Another year.

Every ending is a new beginning. By the grace of God, we can always start again.
As we enter into 2011, I wish you all a happy new year.

A time to cheer

It is happening to us in India for sometime now. When the darker clouds of depresion seem to be enveloping over our national psyche due to deep rooted corruption spread all around or uncontrollable inflation or narrow minded communal hatred, some sportsperson emerges to cheer us up and helps us in fighting our drooping spirits for sometime. Vishwanathan Anand does it with his world titles in chess, Saina Nehwal,with her triumphs in Badminton and Sachin Tendulkar with his centuries.
Sachin has now completed a half century of centuries. Well done, Sachin. We are proud of you.

Think a while

Going through the sayings of some of the greats, I found following two quotes very pertinent to our present day scams-ridden national scenario. I hope, for once atleast,these are thought over.
1. What is morally wrong cannot be politically right.
-William Gladstone.
2. The worst form of injustice is pretended justice.
-Plato.

Eternal Conflict

Once there was an argument between Positive and Negative. This happens frequently. The argument was about who is more powerful? More impactful? More influential?
Positive, with a lot of pride, said, “Everyone wants to embrace me because they think I can get them what they want.” Negative with a taunting smile, argued, “They have to embrace you, but I am almost inbuilt in their thinking.”

Positive countered, “I make them excited, make them look forward and move them towards success.” Negative instantly reacted, “All that only if I allow you to enter in. I am deep-rooted in them.”

Said Positive, “They write books on me.” Retorted the Negative, “Don’t you read the newspapers? I make the headlines and you are always in the sidelines.”

Positive clarified “They invest time and money to develop me in them.” Negative jumped in excitement. “I am freely available. You are a costly affair.” He continued further, “You are to be obtained with lot of efforts. I am there effortlessly.”

“By being positive, I help in building love in relationships,” murmured Positive. Negative authoritatively argued. “A lifetime of love, I can finish in one negative experience and breed hatred for lifetime.” Positive defended, “Your lifetime of hatred can be erased with my one act of forgiveness.” Negative laughed sarcastically, “Forgiveness! Man is no more forgiving. He seeks revenge. I sit inside him and pull strings.”

Positive was shaken up. It was able to feel its limitations. It realized what Negative was saying made sense. But because of its nature, Positive wanted to end the argument on a positive note. So it humbly spoke to Negative, “Of course, you have proved that you are more powerful and impactful than me. So what is the formula behind your success?”
Negative, with chest expanded, disclosed the secret arrogantly. “Your weakness is you are too shallow by nature and my strength is I am very deep by my nature. Your folly is you are too passive by nature and my forte is I am very aggressive in nature. Your limitation is you are too moderate by nature, and I am very intense in nature. And last but not the least; I was very POSITIVE in my approach while arguing with you”.

Positive was stunned. “So, ultimately you too had to hold only the hands of positivity to succeed. The only difference between you and me was that your very nature has more depth, aggressiveness and intensity.” Henceforth, I will add all these ingredients in my nature and approach to succeed everywhere. Thanks for disclosing the secret.”

Positive started its walk back. It kept talking to itself. “I will stay away or keep it away, this Negative fellow. In case I have to encounter it, then I will be very aggressive, deep and intense in my approach. From now onwards, I will make every thought, feeling and action, in fact every experience more deep, intense and profound. Appreciations will be in lengths, instilling deep pride. Expressions of love will be in filmy style, drowning the loved ones in love. Birthdays will be celebrated with gifts, multiple cake cuttings, dancing, singing and meeting friends. Life will be celebrated.”

Positive realized when profoundness of positive empowers the negative, negative just melts down to nothing. The animal in me makes me steal, man in me learns to ask, and the divine in me gives. The animal in me makes me negative, man in me strives to be positive, and the divine in me makes me faithfully positive. The journey is to evolve from animal to man and to eventually reach the Divine.

Has India really become a great nation?

The whole world has now started acknowledging India as a developed nation.President Obama says it is no longer an "emerging" country but has already "emerged". We hear these compliments and feel happy and proud.
But do we really deserve these accolades? A nation is made great by its citizens and citizen's greatness in identified by their character. Here we find ourselves surrounded by scams, each bigger than the previous one,inflicted on us by our so-called leaders.
Till we develop character we cannot claim to be living in a great country.

Two Tragedies, Close to each other

For the last 3 months or so, I have been a witness to two tragic events happening in my elder brother’s family. My niece, Alka, left this world after a long struggle with her ‘mysterious’ disease in July.( Ref.- ‘Alka Nangia’ in ‘Lakshya kee ore’ published by Geeta Prakashan, Hyderabad.)
Next, my brother (Alka’s father), V.B.Nangia, whose health was deteriorating on several fronts for the last 6 months, passed away recently on 3rd October, despite the best of treatments and care provided by his son, Arvind.These two deaths, so close to each other, have filled me with morose and depression. While praying for the peace of departed souls, I also ask God to provide strength to family to overcome the grief and to continue their journey in life with a renewed resolve into the future

Appointment of Ministers

On the eve of expansion of Karnataka cabinet, I have come across a statement made by state party chief on the issue. According to newspaper report, he says, “while awarding (?) the cabinet berths, factors like caste, district, seniority and loyalty to party will be considered.
Firstly, why the appointment of ministers should be viewed an award rather than a responsibility?
Secondly, I searched again and again amongst the considerations listed by Party Chief for factors like ability or suitability for the job. I could not find these included therein.

Example no longer valid

Master (to Servant )--Whenever you go outside, how is it that you never return before 2 to 3 hours ?
Servant-- Sir, you only told me that I should work like Bijli (electric current )

Whistle-blowers

It seems Government is about to pass a bill guaranteeing protection to ' whistle-blowers'. I do not know who is the originator of this nomenclature? The bill is meant to protect the identity of a subordinate, if he complains to higher authorities about the corruption of his senior. A good idea
At first, I thought it would protect the young boys or girls, who blow whistles at their friends to convey their intended messages.

Call-Off CWG

With commonwealth games forthcoming, the air around us at this time should have been filled with gusto, pride and expectancy. But what are we witnessing? The scams, delays, blame-games....Chee! Are we not presenting a shameful image of ours before world community?

Better to call-off the event, right at this stage, rather than facing embarrassment and criticism at a later date. Let us first set our house in order completely, clean up the mess (and our conscience too! ) and then invite the foreign teams to come here and see a good picture of India.

Lakshya Kee Ore

Writing and publishing of this book took 20 months for me. Amongst the life's experiences chronicled by me in this book, I included the story of Alka Nangia also. Alka, my niece, after a scooter accident at the age of 21, spent the next 27 years on bed, hardly able to move her limbs. This, however, did not reduce her mental agility and in this physical state, she went on to achieve entry into 'Limca Book of records' for her capacity to do mental calculations and correctly tell the days of the week for any date given to her upto 100 years in the past or future within an average time of 12 secs.
As the book was released on 4th July this year, I immediately sent a copy of it for her to see it at Gurgaon. It reached there on 8th July afternoon. Alka had left this world the same morning.

Jumble

Many of the English newspapers carry a puzzle everyday in their magazine section. A few words have to be formed using chosen letters given alongside in a haphazard ( or jumbled ) manner.
Sukriti is very good in solving this puzzle within no time, while I hardly succeed in one odd case sometime.
For this difference in performance, I give following reason to her. ''Since I am in the habit of seeing things straight , at their face-value , I find this puzzle difficult. Your vision is all
off-the-mark and that is the reason this arrangement of words , even though jumbled-up , appears systematic to you.
No doubt, Sukriti refuses to buy this argument.

Khap Panchayats

It is horrifying to know the existence of 'khap panchayats' in a few regions of India. Firstly, their very existence is devoid of any legality and even if they are there by virtue of tradition , their 'passing sentences' in the name of "Honour-killings"cannot be accepted in today's world.
It is high time that Government takes bold steps to eliminate this menace from areas wherever it is existing, without caring for vote-bank.

Expected

I was waiting for it and it happened.The Harbhajan-Shoaib Akhtar spat during Indo-Pak cricket match at Dambulla.Had it not happened,it would have been unusual.

Introduction

Friends,
Now I will maintain contacts with you through blog. I will like to share my thoughts with you on all topics of interest (No boundaries set, hence unbound ).
Today on Fathers day,childern have wished me good luck.I convey my blessings to them and want to tell them "I love you very much."
Hyderabad is now fully drenched by Monsoon rains.Rains at this time of the year are most welcome.
Good luck.