Lotus Revolution

The famous Jasmine revolution in Tunisia and Tahrir square uprising in Egypt woke the revolutionist in me. If Tunisia, placed 91 in Human development Index (HDI, rates countries based on quality of life of its citizens) and Egypt placed 101 in HDI can demand better quality of life from their governments, I am forced to ponder why not in India, and we are placed at 119 in HDI 2010.and yet life continues hunky dory for the educated elite (like me)
Parliament has long ceased to be a place where debates aimed at people welfare are conducted; it is now an inglorious example of incivility that has entered out democratic space. Politicians are convicted by the public, acquitted by the courts and made ministries by the compulsion of coalition politics Judiciary active at the helm is rotting at the grass root level with dilapidated courtroom and broken litigants, speedy justice never exist. Our collective sense of antipathy has become so big that rotting mountains of food grain amidst squalor poverty fail to move us. Corruption is the most researched, written and conveniently forgiven ailment in our country. Even a scam almost totaling our external debt doesn’t disturb us.
The answer, I see to end all these parasitical issues is to address them within the frame work of democracy and not to bury our heads in the sand. We must vote! I know you have heard this before but this community of “we must vote” will constitute a growing number of enlightened, educated and intelligent voters and to cater to this vote bank the politicians need to perform. Perform to Vote. This is a vote bank our democracy would love to have.
This community will have no leaders, not forums we just use the modern technology like internet to spread our message and get the critical mass to make people/parties sit up and take notice. We might take another 20 years to see the kind of change we are aspiring for but then 1857 to 1947 were even longer than this. At the moment, I am brimming with hope and we know our next step is to just join this community and lets show the strength. Internet will be our Tahrir square.
Lotus represent our country and its apt we name it lotus revolution. Let’s take the first step of joining this community.

3 Mistakes

As I approach the end of 2010, I see myself staring at new beginnings or should I say thoughts, not always sanguine but nevertheless interesting. Ageing, death, insecurity, reality of limitation and the universal quest for purpose, it compelled me to reflect and retrospect instead of looking ahead. I have been an above average student, a good son, a dependable friend, tolerable spouse, not so bad professional and an indulgent dad. But none of this I would have settled for a few years back. Have always considered myself to have unlimited talent and a future that only few could think of. So here I am trying to jot down the top five mistakes of my life, in the hope that in posterity if anybody gets to read it…oh no, not to change anybody but an attempt to make the guy feel he has company
Being too serious, I distinctly remember that any adverse comment or event would put me off. be it a low score in an exam, a harsh word from my mom or even a well intended criticism from a friend. The fear of adverse impact made me a safe player, when it comes to life. May be, I shouldn’t have taken myself so seriously. It could have helped me to be a more open person, forthcoming and enterprising. In the end, your image is only what you think of yourself before the self introspecting mirror. So folks, playing safe doesn’t get you anywhere, it will only help you to stay as one among the billion.
Not going after my first love: regret is the only price for not going after your first love, be it a sport that you want to play, girl you want to spend rest of your life with or profession you wanted to pursue. I need to admit, I never had the courage or tenacity to pursue any of it. It becomes more agonizing when you know you would have got them had you persisted. The price you pay is high, you settle with what life throws at you.
Not experimenting : in other words I never left my comfort zone, been a teetotaler all my life, liked nothing but south Indian cuisine, never ventured out alone for a long purposeless trip, never spent a minute without an agenda. This should top the chart of my mistakes, as variety in my life has gone out of the window. Being a conformist will only leave you a dull and drab life.
Wind down to now, I can’t complain, landed myself a good job, a gorgeous looking wife, adorable kid and a comfortable life. I see I don’t have reason to complain but may be .. maybe these mistakes helped me to this position and if they have, I think we shouldn’t be complaining about mistakes after all they are part of your life.