Letter to old friends

A letter to my Friends in High School

If people heard us saying we're best friends forever,  they'd point to us that there is no such thing as forever among friendship in highschool. We'll go to college,  meet new friends and then we forget.

But I don't think they're ever right because our friendship may be the same as what others have, but we're a different set of people bounded by numerous memories and wholesome genuinity and love.

That's why my dear friends, I write this letter telling you that we will prove everyone wrong.

We were strangers when we first met, our differences made barricades that made it impossible to go pass.  But through the years,  we've leaned not to break them apart but to go over them and make bridges instead. We've become each other's therapy and in our little moments spent, we knew each other by heart,  we know each other by the back of our hands and we communicate in many forms of languages that only we can understand.

Though we're taking different roads,  I know for sure that they would end up together on some points. Our memories that bonded us with invicible ties are as strong as any magnets on earth. We are each other's magnetic north and whether we separate or not,  know that I'm always here,  always present. You can always find me up north.

The stroms of life is enevitable and the challenges rises as we go further through life. Let's make our frenship as the source of strength in everyday. Let us inspire eachother to grow without bound and to see life's wonderful mysteries.

My friends,  don't you ever think that I value less of you by the day. Distance may be a space in between but our laughter together is proof that there is no such distance that can erase that from our faces.

When I look at your eyes in tears right now, I see life's beauty. I see our time and moments flash before my eyes and for a second,  I wanted to go back, to stop time,  just to revisit the little places we've shared.

But no,  that would be wrong. We must face life forward,  no matter what. We will together prove that we are strong enough to walk hand in hand in the storms of life.

We may lose numerous people as we go forward, some  may even become stangers but if I see you walk by the street, I'll remember the time we talked about our future. I'll remember the time we spent birthdays together. I'll remember your favorite color and reminisce the embarrassing past. And when I do, I'll share coffee with you and talk about them again,  and again until those memories are etched in my head and let the new ones be welcomed.

I'll remember you whenever I smell the sweet scent of the grass,  I'll remember you when I see a campfire, I'll even remember you by the sole of my shoes. I'll tell my friends about your jokes, tell my children about our adventures and I'll always keep you in my prayers.

You see,  everywhere I look,  I remember you and that alone is enough for me to feel that you are close.

When you see me.

If you need me.

If you fall in love.

If you decide to settle down.

If you made the life's worst.

Think of me and come to me because I owe you a great debt.

And that is for choosing me to be your friend.

I may meet new people in my life but in my heart,  you will have a space bigger than any of them.

Best of luck,  my friends and may we meet again

Your Loving Friend,
Rajat chandra...

Maturity...

I thought I'd grown up when I started using a single line notebook for languages instead of the 4 line one.

I thought I'd grown up when I switched from pencil to pen in the school.

I thought I'd grown up when the support wheels were taken off from my bicycle.

I thought I'd grown up when I switched from a tunic to a pant.

I thought I'd grown up when my mom stopped receiving me at the bus stop.

I thought I'd grown up when I first bought a wallet.

I thought I'd grown up when I switched to an analog watch from a digital one.

I thought I'd grown up when I was allowed to go to the classes with my friend on a two-wheeler.

I thought I'd grown up when I was sent to live in a different city.

I thought I'd grown up when I bought my first pair of heels.

I thought I'd grown up when I kissed someone for the first time.

I thought I'd grown up when every decision I made wasn't cross questioned.

I thought I'd finally grown up,

I thought...

Caste.....

So many names, and so many divisions!
Do they actually speak of culture?
Or do they actually speak of pride?
Oh, maybe, they unite and take humanity forward?

Thousands of names and one real meaning – division?
Thousands of names and one real outcome – suppression!
Why not accept when the system is flawed?
Why not fight against that very flawed system?

Be it ancient, be it modified or incorporated,
The system is dead and it has to be burnt!
Why to carry a legacy so false?
Why to carry a legacy so fake?

Nair, Iyer, pandey, yadav, shah, devar, udaiyar
goundar, agarwal,  reddy, nadar, soni – and what not?
Surnames are not these; caste names are these!
The time is right to earn your pride – not by birth but by being just!

Pride is not by birth, but by the life you choose to live.
The time is right, to stand up together.
The time is right, to throw away those caste names.
The time is right to burn and burry the evil forever.

Birds and trees are all our caste!
Tigers and lions are all our caste!
So many species and so many purpose,
Why to divide humans alone on  baseless theories?

The elders won’t listen, for it is in their blood!
The elders will follow for they will have no choice.
Neglect those names that carries caste.
Neglect those certificates that defines your birth.

The world is one, and blessed are we.
This life is one, and blessed are we.
Meant to love, and to spread that love,
When the time is to live, why to divide and destroy?

Can we still be the only nation that holds caste system?
Can we still be the only nation that carries caste based surnames?
Come forward, the new society is defined already.
Be part of it, or be prepared to be left behind!

Let them love and let them decide,
For marriage is a right they own - and they own together!
Let them love and let them live
Not more this caste, and not more this false legacies!

The progressive India shall decide the progress!
The progressive Indians shall decide the progress!
For real progress is in not in sending satellites.
For real progress is in creating a society of equals.


Is there any purpose of your education -
If you don’t urge yourself for a better and equal society?
Is there any purpose of your freedom -
When the will and right to take your decision doesn’t’ exist?

Love, knowledge and Just – Hold them in abundance,
And you are the superior creature of all!
Let the devils of past burn, and let it burn from inside you.
Let a new society bloom, and let it teach love.

Let us be humans and humans alone.
No more shall we divide and name ourselves under caste.

........

Save the butterflies..

I do and have always mocked that "Save the girl child" slogan. Judge me if you may, but is it my fault that everytime I come across it, my mind adds to it something we've all, perhaps, been ignoring ever since: "save the girl child so that you can rape her"? I know and I hate that this is the most pessimistic thing I could ever say or believe but who made me say it? Who made me believe in it? That guy who stares. That woman who asks me to stay inside. That friend who avoids going out after five. My father who calls me to ask if I'm okay. My mother who changes seats in the cinema hall if there's a guy sitting next to me. The society. The conditions. The reality.

I'm not certain if dreams come true, but I know that nightmares certainly do. The reality we live in, isn't it worse than the ugliest of nightmares? A girl, just born, raped. A lady, sixty something, raped. A little boy, raped. Raped. You know what has been raped? Humanity.
It's unbelievable.
How could anyone?
How could any human do it?
How could anyone become so hungry that he is ready to eat lives?
Did his hands not shake?
Did his mind not stop him?
Did the screams, the tears, the requests not melt his heart?
How could they not?
It's scary how a human being can harm another in a way that's beyond imagination or acceptance. Something definitely is, very, very wrong with this world. And the sad part is, there's nothing that has been able to change it. Helplines, police, governments, decent clothes(most unexpectedly)- nothing. It's heart wrenching to see how we've come to terms with it, how it has become more important to discuss religion and make laws on the same than DOING something about women's safety.
Sure our country is developing but our people are degrading. It gives me shivers to know that while I'm typing this, somewhere, some life is being destroyed, some 'man' is satisfying his hunger, some cries, requests, screams are being unheard and crushed.
I don't know how things will change, I don't know if I'm being too pessimistic (or realistic here), but I do know that something is wrong. Something needs to be changed. Something has to be done. For you, for me and for that girl/guy out there.
#Birds that are born in a cage,
Thinks that freedom is a crime...