The human mind never ceases to amaze me. The idiosyncrasies and foibles of a few grams of grey and white matter have the latent ability to transform or destroy lives, to rewrite destiny.
Wednesday, 26th November 2008, was a day when this “latent ability” transformed itself into a heinous, gruesome and tragic ordeal for India. The terror attacks on Mumbai are not restricted by geography. These attacks are a culmination of what this great nation and its people have been nurturing over the years – a sense of lackadaisical complacency. The patented “chalta hain” attitude - that we Indians take great pride in – is the edifice of the issue.
The relentless pictures from Mumbai, at the Taj or the Trident display only a fragment of the problem. As citizens, we have acclimated ourselves to the belief that terrorism exists and that it cannot be abolished. As human beings, we’ve consoled ourselves with the illusion that ‘terror attacks strike others’. Some of us even believe that it could be one of us next. What really is fascinating, is that even though today as a country we’ve come to terms with terrorism and its’ inevitable existence, fluctuations at Dalaal Street give us more nightmares then a 26/11 ordeal.
Mumbai is my home. It’s a city where I’ve grown up. It’s a city that taught me to be who I am. Yet, I am appalled by what we celebrate as the spirit of Mumbai. There is no ‘spirit of Mumbai’. We are not fast healers. We’re just inert. We – the people of this metropolis – have pseudo-conditioned our selves to behave like a Helium / Neon / Argon / Krypton. We are content with our supposedly complete “octets” and hence no matter what element we’re exposed to, we don’t react! What we call the ‘fiber of the city’ is in effect, the harsh reality that I would like to highlight.
The 26th of November, A WEDNESDAY, is not a bollywood flick. A lot of us have transformed it into one. We’ve converted this ‘national tragedy’ in the words of Narendra Modi into a 2-day TV action-fest for which you don’t need a ticket. It’s become a sitcom that you channel-swap with your favorite TV show! For the hundreds of people who’ve actually lived through this ordeal life would never be the same. They’ve borne witness to the incredulous aberrations of the human mind.
The terrorists holed up inside these building were far outnumbered by the armed forces. Yet, the dexterity and tenacity and the uncouth finesse with which the terror strike was performed goes only to demonstrate the mammoth proportions that terrorism has assumed in the last few years. My belief is that terrorism and our inane inertness go hand in hand. If only the amount of unrest and speculation and thereafter reinforcement action that follows a stock market tumble is diverted to averting terrorism, there is no way that such attacks would ever be possible.
The images of “Warfield Mumbai” flashing on the television screens do not depict an attack on a city. They depict war against a nation and its people. A historical landmark, the Taj on flames should serve as a metaphor symbolizing the attack on humanity.
There is no government. There are no leaders. There is however a continuing farce. Our current political scenario is no better than a flag waving façade of the administrative wing.
Before this tragic calamity transforms into another political slugfest, it’s time for us the people of this country to make our voice heard and demand the kind of bold political initiatives that require real political valor.
Yesterday, the parents of Abhilash Krishnan – a young F&B executive in his 20s’ who died at the Taj attack – were quoted saying this, “We’ve heard enough of the television news to sense that the Indian government is heading in the direction of converting this tragedy into political propaganda with the prospect of similar terror attack occurring again and many more innocent lives are at stake. This is certainly not the way to go- not in our sons’ name at least.”
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Love, thou art indeed magical…
Six months ago, few would have dreamt even in their wildest dreams that the infallible Ritwik, who – for the uninformed – is me, would be so unabashedly, blissfully happy! Actually happy isn’t the word, euphoric is more like it. Or should I say, these have been the days, those moments of human interaction that last you a lifetime.
So, what has really happened in the last six months that has brought about this incredible metamorphosis?
Well, even for the “vocabularily-gifted” like me, words – in these moments – are hard to find. Having been a staunch believer, over the years, that words can convey the deepest of human emotions, today I find myself challenging this long-standing belief.
An identity is a highly underrated notion. Your identity – I believe is who you are. And this description transcends dictionary boundaries. What I mean by this, is that who you believe you are, really turns out to be deciding factor in shaping the ‘real you’. If I think I’m fat, well then that’s it. That’s who I am! I will never look at clothing stores, not because I don’t want to, but because I believe I will never find anything my size, let alone facing the embarrassment of the store person tell you, “Sir, we do not have an XXXXXL”. You will never want to go to a beach because the fear of seeing yourself without a shirt is scary. You will never want to look into the mirror, because it would mean standing a kilometer away from the mirror for all of YOU to fit in it. You will never want to dance because dancing may mean you cramping your “Super sized pectoral muscles”. And in sometime, as Newton’s’ First Law of Motion defines, the inertia in your life will make you want to stop living!
Today my identity stands revamped, refurbished. And what this does for me, is, not only do I now have a new “me”, I also have a “She” – Niyati. Not in my wildest dreams could I’ve imagined that anyone could take over my life in such a short span of time and renovate it, while I am ‘living the life’.
This blog is my way of letting go of the emotional “pressure cooker”. And for the first time, in a long time, letting go of the whistle is to let out gushing pleasure, sheer uninhibited pleasure.
My girlfriend is someone who I would’ve never thought would be my ‘girlfriend’. Why? Because, I never felt that someone like her would settle for someone like me. Yes, I’m me and I’m the best blah, blah, blah… but it’s been a while that I had someone literally sweep me off my feet. I fail to fathom how in 15weeks I feel so unbelievably fulfilled.
So well, for the one’s who’ve attended my seminars and are aware of the “Six Fundamental Human Needs” – here’s a scorecard!
(By the time you finish reading the scorecard and the synopsis, even the slightly “logically-challenged” section of my readers would be able to comprehend my fanatic love for this woman! Read on…
Pre-Niyati :
Certainty : 2
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 9
Love & Connection ; 2
Growth : 7
Contribution : 4
Post-Niyati :
Certainty : 7
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 10
Love & Connection ; 9
Growth : 9
Contribution : 9
What’s caused the difference?
Certainty :
Before I knew Niyu, I had no idea what I wanted out of my life. Inspired by Baz Luhrmans’ now immortal Wear Sunscreen where he says - ”Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life...the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.” - I just went about my business everyday, just because the sun rose.
Now, everyday has a new meaning. There are times when you just wade through a day waiting for evening when it’d be day (EST) to talk to Niyu !!! There is so much of assurance in the fact that no matter what, no matter whom, I’m working towards being with her. This is better than ANY goal setting session I have ever conducted / been part of / held at IPCA!!! ;-)
Uncertainty :
This aspect remains unchanged as genetically I’m a very ‘happening’ person! Some or the ‘thing’ is always ‘happening’ to me – then AND now !
Significance :
Yes I felt incredibly significant during my training sessions / seminars previously however the fact that this significance is just momentary was always at the back of my mind.
Now, I have perennial significance in someone’s life. NOONE, not my most ardent followers, have ever made me feel as important as my girl does. She calls me ritWikipedia… ;-) Now that’s some weight to carry around !
Love & Connection :
This ‘need’ was never really on my priority list before. Now, on hindsight, I feel perhaps I knew I’d never get it hence I’d unchecked it off my ‘priority list’.
Today, I know, no matter how close or how far, there is someone who loves me as much as I love her, at times I do admit (just to myself) more than I love her. She has reaffirmed my belief in relationships. Niyati, undoubtedly is the best part of my day.
Growth :
This is a need I incredibly value. Before I met Niyati my growth (even though abundant) was restricted to financial growth and my career.
Today, after six months with Niyati, I can say I’ve evolved as a person, as a partner, as a son and as a friend in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
Contribution :
My contribution to other peoples’ lives has always been ‘profound’ for lack of a better word. Be it my “sexual counseling” in my college days or being the shoulder to cry on later on in life, or during my seminars, I’ve always been a “giver”.
With Niyati, I can see my contribution not just immensely valued but very well executed. The other day I got an email from her talking about how my contribution – direct or indirect – got her good grades. It’s a surreal feeling. At times paternal too! J
Need I say more? I’m pretty much at a loss for words in how to close this blog. I leave the rest for you to figure!
Cheers! J
So, what has really happened in the last six months that has brought about this incredible metamorphosis?
Well, even for the “vocabularily-gifted” like me, words – in these moments – are hard to find. Having been a staunch believer, over the years, that words can convey the deepest of human emotions, today I find myself challenging this long-standing belief.
An identity is a highly underrated notion. Your identity – I believe is who you are. And this description transcends dictionary boundaries. What I mean by this, is that who you believe you are, really turns out to be deciding factor in shaping the ‘real you’. If I think I’m fat, well then that’s it. That’s who I am! I will never look at clothing stores, not because I don’t want to, but because I believe I will never find anything my size, let alone facing the embarrassment of the store person tell you, “Sir, we do not have an XXXXXL”. You will never want to go to a beach because the fear of seeing yourself without a shirt is scary. You will never want to look into the mirror, because it would mean standing a kilometer away from the mirror for all of YOU to fit in it. You will never want to dance because dancing may mean you cramping your “Super sized pectoral muscles”. And in sometime, as Newton’s’ First Law of Motion defines, the inertia in your life will make you want to stop living!
Today my identity stands revamped, refurbished. And what this does for me, is, not only do I now have a new “me”, I also have a “She” – Niyati. Not in my wildest dreams could I’ve imagined that anyone could take over my life in such a short span of time and renovate it, while I am ‘living the life’.
This blog is my way of letting go of the emotional “pressure cooker”. And for the first time, in a long time, letting go of the whistle is to let out gushing pleasure, sheer uninhibited pleasure.
My girlfriend is someone who I would’ve never thought would be my ‘girlfriend’. Why? Because, I never felt that someone like her would settle for someone like me. Yes, I’m me and I’m the best blah, blah, blah… but it’s been a while that I had someone literally sweep me off my feet. I fail to fathom how in 15weeks I feel so unbelievably fulfilled.
So well, for the one’s who’ve attended my seminars and are aware of the “Six Fundamental Human Needs” – here’s a scorecard!
(By the time you finish reading the scorecard and the synopsis, even the slightly “logically-challenged” section of my readers would be able to comprehend my fanatic love for this woman! Read on…
Pre-Niyati :
Certainty : 2
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 9
Love & Connection ; 2
Growth : 7
Contribution : 4
Post-Niyati :
Certainty : 7
Uncertainty : 9
Significance : 10
Love & Connection ; 9
Growth : 9
Contribution : 9
What’s caused the difference?
Certainty :
Before I knew Niyu, I had no idea what I wanted out of my life. Inspired by Baz Luhrmans’ now immortal Wear Sunscreen where he says - ”Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what to do with your life...the most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives, some of the most interesting 40 year olds I know still don’t.” - I just went about my business everyday, just because the sun rose.
Now, everyday has a new meaning. There are times when you just wade through a day waiting for evening when it’d be day (EST) to talk to Niyu !!! There is so much of assurance in the fact that no matter what, no matter whom, I’m working towards being with her. This is better than ANY goal setting session I have ever conducted / been part of / held at IPCA!!! ;-)
Uncertainty :
This aspect remains unchanged as genetically I’m a very ‘happening’ person! Some or the ‘thing’ is always ‘happening’ to me – then AND now !
Significance :
Yes I felt incredibly significant during my training sessions / seminars previously however the fact that this significance is just momentary was always at the back of my mind.
Now, I have perennial significance in someone’s life. NOONE, not my most ardent followers, have ever made me feel as important as my girl does. She calls me ritWikipedia… ;-) Now that’s some weight to carry around !
Love & Connection :
This ‘need’ was never really on my priority list before. Now, on hindsight, I feel perhaps I knew I’d never get it hence I’d unchecked it off my ‘priority list’.
Today, I know, no matter how close or how far, there is someone who loves me as much as I love her, at times I do admit (just to myself) more than I love her. She has reaffirmed my belief in relationships. Niyati, undoubtedly is the best part of my day.
Growth :
This is a need I incredibly value. Before I met Niyati my growth (even though abundant) was restricted to financial growth and my career.
Today, after six months with Niyati, I can say I’ve evolved as a person, as a partner, as a son and as a friend in more ways than I could have ever imagined.
Contribution :
My contribution to other peoples’ lives has always been ‘profound’ for lack of a better word. Be it my “sexual counseling” in my college days or being the shoulder to cry on later on in life, or during my seminars, I’ve always been a “giver”.
With Niyati, I can see my contribution not just immensely valued but very well executed. The other day I got an email from her talking about how my contribution – direct or indirect – got her good grades. It’s a surreal feeling. At times paternal too! J
Need I say more? I’m pretty much at a loss for words in how to close this blog. I leave the rest for you to figure!
Cheers! J
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