THE TEMPESTUOUS TRIUMPH!!!!!

Dear Aastha, This one's dedicated to you............


Howling waves drifted the innocent maiden away,

Farther from the ship, her crew, her heart astray!

In vain did she attempt at fight and subterfuge,

To no avail, went her cries for safety, wails for refuge!

For her journey didn’t begin as tempestuous,

It was in fact an unplanned change of course!

Fair yet young, carefree and yet torn asunder,

She was being taken away by the ocean’s cruel throes!

No hope in sight, she prayed and gasped aloud,

The growl of the waves swallowed the sound!

A shade of green caught her sight, the waves treacherous,

Her spirit was in shambles, her body crying and ravenous!

Destiny didn’t pay any heed, action was the need,

She made her decision, rooted deep the gritty seed!

For it was either the lively shore or the deadly tempest,

Only one way to triumph over the morbid unrest!

And so she took control, started the long, perilous swim,

Like a jelly fish, her legs seemed glued, her wild energy dim!

But try hard she had to and try harder she did,

For surrender wasn’t an option, that wasn’t her will!

Countless nautical miles to the island she swam,

Out of breath, short on life-force, to the trees she ran!

And that was when all colors hued, life turned black,

‘Ah Good’, she mused, ‘finally Mr. Blue’s been sacked’!

She woke up to the light of a bonfire, alert and alarmed,

The face in front of her made her cry out the most sacred psalm!

She couldn’t believe that destiny had truly rewarded her grit,

For her captain greeted her, her heart in a flutter, emotions adrift!

They’d found her, she’d won, the tempest had been beaten,

She thanked her guts, her true grit, that’d made the lifesaving decision!

The ordeal taught her to believe, to never give up,

The elixir of hope and determination was served by the bitter syrup!!

This was actually quite a delightful first for me! Not the poem; but the time, venue and mood of its composition.
My first experiment with exam composing! Having completed the paper twenty minutes earlier today and not being allowed to leave the examination hall till the scheduled three hours were up (which was a first again), all I could think about (after checking the paper twice) was a nice old doodle, but the inner poetess had other, um, ideas and so there went nothing........ 


Actually it's not all that bad, considering it was written by a mind stupefied by three hours of finger-breaking and mind-boggling writing of well, a subjective paper! Maybe I should do this exam composing thing more often....... 

SUCCESS MUST BESTOW HUMILITY!!

Countless experts, priests, politicians, artists and the average nobodies have defined success and its implications in diverse terms and forms. But, how can success be defined and put into concise and eloquent words is a mystery which remains yet unsolved. I think one can perceive success as the achievement of one’s goals, the fulfillment of one’s potential and the attainment of a state of contentment. It's a testament to one's efforts and endeavours and an immortal yet transient tribute to human excellence and persistence.

As many definitions of success vary, so do its impact on different individuals. Some believe success to be the end-point of all of their efforts and stop striving for better. Worse still, some believe being successful gives them the undisputed right of being arrogant, vain, preposterous and disrespectful towards others; that success creates a halo of invincibility and immunity from all things undesirable and obtrusive. Yet, there are others who do not let success alter their personalities and perceptions of life, those who don’t let success cloud their minds or achievements pull them in the treacherous bowels of vanity.

Some would argue the former kind of “Success addicts” are better than the latter ''Success saints'' but I strongly disagree. I opine that one’s achievements, successes and self- fulfilling circumstances should rather make them appreciate life more, value people higher and revel in humanity more than before. As a gifted scholar once said, "Being humble is being human", that humility is a core characteristic of humanity and that anything contradicting the same is an unholy and inhuman abomination of humanity. Humility makes one a better person, a balanced intellectual, a  sensible person and a more compassionate member of the society. In fact, success combined with humility is a golden and lethal combination that has the virtuosity of making one reach unimaginable and unprecedented heights. 

There are many examples in history which bear testimony to the power of humility in enhancing a person’s life and multiplying his/her success. Let’s take sports legends Sachin Tendulkar and Roger Federer for instance. Both of these gentlemen have reached the pinnacles of success in their respective sporting disciplines and have established themselves as role models for many an aspiring geniuses. Despite being who they are, they’re humble to the core. Tendulkar always makes time for his admirers and Federer, with an equal intensity, politely greets his fans, colleagues, superiors and the media. They attribute all this to their upbringings and value sets but much more has aided them in retaining such success for such long periods of time and wearing the thorny crown of success with such panache and elegance. 

In the corporate vista, Bill Gates, the founder Chairman of Microsoft Corporation and an exemplary entrepreneur, remains true to his roots and humble nature to this day. He’s engaged in multiple philanthropic projects and has pledged half his wealth to be donated to charity over a course of time after his death. There are countless such people who’ve taken success in the most righteous manner and have imbibed the virtue of  humility to become materially, emotionally and spiritually richer and more content. On the contrary, when people use success as an excuse to become worse versions of themselves and treat others as inferior and insignificant, its’s the beginning of a painful end for them; one that's beyond their wildest fears. 

Thus, success should be accepted with humility, realism and prudence; its bounties should be shared and its burdens borne with care. For the garland of roses that is success can almost effortlessly transform into a crown of thorns and surely that's not a very successful consequence of success. So be humble and be human. Don't drive success to your head, don't let it overwhelm your psyche or overcome your better angels! Remember, you're the driver of your prosperity, the nurturer of your intellect, an active part of your society and a building block of the future of your civilization! Honour them all! 
STAY HUMBLE, STAY HUMAN!!

Keep yourself grounded,  for peace of mind and clarity!

If you take success to your head, life would become a vanity!!
Vanity is the first step to destruction, to the path of insanity!
Accept success with humility and increase contentment's longevity!!

BEFRIEND PAIN AND EMBRACE REALITY!!

Life is a tumultuous journey with all its twists and turns where affections returned and unrequited love, success and failure, ecstasy and agony exist in a perfect conundrum of duplicity and diabolic congruence. Pain, alas, is an incontrovertible part of life and the suffering and anguish it entails never fail to uproot our deepest strengths and suppositions of indifference and invincibility. We all think we're immune to it, above and beyond its reach, too strong to let it touch our oh-so powerful psychological armor. But, are we really? Who do we think we're fooling with such irrational reasonings and displays of utopian bliss? 


The answer lies deep within our consciences and keeps echoing in the most sacrosanct recesses of our psyches. By building a protective web of indifference and immunity around our heads, we set off to conquer the world, but the real endeavor is the conquest of our own inhibitions, flaws and constraints and in the pursuit of the same, we live in constant denial of all the failures and the pain they engender. Ayn Rand once said, ''Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life, and that happiness, not pain or mindless self-indulgence, is the proof of your moral integrity, since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.'' But how long can denial be the source of happiness and what kind of a happiness that really is, one born out of constant lack of self-introspection and escapism from altercations with reality.

So, the question that arises here is 'Is pain a foe to be feared or a friend that helps us embrace reality and accumulate real happiness?' I opine that it is the latter, a source of truth and realization of our true characters and strengths and the inexplicable transformer of our restricted sensibilities. If we lose a loved one or meet with unexpected and undesirable ends in any venture, it is absolutely unwise and self - deprecatory to deny the pain and suffering and live in an escapist and seclusive illusion of perfection and happiness. It is much more advisable and realistic, though not as feasible (and sadly so), to confront the reality, feel the pain, analyze the lessons and come out stronger and better from the experience. 


Pain lets us explore the very extremes of our passions, dilemmas, internal conflicts and stability and, therefore, is a trusted ally in our journeys towards our respective goals. If we alienate pain and in turn, ourselves, we'll be none the wiser from what caused it and will continue on untouched, unaltered and ever - restricted by the feeble attempts of lying to ourselves. The iconic Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran once remarked, ''Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.'' I concur with this statement and believe that pain is a true reminder of truth, a harbinger of reality, a means to bring out the better angels of our nature and to extricate us from hazy, illusionistic viewpoints. 


Accepting pain is not pessimistic or weak, rather it's the testament to strength, realism and intellectual progress. It's better to confront reality (and, in turn, pain) than escape from it, because it'll keep staring you straight in the eyes no matter how long you try to avoid its glare. So, let's face it and be done with it. There really is no point in stagnation and denial! Life's a river of emotions and pain is an omni-present bend in the ravine, you can't cross the river without braving the painful bends and you aren't meant to either, not the easy way.
In conclusion, the following verses say it all!!!

Do we live and die and suffer and mop in vain,

Is there a rationale for the agony that drives us insane?

Is it worth the sighs, the tears, the silent defeats and disdain?

Yes, it is, for if it weren't, there'd be many a gains without pain!

Pain is a perennial friend, a mirror of extreme emotions,

It takes us deep within, makes us realize our innate strengths!

Denying the obvious and abstaining from acceptance does no good,

Accept and befriend pain, it's the fuel that drives us to be who we should!! 

AN ODE TO THE REPUBLIC OF INDIA!!

The nation celebrates its beloved constitution!!
A journey so path-breaking, it redefines definitions!
A young Republic in many ways, much mature in more!
With values of the Preamble turbulent at the core!!!!

The colors of the tableaus, the fervor at Rajpath!
Reaches out to every Indian, the glorious Jana Gana Mana roar!
Bravery being rewarded, tear-soaked bereaved eyes!!
Drowned in ecstasy, the nation's woes we can't deny!!!!!!

A young Republic we are, yet so many experiences to come!
The betterment of our society, transforming those with the wrong guns!
This phrase we sing every year, this song we should emulate!
SOVEREIGN SOCIALIST SECULAR DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC, amen to India's historic date!

HAPPY 63RD REPUBLIC DAY TO EVERY INDIAN!!

NEW!!!!

Venturing into the unknown, excitement and adventure,
A fiesta of challenges, a sense of foreboding censure!
Nerves and energy, reveling in the wonderful tide so blue,
Starting a fresh chapter, a fascinating domain, the path anew!


Time flies, faster than heartbeats, runs away in an eye - roll,
Have to realize the worth of each moment, enrapturing the soul!
Few would say it's a beginning, then again it's not their call,
The fog is lifting and the panaroma's shifting, long gone are the falls!


The dynamic is encouraging, the surroundings blissfully hued,
Potent is the will, the energy infectious, new potions being brewed!
The journey is omniscient, the goal  becoming clearer with every step,
Striving hard and reaching out, to touch the celestial success net!!


Excited for the next six months of Management education!!! 

The End.......... A Beginning!!!

The goodness of the heart, the beauty of candor,
The vibrance of a first sensation, the piety of valor!
Hard to explain, to put in black & white,
How beautiful it is, that seemingly perennial light!!


Lost in a warm embrace, comforted by a natural sigh,
From zero to two hundred in sixty seconds, a nerve -wracking high!
She waded through waterfalls and shone through fire,
She held it too close, at the precipice, on the pier!!


An avalanche of bliss was so very close in sight,
Nothing could possibly derail the joy, it felt so right!
And then it hit harshly, out of the blue,
All colors were dimmed, blackened was the dew!!


It numbed her, paralyzed her heart, through & through,
For no words could describe her emotions' painful view!
Heartbreak hurts but there was more to her agony,
All seemed lost, hope, desire, love and sanctuary!!


Tumultuous was the hour, no wings to fly,
Gloom and doom seemed paramount, temperament wry!
But she was strong and so were those around,
A symphony of love, from an omni-present circle of friends!!


They were there, when all was over or so it seemed,
For light can be found even in darkness, just got to catch the beam!
And that is what she did, saw beyond the dreary,
Believing good times will be back, will re-arrive her old fairy!!


Life is cruel, it strikes where it stings the most,
Pain and ecstasy & rain and drought share the same roots!
It is through trials that true perseverence sparkles,
Laughter emanates from tears, and tears from laughter, a dynamic crackle!!


With endless moroseness, came endless opportunity.
She began the journey anew, started afresh through life's paucity!
With dreams yet unrealized and loved ones with whom to win the battle,
She reached the skies; no doubt, fear or tears on her mantle!!!!

Decisions, Decisions!

Life as we know it is a conundrum of alternatives that branch out into numerous permutations and combinations of events, paths and choices! The choices we make make us who we are and propel us towards who we can be and make us realize our true and latent potential! It's the decisions we take that outline and articulate the pit-stops and destinations that we strive for in the epic journey of life.

At every point and turn of the path, we've got to face the ultimate questions of 'What if'! Every decision has a tree with all of its branches hanging lose and leading to diverse checkpoints costing only God knowing how much toll tax and opportunity cost. If we are to take the best possible route to our goal, we need to be rational and cognizant of the pros and cons of all the choices. But more often than not, it's very hard to be indifferent, objective and rational when so many factors are in play, twisting our minds affecting the course of our choices!! So, it's a real mess of emotions, alternatives and decisions!!

Let's leave it at the penultimate dilemma!!

Decisions, decisions, where do we go!
Opportunities and challenges, life's boat we row!
One step ahead, two steps back one moves!
Choose well, for it can decide, boom or gloom!!!!