Finding Nemo

Sequels are in fashion. Why should I be left behind? So, here is my sequel - In my previous blog – “ What happened to us? ” I touched upon the topic of relationship between couples. We saw the two extremes and hence can understand the shifting balances to find the perfect equilibria. Also I did state that we have somehow deduced that anything attached to female is inferior. There are many stories to that which have been concocted in multiple ways to suit our own progenical ideas. One of the most popular one being the sharing of Indra’s guilt for killing Viswaroopa – the teacher of the gods. Indra being the king of the gods needed someone to share his sin and absolve himself of the same. He then shared his sin with the earth, ocean, trees and women. The earth has seizures – volcanic eruptions as a result of the sin. The ocean produces foam / froth. The trees excrete gum. And the women have their menstrual cycle as a result of this sin. At the same time all four were given enormous boon

श्रीमान नायक कहते हैं  नया है जमाना , बेटे और बेटी में फर्क बतलाना।  बेटी को खूब पढ़ाएंगे , पांचवी कक्षा में ही शादी करवायेंगे ।  बहू नहीं बेटी चाहिए , साथ में ट्रक भर दहेज़ चाहिए।  पश्चिम में फ़ैल रहा व्याभिचार , और खुद रखते पत्नी चार।  आधुनिकता है अनैतिकता का प्रचार , दूसरे के कपड़ों में झांकते हैं, ढूंढ मौके हजार।  स्वयं हैं समाज सुधारक , और कार्य हैं हृदय विदारक।  स्वयं हैं महाज्ञानी , तानों के सिवाय कुछ भी देना हैं बेमानी।  देने का हाथ तो है एक, और बटोरने के अनेक।  बड़ों का करते हैं बहुत आदर, सोचते हैं मरें तो काटें पाप के गागर।  प्रेम है ईश्वर का वरदान, और प्रेमियों का मिलन है विषपान।  हम हैं बहुत ज्ञानी, यह धन माया तो है एक दिन आनी जानी,  इसे जोड़ कर क्या करोगे ? मेरे पास छोड़ कर सुखी रहोगे।  लूटपाट है धर्म इनका, हिंसा ही है मंत्र इनका।  मेरे तरकस में हैं अनेकों तीर , एक से मरे ख्वाज़ा, एक से मरे पीर।  एकछत्र राज जो चलना है, सर्वत्र अपना ही धर्म फैलाना है।  सूत्रधार / खलनायक के विचार -  अब तो कहते हैं हम तुमसे यही नितिन, करना बस यही जतन प्रतिदिन,

We just celebrated the international Women’s Day on March 8 th . A great day dedicated to women and thanking them for the society we are in. while exchanging messages from different contacts and relaying them to my wife, I was reminded of the season 1 episode 1 of “Satyamev Jayate” program which was aired on May 6 th , 2012. Anchored and and beautifully tackled by Amir Khan, the show focused on the topic of “Female Foeticide”. Looking back at the statistics recorded in the 2011 census in India, the rate shows killing of about a million girls a year. Considering the demographies, it is noted that the rate of female foeticide is higher in both literate and as well as illiterate communities. Even affluent communities have shown this mortal sin at skyrocketing rates. In another disturbing news, a few weeks ago, a high ranking official stabbed his wife suspecting her of infidelity. Rapes have become a regular feature. Even while we consider the rest of the crimes (molestation, eve teasing,

A six pointed star holds a great significance in various culture and religions. Referred to as the “Star of David”, it represents the identity of the Jews. Christians revere the star as the Star of Creation and each point denoting the day of creation. Muslims also consider the star an important symbol. It represents the “Seal of Solomon”. Quran says that David and King Solomon were prophets and kings and hence their symbols are revered too. Figure 1: The Star of David Figure 2: The star on Pope's crown Figure 3: Hexagonal structure in the Qutab complex - Islamic Architecture Figure 4: Use of the star in Humayun's Tomb The Mormons or the Latter-Day Saints symbolize the star as the union of God and the man – the downward triangle representing the descent of god from heavens upon mankind and the upward triangle represents the man rising up to god through his deeds. And I bet all the symbol enthusiasts must have been waiting to hear about the free masonry and the

इंद्रधनुष की छटा निराली , कभी लालिमा तो कभी हरियाली , जीवन की भी रीत ऐसी , कभी आँसू तो कभी बातें सुहासी।  धनुष है सन्देश प्रेम का  धरती से आकाश के मिलन का , और जीवन  स्वयं ईश्वर से मानव का।  फूल खिल उठते हैं , पक्षी सुरीले गीत गाते हैं , बरखा और सूरज मिल कर नाचते हैं , जब इंद्रधनुष के दर्शन होते हैं।  और यहाँ गोली चलती है , छुरी भोंकी जाती हैं , उसी जीवन को ख़त्म करने के लिए , जो ईश्वर से हमें मिलता है।  इंद्रधनुष के रंग कई , पर सब रंग दिखें साथ।  मानव के भी रूप कई , पर हम रहे खुद को बाँट।  माँ के लिए  सब बच्चे होते समान , फिर प्रकृति की गोद में , हम करों बनें असमान।  My work published on an hindi portal in 2001 -  http://www.anubhuti-hindi.org/nayihawa/n/nitinrastogi/indradhanush.htm

Few days ago, friends and I got into a discussion – a discussion that I just try to avoid at all costs – the Varna system. I try to evade the topic as much I can, because it has been blown up out of proportions already. It has become such a political hot potato that not only everyone wants to get it off their plate, but also want to add spices to be able to eat it. Hence, in a nutshell, everyone hates this topic, but would like to keep the debate to make whatever gains they can. Who am I to fight the world? Here we go again! Varna or caste system started with the Hinduism, but has been exploited by many. The earliest examples of the caste system may be many but the few notable ones are – Kevata and Shabri in Ramayan, Karna and Eklavya in Mahabharata. Not only the Shudra’s or Brahmins talk about it, but even Arjuna and Krishna spoke of the caste system at length in Geeta. चातुर्वर्णयं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यर्कतारमव्ययम् ।। ४\-१३ Sri Krishna tells Arjun

We discussed the concept of hunger in my previous post – “What’s your promised land?” It’s the hunger that defines the needs and the goals for oneself. We also discussed the need for motivation in the other post – “Who needs motivation?” In this post let’s examine how we should motivate using the concepts defined earlier! It is a known fact that the life is a sequence events and our life is shaped by how we handle these events. What we should also see that our desires change at every step. Thus changing the desire for the Promised Land. The sequence and the decisions may be different for every human, and hence our lives are different too. It is very difficult to define a common path or a common stand for all to measure up. How do I motivate others in such a case? The answer is simple – communicate to them by realizing their Promised Land. Look for what they want. Watch what are they hungry for? Once we determine other’s hunger, it is easier to empathize and motivate. Remember, Vish