Titanic...!

Iceberg is one tenth visible over the surface and lies nine tenth below the surface of the ocean. Not just that, it is pyramid or cone shaped, which means its bulging volume under the water is huge than what a human eye can see or the mind can imagine. This same iceberg causes shipwrecks, most infamous in human history being the Titanic, so much so that anything on the verge of complete destruction easily qualifies as being Titanic! The tip of iceberg doesn’t look that scary or dreadful, in fact it’s a good view to please the eyes with its sparkling conical shape like a lampshade that illuminates the ambience of any living space. At times it shines like a diamond and manages to make a woman indulge in its seamless beauty. However the fact that it holds a potential of shipwreck under its mesmerizing tip could not be ignored while planning a safe and smooth voyage.

Secondly, a completely natural and momentary distraction from the path – no matter how romantic the reason of distraction being – can cause a havoc, is what Titanic has to teach the humanity. For the safe and smooth sailing, focus is as important as the thorough knowledge of the expanse you are venturing in. In absence of both these essential elements of a voyage, a shipwreck is not just likely it is almost imminent! And no voyage could be called successful that concludes in a shipwreck. History will take a note of it, no doubt, but would it be for any good reason? Well, what this philosophy implies is plan your voyage conscientiously, be prepared for the worst and yet have an action plan ready for the situations that you can neither anticipate nor seem to have control over. Hmmm, quite a tough job isn’t it…? But that’s what life is all about, in the digitally modern world, for sure!

Along with rampant verbal violence spread around through all the media, all the incidences of violence right from – farmer’s suicide to domestic violence to attacks on Doctors to sexual abuse and molesting to fighting and firing on the streets to heinous crimes like murder, rape and acid attacks to stone pelting on the army crews to terrorist attacks – are nothing but the outrage of a feeling that has only one thing at its core – frustration! Now what causes frustration could be a topic of a research and its outcome might list out hundreds of things in various scenarios and different contexts, however the string that will run through to tie these reasons together could be termed as – apathy; with nobody in particular to blame but apathy of entire evolved (or developed?) humanity towards its fellows. Now before you label and typecast me with some pseudo-humanist title so that it would be easier to outcast me eventually, take a deeper look all around with all the senses wide open and try to decode the message all those hideous incidences are trying to convey through their outrages…

A little concern, a small act of kindness, an expression of empathy and above all, a listening heart, a helping hand and a genuine recognition can work wonders. There’s no bigger solace than having a shoulder to rest on for an irritated mind and unfulfilled soul. Take out some time and first lend your ear to what the other has to say. Then extend your hand in the gesture of being helpful and not hateful. It could be followed by offering words of appreciation that would at least soothe the wound, if not heal it instantaneously. Finally provide a purpose for every being so that it could realize its potential and start a fulfilling journey by contributing to the common good in its own capacity and finding that dignity, self-respect and empathy, virtues of a being, in due course. No being is borne a trouble-maker or a criminal – circumstances and environment it develops in forces it to take the path of rebel.

This might sound very idealistic and philosophical, but then there is no Dr. Fixit with quick-fixes that would offer instant solutions to chronic problems. Fevi Kwik might be a wonderful adhesive, it cannot fix everything… alas! Even Allopathic treatment cannot claim to ‘cure’ a disease as it intends to suppress the pain for the quick relief the subject expects while nature takes its healing course. The remedy for recovering and regaining health is neither easy nor quick but it is the only way to regain and improve the health. When administrators of a system realize this principle, they will stop gazing at the classic romance between the capitalists and the market for the outcome called ‘development’ and will be aware of the locale masses that are being the iceberg. The moment the ship of development hits the bottom of the iceberg, it explodes like a dormant volcano that can erupt at any moment and burn everything with its lava. We need to be extremely careful while planning the route and steering the ship of development en-route as it in no way should hit the bottom of the iceberg that can transform into an erupting volcano and destroying everything around.

Let us be more empathetic, a little less ambition can do… Way to go!

Day of the Jackal...!

Today is the Day of the Jackal... not by any tradition, custom or ritual... but for my yet another attempt to understand life and reflect on it! Here are 3 stories taken from Hitopadesh, Isapniti and Jatak Katha, with different morals but a same vice, I guess!

1.

Once upon a time, a hungry lion went from one place to another in search of a prey. He was soon exhausted. He decided to hide in a jackal’s empty cave and eat him when he entered. The idea of an easy catch watered his mouth. He waited patiently for the jackal to return.

The jackal reached his cave. He was about to enter when he sensed some danger. He thought of a plan. “Hello cave, how are you?” he said. Nothing happened. He said again, “Dear cave, what is wrong with you?”, and waited. Inside, the lion thought, “May be the cave answers the jackal and if he does not get the answer, he will think there is something wrong…” The silly lion roared in reply. The jackal now knew about the presence of the lion in the cave and ran away...

Moral of the story...? Force is no match for wisdom.

2.

One day long ago, Jackal was trotting through a narrow, rocky pass in the mountain. He was sniffing the ground trying to find something juicy to eat when he saw movement ahead of him in the pass. Jackal stopped in his tracks. The mighty Lion was coming straight toward him. Realizing that there was no way to escape, Jackal became very frightened. He had played so many tricks on the king of the animals in the past, and he was sure that Lion would take this opportunity to get his revenge. Suddenly Jackal thought of a plan.

"Help! Help!" cried Jackal. He cowered down on the cliff path, looking above at the rocks. Lion stopped in surprise. "Help!" Jackal howled, "There is no time to lose! See those huge rocks above us? They are about to fall and we shall both be crushed to death! Oh, mighty Lion, please do something! Save us!" And Jackal cowered with his paws over his head. Lion looked up, most alarmed. Before he even had a chance to think, Jackal persuaded Lion to put his strong shoulder against the rock and heave.

"Oh, thank you, great King!" yelped Jackal. "I will quickly fetch that log over there to hold the rock, and we will both be saved!", and with that he bounded out of sight.

So Lion was left all alone to struggle under the weight of the rock in the hot sunshine. We will never know how long he stayed before he realized that this was another trick, but the clever Jackal had once again escaped from the mighty Lion! 

Moral of the story...? Wisdom is more powerful than strength!

3.

Once there lived a mighty lion in a cave of the Himalayas. One day, after killing and eating a buffalo, when he was on his way back to his cave, he found a jackal prostrating before him. The jackal, in fact, wanted to enjoy the leftovers of the lion.

He asked him, “Why do you lie like this, Jackal”. The jackal said, “Sir! I would like to be your servant”. The lion accepted his proposal and treated him affectionately.

Since that day the lion offered him the leftovers of the animals that he killed. Being fed on those the emaciated jackal soon bulged; and so did his pride. Further, he fostered the false idea of having equal power like that of the lion. So, one day, he said to the lion, “O lion! So far I am fed on your leftovers; but today, I shall offer you my left over as I shall kill and eat an elephant…!”

The lion advised him to refrain from any such act, as he did not belong to the species of lion-like animal to kill a strong elephant.

The haughty and foolish jackal did not listen to the lion. Feigning like a lion he moved out of the cave and uttered the cry of a jackal thrice, as if it was the cry of a mighty lion. He then looked for an elephant; and saw one at the base of the mountain. He jumped at the large animal from the top of the mountain. But instead of falling on elephant’s back he fell on his feet. The elephant without paying much notice to the existence of the jackal lifted his fore-leg and placed it on his head and mashed his skull. Thus the foolish jackal was killed instantly.

Moral of the story (Uncut, uncensored and unsolicited)...?

Surviving on leftovers of a lion doesn’t make a Jackal a Lion and cunningness is no match for bravery…!

SO WHAT…!?!

This is what Nature intends and offers…
Biodiversity, Collaboration, Dependability and Evolution!



This is what Developing Human Being imposes on its own future
And the entire ecosystem it is part of...!

Heading exactly in the opposite direction of what Mother Nature intends will surely take him to hell, no doubt and no remorse for that as it is self-imposed by his own species. The only shame is it's dragging the ecology on the verge of a catastrophe which the ecosystem neither deserves nor could protest… God Save This Planet! By the way it’s the ONLY LIVABLE planet in this cosmos as far as human knowledge is concerned; SO WHAT…!?!

Industrious Optimist…!

 Yes, we certainly can fix what is broken… In fact, it’s only us who can fix it as no other presumed element of the society would be interested in fixing something that compromises their respective interests! Way to go...

Trajectory...!

We Indians have this intrinsic trait of amplifying the image of a being much bigger than itself and call it either a Demi-God, a Living Legend or Larger than life Persona! Roots of this trait are almost ancient and could be easily tracked back to mythology and prehistoric era. This mindset of 'Worshiping the person and forgetting the cause' has made us suffer for many years on many fronts. And this is the mentality that prevented healthy and full-grown sustainable development of the concept called 'Institution' or 'Organization' in the modern age, particularly in the post-independence and post-globalization period in India. 

It was not a surprise then that majority of our workforce developed a work culture that suited the person heading that center, department or unit. It would not have affected anything unless and until the 'Leader' knew and practiced the true meaning of his or her title and understood the implications of his decisions taken intentionally or unintentionally; but alas, it was not so and many who acquired those positions were Post Tortoise(s), you know what I mean, don't you...?

Well, let's leave the Tortoise alone (on the post?) and have a look at the brighter side. Apart from political news about elections of Local Self-governance bodies all around Maharashtra and Assembly elections at Punjab. Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur; there are 3 major headlines at National and International level through which India grabbed attention of the world once again. One for a Right Decision for a Wrong Deed and Two are absolutely Proud and enormously Gratifying developments that are flashing all around the media!

Sasikala, the presumed political successor of Late Jaylalitha was all set to assume the role as Cheif of AIADMK in Tamil Nadu when the Supreme Court of India set out a verdict that put her behind the bars in an old case of 'Disproportionate Assets' and also banned her for about 6 years from active politics by virtue of this verdict. This definitely is a victory of truth and has the potential to uphold the morality of Indian people and make their belief in judicial system strong, particularly on the backdrop of wealthy people getting 'more equal' treatment for their convicted offenses. 'Justice prevails...' is much needed feeling that would provide law-abiding honest citizens to live and thrive for a democracy to achieve its true objectives!

With R. Ashwin setting a record and Indian Cricket team on a winning stroll with 19 consecutive Test Match wins, the always expressive and fearless captain Virat Kohali has put another feather in his cap with 6 consecutive Test Series Wins. Virat has become the Best Test Cricket Captain with a win-loss ratio of 7.5 beating Sir Don Bradman who had it of 5! There is a long way to go for Virat with all his zeal, passion, aggression and determination that he never conceals on the field out there... and age is on his side to make him a real cricketing wonder reaching the wall of fame and for the world to remember forever!

Finally, for the impulse, motivation and stimuli behind this post that is simply out of this world... literally! You guessed it right - almost all newspapers in every nook and corner of this country has the same headline today feeling absolutely proud about it and very rightly so - it is ISRO making the NEWS once again! It is not just unbelievably rewarding but incredibly fulfilling to achieve what ISRO has accomplished. India's Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle, in its thirty ninth flight (PSLV-C37), launched the 714 kg Cartosat-2 series satellite for earth observation and 103 co-passenger satellites together weighing about 663 kg at lift-off into a 505 km polar Sun Synchronous Orbit. Read all the details here.

ISRO is such an Institution (and Organization) of India that every Indian should be proud of, not only for what it has done today but for being an entity with individual efforts towards collective objectives of common good and finding ways to make it commercially viable and economically profitable in due course. Not a easy job, neither anybody's cup of tea, particularly in a country where 'Person' becomes a leading force rather than a 'Passion' that could be a guiding drive. What ISRO has done is going to affect (in a positive way) the generations to come and still ISRO is yet to get that hike in the budgetary provision of its Grants. Will we have to sign a petition for this also...? I don't think so and if we do, we surely would cut the 'Wings of fire' that our beloved People's President has added to ISRO!

Way to go...!

Service...!

Honesty in intent, ability to lead from front, preparedness to take responsibility and thorough professional attitude are the attributes of excellence in service delivery and enhanced reputation resulting in sustainability and profitability.

Intent is what one has in mind and not what it shows or others could apparently see. The meditative posture of the stork is not motivated by a selfless alienation from the material world but it is the exact opposite; disguising as calm and quite secluded hermit and catch the oblivious fish to feed itself. Now the stork can be honest to its own intent but its disguise to achieve what it wants is neither honest nor has a pure intent, though natural.

One can be a great performer but Ability to Lead is something different. Alexander the Great has said it all when he is famously quoted as… “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion…” A Role Model is someone who inspire others. Leadership skills are collection of personal characteristics such as – Creativity, Empathy, Fortitude, Generosity, Knowledge, Passion, Persistence, Shrewdness, Vision, Wisdom and unwavering Faith in the undertaking. Leadership is not a position, it is an attitude and one who has this attitude could never settle for anything mediocre.

With due respect to learned critiques, to criticize a thing that has already happened and is readily available for analysis is ‘easier said than done’ in its truest sense and it is even easier to complain about anything instead of doing something to change it. That might count as being Practical but it is not the way to be ‘Smart’ for sure. Being Smart is being prepared to – ask questions, offer solutions, take action while Assuming Responsibility of the outcome. Experimenting with something is definitely a way of finding a solution to a situation, provided that the experimenter is prepared to accept the responsibility of the outcome of the experiment, whether positive or negative. Being Mahatma, therefore, requires to ‘Be the change you want to see in the world…!’

Professionalism has nothing to do with commercials. Like Leadership, it is also an attitude to look at anything and a delivering style of working towards predefined objectives. Professionalism is about commitment, it is about being effective and efficient in each of one’s undertakings. More importantly, professionalism is about keeping your emotions at bay while you are on a ‘work’ that you have accepted as a job on whatever terms in whichever situation; it is about applying your mind without sentiment, brain without prejudice and being without egotism, to the responsibility you committed to shoulder. It is performing beyond compliance and achieving despite incentives.

A legend has it that Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak, in spite of being informed about death of his son while he was in the middle of writing editorial for his newspaper, finished it before leaving for home. That is being a thorough professional! However it doesn’t necessarily imply to be a heartless or unfeeling person, it simply underlines the importance of your commitment towards your undertakings vis-à-vis your personal matters that should never take precedence over your lawful duty and larger responsibility for common good.

These 4 are the ingredients for a recipe called ‘Excellence’ and it could be prepared in the pot of 'Awareness' that would hold it all together and fire of 'Consistency' that would provide the heat required to boil a nutritious broth. Excellence is not an item on the wish-list nor is it something that could be brought; it’s a quality that is achieved with great effort and maintained with relentless practice. But once it becomes the habit; reputation, sustainability and profitability all fall in line. It is better to exercise as a daily routine than having a stressed and hectic lifestyle to earn all that money which would ultimately go to Therapies, Medicines and Tranquilizers in one form or other.

If you get the point, start NOW… Way to go!

अर्धसत्य...!

चक्रव्यूह में घुसने से पहले, कौन था मैं और कैसा था,

ये मुझे याद ही ना रहेगा चक्रव्यूह में घुसने के बाद

मेरे और चक्रव्यूह के बीच

सिर्फ़ जानलेवा निकटता थी,

इसका मुझे पता ही नहीं चलेगा

चक्रव्यूह से बाहर निकलने पर

मैं मुक्त हो जाउँ भले ही फिर भी

चक्रव्यूह की रचना में फ़र्क ही ना पड़ेगा

मरू या मारू, मारा जाऊं या जान से मार दूँ

इसका फ़ैसला कभी ना हो पायेगा

सोया हुआ आदमी जब नींद से

उठकर चलना शुरू करता है तब सपनोंका संसार उसे

फिर से दिख नहीं पायेगा उस रोशनी में, जो निर्णय की रोशनी है

सब कुछ समान होगा क्या?

एक पलड़े में नपुंसकता और दुसरे पलड़े में पौरुष्य

और ठीक तराजू के कांटे पर...

अर्धसत्य...!

No matter where his life took him and what were the circumstances that made him act, behave and say as he did in the recent past, we will always remember his Inspector Anant Welankar reciting the 'Chakravyuh' Poem by Dilip Chitre to Jyotsna Gokhale and concluding Govind Nihalani's 'ArdhaSatya' with a conviction that carved a niche into our hearts forever...

"सर, मैंने रामा शेट्टी को मार डाला...!"

Good Bye OMji, the Theatre and the Film Fraternity will have a vacant space in your name for eternity...! May your soul find that solace that you never seemed to have here!