Gandhi Jayanthi

October 2^nd is the day that movies like Gandhi and Lage Raho Munabhai is shown on television. It is done to honor the Father of the Nation. It is to celebrate the birth date of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi  also known as the Mahatma and lovingly referred to as Gandhi ji or Bapu.

It is only right I do the same. And what better way than to write something about it? 

So, why is Gandhi ji revered so much? Is it only because of his spectacular fight of non- violence, or his concept of satya mev jayate (truth alone triumphs)? For me it is because he was the one to raise his voice and do it loud.  He made sure what he did was different than what those before him. It is difficult to raise your voice against something that the rest have come to accept. It would be like having to stand up against your school, a place you have to study in for the next few years. He did it anyway and that is why he has my respect.

Gandhi ji with my favorite man, Tagore

Gandhi is known to be the man who never said a lie(except for once). I don’t believe that. White lies are always around. Yet, I do agree he is a great man. In his The Story of My Experiments with Truth, Gandhi talks about all that he had done. His experiments, his vices. Now, that is great. Being able to write down everything about yourself and allowing the world to read. That is why he is the most truthful man.

There are people who say they don’t like him. When I ask them to explain further only few are able to give a definite answer. So, this is for those few others who hate him because it is cooler than to say he is a great man- He is a great man. Because no matter what mistakes he did(hey, he is human, afterall) or what mistakes we have come to believe he did he stood by what he did. He preached what he practiced. People change – Gandhi from a young reckless man changed into someone with a purpose.  I tip my hat to him.

Gandhi in his youth

Also, there is this whole “Gandhism is lost” going around. For me Gandhism isn’t just Satyagraha or non-violence. These are things that don’t work every time in every place. For me Gandhism is practicing what you preach, it is standing by truth, having principles and living by them. Yes, Gandhism is yet to be lost.

Happy Gandhi Jayanthi, folks!

note:images don't belong to me :D

My question is this: which of the two will wash his face?

I am currently reading The Zahir by Paulo Coelho and came across something in the book that really had me thinking.

I'm going to ask you the same question that the book asked and not tell you the answer immediately. I am curious as to how you think!
I put this out to some of my friends and received some rather creative replies. XD

Quote-

“Marie, let’s suppose that two firemen go into a forest to put out a small fire. Afterwards, when they emerge and go over to a stream, the face of one is all smeared with black, while the other man’s face is completely clean. My question is this: which of the two will wash his face?

What do you think is the answer? Who do you think will wash his face? 

Once you have commented with your answer, you can see Coelho's reply in the book here-

Marie :That’s a silly question. The one with the dirty face of course.’

Coelho:No, the one with the dirty face will look at the other man and assume that he looks like him. And, vice versa, the man with the clean face will see his colleague covered in grime and say to himself: I must be dirty too. I’d better have a wash.’

Boredom and doodles.

Note: this post is not for the eyes of my law school teachers.

Every Saturday we have something called moot court. This involves us, the audience, having to endure four hours of mock court where about 8 mooters moot their case. You might say that sounds interesting. It is, for about one hour. Later you get familiar with the case being presented, and then lose interest.

Rules to be followed in a moot court hall-

                       -  No talking.
               -   No using cellular phones.
                       -   No reading books/novels.
                        -   No sleeping.

But people do all of it. The trick is go unnoticed.

I doodle. And I must say boredom really sets off the creative juices. I have written poems, short stories in this four hour duration. Which is kind of funny when you think about it. We aren’t allowed to read novels(which are stories) and I’m there writing them.

I thought I’ll share my doodles with you-

 

It started with her in year 1 of college!

What is it about darkness that attracts us?

What is about light that calls to us?

Nature

 Bonded 

 Save

 We were watching a case that involved capital punishment. This was inspired by it.

Do you hear, child, now

the voices of your evils?

Do you wish to be forgiven?

Maybe I will, not them.

 Trees!

The latest one! A walk through the woods.

When no one walks with you, you walk alone.

What do you think? How much do you love doodles? Why not share pictures of your doodles and post the link here? We could make a think out of it!

Tell me what you think.

I met someone few days back, a writer of sorts, who told me that he writes best when he is depressed. I also know many believe it to be true. I was one of them. However, over the years I’ve come to realize how huge a fallacy it really is. Something believed not only in writing, but also in other arts.

  Maybe words come easily when one is in his heightened state of emotions, but does all/some of your best writings come out in such states?  Once a writer crosses from beginner to the next stage, they develop a confidence in what they express. Words become sacred, a source of energy. Why would they require any kind of negative emotional state when words become independent beings in the mind of a writer? I feel I write best when I am motivated. I can write when I am happy. I can write when I want to. Sometimes whenever I want to.

Let me get to the purpose of this rant/blogpost here. Lol.

I just feel people need to embrace the good feelings associated with art. We need to be able to say happiness gives me inspiration. The world needs more of such feelings.

What do you think? Do you agree or counter agree? I would love to discuss this!