Life, misfortunes, isolation, abandonment, poverty, are battlefields which have their heroes; obscure heroes, sometimes, greater than the illustrious heroes.--Victor Hugo (Les Miserables)
I may come across as a totally insensitive, selfish, attention-hungry, blood-sucking vampire to many or all of you. It is only because I am one.
When I was young boy, my mama used to tell me, “Always remember this, son, it is the crying baby that gets the milk!” I have remembered that well. And milk is something I cannot do without. So I cry. As much and as loudly as I can. Which brings us to the point of this little post of mine.
I was not like this before.
I was like you. Dignified, quiet, and hardworking. Committed to myself and my brethren's welfare. I believed 'to earn one's daily bread by the sweat on one's brow' was the right thing to do. I toiled without complaints, believed in the kindness of my brothers and sisters, and waited for the good to come knocking on my door.
Day after day, night after night, I waited. Just like you do. But nothing happened. The world moved on. Without as much as a 'thank you.' If it was a good night's sleep that was to be my only blessing, that didn't come through either. The tin roofs over my head leaked in the rains, and in the summers, were too hot to sleep under. If my body was betrayed, my soul didn't feel too blessed either.
I was invisible to the world then. As you are today. To be silent was to be ignored, sidelined, walked-over, mistreated, and forgotten. To be silent was to cease existing. To be silent was to accept the ignominy of being considered being dead while still living.
That is when I realised my mama was right. And I decided never to be silent again. Now I cry. And I get fed. More than my fair share. Everything is wonderful in my world now. But then I see you. I see you do exactly what I used to do once upon a time. Believe in the kindness of your brothers and sisters. Toil till the sun goes down and wonder why nobody invites you home when you have to sleep under your leaking tin roof. Maybe your mama didn't tell you the secret that mine did. You got to cry if you need milk.
So cry.
This world is as much your's as it is mine. Do not let any one tell you otherwise. You have toiled for the whole year here and what have you got to show for it? Nothing? The hours at the keyboard, pouring out your heart and mind... the hours spent on other bloggers space trying to understand, the commitment, the sincerity, the earnest comments you left behind, and at the end of it all...
Inhale deeply, fill your lungs with as much ammunition as you can, and cry. Let the world see what you have got. Don't wait for other's kindness or pity. Pry it out of the miserly-fists that deny you your rights.
What is your's by right is not to be accepted as alms. It is not for someone to hand it over. It is your's to take. There's pride in that conquest. Do not hesitate. Do not wait. Come forward and say, “This is me. And this is mine.”
Even if it is a mention as a 'Blogging Individual' in the year that is about to pass us by. Forever.
I salute you, my invisible friends. Let's not remain invisible anymore. For history is not made of silence.
Close
Mojo,
A very happy new year to my friend!
Thanks for inviting me to your post.
I have read your post many times.
I see that the change has worked for you
and you are happy.Perfect and lucky!
See that lucky in bold.Yes that's exactly what I mean.
Now to assert that someone who preferred to look the other way is unhappy is
not correct!Because it depend on what the guy wants.
For eg.If a guy is happy as a freelance journalist he needn't remain happy if planted as Infosys chief.A rich man is not identified by the wealth he amassed;but his capacity to spent.Here you can see the latter one would be happier.
Yes cry is a good method to get something ahead of many people.But have you noticed the expression on the faces of people while they are forced to give you some thing?If we let that look meet our eye probably we won't sleep even after getting what we wanted.Now if we probe further we might even find a guy deliberately giving way ,and the expression on his face would haunt us for life!!
Philosophy?No Mojo No!
If you don't want to listen to me listen to George Washington:
When you can do the common things of life in an uncommon way,you will command the attention of the world.
Now try cry in an uncommon way!
All my best wishes are there for you to win
Blogger of the Year.
Regds
gkpsree
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tanushree, this one time you do disappoint me. Many others who commented on this blog before you have taken 'cry' literally and said why it is so not nice to cry. I understand. Crying has very negative connotations in our society. But seeing that, you being an author yourself, taking it in its literal sense and not finding the 'figurative' value is saddening. Maybe as a writer I have failed here. But I would more like to believe that 'preconceived notions' have blocked the real understanding of what has been written in the post.
If we were to keep quiet, India may not have been an independant country today. We keep telling our women not to keep quiet when abused. Everywhere we are preaching people to find their voice and use it. :-)) Alas!!
As always, it is nice to see you here. Thank you for taking the time. :-))
A very happy new year to you and your family.
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harsha, my man... didn't expect that tone from you... surprised is not the right word, i must say... any way, stay put for a while.. I need some 'swinging' lessons from you before you ride into the sunset on your horseback.... you know what I mean. Stay put. :-))
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Big Mojo,
You see I get a lot without having to cry, so why should I waste my tears. You know what, my mother taught me to enjoy the world and accept everything graciously. She told me never demean yourself by crying or asking for it, you'll get whatever you deserve....so that's it. Some people get everything by working hard and some don't even when they cry... that's the way the world functions.
Tanushree
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Big,
.
..
I might have to differ in my views on blogging here. Think of it honesty. What we write here does not have any great reach.
How many view & read what we write?
Hardly a few!
After some time , you are not writing for just for the nucleus that you have developed. And that nucleus will not grow any bigger. In all probabilities it may diminish.
You are only winking at a girl inthe dark. You know you have done it. But you fail to catch her attention
There has to be some other machanism by which you ought to reach a larger audience... I have given up hope and the count down to quit has started for me....may be the Einstein in you can pursue..
Just would like to be around for sometime, sprinkle some humour and vanish without trace..
I think i am on track....
Harsha*
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poet, i hate to be the one to break the news... but looks like there is no other option here.. look, some people, no matter what they do, NEVER get the milk!!!!
I know... it's not fair!! But damn... life ain't fair, you know. :-)) anyway, good luck, man.. good luck..:-))
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swarajya, I will never ever give advice. Two, I will never ever say switch over from solitude to maddening crowd. :-)) I always believe that people should do what makes them happy. And since I can never really know what makes someone else happy, I cannot give advice. But yes, I can say something like this. If being noticed makes you happy, make noise. It works!! :-))
Afterall, being happy every one should be...Is that not the elusive grand purpose of life. As to that blog you mention, I am terribly sorry, but I do not remember that now. Would have helped if you were a little more specific. :-) Good to see you here. Thank you for taking the time.
I wish you and your family a very happy and peaceful new year too. :-))
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Hey Mojo,
. Need stronger measures. 
Listen, this stuff of bawling just doesn't seem to work!!!!! Even after bawling the only ones who came and visited were my good friends who were truly concerned about me. And they visit every time I write something good.
I have to mention that Abbybaby did visit, for the first time. But nope. Bawling
I wonder what brats would do. I need to really pick up some tips from kids. Must be losing it
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Wish you a very Happy New Year.
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You recommend everyone to switch over from solitude to maddening crowd.Thank you Big Mojo for giving me direction.You had earlier asked me to see the fight and enjoy.I could not make out which blog you actually meant.Please give me the title of the blog.I may like to see the victor and vanquished.
Please always follow mother's instructions.
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