The Lion who wanted to Sing.

I am not a voracious reader but that faint habit of reading some stuff other than school textbooks was instilled in me since my primary school days. While in the community school, one of our teachers use to tell us many interesting stories by reading the library and I was an ardent listener. Later I too started reading those stories from the library books and my favorites were those of Panchatantra stories. But latter when I reached in high schools, my interest in reading declined drastically and I read hardly a single novel in a year, though I like reading magazines and short articles.

The long faded interest in reading, though I could not revive when I tried during my early college days, but gradually I picked up the pace after reading few interesting and inspiring books, which I purchased from the market. When it talks of money, it seems that the things retain a better value.

Now days, blogging made me a better reader. Through the network of blogs, I got to read many things written by different thoughts. I hardly miss the updated blogs that I see on my blogger dashboard. The contents are varied ranging from humours and doses of funs to love and relationship, of creative writings like poetic hymns filled with sweet rhymes and creative non-fictions based on one’s life and experiences. There are bloggers who share their thoughts and opinions on social issues and express their concerns; I get to learn about the life as a father or mother, of posts regarding the culture and way of living of the peoples from across the country, and the list goes on.

Most importantly, if we explore international blogsphere, there are many professional writers who shares with the world, various tips and techniques to write better. One such writer, who is known to many Bhutanese blogger, is Rachna Chhabria Madam, who blogs at Rachna's Scriptorium. She shares everything about writing skills and tips that she possesses with the world and regularly shares the link of her updates on the Blogyul Group on facebook. But of late, in the event of trying to forget the odds of life, I forgot my facebook password, and still I could not recover it so I miss the Blogyul group very much. I follow her updates regularly and it’s really inspiring for us to persevere in the art of writing. We get lots of writing tips, but I am not able to inculcate the habit in me. As advised by madam herself long before on a facebook, I tried to write few short stories, but I could not complete a single, though she stressed, “try to complete writing it”. Yes, one of the fellow blogger pointed out that all writers and not bloggers but all bloggers are writer and so I am a writer. I am a writer who writes nonsensical stuffs to satisfy myself.

Since Rachna Madam is a writer, I always wanted to read a book written by her, so I once asked her about the name of books written by her. To that, she shared with me the link of her books. I tried searching the books in the bookshops nearby by but could not get one. So finally, I purchased one of her books from FLIPKART an online distributor and could grab a copy of “The Lion who wanted to Sing” recently. Written for the benefit of young and developing brains at large, the book is written in simple English filled with picturesque expressions. There are three stories, all of which are spoken from the natural home in the forest, where animals are all too human.  

There is a story about Leo, the king lion who became vegetarian for a purpose; there is a story about Waggle the worm, who keeps his promise to incept the virtue of kindness and compassion in the soul of greedy birds; and there is the story of Kiara, the elephant who cannot bear to look into the mirror. Such lively stories, which in a simple manner teaches the great values of determination, perseverance, integrity, friendship, kindness, sacrifice, etc.., if introduced to our children, it will not only make them a good reader but also a good human. The book will now serve me as an awesome gift to my little niece, once I go back home for vacation.

Like a Bird,

google images

Like a bird my mind flew,

Amid versatility of clouds.

With no proper destination

I paved my way.

Enjoying the beauty of cumulus,

Daring the dangers of nimbus,

To reach the crimson horizon

Where golden rays of sinking sun

Embraced the moon lovingly.

Like the Bird my mind flew,

Amid the thicket of forest

Where there is no trails,

But paving my own way.

Enjoying the ethereal natural beauty,

Of flowers and leaves in different colour,

Of lichens and mosses on hanging branches

To discover the peace of silence'

With the taste of bountiful fruits.

Like the bird my mind flew,

Flapping the lightness of my wings

Crossing the vales and mountains 

To reach the cradle of Home Sweet Home.

Discovering a Momentary Divinity in Self.

If I let my life get shrouded in gloominess and if I let the frustrations of my deeds overwhelm me poignantly, then I discover no joy. My good deeds gathers no karmic virtue, and my achievements and success just remains mere illusions, and my life, it seems futile. As the blog name indicates, if I am to let my pre-written fate continue its journey in my life, each repercussion of the ill-fate tends to devastate omens of the good karma, love sees no relationship, hard work sees no sweet fruit, and excessive perspiration in the wake of going something fruitful goes in vain. The world indeed is full of sweet poisons that might turn our bloods blue and hearts pale. 

Loneliness is not the pain but being abandoned is the main suffering. Howling and whistles are not noise but the musics leave in me a melancholic reminiscence. The retrospection of bygone acts brings in me no loathe for life but the way things that turn the way I least anticipated gets me so forlorn. Yet I stand on the porch gazing up in the sky, anticipating the star to fall, which indeed is again a weird fantasy. 

Therefore leaving all such mundane thoughts behind, I tried to discover the divine in myself, though the quest for it, which I am confident is not a piece of cake. For man born in this ephemeral world whose beauty was destroyed by the disobedience of Adam and Eve, suffering is an inevitable obligation we have to face and in the vicious cycle of endless birth and death we have to sink. 

Divinity for me is being in the euphoric state, with no past to regret and cry foul, with no castles to built in the unseen space for unpredictable future. Divinity for me is when the present is best enjoyed, and for such a cause, I discover the divine in the rhythmic shift of legs with the tunes of un-understandable lyrics, that keeps blasting from the soulless mouth of stereo. Soulless objects are all divine. The choreographic moves led by the sub-conscious tribal mates, as they sing along with the dulcet audio, whose meanings I didn't understand a single phrase, I discover a momentary joy in me. Thus I instilled a divine soul in me, who says "Hey Leo, don't dwell in the remorseful past and don't dream bizarre dreams anymore, because they brings in you no peace. You have the best present just now, it is a greatest gift from life." So who wont seek a divine advice, who would ignore the divine blessings, thus in my divinity, I take my refugee.

Those tribal lads are happy, I see smile full of radiance from my sole companion, I am satisfied. Subconsciousness speaks the ultimate truth and the truth I hear from my subconsciousness is that I Felt genuinely. For its continuity of fate let fate decide the ultimate destiny. FOR NOW, the Nagpuri folk song keeps us all jubilant and floating in ecstasy. For tomorrow, let the new dawn decides its fate.

Descending Day of Lord Buddha

Having immersed in the materialistic world of suffering, though we tend to preach a lot about what is good and bad and try to adopt many philosophies for carrying out karmic deeds, yet we land up doing nothing virtuous and finally when we reflect to the days gone by, it’s all the same mundane that we have done. This according to our revered Rinpoches, are due to the accumulation of bad karma or sins committed in our previous life. Belief it or not, we are taught that it’s the fate of previous life which governs our life, and at such points it seems futile to believe in our will and following our dreams because life seems to be prewritten. We cannot change the past deeds so we will have to face the present circumstances the way it is bequeathed but then we can always pave a path for better future and in that case for our existence after death, by doing some noble deeds.

The days like 8^th, 10^th, 15^th 25^th and 30^th of every month are considered very auspicious for accumulating good karma and are very religious day for dedicating oneself towards virtuous deeds. So if not every day, at least on such auspicious days we are reminded about the impermanence of our existence and we by default turn faithful devotees towards Dharma. In addition to those regular auspicious days of the month there are few other auspicious days related to the life of great Buddhist masters and of course the Lord Buddha.

 There are three important holidays, which we celebrate every year in remembrance to Lord Buddha viz.., Lord Buddha’s Parinirvana on 15^th day of the fourth month, First Sermon of Lord Buddha on 4^th day of the sixth month, and Descending Day of Lord Buddha on 22^nd day of the ninth month, all corresponding to the lunar calendar. It is on such auspicious days that we seek forgiveness for our mistakes, we appreciate others for their righteous accomplishments, and we offer prayers for the wellbeing of all sentient beings and ourselves. The benefits of our good deeds are multifold on such days, and wrong deeds if ever done on such days will also accumulate a sin, which is multifold.

As we remark this auspicious day, the Descending Day of Lord Buddha, commonly known as Lhabab Duechen, it’s important to know the significance of the day in particular and life of Lord Buddha in general. The following legend is strong enough to remind us about the accomplishments of Lord Buddha, and significance of today, The Descending Day of Lord Buddha:

The descending day of Lord Buddha is a celebration of his return to earth from heaven.

History says that Lord Buddha was born in Lumbini, Nepal, and his mother expired after seven days. Therefore six years after attaining enlightenment at the age of 41, he ascended to heaven on the 15th day of the sixth month of the lunar calendar to preach to his mother.

When he was preaching his mother along with gods and goddesses in heaven, two male and female devotees, two ordained nuns and monks and king Zug Chen Nyingpo on the earth were worried because they did not know where Buddha was. Then, Buddha’s disciple, the clairvoyant Sharibu, had a vision of the lord to be in heaven.

Following the request of all the devotees, another disciple of Lord Buddha, Mao gyel ge bu, who was known to possess miraculous powers, ascended to heaven on the 15th day of the ninth month of the lunar calendar and requested Buddha to return to earth.

Lord Buddha descended to earth on the 22nd day of the ninth month.

Source: Bhutan Excursions.

So on this auspicious day, our people might have visited temples and dzongs, offered butter lamps, flowers and incense sticks to our God, erected prayer flags, chanted Badza Guru, and Mani, Circumambulated chortens and prayed for the well being of every animal, thus accumulating a good karma for our better future. For me, since we don’t have any temples nearby, I lit a candle in front my Buddha’s portrait and recited Bad-za Guru, chanted prayers, and then read a Book titled “Sangye Kyi Zhyel Dhaam” to reflect back on the impermanence of this mundane world, which is full of sufferings.

May All Sentient Beings Be Happy and Rest in Peace.

Bhutan and Climate Change.

“The days are getting hotter and hotter.” My village folks use to complain while they work in the field or ferry their farm products to the nearby roads, and they say it is due to the sun, which they believe is growing larger is size year after year. For that matter, I, being a student who have studied geography and having learnt that Himalayas are the young fold mountains which keep growing little by little year after year, opposed their theory and use to explain the same to them, why our places are getting hotter year after year. Indeed, I was of the opinion that Himalayan countries are getting nearer to the sun as they keep growing. To such a blunt and irrational explanation, they won’t argue further but use to support my view. It so happened some nine years ago, when I was in class seven.

GangKarPuensum Glacier: source:linked

Now at this stage when such childhood incidents flashback in my thoughts I use to laugh over such ridicules, and use to contemplate broader and deeper. Of late, my village folks use to say that there are incidence of mosquitoes biting them which never happened before, and that exotic weeds which were once not familiar to them are found growing in their gardens. In such case, they believe that it’s the packaged seed, which they get from the agriculture extension offices that contained the seed of obnoxious weeds found in lower regions.

 They say that the rainfall patterns have changed over the years. Once they use to experience chilly drizzles as they rear their cattle in the subalpine hills but now, it is more of torrential rains that hit them hard. And when such incessant rains keep pouring, it so happened that there was a destructive flash flood washing away bridges and temporary cowshed even killing a couple of their cattle which grazed by the side of the river, a few years ago. Besides complaining about the rising heat, they even observed that the snowlines were shifting higher year after year and are very confident that they won’t find mountains covered with snow throughout the year any more in the next decades. And this time though not so convincible, I have a better reason to explain to my illiterate fellow village mates. The reason is Global Warming and Climate Change.

Though our country hardly contribute to the rising of global temperature caused by emission of green house gases, extensive deforestation, burning of fossil fuels etc.., the causes so incepted by the world around has posed an equal impact to this Himalayan kingdom, if not more. The increase in the global temperature, according to the experts, causes the retreating of the glaciers, melting of the alpine snows, changing the pattern of precipitation, and eventual rise in the sea level. This lead to many natural disasters which affects the developing nations and the poors at worst.

The recent Kuensel Report states that a major part of the Eastern Himalayas, where Bhutan is located, is undergoing a warming trend of about one-degree Celsius per year. This means Bhutan is very much prone to the negative effects of climate change, due to more variability in temperature and precipitation. Bhutan being a developing country, does not have advanced meteorological technologies to assess the exact trend in the variability of various weather variables in first hand, and secondly we are not very well equipped to face the natural disaster caused by  the changing climate.

The various adverse impacts of climate change in Bhutan are the increased Glacial lake Outburst Floods, Landslides, Drought and Flood. This would mean our agriculture and hydropower sector would be at stake as both sectors depend heavily on the monsoon and temperature change patterns. This would pose vulnerability to 70% or so of the total population, that depend on subsistence farming. There will be increase in the incidence of pest and disease and the reduction in the production of agricultural crops. The rural poor will be hit hardest from such climate change impact. 40% of Bhutan’s revenue depends on income from hydropower, and this calls for the perpetual flow of our river systems without much erratic change in their volume during the two extreme seasons. Further there will be disruption in ecosystem and loss of species, increased establishment of invasive species etc.., due to climate change.

In order to face the challenges of climate change our government has already adopted many climatic change adaptation policies, the most prominent example of which is the carrying out of risk mitigation project from GLOF at the Thorthomi lake in Lunana. In 2009, at Copenhagen, Bhutan committed itself to remain carbon neutral for all times to come, meaning we will remove as much as carbon dioxide from the air and limit our own emission, as carbon dioxide is one of the most dangerous green house gases which trap solar heat in the atmosphere.

Bhutan though a developing country, which need to emphasize more on to pick up the economic growth, reducing poverty and solving the unemployment problems, have never gone to the extent of exploiting the natural resources in name of development. Guided by the developmental principle of Gross National Happiness, whose two major pillars includes Sustainable and Equitable Socio-economic Development, and Conservation of the Environment, we care a lot for our pristine environment. Our constitution states that 60% of forest cover must be maintained at all times, and today we maintained 72.5% of our total geographical land under forest cover, which serve as a sink of carbon dioxide.

While appreciating the major adaptation policies adopted by the government, there are many small things, which we individuals can do to fight the climate change. This includes preferring to walk rather than driving for the short distances and putting off the vehicle engines while waiting for short durations. This will not only reduce the vehicular exhaust in the air but also saves the fuel, whose price is escalating very high. There is a need for us to adhere to the law banning plastics strictly and if ever we tend to use, we need to recycle them instead of burning or dumping, both of which have adverse effect to the environment.

While in the villages, we can always encourage our farmers to use Farm Yard Manures in the field instead of toxic chemical fertilizers, and educate them about the causes and effects of pollution. We can reduce the cutting down of trees to erect prayers flags, by using other means such as bamboos, metallic rods, ropes etc.., and create awareness about the forest fire and inspire them to work together in conservation of our valuable natural resource. Planting valuable trees by the side of the field is of great benefit to not only provide favourable microenvironment for the crop but also as timber and fuel wood as it matures, there are many such small things, which we can do to make a big difference. We cannot simply wait till disasters happen so “We must work together to make sure that we can grow our economy without endangering our planet, and this is the greatest gift our children” as addressed by Her Royal Highness, Ashi Chimi Yangzom Wangchuck.

May Bhutan remain free from natural calamities caused by Climate Change.

In a Troubled University.

 Just a couple of weeks ago we were back from home after attending the historic royal wedding celebration of our fifth king. The semester was in full swing then. Our works progressed very well and the seeds that we have sown two months ago have all sprouted very well despite the adversity posed by the weather and changing season, which is inevitable. We still have more than two months for our semester to finish, and after that, we will be left with only four and half months to complete our entire course studies and this is a sense of great relief.

But sadly, 11/11/11 the date though it looks peculiar, and auspicious, is not really a good sign for the students studying in this university. Strikes are something that is very common in this particular place and college. At least one major strike each lasting some twenty days use to happen every semester disrupting the full flow of classes and prolonging the exams thus extending the semester. And this is the reason why we have to sacrifice our semester breaks in times to recover the lost time due to the strike.

This time the strike is being voiced by the non-teaching staffs demanding their monthly salaries, which they claim did not receive for the last eight months, and in such a case, the matter is serious and genuine. After working tirelessly every day without sparing quality time with their family and children, and if they are not paid on time, from then how would they make a living and survive?

They have their children going to school, they have parents retreating at home, and they have to look after the welfare of their relatives. They have to fuel their car and with ever escalating petrol prices, even we have to pay extra bugs to reach the same distance this days. Without a single penny being paid for the last eight months means their bank balance might have now shrunk to zero, their electricity and water might get disconnected as they might fail to pay the bills. Who knows, even the shopkeepers might have stopped giving credit for the rations they sale.

Indeed its matter of shame on the part of university authorities for causing such a disturbance in the university. Had they been vigilant enough to handle the matter much before, today University might not have come to a halt. The non-teaching staffs now gather in front of the University Headquarter and keep shouting “Zinda-bhad Zinda-Bhad,” whose echoes might be now heard by the frogs hibernating beneath the paddy fields, as the Vice Chancellor of the University has already escaped the scene and went elsewhere in name of some official works. Else, who is there to hear the voice? Worst! the duration of strike is not certain and it might go for months of their demand is not met fast. Is it not a troubled University at such a stage? 

Our colleges are being locked and they warned the professors not to take classes. The other day as I passed by the college, I saw our professors standing by the college gate, with the main door locked. Our students they have nothing to do then eat and sleep, and sometimes they go to the extent of doing mischief like drinking like preposterous ass and playing gambling, not realizing they are wasting the money of their parents. Many of them have left for home taking advantage of this long yet uncertain holiday but I will have to bear with it and stay in the hostel as did always. Yes, we are free, but with such a situation around, it is very difficult to develop the habit of studying. Our mental peace gets disturbed and even if we wish to turn the pages of our textbooks, the slogans amplified from the Headquater by the disadvantaged yet arrogant groups spread the air of irritation deep into our veins only to get our heart filled with resentments. And the situation gets worsened when we are already depressed due to the unexpected blows which we face in the cycle of life.

The worst thing is that whether the strike is organized by the Professors for their pay hike, or by the non-teaching staffs for their timely pay, or by the labours for their promotion et al, their demands are multiple, may be human greed, the ultimate sufferers are the students. Our classes gets suspended, our exams get extended, our semester get delayed, the very objective of establishing the University to provide quality education for the students gets compromised and the heads seems least bothered. Is it a hellish things happening in the realm of hell?

For now let it be, and lets wait and see for how long they will keep shouting, and others keep ignoring. If there is the third eye and ear to pass the judgement, please act faster. Otherwise let fate decide the ultimate result.

Though dejected, derelict and depressed with the dusk dooming so dark leaving dreary dreams drenching down my destitute heart in dearth of dulcet tunes, let me hit my fingers harder on the key board to pour out my resentments and frustration confronted by this so-called precious life of mine. The new dawn might give me a better light.

Ode to Black Necked Crane.

On this Auspicious 11.11.11, With this "Ode to Black Necked Crane," I join the nation in expressing my heartiest felicitation for His Majesty's Good Health and Long Life. Happy Birth Day, Your Majesty the Fourth King, Jigme Singye Wangchuck.

The day is also celebrated as the Annual Black-necked Crane Festival inBhutan so I dedicate this poem to this wonderful bird who is our regular winter visitor. May their species thrive forever. 

Yet again, it is a season of emptiness

  And with every gust of wind, each green foliage would fade.

The morning was chilly as I woke from drowsiness

  So numb, I lost in thoughts to discover later in idyllic state.

It was that song, which overwhelmed me blissfully

  The song of the bird, which is heavenly blessed

Oh, Black-necked Crane! You really thrilled this simple boy.

  I was wrong, to describe emptiness in winter so foolishly,

When so punctually, you came and graced

  This tiny Himalayan Kingdom with eternal joy.

From high above our hamlet adorned with elegant trees

  When you poured your heart with melodious paeans,

Together in groups, we stare the boundless sky in ease

  Whose emptiness is filled by the wealth of your hymns.  

Sadly, to our myopic vision, you are invisible

  But above those cumulus clouds, we hear you aloud;

Pleasing the angels and seeking blessings from almighty

  For peace, prosperity and powers so invincible,

That would flourish among the mystical land’s crowd.

  And we rejoice in harmony to envisage your ethereal beauty.

When in flocks you stroll the marshes with utmost fame 

  Tasting the remains of late autumn, those colourful trefoils

Locals sing in your name, like the songs you sing for them

  As they reap in bounty, the fruit of their summer toils.

And when with rhythmic strain, you flap your wing

  Thieves around the world would swarm the scenic vale,

To steal away your beauty with shutter’s snaps.

  Phobjikha and Chamkhar, Khotokha and Bumdeling,

In these Buddhist sanctity, your safety avail

  With compassionate local peasants, preventing gruesome craps.

When with the internal strife, the Monyulpas loathed,

  Your song directed the revered master to southern provenance;

Phajo to flourish the dharma of Drukpa Kagyued 

  And Zhabdrung to set up the Dual System of Governance.

Though such a story wasn’t inscribed in pages of history,

  Yet I presumed so, for both are of Tibetan Identity.

You proved mythical when Democracy rooted in this land

  As the Party of Flying Cranes defeated that of Galloping Pony

To set precedence of good governance “With equity,

  And justice” for all, as the politician claimed.

 

painting of Black-necked Crane

Your species might shrink as the world quenches its greed

  Altering your heavenly habitat into hellish garbage,

Men are brutal. At the cost of others life, profusely they breed

  To exploit the beauty of nature and leaves nothing in storage.

But, for you are bird blessed from blissful paradise

  Drukyul shall remain as your Last Shangri-la.

With fresh air and water, and foods so abundant,

  Flowers would blossom and rainbows would rise  

Not of oddness, but to inscribe a mythical saga;

  For you is a guest, that we would forlorn to let go extinct.

When all metabolisms losses its dynamism,

  And when nature halts to a lethargic standstill,

When chillness freezes the activeness of our optimism,

  Oh divine bird! You awaken all with sweet musical trill.

In your intoxicating note of shrill delight, I sink,

  Enjoying the beauty of your pale whitish plumage.

When angels adorn you with white crystalline flake;

  The best brewed Ara of autumns harvest, I would drink

To disseminate the pains of lost love and ephemeral rage  

  And to discover from you, your euphoric secrets without any mistake.

Glossary:

1.  Phobjikha, Chamkhar, Khotokha, Bumdeling: This are the four major wintering sites of Black-necked Cranes in Bhutan. Phobjikha and Khotokha are in Wangdue District, Chamkhar in Bumthang, and Bumdeling in Trashi Yangtse district.
2. Monyul: Name given to Bhutan by the Tibetans before 17^th century meaning the land where Bon religion is prevalent. Monyulpas, means people of Monyul.
3. Phajo: A 13^th century Tibetan master, who visited Bhutan in 1220 and spread the teachings of Drukpa Kagyued.
4. Drukpa Kagyued: It is a sect of Buddhism, which has flourished in Tibet. Now it is one of the two main sects of Buddhism practiced in Bhutan, the other one being Nyingmapa.
5. Zhabdrung: A 17^th century Tibetan saint, who visited Bhutan in 1616 and resided permanently in Bhutan. He established a Dual System of Governance known as Choesid –Nyeden and built many Dzongs, which now serve as District Administrations.
6.  Drukyul: Meaning the “Land of thunder Dragon”, it is the equivalent term for Bhutan.
7.  Ara: It is a locally brewed wine after steam distillation.

P.S:  Black-necked Crane is the last of the world's cranes to be discovered by the scientific community. Known by the Zoological name Grus nigricollis, Black-necked Cranes are native to Tibet, which migrate to lower regions during the harsh winter and Bhutan is one such winter destinations. Locally known as Thrung Thrung Karmo in Bhutan,  they are considered Boddhisatvas or “agents of God", which has harmoniously coexisted with the residents largely due to strong Buddhist beliefs. According to legend, the cranes circle the Gangtey Temple clockwise three times as a sign of their devotion before landing in the marshy valley of Phobjikha. The bird appears in many Bhutanese folklore, song dances and historical references.

More Informations about Cranes: 

 1. http://www.wwfindia.org/about_wwf/priority_species/black_necked_crane/

2. http://blackneckedcranes.blogspot.com/

3. http://www.savingcranes.org/species/black_necked.cfm

Courtesy: All Photos are uploaded via google images. 

Left in Despondency.

will you open your petals???

In the garden of roses

 Lonely I loitered, a tiny Bee,

Amid many blossoms,

I saw a pinkish bud

Yet to bloom.

To the bud,

I approached and asked,

"Will you open our petals for me?"

The bud said no

And a gust of wind blew

To diverted the beauteous bud

Away from me,

Leaving the poor bee

  in despondency. 

where shall I land now???

Away From Me.

The blog now serves me the purpose of updating every nonsense, just like the way once I did on Facebook.

source: google images

I know that you are there,

Oh crescent moon!

But silently you hide from me,

Behind those cumulus shades.

For reasons so obvious'

the weakness in me

Like tiny earthly gravel.

But truth is what I expressed,

My only strength.

So all alone

I shall voyage,

With my undying spirit,

Hoping to see your light,

One day or the other.

Post 100- Thank You, My Visitors.

It was exactly a year ago that I made my blog public by publishing the first post, though I have created the blog much earlier. Since then it has been a wonderful journey sharing my free thoughts from the free mind and true feelings from the pure heart, be it good or bad, interesting or boring. Blogsphere has served me with a wonderful platform to meet many new friends, who are mostly enthusiastic bloggers and ardent readers. Its only due to your support and encouragement that I have reached here today.  

As I checked my dashboard today, the Blog Hit is a magnificent 21,763; over 335 comments were made by bloggers (including self in response) and some hundred comments were received from the facebook users to the last 99 posts published. Interestingly, there are 71 followers for my blog which gives me pride and satisfaction and with these numerous figures bringing in me enormous inspiration and encouragement to write, its not fair if I don't express my heartfelt thanks to all of you. 

Thank you for the praises you made, thank you for the feedback you dropped and thanks for the like buttons you have pressed. Thank you for the awards that you conferred me, thank you for citing me as your source of inspiration. Thank you for bringing in me unforgettable feelings of love, thank you for the words of consolation that you have expressed. Thank you for keeping my journey afloat during the times happy and sad, I thank you all for dropping by my blog and reading my stuffs. Thank you angels, for you all lifted me to my feet when my wings have trouble in remembering how to fly, and with your support, I shall soar higher and higher. But words are too less to express what I actually feel.