Unplanned Journeys

I know it’s politically incorrect, but I really do not relate to our old national Heroes anymore. Gandhi, Nehru, Tilak …I’m sure they were all fine men and Heroes in their own right, but they are too old for me. Look; I understand that they may still be relevant and what they have left behind is of great value to us…but that’s not what helps me live everyday now. Let me explain. You see, if this was the 1940s and India was fighting for independence (or something) , I’m sure a lot of us would get inspired by these people, but not when my mobile ring tone changes every hour to suit my mood. I need Heroes and role models that inspire me now , in 2010, to become better, do more, seek higher…exactly what a role model should do. That too in everyday life. Let’s look at the remaining possibilities (in terms of available role models) that may inspire the current lot, in which I include everyone from age 3 till the age when one still gets inspired (choose). 1. Sports stars. Very few. ...

I don’t usually use swear words, but this had to be; maybe the most appropriate response from a guilty and absolutely angry man. I was guilty because, whilst like every Indian, I was furious and angry at what happened on 26 th November in Bombay , I almost forgot about it just a year later. Forgot not the incident; as a matter of history, but the anger I had felt. This morning I received the latest ‘India Today’ with the Bombay Terror attacks as the cover story. It spoke about the renovations at the ‘Taj’, the new equipment provided to the police force, the coordination between our security forces, as also the yet up-paid dues to the victims. I felt both ashamed and angry at myself. Ashamed, because I have gotten so used to people across the country being killed, that I can’t sustain the anger over any one incident, and angry because I really want to now. I wish there was a way to not get complete immune to the anger and pain that one feels when something like this happe...