2012...Do u believe...WORLD WILL END??

Recently, you might have noticed on various TV channels, news papers and internet websites that we are going to die on 21 Dec, 2012 because world is going to end on this date. The main reason behind this whole speculation is end of Mayan Calendar on 21 Dec, 2012. During Mayan times, they created a very accurate calendar which is even much better than our present calendar system. Mayan Calendar can accurately predict major solar events thousands of years before their occurrence, from this fact we can understand the accuracy of this calendar. However, Mayan Calendar strangely ends of 21 Dec, 2012.

Second on 21 Dec, 2012, our earth will be on straight line between our galaxy and sun (which is a once in thousand of year’s event). Many scientists believe that this situation can cause shift in the polar positions of earth. Third, online software created to predict future events is also predicting about major disaster on this date.

The latest big screen offering from Sony Pictures, 2012, shows the end of the world, supposedly based on theories backed by the Mayan calendar. The doomsday scenario revolves around claims that the end of time will come as an obscure Planet X — or Nibiru — collides with Earth.

The mysterious planet was supposedly discovered by the Sumerians, according to claims by pseudo-scientists, paranormal activity enthusiasts and Internet theorists. Some websites have accused the US space agency of concealing the truth about the wayward planet’s existence, but NASA has denounced such stories as an “Internet hoax.”

According to a report in the Telegraph, NASA said in a question-and-answer posting on its website, “There is no factual basis for these claims.” If such a collision were real, “astronomers would have been tracking it for at least the past decade, and it would be visible by now to the naked eye,” it said.

“Obviously, it does not exist,” it added. “Credible scientists worldwide know of no threat associated with 2012,” it insisted. After all, “our planet has been getting along just fine for more than four billion years,” added NASA.

Initial theories set the disaster for May 2003, but when nothing happened, the date was moved forward to the winter solstice in 2012, to coincide with the end of a cycle of the ancient Mayan calendar. NASA insisted the Mayan calendar does not in fact end on December 21, 2012, as another period begins immediately afterward; and it said there are no planetary alignments on the horizon for the next few decades.

Even if the planets were to line up as some have forecast, the effect on our planet would be “negligible,” NASA said.

The media is harping and lamenting on the same issue since such a long time. It is nothing beyond a shallow tact just to make a news. If you carefully observe the pattern of the coming up of such "end of world" articles, you will discover that they are presented to you as a delicious feast only when there is no other issue to talk about. Its just like some chat masala on your fruit salad.When the media feels that the public is bored of the serenity and monotony of settled life without any terrorist attacks or accidents, miss-happenings or natural calamities, they leave in this issue for a little bit of cha-cha-cha.

We as human beings are such petty things when looked at, considering the vastness of all that God has created and the precision of all His plans,how can we claim that we have come to know when the world will end?? It is beyond our power and ability. A man who cannot tell what may happen the very next moment, can he tell when the world might end??? Is it this easy for us to comprehend the exact time, mode of execution and the outcome of such a far off and grand event with so much confidence??? Doesn't all this sound a bit out of context and improbable??

Just chill friends, sit back and enjoy life fully!!!!!

ONE DAY INDIA WILL SHINE.....

……...…………One day India will shine!!!............................
If one thinks positively, one is destined to accomplish what one desires. When we hope for good, we definitely attract positive energy. The hope, that, one day India will shine, itself acts as a catalyst to help us travel on the road, to ultimately, shining brightly one day.

A few days ago, I read Robin S. Sharma’s, “The Monk Who Sold His Ferari”. The novel contributed to a certain in making me into a positive thinker. The work illustrates the power of positive thinking. It dictates on how one must set positive aims and work systematically, attracting positive energy so that what comes out as a result, is the best, the most positive and most deserved. All one needs to do, is, set a goal and use positive pressure on the self, constantly and work for the attainment of the goal. If we as Indians think that one day India and we as Indians will shine, then I have no doubt that though gradually, but we will reach the zenith. But just a positive thought without action on the part of each one of us will not bear any fruits.

Nirendranath Chakrabarti has composed a poem “Amalkanti”, in which he talks of his childhood friend Amalkanti who wanted to be different. He wanted to be sunlight. The timid sunlight of a late afternoon that clings to ‘jaams’ and ‘jaamurals’ after a rain. But sadly Amalkanti could not become anything. There were several reasons behind his failure. The very first was the setting of a goal which was unrealistic and other worldly. The second biggest fault was, he did not work for the achievement of his goals. He was just a thinker. Had he tried to become someone who could bring a smile to the face of the suffering masses, he would have attained his aim of becoming a sunlight, but he thought much and acted naught.
The only reason behind bringing in this example is that, I wish, that we Indians as one unit must come together, set a proper goal for our growth, a goal which is feasible and one which can be realized; and we all have to work incessantly until we attain our set goals. Think positive and work with all your might and devotion then who can challenge the statement that, ONE DAY INDIA WILL SHINE? This statement would no longer be, just a statement but will become a reality, the moment we pledge to be ONE, and work with all perseverance.

The most important pre-requisite is that we must stop blaming others for whatever wrong that comes our way. Take up responsibility friends. If your family members falter and fall, don’t you help them get back their equilibrium? Why then you don’t consider every citizen of our country your own?

What actually, “to shine” suggests? Be economically stable and prosperous, be literate, lead the world, be a power, have influence and most important retain our originality. I believe our cultural heritage is something we must be proud of. I do agree there are certain traditions prevalent in India even today, in the remote areas, which I strongly condemn, like dowry, sati, child-marriage, but yet the richness and color of our good traditions have been attracting foreigners with their multi-dimensional power to reach out and touch the heart. I am really proud of the varied colors of life in my country and it has touched every soul that reached India.
Indians are spiritually much stronger than anyone else in the world. Our age long beliefs, our strict adherence to them and our devotion to spiritual causes, is something which must be appraised. India is a huge vessel and in it reside millions of people with varying cultural and religious beliefs. India is such a pretty amalgam of variety in all the planes, be it culture, tradition, religion, language. We live together and celebrate the essence of life together.

Even after almost two centuries of British rule, India stood and fought back against all the chains that bound it. We were weak in all senses after independence. There was poverty, illiteracy, various kinds of diseases, lack of equal opportunity to all, yet we kept moving ahead. And today we stand only a few steps away from shining bright.

In his speech, “Tryst with Destiny” Shri Jawaharlal Nehru said that, “The ambition of the greatest man of our generation has been to wipe every tear from every eye. That may be beyond us but as long as there are tears and suffering, so long our work will not be over”. By the greatest man, Jawaharlal Nehru refers to Mahatma Gandhi. So taking an inspiration from the desire and dreams of these two great men of India, we must also take a vow that we will work as long as we don’t attain the position of “The Best”.

Every child in India sent to schools for education is crafted into a multi-faceted personality having many talents and the ability to survive in the hardest situation or stand out in the toughest competition. From the very beginning, one never gets anything easily in India, which forces one to develop excellence as a trait. This is the reason, when our Indian Engineers or Doctors are employed abroad they leave behind the natives of those countries, in efficiency, precision, accuracy and technical know-how. The most recent example that substantiates this point is that, Honorable President of U.S.A Mr. Barack Obama himself said to the American students, "At a time when other countries are competing with us like never before, when students from Bangalore, India are working harder than ever, and doing better than ever, your success in school is not just going to determine your success, it's going to determine America's success in the 21st century." And this trait of excellence, in Indians is a shining silver streak in the grey sky which gives us a strong hope that soon we will have a bright blue sky instead of a grey one and we will shine brightly. I am waiting for that day. I do believe, one day India will shine. Just put in some effort, stretch your hands and touch the sky. TOGETHER WE CAN AND WE WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!!!!!!!!

Afshan Tarannum Shirazi..

Ye hai India meri jaan!!!!!!!!!!

…………….Uncivilized Indians………………..

The moment I read today’s topic for blogging, “Uncivilized Indian’s”, I felt so elated and curious thinking that I will have ample of material to put in for the article, but instantly the next feeling that swept me was one of shame. I was so ashamed when I realized that one gets ample of material to put in when one writes some negative aspect of our country. But what to do, the truth is that when I sit and think of instances which illustrate the uncouth and uncivilized behavior of the Indians, I can recall thousands of such exemplary instances.

I cannot keep myself aloof when I talk of the uncultured or uncivilized behavior of the Indians because somehow, knowingly or in subconscious state, even I, do things which will be categorized in the uncivilized section. We are so badly caught up in the corrupt and hypo-critic society that either we do not take any action to bring about some revolution for the up gradation of living standard or we prevent others from doing so.

Even today when we clean our house and decide to throw away the accumulated thermacoal packing or plastic bags we just tend to dump it in the playground which is nearest to our house. But what to do? This is the second most convenient option . Second, because the first is to send away all the waste with the man employed to collect all the garbage, by the society. But what can one probably do if that man makes it a habit to come just once or twice a week though he is paid to come daily. We have fallen victims to his personal corruption. Even if I think of employing some other guy, it is not at all a fruitful option for I have tried it thrice with no variation in the outcome.

We very well know that using thin plastic bags is a very bad option and is not acceptable from the environment point of view. Yet we happily bring back vegetables from the market and each fruit or vegetable is always packed in separate plastic bags, and we don’t even refuse to take these bags.

The moment you step out of your house you can see hundreds of educated people spitting while they drive, they don’t even care if what they spit lands on someone else’s body or vehicle. What matters to them is “oonche log oonchi pasand…….”. Have you ever tried counting the number of packets of tobacco that you may get to encounter if you walk along the road.

We care about health and hygiene, only within the confines of our house. How many of us make it a point to throw the wrappers of chocolate or ice-cream only in the dust-bin? Even if you decide to throw them only in a bin, do we get any waste-bins along the road? Several times I kept back chocolate wrappers to throw in waste bins but the sorry-state-of-affairs is such that I could not locate any public bins for their disposal.

How many public sanitaries can we see in our surrounding or our city? Even if there are public sanitaries, are they from hygienic point of view, in a state that we can enter them? Sorry, but I wouldn’t enter any however urgent the nature’s call be. This is something that we all Indians should be ashamed of. Why don’t we fight for this cause? Why don’t we stand together and demand for such basic needs? All bandhs, hartals, strikes and burning of effigies are nothing but a political stunt. For how long we educated Indians won’t take any action and be dormant?

All this was something to do with the cleanliness or hygiene. Another thing which is a glaring example of the uncivilized approach of the Indians is the way in which we destroy public property. As it is, very few things are available as public property and all that is there, we do not even fail to destroy it. Hundreds of times I have seen boys aiming stones at street lights and fusing bulbs or breaking glasses. The destruction of the metro rail of Delhi is an example of the destructive mentality of Indians.

Roads are made after an interval of 10-15 years. But the very moment they are ready for use, there definitely would be an inauguration of a shop, or a birthday party, or a marriage reception and our great Indians won’t even think twice before they bore holes on the road for the erection of tents. My heart pains, to see the sight but I feel so helpless. What can be done when such things are done by the literate government gazette officers of our country?

Many a times you can see, the seat of your vehicle scratched with a blade or the name of someone inscribed with a stone on your brand new car. We don’t even hesitate in engraving our names on the historical monuments. They are our heritage but we don’t feel the pain because we do not pay for their maintenance directly. We Indians love to write a message on the historical monuments. Something like Raj loves Riya, etc. You may get to see tons of such examples.

Why don’t we feel the pain of destroying something? What kind of thought process do we have? What pleasure do we get by doing such things? Do we not hold ourselves as responsible, for what our country is today? I feel the motto of most of Indians has been, is and will be…..”Meri marzi”.
Uncivilized I believe is a lighter or a much low level word to describe us. The most appropriate word would be “inhuman”. Our destructive mentality goes beyond spoiling non-living things. I am a witness to severely and strictly inhuman acts right in front of my house. Kids of age group 5-12 years from the slum area near by, brought four puppies from somewhere. One week they kept torturing them. They would kick them, lift them by their tail. They did all sorts of heinous things you can imagine. When I would see them, I would shout at them, scold them, but it was like pouring water on duck’s back. Soon they would return and start the same things. Two of the puppies died after a week. I could not locate the body of the remaining two, so I believe they are still alive.
My heart was filled with self-loathing for I could do nothing for the puppies. But the question arises, how 5-6 years-- old kids are having such a cruel mentality? How did such criminality creep in, in their innocent minds? What are parents doing? What are we teaching them? Why my teaching them, could not change the way they think? Why couldn’t I counsel them? Why don’t they have something else to do, which is productive not only for them but for the country as well? What is going wrong? Are we deteriorating further as human beings? Have we been so uncivilized since the beginning or what is the matter????

Simply writing blogs wouldn’t help sir/ madam. It’s time we must do something at our level. We must form small communities and work at least one hour together daily, trying to civilize ourselves and others, in the process becoming more human. Adhere to the duty of keeping our surroundings, even outside our house and workplace, clean. Do not destroy public property. Stand against any and every form of corruption. Raise voice, stand together, work together and do not work under the influence of political parties. We have to work as Indians considering India as our home. The area beyond our residential boundary is also our responsibility. Kindly shoulder the responsibility properly , in a civilized manner.