I am not going to stop talking to him merely because he pays no attention. I like hear myself talk. It is one of my greatest pleasures. I often have long conversations all by myself, and I am so clever that sometimes I don’t understand a single word of what I am saying.

Chanced upon Oscar Wilde’s short stories while on short stay at Prague.

(The Happy Prince and Other Tales (sometimes called The Happy Prince and Other Stories) is a collection of stories for children by Oscar Wilde first published in May 1888. It contains five stories: “The Happy Prince”, “The Nightingale and the Rose”, “The Selfish Giant”, “The Devoted Friend”, and “The Remarkable Rocket”.)

Don’t even remember last time I had read Wilde’s stories. What refreshing short stories and storytelling. Each story is narrated in such an engrossing yet comical style – surely to catch the attention of young readers. Each story though with such a strong moral has been told in a light breezy style.

Well, good-bye : I have enjoyed our conversation very much I assure you.

“Conversation indeed!” said the Rocket. “You have talked the whole time yourself. This is not conversation.”

“Somebody must listen.” answered the Frog, “and I like to do all the talking myself. It saves time and prevents arguments.”

“But I like arguments” said the Rocket.

“I hope not” said the Frog complacently. “Arguments are extremely vulgar, for everybody in good society holds exactly the same opinions”

Reading his stories now bring a different perspective and better appreciation. Guess morals like common sense never becomes obsolete yet so rare to find 😀

Some of my other favourite quotes of him:

1. Selfishness is not living as one wishes to live, it is asking others to live as one wishes to live.
2. Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth
3. One should always play fairly when one has the winning cards.
4. The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.
5. The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it… I can resist everything but temptation.
6. Do you really think it is weakness that yields to temptation? I tell you that there are terrible temptations which it requires strength, strength and courage to yield to.
7. Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.
8. Society exists only as a mental concept; in the real world there are only individuals.
9. How can a woman be expected to be happy with a man who insists on treating her as if she were a perfectly normal human being.
10. When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.

Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions. I must trust that the little bit of love that I sow now will bear many fruits, here in this world and the life to come.

Henri Nouwen

The Valkyries – Paulo Coelho

Page 141  – “The gates to Paradise have been reopened”, he said. “God banished the angel with the burning sword who was at the gate. For some time – no one is certain for how long – anyone can enter, since it was obvious that the gates are open”

18th July 2016 – Vatican City – St Peter;’s  Basilica

As we are going to enter the Basilica – our guide tells us that the holy doors (which are supposed to be opened every 25 years – last one being in 1999 and next time – 2025, are open as this year has been marked as “The Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy”.

Coincidence –  I read the book only 1 week back and Paulo has written the first copy of book in
Portuguese in 1992. I felt such an eerie feeling hearing those words from guide. I am not Christian and have no concept of Holy Doors, My visit to Rome and St Peters was purely out of tourism reasons and no spiritual attachment. But felt humbled and   awestruck walking through those doors.

Those who have not read the book, the book is about how angels are always guiding us and we need to silence ourselves to hear and talk to our angels. Was this my angel who made me bought this book, just days before my planned trip to Rome?

Yesterday watched the much talked about movie Piku and was not disappointed. The movie is beautiful depiction of a girl, the only child to a widowed father,  trying to strike a balance between her life and the expectations of her father.

What really stood out for me was the character of Amitabh Bachchan as Bhaskor (the grumpy hypochondriac) as a true feminist (though for his own selfish reasons).

1. He had such strong views on  his daughter and women in general to have strong identity and purpose and not to sacrifice themselves on the stereotype expectation on the gender
2. His expectation as a parent to be taken care of by his child is not clouded by gender of his child. That is true equality. If he as parent has not dished out any unequal treatment to his child then his expectation is truly valid and just.
3. He doesn’t have any double standards on the way men and women should live their lives. He is totally ok with his daughter not being virgin and  having casual relationship with her friend (which scores of Indian parents are ok with when it is Son Vs daughter)

I always get into discussion & debates with my friends and colleagues on the notion of Feminism. People confuse feminism with gender and somehow this concept has become a curse word. Feminism is a ideology that Women are (and read NOT more or less) equal to Men. And like any ideology it is gender agnostic.  And it has been beautifully exhibited in the movie Piku.

Will pen down my thoughts on what Feminism means to me in my next post.