Wanderings of Mind

I don't understand what we achieved - apart from looking like impossible jokers. We invited someone to talk "something" without defining that "something". He came and blasted us for all world to see - the world powers need him so they won't speak a word. The entire government is eerily silent after that hell of a press conference by the Pakistani Foreign Secretary - even the normally tough talking home minister is completely silent. And after blasting us so heavily, Pakistan gets to say that India "is not willing to talk" while they are open to "discuss on any issue". The problem is that the government doesn't seem to be sure whether to talk or not to talk. We either talk or we don't. This business of "talking about something because we anyway have to talk" will get us nowhere except where it got us to this time - a seat in the loser's council. We need to understand something - that Pakistan will never be sincere ab...

The India-Pakistan show is again on. There seems to be no end to this crippling enmity despite so many years and so many regime changes in both Pakistan and India. I fear we might be discussing same stuff lets say 10 years from now as well. This has to stop. The first thing that has to stop is this obsession of India with Pakistan and Pakistan with India. If we don't like each other fine, but let's at least not get obsessed with each other. It's like two estranged lovers who can't stand each other. We don't have to be friends, but let's at least try to stop being enemies. We can be two neighbors who don't like each other but tolerate each other. Of course, I understand that its not that easy. But the point is it's getting ridiculous with all this needless IPL fiasco and all. Let's face the truth - US pressure or not, Pakistan is not going to stop supporting terrorists targeting India until they get over their terminal obsession - that India will some...

Its been quite a while since I updated my blog. And after this rather long sabbatical, I thought I should put some of my earlier thoughts into action. I always used to think that there should be an effective mechanism to document all our learning in life and share it with others. What better way than a blog! So, this series, titled "Making life easy and meaningful" will do just that, in an organized way. Most of us experience a myriad of emotions in life - we have seen happiness, sadness, expectation, disappointment, elation and some of us even depression. At the end of all this, life just keeps going. So, we all kind of understand that life is like this and you'll get your fair share of everything. It's just not worth it to feel too happy when something works and too sad and depressed when it's otherwise. At one level, we all understand this. But putting it into action is where it becomes difficult. I have learnt one thing - if something makes you so elated, then...

Well, its election time! And my blog after a long time also has to be about elections. Let's try to peek into the future and see the three major things we'll get if a congress-led goverment comes to power. 1. Unlimited does of "Secularism" - of course we don't mean well being of everyone by that term, we only mean that our government will be for the Minorities (with a capital M), Poor, Downtrodden, Dalits, Women and Marginalized sections of the society. Well, you see, its not secularism if you just say, "Our government will be for all citizens of the country - We don't see if they are majority or minority" - you become communal then (don't ask me how!) The even more funny thing about this is, you can repeat this statement after say 10 years as well. Because, the congress has been in power for most of the 60 years in our independence and this i-am-backward-poor-minority-downtrodden list is only expanding, not contracting! So, that is what unlimit...

Any ideology that doesn't allow differing viewpoints to co-exist peacefully is unfit for humans. It is not that the world is against Islamic countries or republics. The problem is with the Osama - Mullah Omar type interpretation of Islam which is troubling the whole world.  USA is thousands of miles away from the Islamic center of the world (referred to as middle-east), but is the most active player in the region, thanks to one 9/11. India, despite being the closest tolerant, secular and democratic country, is of little relevance in this part of the world. I feel we are too tolerant and distortedly secular. I am not suggesting that we should get involved in the muddy waters. But do we atleast understand what is happening in our neighbourhood and most importantly do we have any strategy to counter its effects on us? The way the government is acting doesn't certainly suggest that. It is now very clear that the Pakistani state has lost control of a significant part of Pakistan. Th...

How do you get your point of view across to people? And in such a way that they understand it and appreciate it? If we can do this effectively, we are sure to lead a successful and peaceful life. Though the question seems simple enough, finding an answer to this is a very tough task. (Read my earlier post on Learning the Hard Way as well). As usual, after quite some years of learning and unlearning, I have realized certain things about communication between people, which I am trying to put into practice. Whatever I have written here doesn't mean I am an expert in following them. It just means that I am trying and trying, to put it into practice! First and foremost, I have realized we can never change anyone; we can only change ourselves. Change has to come from within oneself. We can only aid or kick-start that, by pointing out what is what and trying to influence. Beyond that, its up to every individual. So, we should never set out to talk to anyone with the intention of changing ...

If I used to like certain periods in my school, the "moral science " is one among them - not that I hated the others, but this is of those you really look forward to. That's where you get to listen to many nice stories and learn nice morals as well. And of course, its one of those subjects you can hope to pass easily. At that age, I am not sure if I realized its importance. But since I was fond of stories anyway, the stories along with their morals got into me. When my parents, grand parents and well-wishers emphasized many of those values through many other anecdotes, I had a good moral foundation from childhood. When I see the various problems and scams in the society today, I think again and again, have we totally forgotten moral education? You can learn everything else from schools and colleges, but morals is something that you'll have to learn primarily from parents, with schools and other well wishers lending a helping hand. Many parents are so focused on their ...