F.R.I.E.N.D.S

Most people know you for what you seem to be. Few know as to who you really are.

Why do we need friends? In most cases, they come into our lives, become dangerously close only to diverge. I am talking of divergence in the form of physical separation. There is a more unfortunate case of divergence, when friends part not as friends, but strangers. I would like to talk of the first scenario. I will talk about the case of dissonance and mutual severing of the relationship later on.

The world is full of people. Most times, bystanders, acquaintances and friends, serve as omens to provide us with valuable lessons of the world. At times, the lessons are only too bitter and bring forth betrayal, treachery and unhappiness. There are times, when the friendship is so so beautiful that there is amazing connectivity and resonance. Such friendships are rare to come by. Hurt is a part and parcel of this process of seeking friends. However, the soul is always on the lookout for another soul that would match it beautifully. The fear of hurt is always lurking in the corner of the mind or in the heart.

First of all, why do we have friends when we all know that we would be parting ways sooner or later, hopefully as friends. Separation and farewells are difficult but inevitable. Why do those few people who know you really really well later on turn to those strangers who not know you that well? They cannot be blamed; because a person keeps changing with the hope that the change is for the better.

Is it a difficult thing to do - being friends for life. I truly do not know. I guess that feeling needs to be mutual. As is important in any relationship - as long as there is mutual respect and love, the friendship should stand the tests of time. The only "sane" way at looking at the bigger scheme of things - We encounter so many people in our lives - as bystanders, acquaintances, friends, best friends, etc.; maybe more so to appreciate the "right" ones that come along.

PS: As a rejoinder, even the serial F.R.I.E.N.D.S. is no more so. Sadly, all beautiful things do come to an end. This really gives me the shivers. Or is it that one beautiful thing leads to another beautiful thing? I truly do not know. I would really appreciate your opinions on this bewildering topic. I must admit that this is one of the most incoherent pieces written by me. Kindly excuse that.

PS2: This blog is dedicated to all the people in my life, who have provided me with lessons. Each and every experience with another individual has brought forth its own share of joys and sorrows.

Unparliamentary Words....

Paradigm #1

Bad words are so so essential in relationships, esp. between close friends of the same sex. The free unrestricted use of such words develops a sense of bonding and closeness between the friends. They are usually filler words with no harmful and malicious intent whatsoever. This I believe is universal. Each language has a rich repertoire of such "good" words.

Paradigm #2

Bad words are used in the sense that they are meant for. Rude, abusive and unparliamentary and loaded with harmful and malicious intent. This usage is what I loathe. Recently, I came to know about many unfortunate incidents that had actually happened. Minorities (esp. the coloured ones), women (the beautiful and the not-so-beautiful ones), etc. were involved in events where the so-called self-thinking "evolved" souls literally cursed them with such words (that don't merit mention here). Sadly, in some cases, the event also lead to a physical assault. What is the world coming to?

The Face....

"Face is the index of the mind" is a well-known saying. However, does every face convey the true emotions of the heart and the simple/convoluted thoughts of the mind. The fantasies that the human mind can weave are often spell-bounding and enigmatic too.

But, then, each face that we come across in our lives has a story behind it. And each face is hardly a open book. It is always on the lookout for other faces that understands not just the face; but then, the body, mind, heart and soul of that face too.

Each and every face in this world has an interesting story to tell. Fortunate and blessed are the ones willing to listen to such stories.

Sour Grapes.....

A highly optimistic way of looking at things. Instead of regretting or repenting over what had happened, the "grapes are sour" paradigm does wonders to one's psyche. When someone wants something badly, and that same something doesn't happen - then what can one poor soul do? Just make this good old claim of sour grapes and carry on. A rather difficult thing to do, but then much better than wallowing in excessive self-pity.

Indianness X - Restaurants....

The article in "The Hindu" about our very own President Dr. Kalam recommending the good old vadai to Icelanders made me finally write this long-pending article now. Let me not make this to be an extensive coverage of vadai. That article has done great justice to this South Indian delicacy. One point, however, merits mention. In one of the Indian restaurants in the US, it was advertised as "The Indian Do-nut". What a way to attract attention of the ignorant ones? When I am at it, the Onion Uttapam was described as "The Indian Pizza - with onion topping" and the Sambhar as "Lentil Soup".

The restaurants in the US do their best to project the Indianness, that is sadly not available anywhere else in the world but India. Believe me, restaurants do hold a special place in an Indian's heart. Sadly, people of our grandmother's generation are strictly anti-restaurants. Most restaurants/mami's place/iyer's lunch home/udupi high class vegetarian hotels/ whatever, use the indispensable onion for almost every preparation. This fact doesn't really appeal to the orthodox class of the society. Having a coffee there is also taboo. I happen to know of people who have gone to restaurants on the stealth, just to avoid the wrath of these people.

The face-lift that the restaurants have undergone is shocking. No longer is it the simple place to have that Sambhar-Vada or Masala Dosa and a cup of coffee. The quality of food has deteriorated with the people giving more preference to the ambience, location and the seemingly vulgar catering to the high-class. Nowadays, the food being catered to the high-class is no longer high-class. This is not to say that all restaurants are like that. There are some that continue to survive these necessary yet difficult times of westernization and modernization, courtesy their USP - Indianness.

What is the appeal of these places catering to the high-class? Is it because people have lots of money to splurge on something as banal as dining out. People end up spending around 20 times what they would have in a normal restaurant. During my trip to India this Dec-Jan, I was surprised to find people giving preference to Subway (where they dole out their health conscious low calorie salad based subs), MacDonald's, KFC, Pizza Hut, etc. over the best restaurants catering to the middle-class with high-class food.

Another incident to mention. I had been to a "rustic" high-class udupi hotel in Triplicane, Madras with my father during my trip. That place was supposed to have been established pre-independence and its main USP was and continues to be Sambhar Idli and Onion Rava. People (all normal sane ones, poor and the rich alike) thronged to this place to have that white, soft, puffed rice pancakes dipped in lentil soup made with small onions.

Rusticity Rules!!!

July 04...

The land where people of a certain kind are termed "Aliens" celebrated its I-day today. The non-aliens were at their patriotic best, and such feelings were highly contagious. So, we (the aliens) celebrated the I-day too.

Independence, is too neat a concept and importantly is worth every bit of our support, no matter where we may be. May all of us find the "real" independence to do what we really want to - be it personal, academic, professional, spiritual, or whatever.

PS: a real short one, courtesy Ammani's influence?? :)

Malignant Cancer I - Dowry...

This is a topic that every right-thinking person (no political overtones intended) has strong views on. The author recently came across poignant and thought-provoking short stories by our very own Premchand and Tagore on the evils of Dowry. Guess thought-provoking would be a mild way of mentioning it. A better description would be, those stories would make your blood boil. It does surprise me that Dowry continues to plague the Indian society, among the elite and the educated classes too.

Dowry is one of the means of the vulgar and demeaning objectification of the woman. Is it in recognition of a groom's upbringing or education. In some communities in India, the rate increases with a person's education standards. IITs, BITS and IIMs bring in more money. Much better if the person in question happens to be doing his graduate studies in the land of dreams for many - the US. What shocks me is that this is happening among the so-called educated people. Most have this inevitable excuse - "Depends on my parents. If they want me to take dowry, then I cannot go against them. I do not want to hurt them." As banal and absurd as it sounds, this is one of the cheapest ways of cleansing the conscience of whatever iota of guilt it does have.

Another means of justification goes like this - "The parents of the bride are rich, well-to-do, have lots of money and lands. She is the only daughter. So, what's wrong in their parents gifting us "Dowry"?" Is money a quantity to be hoarded and bartered for a woman. What are the grooms doing with their education? Why cannot they stand on their own legs? Why look for easy money? Does a person love his wife more because she got in more money. Believe me, money is the easiest way to a person's heart. Sons-in-law have a real soft corner for their in-laws who are well-to-do courtesy their own hard work. This is not to say that daughters-in-law do not have similar respect for the in-laws. Sad, but true.

Money continues to play a havoc in the lives of the people. People who do not have money crave for it. People who have money are not satisfied. People always seem to be on the look-out for easy money. This is where I love the utopian village of Ayn Rand's creation in "The Atlas Shrugged". Well, I am going off-tangent here. So coming back to this malignant cancer, it does have a lot of social repercussions. People consider the girl child a burden. They start saving towards her wedding right from her birth. The wedding which is supposed to be a celebration of joy - the union of a man and a woman - becomes an albatross around the neck for the parents. Then, there are the concepts of societal obligations and status maintenance. The parents of the bride continue to spend huge amounts on the event which becomes more a welcome/unwelcome means of flaunting their status. People cease to be themselves; and what can you or I do?

Well, what was the purpose of this article? Can a few idealogists bring about a change in the society. It is foolish to think that Dowry is a happening of the past. It very much continues to grow; assuming even more grotesque forms because of the increased sophistry involved these days. The writers (then and now) have given vent to their feelings on "Dowry" by employing the devices of sarcasm and melancholic tragedies. But then, people continue to be like that. All that I can say is that the resolution for "A No to Dowry" should come from within.

It is with a mixed feeling of frustration, helplessness and hope, that I rest this case here.

Scent of a Woman....

This article is with reference to the medium of Indian Cinema. The role of an actress in a movie has undergone a catastrophic metamorphosis. Recently, I came across an article about an actress(?), who proudly claimed to be the "Kissing Queen". The role of the woman in most movies of today has been reduced to the oomph and vulgar objectification of the woman. Thankfully, role-oriented movies keep coming once in a while, and such movies are equivalent to an oasis in a vast desert. The seeker in search of water in the desert would at most times refuse the filthy water being offered today. In the current scenario, the water offered by Chandalika of Tagore fame would be the purest of all. More pure than everything and way above the actual filth.

The land of Madhubala, Savitri, Nutan, Jaya Bhaduri, etc is a sad and mute witness to this plight. The scene is worse in the Telugu and Tamil Filmdoms. These industries seem to thrive on the actresses from the north. The success of an actress is nowadays inversely proportional to her dressing sense. "Lesser, the more merrier" seems to be the order of the day. Well, what is it that makes the public want to see such movies (that gives the porn industry a run for its money). Or is it just the manifestation of the views of the present generation and in the name of woman's emancipation. I frankly do not know. There were a fair share of movies with the oomph factor in the 70's and 80's, courtesy the vamps. But then, what is currently being produced, seems to be with a huge difference in the attitude.

Is a woman a mere object; something to be acquired at all costs. Does an extra-marital affair translate to the expression of a woman's free will. Be it a man or a woman, this expression cannot be condoned. Further, what is being displayed as love in the movies is a crass mis-representation of this sublime emotion. There is no concept of a romantic duet nowadays. Even the songs with the two going around trees amidst nature of the yesterera have given way to a group dance with so many extras with skimpy clothes thrown in for added pleasure. I cannot fathom why all this continues to happen. People seem to be obsessed with one thing - Sex. They do not want to talk openly about it. To satisfy their urges, they seem to derive vicarious pleasure from such movies. Would this be why such movies are being produced. A better solution for these filmdoms would be to provide its loyal fans - XX movies. It is better to shatter the glass rather than live inside a hell-producing glass house.

Compare the present arrant trash with those movies of yesterera. Nutan epitomises the woman in movies like Sujata and Bandini. Madhubala does justice in Chalti Ka Naam Ghadi. Jaya Bhaduri dressed in starched cotton saree with no/minimal makeup emotes amazingly well in Piya Ka Ghar, Abhimaan, Kora Khagaz, etc. It begins to hit you hard with the more you compare. Something must be done about the helplessness and the frustration that one experiences. I am still trying to find that "Something". We cannot and shouldn't gift these movies as a legacy to the children of tomorrow.

What should then be the safest approach? Being against something would mean sticking to that same something. I guess it would be best to let things be as they are. Does this contradict the previous para. The road to salvation definitely knocks on the doors of sins and suffering. I am sure that the manifestation of the true spirit of the woman - the feminine face of God would happen amidst such filth and chaos. The children of today and tomorrow would learn it the real hard way, making the lesson all the more valuable.

PS: As has been mentioned, thankfully, there are a few handful of movies with real substance, that surface every now and then. Such movies need the right attention and appreciation from us; whether they succeed or not at the box-office is an altogether a different issue.

Associative Nostalgia II - School Teachers....

Most schools start early. Most teachers are women. Most of the women have household responsibilites too. Most of them have their share of blues of life. Most of them cook, get their family going in time during those hectic mornings, catch a bus/auto to school, and also be on time to school. Me for that matter, have been late to school, quite frequently.

To top it all off, a teacher's salary is not that great. What is it that drives the world of a teacher?

This question becomes all the more difficult to answer when the teacher happens to be a man. Nowadays, both have equal earning capabilities. However, in households of the traditional man as the bread-winner types, it becomes increasingly difficult to manage the household. I have seen Sir's take extra tuitions to augment their income. So, again, we come back to the basic tenet. All are one and the same. Be it a man or a woman.

Teaching involves shouting at the top of their voices. Further, unruly classes need to be controlled. An unruly class can create inexplicable havoc in a teacher's life. Then, there is the eternal happening of students commenting on their teachers. She is partial, yaa. She likes him. He likes her. She gives more marks to him. He doesn't like me. She makes me go to sleep. Oh! He is so boring. She gives lots of homework. He doesn't allow me to enjoy my Sunday.

So, coming back to the basic question. What is it that drives the world of a teacher?

"Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya"

O Mother! Help me lead the children from darkness to light. There can be no other reason. I have seen teachers from middle class households who need the income to supplement their way of life. Further, I have seen teachers from well-to-do househould, with their husbands amazingly high up the technical/corporate ladder who teach more to put their degree to use. The one thing that is common amongst all -They love what they are doing. Blesssed are these souls who do what they love to. Satisfaction, Contentment, Happiness are certain pursuits that Money can definitely not buy.

So, what is it that they expect from the students? Believe me, they are so generous that they do not demand anything. Their greatest happiness is when their ward has come up in life and when he/she is happy. They always pray for the well-being of their students. Where else can you find such loving people, who are very well part of your family, yet are not so by blood.

The least that we can do, for all the wonderful things that they have taught us, be it academic or non-academic, is to remember them, and pay a visit to them whenever possible. The joy that a student has remembered his/her guru, is unparalleled.

I end this heavily nostalgic piece, by praying for the well-being of all my Guru's. I have begun to see all of them as one; though in my younger days, I too was partial to some of them. The love, reverence, attachment and respect that a Shisya has for a Guru is the best possible gift and believe me, this gift is ephemeral. The Shisya doesn't forget his/her Guru's during the entire lifetime. Maybe, when each of us are entangled in the web of life, we fail to express contentment and gratitude to them. However, deep inside, within the subconscious, we deeply love and respect these teachers.

That's the beauty of it all. Love and Respect, both going hand-in-hand. Not many relationships exist with these two seemingly conflicting emotions at the same time.

PS: When the author generalizes most teachers to be women, he is not being sexist. Well, a majority of my teachers happened to be women. During the beginning of the article, the author wanted to highlight the dual roles played by the woman in the society.

Associative Nostalgia I - Childhood friends....

Where are those friends of yesteryears?

What are they upto in life now?

How has life treated them so far?

Well, faces and their childhood innocence to serve as a constant reminder that they had once existed in a person's life. Would we be able to recognize them now. Thanks to www.orkut.com and the net, being in touch with friends and acquaintances of the recent past is a happening thing.

As we grow up, supposedly "mature", we tend to have expectations from our friends. There are some points of appeal in him/her. Blessed be the friendships that have multiple mutual planes of interactions. We start picking friends. We become cynical of people too. We get hurt by simple things courtesy the people around us. The so-called matured mind starts filtering people before converting them to friendships and relationships. That is all now, when we have grown up.

But what about those friends, who were all part of our lives. In fact more than a part of our lives. Where our lives seemed to revolve around them, and life without them seemed to be impossible. We shared a lot of joys together. How simple things brought us unlimited joy?

Now, we are no longer together. We don't even know as to what the other is doing. All that we can hope is that they are all doing great. The irony is that the separation was not induced. It was not due to loss of face/respect, irreconciliable differences or whatever. It just happened.

Childhood friends - more like seeds of a pollinating plant - the Mother Earth herself. Now, they have all dispersed and turned into beautiful fruits. Would each fruit recognize the other now. Thankfully, we are still under the loving embrace and care of the Mother Earth.

Lastly, a dangerous question. Even if they were to meet, would it ever be the same as before.

PS: I have used "We" everywhere. The author believes that this phenomenon is universal. Such nostalgic thoughts would have definitely embraced each person's life at some point of time or the other.

The Five Books You Meet In Earth....

My very good friend Hesam wanted me to compile a list of 5 books that have affected me the most. Believe me, from that day, this mind was searching, accepting and rejecting books. Well, I happen to love books. Books are there to teach us. But, then with so many wonderful books waiting to be read, it does sound immature to bring out a list of Top 5. But then, I will definitely oblige a request from Hesam.

***

With no prejudice whatsoever, here are the five books that I fortunately happened to encounter. There are many more that could have been in the list. And there are many more waiting to be read and assimilated.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Its all about following your dream. A simple story woven around a simple theme. The simplicity is what astonishes us. Talks about certain ways of life that can be considered most natural, but sadly and unfortunately forgotten. For those of us daring to dream, or simply put, having the courage the dream, it is better to follow the dream and bear with the consequences rather than live with that regret.

Roots by Alex Haley

An enquiry into the past as Alex Haley traces his roots back to Africa. A deeply moving book. We often wonder about our ancestry and for Alex Haley, this daring adventure would have been both satisfying and horrendous (courtesy the cruelties heaped on his ancestors). Provides valuable insights into the psychology of the individual.

An Equal Music by Vikram Seth

The only romantic novel to feature in this list. Set admist romantic settings of Europe (Vienna, Italy, UK, etc.) and Classical Music, Vikram Seth sensuously glides us along the main theme with his poetic prose. Provides valuable insights into the musical life of a musician. How music unifies the people and how music makes and destroys the fragile fabric of relationships.

Surely You're Jokin! Mr. Feynman by Richard Feynman

To Define is to Limit. This book takes you along the seemingly funny adventures of a curious character - Richard Feynman, himself. His eclectic and esoteric tastes, philosophy of dignified tolerance and enthusiasm to importantly try out new things leave one with mixed feelings - zeal and frustration.

Jonathan Livingston Seagull by Richard Bach

A simple story. There definitely is a Jonathan Livingston Seagull in each one of us. Highlights the seemingly thin shade of difference between living and existing. Often, we are so entangled in the web of life, that we often cease to live. We simply exist.

***

Others that happened to narrowly miss the list were The Bridge Across Forever by Richard Bach, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho, Fountainhead and Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Fine Things by Danielle Steele, The Luck of the Bodkins by P G Wodehouse (my first book by Plum), The Dark Room (my first book by RKN), Trustee from the toolroom by Nevil Shute, Nirmala by Premchand, Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer, The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom, and so on.

As an extension, here are the five authors/authoresses who have had a great impact in my life. I bow down to them in deep reverence, love and gratitude. I have read the same books over and over; and I happen to love each and every book. Well, love might be an understatement. I happen to be dangerously crazy of each one of them.

Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (Plum)

R K Narayan (RKN)

Enid Blyton

Paulo Coelho

James Hadley Chase

Well, Chase might be a revolutionary inclusion. Famous/infamous for their paperback covers, they are nevertheless, amazing books on the psychology of the criminal. Written solely from the criminal's point, they delve into the reasons behind the shattering metamorphosis from an innocent peace-loving individual to a violent, often helpless, criminal.

***

Lastly, I request Abilin, Saurav, Arun, Ajay, Nitin and Abhilash to come up with their list of five books. Subtle recommendations do work.

***

Randomhouse's 100 Best Novels. And, an interesting list by Eroteme.

***

Hesam, I am beginning to love this. :)

Indianness IX - Mulligatawny Soup.....

For those of you wondering as to what this title means; well, it is the British equivalent of a South-Indian mouth-watering dish that goes about being referred to as Rasam/Saar/Saaru in most parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The British fell in love with this clone(?) of tomato soup. By the way, Mulligatawny soup refers to "Pepper Water" in Tamil. So, no points for guessing the ingredients of this dish. Tomatoes, Pepper, Curry leaves, Tamarind Water, Toor Dal, Mustard/Rye + Ghee for seasoning. Now, lets forget about the British. For all you know, this dish might very well be patented elsewhere under the name of Mulligatawny Soup for its medicinal properties. This dish does occupy a special place in the hearts of the people.

The making of the dish is relatively simple. Yet, only those fortunate few hands have that capability of making it taste really good. A person's cooking capabilities are often judged on the basis of the Rasam he/she prepares. Surprising, right. Well, this goes to say that the things taken for granted as simple/easy often prove to be the most difficult of things. Since the time of our ancestors, this dish has undergone numerous refinements.

First, the vessel itself. It is made in a "Seesas Thappel" which is actually made of lead or an alloy of lead. I had learnt (in high school Chemistry) that Tamarind and this very alloy react very slowly to create a compound that is poisonous. To put in simple words, preparation of Rasam in this vessel is definitely a slow poison. I used to wonder if our ancestors were mad for this fact didn't deter them or the inheritors of this legacy (us). They definitely believed in leading life the "Carpe Diem" way. And such is the hold of the sense of taste in a person's life, that we forget its poisonous nature. By the way, what is not a slow poison in this era of pollution?

Not every variety of tomato gives the same taste. In India, we have the Naattu Takkali (country side tomatoes) and Bangalore tomatoes. While the former is more on the sour side, small in size, and best when in the phase of neither being totally ripe or totally unripe; the latter is more on the sweet side. Well, Naattu Takkali does help in accentuating the taste of this dish. The Roma tomatoes available here serve the purpose, I suppose.

By the way, who would ever forget the role played by this dish during the grand meals (esp. during the festival times, marriages, upanayanams, etc). Served after Sambhar/Kootu, and before the customary second round of Kheer and first round of sweets, it is often a delight to watch people have Rasam Sadam/Saar Baath/Saaru Anna on a banana leaf. People are involved in this battle - how fast one can eat with the Rasam flowing all around the leaf towards the ground. I must say that people are ingenious. When the rice is served on the leaf, they make holes in the middle so as to accomodate Rasam. They build canals/dams/ and what not during that phase of the meal. Well, having this dish on a banana leaf demands great talent, and fortunately, one can achieve perfection by constant practice. Another lesson for us!

Well, I guess I have written a lot on this topic. Let me stop here. However, I must mention that such a simple dish, which most people take for granted, often proves to be elusive and blessed are the souls who have tasted and appreciated excellent Rasam. Well, what was served as Rasam in the messes would often drive away even the most tolerant of souls. So, people who had formed a biased opinion against Rasam, (courtesy that water which was doled out in huge quantities in the name of Rasam, only to be left untouched in most cases,) please do consider it favourably. Everything in the world deserves a second chance.

Lastly, I dedicate this blog to Gopi for having served this author excellent Rasam, a few days ago, in a place, miles away from the land of Rasam.

Service with a Smile..

The curtain raiser for today's event would be in the form of questions for which there are no universal answers. I would encourage you to think about them. Here, I would be presenting my views. I thank AID-TAMU for giving me this opportunity to express myself. There might be differing opinions and I would respect an individual's personal opinion and would expect the same from the other side.

***

Life - A journey; where man and woman are one and the same; to experience the same joys and sorrows; to learn lessons and more importantly to do something about the lessons. It is not to so uncommon for us to get entangled in the web of life. Nothing else would then seem to matter. So, this reminds me of the basic question - What, then, is the concept of social service? Why does it exist? Is it fashionable for a person to be branded a social activist? What is his/her purpose in life? With the constant increase in the NGOs, this question becomes all the more important for us. In the first place, should service be allowed? Is it right for us to help others. Who are we to help others? Would helping others lead to the growth of dependents or in the extreme case, parasites?

Well, it truly depends on the quality of service being rendered. It is better to give the means of making a loaf of bread than the loaf itself to the deserving. Productivity, then, is rightly the solution. Thus, we need to give them the ways to sustain themselves. By this approach, we would definitely not be nurturing dependents. It so happens that there is a skew in the very distribution of resources. At times, people are simply helpless but to give in to the dire poverty. At the other end of the spectrum, we do have rich people who have come up the hard way, the simple way, the honest way, the crooked way, well, have come up nevertheless.

It is more at the micro level, at the level of humanness within us, "Service" of others can be beneficial in more ways than one. In the wise words of Mahatma Gandhi, the father of the Indian Nation,

The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.

Often we are so blinded in our thoughts, and are too involved with our very own problems. It so happens that we make mountains out of mole-hills too. The satisfaction and contentment that one gets from doing service is inexplicable. Best when experienced. For most of us, grappling from one end to another, "Service" opens up new frontiers, improves our understanding of the world around us, makes us forget our problems, etc. So, when we look outside the box, look at others less fortunate than others, we do have the sense of being more fortunate. This is not truly and ethically correct. We look towards someone less fortunate for our own appeasement. Celebrating the strengths, success in everyone, multiplying the joys would be a better goal. Nevertheless, the realization of this utopian dream needs a start. Thus, "Service" should rightly be a way of life and importantly, a means of service to our very own self.

What then are the qualities of a social worker? Service with a Smile. We are into this scheme of things for our very own sake. Often, we tend to bring others into the picture. We at times crave for recognition, appreciation, support. When we encounter criticism, we are morally shattered. The mistake has been done right at the beginning. It is always our very own inner self on its alchemic quest towards the state of elysian bliss and ecstacy. No one else matters.

People who know not much about the purely voluntary efforts of the workers comment on their very ways of functioning. It is very easy to pass judgement on others. There are always two extreme sections of people - one, that is dangerously crazy of something; and the other that is equally dangerously against that same something. Every work that is carried on by the people has seemingly an increased number of critics than appreciators. With so much of attachment to negative qualities, it is often a wonder to us if someone is exceptionally pleasant to us. More often than not, if 9 people were to appreciate us, and 1 was to criticize, we would still be thinking about the "1".

So, where is all this leading to? This very concept of "Service" seems to be hazy, caught in its very own whirlpool of creation. With so many ideas floating around, it is but natural to be bewildered and do nothing about it. This is sadly, the worst thing that can happen, and is so in most cases. We need to learn to revere, love and appreciate the efforts put by people who have chosen "Service" as a vocation/ an avocation. These people invest the most valuable commodity - "Time". Nothing should bother them. We are lighthouses. Our duty is to bring light and shine into other's lives. Nothing else matters.

Thus, I would like to end this with the Chinese proverb-

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Let us all take that small but significant step towards making this world a better place to live in. There is no ocean without the small drops of water in the first place.

With this introduction, I take this opportunity to welcome you all to the 2005 General Body Meeting of Association for India's Development, Texas A&M University (AID-TAMU) Chapter.

Thank You.

Science and Discovery...

What leads to discovery? Are discoveries those moments of serendipity that sadly and vulgarly relegate those moments of frustration and helplessness to the background. With no intention of disrespect to the greats who have/had made their mark in their respective fields courtesy their discoveries, I write this article on a subject, that has proved to be one of the greatest unanswered questions of all times for me.

Does Science provide the fundamental basis for all the happenings in the universe. Science, that proves to be an invaluable tool for the scientists, researchers, engineers, etc. does seem to provide an answer to most questions. But then, does it truly answer all the questions? We might rationale most fundamental happenings with the help of science. What baffles me often is this: What happened to the rationale when these fundamental happenings were discovered? In other words, do the discoveries happen by those moments of truth and serendipity followed by a detailed analysis using the tools of math and science to explain those very moments or vice versa.

This looks like an extension of Godel's Incompleteness theorem (Well, I might be wrong here. I would appreciate feedback on this). Science can explain almost anything under the sun, but definitely not everything. There are certain things that are just beyond any possible explanations or rationale. For e.g. the very concepts of Miracles and Hope. From the previous post on Anahata, I was clearly of the opinion that music was discovered more on the basis of instinct, intuition, determination, and ceaseless efforts in bringing out the unstruck sounds. When these are explained with the very faculties of scientific reasoning, the reasoning sounds fallacious (it might be perfectly logical for that matter).

This is not to mean that I hate Science. I love science. I am fortunately/unfortunately in a field that is close to science. Technology would never have been a possibility without science. This however doesn't stop me from asking these questions for which I have no answers.

Lastly, I would end this article with these quotes

Science is the belief in the ignorance of experts. (Richard Feynman)

The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance; it is the illusion of knowledge.(Daniel J Boorstin)

PS: The author was recently recommended by a good friend of his avaldes - "Structure of Scientific Revolutions" by Thomas Kuhn. It should provide certain answers.

Anahata...

Anahata means unstruck sound. Life, the whole of existence, is made of subtle vibrations of sound. There is only music - that music is Anahata, and to experience it is to know what bliss is. That state of elysian and sublime bliss. How would life be if it were to be devoid of sound, music and the assorted mind-boggling variety of exotic and esoteric instruments?

The genius of man.

The genius of innovation.

The genius of creativity.

The spirit of evolution.

The spirit of enlightenment.

The spirit of determination.

It is with a feeling of deep gratitude, reverence and love(yes!) for those evolved souls that I am penning this article down. I bow to them all. They who played with the instruments in their quest to bring out the unstruck sound - Anahata - within themselves to an enjoyable and blissful form. They who constructed the instruments on the basis of instinct, intuition and science. Most things in life do have a scientific basis. But then, has everything been done keeping that basis in mind for the first time?

This is not a comprehensive list. From whatever instruments the author has come across or rather heard, a mention of some with reference to certain genres so as to further hightlight the genius of man. I always have the licence of being a non-musician.

• Carnatic - Voice, Violin, Veena, Flute, Jalatarangam, Saxophone, Guitar, Mandolin, Mridangam, Ghatam, Tanbura, Nadhaswaram, Tavil, etc.
• Hindustani - Santoor, Sarode, Sitar, Voice, Flute, Tabla, Guitar, Veena, Violin, Sarangi, Shehnai, Pakhawaj, etc.
• Jazz - Piano, Voice, Guitar, Saxophone, Trumpet, Cymbals, etc.
• Western Classical - Piano, Stringed (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), Lute, Harpsichord, Percussion Drums, Flute, Oboe, etc.
• Others - Saz, Balama, Ukulele, Banjo, etc.

PS: Well, being deprived of the faculty of hearing would make life an unstruck sound. At times when I think of such things, I feel totally helpless. It is beyond my circle of influence and control. All that I can do, is to pray and sincerely hope that He/She gives them the much needed confidence, fortitude, determination, courage, etc. to carry on with their lives.

Spirit of Sport.....

Before I start this article, let me mention that I am not a great sportsperson. Badminton has always been a passion. Cricket used to be a dangerous favourite during my childhood and adolescent years (I guess the same would apply to most Indian boys). However, I always loved watching the variety of matches being telecast on TV; ranging from National Hockey, World Olympics, World Cups (Cricket, Football), Tennis Grand Slams (all 4 of them), etc, etc. This article is not meant to be about the various sporting events; nor is it about the players. Nor is it about a sport's role in politics and peace efforts. It is more at the micro level. The spirit of sports, competition, victory, determination, etc. among the players; be them amateurs, hobbyists(like me) or professionals. However, at the professional arena, it does get quirky with the amounts of money involved and the politics of sports.

I have always wondered. Can any person understand an another better? I suppose sport is the activity where the players, all equally passionate about the sport, resonate together to elevate the sport to a much higher pedestal. Just the spirit matters. Nothing else matters. No prizes, no money, no appreciation, no recognition, no adulation - well, they do not truly matter. A Man understands another perfectly in a sport. The sport brings them together. Even the best of friends become enemies during the match. There is no concept of give and take. We always play to win. But then, if we lose, after a good battle, we always think that the better person has won. Often, losing a good battle proves to be a great means of satisfaction too.

Consider this game of badminton between two good friends. The scores tied at 14-14. The game extends to 17. The scores go like this: 15-14, 15-16, 16-16, 16-16, 16-17. Does it truly matter as to who won? What is wrong in coming second? Both deserved to win the game. They fought it well to the nail-biting finish. Are such games publicised? I am sure scores of these games would be happening between two good friends playing any game for that matter in any part of the world everyday. What keeps them going? The world doesn't even know about them. They do not get prizes or media coverage. Here is where the spirit of sport comes into picture. The harmony of the individual with his passion made possible courtesy his opponent.

Lastly, I dedicate this blog to Nitin, Vishnu and Gopi for providing this author with wonderful opportunities to have played amazing games with them over the past 1.5 years; be it singles or doubles in Badminton. Each one of us would be parting ways soon on our journeys towards our individual destinies. It was a pleasure playing with all of you. May we all continue to pursue our passion with other like-minded individuals; wherever our respective journeys might take us.

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya...

This blog is dedicated to abhi and others who are responsible for my coming back to blogging life.

Feelings of claustrophobia made me take the extreme step of moving my entire blogsite elsewhere. Were there any regrets? There definitely were; for the author would always love to know that his writings are infact being read by people (both known and unknown). The outreach of the blogspot has amazed me. Some wanted to know if I was a writer. Friends and acquaintances, some of who now know not much about me appreciated my simple(?) writings. They encouraged me to write. When I think of these people, I feel sad. But nevertheless cannot be helped.

I feel totally restless and uncomfortable when I think about the so many windows unknowingly created by me. Isn't this ironical. I who had always believed in letting very few people know about certain things have committed this egregious crime(?). It is difficult to not reveal oneself when writing non-fiction. Why should they know in and out about me? My fantasies, my dreams, my aspirations, my frustrations! It is all about mutual disclosure of ideas. Henceforth, this blogsite would be solely mine.

Well, to cut a long story short; I gave in to the evil side of the force.

Then it all happened. Mails from people asking me if I had brought my blogsite down. And I could detect the tinge of disappointment. Well, I am learning to be a narcissist, right? Then, there were people, whom I prefer to keep anon., who helped me see the light. Well, I promise that I would never give over to the evil side again. Let there be light, and let it spread all around.

Tamaso Ma Jyotir Gamaya

O Mother! Lead me from darkness to the path of light. We are all unified in our ignorance.

Let me end this with a wise quote from Albert Einstein

Co-operation:A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer lives are based on the labors of other people, living and dead and that I must exert myself in order to give in the same measure as I have received and am still receiving.

This is not to mean that what I am saying is right. There is no universal concept of right and wrong. I might become an open book. People might take advantage of my openness. People might hate me, love me, avoid me, want to know me, castigate me,etc. for what I write. The only thing I can promise is frankness. There might be times when I rake up controversial issues; when I offend people knowingly/unknowingly. If reading my jottings makes the people think, helps them define themselves better; I suppose then that the reason for this blogspot is fully justified. It does merit mention that I am able to define myself better courtesy these jottings.

Peace!

Alma Mater...

I dedicate this blog to one of my very good friends, :);)\!*, who happens to be an IITian, and who is currently undergoing the blues of separation from one's alma mater.

Before you proceed, let me acknowledge the triumph of sanity over anger; and the victory of the good over the evil forces. May the force be with all of us. :)

______

Well, I unfortunately joined the "BITSAT vs IIT-JEE" community in orkut 15 minutes back. The seemingly hopeless and pointless discussions that followed there made my blood boil. I am a proud BITSian; and vanity happens to be my favourite sin too. I would consider BITS to be the haven on earth. Well, I am free to think what I want, right. I would definitely not like any Tom, Dick and Harry disrespecting my mother - alma mater without knowing her, her love for her children, etc. The least I can do is to write this article. In case I have offended the ones under target, I shamelessly would not apologise for that. However, I do respect the IITs..and her right-minded, right-thinking (no political overtones intended) IITians. Lastly, this is definitely not a case of grapes having gone sour.

What prompted me to write this article, was the lack of humility among certain people. I don't want to point fingers at any one. I personally know of many IITians and BITSians, some really close, and from what I know of them, they are the perfect gems that you can find in any friend or person. Their humility, zeal for life, passion for what they do, etc., has often been a source of inspiration to me. But then, there are certain people who infact debase themselves courtesy their unwanted/excessive pride to the absurd heights of vulgar marketing of supposedly their own "intelligence". I guess, only, empty vessels make more noise. People who really have the right stuff inside them pursue their destiny in silence. Period.

Btw, does it make sense to think about the IITs and BITS alone when it comes to college undergraduate education? What about other colleges? Well, from my personal experience, it doesn't really matter as to where one is from. It rightly depends on the individual and the individual alone. Trumpeting your own trumpet or living under the illusions/delusions of being geniuses amounts to slandering the pure institution of a mother. It doesn't speak good about a person and more importantly about his/her alma mater. More often than not, she moulds us in more ways than one.

We are given the most important lessons in life, straight from a loving mother's mouth, and I am sure those lessons would be for life. Where we are taught to live by ourselves, where we are fortunately/unfortunately forced to learn to live with the same set of people, where heady independence is provided to let one chart one's own destiny, where the world is that small place, etc. And since all educational institutions are the places of learning the intricacies of life, both academic and non-academic, it does seem reasonable to respect all of them.

From the author's personal experience with himself and with many of his friends and acquaintances, the unshaken and unquestionable fact is the love of the alma mater for her children and vice-versa. Most people become dangerously attached to her - she lovingly fondles, embraces and cherishes your presence for 4-5 years - the most important phase in one's life - the transition from angry adolescence to mature youth. When we think that everthing is perfect, nothing else can be better, where the present way of life seems to be the best possible, where friends are selected with care, then, all of a sudden, she betrays you. Or rather her genuine love, care and concern force her to violently throw out her child from her circle of concern and influence. Needless to say, the lessons learnt from her would be permanent and the friends made there would become friends for life. So, does it matter if she happens to be an IIT or a BITS or any other place? It is just the beautiful, wonderful, harmonious relationship between the individual and the alma mater that truly, madly and deeply matters. Nothing else matters.

I bow down in deep reverence, love and gratitude to my beloved mother - my alma mater - the ONE with a myriad of manifestations. It is time we all learnt to accept, love and respect her in all of her manifestations.

Vande Maataram!

Vegetarianism....

Disclaimer: One of my very good friends felt that this article was more on the aggressive side. Initially meant to be a humorous anecdote of my amusing experiences in the US, it has knowingly/unknowingly taken the shape of heavy sarcasm or satire in parts. I repeat, this article is not meant to offend anyone. I do apologise if some people did get offended. I respect a person's preferences and expect the same from him/her. Period.

Acknowledgement: Thanks to Eroteme for the clarification on kosher.

Does any religion truly forbid eating meat. Does any religion profess vegetarianism. I truly do not know. Pork is forbidden for Muslims and Beef for the Hindus. The entire world seems to be feeding on these two animal meats in the form of bacon, sausage, ham, steak, or whatever. Pigs live in unhealthy environments and even if they are bred with care, I simply do not see the point in consuming them. Does that mean I am pro-Muslim. Hindus treat or rather worship the cow - Kamadhenu. Hence, beef is naturally forbidden for them. Does the reason sound hackneyed. Does that mean I am pro-Hindu. It merits mention that certain religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Judaism (Kosher), etc. have stricter restrictions on diet.

It so happens that my ways of eating is often a point of amusement and bewilderment to one and all; especially more so after surviving in the US of A on vegetarian food (where eggs too are forbidden) for nearly two years. Some of my closest Indian friends too find it surprising to the point of absurdity my dietary preferences. People, naturally, have cajoled and some times, threatened me to have meat. They find it shocking when I go about asking waitresses if they use chicken broth to make the rice (very common in Mexican restaurants) or if they use lard or beef extracts in the beans that usually supplements the quesadilla or enchilada. The cheese-burger available in MacD's has beef/ham (I am not sure; not that it matters to me). There is a joke that everything out here is "vegetarian". I religiously go through the contents when purchasing groceries.

So, naturally, people think that I am paranoid about not having meat. They naturally ask - Does Hinduism forbid having meat. Little do they know of India. In a land with a myriad of different cultures and religions, with almost 50-50 veggies and non-veggies; where some Hindu's have beef too to show their modernness and broad outlook(!); where the ancient people (including the rishis) consumed meat, most people find it difficult to accept that meat-eating in India is common too. Most of these incidents involving my paranoia are indeed amusing to me. My answer is often this. Well, I have survived this far on grass and the likes. I don't see the point of turning over to the other side, and if I may dare, the dark side.

Preferences apart (be it personal, religious, spiritual or whatever), scientific studies have proven that red meats are unhealthy. Chicken and Fish are supposed to be good for health. I suppose too much of anything is bad. This principle applies to potatoes too. I do not want to convert people of either faiths. Each person is entitled to his/her preference. I would respect that. I just hope I am not wrong in execting the same from them. I do not want to get into arguments over the Saathvik/Taamsik nature of the foods. People have these wise questions (esp. from the other side) - Isn't milk non-vegetarian. Doesn't the milk come from the blood of the cow. Don't plants have life. Well, I simply have no answers. But, I take it that these questions still do not justify having meat. Arguments sound phony. Most people who have meat love it; and if they say that they love it without any iota of guilt, I suppose it is okie. What I hate is double standards.

Fantasies of the Human Mind...

This blog is dedicated to my good friend avaldes for introducing me to the saga and more importantly, for being patient with me.

The Human Mind is a true enigma. The fantasies it can weave are indeed spell-bounding and unimaginable (a nice paradox!). Yesterday, I had been to the "Revenge of the Sith" - the final episode to make the Star Wars saga complete (one of those few movies I have happened to watch on the day of its release). The much-awaited episode that was meant to link the disconnected episodes I and II with episode IV (released 28 years ago!).

Well, the author was always of the opinion that movies depicting reality, drama, emotions, etc. were more desirable than the ones that claimed to be sci-fi, action, etc. Where there was realism and sense, I supposed the movie was good enough. I still find it difficult to digest one of the scenes in Rambo, where he fights a battle against an infinite no. of tanks with a gigantic gun. Mind is to be put to rest in such cases. The same applies to science too. Did they ever think about the recoil of the gun?

Somehow, Star Wars seems to have created the impact - to the point of conversion of faiths. The six episodes were highly unrealistic and were yet amazing. What made it special was the very fact that a human mind with George Lucas as the vehicle had thought of such a fantastic tale of fantasy; complete with the works. Human emotions, drama, intrigue, love, affection, attachment, suffering, betrayal, loyalty, etc. have surfaced in this sci-fi saga spanning 6 movies and nearly 28 years.

Well, Star Wars indeed has a cult following in the world. I suppose I am one of the latest members.

May the force be with all of us.

Indianness VIII - The Indian Summer....

Among the four seasons, Summer happens to be one of the least preferred ones; and Indian summers are known for their heat. Surprisingly, people somehow try to relate a person's imbecility or shades of madness with the Indian Summer. Madras, on the other hand, is known to have only one season - a prolonged summer characterized by differing shades of hotness (to put it in simple terms, as, hot, hotter and hottest). However the author would prefer to refer to Summer as the season from April to June, when most children in India have their vacation. Three months of vacation to start with during their childhood only to be followed by a steady decrease in the duration as they grow up.

Children would be children and the oppresiveness of the heat doesn't simply bother them. Summer hapens to be the most privileged of all the seasons for them. That is the time, when they get the longest stretch of holidays. A time of constant activity, summer camps, family trips, ice creams, banganampalli mangoes, mischief at its highest, water melons, curd rice and pickles,visit by their closest cousins, etc. Madras boasts of a beach that does the children proud during the summer. Mango, the king of fruits and one of the cherished fruits of India, is consumed in its raw form (pickles or with that pinch of salt-chilli powder) or as the ripe one during this season.

Ice-cream happens to be a favourite amongst many of us. Most families do not encourage their children to have the same during the other seasons; citing the undebatable reason of possible cold, fever, sore throat, etc. that could possibly affect their school life. The heat on the other hand makes it acceptable for the children to have ice-creams and cool drinks. There was a time when Rasna, lemon juice, etc. used to have an important place in the heart of a child. I frankly do not know, if it remains so now, or if that place has been wrongly usurped by the less healthy drinks like Coca-Cola, Pepsi, or whatever.

The evenings were spent playing cricket on the roads. Where temples were within reach, the late evening was the time for a visit to the temple. More often than not, there used to be a temple activity that used to attract a crowd in the evenings. When the children were not lost in the huge temples, they also played with their friends or they made friends rather easily with others of their own age to play hide and seek, running and catching, etc. Such simple-hearted people were the children. They believed in spending their vacations in the best possible manner. The elders kept themselves busy by discussing the germane issues of increasing price rise, increasing taxes, the sweltering heat, the water problems, the Indian politics, Coffee, the increasing mischievousness of the children, family dramas, etc. with their friends. All these with the temple activity as the background.

Sadly, all good things do come to an end. The last fortnight of May is the time for getting ready to school. This is a lovely time too for the children. They are pampered beyond limits with the new shoes, dresses, bag, lunch bag, water-bottle, books, textbooks, pens, pencils, colors, etc. Simple things like these brought these children such unlimited happiness that they would remember these occasions of pampering for an year. Surprisingly, the drudgery of school seemed to become more bearable then. It was not that the children didn't like their school or teachers or classmates. It was just that the summer, the one which most adults hate, seemed to be too precious. And compared to the precious times spent, the school and the post-summer activity unsurprisingly paled in significance and rightly looked more like a mundane way of life.

Indianness VII - Curd Rice and Pickles..

This is the best time to write about this topic - the peak of summer and vacation time for children in India.

Well, a South Indian specialty; not available elsewhere. Rather, its value known and appreciated only in South India. The author is not being partisan out here; nor does he want to show his preference for a particular type of cuisine;nor is he is a regionalist. It is a point of amusement when the South Indians profess their love for this specialty,at times, beyond limits acceptable by others. Well, I love this simple, easy to make, specialty of South India - that is one of the most essential must-haves during the hot South Indian summer. People ignorant of this deadly combo are welcome to try it out. And people who are so much in love with this same combo - do take note of the fact that we are all united in our love for the same.

What makes it special? Curd rice is of great medicinal importance and having it as the last course of a meal is healthy. Some people claim that it is a great soporific, which might be true. I am not writing this article to discuss the medicinal properties of Curd/Lactose/whatever. How is it meant to be had? For this, I have an answer. The days of hot summer afternoons. The time of vacations. The home alive with the innocent laughter and pranks of children - friends, cousins, cousin's friends, etc. Elders advising or rather strongly recommending the kids to have curd rice/dahin bath/thayir saadam/mosaru anna and a glass of buttermilk/taak/mor/majjigai so as to prevent dehydration. The item by itself is of not great culinary taste. What makes it special is its side-dish: the pickle/lonchey/uruga/uppinkai. The pickle by itself is very spicy and not advisable for excessive consumption. However, the elders are always lenient when it comes to the combo. They rightly feel that the spiciness of the pickle is compensated by the curd rice.

So what kind of pickles exist to make this combo so deadly? Well, here is where I am grateful to my ancestors. A mind-boggling variety of pickles exist. Nellikai/Amla, Nimboo(Lime), Vadu Maanga(Tender Mango), Avakkai (cut mango), Thokku (grated mango), Tomato, Mixed Veg, Onion, Ginger, Gongura, etc.. The women are experts in pickle making and make preparations in advance keeping the importance of the pickle during the summer season in mind. My mouth waters whenever I think of having curd rice with vadu maanga and its spicy brine solution under the shade of a mango tree with friends.

Well, with the advent of rapid modernization, would such frequent regular happenings of the past become a sad case of virtuality for the future generations to come?

Indianness VI - Carnatic Music....

I bow down in reverence to all the souls who are/were musicians in this demesne of music - Carnatic Sangeetham. I sincerely hope that they overlook the mistakes that might seep in; as this person writes about it. I might have partially written about this elsewhere; but this is the first time, I am writing about it in completeness(?).

Carnatic music - with its strong emphasis on rhythm, melody and feelings - provides the fundamental, essential and harmonic basis for India's rich cultural heritage. Hindustani music, its sister, on the other hand has nevertheless been influenced by West Asia. Essentially South Indian, with compositions predominantly in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit; this form of music has withstood the test of times and invasions. Despite the absence of unity among the people, this art was nevertheless heavily protected. The Guru-shishya parampara school of thought helped in more ways than one. It is a closed form in the sense that it would be very very difficult for an outsider to truly appreciate it; and most of the technicalities would be considered esoteric. Most compositions were part of the Bhakti movement - which believed in attaining salvation through the path of Bhakti yoga. Hence, they were related to the divine masculine and feminine faces of the Trinity.

Purandaradasa, the Father of Carnatic Music laid the foundation for a systematic approach to the impartment of this musical form. The Trinity of Music developed it based on the Melakartha system with divine mellifluous compositions. It provides no scope for improvisation (barring the alaapanas); infact the musicians do not want to improvise; and the rasikas do not want them to. It would be indeed blasphemous and amount to showing dis-respect to the composer. Each krithi is rendered only in that raaga, so desired by its composer. So many luminaries have helped sustain this form of music. The festive kacheri season sees many concerts during this time by musicians, both young and old; rising and established.

So, is this form limited to the few (sadly, yes) people who know it or appreciate it? I don't know why, but somehow it is the common opinion that this form is limited to Brahmans alone. I am not really sure about the element of truth in this opinion. Would it be difficult for non-Brahmans to appreciate it if they want to? Would it be difficult for people of other religions to appreciate it if they want to? And, do these "differences" exist in this era of nationalization and globalization?

It is our's, India's jewel on her crown. We are responsible for its sustenance and fortunately, we can do so in more ways than one (however small and insignificant).

1. Attending the kacheris. Nothing comes for free. A Rock/Pop concert by a famous star/group attracts people, who have no qualms whatsover in paying hefty amounts as entrance fees. The music is heavily commercialized and contemporary with its own appeal. Do we really understand the elements of music during these concerts? It is most often a time to be among the hep crowd. So, what's wrong in attending a carnatic music kacheri even if one doesn't truly understand its elements? In what way is it less fashionable?

2. The young, new, and rising musicans hold the key for the sustenance of this art form. Support them in every possible way. They need us and our encouragement. Remember that most of them, would have chosen this as a vocation. They are dependent on this for their living. Money shouldn't be a limiting factor for them which could possibly force them to seek alternative vistas. The music form needs them more than the musicians need it.

3. Purchase original CD's/cassettes. That is the least we can do. Say a complete NO to piracy.

4. Our not knowing the languages - Telugu, Kannada, Tamil and Sanskrit, shouldn't deter us from trying out carnatic music with an open mind. When people consider it fashionable to learn French/German/Spanish, what stops them from learning a new language?

5. It is an Indian art form that has amazingly been protected. It is pure, virginal and blissful. We, as the responsible citizens of India, should do our best in ensuring that it remains that way.

Just like a flower has no religion, Music also has no religion. - Amjad Ali Khan

There can be no bigger folly than failing to appreciate what is ours.

6. Encourage children who are learning some form of Carnatic Music. They should know about the glory of this form. They should know that they are among the (fortunate few!) potential stones being polished to become diamonds. I do not imply vulgar glorification. In the present times, young children are more attracted to filmi/contemporary western music. They consider it hep to be among the crowd. I am not saying that they shouldn't be exposed to other forms of music. Too much of anything is madness. What I am really against is their lacking respect for any form.

7. Encourage organizations like SPIC-MACAY and others that help in promoting musical awareness among youth. The youth and children hold the key! They are the ones that need attention, encouragement and guidance.

.... and so on.

Indianness V - Coffee...

Coffee, despite its known caffeine contents, is a darling of the masses and a true universal beverage. Be it the Kumbakonam degree kaapi, strong filter coffee, Peaberry-Plantation Mix, Bru, Narasu's or the modern/western capuccino, frappuccino, mocha, espresso, etc.

A typical day in South India begins with the coffee. Most people feel completely energized after religiously having the morning cup of coffee. I was always of the opinion that such feelings were purely psychological. Coffee with THE HINDU/Indian Express, with the strains of Suprabhatam going on in the background, with the women engaged in kolam/rangoli and samayal/sampak, and the children getting ready to school. Hell freezes over out there in the household, with so much of commotion and worry over time. (This is not to mean that the author is sexist. He just wanted to write about the general trend in a household. For that matter, if men can cook better, they could assist the womanfolk too in this era of both going for work. I dont know much in the kolam front though!)

Most people take a second dose of coffee some time in the morning too, say 0900 hrs. In fact, I know of people who have it 4-5 times a day. They feel it makes them more productive. Then, there are some people who have it in the pure "black" form. Some people limit having all their doses till evening 6:00 PM. They feel that having it beyond that time would make it difficult for them to fall asleep in the night. People prefer to have their evening tiffin/snack, say pakoda, bajji, vada, bonda, etc. with a cup of kaapi. People somehow seem to know as to how to appreciate coffee.

Tea-kadais or the Udupi high class vegetarian hotels, or the Mami's Mess, etc. have their share of customers too. I have often wondered or rather admired the alacrity and the way with which the human coffee-makers seem to mix the decoction with the milk and sugar in an amazingly acrobatic fashion. Rarely, does a drop fall down. Hands going up and down, one holding the tumbler and the other the dawra, it is a bystander's delight. Such are the simple joys of life.

Who can possibly forget the high pitched strains of "Coffee-Coffee-Coffee-yeah" in the railway stations and the trains! It is altogether a different issue that the coffee available courtesy the railways is abysmally bad. But then, the coffee lover accepts it as a way of life and consumes it more for the sake of having it as a daily ritual than for the coffee itself.

Last but not the least, the increasing price of kaapi-poodi is a concern to every household. The government is really clever. It knows that people cannot do without coffee; and that they would buy it no matter at what price. This price rise is often a topic of great concern and interest to the old people. Evening discussion forums with like minded people among the old often focusses on Indian politics, coffee, politics, coffee, etc. The easiest way to get along with old people would be to start a conversation on the subject of coffee.

Now, to the westernized world. The "modern" people of India love going to Barista/Coffee Day for a cup of evening coffee.. oops.. capuccino/frapuccino. In the US, people throng to the coffee joints which also hosts an amazing ambience. A Barnes and Noble Bookstore has a Starbucks Coffee Parlour in the small town by the name College Station, TX. People are free to take any book of their choice and read it as they sip their coffee. People usually have a get-together in a coffee station and just simply talk over a cup of coffee. The author has also seen some people playing Scrabble and other board games over a cup of coffee. Coffee is known to be popular in Brazil, Mexico, Italy, Turkey, etc. It further gives a stiff competition to Tea! in certain countries.

Well, I guess I have written a lot on the subject of "Coffee". People who are more interested can check out R K Narayan's "A Story Teller's World" where he talks about Coffee in one of the pieces. This blog could be considered a poor flattering imitation of RKN's style. Doubtlessly, RKN was amazingly brilliant in his vivid descriptions.

The Undeniable...

I occasionally go through my previous blogs. The topics somehow seemed to surface every now and then, by themselves; only to strongly urge me to write to the public. What could have been the main motive? Well, I just wanted to share those topics with those few people, who bothered to go through the author's simple jottings. Those topics addressed questions that would kind of nag us not so frequently. If it could make some people think, or assured them that such doubts were natural and universal, then I would think that these blogs solved their purpose. I further noticed that most of the topics were brimming with positivity, joy, questions, etc. This is not a cheap vulgar attempt to flatter the self. In some blogs, the author constantly points a finger at the people. This is not to mean that he is not one of them. He is as much to be blamed as the people for inaction. He is not perfect and not a saint. He is a mortal and prone to mistakes and sins.

Well, consciously I have been trying to think only of positivity, energy and vibrations within the self. That doesn't mean that this author doesn't face the negativities in life; or doesn't have his share of blues. I do feel that it would be much better to share the positivities, because they multiply in a constructive sense (as against negativities). But then, the undeniable or unavoidable would embrace us at the most unexpected times. When we would be under the illusion that everything was going perfect, it would happen - the undeniable - to bring the illusions to an apocalyptic end. I am sure that each one of us, would have had such moments. Interestingly, Paulo Coelho addresses this very topic of the unavoidable in his book "The Fifth Mountain". He further comes up with a beautiful message - the unavoidable is temporary, it is the lessons from the unavoidable that is permanent. A highly optimistic message in pessimistic times.

Kacheri of a different kind...

Venue : United Methodist Church, College Station, TX, USA (btw, there seem to be so many different types of churches - Lutheran, Methodist, Adventist, etc, etc. - well, never ceases to amuse this ignorant bystander)

Artists: Malladi Brothers; the author listened to them for the first time yesterday. They were simply amazing. Such wonderful mellifluous voices; grasp and command over the compositions (there were quite a few requests from the audience, they obliged each one)!; effortless rendering of the keerthanams - by Annamacharya, Thyagaraja, Ramadas, Shyama Shastry, etc. Organized by SPIC-MACAY, TAMU chapter.

Audience: Around 50; mostly Indians. A few foreigners (hmm.. well the Americans) interested in Indian Classical Music were also present. This number surprised me. For a college town, College Station, would definitely boast of around 2000+ Indians. Are people so busy these days, that they do not get the time to attend a free concert? Or, is it lack of interest, sensibility, passion or whatever. Such young amazing talent needs to be nourished, enriched and nurtured.

Well, I didnt want to write about all this, but then, couldnt help it. What I had wanted to convey, was that the venue was a church. The podium was near the altar. With the Cross, and a glass engraving of Jesus as passive onlookers, the Brothers enthralled the audience with a 2 1/2 hr mellifluous kacheri - renderings of divine Hindu Carnatic compositions. I was really happy with the setting. Well, this author firmly believes in the presence of a unifying omnipotent omniscient ONE in different manifestations. The American experience opens up new frontiers and the author considers himself fortunate to have been among the audience for this event.The kacheris that the author has been to in India were inevitably at Sabha's or temples.

Music has no religion in the same way flowers have no religion.

- Amjad Ali Khan

Indianness IV - Culture...

To be honest, I must admit this. I am crazy of anything and everything remotely related to Indian culture. Guess, the craziness has only increased with separation from India. Simple things like the smell of malligai poo, the roasted kadalai with pori, the enjoyment that can be possibly derived by simply viewing the majestic gopurams of the kovils and the birds perched atop them; bewilderment at the cancerous,unstructured growth of Madras, etc. are not available any where else in the planet. India has been and continues to be a seductive charmer. One cannot but love it for all that it is; with the hope that the state of affairs out there would only get better.

Well, I guess I am digressing from what I had originally intended to write. When I had been to India, I paid visit to Motilal Banarasidass, Madras (I refuse to call it by its new name!). They deal primarily with Indological publications - anything and everything remotely connected with India and its heritage. I was surprised to find that most of the works were by foreigners. This incident immediately comes to my mind when I think about it now. I don't know why, but then I had been wary of taking in at face value whatever had been written by foreigners about India. I might be wrong, but somehow this cynical mind always thought that such works would be adulterated with their popular belief and impressionist attitude. I was left wondering about the sad state of affairs when it came to Indian culture. How many among the present generation are proud of India's - their - cultural heritage? The land of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism (often China is wrongly confused to be as the originating place of this off-shoot of Hinduism), Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, etc.

Something is seriously wrong with me. I seem to be at my incoherent best. Here, I go back to the incident. One old man A, presumably in his 70's, retired, wanting to go back to his roots, came to this bookshop. I simply happened to be browsing, amazed at the variety out there. The old man in-charge of the shop, B, happened to be the best-fit for the demands of such a job. He seemed to know about almost any book out there. A's question took me completely by surprise. He wanted a foreigner's version of Ramayana. When I think of an English version of Ramayana , the first book that comes to my mind is the one by Rajaji. I reasoned out later that the book A wanted might have been a really good one; with transliterations in English and detailed explanations of the Sanskrit verses or might have been dealing with all the Khandas of Ramayana. However, this ironical incident was an eye-opener for me. Never be prejudiced against any form of art work courtesy those unwanted, insane and illogical notions.

Later on, I was talking with B, the man in-charge, and he patiently explained to me the present state of affairs when it came to the study of Indian or for that matter Oriental Literature. He was of the opinion that these very foreigners evinced a keen interest in them, and often pursued the study as part of their PhD programs in Oriental studies. He was infact, grateful to these souls - about whom I had a wrong and jaundiced opinion. My realization had been late; or passion for Indian culture had been dormant for a while; but nevertheless, it had to dawn upon me through the subtle ironies in Life. I am/was also a part of the crowd that considered it more fashionable to read Western authors. Guess, drawing the threshold and giving respect to all kinds of works would be the key.

The only bottleneck to truly appreciating Indological Literature would be the mandatory requirement of a "passable" knowledge of Sanskrit. Well, but then, if people can take extra pains to learn German/ French/ Spanish/ whatever, why should Sanskrit be left behind? And does it harm to know an additional language?

New Age Spiritualism...

Disclaimer: This article would have references to Hindusim. The author respects other faiths too. On a comparative scale of the author's knowledge on religions, it would be around 100 ppm on Hinduism and about 0.001 ppm on others. There might be factual errors too. I would appreciate feedback on mistakes.

"Wherever I go, Whomever I see", the new age spirituality seems to be "infecting" the lives of almost everyone. I have interacted with atheists, agnostics, spiritual but not religious types, humanists, etc apart from those staunch devout believers of "the" faiths. More and more people, despite their religious preferences, seem to look towards the magical solution towards a better life - and here is where spiritualism holds the promise. Spiritualism seems to be transcending all religions; and seems to address what a person wants to hear. Man needs constant reasssurances from the world that he is on the right track, that his beliefs are correct, etc.

Art of Living, Sathya Sai Foundation, Vipasana, Ramakrishna Mission, Aurobindo and the Mother, ISKCON, etc. are some of the organizations primarily based in India, that immediately come to my mind when it comes to the new age era. Each mission has its own dedicated believer base. What do these organizations promise? Are they coming up with new theories or ways of better living? How different are their teachings from the one's given in the Holy Books. When it comes to Hinduism, the Gita (the infinite source of wisdom), the Vedas and the Upanishads, the two epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata; are the best sources of spirituality. Then, there are the compositions by Purandaradasa, Thyagaraja, etc. that have a profound meaning camouflaged in the sweet language. Why then, are these resources neglected by the common man? What is the appeal behind the new age spiritualism?

1. New Age Spiritualism - gives the flavour of the esoteric, enigmatic, way-beyond our understanding(?), profound philosophy embedded in the Holy books in a simpler language; more understandable by the common man. Yoga - the union of the soul and the body was emphasized as an important aspect of life, right from the ancient times. There is nothing new in the concept of Kriya, Pranayama, Yoga, etc. Its just that the "spiritual" organizations are making it more known to the common man.

2. A sound understanding of the Holy books demands proficiency in Sanskrit. Sadly, not many of us know Sanskrit. We are left at the mercy of the transliterations.

3. Purandaradasa's keerthanas are in Kannada. Well, they were written in simple Kannada, supposedly for the masses. How many Indians or the people in the world know Kannada? Hence, a wonderful source lost. Similar is the case with Thyagaraja's krithis in Telugu. Blessed be the souls that know these languages and importantly use their knowledge to truly appreciate the compositions.

4. It has become fashionable to look down upon Hinduism. Well, I was told that Hinduism is a way of life and not a religion. It doesn't demand a believer to believe in the concept of One; and no other. Sadly, Hinduism is being abused under the name of Hindutva. They are totally different. In "By River Piedra, I sat down and wept", Paulo talks of the feminine face of God. Hinduism believes in the feminine trinity - Saraswathi, Lakshmi and Parvathi.

Well, I might have digressed from the main topic. I guess I should better stop here. However, I would like to dedicate this blog to a real good friend of mine - AM; for bringing me back to "blogging" life.

Books..

Do they really teach us? This dangerously crazy bibliophile keeps encountering people who do not really believe in the concept of bookish knowledge. Here, I am not talking about technical books; but those of a different variety: non-fiction, fiction, pulp fiction, philosophy, etc. So, coming back to the most important question of all - Do they really teach us??

There are a plethora of books available on personality development. What exactly does personality development promise? Then, there are those fiction-cum-philosophical books like those of Paulo Coelho, Ayn Rand, etc. It must be mentioned here that each author/authoress tries to impress his/her views in the book. And mostly, those are of an entirely personal nature. For. e.g. let me take the example of "The Alchemist" by Paulo Coelho. There is a clear divide among the people who have read it. Either they are dangerously crazy or they belong to a category that treats it as another simple story. What could be the reason for differing points of appeal for the same story? Ayn Rand's fleeing from Russia and abhorrence for Communism would explain her pro-capitalist leanings. I like her philosophy in parts. I cannot completely agree with her. That's the fundamental problem. You often do not agree with "everything".

I believe that the man's life shapes what he believes in. The Alchemist is a highly motivational one and infects you with an amazingly positive enthusiasm and zest for life. But then, would a person whose dream has failed like it at that instant of his life? Definitely not.

Books address so many issues, that one cannot possibly fathom. When it comes to religion too, there are books written by atheists and those by believers. More often than not, the book carries that strong flavour of religious inclinations too. Thus Spake Zarathustra and Brothers Karamazov are such examples.

So, a reader would obviously get confused with such differing facts and equally convincing arguments. What then is the solution?

Take what you believe in. If it appeals to you, then go ahead and embrace it. At times, you might need to be a non-conformist. The society needs to be given respect where due.

There are times when conforming to the rules of the society seems to be a bottleneck or hindrance. As we grow up, we begin to closely associate more with certain values and beliefs. So, discarding whatever doesn't appeal to us seems to be the solution. But then, we must never discard without reason. Tolerance and respect for another's opinion, even when it glaringly clashes with yours, is the key.

Compare these books with those simple children's books - Say Enid Blyton/ Tintin/ Asterix/ Tinkle/ Chandamama,etc. Those very books seem to be vibrating with a pure and divine energy; where characters are as human as possible; where people are known to make mistakes and importantly learn from them, etc. Well, they are wonderful companions for children during one of the most beautiful phases of life - that sweet innocence of childhood!

Well, life without books; almost impossible and umimaginable.

Hope..

Nothing can possibly be sweeter than hope.

"If you lose hope, somehow you lose the vitality that keeps life moving, you lose that courage to be, that quality that helps you go on in spite of it all. And so today I still have a dream. "
- Martin Luther King Jr.


We should have the courage to dream and importantly follow them.

One of the lessons from the world.

It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Saying anything more would undermine this topic.

Abortions..

I know this is a dangerous topic to tread on. Somehow, was discussing about this with my friend yesterday and felt like penning my views today.

Who has the right to take life, if not Him? This is what the purists feel on this issue. They are right in a way. While some "modern thinking" people include the woman's decision to abort the foetus as a progression in thinking, manifestation of free-will, I find it difficult to support them on this issue. If the copulation was by mutual consent, then they have no right to abort the baby.

But then, I do support abortion in some unfortunate cases. When a young girl is raped and gets pregnant, she has to bear the truama of the unfortunate incident and the stigma of the society. In such case, an abortion would be the best option provided the mother's health is not at risk. And there are also cases, where the baby is known to be deformed or not entirely healthy before its birth - its life would only be troublesome and difficult for it and its parents. So, a sanity check on the status of the baby is acceptable, but not sex-determination.

These are my views and I do apologise if I have offended anyone. This is as sensitive an issue as Euthanasia and opinions would obviously differ.