Monday, October 31, 2011

Remembering Mrs. G

Prime Minister for a staggering four terms, known for her charisma, astute political sense and her ostentatious display of authority, Indira and India have remained synonymous in the minds of many Indians for a long time, gaining iconic status.

It is coincidental that, on this day, I find myself reading her biography, authored by Katherine Frank whose work is not merely a biography, but a splendidly candid almanac, with remarkable detail, offering a very deep insight into the life of a dynamically complex person.

While Indira will forever be known for a strong culture of nepotism that she fostered, the chronicles of her life by Frank is truly the result of painstaking research involving a great deal of meticulousness and detail the like of which is seldom matched.

Footnotes:

Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi
Author: Katherine Frank
Hardcover: 592 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (January 7, 2002)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039573097X
ISBN-13: 978-0395730973

Friday, October 28, 2011

And Peace Reigns



It was on this day in 1962 that the dreaded Cuban Missile Crisis came to an end with Soviet Union ordering the removal of missile bases in Cuba. Those 14 days in October reminded the world of how perilously close it came to annihilation when the fate of millions literally hinged upon the ability of two men.

In the days that followed, when heaved sighs of relief were breathed in unison, across continents, and among echelons of power executives, one man's words would, in some ways, stand out in reassuring humanity's ardent commitment and, in many ways, desperate efforts to stall evil and maintain peace. Then American National Security Advisor, McGeorge Bundy, was reported to have remarked that “having come so close to the edge, we must make it our business not to pass this way again.”

Assuredly, nature has its own ways of reigning in the renegade and maintaining order to ensure that peace is preserved. Illogical and insane acts of obdurate and deranged minds will be crushed by their own misdemeanour and general good will eventually prevail, reassuring the rest that the world continues to be a virtuous abode for the just and worthy.

Footnotes:

Pictures taken by me on Diwali

Monday, October 24, 2011

Here come the Lights

May this Diwali help us in casting away all evil from our lives and signify the return of God in the ultimate form. 

Redefining Oblivion wishes you a very happy, prosperous and safe Diwali

Friday, October 21, 2011

Of The Spirit

The universal mind choreographs everything that is happening in billions of galaxies with elegant precision and unfaltering intelligence. Its intelligence permeates every fiber of existence - from the atom to the cosmos.

Footnotes:

Excerpts from a book, I'm presently reading, by Deepak Chopra, who never ceases to impress.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Walking The 8 Mile

Entertaining the world with die-hard conviction in his lyrics at an unimaginable pace of delivery with superbly well-composed rhythm using some of the most 'choicest' of verbiage, this icon has won millions of hearts at ease.

American rapper Eminem celebrates his birthday today.

Redefining Oblivion wishes him the very best and a whole new beginning to continue to be among the undisputed kings of rap of all time.

For the uninitiated, here is a good beginning! :-)

Friday, October 14, 2011

Connected Out

Blackberry users across several countries, me included, experienced an extended disruption of services over the last few days.

I couldn't help appreciate the feeling of how wonderful it actually is to be disconnected from non-essential forms of technology that have gained prominence in our lives, overshadowing the most important and indispensable factor of human connect.

It is sad that we have accorded more importance to technology, over time, throwing away the fabric of human interactions.

Life before invasive technology was very peaceful. To now be a slave of this intrusive monotony is probably a reflection of how much we value each other and ourselves in the scheme of being social beings of the appropriate kind.

Monday, October 10, 2011

Rocky Blue Mountains - Goodbye

Monday, October 03, 2011

Dear Michele

It is today, after a month's absence, that I visited my blog and those of all of my friends, you included.

To read that you are now closing down your blog makes me feel very unhappy, but I'm sure you have your compulsions which are serious, without which you wouldn't have taken the decision you have.

Understandably, I have thoroughly enjoyed every bit of your work and have remarked in awe of how beautiful your wonderful nation is and how wonderfully well you have been able to portray it.

I shall pray that your health remains well and that you continue to enjoy your brilliant world and feel happy and healthy always.

More importantly, I pray that the camera be your everlasting companion, and that you continue to enjoy the wonderful sights of the British Colombian heaven, which it truly is.

Its been so much of a pleasure being associated with you and I feel I have seen a very different facet of the world through your eyes.

Thank you very much!

Good luck and God Speed!

Rakesh

Footnotes:

Michele of Rocky Blue Mountains decided to wind up her wonderful blog sometime ago.
Redefining Oblivion wishes her well and thanks her remarkable effort in showcasing some of the finest views of the Canadian outbacks which are breathtaking in their beauty and awe-inspiring in their spirit. 

Thursday, October 06, 2011

iSad

“I’ll always stay connected with Apple. I hope that throughout my life I’ll sort of have the thread of my life and the thread of Apple weave in and out of each other, like a tapestry. There may be a few years when I’m not there, but I’ll always come back."

Playboy, Feb. 1, 1985

Footnotes:

Redefining Oblivion pays rich tributes to the timeless innovator who 'connected the dots looking backwards' with 'gut, destiny, life, karma.........'

Goodbye, Steven Paul Jobs.

RIP

Monday, October 03, 2011

Coming Back to Life

Time, people and events make a heady concoction of life!

This past month has been very different and has sapped a lot of energy out of me and I'm still reeling under the effects of the stress that is ongoing.

Rare though, I chose to stay away from blogging, with mixed emotions.

I feel caged in the mind and it suddenly seems that all my creative cells have burnt out and the mind is struggling to compose itself.

No matter however much one is trained to face adversity, the moment of truth decides how the course of events will turn to be.