The “Greater” creatures – Homo sapiens

Life is beautiful, or at least, it is supposed to be. We’re incredibly lucky that God chose to bless our souls with a human form. We’re living a comfortable life, being educated, building plans for a great future, investing our time an vigour into ‘creation’ – creating things, inventions, innovations promising to make our life even better. We have the power of controlling our minds that make us ‘intelligent’. We can talk, create, build homes, and build lives. We have the power to do almost ANYTHING!

As a human being, you have ‘greater’ powers than other creatures; why don’t you try to make life better for them too, other than just your own? God didn’t put us here on this planet to meddle with his creations. We’re supposed to live, to use those resources carefully and make living an enjoyable experience, for us and all other living beings. (Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking you to abandon cities and start living in the middle of a forest on wild fruits and leaves!)

Think about it, aren’t you only concerned about YOUR family, YOUR business, YOUR job, YOUR habits and also, YOUR choices? Do you even care how it is affecting others? However rigorously you may shake your head from side to side, showing those big bulging eyes, I know you don’t. Even if you do, there is some motive; you will be getting something out of it, wont you? Only a few great souls like the beloved Mother Teresa can provide selfless love.

And it isn’t only about humans.  A situation that arose recently in our colony made me think about what people’s priorities actually are. Everyone wants to stay in their comfortable cocoons, troubling to get out only to shoo away something that’s troubling them.

It had been THREE days since the street dog (a bitch) had been stuck underground. Weird, you say? Well, there was this small hole recently dug at the side of the ramp* of a neighbor’s house. This dog was about to give birth and had gone inside this seemingly ‘safe’ shelter. That’s because another dog, from another lane, had killed all her babies previously; kyunki ye patli si hai and wo moti and strong, as the littlest kids tell me. Clearly, tragedies aren’t only prevalent in our lives. These creatures suffer tragically and endure all the pain in their strong strides. It doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings. Have you ever noticed a tear in a dog’s eye? You should, you’ll start loving life more.

Anyway, the poor dog had gone deep inside and while coming out with the pups, one of its legs got stuck in the mesh of underground pipes! It wasn’t able to come out at all, and it was SO deep, no one could even see (except with a flashlight). A day passed, people gave pitying looks to the rock solid ramp, some staring, as if they had x-rays fixed in their retinas, to see or wonder what the dog’s condition would be. I saw the kids being the most affected. They stood in shock, listening to the wails, trying to figure out a way to help. The second day, someone called the MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi) and as it is expected in a funny city like Delhi, we got a huge, magnanimous Fire Ambulance instead. The fire truck came, saw the situation and said, “Ye hamara kaam nahin hai, MCD ko bulao” (this is not our job, call the MCD) or wait for two days, it might come out on its own; and went away! With nothing to do, the people went and slid back into their comfortable homes, while the dog with the pups was stuck inside with a painful leg, in a stifling, watery hole, without food or water, wailing loudly. Night came and the wailing stopped. One could hear people murmuring, “now they’ll have to break open the ramp anyway to get the smell and the dead dogs out, poor people, kharcha aa jaega inka toh” (they’ll have to pay for the expense). Heck, doesn’t anyone care at all? You felt bad because the owners of the home would have to pay, not because a life (and probably four more) had to end in such an inhuman manner? But wait, why would you, those creatures aren’t human, right? For heavens’ sake, didn’t you see its companion, sniffing all around frantically, wailing, and probably trying to call her? Why was it running around looking under cars or in the staircases? It isn’t just you, who has a life. Respect other lives; anything can happen with you too. I felt terrible. Even though I was always against my brother and dad feeding them with milk and bread occasionally, since they were always running around our gate, I felt a deep sadness seeing the poor companion. I wished I could have helped.

The next day I returned home from college, and to my delight and satisfaction, I heard the dog’s wailing! It was alive! Not wanting to miss this chance, I immediately set out, trying to talk with the home owners who wanted the dog out. They were compassionate people, thankfully and ensured their full support. The chowkidars were called in and asked to break open a part of the ramp, a little away from where it was stuck. An opening created, the people peeked in and saw the stuck dog in defensive mode, trying to struggle to keep her babies close. A dog in distress doesn’t know you’re trying to help; and angry and dissatisfied as it was, it was dangerous at that moment. We decided to call an animal shelter, which could free the dogs and take them for treatment. They came, made another opening, in the course of which one of the two guys got bitten by the dog. Angry and agitated with the situation, they went away after tying close the dog’s mouth, so it wouldn’t bite.

In the meanwhile, people started complaining about the racket that was being created by the dogs and the thump-thump of the hammers against cement. They wanted the dog out so that they could sleep in peace.  At last, a middle-aged woman, who had been helping with the process the whole time, called her husband from work to help. He came within half an hour and with a few tricks, made a comfortable way to slice the pipe, without the danger of the dog biting. There was this man in Reebok and Dockers, sawing away at the pipe in the heat, to save an animal’s life. Wasn’t it amazing? 

Finally, after whole six hours since the process started, the dog was free. Some people fed it with milk and went away satisfied. Some others didn’t bother; they continued living in their cocoons, trying to make more money probably. It was both a happy and sad moment for me. I felt extremely self-satisfied and happy. Hey, we prevented a small universe from being broken. The dog was alive, and so were its babies. But what hurt was the attitude of the residents, who didn’t really care. After all, it’s only a street dog, they say. I wanted to ask them, what if it was (God forbid) a little kid? People would have gone gaga over the issue and the kid would have been back with his doting mommy within half an hour!

The world isn’t just about you. Learn to love, show sympathy and extend a helping hand. The intense satisfaction and pleasure you experience would be much more than what you get sitting home watching the stupid TV. You are a ‘greater’ creature, show and prove it too. Help others. Love life. Live life.  

*ramp- a slope usually made of cement in front of a house.

The INDIAN way of life ;)

"An Indian can possibly be recognized from miles away, they are THAT distinct". (Quote by: me!).

Living 99% of my life in this country, where I was born, I've had enough time to observe some typical habits that define Indians and make them stand apart! Funnily enough, a majority of these habits are (sub-consciously) quite humorous. With no offense to any Indian soul (well, OK, deliberate offense to some, but I'm not taking names :P ), I'm jotting down some 'observations', with inputs from my dear dad and my bestie. (Thank you both!)

1. We have as much faith in the power of a "JUGAAD" as we have in God!
Life simply CANNOT be lived without any Jugaad!
We hardly have the 'right' things available at a reasonable price, so we make use of our brains and come up with mind boggling alternatives!
Couldn't get the required funding, borrow some for the time being;
The sole of your shoe peeled out without warning? Go to the nearest stationery shop and buy a 'fevi-kwik';
Can't find a book? Photocopier zindabad;

We live more on alternatives than on the proper way. ;)

 2. We love to REPAIR everything!
The TV set will be repaired as many times as the number of states in India, plus their capitals, plus the number of political parties! :P As long as we can watch our shows, it doesn't matter if it's physical appearance resembles that of a huge robot's smashed face, or if the kids' teacher in school teaches then that 'Beltek' is extinct, but the kid has living proof that it's not! Ditto with other electrical appliances, gadgets, even pens! On a trip to our relatives' place in London, we were shocked to see them throw out a big brand new suitcase, just because of a problem with the zip! If we tried to do that here, wouldn't we be considered insane???

3. We conveniently follow our 'Indian Stretchable Time' (IST) everyday, every hour, every second!
Of course, if they say the seminar starts at 11, it's perfectly okay to arrive by 11.45, because we know that the guests don't arrive before an hour! A lecture at 9? Well, I haven't seen anyone who's normal, arrive at 9 sharp! (Though I remember a couple of times in my first year, I arrived even before 9! That's when I was an innocent lass, though). Plus, who ever heard of a marriage ceremony duly performed at 8pm??? A guest from London on a visit, insisted that we reach at 8, since that's what was written on the invitation card. On our arrival, the thekedar was having the tents put up!

4. We think everything's overpriced.
With the exception of the recent inflation problem, generally, Indians will find everything as 'overpriced'. Excepting stuff we get from branded shops or malls (I hope so), we will bargain on anything and everything possible! Shoes, clothes, accessories, furniture, sometimes appliances, bathroom fittings, services & what not! On bulk purchases, we love a discount! A 'SALE' is highly appreciated and impatiently waited for, and we hop like toads from one sale to another! Complete with the whole family.

5. We celebrate. Celebrate BIG. (especially marriages)
This one's really irritating. Parents work day in an out, save their hard earned money dime by dime, all to spend at their kids' wedding? (especially girls). Why? To show to the other side that you can afford an ostentatious marriage? Hundreds of guests, half of whom you see for the first time in your lives, flock your huge tent, gorging on the hundreds of dishes (and believe me, half of them come for food). You're tense all the time about what people will think. Heck with what they think! They're going to ridicule you anyway. Aren't marriages suppose be the coming together of two people and their families? Calm down, there is actually no NEED for all that. If the other party thinks of you as wrong, they're not worth your love.

6. Indians love Cricket. (Note: I don't)
It's a concept I can't fathom. True, I played cricket as a kid, but at least I'm not keeping my eyes stuck on the telly all day long, watching cricketers play their long long game. Or spending an entire evening in a restro bar with a huge LCD and a group of cheering (more like shouting) peers around. I just don't understand the hype around cricket. The Hoi Polloi (Greek for masses, or 'junta') are just crazy fanatics of cricket; why? It's only a sport! (Okay, I respect it by the way). We should enjoy other sports too! Like hockey (in case you remember, our National Game), roller skating, cycling (I love both!), tennis, etc etc.

7. A sad fact: Most people lack Civic Sense.
Indians seem lovely, until they get out of their shelters and out into the streets! Driving like nuts (everyone thinks they own the roads), hardly adhering to traffic rules, calling names to everyone who overtakes them! The lady next to you receives a call and she speaks into the receiver with such a loud intensity that a howler monkey would get an inferiority complex! Queues aren't meant to be made and all the public places are open spittoons! Why? Did everyone accidentally damage their prefrontal cortex*?

Many more examples can be cited, like packing up the leftover food from restaurants (though that seems fair enough- aha! The 'Indian' side of me ;) ) and yeah, taking our towels with us on a vacation! It's a mortifying thought to leave without our towels, even if the hotel/wherever we're staying, provides a double one!
I'm looking forward for some inputs from readers too! Let's see how many true Indians can come up with perfect examples!

*Prefrontal cortex- the part of brain that supports reasoning power.

(Apoorva Chhabra- Thanks for your inputs! :) )

The transition...

I don't write for any group of readers. It's myself I write for, because I love it.
However, this is one post I think my fellows would associate with. By fellows I neither mean those 'little' junior friends (don't kill me for this :P), nor I mean the seniors (now pass-outs). I mean my batch mates, who've experienced the similar phase of transition, who, like me are now in third and final year of college.

The first day I assumed we would be walking around as bosses (why shouldn't we? We're super seniors now, after all), attracting respectful glances and surrounded by even more little first year students, who will be approaching us to get that 'information' (on college societies, what else? They haven't lived half a day of their college life and they wanna join a society. Poor souls, little do they know they'll be going nuts by the end of the session). I came to know all my assumptions were pointless, since this is what did NOT happen. I mean we DID walk around as the boss, we DID get respectful glances (I guess we did), but still, it didn't 'feel' the same. It wasn't like last year. Maybe it's a little hard to put into words, but that's what it was. Same, but distinctly different.

For one, there seems to be a back-hold of normal college conversation. All that people want to talk about is the changed pattern of CAT exam or the organizations they would want to work in. It's all really important and enlightening, but just not fun. Why don't they talk about the silly canteen food anymore? Or the ultimate fashion disasters so prevalent in colleges?

Another, and I guess the worst, is the segregation based on the fields of specialization! Two years you've had the fun of your lives with friends who will be your life long buddies, and you don't share a classroom with them anymore! I miss you my friends :/.

We've got to continuously work towards preparing for what lies 'ahead'. (so typical of us Indians, always preparing for tomorrow, with little time to enjoy the present). We've got to prepare for our entrance exams or interviews, so our involvement in ECA societies has to decrease. SO unfair! What about someone like me, who's literally survived on ECAs? It's like you're being deprived of the very things you like the most!

Plus, the teachers expect us to set an example for the juniors. We make one mistake and we're reminded how our actions will affect the future generations! Hello? Did we ever even notice what 'good' deeds our seniors did, let alone learn from it? (I mean, why even bother!)

However, I guess it isn't really that bad, you know. I mean, being the senior-most students, you are asked for advice on a variety of matters. (As if we've grown into geniuses by our third year :P. We blabber anything and the juniors leave all starry eyed, believing the problem will be resolved. But hey, most often, it DOES).

Also, we don't need to run around sticking and making posters or notices anymore! That's not what the super seniors are meant to do! Du-uh! ;)

Plus, for a change, a HUGE change, the security guard doesn't ask for your ID proof anymore. FINALLY he realized that we're normal college students, whom he sees every working day (and sometimes other days too), who've paid their tuition fee and come to college to study (Huhahhahahaa ) and are not any kind of hooligans or vagabonds or possible terrorists!

I now understand why people most often associate the best part of their college life with the sophomore year. You're not a new comer, you know everything there is to know, you interact with both, your juniors and seniors and you get to participate in ECAs a lot! It's simply the best time of your college life! To the sophomores, don't miss out on the fun this year's going to bring you. Look out for every opportunity, grab it and share with friends and most importantly, ENJOY!!!

Love and wishes
An ex-sophomore, a new super-senior!

What REAL Harry Potter fans don't like...

I'll make this post short and sweet, SO unlike my usual posts. That's because I want those morons who think they're Harry Potter fans, to read this and get over with their fantasy!

1. FAKE HP fans.
Those who like the HP world because so many people across the world are crazy about it. They haven't read the books, they don't know the central meaning of the whole story, BUT they'll watch the movies to gel in with the crowd. I personally don't think those who haven't read the books understand the depth of the story, the reason for Harry's survival, the deep meaning about love and kindness and power of goodness that's hidden in the written word. The movies don't even show everything, since it's not possible and hence it becomes 'just a magic story' kind of movie; and those who only follow the movies don't understand the real meaning. Dear such people, you are only aware of the magical names and terms BUT you don't know WHY and HOW things are going the way they're going. Follow my advice, read the books, OR DON'T blabber that you know everything about it. I'll quiz you once on it and you'll fall off straight away! Save yourself the misery.

2. Movie Ticket grabbers - just because a movie is in 3D!!!
Patiently waiting a whole year to watch the "End" of Voldy, I go out all set to watch the movie. Reaching the counter after spending a half hour in the queue, I'm cheerfully told the tickets are sold out!!! Hello??? What happened? Every single time I've gone for HP movies (which are the only movies I make the effort to go out for) not even half the number of tickets were sold. How did it become 'sold-out' now??? I'll tell you why. Because morons rule the world. Most people (and mostly kids) want to watch it just because it's in 3D. Yes, so lame. I mean, do the 7 year olds even understand what's happening? All they will understand is that there's a war and they'll love it in 3D, love the flashes of light. That's it! I feel so sorry for people like me!

3. Crazy Co-movie watchers.
We get the tickets, the movie starts. Whispers follow. On closer inspection, I find people whispering to each other. In between the movie! Spoiling the fun for others! Some will be showing off their HP knowledge by carefully explaining about the events in the movie to their friends, who don't know the story. Some will be saying out loud what's going to happen next (yeah, book readers find it hard to restrain themselves, sadly. Such people, wake up! You're not the only ones there. We know much more than you and you would do better to just shut up). Some kids would be stuffing their mouths with popcorn and saying, "Mummy, Harry ke peeche kyu bhaag re hai sab?" Of course, they don't keep their voices down either. You try to ask them to keep quiet and the angry protective mom stares at you. Sad!

4. (People may disagree with me here, but what I'm saying is completely my own personal thought).
People who want to watch the movies - in HINDI!!!
That's just so ewww. HP in Hindi is completely incomprehensible (I'm excluding those who've read the Hindi versions of the books). It would have been okay if they didn't change the names of different stuff. Gryffindor becomes "garudwar", Deathly Hallows becomes "maut ke taufe". Hello? There isn't any relation of the title with any 'taufa' or gift!
I'm not including those who've read the Hindi versions; because at least they understand. They KNOW what's happening.

5. People who don't like HP.
99.9999....... % of the times these are people who haven't even read the books. Guys, please DON'T judge the book by its cover! If you don't like magic, stay away from it; but don't criticize HP. For heaven's sake, it's the best next thing to the word 'magic' in fiction. A whole new legendary world created via imagination. Hats off to J.K.Rowling! Millions of kids have spent their childhood/teenage/both with Harry and his mystical world. They owe HP their reading habit, their improved language skills and knowledge. For those who've read the books but still don't like them, I would like to say just three words - GET A LIFE!!!

6. People who wonder why some people ( like ME) are crazy about HP...
Either read the series yourself or STOP wondering. :p

Personal note - Anybody who says anything negative about HP (without any knowledge themselves), in front of me, is inviting trouble. I'm an HP MANIAC and have read each book at least 7 times (and counting), plus the supplementary ones. (I've only ever got *The Tales of Beedle the Bard*. Still searching for *Quidditch through the ages* and *Fantastic Beasts and where to find them*. Exactly. Where to find them? The books, I mean. They don't seem to be in any bookstore :/ )

Contrary to what I promised in the beginning, for this to be a short and sweet note, it became a long one. Though it's okay, HP is some topic I love to talk about! HP fans, and I mean REAL HP fans, do tell me if you agree with me or not! I would love to discuss HP further.

Ending with Dumbledore's lines (to Harry) that I love, "You've got a power of which Voldemort is ignorant. The power to love. This is ancient magic, understood by few."