The Verbal Aspartame

To criticise is human nature. We always like to point out other’s faults and errors, don’t we?

Criticism is like aspartame. We need just the right amount, for things to turn sweet. And like aspartame, it does leave a bitter after-taste.

Criticising is an art…

You need just the right amount of criticism, at the right time, to help the other person realise his mistake.

Too much criticism makes you less tolerable. So, moderate your criticism, and avoid being too harsh or repetitive, or people might label you as insensitive or someone who doesn’t know how to mind their own business.

Think before you criticise.

It’s not necessary for you to criticise anyone and everyone for the sake of it.

Be sensitive, that remark you just passed about someone might emotionally shatter them. Or they might reprove you, if they’re better than you at the game.

Moderate criticism is acceptable, and plays a pivotal role in shaping one’s personality. Where most people go wrong, is when they start criticising every living thing on the planet over some minor issue of minimal importance.

When you criticise, remember that you’re putting forth your own ideology about the matter, which may or may not be right.

Do not let casual criticism turn into a fiery debate. If you’re criticising someone and he doesn’t approve of your criticism, stop right then, before things turn awry.

Know well that while criticism can have a positive outcome, sometimes it might end up being the cause for your relations turning rancid.

So, to criticise or not to criticise, that is the question.

And the answer is ‘YES’ and ‘NO’

That’s up to you and your conscience to decide. Before you feel like it, ask yourself if it is really that important for you to go out there and say something?

Or maybe sometimes it happens so that keeping mum is the best way out.

So, now you might want to criticise my writing style for being too crude? Go on, I’ll thank you for it. 

Corrupt-shun

Amidst all the political gamble and agitations against corruption, I was a silent observer, who maintained his ‘maun vrat’ over the issue.

Seldom did it happen that I commented upon the recent happenings in my country, knowing fully, that my opinions had no practical value whatsoever.

I have a utopian vision set in my mind, when it comes to India. I love India from the bottom of my heart, and I mean it.

Corruption is a disease that is fast spreading, and at the current rate, there isn’t much time to save our nation from this disaster.

We've made a laughing stock of ourselves.

There came the ‘Lokpal’ vaccine. Promising me the vision I had, and a future I dreamt of.

A 16^th century proverb says “A drowning man will clutch at a straw”.

Such was the case of our country when it came to anti-corruption, with our government neck deep in corruption; we latched onto whatever slight ray of 

hope we had from the likes of Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev et al.

I once tweeted “Many people out on the streets supporting Hazare. Are we witnessing another revolution? Hell Yeah!! ” 

Little did I know, that half of the mob, consisting mainly of youngsters, were out there just to get away from the monotony of life.

Gandhi caps, tricolors, banners, protests, rallies, fasts. Everyone tried to get the ‘by, for, to’ formula of democracy work. I pity their conscience.

As I grew up, I realized that the authors of my civics textbook were liars. They gave me false ideas about democracy, false hopes, and false definitions.

We are no less than a monarchy, and no better. We are one land, divided by the many socio-linguistic barriers, and further fragmented on the basis of religion 

by self-important politicians who have no regard for life or property.

Corruption is a big question mark on our so called ‘sanskruti’ we boast of every time the development of our country is questioned.

To eliminate corruption on all levels, the citizen of India, the aam aadmi must stand up against it.

I might be asking for too much, but that’s all we can do. The other option is to be a mute spectator as our nation crumbles to dust.

The future of our nation rests in the hands of the younger generation, who don’t seem to give a damn.

As Amir Khan  said in Rang De Basanti, one of my favorites, “We Indians have one foot resting on our past, the other on our future, while we piss on our present.”

It’s a bit too harsh to say, yet very true.

Free India from corruption. Jaago Re!!

Lessons From A Bee

1. Work hard, and do not expect people to praise you.
2. Accept your fate, be the best at what you're destined to do.
3. Gather honey; don't care about money.
4. Never expect anything in return of a favor.
5. Gather only as much honey as your hive can hold.
6. No matter how small you are, YOU'RE SPECIAL!
7. Lay down your life to protect your loved ones.
8. No matter how difficult life may seem, keep humming the song of life.
9. Every flower in the garden has some nectar within.
10. Work it, DO IT!