The Fair Singer, by Andrew Marvell

To make a final conquest of all me,
Love did compose so sweet an enemy,
In whom both beauties to my death agree,
Joining themselves in fatal harmony;
That while she with her eyes my heart does bind,
She with her voice might captivate my mind.

I could have fled from one but singly fair,
My disentangled soul itself might save,
Breaking the curled trammels of her hair.
But how should I avoid to be her slave,
Whose subtle art invisibly can wreath
My fetters of the very air I breathe?

It had been easy fighting in some plain,
Where victory might hang in equal choice,
But all resistance against her is vain,
Who has th'advantage both of eyes and voice,
And all my forces needs must be undone,
She having gained both the wind and sun.

Why I am not an atheist yet!

One story that is preventing my becoming an atheist - 

// A man once complained to god, "Come on, god! Look around you, sins have increased. People are dying due to hunger, violence, wars and pestilence. So many factions have been created in your name and people are needlessly quarreling over petty issues like religion, caste and creed. Problems are aplenty in the world. What have you done to solve these problems?"

God replied, "Why do you think I created you?!"  //

Gandhi's foresight!

The following is an excerpt from a letter written by Mahatma Gandhi to Jawaharlal Nehru, on 05th October 1945. Shows the foresight of this noble man.

'...I believe that if India, and through India the world, is to achieve real freedom, then sooner or later we shall have to go and live in the villages - in huts, not in palaces. Millions of people can never live in cities and palaces in comfort and peace. Nor can they do so by killing one another, that is, by resorting to violence and untruth. I have not the slightest doubt that, but for the pair, truth and non-violence, mankind will be doomed...'

'...The sum and substance of what I want to say is that the individual person should have control over the things that are necessary for the sustenance of life. If he cannot have such control the individual cannot survive. Ultimately, the world is made up only of individuals. If there were no drops there would be no ocean.'

What is real happiness?

"On Earth everyone yearns for happiness, but to they know what real happiness is? No. People on Earth think happiness means a lot of money, comfort, luxuries, fun and fame. We are sorry to say that these things don't bring real happiness. Real happiness comes from true love, nature's beauty, genuine laughter and smiles (not forced, as many people do), helping others selflessly, and purifying your soul to achieve a higher level."

From the book 'The Laws of the Spirit World', by Khorshed Bhavnagri.

God Vs. Man!

An old story from my college days:
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Once all the scientists went up to god and told him that they are capable of anything now and they can even produce a man from the dust.
 
God accepted the challenge.
 
When the scientists started collecting the dust, God intervened and said, "No, no, you bring your own dust!"

Subhas Chandra Bose about Post-Independence India

Subhas Chandra Bose's words about his plans for post-independence India
(from the book 'His Majesty's Opponent') -

"If we want to make India really great, we must build up  a political democracy on the pedestal of a democratic society. Privileges based on birth, caste or creed should go and equal opportunities should be thrown open to all irrespective of caste, creed or religion. The status of women should also be raised, and women should be trained to take a larger and a more intelligent interest in public affairs".

A Song for Kabir (by my friend Allen Fraser Clark)

Image Source - Google

And of what import
is all this?
wonders Kabir,
as he sees a world
where goldfish float,
their tails hemmed
in myrrh, their bulbous eyes
fixed on Urdu soap operas.

Nowadays the only creatures
who read are a few mice
that parse the titles
on the gilded bindings
of the sacred texts
before they devour
the pages.