Let us Unite and teach

We were on a night out in a pub, and watching the local channel. After attending few, the bar tender switched the news channel. We were shocked to know the news. I could not understand the velocity then.

After coming home sought the internet to know more and was deeply shocked. From this morning I have been sitting in front of the laptop, and trying to know more and more about all the incidents that have happened. Though it is slightly relieved now, after hearing that the commandos have taken control of all the places, my heart goes to the families of those who were killed, the brave officers, police constables, fire brigades, hotel staff, guests, press and the public.

I was almost on tears when I read news about Hermant Karkare, Major Unnikrishnan and many more names whom I do not remember immediately. The videos of Hermant karkare wearing his bullet proof coat and walking with other officers into the hotel is going to remain in my mind for ever. The same way the sight of Major Unnikrishnan relatives receiving his body is heart rendering. This is only to name few whom I saw. My whole family felt very sad on reading the news about many foreigners who were present there for various reasons. It was more disheartening to know that some westerners who loved visiting India were targeted, especially the American who was killed along with his daughter.

After all what did the perpetrators achieve? What was their motive? They are ordinary individuals, who could not think. They were highly motivated and have behaved like a machine. Their purpose was to instil fear among public and civilians. This time they have targeted five star hotels to scare the foreigners and just jeopardise the economy development. If they have had any demands, they could have taken few hostages and started a dialogue. They did not. Their leaders did not have any. What all they wanted to do is to create instability for the fast developing economy, create a disparity among the two neighbours who have started understanding each other recently. It is time now for the Global village, to join together and start thinking strategies globally. Just like the same way as G20 joined together to discuss the credit crunch, global warming and etc., tackling terrorism should be given top priority. Today, it was Mumbai. Tomorrow it could be somewhere else in the world. Let all the countries unite and take measures.

Time has come for all the conflict to end. The aim of terrorism is to instigate the hatred. All these are made by man. So if we need to give them back we should stop pointing fingers at others and work towards a common goal.

Time has come for leaders to change their strategies. Let there be difference in Language, soil, religion, culture, habits. But there should not be any difference in handling these terrorist.
They should be replied in their own language. Let us all unite in teaching them lesson. Life is too wonderful to die in this manner. Even a terrorist who was captured had expressed that he wanted to live.

After all even those gunned men’s mothers would not have wished their kids to destroy simple human beings when they grow. I am sure no mother would have sent her son or wished him good luck for such unscrupulous act.

Every other Government should discuss positively to curb these acts. All parties in each country should give top priority in uniting themselves against these acts, and give their heart and soul in combating terrorism. Let all the nations work together in destroying the roots of such network. Let us preach the world to love than to hate.

If we want to teach those perpetrators a lesson, let every good act continue. Let us not stop the trading, business, sports just for these rowdies. Let us tell them, that, if that is what they wanted, they cannot have it.

If there is a rose there will be a bee who will be attracted to suck the honey. We cannot be afraid of the bees and not have roses. We should have more roses and keep away the bees.
We should have lots of garden of roses for our future generation.

Autumn

After finishing my last spoon of Wheat bran and Oats breakfast, I washed my bowl and left the kitchen. Once again checked all my belongings and slammed the door and started walking towards the bus stop. As usual, I switched on my i-pod. KJ Yesudas was singing “Madhubhan Khusboo”. I looked around and found that the leaves on the trees have changed their colours and have fallen too. I realised that autumn is going to end. I remember my mother saying “Whatever happens, the time will not wait. What has to happen will happen”.

Yes, on seeing the tree near my house, I realised that the leaves have changed from green to different colours. In fact, most of the leaves have fallen. I realised that I had taken a picture of the same tree few months ago (see picture 1). I opened my bag and took another picture of the present tree(see picture 2). In the meanwhile, diesel and petrol prices have gone up. The banks have run into loss. The world economy had changed. Credit crunch has almost hit every part of the world. New president has been elected in US of A. Indians have beaten Australians in Cricket. So...what...who bothers.... The seasons do not wait....

After all they need to do their duty.

Autumn is going to end and winter is already in.

Nature does not wait for anything.

Evidence

After being inside closed doors for few hours I decided to have a walk during the lunch hours.

I came out of my office and looked around. It should have rained few minutes before. It was very pleasant and I walked to my favourite park near my work place. There were very few people. The joggers were jogging and there were lots of evidence for the recent rain. Some little birds were trying to shake their feathers and fly. There was a kind of smell coming from the ground. Whenever the birds shook the tree branches, water remaining on the leaves sprinkled on me. I was looking for fresh evidence for the rain and looked around. Then this water droplets on the benches caught my eyes. I decided to click them for evidence. Evidence of the rain. It looks like they were just waiting for the photograph. I smiled and took the picture. A couple who came behind me kept looking at the bench and must have wondered about what I was focusing on.

I walked back having got evidence now. After all we need evidence for everything in this world. Nobody believes anything without any evidence.

Learn to love and let others live!

Recently came across a video clipping of law students clash in Chennai, India. I was disturbed very much. I never thought there could be so much of hatred among students studying in same college. Believe me or not! After seeing the video clips I could not do anything for more than one hour. Though I saw this video two days before, the video is still fresh in my mind.

The cause of the incident is based on difference of opinion on a poster issue among different caste/community students. What a shame! A group of policemen were watching the whole incident standing outside the premises of the college. One student got trapped near the gate and he was beaten with logs and some other materials. It was worst than any of the violent fight scenes in a Tamil movie. This appears to be a barbaric act. What else I could say!

Only this has been in my mind for the past two days. Can there be so much of animosity among fellow students? Is the future safe in the hands of such young would be lawyers? How are they going to protect the society with their education? On trying to know more about this, I came to know this sort of rivalry and fights exist between the students especially in the state. Why? Certain reports say that the management and police were aware about this already. Due to difference of opinion in printing a poster for some celebrations that was held in the College, a batch of students got agitated.

From where did such young graduates get such a motivation to brutally man handle their friends? There is something wrong somewhere. The three students who were beaten are still fighting for their life. There should be some background behind this incident. Those who were beaten belong to ordinary family. The state has recently started drawing attention worldwide for its technological parks and outsourcing. How could the Government keep quite? They have just suspended the Police officer and the Principal. Everyone was blaming police for being a silent spectator to the whole incident. But there had been incidents in the past of demanding action on Police, since they entered the premises to solve issues among students. I strongly feel that there should be lots of politics behind all this.

While I was walking during my lunch hour, I came across this flock of birds as seen in the picture. What a great unity? What a skill in flying as a pattern? They were doing great acrobatics without any communication support from ground. It was wonderful to keep watching them. I think we human beings have to learn a lot from animals.

Dear young students, please learn from your surroundings. Learn from other creatures that exist in this world. Please shed all your difference of opinions and respect each other. I am sure all those who were involved must be repenting now. Please think well and do not allow politics amongst yourselves. Learn to love each other. Everyone’s life is precious. Life is not to hate each other and kill each other. Give meaning to your education and raise a step above than what you are!

Fear of Death

The bus was fully loaded. I got into the bus and started moving inside. As the conductor was keen on accomodating more passengers, he was keeping on shouting to move. I almost went near the driver’s seat. This was a private bus running in the suburbs of Chennai. The conductors were paid commission according to the sales.

I looked around. It was very crowded. There were huge baskets near the gear box and the driver yelled at those villagers who had kept them. They moved it a bit and in the newly found space another villager went and sat. Loud music was being played. It was another latest hit (those days) by Ilaiyaraja. It was hot and humid morning. You cannot expect the people around to have used the world class perfumes. Since it was morning the sweat smell of people around was bearable. It was interesting to hear the driver and conductor’s comment at each and every stop. There were funny characters doing their own comics. After all villagers are very innocent. There was a level crossing and the gates at level crossing went down. The bus stopped at the gates.

I kept observing the people around and it all happened suddenly. The villager before me suddenly started showing some signs of pain on his body. He closed is eyes and started making gestures. He could not speak. He started beating his chest. I noticed this, and started enquiring the man calmly. Slowly everyone started noticing and were offering their own treatments. I looked for symptoms of heart attack. I asked him, one by one and the man constantly said that he felt a kind of blockage in his chest. Suddenly a lady offered her water bottle and other passengers asked him to have it slowly. He started showing little improvement. Again he started beating his chest and I requested him not to do it.

The railway gates opened and I requested the driver to stop in the nearby town so that he could be attended. The patient started getting scared. He thought he is going to die and started crying. He was not ready to listen to me. He wanted to rush to see his family before he could breathe last. I listened to all his symptoms and was not sure whether it was heart attack. Since the bus was full of villagers, they all thought he is very serious and carried him to a Doctor in the next stop. I could see him improving within those 10 minutes. He said he was better before getting off the bus and thanked me for all the comfort. I wished him to recover soon. I could remember the fear on his face for those few minutes. Since I had very important job to be done, and there were sufficient people to take care of him, I continued my journey. After a week or so, I travelled by the same bus and the same gentleman was there smiling. He came and held both of my hands and thanked me for all the help offered. He said that he went to Doctor immediately, and it was nothing but some kind of Gastric problem. After this I used to see him very frequently in the same area and he became alright. But I could not forget those fearful moments he had. Fear of death!

When I was in my early teens, I was attending a function in a local temple. It was dark and we were doing some service to the devotees. Suddenly I felt something biting my legs and shook my legs so hard and there was a Scorpion. My friends found it in dark and screamed. They immediately killed it and each started screaming something. Sekar, my childhood friend, who was exposed to all these creatures due to his farming background, immediately said that if it had bitten me I may be in danger. On hearing those words I started feeling bad and felt that I was losing my senses. I could hear all the friends screaming. I requested to be taken home and wanted to see my mother. Since each one were telling something, I thought I will die soon. I was given first aid and some elderly gentleman who was in the temple, saw the bitten place on my foot and said that the Scorpion had just started to climb my foot and I had kicked my leg immediately. He was my saviour since he said that I need not worry and will be alright soon. Still I wanted to rush home and see my family. Those fearful moments ! I experienced the fear of death.

Years have rolled by. Now I have experienced quite a lot in life. This has given so much of maturity. Still being in the mid-life this fear is trying to conquer the mind now and then. Fear of death! Will I die soon? What should I do quickly if I know some symptoms? I am not afraid. But cannot be brave to face it.

I started analysing death and why we are afraid of death?

It is purely insecurity of mind and thoughts. Everyone who is born has to die one day. But we think that we should be allowed to fulfill certain responsibilities in life and live in full and see every other happening . Life is never full. So why should we be afraid? Death can come to anyone.

This morning when the flight was taking off ( For the past few weeks I have been travelling by flights instead of Train. Believe me or not! The flight tickets are cheaper than the train sometimes and so I have booked them in advance!) I felt some heart burning sensation. I remembered the villager and his sufferings whom I have seen atleast 25 years before. Laughed to myself! Stroked my chest and realised that I did not have proper sleep last night. Still it was gloomy and closed my eyes and kep listening to all the announcements. Looked through the windows and saw the milky clouds. Wondered how funny it would be if I could see some people walking in the clouds clad in heavenly dresses as seen in old devotional Indian films.

The pilot announced that there may be severe turbulence and informed us about the usual stuff. Suddenly the plane started jerking. Everyone became aware about the jerks. I felt that I was travelling by a local corporation lorry in Chennai. It was so noisy and everyone were laughing. I wished that the laughter remains as laughter and does not turn into screamings. Suddenly the Air-hostess rushed to one lady, and helped her in changing the seat. I held the seat before me tightly. I felt like I was swinging. In such situations, nobody has any control except the pilot. I realised what a responsible job it is! After few more minutes of cradle journey, it calmed down.
Once the plane touched the ground everyone were relieved.

I laughed to myself and walked away and looked back.

The plane was remaining there and was getting ready for the next journey.

Care for the aged

It was a usual routine and hectic day at work. Just at the end of the day when we had finished I turned around and had a casual chat with my colleague. I asked him whether he was going out on the evening, or just go home. He replied that he had to go and visit his father who was affected with Alzheimier and lives in an old age care home. He said that he was feeling guilty of not having visited him since few months. This colleague is of middle age and very considerate. Whatever he said further really made me to think very seriously. He said that his father cannot recognise him and it is so pathetic to see his father just giving a look if introduced. What an irony! He narrated that as he visits the home with a cake, pie and fruits, one of the staff will take him to his father and introduce him. His father would just look at him and does not speak anything. He does not have any memory and keeps looking somewhere. Oh.. My god after ‘R’ told me about this, I went home and this was in my mind for the next few days.

Being a weekend I called some relatives back in India and few enquiries about their welfare, and the ageing elders. I was surprised to know that one of my relative is 100 this year and is quite healthy and able to carry on her daily duties. They live in a village. I also heard about few other elders who had a fall, who had a fracture and their regular narrations.

My mom who is in her high 70’s, lives with me. I have to keep telling my kids how active she was in her younger days, and they need to adjust living with her pace. They do understand.

We keep talking about the facilities we have in western world for the elders and the infrastructure in developing countries. Every time I talk about this, I could only think of very old people, who had come to me for help when I lived in Chennai suburbs. There was an old lady who was my neighbour and whenever she could not find an Auto, she used to come and stand in front of our gate and ask me a lift. She was so old and heavy, I used to struggle to give her a lift on my Enfield bullet, since the seats were raised and I was more worried about her safety. She used to hold my shoulders so tight it used to be a hindrance for me to ride my bike. I have experienced the plight of old people if they do not have anybody to take care.

Once I was walking in Mount road, Chennai and saw a very old man trying to get into a crowded bus. The conductor did not even bother and gave the whistle. The old man fell down which I was watching from distance. I rushed to him and held him on my lap and comforted him. Thank god he did not have any injury. I cautioned him to be safe, and travel by a less crowded bus.

There are millions and millions of elders living in such a state in under developed countries. Their kith and kin abandon them, and some keep them just for their pensions or little money. In that way the Governments of developed country need to be praised. There is utmost care and attention for elders. Every place should have a ramp for wheel chair access. We have disabled parking space in super markets. There are care homes which take care of old people. These care homes are sponsored by Government. Some of them are run privately.

Every train and bus has facilities to carry wheel chair people. One day I took my mom in her wheel chair, just to see the care shown in local buses. As soon as the bus driver notices the elder in wheel chair, he get down from his seat and unfolds the stairs which helps in taking them safely inside. Then the same way, before we get down he gets down from his seat and helps in taking them out. The Doctor’s clinics, shopping centres and every other public place have preferences for disabled people. Mobility scooters are familiar ones, in which the elders can sit and keep driving it. It is operated by battery and the pavements facilitate the elders to go freely. I live in a place which consists of lots of elders and it is nice to see them going around in their mobility scooters independently. They can shop as well while driving the mobility scooters into the shops. The supermarkets are built spaciously to help them shop on their own. Nobody think of their disability as a negative thought, and keep moving on their life. The local councils have transport facility. Every day if elders preferred going to the shops they can give a call to this facility, who will send van to such elders house to pick them up and take them around for shopping. It is absolutely free and the elders can make use of it.

Living with an elderly person is not a very easy thing. There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages. They become almost kids on getting old. They keep telling the same innumerable times. They have their own habits and want to live the same way. They are reluctant to accept the changes. My mom realises the benefits and care given in this country. If the politicians of the under developed world and developing world consider a little for elders and develop schemes to benefit them it will make wonders for such deserving people.

After all everyone has to become old. It is a different life then. I hope the under developed world keeps this in mind and follows the developed world in this matter.

Lunch Time photo

As I was walking around during my lunch hours, I came across few scenes. This one was strange. The guy inside the Vehicle was relaxing during his lunch break.

We live in this world, observe many things and enjoy them as well. Many cities have so much of life and we need to learn a lot from everyday's life in every town. In UK, I have observed in many public places, Gardens, walk paths there are few benches for people to relax. Though at many places the local council has provided them, there are few places where even the public have donated these benches in memory of certain things. While Iwas walking along a patway I saw atleast around 20 benches. Many of them were donated by men in memory of their dear wife, daughters in memory of their mothers, women in memory of their husbands, some clubs on occasion of their annual days. But I could hardly see any donated by sons in memory of their parents.

Mixture of thoughts

Sometimes certain thoughts flash into my mind. I get a weird feeling whether it is only me who think like this or would there be someone else who thinks the same way.

I would like to share few of my thoughts.

1) What is life all about? We are born, we grow, educate and earn, marry, rear children. We see many good and bad on the way. We get experienced and notice that world is changing. We try to compare the old and new days, generation, habits, music, culture and etc. Why? Is it all just the human way?

2) I feel of late, many people are turning to be selfish. Let it be your friends or relatives. Everyone cares only for their next. If there is a flood in Andhra Pradesh, a friend of mine calls me to know whether my relatives in Andhra Pradesh are fine. If there is an earthquake in Gujarat, relatives of mine are worried about my relatives who live in Gujarat. Why does ‘Me’ ‘My’ come first? Few years before when there was an earthquake in Gujarat, a relative of mine called me to know whether I have called my other relative in Gujarat and enquired their welfare. For me the concern is about everyone who lives in Gujarat. I did not call my relative. There was enormous pressure from other relatives on me. Finally before I made a decision to call, my relative from Gujarat called me and said not to worry.

3) During my recent journey I happened to meet a student who is originally from Iran, but studying in UK. He started responding to my smile and within few minutes we started exchanging lots of news. Out of all the information he shared, I was impressed by one. It seems when he was ready to start off to UK, his parents advised him to be careful in choosing friends and if at all he wanted to have a close friend they advised him to have from India rather from any other place. He asked whether I was surprised by this and I said ‘yes’. It seems Iranians, have high esteem on Indians.

4) I came across few people who shared their personal problems. It did not seem a problem for me at all. I made it very clear to those persons that it is only the way they perceive things. Many of us draw a circle and try to live within that circle without thinking anything out of the circle. The greatest drawback is our incapability in trying to put ourselves in other’s shoes and think. I feel many misunderstandings may not happen, if either of the parties could think that way. I would say few are incapable in trying to think from other’s shoes. The best way to overcome a problem is to think from different angles and draw a solution.

5) I have two other professionals sharing the house with me. On conversing with them, and also after experiencing with lots of youngsters, I feel that many of them in their early and late twenties are committing themselves into lots of long term financial commitments. I strongly feel they are not content with what they have, and get entangled into these sorts of investment trap. I could understand they are into too much of futuristic plans, but are not enjoying their presence. I recall my younger days in early twenties and late twenties time. We had our set of friends, we were not very rich, did have family commitments, but enjoyed our life to the full. I know an Indian couple, who always keep talking about ‘Money, Money’. In spite of both of them earning they moan a lot. According to them, because I do not moan they think I am very rich whereas on the contrary it is opposite. I just try to live happily and not worry too much about the future. That is my way of living. Everything will happen.

If one door closes, another door will open. I remember reading this quote somewhere “As soon as a child is born, he/she had his food ready in his/her mother’s breast.” So everything will happen for our good. There is no point in worrying too much and lose the precious present.

6) One of my close relative impressed me by one of his habit. He has stopped consuming milk. The reason was very impressive but difficult to follow. He explained how man, for his needs have domesticated animals. By nature a Cow secretes milk after giving birth to their younger ones. Man separates the young one and takes all those milk for his use. Many methods are being followed. I remember in my younger days, the milk man used to bring cows in front of houses to milk their cows and distribute milk. This was in India. I doubt whether this practice still exists. They used to allow the calf to suck the milk and then tie the calf to a nearby pole and allow the cow to lick the calf and he used to start milking the cow. My relative‘s explanation that no mother would like to be separated from their younger ones was very thought provocative. I would like to think a lot on this point.

7) Then we had discussion about recycling. We talked about plastic. I came across a Victorian life book. It seems in those days in Britain, people carried their cutleries wherever they went. Thinking about it now, it is so nice. Instead of using the plastic spoons, forks, I think this is a good idea. I remember many of my older relatives did the same and my mom till today would like to eat in her own plate and carry wherever she goes. Nowadays I feel very bad to use plastic covers, and we keep it a point to carry bags instead of taking their plastic carry bags. In case, if we happen to take it, we are trying our best to recycle them. The thoughtful supermarkets do accept their old plastic carry bags and take them to recycle them. It is high time that all should think very seriously about this. The reason for publishing this in my post is to see how many of the readers of this post, cares about this. I will be glad to know your views.

Note:- The pictures published in this post is of a park which is closer to my work. I walk here in the lunch time and take a break. The atmosphere is fantastic and I used to feel out of the world.