Random Thoughts Mumbai attack

As the cold winds, an indicator that December is in and Margazhi is around the corner, blow across my face from the window where I sit and write, i am put into a thinking mode. The terror attacks in Mumbai have nearly jolted the life out of me. I am not exaggerating a bit.

What else could I do, but sit in awe and disbelief as terror spread its ugly claw across the face of Mumbai.

What else could I do, but sit and watch the television as blood flowed and ambulances whizzed past the city carrying the dead and the nearly-dead.

Day 1 saw me aghast and abhorrent;
Day 2 saw me angry and tearful;
Day 3 lifeless and cold and Day 4 numb but relieved.

I have never seen a terrorist attack in my life and may be never I would. Nestled far away from the scene of crime in the cozy four walls of my house and pampered by serenity and peacefulness of the place I live in, I can do nothing but whine and wince.

Helpless I was, when the city I was born in, the city that has legacy of making the pauper into the prince, the city that never sleeps and the city that bustles despite the bombs was under a siege. The terrorist were indeed clever. They hit her hard. They hit her, what all along she thought was her strength. Her strength to embrace people!!! Which is why I guess she welcomed these men. Not knowing who they were and what plans they had.

Attitude of Gratitude

Excerpt from Aim for the Heart by Tom Mathews

As a leader, do you honor and appreciate the power of WE? Do you stop to thank and recognize the members of your team? Do you consistently show an attitude of gratitude?

I recently read a great story about Captain Charles Plumb, a graduate from the Naval Academy, whose plane, after 74 successful combat missions over North Vietnam, was shot down. He parachuted to safety, but was captured, tortured and spent 2,103 days in a small box-like cell.

After surviving the ordeal, Captain Plumb received the Silver Star, Bronze Star, the Legion of Merit and two Purple Hearts, and returned to America and spoke to many groups about his experience and how it compared to the challenges of everyday life.

Shortly after coming home, Charlie and his wife were sitting in a restaurant. A man rose from a nearby table, walked over and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

Surprised that he was recognized, Charlie responded, "How in the world did you know that?" The man replied, "I packed your parachute." Charlie looked up with surprise. The man pumped his hand, gave a thumbs-up, and said, "I guess it worked!"

Charlie stood to shake the man's hand, and assured him, "It most certainly did work. If it had not worked, I would not be here today."

Charlie could not sleep that night, thinking about the man. He wondered if he might have seen him and not even said, "Good morning, how are you?" He thought of the many hours the sailor had spent bending over a long wooden table in the bottom of the ship, carefully folding the silks and weaving the shrouds of each chute, each time holding in his hands the fate of someone he didn't know.

Plumb then began to realize that along with the physical parachute, he needed mental, emotional and spiritual parachutes. He had called on all these supports during his long and painful ordeal.

As a leader, how many times a day, a week, a month, do we pass up the opportunity to thank those people in our organization who are "packing our parachutes?"

Opportunities to express our thanks abound every day. We avail of the facilities and services of so many people from morning to night, many of us do not even give eye contact to the bus conductor meticulously handing over our ticket and balance money, or to the helper who picks up the empty coffee cup from the meeting room.

The importance of cultivating an attitude of gratitude has been touched upon here before. Say "Thank you" generously, every time, to everyone. It relieves stress, gladdens hearts and generally does some magic to our circumstances. Try it.

P.S:

Though blogs are meant to bring out original thoughts, this "copy-paste" act of mine is to ensure that nobody misses on this wonderful write up. Well narrated and soul stirring!!

Simple & Straight

The advent of cellular phones have given rise to the cheapest form of communication- SMS.The following is a cute and thought provoking message, I received. It reminded me that"certain things in life do come free".

Tips for a better and cute life:

1. Take a 10 to 30 minutes walk daily.
2. Sit in silence for at least ten minutes a day.
3. Go to bed earlier and get more sleep.
4. Spend time with people over the age of 70 and under the age of 6.
5. Dream more while you are awake.
6. Try to make at least 3 people smile each day.
7. Don’t ever compare your life with others.
8. Forgive everyone for everything.
9. What other people think of "you" is none of "your" business.

Taking the Government for a ride!!

My head spins and I take a deep breath before I can assimilate and putdown in writing these heart rendering events that have been rocking the country in the past few days. Protests, agitations, strikes, and bandh – words that have been taking the front page on any newspaper that I open. May be I have never idealized Gandhi as a whole. But his non violent policies have always put me in awe. How could a man so thin and frail, come up with such an astounding idea that holds relevant even today.

I n the past 45 days, the media has been reporting violence, violence and only violence. Before the Sikh-Dera Sauda Sacha matter could be doused, Gujjars started protesting in the most unethical way. Axing trees, ripping away railway tracks, virtually bringing parts of Rajasthan to a grinding halt. The spill over effect saw the national capital on a literal siege, with all roads leading to the capital completely blocked. They forced the government to the conference room. The reason for their agitation is of no importance to me. But the means was condemnable. They literally held state for a ransom. Though they achieved their ends, lives lost are lost. And a property damaged is damaged. Who cares? Unless people are made accountable for the damage caused this act of “hooliganism” would continue!!!!

And now is the country peaceful???? The answer would be a big NO. The paradise on earth is burning. Land issue has taken its toll. An issue that could be resolved within four rooms has been taken to streets. Killing and counter killing has become the rule of the day. Kashmir is burning and none involved are ready to blink first. The war is continuing , as I write.

The crude oil prices are rising and so seem to be the temperament of people in the sub continent. The birth place of Gandhi no longer seems to be a haven of peace. A leader who can take this country on the “peaceful and prosperous” direction seems to be the need of the hour. The policy of appeasement has to be erased. Each and every citizen has to be held responsible for any damage to public property. Accountability has to be the in thing in the current situation.

I hardly know how this writing can change the prevailing situation. But people, who read this, just sit and give it a thought. Next time you spit or throw wastes in a public place or are even driven to a situation of throwing stones to register your protest, wait. At the end of the day its you who has to suffer. You, damaging the buses and trains would boomerang as lowering the availability of these essential services. So be conscious. Remember what Gandhi said “There is everything in this world for a mans needs, but not for his greeds”

THE START

What do I blog???

This was the first question that flashed across my mind when I was suggested to do so by a friend of mine. To be honest I have been thinking over, again and again on what is to be blogged. May be I should also thank the bigger stalwarts of the Bollywood industry who have been waging a “blog war”. This indirectly kept reminding me time and again of this unfinished task. This thinking phase has extended from hours into days and days into months. I knew religion and politics (my favourite one!!!) were a taboo here. And now I am back again not knowing where to start, but still with the inner urge to put down my thoughts.

Today I begin my blog by seeking the blessings of the almighty. For I know that it’s only the divine intervention that can carry ahead people in all their endeavours. I also wish at this point that I don’t stereotype myself and would take a conscious effort to talk about topics that can interest people of a wider spectrum.

This happens to be my first one and I hope to continue with some more. Adios!!!