Patriotism: Why it shouldn’t be used to justify wars

Patriotism is a term used to describe a love and devotion to one’s country. Throughout history, people have shown great pride and loyalty to their respective nations, and this sentiment has played a significant role in shaping the world we live in today. However, as the world becomes increasingly interconnected and globalized, the concept of patriotism is being questioned by some.

In the past, people’s loyalty and devotion were primarily focused on small kingdoms and states. These smaller entities would often go to war with each other, and citizens of those kingdoms would fight and die for their country. As time passed, these kingdoms merged into larger countries, and people’s sense of patriotism grew with them. Today, patriotism is often expressed at the national level, with citizens of different countries expressing their love and devotion to their respective nations.

However, in today’s world, where people and cultures are becoming more interconnected, some argue that patriotism is not suitable for a global world. The argument is that patriotism creates a sense of us vs. them, which can lead to conflicts and wars. In the past, people would fight for their country because they believed it was the right thing to do, but in today’s world, where people have access to more information and different perspectives, this kind of thinking can be dangerous.

Furthermore, some argue that patriotism can lead to an unhealthy sense of superiority and exceptionalism. When people are only concerned with their own country’s interests, they may ignore the needs and perspectives of others. This can create a hostile environment where cooperation and collaboration are difficult to achieve.

However, it’s important to note that patriotism doesn’t necessarily have to be exclusive to one’s country. It’s possible to be a patriot and still embrace globalism and cooperation. One can love their country and appreciate its unique qualities while recognizing the value of diversity and working towards a more inclusive and collaborative world.

In conclusion, patriotism is a complex and multifaceted concept that has played an important role in shaping the world we live in today. While some argue that patriotism is not suitable for a global world, it’s possible to embrace patriotism while still recognizing the importance of globalism and cooperation. Ultimately, it’s up to each individual to decide how they define patriotism and how they choose to express their love and devotion to their country.

Solo Ride Stories : A trip to Srisailam(Trilinga Kshetras)

I was never going to go if I waited for someone to come with me.
~Lavra

I lived in Hyderabad for two years and found it to be a peaceful place in comparison to other metropolitan cities. I enjoyed my daily routine and blending in with the crowd, but lately, a persistent ringing in my head has made me feel disillusioned with my life. I didn’t want to escape it completely, but I did feel a need to find meaning elsewhere. Three months ago, the travel bug bit me and I began my search for nearby destinations. I bought a cruising motorcycle, and my desire only grew stronger. Initially, I tried to find traveling companions by joining various meetup groups. However, I eventually decided to take my first solo journey and fully immerse myself in the beauty and peace that surrounds me.

In the vicinity of Hyderabad, there are not many natural attractions. Some examples include the Anantagiri Hills near Vikarabad, Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh, and the Narsapur Forest. One notable destination is the Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Srisailam, which is considered one of the twelve revered Jyotirlinga temples devoted to Lord Shiva. I had been monitoring the weather in Srisailam for the past 10 days and noticed that it was scheduled to rain on June 2nd. This was when I decided to embark on a solo motorcycle journey to this destination on June 2nd.

The night before my journey on June 1st, I stayed late at the office, but I still wanted to start my ride early, so I packed my gear. I brought a few sneakers, an extra set of clothes, a water bottle, a mat, a towel, a fully charged power bank, a bike repair kit, a headset, and one of my favorite novels.

The next day, I woke up at 4:30 a.m. but went back to sleep. Then I woke up for good at 5 a.m. and pushed aside the urge to go back to sleep. By 5:30 a.m., I was ready to start my ride to Srisailam. As I set off from Gachibowli on the ORR road, it started to drizzle, and I cruised with a comfortable and amazing feeling.

I was so enamored with the weather and my ride that I drove at a leisurely pace, taking in all the sights along the way. By 7:30 a.m., I was feeling very hungry and began searching for dhabas along the road. Unfortunately, I didn’t find any North Indian-style dhabas along NH 765. I stopped at a dhaba near Veldanda village, where I had a delicious cup of tea and a fantastic palak masala dosa. The establishment was very clean and hygienic.

After taking a 30-minute break, I continued my journey at 8:30 a.m. By 9:30 a.m., I had reached the vicinity of the Mallela Theertham waterfall, but due to my inability to read Telugu, I initially passed it by. I was puzzled by the abundance of hotels in the area and, after driving a few kilometers further, I decided to consult Google Maps. Thank goodness I did! When I discovered that I needed to turn back towards the waterfall, I retraced my steps and took the dirt road to the waterfall.

After a 10 km ride on the dirt road, I finally arrived at the waterfall, and it was well worth the effort. Due to continuous rain over the last two days, there was plenty of water in the falls. Located in the midst of the dense Nallamala forest, reaching the waterfall required a walk down 350 steps. Although it wasn’t a massive waterfall like those found in the Himalayas, it was a serene and peaceful location with crystal clear water. I spent about two hours there, taking a bath and exploring the area.

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Around 1 p.m., I returned to the main highway and stopped for lunch at a small dhaba. Then, I continued my journey towards Srisailam. After about 20 minutes of riding, I found myself on the ghat roads, surrounded by the thick Nallamala forest. The drizzle only added to the peace and tranquility of the ride. I took several stops in the jungle to take photos and bask in the high altitude views. By 2 p.m., I had arrived at the Srisailam Dam.

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Spent around 30-40 mins there and then started for the temple which was very crowded So I went for darshan asap.

For the next 2 to 3 hours, I explored the lesser-known roads around Srisailam to get a better understanding of the place. By 6 p.m., it was time to start my journey back to Hyderabad. Despite the beautiful weather, I felt sad that I had to leave so soon and wished I could have stayed for one more day. Nonetheless, it was time to bid farewell to the hills and forests. I took one last photo and hit the road back to Hyderabad, once again surrounded by the dense Nallamala Forest.

Overall, the trip was a great experience. Visiting the place during the rainy season is ideal as you can also enjoy the waterfall. There are several other nearby attractions to explore, so it’s best to plan a 2-day trip at least.

We travel not to escape life, but for Life not to escape us. ~Anonymous

Perfect Imperfections : Truly important things in life, Moments!

The view was not particularly remarkable or awe-inspiring. It did not have the power to change my life or heal my broken spirit. I was imperfect, and so was the place, but it offered the perfect opportunity for meaningful moments. There was something special about this unremarkable, uninspiring place. Perhaps it was the feeling of loneliness, or the memories it evoked, but something kept drawing me back. It was just a tree on the side of a lonely road, but it was complete in its own way. The roots symbolized the faith that kept it standing, the trunk represented its history, and the leaves, with their tattered appearance, told the story of a life that had seen hardship.

I was completely engrossed in the moment, trying to forget everything else, but the tree was making me feel alive. My heart beat in time with the movement of its leaves. I looked around and saw death and desolation, but the tree stood tall, true to the definition of life. People walked by without even noticing its existence, but to me, it was a symbol of the truly important things in life – moments.

~A part of ‘Perfect Imperfections’.

-Deependra Tomar

Get any premium E-Book on Kindle or Play Books for free with all features

So I love reading books. I read few books after downloading it’s PDF which are easily available on internet. Do a Google search with ‘[book name] pdf’ and you will get a lot results. I was wondering of how to read these books using Kindle or Play Books app on my android device. I tried uploading the PDF to Play Books app or portal but then  you can’t read that as other books available on Play Books. There will be no Read Aloud option, also you can’t change font size to your choice or add bookmark etc.

Then I worked on finding better way to format, edit and upload my books(downloaded PDFs) to my Play Books library or Kindle and after a little digging I found this very awesome way to do so. I’ll now give you the steps if you also want to upload any premium e-book  to your Google Play Books library and read it as a normal book on your android device.

1. Download Calibre desktop app or any other epub editor. Calibre has built in converter and many other features so I prefer this application.

2. Download the E-Book in any format from internet. Prefer PDF, EPUB, MOBI formats.

3. Open the Calibre desktop app and add the book to your list. This step only required if your e-book is in PDF format and you want to update the metadata of the book like Title, Author, Publisher, Cover etc.

4. Convert the e-book(if PDF) to EPUB and MOBI format and then edit it’s metadata so that you get everything right in your book reader.

5. Open the Google Play My Books portal and upload the EPUB file. You can also copy the file to android device and directly upload using Play Books app. To upload to Kindle send the MOBI file to your Kindle email address. After few minutes it’ll be available in your Kindle library.

6. Open the Book in Play Books and enjoy reading. Every feature will be available for the book which comes only for purchased books.

See my Play Books Library:

 

#IntoleranceInIndia : What is it? The history of all the related events that lead to recent outrage

‘Intolerance’ normally mean not to accept the views, believes and behavior of a different person. However the word isn’t just for the religious differences between the two major communities in India. It’s actually wider than what we think.

People have different views and perception about believes related to right or wrong. The caste and communism have really created a situation of ‘Intolerance’ in India. But what do the celebs, writers and their awards have to do with it?

These event started when Narendra Dabholkar, the founder-president of Maharashtra-based Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti — an organisation set up to eradicate superstition, was killed in August 2013 by radical mob who couldn’t digest his views on caste and communal-ism. Narendra Dabholkar campaigned against superstitions, confronting dubious tantriks and claimed holy men who promised ‘miracle cures’ for ailments.He criticized the country’s “godmen”, self-styled Hindu ascetics who claim to perform miracles and have many followers.Between 1990–2010, Dabholkar was active in a movements for the equality of Dalits (untouchables) and against India’s caste system and caste-related violence.

On 20th Feb, 2015 Govind Pansare along with his wife were murdered by a radical mob for the same ‘Intolerance’. Pansare used to run an organisation which encouraged inter-caste marriages.He had opposed the Putrakameshti yajna, a Hindu ritual that supposed results in a male child.He had protested toll taxes. He had also criticized the glorification of Nathuram Godse, the man who killed Gandhi. Nathuram Godse was a member of Sangh (RSS) which is the backbone of BJP and they consider him as a martyr.

The next human murdered was M.M. Kalburgi, a Sahitya Akademi award winner. Even being part of Lingayat community in Karnataka, he mostly targeted the wrong believes and political goals of other community members. Kalburgi was shot dead in the morning of 30 August, 2015 at his residence in Dharwad district of Karnataka by two unidentified men.

Till now when we see the events there was nothing about the inter religion ‘Intolerance’. It was all about castes, communism, wrong believes(As per law), moral rights etc.

The next event which really had put the whole country to shame was the #DadriLynching when a 52 year old human Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched and his son was brutally beaten up by local of Bisara village near Dadri, Uttar Pradesh on 28 September 2015 evening, based on the rumor that the family of had killed a cow and consumed its meat on Eid-ul-Adha. However after investigation the meat found to be mutton and not beef. The sad thing was that the forensic investigation happened for the meat in fridge but not the brutally killed human. This became a very high political issue when the political parties started taking benefit of the situation to gather the support of particular religious communities by saying and acting biased.

On 20th October, 2015 two children from a Dalit community were burned alive by upper caste rajputs in Sunpedh village in Faridabad near Delhi as a caste attack.

These were the few of all incidents which were considered by literates as a product of ‘Intolerance’ in India and the started their protest by returning their prestigious awards to make the government to be more subtle for such situations.

Very first Uday Prakash a renowned Hindi writer returned his Sahitya Akademi award as protest against the recent killing of fellow recipient, M M Kalburgi, and in disapproval of the national literary body’s deafening silence over the assaults on writers. He was followed by noted Indian writers like, Nayantara Sehgal(English Novelist) & Ashok Vajpayee( Hindi poet) in doing so.

After this not only the renowned literate but also the Bollywood celebrities, TV celebrities returned their awards protesting for the ‘Intolerance’ situation in India.

But as like always this also became just Political showoff, a topic to throw papers in parliament. Few People started the ‘Intolerance’ on the belief of ‘Intolerance’ situation itself in India. Many celebrities supported and many came against it, both were supported by high level radical people just to get the political benefit of this situation.

As this ‘Intolerance’ in India have caused many deaths, we can’t just consider that we are in peace. There are lot of positive incidents also which supports that we want to become more human. But are we really becoming more human or more ‘Intolerant’?

We’ve been intolerant since 1947 leading to separation of India-Pakistan. Shouldn’t allow it to happen again: Kamal Haasan #AwardWapsi

— NDTV (@ndtv) November 3, 2015

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तपिश और शूल : हीरा और पत्थर

गर्दिशों मे कोयले की दबे हैं हम युगों से,
सोचता हूँ ये तपिश ही हीरा बनाएगी मुझे.
दौर गुजरा है बहुत ही दर्द का इक उम्र तक,
शूल ये ही राह के पत्थर बनाएँगे मुझे.

#LifeIn4Lines #TheHardLife

What Defines Life? The simple and complex duality

Lately, I’ve been pondering our purpose and what truly holds value. I’ve been considering what can contribute to creating a fulfilling life and a better world. Specifically, I’ve been thinking about the things that can help make each of us the best version of ourselves.

The issue arises when what we perceive as right or wrong is based on a set of principles, which in turn may be deemed right or wrong depending on emotions. So ultimately, it all comes down to how we feel – whether we are happy, sad, or confused. This creates a paradox, making it difficult to determine where the confusion actually begins.

This is what gives rise to both Gandhi and Godse, Hitler and Teresa. It’s simply a belief in being right, relative to a particular perspective, that shapes everything. Life is both incredibly complex and straightforward, like the quantum duality. It can be seen as a wave, providing a complete understanding, but when viewed as a particle, the complexity of uncertainty emerges and one is left wondering what was missed when attempting to comprehend something else.

Given that life encompasses both complexity and simplicity, it’s clear that finding what is right and giving life meaning is achievable. The solution is straightforward: just do what brings you joy and what you believe is good, but always keep others in mind. Follow your heart and continuously do what is right.

May your heart finds the right way.

Muskurahat

Jiski Muskurahto ne Zindagi Banti Thi..
Maine Usko Hazaro Maut Marte Dekha Hai..!!