AAP, a glint of Hope

I have never written about politics. With the Indian politics specially being a labyrinth of bureaucracy, corruption, power game and Gandhinism, I have stayed away from writing about it. Every person of this country either has an opinion or doesn't care or is uneducated and ignorant. Media channels are biased towards one or the other political party. And the choice we really seem to have in the name of democracy is to choose, every few years, a party we deem less corrupt than the other. While we continue to be aware that things will never change drastically, population will go on to explode, the infrastructure will worsen and unrest will continue to grow, we still hope for a little better somewhere.

The Delhi elections faced quite a bustle this time because of AAP.  Not sure what did the Aam admi party do so right but they did connect with the people somewhere (and the result say that clearly). They have tall claims of forming a corruption free government and Lokpal bill being enforced. AAP's young candidates come from crime free backgrounds and claim to be young commoners. They have offered something different from what was being served all these years; the Congress and BJP oldies bashing each other. Tired of the conventional, the Delhiites are ready to risk the reigns in the hands of the inexperienced for a change. During a discussion I was told that my vote for AAP is a complete waste. If they come, they are bound to get corrupt. If they have a Lokpal, it would mean more time and money for the same work now as I would have to bribe the Lokpal too. Just as much as it worried me, it also disheartens me with the number of people who have completely given up hope on this country. 

But all that said, I cling to the smallest hope. And this time AAP actually did seem to offer that tiniest hope. They did not offer a clear strategy or a plan and I don't trust them but stand for the smallest hope which they have given. Perhaps someday this country too, will start moving towards a country, which we dream of in staying.  Someday, I hope.    

The man who lived on Nonsense Land

Once upon a time, on the nonsense land, there lived a man. This man never had a moment of peace. He always sought a bigger house, the most expensive things to adorn his house and the latest car. He wanted every person around him to always be in awe of his possessions. Every now and then, he added a new belonging and basked in its glory but for counted days. His contentment would vanish as soon as somebody else had a superior version of the possession and he then lost sleep thinking how and when he could improve his possession and position. There was no peace for him.

One day the man had an idea. He thought of finding a wife who he hoped could bring him some peace. But he also wanted the most beautiful girl who belonged to an influential family so that people around could be in awe of her and his choice. He searched for days which turned into months and finally found the prettiest and most delicate looking girl from an affluent family. After a splendid wedding, he settled in a mansion with every possible comfort. He would take around his wife like a trophy, wherever he went. But months later, dissatisfaction started to creep back. As people stopped talking about his wife and started complimenting other women, the man became increasingly dissatisfied with his wife. He bought the most expensive clothes and jewelry for her, which gained her momentary admiration but didn't last for long just like his peaceful state.

The next thing, the man thought to get him admiration was to have a child. His child will be the most beautiful, gifted and brilliant and the envy of people around, he dreamed. He and his wife were soon blessed with a pretty girl. The man set high expectations from his young child. He wanted her to race ahead of all other children in every possible aspect. But the child was drawn towards what young children are normally inclined towards. She loved to paint and spend time close to nature. It made the man to be thoroughly disappointed with his child. Over the years, the man became distant and insensitive towards his wife and child. He became increasingly dissatisfied and restless. So restless that one day he decided to set on a quest to find peace.

So this man left nonsense land and wandered aimlessly. Through wilderness and mountains, he searched meaninglessly for days. There were days when he passed lush green forests with the most exquisite birds, ripened sweet fruits hanging from the greenest trees overlooking serene mountains. But in spite of the calm surrounding him, his mind was full of clutter. 

On one such day after days of walking, he was exhausted. He found a resting place under a giant tree and just as he made himself comfortable under it, he soon dozed off. Some hours must have passed before he woke up. As he drowsily opened his eyes, he found an elderly sage sitting next to him. The man looked suspiciously at the sage who smiled back at him. Perhaps the sage has answers for me; the man thought. So he shared the story of his life as the sage listened intently.  When the man finished, the sage looked deep into the man’s eyes and spoke with absolute calm.

"Son, you have led your life trying to chase what is infinite and that is others' expectations. What do you think peace is? Peace is harmony with yourself while you have been trying to chase harmony with an unreal world"

He paused for a few seconds and then continued in the most tranquil voice.
"On the nonsense land, you have led a shallow life. So shallow, that you have forgotten to appreciate small miracles of life. Even in your good deeds, you have always sought appreciation from others. If you are content with yourself, you will never seek outside.”

The sage looked at the man questioningly. 

“As you journeyed, did you notice the birds chirping to seek your attention? Did you feel the cool breeze which was trying to comfort you? Did you show gratitude to the tree which gave you sweet fruits so you don’t starve? And did you experience the raindrops trying to wash away your tears?”

The man listened intently with tears rolling down his embarrassed face.  

“You are wearing a mask to gratify and impress people who do not care about the real you. And you are tired of carrying the burden of this façade. It curbs you to understand the happiness and blessings in your life and holds you back from your real self. It has even made you inconsiderate towards your loving wife and adorable child. It has made you thankless. 

Start with knowing yourself. Make a journey within and shed the mask. It will be only friends and well-wishers who love the real you who will surround you then. 

So all you have to do is search within and know the real you and that will be the moment you will have all the answers” 

As the sage finished, he blessed the man and left. 

The man continued to look after the sage till he disappeared in the wilderness. The man felt warmed with love and understanding. With an overwhelming gratitude for so many things in his life, he started to walk back towards his home. He felt peace for having an insight into the way to find his answers.  

The hero that lies in me

If there is one song that inspires me at any given time, it has to be Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero’.  Other than the obviously uplifting lyrics, I have a memory associated with the song. If I may, I’d like to take you back to that memory, the memory of my XIth standard.

We all got into the most intense discussions after our class teacher announced that it was our turn to present the morning assembly. Brainstorming, idea generation, disagreements…all of it was happening at the same time. And just like the ‘egg first or chicken first’ confusion, I am not sure whether the theme came first or the idea to sing along with Mariah Carey’s ‘Hero’ did. Nevertheless, we had the blueprint ready and role and responsibilities assigned.  Since I had the song ‘on a cassette’, I agreed to get the lyrics. And may I remind you those were days without the savior Google so there was no luxury of quickly searching for the lyrics. I heard the song over and over again and jotted down the lyrics. And the more I heard it, the more I believed in it. It had such an everlasting impact that I still believe it.

We decided 'Hero' to be the finale and our entire class to be singing it. After a short dramatic, we were all on the stage with the audience wondering what all of us were up to. I had a short write up on hope and the strength to go on which I narrated with 'Hero' playing in the background. And as I finished and walked back to the choir, we all sang the chorus together 

“And then a hero comes along,

With the strength to carry on,

And you cast your fears aside,

And you know you can survive,

So when you feel like hope is gone,

Look inside you and be strong,

And you’ll finally see the truth,

That a hero lies in you”

The entire auditorium echoed with our collective voice and as we finished I remember there to be an absolute silence before a loud applause could follow. It was a silence of awe. Our Principal congratulated us for the outstanding show which was followed by accolades from teachers and students alike as we walked back to our class. It was not only a moment of pride but a moment where the lyrics got magically etched in my heart. 

Every memorable experience has a reason and I know the reason for this one. It is a constant reminder of the hero that lies in me. 

And now if you have the sudden urge to hear 'Hero'...here goes http://youtu.be/0IA3ZvCkRkQ

The braver choice

Life is so much about choices. 

The more I think about it, the more obvious it seems. We are so constantly making choices. I remember being told in college about a prisoner who we might think has no choice but then if you think deeper the choices are there. And that is a reality, his reality. He could commit suicide, try to escape or continue in the same state of imprisonment. We always have choices whether we like it or not.
I look around at friends, family and role models for the choices and risks which they have taken or did not take.
At times when I get fed up with my Gurgaon- Delhi commute, I think to myself that it's clearly a choice which I have made. And trust me such thoughts are recurrent during the 3 hours of being stuck on the water logged roads after the showers. I had made a similar choice in Abu Dhabi when I decided to commute to Dubai every single day for work. I think I have a problem there. I am not happy with the easier choice, I like the tougher choice, the braver choice. And I also admire people who choose to challenge their limits and not just sit back in their cushy cocoons. Of course the commute might be a rather small struggle compared to the much braver and tougher choices which many people are making every single day.

So which future will you choose?

It was the most stunning view from the cruise which was taking us to the Phi Phi Islands. The perfect blue sea with perfect green islands and the perfect breeze…well perfection doesn’t last too long or does it? All of my senses were overwhelmed with so much beauty to be soon intruded with this question from the tour guide. 

“Are you interested to go for sea diving? Please give your name in 5 minutes if you wish toooo”, she said in her musical Thai accent 

I had only 5 minutes to think to decide whether I was to go or not? All the beauty suddenly vanished and I was debating internally and here goes my debate. 

This was the one opportunity not to come again in a long long time.

But what if I drown? I am hardly the swimmer. 

But there was a qualified instructor and I couldn’t die.

Still. Even Sumit was not accompanying. 

You should take the plunge. You have the courage and you could do it. Just this once, it’s worth a try. You have never done anything courageous. How about this one to prove everyone wrong?

What if there is a rare deadly snake or something down there?

There have been no such thing so don’t hallucinate and So Just go for it.

The next moment I had my name written for an experience which I will remember for the longest time ever. 

It not only ended in an amazing experience but also a realization about decisions. We are always making decisions and while making those decisions, we are making choices. So in those moments, picture yourself in the different future possibilities of different choices which are available as a result of the impending decision. Which future looks more promising and contenting? Which future brings a broader smile to your face and a sense of inner peace and greater achievement? And which future will be worth it in the end, in a long long time to come?

Hate you, hate you, hate you

Life was so much simpler without cheese, chocolate, donuts and junk. I mean seriously what do these International junkies want? To make every kid of our country diabetic or person of every class in this country to look like a burger? 

Every time you switch on the television, you have KFC advertising the zinger meal for a price that seems to cost cheaper than a cheap soap? Switch to the next channel, there you have a super thin model gorging the new Lebanese roll from Dominos which are baked in exotic spices. You clench your teeth in anger and switch the television off and rather pick the newspaper up. And there it is, the juiciest, largest and the most scrumptious Dunkin Donuts burgers in vegetarian and non-vegetarian varieties sitting on the first page of the newspaper. It seems to be inviting you so lusciously that you are already drooling. 
Aarghhh!!! 
And if you are already not going mad with hunger, the following pages will tell of of the new Starbucks round the corner or a new Auntie Anne’s or a Cinnabon. 

So what has changed? Why have we got a hungrier lot?

In early days, we had our share of samosas, dahi bhallas, mithai and gol gappas selling in the next door sweet shop but the differentiator being that the 'halwai' never got innovative. This 'halwai' was utterly satisfied with frying the same stuff for years with the same ingredients and the same accompaniments. No offers on birthdays or a discounts or a new recipe to get us excited. The only addition was the annual meager price increase. 

But these international junk sellers have to be given credit for driving the buyer needs with innovative creations (every now and then) and being able to market it equally innovatively. Every time there is some new endorsement, no matter how good it looks, I just know it won’t taste as good as it looks but can’t seem to get it off my mind till I have savored it. I hate these international junk sellers for their innovations and I hate them for their marketing and I hate them for giving our society so many calories.