Random thoughts 2

I was just going through a post on 'What successful people do to kick-start their day'.Visualizing the day's main tasks and problems seems to be a common thread- and as I do that there is only one thought in my head- commuting to work via Mumbai local trains😜. 
But then like an old lady mentioned to me, it's a great equalizer. Rich, poor, caste, religion, region and all other differences are forgotten, as the voice of the people echoes as one chorus- Andar jana, beech me jagah hai dekh (Get to the center, there's space). The eternal optimists that us Mumbaikars become! wink emoticon

Joy of buying books

Installment no 3. Probably the first time, I am going to agree that shopping does bring joy wink emoticon.
Kind of feels good to know that I am on track on my pledge for 25 this year.smile emoticon ‪#‎becomebettereveryday‬

On regressive affirmative action- Reservations on the basis of caste in India & a truly class less society.

And amidst all the good things that I come across, I see this. No where else in the world, would anyone celebrate to be considered downtrodden. And the wanton loot and destruction that we saw earlier will spread across other states now? If any reservation is needed for them, it is in the prisons of this country for the amount of destruction done. Reservations were initially proposed for a ten year period from independence to uplift the poor and weak and I wholeheartedly support that decision. Much pain was caused to those of scheduled castes in the past four hundred years due to wrong socio-political environment and affirmative action is needed to equalise that but unfortunately our legacy of wrong policies only continue and history is repeating itself in the opposite direction. Spineless politics has let the reservation system endure this long, while what is actually needed is to bring up the education level and infrastructure to such a level that all sections of the society have free access to the same standards. That is true equality.

Beyond education, there are so many other things that affect the upbringing of a child. A decent standard of living is of paramount importance too. We have seen great entrepreneurs from normal households with bare minimum education. But if a child is afflicted with social evils and unhealthy livig quarters as violence as he/she grows up, they will be forever be scarred. There is so much that can be done. But clearly reservation is not the only answer, as it has not reduced caste distinction in any manner. People from higher castes have also got to go through a lot of reeducation, just having been born by luck at a higher caste household does not entitle them to riducle others. They as one of my friend puts it are just a lucky sperm amongst millions.

Reserving seats in the name of caste will only let this monster live longer, reminding people of the distinction within themselves, while robbing the meritorious of opportunities. And since when did Jats become backwards. They are most populous caste in Haryana and regions of southern Punjab too making them a dominant sect. And the amount of unabashed aggressiveness they show, clearly indicates, that they were never downtrodden. Reservation is an evil, as much as caste system. It is an excuse for our lack of efforts in providing equal training and treatment to all and it is time to weed it out if we are to go forth as a progressive nation. Caste names should be abolished and all records of it erased including in names as has been done over a period of time in Tamilnadu(but the state still has ways to remind people of their caste every time a new form is flouted around, showing half willed implementation). Without identification, discrimination is nigh impossible. And the government and the people must come all out in truly uplifting the poor and the oppressed.

Random thoughts

Starting a new religion would be the coolest of startups :). Plus if the VC ever asks for proof of concept, you can always brand them as blasphemous ;)

On happiness and reckless expenditure

Sometimes, one stumbles across a work of art that shakes one to their very core. In the fast paced live in the consumeristic society that has been created by powers that be and our own conditioning, we are forced to compete with others and our past self, in terms of our monetary expenditure.

We compete in the cars that we purchase, attire that we wear, the flats that we live, the pricier schools that we send our children to. While all that can be attributed to trying to find/improve one's self worth, we forget that which really makes us human, compassion.

All the self help books that I have read in the past couple of months are about improving only ourselves too, but seeing life as is "from the eyes of the other is the truest way to become a complete human being. We waste a Rupee or two here there. After graduation a couple of hundreds/ thousands spent on every weekend for two, three hours worth of entertainment doesnt bother us, as we feel entitled to it & the society expects us to spend to maintain a sense of social standing. But I know this now, all that money spent has never really bought me happiness. Instead its the time we spend in the company of other people, trying to bring smiles on other faces that bring us real and lasting happiness when you sit to ponder on a solitary evening.

I feel ashamed at, all the happiness I had the potential to create for myself and others, having let go of many of those in my narrow mindedness and inborn laze to act. The mistakes I have made are countless, but the silver lining is that our mistakes are what make us realize that we can be better.

Cheers to all those who work selflessly for and create value on this earth others for they they know they are the happiest. There are many that I can look upto, including you! Everybody has greatness in them.