Look at the world closely and its beautiful !!!!!

This is what I have been experiencing since a few days! We Mumbaikars are busy with our lives; running for the train, rushing to work, waiting for the lift and then staring at the PC the whole day. And in this busy routine, who gets the time to look around and observe people, observe things and nature? I might sound stupid to many if I say that we should find time to look at the nature and enjoy its beauty and so on. And it sounded the same to me too! However, Mumbai teaches you a lot! It certainly does! A casual walk down the road, a casual visit to the railway station is something that can make you feel happy and cheerful the whole day, trust me!

I am referring to some of the great people I have seen and met during my every day commuting and the boring routine life! Few days back, when I was travelling home from office, I was waiting at Kurla station for the fast train. Since there was a long time for the train to arrive, I have been casually looking around here and there just to find some timepass or something interesting (knowing that there is nothing interesting on a railway station though :P)! (This is a habit I developed after opting for Journalism studies since our professors always told us "Look around, you would definitely find something to explore and this might turn out to be a big news story".) And just as I was glancing here and there, I happened to see a boot polish guy who was sitting just behind me, winding up for the day and packing his things. He had nothing as such, just a small box in which he kept the polish boxes and the brush, his handkerchief and other stuff. He then counted the money, which seemed to be a meagre amount, and then worshipped the box by keeping his head over it. Now this was something that caught my attention. Although he can't make much from the boot polish business, (and he knows it), he worshipped the box of contents so dedicatedly. And we guys, despite sitting in an air-conditioned office every day, are bored with our lives, feel depressed and frustrated. Forget about worship, many of us would also want to break the PC so that we escape work, or just because we are too bored to do anything!

There's so much difference in people. Although we have everything, we are dissatisfied, and although the guy had little, he considered his work as worship and respected it! That really made me realize- it all depends on the way we look at things and value them! It is human tendency- we never value what we have, unless we do not have it! Why not be happy with what we have instead! Today, we are financially much sound than what that boot polish guy was and that is actually a reason for us to be happy. And I was moved when I saw him walk away with tiffin in hand later; I did not know whether to feel sad for him or feel happy for myself!

Still so happy...!

Guys, most of us are too busy creating an issue out of our problems and posing them as severe ones that disrupt life and peace of mind. However, one look around the world can make you realize that you have a million reasons to celebrate, a hundred reasons to be happy today, for there are many in this world who dream of living a life that you do! God has been partial; everyone does not have the same love, the same financial stability and the same secure life! In this vast world, don't you think your problems are too small to be mentioned?

16 December....An year later!

16 December 2012! Who wouldn't remember this date? A day of terror, a day that shook every Indian, a day that led to an uprising all over the country, a day that raised questions over women's security! It is 16 December yet again! Its past an year that the country witnessed one of the most horrendous crimes in its history- the rape of a young girl on a moving bus in the national capital. One year after witnessing the terrific incident, an year after fighting for the security of women, how safe are we today? Is there anyone to answer this?

Last year, India witnessed a ghastly crime, one of its nature, that left every India awestruck. After holding candle marches and protests, after having sentenced the criminals to death penalty, India still today fights to protect its women from the horrible intentions of some males. After the Delhi Rape Case, although protests were held in every part of the world, what did really change? Although the law relating to rape, molestation, etc changed, do women in India feel safe today? I had previously written an article over this (http://your-speak.blogspot.in/2013/12/law-has-changed-but-how-many-changes.html) where I had attempted to analyse the after effects of the Delhi case and the subsequent changes in law. For those who have read the article, you would surely know that the number of crimes against women, particularly molestation and rapes, showed a slanting upward  graph. So what lessons have we taken from the deadly incident an year ago? Nothing? Even after an innocent girl lost her life?

When the question of security of women is raised, we haven't been successful in making the world a better place for girls. There are so many women who commute with fear everyday, late night, because they work in shifts or they have to support their family! Haven't they got the right to enjoy a secure life? Even Mumbai, that was once considered as the safest city for women in India, has had a record of crimes in the last year. Every day I commute, I see men staring, some even passing comments, some singing, whistling and what not! And every girl has witnessed this at some point in life, however, many of us simply ignore because that's the best way to deal with it! And then people say girls are at fault, their dressing is blamed ! Why don't we simply attempt to teach our sons and brothers to respect women instead?

Today, on 16 December 2013, I have written this blog to salute the spirit of the young braveheart who fought for life despite being completely destroyed. Yes, we can never imagine the ordeal she went through, so just a salute to her spirit, will power and bravery! If every girl in India shows this spirit and raises voice over even the smallest of crimes, we would definitely be able to make our country a better place, if not the best!