Days break, nights fall, time seems to be passing at its own will, And here I am back to my favorite pursuit of self retrospection.
The search for an emotion which can be a solution to all conundrums has not been easy. And the answer being right in front of our eyes – ‘Love’, this feeling by default is ubiquitous. We still prefer to look for something else, though it’s present around us, within us, right in front of us.
All auxiliary emotions are just a reduced derivative of love. As simple as it sounds love is the root cause for joy, sorrow, pain, jealousy, passion, obsession, enthusiasm, hedonism, asceticism.
History has given us many illustrations to prove the above assumption right.
Sorrow-‘Adolf Hitler’ made millions undergo grief and sorrow for his love for absolute autocracy.
Passion- Would ‘Romeo and Juliet’ be known as the most passionate love saga without Shakespeare’s diligent love for Theatre?
Jealousy-Though Pandavas being the rightful heir’s, Duryodhana’s love for the Hastinapur’s Throne provoking the Mahabharata
Obsession- Mira’s ever-growing love for Krishna leading to her obsession with everything related to Krishna
Enthusiasm- Dhyanchand’s love for hockey turning him into a national hero and the sport into India’s National Sport
Hedonism- Ted Bundy, Jack ‘THE RIPPER’ both being self obsessed individuals with immense love and respect to self needs than the needs of the society resulting in creation of worst maniacs in the history of mankind
Asceticism- Buddhism originating from Gautama’s love for search of the ‘Truth’
It is this love which drives us to perform tasks which look rather impossible for mere mortals. The search for the rightful path may differ from every individual. Also the results may be different but the driving force is exactly the same. This inherent sentiment is our strength, source, salvation.
It is only when we start focusing on the end of the path does ‘love’ give rise to further derivatives like joy, sorrow, pain. The path chosen is more important than the end, as journey is equally important as the destination. The adherence to one’s interest is more valuable than the successful fruits borne on its tree. For love is riding on the path not on the result.
Hence if love has to be nurtured till the end- Enjoy the journey and forget the culmination for zenith is inevitable if the path chosen is not for success but of success
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Saturday, 23 January 2010
Better be educated than be an idiot
Rarely does my conviction about a particular thought get overthrown so easily. But this did happen when I came across a piece of writing in HT on Jan 16 by Sagarika Ghose “Idiot is as idiot does”.
“3 Idiots” – The nation seems to be caught by this whirlwind slating this movie as the highest bollywood grosser. The flick thoroughly impressed me with the innovative humour and smart characters-Centimeter, Virus et al.The exponents of the movie went bonkers showering all the adjectives in the dictionary, myself being one of them till I came across the write up in HT. The movie does make an impression but the point is whether the education system needs to be denigrated to this extent. It makes a strong statement using caricatures such as ‘Virus’ to blame the rising incidents of suicide and stress among students. But the point to be noted is how many of us have actually come across such a person in real life, very few.
The movie talks about pressure but fails miserably to explain which pressure is acceptable and which isn’t. There is a clear cut demarcation between positive pressure and negative pressure. Without pressure exerted some students may never realize their true potential and may jus resort to fate. It is only when you push yourself does the true self come out. It’s said “Necessity is the mother of all inventions” which is more than apt for this situation. The extent to which we may be an idiot at times is limited. If education is a waste we might as well throw this country away into hands of foreigners and sit brainless.
Most of us may actually never come across a “Virus” but just a negligible clone of his who may to the maximum just make us pull our hair, not more. Instead at times it can be seen that a teacher would go out of the way to help their students especially in esteemed institutes .More can be done than jus blaming the professors and restless parents, all they want are a bright future for their child. If given a thought we would realize the problem does not lie in IITs, Parents or demanding professors.
The primary problem staring us in the face is we have too little of anything to satisfy everything. We have only a handful of IITs, IIMs to cater to a population of a billion. Even more shocking state would be that of having just a single All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the 2nd highest populated country on this earth. The underlying theme of the movie is based on IITs is evident though it’s named Imperial College in the movie
The stress is not that Indian students are finding it difficult to study or do not want to study; rather it’s a well known fact that they are much better at it than their European counterparts’ .It’s this cut throat competition which is giving rise to stress related problem. When questioned many IIT students have confessed to the fact that with the facilities provided at IIT it’s much easier to study. The difficult part is they cannot afford to take a breather during the session as everybody is working hard to get that coveted placement. The fact that they have overcome a lot of competition to get a seat at the esteemed institute is just adding oil to fire.
The movie is undoubtedly funny but shows education as a mere waste unless people have immense potential. The major flaw is Ranchodas Chanchad was a topper, whatever the constraints may be but he had to prove that he was academically brilliant and had excellent technical knowledge to show his superiority over ‘Chatur’ at the end. Targeting education as a major failure can have disastrous consequences. We would not want our future generation not taking education seriously especially when India being breeding ground for talent. Playing the blame game on individuals, parents, professors would not serve the purpose.
The condition is that of “too less for too many”. This nation has tons of quality students but only a handful of quality institutes. The main issue is of wants, we have many to ask but very less to satisfy. Lesser the resources higher will be the competition.
The state would do better to set up more educational institutes rather than setting up counseling centers to console grieving parents and students. Some resources used to set up SEZ’s, cricket stadiums, bridges can very well be diverted to setting up world class institutions which would cater to generating knowledge pool. Infrastructure can originate from knowledge but without knowledge there can be no infrastructure.
“3 Idiots” – The nation seems to be caught by this whirlwind slating this movie as the highest bollywood grosser. The flick thoroughly impressed me with the innovative humour and smart characters-Centimeter, Virus et al.The exponents of the movie went bonkers showering all the adjectives in the dictionary, myself being one of them till I came across the write up in HT. The movie does make an impression but the point is whether the education system needs to be denigrated to this extent. It makes a strong statement using caricatures such as ‘Virus’ to blame the rising incidents of suicide and stress among students. But the point to be noted is how many of us have actually come across such a person in real life, very few.
The movie talks about pressure but fails miserably to explain which pressure is acceptable and which isn’t. There is a clear cut demarcation between positive pressure and negative pressure. Without pressure exerted some students may never realize their true potential and may jus resort to fate. It is only when you push yourself does the true self come out. It’s said “Necessity is the mother of all inventions” which is more than apt for this situation. The extent to which we may be an idiot at times is limited. If education is a waste we might as well throw this country away into hands of foreigners and sit brainless.
Most of us may actually never come across a “Virus” but just a negligible clone of his who may to the maximum just make us pull our hair, not more. Instead at times it can be seen that a teacher would go out of the way to help their students especially in esteemed institutes .More can be done than jus blaming the professors and restless parents, all they want are a bright future for their child. If given a thought we would realize the problem does not lie in IITs, Parents or demanding professors.
The primary problem staring us in the face is we have too little of anything to satisfy everything. We have only a handful of IITs, IIMs to cater to a population of a billion. Even more shocking state would be that of having just a single All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for the 2nd highest populated country on this earth. The underlying theme of the movie is based on IITs is evident though it’s named Imperial College in the movie
The stress is not that Indian students are finding it difficult to study or do not want to study; rather it’s a well known fact that they are much better at it than their European counterparts’ .It’s this cut throat competition which is giving rise to stress related problem. When questioned many IIT students have confessed to the fact that with the facilities provided at IIT it’s much easier to study. The difficult part is they cannot afford to take a breather during the session as everybody is working hard to get that coveted placement. The fact that they have overcome a lot of competition to get a seat at the esteemed institute is just adding oil to fire.
The movie is undoubtedly funny but shows education as a mere waste unless people have immense potential. The major flaw is Ranchodas Chanchad was a topper, whatever the constraints may be but he had to prove that he was academically brilliant and had excellent technical knowledge to show his superiority over ‘Chatur’ at the end. Targeting education as a major failure can have disastrous consequences. We would not want our future generation not taking education seriously especially when India being breeding ground for talent. Playing the blame game on individuals, parents, professors would not serve the purpose.
The condition is that of “too less for too many”. This nation has tons of quality students but only a handful of quality institutes. The main issue is of wants, we have many to ask but very less to satisfy. Lesser the resources higher will be the competition.
The state would do better to set up more educational institutes rather than setting up counseling centers to console grieving parents and students. Some resources used to set up SEZ’s, cricket stadiums, bridges can very well be diverted to setting up world class institutions which would cater to generating knowledge pool. Infrastructure can originate from knowledge but without knowledge there can be no infrastructure.
Wednesday, 23 December 2009
Unlearning the new Mantra ; Why follow?
I seem to be spending this particular period of my life thinking over my existence. Is it worth something or rather anything? Am I here to perform something substantial? Or should I continue breathing away my life just the way I have been doing since I had a mind of my own? What if I do not want to flow with the river and wish to make my own path which may not be as exciting as flowing with the water?
Since times immemorial we all have been under the aegis of our guardians. Someone once rightly told me that in an Indian environment you’re always kept under a protected guard by your progenitor, always avoiding us from committing any foolish act, thus stopping us from thinking. Forcing us to enter a framework already established by supposedly experienced insane mortals. The result being every child in this particular environment follows the child ahead of him (ahead in the sense of queue and not intellect), none of them bold enough to take the much needed risk to break free of the shackles
The concept of lateral thinking seems to be fading in the hazy nebula. Edward de Bono though trying his best to propagate the concept.
The inherent attribute of man which has led to the globalization and technology was risk taking ability. Rigid Mechanical Framework can never lead to innovation. But the day we start exploring world outside the module we might achieve the much needed thought progression
Some of the compartmentalization was evident in ancient India as well. When a carpenter’s son was carpenter; a blacksmith’s son was blacksmith; a vaidya’s son was a vaidya.
Improvement of the human race takes place when a blacksmith’s son questions his forefathers and the environment why he can’t be a goldsmith or a soldier or for that matter be nothing and live an ascetic life
This ‘break the shell’ bug does not bite every individual. Hence the mind numbing size of individuals getting their degrees and diplomas in a particular concentrated field is very high. The grim reality is not the astronomical size of concentration in a particular arena, but the reason behind it. Almost 40% of the population ended up where they are not because they wanted to be there but because everybody else was heading there so none care to question other people’s authority
Till the day we do not commit foolish acts, lose fights, lose money, face criticism and end up bruised we do not learn. Learning is a gradual process and if observed the largest proportion of our knowledge has been acquired outside the framework, especially when we questioned the system and refused to follow something because the world follows it. Hence today’s mantra would be to unlearn.
The power of ‘WHY’ is immense.
Since times immemorial we all have been under the aegis of our guardians. Someone once rightly told me that in an Indian environment you’re always kept under a protected guard by your progenitor, always avoiding us from committing any foolish act, thus stopping us from thinking. Forcing us to enter a framework already established by supposedly experienced insane mortals. The result being every child in this particular environment follows the child ahead of him (ahead in the sense of queue and not intellect), none of them bold enough to take the much needed risk to break free of the shackles
The concept of lateral thinking seems to be fading in the hazy nebula. Edward de Bono though trying his best to propagate the concept.
The inherent attribute of man which has led to the globalization and technology was risk taking ability. Rigid Mechanical Framework can never lead to innovation. But the day we start exploring world outside the module we might achieve the much needed thought progression
Some of the compartmentalization was evident in ancient India as well. When a carpenter’s son was carpenter; a blacksmith’s son was blacksmith; a vaidya’s son was a vaidya.
Improvement of the human race takes place when a blacksmith’s son questions his forefathers and the environment why he can’t be a goldsmith or a soldier or for that matter be nothing and live an ascetic life
This ‘break the shell’ bug does not bite every individual. Hence the mind numbing size of individuals getting their degrees and diplomas in a particular concentrated field is very high. The grim reality is not the astronomical size of concentration in a particular arena, but the reason behind it. Almost 40% of the population ended up where they are not because they wanted to be there but because everybody else was heading there so none care to question other people’s authority
Till the day we do not commit foolish acts, lose fights, lose money, face criticism and end up bruised we do not learn. Learning is a gradual process and if observed the largest proportion of our knowledge has been acquired outside the framework, especially when we questioned the system and refused to follow something because the world follows it. Hence today’s mantra would be to unlearn.
The power of ‘WHY’ is immense.
Tuesday, 15 December 2009
Season has well and truly begun
The management entrance test season seems to be in full flow with 3 exams down and 5 more to go. With SNAP coming up this Sunday and XAT, FMS, NMAT, CET to follow the coming months may well decide my destiny
I have well put the debacle of 3rd Dec behind me. It started on a bad note with a tiff with mom, which left me in an irascible state. I started my grumpy ride towards my centre hoping that my slot would get an easier nut to crack. After a horrendous start to the D-Day I found some relief in the train. Unusual as it may seem it took a brawl in the local compartment of train to cheer me up. And believe you me it was hilarious. Pardon my attitude, such sadistic pleasures do not excite me but I was really irritated with my mom’s reckless behaviour on the morning of such a crucial exam in my life. The best part was that it was one of those typical fights in which no blows were exchanged instead both the parties engaged in what we call “Bol Bachan”. These fights are not new to mumbaites especially those prone to trains.
I reach the centre bang on time to meet my friend who seemed to be armed with all the essentials to crack the exam. The next 2 hrs were spent by us discussing the strategy.
I was thoroughly impressed by all the snazzy gadgets at the centre-Lenovo LCDs, Biometrics, Digital Cameras etc. Just when I was going gaga over the professionalism shown by prometric came the bomb, our systems crashed. Then started the long agonizing wait on the chair for 6 hours with no provisions of food or water. I had selected the morning slot of 10-12 since I am a morning person and can concentrate better in the morning. Ended up giving the same exam at 3:30 slot, which ended at 6
Calls started coming immediately (Not the GD/PI’s sadly but telephone calls) but by that time was exhausted to talk to anyone, worn out to discuss, tired to blame prometric, dog-tired to giveCAT again. The feeling was that of relief, relief that it was over
Just when I thought it was over got the worst attack of migraine that night and could not sleep till 11,did later only after the doctor administered sleeping pills and some strong doses of pain killers. Guess the exhaustion took its toll over me
I have well put the debacle of 3rd Dec behind me. It started on a bad note with a tiff with mom, which left me in an irascible state. I started my grumpy ride towards my centre hoping that my slot would get an easier nut to crack. After a horrendous start to the D-Day I found some relief in the train. Unusual as it may seem it took a brawl in the local compartment of train to cheer me up. And believe you me it was hilarious. Pardon my attitude, such sadistic pleasures do not excite me but I was really irritated with my mom’s reckless behaviour on the morning of such a crucial exam in my life. The best part was that it was one of those typical fights in which no blows were exchanged instead both the parties engaged in what we call “Bol Bachan”. These fights are not new to mumbaites especially those prone to trains.
I reach the centre bang on time to meet my friend who seemed to be armed with all the essentials to crack the exam. The next 2 hrs were spent by us discussing the strategy.
I was thoroughly impressed by all the snazzy gadgets at the centre-Lenovo LCDs, Biometrics, Digital Cameras etc. Just when I was going gaga over the professionalism shown by prometric came the bomb, our systems crashed. Then started the long agonizing wait on the chair for 6 hours with no provisions of food or water. I had selected the morning slot of 10-12 since I am a morning person and can concentrate better in the morning. Ended up giving the same exam at 3:30 slot, which ended at 6
Calls started coming immediately (Not the GD/PI’s sadly but telephone calls) but by that time was exhausted to talk to anyone, worn out to discuss, tired to blame prometric, dog-tired to give
Just when I thought it was over got the worst attack of migraine that night and could not sleep till 11,did later only after the doctor administered sleeping pills and some strong doses of pain killers. Guess the exhaustion took its toll over me
Wednesday, 25 November 2009
When the going gets tough
Concentration levels are falling by the day and depression levels are rising by the day.I am searching frantically to get some paltry support and inspiration from the dear ones around me.But sadly fail to find any.All I find is criticism,disbelief and discouragement.This may be one of the most trying times of the 2 decades seen by me.Going through absolute lack of focus and boredom even after self abnegating myself from every act of hedonism
Sometimes it feels as though the whole world is plotting against you .Simple steps are feeling like burning coal .Probably this is that very period of my life. Everyday seems to be a battle with myself ,a battle to channelize my energy into one force ,a battle to forget past failures and rise up to the occasion ,a battle to sustain high levels of self belief and avoid quitting ,come what may! It makes me remember of an old classic -
Don't Quit
(one of the old classic motivational poem)
When things go wrong as they sometimes will;
When the road you're trudging seems all uphill;
When the funds are low and debts are high;
And you want to smile, but you have to sigh;
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you must but don't you quit.
Accepting the challenge and fighting against all odds is the trait of a true fighter .I will not give up ,my dream is my passion and I cherish it .I will give everything that is required to guard it .I will not go down without a fight!
This is an extract from the hour long speech by Jessie Owens
(World famous Athlete) on winning his first Gold
medal in the Olympics
" To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.
To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank
you. Without you I wouldn't have known real love.
To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.
To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.
But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do
it. It is you I thank the most,
because without you I wouldn't have tried."
medal in the Olympics
" To those of you who laughed at me, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have cried.
To those of you who just couldn't love me, thank
you. Without you I wouldn't have known real love.
To those of you who hurt my feelings, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have felt them.
To those of you who left me lonely, thank you.
Without you I wouldn't have discovered myself.
But it is to those of you who thought I couldn't do
it. It is you I thank the most,
because without you I wouldn't have tried."
Friday, 20 November 2009
POLITICAL IRONY AT ITS BEST
20th November,Today's Date will be remembered as one of the black days in the Indian Media history .People who supposedly fight for the "Marathi Manoos" rights have ironically bashed up the very "Marathi Manoos" working in the news channel IBN LOKMAT.The particular political group beat up the media journalists of the channel.The Chief Editor Nikhil Wagle was not spared of their fury as well.Mumbai has been a well publicized playground for such acts of violence and vandalism.Who is responsible for such acts? Minions who are acting on mere indications of political bosses? The Media themselves for creating such uncompromising situations by making offhand statements ? The Ruling Party-Congress who seem to be an artless witness? Or We the People - who are well aware of the situation but choose to be ignorant?
Mr Ashok Chavan,CM of Maharashtra stated that the perpetrators of this crime would be taken to task.If this task would be taken up during the ruling party's tenure is to be seen. Coming straight to the point, not 1 not 2-3 but a mob of 25 party workers attacked the office of the media channel IBN.When a senior representative of this party was asked to comment on this issue he replied " this act was not a planned one but a spontaneous one and its a result of the channel misquoting an article by the head of the party on Sachin Tendulkar " Spontaneity !!!! -Is that all the excuse you can come up with? Well I do not understand the spontaneity in pulling the receptionist at the desk by her hair, boxing her in the stomach,beating the very marathi manoos working for the channel with stumps and iron rods.That's a disgrace to the Maratha culture not SPONTANEITY!The particular party is also a follower of the Great Maratha Warrior Shivaji & Ex-leaders.Had Lokmanya Tilak,Shahu Maharaj and many great Fighters who fought for the Maratha cause, seen this vision of immorality? A Maharashtra filled with political parties which purport vandalism of property and insolence towards women? Never! These men were gentlemen and you lose your manhood the moment you treat women the way these political hooligans did today.Is it Democracy or Mobocracy?
Its pretty inexplicable that the same clan which has given ingenious to the world in the form of Shivaji Maharaj,Sachin Tendulkar ,innumerable talented marathi actors ,scientists etc. can fall to such a pathetic state to gain some cheap political mileage.Contrasting as it may seem, when this act of misdemeanor was being conducted another True Indian was out there battling to spare India the embarrassment of losing their 1st Test Match in India to Sri Lanka.He is a Maratha,a True Maratha and a True Indian.
The Sobriquet of 'The Battleground of Europe' is betowed on BELGIUM and it wouldn't be long before the same is conferred on Mumbai. Why has Mumbai out of all cities in this Country been sensitive to all these issues?1st the Terror Attacks ,then the specious fight for marathi rights which was betrayed today by this party.The Financial Capital of the country,the residence to some of the world's most powerful corporate houses ,celebrities ,one of the worlds best police services and yet when we are subjected to atrocities we show tolerance or rather Ignorance? The question is Why?
P.S - I am not a 'Marathi Manoos' ,you would have guessed that by now but have immense love for Marathi people and Mumbai.Its only the case of few bad apples spoiling the entire clan.My mother tongue is not native to Mumbai and yet have spoken only marathi with my parents from the day I was born.That's not all,many of my non-marathi friends speak with me in marathi and vice-versa,call it preposterous,bizarre or fake.Its not the language its the thought which needs to be conveyed and I think I do it efficiently.
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