WHERE THE MIND IS WITHOUT FEAR !

(Painting By Takshila Vidushi)

"Where the mind is without fear & the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world hasn't been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection !

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake."

By Guru RabindraNath Tagore

(Ever since childhood this poem of RabindraNath Tagore has been synonmous to supreme level of perfection for me.Its incredible to believe even 100 years after he penned down his awesome vision for India in his book Gitanjali which fetched him Nobel Prize,it is still a utopian dream to realize...may be because it is way too ambitious for common people like us to realize it or may be any attempt to realize this dream would actually push one to come out of his/her interia of letting the things go on the way they our going on.......:) or may be one is accustomed to quoting his words every now & then & that's all.However 100 years later i have made an attempt to attenuate the scope of his dream so that it becomes realistic for us to achieve & here it is:)

"Where the water is free from microbes ! 

& air is dustfree!

Where eyes could treasure green pastures

As far as they can see

Where eatables aren’t adulterated

& duplicate medicines aren’t sold

Where traffic is regulated

& Highway means "smooth roads"

Where cities aren’t overcrowded

& Universal distribution of resources is ensured

Where “quality education” replaces “reservation”

& impoverished aren’t ignored

O God ! Bless my country with intellectual mothers

As with their intellect, a strong foundation will be made

& When their wisdom will flow in my countrymen’s veins !

Everyday in heaven ,my country will awake "

By Takshila Vidushi

The BattleGround

Last Sunday while zapping the channels of my idiot box I chanced upon to watch one of the greatest epic of our times –MAHABHARAT. It did’nt take me much time to recall the waves that it created across the nation- when it was telecasted for the first time.I was too young to comprehend it,yet I used to watch it with paramount interest,sitting next to dad & imitating his stimuli to what character speaks

Later in my teens ,unlike most of my friends who used to enjoy watching top tens & horror shows , I was inundated to discover that zee was going to re telecast Mahabharat .This time, I was grown up enough to understand it,so I religiously watched all the episodes with same interest.

Watching such an epic in formative years has great influence on one’s approach towards life .Today to me ,Mahabharat isn’t just another epic but it is a thinking process, where the mind is the battleground, THE KURUSHETRA ,where all kind of thoughts hover, the state of mind that we aquire as a stimuli to the problems/situations that life brings for us ,defines what kind of warrior we are.

If one aquire an attitude that is an outcome of unjustified, uncompromising ego, then he aquires a state of mind called –“DURYODHANA”. Being blind to the mistakes of one’s loved ones because of the unquestionable love that he has for them ,opens the doors of destruction for them. This is state of mind is -“DHRTRASTHRA”. Pride even of being

right,makes one fall flat on his face, this state mind is represented by –“DRUAPADI”.On the other hand, howsoever tough situation life is in ,if one do not loose his patience & perseverance , he aquires a state of mind called –“KARANA”. Just do one’s duty & do not question destiny is represented by state of mind called,”EKLAVYA”. If one doesn’t kill his conscience to make things easier for himself- then he is in state of mind is par -“YUDHISTRA”. If one is able to focus into his action so much that nothing else exists in the world other than his action ,then he reaches the state of mind called –“ARJUNA”.Being fearless enough to stand for right & to speak the truth, no matter if it goes in favour or against the listener, is a state of mind represented by “VIDHUR”.I do not how to define his persona as a state of mind but yes if one has to find apostle of determination then search ends on one name “BHISHMA”.

Above all, when one is able to experience oneself beyond his visible form ,as an ever

existing, indestructible, live energy channelized into totality of work ,he elevates himself to be part of SHRIHARI. 

There are end less such state of minds to observe & introspect upon.Each character in this epic has something great to convey & we as human being live all of them ,in different situations & at different points of time. At times I wonder why do we call this epics mythological when at the end of the day ,if we introspect our actions impartially, we can find that we lived one these character everyday.

Dance India Dance !

As the fourth phase of elections is approaching in our part of the country & we all are geared up to celebrate yet another national holiday giving up the lame excuses such as ,”Despite the scorching heat, I would have definitely gone out to vote ,had there been an option “NONE OF THESE” & no wonder we would have one option winning by thumping majority …lol none other than “NONE OF THESE ”.

The battle is between that party in which everyone wants to be prime minister & the one where either a Gandhi or again everyone is equally capable. The leadership crisis that BJP is facing isn’t something new to us ,even congress faced the same problem a couple of years back. So we end up with a problem either a Gandhi or everyone wants to be prime minister. At the midst of this, we the youth - silently convey to nation ,”Dance India !, dance to the tunes of these hopeless politicians because the youth in anycase isn’t going to do anything about it”

At times I wonder! how at all these leaders so easily aspire to be prime minister ,a job where you are answerable to whopping 1 billion people… & then comes a candid reply from inner self .”They can, as the educated youth sees no opportunity of legally making money in it & if you are not making money, what’s the point in taking so many unnecessary botherations”. Desh ko bhagat singh chahiye par mere ghar se na ho!

Very justified thought, People aren’t born in Nehru Gandhi families where their survival isn’t at question, If survival is at question then it is but obvious that they will address those needs first.

If these needs stops common intelligent & capable people from entering politics then isn’t the right time has arrived where we need to review the system. In any case ,we should review our system of governance once in twenty years so that the unforeseen flaws which emerged as a consequence of our inability to visualize them, could be unbiasedly done away with as soon as possible & we could make the system more accurate & efficient so that it doesn’t have to pay the price at later stage.

One way to do it is

1. To change the salary structure of our political leaders & introducing accountability on yearly basis. At the beginning of year, responsibility will be clearly stated & funds will be immediately allocated. If the politician with his team manages to achieve the target stated, he/she will not only continue his term but will walk away with handsome bonus which could be in crores & else based on their performance. If they aren’t able to achieve the targets in second year in row, the responsibility can be assigned to next winner or may be based on competence.

2. Any one is eligible to contest election but he/she needs to put in words which plans they are going to execute & how they are going to execute in order to ensure that they will actually meet the targets. For instance,if a politician comes up with a promise—No power cuts ….then he must actually & factually explain ..how he is going to resolve it? Will he order immediate checking of electricity meters to identify thefts or he/she will penalize the corporate offices/people who waste it on day to day basis or will he invest money to capitalize on solar energy. People who talk religion on the name of politics should not be allowed to even contest as that is a non issue & will take the country from here to nowhere. Similiarly, people who deliberately keep common people illiterate inorder to ensure that these people stay ignorant & they can shamelessly ask for vote from such people one election after another on generations old slogan “GARIBI HATAO”…should be asked how much more time…isn’t sixty years enough time

I thought allot while penning down these words…If I should publish them or not .I am one amongst all of us who wishes to see the change in the system but doesn’t know how to introduce it….so I thought of initiating the change by letting ideas flow from one mind to another…I welcome your ideas & opinions…so that we could at least define the change that we wish to see & be that change that we long to experience & finally ..we could confidently promote our option from NONE OF THESE to ONE OF THESE.

December Days

Breaking the ice of day

East brings the novel ray
The foggy quilt descends
For December Day has begun

Tranquil zephyr is now icy breeze
Celestial nature is about to freeze
Oh ! The King of light has arrived..
Dusky sky has turned white..!

Warmth of the quilt is sweeter than ever
The bed tea has never tasted better !
It’s the time when one enjoy’s to sleep
December mornings are a real treat

Oh ! the king of Light has traveled half way!
But its nail biting cold ! in a somber day
The mist has wreathed the hill far away
Snowfall has started , flakes are on the way

Frosty bodies with running nose

All are in hurry to reach their homes!
Evening hours are exceptionally cold
Put’s one in tension ! What night ahead holds

Snow has started settling down
Earth is wearing snowwhite gown!
Another day has come to an end
With promise of holding white morning ahead!

In winter life moves at snail’s pace
But gives us time to enjoy
Life’s real taste!

Takshila Vidushi

Morning Prayer !

Let me begin my morningWith a smile on my face:)
& let it spread across the miles
so that the world become smiling face


Let me thank the sun
For the golden rays he has given 
& let me thank the Atman !
For he made me a good human

Let me thank flowers 

& Let me enjoy their fragrance!

Let me thank the entire creation 

For giving me life's experience

Let me learn the art of thanking

For it generates a nice feeling

It seems I have discovered true happiness  & the true art of living

Let me become the center
of happiness   
 & I should exude so much +ive energy
that it should be enough to purify the world & take away all human miseries

I am pure ,not perfect

& in search of excellence
the one truth discovered so far is
only pure hearts can experience happiness,

So let me thank myself ,
for the wonderful person I am !
for I was a part of source 
& I am the destinaton itself.                                                            Takshila Vidushi