In hope of another revolution!

So, here it comes again, the date 23rd March, a watershed moment in the history of Indian independence movement. 81 years ago, on this very day, our three brave brothers Bhagat Singh, Rajguru, and Sukhdev sacrificed their lives for a cause much bigger than themselves, the cause of AZAAD HINDUSTAN (independent India).

Being brought up and immensely influenced by my grandfather who lived through that era, Indian freedom struggle is something that isn't a mere historic bullshit to me. History isn't a mere boring subject which has to be crammed up just for the heck of it.

Through eyes of my grandfather, I envisioned both the traumatic as well as triumphant scenes of independence movement. Strange as it may sound, I still feel the echoes left by the famous slogan 'Inquilab Zindabad' or ' Long Live Revolution' or cries of those who died in vain in 'Jalliawallah Bagh massacre'.

And today, it makes me cranky to see of what all is left of 'Azaad Hindustan' we carved out for ourselves. We haven't only molested but brutally raped this country of ours and torn it into pieces. Let me support these strong words by some strong facts. 

1. Growth rate of Agriculture sector is 3%, sector which employs 2/3rd working population
2. Farmers suicide in India between 1997 and 2007 stands at a staggering 182,936 
3. 48% children in India malnourished, ranking 2nd in the world
4. Female Sex Ratio - 914 females /1000 males, lowest since Independence and one of the lowest in the world 
5. Ranked at 134th position in Human Development Index (HDI)
6. Black money in India - "Size of India's underground economy is approximately US$640 billion at the end of 2008 or roughly 50% of the nation's GDP.

These not-so-proud statistics are not mere facts to be whisked away as "kuch nahi ho sakta iss desh ka". The true tribute to our martyrs isn't merely uploading FB statuses or Bhagat Singh's pictures or even blog writing like I'm doing. With 65% population below 35 years of age, time is perhaps ripe for young Indians to take charge of another revolution in India. The only difference being that this time it is our own fellow Indians that we will be fighting against. 

Let me end by quoting the meaning of revolution from brother Bhagat Singh himself.

“‘Revolution’ does not necessarily involve sanguinary strife nor is there any place in it for individual vendetta. It is not the cult of the bomb and the pistol.  By ‘Revolution’ we mean that the present order of things, which is based on manifest injustice, must change."

- Bhagat Singh

Love of my life my BAUJI

“Love is how you stay alive, even after you are gone” Mitch Albom

The quote brought to my mind beautiful memories. Memories of a man whose presence completed my whole existence; a man who taught me essential lessons of life in my early childhood; a man who ignited the flame of patriotism in me; a man whose words I used to note down in my dairy; a man who became the master of his own destiny. Life honoured me by bringing such a wonderful, graceful, generous, forever smiling, beautiful soul to me in the form of a grandfather whom we lovingly called ‘Bauji’. There are some people who are blessed with good looks, there are some others who are blessed with wisdom; there are still others who are bestowed with humility. And the amalgamation of these three qualities- beauty, wisdom and humility is what I call my Bauji. He was the living example of how to live life to the fullest without regrets.

Today when I want to write so much about him, the words are not coming out. It happens when we lose touch with ourselves. It happens when the life shows us the lowest lows. It happens when

the spiritual chord with which we hold on to life is broken. And it broke for me on 3^rd Feb 2011, the day he breathed his last breath... Dad said he passed away peacefully.. I am sure he did. Because that is how he lived his life.. PEACEFULLY!!!

There is so much to write, but I can only share my feelings through these wonder lines -

“If tears could build a stairway,

And memories a lane,

I would walk right up to heaven

And bring you home again”

Family

A home isn't made by bricks, a home isn't made by luxuries it gives... 

A home is made by the PEOPLE who live there...
The love, the care, the laughter, the tears they share together...
Or else it becomes a PRISON HOUSE where thine soul is condemned to torture forever!!!!!

I sometimes wonder how the institution named ‘family’ came into being. From the subsistence level financial security it may bring, to the social security it can provide, to the emotional bonds it creates, it has become the basic unit of society. It is the building block of the society. It is the very foundation on which the whole structure of human civilization has been built.

‘Leo Tolstoy’ very rightly said in the opening lines of his famous novel, ‘Anna Kerenina’, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way”.

It is the unhappy part of a family which is irksome. Why do people with diametrically opposite personality and intellect keep living with each other? How does a family end up becoming a mere social obligation??? Why don’t people choose to separate with dignity rather than torturing each other’s soul with humiliation??? It is perplexing to see that the man has been conditioned to suppress his true feelings since time immemorial. In order to be seen as ‘respectful’ in the eyes of the society, the man has become a HYPOCRITE. A hypocrite towards the society, which measures his conduct by a false ladder and  a hypocrite to his own self. From a beautiful social institution, a family has deteriorated into a social liability. And the sad part of the whole story is the impact on a child. The unlucky child becomes the sad victim of ‘misunion’ of two unhappy souls.

I believe it is very important to become a ‘complete individual’ before getting married. The problem comes when people look for that completeness in the ‘other’. In an endeavour to become complete through the ‘other’, most people lose their own personality and individuality. And hence mess up the very wonderful institution. Such an incomplete union can never bring any satisfaction to anyone. Wish to see much more complete people getting married!!!!!

Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibahata Chala Gaya

Meaningful lyrics,wonderful music, combined with the brilliant performance by the legend himself, Mr Dev Anand... The song is so profound in its meaning..This is one song which is just three stanzas long..Yet it describes the essence of life so beautifully..

Life ain’t an easy odyssey.. It is a task full of challenges.. There are some who bow down under life's burden.. And there are some others who carve their own path.. They are the ones who don’t become the so called ‘football of other’s opinion’..They live their life to the fullest.. Their life like the flow of a river; flows smoothly, undaunted by the challenges that lie ahead ahead..The song means to express the true spirit of such a meaningful life- where the tragedies of life are not mourned upon, rather they are celebrated; where there is an immense acceptance to whatever the destiny has to offer; paving the way for a triumphant moment where the essential differences between the two pivotal emotions: happiness and sorrow cease to exist..

Main Zindagi Ka Saath Nibhata Chala Gaya 

Har Fikar Ko Dhuen Mein Udata Chala Gaya 

Barbadiyon Ka Shok Manana Fizul Tha 
Barbadiyon Ka Jashan Manata Chala Gaya 
Har Fikar Ko Dhuen Mein Uda… 

Jo Mil Gaya Usi Ko Muqaddar Samajh Liya 
Jo Kho Gaya Maein Usko Bhulata Chala Gaya 
Har Fikar Ko Dhuen Mein Uda… 

Gham Aur Khushi Mein Farq Na Mehsoos Ho Jahan 
Main Dil Ko Us Muqaam Pe Laata Chala Gaya 

Old is Gold... These days I am on a new journey..A journey to reinvent ‘Oldies’..Some of my favourite tracks from the golden era of Bollywood....