This is the end, beautiful friend

This is the end 
Beautiful friend
This is the end 
My only friend, the end
Of our elaborate plans, the end
Of everything that stands, the end

Jim Morrison echoes in my ears as another year comes to an end. 2012 as the end of the world is a much discussed topic, so much so that there is a movie, a million websites and some zillion discourses on it. As 2011 winds down, one can't but, for once, think about the unknown awaiting us next year. Is the world really going to end? Well, I think it is. This is the end of the world as we know it. This is the end, beautiful friend....

If you look at the signs that have been strewn down our path in 2011, it is but obvious. The world is already changing, it is already a different place. It is as conflicted as ever, but new voices are being heard, new order is being established. If the nineties saw the fall of the communist regime, this millennium has seen the dismantling of many a dictatorship, many a monarchy.  Tunisia's Jasmine revolution, America's Occupy Wall street, India's Anna Hazare and many others have taken on the establishment. Corporate greed has been questioned, political  hegemony is under threat, bureaucratic indifference is being shaken up. The new voices through social media, the echoes of these voices in an extremely connected world, the tremors of the actions spurred by these voices are seen in civil society today. The last bastion of established order, capitalism is under threat now. The fall of capitalism will change the world order, the economic might of nations and corporations will not matter, the playing field will change. Is that what 2012 is going to be about?

What will be the new social order? Will it be one where individual freedom, enterprise and creativity is celebrated? Will it be one where corporate greed, network and scale are not adulated? Will it be a more equal world which is less insular and more inclusive? Will there be self sustaining smaller local economies that focus on the immediate needs of the community? Yes, 2012 has everything going for it to be a decisive year. A year that changes the way the world behaves. A year that awakens millions, a year that is the beginning of a new social order, a year that is the end of the world as we know it. This is the year that can set us free, go grab it...

This is the end
Beautiful friend
This is the end
My only friend, the end
It hurts to set you free
But you'll never follow me
The end of laughter and soft lies
The end of nights we tried to die
This is the end

Remembering all things Grandma, all things love

I remember one of the very first job interviews I attended. In the midst of all the esoteric questions that determined if you got the job or not was a seemingly innocuous one. The question was about my favorite cuisine. What was it and why....and the answer was on my lips straight away, I did not need to think too hard. I did not have to choose between Thai or Italian. I did not need to elaborate on why Pad Thai or Thai Green Curry suited my palate. Neither did Risotto cross my mind nor did Chicken Tikka Masala. Because the answer was straight forward, what I really enjoyed was my Grandma's cooking. Her homemade curries and pickles were unmatched and that was because of the special ingredient you only found there. Nothing could beat her lovingly made spicy hot curries and pickles. And yes, it is not the salt and pepper that matters, what matters is that special ingredient called love.

I am told that as a child, I was a difficult one to manage when getting to go to sleep. You can't fault me for my consistency. My sleep cycle has generally been consistent since those days.....I sleep late and wake up late. In a household where generally folks sleep early and rise early, this was a disruption. I am told my Grandma would stay up late telling me stories, singing her lullabies and trying every trick in the book to get me to sleep. And I know she did that, because the stories she told me are still whispering themselves to me after so many years. Stories from Indian mythology, stories of the Lords , stories of brave men, stories of righteous men, stories that teach you to live your life with dignity. I know she stayed up for me, because the lullabies she sang are still soothing my frayed nerves on those not so wonderful days and nights. And her stories and her lullabies have what no best seller book or Billboard Top 20 song has. It has a soul, a soothing note. And yes, it has what matters most, it has love.

I don't know why I am so nostalgic about Grandma, but, I remember today, the simple joy that permeates everything that she touches. I remember today, most of all the love she showered on us unconditionally. I am grateful for her love and the simple lessons that shaped us grandchildren into what we are today. My first tryst with unconditional love came not from reading about it in a book or in hearing about it in songs. It came from the grand old lady who was there for me unconditionally always. Finally, I remember this story,  I am not sure if fully fact or partly fiction. My grandmother was at a spiritual gathering at an aunt's place. A revered spiritual guru was visiting and many folks visited her for her blessings. The spiritual leader took one look at my Grandma and said " Here is a lady who needs attend no lectures or read no scriptures, for on her lap plays the little Krishna". I have often wondered what that meant. Today, I know what that means. It means that there is no higher ideal than love. The little Krishna plays on her lap because of the uncomplicated and unconditional love that she showers on him. Remembering all things Grandma is remembering all things love....

Hand'la glass-u, Glass'la scotch-u, eyes full'a tear-u...

The Kolaveri Di song has gone viral across, breaking million hit records on You Tube and garnering prime-time conversation on television. Big celebrity daddies are either tongue-lashing the song or endorsing it. I saw report that a much respected lyricist called the lyrics an insult to sensibilities. I don't want to get into that debate. I enjoyed the song, period. I had a good chuckle at the lyrics. The music made me tap my feet. My mind was set free. But, recently, what has truly amazed me is the universal appeal of the song. I was dropping my girls off at the school bus and I see a bus load of school children singing the song. I see videos of Barack Obama enjoying the song. So, what makes this song click with a diverse set of folks. Maybe lyrics like "Hand'la glass-u, Glass'la scotch-u, eyes full'a tear-u" ring a bell with most folks!!

Mostly, I think it works because this is a song with no airs about it. It is spontaneous. It is honest. It is from the heart. Creativity comes from an external force that runs through you, it is said. The composers were possessed by a spontaneity that is probably lacking in the world these days. Most of the world today is calculating or calculated. Most of what we see and hear is packaged. Honest and original expressions are few and far in between. Kolaveri D is simply put an original, honest and spontaneous composition. It has the kind of spontaneity and disdain that a heartbroken drunkard can have for this world. Isn't it Hafiz of Persia, the famous Sufi who likened wine and love to losing your self, your ego. Wine lets you forget yourself with no regard for the world, though you wake up with a bad hangover and some shame. Love makes you forget yourself with no regard for what the world thinks of you. And you wake up with a smile. Kolaveri D captures that essence. It makes you forget the world and brings a smile on your face. It shares a simple message about the duality of this life. Love-u and Boov-u. Joy and heartbreak. All of this in a few spontaneous lines. Hand'la glass-u, Glass'la scotch-u, eyes full's tear-u.....Machha...enjoy it....

Two lives, two deaths in contrast

Last month, October, started with the sad demise of Steve Jobs and later in the month, one saw the grim and gory pictures of Colonel Muammar Qaddafi's death. October saw the passing away of these two world figures, each resulting in contrasting emotions. The quiet and graceful going away of Steve Jobs evoked heartfelt emotions and eulogy from all corners of the world. Messages poured in from people who had probably never ever met him, but had been touched by his genius and had found life through his creations. A fortnight later, one saw the bloody images of Colonel Qaddafi's death when he was hunted down by rebels. The violent death of the Colonel evoked equally strong but dark emotions from people who had again probably never ever met him, but had been touched by his tyranny and had lived in fear of destruction. Two deaths in contrast. Two reactions in contrast.

Two lives lived in contrast, two stories to remember. One story is about the biological son of an Arab immigrant brought up in an American home. A person who went in search of meaning to the Himalayas, only to come back to his home country to find meaning in his work. A genius who found his life's purpose in shaping an infinitely different and superior world to the one we inherited. The famous $ 1 salaried CEO, that was Steve Jobs. He gave back more than he took. He shaped a new world. The other story is about a young freedom fighter who took over the reins in Libya and initially propelled it to prosperity. A person who went in search of power, probably started with all good intentions but was finally undone by the dark and evil shadow of his own excesses. Enamored by power, the power he refused to give up, the power he used in ways that benefited him first, the power that forced him to ignore the greater good. The famous self-styled "King of Kings", that was Colonel Muammar Qaddafi. He took away more than he gave. He obsessively possessed his world, ruled through fear and domination resisting change. Two lives in contrast. Two stories in contrast.

A life of positive change through creation inspiring a generation. And the other, a life of tyranny through fear undermining a generation. In contrast, one was an inspirational life graceful in death. And the other, a self-obsessed life disgraced in the end. In contrast, one is a story of hope for the new age to embrace, the other is a painful remainder of the past to discard. Two lives, two deaths in contrast.  

Die a little and live a lot more

Last weekend, I received a call from someone close to me. It concerned a Japanese colleague of his who was visiting my town on work. This person had failed to show up for a client meeting, the client had called his hotel, the hotel had looked him up in his room only to find out that the gentleman had collapsed. Upon rushing him to the hospital, it was known that he had a brain hemorrhage. This lone traveler, all alone in an alien land was in deep coma. The helplessness of the situation, the uncertainty of this life, the illusions of this reality we have created....this incident provokes and makes you contemplate life. We live a life obsessed about our own selves, accumulating and planning for tomorrow, worrying about the future. Obsessed about a self form that can be taken away from us at any minute. Worried about a future which we have little control over. We live this image that we create for ourselves, so much so that we sometimes forget to live. This self image has to die a little for one to live a lot more.

I recollect this story I heard growing up, the story of King Harishchandra from Indian Mythology. He was  known as a person steadfast in his principles and at one point, to honor his word, he had to relinquish his kingdom and sell himself to work as a guard at a cremation ground. This changed his life, transformed his reality and stripped him bare of his image of self. It killed his ego. The absence of self helped him tide through difficult times. Think about it, the image of self stops you from living fully? Are your present actions clouded by unnecessary constraints imposed by this image of self? Do you hurt when the results of your actions are not as expected? This "ROI" (return on investment)  based life is not the way to lasting happiness. One has to let go of the image that we have created for ourselves. The self has to die a little for one to live a lot more.

Steve Jobs said "Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true. Our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice." Don't let the image of your self, shaped by you and conditioned by others come in the way of you leading a full life. Let that image of self die just a little every day, let the constraints imposed be removed just a little every day, let life be unshackled to achieve its true purpose. Listen to your inner voice, live the moment, be in the present moment. Die a little and live a lot more. Viva la Vida!!

Reclaim a nation, rescue a dream

Anna is fashionable, but what I write today is not about new found "Annanomics". I am writing here about a quiet evening with my daughter and the contemplation that followed. I spent time with my school going daughter last evening, helping her prepare for her Social Sciences exam. Her Civics course has a chapter on the Preamble of the Indian Constitution. Under the guise of teaching my daughter, I re-learnt a whole new beautiful ideology upon which our Nation is founded. When I read the text, I could not but marvel at the simplicity of the message, the simplicity of the ideals upon which a nation was being built. The basic principle of equality and how everything else tied into this simple yet lofty ideal.

Our democracy is founded on the principle of equality. Some folks may call this impractical. Some folks may dismiss it as lost ideals of a different generation.. We then start blaming our corrupt politicians, greedy businessmen and slothful bureaucrats for the state of our nation. We start wearing our indifference on our sleeves. But then, you read the Preamble one day and you unknowingly contemplate what it means to you. You look deeper and you realize that you are part of the problem too. Do you really see others as equal? Are you not part of the new social divide that replace the older caste systems? Are you truly socialist? Are you as selfless as the past generations that you can share the collective growth of the society? Are you too individualistic that you think of just yourself and your nuclear family? Are you prone to the same greed, corruption and sloth of the machinery you blame, albeit in different ways?  A lesser sin does not make you a saint. Look within to be sure you are fighting greed with selflessness. Look within to ensure you are secular in your mind and actions. Look within to ensure your mind is self governed and free of prejudices. Look within and check your tolerance meter. Look around and ensure you treat everyone with dignity, be it at the traffic light , in the long queues or in the daily drill and humdrum of life.

Start with yourself to reclaim a nation and in the process, reclaim your own self. Reclaim a nation , rescue a dream today. Here is the lovely Preamble to our Constitution. Hope it inspires you as much as it inspired me.

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA, having solemnly resolved to constitute India into a SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC and to secure to all its citizens:

JUSTICE, social, economic and political;

LIBERTY of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship;

EQUALITY of status and of opportunity;

and to promote among them all

FRATERNITY assuring the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the Nation;

IN OUR CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY this twenty-sixth day of November, 1949, do HEREBY ADOPT, ENACT AND GIVE TO OURSELVES THIS CONSTITUTION.

Oh, damn fools like me !

Guess what is in common between the Indian Cricket team, Arsenal FC, Roger Federer and Fernando Alonso. What apart from the fact that they are modern day sport teams or icons? Well, you guessed right, they are my favorites. But you look closely at how they have been faring recently, and you notice one more thing in common. They have had some really bad results lately. The Indian cricket team has been whitewashed by a resurgent English team. 4-0, humbled, humiliated. Arsenal FC suffered their worst defeat in a hundred years a couple of weekends back to Manchester United. 8-2, humbled, humiliated. Roger Federer has not had a grand slam win since the 2010 Australian Open and Fernando Alonso has switched two teams since his last world championship in 2006, but has been buttoned out of his Formula One world champion form. All my sporting icons going through a "lean patch"!! Humbled and humiliated, here is another thing in common for you. And I cry out, "Who in their right senses would support these folks? Who? Oh, damn fools like me !" But then, from these shambles of defeat and stories of disappointment, I learn some important lessons of life.

Lesson number one! This world can take you over the moon when you are winning and drop you like a hot potato when you don't. One year back, the Indian cricket team were feted as heroes winning the World Cup, today, some folks call them "donkeys" ? This is a fickle world with short term memory and you can't let the noise of this world drown your belief in your abilities. Victory and defeat play an equal part in life. You hear Kipling " If you can meet with triumph and disaster, And treat those two imposters just the same "You recognize the ephemeral nature of this material world. You recognize the delusions of victory and defeat. You recognize Maya. You learn to take victory with a pinch of salt and defeat with a scoop of humor. And you cry out "Oh, damn fools like me !"

Lesson number two! You can't just believe this is happening to your favorite team. "In Arsene, we trust" is the chant of every Gooner, but doubts were creeping in. And then you realize that what is happening is because of some past actions. Arsenal went to Manchester United before the fateful 8-2 match having just lost two of their best players through transfers to other clubs. A couple of other players were serving suspension. A few others were injured. The team had not yet signed on enough new players of the caliber. You were effectively playing a second string side. What else other than humiliation could you expect. It is a cause and effect world. I have been told long back, "You reap what you sow". Your reality of today is a function of your past actions. A friend introduced me to the Lotus Sutra recently.  "Nam Myoko Renge Kyo" that signifies that life is a cycle governed by a process of cause and effect. You recognize the cause and effect. You learn to introspect your actions and you cry out "Oh, damn fools like me!"

Lesson number three! And finally, I remember thinking there is no better time to blog this thought. Because tomorrow will be different. Because India would be bouncing back against England winning the one day international series. Because Arsenal will be making its way back to the top of the Premier League next weekend with a well earned victory. Because Federer will be lifting the US Open this Sunday. Because Alonso's Red Ferrari will be back on the podium. Because Man lives in eternal hope. Oh, damn fools like me!!