Disclaimer: All rights are reserved with the publisher. Any resemblence to songs written before is purely coincidental.The publisher can not be held responsible for any heart attacks or suicide attempts by Bryan Adams.

Sambhar of 69

...I've been thinking for a while... the suicide rate, the "parent-pressure" and the following of "standard stuff" without finding the courage to think out of the block.

"Why?" I asked myself.

Firstly, there's a need to accept that white hair has as little to do with age, as wisdom has to do with the years you've lived.

Secondly, he have to stop telling ourselves, as teenagers, that while times are changing, WE are changing but are parents are not changing. This is a misconception, to a large extent. They are evolving too.... not at the same rate as we are, but they are. It's tougher on them because, change to them means giving up what they've been made to believe since they were born. It's not easy for anyone to accept that they're wrong. Especially when they're being told as much, by a someone who is about a two decades or so younger than them.

Thirdly, there's a need for parents to understand that there's a difference between teaching a child HOW TO THINK and WHAT TO THINK. When you are telling me what to think, you are leaving no scope for me to experience and explore. When you're telling me how to think.., you're just laying down the facts, and leaving the decision to me. IF I make the wrong choice, you should be there to help me face it. But, when you're telling me what to do, there is no chance of me making a mistake, or learning how to face the consequences of my decisions.

Parents, elders as a whole... Justify these actions of theirs with a "I've seen more of the world than you. I know better." If you're telling me WHAT TO DO, how can I see the world? How can I EXPERIENCE?

I'm not saying that at 17 I'm capable of always making the right choices... I'm saying that at 40, YOU ARE NOT CAPABLE OF ALWAYS MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES...

Lay down the facts. Tell me what your opinion is. Tell me how and what you've seen happen in a situation as this. And then let me decide how and what I want to do.

How, when whatever I've done is what you've TOLD me to do, do you expect me to face this world? There are decisions to be made at every step in life. Tomorrow, when I have to make a decision, I'm not going to have you to fall back on. I have to make it. For which I need courage to believe that... 'Hey! This is what I think should be done. If I'm wrong, we'll change tracks.... If I'm right, then well done to me.'

I can't be worried that I MAY BE WRONG and then the world MAY end.

These are in random order..... each better than the one that follows....

• There has to be at least one scene where the heroine runs in slow motion into the arms of the hero.
• The heroine has to tear a part of her shirt, skirt, sari to wrap a bandage around her hero's wound.
• The hero always manages to fight of at least a dozen people single handedly, to save his heroine.
• Any person who falls into a fast flowing river, off a cliff, or takes an overdose of sleeping pills never dies.
• The hero always manages to jump through a house on fire and save everyone.... I wish they'd apply for the posts of firemen.
• Every hero after a major surgery, declared dead by the doctor, comes to life when the heroine hits him hysterically asking him to come back.
• Before a fight between two brothers or friends.... a warning is issued by the God's.... depicted by thunder and ringing of temple bells.
• Then ofcourse, there are those twins who get seperated at birth... one becomes evil while the other becomes good.... they meet, fight... bells clank, lightening strikes.... and then they unite to fight the bad guy who killed their dad...!
• The heroine's sari has to be transparent when she's dancing in the rain.
• After the bad guy's seen her waist, the heroine has to yell 'rape'.
• The police have to reach after the crime has been committed and the culprit's on his way to freedom.
• The hero is introduced to the heroine only after a strong wind blows away the hair from her face..
• The heroine and hero collide into each other, their books fall, and they both bend down to pick up the books.. hands touch, eyes meet.. falling in love happening Hindi ishtyle .
• Another love scene: New gal to college hates Mr.Stud. He saves her from the bad guys.... and they fall in love!!!
• The heroine has to slap the hero for something he hasn't done... and then the bulb lights, and she realises she's at fault.... and love happening again....!

.....I can't think of anymore stuff... If u can just let me know .. And I'll add it to the list....!!! Until then, keep smiling!!

It'd been one helluva day. Everything that could have gone wrong did and everything that couldn't have gone wrong also went wrong.

On a day like this, we were driving down the roads of Chennai for dinner. Neither the clouds nor the pleasant breeze that brought along with it the smell of rainfall, helped change my mood. None of the usual stuff that helped shake off my bad tempers, seemed to succeed in coaxing even a smile out of me... or so the situation was until this happened.

While waiting at a signal, a brawl, that had gathered quite an audience, caught my eye(..there's something about miserable people attracting miserable people,na?). Looking closely to find out what was happening, I saw two people, an auto driver and a car driver snarling and making attempts to catch each others throats. There were loads of blows and swearing....and noise... horns honking and people trying to pull the two wrestlers apart...lots of action...And then all of a sudden there was silence...

Everything stopped, the horns, the impatient people and the fighting...And with the same abruptness there was an uproar of laughter....Why?

Because... all of a sudden a certain wrestler found himself airing his pretty hind, draped in nothing less flattering than polka dots, to a whole lot of people... i.e, his lungi had fallen off...

.......And THAT was what brought a smile to my face on the worst day of my life... it brings a smile even to this day... hope it helps brighten your day..


P.S: For those of you who don't know what a lungi is... It's a typical South Indian dress which the menfolk wear.. The easiest way to explain what it looks like is, is that it's like a wrap-around skirt... only in this case, it's the type men wear...!!

I was going through today's newspaper and the magazine section and was left with a bitter taste on my tongue. Why? Because it's not exactly one of the most tasteful things in the world to see women and men in a few strips of cloth, baring everything there is, for the world to see while sipping a cup of morning tea (or coffee).

It's not only the newspapers. Today's movies, songs, etc. are the teachers in the "wear no clothes" school. Why is it so necessary to bare skin for a movie or a song to be a hit? How does Paris Hilton stripping make the movie House of Wax (or any other) any more popular? Sure, you could always say, " SG you really are dense! Making her walk around in red lingerie forms the scary aspect of the movie…!!!"

And why point fingers at only Hollywood? We ourselves are not only following them, we're on our way to attaining the title of world-leaders in this field ... Most teenagers, children of what they call "generation next", will snap back at you and while looking down their noses explain that it's the most "in" thing to wear the least possible amount of clothing. And of course we're old-fashioned and hence won't understand such things. How does showing more skin on TV or in a pub, than you even see in your own bathroom, make you more popular? And it's not for the gals only…there are enough men parading around in all sorts of things that qualify as "clothing" on TV and on the streets.

I don't see what's wrong in wearing "sexy" stuff… but when the "sexy" stuff comes not only close to, but is synonymous with "nudity" a problem arises. It's not a question of being comfortable with baring yourself to the world it's a question of ethics. Ms.Sharawat says, "Why should I hide my body when I've worked so hard on making it what it is today?" Why indeed?

The human body is not something to be ashamed of, I agree. But, why is there a need to prove to the world that you have an excellent body? Most studies suggest, that when the upper strata of the human brain is empty, people tend to use such means to draw attention and make a standing for themselves in society. They're called airheads, tarts, etc... And what a standing, eh?!!

With the fear of sounding like your grandmother… I'd say that our old Indian traditions win this battle by a mile and a half. I'm not asking you to cover every centimeter of your skin, like done in the olden times, but why go to the other extreme instead?

Like everything else on this planet, a need for balance is required with respect to this particular issue too.

...OR {bulb just lit} are we trying to preserve the culture of our ancestors and hence resorting to leaves and scraps of clothing??

I don't have much to say. There's too much to feel ... And very little that can be put into words to describe what it feels to lose a fellow-classmate. He was a junior, so not exactly a classmate. That doesn't seem to make a difference though. You can still feel the pain and feel tears that are threatening to flow.

Why do people leave? And why does it have to be the good guys? Why? It's astonishing and saddening how every week or so, a person I know or love seems to leave the world without a notice... Without a chance to say goodbye, to let me thank them for being there for me and to apologies for my mistakes.. To tell them for the last time that no matter what they do or what they say or where they are I'll always love them for who they were,are, always will be and care for them. Remember them when I smile, and think about the good times.

I can't be sad any longer. It just seems to be the way this world goes around. Maybe your needed by someone, more than by me, us, in another world. Maybe it was time for you to rest. Though it seems unfair... Now you won't get to play anymore, play hooky anymore, fall in love anymore... do all the stuff that ... that.. we do everyday..., I guess it was the way things were meant to be.

I hope you know your memory will live for evermore. That you are loved and missed everyday. By people who knew you and others who lost the chance to become your best-friends.

Rest in peace, Rohith.

The story goes that some time ago, a man punished his 3-year-old
daughter for wasting a roll of gold wrapping paper. Money was tight
and he became infuriated when the child tried to decorate a box to put
under the Christmas tree. Nevertheless, the little girl brought the
gift to her father the next morning and said, "This is for you,
Daddy."

The man was embarrassed by his earlier overreaction, but his anger
flared again when he found out the box was empty. He yelled at her,
stating, "Don't you know, when you give someone a present, there is
supposed to be something inside? The little girl looked up at him with
tears in her eyes and cried, "Oh, Daddy, it's not empty at all. I blew
kisses into the box. They're all for you, Daddy."

The father was crushed. He put his arms around his little girl, and he
begged for her forgiveness.

Only a short time later, an accident took the life of the child. It is
also told that her father kept that gold box by his bed for many years
and, whenever he was discouraged, he would take out an imaginary kiss
and remember the love of the child who had put it there.


"The heart of a fool is in his mouth , but the mouth of a wise man is
in his heart."

When we talk about religion, the first question that arises is, "Is there a God? " Me thinks there is. For no specific reason. He's just the best person to blame for all the miracles and all the beauty on this planet. :D

I was reading Niranjan's post on religion and it occured to me that very few people know what the importance of the Sikh religion is.

So, satsriakal ji,greetings, and welcome to my world.

Influenced by the devotional emphasis of bhakti Hinduism and Sufi Islam, Sikhism stresses the unity, truth, and creativity of a personal God and urges union with him through meditation on his title, the Name (Nam), and surrender to his will.

It also advocates active service rather than the ideal of ascetic withdrawal. Loyalty and justice are admired, smoking and intoxicants forbidden. Sikhism also rejects the caste system, priesthood, image worship, and pilgrimage, although it retains the doctrines of transmigration and karma.

The ultimate spiritual authority is the Adi Granth, consisting of hymns by the ten Sikh gurus (Hindi for “teachers”) and Hindu and Muslim devotional poetry in several languages. All Sikhs may read the Adi Granth, which is the focus of devotion at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, the Sikh religious center.

Sikhs are expected to join the Khalsa (Punjabi for “pure”), a religious and military order. Initiates are “baptized” by drinking sweetened water stirred with a sword
Members of the Khalsa are instructed to observe the five k’s: They must wear four symbols of the Sikh faith—soldiers’ shorts (kaccha), an iron bangle (kara), a steel sword (kirpan), and a comb (khanga)—and they must not cut their hair (kes).

Nanak, the saintly first guru, wandered over India seeking converts. He was succeeded by nine gurus, the office staying within the family line of the fourth guru, Ram Das. Ram Das was also the founder of the Golden Temple. The fifth, Arjan Dev, compiled the Adi Granth, the holy book, in 1604. As the Sikhs became a distinct religious community, they took up arms against persecution by Hindus and by Muslim rulers of the Mughal Empire. Opposing Mughal tyranny, the tenth guru, Gobind Singh, formed the Khalsa in 1699. During the decline of the Mughals, the Sikhs, led by the warrior Ranjit Singh, created a powerful state in the Punjab about 1800 that eventually threatened British-controlled India. After internal dissension and two wars the Punjab was annexed by the British in 1849.

During a period of Sikh persecution, Gobind Singh asked those who were willing to die for their faith to join him. He named the first five willing to risk their lives the panj pyares, or "faithful ones," and proclaimed them the first members of the Khalsa.

This Khalsa, at that time, was an army of brave men who stood up to the tortures of Arungzeb on the Hindus and Muslims. The whole barh baje concept has an actual history. Arungzeb used to 'collect' hindu and muslim women and have them transported elswhere for his own work and pleasure. "Barah Baje" was the signal used by the members of the Khalsa to warn the others that the train carrying these women was about to leave, and that they were to now move forward and do their duty, in saving them.

History itself tells the tale about these brave men. Each of our gurus were tortured at the hands of the Mughal Empire. From being made to sit in a vessel containing hot water on a burning flame, being be-headed to raising a brick wall around Guru Gobind Singhji's children, when alive.

For Nanak, the principal obstacle to achieving sahaj was the influence of haumai, or self-centeredness. As a result of haumai, the human soul inevitably loses itself in the temporary pleasures of existence (maya).

Nanak held that the most effective remedy for the effects of haumai was spiritual introspection, especially the regular practice of nam simran, or repetition of the divine name. As a result of an all-consuming commitment to truth, and with the assistance and guidance of the Guru, one could become steadily more aware of the cosmic shabad (sound), of which all existence—and hence also the devotee—was simply a form. Meditation on these truths would gradually permit devotees to become aware of the anahad shabad, (unstruck music) within themselves, and by progressively working against the otherwise undisciplined self, enable the devotee to advance further toward the ultimate goal of sahaj.

Gobind Singh (1666–1708), Indian religious leader, the tenth and last guru (teacher) of Sikhism, and founder of the Sikh brotherhood known as the Khalsa. On Gobind Singh’s death, the Sikh holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, replaced the line of human gurus as the teacher and guide of the Sikhs.

So, in layman's language, here is one religion that came into existence so as to remove all differences amongst people. And to this day, I can proudly say, that we've succeeded. So, much so, that each gurudwara,temple, provides free restrooms for poor travellers. The concept of langar, serving food, is still un- corrupted and followed. By un-corrupted, I mean, the whole point of feeding the poor, is still lived up to. There is no discrimination along the lines of who is and who isn't allowed in the gurudwara's. In fact the only rules that we have to follow are the 5 k's. That's it. Sikhs learn from the writings of their Holy book, that was written by learned men, who provided the much needed faith we needed in the existence of God.

Oh! There's beauty in every religion and how they look at God. Jesus resurrected from the cross, Rama killed Ravana... I respect it. I hate the part where the discrimination starts. The part where the untouchables, that's what they really are even today, not enter temples ( or whereever) makes me angry. And that's why all I can really say is... 'proud to be a sikh!!