In spite of us

Quite a while back I wrote a post on how we substantiate our existance in the name of others. Children substantiating their lives in the name of their parents, adults substatiating theirs in the name of their spouse and children.

We always have this thought that people depend on us and we have to live up for their comfort etc., in a way. But how often do you entertain the thought that they are going to be, "despite" us.

Imagine you cease to exist shortly. Every one of these dependents would continue to live one way or another, despite our absense. It is the very nature of existance - things exist despite others and not bound to the existance of others.

The only problem with this thought is it leaves people feeling of no importance, without attention and leaving their ego empty. Too much for the public I guess. Everyone wants to be a pillar and that they in as the purpose of their life.

On a related note, remember how we question the appropriateness of someone taking sanyAs, as we call it - "leaving their family behind". Lets put aside our instinctive counter arguments for a moment. It is all a matter of how we have been conditioned by society to look at this.

Try thinking beyong and perhaps you'll understand that everyone IS "Despite" you.

Following in AWE

No it wasn't some lovely girl or something such :). It was just a blind man walking steadfast with his walking stick. All I felt was awe and zilch pity.

It was just amazing watching him navigate his way sensing the world with the end of a stick. He stood right at the pedestrian crossing waiting for the pedestrian signal and beeps to go.

I couldn't differentiate the beep between the direction I was to take and the perpendicular one. But he did :). We could say I never had to or haven't trained myself to do it. Bit still it was an awe moment.

He crossed the road at the signal and so flawlessly handled the curb. He was steadfast and in fact was walking quicker than I. Okie! he was tall and had a longer stride (and thats to satisfy my ego)!

After our ways split I wondered how I've taken my vision for granted and have never felt a pint of gratitude for it. And it reminded me of this anecdote -

A blind man went to a doctor who promised to restore his eyesight. The doctor explained it all and said - "Once you get your vision you wouldn't need you walking stick anymore. You can throw that away :).". The blind man got a little scared and asked - "I understand that I will be able to see, but how will I walk if I don't have my walking stick?"

Reminds me of how institutionalized we get to become as we "grow up".

The Madras Quartet is Back!!!

After so many years of waiting (practically thavamAi thavamirundhu) for his next album the exuberance is finally here :). So fills my heart with bliss! If you are a fan of their first album - 'Resonance', you wouldn't wanna miss this.

rAgA saga is here folks! V S Narasimhan Sir and the Madras Quartet are Back!!!

Visit http://www.stringtemple.com for more information and to listen to music clips. Or search for V S Narasimhan in youtube and you'll find quite a treat incl. sneak peak into this album. More updates later.

My favourite for now is the Lalgudi G.Jayaraman's thillAnA set to dEsh. Brilliant rendition with a western touch! Love it.

After marriage

Swamy gave his friend Sarathy a puppy as a wedding gift.

Three months later they meet each other on the street.

Swamy: "How is married life?"

Sarathy: "Oh just a few small changes over time, that's all"

Swamy: "What changes?"

Sarathy: "In the beginning, your puppy used to bark at me, and my wife used to bring me the newspaper. Now, my wife barks at me, and your puppy brings me the newspaper!"

Disclaimer: All characters in this story are purely fictitious. Resemblance of the names to anyone is purely unintentional.

The scare of a marriage reception

Off late a good number of people I've known have got married and I've had a chance to be at the reception or look at those photos. And there is more coming in the months (gawd save me)! One thing that I see time and time again is the bride being atrociously gaudy in an attempt to look great.

I just don't get it. Most of these women look horrendous wearing eye-lashes, lip-stick, glitter and what not! They look much better being their normal self. And for many it is a first time too and they try it all. I know they have pressures from people to do it all but when they have all the sense to take all the trouble to make sure of a good partner they just give up on this even though they have a bitch of a look?

Perhaps they think the one night farce is not worth an effort :). Anyway, who am I to say what people should / should not do.

On the bright side, I met a bride who took the onus of the entire expense of her marriage from her parents. Every single penny of it :). I am so used to seeing brides and grooms eating on their parents hard earned life savings into their marriages. Huge sums spent into attire which they wouldn't wear in their lives but on that day. When the D-day arrives everyone seems to give in to the temptation. Perhaps I will too.

It was a pleasant surprise to see someone taking on the onus of that. Thats the hard way to know what your wishes, fantasies and moments of a lifetime cost. Wonder if I he what it takes to do it, when the time comes! Do you?

Justifying our existence

So many things in our lives seem like a way to justify our existence. It starts right from birth. But here are a few things that come up in the phase of life I am in.

Family - Parents justify their existence for their children. Children when they grow up justify their existence fir their parents. Its a catch 22-situation you see. A great way nature has come up with ensuring the survival of the human species. And then of course marriage. Since children outlive parents it is another way to justify our existence.

I am seeing more and more that society has conditioned our minds to justify our existence for others, and it is the same with other. Interestingly if not for this mutual thing I wonder how many of us would have a urge to exist. Reminds me of how old people just cease to exist when they reach a point when they no longer see a purpose for our existence.

Most part of people's life if you'd notice is only justified by those around them. Very little of it is lived for the individual.

Agent Smith was right indeed ;). Not to be idealistic but perhaps we should live more for thyself just for those around us. Now I get this thought that these "enlightened gurus", saadhus, saints and kind live more for themselves than we do.

Siva Manasula Sakthi ... Bleady Fantastic

This is by far one of the most fantastic movies that I have seen. Off-late I am seeing a trend of some good movies in Tamil. This one definitely tops my list. It had all the elements of a movie in good proportion. I am seriously out of words. The movie was full of surprises. Sorta comparable to kungfu-panda :D. It was great drama in all. I'd love to own my own copy of it ;). You heard me!

The best part was that it reminded me of instances from my life. Dialogues that are considered taboo but those I've listened to in real. Word to word! There were so many things I could associate with my life. Petty things scattered across the movie that so reflected things from my life. Perhaps that explains my liking for it.

Apart from the main story line, the simple backdrop captivated me. Amongst movies which all portray the unreal since most people don't want to see what they experience for in real this movie really stands testament to how much can be said with the simplicity of our day to day lives. Brilliant piece of work!