Atlas Shrugged- A Review

Atlas Shrugged is a Novel authored by Ayn Rand who is known for developing a philosophy based on Objectivism, Epistemology and Metaphysics.

It took me more than 3 month to complete this "Magnum Opus " of "Thinker Philosopher and Doer" AYN RAND as she liked to call herself.

I concur with her in pieces... I agree with her definition of Morality.. Ethics ... Guilt... Selfishness... Love ...Objectivism.. Metaphysics... Self Interest..

But at the same time her strong biased attitude towards Capitalism & Anarchism and neglecting the positive aspects of other forms of economy (for say Mixed Economy) is certainly not pragmatic enough. Her abhorrence towards Socialism and Faith is prevalent throughout the novel. In accordance with her creed.. Faith is just a way to escape reality and objectivity.

Other than that I like her for being a Male Chauvinist (satiates my male ego ;) ).. Because the protagonist Dagny Taggart first submit herself to Francisco D Anconia then Hank Rearden and finally to John Galt (which she pronounce as her true love ). On more serious note She understood and explained the basic human demeanour so precisely that you cant help but relate yourself to the characters of this very masterpiece.

I reckon, After reading Atlas Shrugged I am a changed person now..for the better...

Please go for this masterpiece of Ayn Rand..... Its worth reading and will help you understand yourself better

Arjun Singh Saga

Our very own Arjun Singh, Human Resource Minister of India symbolizes Capriciousness, Sycophancy and Vandalism. I wonder does he have anything 'human' in him?

Lets start with the controversies he was and he is part of

1. His Karwa Dam palace has been differently assessed between 10 to 20 crore although he claims that it cost him only forty lakhs to build. (Is he ready to sell that palace for 40 lakhs?...I am sure many buyers are there in the queue …Liar)

2. While Arjun Singh was the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, he was involved in the scandal which was called by some the Churhat Lottery case in the 1980s, in which allegations, never proved, were leveled that he had helped set up a phony state lottery. (No wonder he can do that…or may be he is continuing till now)

3. A case under the Anti-Dowry Act has been registered against Arjun Singh. Mayawati government has decided to seek CBI inquiry into dowry harassment case. (The Education minister who is directly involved with future of young generation of India is involved in DOWRY…. Shame)

4. And of course reservation controversy…( And he claim himself to be secular…huh)

Well people designate him with different adjective(s) i.e. Arjun Singh a 'sycophant'… Arjun Singh a 'Coward', Arjun Singh a 'Dowry seeker'... And he is proving it right by his actions. He certainly deserves these designation(s) to the fullest.

His stand and actions are ambiguous and confusing. At one side he is projecting naïve Rahul Gandhi as a Congress candidate for Prime Minister Post and on the other side in his latest book he is criticizing Indira Gandhi Emergency Episode and his very own Congress Party for Groupism and Incipient Undemocratic Culture. Or may be this whole melodrama is a way to encash loyalty…Err...I mean 'sycophancy'....Phew

His stand on reservation certainly epitomizes arbitration. His efforts to segregate India on basis of casts and religion are not at all justifiable. Why doesn't he favor reservation on basis of merit rather than caste? …

I certainly believe that such an important ministry shouldn't be headed by a person whose actions are so ambiguous and who is involved in controversies related to dowry and scandal…He is certainly jeopardizing the future of young generation by his discriminational and scandalous acts.

Mr. Arjun Singh should seriously consider of taking voluntary retirement to prevent this very nation from capitulating in front of social evils like caste and racial discrimination which were fuelled by his very action(s).

Nature Beauty Personified

These pictures epitomizes Nature's beauty and been taken by me at the bank of river Yamuna , Mathura.

Note >> Click the photo(s) to enlarge them.

Fanatical Cricket Loving Nation

Ladies and Gentlemen (North and South American Nationals) I am not talking about insect species belongs to Gryllidae Family. This is what usually Latin and North American people think when I talk with them about “cricket”. I want to clarify this misconception. We are not insect fanatic Nation. WE ARE NOT… Sigh!!!!!!!

Ladies And Gentlemen (Rest of the world).. Yes you guessed it rightly. We indeed follow cricket religiously. WE DO

We shout…We slang…We criticize when India lost… But latest DLF India Premiere league is putting me in such a dilemma. I don’t know whom to support and whom not to..

~So called Mumbai Indians have more “Non-Indians” than Indians. I wonder still they proudly tag themselves as Indians.

~Rajasthan Royals hardly have anything “royal+loyal” in them. The latest Jaipur bomb blasts were enough to scare “royal” people (Shane Warne, Shane Watson etcetera) and they were in verge of flying back to their respective countries… Royalty+Loyalty epitomized” … Sigh!!!!

I can’t help myself but wonder Is cricket no more a sport? ...Heavy commercialization of most sought after game has put the very game on path of retrogression…

Owned by few eminent personalities, auction of Cricket players, Negligence of Playing for nation are enough to support my perspective. I believe Cricket is not just a source of entertainment but much more than that. The negligence of other sports and not getting the much deserved attention to regional cricket is certainly not good for future of this great nation ... That is the real jeopardy. I feel lot can be done for regional cricket instead of just making cricket a means of earning money and entertainment.

Period!!

Bleeding heart: Jaipur Serial Blast

Tara Chand Sharma is no more. A priest by profession and choice… It was the usual evening time. With other priests he was carrying out regular pooja –archna(prayer) in a famous temple of Jaipur . He had never thought in his wildest dream that this is his last day on earth. Tara Chand Sharma is survived by six daughters, a 14 year old son and wife. He was the only bread winner in the family… The future of his family is uncertain. No one knows what will happen?..How the family will survive?.. Who will take care of them?

I want to ask those inhuman people who carried out these dastard act … Which mission they have accomplished?...Surely their coward act is epitome of lameness…. Shame..

May their Gentle Souls rest in Peace and God bestow strength to those who hurt and survived… Amen!!!!

In the name of Religion? :Jaipur Serial Blast

May 13 2008
Jaipur, Rajasthan, India

Jaipur Blast in Pics
Jaipur Blast in NEWS

Headline : More than 60 people killed on spot. More than 200 people injured.
Inhuman, Stoic, Farcical, Hate, Sadness, Pain, Revenge, Treachery, Wrongly Motivated, Cruel, Cold Blooded, Ruthless, Barbaric, Pitiless…….

These are the words which crawls in my mind when I think of “Inhuman Terror-ist” … I HATE THEM

The recent Serial blast in my peace loving city (Jaipur) is a living example of how helpless and cruel these terrorist can go... They are doing it in the name of religion...But I feel they all are “atheist”.. Why they target innocent people who don’t even have anything to do with them…Not even remotely…

Many of the people who died are Muslims also. How can they justify this? They are killing their own people...Killing people of their own religion and putting a tag of “Jihad”?????… Pity on them and on their intentions.

The gOd must be really CrAzY

I wonder does God really exist or it is just a figment of imagination. Personally I believe there is some positive force which does exist …

Let me start by putting some extraordinarily strange but amusing facts regarding our very own “almighty”. According to Hindu mythology god exist in more than 360 million forms and by adding other forms of god as perceived and worshiped in different parts of world I sometimes feel the population of god must be far more than that of human population…Still we make such a fuss about population explosion? :-). Before you all start calling me brat and start hitting me, I want to add few more dimensions to this “ultra serious thought” … Just imagine One god for each human being. In accordance with above mentioned facts this could be a possibility….Sounds like god himself is very much concern about the “god –human ratio”, just like today’s schools and universities which make hay of adequate “teacher –student ratio”…Such crazy thoughts always hit my mind and tickle my funny bone.

We people of this very planet are such strange creatures and Almighty is strangest. ...Sometimes it become to hard to decipher what is actually happening and what is hallucination. But that is why I call this place “Strange ...Unpredictable …. Beautiful... and ofcourse Unique”…

Nothing is absolute...Everything is relative…Don’t misunderstand me to be nihilistic but yes I proudly designate myself as “Maverick”...

Disclaimer: I am not an Atheist or Anarchist. It is just that i am too curious and confuse :-)

Paradox

We as human beings always busy try to please ourselves by doing several different things to keep life going and make it more interesting and vivacious. But at the same time we are not ready to accept that what we do, we do for ourselves. People do charity not just to help others but such acts make them feel contented and happy. So somewhere personal motive is there which drives them to do such more acts…It’s a very human nature that a human being repeats only those acts in which he\she sees his\her benefits and progress. Unless there is no motivation and no benefit he\she cant continue with same acts.. A son chooses to be a doctor not just because his parents want him to be a doctor but because somewhere deep down he also aspire for the same. Unless he doesn’t aspire for being a doctor how come he can be successful in chosen profession? We always keen to present ourselves in such a way that we should be known as altruistic. But aren’t all these characteristic of a hypocrite? Why is it necessary that we should always stood by standards set by the society…. Why raising a voice against cliched thoughts are always termed as “revolt”? TO TOP that…Moral Brigade comes to the rescue to edify us about what is virtuous and acceptable and what is illicit and not rightful thing to do. And so called “social parameters” made by “Anonymous Ancestors” states that thinking about oneself is a biggest sin one can commit and he\she should think and work for the benefit of “human kind”. Making efforts to keep oneself happy is superficially not acceptable in this “virtuous society”. But aren’t all these ethics and parameters are paradoxical and vague?

Journey Continues....

Today is just another day. like every day i wake up late , got late for college and as usual still suffering from driving phobia. somehow i reached college. there i came to know that few people from some youth organization are coming and they going to give a sort of presentation. i thought this presentation is going to be another example of narcissism. i was not at fault. my previous experience made me felt like that. they arrived and i went. they were busy arranging they brought and audience(including me) are busy gossiping and talking as expected from educated audience like us. the show begun. the presentation was fine. but the facts they mentioned about organization forced me to give 2nd thought to it. i took up the form and filled it. just for the sake of filling as everyone else is doing same....so why shouldnt i?


I got a call from this youth organization to make me aware about date on which group discussion will take place. i went for group discussion. when i reached there i was nervous as well as excited. excited because this group discussion is going to be my 1st official group discussion and i want to make it special. me and other candidates were called in a distinct room and GD commenced. i always assumed GD to be like FISH market. but here people are quite civilised or i would rather say not so full of ideas. during whole GD i was speaking like hell (as i always perceive GD as fish market) so that my fishes(ideas and thought) should be heard and finally sold(accepted).the observer who was assessing us was contradicting and confronting me intensely as if he gonna buy my fishes(errr..ideas). i answered almost all his quarries confidently but he doesnt sound impressed with me. anyways who cares???.......I CARE...

I left the premises with a thought that chances of my selection are not so high....

To my surprise i cleared that GD round and they called me for interview. they want me to be in formal. FORMAL AND YOUTH ORGANIZATION...i found it unusual...the judgement day arrived. i was in formal and sitting infront of interviewer... he greeted me and i did the same...he started interacting.

GOSH! what is this?..does this interviewer vocal cords not developed..why his voice is so low??...and secondaly he is calling me with different name(i hope he has enough grey matter in THE BRAIN)...changing name sounds like i am suffering from identity crisis...god forbid me...i dont wanna be one of the sufferer...so i confronted him politely and made him correct. he apologized and started asking different questions...though few question sounded goofy to me but i answered them quite seriously..
He is still calling me with a different name . at that moment i thought of gifting him a memory booster tonic. the interview went asi asi(so -so)...i lost hope of being selected......but still some spark is there which made me felt that i was not that bad.

HURRAY! finally,I i got a call and i got selected!!!!

so now my journey starts or i would say JOURNEY CONTINUES......

Rendezvous with my former self

There is nothing noble in being superior to other person. True nobility lies in being superior to your former self." In one of my illusion I had rendezvous with my former self. . A rendezvous to remember....A talk to remember. We both approached each other. My former self is standing in front of me. I can’t call it a shadow or something which exactly resemble me because I am indeed very much different from my former self. I can’t help but wonder is it really me? Do I used to look like that? Or it is just a hypothetical framework which is part of my illusion. I started behaving like an anatomist. I didn’t even left my former self from my nature of passing judgment but when I gave a 2nd thought to it I found that it is part of human tendency that we pass judgment on what we feel and experience and I am no exception.


I was in deep though thinking what exactly is going on then suddenly I heared a sound. I came out of my utopia leaving besides my going on thinking process and what I saw is that my former self is still standing infront of me and want to say something. I approached towards him but he resisted. The more I tried to come closer to him he was moving away from me as much distance as I am moving towards him. I asked in my stammering voice "why you are not allowing me to come close to you"? He replied with a predictable smile on his face that "you can’t increase or decrease the distance which is present between you and me. We both are infact part of same self still so different. We are like two ends of a river. When the water from one end of river reaches to the other end lot of things get added and separated. The whole composition of river changes. Both ends are part of same river still so much difference in their composition and structure. And one more jeopardy is that they can never meet. They are connected with each other through water still they can’t increase or decrease the width which is present between them. Same is the case between you and me. There is demarcation between us and it is not possible to cross that line."


Being skeptical I tried to resisted thoughts narrated by my former self but his thoughts are so true and powerful that I was compelled to accept them.
I realize that there is noticeable difference between me and my former-self. Change is not just good but it’s critical for survival and may be that would be the reason for the difference which is present between me and my former self. It’s better to compare oneself with the former self rather than with people around us. "for heaven sake never get in the habit of comparing your self worth against others net worth" these were the last words which my former self spoke to me before I came out of my illusion and entered into so called real and practical world.

New Resolution

New year is approaching. like every year this year also i have planned to make a new resolution. my mom always pushes me to make atleast one new resolution every year. just to make her happy i do. well lemmie tell you one thing. all my previous resolutions were disasters. infact they never last long. more to add on i dont even remember my last resolution which i had taken in the beginning of 2006. felling pity for myself.........huh?....how can i forget my resolution so early. resolutions are made to be remembered. working on resolution is different but forgetting resolution is simply unacceptable. i deserve punishment....but what punishment?....lemmie decide my punishment for myself...isnt it KEWL that i am deciding my punishment on my own....my punishment is that i wont forget my resolution atleast for a year before i take any new resolution. but for that i really need to brush up my memory. to polish my memory i have an idea. i think i should try one of the memory enhancement tonic which are flooded in the market....what you all suggest?...do i try dabur shankhpushpi?...he he he he he.......

but i am sure my mom wont allow me to do so bcoz recently my mom's friend told her that these tonics are made from tails of lizards(which according to her easily available), wings and juice of cockroack(which according to my mom easily accessible) and ofcourse oil of fish. i cant help but wonder..she is damn innovative. people here are so creative..huh?lets get back to my resolution. so now i am ready with my improved memory. thanks to memory enhancement tonic which i had taken inspite of my mom objection. i am ready to take my new resolution. hopefully this time i wont forget my resolution and i really hope this time i will live upto my resolution.
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL

CHAT BETWEEN GOD AND I , ME AND MYSELF

God : Hello. You called me.


I, Me, Myself : Called you? No, who is this?


God : This is God. I heard your prayers. So I thought I will
chat with you.

IMM : Sure, I pray. Just makes me feel good. Actually,
am busy now In the midst of something, you know.


God : What are you busy with? Ants are busy, too.


IMM : Don't know. But I can't find free time. Life has
become hectic. It's rush hour all the time.


God : Sure. Activity gets you busy. But productivity gets
you results. Activity consumes time. Productivity
frees it.


IMM : But I still can't figure it out. By the way, I was not
expecting YOU to buzz me on instant messaging
chat.


God : Well, I wanted to help you resolve your fight for
time by giving you some clarity. I wanted to reach
you through the medium you are comfortable with.


IMM : Tell me, why has life become so complicated?


God : Stop analysing life. Just live it. Analysis is what
makes it complicated.


IMM : Why are we then constantly unhappy?


God : Your today is the tomorrow that you worried about
yesterday. You are worrying because the act of
worrying has become a habit. That's why you are
not happy.


IMM : But how can we not worry when there is so much
uncertainty?


God : Uncertainty is inevitable, but worrying is optional.


IMM : But then, there is so much pain due to uncertainty.


God : Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional.


IMM : If suffering is optional, why do good people always
suffer?


God : Diamonds cannot be polished without friction.
Gold cannot be purified without fire. Good people
go through trials. With that experience their life
becomes better, not bitter.


IMM : You mean to say such experience is useful?


God : Yes. Experience is a hard teacher, though. She
gives the test first and the lessons afterwards.


IMM : But still, why should we go through such tests?
Why can't we be free from problems?


God: Problems are Purposeful Roadblocks Offering
Beneficial Lessons to Enhance Mental Strength.
Inner strength comes from struggle and endurance,
not when you are free from problems.


IMM : Frankly in the midst of so many problems, we don't
know where we are heading.


God : If you look outside you will not know where you are
heading. Look inside. Looking outside, you dream.
Looking inside, you awaken. Eyes provide sight.
Heart provides insight.


I Me Myself : Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here?
I don't know the answers.


God : Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who
you want to be.


IMM : Sometimes not succeeding fast seems to hurt
more than moving in the right direction.


God : Success is relative, quantified by others.
Satisfaction is absolute, quantified by you.
Knowing the road ahead is more satisfying than
knowing you rode ahead.


IMM : Sometimes I ask, who am I, why am I here? I don't
know the answers.


God : Seek not to find who you are, but to determine who
you want to be. Stop looking for a purpose as to
why you are here. Create it. Life is not a process of
discovery but a process of creation.

IMM : How can I get the best out of life?


God: Face your past without regret. Handle your present
with confidence. Prepare for the future without fear.


IMM : Sometimes my prayers are not answered.


God : There are no unanswered prayers. At times the
answer is NO.

IMM: Thank you for this wonderful chat. I'll try to be less
fearful.


God : Keep the faith and drop the fear. Life is a mystery
to solve, not a problem to resolve. Life is wonderful
if you know how to live.



SOURCE:TOI