Dil titli sa!

Dil titli... dil titli sa!
kabhi yaadon, kabhi sapno ka...

khoye rang dhundhta,
.. khoyi khushbo ka pata

dil yaadon ki gali
.. khoya saathi dhundhta

dekhi zameen... dekha aasman
.. khojta raha tere nishan!

Dil titli, dil titli sa!!

(ridiculous ad... bt great bkgrnd song)

Forgive me God, 'cause I have sinned!

Forgive me God, 'cause I have sinned....
to trust thy neighbors
to trust thy friends
to trust thy teachers
to trust thy self....

Forgive me God, 'cause I have sinned....
to be kind to beggar on the street..
.. who I thought was in need.
to be kind to the child with dreamy eyes..
.. whose innocence killed by this world of lies....

Forgive me God, 'cause I have sinned....
to dream the impossible
to walk the unconventional
to dare the unthinkable
to believe against the will of the world....

Forgive me God, 'cause I have sinned ...
.. and shall forever keep sinning!!

Each time I thought... now, I will not!

NO, no more... no more messages, no calls...
None till I hear from the other side of the wall.

Engulfed by a restless feeling...
Confused with what am I dealing.

There's fury, frustration, irritation, and rage...
leaving my soul encaged.

Why not that and Why is it this...
Disguising the emotions that they are missed.

And then settles, the once tornado-like emotions...
Casting aside deluded mind's notion.

May be there is a good reason...
Each relationship goes through season.

So, I cast off my undisturbed, composed pretention...
Creating an outlet for redemption.

Next thing I know, I am moving my fingers...
With no apparent reason for things to linger.

Hoping the things would sort...
This is what happens... each time I thought... now, I will not!

.. when my cosmopolitan opinion demanded a reality check!!

For long women have been treated as the weaker gender. There is an endless list of campaigns and organization that tirelessly work to upliftment their status. Many of us believe that the status of women has actually improved; to the extent that I was almost convinced that from saving the girl child, the campaign might need to shift the focus to "save the boy-child"

But, this is just a cosmopolitan view, that too limited to parts of the "developed" city. The gender roles and limitations are so deeply engraved in us that it makes it impossible to push the limitations away, beyond a certain point.

Some of us, including myself, are fortunate to have got the right to equal opportunity (sometimes, more than equal). However, there are still innumerable women who have no right to speak, but responsibility to obey- obey anyone and everyone who can command her.

So, obviously the situation is far from improving. There is still a lot of awareness that needs to be created. A lot of empowerment that needs to be imparted. But, empowerment is not something that can be given... it has to be taken!!!
And this empowerment, is not limited to women. (By no means, I would like to be mistaken for a feminist) This empowerment is equal for both men and women. Both genders have a right to freedom. A right to make choices. A right to voice their opinions.

Stand up!!! You are not alone! You will never be!
Ignorance is the greatest evil!

.... because its your age!!

I don't really remember my days of fun and frolic. Times when there was nothing one has to worry, just play and have fun! .. But, those precious childhood days, too, are not devoid of pressure. Pressure to perform. ... taking that first step out of home, leaving our mommies Perform well in your admission selection process. Though, today, the parents are becoming more accepting, there are still typical examples of parents trying to push their babies over the edge. This came as a shocking revelation quite recently, due to close interaction with today's parents.

Just observing this mother pushing her 4 year old daughter, made me wonder about the pressure of living in our society.
When you are 4, you go to school.. study through.. go to college when 18.... do post-grad, work... and finally get married... to breed another generation.
All of that follows one another... at a pre-decided pace.

Well, of course, I don't mean to question this sequence.. but all I ask is why does everything need to be done.. because its your age?!!

So, thats what nice and sweet girls are for.. be dumped?!

Life is no Mills and Boon. But, still we all, atleast most of us,strongly believe in power of love. The feeling is amazing and addictive!!

I find it strange that off-late I have heard so many around me break-up. Almost like... 2008 should become a dedicated year of break-up.

So, we sit cozy with warm, steamy cup of coffee.... for, what you may call, a chat session.
And we talk about relationships and what it takes to keep one. And time and again I come across the word "physicality".
As an Indian... earlier it would be a hesitant topic to talk about.... most uncomfortable I would say. But then I wonder why? Why the basic human instinct is so tabooed in our culture? We don't like to talk about it ... but our movies are filled with it. And not to forget we've made more than 1 billion babies!!!

Then why is it so dramatic and needs to be talked and done so clandestinely?!
Ohh well, since that's how it's been for ages... who are we to challenge it.. or should we challenge it??
This is going a little off the topic.

Well, the verdict is out ...
Intimacy is part of being in a relationship. It's a state of mind- as of one my learned friend said....
For those to do it ... are called naughty and hottie....
For those who don't .... are still nice and sweets girls!!!... But, more often than you know... that's what sweet girls are for... be DUMPED!!!

Have we learnt our lessons, yet??!

It had barely been two days after the terrorists were defeated. And Mumbai was freed. The air was filled with mixed reactions.. anger, rage, fear, hurt, tears.. tears.. and more tears.
Everyone has just one thing in mind terrorism needs to be fought against and annihilated!
I, too, feel very strongly about it. A strong rush passes through each time I see those horrific pics. These are some experience that can never be forgotten. And even worse it is for those who have experienced it first hand.

But, there was something I came across that surprised me.. shocked.. I should say.
It was a picture in a leading national newspaper. A group of VHP people burning the Pakistani flag. Shocked.. I wondered... is this how we are really planning to combat terrorism? So, violence for violence.. is that really it??
I am too dumb to understand politics... too dumb to know who did what, to whom, and when.
All I know is that RESPECT... I know respect for life. But, don't think me too naive. I am not saying that even if your life at risk, I sit there watching myself being killed. But, going out there to kill someone else because my people were killed too... is just no answer.

Our problem is not Pakistan or Pakistani.. Our problem is the mindset. It is those people who mislead innocent young people like Kasab. And to the young people... that is why you need to educate yourself!!!... EDUCATE... not just earn a degree and be called qualified.
It surprises some.. how these educated terrorist, from good institutes and family go on such wrong path. I say.. it's hardly surprising... cause a degree doesn't educate you.. it just enhances your skill and knowledge set. Education is what we really do with that knowledge and skill we gathered.
And here in lies the importance of educators!!!!

once again.. I am reminded of these line ...
Where the mind is without fear
.... and the head is held high...
where knowledge is free
... and the world is not broken into fragments
In that paradise, my father, let my country awake!!