RoW...!

Image Courtesy: Times of India, Pune - Sunday, 04 June 2017

Here's another 'joke' that made rounds on Internet few years ago and, with its sarcastic tone, even managed to become popular for a while.

A while ago, a worldwide survey was conducted by the UN. The only question asked was…

"Would you please give your honest opinion about solutions to the food shortage in the rest of the world?"

In Africa most didn't know what "food" meant.

In Eastern Europe most didn't know what "honest" meant.

In Western Europe most didn't know what "shortage" meant.

In India most didn’t know what “you” meant.

In China most didn't know what "opinion" meant.

In the Middle East most didn't know what "solution" meant.

In South America most didn't know what "please" meant.

And in the USA most didn't know what "the rest of the world" meant...!

In my last post you heard about the Post-tortoise, now here's the American version of it! I am not sure what Mr. President is up to but one thing is sure that he is proving to be an American to the core who truly believes that USA is an independent planet (attacked by the aliens in their wildest imaginations!) altogether and is not connected to the Rest of the world! The biggest relief is his mindless acts are being ridiculed at home (literally!) only and RoW can hope for a sensibility prevailing in the world's most powerful country again, soon. 

Amen...!

My fault...!

A man is flying in a hot air balloon and realizes he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me. Can you help me? I promised my friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I don't know where I am." 

The man below says, "Yes, you are in a hot air balloon hovering approximately 40 feet above this field. You are between 46 & 48 degrees N latitude and between 52 & 56 degrees W. longitude." 

"You must be an engineer," says the balloonist.
 

"I am," replies the man. "How did you know?" 

"Well," says the balloonist, "everything you have told me is technically correct but I have no idea what to make of your information and the fact is I am still lost." 

The man below says, "You must be a Manager" 

"I am," replies the balloonist, "but how did you know?" 

"Well," says the man below, "you don't know where you are or where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep and you expect me to solve your problem. The fact is you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met but now it is somehow my fault...!"

This certainly is an old and widely circulated ‘Management Joke’ which I myself have shared many times in get-together as well as through mail and WhatsApp. The reason I am putting it on my blog here is that it would remain as a permanent ready reference to provide me some solace that neither I am the only person who has to go through this in this world nor there is any dearth of post-tortoise ‘Managers’ whenever I have an encounter with them!

By the way, according to an old farmer a post-tortoise is… “When you're driving down a country road and you come across a fence post with a tortoise balanced on top, that's a post tortoise. You know he didn't get up there by himself, he doesn't belong up there, he doesn't know what to do while he's up there, he's elevated beyond his ability to function, and you just wonder what kind of dumb ass put him up there to begin with…!” No pun intended and no offense, please!

Simple Reminder...!

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...