That thing called Life

Simple gyaan for a good life.

As I read this line, it seems very elementary and yet we strive to achieve this.

" Smile Often"

"Laugh a lot"

 

"Realise how blessed you are for what you have"

 

Share the smile

It's been a quick visit to Mysore this time. Been here a few months back- three months and few days since my wedding at Mysore.

What is special to me about this place is that I belong to Mysore more than any other place. 

The palace- majestic and lavish best explains it. 

The zoo- children's delight and a parents day out too. 

The parks - quiet walkways and some unspoiled by crowds 

The roads- well maintained 

The people - always amicable and warm 

Today I visited a few friends in Mysore. Its one of the places that we've been encouraged to visit often by my parents. 

Bapuji ashram is a institution in Mysore which provides a home to around 46 children. The surroundings are calm yet supportive for children to treasure their childhood memories in the future. 



The sights of little children playing bring a smile on anyone's face. At the same time, the sights of  elder kids  going about doing the evening chores after a day at school is heart warming. 

The kids here are educated in schools and colleges, find appropriate professions. It is heartening to see pictures of some of the kids grown up and then "settled" - their wedding pictures hang on the wall. 



It is an NGO which strives to fight against child immortality, injustice towards the girl child in their own way. 

 

When we celebrate our happiness with our near and dear ones, we rarely realize the value of life or count our blessings.  

I know there are many who indulge in bringing a smile on others by little acts of selflessness. For those who are waiting for an opportunity to do any random act of kindness, I encourage you to just look around. 

Help those who help. 

Goddess or target of torture

Goddess of wealth, goddess of knowledge , goddess for target of torture

This December has been noticeable in many ways. The strongest of them all : the battle fought by the brave heart , Nirbhaya within the confines of the intensive care unit which brought about the attack on the conscience of a nation.

Named Nirbhaya by some, known as a brave heart to all , the victim of the horrific crime in the national capital Delhi has been a reason for a beginning of a sea change in the peoples movement.

Do we need such a trigger and the unjustified loss of a life to raise this issue?

The hypocrisy we face as a society is staring back at us:  On the one hand we worship goddesses and on the other, the atrocities against women are ever rising.Do we not see the writing on the wall? Do we need fear of law to safeguard the modesty of women?

Do I need to make a news article about being hassled in the bus during the daily commute to office? Do I need to wait for times like this to stand up for my safety? Do I need to be told where to go and when to go in my own country ? Do I need to be proud of my democratic and free country- A society where I celebrate independence and yet I am not free?

While the victim of the recent heinous crime has lost her life, she has no doubt led a sea change that we want to see. While the news channels and media coverage keep it alive so far, there are reservations about how far this can go on to change the mindset and the laws.

Its about changing the laws to change the mindset. Do humans need laws to behave human?

Its written all over the scriptures in all our religions because of which we worship women as Goddesses of power, wealth and knowledge...Are these forms not seen in the human woman?

And, when someone has the sense and courage to stand up against such atrocities, like in the case of Keenan and Ruben last year, they have also not been spared.

If a "living thing" doesn't realise the worth of a human being, they do not deserve to be "living". The only laws possible for such people is that they take their unjustifiable actions to another world. They do not deserve to be living while making another life "unlivable"

While the political class spit out excuses about "changing laws for more stricter punishment", its possible to see how easily the same laws are bent and broken conveniently more often than not.

We as citizens elect the policy makers and lawmakers and later succumb to the laws and policies. Its now we the citizens trying to fight the law, trying to fight the law makers, trying to fight the political class. Why do we forget that politicians and lawmakers are citizens first? Why do the lawmakers and political class forget that they are citizens with more responsibilities? Why do the lawmakers and political class forget the responsibilities and misuse the power ?


No actions, words and laws can justify what has happened and what continues to happen. The only homage and tribute to Nirbhaya will be if  the objective of the protests is not forgotten. That the battle for the dignity of a woman is continued and brings about a change the society that we live in. Where the worship is not of idols but of a thought and ideology.


　

Athens on the Spree

Brandenburger Tor

Quick facts about this famous monument in Berlin to accompany the pictures:

The Brandenburg Gate (German: Brandenburger Tor) is a famous monument of peace.

Originally built in the 18th century, it is the only remaining city gate of a series through which Berlin was once entered.

The area around the gate featured most prominently in the media coverage of the opening of the Berlin wall in 1989.

Atop the gate is the Quadriga, a chariot drawn by four horses driven by Victoria, the Roman goddess of victory. In the original version, the horses were driven by the Goddess of peace.

 

The Gate's design is based on the Propylaea, the gateway to the Acropolis in Athens, Greece.

It was the first "Athens on the River Spree" by architect Carl Gotthard von Langhans.

 

Today, Brandenburger Tor is a celebration venue and a symbol of reunification. The German Unity Day celebrated on October 03 has street performances, stalls, music, food and games around the Gate.