Unexpected Blessings..

She lay on the ground struggling to shield her ears with numb hands, futilely making an attempt to shut out the sounds all around. Ironic, because she had always loved sound in all its manifestations since she was a baby. All kinds of them be it soulful music, the clinking of bracelets, the swish of the skirt on the grass, the rustle of leaves in the breeze, the pitter patter of tiny feet, the sigh of her mother or the booming laughter of her father. Mama, Papa..She thought with a sob, dead, her entire family obliterated instantaneously. Despair crashed onto her like a tidal wave and she fervently prayed that she lost her ability to hear. Maybe then she would not have to listen to this resonance of inhuman pain. At this precise moment she was willing even eager to sell her soul to the devil if that would end the unbearable screams of the mutilated, the heart wrenching cries of toddlers , the animalistic whimpers of infants, the silky moans of the dying and the eerie silence of the dead.

It had been snowing unremittingly and though she was clad only in a sheer cotton dress, she felt nothing. The anguish in her heart had somehow cushioned her against callous veracity. Everything was so surreal that for one blissful moment she coerced herself to believe that it was only a nightmare. Oh but the shrieks, the inhuman screeches dragged her back brutally and compelled her to confront the truth. She glanced around her making an effort trying to haul herself up, summoning her strength but could only lift her head. It was virginal white and pristine all around as if mocking the war everywhere. Snow had smothered each peak and valley, every roof top and pathway was painted with it. It was heaven on earth...no it was just a cruel trickery. For when she looked intimately she could see shallow rivers of blood surging towards her. It seemed that the pure virgin had been debauchered viciously.

The heaven had been usurped by demons and his disciples and the screams were witness that Satan himself was ripping off the wings of angels. One bloody slash at a time savoring the pain he bequeathed upon them and inhaling the delicious aroma of grief. Oh how she yearned to crawl back into safety but the gates of hell had been unbolted and she couldn’t crawl back to the one place she would have been protected, her mother’s womb . Dead she thought desperately, the mother she had rebelled against, fought with, the mother who had sung her lullabies at night and known her deepest uncertainties and potent aspirations. She squeezed her eyes shut to block the images and miraculously and mercifully fell asleep.

He found her curled into herself like fetus and his heart lurched at the thought of another dead child. He started to turn away; he had observed enough death and was unsure if he could see more and not snap and fall across the edge of insanity where he had been teetering for days. As he moved he heard something, thought his mind was playing pranks on him but no, again there was that ….sob? He swiftly crossed the boulder to reach the child and he bent and gently brushed aside the hair masking the face. He realized with a startle that it was a woman, albeit a very young one. But in times like this, innocence and childhood is a luxury no one can afford. As he moved his fingers to feel the pulse her eyes opened. Their gazes locked and the earth stilted, time stilled and his heart stopped.

She should be terrified, the thought floated somewhere deep in the caverns of her mind but she was not. Why? There wasn’t any overt evidence of anything soft and kind about him but yet she knew he wouldn’t hurt her. She stared at him drinking his sight as if painting his face on her mind will erase all her agony and heal her broken spirit. His eyes were a midnight black as was his hair, with a face that seemed to be carved in granite. He couldn’t have been labeled handsome even remotely but his harsh features and razor sharp angles made her feel  as if he was a Greek God at least to her eyes. For a moment he speculated whether he had finally lost his mind, what was this angel doing in hell. But no she was there. He caressed her cheek to reassure himself of her ethereal presence and she trembled. He snatched his hand thinking he had terrorized her even more but she clutched his hand and their hands were locked as their gazes.

If felt as if a hundred lifetimes had raced by but only a few minutes later there was sound of gunfire shattering their fantasy . He pushed her further under the rocks and made his body her armor. Pressed to his back which was as unyielding as the rock, she belatedly wondered who he was and reality burst on her like a cracked dam. She stared at his clothes and only one word reverberated in her mind ….enemy. He was the foe who had wrecked havoc on her world. But why was he jeopardizing his life for her? Was it a maneuver to lull her into a false sense of security, did he some clandestine agenda? He felt her body stiffen and whirled back and noticed the wariness and dread in her eyes. He uttered a simple cluster of words that irrevocably altered her life forever.

                                “Do not fear me angel, I will protect thee with my life”

Till this day she is uncertain as to why she had trusted him that dawn, but trust him she did, with her life, with her freedom and ultimately but inevitably her heart. He had whisked her into the safety of his arms and had given her refuge in a haven she didn’t even know existed. While he was carrying her to his unit, she had wondered with trepidation and horror that her foot soldier will surely be executed for being her savior. But to her absolute astonishment, he was no mere foot soldier but the Captain of his unit. A battle scarred warrior trapped in a war he didn’t desire, combating with an enemy against whom he had no vengeance and seeking to massacre a conscience he wasn’t aware ,was still breathing. That day when she had lost her conviction in humanity she realized that these soldiers were not the adversary. They were just mere pawns in a colossal game of chess that leaders entrusted with power engaged in to quench their bloodlust. When war becomes a hobby for leaders, the rest are only victims.

She reminisces about the days that had come after, how the warrior had soothingly tended her wounds and in restoring her body, had mended her heart. How he hadn’t uttered a single word in his defense when she had hurled venomous accusations at him. Even today she vividly recollects her shock when she had learned how these enemies had tried to save some of her own people and the heart aching revelation that her family had breathed their last by the hands of their own combatants. The demarcation between friends and foes are often smeared by blood.

                      "She reflects on these memoirs as she watches her warrior, no her husband, sleep with a hand stroking her belly where their child is nestled and is secure.Life may not shape into our preconceived moulds but sometimes one is gifted with blessings in a very unexpected package"

Au Revoir, mon ami...

A year has departed…….Even though everyone eagerly anticipates the arrival of a new year with great delight, shining hopes , honest prayers and crossed fingers , the passing of a year is alike a separation with a dear friend which fills the heart with nostalgia. Memories stalk you and no matter where you run they turn up at unexpected alleys and compel you to take an intimate glimpse at one’s saga so far.

At times this year sprinted at breakneck speed urging one to buck up; lest you are the one being left behind, at others it meandered unsure of itself and apprehensive of the busy boulevards ahead. Yet there were instances when it sauntered away smelling the wildflowers along the way. But there were many ,many occasions that it came to an abrupt halt jarring one from his comfort zone.

There were exhilarating new encounters and somber goodbyes. A few friends metamorphosed into strangers making one question the illusion of permanency enveloping our lives. And certain strangers weaved themselves into the fabric of our lives reassuring us that we aren’t deserted in our joys and sorrows, smiles and tears, anguish and solace and more imperatively in life or death.

It brought with it new beginnings and old ends. New journeys, novel experiences and same old; same old me. Am I? Am I identical to who I was the year before or did I transform with my experiences, hard lessons, fulfilled dreams and shattered hopes? Was I a mere spectator in my own life’s production, unscathed by tragedy, indifferent to sighs and whispers of a lover and unappreciative of my happiness? I would not admit it as the truth for I know that each breath altered me a little and yet the more remained the same. Yet when the dusk settles in, it does not matter as in each beat of my heart, every flutter of my eyelashes and all the pulsing in my blood there was irrefutable evidence that I was alive. And living is the greatest adventure of all.

So this is my personal ode to the passing year. I say a bittersweet goodbye to you old friend and ask that in spirit of our cherished time together you pardon my sins, revel in my triumphs, shed a few tears for my defeats, and pray that my new friend treats me as warmly as you did. In return I wish that you fade into the night with the same feat with which you were born. Au revoir , mon ami…..

Guilty pleasures…(Just for Women)

Love may very well make the world go round but it’s actually the wicked indulgences that really put a spin to it. We live to seek pleasure and will die for it in an instant. Hedonism is the new religion and the means to attain gratification; the new Bible. People can feel good through innumerable modes but the ones that are finest have a sense of guilt attached to it. An unrestricted date can never match the exhilaration of a clandestine encounter with one’s lover. Pleasure that makes the heart sigh and ache simultaneously. Love that doesn’t make goose bumps race through your skin and steal your breath away at the sight of your man isn’t worth all the tears and despair. So even amongst all the sniffles and desolation, you know that you rather be at that crossroads than swap places with God Himself.

Guilty Pleasures are all about the forbidden. The saga began with Adam & Eve partaking a bite of the glossy apple and the subsequent generations have redefined and recreated the concept of illicit bliss. Let’s take a glance at a few delights that tingle women despite of its “alleged” ramifications.

The sinful melting of dark chocolate that takes the taste buds to the edge of ecstasy, the caress of silky, satiny lingerie that brings remembrances of a lover’s touch. The soft yielding in the arms of a man unheeding all social mores, the impulsive thoughts of hot sensuous lips amidst a tedious conference at work. The sudden crave for luxurious wine when household expenses are falling short. The unsophisticated gossip under the pretense of social obligations, and the gleeful observation of another’s misery through façade of sympathy. The premeditated murder of your feet with high heels in pursuance of sexy legs and the quiet seduction of a stranger in a public place. The abrupt appearance of a different man’s face while cuddling with your boyfriend and the covet desire for another woman’s man.

And finally, the hunger and yearn for a mind boggling, earth shattering romance despite of being one half of a stable & secure relationship. I could probably speak of a thousand more Guilty Pleasures but they wouldn’t be as naughty as these nor would they beckon us with such temptation. I know it probably doesn’t portray the virginal and submissive picture that men generally want to see but hey it does adds a dash of spice in life…what say girls.

Just a thought...

It often strikes me how ironical it is to wallow in self pity cursing one's solitude when the problem of over population tries to push and shove its way before our eyes to get attention. The poor mother Earth is bursting at the seams and most of its inhabitants keep complaining about lonliness. Just cements the fact that what self centred species we are.

           I am forced to wonder whether the component of humanity in our blood has evolved into callousness and indifference or maybe our brains simply refuse to process the fact that in order to be on the receiving side of affection and companionship, one has to offer it as well.And if this criteria is too much for my fellow homo sapiens to meet then we might as well blow up land to make space and channel all our resources in the creation and manufacturing of a robot which provides emotional warmth on command. So like a well trained canine that jumps and wags its tail according to its master's whim ;the robot may hug, kiss, etc, etc at the snap of the fingertips. I just hope when scientists and the "brain men" are busy on this gargantuan invention, someone ensures that this robot's body exudes warmth otherwise what will be the point of getting a hug from the guy. If that's not possible then one might as well go and hug the living room couch and pretend that its his best buddy. Why spend money on the aforesaid robot, might as well spend it on a chilled pinot noir.

            Oh by the way if anyone reading this has a doubt and it would really take a person whose IQ matches that of a turnip, I am being sarcastic If I go on to suggest someone to look at the bigger picture in life and believe in love and affection, I would be wasting my breath. On the top of that most likely face accusations of being pompous , so I am just saving myself some grief, not to mention a headche and the task of pointing out the consequences of being aloof and conviniently forgetting that friendship express is not one way........

How's that as food for thought??

Challenges of the Challenged..

Every educated and rational individual will opine that a physically and mentally challenged child should be offered all opportunities that a so termed “normal “one gets. But how far does this concept relate in real life. And of all the chances that we are talking about, perhaps the most important one is that of learning. It is a very unfortunate fact our society does not treat these “Special Children” equally. Even today when we boast of living in an advanced world discrimination and negligence involving education of such kids are rampant. It is time to not only applaud initiatives like “Taare Zameen Par” but actually incorporate its essence of innovative techniques and methods of teaching and attitude of equality at a mass level.

However, in recent times there is a shift of attitude towards the education of challenged children and it is accepted by experts that each child should be allowed to learn in his own way rather than being forced to follow rigid pre set standards. The concept of Inclusive learning is also making waves. It connotes that all children should be allowed without restriction to participate equally in all education programmes. Such a system of education defines these children as ones with special needs rather than using terms such as “handicapped” or” impaired” which lays down a positive attitude and a sense of acceptance of these children.

Technology and special teaching methods has come a long way in aiding “Challenged Children”. Various technological aids are being used to help such children teach and communicate. In many cases the special children are so challenged that they cannot even emote or communicate at the basic level. Hence , the need of technical support is vital. These specialized technologies are often called assistive technology because they consist of equipments or software that is used to maintain or enhance functional capabilities of a challenged child. Assistive technology includes hardware such as scanners, adapted keyboards, hearing aids, and software such as speech recognition and thought organization. At the base level, assistive technology generally consists of the following devices facilitating access:

• To a standard PC

• To and of manipulation of the written word.

• To and of manipulation of the spoken word.

• To devices that compensate cognitive deficits.

Electronic reading aids are also employed which can scan and translate printed text into a computer readable file that can be read with Braille display or magnification software. Even Electronic libraries are set up to further assist the teaching aids.

Different teaching methods are employed keeping in mind the type of challenge a child is facing. This makes the process of teaching more individual friendly guaranteeing personal attention to the need of each child. The most widely used teaching techniques are Braille and Sign language.

Braille system is mostly used to teach visually impaired children. It is writing system which enables blind and partially sighted people to read and write through touch. Braille has been adapted to write many different languages and is also used for musical and mathematical notation.

Sign language is a mode which uses manual communication, body language, and lip patterns to convey meaning instead of sound. It often involves simultaneous combination of hand shapes, orientation, body movements and facial expressions to express the speaker’s thoughts in a smooth and fluid manner. The use of Sign language is developed mostly in Deaf communities. There are hundreds of sign languages that are being used across the world.

Bal Kalyan Sanstha Pune, founded in 1979, is a Recreational and Cultural Centre for disabled children in the state of Maharashtra, India. It began its journey during a time when educating disabled children was important, but the recreational needs were not being met due to lack of funds and space. Government officials, social workers, and teachers worked together in order to get the Sanstha up and running. Today 1200 to 1500 children attend the center weekly from areas in and around Pune.

To sum up it will be apt to say that there is ample availability of technology to support the education of Special children. But the major factor is a change in mentality towards their education requirements. The services of Non Government Organizations and Government policies do exist. It is the use and implementation of these policies and services that are of vital importance.

Corporal Punishment..

Corporal Punishment- this term has been a bone of contention among parents, students and educational authorities. Recently, the news channels and newspapers have been flooded with cases of brutality that children face in schools. The public have been shocked and outraged but largely unaware of the many forms in which corporal punishment manifests itself. We need to ask ourselves whether its justified that the young kids are exposed and are victims of such kind of violence. When imparting such forms of punishment do the school authorities take into account the psychological damage that can take place? And perhaps the most shocking fact is that often the punishment children face at home can be equally damaging and can also range into corporal punishment. The combination of such trauma in both school and home can lead to serious damage to the child.

Awareness is very important about this concept. Technically speaking, Corporal Punishment is the deliberate infliction of pain intended to punish a person or to change his behavior. United Nations has undertaken a campaign called” Global Initiative to end all Corporal Punishment of children”. This campaign has set a target to prohibit all forms of violence against children by the year of 2009 including the types they face in their homes. It is a very unfortunate fact that even well meaning many parents also imparts such punishment that is damaging to the kids. Punishment is given by way of correction. But physical damage often does more harm than good. Use of force is justified to transform unacceptable behavior of a child and to express symbolic disapproval so that it is not repeated. But the force must be used in such a manner that it does not inflict any bodily harm.

Race and gender are very significant factors which determine corporal punishment. Statistically speaking, the boys are administered more violent forms of punishment than the girls in home. Even in schools punishment of male students are likely to be more aggressive and severe. Even the possibility of the boys being hit for the same infractions is more than that of the girls. In fact, statistics show that the socio economically weaker children face more corporal punishment. Research proves that such action is potentially counter productive for children and even more so for the boys who in all likelihood tend to develop rebellious attitude. Imparting corporal punishment may for some time persuade one to show compliance but in most cases it does not generate positive long term effects.

Smacking or spanking is the most common form of corporal punishment that takes place at home. In schools this extends to being hit by canes or being slapped. Opponents of Corporal Punishment argue that such form of chastisement is equal to abuse. Psychological research has proved that such sentencing causes deterioration of trust bonds especially between parents and children. It tends to polarize the Parent-Child relationship, reducing the amount of spontaneous cooperation on behalf of the child. The bond between a teacher and a student is more fragile and tentative than the one between parents and off springs. It becomes absolutely vital on the part of the teacher to ensure that the form of chastisement is proper and for the improvement of the child. Disciplining strategies that are used in educational institutions and at homes should not be physically and emotionally hampering to the child.

The attitude of the three parties involved could not be more contrasting. Children believe that such forms reprimand should not be implemented on them. If they are at fault at any point of time, it should be considered as a part of their learning curve. It has to be altered and not penalized. The teachers and educational boards often say that some strict form of disciplining is very crucial and they are for the betterment of the child and are not destructive in nature. Parents generally belong to a very different class in this argument. The most frequent words are that the schools are unjustified to chastise their kids in such an aggressive manner but their own form of punishment cannot be wrong.

History has been witness that children facing severe physical punishment was considered normal curriculum of school. However now it is considered a violation of human rights of children. Therefore the time has come to be actively participate against such social norms that allow young kids to be sufferers of such vicious penalties for their missteps.

Thoughts Of A Lost Soul..

I walked straight and narrow,

I walked far and wide;

I meandered solitary and alone,

I paced with strangers aside.

Never could I grasp joy in my numb fingers,

Neither could I ever sigh in contentment;

No romance for me in the arms of a lover,

No mother’s love caressing me in my ailment.

Worlds were in harmony & the Gods feasting,

& my soul was bleeding, one humble drop at a time;

Lightning struck; the lands trembled with wrath of heavens,

That rage soothing wounds of a lifetime.

The shredded soul stares as enlightenment creeps in,

I am not of this world; I do not belong in this age;

Born perhaps a century earlier, a mere mortal instead of mighty power,

Maybe a century late, an ignorant spirit in place of a sage.