Love – Source of Delighted Hearts

“Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.” – Robert Frost

Hearts speak one language, hearts understand one language and hearts feel one language. Hearts contain volumes of suppressed sentiments, illegible scripts and few dots which never finish. Be it a day time, be it a sleeping time, or be it a time with your sub-conscious mind – heart never ceases to beat and with every beat, it wants to live the moment with paramount bliss.

Love is the alchemist that fulfills these incessant wants and love is the language that hearts understand. Love is the medium which heart chooses to connect to another heart. Love is the source of energy, love is the cause of living, love is the purest form of God on the planet, love is the system of support in trying circumstances, love is the smile manufacturing machine with unlimited lifespan and love is something which never lets that sweetness of childhood die. Love is the elixir.

You know you are in love when life becomes easy in company of someone special, when someone comes close to you and you treasure the embrace of stillness forever, when one listens patiently to his/ her beloved for hours and hours. Love is when you can feel what others feel. One cannot get over the enigma of love – all these effects of love makes you yearn to fall or rise in love again and again. The beauty of love lies in the fact that the older the love gets, the more contentment it cherishes. Everyday looks extremely gorgeous yet so different. You dive deep and you will keep on exploring innumerable moments of unprecedented amazement.

Wow!

Love is a set of strings attached to the nucleus of human body which wanders in universe in search of yet another set of strings – to create the magical fusion.

Revitalize the Glory

As a child, most of us have all gone to the primary and higher secondary schools. Each one of us would have had a wonderful time at school where we were imparted so many lessons (which holds true in most complex of the circumstances even now). Most of the friendships that we made at school are still pure and refreshing. Just imagine the joy of bumping into one of your confidant of school time while walking across aisles of one big glass quoted corporate building. Won’t that be a special moment? A moment that is worth waiting for years. A moment that one would wish to last forever.

Weren’t those days special? Starting the day with a lovely prayer, Sharing those lunch-boxes and preserving one of those last bite for the special friend who was busy talking to the teacher, Getting drenched on that rainy evening (Perhaps overwhelming joy of first Monsoon), Bunking the classes for most awaited cultural event of the year etc. Wow! The glory, the joy, the pleasantries, the rivalries and the tussles – all were so natural. Yes, these were all so natural till a certain stage arrived in one’s life.

Suddenly, business became more important or rather keeping busy became the best way to lead towards progress. The thought of making friends at work never crossed the mind. And even when the thoughts cropped up, time limitations did not let this prosper. Family commitments also demanded a lot of efforts and time. True, these were genuine constraints and one should not be blamed for such ignorance ideally. One had nothing to choose over here, had to sail by the flow, I guess.

But, how about the vision that was THE foundation of this journey. Did we look back and realize whether the vision was intact or whether we are treading towards THE vision. Did we recollect the glorious childhood which was full of natural moments. If the vision turned hazy on the way without any likelihood of regular musing or continuous refinement, then we are heading towards an impasse. The idea is to avoid this impasse and take out time to do all those activities which helped us inculcate values and beliefs since long.

Many more rewarding and special moments would be one definite consequence of this and thus, we would be able to relive and revitalize the glory of the past!

Appreciation OR Attainment - A difficult choice!

When the odds are against, going gets tougher. When odds are against, life seems to be random. Chaos dominates actions and words. Heart thumps not as vivaciously as one would wish to. Brain lingers at a pace not suitable for survival. Nerves become vulnerable to break-down every now and then.

What could be a perfect analgesic in such a situation? Where lays the remedy and how to envision the roads ahead? These are not individual questions or private quandaries. Roughly, every one of us witnesses this challenge at some stage in this wonderful LIFE.

Yes, life is wonderful and fulfilling. Then, why stakes are heavily placed against the flow sometimes? I reckon that is how it had to be. Invariably, we subjected ourselves to a world where individuality lost its sheen to outer appearances more than several times, where we forgot to introspect at regular intervals and became handicapped in the hands of the inevitable more often than not. We followed a way not in search of attainment but in pursuit of appreciation. Appreciation of any form and it did not matter how long they lasted. As a result, all the odds even though in favor of appreciation seemed totally unwieldy. Remember, this journey was meant to be towards attainment.

If one thinks in retrospect, redemption may not be a distant dream. It is basically about knowing oneself and doing things which attracts celestial joy. When we say that the odds are against, it is not that the odds are against. It is basically odds against attainment. The best thing about odds of attainments is that it is readily transformable at any given point of time regardless of mental, physical or emotional well being. One can continue to be busy in all mundane activities - perhaps that is the cost of appreciation – but still can do a bit for transformable odd. Who know a bit may slowly turn into a large canvas of extraordinary colors – one which will have most meaningful theme of one’s own imagination.

We never chose our odds and we can never choose our odds, what we can choose is little actions or few thoughts which have capability to breach most obscure canopy.

Gods of the Games!

We have grown up watching a lot of Hindi movies which were shot in the fascinating locations of the Switzerland in 1980s and 1990s. Impressive and eye-catching locales were a key ingredient for a movie to succeed then. Almost a decade after when I look around, nothing like that is considered necessary. However, there is still something that takes me to those wonderful locales. Still, I think of the place as one of most serene and calm destination. I take a pause here and tend to think why this charm is still afresh?

Because, all these years I have related to this place through one of most serene and humble champions of all time. A champion who breaches his own bar every time when he is in middle of the proceedings. A champion who is unruffled like a stone at the most crucial juncture of the game. A champion who goes on and on. Yes, this champion is popularly known as “The Fed Express”. Roger Federer is how he is better known as. He is probably greatest legend of modern era tennis. I remember conversations with one of my friend during Wimbledon 2001, when we used to chat a lot about the game of this person without knowing what future holds for this 20 year lad. That was the only time when Roger met with Pete Sampras inside the tennis court in an ATP tournament. And guess what? Pete, the previous generation’s best, was handed over a defeat by Roger, the current generation’s or perhaps all generation’s best. That was just the beginning of Roger Era. He has achieved them all during past 8-9 years. Career Grand Slam, Highest number of grand slam titles, No. 1 seed for record 237 consecutive weeks, 22 grand slam finals, 23 grand slam semi-finals appearances over last six years...

When he lost number one seed for the first time in 2008 to Nadal, many thought that Roger era is about to fade away. This era was supposed to be ending. However, the grit and greatness of Swiss Maestro was never ever faltering. He bounced back to win French Open (Career Grand Slam) in 2009 and he continues to maul his opponents. His greatness lies in his simplicity, humbleness and passion. The way, he controls his emotions, gestures and behavior is truly incredible. He is artist of the game and makes the game look so gracious and delicious. He is indeed “God of the Game”.

As Jimmy Connors said once: "In an era of specialists, you're either a clay court specialist, a grass court specialist, or a hard court specialist... or you're Roger Federer."

Having said that, what could be equally mesmerizing in the landscape of our own country which is so unlike those eye-catching locales? Well, there is a similar kind of champion here also, who makes me visit Alps every time he comes out to perform. A champion whose class, perfection and range is beyond imagination. A champion who is popularly known as “little master” or “master blaster”. He lives in heart of every Indian. He is a role model, an inspiration machine for millions of people or a run machine as Ravi Shastri always mentions. We call him Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Over 20 years of international cricket and more than 31,000 runs, 93 centuries, 147 half-centuries, record-holder for number of records. He has lived upto expectations of a cricket frenzy nation like nobody could do in any sphere of profession. For millions of fans, cricket still means Sachin. Amazingly, no occasion is big enough for him. No matter how big the occasion is, this champion makes it look tiny at the end.

Remember the stormy night during summer of 1998 at Sharjah, Remember nightmares handed over to Wasim & Co. in World Cup 2003, Remember match-winning 103 against England at Chennai or Remember empowering knock of 160 against New Zealand that helped create a history. These are just a few of superlative performaces by this great cricketer. With the kind of vintage form he is in at the moment and with the kind of passion he has for the game, I am sure that few more milestones await for him. Nothing better than a world cup win at Wankhede in 2011 could be a fitting tribute to the greatness of this Sensational and Radiant Talisman. Amen!

Take a bow to the legends! To the Gods of the Games!

In the name of love...

The New Year always comes up a well deserved break from work and a few holidays in India (14th January and 26th January). But as February arrives, goal setting process for the year and work presume loom large once again. In the middle of all this crazy time, comes a week which is celebrated worldwide by people who are “in love”.

Every year, this time fills the hearts with bubbles and joy. And why not, nice way to refill love in one’s personal life. Youngsters and a few old ones who have not yet found the perfect one like to spend whole week dreaming about someone special. Few lucky ones end up spending the week with more than a dozen close friends. Then, there are few people who have found their best partners. These are the people who are on top of the heavens. They yearn to spend all the moments together and prefer topping up their love coupons.

Amidst all these beautiful happenings, when I introspect, I realize the importance this particular feeling called love. Love is not new in one’s life. Love is what God conferred upon us beneath this wonderful canopy. Love is what our parents blessed us with all our life. Love is what makes us feel blissful or dismal of something. Love is what we cannot choose or ignore. Love is what makes us going. Yes, love is beautiful.

Yes, beautiful is the only other name of love. To all you people in love…

दिल की गहराइयों में उतर के देखो बस एक बार,

ज़ज्बातो के रंग में ढल के देखो एक बार,

खुदा को तन्हाइयो में कब तक देखोगे ओ मुसाफिर,

खुदा की खुदाई से इश्क कर के तो देखो एक बार!!!

Darwinism - A natural phenomenon

Theory of natural selection was published by Charles Robert Darwin - An eminent English Naturalist - long ago in 1859. Though the theory was further studied and refined by few contemporary naturalists, the subtlety of this theory clung to my mind in its originality. In my opinion, the theory does not only speak of natural selection by species, but also acts as a basic rule of survival strategies in even Today's scenario.

The question is how?

The theory states that any species which vary however slightly in any manner profitable to itself under complex conditions of life will have a better chance of surviving. When I look in the world around me, I find myself in a extremely tough, competitive and dynamic environment which is characterized by diversity of opinions, beliefs, missions or philosophies. This environment is so complex that it appears to be very similar to the environment where natural selection process was found as applicable. Yes, the environment where many more individuals of each species are born than can possibly survive, where everyone is vying with each other for a spot or two irrespective of the motives.

Hence, who would get "naturally selected"? Who has "better chance of surviving"? Who will lead to propagate "its new and modified form"?

The person who varies however slightly in any manner profitable to itself. The organization that varies however slightly in any manner profitable to itself. The government which varies however slightly in any manner profitable to itself. And profitable in a manner that finds a connection with the larger cause and has a greater impact. Continuous improvement is what is called for howsoever. Frivolous supremacy may be an illusion which can ruin the "species".

As Darwin concludes in his book "On the Origin of Species" : -

There is grandeur in this view of life, with its several powers, having been originally breathed into a few forms or into one; and that, whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been, and are being, evolved.