Soldier Boy

I don't know why but this always makes me feel very emotional...so here it goes...

Leaves from the vine, Falling so slow

Like tiny fragile shells, Drifting in foam

Little soldier boy come marching home

Brave soldier boy comes marching home

Seasons changing, As life goes on

Boy turns to man, Always his son

Little soldier boy come marching home

Brave soldier boy comes marching home

Fiery embers, Starting to glow

Drumming of war, Boy wants to go

Little soldier boy come marching home

Brave soldier boy comes marching home

The battles start, Who'll win none know

Man waits patiently, He waits for one

Little soldier boy come marching home

Brave soldier boy comes marching home

Ever slowly, The months go by

No word from boy, He wonders why

Little soldier boy will you come home

Brave soldier boy won't come home

One winter day, A letter comes

Tears start to flow, Boy won't come home

Little soldier boy never came home

Brave soldier boy fly away home

~ Unknown

Literature...the art and joy of reading...illiteracy and subsequent misconceptions....the power of imagination

I am really beginning to wonder if we have forgotten all about reading. Are we really so into visual media that reading a book doesn't at all seem appealing. Just ask yourself  "when did I last feel like reading a book?". I'm sure most of us will answer "Can't seem to remember...but anyways...I never was really into reading books". When ever I try to bring up this topic when I'm with my friends, almost everyone tries to put off the topic. They just aren't interested in even talking about it. It is really saddening to listen to an 'educated' person fear/dislike 'reading' just because it takes time and concentration. But so does visual media. Just pause to think about the amount of time we spend on internet doing NOTHING productive. I'm not saying everyone SHOULD love to read. I'm just saying that we should at least give it a whole-hearted attempt. Can a movie give you wings of imagination like a book does? certainly no. Can it challenge your thought process altogether?...no!..does talking to your friend about practically nothing for hours together always help you..no! Do we ever ask ourselves these questions..possibly no.

I think the problem lies with our education system. Our parents are also to be blamed. We look at education as a 'skill set'. Most aren't bothered about really getting wiser from the acquired knowledge. All our efforts go purely into to have a successful (read a job that pays well) life. To have such a life......yes you are right... we need to score well in our exams to profess our 'proficiency' in the field!. For that...all we do is remember the course material by-heart and by word. Think about it. Aren't we just living a mechanical life by doing so?. Is enjoyment only about visual media (movies, random videos on youtube etc..) and gossiping when we are with friends?. Are we not really responsible to know how our system works? Is it not our responsibility to really spend time in a more productive way and to impart knowledge to those less informed?. Fun with friends is absolutely necessary, but is that always the only form of relaxation?...Think about it. If you really think watching a movie or talking to friends about matters of no consequence is the only source of entertainment, then its entirely up to you. But I challenge you to read a book and not find the experience exhilarating....and read the right book to start with! (not that there are bad/wrong ones..but just that some aren't suited to a first time reader).

The reason I thought of writing this blog is because of an article in 'The Hindu'. It's more of excerpts from an interview. I've always felt illiteracy is the cause of all misconceptions. That article just made me feel like writing about it in the blog. I believe that we are all 'educated illiterates'. How many of us have 'read' the Ramayana? I'm sure NONE is the answer. Yet, we are under the impression that we know all there is to know about it. Actually, many of my friends don't even know the complete story. Why? because we never cared to read!. Yet again, we have opinions about Ramayana. It is a literary epic. One of the masterpieces in effective story telling. It is not related to Hinduism as a 'religion' in anyway. Yet we see it as a religious scripture. We seem to take the Valmiki Ramayana for granted. Did we ever consider the thought that it can be a profoundly well written folklore?. We have identified ourselves with Ramayana for over 2 millenia now and still most of us don't get its underlying principles. Those who have read it  have done so mostly after retiring from their jobs to attain 'spiritual moksha'. Is that the reason to read a book?. If educated people like us can be influenced with fallacies resulting from hearsay, think about what could be done with the less privileged who don't have proper education. And we blame organizations like ABVP and RSS for their wrong propaganda. The truth is all of us believe in the same ideologies as them, only that we are less violent or we are just grossly busy with our day to day lives.

Human beings have a natural fascination for listening to stories. Over time, even though people have developed the ability to read and comprehend a material, they simply want to 'listen' to a story. Barely ever do we realize that story telling is almost always biased. Even more so when it is narrated. I urge you to develop an opinion based on some sound logic derived from reading about the issue. Don't just give into others thoughts before you even have an understanding about the matter in discussion. PLEASE DON"T BE AN EDUCATED ILLITERATE.

Read this--- may be it'll do a good job of removing biases and cultivating the habit of reading we once had and seem to have completely lost.
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/interview/article2574398.ece

26 Cheers to Imagination and creativity...without which we wouldn't have been where we are today.
Brijesh

How in the world do they write such beautiful lyrics...wow!

bichhṛe abhi to ham bas kal parson

jeeoongi main kaise is haal men barson

maut nah aai

maut nah aai teri, yaad kyoon aai

lambi judaai

chaar dinaan da pyaar o rabba

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai

honṭon pih aai

honṭon pih aai meri jaan duhaai

lambi judaai

chaar dinaan da pyaar o rabba

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai

ik to sajan mere paas naheen

dooje milan di koi aas naheen

is pih yih saawan aaya

is pih yih saawan aaya aag lagaai

hae lambi judaai

chaar dinaan da pyaar o rabba

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai

ṭooṭe zamaane tere haath nigoṛe

jin se dilon ke sheeshe toṛe

hijr ki oonchi

hijr ki oonchi deewaar banaai

hae lambi judaai

chaar dinaan da pyaar o rabba

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai

baagh ujaṛ gae khilne se pahle

panchhi bichaṛ gae milne se pahle

koyal ki kook

koyal ki kook ne hook uthaai

hae lambi judaai

chaar dinaan da pyaar o rabba

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai

baṛi lambi judaai

lambi judaai