LTGTR s e o r He 9TH SEPTEMBER, 2012
From the editor
Sahil Mehta
T
his issue wasn’t supposed to have any theme, and officially it still doesnt. We didn’t discuss the topic inside the team, we didnt chalk out who was going to write what. No, this we just picked out the articles we liked and startd compiling the issue. Halkfways through, it hits us. A majority of the articles have something in common. There was a very strong uncurrent connecting them. Somehow, all the articles told a story about someone who braved the rough weather, beat the odds, broke the stereotype and became a leader, and a harbringer of change. There was nothing extraordinary about them, altleast not in the superhero way. No mutation inducing chemical reactions, no outerspace meteorites, no lab expriments gone wrong. They dont have x-ray visions, no six inches metallic claws and no telekinesis. Yet they all fight everyday against the flaws in our society. And they win too. This issue is about those individuals. The Iron Man, The Golden Girl and others who we can’t nickname with justice to their talents. Their stories inspire hope and action. And lets be honest, all of us could do with more of that with regards to this country and its administration. But most importantly their stories will tell you that you dont need a Superman, Spiderman, Batman or even Hanuman to bring change. You just need a Mango Man (aam-aadmi). Ok, so that was super lame, but you the idea right! So read on, take heart from the courage of these heroes and perhaps one day you shall too be my hero. Cheers and keep the good times rolling!
“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.” - Bob Dylan
“It’s not who we are underneath, but what we do that defines us.”
CONTENTS 1. Everything You Need To Know About Coal-Gate 2. Returning Home 3. Through The Gandhian Lens 4. Why I Hate Sneha Khanwalkar! (With An Oops) 5. Manipur’s Golden Girl, India’s Pride 6. Diary Of A Teach For India Fellow My Inspiration - Shaheen Mistry 7. Diary Of A Teach For India Fellow Ten Reasons Why I Love My Job 8. Prodigies At Seven 9. Interview - Chitra Lele 10. Dignity Of Choice 11. An Acquaintance 12. Freedom At Midnight 13. The Renegade 14. Cursed To Normalcy 15. Like The Smoke From My Cigarette Credits Design - Sahil Mehta
4 5 6 8 10 12 14 15 18 21 22 23 23 24 25
Everything you needed to know about “coal-gate” i by Shivam Ratnan
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ontrary to popular belief, “Coal-gate” has nothing to do with people brushing their teeth with Colgate and having no positive effect on their coal dark teeth. That fact is so common that it would never really create buzz, unless used with an electric tooth-brush.
Well, we Indians have made it a habit of following western trends, one of them being to attach –Gate to any controversial issue (Porn-gate, Finger-gate, Tollgate & now Coal-gate). What some of us do not realise is that it makes ‘India Gate’ a very suspicious entity. So what is it? Our buddies at Wikipedia say: “Coal Mining Scam or Coalgate is allegedly a corruption scandal in which the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) office accused the Government of India for providing the nation’s coal deposits to private and state-run entities in an irregular and arbitrary manner instead of publicly auctioning them off to the highest bidder, resulting in a loss of approximately 186,000 crore (US$33.67 billion) to the exchequer during the period 2004-2009” Dafuq does that mean? Well, in layman terms, coal was sold illegally by the Government i.e. the lawmakers (ah, the irony) to private companies and the procedure of public bidding was avoided. This caused companies to estimate the value of the involved companies higher than they were supposed to as their resources were also taken into account. Now this all has been exposed. Why? Two simple reasons: - Private companies needed coal.
- Government officials won’t refuse money.
How does that affect you? Apart from the insane media coverage hogging your daily quota of important ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ related news, this may affect you how you wonder? Well, post these news breakouts, the market values of the shares of the involved companies have gone downtown, which means stock markets are not the most pleasant hang out spots this monsoon & shareholders are the wrong people to discuss the beauty and righteousness of life. The Government on the other hand, shall now lose revenue whose burden, like always, will be borne by the common public. In short, we got screwed again, amigos! Never expected 1.86 lakh crores worth of coal to come around and bite you in the ass now, did you? So what’s happening now? “From the makers of 2G scam & CWG scam, Congress presents to you, Coal-gate: There is no gate like coal! Powered by BJP: Blame it on the Congress” Like any opposing party would, the BJP people want to get rid of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. So they’ve asked him to do something that almost every citizen of the country wants him to do (no not to talk) but to resign. MMS was once quoted saying, yes SAYING, that if the charges against him are proved, then he would resign. So, will the charges be proven? Will MMS’ controversial reign as PM live to see another Gate? That’s a tale that only time will tell! Then probably I will, in a language that everybody can easily understand, ‘Sarcasm’! Till then
Returning Home
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by H am si ni
sense of despair enveloped her and it was the moment she realized that had enough of it all; the dogma, the rumours and the stain on her fate that made her feel constantly unclean. Even now, he could not look her in the eye. Even though he knew the truth, he could not raise his gaze to meet hers. Even if she did prove herself a thousand times over as the bride who had left her father’s house, she would be looked at like a common street whore. She wanted to go back home, to the one place where everything was better and everything became safe. She cried to her mother. Mothers have this peculiar quality of feeling their child’s pain as their own and immediately making everything better. She wanted to be a child again, to be allowed to sit on her mother’s lap and be put to sleep. She closed her eyes because she did not want to let anyone see the tears prickling the corners. She didn’t have any strength left and she did not want to see the faces of those around her. A wide crack split the earth beneath her feet and the ground separated with a gust of cold air bellowing out. She descended gracefully back into the womb of her mother, beneath the cracks of the hot land that eagerly
awaited the monsoon. She descended into the centre of the earth. As Kusha watched his mother go, he knew that he would not see her again. He wanted to cry out to her, to beseech her not to leave him in a world where the good and the evil were indistinguishable. But apart from a lone tear that streamed down his face, he could not call her back. She looked fatigues as though she had a particularly trying day. The pallu of her sari swirled and covered her head. Her eyes caught his one last time before she disappeared. There were definitely tears in her eyes. But then, Kusha had never seen his mother cry before in his entire life. ................................................................................................ Note: The Uttara Kanda, the last chapter of the Ramayan speaks of Sita’s renunciation of life and the demise of Ram, the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu. Ram is looked up to as the Atman Purushottaman, the ideal man. While his qualities are indeed admirable, one sometimes wonders about the tribunals of the women at the time. Sita could never prove her purity to people’s satisfaction despite of the truth. This fictionalized account of the supposed myth explores her mindset during the last minutes of her life.
Through The Gandhian Lens
by Pradyut Hande
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little over a year ago, a supremely determined denizen along with his trusted coterie didn’t just shake up an already encumbered UPA - II Government; but also unleashed a roiling revolution amongst the masses. The Iron Man from Ralegan Siddhi, Anna Hazare, has since then positioned himself as the quintessential public crusader through his novel Anti-Corruption Movement. His unstinting efforts at getting the Centre to pass a pertinent, purposeful and powerful Citizen Ombudsman (Jan Lokpal) Bill in the eventual quest to usher greater transparency and accountability with regards to governance at large have garnered him a loyal legion of supporters. While he may have become a champion of civil society, his movement has predictably incurred the wrath of multiple Government leaders who have not only cast aspersions on his motives but also derided his methods. Anna Hazare is a product of the puritan Gandhian School of Thought. The great Mahatma would firstly be proud of the fact that the nation who’s independence he tirelessly strove for, today, has an evolved democratic mainframe held together by a pluralistic society that upholds the Freedom of Expression and allows movements such as those helmed by Hazare to take root. He would have taken pride in Hazare’s initiative, staunch perseverance and indefatigable spirit whilst spearheading the Anti-Corruption Movement. If Mahatma Gandhi had to view Anna Hazare’s gargantuan undertaking from a more discerning lens, I would base it on four touchstones - Ideology, Approach, Execution and Tangibles. For starters, I am of the firm opinion that any movement is fuelled by its core ideology and reinforced by the pillars of the very principles it stands on. Whilst Gandhji’s historic fight for freedom from British rule drew its strength from the efficacy of non-violent satyagraha; Anna Hazare’s movement too draws fundamental inspiration from the same ideology in his fight against the scourge of corruption at large. Gandhiji would have approved of Hazare’s endeavour to weave the fibre of non-violent struggle into the very fabric of his movement per se. The fact that he has embraced and stayed true to the same despite extraneous pressures, influences, changing dynamics and personal battles; would lend his movement even greater credence in the eyes of the Father of the Nation. Secondly, when it comes to Hazare’s approach towards achieving his objectives; he has periodically opted to tread the path of hunger strikes, public rallies and collective protests. Although tantamount to self
“Gandhiji would have taken pride in Hazare’s initiative, staunch perseverance and indefatigable spirit whilst spearheading the Anti-Corruption Movement.”
infliction of mental and physical agony, Gandhiji would have been proud of Hazare and his team’s selflessness, integrity and stubbornness in their quest to spur an ambivalent Government into action. Although over time the efficacy of his methods may have diminished owing to the frequency of his veiled threats, Hazare’s initial hunger strikes and consequent widespread public outcry did at least make the Centre take the Jan Lokpal Bill seriously. The great Mahatma was always someone who could inspire, motivate and draw in the crowds in equal measure. The objective was to lucidly communicate his ideology, modus operandi and action plan to the masses and instill in them a sense of purpose and self awareness. The Gandhian in Anna Hazare too was able to light the match of passion and inspiration that soon became a conflagration of huge negative public sentiment directed at our leaders. His long term objectives may not have been fulfilled yet, but Gandhiji would have been gratified to watch the manner in which Hazare mobilised huge crowds from different walks of life to muster support for his movement. Additionally, the manner in which Hazare was able to leverage the dynamic platform of the media to further gather momentum would have met with Gandhiji’s approval. Thus, his execution would certainly find favour with the Mahatma. Finally, Hazare clearly demonstrates his idealistic outlook as an extension of his simplistic lifestyle. His eschewing of materialistic pleasures and tireless efforts
towards the upliftment of a decadent society would surely have won Gandhiji’s appreciation. The air of approachability that surrounded Hazare as a true leader of the populace would have also made Gandhiji proud. However, despite espousing the merits of Hazare and his trailblazing movement; I believe Gandhiji wouldn’t have approved of the often derogatory and crude remarks Hazare made at multiple public rallies in order to incite the congregated supporters. Spewing vitriol at one’s own democratically elected representatives in public is unacceptable; no matter how noble one’s intentions maybe. Also, his decision to venture down the avenue of politics, having previously stated that his movement had no political ambitions, appears dubious. On the whole though, Gandhiji would definitely have been proud of Anna Hazare’s vision, initiative and spirit that collectively contributed to spur a germane movement of great significance. At the end of the day, we ought to salute both these individuals. While Gandhiji was our guiding light in our liberation from foreign rule, it remains to be seen if Anna Hazare’s gradually slowing movement is able to liberate the country from the evil clutches of endemic corruption. One thing is for certain though. Gandhian principles have continued to stand the test of time and when adopted prudently in the context of a modern democratic setup, can translate into far reaching consequences. Anna Hazare’s Anti-Corruption Movement is testament to that realisation.
by
wHY i hATE sNEHA kHANWALKAR!
Abhyudaya shrivast ava
Y
es, that pretty dame who goes around with her thing that she calls music; I hate her with a vengeance. I mean how could she just walk in and declare that she has arrived?! Get this straight, lady, girls don’t make music! Men write the lyrics on women, music that is about the beauty of women, about the way she walks, she smiles etc., men write the music as well as the rules of the society! It irks me that you do not understand that! Moreover, how could you take inspiration from local artists and music genres? Are we idiots to ape the west and revel to the beats of jazz, trance and rock? What bizarre instruments do I hear playing in your songs? What are those? You make music from the thump of a fist on a table, the vocal cords of a street artist vibrating at full throttle, buses honking horns, people chatting, phone ringing? Jesus Christ! You call that creativity? Coming to the theme of your songs. Weren’t you instructed, re-instructed and repeatedly reinforced with the belief that “love” is the primal theme for any type of music? What baloney is this? You make songs
(With an OOPS)
about leather shoe, Womaniya, tung tung ektaara and what not! You go to Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab and try hard to bring local sounds and flavors in your pieces? Why can’t you understand that music doesn’t need to flow so much? Why would you even try something that no one is sure whether the audience will like? What utter disregard for the popular taste? To over-emphasize my point, I’d like to repeat that you’re a female! We do not take young, pretty girls seriously! We put them in item songs and expect nothing more than giggly gossip about make-up kits and strawberry ice-creams from them. Aap kahan se aaye ho madam? Where are you from? Why should I take you seriously? Just because you’re talented, should I acknowledge you? All of the above and a million other things are the reason I LOVE Sneha Khanwalkar. Oops!
Manipur’s Golden Girl, India’s Pride
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he competitive realms of sport often witness the emergence of certain personalities that do a lot more than just dominate their respective disciplines. In their quest for excellence and glory, they walk the path less travelled by, leaving behind an astounding legacy and a lot more. Star Indian Pugilist, MC Mary Kom is one such sports person who has defied all odds to blaze a trail all of her own, emerging as an unlikely sporting icon. In a country with a weak sporting history; often force fed on the staple diet of the de facto National Sport, Cricket; genuine world class sporting heroes are hard to come by. Let’s face it, at the cost of sounding harsh, apart from our glorious Hockey heritage (that’s all that is left of it as of now, unfortunately), cricketing success and the odd Tennis, Golf or Shooting exploits; we aren’t exactly the epitome of a nation with an inspiring sporting culture. Set in this backdrop, a feisty Manipuri woman picked up a well worn pair of boxing gloves
e by Pradyut Hand
and jumped into the ring; defying tradition, family, customs, stereotypes and what have you... Suffice to say, MC Mary Kom took to the boxing ring like fish to water. Her rapid ascendancy as an Amateur Boxer on first the domestic stage and then subsequently the international arena was quite stunning. Her perseverance, grit, attitude and continual endeavor to improve soon saw her become a World Champion. But never one to rest on her laurels; “Magnificent” Mary went on to clinch four more World Titles; leaving flummoxed and battered opponents in her wake. Slowly but steadily, Mary Kom made the country sit up and take note of her talent, prowess and incredible exploits. Was she for real? How did we manage to produce a multiple World Champion? Wow! A Commonwealth Games medal followed. Mary Kom was riding the crests of success and adulation; deservedly so. With Women’s boxing making its debut
at the London Olympics, 2012; she was being touted as a real medal hope in the 51 kg category. As the prestigious Games drew nearer, Mary Kom relegated all the hype, pressure, expectations and distractions to the back-burner; as she trained with ferocious tenacity, unwavering focus and unparalleled passion. She gained muscle mass to compete in the 51 kg category, moving up from her customary 48 kg division. In between all her training and tournaments, she found the time to be a home maker and a doting mother to her young twin sons. A billion dreams rode on her sturdy shoulders. Did that make her crumble? That would be an emphatic “No!” Mary Kom took everything in her stride and instead chose to focus on her preparation rather than the eventual culmination of her efforts. The London Games, 2012 arrived. Mary Kom took to the ring amidst sizable Indian support at the intimidating Excel Arena. The diminutive Manipuri out punched, out jabbed, out thought and out performed her opponents to clinch a fantastic Bronze Medal; falling to the eventual Gold Medalist in England’s Nicola Adams in a keenly contested Semi Final bout. She may not have struck Gold, but her medal certainly was more than its weight in Gold as the country hailed her spirit and accomplishment. Always one to set high standards, a dejected Mary Kom’s first words in public after her defeat was a heartfelt apology for being unable to bring back the Gold. Here was an Olympic Champion at the peak of her career...a world class athlete par excellence with a sterling record... apologizing to her nation for letting them down. Her humility, passion for the sport and her country and her remarkable determination to excel shone through and through. Her Medal and myriad accomplishments have done a lot more than bring glory to India. She has continued the legacy of competent boxers emerging from the North East. She has single handedly altered the perception of the demure, subjugated Manipuri woman. In fact, she has become an inspiration to an entire generation of young girls across the country from similar backgrounds to take up the sport. The impact of her feats is far reaching and quite astounding. Her amiable demeanor and off field persona have added to her aura (Yes! Aura!) A Boxer, Athlete, World Champion, Olympic Medalist, Icon, Daughter, Wife, Mother and Sister; she’s all that and a lot more! Take a bow MC Mary Kom...India’s “Million Dollar Baby”!
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Diary Of A Teach For India Fellow
by P r a n a v S u k h ij a
My Inspiration - Shaheen Mistry
all it my indifference or a mental block, but I used to feel till last year that the rich and elite are less bothered about social causes as compared to the rest of us. I had created an image for them in my mind and it was hard to look at them in a different light. That’s why I was unable to digest that someone, who has everything money can buy, could think so much about her country and devote her entire life in transforming the state of education, and the lives of countless children, there. Shaheen Mistry inspires me like nobody else I have ever met. At the young age of 18, she founded Akanksha foundation, an NGO that started off with after-school educational programmes for under-privileged children, and gradually turned into a chain of schools meant for the poor, but with no compromises on the quality of education provided. I had the privilege to meet Jyoti and some other Akanksha kids at an event
and was absolutely amazed to see their incredible performances. Jyoti speaks English like a dream and can be easily mistaken for a college graduate with her confident and self-assured personality. In 2007, Shaheen founded Teach for India (TFI), a movement of outstanding college graduates and young leaders who believe that quality education is the birth-right of every Indian. The mission of TFI is to bridge the educational gap which exists between well-funded schools and low-income schools in India, by placing highly-skilled and passionate young leaders in the latter as full-time teachers for two years. The TFI fellowship programme, which is running in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Hyderabad and Chennai, began in 2009, and since then, more than 500 young leaders have joined the movement as fellows.
As a senior fellow with TFI, I have had numerous opportunities to interact with Shaheen, and she never ceases to amaze me with her simplicity, modesty, grace, optimism and visionary outlook. Despite all the problems and challenges she has faced, and still faces, in her professional and personal life, she has never lost her motivation and enormous sense of possibility. She has a sparkling smile and she smiles very often. Her positive aura is so palpable; you tend to notice her presence the moment she walks into a room. She is also very reflective and has internalized the habit of reflecting back on one’s own actions. Shaheen is known for her benevolence and giving nature. So much so that, we in TFI call her our giving tree. Recently she sent us an email which really moved me. And so, I will end this column by sharing a section of her email which can inspire anybody who wishes to get inspired. Remember you always have the choice : · To plan or not to plan · To develop those incredibly strong bonds with your kids. Or to be just another teacher · To treat your children with respect, and care. Or to do something that humiliates them · To transform you classroom into a beautiful, magical place. Or to have it continue to be the unclean, uninspiring place that won’t inspire change · To rise above mediocrity and strive for excellence. Or to be a little better than the alternative · To solve the problems that you have. Or to complain about them
Fact-file:
· To focus on the good. Or to get bogged down by what isn’t working
Founded the Akanksha Foundation, an Indian educational initiative.
The choice of becoming a leader for your children, and for your country is in your hands. You just need to exercise the right choice. Make the right decisions. Look in the mirror. Put in the agonizingly hard work. But mostly, keep the faith. The belief. The sense of possibility. And when you waver, like I do, get back on the path of belief soon. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself on that path.”
CEO of Teach For India since 2008. Board member of Ummeed, and the Thermax Social Initiatives Foundation. Advisor to the Latika Roy Foundation. Awards Ashoka Fellow (2001) Global Leader for Tomorrow at the World Economic Forum (2002) Asia Society 21 Leader (2006)
Diary Of A Teach For India Fellow
by P r a n a v S u k h ij a
Ten Reasons Why I Love My Job
1. I get to spend so much time with children, all of whom are so, so special. They teach me the most pertinent life lessons in the simplest of ways and remind me how I used to be, every single day. 2. Teaching is such a sacrosanct profession. I feel responsible for the learning and growth of so many children. 3. Beyond my own classroom, I spend so much time working on school activities and projects. All TFI fellows conduct a project called BTCP (Be The Change Project) in the second year of the fellowship. 4. I get trained and mentored by experts from all around the world, who have been so much instrumental in my successes as a teacher and leader, and teach me so many new things. 5. There is no competition in the cohort. I interact, learn and collaborate with so many other fellows. All of us strongly believe that one day, all children will attain an excellent education and therefore never refrain from supporting each other. 6. I represent the movement in different situations, sensitize people about this most important cause, and learn from them. 7. While most teachers will tell you that teaching is a thankless job, I will disagree. I feel really appreciated and respected for my choice of profession. I have been invited to talk and judge competitions at B-schools and
other educational institutes. My school teachers tell me how proud of me are they. My folks and friends from college and school are so supportive and appreciative. 8. Besides serving as a Fellow, I am also a member of different fellow committees like the Recruitment committee and the Public Speaking Representatives committee. There are a whole lot of different committees that fellows can join depending on their interests and passions. These committees ensure I have work to do even on days when there is no need for lesson planning! And they are such a value-add to my fellowship experience. 9. At the end of the day, I feel happy about the work I do. Whether it is that shy kid who finally opened up with me, or that little girl who made a huge jump in her maths scores, or a beautiful and thoughtful email by my manager or somebody else in the organisation which inspires me to continue working so hard for my kids, I end up going to bed happy. 10. Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the fellowship has permanently transformed me, for the better. I feel a change in the way I look at things, react in different situations and deal with other people. I have learned to keep the faith, have high expectations, be optimistic, act responsibly and kindly, think critically, love unconditionally and celebrate joyously. Time after time, I realize how the fellowship has grown so much on me.
W
hen was the first time that you went to the market to buy something? When was the first time that you handled currency all by yourself? When was the first time you calculated how much the shopkeeper has to give you back? At what age did you know that you had to save for a rainy day? At what age did you learn how to strike a deal for a merger with your friend to buy something that neither of you could afford alone, but together could and benefited both of you? While you try to think of all those first times and ages, class Superstars Grade 2 achieved all these objectives at the age of 7 at the Superstar Market ! An incentive for good behavior, completing their homework on time and doing well on tests was the Superstar Market ! Each student collected individual Star points which would translate to Star Money in denominations of 5 and 1. The students were called in the order of performance which of course ensured that the maximum choice was with the top few students. There were of course those who could not take part in the market since they didn’t earn any star points, so well they could only satisfy themselves with looking at their friends splurging their star money. These kids are already on their best behavior earning their way through to the next market! What I realized was that to teach kids real life skills, you need to bring these situations in their very
Prodigies at seven
by Archana Rao classroom!
No amount of rote learning would have made Sayaji merge his 12 star points with Akanksha who had 1 star point to buy the Super School kit valued at 13 Star points. He promised her a pencil from the school kit, an asset which he already possessed and which Akanksha was in need of. No amount of conventional schooling would teach kids like Gautam and Firoz to save some of their star money for the next market so they could hope to buy bigger things. No amount of addition and subtraction drills would make the kids calculate balance from what they bought, with out even realizing that they where adding and subtracting, with out even me introducing the objectives in class! ................................................................................................
Archana Rao is a Teach for India fellow in a Municipal Akanksha school. An electronics engineer and a management consultant with HSBC previously, now is a change maker in the Indian education system! She loves practicing yoga, scribbling on Post-its and blogging when she is not teaching 7 year olds!
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Interview: Chitra Lele
eddy by Sowjanya D R
Chitra Lele is a young management consultant and multiple world record holding author who is conferred with the title of A Versatile Writer by the India Book of Records for penning the maximum number of books on various genres including business management, poetry, personal transformation in a span of 18 months. Chitra’s publications include academic and reference books, research papers, poetry anthologies and scholarly articles. Q. You have written “English Language: The Gateway to Global Growth”, what inspired you to write a new book? What is your latest book all about? Languages open a vista for learners. The more languages one knows the better are the chances for progress. English provides a chance to develop in any field of one’s choice. It does not confine a citizen to his or her own nation. It opens the possibilities to be global in a real sense and it is a shockproof cover against the shockwaves of globalization. We have much to share with each other and having a common language is the first step along that road to engaging in commerce and scientific research and to sharing knowledge and friendship. This is where English steps in, and my book, English Language: The Gateway to Global Growth, reflects this very philosophy. It deals with the global aspects of English like educational equity, cross-cultural sensitivity, seamless cohesion, etc., in an engaging and stimulating manner. This latest academic book is doing well, both in terms of responses from readers around the world and literary records. This book is not a mere academic book, but it has personal touch to it as I have written it
in a lively and stimulating manner. And since it is written in an easy-tounderstand format, it offers something for each of my readers to learn from. The appreciation and responses that I have received are a testimony to the fact that my book is opening up a whole new way of seeing and interpreting the world through the English language. Q. When did you realize you wanted to be a writer? Slowly and steadily, as I developed a deep reading habit, I became exposed to a wide range of genres. And this in turn, gave me the confidence to write on a wide variety of subjects. Initially, I contributed essays, poems and articles to my college and university magazines, then as I received appreciation from my peers and elders, I gained confidence to try my hand
at various other mediums—magazines, newspapers, online blogs and portals, radio poetry reading sessions, international journals and anthologies. With all these contributions, I started to develop an innate desire of becoming an author. This innate desire combined with my habit of registering ideas and learnings from various settings gave me the momentum to develop my views, theories and approaches into books. Q. How did people close to you react when you told them you were going to start writing your own books? How did you feel? Interaction and Observation are two key factors that have always inspired me to draw lessons and learnings from my surroundings and from my interactions with people, and then to transform these learnings into my own unique theories and approaches. My parents’ golden rule “In order to write quality-driven books, one must read quality-driven books”, our huge home library equipped with a wide range of books, objective feedback from my readers, and the constant encouragement from my parents in terms of their creative flair and unflinching support, have played an instrumental role in nurturing my writing skills and transforming me from a mere thinker into a proactive author. Everyone around me was both excited and very encouraging about my writing endeavors. Writing to me is one powerful way of transforming my everyday experiences into something interesting, and then sharing it with readers like you all and sort of initiating a chain reaction of ideas and knowledgesharing. And the satisfaction that I derive from my books and their positive impact on my readers is beyond words and measure. Q. Did you receive any set-backs while writing and publishing the books you wrote? How did you deal with them? My first book, The 6 Spheres of Life: Unlocking the Door to Success and Happiness is a book on personal transformation that has been written in a unique style with a practical approach. Once I began approaching publishers, I received appreciation for my efforts. The publishers were really surprised and happy at the same time that a young author like me was tackling subjects of academic value, whereas normally young writers deal with topics like romance, chick-lit, fiction, etc. Bringing wisdom and change in others, and that too through a youngster’s take on life, was something that all of them found appealing. The initial three publishers showed interest in my manuscript and said they would publish it in their next publishing program, which was about a year away from their reply. The fourth publisher, a big name in the field of reference
and academic books, picked my book for publishing in their current publishing plan, as they found the premise of the book not only financially viable but also of high academic value — a book that can be used as a text/reference book in colleges, universities, personality development workshops, and in home and corporate libraries as well. In the beginning, I was a little concerned that readers might go with the age-old belief that personal transformation books are preachy in nature, whereas in reality my book is not at all didactic; none of my books are preachy. To my relief, once my book was released both in the national and international markets, the responses from college and university students and professors, corporate training professionals, housewives, business professionals and readers from all ages and cultures assured me that they liked my book as they could relate to it and also found it as a doable motivational force to improve their lives in all spheres. Q. How does it feel to take writing as a profession? I am a record-setting author, peace ambassador and management consultant, all rolled into one. At any given point in time, I am either a management consultant churning out new ideas for my next book project or an author trying to figure out how will my new theories or approaches apply to my management field or any other domain. My management profession is a hub of ideas for my books, and at the same time, my books help me to validate my theories and approaches in the practical settings of the corporate world. Apart from these fields, I am also a peace ambassador associated with organizations like the World Peace Organization (USA) and Peace Writers Organization (USA). All these fields are interrelated and all these fields are very close to my heart and my life’s purpose revolves around these fields, and that’s what keeps me going! Q. How will your work affect the masses? Apart from progressing in my computer management field, I want to contribute to the society. I want to mark many more beginnings and set and achieve many more milestones in the fields of literature, education and peace-making. To encourage youngsters of my age to join the bandwagon of peace-making and social transformation is one of my biggest aims. I have started my work in this field through my books, seminars and my association with peace organizations like the Peace Writers Organization (USA) and the World Peace Organization (USA). I am only at the first step of my journey and have a long way to go! I believe that each one of us will be independent in the
true sense of the term only when we ensure that the Freedom in Thought and Action no longer remains on mere paper but also translates into conscientious efforts. I am trying to do my bit my empowering people for a good cause through my seminars, peacemaking efforts and books. Q. How was your college life? What are your favorite memories? What lesson do you think people should take from college? During my college days (not so long ago), rather weekends, my parents and I spent a great deal of time in our home library. My parents taught me the importance of quality reading. Our home library is huge and it has always been a 24/7 learning setup for me, which constantly keeps me on the lookout for new ideas and insights. At a young age I was introduced to a world of adventure, books and a lot of other things — thanks to my gracious parents who are avid travelers, readers and learners. It is to them I owe my gratitude for all the diverse experiences that I have had in various parts of the world. Traveling around the world has made me more open to new ideas and visions, which in turn gets reflected in my writing. My college life was both a roller coaster ride of fun and adventure and an ongoing session of learning and growth, which is also helping me now in my literary pursuits and in my corporate journey. Q. How has the experience been? Can you share some things about life that you learnt on your road to success? The experience has being enriching, both as an author and as a person. The one main thing I have learnt and lived by is that literary or artistic trends are constantly changing, but for me as an author, what remains constant is to find ways of evolving and covering subjects and genres that challenge me. As far as my management field goes, customer experience excellence is the key to operational success. Earlier, I used to apply other experts’ theories, but now with my own written books, not only I but many corporate houses are using my theories and approaches to enhance their revenues and customer service levels. Q. Who has been your inspiration and driving force since your childhood and throughout your career? The two most important pillars in my life that have kept going from one milestone to another in my journey — my mother for her creative flair and unflinching support and my father for his analytical skills and objective criticism. Another major motivator — my Readers who have constantly kept me going!
Q. Having won many prestigious awards, tell us how has it changed your insight in writing? Has it given you more confidence? My latest academic book, English Language: The Gateway to Global Growth, is doing well, both in terms of responses from readers around the world and literary records. It is a part of my latest record with the India Book of Records, A Versatile Writer. And so are 8 other books included in this record. I have received 70+ Letters of Commendation from world leaders and peace organizations, right from the Hon. Ex President of India, Pratibha Patil to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, for my peace-making efforts and my book on personal transformation, The 6 Spheres of Life. This feat has been registered by the Limca Book of Records and India Book of Records. These letters are a never-ending source of inspiration for me, which give me the impetus to scale newer heights of success; these gracious words of appreciation and encouragement from various prime ministers, presidents, mayors, governors and heads of states are incomparable to any materialistic gains. My efforts in the fields of education, peace and literature have got recognition from prestigious record books like Limca Book and India Book. This recognition, in a way, fuels my passion to do more and to write more without losing focus on the Quality aspect. Being a part of history is one of the most surreal feelings. It makes me immensely happy that these records and my books not only give me the sense of (permanent) identity, but I know my books, articles, poems and other literary creations are going to be there to enrich the lives of many even after I am gone. These awards and records are a constant reminder for me that I have a responsibility towards my readers. I will always continue to write with a purpose and for a good cause, and such appreciation will definitely help me to do better and remain focused on my goals. Q. Some tips for upcoming writers? Well I am too young and only a few books old to give advice to my fellow writers. But I would definitely like to share a few learnings with them in order to make their literary journey a less bumpy : Believe in your own power of writing, make up your mind on what you want to derive out of your literary works, whether name, money, share a story, etc., and start with what interests you and let it evolve.
Dignity of choice
yal by Vasundhara Go
“Instead of punishing the criminal, we often end up blaming the victim. What was she wearing? Was she drinking? Did she ask for it?” - Slutwalk, Ottawa “If a rape victim is blamed for wearing revealing clothes, will a blast victim be blamed for not wearing a bullet proof vest?” - Besharmi Morcha, Kolkata The first slutwalk in Canada was just an aftermath of the rage ignited by a police official who claimed that women get raped because of their slutty outfit. This march was one way of women counterclaiming, “I should have the dignity to choose what I wear without being judged or victimized for my choices.” I live in a world where I get judgments from everyone around me on the way I dress, friends I make, people I talk to and the views I carry. People bug you with clichéd statements like ‘get a hold of your life’, ‘be the master of circumstances’, ‘one man’s army’ with a pinch of ‘you should have the sense to make the right choices in life’. And who decides what is right and what is wrong? Society? Our constitution provides us with right to education, equality, freedom. I guess these rights need a more detailed sub categorization. There are certain rights an individual deserves as a Human Being. Dignity to choose what I wear I should not suffer for my choices to wear what I feel, defines me. I am an individual and I choose my individuality over conformity with the society. I should not be judged, molested, raped or harassed, because I choose to dress like this. I should not be stereotyped as
a slut or adulterated, over my wardrobe. Dignity to choose my career I should not suffer for my choice of job. My choice to work in a night club or as an escort doesn’t mean I can be treated like a platter or be an object of brutality. My job doesn’t define my character. I am as good a citizen of this country as a house wife or a school teacher and I deserve equal rights. Dignity to choose my partner I should not suffer for my choice of partner. Whom I choose to marry is my personal choice, society doesn’t have a say in it. Society also shouldn’t be concerned with whom I sleep; my sexuality is none of their business. Dignity to choose my lifestyle I should not suffer for the way I live. I may be married or in a live in relationship. I may drink in pubs or may not. I may celebrate Valentine’s Day/ Friendship’s Day with a guy/girl or may choose to celebrate Diwali and Holi. I am free to choose which culture to follow. I should not be beaten up or forced to marry or tie a Rakhi to someone I chose to spend my day with. I should not be dragged out of pubs, beaten up because I am a girl and the society feels that girls should be put behind veils to prevent infidelity. All I want is the dignity to choose without having to face rebuke or animosity from society. Low minded and baseless social stigma has no place in a progressive democratic society.
T
hey say that Reena Naga was a talented person, a good friend and an exquisite dancer. I didn’t know Reena Naga then.
Reena Naga came to our college from Mumbai. She was big city girl and did all the fun loving things big city girls do. She formed her own set of college friends, wore Fab India Kurtas and Colaba accessories and flip flops or Oshos to college. She lived a quiet life with her own gang of giggly girls who danced and sang with a grace that the rest of us could only wonder at. Generally, in college, there are two types of people; the ones you like and the ones you don’t. But the trick answer, the third category, consists of acquaintances; the people you never bothered to get to know. They’re the people whom you sit with in the bus before switching seats. They’re the people whose life you know by reading their facebook timeline. They’re the people of whom you’ve heard gossip of but never knew them enough to talk about it. They’re the people who you can look in the eye and smile but then you have to avert it because you don’t know them. lapsura.com/drawings Twenty years from now, when I come for a college reunion around me, what am I going to say to the acquaintances? What am I going to say to them twenty years hence when I barely know them now? How
An Acquantaince
by Hamsini
can that awkward conversation live beyond the first minutes? Reena Naga was just another acquaintance. To me, she was forgettable as I would have been to her. We didn’t have any problems or issues. We didn’t know each other and we were comfortable that way. What I knew of her was gathered from judging her clothes, the way she spoke in public and what I had heard of her. All her friends spoke of how amazing she was. Her parents and brother cried bucketloads. Her High School principal spoke about what a good head girl she had been - I didn’t know that before either. Meanwhile, I stood with my friends in my black dress uncomfortable and on the verge of tears. I had spoken to Reena on exactly five occasions even though we had spent a year together in college. The sixth time I spoke to her was about a project for the sociology models and we had stayed back late. She told me she was staying back for dance practice. I left the building and then I ran back when I realized that I had some of her notes. I didn’t know Reena Naga earlier but I saw myself in her. I saw my fear in her eyes. I saw my failings, my insecurities and my regrets in her eyes. I didn’t know Reena Naga but I was the only one there on the terrace, the day she threw herself from the fifth floor.
Freedom at Midnight
The renegade
ishra by Pragyananda M
by Rohan Chakrabarty
It was a long day at work, I deluded of a much deserved sleep, longed for one. When suddenly out of the horizon of multitude concrete structures, Came an ear splitting scream “ India won the world cup� Suddenly smile slipped on my tired face. All my lassitude disappearing into the darkness. I leapt at the hands raised up in celebration, Hundreds embraced me, thousands congratulated me, though I knew none. I looked at the rejoicing people; Reveling for a team of unknown personalities. All the barriers of the society lay broken; I felt as a complete Indian tonight. I had witnessed freedom at midnight again. ( the poem was written after Indian cricket team’s historical world cup win last year)
Exploring avenues and pushing for richer pastures The night walker flew to battle the Sun and the azure, Rebel he was, he braved the caveat and shook off being demure Enough of being a lunatic, he said, seeming perfectly sure His mother, in the midst was heard of the plaintive whine, He consoled, saying he will rule the day and the tall pine Pruning his plume he ventured after shrieking a line He rose high, turned a bone and disappeared into the vine The sun, the sultry scenes were fought with utmost skill The maverick he was, he thought this was his fill Little did he know that grave threats loomed large above his bill He perched on a tree picking up fodder or his meal Along came a murder of crows, black and cawing They seemed to get rid of the changeling Our hero seemed to be flummoxed at this acerbity, this pestering the little one was gravely swooped upon by the crows, amidst shouts and abusing Somehow braving the odds, he dashed for a high post The crimson all poured, resembling a gory ghost he shouted at the heavens, remembered his mother and cried accost Then fell the brave owl, the little renegade most :(
Cursed to Normalcy
History has been a testimony to the fact that great things have been achieved and accomplished by people who think out of the way, people who have a set of axioms different from the rest, people who dare to think differently, people who have the guts to challenge beliefs – “to think out of the box” as some might put it. But wait a sec! How did these people become great, distinguished and recognized in the first place?? Yes, they did some things which others might consider crap… Yes, they might have suffered countless sleepless nights brooding about their aims while others were more concerned about earning their square meals or the more fortunate ones enjoying the pleasures of life… and Yes, some of them might have faced humiliation and may have been looked upon with suspicion and abhorrence. But many of us tend to overlook one fact – the rest have been cursed to normalcy. The ‘rest’ have been born to just die with the balance sheet of their lives summing up to zero – nothing taken from the world and nothing offered. They have been born to be normal. Imagine if all the people were to start thinking like Einstein or Newton, we would never have heard of these names in the first place if we were not somehow related to these fellows. Imagine a world with the intelligence quotient so high and the standard deviation almost nil!! I am no exception to this. You may have different yard sticks to measure how good you are, or rather how normal you are. Some of us might get branded normal
by Abhishek Namballa
in the very first few of the yard sticks used. Some of us might manage to hold around a little longer but to make it to the top of the tree – sorry, you can kindly pack your bags and depart! There are not many mornings when you get up and have time to reflect – because once again you are a normal person leading a monotonous life. If you want to sit down and argue with me that you do all this crazy stuff, hang around with friends, enjoy life and live life to its fullest and therefore you don’t lead a droning life, then my mate, that is your standard. You will keep doing this all your life and finally depart. That’s it! Take another example – I am in IIT - An institute that only a select few manage to get into. Suddenly, out of nowhere people start saying this – “Now you are an IITian, you are this; you are that; you will forget us now because we are all ‘normal’…” My question is – “So what if I am an IITian? Why should that make me any different from the rest?” Here the whole cycle repeats itself once again – I am once again an average fellow fighting to stand out – I am good at studies but I am not the best. I am good at sports but not good enough to make it in to any institute team. I play keyboard but I am no master at it. I am good with my communication skills but not the best orator or debater. I realize that all the above things need perseverance and hard work but I have absolutely no scheme or idea where to find them! I find people around me doing things which
“...the rest have been cursed to normalcy. The ‘rest’ have been born to just die with the balance sheet of their lives summing up to zero – nothing taken from the world and nothing offered. They have been born to be normal.” make me wonder – “Why don’t I think like this?” or “Why can’t I be like this fellow?” Then I realize – even I am cursed – CURSED TO BE NORMAL! Some are truly gifted, some are freaking lucky, I am neither. Perhaps the reason I don’t put in too much effort, the reason I lack the drive is because I have never had to struggle too much for anything except for a few things. You tend to realize the importance of only those things for which you put fight. Same is the case with me. Here again one more cycle is at work – people mired in the mass, endeavor to be noticeable and those in the lime light wrestle to find places where they can have time for themselves! Astonishingly talented ones might wonder just the opposite – “What is it like to be a normal person? What is it like to lead a normal life?” I guess its all destiny. According to them it would be – “Some are cursed to be special and others are blessed to be normal!” I am not saying that all should be equal or that everyone should be of the same caliber. Nay!! That would be a nightmare - the doomsday for mankind! We would have no purpose to exist at all. What I am trying to say is that it is human tendency to strive for excellence. Man is besotted with reaching ever higher on that tree. Probably all my rant also stems from the same rationale. The reader should not be mistaken that I am in any state of sorrow or depression. NO. That is the least on my priority list. That is because once again I am a commoner and I am fully happy and content with what I have got! I might throw in a little struggle here and there and I will probably get what I want following varying degrees of struggle because I believe in myself. But still the one question remains unanswered – “Why (not) me?”
Like The Smoke From My Cigarette by Abhay Gupta
She’s like smoke from a cigarette. You know she’s bad for you but you can’t help but take her in. She’s addictive. She poisons you. You know she’ll eventually destroy you. And, at the end of it, She leaves as quickly as she came to you, Making you crave for more. She’s like smoke from a cigarette, She leaves with the wind, You love the feel of her on your lips, You love watching her envelop you in her presence, She’s hypnotic in her complexity, She’s mesmerizing in her movements, You know you shouldn’t love her but you will. She’s like smoke from a cigarette, She’ll choke the life out of you slowly, And you’ll wonder why you even do it. But then just the smell of her reminds you, That you’ll never have the willpower to give her up! You’ll try to conquer her, and maybe it’ll work for a spell, But she’ll have you ensnared once again.”