RIGHTS, PROTESTS, EFFECTS

Almost six and a half decades back, our ancestors fought for Freedom rights, protested against the British to leave the country and its effect is our Independence in the year 1947. It is 2015 now,  but still we fight for more freedom, more rights through more protests.  As it is said, “ A man’s greed has no limit”

India has been experiencing a various genre and trends of protests for freedom and rights over the past few years.  To name a few,

·         Women safety rights

·         Kiss of Love protest

·         Homosexual rights

·         Religious rights & protests

·         Employment lay off protests

·         Political protests

·         Entertainment protests

The list goes on and on

Each of the above mentioned rights are at some point relative to each other in social and political terms. Technology has advanced so much over the years, literacy levels of both genders has greatly increased but ironically values have degraded and protests have increased. Which of the protests have really solved a problem or the least given a solution to the problem ?

Women are independent, but not safe.

If they are safe, they want the right to kiss in public.

If they have the right to kiss in public, gender should not be a criteria.

If gender should not be a criteria, religious sentiments are obviously hurt.

Religious sentiments are hurt, movie entertainment should be banned,

Ban, bandh and pink slips, employment lay off protests,

Employee protests, political advantage,

Political advantage, right to separate

Are we achieving a better India through these protests, I wonder ? Unfortunately, we fight more for our personal rights than the national rights. If a malnourished child is seen on a street, he or she is not brought in front of the camera’s eye and there is no one to protest for their justice whereas on the other hand if a casual statement addressing the western influence on India is made, it will become a debate and talk of the town in all the news channels with headlines “ Where is India heading to ? Are we still backward ? ”

There are still many countries in the world where they don't even enjoy the Right to live...!! Why is it that the development or modernity of our country is always expressed or measured in Western terms ?  Perhaps, I am only  a disconcerted youngster who some day wishes that with the inspiration of the West,  India would develop and modernize within its own terms and culture and in return continue to influence and inspire the world.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS, EVERY MINUTE COSTS.

Finally a weekend…!!!  I have been planning  since a long time  to visit a non profit foundation named ‘Sphoorthi’ for destitute children for which I financially support. It is almost 35 kms away from the place I live.

I booked myself a cab to the destination and after a great deal of time, I finally reached Sphoorthi.  I told the cab driver to wait. The kids all gleaming with warmth and innocence ran to me and hugged me one after the other.  I bought for them box of chocolates and sweets. They finished them off within minutes and gave me a thankful smile. I sat down on a cemented bench and they all surrounded me with excitement.

I started inquiring about their hobbies, their interest and fascinations. Each of them had their own tales, their own dreams and their own fascinations about life.  “Akka, I want to be a scientist, I want to be a doctor, actor, engineer” anything and everything that strikes to their tiny minds and imaginations. Each of the kid has a stark past, but they are living in a hopeful reality.  For a second, the entire scene reminded me of the movie title “ Taare Zameen Par” (Stars on Earth). Yes, indeed each one of them was a star. Each eye had a spark, and each heart had a firm hope that they will achieve what they dream of.  I was more than amused at their ideas. After a while, they started to entertain me with songs and dances that they have learnt through watching some of the movies running in town.  I dint realize the time, I just got absorbed into their world of complete bliss.

Finally , looking at my watch I have decided to leave. Within that short span, they owned me as theirs and loved me so purely. Kids once again surrounded me, held my hands asking me to stay for some more time.  I was moved by this gesture, but pacified them telling I would come again after some days. I left the place bid by mixed and confused smiles.  I thought of them as I travelled my way back. How long would it take for these tiny tots to grow up and fulfil their goals ? In what terms can one measure their dreams ?  Pondering over this question, my journey came to a halt as I reached my place. The driver gave me the bill, and the bill reads an extra Rs.100. Perplexed, I asked the driver what is this extra 100 for ? With a cool and gentle smile he replied “ Waiting charges madam, 1 rupee for 1 minute “.  Without much argument, I handed over the final amount and walked off.

Yes, I was dawned with a realization that time never waits for anyone no matter what we do. If we think it can wait, it comes with a cost.

Every second counts, Every minute costs,

Every hour counts, costs a work

Every day counts, costs a salary,

Every month counts, costs an earning

Every year counts, costs a work experience

Eventually all these moments count and cost a lifetime J

TWINING EMOTIONS OF AN ENTWINED STATE

In the wee hours of a Monday morning, I checked in to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad latently excited to fly to my second home country, Bahrain.  I stood in the queue with my heavy and drowsy eyes struggling to stay conscious. I kept swaying my head right and left. Tender moments, affectionate hugs, tearful farewells filled the spaces of emotional silence. Amidst the blink of my eye, I suddenly noticed a big blue hoarding of our chief minister smiling and welcoming us to Come and explore the opportunities, with a slogan “Andhra Pradesh, A proud past and A promising future” On reading this, the axe of irony immediately struck my thoughts realising the stark situation of this dividing land.

Walking through my wobbling thoughts,

Emotions tangled in barren knots

I sat at the boarding gate, awaiting

With my co-passengers, conversing

As the flight geared its gravity into the sky,

Like a bird unfolding its wings to fly

My eyes connected to the disconnecting land

Fading into the hazy cloudy band

Pacing through the speed of blank serenity,

I look beneath, doubting my identity?

Neither the borders, nor the divisions,

No sketched maps, no deliberate collisions

I wondered where all these would exist

Perhaps, in the walls of a human heart, they persist.

A Centrally located state gone into terrible labour pains

With hearts knifed into borders, breath suffocated in decisions

Vague rejoices, Puzzled protests, Hollow mirth

As Mother India, of 67 years, gives birth

To her 29th child on this earth

 And multiplying her diversity’s worth.

Power strikes for the lust of power,

Road blocks preventing the growth of a flower

Shattered is the common man’s livelihood

In an ambiguous justice for brotherhood.

Regionally confused, Nationally united, Internationally Identified

Perplexed in my thoughts, I landed

Into the country, branded as Indian, I immigrated

With a ray of hope that we billion remain integrated.

                                                                                                                     - Swathi Rekha

IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE UNTIL IT’S DONE.

Grammatically a Pronoun, Comprehensively my life, How do I define this two letter word ‘IT’? How do I connect the dots between ‘Impossible’ to ‘Done’?

When I started my sail into the never ending ocean, in quest of my passions, career and dreams, I realized that it was not just myself, but thousands alike on the same boat sailing in similar dimensions. I was drenched with utter confusion. I looked around, and explored all the possible directions. I either had to make a choice or take a chance.

Sailing ahead with all these thoughts dwelling in my mind, I suddenly cognized that I was in middle of the silently disguised ocean. I lost the sight of the apparent horizon. I could feel the cruel waves splashing high and the sky turning dark and dry. My shadow seemed to be washed into tears of cry as I felt like a bird terrified to fly. I was frightened to look back, and felt IMPOSSIBLE to look ahead. But unconsciously  the tides, against my fears flew me along. I was frustrated and helpless. I felt myself as IMPOSSIBLE as counting the waves.

As I tried looking forward, my nerves calling upon, to charge for courage and expecting a helping hand to encourage. Hesitantly I sailed, past the hazy dark, searching for an atom of spark. With every step I took ahead, I learned a different way to tread. I created my own ways, conquered my own abilities, and manifested the possibilities. I was discerning and traversing in the world of my own creation. Looking beyond the hopes slowly & gradually, the darkness was receding to light and I discovered my direction right. In the near distance, I could see the place, the place that I desired and aspired for. My feelings exhilarating and happiness multiplying as I reached. But,within the blink of my eye, I gulped myself in disbelief, to what I could see ahead of me. Another vast stretch of the same ocean, much violent, much misty and much superlative.

Only then did I realize, that I touched barely a few miles in my thousand miles journey and had a long way to go. I stood on that shore, transcendental and soundless as I await to begin my next sail. I virtually sensed the dew of impossibility enchanting me again to the blankness my future holds, but the Faith within me kept resonating these words “In this destiny driven life, everything seems IMPOSSIBLE, until it’s DONE. “

IN THE LAP OF "LUXURY"

I lay on the lush green grass of my beautiful garden in the shadow of my aesthetically designed house, looking across the vast emptiness of the sky, striped with colors of its own choice, scented breeze soothing my senses and dew drops of my picture perfect life sprinkling in the storm of my thoughts.

Living in the manifestation of all my wishes, A perfect family, perfect career, a car , a large house, peace all around, everything the way I wanted it to be . I am indeed swinging in the lap of luxury lullabied by the rhythm of perfection. I am happy, no worries, no complaints and going on listing I reach to a point of NIL. In spite of all, I still felt a virtual space, I was confused, I ponder  hard and hard unable to reach a point  when suddenly I hear a voice calling me “Swathi…”. Everything went blank, my mind trying to recollect what happened, my eyes still struggling to open up, I sense a gentle touch and the voice again, Who was it ? Slowly blinking and opening my eyelids, I see her, yes my mother, the angel of my life. She hugs me tight and gives me a sweet kiss, Though I literally felt myself lost in her affection, my thoughts still remained etched in the confusion of my dream.

I did my daily prayer, had a good home made breakfast, a warm ‘ have a nice day’ wish from my mother. I set my step out into the ever bustling life of the city, my mobile vibrating every five to ten minutes with calls and messages from friends, colleagues and my manager. Every phone call had a different topic, different reference and a much different way of dealing. My day goes on travelling, meeting different people, completing the assigned targets, convincing the reason for delays, etc and in between managing time to have some food. Every hour I am in a continuous process of change with respect to place , people and subject. My mind keeps switching its moods, my body keeps adjusting its energy levels accordingly. Finally after all the challenges, balancing commitments, people, and parallely   being meticulous about the social insecurities that surround everywhere, I reach home all drained out.

As I reach, I am welcomed with the same warm smile and hug that bid me away in the morning. Putting away all the things that I am carrying, with those tiring steps, I go and sit besides her and then slowly and unconsciously slip onto the lap of my angel. That very moment, when she places her gentle and magical touch, my heart, races to the utmost tranquility,  all worries vapored, fears grounded, I feel as royal as a princess relaxing in the most safest place on this earth. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

 

 With a very similar feeling, my thoughts ran back to that confused dream of mine last night. But it slowly unraveled. My dream was beautiful, greatly perfect but it had an undefined space , it was nothing more than a  castle in the air. Whereas my reality is harsh, highly imperfect, but I feel complete and face every moment of it. I still swing in a lap of luxury, lullabied by song of love and care. I paid no billions to earn this , my angel has blessed me the priceless gift since my birth till today and forever. Now I do understand the inference of words said by our musical maestro A.R.Rahman on the Oscar’s stage“I have my mother with me”. A wonderful blessing it is ... "We all are blessed to be born rich.."

INNOCENT JUSTICE

At rare regular intervals, A very famous name keeps popping up in the Indian media. It’s the name for Terror, age of innocence, verdicts for perpetual mercy. Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the only survivor of the Mumbai terror attacks, 2008, convicted guilty of 80 offences, killing 166 people etc. was sentenced to death on 6th May,2010 but was later upheld by the Bombay High court in Feb 2011 on grounds of his appeal against his death penalty. And presently the verdict is put up to ‘Stay’.

This high profile terrorist whose security costs Rs. 11 crore for the Indian Government is being given the utmost attention and dignified treatment like any other prominent personalities in the world. Our Judiciary agrees Kasab has committed a gruesome and brutal act but still compromises to consider his clemency plea claiming his innocence.  Kasab in defiance may give  random reasons that he was brainwashed, blackmailed, or even tell that he had come to Bombay for Bollywood.  But let’s get the facts right, Kasab has resorted to terrible violence, massacred lives of thousands and destroyed the livelihood of many. When cruelty and mercilessness has been injected in his blood, how can his naïve innocence be justified to any extent? By his appearance he looks like a young, ingenuous Human being, but in reality he is a stone hearted, cold blooded creature. The execution of his death sentence would not really matter much to his parent terror group because Kasab was nothing but a mere tool. Our Law is being so considerate for his feelings, emotions and wishes, which for him doesn’t have any significance and definition. Surprisingly, though in the eyes and hearts of thousands, Kasab is  an epitome of guilt and terror, but  in the eyes of our  Law & Judiciary,  Kasab has to be still ‘PROVED’ guilty despite all the evidences and witnesses.

Terror has always been a regular visitor to our country and every time it visits, it washes away smiles and happiness from numerous families. Nevertheless, our esteemed Judiciary still continues to treat the visitors with due respect and hospitality and fails  to ensure the justice and safety of its own citizens. This isn’t just the problem in our country but all over the world in different ways. ‘Justice’ is a right of every victim, and hence it SHOULD  be given.

PURSUIT OF PEACE

From whence we first walked on this Earth, the scribes were set in place,

To Preserve, Protect and  Prosper the dauntless Human race.

But Today alas the fate of man, has flowered from a seed
Of hate between Religion , Politics and Greed.

The disastrous winds of the perilous war

Rattled the Earth’s hardest core

Circled the Peaks of Mountains décor

And Resonated in the depth of Valleys floor

Shattering the Peace on Beautiful lands

Turning the world to dust, by the wave of a hand.

collecting the ashes; mopping up the sadness,

as hypnotic cry pleases,  to end the madness.

To strike a war, out of the blues

Hatred is either an Excuse

And  Love is blurred to diffuse

Leaving the fate and destiny in obtuse.

The sky was crying and the end was near,
people were scared, shivering with fear.

The war was on,  between every nation,

To quench their thirst of annexation.

The common man lives with a feeling faded

Staring solemnly at hopes and dreams shaded

Sheer disappointment and unsettling ebb,

Entangled in midst of an untangled web

The war for pride has ended with a divide,

With an immense loss across the nation wide

Innocents left in a bleak future to decide

Without the cardinal necessities to abide.

Its time that we now Hope and pray

For peace on this Earth every day

The glory of the world, shall meet the rising sun

For peace and love, when all nations unite as one.