Whose land is it anyway?

I was born in Srivilliputtur, Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu. Due to my dad's work which shifted to a new location, we quickly packed our bags and moved to Jamshedpur, Bihar where I did my pre-schooling. We relocated to Mumbai in the late 80s coz' my dad got transferred to Mumbai. My dad also spent many months working in Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan & Delhi. My question is which state do I belong now? I always felt I am an Indian. The recent Raj Thackerey furore has alarmed me to an extent that, I feel very controversial saying I was born in Tamil Nadu but raised in Mumbai, Maharashtra.

Thank God we don't need a passport and visa to travel to the different states in India. We can kill the issue saying it's a political gimmick, but that's not the solution. A similar incident happened with the Cauvery water dispute between Karnataka & Tamil Nadu - whose water is it anyway? I can see a day when I have to carry oxygen cylinders to different states coz' I won't be allowed to breathe the air that belongs to that state.

Ironic to the incidents happening these days, I started feeling I learnt the wrong pledge in school which states, "India is my country and all Indians are my brothers and sisters.....". Maybe we should have different pledges for different states. Mine would go this way, "Maharashtra is my state in India, all the water and air in Maharastra belongs to me and I won't share it with anybody. I would also not be involved in any good deeds happening outside Maharashtra". Mr. Raj Thackerey, give us a break!!

My friend who hails from Singapore feels, India is a menagerie of hospitable people living together, respecting each others religions, languages, race and feelings. The feeling is mutual for my friend living in United States. When outsiders talk so highly about our country why do we prove them wrong with our immature thoughts? I strongly feel Indianness is in my blood, I believe the phrase "unity in diversity" evolved after experiencing a feeling called India.

Finally, I would like to state that, "Mujhe na states ke naam sunayi dete hain, na dikhayi dete hain. Sirf ek naam sunayi deta hai I-N-D-I-A" :)

Proud to be an Indian!
~RJ

Show me the money!

One of my friends signature has a line after his name & coordinates which reads "I look at Forbes 100 richest men, if I am not there, I go to work". Out of curiosity, I asked him, "Do you really mean it? to which he replied, "If I am not there, I would feel I haven't achieved enough?" I left from that place thinking to myself, "Is money that important in life, that sombody thinks it as a goal to be achieved?"

As usual, I started reading through bulletins, talking to friends, read almost everything on how people perceive the importance of money. I came across a quote which goes like this - "When you have all the money in the world, you fail to recognize youself & when you have no money with you others fail to recognize you!" - anonymous. Now this quote strikes a balance between the importance of money & perhaps, other things. Other things could be family, friends, work, health etc. I asked my friends 2 different questions.

1) Does money make you happy? - the responses were in negation when pitted against family, friends etc.



2) Does money make you unhappy? (Does the financial problems concern you? is the right way of interpreting this question)- A firm "yes" came out as an answer from most of my friends. Out of the 10 folks I spoke to all prioritized (most important - important) in the order of family, friends and money. Nobody said money is not important :). My dear friend Kurt believed family+friends+money = peace. I couldn't agree more!

Let's not get lost in the process of earning money that we forget ourselves, our family and friends. Money can buy everything but happiness.

Earn enough, spend sensibly, care more, he happy!
~RJ