We create our own demons ...

              We create our own demons. Who said that? What does it even mean? Doesn't matter, I said it cause he said it, so now he was famous and that is basically said by two well known guys. I don't, uh, I am going to start again. Let's track this from the beginning...

               Lockdown time, I was fighting out different ways to pass time. My brother had decided to complete Avengers series, a total of 23 movies. I had joined him. That day I was watching ' Iron Man 3'. The movie starts with the voice over of Tony Stark (Iron Man). " We create our own demons.... " Those lines were stuck in my mind. I completed that movie and moved on with rest of the movies. I had also watched 'The Family Man' ( Amazon Originals web series). I had given it a thought and I felt those lines " We create our own demons..." had deep intense meaning behind them. They made more sense when I had tried to connect them with few references from the web series ' The Family Man'.

                I felt it was a fact that we create our own demons. As an individual, as a family, as a group of friends, as a community, as a society, as a country, our very own actions are responsible for creating our own enemies. While it is near impossible to avoid all those circumstances, we can certainly avoid a few with certainty in our thoughts and actions.

                For example, when we generalize a whole community and make a whole community accountable for certain cherry picked actions of a few ardent individuals, ill treat someone else for actions of some one else some where else. These acts of haste play a toll on the minds of those who were ill treated. These acts may result in rise of extremist violent thoughts in them. These acts may act as evidence and can act as weapons in brain washing many young innocent minds, paving way for them to take extremist paths like terrorism. Clearly there can be no community or a religion that can be attached to it. For me it is an antonym for humanity. Now when we associate religion or a particular community, we are equally contributing for the growth of it. We create our own demons with our lack of clarity of thoughts.

                  Let us take even more simpler example, think of a teen left behind in a relationship, deprived of love, attention, friendship, he may seek revenge, his blood might burn with vengeance, he may resort to drugs, he may end up feeling foul minded. Most of the crimes today are acts of vengeance. Most criminals have dark past deprived of basic human needs. When I thought of it much deeper, I felt we all might be responsible in  cresting such demons. When we ill treat someone, when we don't give that minimum attention that a particular person deserves, when we part ways from a relationship leaving the other crippled, when our lack of clarity in thoughts raise false hopes in someone eventually leaving them with trust issues, all these acts might crumble someone's hopes on ethical living. Eventually they may end up thinking that the world is not fair on them, they may even seek revenge on the world.

                 At the end of it one may argue that it's up to individual's choice to chose the path they wanted to travel, well I completely agree, but what I wanted to say is that with considerate empathy, clarity in our thoughts before our actions, we can curb those instances which encourages an individual to chose extreme steps.

                I believe that one cannot be unfair on something which is fair enough. I wanted to leave you with another avengers dialogue " Well, I don't judge people on their worst mistakes. "   

                Most of above ideas were inspired from the thoughts of my Mom. She always batted for making peace, discouraged any kind of differences, be it religious or caste based, she always vouched for celebration of humanity. This article is dedicated to her on her birth anniversary.

                Mom! Happy birthday! Where ever you are, you'll be present in my words, in my actions and in my heart.

                Jai Hind. Satyamevajayate.   

Not Finished Yet .....

Need 12 from 4
                               He's gone down the ground, I think it's massive, that is a phenomenal hit from....

Need 12 from 6
                               This should be out... oh it's six.. He just got enough on it...

Need 15 from 5
                                That is big.. length.. with in his reach..he's something under pressure.. isn't he.. magnificent.. He's unbelievable in so many ways..

 Need 23 from 6
                                 ohhhhhh.. He's done it.. what a match.. You beauty.. How many times he's done it !!!!!  ....

Need 16 from 6
                                 Wow!!! Would you believe it.. It's out of here...

Need 19 from 12
                                  Ohhhh!!! it's a mighty blow..He's send it into the orbit..Just walked out and said.. right gentleman, a lot of you have been playing this game, now let me come and finish it off....

                                   I think by now anyone would have figured out what this short story is all about. For those who didn't figure out yet.. keep reading, I am sure you will regret not knowing this person all this while. All through my childhood I had spent watching, playing cricket. Not a very great player, in fact a bad player, but this did not keep me away from the sport. We had a very lovely childhood I suppose, playing cricket every where possible, creating our own forms of it which includes playing inside home with erasers, papers crushed into a shape of a ball etc. We all grew up watching Sachin Tendulkar and there's a time when the whole team is dependent on him and India used to loose all hopes of winning a match if we loose his wicket. Then the lights of Sourav, Dravid, Laxman, Sehwag, Gambhir, Yuvi, Kaif and others made Indian batting a strong asset for the team, yet when we loose early wickets, 5 down , 6 down we never really thought of winning matches from there. There are odd matches where few players have pulled it off from no where but generally its more of being in the wrong side. India has not really seen a strong wicket keeping batsmen either, some one like Adam Gilchrist. When India is in dire need of a finisher and a wicket keeper batsmen to make its mark on world cricket, India is gifted with the man of steel. 

                                    Initially flops haunted him, but it did not take long for him to prove himself as demolishing top order batsmen. He toyed with opposition bowling attacks hitting boundaries at will. He eventually became the Captain of team India and rest is history... Back to my school days, when this man entered Indian team, honestly I never expected that he would become such a vital part of the team and me admiring him so much. Initially when he started his career I didn't really notice him. I enjoyed his innings but never really in awe of his innings.I vaguely remember reading about him in a section 'ReCharge' in a telugu news paper. I became really curious about his nature and his game after knowing his background. Slowly he started to amuse me with the skill set he process. There are instances where I got annoyed of his innings, one I could remember when Sachin got double hundred, He gave just 4 deliveries strike to Sachin in the last 5 overs. He played a blistering knock but then irritated us a bit. After he becoming captain, he's decision making and guts just made me love him as a leader. Few little things like sending the best performer to the press meet, taking blame on himself in losses, standing at the corner of celebrations, handing over cups to new talent made me lost in his leadership skills. And the FINISHER, I really don't know how many number of times he has taken the team over the line. He literally made us all believe that we can pull off the match from anywhere in his presence. Even my Mom who rarely watches cricket used to call me after every match and used to tell me that he can do it. My Mom used to love him, definitely not because I like him but because she has seen how he's making many people happy. She used to tell me infact, he's there, don't loose hope. Those partnerships for 5th wicket 6th wicket 7th wicket, scoring over 10000 runs with an average above 50, playing most of innings at 5,6,7 positions, hitting those gigantic sixes out of the park, his calm and cool attitude, he's down to earth behavior off the field, his captaincy and not forgetting his lightening fast stumpings behind the wicket... I don't really know how many others are capable of doing these. In fact I never heard of lightening fast in cricket before him. His running between the wickets is another trick up his sleeve always ready to save. He's a complete package, A Captain, A Wicket Keeper, A Finisher. I don't know if any other can replace him, definitely not a single person. A part from these his humbleness off the field, his way of interacting with Groundsmen, Support staff, Fans, his respect towards nation, his respect towards flag, his way of respecting Indian Army are just few more things which makes this man closer to anyone. When media asked when he's gonna see his daughter when he's in a world cup campaign, he replied that currently he's on a national duty and every thing else can wait... Just one of the many incidents which shows his dedication.

                                         Off late his skills are little diminished, his minor weaknesses are exposed, yet a very reliable batsmen to save from a collapse, safest hands behind the stumps and captain on field if not on cards. Many people might criticize him, ask him to retire but do not forget that he's the same person who made you believe that India can chase anything from any where which is the reason why you're expecting wonders. I believe when time comes he walks off calmly and never bother about his legacy. He's will be always committed to the team and always do what team requires.

In ICC's words..

A name that changed the face of Indian cricket...

A name inspiring millions across the globe...

A name with an undeniable legacy...
 

                                          Happy Birthday to the Legendary Captain, Wicket Keeper, Finisher. An undeniable prodigy. This world cup might mark an end of an era but he continues to inspire generations to come. I have forgotten another excerpt from a match..

DHONI Finishes off in style. A magnificent hit into the crowd. India lift the world cup after 28 years.....

He doesn't mind repeating it tough.......

Watch for ICC's tribute to MS Dhoni...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIpaY_1aoUw

   

The Unanswered Questions!

        Did you ever feel like asking your parents about the reason behind certain ritual which is followed? If so, did you ever make an attempt to do so ? Most of us are afraid Isn't it ? Eventually we're are trying to pass it on to the next generations with out knowing the exact reason or even thinking of the validity of the concept in the present situation. It is like we're made to blindly follow certain rituals and we're passing on the same with out even having a thought about it. Remember JJ Thompson's watermelon model of an atom which was later disproved by various other scientists. It happened because the model proposed was questioned, the reasons were discussed, resulting in better models and eventually a model which was universally accepted. Even today if you disprove it, the scientific world will always welcome you with your new findings with proofs off course you need to go through a long journey. Now coming to certain religious, community based rituals and superstitions, are they valid even today? If it does not cause any harm to anyone or anything, It's completely fine, but certain rituals are ruthless and baseless, just followed on the grounds of religious sentiments which are again debatable. Certain rituals which are causing harm to environment, animals or humans cannot be just accepted. They need to be questioned, and if necessary abolished. We have read about Raja Ram Mohan Roy who had played a very important role in abolishing Sati ( A brutal ritual where a woman is set to fire along with her husband's dead body). I am very sure that it did not happen on day one. He must have gone through a lot, but just his persistence payed off. Today we speak so high of him. What really matters is the ability and the courage to question injustice. I am sure that God will not encourage injustice or baseless hazardous rituals. There are number of such baseless rituals and superstitions around us. I wanted to express my disagreement to certain rituals and superstitions which have disheartened me in the recent past and also seek answers for failure of certain concepts associated with religion. My intention is not to hurt anyone's feelings but only to question certain things which doesn't make sense and know reasons for certain practices so that I could practice with more respect and devotion.

         

                In my recent trip to Japan I went on a visit to a Arashiyama ( place near Kyoto ). There is a river and a hill and some Buddhist temples around the place. As I am nearing the place I can feel the water flow. I love places with water and as usual I am thrilled. After reaching the place I was awestruck looking at the water. They are so clean, litter free and most importantly I see people using dustbins. I just went into thoughts, Can such places exist in India, May be in Himalayas some where far from regular cities but definitely not nearer to Human habitat. I was wondering, we pray to these rivers, we celebrate festivals every 12 years specially on basis of a river ( Pushkaralu ) after all that what we are seeing is polluted rivers. We know the plight of the Mighty Indian River Ganga. The only curse I see is, it flows through Varanasi ( Khasi ). I heard people telling me that the river looks much better before entering Varanasi. Varanasi, The Holy city is in the list of most polluted cities of the world. Recently Andhra Pradesh Government spent huge amounts ( More than 2000 crores as per reports of various media ) on Krishna ( river ) Pushkaralu for cleaning of river banks, providing other needs to devotees etc. Sad fact is till next Krishna Pushkaralu, we keep polluting river, littering around. I had to visit Krishna river to participate in an ritual following my mothers demise. I had to leave my mothers ashes into the river, I just don't want to do it as it also might cause pollution but couldn't say against it. then I had to dip in the river and I could see greenish water with plastic waste floating around. Isn't something fundamentally wrong with our practices ? Aren't we suppose to protect this mighty rivers? Don't you thing this should be given more importance than the importance what we give to the process of this ritual ? Don't you think our ancestors created these rituals so that we protect our natural resources? If some ritual or some practice is abolished or even questioned, there will be immediate response, strikes, hartals ( Sabarimala Issue ) but when the corporate factories are sucking water, releasing their wastes into these rivers, there's seldom response. We need to change, change in understanding the real values behind practices, the validity of these practices in current times. I wanted to share an Incident from my child hood, I was traveling in train to Hyderabad, There's a family sitting next to us, as they went with a conversation with my mom and other family members, I realized that those people are going to attend Godavari Pushkaralu. We are on top of a bridge constructed over Godavari Near Rajamahendravaram, there's also a kid as old as me assosiated with the family next to us and the kid asked where to throw wrapper of some snacks and the reply was appalling. It very natural thing today, throw out of the window. You are on the way to pray to the river and you are not even bothered to throw some plastic waste into the river. Since then there were n number of questions in my mind often suppressed by this so called experienced elders anger. Not any more I have decided to question and follow only those which I feel logical and those which is not causing any harm to anyone or environment.

                         Many people claim that everything in this nature is a part of God's creation but some people follow some practices which contradict their own statements. 'Periods' very common cycle in women's organ system. But then there is this custom of treating them as an untouchable during that cycle. There are not allowed to touch any one, any thing, they are asked to sit in a corner of a room. During my child hood, my mom was going through that cycle during the time of some festival. So she was not allowed to temple, not allowed to be part of any rituals. I didn't understand, they didn't allow even me to touch my mom. I was 8 year old I guess, I have no clue what's happening, every one is just shouting at me not to touch mom, I didn't listen I just went into my mom's arms. They shouted at me for little while and they left for temple. I felt happy to be with my mom rather than going to temple with bunch of illogical so called experienced people. I never accepted this particular custom but I always wanted to know the reason behind this. One day my friend's mom said in the olden days women were used to do a lot of work and in general energy levels of women go down during periods, and also there were not enough protection for them, so they are asked to sit at certain place so that they get enough rest. Such a noble thought but as years passed on it became a blind faith with out motive. I think today there is no point in practicing the same. We need to introspect and question the validity of a practice in current times. 

                         How you'll feel when you loose someone close? I feel that is biggest ever loss which can happen to any person. I was in Japan, I received a call from my brother !!! I was on a day trip to Osaka, roaming from Free ways to typical Japanese streets. We are crossing a bridge when I received the call, I felt my heart beat, Water turned black !!! My mom passed away, I need to travel back to India. I think that's the most confusing, nervous period I have ever faced, I had to choose and I had chosen to be strong for my family, I came back saw my Mom's body lying down without life, just said to myself that your mom doesn't want you to cry rather help your family face the greatest ever loss. I managed the night without falling, next day some rituals and practices as usual, I was shocked seeing people shouting at me for not doing certain things in the right way !!! They are not concerned about what I was going through, no one even care !!! People were testing my patience, I just followed what ever I was instructed to do taking some scoldings as well, keeping my Dad and Sis in mind and every thing one last time for mom. Every thing I had taken can only make me stronger cause, not really can bother me after the loss I have faced. So if you loose some one close in your family, you're not supposed to go to temple, not suppose to celebrate festivals for one year !!! I don't mind, I don't care cause I am a person who enjoys celebrating National Festivals more than the religious counter parts. I get immense pleasure when I hoist or even see National Flag flying high and sky and my country never restricted me. Days passed on and our new home which mom always wants to come reached to a completion stage and there come's house warming ceremony. So here's come another idiotic ruthless custom. As it isn't a year since my Mom's demise I shouldn't carry my moms photo into our home. Enough I had seen, this time I need to act, I said to myself that I would not eat in a function which denied my moms presence. It may look childish but I want to make a statement. I didn't eat, It didn't have any impact but I had become even more stronger. I have a question !!! When a person gets utmost depressed ? I think if they loose their loved one's, Don't you think that's when they need support ? When a temple is denying his entry then, I don't find any point in temples being there. On the contrary My country wraps up Indian Flag over a martyr's body saluting his sacrifice. That's how my country respects and how your rituals insult some one who is passed away.

                             I have more questions to be asked ! I leave the article here as a token of respect to my mom who's been my greatest inspiration, who never got angry when I questioned, who allowed me to be me and never forced anything on me. I salute you mom. Happy Birthday ! You'll be present in my words, in my actions and in my heart. You'll be my strength to question anything which is wrong and in my path to try and follow things which are right rather than things which are easy.

                          I salute my country and respect the culture and customs my country follows, at the same time I want to take the true values and motives behind certain things rather than blind faith and fear. I don't fear God, I Love him. For me God is this environment and country. If you fail to protect it, you fail your devotion towards God, to be precise you're cheating God. Jai Hind. Satyamevajayate.

More questions will be asked in the coming articles. To be continued .............

            


   

Being Indian...

            What are the qualities to be an Indian? I came across some people who use the word Indian for totally appalling reasons . For example public urination, stating this is India and we do it any where, we have that freedom. Not following traffic rules, going in wrong direction, having confidence of evading the charges by bribes. Littering in public. Evading rules. Being dishonest. It seems funny at times but after all this what we have achieved, a country's capital where in a person can not breathe with out additional protection. 

        We are in such a plight that we are buying fresh air in the form of air purifiers, fresh water in the form of water purifiers. Yet we are unmoved, we still pollute atmosphere by our vehicles, waste, to add to it we have some rituals and other customs polluting air and water. Most of us do not have responsibility in many small things which doesn't need any system or governance but all it needs is a change in our attitude, our mindset and our definition of being Indian. We deserve better. For that we need to step up towards visualising new India. Just Imagine our country with cleaner roads, with honesty, with responsible citizens, statesmen. Its takes nothing but little efforts, wait till dustbin before you throw something, go in right directions, following lane discipline, use public toilets or having more control on our body. While in trains do not use windows as dustbins instead use a baggage and throw near stations or use dustbins. Waste management and also demanding more structured waste management systems from our government. All these doesn't require much effort, it requires right intention and heart of love towards our nation.

        Our feeling of nationality shouldn't end in supporting our nation in a sports match or olympics, rather it should be in every day tasks that we do. We need to think on these lines more than being adamant in following on certain outdated religious rituals which does no good to anyone. I am not against any religion but for me, My Country comes before God. I have seen temples where it was maintained so well inside, may be with so much devotion and right outside people urinate. So awful to see such prestigious symbols of our heritage not given the respect they deserve. Even God wouldn't want his land to be corrupt and misused. We need to teach the next generation to salute the nation and nature before God. We should rather teach them right manners than imposing them to follow some nonsense rules. For that we need to be right mannered. Our status symbol should be our responsibility not the way we dress or the car we use. I have seen people travelling in car lowering the window and throwing the waste out. For me he is an illiterate. I have seen people getting down the car and urinating. For me he is an illiterate. I have seen people wearing suit and using audi skipping the traffic signal. He's also an  illiterate. Sad fact is most of these people are educated illiterates. Do we really need some one to teach us common sense? Don't we know the same roads we use daily, the same streets we use daily, the same  country we live in, entire our life, if not us our friends relatives live in the same country. Don't we deserve better society, better place to live? better leaders to govern? If not us our future generations need to see better India. Every year we talk about GDP, and other economic terms, but for the past 70 years we had missed out on basic things which just need every individual's right mindset. Being Indian doesn't mean being irresponsible, doesn't mean misusing freedom, it means carrying the legacy and image that is created by great personalities like Mahatma Gandhi, Abdul Kalam and many others. 

This Independence let us pledge towards a change in our attitude and mindset. We should demand for basic needs from our leaders rather than more reservation and money for votes. We should start respecting our environment rather than our superstitions. Jai Hind. Satyamevajayate.

This article might not be well organised but covers really essential points which we need to look into. It's already late. Better late than never. Lets do it...