Courage

"It wasn't bad. I just went to sleep. I love you".

-Martin Toler -one of the twelve miners who lost his life in the Sago Mine tragedy- in a note to his family.

Click here for Times UK Article

The Day After Christmas

We got up late. Wanksta, Radhe and me. We picked up a couple of photographs that we had asked to be developed and chatted indecisively as to where to spend the afternoon. We finally headed to a local coffee shop with two packs of playing cards in hand.

As expected, the coffee shop was far from crowded. Our patron, clawingly welcoming and coffee, annoyingly bitter. Couldn't blame him; business was slow and he was happy to have human company. He thanked us a gazillion times for being there. We found three couches in a corner with a nice table in-between. We had a separate cup filled with sugar and tried in vain to breathe taste back into our brew. We played a couple of rounds. We were too tired to continue after a while.

Wanksta, to my left, took off his slippers and stretched himself out on the couch. In a couple of minutes he was off to lands where no man has ever been before - dozing off. Radhe, to my right, had found a bunch of the day's newspapers and was reading them with a twinkle in his eye. Before i asked him why, he looked upto me and said, "How much ever i get to read the news online, the feeling of holding a newspaper in my hand is totally something else; the smell. Don't you think so?" I just smiled and nodded. I was already looking at the light through the window, falling on wanksta's face and the glow the table lamp was putting around Radhe. I whipped out my camera and set out calculating how best i could capture it.

Have you ever looked at an animal in the wild? The joy of seeing a wild animal in its element, doing what it does best. The moment at the coffee shop seemed strangely similar. Wanksta taking a nap, Radhe perusing the paper and me with my camera. Everything seemed in place; right where they should be.

On the Nature of Emotion: The Case of 'Love'

Wanksta, Indy, Arun and Me have been debating the nature of emotion and love in particular. The argument exists because a couple of us view it as a mechanistic process and some of us who don't. I am leaving it to the comments to take the argument further.

"A subtle thought that is in error may yet give rise to fruitful inquiry that can establish truths of great value. "
-Issac Asimov

Possibility

All men dream, but not equally.
Those who dream by night in the dusty
recesses of their minds
Awake to find that it was vanity;
But the dreamers of the day are dangerous men,
That they may act their dreams with open
eyes to make it possible.

T.E. Lawrence

Movie Review: 'Autumn Spring' (Babí léto)

A feel-good movie about an old Czech couple on their final trip on the wonderful journey of life. Brilliantly scripted and an engrossing storyline make this a must see for all movie lovers. The lead actor, Vlastimil Brodsky, is a genius. If you haven't seen any of his earlier movies, rent this one - it's definitely worth the effort. You might say it's not typical Hollywood fare, no sex and violence, instead you're treated to a delightfully simple story of an old man who refuses to act his age and in so doing ends up in several sticky situations. One particular scene that stands out is when Brodsky and his partner in crime Jára (played by Ondrej Vetchý) act like rich millionaires interested in buying a mansion. To keep up their act, they proceed to a fancy French restaurant and are driven around in a limo. Since this is the first scene of the movie, you're surprised when they ride the metro home after all this special treatment!

The movie gives you perspective of what life is all about and that it's never too late to start enjoying it! Fantastic movie, give it five stars.

Timing...

I have been thinking about this in the last few days, about how important it is for one to do anything at the correct time. Anything from batting in cricket, to cracking a joke, to a proposal of some sort or in helping a person....It seems so important..The whole idea seems very stupid, once the moment has passed...But, the same could be the best thing you have ever said or done, if done at the correct time..

Being Realistic

Was watching a documentary on the sex trade in India, which focussed on red light areas in Mumbai (Bombay) and Calcutta. If you have read anything i write, you will see that i focus more on the theory rather than ground reality; more on broad generalizations rather than direct answers to questions posed.

As i continued to watch the documentary, my initial reaction was that it was immoral and how wrong it was that even children became unwilling actors in this tragedy. What i realized that such a view will never help in finding a solution. Prostitution is the oldest profession and my views only prevent me from seeing the reality of the situation.

I was surprised by what the women in Calcutta had to say; the very same women who practise this profession. Their concern was simple. They did not want to be harassed by the police - who only took bribes and requested sexual favours after an arrest - and wanted to make sure that their health was not compromized. To address this, they formed a labour union! They advice each other on issues that matter to them. They want their profession to be legally recognized so that like other professions, the minimum age limit becomes applicable and minors' rights are protected.

Not once did they talk about morality. They focussed on finding solutions and nothing else.