Team of Rivals

Just finished reading this epic biography by Doris Keanes Goodwin on Abe Lincoln and his cabinet ministers. This book, to borrow Lincoln's Gettysburg phrase gives "the last full measure of devotion" to the great man and his superb statesmanship.
Finding parallels to current statesmen, we are rarely able to see even a few of these qualities in our current lot.Obama, an ardent admirer of Lincoln, and this book, is yet to show good on the initial promise.From an Indian perspective, Prime Minister Doc. Manmohan Singh seems to possess the patience and calm demeanor that helped Lincoln anchor a nation during turbulent times.
The book provides a searing account of civil war politics and one can't but help appreciate the revolutionary ideals of those times. It brings out various facets of Lincoln's magnanimous and wise leadership abilities that helped him become from a prairie lawyer to the most famous US president and leader of the world for times to come. Must read for any fan of history and the various sobering lessons it teaches from its personalities, events and quirks of time.
My closing thoughts after reading the book was, "What would have happened if the confederates would have won?". I would definitely want to know if there is any account written from the confederate point of view,although i know history is never written by the vanquished but by the victors.Still its a sobering thought to imagine how the world and America would have shaped had slavery continued in it.

Lil' Birdie poem

Little Birdie
Little birdie,lil’ birdie come and play with Hargun and Harnoor,
Gun and Noor love you birdie, so why not play with them.
Your thoughts brings on their little faces glowing smiles,
This world seems a heaven when you come in their lives.
From inside the window they watch your every action,
While you are unaware of this growing attraction.
Even a birdwatcher seeing a rare bird would not be as excited,
As Gun and Noor are,when you chirp-they are so delighted.
You fly anywhere you like,even sit on the roof of a bungalow,
While Gun and Noor stand inside,watching you from the window.
They can just be so happy to see you fly,
hopping on the window, or soaring in the sky.
Why do you visit houses of people who never look at you?
While my lil' ones look sadly from the window,waiting for you.
They stare at the sky,wondering when you will be back,
And their eyes seem to say,come back birdie,come back.
When sick, your name brings on their faces beaming smiles,
And then I thank god for bringing you into their lives.

-This poem has been written by my sister Navneet,with some modifications done by me. She has twin daughters, Hargun and Harnur(see photo above), who wait everyday at the window for the litte birdie to come and play with them.

Sick in bed

I am sick and today doctors are going to operate me.

why is odd to stand and work?

Today late in the evening a lot of us were working, talking,chatting and well standing from our tiny little cubicles..until someone asked why are you standing? Seems strange but why should that be a problem?

Women's Day

Today is woman's day....as if other days were not,i can say with a smirk.Now before the women brigade denounce me as a MCP (Male Chauvinistic Pig) i am just stating the important role women play in life.Incidentlly i came across this wonderful video on youTube on 9 ways to treat a woman Watch it and do comment on it