“Now to call it a Day”…. None of us mouthed it, but it sure ran through a couple of heads… :-) . Seated in a pizza hut at Koramangala, were six of the crew that joined for the action of the day. Ten members of a league named ‘SPOORTHI’ – ‘a group of like-minded friends’, that’s what I got from one of them, had planned up something eventful for Christmas.
Don’t get it wrong, it had nothing to do with sitting, munching pizzas…they were to get involved with REDS (Rag pickers Education & Development Scheme). A lot of organizing skills sure went into the whole day’s activity, but being new, an added advantage or disadvantage ;), I was not a big part of it… All I got to help with was, wrapping a handful of gifts meant to be distributed. That reminds me, thanks to Priya, a very sweet and intellectual looking girl (one of the new friends I made)… she spent most of her Saturday night wrapping up the gifts.
Sunday was the D-Day…Come the hour, 2:30 p.m., and the folks were all gathered up at N.G.V (National Games Village). Thence, we split into segments boarded autos, always available… :-) and reached the spot where the children were gathered. It was on the third floor of a building yet being engineered and as we climbed up the stairs we could hear a babble of voices, all excited, getting us back to maybe the view of a loose classroom… :-)
We entered carrying some bags with food for the kids, lunch ordered from Nandini – a restaurant that delivers food based on orders. Looking at the little faces, we could read a lot of mixed feelings there… there was hope, excitement, fun, naughtiness. There were 53 of them in all, 13 more than the expected turnover. Did that make us happy??? or sad??? – Not sure, it didn’t matter…With the help of a lady who monitors these kids at the Day Care, we seated them on mats and tried out best to make sure they all ate well. There was food in surplus and we were sure it would not go wasted (Dinner, even for a few of them would only be great). Once the food session was done, we exhibited our best leadership skills to organize a few games for the kids… The kids ranged from, anywhere between 5 yrs of age to 15, most of them being below 10. The ‘ayah’, as the little ones called her did a lot of favor helping with maintaining even the slightest silence that could be maneuver. One of our friends ‘Leka’, full throatily made best use of her such moments and announced the rules for the few games played.
After an hour or so, of playing the games though we are not sure how many of them got the games right, talking to them, learning to keep control over the bunch, we had the greatest pleasure of handing over a few gifts to the kids… of course we kind of ran short but, there were Abhay & Harashita, who volunteered to readily get a few more right away… We could see that the kids were eagerly waiting for their turns to receive books, shirts, toys, geometry sets… etc…
Many of them came back to us to wish us ‘Merry Christmas’; it really will be ‘merry’… A different kind of merriness about it… Suri & Priya managed to light up the evening with a few ‘cam-flashes’ striking about. We got a good number of happy faces. Finally we guys hopped back to our busy schedules and a few of us who had the time thought we’d contribute a little bit from our wallets to our tummies too… :-) Sitting there, I could see a lot of satisfied faces after putting plans to execution.
Not sure if any of those little ones would have a piece plum cake or a gulp of wine for Christmas, but one thing we sure know is… we managed to get a smile on each of the 53 faces for the day.
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Ponder Yonder...
Looking out of the window, I gaze into the open space...
As minutes drag by, little do I recognize a single face...
All I'm aware is I'm perched on a bus seat...
Reacting little, and in no sense of any heat...
A set of bizarre thoughts whiz by all at once, nothing stays past a second...
Not that any mean a thing, not one that I want to reckon...
Try to move my glare away, so many known faces with sleep conquered eyes...
Why can't I be normal too, shut them tight, that would be nice...
Two more seconds go by, and again I find myself staring...
This instant sizing the window pane, the next, gazing beyond a clearing...
The routine follows every single day, nothing new to add again...
Until a new face enters the stage, no other lessons to be learnt today...
As minutes drag by, little do I recognize a single face...
All I'm aware is I'm perched on a bus seat...
Reacting little, and in no sense of any heat...
A set of bizarre thoughts whiz by all at once, nothing stays past a second...
Not that any mean a thing, not one that I want to reckon...
Try to move my glare away, so many known faces with sleep conquered eyes...
Why can't I be normal too, shut them tight, that would be nice...
Two more seconds go by, and again I find myself staring...
This instant sizing the window pane, the next, gazing beyond a clearing...
The routine follows every single day, nothing new to add again...
Until a new face enters the stage, no other lessons to be learnt today...
Which is your Strata?
Any idea how many sects there could be among human beings? A difficult question to answer… The reason being, every individual might come up with his/her idea of pegging different people.
Human race in itself can be graded on different levels, depending on what strategy is used for marking & demarking. Understanding human psychology from their behavioral reflexes, responses towards social life or yet again their adherence towards societal norms poses a partial picture of where he/she may thrive in society. The usage of your brain power to gear your own actions in your day to day life places you in one of the stratums.
Broadly divided, humans fall in three tiers… the “ORDINARY” … the “EXTRA ORDINARY” … and finally the “MIDDLE LAYER”.
The ‘ordinary’ comprise the kind that, live in submission. You never find them voluntarily breaking laws or if broken, the dueful must always follow. This strata needs to be led, they look forward to the bindings & customs imposed upon them as part of society. They seldom try something new and never want to be let loose. Given the freedom to make a free choice, they’d want to follow what has been in the mainstream.
The second distinction of society, the ‘extra-ordinary’… What’s their stand? That’s the whole thing… they posses a stand for themselves, whatever be the topic. They perceive themselves as a different elite layer. Hardly, do they give into the general thought process and almost always break the existing to create the new exemplaries. This category goes to any extent of using the guts required to prove their point. The ‘ordinary’ of their own era condemn the ‘extra ordinary’ but the same in an era down would follow them or call them the ‘Geniuses’.
The third category forms that layer, which has the faculty to think above the ordinary but fail to execute their thoughts as the extra-ordinary do. They try to fight the ordinaries of society and break the ice but soon realize they do not have the nerve enough to endure consequences & therefore abide by the existing.
Both the ordinary and the extraordinary are almost always happy… the ordinary never wants to come out of its comfort zone & the extraordinary has its way no matter who interferes. But the middle strata, always suffers and hides his/her wounds only because he/she is never happy with what is done but yet chooses to live with it.
Try to figure out where you fall. If it’s the middle layer, all you need is a bit of ‘self-confidence’ and an enormous amount of ‘sense of doing the right’ – A CLEAR CONSCIOUS.
Human race in itself can be graded on different levels, depending on what strategy is used for marking & demarking. Understanding human psychology from their behavioral reflexes, responses towards social life or yet again their adherence towards societal norms poses a partial picture of where he/she may thrive in society. The usage of your brain power to gear your own actions in your day to day life places you in one of the stratums.
Broadly divided, humans fall in three tiers… the “ORDINARY” … the “EXTRA ORDINARY” … and finally the “MIDDLE LAYER”.
The ‘ordinary’ comprise the kind that, live in submission. You never find them voluntarily breaking laws or if broken, the dueful must always follow. This strata needs to be led, they look forward to the bindings & customs imposed upon them as part of society. They seldom try something new and never want to be let loose. Given the freedom to make a free choice, they’d want to follow what has been in the mainstream.
The second distinction of society, the ‘extra-ordinary’… What’s their stand? That’s the whole thing… they posses a stand for themselves, whatever be the topic. They perceive themselves as a different elite layer. Hardly, do they give into the general thought process and almost always break the existing to create the new exemplaries. This category goes to any extent of using the guts required to prove their point. The ‘ordinary’ of their own era condemn the ‘extra ordinary’ but the same in an era down would follow them or call them the ‘Geniuses’.
The third category forms that layer, which has the faculty to think above the ordinary but fail to execute their thoughts as the extra-ordinary do. They try to fight the ordinaries of society and break the ice but soon realize they do not have the nerve enough to endure consequences & therefore abide by the existing.
Both the ordinary and the extraordinary are almost always happy… the ordinary never wants to come out of its comfort zone & the extraordinary has its way no matter who interferes. But the middle strata, always suffers and hides his/her wounds only because he/she is never happy with what is done but yet chooses to live with it.
Try to figure out where you fall. If it’s the middle layer, all you need is a bit of ‘self-confidence’ and an enormous amount of ‘sense of doing the right’ – A CLEAR CONSCIOUS.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Conscious versus Subconscious...
How would you react?
Its a hot day...standing at a bus terminal...where's my luck? God, please send a bus from somewhere...looking around, struggling to stiffle a yawn...not one that i recognize...hmmm...There goes my brain...'DO NOT STARE AT ANYONE FOR TOO LONG'a small smile creeps up my lips...Suddenly im looking at a vagrant...he's not begging, only just sitting around...Is there anything particularly wrong with him? 'CHECK IF HE'S TOTALLY UNABLE TO FEND FOR HIMSELF BEFORE YOU SYMPATHIZE'...i continue scrutinizing him...there's a rag on his lap...is he lame? His hands are both alright though...a torn cap on his head but a tuft of his hair is visible... its gray alright... must be around seventy...Hmmm...Would i be able to work with a perfect set of hands and legs at 70? But why would i have to? I'll have enough around me by then...he's stirring...The man removes the rags on his lap, spread them alongside him and tries to move the lower part of his body onto the rags with the help of his perfect but aged and shivering hands.He lies down on it.
I can see him clearly now, yes... he is unfortunate... lost both his legs.. what can i do? Hey wait a minute...Im not the only person standing here...let me see...there are...1...2...3..hmmmm 9 people including me ... & .. & .. i think i am the youngest...Now thats not my business to help him when so many here don't care...I look away...five more minutes inch by...The brain again...'HOW OLD ARE YOU'... 25...hmmm...and i use that as an arguementative point to hold myself away.. or should i say in to categorize myself from any responisbility towards that man...Should i have been 40, would i have then, managed to help? i look at the ground for a split second and then my gaze goes back there...This time i notice that the helpless thing is staring into my face...why is he smiling at me?...he's mocking me...does he know what im thinking? Ok, now i have a valid reason... he's evil.. sure he's upto something.. id better stay away... run guilt.. run away from me.... i don't want to put my life at any risk...I look away again.What's the time... quarter to 2... Oh God, its nearing an hour since i came here... Am hungry...What do i do?...had a heavy breakfast though...& that too about 3hrs back...& am already hungry??? Am i gluttonous? Im 55kgs with an average height of 5.4"... guess thats ok...Now why am i looking at him again?God help me...he looks hungry...exhausted too...maybe I'l drop a coin or two at him...But what if he drinks himself to glory?...where does my money go then?...how does that matter anyway...Its not like I'm giving him a blank cheque right?... & a slight self mocking smile i give myself... Hey does he think i smiled at him..Oh sorry mister...I didn't...don't get any wrong ideas!!!There's something at the back of my head...I can't remember...what is it?...Close your eyes.. come on ... get it... Ah yes... There's a number...Just a click away... I have a helpline number with me...Its related to Helpage-India... I remember the mail...'USE THIS NUMBER(1090-toll free 24 hour helpline), SAVE SOMEBODY FROM BEGGING ESPECIALLY IN VERY HELPLESS SITUATIONS'...Where is it? Got it from someone at... Helpage... 1...0...where's the God damned bus... 9.......0...... hmmm....why am i reading out the number... i don't need to dial it... Hey, there's a bus coming...God, let it be the one I'm waiting for...please...Should i call him? I have about one minute before the bus reaches here... He's looking at me imploringly... Should i just drop the coins for him? No... I'l use the number...It says calling...God its ringing... The bus... its mine...Hurry...run for it...Got it..."HELLO" says a voice on the other end...cut the call... switch your cell off for some time... GOD... Am I safe??? Good you sent the bus on time... thank you God!!!See i told you, everything happens for the good...Its God who did his will, not my fault...& i try to smile consoling myself....
All the while when i was at the debate with the conscious part of my brain, my subconscious mind was just trying hard to create some amount of sympathy towards that poor soul...It tried in vain to educate me that all i needed to do was make the effort to call for a little help but it failed. Any idea, why? Well, because most of us think that the subconscious mind is present only to be used involuntarily during a fight or flight situation. Subconscious mind power is labeled as part of the normal individual’s personality in which mental processes function without consciousness under normal waking conditions. All the logical thinking is done by our conscious parts. Of course, the guilt factor hits the subconscious & conscious alike but that can be dealt with... Thats the attitude...
But thats not the way... Try to listen to both your voices. Give the chance for your logical answers to be picked from analyses of both parts of your thinking. Maybe then, we would end up hitting the 'rights' rather than the 'wrongs' more often.
There's a number somewhere up there... Take it... It does not use up much of your phone memories.. It may be of use to someone ... somewhere...
Its a hot day...standing at a bus terminal...where's my luck? God, please send a bus from somewhere...looking around, struggling to stiffle a yawn...not one that i recognize...hmmm...There goes my brain...'DO NOT STARE AT ANYONE FOR TOO LONG'a small smile creeps up my lips...Suddenly im looking at a vagrant...he's not begging, only just sitting around...Is there anything particularly wrong with him? 'CHECK IF HE'S TOTALLY UNABLE TO FEND FOR HIMSELF BEFORE YOU SYMPATHIZE'...i continue scrutinizing him...there's a rag on his lap...is he lame? His hands are both alright though...a torn cap on his head but a tuft of his hair is visible... its gray alright... must be around seventy...Hmmm...Would i be able to work with a perfect set of hands and legs at 70? But why would i have to? I'll have enough around me by then...he's stirring...The man removes the rags on his lap, spread them alongside him and tries to move the lower part of his body onto the rags with the help of his perfect but aged and shivering hands.He lies down on it.
I can see him clearly now, yes... he is unfortunate... lost both his legs.. what can i do? Hey wait a minute...Im not the only person standing here...let me see...there are...1...2...3..hmmmm 9 people including me ... & .. & .. i think i am the youngest...Now thats not my business to help him when so many here don't care...I look away...five more minutes inch by...The brain again...'HOW OLD ARE YOU'... 25...hmmm...and i use that as an arguementative point to hold myself away.. or should i say in to categorize myself from any responisbility towards that man...Should i have been 40, would i have then, managed to help? i look at the ground for a split second and then my gaze goes back there...This time i notice that the helpless thing is staring into my face...why is he smiling at me?...he's mocking me...does he know what im thinking? Ok, now i have a valid reason... he's evil.. sure he's upto something.. id better stay away... run guilt.. run away from me.... i don't want to put my life at any risk...I look away again.What's the time... quarter to 2... Oh God, its nearing an hour since i came here... Am hungry...What do i do?...had a heavy breakfast though...& that too about 3hrs back...& am already hungry??? Am i gluttonous? Im 55kgs with an average height of 5.4"... guess thats ok...Now why am i looking at him again?God help me...he looks hungry...exhausted too...maybe I'l drop a coin or two at him...But what if he drinks himself to glory?...where does my money go then?...how does that matter anyway...Its not like I'm giving him a blank cheque right?... & a slight self mocking smile i give myself... Hey does he think i smiled at him..Oh sorry mister...I didn't...don't get any wrong ideas!!!There's something at the back of my head...I can't remember...what is it?...Close your eyes.. come on ... get it... Ah yes... There's a number...Just a click away... I have a helpline number with me...Its related to Helpage-India... I remember the mail...'USE THIS NUMBER(1090-toll free 24 hour helpline), SAVE SOMEBODY FROM BEGGING ESPECIALLY IN VERY HELPLESS SITUATIONS'...Where is it? Got it from someone at... Helpage... 1...0...where's the God damned bus... 9.......0...... hmmm....why am i reading out the number... i don't need to dial it... Hey, there's a bus coming...God, let it be the one I'm waiting for...please...Should i call him? I have about one minute before the bus reaches here... He's looking at me imploringly... Should i just drop the coins for him? No... I'l use the number...It says calling...God its ringing... The bus... its mine...Hurry...run for it...Got it..."HELLO" says a voice on the other end...cut the call... switch your cell off for some time... GOD... Am I safe??? Good you sent the bus on time... thank you God!!!See i told you, everything happens for the good...Its God who did his will, not my fault...& i try to smile consoling myself....
All the while when i was at the debate with the conscious part of my brain, my subconscious mind was just trying hard to create some amount of sympathy towards that poor soul...It tried in vain to educate me that all i needed to do was make the effort to call for a little help but it failed. Any idea, why? Well, because most of us think that the subconscious mind is present only to be used involuntarily during a fight or flight situation. Subconscious mind power is labeled as part of the normal individual’s personality in which mental processes function without consciousness under normal waking conditions. All the logical thinking is done by our conscious parts. Of course, the guilt factor hits the subconscious & conscious alike but that can be dealt with... Thats the attitude...
But thats not the way... Try to listen to both your voices. Give the chance for your logical answers to be picked from analyses of both parts of your thinking. Maybe then, we would end up hitting the 'rights' rather than the 'wrongs' more often.
There's a number somewhere up there... Take it... It does not use up much of your phone memories.. It may be of use to someone ... somewhere...
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