#2. “Learn something from him,” they say (Let’s talk about Sharmaji ka beta)

There he is, the famous  “ Sharmaji ka beta”. Why don’t you learn something from him? How hardworking he is. Always topper in class. He's going to make it to IIT. He doesn’t have stupid friends as you have. Where were you wandering like a beggar? See him, he never goes out without his parents permission. 

How good he is…

Well behaved…

Well mannered…

Well dressed…

For decades, Sharmaji’s son is giving sleepless nights to all the other sons around the world. Sharmaji would be replaced with Iyer, Bhattacharya, Patel, John etcetera according to the location. Names or surnames doesn't matter, parents need only an example. That’s it.

Everyone knows that it is wrong to compare your child with somebody else. Seldom has it had positive effect on the child. Still, knowingly or unknowingly, it continues to happen. Even the same parents who are comparing you with Sharmaji’s son had to face this. 

They were also irritated when they were compared with Sharma, Verma or Sudama’s son. But they changed with time. Time has erased that feeling, the itchy prickling, from their memory. Therefore, they cannot understand how it feels anymore. 

The bottom line is “neither you can replace your parents nor are they going to change.”

Then…?

The easiest (or toughest?) way to tackle it is to change your inner-self. Easy, because you can do it without any external support. Tough because you cannot expect an external help. You have to get into the root and correct yourself.  

You try to become like him. Do the things as he does. Try to perform better than him. Behave the way he does. And your parents would be happy.

But, is that right?

No.

Is that the way?

No.

Can you be like him ever?

Of course, not.

Each person has his own identity, his own way of dealing with things. The way two persons fingerprints are not same, no two persons can be same. 

Identify your field of perfection. Identify your inner calling. Believe in it. Go ahead. Dream of becoming a master in it. 

Your achievements would be enough to silence your critiques. Be it your parents or siblings. Show them that if I am weak in that I am strong in this. Every other betas would vanish in the glint of your success.  

By the way, AR Rahman can never be Leonardo DiCaprio. Neither vice versa.

#1. “You cannot do that," they say

Here I am again, after a short period of hibernation. I was busy with work, busy with life. Though I could take out some time and could explore one of the best states in India, Goa.

What else!

It was during one of my exploration trip that I came across a thought. A sentence we often hear. A tight slap we have received many a time. A shock that was so powerful that who could not shrug it off lived a mere, MERE, low, LOW, life. 

That’s when the title, and the series, born. The “They Say” series.

I will be talking about those taunts we listen, those excuses we make ourselves, the consolations we receive from our near and dear, when we fail, when we don’t make it to the expected level. In between those taunts, excuses and consolations we miss the most important thing.

Our LIFE.

Our action, and reaction, to the turns we face decide the course of our life. The most important part is to hold on yourself, your confidence. 

“You cannot do it,’ they say. “They” can be your friends, competitors, jealousy colleagues, or jobless neighbours. Except for your friends, everyone else is deriving sadistic pleasure from the sentence.

You will realize one thing if you read the sentence again. It is one word that is changing the meaning of the whole sentence. That one, that silly one, changes the sentence from positive to negative. I am saying about the word “not”. The three-letter word strategically placed at the centre of the sentence. That word ensures that the receiver would think about his efficiency, his capability, his intelligence once again. Many turn back from their dream at this point. 

A simple sentence from another person, who has never known you completely, decides your fate. What a pity!

Is it possible to turn the sentence positive? To your benefit. Of course, you can.

As I had said in the beginning, the “strategic positioning” of the word NOT is the crux of all the negativity about the sentence. Therefore, whenever anyone tells you “you cannot do it” you just change the position of the word NOT. Place it at the beginning. Let the word be happy for the priority it’s getting. 

You change the sentence to “NO you can do it” inwardly. 

Repeat it once. Repeat it again. Again. Again. Until it becomes a part of your breath. Let the sentence strengthen you, your aim in life. 

Who can defeat a strong heart?

What's your (LOVE) Story?

“Love is blind.” A common usage we have been hearing since childhood. Love is a thing which we have experienced at some point in our life. 

Some had expressed their love, married their dream-girl and live happily thereafter.

Some were afraid of expressing it for the fear of rejection. They wanted to reveal it to her/ him, but never could. The love lived, and died, inside their heart. Leaving a never dying pain inside them.

Some revealed their love. Enjoyed the moments of togetherness, but couldn’t tie the knot. The society, religion, money (all of them or any one), destroying their dreams.

What’s your story?

Read my story here and tell me whether our story is similar to mine.

Waiting for your comments.

Girls,Be Strong. Believe in Yourself.

That's it. The Supreme Court of India wants proof that Govindachamy pushed Soumya off the train! It is as if jumping out to save herself from the maniac (if that is the case) was her crime. 

The evidences for rape, her struggles to escape it and brutal scars on her body are not enough for the court, it seems.

It was always like that, the court and some elite section of the society were more bothered about the human rights of culprits.

Then, there are some political leaders who are more worried about death punishment. Conveniently forgetting about the number of political opponents they eliminate every month, every year.

The bottom line is that there are many who support the heartless maniacs. They are not bothered about the wails of victims and their relatives. You have to fight the evil alone.

The only way to put an end (or curb) such incidents is bringing up your girl child in a confident atmosphere. Let them learn martial arts. Motivate them to be mentally strong. Let them know the fact that they are equally strong, or stronger, than men physically.

Let them put up a fight, at least, before succumbing to such maniacs (here, in the case of Soumya, a disabled bastard).

Girls out there, understand that you are alone in this fight. Nobody gives a shit, whether you live or die. The victim's fate will be discussed for a few days without any result, until a news with more TRP comes up.

Let there be no more Soumyas and Nirbhayas.

They need YOU

The first glimpse whilst entering the Agathi Mandiram, Kollam, Kerala was of a boy, maybe in early twenties, lying on the floor. He was soiled and naked, except a tiny piece of dirty cloth around his waist. Lying there, he looked up at the visitors. Then, he returned to the same position neglecting us, as if it were a normal thing.

Visitors in colorful attire bringing them something; food, most of the time.

It was a new world to me. A new kind of experience. They were the people I never believed existed. Of course, I had seen beggars, but this was different. The dormitories smelt of urine and human faeces. The atmosphere was putrid. 

There were 160 of them. Men and women. Most of them have psychological problems, remaining slowly slipping into state of delirium. Government pays 1000 rupees for each person per month. It is not even sufficient for their food, forget medicines. Then, who is bothered about treating them and bringing them back to normal life. 

I avoided eye contact with them while distributing the food we brought. I dare not look into their eyes. They will not scold or abuse me. But I could assume a question reflected in the depths of their eyes. A question to me. A question to the society where I belong.

Have you gone blind to see our suffering?

I took a glance back while returning from there. I could see a number of eyes looking at us, with a glint of hope.

Yes, I will come. I will come again. I may not be a millionaire to shell out money. At the same time, who wants that lifeless piece of paper? They want love. They want to be cared. 

And love is more valuable, more meaningful, than any amount of money. It can cure any ailing heart.

I have decided to come here again and again. For them. For us. 

What about you?

Do something today, you will not regret it.