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A Requiem

Here's a short film (still pics.) I made, dedicated to soldiers all over the world. It's based on my poem Requiem. The background score is pretty awesome. So I recommend watching it with headphones / a good sound system. And ofcourse, watch it on 'fullscreen' mode.

An Imperfect Ally - Democracy

This is the destiny of democracy, as not all means are acceptable to it and not all practices employed by its enemies are open before it. Although a democracy must often fight with one hand tied behind its back, it nonetheless has the upper hand. ”

- Justice Aharon Barak, Supreme Court of Israel 

In the wake of long perpetual assaults on democratic ideals, one would have us believe that perhaps India is undeserving of democracy. Perhaps its citizens are too callous to appreciate and revere the priceless gifts of liberty and freedom that come wrapped with democracy. I've often heard my peers remark in sheer rage, "Is desh ka kuch nahin ho sakta...Aur Banao democracy ise... Are humein democracy nahin, military rule ki zaroorat hai (Nothing can save this country...keep hailing democracy. The fact is that we deserve military rule and not democracy). It doesn't require a remarkable deal of aptitude to understand the reasons behind such hopelessness. Since the time we attained sovereignty and independence, most of those who had been since conferred with power, have abused it to some extent. The range of such abuse spans from having a free meal to stashing away billions in benami accounts. Despite lack of complete official confirmation of such abuse people are aware, more than ever that persons in whom they rested their faith for ushering in a better tomorrow, have betrayed mass expectations for their individual gains.
Democracy is the only form of governance in which the will of people is supreme. Therefore there exists a constant process of appeasement of popular sentiments in the form of minority wooing & election oriented policy making. But it's ironic that the real purpose for which people choose representatives is totally belied. That includes, though not limited to, improvement in welfare measures, education, healthcare, economic empowerment, security and justice delivery system. It's not difficult to understand that if pleasing people is what it takes to remain in power, why aren't beneficial steps being taken in order to improve their quality of life. It's indubitably because of the reason that taking such steps would naturally entail expenditure of Govt. revenues and other State income, due diligence, sincerity and a completely corruption free work culture, which at least in the current scenario seems as impossible as cheating death.

Another essential feature of any democracy is its justice delivery mechanism, which in our country, has suffered an erosion of faith. This is mainly because of the delay in conclusion of Court cases and the seemingly large number of apparent criminals escaping punishment. But most people misunderstand the causes behind these maladies. (For a discussion on this issue read this ). Be that as it may, in a democracy, the manner in which justice is administered by Courts rests largely on the principles of natural justice. In such systems the thrust is on two major norms. Firstly, no one shall be condemned without having been provided with an opportunity of making his defense and secondly no one shall be a judge of his own cause. While the former ensures that every man has a chance of being heard the latter prevents possibilities of bias creeping into the judicial process. In according opportunity of being heard, the person accused, is provided with all fair & reasonable means to make such a defense. It is this particular scope, that has been the subject of all kinds of exploitation and abuse by persons thriving on ingenuity. One cannot help but lament at the cause for which such a facility was accorded to accused persons in the first place and the resultant manipulation that it has been made subject to at the hands of the cunning & the crafty. A hundred guilty may go free but one innocent man should not be punished. This has been the code of the entire judicial process that our Constitutional drafters created. Obviously they had an oppressed, exploited and a truly innocent accused person in mind while injecting this principle into the entire system. Little did they know that the men in whose hands they were bequeathing the freedom were the least capable of handling it.

I often see elite, erudite scholars analyzing hundreds of issues concerning the welfare of our nation. They are ready with theories, analyses for each situation. The media shows a keen interest in creating an optimum environment where there'd be free exchange of such stimulating thoughts. So many scandals have been unearthed. So many politicians have been brought under the scanner. Yet they prevail in the end. They manage to climb back to power. That too by votes, not by magic. There could be many causes for that. One of the startling causes however remains the apathy and indifference of the people who listen to those debates and discussions of those scholars and happily wake up the next morning and embark themselves upon their private pursuits. On the contrary people who matter to say the least - tribals, uneducated minorities living in remote areas, right wing, left wing, fanatics, poor farmers and villagers, never hear these debates. They are ultimately the cause for the electoral outcome.

However, despite such difficult scenarios, democracy remains the best form of governance. The simple cause  being the existence of regard for civil liberties and fundamental rights of its subjects, in a democracy. It is needless to say that when tremendous significance is ascribed to rights and liberties, there's bound to be some collateral damage in the form of hijacking of such facility. That's the paradox of the times we live in and the irony of the lives of so called the aware and educated mass. However in the recent times Anna ji may have captured the imagination of these sections of our community which, hitherto only indulged in sulking but doing nothing about it. They finally gave up their bread earning pursuits, may be for a few days, and joined a mass agitation. People who know, know, that this may actually end up solving nothing, for the real cause of worries lies somewhere else. However it did shake the power corridors out of the notion that the common man is not only living to earn his daily bread. Given the right galvanizing factor, he too can stand up and cause commotion for his rights. This again is another beauty of democracy. It offers a chance at redemption, at gaining for lost stuff, for standing and shouting for our rights. Had we not been a democracy, Anna ji, like Aung San Suu Kyi, might have been thrown under house arrest indefinitely.

A few years ago, when the Hon'ble Supreme Court was seized with adjudication upon issue whether narco analysis and brain mapping procedures used by investigating agencies on suspects for extraction of information, is valid or not, the Court decided against the use of such methods. Though there was widespread frustration among investigative agencies, including the CBI on having to relinquish this technique of investigation, it cannot be denied that involuntary administration of narco analysis on criminals is against their fundamental right to life and liberty and their right against self incrimination. The Court held that narco-analysis test, polygraph test and compulsory brain mapping of the accused persons are violative of Article 20(3) and Article 21 of our Constitution. Many people may disagree with this verdict. But that's the way democracy is expected to function. The Supreme Court while so deciding took into consideration various studies which show that what a person may speak during the test may not be entirely credible, since there is a possibility that drug induced revelations may not necessarily be true. Being aware that its decision will cause serious discontentment among investigative agencies, the Hon'ble Court quoted the aforementioned statement of Justice Barak, a renowned Judge of the Israeli Supreme Court. The full judgment can be read here .

So the point is, that despite serious setbacks, democracy is too precious to be substituted by any other form of governance. It gives us the chance to oppose, to speak freely, to raise our voice to criticize and to protest. No country is perfect. What's therefore important is that there should be a constant effort towards achieving that perfection. Democracy affords that opportunity. There are a few other forms of governance in various countries. Experience has proven that they are not ideal either, despite not being democracies. But unlike in a democracy, their civilians have the least scope of raising their voices and protesting against what they feel is wrong. So also it is often seen that there is always a perpetual inclination towards democracy in non democratic countries but not the vice versa. The irresistible deduction therefore is that no matter how frustrating it could be to witness democratic ideals being manipulated and used for perpetrating wrongs, it inevitably remains the best choice of administration, if not for anything else, for the opportunity it accords for making things better without having to resort to non violent methods.

Leibstered Again

Now, this is really humbling. A couple of days ago Vaishali Jain who blogs atCosmuse awarded me with the "The Liebster Blog Award". Today another very talented upcoming blogger, Vaishali Shelatkar who blogs at Soul Curry has conferred it on me again. While I humbly accept the award, I must confess guys that I'm not worthy of this double honour.





I'll answer her questions though.

1) In Love ..would you fight for Love or Sacrifice ?

    Sacrifice

2) Preferred mode of Travel - cycle / rickshaw/ bus/ train/ car/ flight/ parachute ?

   Train

3) Are you a good cook ? 

No

4) Would you like to get wet -- under the shower or in the Rains ?

Shower (Had it not been for my sinus problem, I'd have definitely gone for the rain.)

5) Do you belive in Magic ?

Yeah, at times I do.

6) What if God meets you and asks you one of your wish to be completed ?

Increase resources (whatever they might be) so that no body starves.

7) Any crazy thing you would like to do in life ?

Become Robin Hood

8) Do you have people in ur life, whom you love from the bottom of your heart, and
you still have to tell them this ?

Yes

9) Have you walked on the sands bare footed ? 

So many times

10) Have you ever slept watching the open sky ? 

Often

11) Have you been true to yourself in life ?

Mostly I tell myself the truth to avoid / minimize possible disappointment.

As for my nominees I've already chosen them and informed them individually.

Immortality

'How is it' I asked 
'Can I live after death ?'
Smirked He and said
'Not in all your earned wealth'


The choice is your's lad
From this day onward
What you do and what you sow
That's how in memories you'll grow


Your riches be sans worth
Your powers be frail than dirt
Your face be forgotten quick
Your remembrance be no sweet


Unless you choose to be more
Than just a life full of chore
Unless you see through your core
Than just whiling away 'a bore'


Choose a path that alters
The days of your's and others
Break free from the mundane cage
Embark upon an inspiring voyage


Show the world the light it seeks
Rescue 'em from deceitful tricks
A message you must yourself become
Not bow down to the dissenting some


Only when you've touched lives
Only when you've made great strides
In changing 'worse' to 'better'
Showering love, you go wherever


When you've burnt on the altar
Of sacrifice and braved life's war
When you've given back to all
Hope in the midst of a bleak fall,


Will you be worthy of a memory
Hailed in pages of history's glory
Then time too will find you mighty
Needless to say, you'll achieve immortality

Listen Beautiful.......

What's in a pair of rosy lips, what's in a mesmeric voice
What's in the softness of hands that guides my choice
What's in a satin skin on which my fingers slide
What matters is how long we stick to each other's side;


What's a personification of such splendour
If that comes without a benevolent tenor.
What if, for all eyes you are the cynosure,
But for no one you wait at the door


They may call you gorgeous and offer you riches
They may sigh when you glance and ignore your glitches
What's in so much adulation and maddening cheers
If when you cry there's no one to catch your tears


What's in a lovely pair of eyes, what's in the beauty
What's in long braided hair and an angelic deity
All that matters my lady and all you must care,
Is how true is your heart and how your spirit's fair

Morning Gift

As I punched my username - password combo and opened my inbox this morning, I found someone's generous gift waiting for me. The "Leibster Blog" award has been conferred upon me by the very talented Vaishali Jain who blogs at Cosmuse. She is a talented writer and enjoys writing. Her abilities require no further endorsement as she has already bagged her first blog award within a couple of months of starting her blog. My heartfelt congratulations to her and all others who have been conferred with this award. I also thank her for considering my blog worthy of this award.


Usually the awards' names are self revealing about their purpose, but this one wasn't. So I set out to find what it was for. I discovered that the Liebster Blog Award has indeed been making its way around the blogosphere. Liebster is German and means sweetest, kindest, nicest, dearest, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

The Liebster Blog Award is given to up-coming bloggers who have less than 200 followers.

THANK YOU VAISHALI for the honour.


RULES

If you are tagged/nominated, you have to post 11 facts about yourself.
Then you answer the 11 questions the tagger has asked you & make 11 questions for the people you are going to tag.
Tag 11 more Bloggers.
Tell the people that you tagged them.
No tagging back.


Now the facts about me, which I can think of right now, are:-

1. I strongly believe in God. For me He exists.
2. I love writing
3. I love reading
4. I adore and respect people who tread on unconventional paths
5. I can do anything for my family. Its my biggest strength. I will give up anything which tends to compromise

    my family's happiness.
6. I love travelling.
7. I am crazy about films.
8. I am kind hearted but do not forget hurt.
9. I like people who are opinionated.
10. I tend to lose my temper easily.
11. At times, I prefer fiction to reality.
(That was difficult to summarize).

11 questions asked by Vaishali:

1] 'Checkered blue n white' or 'black'? 

       checkered blue & white

2] Curtains or no curtains? 

       curtains

3] Hardcover, paperback or ebooks? 

      paperback

4] What's your ambiance while writing? 

       solitude


5] Do you plan to publish a novel? 

        Not yet


6] Do you like to make a gift for your loved one or do you rather buy? 

       Make a gift

7] Which is the most beautiful color according to you? 

        Blue (sky)


8] What’s your mantra in life? 

       Fight for your entitlements but don't forget your duties

9] Have you ever thought of becoming a soldier in your life? 

        Yes I have.


10] Do you have stage fear?

      Tremendous !!
11] ‘Mickey mouse/ Aladin/Duck Tales’ or ‘ Shin Chan/ Doraemon/ Kitretsu’?  

       Mickey mouse/ Aladin/Duck Tales  (during the era of latter ones I'd stopped watching cartoons)

Eleven questions that I want to ask :-

Since there is no rule to not repeat the questions that you have been asked, I'm simply passing on Vaishali's questions to the bloggers that I've chosen for the award because I think they are very nice questions. At the  cost of repetition here are the questions.

1] 'Checkered blue n white' or 'black'?
2] Curtains or no curtains?
3] Hardcover, paperback or ebooks?
4] What's your ambiance while writing?
5] Do you plan to publish a novel?
6] Do you like to make a gift for your loved one or do you rather buy?
7] Which is the most beautiful color according to you?
8] What’s your mantra in life?
9] Have you ever thought of becoming a soldier in your life?
10] Do you have stage fear?
11] ‘Mickey mouse/ Aladin/Duck Tales’ or ‘ Shin Chan/ Doraemon/ Kitretsu’?

As per the norm, I have also conferred this award on certain talented bloggers, who in my humble opinion equally deserve this award.

But for well founded reasons I'm not listing their names. They have been individually informed of their award.

Cheers !!!

My Home - Lost and Found

A few days ago, work required me to travel to my old city, my birthplace. At first I felt a strange lack of proclivity towards revisiting the city where I was born and raised. It felt indeed very odd, not to sense the quintessential joy, normally felt upon being offered an opportunity to walk down memory lane. I concealed that oddity and thought better than sharing it with anyone. Frankly, I was embarrassed deep down. I was feeling almost ashamed of myself for not feeling any longing for a place where I grew to become what I am. The whole night I kept loathing myself for the insensitive person that I have reduced into. Or may be a part of me had not forgotten what I had suffered at that place. When we had left the city almost five years ago, it was sort of an escape from perpetual humiliation and dejection. It had to be the only plausible explanation for such a startling erosion of affection. An ominous sensation, a looming fear that comes intertwined with its biggest symbol. The sadness and degradation comes to haunt me every time that place is mentioned to my ears. The greater sad part is that before the miseries began unfolding and also even for quite a substantial duration thereafter, while multiple distresses were being perpetrated by the powers that be, I had lived the most memorable moments of my life there.

A series of five speed breaking road humps jolted me out of my trance and I noticed that I was on the last bridge  before the southern perimeter of the city. I pulled down the window panes despite past experience of headache and sinus attacks. The gusts of wind born of the river flanking the city unmistakably persuaded me to reminisce the good old days of my life. I forgot all the darkness which I feared would surround me under broad daylight. As we entered the city, the velocity of our vehicle was forced to drastic reduction by the debilitating traffic, and there I found my first memory. I recalled my father presaging me by saying that I would never truly learn driving as long as I don't drive in the thick traffic of our city during the peak hour of the day. What I saw from thereon opened a window of a long shut space within me. As I was guided through, softly held by the tip of my index finger.

When I saw my school I recalled how I managed to  finish my schooling of twelve years in the same school but struggled miserably in my twelfth board exams. The playground area where we offered countless prayers in chorus and heard zillion sermons. Then I noticed the nearby medical college, whose best memories remain etched in the form of heart numbing glimpses of truly 'beautiful' doctors. During the age of raging hormones it could be a very difficult place to spend nearly eight hours of your day, since every other lady I saw coming out of it, appeared worthy of my heart. The tragedy was that some of them already had boyfriends and for the rest I could simply never summon the courage. My law school wasn't far away. I did my law just near the place where lived my high school sweetheart. Though by then we had broken up and she had discovered truer love elsewhere. I saw her house. I'd seen it so many times, under the scorching sun and blinding rain just to catch a glimpse of her vague moving silhouette beyond the curtains. The roads, the traffic islands, joints, the cinema halls where I fell in love, again and again. Not only with some unforgettable people but with places, moments & indulgences to the point of addiction. There was this place where we friends hung out. There is a colloquial term ascribed to it. It's called "Khatti". I remember braving gales and torrents and chilly winters to make it in time to 'khatti'. I had made some wonderful friends here. Friends who would go far away later in life leaving only nostalgia in my custody . It was the city where I learnt to ride my grandfather's bicycle and my father's scooter. When I fell, people who I never knew came to pick me up and gave me smart tips to ride better. The best part was that the next time when we ran into each other, both of us would pause momentarily, thinking whether the other remembers the last meeting, before finally smiling away at each other's face.

The fast food vendor at my college gate did not think twice before letting me and my friends feast away on credit. We were showered with his elderly affection in shape of liberty to pay as and when we liked. When one of my friends made it big in college placement, he did not forget to touch the vendor's feet who reciprocated with his sincere blessings. It's the place where I have received unconditional love and deep hatred alike. I've been adored and whistled at by pals all along the street from home to my college in consistent display of camaraderie.I have also been in stupid, regretful fist fights and have been hounded by armed hooligans. I've had the fortunate company of friends who did not budge anywhere without me and others who got up and walked away at the very mention of my name. I have been adored & respected, looked down upon, betrayed and back stabbed in the days I spent in this city. I bagged my maiden professional engagement and earned my first income here. I've been called 'worthless' by my teachers and been given an "EXCELLENT - AA" remark by my the then boss upon drafting my first ever petition for a Court Case. In this city I wrote my first love letter, my first prize winning essay and my worst answer papers ever. In one of its oldest galleries I fought my fear of public speaking and indulged in my first ever overt oratory. I learnt to smoke and gulped my first mug of beer here. I ran every year to the Mahanadi river barrage near my house to see it's brim and the crowd swelling together. I experienced my maiden kiss and the agonizing sweet numbness of first love in its serene winter.

When I finally drifted to my old house, I found that it had lost much of its familiar identity. But the moment I peeped into the backyard and saw the trees and the overgrown grass surrounding them, a rainbow of memories filled me with glorious images of my life's long departed days. I felt melancholy slowly creeping into my heart . Something snapped, but I held myself together. I didn't want to embarrass myself by being moist eyed and all, before strangers. Though I doubt that they missed my urge. So many afternoons of my childhood, I'd spent under the shade of those twin trees. They weren't just trees anymore. That had blended into human form looking at me through tears, fraught with age. As if to say that I betrayed them by abandoning them in their last days. All I could do was move my hands reassuringly over their weary trunks to convey how sincerely I wanted at that moment, to relinquish everything and play a game of hide and seek under their shades. The saplings that my father had made me plant then, had grown into handsome young trunks decorated with enviable branches and lush leaves. I felt content with what they looked like. Finally as tired birds returned to their abodes on their higher parts, I felt glad that my trees are not lonely after all. On the way back through the clustered lanes of my old residence I saw the temple from where penetrating conch shell sound used to wake me up early every morning, its purity demystifying the anxieties of the night and where God's deity alone knew my deepest yearnings all through out my adolescence.



I returned with dusk but not before having "Dahi Vada Aloo Dum", the customary spicy Odia delicacy. (I've always considered it Odisha's answer to Chinese Fast Food for which it was my regular breakfast / brunch during college days.) And not before realizing that I've not gotten over and probably never will get over the love for my hometown. It's where I was born and became the person that I'm today.

Morality and Law

At the inception of my career I often encountered this nagging query concerning the relation between law and morality. I was frustrated on quite a few occasions where I'd helplessly discover that a certain immoral deed is without any legal consequence. I would seethe with anger at the lack of any remedy for the victim in such cases. To an untrained mind there would hardly exist any difference between the two concepts.   However, while morality may be persuasive, it isn't binding, law is. Hence a person may get away with an immoral deed but he can't do so with an illegal act. . Human response to a wrongful action should be the same irrespective whether it breaks a law or it disregards morality. This theory logically entails a comprehensive understanding of the two terms. But do we actually understand their meanings and respective scopes to be able to appreciate the fine yet profound difference between the two. Before proceeding let me tell you that I decided to share my views on this issue when I read the opinion of one my esteemed readers, wherefrom it appeared that despite his respectable understanding of sociology and politics, he faltered in distinguishing the difference between law and morality.

In one not so old case the Hon'ble Apex Court was seized with a question as to whether a man who promises to marry a woman, cohabits with her and establishes sexual relationship with her but could not ultimately marry her, be charged and convicted under Section 493 of the IPC. (For your benefit I have represented Section 493, IPC as it stands) " Cohabitation caused by a man deceitfully inducing a belief of lawful marriage.—Every man who by deceit causes any woman who is not lawfully married to him to believe that she is lawfully married to him and to cohabit or have sexual intercourse with him in that belief, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine." The Bench which was adjudicating this case was a Division Bench (two Judges). The matter could not be resolved as one of the Hon'ble Judges thought that in such cases, what the man may have done may at worst be called immoral or it may be concluded that he isn't a gentleman, if deceit could not be proved behind his acts, whereas the other Hon'ble Judge thought otherwise and found nothing wrong in attaching criminal consequences with such acts. The matter was thus referred to a larger bench for adjudication. Be that as it may, the point which is thus instantly realized is that law and morality are not the same thing even though the fabric of our society is built upon these two founding stones.  In the ancient times there was hardly any difference between the two. Be it the jurists of Greece or Rome or our very own Vedas, morals formed the bedrock of laws. In later years, law would come to be distinguished from morals. The chief distinction being their respective sources. While morals have their genesis in religion and / or conscience, laws owe their authority to the State. Dr. B.N. Mani Tripathy, the celebrated author of "An Introduction To Jurisprudence (Legal Theory)" writes that 'Morals are concerned with the individual and lay down rules for the moulding of his character. Law concentrates mainly on the society and lays down rules concerning the relationship of individuals inter se as well as with the State." It is therefore quite clear that while morality is based on the behaviour, conscience building and goodness of deeds, law on the other hand deals with enforceable norms that mainly intend to maintain order and peace in the community of men. While laws are means to an end (of peace in society), morals are of no such nature. They are to be followed as they are good in themselves.

While it may be immoral to see a man drowning and not help him, to see a beggar starving and not feed him, to see a man falling down and badly injuring himself and not taking him to medical help or to look on at a woman being harassed and standing mute, there is nothing illegal per se about these actions / ommissions. For an act or ommission to be illegal, it must be mentioned to be so by law. If it isn't then that act or omission howsoever despicable or immoral it may be, does not involve any illegality. There are even certain laws which are opposed to morals. For example morals will never hold any man vicariously liable for the wrongful acts of another man, but the law does, in cases where the actual offender is under the employment or agency of the other man who is vicariously liable. e.g. A Govt. chauffeur if causes death of someone by negligent driving, then the Govt. can be made liable for his acts and ordered to pay compensation to the victim or his family.

So are we to conclude that law and morality are completely divorced from each other ?. Well, the answer is No. The interaction between law and morality shapes the administration of justice. People conversant with justice administration system are likely to be conversant with the hackneyed expression "Justice, Equity and Good Faith and Conscience". These terms are largely resorted to by Courts of law in administering justice which tend to uphold good morals, even when the law is not strictly conforming to it. Furthermore in judicial law making and in exercise of judicial discretion, morals play a vital role. When the law offers guided freedom to Courts in taking a certain action, Courts always look to morals for guidance in basing their choice on a sound principle. The view must be to accommodate law and morals in appropriate cases, The Hon'ble Supreme Court, in yet another case (Mr. 'X' vs. Hospital 'Z' (1998)) was approached to adjudicate that, whether in disclosing the fact that the boy is HIV +ve, to his fiancee the Hospital have committed violation of ethics of medical confidentiality. The Court in its wisdom decided that when two fundamental rights (here the fundamental right of the boy to protect the privacy of his medical condition and the fundamental right of the girl to a healthy and disease free life) are conflicting then that right which would advance public morality must be enforced. Hence in that case the morals demanded that the girl should know regarding any communicable diseases that her fiance might be suffering from, in order to take an informed decision regarding their marriage. Thus the Hospital was held to have committed no wrong in informing the girl about the medical condition of her soon to be husband. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has instructed all Judges to "keep their finger firmly upon the pulse of the accepted morality of the day" in order to be able to impart true justice."


Thus as different as they might be, law and morality are like the parallel tracks of a train line. They never seem to meet head on, but are always connected to each other by strong frames of societal requirements and its only when they are held together and uniformly throughout, that society can run smoothly to reach a destination of stability and justice.

Struggle

Tired and defeated I sat grim
On the stairs that ran in
Outward I looked and thought
Reminisced how long I fought

Of all the struggle I endured
Of all the dejection that poured
Of the bravery that was hailed
Yet everything I did, failed

Undressing my soul
Of the courageous cowl
Ridding my hands
Of the futile sands

Walked my father, to sit
By me and talk of some wit
'My son' he began
Across events galore he ran

'Life's often a test
Never stop to give your best
Its when the going is the toughest
Your goal may just lie next'

'Its when the ride seems uphill
The other side might be a treasure in veil
Its when struggle is all what you do
Know your strength is set to grow'

Despite defeat, loss and misery
You'll at the end find a great story
Just when you are about to give up
That's the moment you should buckle up

For more often than not
It's been testified a lot
Struggle is inevitable and surest,
Life's only way to make you strongest

With Your Wishes I Go

I'm overwhelmed by all the support that my esteemed readers have showered on me for my quest to Kolkata for watching Chris Nolan's 'Dark Knight Rises'. So tomorrow I leave my hometown at 6 in the morning. The show is at 3.30 P.M. I've some duties to discharge in one of the places en route. Hope to God that I reach for the show on time (without of course any bad show by Indian Railways).

450 Kilometers For A Film

As I write this post, I have on my desk, a couple of pens, scattered pieces of paper, an email printout from www. Book My Show.com and I've just closed the windows of the official website of Indian Railways. Not more than 24 hours ago I sat hopelessly without any means to watch Chris Nolan's most anticipated movie of the year (The Dark Knight Rises). I had been informed that its not releasing anywhere in my state. But probably God heard my yearnings, for they were so loud, courtesy three years of waiting. If all goes well I'll travel about 450 kilometers from my hometown by train, watch the film at Inox, Elgin Road, Kolkata on the day it releases, board the return train on the same evening and reach back home the next morning.

I can't even begin to describe the seemingly insurmountable hurdles that me and my cousin brother overcame to be finally able to book our tickets for the film at Inox, Elgin Rd. What remain are the ongoing and return train tickets. Hopefully they would be booked tomorrow. I've applied for official leave and talked to my professional counterpart at Kolkata for any last minute requirements (who by the way was speechless for a few seconds when I narrated my purpose).



At times I too startle myself with this fact. That I'd be travelling to Kolkata to watch Batman - Dark Knight Rises. But then I guess that's the profound liking I have come to nurture for Chris Nolan's movies. The Batman trilogy would perhaps be the most exceptional cinematic experience that I'd have for years to come. It surpasses everything else. Partly because I'm a movie buff and partly because he represents everything that I ever dreamed of.


I'm praying, that after all this, God lets me watch the film and lets me come back home safely with nothing else on my mind except a dreamy space where I marvel over the film & take bows for Nolan for days to come.


(Read This and This )