The first thing that came my way was a tight one across my face before I could even realise how late I was.

The second thing that came my way was a series of dialogues to tell me that I should be really guilt conscious of the crime I had committed.

“We’ll die one day waiting for you” - well even I know I am late and I am sorry for it but why do you make it so melodramatic ?
“You are so careless and irresponsible . You don’t care about us.” – I really don’t know what to say to this . Sigh !
“No one can do as much as we have done for you. We are not wrong” I know I should be grateful to you, for all you have given me but why degrade the feeling by saying it.
“Your friends are more important to you than us. You don’t talk to us” -please ask yourselves why is that ? Probably it is because you never tried to be a good friend or rather never understood what I used to feel as a child.

I woke up this morning and the first thing that came to my mind was that oooh no- the same day once again !

Whats new in my life ?

And I’ll die one day still stuck with this routine – N O ! One life I want to live it.

Let me be on a high; let me  live today,tomorrow can wait.

My dad left his home came to Dehradun when he was 19 and started his business and since then he has been on his own. I am 24 and still struggling to find  my place.
I am not asking for any suggestions but the question remains -when you have lived your life the way you wanted to then don’t you think I deserve the same right?
Did you bring me into this world  so that I will do all those things which you wanted to do always but could not or that which you would want of me ?

All in all a simple question – DO I DESERVE TO LIVE ?
Am I a dummy carrier of your emotional needs/ desires from life.

Indeed I love my parents but it doesn’t mean they own my choices.

Nature gives us an amazing example where a baby bird leaves the nest as soon as it learns to fly.
My birth was decided by my parents,true, but that I shall be born in this family,in this place at this given time,who decides that ?

Who decides my life ? It’s the almighty who must have decided this way before my parents decided to give birth to me.

So I should be more grateful to Him more than anyone else to have given me the life I am living.
He loves me so much that He never complains of what I am or when I come home late. Neither does He tell me that I should be doing things according to Him or else He will be angry.Nor does He slap me when I say I want to live.

Love is unconditional.  “I will not talk to you because you didn’t do this” – how foolish is that ?

But my parents tell me, this is what is love according to them

“Son you will be never outdo us in making wiser decisions, no matter how old you grow. We will make a better choice for you because we know you every time better than you know yourself” – indirectly meaning “I OWN YOU COZ IAM YOUR DAD”

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Was it love? Or was it the idea of being in love?
2. Reality TV : Not everything is bad

Guddu aged around 55 years is/was working with my brother as an assistant to him, in a daily newspaper at Allahabad.
He is innocent, hard working, good natured and always ready to help anyone. He is not married and is living with his elder brother, bhabhi(sister-in-law), their two kids and mother who is bed ridden.
He loves and respects his mother and all other members in the family a lot (as we all do). Now the reason , as to why this name is echoing in my mind.
As his mother is not really well and he loves her a lot, he has left his job to give his full time and attention to his mother (which we ALL may not do – I believe).

Was it required to quit the job? Do such steps really help?

If one answers in the affirmative considering that this is being done for his mother, then I am ready to accept the fact that mothers are priceless and should be well attended.  But won’t you go deep into the realities of life? He has no one to look after him. If you say it’s his brother then I would definitely respond with an answer that how can we expect him to get aid from a brother, who is unable to take care of his mother.
What will Guddu do for his livelihood and till when? Is he a fool or does he have some vested interest in doing all this for his mother?
Then I recollect that Guddu is innocent etc. etc. Is he stupid? Yes? That means I outright, am refusing to accept the fact that mothers should be taken care by her off- springs during trying circumstances.  Is his love for his mother so great that he has nothing else to think of ?
My article may seem to be confusing as I am not able to get an answer to my own question.

So will someone help me to know this strange person Guddu and the actual reason for him to take this step of quitting his Job for the reason of looking after his ailing mother?

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Life is cheap | At least in India
2. Relation between Power, Authority and Legitimacy

Put eight monkeys in a room. In the middle of the room is a  ladder, leading to a bunch of bananas hanging from a hook on the  ceiling. Each time a monkey tries to climb the ladder, all the monkeys  are sprayed with ice water, which makes them miserable. Soon enough, whenever a monkey attempts to climb the ladder, all of the other monkeys, not  wanting to be sprayed, set upon him and beat him up.

Soon, none of the  eight monkeys ever attempts to climb the ladder. Then one of the  original monkeys is then removed, and a new monkey is put in the room.  Seeing the bananas and the ladder, he wonders why none of the other monkeys  are doing the obvious. But undaunted, he immediately begins to climb the  ladder.

All the other monkeys fall upon him and beat him silly. He has no  idea why. however, he no longer attempts to climb the ladder. A  second original monkey is removed and replaced. The newcomer again attempts  to climb the ladder, but all the other monkeys hammer the crap out of him. This includes the previous new monkey, who, grateful that he’s not on the receiving end this time, participates in the beating because all the other monkeys are doing it. However, he has no idea why he’s attacking the new monkey.

One by one, all the original monkeys are replaced. Eight  new monkeys are now in the room. None of them have ever been sprayed by ice  water. None of them attempt to climb the ladder. All of them will enthusiastically beat up any new monkey who tries, without having any idea  why.

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Was it love? Or was it the idea of being in love?
2. Trek to Mussoorie- 11-Oct-2009

The most popular sport in the world is about to hit crescendo. The energy is crazy ( it even got to our little logo on the top ). The whole world is abuzz !

So we decided do a little something.
We have launched a new section called FIFA 2010 FEVER which will be available during the entire world cup.

The section will provide news, photos, music  and  schedules. Actually we are quite open to all great ideas.  Feedback is most welcome to further improve this effort. If you can suggest ways of making this better then please do write to us by either replying to this email or by clicking here

//
To get started listen to the electrifying “Official FIFA 2010 World Cup Anthem – By K’NAAN ”

( make sure your volume is turned on high )

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Letter to the parents – touching
2. Who is the real me ?

I am in a private road construction company working as a manager (admin & liaison).

My job involves all sorts of (in house) administrative dealings and curbing of unfair activities. There happened quite a few incidents when I was informed about  my staff engaged in unfair activities like taking bribes, manipulating company’s expenses, being absent from work,enjoying at home etc.

These so called employees (though not having high posts and working as supervisors) have links with the higher authorities/management. During the start of these activities I tried to bring this to the knowledge of the management but they brushed my information under the carpet which resulted in more unfair activities being done with impunity and abundance.

Further I almost became a sore in the culprits’ eye which could have resulted in back biting and even my ouster from the company. Sensing this I had to close my eyes and gulp down the milk so poisoned with such happenings. This was hard to do and I feel almost a culprit as I was trained by my Father (who is no more) for HONESTY, DEDICATION, DEVOTION and DETERMINATION.

I am writing this article seeking YOUR suggestion. It is necessary for you to step into my shoes and advice.

1. Am I doing right by ignoring such activities? If not then should I put my job at stake (during recession phase) and start leading a pauper’s life and force my family the same?
2. Do the words like HONESTY, DEDICATION, DEVOTION, DETERMINATION etc. hold no meaning in our present environment in India (I haven’t been abroad) and do they just lead to problems and miseries?
3. What ‘SANSKARs’ should be given to my children which are in a true sense perfect and adaptable to our present environment?

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. A Good College Vs Inner Values
2. Street kids get a taste of the good life

In one of the news items, a professor father of an IAS officer said that he knew the day his daughter was born that she would become an IAS and nothing else because he wanted her to get married to an IAS ! He further said , since as a professor he can not manage the amount of money that would be needed to get her married to an IAS in UP or Bihar, so he thought it would be better if his daughter became an IAS.

Having read this i couldn’t help but wonder– even an academician thinks that it is his right  to decide his child’s career rather than leave the choice to the child. Secondly,importance given to position of the prospective bridegroom and willingness to give dowry for the same (had he had that kind of money) by an university professor made me wonder about the attitude of less educated people !

The other news item which provoked my curiosity is that a man who raped and strangulated a minor girl( she was kidnapped from her house, taken to a deserted place , raped and then strangled to death.) has been spared the noose because extreme penalty is required to be given in rarest of rare case and that state should give an opportunity to a deviant citizen to reform.

With due respect to our judiciary, I, as an ordinary citizen and being a woman wonder;what about justice to the girl’s right to life? What about violation to  her opportunity to live with dignity?

If a rapist and a killer who did so for sheer momentary pleasure is given a chance to live , what justice is given to that MINOR girl who was not only killed but physically and emotionally abused  and humiliated for no fault?

Any response, DYCians?

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Please marry me before I grow old and not look good
2. Who is the real me ?

Do you know who do you love ?
I thought I did
or was I ignorant of the warmth around me ?
Too may people around
and all choices we make do not turn out to as expected.

All I was, was a paper plane
floating wherever blew the winds of change.
Anyone could hold me,
anyone could have crushed me,
always wished to fly higher and free.

And every time HE told me
all I was,was a paper plane
& that too by choice so…..
do not complain.

He said
life starts at Me
and it will end with Me
all is in Me
stop looking around
what makes Me is inside Me

All I need is trust in me
to fulfill my destiny
All I need is belief in me
to bring out the best in me

All I need is courage
just to look inside me..

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Please marry me before I grow old and not look good
2. Who is the real me ?

Every summer vacation joined a new hobby class.Tried everything that came across.We were explorers as a kid and never tired of exploring and discovering more and more.
Everyday experimented our abilities with something new,if succeeded well and good,if not, never mind.Something else must be in stored for us.We continued our search..
Search for excitement, enthusiasm and happiness;search for the high that one feels after doing or creating something,which could very well be building a clay castle or writing poetry.

What happened to us when we technically ‘grew up’?
Is our search over?
Are we done with all exploring with ourselves?
Or have we experienced all the highs we wanted to feel?

Have we done all the crazy things we wanted to do?
No.We haven’t.
Within all of us there is still that kid who is in constant quest to know more,do more;experience something new,discover new aspects of ourselves.
So what stops us ? Responsibilities ?  Need to earn and make a living ? Peer pressure?

Maybe all of it!

But if we continue living like this then aren’t we running or rather are we really ‘living’ that way. By doing what we are ‘supposed’ to do and not what we really want to do, we are simply running  a rat race. In such a kind of life, we wait for things like promotion or hike in salary to give us a high.Why not experience this high more often?

It’s all in our hands.

Do things that you want to do.What you always wanted to do -sing, paint, dance, rock climbing.Be the child you want to be – LIVE.
Why do we say that childhood days are the best?
Because then we did what we desired.Did not care for the world and through this we experienced the freedom of childhood.
Bring back that freedom to your life-start living.

You may even change your monotonous vocation (if that is not what you want to do). There is no harm to quit the job of software engineer at the age of 35 and be a painter, if you desire so.
It does take a while to know what gives you the real happiness. It’s okay to take your time and decide. But it’s definitely not okay to do where your heart, mind and soul is not there.

What do you live for??
HAPPINESS

What is the point of living if you do not experience this happiness?That way you’ll be just breathing and not living.
There is a famous quote: ‘Don’t run through life so fast that you forget where you were and where you are going’
In this piece, to some I might be sounding  too liberal or impractical or a new young girl in the world who does not know the complexities of this world,whatever the case maybe.
The bottom line is to be FREE.

(Choice is completely individualistic…how one would like to feel this FREEDOM.)

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. Was it love? Or was it the idea of being in love?
2. I own you coz I am your DAD

‘When not interfered with by outside influences, everything nature does, is done with perfection.
Yet my son, Shay, cannot learn things as other children do. He cannot understand things as other children do.
Where is the natural order of things in my son?’
The audience was stilled by the query.
The father continued. ‘I believe that when a child like Shay, who was mentally and physically disabled comes into the world, an opportunity to realize true human nature presents itself, and it comes in the way other people treat that child.’

Then he told the following story:

Shay and I had walked past a park where some boys Shay knew were playing baseball. Shay asked, ‘Do you think they’ll let me play?’ I knew that most of the boys would not want someone like Shay on their team, but as a father I also understood that if my son were allowed to play, it would give him a much-needed sense of belonging and some confidence to be accepted by others in spite of his handicaps.

I approached one of the boys on the field and asked (not expecting much) if Shay could play. The boy looked around for guidance and said, ‘We’re losing by six runs and the game is in the eighth inning. I guess he can be on our team and we’ll try to put him in to bat in the ninth inning.’

Shay struggled over to the team’s bench and, with a broad smile, put on a team shirt. I watched with a small tear in my eye and warmth in my heart. The boys saw my joy at my son being accepted.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Shay’s team scored a few runs but was still behind by three.

In the top of the ninth inning, Shay put on a glove and played in the right field. Even though no hits came his way, he was obviously ecstatic just to be in the game and on the field, grinning from ear to ear as I waved to him from the stands.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, Shay’s team scored again.

Now, with two outs and the bases loaded, the potential winning run was on base and Shay was scheduled to be next at bat.
At this juncture, do they let Shay bat and give away their chance to win the game?

Surprisingly, Shay was given the bat. Everyone knew that a hit was all but impossible because Shay didn’t even know how to hold the bat properly, much less connect with the ball.

However, as Shay stepped up to the plate, the pitcher, recognizing that the other team was putting winning aside for this moment in Shay’s life, moved in a few steps to lob the ball in softly so Shay could at least make contact.

The first pitch came and Shay swung clumsily and missed.
The pitcher again took a few steps forward to toss the ball softly towards Shay.
As the pitch came in, Shay swung at the ball and hit a slow ground ball right back to the pitcher.

The game would now be over.
The pitcher picked up the soft grounder and could have easily thrown the ball to the first baseman.
Shay would have been out and that would have been the end of the game.

Instead, the pitcher threw the ball right over the first baseman’s head, out of reach of all team mates.
Everyone from the stands and both teams started yelling, ‘Shay, run to first!
Run to first!’
Never in his life had Shay ever run that far, but he made it to first base.
He scampered down the baseline, wide-eyed and startled.

Everyone yelled, ‘Run to second, run to second!’
Catching his breath, Shay awkwardly ran towards second, gleaming and struggling to make it to the base.
B y the time Shay rounded towards second base, the right fielder had the ball . the smallest guy on their team who now had his first chance to be the hero for his team.

He could have thrown the ball to the second-baseman for the tag, but he understood the pitcher’s intentions so he, too, intentionally threw the ball high and far over the third-baseman’s head.

Shay ran toward third base deliriously as the runners ahead of him circled the bases toward home.
All were screaming, ‘Shay, Shay, Shay, all the Way Shay’

Shay reached third base because the opposing shortstop ran to help him by turning him in the direction of third base, and shouted, ‘Run to third!

Shay, run to third!’
As Shay rounded third, the boys from both teams, and the spectators, were on their feet screaming, ‘Shay, run home! Run home!’

Shay ran to home, stepped on the plate, and was cheered as the hero who hit the grand slam and won the game for his team

‘That day’, said the father softly with tears now rolling down his face, ‘the boys from both teams helped bring a piece of true love and humanity into this world’.

Shay didn’t make it to another summer. He died that winter, having never forgotten being the hero and making me so happy, and coming home and seeing his Mother tearfully embrace her little hero of the day!

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. The User Experience | Quality | Mumbai Hero
2. Within all of us is a child

———————————————————————————————————————-

Steve Murray – International Mime Artist is coming to DYC

About Steve Murray

Steve Murray has been ministering as Behold Mime Ministry for over ten years and has been working internationally in schools, churches, conferences and missions etc. Behold is not just a mime ministry….  it’s human theatre where the gospel is delivered in a fresh, unique and inspirational style. Combining mime and preaching.

Although Energize is the new umbrella of Behold but Steve’s work is not. For three years now Steve has been touching thousands of teenage lives with his incredible presentation of mime, stories and testimony. Steve’s vision is to see young people embrace a cool, vibrant and relevant God in an environment where 90%  girls hate their bodies.

Find out more about Steve on his website

Date: 10th May 2010
Day: Monday
Event: Mime Performance by Steve Murray
Time: 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
————————————

Share/Save

Related posts:

1. 10th anniversary celebrations + photos
2. Growing pains? Not for Doon’s youngsters