HRD Minister Arjun Singh who took up the task of "de-communalising" syllabi with much fervour last year has now decided that that fifty percent seats in AMU should be reserved for Muslims. Ram Vilas Paswan, another self-declared champion of Indian Secularism (is there any dearth of such guys?), sank his own boat by stubbornly demanding that only a Muslim should become the next CM of Bihar. If these are not instances of gross communalism, then what else do we call them?
For some strange reason I have never understood this animal (or shall I call it a serpent?) called Indian Secularism. May be I am just not good enough at logic.
For some strange reason I have never understood this animal (or shall I call it a serpent?) called Indian Secularism. May be I am just not good enough at logic.
Horse-trading of better type?
Hearing Manmohan Singh justify the decision of dissolution of Bihar assembly as "done to stop horse-trading of the worst type", one would be curious to know what in his opinion is horse-trading of better type? Although Manmohan Singh, being a man of some dignity, may refrain from answering such a question, many within his party would be audacious enough to say that it is what they achieved in Goa.
Hearing Manmohan Singh justify the decision of dissolution of Bihar assembly as "done to stop horse-trading of the worst type", one would be curious to know what in his opinion is horse-trading of better type? Although Manmohan Singh, being a man of some dignity, may refrain from answering such a question, many within his party would be audacious enough to say that it is what they achieved in Goa.
A wise extract from "Three Men in a Boat"
“You know, we are on the wrong track altogether. We must not think of the things we could do with, but only of things we can’t do without.”
George comes out really quite sensible at times. You’d be surprised. I call that downright wisdom, not merely as regards the present case, but with reference to our trip up the river of life generally. How many people, on the voyage, load up the boat till it is ever in danger of swamping with a store of foolish things which they think essential to the pleasure and comfort of the trip, but which are really only useless lumber.
How they pile the poor little craft mast-high with fine clothes and big houses; with useless servants, and a host of swell friends that do not care twopence for them, and that they do not care three hal’pence for; with expensive entertainments that nobody enjoys, with formalities and fashions, with pretence and ostentation, and with – oh, heaviest, maddest lumber of all! – the dread of what will my neighbour think, with luxuries that only cloy, with pleasures that bore, with empty show that, like the criminal’s iron crown of yore, makes to bleed and swoon the aching head that wears it!
It is lumber, man – all lumber! Throw it overboard. It makes the boat so heavy to pull, you nearly faint at the oars. It makes it so cumbersome and dangerous to manage, you never know a moment’s freedom from anxiety and care, never gain a moment’s rest for dreamy laziness – no time to watch the windy shadows skimming lightly o’er the shallows, or the glittering sunbeams flitting in and out among the ripples, or the great trees by the margin looking down at lilies white and yellow, or the somber-waving rushes, or the sedges, or the orchis, or the blue forget-me-nots.
Throw the lumber over, man! Let you boat of life be light, packed with only what you need – a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.
You will find the boat easier to pull then, and it will not be so liable to upset, and it will not matter so much if it does upset; good, plain merchandise will stand water. You will have time to think as well as to work. Time to drink in life’s sunshine – time to listen to the Aeolian music that the wind of God draws from the human heart-strings around us.
“You know, we are on the wrong track altogether. We must not think of the things we could do with, but only of things we can’t do without.”
George comes out really quite sensible at times. You’d be surprised. I call that downright wisdom, not merely as regards the present case, but with reference to our trip up the river of life generally. How many people, on the voyage, load up the boat till it is ever in danger of swamping with a store of foolish things which they think essential to the pleasure and comfort of the trip, but which are really only useless lumber.
How they pile the poor little craft mast-high with fine clothes and big houses; with useless servants, and a host of swell friends that do not care twopence for them, and that they do not care three hal’pence for; with expensive entertainments that nobody enjoys, with formalities and fashions, with pretence and ostentation, and with – oh, heaviest, maddest lumber of all! – the dread of what will my neighbour think, with luxuries that only cloy, with pleasures that bore, with empty show that, like the criminal’s iron crown of yore, makes to bleed and swoon the aching head that wears it!
It is lumber, man – all lumber! Throw it overboard. It makes the boat so heavy to pull, you nearly faint at the oars. It makes it so cumbersome and dangerous to manage, you never know a moment’s freedom from anxiety and care, never gain a moment’s rest for dreamy laziness – no time to watch the windy shadows skimming lightly o’er the shallows, or the glittering sunbeams flitting in and out among the ripples, or the great trees by the margin looking down at lilies white and yellow, or the somber-waving rushes, or the sedges, or the orchis, or the blue forget-me-nots.
Throw the lumber over, man! Let you boat of life be light, packed with only what you need – a homely home and simple pleasures, one or two friends, worth the name, someone to love and someone to love you, a cat, a dog, and a pipe or two, enough to eat and enough to wear, and little more than enough to drink; for thirst is a dangerous thing.
You will find the boat easier to pull then, and it will not be so liable to upset, and it will not matter so much if it does upset; good, plain merchandise will stand water. You will have time to think as well as to work. Time to drink in life’s sunshine – time to listen to the Aeolian music that the wind of God draws from the human heart-strings around us.
How can you come to know yourself? Never by thinking; always by doing. Try to do your duty, and you'll know right away what you amount to. And what is your duty? Whatever the day calls for.
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832)
Poet and philosopher
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe (1749-1832)
Poet and philosopher
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Quotation
I wanted never to come back. I was sitting on the top of a hill in the shade of a large rock. The strong wind was bringing with it rain so light that the drops would evaporate the moment they hit the ground. But it was enough to make the rocks cooler. In front of me lay green fields for miles, dotted by clusters of shacks in-between. Coconut trees waved idyllicaly in the carefree wind. Whenever the wind slowed I could hear the hum of Kannada bhajans played at the temple below.
I wanted never to come back. I was in Tumkur, Satman's home-town. Rather, not Tumkur, but Kyatsandra, a small place about 6 kms from Tumkur. I had never expected to see such a beautifully serene place. So away from the hustle and bustle of city life. We need such an occassional break to lift our spirits, to get poison of city life out of our system.
I wanted never to come back. Or atleast, stay longer, if that were possible. But we had to catch the train. Good that we decided to take the train instead of the bus. It provided some compensation for not staying longer. I laid a newspaper on the floor near the door and sat down on it, my feet resting on the staircase outside the door. The cool breeze of the night was exhalting and invigorating. The voice of the engine and the clatter of the wheels, like always, were music to me. I love travelling in through trains in second class compartments. It is these simple joys of life that cherish our souls, that make this journey worth it all. Unfortunately, we city folks seem to be forgetting these joys of life. Roaming in air-conditioned shopping malls on weekends seems to have become a habit with us. That's what we call recreation. How ridiculous it seemed to me yesterday!
I wanted never to come back. I was in Tumkur, Satman's home-town. Rather, not Tumkur, but Kyatsandra, a small place about 6 kms from Tumkur. I had never expected to see such a beautifully serene place. So away from the hustle and bustle of city life. We need such an occassional break to lift our spirits, to get poison of city life out of our system.
I wanted never to come back. Or atleast, stay longer, if that were possible. But we had to catch the train. Good that we decided to take the train instead of the bus. It provided some compensation for not staying longer. I laid a newspaper on the floor near the door and sat down on it, my feet resting on the staircase outside the door. The cool breeze of the night was exhalting and invigorating. The voice of the engine and the clatter of the wheels, like always, were music to me. I love travelling in through trains in second class compartments. It is these simple joys of life that cherish our souls, that make this journey worth it all. Unfortunately, we city folks seem to be forgetting these joys of life. Roaming in air-conditioned shopping malls on weekends seems to have become a habit with us. That's what we call recreation. How ridiculous it seemed to me yesterday!
I have now accepted the fact that I can remember only those things that I have written down somewhere. And I don't feel ashamed of it at all. The ability to remember anything and everything I come across, that I valued so much (and cultivated with a great degree of success) when I was fourteen, is not something that I strive to regain. On the contrary, my efforts are to ensure that I have at hand, written down someplace, every piece of information that I need. Hence you would find post-its in my house, which show me which is the "off" position for the gas cylinder knob, or remind me to switch of the heater when I leave my home.
On my laptop you shouldn't be surprised to find files titled something like "How To Start ReflectionX.txt" or "Time Difference between India and Dallas.txt"!! I don't want waste my time thinking about these things every time I need them. Only important thing when writing down such things is that you should be able to find it very quickly when you need it. And that calls for good organising.
As I grow older (!) I realise more and more the extreme importance of being well-organised. Today, that is the most important quality that I want to develop. It's not just about these tiny tit-bits of tasks, but it's about all activities in my day-to-day life - all activities in my professional life, and all activities in my personal life. I want to be extremely orgainsed about the way I work and the way I live.
I have implemented a Task List system at work with fair degree of success. Every morning before I begin any work, I list down all the tasks I have to do in the day. I spend some time to ponder on the details of each task. I also write down the time it would take for each task and when I want to do it. It has surely helped me. Now I want to improve it.
Speak of effectiveness reminds me of something I wrote long time back about being effective at workplace.
Now, I don't just want to be well-organised at work. I want to be well-organised in all the activities I do. I must come up with a plan. I have time at hand tomorrow and the day-after. It's a good time to think. I haven't doen any real thinking in a long time. Next two days will be perfect. Why wait till tomorrow? I should start it right away. It's quarter-to-five now. I think I should go home early today! ;-)
On my laptop you shouldn't be surprised to find files titled something like "How To Start ReflectionX.txt" or "Time Difference between India and Dallas.txt"!! I don't want waste my time thinking about these things every time I need them. Only important thing when writing down such things is that you should be able to find it very quickly when you need it. And that calls for good organising.
As I grow older (!) I realise more and more the extreme importance of being well-organised. Today, that is the most important quality that I want to develop. It's not just about these tiny tit-bits of tasks, but it's about all activities in my day-to-day life - all activities in my professional life, and all activities in my personal life. I want to be extremely orgainsed about the way I work and the way I live.
I have implemented a Task List system at work with fair degree of success. Every morning before I begin any work, I list down all the tasks I have to do in the day. I spend some time to ponder on the details of each task. I also write down the time it would take for each task and when I want to do it. It has surely helped me. Now I want to improve it.
Speak of effectiveness reminds me of something I wrote long time back about being effective at workplace.
Now, I don't just want to be well-organised at work. I want to be well-organised in all the activities I do. I must come up with a plan. I have time at hand tomorrow and the day-after. It's a good time to think. I haven't doen any real thinking in a long time. Next two days will be perfect. Why wait till tomorrow? I should start it right away. It's quarter-to-five now. I think I should go home early today! ;-)
Have you ever woken up after a four-hour sleep, fresh as a new leaf? Have you ever woken up from a ten-hour slumber, more tired than you were before you went to bed? I don't know why it happens, but there seems to be no relation between amount of sleep and how fresh we feel when we get up. Some days you get up enthused and some days you are half alseep even after having enough sleep and a good work-out.
I have often wondered what are the factors that influence quality of sleep. Is it the posture? Is it our breathing pattern? Is it the room temperature? Is it the amount of fresh air in the room? Is it the thoughts that we have just before we fall asleep - how relaxed or distured we were when we fell asleep? What is it that leads to refreshing sleep? I need to know it. As I rarely get eight hours of sleep everyday, I need to know how to compensate quantity by good quality. I need to experiment and find out answers to these questions.
I have often wondered what are the factors that influence quality of sleep. Is it the posture? Is it our breathing pattern? Is it the room temperature? Is it the amount of fresh air in the room? Is it the thoughts that we have just before we fall asleep - how relaxed or distured we were when we fell asleep? What is it that leads to refreshing sleep? I need to know it. As I rarely get eight hours of sleep everyday, I need to know how to compensate quantity by good quality. I need to experiment and find out answers to these questions.
I don't know how to deal with these bloody cell phone companies. Few hours back I got a call from an Airtel customer "care" executive saying that I need to make payment for an "unbilled amount" (amount that will appear in my next month's bill) by tomorrow or else my outgoing calls will be disabled. Now, all my outgoing calls have been barred! And I am told that their systems are down so they can't do anything about it.
I have spoken to three duffers in the last few days, who have failed to explain me the previous month's bill. The Check Bill option on Airtel's website always returns "Error 404 - Page Not Found". What the hell is this!
I wish I were in US ... where gun licenses are easy to obtain.
I have spoken to three duffers in the last few days, who have failed to explain me the previous month's bill. The Check Bill option on Airtel's website always returns "Error 404 - Page Not Found". What the hell is this!
I wish I were in US ... where gun licenses are easy to obtain.
It is for the first time in ten years that Maharashtra goverment has presented a surplus budget. It even promises huge funds to the tune of Rs.15 billion for the Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar road link project and Rs.19.06 billion for the Bandra-Worli sea link scheme.
One thing one would like to see is concrete steps towards Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro link.
One thing one would like to see is concrete steps towards Versova-Andheri-Ghatkopar metro link.
I haven't blogged in a long time. Somehow I didn't feel like writing anything. However, now I would like to write about yesterday evening.
Jitu is here in Bangalore on a two-day business trip. Met him at Food World yesterday evening, and then we sat for a long time at Coffee Day. It was great talking to him after a long long time. I have met him not more than a couple of times in last four years or so (how fast time flies!). Even when we met, it was always along with other guys of the group, Rampu, kamiya (not the real one), et al. So there was more of bhankas than any sensible talk. So it was great to talk so many things with Jitu after so many years. There have been new developments in our lives that we were glad to share. Well, there was one really sad thing that he told me about, but I would skip that for the moment. Meeting old friends is a pleasantly different experience!
After a long chat shopped for some sandlewood at Cauvery and then went from shop to shop in search of Haire cell phone. Apparently, it isn't yet available in Bangalore. Finally we had wonderful dinner of appams and some keralite onion preparation. What spoiled the mood after such a wonderful meal was a bill fraud.
The buggers had charged forty ruppees extra in the bill. I can forgive this mistake once, but when it happened twice is as many visits, I smelt rat, that it's happening on purpose. So many customers pay their bills without checking it well. I too do the same most of the time. On my complaint, they tried the second trick - reduce forty ruppees from the final bill amount ... the sales tax being calculated on the same inflated bill value. Again the same trick that they had played on Saturday. This really infuriated me and I let it known to them.
One thing that Jitu regretted a lot was forgetting his digital camera in the hotel. It was a good occasion to take a few snaps. Ten years from now we could have been sitting looking at the snaps over a cup of tea and remembering these wonderful days and the wonderful evening that we had. If only.
Jitu is here in Bangalore on a two-day business trip. Met him at Food World yesterday evening, and then we sat for a long time at Coffee Day. It was great talking to him after a long long time. I have met him not more than a couple of times in last four years or so (how fast time flies!). Even when we met, it was always along with other guys of the group, Rampu, kamiya (not the real one), et al. So there was more of bhankas than any sensible talk. So it was great to talk so many things with Jitu after so many years. There have been new developments in our lives that we were glad to share. Well, there was one really sad thing that he told me about, but I would skip that for the moment. Meeting old friends is a pleasantly different experience!
After a long chat shopped for some sandlewood at Cauvery and then went from shop to shop in search of Haire cell phone. Apparently, it isn't yet available in Bangalore. Finally we had wonderful dinner of appams and some keralite onion preparation. What spoiled the mood after such a wonderful meal was a bill fraud.
The buggers had charged forty ruppees extra in the bill. I can forgive this mistake once, but when it happened twice is as many visits, I smelt rat, that it's happening on purpose. So many customers pay their bills without checking it well. I too do the same most of the time. On my complaint, they tried the second trick - reduce forty ruppees from the final bill amount ... the sales tax being calculated on the same inflated bill value. Again the same trick that they had played on Saturday. This really infuriated me and I let it known to them.
One thing that Jitu regretted a lot was forgetting his digital camera in the hotel. It was a good occasion to take a few snaps. Ten years from now we could have been sitting looking at the snaps over a cup of tea and remembering these wonderful days and the wonderful evening that we had. If only.
A bilingual experiment
Standard II students of Holy Family School in Andheri learn History and Geography in Marathi, and Maths and Science in English. Principal says it’s the perfect solution to the language crisis.
The 10 largest cities of the world as per recent U.N. Economic and Social Council report:
| 1. | Tokyo | 3.53 crores | |
| 2. | Mexico City | 1.92 crores | |
| 3. | New York-Newark | 1.85 crores | |
| 4. | Mumbai | 1.83 crores | |
| 5. | Sao Paulo | 1.83 crores | |
| 6. | New Delhi | 1.53 crores | |
| 7. | Calcutta | 1.43 crores | |
| 8. | Buenos Aires | 1.33 crores | |
| 9. | Jakarta | 1.32 crores | |
| 10. | Shanghai | 1.27 crores |
Spent a day in Bangalore and a lot of things to write about. Let me begin by telling what happens when one goes to one's office after a gap of six months.
I had woken up at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. The cab arrived as scheduled at 4 a.m. By 5 a.m. I was at airport and at 5:15 I had checked in. The flight was at 6:15 a.m. At 8 a.m. Sateesh picked me up at Bangalore airport and I a short while later at his house. So at 10 a.m. I was quite satisfied that everything had gone as per schedule and I am reaching office on time.
When I pressed the for 5th floor button in the elevator, an i2 office boy standing next to me was surpirsed.
Office Boy: There is no one on 5th floor, sir.
Me: Why?
OB: Everybody has shifted to the new office.
Me: No problem, I'll go to the 4th floor office.
OB: No sir, there is no one on 4th floor also.
Me: Oh! Is the office empty?
OB: Yes sir.
Me: Fine. I will do some work there.
OB: There is no network connection sir. Can you work without that?
Me: Of course not. Can I atleast make some telephone calls?
OB: Local calls or STD calls?
Me: STD calls.
OB: No sir, STD connection has been removed.
Me: If you tell me how to go to the new office, I'll go there and work.
OB: Network is not yet installed in the new office.
Me: Then how is everybody working today?
OB: Nobody is working today sir. Today is a holiday!!
I had woken up at 3:30 a.m. in the morning. The cab arrived as scheduled at 4 a.m. By 5 a.m. I was at airport and at 5:15 I had checked in. The flight was at 6:15 a.m. At 8 a.m. Sateesh picked me up at Bangalore airport and I a short while later at his house. So at 10 a.m. I was quite satisfied that everything had gone as per schedule and I am reaching office on time.
When I pressed the for 5th floor button in the elevator, an i2 office boy standing next to me was surpirsed.
Office Boy: There is no one on 5th floor, sir.
Me: Why?
OB: Everybody has shifted to the new office.
Me: No problem, I'll go to the 4th floor office.
OB: No sir, there is no one on 4th floor also.
Me: Oh! Is the office empty?
OB: Yes sir.
Me: Fine. I will do some work there.
OB: There is no network connection sir. Can you work without that?
Me: Of course not. Can I atleast make some telephone calls?
OB: Local calls or STD calls?
Me: STD calls.
OB: No sir, STD connection has been removed.
Me: If you tell me how to go to the new office, I'll go there and work.
OB: Network is not yet installed in the new office.
Me: Then how is everybody working today?
OB: Nobody is working today sir. Today is a holiday!!
Some excerpts from News From India: The War Against Hinduism by Stephen Knapp
" ... Some of the tactics that the Christian missionaries have used to help make converts is to offer cheap polyester pants to the tribals of the Northeast if they become Christian, or even offer motor bicycles if they help convert their brothers, which also means their wives and family. In Madhya Pradesh, as noted in the Neogy Report, the missionaries give small loans on interest to the tribals, who cannot pay back such loans easily. However, if they become Christian, then such loans and the interest are dismissed. This is what goes on in the democracy of India, and under the tolerance of the Hindus, while if one such incidence would ever occur in a Muslim country, the result would be an immediate expulsion of the missionary from that nation."
"Another trick that has been done is that missionaries, while treating the sick, will give medicine of no value and ask the tribal to take it while offering prayers to his local deity. Naturally, no cure of disease is likely to occur with the useless medicine. Then the missionary gives the tribal real medicine and asks the tribal to take it while offering prayers to Jesus. Then when there is a recovery, it is attributed to the power of Christ and not to the medicine. Such conversion activities take place these days more often in the tribal areas under the guise of social service. However, true social service should be done without expecting anything in return, including conversion."
"Another thing that takes place is mass healings at meetings similar to revivals. What they do is pay people to attend the healings portraying themselves as being sick, or invalids on crutches, etc., who then get called up and are miraculously cured of their disease. This is attributed to the power of Christ, which then convinces many tribals that they too can benefit in various ways if they become Christian..."
" ... Some of the tactics that the Christian missionaries have used to help make converts is to offer cheap polyester pants to the tribals of the Northeast if they become Christian, or even offer motor bicycles if they help convert their brothers, which also means their wives and family. In Madhya Pradesh, as noted in the Neogy Report, the missionaries give small loans on interest to the tribals, who cannot pay back such loans easily. However, if they become Christian, then such loans and the interest are dismissed. This is what goes on in the democracy of India, and under the tolerance of the Hindus, while if one such incidence would ever occur in a Muslim country, the result would be an immediate expulsion of the missionary from that nation."
"Another trick that has been done is that missionaries, while treating the sick, will give medicine of no value and ask the tribal to take it while offering prayers to his local deity. Naturally, no cure of disease is likely to occur with the useless medicine. Then the missionary gives the tribal real medicine and asks the tribal to take it while offering prayers to Jesus. Then when there is a recovery, it is attributed to the power of Christ and not to the medicine. Such conversion activities take place these days more often in the tribal areas under the guise of social service. However, true social service should be done without expecting anything in return, including conversion."
"Another thing that takes place is mass healings at meetings similar to revivals. What they do is pay people to attend the healings portraying themselves as being sick, or invalids on crutches, etc., who then get called up and are miraculously cured of their disease. This is attributed to the power of Christ, which then convinces many tribals that they too can benefit in various ways if they become Christian..."
When Adhip asked me about a month back, which site do I check for Mumbai news, I had no answer. Later I typed "Mumbai news" in the Google toolbar and came across two good web sites:
www.mumbainews.com
www.mumbainews.net
Both the sites contain news not only about Mumbai, but all of India, and even international news. Surprisingly I had never heard of the sites before. I think I should check these more frequently, along with rediff and samachar.com.
www.mumbainews.com
www.mumbainews.net
Both the sites contain news not only about Mumbai, but all of India, and even international news. Surprisingly I had never heard of the sites before. I think I should check these more frequently, along with rediff and samachar.com.
Finally everything ended well. I took the flight back to Mumbai Sunday morning and reached home Sunday night. What were my feelings as I left Korea? There must have been a sense of achievement as I walked from SDI plant to SEC bus stand for the last time on Friday afternoon. There must have been a sense of satisfaction as I sent my last good-bye mail.
Surely there must have been nostalgia as I strolled in Namsangol, the most peaceful place in Seoul, for the last time. I remembered the time when I sat there several months ago on one of the rocks with some print-outs in my hand. I remembered the time I had seen traditional Korean dance during Choo Suk. My visit along with Adhip and Tarun. The frozen lake reminded me of something.
I wonder what were my feelings as I walked down the narrow lanes of Namdaemun market with Lalit, for last minute shopping on Saturday night. As I wished good-bye to the staff of Han Suites I must have felt a tinge of sadness. And as I travelled by the Subway, that I had fallen in love with, I don't know how much I thought I am going to miss it.
Because all nostalgia, sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and every other feeling were eclipsed by a feeling of incomparable fatigue. It will take some more time to realise and analyse all the happenings of last four weeks. I want to sleep well for once and get rid of all the tiredness. I hope the long leave will help me back to normal.
Surely there must have been nostalgia as I strolled in Namsangol, the most peaceful place in Seoul, for the last time. I remembered the time when I sat there several months ago on one of the rocks with some print-outs in my hand. I remembered the time I had seen traditional Korean dance during Choo Suk. My visit along with Adhip and Tarun. The frozen lake reminded me of something.
I wonder what were my feelings as I walked down the narrow lanes of Namdaemun market with Lalit, for last minute shopping on Saturday night. As I wished good-bye to the staff of Han Suites I must have felt a tinge of sadness. And as I travelled by the Subway, that I had fallen in love with, I don't know how much I thought I am going to miss it.
Because all nostalgia, sense of accomplishment, satisfaction, and every other feeling were eclipsed by a feeling of incomparable fatigue. It will take some more time to realise and analyse all the happenings of last four weeks. I want to sleep well for once and get rid of all the tiredness. I hope the long leave will help me back to normal.
Today I saw the movie Alexander. The battle scenes are shot well, especially the conquest of Babylon. However, it's a three-hour long movie that oftentimes seems like some documentry on Alexander's life rather than a movie. There are two things that one realizes on seeing the movie. First is Alexander's unprecedented military success. The second is his failure of conquest of India.
It was India that first broke the will of his army and then Alexander's own will to fight. For the first time Alexander's forces were opposed by armies mounted on twenty-feet tall elephants that instilled mortal fear in them. Alexander tried hard to motivate them, but after bloody battles in dense and trecherous forests, his own resolve weakened. He gave up his dream of conquering the world and declared, "We will not go futher. We will go back all the way to Macedonia".
The movie tells us that it was only India that he failed to conquer. Unfortunately we are not told the story this way. We are only taught about Alexander's victory over King Puru (or Porus as the Greeks called him). We consider Alexander as our conquerer. Because Indian history is written by people who have no pride in this great nation and her achievements. That is why we are not told to be proud of Alexander's failure to conquer India and Chandragupta Maurya's subsequent unification of our country from Khadahar to Bengal.
It was India that first broke the will of his army and then Alexander's own will to fight. For the first time Alexander's forces were opposed by armies mounted on twenty-feet tall elephants that instilled mortal fear in them. Alexander tried hard to motivate them, but after bloody battles in dense and trecherous forests, his own resolve weakened. He gave up his dream of conquering the world and declared, "We will not go futher. We will go back all the way to Macedonia".
The movie tells us that it was only India that he failed to conquer. Unfortunately we are not told the story this way. We are only taught about Alexander's victory over King Puru (or Porus as the Greeks called him). We consider Alexander as our conquerer. Because Indian history is written by people who have no pride in this great nation and her achievements. That is why we are not told to be proud of Alexander's failure to conquer India and Chandragupta Maurya's subsequent unification of our country from Khadahar to Bengal.
Tsunami toll rises to 1,16,000. This is UNimaginable and unprecedented! So unbelievably shocking!
Chandragupta's friend Atul Dighe was at Vivekanand Rock Memorial in Kanya Kumari when the Tsunami struck Indian coast. Thankfully the statue sheltered everybody.
Chandragupta's friend Atul Dighe was at Vivekanand Rock Memorial in Kanya Kumari when the Tsunami struck Indian coast. Thankfully the statue sheltered everybody.
Fatigue taking it's toll
Now that it has become a habit to miss the company bus and go to Suwon by train later, I felt no qualms doing that today. What surprised me was that, as the train pulled into Suwon station, I had to make an effort to get up from my seat and head out. Later in the day at some point, a thought crossed my mind, "I can't do this task any further". I have never said this to myself in several months. Exhaustion is now slowly taking it's toll on me.
Yesterday I reached home after 2 a.m. Productivity hasn't been good for the past two days. Often in the last two weeks, I have counted how many more days to go, here in Korea. I see many of my colleagues frequently counting down days, but I never do that, because impatience breeds on itself. So, I was surprised at what I was thinking.
Next ten days are going to be crucial. And it's going to get worse before it gets better. In past, I have taken wrong actions under stress and exhaution. I realise that I need to stay calm at this point of time. I am not the only one under duress. Everyone is under pressure to deliver. Others would be reacting to my actions under stress of their own. So I need to be extra careful. I need to understand my own state of mind as well as that of others. I am supposed to be good at staying calm under pressure. This would be yet another test for me.
What's killing me is lack of diversion. I haven't opened a book in last three weeks! May be I should try to find some time to read even in these busy days. It may help relax my mind.
One reason why Swami Vivekanand's writings has such a tremendous influence on my thoughts and my actions is that again and again I find that I am never in a situation where I do not have his suggestions to guide me. As I think about my present difficulties, I am reminded of what I read last week - "Best work is only done by alternate repose and work". Keeping this in mind would help.
I knew this month was going to be hectic. But I never thought it would be so hectic. First, I started sitting late and started taking the last bus from Suwon to Seoul. But this week, even that seemed too early. Most of the days I have been leaving house at around 7 or 8 a.m and returning after midnight. Today Korean courtesy forced me to go come home early (i.e. at 9:30 p.m). "We won't feel comfortable if you work alone and we all go home early to celebrate Christmas eve. So please, let's go home!" The only thing that spoils the mood after such a beautifully satisfying week and two days of great holidays to look forward to, is today's discovery of an "issue" that may hit us hard, with just a week to go-live. I would like to forget it and enjoy my weekend (knowing that I got a shorter weekend last time). However I don't know whether I would be able to do that. We often complain about our not being able to remember things when we need. I think it's a bigger problem when we ain't able to forget things that we want to forget!
In the first, Chandrayaan-1 will map the Moon’s topography with a 3D terrain mapping stereo camera capable of imaging the lunar surface in black and white. Useful, because ‘‘future developments on the moon will need an accurate base map,’’ says George Joseph, chairman, Chandrayaan-1 science advisory board. India’s other lunar objectives:
• Study origin, evolution, mass concentration of Moon
• Chemical, mineral composition of Moon
• Search for Helium-3 as potential energy resource
• Probe trapped, frozen water
• 10-15 kg payload of foreign experiments
Yesterday, Viswanath, Adhip, Veera and I went for bowling first time in Korea. It was fun great fun, especially the second game. Viswanath and I were paired in lane number 4. I took an early lead, bowling all the pins in the first throw. I maintained my lead till round number 6. But brilliant as he is, Viswanath came back from behind bowling all pins in three consecutive rounds - 6, 7 & 8. After the eight rounds I was trailing at 84 and Vis at 95+. I knew I need a miracle in the last two rounds to win. As I took position for the nineth round I was determined to concentrate well. I downed all the pins in the first shot, that took me to 94 plus the bonus at hand in round 10. I repeated the feat in the first throw of the tenth round to take me to 114. In the next throw one corner pin betrayed me and stood there while it's fellow pins were bowled down. In the bonus third throw in last round I had to hit the lone conermost pin, which is probably more difficult as putting down all ten in one throw. I threw the ball from one feet away from the edge with a slight angle. Half way through the lane I realised that the ball was head straight to towards the pin. And yes, it did bring it down without ever being under the risk of sliding into the gutter! I ended with a score of 134. A whopping 50 points scrored in the last two rounds!! Viswanath ended with a score of 128. In the neighbouring lane, Adhip and Veera tallied 67 and 64 respectively. Adhip quickly observed that our scores were exactly double their scores. It was surely the highest scoring and the most exciting game of bowling I have ever played!
Quote for these ... rather all days
No man can always be right. So the struggle is to do one's best, to keep the brain and conscience clear, never to be swayed by unworthy motives or inconsequential reasons, but to strive to unearth the basic factors involved, then do one's duty.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
No man can always be right. So the struggle is to do one's best, to keep the brain and conscience clear, never to be swayed by unworthy motives or inconsequential reasons, but to strive to unearth the basic factors involved, then do one's duty.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower
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Quotation
Half of America apologises to the rest of the world!!
"Some of us — hopefully most of us — are trying to understand and appreciate the effect our recent election will have on you, the citizens of the rest of the world. As our so-called leaders redouble their efforts to screw you over, please remember that some of us — hopefully most of us — are truly, truly sorry. And we'll say we're sorry, even on the behalf of the ones who aren't".
- www.sorryeverybody.com
"Some of us — hopefully most of us — are trying to understand and appreciate the effect our recent election will have on you, the citizens of the rest of the world. As our so-called leaders redouble their efforts to screw you over, please remember that some of us — hopefully most of us — are truly, truly sorry. And we'll say we're sorry, even on the behalf of the ones who aren't".
- www.sorryeverybody.com
Excerpts from another good article on the shankarAchArya episode, by Shobha Vasudevan:
All the articles that holler about the 'high profile' pontiff do not devote any newsprint to how he has utilised his position of authority. Jayendra Saraswathi, after taking over as the Shankaracharya, is singularly responsible for opening 55 schools and a string of hospitals, professional colleges, child care centres and universities throughout the country. The services in these institutions are offered free of charge or at subsidised rates, and benefit large sections of society. In addition, charitable trusts for aiding poor families, old-age homes, rural development trusts, food donation projects, and research projects have also been flagged off by the acharya.
All the articles that holler about the 'high profile' pontiff do not devote any newsprint to how he has utilised his position of authority. Jayendra Saraswathi, after taking over as the Shankaracharya, is singularly responsible for opening 55 schools and a string of hospitals, professional colleges, child care centres and universities throughout the country. The services in these institutions are offered free of charge or at subsidised rates, and benefit large sections of society. In addition, charitable trusts for aiding poor families, old-age homes, rural development trusts, food donation projects, and research projects have also been flagged off by the acharya.
A good article on shankarAchArya's arrest.
I think the shankarAchArya's arrest is not only unacceptable, but an unpardonable offence.
I think the shankarAchArya's arrest is not only unacceptable, but an unpardonable offence.
The Golden Mile of Iteawon
Iteawon (pronounced as itavAn) is Seoul's equivalent of MG road-Brigade road. About 1.2 kms in lenght it is the most happening place in Seoul Saturday nights. At one end of the road is US military base. Every weekend US come out of their base to pub and party. It also has a large number of foreign restaurants. For us Indians the main attraction at Iteawon is Indian food! There are three Indian hotels at Iteawon which we visit invariably on weekends.
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Korea
A Golden Leaf from Indian History
Chandragupta Maurya (322-298 BC) was the first emperor of the Mauryan empire. Alexander's invasion prompted Indians to develop a centralised state. Chandragupta came to rule much of North India. He rose to power under the influence of a minister named Chanakya, and with his assistance, overthrew the last of the Nanda kings of Magadha and captured their capital city of Pataliputa. He then turned his attention to northwestern India where a power vacuum had been left by the departure of Alexander. The way in which he carried himself and the way he ruled seems like a mirror image of Alexander. He conquered the lands east of the Indus River and then, moving south, took over much of what is now Central India.
The year 305 BC saw Chandragupta back in the Northwest, where Seleucus I Nicator, the Macedonian satrap of Babylonia, was threatening fresh invasions. Chandragupta not only stopped his advance but pushed the frontier farther west into what is now Afghanistan. Along with the the astute advice of Chanakya, Chandragupta seized Punjab, Kabul, Khandahar, Gandhara and Persia from Seluces. Selucus had to conclude a treaty with Chandragupta by which he surrendered a large territory including, in the opinion of certain writers, the satrapies of Paropanisadai (Kabul), Aria (Herat), Arachosia (Qanadahar) and Gedrosia (Baluchistan), in return for 500 elephants. The treaty was cemented by a marriage contract - Seluces' daughter was married to Chandragupta. Chandragupta's fame spread far and wide and his empire was recognised as a great power in the western countries. The kings of Egypt and Syria sent ambassadors to the Mauryan Court.
Maurya empire was the first really large and powerful centralised state in India. It was very well governed, with tempered autocracy at the top and democracy at the city and village levels. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador at the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, had expressed his admiration for the efficient administration of the empire. Megasthenes wrote about the prosperity of the Mauryan cities. He further reported that agriculture was healthy, water abundant and mineral wealth was in plenty. Speaking of the general prosperity, Megasthenes wrote, "the Indians, dressed in bright and rich colors, they liberally used ornaments and gems."
He also spoke of the division of society according to occupation and the large number of religious sects and foreigners in the empire. The people were divided into seven endogamous groups--"philosophers", peasants, herdsmen, traders, soldiers, government officials, and councilors. The army was composed of the four traditional Indian divisions: forces mounted on elephants, on chariots, cavalry, and infantry, and tended to be large - Chandragupta's forces numbered 600,000 men.
The religious life of the empire may perhaps best be characterized as pluralistic. Brahamanism, Buddhism, Jainism, the Ajivikas, and wandering mendicants of other types all seem to have coexisted side by side. The general religious policy of the Mauryas was to encourage tolerance.
Under Mauryas empire the Indian subcontinent saw, for the first time in history, a considerable degree of political unity. The empire was very strong and independent because it had some kind of political unity. In modern times the Maurya Empire is remembered as one of the golden ages of Indian history, a time when the country was united and independent.
Links:
brainyencyclopedia.com
indhistory.com
The year 305 BC saw Chandragupta back in the Northwest, where Seleucus I Nicator, the Macedonian satrap of Babylonia, was threatening fresh invasions. Chandragupta not only stopped his advance but pushed the frontier farther west into what is now Afghanistan. Along with the the astute advice of Chanakya, Chandragupta seized Punjab, Kabul, Khandahar, Gandhara and Persia from Seluces. Selucus had to conclude a treaty with Chandragupta by which he surrendered a large territory including, in the opinion of certain writers, the satrapies of Paropanisadai (Kabul), Aria (Herat), Arachosia (Qanadahar) and Gedrosia (Baluchistan), in return for 500 elephants. The treaty was cemented by a marriage contract - Seluces' daughter was married to Chandragupta. Chandragupta's fame spread far and wide and his empire was recognised as a great power in the western countries. The kings of Egypt and Syria sent ambassadors to the Mauryan Court.
Maurya empire was the first really large and powerful centralised state in India. It was very well governed, with tempered autocracy at the top and democracy at the city and village levels. Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador at the court of Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, had expressed his admiration for the efficient administration of the empire. Megasthenes wrote about the prosperity of the Mauryan cities. He further reported that agriculture was healthy, water abundant and mineral wealth was in plenty. Speaking of the general prosperity, Megasthenes wrote, "the Indians, dressed in bright and rich colors, they liberally used ornaments and gems."
He also spoke of the division of society according to occupation and the large number of religious sects and foreigners in the empire. The people were divided into seven endogamous groups--"philosophers", peasants, herdsmen, traders, soldiers, government officials, and councilors. The army was composed of the four traditional Indian divisions: forces mounted on elephants, on chariots, cavalry, and infantry, and tended to be large - Chandragupta's forces numbered 600,000 men.
The religious life of the empire may perhaps best be characterized as pluralistic. Brahamanism, Buddhism, Jainism, the Ajivikas, and wandering mendicants of other types all seem to have coexisted side by side. The general religious policy of the Mauryas was to encourage tolerance.
Under Mauryas empire the Indian subcontinent saw, for the first time in history, a considerable degree of political unity. The empire was very strong and independent because it had some kind of political unity. In modern times the Maurya Empire is remembered as one of the golden ages of Indian history, a time when the country was united and independent.
Links:
brainyencyclopedia.com
indhistory.com
For some people in our country, it doesn't matter so much the accused is really guilty or innocent as to what religion he belongs. Some months back I was disgusted when I read that an NGO by the name "Combating Communalism" and the lady behind it Teesta Seetalvad was working hard for acquittal of Godhra accused. Now the chief witness has accused the very same people of forcing her to give false testimony in the Best Bakery case in order to convict accused who she are in fact innocent!
Inspiring Capsules from Vivekanand
I have been associated with a group of friends who are dedicated to the cause of spreading the message of Swami Vivekanand. One of the members frequently sends quotations from Vivekanand's writings on our e-group. Here's one of his mails ... truely inspiring!
On Work
1. It is better to wear out than to rust out.
2. Whenever you promise to do any work, you must do it exactly at the appointed time, or people lose their faith in you.
3. Whatever one has to do, one must apply to it one’s whole attention and energy for the time being. Pavhari Baba of Ghazipur would clean his brass water vessel with the same undivided attention as he used in his meditation, japa, worship, study, etc. He cleaned it so diligently that it shone like gold. He himself being the best example of the secret he once told us of work, "the means should be loved and cared for as if it were the end itself."
4. We must plunge heart and soul and body into the work. And until we be ready to sacrifice everything else to one idea and to one alone, we never, never will see the Light.
5. Great Enterprise, boundless courage, tremendous energy and, above all perfect obedience - these are the only traits that lead to individual and national regeneration.
6. Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it takes after his heart. But the intelligent man is he who can convert every work into one that suits his taste. No work is pretty. Everything in this world is like a banyan-seed, which, though appearing tiny as a mustard seed, has yet the gigantic banyan tree latent within it. He indeed is intelligent who notices this and succeeds in making all works truly great.
7. All work is spoilt by dilatoriness.
8. Best work is only done by alternate repose and work.
9. One who wastes one’s energy in dabbling in other people’s affairs and in other aimless activities can hardly have any energy left for performing a desirable duty. The sum total of the energy that can be exhibited by a person is a fixed quantity. As such, if it finds an outlet in useless way, it can no further be drawn on for any purposeful activity. One requires tremendous energy to realize the deeper truths of religion. That is why the religious books of all races advice the aspirants not to waste their energy in the enjoyments of sense-objects, but to preserve it through continence and other means.
10. About works also, it should be understood that nobody can wholly avoid doing something or other, and no work can be either good or wholly bad. If you undertake a good work, you are bound to do some amount of bad work along with it. As a result, along with the happiness derived from the good work, some amount of unhappiness and dissatisfaction also will come inevitably. If you want to avoid that much of evil, you will have to give up the hope of deriving the apparent happiness from the sense-enjoyment, that is to say, you will have to give up all the selfish motives and go on doing your works out of a sense of duty. That is what is called ‘work without motive’ (selfless work) . While instructing Arjuna about this in the Gita, Shri Krishna says "Work, but dedicate its fruit to me , that is say, work for me."
11. Purity, patience and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all love. (this is my pet one!)
12. I like to work on calmly and silently, and the Lord is always with me. Follow me, if you will, by being intensely sincere, perfectly unselfish and above all, by being perfectly pure.
13. The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails unfurled catch it, and go forward on their way, but those which have their sails furled do not catch the wind. Is that fault of the wind? Is it the fault of the Merciful father,whose wind of mercy is blowing without ceasing day and night, whose mercy knows no decay, is it His fault that some of us are happy and some are unhappy? We make our own destiny.
14. Whatever you do,let that be your worship for the time.
Having spent so much time on this, I am sure it's time for me to get back to work. :-)
On Work
1. It is better to wear out than to rust out.
2. Whenever you promise to do any work, you must do it exactly at the appointed time, or people lose their faith in you.
3. Whatever one has to do, one must apply to it one’s whole attention and energy for the time being. Pavhari Baba of Ghazipur would clean his brass water vessel with the same undivided attention as he used in his meditation, japa, worship, study, etc. He cleaned it so diligently that it shone like gold. He himself being the best example of the secret he once told us of work, "the means should be loved and cared for as if it were the end itself."
4. We must plunge heart and soul and body into the work. And until we be ready to sacrifice everything else to one idea and to one alone, we never, never will see the Light.
5. Great Enterprise, boundless courage, tremendous energy and, above all perfect obedience - these are the only traits that lead to individual and national regeneration.
6. Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it takes after his heart. But the intelligent man is he who can convert every work into one that suits his taste. No work is pretty. Everything in this world is like a banyan-seed, which, though appearing tiny as a mustard seed, has yet the gigantic banyan tree latent within it. He indeed is intelligent who notices this and succeeds in making all works truly great.
7. All work is spoilt by dilatoriness.
8. Best work is only done by alternate repose and work.
9. One who wastes one’s energy in dabbling in other people’s affairs and in other aimless activities can hardly have any energy left for performing a desirable duty. The sum total of the energy that can be exhibited by a person is a fixed quantity. As such, if it finds an outlet in useless way, it can no further be drawn on for any purposeful activity. One requires tremendous energy to realize the deeper truths of religion. That is why the religious books of all races advice the aspirants not to waste their energy in the enjoyments of sense-objects, but to preserve it through continence and other means.
10. About works also, it should be understood that nobody can wholly avoid doing something or other, and no work can be either good or wholly bad. If you undertake a good work, you are bound to do some amount of bad work along with it. As a result, along with the happiness derived from the good work, some amount of unhappiness and dissatisfaction also will come inevitably. If you want to avoid that much of evil, you will have to give up the hope of deriving the apparent happiness from the sense-enjoyment, that is to say, you will have to give up all the selfish motives and go on doing your works out of a sense of duty. That is what is called ‘work without motive’ (selfless work) . While instructing Arjuna about this in the Gita, Shri Krishna says "Work, but dedicate its fruit to me , that is say, work for me."
11. Purity, patience and perseverance are the three essentials to success, and above all love. (this is my pet one!)
12. I like to work on calmly and silently, and the Lord is always with me. Follow me, if you will, by being intensely sincere, perfectly unselfish and above all, by being perfectly pure.
13. The wind is blowing; those vessels whose sails unfurled catch it, and go forward on their way, but those which have their sails furled do not catch the wind. Is that fault of the wind? Is it the fault of the Merciful father,whose wind of mercy is blowing without ceasing day and night, whose mercy knows no decay, is it His fault that some of us are happy and some are unhappy? We make our own destiny.
14. Whatever you do,let that be your worship for the time.
Having spent so much time on this, I am sure it's time for me to get back to work. :-)
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Quotation,
Swami Vivekanand
Korea in Pictures - II
Seoul is surrounded by many mountains. One of those is
(Click to enlarge)
Kwanaksan
Kwanaksan is located in the south of Seoul. As I found out, it's a beautiful trek to the peak, which is about 600m above sea level. At the top there are beautiful Buddhist shrines more than thousand years old. Here are some of the pictures of the shrines.
(Click to enlarge)
Korea in Pictures - I
Here's the first in the series "Korea in Pictures". As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words." It is much better for me to post pictures rather than just tell you about Korea. Although this first post is about one of the most important tourist destinations in Korea, my idea is not just to tell you about tourist places in Korea, but rather to show you everything that I have found interesting in my stay here - even the most ordinary things of day-to-day life. But first let me begin with one of the oldest and most important landmarks in Seoul.
Namdaemun
(pronounced as nAm-de-mun) or the "Great South Gate" is Korea's Treasure number 1. This wooden structure was constructed in 1398 and as the name suggests was the southern gate to the city of Seoul. Today it is in the heart of Downtown Seoul and you can see it is surrounded by skyscrapers.
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