"A man should never be ashamed to own he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." -- Alexander Pope. Do we learn more from finding out that we have made mistakes or from our successful actions?

"Wisdom is not a product of schooling but of the life-long attempt to acquire it." -- Albert Einstein. True enough it is. One can imagine a task to be a ladder. When Bob climbs a rung, he is higher than the previous rung, but he is not at the top. On the way, he might miss footing and hurt himself. If, then, he picks himself up and climbs on to reach the top, he has learnt from his fall and achieved his goal. Failures were lurking on each rung of the ladder. But he kicked them off and finally, shook hands with success. Had Bob not missed his footing, he wouldn't have known how not to place his foot on a rung. Maybe, on another day, he will slip and hurt himself too much to be able to rise again because he never learnt his footwork.

As was with Bob, when he slipped off the ladder the first time and learned to climb up again, many of us look back on our actions when we fail and try to infer from them the cause of our endeavour gone astray. Unless, of course, we choose to make ourselves a part of the eighty-five percent that Thomas.A.Edison was referring to when he said, "Five percent of the people think; ten percent of the people think they think; and the other eighty-five percent would rather die than think."

Thinking of our failures, when proceeded with in the right spirit, can teach us more than any schooling can do. It is when we attempt to step into an unknown realm that we encounter our doubts and weaknesses. Wisdom lies in taking them in our stride and recalling them when faced by a situation kindred to the previous one. A mistake repeated is an opportunity forgone. A person who has made an error once and then erred in a similar manner again has lost a chance to learn from a mew experience. He is stuck at the first problem and has not moved ahead. But, it is not a fault on part of the 'error' that the person did not learn the first time. It is merely his disregard and refusal to accept his inattention that made him overlook the mistake.

This thoughtlessness, however, is not as harmful as getting depressed and giving up hope is. Negligent people learn late -- they learn when their attitude hits a dead end on the wrong side of the road. At that point they realise that they have got to look into all those mistakes, which they have been sitting on for all this while, over again. But, those who give up hope don't learn at all. They think that failure is the end of the world.

Life's journey, most definitely, does not finish at one mistake. A mistake simply means that one is better prepared to face the world of tomorrow today, than he was yesterday. Mistakes are always a window to polish one character. Successes are too, but even those who habitually scrutinize their faults may, easily, not deem it important to review a sojourn towards success with no thorny bushes and lurking wildcats on the way. For instance, I succeed with the brown ring test for nitrates in the chemistry laboratory everytime. Everybody else, too, follows the instructions to their best efforts. But, they don't succeed. In my knowledge, I did exactly what they did. but my knowledge is limited because everytime I succeeded, I never thought it essential to look back and try to find out what the trick was. If one day, I fail that test, I would no clue as to what amendments I must make in my procedure. Success, here, is not really teaching me as compulsively as failure would have.

That is why, a challenge is what one must put one's foot into. That is what all wise people have said all these years and so it will continue to be said. A challenge means more chances of mistakes and more mistakes mean more room to correct oneself. As opposed to a challenge, the easy way would not teach half as much. Moreover, a success achieved at the and of a challenge is more complete and advantageous. In this context, Robert Frost, in his poem 'The Road Not Taken', wrote, "Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I / Took the one less traveled by / And that has made all the difference."

"The price of greatness is responsibility." -- Winston Churchill. Do we expect too much from our public figures?

The human head is crammed with neurons, arteries grey cells and expectations, judgements, opinions and images. There is already too much in there, but  the moment one sees anything(or anybody) new, there is always space for more expectations, more judgement, more opinions and more images. One usually begins with the first image, formulates the first opinion, sets the first bar and then proceeds to make judgements based on these firsts from time to time. Now, an individual matters to just another few. To everybody else he/she is a nobody. But when the individual grows into a public figure, the whole story takes a different turn, From calm backwaters he/she has drifted into the stormy sea.

The problem with public figures is that they are almost equated with 'God'. They enjoy the platform because they are a large group of people's icon. "All the world's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players." (Shakespeare in 'The Seven ages of man') If the lead actor errs, the play falls apart. Those at the top are there because they are capable of doing things that others are not. Thus, they are believed to be accountable to whichever section of society they represent through their art.

If that art is 'playing international cricket', the players' failure represents their nations failure -- or so the citizens believe. That is why every time Sachin Tendulkar picks up his bat and walks into the field, Indians expect a century. When Yuvraj Singh readies himself for the first ball of the over, again, Indians visualise six sixes. Sachin Tendulkar, in his first matches, set the bar. Knowing what he is capable of, the crowd will not settle for anything below a perfect cent on the scoreboard. When his innings totals are perfect, he is wrapped up in honour, respect and money. When a two digit is up, there may be bloodlust in the hearts of some in addition to the critical tweets, expert comments and the like.

Bloodlust -- fans can be fanatics. Some people believe in their icon so ardently  that they limit their horizons of thought to only the picture that is projected to them. The moment they discover that a die can have six faces, they reach the end of the world. For instance, on April, 1993,  rising star Monica Seles fell prey to the fanaticism of a die-hard Steffi Graph fan who stabbed her on-court. Monica Seles had, by then, won three grand slam titles against Steffi Graph who was previously the world no.1.

Unlike fanatics, many people like to follow the footsteps of the public figure they idolise. Any mistake made by the public figure breaks their perfect image and they don't like that. In 1999, Nitish Kumar, then Minister  for Railways and Surface Transport, resigned following the Gaisal train disaster. By doing so, he preserved his identity in the eyes of the people. He accepted full responsibility for the incident and proved his accountability. The people remember his numerous reforms in the Indian Railway system and continue to respect him.

On the other hand, in the present case scenario, leaders of the ruling party are failing to meet the expectations of the citizens repeatedly. Over and above, they are not admitting their flaws. The level of expectations was set by the first leaders who worked truly for the people. Surely, it is possible for the leaders today to fulfill them?

For public icons it is a duty to make a stubborn crowd happy. Expectations are as high as they should be, but people need to understand that it is not always possible for them to be met.

Many societies believe that the pursuit of happiness is a fundamental human right. But it is also true that attainment of happiness remains elusive. Perhaps Bertrand Russell had it right when he said, "To be without some of the things you want is an indispensable part of happiness." What gives us more pleasure and satisfaction: the pursuit of our desires or the attainment of them?

Daughter: Dad, I want the new iPhone 5.
Father: Not until your scores are good.
Daughter: Dad, please! You're being such a hypocrite! So many of my classmates have better and none of  their "scores" deserve it.
Father: Better scores or no iPhone. Now, go and study and don't waste time dreaming of such silly things.
Daughter: Yes, boss!

So, her pursuit of happiness began -- or rather what she thought would bring her happiness. Two months of hard work, fueled by enthusiasm and dream of the iPhone, brought great scores in the annual examination.
Father: Tomorrow, I will place an order for your iPhone.
Daughter: Okay. Or we can go for something better? I saw a pair of stillettoes at the mall the other day. I was wondering if........

How was she now not interested in the iPhone 5 anymore? Well, her friends had it already. But they didn't have the stillettoes.

Pursuit of our desires can take us to places hitherto unexplored. It can make us do things that we never imagined for ourselves in a lifetime. But the fulfillment or near-fulfillment of one dream most often leads to the germination of another. The concept of 'happiness', however, is not as simple as getting something and then wanting another and so on.

Dopamine is one of the main culprits. It identifies itself as a monoamine neurotransmitter in the brain that controls the feelings of reward and punishment. There are other hormones with situational specializations, but this guy called 'dopamine' is their chief.

Human psychology also has a role to play in this complexity. Myriad theories of the psychology of happiness have been put up by psychologists who differ vastly in their opinions. Unentwining the mystery of happiness is yet a pursuit -- quite a perplexing one. In fact, happiness has been labeled as "the most un-understood phenomenon in the world!" because everybody hopes to achieve it, but no one knows anything about it. A contrast to this, renowned psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud believes that humanity is doomed to chronic unhappiness.

The least one can do, though, is think of happiness on the basis of experiences from the more concrete world of affairs. For instance, to some people happiness is intoxicating. A man I met at the airport, by way of conversation, said, "Why go for all the trouble with meditation and self control to attain nirvana when a few pegs of whiskey does the deal?" Interestingly, even some insects are intoxicated by their desires. The mosquito, for example, sucks and sucks and keeps sucking blood until it grows too fat and heavy to stay on the skin anymore and then falls prey to eager claps. Similar is the case with a leech or with those tiny insects which blindly love light, especially flames.

To some others, happiness implies money and material possessions. These very people are the ones that get labelled greedy, stingy, selfish, self-centered, evil and the like. They are jealous of their neighbours' belongings, of  anyone with the potential to achieve anything beyond what they are capable of and of anyone trying to assist them in any field in any way. They are afraid of the fundamental characteristic of social existence -- give and take. To them, neither the pursuit nor the fulfillment of their desires is pleasurable. Among those who get wiser, it is unanimously accepted that the simpler, the better. In Charles Dickens' 'A Christmas Carol', Ebenezer Scrooge realises that no amount of money can buy the happiness that an open heart can give, after visiting the Crachits' with the 'Ghost of Christmas Present'.

Speaking of an open heart, there are people who hold the belief that the happiness of others is their happiness reflected. They live for others. It is utter misery to them to see those around them unhappy by even the most trivial of causes.

The upshot of all this jabber would be the same old incomprehensibility of the psychology of happiness. Asked what I find more pleasurable, the pursuit or the attainment of happiness, I would definitely say, the pursuit. It awakens a sudden zeal. It gives the footing to skip ahead on. As far as I know, I am happy so long as I think I am happy and only I have the authority to make myself feel otherwise -- not even that dopamine!

"A little inaccuracy saves a world of explanation." -- C.E. Ayers Is it always essential to tell the truth or are there circumstances in which it is better to tell a lie?

Lies, lies everywhere; not an atom to spare! Everything in nature, every person in the world has told lies and endured lies. Lying is inherent in the making of the universe. Its presence is inevitable. Dreams lie, scientific studies lie, medical tests lie, computers lie, butterflies lie, foxes lie, the atmosphere lies, water lies, shopkeepers lie, best friends lie, soul-mates lie and everybody else lies. Lies fill the world. But are all lies immoral?

In a scene from the Mahabharata, at Kurukshetra, Krishna tells Yudhishtira to let know of Ashwatthama's death to Drona. In order not to break his dharma of always uttering the truth, Yudhishtira affirms to Drona that Ashwatthama is dead, but under his breath, adds that it was an elephant. Lying was never of any virtue to Yudhishtira. In this case he got lucky because Bhima had, just at the nick of time, slayed an elephant named, coincidentally, the same as that of Drona's son, Ashwatthama. However, to Krishna the falsity was justified. He was concerned with the larger picture. The undaunted Drona was the most significant threat to the Pandavas' army and had to be stopped so that the Pandavas could end up victorious, defeat evil and save mankind in the long run.

Similar to Krishna trying to save victory from going to the wrong hands in the war, lying is resorted to, in many situations, to save oneself. In nature, many varieties of butterflies which actually appeal to the taste buds of  predator birds mimic the tasteless or disgusting ones to protect their existence. Certain birds divert the attention of foxes, approaching to make a meal of its chicks, by running away in a different direction. These sly birds then abandon the foxes a few paces away and fly off. Many such incidents of deceit are nature's way of saying , "Ha! You're stupid. So, try as you may, you're never going to get me!" A poem by Mary Howitt tactfully depicts such deception where the spider lures the fly to her den by flattering him.'"Will you walk into my parlour?" said the spider to the fly / 'Tis the prettiest little parlour that you ever did spy;'

People, sometimes, lie to avoid trouble. Kids fake the day's happenings to spare themselves a lecture or scolding from teachers or parents and give their ears some rest. Husbands with extra-marital affairs lie to their wives to keep the peace at home intact and consequently, save their marriage. Huckleberry Finn lied to Tom Sawyer's Aunt Sally so that he wouldn't be denied shelter at their place. Huck, however, was a habitual  lier. Huckleberry, through his fib, saved many lives. He took the act of lying to a whole new level. For instance, he spilled pig's blood all over the floor of his Pap's shack and presented the picture that the house had been robbed, he himself had been murdered and drowned in the river. In fact he was hiding in a canoe, that had strayed within his reach by chance, in a dark cranny of a creek that diverged from the river. This done, he spared both Pap and himself of each other's company. In its own way it was a righteous act.

People, in the real world, lie at times to make others feel better. If a lie does good to a person, I would say that it is just. Well wishers face the dilemma of having to lie for the benefit of their loved ones as, in certain trauma patients' cases, it is undoubtedly a better option to tell them what they want to hear and keep them happy. Again, in the movie 'Big Fish', the son finally narrates to his dying father, how he would carry him to the lake and there the old man would transform into the legendary 'Big Fish'. By narrating the story of his father's death, he shows that he has accepted him and his overly fantacised ideologies of life. This was something that gave his father peace in the end. The quality of lying for the benefit of their fellows is probably endemic to homo-sapiens. due to their enhanced ability to empathize.

The lie that Yudhishtira, prompted by Krishna, agreed, unwillingly, to tell can now be looked at from two angles. It was a self-protection act but also done for the betterment of mankind.

Lies uttered under compulsion cannot be questioned for they are a helpless person's sin. But those told by choice may not uphold virtue. People lie to project a false image of the self. This is a major cause for extensive and growing corruption. The Dalai Lama aptly put, "There is much in the window, but nothing in the room."

Lies are not always good but lies are everywhere. Undeniably. it is better than truth in certain circumstances. Rightly said by C.E.Ayers, "A little inaccuracy saves a world of explanation."

If we are afraid to reveal our lack of knowledge we will not be able to learn. In order to make progress we must admit where we are now. Such an admission of ignorance is not easy. As Thoreau says, "How can we remember our ignorance which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?" Does the present system of education encourage us to admit our lack of knowledge or is there too much pressure to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge?

A coin has two sides clearly distinguishable. But the figures on it are carved and embossed. So, on looking closer, a coin proves to posses many surfaces. Similarly, being able to reveal our lack of knowledge is not simply confined to the education system allowing us to do so and not. The present education system is not perfect and neither were those of the past. Transcending all such imperfections, however, people have made progress. Yes, the education system has a major role to play, but, no, the ability to admit or not our lack of knowledge depends on factors that are more complex to analyse.

During our parents' schooldays, the school certificate examination boards required students to study volumes of course material that may have put a tad too much load on them. Today the curriculum has been simplified to an extent that almost every Tom, Dick and Harry has exemplary scores to his credit. Both periods in time have fostered students with an inhibition for admitting their lack of knowledge, but for different reasons. In the former case, most of the students were probably held back by their fear of the expected physical or verbal abuse from parents or teachers. In the present case scenario, with the possibility of any sort of abuse eliminated, the inhibition arises due to a host of reasons.

The problem with the present educating machinery is that the not Toms, not Dicks and not Harrys are losing out on a chance to prove themselves in life. The current system gives examination question papers that can be answered without trouble if the whole text book is mugged up accurately. However, those unfortunates who wish to understand concepts and truly learn -- not stuff information -- are thrown into the abyss. Teachers and parents egg the pupils on to stuff and put more marks on the report card. At par with the views of many, the present education system is creating a generation of students like a pile of sand too damp to sparkle golden under the sun.

Sometimes, though, a few diamonds here and there in the sand do glint under the sun. The present education system seems to be neither encouraging us to admit our lack of knowledge nor putting too much pressure to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge. It seems to be promoting the demonstration of the ability to learn by-heart and reproduce information. Conquering the obstacles of such a system, some students are able to precisely gauge their performance and to truly learn to acquire knowledge. They are in the same environment as those who are unable, proving that there are other factors which determine the ability in question.

The attitude and mindset of the student are also two major contributing factors. A close friend of mine failed one of the numerous school examinations. She broke down crying and resolved to go to the concerned subject teacher for remedial classes. Asked, a few days later, how she was progressing with the subject, she revealed that she had refrained from requesting the teacher for extra help for fear of being demoralised by what he might have to say. After disappointing scores in subsequent exams she pleaded help from us but would neither tell us her marks nor her mistakes. With no knowledge of her level of understanding of the subject we could not give her the help she desired. Either this was her idea of saving her image or she failed to judge her own standings and act accordingly.

With a trend of smartness and show-off in the air, preserving one's public image and hence, hiding one's failures is in the forefront. It is not so much the education system that is holding back students from realising their capabilities as is the social environment -- and in particular cases, their attitude or mindset gone askew.
The complexity of this analysis is a window for the few who continue to glide over the obstacles they face and progress.

"That which we obtain too easily, we esteem too lightly. It is dearness only which gives everything its value." -- Thomas Paine. Do we value only what we struggle for?

"A thing of beauty is a joy forever/ its loveliness increases it will never/ pass into nothingness;" -- John Keats.
We try to hold on to things that are dear to us. So much so, that years from the moment of its occurence, it comes back to us and puts a smile on our face. If we froze time now and recorded it, five years from now we could swear the recording had been tampered with. We would remember only traumatic bad incidents, but even trivial good times will be fresh in our minds. It is like the memory edited itself, deleted the stuff that brings a negative feeling and refreshed all the happy things. We struggle through the bad and for the good, but its the things that give us beauty which we remember and hold on to.

Struggles come at every step of life. We were taught the meaning of working through our troubles ever since we were toddlers. "Shake it off and step up." That is what the donkey did and that is what we must do too. Like it or lump it, struggle is something that everyone does. We must fight to even keep what we have if not get better. The fight may be small or big, but the moment we stop, "poof" its gone. Then we must learn to love what we have the hard way.

What we value depends upon our insight of our lives. Most of us realise the worth of things only after we've lost it. Sometimes such situations initiate a desperate tussle to try and acquire these lost things. That is why it is important to analyse how precious things, that are within our clutches, are. If we do not follow our dream and force ourselves to do jobs that satisfy social pride, we would be regretting it at the point of no return. If we are too generous with our money, we may have to scrape the barrel when our pockets are empty.

However, not following one's dream and letting too much money flow too fast are not critical. Certain things happening globally are steadily moving to a devastating closure. Water environment and health are three basic possessions of mankind which are all too quickly becoming all the dearer. Paradoxically, they haven't been  given due recognition yet.

On the other hand, freedom's worthiness is all too well understood. Today, the women of the world are free of many grotesque forms of male domination. People in all democratic republics are free to speak or do as they will. I am a free Indian but I didn't struggle for it, my ancestors did. Nevertheless, I will do all I can to keep it.

It is not always that things that vapourised from our bag of belongings are what we crave dearly. Freedom of exercising fundamental rights is a dream worth fighting for to a people ruled by a dictator. For those who are free and those who are not, a beautiful glass lampshade in the neighbours' living room is an earnest desire. A lot of teenagers gaping at 'E-Buzz' on AXN or googling their favourite actor want that fame, but their idols probably just miss the normal life they had before they landed on the cover of a celebrity magazine. Those who have it don't want it and those who want it don't have it.

The world is a huge reserve of beautiful things and everything has its own value. Some things do not enjoy the dignity they deserve and others get too much of what they don't deserve. Life is also full of struggles. At every step, in every way, a troll awaits on the bridge which will not let you pass and which you cannot jump over. Anything we value, we have struggled for and all things we let slip away, we will not get a chance to value. Wisdom lies in realising the beauty of what we have when we have it, as an old adage goes, "Make hay while the sun shines."

"Time has a doomsday book, on whose pages he is continually recording illustrious names. But as often as a new name is written there, an old one disappears. Only a few stand in illuminated characters never to be effaced." -- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Are there some heroes who will be remembered forever? Or are all heroes doomed to be forgotten one day?

John Keats, in his poem 'Endymion', spoke of the "mighty dead" and their legacies as "An endless fountain of immortal drink, pouring unto us from heaven's brink." We learn for a lifetime. It is a lifetime of learning from people. Departed people or contemporary people, charming people or disdainful people, crazy people or practical people, famous people or infamous people, all give us something to learn. People teach and people learn. People give and people take. Some people die before they can live and some people live live after they die. From these very people we take our pick, we choose our hero -- our idol.

We humans dwell upon thoughts. We think all the time. Invariably our thoughts reflect everything we feel and everything we believe in. We are, right from the moment we first opened our eyes, taught to believe certain things. We are put on a path. That path is lined with houses wherein live the beliefs of many people who came before us. In time we gain the habit of gathering anything we can from all we encounter. For example, I am probably writing this essay in a style used by some of the authors whose works I read earlier in the day. Now, it is precisely in this manner that we come across something that strikes us like a sudden whiff of ammonia. This thing leaves an indelible impression on our minds and move to learn about the person whose work it was that struck us. Eventually, we begin to change our beliefs and in our minds he is a hero.

Traditional folklore passes on the names of such greats. Two centuries hence, the internet and all its information will be a part of ancient folklore. But people don't give an iota of effort to read about heroes who failed to inspire a generation some time down the line. What I mean is that I know Plato, Socrates and Aristotle and I also know that they were not the only philosophers in ancient Greece, but I don't care about any others. Unsung heroes once remain erased from memories forever. However, all heroes are unlikely to be wiped out.

Good-doers and notorious characters at the global level are likely to stay on. But at a more condensed, more personal level? My mother is my hero. She will be her grandchildren's hero. Her grandchildren will tell their children of her but will be unable to imprint upon their mind the beauty of her existence. Her great-great grandchildren will have no clue that sh once lived. She wasn't an unsung hero in her time, but she didn't linger long with her earthling successors.

Impacting achievements, notoriety, sacrifice, etc. at the global level, as formerly mentioned, are likely to survive eternally. Osama Bin Laden for his notoriety, Nelson Mandela for his achievements or Mother Teresa for her sacrifices will never be forgotten. Their inspirations and legacies will be driving force that powers actions and beliefs forever.

As the timeline advances, a few heroes will become many. More people and more beliefs will rule the world. The process is evergreen. Some heroes will never die just as many could never live on. Legacies will be made and new legacies will be made. These heroes will make sure that the world moves ahead. After all, they have given push to the heavy wheels of time.

How do you define success?

Different people have different views on 'success'. But in the end it all comes down to one thing -- self-satisfaction. You are successful when you can take a deep breath, smile and say, "I've done it!" and then treat yourself to champagne -- mentally. But then again, billions of intelligent minds populating the globe mean   a gazillion varied opinions. That is why 'success' as is put down in the dictionary may not mean the same to everybody. The road to success is probably just as eclectic.

Indian politics is, in my opinion, the best example for a critical analysis of the meaning of success. The recent Gujarat elections was a success for the BJP. Narendra Modi is said to have successfully brought development and welfare to a state that was a sinking ship in a vast ocean. As a school student he had an inclination towards politics. fighting against all odds in rising from economic deprivation and social defamation, he did wonders for the people of Gujarat. His deeds compare to few leaders in our country's past. Yet, it seems he didn't get the voter turnout he expected. This particular point is believed to be a success for the Congress. Maybe success can be a consolation to some. Already there are two men in the boat. Another group of critics bring Mamata Banerjee into the picture.She may not have got votes because of her merit. The Left Front ruled the roost in Bengal for decades until people finally decided to try a new leadership. It is a question whether she has done more bad than good to the state's resources  Predictions can never be made, though. She may blow everybody's minds over in the next elections. She may be on the road to success, for good So, there are now 'three men on a bummel' and success in each of these cases isn't really falling in line.

Another lucid example is a court case. The prosecutor's success implies the opposition's failure and vice-versa. But here, success would have to be equated with victory. Triumph of one is defeat for another. Kasab hanged was a success for the judicial system but what of righteousness? It had to take a backseat. People like Kasab, however, mostly die successful. Soon after this incident, an eye-catching newsflash came up on one of the national news channels -- "If we cannot give life, we do not have the right to take one." Introspecting success often leads to controversy.

Two men in front of the television, precisely at the moment the above mentioned newsflash caught their attention, began to argue. They had their theories on right and wrong concerning the issue. One of their egos had to be stronger. One of them must submit. This kind of rivalry is customary in most households. The parents impose on their son the wish that he must become an engineer when he grows up. He drags along and four years later he has proud parents who say, "Our son is a successful engineer." But the son has a different outlook. He thinks he has lost his chance at realising his dream. As far as knowledge goes, he will not be 'successful'. The last ship to the zenith has sailed and he is still on the shore. But with the sea shore being extended to build skyscrapers on, he might be introduced to a new dimension of hope.

Faith and hope are the most mysterious but promising of the myriad roads to success, according to many. For others, practicality has closed doors to all faith and hope. To them, success has one route -- that which excludes moral values. They must get what they aim at no matter what.

Success may mean having fulfilled one's material desires. It may be selfish and mean having pushed past others to move ahead. It may depend upon the happiness of others as a result of one's actions or it may mean being austere to prove to others I can. It may mean doing better than yesterday. But it all comes down to just one thing -- self-satisfaction.

Today our workplaces and neighbourhoods are composed of diverse backgrounds. For this reason it is important for people to find ways to get along with each other.

An inherent fear lies in the minds of all not finding a place in a neighbourhood miles away from home -- for some , even where they have lived for generations. Globalisation has led to shrunken world, a world in a nutshell. I am proud of the world I live in. I have access to every part of it. But being proud has its price. With an increase in social integration and occupational migration, I am of singular upbringing among my fellows.

Riots in Boroland(Assam), fear-stricken northeasterners leaving Bangalore en mass owing to a hoax call, the attempted expulsion of people native to Bihar from Mumbai and other happenings in recent history of our country show, all too well, the need to look for a change in a mentality averse to the idea of multiculturalism everywhere. The Indian Constitution provides for freedom of movement within the country. But even though in the highest institution for protection of rights, it is a mere statement -- a mere statement that cannot change what has been there for centuries,"my homeland is mine and here only I am best". Native Boros could not accept the presence of Muslims and what lay low and buried turned into a violent show of non-acceptance. Similar was the case in Mumbai -- this time for occupational occupation.

Multiculturalism is not the only difference that the people in a modern world society must deal with. Economic backgrounds also form a basis for discrimination. Reservations for tribes, classes, castes in jobs and institutions are an attempt at incorporating all kinds of people in the mainstream economic activities of the nation. But the once upper caste group do not like to make friends with their inferiors -- or so they believe. The gap only widens. the oppressed are pushed down further and the rich rise higher. This political effort merely brands people for who they are and therefore is a failed attempt at cultural and economic national integration.

In one picture, conservatives retort at the thought of any association with a person of inferior background. Mid-day meals are served to Dalit students in seclusion in Govt. schools lest the upper caste students leave. A Dalit teacher must battle with her ego and listen to the venomous swear words her students spurt out everyday. A woman serving as a housemaid must endure the lowly treatment she gets with having to work on  call of her masters and mistresses to make ends meet. The ousted are ousted and so they will be as long as the moral value system of our society does not improve.

In the other picture its urban indifference, done in style. " Neighbours? Who?  I'm sorry I can't spend money or time helping people I don't know." It's a moral value system that's dying and people must do something to liven it up again. People are just moving farther and farther apart culturally and emotionally.

Some time in the past, fifty or so years ago, people lived in joint families. Everybody in the neighbourhood knew everybody else. The whole locality was one big family. today it is a culture of migration and nuclear families. A person does what his occupation demands. There is neither the time nor the will to look at the life of a fellow being. The social system is falling apart. In the early 1900s, William Henry Davies wrote,"What is this life full of care, we have no time to stand and stare..........................no time to wait till her mouth can, Enrich that smile her eyes began." That was just the beginning of the modern era. Now, the social alienation of an individual has gone on to increase manifold. Concluding with the words of the Dalai Lama, "We have bigger houses but smaller families; More conveniences but less time;..............We've been allthe way to the moon and back. But we have trouble crossing the street to meet the new neighbour. We built more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we have less communication.............."

Tomorrow is 21st December 2012 and dayafter it will be 22nd December 2012....................

Feel

Why is it that for some people the head governs the heart and for some others it is the other way round? Why is it that I love the rain and my best friend detests it? Why then do I rejoice when I see the stars after many a cloudy night and my friend prefers the TV to that twinkling blanket? Why is it that the most manipulative of diplomats get their share of joy and success and the most helpful and sympathetic must be left alone and eluded?
What is the feeling that one must have so one may feel he felt correctly?

My Crazy Streak

"Every family has a crazy streak in it somewhere...." -William Saroyan

Our Koryo microwave has miraculously survived seven years without a scratch, considering the fact that it traveled 5000 kilometers owing to three time relocation. But that's not the only reason it's the most trustworthy domestic help my mom has got. It has tasted all the flavors of  my mother's recipe book. From boiled rice to fish curry to all Indian vegetable dishes, the press of a button does it all. Oh,yes! Ever since my dad was diagnosed with diabetes, our Koryo has been the head chef of the house. And that's not just it ; the whole cuisine with just a teaspoonful or two of oil in each dish.
Now, who do you think fashioned the techniques? I know the answer is obvious. But how many mothers actually try this many new things in the kitchen every day? That is some food for thought.
My mother wasn't born with this attitude, I think. My hypothesis is that she grew into it. First she majored in chemistry and she loved the subject, then she did her PhD, next she spent almost twenty years of her life as  a teacher, and of course, she had the little devil of a me to raise. I was a devil because I practically survived the first four years of my life on water and "boiled sago dana" , plus I am a most stubborn piece.
Anyway, the microwave thing has become usual by now. Daily consumption has caused it to loose its glamour. But, like I said, Mom's always upto something new. One fine day, last week, she went to the vegetable market. She returned with something that led to our bewitchment. I didn't need even 1gram of it to be floating amidst the clouds! I haven't touched it since that day. My mother was spared the sensation because she, having cut and pickled a whole 250gram, was fighting the urge to jump about as effect of the burning in her hands and face. You might want to take a guess at what thing I'm talking about that arrived from the market. It won the Guinness world record for being the best of its kind in the world. It was originally and still is most abundantly cultivated in northeast India. It is red and round and doesn't do much to your taste buds but gets your ghost out of you in a second. In fact, the DRDO  had plans to use it in hand grenades! I, for one, am going to use it for my protection on the streets. A pinch of the powder in the enemy's eye and he's gonna think a trillion more times before he takes his second chance! I am talking about the "bhoot jolokia" or "ghost chilli pepper". It won the Guinness world record as hottest chilli pepper in the world in 2008.
I was dumbfounded when my mother said she had devised a procedure to make it edible with your ghost safely inside you. But that is a surprise. Nevertheless, when she said this, I was sure where my family crazy streak was. And yes, I am the last in line in the crazy streak till date.

THE COLD

It all begins when you think,"wow, almost everybody around me has got the flu and I have passed the entire season change period without incurring even a slight temperature!! incredible!" Now when you think that, there's always a spy lurking around some corner that reports to its lord,"the cold". The cold feels insulted, or, maybe it remembers it overlooked you during a faulty "prey count" and so, it sends all its armed forces to unleash hell-fire and torment you until you pray for mercy.
The first army base would be the throat. It takes a while for them to finalize their strategy(though it's always the same). Then they begin to move. A third of them move up through the nose, another through to your tongue in order to capture the taste buds and the remaining proceed to your chest. The latest are specialized. They are equipped with the means to survive all weapons. However, you are foolish enough to let them go on until you're too tired of it and you are left with no option but to retaliate with a nuclear war(the antibiotic injections). On the other hand, the nose has put up a good fight and managed to banish the soldiers in groups of few until there were none left. When the last remaining mercenaries at the "tongue camp" realize they are in minority, they decide to back down too.
The destruction that the soldiers left behind at their first base(the throat) has lasted beyond this war. On figuring that they would never again return to the spot, they had burned it down. Now the skin is cracked and sore.  And thus, they succeed in leaving behind their legacy. Their month long efforts do not go in vain.

Technokids

Today's advancing technology has made kids much more tech savvy -- sometimes a bit too much. Kids no longer run out onto the streets at 5 p.m. to make sure they are the first to set foot on the playgrounds and assure themselves a place off the list of "denners". They, instead, are concerned about how their characters in the virtual gaming world can polish their skills. At school, little girls gossip of fashion games and little boys go on about cars and virtual wars,etc. 

Contrast this with the seniors of the school, that's us. We pride ourselves on doing a variety of things. But where exactly does all this activity of ours show up? Not in the real world for sure. Out there, all we can manage to cramp into a day are food, sleep and study. No, we seniors are robots in the real world. It's only in the social network that we become ourselves. One of my friends was running about the campus trying to borrow a mobile internet from someone just as Dr.Kalam's car was leaving the school. I couldn't figure out the reason for her frantic mindset. Two hours ago when I'd asked her whether she was excited about Dr.Kalam's arrival, she had barely uttered a "hmm" through shut lips that were set on an expressionless face. Later in the evening I logged in to my account at Facebook and scrolled down over ten posts displaying an array of excitements(some with 5 or 6 exclamation marks!). She wasn't the only one with posts of the kind. A whole crowd of people who had seemed bored at the event were unable to stall their excitement for even a few minutes.  They, who had been close to statues at school, were literally excited jumping jacks on Facebook!

I had failed to comprehend the implications of this behavior until last night when an unexpected hailstorm hit our locality. After a few minutes, as if by instinct, I picked up the cellphone and began texting my friends from out of  station. 

A Dream Come True

27th Jan, 2012.

2.00 p.m.
I stepped off the car at school. I met three of my friends there, shook hands with the principal, wished all the teachers and then joined my friends in a regular conversation. In ten minutes we would be leaving for OIL Higher Secondary school, Duliajan to attend an interaction session with Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of The Republic of India.

2.30 p.m.
Seated up front, just below the stage, in the box meant for students with questions to ask Dr. Kalam, the four of us joined the buzz. All that everybody had on their mind was "Oh my God! I'm actually going to talk to Dr.Kalam! I can't believe it!!!" He was scheduled to arrive at 4.30 p.m. . Everything in order, we waited.

4.30 p.m.
NCC cadets stood in a file on both sides of the red carpet,which flowed all the way from the main gate to the stage. The audience clapped and cheered as Dr. Kalam walked through the entrance and on to the stage. There, placed specially for him, was a couch that was decorated with red and gold cushions and flowers. But he would have none of it. He would keep it simple. He would sit only on the metal chairs that were positioned beside the couch. That was the first gesture that touched my heart. Being a man of his stature, he chose to push aside all the comforts and facilities that were readily fed to him and tried to live the life of a common man as best as he could. He did not crave for power nor did he crave for comfort. He dedicated his life to his work and to motivating the youth to work for a better India.
When the formalities were done with, he began his speech. He asked if we knew what golden jubilee meant. He explained, it meant that the school had completed 50years of its functioning since its inception. The school is on the earth and the earth revolves once around the sun in a year.So the school has revolved around the sun 50 times! What a good way to look at it! It makes one feel grand!
He then talked about his school life and how he was inspired to "do" in life and how he believed that "giving" and "enjoying others' pleasure" were the key to being a good human being. He taught us how to be successful rather than just preaching about it. However, the most beautiful thing he said was that all of us could "fly if you willed to because you have wings of fire". He made us repeat a poem " I can fly" after him. Believe it or not, it made me stronger and more confident. If you repeat its lines, It will do you good too. " I am born with wings. I am not meant to crawl. I will fly. I can fly. I can fly......"
He told us never to give up because nothing is impossible. We must not fail to grab every opportunity we get. We repeated in unison, "I can do it. We can do it. India can do it."
In the end, we took an oath that, honestly, made me rethink my abilities and my attitude. I know now that I can be a unique person.

6.00 p.m.
He walked out of the school gate in his usual crisp manner. But the people around made it seem like a victory march. He is a true Hero, isn't he?

11.30 p.m.
I have tucked myself cozily in bed and am dreaming of the evening.................................

Ode to my best friend

•What pleases me may be stale to you . . . .  

•The sweetest fragrance that floats my way           

may turn to a displeasing stench as it knocks at your door . . . . . . . . . . .

•As time flies by , swifter even than the eagle

in its descent to condemn its prey . . . . . .

•And fate  

plays the red nosed joker,

juggling our lives in his skillful hands . . .

•Two minds find communion . . . . . . 

And thus in two hearts 

The dust of memories made in but a few days . . . . . . .

•Settles deep down as sediments at the very 

bottom of their hearts . . . . . . . . . 

In short;