Recently in Courage Category

I love meeting people who are original thinkers and also admire those who have an altogether different 'opinion' about a normally accepted concept. I met a businessman suiting that criterion in Singapore recently, who gave me an insight into a subject that shook my long held belief about India's favourite beverage - the chai (tea)!

It is always an elated feeling to point fingers at the politicians saying they are corrupt. And today we also can feel better by pointing fingers at the journalists. What remain are the judiciary and the bureaucrat - it isn't that these bodies are not corrupt; it is just that they have not got caught as yet or they have enough powers to never to get caught.

"I do astrology to help all the troubled souls on the planet and as an astrologer it becomes my sole duty to help all of them solve their personal problems. And in this regard I have dedicated my life to the service of mankind through astrology." If you think that is what I want to portray myself as - then you are completely mistaken.

I know India's territory only through the history books I have read in school. According to the books - India had a crown (which is missing these days in the maps of India) called Jammu and Kashmir. And I always thought Kashmir is part of India. None told me that Kashmir was a disputed region - which neither belonged to India nor Pakistan. And none told me what exactly is the dispute between India and Pakistan! Everyone said - Pakistan is a terrorist country, and that it is attacking India for personal gains. The real jolt came to me when someone told me that - no Indian born anywhere in the country can buy a piece of land or house in Kashmir!

This one is going to be a long read for you - so be prepared. It is 'comments' shared on facebook among 3 well-educated people born in India. The people in conversation are Preetham Sai, Ankit, and Myself.

Me - being born to a Hindu father and a Christian mother, I had a choice to select my religion and I chose to be a Hindu. I have chosen Lord Narayana as my deity, and will stick to him. But then with my understanding and research on various religions - I surely can vouch that for the humankind and for the society to grow spiritual - Islam is the best religion!

Has young India moved ahead or become spineless in the last 18 years? Good there is no violence across the country, and no life is lost after the one-sided verdict. But few questions remain unanswered - on one side the country called December 6, 1992 as a black day in Indian history and till today accepts that the demolition of Babri Masjid was a criminal act. And on other side we are acting as if we have done justice to the Muslims by giving 2 parts of the land to Hindus and one part to the Muslims!

Long time ago - I quit my corporate life after 8 years of hands on experience after a major revelation. And the revelation was - you can never grow in the corporate world - until and unless you are ruthless, a hypocrite, dishonest, untruthful, and a professional manipulator. If you DO NOT have any of these basic characteristics and still believe that honesty and hard work will help you climb the corporate ladder - then I can only feel sorry for you. You can only try and try until you die!