Vivek Express

29th May.2011- One of those days/moments that will stay with me forever.

On this day,I experienced and felt the magic and aura of Swami Vivekananda- a Visionary and a Modern Prophet.

On the occassion of Swami Vivekananda's 150th Birth Anniversary, The Indian Railways organised an unique exhibition. An exhibition on a train.

It was a special train with two air-conditioned coaches exhibiting interesting titbits,details, pictures and write-ups on the life and message of Swami ji.It was what we can call a "Mobile Museum". The train was flagged-off on 12 January, 2011  from the Howrah Station and travelled the length and breadth of India. Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, Chennai,Kancheepuram, Katpadi, Puducherry,Madurai, Dharmapuri are some of the places where the train halted for a few days so that people can come, see and get to know one of India's true gifts to this world.

The train was stationed on the platform # 10 at the Secunderabad station on 28th, 29th and 30th May 2011. When I reached there alone, I saw that there was quite a big queue of people patiently waiting for their turn. I was happy that something like this was met with a good response. The entry was free too.There was even a book stall arranged selling all stuff about Swami ji.  

When  I finally got my turn to enter the train, it was like "Wow". There was so much on the interior of the bogies. Am not talking about the number of posters or pictures. What I mean was how much each of those posters & pictures contained in them. They had stories. They had feelings. They had the entire journey of Swami Vivekananda's life. I felt as if I got transported to those times. Literally. And then at the end of it all placed on a board, was Swami ji's signature. I had goosebumps when I saw that. I kept looking at it for quite some time. 

 And then I walked out. Stood outside the bogies for some time. Ah, that feeling. I wanted it to seep inside me. And it did.

I wish people realise how precious life and love is. There is no greater good than living a life loving others and serving others. The train was rightly called "Vivek Express". I wish each one who visited the exhibition felt his/her "Vivek" arise in them. It's about time people awoke !!

Thanks Enn !!

I will miss you, Jagjit ji !! I love You..

 Oct 10 2011. Jagjit Singh is no more.At the age of 70, the master breathed his last, succumbing to brain haemorrhage. To the entire music world, his loss will be irrepairable.His void will be impossible to fill in. Not only because of his sheer genius at singing soul stirring ghazals, but also because he himself was a wonderful person. His voice was unlike any, and yet it had the connect to each and every heart; his songs came from the heart and that is why it left the audiences in a trance-like state for years.

The legacy that he leaves behind is immense. Ghazal was, and still is, always thought of as something very niche. It is Jagjitji who cut across all segments and reached the heart of millions.

For me, he was who I called as "The Guru". And the news of his demise was a shocker. I am filled with grief. A part of me will never be the same. I have lived on his songs since I was in my 9th std. Me, being a person for whom love & relationships is all important, Jagjit ji & his songs became the perfect company.

I don't know what it is about the songs that he has sung.but on hearing his songs, I feel that I am the one who is singing those lines. He connects to my heart, And how !!

For me, he is not dead. People like him don't die. They always live. And I will keep listening to his songs as long as I am alive. Because Jagjitji for me is a part of my own very soul.

Here I am writing this down, while listening to his songs on my playlist. I guess, this is the least that I can do for My Guru, on this day, as a tribute. He will live on in the hearts of his well-wishers & his fans. And he will live on in my heart. Always.

Some of the evergreen and heartouching songs that I would like to mention are:

- All songs from the albums- Silsilay, Marasim
- Koi Fariyaad from the movie Tum Bin
- hazaron Khawaishey aisi..
- Mujhse bichad ke khush rahte ho..
..and many more
..infact all of them

I love you Jagjit ji, and I am going to miss you lots. Another person whom I loved so much has left me. Ah !!

** Image: Jagjit Singh with wife, Chitra.
**Pic sourced from the web and is not meant for any commercial use. Copyright violations are unintentional

Be Human..

Well, I am writing once again after almost 1600 days of abstinence, but yes, it kind of feels surreal. I have been staring at the screen for the last 2 hrs, not knowing what to write; or more importantly if I will really be able to write again.

Flashback:I am always someone who gives money or any other help that strangers, poor people, beggars everywhere ask me for. Knowing fully that I myself have hardly any left with me in my pockets. Many people dont. And they must have their own reasons for not doing so. I do this because I feel the little money I have is going to help me less than the other person in need, for whom every penny is like Gold. The thing is, a lot of them have started taking advantage of this and readily beg for money from anyone and everyone. And thus, the growing distrust and reluctance on the part of many who ignore such people on meeting them. But I was unaffected. Or so I thought until this happened.

I was having a cup of tea on a road-side stall and this shaaby looking man comes along and asks for Rs.10 to make a phone call. Somehow, that day I didnt feel like trusting that man and helping him. Maybe because of so many fakes doing the rounds everywhere. After being continously irritated by that man, I decided to give him the money and said, "You better use the money to make the phone call ". I knew that he wont.  

But that man really did hurry up to the nearby booth, made a call, and came back to me. I could see that he was really thankful. He hugged me and said,"You are God to me !!"

I did'nt know how to react. I was shocked. Embarassed. Guilty of not trusting him. Ashamed that he thought I was God. I was saddened at how things have become. That helping others, and being compassionate has become such a rarity that when one does help,he is like God. I was being human, that's all. Our souls is what makes us humans, not our physical selves. And we can truly call ourselves humans if and when, we listen to our souls, feel it, and act towards its real purpose.

Reality:

I am no God. I am just trying to be a human.
Being Human is not what you are, being human is what you do !!