Photographs By Nayan Nitesh

Photography, as a powerful medium of expression and communications, offers an infinite variety of perception, interpretation and execution.

-Ansel Adams

Hello, dear friends. Today in my post, I will introduce you to an aspiring photographer, by the medium of his photographs. The theme of the photographic session is 'Lessons to living beings by non-living forms'.

Enjoy the beautiful photographs and soak the life lessons!

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.
- Christopher Morley

We live in a world where a hut made of clay is more durable than brick buildings because poverty doesn't allow it to be reconstructed.
- Munia Khan

A single sunbeam is enough to drive away many shadows.
- Francis of Assisi

Don't just let the devil use our mind as a garbage dump.
- Joyce Meyer

If you are feeling blue, lock yourself in a room, stand in front of a mirror, and dance and laugh at yourself and be sexy. Dance the silliest and ugliest you've ever danced. Make fun of yourself and try to recover your sense of humor. 
- Salma Hayek

Black and white is abstract; colour is not. Looking at a black and white photograph , you are already looking at a strange world.
- Joel Sternfeld

Stairs, are are they going up or are they going down? They're so confusing! If love were to be a physical thing, it would be stairs.
- Jarod Kintz

The secret of happiness is variety, but the secret of variety, like the secret of all the spices, is knowing when to use it. 
- Daniel Gilbert

A window- it's more fascinating than T.V. Just ask a cat looking out or a man looking in on a life he desires.
- Jarod Kintz

Everything visible has a flip side, like a coin.
- Sunday Adelaja

Now, that you have seen the photographs, do you want to know a bit more about the photographer? Well, the talented photographer is Nayan Nitesh. He is currently a student of MVIT, Bangalore. He is an aspiring photographer who dreams of becoming the best travel photographer! Feel free to contact him if you are interested in his photographs. 

Seems Like Modi Is Clueless About His Bihar Rally Preparation

Imagine yourself as the leader of your group. You have to deliver a presentation in the end of a week. As a leader, what do you think will be your role in the preparation? Well, if you think that you have leadership qualities similar to our PM, then your role in the preparation will be around 5%. The 5% of the preparation only includes the effort that you have made in preparing the presentation. Do you want to claim that your involvement in the preparation was more than 5%? Don't do that because it will prove you as a fake person (in other words, a good actor). 

Enough of beating around the bush, now let me tell you about the preparation that is going on for Modi's rally in Bihar. If you are following the national news, you will be aware of the fact that PM, Narendra Modi is going to run a rally for BJP-led NDA candidate in Madhepura district on the first of November.

The preparation that has been done till now for Modi's rally in Bihar includes the following works:-

• 400-500 trees are cut down, chopped off and uprooted from B P Mandal University.
• Over 1000, two year old plants of several species (which includes fruit bearing trees) are uprooted and chopped off. 

What was the reaction of district magistrate, Mohd. Sohail regarding the preparation process of the Modi's rally in Bihar? It was blank. He didn't even utter a single word regarding this issue. What was the reaction of local people? It was a very simple reaction where they said that they were helpless and the only thing they can do is protest. (Just a thought: Would we have valued Chipko Movement if the women would have protested after the trees were cut down? It requires a certain amount of courage to voice the opinion when the cruelty is going on. Anyone can protest and sympathize after process has ended.)

Well, do you know who is the rescuer? He is Anil Kumar Yadav, BJP district president who assured that the damages incurred before and after the rally of Narendra Modi in Bihar would be paid by the party. I have to say that the BJP has a heart of gold because they further added that new saplings will be planted after the rally. (A sapling takes 30 years to grow into a mature tree. I am 20 years old now, which means when I will be 50 years old, I can say to my grandchildren that the damage has been undone. Wow, that was a really short period of time to replace the damage. Please note that he didn't mention the number of saplings that will be planted.) 

Now, that you know the background of the preparation of Modi's rally in Bihar, let me tell you why do I think Modi is clueless about his party's preparation for his Bihar rally. (Does this clueless stuff make him an irresponsible and careless leader?)

On 3 August 2013, during the event of Van Mahotsav, Narendra Modi said that he encouraged social forestry.

On 16 July 2014, The Economic Times reported that our honorable PM has urged the industrial ministries to stop cutting trees when clearing lands for project and transplant them instead. (Transplanting hundred of trees within a week is difficult and perhaps that's why they chopped them).

On 5 June 2014, Modi inaugurated a tree plantation campaign by planting a sapling on his place of residence. He also said that, "Living in harmony with nature is the only way to avoid a catastrophic situation on Mother Nature."

On 2 October 2015, when Narendra Modi was in Jharkhand, he said that, "Today is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and he will be happy if forests are saved by not cutting trees for fuel wood to cook food." Not even a month has passed, and trees are cut for his rally.

Our environment loving Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, without a doubt is clueless about the preparation made for his rally in Bihar. Is such a negligence acceptable?  Chances are also there, that he is very active and he knows everything about the preparation of the rally but doesn't that make him a good actor? Whatever, is the case, such kind of actions should not be tolerated. 

Facebook Comes Up With Alternate Dislike Buttons!

Hi! Many of you while using Facebook must have wished for a 'Dislike' button after encountering a post that you don't like. Many of you must have also faced a situation when you are confused whether you should like the post or not. Many of you have also voiced about this confusion in the social platform. Guess what? Your prayers have been heard. 

Mark Zuckerberg in his recent post has said that, 

"For many years though, people have asked us to add a dislike button. Not every moment is a good moment, and sometimes you just want a way to express empathy. These are important moments where you need the power to share more than ever, and a Like might not be the best way to express yourself.'

Facebook has come up with more expressive buttons for the users of Facebook. Today Facebook is launching the test of Reactions- a more expressive like buttons. You must be thinking, what took it so long to introduce the dislike button. Well, I would like to inform you that there is no 'Dislike' button, Facebook has come up with more wonderful way of expressing your emotions in this social platform. Instead of a dislike button, Facebook has come up with buttons that can show the following reactions : Like, Love, Haha, Yay, Wow, Sad and Angry. 

Mark Zuckerberg has also explained very nicely why he has not added a dislike button in Facebook. He posted that, "We've spent a lot of time thinking about the best way to give you better options for expressing yourself, while keeping the experience simple and respectful. Reactions give you new way to express love, awe, humor and sadness. It's not a dislike button, but it does give you the power to express sorrow and empathy-- in addition to delight and warmth."

In short, Facebook doesn't want to hurt the feelings or emotions of any individual, and therefore as a favor, it is gifting the users, other alternative buttons. The test Reaction will currently operate in Ireland and Spain, which means that users in other parts of world will have to wait a bit longer to experience the change. 

How many of you actually like this fact? 

This is a previous video where Mark Zuckerberg has said that, the Facebook team is thinking about new ways of expressing the emotions in Facebook. 

HEY KID! LOOK AT THE MIRROR.

The seven years old girl tried her new frock. She liked the pink frills and roses on her frock. She looked at her reflection on the mirror. She smiled and a dimple appeared on one side of her cheek. She thought she looked pretty. She ran to her mother.                   

'How am I looking?' She asked.
'The frock is beautiful.' Her mother replied.
'What about me?' She asked.
'Looking like a monkey. Ugly monkey.' Said her younger brother, who was playing with a car.
Her mother started laughing. She stood blank. She thought she looked beautiful. Her mother and brother again resumed their playing session, without saying any second sentence. She went back slowly and stood in front of the mirror. She was staring at her reflection but her smile was lost somewhere within her mother's laugh and ignorance. 

<14 YEARS LATER >

'What is the matter? I am here to listen. Tell me.' She said in a worried tone.
'This relationship is over.' He said.
'But why? I ...' She stopped midway.

His phone was ringing. He took out his smartphone to check the caller. She slyly glanced at his phone, a picture of a pretty girl appeared on the phone. He went away to talk to his new interest and she was lost deep in thought. Thought? No, perhaps a comparison. When he came back, she stared at him, totally blank, the way she stared at her reflection fourteen years back. 
'I think I understand why you want to move out of the relationship. I understand.' She said and smiled.
'I knew that you won't behave like those typical girls. Thanks.' He said and didn't even look back once. 
She went in front of the mirror and stared at her reflection again. She touched her face gently and turned back, to switch off the light. A drop of tear slipped from her eyes, flowed through her cheek and landed on her lips. 

She was pretty but the sad part was that she didn't believe that she was pretty enough for someone. 
'Ugly monkey.' She whispered and smiled and felt asleep. 

She wanted to live in a fairytale,

She wanted to meet her Prince Charming.

But aren't the princess beautiful?

Yes, they are

She crushed her dreams and threw it out of her life. 

All damages can't be repaired...... 

ENJOYING SADNESS.. YEAH, WE ARE THAT CRAZY!

When a person with whom you share a beautiful relationship leaves you, does your heart break a little? Perhaps a small heart break is an understatement, you must have felt like dying. You become a living human body with a dead soul. You curse the God and ask, 'Why me?' Well I think, we ask this question whenever we face an adverse condition. Your friend stood first but you failed, everyone is in a relationship except you, everyone is living a happy, healthy life while you are suffering from cancer and the list can go on and on but it will end in only one question, 'Why me? What did I do to deserve this?' 
Now let us change the situation a bit, you passed while your friend failed, you have parents and there are kids out there who live in orphanages, you are reading my post in your mobile/laptop while someone of your age is perhaps begging on the street; now can you ask the same question,'Why me? What did I do to deserve this?' I am sure the answer is no. 
Did you get my point? I can relate to everything that I am sharing with you because I have gone through this situation. Many of you must have also gone through it. Crying, weeping, cursing, feeling depressed, the feeling of loneliness is quite a normal human behaviour when we face an unhappy situation. But what's the fun of behaving in a normal manner? When we ask for extraordinary things, when we see a shooting star, why we are hoping to settle for a life that will offer us ordinary happiness? We should try to be gratefup even for the hostile condition. Who likes to watch a movie that has no spice in it? Our life is just like a movie, we don't know what will be the ending because God is a talented scriptwriter, he rarely goes for a predictable ending. When we don't know about the ending that we will get, the only thing that we can do is to enjoy the moments. We can enjoy beautiful moments even when we are sad, magical moments are there, you need to find it. The truth is when you are doing nothing except for gaining sympathy for yourself, you will miss the happiness that is hidden somewhere in the sadness that you are suffering from.Self-pity can lead to nothing.

We don't want our pain and sadness to last forever but we want the happiness, the love and all the positive things to last forever. Aren't we behaving like a selfish person here? We should understand that happiness and sadness follow a certain cycle because too much of everything is bad. We don't need to pray for happiness to become a constant phase of our life because in reality, we don't need it. Plus change is the only constant thing in the world. The happiness that you are experiencing now, can fly away any second. You are perhaps thinking that I am asking you to become a pessimist. But that is not the case, I am asking you to prepare for the worst, so that the fear of having to face that worst scenario makes you acknowledge the blessing that has been showered on you. Enjoy and realize the beauty of every moment. You can't afford to lose the little beautiful moments that can be seen everyday. Isn't opening your eyes in the morning, a beautiful thing to rejoice?

Nothing last forever, not even life. So, the next time when you sit in the dark room weeping, put a happy face by thinking about all the blessing that you have received. We get the chance to live our life for once, we should be responsible enough to keep ourselves happy. Believe me when I say that you don't need a happiness that last forever, you need a life with many ups and downs. The world might crave for stability, but you know the secret. You are a hero who doesn't deserve a monotonous life. So, cheer up when the sun is going down, because you have the stars, cheer up when you have no stars because the sun can rise at any moment now. The bright day is beautiful and the silent night is also beautiful. 

An Interview With Priyank

Do all love stories have a perfect ending? Certainly not, some love stories are meant to bring transformations.

      -          Priyank  (Best Debut Author, 2014 according to Aagman Literary Organization)

Nicholas Sparks wrote a love story. (A Walk To Remember)

Lauren Myracle wrote a hate story. (Shine)

Chetan Bhagat wrote a story valuing education. (Five Point Someone)

Shakespeare wrote a revenge story. (Hamlet)

Harriet Beecher Stowe wrote a social story. (Uncle Tom’s Cabin)

Charles Dicken wrote a story showing sacrifice. (A Tale Of Two Cities)

Paulo Coelho wrote a story of hope. (The Alchemist)

Today, our interview is with PRIYANK, who neatly weaved all the above mentioned elements in his debut novel, ‘I AM DEAD BUT MY HEART BEATS’. This story is a fascinating saga of love, education, community, hatred, revenge, sacrifice and hope which unfolds the real life problems.

Q- Do you enjoy giving interviews?

A-     Hahaha, Yes, a lot. And thanks to you for taking another one. I like to share the background stories behind my writing, start-up and other ideas with my friends and readers through interviews, or may be during interactive events at bookstores or at book fairs. It’s fun actually to answer questions rising in other’s heart.

      
 Q-     Why do you write?

A-     I never wanted to be a writer, nor did I have any inclinations for writing. It all started to because of my beloved’s wish who wanted me to write on issues which bothers true lovers form breathing freely in Indian society, and henceforth my first book took its birth. As of now, I have grown a deep interest in writing so that I can influence people and bring awareness to cause positive changes on multiple issues existing in Indian society which has actually paralyzed the country from proper development.

Q- Where do your ideas come from?

A-     I draw my ideas for the stories from whatever I observe in the society. I look around and can easily figure out lots of issues which have crumpled the nation, including many old thoughts, traditions and beliefs. These real life observation and life style gives me the plot to think of a book.

Q- What is the hardest thing about writing?
A-     The hardest challenge in writing is to connect with the readers. If you are able to make readers feel that the words which you have written reflects what they can imagine before their eyes, as if a movie is going on, then I feel you are pretty successful as an author. The challenge is all about getting them completely engrossed in your work as if it’s happening before them. Striking the chord to connect with the readers is the biggest task.

Q- How much research do you do for your novel?

A-     It has just been one book for me, but as I have always said that I prefer writing on incidents inspired from reality, so research work is involved in my work, but I don’t go for intense research. I prefer observing things more and penning those observations on paper. So mixture of real time observations and little research to make my story livelier is what I do.

Q- While writing do you take drugs or drink alcohol to lift up your imagination? :p

A-     No, who said that drugs or alcohol lifts up the imagination. Imagination and Observation can be done most perfectly when your mind is completely in your control which isn’t the case when you are drunk or take drugs. May be others need such external elements to bring fantasy or creativity but I do not prefer taking them.


Q- Which writers inspire you?

A-     I prefer reading romance fiction and commercial fiction, so my favourite authors are Erich Segal, Nicholas Sparks and Chetan Bhagat.

Q- What is your favourite quote?

A-     I believe in this quote which i coined myself “Live your Love with Passion”.

Q- What is the most demeaning thing said about you as a writer?

A-     If you do something different and if you get decent enough success in your endeavour, then people start throwing stones at you, I too faced criticism and it’s a part and parcel of life. But truly speaking, I have always got healthy criticism. I don’t remember anything which had questioned my credibility as a writer. Frankly, by god’s grace and with the support of friends, family and readers I haven’t yet heard any such demeaning thing about me as a writer.

Q- What do you consider as your biggest failure?

A-     The inability in me to decide 6 years back after my 10^th boards that I shouldn’t go for Engineering preparation and then land up in an Engineering college. I realised it little late that my interest was never in Engineering, it was in something else and now I am silently working on my true strength. This failure wasted my 4 years in which I could have been far higher on the career ladder, had I understood my true passion 6 years ago. 


Q- What were you like at school?

A-   Completely studious, always focused on scoring the highest mark in class and it was because I was under my mother’s strict teaching supervision. So, chances of searching for real passion was never there as Indian parents don’t allow you to follow passion. They take you through the traditionally studies way and my case was no different. I talked very less with girls at school because of my mother’s fear and her teachings to stay away from girls. But the moment school life ended and I was free of mom’s rule, I fell in love, made a girlfriend and eventually that love story made me a writer today... Hahaha !

Q- What’s the most blatant lie you have ever told?

A-     I had mostly lied to my mother, that too about my girlfriend. I had told her too many lies, how can I tell you anyone? But all lies were to save my love from getting caught in the family. Once upon a time, my beloved gifted me with a photo frame having a photograph in which we both were present together. One day, my mother somehow discovered it from my cupboard. To save my love, I made my girlfriend a rakhi sister and told my mom that she’s my classmate cum rakhi sister and gifted me the photo frame on my birthday.  So, not blatant but funny you can say. That’s all about my lies, never anything grievous I did for a blatant lie to come up. :p


Q- What book/s are you reading at present?

A-     Currently am reading Dongri to Dubai. Yeah, just one book as am much occupied writing my second book and busy in my new job’s training activities at TCS.

Q- Do you think that the cover plays an important part in the buying process?

A-     For the marketing activities, cover does play an important role especially in today’s market when debut authors are facing a stiff competition from the bigger names in writing industry. But as the saying goes ‘Never judge a book by its cover’, this still holds true. Cover does influences buyers at the first look, but then they do look at the blurb, prologue, title and reviews before buying your book. So, cover is not everything but is crucial these days due to heavy competition amongst authors at bookstores because a cover quickly attracts the customer to check out the blurb and story outline before they decide over whether to buy your book or not.

Q- What advice would you give to aspiring writers?
A-     Write for yourself, and don’t think on what others will say, Follow your heart and don’t step behind from rigorous efforts to promote your work which is now a must with the increase in competition for debut Indian writers against the established names in writing.

Q- How did you come up with the title?

A-     I chose this title because the character of Anshika in my book, sacrifices her life fighting for her love against her family and the old social norms. She is definitely dead for everyone physically but her heart will always remain alive for her beloved, her heart will always keep showering her love for Aryan, her love. Someone dying while fighting for justice never dies, they become immortals and so was Anshika. That’s why I felt this title to be very apt.

Q- What literary character is most like you?

A-     I am exactly like the male protagonist “Aryan” in my first book “I AM DEAD BUT MY HEART BEATS”.


Q-  What do you do to unwind and relax?

A-     Listen to few extremely romantic soulful songs, watch a bit of comedy series and if I need a large break, I go for a long nap to regain freshness.

Q-  What does your family think of your writing?

A-     Initially they were upset with my decision to write as I was still in studies. They wanted me to complete studies first, settle up with a handsome salary job, get married to a girl of their choice and then try writing side by side. But I remained firm on my decision. They didn’t know that love has power more than anything else and I decided to write for my love. With time they learnt that I won’t listen to them and do whatever my heart will say. They kept on disagreeing with my decision, gave lots of arguments, heated discussions but all went in vain. Now after 4 years, with the book getting happily accepted by readers and showing a nice response in the market, family has changed. Now they want me to maintain this newly developed inclination for writing throughout my career along with my job and studies. Things changes with time and people accept you, which happened with me as well.

Q-  Did you learn anything from writing your book and what was it?

A-      Yes, I learnt a lot of stuff but the most important part was that I learnt how to develop patience in one self when you are outside, fighting all alone against the odds. I truly learnt the art of keeping myself calm during unfavourable conditions and also realised that nothing comes by short cuts, if you genuinely put in your hard work you will be rewarded.

 “Live your Love with Passion”.

YOUR VIEWS ABOUT SEXUAL PLEASURE AND A VIRGIN WIFE

'I don't know the question, but sex is definitely the answer.

'The difference between sex and love is that sex relieves tension and love causes it.'

- Woody Allen

In a country like India where one can find an amalgam of culture, views often clash. If views don't match, you end up calling the other person either 'Shameless' or 'Narrow Minded'. The XX human species are sensitive while the XY human species try to hide their sensitive side. Let me tell you that all the XY species are not same.

In a social experiment, two questions were asked:-

1. Do you think coming in a relationship is necessary to enjoy sexual pleasure?

2. How will you feel when you realize that your wife is virgin?

As expected, views differed. Let us analyse the answers.

ANSWERS FOR QUESTION NUMBER 1

A answered: No, it's not necessary. When two of the opposite sex want sex. They can do it without being in a relationship.

B answered: I don't think so for enjoying sexual pleasure, someone needs to come in a relationship. It can be consensual where both of them are compatible and mature enough to understand their needs. And that encounter also doesn't need to bear emotions in future. E.g.- One night stand.

C answered: No, coming in a relationship is not necessary. There are people who enjoy sexual pleasure without even getting into a relationship. They are the people who take sex for fun.

D answered: I think partners should be legally married to get in a physical relationship. It is not required anyway to satisfy physical needs.

E answered: Yes. To make a relationship long lasting, we need trust and enjoying sexual pleasure can be one criteria for trust. But it should be enjoyed under strict rules.

F answered: Relationship is something beyond sexual pleasure. It is where a couple resonates on a single view of being together. If relationship is weighed in terms of sex then it is simply a business of body dealing.

G answered: Well, no. Sex is not the reason you want to be in a relation.

ANSWERS FOR QUESTION NUMBER 2

A answered: I'm not a virgin. And I don't expect my wife to be a virgin. I mean it's no compulsion. I can marry someone who's not virgin. What's the big deal? An intact hymen hardly matters. A pure heart does.

B answered: I can't describe the feeling. Okay, of she's a virgin. I will be happy is she is a virgin. In our marriage, then there will be a great opportunity to forge our sexual life in a fresh and exciting manner. If she is a virgin I will feel like the guy who got her. It brings a lot of positive energy in it. It will also bring great confidence.

C answered: Well, I am a pragmatic one, so I won't expect my wife to be a virgin. Even if she isn't a virgin, she won't lose my love and commitment for her in any way. The only thing that I want is that after the marriage, she should only be committed to me. No tale of past should come and affect our marital life in a bad way. But it will be nice to have a wife who is virgin coz that would be the proof of her being a person who has strong values and boundaries. After all if I can be a virgin, then there is also a possibility of her being a virgin too.

D answered: I would rather expect my wife to be a virgin. It's not about being happy to have a virgin partner. A virgin person surely deserves a virgin partner!

E answered: I will be thankful to her for preserving her virginity for someone special! It's like a lifetime gift from a loved one.

F answered: Getting a virgin or a non-virgin wife would matter to those who wants to be dominating. It's our life. The past of my wife would never affect my relationship with her during marriage.

G answered: I seriously don't care whether my wife is a virgin or not.

'Sex without love is hollow and ridiculous as love without sex.' - Hunter S. Thompson.

'Sex is the consolation you have when you can't have love.' - Gabriel Garci-a Marquez.

After analysing the answers we can conclude that:-

Majority of people think that have sex without coming in a relationship is totally okay. It is because relationship is far beyond sex. Love and trust is necessary in a relationship. You can have sex when you are in a relationship but it is not necessary to come in a relationship for having sex.

Most of the men will feel happy when they realize that their wife is virgin. According to them, it will give a fresh boost to the marriage. Having a virgin wife will make them feel special. Many of them also agreed to the fact that the past of their wife won't matter unless it mingles with their married life.

I want to say just one thing to all the girls out there.....
Listen to your own voice, your own soul. Too many people listen to the noise of the world instead of themselves.