Realisation vs Imposition

It was evening time. The family sat together having tea, the kids- milk. It was rare that they all met at one place. Father remained out for work regularly, mom taught Senior Secondary students at a private school. The elder of the children was Roshni, in her 20s. Rohan, the younger one, was twelve years old. The television was on, a reality show being broadcasted. The father was happy; he was spending leisure time with his family after almost 3 months. Lately he had been to West Bengal to visit a factory there. He had audited thousands of companies before and was an expert in the work. Now he was on a long holiday, so there wasn’t any hurry and thus a lot of time for the family. He was worried that his children did not lose critical parental teachings. Both parents remaining out of home, he had always thought of the kids.  That day he smiled within, watching his children happy.

Mother had a similar concern. She had been teaching at school for seven years now. Children grew up into adults within two years, but she hadn’t got the chance to watch her own going through that phase. Rohan was yet young, but Roshni, she had successfully crossed the transition, she thought. That day she was joyfull, seeing the family together. Sipping the tea, she asked Roshni, “So when’s the next Sem Exams?” Roshni, who hadn’t yet left milk when others of her age had hopped on to vodkas and beer, gestured that they were in the next month. It wasn’t that Roshni was not modern or dynamic, she was very much both. But she had been very careful about addictions. None knew whether it was the independence she had, which she respected a lot, or the nerve-bending story of her uncle, who had died of drugs. Difficult story it was. For now, the story had been off their minds, the grief had gone.

The advertisements were taking a lot of time now. Father lost his patience. He tuned into another channel. News. This was yet another thing he had missed since his appointment as an auditor. Yes, mobile phones gave an alternative, but the excitement and spicy nature of television news kept it a step behind, for the father at least. The breaking news then was of the popular IPL Spot Fixing. One small incident had led to huge secrets being unearthed. Many big names were now being linked to the fixings. The father finished his tea; mother was already into the kitchen. He picked up the mugs, dishes and moved to the kitchen. Roshni had got a phone call and was in the balcony with her coffee. It was beautiful out there in the balcony with cool breeze. Rohan, as usual was still with his mug full of milk, staring at the yelling news reporter. Tea time was over.

The father was done with arranging dishes in the rack, one more pleasure he had missed for long, with his wife. They both had made up a very good couple and the marriage was very successful. He moved out of the kitchen to remind Rohan to empty his cup faster or else he would remain glued to the television. But he knew he had left the news on, nothing interesting for the little Rohan. He entered the living room and to his surprise or shock, the news had changed. IPL Spot Fixing was done and news, rather an awareness program was being shown, one which made the Father feel awkward. The line flashed in red on white- ‘Should Porn be Banned in India?’ He remained frozen between the little space which joined the kitchen and the living room. His mind stuck between yet smaller one. What should he do now, was the only question moving in his mind. Rohan continued watching the show, sipping his milk.

The situation was ‘critical’. Dilemma; a huge one for the father. Several thoughts were now brushing past his mind. He had two options: either he could call Rohan and ask him to finish the milk faster and switch off the TV, pretending there was so much work to do, or he could ask him, talk to him about the thing he was watching. The first one was easy enough, he could just walk past Rohan to the switch board and turn off the TV, and tell him to hurry up and that he had his homework to do. Topic finished! The second option was much more difficult. He had to gather courage and sit beside his son and tell him what he was watching about. He had ‘feared’ that this situation would come sometime for him, but he hadn’t prepared for it. How would he face it, he had either driven the thought off or had thought of how to drive away the situation. While he was stuck in the little space, the mother entered. Same reaction. She tapped her husband on the shoulder, and in the language of the eyes, asked him to do something. He was too involved into doubts that nothing came to his mind but just one word to his vocals; “Rohan!” It was a strange call in terms of the pitch and tone. Never had he called him like that. Actually he hadn’t this time too, it had just come out. Rohan turned to his dad, expecting him to say something more. Surely, he knew nothing about the ‘word’. Or else he would have jumped out of surprise knowing his dad had been watching (something which wasn’t wrong). Father knew nothing ahead. He walked towards him and asked whether the mug was empty. Rohan, like any other child, gave a witty smile and stuck his mug to his mouth pretending to drink the milk. His cuteness hit the father really hard. How more can anyone be innocent? He was worrying worthlessly. It was rare; children getting to know about porn through things which were meant to stop it. But rare did happen that day.

The situation hadn’t passed yet. The father had sat beside Rohan, the TV remote now meters away from him. He sat watching helplessly. Atlast he decided to take up a step. Words blurted out of mouth, “So do you know what you are watching about?” Rohan looked up at him and nodded in refusal. “Dad what is P-O-R-N?”, he could not pronounce the word. Father took a pause, organized his words and said, “Son, you know how a lotus grows?” It was a strange reply. Rohan gathered interest now, as his dad had replied indirectly. “No! How does it dad?”, he asked. “It’s very interesting fact, you know! Lotus is a beautiful flower, but it only grows in mud. If you lift a pink beautiful lotus, you’ll find a huge muddy net of its roots. It’s natural miracle that such a beautiful flower grows out of mud and turmoil.” Rohan stared at his father; the real explanation was yet to come. “So now consider a person who lives underwater, okay? And another one living above it. What will the man underwater see when he looks at the lotus?” “Roots, mud!”, Rohan exclaimed. “Perfect!”, the father smiled. “And what would the man looking from above? What would he see?”  “The flower! Pink!” “Yes, you are right again my boy! So now if the man living underwater remains there for long time, he’ll have a permanent notion about the flower, rather the thing he sees, that it is muddy, tangled. On the contrast, the man above will have a beautiful impression of lotus!” “Hmm”, Rohan was so much into listening that only this came out. “So why did I tell you this? Because, P-O-R-N, ‘porn’, is a thing visible to us when we see a ‘lotus’ from below, the mud, the dirt. And what is the lotus here? Love, intimacy, relations, human reproduction.” “Human reproduction?” “Yes. You’ll soon have a chapter in science on it. Come to me when your teacher starts it.” Rohan nodded. “It’s all about how you see it, my son. Look from the above, you find beautiful things such as love, and look from the below, you find this dirt.” Rohan had understood it well what his father had been telling. Mother smiled, who had been constantly watching the episode. A child was saved from being introduced to sex through porn.

It’s common now that children aged 11-12 years are being introduced to sex and sexual matters through media like porn. This medium is not only creating a bad impression of a beautiful thing, but also inviting an addiction. What we need is a good conversation. The awkwardness in discussing sexual matters must be removed, and charity always begins at home. Curiosity is the biggest teacher, both in a positive and negative way. If Rohan would have been imposed upon that porn was bad, a curious mind would have surely led him to find a way to it. That’s the difference between imposition and realization. If rapes and sexual harassments have to be stopped, such crucial steps must be taken. So stopping major social problems is into our hands, open up your mind and save the world or shut it up and help it rot.

Brain sticks down, when Heart flies in the Air

They nurtured, taught me the right values,

Made me a man out of a boy,

Rose up high, out of the shallows

Of deep down-trodden scum.

Thoughts were carved on the mind so bold,

Now when heart tries to fly,

Brain sticks down, still old…

Books said these were the best of all,

The morals you learn will save you from a fall,

Stepping out into this very real world,

Shy are the books, for every single word.

My mind’s engaged in sorting out things,

Brain-- still way within,

Yet the heart feels no worry in moving ahead,

Ideals are bondage to it,

And all that’s already said.

The Delhi case; the prime reason.

Heart: enraged, mind: conscious and the Brain stubborn.

Blood was pumped to redden my face,

My heart strongly showed signs of its increased pace

Books, ranks, and money after all

Were flashed by the brain to give the heart a stall!

So much confused are we,

Talk of idealness when we lack real.

Sitting in a train, watching people flow,

Looking how busy could life be,

Contrast to the reel life show,

Mind takes a philosophical stance

Packs up the heart’s rage and the brain’s wants,

Like a tooth-fairy it picks up wrong,

Leaves in return a healed wound;

The scar wouldn’t last long...

Your mind matters...

Face whitens, not of death.

Wants diminish, not the passion.

The reason requires conscience,

Rather than anger,

‘Ideals in a real world’… can’t be stranger!

Reach out for the perfect, while living through the real,

Heart would fly up, and brain stick down,

Situations may grab you, confuse you,

Yet… the Brilliant Mind would never let you down…

The Stolen Years (II)

While writing the first part of 'The Stolen Years', I didn't know that I would go on to write the second. But then, you see, how vast is the issue! Living in that atmosphere makes me find, wherever I see, the same situation. Recently I had been to Airoli for an entrance test. It was yet again an engineering entrance test. The level wasn't that high, regarding the difficulty of questions. Moreover there was another factor on which, nowadays, the difficulty of an exam depended. It was an easy analysis! If there exists any kind of coaching for an exam then consider it to have good standards, in terms of questions, competition and repute of the institute. I hadn't found many institutes teaching for VITEEE, yet there were few odd ones out of the crowd. The test was a quite easy one but my head ached badly due to continuous exposure to a computer screen. My dad and I headed to the station and waited for the train.

At the station, also at many others which I had noticed while arriving at Airoli, were numerous banners of coaching institutes, shouting out there results saying 1,2,3,4.. rankers were from this n this institute, 'we teach success' and stuff. I enjoyed reading these slogans or what you would call 'taglines', most of them were quite interesting! You too might enjoy some,

-Our results are results of our intentions!

-We create champions!

-A nourishing ground for future IITians and Doctors!

-Because success is yours!

-Pioneering scientific learning process since 1984's! (OMG!)

-Creating interest to work rigorously! (Thank You!)

-Where discipline is the way of life! (Is that a coaching institute?!)

-Where success is a must!

-Your search ends here! (Oh thank You!)

-Because tomorrow is yours! (Sure!)

I get to read such tags usually when I read some educational magazine. That day at the railway station I saw similar. But this one was a bit more serious. My train had yet minutes to come, so I went on reading everything on that banner. It started with a statement which disturbed me...

What would you save, money or your child's future?

 This one line somewhat enraged me and much more surprised me as to how this banner was still hanging up there?! It indirectly said, "Come, come to us parents! Pour on us the serene money you have! No, don't think of saving it, pour it all! At last we make your child's future!" It kept me thinking that how come these institutes have so much of guts to banner out such statements which could hurt feelings. Obviously guys, a parent not able to afford such a high amount will feel low as he cannot do the 'best' for his/her child. Digging deeper, we find the shining reasons, for why this prevails in India...

Reasons for these stolen years are quite basic. The most fundamental one being lack of equal respect to every occupation. We have formed a hierarchy of professions in India, rather it is present in the whole world but more prominent here. Watch any movie portraying a poor family, usually would be a farmer's. A young child would be encouraged to become an engineer or a doctor so that the same harsh conditions do not fall upon him. Escaping out of farming has been a dream for every farmer family. And then to make this escape a success, these institutes come into role! So why does every farmer want to run away from farming? Past few decades our cities have seen numerous immigrants from rural areas, such people who come in search of jobs, having lost their crop. A real life description in my English textbook speaks about it...
"Food is more important for survival than an identity. “If at the end of the day we can feed our families and go to bed without an aching stomach, we would rather live here than in the fields that gave us no grain,” say a group of women in tattered saris when I ask them why they left their beautiful land of green fields and rivers."

Migration is now common in India, rural people migrate to cities for better conditions

So it is human to migrate for survival when conditions worsen. But then cities do not promise any luxuries! Mumbai is rightly quoted as 'Mayanagari', as miracles happen here. People enter Mumbai to fulfill their dreams, some fail, some succeed. Atlast luck and money matter a lot! So we too have migrated from coaching classes to this struggling life of rural people, which clearly tells how deep rooted the problems are. A major point comes into limelight: India's developmental strategy. We have been praised as the gonna-be world's economic power. Many futurists say that India will soon develop economically. But the shoot's leaving the root. We are flying into the air so high that we are leaving our foundation.

Glancing at India's developmental process, we find a trend different from a regular seen in many now-developed countries. A general trend observed in many developed countries is that the progress was made step by step; first agriculture, then industry and then services. India had jumped onto services even when agriculture was still handicapped. We are losing a lot due to this leap. Weak agriculture sector is making everyone leave it and now the drought has worsened the conditions. I recently read a news and personally noticed that many farmers from west and central Maharashtra had migrated to cities like Mumbai and Pune. The worst part is yet to come. They were found begging at the railway stations, bus stations and other public areas. Still, the vice CM of Maharashtra talks of peeing into the dams to fill them. Strange! Stranger the fact that these issues are well knit with the one in the title! So it's like a well linked cycle of problems. Weak agriculture leads to tendency to escape, escaping out into urban lifestyle means financial stability, it requires a good job, a good job is only promised by good colleges, and to get into good colleges, yes! You can try hard alone! But there are escorts available which make your journey easier..and you join an institute!

Another point which came to my notice while talking to my friend was that too much involvement into coachings has led to negative effects on nurturing creative ideas at the +2 level. At her school, students of Class 11 refused to design a science project just because they were too busy with tests at their institutes. So what are the solutions? One big step by CBSE to combine all tests into one: JEE Main, has done no good to reduce the coaching class influence. They have moulded themselves to the change. Solution lies in our hands. More we feed them, more would they flourish. Complete dependency must be avoided. A good school must be the first preference at class 12. Juniors, you must not think that joining a good coaching institute means better future. Rather studying well must be the first aim. Remember, IITian's Pace may ask your parents whether money is important or their child's future, answer it plainly, I am important. Many others will ask for humongous fees, ask them the reason. Get every single detail about their plan, strategy, and make it sure that, if you pay, your money doesn't go in vain. Many don't know that complaints can be filed against coaching classes at the consumer forums, if the service is not felt apt. Use this feature if required. Two years are precious, I say this again, don't let anyone steal them, make them productive yourself...

The Stolen Years

Recently I gave a visit to my house at Alibag on the day of Gudi Padva. My family was with me, the trip was beautiful. The change from a busy scheduled lifestyle in New Panvel to a flexible one was awesome. Met good old friends. I had just given my engineering entrance exam, the JEE Main,so had many of my friends. A bit of load had moved away, not to empty my mind but just to give it a warm up session to welcome yet another one; the State CET and others. My mind was like making every single excuse to have a break now. This visit was a good solution. Almost after a year I had been to my house. The mangoes had grown bigger, yet bore no fruit. The neighbour's trees were bowing down due the weight of the fruits. In New Panvel, I saw them on footpaths, vendors selling them. The saying, "When you leave Mumbai, you hug nature" proved right! Yet another fact, "With nature, you are in peace, and in peace, your mind works" was gonna be true very soon...

On the day of Gudi Padwa, my dad invited his friends home, he hadn't met them for months! A small amount of snack was arranged- Samosas and Jalebis. Guests arrived, beautiful evening it was; humorous and full of joy. The evening went by, soon. Our stomachs were filled so mum decided not to make dinner and we decided to go to the beach that night. House was a bit far from the beach and thus we needed a transport. My dad's friend had left his motorcycle, in case we needed it. And yes we did! I drove my dad and then mum and bro in two trips. It was low tide then, the beach had become dirty due to the things that had washed off to the shore. Mosquitos enjoyed blood. We sat on a bench, me, mum and dad. My bro and cousin went on the sand to play. Waves enjoyed their way to the shore, one by one. Just then my father's phone rang. It was his friend. It had been a bit of practice now, that people enquired about schools to join, streams to opt and other vital decisions to take, to me. But then one more question was becoming more frequent now. My dad held the call and asked me,
"His brother's son has just given Class 10 board examinations. Now he wishes to study science further and then do engineering. Which coaching class is the best among these- Quality Circle, Vidyasagar or Vidyalankar?"
I had seen Quality Circle's board one day walking home from my own coaching institute. Vidyalankar and Vidyasagar were known to me as I had enquired about them earlier. I said Vidyalankar and Vidyasagar would be better over the other. He gave my message to his friend. Silence. Waves still found their way to the shore, one by one...
Suddenly I spoke up, "It's strange, isn't it, that we care too much about the coaching institute to join, rather asking about a school?" I sensed a debate getting birth. My mum agreed to it. My dad too. But then later they gave an explanation, "These two years are crucial, considering Indian education system. You cannot let them go easily as your future depends on how good you do now. And then, we aren't so majestic that we live on our elders money. Rather it doesn't suit our ethics that we enjoy our elders hard-earned money but become independent." But I had a doubt, "Then why not the schools? These institutes have cleverly identified the need, or the desperateness of the parents of Indian students. And then again population comes into role! So many students and so little seats! It's perfectly true that, having resources, none will leave any stone unturned so as to fix a seat in the top institutes of the country." My dad said," Yea, you're true, but then who wants to be poor? Parents commit a mistake here." Mum said, "Yes that's right, we parents mistake here. Many invest so much into coaching institutes that they forget about the education which lies beyond this period." I recalled Chetan Bhagat's Revolution 2020, Gopal's dad spends all his savings onto a coaching institute at Kota, hoping he gets a seat in IITs. The night went long, I wished to talk more. We hit more topics, very far from this small one. Waves now silently were conquering the shore ahead. The sand was wet now. My mind had already soaked into the thought, I was conquering many ideas, it was a high tide approaching...

The problem at hand was very big one. Coaching institutes had landed in almost all competitive areas of education; the most evident one being engineering entrance, as engineering still remains among the most preferred side. The success of coaching institutes meant a huge failure of our +2 schooling system. Somewhere a loop hole was so big that we had started emphasising coachings more than schools. I remember an article I read regarding the coaching business in India. The research says that the industry has profits in some billion dollars, including just those institutes which are recognized. The ones owned by an individual, conducted at home remain unnoticed. Anyone who thinks is capable of teaching opens an institute. It's interesting to see how one problem is superimposed on other, when coaching institutes find scarcity of place! Then classes are opened in places meant for shops, markets. The building which collapsed in Thane had a coaching institute too! So what are we losing when we are fixing a seat into the best colleges, which would mean a good job in the future? The answer lies within...

Competition to the top..none leaves no stone unturned

The 'fees' demanded by these institutes are overwhelming. Irony lies in the fact that we are ready to pay them lakhs of rupees but hit stones and conduct strikes when our schools declare a fee hike! I am not in favour of huge fee hikes at schools, but the equality of rage towards coaching institutes goes missing. Moreover, there is no basis on which institutes ask for such a big amount. They say look at our results. We fly in air when we see posters showing AIRs in top ten or hundred, proud to be a part of an institute which produces quality students. We so give so much importance to them that we keep our schools aside. Coaching seems a gateway to IITs. Many times, these institutes tend to break laws by building fake castles in air. Even many school teachers have now hopped into this industry. It is expected that schools must stress upon preventing students from joining tuitions, but this situation invites the problem. This problem is a statistical one. What further itches is its emotional and social impact.
India has been so much in the so-called developmental era that struggle has remained a part of every Indian's life right from the Independence. The only solution one finds out of this struggle is escape. Many try to earn more and have a healthy lifestyle. So in a way, in India, we have mechanised our life, leaving no time for the country, the people, the social issues, nothing. And then these coaching institutes have become our travel agents, assuring us best service. And what an agent does not forget is commission! So do the institutes! The two years of our life, get stolen. The time when we are meant to build social, economical ideas for the betterment of the country, we sit in a coaching institute, learning to secure a high rank. What I mean to convey through this article is not complete isolation from coachings, but prevention of complete dependency and devotion to coachings. Guys, it's impossible to live without a coaching, I know. Today there are coachings even for small kids! Somewhere it roots to very basic problems in our society. Time for us to identify them. Decide cautiously, two years of life do matter. Atlast, it is you who mark your future, achieve it yourself...

The 'Legal' Bribing

Corruption...the word reminds us of cash bundles packed in a suitcase or a handbag to be delivered to a 'white-dressed' man, be it a politician or some mafia. Or, to some, it might portrait rallies, with people demanding corruption free politics and governance. To some others, it may also mean Mr. Khejriwaal! Whatever it might mean to us, it globally means this,

Corruption: Dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery.

Our generation must have been the 'most-corruption-cases-witnessed' one. During the past few years huge scams have come to our notice where those in power, or those in contact with the ones in power have earned millions. Such scandals have led the country to bear huge losses. Even knowing all this, we fail to stop the wrong or even act strongly against the wrongdoers  Analysing the reason for the act of bribing leads us into various psychological factors. It also roots into the man's never ending wish to achieve(define the word) more. Researches and social activists, including myself, stress upon the need to end this practice at the grassroots level. Largely it is we people responsible for tempting them to ask money. I get a thought to my mind, always when I talk or think about corruption, an idea which my Social Science teacher had...

"Bribing for getting your job done faster has held almost all the structures of Indian Democracy. We people, tired of this money-under-the-table process try to speak against it. A feeling of revolution comes to our mind. We revolt. But why don't we think for a better solution? My view upon removing corruption is making bribery legal..."

The class remained dumbstruck! Out there, the world was demanding for a corruption free world, and this man was trying to make bribing legal?! Some, including me, refused! Call it our awareness, or immaturity, that we were unable to digest his idea.

He continued, "Making bribing legal would solve almost all our problems, setting particular rules on bribing, about the amount and time period, will help remove the stagnancy in our governance. Further, this would 'sieve out the loopholes' in our system."

The idea was yet not digested by us. The thought of making bribing legal would mean rich getting richer and poor poorer! I was not then, not even yet, that mature enough to get the seriousness of his point. The class ended in a haste, our minds refusing an alien into a crowd of set beliefs, which called themselves 'the seeds of revolution'...

Today when I recall that class, I try hard to understand what my teacher actually meant, because somewhere I sensed in it the potential to cure the wound. But till today I fail. The question keeps me thinking and the answer seems to be far off. One day, I was reminded about this, I was watching television then. Commercials were on, me waiting for some show to resume. My mind hovered to find answers, when I struck to something, not the answer, but a symptom. Deeper, I could see the seriousness of this symptom...

I realised how it had remained unnoticed to all, how under-the-table money was being offered so 'publicly'. Television Life...the addaa of 'legal' bribery! The commercials I was viewing were the most important and clear-cut symptoms of how money was being played with, using 'vital nutrients' as a shield. The commercials switched too quick, giving no time to the viewer to judge and mostly fall prey to the glam of the advertisement. The list would go long if I mention some examples. You must have watched various advertisements boasting of their products first and then mentioning some attractive gifts free with the good. I have lived that time when Lay's wafers had a hard time and used to give a free gift with the packet to attract buyers(we children). But where's bribing involved in all this?! Right? Money doesn't seems to be involved in black in this industry! Then how am I making such blames! Wait...you need to broaden the way you define bribing.

This is what I mean by it,

Bribing is an act of doing or making someone ready to do something which does or propagate wrong, wrong by law or humanitarian values.

This definition tries to include all such acts which are encouraged by any influence, money or thought. Now you might have gotten something regarding why I am calling TV commercials active sites of bribing. The definition generalises, now I would also call making of terrorists as bribing, they are bribed by thoughts. Various politicians, devoid of any practical or sensible social reform, usually bribe people by cheap divisive beliefs, and it's our weakness that we fall prey to them! It is usually seen that elders tend to 'bribe' children, promising them to offer something upon certain conditions. This bribery of thought has much more affected than that of money. Speaking about commercials, I put forward three major issues that compel me to call TV advertisements foul:

1. Truth based upon fake foundation: Most of the commercials today do not have anything to do with the genuineness of the product. Most of them boast so much about their product that the true quality remains behind curtains. Regarding bribery, the actors involved in promoting such 'fake truths' are misleading people and spreading a lie. Money is poured onto them just to increase sales, even if the matter in the advertisement is false. This is clear-cut bribing!
2. Deny our Right To Choose: We might get tempted to see, in supermarkets, soaps available in packs of four saying 'a combo offer', rather nowadays single soap bars have disappeared! This attempt of soap manufacturers is indirectly an encroachment upon our right to choose! We are left with no option but to buy the four together. Many others have opted this as it leads to a good sale of their products. Irony lies in the fact that it is presented as an 'offer'!
3. Increased Dependency: My brother usually questions me that if we had no energy drinks, body growth supplements, where would have we been? How did men in history manage to live such a period of evolution? This makes me think about how dependent we have become on such items. PediaSure, Bournvita, Complan and many others give scientific reasonings in their advertisements. But ever wondered how nutritious is plain milk?! More DHA, more vital nutrients and what not do they promise! People remember one thing, our ancestors lived much more 'easy' life than we do now. They lived on natural plain diet. Our wish, being specific, our greed to achieve has made us leave no effort. Lifespan has increased, on bed. 

The points mentioned above are worth giving a thought. We live in this world, where in front of our eyes money is earned on lies. Legal bribing happens on a wide screen! Still we wait for the show to resume, yet enjoying the ads. Bribery is a part of our life, as my teacher said, it has become 'legal' now. We just fail to recognise its presence. We forget the most seen!

We fight to end corruption, but it ain't so easy process. My friend says- "Why do you write about environment? Go! First end corruption in the country!" I said it is not that easy. You need to go step by step. He looked impatient. It is natural when you find so many cases coming up around you and can do nothing but prepare yourself for an entrance exam which is gonna set your future. We read, hear, watch about corruption every now and then. News channels do sting operations to bring out the hidden. You watch the news, your mind heats up. Thoughts come to your mind so as to change the world. You rise, virtually. You see a change. For a moment a patriot gets birth. For a moment. Then you realise that you have your exams and you aren't ready yet! The initial thought dies, the patriot fades, the transient feeling returns to dormancy...you set to work to set your future...Future that promises leisures, happiness, money...And then you get bribed...and then you get bribed...

In the Midst of the Journey..

Walking on the road newly tarred,

It was difficult for me

To walk, a bit hard;

The road looked new,

I never saw it being made

Just as a gift to me it flew.

Rare it is to have difficulties with gifts,

But this one was not ordinary,

Elders said ancestors had laid it, struggling, in bits

Still I knew my feet struggled,

But I didn't know what it was

My mind, my heart couldn't just walk on it past..

It reminded me of the Golden Quadrilateral,

The Social Studies books presented them,

So great their name sounds, 'literal'.

Walking further, vehicles 'flew' past me,

There wasn't any toll!

I wondered who the authority could be!

Initial six years were vague,

I knew no rules and no regulations

Nothing was real, none 'fake',

But next six were rigorous though,

Helmets, seat belts were indispensable,

My teachers taught.

And today, me too like others,

Is walking..

I remember I had heard someone saying:

"The road's not complete, somewhere it ends! The people are supposed to build it further"

I wanted to see where it ended,

I wanted to see what I had to work on.

My feet ached, but now I knew why,

The road pimpled further,

Tar had washed off,

Or was it the end?

Ahead the road deteriorated,

And I couldn't walk any further.

I stopped.

How shall I move on?

I had promises to keep, dreams to be made realities,

How could I move on, on this rusted road?

Thought I..

Aha! A man came to my help!

Brilliant solution he had,

My feet would be safe

Sooner would I be on the other side.

He had a vehicle 'India's Development'

Feeling proud, I sat into it.

My feet felt a drastic transition,

From hard, thorny stones

To the velvet mattress of the 'India's Development',

Engine blew to fire,

And the vehicle lifted into air!

Amazing experience it was!

The feeling of Modern India ruled every corner.

A curious young mind led me to peep down,

I was too high, perhaps that was the reason

I couldn't see any road further,

I rested into the cozy seat, waiting for the stop.

I was a responsible person,

Contributing to the modern India..

As a second try, I once again peeped out,

And this time I could see some pedestrians,

Trying to make their way out,

But still..It was missing!

The Road showed no sign!

My young mind tried to analyse, 

Words flew past me..

"The road's not complete, somewhere it ends! The people are supposed to build it further"

Who were these people?

Labourers? Mazdoors?

But... I was supposed to complete the incomplete!

Yes! I was among the people!

A thought choked me, the man who helped me,

Hadn't actually.

I was kidnapped.

Kidnapped by thought, by heart..

Modern India was a bait,

And I was rat-trapped!

I had to free myself,

And I did..In the Midst of the Journey, I tried to look back.

Smashed the window and I jumped out, height did not fear me now.

With a thud I landed, the velvet bid goodbye,

I was back..on the Road,

I was Gifted.

They laughed at me from above,

Some clicked photographs,

Unusual was the property of the YouTube though.

But I was firm, I had to build the road.

Back to the point I went,

Where the road started fading,

Another bait asked for me, in vain.

But not my ancestors' efforts.

I was to build the road,

I was to take it ahead,

Now I knew, Aerial journeys weren't what I needed,

At last, roots are the best for a plant to-be-fed...!

Guys, we have come so far from that point, where the road started spoiling, and we are flying so high, that the ground foundation level of our country becomes invisible to us. We aren't still so free, to think completely of ourselves(and one never should be). We have a lot more to do for our nation, a lot more to make everyone able to fly. Baits would keep attracting you, have control. Look how beautiful our country is, and imagine how much more it could be if everyone would start thinking for its good. Never think it wouldn't do any good, it's your effort, love that counts and rewards. Let's make every citizen able to fly, you must be remembering the pigeon story! How they flew together. Guys please do not fly away alone, think about the people, your brothers, start from that point, where the country lost the route, start from there..look back in the midst of the journey.. Wish you all a Happy Republic Day!! 

The Road(s) Not Taken

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference"

Robert Frost beautifully and metaphorically mentions how he chose to be different. The roads meant all those thoughts or practices, followed all over since evolution and those which were new, tender. Few tried to deviate, but fear made others to confine themselves. Innovations are seldom. Today in India many young men and women are making a difference. The brutal incident of Delhi moved all of them and this has made them choose differently. 

Country at present sees many such protests and rallies against the ill-happenings. Many are actively participating. One such rally was planned to be held in my town. People were informed, message was spread. The day of the event dawned, just to set down the idea! None turned up. I am sure the organizers would have thought the ones who didn't turn up as cowards. Hmm..may be it was true. But here I think a bit different and a message to those unlucky organizers..

Rallies and protests are today trying to be more peaceful, which is a very good sign. But still they fail to be completely. 23rd December was an example. The protesters grew violent and the situation invited a lathi charge. Some peaceful protesters were also hit and this created huge outrage. So a series of concentric protests were happening. One against the inhuman activity and other against the act of hitting silent protesters. People demanded stronger laws and strict punishment. Social networking sites saw recently various pictures regarding the punishment for the accused. People by words, by videos, by slogans were and are supporting the uprising. Some were serious, their eyes spoke, some were there for fun, enjoying a chance to join hands to blame the Indian Government. Many were there who didn't know the cause, only knew that rape was bad, but words called abusive(the F ones) ruled their tongues. So, what was it all about and how good?..

The girl, called Nirbhaya, left us on the 30th of December, victim of so inhuman act. She battled for 13 long days but at last, the brutality showed off. So why did she face all this? What made the men do such a soiled act?...Recently the world welcomed 2013 (A happy new year to all!). Me hadn't any plans except sitting at home and watching TV. Something had to be special! So I decided to remain awake to welcome the new year. Entertainment channels showed new year party-cum-award-shows(I always wondered how they could fake a new year days before, just to get it on TV at the right time!). I stuck to one of them which seemed to have most of the celebs I knew. There were awards, comedy punches and yeah! Dances of course! Beautiful senoritas danced on some of the trending songs of the time. The party was over, countdown done..and..the new year came!! It was 2013 now, I said to myself. Nothing much, the show ended and I had some very good cake my mum had made. Enjoying the orange filled somewhat-crunchy crust, I got something in my mind. This moved me, giving me a sense of realization saying 'Look that's what it is!', 'You are ignoring the most seen'..

Those dances were being reminded to me. More-over the songs. One said 'Fevicol something,..misscall something'(Notice the height of mistakes; English used in Hindi that to 'misscall' which is rightly: missed call') another said, 'Halkat jawani..something'. Many of these sounded stupid, as if the poet just looked up into a dictionary to match the rhyme. One thing was common, all of these had a lady dancing, asking attention. These are called, popularly, 'Item Numbers'. These shamelessly and very frankly put forward a lady as a piece of art, to be adorned, to be tossed money at, in service of males, to fascinate them! What made me anxious was the number of males aroused by such a dance, these dancers were safe with bodyguards all around. But what of those who live unprotected, always under hunting, tempted eyes?..

We all use 'F' words, don't we? I don't know how these were born but I'm pretty sure 'he' had a great revenge to take on women. Today all of the abusive language used has words which slangly relate to woman's body. We unknowingly tend to use them, because it's a trend now right? And I bet, there might be people, calling those people with these words, who didn't turn up for rallies. So friends, a rally for a girl, still abusing her??
Robert Frost rings bells again, tempting me to add something..

"Two roads diverged into the woods

I took the one less traveled by

And that's all that made the difference...

I now come to this famous place,

Where the two roads still diverge into the woods,

Yet none of them is less traveled by

Trodden grass lays both ways.

I wonder which is the 'second' one.

Moving ahead, there's a board;

'The Less Traveled By'

But I couldn't see a trace of a sign

Which proved it wasn't a lie.

Well, the dilemma crept over me,

Of the two roads I had to choose one

A long thought led me to think

Which none would have done.

I believed in Innovations,

I believed there was a Third one..

Out here I stand,

Where the two roads diverge into the woods,

When others decide to take 'the less traveled one'

I stand alone, firm,

Looking for the third one..."

Guys, rallies, protests can lead to awareness, but it's a process just like spraying seeds over a piece of land. You just don't know how many of them will grow up and bear fruits! What I ask for is a change in the process of change. Most of us have a thought that participating in such rallies is being different. But people, if you go personally to each and every square feet and sow a seed yourself, you have the guarantee, a fool-proof one. Guys many have now chose the second road, rallies and protests lie on this path, but there is a still better road to choose. The third, where you don't think bad, you don't think negative, but you start with positive yourself. At your level you take a step. Make your friends aware, make your siblings know whats good, what's better. Respect each and everyone you have in your life. Start alone, believe me, you won't be so for long. Requirement of strong laws points at the animal instinct growing in us. We put up chains around, just to ensure they don't get wild. If we can only strengthen our Laws then what's the difference between us and the animals? We have a better possession, our mind, which rules our body. Let's control it...Let's educate the ones growing now..let's stop such people from getting birth..Let's change the process of change..Quiet but powerful..To eradicate negative but itself positive..Let's still make a change..Let's choose The Road Not Taken..