Gyan Bhandar - 4

What's your Signature?

Most of the birds are colourful, bright, calming and a sight to watch them in action, with beautiful feathers, attractive colours and soothing chirping sounds.

But a Crow is considered a negative bird, not so good looking, black with an annoying Caw that it makes!

Yet, Crows are supposed to have huge brains, super smart. Afterall we have all grown up hearing the thirsty crow story.

We all just survive and live on. Can we stand out amongst the crowd? Can we master our skills?

Even Micheal Jackson had his signature Moon Walk, Dhoni had his signature Helicopter shot, a Shahrukh Khan has his signature arms stretch pose, Rajnikanth's Signature Cigarette flip!

1000s come and go, but are you remembered? What's your Signature?

Arguments

You never know when a usual, casual conversation turned into argument, afterall each of us have our own perspectives, opinion and views.

Be it on politics, sports, movies, discussions amongst a couple, parents, friends or be it professional, the conflict arises when we add emotions in our arguments.

Conflict is useful, to put across our values, core beliefs and want to be appreciated. But turns futile when the intent is to prove "I am right, you are wrong".

But end of a very interesting healthy argument, when a prospective client tells you "I don't completely agree with your point, and I might not be fully convinced, but the passion in which you delivered your point is worth believing in you" is surely a win!

It sometimes feels it's a disease, it's an addiction to keep trying to prove ourselves right in every discussion.

I like the idea of you, than the real you

We all idolize few people in our lives. We emotionally invest on these people, motivating ourselves, inspiring ourselves to be that person based on the idea we have built about him/her in our mind.

Probably we see a version of our own imagination that we wanted to see in them. And when we actually see and get to know the real person, the idea that we had on him/her could be completely disassociated from reality.

Be it the looks of actresses, models, be it the successful people, be it the godmen, successful businessmen, politicians or just anyone else, we build exaggerated ideas of some good qualities attributed to them.

This could be with the love of our lives as well. We are happy in our own world, loving a person whose idea of personality is so soothing that we eternally want to be in love. But once we start living with that person, we feel we were better off loving than living with that person.

Could it be true with God as well? Each of us have our own idea of God, and we love, respect and be scared about him.

Yet, no one knows what he really is!

God's Grace

Once there lived a King, who had a very smart minister. The king always used to take the minister's advice on almost everything and used to take him along wherever he went. The minister had only one problem, for everything he used to say "God's Grace".

One day the King was preparing to go for hunting and was checking the weapons. The King accidentally cut his finger checking a damaged knife. The minister says "God's Grace".

The king got furious that he has hurt himself and how can that be God's grace, and orders the Minister to be put in Jail.

For that also the Minister says "God's Grace".

The King goes ahead alone for hunting. Deep in the Forest, he is captured by few tribes. The tribes were looking for a Man as a sacrifice to their Goddess.

The clan leader observes that the Man has a wound and a finger is cut, he orders the Man to be freed, as they can't sacrifice a damaged body.

The King returns to his Minister and tells him the story. The Minister says "It was God's way to save you from the tribes. And it was God's grace that you put me in jail, so that I don't come with you, else they would have sacrificed me, instead of you".

Can everything that happens to us be taken on the face value and react? Or do we have the patience and trust in our God, irrespective of what's happening in our lives?

Aham Brahmasmi

It is a coincidence and by chance that we are born in a particular religion, cast and definitely not by choice.

Since it's by chance and not by choice, we are obligated to believe in the teachings, philosophy of the sect. We go ahead and defend, argue based on the blind belief in the philosophy we are told we belong to.

What if you and I were born in each other's religion, the same we would have exact opposite views. Afterall, that's why it's called "Belief".

It is a different matter that thinkers and scholars like Shankaracharya, Madhwacharya researched Vedas and gave birth to their own new Philosophies.

Unfortunately, we are not, we cannot be them.

If Vedic texts were as simple as Google Translation to say "Aham = I", "Brahmasmi = Am God", then all of us could drink up Vedas bottoms up!

Do You think what you think you are? Or Do you think what you think, I think You are?

Do we change the way we are, based on how life, people treats us? Does our mannerisms, personality, behaviour, body language change, if we start to feel more confident about ourself?

Each of us have a defined sense of selfness, we know what we are as individuals. But does this construct of "I", the definition of "Me", characteristics of "Me" change/improvise based on what others think about us?

What percentage of the image, the idea of "Me" that is impressed on others, is how you want them to see "Me", and how much they judge and ideate "Me" as an individual?

Do we remodel ourselves based on how others think we are - be it the expectations on us, or the overconfidence/underconfidence they have on us?

All these lead to THE question - Do You think what you think you are? Or Do you think what you think, I think You are?

Deriving Inspiration - 3

Boarding Blues

Air travel is no more for the elite. With plenty of flight options, fast paced life and ease of travel, "taking a flight" is no more glamorous.

There's no difference between a Railway Station, Bus Stand or an Airport - Similar chaos, confusions and excessively populous.

While half the crowd confidently move around going through entry, security, reaching the Gate and boarding, other half literally run around, panic struck, asking for help from almost every staff and co-passengers.

Language is another challenge, as they struggle to get right instructions. It's not that confusing after all. Probably the massive areas, sheer size and elaborate security, poses to be intriguing.

The regular business travelers wearing the ego cap, feeling entitled and demanding.

The long queues at entry, security stresses people so much, that they act they are the only ones who are in a hurry, amidst a sea of people.

And those calls to the loved ones..I have boarded, I have landed!

Hospitality

In one of the Ted Talks that I heard, a gentleman had a very interesting advise, which most of us can surely relate - The focus of companies on Product, Service, Support is not enough these days, hospitality should be the focal point.

I totally concur. It is not enough to have a good Product, it is not enough to provide efficient service, hospitality is part of the offering that is both expected by the Client and Offered by the companies.

Probably all of us have always been offering this to our customers, but we just didn't realize it, just didn't give it a name.

As my partner says "Massaging their ego" is part of his job. In one other article, I had written how everyone in the organization have to be Salesmen, irrespective of the role you play, be it a CEO or a L1 Support Engineer.

Afterall, hospitality is no more limited to Hospitality industry. Who will not feel happy to be treated like Kings, and when especially they are giving you business.

Travel Romance

Hey You! Am Missing you. I am spending each day thinking of you, waiting to be with you, again.

Come to me, take me in your arms.

No matter how much I earn, if I don't spend on you, every penny seems worthless.

Life seems hollow when am not with you.

The pleasure, peace of mind I get when I am with you, is unmatched.

I find myself when I am with you, I find true purpose of life when I am with you.

I write so much about you, when I am with you, or after the wonderful moments I spend with you, I write about you and the experience you give me..

I am your prisoner, do not let me go...please...waiting to unite with you again soon...you give me the same pleasure if I do Solo, with my wife, with family or friends - Travel, the love of my life!

That Face!

That Face...That one face I can never forget. I don't know when and where I saw that face. I don't remember the name, yet that face is pictured in my memory.

The innocent face, very pleasing smile, silky smooth hairs, the soft skin and calmness on that face. That face had perfect symmetry of facial features and had that Golden ratio. It's as if the Morning sun rays are always on that face, making it bright and shining.

I randomly see that face in the crowd, I used to see that face in Aishwarya Rai, Emma Stone, Salma Hayek and these days I see in Ashika, Jahnvi, Raashi Khanna.

I saw that face in all my teen days crush, in the women I loved, I see the same face in my Wife.

Sometimes when I hear a good soothing music, that face suddenly flashes in front of me. The face that brings out the poet in me, the face that I see in everyone I love, and the same face that I see when I am standing with folded hands in front of Udupi Krishna!

The face I saw in my niece when she was a small baby, the face I see when my mom calls my name fondly.

Looking for that face amidst all the known faces. Do you know whose face is it?

The TV Advs

I have always been fascinated by the TV Advertisements, many of them are extremely creative and funny.

Be it Vodafone, Limca, Happydent, Cred, Men Will Be Men series, Fevkwik and the list goes on.

I saw one such another Kurkure Adv today, where a Ghost appears in a Man's room and he is petrified, literally shivering and asks her "Who are you? Why are you here?" The ghost answers "I live here". That man takes a bite of Kurkure and shakes hands with the Ghost "If we both stay in the same house, we are roommates, we should share the Rent".

The last scene was even more funny, as he is using the Ghost to walk up the roof and clean the Fans!

Some of them are not only funny, creative, but becomes legendary and gets etched in our memory for a very long time.

What's your favourite TV Adv?

The Funnier Side - Part 2

The Alien Subbarao

Subbarao sits alone on the old wooden chair, staring at the window all day, in his decades old small house. An extreme introvert, doesn't have friends and doesn't get along with relatives and neighbours.

He has a fixed routine of morning walk, has one idli vada at the Darshini, come back home and water the plants. Prepare lunch for himself and go back to the chair and stare at the window.

One fine day, as he continues to stare at the sky through the window, a bright light flashes, as Subbarao stands up with folded hands and tears in his eyes and happiness on his face.

His life time wait has finally ended, as the flying saucer lands in front of his house, as Subbarao walks closer to the saucer, his skin sheds and his true form takes over. His planet mates welcome him, as the saucer flies away and disappears in the skies.

Did we grow up too fast?

It feels like yesterday I was going to College with my buddies, having a gala time in the College grounds, life filled with fun and laughter.

Don't know when the niece, nephew, cousin's and friend's children who were just yesterday small infants we loved playing with, the baby giggles, the baby talks are grown men and women.

Don't know when we started saying "attending cousin's daughter's wedding" from "Cousin's wedding".

Don't know when we transformed from our first job trying to prove ourselves, to now deciding on other's future, from 9:00 to 6:00 easy job to a top Management role, responsible for everything in the company.

Don't know when my hairs fell off, don't know when the friends catchup conversation over a Beer, changed from "Fun, Goa Trip planning, Technology, Sports, Figures" to "Retirement plan, investment, health issues".

Don't know when the actresses we use to letch has now wrinkles on their faces, playing mother's role!

70s Model

I think our generation has seen the most transitions, progress, advancement and changes.

We 75-85 born kids have literally seen the world, lifestyle and norms change right in front of us.

From Video cassettes to VCD to OTT.

From Audio Cassettes to MP3s to online Music Players.

From Floppy disks to CDs to Pen Drives.

From Sangam, Urvashi theatres to PVR, Cinepolis.

From the dial based landline to Smart Phones.

From that Telephone line Modem making awful noice with 100KBPS to High speed internet.

From huge Computer boxes with bulky monitors to sleek and compact Laptops.

From the Dyanora TV with shutters to Smart TVs.

From DD1,DD2 to Cable TV to OTT.

From Titan steel watches to Smart Watches.

From Yahoo Chats to WhatsApp.

From Cuticura Powder to Axe Deodorant.

From Torino, Gold Spot to Coke, Pepsi.

From Inland Letters to Emails.

From PSUs to MNCs to Start Ups.

From News reading aunties to Opinion spreading Uncles.

From Autograph to Selfies.

We have seen the Pub, Resort culture bloom, Social Media taking over our lives.

All these makes us the most matured generation, as we have experienced and adapted two different worlds. Our previous generations were never part of this transition and they are still stuck in their days. The next generation is already born into the Modernity and they will only see advances not transitions.

3 cheers to us -70s/80s kids!!

The Male Nipple

The evident feminine characteristics including grace, emotional, sensitive, compassionate, empathetic, warmth are all personification of feminity.

Not stereotyping women, but certain qualities defines feminity. Be it the kindness, sweetness, gentleness marks the traits of the women we want to idealize.

We have come across few Men, whom we find funny and call them feminine, and few Women whom we find them to be masculine.

"Why do men have nipples??". It's something that is useless, doesn't serve any purpose. A typical candidate that usually is made redundant in the evolutionary process, but isn't the case!

As I explored answer to this question, I found the answer, which is the reason of this prelude that I wrote!

So, when the new life is formed, the initial 4 weeks is just a common templated embryo and Nipples are part of the default template!

As Y chromosomes induces the embryo, the embryo starts developing Male organs. If not, the embryo continues to develop as a Female!!

So, by default all life is formed as a Female!!

That Struggle every morning!

That struggle...that struggle each of us go through every single day of our lives. We fight with our own inner conscious, it's a battle we have to fight on our own and no one to help.

It's a struggle that a school going kid till an adult goes through....waking up in the morning!! I bet lifting a 20 KG weight in the Gym is much easier than lifting those eye lids.

Waking up is a snail paced ritual each of us practice...from snoozing the alarm 2 times, rolling on the bed, sitting on the bed, open the eye lids just enough to get a glimpse of our favourite God, then continuing the "meditation" on the Toilet Commode!

Especially when you had disturbed sleep through out the night, and could only get good sleep early in the morning.

The body clock also is wickedly intelligent. During the daily office/school days, it just does not trigger at all!

But when we have to catch an early morning flight or an early start for a trip, the body clock triggers 15 minutes before the Alarm and we keep staring at the Alarm just to turn it off and wake up!

Frustrations & Disappointments - Part 4

How safe are we?

A techie was stabbed in broad daylight when few men tried to rob him of money, as the bystanders stood and didn't try to save him.

A woman waiting for Bus after office, was offered lift by a School Bus driver, who eventually raped her.

A young woman in the wee hours fully drunk, called for a bike taxi to go to a friend's place, and the woman ends up being raped.

A middle aged man walking on the side of the road, when a two wheeler guy honked madly asking him to walk on the foot path. Altercations soon turned ugly and the guy on the two wheeler kicked the pedestrian, who ended up with a broken hand.

There are many such incidents that happen everyday. There are equal no.of cases with natives and migrants being victims or aggressors.

How safe are our cities? The culprits doesn't seem to care for the consequences or they know the flaws and workarounds in our system.

As long as there is no fear of law, there is no hope for safer cities.

Cleaning the political system, Firm Policing and getting people out of poverty will make the difference. Any guesses on which of the 3 is impossible?

The Border fight

Not sure why politicians across the globe fight for that tiny piece of land along the borders.

Almost every country, every state fight for that small town / village along the borders.

No one cares for the aspirations and wants of the people living there. This gross, obsessed patriotic set of people including politicians keep the conflict alive for their own kick.

If Kashmir rightfully belongs to India, so does every village and town belonging to the States. If Pak is wrong in claiming Kashmir as theirs, so does MH to claim Belgaum, so does KL to claim Kasargod.

When the States Reorganization act was enforced, the boundaries had to be drawn somewhere and each state would have surely been unhappy with some piece of land.

If Pak is seen as a villain to grab our piece of land, why not the same yardstick if MH is doing the same with KA!

The same yardstick also applies if KA is trying to claim any piece of land from any of it's neighbouring States.

Easen her burden

Life isn't fair for everyone. A young mother giving up her fight taking care of her specially abled child, is a tough scene to imagine.

Her pent up frustrations, pain, agony explodes every night, as she sobs and cries loudly expressing her desperation to lead a normal life. A young woman of that age having mountain of dreams on how she wanted to lead a happy life, but is holed up in the house 24/7, taking care of her erratic son.

Why few of them are punished so much? What's her Sin that she deserves so much suffering?

Is it Karma? Some philosophical answers could point at previous birth's Karma!! Which is an easy answer to escape in defense of the unfair situation given to her by God.

I only pray to easen her burden.

Deepika & her Dressing

Since the early days of civilizations, women have always been seen as a source of entertainment only and were denied rights to live a life.

Take any civilizations or later settlements in Greeks, Spartans, Middle east nations or India. Women have always been restrained, constrained and limited to 4 walls.

Marriage itself was a sham, and multiple partners for males were always found legal across the globe.

The world has come a long way, men have evolved and many such prohibitions are no more in practice. Women lead a very independent and free life, though some practices such as Ghunghat and Burkha system are still a Bane.

We now have a Star couple who are competing with each other on who will get more naked in front of the Camera.

It is a different matter that the color of that small piece of cloth, (which is hardly seen) is a cause of concern for few!

Covid & Avatar

Avatar 2 is released! It's a visual spectacle, a continuation from its prequel. Bit dragged and gets boring at times, yet a good watch if you were Avatar fan.

There is something else also that's coming in newer Avatar - Covid!

On one hand if the paranoia seems to be back in form of WhatsApp forwards of how more deadly the new variant is, such people who have this phobia of being scared are already preparing to be scared.

On the other side, the media was itching for some Masala, seems so happy that Covid could be back soon. All their choicest of words, their "expert" opinion on how people and Govt should react are already the prime time highlight.

Media and the people were probably so used to being paranoid but missing it from an year or so, it's probably a sigh of relief for them now.

Nasha Chadha Jo Sharifi Ka

The Clapping boys continue to find newer reasons to malign Pathan movie, by targetting a particular Song.

Not that I am an SRK fan nor waiting to watch Pathan, just a cause of concern in this rhetoric filled days.

After the color of the piece of cloth Deepika wore, now the skimpy clothes she wore or the seductive dance moves is supposed to be hurting our culture and all girls are feeling unsafe just because of this one song.

Deepika is not the first nor last to do such a seductive item number. There has been more vulgar/errotic songs where actresses have enacted and surely not elegant, Starting from the days of Helen, Mandakini or Zeenat Aman.

And Porn these days are so freely available, as Men who supposedly get motivated to involve in heinous crimes need not watch a movie song!

As the song itself says "Nasha Chadha Jo Sharifi Ka"...The Clapping Boys are intoxicated to take higher moral ground!

Wanderlust - a desire to travel

Wanderlust - a desire to travel

By

Murali Murthy 

Travelling for me is therapeutic, addictive and a sense of freedom from monotony.

It makes me alive, let's me experience life beyond usual.

Travelling challenges our perspectives, and helps us evolve our perspectives towards life.

By simply standing in front of a Beach, or on top of a mountain, it makes me feel so small.

There are many who loves travelling Solo, but I want to experience every journey with my loved ones.

Be it adventurous, leisurely, spiritual, official or romantic, each journey gives invaluable life experiences about world around us.

The excitement starts with planning, packing and the night before the journey is always restless.

Each journey, each destination gives lessons that cannot be learnt in books and classrooms, it teaches how to savour every moment, to be humble, to survive in various conditions and situations.

Travelling and seeing places opens up your mind to new ideas, new culture, new traditions, new lifestyles, clothing, dialect that it makes you more tolerant towards this beautiful and diversed country and world.

Probably something that the Clapping Boys and their political lordship should experience, to realize they cannot force their religious, linguistic agendas on us, and respect the diversity.

Travelling makes us get out of the comfort of our home, known surroundings and take a leap of faith towards the unknowns, new environment, new people, expanding the horizon.

Eventually teaching us to value experience, life more than running behind materialistic pleasures and splurging lifetime savings in building that one dream home and being stuck.

Travelling makes us good storytellers, as we will be itching to share our experiences and stories!

When our routine, confined, mechanical and claustrophobic life reaches the nauseating levels, the only remedy is to pack your bags and hit the road!

Maybe someday, I reach a stage in my life and mean it when I say "Let's travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us".

Youth and Freedom

Youth and Freedom!

By

Murali Murthy 

The younger generation's mantra these days "My Life, My Rules". As they turn teen, they start to believe that they are entitled for "Freedom". Their definition of freedom is to let them do what they want to do, not worried about the consequences. They feel they are matured enough to make their own decisions, without much of life experience.

Is everything they do is to be "Cool"? Are they just being influenced by the Fad?

Nothing seems to be a Taboo these days.

Two real life examples has really kept me worried and concerned about this ghost called Freedom, which the teens harp about.

Two young girls at a Pub went out of control, didn't know when to stop Drinking and the next scenes were just ugly. With no local caretakers, the two girls staying in a PG, were sloshed and in unconscious state at 11.30 in the night.

Lying helpless, out of senses and Vulnerable at the Pub's basement!

Another recent incident in Delhi, where a Girl found a Boy on a Dating App, quickly moved with him to Delhi, from Mumbai, and she didn't even bother informing her parents about her shifting to Delhi.

The Boy, who was a psychopath killed her, cut her into 35 pieces and disposed her!

Is this the Freedom they need? In their dictionary, Freedom is to do anything and no one should stop or question them.

They just do not realize, Freedom comes with responsibility, stable mind, sensible behaviour. Freedom is a power that should have a purpose and is a privilege to be carefully carried on the shoulders.

As Parents and Elders, they are only concerned about the risks in their decisions, keeping them safe and helping them stay on track.

Family's Support and consultation must not be seen as a hindrance to their Freedom, but a support system to help them make the right decisions and protect them from judgement failures.

Not that all Teens are carefree and get into trouble. I understand the above two examples are exceptions. But the commonality in both the cases is the wrong judgement of the Teens, trying to be cool and free.

When we even write a Code, we Catch Exceptions to ensure Checks and Balances. Afterall, it is their life, it is absolute necessity to have Checks and Balances! 

Saree - Timeless Classic

Saree - Timeless Classic!

By

Murali Murthy

If women are a gift to Mankind, Sarees are the beautiful Gift Wrap.

Saree, the wonder attire for a woman.

I see my mother, grand mothers, aunts, sister, wife so proudly amass their Saree collection.

As I know, not less than 500 Sarees in their wardrobe, and their eyes light up with joy as they have memories, stories with each Saree. They know exactly when they last wore each of the Saree, when and where did they buy or who and why did they gift her.

Their collection is so vast that it has almost all Sarees - Starting from Chiffon, Kanjeevaram, Banaras, Ilkal to Mysore Silk Sarees.

And someone like my wife, who is particular on the accessories, has equal no.of matching earrings, neckwears to go with each of the Sarees!

Each Saree is unique, it's texture, colour, design, print and pattern. It's such a versatile attire that can literally be worn at any given event or situation.

Be it the Temple design, Polka dots, Huge Borders, Half n Half, dual shade, the silks, the cottons, the jutes, it's literally a never ending list.

Saree Shopping in itself is a happy event for all women. Usually avoided by Men, women usually go in groups and spend full day to buy sarees. More than the actual transaction to buy a saree, it's the overall experience of going through heaps of sarees, varied designs, budgets that makes them aroused. You should see the delight, wide bright smile and satisfaction on their face as they walk out of the huge shops carrying their shopping bags.

If any man wants to please and woo his woman, all he should do is give a good budget, book a Cab for her and her friends, and let them do some Saree Shopping. I assure you, when she is back, everything is forgiven and forgotten, and you can see love, happiness and smile back on her face.

The perfection at which a woman drapes her saree tells a lot about her taste, and how much she loves herself.

A Saree can be draped in many styles, depending if she wants to look majestic, subtle and sophisticated, elegant and simple, ethnic and traditional.

Wearing just a Bindi and an earring along with crispy pleats and neatly draped Saree, a woman can literally be presentable anywhere...be it to temples, to outings, to events, to work or functions, she will look so presentable.

While, the accessory that actually makes the difference is her smile!

When a woman arrives with a well draped Saree, forget Men, even other women admire the grace and beauty. It exudes elegance.

It's an open challenge. Young women these days who always wear dresses, wear a Saree one fine day. You will see the world stopping to admire your grace and beauty. I bet you will say "आज में साड़ी क्या पेहेन ली, मुझे खुद से इश्क होरहा हैं"

No one will be able to resist the charm and the feminine essence of a Saree clad woman.

If Girls wants the characteristics, mannerisms and traits of her Father in their life partner, a young man will have similar expectations derived from his mother. And when his woman wears a Saree, it helps him associate her with his mother.

A woman in a Saree is respected and admired.

The beauty of this wonder clothing is, that it covers everything, yet a small peep even of an ankle can be a huge turn on for Men!

In the words of Vidya Balan "Saree is the sexiest garment ever. It shows the right amount, it covers the right amount. Its extremely versatile, it suits any body type, any face".

Gyan Bhandar - 3

3 Fucks a day

With only so many hours in a day, most of the days it feels we are running short of time in a day.

Is it that we are really racing against time with our "perceived" rubbing our ass off everyday, or are we wasting our time taking shit and dealing with nonsense?

What if we have the choice to use 3 fucks a day! What will happen the most if you give a fuck to few things each day..

- Quit that boring job!

- Say No to that nagging client!

- Get out of that toxic relation!

- Shut the Laptop after 07:00 PM and go for a Drink in the middle of the Week!

- Stop massaging Ego of a swollen-headed Customer/Manager!

- Get out of the Car and Slap that unruly driver!

- Show middle finger to the Cops waiting like Hyenas on the Streets!

- Ask that noisy neighbour to stop being a pain in the ass!

- Take No Bullshit!

Despite all irritants, when we choose to give a fuck about everything, then we feel as though we are perpetually entitled to feel comfortable and happy at all times, that’s when life fucks us.

Karma

Read somewhere of an example of Karma...A Bird when alive eats Ants, when the Bird is dead, Ants eat the Bird.

How is this Karma for the Bird? The Ants are eating a dead meat.

Karma is something that gets back to you for your deeds, the Bird is already dead, so it doesn't really matter!

A couple having a special child in our apartment, and that child constantly screams through out the day...the young parents few times handle the kid with patience, and most of the other times violently silence him.

Is it their Karma to take care of the Child and they also suffer along with the child for life time? Or is it morally ok for them to leave the Kid at a Care Center?

There are approximately 10 Crores children globally with special needs!

Deja Vu

Have come across number of movies and stories, where storytellers are found playing with the idea and concept of Deja Vu.

In those stories, people relive a moment multiple times. A particular episode just repeats itself, the protagonist feels he / she just saw this happening a moment ago.

This french word "Deja Vu" literally means "already seen".

Have you ever experienced Deja vu?

What if we know what is coming, not the gut feeling, but you have already seen it happening for real.

Though it can be attributed as a fantasy, if experienced for real, is it scarier to precisely know what's happening around, by scene? Will it do any good to predict a future event and help in course correction?

What could happen if we were to have this gift of knowing the next scene of your life, or already lived that moment?

Avoid road accidents, save lives, win bids, bet on sports...

The best part, we could avoid that fight/argument with spouse!

Length of Life or Quality of Life?

"Babumushai, Zindagi badi honi chahiye, lambi nahin."

An iconic dialog, very simple yet extremely powerful.

We all are by default wired to plan long term, plan for retirement, plan for future, plan funds for health issues in old age, compromising health today, as we slog almost all day.

It is futile to argue if long term planning, stability, earning for tomorrow is important OR living in the present, living the moment is important.

There are no right or wrong answers, it's just our perspectives:

- Savings or Investment?

- Linear Growth or Exponential Growth?

- Stability or Change?

- Start-up or Stable Job?

- Farm House or Pent House?

- 4 days (12 hrs a day) or 5 days (10 hrs a day) working days in a week?

- Gym or Yoga?

- Building that dream home draining life savings or Travelling the world and visiting places every 6 months?

The art of Communication

While we in Corporate world stress on the art of communication, and harp on the art of listening being extremely important for effective communication, I see elders around me giving two hoots to this.

Especially when my mom and my aunts engage in conversations, it is usually monologues from both sides. Both constantly speak on their own with continuous overlaps, without bothering to listen, comprehend what the other person is saying.

Yet, they both happily come out with satisfaction in their faces that they had a good time catching up and sharing!

It's probably more to do with the language and voice that's falling on their ears that's making them comfortable, than the actual content. The oldies just need a pair of ears to share and an outlet.

Good music, kind words soothes our mood. Spritual chants and sounds helps us connect with divine. Bad, sad and chocking news makes us disturbed and scared.

Our ears unfortunately doesn't have any lids that can stop us consuming negative words, hurful, hateful conversations.

We should only feel lucky we can't hear what other's have in their mind!

All of us yearn for that voice/sound/music, that is tranquillizing, what's yours?

Deriving Inspiration - II

A Collective of write-ups on some of the inspirations that we can derive from events & people

By

Murali Murthy

The King and the Judgement

Adapting a short story on a King's wisdom and his judgement.

Three Men were found guilty for an act of terrorism.

The judge after reviewing and studying the case and their involvement, judged the first criminal who was an uneducated labour, to be put on 6 months of community service to clean Roads for 8 hours a day.

The second guy who was an ex-army man, pronounced 5 years rigorous imprisonment.

The third culprit who was an Engineer, was sentenced to death.

When the Lawer asked the judge why the difference in punishment for the same crime, the judge said "the uneducated labour and the soldier only needed to be reminded of discipline and responsible citizenship.

But the Engineer who is the brains behind this, had clear intentions to cause hurt and lured the other two with money and negativity."

Mind is the key to create a positive world and a key conspirer too...if it is the reason for progress of humans, it is also the reason for atrocities and Mind must be punished the most.

Kantara

We humans have eternally been in search of God. In this quest, we have only achieved to come up with religions. Looks like more or less we have settled defining god through religion and religious texts.

We all have identified and defined God based on our religious head's/founder's perception and interpretation of God.

And probably the reason there is no universal consensus, as it's a personal experience.

How do you see the divine?

I am very sure, we all see and feel God based on our life experiences.

I surely feel him around, he is there to help when I need him the most, he is there to punish me when I err. He shows up himself in unexpected forms and means.

Those who don't experience him take the safe path and identify themselves as non-believers.

With all the shine, glory and lit, as we dig deeper, the divinity seems darker, scary and complex.

Divinity is powerful, magical, mystical and and it's another form of lust wanting to see him and know him up close.

All practices, rituals have very deep meaning and importance, directly connected to the divine. It is in our best interest to just stay away if we don't believe, rather than disrespecting or making fun.

Ravana

Ravana was a learned scholar, well versed with vedas & shastras, and an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva. His scientific achievements includes building and flying pushpaka vimana (aeroplane).

Ravana was a great king, expert warrior, politician, an astrologer and had prowess in ayurveda. He was an exceptional Poet, musician and a very romantic person.

His 10 heads of knowledge, symbolizing all 10 perfect qualities.

With almost everything what a powerful and a perfect man could have, he went astray with lust for more power, pleasure and happiness.

The difference between Ravana and Rama, is that the former failed to control his senses, intelligence, but the latter did!

Apart from lust, arrogance, humility, was Ravana well accomplished and an ocean of knowledge, was knocked down by the representation of truth, morality and dharma?

When both had Nuclear power (Bramhasthra), Rama used it as last resort, but Ravana didn't, because he knew clash of two Nuclear bombs would erase humanity and ecology.

The alternate realities, hidden gems usually get suppressed in a bid to make one man a Hero and perceptions built around one man.

An eternal Quest

An eternal quest by every woman, at every home - What to prepare for breakfast tomorrow? What to prepare for lunch today?

I have seen my mom, my sister and my wife literally sitting for a moment everyday and wondering what to prepare!

Am sure, all you men have seen this at your homes.

I wasn't noticing this much, until I saw my wife everyday sincerely think of what to prepare for breakfast and lunch every single day.

I realized it's indeed a genuine issue to come up with different menu every single day.

I wanted to help my wife and started planning to build a Software that would pop up the menu suggestions each day on her phone, based on the preferences and pre-fed list, and based on the day of the week.

But she came up with a practical problem, that the ingredients and veggies required to prepare a randomly suggested food item, might not be available at home, most of the times.

Wow, it's indeed a larger problem to solve!

Another example to show Human intelligence cannot always be automated!