~ Reflections ~

Magnanimity doesn't have a defined form. Or lets just say that one can encounter it in any shape and size, in any place... especially where one least expects it. Recently, a colleague narrated a similar story about the Assam Riots of 2012 , due to which many were rendered homeless and often, orphaned. But that's not why I have been in awe ever since. This absolutely inconspicuous colleague (also from Assam) told me how his room mate (whom he calls his brother) lost his parents in these riots when he was a teenager... How he saw his family being burnt alive with his own eyes. The surprising part is that he, as if he was stating the obvious, mentioned that this boy has been with him ever since, and he is now his guardian, and ensures his well being, both mental and physical. He is ensuring that he studies well (proudly admitting that he recently topped his class in DU) and he has already started preparing for IAS. Why I am even more in awe is because the supposed guardian ...

All of us chose our battles to fight. It could be about participation, breaking free, self assertion or just stating your mind. And more often than not, it all starts with small steps. Stating facts, setting examples and then sighting them, to make it seem normal, till it becomes the new normal. Gilette's ad on breaking stereotypes is one such example.

There are moments of doubt we all feel... second thoughts about what to do... There are instants of anger... and often, long spaces of regret... We move along all these emotions, almost daily... Live, to Die another day.... The following lines give good meaning, to going on.. There are stars  you haven't seen  and loves you haven't loved.  There's light you haven't felt  and sunrises yet to dawn.  There are dreams  you haven't dreamt  and days you haven't lived  and nights you won't forget  and flowers yet to grow.  There is more to you  that you have yet to  know. ~ Gaby Comprés

All of us like indulging in political commentary.  Primarily about the Prime Minister. Some of us, the MLA for the constituency. Often uninformed. Sometimes substantiated by media reports. Opinion mostly formed by random discussions in groups of equally uninformed people. This is how a majority of the 'educated' seem to vote. The other end of the spectrum are the supposedly 'uneducated', who not only know who their local MLAs & MPs are, but will easily be able to list of out what they have done for their constituency, and whether there has been any material difference. The easiest way to test this is to talk to the cab drivers, house helps etc, who will be able to confirm the same. So when an middle class family member grudgingly states that there has been insignificant change in their lives for the new MLA, it is because this set doesn't need to be appeased through action. All it takes is words. Anyway, for those who want to make a slightly more informed...

All of us are doing multiple things at a time... Various responsibilities... a list of pending chores...  A long list of confused thoughts and a longer list of woes.. As we walk through life, we get used to juggling everything... precariously keeping balance.... living it to the edge....and focusing our energies on keeping it together... So what happens if we just drop a ball... does all hell break lose...  Most of us aren't conditioned to handle this momentary chaos !

What happens when the blocks you setup, the ones you depend on, start tumbling down. Initially the loose and frail ones, but ultimately even the firms ones start to disappear. Is it a sign of age ? Or is it merely a sign for change ? Or maybe both seem to have suddenly coincided. What is the right response to such a situation, because it is tough to sustain numbing your way through this turmoil. Being patient might appear to be a good strategy in some instances and might feel like living in fool's paradise other times. There seems to be limited clarity on what can be done. However, it is clear that once the dust settles, and the tumbling stops, resulting in lesser stumbling, what remains will stay.... hopefully for good.

Everyone (Households and Corporates included) seem to have suddenly taken this appreciation to celebrating Women's Day. Different aspects of equality including load sharing to gender equality seem to be touched on during the discussion and advertisements of the day. I often wonder if celebrating such a day is energy misdirected.. afterall equality and equal rights is not just a celebration for a day. It is something to be understood and absorbed. Needless to say, the trending 'feminist' views seem to push it to the next level..  Somehow, all of sudden, being confident as a woman seems to be equated to no need for marriage... being aware of our rights has translated into sessions about environment in workplace... all of it being discussed with and amongst women. When did being okay with being single become a feminist stand. I'd have understood if the narrative was that marriage is not only about getting someone to manage the house and kids but someone who...

Different people, different hues.. Different thoughts and different views.. Some persist without a thought.. Some resist without a doubt.. Irrespective of how the mind works.. It finally accepts people with their quirks.. And learns to dull the pain.. From dealing with the new change.. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly. ~ Richard Bach ( Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah)

If one were to dwell on what defines a human... one would initially fumble on the usual suspects... But I don't think it matters whether the person is big or small, working or jobless, productive or unproductive, an addict or a saint...  What ultimately matters is how one treats the other person... both loved ones and strangers...

Each life is important and has its own impact. Even if we don't dwell deeper in realms like life and death and it's importance and consequences in each life, I feel we must think about each life in two contexts.  One, how will your loved ones deal with your death..  and second, how will you deal with the death of your loved one. Both these questions are equally important in realizing how independent or inter-dependent (as the case may be) are our minds and thoughts... It is difficult to say which is better or worse, whether their co-existence is the ideal kind of a relationship. This is not to say that we should move on in life dispassionately, so live in silos... after all the fewer beings you interact with, the easier it will be for anyone to get on... But living in silos to me is such a waste of a life... after all coexistence and interdependence is the beauty in this life.... Wondering if there is a right balance at all !!