I am very interested in the fact that someone I met recently says he practices Buddhism. Most of us just “go with the flow” and stick to the religion we have been brought up with; very few of us think deeply enough and introspect our basic values and change our religion. When someone changes hes religion, you do wonder….Was there any major experience that made this change? Or was it just analysis and reflection which led to it? I actually find that Buddhism and Hinduism have so much in common that one can, I feel, be both at the same time. (BTW I studied Philosophy for my degree–today it would be called an “elective”– and constantly am analysing how religion has the ability to foster both peace and hatred amongst people. In this sense, my studies have been useful to me throughout my life.)

Tumko dekha…..to yeh khayal aaya tumko dekha….to yeh khayal aaya paaglon ke stock mein naya maal aaya! ===================================== Idhar khuda hai, udar khuda hai, jidar dekho udar khuda hai, idhar-udhar bus khuda hi khuda hai jidhar nahi khuda hai….udhar kal khudega! ====================================== The night is dark, the moon is high, I stop my car, you ask why? I come close to you, you feel shy, I whisper those three magical words…. Hye La, Puncture!!! ==================================== Tumsa koi dusara jameen par hua to rab se sikayat hogi…. Ek to jhela nahi jata dusra aa gaya to kya halat hogi!!! ====================================== koi pathar se na maare mere dewaane ko…….. koi pathar se na maare mere dewaane ko…….. koi pathar se na maare mere dewaane ko…….. abe aage bh i to bol…………… nuclear power ka jamaana hai, bomb se udaa do saale o………………. ====================================== tuhaar chehraa moti samaan .. tuhaar chehraa moti samaan… moti hamaar kutte ka naam!! ========================================================== Durakht ke paymane pe chilman E husn ka furkat se sharmana… Durakht ke paymane pe chilman E husn ka furkat se sharmana… Ye line samajh me aaye to mujhe zaroor batana!! =========================================================== tere dwaar pe sanam hazar baar aayenge, tere dwaar pe sanam hazar baar aayenge….. ghanti bajayenge aur bhaag jayenge !! ========================================================== He: Janeman, is dil mein chali aao She: Sandal nikaloon kya! He: Pagli, ye mandir nahi hai, aise hi aajao… =========================================================== Jis waqt khuda ne tumhe banaya hoga, ek saroor sa uske dil pe chaya hoga… ehle socha hoga tujhe jannat mein rakh lun.. hir usse zoo ka khayal aaya hoga!!! =========================================================== Mein Tumhare Liye Sab Kuch Karta.. agar Mujhe Kaam Tha…… Mein Tumhare Liye Doob Ke Marta… agar Mujhe Zukham Tha ! =========================================================== Mere marne ke baad, mere doston, yu aansoo na bahana, Agar meri yaad aaye to, seedhey upar chale aana!! =========================================================== Unki gali se guzre..ajeeb ittefaq tha Unki gali se guzre..ajeeb ittefaq tha Unho ne phool phenka..gamlaa bhi saath tha!! ========================================================== Kyon apni kabar khood-hi khod raha hai Galib… Kyon apni kabar khood-hi khod raha hai Galib… La, phawda mujhe de!! ========================================================== Tumko dekha to ek khyal aaya Tumko dekha to ek khyal aaya Tumhari saheli ko dekha to doosra khyal aaya!! =========================================================== Kehte hain ki ISHQ main neend ud jaati hai Koi humse bhi ishq kare Khambhaqat neend bahut aati hai!!

I have always believed that no matter what one’s interest is, it will be better to be taught the techniques by a seasoned professional. Having had a deep interest in wildlife for almost all my life, I have found that in Bangalore, it is relatively easy to get away to the wilderness even for a short weekend, and come back to the concrete jungle recharged by the sights of sounds of Mother Nature.

One of the aspects of air travel that I have never stopped enjoying, is being able to spot landmarks of cities from the air, as we land or take off. After decades of flying, I still feel thrilled if I am able to spot buildings, lakes, or other major sights from the aircraft.

Alas, most airlines make it a point of telling you which seats are the best from the point of view of smoking,movie-watching, pinching the stewardess, and so on…but no one tells you whether it would be better to sit on the right-hand side or the left-hand side of an aircraft to see the sights your aircraft is flying over. So nowadays, I first find out if the flight is going full, in which case, of course, I take the seat allotted to me and hope for the best…but if it isn’t, I always ask the stewardess when boarding, if she could find out from the pilot which would be the best side to sit on. As the weather dictates which way the aircraft will take off, the pilot is often able to give me this information. This has, over the years, ensured in some memorable sights during take-offs and landings.

I remember one beautifully clear day when the pilot did a complete circuit of Manhattan Island after taking off from JFK, at such a low altitude that I could even spot the Chrysler Building, the Lincoln Center and the Empire State, apart from the proudly-standing Twin Towers….little did I know that the skyline would change within a year of my leaving New York on that visit.

I took a flight from Chennai via Tiruchirapalli and Thiruvananthapuram to Colombo….on each stage I asked the pilot where I should sit, and got to see, as a result, the beautiful Rock Temple of Tiruchi, the squat Gopuram of the Anantha Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram, and then the Galle Sea Face and its beautiful hotels as we glided in to land at Colombo!

This piece was prompted by the flight to Pune I took a few days ago. As we rose into the air, the pilot did practically a “Bangalore Darshan” circuit of the city…there was Vidhan Soudha, the Utility Building, the Ulsoor Lake, the TV Tower….I had my “paisa vasool” for the flight in the first ten minutes!

Even on long night-flights, I love looking at the map the airline provides, and speculating about the cities we must be flying over. And indeed, sometimes, the sight of the Alps, the Grand Canyon, or the Great Arabian Desert called the Rub-al-Khali (the Empty Quarter) in the evening or the early morning light rewards my sleeplessness…..frustration, for me, is sitting in the left-hand side when the pilot announces, “Those of you who are sitting in the right-hand side…we are passing over X landmark”, or vice-versa!

Having a daughter living in St Louis, I always like to see the Gateway Arch both on my way in and out.., and make sure that I am sitting where I can see it. It is a most inspring construction and the sight of it never fails to thrill me.

On one such flight, I had a little girl sitting at the window in front of me…I pointed out the Arch to her and was delighted that I could share my joy with someone else. I was very tickled when the little girl’s mother turned to me and said, “You must have been living in St Louis for much longer than I have, to be able to spot the Arch like that…. and it’s nice to see you taking such pride in spotting your landmarks from the air!” I told her I was the visitor, and she the resident!

…So, whenver you take a flight, do take the time to ask the pilot if you can sit so that you can see the wonders that Man and Nature have created on the earth below you. The sights out of the window are more than compensation for the struggle to get into the aisle (or to the toilet) during the flight!