Category: Inspiration

Collection of Best Inspirational Short Stories

From A CHAIWALA to A Courageous PM: Narendra Modi

“Manzil milegi, bhatak kar hi sahi
Gumarah to wo hain, jo ghar se nikle hi nahin”

The Urdu lines above which stir through our hearts with its simple words perfectly defines the iconic, dynamic and flamboyant little boy from Vadinagar, Gujarat.

Just three years after India got her independence from the British Raj,Vadnagar (Gujarat) in Mehsana district a place quite visited by the famous Chinese traveller Hiuen Tsang witnessed the birth of Narendra Modi on September 17,1950. He was born into a family who competed every day to survive in this rich-dominant society. A small single floored house became the motivation for Mr.Modi to become an aspiration and hope for a developing nation India.

Narendra spent his childhood helping his father at their tea stall at a local railway station of Vadnagar.

A fervid and a keen debater in school,Mr Modi had an intense passion for theatre and loved portraying larger than life characters. At an early age of eight, Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh(RSS) was discovered by him and met his VAKIL SAHEB: Lakshmanrao Inamdar (his political guru and mentor).

Modi’s marriage was arranged by his fore bearers Damodardas Moolchand Modi and Hiraben Modi at an early age of 13 in accordance with Ghanchi tradition to Jashodaben.Their marriage was short lived and he parted ways with his wife to be a political leader.

Two years of vivid journey from Rajkot to Kolkata To Guwahati and Ahmedabad, Modi deeply studied the works of Swami Vivekananda.Vivekananda’s work influenced him to make a ‘Jagat Guru Bharat’.His work to serve India began at a young age of 9, when he set up a food stall with his Hindu as well as Muslim friends to help people affected by a devastating flood in river Tapi.
A robust nation server wished to join the Army and believes in serving the farthest.

The year 2001 embarked the foundation of a worthy Prime Minister, when Mr. Modi took the pledge to serve Gujarat as a Chief Minister.

His dreams of providing each home with electricity in Gujarat turned into reality when Asia’s largest solar park was set up at Chamka village. His fourth term as Chief minister ended when he was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India on 26 May,2014

A workaholic Modi works 18 hours a day and has not taken a leave or vacation since past 12 years.

He has been a fashion icon with his Modi Kurta and is the most followed leader after Barack Obama. He has written poems and begins his day with yoga to stay calm and bright his frugal lifestyle.

As a Prime Minister, he inculcated ‘Swach Bharat Abhiyaan’, ‘Make in India’, has visited around 15 countries in 10 months and recently took a courageous and commendable step to fight against corruption by enforcing a ban on thousand and five hundred rupee notes.

A BY, FOR AND OF THE PEOPLE LEADER Mr.Modi is an epitome of dedication, courage, hard work and people have bequeathed their trust for a Rejuvenated India.

A true inspiration Mr Modi quoted “I did not get the chance to die for my country, but I have got an opportunity to live for the country.”

Waqt Kam Hai Jitna Dum Hai Laga Do
Kuch Logo Ko Main Jagata Hun
Kuch Logo Ko Tum Jaga Do

-Narendra Modi

November 15, 2016
Failure Doesn’t Stop You to Dream

The transition of the world towards a side where people with money and power are getting more powerful with success in life at their side and people with lack of resources yet much of talent lag behind… yet they never stop to dream or they never leave their courage…

I was in a hurry to the office in a bus, mind was racing ahead of the speed of the bus, murmurs were barely heard, just then a loud sound of laughter compelled me to come out of my thoughts of the speedy life and stare to decipher the amazement. I was looking at the two persons talking, unable to realise that my gaze will pose a very bad impression. I then became a bit conscious and made my concern moderate to soothe those two and noticed that they hardly bothered to take a note of my behaviour over there.

One of them was saying, “People worry about jobs these days and look at me. I am too blessed to have my brother in XYZ company and now he will make me enter there. I just need to sit for an interview. But I don’t have time to give an interview, you see; I talked to him about that and he says I will have to arrange my timing and give it by the end of the day. Just for the sake of formality it is, but they don’t understand my busy schedule!”

The other said, overwhelmed with the contacts that he was making (seemed quite clear from his flattering expressions), “That’s true. Even I am too lucky to have a friend like you. You made it easy on my part; otherwise you know, Shiv didn’t hear my condition and asked me to bring him fifty thousand rupees’ cash to refer me! Look at you, I just asked and you arranged my job, set my life in the right track! Friends like you are really rare…”

My mind often didn’t ask me before functioning to process my opinions on any little sentence that I hear. I often have a view point on whatever I hear or whatever is happening; sometimes I tend to hear that its bad to always think so deeply that you make it apparently a practice to opine on any silly little thing that is feasible. But certainly as a boon or a bane I am born with this and the first light that I saw tempts me to go with the unique me and my understanding with sole proprietorship of all my jobs.

I suddenly remembered the morning show that made me late and compelled me to take the 8:15am bus instead of the 8:00am bus. My maid was very upset and asking for some money so as to make her younger brother study more and get a job. She was saying that her brother performed quite well in his last interview and was selected on the spot but then the son of some high level personnel came applying for the same job and the offer letter was typed but with the name of the son of the high level professional. Her brother was broken at heart and so she decided to educate him even more, to a level where these sorts of challenges can’t bother him.

But alas, too creepy is the world that gives dreams to such people and they chase after them, to fulfil those dreams, unaware of the fact that there is actually no space for their dreams to exist.

World is actually too small, not by the size of the globe but by the size of the minds and hearts of the people residing here. This is the reason why perhaps Sir Einstein said that even if man tries to fill one new thing in every single second to his mind yet it won’t fill even a quarter of the entire storage space.

Universe is stagnant and so is the total amount of energy and matter; though the conversion keeps on happening. Resources reallocate themselves though the total amount of resources is constant.

When people like these take the spaces intended for people who are quite deserving, their share is over. They keep on working, they keep on doing the real things but wilt just like the buds of the forest. Fragrance is appreciated by all but nobody appreciates/ acknowledges their presence or their existence altogether. Termed as the bottom of the pyramid, they stay at the bottom forever. They lay the foundation of any strong edifice yet remain neglected and least dusted, for they remain in the bottom of the pyramid. Everybody looks at the top, the sharpest peak, though the person standing there stands alone, there is space for only one to be the winner, the path taken doesn’t bother anyone though. However, the bottom gives space to the maximum number of persons yet they remain abandoned as always. The stepping stones to that edifice, without whom there is no way atop, but the end point is what that matters.

People speak of favouring someone but they forget to favour someone, one has to snatch that same thing from someone else and that someone else might be the one whose mother is waiting for that one good news to leave the earth peacefully or whose father is ill, or whose daughter’s marriage is at stake for that one news.

Every incident that happens just doesn’t happen as an incident but as a part of life, there is life to everything that surrounds us and there are things that happen as parts of life.

A single success can boost someone’s confidence multiple folds and that single failure can make him/her feel dejected about life. incidents are the shaping instruments of life, attitude and personality as a whole. It’s not about the right or wrong but the relation between these words and their closeness, their relativeness with each other. It is always a motivating line to say that hard work leads to success but today hard work is just a side factor however luck or the charm of contacts is taking the centre stage.

It’s never that opportunities are few but it is that exploring those opportunities to make them happen to overcome the bleak circumstances of one’s life has chances that are scarce. The gap between the haves and have-nots is growing as a never ending progression. Rather the creation of a new category i.e. have-mores is quite evident from the happenings that surround the universe.

Thoughts in my mind were gulping me up, making me realise my helplessness even more profoundly when I felt the hotness of sun on my face. I realized that I was getting late to the office and suddenly the bus stopped and my office was there. Leaving behind my helplessness coupled with my pensive mind I rushed to mark my entry into the office with anticipation of lot many questions and the fear of being humiliated.

Image Source: Tinybuddha.com

November 12, 2016
Angel’s Apprentice

I was standing on one side of the road quietly observing everyone who passed by me. There were many vehicles, people rushing in their own lives. There was so much noise that I couldn't hear my own thoughts, There was so much pollution that I couldn't see my own reflection, there were so many rustics around me that I felt completely alone. I wanted to run but everyone else was doing the same, I wanted to talk about what I was feeling but everyone was so busy in their own world, I wanted to be free but I could see those chains holding me into this world.

Just then I saw a little girl in a black Mercedes. She was beautiful and looked like an angel I thought.

Her car stopped and she walked towards a child whom I hadn't noticed. She walked with a smile on her face and asked his accompanier to hand over the bag to her. She shook hands with that kid and handed him the bag. The kid responded in a way I never ever had imagined. He said thank you so much Mishti, I would never forgive this greatness of yours, you are my Angel.

I was shocked listening to such a fluent flow of heavy words in on one single sentence by a kid who wore faded clothes and was managing a small flower shop of his own which was rarely noticed. Exchanging the smiles was the hint that it was time for a good bye. The girl sat in her car and went away. I couldn't resist my curiosity of knowing the reason of the girl's generosity and the kid’s great words.

I asked the kid about everything that was in my mind. What he told me couldn't stop myself from calling that girl a real Angel. He told me the bag contained a bag full of books and a school dress.

His father was the gardener in that girl's house. He used to play with the girl in her house and wanted to learn her English poems and stories, so his father admitted him in a nearby English school and permitted his father to pick some of the flowers from their garden as a source of extra earning. His father had been ill from a last few days so he was managing the work and as he missed his new session at school, the girl had come with new books of the new class so that he can cope up with his studies as well.

As I was listening to that kid I came up with a thought. I was a fool looking at the things which were running so fast that I forgot to look at the things that were static and real. The girl and her father were angel’s apprentice. They were new hope in that kid’s life.

The kid said “di one day I will grow up and be a rich man, then I will help people the same way my Angel helped me.”

And I looked at him with a smile. I knew if I would give him money he won't take it so I purchased some of his flowers. He smiled and thanked me.

This thought had circled my mind so much that I started noticing every one who in some way was an angel’s apprentice.

Then I met a friend of mine. I knew he had a warm heart and always helped everyone out but never ever I had thought about addressing him as an angel’s apprentice. It was around day time, with his usual routine he was ready to go out for work but as they say things never happen the same way everyday. He saw an old man who accidentally fell down from his bicycle. He stopped his back, helped that old man and asked if he could drop him to his destination.

Old man refused and thanked him for his generosity as number of folks passed by but none came to help him out. This friend of mine had never learnt to lose hope so he decided not to leave his side until the old man reaches safely. He rode his bike in accordance with the speed of that old man’s bicycle, took him to his office, offered him water and he made sure of it that he was on his best condition to leave alone.

I know most of us are so busy in the humdrums of our lives that we forget to see small things that are meant to be treasured and imprinted on stone. These were only two instances, only two apprentices of Angel whom I met on one single day. If I am surrounded by so many apprentices so are you.

Every good deed no matter how small it might be brings out an angel in some way or the other. Even picking up a fallen pen for someone counts a deed. I'm not asking for all your time to look around and find these apprentices but yes I would ask to take five minutes of yours to notice the world and look out for the Angels around you, they might be your friends, your relatives, Stranger or it might be you.

Angels and demons are not fantasy they are for real, the only difference is with our moving lives we have started to overlook the magic that lies within all of us.

Bringing out a smile on someone’s face is also a hard thing to achieve.

When you sit idle and think about your life has become unsatisfied and dull, you have no option but to run in the race of life, just take a few moments from it, think and look around. Observe those angels of your life. These angels might not solve your problem to the full extent but I assure you they would motivate you enough to fight with your problems. Just like that little girl who gave me this idea of this beautiful thought.

Each one of us, in some way or the other has been an angel’s apprentice and if not I’m sure one day you will be.

October 17, 2016
Inspiring Story of Haritha Who Break Her Marriage To Live Her Life On Her Terms

"Whenever I would have to work late my husband would ask me who I was having sex with this time."

Great poet and saint Tulsidas said centuries ago for women in India, "Paradheen Sapneu Sukh Naahi" (precarious person cannot be happy even in dreams!). Unfortunately, this is still true in modern India; where women are considered as slaves who have no ambitions or dreams of their own; who have to comply every time to the wishes of the male authority-father or husband; who have to make sacrifice every time for others; and who is only worshiped in temples but do not get even a little respect at their home.

In this darkness and pessimism, there is still light and hope. There are several Indian women who made their mark against all the odds put by the patriarchal attitude prevalent in Indian families. Recently, Humans of Amsterdam — a Facebook page, featured a story of an Indian woman, Haritha. The story of Haritha tells a lot about the attitude of society, resilience of women and power of their ambitions.

Haritha now works as a software engineer at a highly reputed company in Amsterdam. The journey to Amsterdam from a patriarchal Indian home tells a lot about seriousness of the situation. Women may think thousand times about marriage after reading her story.

"I ended up marrying a man that I barely knew and didn’t love."

Like every other parents, Haritha's parents also wanted to get rid of their responsibilities for their daughter and follow the norms of marrying their daughter to a well settled men with nice family background.

"My parents kept talking about finding a suitable husband for me but I kept refusing. I have always been a very ambitious student and after I graduated l wanted to focus on my career as an engineer. My parents kept pushing me and slowly the atmosphere at home was changing and my father barely spoke to me anymore. The tension became unbearable and at some point I couldn’t take it anymore so I gave in. I ended up marrying a man that I barely knew and didn’t love."

Everything would be fine!

From the start we had no connection and it was very obvious that we both weren’t in love.

After marriage, everybody thinks everything would be fine. Haritha thought the same but there were even harsher situations were waiting for her.

"Honestly I can’t remember my wedding day. Whenever I look at photo’s I don’t recognize myself. After the wedding we went on our honeymoon. From the start we had no connection and it was very obvious that we both weren’t in love. I kept telling myself that everything would be okay and that it all would work out. When we got back I moved in with his family on the other side of India. My in-laws were very controlling and I was forced to give my salary to them. They demanded I would contact my father and ask him for a dowry."

This was not going to end on dowry, there was a lot more. The patriarchal attitude cannot be remain hidden. The controlling nature of male authorities, is yet to be seen.

In India, there is old saying "Joru-jameen jor ka, Nahi to kisi aur ka" (Wife and land can noly be controlled with force, otherwise someone else snatch it); comparing wife with material property like land is not a hidden aspect of Indian society. Haritha had to face all this.

"My husband turned out just to be as controlling as his parents. He would check my phone regularly and accused me multiple times of cheating on him. Every day the situation was getting worse. At the time I was working as a software engineer for Nike and my job became my ultimate passion. Whenever I would have to work late my husband would ask me who I was having sex with this time. It was humiliating."

In such situation, anyone can think out to break the system and move out but the resilience of Indian women is remarkable. But, the patriarchal attitude remain the same, women either have to adopt the way it is or end their life; in both ways they die. As I said, there is still light, a hope. Haritha decided to break away from this old setup.

"For one and half years I kept trying to work on our relationship. I would buy plane tickets with my own money to take him on trips around the world. I hoped that if he would see other cultures he would become a more compassionate person. Unfortunately, nothing changed. One day, after a huge fight I could no longer take it. I talked to my manager at work and I asked him if I could get transferred to another country. He told me I could work in Amsterdam. I didn’t need to think about it and I accepted his offer. When I arrived at the Amsterdam airport it felt as if I could finally breath again. Everything about this place made me feel relaxed. I felt at the right place at the right time. I started my new job and I made a lot of friends."

But things do not end here!

"One day I visited a storytelling event with women from all over the world who talked about their experiences with physical and emotional abuse. All these women came out of situations way worse than mine and it made me feel strong. When I got home I picked up the phone and called my husband and said: 'There is nothing you can do to change my mind, I want to get a divorce.' Never in my life had I been so certain of myself."

Now, pressure started again…as usual!

"When my father found out I wanted to divorce my husband he was really upset. He suggested I would travel to India so we could talk things through. I wasn’t planning on changing my mind but in order to get my divorce settled I would have to go to India. My manager at Nike gave me two weeks off and I flew back home. When I arrived, my family was mostly emotional and angry with me for making the decision to get a divorce."

The situation was getting worse for Haritha….

"Later that week we traveled to the other side of the country to my husband’s house to discuss the situation. I remember sitting in a circle in his living room and everyone was looking at me. For hours my family and his family were trying to convince me to not go through with the divorce. This went on for hours and hours and at some point I was so exhausted I had to go to sleep. That night I slept in his house. Just being there reminded me of all those terrible months. I woke up the next day and I noticed that my bag with my passport, phone and credit cards was missing. I panicked and confronted my in-laws. They said that they had nothing to do with my missing bag and that someone must have broken in and stole it."

Slowly I started to realize how serious the situation was.

"My two weeks off were almost finished and I had to get to my job in Amsterdam. To get a new passport in India it takes at least 3 months and a signature of your father or husband. I have never felt so hopeless in my entire life but I wasn’t about to give up. I emailed my boss and I told him I was in a serious emergency and that I needed 2 more weeks to fix it, luckily he agreed. The image of my life back in Amsterdam was what kept me going. Meanwhile I was trying to figure out how to get my documents back. With the help of my sister I sneaked out of the house and went to a government building. I was neatly dressed and somehow I managed to enter the building. The security must have thought that I was a government official. I walked into the building and a young female officer approached me and asked if she could help me. I noticed that she trusted me and I told her I had lost my bag in a mall and I had to get back to Amsterdam. I wanted to be honest but I couldn’t tell her the truth. She immediately called her friend who was working at the passport office and made an appointment for for me the next day. She gave me a letter of recommendation and the next day I went to the passport office. I sat there for 10 hours and when it was my turn they told me that in order to get a new passport I would need a signature of my father or husband. Again, I lied and said they were out of the country. I ended up convincing her and she gave me an approval. If I had been honest I would have never gotten it. 5 days later I could pick up my passport at the post office. Now I had my passport but I still didn’t have my residency card for The Netherlands. I called up the Embassy of Netherlands in Amsterdam and explained my situation. They were very helpful and emailed me a recommendation letter. They told me I had to fly to New Delhi which is on the other side of the country. I was running out of money but somehow there was a sale going on and I managed to find a cheap ticket to New Delhi. I got my residency card the next day and I immediately booked a flight to Amsterdam, it was a miracle. During this entire time I was scared. Scared that someone would recognize me and that I would get send back to my husband’s house."

My Life, My Terms!

"When the airplane took off I could finally breath again."

"When I landed in Amsterdam I took the train from the airport to my house. I didn’t cry, I couldn’t believe all that had really happened. I felt as if I finally had woken up from a bad dream. I had been gone for 45 days in total. The next day I found out that I had lost my job at Nike. I could have hired a lawyer and fight it but I needed peace. They didn’t know what I had gone through so couldn’t be mad at them. I said goodbye to my colleagues and I now had 3 months left to find a new job. I wasn’t scared or sad, I had never felt so strong in my entire life. After all I had been through I knew I could handle any kind of situation. I took a deep breath and I started to apply for jobs. It took me 17 days to find work. All of this happened in the beginning of this year. Unfortunately, I am still not divorced but I’m never going back to India. I do talk to my parents but I find it really hard to trust them. I work as a software engineer at a highly reputed company and I’m happy. Amsterdam is magical, this is where I want to be. This is my home and my friends are my family."

Hope to see light in everyhome this Diwali!

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October 11, 2016
Real Original Pictures of Bhagat Singh, A Must See

Bhagat Singh is one of the most prominent figure in struggle for Indian independence. With his vision and commitment, he raised over all other revolutionaries. His efforts to create Hindustan Socialist Republican Association, hunger strike and sontribution in awakening of Indian masses cannot be forgotten. Here, we collected few important pictures of his life, as a tribute to this great Indian leader.

Birth Place of Bhagat Singh

1910s Mata Vidya Wati , Bhagat Singh's Mother (second from Left )

Poster of Hunger Strike by Bhagat Singh,Slogan coined by Bhagat Singh,printed by National Art Press, Anarkali, Lahore

Watch of Bhagat Singh, Bhagat Singh gifted it to his friend and co revolutionary Jaidev Kapoor

Shirt of Bhagat Singh , Khaki Shirt with Italian Collar ,Marked Bhagat Singh on the Collar

1929 Bomb Shell recovered by CID from Lahore, became part of exhibits in Assembly Bomb Case against Bhagat Singh

1927 Bhagat Singh under arrest at Lahore Railway Police Station

Mianwali jail (in pakistan) , Bhagat Singh started Hunger Strike in protest against discrimination between Prisoners

October 7 1930 Death warrant of Bhagat Singh

25 March 1931 The Tribune Newspaper Front Page Headline ' BHAGAT SINGH,RAJGURU AND SUKHDEV EXECUTED '

September 30, 2016
Charlie Chaplin

A day without laughter is a day wasted

Born on 16 April, 1889 in Walworth, South London as Charles Spencer Chaplin was not just a great comedian but a great person also. Charlie parents were estranged by around 1891 so he lived with his mother and brother in the district of Kennington. As his mother had no permanent source of income other than the occasional dressmaking and nursing that she did, so they were always living in the poverty and adversity. Charlie was then sent to a workhouse at the early age of seven as his mother was no more able to look after him.

We think too much and feel too little.

Charlie and his brother were sent to Norwood School in 1898, which was an institution for poor children. Charlie’s mother condition deteriorated as a result of developing a psychosis and then she was sent to Cane Hill mental asylum. She was in and out the mental asylum till her death in 1928. Charlie and his brother went to their father to live for some time. But he had became a severe alcoholic and then died two years later. In due course of time his brother joined the Navy whereas Charlie straggled the streets in search of food and a place to sleep.

Life is a tragedy when seen in close-up, but a comedy in long-shot.

Charlie joined the Eight Lancashire Lads clog-dancing troupe and toured English music halls for two years. Although he was appreciated for his dancing style but he himself was beginning to show interest in performing comedy acts. He came into the world of theatre at the age of 14. He played a number of roles and was appreciated for it. Then one day, there came the first call of destiny for this young boy. Charlie act in the play ‘Sherlock Holmes’ was so publicly appreciated that he was selected to play the role in three nationwide tours. Charlie stayed with this play for two and half years till he was 18.

By the time Charlie’s brother had decided to make a career in acting and had become a star in a prestigious comedy company. He also managed to secure a role for Charlie in the play. Although Charlie started himself with smaller roles in the play but he went on to star lead roles by 1909.

Nothing is permanent in this wicked world – not even our troubles.

In April 1910, his lead role in ‘Jimmy the Fearless’ was highly appreciated and he got a lots of attention from the public as well as from the press. Then he started off by joining a touring troupe for two years. He was highly appraised by the viewers and this increased his popularity in North America.

Failure is unimportant. It takes courage to make a fool of yourself.

In 1914 Charlie was called up to act in a motion picture and he made his debut with the movie ‘Making a Living’. Although the Charlie did not like comedy used in the films but he hoped it would be a platform for more good chances to come in future. Then he was soon seen in his legendary character of ‘The Tramp’ in the movie ‘Kid Auto Races at Venice’. Charlie adopted the character of the tramp in all his next movies. But soon he was engaged into a disagreement with the director and was reached on the verge of being fired.

I remain just one thing, and one thing only — and that is a clown. It places me on a far higher plane than any politician.

Charlie Chaplin in ‘City Lights’/Image © 1931 Warner Bros

But because Charlie was in demand that time he was given a chance to direct a movie with an assurance of $1500 in case it failed. But his movie ‘Caught in the Rain’ which was directed by himself became a big success. Gradually Charlie’s fan count was increasing and the comedy he did was becoming popular among the audience.

A man's true character comes out when he's drunk.

Charlie joined Essanay studio for $1,250 per week in late 1914. Here he released his movies, ‘A Night Out’, ‘The Champion’ and the best of them was ‘The Tramp’ (1915). At that time his popularity touched the sky. There was merchandise and comic strips of his characters sold in many shops and he became a cultural icon in America. When he renewed his contract, he became one of the highest paid artists in the world when he agreed to work with Mutual Studios for an astonishing $670,000 per year.

“To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!" – Charlie Chaplin

Charlie success continued with films like ‘The Kid’, ‘The Gold Rush’, ‘City Lights’, ‘Modern Times’ and ‘The Great Dictator’. The character played by him was liked by the people and appreciated all over the world. His movies ran to packed audiences in more than 50 countries. Although Charlie came under many controversies later career regarding his personal life but his impression will remain forever and cannot be replaced in the next 100 years of world cinema. Charlie was a global icon who has the ability to relate with the common man and make anyone from a child to an old aged person laugh from the bottom of the heart at his various actions.

All I need to make a comedy is a park, a policeman and a pretty girl.

September 9, 2016
A Miracle

It is a story about a girl who is happy to go lucky until one accident changes her life.

A few years back a little baby girl came into this world. This little girl was one of the cutest children in the world. Her parents loved her very much. She was the apple of their eye. Her small little cries and her laughter was enjoyed by everyone.

She kept on mulling and puking everyday in the nursery but the nurses did not get fed up, they were happy because this was the sign of the good health of a baby. Now this little girl started to grow up. Her mother took a lot of care of her and fed her all sorts of nutritious things; her father bought her many types of rattles to play with. She started to walk at the age of one and spoke something at one and a half year.

She had a lovely big cot with angles, teddies and stars hanging above it and a soft lullaby getting played on pressing a button. Her maternal and paternal grandfather and grandmother also loved her very much as she was the youngest child in the family. Her elder brothers and sisters were also very fond of her. She was fond of making smiley face poses and getting her pictures clicked licking the mirror or climbing on her mom or in the lap of her relatives.

When she grew a little more she became an English speaking pampered brat who always roamed to different places in an aero plane. When someone spoke to her in Hindi she always replied in English as she understood Hindi but could not speak it. She started her journey in aero planes just when she was of about 2 months. Her favorite flights were KLM and Ethiopia and she kept on asking contradictory questions such as when will the flight move?

And when the plane started to move the question put up by her went like when will we reach now? Her mom read her stories from little ladybird storybooks and her dad cooked up stories and narrated them to her.

She had some very cute little things like a Mickey Mouse and a goofy bag which she always carried on her back and happily went to school. One of the loveliest things she had were her dresses. She had colorful, different types of dresses – red frocks, white skirts, floral pattern t-shirts, sweaters, shorts, t-shirts with tigger and pooh made on it and many more. She had bob cut hair which were always neatly tied into two ponies that jingled when she moved. On festivals she dressed up very nicely and enjoyed very much. Her birthdays were always celebrated with lots of pomp and show and with many friends around. Once her birthday cake had a beautiful Barbie doll with the purple clutches of Barbie on it. It was the most beautiful cake ever seen. Dance was not her cup of tea but on her parents insistence she participated in a dance show and was very proud of winning the participant certificate. She had a dream to travel to each and every part of the world. Kids playing world was her play school where she excelled in academics. After that in her primary school too she excelled in all the subjects. Her report card always consisted of A -grades and smileys, different types of stickers and good chits. But then one day came when her parents decided to shift back to India. She did not want to do that but she was helpless. She was 6 then. After coming back to India her admission procedures started. Everyone who took her interview was surprised to see her knowledge and praised her very much.

Finally her school started, new school, new friends; everything was very much unknown to her. Making friends was difficult because she was an introvert type of person.

Still she did it with the help of her teachers. At that time she was in first standard and she was the topper of her batch. Then came her little brother whom she never wanted to come. But she was still happy in her life; the things she missed were travelling in flights to long distances, her old friends and her home.

Till grade 6 she excelled in academics and had many good friends by now. But as it is said good thing surely come to an end, the same happened with her. Slowly as the time passed she had got used to her life, now she even had stopped speaking English and the skills which looked in built in her seemed to vanish from her life.

By now her brother also grew up and sibling rivalry started between them. Then came 7th standard and this was the time of her downfall. Now she did not get good marks. She was no more the apple of anyone’s eye. This did hurt her very much and she was very upset. She tried her level best but still she could not succeed.

This ended her will power and she became an average student. At this point she started missing her old golden days. She wanted life to give her a chance to go back to those days. All the other years were filled up with misery and sorrow till the time when she came in high school. This time she was determined to do something to improve upon her grades. She tried to study hard and did that at her level best, in her exams too she put her best but nothing did happen. In the second term she knew that she had no choice but to surely do something to improve her grades.

Many people had hopes from her and if she did not excel this time then it would really be very difficult to come back to stability. This time she felt like god is too on a helping spree for her because she started to get chances to show her talents to everyone. Speaking on stage in the school assembly was what she wanted to do and she got a chance to do that.

She even got chances to participate in story writing competitions, Olympiads, plays and various other things. Now her confidence again started to come back. Now was the time to succeed. She became optimistic about life; no more negative thoughts were to come again. She started to live happily and as we all know that thought affect life, the same happened with her. She was able to concentrate more. She also was able to relax and enjoy when she spent family time with her close ones.

Everything started to be the same like before. Elated with her present she started to forget about her past and hoped that it would never repeat itself again. Though she never got to go back to the place she came from, she was still satisfied. She finished her school with very good marks and got admission in the college she wanted to go; her goal was half achieved. But happiness does not last for long and this is the fact. Once again her happy life came to an end.

This time it was very serious and a major accident that she had to face. Once while she was going back to her hostel, she slipped of the staircase and her left hand had a major injury which the doctors said could not be cured.

She now was left with just one single hand of hers. But this time she did not breakdown, she was strong. Instead she made her parents believe that she was fine and still she was capable of doing all the things that a normal person could do. She did not think that she was handicapped. Though everyone made fun of her, told her many things, but she did not mind.

She knew that the people whom she was truly loved by were always there beside her to support her. She continued her studies full fledgedly. She even took part in every activity that she did before. Her strong point was her voice which was capable to do all things, to give speeches, lectures, to take part in debates and even to sing. She was also a very good singer and liked to sing very much. In her college she started to give speeches and gradually she also went in other colleges to do the same. Her ignorance towards the comments given by the people became the reason for the people to stop teasing her. Once, she got a chance to audition to become the anchor of a popular TV show and not too surprisingly she even got the role to play.

This increased her self esteem more and everyone was proud of her. She became the idol for every handicapped child and this gave her happiness. She personally started to visit the schools, non government organizations for the handicapped. She encouraged people to help these people by donating their organs after their death and on the other hand she asked the disabled people not to lower their self esteem due to these disabilities.

She became popular everywhere not because of her disability, this was due to her confidence on herself that she could show everyone what she could do.

She was good and that was the reason that she was important and had a special place in many people’s heart and not just because she was important. Whereas her brother whom she thought to be a devil Jwhen she was small proved to be her most trusted companion in the later stages. She won many competitions and awards for her speeches and her works towards humanity.

She even sang some songs related to the same. Doing this work she could also fulfill her own dream of travelling to all parts of the world. This one incident changed her life completely from a happy going girl to a conscious person who knew about the dreadful truths of the world and tried to bring people out of it. She was able to spread the light of happiness to many people in the world. If she moved according to her destiny, stayed in depression after the accident, all her talents would have been left in vain. But after the accident she became stronger and had gained more power due to all the positive thoughts she had before the accident. Maybe the little girl was truly a miracle sent by god to spread happiness in the world.

September 4, 2016
VISION THAT INDIA NEEDS

It was the second day of the summer vacation, and I was literally feeling boring. When there were few days left for vacations, I was like "when will my vacations start? I have to do so much of things." But now I realized it to be so boring.
The next morning was destined to be great. So, I woke up and decided to walk my path and not to look back.

I did not know where I was going. The only thing I knew was that I did not have to spend my vacations sitting idle at home. So, with this thing in my mind, i walked ahead.

When I was walking, I saw few boys playing cricket. Seeing them i understood that they were poor as they were in rags. I saw them from some distance. The sight of them made me smile. Maybe it was them who were actually enjoying the true essence of life.

I didn't know what was running in my mind, I went there and asked if I could also join?

They seemed more excited and said "yes, why not?"

I started playing cricket with them. The children said "bhaiya, you do the batting and see i will bold you in first ball itself. I was like, “okay kids, let’s see"

We all played for at least half an hour. After that i said them "it was really nice playing with you all".
I was about to go when one of them said "bhaiya, why don't you come to our village?"

As i didn't have any important work at home, I said 'alright friends, let’s go'. I could see their faces which conveyed that they were extremely happy when i agreed to go to their village .But then when i went there i could not believe my eyes. At one place where cities are modernizing, people are being educated, technology is developing, and there are still some places where there is lack of everything .People are facing problems every other day. Basic amenities like electricity, pure drinking water are still a dream for people living in such places.

I asked the kids 'in which class do you read?' I was amazingly surprised with their answer. They said -'bhaiya, we want to study, but there is no place in our village where we could go and study. Also our parents do not earn that much money that they can feed us thrice a day, so the question of providing us education does not arise.

It was at that time when i realized that now i would not get bored anymore. I had got an idea. Yes, now I knew how to spend my vacations in a productive manner.

I asked them, 'do you all really want to study?'

They all said, 'yes, we want to study'

I said 'okay, so from tomorrow itself you all will study. What if there is no one in your village who can teach you all, I am there. Not only I, but there are many youngsters in the country who can and they are willing to contribute a part in making this country an educated one. So, be ready friends .From tomorrow you all will experience a life where getting education will not be a dream anymore. Saying this, I went back home.

Firstly i called two of my friends Rashmi and Rehan and also my younger brother Jatin and discussed my idea with them. Their excitement level was much more than mine. So in the evening, I along with Rehan went to buy few notebooks, pencils and a white board. I was so much excited that i couldn't sleep the entire night.

Next morning as planned, I along with Reshma, Rehan and Jatin headed towards the village. To my surprise the kids were patiently waiting for us and were very much excited.

There was a big ground near the village which was the perfect place where they could study. So,we took all the kids there. There were sixteen kids altogether and we were four. So, i thought it would be better if one person teaches four kids. And thus Mission Education started.

We all were happy. There was a different feeling. The sight of a smiling person and knowing that the reason behind that smile is you. A sense of satisfaction comes in. Yes, I have had that feeling that day. We taught them for two hours and then we played cricket for some time. After all it was because of cricket i met those kids and interacted with them.
And then we came back home with a promise to them that we will come the next day.

At night, I was thinking even after seven decades of freedom, the children of Mother India still can't read and write for they don't have the resources .Is this how our nation will develop? I don't think so. Thinking such topics I felt asleep.

Next day we went there and taught those kids and it continued. Good days run past quite fast? Don't they? The same happened with us quite a few days before. We never realized how we had been teaching them for over a month. There was only a day left for school reopening. At night i was thinking what should be my next step. I thought when my school will reopen, I won't be getting time to teach those kids. I was thinking and thinking and then an idea struck me. I thought i can teach them in the early morning, before going to my school. Yes, I can do that. But will the kids agree? So, the next day I went to their place and told them about this schedule. They readily accepted it. It seemed that they were craving to learn. Now, I was mesmerizing with the thought that I can teach them regularly.

Coming back home, I thought just as I took a small initiative, if people start taking such initiatives can't we bring a small change in the country? Good things always pay for. And with this belief in my heart, I walked on.

August 23, 2016
Lionel Messi: The ex-Argentine skipper [LEO’S FACTFILE]
LIONEL Messi has said that he is to retire from international soccer after Argentina were beaten 4-2 by Chile in a penalty shootout in the Copa America final on Sunday, the fourth final the Barcelonastriker has lost with the national side.

Messi, a five times World Player of the year, missed Argentina's opening penalty in the shootout after the game ended 0-0 and he was shown in tears while sitting in the team dugout.
Messi hangs up his Argentina jersey after failing to land Copa America crown in USA.

Fans in Argentina did not want to believe that their superstar was quiting. Fans on social media called on the superstar to change his mind with hashtags such as Note- vayasLeo — Don't go Leo — and Messiquedate — Messi stay.

About Lionel Messi-
- Name: Lionel Andres Messi
- Nationality: Argentinian (holds Spanish citizenship)
- Date of birth: June 24, 1987 – age 29
- Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
- Club: Barcelona (Spain/since 2000)
- International appearances: 112 International goals: 55
- International debut: August 17, 2005, Hungary 1 Argentina 2
Honours

Club
- UEFA Champions League (4): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
- Club World Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2015
- Spanish Championships – La Liga (8): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16
- Spanish Cup (3): 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16
- Spanish Super Cups (6) 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
- International World Cup: Finalist (2010), Quarter-finalist (2006, 2010), 15 matches, 5 goals
- Copa America: Finalist (2015, 2007, 2016), Quarter-finalist (2011), 16 matches, 3 goals
- Olympic gold medal (1): 2008
- Under-20 World Cup (1): 2005
International:
- World Cup: Finalist (2010), Quarter-finalist (2006, 2010), 15 matches, 5 goals
- Copa America: Finalist (2015, 2007, 2016), Quarter-finalist (2011), 16 matches, 3 goals
- Olympic gold medal (1): 2008
- Under-20 World Cup (1): 2005
Individual Honours:
- Ballon D’Or (5): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
- Top scorer in the Spanish league (3): 2009-2010 (34 goals), 2011-2012 (50 goals), 2012-13 (46 goals)
- Top scorer in the Champions League (5): 2008-2009 (9 goals), 2009-2010 (8 goals), 2010-2011 (12 goals), 2011-2012 (14 goals), 2014-15 (10 goals)
- World Cup Golden Ball (1): Brazil 2014
- Olympic player of the tournament (1): 2008
- Under-20 World Cup player of the tournament (1): 2005
- Top scorer at Under-20 World Cup (1): 2005 (6 goals)
…

On top of everything, I missed the penalty kick," said Messi, after the match

Quote Box

It's a huge sadness once again… I tried so hard to be champion with Argentina. But it didn't happen. I couldn't do it.
– LIONEL MESSI (Argentina captain)

Messi is the best player in the history. We're not able to compare him to Maradona. The numbers are irrefutable.
– JUAN ANTONIO PIZZI (Chile coach)

It's our toughest defeat to take. We were all very devastated in the dressing room, particularly Leo. I have never seen him in such a state.
– SERGIO AGUERO

This is a bad day for world football. Players like Messi should retire with good memories, not with a bad memory like this.
– SUBRATA PAUL (Indian goalkeeper)

I think Leo spoke in the heat of the moment because we missed that great chance.
– SERGIO ROMERO (Argentina goalkeeper)

It's big loass to world football. Youngsters follow Messi, they play football idolising Messi. He is too young to retire and a lot of football is left in him.
– BHAICHUNG BHUTIA
June 28, 2016
BE AWARE OF THE MIND!!!

This story is my first hand experience of the unmatched power of our Mind. This instrument beholds the ability to shape our destiny. It is rightly said that our life is a representation of our own thoughts.

Through this story , I have shared a personal experience wherein my own negative thinking led to the appearance of a disease that shook me to the core and how a mere change in perspective made me come out of it in no time. I have highlighted the importance of just BEING AWARE of the mind and using your intelligence to overpower its negativity.

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Life is a constant learning process, if we fail to learn, we fail to live.

I was never the kind of person who would go out of the way to think and ponder about life and its mysterious ways but, as they say, even thoughts were destined to break through the walls of your mind to fulfill a greater purpose. Hence, circumstances led me to thinking more about what life is, what is the purpose and a lot more questions that still ring the bells in my mind .

Yes, I have not hitherto received a major breakthrough in silencing my mind but definitely something has changed since the time I have brought my attention to this mysterious tool called "mind". Among many instances that made me aware of its complexities, there is a first-hand experience that actually made me believe in the tremendous power that this instrument beholds. Around one and a half years ago, I was facing continuous breathing problems with heaviness in my chest area. Doctors diagnosed nothing major, but due to prolonged problem in my breath and terrible uneasiness in the chest, I assumed that i might be suffering from a serious illness. I began surfing the internet and came across so many deadly and incurable diseases that perfectly matched my state of health. Day and night , i kept thinking" what if my doubts turn into reality, what if I have to undergo the torture, what if there is no cure", etc. etc. etc. With such thoughts, the emotions of fear, regret, guilt, lack crept in and in no time I turned into a depressed painful soul wailing and crying sitting at the corner of my bed and the doors of my room locked. This was the time when all my sense of logic was lost and i succumbed to my thoughts and emotions. Despite the constant counseling by doctors that they did not foresee any major threat, i kept on doubting their diagnosis and believing my own irrational mind.

Mind makes a habitual to and fro movement between the past and future like a pendulum. As a result, we are saddened by the past which has gone by and fearful about the future which is just another imagination and fail to see the reality that lies in this moment.

Well would you like to guess what happened after i spent 3-4 months thinking, imagining, and mourning over such things?

I actually developed a lump in my chest area. Yes, you heard it right. What I had believed in for so many months imagining it to be true was now showing its colours. This is the power of thoughts, the power of mind.

It is true for both negative and positive thinking. That was the day when I actually realized what is meant by "Life is the reflection of your own thoughts". Well this time I resorted to prayers and positivity and by God's grace the lump subsided and there was no surgery required also.

Since the incident I have become more aware to the technicalities of my mind and have realized that it can be the most cunning and misleading if not given attention to.SO threat lies not from somewhere outside but from our own Mind. Let us put forward the first step and just be aware without any judgments and beliefs. Let us look at these mind games as a witness and use our intelligence to overpower the mind in such situations.

For as far as life is concerned, intellect is required to make it while a wavering mind is enough to break it!

June 27, 2016