BYBS : LOTR

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Yesterday, I was sitting at my computer with nothing much to do. So, I decided to go through the collection of movies I have and my eyes alighted upon The Lord of The Rings. I decided to watch The Two Towers again, and I was reminded why I love The Lord of The Rings so much.

This love affair actually started with the book itself. It could have something to do with the circumstances in which I read the book. I was away from civilization at a place where I did not have any friends around, no TV, nothing to do with my time. Fortunately, I had taken the book with me, which I read at one stretch of so many hours. At the end of it I was in love with the book.

Then, in time, I saw the movie and, needless to say, it was another case of love at first sight. Like true love it has lasted.

It is very difficult to say what it is about the movie that I like. I think it is the story, the characters, and the way the book has been written. The book successfully manages to take the reader to a different world, leaving behind the worries and the troubles of this world. Of course, the worries and the troubles don't go anywhere, but for some time they are forgotten.

In addition to all that, I think there is a certain strain of morality and heroism that runs throughout the book, which I find very motivating.

Yesterday,too, watching the movie had the same effect. And that, I think, is a great blessing!

BYBS : Love

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Last week was another busy one. I had exams, for which I was not prepared at all, and hence I had to miss BYB Sunday. I always say that lack of time is no excuse for anything at all. When you want to do something, you find a way; when you don't, you find an excuse! So, I guess, there must have been a lack of will on my part to do the BYB Sunday last week.

However, this Sunday, although I don't have much to say, I will not let any excuse stop me from posting. Especially, when yesterday was Valentine's day.

A few years back, hardly anyone knew about Valentine's day in India. But with the rapid strides made in the field of media, this day has become very popular now. From young to the old everybody is using this day to spread the message of love.

However, not all is well with Valentine's day in India. A section of the society feels that this day is promoting promiscuity among Indian youth. This section of the society has gone to the extent of using violence to discourage people from celebrating Valentine's day. There were reports of incidents of violence in some parts of the country, and a girl committed suicide after she was brought home by some people who had found her with her boyfriend.

India, for long, has been a traditional society. Sex is still considered a subject that is best discussed in the closed confines of a bedroom. Whatever the media might say, it is a fact that middle class and mid-town India still shies away from discussing sex with their children. And children, try their best to hide their relationships from their parents. Even in the bigger cities, though there has been a certain change in the way things are done, yet it is an undeniable fact that in India arranged marriages are still the most popular way of getting married. In smaller towns, barring a few exceptions, this is the only way of getting married.

So, for some people, it is very difficult to digest the change that is presently sweeping over the youth in the country. The youth, in their enthusiasm to embrace modernity, are showing utter disregard for the age old values. This is leading to a tricky situaktion, and eventually causing conflict.

However, no one way of acting or living one's life is better than another. But, I feel, the following points must be kept in mind:

1. Violence is a solution to no problem.
2. Every culture is rich and varied, and develops over a period of time due to various geographical, social, anthropological factors etc. Therefore, if any culture is different from another, there is a reason for that difference, and, therefore, the difference must be respected.
3. Culture is not a line on a stone. It is something ever-changing. It is our job to give the change a direction that is for the better.
4. Every culture has good things and bad things. It should be our effort to weed out the bad, and adopt what is good in to their cultures.
5. Lastly, Love is the greatest power of them all. So, Love one must.

I hope everyone had a great weekend!

BYBS : Rituals

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It is considered fashionable these days to debunk rituals. Everyone wants to do something new, and whatever has been continuing for ages is termed orthodox and conventional. I am no exception. Sometimes it comes naturally. Maybe it has something to do with the education system, which encourages us to challenge the existing system, and find our own way.

But, rituals have a meaning and significance. There is a reason that these rituals have been set up, and are followed by people over the generations.

Just the other day in class - on January 30 - someone interrupted the class, because he wanted us to hold a moment of silence and remember Mahatma Gandhi on his 61st martyrdom anniversary. I cannot explain how I felt at that moment because I do not really understand the concept behind holding a minute of silence. To say the least, I was skeptical.

But as we stood up, and were silent, something changed. Once again, I cannot really describe my feelings, but I can say that at the end of that one minute I felt grateful for it. A lot went through my mind in that one minute, and, at the end of the minute, I felt that every ritual has some meaning.

Before we debunk it, we should give it a try, and it may turn out to be a great blessing.

Have a great week ahead!