Acche din aane vale hain (good days are ahead)

I woke up early this morning because everyone in my home seemed so excited about the Parliament elections results. Normally I would not appreciate being disturbed in my slumber at 7.30 AM (considering I went to bed at 4.00 AM) but today I didn't mind that at all. Every Indian and probably a lot of other country people (considering the greetings that have flown over from the governments of US, UK, Israel, Australia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan) as well knew that today was an extremely crucial day in the history of India. Not only because it will decide which political party gains majority to form government, but also because it will decide the fate of one man (and in turn whole nation), Narendra Modi.

‘Narendra Modi’, (or NaMo) the name every Indian had on their lips today. He lead BJP (and NDA) to a historic win in the parliament elections today. Hardly there would have been any political party which had not taken his name, either in support or in protest. No matter who was contesting elections from whichever place, Narendra Modi found a place in their discussion one way or the other. Obviously when everyone is talking about one person, he must be damn important. Well, he proved that today. He is going to be the Prime Minister of the world’s biggest democracy.

The story of Modi’s rise is like a Bollywood movie, with so many twists and turns, high points and low points. How often do you see someone rise from abject poverty to the most important position of the country? Rarest of the rare, isn’t it? In a country where majority of population still resides in penury, a man from the very same ground rises to be the most powerful man of the nation, wow!! absolutely brilliant. This happens when there are those who still believe in the feudal system, and think it is their birth-right to head the country. Oh come on!! Mommy promised me if I be a good boy she will let me head the country for next five years, give this chair to me.

I wonder what happens to the people who were ridiculing the humble background of Modi? There were our very own political leaders who derided him saying what a ‘chai-wallah’ (tea-vendor) can do? The election results (read one tight slap on their face) must be hard to take in, Ouch!! Sorry did that hurt?

Everyone.. and I mean literally every political leader of the opposition had targeted him one way or the other. They had called him names, some really nasty ones I would not like to mention here (my family reads this blog). They had blamed him for practically anything that goes wrong in their life. Oh God! The power went off, all because of Modi, hunhhh…, my dog ran away to be with Modi after he said he has pity in his heart for puppies, foul! cheater! (maybe all this and even more allegations). Even the smallest political worker was either singing praises of him or (trying to) mock him. I guess one reason for bringing many small political parties together was that, they wanted to stop the “Modi wave”. Ooops the tide was too strong and they got swept away. And amidst all this constant bickering and opposition Modi rose.

He is definitely charismatic and possesses great P. R. skills. Plus being a marketer, I can’t help but admire his stupendous marketing techniques. His STP(segmenting, targeting, positioning) is impeccable. His slogans, his speeches, his one liners are "legen…wait for it…dary". My one and half year old niece cheerfully shouts “Abki baar, Modi Sarkaar” (this time it is Modi Government). His words even catch the fancy of a kid as young as her, which he appreciated in his victory speeches as well. I can’t help but remark he came, he spoke, he conquered.

He gave every Indian a reason to believe in the magic of democracy. In a country that is hit by corruption, destitution, unemployment and anarchy, Narendra Modi infused hope of a better tomorrow. Don’t believe me? Need facts and figures? Look at the bullish stock markets! His story teaches us that no matter how modest you begin but your efforts and determination can take you to your dream. He will definitely make into research books and case studies similar to the likes of leaders like Lincoln. The nation is jubilant and here is hoping that his words “Acche din aane wale hain” (good days are ahead) will prove true soon. Amen!

The Power of One

They say what difference can a single entity make? It’s just one; we can neglect it most of the times (remembering old lessons of physics). As we do to the opinion of one person in comparison to that of the majority, neglect it.. it’s just one! But ask a person who fails coz of one mark the importance of one. Or ask a person who is dying the importance of one day of life. Sigh!! Pity we still ignore one.

You don’t think one is important? O c’mon have you ever spared a thought that one wish left unanswered can turn a believer to atheist. One goal left unachieved can cause days or even years of trauma and torture. One color left missing can waste a whole painting, imagine a rainbow with any one of the color missing and then you’ll get my point. Being far away from just one person can turn your whole life upside down. It’s just that one person that you find your solace in and if that person is not with you, it brings tremendous agony. It can be anyone, a family, a friend, a mentor, an idol or your beloved.

It’s funny how we think of kids as stupid when they want one particular toy and nothing else can comfort them. How different are we grownups from them? We may be better than them in just hiding our emotions. C’mon give the kids the credit that at least they are brave or ignorant (ignorance is bliss remember) enough to say what they want.

The desire or craving for that one thing or person is no different for elders. The pain of not getting that one thing you covet the most in life is no less for us. In fact we are less fortunate than kids coz we have to live up to our reputation and maintain certain so called ‘image’, for kids they care a damn for that.

The power of that ‘one’ is something that everything else fades into oblivion. It’s like the only thing that you can see, and the only thing that you can walk towards. Taking that thing out of your life leaves you into total darkness. It’s the one thing you yearn for and wouldn’t mind giving up everything else for. That one thing becomes the goal of your life, the sole purpose of your being, and the only wish you wish upon a star. That is the stupendous and incredible power of one. After all we have one sun (ok don’t go into the technicalities, I’m talking about our solar system) that our earth revolves around, the reason for life and energy for us. So think again before neglecting one next time.

Clouds of my dreams

‘Clouds’…the word brings so many pictures into my mind, there are these snowy white ones streaking the blue sky, then the dark,  gray ones ready to pour down, not to forget the ones which are filled with hues of all kinds as we see the sun rise or sun set… Clouds have always fascinated me. I just love watching these clouds as I sit by the window of the car/bus/train while I’m travelling. They are so beautiful and vivid in shape and form. Sitting by the window of the plane these clouds appear like someone has spread a carpet of cotton before me, and boy! I’m so tempted to walk over it (no, I’m not delusional people ;)). It is just so beautiful to see sun rays play peek-a-boo with you from these clouds.  

And somehow these clouds remind me of dreams. Beautiful, picturesque, light and dark, covering the sun sometimes, or else just blowing with the winds of time. You look at these clouds and they show a different form and picture, that is a reflection of your thoughts. Dreams are like the clouds covering the sky of your heart. Sometimes they stay there for a minute or two, while some other time it looks like they are going to rain on the earth of your life. You stand there looking up at these clouds, anticipating rain, but they are brushed away by the winds of reality. However sometimes these clouds of dreams pour down and infuse “life” into your life.

Like a drought hit region, where the cracks of despair show up on the land, these dreams bring with them the showers of cheer that get soaked in the grounds of psyche so as seeds of hope are irrigated. The cracks are filled and the barren land gives way to green pastures. All this is brought about by the clouds of dreams.

Sometimes it also happens that these showers flood the heart so much that eyes stream out in the form of tears. That’s how dreams are. Like I mentioned they are nomadic and restless. They might reside with you for years, or they might be transitory. Unpredictable, yeah that’s what they are. Sometimes you can pin down a sea of reason for their origin, sometimes not.

We cannot deny that dreams can also fog the reality. At times it is difficult to see the actual path. Obviously when clouds descend too low they block us from seeing our outlook of truth. Then the light of reason has to work hard to find the right way.

But whatever it is, one thing is for sure, they are vibrant and each dream of cloud renders a different beauty to landscape of your heart. I can’t imagine a life without dreams, naah..it would be so lifeless like a sky all painted blue. I would rather have these clouds spread over my sky. So my clouds of dreams whatever you are; you are always welcome to dwell in my heart :) .

Weeds of Hope

Probably some years down the time lane…when I look back at this time…I would laugh and say..”Oh that was also a time..when I thought that life was so difficult..”….hopefully things would be better then…ahh hope…well u cannot help but hope…and generally you hope for the better…a hungry person hopes that hopefully he would find food the other day…a poor fellow hopes of getting rich…a lonely person hopes to find company…a loser hopes to be a winner…etc..etc…

I wonder how much to hope and what to hope for?? I have been trying to find an answer to this.. I tried not being too hopeful…but didn’t succeed.. I tried shunning all hopes…but who can do that?? Even in times when I thought I would not let the flowers of hope blossom in my heart…they did…I guess they are some wild shrubs or weeds, that are so stubborn that they find their way out into this world… don’t need any care… Even when the summer heat of sorrow wilts the other plants, even when the winds of failure uproot all the other trees and plants …these weeds of hope still continue to stay alive… And in that way they still make your garden look less lifeless… these weeds sometimes bloom and give you flowers as well…not as beautiful as the flowers of success and love…but still beautiful enough.

There are times when you are so upset that you just uproot these weeds… You decide no there isn’t going to be a garden here anymore. You make the whole place concrete…and you say to yourself..”Now no hope”… but na na na…these weeds find some small little crack or a tiny opening…and greet you with their sheepish smile… told you they were stubborn!!! You don’t want these wild plants to be there at your place, but in a way you thank them..not on their face..no your ego won’t let  you do that.  On their face you say “Ohh you tiny little nemesis back again!!”, but as you pass them you smile to yourself… that’s what these shrubs do to you…they make you smile even when you don’t want them to…

But yeah I told you they are weeds. So sometimes they do damage the garden, when left for too long and when they are made to grow too big… So better take care…And boss it’s up to you to decide what you do to these weeds of hope……