Have we lost our identity?

We get up in the morning, go to office, develop code for the software to be used by the millions of users, write content to be read by those million users. And, in this we take regular breaks, I mean meal or coffee breaks, and indulge in the office gossip. But, sometimes I feel that with all this are we losing our identity. India has seen so many eminent personaltities, and stalwarts with the likes of Ramanujan, Prof CV Raman, Chandrashekhar, Prof CS Seshadri, and so on. We have the great nobel laureate, CV Ramam producing the most innovative research hich we call it as "Raman Effect" and we have Ramanujan the stalwart in mathematics. Above all this, we also have the Aryabhatta, producing the well found research in area of mathematics whether it is giving volumes of sphere and pyramid or giving an approximation of pi. But the fact is that these people had existed, and still exists in our mind somewhere. However, these genuises seem to have been lost, as we have got ourselves involved in running after money so much. The growth of Information Technology has seen so many advancements with India entering the "IT superpower market". However, this advancement also has seen change in man's lives. He has become materialistic, and the run-in for money has got him into the race to earn more and more, and it will never end until we ourselves realize the potential of those geniouses. Its true that it is no harm to be materialistic but we need to ask ourselves that are we becoming too materialistic. Where the likes of Ramanujans and CV Ramans? Have we hidden them over the run-ins for money? Its a fact that it has been so many years since we produced a genious in mathematics and science. It seems that the field of science and mathematics has just stopped, and its time we rejuvenate ourselves to revive the field of science and mathematics. ITs high time we realize the potential of research in these fields and continue the works of Ramanujan, Aryabhatta, and CV Raman to bring a new name in Indian history.

“What is in the name!”

Shakespeare said in one of his plays, “What’s in the name?” I wonder sometimes where this rule is applied as it is the “name” that matters the most. If you don’t have a name, then people do not recognize you. Imagine yourself not having a name such as Ram, Albert, or Iqbal then how will people call you.

Will they call you like, “Hey, you!” or “Hey! Come here you.”

Sounds silly isn’t it. How will it look like when everyone will be calling each other like this? Then, there will be no names and people will be calling by the pronouns. Sometimes, I feel that did Shakespeare think while making the statement, “What’s in the name?” And, the hilarious part is that after making that statement, everyone knew that it was made by Shakespeare himself. Imagine how will it feel when you do something good, and don’t leave a name in it. How will it feel to not be recognized after doing something good? After all, people do everything to make a mark of them. But, after giving a due thought on this statement, I realized it has a different meaning. What Shakespeare is trying to say here is that there are so many religions on this earth, and there are so many people of different diversities. All of them are no different. All of them are the same, just the difference lies in the color and caste. “What’s in the name” actually means that it’s not your name that is important but more important is, “You”, yourselves. Everyone wants to be recognized and it’s not bad. It is always good to have aspirations and goals because without that life becomes monotonous. However, more importantly, its important to identify to identify yourselves. Look within yourselves, and ask yourselves what is good and what is bad.

That’s the real meaning of this statement. Shakespeare though had been a thorough thinker, and it is him who could have given such a thoughtful statement.

Why do people say "I am falling in LOVE"?

I have heard people saying in reality and in movies (both Hollywood and our very own Hindi movies) that, "I am falling in love". The term "Falling in Love" is generally derived from western countries, and it usually means the process of moving from a feeling of neutrality towards someone to one of love. The term "Fall" can imply to many things such as putting the lover in a state of vulnerability or that the process is irreversible. It also means that process of love may have been uncontrollable. However, its never bad to fall in love as pointed out by Albert Einstein. It has been theoretically proved by many psychologists that people generally fall in love when they want a change in their life or even start a new life altogether.

I want to quote few lines from a Wikipedia, which says "falling in love is a rapid process of destructuration-reorganization called the nascent state. In the nascent state, the individual becomes capable of merging with another person and creating a new collectivity with a very high degree of solidarity."

I remember a wonderful song sung by Elvis Presley, "I can’t help falling in love with you". Just read through the lyrics of the wonderful song and feel the difference it makes in your lives:

Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Shall I stay
Would it be a sin?
If I can’t help falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can't help
Falling in love with you
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Take my hand
Take my whole life too
For I can?t help
Falling in love with you
For I can?t help
Falling in love with you

But, why people really fall in love is a mystery, and still is a mystery why some love grows and why some love fails. Love is like a sum of the interests and attractions and certain common traits that two people share. And just as life is a gift that comes and goes in its own time, so too, the coming of love must be taken as an abysmal gift that cannot be questioned.

To some people, this gift of love comes at a very early age so you must take hold of it and celebrate it in all inexpressible beauty. However, if it fails altogether, just don't stick to it. Just move on as you move on with life. Because, just life is a mystery, love is also a mystery that no human being has been able to solve on its own. It’s just the God's will that you cannot even pretend to change. When love fails, you look for answers and think about "What's really wrong in yourselves that made the other person not love you?" You tend to blame the circumstances that caused this situation and say that if they go far away and start a new life, their love will grow. Imagine that you fall in love with another person, and the other person also falls in love with you. Then, suddenly everything starts looking negative to you and other person decides to leave. So, in this situation, do not try to recoup it or to assess blame. Just, let it go. There is a reason and there is a meaning to everything in life. You will know in times to come as its not you who have written your future.

Remember that its not you who chooses Love but it’s the vice-versa. You can only accept it when it comes to your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it alive in you. Give it to others who deem it poor in spirit, and give it to the world around you in any way you can. Also, remember that Love has its own time, season, and reason to come and go. You cant neither stop from coming into your life and nor stop from going from your life just as you cant stop people from dying. You can only embrace it when it comes to you but when it chooses to leave you then there is nothing you can do and there is nothing you should do either. However, you should feel luck and out of the blue moon that God has chosen you to be "fallen in love" out of the millions of people standing in the line still waiting to find a love of their life. In the end, I want to quote the following lines, "If you keep your heart open then it will definitely come again in your life." I want to quote few lines of a beautiful poem Falling in Love is Wonderful from Harry Kottler,

Falling in love is wonderful.
Falling in love is sublime.
Falling in love is wonderful.
I fall in love all the time.

Falling in love is wonderful.
I fall in love with all I meet.
Falling in love is wonderful.
I greet my beloved on every street.

Falling in love is wonderful.
It's not grave; it is floating on air.
Falling in love is wonderful.
I fall in love with both the ugly and the fair.

"We are the World"
(One of the best songs of all times...I really love the lyrics. Its close to the heart, and is suited to current scenario.)

There comes a time
When we head a certain call
When the world must come together as one
There are people dying
And it's time to lend a hand to life
The greatest gift of all

We can't go on Pretending day by day
That someone, somewhere will soon make a change
We are all a part of God's great big family
And the truth, you know love is all we need

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

Send them your heart
So they'll know that someone cares
And their lives will be stronger and free
As God has shown us by turning stone to bread
So we all must lend a helping hand

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

When you're down and out
There seems no hope at all
But if you just believe
There's no way we can fall
Well, well, well, well, let us realize
That a change will only come
When we stand together as one

[Chorus]
We are the world
We are the children
We are the ones who make a brighter day
So let's start giving
There's a choice we're making
We're saving our own lives
It's true we'll make a better day
Just you and me

The Road Not Taken
by Robert Frost

(This is a beautiful poem which I found while googling for some motivational poems..its worth reading more than just once..)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that passing there
Had worn them really about the same
, And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I -
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

आज हुआ है जन्म गोपाल का.......

आज मेरे गोपाल का जनम हुआ है
धूम मची है आज मथुरा मे
हुआ है आज कोलाहल नन्द गाओ मे
क्योंकि आज आया है गोपियों का किशन
आज नाचेगी राधा मस्ती मे
क्योंकि आज आया है केतकी-नंदन यशोदा के आँगन मे
आज मेरे गोपाल का जनम हुआ है,
आज मेरे माखन चोर का जन्म हुआ है,
आज मुरली मनोहर, नीलकंठ, आया है
इस संसार को पाप से मुक्त कारने
जैसे उसने अर्जुन को गीता पाठ पदाया था
वैसे ही वो आया है हमें भी वो ही पाठ पदाने
की तू अपना कर्म कर और फल की चिंता ना कर
और धरम और अधर्म की इस लड़ाई मे,
जीत हमेशा होती है धर्म की
यह ही पाठ पदाने आज आया है नन्दलाल
हमारी इस छोटी सी बगिया मे
आज मेरे गोपाल का जनम हुआ है
आज मेरे माखन चोर का जन्म हुआ है

आज जन्माष्टमी के पावन अवसर पर
मैं येही दुआ करता हूँ की लड्डू गोपाल
हमारी ज़िन्दगी को भी कर दे रोशन

मैं अपनी छत पे बैठा यह सोच रहा था
की यह दुनिया कहाँ जा रही है
गर मैं सोचता हूँ की यह दुनिया जा रही है
या हम कहीं और जा रहा हैं
फिर मुघे ख्याल आता है
की हम समय के आगे चल रहे हैं
दौड़ रहे हैं ज़िन्दगी की खींचा-तानी मे
मैं अपनी छत पे बैठा लोगों की भीड़ को देखता हूँ
और ख़याल आता है
की कहीं हम अपने काम मे इतने घूम तो नहीं हो गए
की अपने अस्तित्व को ही भूल गए हैं
मैं अपनी छत पे बैठा अपने आप को देखता हूँ
फ़िर अपनी घड़ी को टटोलते हुए
निकल पड़ता हूँ, उसी भीड़ मे,
जिसमे सब जा रहे हैं
तनहा
अपनी मंजिल की तलाश मे
उस मंजिल की ओउर जो कभी दिखाई नहीं देती
बस एक धुंदली सी शक्सियत नज़र आती है
मैं अपनी छत पे बैठा यह सोचता हूँ
की हम कहाँ जा रहे हैं !!

आज इतवार है, आज अक और वीकएंड ख़तम हो गया। अब फ़िर से शुरू हो जायेगी काम की भागा-दौर, अब फ़िर से लोग भागेंगे ज़िन्दगी की सड़क मे, और फ़िर से होगी खींचा-तानी और एक दूसरे को नीचा दिखने के लिए लोग लग जायेंगे, जुट जायेंगे। आज वीकएंड ख़तम हुआ, और ख़तम हुआ आराम करने का।

Hindu-Muslim bhai-bhai!
So, are you a hindu or a muslim? Because, if you are a muslim then you can't get admission into this society. I wonder whether we are really living in a so-called secular state. "SECULAR"! meaning, "not pertaining to or connected with religion". But, still, our politicians divide our country into separate religions in order to rule on ourselvs. I sometimes feel that whether were better off in British rule or not. Is this the nation for which the freedom fighters, such as Subhas Chandra Bose, Chandra Shekher Azaad, Rajguru, Sukhdev, etc..laid their lives.

Why is it that muslims are considered as "minority community"?

In the name of a secular nation, are we trying to present a wrong impression. What is the future we are preseting to the coming generation. The new generation is very intelligent, smart, and hardworking. GOD, had created human beings but its us humans who has divided among different religions, caste, sect, and creed, and even color. God has sent us all equally, and has given same kind of organs. Does any human being has a different kind of heart or liver, or anyone has "Hindu" mentioned in their heart, and others have "Muslims" mentioned in it. The answer is, "No". Then, who are we to divide ourselves into different religions.
Are we trying to prove that we are right, and God is wrong? India is one of the largest democratic country, and it is in this nation where people of dfferent communities live, whether it is hindus, muslims, sikhs, christians, and so on.
Today its Janmashtmi, and its today when Lord Krishna was born to kill his Devil uncle "Kans". I dont know whether it is true or not, but its just rather depends upon your realization and belief. And, if its true, then lets pledge to kill the demons of dividing ourselves into different religions, and make this a better to place to live in.
Wish you a happy Janmashtmi day to every "INDIAN" of any cast or creed.

एक पल के लिए खुशी दी
फ़िर गम देके चली गई
वो सपनो मे आके मेरे
मुघे दीवाना बना के चली गई

वो मेरे इतने पास थी
फ़िर भी लगता था जैसे दूर है
अब मुघसे इतना दूर है
पर लगता है दिल के करीब है

यह दिल भी कितना अजीब है
जब कोई पास होता है
तो वो दिखाई नहीं देता
गर वो चला जाता है
तो पता चलता है उसकी अहमियत

सपने

आह्खों में है धेह्रों सपने
उनको पूरा करने की चाहत
लेके चले है जिंदगी की रह में
पर नहीं संभालता दिल
जब टूट जाते है वो सपने
पर एक उम्मीद है इस दिल में
की कल सवेरा होगा
कल फ़िर से उजाला होगा
कल का सूरज एक नई किरण लेके आएगा
कल फ़िर से एक मैं एक और कदम चलूँगा

कहाँ है तू

कहाँ है तू
इक धुन्दला सा चेहरा है तू
आँखों में सपने लिए
उसको पूरा करने का ख्वाब है तू
जब भी में आँखें बंद करता हूँ
बस तुघे ही अपने पास पाटा हूँ
पर नहीं दिखती तुम्हारी सूरत मुघे
इतने पास रहके भी क्यों इतनी दूर है तू
मेरे दिल के करीब रहके
क्यों जिंदगी का पास नहीं है तू