A little can inspire

You can never know from where you can get inspiration. I am writing this piece for my blog after very long time. I was busy writing Punjabi short stories, as I wanted to compile a book (The book is in press now). Honestly, in the wake of publishing a book, I almost forgotten about that I have a blog too and I have to feed it too with writings, until a girl has reminded me about it.

As i was binding up to leave after finishing up my office work, all of a sudden, a girl in her twenties appeared in the office to meet my boss. She expressed her deep urge to write.

She wanted to know if she can write for the newspaper. Well, she was naive in writing, so the boss suggested her to create a blog and start writing for it, as the blogs have follower ship and readership too.

The girl, who is a banker, was not much aware about the blogs. Boss has introduced her to me and asked me to teach her about the blogs.

I told her about how to create a blog, how to add tags, etc. I have also shown her my blogs too (that I had almost forgotten). She suddenly asked me, why I have stopped writing blogs, if you have follower ship. I had no answer.

However, she was naive, but she inspired me for writing again.

I have learned three things:

1.      Sometimes, life inspired us in surprising way.

2.      You can learn from anyone, anything.

3.      A little thing or a little moment can inspire you.

Remembering Amrita

You see, I thought to myself for a very long time...I must write about the journalist Amrita Chowdhary. She left us in a sudden dreadful road mishap on the 21st October 2012. It was a tragedy as we lost a brave journalist as well as a good human being.
I wanted to write a piece about her in my blogs, but somehow I was procrastinating due to laziness or fatigue or a lack of words to describe a talent - a personality, whatever the reason may be, but after around four months of her untimely demise a sudden instinct made me write about her today.
I was crossing the road in front of Sri Durga Mata Mandir near Jagraon Bridge, as it is my route to reach my office. I saw the lion face gate of the shrine and suddenly Amrita Chowdhary struck in my mind.
I can very well recall the head line of the story (Lalaji, it is an enchrochment) that Amrita had written in local edition of the Indian Express in 2001. She had filed the story about the encroachment made by the Mandir Committee. The Municipal Corporation had demolished that encroachment and the disciples were fuming over the issue. Former Member of Parliament, Late Lala Lajpat Rai was the then head of the management committee of the shrine. Lala ji had made some statements against the action taken by the MC and on very next day Amrita’s story was appeared in the newspaper.
I was working for vernaculars at the time. The story nailed itself to my mind and that’s why I can recall the story ...word for word even after 11 long years.
I met her for the last time face to face in Jagraon SSP in May or June last year. We both had gone there to attend a press conference. She was asking me about my experience as I had recently shifted from vernacular media to an English newspaper.
I had replied, though I was enjoying working for an English newspaper, but i felt like I was being boycotted.  Some of my good friends had started avoiding me suddenly (can’t understand why, but don’t want to discuss it here). Well, Amrita smiled and said, don’t worry, it is yet another phase of life, except it. Then she said calmly, ‘koi na tu mainu phone kar leya kar je tere dost tainu nahi bulande’ (don’t worry, you can call me if you feel like that your friends keep their distance from you.)
That was the last conversation I had face to face with Amrita.
Amrita, today I want to talk to you, tell me what number I need to dial…

Perform your duty and be a hero

In my childhood the Super Heroes like Superman, Spider Man and Indian versions like Super Commando Dhruva, Nagraj, Doga etc fascinated me and I dearly wished to be one of them, like every child of my age. I longed to do extra ordinary stuff - flying like superman, stop a running train with my bare hands, pin the bad guys at top of the tallest tower of the city. I wanted to be the real hero of the city.

As I grew up with the time I realized super hero action could be the peculiar fantasy of a child, but it was not a realistic aim. I used to think about doing something extra ordinary to grab the attention of people that would elevate me to the status of a hero overnight.

But my misapprehension about becoming a caped crusader, a lone hero performing extra ordinary work etc quickly disappeared with the recent episode of the episode of a young IPS officer Swapan Sharma (Assistant Police Commissioner of Traffic, Ludhiana) who had become a real life hero of my city. The young officer was extremely fair and square and devoted to his duty and vision.

He initiated tow-away drive in the city to punish reckless drivers who used to create problems by parking their cars carelessly anywhere on the road. Though the tow-away drive was criticized by some, it was hugely appreciated by the masses. His initiative made Ludhiana a safer place to drive in. He busted gangs who roamed fearlessly and executed misdeeds by using political connections and by flashing money as bribes to stop any legal actions.

Swapan Sharma took a strong stand, and made these offences count. Initiating a drive against assembled and illegal three-wheelers, a major headache for the city, was another feather in his cap.

What Sharma did, was not one bit 'extra ordinary' - but part of his role as an honest policeman which he performed to perfection. He became a hero, and the city folk were jubilant that someone was finally enforcing the law. People viewed his actions as extra ordinary. Rarely do bureaucrats (or govt. officials in any rank) perform their actual duties and take any initiative, or if they do, they quickly give up before the will of corrupt politicians higher up in the food chain.

It is determination of the young IPS and commitment towards his duty that he became a real life hero for the city in days. In September people were shocked as his transfer orders landed in the city police headquarters. The news has evoked a response in the residents of this city who love and admire Swapan Sharma for his conduct and courage. The official pages of Ludhiana police and Ludhiana traffic police on facebook were flooded with messages of people that want him to remain in the city to carry out his good work.

Fortunately Mr. Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister was in the city on that particular day. Several delegations of city denizens pleaded before the CM for a rethink on the decision of transferring the young officer. The CM graciously nodded and immediately cancelled the transfer orders.

Well, news of his transfer had also pinched me a little. I wanted him to remain and to continue reforming the dilapidated condition of traffic control, to improve conditions for everyone who lives and commutes in Ludhiana.

As far my memory goes, in my 12 years of journalism I have rarely filed any news item personally appreciating the good conduct of a cop, but being a regular critic I do appreciate good work when I see it. In September 2012, I wrote an article in the local pages of The Hindustan Times about his ‘ordinary’ extra ordinary work and gave him a moniker ‘the tow-away man’. Long may this superhero 'tow away man' continue to tow away the negative and corrupt elements of policing in my city, and may I have many more opportunities to salute his courage, good sense, and honest integrity.

Jaspal Bhatti - my family member and that of the entire nation

I rarely find time to pen down my thoughts or should I say I prefer to kill time by playing games on my laptop instead of giving shape to my thoughts. The fact is I get mentally drained after beating the keyboard for atleast 5 hours daily to file news, thanks to the police and criminal elements of Ludhiana. I do love to write but never realise my plans in the evenings because of tiredness. I am composing this piece sitting at my desk in my office. I want to write about the sudden demise of Mr Jaspal Bhatti that has left us all in shock. Many eminent writers have written about him and I have read plenty articles about the satirist. Will it matter if I write about him? I asked myself several times and finally I started writing this piece about him. I know it does not matter if I write about him holding the rank of a reporter. But somehow, I want to express my own grief and love towards Sardar of jokes and satire. Well I did get a chance to interact with Sardar Bhatti in 2010 in a hotel. He was in Ludhiana to select the cast for his next venture and he had called a press conference. I was working with a vernacular daily at the time. I reached the venue in time and saw Bhatti was preparing for the press conference. Some arrangements for the press conference were ongoing. Bhatti welcomed us and joked about his staff comparing them with our lazy system. I loved his way with words and to be honest I really wished the press conference would get delayed as I wanted a chance to spend more time with him. I wanted to talk to him about Jaspal Bhatti the man, and not just the news piece I was meant to be reporting on. When I posed some questions, he answered them with his honesty and his trademark comic touch. The press conference set was finally ready and he promised to give me time afterwards.I stared at the face that was entertaining us and making us laugh since my childhood. How simple and down to earth he was. “You seem to me like a cherished family member - I feel like I have seen you since I was a child,”I said to Sardar Bhatti. He replied genuinely that’s why you love me so much. “Yes, we all are one family,” Sardar Bhatti put his hand on my shoulders.Then he asked me about my background. He asked me where did I come from, and how many years was I in this profession etc. He complimented me and said I should try auditioning for TV serials and films. I smiled and said "yes ofcourse Bhatti Saab, I will do". Later, I requested a photo with him. He said sure and smiled towards the camera putting his hand around my waist. Click… clicks the camera sounds and he moved towards other scribes. "Bhatti Saab, I want some more time with you", I said. He smiled and replied, "yes do come at any time I am staying in hotel do come at any time". I got the sad news about his demise at around 6 am this Thursday. I used to sleep till 8.30 generally, but I left my bedside as soon as I heard the news. I was anxious and restless, feeling uncomfortable. I had been praying to God to add some more years to his life, but it seems God 'unheard' my pleas. A rumor that spread in late 2011 (largely due to social media) that the whole world would end in 2012 has stuck my mind. There was something true in the rumor, I thought. Even though the world is not finished but those that keep my world moving have left… Dara Singh, Rajesh Khanna, Shammi Kapoor, Jagjit SinghYash Chopra and now Jaspal Bhatti…

Hope never dies…

Being a journalist I have to roam around the city hunting for news. In my city Ludhiana, the Manchester of India, the six laning project of
Ludhiana-Ferozepur highway is on full swing. The constructor has cut down many huge trees which were growing on the pavements. As a nature loving person, the destruction of trees was a painful moment. On the road I put a stop to the ignition of my bike, parked it and went near the debris of fallen trees to console them. I was sorry the constructor thought the cutting down of trees was necessary for widening of the road.
What I saw there, left my eyes open wide. I saw new saplings growing from the mown down trunks of the fallen trees.
Ahh… what a feeling. I can’t express it in words. But I got a lesson from the saplings. Never ever give up, even if you are fully destroyed. There is always hope to grow and achieve your heights again. Only if you are willing to do so.

Smallest matter most

In my childhood I was always fascinated by small ants roaming around the house. They keep on running about and also touch each
other with their small antennae. Sometimes I set up obstacles on their path, but they always found their way through it all.

Today as the man of the house, earning bread and butter for my family, I still remember those ants. I realise now that they are not just ants but also my mentors, I have learnt many lifelessons observing their behaviour.

Sometimes I get so frustrated by obstacles or unfavourable situations, I tend to rest my head on my desk - feeling completely helpless. The only thing that comes to mind is that I cannot do anything in this situation. Not just me, but thousands like me express their frustration in the samy way during hard times. Remember the mischief of barring the way of ants by setting up obstacles in their way? Do they stop? No way! They never give up and find their way through barriers.

As a child I was fascinated by the behaviour of ants. I found them to be very interesting and I used to see them enlarged under a magnifying glass. I found they always seemed busy, rushing here and there for food. I found crossing each other they would stop for a fraction of a second and tap each other’s head with their antennae . During my high school I learnt that ants do actually have a way of communicating by tapping their antennas. I grabbed a lesson here - no matter how busy we are in our daily routine, we must find time to communicate with our friends and those who do care for us.

Planning for the future is another lesson I have learned from the little ants. Ants keep collecting food and store it for rainy days. This is their attempt at future planning. Gives us humans a clear indication to also plan for our future. Remember the old story of the ants and the grasshopper? Remember the ants ~ smallest matter most!

Who is Important

Who is an important person? Ask yourselves a few simple questions.

1. Name five former presidents of the US?

2. Who invented the mobile phone, laptop and I-pod?

3. Name the five models who won the miss universe title? … Tough question??? Ok... Name five models who won the miss world title? Still tough… ok … Name five Miss India title holders…???

4. Name five astronauts who walked on the moon?

5. Name the five richest people in the world ?



There are very few people who have these names on their fingertips, because the people idenified in the questions above become news or grab your attention for a maximum of two or three days only.



Now answer some more simple questions …



1. Name the teacher who helped you to improve in studies?

2. Name the person whom you love?

3. Name the person who loves you more?

4. Name the person who helped you when nobody helped you?

5. Name the person with whom you want to share every moment of your life?



I am sure that everyone can answer these questions before they blink.



Remember people are more important - those we care or those who care for us. This is because we can find them near us whenever we need them. The big achievers are important just to improve your knowledge or may be as an examples or someone’s role model. But the persons who are a part of our lives but have no great social status, they are hugely important to improve our lives.