Living Dumbledore’s Way

Seven novels of Harry potter have got phenomenal success all over the world. I am fortunate enough to read all of those. Millions like me have gone through fantasy, born in JK Rowling’s mind. Like epic movie of Indian cinema “SHOLEY” each and every character in Harry Potter series has a purpose, and leaves a lasting impression over readers mind. At a glance, the series tells the tale of fight between Harry and Voldemort, symbolizing good and evil forces. Rowling carefully picks her character and intuit some specific feeling with them. For Ron and Hermione its faith, for Hagrid its glee, for petunia, Vernon and duddly its pity, loath for snape and his sticky hairs and fear for voldemort .

If we look around in our world, it is full of Voldemorts, Snapes, Veronon, Malfoys and they make   formidable alliances. You also find Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Wiselys and Longbottom in plenty, but they rarely make alliances, because everybody struggles to become himself a Potter. We love getting other people's help in our fight, but reluctant to give when asked for same. This is why a nexus between evil minds lasts long and alliance between good natured people lives short. If it ever becomes successful, then be assured that some Dumbledore is there.Therefore, when Dobaldore comes in scene, reader’s heart swells with respect.

Dumbldore is Headmaster of Hogwards, Biggest wizard of all times. He was offered post of “Minister of Magic” many times, but he refused such high position only to nurture young wizards at Hogwords. Unlike of those pigmys in our world who sit in high chairs, get exponentially high of what they deserve.

He is owner of Elder wand. Very shrewd and knows everything from the beginning, what reader and Harry Potter come to know at end. He keeps vigil watch, sent silent help and lets feel harry and friends that they made it. He lives by his famous saying “It is not our abilities that show what we truly are. It is our choices.” He saves Harry from many of threats, counsels him in every juncture, yet never imposing a decision. He lets harry choose his way. He shapes Harry’s life, his character, yet from a distance. He loves harry, cares him, but never mentions this. The reader and harry feel his love deep inside.

But harry is not getting special treatment. He loves each of his students in same way. Be it Ron, Hermione, Finigan, Longbottom and even Draco Malfoy. And most important, it was Dumbledore who visited an orphanage to bring Tom riddle at Hogwords. He cares them all. 

Tom riddle alias Lord Voldemort is no less powerful. He is immortal with his hurcruxes. He can kill with one spell “AVEDA KADAVERA”. He is feared and rules with iron fist. But one thing Harry has that voldemort don’t- "Purpose". Seeking power for sake of power no not purpose-he tells Potter. Harry fights along with friends, Voldemort with slaves. Harry finds courage, because he has purpose. Harry wins because he has FRIENDS and he has TRUST. It was not just Harry’s win; it was a win of Dumbledore’s legacy. Thanks havens Dambaldore was not a shiksha-kermi just pretending to do what he is paid for.  

But Dumbledore’s legacy does not stop on how he mentors his student. It was him who finishes first two hurcrux. All this he did without sending to Press release to "daily prophet" or interview to Reeta Skeeter. He drinks the mystery potion himself, plans his own death in a way that helps to tight net around Voldemort. “to the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure” he says.

He keep good job done and makes no fuss. “We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy”- he says in “goblet of fire”. In today’s world, Dumbledore is rare and endangered species. Our children find no such mentor in school, society or even in family. Even in offices and Parliaments lot of Voldemorts, Malfoys and Fudge are sitting on high places. Most of Children and juniors follow their footsteps, and get rewarded. This becomes there way for whole life. 

Lot of disillusioned potters are out there friends….... Why not try to become Dumbledore for at least one Harry. And if you go trying for more... I assure you, it will not make Harry's army. It shall be Dumbledore's Army.
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By: Manish Singh                                 ritumanishsingh@gmail.com

WHERE SHOULD MY ASHES GO...?

One of finest actors of old times, Shammi Kapoor passed recently. The “Forefather of Rebels” wished his ashes to dispersed in Dal lake of Shrinagar, so it was done.

Shammi’s image in our generation’s mind, comes from Chitrahar songs. The TV had recently gone RANGEEN and all family sit together to watch it around 8 PM. Shammi’s evergreen songs from An evening in paris, Kashmir Ki kali, Teesri manzil etc were regularly repeated . It was hard to believe that lofar kind of his style overjoyed my father, when the same tried by brother was strongly desisted.

Anyways… His last wish reminded me of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru. I heard that He wished to his ashes should dispersed over lands of india “The BharatBhoomi” and so was done with help of airplane. It also reminded one short story by Fredrick Foresyth in which a heirless tycoon, when detected with cancer, sells all his property to purchase load of platinum. Then the precious metal is turned into coffin. All of this was done with due secrecy. Then he make his will that his body should be cremated in sea, in a particular coffin kept in his garage. This way, he ensures that he keeps all his worldly wealth with him, even after mortal life. Perhaps Shammi and Nehruji also wanted to keep all there wealth forever with them. What their  wealth was, I wonder.  

Taking the easy one first, I thought of Nehruji. Son of a wealthy lawyer, he spent his earlier life in roads and jails. Later he rose to thorny throne of power. In Personal life, he had very few things to cherish. Wife died and daughter divorced, sitting at home. He must have found solace in making India a cohesive and prosperous country. So, India and its land was the final choice to get associated forever. His soul will rest there in peace. So, he asked for it.

It also leads answer to Shammi’s case. His biggest hit movies were shot in Kashmir. His iconic “Zulfo ka rang sunhara” ends with his falling in Dal Lake. This song might have been ringing in his ear in entire life. He may have kept white beard below his bald head, but that handsome boy shaking head and singing romantic songs would have appeared every time he looked into mirror. He must have spent good time around Dal Lake, with his wife Geeta Bali mimicking his filmy Andaj in real moments. He cherished those memories of Kashmir, and Dal Lake. He knew his soul will rest there in peace. He also asked for it.

These great men, achieved peak of their respective field. They rebelled, made own path and succeed. But there last wishes make me to think. In this life, while we endlessly battle with Bread, Blackberry, Bureaucracy and Biwi, do we possess some cherished memories? Do I have real passion for something or have associated  with some place that gives my soul final rest. Do I really have strong sense of association with any of world offerings? If not, didn't I wasted  my worldly existence this long?   

This world may or may not remember me after my demise, but I ought to remember some of its offerings. i don't want to leave this world empty-handed. So, in my remaining existence, I’ll strive not only to achieve, but also to enjoy, associate and relish. To depart with such memories deep in my soul. 

So friends, my ashes shall not go to Allahabad, it will be somewhere else ….!!

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By Manish Singh                     ritumanishsingh@gmail.com      

It’s all about Choices

I completed my graduation in 1998. In those days, every graduate was supposed to sit in civil service examination of state or union. Some did this for own ambitions, some to follow the suit and some to keep their folks happy. Co-study and Coaching culture had propped up in our small city. One fine day, I also found myself landed in such a coaching institute.

It was run by some “very experienced, Civil Service aspirers”. It means, and most of faculty also sits in same exam they were coaching for. And it was indeed a successful coaching center. Many of my seniors, junior and fellow student cracked various examinations. Some time even a faculty managed to cracked some and left institute, leaving us in dilemma whether to be happy with his happiness or feel sorrow for loss of a good faculty.

One good practice was that successful candidates were called upon to give a lecture, and inspire us with their success. When some would-be IAS, Deputy Collector, DSP, Sub inspector, Teashildar, Sells tax officer, Excise officer came. Atmosphere was electrifying during speech. All students come in assembly, and fix mesmerized eyes to successful man. I remember when one very respected senior came with all Police Inspector outfit embossing-“DESHBHAKTI- JANSEVA”. We Listened their voices, telling about successful methods, tales of hard work, long study hours. They all, dedicated success to teachers, friends and family. We all wanted to become like the person before us.

Fourteen years later, Arwind kejriwal hit headlines for his anticorruption movement with Anna Hazare. Mr kejriwal, would someday have celebrated his selection in Indian Revenue Services. This service gives opportunity to sit on very high positions. More comfortable then IAS, which has to take pains of law and order, development, people, politicians, and had to perform a fairly large variety of functions.

An IRS has power to twist anybody’s arm anytime he wants, and had to deal with people, only willing to compromise at ANY COST. Such a nice job, and he Quit. Why...? Instead, he chose a bumpy path to fight for RTI, Lokpal and people’s cause.

On other side, I heard disturbing stories of successful friends from coaching. One Deputy Collector got suspended more than once for wrong reasons, still unmarried, stories of his extracurricular activities are also in air. That "Deshbhakti-Janseva" Sub inspector suspended for taking bribe. One suspended for killing innocents in fake encounter for claiming promotion. One more lady who rose to become judge, was sacked for rampant corruption. One sell tax officer, had accepted bribe many times from my colleagues. even a lady tehsildar, trapped for taking bribe and now sitting ideally at home. When I read this in newspapers, tried to remember faces of these people, in old times. Then I wanted to be one like them. Today, I doubt if can I can say same thing...

My friends made their choices, and Mr kejriwal made his. Because it’s all about choices we make.

PS: Readers may have been thinking that I didn’t achieved anything in that coaching. Well, it’s not entirely true. I chose, chase and proposed my wife in that coaching. So, now happily married with two kids. Again, it’s all about choices we make!!!!

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By Manish Singh- ritumanishsingh@gmail.com