My Idea of God

I have been brought up in a Hindu family, and my parents aren't overly orthodox. Nothing was ever enforced upon, and everything was open to debate. Growing up, my interest in reading made me familiar with the Mahabharata and a few other ancient scriptures. Rather than rulebooks & doctrines, I was pleased to find metaphorical stories that inspired and taught values that are as relevant today as they were in those days.

I have never been one to visit temples too often. The idea of a God that punishes was unacceptable to me even as a small child. And rituals & superstitions just aren't my cup of tea. Having said that, I do know of some practices having a scientific background, but are given a populist facade to make sure people follow them, and I certainly do follow them.

In a lot of situations, I seem to agree more with atheists than I do with believers. So what is God to me? For the most part, a source of inspiration that is the most pure and incorruptible. Being a student of science, every natural occurrence has a scientific explanation to me. So I don't think of God as some kind of puppet-master. Thankfully, my religious teachings do not prohibit me from believing that my ancestors were apes (figuratively speaking). So my faith does not blind me from simple truths like evolution. This trust in a supreme being lies totally in the spiritual domain of our existence. Like morality, it does not have a scientific/logical proof, nor does it need any.

So then, what is the 'use' of this belief? It inspires me to be a better person. Sure, we have idols among fellow humans for that. But sometimes you need something far different to inspire hope within yourself. Not everyone does, well I do. I admire the atheists who can inspire hope within themselves when there is none. And would most certainly like to read about them. Unfortunately, all great & famous stories of survival of the "rise from the ashes" kind that I have heard involve people who quote their belief in this supreme being as an inspiration to rise above. Not passing any sort of judgement here, I might have certainly missed some.

So there it is, my idea of God.....

Professional Love songs

Came up with this list when I was listening to BSB b-sides. You know.. those songs that don't make it to final cut of an album.

1) Backstreet Boys - Forces of Nature ---> For Chemical Engineers & Earth scientists probably :P

"Opposites attract, chemicals react"???? WTF? Is this a chemistry class??? Amazing harmony though!!!

2) Backstreet Boys - Satellite ---> For astrophysicists ;)

(P.S. - A running list. Looking for songs by other artists too!! )

मराठी अभिमान गीत

A Story

The year was 1992. In the Sunshine State of Florida, the city of Orlando with Disney & Universal studios was a haven for those seeking fame & recognition. Nicholas, Alex and Howard were no different. Nicholas, born in upstate New York and raised in Florida was all of 12, but dreamed big. So did Howard, a native of Florida, older but barely out of his teens. Alex, 14, perhaps wanted to give meaning to his existence, lost in a dream world, away from his troubled home, raised by his loving mother & grandparents. The three used to meet regularly while auditioning for musical theater, TV shows and became good friends. They soon discovered their common interest in music & began working together. Later they also met Scott, 20, a native of Kentucky, former church choir singer and currently performing theater, who soon joined them. A businessman, owning an airline company, but who wanted to make a fortune out of managing a music band, auditioned them & decided to manage them. But he wanted one more member, and Scott thought of his cousin Thomas back home in Kentucky, also a church choir singer. Thomas was on his way to join missionary school, but in his heart was a born performer. So, he made his mind to try out his luck with the group. In no time, he bonded with the rest. And so began their journey.

The path was not easy. They spent 3 long years practicing, performing in schools, theme parks. Finally, they landed a recording offer. But, they met with little success in America. So, they went across the Atlantic to Europe. Slowly, people started taking notice, and soon, before even they realized it, the five were becoming something of sensations. Riding high on their newfound success in Europe, they came back to their homeland, and this time, they were greeted with a huge welcome. Now, they became the Fabulous Five!!! They became a worldwide rage. They worked hard, and they loved what they did. However, the world around is not as simple. Their manager was out to squeeze every penny using their talents. They found themselves being stretched to the limit, with not a lot of payback for themselves. Howard performed with the group hours after losing his sister. Thomas survived a health scare, but barely took any rest before hitting the road again. But, they had grown up & realized none of this is worth without health & family. So, they laid out their terms and said that they wanted things their way. And they got it. They were now more successful than ever, and they were now doing things on their own terms.

They were maturing, but unfortunately not all in the right way. Alex, with the ghosts of his past, became lost in the dizzying world of fame. Rather than his friends with their feet firmly on the ground, he enjoyed nights at clubs. Alcohol was just the beginning, soon he became addicted to drugs. Suddenly, his friends found him floundering & exhausted. Then, one day, Alex lost his dear grandmother & suffered a breakdown. Scott, troubled by his friend's changed behavior, confronted him. But they had a fight and Alex told Scott, who, being the eldest was like the caring big brother of the rest, that he didn't want to see him again. Later, Alex felt guilty and knew he needed help. With the support of his family and his friends, he entered rehab. His friends too, took this time to be on their own. Cousins Thomas & Scott married their childhood sweethearts. Thomas soon also became a father. Howard spent his time in business. Nicholas was still the growing boy, and he utilized this break to make music on his own. The friends spent time apart, but never left each other's side. When Alex finished his rehab, his four brothers were there to greet him. The biggest hug he got was from Scott.

Then they decided it was time. In 2005, they announced they had a big & refreshing break, and it was time to work. Things had changed now. Over a decade of experience had also humbled the Fab Five. But behind all the glitz & glamor, their amazing talents had left a indelible mark on their followers. The craze, though now more reserved rather than the prime-time TV news material of before, was still there. Moving on, Scott decided he needed time for his family. Giving his blessings to his friends, he went back home & is now a happy father. The others continue to worth together & on their individual music. Thomas has followed his calling, and together with his work with the group, is also a Christian musician. Scott meets his friends occasionally. He even joined them once in a performance in 2008. Through it all, they have still remained the five friends that used to hang out & make music together near the Backstreet Market in Orlando.

[ This is a fictional story inspired by real events. Any resemblance to living legends and their lives is a result of their inspiration to this story along with some fictional, but probably closely accurate elements :) ]

Of God and man

The debate over atheism has always excited me. Especially here at UB, I have found passionate proponents on either side. But before a lesser mortal like me jump into it, I would like to first quote some passages related to it by a great personality whom I admire as a philosopher rather than a politician, "Chacha" Jawaharlal Nehru. These are from his book "Discovery of India", and deal with his ideas of religion & God. Its not a continuous chunk, rather a series of small chunks of passages which I found relevant, so I have used separators to demarcate the separate sections:

"Religion, as I saw it practiced, and accepted even by thinking minds, whether it was Hinduism or Islam or Buddhism or Christianity, did not attract me. It seemed to be closely associated with superstitious practices and dogmatic beliefs, and behind it lay a method of approach to life's problems which was certainly not that of science. There was an element of magic about it, an uncritical credulousness, a reliance on the supernatural.
<..............>
In the wider sense of the word, religion dealt with the uncharted regions of human experience, uncharted that is, by the scientific positive knowledge of the day. In a sense it might be considered an extension of the known and uncharted region, though the methods of science and religion were utterly unlike each other, and to a large extent they had to deal with different kinds of media. It was obvious that there was a vast unknown region all around us, and science, with its magnificent achievements, knew little enough about it, though it was making tentative approaches in that direction. Probably also the normal methods of science, its dealings with the visible world and the processes of life, were not wholly adapted to the psychical, the artistic, the spiritual, and the other elements of the invisible world.
<..............>
Science does not tell us much, or for the matter of that, anything, about the purpose of life.
<..............>
What the mysterious is I do not know, I do not call it God because God has come to mean much that I do not believe in. I find myself incapable of thinking of a deity or of any unknown supreme power in anthropomorphic terms, and the fact that many people think so is continually a source of surprise to me. Any idea of a personal God seems very odd to me. Intellectually, I can appreciate to some extent of the conception of monism, and I have been attracted toward the Advaita (nondualist) philosophy of the Vedanta, though I do not presume to understand it in all its depth and intricacy, and I realize that merely an intellectual appreciation of such matters does not carry one far. At the same time the Vedanta, as well as other such approaches, rather frighten me with their vague formless incursions into infinity.
<.............>
How amazing is the spirit of man! In spite of innumerable failings, man, throughout the ages, has sacrificed his life and all he held dear for an ideal, for truth, for faith, for country and honor. That ideal may change, but that capacity for self-sacrifice continues, and because of that, much may be forgiven to man, and it is impossible to lose hope for him. In the midst of disaster he has not lost his dignity or his faith in the values he cherished. Plaything of nature's mighty forces, less than the speck of dust in this vast universe, he has hurled defiance at the elemental powers, and with his mind, cradle of revolution, sought to master them. Whatever gods there be, there is something godlike in man, as there is also something of the devil in him."

- Excerpts from 'Discovery of India' by Jawaharlal Nehru

Sitting pretty on top

First, I am disappointed to say I missed it. Eden Gardens, that b-e-a-u-tiful cricket ground, despite my denial, I know is the Mecca of Indian Cricket. India trailing SA 0-1 in the series. Our batting line-up setting the scene for the second test by piling on the runs. Then, our bowlers ripping apart the SA batting line-up to score an innings victory. And India retains no. 1 spot in Test rankings. Yes test matches, that truly define excellence in cricket. What an amazing moment. And I missed it!!

Like most Indians, I have always been a die-hard cricket fan since as far back as I can remember. As a six-year old, crying, with tears rolling down cheeks & all, when Kapil Dev's Indian side lost to Sri Lanka in a one-day series. Then, at 11, truly learning to be a knowledgeable follower of the game, by watching test matches. Still remember the India-SA test series of 1996 with those moments - V. Prasad's fifer, Sachin's 169 & the heart-break at the draw of the final Test. Also a huge Australian fan, I earned the ire of family & friends when I voiced my support for them, even when the played against India.

But ultimately, its India all the way. Rather than just being something out of patriotic sense, I am truly a fan of the Indian team by their sheer improvement since the new millennium. First, it was Sourav Ganguly (my favourite alongside Sachin Tendulkar and Shane Warne) who began the metamorphosis of the Indian side into a real 11-man unit. He got the young guns like Yuvraj, Harbhajan and Dhoni in the side, supporting them all the way. And Dhoni is continuing the same way. After that wretched 2007 World Cup, I have high hopes from the 2011 edition to be played on home soil. It might well be the swansong of one of the greatest, "if not the" (oh so cliched!!) batsman of all time, Sachin Tendulkar. And I see a team that can bring the cup back home.

Is baar Cup zaroor wapas laana hai!!!

However, plenty of action still left in 2010 first. The T20 World Cup will be fun. Though a format that seems more like a game of gambling, it is fun, like dessert. The real action will continue towards the end of 2010, when the thunder from down under Australia & New Zealand come to play in India. OMG!!! India vs Australia!! Bring it on baby!!!

Some Random Ramblings

Everyone has a moment of rage where all his/her inner frustration is vented out by some constant pricking thorn in the side. Well, this is my moment.

For quite some time now, every time I open my Facebook account, someone or the other has posted something new regarding the ongoing debate on the Maharashtra issue. Now I respect people's right to have their opinions & love a healthy debate. But to speak incessantly about something without having an iota of knowledge on the matter does not help. But when I saw someone refer to Balasaheb Thackeray with an abject insult, that was the final straw.

First the issue. For all those flaunting that golden rule in the constitution which says "Every Indian has the right to move & live anywhere he wishes", why don't you invite some of them to your homes? Or in your apartment building compounds for that matter. There's lots of space where all those poor souls with no means of livelihood can find some shelter. Every Indian also has a right to live in their homes, so what about those scores of Indians, the Kashmiri Pandits, who have been driven out of their homes. Or do all rights only apply to people from the cow-belt. And the necessity to follow rules only to those cowards who fail to raise a voice. Or may be you can go teach some of that to those in the North-East who gun down Biharis. Or to people in Tamil Nadu, who regard the national language with disdain. And please, enough with that "Why follow the bad examples?" crap. Maharashtra does not follow examples, it sets them. Nobody's bread comes at a city's cost. And just because a city is doing well, it doesn't mean it has to limitlessly bear the burden of states where leaders are too busy eating cow fodder to think of their progress.

Now this thing about "Outsiders have made Mumbai". MUMBAI MADE EVERYONE AND MAHARASHTRA MADE MUMBAI. If they were all so great, why didn't they set up their factories where they came from. If Mumbai runs today, its because the rest of Maharashtra sacrifices itself for it. Right from the boundary of Mumbai, places like Thane suffer at least 8 hours of power cuts, so that the City that never sleeps can run smoothly. This very fact has been pointed out by Babasaheb Ambedkar in one of his books. Will UP & Bihar allow part of their power supply to be routed to Mumbai? Well go fuck yourselves, we don't even want it. We just want our share from the national treasury that Maharashtra fills up most, but never gets anything in return for its development. The sad part is some of my fellow Maharashtrians also fall prey to this belief that we need help to prosper. All we need to do is look how well Gujarat, especially the city of Ahmedabad is doing. I don't remember the last time "Chhat Puja" was held there.

Then people go on about how different languages create barriers. The first language to create a barrier was our national language, when it was put out for a vote in the Parliament. The truth is we are a country of diverse cultures. All the states were formed on the basis of linguistic diversity. Thus, every state is entitled to promote its language. Which every state does. Except when Maharashtra does it, they term it as detrimental to the "democratic fabric" of our country.

Now, about all those people abusing the Thackerays. It seems to me we are a country of incurable conformists. We are happy with something that fits into a certain "politically correct" mold we have created. Anything that seems slightly out of place is shunned. (To divert to another topic that I noticed recently, musicians who do not conform to what is the stereotypical view of the ideal, are termed as "gay" - now what relation sexual orientation & musical ability have, I do not know) Back to the Thackerays, because they do not make all those cliched right "political" noises like the others, they are termed 'illiterate' and dangerous. On the other hand, people (I despise calling these insults to humanity this) like Lalu, Amar Singh and their ilk, who are truly destroying our country, seem perfectly fine to these "intellectuals" because they fit into that cliched mold of a politician. If one reads into the history of the Thackerays, one can easily observe they are anything but 'illiterate'. Raj Thackeray probably reads more books in a week, than we did for our entire undergraduate degree. And regarding Balasaheb Thackeray, before calling him names, better understand that you do not even have enough aukaad to judge the dirt beneath his feet. I do know both Raj & Uddhav have their own political ambitions. Who doesn't? And after every misfit cronie who has ever held office in this country, I would most certainly want someone like a Raj Thackeray be given a chance at power. So what if their children go to English schools. Did they ever say not to learn another language? Do their kids not understand or speak Marathi? Such useless comments don't even pass muster. Then, on the other side we have somebody like a Rahul Gandhi. Young, suave, educated - packaged & sold to the Indian youth like any of the latest gizmos we buy. From the history of the Congress, its not difficult to know what to expect from him. Though he is far better than grade-A dacoits & cons like Lalu et al, his latest speeches have been unnecessary harping. He better be careful with his talk on Maharashtra - he might be born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he might end up with a Kolhapuri chappal lodged in his ass. (hey, I didn't actually abuse him :D)

The end, for now.

Statutory Warning: This article was written by me in a state of fitful rage. Hence the excessively inciting comments. If any one has a problem, then all I have to say is, you can kiss my abusive, conceited, brash Marathi ass.

Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra!!!