Gerald D'Cunha

  “I will never understand why it is more shameful to be raped than to be a rapist.” Anonymous   ‘Z ero tolerance’… Most of us have this public outcry still blaring in our ears… Yes, it’s literally a ‘war cry’ and it’s justly raised by tens and thousands of angry protesters all over the country. The flash point was the horrific gangrape and the consequent death of young Nirbhaya on the night-streets of the national capital. Well, the outburst, particularly by the young, educated citizens of our country, was unprecedented… It had shaken the Central government, Police force and even the Judicial system… Most of us really thought, that the incident would usher in sanity in the cannibals… But, where? The cannibals thrive even more rampantly, today…   Who is afraid of the stringent laws? Leave alone the fear of God… So much for the zero tolerance… T he feudal mindset… I think, this is responsible for the sad plight as to   why being raped seems more shamef...

  “Popularity is a bubble. It’s a mountain: you can go up really hard, but walk down really fast.” Marlon Brando   I think, the hunger for popularity is one of the greatest drives in a human being, particularly when one is young. Often, it causes tremendous amount of restlessness in humans… even desperation. Well, we all are humans. Hence, we all are familiar with that hunger… that, driving force in our bosoms… We want to be there where stars reign… How inviting that place is… How addictive! I once heard, Oprah Winfrey defining popularity in one of her shows: “It simply means many people know you.” “That’s all?” I remember reacting to this definition… Imagine how we desire more and more and more people to know us! The only question this desire brings along is this: ‘Many’ means how many? Jesus Christ had only twelve disciples when He was alive and going around preaching in and around his village. Today, I am told, that more than two-third of this world’s popul...

  “Learn to sit back and observe. Not everything needs a reaction.” Unknown   I am of the firm opinion, that there is a story in everything I see around me – near or far. So, if I am a creative person – a writer, poet, singer, musician, painter… for that matter, any sensitive person, be it a teacher, preacher or whatever – I can weave a story from every happening around me… But, then, I, also, see this: my stories are hugely influenced by my biases… They are my reactions. The more I let my stories come from my prejudiced mind, the more reactive my mind gets. The social media operates exactly on this susceptibility of my mind… It feeds me according to my taste, my preferences and biased choices. For example, if I dislike Donald Trump, the social media feeds more and more and more fodder to deepen my dislike. Similarly, if I like fried chicken, behold: I   get it till I get bloated! T wo days ago, from nowhere, I chanced upon this beautiful cover of the old c...

  “The secret is discovered in what moves and touches us, in  what makes us tremble.” Sam Keen S ome days ago, I was invited to hold a session for the students of an Architecture college in Mumbai. The students belonged to 2 nd year to 5 th year. It was their fest week, and different kinds of Workshops – yes, anything other than Architecture – were being held by people from different fields. As I had held sessions many times before in this college, the Principal gave me a free hand: “Anything that can help bring the best out them.”… This was the brief. D oes anyone know what is ‘the best’ in him? I don’t know my own ‘best’… unless I am unusually driven… I don’t know my best potential… I don’t know how good I am… I don’t know how creative, how brilliant… how loving, caring, giving, brave etc. I can be… “The best”, as they say,   is, always, “yet to come.” We are busy just scratching the surface… while ‘the best’ is hidden deep inside. And, often, it...

  “I’ve found, that no matter what life throws at me, music softens the blow.” Bryce W. Anderson I t was Hans Christian Andersen who had said, “Where words fail, music speaks.” One of the most played, sung, recorded, performed and hummed  songs is the Spanish song ‘La Paloma’. It was written by a Spanish song writer by the name Sabastian Iradier, nearly 150 years ago. But, then, as many other most beautiful creations, the creator of this beautiful songs, too, died in obscurity… It was only after he’s gone, the song travelled across the globe and underwent countless versions…  World’s most renowned musicians and singers have added t heir own touch to this masterpiece…Every version leaves the listener moved even though he/she doesn’t understand its lyrics… Well, translated ‘La Paloma’ mean s ‘The Dove’… It’s a beautiful love song. But, then, who needs words when music can speak? I keep listening to ‘La Paloma’ regularly; sometimes, all through the day… and, yes, ...

  “We’ve got to live no matter how many times the skies have fallen.” D.H. Lawrence   P ain is pain… When there is loss, a tragedy, a calamity (whether manmade or natural) in our personal lives or in our society… anywhere around the world – pain inside us is inevitable. We are not lifeless stones… we bleed, we cry, we grieve… When a dear one dies, I feel the loss, and feel the pain… When Hamas killed helpless citizens in Israel, I felt the anger, pain and helplessness… In retaliation, when Israel has been ruthlessly bombing the innocent citizens in Gaza – hundreds and thousands of them – how can I not feel the same anger, pain and helplessness? Just as one felt when Japan mercilessly bombed the Pearl Harbour… and when, in retaliation, America destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki… Just as one felt when al-qaeda brought down New York’s magnificent Twin-towers,   and, when the consequent mayhem was unleashed by America in Afghanistan and other countries… Just a...