Injured Ukrainian Teacher Olena Kurilo

The bells toll on a broken clock tower as the remains of normalcy burn to ashes,
The forced flight from the familiar has taken smiling families away from the streets that once rang with the cacophony of the masses,
Resilient people play music and learn how to fight in the face of inevitable doom,
The human race watches on as grandiose delirium turns millions of lives into anarchic gloom,
What pray is wrong with us, that human lives are trifles to be squandered on politicians whims and ambitions,
That out of all that we chose to preserve, the old hatreds and distrust trumped the camaraderie of the past and beautiful traditions,
The human spirit at display, and the horrendous losses should have quieted the monsters within and led to peace,
But egos and pipe dreams of grandeur reduce the very real losses to acceptable sacrifices and there seems no hope that the atrocities would anytime soon cease,
Like the phoenix I hope humanity rises from these ashes and promises not to traverse this road ever again ,
But I know it’s naïve for our species repeats the same mistakes and seems immune to anyone else’s pain,
Yet optimism and the incredible resilience humanity displays sustains my hope that a better tomorrow will dawn,
One where we would celebrate our differences rather than decimate those who are different from us wherever we have more brawn,
The music in that dreamscape would be an ode to the myriad aspects of the human experience including joys and struggles of everyday life,
But these accompanying sounds of the human existence would ring over landscapes unblemished with the scars of war and strife .

By- Aseem Mahajan

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“This is a rule of racing: No race has ever been won in the first corner; many have been lost there.”

 

 

On recommendation of Aditya Mahajan ( Aseem’s brother), I saw this movie “the Art of racing in the rain” today and I just can’t stop thinking of  LEO (https://www.instagram.com/leomahajan/?hl=en) . This movie is an exact depiction of how Aseem and Leo have bonded over years, their relationship is exactly like that of Danny and Enzo. Leo is a dog with a purpose, he has a way of coming back to Aseem. Leo is Aseem’s best friend and it’s not just any particular day but in 6 years of my relationship with Aseem, he has always maintained no one has loved him more than his father (who left us in 2009) and Leo, not even me or his mom.
After seeing this movie and hearing the thoughts of the dog in the movie and spending time with you, I realize even more what an amazing creature you are.  Leo, you’re truly his best companion. You’re capable of providing him the comfort and warmth of a family just on your own. You’re a dog with a purpose. With your immense capability to bear every sad moment silently and dancing in all of our happy moments.
It has never mattered to you whether it was a big house or a very small apartment, on several occasions you have proved that you’re the creature who just needed place in our hearts. Well I haven’t seen God but I  do believe God exists in us, in his creations, for me if someone asks me have you seen God, I would say I have seen God, he lives with us, He is Leo, a bundle of unconditional love for all. Leo, we are so grateful for your life. Your presence makes my heart swell with joy. I know you know Aseem loves you more than anyone in this whole wide world. He has cried several times with tears for you and probably only you see those tears and find your way back to him. It’s a privilege for me that you two together love me. I can’t be more grateful for your friendship, companionship and love.

 

-Shipra Goel

 

Photo Credits: KJ Photoworks: https://www.facebook.com/KjPhotoWorks/

Here’s the link to the movie; https://g.co/kgs/2uUXg1




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My Lost Home

Posted: 25th August 2018 by aseem.ace in Thoughts
Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

The songs of my childhood lie captured in this structure of bricks;
As the wind blows on this mournful morn, the sighs and creaks play on my mind weird tricks;
I remember the day we first came to call this place our home around 26 years ago,
I remember the passage of time as from a wilful child to a man time forced me to grow,
I remember the crinkled brow of my father whose smiles and words blow like wind through this structure,
I remember the highs and the lows and the gains and losses I discovered within this home at many a life’s juncture,
Memories manifest in mere bricks and stones could move me so I did not know,
But with a heavy heart to changes wrought by time I would try to gracefully bow,
Farewell my first home and may thee fare well with a new resident,
I hope I can visit you again some day to remember anew everything you represent
By- Aseem Mahajan
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happiness

Time slows or accelerates erratically akin to a river running its course, a magnificent, unignorable and intimidating presence ;

Some memories and voices don’t fade even though time through its agents of entropy persistently tries, for they remain etched as permanent tattoos on our very essence;

Time is a roaring maelstrom on the surface of our existence trying to pull memories into it’s maws, and as inevitably as it ever did and will do, it goes on and on;

Your memories shine bright as a lighthouse on a dark shore even though time passes and hammers in a painful realization that right now longer, than any moment that has passed before, you have been from our midst gone;

Your voice of sanity, joy and love, brimming with tenderness and sagacity,was a balm on a chaos ravished soul;

Your calmness, selflessness and ready smile a beam of sunshine and an island of peace in the middle of a stormy existence making me by your mere closeness feel whole;

You have left behind mortal realms to traverse the universes of peace and tranquillity from whence you surely drifted accidentally to our flawed chaos infested universe;

Happy Birthday Dearest Dad wherever you are or not, I am not sure about anything yet but there is one thing I am certain about – your existence added a measure of sanity and happiness to our multiverse.

By- Aseem Mahajan

miss dad

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Mom, Shipra and me

I don’t remember the beginning of our love story as I was too young when we first met,
I was flattered by your attention as by virtue of giving birth you had to over me fuss and fret,
I had cried as our first connection was being cut after months nine,
As soon as I was born you became my first love story and the one that will endure the longest as you have an unbeatable edge by being the creator of mine,
Then through studies and illnesses you nursed, pushed and coaxed me to get better;
At times when I didn’t want to do things to better myself you seemed as dangerous as the Mad hatter,
You have a heart of gold and a priceless smile,
Through my seemingly innocent facade I used to wonder whether you ever manage to spot the guile,
But now I know that by being a mother you accept your children with all their flaws as most of them are directly or indirectly because of parents,
From spoiling us with goodies to having us, when we were younger, as rent free tenants;
We went through a dark period when we lost our brightest light,
But even though he is irreplaceable and always will be I saw your beautiful spirit once again taking flight,
Now with your four wonderful children and an extremely cute grandchild,
I Think it’s time to let down your hair and have on this birthday a celebration wild

By – Aseem Mahajan

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abdul-kalam
“Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough.”-Kalam
Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen( APJ) Abdul Kalam was born in a small village to a boat owner and his wife. At an early age he was selling newspapers to help his family sustain themselves. His first dream to become a fighter pilot was crushed as he placed 9th in the qualifiers for IAF and there were only 8 positions available. A crushed dream would have spelled the end of ambitions for many but for him it just ignited his desire to prove himself and thus began what can only be described as a fairy tale journey. But that would be doing a disservice to the incredible hard work and determination that made him an inspirational figure.
He began his career with DRDO but then it was at ISRO that he found his true home. He achieved extraordinary things in Satellite Launch Vehicles and then later on in Missile development. Over the years, working on various ISRO and DRDO projects, he made a name for himself as one of the foremost space and nuclear scientists in India. He earned the title of the Missile man of India for his extraordinary contribution to improving India’s defense capabilities in this arena. He was also the Co-Chief Project Coordinator for the Pokhran -2 nuclear tests.
A little known fact is that along with Cardiologist Soma Raju he also developed a low cost coronary stent called Kalam-Raju Stent.
His scientific achievements notwithstanding his term as President is the platform from where he truly touched the nation of a Billion people. His messages of inspiration crossed all divides of religion, age, caste and creed. His simple eloquence; the beatific smile; and the utter conviction with which he delivered his messages inspired people from all walks of life, people with different socio economic backgrounds, with or without science backgrounds and made them all believe that nothing is truly impossible. He symbolized the fact that hard work pays and sanity still prevails in what may seem at times to be a chaotic world.
His desire to be remembered as a teacher manifested itself in his enthusiastic interactions with students across the nation. He was an incredible project manager, a gifted scientist and a brilliant writer but his true calling was being a teacher. His lectures and speeches were simple and succinct ;and with his own personal example he showed that your birth, your circumstances, your religion and your failures do not stop you or define you in any way. That life is a journey of a thousand steps and even if you stumble at a few you can pick yourself up and reach the very top. That if you are passionate enough about your vocation then age wouldn’t stop you from thoroughly enjoying the twilight of your career or life for that matter. And that a life well lived makes you immortal and inspirational for generations to come.
There are countless inspirational quotes and anecdotes about APJ Abdul Kalam or as he came to be known, the People’s President; but for me what truly makes him extraordinary is his humility and humanity. The kind of stature accorded to him by virtue of his achievements could have made him inaccessible or arrogant. But he cared for his fellow human in a way few truly can. He was always a humble gentleman who wanted to teach and try and inspire the next generations to aspire for something extraordinary. With the essence of a true teacher he used his examples and experience to show the various facets of life and arouse through truth and simple messages the latent or; in times of despair; seemingly impossible ambitions amongst generations of not only Indian students but across the world wherever his story and words reached.
There are legends and true stories that awe and inspire us. And then there are the best teachers like APJ Abdul Kalam who make it all seem simple and reduce the complexity of life and ambitions to simple maxims. Who define what it takes to be extraordinary and that the seemingly impossible is within our grasp if we do not give up and work hard every step of the way. He may have passed on but he has ignited a billion minds. His messages will live on in the memories of a nation and his amazing life would continue to fuel the imagination and dreams of students in the remotest of villages to the biggest of metropolitan cities.

rage rage

Some people truly transcend barriers and make an indelible mark on the psyche’s of all those they directly or indirectly touch. You, most venerable sir, were one of them. May the fires you lit burn brightly and make the future a brighter and happier place for Humanity.

By- Shipra Goel and Aseem Mahajan

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Happy Birthday Dad

Posted: 13th August 2015 by aseem.ace in Thoughts
Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Father quote

I have found the one. We are getting married. She is perfect. But hey dad do you know something?  I miss you. God damn it I will always miss you. You were serenity. You were smiles. You always calmed the turmoil within me with your infinite patience and selfless love. But hey you had to leave abruptly didn’t you. Without even meeting her. Leaving my life story with a hole nobody and nothing can ever fill. A void where warm sunshine and tranquility was always mine to tap into.

How did you do it?  How did you day after day absorb all our tantrums and complaints and shit out rainbows. What were you made of?  I don’t even need to colour your memory with the bright colors of nostalgia to appreciate how truly incredible you were. I wanted to repay you in some little way. But you didn’t even allow that. Damn you. I never could repay you. But I wanted to give you small joys. The joy of knowing Shipra for instance. Imagining that moment when you two would have met for the first time is a secret obsession of mine. The way you would have beamed at her and she would have known a selfless love akin to her own parents. The way you would have laid all and every fear of her to rest. I try my best dad. But I am not you. You would have helped her overcome any and all obstacles with your wisdom and bottomless reserves of selfless love.

The extent to which mom would have been happy and content rather than bereft without you. You left a gaping hole in all our lives but none more so than mom’s. We all try hard to fill that void but again we are not you. Everything would have been infinitely better with you in our lives.

I can just imagine the way you would have looked at Ady. The way only you could have loved all of us. Equally yet infinitely. What were you? I didn’t deserve you but I didn’t deserve to lose you either. Without you life is like a rudderless boat. You were the best father anybody in the world could have had. And you were my father. And you left me so abruptly and with such finality. Do you know how much it hurts knowing that Shipra will never meet you? That one day when I am a father my child will never meet you. If you still exist somewhere know this. I am very cross with you. But even as an atheist sometimes I strongly suspect that Shipra happened for a reason. And that was the blessings you left with me. Thank you for having existed. If nothing else you made me nearly good enough to be worthy of someone as amazing as Shipra. But I will always be angry that you didn’t stick around for knowing her and interacting with her which would have been the greatest joy of my life.

You were my best friend. Guide. Philosopher. I love you dad. Always will.

By- Aseem Mahajan

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