Day 157

 Man's search for meaning-14

Homo sapiens always believe that they are the acme of creations on earth and the chosen children of God (by the believers, of course). But are they really?

Such questions crop up when we closely look at the nature and other creations.

I happen to two see two small videos recently…

• ·       a spider was seen creating a web….  video lasted less than two minutes.... with the help of powerful camera, the whole process was clearly visible/beautifully captured. First, one could see some strands stretching in different directions… thereafter the spider, went round and round in circles creating further strands… and lo with a minute or so completed the full web… a marvel to watch… even a sophisticated weaver may be awe struck by the creation of the unsung spider.

In which design school the spider has learned the art can be asked by uninitiated…. or which university?

• ·         a woodpecker was seen making a big hole on a full-grown tree… a hole was already made and the bird was making it still wider. The way the bird was chiselling the wood with its long beaks… will even put a seasoned wood cutter to shame…. Such a systematic, focused effort and taking out hard tree wood slowly … and systematically…

The effort and time taken to carve out a hole on a big tree must be tremendous for  bird of that size… the same process the homo sapiens also will achieve today in minutes with sharpen tools or even cutters using batteries.

·       Who is more intelligent, creative and productive is the doubt?

·       Such activities of birds, animals when seen one may think that Homo sapiens, all said done, is quite ordinary in the scheme of things of the nature … 

•    though he/she has conquered even the space partially or can trap elephants or kill Lions by deceit and with guns…. 
•   what greatness is really there really… standing much away from a ferocious tiger or Lion  and kill it with gun shot or catch them in nets already placed…
•        Should one be proud or ashamed?  Worth a thought…
•    ( I think that should call for shame and sympathy… if in a school  a child does anything that   smells of cheating/foul play, then he/she will be fined or put to shame… but when  grown up does the same, it is considered as valour… remember the famous words - “ Hand of the God” usage by Maradona….)

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 8.10 AM

Day 156

 Man's search for learning-13

• This blog series is apolitical by design. 
• Yet certain topics are covered due to their national and international importance/ ramifications.

PM Visits Parliament Building Construction Site at Night, Inspects Work- thus ran few headlines on the net, with the following details.

•       PM made an unannounced visit to the construction site of the new Parliament building, on Sunday night at around 8:45 pm., which is expected to be completed in the second half of the next year. (This visit was  barely within 10 hours of returning from USA, after a long flight of some 15 hours).
•        Modi spoke to people involved in the construction- architects, engineers and worker- as he inspected the ongoing work, official sources said.
•   He spent almost an hour at the site of the proposed Central Vista project and carried out a first-hand inspection of the construction status of the new Parliament building.

Government officials have said that Parliament's winter session in 2022 will be held in the new building. The new parliament building will have an area of 64,500 square metres. It will also have a grand Constitution Hall to showcase India's democratic heritage, a lounge for members of Parliament, a library, multiple committee rooms, dining areas and ample parking space. In the new building, the Lok Sabha chamber will have a seating capacity for 888 members, while the Rajya Sabha will have 384 seats for members. The cost of the project is Rs.862 Crore and expected date of completion is in October, 2022.

This blog wishes to highlight the work ethics demonstrated by our PM, that can be a great motivator to anyone.

Two- three videos are available on the net in which the PM was  seen taking detailed survey of the work, moving from place to place and seeing the progress with much interest.

·       Have we heard/seen of any other PM of India taking such keen  personal interest in any project, that too just after returning from  such a foreign trip…?

·       The jet lag itself will make one dull and needing rest. But not this PM… For him, work comes first, which he not only speaks about but also demonstrates… here is a PM who walk the talk…. all the way…

·       Something many in our country can closely watch, see, learn and imbibe profitably…. for their own growth and that of the country……

·        CRITICISM IS GOOD PROVIDED THE CRITICISER HAS THE REQUISITE CREDENTIALS TO DO SO…

·       HOW MANY HAVE THAT- HONESTLY- TO CRITICISE OUR PM … WORTH A THINK.

The book- Execution by Larry Bossidy and Ram Charan…comes to my mind while writing this piece, which I was fond of citing to trainees for a very long time… PM demonstrates its teachings by his sheer conduct….

Thus, the country needs super finishers/achievers like

·       Ronaldo/ Messi/ Lewandowsky as in football

·       Dhoni in Cricket          

*   Usain Bolt in athletics

*   Novak Djokovic  in Tennis

·       Sreedharan in Infrastructure/Railways

·       Narayana Murthy in IT

·       Dr. Abdul Kalam in Space Research

·       Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw in Defence

·                            but  definitely not also-rans  ……..

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 8 20 AM

Day 155

 Man’s search for meaning- 12

Modi bashers are aplenty in this country and even outside… yet….

•  I saw a video clip recently where a person from a minority community  so he is not an Andha Bhakta…was telling…that every one should keep the photo of the current PM next to  the photo/s of the God/s worshipped by them… 
• he gave some reasons in support of that… I am not going to those aspects… as the focus here is  something else…

The speaker, a senior citizen, stated that all humans primarily need the following in life.

1.    Air

2.    Water

3.    Food

4.    A place to evacuate what is eaten

He stated that all else is secondary…. Come to think of that … what he uttered makes eminent sense…

·       now comes the crux… he said in the last 75 years, except the current PM, no other PM ever referred to the need for toilets for all in the country….why?

·       he gave an excellent reason for that… when a person is born with a silver spoon, he/she will not be able to comprehend the importance of a toilet, bathroom, etc. in life….

·       for this one should have come from such backgrounds.

·       He went on to add that many pooh… poohed the PM for his initiatives on building toilets to the depraved… made even great fun of that…

He stated that the PM gave dignity to men and women in our lower strata of the society with those overdue initiatives… for this alone he will be remembered by the posterity, he added… and there are many other achievements to his credit.. for those who wish to see and acknowledge...

(I used to  travel between King's Circle and Bandra- Mumbai- for my studies during 1969-1973. The train has to pass through Mahim.. Both sides of Mahim station are full of slums, Dharavi is on one side... all the slum dwellers freely used the railway tracks for want of alternatives. Horrible stench one will never ever forget... This situation continued  later too.. ditto at Jogeswari, Mankhurd , Sewri, Govandi etc..)

I have seen all the 14 PMs of this country— albeit on  TV screen- and

•  have listened to most of  their glowing speeches from the Red Fort… 
• but none except the current PM ever talked on issues like cleanliness- Swatch Bharat, toilet, electricity, water, gas, houses for the poorest of the poor with such great fervor  and 
•  took concrete steps on those directions.

There are other aspects in the video which can have political undertones… but I am sure none will dispute the four areas cited by the speaker, especially the last….

Being born- as man, animal, bird or worms- is a matter of sheer accident… where …to whom… when.... Which country… which family… these are all sheer accident… after being born only man takes wing and color……

• Abraham Maslow’s first need is talked here with great conviction….
• Our country could have taken needed steps  much earlier…… much earlier… if only we had.....

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 7 20 AM

Day 154

Man’s Search for Meaning -11

Very recently at Palakkad, Kerala State a herd of wild elephants wandered into an area where a new IIT is being set up… Poor elephants.. their habitat is  being taken over by future engineers… in order to make their future bright the present of the animal giants and others are sacrificed…

• This is not the story of Kerala alone… in various parts of India and elsewhere resorts are constructed either  inside wild sanctuaries or around /near to them so the bored city bred people can take a vacation during weekends to see the animals, as in circus….when they come to drink water, mate or even deliver their kids.. all great entertainments and past time to a generation , who has lost all sense of direction and proportions..

Human being should consider how they will feel if their daily chores are being video graphed or people are allowed to watch live their daily chores at home… yes there are videos on the net of extreme scenes even today.. then they are paid actors … in which the actors are putting up a show…

·       We are referring to live watching ….let us say the animals are having the scope to watch.. us the humans.. at a later date… as in circus… we become the players and animals the spectators.. how much we will be amused…

Even in real life,, if a photo is taken of a celebrity/VIP, he/she shows the  real colour…

• Incidentally  I saw a video on Cristiano Ronaldo, who went for a coffee to a shop and then.. the public came to him and requested for a selfie.. he obliged a couple of them… then one after another  rushed to him.. and in the video he obliged a large number of patrons in  the coffee shop including the employees...  very graciously….

That is a willing action… we are now referring to intrusion.. if celebrities are pissed of when their privacy is intruded into, what  right we --- the thinking homo sapiens – have to intrude into the habitat of other animals..

·      If we do not respect the nature and its laws and act as if we are the Creator, then the Real Creator will teach us lessons through…. Pandemics, earth quakes, Tsunamis, wars, terrorism….all ways to destroy, destruct and bring pain to the living and suffering to the living….

Animals have no lawyers to present their case… Live and let live should be the order.. or  tit for tat seems to work like Swiss clock  precision in nature… if only one wakes up to that reality  … sooner than later…. One can at least hope for sense to prevail… hopefully...

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 8 AM

 

 

Day 153

 Man’s search for meaning- 11

I got a video clip on yesterday, where in a son is taking care of his mother,  92 years  old, suffering from dementia.

He stated that she loses memory at times.... so, the conversation shown went as follows… she asked him who he is to which he replied that he is her son.

·   Then she asked whether she has any other children ...to which he replied she has 6 children.... then she asked about her husband... to which he replied that his father died 20 years ago........ so, she asked how did he die. To which he added.... due to heart attack…then she started sobbing..

·       when he added that she had a wonderful married life of 49 years with 6 lovely children too.. so she thanked him for taking care of her now… for which he replied as to how she had brought up 6 children so well…

·        then he added that he had put a video of theirs on the net and some 2 million people have seen it and are praying for her… she was delighted/touched to hear that and added that children should take care of their parents and she wished her son /children and others well in their life…

What a touching video indeed… she was seen sipping tea or coffee or juice and taking some snacks…

See the plight of a person, not able to remember anything from her life. marriage, husband, children, death of husband, names…. Nothing at all… yet alive and cheerful at times….

The mere thought of such a life makes one fearful and threatened…all that we take for granted …. Health, memory, relations, friends, wife/husband, family, children all indeed which are all linked with the mind… memory… once that fails to function… everything is alike… a shadow… no son, no husband. no family… No …nothing at all…like a new born child… just blank…. Mere blankness…

So, what a beautiful instrument the God has gifted to us…

·       with good health, working organs of perception, actions, mind, intellect, memory and even ego… to know who we are…. even in this mundane world.

·       How beautiful an instrument … all that ceases when the mind becomes dysfunctional….

·       Are we sufficiently conscious of these blessings… are we grateful to the creator first and parents next… and all others at a large, who make this living possible…?

These are worth thinking.. and also the meaning of this existence… what is it really?

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 8 AM

152

 Man’s Search for Meaning 10

I received the following post yesterday.

′ DON ' T EVER SHUT UP AGAIN!"

“The first teaching day was a professor of law school. The first thing he did was ask for the name of a student sitting in the front row:

What's your name?... My name is Nelson.

- Get out of my class and don't come back! ordered.

Nelson was confused. The teacher walked towards him. He got up fast, got his stuff and left class.

Everyone was scared and indignant, but no one spoke.

- Very good! Let's start. What are laws for? the professor asked.

Students were still afraid, but slowly began to answer the question.

- To have order in our society…. No! No! No! No!

- Make people who make mistakes pay for their actions.

- No! No! No! No! Does anyone know the answer to this question?

The young girl timidly spoke to ′′ To advance justice,"

- Finally! Justice! But what is justice??

Everyone was getting mad at the professor's attitude. But they kept responding.

- Protect people's rights…. OK. And what else?

- Differentiate good from evil, reward those who do good...

- Okay... so answer the question, did I do the right thing by kicking Nelson out of class?

Everyone was silent, no one answered.

- I want a unanimous answer! NO!

They responded with one voice.

- Can you say I have committed an injustice?... Yes!

- ′′ And why didn't anyone do anything about it? Why do we want laws and rules if we don't have the will to apply them? Each of you has a duty to speak when you witness injustice. Everybody! Everybody! Everybody! Everybody! Don't ever be silent again!

 Go get Nelson. After all, he is your teacher, I am from another period.

You know, when we don't stand up for our rights, dignity disappears, and dignity cannot be negotiated."

- Doris Carrier

 I have no idea whether the above is made up or actual. But the message in that is very relevant. The majority chooses to remain silent. In society at large... they feel as it does not concern them, why to dabble? …

In Kerala recently a young girl was arrested---

In a controversial incident, an 18-year-old student in Kerala’s Kollam district was booked by police on Monday, July 26, after she questioned police who were allegedly levying fines on people standing in a queue in front of a bank, citing violation of COVID-19 protocol. 

• The video of Gowry Nanda, the student, standing up to the police went viral on social media. 
• Gowry also brought the police complaint before the Kerala State Youth Commission, after which the Chadayamangalam police, who booked Gowry, dropped the case. (internet)

Her only mistake, she questioned… How can you question? then you pay the price.... the trauma she underwent only she and her parents will know…

Due to social media uproar, she could wriggle out… but all won’t be that lucky.

After seeing such results who will venture in future…

• So the class room teachings, remain in classrooms… 
• we will continue with the British culture of slavery in one form or other…. if you want your limb and liberty in place.

Silence of the lambs will be order of the day…. Till the issue strikes you.... then others will be silent. That has been the past and even the present and future cannot be different.

What is the moral of the story….?

All laws and enforcement etc. are for those societies, where you can expect fair treatment... if that is in doubt… better be silent… In the book The Argumentative Indian… Amartya Sen, laments… that the Indians have become less argumentative… he doesn’t know the ground reality as he is a US resident for decades on…

Environmental scanning is done by banks before lending… same way one must see around… before acting/talking… look before you leap is an old saying... or else… Moun mein avastith Raho… Abide in Silence.... will be a good maxim for overall Health, Happiness and Peace, the foremost aims of one and all…

A small post stirred these thoughts…

 To be, or not to be, that is the question – Hamlet’s dilemma comes to the fore for everyone at one time or other.

·       to speak or not to speak …

·       let us hope God will show the right way at the right time.

·        let us pray for that always….

Be happy. Be safe.

ॐ 

 8 20 AM