Walking The Road less Travelled...

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay In leaves
no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference ...


...Robert Frost

Letter to Bapu from Generation Next

You left us 62 years ago. If you were still around, you would have been 140 years old. However, we have not forgotten you. You are on every banknote and most stamps. There are many statues of you. Prestigious roads in almost every city are named after you. Our politicians try to model themselves on you. They wear the fabric you promoted, they quote you at every instance, they've got a photograph of you in their office and some even eat and live like you. There are books, TV programmes and movies about you. Seriously, you'd be impressed at how much we still adore you.

However, there are things that won't make you feel proud. The India you spent all your life making free, is far from free. True, the white guys are gone. But there are still millions of poor people. In 60 years, we are still among the poorest nations on earth. This lack of money leads to a lot of problems in healthcare, infrastructure and education. In education, for instance, many children still don't go to a good school. Those who do, don't get into good colleges. And those who go to college, don't get good jobs. We need to get rich, and fast. Not only to make more schools and colleges, but also because most Indian problems are linked to lack of money. Yet, it is considered un-Indian to think that way. The young generation, which thinks like that, is considered materialistic and greedy. The older generation takes the moral high ground - slowness in work is termed patience, non-stop discussion and no action is called careful consideration and lack of improvement in standards of living is countered with claims about the need to live with austerity. And yes, in many cases politicians who speak like this claim to be your fanboys.

The younger generation wishes you could come down for one day and clarify these points. Is progress un-Indian? Is change bad? Is a desire to see my country as rich as some other nations materialistic? Is getting things done fast impatience? If you blessed our purpose of making a developed India, the job would become so much easier.

The young generation needs you down here for something else too. We have a new battle here, just like the one you fought with the British. The enemy is not so clear like it was in your case - the white people. Our enemy is the old school of thought, or rather the people who defend the old school of thought. They do this in the name of antique Indian policies, culture and values. You could help identify this enemy more clearly. Many people who are at the helm of affairs now have served India for decades, maybe with good intentions. But obviously, they don't want to accept they screwed up. We wish they would though and we'd have a national day of shame. It won't be easy, but from there we can make a new beginning. But they won't, for they are in power. And to defend themselves and their ways, they don't mind crushing the aspirations, ideas and talent of an entire generation.

Yes, there is a lot of talk of India being a young nation and youth power. However, youth power is the biggest myth going around India right now. Of course, youth has spending power - we can buy enough SIM cards, sneakers and fizzy drinks to keep many MNCs in business. But we do not have the power to change things. Can the youth get a new college opened? Can the youth ask the government to give tax incentives to MNCs to relocate jobs to smaller towns? No way. We are wooed, used but seldom heard. If you came down, you could unite us. You used religious festivals as social events and propagated your cause. You understood that people need entertainment to bind them. Perhaps, we could integrate colleges in the same way, link all colleges - maybe for their annual festivals - and the message of change could be channelled through them. We have amazing technology such as the Internet now.

You would use it so well. If the youth unites, there could actually be youth power.

With our purpose blessed, enemy identified and youth united - we could take the first steps towards the new Indian revolution. After all, China had one, and only after that, did they get on the path of true progress.

But if it is not feasible for you to come back, we'll have to try to bring about change ourselves. If we can be inspired to do that, we can say we have not forgotten you and understand the meaning of your birthday. We hope you had a good one up there!

Lots of love,
the younger generation
(also known as Youngistan, Gen X, Gen Next and Gen Y depending on the brand you're talking about)

The writer is a bestselling author

Things to do before i die....

Whether single events or processes that take weeks, months, or years, these experiences remind us that the world remains a magical place.

Don't know from where the idea of writing such a silly list appear in my mind, may be the reason for putting valuable effort in this silly list is that, I have still not been able to understand the purpose of my existence, or what I want to do with my life. But there is one thing that I have realized & that is that I have still not done enough with my life.

So, I decided to put down a list of things I want to do before I die. This is not a complete list & ll go on updating on & on & on....

So, lets see, what I want -

1.Throw a huge party and invite every one of your friends.

2.Set foot on each of the seven continents( at least 6).

3.Visit Egypt.

4.Travel the whole of India by train.

5. Fall deeply in love....unconditionally.

6. Meet the founders of Google.

7.Work for fortune 500 company.

8.Visit at least 50 countries.

9.Founder of a multinational organization.

10.Have a pic with each of my friends.

11. Touch the formula 1 racing Ferrari.

12. Spend a night at the Sea shore.

13.Learn any foreign language.

14.Participate in carnival parade in Brazil.

15. Visit the Rashtrapati Bhawan.

16.Own a home in delhi's Lutyen's zone.

17.Have my Portrait painted.

18.Work for google.

19.Visit every state of India.

20. Visit 50 Indian Cities.

21.To have someone who loves me truly & unconditionally.

22.Donate money for the NGOs & poor.

23.Write my will.

24.Run a Marathon.

25.Create my own website.

26.Accept myself as what i am.

27. Take bathe in Ganges.

28.Pursue a career of my choice.

29.Use Eco Friendly things.

30.Visit 2016 Olympics.

31.Deliver a guest lecture.

32.Take my parents on a foreign tour.

33.Own & Drive a Lamborghini.

34.Write autobiography.

35.Learn to play a musical Instrument.

36.Having a job in company i really like.

37.Learn to dance.

38.Never Hurt anyone.

39.Spend a night in any palace/historical hotel.

40.Learn to cook at least one dish properly.

41.Visit any mountain fully covered with snow.

42. Visit Kashmir.

43.Gift Someone a diamond ring.

44.Skiing on a mountain.

45.Visit Taj Mahal.

46. Visit All the wonders of the world.

So here's the list.this is not the final list & ll keep on updating on & on & on..as long as i can....

Achieving of goals is not destination