THE SPEECH THAT NEVER WAS

First, the background story. In 11th grade, I saw a truly awful Republic Day speech being rehearsed. The same speech which has been used for seven odd years and,I suspect,will be used for seven more ,was dusted off the rack and touched up in a  bad way. Since I could not take it, I wrote an alternate speech and presented it to my English mam.It was not accepted  because it was deemed "too harsh".Here is the speech.

"Fellow countrymen ,it gives me great pleasure to address you on the 21,152nd day of our Republic. The presence of this august gathering, comprising of our Principal,our Vice principal ,staff and the torchbearers our  generation gives me added pleasure and joy.

Each year,it is a tradition to speak of our past glory,the gallant exploits of our freedom fighters and our country as a developing nation. How long are we to rest on our past laurels, content with the tag"developing nation"? The previous two generations have distinguished themselves by  freeing us from the shackles of oppression and  putting us on the path of socio-economic development. If  we rest on their laurels and fail to act, we will be remembered as the first generation,  post independence , to have not been of service to the nation.

As John F Kennedy, former president of The United States of America , once said "Ask not what your country can do for you.Ask instead,what you can do for your country." We have the bane of indifference. How does this bother me?" is the  first question asked . This must change. The  poison of pessimism coursing  through  our veins must be replaced with life giving Hope.

There is only so much a government can do in a democratic country. It can implement reforms, make broad changes. It is up to us to be discerning and dynamic.

Technology is the pride of our nation. This has to reach everyone in every part of the country. Village knowledge centers must be set up in every village in India. A large number of companies  have come forward to  back this ambitious venture. The Tatas ,proud owners of Corus  and the inventors of the nano, RIl , Microsoft and many more  have pledged their support.

May more things have to be done. Merely saying that one person cant change anything is  pure escapism. "The history of the world is the history of a few men who dared to have faith in themselves" said Swami Vivekananda. Those who examine history will find this to be true.

It was one man who inspired the non-violence movement; it was one man who founded the Indian National Army; it was one man who went to the west and proclaimed the glory of Vedanta;it was one man who founded our glorious institution which now has 125 centres around the world.

Let us have the courage to follow our dreams. Let us dare to hope. Most of all ,let us be proud of  our Motherland  and endeavour to be worthy of being an Indian.let us have a happy Republic Day.Thank you."

Battle Within

Every part of me shows it exists and that it is unused.Joints creak,muscles stiffen and my back groans.I refuse to listen.Ive heard enough whining the whole day.

Slowly,they fall into line , working in a seamless unison.One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Again.This comforting grove repeats endlessly.Tracks and sweatshirt stick to my body,like a second.Warmth rises . Only I exist. All alone ,face to face , with thoughts and emotions. Contemplation time. Time is measured the thump of foot on track.

Slowly strain and breathlessness intrude into my Sanctuary.I fight to keep them out,to keep my mind in leash,to preserve my Fortress of Tranquility. The intruders are relentless,each attack more probing,more violent.With every ounce of energy I have, i fight them away.I promise to go on for just fifty more counts and relax , adding another fifty when i reach there .The intruders finally give in.

But these are only pawns.The real enemy is the One within.When I'm tired of fighting,the Mind plays tricks. "Give up.Surely, YOU cant do it. You are nothing but mediocre." The greatest battle is the one with the Mind.
Sooner or later you give in. The mind pounds you into submission. Exhaustion and pain deal sucker blows. The rhythm fades and tranquility shatters. Paradise lost.

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SAGA part 1

I was evolving on a personal ,musical and spiritual level.My comprehension increased and I could see much more than what was apparent.I would sometimes get glimpses of the thought process of people when they spoke.I could often read expressions and sense emotions around me.

Instead of seeing reality as a fixed plane in which you exist and live confined to laws,i found that if you grasped its true nature, you could indeed influence it, change it ,modify it,evolve it.I did not see what is;I saw what could be.And by by seeing what could be,I was able to actualise it, make it happen,just as the actions of the giants in the past has shaped the reality we dwell in.

I could hope,I could imagine ,I could envision ;I saw that nothing was beyond me ,nothing was outside me;Everything was within  me ,everything was me.Everything was one grand unity which wore a plethora of masks  and costumes and believed  the illusion it had cast .With the power of my Will ,I could make men my pawns.

On this plane ,I found those who were not afraid to Think,to Do.They did not bend to societal pressure.They too saw society for what it was: a herd of humans  who do nothing but tread the trodden path ,even if the path was made  by mistake.Confident only in the security of knowing  that the person next to him is doing the same,the herd is content to meander.Its actions are dictated by influences which give it the comforting feel of the familiar,the illusion of safety.

To the Master who realises this Truth ,society becomes his tool.It is an obedient  slave which does all it is commanded to do ,as long as  the Master keeps feeding it the comforting  illusion of safety .The Will  must be stronger than the swirling directionless energy of the herd; stronger than other influences that act on society.The leader's power of motivation must be stronger than the lethargy and indifference of the herd.In short He  must be the Force dictating the movements.If so an entire generation  lends itself to His Will.

In  the Beginning was Thought.The Cosmos is the manifestation of  Thought.Time bends Space and Space bends Time .Will bends both Space and Time.