A BIG Thank-you and a small request . .

Blogger has introduced all these delightful tools now which enable you to see which posts are popular with the readers and which are not. If not for these, I would never have figured out the likes and dislikes of you, my beloved reader.

So, I would like to make a humble request. When you people read any kind of a post (be it blog or news articles, whatever), please do try to leave a comment. It helps the writer understand that people are actually finding these articles interesting (or vice-versa).
Needless to say that it is also a really huge morale-booster. :-)

And thank you for taking the time to read my articles, my thoughts. It has given me no small pleasure to know that people find them interesting and are willing to listen to what I have been saying.
You people are my inspiration, my reason to keep writing.

My heartfelt thanks to each and every visitor to this lil' blog-o'-mine. :-)

One Winged Angel

This is a poem I wrote some time ago. Just felt like posting it here since I've been missing for a while now. Hope you people like it. :-)


The one-winged angel aspires to fly
And reach the heavens high in the sky
Alas, he would but for one thing
He was cursed to have but one wing


So he stands, tall and proud
Watching his brothers ascend the clouds
'Tis his cross to carry on and on
Till all of eternity has come and gone


He holds to his faith
That he can change his fate
With sheer strength of desire
He can swim the fiery oceans of fire


The one-winged angel looks to the sky
And sees all his loved ones waving goodbye
Tears spring to his eyes, but still he smiles
Waves back and says, "See you after a while"

Anna-mania: Keep your head or risk losing it

This is a message I wish to give to my near and dear ones and also to those who are willing to listen to me with an open mind. As time passes, life teaches us a lot of lessons. How well we learn those lessons determine how well and, in some cases, if we live.

Today, I see this drama unfolding on National Television and I can't help shaking my head and smiling.

We Indians, by nature, are extremely emotional. We have this inexplicable need to make gods out of people we like. We NEED to worship something. Every Indian will understand what I am talking about. There are countless examples. I've seen countless perfectly sane and rational people lose all their logic and rationalism when the topic comes to their "God".

Now, the latest sensation this country has got is Anna Hazare. Almost everyone is running high on Anna-mania, rushing to become another martyr for this new "Father of the Nation". Granted, he's a good guy, or maybe, a great guy, but he's still a man. Don't deify him just yet.

As it is said, "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Anna Hazare is quite close to achieving absolute power in this nation of emotional fools. But he should be aware that this nation pulls down heroes just as quickly as it makes them, ruled as it is, by the heart.

So, my suggestion is, before you take out your "Support Anna" flags and march down the streets tommorrow, sit down and think with your head. Think about what is going on. The common man is just a pawn in this high-stakes game of politics. And the rule of the game is, pawns are dispensable.

One thing is certain, whatever you do, the world will keep moving on.The stars will continue shining, rivers will keep flowing. All that will change is the life of you and your near and dear ones. So do what is best for you and ones who should truly matter to you, coz none of your gods will do that for you.

A proverb comes to my mind, "Don't poke your nose where it does not belong or you might end up losing it."

And I'm sure, things much more precious and valuable than a nose will be at risk in tommorrow's political theatre.

Invictus ..

Once in a while, you come across something that inspires you, something that changes your life. 'Invictus' is one such poem. Written by William Ernest Henley in 1875, it has been a source of inspiration for people like Nelson Mandela. It is famously said to be "the poem that inspired a nation".

Here it is, for your reading pleasure.

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.