Here is a post about our weekend getaway to Apostle Islands, Wi on my other blog!
http://hoppers-stop.blogspot.com/2009/06/apostle-islands-day1.html
- Moi
11 June, 2009
13 May, 2009
Summer of 69!
I thought I would not blog about the Adam's concert - 'cos I thought I would not be able to put into words that experience (that happens with me - like the sky-diving experience, I never blogged about it - 'cos I cant put it into words), but decided to give it a try nevertheless.
Well, it was going to be a solo acoustic performance by Bryan Adams, no band - just him for 3 hours. I did not know what to expect as there was no band. I thought it would be more of him playing the guitar and a few songs here and there. I was definitely not prepared for what was to come. The show started at around 8:15pm - he came on to the stage. We had great seats - we were in the fifth row from the stage. I could even see the freckles and the stubble on his face - that's how close we were. He has a typical dry Canadian humor and he is a great performer.
All week I was wondering and asking the Mister what song would he open the concert with. Well, he started with 'Run to you' - it gave me goose bumps as he sang it. Even at 50, he looks great - he sings better! He was alone with the guitar and he sang continuously for 2 and a half hours. He plays brilliantly and he sings so well. He sang ALL the songs that I wanted him to sing. The only song that he missed was '18 till I die' but it was much much more and better than I expected.
Suddenly maybe after around 7-8 songs, he started 'Lets make a night to remember' - there was pin drop silence in the theater. He sang it so beautifully, I almost had tears in my eyes - no I am not exaggerating. That is like my fav Bryan Adams song and the way he sings it - so sincerely and with so much passion, just wants to make me cry. I was again a teenager, when I was totally in love with Bryan Adams.
In the middle of the concert - he sang his favorite and his most popular 'Summer of 69' - the whole theater was on their feet clapping and singing along with him. It was electrifying - he really is as good. I couldn't believe I was listening to this song live. He sang all the good ones -
'Run to you', Please forgive me, Everything I Do, Cuts like a Knife, All for love, Cloud number 9, Have you ever really loved a woman, Heaven, Can't stop this thing we started and many more. He even sang 'The only thing that looks good on me is you'. I really felt like I died and went to heaven.
Wow - writing about that evening makes me feel excited all over again. My hands were sore from clapping and the throat was hurting from all the yelling. For 3 whole days, I had the Bryan Adams hangover and dreamt about him. He still looks hot and he is a hell of a guy!! I am again totally enamoured by him. It was definitely a night I will remember forever!
- Moi
Mood of the day: Undecisive
Song of the day: Have you ever really loved a woman (go listen to it - NOW!)
Well, it was going to be a solo acoustic performance by Bryan Adams, no band - just him for 3 hours. I did not know what to expect as there was no band. I thought it would be more of him playing the guitar and a few songs here and there. I was definitely not prepared for what was to come. The show started at around 8:15pm - he came on to the stage. We had great seats - we were in the fifth row from the stage. I could even see the freckles and the stubble on his face - that's how close we were. He has a typical dry Canadian humor and he is a great performer.
All week I was wondering and asking the Mister what song would he open the concert with. Well, he started with 'Run to you' - it gave me goose bumps as he sang it. Even at 50, he looks great - he sings better! He was alone with the guitar and he sang continuously for 2 and a half hours. He plays brilliantly and he sings so well. He sang ALL the songs that I wanted him to sing. The only song that he missed was '18 till I die' but it was much much more and better than I expected.
Suddenly maybe after around 7-8 songs, he started 'Lets make a night to remember' - there was pin drop silence in the theater. He sang it so beautifully, I almost had tears in my eyes - no I am not exaggerating. That is like my fav Bryan Adams song and the way he sings it - so sincerely and with so much passion, just wants to make me cry. I was again a teenager, when I was totally in love with Bryan Adams.
In the middle of the concert - he sang his favorite and his most popular 'Summer of 69' - the whole theater was on their feet clapping and singing along with him. It was electrifying - he really is as good. I couldn't believe I was listening to this song live. He sang all the good ones -
'Run to you', Please forgive me, Everything I Do, Cuts like a Knife, All for love, Cloud number 9, Have you ever really loved a woman, Heaven, Can't stop this thing we started and many more. He even sang 'The only thing that looks good on me is you'. I really felt like I died and went to heaven.
Wow - writing about that evening makes me feel excited all over again. My hands were sore from clapping and the throat was hurting from all the yelling. For 3 whole days, I had the Bryan Adams hangover and dreamt about him. He still looks hot and he is a hell of a guy!! I am again totally enamoured by him. It was definitely a night I will remember forever!
- Moi
Mood of the day: Undecisive
Song of the day: Have you ever really loved a woman (go listen to it - NOW!)
01 May, 2009
Of Bulls and Bryan Adams!
What a great time it is for the Bulls fans and the cricket fans.
Go Bulls! – Each one of the play-off games was a treat to watch. It was great to see the underdogs triumph over the defending champions. It was a great game last night and I think Bulls really deserved to win though Ray Allen almost single handedly did it for the Celtics. Wow… what a game it was!! 3 OTs!!
I pray to the Basketball gods, Bulls should win in Boston on Saturday… that would be the icing on the cake. However imperfect and young the team is – they know how to fight!!
And on the other side of the world, IPL is providing equal amount of excitement and fervor. Since the past couple of weeks, my days are just filled with watching sports. Am having a great time watching the IPL – being a part of all the controversies, the excitement – it’s pure masala entertainment all the way!
On a totally different note – we are going to a Bryan Adams concert next weekend! Yay!! – It was a dream of mine during my engineering/college days to watch him live – ONCE!! I am uber-excited!!
Lots to look forward to… GO BULLS!!
- Moi
Song of the day: Cloud number Nine (what else!!)
24 April, 2009
23 April, 2009
Calvin & Hobbes quote for the day!
Calvin-ism: "Weekends don't count unless you spend them doing something completely pointless."
I heart the kid :) !
- Moi
I heart the kid :) !
- Moi
22 April, 2009
Earth Day!
Just a gentle reminder to be kind to the environment and to the earth at least for one day! Take the extra steps to turn off the lights when not in the room today, try not to use plastic at least for one day today! Do the little you can for a day!
P.S: Its ironical, the client where I am working at have posters and flyers all over the place about going green and all that jazz. But - they don't have recycle bins at every cube. One of the first places I have worked at that don't have recycle baskets. Let alone every cube, there isn't a recycle bin per printer (shared by about 10 people) - so every time I have to trash some paper - I have to walk across the hall to the recycle bin!!
- Moi
Random!
...on arranged marriage
...arranged marriage is the intersection point at which the downward spiral of expectation meets the upward spiral of desperation!!
Interesting...!
On a totally different note -
- In a temperate climate zone you would sing - "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone"
- In a tropical climate zone you would sing - "Zindagi dhoop tum ghana saaya!"
Just thought that was funny!
- Moi
...arranged marriage is the intersection point at which the downward spiral of expectation meets the upward spiral of desperation!!
Interesting...!
On a totally different note -
- In a temperate climate zone you would sing - "Ain't no sunshine when she's gone"
- In a tropical climate zone you would sing - "Zindagi dhoop tum ghana saaya!"
Just thought that was funny!
- Moi
16 April, 2009
The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga.
This is a debut novel by Aravind Adiga and it also won him the Man Booker prize.
The White tiger is a very interesting and an entertaining read. But it’s hard for me to believe that there was no better writing this year anywhere in the world.
The small villages in India, rampant with illiteracy – where people are blinded with superstition and where people die of diseases like TB are rightfully termed as the Darkness. Balram Halwai, the hero of the book if you may, is from one such place called Laxmangarh which is the Darkness. It is his tale, narrated by him. It is his journey from the Darkness to the light – from Laxmangarh to Bangalore. A white tiger is the rarest creature in the jungle, only coming along once in every generation. Balram Halwai is the white tiger. Morality can sometimes be the cage that the rich use to keep the poor from making that essential leap. Balram is in the cage and it is the story of how he escapes from the cage fighting the rooster coop.
The book is quite fast paced, gripping and very witty. The protagonist’s character is very well-sketched. He is cocky, arrogant, quick-witted, half-baked, disrespectful and supremely quick to seize an advantage. His disrespect for his elders and betters is shocking -- even Mahatma Gandhi gets the lash of his scornful tongue.
This book has added to my sense that morality is a luxury of our situation - and that for all the feel-good factor of being a democracy, for the vast majority of people, there really isn't much difference between us and China except that they have ten ring roads.
-Moi
The White tiger is a very interesting and an entertaining read. But it’s hard for me to believe that there was no better writing this year anywhere in the world.
The small villages in India, rampant with illiteracy – where people are blinded with superstition and where people die of diseases like TB are rightfully termed as the Darkness. Balram Halwai, the hero of the book if you may, is from one such place called Laxmangarh which is the Darkness. It is his tale, narrated by him. It is his journey from the Darkness to the light – from Laxmangarh to Bangalore. A white tiger is the rarest creature in the jungle, only coming along once in every generation. Balram Halwai is the white tiger. Morality can sometimes be the cage that the rich use to keep the poor from making that essential leap. Balram is in the cage and it is the story of how he escapes from the cage fighting the rooster coop.
The book is quite fast paced, gripping and very witty. The protagonist’s character is very well-sketched. He is cocky, arrogant, quick-witted, half-baked, disrespectful and supremely quick to seize an advantage. His disrespect for his elders and betters is shocking -- even Mahatma Gandhi gets the lash of his scornful tongue.
This book has added to my sense that morality is a luxury of our situation - and that for all the feel-good factor of being a democracy, for the vast majority of people, there really isn't much difference between us and China except that they have ten ring roads.
-Moi
Back...!
It was a pretty long sabbatical, one which was never intended to be. Well, what can I say - the lure of one's own space in the www, displaying pixellated thoughts born in my head and a space where I could throw in my opinions and not be judged, was hard to escape.
I admit I was uninspired to write. Not that enough was not happening in life - it was - but somehow just felt like shutting myself to the www and not putting it down.
Without a single substantial post in the new year - I am back - and will try to post more regularly!
-Moi
Mood of the day: Rejuvenated
Song of the day: Jai Ho!
I admit I was uninspired to write. Not that enough was not happening in life - it was - but somehow just felt like shutting myself to the www and not putting it down.
Without a single substantial post in the new year - I am back - and will try to post more regularly!
-Moi
Mood of the day: Rejuvenated
Song of the day: Jai Ho!
23 February, 2009
Jai Ho!!
Jai Ho Danny Boyle... jai ho Rahman... jai ho Gulzar... jai ho Pookutty... 4 oscars on a single night for India - it can't get any better!!
Jai Ho!!
-Moi
Jai Ho!!
-Moi
11 January, 2009
Slumdog Millionaire!
Yes - Rahman has done it - he has won the Golden Globe for his music for Slumdog Millionaire and the movie took the major awards - best director, best movie and the music. Awesome!! Anil Kapoor and Shahrukh Khan made their presence felt at the awards show.
Yeah - am sooo happy - 'cos I really loved the movie!
- Moi
Yeah - am sooo happy - 'cos I really loved the movie!
- Moi
02 January, 2009
Hopper's Stop!
I have finally started another blog - a travelogue. Something that I always wanted to do - but never got to it. So here it is Hopper's Stop!
http://hoppers-stop.blogspot.com
-Moi
http://hoppers-stop.blogspot.com
-Moi
31 December, 2008
Happy New Year!
The melancholy continues - things are going wrong whenever they can! It does'nt suit me - this worrying thing - was never good at it, but of late have been doing a lot of it , but I don't even know what it is I am worried about - I want to blame it on the annual India trip not happening this year. Come December and I am yearning to go back home, and I have a feeling thats the reason for all this!
Neways, all good things come to an end - and so is 2008. Wish you all (all of the 2 or 3 people) who read this blog a Very Happy New Year!
- Moi
Mood of the day: Dubious
Song of the day: Where's the party tonite?
P.S: Writing on the wall for the day: Worrying is optional!
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional!
Neways, all good things come to an end - and so is 2008. Wish you all (all of the 2 or 3 people) who read this blog a Very Happy New Year!
- Moi
Mood of the day: Dubious
Song of the day: Where's the party tonite?
P.S: Writing on the wall for the day: Worrying is optional!
Pain is inevitable; suffering is optional!
29 December, 2008
'08 - '09
Another year is coming to an end…! It was a very busy year. But somehow I am feeling something amiss as this year is ending. I don’t feel too happy to let the year end. I don’t want another year to pass by – I am not ready for ’09 – I feel I still have unfinished business with ’08!
I am feeling quite anti-social at the moment; looks like new-year blues have caught on! – is there something called new-year blues?
Christmas went by and the fat man (read Santa!) failed to create the mojo for me! New Year’s Eve parties need to be planned – but the joie de vivre is missing. I don’t feel like planning anything – and the weather is not helping either! Is it me or Chicago has never been so melancholic before? Sigh … maybe tomorrow will be a brighter day!
-Moi
Song of the day: Guzarish
Mood of the day: Gloomy
I am feeling quite anti-social at the moment; looks like new-year blues have caught on! – is there something called new-year blues?
Christmas went by and the fat man (read Santa!) failed to create the mojo for me! New Year’s Eve parties need to be planned – but the joie de vivre is missing. I don’t feel like planning anything – and the weather is not helping either! Is it me or Chicago has never been so melancholic before? Sigh … maybe tomorrow will be a brighter day!
-Moi
Song of the day: Guzarish
Mood of the day: Gloomy
26 December, 2008
Random!
This is just a random post - Post Christmas - the office is haunted and yes I am working. Well, I don't feel too bad - easy commute, not too much work, slow day, don't have to wait for the microwave at lunch time - some perks!
On another note, high for today: A R Rehman is nominated for the Golden Globes for his music score for the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" - as I said in my prev. post here, the music was really groovy, I did not know when I was watching the movie that it was a Rehman score, and I was like the background score is really good, wonder who the music director is - and reading the title credits at the end of the movie - I was not surprised! I hope he does win!!
- Moi
Mood for the day: Relaxed
Song for the day: Maula maula mere maula - Dostana
On another note, high for today: A R Rehman is nominated for the Golden Globes for his music score for the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" - as I said in my prev. post here, the music was really groovy, I did not know when I was watching the movie that it was a Rehman score, and I was like the background score is really good, wonder who the music director is - and reading the title credits at the end of the movie - I was not surprised! I hope he does win!!
- Moi
Mood for the day: Relaxed
Song for the day: Maula maula mere maula - Dostana
25 December, 2008
Rab ne bana di jodi!
Yesterday we went to watch the movie "Rab ne bana di jodi" - this is not a review of the movie, 'cos I think the movie does not even deserve a review.
The movie was bad- we did not like it one bit and I was really bored - cliched scenes and over the top dialogues. One dialog in the movie - "Mujhe tum mein rab dikhta hai" - this is the central dialog of the movie. All the characters keep telling this to each other "Mujhe tum mein rab dikhta hai".
Well, I was maha-bored, and we were basically making fun of the movie, laughing and generally having a good time. I turn to the Mister and ask him "Kya tumko mujh mein rab dikhta hai?"
Promptly he turned to me and said "Haan dikhta hai na - mujhe tum mein Durga dikhti hai!"
Priceless!!
-Moi
The movie was bad- we did not like it one bit and I was really bored - cliched scenes and over the top dialogues. One dialog in the movie - "Mujhe tum mein rab dikhta hai" - this is the central dialog of the movie. All the characters keep telling this to each other "Mujhe tum mein rab dikhta hai".
Well, I was maha-bored, and we were basically making fun of the movie, laughing and generally having a good time. I turn to the Mister and ask him "Kya tumko mujh mein rab dikhta hai?"
Promptly he turned to me and said "Haan dikhta hai na - mujhe tum mein Durga dikhti hai!"
Priceless!!
-Moi
12 December, 2008
Songs - of the other kind!
There are some songs that you like – some that you love. And then there are other songs – which always bring back memories of moments or of people.
Songs that you always associate with certain people, certain incidents, certain times, certain memories. Songs that create moments - create memories. Here is a list of a few of such songs and what they mean to me. Every time I listen to any of these songs, everything comes back to me in a rush, bringing back all my thoughts and experiences associated with them.
1. O humdum suniyo re…
I love this movie, I love the songs of this movie – he left it on the voice message of my phone once – it was one of my ‘awww…’ moments
2. Gumshuda… koi hua
Voice chat over yahoo… he used to play this song on his end, when I went to India without him
3. Chandan sa badan…
He sang the whole song for me in a train ride going home – I don’t think he remembers it but I do
4. Janu meri jaan (replaces janu with my nick name)
Sings it every time I am angry with him
5. Chalte Chalte (from the movie Chalte Chalte)
I remember one of my friends when I listen to this song – ‘cos he got very sentimental one day listening to this
6. Pyar ke liye char pal kam nahi the
I remember one of my gal friends during my master’s who was going through a bad phase with her then-boy friend. This song was playing and she just started crying
7. Who the f*** is Alice?
Reminds me of my dear friend from engineering – ah those were the days!
8. Pal Pal dil ke paas
Always reminds me of my sister – when we were kids we always listened to the radio in the night before we fell asleep – and this song used to play a lot on the radio and she used to just love this song
9. Everything I do – I do it for you!
Somebody anonymously dedicated this song to me in the college fest – always makes me wonder who it was when I listen to this song
10. That’s the way it is – Celine Dion
Reminds me of a time in my own life when I really believed in this song and loved it … played it over and over just to reinforce the faith
11. Aye ganpat…
Reminds me of the road trip to the Smokies – the drive is a whole 10 hours and I think this song was playing on loop for at least 5 out of the 10 hours J
12. Ek akela is shehar mein
Reminds me of my first year in the US and a dear friend who was engaged. Her fiancé had gifted her with a cd of his favorite hindi movie songs. She was never a fan of Hindi movie music. Eventually, I ended up listening to that cd more than she ever did. This song was the first song in that cd – and I will always remember her when I listen to this song.
13. Bavra man dekhne chala ek sapna (Swanand Kirkire’s version)
This is a beautiful song- one of my favs. I listened to the songs from this movie quite late as I watched this movie quite late. I remember I watched this movie alone, and was very depressed after watching it, and when this song played I almost cried.
14. I just called to say I love you…
I remember this song – my first year in the US - my roomies (equally crazy as me) and me were trying to learn this song one night– playing it line after line, pausing it, repeating after it – and we finally learn the whole song by heart by 3.00 am in the morning. The three of us were singing so loudly and excitedly, the neighbor had to knock at our door at 3:00am and had to ask us stop :D.
15. That don’t impress me much
Again reminds me of my sis and me when we were in India – we really liked this song – and Shania Twain was hot.
16. Actually any Bryan Adams or Pink Floyd songs reminds me of my college days. I really really miss the happy-go-lucky, don't have a care in the world days.
- Moi
P.S: In the first 4 songs – the “he” refers to the Mister
Songs that you always associate with certain people, certain incidents, certain times, certain memories. Songs that create moments - create memories. Here is a list of a few of such songs and what they mean to me. Every time I listen to any of these songs, everything comes back to me in a rush, bringing back all my thoughts and experiences associated with them.
1. O humdum suniyo re…
I love this movie, I love the songs of this movie – he left it on the voice message of my phone once – it was one of my ‘awww…’ moments
2. Gumshuda… koi hua
Voice chat over yahoo… he used to play this song on his end, when I went to India without him
3. Chandan sa badan…
He sang the whole song for me in a train ride going home – I don’t think he remembers it but I do
4. Janu meri jaan (replaces janu with my nick name)
Sings it every time I am angry with him
5. Chalte Chalte (from the movie Chalte Chalte)
I remember one of my friends when I listen to this song – ‘cos he got very sentimental one day listening to this
6. Pyar ke liye char pal kam nahi the
I remember one of my gal friends during my master’s who was going through a bad phase with her then-boy friend. This song was playing and she just started crying
7. Who the f*** is Alice?
Reminds me of my dear friend from engineering – ah those were the days!
8. Pal Pal dil ke paas
Always reminds me of my sister – when we were kids we always listened to the radio in the night before we fell asleep – and this song used to play a lot on the radio and she used to just love this song
9. Everything I do – I do it for you!
Somebody anonymously dedicated this song to me in the college fest – always makes me wonder who it was when I listen to this song
10. That’s the way it is – Celine Dion
Reminds me of a time in my own life when I really believed in this song and loved it … played it over and over just to reinforce the faith
11. Aye ganpat…
Reminds me of the road trip to the Smokies – the drive is a whole 10 hours and I think this song was playing on loop for at least 5 out of the 10 hours J
12. Ek akela is shehar mein
Reminds me of my first year in the US and a dear friend who was engaged. Her fiancé had gifted her with a cd of his favorite hindi movie songs. She was never a fan of Hindi movie music. Eventually, I ended up listening to that cd more than she ever did. This song was the first song in that cd – and I will always remember her when I listen to this song.
13. Bavra man dekhne chala ek sapna (Swanand Kirkire’s version)
This is a beautiful song- one of my favs. I listened to the songs from this movie quite late as I watched this movie quite late. I remember I watched this movie alone, and was very depressed after watching it, and when this song played I almost cried.
14. I just called to say I love you…
I remember this song – my first year in the US - my roomies (equally crazy as me) and me were trying to learn this song one night– playing it line after line, pausing it, repeating after it – and we finally learn the whole song by heart by 3.00 am in the morning. The three of us were singing so loudly and excitedly, the neighbor had to knock at our door at 3:00am and had to ask us stop :D.
15. That don’t impress me much
Again reminds me of my sis and me when we were in India – we really liked this song – and Shania Twain was hot.
16. Actually any Bryan Adams or Pink Floyd songs reminds me of my college days. I really really miss the happy-go-lucky, don't have a care in the world days.
- Moi
P.S: In the first 4 songs – the “he” refers to the Mister
10 December, 2008
Laakad jalke koyla hoye jaaye
Koyla hoye jaaye khaak
Jiya jale toh kuchh na hoye re
Na dhuan na raakh
-- Omkara
P.S: I am hooked to M and M's especially the peanut ones. I totally love the yellow ones in the packet from the vending machine... I always pick the yellow ones out and eat them first - they somehow taste better than the rest me thinks!
- Moi
Koyla hoye jaaye khaak
Jiya jale toh kuchh na hoye re
Na dhuan na raakh
-- Omkara
P.S: I am hooked to M and M's especially the peanut ones. I totally love the yellow ones in the packet from the vending machine... I always pick the yellow ones out and eat them first - they somehow taste better than the rest me thinks!
- Moi
08 December, 2008
Gandhi!
One of my friends asked me that in the light of the current events – i.e the 26/11 Mumbai attack – would Gandhigiri work now?
I don't know – I don't know if Gandhigiri is the way to go in the age of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
When Mumbai was under attack I was enraged - it was impotent rage I think - I wanted action, I wanted to see some results - I was arguing with the Mister that it is not the age of Gandhi anymore and we have to fight back and kick ass.
What exactly is the Gandhian philosophy? I think it is the opposite of dadagiri in the sense that this philosophy also uses force - but the force that it uses is a moral one to assert its point of view. Also, I personally think that Gandhiji stood for action in the face of oppression and definitely not passive contemplation.
If someone slapped one cheek, would you turn in the other one? – Is that what Gandhiji really expected of India? Is this really what he preached? If hundreds of people get killed, should we just sit back and contemplate and wait for when and where would the next attack be? I am not saying we need to go to war – but surely there must be some pre-emptive action that could be taken?
Gandhiji must surely be turning in his grave today. There are a lot of people who are dead against this man – who got us our independence. Everytime the country faces a crisis, Gandhi's name is brought up – Is this how Gandhi envisioned independent India to be? And we don't even think twice before we start blaming our fore fathers to have left us with words like non-violence, satyagraha et al as a legacy. We Indians are very very adept at passing the buck. Who better qualified to blame than the father of the nation. A lot of people are of the opinion that we are shackled by the pre-independence philosophies and that is in some way hampering our growth.
Well, I don't think so. Actually now that I think about it – I think Gandhian philosophy would work – actually maybe that's the only recourse for India.
Because the corner stones of the Gandhian philosophy are life, truth and morality.
We Indians take only the principle of non-violence as being Gandhi's principle and we attribute our regressive philosophies to that man. Everybody of us forget that he preached life, truth and above all morality in addition to ahimsa. We forget that if every Indian would lead a truthful and moral life - we would have been better equipped to handle the Mumbai attack. Yes, every problem in India is inter-related. It all comes back to wide-spread corruption - which is in itself rampant because of a struggle for existence - well, I think it comes a full circle.
Though their interpretations will or rather should change with age and time, I think that Gandhian principles will always be relevant and applicable in any age. It all depends on how ones uses them. Perspective is important.
- Moi
I don't know – I don't know if Gandhigiri is the way to go in the age of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
When Mumbai was under attack I was enraged - it was impotent rage I think - I wanted action, I wanted to see some results - I was arguing with the Mister that it is not the age of Gandhi anymore and we have to fight back and kick ass.
What exactly is the Gandhian philosophy? I think it is the opposite of dadagiri in the sense that this philosophy also uses force - but the force that it uses is a moral one to assert its point of view. Also, I personally think that Gandhiji stood for action in the face of oppression and definitely not passive contemplation.
If someone slapped one cheek, would you turn in the other one? – Is that what Gandhiji really expected of India? Is this really what he preached? If hundreds of people get killed, should we just sit back and contemplate and wait for when and where would the next attack be? I am not saying we need to go to war – but surely there must be some pre-emptive action that could be taken?
Gandhiji must surely be turning in his grave today. There are a lot of people who are dead against this man – who got us our independence. Everytime the country faces a crisis, Gandhi's name is brought up – Is this how Gandhi envisioned independent India to be? And we don't even think twice before we start blaming our fore fathers to have left us with words like non-violence, satyagraha et al as a legacy. We Indians are very very adept at passing the buck. Who better qualified to blame than the father of the nation. A lot of people are of the opinion that we are shackled by the pre-independence philosophies and that is in some way hampering our growth.
Well, I don't think so. Actually now that I think about it – I think Gandhian philosophy would work – actually maybe that's the only recourse for India.
Because the corner stones of the Gandhian philosophy are life, truth and morality.
We Indians take only the principle of non-violence as being Gandhi's principle and we attribute our regressive philosophies to that man. Everybody of us forget that he preached life, truth and above all morality in addition to ahimsa. We forget that if every Indian would lead a truthful and moral life - we would have been better equipped to handle the Mumbai attack. Yes, every problem in India is inter-related. It all comes back to wide-spread corruption - which is in itself rampant because of a struggle for existence - well, I think it comes a full circle.
Though their interpretations will or rather should change with age and time, I think that Gandhian principles will always be relevant and applicable in any age. It all depends on how ones uses them. Perspective is important.
- Moi
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