RIP

Whitney Houston died and how did I come to know about this? No, not from newspapers and news channels, the later have blissfully forgotten that UP elections is not the only thing happening around this world. I came to know about Whitney's death from the numerous RIPs posted on facebook. And that reminded me of the first time I came across this term. I don't actually remember when, but sometimes during my 10+2, I saw this poster of a long haired person playing a guitar, a cigarette dangling from the edge of his lips. On the poster, it was written "RIP, Kurt Cobain". I hadn't yet been introduced to rock music and had no idea who this guy was or what the term RIP meant (Guess I am of the slow type). But the poster stayed in mind and I asked one of my hip friends what the term meant. The friend, if you could call him one, gave me a look which convinced me that I sure had committed some grave mistake. He did however told me that RIP meant 'Rest in peace'. However, I was overjoyed to discover that even he hadn't heard about Kurt Cobain. I didn't know it at that time but the line of the moment was--I am not the only one. It was not until I met another long haired guy from Karnataka at my engineering college, did I come to know about Kurt Cobain and his songs.

That is why I feel a little embarrassed every time I use this term because it reminds of my friend's pair of eyes looking at me condescendingly. So, i don't use this term often, certainly not in cases where I hardly ever thought about the person when he/she was alive.

Kurt Cobain was/is different. I think about him often, rather he makes me think about things regularly.

RIP, Kurt Cobain!

A God that fails

On my way to office today I came across this sticker on the back of a school bus which read—“God Never fails”. And that got me thinking, what if it is true. Won’t it be pathetically dull and boring never to fail?

Imagine that you are always successful no matter how little you try.  You don’t study, but still get top marks, you don’t work out but still have six pack abs, you don’t even try to fall in love, but the hottest chick would die to hold your hand and kiss you, you don’t apply for a job, but still Bill gates has called you a thousand times asking you to please..please..join his Company . Even Team Anna has agreed to the Lokpal bill you would draft, never mind the fact that you have turned down both Anna and the Game Changer. I can go on but the list of examples is endless. In short, you would achieve everything without a sweat and won’t it be fun!

Or will it? Would it be fun if you knew beforehand a game that you would win for sure? Would you ever feel that ‘corridor of uncertainty’ before proposing to someone if you already knew that he/she would accept? Would you ever wait with bated breath at an awards ceremony if you already know what the declaration would be? Quite simply, would you ever feel proud? I guess not.

I don’t doubt what was written on the sticker. God never fails and that is why he has stopped trying. There is no challenge left for him. That is why he is bored stiff and gone to sleep. In the mean time, here on earth, Godmen have taken over. Unlike God, they fail quite regularly and hence enjoying their job to the hilt at our expense.

A god that fails occasionally would probably be better for us.