Music Maketh Man

         Oh no! I don't intend to defame the adage by this title. Here I mean to explain how music forms an important part of our life. I am still a believer of - "Manners maketh man". And not only man , a woman too. It's high time for us to consider that it holds good for unisex. Same applies to my title. So I take into account the entire "Homo Sapiens" community by this title ( Sorry :P That was one bit of a hortatory effort for me to feel that I've not forgotten my basic biological studies undertaken back then at school . Homo Sapiens = Humans). This post is an opinion that I would like to share, infact something from my heart and yeah you're right I missed that word- "bottom of my heart".

          So what is common thing that unites a flowing waterfall and a nightingale? No , this is not a horrendous comparison. Think , there's something linking both. For those who have guessed it right , yes it's MUSIC. You can ask me as to how flowing water can create music. I'm perfectly fine with proper senses. But still why do I collate two things that has "nature" as a common backbone and say that a third party called music unites them? That's because I feel MUSIC is not just that song created by musicians and the orchestra. According to me , it is not only produced by the musical instruments but by every possible source in nature, greatly impacting on mankind. MUSIC is something that soothes the heart. It is that something which makes a person vivacious.

          Okay, why take nature?. Consider yourself , your own body. The fist-sized living organ, the heart itself banks on music for your own survival. Even the world's best musicians cannot match the beat and the tune that this plump little organ creates. Mind you , you are existing only because this tiny music maker is happy creating the best music - "lubb-dubb". Ah! So you yourself are a musician. Well,no, magician. You make music that is intangible. Musically-magical isn't it?. The whole world of music starts with us. What a bliss!

         Music is a companion. The best companion in times of happiness, joy, grief, pride and what not. It surrenders to us by cleaving itself into different genres. Different types , different sources , different listeners but one word- MUSIC. Music has the power to lift up any situation. It is so much instilled within us , into our blood. Those cries that we made as little babies , those tiny attempts that we took to be a part of a choir, the calm sound of gushing waterfall/river , the divine feeling of temple bells( the jingling bells too :P) , the blissful sound of birds , the bizarre resonance of conch shell , the thunderous clouds , that song we tried singing to impress our special one , all are MUSIC. 

      Personally music makes my day , my life , my existence and my everything. So yeah the above justifications makes me say "Music Maketh Man". Happy for those who accept this along with me. :)

Confessions of a Pluviophile

        But why? Why do I suddenly call myself a pluviophile? Wait, it's not like I don't like rain. I find happiness when it rains . Yeah, it's peaceful. But why haven't I considered myself one previously and why now?. Well, for those who wondering what a pluviophile is - someone who finds joy and peace of mind when it rains. With these thoughts still running , I pen down as to why I call myself a pluviophile with gratulation.

       The month started  with the greatest burden of all time- THE EXAMS. This is the time for me to prove as an epitome of patience for this exam season can extract all that energy and power in us. While I was waiting to activate my chemistry formula
Fear+Anxiety+Aim ---> Concentration+Good Score  with a catalyst "less time to study", the sudden visitor of my city, the rain, started to pour. With dark clouds surrounding like a thick curtain, the rain accelerated at its full speed with so much determination to pour. Ah! My lazy brain that was supposedly trying to concentrate has got a reason now to stop functioning. "Fie..it's raining and why do you still hold the book? Nope,I can't provide concentration anymore!!", were the words it uttered to me.

       Anymore? That means was I already learning? But how come I was able to hold an open book , trying to activate my formula and still not learn a word? How was that possible? That's when I realized that despite my arduous efforts to study , my sluggish  brain tried to cheat me by feigning itself to provide concentration. Also one more thing. No concentration only for studying, but it was there for something else. Oh, I have to find that.

       Found. I was starring at a white wall. It was just plain and tinged. My concentration on this led to haphazard thoughts. I remembered how I fought with my mother to get me a white watch. But wait, watch was my idea of gifting my friend on her birthday. But she should be free on that day, otherwise the plan would flop. What? Oh yeah , Plan!. I have to create a group to inform all friends and discuss. But there's still a month for her birthday. A month , which means exams will get over. Yaay! But what did I plan after exams ? Movies?Oh yeah but we got to book tickets for that new release. I have to watch the upcoming movie  because the last movie of the same star cast was a flop and this film is being hyped too much. It has good music too. But I got to ask my friend for the timings and date of the show. Yes I have to discuss. I lay on my cushion filled bed, smiling at the white wall , thinking about all of these.Yes, someone who would watch me now would mistake me for an insane. But it was peaceful and nice. Just random thoughts/memories with a soothing rainy climate. Yes, it creates a bliss.  

        Oh God! I forgot something. The time. I starred at my timepiece with dismay.I wiped my eyes to see it again for I thought I saw a wrong time due to my lost senses. But the time was right. It was two hours past the time, when I attempted to learn. How can time run so fast? But I haven't crossed a page in learning. That's when I realized for a slugabed and lazy creature like me, the rains can create wonders by providing a cosy and pleasant feel , making you run into the dreamy world that provides happiness and peace of mind . So yeah , coming back to the point of sharing this - I realized that I'm a pluviophile. How many of you have realized it now ? :)
                    

HOPE- A window to the world of your dreams

The very word is vivacious.It has the power to instigate energy into our hearts. This is something a person should not lose even after having lost all of his possessions. This can melt any person's steel clad heart so that it can be moulded to the desired form. It can bring unprecedented success and a positive vibe into lives of many. For some it is a state of existence and for some others , it is a feeling; For few it is what that keeps life sustaining with full happiness and for few others it is something one should develop to keep oneself motivated towards the goals to be achieved. Well, what is been discussed ? What is that word having such innumerable effects. It is HOPE. Want to know what is hope ? Then go ahead and take a peek into different lives , different perspectives, different causes but all united together through HOPE.

He bid adieu to her as he had to return back to his army. She had a drop of tear at the corner of her eye as she waved at him. For she didn't know that this would be the last time she sees him. There after a week she stood weak and tired near his grave with their only child , who seems to be lost into the world of confusion as to what happened to his father. She sat with a delicate and ruined heart but with a courageous and daring mind. Her eyes showed faith and confidence that she had to bring up her son to her husband's position and gave strong promises to her husband's soul. This is HOPE.

He was weak and fragile, for time has taken away his age and strength. But he was brave at heart. He believed on something , something for which everyone mocked at him. But he had a feeling deep down in the heart that one day his belief would come true. He lived in an Old-age home near the shore and longed that some day his son who sent him to this place would take him back , back to his house. Well , this has been his thinking for the past 10 years, from the time he entered this place with grief. This is HOPE.                                                                                                                                 

Their eyes saw the rich kids acting fussy over the selection of the restaurant for their lunch. The rich kids wanted Continental and not Indian food for they were bored of eating the latter. Their eyes rolled back to the packets they had in their hands. Today they may be fed with the left-overs but some day these kids by the roadside knew that they too would be choosing over delicacies , probably when they grow up . So they started putting handfuls of what they had into their mouths. This is HOPE.

Yes they had gone on a tour. They couldn't take him along. There he stood lonely without anyone giving him attention. But all this didn't shake the trust and faith he had on his family. He quietly lolled around the door that shut him inside and calmly waited for his family to return back for he knew that when they return , he is going to have the life's best moments with them inspite of him being their good old dog. There he stood wagging his tail near the door glass. This is HOPE.      

They were the best buddies . They fought over silly matters , argued over stupid things and had fun by working  all day. They strolled around together. They discussed heavily over important matters and never compromised on trust . They knew that they would stay the same way , happy and cheerful, life-long. They knew there was no one to seperate them. This is HOPE.                                            

He spent his whole life travelling. He endured pain such that he could witness glory later on. He did all he could to finish his ordeal. It was tiring and sometimes even threatening. In front of his eyes stood the humongous barrier which scared him away from attaining his goal. But he closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Now he knew everything would be fine  and that he can continue his journey by climbing. This is HOPE.                                                                                                                   

     

                                                                                                                 

It was opened a week ago. Still there was no sign of success. She had great belief before she started this as this was something she was good at. It worried her. She invested so much of her money and time into this and now it stands still without any yield. But somehow she knew that the newly opened cafe would be filled with people of all age  groups , chatting all way and eating her delicacies. Just that it may take time. She was well prepared to face it. This is HOPE.                                                         

It was not his mistake. Infact he didn't even know the reason for this. He was deeply hurt when his parents were questioned about his state. Sometimes it went to an extent that he felt ashamed to face the world. But all these happened only till he realized that there was much more of him to be unleashed and that he was born to win over all hurdles and bring joy to his parents . He encouraged himself and started leading a normal life ,aiming at his goals. This is HOPE.                                 

                               

At last to the one which most of the youngsters could relate to. This happens when you gradually start realizing your responsibilities. You might have given your best but the results wouldn't have been appeasing. Many grumble and only some act wisely by waiting for the right time for they know great things happen only at right time. This is HOPE. I personally believe in this.                                       

                                

Well if the above mentioned perspectives were based on the actual HOPE , why not implement it in our lives ? Hope and feel the difference.                                                                                                

                                      

Life- Chemically Compounded !

Rewind. There were times when pages of formulas and equations which one cannot digest had to be mugged up without any mistake. The bonds that you create among your clan seems no matter for the only bonds that concerned these equations were the double and triple bonds. Well the reaction could be using salts,bases, acids or alkalies. These terms would slowly unleash that sack bag of chemical formulas which was buried deep down your brain few years back (Well I just meant for non- chemical students here). So yeah , this chemistry is surely tough than the cupid striking chemistry between couples. I can now read the question that stacks up in your mind. I know that it's "Why do you keep digging unwanted things right now?". But yeah , I am doing this for a reason , yes a valid one. A sudden thought struck me.What if Chemistry and Life are juxtaposed? What would be the result? Will they have similarities and if so , in what way? . Well , my solution to these interrogations is that both chemistry and life are interrelated. Oh no! Not in the love sense but yeah in a practical sense. And I very well know that anything stated should be justified. So here's my "Life - Chemically Compounded" formula.
          Let's start with simple compounds. So the first one to make an entry is the indispensable water. So this vital liquid is a combination of two hydrogen and one oxygen atoms to result in a compound. But what's the strategy with life? Let's take the first H to be Happiness and the second H to be Health. Let the O be Open-mindedness .We know that the major property of water is that it takes the form or the shape of any object into which it is poured say a bottle or an ice tray. It is so flexible and can exist in a way we want to. In the same way , if a person has happiness , health and open-mindedness , then he/she can remain free in life and can stay in any flexible way they want without having to worry about the future. Also that person can easily adapt to the form life takes and can easily deal with everyday problems in a much more smooth manner.
          Okay now let's take a  molecule for discussion - Oxygen.It has a simple structure with two oxygen atoms combined together. Now considering its relation with life's quotient - Let the two Os be Optimistic Outlook. We know that oxygen is important for the fact that the entire human respiratory system depends on its content for proper functioning. We inhale oxygen for a fit living. In the same way if Optimistic Outlook  concept is taken into people's minds then the resultant of any action will always be positive and full of success.
           The next compound in line is Common Salt- Sodium Chloride. It has two Sodium (Na+) and one chloride (Cl-) ions. So what's special about this salt? It's a known fact that the entire culinary efforts of everyday life would prove a failure without the addition of this compound. Let Na and Cl stand for Natural and Clever. The logic behind this is that when our ideas in life are natural , without being camouflaged and clever without having that tint of uncertainty , then our decisions are bound to achieve success and are sure to be correct in every sense.
           The next compound that is to be discussed is Hydrochloric acid (HCl). Let hydrogen H+ and chloride Cl- stand for High-spiritedness  and Clarity. We know that our human body secretes HCl within our digestive system and more the concentration of the acid , the better and faster the food particles get broken down. In the same way more the concentration of High-spiritedness and clarity that we have in our approaches , the smaller the problems of our life would break down and melt as a butter in a hot pan.
           The most toxic of all the compound is Carbon Monoxide(CO).  It has carbon and oxygen in such a proportion that it is considered to be allergic and pungent and said to cause cancerous growth. In life's concern , let's take the C and O  to be Careless Outcomes . This means that if we do not take proper measures to improve our actions in life , then the outcomes would be careless and in the same way would greatly affect the life in a long run. So just as the compound should be avoided in a chemical sense , the same must be done for life's concept too.
           The last compound to be mentioned is Glucose. It has six atoms of Carbon , twelve atoms of Hydrogen and again six atoms of Oxygen. So what's the story behind this compound. It's known to the world that it can give instant energy i.e it serves as a source of carbohydrates.Taking the C, H  and O  as  Commitment,  Hardwork and Opportunity we see that equal amounts of commitment and opportunity along with twice the amount of hardwork results in a massive positive energy so called victory in life. And yes, everything in life will start tasting sweet and sugary.
           These are just few compounds that relate to life with a different meaning for their atoms. So don't you now feel life has got its chemistry ? Well , the answer would be an yes from my side.

A Despicable Portray

With the controversies and news against the popular food product still ruling the grounds, we Indians are put to think about the future commercial market. We are totally discombobulated as we are exposed to the mistrust of products that we use in our day to day life. With our quotidian needs at stake and the various television commercials being important reasons for public to endorse and use products, we need to think whether all the ads shown are properly portrayed. Ironically, it’s a no. Well, there’s a justification for this say and many of us would already know the few ones cited below.

                        The general Indian television ads are targeted towards every age group depending on the nature of the product to be sold. Of late we have been seeing quite few ads that show a woman’s character very low, much to the surprise that many women themselves act in such ads. Be it the popular men brand deodorants that shows the lewdness and prurience of women (well, to my dismay every ad does that) or the famous soft drink that has a lead female celebrity endorsing it, which I really doubt whether it’s the brand that is being publicized for I don’t find the actions performed to be in correlation with promoting the mango drink. Aren't these simple brands that are essential for public need? Then why do they have to show it in such a manner that provokes controversy, and to be frank catalyze the illicit thoughts in people’s mind?.

                        Well the list doesn't end there. Next in line is to attract the middle-aged women who have unmarried young daughters. The mothers are so vexed and have a hard time because their daughters are not giving their consent for marriage. Then the famous ads came as handy solutions to these mothers. Just take your daughter to a jewelry showroom, and there comes the reply that she’s ready to get married. Well it’s so surprising that a flashy piece of stone can work wonders which even a mother’s words cannot.  And next to be credited is the ad for fairness cream by a popular brand, for both men and women. The minute a person uses it, there comes the self-confidence from nowhere to achieve anything in life - from saying a “no to marry a guy” to your father, to gaining stardom all within seconds. Well so do they mean dark people can’t achieve anything or they don’t have self-confidence? Probably these brands don’t know the achievers list.

                        We also didn't know that swapping a cellphone of your loved ones could make them understand each other’s importance. So does the count of calls in one’s phone decide one’s character? Well, it seems so. I guess spending time with your near ones proves a waste, for the ad shows the best way to exchange the phones. You can understand someone is busy by just talking to them, for he/she is someone whom you know very close. Evidence is not needed.

                        It’s been a latest fad now to rope in children into the ads so that mass crowd of all ages would be attracted for children are being portrayed. All the leading soap and toothpaste brands , suddenly have people in the name of “experts” wearing white coats ( The point made clear that every expert should wear a white coat whether or not he/she is really one ), showing that the product is 99.99% safe for children use(and adults too ). Well our branded products contain more fruity content than our real fruits that we consume, according to a survey. So are these products really safe? If not why is that every such ad should rope in an expert?. It becomes so stereotype with every ad following the same method. Well people, there are other creative ways of advertising products.

                        The most shocking advertisement, not intended for television, yet earned a lot of controversy is the one by the online shop for all types of sunglasses and lenses for men and women. It was during the Nepal earthquake that occurred of late, where when the entire country was in deep condolence, the company released an ad stating “Shake it off like this earthquake with flat **% discount …” on some product. It’s saddening to see that some brand is being popularized at the cost of people battling for their lives.

                        Even though there are the above mentioned ads having a despicable portray, there are many television commercials that are captured in a wonderful way to deliver a thought. Be it the “every friend is necessary” ad of the well-known network brand emphasizing the importance of friendship, the ads depicting the importance of sharing among kids, the P&G education initiatives, the woman empowerment showing a woman as a boss over her husband (well, it’s just one showing woman power) or the clothing brand ad that shows the will power of a single mother raising her kid, each of them have made a striking role in kindling the character and thoughts of each of us. It’s not only the above ones but many that are striving to popularize the brands as well as deliver a thought to public, well even if not a thought it doesn't portray anyone badly. So it’s high time we Indians stop completely believing in advertisements blindly and start thinking and reflecting about them for a better future.

The nosy affairs

This is quite a common tendency. And primarily for Indians it's more of an idiosyncrasy. This moots up among all age groups,without any tint of partiality and in all places that attracts people in groups for those chit-chats. This can lighten a situation by being jest-filled or even provoke a war like environment. So what's this "this"? It's the petite nosy attitude that most of us have , making us interested in others more than ourselves. So what's wrong in this ? Is it something like a no!no! to keep updated about others affairs (here I mean their activities :P) or enquire about what others are upto so that you could be the topper of "Who's who" list and what's currently trending among your clan ?. Well , it is not so until you maintain the so called limits with which you can approach a person. This is what I want to discuss in this article.
                                                 To understand what exactly this nosy attitude means, I would like to cast few examples that explains itself.  Firstly let's consider the dramatic scenario at home on the day of our 10th standard or 12th standard board examination results. There the bike starts and gears up with full speed whether or not in reality but at least in our stomachs as we check the results ,with our parents' eyes glued to the monitor (yeah almost all of us check our results online :P) that looks brighter than what we think is our future and with the grandparents sitting at a stone's throw from us chanting all those lines from scriptures to make the God shower blessings disguised as marks. Then this volcano stays dormant until you check your marks but erupts the same day when the so called relatives whom I bet you guessed didn't exist make their calls ,and sadly in most cases visit your home. Then comes the uncle's mother-in-law's sister's daughter's son's stories , where the alienated relatives with their honed skills starts comparing the marks , asking you your marks just as the criminals get questioned by an officer. There,you stand in the court scenario with the "Whatever I say is the truth....blah blah..." verse running in the background. The nosy affair starts here. So what's the problem of those people who didn't know that you existed ,during hardships but come straightway to enquire marks when declared ? Don't you think this nosy habit  balks at the personal space of people?. Ironically , it does.
                                                It just doesn't end there but travel to places as we commute. Why not marriages and get together functions? They prove places of gossips and untold stories about people. There this curious behavior creeps in like a hole through the tight wall.How many of us questioned by those so called aunties and uncles , just because they have right to ask silly questions due to their age?. For most of the times , it's not the care for us which makes them ask such questions ( at least we would be happy if it's that ) ,but it's that attitude that's ready to put us down by saying boastful stories of their wards and grandchildren the moment we finish. You are at blame if you are not engaged (for the one's in late 20's) , or you are at blame if you are not one among those millions who land up in the so called creamy IT jobs (for them any other domain is waste of time and money. At least for most) or the last question that turns up would be about the salary. The most irritating fact is when all these questions have to be answered as a quench for their curiosity and not as a matter of care or responsibility in guiding us. This indeed is a very nosy affair.
                                          Why put the entire blame on the elders ? Often , we youngsters end up poking our nose and piquing into people's affairs beyond our limits. Gossips do arise , but that's not the thing at blame. Kidding and gossiping go hand in hand in friendship. But what matters most is the amount of  healthy personal space that each of us maintain and the way each one should act without intruding into this. The most important fact is that your concern for others and the curious nature to know about their being and happenings should not hurt or irritate them . For this nosy attitude not only lowers your image but also leads to troubled circumstances that goes beyond control.
                           
So can we start reducing this nosy habit of ours and instead  show real concern and care for the people around us ?. Well, it's high time we should.
                       

Of those oxymorons in our lives

Well, they are so feigned. They are those few of the usual words uttered by us in our everyday conversation .Yet we don't really seem to notice them for they tide along the flow of talk. Yeah, so the "they" that is mentioned here are the Oxymorons. I'm glad for those who already know what it means. (Oxymoron , as the name may seem new, is an old concept belonging to figures of speech. For those of you who have memories of spending your high school days with  red-tinged Wren&Martin book, this term is no new.). In simple terms , ever tried juxtaposing words for fun? Well , if not no worries, for oxymorons do the needed by consisting words juxtaposed for contrast. They are paired words with contrast meanings. Interestingly, the word "Oxymoron" itself is an example for it meaning the words "sharp" and "dull", two unusually paired words of opposite meanings. This article is not a discussion of any point in particular , but just a tale to open up the concept of oxymorons and how funnily we end up using it in our normal conversations, in most cases without knowing.

And this is no special term because there are other figures of speech like simile and metaphor. This post is just out of my liking for "oxymorons".

So here are those oxymorons and the random examples ( You may have some other instances too). The bold words are the oxymorons.

                                      There are times of test in your life. They drive you crazy for you may not know how to go about and how to deal with. Neither their source nor their results may be known. Haven't you been absolutely unsure to take decisions ? Well you might have surely had. And then you say " Omg. Just don't know what this is up to! I'm absolutely unsure what move to make next".
                                      Then time may pass, you may land up in what the Engineering students call it as "the biggest problem" , the semester exams, that intrudes a happy life once in 3 months ( well , just don't believe the six month story , for its never been so ). The count down starts , one month to exams , 20 days ,3 days and finally the night before the exams. And then that friend of yours , who acts savior by telling you important questions to learn calls. You say, " Chancey illa! (No chance ) The only choice  is to leave this answer and go for there is no time". (Did you know that you were using an oxymoron? :P)
                                    And there, after the exams , you'll face another semester where the first day , fate tricks you by giving a lab period in the timetable. And there you go to the lab , without knowing what it concerns , and on the very first day of the sem (*facepalm). Also you being the unluckiest are put into a batch that goes to toughest lab class and the other batch manage to go to a lab with a.c's and fun loving teacher ( Engineering students would know what this means :D). After this class ,you come out , and the other batch students wait like monkeys seeing bananas coming, waiting to know how the session was, and you say " The sir /ma'am clearly confused . I don't understand the format for the record!Attending or not attending the class makes the same difference".
                                   And then , remember those fast paced evenings before the submission of records? We all end up going to the xerox shop and make the guy who runs the shop to run out of ink itself ,  by taking all our last-minute printouts. Half of the time we use our friend's completed record for our supreme xerox, for why waste our time formatting the stuff? :D. Then we say to the shop guy , "Anna (brother) this is original copy . Can you take xerox of it?".
                                    Those jobless times in class. We end up blathering and jabbering gossips. When gossips turn up , the gaucheness of yours come along and you comment about someone near you such that is turns into a loud whisper. There you are, deadlocked when that person hears you. Your non stop conversation would end in deafening silence.
                                    Have you tried to act naturally in certain circumstances instead of falsely pleasing others? Or  even when your patience ( or cool ) was found missing , were you  awfully good to that person at stake? . Have you asked for exact estimate while heading any event in college ?You would have at least once, and unknowingly you would have used the words.

                                 Ever known how contrasting words could hodgepodge into a sane and meaningful context?. Well you would at least now if you hadn't known so long.