ती गेली तेव्हा

आई जाऊन खूप महिने झाले. मी अजून रडलोच नाहीये.

लहानपणी मला आई-बाबांच्या खोलीत झोपायला खूप आवडायचं. ते झोपल्या-झोपल्या रात्री उशिरा परेंत गप्पा मारत बसायचे. डोक्यावरनं पांघरूण घेऊन मी त्यांच्या गप्पा ऐकत बसायचो. आई दिवसभरातल्या गम्ती-जम्ती सांगत असायची आणि बाबा हं, फारच, अगदी, अशी उत्तरं देत असायचे. दोगही आपापल्या जगात असायचे. तरीही त्यांच्या मध्ये एक पक्कं understanding असायचं. अनेक वर्ष सगळ्या सुख-दुख्खांमध्ये एकमेकांची सोबत केल्यामुले आलेलं understanding.

हे सगळं आत्ता विचार करताना लक्ष्यात येतंय. तेव्हा फक्तं त्याचे आवाज ऐकताना जशी झोप लागायची, तशी बाकी कुठेच लागायची नाही. तिथे झोपताना जितकं safe आणि बिनधास्त वाटायचा, तितकं अजून कुठेच वाटलं नाही.

परवा बाबांना बरं वाटत नव्हतं म्हणून त्यांनी माला त्यांच्या खोलीत झोपायला बोलावलं. मी नेहमी सारखाच गादी घेऊन नेहमीच्याच जागेवर झोपलो. पण ते पूर्वीचं, नेहमीचं, जगातल्या सगळ्या चिंता विसरवून साखर झोप देणारं feeling मात्र आलं नाही. बाबांशी गप्पा मारायला आई नव्हती.

I lost the safest place in my world when i lost my mother.

अंगणात गमले मजला, संपले बालपण माझे

ती गेली तेव्हा रिमझिम, पाऊस निनादत होता 

मेघांत अडकली किरणे, हा सूर्य सोडवित होता 

 काही कवितांचे अर्थ नुस्ते वाचून समजत नाहीत.

जास्तीची majority

Democracy is not a perfect system. But, it is better than any other form of government known to man. Many people equate democracy with freedom and liberty. This is a wrong notion. Democracy by itself does not guarantee freedom or liberty or even equality. What guarantees these very very important and essential values is how a democratic government functions. What guiding principles it follows. How it decides and executes policy.

So what would you like the government to do? Would you like it to give free food to all those who are hungry, or shelter to everyone who wants it? Free education, free electricity, free medical care? All these seem like nice things to do, but just remember that a government does not produce anything. So everything it does is at an expense of somebody else. Almost every policy decision involves two things, whom do we take it from? and who do we give it to?

So do we really need a government? Can't we just take care of ourselves? The answer is no. We need a government to protect our liberty. That is it's only and most essential function. We need it to ensure "fair play" in all our social and economic transactions, everything else can be taken care of by individuals, like you and me.

In India, we are used to the idea of a माय-बाप सरकार. We expect it to solve any and every problem. That will not work. The government is unfit and dangerous at solving any other problem, than the problem of liberty.

Another Earth

How do you live with a mistake? The ones that you simply can't undo.


I was travelling alone on a business trip to Shanghai. With dinner (or it's airline equivalent) served and done with, lights were dimmed and people around me started modifying themselves to fit into their economy class chairs. I decided to watch a movie or two instead. What would I like today? Something intellectually stimulating in the Art section? Perhaps a no-brainer comedy or a run-of-the-mill action thriller? I decided like most men do, the movie with the sexiest girl in the preview clip.


Another Earth was not something i expected. The movie started off slowly (well it was slow throughout), but it gripped me. The direction and acting was unhurried and simple. The music was terrific. There are many things in life that you start doing for all the wrong reasons, but in the end are glad that you did them. I am not sure how many people will like this movie. They might find it boring and odd. Perhaps i might have a different opinion if i watch it again. Perhaps it was because i was alone on an airplane. But i am glad i watched this movie.


“We are so self centered. Do you think they’re up there calling themselves Earth 2?”