Blog@GraceJunction

I am unable to hide and contain the giggles, smiles and laughter that swell up within me as I ponder on my memories, as I remember during my childhood days, visits to Balvatika (A Children’s Garden). The best thing about Balvatika was a room full of mirrors, which shows you distorted images of yourself. Its funny to look at a short you, tall and lean you, a fat you, a crooked you; the room rings constantly with laughter, fun and surprises. No matter how good looking and in-shape you are, the mirror just reflects the way it is designed – a laughable you. Now it is ok as long as it is all for fun and laughter, however it could be really shocking, if it happens in real life.

Recently I had been browsing thru the works of a few popular new-age and self help authors. Prolific authors, who are being treated almost with a demi-god status and people take their words as the ultimate dictum on life. (more…)

On 30 June the TOI Ahmedabad on its front page flashed “Treat LIVE IN AS MARRIAGE”.

The news highlighted that the National Commission for Women has said that, a woman in a live-in relationship should be entitled to maintenance if she is deserted by the man. In far-reaching recommendations to the ministry of women and child development, the Commission has sought a change in the definition of “wife’’ — as described in section 125 of CrPC which deals with maintenance — and suggested that it include women involved in a live-in relationship.

Now what the commission desires seems right at a glance however it protects the wrong woman, the commission in making this recommendation is providing a legal status to an illicit act. Think about it!! (more…)

The train chugged powerfully thru the drizzle as I kept waiving. This was the beginning of a journey; a journey which just like the train was powerfully pulling the load attached, moving against all odds, piercing thru darkness, thru the cold wind and the rain – unstoppable.

It was not the pull of the train that powered the journey, rather it was something else more powerful, that was moving forward – It was the journey of Truth. My mind couldn’t forget the young child’s smiling face, less than a year old. The journey reflected innocence, trust and childlike faith. This friend of mine was traveling out to a very remote jungle to meet an unknown tribe, a tribe which still is centuries behind the normal world, cutoff from the rest of the world this tribe still lives in prehistoric stone age era. (more…)

I can never describe the feeling and the ecstasy I felt as I flew over the cool icy blue waters of Maldives (well cant describe the color by words, nor I can compare it to something we’ve seen). What a scene!!

Like a small child, whose eyes glow up with wonder each time he sees the magic trick performed – I was held “gasp-less” as I was unveiled to the wonders of the Grand Designer. Every thing I put my eyes on, captured me. I saw splendid true colors that I had observed marketing companies so poorly trying to match. I saw ideas that we so beggarly try to copy. To a much-wearied traveler like me, in my lifetime of travels so far, nothing caught me in this frame – “Wonder with jaws hanging”. (more…)

Learning never stops in a lifetime. A few days back I was teaching an engineering student basics of engineering drawing. While teaching concepts on three-dimensional drawings and designs, both of us observed a concept repeated time and again - “draw the reference lines first”.

We noted that it was very important, to first draw the reference lines before we commence drawing any other lines of the drawing, no matter how much important they seemingly appear. Every other line in the drawing had to be drawn keeping the reference line in perspective. If the reference lines were skewed, you would never be able to get the results right.

We also found a very intriguing fact, guess what ? Normally, every one draws the reference lines first, as if this is something common inscribed in everyone’s heart. A true reflection of something more solidly drawn on the heart of every human – Our Conscience. (more…)

It was mid April when I read about the elaborate plans of the Chinese government, on how they are preparing themselves for the upcoming Olympics. Frankly, I was quite impressed about the level of thought & effort they are putting in, to make the event a success. If you’ve ever been to China and if you had a glimpse of what they have built it to be, you would surely bow down to their achievements. In everything that they did, they’ve shown it to the world.. what sheer human grit could achieve!

The news article read something like this “The Chinese government hopes launching shells containing silver iodide pellets into clouds will curb rainfall and ensure clear skies for the 2008 Summer Olympics opening ceremony in Beijing. According to the plan, 100 staff at 21 stations surrounding the city will have 10 minute window to blast away at the clouds so that they can be dispersed before they come near the stadium. Three aircrafts will also be on stand-by to drop catalysts on the clouds…!! (more…)

Three weeks before Christmas 1993, Wolfgang Dircks died while watching television. Neighbors in his Berlin apartment complex hardly noticed the absence of the 43-year-old. His rent continued to be paid automatically out of his bank account.

Five years later, 1998 the money ran out, and the landlord entered Dircks’ apartment to inquire. He found Dircks’s remains still in front of the tube. The TV guide on his lap was open to December 3, the presumed day of his death. Although the television set had burned out, the lights on Dircks’s Christmas tree were still twinkling away.

It’s a bizarre story, but it shouldn’t surprise us. Each year thousands of people are found accidentally days or weeks after their solitary deaths in the affluent cities and suburbs of the world. If a person can die in such isolation that his neighbors never notice, how lonely was he when alive? (more…)

Hey Gigibhai your blog on the act of forgiving (Priyanka Gandhi forgiving to forget), is what inspired me to write this sequel. Thanks for that blog it was very touching and very well written …

Evil, can never be fought and won, evil has to meet its equal or more powerful rival, before it can be (eradicated) stopped. Evil was the act of bombing and victims were those who experienced the loss.

The effect of every evil deed continues even after the actual crime is over, as evil would continue to haunt and terrorize the victim by bringing in painful memories, hatred, vengeance etc.. Even though the victim of a crime may come to terms with the pain and loss, evil at every step will continue to victimize the victim ! (more…)

The Patan gang rape did really wake up most of the news weary minds across the state. Shocked, everyone eagerly awaited the next day’s newspaper to get a deeper glimpse in to what transpired. However, the matter, unusually covered by the media, in a land where between 1971 and 2006 rape cases increased by a whooping 678%, died the death as the voice of the victims. 

It was interesting to note that when the issue came to light everyone was found discussing on, how so much of marks, and in turn power, was bestowed in to the hands of the autonomous teachers ? Every ‘Woman’s Commission’ and group in India along with the local media, politicians and the public started to blame the particular system for internal marks. While every one was busy in the blame game, no one ever cared to ask, what made these autonomous teachers do this act prima facie? Surprisingly and unanimously every one was ready with solutions to curb these heinous acts - reduce the amount of internal marks held in the hands of teachers!!  (more…)