Chat Saga

Standing in front of a window
Looking out from top, far below
The cars fast driving up and down
As if with wings they would have flown

Across and over the horizon, the view in contrast
Was a calm sea, waves doing a role type cast
Caught their, between the flurry and deep blue sea
She felt lonely as she sipped her black tea


There had been a new jump in her every step
her heart sang and her soul felt a new pep
It would be so short lived, she never thought that day
As it felt like a new sense of thrill everyday

When the clock would strike ten
There she would be in her den
And they would chat hour after hour
with the same fun and fervour

It seemed he too waited for her
Would be there to welcome her
They talked and talked feeling so free
She laughed her heart out with glee.

But little did she realise then
It was indeed a dream she was in
But though it was so shortlived
She was happy, she believed

It was after all a chance occurance, destiny
That brought them together, said a tiny
voice inside her, wish he was more a friend
Thrills are but shortlived, friends live till the end
Friends in need and in deed, love and live till the end !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Muhammad Yunus- Grameen

Last time I went to landmark hubby picked up this book on the grameen bank for me to read because he knew i always wanted to do something in this life which would help the less fortunate. The autobiographical work by the Nobel Peace Prize 2006 Muhammud Yunus, it describes how the now world famous NGO bank came about which has been replicated in more than 60 developing countries.


The book was very insightful and an eye opener for me as to how the basic human behaviour and its motivation is the key to successfully running and actually helping these people. The ancedote Yunus states about a woman who worked all day to make 50 paise for feeding her kids during the aftermath of drought that hit Bangla Desh in the 1970s is so touching. I am sure many of us see so many such things around us all day- bus stands, railway stations, and even in traffic signals but such new innovatives ideas are not born.....because we are more interested in getting rid of the dirty people who are touching the cars and wind shields than think as to what has brought upon this situation.

The most unbelievable part is how when they actually collected data on how much money was needed by these people to corner more of the profit from their work which was taken away by the middlemen, worked out to as little as Rs 55 to make the 50-60 odd villagers self sustaining. Since the starting point in their lives was zero, nobody including the govt banks didnt give them loans. The basic premise of all economic theories start with the assumption that there is a certain level of endowment which individuals are born with and bartering this gives rise to trade and welfare maximisation. But here are people in developing world where the life starts at zero or negative endowments if there is a inherited loan, making all the so called economic theories worthless in a jiffy.

But then how many of us question it? We think of blaming someone or the other and if no one else then destiny. But then what are governments and societies for?

The best part of the book was the lesson it gives us on how this lowest rung of the society is bestowed with huge self respect, dignity of labour and above all integrity. This lady who didnt have money to purchase raw materials for making basket and selling when given a loan to do it makes a life out of it and makes the persons and people who had faith in her proud and more importantly profitable.

CIRCUS

Christmas holidays is that time of the year when we never actually go out on a holiday. since it is nice weather in chennai itself while the rest of the northern hemisphere is in a grip of cold and in particular Northen India too. So this year too we stayed put in Chennai. But now my son who is growing up fast needed to do something more than just hang out at home.

So I decided to take him to a Bombay Circus which was showing in town. I had as a kid been to one every year and particularly loved the trapriez....actually i was in awe of the people who could do the swinging and moving with such ease and precision. And of course all those animals....which one never gets to see otherwise like lion, tiger , bear elephants and many of those uncommon animals.

The circus was such a let down....first of all only one elephant and 3 camels walked in and out and secondly some supposedly russians were part of the team making the Indian artists seem less of showpersons. I was so reminded of SRK serial Circus ....how truely it depicted the death of this form of entertainment. I know things change..old things give way to new ones ..but what one used to do every summer holidays during growing up years...is something we are bound to miss. And somehow would have loved my son to see and enjoy all those animals and many tricks and acts on the in circus.

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Another year gone by ....and for the better or worse the life has moved on. New friends and new relationships....new heartbreaks, new stories, new perspectives, new movements, new shops, new highs, and new lows too....well that is life isnt it?

And the hope that we live with ...day after day ...that the bright shining sun might bring a sudden change ...metamorphosis in us sometimes; and sometimes in others and most times in the the situations confronting us. How do we humans live hoping for miracles to happen always is something amazing. And in our enthusiasm for absolute miracles to transform our lives..we forget to even notice the small wonderful and significant miracles happening in our midst. A child born and growing up ..for instance is the most fabulous experience and miracle in itself. Do i sound crazy?

Perhaps i am... because i seem to be the one who thinks life as it is ....is a wonderful experience. And many a times feel like an almost invincible warrier in this battlefield of life. Sometimes my attitude gets to people around and think i am absolutely a strong willed person...others think i am stubborn.....whatever i am....i have just learned to live and live it on my terms and making or atleast trying to make the people around me....the near and dear ones happy while letting them live it on their terms too. Of course all of us know and i am sure sympathise with me when i say...success in measuring happiness generated by one person for the sake of others is a different yardstick....but i do try.

So when i was wondering what resolutions to make this year....i thought why not just live life and at the end of this year feel i have had the most happiest year....yeah...that is precisely my effort this year. Be happy and live happy...lolllllllllllll