Wednesday 29 September 2010

Thought of the day:

We do not progress from error to truth, but from truth to truth.
Thus we must see that none can be blamed for what they are doing, because they are,
at this time, doing the best they can. We learn only from experience.
 Swami Vivekananda
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9 months into 2010, only 3 left to go. I wonder where the time has flown. It seems like yesterday when it was cold and dull and miserable - our first winter in Delhi. Then the heat crept in and before we knew it, we were charred. The rains followed flooding our roads and houses, but the flowers bloomed casting a rich colour and fragrance everywhere. Before I know it, October is upon me and it is time to prepare for another birthday. Life goes on! 

And to celebrate this life, here are a few snippets from that all-time great philosopher - Charles M. Schulz speaking through his various characters - Snoopy & Charlie Brown among others.

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"As soon as a child is born,
he or she should be issued with
a dog and a banjo"
Charlie Brown

"If you try to be a better dog,
sometimes you get 
an extra cookie"
Snoopy

"Never take any advice you can understand.
It can't possibly be any good"
Lucy

"That's life! People go away
and dogs stay home"
Charlie Brown

"Never try to lick ice cream
off a hot sidewalk"
Snoopy

"You can't believe everything
you hear, you know..."
Schroeder
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Since the theme - without me consciously choosing to do so - became a commentary of life, here is a beautiful song - one of my all time favourites. Funnily enough, this one is not sung by Md. Rafi, but by Manna De. Written by Yogesh and composed by Salil Chowdhury. 



Thursday 23 September 2010

Good morning, Shubh din, Bon jour, Buenas dias!

Thought of the day: 


Though they may take various roads, all are on the way
Swami Vivekananda

Do you ever associate a song or a poem strongly with something else? On a misty, cloudy day - and especially if I am in the vicinity of the hills - I am reminded of a song from the movie 'Dulhan ek raat ki', which goes 'Ek haseen shaam ko dil mera kho gaya'. Sung by my favourite Md. Rafi and set to music by Madan Mohan, it is a slow, dreamy number picturised on an equally dreamy Dharmendra. 


Listen to the song here. The lyrics are down below. Have a great day and an even greater weekend. :-)




एक हसीं शाम को दिल मेरा खो गया
पहले अपना हुआ करता था अब किसी का हो गया

मुद्दतों से आरज़ू थी, ज़िन्दगी में कोई आये
सूनी-सूनी ज़िन्दगी में कोई शम्मा झिलमिलाये
वोह जो आये तो रोशन
ज़माना हो गया

मेरे दिल के कारवां को ले चला है आज कोई
शबनमी सी जिसकी आँखें थोड़ी जागी थोड़ी सोयी
उनको देखा तो रोशन
ज़माना हो गया

In memory of Oscar Wilde

(Photograph courtesy of: www.poetseers.org)


It is 110 years since Oscar Wilde passed into the wilderness of eternity. His wit remains though - as relevant and irrevarant. I love Oscar Wilde's plays and his quotes leave me with a HUGE smile. Here are a few quotes - guaranteed to bring a smile to the reader's face :-D

35 is a very attractive age: London society is full of women who have of their own free choice, remained 35 for years
________________________

I like men who have a future
and women who have a past
_________________________

If a man is a gentleman,
he knows quite enough, and
if he is not a gentleman,
whatever he knows is likely
to be bad for him
__________________________

I sometimes think
that God, in creating man,
rather over estimated
His ability.
__________________________

A little sincerity is
a dangerous thing,
and a great deal of it is
absolutely fatal
___________________________

Work is
the curse of
the drinking
classes.