Thinking Mumbai after 18 days

Portia: Good sentences and well pronounced.

Nerrissa: It would be better if they were followed.

Portia: If to do were as easy as to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches and poor men's cottages princes' palaces. It is a good divine that follows his own instructions; I can easier teach twenty what were good to be done, than be one of the twenty to follow mine own teaching. 

I avoided writing anything about 26/11 till now primarily because of two reasons .  I was too much involved in looking "inside" me. I also did not want to come up with a knee-jerk reaction. I wanted to gauge the "mood" by hearing, reading and listening. And I feel I was right, at least on a personal level. What I write now is going to be much more different than what I would have written then. This very fact, reveals the true picture. I want to plead guilty. But in doing so, I wish to trace the origins of the pathogen which has infected a part of our brains. I want to free myself of this infection. I sincerely hope that some of you do the same. 

A lot has been said, discussed and hotly debated on the Mumbai "terror attacks". Words cannot describe the horror, desperation, helplessness and of course, anger which almost all of us felt during the course of three horrid days. These feelings mentioned above, were indeed "felt", not only by Indians but by all "global" citizens. 

As a thinking individual, I was greatly affected by some scenes of this real-life drama. Some may see it as "sheer" narrow-mindedness. Some may think I am drifting from the matter at hand. But these scenes, symbolize the under-current, the current that opposes the current we see standing on the shore of the river. It urges us to jump into the river and flow along-with it, against the apparent flow. The formation of this under-current may not be fascinating and "correct" but that does not really matter if we want to defeat the situation at hand.

One of the causes of the formation of this under-current is the role of the media. The media plays the role of the cameraperson whose job in this case, is not only to cover the entire drama but also to put it on record so that it can be played repeatedly in front of us. It also plays the role of a critic and presents an infinite number of arguments before us in its analysis of the play. Considering the reputation of critics in today's world, some of these arguments are extremely thought provoking while some are "rubbish". It comes as no surprsie that these roles have both been praised and criticized by the "audience".

A well known news network started off well when the "drama" began. Both the anchor and correspondents were sensitive towards the emotions of the people and chose not to highlight  individual pain and suffering. They seemed duty-bound to show images and speak words that would enrage the public but at the same time not result in panic-buttons being pressed everywhere. Some other news channels tried getting as close to the action as possible. Some flew in their war and terror coverage "specialists" to report on the matter even before the NSG commandos could fly in. They could have benefitted the terrorists in doing so but that is again, a question of debate. 

What really upset me was the decision of the owner of the seemingly "responsible" news channel to take a U-turn on the second day. Co-ordinating with the most famous face in the Kargil War, he chose to exploit the emotions pouring out from personal tragedies of the victims. At times, it looked like the sole purpose was to highlight the devastation, visual and personal, caused by these attacks. One could not help but think that the perpetrators of this shameless act would be quenching their thirst from the blood oozing out of the scars being tampered with.

Another image which haunts me is that of the young terrorist, clearly pictured at the CSS Terminal. He looks just like any college going student on a carefree trek. Only, we cannot even imagine to what extent his mind has been poisoned. But what really disturbs me, is a confession I make to myself. This person resembles one of the heroes of many a computer games who is dressed to  kill. This image, somewhere, brings a strange sense of trueness to a "boyish" fantasy: to be heavily armed and shooting at the "bad guys". But the definition of "bad" here,  is highly subjective. If this is what I feel (and I am sure a lot of my friends who play such violent games identify with this), then one can only imagine how many more, waiting in the queue for their innocent "brains" to be washed, cleansed of all reasoning, would relate to this image. 

Does that the mean that the media is unjustified in its recording the whole drama? Is it against the underlying principle behind the formation of the anti-current? These concerns would be answered after I discuss another cause. This cause is hard to accept but if we let ourselves "open" to all ideas, it can be fathomed.

One can not really keep a count of the number of terrorist attacks being made on Indian soil. But what makes 26/11 different? Of course, the place of incidence was the heart of Indian finance and its metropolitan image. The fact that the whole episode stretched for almost three days and that it was impossible for anyone to escape the terror and despair caused by these attacks, was another major factor. But this time around, something else was different.

This time around, the rich and the "elite" could sense terror as they shivered watching the series of events pass.  A lot of them, prior to this attack, would have, in their minds, rated the probability of their being victims of a terrorist attack as minimal, especially in the comfort of five star hotels. Make no mistake when I say this. Of course, five star hotels and other such places could be easy targets, but in their minds, this possibility, just like the tip of an iceberg, remained remote. Only now, when a ship  was "hit" by the iceberg, did others realize the enormousness of the problem at hand.

And therefore, we could see intellectuals (mostly with a "five star" lifestyle) come out and speak strongly on matters of "grave concern". We have seen some of these people speaking out in public formus  on previous occassions but the only difference this time, as I see it, was that they were much more earnest in their views and expressions. They not only meant what they said but they believed. This time, one could sense, they "felt" fear. 

And while this may leave a bad taste in the reader's mouths, I feel that this is a blessing in disguise. At least now, we have a "single standard". The terrorists terrified the whole nation but unknowingly they left everyone "united in fear". Taj, Oberoi and Nariman House are to the "elite" and "influential" , what Patroclus was to Achilles in the Trojan war. The words of the influential, no doubt, boost everyone in the country. But more importatntly, the people whose voices can be heard, are waking up to the call. It is not just about resilience any more. It is about resistance.

These were my views right after the NSG operations got over.

More than two weeks have passed by and these thoughts are still fresh in my mind. Over this period, I have read some blogs, articles and statements. Not only people have expressed their anger and disapproval of what has been happening in the country, they have come with suggestions which could help improve our condition as a nation. In most cases, the proposed solutions are linked to evils (such as poverty, illiteracy, corruption)which have long been a part of our society. I would like to focus on two major concerns aired by a large number of people.

The first one is the need to elect the "right leaders", which, in turn, signifies the importance of voting. It is mostly those , who feel that their views should be heard, who do not vote. This includes me as well. I intend to vote from now on. But, I also feel that quite a sizeable population of this country, is not able to vote because the people concerned do not happen to stay in their respective states of domicile. This makes it difficult for many to take leave from their jobs in order to go back home and vote. This issue needs to be addressed when we discuss the importance of voting.

The second issue is that of "corruption".  The most common from of corruption, in everyday life, happens to be that of bribery. I have paid bribes and I have hated doing it everytime. People argue that sometimes they do not have any option. May be they are right but one can at least attempt to eliminate possible scenarios which lead to bribery. Some things just need to be a part of one's discipline, for example, following traffic rules, wearing your helmets, putting on safety belts, getting your vehicle registered and checked for pollution. I have been guilty of two of the offences mentioned.

And despite taking a decision to get my vehicle registered on 28/11, I still have not taken a step forward. This is what the conversation between Portia and Nerrissa from the Merchant of Venice signifies. One can preach others what to do but cannot follow one's own teaching.

Most of us, almost all, have gone back to their routines. A part of them got bruised by 26/11. It will heal until it is made fresh by another assault on the consciousness of this country. But this time, it was supposed to be different. This time we were not going to let it fade. Yet, I can see the Fire diminishing. I hope it is just the one inside me; I wish to rekindle it. But I know, there are many more like me. We can not let the Fire die down. We need to be reminded of this  time and again. And that is why the role of the media, one of the causes of the formation of this anti-current against terrorism, is important. There is a need to record every "drama" and play  it in front of our eyes so that we do not forget so easily the tragedy which can someday claim us as victims. 

Man uses fire to help keep wild animals, and thus, fear away. We should also use this Fire within us to ruin such horrendous acts of terror.

It is time for us to dive into the river and empower the undercurrent so that it not only resists terrorism but also sweeps away with its sheer force, the evils that are a part of our society.

Let us get rid of this pathogen which infects us.

I have not been a part of any candle light vigils or peaceful protest marches. But, if I can at least change myself to bring about an improvement, everyone can. A part of me really wanted to avoid writing this post, but a part of me wanted to plead guilty. And now that I have, I want to change things I can control, however small they may seem. 

And if anyone does want to comment, I would request the reader to mention at least one positive thing he or she has done to add fuel to the Fire. I would so the same.

Pichle Saat Dino Mein....(The Week That Was)

I am sitting in one of the omnipresent coffee shops on the face of this planet. I just escaped the commotion and noise in my apartment. I have scribbled some notes and the hospitable waitress serves me coffee, smiling, in anticipation that I would ask for my favourite snack which is almost never there.........

I always wanted this to be a no-nonsense, serious blog where the posts alone would suffice for all the thoughts I wished to express. I never wanted this blog to become "My Dear Diary" with me playing Betty's role. I am aware that there are eyes, some hawkish, some purely sceptical and some concerned, which would concentrate on every thought being expressed. But at the same time, there are readers, who have been generous enough to analyze what I had to convey and some have taken a step further by writing in comments. As much as I would like to play "on" the minds of the former, my respect and gratitude for the latter demands that I be upright, serious and lay emphasis on the content, not the author. This is the dilemma I face.

This blog belongs as much to all the readers mentioned above as it does to me. And now, I say to myself, "What the hell? If this blog is meant for the readers, I do bear the responsibility of interacting with them in more ways than one." And in order to fulfill that responsibility, I step out from the "distanced", passive author mode and adopt a more "active" role in this post.

Facts first. I have received great encouragement from the readers in terms of content and depth of the thoughts I have expressed. I promise to do even a better job and the role of your "comments", therefore, becomes much more important. I plead guilty for not writing through the week and not replying to comments. The comments would be replied to very soon.

The plot for this post goes like this. I would state the important outcomes (in terms of what is different) from the week that was and in the process build up a conflict of thoughts,  which would then throw up some open-ended questions.

The last week has been a "different" one, to say the least. I have reversed a few decisions, which is very uncharacteristic of me. I have decided to improve as a person, in areas where I lack. This includes not thinking and speculating "too" much about things which may be unnecessary or out of bounds. I mentioned "thin-slicing" in my previous post and I learnt it needs to be applied to the "thinking" process too. Some things need to be kept aside and should be considered when the time is right. 

I have been selfish, I felt fear, I felt remorse, I felt foolish and embarrased but then, I felt happy. I always avoided these negative emotions just mentioned, even if it were at the cost of the last one. But, I am still not convinced. Is it just a strong tide that has uprooted my long-held convictions. Were the roots weak somewhere? Or did the tree just get rid of its rotten parts? Was the flood a blessing in disguise?

Difficult questions, these. But they do raise two important questions for debate. These are similar in nature but have to be tackled in different ways. The first one is regarding "Present vs Future" and is one of the most common, yet muddling, dilemmas of all time. When I was in school, a very famous organization which "wants" to teach people an "art",visited us. The orator said that we should concentrate only on the present and not worry about the future. I was perturbed and annoyed to a certain extent. After the talk was over, I went up to him and asked him the most obvious question an ambitous, young mind would ask, "Is it not important to plan for the future and live accordingly?". He explained but I was not convinced.

But last week, I was made to re-think. I always thought that people, in general, get too involved with their present and there is a high probability that they will get lost in their ongoing struggles and conundrums. But the opposite could be true. I always look at the future and perhaps, there is a chance that I get so lost thinking about it that the present loses its significance and the link between the two gets broken. 

It is something like myopia and hypermetropia where both seem to have an advantage but infact, are undesired. Instead, the "normal" vision is preferred. And while I think of this analogy, I am struck by "lightning": a revelation. 

I have always maintained that two things in life are of utmost importance: balance and quality. But I had never thought of any concrete relation between the two. It is best to have the perfect balance and the highest quality. But this now seems to be the ideal case.  In the case of the visionary defects I mention, myopia provides the best quality if short-sightedness is desired. And the opposite stands true for hypermetropia. What does this signify?

It signifies that sometimes, balance and quality, have to be offset against each other!! You cannot have the best of both at times and that is what normal vision signifies. One desires a balance in vision at the cost of quality of a particular kind of vision. I wish to explore further on this accidental discovery. Please do post your views on this and I am sure we can find a better analogy than the one I have mentioned.

Moving on to the second question. This one brings to light the conflict between "Measured life" and "Free-flowing"life. It is related to the "Present vs Future" question in the sense that our decision on the first question, somewhat drives the approach adopted towards the second one.

Some of us  prefer to stop at certain junctures in life: to analyze, to reflect, to plan. This makes us feel more certain of what they stand for and what they want to achieve. On the other hand, some let themselves "flow" freely with life. They take things in their stride. Both ways of life have their pros and cons. The first kind may still "flow" at certain times. The second kind may still plan as they keep "flowing". Also, the first may not be able to achieve what they planned beacuse of stagnation and the second may just drift away into the unknown.  Certainly, it is about priority and also about the importance given to "certainity".

Can we have a perfectly smooth sail? Or do we stop at each port to consolidate and safeguard our position? As far as I am concerned, I did not stop at each port but I did stop. I did "flow" but I did fear drifting. Should I measure? Should I flow? Should I "measure my flow" or should I "flow" while measuring? Does this kind of thinking need to be thin-sliced? I am still to learn.

Note: I am not very sure if I remained in the"active" mode. I may have drifted away to the "passive" one (for I was letting my thoughts flow freely). It is for you to think. I am not thinking!!

Are You Addicted?

Just step out of your home and take a look at the world around you. The trees, the animals, the poor, the rich, the young and the old. Is there anything common between them apart from the mundane biological facts? Yes, there is.

They are all addicted. And so are you. Before you step back and think about the possible addictions you have, let me tell you that the range of such things is infinite and varies daily. So it is not just smoking, video games, drugs, social networking websites. Addiction has many faces and many ways of bringing it closer to you.

Addiction is a child of the materialistic world and though it is not the same as Maya, I would call it a "subset" of Maya. It arises from want, from need. It always remains an unquenched thirst. Can we avoid it or escape it? Or more importantly, can we live with it? Let us ponder over these questions and in the process, unearth some of the underlying fears and thoughts we may have on the subject of addiction.

We have discussed some of the very obvious sources of addiction earlier. But this is, by no means, an exhaustive list. In fact, it is a non-ending one. We have some people addicted to power while some addicted to extravagance. Some people are vane enough to be addicted to themselves (Does that include people who take pictures of only themselves? Just a taunt!) while some are fascinated and in turn addicted to the beauty or mannerisms of others. 

Shoes, accessories, sporting equipment, music (reminds you of Enrique?), dining, speed or thrill, it does not matter whether the noun is concrete or abstract. You name it and you have all kinds of possible addictions. But the question remains : is addiction neccessary in some cases? My answer would be a straight-forward "No". 

One may argue that we hear sportspersons say that they are addicted to the sport and this makes them strive for and as a result achieve more. Or for that matter, high profile Rockstars performing  when "high" on "banned substances",  reach a different, almost a serene state of mind, would suggest addiction is not all that bad.

In the first case, I would say that these "addicted" sportspersons are smart people. No matter what they say, a part of their success lies in the ability to "zoom in" and "zoom out" of situations according to the priorities set by them. The second example, honestly, would be a little difficult for me to falsify. This is primarily beacuse I have never (and never wanted to) experience that "serene" state. But I can safely argue that the required "josh" (read "the required energy levels") can be attained through other positive means ( I have to commend "Rock On" which shows the drummer doing push-ups to get himself ready for the performance). Indeed, it is not neccessary to get "high" to deliver "high" standards.

Before I reveal to you some of the other "critical" addictions and their sources, I would like to discuss my opinion on addiction and how I deal with it. I have always believed in the well known saying that excess of everything is harmful. And though I know I will never fall for the obvious sources of addiction such as alcohol or drugs, I do fear getting addicted. And that is why, I have always made a conscious (some would say foolish) effort to maintain a balance in whatever I undertake or deal with. I stress on the word "balance" and that is because if one gets "addicted" to a certain part of the whole, there may be chances that he or she may deviate from the "chosen" path. But at the same time, it is essential to keep "in touch" with all the parts of the whole. A tough job, no doubt. 

I may be  pretty confident about countering (if not entirely defeating) arguments supporting almost all sources of addiction. But there are a few areas of concern which I think I should share with you. And I guess almost all of us have faced similar situations some time or the other. The next source of addiction I am going to mention is the "addiction to people". And I believe, this one is a tough nut to crack.

Most of us, with the exception of cold-blooded murderers and terrorists, are emotional beings. And when it comes to people, all this talk about balance and staying "non-addicted" goes for a spin. It is difficult for one to imagine how would things be if the "person" they are addicted to would not be present the next moment. And that is where most of us relent. And that is precisley what I do not want to do. I have one life, a mission to fulfill and "balance" is what I strive to achieve. This may sound "heartless" but just as the mind needs to be in the "right" place, the heart needs to be "shown" its right place.

But I have not escaped all of it yet. And this is where the irony lies. Even after trying so hard, I still have an addiciton I can not get rid of: the addiction of being in control, the "addcition" of maintaining that "critical" balance. 

What about your addictions? Do you wish to live with them? Think about it. (You can post your views under "comments".)

An afterthought:  The spellcheck for my name on MS Word 2007 suggests replacing the name with the word "Rehab"(just a thought).

"Flush" it out??

I was in the middle of writing my first post when i decided to pre-empt it for something which appealed to me perfectly at the time.

The word flush may mean a lot of things and may be used in different contexts and it may be worthwhile to make a note of some of the instances where it is used. We use the word "flush" everyday, at least in our minds, while performing the activity (assuming  the activity is regularly performed) . We also have phrases (which I am sure Elliot or Wordsworth won't approve of) like "go flush you face in the ****pot. "Flush" is also used in "flush green". One may flush on being embarrased which may lead to a "flush of anger".  One may get "flushed with success" or "flushing", in metallurgy may lead to "cooling" of gases involved in a particular process. 

For computer engineers, the flush() function causes the buffer in the output stream to be written out to the attached device. "Flush" also means "contiguous", "in direct contact" or a fresh growth of plants and leaves. There are many more instances but I think I have "flushed" you enough with many.

And oddly enough, every usage contributes to what I am thinking, lying down in my living room, with my eyes closed, anticipating some kind of a lightning to strike me. At the same time, my head is jammed (reminds you of the traffic problem in the "Tech city"??) and the sound of the leaking water from the flush aggravates this ridiculous but blissful state which I have attained.

Blissful, does not, in any way, suggest that I have found the answers. But the first stage has been completed: the questions have been discoverd. Our being, "me", performs its daily functions (whatever it is capable of) throughout our life. It stores energy, expends it, stores more and this goes on and on till our "duty" cycle is exhausted.  It is responsible for setting goals, achieving targets and strives to reach the zenith of success and happiness, all set against a materialistic background.

But what about the mind? What about the "I" within (I am sceptical about using the word "soul" here) ? How does it move on, from one stage of the life to the next? Do we retain in our minds, or in our subconscience, everything we have experienced? Or do we "flush" out things in the manner we desire and in the manner "I" progresses best ?

That is, indeed, the main theme of discussion. When I say that we "flush" out things, it can mean any one of the possible interpretations mentioned above. The most obvious interpretation would be to "throw out" or evacuate from the system. But it could also mean "to submerge" oneself, along with the things needed to be "flushed" out (the ****pot analogy). It could also mean retaining and laying down all one has experienced, just like a flush green carpet, for everyone to see.

To "flush" out things can also be interpreted as an attempt to embarrass someone with something hidden from the rest of the system. It could mean showering one with accolades leading to his or her success.

One can vent his feelings in a "flush of anger". And may be "cool off" after that. "Flushing out" may mean getting close to someone and conveying your feelings to the "connected device". And it may also mean starting anew, fresh, free from the shackles which held you previously.

If you are wondering why I took the pain to explain all these instances and the pleasure to bore you with the same, here is the reason.

My "blissful" state, the one with the water leaking from the flush, is such that I know I need to "flush out" a few things. Apparently, it seems obvious: expel from the system. That is what my instinct (is it animal instinct, i wonder) tells me. But then, I have so many options, all these instances, through which I can "flush out" some things from "I".

But first of all, is it necessary? Is it an emergency? Can I do well to retain it in the system? When these questions are posed to "I" , it candidly says that retaining these things would make it appear "greater", for carrying the burden of thought is a brave and responsible thing to do. But "me" says to "I" that "You know. Everyone knows you are great. You can afford to be great. But we have to go hand in hand, at least till this person lives. And when you would want to share the load, I would break down". 

 

"I" is in a dilemma. On one side lies greatness : to be the epitome of all forbearance and spirit. And on the other side lies the responsibility of carrying "me" along. "Me" is adamant and it looks likely that "I" will give in. And "me" takes the advantage of the "noise" from the water, the "clamouring of the mind" and suddenly "I" relents.

And immediately, they enter the labyrinth of multiple choices. They need to find an answer. "I" never wanted to be here. Every second spent in this maze is making "I" gasp for breath. "Me" is not enjoying it either, but it is running helter-skelter to find the solution, for it knows that it can get rid of the suffering. "I" can do nothing but get "tagged" along. 

And now they encounter the options. Find a "contiguous being" and "buffer out" the things to it?But what if the thoughts to be flushed out are related to the contiguous identity? That could be dangerous. They move to the next option. "I" says, "Let the whole world know. If we are already here, let them know". But "me" cuts "I" short and rejects the idea because it still has to face the world after this process is over. "Me" wants this to result in a "long-term gain" and says that is the whole purpose behind all this. But still unable to find the solution, it "flushes out" anger. "I" hopes "me" would "cool down" soon and tries to pacify it........

"Me" is not angry anymore but wants to get out of the situation. It realizes, had it been another life, it would have listened to "I" in that life. But it also knows that is the best it could have done under the circumstances. "I" is getting suffocated by the situation and "me" decides whatever comes next, it would accept it and get "flushed" out from the situation. At least, they would not get "submerged".

And they come full cycle, when they meet the most obvious option : evacuate from the system. "Me" looks at "I" but "I" is not in a state to react. It accepts the solution.....

They lie exhausted outside the maze. Speechless, motionless. But they are not aimless. "I" knows it still has to strive to be the greatest possible it can be. "Me" wants to realize the "long-term" vision. They know it could have been better but now they can't help it. They were sad because they knew what was "flushed" out was invaluale and the irony was it still had "no value".They take a deep sigh (of anguish perhaps) and wait for the freshness to arrive quickly, now that they have "flushed" everything out.

All this is not a thing of the past. It just happened. We, that is, "me", "I" and the author, just came out from the maze. Yes, the author was with them all the time, watching the show. He knows it was not easy. But should they have done better? Should they have entered at all? He will ponder over these questions and pose them to you. May be you can take a leaf out of his book and choose a "better" alternative.

Dasvidaniya: a Re-view

I never imagined I would be writing movie reviews very often in my blog. So a movie review as the first post(the second posted post) comes as a surprise to me. However, the movie deserves being talked about and on a personal level, I did benefit from watching it.

It is sad that one of the online reviews calls the movie a "story of a middle class man". In my opinion, Vinay Pathak's potrayal of a man who is counting his days till death, crosses all boundaries and demarcations. Basic human emotions, like that of a mother proud of her son, the strong bond between two estranged brothers, is bound to leave a lump in the throat of any person irrespective of the class he or she may belong to.

My understanding of the story goes like this. We take life for granted on most occassions and therefore, unhesitatingly and relentlessly we abuse the various opportunities it has on offer for us. We do not mind spoiling a day or two or even more every week, be it through reckless behaviour, or by hurting the feelings of our loved ones, or by simply feeling negative about everything around us. 

Why do we behave like this?  Beacuse we believe that there is plenty more to come and that we can afford to abuse a certain fraction of the time allotted to us to live. And that is exactly where Dasvidaniya confronts us, and compels us to think again. Life is not all that certain and one fine day, when you have your aspirations and ambitions at the zenith, and you realize, you cannot do anything to achieve, do you realize what you have wasted away.

It is not just about aspirations and dreams. It is also about the small but beautiful things which we have always wanted to do but decided against, only beacuse we thought we had time on our hands. This also includes acknowledging the importance of out loved ones and conveying to them what they mean to us. Sometimes, it is too late.

Some of us must have heard of the concept of "thin-slicing" (Malcolm Gladwell introduced this term in his famous book "Blink"). It basically means you throw away the irrelevant part from the whole and what remains is the meaningful part which makes sense. It helps you focus better and concentrate on things which are important. In the movie too, the protagonist gradually learns to "thin-slice" and in the process ,  reveals to us that what we really aspire to do in a lifetime, can actually be accomplished in a very short period of time.

It asks us to pause, to reflect, to set priorities and to "go for it". It is like a chessplayer playing a football match, one needs to be "fired up" but also think wisely. The movie also includes humour which is genuine, and to which, the audience can relate to. One instance would be when Amar (Vinay Pathak) rues his decision of buying a car when he sees the saleswoman ride off on her boyfriend's bike.

This is not exactly a movie review, one reason being my inadeptness in judging the screenplay, cinematography etc etc. And also beacuse it is a re-view, a relook on how one has lived one's life so far and an opportunity for someone to alter the course of life in a way which would make him or her happier.

This is more of a tribute to Dasvidaniya, an acknowledgement of the influence which it had on me. It is one of the rare tragedies which can make one feel positive about life. This is primarily beacuse even though the eventual death of the protagonist Amar is forseeable, the focus is on the vitality and beauty of life, and how one should cash in on valuable moments everyday.

It may be blasphemy for some but King Khan may be very good at delivering "deathbed" scenes. Vinay Pathak is much more effective when it comes to potraying the beauty of life over the gloom of death.

Introduction to this blog

I think I should have started blogging a lot more early. I have realized that one must keep reflecting on one's life, thoughts and actions from time to time. Not only does this help you know where you stand and what you want, it also maintains an equlibrium between "I" and "me". It helps you grow.

This reflection needs to be honest, thoughful, careful and ever-changing in nature. Most importantly, it has to come from the "I" within. And that explains the title of this blog.

One reason why I hesitated when it came to writing a blog was that I was not really sure about laying my thoughts on the table. Like every self-professed poet or author, I value my creations a lot and like some of these creative intellectuals, I was not sure whether the readers would relate to my thoughts.

However, I would not lay down all my cards, for one is better off possessing thoughts which he or she is sensitive about. I would like to raise questions, some open-ended, some not so open-ended. I will try and put forward my views on various subjects with the best explanations I can possibly think of. These explanations and views may be logical and at times, may defy logic but still pose a serious question or two.

Pose questions the topics should, for this is what the link to this blog says, "Dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum." I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am. 

Topics would possibly range from the meaning of life to movie and book reviews, sports etc. But there would always be an underlying principle which would govern the discussions, that of provoking thought. 

I request all readers to be critical, but at the same time, prudent in expressing their views, suggestions,  and sensitive and thoughful in sharing their insight on the topics which will be a part of this blog.

I sincerely hope this effort results in a long-lasting and a "win-win" experience for the readers as well as for "I".