Being Proactive...!!!

How important is being proactive?, And the answers lies in the recent playscript created by the terror groups in Mumbai “the 26/11”. I condemn, and everyone condemns the massacre. It shows the failure of our security system which was fenced by our incompetent bunch of politicians, who are filling up their pockets with same money allocated for our security and defense system. Security is major concern today and it is because, unlikely the other developed nation who follow “Murphy’s Law” for their security system which says "if anything can go wrong, it will”, we in our nation prefer to be reactive by following “let the things happen, we will fight against it”. The time is now to change our attitude, rather then getting prepared for the post security breach consequence handling; we should have more emphasis on our higher level security measure as “prevention is better than cure”.

What has happened in Mumbai is an utter shameful event in the history of India, with the leading steps toward becoming the superpower we have no control to bar such events. Every now and then a handful of people trespass the fence without any hassle and bomb fearlessly killing 100s of people. Mumbai is so vulnerable these days that we no longer remember it as the financial capital of India, rather it can better be recognized as the scared land of terror attacks. This is not the only example showing how pro-active is our government, we can count some more like – There is no proper traffic arrangement and infrastructure build even after 2 years of the 1 Lakh care launch announcement by the leading automobile manufactures; No energy measures taken place yet knowing the fact that India in growing and energy will be the top most priority, except the one recent nuclear deal; There is no steps taken toward the cast reservation policy which is leading the nation towards a never ending internal dispute; and many more.

This is the time to change the mindset from reactive to proactive. This is the time to think of future, because our future is going to be our present and we are looking forward for a peaceful present.

Being proactive is the only way…!!!

Shivendra Singh
Nov. 30, 2008

The Blue Bird

There was a rare White Bird at the second floor of the apartment with a job of hopping out in the morning into the sky with the neck-tied mail pouch, and come back after delivering it to the receiver. There was no cage for the white bird, as it may affect the flying efficiency of the fowl. Everyday this fowl used to get fine nutritious grub to maintain the fitness for the daily flying.

In the ground floor of the same building there used to be a Blue Bird, and had the daily task of creeping around the ground floor, beaking the craps thrown by the general visitors and people living in the apartment, and cleaning the floor on real time. The blue bird was so much in the habit of stealthy movement that it has almost lost it’s skill of winging, and the pattern food has complimented for the same. There was no need to cage-in the Blue Bird however, the bird has the cage to safeguard itself from the other animals in the night, and when it is required in the ground floor. Everyday this Blue Bird used to see the White Bird taking off from the balcony of second floor and disappearing in the wide sky dreaming to be same one.

One fine day as usual, the White Bird got off in the morning from its hopping ramp, and never returned back. Nobody knew where the fowl gone? All efforts to search the White Bird were in vain. Soon the need for replacement has grown to urgent, as it was affecting the deliveries of the mail pouches. In the quest of the alternate, eventually ground floor Blue Bird was hired for the job. The employers were very well aware of the incompetency of the fowl, so they gave some time to the Blue Bird to practice hopping, and served the nutrient supplemented fuels for instant energy.
The very next day Blue bird was ready to launch into the sky from the same ramp. Blue Bird was very happy for its new line of work, and developed new aspirations in the heart looking at the horizon of the wide open sky. "Blue Bird was going to be White Bird soon…!!!"
Standing at the vantage point, Blue Bird saw the blue sky first and then the ground. Hardly able remember when last time the bird has seen the ground from such a height. Blue Bird was afraid and little doubtful about the plunge into open air, however the backup motivation and the cheering words from the leaders has helped the fowl to keep up the esprit. With the increased heartbeat the Blue Bird finally decided to hop. The bird set itself in the pose to provide thrust to it’s body standing on the toes, and bent the legs for the perfect launch into the space from the balcony’s railing. Blue Bird gently closed the eyes, took a deep breath and dived…

and... they lost the Blue Bird also…!!!

Shivendra Singh
Oct. 29, 2008

God's Own Country

Life is also green sometimes… This happened to me when I was rambling aimlessly at the backwaters of Kerala, and then I understood why it is God’s Own Country…!!!

It was morning 10 Am on Aug 15 of 2008 when we reached our destination Kottyam, we were enjoying our journey as the travel was further heading towards the exquisite backwaters. I was sitting quiet at the end of the seat before getting down, not because I was feeling the beauty but since I have been kept empty stomach from last night. We boarded our journey from Chennai Central at 8:30 Pm which was scheduled for 7:30 pm actually. Longing for the food, first dinner time flew, followed by late night snacks occasion, and then struggling moment of breakfast in the morning. Now it was the time to finally get down at Kottyam, with some hopes of getting anything that can give motion to my jaw and relaxation to my burning belly. Nothing happened again as the buses were waiting outside of the station to provide us pick and drop facility to our final terminal at WATER SCAPES resort. This was the time when I started enjoying the dainty peach of the green and beautiful Kerala with my firing tummy. It was all around only green, and crouching leafy stems of the trees softly scratching the windows of bus producing a melodious bow of music as the bus was pushing on the thin roads of the state towards the resort, bestowing me the memory of rainy days at my green village “Manpur”.

It hardly took 30 minutes for us to reach the holiday resort which gave us very haunting feeling when we dismounted from our buses, there was nothing but just trees and water blocks around us. People were shocked and were speechless looking at each other with the expression of what the hell ?, but further when we walked down through the narrow pavements between the water stocks, it surprised us with it amazing hut type small cottages almost 6 feet from the round, over the water stacked paths. It was the feeling of impossible and I just pitied the people who were going to miss this. The whole view was so awe inspiring that, I did still not believe that I was there.

I am among the people who have grown up in villages. I have seen and felt the poor India and have also experienced the healthier and fertile nation. I feel happy that I have gone through a wider kaleidoscope of life. Though there is lot more to discover but this exposure will always help me in my growth and survival.

There were four wooden pillars, maintaining the balance of AC human hutch with attached washroom. Sliding wooden windows, doors and wooden floor was adding to the beauty of the interior of the Hut and beneath was there an artificially developed watercourse. Not very far, I can see a pool of water, and I was more interested in the swimming pool as it was more than a year for me since I have not kicked and punched inside the chlorinated water of the pool.

I still remember the day when I was reading the book Comedy of Error and suddenly I felt that something got inside my eye, I tried softly squeezing, splashed water and washed it thoroughly however the problem still persisted and I was having continuous etching which was unbearable and not allowing me to open my right eye. I somehow managed my day and night with the problem, and when I approached the eye physician next day; he declared I have developed Dry Eye because of continuous swimming in the chlorinated water. Chlorine in the water has deposited the minute lime stones under my eye lids and my tear gland was not secreting the tear properly to clean the eyes.

I was very well aware about my eye problem but the site and state of affairs has forced me to get into water, again treated with the same chlorine without swimming glasses, gracefully nothing happened to me this time. It was an amazing time inside the pool with entire co-workers with the swashing water, and all non-swimmers in the pool. We came out from the pool after a long lasting exercise session and now it was time to go back to our little huts, have shower and get ready for lunch.

Lunch was damn good with Kerala fish followed by our great backwater boating on the top of the boat; we started at around 2:30 Pm from our resort. It was a long trip on the backwater of Kerala. After half an hour of sailing our boat got boarded at a jetty which was the door to a small village. Our target was to search a kall shop (Taadi Shop), and fortunately we got the same in 10 minutes walk from the jetty. This was my life maiden experience of taadi, I heard from my childhood but never-ever tasted it and today I had the chance, and neither had I missed it...! I consumed almost 3 glasses of the sacred drink of the local drunkards and was little worried about the punch but it performed under expectation and not affected much. We returned to the jetty, had some photo session and moved back towards the resort. We saw lots of small boats, house boats and Kerala traditional boats. Backwaters in Kerala is like road in our small towns, at old ages people must be using these waterways for traveling purpose from one place to another. When we were traveling through waterways we saw lots of resorts by the side of water, each one having their own style and design. Every resort was different from other and was making sure that we are better than the other, and I was completely unsure who the best was...!

Quietly sitting by the side of the water I often heard the soothing sound of rippling water; I often saw the green countryside, swinging coconut and palm trees, children playing around with their flying hand and grinning gestures; I often sensed the relaxing air with the sweetness of the tradition and love for the visitors; I often scented out the aroma of the graceful realm of King Mahabali.

It was now the evening time we again got into the swimming pool for final dip and went for the dinner in the night. We were actually enjoying a package that was bought from Indian Rail and have never thought that government agencies could ever do so well. Dinner was even better than lunch, that was Friday and I wanted to have as much as non-veg, because the following day was going to bring me a Satvik life; it was going to be a Saturday. I woke up early morning next day, freshen up, had my shower, uttered some sloka and opened my bag for the rakhi given by my sis since it was Rakshamandhan. I asked my roommate to put the tilak on my forehead, tie the rakhi, and knot it properly, then pushed for the breakfast which was again giving me a varied choice with long list in carte du jour to go ahead.

Buses were waiting outside; we were now heading towards Cochin/Ernakulam to board our train at around 2000 Hrs. We started just before noon, enjoyed our lunch on the way to the twin city and reached there by matinee prime time. Our first spot was the Mattancherry Palace Museum, It was earlier a palace which was later on turned into a museum by the Kerala govt. Mattancherry Palace Museum was buit in around 1545 AD by the Portuguese and presented to Veera Kerala Varma, afterwards it went into the hands of Dutch and they did major repair of the palace and that’s why is it also called as Dutch Palace. Just infront of the Place there was a small market of handlooms and Kerala scents, spices and some traditional fit outs. Just behind the market place there was again a water lagoon, where we once again took the boatride. This time the experience was different as we saw the traditional system of fishing in Kerala, it was a huge four wooden column, and the fishing net tied at the end of the columns to catch the fishes from the Arabian Sea. We saw some fisher boats also with the new motor technology implemented in place of the oar blades to propel the boat faster on the water.

After finishing our ride, we moved into out buses and progressed toward Cochin sea port, spent some time there and again moved back to the railway station to board our train to Chennai.

I had a wish to visit and see Kerala from a long time, I heard from many people that if there is any true nature beauty in India then in North it is Kashmir, and South it’s Kerala. I had a longing to visit the true nature and I achieved the same that day. It was a divine verdant green experience for me which I was not going to forget until I have the capacity to remember.

While going back to Chennai, I was calm and composed, I was fresh and happy, and I was quiet and serene.

I had gained the tranquility…!!!

Shivendra Singh
Sep 22, 2008

On the way back to Chennai…!!!

Rattling sound of the clash of track and the mega wheels of the bogie is continuously tapping my ears sensors with the jerking motion of the railcar giving the feeling of the ride on bullock cart. Clouds are endlessly showering the soil from last night and I can see the big blobs of rain water striking the window glass, collapsing into the smaller dews and tricking down haphazardly to find the motionless surface in the form of the zigzag sparkling silver linings. Sun is a big circular dull red globe at its final stage of the day and is planning to hide near to horizon free from the entire universal obligations. Sky is changing the shade through the windowpane and looks like as somebody is reducing the brightness, contrast and color of the newly bought television, now it is all but somewhat between pink and violet. Though I am not able to feel the coldness of breeze outside of the glass blocked window and metal shielded compartment, however I can imagine the shivery air current. It’s Saawan “Spring Season” going on in India and new leafs on the new born small arms of the old branches are furnishing a gravid greenery all around. I am on the way back to Chennai after spending a full week (excluding weekends) holiday at my home “Ambikapur” and now I have lots of questions in my mind which I feel like, but not going to share with you.

Holidays (excluding weekends) are something that I rarely see in my life after joining the establishment of Mr. Peter Rose. Whilst I expect more frequent holidays but I do understand the purpose of the organization and how my regular holidays may affect the team I work with. This is not the error from the organization side but I thing I am afraid of taking some decision which may put me out of the problem. So if there is a problem means the solution is round the corner. The only thing required is to find the right corner…!!!

I don’t know why, but I feel boring from morning. I just finished watching “Jab We Met” once again, as I had nothing else to do. I have some other English flicks also in my Notebook but unfortunately I don’t have my earphone to watch the movie in the high Volume. As JWM is already watched out, I did not find difficulty in getting the dialogues even in low loudness, And then to employ myself again I thought of writing something, and that’s what I am doing now

My ETA (Expected Time of Arrival) at Chennai is today mid-night and I have almost a quarter of the day left to go. Well these days my best time pass is to read novels, but unfortunately I missed to purchase one before getting on board. So now I am a man aboard without “Mungphalli, the time pass”. While I was on the way to my home I was reading “the kite runner”… a marvelous work by Khalid Hosseni an Afghan writer residing at USA and I have decided on the next good book I gonna read now… yes none other than “a thousand splendid suns” and this is what made me to overlook anything from “the Wheeler store” at Bilaspur Railways station.

My next stop is Vijayawada and I may be reaching there anytime.

Shivendra Singh
Aug 10, 2008

Stress and Stress Bursters

Warming the seat whole day and starring the monitor as you have greenery soothing the eyes is what we do in our office in physical terms but still we face stress in the form of back neck pain. Stress is the topic that need to be explored to burst in future or in other words to avoid it. Stress is a slow poison, it is required but more stress is harmful for anybody as we are not immortal. Work place is normally the JANANI (mother) of the stress and then once we feel stress we start finding out ways to cease the stress. So first lit the fire and then cease it...!!! Stress is also same, we are the people who first fire it up by not doing this with proper planning as the literal meaning itself say that it is "a state of affair involving demand on physical or mental energy". A condition, which can disturb the normal physical and mental health of an individual. At one point or the other everybody suffers from stress. Relationship demands, physical as well as mental health problems, pressure at workplaces, traffic snarls, meeting deadlines, growing-up tensions—all of these conditions and situations are valid causes of stress. But why do these circumstance causes stress. It's because the things are not properly planned. People take relationship granted and never plan it properly and they do with work also in the same way. Efficient planning is the best way to decapitate the stress at it's initial phase itself.
Stress can also have a pattern, like when you see some body it aggravate your stress levels or when you do a particular work again increases your tension. You may just make a list of all the stress generating thing and in a weeks or months time you will be in position to analyze your stress trend. This analysis will make you more conscious next time when you face the similar situation in future and it will control your tensity.

Stress is an ignorant state. It believes that everything is an emergency. ~Natalie Goldberg, Wild Mind

Shivendra Singh
31 Jul 2008

One life to live...

Who doesn't like peace? Who doesn't like calmness?

Who doesn't like to enjoy? Who doesn't like to live the life at best... ???
Actually everybody... me, u and all...
But we have been nourished with the psyche of... to earn to enjoy... not to enjoy to earn...
Now there is a intelligent question... what is the bloody difference...??? There is and there is a big one...
To live our life we need to be financial compatible, financial strength doesn't just mean that you should have billions of dollar in your account but at least one should have enough to survive... (MONEY) and what we do....??? we do everything to earn "the money..." !!!
We work.... We work Hard.... We work overtime... We work so badly.... and we burn off ourself...
Sometime (in fact numerous times) we forget our basic responsibility... towards Family, toward Society, toward our motherland... because our opportunity cost can always be calculated in terms of money and money is the top of the mind desire...
Getting a life as a human being itself is a great thing.... I never believe in reincarnation...
You have... I have got one life to live... to enjoy... to be happy... to be smiley...
We get inside the rat race as soon as we start following "to earn to enjoy"... We keep on earning... We first earn 1 grand... then 10 grands and then 100s of grands... but we just earn, and never enjoy the way we thought we will savour the life...
Earn ----> Earn ----> Earn....
On the other hand we have people to enjoy to earn... if you fall in this category... you are lucky... because here is the loop... enjoy ----> earn ----> enjoy
What are you doing to earn money is using your enjoyment... thats why always follow the rule "Do what you enjoy, or start enjoying what you do..." the basis mantra to be happy and get mental peace...
Never work for money but for satisfaction... and don't forget money is one aspect to get gratification...!!!

Shivendra Singh
Jun 22, 2008

My last day in the Campus...

It was the beginning of summer of 2006, and I was packing my bags to start a new phase of life in the well ventilated room on the second floor of GITAM Boys Hostel. The lobby was almost empty as most of the guys have already left for their home after our final trimester exams. Oh, I just cherish the memory of my concluding trimester of MBA in IB from GIFT, Vizag (I would say the most underrated holiday destination in India). What were those days, not even me everybody loves their last year / semester / trimester, It’s all because it’s last and we all enjoy what comes last only after it gets over.

Now it’s the time to work... studies are over... a new platform was getting ready to call me on the stage and perform the act for which I have been trained for two years in the college. I was about to join an unheard company “Expeditors” as an MT. Life was a big time fun when we were in college and I was expecting a change...

While packing my bags I looked at the clock which was showing 3:15 Pm and hurried myself as I need to reach railway station by 6:00 Pm to catch my 7:10 Pm Vishakaptnam–Korba Express. I just stuffed tightly all my belongings in the bag as I don’t want to miss anything for a mere reason of space scarcity. I had a trolley bag, an Air bag and 2 Cartons full of the books that we got free from our college for study purpose (as we normally used to use internet as the best knowledge library). I was so busy in searching and jamming in my holding that I completely forgot that I am getting late for my lunch. A sudden consciousness reminded me that I should have something now, so I rushed towards the mess, as I didn’t want to waste my money to buy some junk from outside for filling my empty belly.

It was now 5:30 Pm and I was still in the hostel playing around my luggage. It was the time to depart but I din’t want to cry as it does'nt suit the cool image, and I am definetly a cool guy. Then a call out like haphazard noise took my entire attention as my dear leftover friends were so happy to see me going that they were approaching with full gang to kick me out from the hostel which it seems I have taken in possession. Abe oye jindagi idhar hi bitani hai kya... saat ki train hai... beta aaj chhutti to general me jana kal... somebody quoted... Though it was a humourous quote, but it din't excite me to show a blushing face... as I was sad...!!!

I took the auto after the hefty bargain and left the campus with a final look along with my dear batch mates, my eyes were moist with the over-emotional touch. In that half an hour travel from campus to Station I hardy spoke anything to anybody... my heart was drooping but I was almost successful in saving my kewl persona which was in jeopardy. I reached station by 6:45 Pm, well before the departure of Korba Express. Now I was able to see the same feeling in the eyes of friends... No body was saying anything buy everybody was aware of the alchemy of the going away. Suddenly one of my friend took out Rs 10 from his pocket, wrote a note on it, torn it in two pieces from center, and handed over one to me saying keep it, when we meet next time I expect you will have this. I could have said, we are just wasting a piece of currency and now the currency market would be missing Rs 10 from the market, which will contribute in adjustment of inflation. However, I was just dampening with more sensible touch of friendship which is a controlled relationship between two human beings.

I boarded the train at 7:10 Pm as soon as the train started moving. With the waving jazz hands I thanked everybody for their support, love and caring. The journey was ON, and I was not just going to miss Vizag but also my previous life because the track was going to change.

Shivendra Singh
May 10, 2008

Train Journey

I am on the train, and traveling a distance from Chennai to Nagpur. Journey is a good topic to discuss. Well I usually prefer to travel alone, it’s not because I have a hobby like this, but actually I am used to of doing that. From the very beginning of my outside studies I am just enjoying the journey on train that too alone. I enjoy it because it renders lot of things to learn. I don’t do anything but, just read the environment and culture inside the train where you have people from different religion / place and community. You will feel how people react on situation. The true nationalize India resides inside train bogey and you will at-times see the perfect example of national integrity.

Learning can be done from anywhere, only thing required is that you need to pick up what you seek to discover and what is unusual happening around. That unusual affair will help you to get wind of lot of things and that is where your art of comprehension is actually required.

For me no two journeys are same, there is always a difference and all have diverse teachings. Now I have seen people asking me very often, how do you manage to survive a journey that too of minimum 30 Hrs alone, and I just have a tilt right lips corner for them as it’s me who only knows what I get being alone. You may see lots of interesting profile around your seat, you may see some irritating fellows, you may see a girl who will let you fall for her till the time she is smiling and looking at you but next moment when the station comes, you will see a radical change in the portfolio of compartment crowd. A couple of minutes back you were enjoying the journey and now you may be cursing the station.

Life is like a train journey, you never know what is coming up next for you. You may plan your moves but you can never expect a desired accessorials to enjoy the life at every step. The master is one who knows, how to change the unfit surrounding into an endearing playscript.

Look at yourself, just assume that you are on the same train what other people travel on and see what are you doing? Creating a foul scene or a mesmerizing picture.

Shivendra Singh
Apr. 02, 2008 (Wednesday) – Post Date

Why do we do something?

The day has come again to misinterpret myself... do some introspection and throw the words on the white floor to give some meaning...

Well writing has never been a part of life... but over a period of time; it has become a pass time for me... a pass time which is really interesting, and every time when I write or feel like writing something, I learn a lot, I indeed understand myself more closely, I self actualize and many more things.

Now the question is why I do this? What drives me to do something? And what makes me to carry on the practice?

In general why do people do something? Why one selects a selfless service and other wants to be a part of hooligan gang?

What I comprehend from my mental juggle is that we start doing things because of a reason but we can not make it a practice unless we won’t like it or no other choice situation. Human is a selfish machine and it will always be, even if one does selfless deeds. Now why do I say like this, very simple what we like is the one that gives us pleasure, not necessary a sensory pleasance it may also be a mental satisfaction or security which is also a pleasure i.e. mental delight. We do what we like, we do it repeatedly, and it becomes a regular exercise. Sometimes we call it hobby and sometime it’s being called as interest. Why one does work? To earn the living for himself and his family so the motivation is living. There are many who are already having wealth to survive but the reason to work is different, the ground would be to do something like earning a good reputation in society which will give him a mental relief and a sound sleep at the end of the day. Take any example, anybody; the last and final reason terminates at mental easement. Start from the best example to worst case and question yourself... I may be right at most of the time.

And if I am not... I would love to hear from you.

Shivendra Singh
Feb 04, 2008 (Monday)

Time???

Time, well time is invented or discovered? it is yet a mystery!
Some say that invention of time machine (clock) is the the invention of time, but I barely agree with this. I would rather say that we discover time... everyday. Everyday when we wake up in the morning we discover new time, and our pockets are full with 24 Hours of inventory. You know what is so special about time; the time that is already passed over, and the time which is yet to come can never be used by anybody. You can only use present, the one that you are actually breathing in day in day out, and that is the beauty of time. Nobody can steal your future time, it's like an installment you are getting everyday with 24 Hours. Time as a matter of fact, is the most important resource anybody has and would be having, that's why time should be given utmost importance. Life is nothing but a span of time from cradle to grave, if you are wasting your time it means you are wasting your life. As your can't stop the time you can't stop your life, more you use the ticker of time better you experience the beaker of life. Everyone is allotted with the same amount of time, i.e 24 beautiful hours in a day, but someone uses it fully, some partially and some souls terribly waste their allotments. "Admiring time is a virtue, that will change your pre-defined fate to redefined destiny", have a great time ahead.