Tag: Satire

  • Welcome to the real world, where every day feels like a constant race. We hustle and bustle, running after wealth, success, and material possessions, all in the pursuit of happiness. But what happens when we finally attain all these things, and still, the happiness we seek eludes us? That’s the paradox of life, and it’s a journey that many of us find ourselves on.

    The world today can be a confusing place, and it’s easy to feel lost in the sea of noise and information. People are so busy chasing their dreams that they forget to stop and ask themselves, “What is my purpose?” We’re told to follow our passions and find our calling, but what happens when you don’t know what that is, or when your passions seem to change every other day?

    It’s natural to feel directionless, especially in our young adult years, when we’re trying to figure out who we are and where we’re going. We’re bombarded with messages from society that tell us what we should be doing, but the truth is, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer to life’s big questions. It’s up to each of us to find our own path.

    The good news is that you’re not alone in this journey. Many of us have gone through the same struggles and doubts, and have come out on the other side with a newfound sense of purpose. The key is to start by looking within. When we take the time to reflect on our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, we can gain insight into what drives us and what truly makes us happy.

    So, how do you start the journey of self-discovery? First, you need to quiet the noise of the world and focus on what’s important to you. This might mean spending time alone in nature, journaling your thoughts and feelings, or meditating to clear your mind. Whatever method you choose, the goal is to create space for introspection and reflection.

    Next, it’s essential to challenge the limiting beliefs that are holding you back. We all have beliefs about ourselves and the world that shape our thoughts and actions, but many of these beliefs are outdated and no longer serve us. By questioning these beliefs and letting go of what’s not working, we can open ourselves up to new possibilities and perspectives.

    Finally, be open to new experiences and opportunities. When we’re stuck in our ways, it’s easy to get stuck in a rut, but by stepping out of our comfort zones, we can learn new things, meet new people, and gain a fresh perspective on life. Whether it’s trying a new hobby, volunteering for a cause you believe in, or traveling to a new place, the opportunities for growth are endless.

    Remember, the journey of self-discovery is not a linear one. You may encounter setbacks, and there may be times when you feel like giving up, but it’s important to keep pushing forward. Life is a journey of growth, and every step we take, whether it’s forward or backward, brings us closer to the person we’re meant to be.

    The journey within is not about finding the answer to life’s big questions, but rather, it’s about asking the right questions. It’s about exploring our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, and learning to trust our instincts. It’s about breaking free from the limitations that hold us back and embracing the unknown. So, start your journey today, and let the road lead you to the life you were meant to live.

  • Dilshad Ali and Tilak Raj have been friends for over 20 years now. From sharing a rented apartment to sharing food, their story of love and care despite different faiths is all what we need to look up to. A simple story with foundation of values of compassion and respect; basic and yet forgotten.

    The Khan Rajma Chawal stall comes across as any other roadside food joint in Chandigarh. It sells delicious Rajma Chawal and Curry Chawal at prices starting as low as ₹30.

    The owner Dilshad Ali and his friend Tilak Raj, along with two helpers can be seen setting up their food stall a little after noon. It is usually the lunch hour, and customers from office-goers, passers-by to students can be seen buying from them. Students are especially fond of their feed and thus are seen in more numbers. Ali and Raj remain busy for the next 3 hours as customers come steadily.

    Dilshad Ali and Tilak Raj have been selling Rajma Chawal and Curry Chawal for 3 years now in Sector 15 Market, Chandigarh. However, it isn’t just the delicious food they sell that makes their story worth sharing, but a tale of incredible friendship thrashing stigmas and stereotypes.

    In present times when it is hard to overlook cases of communal tensions, their story sets a confident example of tolerance and fraternity between religions. The intimacy is both an inspiration and assurance to gladden our hearts.

    Dilshad Ali Khan, a Muslim by faith and Tilak Raj, a Hindu, boast of a friendship which is 23 years old. The friendship has witnessed no ups and downs in these years.

    “Ups and downs in friendship come with selfish interests. Here, it is pure love and support.”

    Dilshad, who started off as an electrician says he always have had love for cooking and wanted to pursue it. “I used to see youngsters around, they had problem finding good food here. My only attempt was to provide them quality food so they don’t miss home.” His wife, who also is a good cook, helps him in preparing the food. Tilak Raj, otherwise a government employee, comes only to help during the selling hours. He talks less and is quiet during most of the interview.

    Dilshad and Tilak Raj serving food to customers

    In response to skirmishes in the relation due to different belief systems, they say there have never been any.

    “It never felt like we are different or our beliefs are different. Mazhab nahi sikhata, aapas mein bair rakhna (Religion does not profess hostility). We follow this teaching.”

    Overall, the city has been kind to them, but their association have now and then faced criticism which “isn’t deserving enough to be paid attention to and should be ignored.”

    Talking of the persisting communal tensions in the country, Dilshad says, “The government should not try to incept communal hatred and rather maintain a congruous atmosphere. It is only a handful of people who try to disturb the peace and such people have no religion. Amidst of all this, it takes an effort to preserve this brotherhood of ours, allowing it to not get stained. I pray to Allah that it stays the same.”

    Pleased at being able to provide healthy and hygienic food at a reasonable price, they plan to extend the business. The food comes as a savior to students living as paying guests and is greeted with immense liking as people appear in considerable numbers.

    “I am a college student and I live in a paying guest (PG) accommodation, so it feels really good to have lunch there. It reminds me of my mother’s hand made food.”, says Shraddha Juyal (20), a college student. “Khan stall’s food gives me a taste of home away from home!”, says another college student,  Anmol Kaur (20).

    Their beautiful pact among serious communal conflict prevalent today, blooms and stands alone like a lotus in the mud! (pun intended)

  • Once upon a time, in a small village, there was a young girl who lived with her parents. She was raised in a household where arguments and fights between her parents were more common than the daily news. Due to this, she grew up feeling neglected and yearned for love and attention from anyone who showed her kindness.

    One person who filled this void in her life was her uncle. He treated her like a little doll and she would often visit his house just to be in his presence. To her, he was more than just an uncle; he was the father figure she had always dreamed of having.

    However, this fantasy world was shattered one day when her uncle made advances on her in the kitchen, when they were alone. He hugged her from behind and said things that made her feel uncomfortable. This continued to happen every chance he got, and she was left helpless, as her parents were too caught up in their own problems to notice what was going on.

    After a few years, she mustered up the courage to tell her mother about what was happening, but her father was angry and blamed her for what was happening. He thought that she was responsible for her uncle’s actions because she was too close to him. Her parents didn’t believe her and dismissed her claims.

    Years passed, and the girl found herself standing in front of a crowd of around 50 people, listening to her uncle give a judgment as the Pannch (judge) of the Panchayat. The topic at hand was the moral and ethical behavior of young adults, and her uncle was speaking of how the youth of today were being misled by the world of cinema and TV.

    The girl’s heart sank as she listened to her uncle, who was the same man who had taken advantage of her and made her feel uncomfortable all those years ago, talk about morality and respect. Everybody was happy with the judgment, but the girl felt like it was a mockery of justice.

    She thought to herself, “If only there was a Panchayat that day to punish my uncle for his actions, who just made a mockery of the word ‘morality’”. The girl went home, behind her parents, feeling defeated and hopeless.

    This story is a reminder of how arbitrary justice can sometimes deny true justice. The Panchayat system, which is supposed to provide justice to the people, can sometimes fail to do so if the judge is biased or has his own hidden agendas. This highlights the need for a fair and just legal system that is free from any kind of biases or prejudices.

    The young girl in this story represents all the victims who have suffered at the hands of people in positions of power, who abuse their power to fulfill their own desires. We must work towards creating a world where every voice is heard, and every person is treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.

    We must not let the fear of being judged or the fear of being blamed stop us from speaking out against the wrongs that are being done to us. Only by speaking up and fighting for what is right can we create a better world for ourselves and future generations.

  • As Indians, we often judge people and things based on appearances alone, without fully understanding the situation. Our brains are wired to make quick conclusions. But when it comes to caste or religion, our perceptions can change in a dramatic way. We may suddenly feel compelled to defend our own caste or religion, even if we are not directly involved. This can lead to taking things personally and not being able to let go until the situation subsides.

    Recently, there were incidents in the state of Haryana involving the blocking of roads and railways, aggressive attacks causing damage to public property, theft from ATMs, and the setting of shops and malls on fire, all in response to the “Jat Agitation” demand for reservation. The national media was covering these events extensively.

    I wrote a Facebook post condemning the incidents and the demand for reservation by the Jats, who are known for being royal and rich, but are neither socially nor economically backward. To my surprise, some of my Facebook friends who are Jats started defending and justifying the protests. One of them even called me to ask if I was following a politician who was speaking out against the demand for reservation. I told them that I don’t have to follow anyone to see that what was happening was wrong and to speak out against it.

    What was interesting was that these friends who were defending the riots were not even participating in the protests. Some of them had previously spoken out against the idea of reservation. But now that their caste was demanding reservation, they suddenly had a change of heart.

    There were a few who spoke out against the riots, regardless of their caste, but the majority of people criticized them for bringing shame to their caste, as if the agitators weren’t already doing that. It’s difficult to understand how anyone could justify blocking a road, let alone the more aggressive acts that took place, just to demand reservation for one caste. It causes inconvenience to innocent people who have no part in this reservation controversy.

    Why is it that our caste or religion is more important to us than humanity and the greater good of people? I can’t help but wonder what would happen if people from ISIS or other terrorist organizations were of the same caste as my friends. They would likely cry every time a terrorist was hanged by the law and protest against it, just like they did for the reservation.

    This is why politicians are able to win elections through their dirty politics of caste and religion. It’s our emotional attachment to our caste or religion that is the biggest obstacle to our country’s development. We are the biggest fools in this conspiracy to keep people divided by caste and religion, but one thing is for sure – we won’t change.

  • Apologizing isn’t always easy, but it’s an important part of being a responsible adult. Unfortunately, some people still don’t know how to do it properly. If you’re guilty of any of these apology faux pas, it’s time to take note and step up your game.

    First things first, never apologize via messaging. Sure, it’s convenient, but it’s also impersonal and can come off as insincere. If you’ve made a mistake, be a grown-up and face the person you’re apologizing to in person.

    Another big no-no is apologizing through a mutual friend. This is just a coward’s way out. When you apologize in person, your expressions and body language can speak louder than words, so don’t hide behind a third party.

    Some people like to give a long explanation before they apologize, but this is a bad idea. If you’re apologizing, it means you know you’ve done something wrong, so just own up to it and say you’re sorry. No need for a long-winded explanation.

    Another mistake people make is apologizing as if it’s a favor. This is just arrogant and sends the message that you don’t really think you did anything wrong. Remember, apologizing doesn’t make you any less of a person.

    Last but not least, don’t be the person who apologizes in the next lifetime. If you’ve made a mistake, don’t wait around to apologize. The longer you wait, the more likely it is that the other person will have moved on and won’t accept your apology.

    In conclusion, apologizing is an essential part of being a responsible adult. It’s important to know how to do it properly, and avoid common mistakes. Remember, if you’ve made a mistake, own up to it and apologize in person with a sincere heart.

  • Sunny Leone is a famous Bollywood actress and businesswoman, but some people in India don’t think she deserves respect because of her past career in the adult film industry. But that’s not fair! Just because she used to be in porn movies doesn’t mean she’s not a hardworking and talented person.

    Lots of people watch porn, but they don’t like to admit it in public. Sunny Leone is just being honest about it, and she’s really good at her job. She’s also a professional, just like other famous actors and actresses in India. And she’s a good person too – she wouldn’t shoot a movie scene if she thought it would be bad for kids to see.

    Some people say that Sunny Leone is bad for Indian culture, but that’s not true either. People have been watching porn for a long time, way before the internet existed. According to Dr. Chauntelle Tibbals, a sociologist and expert on the adult film industry, “Pornography is a normal and natural part of human sexuality, and it has been present in all cultures throughout history. It is not something that can or should be blamed for negative societal outcomes.” And lots of Indian movies and TV shows have adult scenes too. It’s not fair to blame everything on one person.

    We should respect Sunny Leone for who she is, and not judge her based on her past career. It’s not fair to call her names or say she’s bad for India. Everyone deserves a chance to live their life the way they want to, and Sunny Leone is no different.

    There are many other instances where famous people have broken barriers and overcome stereotypes in their respective fields. For example, Oprah Winfrey, who is now a media mogul and philanthropist, grew up in poverty and faced discrimination as a black woman in the media industry. However, she broke through these barriers to become one of the most influential and successful people in the world.

    Similarly, Ellen DeGeneres, a popular talk show host and LGBTQ+ rights activist, faced discrimination and even lost her job in the entertainment industry for coming out as gay. But she persevered and now has her own successful talk show and is a respected and loved figure in the industry.

    These examples show that it is possible to break barriers and overcome stereotypes, no matter how difficult it may seem. As Dr. Brené Brown, a research professor and author, says, “You either walk inside your story and own it or you stand outside your story and hustle for your worthiness.” It is important to recognize and respect the struggles and achievements of those who have broken barriers and overcome stereotypes, regardless of their past or present circumstances. And this applies to everyone, including Sunny Leone.

  • We all want to be seen as nice and helpful people. We do things for others and try to be selfless. But have you ever stopped to think, why do we want to be seen as selfless? And why does it make us so happy? The truth is, there’s no such thing as being completely selfless. We do things because they make us happy or boost our self-esteem. So, why not embrace our selfish side and be happy about it?

    Sometimes we feel like we have to prove ourselves to others, and it can be a lot of pressure. But what if we didn’t have to prove anything to anyone? What if we could just be ourselves and not care about what others think? That would be pretty great, right? And when we stop trying to prove ourselves to others, we don’t have to brag about all the “selfless” things we do. We can just do them because we want to.

    When we accept that we’re just as selfish as everyone else, we can start valuing ourselves more. And when we value ourselves, we’ll make sure to take care of ourselves and make ourselves happy. And you know what? That’s okay!

    Imagine if you did something nice for someone and they thanked you. Instead of saying “it’s no big deal”, you can say “of course, I’m happy to help” because you know you did it because it made you happy. It’s a win-win situation.

    Being selfish doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It’s all about how we think about it. So, stop trying to be seen as selfless and start embracing your own happiness. It’s okay to want to feel good about yourself, and it’s okay to do things that make you happy. And remember, sometimes it’s better to say nothing at all instead of bragging about how nice you are.

    In short, being selfish is not a bad thing. It’s just a matter of perception and everyone does it. Embrace it, be happy about it and don’t brag about it. People will love you for it.