LSD

LSD is a concept created by Dr. Devdutt Pattanaik which stands for: Lakshmi, Saraswati and Durga. Lakshmi stands for monetary growth, Saraswati for intellectual growth and Durga for emotional growth. All the three elements are important for attaining happiness. "How much" of each element is upto each individual and is highly subjective. Figuring out the right combination is our job.

When I decided to take a break from employment, I was tempted to pursue my masters. But the problem was: Though I was interested in one thing (philosophy), I needed cross connections (because my job is all about making connections and coming up with something creative and I am interested in many things). Specialization is important but not at the cost of declaring other interests "unrelated" or "Waste of time." If someone is studying Business, the time he spends studying material related to business is considered 'study' while his other interests like Mythology are considered 'relaxation' and 'timepass' ...but my question is: What if there is a connection between the two? What if I'm learning about business even when I'm reading stuff related to mythology? This question might seem absurd but what if I tell you that Mr. Devdutt Pattanaik has actually written a book called Business Sutra (there is also a series on CNBC by the same name) where he has derived business lessons from Hindu Mythology? There is an artist who paints maps and they are so beautiful that you cannot decide: Is it geography or is it art? There is an artist who illustrates statistics in an innovative manner! What will you call it?

One of my interests in watching sports. This is conventionally a 'timepass' activity. But the thing is, I have learned so much about copywriting (Which is my profession) from sports. It does sound insane but the truth is I have. And Sports hasn't just helped me in my profession, it has helped me become a better human being. 

I have nothing against conventional methods of education and the existing courses (unlike earlier when I used to vehemently shout against MBA :P..now, i have realized that no way/no course is completely useless) but I had already chosen to be an autodidact and hence, I have my own self designed course (the course finishes after my death). The course is a work in progress because learning is work in progress. The syllabus may change any day.

I was analyzing the process through which we come up with creative ideas and an interesting thing (I could be wrong about this) is that we never create ideas. We just create an environment which is receptive to creative ideas. This environment actually consists of life skills like: courage, patience, determination!! For example: If you are given 2 hours to come up with a great idea, you first need to have courage to experiment with crazy ideas. You have to be aware of two opposites: You just have 2 hours but at the same time, you cannot panic so much that you mess everything up. And these skills can be built through meditation, reading, watching a test match (which requires patience as we are living in a T-20 world!)

LSD:

Subject # 1: Sports

1. How is a successful sportsperson different from an unsuccessful one?

2. How important is courage in sports and how can we develop courage in our lives? 

3. Applying the 'switch on: switch off' strategy used by sports-persons to the creative process and also in balancing our lives.

4. Studying the work ethic of players across different sports and applying it to our daily lives.

5. Studying sportsperson's playing style (Aggressive, defensive) and learning when to be aggressive and when to be defensive in relationships, creative process etc.

6. How do sports-persons adapt themselves to different formats? (20-20:test matches, mixed doubles: singles). How do we adapt ourselves to different kinds of creative tasks: for example in copywriting profession you have to write for television, print, radio, social media etc. In relationships, you have to adapt to same people in different kind of situations, different people in similar situations etc.

Subject #2 Law of attraction

1. Is it a sham?

2. Observing synchronicity

3. If synchronicity has any worth, how can you apply it practically?

4. If Law of attraction is true, how can we create better ideas? How can we create better lives? 

5. Practical application of law of attraction starting from small things like: wishing for a particular movie to air on television to big things like attracting money.

6. To love giving away money as much we love receiving it. 

Subject # 3 Meditation

1. Achieving multiple results like:

a. Knowing the answers to questions like "why are we here?", "what is good and what is bad"...basically, all the big questions.

b. Outgrowing fear

c.  Peace

d. Clarity

e. Enhanced creativity

f. Sharp mind

g. Observation

h. Many other life/practical skills

2. To get rid of negative beliefs about money like "Money is evil"

Subject # 4:  Excellence

1. Studying the lives/ work of people who have achieved excellence

2. Do people from different professions approach excellence differently?

3. Is there a universal formula to attain excellence?

4. What kind of sacrifices is required to achieve excellence?

5. Are excellent people always monetarily successful?

6. Is there a thin line of difference between passion and obsession?

Subject # 5: Interestingness

1. How can seemingly unrelated things help us in our practical lives?

2. Observing, learning from Brainpickings, TED talks, interesting facebook pages, blogs etc for intellectual stimulation and inspiration. Using these resources to solve professional problems like creative block and personal problems like listlessness, depression etc.

3. Is art subjective? Commercial success= sellout? Why are some books best-sellers and why are some films box-office hits?

4. Watching some bad films/reading bad books to find out where the writers/ filmmakers messed up.

Subject # 6: Devdutt Pattanaik’s work

1. How to move from self righteousness to understanding and compassion? Are 'good' and 'bad' delusions?
2. Learning from his ideas of Vishnu and Shiva and applying it to practical lives.
3. Applying his leadership ideas, practically.
4. Applying his business ideas at our workplaces.
5. How to be involved and detached at the same time (like Vishnu)?
6. How to create Ranga Boomi (a place where everyone enjoys) and avoid Rana Bhoomi (a place where everyone competes)?
7. For improving our understanding of creativity:

a.      How does he convey complex ideas to common man?

b.      How did he create a new designation called CBO (Chief Belief Officer)?  

Whenever you feel that you are wasting your time, remember this quote:

“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him he's always doing both. ”

Pledge!

I, ____, promise to commit myself to love/passion. Henceforth, everything I do will be out of passion/love. I will commit myself to 4 things that mean the most to me: 1. A free mind which understands the true nature of reality 2. Creativity 3. Fighting injustice 4. Meaningful relationships. I owe this to all the people who brought me closer to my true self. I owe this to the people who have brought me closer to a happy life. I owe this to the universe which has always supported me when I followed my inner voice. I will try my best to achieve maximum utilization of my potential. I will try my best to stop looking at other's lives and re-thinking about my decisions. Everyone has their own path and it is futile to compare two different lives..just how it is futile to compare two works of art. I will try my best to stop letting the negativity and hatred in the world to stop me from loving. I will try my best to stop keeping a balance sheet of what I have given and what I have been receiving. I will try to love myself irrespective of my talent, achievements etc. I will try to do the same when I will love others. I will try my best to not hate anyone or any thought. Even the enemy of love/passion, FEAR, can be used for our advantage if we want to...but I will try my best to make sure that my motivation for everything will be primarily passion/love.

Love unites and fear divides and hence, I will try my best to not speak and think ill of others because it is just a result of FEAR. I will try my best to be brutally honest with myself and acknowledge my hypocrisy. I will try my best to be less judgmental of others because I cannot judge anyone unless I lived every moment of their life. I promise to try my best to be grateful for not just the so-called big things but the most basic and taken-for-granted things like breathing.

I promise to try my best to stop torturing myself and others because of PERFECTION. When we cry because something is not perfect, we are saying, " How dare you? I deserve the best and you are insulting me by not giving me what I want!"...when we seek self-improvement/excellence, we try to be better each day and we find joy in this PROCESS of getting better. We are saying, "The universe is so beautiful and it is MY responsibility and MY privilege to give my best to it". Seeking perfection is outcome of fear while seeking excellence/ self-improvement is an outcome of love. Perfectionists are not grateful and as someone says, "nothing new comes to our lives, unless we are grateful."

I promise to try my best to not run away from situations. Whenever I will feel extreme sadness and extreme fear because of someone leaving or a beautiful thing which is coming to an end or get scared about the fact that things will never be the same in the future, I will remember to be GRATEFUL and everything will be okay.

I will try my best to trust the universe a little more everyday.

I will believe in "nothing is impossible" again.

I will try my best to say "No" when someone/something is hurting me. Hurting someone is never a nice thing but I promise to let go of perfection in this area too: I will remember that I cannot make everyone happy. Like Swami Vivekananda's example: Even if I'm giving an inspiring speech to people and it changes the world, my speech is contributing to death of microbes! So, I cannot make everyone happy. I cannot live without hurting something/someone. So, if someone is doing something/expecting something which is harming me, I will let the person know and not over-think about it. I will also remember the fact that if someone is asking me to do something which cannot come from my heart, I won't be really 'helping' him/her by pretending. Nothing is perfect and even pretending cannot be perfect. Someday, the person will know that you are pretending and it will hurt him 100 times more. I cannot make anyone happy unless I myself am happy. Moreover, a person who expects you to do something might not stop after the fulfillment of one expectation. He/she will be back again with a list and you will just keep fulfilling them. You won't enjoy pretending and you will be unhappy. He/she will also at some point of time see through your mask because happiness cannot be faked. You are insulting the other person by not doing something from your heart and it is a bigger insult than saying 'No.'

This commitment will also be against my parents in many ways. I might have to stand up against the biggest event of an Indian's life: Marriage. I will not speak to them arrogantly. I will make my dreams and my commitment clear to them. There will be high percentage of guilt inside me which will torment me but I will remember that no single human being is good. We all are good and bad so I should be strict against people who claim that they are good and say that good people don't deserve this. Moreover, good people don't demand anything and good people will never say that they are good because everyone has a dark side and even if you have control over your dark side and you feel 'superior' to others, you are not really a good person. I know that rationality goes out of the window when it comes to loved ones but I will remember that anyone who forces me (physically or mentally by emotionally blackmailing me) to go against my passions or my purpose; do not really want the best for me. I know that this battle against my own loved ones won't be easy and I might be ostracized and hated by the society for being 'selfish' but we know the truth: Everyone is selfish. I also know that whatever path I will take, I will bloody make sure that the society benefits from it so I really don't have to be disheartened with people's labels. I will remember that most people don't think deeply about anything so I should not take them to my heart.

I will try my best not to blame ANYONE or ANY EVENT for the past, present or future. I will remember that any decision I take (even if it is helping others) is a SELFISH decision and hence, I will never think of myself as morally superior to anyone. I will never feel 'cheated' for not getting anything in return because it was MY choice to do something for someone.

I will not crib. I will do the best I can with whatever I have.

I will not live as if I need permission from 'cool' people to exist. I will remember that treating myself this way is utmost insult not just to myself but to others as well. I will remember that if I have to keep loving the people who have given so much to me, I must love myself first. Whenever I will hate myself for no good reason (no, not sucking up to the 'cool' bullies is not a good reason), I will remember that I have lost people because I didn't love myself and the only way to not repeat those mistakes again is by loving myself.

I will not suck up to someone else's opinions about success. I will remember that passion means: giving your everything to someone/something and it also includes giving up the need to be successful in someone else's eyes. I will remember all the great philosophers, great artists etc whose work wasn't even published when they were alive. I will remember people like Spinoza who rejected  professorship because he wouldn't have the freedom to speak his mind in a college!! That job could have given him the money to cure himself from Tuberculosis. I will remember Socrates who died for what he believed in. He could have chosen an easier option like: begging for mercy or leaving Athens.

I promise myself to not have a limited vision of earning a livelihood. I promise myself to find ways to be self-employed. I promise to give a chance to gift-economy.

I will try my best to not take any kind of success seriously. I will try to keep my ego in check. I will remember that ultimately, your talent and good qualities and even your happiness are a result of LUCK (even the desire to WORK HARD is not in your hands). Same thing applies to failure.

I will stop looking at life as a result/ destination and look at it in terms of journey. Sometimes, your favorite team loses but there are some players who play so passionately that you just don't care about the loss. For you, his attitude, the way he played was itself a win. I will live my life this way. I will do everything with so much love and passion that the result won't really matter. Of course, I will learn from my mistakes when the result is negative but I will never hate myself for failing. I expect 100 percent commitment from myself to anything I do. If I made a new friend, I will make sure that I do my best.

I commit myself to meditate regularly. I commit myself to freeing my mind from things that I have been taught by the society. I know that most people won't like me for this but I will try my best to not give into them.

I will stop looking for heroes. Most of the time, I wait for someone who has done what I want to do in the future so that I can follow him/her. I will remember that hero-worshiping and waiting for someone to save me is downright insult to myself and the hero. This does not mean that I will stop looking at other people's work or deeds or life. It only means that if i find someone inspirational, I will not expect him/her to live up to my ideas of a hero, i will not expect him/her to be perfect  nor will I worship him/her. I will just appreciate what he/she has done. I will  remember that inspiration ultimately comes from within.

I will try to not do something to seek admiration/followers. Firstly, achievements are a result of things on which you have no control on (EVEN HARD WORK). Secondly, many people dream of being worshiped by millions of people. But I will remember that if people worship you, it is a joke. The only thing that matters is: Did you inspire them?? If someone you worship doesn't inspire you to be courageous and do what you love then it's all a big joke. What's the big deal if I worship Socrates? It is only meaningful if I stand up to my beliefs in everyday life (in that case, i won't worship him). Worshiping a hero is just putting YOUR expectations from YOUR life onto your heroes.

I commit myself to be less cynical. If I'm at a place where people don't think like me or don't like my approach towards life and reject me without giving me a chance, I won't sulk. I will strive to make a connection with them. I will try to use unconventional methods if the conventional ones don't work. But I will never give up on someone/myself/situation.

I will never disrespect the gifts that I have got from the universe. If I disrespect my gifts, I might disrespect someone else's gifts, someday.

I will try my best to respect myself. If I don't value my own opinion, how can I even say, "I really admire/like/love you" to someone? I will remember what someone said, "A person who TRULY respects himself/herself can NEVER disrespect/harm someone." I will remember that respecting myself INCLUDES taking care of my physical and mental health. I will be sincere in doing my exercise. If a thought is destroying my mental health, I will not ignore it. I will try my best to not hesitate in seeking help. I will remember what Dr. Brene Brown said, "If  I judge yourself and hesitate while seeking help for YOURSELF, you will judge the person who comes to me for Help!" I will address the SHAME that is hidden inside me. I will try my best to talk about my most embarrassing moments with someone instead of feeling ashamed. I will also remember that if the person with whom I shared my shameful stuff hates me, makes fun of me or is ashamed of what I have done; he himself is dealing with shame issues.

I will try my best to not be dependent on people and achieve self-sufficiency (emotionally, financially etc) . I will try my best to enjoy my own company. Whenever I feel that I cannot be my best friend I will remember what someone said, "if you don't like your own company, how can you expect someone else to like it?" I will challenge the popular belief towards solitary people. Human beings compromise a lot because they are scared of being alone. I will try my best to learn the art of being alone.

I will try my best to remember that how people behave with me is about THEM and not about ME and vice-versa. If someone is rude to me, I will not take it personally. If I feel frustrated, I won't blame them. I will also remember that the way people treat me is EXACTLY the way they treat THEMSELVES. So the concept of "Look at him...he hurts others but he is so happy" is crap. If someone uses you and throws you when you are not giving him/her pleasure, you feel like a slave. But the person who used you is  himself a slave to his desires.

I will try my best to not ignore the injustice around me and stand up for it. I will never become indifferent to the horrendous crimes and do my best to do something to stop them. I will never underestimate the power of the smallest of contributions. I will remember the story of the bird which makes rounds to the river and brings drops of water to stop a forest fire. The Gods are so overwhelmed by the bird's actions that they start crying. It rains and the fire stops.

I will try my best to be responsible. I will never be a shirker. I will never think that I'm the center of the universe and when I'm suffering, I will NEVER forget that others are also suffering.

Whenever I will create, I will remember that it is not about money or appreciation. It is about putting a smile on people's faces. Rest all is bullshit.

I promise to always keep the conversation open. If I fight with someone, I will make sure that I will never put a full-stop to the relation. Instead, I will sit with the person and search for solutions. I promise to get rid of the small and big grudges.

I will never respect any authorities unless I test them out by myself. I will test every thought, every opinion on their own merit and will try my best to be not influenced by the person/institution/perception of the person in the public who has come up with the thought.

At workplace, I will never bother about petty things. The only things that matters is: I do my work with passion. Everything else will fall into place. I will be above petty politics. I will make my work so inspiring that everything else fades way. I will also remember to not get too complacent and too comfortable with the idea of working for someone.

I promise to give my 100 percent to the above. On few days, I might give less than 100 percent. In that case, I won't be TOO harsh on myself. But I will ALWAYS stick with the above and ALWAYS stay committed. The thing that takes your eyes off your commitment is OTHER options. I have realized that some of the things make me happy and hence, following someone else's path doesn't make any sense. And most importantly, I don't want to be on the deathbed REGRETTING about anything. The biggest regret is: I wish I was my authentic self and I don't wanna have that.

If I ever feel like breaking this commitment I will remember that this is not just for me, it is for people who have given a lot to me and I owe it to them (not technically but it's a good thought when you get lazy, no?). I will also remember that one of my goals is to fight injustice...how can I do that if I keep crying and wasting time over things like: Why don't people like me?

I might have missed out on few things but basically it must be around one thing: doing everything out of passion/love.

Lastly, I want to live by this philosophy (I heard it on Harsha Bhogle's IIMA speech): Khudi ko kar buland itna,ke har taqdeer se pehle, Khuda khud bandhe se pooche, "bata teri raza kya hai?"

My experiments with lies!

Look around you. Everyone is here to create a good impression. Look at your colleague. Look at that girl in the college. Their biggest worry right now is whether or not they will be considered "cool" by their classmates or colleagues. Look at your parents. Their biggest worry right now is if you have enough degrees to take care of their social reputation. We want everyone to admire us.

 I came to Mumbai in my 9th Grade. I was extremely nervous on the first day of my Mumbai Schooling. I sat on the second-last bench and just looked around the classroom. After sometime, a girl came and asked, "Hi! Do you mind if I sit beside you?" That was the beginning of friendship. I was happy because I honestly didn't expect anyone to be nice to me, forget sitting beside me. I am scared of change. New people, new environment, scares the shit out of me. Going to the next year of your schooling is scary..now, I was in a new city!! But this person sitting next to me, gave me strength. She was also like me...shy, introvert and scared of new things. This created a bond between us and we were sailing through the scary environment, smoothly. However, everything started to change.

My friend saw that there were students who were considered "cool" by teacher, students and entire school. They got the best grades but that's not it. They were perfect at everything: dancing, hosting an event, sports...EVERYTHING! It also helped that they were very charming.They had "power" over others:"Cool" was defined by them. That group was a ticket to stardom! I will admit...because of my social conditioning (my parents also liked such kids and had tried their best since my childhood to turn me like those kids), I too wanted to "belong" to that group but I didn't make any efforts. My friend on the other hand was bowled over by them. Slowly and slowly, she started getting closer to them and she was accepted, too. I would have been happy if my friend was really like those people, but she was not! When the leader of that group was impressed with my friend, my friend was on cloud nine. She started ignoring me! I was deeply hurt but didn't know that ignoring was just the beginning and less painful thing. When my friend got completely accepted, she started taunting me and even insulted me on some occasions. I was shocked and shattered. But with time, I moved on. Our schooling got over and now we both went to the same college.

 In college, there was again a cool gang and this friend again got down to impress them. The things she didn't really like...she would do those very things...just to find acceptance! However, what happened, shocked me more than her behavior during my schooling. Because of an accident, a cool girl and I were in the same group for a project. And this cool girl was very impressed with me. This was shocking for me because I never thought that cool people can praise uncool people (cool people are not bad!) but wait, this is not the real shock. That friend of mine saw that the cool girl praised me and guess what? She started talking nicely to me again! She even started flattering me. This was more painful and more insulting than what she did in school!

It's not that I wasn't influenced by "cool" people, I was. So let me not be "holier than thou" here. We both are good friends now. But these incidents made me question the basis of friendship. It made me question: Why? Why do we suck up to cool people? Why are we so cautious of our "image?" It is like subtle bullying. You are being bullied and you don't even know it! Once, I shared a thought with my colleague and when I told her that some great writer also thought the same, she started respecting the thought more because the great writer had won a Nobel Prize! Parents like your achievements more if some outsider praises them!

After my graduation, I didn't know what to do with my life. For 18 months, I was unemployed...because I never applied anywhere. I was clueless. I didn't want to do what others did: Have a job that they hate. Job means passion and commitment. I wanted to do something creative. The society, however, shocked me. People were more worried than my parents. My friends started giving me all sort of "practical" advice. The friends who, I loved with all my heart, thought that this was highly "uncool." Some even deserted me because obviously, unemployment is uncool and unemployment because you are searching for answers is EXTREMELY CRAZY. My parents were worried but since I'm a girl, it didn't matter. I was shocked. I just wanted to find out what I am good at and a job which i would love. Hell, I was even thinking: why are we so conditioned to search for jobs and not create them? But such things are blasphemy. You cannot question all this. You should shut up and obey everyone.

 All this made me take a vow.

 I decided to do the opposite of "cool." If something makes me happy and that is socially acceptable as "Cool" then it's fine (comeon, I won't deliberately hate a thing because it is cool. That's lame!) but I will never do something just because it is cool. In fact, if you want to find a true person, you should do the opposite of cool.

 I have a Nokia Lumia but I carry an outdated (more outdated than Rajesh Khanna) phone in public. This is not to attract attention...hello!! Who will pay attention to Nokia C101 (even Nokia manufacturers don't remember or pay attention to it and even if they do pay attention isn't it insulting)? This will automatically eliminate all the fake people.

 I might have written the script of a television commercial (people treat you like God if you have any connection with something that is on television) but I might tell my friend that I don't have any creative idea till date.

Initially, I was very embarrassed when someone asked me about my salary but now, the salary I tell them is 50% lesser than my actual one :P (the actual one is itself very embarrassing :P :P ).

 I would write my thought and then write "by Abraham Lincoln" or "by Albert Einstein" or other such great people and then show it to my friend. I want to see whether he/she agrees with the quote because of the "Albert Einstein" factor or genuinely. Then I tell them the truth. It is actually by me.

I was learning Photoshop from a teacher and he was very nice. I wanted to see if he would be nice if I couldn't understand a very very simple thing. Would he be patient with me or just abandon me because I don't get simple things? So even though I understood, I said that I didn't. Surprisingly, he was still nice to me! Not many teachers are like that. They only like students who make their job easier.

 I would go to a place where speaking in Hindi would be a faux pas. One of those places where people make fun of those who do not know English. I would speak in Hindi there. I want everyone to laugh at me because I don't know English.

 I might buy new clothes but I will still prefer the old ones in public. Just to see how people's behavior changes.

 I know how to look better. But I will do the opposite of "looking better." Again, I don't die my hair red, to stand out. I just don't make any efforts to "look better" which means that I look simple...straight from a town or village! It's shocking for people because simplicity is so uncool and that's exactly what I want them to think about me. I'm uncool and I'm cool with it.

 I do not hate beautiful people, English language, Nokia Lumia or any other smart phone or cool things. A phone with better technology lets me do a lot of things and I love that. Almost all the books I have read are in English. THIS POST IS IN ENGLISH. Why would I hate it? What I hate is the "status" that is attached to owning a smart phone or speaking English. I promise I will try my best to not to suck up to this BULLSHIT. I am not a slave to anyone's thinking!I won't think what the society wants me to think. I won't value something just because society values it.

Few days back, someone in my friends’ list shared this article: http://chronicle.com/article/What-Are-You-Going-to-Do-With/124651/

This article showed me a mirror. I always had questions. Questions that no one liked. And most importantly, these were the questions which had no easy answers. Since the questions were tough, weird and made me and people around me uncomfortable, I started ignoring them. .Because if I start asking these questions, I won’t have a ‘safe’ and ‘secure’ career.

A month back, my life changed. I got a job. A job that I loved. It was a relief. Relief from the endless taunts of aunties, relatives and friends. Everyone had an opinion on which course I should be pursuing. Everyone was ready to give me their ‘gyan.’ Finally, I had an answer to “What are you doing, career wise?” But after a month of employment, I have questions. Why am I happy? Am I happy because I have successfully fitted into the system? Am I happy because my career is a little bit more ‘certain’ and ‘secure’? I work in the creative department of an ad agency and the job is creative but am I creating an impact? Am I changing anything? Yes, I like my job but am I doing something disruptive? Wouldn't it be amazing to change someone's life through creativity?

Some of the conversations I had with people (before I got a job) were like this:

Them: So, what are you going to do career wise?
Me: Ummm, I don’t know. I want to do something new. Not to stand out but because I am not satisfied with the existing conditions. I mean, I don’t fit in anywhere.
Them: New? Hey, first try to get a P.G. degree..it is very important these days..you cannot really survive without it..it is bloody important..and you have to compromise..otherwise how will you get a job?
Me: Umm. Can’t you talk about anything besides degrees and how I will doomed without them? I mean, what the fuck? Why can’t we do something totally path-breaking.
Them: Like what?
Me: I don’t know. I can’t tell you right now. But I believe that if you have the will, you will have a way too..
Them: Are you fucking stupid? You are living in a dream world. Wake up, Sush! Time is running out. If you start preparing for CAT from this month, you might have a slim chance to make it to a decent B-school.
Me: *massive facepalm* Fuck, man. I am talking about innovation and you are talking about CAT? I should join a B-school and do what? Get a MBA degree and work in some goddamn investment bank?
Them: The thing is, you don’t wanna work hard. You are just jealous of people who make it to b-schools..and yes, you just want to ‘stand out and be different’..that is the reason you hate the ‘system’..
Me: This is ridiculous! I don’t have any problem with people who are doing what they love..even if their passion is going to a b-school…but can’t you fucking see? Almost EVERYONE is doing shit because that will get them a secure career. Being secure is not wrong but fuck, atleast stop discouraging people who want to break this goddamn cycle.The fact is, NO ONE (including you) likes the system…and you just deny it because facing this question will affect your fucking resume.

I used to find people boring. Everyone I met had jobs that they hated. Everyone tried real hard to somehow fit into the system. It was as if, you cannot do anything outside the box (system). I always believed that imagination/creativity/innovation can change a lot of things. But am I not like other people now? I have 'fit into' the system. I’m just walking on a path that has already been made. I’m not doing anything new. No, I’m not talking about ‘being different’ just for the heck of it. I don’t want to ‘stand out’ or whatever. I’m talking about breaking this pathetic cycle of crappy education system…every Indian wants to escape this cycle…but none of us have a solution.

Our society tries to limit us. After 10th, you are asked “Beta Science, commerce ya arts?”..what if a person wants to learn something from all the streams (I am such a person!). What if someone wants to do something totally new..something beyond degrees..something that has no precedent..?
So what should I do? Silence the questions inside me? OR quit my job and trust that I’m asking the right questions and take a risk? What will I do? I don’t have an answer.

‘Who has better tastes’ contest!

Before writing anything I must admit that I used to do the same things that I am mentioning below. So I’m just a hypocrite :P
There is a friend of mine whose attitude really pisses me off. He refuses to watch any film that is a ‘superhit’ & looks down upon people who watch the same. Anything that is enjoyed by a LOT of people, has to be crap. And, he feels very superior to these ‘dumb mass audience’ (these are his words, not mine).

I see the same attitude on social networking sites like Twitter where people love to show that they are not like the ‘dumb masses’ who watch Dabbang (I haven’t seen the film) or read 3 mistakes of my life (no, I don’t like that book!)

Why am I writing this? Am I one of those dumb masses (again, this label is not my invention) who watch masala, formula films? Yes & no. I mean sometimes, my mind is so chaotic that I just sit down & watch these formula films (yeah go ahead judge me!). But mostly, I don’t watch all those formula films. But do I need to feel superior to my neighbor (who is a big fan of masala films) because of that? Should I feel superior to my friend because I read Rabindranath Tagore & Albert Camus (okay as I’m typing this, I do feel a lil’ superior :P I do feel a lil’ snobbish as I’m taking these big names :P I’m trying to get over this) & my friend reads Chetan Bhagat? My neighbor HATES Coke Studio (both India & Pakistan). She likes Akon. Should I look down upon her & call her dumb?

I think the tendency to ‘look down’ upon something arises when you are competing. And Art in my opinion is not about competing (that is the reason I hate award shows), it is just expressing your feelings. The first thing about art is that it is subjective! But what is happening? We are trying to come up with objective standards and try to bully everyone to accept them! If it is cricket, you will judge in numbers, but you cannot do the same with art.

People look at art in the same way they look at the top 10 run scorers in the History of cricket. I do not look at art in an aesthetic sense. Let’s take an example (the example is not completely based on facts): When my dad gets some promotion, me and my brother are happy. My brother is a lil’ outgoing while I’m extremely shy. He will straight away praise my dad & tell him how much he respects him (he is expressing his feelings). I, on the other hand will prefer to say things in an indirect way (maybe I will write a short story). But the fact remains that we both love my father equally! And basically we are saying the SAME thing. Just because my brother expressed his feelings directly, he isn’t inferior to me!

Of course, I’m not applying the above example totally in the field of arts.

Yes, I do wonder..why doesn’t my neighbor watch Coke Studio? I do cringe when I watch those singers on singing shows & compare their voices to legends like M.S.Subbulakshmi (yes, I am deriving a little snobbish pleasure again :P) Doesn’t my neighbor get tired of the same old “Raat ko neend nahi aati, din mein chain nahi aata” type of songs? But who am I to decide what ‘art’ is? Maybe she likes formula films because her life is almost like those films or maybe she wants her life to be like them. Mostly (not always), the songs, the films that we love are the ones which give us an assurance that we are not alone..that we are not weird ("I could totally relate to that"). Artists are people who say things that we want to say..most of us don’t have the courage/ability to say it.

So just let the people enjoy what they want. Why the hell do you want to impose your ‘aesthetic’ standards?

I just want to say this to my friend: What the fuck? In school, you study that there is only one right opinion and that is of the guy whose definition is there in the textbook and do you want to do that throughout your life? Just accept some opinion because it is given by someone who is considered to be an authority or an expert (it is okay if the expert’s opinion is good and you agree with it but it is not OKAY if you hate a film because according to some hotshot critic, it wasn’t good)? Stop being an intellectual slave & an intellectual snob. You don’t need to bring down Sunidhi Chauhan just because M.S.Subbulakshmi is better. Just let people listen to whatever they want.

Plan B?

Note: If the reader feels that I have different view points just to 'stand-out' in the crowd, you better close this tab and get back to commenting on your friend's facebook albums with "awwwwwww <3." If someone does things just for the heck of being 'different,' he/she is a loser (okay,a confession: I tried to deliberately 'stand-out' in the crowd in my teenage because I was a highly insecure person.Not anymore). And the 'love' I'm talking about in this post is love in general and not just romantic love!! This post is not about my ex!

Now that I'm 'adult' I must say, I think twice before opening up to someone and telling them about my vulnerabilities.I think twice before loving someone deeply (no, this post is not about my break-up!).When you are an adult, you start becoming more 'practical' and try to reduce risks in your life. Few weeks back, I was tempted to follow this 'lowest-risk' philosophy because of unbelievable amount of pain and mental disturbance that I was facing because of loving someone very deeply and knowing that the person doesn't really value me(no, not my boyfriend!)but thank God, my inner voice saved me again.

Everyone tells me that I should live smartly (nothing wrong in that and yes, this smartness does save you from this much pain!). Their tips? I shouldn't get too much attached. So if I love someone, I should love them in a balanced way..because if you love them deeply and madly and they leave you, you will have to go through a LOT of pain. If you are making some friends over the internet/real life, don't get too attached..why to cry so much when there are so many people on your gtalk list,right? Why to love someone madly and face the risk of a complete breakdown? Some people even went ahead and said that loving someone madly and deeply is 'bad' (really dude? Living your life like a zombie is 'bad' according to me..who are you to decide what is 'bad' and what is 'good'?)! But if you think about their advice (to be very balanced),you realize that it is absolutely true and makes a lot of sense! But somewhere my persona is not like this.

I'm somewhat an extreme person. When I do something, I do it with WHATEVER I have got inside me. When I create campaigns, I put in EVERY FUCKING thing in it: My soul, my blood, sweat and tears! I'm incapable of doing things I am not passionate about. 'Passion' drives my life. I have been given similar advices to have 'Plan B' in my career. So if this doesn't work out, what will you do? I actually don't think much about that! I hate having Plan B (not because I'm a fool or because of idealism but because it is BORING to have a plan B)! In the same way, being 'smart' in relationships is something that I can certainly achieve (just requires a little bit of hard work)but I choose not to!Why? Because only when I love someone deeply and madly, I feel I'm alive! Otherwise I'm just a zombie or a Robot! It is easy to write this though. The kind of breakdown I have had after I came to know that the person has no value for me is just UNBELIEVABLE. I was on the verge of suicide! I even promised myself that I won't EVER love someone like this (of course, when you face his much pain the most comfortable choice would be not to do that again.) Do I still want to go through the same shit again knowing that it is just unbearable and makes a mess of everything in my life? After a lot of thinking, my inner voice said YES. I'm capable of loving only like this. Either I give my hundred percent or I don't do it at all.

People these days make fun of emotional people and call them 'emotional fools'..I don't mind that tag. Everyone is so smart but I'm dumb! I treasure my emotions. I'm not a masochist who loves pain (Do you think anyone enjoys suicidal thoughts?!) but I'm an artist! I want to FEEL everything DEEPLY. Another thing that I see these days is: People are so scared of being vulnerable and are even more scared of admitting their vulnerabilities! I guess being vulnerable is a weakness for them! I feel that being vulnerable is very important for an artist. Yes, I certainly won't allow people to walk all over me but I don't want to live a life where I won't have any vulnerability. That is BORING! So does this blog post remind you of characters in books (by the way, I'm not choosing this because of any books or films!! I'm not choosing this because of 'challenges' and 'risks.. It is just the way I am!)? I'm impractical and not 'balanced' and if you don't like me it is better you close the tab and go back to your 'practical- life' and live a life of balance sheets and do some fucking cost-benefit analysis of relationships (arre by chance yeh friend chala gaya toh mere happiness ka kya hoga? Isliye main zyada attach nahi honga) and live your life 'smartly.' Why to take risks?
Me? I choose to be foolish and crazy! You can give me any labels you want. And yes, no need to tell me that I have many mental disorders! It is better to be mentally retarded than live a boring life without passion!


"Anything less than mad, passionate love is a waste of time.There are too many mediocre things in life, and love shouldn't be one of them."

Changes...

A lot has changed over the last year or so. I was full of life and was ready to take on the world. I had role models (some I have met and some whom I haven't met). But a very depressing phase took over my life completely. I realized that my so-called 'role models' had flaws and that they are human. This was very hard to accept.


A very very important thing that I have observed is that nearly 96 percent of people are cynical. Nothing wrong in that but I don't like cynicism. There is a difference between being careful/doubtful and giving excuses for not moving your ass.If everyone thought in such a cynical way, then there would be no entrepreneurship, no risks. Everyone is so boring..all they want is a career.They do whatever they are told. After college, get an MBA/become an engineer, then get married, have kids and then worry about their careers.

I observe people on various social networking sites/people around me and I have a feeling that these people will be doing the same old things even after 10 years! When I asked them about this,they said "Everyone will die..so why bother to do anything." It is absolutely true. We all will die..but then, I just don't want to be a robot! People like Swami Vivekananda died but we discuss their ideas even today!

I saw a beautiful film called 'Freedom Writers.' It is based on a real life story. It is about a teacher who transforms a bunch of students' lives. They end up publishing a book called 'The Freedom Writers' diary.' Even she could have asked questions like "Kya yaar..job ko itne seriously kyun leti hai? Yeh tere bachche hai kya? Apna kaam kar aur salary le" or "Yeh bacche ko interest hi nahi hai world ko change karne mein toh tu kyun Mother Teresa ban rahi hai." I wish there were more teachers like Erin Gruwell.

After a year of cynicism and depression, today, I believe that CREATIVITY,imagination CAN change the world. I know people will laugh at this but I truly believe this from the bottom of my heart.

Another major change: I am a theist now :P There is no proof of God but I don't care about proofs..I just believe in a higher power.

Everything equals out in the end. I don't believe in self-pity anymore. I observed my own life and I felt that I got whatever I wanted..it is just that I couldn't recognize the patterns. You really deserve what you get, Period.

I'm sure many of us were sitting under a tree and many apples fell on our heads. But we were too busy cribbing. Newton asked the question :)

So I have decided that i won't grow up for the next 30 years :)

I just want to write few quotes by Chuck Palahniuk:

"If you are reading this then this warning is for you. Every word you
read of this useless fine print is another second off your life. Don't
you have other things to do? Is your life so empty that you honestly
can't think of a better way to spend these moments? Or are you so
impressed with authority that you give respect and credence to all who
claim it? Do you read everything you're supposed to read? Do you think
everything you're supposed to think? Buy what you're told you should
want? Get out of your apartment. Meet a member of the opposite sex.
Stop the excessive shopping and masturbation. Quit your job. Start a
fight. Prove you're alive. If you don't claim your humanity you will
become a statistic. You have been warned"

"Daytime television, you can tell who’s watching by the three kinds of commercials. Either it’s clinics for drying out drunks. Or it’s law firms who want to settle injury suits. Or it’s schools offering mail-order vocational degrees to make you a bookkeeper. A private detective. Or a locksmith. If you’re watching daytime television, this is your new demographic. You’re a drunk. Or a cripple. Or an idiot. "



"You grow up to become living proof of your parents' limitations. Their less-than masterpiece."


"A child who is never coached with Santa Claus may never develop an ability to imagine. To him, nothing exists except the literal and tangible.

A child who is disillusioned abruptly, by his peers or siblings, being ridiculed for his faith and imagination, may choose never to believe in anything- tangible or intangible- again. To never trust or wonder.

But a child who relinquishes the illusions of Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy, that child may come away with the most important skill set. That child may recognize the strength of his own imagination and faith. He will embrace the ability to create his own reality. That child becomes his own authority. He determines the nature of his world. His own vision. And by doing so, by the power of his example, he determines the reality of the other two types: those who can't imagine, and those who can't trust. "

P.S. All the criticisms towards the people on social networking sites applies to me too.
P.P.S. I haven't really thought of making this post very interesting to read..I just don't feel like doing that,right now.

If the world ends today,I would rather die a virgin than sleep with a guy who watches F.R.I.E.N.D.S

People who watch F.R.E.I.N.D.S should be shot. It is not funny. The only reason American people watch it is because of the good looking people in it (I have nothing against good-looking people, trust me). Indians watch it because it is a 'foreign' show.

I hate F.R.I.E.N.D.S. No logic or reason can make me love it. I don't care if I'm shallow. I don't care if people call me childish. Sorry, I just cannot respect other people's opinion on F.R.I.E.N.D.S and talk to them normally. How can you like someone who watches it?

Poem in the office bag

The doorbell rang.
I felt as if, my world will change forever. You know the feeling when you know that you WILL get it? After all this fucking years!
"Hi dad"
"Hi."
Oh, he has just come.
Dad removes his shoes. Then socks. Tie.
"Martin.."
Is this the moment?
"Keep this tie at the right place,comeback and put the socks and shoes at the right place"
I did what he said. I'm feeling shy. Even though I waited for this for so many years, the reality would be pretty scary. I was never hugged before for the right reasons. I was only hugged because dad and me share something. When you have that thing which is a part of you in some others body, you hug them. Whether you like it or not.
"Martin..get some water please"
I get some water. He will take the glass. Then, he will ask me to sit on his lap. Then, he will caress my forehead. Then nuzzle. Stupid, you are too old for all this. You are a grown up now.
I sit on the sofa. Pretend that I'm watching T.V. Eyes cannot stay at one place. The eyeballs try hard to look dad from the corner of the eye.
I watch the clock. Its 6 P.M. I feel that it is teasing me. The minute hand tells me, "you dumb boy, what are you looking at? After 30 minutes, I'll meet the hour hand, then I'll move forward, then meet again, then move forward..But my each move is a win over your crappy life"
Its 8 P.M. The clock is having fun.
9 P.M
Mom comes home. Maybe he wants to do this in front of her.
"Hi, Sara. How was the day?"
9.30 P.M
10 30 P.M. Go to bed, Martin.
11.oo P.M The door opens. Yes, usually Parents talk about this stuff when the child is about to sleep. Saw that in movies.
Dad takes a pillow. He is just 6 centimeter away from me.
15 centimeter.
45.
The door is shut.
Next day. 5 45 P.M. The door bell rings. I open the door. Hi Martin. Shoes, socks, Tie. Water. Clock laughing. It says: "You own me or I own you?"
Next day. 5 47 P.M. Hi martin. You scored bad in Math. Shoes, socks, tie, water. Clock is always the same.
I kept my poem inside dad's office bag on 5th April 2009.
17th May. 2012.The door bell rings. knock knock. Who? Reality. reality who?
Even though i now know why the hell that fucking clock laughs at me, everyday for 5.6 seconds at about 5.46 P.M I have hope. That one day, daddy will talk about my poem which i kept in his office bag. Fuck you minute hand.
Did he not notice it? Did he read it? If he did, then did he understand my poem? If he did, then why is he not talking about it? Is he quiet because he didn't understand it? Or because he understood it?

Cliches

"I need real life examples of Howard Roark."

If everyone waited for examples then there will be no creations! Everyone will wait for some other guy to prove things. After reading the Fountainhead, you have a goal.
Problems come when:
A.Your goal is not clear
B. Your goal is clear but the method to achieve that Goal is not clear.

And when such problems arise, you want some examples. When you have examples, life become easy! Maybe a guy will write a self-help book on " How to be an Objectivist in 15 days!"
After meeting some people I pray everyday that Ms. Rand has a second life and she writes a self help book.Believe me, that book will be a Bestseller. The Reason? Everybody wants everything to be like Maagi Two minute noodles [Instant Success].

"I don't say that I won't do a thing or change my beliefs, if I don't get an example. But examples help, like reading Fountainhead made my beliefs stronger in my ways. ."

I don't think I'm an Objectivist because I read Fountainhead. Reason and Ethics are something that I valued before reading it. Do you think the character of Roark is something new? I don't think so. He is just a combination of everything that a man should be! So Roark is more of an Idea for me. Or you can say a concept.
Now having examples is always a plus point. But just because you don't have them, doesn't mean that the theory is impossible!
You will say that you have not met a Roark in your life. Or to be more clear: You have seen parts of Roark's personality in many people but not the whole package in one person.
There are billions of people living here. How can you prove that there isn't any?
A person like Roark doesn't seek any self advertisements..He only enjoys creating things and works behind the scenes! Therefore, He is never in the limelight.


"Roark cannot be real."

Roark looks complicated because Fountainhead is a fictional book. Ms. Rand had to reach a diverse groups of readers. Not everyone enjoys reading The Virtue of Selfishness you know!
To prove our points we have to start a reality show called " Kaun hain asli Objectivist?" and have hidden cameras!
A true objectivist doesn't need to prove anything to anyone.Objectivism is just a word and Roark is just a name. Why a word and a name means so much to us? Because we are weak and we need to remind ourselves that some lady had written a book which says that what I think is actually possible! I need a book to make sure that some other person actually thinks that my ideas are not weird.

" What if Roark had a physically disabled sister and a father who needs Heart Surgery?"

I will try my best to do whatever I can within the boundary of my principles. If there is no right way, then I'm afraid I cannot help my family. This sounds preposterous.
Everyone is an Objectivist during Summer Vacations (because the only thing you have to do is eat, watch movies and sleep).
Also, If I have adopted some philosophy I will simply practice it. I don't have to preach. Atleast philosophy shouldn't be advertised and marketed. And Philosophy is not a contest.

"When I was 19, I had the same convictions."

Yeah? Then meet me after few years when I'll be facing the "real" world. But how will I prove things? Only way is having hidden cameras!

" Writing here is not preaching?"

Maybe it is. One day I will delete this.

P.S. These were some posts from an Orkut Community.

@ Someone

Today is another one of those "days." Human Beings have days for Everything. Whatever. So,Its Your Day. You are expecting me to write a blog on how much I love you? Or maybe Some Poetry? Or you expect some Gifts? If you are expecting such things then I'm Sorry. As always you'll be disappointed. I can write this in some other way..Maybe in some Fairy Tale form..decorate it with adjectives, whine a little to get 45 Plus Comments sympathizing with me. I can do that. But no one reads this Space anymore. The reasons being repetitive themes and Blog Hoarding (A Self Invented Term..I don't think there is a need for any explanation) . Anyways I don't feel the need to market this space or myself anymore. What am I doing? I don’t have any ounce of self-respect left to realize that I'm making a fool of myself in the public..Maybe I get a Personal Satisfaction when I do such things..

So by default, I must Love You,Right? I have tried doing this for 19 years. And now I give Up. I'm a Sinner. Yes a Sinner, because I asked you " Why?."

I asked You: "Give Me a Reason..Why Should I love You?." To this you come up with Bollywood Style Statement: "Love doesn't have Reasons." This is a ridiculous statement! Can You Love anyone without a reason? I can't. Even if you love a Bank Robber, you have some reason.

You say: You have to love me because I brought you into this world!
What a reason! I would have come here anyway! That is not a reason at all!

You say: You must love me because I have given you education and fulfilled all your demands..So you are asking me to love you for the Financing Part?. Love is a Life Insurance Policy with extra benefits? Or a Loan taken from a Bank? I wish people see the difference between "this" relationship and a relationship between an insurance company and the policy holder.
Then you come up with another statement : You should love me, because I Love You!
This is what I can't do! You don’t know the meaning of love you say. Maybe I don’t. But I know one thing: The word Love should’nt be used so casually. Like “Cool” and “Sexy.” Like “Awesome” and “Rocking.” Yeah I sound like some Goddamn Preacher. My love is not on sale for some charity auction..At least Love should’nt be used as a Charity...I'm not here for social service..For Love, some conditions have to be fulfilled..
But You'll say: "Love is Unconditional"
I say its Crap! I will kill someone just because he insulted me. Will you come and fight the case for me?
But I found a Valid reason. You have potential. Yes, like every Human you too have it. Since you are who you are, I decided to give you time. We all need time. But your potential is like an Expired Warranty Card. I keep roaming around Maybe’s , Someday’s, etc etc. How long shall I wait?

Have you ever played a Chess Game? There comes a situation when you have just a King left..and your opponent has many. You fool around..You Keep on moving your King..Forward,Backward, Right and left. I have no idea why I’m using this Example. Maybe you know what I'm talking about..

This is not an attempt to change anyone. You can’t love people sometimes. There are people in this world whom you can't love or hate. And you know what? Its OK. I feel free. I don’t have any guilt. I walk on, loving myself. And I hope that some other Soul will not write stuff like this for me in the future! But you never know…

This is just another stupid day. The sun rose in the east and it will set in the west.

Yourself at Sale: Price Rs........

"The competition has taken an unexpected turn. You guys have to change your strategy. For God's sake forget about the Serious Stuff that you guys do. Please. Its the Department's reputation at stake. If you guys lose then our department will lose its popularity. So, please make your skit humorous. Impress the judges and the audience. Give them what they want and not what you want."
- Your Law Professor

These were the words written by our law professor during our competition. She wanted us to sell ourselves.
I'm a manufacturer. I produce a product. I just go and communicate to others that I've made it. I don't go around shouting that I've made it. Take it or leave it.I only tell you who I am. No extra Mirch Masala.
Lets take an example: Mr A and Mr B go for an interview. The Interviewer asks both of them:
" Why do you want to join our organization? "
Mr A replies:
" Sir, I have done My MBA in so and so field. You give me salary and freedom for showing my creativity and I in turn will give you my service."
Mr B replies:
" Sir, I have done My MBA in so and so field. Right from my childhood, I dreamed of being in the this sector. I'm a people's person. I want my universe to revolve around people. Just like you sir. I have heard so many praises about you and your organization sir. The word organization is very small. The word should have been temple........"
Now 9 times out of 10, Mr B will get the cake as he has marketed and sold himself.
The above example was about selling yourself. The things that you create: Is it necessary that you sell them?
Will you make a product in spite of knowing that your product will be not accepted by the mass public?

Taare Zammen Par was a hit. It was liked by the masses and the matured section of Society which appreciates good cinema. Its one of those rare movies. But If You'll show an art movie to typical Bollywood fans then 95 percent of them will hate it..People will run to watch a Yash Chopra movie instead of watching a good Off-beat movie by a bright young director.

We face a similar situation everyday when we're preparing for our presentations. Luckily till date we were liked and appreciated by almost everyone. But will we compromise if people don't like our stuff from today? What is We fail again and again? Will the principle change its color?

Will we mould our presentations in such a way that the audience is impressed?
The Answer Is NO.
Because the items for sale increase everyday:
Today: Your presentation on sale
Profit: The trophy of course, and yeah the admiration

Tomorrow: Your individuality on sale
Profit: You fit into the society and lick their shoes

Day after tomorrow: Your values on sale..
Profit: No ethics and values..which means the bride called Success is coming soon!!
And you have totally sold yourself to them.

I don't want those type of profits. I don't mind being that Old painting which never got sold because no one understood it. Its better than someone else telling you how to draw..which colors should be used..so that the painting is liked by the public.

P.S. We tore that piece of paper that the professor gave us into pieces.

SORRY MR.VALMIKI

Like every Indian daughter, I had my 'Ramanyana narration' nights. My mother used to say:

" Sushmita, this story is of sacrifice , courage, obedience and selflessness. "

At that time I was fascinated by the selfless characters. But as I travelled more and walked more roads of life I realised that some parts are unacceptable to me.

Firstly Mr. Dashrata. He is straight from the bollywood masala flicks.Yes when someone saves your life you do feel that you have to pay him back. Thats human. But he's so emotional that he gave Kaikeyi some boons! Ok he gave them.

Now Mrs. Kaikeyi asks him to send his beloved son to exile.

Ok she was cunning. But why blame her. Mr. Dashratha could have said no.I really don't understand this.

And Mr.Rama. Agreed that you should listen to your parents. But every individual has a right to live the way he wants. When this right is raped you can't just sit. Fourteen years exile is not a joke.

Here I'm not saying that Ram should have fought for the kingdom.

He could have left the kingdom and lived somewhere else,the way he wanted.

And Mr.Ram is not a very good husband. He asked Sita to leave Ayodhya because of 'society pressures.'

That's a shame. How can you send away your wife just because some people said something?

He is concerned about others opinions about him and Sita.His actions are not at all heroic.

And Mrs. Sita. You could have been more independent.Your life shouldn't just revolve around your husband.I would've divorced him.

LETTER TO MY FUTURE DAUGHTER

I have this weird idea of writing a letter to my future teenage daughter. i would call her sushmita.Here i go.........

Dear sushmita,

Today is your 16th birthday. on this occasion i would like to share some things with you as a mother. now i'm not going to lay down any rules and regulations and say "FOLLOW THEM OR DIE." Your mother is different from others. I'm not going to tell you how to live. who am i after all? Just because i'm your mother doesn't mean that i own you. you are not an object.

Firstly, i have seen that you are quite shy.Well there is nothing wrong in that. But what bothers me is that you have this godzilla sized inferiority complex. why sushmita? Now i'm not going to say that' how can you love others when you don't love yourself' and other quotes. i want to say onething....close your eyes and say "i deserve respect..why should'nt i?" and let me tell you one thing. This respect cannot be earned from anyone. Respect is a very important word in life. Never forget this word.When you start respecting yourself ,the word 'possible' which was your irregular guest starts coming everyday to your house. Don't you want to welcome your guest? now you might hesitate opening the door because when you peep through the hole of the door you get scared: this guest brings an unwelcomed guest: responsibility

Its unwelcomed but you can't ignore the guest. Take responsibility of your life. Try to keep your life's complain box empty.I think life is pretty impartial. It gives all of us a set of arms and ammuntions to fight the war of life. There are doors of opportunities. Its only the deaf who can't hear the knock on the door, the dumb who don't open it due to fear of unwelcomed guests like changes and the blind who hear the knock but they don't open it because they can't see the door.

open the door sushmita.

Also one thing that no one has told you. Your confidence should not flow because you have talent....your confidence should come from the fact that you deserve to walk on this earth!!! you have the right to breathe this air.....you have the right to live dear....Don't let anyone take away this right from you. As oprah winfrey said ," you are worthy because you are born."

To be continued if i feel like writing this kind of crap again... My God! how can any sane person write such stuff?