66th Republic Day- A Refinement in every way.....

Wing Commander Pooja Thakur, the First Lady Officer
to command The Guard of Honour

The 66^th Republic Day  fashioned a day in Indian history that’s going to remind people of a Revolution where our country witnessed power, strength, might, valour, grace, justice, elegance and beauty all at the same time. My chest swells with pride when I say that the “Women Power” was showcased in every aspect throughout the Parade....The marching contingents...the unfurling of the Flag and yea  the dearest First Lady sitting quietly, yet gracefully and witnessing and absorbing every facet of the event. Our Republic Day Parades have always been about the exhibition of our military power, our might, our diverse culture and tradition throughout, we have always displayed our beauty and diversity with incessant and interminable allure; however the Recent Republic Day was one step ahead to refinement.

I am a Military Brat and my Dad had taken part in the 46^th Republic Day Parade (exactly 20 years back) where he led the Naval Contingent as a Naval Officer. So, Republic Day parades always hold a special position in my heart because I know that every soul who is out there displaying a certain aspect about my country is representing India, representing us and demonstrating what each one of us feel about our country. I had always wondered out loud- why can’t women participate in a Day like this? This Day belongs to them as much as it belongs to the men after all we had so many women involved in SHAPING THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA!!- Sarojini Naidu, Renuka Ray, Purnima Banerjee, Begum Aiza Rasul and lots more...

Lieutenant Haobam Bella Devi unfurls the flag

Armed forces which was primarily a male-dominated area, today boasts proudly of having young and confident women who in many instances have even outdone their male counterparts. In 1992( under the Women Speial Entry Scheme) when certain doors in the Armed Forces were thrown  open for  women, they grabbed the opportunity and tried to establish themselves in the fields of Aviation, Engineering, Law and Logistics. Even then, they were not completely accepted in this new Domain. There was no equality or justice. The women just existed for  namesake. The women  don't enjoy permanent commission in the Armed Forces. Permanent Commission refers to a career in Armed Forces till one retires. currently the women serve as Short Service Commissioned officers where they can only serve for a period from 5-15 years. On retirement they are entitled to certain benefits as ex-servicemen but they are not eligible for pension. So in 2003, a group of women officers filed a petition in order to avail permanent commission. The issue is still under sub judice with the Supreme Court.

However, post the elegant display of the women power and valour in the 66^th Republic Day Parade, my respect and love towards our Armed Forces have grown exponentially. I can see we have taken the most effective step by letting the people know that the Marching Ground looks highly beautiful with the addition of the Beautiful Gender of our country marching across and the unfurling of the flag looks ever graceful when performed by a lady. This step will widen many horizons and will enable people to bring new perspective to their personal lives, work places and homes.

There will definitely come a day when a lady exclaims loudly about her desire to join the Armed forces, she would not be inviting any wrath of her parents, relatives, neighbours, society, locality, community or friends but she would receive a pat on her shoulder for her decision to be and do something for our country without being judgemental about her future. I am sure we will graduate into a country where a woman will be known for her contribution towards the country and not for all the supposed wrong decisions made by her...... I am sure a day will come when her success will be appreciated more than her round Chapattis....I am sure she will be respected more for her profession than for her ability in looking after the kids at home.... I can smell that time very closely...

I anticipate a bright future.........do you?

Image Credits: Google

Reference:

http://www.gatewayforindia.com/articles/army_women.htm

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/permanent-commission-for-women-hanging-fire/article6824595.ece

Are you happy?

Just as Sunday begins to end to a new tomorrow...to a new week...I contemplate and decide- I just have to be wackier, crazier and barmier than I was last week. Oh that’s imperative because every week should have something new, different and crazy to look forward to.  No I am not trying to eat my words on my new year resolution post, where I said there is no need to make big plans in life and that your life should go with the flow. Well, I am not even talking about making any strategies at all. All I am saying is, just as you wake up in the morning all you need to tell yourself is- I am going to do something different today!! Trust me, it makes you feel different...and you learn something crucial about yourself.

A friend of mine always made it a point to smile at random strangers on her way to work. While all her friends and family advised her against this activity as it could dig her up into trouble, she never stopped. Once when I was walking with her we noticed an old bloke walking towards our direction with a pained look on his face. He was tired and tensed and then he looked at her. She smiled at him...he didn’t even know her but the smile she gave him was so warm and friendly that he just had to smile back. I was flabbergasted. After we crossed him I asked her- “Seriousy, what was the point...? You just baffled him!

“Atleast he will forget his worries while trying to place me in his mind”.- said my friend.

Oh she made sense..she completely made sense....and she, throughout this whacky yet beautiful activity of hers ,realized that what she loved to do is eradicate adversities and bring smiles onto people’s life. So what now? She is a social activist!!!  Well, she isn’t exactly making alot of money but she is happy and I believe that’s a very important aspect in all our lives- to be happy and remain happy!!!!

Many a times, we are so involved in our professional selves that we believe we are happy and content in our lives. So, why do most of us feel so let down and depressed  every Monday...why do we feel that the start of every week is actually the start of anguish and torment. Why is it so difficult to wake up on a Monday...why can’t we just breathe regularly on a Monday...and why do we stop pausing and looking around on a Monday ? C’mon all of us here know that there is no issue with Monday.....the issue is with you. You are not happy....so what makes you happy? You need to figure that out...and how do you figure that out? Well, you do that by exposing thyself to various opportunities that life brings to you or by creating opportunities on your own. You could love dreaming, cooking, dancing, singing, running, talking, walking, drinking, skating or doing any crazy thing in this world. Trust me, the crazier things you attempt, and the better.

Don’t stress, it can be anything.... like introducing yourself to a new dance form, reading a new book, trying a new hairstyle, writing a new diary page, cooking a new dish, designing a new creative. Please understand that when you are doing this you are not creating a different vertical. NO!!!  What you are doing is trying is, knowing yourself better....what you are....and what you want...and when you figure out what you are, the happiness and satisfaction you get out of it is unconditional.

Before trying to figure out life, try to figure out thyself because your life starts and ends with you...and the secret to your happiness also lies with you. A misery or an issue looks excruciating and unbearable because you are unable to deal with it; and in order to figure out a solution to that problem, you need to first figure out yourself and once you do that you will figure out everything.

Someone tried to tell me once, life would have been easy if it was a giant canvas and  if we are painters; so we could paint our own situations. Well, life is just that!!!!! It’s your canvas...paint a picture....everyday and every minute. Let your life be about you...I don’t care if you are  single/married/old/fat/a woman/a man/gay/divorced/a monkey. It’s your life and you better value it. Break the wall which is trying to canopy you within your limits. Well honestly, there are no limits...limits are invisible evil ghosts between you and “a” you which you have never really figured out.

I am not going to type anymore...I only want you to answer this question by yourself.... “ How well do you deal with regrets?”.

Image Credits: Google

A New Year Resolution? Humour me!!

Every year on the night of 31^st, just a couple of hours from New Year, we retrospect, reflect and declare- 2014 has been such a waste…I am going to make sure that 2015 is a better year without any mistakes of the incumbent year; life will be better as I will exercise regularly, eat healthy, party less; well, then what happens? How many of our plans and strategies have favoured us affirmatively till the end? Why don’t we allow life to be a pleasant surprise but an official strategic plan? Why does coffee intake have to be at 11 pm, lunch at 1 pm and evening tea at 4 pm every day? Why is every minute of life a meticulous corporate agenda?

In this instance, I remember an uncle of mine who never got tired of telling me his love story, and I never got tired listening to it. Now his story plays a perfect example of my perspective. He keeps telling me how he missed his regular tea break at 3.30 pm outside his work premises and had to once go at 4.45 for his tea. And that was when he saw his mate coming out of a tutorial room. He fell in love and chose the 4.45pm tea break session ever since.  He would keep telling me that if he had stuck to his regular 3.30 pm tea break session, he wouldn’t have ever met his love and even after 40 years of matrimony, life wouldn’t have been so beautiful .He says “ Life is beautiful when one fine day you leave your office early and take a different route home and walk by the beach you meet different people, see different activities, experience a different atmosphere….”

I have friend, who I won’t name but she is known to be a great planner of life. She spends hours and hours making presentations on her plans and resolutions for the year; and everyday depending on new developments in her life, she alters her plan. On questioning her about this insanity, she says “ I want every minute to be productive, I hate wasting time unnecessarily”. I asked her “ When was the last time you chilled out with your folks and talked about stuffs apart from work, walked on the footpath without apprehensions of a future activity, tasted and absorbed your favourite ice cream to your soul, laughed till your jaws ached, played with little kids, spoke to a distant favourite relative on phone, cooked your favourite meal to placate yourself ?” She had no answer; she was so busy giving a structure to her uncertain future that she forgot to smell the present.  

Resolutions might never fall in place, plans might not work so stop wasting time deciding a future and instead, work out a today. Mix your desires, dreams, wishes, wants, hobbies, cravings into the bowl of present and work out a delicious meal of “today”, everyday. Let every moment be about impulse, about you, about what you love. Don’t bother doing the same thing everyday, instead take a different route home and decide what works the best for you. Don’t listen to people because they have no idea what your life and journey is about. You are special, you are beautiful…. So paint a different picture everyday, cook a different meal everyday and learn a different language everyday.

People plan every step of their life in their early 20s or 30s to live a comfortable life at 50s; but what if you don’t reach your 50s, what if you die?  All that struggle and sacrifice for what? What you need my ladies, is to breathe irrespective of your age; I don’t care if you are 15, or 35 or 75…..you need to breathe and start living, not sacrificing. People who suffer from cancer and are on their deathbeds feel upset about a life they can never have. So let’s stop worrying about plans and strategies and start living. Let nothing stop you. Take your bags, put on your boots and walk a long way, walk till you are tired...walk till you meet your soul-mate….walk till you have discovered your favourite ice cream flavour….walk till you finally soak your hair with sweat…walk till you finally discover the difference between living a life and dealing with life. 

Image Credits: Google