Bye 2008 !

As pages of city edition of my newspaper are filled with the advertisements for the parties on the eve of New Year celebrations, there are also news of people & institutions who are not celebrating this year cause of Mumbai terror attacks.

Attacks, invasions or terrorism are not new for India. Starting 325 BC by Alexander, hundreds of different invaders crossed the borders of India till now. If to talk of Independent India, within 60 days of Independence we were attacked by Pakistan in October 1947. We have fought four wars since then and fighting indirect war of terrorism for more than two decades. But something is different this time. What's is that?

Indians are up against terrorism this time. Unlike their usual behaviour, they are refusing to forget and forgive. Large amount of Indians are still carrying utter taste of attack even after a month. We like it or not but a war like situation is there in the air. For the first time in history, Pakistan is appealing for peace. Amid the various crisis, India seems to be standing with head held high. There are many signs (which we could not see just like Bruce Nolan in Bruce Almighty) pointing towards the rise of Indians and of India.

Celebrations or no celebrations but all I pray for is, no Indian should ever let this wound of attack heel. Cause if we did, we will have to face & bear much more new wounds. Whatever we do, we should never let interests of India off from our view. Every pride or fall of our nation should be our personal pride or fall. This torch of nationalism should never die down and we all will see the predictions of Maharishi Arvind and calculations of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam come true.

I wish the start of India's era by the end of that year and end of our plight by the start of this year. I wish an endless start of wonderful time for all of us and above all for our loving India.

Careers in Pakistan

In the middle of Pakistani Government's shameless efforts to protect it's terrorist citizens, I received this apt and rock-hard fact mail from a friend.

Careers in Pakistan:-

If we were in Pakistan , our options for professional courses after Std. XII would be as follows :

JEE - Jehadic Entrance Examination
IIT - Islamic Institute of Terrorism
IIM - Institute of Infiltration Management
CAT - Career in Al-Qaida & Taliban
IAS - Iraq after Saddam
M Tech - Masters in Terror Technology
GATE - General Aptitude in Terror and Extremism
TOEFL - Test of Extremist Foreign Languages
GRE - Graduate in Relocation Extremism
MBBS - Master of Bomb Blasting Strategies
MBA - Master of Bombing Administration

Tales Told By Mystics

After a long period, a good book was found and read. In a local book fair, among a few of books I purchased was one "Tales Told By Mystics" by 'Padma Shri' Manoj Das. As the title of book speaks itself, book contains around hundred of sweet short stories collected from folklore of India by author. Most of the stories are not from our Vedas or Upanishads but are those which have travelled and accumulated verbally since centuries. Sages, Ascetic and Sadhus have narrated these stories through ages to educate and enrich moral values to Indian society.

Stories in the book are short, beautiful, simple and above all, appealing. To clear the fog of confusion in our minds of Dharma or Adharma in routine life, one can find these stories very very useful and inspiring. Supreme Truth, Dharma, Humanity, Kindness are the main ingredients of these stories. Complexes & complicated principles of our various scriptures can very easily be understood and grasped by a common reader of any age through these small interesting tales.

A must read and collectors book especially youngsters!

Afterthoughts of Aftermath !

No, I am not scared, I am not afraid of those terrorists or their unexpected bomb blasts. But yes, I am angry, I am very very furious .

Since 26th November midnight I kept glued to my TV, switching to different news channels, watching shamefully that blood boiling act of Jihadis. I saw those young terrorists roaming around in railway station and those who were in police van firing indiscriminately at Indians. I listened to one terrorist who called up a news channel and kept repeating his motives and motivations. I did not want to listen him, but I did, I wanted to snatch his words and gave him fitting reply but I couldn't. I wanted to crush him under my heel but I couldn't. I shamefully saw the fire in Taj, blasts in Trident, cries of various people trapped in the situation for long sixty hours. I am so ashamed that I could do nothing to protect my country, my home. I still feel so helpless that despite watching news I could not do anything.

Despite flooding with anger, frustration, provoked thoughts and counter plans, I could not write a single word since that day till now. I have always argued to people who criticise India or its system. Even agreeing to them in a corner of my heart I always pretended to oppose them as I never can support criticism of my loving country. I always hated people who say they don't like here, they don't like the system of this country or they don't wanna live here. I always tried to shut their mouths and if possible shut my links with such persons. But today, I feel like saying myself, "I am ashamed of being Indian". The reason? I think, had I been the citizen of US, there would have some value of my life. Someone would have taken avenge for my blood. But here in India there is never an "Aar ya Paar" thing but only words, words and mere words. Sometimes I think what in world should our enemies do that our government take some real strong steps? What is this world could be the sheerest slap on our face that we got up with rage and say now its enough? What on this earth can be the deadliest attack on our Nation that our leadership shout back that either we will take revenge or let the Indians be eliminated once for all?

Sadly, our enemies have tried everything, let it be the four invasions, decades long terrorism, lakhs of dead Indians, countless blasts, dozens of assassinations, attack on assemblies or even parliament, hijacking Indians planes, getting their arrested leaders released, freely roaming around and having capabilities of planting bomb anywhere anytime, they could not make blood boil of any of our leaders (irrespective of any political party) in these sixty years. Seems like our leaders never had any blood in there veins.

Now, when smoke is clearing in Mumbai, Indian government has performed its custom of issuing warnings, some resignations have been written and new promises have been made, Mumbai is getting back on its track like they say of its so called 'spirit'. Prevailing of normalcy can be seen by the revolt of Narayan Rane. The stray street dogs who were stunned and hiding with the impact of sudden blasts are now normal and have resumed barking and fighting over a piece of bone in the trash bin on the road.

The images of this terror attacks are now travelling in the world. Each picture shakes me up. Since 26th, my anger is holding back my tears within myself. But I don't wanna cry, I will not cry. I want to keep this salty water save in myself. I don't want to waste it. I am moved with the awakening of common Indian. I am touched and delighted with the movement of every Indian heart this time. I am happy that senses of common Indian people are live and that at least their blood is boiling. I am praying to God that please don't let that awakening die by the passage of time, I wish every Indian will not let these images fade off their hearts ever. Because if we Indians will keep this fire burning in our hearts, no one on this earth can eliminate us. No Jihadi can terrorise us. We will charge back at them with full force no matter how many bullets enter our chests or of our beloved ones. We will torn these rats apart.

After failing of our system, its time now to stand ourselves and protact our beloved India ourselves. I am still optimist, I still listen to my heart who is saying, " I am proud to be an Indian" !

Happy Diwali

"Wishing all a very Happy Deepawali"

In "God's Own Country"

After long long fifteen years, I got second opportunity to be at beautiful Kovallam beach. Though the rainy season had turned the sea rough and grayish, and my two days there were fully engaged in a meeting to keep me bounded from strolling far away at beach or roaming around in Trivendarum streets, I enjoyed this short nostalgic trip.

Around fifteen years back, when I was a young school boy, I collected a bag full of seashells at that beach. The images on my mind of gigantic blue waves of that time came alive when I stepped on beach after such a long period. Another difference, in our previous visit years back along my parents, we stayed in a small middle class hotel in the city and after spotting a beautiful resort at Kovallam beach, I innocently complained my dad for not booking that resort and now this time when I checked in this resort, I really missed him.

Kung Fu Panda !

I was not at all in mood of this movie. I have never seen an animated movie in a cinema hall. But as on the almost bugging demand of his kids, Rajeev bought tickets for all of us and directed me to reach theater at six on the last Sunday evening. Till the end I tried to convince him to leave the kids in cinema and all the adults to scroll some other place somewhere but failed.

Anyhow, all the children were very excited and unable to find any rescue, I planned to have a little nap after the movie starts. Mostly entire hall was empty, I think there were only 50 - 60 people for this show.

First four - five minutes were going simply the same way as I assumed, but.........BUT.........but when the story started rolling on, my drowsiness was vanished, my eyes were wide open, ears concentrating fully on each sound and my funny bone working at its full capacity.

Kung Fu Panda, as a story is not a new tale but surly told in a new and amazing way and presentation is definitely superb. Po played by Jack Black is lazy waiter at his father's (who is a goose - a very interesting combination to be a father of a panda) noodle restaurant in the Valley of Peace and a crazy fan of Kung Fu martial art. He always keep dreaming of Kung Fu and to be a greatest Kung Fu warrior but his unique, typical and giant panda shape won't let him climb the very basic step of this fascinating martial art. The Kung Fu school/ palace in the celestial hill top run by tortoise master Oogway and Shifu, the red panda, was about to select it's mighty dragon warrior to fight Tai Lung, an evil leopard and former brilliant student of Shifu who escaped from prison and is a great threat to palace and people of Valley of Peace. While everyone is expecting the selection of Dragon Warrior from the famous Furious Five ( a tigress, a monkey, a crane, a viper and a mantis) excellently skilled students of Shifu, dying hard to be in the premises of closed walled arena of Kung Fu school, Po, the Panda, miraculously is selected Great Dragon Warrior. Shocking everyone especially the Furious Five and master Shifu, Po is no match even for weakest fighter in the Valley and he was expected to defeat mighty Tai Lung. What happened next is a hilarious account of tale with naughty touches of emotional spices.

The humor is classic, natural and enough forceful to burst someone in laugh. Animation of the movie is so gorgeous and soothing. The imagination is so rich and beautiful that some scenes can leave permanent mark on one's mind, like I got one of the starry night sky while tortoise master leaving for his last journey. The rich colors of Kung Fu palace, or the fantastic landscapes or even the sparkle in the eye of disappointed Shifu are un-washable impressions. Finally the dubbing, voices to these amazing characters are given by stars like, Jackie Chan, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Lucy Liu and Jack Black. Fighting scenes are great, funny and enjoying.

Not only children but everyone presented in the movie hall loved this movie, I can tell this for sure as I heard everyone laughing whole heartedly while watching this tale. Great work indeed.