Petals!

February is the month of love yet this has also been a month of great pain for Indians across the world. Even as we pay respect to our brave martyrs in Pulwama, we are also witnessing great anger, grief and sorrow across the country. This rage is spilling on to social media platforms too. [READ: Lost someone you loved?]  and    [READ: The Wisest Lesson I learned in 2018] Let's remember that our brave men in the defence forces are not the only ones to have made a supreme sacrifice for the motherland. Their families too deserve our love, care and respect, for they too make the ultimate sacrifice for the nation - they are the champions who hold their heads high for the nation. We owe them more than our words can ever convey. We owe them decency. We owe them basic humanity. But there's one thing we need to do.   It's our duty to the nation and to ourselves.  Here it is:  Don't spread hatred or fake news.  Don't share gory ima...

I am not a follower of Buddha. Yet his teachings have inspired me in dark moments. From what I have read, Buddha has inspired many people across the world in different ways. In meditation, the techniques prescribed by Buddha have come in handy to tame the monkey-like state of the constantly flitting mind. The mere glimpse of Buddha's poised image has brought serenity and inner strength to many to embrace a new perspective and perhaps adapt to a new way of living.  Terror attack on Mahabodhi Temple For these reasons and more, the terror attack on Bodh Gaya is unacceptable and unforgivable. The latest reports indicate that nearly 13 bombs were planted inside the temple in Bodh Gaya. It shocks and disgusts me that a terror attack on one of India's most sacred Buddhist temples is given absolute lip service and nothing more from those at the helm of governance in this country. That the Intelligence Bureau had informed about the threat way back in October also indica...