Three Idiots - "The End" ke baad

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So what happens to the Ranchoddas Shyamaldas Chanchad aka Chhote aka Phunsukh Wangdu (Aamir). His Girlfriend Pia Sahasrabuddhe (Kareena), his best friends Farhan Qureshi (Madhavan) and Raju Rastogi (Sharman Joshi)

Lets give a twist to the story of the Three Idiots, after "The End"

 

Story in part 2 continues with Farhan (Madhavan) as the narrator. He is still in Ladhakh -where we left him at “The End”.

Farhan starts with a statement, after looking for Rancho for 10 years he has again lost him – for rest of his life – which may last next 48 hours. His hands and feet are tied and he is lying in a room with a very small window for ventilation, the room is located on a isolated hill.

After giving this shocker, Farhan goes into flash back.

Raju (Sharman Joshi) had woken up Farhan last night, and told Farhan he is going into Rancho’s lab. While leaving Raju had asked Farhan to keep a vigil, and given him a number to dial incase he does not return and also told him never to tell this to Rancho incase he does not return. A few minutes later a puzzled and shaken Farhan (Madhvan) sees Raju being murdered by Rancho, while Raju is coming out of the lab.  Rancho notices a light in Farhan’s room going off. Rancho comes to meet Farhan at dead of night, giving no indication that he has just now killed one of their old best friend Raju. Rancho talks in a very normal tone asif nothing has happened, and suddenly catches Farhan unaware, to tie him down. Farhan asks why, Why? Rancho replies, I know what you have seen, I can't help - you are a collateral damage. Farhan initially feigns ignorance on what he had seen, and later comes clean on knowledge of Raju being murdered. He asks Rancho to explain this murder. Rancho explains to Farhan that Raju was a RAW agent, who was here to spy on Rancho’s activities and destroy Rancho’s mission and years of effort.

Farhan asks and what was your mission, Rancho ?

Rancho begins with questioning Farhan’s credulousness – he asks do you believe he ie Rancho was a fresher, when he joined the college with Farhan? Rancho explains that, even then he was a trained commando from Pakistan who was on an ISI mission in India. Rancho explains peeing on electric wire was the way he used to torture captured Indian spies, and that is why it took him no time to set it up during Ragging. He explains the name Ranchoddas and relation with Shyamaldas Chanchad. Shyamaldas Chanchad was an ISI agent with lots of land bordering Pakistan and business interest in import and supply of heroin. Even his son is an agent of theirs, and the story that he gave to Farhan about Chote was a cover to hide him. The reason for him to come to engineering college was the fact that Dr. Viru Sahasrabuddhe (Boman Irani) aka Virus was working on a mission critical defense project from Government of India.  Rancho's mission was to copy the progress of this project, collect additional defence information like Indian army's deployment etc. And it was for this mission that Rancho used to regularly enter the room of Principal, and that is how he knew how to steal the exam papers. Even the  aircraft with cameras was assembeled to help him in keeping a vigil over intelligence file movements.

Rancho further explains that Government of India had got a whiff of the leakage through thier spies in Pakistan. RAW had approached Raju to join to become a counter intelligence spy on campus. Raju's first task was to report on activities of  Virus / Rancho. Rancho tells that the moment he figured it out, he left decided to do his nal act and leave the campus forever. By that time he had gained the trust of professor Virus, and that gave him access to the second copy of all the papers lying at his home. As a part of the project, Virus had only one copy of the key Indian force deployments which he kept at a safe at home. Rancho, used to visit Virus’s home on pretext of proposing to Pia etc. Helping Pia’s sister in delivery gave him unrestricted access to Virus’s home. Rancho made a copy of the same and destroyed the originals. This lead Government of India, to lose trust on Virus – and question his proximity to Rancho, and ultimately cancelling the overall project.

Rancho further mocks Farhan – does he look like a native of Laddakh? How could Farhan believe that Rancho can be a Phunsukh Wangdu? Laddakh is his base as it gives him proximity to the POK, easy access via China and infromation from India.
He further explains in the lab, he has a real scientist who had similar profile as Virus, and now is in his captivity. Raju had gone their and collected evidence of his existence and hence Raju had to be killed. The business deals that he is pursuing with Chatur Ramalingam aka Silencer (Omi) are their way of moving international currencies for their cause. Rancho mocks Chatur, who does not know why his company wants to sign a contract with Phunsukh Wangdu so desperately.

He thanks Farhan for bringing Pia to him. Farhan looks amused, and asks do you think she will not find out your truth one day? Rancho explains love was never his motive, mission was. If Love was on his mind he could have reached out to Pia any time, but since RAW had got alerted it was very risky for him to abduct Virus and Pia. Now using Pia as a captive, he can make Prof Virus come here and complete the research for him.

He leaves Farhan in a closed room with both hand and feet tied, saying he will comeback, in a few years. Flash backover for Farhan.

"The End"

After "The End".

 

After watching a movie, have you ever wondered what could have happened if the story had continued after "The End" ?

कई बार The End देखने के बाद हमने भी ये सोचा, गर इसके बाद कुछ होता...., तो वो कुछ - क्या होता ?

 

सोचने के बाद ये भी सोचा, कि क्यों ना ऐक ब्लॉग ही बना डाले और अपनी इस सोच को आप तक पहुंचाये।
Afterall सोचने के, और इंटरनेट पर पोस्ट करने के, पैसे तो लग नहीं रहे है।

So here is the Blog - "The End" ke baad, literally meaning After The End.
Some of the blog posts here will be in Hinglish, some English.
Avoiding hindi as transliteration is not as easy as typing in English.

कुछ movies का sequel हम लिख देंगे, कुछ का आप लिख देना।
Yes, Reader generated content is encouraged on this blog. So Through comments, post your story of sequel that was never made - just a few lines or a complete script, whatever suits you. 

 

लिख तो ऐसे रहा हू, ज़ैसे कि हमारी ये पोस्ट दुनिया पढ रही हो - और याद आ रहा है
"हम को मालूम है जन्नत की हकीकत लेकिन
हम को मालूम है जन्नत की हकीकत लेकिन
गालिब दिल को खुश रखने को ख्याल अच्छा है।"

सो इस अच्छे ख्याल, यानी कि मेरे अलावा इस ब्लोग को कोई पढने वाला है, इस खुशफहमी के साथ, "The End के बाद" का शुभारम्भ करते है।

 

Love for stray dogs and Rabies

Few days back while waiting for coconut water to be served at a local streetside vendor, we came across a strange sight.

A young lady in her mid twneties,fairly modern in her outlook was feeding stray dogs. She was serving them fresh packets of milk and fresh bread. She was not just feeding the dogs, but playing with them as if they were not street dogs but her pets. The way she was hugging and kissing these dogs was amazing, dogs were very friendly with her almost standing on two hind legs to reach her shoulder.

Typically we had seen last evenings left over being thrown to the stray dogs, but clearly as every dog has its day, and these dogs were having a great day. The coconut seller told us that its not only this lady but a lot of thers who come to this park every morning / some weekly basis to feed the stray dogs. And that these dogs are overfed, and choosy, and fresh bread too will not be finished.

Contrast this with the scene a few hundred meter away- at cross roads, there were a number of 8-10 year olds begging for food.

Maybe this lady was trying to see a long lost pet in those stray dogs and was being too affectionate, but offlate I have seen way too many people feeding dogs, -looks like this trend has caught up big time in Delhi.

Is it because of recent fad among astrologers to say that feeding animals (esp dogs) can change your luck ?
Or because the new age animal rights activists who have more money and resources to spare on the dogs & it is more "in thing". #PETA is trending :-)

 Why should you give two hoots about stray dogs ? well because
 - India has highest number of stray dogs (tens of millions).
- Stray dogs bite millions of people annually in India.
- 20000 people die every year in India from Rabies.(=100 planes carrying 200 passengers each)
- Over 1/3rd of worldwide deaths due to rabies are in India.
- Beyond a certain point Rabies is 100% fatal. There is NO CURE.

The last point is something that most of do not realise.

Btw Rabies infection can occur not only from Dogs, but a wide variety of other mammals- from Cats to Bats. Also these animals can infect you usually 4 to 5 days before they themselves develop symptoms. So becareful when you handle these stray dogs or a pet which has not been innoculated against Rabies.

In India it is illegal to kill homeless animals (Law passed sometime in 90s) , but the law does not prevent us from getting Dogs innoculated against Rabies.

Is nationality the new caste ?

India had a caste system which was looked down upon. Over a period of time concious efforts from a democratically elected goverment, has somewhat blurred the caste lines.

But what has happened to the global caste system? Yes global caste system aka Nationality, has become very strict over a period of time. Nationality is the new caste system - on a global scale.

I know, first thing in your mind is, nationality is not similar to caste concept.
So lets look at, what was caste system anyways, and then try to compare it with Nationality.

• Caste system, to use the classsical definition available on wiki, is "Strict segmentation of society, with the various groups being rigidly defined and membership of them determined by birth." sounds very similar to Nationality. 
• One of the key characteristics of the caste system was "Physical segregation in villages, accompanied by limitations on movement and access, including to religious and educational areas and to basic facilities such as supplies of water." Sounds every bit true for the nationality. 

Nationality is Physical segregation based on birth.

In modern India, as in most of the progressive nations of the world, you are born free. You have freedom of choice. Irrespective of the caste, you are free to choose jobs, educational institutes, area you want to live in, natural wonders you want to visit, religious places you want to go to.

You have every choice in your life - within the physically segregated area called your nation. 

Very similar to the big village of the particular caste, just that the village is big.
The cage is bigger, does not mean you are free.

Even value of human life depends on which nationality you belong to, very similar to caste system. Subconsciously the entire society has accepted it. Life of a US citizen vs a Bangladeshi Citizen - do you see them as same? Check the coverage given by any newspaper for a news related to kidnap/ killing  of these two nationalities and you will realize.

You have freedom within your Samaaj or sub society to marry and had to change the caste of the spouse, if marrying outside the caste - for which you had a big clearance process. Same true for marriage between people from different nationalities.

So you say changing your nationality is possible and changing the caste was not? Think again. religious cleaning process, marriages into higher cast, people faking their castes, did allow people change their castes, though not from lowest to the highest. People in the higher sub caste had this choice.Sounds very similar to process for changing nationality, and granting the new nationality is still very similar to a religious caste change ceremony. Application for immigration from one developed country to another is easier rather than from third world. 

 

Nationality has every bit of the character that the caste system had. Are we mature enough to realize this and grow up from Nationality?

 

Why do we need nationality ?

Life of Pi

Life of Pi.
Dark and opaque subplot.
I am sure, many would prefer not to acknowledge the true story, even if they logically understand that it is the only story plausible.

 So what was the story, as in real chain of events?

Ofcourse the one Pi tells in the end in very few words, as the alternate explanation given by him to the Japanese insurance guys.
Clearly all what Pi narrates about the tiger, hyena and zebra was a lie - euphemisms to the true story.

The true story is that the cook killed the Japanese sailor and Pi's mother. Pi killed the sailor. Pi ate a rat and human flesh, and survived for 227 days in the ocean.
For surviving 227 days, there was no way Pi could have been choosy about what he wants to eat. He had no option but to opt for the custom of the sea - ie survival cannibalism. Pi was to ashamed to openly admit but this was the only way.
Btw Richard Parker was also the name of the sailor in the  1838 novel of Edgar Allan Poe, where Richard Parker suggests to his fellow sailors to use one of them as food for others to survive. They draw lots and Parker gets canibalized in that novel. Btw a real life Richard Parker got cannibalized in 1884, and the name has come to remain closely associated with cannibalism. 

Coming back to Life of Pi, Pi turned cannibal, in the story it was his alter ego ie Richard Parker that killed and ate humans. 
When Pi was on brink of starving to death, he comes across a floating island, that provides him everything that he needs to survive. The island is of the shape of a human. It was a euphemism for a floating corpse. Pi discovers that the corpse that he is eating is that of a cannibal.(he discovers a tooth inside that island ie body)and fears other cannibals near by. He leaves the body once he understands that the water in that island has turned acidic ie the body is decaying. He ties his holy thread as a mark of his respect/ last rites that he can do on the ocean for a body.

 In the hospital, after breaking down over grilling by the Japanese insurance guys who do not believe the tiger story, Pi breaks down and tells Japanese insurance guys- what do you want to hear - you already know it. (Appealing to their logical reasoning) and tells them the truth. Japanese guys find it too dark to report, they would rather report a cock and bull illogical story, rather than a uncomfortable truth.

 "'So tell me, since it makes no factual difference to you and you can't prove the question either way, which story do you prefer? Which is the better story, the story with animals or the story without animals?' Mr. Okamoto: 'That's an interesting question?' Mr. Chiba: 'The story with animals.' Mr. Okamoto: 'Yes. The story with animals is the better story.' Pi Patel: 'Thank you. And so it goes with God.'"
Both the investigators agree that the story with animals is better one. In short they have started believing in miracles. 
The question is essentially do you want to believe an uncomfortable truth Or A soothing lie. A story which narrates a miracle ie an act of God is a soothing lie.
In any case Miracles are a way of putting a garb of respectability on uncomfortable truths. (Virgin mother-?? Must be a miracle... Sita swallowed by earth... Hello...)
 so it goes with God.

माया माया रे, ठगनी माया रे

Listening to Maya - a collaboration between Indian Ocean and Mohit Chauhan. Song is good, but somehow Mohit Chauhan was missing - I mean, it was more of a guest appearance for Mohit and did not appear to be a collaboration at any stage.

btw माया क्या है

अच्छा सवाल है
एक कहानी सुनाता हूँ, बचपन मे पढ़ी थी, याद नहीं कहाँ .
इस कहानी को कई तरह से सुनाया गया है, कभी कृष्ण सुदामा तो कभी विष्णु नारद और कभी कृष्ण और नारद के बीच हुई बातो के तौर पर.
कही सुदामा पानी लाने की जगह एक लड़की के प्रेम में फँस जाते है तो कही वो खुद एक लड़की के रूप में जन्म लेते है ..

जो हमें ज्यादा बढ़िया लगी, वो कहानी हम आप तक पहुचाते है - अपने अंदाज़ मे, यानी थोड़े फेर बदल के साथ

सुदामा जी को कृष्ण से कहते है , प्रभु हमें भी समझाओ तो सही की ये माया है क्या आखिर.
उनकी जिद के आगे कृष्ण भी झुक जाते है और कहते है माया को समझा नहीं जाता अनुभव किया जाता है. खैर कोई बात नहीं एक बार नदी मे एक डुबकी लगा के तो आओ, फिर तुम्हे बताता हूँ की माया क्या है.
सुदामा जी जैसे ही डुबकी लगाने लगते है, उनका पैर फिसल जाता है. नदी मे एक घड़ियाल होता है जो उनका पैर खीच के उन्हें गहरे पानी मे खींच लेता है और सुदामा कृष्ण को आवाज़ भी नहीं दे पाते, और मृत्यु को प्राप्त होते है.
सुदामा कुछ सोचते उस से पहले ही उन्हें दिखता है की उनकी आत्मा पुनरजन्म के लिए नगर सेठ के घर की और चल पड़ी है. सुदामा जी का जन्म नगर सेठ के घर मे होता है, मगर जब तक वो कुछ बोलना सीख पाते, वो कृष्ण और अपने पिछले जन्म को ही भूल जाते है और नये जीवन मे रम जाते है. जैसे जैसे समय बीतता जाता है , सुदामा युवा होते है, नगर सेठ बनते है और एक सुन्दर सी कन्या से उनका विवाह होता है. जीवन अच्छे से व्यतीत होने लगता है. पुत्र पुत्रियों के अलावा पोत्र पोत्री, प्रपोत्र, प्रपोत्री भी बड़े होने लगते है, और एक दिन उनका यानि नगर सेठ के शरीर का अंतिम दिन भी आ जाता है. मृत्यु के बाद सुदामा को अपना शरीर जलने के लिए ले के जाता दिखता है और वो अपने शोक कुल परिवार से अलग होने के बारे मे सोच कर बहुत ज्यादा दुखी होते है, जैसे ही राम नाम सत्य है का कोलाहल उन्हें दूर से सुनाई देता है, अचानक उनका शरीर ऊपर उठने लगता है. सुदामा यानि नगरसेठ अपने परिवार को जोर से आवाज़ देंना चाहते है, मगर अचानक देखते है की वो तो नदी मे है और कृष्ण उनके बगल मे खड़े मंद मंद मुस्कुरा रहे है, तभी उन्हें सामने से आता हुआ अपना यानि नगर सेठ का परिवार दिखता है. वो सब नगर सेठ के शरीर को जलाने नदी किनारे आये होते है, सुदामा उन्हें आवाज़ देना चाहते है मगर उनका गला रुंध सा जाता है. उन्हें समझ मे आ गया होता है, की एक पल मे, एक डुबकी लगाने जितने समय में वो एक पूरा जीवन जी चुके होते है.

यही माया है.



.

न अपनी खुशी आये, न अपनी ख़ुशी चले

Listening to an old ghazal of Jauk (contemporary fo Ghalib), sung by K L Sehgal.

लाई हयात आये, कजा ले चली चले
न अपनी खुशी से आये, न अपनी ख़ुशी चले

बेहतर तो है यही के न दुनिया से दिल लगे
पर क्या करे जो काम न बेदिल्लगी चले

दुनिया ने किस का राह-ए-फ़ना में दिया है साथ
तुम भी चले चलो य़ू ही, जब तक चली चले


हयात - Nature, existence
कजा - Death

चिंता ता की कीजीऐ, जो अनहोनी होए

रामु गइओ रावनु गइओ जा कउ बहु परवारु
कहु नानक थिरु कछु नही सुपने जिउ संसारु

चिंता ता की कीजीऐ, जो अनहोनी होए ॥
इहु मारगु संसार को नानक थिरु नही कोइ

- गुरु तेग बहादुर

अर्थात
राम भी नहीं रह सके, रावन को भी जाना पड़ा - चाहे जितना बड़ा परिवार था - कोई नहीं रोक सका - जो होना था वो हुआ. कुछ भी हमेशा के लिए नहीं है, ये संसार एक सपने जैसा है.

चिंता ता की कीजीऐ जो अनहोनी होइ, अर्थात
चिंता तो उस बात की करो जो की न होनी हो -
This is deep, I like it - He is not asking us to start worrying for things that are not supposed to happen, but asking us to realise that there is nothing like अनहोनी - or "not supposed to happen".
No event can have a tag that "it was not supposed to happen".

Whatever will happen, was actually supposed to happen, and hence not unhonee.
इहु मारगु संसार को नानक थिरु नही कोइ - on this road called world, Nothing is permanent. It will change.

सो इस संसार की हर बात बदलने वाली है, कुछ भी ऐसा नहीं है जिसे देख कर आप कह सके की यह तो अनहोनी थी. जो भी होगा वो तो होना ही था. और जिस बात के बारे मे आपको पता ही है की ये तो होनी है, उसकी चिंता कैसी.

Somewhere it resonates with the Geeta Saar.

or if you relate more with the man who knew too much -
Que Sera, Sera,
Whatever will be, will be.

Cognitive dissonance & BLIND support for Anna

Would Lokpal change everything in your day-to-day life? Any rational thinking person would know the answer, still why there is the kind of BLIND support for the movement
I think the reason is that we want to minimize the cognitive dissonance.

We all have been guilty of promoting corruption in some form of other, but our ego defense mechanism says that no you were a victim, you have always wanted this corruption to end. By supporting Anna you are externalizing this problem of corruption, a malaise that is not being promoted by you but you are a victim.
Think again, how many times you had the choice and still chose to bribe to take a shortcut (remember the last time traffic police caught you when you were on phone; or the time when you had got on to the train on a RAC ticket ; or the time when you took your kid to for admission or ….) You never demanded bribe, but you yielded to take an easy route and promoted corruption. Now the moral values book that you teach your kids, the stand in debates that you take, does not go well with what your actions. This has been troubling you at the back of your mind, and the moment someone (Anna) brings up the issue, you feel caught red handed. Ego self defense mechanism kicks in and says, you are with Anna, you have been a victim who has yielded to corruption because of the corrupt system, now with Lokpal it will all end, afterall it’s the panacea to all kind of corruption.

Gandhi said, Be the change you want to see in the world.
Make a choice not to support/promote corruption in day to day life.

I think once you get rid of your guilty conscience (by self awareness) , you will not be blindly supporting the Lokpal, you will try and analyze have realistic fact based discussion on pros and cons of Lokpal, how to increase its efficacy, rather than blindly support it. You will also be able to make your ego collect the courage to exercise the choice of not promoting corruption.

ग़ालिब

मुझ से मत कह तू हमें कहता था अपनी जिंदगी
जिंदगी से भी मेरा ज़ी इन दिनों बेज़ार सा है !

उम्र भर देखा किये मरने कि राह,
मर गए पर देखिये दिखलाये क्या ?

पूछते है वो कि 'ग़ालिब' कौन है ?
कोई बतलाओ कि हम बतलाये क्या ?
- ग़ालिब

Behavioural changes and War

Just reading Locust and grasshopper are same species, its just that grasshopper change shape & form and behaviourally on crowding.
Hmm.. So the enviornment and esp crowding has a lot to do with the behaviour - atleast for locusts.

There are behavioural switches in humans as well, maternal behaviour or PMSing behaviour change is something genetically hardwired in human females (this one deserves a separate blog post for sure). The secration of harmonses changes the person so much, tat it is diffcult to believe that you are dealing with the same individual. There are other non violent behaviour changes driven by environment - I am given to understand that we are even genetically hardwired to reciprocate after being given something.

Speaking of hardwiring of human brain, we are hardwired to survive - at all costs. Even if it means killing others. We kill others to ensure our survival with a utter disregard for their right to survive - (eggs or chicken on day to day and other humans during war times). This is not unique to humans, all animals have this trait, which is is a manifestation of life's most basic instinct of Survival.
This fight for survival is at the base of every fight for territory among animals, or wars that humans fight. War waged by western world for democracy in Libiya or Iraq or against AlQuaida is not all about eagletarian objective - deep down it is a fight for resources , fight for ensuring survival.

So this brings me to the question - are some cultures more violent than others - is it possible that they are more violent because of the kind of genepool that they inherited ?Specifically does this mean Islam is more violent due to what they inherited in gene pool. I dont think so.Evolution is a very very slow process. Islam or any religion for that matter has not been around for enough time to have impacted the genepool.
But then why ar so many muslims all over world sounding like fanatics - not only in Afganistan or kashmir,but even in UK or Delhi for that matter? Even more surprising is the fact that the same person who was a liberal is changing .. becoming somewhat more hardened.

Does it have something to do with crowding - or behaviour of mobs.
War too is a behavioural switch - we (or for that matter any other animal) are not fighting at all times. They are fighting in regions where they are threatened for their survival. Afterall we are genetically programmed /hardwired to fight when we are threatened for survivial. The problem is accentuated all over the world because western world tries to put all muslims in one basket. When fighting against AlQaida in Afghanistan, it should be projected as a fight against the terrorist in a particular region, rather than be projected as a fight against the muslim world.
So any religion / any genepool would behave in the same fashion the way current muslim world does, if they are put in the same situation.

Any thing that really sets "them" apart.. anything that makes western world feel threatened from muslims? yes the fact that their numbers have swelled suddenly, that means your genepool would have lower probability of survival over next few thousand years. You may not take a concious call on it, but you are hardwired for it.

So why was there a sudden increase in population?
One of the precipitating factor that I see, is the fact that muslim world was relatively backword/mired in poverty till recent times. and that meant you have to have more kids for a fair chance of having a offspring surviving to give birth to next generation ( or preserve your gene pool). Sudden discovery of oil meant prosperity coming to the middle east, predominantly to muslims in that region. This meant access to medical facilities, better nutrition and better chances of survival. Since muslims were being clubbed in basket, it meant the middle east muslims start supporting other muslims countries (this would increase thier chance of being able to fight back and survive - incase there is a fight for survival).

There have been wars whenever there has been overcrowding, and a fight for resources. The muslims too fight among themselves, shia vs sunni. For that matter I am told among Hindus as well Shaiv vs Vaishnav riots were common in ancient times. Christians to have had spilled the blood of their fellow christians- religion has got not much to do with our cruel ways.
Infact discovery of America / Australia have taken away the overcrowding from the Europe in a big way.

The behaviour of a mob is very different from the behaviour of individuals. During peace times we all trust each other, during a riot - and esp if there is a possibility of you being impacted, your response would change dramatically.

Just wondering what does this mean for
- India, whose population density is among the highest in the world / and overcrowding is making the resources scarce.
- USA/ developed world - whose territory is being claimed by others.

Gazetteer of Ulwur

http://www.archive.org/stream/gazetteerofulwur00powliala#page/n5/mode/2up
Now this is a wonderful piece of History, written at a time when Alwar was still referred to as Ulwar.

(btw Alwar was formerly known as "Ulwar". This placed it in last position in alphabetically ordered lists, so a king renamed it to "Alwar" to bring it to the top.)

This book happens to have information which I would not ave found on Wikipedia or any other place otherwise.

The future is yours, it belongs to you,

This beautiful verse was on the best of luck card sent to me in 1998 by my Elder brother.

The future is yours, it belongs to you,
And with faith in God
and in yourself, too,
No hill is too high,
no mountain too tall,
For with faith in the Lord,
you can conquer them all...
And all that you wish for
that is honest and true
The Lord will certainly give to you,
Not always the way you most desire
But always He gives
what you most require.

These words inspire a lot of confidence - "Future is yours, it belongs to you".. kind of makes you feel that whatever you are attempting for your future is already yours, all what you have to do is, just claim it.

I also love the way it makes you prepared to accept the results - even if they are not what you had attempted.
"Not always the way you most desire
But always He gives
what you most require."

Accept what has been the result - don't get disheartened - this may not be what you desired but, it is what you actually required - (As judged by God - so don't question that).

विस्तृत नभ का कोई कोना, मेरा न कभी अपना होना, परिचय इतना इतिहास यही, उमड़ी कल थी मिट आज चली

मैं नीर भरी दुख की बदली!


स्पंदन में चिर निस्पंद बसा,
क्रंदन में आहत विश्व हँसा,
नयनों में दीपक से जलते,
पलकों में निर्झणी मचली!

मेरा पग पग संगीत भरा,
श्वासों में स्वप्न पराग झरा,
नभ के नव रंग बुनते दुकूल,
छाया में मलय बयार पली!

मैं क्षितिज भृकुटि पर घिर धूमिल,
चिंता का भार बनी अविरल,
रज-कण पर जल-कण हो बरसी,
नव जीवन-अंकुर बन निकली!

पथ न मलिन करता आना,
पद चिह्न न दे जाता जाना,
सुधि मेरे आगम की जग में,
सुख की सिहरन हो अंत खिली!

विस्तृत नभ का कोई कोना,
मेरा न कभी अपना होना,
परिचय इतना इतिहास यही,
उमड़ी कल थी मिट आज चली
- Mahadevi Verma.

I am very impressed by the last two stanzas.
I identify myself with these two stanzas - as a cloud which is here for the timebeing, though not as a "dukh ki badli".

Racism

Why do we expect foreigners (read whites) to be better than ourselves.
A racist attack in australia is seen as a totally unacceptable, but the similar attack in Ludhiana against Biharis or against people from UP in Maharashtra does not draw as much attention in India.
We can be racist , but they - they can't be. Why not?

Mirza Ghalib

हज़ारो ख्वाहिशे ऐसी, कि हर ख्वाहिश पर दम निकले,
बहुत निकले मेरे अरमान, लेकिन फिर भी कम निकले

हम वहाँ हैं जहाँ से हमको भी,
कुछ हमारी खबर नहीं आती

आगे आती थी हाले दिल पे हँसी,
अब किसी बात पे नहीं आती

न सुनो गर बुरा कहे कोई,
न कहो गर बुरा करे कोई,
रोक लो गर गलत चले कोई,
बख़्श दो गर खता करे कोई

रगो में दौड़ते रहने के हम नहीं क़ायल,
जब आँख से ही न टपका तो लहू क्या है

हर इक बात पे कहते हो तुम, कि तू क्या है,
तुम्ही कहो कि यह अन्दाज़े गुफ्तगू क्या है

जला है जिस्म जहाँ, दिल भी जल गया होगा
कुरेदते हो राख़, जुस्तजू क्या है

पुर हूँ मैं शिकवे से यूँ, राग से जैसे बाज़ा,
इक ज़रा छेड़िये, फिर देखिये क्या है होता

इस सादगी पर कौन न मर जाये, अय खुदा,
लड़ते हैं और हाँथ में तलवार भी नहीं

जब तवक्को ही उठ गयी गालिब,
क्यों किसी का गिला करे कोई
तवक्को = आस, उम्मीद

निकलना खुल्द से आदम का सुनते आये थे लेकिन,
बड़े बेआबरू हो, तेरे कूचे से हम निकले
खुल्द = स्वर्ग

चाहिये अच्छो को जितना चाहिये,
अगर ये चाहें तो फिर क्या चाहिये
like the fair ones, as much as you like, and if they like you, then what do you want

बक रहा हूँ ज़ूनूँ में, जाने क्या क्या कुछ,
कुछ ना समझे, ख़ुदा करे कोई

कब सुनता है वो कहानी मेरी,
और फिर वह भी ज़ुबानी मेरी

हमको मालूम है ज़न्नत की हकीकत लेकिन,
दिल को खुश रखने को गालिब ख़्याल अच्छा है

कसम जनाजे पे आने की मेरे खाते हैं गालिब,
हमेशा खाते थे जो, मेरी ज़ान की कसम आगे

रात दिन गर्दिश में हैं सातों आस्माँ
होकर रहेगा कुछ न कुछ, घबराये क्या

की वफ़ा हमसे तो गैर उसको जफ़ा कहते हैं,
होती आयी है कि अच्छो को बुरा कहते हैं

मेरी किस्मत में गम गर इतना था
दिल भी या रब, कई दिये होते

इश्क ने गालिब निक्कमा कर दिया,
वर्ना हम भी आदमी थे काम के

केहर हो या बला हो, जो कुछ हो
काश़ के तुम मेरे लिये होते

गालिब बुरा न मान, जो वाअिज़ बुरा कहें
ऐसा भी कोई है कि सब अच्छा कहें जिसे
वाअिज़ = धर्मोपदेशक

रोने से और इश्क में बेब़ाक हो गये,
धोये गये ऐसे कि बस पाक हो गये

गैर से, देखिये क्या खूब निभाई उसने
न सही हमसे, पर उस बुत में वफ़ा है तो सही

चन्द तस्वीर‍ ऐ‍‌ बुताँ, चन्द हसीनो के खतूत,
बाद मरने के मेरे घर से ये सामाँ निकला

बोझ़ वो सर से गिरा है कि उठाये न उठे,
काम वह आन पड़ा है कि बनाये न बने


दोस्त गमख्वारी में मेरी, सअि फरमायेंगे क्या,
ज़ख्म के भरने तलक, नाखून ना बढ़ आयेंगे क्या

हैं और भी दुनिया में सुखनवर बहुत अच्छे,
कहते हैं कि गालिब का है अंदाज़े बयाँ और

पूछते हैं वह, कि गालिब कौन है,
कोई बतलाओ, कि हम बतलायें क्या

कर्ज़ की पीते थे मै, लेकिन समझते थे, कि हाँ,
रँग लायेगी हमारी फ़ाक़ः मस्ती, ऐक दिन

मुझसे मत कह, तू हमें कहता था अपनी ज़िन्दगी,
ज़िन्दगी से भी मेरा ज़ी इन दिनो बेज़ार है

फिर उसी बेवफ़ा पर मरते हैं,
फिर वही ज़िन्दगी हमारी है

मुहब्बत में नहीं है फर्क, ज़ीने और मरने का,
उसी को देख कर जीते हैं, जिस काफिर पर दम निकले

उनके देखे से आ जाती है मुहँ पर रौनक,
वो समझते हैं कि बीमार का हाल अच्छा है

न था कुछ तो खुदा था, कुछ न होता, तो खुदा़ होता,
डुबोया मुझको मेरे होने ने, न होता मैं तो क्या होता

हुई मुद्दत, कि गालिब मर गया, पर याद आता है
वह हर इक बात पर कहना, कि यों होता तो क्या होता

कहूँ जो हाल तो कहते हो कि मुद्दा कहिये,
तुम्ही कहो, जो तुम यूँ कहो तो क्या कहिये

रहिये अब ऐसी जगह, चल कर जहाँ कोइ न हो,
हमसुख़न कोई न हो, हमज़ुबां कोई न हो

Kahe Kabir suno bhai sadho

साँई इतना दीजिये, जाँ मे कुटुम्ब समाये
मैं भी भूखा ना रहूँ, साधू न भूखा जाये

धीरे धीरे रे मना, धीरे से सब होए
माली सीँचे सौ घड़ा, ऋत आये फल होए

काल करे सो आज कर , आज करे सो अब
पल में परले होएगी, बहूरि करोगे कब

ऐसी वाणी बोलिये, मन का आपा खोए
अपना तन शीतल करे , औरन को सुख देय

माला तो कर में फिरे, जीभ फिरे मुँख माँहि
मनुआ तो चहुँ दिस फिरे, ये तो सिमरन नाँहि

बड़ा हुआ तो क्या हुआ , जैसे पेड़ खज़ूर
पंछी को छाया नही, फल लागे अति दूर

जब मैं था तब हरि नहीं, जब हरि हैं मैं नाहि
सब अँधियारा मिटि गया, जब दीपक देख्या माँहि

माला फेरत जुग भया, गया ना मन का फेर
कर का मनका डार देय, मन का मनका फेर

कबीरा खड़ा बज़ार में, माँगे सबकी खैर
ना काहू से दोस्ती, न काहू से बैर

What is real

"What is 'real'? How do you define 'real'? If you're talking about what you can feel, what you can smell, what you can taste and see, then "real" is nothing more than electrical signals interpreted by your brain."
Morpheus, 'The Matrix'

Burn your bridges or play it safe ?

What is the benefit of burning your bridges?
Which decisions call for taking a "burn your bridges" call to be taken ?
Should I burn my bridges or create multiple bridges.

Benefit - The decision gets firmed up, you have no way of backtracking - only way to go is forward.

Which decisions call for Burning your bridges?
I guess situation where
1. The stakes are very high. It is very very important for you - though it may not be so for all stakeholders. You got nothing to loose - atleast compared to what you stand to gain, but other stakeholders may have a lot to loose (or they don't value the rewards as much).
2. The chances of you being successful are low. You are attempting something which is very diffcult, a few setbacks will make you/other stakeholders want to abondon the decision.

Once you have identified that the decison will impact your life/ purpose and by delaying it you are loosing the opportunity, You should you burn your bridges, ie close all your options for return to base. However if you have a lot to loose vi a viz what you stand to gain - you will not be able to burn your bridges.

Very important : Know your purpose. Know the Value of you stand to loose, and what you stand to gain.

If you have a lot to loose - as compared to what you stand to gain (value terms, not monetory terms only), you are better off to take the decision of creating multiple bridges.

जाग तुझको दूर जाना

Yet another one noted in my diary about a decade back.. dont know the name of the Poet.

चिर सजग आँखे उनींदी, आज कैसा व्यस्त बाना ।
जाग तुझको दूर जाना ॥

अचल हिमगिरी के ह्रदय में, आज चाहे कम्प हो ले,
या प्रलय के आंसुओ में, मौन अलसित व्योम रो ले ।
आज पी आलोक को डोले तिमिर की घोर छाया,
जाग कर विद्युत शिखाओं में निठुर तूफान बोले ।
पर तुझे है नाश पथ पर चिन्ह अपने छोड़ जाना
जाग तुझ को दूर जाना ॥

बाँध लेंगे क्या तुझे ये मोम के बँधन सजीले ?
पथ की बाधा बनेंगे तितलियों के पर रंगीले ?
विश्व का क्रंदन भुला देगी मधुप की मधुर गुनगुन ?
क्या डुबो देंगे तुझे ये फूल के दल ओस गीले ?
तू न अपनी छाँह को अपने लिये कारा बनाना ।
जाग तुझ को दूर जाना ॥

वज्र का उर एक छोटे अश्रु कण में धो गलाया,
दे किसे अमृत सुधा दो घूँट मदिरा माँग लाया ।
सो गयी आँधी मलय की बात का उपधान ले क्या ?
विश्व का अभिशाप क्या चिर नीँद बन कर पास आया ?
अमरता के सुत क्यों चाहता मृत्यु को उर में बसाना ?
जाग तुझ को दूर जाना ॥

कह न ठंडी साँस में अब भूल वह जलती कहानी,
आग हो उर में तभी द्रग में सजेगा आज पानी
हार भी तेरी बनेगी मानिनी जय की पताका
राख क्षणिक पतंग की है अमर दीपक की कहानी
है तझे अगाँर शैय्या पर मृदुल कलियां बिछाना ।
जाग तुझ को दूर जाना ॥