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The bestest friend

 The bestest friend of a daughter is most often her Dad. From the day she is born, he is the only man in her life who would never harm/hurt her, a role seconded by her brothers. Yet, for all children, baby-dom onwards, there is one special relationship which is pure love, best solace and sheer comfort zone. Yes, that is it, the grandparents. 

As for parents, they, too, are first time in to that unknown territory called parenthood. Often, hence, huge expectations they have, both from the brood and their own selves. As for grandparents, they would have withered all possible seasons of that much loved trouble called childhood, their own children's, of nieces', of nephews', of their friends', and so on. 

Not much bothers them as a result. Tempered by age and creaking knees, they are more tolerant, and less hell-bent on discipline. Strict they might have been with their own children. For grandchildren, they are love, affection, kindness, gentleness personified! 

A most beautiful relationship it is. A grandfather, the boss in his office, can stand in a queue for a bus because the grandson loves a bus ride. Why, he can even request the conductor to allow the child to ring the bell as the kiddo loves the 'tring, tring'. 

He can stand for hours near an excavation site because the bundle of joy in his arms loves the mechanical arm going up n down, digging the surface, piling up the soil. This most meaningless activity which even the machine might hate is joy for this sixty-something fellow 'coz the grandson finds it fascinating n fun!

They are generations apart. Yet they share very many activities n interests with the same joy n thrill, the bell in the temple, the running around in the garden, the daily walk to the temple, to the garden, even to the nursery school. Least concerned about who is listening to them, both are busy chatting away to glory with equal enthusiasm.

Both share the same t.v. serials, though often for differing reasons. When the grandparent misses some telecast, the kid loves recreating it in his own way, thus forging/bonding a sense of togetherness which binds them better than fevicol.

If the kid falls down, falls ill, is scolded by the over-driven parents, the go-to person is always the grandparents who are considerate, though their children might consider them (over)indulgent. The eldest and the youngest generations teach each other a lot, too, and both are ready to laugh off the mistakes. 

Soon the grandchildren grow up. Their interests begin to shift gears, leaving that innocent island called childhood far far behind, while the other n better half of this equation keep on (a)waiting their return like a port to which ships no longer sail, like a sidey station where super fast trains never halt, like a beautiful ruin singing paeans to a glory, to an era long lost!

Pratima@As this is the week devoted to grandparents, especially to grannies, hence this paean to a lovely n loving relationship. Sad are the kids whose mothers consciously send them to a creche just to emotionally harass, ill-treat, and thus teach a lesson to the in-laws! Consciously cut off from a treasure trove of togetherness to which there are very few exceptions, such children develop a host of problems later.

Quote of the day:                                   .                    "Grandparents have silver in hair, but sheer gold in their hearts." 

Word of the day: ancestry                                          Ancestry refers to a person’s line of descent, representing the family origin, lineage, and the ancestors (parents, grandparents, etc.) from whom follows the biological descent. It defines one’s heritage, bloodline, and inherited characteristics, often tracing back through multiple generations. 

Special!

 Special is this day. The very nature seems to be celebrating it. Even in the urban area, you can hear the nature's musician heralding it. Yes, it is the koel singing. Why, the fragrance of the mangoes ripening is unmistakable. No smell of the war infested petrol/diesel/gas can obstruct it.

The spring is in the very air! Indeed! Whether, or not, you want to "be Indian, become Indian" the currently hip way which frowns on the January 1 celebrations, Padwa pulls you in to its naturally vibrant magic. 

It is a festival of all the five senses. It satiates all of them to the fill. Look at the sense of taste, for instance. The customary neem chutney, the very first eat of the auspicious day, mixes in every possible taste, bitter, pungent, salty, sweet, sour, and so on. Thus begins the tasteful day  (and the new year on a healthy note) to satiate our taste buds with the Padwa special amrkhand (a unique mix of the shrikhand and the season special mangoes) or juicy gulab jamuns, not to forget the veggie rich pulaw. This beginning of the new year is the ultimate! Proves time and again that never late is no new beginning!

How can you ever forget the sugar gathi that decorate the special pooja full of all that is purest, earnest and fragrant? No wonder, just as the Gregorian New Year matters, this samvatsar special beginning, auspiciously inaugurates the happy feel of a new beginning. 

Pratima@This Padwa, March 19, is also Aai's birth anniversary. Adds a unique affection filled feel to a full day, to be spent as much as possible in the company of my brothers, as per Aai's loving wishes! 

Quote of the day:                                                        "No matter how hard the past, you can always begin anew," says Gautam Budhdha.

Word of the day: Outset                                           Outset refers to the very beginning, the first stage. 

On the Eve of the New Year

 Yes, on March 19 is the Padwa this year. Hence 18/3 is the last day of last year. The lost year, in a way! Why? Well, roughly from March, 2025 to today, there has been a march past of very many unhappy events, right? 

Why repeat them? As it is, the on-going war has vitiated the ambience enough! Why add to it a few more sighs, right? Instead, let us list a few positivities possibly!

Yesterday, for instance, I heard the Chief Minister say that the Agri Uni is experimenting on, and managed to create and test,  seeds that can withstand the crazy climate changes in the era of environmental deterioration the world over. 

Similarly, there was this news that the Pune MP would host an exhibition of the 'desi', native brand of cows. Of course, despite the hurtful comments below this announcement, it is heartening to know that local animals, local trees are prioritised. In such a change are rooted real answers to environmental stability. 

The 'Flame of the Forest', for instance, is very beautiful. Unlike the native brand of trees, however, it cannot stop soil erosion though. Slowly, the process leads to desertification, which, anyways, huge urbanisation and hence heavy concretisation are hastening! 'Local to global', in brief, need not be a political stance. It is an existential choice.

Like the NCL attempt to create an alternative fuel source. Like the trial to separate the oxygen molecule and create a flame out of water. Such creations could, like the solar energy, lessen our dependence on 'other'     're-souces'! Self-sufficient is indeed independent!

Pratima@March 18 is Papa's birth anniversary. Vinoba Bhave once said, "there are some great souls who never attained the much deserved far n wide fame. They yet are the real stalwarts." Papa indeed was one of such  stupendous souls. Following forever his honest to the core, humane footsteps full of humility is the real tribute to him.

Quote of the day:                                                          "Our history is a living history, that has throbbed, withstood and survived many centuries of sacrifice. Now it comes forward again with strength. The seeds, dormant for such a long time, break out today with some uncertainty, although they germinate in a world that is at present characterized by confusion and uncertainty,” asserts Rigoberta Menchú, a South American Nobel Peace Prize winning activist from Guatemala.

Word of the day: endemic                                       Endemic shows the relevance of the local! Endemic, unlike the world wide pandemic,  means a disease that is always present in a population within a geographic area, typically year-round.

Mercy?!?

 Aruna Shanbaug. One of the most tragic cases in the Indian criminal records. She was a beautiful, committed nurse with an absolutely fit n fine life literally lined up for her. A stupid fool's lurid lust and macabre anger ruined that possibility positively, and forever.

Due to the severe strangulation, she went in to a deep coma from which she never ever woke up. Except for her colleague nurses, all supports vanished in to thin air. She 'lived' in that vegetative state for forty-one years. Pinky Virani, a journalist, wrote not only a book on the injustice thus heaped on her due to a ridiculous fool's cheap behaviour, but Virani also filed a writ for Aruna Shanbaug's right to dignified death. 

In 2011 was passed a landmark judgement allowing passive euthanasia, that is, disconnecting all support systems of a comatose patient, long sustained on life support systems. Aruna was not allowed that dignity though, as Virani was a third party, and had no right to demand such an order.

Yet due to the plea on her behalf, mercy killing became a raging debate resulting in the 'passive euthanasia' right to a dignified death of a comatose patient on life support systems for a very long period.

Active euthanasia, in the form of a lethal injection, is still not legally valid in India. A living will which expresses the legal desire to end one's life is doubtful and debatable even today. 

Some small mercy indeed! Let me explain why I think so. During my Ph. D. days, I freelanced with 'The New Indian Express' initially, later followed by the 'Newstime' of the 'Eenadu' group, while writing intermittently for 'The Hindu' and a portal. I wrote an extensive article in the NIE on this theme. 

Both the legal and the medical fraternities whom I interviewed for this article  agreed with me that in an India, bursting at the seams, the elderly abuse would be terrible if such a legality were to exist, just like the 'living will' notion might.

My argument was also that women would be the target of this law, especially if 'will'ful, or otherwise, property was the terrible temptation. Old, ignorant, illiterate persons, especially women, would thus be at the receiving end, if legally the innocent ' right' were allowed en masse. None can predict how quasi-religious groups would at such times pressurise under the spiritual garb!

Right now, passive euthanasia is allowed, but only under the strict observation of the court. Recently, the issue yet again came to limelight, despite the war in the Middle East, due to the Harshit Rana case. He, too, was in a vegetative state, a comatose case for more than a decade.

Sad to even read the parents' anguish. The tearful family's final farewell to him at the AIMS doorstep where passive euthanasia would be administered belies their dedicated care of him for more than a decade. A near and dear one's death is never merely dry legality. It is a maelstrom that shakes the roots of existence.  May none thus suffer!

Pratima@ The worst nightmare on this earth is parents having to suffer their child's demise. Every death is terrible. Yet a parent having to suffer that terrible loss is impossible even to imagine. Hope stupid fools committing suicide due to flimsy reasons would understand that. Much worse is the obsession with some online game such as 'pubg', or whatever! Internet gaming, like every other obsession, is a horror which must not be allowed to claim young lives, and to heap horrible harm on families!

Targetting Talent

 From within the Bollywood music industry come two deeply disappointing news items. Both deal with dissatisfaction with the status quo. Arijit Singh has decided to distance himself from the industry. 

The reason is the terrible petty politicking which he has hinted at. When substandard people are promoted due to their proximity to the powerful, the creative souls sure suffer suffocation, as the subterrenean message is loud and clear; namely, "a substitute is available! Who cares for so-called standards/quality?" 

Shreya Ghoshal is the other name who, too, refuses to lip-sync on stage. Nothing can be more offensive to a talented person, when/if targeted technologically. Most often, technology is mere repetition, especially in India. Most of the Indian software industry, too, for instance, is mere application, not creation, right?

Being able to use a software needs no brains. If the flowchart is available, with a little regular practice, anyone is fluent at technology, sans the "t" of the talent. Why, babies manage bots and apps these days! Why use technology to glorify the sub-standard? That is the question!

Incidentally, if such, such are the conditions in the 'industry' called popular music, imagine the plight of the talented, without the PR and/or connections, in the classical music ambit! As it is, so limited is the audience here that established artists prefer playing to the gallery! 

To get a stage to perform on is tough without the purse strings being loose or without being a pawn in the power games behind the dazzle. Imagine in such a scenario the plight of the committed artist in the later stage of his/her life, given the ageism horribly rampant in the midst of our society.

Is the social media a solution? 'Yes and no, may be', 'oui et non, peut être', as the Frenchies put it. The audience here is shallow, too; prefers, hence, dazzle, while being fickle, as fingers flit faithlessly past many videos n messages, right? 

Solution, if any? Slowly but surely build from scratch, if necessary, a caring clout. Use it to sustain self and the others equally talented in need of a break. Sustain soulful survival, in brief!

Pratima@ Targetted, talent always finds worthy solutions, without cheap compromises. Adaptation to circumstances, intelligently but sensitively, is the solution, right?

Quote of the day:                                                       "When you appreciate talent, you inspire excellence." Anonymous.

Word of the day: Indefatigable.                              Indefatigable indicates someone who is untiring, relentless, and persists in tasks without getting discouraged, characterized by constant effort and total dedication. 

A unique day

 March 15 is indeed a unique day. On this special day, the consumer is supposedly the king, and not merely in advertisements. Why so? That is because, in India, March 15 is the Consumer Rights Day. 

For me, this day holds a few special memories. During my Ph.D days, i was a regular freelancer with the "Newstime", a newspaper in English of the Eenadu group. Every Wednesday, for the Features' Desk, I used to write an article about various aspects of consumers' rights. These articles were appreciated because they reflected the core meaning of journalism; namely, the public welfare.

In this series, I wrote two articles on mini gas stoves, a unique item in the Hyderabad market, obviously sold 'informally', and while hoodwinking the authorities. The stoves themselves were of inferior quality. Much worse was the fact that the tanks of these contraptions were illegally filled. 

The operation obviously was highly dangerous as involved were underhand dealings of gas theft in extremely dicey conditions. Often the procedure led to explosions and, hence, to serious wounds. Neither was it safe at the user's end. I myself had burns because the knob was not stable, and, as a result,  the piping hot oil fell on my feet, etc. 

There was no option for householders though. However much one tried, gas connection and proper cylinders were just not available, either at the right cost or during a reasonable duration. Obviously involved was huge corruption. 

My article opened up all these issues. As per the qualitative mode of research, I interviewed many consumers, discussed possible alternatives with them. The shopkeepers, of course, chose to keep mum, while the government officials were not forthcoming with answers.

A similar context, scarcity of gas cylinders, is apparently emerging right now, given the Gulf War. Hopefully, the government and its agencies/officers would handle the combustible issue with caution and sensitivity.

Pratima@Missing then were the umpteen fun memes, et al, with which the WhatsApp is currently flooded; in fact, is bursting to seams.                                                                                 Aai-Papa both believed in supporting the concept. So were bought the shares of  Grahak Peth, a chain committed to consumer rights. I have continued the practice. I have, moreover, invested in the Grahak Perh FD scheme, a kind of win-win option, both for the Grahak Perh and the consumer. 

Quote of the day:                                                          "Customers are the most important visitor on our premises... they are not an interruption in our work. They are the purpose of it," argued Mahatma Gandhi.

Word of the day: business ethics .                          These practices go beyond legal requirements to build trust, maintain a positive reputation, and ensure sustainable, long-term success with all the stakeholders. 

The Diamond Day: March 14

Yes, currently the liquids hidden deep down  the earth, and dredged for dirty monies, are the 'tally' of the town, nay, of the entire world. Petrol/diesel might be considered the liquid gold. Yet more precious are diamonds mined, though so rarely that artificially it is preferred to make them in laboratories. 

It is hence but natural as well as apt to name March 14 the Diamond Day for STEM, the conglomerate currently lording it over on the entire world. Why so? 

To begin with, 14/3 is the "Pi Day". Comedians may consider it kosher to laugh at "sine cos theta", and, how such formulae do not relate to life, beta! Such values matter though. "Pi" is literally the base of many an equation. Its first digits, 14/3, match with the date of the "Pi Day". Hence, the day is also known as the Mathematics Day. 

14/3 is, moreover, the birth anniversary of Albert Einstein, who re-wrote the very discipline of physics, making the entire chronology of scientific enquiry 'relative', be it Aristotle or Newton. Why, the atomic bomb with which the crooked, wicked, 'blast'ed Iran's and North Korea's of the world threaten humanity time and again is in a way rooted in his ideas, though he opposed it most passionately with all his human(e) might!

14/3 is the anniversary, though, unfortunately, of death, of another great scientist who explored the very cosmology, all the while fighting every nano second a deadly disease that crippled him every which way. Yes, I am referring to Stephen Hawking, the illuminating instance of human brilliance, endurance and optimism that possibly could not be defeated, come what may! 

 For STEM, all these three are eternal causes to celebrate. Hence the title of our blog!

Pratima@ Literature, currently the ignored backyard of the STEM celebrating world, too, is most interested in "Pi". The survivor saga entitled "The Life of Pi" (2001) by Yann Mattel is one of my favourite most novels. Cine enthusiasts love its 2012 celluloid version  by Ang Lee. 

Quote of the day:                                                          "Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come," argues Victor Hugo. 

Word of the day: Indefatigable                              Indefatigable is an adjective. It defines people and activities that are tireless, relentless, and persist with energy, despite every possible hurdle. 

Who controls the oil business?

 What a question! Is that your response? The answer is so obvious. Is that what you feel? Well, do wait, please! Think through! As it is, critical thinking is going to dominate the AI controlled future! 

Obviously, it may seem that the main players in this context would be the oil producing countries. Actually, they hardly do! It is a natural produce. They have the cleverly structured, rather well-'oil'ed machinery to dredge it out. Hence the obvious candidates would be the middle-eastern companies, Venezuela, Russia, Canada, the U.S., and so on.

Next comes the question of the distribution of the oil barrels. Hence enters in to the picture the w(e)ary Hormuz Strait. In addition to the usual and/or current warmongers, this narrow sea route is endangered by the pirates and, most importantly, by the militant factions. All these 'actors' want 'agency' (in every sense of this term) in here, because this sea route is a proper milch cow. 

Now this clue should lead you to the real reason behind the oil crisis. Oil tankers, which ferry oil across, are huge. Building them costs lots of money. They carry combustible and precious cargo. Inevitable hence it is that they would be heavily insured. The premium is huge and astronomical is the reimbursement in case of an accident. 

Given this fact, which ship owner would be ready to enter the strait without insurance? And, all of us know insurance companies, right? They have thousand sub-, sub- clauses in extremely fine print which would render impossible the payment of costs covered in case a tanker sinks, whatever be the reason, storms or the super smart pirates et al, right? Hence no insurance company would advise shipping companies to ply their ships via this route, right?

To cut a long story short, the current crisis is more the handiwork of the ever cautious insurance agencies. I read yesterday that all of them form a cluster in London. In brief, London, rather than the Middle East, is the hot spot leading to the current oil crisis!

Pratima@The "f"  word after all! Oh, no, do not run away wild with your dirty imagination. The 'f' word refers to finance which is trans-national, beyond the boundaries imposed by the silly Lilliput nation states. We might talk of post globalization era right now. Yet the TNC/MNC insurance companies and/or the weapon industries, nowhere and yet everywhere, decide the destinies in the post-LPG (no, this abbreviation does not  refer to any oil company. Instead, remember the natty nineties!) scenario!

Quote of the day:                                                      "The consumer is both the culprit and the victim," says Nino Cerrutti. Especially, in the post-LPG world governed by the TNC/MNC finance empires!

The word of the day: finance                                 Finance is the study, science, and management of money, assets, and liabilities, focusing on how individuals, businesses, and governments raise, allocate, and use funds.

AI-abled!

I watched the video of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra being interviewed by Aamir Khan. Intelligent, aware and sensible leader that he is, Devabhau as usual answered in a way that showed his acumen. His answer that the AI would create many more jobs set me thinking. Hence this blog.

Based on a projection made scientifically and objectively, let me first list areas that would have not only theoretical AI coverage, but reveal, moreover, observed AI coverage. 

Following are the fields that have already been dis-abled by the AI. They are finance, computers, legal issues, education, library, all the arts, media and healthcare, especially doctors, including surgeons! 

In its unmistakable ambit are work areas such as administration, architecture and engineering, life and social sciences, healthcare providers such as physiotherapists

Not much affected, however, would be areas such as nursing staff, guards, cooks, chefs, waiters, and staff working in fields such as maintenance/construction/installation and repair/ transportation and agriculture.

A caveat: the present analysis has not taken in to consideration the development in robotics which would affect hugely the professions currently not affected by the AI. 

As things stand right now, it is clear that the AI seems to be gobbling up the white collar jobs typically considered respectable and reliable, while, right now, the blue collar jobs seem untouched. At least till they are not threatened by robotics!

Very interesting is this observation which,  in my opinion, shows why this revolution is vastly different from the earlier versions which in fact strengthened the white collar workers.  No wonder, though! This time round, the confrontation is with intelligence, however much we may dismiss it as artificial, which has already started thinking on its own, despite the minor glitches.

Which jobs would the AI enable? Let me list a few. AI prompt engineers, AI auditors, AI Ethical and Compliance Experts, for instance. These "new collar" jobs require an inter-disciplinary training,  higher order strategic and creative thinking in addition to being both practical and technically aware. Hope the right people are listening to (re)create this (b)rave new world!

Pratima@Un-learning/de-learning and re-learning constantly is going to be the new world order.

Quote of the day:                                                         "Artificial intelligence will reach human levels by around 2029. Follow that out further to, say, 2045, we will have multiplied the intelligence, the human biological machine intelligence of our civilization a billion-fold,” says Ray Kurzweil.

Word of the day: transformative                            This term as in " AI is transformative" describes something that causes a major, often positive, and lasting change in character, form, or function.

Alluring Agnihotra: Explaining a ritual

 Yes, I am born Agnihotri. It is hence a little awkward and quite embarassing that I did not know that March 12 is the World Agnihotra Day. 

Why do I say so? Let me explain a little. To begin with, well, 'Agnihotra' is no longer a Brahminical ritual. Yes, I am a high caste brahmin (highly dangerous admission these days!), and, yes, I do perform Agnihotra every evening as my parents honoured the practice, and it was followed most ritually in my paternal family just a generation away. 

How is the Agnihotra performed ritually? In a copper pyramid-shaped pot, the holy fire is lit, ideally via the Vedic way, with two pieces of holy wooden sticks. In to that holy fire are offered cow dung cakes,  ghee and rice to the chanting of certain Vaidic rucha's. It is mostly performed in the evening, circa the dusk setting.

Now, in a big city becoming a metro, all these steps are not possible. Hence, instead, I burn "Bhimseni kapur", the best and most natural camphor, and chant the related shlokas.

Why call it 'alluring agnihotra'? In a way, it is like performing daily a mini 'holi' with all its spiritual significations . No, I am not being flippant. I sincerely believe that the 'agnihotra' is a way of connecting with the basic principle of the universe.

Why, the Rigveda begins with the praise of the holy fire, the major principle of the cosmic "panch mahabhoota"! Even if one were to look at the notion from the anthropological perspective, the 'caveman' became 'human' only when fire became the focus of lived life. Before fire thus defined/refined life, the nomadic man was no better than a beast.

Now let us look at the practice from within the contemporary context. Currently, pollution of every variety is at its peak. The 'agnihotra' flame, even if it is the camphor variety,  purifies the ambience.

 Traditionally, the holy 'Agnihotra' flame symbolised divine energy. Even if you are sceptical about such a connect, why not look at it as a process of understanding your relation(ship) with the wider universe about which cosmologically as well as astronomically, we are getting to know more by the day? 

Why, we do already know that the sun IS basically a massive sphere of hot plasma, heated to incandescence by nuclear fusion reactions in its core, radiating the energy from its surface mainly as visible light and infrared radiation with a certain per centage of ultraviolet energies. It is the main source of energy for life on the earth.

No, I am neither apologetic about the 'agnihotra' practice. Nor do i consider it an instance of the 'Brahminical', 'manuvadi', superstitious traditionalism! 

My firm faith in science teaches me utmost humility because basically the scientific framework forever tells me that science operates within the paradigms known so far, which can be, and are, re-interpreted anew, and often, thereby rendering any/all earlier concepts redundant superstitions. Aristotle, the father of Western science, has often been so (im)proved, right? And, oh, yes, technology has its own rituals, too, right?

Hence, even if I were to be much mocked for being an Agnihotri, I look at it as a way of spreading positivity in my own small way.  And, of course, I do try to spread it in multiple other ways, too. 

Even at the social level, moreover, these days, performing 'agnihotra' is hardly casteist. On the World 'Agnihotra' day or whenever such group activities are performed on a large scale, at places, I believe, like Akkalkot, everyone participates, beyond casteist considerations. 

In other words, the 'Agnihotra' is not revivalism. Rather it is an alluring way of re-connecting with the larger principles, thereby making the banal metro modes of life slightly conscientious!

Pratima@ In today's post-truth world where everything is merely narrativisation, necessary it is to explicate significations of rituals because, otherwise, interest groups would reduce every praxis as mere mumbo-jumbo.

Quote of the day:                                                         "With the demise of religion, many people are left stranded in a chasm of emptiness and doubt; without rituals to recognize, celebrate, or negotiate the vital thresholds of peoples lives, the key crossings pass by, undistinguished from the mundane, everyday rituals of life. If we approach our decisive thresholds with reverence and attention, the crossing will bring us more than we could have ever hoped for," says John O’Donohue.

Word of the day: ritual                                             A ritual is defined as a structured, repeated series of actions or words, often holding symbolic, religious, or social significance. These ceremonies or habits connect individuals/families/communities to traditions, larger wholes, or personal, meaningful practices. Examples include prayers, weddings, even daily morning coffee/tea routines, or specific cultural ceremonies like the Japanese/Indian bowing or lighting lamps or making of tea/coffee to modes of cooking. 

Is forgiveness the right way today?

  Recently was celebrated Eknath Shashthi which pays a tribute to the great Marathi saint, Sant Eknath. The great soul is well-known for his ability to forgive. 

Once, for instance, he had completed all his ablutions in the Godavari, performed his puja, the morning prayers, to the Sun God, and was returning home when a member of the peaceful community spat on him knowingly. 

Sant Eknath forgave him, and calmly replied, "Good, it gives me one more chance to bathe in the holy waters of Godavari." The crooked villain repeated this meanness hundred times. Sant Eknath's reaction did not change. Finally, the villain was tired of his mischief! Thus the forever forgiving Sant Eknath was known as "Shanti Bramh", that is, Tranquility and Serenity Incarnate.

I respect the great soul hugely. In fact, I have a special liking for him as he is supposed to be the reincarnation of Sant Dnyandev. Yet I wonder if that kind of forgiveness is the right strategy currently!

Such are the times now that crooks consider quiet ignoring of their misdeeds as weakness. It gives such weird stupido's the feel that they can go on with their cheap activities. 

Sure the way of teaching such crooks a proper lesson has to be the just and the legal way. Yet they MUST be brought to book. No use forgetting or forgiving them or their cohorts! They do NOT deserve it, and must be provided what they abundantly require!

Pratima@Goodness cannot be weakness. The brutes must be shown the strength of goodness. 

Quote of the day:                                                       "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear," argues Ambrose Redmoon. 

Word of the day: fortitude                                       Fortitude is the strength of mind that enables a person to encounter or bear pain or adversity with courage 

Why the(y) gossip?

 Does it surprise you? To me, it surely does! Yes, who, and why, can spare the time, energy and (non-)sense to go on gossiping about others?

 But, yes, surely there would be, nay, are neighbours who have your complete itinerary of each day. They begin with, When did you wake up? Why did you wake up late? Why did you stay up late? Are you alive at all, to begin with? If you are dead, how to get the body out? No, you sneezed. Okay, alive! How many times? Farted, shat, pissed, and so on, and so on? 

What did you cook? What were you saying to the veggie vendor? Ah, yes, we were trying to listen to what was transpiring between you and the kachrewali, which actually is nothing but an innocent exchange about where to put the 'wet dustbin' tomorrow morning as you would be in a tearing hurry, given the exam duties!

Do not you think that such people could be asked a few counter questions? Let us look at at a few examples, right? How do you know that I slept late? What were you doing keeping awake so late, for instance? As for the physical activities mentioned, we really cannot, right? Yes, for one thing, we are too decent to mention such unmentionables. For yet another thing, the gossips are using their mouths to perform these activities! Metaphorically, of course!

Honestly, by now, I am cent per cent certain, someone pays such creeps to keep an eye on the absolutely innocent life I lead. Well, see, how helpful I always am! The good for nothing's sitting at home for ages doing nothing are thus getting some tax free income, right?

Basically though, seriously I feel that they are completely unfulfilled, totally incomplete in their own lives. They have hence such curious poking of nefarious noses in others' lives. Their marriages, for instance, happen/exist/continue/ are functional at all because of sheer convenience. Such dissatisfied souls have to hence worry about others' romance as it is totally absent, and forever, in their own lives!

Poor creeps! Even the Lord cannot forgive them, because they know perfectly well what they are doing!

Pratima@ It is a certain truth universally accepted that you hunger for what you lack! See, the poor baby monkey, Punch! Absolutely lacks love. Hence searches for it outside. Poor thing! Unlike gossips, it is too young to know that all that is good, within resides!

Quote of the day:                                                         Gossip is the business of loafers whose empty vacant lives give them time galore to spread vicious nonsense believed by idiots!

Word of the day: smear campaign                      Smear campaign refers to a conscious planning of  discrediting someone by whispering false accusations.

We, men, make history!

  She was fourteen. Her poor family married her off to a fifty-two year old man. She hid herself in the cow shed during the wedding night, and, next morning, she began her walk towards freedom, across a mountain, on lonely roads, with next to nothing to support her. Yet, yes, she made it! 

This girl was thirteen when her drunkard of a father almost sold her off, to an extremely abusive man of his age, who beat the kid black n blue, made her a mother at fourteen. One fine morning, she took off with her baby, and oh, yes, she, too, made something of herself. 

What do you think? Whose stories am I telling ? Where could they have taken place? Oh, you think that I am narrating the plight of some "Nakushi" from the hinterlands of India!?!

You certainly need a reality check. The first is the sad saga of Sara Hutchins from Kentucky, America who braved the Appalachian Range, bitter cold and a hundred and eighty kilometres long walk in winter to make a life for herself!  The second example, incidentally, is from America, too. 

In the meanwhile, meet this granma in her mid sixties. Her marriage made her in to a maid, and a baby making machine. At sixty-seven, this mother of eleven chose to walk out to make thus something of herself. 

In other words, be it Dr. Rakhma Bai or a "nakushi", be it India or be it the U S., be it the late nineteenth century or the  early to late twentieth century, simple women who are not a symbolic somebody's somebody (like a daughter/sister/wife of a powerful/famous man) braved all that is bad in patriarchy to make something of themselves, and on their own terms and conditions. 

Hence the need to celebrate March 8! Unfortunately, in the echo chambers that most discourses currently are, many would be busy berating "Brahminical"  patriarchy or Manusmriti (about) which hopefully they would have read! 

At the other end of this kline, there are women who use this opportunity, too, to splurge, to shop, to roam, the maids of the market that they are! Neither do their daughters, who never had to struggle in any way, had all the rights without any responsibilities, understand the relevance of the day beyond fashion and feste!

Actually, with the advent of the AI, women would be rendered more vulnerable both in the public sphere and in the private space. As the AI guzzles up jobs, women would yet again be invisible in multiple ways in the public sphere, while, individually, given the AI  rendered identity thefts, and ingenious harassments, they would suffer still more! But who cares? The much celebrated  demographic dividend is busy with fashion, accessories, and "chill", while 'ab-using' men!

Time passes, in a linear fashion, at times, arrives cyclically. Yet, despite all possible hurdles, often consciously craftily caused, we, men, make our stories which have lovely morals! Long live Match 8 in all its meaning-full avataars!

Pratima@ March 8 is not a decorative day. It is an occasion to meet one's own self, yet again and in multiple ways!

Quote  as well as words of the day:            Asserts Maya Angelou:                                              "As I walk through frozen sands/Through the flames of burning lands/My feet are torn, they're torn to strands/I will not thirst

As I cross the raging sea/Waves are crashing over me/They drag me down, they drag me down/I will not drown

They'll know my name/After the storms are passing through/They'll know my name

When they've forgotten all about you/They'll know my name

They're calling out, they're calling out/ They're calling out, they're calling out my name

And I shall rise, oh well I shall rise/Again and again/I shall rise, oh well I shall rise/Again and again

And I shall rise, oh well I shall rise

Again and again.

I shall rise, oh well I shall rise

Again and again

I shall rise, oh well I shall rise

Again and again

I shall rise, oh well I shall rise

Again and again"

Writing n painting: A rough draft

Do two different arts relate to each other? Sure they do. Why, there are any number of literary texts that deal directly with paintings, while there are many more portraits of authors. Why, the inviting cover page itself can be a painting!  While it is easier to explore the relationship between  music and literature, the bond between painting and literature could be explored a little more, may be! 

Let us begin with the most banal observation. Both painting and writing need paper! Of course, these days both have promoted themselves to the newer canvas called the computer/mobile screen, not to mention the ready-made mode imposed on both by the  new fangled AI schema, right? 

Yet NOTHING like the paper itself, inviting you to de-sign a new universe out of a plain canvas, whether it be writing or painting, right? Next, both require the background to add a unique texture. While writing quotes it with words, painting coats it with mostly the base white or black. 

Both begin with a rough sketch. Yet often the strokes, the patterns, the images, the symbols that thus emerge create their own story, and most colourfully. 

Often they say that a few lines of a painting can present what hundreds of lines and thousands of words may not. Let me disagree completely. Let me give you an example to prove my point. Look at that famous painting "Mona Lisa." 

Many say that despite its world wide fame, an actual look at it in the Louvre is almost disappointing, especially because the small little frame is almost dwarfed by the grandeur of the other masterpieces.

Let an author describe it though, even without having seen it in person in that Parisian museum. Indeed, the painting would not only come alive. Many more meanings, may be, not even intended by the artist, would make even Mona Lisa smile, and openly! In brief, long live writing as it enriches existence itself!

Pratima@ Writing is not merely creative. It, moreover, is analytical by nature. No wonder, unlike other arts, it can critique all these arts, and itself. A mode of be(com)ing, in short!

Quote of the day:                                                      Has to be by who else but Shakespeare! The quote is rather well-known but most apt in this context. Asserts the author of authors,             "The poet's eye,/in a fine frenzy rolling,/   doth glance from heaven to Earth,/from Earth to heaven;/and as imagination bodies forth/ the forms of things unknown,/ the poet's pen turns them to shape,/ and gives to airy nothing/ a local habitation and a name." 

Word of the day: spontaneous                              Spontaneous means performed or occurring as a result of a sudden impulse or inclination and without premeditation or external stimulus.                       That is what writing alone can be! Let there be an author, and miracles happen, and out of nowhere!

 

The War

 The Middle East is on fire yet again, as it has been since the October 7 Hamas attack. All sorts of causes beginning with the Wahabi history to the ancient Crusades between Christians and Muslims have been quoted. 

Is it the case that the war is between the Sunni's and the Shia's who appear to be supporting the terrorists? Very many are the (conspiracy) theories ranging from crude oil to cruder Epstein files, and all are equally true, not to forget the much oppressed Iranians' fate!

It is quite obvious, however, that the weapons industry, what with weapons like cluster bombs being used as if it were a festival or a party, must be laughing its way to bank accounts overflowing with the mollah, right?

At times, I do feel that even at the (inter)national level, it is just better to plain ignore the silly screaming of rabid fools replete with nuisance value. Honestly, it saves you a lot of headache, and the foolish creeps completely expose themselves, anyway!

This morning, for example, in our lane, bang beyond our fence, some crazy hoodlums were screaming their brainless nonsense for hours on end. No use asking them to keep quiet because such weirdos are absolutely aware of their "democratic" rights, however much may they constantly trample others' peace because of their brainless chatter!

Most probably, those stooges were paid to thus yak away. So they absolutely appeared. No knowing if they belonged to the "peaceful" community as, every Friday, at the recently built dargah/mosque tops two hundred feet behind my home, there is a huge rush of the faithful who terribly inconvenience by parking their vehicles right opposite the gate! 

If I were to get in to the Israel mode and question those creeps, how to prove that they were paid to thus bother? One needs huge contacts in the upper echelons of the police and/or administration to get sick sadists behind bars, where they belong beyond doubt!

If one does not reap such benefits, what does a law abiding citizen leading a good clean life do? Follow, I suppose, the advice by Winston Churchil; namely, ''Never wrestle with a pig. You get mired in the gutter, dirty and slushy. The pig anyways loves it"!

Wish Israel and America were equally prudent n wise! The world would have been spared a huge n brutal spectacle because the crooks are like the tail of a piglet. Try anything, it would never straighten. Crooked never change, rather like the spots on the skin of a swine. Creeps they were, cheap they will continue to be!

Pratima@ Hoodlums, local or (inter)national, need to be taught a lesson, but without getting down to the level of their viciousness. Otherwise, who is afraid of downright ignoble ignoramus?

Quote of the day:                                                       "If you do not learn lessons at the right time, life will teach you the same lessons at the wrong time, and in the worst way." 

Word of the day: offender                                       An offender, most often such criminals are repeat offenders, is a person who causes problems, does something surely wrong, commits an illegal act.

If the bottle be new, why the old wine?

 Yesterday, on a group was shared a video about robots. You bet, tough it was to believe that they were robots. They were absolutely life like. Their skin looked soft as a petal. Their faces were fabulous and youthful. Their waists slim n trim, in great shape were their bodies. 

They could perform very many activities, too. They exchanged pleasantries, they hugged n kissed, they spoke faultless English, they exercised! Nattily dressed they were. The tag line was, "within five years, one of these could out-perform you as your companion." 

So far so good! Then why such a title to/for our blog? Well, their surface look was feminine, and they were treated as female! They were effective, undoubtedly. They were not presented as efficient though! 

Made by men, male fantasies they were essentially. All of them were sexy. They were dressed provocatively. To open them up, to check some robotic functions, all the switches were near their breasts or below the belt!

In other words, be it the rock/stone (st)age or the robotic age, women are eye candy. Who cares about their intelligence, their minds or their souls? In the most vulgar way, stupidly they are assigned one and only one function in the male imaging. And such beasts are called men!

Pratima@Men, who have vulgar thoughts/words about women, and reflect these in their eyes and 'activities', should never forget that they were born of a woman, and are so-called fathers to daughters! Their deeds would sure sooner be reciprocated on to their daughters, and hundred-fold! That is the law of nature!

Quote of the day:                                                        "Lust is satanic " Anonymous but universal!

Word of the day: gender                                         Gender refers to identities with reference to social and cultural considerations rather than biological ones.

Wild Life

 To most, especially if they belong to the currently potent Gen Z, or the counter-culture gang of the sixties, wild life might mean the "vida loca", the "high" life in every sense of the term, right? 

To me, too, wild life has a huge appeal. For me, however, it refers to the ferocious forests where the footprints belong to  majestic lions, terror-fic tigers,  intelligent elephants, elusive snow leopards, bears of all types, sprinting deer and zippy hares n rabbits running races with the wind on ancient trails known only to gnarled trees and twisting creepers. 

Yes, forests of all types, however much mankind might manage to destroy them, flourish and in all their truly wild beauty. Wild life, too, survives there, living proof of the adaptability beyond all possible Darwin's. Hence the importance of the World Wild Life Day. 

Want proof? Yes, the jungle safaris! The lions' mesmerizing yet amused look captures the camera, rather than the other way round! Or the tigers with their famous "fearful symmetry"! Trapped they might feel by the gypsies on both sides, overloaded with the descendants of monkeys chattering, shrieking, and what not. Yet they quietly twist their way out.

My brother, Sanju, sent his son, nine year old Kunal, for a children's camp in a tiger reserve. Kunal came back with fabulous photos. How? "Oh, they are coolly moving about," was the kid's response!

Thus, in brief, big cats to smallest animals have learnt to adapt. Even when human beings have encroached their habitat, patiently and yet proudly they continue to lead their natural ways. 

Beastly indeed we are. Poaching, international trade in animal parts, constant encroachment in to and destruction of deep forests, felling of trees in the name of development, wild life tourism, scarce funds, many are causes affecting the wild life.

Undoubtedly heart warming are the efforts at conservation, too. Though I do not exactly appreciate throwing food at them as if they were strays in a dirty lane, the Kevinson's of the animal world-mankind interface prove how responsive they are, and responsibly!

Luckily, circuses cannot ill-treat them any longer. Imaginative movies like "The Lion King" romanticise them almost in an anthropomorphic way.  "Vantara" type of rescue and rehabilitation centers proliferate, despite the controversies. In other words, the wild jungles called metros and cities have  taught human being to respect forests, wild life and the tribes co-habiting with them!

Pratima@Yes, wild life in all its forms is visually appealing. I find the sounds and silences of the wild life fascinating, too. The rustle of the leaves, the babble of the brooks, the swish n whoosh of the wind, the very many calls of animals "talking" to each other, and the unique profound silence, the soundscape is simply fabulous. Long live wild life, however many species might have been rendered extinct unfortunately. 

Quote of the day:                                                         "Wild animals never kill for sport, " says J.A.Froude. Unlike so-called human beings!

Word of the day: savage                                            Savage refers to an animal (or force of nature) fierce, violent, ferocious and uncontrolled. Jean-Jacques Rousseau had an interesting take on the "savage" though. More about it some other time. 

Respecting Authors!

 These days, does anybody write? Why, most people prefer to orally send even their WhatsApp messages. Typing a message is considered either bothersome or boring! No, it is not merely due to the human tendency to laze around. 

Why, every recent most technology, be it the simple WhatsApp or the latest ChatGPT version or some such recent most, and never nascent, AI avataar, it assures you that you have to speak the message, and it would get converted in to the written form, if you so wish at all! 

Dictators hence most people are! Do remember that such habits enter the human psyche, and start twisting it accordingly.  When you speak, for instance, you hardly think. Rather you shoot ( n scoot!)

 When you write, irresponsible you are not allowed to be. You tend to think through. Automatically you get to to correct yourself. Such a self-check, both literally and metaphorically, is absent when you choose to speak! 

If this is the condition of the daily, banal exchanges which, moreover, are invaded by that modern hieroglyphic called the emojis, imagine the condition of any serious writing.

 As it is, most readers (a quite rare tribe, given the yen for browsing!) anyways read the DIY, the "useful" kind of books. Given the information explosion, coupled with the summarising, re-presenting, editing technologies, forget students, even most lecturers refuse to touch serious tomes reference material with a barge pole! .

In such a scenario, how about literature? Well, given the curtailed attention span,  everyone explores not even short stories, well, even editors glorify, "flash fiction"! May be, payment might be the consideration, too, given the tough times most publication houses face! These two/three hundred words, moreover, might be machine made!

If such such are the times, great need there is to respect authors who are still ready to spend their time, intellectual energy and innate creativity to craft a book, be it literary or be it on a knowledge-able(d) reference material types. Hence the relevance of March 3, the international writers day instituted by the international P.E.N. Association! The 3/3 is indeed auspicious!

Pratima@Authors, whether they attempt discursive, journalistic or creative writing, are using both intellectual and imaginative resources to creatively craft an alternative world through words. Thus authors open up the existing world, too. Hence are inequalities, inequities, injustices lesson-ed n lessen-ed! Long live authors! The writerly space is indeed sacrosanct!

Quote of the day:                                                         Says Susan Sontang, "A writer, I think, is someone who pays attention to the world." 

Expression of the day: attention deficit                  Attention deficit refers to inattention and not being able to keep focus which may result in impulsive hyper activity, especially among children.

Holi

  In English, there is this expression, "Holy of the holies." In the Indian context, too, Holi is indeed the holiest! And for a number of reasons! Shall we analyse a few? 

Let us begin with the mythological. As per the Bhakt Prahlad myth, Holika is weaponised by the daitya/demon king, Hiranyakashyapu, to get rid of his son, Prahlad, who loves, worships, idolises Vishnu. The spiritual meaning of the festival hence would be Holi as the ego which can burn off a devotee who is pushed in to that fire due to evil tendencies such as anger, desire, greed, hate, gloom, et al. 

Yet another way to look at Holi would be agrarian. Most all festivals are literally rooted in the fields and the soil, as our economy has essentially been agrarian. Seasonally, around this time, the kharip and rabbi rotations would be over. Before the next cycle begins, the fields must lie fallow. 

If the land were to be thus roasted a little before the fiery summer season begins, may be, the yield in the next crop cycle would be better. Hence this festival which, moreover, as the offerings to the holy fire involved would prove, taught gratitude to nature 

Yet another reason could be that the season would be shifting around this time. Heat would start chasing cold. Hence the splashing of water and colours, right?

 Earlier, moreover, the sexes could not mingle openly in the public space. Hence the need for letting go of all the bottled up passions, desires, fancies, tensions through the splashing of colours and letting loose of all inhibitions on this occasion of dhooli vandan/rang panchami, the sister festival of holika dahan.

In brief, the festival suggests burning up, finishing, letting go of all that is negative so that joy, happiness, creativity would yet again bloom!

Pratima@For me, my brothers and her maternal family, the festival has a very personal feel. Aai was born on the Holi day. Like the holy Holi fire, she, too, was good at burning up all sorts of negativities. She hardly held grudges, for instance, however much she was  provoked. Nor was she, a happy-go-lucky person,  forever gloomy. 

Quote of the day:                                                         Says the Indian Express, "May God gift you all the colours of life, colours of joy, colours of happiness, colours of friendship, colours of love, and all the other colours you want to paint your life with." 

Word of the day: gloom                                            Gloom means a physical state of darkness, dimness, or obscurity, but often it refers to the psychological feeling of deep sadness, melancholy, or depression, often accompanied by a lack of hope, creating a somber mood or atmosphere,  winter feel before the summer sets in.

What a day!

 Actually, I had thought of writing a blog on the possibility of  the world being in the throes of the third world war, what with almost the whole of the Middle East 'weaponizing' (literally!) against each other, that, too, in the Holy Month. 

Well, not only has Baba Venga predicted it, but M/S Trump seems hell-bent on actualising it, and in the partnership of  Netanyahu and Associates. Afganistan, moreover, is teaching the next door neighbour some real tough lessons, too. 

What a world we are living in! This feel becomes real strong when we remember the day today. Yes, today is the "Zero Discrimination Day"! A noble idea indeed! True, inclusion is ideal. Yes, prejudice of any sort is far more horrible than even pride. 

Yet something seems to be corroding this idea, gnawing at its roots. While breaking down barriers, while building a society that must enjoy the different, why is the so-called normal (heavy duty word actually, given the 'norm' involved in it!) being badly tarnished? 

To make your line longer, you do not have to cut or wipe out someone else's line, just because the person happens to be, oh, yes, 'different' from you, your socio-economic background, your political opinions! That precisely, however, is happening right now in the public sphere as well as in private spaces today.

Okay, a few examples to prove the point! A senior government officer in Madhya Pradesh openly states that Brahmin girls be 'available'. What a statement to make against women, whatever be their caste! It was later clarified that he apparently wants Brahmin brides. How about the "inclusion" of  the girls' choice? Such diversity must matter, too! 

Every alternate day, there is a threat to finish off Brahmins, to send them to Eurasia, and the so-called 'intellectuals', who beat themselves blue in the name of all possible inclusions, never dare to utter a single word against such gross injustice!

In the private space, too, being "bindaas" is much celebrated. It is the done thing to be as badass as is possible. That is okay, too. But just as you have the choice/right to laze around doing nothing for decades, to be drowned deep in debt while maintaining a hip lifestyle, to wear revealing clothes, to drink, to smoke cigarettes or weed, to sleep around, the society has to be "inclusive" enough to honour those who want to be "different" from such set patterns. Your wokist 'norm'al cannot decide/define others', just because they refuse  to abide by your so-called 'modern' lifestyle!  The moment we call out such hypocritical chicanery, the day would truly honour inclusion and difference!

Pratima@ Such an ideological war hidden behind gooey words and slippery stances, however convenient, is the real threat to all sorts of inclusion and diversity!

 Quote of the day:                                                      "Every individual has a place to fill in the world, and is important in some respect, whether he chooses to be so or not," asserts Nathaniel Hawthorne. 

Word of the day: complacency                               Complacency means a feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself.