Being a hero!

I've just completed 4 seasons of this TV show called Heroes(Click link to know more). Must say it was an amazing journey indeed. Of all the things that impressed me, the biggest being the use of language! Took me back to the days where playing with words amused me.. :P

One question that strikes is what it means to be a hero!! Is it just having powers? Not at all.. Its making use of them for the greater good! (yeah sounds like a dialogue in a sci-fi, but it relates to everyone, everything we do). One has potential, to do what, is the big question which gets answered in bits and pieces as life progresses. Lets see some phases of what takes one from being a normal person to a hero ;)

Discovery

There is a phase in life where you don't just go with the wind! We're more than just a small bit of paper which can be carried along by the wind. We turn into someone constantly seeking direction, an ultimate purpose in life. Living a life of happiness, success and one with a meaning rather than just surviving each day as it comes by. You want to go out there and make a difference, more in yourself than in the insanely crowded world! Its the most confusing phase as you wouldn't just know what exactly to do, like a drunk monkey with thoughts wandering here and there.. :P

Seeking companionship and support

Its in your friends and family that u find support. The encouragement and aspiration to make your dreams come true(the good ones of-course :P ). With or without your knowledge, people around you have made a difference in your life, in the various events that occurred, in the numerous thoughts that inculcated. That's the biggest reason its of great importance to choose your partners rightly. Its more than just settling with the protection provided by the circle of people around you, its living with them and understanding what it means to care, to help one another in deeds no matter small or big.

Fight your way

Lotta fights have to be fought(not literally, most of them in ur mind with urself;) ). Once you know what direction you are headed, there will be a few sacrifices we need to make. And yes, you will do anything it takes to reach there. Cos the desire to accomplish what you are passionate about will win over anything that's stopping you.

Meeting Villains on the way

Everyone has to overcome obstacles during their journey of life. Some fought easy, some tough. We may make a lotta enemies on the way. Some use it for negative motivation to ultimately do what they want, some just ignore and stick to their hearts' desire:) Which way is right? Well its simple if you just stick to what works for you. The key is to be human at all times and remember  our conscience lives through us forever so we shouldn't end up doing something we regret.(I'm not talking abt killing someone :P but dealing with people who don't like you gets complicated!).


Survival

Get up every time you fall, easier said than done! Life gets tougher as it goes, but again, we get used to it and better at handling things which might make it easy. But there would be a lotta times where we would give a thought to giving up. Its when you overcome this phase and keep fighting that you become a hero, in your own eyes, to do what you want to do the most!

Being the Good Guy

Yeah thats what everybody wants to be at the end of day! Whatever you have done so far, you would want to earn the respect of people around you and to acknowledge your good deeds. An important thing to remember as a hero is that you need to do good deeds without expecting anything in return! An act of total selflessness is always appreciated by all. And remember, there is no need to prove to anyone what you are. Friends who know you would always stand by your side, and the others? Its their badluck, just move on, you end up meeting a lotta wonderful people in this world. Losing a few shouldn't really stop you!


Becoming a Hero

What happens after you become a hero? Well, sustaining what we got is a strategy not learnt from books but with experiences. Experiences which spread out over the years. A true hero is one who knows how to handle his powers, not get overwhelmed by it but use it wisely(thats in the tv series, in real life i mean-no need to show off :P being humble and sensible will take you a long long way)!


There are times to enjoy, there are times we are serious. We get easily bored doing one thing for long, balancing both is when we start enjoying what we do! Then work wont feel like work, life would be fun all the time! Have fun folks... :)

What is the hype abt the Lokpal bill??

Hey guys.. :) 

Im sure everyone would have been hearing on n off about the Jan LokPal Bill. We all want to support the cause, but a very few of us entirely know what Anna Hazare is fighting for.  That isn't a problem as if a person feels he/she is fighting for the right cause and is on the right side, that would be enough.

But, knowing little makes us less serious about the Bill. It leaves us with a teenager in us who just wants to protest without knowing the seriousness or complications of the issue. So I just wanted to take my time and know some of the points which give light on the topic..

Btw, did you guys know Anna Hazare was a key activist who brought about the revolutionary RTI act in India? :)

What is the Jan Lokpal bill about?

The Jan Lokpal bill is a set of rules n guidelines which would ensure the eradication of corruption in our country(long process but this is the path).

Who is it composed of?

The Lokpal bill details committees of two types, one at the national level and the other at the state level. The committee will contain 10members and a chairperson. At the level there would be a Lokpal as the chair person, and at the state level there would be a Lok Ayukth as the chairperson. 

Who is it for?

Its for you and me..  For the common man who loves India to progress and not let corruption erode it.

As in the picture below, clearly, the bill is for YOU as he says.

What do I have in it? does it help me?

The jan Lokpal bill is the result of every Indian wanting to bring about a change. A change such that a normal thing such as applying for a voters id or passport doesn't deal with bribery but just the regular procedure.

YOU are the base of the bill, the bill entitles a citizen to fight for his right and  get things done legally. Take for example applying for a voter's ID. If the officer fails to issue it to you at the max within 30days, you can appeal to the higher authority. If the higher authority also doesnt pay heed to your request, you can file a complaint with the Lok Ayuktha of the state. The lokAyukth wil look into the matter as a missue of bribery due to which you couldnt get your work done. The lok Ayukth will ensure you get your voter ID within 30days.

Will it work out?

The Team Anna has many experts who analysed the bill and have full confidence in it. After all, if there is somethin thats goin to help us, why avoid it? :p

How do we ensure the Lokpal committee works correctly?

Firstly, there would be a searching and selection committee which would select just and honest officers in the panel. Then continuously we can monitor the progress of the committee(YOU the public can check it) via the website. All information such as who is the complainant, against whom, what was the  complaint, was it solved, if so what is the action etc will be recorded and posted on the website. Hence anyone can keep a check on the officers.

What if I feel a officer in the Lokpal committee is corrupt?

You can appeal to the supreme court and if at the first hearing itself the truth is proven, the officer would be removed and punished, else the hearing would go on as the court orders.

What are the main differences?

To start off with, the whole hype about the jan Lokpal bill is due to the differences only. Some minor which can be reaxed, but some major which protect the corrupt more than punishing them!!
Here I list few of the differences after reading the both the drafts and the material published by www.indiaagainstcorruption.org :)

Jan Lokpal Draft	Government's Draft
The PMO(Prime Minister's office) should be allowed to be investigated or prosecuted by the Lokpal.	The PMO if under the lokpal could bring about shame to the country hence NO.
The Judiciary also should be answerable to cases of coruption dealt by the Lokpal.	The judiciary must be left alone.(which means only misbehaviuor can be monitored and not bribery by corrupt judges.)
Check the bribery for votes and for chance to speak in parliament.	The Government has no say on this!!
Lokpal should be set up at the center and state level .	The current bill speaks only at the national level not state.
No charges on false complaints by citizens(the validity of complaint will be checked by lokpal alone)	If the complaint is false, citizen gets TWO years MINIMUM imprisonment(guys plz note that minimum imprisonment for a corrupt official itself is just 6months)
The whistleblowers should be protected and will be gaurded by the lokpal	The Government doesnt mention anything about this!!
The CBI's anti corruption branch should be merged with the lokpal committee.	The government wants to retain it.

From these differences, its very much evident  that what the government wants is just another puppet like it maintains the CBI!!  Which would render the struggle useless..

Puppet in the hands of the govt!!

Thats the very reason all of us are fighting towards passing this bill(voice of democracy). The BJP cleverly escaped telling we support his struggle to "fast" though we have differences in views. Which gives us a hint that any government would be reluctant to pass such a bill which would expose the government's flaws in itself!!


Here is what you can do:

• Keep yourself aware of the progress of the bill.
• If someone asks you what its about, know enough to brief them :)
• When free, join protests(not jus for fun) but to meet like minded people to know more about the bill.
• Try analysing the difficulties n see if you can give some solutions.
• Spread the word and stay strong!! :)

Sources: I mostly referred to the material in the India Against Corruption site :)

Happy Independance day!!! :)

Being an Indian doesn't have to unite us only on independence day or republic day.. Yet its a special day where we would like to salute all the people who sacrificed their lives to make way for the survival of us.. They never expected money or jewels.. All they wanted was an India thats for the Indians, free and progressive! :-)

I'm sure if you were in school today you would have sung the national anthem,  so feel the same feel and sing it again.. :-) I did pass by school today, took me back to those days we were there.. The security guards had our Indian Flag pinned proudly to their shirts displaying them. Stood there to wish them and leave...

But giving a thought about why this day is celebrated leaves a common man pondering as to what exactly have we gained over the years.. Independence from outsiders? yup we did get that.. But what about the pests within our country.. 
A fren of mine Sampath(http://www.facebook.com/sampathrg) updated his status on Facebook saying "Before August 15th 1947 we were ruled by a group of arrogant, money hungry ,power hungry individuals....64 years later its still the same!! :( :("..
Its an emotion rightly felt.. Even today we have an old YET strong man fighting for us.. to get us freedom from those pests buggin us and not letting India progress but corruption flourish!!


Hope there's an End to it..very soon..


Happy Independence day!! :)
JAI HIND :)