General Public’s Republic day

Today is my country’s 62^nd Republic day. Hence, India is in a mood of celebration. All newspapers are buzzing with the news of the annual parade that takes place in New Delhi on the Rajpath near India Gate.

Today, We played host to one of the most beautiful prime ministers of the world, Mrs.Yingluck Shinawatra. She seemed to enjoy the parade and those colourful tableaus representing different states and ministries showcasing the rich culture, heritage and the recent progress of this amazing country.  

All the national holidays make me very nostalgic. There was a time when every household in India used to sit together and watch the annual parade without batting their eye-lids. India used to come together and unite as one single entity. Shedding their regional identities, prejudices, idiosyncrasies- we used to become ‘Indians’.

Now, in this post-liberalization era people have so many choices that parade as a whole is no longer relevant. Most prefer to watch the special marathons in Star World, new movies in HBO than watching the parade. Now it is seen as the older generation’s dish who like to reminisce the days of their lives.

I do not belong to that generation. I’m just 20, yet I prefer watching parade over those movies and sitcoms any day. I love my country and I’m proud to be Indian. I don’t mind skipping few episodes of How I met your mother and The Big Bang Theory to watch my country come alive.

On a lighter note, I loved my state’s Tableaux today! It showcased an art form called ‘Bhoota kola’ exclusive to the coastal region of Karnataka. Amazing it was! (Hope, I’m not being too regionalistic! *winks*)

Once again to all my fellow Indians Happy Republic day!


(Image courtesy : http://cool-collections-cool.blogspot.com/2012/01/republic-day-of-india-and-indian-flag.html)

The Missing One

                                          It was a day

                                          like any other,

                                          He rose on time

                                          Caressed my cheek with

                                          Those golden

                                           feathers

                                           Of his.

                                           Yet, something was

                                           Amiss.

                                           Well, there’s

                                           a void

                                           In my soul.

                                           Everyday,

                                           I Smile, I sing, I Cry, 

                                           I Curse, I Bless, I Pray

                                           I Drink, I Repent, I Atone

                                           I sway to the melody

                                           I dance to the tune

                                           Yet, the void

                                           Intact.

                                           Where is the light?

                                           Where are those

                                           Guiding beacons?

                                           Tell me,

                                           Where to go

                                           How to search

                                           The thing that fills

                                           The void.

                                           The thing which

                                           Completes me.

The Wishing Well

                                                              

                                Standing on the brink

                                Overlooking the land
                                Of eternal peace

                                Weighing my options,

                                Oblivious to the world

                                Around me.

                                How I wish somebody

                                Could pull me back

                                Save me from the

                                Impending doom,

                                How I wish

                                I could explain this

                                Hollowness of Heart,

                                How I wish I could

                                Endure.

A journey cut-short

    I love children. Perhaps its because they are in a point of their life where there’s nothing much to worry. They are carefree, innocent. All that I crave for, is embodied in them. Once, I had promised myself that I would never lose my innocence. But life is not so kind.

  Whenever I see children, especially those tiny tots below 4 years of age, I can’t help but myself be pulled towards them, something like gravity of sorts. I love their laugh, I love their smile, I love how easily they trust people. Even someone like me who is very reserved can be irresistibly drawn towards them. May be because they are non-judgemental and unaffected by the outside world...yet. 

So, when I heard about this NGO, Teach for India is visiting our college, looking for potential fellows, I thought ‘why not attend the presentation?’  I already had somewhat vague idea about what I’m going to do after my graduation, but teaching?!  Nope, never. I could see their vision and understand their objectives and aspirations. So, I thought, even if I’m not going to apply for the fellowship the least I could do is to attend their presentation. So, I went.

But after their presentation, I started seeing the picture more clearly. The inequity in India’s education sector seemed more relevant now.  There are many under-privileged schools which do not have qualified English teachers. Students have great potential, but they need teachers, mentors to equip them to face the real world. It’s hard to accept for a country with ‘n’ no. of languages, but it is true that English is inevitable in today’s globalized world. And I have been given a chance. I am not sure whether I can pass through their careful selection process (apparently only 8% of total applicants get selected as fellows, so you can imagine the rest!) which includes many yardsticks like Group Discussions, Interviews to gauge the applier’s ability, yet I could do my bit by attempting.

It’s been three months and I still haven’t made up my mind, the forth deadline being Jan 22^nd. I’m quite sure that if I apply I’ll get selected. But the problem is its duration. 2 years is a lot of time for me. I can leave my home and can stay in the places which may not be as “comfortable” as my current living situations. That’s not a problem.  I was born in a typical Indian middle class family. And I have seen my family growing and reaching to the point where we are today, one of the few fortunate upper-middle class families. So, I have no qualms about such challenges. But, 2 years is too much for me. They insist that 2 years is necessary for a fellow to bring about the changes they wish for in the school. I understand their concerns. But am I ready for this?

I’m 20 and like every 20-year old I have my own dreams. I want to stand on my own financially, I want to learn as much as possible, I want to go abroad to UK or US to study, I want to travel the world. I want to see things, I want to experience them. I want to be a journalist, I want to write. Don’t you think in this elaborate plan of mine, can I afford missing two years in an unknown city teaching 3^rd graders?  Once I enter the education sector do you think that I can vouch for myself to keep my journalistic dream alive?

I’m torn. I want to work for the betterment of my country, but I can’t.  Of late, our economic condition isn’t favourable. I have a feeling that I may have to take up some work soon. Very soon..Though my folks deny it and say that we are in quite comfortable situation, I cannot deny the reality.

Am I a bad person? More than anyone, I have experienced the trauma of lacking the proficiency in the English language. Yet, I’m letting the children, citizens of tomorrow down. Who am I? When did I become so self-centred? The Avanija Saket I knew would always think about others first. She was always there for others.  I think I lost her in the way to adulthood.  Life in general, some incidents in particular, have taken a toll on her over-all well being. She hardly trusts people. Now, here is somebody who is in her body. A walking dead body, without any values, scarred by the harshness of life.

Yet, I know she is somewhere there, deep inside. Waiting to be awakened. This is her call. I know, I’ll do my bit to the society in my way. This is not the first one and it won’t be the last. On my journey towards my destiny to achieve my full potential, I’ll be presented with many more such opportunities which I hope to embrace with a full heart, without guilt.

Happy New year everyone!

This is my first blog post of the year. Because of prior commitments, I could not write anything. Moreover, it’s not like someone is desperately waiting for my post you know!

So, it is a new year and it’s a special year, because people are desperate to see whether all the “end-of-the-world” predictions are got to be true or not. I’m least bothered about these things as I believe that Death is certain and it may strike us in a way least expected and it’s futile to predict its arrival.

People ask me, what is your resolution this year? And I don’t know what to tell them. I have never seriously considered about taking up a resolution simply for the sake of it, as most of us rarely stick to it. Whenever you are determined to do something, don’t take up that as a resolution, because you are more likely to lose interest in that particular thing. So, its better you don’t include that in your New Year resolution list, because if you do, you will not have the hope of doing it someday. Resolutions kill that hope by making you believe that “As I did not stick to my resolution, I will never be able to do this”. At least, this is what happens to me!

So, don’t make resolutions but do everything you want to do! Happy New Year to all the people who visit my page! Enjoy and live in the moment!