A Public Library....

Recently, the author had been to the Newport Beach Public Library, in Newport Beach, CA. It was such a beautiful place, with an amazing collection of books, audio CDs, DVDs, etc. Anything and everything to make you get addicted to that place. With really friendly librarians, beautiful in every sense, it is definitely a heaven on earth.

Moreover, the architecture of the library was amazingly done, so as to allow, natural light to illuminate the interior surroundings, for most of the open hours of the library. Very very environment friendly. The library is open on all days of the week, with 9AM-9PM schedule from M-Th. With a checkout limit of 50, and 5 CDs/DVDs, etc., it cannot get better than this. And if one doesn't default, the services are completely free.

And how can I forget, there was this cute little girl, carrying a pile of Harry Potter books, notably, #4-7, towards the checkout counter. Ms. Rowling has done a fantabulous job with her HP series, and one must bow down in reverence and love to this creative genius. I am sure the little girl will have a great time with those books.

This only made me wonder, "Taxes are fine, as long, as they are put to good use". The goodness and badness of the use is open to interpretation; but then, investing in a public library is definitely good for all. I guess, we all, need to learn a lot from the beautiful things in the world, and hope to be the change we wish to see across in other parts - India and the rest of the world.

A post on a similar theme can be found here.

People Watching : The Indian Experience - I ....

A long-pending post finally gets written now, courtesy, India, celebrating her 60th year of independence; my friend's heavily-flattering appreciation of the people watching section, and my blog-friend's wanting to know more about my concept of Indianness. Most of the incidents given here are now, purely, the author's imagination, and solely, built upon his rich experiences in India.

#1. The Indian Woman (Nari)
There she goes, beautiful in her glamorous Kancheevaram silk saree with a glistening zari border, and a matching blouse; with "minimal" jewellery - matching ear-rings, nose-ring, a necklace, her bangles, her toe-ring, her ring, and her mangalsutra. The red kumkum pottu on her forehead, the mark of nuptial bliss on her parting of the hair, the dab of chandan powder on her face, the kohl lining in her eyes, the virginal red mehendi on her hands, and a string of jasmine flowers on her well-oiled, braided, plait, greatly accentuate her overall beauty. It merits mention that the saree, provides just the right amount of exposure of her delicate skin to both the sun and the human eye. If the husband were a talented vocalist, he would immediately start singing, "Lage tose nain", upon seeing his wife, dressed thus.

#2. The Festival Season

A secular nation with a myriad of customs and cultures, India can easily be regarded as "Europe minus Russia", both in terms of size and the sheer diversity. Further, Hinduism, is characterized by the infinite manifestations of the divine. Each festival has its own appeal, and associated "goodies" therein. Deepavali, Christmas, New Year, Pongal/Sankranti, Holi, Id, Krishnashtami, Buddha Purnima, Mahaveer Jayanthi, Guru Nanak Jayanthi, Ganesh Chaturthi, Dassehra, Saraswathi Puja, etc. Be it the celebration of dolls (Kolu) during Dassehra, the victory of the good over the evil during Deepavali with fire-crackers, the ushering of the new year, the thanksgiving for harvest season during Sankranti, the joy of colors during Holi; the main underlying theme is counting one's blessings in the company of one's near and dear ones. Infact, the entire nation does erupt with pure joy.

#3. The Scene at the Railway Station

With so much of an importance given to the concept of relatives, friends and guests, it is not uncommon for familes to go to the railway stations to send-off/receive their near and dear ones. Moreover, since, the train is the cherished form of transportation for many a person, irrespective of his/her economic status, it is, but, natural that the railway stations are pretty crowded places; thereby providing an amazing setting for the best possible people watching.

An entire coach has been reserved for the bride's marriage party. A group of college students, late adolescents, with their parents and siblings having come to the station to bid them good-bye. A family on a vacation to a distant land in their own country, brimming with excitement. A family reunion in the platform with the long-lost and estranged brother's family coming down over for their niece's wedding. The public service announcements blaring in umpteen languages. Some on a run so as to not miss the train. Jostling and Hustling. A little bit of push here and there. The hawkers and coolies on the platforms. Vocal strains of "coffee-coffee-coffee-ya". An altercation somewhere in the middle of it all between the coolie and the newly-wed couple... and so on.

To be continued....

The Market - The Restaurant - The Game of Street-Cricket - The Indian Classical Music Scene - The Temple Towers - The Brigade Road Experience - The Indian Wedding

The Undeniable Moments...

This post is dedicated to Tara, Jason and John. The author knows that this post is heavily incoherent in nature, with each sentence, being there, just because it needs to be there. Heavily deviant in nature from the original idea. Kindly excuse the so many loose ends.

Most of us, at some point in time or the other, excessively indulge or wallow in self-pity. The moments, often, undeniable and unavoidable, take us by surprise, and further ensue a lot of pain. While experiencing an undeniable moment, one is often tempted to define it as the darkest and the toughest moment in life. The past one's seem bearable when compared to the present one, and the future always holds forth joy and happiness. Who knows as to what the future beckons us with? Thus, we gradually, miss out on the present time of our lives.

Space and time, prove to be one of the most natural healers for such times. Getting immersed in one's passions does help one blissfully become unaware of reality. Often, it so happens, that the mind proves to be treacherous with its tendency of complicating simple things in life and likewise, simplifying the complicated things in life. It doesn't take a long time to make a small worry a big worry and vice-versa. If we finally are able to look at those undeniable moments with clarity and true lack of emotion, we can see, that their purpose is to provide us with some really important lessons for life; and move on in life. The experiences makes us richer in being, well-rounded in thought, and more empathetic in nature.

What is universal, is the fact, that each and every human being has to face these moments at some point in life. Every face has a story to tell. It is all right to indulge in self-pity. It is all right to crib about life. It is all right to be hurt with failures, be they related to academic, professional, financial or matters of the heart. But then, however, there is a limit to all of this. Suddenly, this thought struck me - chaos is all pervasive and is mostly illusory and in the mind. We just need to look deep within ourselves and see that we are blessed in so many different ways, something that we always fail to respect. These "undeniable" moments try to average out the blessings, but then, allowing this to happen, again depends on our own self.

Recently, in one chance conversation with the owner of an Indian restaurant, we got to know that he recently suffered from a stroke affecting the third nerve to his eye; sadly, a totally new case for the doctors. Further, I happened to meet a father, whose 3 year old son, has an acute form of leukemia, for the past 2 years. Today, I met an 8 year old survivor of some form of leukemia, preparing for his 8th marathon. Such a nice person totally exuding with a certain positive energy, despite being in a battle for life. These people are facing the true tough moments in life that are very much real.

With such tremendously huge real undeniable moments in life, does it really matter, if you stand defeated on almost every possible front in your life? Most defeats are usually within our circle of influence and control. But then, when it comes to the body, all other defeats pale in their illusory significance. Each day that we live is a blessing. As my teacher glibly put it, "Ranga, it is best to not compare yourself to anyone. No matter what, there would always be someone better than you, in every aspect in life." Lastly as another of my teacher puts it in one of his favorite songs,

Oh! my mind!

You think you understand so much!

When your own faults and shortcomings have no limits,

You go on looking for blemishes in others!

PS: A post on a similar theme can be found here; and a post on blessings in general.

Sanatana Dharma....

Disclaimer: The author is a Hindu, well, more of a pantheist. He respects all religions and belief systems. He is not in a position to draw parellels between the many religions. Nor is he an authority on the principles of any religion. The viewpoints presented out here are solely his. Some could be credited to certain conversations with his friends. If there be a pro-Hindu tinge, it would be more of a sub-conscious shade.

Hinduism, the Sanatana Dharma, is more a way of life, or so they say. One of the few philosophical systems with a neat response to the conundrum of the "Problem of Evil", it is veritably in great danger right in its own homeground - India. A gradual and slow erosion of Hinduism, by far, one of the most tolerant belief systems in the world, is clearly evident.

Most politicians, refrain from the Hinduism chime. While one section is jingoistic in its behavior towards Hindutva, the other section (majority) distances itself from Hinduism. While, Hindutva or the so-called "Hindutva jihadi's" have come to tarnish the pro-tolerant pantheist image of Hinduism, little is being done to restore this system to its original glory. Sadly and unfortunately, Hindutva has come to mean Hinduism. The pro-Hindutva group does as much damage as the pro-secular group.

Certain thought-provoking instances in the life of the author and around him are cited below:

• The Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia; boasts of a first-class facility. It further provides a separate prayer room for Muslims. With due respect to Muslims, and their prayer schedules, Malaysia is free to do what it wants to. Moreover, Islam is the majority religion in Malaysia. But then, why does anything related to a temple bound to create a great controversy in India?


• One of my good friends told me that he couldn't find a place to eat in Qatar, during his transit on his way to India from the US, during the Ramadan month. How can an international airport not service its visitors with the basic amenities of water and food? Not everyone in the world is a Muslim, right?


• In the United States, the author has met quite a few missionaries trying to convert the author. With all due respect to Christianity, why is it that people want others to convert to their religion? Is it a sign of insecurity? All religions are beautiful on their own, and no religion prescribes the victory of the evil over the good. If that were be so, then, why should one necessarily have to declare, "My way is the only way; and yours is a path to perdition".


• Few people understand Hinduism. Most of the people of the author's generation are disenchanted with the heavy ritualistic principles of the same with their apathy intensified due to the esoteric nature of its sacred texts. Sanskrit is known to only a few, and we ourselves define our own limits by not taking any step towards learning Sanskrit. Even otherwise, transliterations of most of the works are available. Then, what is stopping us?


• The increasing breed of a class that goes about professing atheism, agnosticism, religious humanism, etc. Of course, when it is a conscious decision towards embracing such a philosophical system, it is well within one's own fundamental rights and independence. But, when it is more like a rebellion against the established norms of the society or as an ostracization of the "rustic" religious/spiritual beliefs of the age-old systems; so as to be labelled hip amongst one's peers, it is a clear sign of immaturity.


• Most of India's political policies center around the appeasement of the minorities. One can get away with almost anything in the name of secularism. Poor maintenance and sheer neglect of the astonishingly beautiful temples of India is one such example. So many temples in the south are in decay and no politician ever talks of their renovation, because is is not a secular thing to do.


• Most of the Hindu Brahmins, related to the priestly class are poor. They depend on the religious functions for a living, and their remuneration is not high. Their salaries for being temple priests is not high. Their standard of living is mediocre and they often find it difficult to educate their children and get their daughters married. However, the Indian political system recognizes them as being amongst the Forward Community, despite their economic backwardness, and fails to encourage their children. This article reads " Are brahmins the dalits of today". An obviously better yardstick would be a classification on the basis of their economic status; and reservation, if necessary, based on that classification. An even better solution would be to focus on the paradigm of primary education for all.


• The sheer apathy to the actual living conditions of Hindus because of its anti-secularism viewpoint is making India blind to one of the most ancient spiritual systems of the planet. With most systems advocating the middle path, why is that the so-called proponents or followers fail to do so? Why does the word Islam, one of the most beautiful religions and the fastest growing religion of the world, raise fear in us? In a way, Islam is also in danger. The heavy influence of the state on the church is detrimental to Christianity too.

As an analogy, music exists in various forms with its foundation being on the essentials of rhythm, melody, harmony and bass. Each form of music generates its own unique appeal and aesthetic bliss. If that were to be so, then, how can anyone claim as to what he/she is passionate about is the only way and the only way to bliss? What about the so many other people for whom the form they like is their religion? Does that mean that the other forms are nothing but noise?

Lastly, the renaissance for this spiritual system would come from the West. The author is amazed to see so many people dedicating their entire lives towards the study of the Hindu texts, Hindu way of life, etc. out here in America. The chantings of Bhajans in the heavily accented tones and the respect for Yoga, Kriya, Satsang, meditation, etc. that people have out here is heavily inspiring to the author. Most people in America have their basic comforts taken care of. In the sense, one need not be worried about the acute water problem or frequent load-shedding of electricity. Like Swami Vivekananda once said, "Spirituality is for the rich".

Importantly, why cannot one live and let live others too?

People Watching: Huntington Beach

Huntington Beach, one of the beach towns of Southern California, has a long stretch of a pier extending onto the ocean for about 0.6 miles. It does give the bystander with a brilliant top view and side view of the majestic waves of the beautiful Pacific. A thrilling experience, and the first of its kind amongst the quite a few beach experiences for the author. In an absolutely wonderful romantic locale, people watching was the next best thing to do for the author.

• A couple on a walk with their baby on a stroller, with the moonlight being a welcome companion.
• A rather young couple who would have made the French real proud, courtesy their kissing style.
• The young lady surf-riding on the pure white waves, despite the untimeliness(?) of it all. The spirit of adventure and the passion for following one's own passion.
• Groups of people trying out their luck fishing. One poor fish, being a victim, grappling for its own life.
• A group of "old" ladies on a walk.
• An old couple walking hand-in-hand, totally oblivious of the surroundings.
• A family with their family friends having a great conversation on the waterfront.
• A girl posing for a photo amidst a real dark black background of the limitless expanse of the ocean.
• A man sitting on a bench and smoking a cigar.

Malignant Cancer III : Atrocities on women...

The author happened to watch 1947-Earth, a film by Deepa Mehta, recently. It is a romantic love(?)-triangle, set amidst the backdrop of the partition of India. This post, as a reaction, serves as a medium to express the author's opinion and anguish.

Since time immemorial, women have been subject to various atrocities, be it, physical or emotional. In one of the conversations with my Persian friend, she put it very brusquely as, women are told to prize their virginity, in the most discreet manner. As an aside, the society is such that a man need not prize his virginity. Naturally, parents warn their daughters to be careful of every other man that they would meet, be it the public transportation system, school, office, playground, etc. The fear of being touched looms large. All men are generalized as a class of sex-craven and sex-deprived maniacs.

If we deeply think about the reasons for the so-many atrocities being committed on women, in the name of love-turned-obsession, religion, war, riots, male ego, etc., it boils down to this shocking revelation. Man uses a woman to give vent to his frustration. What else would otherwise be the reason for women being raped, or their breasts being cut from their bodies. Not to forget, a gang-rape. Is it all about the insertion of the man's penis into a woman? The counter example of a woman cutting a man's penis is rare.

If one were to look into the atrocities committed on the women all across the world, one can very easily sense the same attitude everywhere. Certain examples are given below for the sake of completeness:

• The war victims - be it the women of China during WWII, or those of the colonised latin american/ asian/ african countries.
• The husband raping his wife during the first night; A cold-blooded, yet, warm-blooded head of the family, giving vent to his frustrations on his unfortunate wife.
• The Hindu women in Pakistan, and the muslim women in North India during the partition of 1947; the Hindu women in Bangladesh during 1991 following the Babri-Masjid episode, etc.
• It is not healthy for a widow to experience feelings of love or lust.
• Women, stripped bare, and lynched in public; in various parts of the world.
• In Cameroon, women are "breast-ironed", ao as to reduce their chances of becoming rape victims.
• Women, forced to adopt burqa, so that, their body remains concealed so as to not give an iota of scope for a man to imagine how she would be naked.
• Female infanticide, because a girl child is a burden.
• Pouring acid on her face because she didn't reciprocate his feelings of love(?)
• Forcing his way onto her, when she is way advanced in her pregnancy. Making her work, beating her up, etc. during this critical time.
• Not allowing a woman to succeed in her professional life, because it would hurt the male ego.

....

If this post leaves you with a feeling of disgust, anguish and helplessness, then, it has served its purpose.

PS: The author is neither a male chauvinist nor a feminist.

Indian Mythology : Karna.....

Karna, the son of Kunti, from the Mahabharatha, portrays an immensely powerful character in the epic. Being one of the dearest friends of Duryodhana, he is loyal to him through thick and thin. Despite being in the "evil" camp, there are certain amazingly great qualities of him worth discussing about out here. He is often considered to be an epitome of the concept of a friend and that of a giver amongst mortals - the one who gives all that he can without any complaint and with his pound of flesh, if needed.

Karna was cursed by his teacher for telling him a lie about his upbringing. A kshatriya, by birth, he lies to his teacher that he is a brahman, for fear of rejection as his disciple. The curse, in fact, proves fatal to him in the end. He loses the capacity to remember what has been taught to him, when he needs that knowledge the most. A very pitiable state, wherein what has been yours, and yours alone, is no longer yours. Akin, to your soul deserting the vehicle of the body, mind and the heart.

In hindsight.....

As my teacher put it, "In hindsight, you can always do things better".

Roti, Kapda aur Makaan.....

This post is dedicated to the homeless people of the world, be it LA or Madras or Garfur or Rio de Janeiro.

In a world, where the word "success" has to do a lot with money and fame, the basic tenets of roti, kapda aur makaan veritably serve as the quantifying measures of the intangible success. Everything that one is taught or forced to do in the so-called game of the "survival of the fittest" has to do with sense gratification in the form of these materialistic goodies. One has to study well, get into a good school, get a good job, build a house, have a family to make the house a home, procure a vehicle for personal transportation, etc. Else, the other route of business or politics. Very few times, does the pursuit of a fine art, lead to this materialistic success. Crass commercialization of arts and dependence on arts for non-aesthetic and non-spiritual reasons can be a tough task at hand.

Well, whatever be the vocation, accumulation of wealth due to one's own value, has been the norm of the game. But then, even when these are fulfilled, are people happy? Isn't the pursuit of happiness utopian? The state of being happy is more like an orgasm. You follow a specific course of action, build towards the climax, and explode in that bursts of happiness. At times, the bursts of happiness could be those spasms of pain when the "unavoidable" happens. Naturally, people seek solace in spirituality or a healthy pastime or social service or whatever to help get over the mundaneness in life. Nevertheless, despite the mundaneness, at every stage in life, one often has something to look forward to.

Despite the socialist tinge to the post, the author doesn't hate capitalism. Nor does he love socialism. Both are theories that are not great in practice. Reservation for these underprivileged people towards the basic right of education might still be acceptable, if it is towards the more fundamental primary education. However, using reservation or the principle of diversity to foster the needs of the creamy layers (people who belong to the underprivileged category but are actually more than just privileged) within these sections is abominable. Using this same theory as a one-point agenda to further one's own vested political interests in the name of vote-bank politics is even more detestable. Anyway, this point is a digression from the actual topic.

The author met a homeless person, sleeping on the road, with all his belongings, under the sky with Mercedes' Benz's cruising by. I am sure there are quite a few of them in the various parts of the world. They must be having a private laugh at the ways of the world, despite their moments of sadness.

A section of the world aghast at the early exits of India and Pakistan in the ongoing cricket world cup. War happening in few parts of the world. Certain countries exercising their monopoly of trade over others. A few policing the world. Somewhere in the world, someone must not be happy with his/her job. She must have fought with him. A person complaining about the food that was served for dinner. The neighbour's beautiful daughter getting married to the love of her life. Music concerts in the name of humanity. A couple on a honeymoon. Quite a few mad politicians mad at the court of justice quoting injustice. A politician being indicted of corruption charges or a sex scandal. A prostitute offering her body and not her spirit for money. Quite a few persons experiencing orgasm due to sex at this moment. A teenager spending his/her pocket money on expensive clothing. Another teenager (includes elders too) confused about his/her sexual feelings. A person praying to Him/Her.What is the Bible, Koran and the Gita. A person in silent meditation. A person dancing to the tunes of Samba with his/her partner. A man ogling at a woman's well-endowed breasts. A woman lusting for the tall, dark and handsome prince. A child playing the game of hide-and-seek with its friends. A youth apprehensively pondering about the future. Who is Pamela Anderson?.....

Mad, mad, mad, world. But, then, I, am homeless. No makaan. No wife. No children. No education. No money. No roti. No kapda. No respect from others. Is life beautiful? But then, what do I have? Spiritual strength... and no ego and neither hatred nor love for humanity.

Associative Nostalgia : Circle of Life...

This post is inspired by one of the most brilliant views on the circle of life (a view so generously shared with me, by one of my friends). Hence, this post is rightfully dedicated to that friend. This is further dedicated to all the people in my circle of life (of the past, the present and the future), "May the force be with you all and may all your dreams come true".

A shocking inclusion under the category, "Associative Nostalgia", right? The circle of life follows the Principle of Conservation of Life. It can be looked upon as a renewable source of energy, wherein people come and go. There is thankfully, that continuous replenishment, that helps one move on in life. A heavily dynamic reservoir; and two old friends meeting after a long time, is akin, to two small streams gushing to meet each other.

A classic example is the case of your childhood friends. Life revolved around them, and life without them seemed impossible. But then, now, how many of us would be in touch with the best friends of our childhood? When, winning a match or a competition, learning to ride a bicycle, or going to an exhibition or a book-fair, seemed to be so much more enjoyable because of them. When birthdays of ours and theirs were intricately woven moments of great joy!

From then on, the friends from our schools, colleges, universities, etc. The advantage of a hostel-based college environment is the numerous friendships that develop because of the constrained setting. A time, when most adolescents, would be venturing out into the world to start their chosen way of life and a time, when emotions, infatuations, curiosities, discoveries, etc. seem universal and a rightful means of bonding. When friendships begin to blossom, when we have all beautifully converged, we are all violently thrown apart, courtesy the differing paths we happen to chose.

But then, life has to move on. Each stage in life leads you to the phase, where everything familiar has disappeared, and you need to start afresh. As the last strip of C&H poignantly says, "A new magical world full of new possibilities to explore" emerges. An exception would be those rare relationships/friendships that continue to blossom despite the physical distances. Blessed are such relationships. But then, when old friends meet, the bonding remains. The past and the associative nostalgic feelings related therein, fortunately or unfortunately, remain.

Thus, it can be summarized as follows. People, come and go. We interact with a lot of them, so as to recognize the right ones that come along. At times, people come into our lives in the most unexpected manners, when we least expect them. Each person graces our life with a purpose - to provide a lesson or two and help us in our journey.

A journey where we are all meandering rivers in search of the sea.

A journey where we might take difficult or easy paths to reach the sea.
A journey where we would encounter various obstacles and difficulties.

A journey where "even the weariest river, ends up in the sea".

People who can teach, teach....

This post is dedicated to all my teachers. A Guru Vandana.

Very few people have that capacity to teach and inspire their students; be it your kind-hearted and loving kindergarten or primary school teacher, the professor at college/ grad school, the mentor at workplace, the guru (dispeller of darkness) when it comes to music, spirituality, or whatever. Having said this, it doesn't hurt to mention that people who can teach, teach. I have been fortunate enough to come across a few amazing teachers in my real life.

It surprises many when I tell them about the fabulous maths tuition teacher during high school. He covered the entire math syllabus for IIT-JEE without using a black (for that matter, white) board. Not to forget those two amazing chemistry teachers. Having studied in a variety of schools, the author was fortunate to interact with so many good-natured people. Despite the occasional scoldings and "punishments", they were all good at heart.

Most school teachers were passionate about what they taught. But then, when this becomes the very source of livelihood, the reality does tend to portray a different scenario. Most schools start early to avoid the typical "rush-hour". This just makes it all the more tougher for the lady teachers because of their inherent responsibilities in a typical Indian home. Sadly, their pay is not that high (as compared to those what-miracle-happened kind of jobs) with meagre if not nil insurance benefits.

At college, it is a totally different scenario. It is a completely difficult prospect to teach adults. But then, the importance of a sound undergraduate education cannot be overemphasized. Here is where, the youth gets inspired on what they would want to do for their life. But for people who do not attend classes, they learn it the hard way. A sound understanding of the fundamentals cannot be obtained by just cramming at the last minute without attending classes. But then, this is a common feature in most undergraduate places of learning. Does this require a change in the mindset of the student or the teachers.

The most difficult task at hand is to impart the right knowledge in the right fashion to people who are undergoing their graduate study. Too much spoonfeeding is not warranted, and making the course as a catalog of all there is in the world totally unwanted. Here is where the idiom, "People who can teach, teach" comes to my mind. I have met a few teachers who are more interested in imparting the depth than the breadth. Likewise, a great researcher need not be a great teacher and vice-versa. But then, there are those few people, who achieve greatness in both.

The fundamental reason why teachers become teachers is because of their passion for the field of their interest. To inspire, disseminate and to learn. As Richard Feynman had said somewhere, "No question is profound or silly. More often than not, the doubt a student asks is on the neighbourhood of a potentially important problem. And for researchers whose neurons get tired of thinking out of the box at times, teaching thus becomes a highly refreshing activity". Thus, teachers also gain a lot from this venture.

Lastly, but most importantly, the most important set of teachers are those related to a person's personal life. And amongst the umpteen, only a few, do something to possibly bring a remarkable sense of direction in the student's life.

PS: The reader is recommended to read this post on a similar theme, posted long ago.

Now vs. Later...

This post is dedicated to my cubicle-mate, Saeed, who has judged and gauged me pretty well, especially when it comes to my trysts with last minute efforts. He was of the opinion, "Ranga, just finish it off today(Tuesday), instead of waiting till Thursday morning (for a deadline on Thursday)". All said and done, procrastination happens to be one of the most charming personalities that successfully ends up seducing most of us. The loss of generality prohibits me from calling this person, one of the most, enchanting and gorgeous seductress for women are also prone to procrastinate.

So, there are two obvious paradigms when it comes to atleast trying to get things done. "Finish it off now" vs. "Let me do it later". It is a battle of Energy vs. Lethargy out here. While tremendous pressure with little time left to meet a deadline can be nerve-wracking, at times, it can also be highly productive. And in most cases, when one is totally clueless as to how to proceed in a particular direction, what is one to do? For that I believe, one of the professors at Stanford, recommends, "the best way to start is to start". Then, there is the famous Nike ad of "Just do it".

Well, why is it that procrastination tends to seduce us all(well, I hope I am not entirely unjustified in making this assumption) despite the knowledge of how great life would be if we were to not procrastinate. Can this be safely extended to why evils continue to exist or rather, have been existing for all these years - be it lust, avarice, hatred, etc. despite the knowledge of how great life would be without these. Does this all boil down to the human nature and the numerous neurons within us.

The Underdog....

Whom would you support in an evenly contested battle between David and Goliath? Doesn't it sound more romantic and adventurous to root for the victory of the underdog. In hopelessly lopsided contests where a person/team puts in no effort for a fight, the more efficient and superior opponent does have to be the winner, so as to ensure, "Rewards for hard work".

More often than not, one tends to be heavily partisan in support towards one's favorite sportsperson/team/country. But isn't it more interesting when Nigeria beats Brazil in Football, or when Bangladesh beats Australia in Cricket? In the true spirit of the game or enterprise, there is no single winner or loser for the journey is more important than the destination. Thus, hopefully, the day of the underdog isn't far enough.

Last week saw me rooting for the trailing-behind team (the underdog) in an evenly contested match between the New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts. The Colts finally won, courtesy a last minute touchdown, after coming from behind 3-21, to lead 32-13, and then to be down 31-34 (well, the numbers are important, but then, more important than that is the trend of the game). I was wavering between both the teams, but then, my heart did finally go out for the "losers". Such is the glory and beauty of sport.

At a more personal level, wouldn't it better to seek, suffer and then soar, instead of, inescapably falling down from a great height due to conceit, ignorance and arrogance. Aren't we all underdogs in all that we do? Don't we all have so much to strive for, with perfection being a mere illusion. If so, then, why is it that the ego always remains conceited?

Indianness XI : India and the West...

This post is inspired by quite a few incidents in the author's life - notable amongst them being the recent trip to India, the visit to ISKCON temple, LA today, and R K Narayan's essay on a similar theme. One of my friends was of the opinion that India would get back most of its values from the West (a sign of the times). Another quote from Swami Vivekananda, about spirituality being for the rich, comes to my mind at this juncture.

India, has been endowed with a rich heritage of enigmatic spiritual outlooks, tolerant religious values, and scintillating musical systems. While, the Indian is definitely more interested with the daily issues of roti, kapda aur makan, the non-Indian looks at India as a place filled with mystics. They think India is all about caste system, yoga, transcendental meditation, carnatic music, hindustani music, esoteric dances, folklore, mythology, and the sacred cow. For us, Indians, it is all about economic development, technology transfer, infrastructure, 120 kmph highways, cell phones, literacy, etc.

Thus, the Indian is more interested in his Western counterpart, while the Westerner looks towards India seeking a deeper purpose. One day, the West would come to India for its values and India would go to the West for its own values.

Certain recent trends in India, US and elsewhere:

• The increasing number of new-age spiritual organizational bases in the West, The Art of Living, ISKCON, etc. with more people getting interested into Yoga, Pranayama, Kriya, Bhagavad Gita, Bhagavat, Krishna, etc. One American lady had asked this profound question to the bemused author, while finding her way to the ISKCON temple, "Where is this place called Govinda?" I am sure that the realization of Govinda would be a sublime quest for many of us.
• The author had attended Veena E Gayathri's recital in a temple at Mylapore, Madras during the December season. He found a few Americans seated in the front, greatly enjoying the performance. This is often a point of condescension amongst the Indian music connoisseur (a purist) who wonder, "What do they understand about our music?". But then, isn't music all about transcending all barriers and touching the soul? However, language does continue to be a problem for us and them when it comes to vocal music.
• The American disciples of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar, who have been under their tutelage for close to 30-35 years. Further, it must be noted, that they had made this shift post their formative years, after nearly 30 years of a life richly soaked in Western Classical and Jazz.
• Most Indian Classical music concerts that the author has been to in the US, has had a fair representative audience of the Americans. The appeal of the drums (in their language) - the Tabla and the Mridangam and their intimate connection to the rhythmic patterns. When will we ever learn this magnificent tolerance?
• The author was surprised to find a bus driver get a phone call as he was making a left turn in a busy intersection in Madras. He promptly answered the phone (after taking the turn) and informed the caller, that he is on so-and-so road, and on this trip. Auto drivers are very professional these days by giving visiting cards with cell numbers to their passengers.
• On this similar theme of cell phones, a salesman in a home applicance shop in Madras was astonished and shocked to find the author without a cell phone connection. He veritably treated the author as an alien. He unfortunately happened to be a salesperson of washing machines and not cell phones. Thus, with this dichotomous state of existence, I am an alien both in the US and the India.
• The golden quadrangle, esp. the highway from Madras to Bombay is great with cars like Maruti Swifts, presumably one of the best cars in the Indian market according to some so-called automobile experts, doing a 120-130 kmph. The only irritant proved to be the ignorant villager, who assumed the two-lane one-way highway to be a two-way and continued to live in that state of ignorance to the angst of the car drivers.
• The American mind's obsession with elephant rides in India. I have often been asked, (well, to be exact, atleast once for sure), "Do people ride on elephants in India". I am sure they must be amazed to know that India is fast trying to catch up with the highly efficient and mundane road system of the West. (It is the same everywhere. Green boards, broad roads, same chain of stores everywhere.)
• In most heritage sites in India, the Westerner is treated with more respect. He/she shells out more for the services rendered, be it the entry ticket, the guide, whatever. He/she is more likely to buy merchandise as memorabilia at one of the most bullish prices around.
• The same preferential treatment can be seen in the Indian craft emporia. What would an average Indian do with a handicraft, priced 2000 INR (for the Indians) or at 100 USD (a special price for them), when the money could see him/her through a month's expenses in provisions?

All said and done, the quality of life in India is really high. If all goes well, give India a few decades to catch up to the West. India has issues to take care of. India shining has a long way to go. However, one fervently hopes, that all this is not at the cost of erosion of Indian values.

Justifications....

Justification is an heightened form of insecurity. The author has come across so many people, including himself, who justify almost anything and everything that they do on the earth. Often, when one faces a dilemma, he/she thinks that he/she is taking the road less travelled. This is fine for the purposes of personal satisfaction. But then, what about this paradigm - "There were no two roads in the first place".

Every hobby, sensibility, action, thought-process, passion, profession, way of life, religious preference, sexual preference, etc. needs to be justified. At times, amongst the people in the circle of life; and most times, with the conscience. I have come across so many cases, that it only makes me all the more bewildered. Does the human being need so much attention/acceptance amongst the self and his/her circle of life?

When you love what you do, why should it be justified?

To highlight a few of the often come across cases, with no need for any justifications whatsoever, (given along with a few of the author's comments):

• I want to serve my country. I do not want to spend my life outside India. I have my parents to take care of.

Do they think twice before working for an MNC? What about entrepreneurships and work related to the social sector?

• Why should Hindustani Classical Music system give so much importance to time? Isn't it foolish? Cannot the musician bring about the moods and emotions along with those related to time by playing soulfully?

Who is more qualified to pass such a judgement? You, me or the legendary legends who have embraced the practice of time for centuries?

• I cannot do a PhD. I am not fit for it. It is not a lucrative affair, and involves spending 4-5 years of prime time.
  

No comments.

• Life in US is great. I like it. I cannot imagine going back to India. I like this freedom and the exposure to an international way of life.

What makes you look down upon the Indian way of life? What about the 20+ years of life over there? Isn't life in the US a big compromise too? Don't you seek the very Indianness that you look down upon there, here?

• What am I doing here in India while most of my friends are in the US? What sort of work am I doing?

The grass is always green on the other side. Unknown to many, life in the US has its own fair share of trials and tribulations. Work anywhere, can get mundane. It all depends on being at the right time, right place, right group, right work environs and right company.

• What is Western Classical Music? Very rigid. It doesn't appeal to me.

Ignorance is not bliss. It would be better not to pass judgements without being in a position to do so. Bach, Beethoven and Mozart have survived for centuries. Your liking it or not liking it doesn't really matter. Blessed are the souls (kindly exclude me) who can appreciate fugues, counterpoint and harmony.

• Classical music is not for me. It is highly evolved and beyond my comprehension.

Giving up without trying is plain cowardice and lack of strength. Classical music has that innate power to sustain and enchant our lives. Be it carnatic, hindustani or western. They are all no doubt, highly sophisticated and evolved. But then, aren't we getting into a Catch-22 situation by avoiding them?

• Reading books is a waste of time. There are better things to do than that.

When one counts the hours wasted everyday doing nothing, reading books is definitely not a waste of time. Arts, be it literature, painting, sculpture, music, cinema - are the most powerful forms of human expression.

• I love management. It being a more lucrative option just happens to be so. All technical persons finally end up on the management route, managing projects and people. Let me get into it right after my engineering.

With no offence meant to people related to management, some jobs essentially involve selling soaps. It is perfectly fine if you love management and quit the technical side. However, there is no need for any justification.

• How can you love that piece of trash? (book/music/movie/whatever)

Space and Time.....

The only constant thing in life is change. People change. We change. Our goals and ambitions change. Our outlook changes. The people we interact with changes. The people who embrace our lives changes. At each point in time, people come, provide invaluable lessons, and continue on their paths of calling. Every person graces our life for a reason. We interact with so many, so as to better appreciate the right ones that come along.

So, can we expect a friendship/relationship to be constant and eternal with respect to space and time. The author is at a new place, and most of the people in his circle of life are physically away (thankfully, not emotionally). With each being deeply involved in his/her web of life, it does become difficult to stay in touch with them. But then, when they meet, barring the initial skirmishes, things should be as before.

Like one of my friends had said long back, about connections and staying connected, "There are two kinds of friendships - (a) where it is purely temporal, short-lived, and amounts to having a good time (b) where it is more than (a), when people keep each other updated with the ups and downs in their lives." The author personally believes that the people one thinks of, during the "not-so-fine" times are the ones you completely trust and closely relate to. Trust is a wonderful catalyst for any relationship.

Blessed are those people involved in those friendships/ relationships which does stand the test of space and time. Does respect and affection for the other make all the not-so-likeable changes in the other condonable and the likeable changes more appreciable?

The rich and the poor....

This Saturday saw me witness to the inauguration of the festival shopping season at Rodeo Drive, LA, whose claim to fame is the place where actors/actresses shop. With hope in making a difference to the many lives as the main theme, this place was studded with the rich, who were also well-dressed; men in tuxedo's and women in glittering gowns.

But then, I have also seen the homeless, truly homeless, both men and women. They sleep on the pavements, under the stars, with all Mercedes Benz's racing past them. They haven't had baths for ages. All that they have are two dirty torn bags ready to burst open.

Are the rich happy? Are the poor happy? Are you happy? Am I happy? What is happiness?

Indianness X - I, Iyer and Iyengar....

The title of this post happened to win the best team name during the first ever Landmark Open Quiz (now a highly anticipated and regular affair in Madras) in 1995. My being strongly associated with Tamil Nadu, despite not being a Tamilian, has lead to quite a few funny situations. This post is just meant to be a post. Nothing more and nothing less. These man-made differences do not make sense.

The two most important underlying fabrics that bond an Indian, Turk, Persian, Mexican, Brazilian, American, Italian, French, Chinese, Japanese, etc. are emotions and connections. Love, Pathos, Hurt, Joy, etc. unite us. The connections with the people in our lives makes it all the more interesting. One need not be of a particular caste/religion/sex/country to experience the various universal emotions. Relationships mean the same everywhere.

So now back to the topic, after the brief disclaimer. First of all, it all begins with my roots. Having a very Iyengaresque name, I am wrongly mistaken for an Iyengar. But then, my name would also pass for an Iyer, because Venkataraman/Radhakrishnan, despite being Vaishnavite, is in prevalence among Iyers of today. Guess, there was a time when the surname used to be the clinching distinguishing factor (obviously, Venkatarama Iyer and Venkatarama Iyengar are different).

While a Mishra can identify an Oriya person by his/her surname, (can be safely extended to the Guptas, Iyers, Mukhopadhyays, Shahs, Agarwals, Reddys, Pillais, Joshis, Singhs), it becomes increasingly difficult for a person like me. Each community has its own set of customs, languages, colloquialisms, cultures, etc. within the broad and myriad network of Indian ethos. While one must respect the values of one's own, reaching out to people must make us overcome these self-imposed barriers of a community. A subtle balance.

Recently, I had been to a Udupi Krishna Mutt in Los Angeles and I happened to see 40-50 people, most of whom could be claimed of "my type". It reminded me of our family gatherings and the customs/rituals involved therein. We are followers of Saint Madhwacharya, one of the trinity, with the other two being Saint Sankaracharya and Saint Ramanujacharya. Thus, I, Iyer and Iyengar could be termed as followers of the trinity in their own ways.

Honestly, I haven't got an opportunity, or rather, I haven't reached that maturity level to appreciate the differences between the Dvaita, Advaita and Vishishta-dvaita schools of thought. It merits mention that Dvaita was the last among the three and with surprisingly the least number of followers. Personally, I feel that these schools of thought emerged when the country was having a difficult time maintain its own identity courtesy the onslaught of the invaders, (more like Renaissance of Hinduism).

What about the people of Tamil Nadu, who are not Iyers and Iyengars? Is the heavy demarcation between Tam Brahms and the others leading to an erosion of Tamilian values? On a macro level, are the Vedas, Upanishads, Carnatic Music, etc. for the Brahmins alone? Is the present state of Indian politics with their shady secularist ideals an avenue towards endangerment of Indian values? Aren't our values veritably ours, no matter where we are from? What about the north-south, west-east division in India?

How many of us appreciate the Sanskrit works of poets like Kalidasa (reputed to be one of the greatest romantic poets of all times). How many of us appreciate the poetry in the compositions of Thyagaraja, Purandaradasa, Kanakadasa, Dikshitar, Sama Sastry, Swati Tirunal? How many of us appreciate the urdu ghazals and poetry of India? How many of us appreciate Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Faiyyaz Khan, and Ustad Amir Khan? If yes to the above question, then what about Madurai Mani Iyer, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer and M S Subbulakshmi? What about sarode and veena?

How many of us waste a majority of our time, trying to justify the beliefs, sensibilities, values, etc. that we have embraced or have become passionate about?

Despite the so many questions, I would still like to maintain this viewpoint. Most of the values have been there for 1000's of years, and would continue to do so. India has faced many difficult times with frequent onslaught of invaders. It is just that the invaders are changing all the time. Importantly, we need to exorcise the demons within us, because, more than the values, it would be we, who would miss out on the various beautiful things in life.

The Personal Honor Code..

I have come across so many people who have gone back on their commitment. In short, promise one thing, and do something else on the contrary. Often, people tend to be more than merely be selfish. A clear case where selfishness is not a virtue. Most end up doing what works out best for them, irrespective of their commitment.

Over the past two days, I too have joined the crowd. What had been a matter of pride, of sticking to one's word no matter what, despite many temptations, is now veritably a matter of shame for me. The realization that I can also be pretty nasty and inconsiderate at times is a very bitter and nasty one.

I have succumbed twice and it would take some time forgiving myself. A simple "sorry" to the two persons involved in the two episodes, each spaced 3 years apart.

Hormonal Realities.....

A child is often considered one of the most pristine creations on earth. A perfect epitome of an innocent, playful, honest, jovial soul; be it a boy or a girl. He/she treats all alike, and has many friends of the opposite sex too. He knows that she is different from him, and she knows that he is different from her. But then, it doesn't matter. Then, something happens. A huge glitch to bring the person out of its innocent world.

The body grows while the mind and heart doesn't. Having good friends amongst the opposite sex is unheard of. Parents caution their girls to be wary of the boys. For the boys, their friends and acquaintances (predominantly of the same sex now), make fun of their interacting with the girls. The same with the girls too. Little do they know what lies ahead for them. Both are coming to life to biologically produce life, and yet are finding it increasingly difficult to come to terms with the harsh hormonal reality.

A craze for the enigmatic mysterious sex. All new words seeping into their dictionaries, with the dictionary itself being a great source of information. They find that they know not much of their own bodies. Girls are ashamed of their body, with their remaining aloof for those days, highlighting their new status. They start blossoming into women, and they do not know how to react to the evil ogling eyes of the men. And when they are beautiful, slowly, that very knowledge turns into vanity. The boys are ashamed of their broken voice and the uncultured strands of hair that make up their beard.

In the quest for "knowledge", most people stray(?). Pornography, prurient behavior, illicit movies, late night cable TV channels, self-discovery, etc. Parents do not know what to do too. This reminds me of the scene in American Pie, where the father shows his son the Playboy centerfold, and tells him about the male fascination with a woman's breasts. Girls start reading Mills and Boon, developing fantasies about the tall, dark and handsome prince, who is there just for her kinds. During this time, it is difficult for healthy and pure relationships between boys and girls. One begins to wonder what ever did happen. Why couldn't the childhood phase come back?

After some time, something again happens. Both sexes realize that it is not just the body. It is more than physical intimacy that counts towards successful relationships. Here is where the mind, the heart and the soul come in. Concepts on love, relationships, soulmates, etc. emerge. The treatment to sex also becomes holy and sacred. As Paulo Coelho says in one of his books, sex is a form of alchemy. Spiritual purification over the materialistic plane of the body where two souls unite.

So, how does one come in terms with the hormonal realities? Does each generation come up with its own means to do so. The treatment by each generation does become an interesting case. The parents are definitely right in instilling the fear for the opposite sex, because the mind is still not mature enough. Thankfully, there are studies, music, games, travel, and other activities to concentrate on.

PS1: The current topic reminds me of this conversation with a German lady on my flight from Zurich to Atlanta. She told me, "Oh, you are from India. The land of the Kama Sutra". Yes, India - the very same land of Kama Sutra, where the talk on sex has become taboo.

PS2: I was told that in the US, it is all right to "check out" a person of the opposite sex as long as one acknowledges the process with a smile.

PS3: As an aside, in the Halloween Carnival, the author came across a placard, "In Lust, We Trust".

PS4: The reader is recommended to read this previous post.