Sing a song instead

They say: love trumps hate and that music is the food of love.

They whose hearts are filled with hate,
Can they discern sweet songs of praise?
They whose eyes burn red with rage,
Can they e’er see a loving gaze?
Can those whose hands embrace the mace,
E’er kiss at night their own child’s face?
And they who plot to kill and maim,
Could they know what would seal their fate?

We're specs of dust, mere cosmic sand,
Moulded by the unseen hand,
With borrowed breaths that help us land,
Our little roles in this weird band,
There are things to learn, our minds expand,
Before life waves it's magic wand,
Like every show with entree grand,
End it must when time demands.

So why fill this short life with hate,
When we could share some love instead?
Why fill the air with cries and wails,
When joyous songs could fill this place?
Why not use that strong hand to help,
Someone who’s been stuck in life’s ebbs?
Why waste those breaths just screaming threats,
When you could sing a song instead!

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[I’ve been in Satna, MP, India for the past week and was shocked to hear that on 15th December 2017, a group of christmas carolers from a church nearby were arrested here, their car burnt by a mob, and those who went to enquire assaulted (while the police were ‘helplessly’ watching), allegedly because their carol songs were seen as a part of their attempt to forcibly ‘convert’!? people into Christianity. Yes. It is a true incident that is as weird as it sounds.]

Time and Chance

I have seen something else under the sun:
The race is not [always] to the swift
or the battle to the strong,
nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant
or favor to the learned;
but time and chance happen to them all.

Ecclesiastes 9:11

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William Kamkwamba: Building a windmill

The following is the 2009 TED talk by William Kamkwamba who simply set up a windmill in his backyard. Inspired by two library books (more by the cover on one), from a really constrained background, with a scrapyard for raw materials and despite the local skepticism and superstition, William did what he set out to do.

His simple message - to never give up. Do also scroll down to view his 2007 TED appearance.



And heres his TED appearance in 2007:



TED is simply amazing!

I think it would be great to have a TED equivalent on prime time media in India instead of some of those really crappy shows and weepy soaps. Imagine how many little sparks this could ignite across a country like ours (and indeed in many other countries as well). This enthusiasm needs to be made infectious.

TED, Bill Gates, TED India

I hadn't heard much about TED until a colleague forwarded me the TED talk by Bill Gates


What struck me is the fact that today, someone like him actually has the power to change (or atleast influence a change) in public policies the world over on topics that do not have a direct correlation (or maybe, in the grander scheme of things - they do!) to the company or the products which gave him the power in the first place!

Awesome! I don't know if one could call that a success.

Anyways, TED is coming closer home, TED India is slated November 4-7th at Infosys Mysore. An interesting tidbit- registration costs $2400 which as Manish at Pluggd.in put it - is as costly as buying a brand new Tata Nano car:).

The Real Steve Jobs - iStuff

This is a pretty popular (over 2 mill views), a bit old (2k6) but a pretty motivational clip - the kinda stuff that fuels inspiration - iStuff.



Be inspired!