STRANGER

I wish I could turn back time

And bring it to the point

Where everything was just as before

So wonderful and calm….

Of all the things I ever learnt

I failed to learn one.

I tried to cut off and not think much

But that’s what caused the harm.

I am human, I make mistakes too,

I’ve formed an opinion of my own.

It’s not easy, it’s damn difficult.

But, discontent has already been sown.

AND, I cannot lead a double life

I do what I really feel

What I am for you is so very clear

There’s only love behind this veil.

Let me take control over my life

and make some decisions tough.

At least, I am entitled to face hardships

even if they are rough.

For me, respect comes first

and you lost it!

It would always remain so.

Trust is something very essential,

I found that long ago.

So, I say SORRY

But, this is me

and I shall never change

I’ll walk away as a STRANGER and never look back,

Whenever you come within my range…!!!

A STORY

One fine day, LIFE went to DEATH and said, “I don’t understand, why the hell are you here! You consider yourself some bigshot and act as if you are great. Well, let me tell you, it’s me who is important. Everyone is afraid of you. You never give anyone a chance to live. Sometimes you snatch people when they are very young. You grab their opportunities. You take them away from their loved ones. You make them cry. You give them nothing but sorrow. You are so selfish. So cruel. So insensitive….”

Death smiled and kept quiet. This enraged Life even more and it continued, ” Now, why are you smiling? Look at me. How beautiful I am. I leave smile on everyone’s faces. I teach them to love and to care. They love me back. I am their support. I am the best. You should respect me!!!”

Death shrugged. It knew there was no point in arguing with Life. It knew that Life was being vain. But, Life’s overconfidence had to be kept in check. So, it replied seriously, “Perhaps, you are right. But, that is your point of view. I may be of no importance alone but neither are you. Together we complete this circle of LIFE and DEATH. If there is no Death, there wouldn’t be any Life either. Who would value you, if  I were not there? If there was no fear of dying, then how would have people appreciated living? It’s true, sometimes I take them young and separate them from their loved ones. But, you are no saint either. Many a times, in terminal illness or accident cases, people suffer a lot while living. That time, it is I, who free them from this suffering. I ease their pain and take them to a different dimension. I teach them to make the most of their time. To appreciate the worth of things around them. You tell me, am I unimportant now???”

Life put down it’s head in shame and apologized. Death smiled again and said quietly, “Don’t be sad. It’s not your fault. It’s just that you had got a little over-confident. But, honestly, I don’t think any of us is as important as the human SOUL. You and me are only talking about the physical being. But humans are much beyond that. Their real identity is not their body but their soul. The Soul is immortal. It is ancient. It just goes on moving from dimension to dimension. It endures immense pain but has discovered the secret for eternal happiness. Not me nor you can ever achieve the simplicity and humility of the Soul. It truely supports all human beings and never leaves their side. It gives them Hope….it gives them Faith. In comparison to it, we are nothing. Just two small stages in the long journey of spiritual attainment. Once, human beings get past by us, our value gets automatically reduced. Soul is invaluable. It is the Soul who will fuel their journey. It is the Soul who will help them achieve Salvation. It is Soul who will ultimately lead them to the realm of the Almighty. You know what, me and you, we are just mortals…………..”

Together, Life and Death decided that day, never to get proud of their achievements. Just serve their purpose and learn from the Soul, what it means to be powerful yet humble!!!

LET’S (DIS)CONNECT…

The “Internet” has slowly but surely crawled into the hearts of people all across the globe. They have discovered the secret of connecting with  people living as far as the other side of the world.

Earlier, it was cool to stay in touch with near and dear ones who are far away. And today, it’s more about binding with strangers and unknown faces.

This is an era of social networking. There are hundreds of social networking sites on the world wide web. Out of the general category- MySpace, Facebook, Orkut, etc.. are increasingly popular.

There is Yahoo 360 degrees, that links all yahoo ids. There is WAYNE, thats based on travel and living. Flixter for movies, Flickr and Fotolog for photo sharing, Del.icio.us for link sharing, LastFM for music too…..You name it, and you get a list of sites for every imaginable and unimaginable thing that comes in your mind.

Well, in the beginning getting connected is an amazing experience. You find old friends, meet new interesting people with similar likes and dislikes, you can express your feelings without any inhibitions, show-off and do a lot of cool things.

It’s fun sending messages to friends, deciding things, sharing photos, whew….and many more activities.

I have friends who have hooked up over such sites and even some getting married finally!!! Some have went ahead and found their partners, others have found friends for life.

Social networking sites provide a sort of platform for getting together and being in touch with the rest of the world. With just a click of a button you are drawn into a crowd of people and you learn to remain in touch.

You might have observed, usually shy people transform into the popular and talkative types. In real life, those who are quiet, on such sites, are the ones with most friends and wide networks.

There have been instances where these sites have helped in apprehending criminals and wrong-doers. The police have had a lot of help in zeroing on suspects and getting proofs about many cases.

While such sites might sound awesome and have their benefits, it would be stupid if you fail to look over the darker side.

If social networking sites are so popular with the police, they are in their bad books too. Cyber crime is on rise, as some people move on to post porn pictures and write defamatory texts. Stalkers have increased. Befriending people, especially girls, meeting them and then taking advantage of their situation is becoming quite common these days. Kidnapping plans are hatched, robberies are planned….the misuses are plenty.

You will always hacking someone else’s site and posting nasty things, communities and groups are formed with derogatory remarks on big political leaders, famous personalities and hey, even the short-tempered school principals.

People are being threatened, abused, hate, etc…

And you know, these sites are even have psychological effects on users. Depression, nervous breakdown arise as a result of constant networking. People today have become so involved in this type of life-style that the prefer internet friends over real ones, not seeing messages everyday causes them to feel abandoned and un-loved, their friend list keeps growing and growing as they keep on adding strangers just for the sake of it since it will make them look more popular and famous. Parents are having a high time in taking their children to psychiatrists and the psychiatrists are observing an increasing trend in such cases.

How much ever popular these sites might be getting, it will be wrong to over-look the dire consequences they might have on us “normal” individuals.

A word of CAUTION for all people. There’s nothing wrong in getting linked with people and improving your network base. It’s true, that you meet some nice unknown people and form good friendships with them.

But, it’s absolutely essential to maintain distance and move ahead only if your sure. Remember, you are responsible for your own actions. So, just be careful about what you do.

The FTC (Federal Trade Commission) has posted some rules while networking online. You can glance them at:

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/tech/tec14.shtm

Always remember, SAFETY FIRST!!!

A DISTORTED CHILDHOOD

As soon as we begin the day, there are so many problems with which we have to deal.

Some are minor, others can be horrific and the worst of them all is that of CHILD ABUSE.

“Child Abuse can be defined as causing or permitting any harmful or offensive contact on a child’s body and; any communication or transaction of any kind which humiliates or frightens the child.”

There are many types of child abuse, Emotional abuse, Neglect, Physical abuse, Sexual abuse….

Children are forced into prostitution or are used in porn rackets.

All of them are derogatory and shameful acts.

Surprisingly most of the child abuse cases happen at homes. Most of them are performed by parents, relatives or persons that the child knows. Even, a large number of cases involve organizations such as schools, child-care institutes, etc..

The after-effects of child abuse are equally negative. They spoil a kid’s childhood but also haunt him/her throughout the adult life. The child can suffer from low self-esteem, depression, cognitive disability, aggressive behavior, suicidal tendency etc…

Many of us might wonder what are the causes of child abuse. In many cases, the molester himself might have been a victim of child abuse or perhaps he might be suffering from some psychological disorder. IN case of neglect, stress can be a driving force behind this kind of emotional child abuse.

Whatever the reasons be, they do not justify this humiliating act. The pain and trauma of a child sexually abused is something which no person of a clear conscience can tolerate. It is essential to put and end to this kind of maltreatments.

AWARENESS among people can be the first thing to combat this. Parent education classes, family support programs can be undertaken both on a small scale and large scale basis.

However, the sad part is many a times, family members themselves are responsible for committing such atrocities on their own child. Court intervention in such cases becomes absolutely necessary.

According to an UNICEF report, countries like the US and UK ranked lowest among the rich nations with respect to the well being of their children.

In India too, a shocking 53% of the children are subjected to sexual abuse but then, most of the cases are never reported. Every second child is emotionally abused and in 83% of cases parents are the abusers.

While in the West, there are strict laws and lots of NGOs working with such cases, child abuse is being dealt with. However, in India, laws dealing with sexual offenses do not recognize child abuse. It’s sad but true that the Indian Penal code 1860 has no sections dealing with child sexual abuse. It only addresses rape and sodomy out of which rape is not specifically given as it does not include abuse on “boys”.

Ever imagined, how a child dealing with this is living……..ever imagined, the reason behind those meek eyes and unshed tears….ever imagined, the silent plea for help….

As good Samaritans, it’s our duty to prevent such forms of abuse and spread awareness. The “International Day for Child Rights” is on November 19th. Merely observing it will serve no purpose!

If you come across such in-human acts, do not hesitate to report to your nearest child care center. Who knows, you might be saving some kid’s life from the clutches of such gruesome treatment.

Atleast, you can volunteer around NGOs working for abused children and help the kids to fight off the trauma and depression.

“Let kids be kids.

Lets not take their childhood away.

Lets provide them with a safe and secure future.

Lets wipe their tears and leave smiles on their faces….”

——————————————————————————————————-

LIST OF OTHER WEB RESOURCES DEALING WITH CHILD ABUSE:

• ASEM (Asia-Europe Meeting) Child Welfare Initiative Resource Centre

• Centre for Europe’s Children
  

• Child Abuse Prevention Network
  

• Child Protection
  

• Child Sexual Abuse
  

• Children’s Protection and Advocacy Coalition
  

• Childwatch International
  

• Defense for Children International
  

• Global ChildNet
  

• International Society for Prevention of Child Abuse and Neglect
  

• Interpol’s Legislation of Member States on Missing Children
  

• Pandora’s Box: The Secrecy of Child Sexual Abuse
  

• Parental Abduction in Divorce
  

• Ricky Greenwald’s Child Trauma Page
  

A LETTER AGAIN

Dear,

If being close means being far away from you forever, then I would prefer to stay that way. It doesn’t matter whether we meet again but one thing I cannot bear is loving you less than what I do now.

There are plenty of reasons to be attached to you but not even one of them makes sense. Perhaps, that’s the most beautiful thing about it. Do you care if there is a tomorrow? Are you not happy with this today? How do relationships survive over years and years? Somebody should ask “us” that. Who could give a better example?

Now that you believe me, shall I ask more? Does it really matter to you what people say? They have always said, all those bad things still, you take it seriously and continue to brood about it! At this very moment someone might be criticizing you, but it doesn’t matter because you don’t hear. Then why do you think about things that from strangers you overhear???

I say, I love you. And I hope this means much more to you than the nasty things that others say.

So, don’t be sad. I am here and I shall always be so.

You might not write back to me. But, I already know your reply. Just don’t read these words. Know the meaning I have for you here.

Stay happy!

-Me

DANCE OF TERROR

Who would know better about terrorism than us Indians? I guess, right from young kids to the old people, all hear about them very frequently. As frequently as the rains, as frequently and as obvious as the changing weather. Mumbai is the only major city in the world to be rocked by serial blasts twice. And, every other city does keep on having them.

Earlier, it was just Kashmir. But now, blasts have become a part and parcel of our daily lives. Couple of days back, Uttar Pradesh was bombed mercilessly. I guess, the terrorists in this case had a “thing” against the lawyers. The bombs exploded in the civil courts of three important cities.

You name it, and the bombs are there. In hospitals, in parks, in courts, in buildings,  in trains too!!!

For India, terrorism has spread like poison contaminating everything.

The West experiences such cruel atrocities from time to time too. The 9/11 incident in US and the 7/7 one in London.

No one’s been spared.

Now, the question arises, how can anyone be so in-human, so insensitive…??? What do terrorists get by killing so many people? What sort of revenge they get? Are they happy doing this? Is all this going to lead them to salvation?

I asked all these questions as a 6 year old when Mumbai was shaken by 13 serial blasts on March 12, 1992. It’s been 15 years since then and I still haven’t got any answers to those questions. I doubt, whether I’ll get them after 15 more years. That time I would be speechless in front of my kids as my mom was when I asked her this.

What is this “freedom” that they intend to have? You can see, kids as young as 16 getting involved in terrorism. Respectable people like doctors, engineers, teachers, all those you imagine to be quiet and sound, become capable of performing the worst of all actions. Their families themselves don’t know what their own people do. What kind of masks do they wear?

Is there a stop to this? When will everything be allright? Can “terrorism” be wiped off?

Hundreds of questions but no definite answers.

Tomorrow may never arise for us. One fine day, all of us might be dead. Unpredictable as it is, Life is getting more and more un-reliable these days.

All we can do is keep our eyes and ears open to do what we can to help combat terrorism.

As for the terrorists, all we can hope, is that they will get the punishment for their sins and they will repay for the act they committed. That they will repent for all those innocent lives and change for better or die changing.

If there is a God somewhere,then, he’s watching……Terrorism will fight ugly with him BUT it’s no match for the HOPE and LOVE that resides n humanity.

As long as we are humans, terrorists can never make animals out of us!!!

POETRY

HI, if you are a poetry buff like me, and if you are not, you’ll like the site,

http://oldpoetry.com

It has all the good classical poems of great poets like T.S Eliot, Khalil Gibran, Rabindranath Tagore, Rudyard Kipling, William Shakespeare, William Wordsworth etc…

It’s an interesting site, where you can submit your poems and read poems of other budding poets too.

Other good poetry sites that are worth mentioning,

http://www.poetry.com

(My one poem is published here)

http://www.voicesnet.org

(Two of my poems are published here)

So, happy reading all that stuff.

-Sonu

WHY?

Why do I want to love you,

When I know you don’t care.

Why do I want to care for you,

When I know you won’t be there.

Maybe because, You are a

Major part of my life.

Maybe because all this hurts,

Like a sharp & pointed knife.

Why do I always think of you,

When I know you are far away.

Why are you far away,

When I know we’ll never be close this way.

Maybe because, I don’t care,

If distances are great.

Maybe because, its destiny,

That we are meant to be separate.

Why do rule my Life, with your memories so vast?

Why does your love, compels me to live in the past?

Maybe because, It’s the truth,

That we’ll keep loving more.

Maybe because, this is a time,

More special than never before…….

ME

I wonder at times whether I can be someone else

And not what I am today

Would people have a problem?

Or will I be loved in the same way?

I can be better than what I am

Or I can be worse than this

I can grab opportunities

And let plenty of them miss

I can take life less seriously

And enjoy more and more

I won’t bother about tomorrow

Or keep yesterday’s score

Shall I be someone ordinary

Or someone great

I can even hurry through life

Or prefer to wait

I can keep on thinking

And there won’t be any conclusion

If I don’t love myself as I am

I won’t reach a decision

I hope I’ll be accepted

Whatever I actually be

’cause I know what I truly want

Is to really be ME !!!

Hey All…

I wrote such a beautiful post today and just before I could publish it, there was this stupid power-cut. I am too tired to write it again. I don’t even have saved it elsewhere (except my brain).

I’ll try to write it tomorrow and will try my best to remember it as beautifully as it is supposed to be.

 

Drat! I doubt whether India will win this match. Even Sachin got out early.

I think I should better look forward for tests.

 

Have a nice day everyone.

Adios…