A Luminous Life...

She carries her strength in places they never knew existed; in the confines of adversity where hope fails and fate twists. She is the image of beauty; the wonderful creation of God, whose natural gifts blesses a home. She is the face of love that naturally fits into a child’s life. Traits so inherent in her from small, girlish days, it stays with her through and through. She is the love’s eye that cares for simple, little things in life. That she sprinkles kindness in the steps that lead her. And she enjoys affection as much as she loves giving. She is the symbol of the softer side of humanity that her touch has the power to heal. Hurts and wounds that find us in many circumstances and leave us yearning. She is the song, the perfect music that fills many empty hearts, and she, carries with her, a heart that cries easily, but always because she cares too deeply. For people, for strangers, for children, for things miles and miles away. She’s always got emotions running high on her, and ...

I remember making my first friend in Kindergarten; how in sheer innocence we held hands and walked to school together. And then my neighbourhood playmate, from whom, I probably started learning Tenyidie. One can never forget special ties that result from playing, learning and working together- friends you’ve made in your childhood, in high school, in college, in your work place, or in all the unassuming places. The amazing fact is that you don’t agree upon becoming friends in an instance of meeting a person for the first time. But along the way, you get connected and you eventually realize they are special people, holding special places in your heart. That’s how we start bonding with friends, who, sometimes become larger and bigger than family. And for reasons too sweet, I am sure, at some point of time, we had also sworn to be friends forever, or perhaps thought in our minds to keep this bond alive come what may! But it’s also true that some of them go away, but not without leaving a...

26th May 2010: I’m tired of reporting, tired of running around at all insignificant places, tired of hearing the same speeches over and over again. I’m tired of seeing the same old faces, propagating the same messages of development and more development with nothing much being done in its aftermath. I’m tired of wondering every time if this is really as good as it can get. I’m tired of sneaking into other people’s businesses when they’d rather keep it to themselves, tired of seeing their disappointment to find out that I don’t represent the sought most newspaper in the state, I’m tired of the phony respect they give me in places that I couldn’t help but go out of duty. I’m tired of people who think they can buy me off (buy my profession off to be precise), tired of them who fail to see I’m living a part of my dream, tired of them who think Journalism is a last resort because we couldn’t find anything better to do, I’m tired of opinions, tired of sick mentality and narrow minds, I’...

I have a dream that someday our children will grow without the fear of being rape, that violence will be shut off and innocence of our kids will not be taken away. I have a dream that they will never hear gunshots in the neighborhood while they bask in their childhood glories and their make-believe fairy tales will still be strong enough to make them smile. I have a dream that someday corruption will be wiped off and things will be fair, that every job will be worth the try. I have a dream that our politicians will be elected without unfair means, that money will no longer be the vital part of an election. I have a dream that bribery will no longer be the means to get things done, that someday people will value truth in its truest sense. I have a dream that our youth will not drown their frustration on alcohol, that they will take chances to fulfill their ambitions. I have a dream that someday, sincerity will become the theme of the day, that government offices will have...

"I love you" He said. "I honestly do" "Then why won't you marry me?" She asked. "You mean the world to me" He went on. "That's not the answer to my question." She was annoyed "Sweetheart, see I love you but I'm not ready to settle yet" "If you love me you don't have to be ready. I knew it. You don't love me enough" They were silent for a moment and then he spoke again. "That's not it Honey. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. But you just have to wait a little longer." "How long?" She asked in a disappointed tone. "I don't know. Maybe time will tell. I have my career to think of. There's a lot to do before marriage" Now she was really hurt. She didn't say a word but stepped out of the door and walked off...... He sat there, getting a little mad because he could never convince her of his love, that's honest and true. ...

The issue of liquor prohibition is not a question of debate anymore. No matter what they say and regardless of the Act being lifted or not, Alcohol’s definitely here to stay. So why don’t we just lift it for the convenience of all drinkers and settle it? Because ‘drinking’ doesn’t necessarily make you a bad person and ‘not drinking’ also doesn’t necessarily make you a good person. And if drinking and not drinking is also about our religion then for me, faith is also a personal choice. It’s as personal as deciding how you’d like to live your life or making a choice between good and bad. However, if we are adamantly concerned about the ills of the society and think we can erase it by prohibition, why especially liquor? Why not the other 101 ills polluting our society everyday? How about corruption? How about checking briberies and back door appointments that deprive the deserving candidates of their place and position? How about making an act on recommendations? How about prohibiting le...

Here's to my friends from yesterday, together with whom memories were always sweet and things we talked about over and over again here's to the carols we sang on a chilly december evening, the end of a good year, we didnt realise that time here's to our silly jokes and laughter to the food, good food we ate, and the drinks that lifted the weight off our heads to the simple joys of friendship- it kept us going from day to day; Here's to the tears we shared, all the heartaches we poured and the "i'll be here" moments we said here's to the time & trials that tested us, to the strangers who became our friends to the train trips we'd taken, (and with apology to Dar), the Vikram moment i'll never forget, to the first flight home we gleefully flew to the innocence we shared- and we felt like a-crying when it was gone Here's to the steps you taught me- here's to you guys who will always be mine here's to the good times that will alway...