"Do not confuse motion and progress. A rocking horse keeps moving but does not make any progress"

I am back from a busy week- trying to close issues, confusions and show stoppers and what not. However, I thought of sharing a story here.

It’s about a horse and a donkey. There were two horses – Dave and David, who were in the farm working for their master. As we all know how masters are – they will try to get the work done as much as possible. They will not analyze the capacity of the horse or even dividing the work for the horses.
Both the horses were working hard and were tired everyday. One day Dave felt that what are we doing, just work and work and get stressed and then you start another day and so forth. There must be something where we can find some peace and relaxing time.

Dave started thinking if I don’t think and work smartly there will be no difference – we horses being called as donkey. Dave shared his views with David.

David was more interested in doing things what the master gave and being the pet of the master. He felt that being a pet of the master will always keep him safe and sound.

“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap, but by the seeds you plant.” ~ Robert Louis Stevenson

David used to work like day and night. He used to lift all the load and pull the cart for his master and at times master will take David for a horse riding as well.
Dave, with a bit of his smart mind started doing things with a difference. He would lift the load not on his back but on the cart and he would take rest in between when ever he got chance and this made him look always with full of energy.

“For every disciplined effort there is a multiple reward.” ~ Jim Rohn

Slowly, master started feeling the change. He saw David takes him for the ride but he is dull and slow. He gets tired fast and then master has to shorten his ride and come back home.
One morning master went to ride back on David and David accidentally fall on the ground. Master looked at him and he called the vet to take care and he took Dave this time for a ride.
Dave was doing things smartly; he used to take his master for ride at places where there were green grass and lake water to drink. Dave knew his masters likes and dislikes and this place was perfect for his master as master used to get in for hunting deer and Dave used to freshen himself with some water and green grass.

“Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now” ~ Allan Lakein

Master started enjoying the ride with Dave and slowly Dave became his favorite pet and David was like a forgotten horse for his master. David recovered from his illness but he couldn’t ever get back to the level where he used to be with his master.

Summary is that if we don’t plan and work accordingly and if we fall for such things to be favorite of your boss you might miss many important things related to your work that might bring chaos to the overall work or project.

Thinking smartly and executing the work appropriately made Dave a perfect horse as compared to David who always thought like a donkey ;)

Now my friends will think this story was about a donkey and a horse and I started there were two horses :D….its up to you to think now …;)

“Every job is a self portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence”

“Life is just a chance to grow a soul”

The other day I was watching this movie ‘Mumbai Meri Jaan’ (Bombay my life).
It basically was showing a bomb-blast and then life in Mumbai how it goes on!

It’s in between when I heard the news about a blast that occurred in New Delhi…and believe me I could feel what it could be as one was watching all this in the movie. The impact to the common people, the fear phobia, the chaos and the sufferings of all, was nothing different for New Delhi people and also the rest of the country too.

“Bullies are always cowards at heart and may be credited with a pretty safe instinct in scenting their prey.” ~ Anna Julia Cooper

It was sad but two things that this movie was conveying and that too to two set of different people.

One, to the people who creates terror in the world that no matter what you do life goes on still may be for a while that spirit is lost but it doesn’t take much time to regain that.

Secondly, to the people who starts searching for a terrorist in their own friends and neighbors and differentiate them from society. Try to show their anger on them and then starts the chaos as that becomes easier for the people to make a country get destroyed.

“True religion is real living; living with all one's soul, with all one's goodness and righteousness.” ~ Albert Einstein

Together we can unite and deal with certain issues but we there is issues within ourselves then it’s more dangerous.

I would say a worth watching this movie. The actors are awesome like Paresh Rawal, Menon, Irfan Khan and so forth. It relates to everyone in the world as it was not only in Mumbai or New Delhi – but the terrorist attacked the WTC in NY too.

“Love the moment. Flowers grow out of dark moments. Therefore, each moment is vital. It affects the whole. Life is a succession of such moments and to live each, is to succeed.” ~ Corita Kent

Life is festival only to the wise

I was wondering this morning when I got up, no matter what ups and downs one has in life it’s the small festivals and cultural events that bring life overall in the surroundings.

Its so amazing that ramadaan has started already and others have either Ganesh festival or Onam (in Kerala) and all these colorful events, food and get together programs makes everyone leave their grievances and in-differences and unite them as one.

“Festival of the impassioned efforts and manifold ambitions of all forms of youthful activity of every generation springing from the threshold of life.” ~ Pierre de Coubertin

I don’t know even if many things I am not able to celebrate but when I see others do, the excitement itself brings a splash of rainbow colors in my heart and mind.

I want to wish everyone Happy Ramadan, Happy Ganesh Chaturthi and Happy Onam.

May the festivity bring happiness, good health and peace to this world.

“The truth is that existence wants your life to become a festival...because when you are unhappy, you also throw unhappiness all around. ”

“Write to be understood, speak to be heard, read to grow...”

Recently, I heard people wondering where I get the time to write blog.
I am sure all my blog friends will never ask this and will understand how one does this.

I have understood one thing if one is passionate about something they will make sure they do that – but that doesn’t mean you forget all your other responsibilities.

I want to tell my friends who ask this question – I am passionate about writing but that doesn’t mean I don’t do any work at home or shy away from my responsibilities.

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” ~ Angela Monet

I remember those days when I used to write posts everyday in blog then things started getting busy, responsibilities increased and my daily writing hobby turned to weeks and months.

You can never achieve anything in life by focusing on only one thing and even if you do so that doesn’t show one’s greatness as completeness is always in doing everything without fail.

“Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” ~ Hebbel

Do you think if a mother gives birth to a child and then doesn’t take care does that show that mother is a complete mother?
I hear everyone says a mother is great because she carries a child in her womb for 9 months and goes through the pain to deliver.

But I believe every mother (human or animal) they if conceived will always goes through the pain to deliver. But then after delivering the kid how a mother takes care of the child is the true motherhood.

“The mother loves her child most divinely, not when she surrounds him with comfort and anticipates his wants, but when she resolutely holds him to the highest standards and is content with nothing less than his best.” ~ Hamilton Wright

So friends, when I have some turbulence in my heart and mind I make sure that I put it on paper and if that needs a sacrifice then I will make sure that I do it.

Many times, I have written blog when I am at lunch eating with right hand and typing with left! Many times I write after work sitting in the office and so many other moments.
As many times the surrounding people can be encouraging to the writers but can be also creating hindrance by not allowing.

I believe in expressing as that’s my birth right.

“Above all, be true to yourself, and if you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it.”

“For all sad words of tongue and pen, The saddest are these, 'It might have been'.”

At times being busy is good as you don’t get to hear or read any news but then how far can you escape from truth.
Yesterday was busy but today when I checked news, I read Ahmad Faraz died on August 25th, 2008. It is shocking news though I know his health was not so good. But it was one of the best ways to see that we still have great Urdu writing poets, who are compared with Mohammad Iqbal and Faiz like great poets.

“Poetry is a deal of joy and pain and wonder, with a dash of the dictionary”. ~Kahlil Gibran

I am like a hungry person running around to read about him and his news, probably to make sure that the news is not just a rumor as I remember this was a rumor one time.

I feel the emptiness though I have never met the poet personally but Ahmad Faraz being one of my favorite poets, I always kept him near my heart just like Javed sahib and Gulzar.

He was born in Nowshera, Pakistan and brother of Syed Masood Kausar. In an interview with Rediff he recalls how his father, a teacher, once bought clothes for him on Eid. He didn't like the clothes meant for him, but preferred the ones meant for his elder brother. This lead him to write his first couplet:

Layen hain sab ke liye kapre sale se (He brought clothes for everybody from the sale)
Layen hain hamare liye kambal jail se (For me he brought a blanket from jail)

He was told by his parents once to learn mathematics from a female class fellow during the summer vacation. "I was weak in mathematics and geography. I still don't remember maps and roads".
Instead of learning mathematics he played bait-bazi with her, a game in which one person recites a couplet and the other one recites another couplet starting from the last letter of the previous one. He always lost, even though he memorized hundreds of couplets for her, but when he started manufacturing his own couplets she couldn't catch him anymore. Coming from a respectable family of Syeds, descendents of ''Haji Bahadar" a famous saint of Kohat, he moved to Peshawar with entire family. Studied in famous Edwards College, Peshawar and then did his Masters in Urdu and Persian. Initially Syed Ahmad Shah Faraz thus became Ahmed Faraz.
During his college time, Faiz Ahmed Faiz and Ali Sardar Jafri were the best progressive poets, who impressed him and became his role models. Ahmed Faraz initially worked as a script writer at Radio Pakistan Peshawar and then moved on to teach Urdu at Peshawar University. In 1976, he became the founding Director General (Later Chairman) of Pakistan Academy of Letters.

“Inna Lillahay Wa Inna IlyehaY Ra'jeoon “ (May his soul rest in peace)

On this day I would like to share one of his poetry translated in English and I pay my condolences to his family and his fans.

Khvaab Marte Nahin (Dreams Do Not Die)

Dreams do not die.

Dreams are not hearts, nor eyes or breath

Which shattered, will scatter (or)

Die with the death of the body.
Dreams do not die.

Dreams are light, life, wind,

Which can not be stopped by mountains black,

Which do not burn in the hells of cruelty,

Like light and life and wind, they

Do not bow down even in graveyards.
Dreams are letters,

Dreams are illumination,

Dreams are Socrates,
Dreams are Mansur!'

Like dreams the poetry never dies….this is what I believe. His thoughts will linger in our hearts forever

“Poetry heals the wounds inflicted by reason”. ~Novalis

Try not to become a man of success but rather try to become a man of value

Lately, with the posts like independence and friendship how can I forget Music as music is the life …the food…to survive :)

I happened to watch one of the episode of the India program called ‘Koffee with Karan’ in which they had Himesh Reshamiya as guest.

“All television is educational television. The question is: what is it teaching?” ~Nicholas Johnson

It was interesting, as I myself like some of his songs but he is been labeled as a nasal singer. More over he initially came up as a composer, music director and then he took to singing and now acting too.

I remember Sonu Nigam – another great singer who acted in movie but the movie got flop. So he is a successful singer though not an actor.

“The distance between insanity and genius is measured only by success”. ~ Bruce Feirstein

When Himesh’s movie promo was going on I thought is he gone crazy!
Believe me I like his some of the songs and let me tell you its awesome and liked by most of them due to the peppiness and it’s different ;)

I remember once, I brought the DVD of his movie and I don’t know I didn’t even reach the half and got to some other work and then forgot to watch and returned the dvd to the store :D

I had the feeling that he is arrogant, full of pride and doesn’t respect anyone. When I saw the ‘Koffeee with Karan’ program he was totally a different person!
He is like I agree what ever people say about me that I am a nasal singer and initially I was trying to defend myself lol!

“Modesty is not only an ornament, but also a guard to virtue” ~ Joseph Addison

I was totally zapped at his statement, but don’t know something has happened that he is trying to show he is down to earth person! But in that show also with my analytical skills ;) I felt that he was accepting the critic that he is a nasal singer but then he said I am accepting this because I am successful today – which clearly meant that he is kind of telling people that yes, I am a nasal singer so what you people like it anyway …lol!

Well, couple of things I liked about him during the interview session where he said- he has no talent and its mere luck and prayers that has made him so successful and secondly that what goes up has to come down (gravity I guess ;) ) so he knows there will be a down fall time too and so seems he has prepared himself for that.

“The depth of your mythology is the extent of your effectiveness”. ~ John C. Maxwell

Of all these, I was amazed to see his co-competitors or should I say other composers and music directors who were asked to comment on Himesh’s success and talent.

I am discussing about Himesh but then I will not loose the opportunity to discuss about others too here :) as you don’t always get one ;)

There were singers and music directors who commented and I have to say I was very happy and glad to hear from these two people who were readily accepting that Himesh has done what they never thought of, such as

Anu Mallik – I think he is a senior and established music director/singer and yet he accepted that Himesh is great in his creativity and he has done something which they have not thought of doing and so the result is that he just came and is climbing the stairs of success.

“It is common sense to take a method and try it. If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something”. ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

Similarly, Shaan – the playback singer who said people say its by fluke Himesh’s songs got hit but then how many fluke’s does it happen?
He also accepted that, his kids also always sing the songs that Himesh sing and I think that’s a very honest statement to share with audience and yet honest compliment that Himesh can get one.

I have high respect for these two people even though they are best in their field they are down to earth and ready to accept the truth and I think any artist who is a true artist will be like one of them.

“A successful person is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks that others throw at him or her”. ~ David Brinkley

Now comes the critic part of the other comments that were made.

Kailash Kher : He is a good singer and I like his sufi songs which you can find in my radio-blog too. But the way he was criticizing Himesh saying his songs get hit because he is hammering the lyrics many times :D….so it gets in to people’s mind haha I was laughing at that one….are people so stupid?
Another comment he made was like a certain group or community enjoys Himesh’s songs not the upper class…wow! What a statement to make? In fact in the survey that ‘Koffeee with Karan’ did had all class and all mediums who were mentioning how much they love his songs whether its in the car, pubs or even marriages…in fact Madhuri Dixit said Himesh’s song is family song of there’s :D isn’t that a big compliment and says about the class? :D

Aadesh Srivastav: He is a music director and he was saying yes Himesh is successful in what ever he is doing but its all commercial and I would judge him based on his classical music…! C’mon you can’t accept that you are not there where he reached in a short matter of time?

Udit Narayan : He is a playback singer and was very much smiling when saying that he is happy with Himesh’s success. He didn’t say any negative thing but the way he was saying –more or less it seemed like a sarcastic comment.

Over all I want to say is that an artist can be liked by few, more or everyone but then no matter what If the artist is successful then one shouldn’t deny about their success and accept the fact that there is a difference in creativity thinking.

“The jealous are troublesome to others, but a torment to themselves”. ~William Penn

The moment you start giving reasons why another person is successful or let him do this or that and then see if he achieves success then I think that’s more or less a jealous that is talking and jealousy never takes you anywhere.

Music is something I always felt is soothing and the people attached to it are too but when I see all this I feel everything is ultimately business and money :)

“What is a cynic? A man who knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.” ~ Oscar Wilde

“I'd rather have a moment of wonderful than a lifetime of nothing special.”

It was one of the winters when I was flying from Toronto to New Jersey to meet my friend Shika.
It was a long weekend and I had nothing much to do so his timely invitation worked out for me.

I landed on Friday evening and that's when Shika told me that we have to attend a wedding party.
I was totally zapped...a wedding party? who's party? Do I know them? etc..etc..!

Let me tell you about Shika, this guy was and is never serious in life. I guess he was never serious when he proposed me and hence today we are friends’ still but not a couple ...lol! As usual his reaction was so what they all know you.

First I was a bit hesitant as me and Shika we are kind of dare devil in this matter but what about those whom I don't know yet? But then I also thought who cares...am Shika's guest and he is taking me so I was chilling out. I made sure Shika is carrying the gift.
We reached home had coffee and lots of goodies from India as Shika just made a trip to India and so he brought all sorts of unique sweets and snacks from Pune.

Dinner was not a issue as we got dressed up to go for the wedding party. They were Couple met via internet and now they got married - girl is from Kerala and the guy is from Chennai.
The moment I was introduced there after other formalities - the groom asked me where I completed my education and based on the University this guy just got freaked out and said now no one messes up with Dawn as she is from my University and then it was a history that I didn’t know these people.

“Nothing is more exciting and bonding in relationships than creating together” ~ Stephen R. Covey

In that event I met lot of new people - all jokers just like me - meaning carefree and having fun jokes and what not! I met this well built guy Puneet - a handsome charmer - girl’s go crazy for him this is what I heard from him. I don’t know when I was introduced to him and rest is history.
We became so good friends that night when we were leaving he was like - I am throwing a party for Dawn before she leaves to Toronto and he took me and Shika to Ethiopian restaurant - I still remember I loved the food.

That day I got a compliment from Puneet saying - I like your company because with you
there is no formality, one can talk openly and be friend without the thought one is guy and other is a gal.

“It is superstitious to put one's hopes in formalities, but arrogant to refuse to submit to them.” ~ Blaise Pascal

After that, I didn’t get a chance to meet Puneet but we are in touch via emails or a surprise phone call.

Lately, I got busy at work and with my moving etc...I have to admit some of my do's I have been not doing it :) and this friend of mine called me just to remind that :)

“Sometimes you put walls up not to keep people out, but to see who cares enough to break them down.”

It was hilarious talking to him and we joked a lot and as usual I pulled his leg and finally he ends up the call by saying - 'I like your company because with you there is no formality :)

He is very sweet - when he didn’t get any greetings for Independence day from me he got worried about me :D
I still feel laughing about this event....but yes, friends do love no matter where you are, whether you are in touch with them on regular basis or not - but they do care which is most important of all

Three cheers to my friend Puneet

“A true friend is someone who thinks that you are a good egg even though he knows that you are slightly cracked” ~ Bernard Meltzer