As Swami Vivekananda has rightly pointed out, “Strength is life, Weakness is Death”. Mental strength has always been a very important attribute for mankind to succeed in life, to have a smooth sailing without succumbing to the travails of life. The only way to release frustrations is to constantly expose yourself to positive thoughts, and not to weakening and paralysing ones.
If one analyses a little bit, we will se that the cause of all crimes in this world is weakness. We steal, we kill, we lie, we beat up people not because we are physically strong or because we are deceptive by nature but because we are weak. If we can feel from within that we are strong and no one can do any harm to us, we would never pre-empt any harm to others. Thoughts which elicit weakness make the mind morbid, and ultimately make it impervious to truth. The one thing that I have learnt the hard way is that if we can accept responsibilities for our own fate, without blaming others for our misgivings, it gives us tremendous inner strength. However it is a natural human tendency to blame others, and that causes a lot of misery to us. That has happened to me numerous times also.
Just like happiness, strength has to be generated from within ourselves. I have seen my mother as a pillar of strength even at times of ultimate stress and sorrow. She derives all of it through her unwavering faith and belief in God. It is also absolutely true that if we keep brooding over weaknesses, remedy would not be achieved. In these tough times, thinking of strength and being positive always helps. Some people are gifted with this rare talent of staying positive. This is really a rare gift.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Being a Bachelor……
Bachelorhood is certainly one of the most challenging phases that any man goes through in his life once he is an adult. Some people thrive on it; some disintegrate very quickly, while there are some who grind through it before tying the nuptial knot. I belonged to the first category up to a year back, but from then on I have demoted myself to the third category. I would be graduating from this elite and charismatic group of young, self-proclaimed handsome and eligible individuals on 23rd of November this year. Hence I thought of bidding adieu to this phase of my life with a few thoughts.
To be honest, bachelorhood presents itself with sets of both pros and cons, as does any other sphere of life. A bachelor can gawk at beautiful women with his tongue hanging out without the fear of getting chewed up by anybody, he can spend money foolishly, he does not need to take his dirty feet off the coffee table, or put his used-up dishes in the sink or even to wash them, he can take his sweet little time to take the garbage out, or to take a shower and change his obnoxious smelling clothes, he can snore loud enough to blow the windows out as there would be no one to kick him in the mid-section, he would have the control of the TV remote, there would be no unnecessary expensive doctor visits and of course, he does not have to listen to any nagging (except from his mother sometimes). Over and above, he does not have to set his forlorn and mangy bedroom in order, as he can sleep on literally anything. He can visit a friend’s house anytime and make merry, without having the urge to come back home, or to take a drink or two less. However, he would also be unfortunate enough not to receive too many home-cooked meals, there would be no beautiful woman to take care of him at the end of the day, no one to take him to the doctor if he does gets sick seriously some day and no one to share his deepest thoughts with, which does sting one day, no matter how independent he is.
A lot of bachelors that I have seen thus far have been very charismatic, as I mentioned before. Good, stylish and “correct” bachelors have always been a “woman's man”, a philogynist, and have always been perceived as a "nice fellow." They have always had the ability to fit themselves to all sorts of society under all sorts of circumstances. Good breeding, chivalry and a sense of style, without being ostentatious, being replete with a sense of humour and kindliness of heart have been their forte.
Bachelors have always been the most charming of entertainers. They have been equally gracious and devoted to all women because of the absence of that feminine proprietorship which always tends to make the married man withhold his most graceful compliments, his most tender glances and his most winning smile. I have always tried to imbibe such qualities from careful study and observation, but I do not know whether I have been successful or not!! Sometimes I have been impecunious but managed it with some artistry as well. The combination of the practical and artistic is what many women crave for – a cake of pragmatism topped with a white cream of romanticism.
As I look back on my bachelorhood which is about to end a little over 16 weeks from today, I cogitate on what aspects I have to work on to make my wife’s life a bit easier. Loving Kuhu would never ever be a problem for me; we share a terrific compassionate chemistry between ourselves and I don’t think that any other woman would give me the comfort zone that she provides so effortlessly. The challenge would be to get used to accepting additional responsibilities and getting rid of my habit of instinctive decision making. For then, I would be having another soul embedded within me and I do have to start considering multiple perspectives before jumping to conclusions. Hope, Kuhu would bear with me, if it does take time for me to make a smooth transition. Alvida kunwarapan…!!
To be honest, bachelorhood presents itself with sets of both pros and cons, as does any other sphere of life. A bachelor can gawk at beautiful women with his tongue hanging out without the fear of getting chewed up by anybody, he can spend money foolishly, he does not need to take his dirty feet off the coffee table, or put his used-up dishes in the sink or even to wash them, he can take his sweet little time to take the garbage out, or to take a shower and change his obnoxious smelling clothes, he can snore loud enough to blow the windows out as there would be no one to kick him in the mid-section, he would have the control of the TV remote, there would be no unnecessary expensive doctor visits and of course, he does not have to listen to any nagging (except from his mother sometimes). Over and above, he does not have to set his forlorn and mangy bedroom in order, as he can sleep on literally anything. He can visit a friend’s house anytime and make merry, without having the urge to come back home, or to take a drink or two less. However, he would also be unfortunate enough not to receive too many home-cooked meals, there would be no beautiful woman to take care of him at the end of the day, no one to take him to the doctor if he does gets sick seriously some day and no one to share his deepest thoughts with, which does sting one day, no matter how independent he is.
A lot of bachelors that I have seen thus far have been very charismatic, as I mentioned before. Good, stylish and “correct” bachelors have always been a “woman's man”, a philogynist, and have always been perceived as a "nice fellow." They have always had the ability to fit themselves to all sorts of society under all sorts of circumstances. Good breeding, chivalry and a sense of style, without being ostentatious, being replete with a sense of humour and kindliness of heart have been their forte.
Bachelors have always been the most charming of entertainers. They have been equally gracious and devoted to all women because of the absence of that feminine proprietorship which always tends to make the married man withhold his most graceful compliments, his most tender glances and his most winning smile. I have always tried to imbibe such qualities from careful study and observation, but I do not know whether I have been successful or not!! Sometimes I have been impecunious but managed it with some artistry as well. The combination of the practical and artistic is what many women crave for – a cake of pragmatism topped with a white cream of romanticism.
As I look back on my bachelorhood which is about to end a little over 16 weeks from today, I cogitate on what aspects I have to work on to make my wife’s life a bit easier. Loving Kuhu would never ever be a problem for me; we share a terrific compassionate chemistry between ourselves and I don’t think that any other woman would give me the comfort zone that she provides so effortlessly. The challenge would be to get used to accepting additional responsibilities and getting rid of my habit of instinctive decision making. For then, I would be having another soul embedded within me and I do have to start considering multiple perspectives before jumping to conclusions. Hope, Kuhu would bear with me, if it does take time for me to make a smooth transition. Alvida kunwarapan…!!
Mitigating a Violent Future….
In my earlier post, I had raised a concern about the dangerous times that we live in. The virulent poor and neglected rural youth, who see no future for themselves, take recourse to insurrection, take up guns against the state, and eventually target the lives of innocent civilians. All this happens due to machiavellian attitudes of certain responsible authorities in the backward regions of India. I feel that the authorities can take steps to mitigate this brewing trouble and shape a peaceful future for our children. We, as responsible citizens should also do our bit to avoid compunction.
First of all, politicians with a non-decrepit vision for the poor, who are not just dishing out damp squibs at the hapless and innocent, who are committed to developing their local areas, need to be elected for the constituencies, irrespective of their caste. Voters should refrain from voting in favour of only those candidates who belong to their caste. Such leaders should be the harbinger of our social movement. The urban-rural connection needs to be made stronger and more intimate. Our most educated, mature, cultured and modern thinking people are in the cities. Educated people should become role models and ambassadors for a new, emergent and vibrant India in the villages, for the sake of our future.
We can always look to use the massive student population in our country and leverage their enthusiasm. Exchange programs and voluntary activities (which would be graded by colleges) where every urban student spends a few days/weeks in villages would really be of immense significance. When this happens, the city students will infuse modern values among their rural and less privileged counterparts. At the same time they can also come back with a better understanding of rural issues. We can also look to provide incentives and sops to global corporate giants to set up bases in smaller towns in India, which would improve employment opportunities for the locals. This may be challenging for the government, but if we have to secure the future of our children, then we have to look at developing the core rural structure of India.
It is time we stop treating the symptoms of bomb blasts and IED explosions in Maoist hit areas, and start treating the infection itself, which is creating an identity for the rural youth. Crocin (deploying CRPF and the Army) would not cure the infection any more; it is time for a strong and sustained dose of antibiotics , i.e. a concerted effort at starting a slew of developmental activities for the underprivileged youth.
First of all, politicians with a non-decrepit vision for the poor, who are not just dishing out damp squibs at the hapless and innocent, who are committed to developing their local areas, need to be elected for the constituencies, irrespective of their caste. Voters should refrain from voting in favour of only those candidates who belong to their caste. Such leaders should be the harbinger of our social movement. The urban-rural connection needs to be made stronger and more intimate. Our most educated, mature, cultured and modern thinking people are in the cities. Educated people should become role models and ambassadors for a new, emergent and vibrant India in the villages, for the sake of our future.
We can always look to use the massive student population in our country and leverage their enthusiasm. Exchange programs and voluntary activities (which would be graded by colleges) where every urban student spends a few days/weeks in villages would really be of immense significance. When this happens, the city students will infuse modern values among their rural and less privileged counterparts. At the same time they can also come back with a better understanding of rural issues. We can also look to provide incentives and sops to global corporate giants to set up bases in smaller towns in India, which would improve employment opportunities for the locals. This may be challenging for the government, but if we have to secure the future of our children, then we have to look at developing the core rural structure of India.
It is time we stop treating the symptoms of bomb blasts and IED explosions in Maoist hit areas, and start treating the infection itself, which is creating an identity for the rural youth. Crocin (deploying CRPF and the Army) would not cure the infection any more; it is time for a strong and sustained dose of antibiotics , i.e. a concerted effort at starting a slew of developmental activities for the underprivileged youth.
Friday, July 30, 2010
These are Dangerous Times……..
Right now, in the heart of our proud motherland, we have seven Naxal-affected states, disturbances in all seven north-eastern states, and of course the ever present strife in Kashmir. Violent images from Kashmir filled television sets even a few weeks back. Hence 15 of India’s 28 states are afflicted by violent internal conflicts. Add to that religious/caste/regionalism-based violence and honour killings instigated by the archaic Khap Panchayats. At a time when India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, we have a stable government at the helm, and we see more affluence around us than any other time, these conflicts which are tearing us apart from within, are certainly unwarranted.
Reasons for such conflicts are manifold however. Despite liberalisation of our economy, its benefits are not reaching a major chunk of the Indian population,which is the rural poor. These poor fellows are the worst affected – inflation kills their savings and purchasing power, their lands get grabbed by corporates, and their politicians whom they imposed their faith on, starts favouring the rich guys. These unfortunate victims do not get a voice as even the media ignore them. Every now and then, especially before elections, a politician comes and tosses cheap rice or wheat at them, and keeps them on drip-feed. Our rural poor never see the benefits of liberalisation.
To add to their woes, poor education, archaic caste-based social discrimination and a general lack of job opportunities lead to pent-up frustrations that urban people like us can never understand. The leaders of these movements apparently do, and that’s why a youth with his whole life ahead of him takes up guns against the state and becomes a rebel. It is irrelevant to discuss whether the CRPF is technically adept at fighting the Naxals or not.
The important aspect that we have to ponder upon is that unless the rural Indian youth sees a better life coming, the infection (perpetual violence instigated by the extremist groups, thereby victimising the urban population) is only going to grow. From 15 states we would have all 28 states infected one fine day. Trouble is brewing very quickly friends. Beware!
Reasons for such conflicts are manifold however. Despite liberalisation of our economy, its benefits are not reaching a major chunk of the Indian population,which is the rural poor. These poor fellows are the worst affected – inflation kills their savings and purchasing power, their lands get grabbed by corporates, and their politicians whom they imposed their faith on, starts favouring the rich guys. These unfortunate victims do not get a voice as even the media ignore them. Every now and then, especially before elections, a politician comes and tosses cheap rice or wheat at them, and keeps them on drip-feed. Our rural poor never see the benefits of liberalisation.
To add to their woes, poor education, archaic caste-based social discrimination and a general lack of job opportunities lead to pent-up frustrations that urban people like us can never understand. The leaders of these movements apparently do, and that’s why a youth with his whole life ahead of him takes up guns against the state and becomes a rebel. It is irrelevant to discuss whether the CRPF is technically adept at fighting the Naxals or not.
The important aspect that we have to ponder upon is that unless the rural Indian youth sees a better life coming, the infection (perpetual violence instigated by the extremist groups, thereby victimising the urban population) is only going to grow. From 15 states we would have all 28 states infected one fine day. Trouble is brewing very quickly friends. Beware!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
We are spoilt for choices…..
In one of my earlier visits to Kolkata about 2 years back, I visited the swanky South City Mall. We were just browsing through the different outlets, implementing the concept of “window shopping” and I felt like a village bumpkin faced with an avalanche of choices. In one of the departmental stores, I managed to count 15 types of cheese, around 120 shades of lipstick and about 75 types of deodorant sprays cutting across brands and flavours. Even while picking up a tube of toothpaste, I struggled to decide whether I should choose the herbal variety with added fluoride or the cavity-busting option with baking soda.
The same dilemma strikes you when you are browsing through matrimonial sites, given the countless number of those that have cropped up. Among 500 “prospective” applications, you end up “shortlisting” 50 candidates, but you need only ONE soulmate. An arduous task indeed, since one cannot have a “Swayamvar” these days and polygamy is not allowed in India!!
These days when kids pass out of school, they are presented with a plethora of career options besides engineering and medicine – hotel management, sports medicine, dramatics, fashion design, interior design, clinical research, hospitality management, oral and written communications expert, event management and sports management. Most of these were virtually unheard of even 20 years ago.
When I do visit posh restaurants, the difficulty is not what to eat but what not to. The exotic sounding “specials” are just too many in number, especially if you want to go beyond the middle class budget. I remember listening to a person, who on visiting a rich man’s house, was struck by the ordeal of making a simple choice of what to drink. When the poor guy asked for orange juice, he was asked if he wanted it to be organic or regular, with or without calcium and finally with maximal or minimal pulp. That’s when he switched to tea, but then he had to choose among herbal tea, green tea, Ceylon tea and iced tea. To have his Ceylon tea with milk, he had to choose among goat milk, camel milk and cow milk. To have his tea sweetened, he had to choose between beet sugar and cane sugar!! Finally having got tired of such meticulous hospitality, he settled for a glass of water. Then he was asked Mineral water or normal water. When he asked for the former, he had to confirm whether it would be flavoured or non-flavoured. The poor fellow finally said “I would rather die of thirst.”
Modern society has become so addicted to variety, which is really many many versions of the same thing that sometimes they just fail to keep things simple. They call this variety the “spice of life”!
The same dilemma strikes you when you are browsing through matrimonial sites, given the countless number of those that have cropped up. Among 500 “prospective” applications, you end up “shortlisting” 50 candidates, but you need only ONE soulmate. An arduous task indeed, since one cannot have a “Swayamvar” these days and polygamy is not allowed in India!!
These days when kids pass out of school, they are presented with a plethora of career options besides engineering and medicine – hotel management, sports medicine, dramatics, fashion design, interior design, clinical research, hospitality management, oral and written communications expert, event management and sports management. Most of these were virtually unheard of even 20 years ago.
When I do visit posh restaurants, the difficulty is not what to eat but what not to. The exotic sounding “specials” are just too many in number, especially if you want to go beyond the middle class budget. I remember listening to a person, who on visiting a rich man’s house, was struck by the ordeal of making a simple choice of what to drink. When the poor guy asked for orange juice, he was asked if he wanted it to be organic or regular, with or without calcium and finally with maximal or minimal pulp. That’s when he switched to tea, but then he had to choose among herbal tea, green tea, Ceylon tea and iced tea. To have his Ceylon tea with milk, he had to choose among goat milk, camel milk and cow milk. To have his tea sweetened, he had to choose between beet sugar and cane sugar!! Finally having got tired of such meticulous hospitality, he settled for a glass of water. Then he was asked Mineral water or normal water. When he asked for the former, he had to confirm whether it would be flavoured or non-flavoured. The poor fellow finally said “I would rather die of thirst.”
Modern society has become so addicted to variety, which is really many many versions of the same thing that sometimes they just fail to keep things simple. They call this variety the “spice of life”!
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Maa….My Strength, My Beloved
In my previous posts, I have written about how much I miss my dad (BABA) who is no more. I have also written about my would-be wife Kuhu, who is as precious to me as God’s Gift. However, for some time now, I also wanted to write something about the woman who has carried my weight for 9 months in her womb, who has given me life, who has brought me up with immense love, care, friendship and blessing, who has encouraged me time and again to put in that extra effort in life, and who has given me the freedom to express myself completely in front of her. Today, as I write my 25th post for my blog, I dedicate this special little occasion to that special lady. She is MY MOM.
As a young woman, she was always extremely beautiful, and her beauty was that much augmented by her politeness, softness, caring attitude and personality. Even now, at 56, when she decks up for parties or other gatherings, she looks amazing. Being a dutiful and responsible daughter-in-law in our family, she has always held relationships together with her maturity and gravity. She was an outstanding wife, and has always been a caring mother too. My maternal uncle (MAMU) always tells me that amongst all his sisters, my mom was the most caring, and she has exhibited this attribute throughout her life. We have been the beneficiaries to her love and affection.
She has been a pillar of strength throughout her life. Even after dad passed away, she was very steady in front of baba’s body. However, she could not hold back her tears when she saw me enter the room on that dreaded day, after I reached home all the way from Bangalore. She actually cried one month later when I had brought her along to my house in Bangalore. She has always taught us to be tough and positive, not to carp and mope about setbacks in life, to be humble in success, to be polite and respect people even if they are inferior in stature to us. Without Maa’s upbringing, I would not have become the human being that I am today. I do not proclaim that I am as good and as polite as she is, but whatever goodness I possess has to be attributed to her.
Since I have left Kolkata, I have always called her twice a day, and longed to hear her voice saying “Maa go, bolo..” which in Bengali means “Tell me, sweet little son..” Apart from being a very good friend, she has always been a source of strength for me and I have the courage to discuss almost anything with her. I still remember those days when we used to chat and chirp away like college mates, late into the night, after everybody fell asleep in our house. Those were the times when my innermost feelings, my anxieties and my doubts got elicited in front of my best friend. She has always been, and right now along with Kuhu, she is the most important lady in my life.
Finally I would like to say that:
“Maa, I do not have the right words to describe my feelings towards you in just a few paragraphs. I have always given my best efforts in life to make you proud, to bring a smile to your face. Sometimes I have succeeded, sometimes I have failed and I know that you would forgive me for those blemishes. After all I am your sweet little Butu. I know that you would always shower me with your love and blessings and help me to bring more honour to you and baba. I miss you and I love you a lot!!”
As a young woman, she was always extremely beautiful, and her beauty was that much augmented by her politeness, softness, caring attitude and personality. Even now, at 56, when she decks up for parties or other gatherings, she looks amazing. Being a dutiful and responsible daughter-in-law in our family, she has always held relationships together with her maturity and gravity. She was an outstanding wife, and has always been a caring mother too. My maternal uncle (MAMU) always tells me that amongst all his sisters, my mom was the most caring, and she has exhibited this attribute throughout her life. We have been the beneficiaries to her love and affection.
She has been a pillar of strength throughout her life. Even after dad passed away, she was very steady in front of baba’s body. However, she could not hold back her tears when she saw me enter the room on that dreaded day, after I reached home all the way from Bangalore. She actually cried one month later when I had brought her along to my house in Bangalore. She has always taught us to be tough and positive, not to carp and mope about setbacks in life, to be humble in success, to be polite and respect people even if they are inferior in stature to us. Without Maa’s upbringing, I would not have become the human being that I am today. I do not proclaim that I am as good and as polite as she is, but whatever goodness I possess has to be attributed to her.
Since I have left Kolkata, I have always called her twice a day, and longed to hear her voice saying “Maa go, bolo..” which in Bengali means “Tell me, sweet little son..” Apart from being a very good friend, she has always been a source of strength for me and I have the courage to discuss almost anything with her. I still remember those days when we used to chat and chirp away like college mates, late into the night, after everybody fell asleep in our house. Those were the times when my innermost feelings, my anxieties and my doubts got elicited in front of my best friend. She has always been, and right now along with Kuhu, she is the most important lady in my life.
Finally I would like to say that:
“Maa, I do not have the right words to describe my feelings towards you in just a few paragraphs. I have always given my best efforts in life to make you proud, to bring a smile to your face. Sometimes I have succeeded, sometimes I have failed and I know that you would forgive me for those blemishes. After all I am your sweet little Butu. I know that you would always shower me with your love and blessings and help me to bring more honour to you and baba. I miss you and I love you a lot!!”
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Symbolising the Indian Rupee…..
A few days back, the Union Cabinet approved the unique symbol for the Indian Rupee. It is learnt that hundreds of potential symbols were sifted through before finalising on this particular symbol, which is a combination of the letters denoting the “R” sound in two scripts – English and Devanagari. With this symbol, Indian Rupee becomes only the fifth currency in the world to have a symbol, along with US dollar, British pound, Japanese yen and the European euro. This will separate the Indian Rupee from the similarly named currencies of its south and south-east Asian neighbours.
This is a very special moment for every Indian. It reflects the fact that the Indian currency, backed by a trillion dollar economy is slowly making its presence felt in the international scene. Its G20 membership, foreign investment flows, high GDP growth rate (2nd only behind China), expanding international trade in terms of export and mergers & acquisitions further underline the fact that India is gradually creating a global economic clout for itself through the weight of its economy.
It is a fact that as of now, the Indian rupee is nowhere near as convertible as the “Big Four” currencies that it has joined in this elite club of currency symbols. The Indian Rupee is also not treated as a reserve currency as has been pointed out by many authors. It is also true that India is still plagued by a huge rural-urban divide, high unemployment rates, farmer suicides, chronic hunger and lack of basic healthcare, sanitation and education for millions. Having said that, the new symbol for the Indian Rupee is not a peep into the past or a glare into the present, but a vision into the future. It is a true reflection of the progressive Indian economy.
A special word of appreciation also needs to be mentioned for D Udaya Kumar, an IIT Bombay PhD scholar, who has designed this symbol. He must have spent sleepless nights in designing it and has eventually come up with this special image that is fully Indian in spirit. This unique symbol would create a brand for India that would help shape our future which in indeed very promising, especially if the men who count can follow up our promises with appropriate actions.Hoping for the best !!
This is a very special moment for every Indian. It reflects the fact that the Indian currency, backed by a trillion dollar economy is slowly making its presence felt in the international scene. Its G20 membership, foreign investment flows, high GDP growth rate (2nd only behind China), expanding international trade in terms of export and mergers & acquisitions further underline the fact that India is gradually creating a global economic clout for itself through the weight of its economy.
It is a fact that as of now, the Indian rupee is nowhere near as convertible as the “Big Four” currencies that it has joined in this elite club of currency symbols. The Indian Rupee is also not treated as a reserve currency as has been pointed out by many authors. It is also true that India is still plagued by a huge rural-urban divide, high unemployment rates, farmer suicides, chronic hunger and lack of basic healthcare, sanitation and education for millions. Having said that, the new symbol for the Indian Rupee is not a peep into the past or a glare into the present, but a vision into the future. It is a true reflection of the progressive Indian economy.
A special word of appreciation also needs to be mentioned for D Udaya Kumar, an IIT Bombay PhD scholar, who has designed this symbol. He must have spent sleepless nights in designing it and has eventually come up with this special image that is fully Indian in spirit. This unique symbol would create a brand for India that would help shape our future which in indeed very promising, especially if the men who count can follow up our promises with appropriate actions.Hoping for the best !!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)