MUMBAI BLASTS - WILL WE? WON'T WE? SHALL I, SHAN'T I?

I remember, as a child, when China invaded our country in 1962. The immediate response was, one of hatred against the invader. But as the dust settled - there was one big lesson for our country. IT WAS A WAKE-UP CALL. So when Pakistan attacked us in 1965, we were prepared. In hindsight - we kept hearing our elders say - we should thank China - but for them we would have lost Kashmir.

Dust is slowly settling on Mumbai blasts too. The lessons have to be learnt. WILL WE? WON'T WE?

Friends allow me to slumber; Enemies keep me AWAKE!

I had hoped to keep away from such public domain issues. But the mind keeps asking SHALL I? SHAN'T I?

DID I PLAY IN THE BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Watching Bhaskar shoot his baskets is eerie. He has copied the jump - the extended arm with the palm up on which rests the basketball and then that flick of the wrist to score a basket. My mind shouts - IT'S ME IT'S ME!

AND Raghavendra, who doesn't believe in passing, the great trot down the flank, dribbling through in a cosmic dance to finish a great lay-up. IT'S ME, IT'S ME - I am overjoyed.

AND Rojabai, the one girl army of St. Mary's; give me the ball and thou shall get a basket - reminding me of MY GREAT BALL HOGGING DAYS!

BUT surely, the master of all this, PRASHANT, the great giddu [short heighted person], hardly visible if you look straight and out of nowhere, the ball magically follows him, he makes everyone believe in the direction that he is going - the only problem is HE GOES IN THE EXACTLY OPPOSITE DIRECTION. What cunning guile - the ultimate fake of great basketball players - yet, every time he shoots IT IS ALWAYS A BASKET!
IT'S IT'S ME - forty years ago!

I am left wondering did I organize this tournament or DID I PLAY.

INTROSPECTION - FEW WORDS - A LIFETIME'S ESSENCE

TRUTH IS INEVITABLE - YET WE LIE - WE LIE - WE LIE!

TO BE ABLE TO `GIVE'- give correctly - IS AN ABILITY FEW POSSESS.

For the non-living - `living' is an exercise in futility!
For the living - it is `non living'!

The overhead sun doesn't cast a shadow;
An act of greatness doesn't create a doubt.

Every morning I rise from a D E A T H.
Every night I willingly embrace it.

EXHORTATIONS - no matter how powerful
Can't stir F O O L S.

Whenever YOU SEE a problem
KNOW! That your are the cause of it!

The more I wanted - the less I got
The less I wanted - the more I got

LIFE SHORTCHANGES US!
What we EXPECT doesn't happen often enough
What we don't expect - HAPPENS OFTEN.

NURTURING THE NEW GODS AT SUMPOORNA

The eyes stare back - in a perplexed way - do they even understand what I am trying to communicate. They have their small make-believe worlds in which joy & sorrow are easily understood.

What is this `new' thought - why am I trying to instill it in their minds. To awaken their `extreme' potential that would transform them, their families and the nation to which they belong.

All these days - like unsung gods, they have just sufferred & withered. Not any more - I tell them. Their rightful position in the world must be secured by a deep focus of their minds. Liberation and success is not going to come easily - especially when bandicoots rule the roost.

Many new goals would have to be set - a metamorphosis would be needed that would then transform the history of the world itself. Meek shall not inherit the earth - the `seekers' of glory shall and then rule this world with justice. HUMANITY MUST CHANGE - THE NEW GODS ARE BEING NURTURED AT SUMPOORNA!

I SEE US - YOU SEE YOURSELF!

You see `me' as a different & distinct entity separated from the whole - and hence YOU ARE YOURSELF!

But I see within you myself and hence I see `you' and `me' as a part of a whole - an indivisible entity of which we both are parts.

AT 55!

WE ALL KNOW SO MUCH. At least that's what we think. I thought I knew more than anyone else when I was very young. My journey of life has taught me that - the more I learnt THE LESSER I KNEW.

Now that I know that I donot know - THE URGE TO KNOW is slowly dissipating - and this declining urge is my way to nirvana. I can now wryly smile at my `antics' of the past and blissfully look at the dawning future where NOT TO KNOW is knowledge.

QUIT NOW? NEVER!

FACE UPTO IT! Are you not creating extra-ordinary desires in them and then when they see the `dark' future - won't they curse you. Just because you have a dream and just because you think you can create world champions - and just because these children and their PE TEACHERS are easily misled - don't you think you are one of the biggest criminals. Just because you have a dream - does it mean that it would become a reality. Why do you give yourself this cocky confidence and in the process are you not ruining their `middle class' dreams of ORDINARINESS.

When the Government - its qualified officers - having thousands of crores of infrastructure and training programmes is not able to achieve - YOU A BARE ASSED SKINNY `GIDDU' on the wrong side of fifties, think you can achieve - HA HA - don't you think you should quit now - once for all.
N E V E R RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!