own river Bharathapuzha. Eating just for the fun of it, from the numerous eateries, I discovered my hitherto unknown appetite. I still savour those meals and the McDs and the KFCs pale in comparison to the wholesome and flavourful fare that these simple eateries offered. They could beat those fast food chains hands down, for the price, quantity and hygiene, and above all in letting you eat in peace/ relish your meal, without eyes watching you and waiting for you to get up. Well the whole day just went by in eating, bathing and just lazing around in the afternoon sun.
As the day of the marriage dawned, I was up with my camera to capture the moments. I did click a few pictures, but more importantly, there were lessons that were captured in my heart that day: To value your eco system, to value your environment, to value your tradition. Well it came from the mouth of the eldest in the entire clan of 57 families, fondly called the karanavar, (the eldest and respectful) 85 and running quite strong. Hmmm, literally he could, for that’s how healthy he was even at that age. His appetite would throw any of those health conscious souls at the newly sprouting fitness centers to shame. As I had mentioned, the occasion was anointing the Banyan tree- the groom as a Brahmin and getting him married to the Neem tree- the bride. Weird? Well it did sound so at first, but not after some insight.
Initially I just took up the event as some age-old tradition of blind orthodox belief, when, the karanavar sitting next to me popped a question to me, “What do you think about this whole thing?”
I thought for a while and gave a guarded reply, so as not to hurt his sentiments, “It’s a different and unique one.” He just smiled and looked as though weighing my reply. “ It is in a sense, yes, but carries much more relevance to this world that we live in today. A tribute to the environment to say we care, we respect and above all, that it is part of our family.”
This kind of made me think. How many of us today really care for the environment that we live in? How many of us take the time out to just look out at the trees that help us live? Here was the entire village celebrating the wedding of two trees. We take time to say thank you to those that help us, but what about these gentle giants who have been feeding us and providing us with the air that we breathe for centuries?
Well, the whole ceremony in his words was a tribute to say that we care, a way of saying thank you. These age old traditions and customs which today’s generation tend to think as old worn out thoughts and beliefs I carry much more significance in this world today.
Saturday, 24 March 2007
Mask
Too many a face to see
Too many a days to live
Too many a breath until the last
All this with a face… alone
A character built in to vary
Like the colors of the reptile
The child in us eager to grow
The adult in us eager to break rules
The man in us eager to survive
Only for the
Child in us resurrected to die
Each a phase in life with a face
Unrealized in us for time to answer
And the time when comes
Too late to realize
Unmask your face
And live life
Too many a days to live
Too many a breath until the last
All this with a face… alone
A character built in to vary
Like the colors of the reptile
The child in us eager to grow
The adult in us eager to break rules
The man in us eager to survive
Only for the
Child in us resurrected to die
Each a phase in life with a face
Unrealized in us for time to answer
And the time when comes
Too late to realize
Unmask your face
And live life
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