The verdict and Ahimsa

Two days after the historic verdict by the Lucknow bench of Allahabad High court, the fear of a street violence is now almost over. Still in the media the aftermath of the verdict, its related debates and the postmortems are going on. Lot many people are still unable to understand this episode of turn around. IT is Judiciary!!!


It is truly understandable from the reactions of the many leaders that the form of verdict was really unexpected. Many ‘lotuswallahs’, many ‘saffronites’ and many of the pro extremist Islamists must have gone disappointed as a number of ‘suparees’ they had taken, went unfruitful. It had been a pre-war like tension and situation laid out in most of the metros, tightened security, alarmist media and all the more frightened “Aam Aadmi”.

In fact, I believe, it might be the repeated screams by the national and regional political leaders- crying to the mob to keep it peaceful, calm and united- let the people in the country frightened.

Any how the people have reacted to it in a better way than it was expected

Jai Ho India… ...

******

In the midst of all these alarming situation came the day of Ahimsa. Truly, it was just today only I came to know that, the birthday of our father of nation is being celebrated as World Ahimsa day. I saw this exact phrase in one of the leading T.V Channels today. When I googled this word, I was surprised to see different results saying World Ahimsa Day on Oct 2nd and World Non Violence day on Jan 30th. aren’t both same? Thanks to google instant that gave me instant surprises. Confused to see this I thought I shall go about it with the United Nations’ resolution to celebrate the World Ahimsa day on Oct-2nd. The Nation celebrated Gandhiji’s 142nd birthday.

Over the past few years on this day the usual report the Malayalam news channels and the next day’s print daily’s used to be the footages of bhajans and remembrance meetings held in the regional congress party’s head office. The black haired young leaders sit cross-legged on the floor and the elders in the cushioned sofas. Indeed do they chant certain bhajans including “vaishnava janato” and “raghupathi raghava rajaram”. Needless to say I used to feel funny about this visuals and video footages. May be one or two leaders come upon the channel cameras to explain various things they did on this particular day. On the other hand it is a revered scene to see the national leaders paying their respect to the father of the nation at Raj-ghat, which used to be a ubiquitous footage shown in all the T.V channels.

Today unfortunately I couldn’t peek in to the detailed reports in the various TV channels to find more interesting news.

I remember various things we have been urged to do by our teachers during my schooldays over this week’s time starting Oct 2nd. There is a lot to write about it, I think I can do it later some time.

By the way I started speaking about the World Ahimsa Day. Good that the day is being commemorated by the United Nations. But why that the days importance in Mahatma’s own country just stays limited to the TV reports showing various leaders paying homage to that great man?

I remember reading about him. He had a wonderful dream. Eliminate poverty from the villages of India. He had said, the Soul of India lives in its villages. I think a part of his quote has been accepted by the Authorities, which was translated through an agricultural ascent that was glorified as Green revolution happened during 1970s. Indeed All India Radio played a vital role to broaden awareness of this mission among the farmers all over India. This has truly given Indian Economy a wonderful threshold to evolve as a stronger one in the world. Though it had been a process of long tenure, it was claimed to achieve its objective. Now what.. Look at the population in India. A massive part of the total population is considered to be poor and poorer. Millions in the billion plus population starve, where thousands of tons of grains were let to rot this monsoon. One of the TV report mentioned it was sufficient to feed the poor of the country over this monsoon, if it were distributed through the widely remarked public distribution system of the country and through the open market. Still the worst had happened. But the news and related reports and enquiry were let to bury. It was Unfortunate!!!

Only I could say is— Hey Ram!!!

Solitude unlimited

These days were just monotonous to me. Stuck to the same routine, in dot to dot precision; the life went on mechanically, as if it is a ticking timepiece. Only a few hours were worth remembering, else the whole week was wasteful.


I was largely feeling guilty of not doing anything fruitful at an ambience where all the resources are well available. With the monotony creeping up my behavior and habits, now I have been fine tuned to the bizarre solitude present in my room and that at my work atmosphere.

Everyday, sight of same faces, same voices, same noisy shouting; I was loosing any glimpse of happiness that was left within myself.

It was remarkable to have met a seemingly strange face in this magnificent city. I was just walking down the lobby of a shopping mall with the interest of window shopping, and some pass time when somebody put his arm around my shoulder crying out my childhood nickname. It was rather a fear that hit me more than a surprise. He just pulled me to a table at the corner of a coffee bar in that prestigious Mall. The brand he bore on his chest was also much famous. Surprisingly this guy was managing that coffee bar. He introduced himself to with his first name which did not enlighten my reminiscence at all, but indeed when he uttered his nickname which we used to call. I was fascinated when I realized that it’s been almost 15 years since we lost ourselves in the memories. He was one of my school-day friends. We spent a few minutes reminiscing our school days and our naughty childhood. I had to bid goodbye to him when one customer untimely dropped in to there.

Some people are like this, they remember far forgotten events and people they had met long time ago. They are brainy.

My desperation is boiling up!! I need a change. This is prompting me to take a break. Hence a vacation is imminent. I am happy that shortly I would be reaching my home, which will be a refreshing holidaying.

June 5th; The day worth remember

Another day just passed with out making much noise, barely noticed or with zero efforts from to make it noted. In this part of the world where I live these days, it was a lazy weekend when June the 5th fall on a Saturday. It was with out much expected media hype from the local bodies, the world environment day was celebrated. Many people planted “Trees for tomorrow” where-ever they lived; not even looking at the fertility of the place where the “trees” were planted.

I had noticed the significance of this day when I read something on world environment day a few days back and planned of taking my nephew to somewhere this day was colorfully celebrated. I being an absent minded hid it behind the easier cover of forgetfulness and to make it the most unfortunate for the day, Nandu was down with Coxsackievirus infection. Fever was appearing fluctuated reaching highs and lows through day and night.

I had been enlightened about the day only when I saw one of the regional news channels broadcast, Smt. Sugathakumari teacher planting a small tree somewhere in kerala and the news lead to a long debate on environmental conservation and preservation.

It is undoubtedly clear, the necessity of preserving Mother Nature from further damages. I was reading on one of the internet message boards, that the theme for the year 2010 on world environment day was “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”; which gives the correct meaning, but goes seldom noticed. We do not need any particular studies to reveal the fact that only the human being- the greediest and the mightiest species on the face of the earth- caters most to the environmental hazards. Ranging from the corporate giants, to the common man take their part and act their roll more prudent than required when it comes to contaminations. His genes only look for His biological economic survival. I hear a catastrophe hissing behind my ears and so do a lot many but pretending to have un-noticed as I did.

If you look to the terrain of India, the discussions of environmental preservations, arguments, debates, will take so many names to us, Plachimada, mavoists, various industrial giants, other corporate black magicians and tainted state governments.

These debates make a lot of noises, unbearable and they themselves become a deadly pollution. Now it’s time for us think and act, not just to debate and then to forget it for next 364 days. On the 364th evening the mobile phones ring a reminder alarm or the inbox calendars pop up an appointment information or a ‘to-do note’ to remind you again about a june 5th on the next day. I remember a story scribbled by one of my friends in his surplus thoughts that on a June 5th, he and his friend, being a part of the young scouts’ activity “ Khari-Kamai” (real earning with dignity and self-respect) they went to a near by home to do some work and earn some money for the scouts fund (?). A lonely man was living in that huge bungalow,beautifully gardened and well settled. When the man opened the door they showed their scouts’ cards to him . With impending amusement, the man welcomed them to the inside and gave them a long lecture. After a long time, the house owner told them that he didn’t have them any work to give but imparted them the significance of june 5th. He was said to have offered the boys Rs. 50 and handed two Gulmohar plants. The money was given to them with a condition to come there every evening after school and water the plants for next few days. Eying the Rs. 50/- bill they said “yes” and planted the trees. To the best of his own memories, he affirms not to have passed by that house for years afterwards. To his musings, he happened to pass by that place almost two decades later the event, and the beautifully red flowered gulmohar waved to him bringing colorful reminiscence of the past childhood.

Let’s leave the story think about the significance of June the 5th. As a lay man for me this day is as important as it is as Aug 15th for all Indians, July 4th for Americans, Oct 5th for the French, Nov 1st for me myself, etc.

The inevitable is happening. Natural calamities outburst when a small rain pours in claiming lots of lives, storms are common during monsoon and sun storms in summers. Sun-stroke and sun-burns make so many people lose their lives. Greeneries turn to deserts, wells and ponds dry off. Drinking water becomes dream. It is time to act. To act What??
It has been identified that the major issue to be addressed immediately is the emission green house gases. How to control the emissions? The major CO2 emission is by the vehicles. We can not touch industries. Because they are the livelihood for millions and they themselves has certain vested interests too.
Why you need a 4 wheel drive inefficient car to take a single person to the office which is just a few mins walk away down the lane of a metro station? What if you can use a public transport when want move around alone? Why not a bicycle to your destination just a mile away? Let’s ask our governments to provide easier public transport amenities. Let’s request our managers to arrange pick n drop to n fro office. Lot many have already started!! It seems there are practical problems but is there any problem with out solution?
Merely planting a tree on a june 5th as my friend did will not make it work. I know I have scribbled a lot of boring stuff.

Let’s stop over exploiting our nature? Let’s conserve the biodiversity as it is. The question arising in my heart is that “what did I do on this day? What am I planning to do on the coming days?”
The UNEP has lined up a guideline sort of message to protect the biodiversity. It is just a start up. Now we have to take it forward adding new things, newer activities, lessening the pollution.
Click here to get UNEP Biodiversity educative.


One again “Many Species. One Planet. One Future”

The Homesick.

Now days I started feeling the weekends dull and very much boring. Don’t know why!! In fact the lengthy sleep on the day makes it unfruitful. It becomes al most noon time for me to get up. An untimely breakfast becomes a brunch and the whole day’s energy is gone with that. Soaring temperature makes an outing a horrible event. Oh, Goodness, it’s just the April has passed; more horrible months are coming in. I just can’t look at the calendar for the trimester staring June. The usual highs stand close to 48 Deg centigrade and lows close to 36 or 38. The high humid summer will turn the even the nights nightmarish. Good for schooling children that their vacation starts by second week of July and will cover the whole soaring summer. Most of the families will leave for their long holidays and the offices will see lots of empty chairs. Slower work pace will leave the days longer.

I am looking forward to have a nice vacation this time. Recently my home trips leave me a bit desperate. This time I desire to enjoy a nice span of holidays. I think a trip with the parents to one of the hill-stations would be a good idea. But the oldies might like a pilgrimage. Oldies?? Oh my mom would be shocked if she sees this comment.

Any how being at home is a pleasure. Usually I come home with out giving any notice. Last time, only Prasanth knew that I was arriving; another person who knew it was a friend of mine whose name I don’t want to take here. Actually I loosely told him during a conversation. Giving a surprise visit to home is a splendid experience. I enjoy that. I will be in trouble only when parents went on a visit to some where else. I knew where Amma used to keep the keys if they had gone to the nearest temple or to the market for weekly vegetable purchase. She keeps it at a “hidden place” that’s only known to these kids. The best part is that even “Paru” (a doggy at the neighboring home) knows these secret places. Usually prior to my visit, before I catch my arrangements, I used to make sure that they are not going any where on those days of my arrival. Because of this now my mom falls suspicious when I ask them for a couple of times more that on a particular day if they plan to go any where mostly on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Now I need to find a new way to know their movements.

Though we plan something, the less-punctual travel services make everything upside down. I like travelling light. Usually I take only a max of 18 kg baggage though the baggage allowances are for 40 kg. I strictly try to follow Indian railways’ motto, less luggage, less head ache!!!

Last time I got in to trouble when the flight carrying me and other 115 passengers, 4 crew members and 2 pilots touched down the tarmac at CIAL with a 10 mins delay. Baggage took another 20 mins. , the result; I missed my planned train from Alwaye at 7.10am. I had just 40 mins in my hand to reach Alwaye Railway station and catch the train to my holy land. I did not consider the time to pull out a ticket. There was a long queue before I reached there. I cursed the air carrier through out my journey till I reached home. They boast of a leading quality conservation certification for their services. From that day I lost my faith in these certification notices and the certifier’s blue and green emblem.
The excitement of reaching home on next morning had slipped away my sleep that night and I kept waiting for my connection flight for three hours at Mumbai Chatrapathi Sivaji Airport’s domestic Terminal. It was a four hours sleepless flight followed by another three hours wait. During last summer, at all international gateways the passengers were strictly undergone some health checks for Swine Flue. Some remote sensing instrument was kept there at the passenger entry point. It looked like a modern ammunition instrument aimed at me. Luckily neither me, nor any one in that flight were diagnosed for swine flue. Otherwise!! Oh Holy Fire, I can’t just imagine.

The 30 mins delay at the Cochin air port was translated to a total three hour’s delay in my arrival at home. The 11 O’ Clock expected guest reached home at 2 O’ Clock, post noon. In those twelve hours of my long expedition (?), I used all modes of traveling means except the one by water. A taxi cab, Air planes, The Auto Rickshaw, The great Indian railways’ Train, and another Auto rick. The experience was wonderful. It would have been more splendid if the timings were followed as per my plan.
Achan was happy that day, for my unexpected presence for lunch with him, on his birthday. Though it was not a big festivity, only Prashanth and Geetechi’s (my lovely aunt) family was there. That day I realized in Indian families how deep parents feel missing their children, when they are far away, but just a phone call away from them. Still they do not show that to their children. Since then I made it a habit that I call them every day, and talk with them at least for three minutes what ever it happens.

They are happy for me!!! And I am happy for them!!!

Invariant Desperations

Invariant Desperations

I do not know, who else in the world would read my words, seldom do I wish to know that though!!!
Because it doesn’t make any sense to me as far as I do not publish at least a 120 paged, hardbound book, pleading and falling at the feet of any hard pocketed publisher, where it’s totally a different issue.

So my friend, this is for you.. …

The name is Hari. Linguistically it means “one who abolishes”; can be a bit elaborated to reach “One who abolishes the darkness.” As I said earlier, the name doesn’t just make any sense. It is a simple symbol that makes one recognized among a crowd and I don’t abolish darkness anywhere.
As a matter of fact, I like darkness. I like walking in the darkness, I like staring at the darkness. I like swimming in the darkness. On a no-moon night, sitting beneath a banyan tree in the dense darkness is worth enjoyable. The noise of the trembling banyan leaves will turn to be an illusive music and take you to the deepest level of sleep. You will get the better bed-mates there. The Bats, some night –awake birds, even you may find a beautiful owl perching on one of the higher branches giving you protection. The snakes if there around will be fantastic to give a good company. Its hissing is impressing.
Thus the darkness. More over no one sees me there. They won’t ask me “why am l like this?”, I don’t need to answer their questions. Darkness hides so much of things, mysteriously.
You know the banyan tree is considered to be one of the best atmospheric pollution controllers. She absorbs more CO2 than any other plants and expels good O2. Her roots are deeply networked and reach larger area. Hence she has a good amount of water reservoir capacity. Okay.. Let’s leave all those things to the environmentalist and botanists. Usually in Indian mythology refers thebanyan tree to a Man, male. But I feel and find more of a feminine ecstasy in banyan tree.
It was at a point of darkness every thing has evolved from. The Universe, the big bang, the Stars, the sun, the planets, the satellites, the earth, the sea, the shore, the life.. Everything. Even you have might have felt t the deep enthralling darkness while you were a foetus. Think of your posture when you were securely packed inside your mother’s womb. You are connected to your mother via an umbilical cord and By 30th week, you started sucking your fingers. There too was darkness. Only you felt things. One fine morning, noon, evening or at night or at midnight something started pushing you down the ally and you fall in to the new world. Still the you find darkness there and you didn’t scream for help. The Masonic lady who took you in to her hands patted you back gently to make you scream. Hearing that the half fainted mom gets back to consciousness and forgets the pain she had hitherto. She is taught to feed you at that very instance. A pale coloured, odour-less , tasteless beestings is fed to you. You scream, sleep and wake up with another scream and opening your eyes. The darkness still hits your eyes..

Still I like Darkness. I really hate Name Hari, which means the one who abolishes Darkness.

Desperations
From here I will start describing my Invariant Desperations.