Keep it Simple, Quit the Rat Race

There I said it. I wish people around me and the world over would just quit the rat race and make living life simple. Mind you, I am not referring to the rat race in the professional space or getting those high scores at the university exam. I am asking all of those caught in complexity of life to quit the rat race which they have built in their life at home, office, colony, kids' schools, wherever they set foot in.

When I was in school, I read, heard and realized that we are in the rat race to score high grades in order to get into prestigious colleges and universities. At university, the rat race turned into a fight for getting the right job. So when I had that first job, I thought I was finally out of the rat race and I didn't give a damn whether I came out first. I was glad there were no more rat race to compete in. Life was sticking out its tongue to me, in a short while I realized the rat race had just begun. What rat race am I referring to?

Here's the picture:
At work: Get the next better job -> Get atleast a X% hike into your next job
At Home: Grab a suitable groom for yourself; "suitable" according to society with X as salary; XY looks; etc, etc.

So I get the next better job; keep in mind the salary and get married and think, "There, now I am finally out."

Ho Ho Ho... here's what the future held

At Work: Secure the promotion -> Batch mates have X salary; aim for z% increment by achieving y% target
At Home: Sonia went for a trip to Maldives; aim for Turkey in next 3 months -> Neela, Sheela, Naveela got babies; aim for one of your own now.

You must have got it by now; these lists never end. The ones caught in these lists are the ones living the complex life and the ones lead by heart are living the simple ones. (I am not against lists for life but carve your own list; stop peeping into your neighbor's.)

But, following your heart is not as simple as it sounds. Rat race is just a nice name given to our negative feelings; jealousy, egoism, competitiveness and I am not saying we should be saints but we should atleast fight our negative thoughts and feelings. All of this is possible if your aim is not to beat every one or any one at any of those silly race and you etch out your own dreams.

In all honesty, I have been part of the rat race and still get my heels caught in the web sometimes. But I am confident I am a happy person when I walk at my pace and don't compare my salary, work description, husband's/kids' achievements, hobbies, clothes with anyone. I am not suggesting that I have got it right in life, I am sharing my funda for people who want to keep it simple!

Holy Smoke II

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Deserted: Oil on Canvas

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Book Review: City of Djinns

City of Djinns: A Year in Delhi by William Dalrymple
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

William Dalrymple is a gem of a writer, is my conclusion after reading his second book, City of Djinns. His dedication to the subject and the effort put in each book through research is remarkable. It is remarkable because even a common Indian like me didn't fail to gain new insights about the capital of my own country. There are few non-fictions which make me feel deeply attached to the story-teller/telling. Dalrymple beautifully makes transitions between the story of his personal experience and the nation's history which makes you cling to the book.

There are these small hidden facts and thoughts which bedazzle the reader. One such case for me was the fact highlighted by a character who was interviewed by the author. "Whoever has built a new city in Delhi has always lost it:the Pandava brethren, Prithviraj Chauhan, Feroz Shah Tughluk, Shah Jehan. They built new cities and they lost them." British were no exception.What is notable for most seizes across the world, stands true for India as well, that all conquests and rulers have gone through the bell-curve. Dalrymple spends majority of his time investigating and remembering the period after Delhi became susceptible to invasions. A large portion of the book delves into the Mughal and the British conquest of India. The reader who is aware of the Indian history will get curious about India before the foreign raids and that Dalrymple says is not so documented except the holy books which are still in the hearts and the minds of modern India, Mahabharata and within it Bhagvad Gita. I wish he had uncovered more of the pre-conquest period as I realize India as generally said was not under foreign rule only for 200 years. India had been susceptible to foreign conquest and rule since 1192, the time when the last Hindu ruler was vacated from modern India's capital.

With this, my curiosity to read more of Dalrymple is retained as another book of his, Nine Lives waits in my shelf.

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Lost in Green: Oil on Canvas

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Book Review: From the Holy Mountain

From the Holy Mountain: A Journey among the Christians of the Middle East by William Dalrymple
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

William Dalrymple is a brilliant and sincere author, who puts in a lot of effort to research before he writes a book and that is very evident in From the Holy Mountain.

The book itself is a treasure with great insight into Middle East and Arab. Dalrymple makes his journey through what was known as the Byzantine empire. Some may think this book to be prejudiced towards religion but this serves as an excellent history and travel book as well.

The amount of knowledge that I have gained about the history of three predominant sections - Christains, Muslims and Jews through this book is immense. I knew about Jerusalem being the main center for both Christians and Jews but never knew that Christainity is actually a religion which took birth and developed there as well. Today when we talk about Christian nations we mostly think of US, Europe, who would have thought that it all originated in Arab nations which are viewed as Muslim nations.

It's a pity that most of the religions in the world are influenced by each other and have similarities between each other yet we are increasingly getting separated by religion even in this modern world. None of the religions are at peace with each other. There are constant wars to destroy each others' heritage rather than develop our own. The real victims are those whose lives got caught forever in such war. There are people in places like Beirut who have been seeing violence right from birth and are still witnessing them at an old age. What a life it is where you live constantly in the fear of death rather than living life itself.

Completely impressed by Dalrymple's writing and researching style I have now picked up another book of his "City of Djinns" as a near future read.

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When Buddhism meets Cola - Oil on Canvas

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