Death - end or new beginning?

Death is the last hurdle of life. And death of a legend or some artistic maestro brings an end to an era. It comes as a shock and takes time to seep in. It shakes the feelings but whether it is the end or the beginning is something to ponder upon. Whether it ends a lifetime or paves the path for the future generations to rise up and prosper? Death may be the end of an individual but his vision, his dreams for ever. The changes, the contribution of a person to the society plays an important role in making what the future will be like. So, it is difficult to say that death is the end. The person dying moves over to a new journey to an unknown destination. Life begins and ends but the journey continues, in some other form, in other direction.

Old pearls

So China brands its unmarried women who are over 27 years of age as leftover women. It is enough to make any self respecting woman fume. Women who are unmarried are not leftovers nor are they yellow pearls. Yes, they are pearls that have been through the harshness of time. Their shine does not fade. They are adornments. Their qualities reflect upon those who are around them. Marriage does not determine the worth of a woman. Similarly, a large beautiful pearl does not require the company of others to show its value. It is beautiful now and will remain beautiful forever.

Early winter mornings-and the dreams they unfold

When I woke up today, I had just one dominant thought that it is time to plant winter seasonal flowers. The slight nip in the breeze offered me new avenues to think of. The chill made me realize that it is the time to think, the time to dream, the time to enter the fairyland.

Winters offer a myriad of stories, families and friends coming together and creating new memories. Winters tease the senses; urge the fantasies to do a little more. A time of bonfires and get-togethers, this is when mysteries are created and unfolded.

This is the time when love blossoms, friendships strengthened and families bonded. This is the time to play and relax; work and leisure; a general feeling of wellbeing.

Like the saplings planted at this time, life also grows and moves forward, spreading love and cheer, it unfolds many new dreams and stories.

 

 

Anti-slavery day

Slavery is the ancient form of labour in which the slave is bonded to the house of the master and has no free will of his own. Under the slavery system, the slave is treated like a chattel and can be transferred from one master to another for a price or as a gift. A slave and his children are the property of his master.

Slavery has existed through ages. It includes chattel slavery, bonded labour and forced labour. Slavery demeans the human worth and equates human life with that of animals or as lifeless objects. It is considered to be one of the biggest violations of human freedom and dignity.

The Universal Declaration on Human Rights has declared freedom from slavery as one of the fundamental human rights. The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights also declares freedom from slavery as a fundamental freedom. It prohibits slavery and enforced servitude.

In India, the Constitution prohibits bonded labour and beggar. The Bonded Labour (Prohibition) Act, 1976 also lays down provisions relating to the abolition of slavery.

However, after all these legal provisions also, the menace of slavery still exist the world over. It needs to be addressed at public platforms. Social consciousness alone can curb it.

Teri zulfon ke ghane saaye mein, jo main aa jaao toh chain aa jaaye

Teri aankhon ke aaine mein, jo sama jaao toh chain aa jaaye

Sham ne dhalte huye bola, chand ne rukh ko jo zara khola

Tere chehre ki shabahat ki main, ik jhalak paao toh chain aa jaaye

Bolti hai teri aankhon ki jhalak, koi phirta hai pyaasa yahan

Ik khatra jo mile is mai ka, doob jaao toh chain aa jaaye

Subah ke rang bhi khoye hain kahin, khushbu phir phool se khafa huyi

Jhilmilaata tera saaya jo pade, ghash mein aa jaao toh chain aa jaaye

Teri baahon ki mehek hai baaqi, dil mein thodi si kasak hai baaqi

Dum bhi nikle jo tere dar pe mera, tujhko dekhu toh chain aa jaaye

 

Taliban not the face of Islam

Why is that a couple of self appointed guardians of religion are able to tarnish the image of a religion that is in reality a peace loving religion? Why are they able to force their opinion of morality and propriety and the world watches numb?

Islam is not all about jihad. And if there is jihad, it is jihad against one’s inner evils. It is a war against one’s greed, envy, anger and hatred. It does not force women to stay covered from head to toe nor does it propagate bigamy. Instead, it stands for women’s education, it is the first religion to give property rights to women, it orders the husband to fulfill his duties towards his wife. It is these self appointed guardians or ambassadors of religion who have distorted the face of religion.

Islam in its essence speaks of love, of tolerance, of patience. It does not force a person to do anything against his will. It prohibits only such acts that are harmful for a man’s body or soul.

But above all, it speaks of love and goodness. It is all about sharing one’s bounties with others, specially the less fortunate.

It is against religious symbolism. It just requires a loving heart. A heart that is ready to submit in front of its creator’s will and a heart ready to help anyone and everyone in need.

This is a religion of love and not of war. And Taliban does not represent the true meaning of Islam.

Yet again

Yet again a girl is raped

Yet again she is blamed

Yet again her liberty curbed

Yet again her dreams crushed

She is violated

She is cursed

She is called names

The victim is culprit

The criminal innocent

She takes the blame to her grave

Yet again we fail our duty

To cherish the flower we had

Yet again it is crushed

Broken and trampled

Waiting for justice yet again

Questions

What ails you my brother-

That you cannot be friends?

Why you can’t be loving?

Why do you have to shatter dreams,

Break hearts, kill hopes?

You cannot bear another’s joy

It pains you if people smile

Their success pricks your eye

My brother open your heart

Let love and peace enter it

Be a friend

Be a mother

Have a little faith

 

 

 

 

Disappointed!

What has this world come to when a young, teenage girl is shot at for writing for girl’s education? It’s a shame that the world has become so inhuman. The innocents are butchered in the name of religion if they talk of equality. Is it a crime to stand against injustice? A crime to fight for the poor and the needy? Why is the world not ready to accept a girl with a liberal mind? Why are the so called caretakers of religion enemy of humanity?

It’s true that if the dead are given voice they will say that this world is not a place worth living. It’s really disappointing to see that human life has no value, justice and equality have no worth, love has no place. There is no place for free thinking people, for people who speak their mind, who fight for others.

Has Indian advertisement lost it?

Television today is full of advertisements that are bordering on vulgarity and disrespect. Mobile companies don’t shy away in calling a person with a simple handset uncle. They do not wince in showing disrespect to their seniors. While a soft drink company has clearly forgotten what is humorous and what is vulgar in the cricket season. Deodorants have always shown women running after guys who have used the spray.

Is it really advertisement aimed at increasing sales by showcasing the product’s qualities or is it a way of showing that it does not matter if you are disrespectful, rude or vulgar, if you use/own certain products.

Isn’t it the moral duty of the advertisers to see that what they show does not have an adverse effect upon impressionable minds? Advertisements like films affect the mind in more than one way being perceived by various senses. They have a lasting impact and hence, should be regulated.

Love?

It cannot be love

It has to be some madness

This all consuming passion

That is killing me from inside

My dreams, my hopes, my desires

Are leaving me in despair

Why cannot the past be past?

Dead and buried away

Why does it have to burn me?

To torture me endless agony

It cannot be love

It has to be some madness

Is there some demon in my head?

That is taking away my sanity

Why are my days trysts

And my nights are sufferings

Why I cannot be at peace

Why do I toil alone?

Can someone hear my cries?

Why, oh why this pain

It cannot be love

It has to be some madness

The price of privacy

One of the basic rights of an individual is that the world respects his privacy and does not interfere with his day to day life. He has the right to carry on his life activities without being scanned under the curious eyes of his neighbor.

However, with the advent of science and technology, man has abused his inventions to enter into the private world of others. Nothing is hidden anymore. And more famous the person, greater is the interference in his life. Private has changed into public and publicity involves both positive and negative aspects.

Many a times, negative publicity overshadows the positivity for the simple reason that people want to dig out the dirt, to tarnish the image of those who are famous. The price may be the complete failure of his personal relationships.

It is the moral duty of a man to respect his fellow beings privacy. One should be mature enough to know one’s limits. Otherwise it may result in complete disintegration of all relationships.