There was a reference to one interesting saying from Sunday School in 'Living History':

Faith is like stepping off a cliff and expecting one of the two outcomes - you will either land on solid ground or you will be taught to fly.

There were a few lines in the letter that one father Trobou wrote to Mrs. Clinton that will stay with me forever:

It is my opinion that on Judgement Day the first question God asks is not about the Ten Commandments (although He gets to them later!). But what he asks each of us is what did you do with the time and the talents I gave you.

The last day of the year and I am done with two of the four books that I had started reading simultaneously. I finished 'Tintin in Tibet' 2 days back and last night turned the last page on Hillary Rodham Clinton's 'Living History'. Not sure if I mentioned this on the blog - I also completed reading the fourth Adhyaya of 'Bhagwad Geeta As It Is'.

21st December 2011

I wasn't exactly expecting people lining up the streets with the signboard saying 'Repent, the end of the world is near'. But I was surprised, and in a way relieved, that there wasn't much fuss about the 'supposed' end of the world a year down the lane on this day. Or if there was any fuss, I didn't notice it on the net. :-)

I came across a song penned by Stevie Wonder in Hillary Rodham Clinton's 'Living History'. A search on the net yielded the following lyrics:

Everybody covets everybody lies
Everybody’s done it some time in their lives
We all slip, we don’t mean to
That don’t mean you can’t make it right

It’s the path you take the steps you make
That make you who you are
It’s the life you live
The gifts you give
The love that’s in your heart
Just try to do the best you can to be a better man
You don’t have to walk on water
It’s how you walk on land

Everybody judges everybody else
Everybody’s done it to everyone but themselves
We know what’s right
But we still go wrong
And life still goes on
Even when we fail

It’s the path you take the steps you make
That make you who you are
It’s the life you live
The gifts you give
The love that’s in your heart
Just try to do the best you can to be a better man
You don’t have to walk on water
It’s how you walk on land

It’s the path you take the steps you make
That make you who you are
It’s the life you live
The gifts you give
The love that’s in your heart
Just try to do the best you can to be a better man
You don’t have to walk on water
Oh it’s how you walk on land

You don’t have to walk on water
It’s how you walk on land

(Source)

100 years of National Anthem

There was a time when I used to listen to the national anthem every day - at the beginning our daily school sessions. Now I get to listen to it only when I go to a theatre. And since that hasn't happened in the past few months, I really cannot recollect the last time I listened to 'Jan Gan Man'.

If you are someone like me, do check out this version on YouTube. The anthem turned 100 on 27th December. But please don't forget to stand up while you listen to it.

A sombering thought....

I am not one of those who jump up and down with glee on the even of the new year. Nor am I one of those who consider the glass half empty and worry about getting older by another year. But an email did check any irrational exuberance that I might have felt, if at alln. I am posting the same mail here.

Can we see this around us?

"AJEEB HAI NA"

Rs.20 Ka NOTE Bahot ZYADA Lagta Hai Jab

GARIB Ko Dena Ho, Magar HOTEL Mein TIP

Dena Ho To Bahot KAM Lagta Hai.
--------------------------------------
3 Minute Ke Liye BHAGWAN Ko YAAD Karna

Kitna MUSHKIL Hai,

Magar 3_Hours Ka FILM Dekhna AASAAN.
--------------------------------------
Pure Din MEHNAT Ke Baad GYM Jaane Se Nehi

THAKTE, Magar Jab MAA-BAAP Ke PAIR

DABANA Ho To HUM THAK Jaate Hain.
---------------------------------------
VALENTINE's DAY Ke Liye HUM Puure SAAL

Intezar Karte Hai, Magar MOTHER's DAY Kab

Hai hume Pata Hi Nahi.


EK ROTI NAHI DE SAKA KOI US MASOOM BACHHE KO LEKIN WHO TASWEER LAKHON ME BIK GAYI JISME ROTI KE LIYE VO BACHHA UDAS BETHA THA…………….

(No one gave any food to the innocent kid but the photograph of him waiting forlornly for something to eat was sold for millions!)

There is a knot in my stomach and it refuses to go away. :-( There is this usual helpless feeling and that too refuses to go away.

Every time I see these children begging at the street lights I feel like giving some money but then a cautious voice tells me not to encourage begging. Some people say that we should carry biscuits and give them to these children instead of money. But there was a news a few years ago that a lady who tried to do so was confronted by the child's mother who accused her of trying to poison her child. Now who would want to cool heels for hours at a local police station for trying to help a hungry child? No one. Does that mean we shouldn't do anything?

I am still searching for a way out of this helplessness and anger. If you know of any reliable NGOs which have programs to feed street children, please let me know.

Silence is Not Spoken Here

I came across a few lines from this poem by Anasuya Sengupta in Hillary Rodham Clinton's 'Living History'. The full poem can be read here.

A little search on the net yielded the following:

“Silence” was, in fact, inspired by “Heritage,” a short poem she wrote when she was 16.

Heritage
I will come when I can walk beside you
And talk of ambitions
With an easy tongue.
I will not look at your feet
And drag my heritage behind me
Through the dust of my grandmother’s silence

I can only say 'Wow'!