OLD IS GOLD

The only thing that a cricket fan wishes is that his team plays well. Every good batsman you know, should hit a century. Every good bowler you know, should take a couple of wickets. Ofcourse, it’s not possible that every single player plays well in the same match. Obviously, some will fail and some will do well.

 

Dhoni’s comments on Sachin Tendulkar were a litle annoying. It’s true that Sachin wasn’t in his usual self in this tri-series but then, everybody has their ups and downs. Dhoni himself hasn’t been in the best of form. He has played a couple of matches but that’s it. In the earlier series, he was a failure too.

 

Sachin Tendulkar is a man who is so passionate about cricket that few can match his standards. He has been playing cricket for last 19 years!!!

He himself is his best judge. I think, he has the capability of deciding when to call quits. It will be his personal choice.

 

Everybody seems to be criticizing old cricketers. What one musn’t forget is their contribution to the game. It’s true, young blood is needed for bringing about a lot of enthusiasm but at the same time, the value of experiences cannot be ignored.

 

One should feel honoured that Sachin plays for our team. He is a human being afterall and not a machine. There will be times when he’ll falter. But, there always will be great times, when all fans will get a treat to watch his splendid game. Just like today. When he hit a amazing 63 with 10 boundaries.

 

Sachin, we all wish you loads of luck in the coming games. You play your natural game. You retire when you want to. The country is with you. 

But, retire with dignity and not because of someone’s taunts.

 

Today you showed your critics your greatness and let your bat do the talking. Silence prevails now and yet another person knows, what SACHIN TENDULKAR means! 

 

 

“All that is gold does not glitter, not all those who wander are lost, the old that is strong does not wither, deep roots are not reached by the frost. From ashes a fire shall be woken, a light from the shadows shall spring; renewed shall be the blade that was broken, the crownless again shall be king.” 

~J.R.R.Tolkein 

SPECIAL IS AS SPECIAL DOES

(courtesy: http://www.chester-le-streetrotary.co.uk/hughesbk-1.jpg)

I was born OK.

I could see. I could hear. I could talk. I had no physical handicap. No mental one too. I went to school. I could even read and write well. No learning problems either.

So, I was NOT special. Not special as the many many children we know. Some who are blind, some dumb and/or deaf. Some physically handicapped. Some mentally retarded. Some otherwise normal but having serious learning disabilities.

How do we feel for such children? Sympathy is common and so is pity. We look at them and thank God that we aren’t like that. Our children aren’t so and also anyone else in the family. We are ready to help financially. We become self-proclaimed social workers. We give huge donations, in form of money, clothes, books, toys etc..

I am not saying that it is not important. But, truly, just how many of us “empathize” ? How many of us actually feel their pain, their discomfort, their helplessness, their sorrow…..? How many of us actually give them our love, care and most important, our time! The very things they are actually hungry of!

Material things are very easy to give, because they don’t come with emotional attachments. But, hope, affection, trust are the rarest ones. We ourselves are so short of it that we think if we give them away, we will be left with nothing. What we don’t realize is that, these sentiments double on sharing. That love has absolutely no boundaries. That we can care for anyone else in this world. That blood ties are no different from any other relationships…

How many of us think of helping such people? How many of us actually volunteer to do something for the society. Children are the future of every country. What matters if they are normal or not? AND what exactly do we mean by “normal”? Does normal mean, kids who disobey their parents, don’t study and become big bullies. Does normal mean, teenagers who drink, smoke, drive rashly and party all night?

If you have visited such special schools or institutions, you will realize the tremendous potential these kids have. They may not be scholars in studies, but their mind is brilliant and sharp. They are good at making handicrafts and also at beautiful arts such as weaving, painting, pottery etc.. Some sing and dance well. Some are really intelligent and master their handicap to excel even in the field of education. They have a tremendous self-confidence. They have the courage to overcome their difficulties and move ahead positively. AND, what about us? Do we have the decency to ignore their physical form and identify them as people? Not to ridicule them or make fun of them, but give them the respect that they deserve just like us….

Have we ever done something for them from the bottom of our hearts? Volunteered to teach them or help them with things. Don’t be ashamed. Even I am one of you. I make big plans of helping them and doing something for them. I know I have the utmost desire to do so. But those plans never actually materialize. But, some day, they will. I know, before I die, I will do something that will really contribute to their upliftment. It’s my mission in life.

Can you vow to take such a mission? Or at least plan a short-term goal? To look beyond mortal differences and do something on a very basic yet spiritual/ social level?

There are thousands of NGOs working for this cause. You can find a couple in your own town. Even the UN has a volunteering website, where you can volunteer online and complete some tasks. At least it will better than whiling your time away chatting with friends or doing time-pass. It will be worth it.

All of us are normal. Ordinary. But, there is something in us that is extraordinary. And, we can make a difference. Perhaps, a slight one, but that which will be the beginning of an ever-lasting change!!!

(I dedicate this post to, all the “special” children with any kind of physical / mental disabilities. May God bless you always. And may all your dreams come true, for you deserve much more than mere “normals” like us…..)

BURDEN OF TRUTH

At some point of ur lives

we carry A BURDEN OF TRUTH.

 

With years of living in a world

that is based on lies and decpetion;

truth in any form,

can be a little intimidating.

Beyond the world of illusions,

there is a certain reality that we have to face.

AND when we face it;

it will break us down.

For we don’t have the habit of

seeing the actual faces.

It’s masks that we observe and wear.

BUT, what will keep us going is that-

it’s the burden of “truth” and not “lie”

‘coz LIE however friendly it may seem, is corrupting.

While TRUTH though very weak, can be your greatest strength!!!

 

At one point of our lives

until we carry THE BURDEN OF TRUTH…. 

THAT’S WHAT I CALL HUMANITY….

All of you might have seen many social workers. The very fact of giving your life for total strangers, giving them unconditional love, makes us think, just how wonderful these people are.

Some work for underprivileged women, some for orphan children, some for the old, some for cancer patients, some for the mentally-handicapped……

Have you ever come across someone who has worked for the ones with “Leprosy” ???

Murlidhar Devidas Amte, better know as “Baba Amte” was one such man. He passed away on the 9th of February 2008 at the ripe old age of 94.

94 seems too old but I wish that he should have lived for yet 100 years so that the next generations would have appreciated the mettle of this great great man!

If you have seen a leprosy patient, you might know their plight. And if you are one of the many who snub and scoff at even normal people, leprosy ones might give you jitters.

What can you make of, of a man who spent his entire lifetime working for them. He could have become anything else he wanted to be but without ever worrying about that he might be contracted the disease, he just kept working selflessly.

Anandwan was one of three ashrams he set up for the leprosy affected people. It got a 250 acres land grant in 1951 and still continues to harbor more than 5000 people. Today not only does it have a university of its own but also two hospitals, an orphanage and a school for blind. Anandwan is a small village in itself.

For years, leprosy has been associated with social stigma. Where the families of the patients themselves abandon their loved ones, I think, its hats off to this amazing man.

What is even more appreciable, is the support he received from his wife, Sadhana-tai. In a time of wife nagging their husbands about little little things like not coming home early or not bringing them  gifts; the support Sadhana-tai gave him was very commendable.

And also, who could have asked for more wonderful sons. Both his sons, Vikas and Prakash are doctors and have selflessly dedicated themselves just like their father for service to these leprosy patients. They actively participate in causes similar to that of their dad, running the ashrams, hospitals and schools in Maharashtra.

I do wonder, how can someone be so selfless. In today’s world, people cannot give unconditional love to their near and dear ones. And here was a man who dedicted his entire life so easily for such a noble cause.

Sometimes, I feel proud to be an Indian for this reason. But, what’s the use? Question is can I do the same? Like millions of other youngsters I would naturally want to have fat-money job in some Multinational company, a handsome husband and a beautiful home. It’s so normal but so ordinary. What will set me apart is the intense desire to work for my people, to forget my own desires, to come one step closer to god, to do that which is extraordinary yet take no credit…..

But then, it takes a lot of courage. I doubt , whether I have it. I doubt, whether most of us, have it.

For millions, Baba Amte will be remembered as a great social activist, as a wonderful person, but for Anandwan residents, he has been a “mother”.

And for me, an inspiration……

3 QUESTIONS

The 3 most important questions of life are:

1) Who am I?

2) What am I?

3) Where am I?

Here’s what I feel about them……

WHO AM I?

Many a times, I do wonder, who am I?

The answer lies within me but is it significant and would I be “this” all my life long? OR have I evolved over time, not only in this birth but all previous ones too, and keep on continuously doing so.

My purpose is, I believe, a part of a plan that was perhaps constructed long ago. When exactly? No one is sure! Because, perhaps, it goes beyond “time-lines”.

What exactly is time? Nothing but a convenience to measure and divide, so that it will be beneficial in identifying our purposes.

I am special. But sill, I have a long way to go. In the end, I just have to compete with my own self!

WHAT AM I?

Today, I read an article in the newspaper which says that, we are not the source of love but we help each other to access the love, that is the source.

Hence, I am a medium. One day, I am going to go beyond this and realize that my existence today is just “a single incident” and this collection of incidents will bring me to a point of spiritual growth sooner or later.

WHERE AM I?

I am here only physically, BUT, metaphysically, I am traveling and going on. Even if I die, I will continue to travel (perhaps in a different dimension).

I will love, I will hate. I will do all that is human. I will be a pioneer of both good and bad BUT whatever I do, whatever I be, I know, I will make an definite and everlasting “impact”.

It’s easy to be famous but it really means something to make a special change in other lives.

There is a reason for everything that happens.

One day, I will, probably, get all the answers OR probably I will die without getting any.

But, it gives immense satisfaction to know that REASONS do exist, even if I don’t know what they are!

These are my answers for the time being. But they are continuously getting updated and evolved.

At least, I have begun my ultimate QUEST.

What about you?

Are you ready to begin this journey?????