So Who Do You Give The Best Of Your Heart To?

Perhaps we all give the best of our hearts uncritically to those who hardly think about us in return.
--T.H. White

The Need Of This Hour

The need of the hour is to participate in the way things are going on, rather than sitting on the fence and pointing fingers.
--Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra, director of Rang De Basanti.

And The Battle Continues...

Back to square one eh?

Yea, it was a bad hair day. No, I'm sorry, it was a good day, but the world waits to point out any hint of a flaw!

I've fought this battle before, and each time I encounter this enemy, it feels more like an unending war! Like "The War On Terrorism", it will never end. And my heart weeps that the mind cannot bring an end to this enemy.

My heart wept bitterly for all the times I've heard such comments - comments on people's physical appearances, be it my own or of a stranger walking by. And the sorrow turned to anger. My mind burned with fury for all those comments and for the people that made them. Who placed you on the seat of judgement? What right do you have?

To look into the mirror and not point out a physical flaw has been something I have not been able to do for many years. And every time you make a comment you eat at my courage to face this enemy. Don't you get it? Don't you understand how you destroy me with your words?

It is immaturity and ignorance that breathes those condescending words. And all I have for you is hatred.

Yet the moment passes, and the ire subsides and all that is left is heartache and memories that make you squirm. Every word, the tone, the expression is seared in your memory.

And I will carry this with me all the days of my life.

My heart is heavy, and once again it weeps. Yet this time it isn’t just my heart.

I close my moistened eyes, and let that single tear roll down.

Life: For The Feelers And The Thinkers

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
-- La Bruyere

Remember

Yet if you should forget me for a while
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,
Better by far you should forget and smile
Than that you should remember and be sad.
- Christina Rossetti, Remember.

I am not so selfless.

Indian Issues: Just Scraping The Surface

What does it take to change a nation?

I was on my way to begin an Environmental Science Project, walking with a friend, and he said that if India could rid itself of poverty and corruption, it would be fine.

To eradicate the country of both these issues I felt was a near impossibility. Yet although poverty appears to be the more difficult of tasks, the strategy to eliminate corruption is far more complex.

Eradication of poverty is impossible owing to its sheer physical enormity. To alleviate a large portion of one billion people is a disadvantage in itself. Yet eradication of corruption is a near impossibility owing to the depth of its roots. Corruption is based on value systems - the principles and upbringing of people. It deals with the personal culture of people. To change the way people think is a far greater task than to aid people financially.

To inculcate good value systems in people requires honest educational institutions. Yes, that is my solution to this issue of corruption - an issue of values. To have institutions who would mould people to first be good people above all else would be the first baby step to resolution.

Just like the issue, the solution itself is far deeper and far more complex. What I have done is just scrape the surface. To probe further, there is time.