Essence of Blogging !!

I am into third year of my blogging and this is apparantly the hundredth post I can surely say that I have enjoyed the journey for I only blogged when I felt like ... nothing by compulsion that somebody would be waiting for it. I would thank the readers like Rupinder Monga, Ranjit Kaur, Jaspal who really gave me some good Punjabi traditional songs, Cuckoo who tagged some of my posts ... (if she will read it) ... Jiwateshwar for discussing blog so much that I felt that if he is discussing so much then kuch toh hai !! Aalok for his support till he lost contact with the world some two months back and many others unnamed visitors. I have always feared being alone. So the worst I thought was that I would be only one visiting this and by somebody's will that didn't happen and adbrite website says that I daily get around 40 unique users to my blog. That's good enough although few more zeroes would be what I will not mind.

When I started blogging, long before Aamir Khan or Big B followed in my footsteps, my major purpose was to use this as a online diary then I found that I could express myself in a more concrete way and the way I have scanned some of the topics they brought clarity in my thoughts and I had a more structured discussions after that. For a person like me who never likes to do one thing for too long to write this blog was indeed an achievement. Some of my posts were really good and I can say with surety that they found there way to there intended readers without me promoting them. That is the power of quality writing. So have I read the relevant posts over a period of time. One real shortcoming with me is that whenever I read somebody's post I normally don't comment ... but somewhere I know & want to comment!! Any secret to add this quality although of late I have been trying this. Anyway thanks to all would be looking more and kindly come up with some suggestions to what I should do on this blog for I have loads of time these days.

How to select a wife for yourself?

Till now and still marriages have been a occasion for me to dance eat, and drink lavishly and not to think about anything … but few days back I got a chance to be privy to the process of selection a bride for my friend. My friend (Raghaw) has been looking for her match for quite a time now and now the pressure was mounting on him to zero in on lucky one. Then this Sunday he went to see her could-be partner and came back and then there was a discussion with other friend (Abhishek Dubey, all credit to him for enlightening us). We went to our favorite evening spot and got our regular cans and then this discussion followed and I would present a summary of it for the future grooms looking for there dream girl. Some things might look like Marwadi Baniya but they are not intended to be so. First advise for the would be grooms is to get a nice little designer notebook and note down all the parameters that would be a crucial for deciding the bride.

1. Whether she should be working or not? (Why not!! Even Ambanis need working ones otherwise you will have to watch saas-bahu serials with them .. terror. Plan about it in advance that would you be able to fulfill your future needs with your own paycheck or would you need additional one. Would it be okay with you if she ever rises above you in the hierarchy if you are from same field. Due to this reason it is considered to be a thumb rule that working partners should be from different fields of work)

2. How is her attitude? (You will need 2-3 meetings to decide on this like whether she walks behind you or in front of you, she can eat what you like or not she is of progressive nature or not. Look for what perceptible changes are there in her behavior from first to third meeting and then decide for yourself.)

3. She is good looking or not? (Here is the catch!! Most of the Indians boys always select in the way that what would his friends think of his wife as whether she is good looking or not!! Never do this even in your dreams. Always think whether you like her not and in most cases if she is good looking than you then there is a case to be taken forward. It is you who are to live with her not your friends!!)

4. Her Family and back ground? (I would advise that one should always pay a visit to her home alongwith the family for by spending 2-3 hours over there you can get a clue that she has been brought up in what kind of atmosphere and whether that is acceptable to you. For example If a girl is working in IT sector in Bangalore then there are good chances that her living style over in Bangalore can be different from her hometown say Bhatinda and in long run how she lived and did in Bhatinda will come out. Have a good interaction with her family members also.)

5. Whether she can fit in various stages of your life? (What’s that!!? Let me explain it to you. We can divide the life of groom into three stages. (18-24) when the feeling of dying for each other and I LOVE YOU is paramount. In today’s world these 6 years are missing because marriage happens at the age of 24-25. Next stage is from (24-34) when the sexual pleasure with your wife is of paramount importance for you. Then comes phase of (34-May You Live Long) when one looks for spiritual peace from his partner as well as her help for building a happy home. Now before deciding always look that you are at what phase of life and whether your would be partner can give you a sense of fulfillment in all the stages. You can change the period or span of all the stages according to your condition but be true to yourself in the assessment.

6. How much dowry can her family give or you want? (Com’on man it is a moral crime. I can’t help you in it.)

All these things were discussed to find his bride so I just jotted it down. My friend has almost found his ideal partner and most probably in december I would have another chance to dance, eat and drink all the way.

Gay Parade in New Delhi for Equal Rights

The first ever gay parade ( although better word have been Homosexual Parade for lesbians also participated along with eunuchs ) took place in New Delhi on Sunday from Regal Building in Connaught Palace to Jantar Mantar for a period of two and half hours over a distance of about 2.5 kms. Indeed I alongwith many of other guys over here are finding difficult for what to say over this topic. First of all I am of straight sexual orientation. This one is not to say that I either stand for or disapprove the notion and rights of Homosexual. We (even my generation X) have been brought up in a society where let alone to approve of this category but to even discuss them is considered to a fault/sin/mistake. But for the way in which the society has opened up in last 10-12 years and the western influence the murmurs have started and except with parents we are (almost) able to discuss this within our circle and now on such public forums. Now whether our society U Me aur Hum will approve of this is not or does this really matter whether we approve of it? In my opinion it is of importance that we as a society take a stand on it we have avoided it for centuries but we can't do it anymore in this times when we are day in and day out are speaking of human rights. Why can't a person in this free world have relationship mental or physical or spiritual with a person of same sex ? Because it's against nature ? NO. In my opinion sexual orientation of a person can't be determined by that person. Whether a person likes person of similar or of opposite sex is what comes naturally. So how can nature act against nature. In my view most of the opposition to this issue in India is due to the fact that we have been brought up with notion of this being a bad thing. Those who have been giving the call of it being not in our culture and history then for that matter we abolished sati/dowry and many other things which were part of our culture (Sati is considered correct in Rajasthani/Rajput culture) . So we should not keep beating the age old bush again and again.

In Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), which criminalizes "unnatural sex", should now be debated upon and rectified. The law, a remnant of Victorian morality, was made in 1860, when any sexual activity that was not meant for procreation was considered a sin. Now the time is ripe for the concerned people to think fresh and think right. Afterall it is there choice.

Soldiering with Dignity: SHFJ 'SAM' Manekshaw

The sun has set on the life of one of the bravest and legend of Indian motherland. Sam Bahadur has passed away. I hope his feats will inspire the generations and will instill the sense of love for motherland which looks to be eroding fast. That would be our true tribute to that great personality. I will not say that I have read extensively about him but whatever I had I would share one or two stories which would keep us in good humour about this great personality.

Once he was appointed on the commission which was looking into the matter of increasing the pay of Armed Forces. When they were discussing to increase the separation allowance (which is given when soldier is posted at non family station) for the forces then the commission asked why this should be increased. Then Sam Bahadur told a story that in 1940 he was posted far away from his family for 3 years and he could not see his family. When he came back his wife had given a birth to a daughter. Then he told that only reason for him to believe that she was his daughter was that her face was looking like him. Case good enough to increase the so called allowance.

I have always wondered how the man with a parsi looking can be from Amritsar, Punjab. Curious enough point !! Then I found this story behind this. Father of Sam Bahadur has just completed his medical studies and then he was unable to excel in mumbai in his practice then somebody suggested to him that he should goto Lahore where he can succeed in his field. So he along with his newly wed bride set off for lahore. Sam's mother had never seen the well built Punjabis (read Sikhs here in partiicular and also Muslims like pathans with beards) when she saw them at Amritsar Railway station. There a sikh with beard and open hair was taking bath and when she saw him he was shocked (couldn't find better word) by there builts and hairy looks. She started to weep and then Sam's parents got down from train at Amritsar and then settled there and lived there for almost 5 decades. Another case of destiny !!??

There are many stories like this related to the life of Sam Manekshaw .. some other time. For now kindly join me prayers so that his soul may rest in peace. A tricoloured salute to SAM.

(Soldiering with Dignity stolen from somewhere from internet .. It's a book on Sam Bahadur)

Muchan kundeeyan.

Je ghar dee kadd ke peendey haan,
Taan hee akh khad dee laaleeyan fadhdee,
Paindeeyan jadon ne shaaman bayee,
Je muchan kundeeyan rakhdey haan,

Taanhee sab darde yaaran nu karde pind de lok salaaman bayee !!

Heard these lines in a Punjabi song so just thought of sharing it. Almost as a repeat of last year I am in a same position as of last year. Guess what it is. IPL starting from tomorrow would be a good timepass and summer this time around would be good one.

Fight till you win or till you die!!

I don't know whether I should be sleeping now or should I be just doing what I am doing now! But somehow I have taken the later way out. They say I should tomorrow should see a inspirational movie or do what I enjoy most (maybe eating or playing cricket) for the next day on 18th is of CAT. But I will be doing nothing of the above mentioned. I will get online at around 9 am or 8 am and will wait that I have a good 2-3 hours of chat with a lady all the way from some Angel's City. She may be my sister/massi/bhuaa anything but really I will drive strength from her for my CAT examination in particular or life in general. God is cruel most of the times. Indeed. Can it be more cruel than that she has lost her mother, father, His husband is kind of cruel person, her nephew/niece say something bad about her, she is in alien land still she cares for humanity, she wants to fulfill her promise made to her mother, many things ... she is fighting and fighting bravely. Her war is much bigger than mines ... so can't I? I can. Irrespective of the result one thing I will make sure is that spirit to fight and survive till the end is there ... come what may fear and running away due to impending defeat is not in my blood !! I will fight!! Thats a promise and this fight is not about CAT only it is about succeeding in every sphere of life and I will make sure that this confidence and belief in myself spills into my life even after CAT !!
Now I know what I did just now is the best thing I could have done.

Excuse me Please.

For long enough I have not been doing any blogging .. Although I am a addicted writer but trust me these days many of the things are keeping me occupied. Like currently I have started writing on Hockey (occasionally cricket) for www.isport.in. Do visit that site and kindly give your opinions. Although I will be try to post in between like the Interview by Cuckoo for sure (Sorry Cuckoo it's getting late, I hope you understand), I would not be able to do it regularly till November. Till then it's bye bye !! Till then I am leaving you with my work of photography !!

Jeeva Janamdin Mubarak!!

Hello friend Jeeva I wish you a very very happy birthday and a prosperous life full of your wishes coming true, unwarranted success, load's of happiness & full of our friendship tales so that I can narrate to your children.

Have a rocking time Jeeva !!