Sunday, November 25, 2012

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit and her divinity..the experience continues!

...
certain elements of her eloquence in my speech- I envisage myself on the International Nobel Podium and try to utter the same words as she did when she received the Prize and delivered a speech- I am still only 'trying' to get it right. And then once, within the past one week itself, I realised, it is not the prize or even the hysteria of getting it that must have made her so eloquent- It was the pain! The smartness of speech just does not come 'without' undergoing all of that. House Arrest, Husband's Death, The handicap she must have felt on not being able to be with ther kids and watch them grow from “boys to men” and the uncontrolled pain seeing her country going to the worst hands!!
What stands as a prize or the glamour of getting honoured by one's alma mater in this grand way for me is definitely not what and how she sees it.
My achievements, may lie in clearing entrances or some other exams; hers lie in some real goals and freedom for Burma.

I salute her from the bottom of my heart. It takes something to be her! It requires to choose what your instinct guide and not the world. She had a happy life and could have ignored her country for the sake of her children and husband whom she had lost touch with. She did ignore - not her country but her personal pleasure. Only for the sake of her people!

And from the welcome event, what pleased me a lot, other than Mr.Shashi Tharoor's good speech, MG's Speech and Ms.Geeta Chandran's well choreographed Dance was, Daw Suu Kyi's words when she said,” This College is my College...And the Girls are 'My girls' “

Yes, I saw her. And I felt her! She touched me...totally!

It happened after all...and her divinity inspired!


Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's visit went terrific! I enjoyed every every moment of it!
At the end of all, I realised the importance of what I had tried to preach in my previous post- Team Work! Yes, I was very very proud that I was a part of the celebrations and had the opportunity to see her from a distance of less than even 5 metres.

While we waited for her, I was gazing at some of the most prominent faces in the Audience- Ministers, Delhi Cabinet Secretary, US Ambassador to India, Top level NGO workers...But my eyes held on to her the moment she entered...

You know, I have always thought about the qualities which make a leader, a leader! I still think about them. But may be now, with more empathy and less guesses.

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi- Her entrance into the Auditorium created a vibrance which urged me to jump; to jump high, higher and the highest! It takes about a minute for a person to walk down the central isle of the auditorium to the stage. Our choir- yes, the same choir that I had talked about and I had plans of abandoning which- stood at the leftmost corner of the stage waiting her to enter. As soon as she did, we joined our voices to sound one at “Aung San Suu Kyi, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi...” And the welcome song lasted for a minute. She acknowledged the welcome with a slight bow. And I kept staring her face all through this. http://lsr.edu.in/

Her face emitted peace. I could realise how difficult it must have been for her to achieve it. 12 long years of house arrest. Yes, that is DIFFICULT. Her eyes, which have been witness to some of the most turbulent times of Burma and her own life, have become stronger thant ever to emit peace and calmness. Her face just tells it all. It must have been difficult. Really difficult!

I often watch her on YouTube and try to incorporate

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

A Drop in the Sea...One amongst many!

I do not have a very metaphorical beginning. So, All that I can write to give you an idea of the happenings in my life is "Daw Aung San Suu Kyi". Yes!! The Burmese leader is going to visit LSR this Friday and everybody is super excited!

I am a part of the choir that is going to sing some inspirational songs to honor her. That feels so so amazing!

Just as I was looking forward to the event and my participation, I realized something very beautiful!

Ever since my childhood, College has been one big dream for me! I mean the life, the fun, the frolic, the...everything! Before getting through the admission process at LSR, I had never even presumed how wonderful life would soon become. And every bit of that BIG BIG dream is now finding seats in reality!
Daw Suu Kyi's welcome is a major event! I revere that lady from the core of my heart. I am not even close to being sure if I shall be ever able to exhibit such an endurance for my country and my people. So, welcoming her becomes all the more important and exhilarating.

While we sing and rehearse everyday, including Sundays, at College, we tend to feel what that Lady must have undergone. Ms.Vandana Kohli, our trainer, is putting special efforts to make us sound so. ( Ms.Kohli is an amazing personality! Shall soon write about my experience with her!)

So, two days back, I was moved to the third row in the choir- to make situations clear, I must tell you that this row of the choir is highly visible but very lowly comprehensible! Everybody can see that there is a third row, but no faces are to be see- the faces get hidden, only bodies are seen! huh!
When I was told to occupy my position in that row, I was low on mood! I did not want to be on that position. I hated it totally. Glamour and publicity huh! They attract me so much. I was so engrossed that for a second, I thought of leaving the group and abandoning the idea of even being a part of the celebrations. Later, my hysteria came down and I continued with whatever was going on.

Today, I saw many people in the Audi. Honourable dignitaries are going to be there for the celebrations and hence, many volunteers have been deputed. There are, as expected, many places where the volunteers will be working- and many such places would not even get to be known by the Audience. Still, people will work. Do you know why. Because such tiny places together will make the event grand! THAT is the importance of team work. Every member counts...Every effort results.



The event shall fail if the back stage volunteers refuse to work.. Their proper work will ensure that Chairs are put properly, things are good on stage so that when Ms Suu Kyi finally arrives, the Stage looks good and nothing goes embarrassing! Events happening off screen are a major reason why On screen, things look good and pleasant.

So, when I realized that I had been made a tiny part of a group that was a major part of the event, I regained my strength. Regaining it was accompanied by the fact that my voice is a baritone and depsite that, I am getting the opportunity to sing for that wonderful lady!- I am not less lucky! ( At this point, I must thank IMS President for providing me this opportunity! )

So, I am not low on mood anymore! I am one amongst the many drops that together make a Sea. Yes, I am happy :) :)

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Intermixed and incomprehensible: My feelings and my words

Dear Mind,
Relax.
For a while. Just Relax.
Why are you so worried?
We believe in God. Don't we? Then?

Yes, Things are happening too fast.
Yes, We do not get the time to sit together and think.
To think of the future.
To think of the weird ways I use you in.
To think of how we, you and me, shall ever
counter each other at cross roads...
and you will tell me how to move ahead.

But, stop worrying now!
You are not careless. Just Caring less.
Less for the important things.
More for the less important ones.
Manage. Learn. Grow up and Manage.
I know you will.

You see that Lady,
and want me to become like her.
You yourself want to become
like hers.
Yes. That is true.


So, work. Hard, harder and the hardest.
Not hardly.
Search your peace...And you shall have it.

So, relax.

Yours me :)

'Typical Post-Teenage Get Together' Syndrome

An old friend of mine recently celebrated her 20th birthday. The party was great! Many guys and girls of our Class of 2010 of School had turned up. We had a great time together. Happy birthday MRS.Gupta!(Yes, that is what I will always call her no matter what the surname of her boyfriend is!) And yes, all of us, in her friend circle had thought of issuing a legal notice to her for committing a breach of contract( The party happened almost a week after her real birthday!) But the idea was eventually dropped!

So, 2 years! That is the duration which many of us had lost contact with each other for. Facebook, yes, did ensure we were not completely isolated but personal conversations are always important. Aren't they?


The celebrations had started much before the actual party commenced. We were already teasing the Birthday Gal with the a few 'special-to-our-class' memorable dialogues like...."Idiot hai kya.."..and a few more newly composed ones..."Is she mad"..."Why did she call us to the Mall, then?"...."Where are the rest of the people?, Mrs.Gupta?" and there were a lot more. I do not remember all.

Anyway, I must quickly come to the 'why' of this post.
I just wanted to thank all the people for making the party such a success ( Thats so much like an acknowledgement...huh! I didnt host the party though! )

There were a few things in that party that always happen at a TEENAGE party.... or a POST TEENAGE one...(Yes, we are growing old :) )And I am always thoroughly pleased to see that:
  • People always smile on seeing each other and there is a sense of great joy among the 'good old buddies'
  • There are groups- An all girls group, an all boys group and a group that has people of both the sexes in a mixed number- All find it difficult to communicate with the other for a while....
  • No matter what the News channels say about the economic crisis in the country, Girls always have more serious issues to discuss,"So, do you have a boyfriend?".....
  • And at times, the boyfriend crisis to them is more awful than the economic crisis.."whaaaaaaattttt........he left her????? awwwww..."
  • No matter how quickly a girl resolves her boyfriend issue, boys in these get togethers cannot rest until they find their girlfriends- NO! Not the human girlfriends...the electronic ones-- 'Plug points for Music systems', 'Good Music players', 'Good sound quality'......"Chalo yaar...MILI TOH SAHI....tab se dhundh raha tha iss WIRE ko....."
  • Cakes are meant to be anointed on the faces....Not eaten first!
  • Every body has the patience to stand in the same posture to be able to pose good for TEN different cameras!
  • Making weird facial expressions actually gets you more people clicking your pictures.
  • Eventually, Unimportant issues like 'Career' and Future start popping up in the middle....And they need to continue popping up! Hardly get a permanent seat!
  • And finally, Serve the food...And some worried faces run immediately to the kitchen saying,"Hum log pi lein na fir..? Khana abhi hi nikaal rahe ho?"...
So, all in all, this IS the real age for weird fun! A must attend for all 20+...Dude, We are moving into the third decade of our lives....

So MRS.Gupta...Happy birthday once again! I really wish you a good life ahead! But I really hope you never grow too old to say,"Idiot hai kya?"