Do you know who you really are?

If you think that question’s silly or meaningless, I am sure you do not know yourself very well. Do you speak your mind, or do you say what is expected of you? Does your social behavior truly reflect your character? Let’s not mistake personality for character, ok?

Why do we express?

We begin expressing ourselves first as a baby, crying to get attention. That is the truest and purest form of expression, reflecting our innermost desires... reflecting what we need. As children, we say what we want to say, we do what we want to do. We resent when we are forced. We are true to others. There is no hidden agenda.

As we grow older, there are external influences, like acceptance, for instance. We try to fit in with the rest of the world, and do what is expected of us. We do things because people around us do them and have done so in the past successfully. We do and say stuff to impress others, not to express ourselves…funny but true.

The world is a comedy to those who think…and a tragedy to those who feel.
-Horace Walpole

From my personal experiences which, by the way, aren’t really comprehensive, I agree with what’s quoted above. I have continued to shift between two personalities since the first of days that I can recollect. I have never ceased to amaze myself everyday, as to how I am able to manage my selves.

To that quote up there, I wish to add some more.

Those who feel will feel the darkest depths of pain at times,
But then, those who think can never be completely happy.

The side of me that thinks, the side of me that has been successful in all its endeavours, is the one that has never found peace or happiness. Success, despite the fact that it intoxicates you to a cool high, is NOT happiness. It is usually a means to get there, but most people lose track of their path on the way. The side of me that feels, I admit, has been a bigger loser than anyone else I know (yea, look at this weblog for example), but has also been the most peaceful, content and balanced side of mine. That side reflects who I truly am.

You should not do something because you are good at doing it or because it will fetch you fame and success. You should do something because you like doing it or it gives you the balance. Most of the successful people we know, almost 99% in my opinion, are people who think. The rest of them (the 1%) are, of course, the greatest people who ever lived…those that were successful and content at the same time. Hmmm, I agree, most of the ‘failures’ and ‘misfits’ in this world are those who feel and refuse to think. Nobody wants you to be this way, but that is what you are.

By now, you might have realised that I am not the greatest of writers you know. I have not done justice to the concept or even myself with the words I have chosen, but if you do get something out of this, whoa! Great!

What you feel is who you truly are. The day you realise this, the day you break free of that illusion of society, the day you learn to defy rules and ignore the frowns and discouraging words from the world at large, the day you realise who you really are…accepting your faults as part of you and accepting others’ faults as part of who they are…that day, my friend, shall be your Independence day.

Crying in the rain

Some say Charlie chaplin said,
"Cry in the rain coz others can't know".
I have been having it in the head,
since I got problems of my own.

I see crime and injustice
and I'm powerless to stop them all...
no one understands till the problem's his.
True in my case, this is my call.

I will fight them, the honest way
I will fight them, through the years.
I will improve, day by day
Till I end all undeserving tears.

All my other thoughts have gone down the drains,
I have decided to do or die trying.
but today, like Charlie, I cry in the rains,
what if someone gets to see me crying?

- An amateur attempt by "Poruthadhu podhum" endru mudiveduthor sangam.

You don't realize the gravity of every issue until you face it. Every human being has to rise to stop all the individual problems faced by so many innocents all over the world.

I have decided to, have you?

A Note to me from Sarath Babu, South Chennai Candidate

1. How possible is it to fulfill the promises in your manifesto? Like achieving 95% literacy. Have you already evolved a step by step practical approach? Prove to us that you are truly committed to the constituency rather than FoodKing etc..
Ans: My life story has a good track record of my commitment and sincerity. Chennai South is one of the most educated constituencies in India. The challenge is to get students and adults from the poor strata to schools. In my manifesto, you would have seen that my stress is on the following:
a) improved access to schools
b) better sanitation and infrastructure
c) campaign to get children and adults to schools
Literacy is required to read newspapers, perform calculations of money and writing letters. The focus is to first make 95% (taking into account transient labour population) of chennai literate, and then move towards making them finish primary education.

2. How can we track what you do in case you get selected? Will you keep a separate blog, or will someone write what you did or will that be updated on this site?
Ans: I would be publishing my annual targets in leading english and tamil newspapers and my website. Following that i will publish quarterly, half-yearly and annual results of the targets achieved. I am willing to put my appraisal in front of my people who have reposed their faith in me.

3. How can we reach you in case of anything? People in South Chennai should be able to convey their issues to you through some means any minute.
Ans: This has been answered in the manifesto. Youth stations in each assembly constituency will help you reach me. For more serious issues like corruption, you can directly get in touch with me / my office.

4. What is your view on reservations in educational institutions?
Ans: Reservations are good for people who deserve them. But today it has become an issue of politics and misuse. There are rules about consideration of economic status and not giving reservation to creamy layer. There are implementation issues as politicians do not want to upset their vote banks. I do not believe in such vote bank politics.

Please go through my updated site : www.sarathbabu.co.in

I hope my replies have convinced you to vote for me and join my campaign so that other people also vote for me.

All the best to you for a great showing in the elections, in a constituency from where prominent leaders like Ila Ganesan contest.

" Vote for Slate! " :)

PS: His manifesto is available for download at www.sarathbabu.co.in