CAN WAR BE ABOLISHED

Throughout history men have felt

The desire to wear cloak and belt

Go out upon some battle fields

With guns, ere, with swords and shields

All that they could achieve

Was killing and making someone grieve

Could they not have tried to talk

Kept their arms and used some chalk

Man is part of nature’s scheme

God’s eternal peaceful dream

Like the early morning dew

Every day we are born anew

We can try and spread the love

Transmit the message of the dove

Put an end to war and strife

Understand every one’s need for life

Then we will not think of battle

Then our sabres will not rattle

Words and thoughts will rule the day

And surely will keep war at bay

MOMENTS IDEALLY

Like Dew Drops on 
The Lotus Leaf

Moments of my Life

Lie stretched out before me

At my momentary touch

Each one will roll off

Irrevocably and certainly

To water the roots of my Karma

Each one will encapsulate

The emotions of the moment

And convey its essence

To the nature of the Tree

Let me approach them in

Full command of my faculties

So that each one carries only

Attributes of Fragrance and Blossoms

Let me continue to endeavour

That the ardour of my Being

Makes them evaporate

And my Karma is neutral

@Vikaas Nafde ' Emoticons of a Rambling Life ' 

CAPTIVITY

There are bars across the windows

Bars across the doors
Take away these bars
For now and evermore
-          Old Cowboy song

Whether its location

Or an occasion
We are captives
Of our situation

Man-made bars

Or be they circumstances
Could also be emotions
Captivating our heart

Can’t go where we want
Can’t do what we need
Can’t just follow the heart
Into eternity

Caged like the winged one

Wishing for the open skies
We flutter and make noise
Without any replies

We should be masters

With the key to the door
Come and go as we like
With the means to do more

Are we condemned to

A sentence - less wait
Or are we our pleading lawyer
To fight and win the case

Our intention is to move

The means are not there
This is captivity my friend
To deny you cannot dare

Its not the shadows of the bars

That run across your floor
It’s the darkness of your wisdom
That locks up your door

ARISE !! Find the strength

Bend those bars
Dig that tunnel
Strike the lock

Come and go as you please

Say what you want, do as you feel
Hook on to freedom
Pull in the reel

A Funeral

I was at a funeral

It seemed like my own

People, faces milling around

Some familiar some unknown

They were talking in whispers

As if they were in dread

That they would be overheard

By the one who was dead!

I sensed every word that was said

The praise and the damning matter

Was happy to note that there was more

Of the first and less of the latter

They were not really shedding tears

As they did as they aught  

Completing the formalities

For their own peace that they sought

In my new-found silence and stillness

I rose from the congregation

And went along my merry way

To my new assignation 

There was Light, the blowing of trumpets

A welcome with Divine Song

Not looking back to that house, I left

After staying there well and long

My Epitaph on a stone put by someone at the place 

Here lies a man who loved to rhyme

Though he never saved a dime

All his time on words he spent

Then silently to this place he went

An Encounter? Incident?

When he saw her he heard

A crash of cymbals , and

The start of an unwritten symphony

To which his heart was beating time

She smiled – he experienced

The fragrance of a shower of petals

The blinding light radiating from her

Hid all else around !

They met –her voice excited him

Her intelligence stupefied him

Her zest for life caught him up

Its wave swept him off his feet

They talked and laughed, Shared meaningful silences

Seriously, gravely, laughingly – sometimes angrily

Lived through a gamut of emotions

Enough for a lifetime

They started drifting apart ,

A little knowingly then farther unknowingly

Drifting till nothing was left – save

The knowledge of existence

More of each one’s Self than the other’s

And for both it became to remain but

An encounter - with what?

Do not ask …….

They would not be able to say

Except perhaps that 

It was an incident shared

By strangers who remained thus

A CHRISTMAS GREETING

As Christmas time draws nigh

I wish to be with you

For I can always try

To be under the  #Mistletoe

I can see the tinsel and glitter

In the warmth of your home

And you in all your splendor

Brightening up each room

May the spirit of the season

Warm hearts of all around

And let there be no reason

For your feet to touch the ground

I wish you never shed a tear

I wish you always smile

Christmas comes but once a year

So .. Have a Splendid Time

Ambition vs Capabilities

Ambition and capabilities

Two factors in life

Interconnected

Interlinked

Not necessarily compatible

They say –

“ Judgement of ones capabilities

Must decide one’s ambitions “

Perhaps.

Judgement? One’s own Judgement ?

Tinged with Ego – Perforce

Lens of Ego

When seen through

Tends to heighten

Images

Lengthens and Broadens

Making appear

Manifestation of that

Which is not , actually

Ambition is set

Capability put to work

Only the result proves

Compatibility or Incompatibility

OF ambitions and capability

Artificiality

Morning has come , don the garb

For the day’s Act on the world’s stage

The old look young the young look knowing

Artificiality is rife each plays his role

Time moves on, pulling with it

That which is false and

Leaves behind the truth

To decay and die

Evenfall adds spirit to the drama

Lights come on only to hide reality

The glimmer blinds eyes

But enlivens Sensation

Slowly, slowly Actors retire

To sleep mask less

While the Author writes a new Act

In which we may be – or may not!

THE ACTOR

Each night and every morning

I go diligently through

My lines and actions

For the day’s performance

My face prepared

My costume donned

I step out of the wings

CENTRE STAGE!

Some days it’s smooth

The Playwrights nuances

Coming through the

Matrix of the players work

Sometimes we miff our lines

(We were too busy to prepare)

Sometimes we are confused

By others wrong entry and cue

(Our misjudgement)

Sometimes we are deafened, by

The clamour and the din

Imagined applause

The orchestra too loud

Those many oversight

Which deafen us to

The Prompter

In the wings

COMMUNICATION

COMMUNICATION

( With God )

Why do I feel the need to shout

My entreaties and my pleas

When You are just a whisper away

And not across the Sea

Why do I feel the need to search?

To see You and to talk

When You are just behind closed eyes

Listening to my Thought

Why do I feel the need to Ask

For things that I require

When You have already fully prepared

Things better than my desire

Why do I feel the need to Explain

Things of Thought and Deed

When You have already known before

The plants when they were seeds

Why do I fear the winds of fate

And take action out of fright

When you have given me Reason and Will

To set my sails aright.

@Vikaas Nafde ' Emoticons from a Rambling Life ' 

Synchronicity - some Heart warming stories

There are events in our life which if noticed in the right perspective give us the understanding that there is a design to life which is operating through us  and around us .

Over the years there have been innumerable instances of things " just falling into place " like an unplanned chance meeting with a person or  delay helping in avoiding an unwanted encounter or a short cut found to discover a wanted object it happens all the time and one realises the perfect timing of Divine execution !

There are two incidents which took place in one long journey which I wish to talk about here to exhibit this if evidence is needed . The circumstances make them indelible memories and they stand out in detail in my mind though the occurred  about 30 years ago !

In the 80 's I found myself involved in the trade of Agricultural products , in West Africa and in 1985 I was in the Cote d'Ivoire purchasing goods from farmers and traders for packaging and export to Europe and other parts of the world .  

In those days there was no Internet and  mobile phones were still far away . There were no Bank networks with a widespread presence as today and almost all the transactions were done in cash which had to be carried to the farm gates as cheques were not usable . This added to the difficulties  making the terrain even more hostile . Goods had to bought in the hinterland and then trucked down to Abidjan for loading into ships sailing out from there .

Anyway to cut to the chase - there was an occasion which required me to journey about 700 kms to effect a purchase and since the means of transport was by road I packed the required currency ( which was voluminous ) in a bag in the back of the car ( with necessary camouflage ) and along with my trusted local agent  Mr Moussa Cherif set out in my Peugeot . For some reason , the days activities delayed the departure from Abidjan and we could leave town only in the evening . 

The first leg of the journey was on a good road , a network of which Cote D'Ivoire was known for in the region and everything was going well with me at the wheel and Moussa comfortably dozing in the passenger seat . Well every thing was going well till three things happened 

The night which falls quickly in the region caught up with us , a squall of rain also did and thirdly the wipers of the car stopped working ! Well there was nothing to it but to keep moving as with the cash and the territory of the Bush there was no sense in stopping , So with the lights picking up the grass at the verge I drove into the next big town and stopped at a kiosk serving Coffee .

By then the rain had subsided but it was almost 9.30 pm and the normally sleepy town seemed to have gone to bed earlier than usual because of the weather . The kiosk owner said he could provide the hot beverage . I enquired if any mechanic was to be found and the look he gave me clearly questioned my mental balance but with a polite shake of the head he turned towards his shelf to make the cheering cup .

I was perched on one his stools and just then another person came and set on the one next to mine . The kiosk man turned to give me my Café Noir and seeing this other man , his jaw dropped , as if he had seen an apparition . He looked at him and then at me and said " Here is a car mechanic " 

Of course , then introductions quickly followed and quickly downing our coffee I was conducted to his small workshop where he raised the lowered shutters and repaired the problem and we could continue our journey .

O being asked he told me that due to the rain he had gone to bed earlier than usual but suddenly woke up with a craving for coffee and after debating on the pros and cons of stepping out at that time in that weather he was driven to take the short walk to the kiosk !

In my book this is synchronicity !

The second incident took place on the second leg of the same journey almost as if the Universe wanted to emphatically drive home a point !

After this town our journey to the North East of the country required us to take some secondary untarred roads through the veritable bush which meandered through villages and vegetation . Driving in the night , in the bush can be quite enchanting at times as sometimes we could glimpse , in the lights of the car , eyes peering out at us and of course the daring hares are always upto their game of dare leaping across the beams . From time to time we could hear the beat of drums from not too distant villages 

What happened was that one of the tyres decided to give up and flatten out . The spare tyre , in that model was stored under the trunk , on the outside, held by a bracket which had been chained and padlocked for security . The key of the lock refused to open it because of the long unfamiliarity with the lock as well as all the effects of dust and corrosion on the mechanism .

Moussa and I applied all our technical knowledge in try to open the lock and even used blunt power of banging the chain between two stones etc, The lock obviously was made of stern stuff and despite the torture and duress stood its ground steadfastly loyal to its duty . 

Huffing and panting from our exertions and resigned to spending the night there we sat down by the side and lo and behold we see a light approaching accompanied by the sound of a motorcycle engine . At midnight, or close to it , it was a brave soul venturing out but I was not sure if his bravery would extend to stopping by a strange car at that time .

BUT he did ! On hearing of our predicament he opened the tool box of his bike and came out with some implements but the lock did not budge . The Good Samaritan gave up and went on his way , only to return in a while with a chisel and hammer . On seeing these instruments the chain and lock surrendered and all went swimmingly after that !

The man turned out to be an accountant of the local cooperative and had come to a village to check their books and as evening caught up with him decided to stay the night . According to him , he suddenly had remembered an urgent task at home which needed him to be there early and so had decided to take the road . On checking , it seems he woke up to the urgent need around the time we sprang a flat .

By the way the story does not end here - due to all the delays in starting out and on the way , the trader had sold the consignment to the agent of another exporter who lured him with a higher price and also he was not sure whether  we were coming as promised .

The final twist in the tail / tale which nails everything for me - I later heard that the consignment shipped by the other ran into quality problems and a subsequent claim from the buyer in Europe !!

Ultimately , in the final analysis , everything happened for the best and I was thoroughly convinced of this !

About Sin , Vice and the Senses

Inspirational account to understand some enigmas of this life
=======
It is said in the texts that 80% of the fighting male population of the civilization was wiped out in the eighteen days Mahabharata war.

Sanjay, at the end of the war went to the spot where the greatest war took place; Kurukshetra.

He looked around and wondered if the war really happened, if the ground beneath him had soaked all that blood, if the great Pandavas and Krishna stood where he stood.

“You will never know the truth about that!” said an aging soft voice.

Sanjay turned around to find an Old man in saffron robes appearing out of a column of dust.

“I know you are here to find out about the Kurukshetra war, but *you cannot know about that war till you know what the real war is about*.” the Old man said enigmatically.

“What do you mean?”

*The Mahabharata is an Epic, a ballad, perhaps a reality, but definitely a philosophy*.

The Old man smiled luring Sanjay into more questions.

“Can you tell me what the philosophy is then?”
Sanjay requested.

Sure, began the Old man.

*The Pandavas are nothing but your five senses*,
sight,
smell,
taste,
touch
and sound...,

and do you know what the *Kauravas* are? he asked narrowing his eyes.

*The Kauravas are the hundred vices that attack your senses everyday but you can fight them*... and do you know how?

Sanjay shook his head again.

“When Krishna rides your chariot!”

The Old man smiled brighter and Sanjay gasped at that gem of insight.

*Krishna is your inner voice, your soul, your guiding light and if you let your life in his hands you have nothing to worry*.

Sanjay was stupefied but came around quickly with another question.

“Then *why are Dronacharya and Bhishma fighting for the Kauravas, if they are vices*?”

The Old man nodded, sadder for the question.

It just means that as you grow up, your perception of your elders change. *The elders who you thought were perfect in your growing up years are not all that perfect. They have faults. And one day you will have to decide if they are for your good or your bad.  Then you may also realize that you may have to fight them for the good. It is the hardest part of growing up and that is why the Geeta is important*.

Sanjay slumped down on the ground, not because he was tired but because he could understand and was struck by  the enormity of it all.

*What about Karna*? he whispered.

“Ah!” said the Old man. “You have saved the best for last. *Karna is the brother to your senses, he is desire, he is a part of you but stands with the vices. He feels wronged and makes excuses for being with the vices as your desire does all the time.*

*Does your desire not give you excuses to embrace vices*?”

Sanjay nodded silently. He looked at the ground, consumed with a million thoughts, trying to put everything together and then when he looked up the Old man was gone....  disappeared in the column of dust..... leaving behind the great philosophy of Life! 

Found it quite inspirational ..............

From an Unknown Soldiers Diary

From an unknown soldier's diary...

“Pick up the bags, it’s time to go”
The clock strikes six and tells me so.
I look in the mirror and hear it say
Wish I stayed another day.

A mental note of things to do
Flush my mind and take me through
Pending tasks, spread as hay
Wish I stayed another day.

Banks and cards and loans and bills
Undone signs on deeds and wills.
Fees and rents I could not pay
Wish I stayed another day.

I call for sonny to help me pack
He gets the shoes and brush from rack
With silent words, he blocks my way
Wish I stayed another day.

A visit to zoo, a splash in pool
A surprise pick from the gate of school
“You promised me!”  his tears say
Wish I stayed another day.

The lady I love is packing my meal
With tender hands and a heart of steel
Where hundred pains and problems lay
Wish I stayed another day.

I hold her near and then realise
I didn’t even hug her once or twice
She smiles at me with nothing to say
Wish I stayed another day.

Unsaid words and unsung tales
Compliments, wishes, cards and mails
All change hands in a mystic way
Wish I stayed another day.

Dad is mute and strong as ever
Speak of his fears, he will never
Hiding his tears by gazing away
Wish I stayed another day.

His pair of specs and bottle of rum
I promise to get, next time I come
He smiles the way I've seen him grey
Wish I stayed another day.

On my post in chill and ice,
Tired and spent I close my eyes.
Faces from home appear to say.
Wish you stayed another day.

Point to ponder - Seriously

Someone shared this with me and I think it's worth considering
*Brilliantly reasoned. Please share it widely...*

This is the current dilemma facing the Supreme Court:

The dangers of *Aadhaar/ UIDAI* aren't about privacy or data security alone: _the problem is far bigger_❗

*_It is about how much power you as an individual, surrender to the government_*‼

To those who support *Aadhaar* and/ or the government, please bear with me for a moment: _imagine..._and I repeat, *_imagine_* for a moment, that there is an undemocratic or fascist government at the Centre. Or worse, an Army general who manages a coup *and then declares an Emergency.*

The last time it happened, opposition leaders, including LK Advani and George Fernandes went underground. They masked their identity, travelled across the country, raised money and garnered people’s support for their pro-democracy activities. 

*None of this will be possible any more*❕

In such a circumstance, just switching off your cell phone won’t be sufficient to avoid the government tracking you down.

*Thanks to Aadhaar,* you won’t be able to withdraw money or make any transaction, using even a debit card.

The government is linking Aadhaar to train tickets and boarding passes: *you won’t be able to travel*❕

*Being a centralized database, it takes just a few seconds _to switch off_ your Aadhaar authentication*❗

That can:
- deny you your own money,
- deny you any movement,
- deny you any form of communication.

You can’t hide behind an alias. *It is linked to your biometrics.*

The government doesn’t need to even arrest you. It can just deny your existence in a matter of a few seconds. You aren’t dead, but you can be termed dead in a matter of seconds: *You can be just _"Switched Off"_*‼

As databases get more and more linked - property cards, tax filings, joint bank accounts, school admissions - it takes another few seconds to identify your family members. And extend the same denial of existence to your family, friends or anyone whom you have any relationship with: *_"Switch them off"_*❗

Such acts don’t even require a declaration of Emergency. A Facebook post that isn’t liked by someone powerful enough can trigger this in a matter of moments: *_"Switch Off"_*❗

The problem with Aadhaar is that it is centralized, and *it owns you* ❗

You don’t have access to your own trail or data, but someone else has unilateral access to you, *anytime.* And it stores data, for seven years or even more.

*No law is sufficient. _Aadhaar just shouldn’t exist_*‼

We don’t need rights or protection for _"Achhe Din."_ Rights and protection are meant for the _bad times._

But it is during the _good times,_ that it is important to not lose sight of how bad, times can be and what we need to protect about ourselves.

The likes of *Nandan Nilekani* are now saying that it is a security issue. They then point fingers at Android, iOS, Google or Facebook, which also own a lot of data about us.

It isn’t similar Sir, none of them have executive powers over me. I have some notional ability to delete them, sign off.

*They can’t _'Switch me Off'_*❕

His argument is akin to saying: _“look, we have built a grand, free house for you to live in. Yes, the columns of the house aren’t strong enough, but hey, there are other houses in town that also have weak columns.”_

*Sir, with all due respect, you should have built protection first, before giving birth to a Frankenstein*‼

_Forward this, till it reaches the powers that try to control our lives._

*May Nature and the Universe, protect us*‼

_(author unknown)_

Lessons from the event ' Sinking of the Titanic'

This is a wonderful story sent to me by a friend which has a wonderful lesson for all of us

There were three ships which were nearby when the Titanic sunk.

One of them, Sampson was 7 miles away from and the crew saw white flares signaling danger, but because they had been hunting seals illegally & didn't want to be caught, they turned away & went in opposite direction.
This  ship represents those of us who are so busy in our own sin and lives that we can't recognize when someone else is in need.

The next ship was the Californian, 14 miles away, were surrounded by ice fields. Captain saw the flares, but because the conditions weren't favorable & dark, he decided to go back to bed and wait until morning. The crew tried to convince themselves that nothing was happening 

This ship represents those of us who say I can't do anything now. The conditions aren't right and so we wait until perfect before going out.

The last ship was the Carpathia. This ship was actually headed in a southern direction 58 miles away from the Titanic when they heard the distress cries over the radio. The captain of this ship knelt down, prayed to God turned the ship around & went full steam ahead through ice fields. This was the ship that saved the 705 survivors of the Titanic.
Obstacles and reasons to avoid responsibility shall always be there, but those who accept it always find a place in the hearts, to be remembered by the world of the good they do.

Alas if we all could be Carpathians in life, unlike Sampsons and Californians..
this world could be a more beautiful place to live in.

What Makes us Tick?

SIMPLY PUT

Getting along with others

without losing one’s balance

What Makes Us Tick ?

What is it that motivates us ?/ Mobilizes our zeal and fervour
Is it  reprimand or reward / Or the pleasure of being a server !


Do we look for Authority ? To control all around us
Or seek Pride and Happiness / Of Responsibility and Trust


Do we mask Mediocrity /With  Excuses and Explanations
Or  do we display our Genius /In inimitable fashion

Do we play to the Gallery/ Always searching for Applause

Or do we quietly do our thing / And wait for things to come


The Managers Overview

l Team Work – Synergy amongst various divisions
l Performance Management
l Defining the Business Process with clarity on expected results
l Defining the Results as Goals
l OUR FIGURES v MY FIGURES
l Understand how to measure Performance

Dealing with Individuals

lEach one is as good as we make of him /her

-By example
-By training
-By guiding
-By helping
-By understanding
-By rewarding
-By correcting

Lack of success is neither the fault of your boss nor of your subordinates. It is always your responsibility

Criticism, Praise , Punishment

l Occasions of praise should be JUST THAT do not insert any  “buts”

l If people are not told they are appreciated they will assume the opposite

l Stopping problem behaviour does not automatically mean the right one will take its place. When you punish a wrong ensure it is immediately replaced by the one you want and then reinforced

Dealing with Individuals

Help people reach their full potential- catch them doing something right.

Everyone is a potential winner- Some people are disguised as losers-don’t let their appearances fool you.

The One Minute Manager – Blanchard& Johnson

Don't we all ?

Everyday we see some people sitting on some curb, not saying anything, not asking for anything but you know that they need help. And we have not opened our heart/purse to them. 🌸

"I was parked in front of the mall wiping off my car.

I had just come from the car wash and was waiting for my wife to get out of work.

Coming my way from across the parking lot was what society would consider a tramp.

From the looks of him, he had no car, no home, no clean clothes, and no money.

There are times when you feel generous but there are other times that you just don't want to be bothered.

This was one of those "don't want to be bothered times."

"I hope he doesn't ask me for any money,"  I thought.

He didn't.

He came and sat on the curb in front of the bus stop but he didn't look like he could have enough money to even ride the bus.

After a few minutes he spoke.

"That's a very pretty car," he said.

I said, "thanks," and continued wiping off my car.

He sat there quietly as I worked. The expected plea for money never came.

As the silence between us widened something inside said, "ask him if he needs any help."

I was sure that he would say "yes" but I held true to the inner voice.

"Do you need any help?" I asked.

He answered in three simple but profound words that I shall never forget.

"Don't we all?" he said.

I was feeling high and mighty, successful and important, above a tramp in the street, until those three words hit me like a twelve gauge shotgun.

*Don't we all?*

I needed help.

Maybe not for bus fare or a place to sleep, but I needed help.

I reached in my wallet and gave him not only enough for bus fare, but enough to get a warm meal and shelter for the day.

Those three little words still ring true.

No matter how much you have, no matter how much you have accomplished, you need help too.

No matter how little you have, no matter how loaded you are with problems, even without money or a place to sleep, you can give help.

Even if it's just a compliment, you can give that.

You never know when you may see someone that appears to have it all.

They are waiting on you to give them what they don't have -

*A different perspective on life,

*a glimpse at something beautiful,

* a respite from daily chaos, that only you through a torn world can see.

Maybe the man was just a homeless stranger wandering the streets.

Maybe he was more than that.

Maybe he was sent by a power that is great and wise, to minister to a soul too comfortable in themselves.

Maybe God looked down, called an Angel, dressed him like a tramp, then said, "go minister to that man cleaning the car, that man needs help."

*DON'T WE ALL?*

A Robot’s Lament

At my place of work

I overheard a comment

There is the ‘thing ‘

That’s replacing men .

Saddened me to see

That he felt threatened

Whereas I was envious

Of his essence 

What is this Life

If I can’t Care

Not respond to

Challenge and Dare

Regimentation is in my blood

Circuitry rigidly designed

Must do and move only

On paths pre-defined

I don’t feel for anyone

Nobody feels for me

No scope for gratitude

No place for Empathy

There are no Self – Help books

Which can help me evolve

No experiences to be had

No intentions to resolve

Am powerless to execute

In the face of adversity

Innovation is not given to me

And am devoid of diversity

There is no give and take

Nor any slack or pull

When set by someone on my path

I forge ahead like a bull

Of Cynicism , Scepticism, and other resistance

These are some views on the learning derived as to what one should guard against doing or should be prepared for, depending on which side of the table one is positioned.

In my experience, which may or may not be shared by others, the initial reaction of most people involved in an exposure to a new idea is any one of the following unless of course. they themselves are the authors of that idea.
cynicism
Cynicism is the feeling of distrust or that something isn't going to work out well. 
OR
criticism
When you're on the receiving end of criticism, you are being judged in a disapproving way.
OR
sarcasm
Irony employed in the service of mocking or attacking someone is sarcasm. 
OR
Scepticism
to be uncertain about something; be undecided in opinion or belief.

I believe , the evolving of an organization ,which comprises of many component Teams and a Leadership , depends to a large extent on the Team Leaders and Team Members understanding this fundamental fact otherwise it remains just a graveyard of many stillborn ideas

This is a funny story I heard which ends in a question which sometimes is apt to be asked at the end of a Team Meeting where you are expounding a new idea . ( This may be a repetition is well worth recalling )
Let me know if you have had such an experience with those Doubting Thomas's who are lurking everywhere
A man was setting out for a stroll in the forest when he encountered a friend who enquired about where he was going
The following conversation ensued
Man ( M ) : Taking a walk in the forest
Friend ( F) : Oh ! There are tigers in there. Hope you will be safe
M : Yes I've got my double barelled with a shot in both so if a tiger attacks I will shoot it
F: And what if you miss with both
M: I will throw the gun on him and run
F: The tiger will chase you
M : I'll climb up a tree
F: He'll follow you up
M: I'll jump down and run
F: Tigers are agile cats . He will also jump down
M: (Agitated and thundering)
Hey hold on - Who's friend are you ? Mine or the tigers ?

Life is a Game of Chess

Life is a game of chess

Played on squares of dark and light

We are moved as per rules

It is a battle not a fight

The Grandest Master is playing games

Alternating from either side

Each moment creating s frieze

In which someone could have died

Pawns eagerly jump forward

Taking two steps in their stride

Only to be removed laterally

Before they can fulfil their pride

Moving diagonally or in straight lines

Others carry forward the moving picture

Each frame representing a situation

Frozen for a moment in Time

There are knights in shining armour

Prancing two and half squares either way

Engaging the enemy forces

Keeping all the world at bay

Proud to be Indian / Asian - A Report

My friend Dinesh Sharma shared this with me .
'His Masters Voice' (HMV) had once published a pamphlet giving the history of gramophone record.

Gramophone was invented by Thomas Alva Edison in the 19th century.

Edison, who had invented many other gadgets like electric light and the motion picture camera, had become a legend even in his own time.

When he invented the gramophone record, which could record human voice for posterity, he wanted to record the voice of an eminent scholar on his first piece.

For that he chose Prof. Max Muller of England (a German by ethnicity), another great personality of the 19th century.

He wrote to Max Muller saying,

“I want to meet you and record your voice. When should I come?”

Max Muller who had great respect for Edison asked him to come on a suitable time when most of the scholars of the Europe would be gathering in England.

Accordingly, Edison took a ship and went to England. He was introduced to the audience. All cheered Edison’s presence.

Later at the request of Edison, Max Muller came on the stage and spoke in front of the instrument.

Then Edison went back to his laboratory and by afternoon came back with a disc & played it on the gramophone.

The audience was thrilled to hear the voice of Max Muller from the instrument.

They were glad that voices of great persons like Max Muller could be stored for the benefit of posterity.

After several rounds of applause and congratulations to Thomas Edison, Max Muller came to the stage and addressed the scholars and asked them,

“You heard my original voice in the morning. Then you heard the same voice coming out from this instrument in the afternoon. Do you understand what I said in the morning or what you heard in the afternoon?”

The audience fell silent because they could not understand the language in which Max Muller had spoken.

It was ‘Greek and Latin’ to them as they say.

But had it been Greek or Latin, they would have definitely understood because they were from various parts of Europe.

It was in a language which the European scholars had never heard.

Max Muller then explained what he had spoken.

He said that the language he spoke was Sanskrit and it was the first sloka of Rig Veda, which says "Agni Meele Purohitam”

This was the first recorded public version on the gramophone plate.

अग्निमीळे पुरोहितं यज्ञस्य देवं रत्वीजम।
होतारं रत्नधातमम।।
(Rig Veda 1.001.01)

Why did Max Muller choose this?

Addressing the audience he said,

“Vedas are the oldest text of the human race. And “Agni Meele Purohitam” is the first verse of Rig Veda.

In the most primordial time, when the people did not know how even to cover their bodies and lived by hunting and housed in caves, Indians had attained high civilization and they gave the world universal philosophies in the form of the Vedas.”

When “Agni Meele Purohitam” was replayed, the entire audience stood up in silence as a mark of respect.

The verse means :

“Oh Agni, You who gleam in the darkness, to You we come day by day, with devotion and bearing homage. So be of easy access to us, Agni, as a father to his son, abide with us for our well being."

Proud to be part of a truly glorious ancient civilization ...
🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳

A Canvas of Life

I picture my Life

And decorate the sky

The clouds are my paint

The mind is my brush

Shapes appear taking form

The winds come and smear them all

The winds of Fortune ,

The winds of Change

Sometimes the paint

Drips from the sky

My canvas is

Minds window pane

The paint drips on

To the wooden frame

Of Reality and Fact

I try to dig

To get some back

To finish my picture

Alas! It has gone

I draw the curtains

And withdraw from

The sad and Gory sight

Of a Ruined canvas of Life

From  ‘Emoticons of a Rambling Life ‘