~ Reflections ~

All of us have different views about the British influence on Indian culture.. whether it has done us good.. bad... made us more civilized... English... But whatever one might think, I don't think any of it is worthwhile, at the expense of our Independence.... Different people have come up with different perspectives to the issue, but Shashi Tharoor seems to have nailed the emotion... Below is what he said at a debate in UK on  Indian subcontinent benefited more than it lost from the experience of British colonialism . ------ Last week, on the very day that Scotland was deciding its future, six of us gathered in London to debate the past.  To commemorate the 400th anniversary of the British presence in India -- King James I's envoy, Sir Thomas Roe, arrived at the court of Emperor Jehangir in 1614 -- the Indo-British heritage Trust held a debate, in the chamber of the UK Supreme Court, on the motion "This House believes that the Indian subcontinent benefited mo...

Why do they always teach us that it's easy and evil to do what we want and that we need discipline to restrain ourselves? It's the hardest thing in the world--to do what we want. And it takes the greatest kind of courage. I mean, what we really want. ~ Ayn Rand

Home coming is a funny feeling.. We get used to where we are, that where we were seems new again.... never the less, every thing has a memory attached... some sweet, some bitter, and some bittersweet... Can't say I don't miss where I've come from.... but then, I've realized that I miss this too.... No matter how much suffering you went through, you never wanted to let go of those memories. ~ Haruki Murakami

Dear Mom, I know that you wish the best for me... and you want everything to be perfect.... You keep taking care of me, whether I tell you or I don't... I understand that you want to protect me from all evil, and want the very best for me always..... But the only way I'll learn is if I make my mistakes.... What may not seem perfect to you, maybe okay for me.... and that's how I start to define my own perfect :) So please bear with me, and my impertinence, when at times, I act like I know what I'm doing.... I may not always do what you want me to, but what you say always stays with me.... So cheer up... because there is only one you.... Love you !! PS: If these are sentiments echoed by others and not just me, I guess its a "Mom"thing :) :D

I may not believe in what you believe... But i believe in you... And to me, that is more important that having to believe in your belief...

Read this recently... struck a chord... मिली थी ज़िन्दगी किसी के काम आने के लिए .. पर वक़्त बीत रहा है कागज़ के टुकड़े कमाने के लिए !!! 

What happens when you think that it is all okay... But somewhere, somehow you don't feel it... That there is something brewing in your head, telling you about it... But you just ignore the signs.. We just stop, hoping the moment will pass by... But then realize that it wasn't just a moment !

Gandhi is one of the most critically acclaimed figures of India... I say critically acclaimed because there are almost as many critiques to his ideology as there are followers.... So when he opens the window to his mind and explains his thought process, one can only read with curiosity and intent. I won't say I am a fan or a blind follower of all that this man did... But I can safely admit that I admire some of the things he achieved... And as much as we might criticize him for being over - cordial with Britishers in the initial years, to the final agreement (or should it be called disagreement) over the partition of India, one can't but admire his will power and stubbornness, to achieve what he had set out to do. But the singular thing I'd give most credit to Gandhi ji (or rather The Gandhi) is that he managed to bring the nation together, in a way nobody else could manage, and by doing, what most would have labelled as cowardly action.... Satyagraha. In today...

It is amazing how we have an urge to say things... followed by the satisfaction of finally having said it...  followed, more often, by the feeling of regret that one could have avoided saying it in the first place... Words are very tricky... to say something is as risky as not saying it... since once said, it just can't be taken back.... maybe swallowing words in your head is a better option !

All of us have different milestones & benchmarks in life... Some want to climb the Everest, some wish to start work of their own... but what if your only wish is to be happy... and that is all you aspire for... does it mean that one has settled for less... that they are less ambitious... or is it simply and endless ladder, since one is never happy.. and we always want better...