‘RICH PLEASE!’

‘RICH PLEASE!’

 

An IndiSpire Post

RICH!

The letters ‘R-I-C-H’, I am sure is going to send down trails of thoughts down your brain stem. To some it would mean money, to some it would mean unhappiness. To some it may mean yachts and cars while to some it would mean three full meals a day. To him, being rich would mean being like his dad, but to her it may mean luxury at the cost of her parents’ love. To that lady, it may mean flaunting diamonds while to that Aged Mother, it would mean having all her family around, unlike now! Well everyone has their own definition, their own presumptions, assumptions, dreams and hopes.

I hope here to not sound too goody-good, but Riches I feel are not Monetary Riches. A RICH heart is better any day than richer pockets. I could only more relate to an ad that I came across and that really had me wonder stuck. Kindly take time to view it here. It is quite a popular ad and I’m sure most of you would have seen it.

Be Rich in the sense,

Be Righteous – For your ethics and morals are the base over which all other Value additions are made. Being principled and morally upright is hard. You would be made fun of; you would be a non-conformist amidst regular non-conformists (you would seem an Idiot only to the real Idiots). You demand the kind of Respect that no money can buy when you are Righteous.

Be Intellectual – Correct me if I am wrong if I say, being intellectual needn’t necessarily mean being a bookworm or being aware of the biological name for everything that you come across or being able to calculate the hardest of mathematical problems in a jiffy. Intelligence and Intellect are often confused. Being open, having wide interests, being imaginative and insightful is being intellectual. Making the best use of all your limited resources, specifically time and duly distinguishing between what is good and bad is being intellectual. ‘People who shine from within do not need the Spotlight!’

be rich

Be Caring– Enough said. Be affectionate, caring and love the dear souls around you. A rich man is one whose absence would really be felt for. A rich man is one who wins more hearts than dollars.

(and above all,)

Be Human– Be compassionate. Love everyone around you, learn to forgive and enjoy life’s essences. There are too many people, but very few Human Beings. 🙂 Be Rich, stay happy.  😀

CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN: My Thoughts

CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN: My Thoughts

An Indispire Topic

Well Firstly, I’d like to thank Ms. HAIMANTI DUTTA RAY for the topic. This is one topic where I have some hard views and one topic that I am very firm about. Endless debates, endless news updates, there doesn’t seem a ray of hope to this darkness that has loomed over our country in particular. Well, statistics do say that one girl gets raped every 22nd minute. This is probably the most disheartening statistics that a free nation can project. However, much to the wrong assumptions of India being termed ‘the rape capital’ today, there is a positive side to this. The fact that, with an increase in education, with widespread awareness and the boldness that has crept into the systems of the women in the country, there are more number of instances that get REPORTED than hidden. The conviction rate is around 24%  of the reported cases which is seemingly better as compared to a 7% or 10% of the reported cases in UK and France respectively.

Having said that there are fundamental differences to our society as compared to a western society.

Firstly, we belong to the land that worships women. It is depressing to see the respect lost for women over time. For they are more idolised these days are sex symbols than fellow human beings, thanks to Indian Cinema. If only you depict women in powerful characters than in item numbers and clubs/discotheques, shall the respect for women improve. I would also blame heroines who are ready to get exploited for money. If they were good citizens, and do have concerns over the nation, they would not give their consent to do roles that have no roles but exposure, literally. The result of this, do not affect the silver screen sweeties, but drive the desires and attention of males towards common women.

The male brain functions in an entirely different manner. A woman’s dressing definitely does catch the attention of males. We belong to a society that is not totally used to short skirts and tight blouses. Our code has traditionally been good enough to cover a woman up (mostly) like a saree or a salwar. I am not  trying to tell that a woman in a free society shouldn’t sport such dresses. But yes, in the interest of her own safety, it is better a woman first prioritizes her security over fashion. At least try wearing such dresses to ‘elite’ places and not just walk on the roads sporting them. Not in the night, definitely. It is upto you to first safeguard yourself than walking in rallies later seeking protection. I do not want to here support the motion that says ‘Don’t get raped instead of Don’t rape’. I only request women to take care of themselves.

rape

Other reasons, of course lie with the rapists themselves. There are a number of reasons for a person to rape a woman, either individually or in a group. These range from reasons as lame as chauvinism – the inability to accept women in a modern day atmosphere. The inability to see a modern woman, holding a senior position and the drive to dominate her, only to prove the male supremacy. This especially in a group is going to make things far more worse because of the reassurance of different hands laid in the crime. With changes in the society, there definitely do pop up extremists and characters that fail to adhere to the regular behavior. Such cases turn out to be involved in horrendous crimes as this.

The Law: I personally feel a five year imprisonment as given currently, does not do much or act as a deterrent. A capital punishment is definitely necessary to bring down increased rates of rape. Spare the rod, you spoil the man, a woman’s life and the society.

And The Goddamn Activists who spoil things for the nation. There are these Mother Teressas of our nation who are against any capital punishment and who feature in TV debates and talk high. Maybe they would realise the pain and the depth of such instances in a woman’s life if they/their loved ones experience it. When a juvenile can commit as big a crime as rape, why protect him under juvenility? Why protect a man who had behaved like an animal against capital punishment? Why can’t a person be hanged for the crime committed? Politicians have their own role in supporting, encouraging rapes or discouraging capital punishment – both of which aren’t going to do any good to the nation.

The society’s perceptions on women have to change. They should be respected as individuals than sex symbols. I can go one step further and say dowries are also a reason for such objectionable behaviour. If You trade a woman for money and riches, how would you respect her?

Let us join hands, create awareness and educate our children to be better citizens and nice human beings.

 Real Men Do not Rape!

 

 

The Five Elements.

The Five Elements.

She sat there. In the sun and sand. In the middle of this vast land. She did not feel the heat, she did not feel any pain. She did not hear any noise because she was eaten. Engulfed and well digested by silence.

She would not utter a word. Not one word. Maybe she felt she should have been born deaf and dumb. Life for a person like her would have been better that way. No noise. No quarrels. No fights. No rebels. No harsh words taken. Nothing. That was what she was heading for, now.

For Life hadn’t thrown lemons at her, it had thrown boulders.

It broke the wings of the social butterfly, it threw away all the charm from her pretty face, it blew away all the expressions from her face, it took away all the light from her eyes and her room, it blessed her with pure pain and sorrow. It sucked all the good out of her like a leech. Or maybe like a kid sucking an empty juice pack.

She didn’t blame others. She blamed herself. Like Akon just did as her Ipod played ‘Sorry blame it on me‘. Or maybe she blamed the time. It is easier to blame time and get away with it isn’t it? Thats what people she loved did, too.

She sat and she sat. The clocked ticked away. Tears rolled down her pink cheeks. But there was something about this hollow void feeling that she liked. She wasn’t disturbed. She was left to her own self. Her own free will. Who really cared if she existed or not?They said Man is a social animal. Animals fight like crazy, they did not say. But she liked this solitude.

 

She looked up at the sky. The vastness and the simplicity that she put forth. Maybe, her life was like the sky. Sometimes some clouds drop by. Sometimes a few clouds mind their own business. Sometimes dark ones block light. Sometimes a few shed rain from her eyes. Sometimes the sky is cloudless. Empty and rich in color. Hollow and wide. But she adorned something precious. The Sun. There had to be a sun in her life too. As it was nearing dusk, she saw that even the sun leaves the sky alone for sometime.

This too shall pass. The sky didn’t care did she? She gladly accepts Sun back, the next morning.

The Sun on the other hand, was so powerful. It is the biggest ball of fire. It burns itself continuously to dawn light on us. It does throw heat onto us, but it so really supports life on this planet. What would we do without the sun? But great people also make mistakes. The mighty sun does hurt the sky, repeatedly. Or maybe is he giving the sky some time for itself? But he did his duties right and there was ‘fire in his belly’. His meticulousness is commendable.

She looked at the beach waters. The waves were lapping and gurgling at her. The waters stretched so much over the horizon. The sea continually made noise. She kept everyone happy. She gave space for many beings. She lit up the faces of many kids and had them happy. The waters fostered romance amongst couples. She was fresh, alive, roaring and cool. It lightened the atmosphere.

Should she follow the sky, the sun or the sea?

The beach sand then caught her attention. He was deep. There were a few who came to visit him. Usually the waters were given preference. The waters lashed at him too. They sniggered at him and beat hard against him. They had the sand wet and the sand dried himself up. Again they made him wet, and he dried. This was almost a continuous process and sand never got tired of it. Such Patience.

So the sand has something to tell me too.

The winds blew gently and refreshed her. She breathed deeply. Winds. They were pleasant or horrendous. They could be sweet or destructive. They could gently touch you or throw you away. They had the might and they chose what they should do to you. They spared a few and spoilt a few. They knew to exercise their judgement. But without winds, this place would be vacuumed. It would be incomplete. The winds ‘kept it going’.

So maybe it is the wind after all??

She was confused. Someone called her. It was a tiny lovely girl. She came up to her and smiled. She smiled back too. The little girl kissed her on the cheek and said ‘I love you’. And suddenly the little girl hugged her tight.

She sat there frozen at the sudden display of affection. It was night by now and she did not know how time had passed. Tears rolled down her cheeks again. She kissed the child on her forehead. She asked her ‘What do you love the most?’ The little girl said, “everything”.

“Everything? ”

“Yes I love everything” she said. She smiled and repeated slowly “ev-ery-thing”

Saying that she looked at her for sometime. There was something about the child. There was Godliness in her innocence. Her eyes were too bright. Too livid. Her smile was too meaningful. She seemed too pretty and too lovely. The child rubbed the tears off her cheeks and said “I am here.”

Saying that she ran. She ran like a lightning. In no seconds, she vanished. She vanished into thin air.

The woman here had goosebumps popping all through her otherwise smooth skin. She could now fit in the Puzzle. She had seen something out of the world and extraordinary this day. This day that had thrown emptiness at her had also given her a lesson. She had to learn from “everything”. Everything, meaning the sky, the sun, the sand, the waters and the wind. She had to be a mix of all this. And the right mix would make her someone as lovely as the beach. Man has to have all the qualities of the five elements of Mother Nature.

She had to learn and she would. As for the little girl, We all know who she was. 🙂

 

 

 

 

 

Welcome To My World!

Welcome To My World!

Welcome my dear soul!

Hello Prettiness, Hello Debonair!

 

Let me bring you on to a world of wonder

Forget your surroundings,

Come on over, to this world of good

There exist here no greed, no jealousy

 

Goodness is dripping everywhere on this planet

Find it in the water

For it is not polluted

Find it in the soil

It is not contaminated

Find it in the people

They are not complex

Healthy-Planet-Happy-Earth3

We have with us in abundance,

All due time

Because Time is money

A green note isn’t.

 

We have with us the greatest treasure

that which is precious to the mankind

It is called Love

For no Love can replace Gold.

 

We have our source of strength

The pillar of support

that holds us and protects us,

We have with us, Faith!

 

We do not know what hunger is

Neither have we experienced poverty

Because we worship Her, we surrender to Her

She is our Mother Nature.

 

We see comfort in the land,

We relax in the sand

We find peace in the waters

We don’t see them in (anything made of) metals

 

Happiness is soaked in us

We smile and the Sun smiles back

We are simple

We are happy.

 

Our planet and not our purses

is filled with green,

And maybe such a planet, would now

to you all be a distant dream.

 

happy_people

 

For you have surrendered to technology,

forgotten all simplicity,

you have pulled the band to its elasticity

you don’t exist without electricity

 

And you blame of lack of sleep

you talk about stress that is deep

You don’t realise that one day 

you shall face your own destruction

 

Hail Mother Nature,

She is the Mother of all Gods,

Pray for her support

and try to preserve what is good for you.

 

For you do good to her,

she would return the love,

just like how you can ‘follow’ this fellow blogger

and she would do it too! 😀

 

Welcome again to the World I spin!

Love,

Vedha!

PEACE. CALM. I FINALLY FEEL IT! :)

PEACE. CALM. I FINALLY FEEL IT! :)

Hello there! Its been quite sometime since I posted. Well I have my ACCA exams coming up and Im too busy, too stressed preparing for the same. I hardly found time to even sign in to my blog. Well today evening, I decided to do a bit of writing. But you could say I was tooo disturbed. I opened a draft and I was blinking at the textbox. No I could not continue.

Stress…Stress.. This word takes most of our happiness away. De-stress they say. I do not know how you do that. Neither do I have the patience to do the same. I was virtually aimlessly browsing through pages and suddenly a small youtube suggestion caught my eye.

To me, All religions of course mean the same. Having been brought up in a Hindu family, I can of course more relate to hinduism and the Hindu Gods. This link did the magic. I was sitting idly and listening to the audio and yes, you could say calmness dawned on me and crept up slowly into my system.

Well, when I googled, a lot many sites told about the benefits of ‘OM/AUM’ mantra and its spiritual healing. They were far too heavy for me to gain a true understanding. Too spiritual.

But the actual reason behind this post was a ‘comment’ on the link. In fact quite a few comments, that expressed the liking for this despite differences in religion. God is One. I thought I could share this to those following my blog, to spread some peace after all. 🙂

Peace,

Vedha

 

Words Left Unsaid – Random as it can get!

Words Left Unsaid – Random as it can get!

Behind my smile, the bright smile I flash

Behind my smile are words.

Words than run through my head,

Words left unsaid.

For Time shall give an answer

An answer that will answer all doubts raised.

An answer that will move away the cloud of suspicion

An answer that will give you the ray of hope.

 

But my friend, lets just hope

Time does not take his own time

Lets just hope it is all said

before we lose the moment.

 

Broken hearts, welled up tears

shall be cleared

May trust be restored

May love flourish

 

I’d wait till then,

I would pray to the gleaming sun

To give back what was taken

To redecorate the lost colour

To rebuild the broken bond

To come back better and strong.

For Some things are better left unspoken…..

 

 

So why? you ask me? Why…why…*flashback*

So why? you ask me? Why…why…*flashback*

A ZTH challenge – Why did I start a blog?

*BLINKS*

Well, to be honest,  I was quite bored! 😛 This was the prime reason behind this blog.

Just as I’ve stated in my ‘Introduction’ and ‘about’ posts, I fell in love with English..long long long ago! And the fabulous fairy tale demanded that I express my love to have the relationship with ‘English’ alive and sweet! 😛

There were these few who told me my pieces of writings were good. You can check them out too on the links in your left hand side! 😛 My first piece of proper writing had many many admirers. I was out of touch with the art of writing until a while ago. I wrote less often and sometimes I even felt I had lost the ‘flow’. So I decided to put it all back in action and stay in touch with the art. I do have plans for writing a novel, maybe blogging would help me improve myself as a writer. Maybe professionalism would creep in.. o.O

Also I’m having quite sometime for myself now. I thought I need to utilise it well and tone up at least one skill of mine. That coupled with, some ‘hard pushes’ from friends had me blogging! ^_^ and I’m Lovin’ It!!

 

ZTH Challenge! Hello there!

ZTH Challenge! Hello there!

Well Hello guys!

I’m a few days old to blogging and here I am pursuing this challenge that wordpress offers.

The name of my blog might well suggest you what is is – Of (my) Wishes and Whines. But yes, we do not always stick to a set of genres do we? I do have a lot many things that keep running in my head and I jot them down every now and then. But a few told me maybe i should preserve these, for my own sake and also show it out to those who have similar interests. So I opened this blog exactly as on Apr 1 😀

I did not expect to gather the kind of response that I have gathered today. I’ve reached 700+ views and around 150 followers. I still wonder if I am dreaming. All the same, I wanted to propagate my blog because it is here that I could possibly express anything and everything. So the ZTH challenge sounded pretty interesting and I’ve signed up for the same.

So who am I? A 20yr old girl with lots of varied interests. I am currently doing a creative writing project along with a few others. I recently fell in love with cooking and photography as well. I am pursuing ACCA and I go to classes for the same. I stay in the UAE.

The purpose of my blog? Well, I have wide Interests and the biggest of them all – English.My love for the language never decreases. The idea is to express my thoughts, rantings, wishes and whines! 🙂

Hope I fare well and interest many of you readers in the ZTH challenge!

Take due care!

Love,

Vedha

The Unbreakable Bond

The Unbreakable Bond

8th june 1993.

11:18 pm

I was scared. I did not know what this journey would offer me. I did not know the purpose of this journey. I had no clue as to what I should do in this planet. I only knew that I existed within someone and I knew her voice. I’ve been hearing this voice for the past 9 months. She would talk to me..in a strange language. I wouldn’t understand what. All that I know is she would not harm me.

In two minutes, I was told I would start this fearsome journey. The Gods above asked me if I am ready. I said ” I do not know why you are sending me away to some strange place. I do not know anybody there. Please stay with me.”

They said “Our angel is there in that planet. It is her voice that you have been hearing all this while. You will remain close to her and she will take care of you.”

I said ” And how do I call her?”

They smiled at me and said,” In your language, you would call her ‘Amma’. She is your Mother. She will stay with you forever through your life and guide you through your ups and downs.”

I was then duly blessed by all the angels above and sent into this planet. I wondered who the lady was and how she looked. I wondered how much she would guide me, how much she would love me. My head was full of questions, until bright light blinded my eyes. I couldn’t see clearly. I could feel someones hands around me, but they were harsh. I later learnt that it must have been the doctor’s hands. I was then wrapped in some material and shown to others. Many human faces stared at me and I stared back not knowing why. Everything looked so strange.

Someone then kissed me on my forehead. He was smiling and he seemed familiar for no reason. I call him Daddy.

I was taken away from him, washed and set below a table lamp to get due warmth. And then a finger crept up to my folded hands. I instantly knew who she was. I held her finger tight. I knew her touch. I knew how she was. Her gaze fell upon me and I was holding on to her tightly. I felt safe. Love you Amma. 

Offer-to-Research-260x260

She would carry me all day long. She would Kiss me lovingly every time. She took enough care of me. I never had to worry about anything. She taught me to speak the language we speak – Tamil. And maybe that is why it is my Mothertongue. She admired me when I tried to crawl.  She taught me how to walk.

As I grew she taught me to read and write. I still remember the time she would anxiously await the arrival of my school bus and lift me off the stairs of the bus with a tight hug and a kiss. She soon did the same thing all over again with a different child, my brother.

I have of course had a lot of tugs with her during my teens. I still  fight with her at times. But she does put up with me always and forgives me for my mistakes. And I eventually walked past all the difficulties of school and college with her guidance.

With time, I learnt the difficulties she had faced and I swore I would always be there for her. The difference is this-  I had to swear that I would stay with her no matter what and she never swore, it was implied from the day I was born wasn’t it? 🙂 ❤

The Gods above were right. They sent down an angel to take due care of me, to teach me what is wrong and what is right. To love me unconditionally and correct me where I make a mistake. She is the reason behind my existence. We indeed joyfully share an unbreakable bond.

Love you Mom! And this was just my way of expressing my love and wishing you a Happy Birthday!! Stay with me forever! :-*

 

 

5 DrEAm DeSTinaTionS!!

5 DrEAm DeSTinaTionS!!

Travelling always turns on the wild little girl in me. Me + My camera + Travel to exotic places. What more do I need in life? 😉 I have always wanted to visit places that are least visited.

My trip with my family to Ladakh was primarily because of the picturesque sites that it had to offer. I should say the Pangong Lake, the Magnetic hill as well as the White sands of Hunder were the one of the best places I have ever been to. I wouldn’t mind repeating that entire tour all over again. But, there are other places that have to be visited too.

You could say I’m an adventure tourist, but I would say it is the scenery and the landscape, the comfort it offers to my tired eyes and the freshness it gives my mind are the reasons behind such choices.

The top 5 destinations I want to visit within my own homeland are:

1. The Roopkund Lake:

I am sure this would send chills down my spine. Yet, I have always wanted to visit this lake. It is more known as the ‘skeleton lake’ as it houses too many skeleton remains. It was apparently discovered by a british forest guard in 1942. The cause for so many skeletons is yet unknown. A few locals believe it must have been landslides, a few have a belief that The Goddess of the region punished outsiders who defiled her mountain’s sanctuary by raining hailstones on them and killing them. The most recent expedition (2004) identified that all of them were killed in the very same way and wounded in exactly the same manner. The area as such is also very inhospitable and terrain. A trek across the region would be very one of a kind and memorable. The very fact that it is a hostile region makes it very adventurous and interesting. 😀

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2. Great Rann of Kutch:

The great Rann of Kutch is located in the Thar Desert. It is very famous for its Salt Marshes. There are two sides to this visit.

One, The Rann Utsav, which is an annual festive season where the tourists get a taste of the lifestyle of the locals. The festival, known for its bright colors and vibrance, offers various aspects of the Kutch culture – one gets to see the local folk dance, stay in live-in tents, take up camel safaris, shop for handicrafts, watch artisans work and have a complete time.

I would love to cover this space all by myself!
I would love to cover this space all by myself!

Two, The white salt desert is just tooo open. It is nothingness filled with white. Maybe that is why this place has always caught my awe. Its is a mysterious, wide, open and limitless region or wasteland between India and Pakistan.

3. The Gravity Defying Palace, Lucknow –Bara Imambara:

The place is almost always known for its mystery. The name by itself has always had me puzzled. It is said that one might get lost easily in this grand monument. Its architecture is mesmerizing and is a perfect blend mix of european and arab architecture where the central hall which is over 15mts tall does not have any beams or pillars supporting it. And the structure stands firm. It has strange entry and exit points or dead ends cropping up out of the blue.

I have visited the gravity-defying magnetic hill at ladakh. This is on my cards now! 😀

 

The Gravity Defying Palace
The Gravity Defying Palace

4. Canyoneering at Vihigaon Waterfalls, Maharashtra!

The Western Ghats are always known for the number of rivers and streams that pass through them. The Vihigaon Falls offer canyoneering against the water amidst deeply set thick forests! How more could we bond with nature? This would turn out to be an experience of a lifetime. Water repelling gives the thrill of suspension with the waters lashing against you.  I would definitely want to visit here before I have a white hair on my head!

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5. Majuli – Assam:

This place doesn’t offer anything too adventurous. All the same it is a very calm and beautiful place and the largest riverine area in the world fuelled by the Brahmaputra. A must visit for those who follow vaishnavism  because today this place is the principal seat of Vaishnavite Faith. The Satras follow Ekasarana Dharma – Recite the name of the Lord and eliminate vedic and other esoteric rites of worship.  There are 22 satras that exist today. A walk down the villages of the areas show the simplicity with which people live- something we have forgotten in this predominantly technological and dynamic world of ours. Majuli also offers an exotic spread of biodiversity such as the pelicans and whistling teal. Maybe this would keep me close to nature and away from all the hustle and bustle. Peace Guaranteed.

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This could keep me and my Camera busy for days! *dreamy eyes*

I hope to visit these places soon and then have the next 5 destinations on my list for India has no dearth for Exotic Places!