If I Could

If I could resurrect my faith,
then I would deny my dreams.

If I could wipe away my tears,
then i would watch you leave me again.

If I could wrap you in my love,
then i would give away my home.

If i could seep through your mind,
then I would wish for you to never forget me.

If i could pawn my soul for your safety,
then I would never want it back.

If i could become a pariah so that you'd be accepted,
then I would do it for all my lifetimes..for eternity.

If I could see the latent lesion that made you drift away from me,
then I would let myself merge with those forgotten.

If I could heal the mark of uncertainty,
then i would worship God.

Media has a Profound Influence on the Human Psyche

My mother, who’s a gynaecologist, recently came across a patient who complained of severe kicking by the fetus in her womb. Perplexed, as all investigations reported normal,she started cross questioning the couple. She found out that the patient’s husband was fond of watching wrestling matches on tv and would often ask her to sit with him and watch the same. My mother advised her against this, and she reported after a week with a dramatic relief in the frequency and force of the kicking.

The example which i just gave, only establishes the profound influence that media has on the human psyche, such that, it even affects an unborn human child!

Every day, billions are bombarded by an ever-growing number of in-your -face ads, which tell us what we should have. It suddenly becomes impossible to live without that plasma screen TV and that sleek, shiny new car that promises every luxury.

The result: a stressed out urban adult, at the verge of a burnout.

When was the last time you read a magazine that did not have an article on weight loss? Can’t remember? Even the thin bipasha basu has endorsed sugar free sugar. Does she know the image she’s projecting to thousands of adolescent girls- just use this, and u’ll have the perfectly toned celeb body u dream about. Instead of targeting diabetics and obese ppl, these ads only mislead the masses.

The result is in front of us- a society filled with unsure, insecure teenage girls who are victim of eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. The media fails to tackle the problem of obesity delicately, and equates increase in body mass with decrease in self esteem, aggravating psychological problems.

And yet, some people ask if media influences the human psyche?

Of course, it has also proven to be a boon.

It was a powerful tool in facilitating India’s independence movement as it united the masses. Research has found that media exposure influenced masses in afro-Asian countries to bring about economic and political development during their transition from a traditional to a modern society.

Apart from politics, it has also alleviated the standard of living in rural areas, as awareness paves way for development and literacy. And what better example can I give of media promoting literacy in recent times, other than the famous teach India campaign started by the times of India.

Without a doubt, media does have an influence on human psyche. It is important for us, as a society, to regulate the power that media holds and not let it mislead the masses. We also have to be vigilant and prudent, and not believe all that we see and read. We can let the media educate us, and save ourselves and the earth, or we can become paranoid victims .the choice can be ours to make, only if we accept the fact that indeed, media does alter our choices, perceptions and decisions.                                                 

Normality is a Myth

Hmm..normality..what is normal? I guess it’s something that the majority decides. It probably is strategic and logical, or maybe its simply a byproduct of how most of us do things. a search for utopia in the realms of reality,perhaps?

I believe  ‘normal’ is ever-changing and evolving. Look at the world before and after the suffragette movement. It was considered normal to deny a woman the right to vote in the 1600s but one cannot think of doing the same in the 21st century.

Social norms are set to distinguish the acceptable normal behavior from the abnormal one. But the same set of norms can suffer from culture bias and lose their absolute stand. For example, Carla bruni kissing Nicolas sarkozy in public is well accepted in the west but the same act performed by mr. and mrs. Manmohan in our country would not go down well with the public.

As I sit in my statistical psychology class everyday, I’m made to belive that a normal distribution exists and well, if the data in front of me reads otherwise, then I’m taught ways to transform it to make it ‘near-normal’.

Are we humans, as a species,obsessed with a search for a normal in everything?

I ask this question because I recently came across Dean Hamer’s view on the god gene, where he talks about how we inherit a set of genes that predispose us towards spiritual experiences.

Similarly, are we genetically predisposed to demarcate boundaries for normalcy? Does our DNA code for putting  normal limits in every statistical index and behavior we come across?

If that’s the case, then I believe that we are at the brink of extinction, for Darwin’s principle spoke only about how, the more different we are, the better our chances are of surviving as a species.

I feel that limiting our quests to understand nature and beings by clinging to this baseline, is a gross mistake.  This mistake might not lead to extinction of our species but it might hinder the development and deeper understanding of psychology.

The Chance Encounter

As my friend Meghna and I, made our way towards the Platinum Jubilee Building, a voice from behind called us to stop.

That voice was of Giri sir’s.

In the last five years, I’ve had conversations with my previous headmasters on topics beyond the realm of studies but never like the one I was about to experience that day.

Sir motioned us to keep moving and we soon found ourselves accompanied by him.

As we walked along the red building, sir posed his first question to us-

“How tall is the PJ building?”

Until that moment, my interactions with sir had been restricted to wishing him the ritual good mornings and afternoons, or, to that one time, I had a conversation with sir while I was held captive in his office for committing the crime of bunking a class.

So, sir’s highly unexpected question left me surprised and amused at the same time, and all I could do was give him a silly smile.

But sir’s face bore an expression of utmost seriousness which forced me to retreat my smile.

Meghna, still unable to understand why sir wasn’t scolding us for being outside our classes, quickly answered in the hope of avoiding that from happening.

Her answer was 25 metres.

I promptly followed her lead and gave an answer close to hers, thinking and hoping that she had some calculated idea when it came to measuring distances, unlike me!

We did not get an approval from sir on any of our answers and soon gave up, out of humiliation. We had to stop, we did not want sir to think of us as two ignorant 11^th graders!

Finally, sir gave us the answer- The school’s PJ building is about 15 metres in height.

Before we could gather our wits, sir posed an equally confusing question-

“How many trees are there in the school?”

Not wanting to be looked upon as more of a fool than I already did, I stopped, took a quick glance from where we stood, made an approximate assessment, and came up with the number 150.

With similar intentions, Meghna also quoted a number.

Sir’s face was void of any expression that could be indicative of whether we were close to the actual answer or not.

So, we kept giving sir different answers till we reached the entrance to the building.

Sir came to a halt and addressed us.

Sir must not have spoken more than 5 phrases.

Few, as they were, they’re still difficult to recall.

However, I do remember sir telling us not to succumb to our needs and desires to an extent that we forget to notice things around us.

The awareness quotient sir gave us that day, was the gift of the day.

Rarely in life does one get to hear the wisdom imparted by someone that one looks upto (after being quizzed on such odd questions!).

I find myself fortunate enough to have been in such a position at the right time of my life.

I believe, sir wanted us to overcome those perceptions of our surroundings that are clouded by other people’s thoughts and emotions.

So, in a way, reality may be very different from what we assume.

Giri sir, knowingly or unknowingly, helped me break out of my limited sight and mind set.

This encounter has taught me to look at things, not the way they appear, but the way they do not.

Organised Crime in the presence of Disorganised Government

Mumbai Blasts on 13 July, 2011 =Indian Mujahideen's revenge for arresting it's operatives?

Now what? You say you can't ban these 'religious organisations'. That's not how politic works. So you'll further investigate till the time another blast claims innocent lives.

If this keeps up, then one might hear an extremist called on air exclaim:''After all, these explosions try to negate the population explosion.They are doing the government a favour!''

This is how i see it : Organised Crime in the presence of Disorganised Government

Dissolution

There is nothing more sorrowful,

than hearing a lover claim his love deceased.

There is nothing more fearful,

than hearing the ghost of present call itself your past.

There is agony and pain as you turn sore,

when you realise how powerless you are when you are made to feel like you're not loved anymore.

There is sadness, an abysmal sadness,

when the last memory slyly leaves your grip.

There comes a sense of foolishness in time of despair,

as you ask yourself- What if?

Your grief, is yours alone,

for you know not what his thoughts hold.

You're unaware of his plight or his joys.

You don't belong to his world anymore,

and he, to yours.

You accept.

You try to accept.

You try again.

You swayed like a pendulum,

for heart and mind have always been at the opposing ends of a never ending flight of stairs.

But you've ceased to sway.

As time wrapped you both in a whirlpool of  doom,

the 'I don't care' and casual 'okay' grew louder each day. 

They can't be ignored, they're a sign.

They signal the nearing of the end of your journey together.

Pick up your bags and don't look back.

As the adventurous days stationed themselves into their final destination,

The travelers resume living their separate lives.

There will come a time,

when you'll embrace peace,

for you know now about the magic that true love holds ,

even if only for a moment.

You will never be assured that true love will last or promises would be kept,

But you'll remember that they once accompanied you on your journey, making it worthwhile.

For lessons I have learnt and the wisdom gained,

I am thankful.

Yet, the grief of loss has no substitute nor can one do justice to it by trying to dismiss it. 

I capture the grief,

feel it running through my veins and pouring itself into my heart.

I submit to its power.

For grief has been a path of virtue for me,

as I aim to come out strong once again.

Understanding pain,

leads to sanity.

But know that this sanity might get lost soon.

You'll then remember you were once sane,

You once saw a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel that now resembles a dungeon for the slaves.

Maybe its too soon to hope for a glimpse of that light,

As its only been a while

since i immersed myself in sorrow's eyes.

At last, I am hopeful about the future,

I know that it holds happiness for all souls.

Destiny and life, I put myself in your arms once again,

Knowing all the while,

its my footsteps that will lead the way.

DECEIVING MYSELF

Devoid of life.
And devoid of joy.
I look in horror at the sky.

Seamless oceans drift apart.
Leaving my heart in hurtful scars.

Pain resides and calms me down.
For I know I won't feel strong for long.

These powers that are turning my life.
Know not what I despise.

Voices are becoming faint.
Echo is what remains.

Longing to get out.
Longing not to change about.

Obeying my mind's command.
Not questioning how i am not to be alarmed.

Letting the forces of change toss my actions in vain.
Forcing myself to restrain from all the actions that bring shame.

For people around me are strange.
Wanting to know how to conquer pain.

They know not it is not the way.
Its facing it all and being humane that will make you insane.

Once insane you'll see the rain.
Find all the meanings and discover true pain.

You'll believe all the meanings yet see no meaning.

That's when you'll ask me why it's so strange.

It all won't matter as I won't be the one hoping in disdain,
to hear from the one I am certain to have drained.

A Tattered Thought

The wind blows,

The birds chirp,

The days fade away,

The night falls,

Only to await its end.

TAKE ME

Take me to the other end of this world.

Where the sea lies with no passerby,

Where the moon glows in the glory of the night,

Where lights are distant and the ends unknown.

Take me to the other end of this world.

A place close to heaven,

A place close to my heart,

A place where no one drifts apart.

REALITY- A DISGRACE

He looks at her like he is hungry for her.
He follows her around like the death spirit follows its victim.

He stays alert for he knows he is wrong.

He wishes that the next turn she takes would lead to a deserted alley.
His wish comes true.

Now all he sees is her.

She realises that he is one of those men.
The hungry men.

She is ready to take him down.
But, what she doesn’t know is he’s got his way around.
His other hungry friends join him for a round.

She is terrified, helpless and in need of a voice.
A voice that would stand up against their bad choice.

She spots a man,
Walking along the line.
She calls up to him,
But he just skips from the scene.
Leaving the girl as a prey for those obscene.

She sees another man in the distant.
She sees a ray of hope.

The man standing by the road,
Is wearing a badge of hope.
He is counted as one of those men,
Who pledged to tackle crime with their strength.

She runs towards him.
Aware that the pace of footsteps following her has also increased.

She reaches the man wearing the badge.
She is glad to have found a helping hand.

She turns about, To show him who it is following her around town.

What she sees becomes hard to believe.
In this numbness, she is afraid to even think.

Those hungry men were in badges too.

Just like the one she had approached to.

She feels like escaping her body.
She feels like fleeing with her soul.
Leaving the body alone,
To feed the hungry wolves' sore.

She knows it can't be done.
She still looks for someone she could trust.
The one who would fight off the hungry ones' lust.

She has lost her faith.
But not her strength.

She can't spare a stare.
At the ones with lust in their gaze.

She puts her hand in the purse.
Wishing to forge through this curse.

She knows what she is searching for.
She knows where it lies.
She is just wishing all this was a lie.

Her hands grip it firmly.
She knows what she needs to do.

Her heart is beating faster.
All her blood being pumped to her next move.

She takes one last look at the hungry wolves.
And forces her limbs to take her away from these loons.

They knew this would happen.
She knew they would chase.

She climbs some stairs,
And stops to stare.

They didn’t know she would do this in despair.

She took away their stare.

The gun's six bullets met them while they glared.

The prey fled from this grave air.