DO NOT MOURN PLEASE….

In recent few days I have read a lot of blogs and write ups full of anguish, pain, sympathy, empathy, salutes and so on for the brave sons of soil who made supreme sacrifice. I fully understand the sentiments of each writer who wrote on the subject.

I am here, writing today to request you all not to mourn the supreme sacrifices made by those Martyrs.

There are ONLY three noble professions known they are:-

Of a Teacher : who shows path……
Of a Doctor : who saves lives……
Of a Soldier : who saves lives by sacrificing his own…… 

For the readers who are not aware, I am putting two pictures here, please watch them carefully and remember these pictures always









If you ever come across a soldier wearing either of these two badges on the right pocket of uniform remember that this badge signifies that he/she has already sacrificed his/her life. They are BRAVEST OF BRAVE and that soldier wearing this badge is just waiting for the day for which he/she has been passionate about……putting himself/herself in the line of fire to save others. They are mentally robust but soft at heart and that is why they do what they do.

I read in comments on one of the blogs that “they are being paid to die” Ladies and Gentlemen, let me clear the cobwebs that have engulfed some of the minds….these bravest of brave wearing “BALIDAN“ badge are volunteers from within the soldiers and they are being paid meagerly as any other soldier for bringing up their children and looking after their families.

There is a huge difference between LOSING a life and GIVING life. I join everyone in mourning the precious lives which we lost. They were innocent and it is sad to see all that. BUT, for heavens sake please do not mourn the supreme sacrifices made by the BRAVEST OF BRAVE. Ask any soldier and he/she would like to reborn as soldier again. ONCE A SOLDIER, ALWAYS A SOLDIER.

When mortal remains of Maj Sandeep Unnikrishnan reached for the final journey neither the chief minister of Kerala nor any representative was in sight. Rodents, insects are afraid of flames…and devils are afraid of Holy Flames. The same insect was shunted out by Unni’s father..this is what he had to say:-

News article from The Hindustan Times 

Turned away from the house of slain NSG major Sandeep Unnikrishnan in Bangalore by his grieving father, Kerala Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan on Tuesday failed to show any grace in the matter. In fact, his reaction was that he'd never expected such “irresponsible behaviour from a soldier's father:”.
In an interview to a TV channel in Bangalore, the angry CM made matters worse by saying: "It was for Sandeep I had gone, otherwise even a dog wouldn't have visited them. I never expected this. A soldier's father should have displayed better behavior...It seems Unnikrishnan (Sr) got all worked up. He was blaming us for the delay in calling on him and taking many names, including that of the Karnataka chief minister.” 

Not that anyone wanted such morons to disgrace the place but point is that they fail to even remember the basic protocol of being human beings. I remember one senior General saying in 1999 when mortal remains of soldiers were just NUMBERS for everyone and I quote “A country which does not respect its soldiers (mortal remains) disintegrates sooner or later” no he did not mean or wish that country disintegrates but imagine the way he would have felt.

I am not aware of ethics in Police, but when family of Mr hemant Karkare refused to accept Rs 1 Crore from Gujrat Chief Minister, the feeling was same. Hence, I repeat myself. A soldier gives his life not for SYMPATHY, EMPATHY, SALUTE, MONEY or any WORLDLY THINGS..but for the HONOUR and GLORY of this great country of ours….For RESPECT and DIGNITY of the OLIVE GREEN.

If all citizens do whatever they feel will contribute to build a strong nation should DO, even small bit from each one of us in any which way will surely bring about change. One has to put oneself in discomfort to do that small bit but PLEASE DO……

कुछ पुराने समय की यादें जब आज मन को विचलित करती हैं, मन के भाव शब्दों मे उतार पाना कठिन हो जाता है, ऐसे ही एक दिन को याद कई बार मेरे शब्दों को बेमानी बता देती है.........उसी पर कुछ शब्द जिनका शायद कोई अर्थ निकले लिख रहा हू....

मै विष पीने का अभ्यासी,
ज़हर भरी मेरी काया,
दर्द भुला कर,
एक बूँद मधु पी लेने से क्या होगा ?

मुझसे पहले बहुत खड़े हैं,
मेरे ही जैसे राही,
और बताते,
डूबने वालों की ही लापरवाही. 

नन्हे मन मे जैसे ही,
इंद्रधनुष से आते हैं,
उसी समय जाने क्यों,
ये काले बादल छा जाते हैं.

कोयल की आवाज़ को सुनकर,
साँसों को जो रोका है,
पता नही है,
क्या वो मन का ही एक धोका है.
 
फूलों की उन पंखुड़ियों को,
खिलते मैने देखा है,
शब्दों के बगीचे मे,
खुद को खोते देखा है.
 
सपनों ने आवाज़ लगाई,
छुप छुप कर क्यों रोता है,
इंद्रधनुष के रंगों को भी,
मिटते हमने देखा है.

बारिश की उन बौछारों को,
जब जब मैने छेड़ा है,
उन आँखों से,
रिस रिस बहता गंगाजल भी देखा है.
 
पेड़ों की उन शाखों पर जब,
पंछी हंसते गाते हैं,
पता नही क्यों हर पल हर दम,
एक दिन की याद दिलाते हैं.

जितनी लाए चमक दोपहरी,
उतना ही गहरा तम है.
जितनी मन मे चाह अधिक है,
उतना ही जीवन कम है.

मै विष पीने का अभ्यासी,
ज़हर भरी मेरी काया,
दर्द भुला कर,
एक बूँद मधु पी लेने से क्या होगा................

19th of Oct, It was a wonderful day so we decided to go out. Shopping was one of the agenda. So we decided to go to a famous market. While approaching the main street of the market I noticed a lot of police and these worthy policemen were diverting the traffic. On a Sunday when markets are full, diversions are painful. I am used to staying in green areas with clean and broad roads so felt a bit uncomfortable with the diversion. This diversion was because one religious procession was heading towards the famous religious place on the same street. One side of the road was blocked and was purely allocated to procession.

Traffic jam was obvious, with snail pace I drove the car and was apprehensive whether we will reach in time or not. Suddenly the snail also stopped. 15 minutes and nothing would move. I tried to peep out and check what is stopping this traffic with all those policemen and pointsmen on the road. Another 10 minutes nothing moved. On the other half of road the procession was in full swing, holy chants alongwith everyone munching something and most of them talking on cellphones. I decided to have a look on the chaos which was stopping this snail pace to a halt. Just 4 cars ahead of mine I saw an old man who was trying to cross the road from the procession side to other side there was no place to cross so he tried to make use of small space which was created due to broken railings. Due to rush of procession and in hurry to cross the road his artificial leg got entangled in the broken railing.

More than 3000 people crossed from the procession chanting Holy verses, 100 cars crossed taking a slight detour saving the old man, the traffic stopped because one car while taking a small detour hit another car on the left. They were busy fighting and the old man was busy trying to take out his leg. My car reached the spot. I stopped came out(much against the wishes of my better half) and helped the old man. It took precisely 3 minutes but in these three minutes there were more than 10 people in cars who were abusing me for stopping my car, there were more than 30 who were honking(abusing in fact with continuous honking) there were all these religious people who were chanting holy verses as if no one can see or hear anything else. The old man thanked and went, A police inspector came and thanked and said “Saab, it is daring to do such a thing when sentiments flowing so high”

Sentiments flowing high??? What rubbish… No one could come and help an old man….everyone was happy waiting for 30 minutes but could not spare 3 minutes………many questions came to my mind.

What if use of chanting Holy verses if we can not help an old man?

It wasn’t wrong to stop to help an old man, why was everyone abusing?

I don’t think I will ever get answers to some questions……

I come from orthodox Brahmin background, such an environment where people don’t even eat onions. Even in my generation maximum are pure vegetarians. Fasting during Navratras is routine ritual. Being in service that I am, it is not always possible to fast for all nine days, moreover, my Ma has excused me from all these rituals because she understands the conditions I serve in.

A week before my ma called up and said if possible keep fast for one day (atleast). So, being Mama’s boy I decided that I will fast on 2nd Oct. It would be easy for me as it is a national holiday. Being in remote area it was not possible for me to get “Kuttu ka Atta” (a non-grain flour) but I managed it somehow.

Being a closed holiday, I was cleaning my cupboard and found two small gift-packs. During last medal round of Golf, I received these two prizes for “longest drive” and “nearest to pin”. I thought of opening them but something inside me said not to open.

Today I was fasting……

Being Eid, I called up one of my juniors Kifaitullah to wish him and his family. His 4 year old daughter Rubina picked up the phone. She did not recognize me, I told her “I am same uncle who gave you that Mauve colouerd sketch pen from my desk when you came to my office with your dad” her voice changed and she shouted OH YOU ARE THAT LAMBU MAMU, I am coming to you with Dad…… Kifait with great difficulty took phone and I wished him. After exchanging pleasantries He said, sir, I am bringing biryani and seviyan for you… and kept the phone down.

Kifaitullah and little angle Rubina came with a hot-case…… she jumped in my lap and started off ( I call her non-stop disco)

“Ammi has asked me to tell you that navratras are going on and she has made pure vegetarian biryani for her bahijaan and she has prepared all food early morning before cooking anything else and has asked me to make sure that her bhaijaan eats” oh she says everything in one breath.....

Kifait kept quiet, Rubina was in my lap and hanging to my neck, she said looking in my eyes “You will eat na lambu mamu?, Ammi has not allowed anyone to touch this hot-case, food inside this is pure” I promised her that I will eat what she brought for me. You know how kids are, she kept saying “you eat biryani later, but atleast taste seviyan with me right now, Ammi did not allow me to taste saying not before Bhaijaan does because it has to be pure....huh !! Ammi’s bhaijaan“.

I thought, whether the food was pure or impure did not matter anymore, fasting had no meaning right now, Goddess Durga was there right in front of my eyes. I took out seviyan and gave one spoon to Rubina and I took one spoon. The smile on her face and twinkle in her eyes is impossible for me to express and explain here in words……I Took those two gifts what I saw in morning and gave to her. I think Goddess made me take out those for Rubina.

I do not know whether I did it right or wrong. Mahatma Gandhi said once…WE MUST BECOME THE CHANGE WE WANT TO SEE…

I called up Ma and told her everything and told her that I could not fast……my Ma just said one thing…… "Whatever you did, I am proud of you"
        
       "HAPPY EID AND NAVRATRAS TO YOU ALL"

Sometimes one wants to change the daily dose of routine exercises & workouts and decide to limber down. So I went for a stroll today instead of the routine run & workout. I did not go towards the lake but took a detour to go through the lush green tea gardens.

Generally I used to go by the lake and listen to the sweet voice of Cuckoo, I had not seen Cuckoo for almost one week now, I was wondering where did she go, many questions, many apprehensions, strange feelings were crossing thoughts. My thoughts were not able to accept in any way that Cuckoo would leave this tree ever. In fact I had asked the tree quietly “Did you in any way hurt the sweet Cuckoo?” the tree replied “how could I? I could never find someone who makes each day the best, each laugh the longest, each smile the widest, and a life, my life, worthwhile. All this was happening for last one week, everyday looking for the sweet Cuckoo and not finding it was heartbreaking……I was sad, I was shattered….and that was the reason I decided I will go towards the tea gardens and not the lake. I was missing Cuckoo, my sweet chirpy Cuckoo…

I had started calling Cuckoo my lifeline, because she was my LIFELINE, she always laughed it out whenever I told her…but I knew myself for sure.. she is my lifeline the thoughts somewhere deep down were not ready to accept that lifeline could ever go……

I stopped and wanted to leave every thing else…just wanted to be with the Cuckoo…I started walking towards the willow tree besides the serene lake….. the dusk was far away, I was almost running to reach the tree, looking for my sweet Cuckoo, something deep inside me was telling me to call for her, to call her and tell her how much I loved her, I could not do without her anymore, I would go back to shell if she leaves…

As rushing towards the lake, I was gazing towards the beautiful evening sky, Instead of thinking; I was daydreaming of her...And wondering if while she were in her own world, she would be thinking of me too. I was totally lost in her thoughts…was not expecting her to be there……hoping against hopes……somewhere in my thoughts I knew how much I loved her and also knew how much she loved me…I reached at the spot where we used to meet, I had heard many times her sweet voice and conversations were always silent, but we understood each word spoken in that silence, in the willow tree I did not see her…

I reached by the lake……wow I heard the voice again…Cuckoo was there, she had not left me, she was there……LIFELINE was back…today I could clearly see her… as soon as I looked into her eyes each breath became a thousand sighs. My heart pounded like a drummers beat. I was glowing with joy from head to feet. The sight of love had touched my soul, and the bell of destiny began to toll. The tide of emotions of love began to rise; my world was now really filled with beautiful blue skies. A brilliant rainbow arched across in the beautiful sky, as waves of love began to toss. I was there right in front of her, spellbound……speechless…overawed in her presence…I had no words to praise her beauty…exactly same as I had dreamt…exactly same as I saw her in my early morning dreams…

My sweet Cuckoo, I decided to tell you today, how much I love you…the feelings of togetherness, the wonderful moments of joy and being in trance would be difficult to describe in words…but I know u understand my silence, I will always hold you close and make you feel safe, sheltered in from the dark clouds thunder and rain, from any of the storms. Today, when I take your hand and look into your eyes I see a heart made of gold and soul so pure. I know you must have come from heaven, because you have pretty angel eyes. When you gaze at me with them, my heart begins to fly. Your sweet voice, continuously rings in my ears. I am in your thoughts even when you are right in front of me....that is the magic you have...

With you by my side, I see us happy. Both of us are connected in a way that goes beyond romance, beyond friendship, beyond companionship, beyond what we've ever had before. It has defied time, distance, and changes in ourselves and in our lives. It has defied every elucidation. Except one just the one, Pure and plainly, we're soul mates. No one can explain we can just feel it. It's there in the way our spirits lift whenever we talk. It's in the delight we feel, when we laugh at exactly the same things. When we are together, it's like a tiny piece of the universe shifts into place. A place it's supposed to be, and all is right in this beautiful world……………… yeah my Cuckoo is back...I wont let her go again.....

Love is silent but it is bright, 
     Even when it is past twilight.
As the Sun of joy will never set, 
     Those lovely moments we can’t forget.

Breathing deeply to life’s song, 
      Can we forget each other for long?
With you every moment I spent, 
      All memories are strangely bent.

I missed for a while, your voice n the space, 
      Still everyday I did a place.
Right at the table meant for two, 
      Just for one and that is you. 

I shall be the light and not the spark,
     You brought me back from the scary dark. 
Rivers are flowing in the ocean deep,
     I can’t be the dew-drop that leaves can’t keep. 

Melodies many a times remain inside, 
      Today there is nothing to hide,
From our feelings deep within,
      For those times let the song begin.

After a long hectic schedule of activities I got a break today, as always I planned to go to that 9.75 m by 7.62 m court and sweat it out with a double yellow dot. After seeing all the water for days from the space, it was so refreshing coming back to lush green surroundings. While on my way to the squash court I heard the voice of “Koyal” (some call it Indian Nightingale and some Cuckoo), yes, it was surprising because this is not the season you often hear Cuckoo. The voice was very sweet and I was mesmerized, saw the Cuckoo in flight and followed her. She stopped at every tree when she saw me failing to catch up with her voice and then sat in that beautiful willow tree; from across the lovely lake I could see the shadow of lush green willow in crystal clear water.

I tried my best to look for the Cuckoo; she was somewhere there in that willow. Sometimes the voices and sounds of such beautiful creatures give you strength and grow beyond you - to bolster your thoughts. Lovely thoughts flourish and seek to meet us at the point of origination.

Cuckoo was still not seen; I could hear her but could not see. She asked me in same sweet voice “what are you thinking?” I replied "Your flight in open skies and sweet voice set me thinking, I wish, I could go where night begins and frozen sunlight sings. I do not know you well, but what I know enchants me, like a song sung far away. At times I cannot perceive sound of the words you say, but what you say hangs softly and slowly I begin to understand the essence."

Cuckoo smiled and said, “I see you furtively and note your dreamy eyes, your spirit is half elsewhere. My friend, this is what I call disaster……” It was my turn to ask Cuckoo “why do you call it a disaster? And why do you say so?

She again smiled and replied “It is up to us to choose the option of calling it ‘disaster’ or anything else. What we must understand is that when some emotion or expression does not seek to control or dictate where the spirit is going to flow I call it a disaster.” Yes, even she calls it as disaster, I mumbled. Cuckoo heard my inarticulate words and asked, “Who is she?”

Oh SHE………In this beautiful clear water of lake, just as though the sea has stopped needing rainbows, She appeared in my dawn-sharpened sky with unabashed affection. Her faded picture looks so clear to me in the crystal water drops, the sound of perfect harmony are in the background and sweet emotions melting around. Her thoughts bring sweet rustic smell of raindrops in my soul like the rainbows that contain all colors of the feelings; beautiful sweet feelings adding the charm and the magic. Even her thoughts uncoil the rough twine making this journey so beautiful……when she asks me about the plant of fortune and how is it growing, subtle movement or gentle breeze rekindles my thoughts…… The familiar fragrance brings a wistful smile and the occasional blast of fireworks always takes my breath away.

Cuckoo said “I know, I know, A fire of thoughts that is carefully stoked and tended will not burn out. Blaze of bright sunshine and its warmth will always linger in your heart. It will beckon your soul and embrace you in its radiance. This is SWEET SEPTEMBER and the spark that has ignited long ago will remain an eternal flame………………”