Blessed

 The Olympics (and its shenanigans in India) are just over. Now for four years, most Olympic medal winners would be in the 'out of sight, out of mind' phase. In such a scenario, how/when does a super-achiever like Manu Bhaker 'feel blessed'? 

Let me give you two examples that should prove/explain the feel of elation. Recently she met Sachin Tendulkar. That made her very happy. I suppose, this idol/ideal worship is truly touching because it proves the hard/sincere/genuine work, commitment, devotion involved in superior achievements.

The second one would be the happy, warm and elegant reception she received in a five star hotel. There were monogrammed pillows to towels for her. She thanked the establishment for such a warm welcome most politely and cordially. 

Both, the appreciation by the establishment as representatives of spectators/audience and her humility and amicability as an achiever, are worth emulation. If a sincere person is not appreciated for her genuine contribution, it demeans those who behave thus. Equally needed is the humbleness by the achievers.

Surely what is not needed is unnecessarily dragging an achiever in to any petty politicking or needling the person unnecessarily about her private life. No wonder, she walked out of a 'shooting range' of an interview when she was questioned about the Vinesh issue or her relationship with Neeraj Chopra!

Pratima@ Some people would say that as a woman athlete, she must take a stand. Is it always necessary to throw a stone in murky waters? Do not individuals have any rights to choose their fights? To guard their privacy?

THE Bestie

 Recently was celebrated one of the best days. Can you guess which one? Yes, you nailed it. I am referring to the recently celebrated International Dog Day. 

Well, time was when 'dog's life' would refer to a tough, difficult, nay, impossible life. Now,the term would often refer to the most comfy, cushy, relaxed life. And why not indeed? Dogs do deserve a good life.

Why? 'Coz in a wicked world full of self-obsessed entities, dogs are the only islands full of all that is selfless love and genuine devotion. Very, very few human beings can match that kind of 'giving' without expecting much in reward except kindness and love.

In the world of pets, cats are the best example of self-obsessions, plural intended, consciously used. A cat owns your house, and treats you as her slave. A dog, on the contrary, loves you and yours, be it household or people.

The wild joy a dog feels at your sight can be the best balm to a wounded soul. Best solace that can cure any and every hurt indeed! For your dog, do not give him any fancy food, but do spare for him at least some ten minutes of daily togetherness. Believe me, there IS a gentle smile of pure affection on the dog's visage which, may be, is one of the best blessings you may ever get.

His anxiety of separation when he guesses that you are about to leave is palpable. His unhappiness IS writ large over his expressive face. How many people notice you, your gestures, your movements, or so keenly respond to you? Very FEW, right? So enjoy that sunshine of a blessed feel as long as it lasts 

Pratima@ Best wishes to THE Bestie who understands and responds to every feel and each mood of yours! A dog is god, read the reverse way.

Gem of purest ray serene

 It is a huge paradox that in his hugely famous "Elegy written in a country churchyard" from which the title of our blog is taken, Thomas Gray presents and praises most lyrically the most unsung, the least famous but genuine contributors to the world's welfare. Often does this happen. In any organisation to any huge political, social or cultural movement, there are people who manage mountainous measures of work, but are never celebrated, forget even enough recognised!

Such selfless people carry on the  humane societies on their unsung shoulders. Many such were part of the Freedom Struggle. Today let us discuss an interesting person, Veerchand Gandhi, not directly part of the Independence Movement, yet he contributed hugely to the idea of India.

We are soon going to celebrate the anniversary of Swami Vivekananda's speech at the Religious Conclave. Present in the very same Chicago Congress was Veerchand Gandhi. He represented the Jain consciousness, and really effectively.

His anecdote-rich speech was so brilliant that he was made to stay back in the U. S. to attend many more, though smaller, such conclaves. He contributed to the betterment of the oppressed women as well. Very few know him though, forget getting to know/appreciate his genuine contribution. Here is my sincere homage to the unsung hero!

Pratima@ I got to read about this Gandhiji on a wapp group. Rare example indeed of the social media actually being useful!

Meaningful Meal

 For most people, Shrawan Vadya Navami is far more important. Why? Well, that is the day of fun-n-frolic.  Yes, it is the 'dahi handi' day, a day both the govinda's and the celebrities love a lot. The govinda's like it because on this day, they can perform, enact, literally live their skill of forming a human pyramid.

The celebrities like it because they manage to get the 'supari', which is nothing but a generously paid-for invite for such events. How did this celebration of "dahi handi" begin? 

The answer lies in Kanhaiya's childhood. At Nanda's 'gokul', the lovably naughty kid would form such a pyramid with his friends to break open the earthen pots tied up, quite high for a child otherwise. Literally would there be a sheer shower of milk, buttermilk, butter and ghee that Yashoda Maiya and all the other gopi's would keep ready for sale in the local market.

The lovely little toddler thus showered with  the milk products would look so cute that all these tasty offences would be immediately forgiven to this culprit. Even when he grew up and became a cowherd, each of his lunches would be with his companions. Sharing and caring, the theme of his existence ever since childhood, thus got highlighted. Hence the "dahi handi" to commemorate this togetherness.

As Aai was from Pandharpur, we would prepare 'gopal kala' for breakfast, as it is the practice there. Believe me, it is unbelievably tasty, absolutely yummy, what with the perfect sizzle of the asafoedita and cumin seeds atop the tangy curd soaked puffed rice with a perfect mix of salt and sugar, and garnished with ginger and finely chopped coriander leaves.

Beyond such surfeit of the taste buds, what does the ritual mean? In my opinion, Krishna, an organic leader emerging from within the common people, understood the need for shared bonds with his community. So he lived with them, ate with them without much ado for his status as Nanda's son. In brief, he preached and practised a happy bonhomie, a joyous togetherness with his people. Hence the title of this blog!

Pratima@Every year the 'dahi handi' gets tied up higher and higher by the organiser cum the local leader who would thus gain fame and name. But does anyone care for the safety of the players who perform these stunts? Are they granted any help in case there is an unfortunate accident? Are they health insured?

 Well, in Spain, this adventure sports is a hot favourite. But the performers wear helmets during the actual show, and they are health insured as well.  In the India today, such precautions would truly make the traditional togetherness in to the most  meaningful meal.

Pure Joy

 Pure joy, unalloyed, unambiguous, unextinguished. Yes, that pure joy is Shri Krishna. Why do these adjectives qualifying the pure joy matter? 'Coz, throughout his life, Krishna had very few reasons to be happy, and yet none could take away his joy.

That is why Krishna is special. Compare him with Shri Rama. Shri Rama is never diplomatic. He is all that is sheer integrity, pure idealism, inalienable conscientiousness. Shri Krishna, on the other hand, would not mind confronting a Karna with "where was your Dharma then?" when Karna quotes it conveniently. Look at the way he deals with Jayadratha, earlier with Jarasandha. 

In other words, Shri Krishna IS aware of the imperfect realities of life. He had to be. He confronted them repeatedly in his life. He had a "mama", his maternal uncle, who wanted him dead even before he was born. To save his life, his father would wade neck deep in a river in full spate. From his birth till his death, Shri Krishna had to face ugly realities constantly, be it Putana Mavashi to his misconstrued death.

Hence the importance of his joy. He celebrates it constantly, and makes others join it. At Nanda's Gokul, gleefully he shares with every child milk, butter, ghee, and so on. In a way, his joy is special because he is sharing with the downtrodden, whom he represents in multiple ways, what belongs to them. 

In the Gowardhan Parvat incident, his joy  again comes from confronting the power of the mighty Indra, angered for no valid reason. Krishna protects a hapless people happily, and makes  them happy, too. 

Each incident in the life of this People's God can thus be explained. He spreads, shares joy again and again despite every conceivable difficulty.  He chooses joy over despair again and again. Throughout his life, he lacked lots of things, repeatedly he had to give up the stable shores that make for easy joy. 

 Yet he chose joy that comes from a creative alternative vision. In the Kuru Kshetra, too, he advises 'duty' because it leads to joy. He tells Arjuna, "If you fight, you would win and rule as an emperor. If you lose, you would ascend to the Heavens as you would be martyred for the right cause, for performing perfectly your duty." 

In other words, repeatedly he offers choices for a happy, joyous existence when every which way the dice is tilted against it. Like the soft sur's of his basari, his flute, joy re-sounds repeatedly as his real message. Hence the need to celebrate his birth, the birth of pure joy, in brief.

Pratima@Janmashtami is also the jayanti of Sant Dnyaneshwar who, too, led an extremely difficult life, and yet at the age of twenty-one, wrote a 'pasaydan' that celebrates yet again, joyful peace! 

Hence the blog today en'joy'ing their vision!

Space is not the limit

 Sky is not the limit. That is the usual saying. Look at India's confident strides in the field, nay, expanse, of space research. Some proof it is of the fact that space is indeed not the limit.

The Indian space research began rather unconventionally if you remember the famous picture of  the parts of the space shuttle being carried atop a bullock cart. That did not deter us. Neither did a few failed efforts. We bounced back with renewed vigour so much so that the Chandrayan managed to land on a part of the moon never attempted by any other country.

Yet another remarkable aspect of the space programme of India, I think, is the participation of women in it. This is a highly admirable aspect of the achievement in this field which consisted of other, even developed, countries choosing the Indian propellers to shunt their satellites in to the space orbit.

The space research now-a-days is accessible and open to private players as well which is sure to speed up its growth. In brief, the space research in India showcases a lot of potential. No wonder, the government chose to name a day-n-date to celebrate it. Long live India's space programme!

Pratima@ The debate about a developing country  affording space research is no longer relevant as the space programme is both the soft as well as hard power of India.

Trouble is most welcome, trouble makers are not!

 Is trouble welcome? Indeed, yes. Trouble teaches, and a lot. To begin with, trouble teaches one how strong one is despite being simple, straightforward, sincere and genuine, qualities that are considered 'stupid' these days. Trouble shows one that being driven by heart, by emotions is good, too.

Trouble teaches one how resilient one is, how one bounces back, and better, despite all the difficulties, doubts, distractions. In this way, trouble makes one smarter as well. Intellect, in fact, because of trouble, becomes razor sharp.

Is there any problem with trouble, especially when it makes one more self-reflexive, more humble, more humane? Yes, there is! What is the problem? Well, one starts noticing, nay, identifying the trouble makers!

Are trouble makers welcome? Of course, NOT! Sure they are vicious. Why suffer their cheap wickedness, especially when one is not involved in any way in their ugly, creepy, cheap meannesses? Why be victimised for the trouble makers' self obsession? Why suffer in silence the sadism of the crooks of all sorts? THAT is the question!

For SURE, these consciously, knowingly wicked monstrosities must be gotten rid of. How, that is the question! Ignoring them does not seem to register on these brain-dead buffoons. Would confronting help?

No way should these old (in all senses of the term 'old') cheapos of all sexes be allowed to continue endlessly their harassment, and for no rhyme no reason. 'Coz indeed trouble is welcome, trouble makers are absolutely NOT! 

Pratima@ Trouble makers have the protection of the powers that be. Yet there is a power higher than all the power-mongers. Sure it stands by the innocent, and fulfils each of her pleas and prayers.