Thinking: An Ever-Changing Companion Through Life

 

Thinking is an idea or opinion that keeps changing with age , today, let’s try to understand this beautiful yet complex process. Although it may be difficult to fully grasp, there is no harm in trying.

When we are children, our thinking is free and full of imagination. We see the world as an endless playground, where everything seems possible. As we grow and step into youth, our thinking remains fearless. We dream big, take bold steps, and believe that nothing is beyond our reach.

But as time passes and we step into adulthood, something begins to change. Our thinking matures. The moment we become parents , a mother or a father , a huge shift takes place within us. Our thoughts, once centered on ourselves, now revolve around our children, our families, and our responsibilities.
It’s during this phase that we begin to truly understand our own parents , their sacrifices, their worries, and their love. We realize what relationships really mean, why they matter, and why they deserve to be cherished. From that moment, we begin to live life differently , with awareness, responsibility, and a deeper sense of care.

I believe that our thinking should evolve with time. Change is not a sign of weakness; it’s a reflection of growth. As our age and circumstances change, our mindset should adapt too. Only then can we make better decisions, fulfill our responsibilities sincerely, and maintain the harmony of our relationships.

If we resist change and hold on to old ways of thinking, we may fail to understand the needs of the moment , and, perhaps, even drift away from the people who matter most.

So, let’s keep our minds open. Let’s let our thoughts grow with us , because a flexible mind is a sign of a truly growing soul.

क्या दौर आया है

 क्या दौर आया है…

क्या दौर आया है, ज़माना हैरान सा लगता है,
हर शख़्स अब कुछ परेशान सा लगता है।
जिसने ताक़तवरों को भी मजबूर कर डाला,
जिसने अमीरों को भी बेबस बना डाला।

अब इंसान जीने को मजबूरी ओढ़ चुका है,
मतलब के साए में मजबूरियाँ बो चुका है।
हर चेहरा अब खुद में उलझा हुआ है,
हर रिश्ता जैसे थोड़ा सा बिछड़ा हुआ है।

क्या दौर आया है, दूरी अपनों से करवा दी,
मदद के हाथों को भी थामने से हटा दी।
अब छोटी उम्मीदों में सुकून ढूँढा जाता है,
हर सुबह बस एक आस पे जिया जाता है।

क्या दौर आया है, जिसने ये सिखा दिया,
छोटी-छोटी खुशियों में भी जीना सजा दिया।
जिसने एहसास अपनों का फिर से दिलाया,
हर रिश्ते का मतलब फिर से समझाया।

क्या दौर आया है…

Nepotism: A Closer Look Beyond Bollywood

In recent times, the word "nepotism" has become widely associated with Bollywood, particularly after the tragic death of actor Sushant Singh Rajput. I won’t delve into the tragedy itself—much has already been written and spoken about it. Instead, I’d like to explore a few aspects of nepotism that I’ve come to understand through conversations with people and personal reflection.

Let’s start by understanding what nepotism actually means.

According to the dictionary, nepotism is:

“The practice among those with power or influence of favouring relatives or friends, especially by giving them jobs.”

I believe this definition is clear enough. But it raises a crucial question:

Is it wrong to help your relatives or friends?

Most of us would probably say no. I agree—helping your loved ones is not inherently wrong, especially if you are in a position to do so. In fact, we often expect such support from those close to us. However, the issue begins when this support comes at the cost of someone else’s rightful opportunity. When helping your own means deliberately sidelining or sabotaging others, nepotism becomes toxic and unjust.

It is absolutely fine to assist someone in growing their career—as long as the help is based on merit and talent. But when people begin removing obstacles not through hard work, but by eliminating competition through influence or manipulation, we cross into dangerous territory.

From what I’ve observed and heard, this practice has been deeply rooted in Bollywood for decades. If that's true, it’s deeply concerning. Because when real talent is continuously ignored or suppressed, it sends a message that connections matter more than capability. This discourages hardworking, skilled individuals and robs the industry—and the nation—of true potential.

Nepotism, in itself, isn’t the real evil. The real issue lies with those who misuse their power to block others from rising. Equally at fault are those who, despite knowing the truth, support and enable such behavior for personal gain. This unhealthy system needs to be checked—not just socially, but legally. Policies and frameworks should ensure that talent and integrity are protected, and unfair practices are held accountable.

Helping someone should mean giving them an opportunity, not taking away someone else's.

Unfortunately, this isn’t a problem limited to Bollywood. Nepotism exists in politics, corporate offices, and even educational institutions. The consequences are serious—many talented individuals become disillusioned, some even take extreme steps out of frustration, leading to emotional and social damage that ripples across families and society.

If we don’t address it now, we risk losing countless talents who could otherwise make our country proud on global platforms.

Let’s build a culture where opportunities are earned, not gifted. Where success is defined by merit, not by proximity to power.

What Keeps Us Alive? A Question Worth Asking

 What keeps us alive?

It sounds like such a simple question, doesn’t it? But the truth is, few of us ever pause to really think about it. We live day after day, caught up in routines, goals, responsibilities, and distractions. Yet behind it all, something keeps us going. Is it our personal responsibility? Our goals? Our hobbies? Or is it a unique blend of all these things?

The real answer might not lie in any one thing. For some, it’s the sense of duty toward family. For others, it’s the dream of achieving something meaningful. And for many, it’s the little joys , painting, music, travel, quiet moments with loved ones , that give life its richness.

What’s fascinating is that while the question is simple, the answer is deeply personal. It’s not something we can find in a book or learn from a spiritual guru. It’s something we have to ask ourselves. And that process of reflection might just be the most important journey we ever take.

Why does this matter? Because when we understand what truly keeps us alive , what lights us up inside , we begin to live with more intention. We make better choices. We give more value to the things that matter and let go of the things that don’t.

So, take a moment. Ask yourself: What keeps me alive?

You might be surprised by what you find.

What Makes Us Happy?

 I believe this is a question we must all ask ourselves:

What truly makes us happy?

Over the years, many spiritual leaders have shared their thoughts on this topic. Numerous books have been written, workshops conducted, and even entire professions built around helping people find happiness. Despite all this, it seems that the secret to lasting happiness still eludes many of us. We continue to search for it — sometimes in the wrong places.

In reality, happiness is not something that can be universally defined or taught through a rule book. It is deeply personal. In my view, happiness is a feeling — a sense of complete satisfaction that comes from within.

The Search for Happiness is Personal

We cannot find happiness by copying someone else’s life or achievements. What brings joy to one person might mean nothing to another. True happiness comes from within and must be discovered individually.

Here are a few examples of activities that might bring happiness:

• Spending time with friends and family

• Helping others

• Meditating

• Traveling

• Listening to music

• Playing games or engaging in hobbies

How Can We Stay Happy?

There is no single formula for happiness, but there are certain habits and perspectives that can help us cultivate a joyful life. The most important thing is to maintain a positive mindset and take personal responsibility for our well-being.

Often, we make excuses like, “I don’t have time to do what I love.” But if we have time for everything else, why not for the things that make us truly happy? In many cases, it’s not lack of time — it's lack of priority or motivation. If we continue to delay what we enjoy, we may end up with regrets.

Simple Steps to Stay Happy

Here are a few practical things we can do to bring more happiness into our lives:

• Manage your time wisely — Make room for things you love.

• Avoid negative thinking — Don’t let pessimism steal your joy.

• Make a list of things you enjoy — And intentionally make time for them.

• Celebrate small wins — Happiness isn’t always in big achievements.

• Stay socially active — Interact with people who uplift you.

• Spend time with friends and family — They are often the best source of joy.

• Share your stress — Talking to loved ones can lighten emotional burdens.

I don't believe it’s too difficult to incorporate these small steps into our daily lives. What’s important is to never give up on the things that make us happy. If we do, life can become monotonous and unfulfilling.

So, let’s remind ourselves that happiness isn’t something to wait for — it’s something to create.
Start today.

What is Advancement?

 

What is Advancement?

In today’s world, we seem to have misunderstood the true meaning of advancement. Many people interpret it as:

• Wearing trendy and fashionable clothes

• Buying the latest mobile phone without assessing their actual needs

• Redesigning homes based on modern styles and aesthetics

• Purchasing the newest gadgets simply for show

• Imitating the lifestyles of people from other countries

The issue is not with these actions themselves, but with how we define advancement. We believe we're becoming “advanced” by following these trends, yet we are not advancing our thinking—and that’s where true progress lies. Material possessions can be bought with money, but real advancement only happens when we grow mentally, intellectually, and socially.

What Advancement Really Means

Advancement means moving forward—not moving away from our roots, values, or loved ones. We must learn to distinguish between modernization and westernization. Becoming advanced does not require abandoning our culture. If we continue to confuse the two, we risk losing our ancient traditions, which would be a great loss for both society and the country.

What Should We Focus On?

In my view, real advancement lies in asking ourselves the following:

• How can we preserve our country's traditions and cultural heritage?

• How can we create more employment opportunities within our country?

• How can we empower women, especially those living in rural areas?

• How can we improve literacy and access to education for everyone?

These are the questions that should shape our understanding of advancement.

Many people might not realize it, but if you observe carefully, you’ll see that a lot of us are simply copying trends and spending money on things that add little value. Advancement means development and improvement—and for that, we need to change our mindset, not our traditions.

Public Opinion

Since independence, every leader who has come to power in our country has always promised one thing — the upliftment of the poor. But even after all these years, I still fail to understand why no one has succeeded in achieving this goal. The poor are still grappling with the same problems they faced decades ago.

This raises a critical question: where are we going wrong? While we have certainly made progress in some areas — no doubt about that — perhaps it hasn’t happened at the pace it should have. Maybe we failed to elect the right leaders, or maybe we failed to evolve our mindset with the changing times. But one thing is clear to me now: if we continue at the same pace, with the same thoughts and systems, we will neither be able to uplift the poor nor move the country forward.

At times, it feels like democracy is being misused more than it is being used for the right reasons.

Even after so many years of independence, we still haven't been able to eliminate corruption completely — and to me, that’s a huge failure.

Where is the taxpayers' money going? Most people still have no idea.

Why are traffic rules still not properly followed outside metro cities?

Why are people still afraid of visiting government offices?

Why do the poor still have no real voice?

Why are social workers becoming richer, while the poor keep getting poorer?

There are countless such questions that remain unanswered in the minds of the public even today.