Blogging = citizen journalism

God bless the concept of blogging. It has finally given the common, educated persons who are not literary experts or did not had the intentions of pursuing a career in journalism to have a platform to share their opinions, their thoughts, their point of view. This platform can be used as true citizen journalism, but the citizenship should include the entire world.

We may not be capable of creating a painting with our words like maupassant or tagore but may have some thing to say about some topic, which is related to our life, or the lives of our loved ones. Or may be we just want to share a beautiful experience, or warn others to not to repeat our mistakes.

Blogging has handed over that pen and writing pad to us, the common public of the world. The greater part of human population in the world. For the first time in human history- we have the freedom to express our opinion freely with the entire world and receive their responses. To open the window of our heart, soul and society wide, to let in air and light from the entire world.

Just like any political system, our political system too has its control over media. It may be well hidden but we all know that it is there, letters on sensitive issues are rejected, or articles on sensitive issues are rejected. Brave journalists get killed. Politics is always scared of media, the most popular weapon of public interaction, hence it tries to choke it or silence it, there is nothing surprising in that. But recently, specially after the spread of internet and communication through internet one thing has come forth that the picture has changed and a new horizon has opened to the socially aware people to come forth and speak their mind.

Blogging has become the largest weapon of spreading public awareness among the masses. People who cant become journalist but have their say about whats going on around them. They are not ready to be tormented without committing any fault any more. Nor are they interested to stay mute spectators of suffering of others.

Blessings of maturity

Aging is a process which is often looked at with dismay, a feeling of nostalgia. I feel quite the other way round. I think that aging has its own glory, own merits and advantages.

I think we grow more as we age, because it gives us inner strength and calmness. A strength and calmness which is not available when the body is young, beautiful and vibrant with energy. But age too has its own beauty. If we don’t compare our looks with people half our age, or who are as pretty as flower, we will be quite content with our looks. And the lack of physical strength is compensated with inner strength.

The more we grow up properly, the more we learn to live and love life. Accepting life and human beings and their various sides. Knowing the golden truths of world. Thus creating true bliss for ourselves and those around us.

Some simple truth dawn on us with age …….

Like, we cant change the world, we have to change ourselve in harmony to it.

If we want to be truly happy we should make our surroundings happy. Otherwise our happiness wont last long.

If we cant forgive others for petty faults we make ourselve miserable not them. Because we all have faults and get accepted by others, so, if we don’t accept others, they too will refuse us and we will end up lonely and miserable.

The bigger our heart is, the greater chances are that we will live a content life. Because love is what makes the world go round. We may not get the love from the person we loved but sooner or later this tree starts to bear fruit and we get more than we need.

Love and friendship should be cherished like God’s gift. We don’t do a favour by loving someone, people show their beauty by loving us. So we should give it its true honour. This humility will shower more love on us.

Honesty and hard work always pays in the long run. The fruits of dishonesty or robbery are quickly plucked but are tasteless and decay soon.

Bibhutibhushan

This is another author my mother taught to love. She was a big fan of bibhutibhushan bandhopadhyay, so am I, just like most of the bengalis, I first read his pather panchali and cried like a river. I first came across this book when I was studying in raisina bengali school, delhi and instantly started to dote after durga. And that girl still holds a piece of my heart, and always will. With time I started to pity sarbajaya, love indir thakrun, feel ranu’s pain. But my first affection was for durga. I have read this book atleast fifty times and can read it again with great pleasure.

A simple story written by a fantastic writer, in gist, so simple a story, just like of human bondage by somerset maugham.. struggles of a clubfooted, ordinary boy. Pather panchali is struggle of a village boy, his entire life. Yet the magic touch of the master sculptor made the entire difference. Its one of my hot favourite books.

Just a little more adored is another masterpiece by him, aranyak, not very popular, even though I don’t know why, may be because most of the people don’t feel strong bonding with nature. The bonding which is reflected in every line of this book. Now, as I am writing this a piece of me is asking me to get up and get the book and start reading it. it’s a fantastic, divine story of a surveyor appointed by a landlord to chop off a forest and sell that land, how he fell in love with that forest and how it broke his heart when he had to order his people to chop it off. I will never forget those descriptions of simple life of rural people and tribals. The gorgeous beauty of virgin forest.

He was one of his kind writers, one of those who has left a priceless heritage for coming generations, books which can be relished again and again with same love.

Beter beware

I have once worked for an organisation which was run by a selfmade man, he has built quite a nice business starting from scratch. So he had every reason to be quite protective toward his business.

 

He is a issueless guy with plenty of money and I thought it was his careless attitude for money which made him buy two computers for one computer operator.. one stand-alone only for internet and the other connected with the LAN. There was separate printer and necessary things for both the machines because every day huge amount of official emails used to arrive there.

 

Then slowly I became net savvy and I realized that he was intelligent. There are too many ways of hacking in your computer when you are online. I have personally seen some proofs.. hints that were too much blunt to be ignored, as I don’t believe in telepathic communication.

 

Before that I used to think that all the stealing is done after you post something in blog, then I realized that posting is no longer required, being in the computer is enough.. I have a good antivirus installed but geeks say even that is not enough if someone is determined to steal.

 

The bitter fact is we, the normal users can never fight hackers, when they can hack into NASA etc then what are we? A big nothing. So being careful is the best way.

Benebou

There were three massive mango trees beside our pond back in my ancestral home. Which were later chopped down by my sibling in his deforestation mania.. no he doesnot bothers about life or objections of others.

 

When I returned to burdwan after spending almost four years in delhi (a place where you wont even hear crows..) I landed in pure heaven. An old two storeyed house with a pond and garden. Full of flowers and birds.

 

My bedroom was in the first floor, the branches of one of the mango trees touched my window bars.. within one month my love with nature and its creatures started and that will stay with me as long as I breathe.

 

One day I was sitting beside my window when I heard an extremely sweet bird call, it clearly sounded like “ekti khoka hok” that means “may you have a baby boy”, I jumped out of the bed to locate the bird and did located him, what a beauty he was… I am enclosing his pic to show you. Dazzling yellow and black. He has two distinctive calls one I described above and the other is “O benebou” that means “hey goldsmith’s wife”. Well, its just co incidence that their calls sound like two bengali sentences but they do.

 

Well in case of this bird it was love at first sight, which is still there.. their gorgeous looks and equally gorgeous voice.

 

I have seen a couple here, near my home, but the funny part is back at my ancestral home it was next to impossible to see them, they are very shy birds.. and always hide themselves in leaves but the two I saw in kolkata are extremely brave, I even saw them sitting on a wall near my home.. but their call and looks is by no means inferior.. hope they will visit me next spring again. Their call is heard only during early spring, spring and early summer. Rest of the time they don’t call.

 

My constant companion is koyel or kokil, I have observed they sing through out the year and often I have heard them singing in moonlit nights. I used to relish teasing them when I was ahem, even in my early thirties.. now I think its not very nice to tease these sweethearts.

 

If you mimic them they will keep calling, and after a while will get really angry.. I used to mimic them to hear them. It was so lovely to hear them calling to defeat their rival.

BEAUTIFUL GESTURES

When I was a child I have been taught by my parents that we should say thank you to everyone who does some thing good to us and sorry when we do something bad to someone.

 

The same thing has been taught in schools I have learnt. I have personally added a few things to it, I think we all can practice it with the touch of heart, or else it will become a façade.

 

One, I always find out a quality in a person who has paid a compliment to me, if not then, I later pay him or her a compliment for his own virtues. Actually I like paying compliments voluntarily, and finding out qualities in people. I think by paying a person a compliment I spread a little harmless happiness. That’s a thing worth spreading to me. Not only that, if we make it a habit of finding virtues in others life becomes more pleasant for us and others. Recently a wonderful lady asked me why do we look for virtues in others and ignore our own virtues. After a little soul searching I thought, whatever the reason might be it increases love, feeling of security and trust in both hearts.

 

Two, if someone helps me; I certainly try to help him back. I either help him back in the same manner or some other. But , I never help anyone with hope of return, only a thank you is enough for me, a thank you from heart.

 

Three, if someone gifts me something, let it be a petty thing like a greeting card or pen, I always keep that in mind and when I am out shopping I don’t forget to buy something for him. I have seen that some people have a habit of gifting near and dear friends but they rarely get it back. I don’t know whether they mind or not, but may be somewhere deep down it hurts.

 

Four, showing a little consideration to elderly, fragile or people facing emergency. But I have gladly noted that people of Kolkata are very kind in this regard. Some grumble but finally they let them have their seat.

Bankimchandra

Not a very popular writer, if we count by the number of people who read his works and will admit anonymously that they love his work (people often call him their favourite in fear of being looked down upon).

 

I have picked up some odd writers because of my mother, who was an avid reader and had a uncommon taste. Bankimchandra is one of them. She just loved his works and so do I.

 

He was more like shakespeare, picking up the most exquisite words and painting a picture out of them. He was truly the emperor of classic bengali language.

 

I often feel awe struck, how could he use such exquisite word yet create fantastic novels and immemorable characters. Characters so real, like kundanandini or kapalkundala. Bhramar, Indira or Suryamukhi. Kapalkundala is my favourite character in fiction world.

 

The immense strength of character which this lady had I have never seen another lady with such strength of character. She embodied truth and honesty. Her fearless honesty is awe inspiring for any woman.

 

Just like I will never forget anandamath, durgeshnandini or bishabriksha… such fantastic usage of language yet such immemorable characters.

Swami Vivekananda

“Arise! Awake! And stop not till the goal is reached.” 

- Vivekananda

 

I sometimes feel really upset about my incapability in remembering birthdays of great people. Even if they are my heroes like swami Vivekananda. There are only two of them I remember clearly, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and of course Tagore. But even then I often forget on the date and these days, newspapers or media does not reminds us either. Gone are those sweet days when every newspaper announced the birthdays of these great personalities on the front page, now we keep track of day to day life of celebrities.

 

Swamiji was my type of hero. He dedicated his whole life for the well being of the deprived people. Left behind the legacy of Ram Krishna Mission. This still works tirelessly in the field.

 

His biography collected from internet: A spiritual genius of commanding intellect and power, Vivekananda crammed immense labor and achievement into his short life, 1863-1902 (6^th January, 1863 to July 4, 1902). Born in the Datta family of Calcutta, the youthful Vivekananda embraced the agnostic philosophies of the Western mind along with the worship of science.

 

At the same time, vehement in his desire to know the truth about God, he questioned people of holy reputation, asking them if they had seen God. He found such a person in Sri Ramakrishna, who became his teacher, allayed his doubts, gave him the vision of God, and transformed him into sage and prophet with authority to teach.

 

After Sri Ramakrishna's death, Vivekananda renounced the world and criss-crossed India as a wandering monk. His mounting compassion for India's people drove him to seek material help from the West. Accepting an opportunity to represent Hinduism at Chicago's Parliament of Religions in 1893, Vivekananda won instant celebrity in America and a ready forum for his spiritual teaching.

 

For three years he spread the Vedanta philosophy and religion in America and England and then returned to India to found the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Exhorting his nation to spiritual greatness, he wakened India to a new national consciousness. He died July 4, 1902, after a second, much shorter sojourn in the West. His lectures and writings have been gathered into nine volumes.

 

Any one who wants to know a little more :

http://www.writespirit.net/authors/swami_vivekananda/biography-swami-vivekananda/

 

http://www.vivekananda.org/biography.asp

Aggressiveness

If we observe keenly we will sadly agree that modern world is of shoving and pushing. The more aggressive you are, the more mileage you will gain. Aggession and ruthlessness has become the mantra for success. Today the gentlemen are roughly pushed to back seat by less qualified or eligible go getters. The softer you are the worser nightmare your career life will become, no matter how capable you are if you cant fight tooth and nail for it, or opt for the “by hook or by crook” policy  you wont be able to make steady place.

 

There will be always a fear lurking in the corner that some one will grab your well deserved seat by some under the seat method.

 

If we see we will realize that its just the way the society is moving, it does not all of a sudden pops up its head once a person joins an office. Modern day children are brought up that way. Our parents used to teach us compassion, humility, affection. Today the children are taught to be competitive, ruthless, selfish. When they grow up they give the society the same. It does not have any connection with poverty, today the luxury in the life of common man is far more than it was twenty years ago.

 

We were taught by our parents that sharing never makes you poor, it makes you spiritually rich. The boys and girls who did not shared were called selfish, but today they are called smart.

 

 Some how the sharing tendency has changed to grabbing tendency. We have started to think mainly for only us, even our parents don’t fall in our private circle. We often take them as threat to our luxury too. We cant share our excess income with them, forget about bare necessities.

 

I have read in an article that its due to population explosion, a group of scientists have proved it with a group of rats in an confined enclosure. The more their numbers grew their aggression increased. If we study human society, we will see the same symptoms. There is an overeager ness for grabbing for things, which we may never need.

 

Say, for example, where is the problem in sharing our excess clothes or money with people who don’t have any? Is it necessary that we will have to make a postmortem or set up an enquiry committee to assess the worthiness of the stretched hand? How poor he really is, what does he does with the one rupee coin which we gave them or the rejected shirt we gave them? I remember the beautiful doha by rahim which meant those people who stretch their palm for favour are already dead, but those who refuse them are doubly so. They have died before them.

 

We are forgetting that every society moves together to get a goal. People bulldoze others in stampede or battlegrounds, not in a civilized society. If we turn away our face from the suffering of other peoples, burning down of their houses, our homes will not be saved either.

bear and bee

There are two types of people who get fame in world, bears and bees. Bees are those who get fame by hard work or talent and bears are those who get fame by hitting bee’s fame. That is bees built the beehive stock it up with honey and bears just paw at it and get it.

 

Everyone has heard the name of tagore, everyone loves and respects his work, I used to observe that some writers had a habit of ruthlessly attacking him and his works, as if that is the sole motto of their life. They were born for this. I almost worship tagore hence I really hated them, till one day some one pointed out a fact to me.

 

She said if you visit them invisibly you might see that they are devouring on tagore’s works, but they use him as easy way to fame.

 

She said, if they praised tagore like everyone does half of the people might not have even read the articles, but as they are acting against the tide, throwing mud at a respected figure, they are earning everyone’s glare.

 

People have forgotten a lot of people who even died for Gandhiji, but none has forgotten Nathuram Godse.

 

There are people who act like trees and there are people who are like mistletoes, thrive on them.

 

Just like the bear and bee, one piles up the honey other gets the honey by pawing on it.

Africa

The dark continent.. it was called for ages. A continent which has been ruthlessly abused by human civilisation.

A continent which has greatest diamond mines, most fantastic wildlife and a rich cultural heritage literally lives on alms of the rest of the world.

Thousands of children and pregnant mothers perish because of too much poverty. They still go to untrained village nurses instead of modern medical facilities either because of poverty or because of lack of education. Another darkness closely related with poverty.

It was sheer misfortune of this continent to be sucked in the slavery, that most probably stopped all the growths thereafter. I am not an expert but somehow I think that must be the reason. Each and every able bodied man and woman was used as a slave for centuries, the shoulders which build countries were slaving away. The remaining just survived.

Their resources were used by others and they were slaves even in their own countries. Naturally their economy crashed when these people left the rule in their hands and they become busy in squabbling among themselves.. one bloody war after war ravaged them.

Then the menace of AIDS gripped it as the latest blow. It will be really very tough job if their own people don’t wake up and pull themselves up like their asian counterparts have done.

In today’s violence torn world people are so busy saving their own homes that they are slowly losing the tendency to go out and help others.

Wake up Africa before its too late, and rest of the world, please cast a glance at them.