LOVE, the most hyped of all human emotions. It runs in our veins and gives us that added reason to look forward in life. A new day brings with it new hopes and dreams and every dream of ours revolves around our loved ones. Love is the strength of our being. Love is a shared feeling between two individuals. Love is not about jealousy. It is not about conflict. It is not about testing. Love is a positive feeling. If it is tainted by mistrust, jealousy, insecurity or spitefulness it is not really love but merely a pale copy. Love is the total surrender of your heart to another person with the security of knowing they will treat it better than you will. Love should feel good. It should not feel bad. Love should make you want to be a better person; it should not lead you to do something self-destructive. Love is not demanding of your spirit but lifts it and makes it glow. And it is not just romantic love. Love is the true bonding we share with our family and friends. Love is the selfless wish for someone’s happiness. Love is everything we are and we are not!!

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~The Magic of Love~

It was one of the best days of my life. I was happy and flying away in glory. Then there it was. Life struck back cruelly and my whole world came collapsing at my feet. The pain of a thousand stabbing knives, acute and sharp, it was unbearable and unthought of. I lay there crooked crying in pain. Nobody listened to and nobody bothered. Forget about getting up, I couldn’t even move limbs. Looked around to find one of my broken legs lying there 2cms away. Oh God! I cried in horror. Help! Help! I cried in vain.

Suddenly a gusty wind forced me to a different place. Difficult to breathe, for the first time I experienced death so closely. Now I was lying at a different corner, still struggling to live. Almost everyday we encounter death but we know the tricks to escape. Such is life, a mishmash of hope and despair. Now we live, the very next moment we don’t. In the blink of an eye life slips out of our hand and we stand there looking at our lifeless body. We live for no wish of ours and we die for no fault of ours.

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Who am I??

Diwali holds a significant landmark in the Hindu mythology. After an arduous 14-year exile in the forest, Lord Ram came back to Ayodhya. This day is marked by the defeat of the evil and victory of the good. It also symbolizes the victory of light (knowledge) over darkness (ignorance). Lord Ram swept clean the earth from malice, wickedness, immorality and sin by overpowering Ravana. Everyone was anxiously looking forward to the homecoming of Lord Ram and welcomed him by lighting rows (avali) of lamps (deep). Diwali is thus traditionally called ‘Deepavali’. The celebration is invariably accompanied by the exchange of sweets among friends and family.

In Bengal, Diwali is associated with the goddess Kali. Here’s the legend behind Kali puja.

Once the demons named Shambhu and Nishambhu grew in force and pose a challenge to Indra, King of Gods, and his Kingdom of Heaven. Gods sought protection from Mahamaya Durga, the Goddess of Shakti or Power. At this stage Goddess Kali was born from Durga’s forehead as Kal Bhoi Nashini to save heaven and earth from the growing cruelty of the demons.

After slaughtering the demons, Kali made a garland of their heads and wore it around her neck. In the bloodbath, she lost control and started killing anyone who came her way. There was chaos all around. To stop her, Lord Shiva threw himself under her feet. Shocked at this sight, Kali stuck out her tongue in astonishment, and put an end to her killing spree. The well-known picture of Kali Ma shown with her tongue hanging out actually depicts the moment when she steps on Lord Shiva and repents.

That momentous day is celebrated ever since as Kali Puja. Performing the Puja with faith devotees seek protection against drought and war and blessings of general happiness, health and prosperity. It is a tantrik puja performed only at midnight on Amavasya.

Be it Diwali or Kali puja, it signifies the renewal of life. It’s 11 in the morning and I can already hear the sound of crackers from everywhere. I guess I got to go and plan my day. Wishing everyone a very happy and safe Diwali.

Post from: GARGI...

~~F*$t^V@l oF L^g#t$~~

Lately I’ve been busy with work, studies and family. Friends are really few. I somehow cannot do justice to friendship. Nevertheless I try. The lazy person I’m, I love to spend time on my own, reading, sleeping, surfing, singing, anything that I can think of but alone. On the contrary, I love people. I love to go out, party and have fun. And the same me at times avoid people. I guess feelings are very situational.

Work. I’ve gained a lot in the last one year. I’ve grown as an individual. The best thing about working with a start-up is that you get to see how things work real-time. Very seldom team members in big corporate houses have the decision making power. They are merely puppets in the hands of the top bosses. Trust me. Though I enjoyed being the puppet for almost six months. A start-up gives you exposure to all sides of business and grooms you to take on the challenges even more fiercely. Here the challenge that lies ahead is the ever-cherished management degree.

Studies. Yes I’m trying to balance and reach a position where I’ve best of both the worlds. Don’t know where it will finally take me, but as always I look up and aim high. However I’ve been going through a dilemma. I feel I’m too good for the mediocre institutes and perhaps not fit enough for the better ones. So where do I stand? Where do I go? But I know wherever I go; I’ll make the best of what’s around. I’m yet to taste success and I’m already drooling.

Family. I love my parents and my sister. They are perhaps everything to me yet I stay aloof. My mom (sweeter than the sweetest of all moms) at times thinks I don’t care about anything, anyone and I’m always busy with myself. I cannot reject that because it’s not entirely wrong. I tend to keep busy with this or that. But deep inside I care for everyone around me. How I wish I could make her feel good. My dad, I can say is the quintessential dad this world has ever seen. My parents left no stones unturned to make sure that we two, my sister and me get the right kind of upbringing. My sister - my lifeline. I can perhaps give up everything to make her happy and embrace anything to kill her pains. JB, the person I look upto. If you thought perfection does not exist, think again. He’s sober, gentle, intelligent, caring, loving and all the way cool.

I guess I love talking. But blabbering infront of anyone, no way! So I love my blog. Today I spent the entire day at home. I often do that, but today I’m feeling extraordinarily happy.

“I’m as happy as a Monkey is in a Banana Factory!” He he he!!!

Post from: GARGI...

I’m as happy as a Monkey is in a Banana Factory!

No respite…read on!

1. Inflation rate will stay in double digits until this year December.

2. BSE market cap fell by Rs. 1.8 lakh crore.

3. Total FII outflows this year amounts to $7 billion

4. Price of gold touches 4-month high.

5. Crude oil price rose to $146 a barrel.

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Woes continue…

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Protected: Crushed…

Everything said and done, our Government is always on its toes when it comes to checking on and controlling inflation. Here’s a quick recap of what was happening on the Inflation front in the past 5 years.

“On 10 august 2004, WPI (weighted price index) inflation was 7.51 per cent. P. Chidambaram said that the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank would take concerted action to control inflation.

On 15 November 2005, FM said in Trivandrum that the UPA government had succeeded in controlling inflation in the 16 months it had been in office.

On 24 May 2006, FM said, “We expect to contain inflation between four and five per cent this fiscal too. Last year, the Reserve Bank had indicated inflation at 5 per cent but we were able to keep it below 5 per cent.”

On 24 October 2006, FM said in Stanford that inflation, which had reached a three-month high of 5.16 per cent, was pretty much contained, but was above his comfort level and that he would like to see it below 4 per cent.

On 1 March 2007, FM said, “In May-June 2004, when the UPA government came to power, inflation crossed 6 per cent, went up to 8 per cent and we moderated it to 3.8 per cent. So, the government has moderated inflation in the past and can do it again.”

On 17 May 2007, FM told Parliament that inflation, which was 5.66 per cent in the week ended 28 April, was still above what he called was the tolerance level of the people of India, and that every effort was being made to bring it closer to 4.5 per cent.

On 24 August 2007, FM said that at the core level, the government had brought down inflation to 4.05 per cent after taking several tax and monetary measures. He would not hesitate to take further measures to control inflation.

On 16 November 2007, FM said that the government would keep a strict vigil on inflation and that he would not hesitate to take fiscal measures if undue pressure built up on the price front.

On 15 March 2008, FM said that inflation, which moved that week from 5.02 to 5.11 per cent, was on the rise, and that all of us should be concerned. The government accorded topmost priority to controlling inflation, and was ready to take any fiscal steps.

On 28 March 2008, inflation was 6.68 per cent. FM said that there had been no policy mistakes in handling inflation, and blamed global commodity prices.

On 2 May 2008, FM said that the measures taken by the finance ministry and the Reserve Bank would bring down inflation, which rose to a 42-month peak of 7.57 per cent. “We will tame inflation; we will control food prices soon.” Next week, it rose to 7.61 per cent. FM called it statistically insignificant and a big relief. He assured everyone that annual WPI inflation rate would remain stable at the current level for some more weeks before it started its downward trend.

On 16 May, inflation rose to 7.83 per cent. FM expressed his firm expectation that inflation would moderate. He was waiting for cuts in steel and cement prices to come into force. He asked everyone to be patient. “You can’t announce something on Friday and expect to have its impact on Saturday. You must be patient.”

On 30 May, FM called the rise in inflation to 8.1 per cent worrisome and said the government would spare no effort to contain, moderate and reverse inflation. The government would control inflation over a period of time. He called on Indian companies to observe extreme patience and not to raise the prices of cement, steel, etc. as the situation called for, so that panic did not take place.” (Ashok Desai)

As such no doubts can be raised about the efforts or the good intentions of the Government. How much of it finally materializes is though a different story all together. The tussle between controlling inflation rate and economic growth makes the job even more difficult for the finance ministry.

Most of the emerging economies of Asia like China and Singapore are struggling with highest levels of inflation in years. However it’s going to be at the most another year and things are ‘expected’ to cool down. With elections in the next May, the Government will surely tighten the monetary and fiscal measures to bring back the economy in equilibrium, even if at the cost of economic growth.

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No More The ‘Science Of Happiness’!

Blogging is no more the quirky hobby of the net savvies. It has gone mainstream in a big way. From a fun past time it has morphed into something used by major corporate houses. More or less every company you come across owns a blog section and also keeps a keen eye on what the blogosphere is saying about it.

It might be interesting for you honest bloggers to know that something called spam blogs (splogs) also exist. It is becoming increasingly difficult for blog directories like Technorati to exclude splogs and keep track of the number of blogs.

Excluding businesses and splogs, a research revealed that the average age of adult bloggers is something around 37. Statistics are as always as terribly misleading or do I say Statistics are like bikinis.  What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital.

Now this is for people who are wondering why the hell I wrote this piece of crap. Recently I came across this blog at a job portal that got me thinking. Why should someone write a story on a job portal blog and that too one which talks about spiritual beings and experience! Weirdo! And why the hell should monster keep something so irrelevant on their site! Blogging has indeed gone mainstream and that too in a much bigger way than I can grasp.

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Yet another one on blogging!

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Mind talk

Suddenly the realization dawns! My blog to me is more than a confidant or a friend. It lends me the shoulder to cry on, gives me the ownership to hit back on it, and lend me ears irrespective of whether I’m complaining or screaming. I’ve discovered this weird side of me. Whenever I’m a little disturbed and agitated, I vent all my pent up emotions on this little lifeless piece. Off late I was thinking of turning my blog into a monologue one by turning off the comment feature only to give it the feel of a personal yet online diary.

On a different note, this is for friends who do not blog or didn’t have the pleasure of doing it as of yet or perhaps didn’t find the idea exciting enough. Blogging is simply fun! Bloggers take immense pride in owning a blog even if their blog is not read by anyone but them. Some travel the extra mile to hand-pick people and promote their blog and when it doesn’t seem to work they push up and play flat across. The concept of blogging differs from person to person and in a very subtle way it reflects the characteristic features of the owner. If you are practicing it, do it at your own risk, as it often is misleading. This is one of the many reasons why I one fine day wanted to hide my blog from online visitors. After going through the last couple of posts people must have taken me for an eternally disgusted poor soul, which I’m not.

Some also use the blog as a medium to let their alter ego speak and speak till they are lost for words. Seasoned bloggers make use of the web space to set free their knowledge for the world while others just want to make people shut their mouths and listen to them when they speak. (Err, you can’t help but keep shut and read on if you chance to land up on such a blog). There are even those who open a window to the world only to beautifully reflect on life and works of art. Then suddenly you chance upon the blog of a girl next door and struggle to comprehend and grasp the depths of thought. There are also self proclaimed insane and yet admirably fine bloggers who on purpose upload such themes on their blogs that makes it impossible for people like us to read and make out anything. While most bloggers are busy scribbling for their own good, some benevolent souls choose to offer help through their blogs. Some inherently talented and creative bloggers also use it as a medium to showcase their work.

One needs to blog to feel the joy of doing it. I have a feeling that everyone should be entitled to own a blog. If you insist to differ on that, make sure to click on the hyperlinked texts. Once you have done that I’m sure you will be passionately looking out for ways to own a blog. After having written a hell lot of crap, another realization dawns on me. This post is nothing but a terrific example of awful usage of anchor text!

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Realization dawns…