Blog@GraceJunction

There is a magnificent story in Marie Chapian’s book “Of Whom the World Was Not Worthy”. The book told of the sufferings of the true church in Yugoslavia, where so much wrong has been perpetrated by the politicized ecclesiastical hierarchy. That which has gone on in the name of Christ for the enriching and empowering of corrupt church officials has been a terrible affront to decency.

One day an evangelist by the name of Jakov arrived in a certain village. He commiserated with an elderly man named Cimmerman on the tragedies he had experienced and talked to him of the love of Christ. Cimmerman abruptly interrupted Jakov and told him that he wished to have nothing to do with Christianity. He reminded Jakov of the dreadful history of the church in his town, a history replete with plundering, exploiting, and indeed with killing innocent people. (more…)

Its just too hard for me to conceal the giggles and smiles, when I look back at all those teenage and single years, when you are the most curious to know everything about Love, Relationships, Sex, Marriage etc.. Those who have married and are enjoying a deep relationship, I am sure will share these giggles however those who are still in their teens or are single will have their curious eyes brighten up…

We often don’t get it right, that thing called love – and as someone who has been through this route in life, I can tell you that it’s not a pretty sight to be crying your eyes out while being left alone, confused, hurt and bleeding with tissues and napkins mixed in mucous and salty tears. (more…)

“If we can have BMW and Mercedes Benz as two separate companies, why can we not have the Indian Premier League and the Indian Cricket League”, a beleagured Kapil Dev!!

Poor Kapil Dev, one of the best cricketers India has seen, is fondly remembered for his 175 not out against Zimbabwe. That innings probably was a turning point in the way batsmen approached the One Day game ever since. Kapil’s face is always recollected, lifting up the Prudential Cup, with a Haryanavi smile that reflected his Indian Soul! (more…)

His glittering teeth would have got him millions of rupees had he been noticed by any toothpaste/toothbrush manufacturing companies. I had always found it one of the most endearing smiles in the world. But that day it was devoid of all that spirited charm and excitement.

I asked him, “What happened Pappu?” (that’s what they called him. Plus, I never bothered to ask him his real name)

“I was really enjoying my vacation back home in Rajasthan. I had really begun deciphering my cousins’ school textbooks but my uncle called me back to Ahmedabad,” said the 7-year-old.

Like many boys of his age, Pappu has been working at this tea-stall in front of my office building. And while I may try to be righteous enough and complain to my colleagues of how these kids are deprived of their basic rights, I end up like others apparently doing nothing about it (while it is now I realise I could have done something about it…not that it’s too late.) (more…)

Usain Bolt is “too” tall to be a world class sprinter, Mike Friedman “too” fat to be an elite world class cyclist, Stefan Holm is “too” short to be a champion high jumper, and Erin Donohue is “too” short and stocky to be a star middle-distance runner. Yet all of them are Olympians, athletic anomlies, bucking conventional wisdom and somehow rising to the same arenas as Michael Phelps and Dara Torres.

Its amazing, how much man relies on statistics to make decisions, be it the vital or the numerical kind. But these wonderful people have attained that which has made experts revolve in their chairs and just confess, “It’s a mystery“!! (more…)

Ahsaas Channa, 9 year old, and having just finished working on Phoonk, the much awaited Ram Gopal Verma horror flick, insists that she’s a regular kid who likes to go out shopping with her mom and throws tantrums so that her mom buys her a doll. But as soon as cameras roll, she becomes a professional!

I would like to work with Aamir sir and Amithabh(ji). No more suffixes like ‘uncle’ intended. She praises Darsheel’s work in Taare Zameen Par but feels that she would have done that role better! She goes on to say that Aamir Sir and Yash Chopra are the best movie makers in the industry and that they can bring out the best in her! Ramuji is an amazing director, she adds. She has found that she likes challenges and she would like to do a role that challenges her skills, like Rani Mukherjee in Black. She has concluded that boys are big time losers and that she can easily bully them around. (more…)

Mate,

It is nice to be able to write these letters to you from jail. I am awaiting the final decision on the mercy petition pending with the President of India. These days I am just reflecting on the days gone by and I can’t help myself from being nostalgic as hopes of a future life died when I was convicted.

I felt like a life wasted in the quest for being loved and wanted. There are many things that I could not have changed but there were many that I could have. I could not have changed my family, my parents and my upbringing. I could not have done much about my parents strained relationship or the inevitable pain of going through my parents divorce as a small child. (more…)

Citius. Altius. Fortius.

Well, you guessed it right. I couldn’t keep myself from being bitten by the Olympic Games bug. The grandeur of the event this year has finally caught the attention of many a nonchalant audience like me.

And in all these of watching a few hundred athletes compete for those precious (and not so precious) metals, it is probably for the first time that I was able to sit back and gauge upon the gravity of their endeavour. All thanks to our very own gold medallist Abhinav Bindra, not forgetting the record stint of Michael Phelps and the extravagant Chinese hosts.

However, what will stay on with me forever is none of these current events but one of the past Olympic Games; somewhere in the middle of the First and the Second World War. It dates to the Paris Olympic held in 1924 which, among several champions, featured a humble athlete who went on to clinch a gold medal in the 400 metres running race. (more…)

This August 15th we as a nation will complete 61 years of independence. Independence from British imperialism and a period of exploitation of the country, its resources and therefore its psyche. The Indian Psyche was crushed under the fierce desire of the English empire to colonize the whole world.

The British Empire started its Raj after the Battle of Plassey, in 1757 when the Nawab of Bengal surrendered his dominions to the Company by granting the ‘Diwani’ or the right to collect revenue. The Indian sub continent saw many upheavals since then, violent and non violent, but not much inroad was made till the entry of Mahatma Gandhi. (more…)

Doctor,

It’s been a long time since I spoke to you. I remember when I first met you during a counseling session at my college. Well, I have been greatly helped by you in getting rid of some of my addictions. Your techniques to counter them helped me to come out of it easily. My parents were really happy to hear about my de-addiction.

I wanted to invite you for my marriage, but circumstances were such that I could not. You know Reema who was my junior in college and you have been our common friend for a long time. Even now when we talk, we do remember you. Well after those good days when we met, both Reema and I took a liking for each other. We loved each others company and things just worked out. (more…)