Ek Omkar Satnam

As a kid I was brought up to never question rituals, prayer or God.They were an integral part of my upbringing and I must admit that at times I simply followed them because I was told to.Over the years the faith has remained the same, but I am still in search of the reason behind the belief, or why I was brought up this way.

As I wade through this fog,sometimes I feel the answers are becomming clear with each day.I have begun to believe that prayer was taught to me as a method of learning self-control,moderation and discipline.Even to this day I do not believe that there is a city of Gods in Heaven,where God exists in a definite physical form.I believe God is all the positive energy in this world put to-gether.

When I think of fasting,reciting Mantras,or performing rituals in a disciplined fashion I can only applaud the fore-sight of our fore-fathers.By telling us that all the above would lead to material benefits they first got us interested in religion.When one fasts,one learns self-control.When the stomach is growling and all the best foods are at and arms distance it takes more that self control to look away.If we are able to control this desire for just a few hours I think it is the first step towards a better life.

Life is tricky ,and most often it brings us to a forked road,one that will take us through a dizzying journey where pitfalls are plenty,easy money,compromised integrity,cheating on a loved one.The desire to take this road is strong.
The other road is difficult.Gains are minimal and too much self-restraint is required.At such times only the mind that is tutored to have self-restraint can make a good choice.

I am not fanatically religious.But yet believe that prayer can play a key role in moulding the character of a person.One is never born with a pre-defined character.Like any other physical feature it needs maintainance.For me Prayer is that maintenance.Ofcourse ,I would be foolish to expect all to feel the same way ,as everyone is different ,and what works for me may not work for another.

Many people believe prayer is a way of searching God,or reaching him.I think prayer is a way of searching oneself.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall,


On a bus journey a long time back,I happened to sit next to a African-American lady.We got talking.She was extremely cordial,had migrated to US from Britian,and was working as a private nurse.Somehow the discussion went in the direction of discrimination on basis of color and she narrated a experience she had.She was looking after some elderly white lady.The day of 9/11 as news spread ,her white client became agitated and when her nurse was in the room shouted loudly" Send them all back to Africa"!!!

When I heard this, I felt extremely sad! Imagine the utter arrogance of the lady to say such harshful words to a person who is caring for her!

I have tried to understand discrimination on basis of color,but have failed to, largely because it is baseless. What is color? A few melanin cells fewer or more in the upper layer of the skin! And what makes people think they are superior if they have fewer of those cells!How utterly disgusting is that!

The fascination with being fair is very much a part of the Indian pysche and some will go to any extent to be a few shades fairer.This gives rise to such gross ads like the Fair and Lovely one, in which a groom-to-be rejects a girls since she is dark and immediately accepts her as soon as she is a few shades lighter, much to the delight of the girl.If I had a say, such a husband is not worth having.But thats the kind of values we are selling to the future generation. When it comes to marriage in India, I have noticed on many occasions all other values take a back seat over color.

Being comfortable in your God-given natural color is very important.It is a different thing that though we may be comfortable and sometimes society makes one cognizant of this difference.There is so much more to ones personality than ones color.A lovely smile,a warm heart,self-belief are qualities that are much more worthy.

I will tell this to my kids ,Will you?

Kya Jeena Isi ka Naam hai?

This past Sunday ,heard a sad news when I called home.Our neighbour for the past 25 years ,expired..May his soul always rest in peace.

My parents were reluctant to break the news to me,as I was the closest to Uncleji.But I pestered them.Was shocked,distressed and heart broken.This person was the kindest,most honest and hardworking man I have ever known.He had been friends with my Dad for close to 35 years.They went together to office each day untill they retired....My dad lost his best friend.

Some people are destined to live a life full of hardships. They have very few needs and yet life makes them work hard for even that.He would get up very early,clean their courtyard,pray and do so many houehold chores.He was constantly on the go, constantly active.

Each day he would share whatever flowers he had with him with us for the prayer.I remember so many days in times of some emergency, we could just knock on his door at any hour of the day or night and he would not mind.He taught me to drive a scooter( I was too scared to learn from my Dad)

Each year we looked forward to the time of Ganesh festival.They would bring Lord Ganesh home and we kids would be yelling "Ganapati Bappa Morya" as he walked with the idol into their home.

Times changed, we grew up and started moving out of home for work purposes and my contact with him was reduced.But each time I visited home I would find him smiling inquiring kindly about how I was doing.

Retirement brought some financial troubles for him.So he started working again at someplace else for a small salary.I had seen signs of a deteriorating health then. The fair skin and good built gave way for a frail structure.He was constantly worried about some thing.His son was involved in some fraud and had a lot of money to be repaid.On many occasions he poured out his heart in front of my Dad.

People in India are obssessed with sons.Quite an irony that his son was the cause of so much mental stress to him

He passed away after a disease.Quite in keeping with his nature, he worked even the day before he was admitted to the hospital.An operation was tried ,which did not work.

The night I came to know, images of him flashed through my mind. In all of them he was his usual self,smiling.I am grateful that he could bless me after my wedding.

Uncleji,I really hope your soul rests in peace.You deserved much more than what life dished out to you.I will remember you often.Please continue to Bless me the way you always did.