"Because it's there...."

Of late, I have been seeing a lot of documentaries around mountaineering. For some reason, I am hooked into the experiences of these folks whose sole purpose in life is to conquer the mountains of the world. I don’t know if it’s their perseverance to reach the top or their restless energy (adrenaline rush) or their sense or just pure ego that enthralls me. It’s just captivating to see them go against all odds to and beat Mother Nature in her own game.

A recent documentary I watched was around the journey that George Mallory took to summit Mt. Everest in 1929. He was the one who said the most famous three words in mountaineering. When someone asked him why he wanted to climb Mt. Everest, he said “BECAUSE IT’S THERE”. He was one of the first climbers to find a way to summit Mt. Everest, even though, till now, no one has conclusively proved that George Mallory reached the summit. His body was found 75 years later a few feet below the summit, surprisingly very well preserved. This movie was about how another mountain climber took the same journey that Mallory took 75 years back to see if he could prove that Mallory did indeed summit Mt. Everest.

While I was watching this movie, the one question that kept coming back to me was “Why would anyone do anything when there is so much risk involved in it?” The reason this journey was so risky was because this mountain climber was trying to use the gears that Mallory used 75 years back to climb the most difficult terrain in the world.  I saw with wonder and irritation, how a sense of adventure turned into an obsession for both Mallory and this mountain climber. That’s when I understood why these folks do what they do. It’s not just a hobby for them. It’s just not about passion and love for mountain climbing. It’s not just about adrenaline rush. It’s more than that. It’s about supremacy. There’s nothing powerful than Mother Nature and nothing comes closer to attaining that power than being as closely as in touch with nature and conquering her. It not only gives you a sense of accomplishment, but it also proves to the world and to yourself, that for a moment in your life, a single moment in your life, you have achieved the impossible. The truth is that, they deserve to feel that way, because, the kind of perseverance they need, to summit tallest peak doesn’t come easily. It’s in-born.

I don’t know how it feels to reach the tallest point in the world or say the toughest terrain in the world and I don’t think I will ever know. But, maybe, just maybe, one day, I will at the least get the opportunity to climb a few mountains and if I do, one of my long pending dreams will come true.

Is it time for a Revolution?

Wondering why I haven't blogged for a while; Well, I guess it's the writer's block. I have been trying to get ideas out of mind into paper/screen for quite a while and haven't been inspired anything so far. I am not sure if it's because of the weather in my city or monotony of routine. I think I am going to blame the weather in this instance.

So, in order for me to get started somewhere, I have decided to broach a sensitive subject. Unfortunately, I can no longer live in a world of pseudo- reality when I fully know where India- country with the largest democracy is heading.

Given the recent bomb incidents that have taken place in Mumbai, I tend to wonder where “Law & Order” and in turn justice is hiding in our constitution. We boast ourselves as the largest democracy in the world. We boast of India as the one of the most “happening” places in terms of economy and job market. We boast ourselves as a country with rich culture and family values and one of the most peaceful countries in the world. Why, then, is it difficult for citizens of India to feel safe secure? Why is it difficult for common man to find justice in a place filled with high rates of crime that includes child abuse, child labor, rape and murder? Why is that scams and corruption have become the norm with people fully knowing that the politicians and their aides who participate in acts of corruption, scams and even murder will never be punished? Is India cursed for the fact that she have never invaded another country or fought a war ? Has our motherland paid too much for being called one of the most peaceful loving countries?  Have we become such apathetic and cowardly that we are totally indifferent to what happens next door or to our fellow citizens?

I don’t have answers to these questions. I wish I did. I really don’t know the direction in which the country is heading. All I know is that people can no longer live under the pretext of accepting things as they are and carrying on the human spirit because I am not sure if there’s any left. I used to be an idealist who thought that one person can make a difference. Now, I know that is never going to happen. When the powers to be (celebrities, buiness tycoons etc..) themselves remain neutral and not want to make a difference, which commoner will step forward? It won't just take another Gandhi to free India from the termites that live within the country, but billions of people coming together for their motherland to retain the value she once had.

Wisdom for the day: The hottest places in Hell are reserved for those who in time of great moral crises maintain their neutrality.

Let Go

To "let go" does not mean to stop caring. It means I can't do it for someone else.

To "let go" is not to cut myself off. It's the realization that I can't control another.

To "let go" is to admit powerlessness, which means the outcome is not in my hands.

To "let go" is not to try to change or blame another. It's to make the most of myself.

To "let go" is not to care for, but to care about.

To "let go" is not to fix, but to be supportive.

To "let go" is not to judge, but to allow another to be a human being.

To "let go" is not to be in the middle, arranging all the outcomes, but to allow others to affect heir own destinies.

To "let go" is not to deny, but to accept.

To "let go" is not to nag, scold, or argue, but instead to search out my own shortcomings and correct them.

To "let go" is not to adjust everything to my desires, but to take each day as it comes and cherish myself in it.

To "let go" is not to regret the past, but to grow and live for the future.

To "let go" is to fear less and to love more.

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Poems from my Past

For reason unknown, I am always mighty impressed by folks who have a talent for expressing their inner most feelings in the most elegant way - through POEMS. I am spellbound by the power of words that are so fluently expressed through them. Fortunately, in my lifetime, I have known a few people who are very good poets. One of them was a school friend of time. I was going through some of my old diaries when I came across some beautiful Tamil (my native language) poems written by this dear friend of mine. I was a great admirer of her during school days and I was so happy to find these poems since it brought back all the memories we shared. I really hope that she hasn't stopped writing poems.

Here are a couple of them for the world to read..

Poem 1:

காந்தமாய் நீ வந்து இழுத்த்ச் சென்றுவிட்டாய்

என் மனதை !

ஆனால்,

முதற் இறுக்கத்திற்கும்

முதற் இணக்கத்திற்கும் இடையில்

நான் படும் பாடு

என்னை யன்றி யார் அறியக் கூடும்

மெல்லத் திரும்புகின்றேன் நான்

என்னையறியாமல்!

உன்னோடு ,

தொட்டும் தொடாத்துமாக

உறவு வைத்துக்கோள்ள!

கண்டுபிடிக்க முடியவில்லை!

அம்முகத்தின் உணர்ச்சிகளை

படித்தறிய முடியவில்லை!

ஓவ்வொருவரிடமும் குறும்புத்தனமாக

பேசிச் சிரிக்கும் அம்முகம்

உண்மையில் எதை நினைத்துதான்

உணர்ச்சிகளை காட்டுகின்றது என்பதை

அறிய முடியவில்லை!

Poem 2:

நான் நாடி சென்ற நட்பு

எளிதில் கிடைக்காதபோது

நான் சிலருக்கு மறுத்த என் அன்பு

என்னைத் தீயாய் சுட்டது !