"Buddy, you’re a good guy!!"

I was having a chat conversation with a friend sometime before. We were talking about a lot of stuff's including laptops, inflation in India, outsourcing issues etc. In course of our conversation, we began to drift to lighter issues and he mentioned about an incident which he experienced a few days back. Its that incident which i wanted to think aloud. I would suggest that you have a look at his post:

http://thekingsgambit.wordpress.com/

For people who want to go on reading without interruption, for their benefit, i will state the incident briefly. My friend who lives in Tuckson,America had gone on a morning walk to get some coffee and a cig for himself. On his way he came across a Afro-American dude, (lets call him "the guy at the bus stop") who was waiting in a bus stop.

My friend went to store, bought himself a cup of coffee. While coming back "the guy at the bus stop" asked him if he can have some coffee which my friend was having.My friend who very badly wanted the coffee(feeling sleepy-headed) , offerred him the coffee, asked him to take what ever he needs and return the remaining to him. After he had some coffee, the guy returned the coffee and then said to my friend "Buddy, you’re a good guy!".

And he said that because, my friend had let him have some coffee from his cup and was having it himself .Generally he was used to people throw the entire cup at him or refuse to give him anything. "the guy at the bus stop" was touched by my friends gesture, which was not at all a gesture by my friend.(Thats what he says). For the "guy at the bus stop" it was the first time someone had treated him with respect.

On hearing this from my friend, i felt that i must share this with all.My friend had mentioned about gratitude as one of his reflections from this experience. I, reflecting about the incident, felt that its not only about a gesture , (leave gesture, take any random act of ours), but also rather the consequence which mattered the most here.

The "the guy at the bus stop" was left feeling happy with his self-esteem pumped up by a simple gesture. And on the other hand, my friend was himself feeling gr8 , because of the gratitude shown by "the guy at the bus stop".

What i wanted to reflect was on the fact that "Every act of ours done with thought or without, affects someone" We may not really look it that way, but as the saying goes:

"The best portion of a good man's life: his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love."

-William Wordsworth

Will share more of my thoughts on this in my subsequent blogs :)

Till then what are you waiting for.,. Try being a "Good Guy".
Iam sure you wont regret it :)

Shocking Incident - Theft Attempt in Bus !!

This incident happened to one of my friend who was travelling in Bus. Iam describing the incident as he told me. My friend who wishes to remain anonymous, was travelling from IIM towards Jaideva hospital flyover on Banerghatta road on bus(route) No 369 "some suffix" .The bus was very crowded and suddenly he found that a group of ruffians had encircled him and did not allow him to move towards either front or back side of the bus.

Since he was carrying a significant amount of money(which he had kept in his jeans pocket) he tried to bring his hand towards his pocket. But they did not allow him to move his hand properly.Suddenly he found that someone had taken his specs and it was then he realised that some foul play is happening. He started shouting "please leave me,leave me." Then he noticed that the money which he had kept in his pocket was missing.

He started shouting that someone has taken his money. Fortunately one gentleman in the bus pointed that money was lying on the floor of the bus. (probably the criminal(s) may hav lost grip over the money). My friend gathered the money and rushed to the driver of the bus who then took the bus to the nearest police station.

The policemen told him to identify the criminals which he could not. Then they caught four persons from the bus on their own, probably because policemen recognise criminals of their area.(Who knows if they have an understanding with the ruffians ?? )

Then one of the policemen told him to go on the same police van ,which was carrying the criminals, to the police station and register a complaint. I refused to go in the same vehicle. (For what, so that the criminals can trash him in some place, in presence of the police ?? )

Then the policeman took his statement on a plain paper and finally asked him to give some money because they had caught four persons due to him !!!! ( A heroic act !! ) Initially he refused but when the policeman insisted he gave him some amount !! Then he hired a auto and left for his home.,. This left him in a much bitter state.

Ok, now to why iam discussing this in my blog. My friend was of the opinion that awareness must be created among people about this kinds of incidents so that they are better equipped to handle the situation, if they encounter (God forbid that ) one. As for me, from now onwards,I will ensure while boarding a crowded bus, i will take extra precautions to protect my belongings.

And regarding the police taking money, Iam clueless of what to make of that. !! If someone can shed light on that for everyone's benefit. (what can be done and what could have been done in that situation ?), it will be much appreciable.

P.S: Thanks to my friend for sharing this info, with me as well as his desire to share this incident with everyone.

Compromise or Conscience !!

If a Man must choose either his comfort or conscience, which one should he choose ? The likely answer will be Conscience. But does that really happens ? Suppose the Question is which will he choose ? Probably, Comfort would have been the answer.




This is what has been depicted in the movie Halla Bol. When faced with a critical situation, a man tends to take the easy way even though it means being blind to some things, acting as if that thing has never happened. But pretending isnt going to help in the long run.

Ok now coming to the movie, Devgan is a part of the street play group where he is considered as an actor with good acting talents. The group is lead by Pankaj Kapoor , who was formerly a famous dacoit who surrendered after hearing to the King Harichandra's Story. Later, Siddu(Pankaj) continues enacting street plays on themes which create social awareness among the masses. Devgan goes on to become a SuperStar in the tinsel-world. As he realises his dream, his personality also undergoes a total transformation, innocence replaced by deceit, truth by lies.. From a Man, who lived for his ideals , he became a Man, who prioritized his public-image more than his ideals.

Then an incident happens, which changes his life. He has to make a choice between Conscience or Comfort. Initially he pulls curtain over his eyes to pretend he can escape from the truth, but eventually his conscience takes over and he begans his fight for justice.

And that has been depicted well in the movie, When he becomes a Actor, he has all the money and fame,which the world longs for, but he loses everything- his wife's love, parents love and more importantly his own self worth. Ironically,once he decides to change , he loses everything the world gave him- his image, name & secure living.In return, he wins back his near & dear ones love. C'est la vie :)

How he fights for a cause and overcomes the obstacles to come out victoriously ( Yes, he does wins in his efforts.. Have you ever seen a Indian Movie yet ,in which the Hero doesnt Wins ?? ), you have to see the movie yourself to know that. :-)

Another noteworthy point made in the movie is that when an injustice happens around us generally we tend to ignore it. Why bother ourself with something when it doesnt involve us. As long as the scapegoat is a third person, why invite trouble ?? Thats how we tend to think first.,. Unfortunately, when we fail to stand up for a cause for another, it always means that anyday it will be us facing the same situation.

Like a saying goes " If you are not a part of the solution, then you are part of the problem. "

Actually, i wrote this post due to an incident which happened near my locality. I was standing near a shop, when i heard someone shouting and screaming. I looked towards the source of noise,to find a old lady shouting at a man, who was shabbily dressed. Seems the man had physically brushed himself against her. Didnt know if the man had done it intentionally or by mistake but by the way the lady shouted it looked like the man's intentions were bad.

What was surprising was that no one showed any signs of anything happening. Everyone around her went on with their own work, without even batting an eyelid. I am not suggesting that they should have catched up the guy and thrashed him up. (incase he was innocent), but atleast anyone could have raised a voice in support of the lady.

Hopefully the guy had went his way without causing any commotion. If it would have been, iam not sure how many would have come to the lady's rescue. (Even i was a mere spectator to the proceedings, telling myself, that if the situation got out of control, i will do something. So thinking of it now, it was wrong on my part...)

Not only this, few other incidents which have been happened in Bangalore, over 2 months or so, 5 software engineers rounded up by few rowdies and beat up in the Night, a young teenage girl being eve-teased by few guys who caused her injuries by dragging her along the road and she was traumatized for a long time.

I know these incidents are incredulous, yet they do happen. And one of the reason being, people not taking action against the wrong-doers and remain a silent spectator. We have a choice at that instance. Either to stand up for a cause or else fade into oblivion. A choice between Compromise or Conscience. The compromise choice will sound easy,yet there will be a small voice shouting all along saying that we should have stood for a cause..! Either we wait for something to happen in our life and then take action or else live a life with the conscience banished to oblivion !!

Taking the conscience path will invite pressure, troubles which will test our loyalty to it, But if we hold on till we win the battle, it will be an entirely different scenario, better left to be experienced, rather than expressed.

Make your Wish - Compromise or Conscience ??