WORDS and 'Con'Text

There are numerous quotes and phrases that highlight the power of words.
Words begin and end wars. They create and destroy families. They break hearts and they have the power to heal.
Words are apparently so strong; it can either make or break someone’s life.

Is it really so? Well, technically not. It’s the emotions behind these words that does all of this.
Sometimes old texts and scriptures spark controversies and riots.
So whose emotions does it really depend on? The writer’s or the reader’s?
If a said extract is used in a speech, does it depend on the orator’s or the audience’s emotions?
Or does it depend on interpretation and grasp of language and grammar?
The contexts for such occurrences / speeches are usually set, in someone’s conscience.

My theory is it depends on the individual’s frame of mind and the context in which these ‘words’ are thrown or consumed.

Now, the word ‘context’ in itself is quite intriguing, you’ll see why.

On one hand, we have powerful motivational speakers who’ve made a career out of talking or using these ‘words’ to their advantage, who’ve inspired greater success stories. We’ve also seen people jump to conclusions and take drastic steps including committing suicide based on some words.
What really happens is that we the audience go in there with an expectation and either come out satisfied (read inspired) or feeling cheated (read dejected).
Yet again that entirely depends on the individual’s frame of mind.

On the other, there was this spiritual leader who was preaching how to ignore what the world says and thinks of us and urged each of us to find ourselves, not being influenced by others’ words and actions. He recommended that we focus on just being us. And yet there we were, still willing to be influenced by his words. Ironical – eh?

Words are mere reflections of our emotions and thoughts. We kind of choose what we want to hear or sometimes what we don’t want to hear triggering powerful emotions such as anger, distress and tears. That my friend is what words or ‘text’ does. It cons us – giving us our perspective and context.

Communication as such is a complete package. It includes words, tonality, body language and eye contact. Works best if used with touch.
The more evolved communication technology gets, the less understood we are as all these are either split and/or missed in most communication channels these days.

Also explains why the trend of having a pet has gone up dramatically in the last decade. Almost the same time communication technology has evolved. Co-incidence? Probably.

The secret to a loving relationship with a pet is that pets don’t use words. We believe that we understand each other. It works at some level because it uses the fundamentals of communication as a complete package including touch.

Next time you hear or read something regardless of the media, don’t let the text con you.

Let better sense and optimism prevail!

There’s something about the basics and fundamentals with me. I seem to see things threadbare.

The keyword being “seem” to see.

It started with analyzing an issue, a difficult individual or personality driven corporate battles. This habit spilled over into life itself. It’s almost like I see everything in 1’s and 0’s like Neo sees it in the last scene of Matrix (First part).

That movie was indeed prophetic. Today we are living in the Matrix. Everything around us is as fake as it can get. We are slaves to a system that pushes us into paying up. Taxes or EMIs. One way or the other.

We keep cribbing but struggle to stay within the system and in fact climb the ladder.

We’ve distorted the very meaning or definition of Happiness.

We are running around or driving each other crazy in this fast urbanized/westernized world.

We aim to have a lavish house without having the time to dwell in them.

We aim to have a lavish car without enjoying the drive in itself.

We aim and keep slogging for a mirage called “Happy Day”.  Even if it were to come, it wouldn’t last more than a ‘day’. The very next day, we would be back in the same rut.

We don’t have ‘Time’ for our people. However, we claim to be slogging FOR them.

We are all fooling ourselves beyond limits. Why do we work beyond office hours? Why do we travel crazy for hours in traffic? We are so zonked on weekends that we don’t want to get out of the house. What was the bloody point? Or What IS the bloody point?

We work hard for a promotion. Once promoted and with a meagre increase in salary, we are worried about tax saving. With that comes the most lucrative option of buying a house on EMIs. Rest of our life is ‘invested’ in servicing one EMI after the other.

Mind you – At the end of it, happiness is still elusive.

However, we’ve experienced Happiness. During our younger days.

The wealth we had was TIME and NOT money. That was immaterial. Reality never changes. Somehow, we have this weird belief that to be happier we need more money and then sacrifice the basic ingredient.

I’m all set to reclaim TIME.

Whether happiness still remains elusive or will my theory hold true, is yet to be seen / experienced.

Let better sense and optimism prevail! J

'Bang'istan OR 'Ban'istan

The age of producing visionaries and revolutionaries is passé. It’s the age of “reactionaries”.

There is a sudden outburst of reaction and they defy Newton’s laws as well.

For there is never an equal and opposite reaction. Reactions are always far more superficial and exaggerated.

It is sad when decisions are taken or changed on the basis of such reactions.

I’m hinting at the recent endeavor to change our ‘Bang’istan into ‘Ban’istan.

On one hand, our nation is grappling with a ‘men’tality that encourages rape and objectifies women.

On the other hand, we collectively howl at porn being banned.

This is where the real issue is left behind and superficially being dealt with by our very own reactionaries.

I’m not saying that porn is the only cause or even one of the causes of rape. The point is objectification of women. Let’s try and find out one valid reason why pornography exists.

Let alone the decision of some authority “allowing” us to view it or show it.

Here, I refer to pornography for the heck of it and not artistic expressions of erotica.

The issue is NOT that of freedom of expression or freedom to watch what we want in our privacy.

The issue is WHY watch it at someone else’s cost? 

Porn  gaining an “industry” status should be a shame.

Today the supply of porn exists and is growing at astronomical pace on the behest of an alleged demand. So why not kill the demand? What's wrong with it? I don't support the concept of 'ban' in general. But for this issue, why NOT?

This demand has got into scary proportions of voyeurism that makes us think twice in changing rooms, wash rooms, in hotel rooms. In the pretext of catering to the sadist invisible demand, there are possibilities of hidden cameras and each one of us being a potential porn star on one of these sleazy websites.

The issue is not about hypocrisy. It’s not about a nation that gave ‘kama-sutra’ doing something dramatically ironic.

Yet again, I ask for one valid reason WHY "Porn" should even exist. Let alone the freedom around it.

Happy Friendship!

The basic fabric or the foundation stone of our societal structure is discrimination and hypocrisy.

Before evolution, the primary objective of all living beings was pure survival. Someone at some point in time decided that we must live in a society instead of killing each other in the name of survival.

However, living in a society demanded people to assume roles. Roles meant division of labour. Could have been based on ability, availability of resources etc. The next obvious step was to choose a leader to manage these resources. With each role and the first level of hierarchy came a set of privileges. Thereby planting the first seed of discrimination. Anything after that has been a case of one’s understanding, perception of role, point of view and/or convenience.

Anything one does or says has been based on their understanding.

Rules were made by some for the others to follow. Hypocrisy was thus born.

Communities based on common tasks or responsibilities probably gave birth to tribes. Next step was creating an identity. Maybe this has something to do with the current caste system.

Adapting to change without a fight is not an inherent quality of us homo-sapiens. Survival had taught us to be extremely barbaric. Taming for the sake of society was a daunting task and against the nature at that time.

The side-effects of inculcating a societal structure came with its share of resistance and revolution. The best proven method to tame anyone is by scaring. That of the unknown.

Seeds of religion were thus sown.

Yet again, the concepts of God, Satan, heaven and hell were off-springs of these seeds.

Every citizen who then comes in to the society is given a “house” with a “set of clothes” that he/she is expected to use without changing or questioning.

People have sacrificed lives or taken lives ever since in proving that their house or clothes is better than the others.

What it has manifested itself into today is another case of cross-pollination and interpretation as per convenience. I use the word ‘convenience’, not carelessly but because it has been as per each one’s understanding not taking the pain to realize the true objectives / goal of any action.

What really bakes my noodle is if those objectives are still relevant at all?

Comparison in the societal structure has pushed mankind from ‘hunt’ to ‘feed’ and from ‘need’ to ‘greed’ with unreasonable expected ‘speed’.

Relations and relationships have been strained in the endeavour to display a sense of belonging to the society without understanding the objectives. The root cause being expectations and disappointments thereafter.

The one thing that has remained unaffected or rather shone in all this churning or ‘manthan’ has been the concept of FRIENDSHIP. There are no limitations or boundaries to friendship. There are no rules or guidelines to being a friend. Friendship in itself is not driven by any need.

Friends can assume any role as the need of the hour is and yet remain Friends in its purest form.

Some people still abuse or misuse it is another story. But once they do so, it’s their individual friendship that falls prey but the concept remains unhurt by and large and is still widely accepted and practiced by humanity.

When the concept has stood the test of time through such a rough evolution, how can we dedicate just a “Day” to it?

Long live such a wonderful yet unaffected concept.

Happy Friendship - PERIOD!

WAR it is!

I’m not referring to battles that cause death and devastation or the ones that is synonymous to blood and gore. This WAR certainly causes pain but not of physical nature.

In the 80s and 90s. if there were a fight/argument on the street, people would gather around either to relish the free ‘tamasha’ or some might even add in a few punches of his own without knowing the cause of fight. Some good Samaritans would try and resolve the tension on hand too. However today, it’s just WAR.

Not that human kind is newly introduced to the concepts of rain and some flooding, but now it’s all about the right angle/view with an exaggerated perspective. With the equipment to shoot in almost every hand, it is WAR.

And God forbid if there is any murmur of a celebrity illness or death, the mad rush to spread the news is sickening. In most cases, false news. Sometimes I wonder if the statement I read is a question where the writer simply forgot to add the “?” at the end of the sentence.

But like I said, it’s blissful, almost orgasmic WAR.

WAR is a new virus that has affected most of us. There is no vaccination or antidote available off the shelf. Instead, this virus is available very easily off the shelf or should I say, at the ‘click’ of a finger (not button).

The areas this impacts directly on our body are “eyes, neck, fingers and brain cells”.

The brain sometimes is overheated with high activity (something like high RPM in an engine).

Information Overload and compulsive urge to opine on just about anything and everything regardless of our own knowledge on the said topic.

One of the biggest but unnoticed side-effect is disorientation of all kinds.

Most dangerous side-effect however is that of an identity crisis.

We forget we are normal human beings with other roles to play in Real-life.

We all turn into a “WhatsApp Reporter” practicing “WhatsApp Reporting” – That’s the WAR I’m referring to.

The only way we can get rid of this is by exercising self-control.

“Determination is The Termination of all problems”.

That’s the true ‘Selfie’, if any.

Now, let’s not get started on the existing ‘Selfie’ virus.

That’s for another article and day to mull over.

शायद इसी को जीना कहते हैं

हम अक्सर बीते हुए लम्हे दोबारा जीना चाहते हैं
ज़िन्दगी के कुछ हसीन पल दोहराना चाहते हैं

कभी तो आनेवाले कल के फ़िक्र में उलझे रहते हैं
तो कभी अपनों के सपने पूरे करने में झूजते रहते हैं

बचपन में जवानी का इंतज़ार करते हैं
और जवानी में कामयाबी के पीछे दौड़ते हैं

पुरानी तस्वीरों में बचपन को खोजते हैं
मन ही मन अपने आप को कोसते हैं

औरों के संग यादें पिरोते रहते हैं
लेकिन अपने आप से दूर चलते रहते हैं

हर डगर पर मंज़िल बदलते हैं
अरमानों के नये महफ़िल सजते हैं

हम जिसे “आज” को खोने के ग़म में आसुओं को पीना कहते हैं
कथाओं और कविताओं में शायद इसी को “जीना” कहते हैं

Chaos is Essential

Monotone in each “Black and White” key

Yet, either natural, flat or sharp

Confined within an octave, from A to G

In any keyboard, strings or harp

Orderly and perfect in its pitch

Producing its characteristic sound

In repetition it’s plain noise, albeit rich

Hardly any value to be found

Guided by a metronome, at the cue of a “Conductor”

Seemingly chaotic, notes jump out in magical harmony

Escaping fingers of the Master

Creating music for many

Without an instructor or a visionary

Precarious collision of noisy notes could be consequential

While Order is obligatory

Chaos is essential

Conscience

When shall you learn?

Oh master?

Why make me burn?

After every socio-political disaster.

I’ve yet come clear and clean

In all your thoughts and actions

Lest you forget, I’m but a glean

Of YOUR deeds, not reactions

Selfless help is referenced in mythology

But that’s rare in today’s human psychology

Each individual fights his own battle

Only when it’s personal, do their bones rattle

Stop playing the game of expectations

Of social justice and collective strength

They look good on prose and citations

Best kept at arm’s length

I’m YOUR conscience

As a team, let's stay clean

Don’t opine on every nonsense

And take away my sheen

Curiosity Bites History

Utsuk Kumar monitored his pace as he walked a bit, ran a bit and jumped a bit negotiating the crowded foot-over bridge. He would glance at his wrist watch at times, cross check it with the huge wall clock that the railways referred to and he would also make sure it matched with the display on his cell phone. There was only one thing he had in mind, to make it to the 7:58 local.

After all he was now the customer service team leader of a leading telecom company. Only, he called it “Kyonstomer” service and he would call his customers, “Kyonster Monster”. He would have to answer at least a 200 “Kyons” in a day. “Kyon” in Hindi refers to “Why”. Each one had a reason but the question would always begin with a “kyon?”

He however had to follow the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to respond to each of those “Kyon” in a subtle and neutral tone, no matter how emotionally charged the “kyon” would be hurled at him.

Ironically, he was called “Utsuk” Kumar because as a child, he would ask the same question which kind of stuck to him till he got into this job. (“Utsuk” is curious in Hindi)

Ever since he got this job, he got allergic to “Kyon” and his personal curiosity had kind of become dormant.

That was about to change today.

As he got out of the halting yet moving train on platform No. 4 at his destination, he dashed towards the bridge to avoid the crowd. He was successful and had almost got to the top when he noticed a huge commotion back at the platform. He paused, trying to make a split second decision. His conscience commanded that he go back to see if there is anyone who needed help. His gut feeling was right. A young guy, who appeared to be an executive in a modern office, had fallen down as the crowd was alighting. As a result of his fall, others simply walked or manoeuvred over and around him when he was howling in pain. It took some time for the others to realize but by then sufficient damage was done and the poor lad appeared to have broken his knee and ankle. This could have been a mini-stampede considering the rush hour but let’s just say it was that lad’s lucky day.

Only at the hospital, after getting his shoes out, did they realize that the lad was wounded in the foot and there was sufficient blood loss. As the arrangement for blood from the bank could take time, the volunteers were asked for blood sampling. Utsuk’s blood group matched with that of the victim’s and the necessary preliminary treatment commenced as they all waited for his relatives to show up.

After narrating the entire story to Karim’s (victim’s name) parents and relatives, Utsuk and the others left. That evening, as he was slowly walking back, his mind was wandering all over the place as the million Thanks from Karim’s relatives kept playing like background score. “Allah taala aapko khoob barqat dein beta. Aap hamesha khush rahein”. Once the background score subdued out, he felt something strange inside. As if some part of him was resurrecting. Then all of a sudden, he was staring at a hundred questions or maybe the questions were staring at him.

In this entire episode, no one ever asked “Kyon” at any point. Be it in the hospital or the relatives or the administrative authorities. It was more of “Kya”, “Kaun”, “Kaise” “Kahan” and “Kab” etc. referring to the Whats, Whos, Hows, Wheres and Whens in Hindi.

With all this chaos going on in his mind, he abruptly stopped walking and stood still.

The expression on his face could be compared to that of Buddha’s moment of enlightenment.

While he had grown up learning a lot of things in school and in real life through events (be it wars, riots etc.), reported media and various debates and discussions, the one thing that stood out was the irrelevance of History. The curiosity around this got to him and hit him like a bolt of lightning.

As he walked again slowly, he was thinking, it was very clear (even in his line of work) that documentation of “facts” and knowledge transfer was absolutely necessary.

The question was, what relevance did “History” have?

Especially in the way it is perceived and taught today!

He wondered, while we all know who invented the telephone, what difference did that make? There are many people in the world today, who use a cell-phone without knowing who invented it.

How does knowing that change anything? Why is it important to know the dates of all the historical wars and heroes? What difference does it make in our day-to-day life? Do we know who thought of, tried and mastered the art of blood transfusion or any medical feat for that matter? Yet again the question that could not satiate his “utsukta” (curiosity) was the question – even if we knew, did it matter? What mattered was the content.

Unaware of the fact that he had reached home, his mind was racing to find answers and this was making him all the more restless. He tried in a different context. He remembered that Mahatma Gandhi was instrumental in getting us Independence and that he was conferred the title, “Father of the nation”. However, he also remembered all the other controversies that surrounded the name in today’s world. Not belittling that great man’s efforts, he thought, while there are people ready to kill each other on differences of opinion regarding some of his ideologies, what everyone seemed to have forgotten is his love for and message of “Non-Violence” and “Tolerance”.

Instead of creating communal tension each time there is a mention of either creating or dirtying a statue of the person who wrote our constitution, does everyone know what his thought process was or what he believed in? Do we as a country, strive enough to upkeep the constitution in the right spirit? What difference would it make if we did not know who wrote it and when did he/she write it?

Is the content NOT more important? Is the Documentation of facts or knowledge transfer alone not enough? Is it necessary to attach a date and a name to it?

It was clear that we attach too much importance to the “who” and “when” rather than the “what”, “why” and “how”. Depending on the “who”, answers to the other questions get distorted with time anyway.

He knew one thing for sure. “Utsukta” in Utsuk Kumar was back. He braced himself for a lot more sleepless nights as he tossed around in his bed with this one unanswered question.

Is HISTORY relevant at all?

'Subject'ive Humor

Using 'His'tory, lines were drawn on natural Land to create political Geography. 
Ushering in Civics with little or no sense. 

Physics of our Biology changes depending on mutual Chemistry. 

Geometry throws it's theories and angles as to why Algebra can't find it's "x".
There is no 'sin' of consistency 'cos' 'theta' not well defined. 
English is pretty much customized with spellings and grammar depending on where you learn.

The dictionary is still incomplete and adding new words every year. 













Debit or Credit cards have not understood the simple rule - Debit what comes in, credit what goes out. 
Ultimate truth is money eventually goes out.













Catching up on Ever evolving Computer Languages is tougher than Physical Training (P.T.)



NatGeo and Discovery compete against the teacher in Environmental Studies
And unfortunately Arts and Craft don't teach the "Art of Living"

The CYCLE

Good Creation, not the creator, is appreciated
Bad Creation is mocked at but the creator is ridiculed.
Even if creator in both the cases is the same.
Let's review the cycle.

NECESSITY impregnates the mind with an idea
Curiosity of delivery fuels execution
Passion fuels excellence
Excellence attracts appreciation
Appreciation's evil twin is expectation
Expectations fuel anxiety of failure
Anxiety of failure fuels consistency pressure
Consistency fuels boredom
Boredom fuels indifference
Indifference creates mediocrity

Mediocrity attracts ridicule

Ridicule triggers self-pity or vengeance

Vengeance is self destructive
Self-pity accentuates re-validation
Re-validation sparks NECESSITY

A Story with Questions

What sets anything apart? What’s the whole “Odd man out” concept?

In a gurukul environment, two young lads were really good in their class and were noticed by their “guru” for their capabilities.

They were far better than the rest of the class that year.

To choose the best, “guru” decided to test them in one grand finale.

This competition was only applicable to those two and NOT the rest.

The challenge was to make the best “Bow and Arrow” keeping in mind the heavy demand for good archers at that time.

Rules were as follows:

1)      They could not use any of the gurukul resources at freewill

2)      The bow and arrow had to be functional

3)      They will NOT see each other or their work

4)      Time given to each was 3 days

As a part of class/caste immunity, the guru was unaware of the contestants’ backgrounds.

Incidentally, one was the son of an army commander (senapati) and the other was a carpenter’s son.

While the boys had learnt a lot about bows and arrows and were adept themselves at self-defence techniques, making a functional bow and arrow was a real challenge. In a gurukul environment, they were obviously away from the city and their parents, neighbours or relatives.

As a well-practiced technique, both the boys began by meditating. Getting their entire focus on to the objective given to them. They internalized the rules and were digging in their memory to get the best possible solution.

Early on, it occurred to the “Senapati’s” son that he could use the available resources but after requesting and justifying the need. That was what “not at freewill” meant.

The carpenter’s son did not seem to comprehend that point. He was visualizing everything he could and was building a mental blue-print of the bow and arrow.

Day 2, the senapati’s son went to the “guru” and requested the list of resources that could be used for this contest. He was duly answered and he began his work.

The carpenter’s son set off towards the woods to collect his resources based on what he had visualized.

Amongst the two, guru secretly rooted for the carpenter’s son to win but was a tad disappointed at not seeing him approach for the resources. He was however happy that one of the boys had the courage to question the rules and put up a justifying request.

Day 3, both the boys were busy building their respective functional bow and arrow.

The final day arrived when they were supposed to display their work.

The Senapati’s son came ahead and unveiled his piece of art. It was a magnificently built strong bow.

The bow was made from layered materials of dissimilar substances viz., shredded sinew, sapwood and heartwood. The arrows were made of the best wood shafts with alloy metal tips (new technology developed locally) available. Almost perfect bowstring attached to the bow’s staff to make for a perfect trigger.

The arrows were shaped to enable a fast, straight line flight with the longest reach.

From the corner of his eye, guru saw a tinge of disappointment in the carpenter’s son’s eyes even before he had unveiled his piece of work.

When he displayed his bow and arrow, the bow was made of light flexible bamboo wood variety, the bowstring was made of shredded and twined coir. The arrow was made from dry grass blades . Although technically functional, the bow and arrow could not kill or hunt . His creation was looked down upon and mocked by everyone including the jury and fellow students.

While the guru was disappointed and sulked internally, the jury expectantly adjudged senapati’s son the winner.

Feeling guilty of not spotting the talent rightfully, guru retired after that academic year.

Years passed by and upon his return to the city, he curiously enquired about the two boys.

Senapati’s son was an obvious choice in the army after spotting the skill to make the best bows and arrows. However, unfortunately he was killed in the previous war.

The carpenter’s son on the other hand was a minister with the King.

He was both, perplexed and intrigued, by the turn of events. He decided to check with the carpenter’s son himself.

The harmless but functional model that he had created during the competition was appreciated by his father and used it as a successful model for toys. That was soon in demand from the neighbouring cities and kingdoms as well. Their family fortunes changed for good.

The then education minister (also on the jury panel) visited both the boys to understand their modus operandi.

The senapati’s son said in a matter of fact tone.

1)      When I meditated, I recreated the instructions given. As I kept repeating them, it became clear that the resources were at my disposal, but on justifying. I had to question the rules.

2)   Through a fellow student, I checked on the materials being used by my competitor. A bit of bending rules was required.

2)      While I personally hated war, I was privy to some of the tales my father narrated. I simply visualized my father’s bow and arrow, the teachings that were imparted in our gurukul and some of the points from my father’s stories. I used all of them to create my design.

3)      While the design was mine, the expertise of materials used were borrowed.

4)      Rest, as they say, is history.

The carpenter’s wise son thus spoke:

1)      When I meditated, the first thing I realized was that I’m going to be judged by something that I don’t enjoy doing.

2)      It was evident that I could use the resources with proper justification.

3)      Nevertheless, I wanted to enjoy the opportunity that was unavailable to the other students and hence decided otherwise.

4)      It needed to be functional. Hence started to think of what could make an interesting toy for other fellow students to play without hurting anyone.

5)      I could recollect all the teachings, materials and it’s properties and made my model with the only objective of keeping it functional.

6)      I was obviously dejected for being mocked at. Upon returning home, when I reluctantly showed the failed model to my father, he was thrilled at finding the toy he’d been looking for. Rest, as they say, is history.

The education minister was pleased and put in a word about the carpenter’s son to the king.

He had the rare skill of converting available information into valuable knowledge.

The teacher was once again stung by guilt and was ashamed of his decisions. However, this time, he resolved to correct his mistake and stayed with the failed student to help him with his experience and wisdom as a bonus. After all, he would learn a lot too in the bargain.

So, let’s revisit the questions. What stands apart? What is the concept of “odd man out”?

List of my Top 5 observations:

1)      Winner had questioned the rules

2)      Carpenter’s son had been totally compliant.

3)      While the winner “stood-out” with his master-piece, carpenter’s son was the “odd-man” out with his funny replica of a model. His approach was actually a bright example of “out of the box” thinking towards LIFE.

4)      While the jury was blinded by their collective thought process at that time, their decision did not stand the test of time. Success in that competition did NOT spell success in life.

5)   Similar qualities make some a Leader and some an outcast.

These observations have a lot to do with society, acceptance and our value system. Its lineage and our legacy.

While I’ll leave you with these observations, there are many more hidden lessons in this story that can be interpreted in today’s context.

I’d want to hear your versions as well. There are NO rules to use the Comments section below.

PRICE of Freedom?

Is “Freedom of Speech and Expression” over-rated in today’s world and context?

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, "Freedom of expression is the right of every individual to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

The operative word being “Hold” opinions and NOT “SHOVE it in your FACE”.

According to Wikipedia, “Freedom of speech” is the political right to communicate one's opinions and ideas using one's body and property to anyone who is willing to receive them. The term freedom of expression is sometimes used synonymously, but includes any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.

The operative phrase being “to anyone who is willing to receive them”.

Freedom can never be enjoyed at the cost of someone else. 

The minute we do that, we're killing the other's freedom.

It’s not simple. But it’s not as complex as well.

A movie, a stand-up act, a Book or the internet provides an opportunity to choose. To Read/See OR Not to. If someone chooses to read/see it despite knowing the content, they are exercising their freedom of choice.

Can the same be true to Radio, Television, Magazines and Newspapers? I believe they do not enjoy the same level of freedom/discretion as the others do. 

Just by the basic design of their existence. These are available in far too many public facilities for open reading/viewing. Access is not restricted in anyway. Today the advertising/marketing world may dissect the target audiences but by and large, these are openly available for public consumption. 

Most of these enjoy Government subsidies too.

Here the choice works the other way round. While in the first set of examples, the choice is whether to read/see or not, here the choice is to “ignore” or not after seeing/reading it. See the difference?

Why do we not use expletives or abusive language in our daily communication?
The same simple reason needs to be applied by the publications too.

Exercising some caution keeping the above simple thing in mind can and will do a lot of good to mankind. 

Provoking with an “expectation” for others to “accept” it as “Freedom of Expression”. 

Operative word here being “Expectation”. That’s plain foolish.

Some take it personally and the saga of vengeance and vendetta continues.

Killing someone to make a point can never be justified. 

But has this not been done before for other so-called noble reasons? 

That is and an entirely different debate altogether.

One thing is clear. 

Collectively we humans pay the price ironically with our priceless LIVEs.

Mutation of a City!

A city of opportunities

Of blended communities

Social activities
Through gatherings and festivities

No one slept hungry

Although a bit disgruntled and angry

Double standards and Hypocrisy

Power struggle guised as democracy

Communal disharmony

Precarious blasphemy

Son of the soil

Embroiled with the ones who toil

Debates, smooth or rough

Replaced by blows and fisticuffs

Fear and rumours afloat

Emotions fly at the click of a remote

Fragile tolerance

Agile violence

Eroded humanity, blatant lust

Faith and trust, biting the dust

Is this but a changing identity

Or a disfiguration of our behemoth city