Thursday, May 5, 2011

Simple Plan

" Procrastination, running circles in my head...while you sit there contemplating, you're wound up left for dead. Life is what happens while you're busy making your excuses. Another day, another casualty. "
- Simple Plan                       

People. Fate. Attitude.

Today, I quote a band rather unusual for my taste. And furthermore, I attempt to write about something I believe to never have understood! People.
I'm going to start with an important lesson my best friend taught me, back in school, i.e.  'No two people are the same'

Yes, we do segregate everyone, putting different tags on them, no matter how non-judgmental we may say we are, truth remains that humans being social animals, do build a society, in it creating various tiers. As we move along our own ways, we create shelves of files, cataloging each trait, each person, albeit unconsciously.

This way, societies create collective perceptions which are animatedly discussed and passed down generations. Certain general norms are set. Like 'to wear yellow pants is odd' among many others. These are important. They help one to face the diverse world, for it is easier to be able to think about it in a prescribed manner. The issue pops up, when a person forgets to be mad. Yes, mad refers to behavior not approved  by society. Not necessarily harmful. Because its important to know that life is not that easily understandable. No matter how many little post-its you stick on it or how much of it you can explain to yourself on basis of logic or pre-conceptions, its always going to leave you in a riddle. That's a statement I will stand by, through thick and thin.

So, when you forget to be mad, you learn to judge yourself just the way you've been judging everyone around you. You measure yourself in that graduated beaker of societal perceptions and mark out your potential with a neat red line. You reduce yourself to what you understand. You tell yourself what you can do and what you can't. And the usage of the word 'reduce' is deliberate, because the moment you start to think that you've worked hard enough and have learnt enough to place yourself on a level, you stagnate. For want of a crude word, you rot. It is imperative to note that the above occurrences are followed by the formation of an ego. It is but natural. If you've given yourself the power of chalking out your possibilities for yourself, you might as well give yourself a crown saying 'King of the Universe'.

But this ego grows harsh and bitter, placing other people as superior and inferior, it turns hostile to our inherent happiness, which relies upon the noble notions of equality and harmony. The path from here on, is rather sketchy. For you chose to draw it yourself.


I'm not suggesting everybody leave everything to fate and stop judging and testing themselves and others. I don't wish for a Madman's World! No, if a life with fixed parameters is what we need for survival today, so be it. But just once in a while, put on those yellow pants and walk in the streets with an idiotic grin on your face. I tell you,its the only way to remain sane.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Of truth and lies and The Great Demise

Society. Co-existence. Community.

I'm not writing to trigger a massive 'change' that will set the world right back on its feet. Nor am I writing to vent off my frustrated teen peevishness on the evergreen woes of modern life, such as the words above may imply. No, I'm not quite sure why I wrote those particular words to be honest, but as I aimlessly wander into my first 'blog', I'm bereft of any rationality whatsoever.As some might say, perfect.

Trial period has expired for things other than just my 'Express-rip version1' tonight. A new beginning.
Maybe not for you. Or maybe you just haven't thought closely yet.

The week has been eventful, colorful. I have experienced hues ranging from a delicately soft purple to a strong violent red. As greeted worldwide with much anticipation and oohs and aahs, the wedding of Catherine and William was certainly the pastel tone of purple you caught me referring to. The elegance, the subtle romance, peppered with displays of grandeur and valour- an effort to create that fairytale fantasy associated with the royalty.
But trial period, has expired. The moment's over, here is your platter of responsibilities.

The Anna Hazare movement back in India, which garnered the massive support of the people, with several thousands willing to fast in a pledge to dissolve the sticky web of corruption, shook the government and saw the formation of the Lokpal Bill Committee. In the heat of the moment, one look upon the resolute face of the 73 year old social activist caused a stir within every individual, duty for the country made its presence felt, if only for that moment.
About a month later, we have the All India Engineering Entrance Exam paper being leaked out and sold. One could blame the exploding population making it harder and harder to clinch a seat, giving way to unfair means. Or one could say that the current value system is a fail. Either way, fellow citizens, trial period is over. Choose your path.

The people around me tell me my time to 'face the real world' has arrived.
Its time to get out of school and into college, grow up, fix a future, take on challenges, handle independence, stretch your boundaries, be on your tippytoes. Is it because my trial period just ended? or because there will be a massive change in my environment requiring me to adapt and gel in into yet another rut. Some lives seem to be like series of ruts, but none really are. Its because of the ever-changing nature of our surroundings that we create patterns, to bring in constancy. What we don't realize is, whenever change occurs, yeah, your trial period ran out. Be ready for something bigger.

And of course, I end with referring to another worldwide conjuncture. The death that brought smiles to many faces. The Alma mater of the 9/11 attacks, killed in Pakistan by a troop of valiant American soldiers after an intense 40 minute encounter. Yes, some people are still frowning at the second line of this paragraph. No, I am not trying to preach about life, death, happiness or ethics. Nor in any way trying to show those, for whom, this is justice meted out for the sufferings and losses they faced in the various attacks this man conducted, in a bad light. 


No, I am only placing an un-opinionated observation in front of the readers. Read and infer.


Because, much like the wedding excitement of William and Catherine, the blood-boiling rush of anti-corruption, the carefree life of a languid teenager and the fear of Osama that had gripped the world for a decade, Your trial period has terminated.