MUMBAI: 26th Nov, 9.30 pm onwards

It’s been 50 hours of a relentless struggle – here in Mumbai there are 150 dead bodies and still counting, some even waiting to be identified. Clueless about what really is happening behind the broken glass windows at the Taj Mahal Hotel… one is at least relieved to hear that the trial at Nariman House, Hotels Oberio and Trident has finished. Following the images flooding our news channels, this repeated footage is horrifying. Whoever thought the sound of gunshots and grenade explosions would be echoed on the streets of our city someday– NSG commandoes and the army with snipers and AK-47’s crouching on the same streets we traveled everyday.

We as Mumbaites are not going to bounce back like every attack before. Be it a terrorist attack in the past or a natural calamity, our resilience in the past has become our weakness in the eyes of terrorist groups. This is all we can succumb too. No more.

With reports claiming that the Indian Navy has seized two Pakistani merchant ships and is investigating the possibility that they dropped off the militants who then came ashore in fast boats, one just starts to wonder how much more security will be needed to stop this terror - be it land, water or air… What have we done to deserve this? Our security forces no doubt have been striving hard to secure the lives of hundreds held at gun point.

Our PM’s decision to retaliate against Pakistan and summon the ISI chief is great news… but what if every allegation is denied… as the proof lulled?

Every Mumbaite is waiting this hour to see the face of the supposedly last terrorist in the Taj. When will it stop? Will it take some few more minutes or hours? Will there be an entire night of gunshots?

As a lay person a few questions haunting my mind:


- How corrupt could the system be to let 40 armed terrorist enter the country?
- If CCTV’s could capture amazing footage of terrorists in action, why were we unable to take action in time?
- Will it simply become another post 93’ blast - which simply remains records in the court of law?
- Is this enough to look beyond religion, caste and language?
- How will we console ourselves this time?

I feel indebted to the brave soldiers who are now martyrs. Their families know deep down their hearts that for our better tomorrow, their sons have given up their today. Salute.
As I lay asleep tonight I will close my eyes to a city which is now a battlefield – I hope to wake to the rise of a free city. Alas! Only a prayer of hope is all I have.

Abstract Art - The interpretation!

A common explanation of Abstract Art is that “An artist may interpret and represent his subject as he sees fit.....”. But is that entirely true? I see no need for a subject in the first place. Even post-impressionists such as Van Gogh and Gauguin made paintings to express their inner world and it is said that Gauguin would begin to paint from his imagination rather than to use nature as a model…
An abstract artist's intention is not to preserve an image for posterity, but rather to give expression to the abstract artist's inner self. If this is hard for you to understand, I don’t blame you. Because a lot of people just like you and me interpret the above statement against our contemporary background. We compare impressionistic paintings with our current perception of how paintings are made thus obstructing the true sense of a painting. Personally I wish there were more exhibitions and not just boring seminars to faciliate appreciation of Abstract Art.

History inspires - so please do read up on artists in this genre and help in rediscovery of lost art.

Mumbai Alert-It's raining have you noticed?

With it all swishy outside i wonder how long it will take before people realise that its time to pull their socks up(or gumboots watever) and that Mumbai is in an 'SOS' fix...
It s the fear of another 26/7 that keeps stores closed on a rainy day...and trips are canned and so are schools and so on...
Is somethimg going to be done or not...we can't control nature(man has proved that statement wrong too) but atleast do something about the roads and rails and children...Why is it that cameras roll at the dying scene of those drowned and after a day or two...get back to what so called bollywood is up to....
Yes yes i know the memory of an average indian is too short not to get fooled but...this is hideous...Its all a scam that needs to be set right ASAP. Where has all the brain of the city gone? Im sure it got washed away in the rain and finally got swipped into a pothole.

Random like always...

Def- "Lucid dreaming is a dream in which the person is aware that they are dreaming while the dream is in progress".
And I simply love it. Its a combination of both a want to continue the dream as well as the need to sleep. As for me, I enjoy this selective dreaming.

Just thought I'd write the following,

"There is no other sign but the sight of you each day
A beauty that makes my eyes twinkle
This rain is but a blessing, I adore thee
Come together we will fly away."

'Reasoning'

Searching for meaning in things one can place their understanding upon is 'reasoning'. It's a sheer want to understand a particular concept based on one's beliefs and as much as one may consider this to be a public opinion it still is what you actually want to see for youself.

There is immense joy in winning an argument and best when its based on indivualistic ideas and disscusions.

There is yet another fill of joy which comes in hand with success in personal thinking.

What is actually imbibed in our minds is not a good or bad reasoning. This is usually mistaken while in an argument and thus such thinking must be taken up as a mental challenge. It will help eradicate the film of perceptions that envelope each of us and structure us into a specific kind a human race. You may ask that if the film is removed then what difference would remain between two individuals? Its of utmost importance to realise that inspite of the mind being the support of every nerve in our system it does not rule our complex being. Emotions and physical touch too contribute to this.

Reasoning by itself is many a times an excuse where one is in search for satisfaction and peace of mind. To calm thoughts and hinder the process of jumping to conclusions.

Hey guys this piece of writing is totally my understanding on the subject and is open to comments. There could be times where I have rambled on useless points and may seem like I've lost focus, so you are all free to give in suggestions etc.

Regards.

'All my bags are packed im ready to go,

Im standing here...(ok nevermind)'

But well bags are in the 'packing-process' for as a class we leave for Rajasthan on Monday, 29th Jan. Ooo...so exiciting for this is the last trip as a class and a one to surely remember. The last one was in Agra-Delhi and then a trek to Manali and last November to Kodaikanal, the crown Jewel of Mother Nature and the pride of South India. It is beauty with a blend of culture and romanticism, a reality like a picture drawn by God.

As we walked and walked the hilly terrain our minds kindled with expression and joy for nature. There was an enchanting experience to walk miles without a purpose but simply a distance to cover, for with no second thought walking 15km plus is immense satisfaction. There were times we gave up and cribbed and wined, but kept our feet going for a certain target we had to meet.

It was a great oppurtunity to meet new people and make new meaning out of different experiences. We had diffrent sessions organised by our proffesor and a lots of places to viist. Te cold was bitter but bearable. We had an encounter with leeches too, which was disastrous in a way since it made us jump out of our seats and shed tears(at least i did).

While in the presence of over flowing beauty there is mixed feeling of happiness. I have most truly enjoyed to my hearts fullest.

Every trek has been a new chance for me to test my limitations and push myself to do more. Many a times I pledge never to come back but there is a certain actor that helps me realise the outcome and a certain Sudhakar Solomanraj who makes me believe in my capabilities.

Lack of Everything!!! still Smiling

Are you as a person dependent on anyone for support? Are you afraid of waking up one day with that person gone ? Do you feel life will crash down hard-face first and you will be alone?
I feared that and it happened for a few days , multiple instances have made me strong and millon others weak. And nothing can heal you but your mind. Today as I sit by myself I dont call it being lonely but spending time with the 'me'. I blame nothing on anyone else but fate, for life at the moment is playing games with me. While on one hand it teaches me something on the other hand it contradicts its saying and by then my belief. People come and go and some are meant to stay, they create the fire of passion within you and leave you unattended once life for them goes on. How can I be the person who will keep someone mine without him/her drifting apart is a quest.

Most of this may not make sense and I may be the worst you have ever read but my mind is in a similar state as of now. Before I end :

For my fault, I lost my precious,

With no cause? But he said not a word,

As I see life slipping in years, these days are not for me to moan,

For how long will I depend on you, how much more should I cry?

You will protect me, I will in return too.

When alone no 'she' will be there to wipe your tears but me.