The rain came down in sheets. Interspersed by flashes of lightning and explosive thunder, it did not look like it was going to stop anytime soon. I glanced at my watch. Another 30 minutes before school finishes. Cycling home in the rain was not going to be pleasant . I was just recovering from a bout of flu.
And then, a figure in a rain coat, soaking wet, appeared just outside the door. The unexpectedness dazed me for a while. I could not place the face. Then it struck me. Could it be?
Yes it was. My father was standing by the door, soaking wet, trying to discretely hand me a raincoat. I took it gratefully, without a word. The next moment he was gone. I could picture him, getting on his motorbike, riding home in the rain.
But for all his discretion, my teacher had seen him. And so had a few of my classmates. There was much laughter and teasing. "Mark's father brought him a raincoat". The feeling of gratitude quickly turned to gross embarrassment. It was overpowering. Why did father have to do that ? The rain wouldn't kill me. In any case, it would have stopped soon.
And the teacher compounded the embarrassment. "Mark's father cares so much for him. He came in the rain so that his son wouldn't get wet." My God. I wished I could just disappear from the face of the earth.
"When a child is embarassed by his parent, it just means that the child has not lived long enough" - Mitch Albom
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Thursday, January 22, 2009
The lie
I am a compulsive liar,
I lie all the time,
I am lying now,
On my bed in my room,
But that was a lie,
I was lying that I was lying,
Now I don’t know what I am doing.
And that’s not a lie.
I lie all the time,
I am lying now,
On my bed in my room,
But that was a lie,
I was lying that I was lying,
Now I don’t know what I am doing.
And that’s not a lie.
Success
Success or failure ?
Which is better as a goal ?
If my goal in life is to be a success,
And if I'm a success,
I'd have succeeded.
But if I've failed in my goal,
I'd be a failure!
But:
If my goal in life is to be a failure,
And if I'm a failure,
I've succeeded.
And if I've failed in my goal,
I'm a success !
Which is better as a goal ?
If my goal in life is to be a success,
And if I'm a success,
I'd have succeeded.
But if I've failed in my goal,
I'd be a failure!
But:
If my goal in life is to be a failure,
And if I'm a failure,
I've succeeded.
And if I've failed in my goal,
I'm a success !
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
The callous move
It was a move, quite callous..
But then, his credentials, they were dubious.
But it made an impression, very curious.
His presence at such scenes, albeit ubiquitous.
How else to feel, but furious ?
It was quite noisy, quite tumultuous….
The accusation, twas plain baseless.
Granpa, in his rocking chair, bland and ageless…
But then, he had to make it his business.
Galloping around, with energy boundless.
He said “ Dear, better be cautious”….
He had to scream, being very conscious.
Looks like this verse is getting endless…..
Not to mention completely meaningless.
But then, his credentials, they were dubious.
But it made an impression, very curious.
His presence at such scenes, albeit ubiquitous.
How else to feel, but furious ?
It was quite noisy, quite tumultuous….
The accusation, twas plain baseless.
Granpa, in his rocking chair, bland and ageless…
But then, he had to make it his business.
Galloping around, with energy boundless.
He said “ Dear, better be cautious”….
He had to scream, being very conscious.
Looks like this verse is getting endless…..
Not to mention completely meaningless.
Friday, January 16, 2009
Teaf
Audrey came to audit,
But it was dusk, doggone it.
Care for the colour, if you will
Of the doctor, who rejoices more in your bill.
It seems umpteen times, you say,
That he dishes out panadol, to your dismay.
But wanton disregard for your wellness,
May lead to the dumps and your dullness.
Better turn over to a new leaf,
It does behove you, without a teaf.
And what's a teaf, you wonder.
Well I had to make it rhyme, though its a blunder.
But it was dusk, doggone it.
Care for the colour, if you will
Of the doctor, who rejoices more in your bill.
It seems umpteen times, you say,
That he dishes out panadol, to your dismay.
But wanton disregard for your wellness,
May lead to the dumps and your dullness.
Better turn over to a new leaf,
It does behove you, without a teaf.
And what's a teaf, you wonder.
Well I had to make it rhyme, though its a blunder.
And then they came for me.
I came across this poem in an email I received today.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- German theologian, Martin Niemöller
Aren't we all guilty of this "its not my business" syndrome? Only yesterday we were discussing about the selfish practices which many of us indulge in, which cause untold damage to the environment. We don't care as long as we are not paying for it. When we have paid for a package deal, we waste things, in the false belief that we are somehow "entitled" to do so. But then, all these do come around. We will eventually have to pay for it. Probably many times over. Must check the things I do as well.
First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.
- German theologian, Martin Niemöller
Aren't we all guilty of this "its not my business" syndrome? Only yesterday we were discussing about the selfish practices which many of us indulge in, which cause untold damage to the environment. We don't care as long as we are not paying for it. When we have paid for a package deal, we waste things, in the false belief that we are somehow "entitled" to do so. But then, all these do come around. We will eventually have to pay for it. Probably many times over. Must check the things I do as well.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
An Unhealthy Obsession With the Blog
You say I have an unhealthy obsession with the blog,
and that I seek veterinary assistance, meaning Im a hog.
So, you envisage me sitting at a PC, tapping away all day.
What? Do you think I’m so idle, thatblabbering makes my day?
Or that I sit and secretly spew words?
Rather than say, play billiards ?
As if, as if, as if I would!
Words lack soul and I am good at understanding and recognising souls
Often I think about this when emptying my fishbowls
To perch and scrape and dig the land I know,
To earth and mud and sand I am not adverse.
You say I have an unhealthy obsession with the blog ?
I say you have a short memory and a bowl of grog.
Here is the tale...
I see you have gone quite pale...
(Oh yes) I recall a dark time long ago.
A book which you would often show...
Oh no! I've said too much!
I hoped that by now you had forgotten.
(apologies to Kate , whoever you are)
and that I seek veterinary assistance, meaning Im a hog.
So, you envisage me sitting at a PC, tapping away all day.
What? Do you think I’m so idle, thatblabbering makes my day?
Or that I sit and secretly spew words?
Rather than say, play billiards ?
As if, as if, as if I would!
Words lack soul and I am good at understanding and recognising souls
Often I think about this when emptying my fishbowls
To perch and scrape and dig the land I know,
To earth and mud and sand I am not adverse.
You say I have an unhealthy obsession with the blog ?
I say you have a short memory and a bowl of grog.
Here is the tale...
I see you have gone quite pale...
(Oh yes) I recall a dark time long ago.
A book which you would often show...
Oh no! I've said too much!
I hoped that by now you had forgotten.
(apologies to Kate , whoever you are)
The Tiger
Timeliness. That was never Vikash's virtue. She looked up in despair. It was getting dark. Mullaitivu was not far away. The smell of the acrid smoke sickened her. And the rumbles in her tummy were getting quite loud.
Where else but in Kanaltivu ? The coins in his palm were shiny. The skin of his forehead glistened with sweat. And inexplicably, a cold wind blew. The hobo shuddered and drew the overcoat tighter. A shrill whistle startled the girl. It was the bus. Overloaded as usual.
Pablo wanted to win. He wiped his bald pate. It was an uphill task, but he knew he could make it. If he tried. And then Vikash came. He was a mess. And bloodied so badly. He was a Tiger. In fact he still is.
The gunshots were ear-shattering. They all dove into the undergrowth. As if that could save them. Soon a grenade was lobbed. And they all blew up. Human bodies and parts thereof splattered everywhere. The bus continued to move. It was on fire, but no one was rushing to get out. They were in no hurry. They were all dead.
Where else but in Kanaltivu ? The coins in his palm were shiny. The skin of his forehead glistened with sweat. And inexplicably, a cold wind blew. The hobo shuddered and drew the overcoat tighter. A shrill whistle startled the girl. It was the bus. Overloaded as usual.
Pablo wanted to win. He wiped his bald pate. It was an uphill task, but he knew he could make it. If he tried. And then Vikash came. He was a mess. And bloodied so badly. He was a Tiger. In fact he still is.
The gunshots were ear-shattering. They all dove into the undergrowth. As if that could save them. Soon a grenade was lobbed. And they all blew up. Human bodies and parts thereof splattered everywhere. The bus continued to move. It was on fire, but no one was rushing to get out. They were in no hurry. They were all dead.
Monday, January 5, 2009
GAYA TEERTH
Gaya is considered to be the most ideal place of pilgrimage for performing the shraddh rituals. It is believed that a person goes to hell if he dies in the following circumstances- if he dies without his consecrations being performed, or if a wild animal kills him, or if he meets an accidental death no matter what the reasons are. But, if 'Shraddh rituals' are performed at 'Gaya' then the soul of such a man gets rid of the tortures of the hell and goes to heaven. The importance of performing 'Shraddh rituals' over there can be gauged by the fact that a person becomes liberated from 'pitra rina' (debts towards one's father) once he touches the sacrosanct soil of 'Gaya'. The reason being that Lord Vishnu himself dwells there in the form of 'Pitra devata' and by having his divine glimpse a man is freed of all his three debts. The entire area stretching from the foothills of Vishnu mountain to 'Uttar Manas' is considered extremely holy and this is the same area where river Falgu flows. Offering 'Pinda daan' to ancestors at this place helps them to attain salvation.
There are many other places as holy as the banks of Falgu and performance of 'Shraddh rituals' over there give undiminished virtues to the ancestors - Dharma-Prishtha, Brahmasar, Gayashirsha, Akshay-Teerth, Dhenukaranya are few such places capable of liberating twenty generations of a man. The entire city of 'Gaya' is considered sacrosanct and performing the rituals of 'Shraddh' or offering Pinda daan to ancestors at any place within 'Gaya' helps the soul of the ancestors to attain to Brahmaloka.Before setting out for Gaya to offer Pinda daan, a man should appropriately perform 'Shraddh rituals' in the village or town he lives. Each step taken towards Gaya acts as a stepping stone to the heaven for the ancestors. Getting one's head tonsured or observing fast is prohibited in some places of pilgrimage like Badrinath, Kurukshetra, Jagannathpuri and Gaya. There is no time restriction on the performance of Shraddh rituals at Gaya and they can be performed anytime. After reaching Gaya, a man should first of all invoke his ancestors while taking bath in the holy Falgu and offer pinda daan to them. He should then visit the temple of Lord Gadadhar(Vishnu) and worship the deity. The next day, he should once again perform the Shraddh rituals at Dharmaranya and Matangwapi, two sacrosanct places having great religious significance. On the third day, he should perform the rituals of 'Tarpan' on the banks of 'Brahmasada teerth' and then go to 'Koop-teerth' and 'Yoop-teerth' to repeat the performance of Shraddh rituals. He should then feed the Brahmins at 'Goprachar teerth', an act considered to help ancestors attain salvation. On the fourth day he should take a holy dip in river Falgu and once again perform 'Shraddh rituals' at a place called 'Gayashirsh'. There are many more holy places in the vicinity where he is required to perform Shraddh rituals'- Vyas, Dehimukh, Panchagni, Surya- teerth, Som-teerth and Kartikeya-teerth are few of them. Finally, on the fifth day, he should take a holy dip in 'Gada-lolak' teerth and offer 'Pinda-daan' under the Banyan tree called 'Akshay vat'- an act believed to liberate all his predecessors as well as coming generations from the bondage of Earth. After that Brahmins are fed. Feeding one Brahmin at Gaya brings the same virtues what one would get by feeding one crore Brahmins elsewhere.'
There are many other places as holy as the banks of Falgu and performance of 'Shraddh rituals' over there give undiminished virtues to the ancestors - Dharma-Prishtha, Brahmasar, Gayashirsha, Akshay-Teerth, Dhenukaranya are few such places capable of liberating twenty generations of a man. The entire city of 'Gaya' is considered sacrosanct and performing the rituals of 'Shraddh' or offering Pinda daan to ancestors at any place within 'Gaya' helps the soul of the ancestors to attain to Brahmaloka.Before setting out for Gaya to offer Pinda daan, a man should appropriately perform 'Shraddh rituals' in the village or town he lives. Each step taken towards Gaya acts as a stepping stone to the heaven for the ancestors. Getting one's head tonsured or observing fast is prohibited in some places of pilgrimage like Badrinath, Kurukshetra, Jagannathpuri and Gaya. There is no time restriction on the performance of Shraddh rituals at Gaya and they can be performed anytime. After reaching Gaya, a man should first of all invoke his ancestors while taking bath in the holy Falgu and offer pinda daan to them. He should then visit the temple of Lord Gadadhar(Vishnu) and worship the deity. The next day, he should once again perform the Shraddh rituals at Dharmaranya and Matangwapi, two sacrosanct places having great religious significance. On the third day, he should perform the rituals of 'Tarpan' on the banks of 'Brahmasada teerth' and then go to 'Koop-teerth' and 'Yoop-teerth' to repeat the performance of Shraddh rituals. He should then feed the Brahmins at 'Goprachar teerth', an act considered to help ancestors attain salvation. On the fourth day he should take a holy dip in river Falgu and once again perform 'Shraddh rituals' at a place called 'Gayashirsh'. There are many more holy places in the vicinity where he is required to perform Shraddh rituals'- Vyas, Dehimukh, Panchagni, Surya- teerth, Som-teerth and Kartikeya-teerth are few of them. Finally, on the fifth day, he should take a holy dip in 'Gada-lolak' teerth and offer 'Pinda-daan' under the Banyan tree called 'Akshay vat'- an act believed to liberate all his predecessors as well as coming generations from the bondage of Earth. After that Brahmins are fed. Feeding one Brahmin at Gaya brings the same virtues what one would get by feeding one crore Brahmins elsewhere.'
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