Recently I was listening to a local radio in New Jersey where they were talking about an initiative taken by schools to get students into reading news-papers every morning.
I remember, when I was in middle school in India, every morning one student had to read main news items right after prayers. We were reminded again and again, how important it is to read news papers.
For last few days I was thinking about news media and type of news they give us. The only news all the news media give me is of war, violence, vulgarity. Anything tragic, sad, war becomes instant news, while anything good gets a place on the last pages. Then I thought of millions of people who spend 30-60 minutes of the morning time on these news papers.
Few points:
1. News paper with a cup of tea-coffee is supposed to freshen-up an individual. Do you really think that news about war, bombing, suicides, murder, dirty politics makes you feel fresh?
2. When we get up in the morning, we are already fresh and we should try to work on some creative/constructive work rather than reading dirty news. Morning walk, working in the garden, plant trees in your street, study, read a good book, do Yoga/exercise might be few things you might be interested to utilizse your energy in the fresh morning.
3. Even if you want to read news paper, please do it after lunch or in the evening ( instead of watching T.V. ). This way neighbours can share news-papers and save some paper/money. People can read news in groups and create constructive discussion.
I have decided to shun news papers (including in papers and online) till 12pm.
What do you say?
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Allergy Again
Recently I read in news that this year, the US environment has the record high level of pollen count. For last 5 days, my colleague is suffering with worst allergy he has ever experienced, itchy/red eyes, sneezing, running/bleeding nose, etc. This Sunday I was visiting my friends place and came to know that his daughter has developed pollen allergy and lactose intolerance. In my last 6 years of stay in the US, I have noticed that 60-70 % of my friends have developed allergy after 3-4 years living in the US.
As far as I understand, allergy means that our immunity has gone down and it can't fight irritations because of pollens.
My observations:
1. My friend, whose daughter developed allergy this year, moved to a first floor apartment last year. Similarly my other friend also moved to first floor apartment last year. Both the cases resulted in severe allergy this year.
2. My friends, and myself, who didn't change their eating habits after coming to the US have NOT developed allergy. Hence, people who eat home-made food, take lunch to office rather than eating out, don't consume junks like soda, coffee, breakfast-cereals, etc. regularly have fewer occurrences to allergy.
3. People doing physically exercise or are engaged in outdoor sports have less severe symptoms.
What do you think?
As far as I understand, allergy means that our immunity has gone down and it can't fight irritations because of pollens.
My observations:
1. My friend, whose daughter developed allergy this year, moved to a first floor apartment last year. Similarly my other friend also moved to first floor apartment last year. Both the cases resulted in severe allergy this year.
2. My friends, and myself, who didn't change their eating habits after coming to the US have NOT developed allergy. Hence, people who eat home-made food, take lunch to office rather than eating out, don't consume junks like soda, coffee, breakfast-cereals, etc. regularly have fewer occurrences to allergy.
3. People doing physically exercise or are engaged in outdoor sports have less severe symptoms.
What do you think?
Friday, April 14, 2006
Reservations in IITs/IIMs in India
IITs and IIMs are considered as the best face India can put up in education. Reservations in these institutions is hitting society at all those places where it really hurts.
IMHO Pro & Con on reservations:
CON:
1. Reservation will leave many general category candidates frustrated as they will less seats available for them.
2. A non-merit based candidate studying in such institute has less
possibilty of becoming a better professional than a merit based candidate. This is negative ReturnOnInvestment on the people's tax money (Govt supports these institutes by tax collected from people).
3. Tarnish the image of IIT/IIM (of India too).
PRO:
1. It gives a "chance" to OBC guys to get into top-notch institutes and get an opportunity to improve which they can never get without reservation. Because of reservation we have many lower-caste candidates serving India as IAS/IPS officers, which they could have never dreamt without reservation. An OBC candidate can be a role-model to his/her community and inspire others. Many lower-caste candidate can't afford to have resources to compete with general category candidates. In the US, there is a debate going on about success in SAT exams and whether students who can afford to pay private training are performing better than those who can't.
2. Anyway, 90% (or more ?) of the general candidates leave/want_to_leave India after studying IIT/IIM to serve MNCs. Lets give a chance to other candidate who might stay and serve India. Need to wait and watch if this really works.
3. We should remember that GOI (Govt of India) supports most of the IIT/IIM budget. If you compare with US where people take big loans to study top-notch schools (~$60000 medicine, ~$30000 MBA, ~$30000MS etc.) and have to pay through nose for 5-10 years. Very few course (mainly masters in technology) get scholarships/grants. SO IF ITS FREE education, why not let everyone enjoy it. :-)
4. Lets see how every society benefits from such great schools and analyze them or change the structure for benefit of the country.
5. General category candidates can go to other private institutes in India or outside (US, Australia, etc.) take loans and study. They can easily get loans as compared to an OBC candidate.
6. It is a fact that we have VERY few top institues as compared to the candidates who want to get into them. This reservation should unite people to force the govt to open more such institutes and make them autonomous/self-financing.
7. This will give more energy in the direction where people will demand reservation based on financial standing rather than caste. This requires a long waited change and needs fresh youth to come into politics and be decision makers. It will unite general category vote-bank.
I feel that no issue can be solved in isolation since all issues are
intermigled with each other. Lets analyze and think what we
did/are_doing/can_do.
IMHO Pro & Con on reservations:
CON:
1. Reservation will leave many general category candidates frustrated as they will less seats available for them.
2. A non-merit based candidate studying in such institute has less
possibilty of becoming a better professional than a merit based candidate. This is negative ReturnOnInvestment on the people's tax money (Govt supports these institutes by tax collected from people).
3. Tarnish the image of IIT/IIM (of India too).
PRO:
1. It gives a "chance" to OBC guys to get into top-notch institutes and get an opportunity to improve which they can never get without reservation. Because of reservation we have many lower-caste candidates serving India as IAS/IPS officers, which they could have never dreamt without reservation. An OBC candidate can be a role-model to his/her community and inspire others. Many lower-caste candidate can't afford to have resources to compete with general category candidates. In the US, there is a debate going on about success in SAT exams and whether students who can afford to pay private training are performing better than those who can't.
2. Anyway, 90% (or more ?) of the general candidates leave/want_to_leave India after studying IIT/IIM to serve MNCs. Lets give a chance to other candidate who might stay and serve India. Need to wait and watch if this really works.
3. We should remember that GOI (Govt of India) supports most of the IIT/IIM budget. If you compare with US where people take big loans to study top-notch schools (~$60000 medicine, ~$30000 MBA, ~$30000MS etc.) and have to pay through nose for 5-10 years. Very few course (mainly masters in technology) get scholarships/grants. SO IF ITS FREE education, why not let everyone enjoy it. :-)
4. Lets see how every society benefits from such great schools and analyze them or change the structure for benefit of the country.
5. General category candidates can go to other private institutes in India or outside (US, Australia, etc.) take loans and study. They can easily get loans as compared to an OBC candidate.
6. It is a fact that we have VERY few top institues as compared to the candidates who want to get into them. This reservation should unite people to force the govt to open more such institutes and make them autonomous/self-financing.
7. This will give more energy in the direction where people will demand reservation based on financial standing rather than caste. This requires a long waited change and needs fresh youth to come into politics and be decision makers. It will unite general category vote-bank.
I feel that no issue can be solved in isolation since all issues are
intermigled with each other. Lets analyze and think what we
did/are_doing/can_do.
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Kids: The life-energy at its best
Childish, naive, ignorant, student, learner are few synonyms a kid's world is usually associated with. When I tried to have a closer look at the Kid's world, I find exactly the reverse. No KIDDING.
1. Energetic: Try to play with a kid for couple of hours and you would realize how much energy they have. It is endless pool of curiosity and readiness to play, to know things. No wonder toddlers feel bad when it is time to sleep, because they want to keep playing and doing things. Everything interests them, from listening stories, doing household chores, fixing toys, walking/playing in the part/woods, etc. No wonder, fitness experts say that it is better to play with kids than going to a gym.
2. Freshness: Kids mean freshness. They live in the present. One learned saint said that this is the best thing we can learn from kids. Live life in the present and sense the freshness of life first-hand. Kid's life has no place for grudges, sadness, animosity, etc. Kids do cry or get angry/grumpy at times but the next moment everything starts afresh, with new energy as ever.
3. No cheating: There is no malice in a kid's mind. Momentary actions erupting from curiosity might hurt others but these actions are not due to animosity from inside their hearts. As kids live in present, everything starts new and is as enchanting as anything ever before. They have no motivation to cheat.
4. No materialism: By nature, a kid doesn’t accumulate worldly things. They don't have huge demands or expectations from life. Small things make them happy and overjoyed. Small happy world but full of adventures. They don’t need expensive cars, houses, gadgets. Nature and living being is their biggest toy.
5. Love to animals: Every kid loves birds, animals. They want to be with them, take care of them. The most loved cartoon characters are based on animals.
So, when does a kid starts changing and becomes a modern man or women? When does a kids stops living in the present, loses energy, starts eating those animals which (s)he loved in childhood, stops smelling and exuding freshness and starts running after materialism and future?
It is not a question to be answered by science, we need to look inside ourselves to define it and try to answer it.
1. Energetic: Try to play with a kid for couple of hours and you would realize how much energy they have. It is endless pool of curiosity and readiness to play, to know things. No wonder toddlers feel bad when it is time to sleep, because they want to keep playing and doing things. Everything interests them, from listening stories, doing household chores, fixing toys, walking/playing in the part/woods, etc. No wonder, fitness experts say that it is better to play with kids than going to a gym.
2. Freshness: Kids mean freshness. They live in the present. One learned saint said that this is the best thing we can learn from kids. Live life in the present and sense the freshness of life first-hand. Kid's life has no place for grudges, sadness, animosity, etc. Kids do cry or get angry/grumpy at times but the next moment everything starts afresh, with new energy as ever.
3. No cheating: There is no malice in a kid's mind. Momentary actions erupting from curiosity might hurt others but these actions are not due to animosity from inside their hearts. As kids live in present, everything starts new and is as enchanting as anything ever before. They have no motivation to cheat.
4. No materialism: By nature, a kid doesn’t accumulate worldly things. They don't have huge demands or expectations from life. Small things make them happy and overjoyed. Small happy world but full of adventures. They don’t need expensive cars, houses, gadgets. Nature and living being is their biggest toy.
5. Love to animals: Every kid loves birds, animals. They want to be with them, take care of them. The most loved cartoon characters are based on animals.
So, when does a kid starts changing and becomes a modern man or women? When does a kids stops living in the present, loses energy, starts eating those animals which (s)he loved in childhood, stops smelling and exuding freshness and starts running after materialism and future?
It is not a question to be answered by science, we need to look inside ourselves to define it and try to answer it.
Friday, March 24, 2006
Where are all the pomegranates?
I live in New Jersey and I remember, last year we enjoyed lots of pomegranates. It is such a delicious, nutritious and all the x-cious fruit. And many (especially Indians) know that the cover of pomegranate is great remedy for sore throat, cough, etc. But this year, we only saw pomegranate only once in stores, that too in the beginning of Feb. Though, this time of year pomegranates are available in stores in plenty. But this year, no sign of it for last 5-6 weeks.
So what changed in last one year. It is the great "POM" juice. For the ones who didn’t notice, last year a pomegranate juiced was launched with a brand name "POM", "The wonderful POM". “POM” advertisements are sticking in all trains, buses luring people with punch lines like “Cheat Death”, “Surprise your doctor”, “Power of anti-oxidants”, etc. "POM" has become such hype that every magazine termed it as the best thing to happen to juice because it has maximum anti-oxidants. Now, why not call pomegranate as the best fruit, why not eat the whole fruit? But gullible public believes what corporations tell.
Some common sense reasons to avoid juice and eat whole fruits.
1. Fruit is a complete package with fiber, carbs, protein, vitamins etc. given to you by Mother Nature who knows what is good for us than anybody else.
2. We might take in juice more then good for us. This might be harmful. Can you eat 8 oranges in one go? But I am sure you can drink 2-3 cups of orange juice.
3. Please read http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_fruit_juice.htm and http://recipestoday.com/resources/articles/fruitjuice.htm : Even pediatricians recommend that too much juice reduces appetite in infants/toddlers because lot of juice has lot of calories.
4. Our body needs solid diet to sense that it is filling. Too many drinks with lots of calories cheat our body sensors and we don’t get a feeling of fullness. Hence we over-eat.
Well, we get all other types of juices, I am ok with them because we also get fruits for them. But with this “Wonderful POM”, pomegranate juice has swept away all pomegranate fruits from shops.
Well, I have saved come coverings of pomegranates for future use, very precious.
So what changed in last one year. It is the great "POM" juice. For the ones who didn’t notice, last year a pomegranate juiced was launched with a brand name "POM", "The wonderful POM". “POM” advertisements are sticking in all trains, buses luring people with punch lines like “Cheat Death”, “Surprise your doctor”, “Power of anti-oxidants”, etc. "POM" has become such hype that every magazine termed it as the best thing to happen to juice because it has maximum anti-oxidants. Now, why not call pomegranate as the best fruit, why not eat the whole fruit? But gullible public believes what corporations tell.
Some common sense reasons to avoid juice and eat whole fruits.
1. Fruit is a complete package with fiber, carbs, protein, vitamins etc. given to you by Mother Nature who knows what is good for us than anybody else.
2. We might take in juice more then good for us. This might be harmful. Can you eat 8 oranges in one go? But I am sure you can drink 2-3 cups of orange juice.
3. Please read http://pediatrics.about.com/od/weeklyquestion/a/04_fruit_juice.htm and http://recipestoday.com/resources/articles/fruitjuice.htm : Even pediatricians recommend that too much juice reduces appetite in infants/toddlers because lot of juice has lot of calories.
4. Our body needs solid diet to sense that it is filling. Too many drinks with lots of calories cheat our body sensors and we don’t get a feeling of fullness. Hence we over-eat.
Well, we get all other types of juices, I am ok with them because we also get fruits for them. But with this “Wonderful POM”, pomegranate juice has swept away all pomegranate fruits from shops.
Well, I have saved come coverings of pomegranates for future use, very precious.
Thursday, March 16, 2006
Use of cell phones in India
Today only I read a news item saying 10-20% of cell-phone usage in India is for 'missed-call's. 'Missed-call' has become such a common day-2-day term that it should be added in an english dictionary.
missed-call; noun: an action by a cell-phone caller where he/she drops the call only after 1-2 rings. Mainly used to indicate to the recipient about caller's interest or presence. A 'coded' call which is free.
When I visited India last, it took me a while to understand the real 'meaning' of missed-call. No wonder, even in US, I get missed calls from India and I am supposed to recollect the caller's identity from the number and call them back.
Common usage of missed-call:
1. Caller wants the recipient to call him back at recipient's convenience.
2. Caller thinks it is less expensive for recipient to call-back. A hang-over from last decade when cell-phone calls were 'really' expensive.
3. Some people have coded missed-calls. like "1 missed-call=call-back whenever get time", "2 missed-calls = call-back urgently", "3 missed-calls = call at some specific number like home/office/cell etc/". Similarly other missed-call frequencies can be agreed upon and encoded.
4. Missed-calls are also used as reminder or morning wake-up alarm. For instance, people decide in advance that a missed-call in the morning means he is ready for pre-decided task/job.
5. A regular evening missed-call to home-maker wife: husband is reaching home in 5 minutes, hence get the tea ready. :-)
Any other usage you can think of or came accross?
missed-call; noun: an action by a cell-phone caller where he/she drops the call only after 1-2 rings. Mainly used to indicate to the recipient about caller's interest or presence. A 'coded' call which is free.
When I visited India last, it took me a while to understand the real 'meaning' of missed-call. No wonder, even in US, I get missed calls from India and I am supposed to recollect the caller's identity from the number and call them back.
Common usage of missed-call:
1. Caller wants the recipient to call him back at recipient's convenience.
2. Caller thinks it is less expensive for recipient to call-back. A hang-over from last decade when cell-phone calls were 'really' expensive.
3. Some people have coded missed-calls. like "1 missed-call=call-back whenever get time", "2 missed-calls = call-back urgently", "3 missed-calls = call at some specific number like home/office/cell etc/". Similarly other missed-call frequencies can be agreed upon and encoded.
4. Missed-calls are also used as reminder or morning wake-up alarm. For instance, people decide in advance that a missed-call in the morning means he is ready for pre-decided task/job.
5. A regular evening missed-call to home-maker wife: husband is reaching home in 5 minutes, hence get the tea ready. :-)
Any other usage you can think of or came accross?
Friday, March 03, 2006
US President Mr Bush's india visit
I noted following items from all the storm going on in the media over this visit.
1. Right before visit, news was hot about protests happenning whole over India. People were confused over the real agenda of the visit, but categorically said that Bush is a terrorist after what he did in Afghanistan and what he is doing in Iraq.
2. Some people voted to give due respect to a visitor as per Indian traditions and they seemed eager to understand the use and advantage of the impending nuclear deal between host and guest.
3. Some people (mainly NRIs, industrialists) wanted India to take advantage of the situation and giev a good impression on guests.
4. CEOs of US companies (visiting India with US President) found indian infrastructure and bureaucracy discouraging for foreign investment. They think India should open up foreign investment in insurance, power, roads, ports, etc. to boost economy.
5. Few publications in the US painted a rosy picture of India as the next big thing in teh world economy.
6. Apart from this, there was no other news. It seemed like nothing else was happenning in India.
I agree that US president is most powerful man on the planet. But does this mean we forget our priorities and issues we want to get addressed. I remember when Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh was on US visit last year, few elements of indian media picked up some issues which needed to be discussed between India and US.
Why no one in media raised such issues this time. Some of the issues in my mind:
1. Terrorist activity in Kashmir and east India and its support from foreign elements. As US expects whole world to condemn any terrorist acts on americans (on US soil or not), we should expect the same from them. I have noted that whenever any visitor visits US, Mr Bush says few lines to condemn terrorism and his conviction continue his fight against it.
2. Immigration issues: Due to slow permanant immigration process, many skilled workers (in thousands) have to lead a indecisive and tormenting life. They get exploited by employees and have minimal rights/information. US should make the process more transparent and predicatable.
3. It has become a common story about newly married indian brides getting ill-treated in the US. NRIs go to India and marry indian girls on false promises and then exploit the bride's family for dowry or never take their bride's to the US. High-level government co-operation is required to nab such culprits.
4. Foreign investment into India: Before we open our doors for foreign companies, we should ensure we have proper labour, pollution, industry, human-rights, etc. laws in place. It is no secret that foreign companies are attracted to India because of cheap labour and ill-equiped law-system. They take advantage of this and end-up creating environmental and human-rights hazards. Coca-cola plant polluting ground-water in Kerala, French ship laden with deadly lead coming to Gujarat for dismantling, pharamceutical companies doing testing on indians in India without proper safety procedures, etc. are few examples. Many such tragedies don't even make it to the news.
I feel that news media should raise such issues at such times and run a follow-ups on the progress.
What do you guys feel? Any other issues we should (have) raised?
1. Right before visit, news was hot about protests happenning whole over India. People were confused over the real agenda of the visit, but categorically said that Bush is a terrorist after what he did in Afghanistan and what he is doing in Iraq.
2. Some people voted to give due respect to a visitor as per Indian traditions and they seemed eager to understand the use and advantage of the impending nuclear deal between host and guest.
3. Some people (mainly NRIs, industrialists) wanted India to take advantage of the situation and giev a good impression on guests.
4. CEOs of US companies (visiting India with US President) found indian infrastructure and bureaucracy discouraging for foreign investment. They think India should open up foreign investment in insurance, power, roads, ports, etc. to boost economy.
5. Few publications in the US painted a rosy picture of India as the next big thing in teh world economy.
6. Apart from this, there was no other news. It seemed like nothing else was happenning in India.
I agree that US president is most powerful man on the planet. But does this mean we forget our priorities and issues we want to get addressed. I remember when Indian Prime Minister Mr. Manmohan Singh was on US visit last year, few elements of indian media picked up some issues which needed to be discussed between India and US.
Why no one in media raised such issues this time. Some of the issues in my mind:
1. Terrorist activity in Kashmir and east India and its support from foreign elements. As US expects whole world to condemn any terrorist acts on americans (on US soil or not), we should expect the same from them. I have noted that whenever any visitor visits US, Mr Bush says few lines to condemn terrorism and his conviction continue his fight against it.
2. Immigration issues: Due to slow permanant immigration process, many skilled workers (in thousands) have to lead a indecisive and tormenting life. They get exploited by employees and have minimal rights/information. US should make the process more transparent and predicatable.
3. It has become a common story about newly married indian brides getting ill-treated in the US. NRIs go to India and marry indian girls on false promises and then exploit the bride's family for dowry or never take their bride's to the US. High-level government co-operation is required to nab such culprits.
4. Foreign investment into India: Before we open our doors for foreign companies, we should ensure we have proper labour, pollution, industry, human-rights, etc. laws in place. It is no secret that foreign companies are attracted to India because of cheap labour and ill-equiped law-system. They take advantage of this and end-up creating environmental and human-rights hazards. Coca-cola plant polluting ground-water in Kerala, French ship laden with deadly lead coming to Gujarat for dismantling, pharamceutical companies doing testing on indians in India without proper safety procedures, etc. are few examples. Many such tragedies don't even make it to the news.
I feel that news media should raise such issues at such times and run a follow-ups on the progress.
What do you guys feel? Any other issues we should (have) raised?
Thursday, October 20, 2005
Give your seat to elders, kids and females
"Give your seat to elders, kids and females."
I remember the above line was part of my behavior science text book in middle school. I had to remember it for my exams along with other points like:
1. Everybody should do one good turn a day: If you see a big stone or object in the middle of the road, remove it. Help elderly or blind to cross the road.
2. Touch feet of your parents/guardians as you get-up every morning.
Each student had a daily diary where parents/guardians had to log whether their ward did follow the points sincerely.
Come to present. I take trains to commute to work to
Every day I see people rushing to grab a seat as soon as transit train arrives and opens its doors for passengers. Of course the younger/fitter folks (mostly men) run faster and grab seats while elders, kids and females lag little behind and feel lucky if they get a seat. I see people pushing each other to get a seat, sometimes even giving scornful look at others' impatience while ignoring their own.
My question is: Does the title line make sense in today’s world. Why do we ignore such pieces of courtesy in today’s mechanical life which is converting into rushing home-to-office or office-to-home life?
Reasons:
1. May be people are too preoccupied with their thoughts or are stressed that they un-knowingly/un-intentionally forget the old-gold teachings (common-sense).
2. Population is increasing and hence chaos and crowd. Survival of the fittest prevails.
3. People prefer luxury of a seat to read something or talk or take a nap rather than to stand and get further tired (in the evenings) and get exhausted (in the mornings).
4. Our life is moving towards individualistic world. Meaning only you have to take care of your life, state of affairs, ambitions and strive for it.
Let us slow down. Look around and think about others and give them some space (literally). Others will certainly reciprocate. Why not I start it first?
Your thoughts are welcome.
Monday, October 17, 2005
Do I need to broadcast that I am hindu
Recently my friend forwarded me an aricle "MEN AND IDEAS: I am a Hindu, but...
" link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1256867.cms.
Writer very well brings home the point when an indian youth finds it hard to prefess his true association with hinduism. Writer blames the nationalist (RSS, Bajrang dals) and secularists for highjacking hinduism for political gains and creating a mess. Both parties (nationalists and secularists, is there thrid part?? :-) ) have strong arguments and seem correct to the indian masses, who are not intellectually capable to think and decide but are unwantedly pulled into the mess and have to tolerate all the violence (in the mind and on the roads).
I read somewhere, Gautam Budhdha said "There is no one right, either everything is right or nothing is right". The same point Einstein proved mathematically and named it "Relativity".
On a fine day, I don't object to broadcasting our beliefs and letting everyone know about its good values. But it pains me when when such public propaganda about beliefs (religions, culture) gives opportunites to anti-social elements (like in Mau in UP these days) and disturbs the social thread.
I know hindu mythological texts (Veda, Gita, Ramayan, Upanishads, etc.) are full of knowledge and good things. As for north indian educated youths, I hardly see them interested into them or eager to learn Sanskrit mantras. Even way before BJP revolutionised hinduism, I saw youth disinterested from hinduism because of super-stitions and pandits manipulating rules for money (simplest being, pandit ji conducting 2 hour marriage pheras in 20 minutes.).
So the point is, youth were already disinterested from hinduism because of stress on scientific thinking in modern education, unexplainable rules, pressure from parents to study and settle abroad. Now, the mess created by nationalist and secularists has only increased their distance from hinduism and its way of life.
Hence I strongly believe that, beliefs/religions should be very-very private thing and followed in the house. Specially in todays global world where there is movement of human capital on such a large scale. Let's not fight over spiritual beliefs with todays scientific weapons.
Om! Amen! Allaho Akbar!! (don't ask me why I wrote Om! first. Because somebody needs to be and all can't be.).
" link: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1256867.cms.
Writer very well brings home the point when an indian youth finds it hard to prefess his true association with hinduism. Writer blames the nationalist (RSS, Bajrang dals) and secularists for highjacking hinduism for political gains and creating a mess. Both parties (nationalists and secularists, is there thrid part?? :-) ) have strong arguments and seem correct to the indian masses, who are not intellectually capable to think and decide but are unwantedly pulled into the mess and have to tolerate all the violence (in the mind and on the roads).
I read somewhere, Gautam Budhdha said "There is no one right, either everything is right or nothing is right". The same point Einstein proved mathematically and named it "Relativity".
On a fine day, I don't object to broadcasting our beliefs and letting everyone know about its good values. But it pains me when when such public propaganda about beliefs (religions, culture) gives opportunites to anti-social elements (like in Mau in UP these days) and disturbs the social thread.
I know hindu mythological texts (Veda, Gita, Ramayan, Upanishads, etc.) are full of knowledge and good things. As for north indian educated youths, I hardly see them interested into them or eager to learn Sanskrit mantras. Even way before BJP revolutionised hinduism, I saw youth disinterested from hinduism because of super-stitions and pandits manipulating rules for money (simplest being, pandit ji conducting 2 hour marriage pheras in 20 minutes.).
So the point is, youth were already disinterested from hinduism because of stress on scientific thinking in modern education, unexplainable rules, pressure from parents to study and settle abroad. Now, the mess created by nationalist and secularists has only increased their distance from hinduism and its way of life.
Hence I strongly believe that, beliefs/religions should be very-very private thing and followed in the house. Specially in todays global world where there is movement of human capital on such a large scale. Let's not fight over spiritual beliefs with todays scientific weapons.
Om! Amen! Allaho Akbar!! (don't ask me why I wrote Om! first. Because somebody needs to be and all can't be.).
Thursday, September 15, 2005
kyari
Kyari: Planting good ideas--- This group is for planting seeds of good ideas which will grow into tree of humanity with a sense of giving back to our roots in Hindaun-Karauli region of Rajasthan, India. Here intellectuals with roots in Hindaun-Karauli region come together to discuss ideas/dreams which can be turned into reality to help everyone's mother (Mother-nature), and coming generation (young ones). Please check "Kyari" link on Kalakari.com for further details.
We invite people who want to give not only money but most importantly their time (shram-daan) and mind (ideas) for the purpose of helping enviornment and society in many ways including the following:
1) Helping the kids in remote villages to gain school education and environmental awreness.
2) Creating awareness among people (villagers and city dwellers) about planting trees and improving environment (more rains, pure air, clean underground water, etc.)
3) Awareness among people (villagers and city dwellers) for cleanliness (clean roads, clean colonies, etc.) and reduce air-borne water-borne diseases.
Current agenda:
1. Educating poor kids: To setup a system for poor kids who can not afford to go to schools. This system may be run by students of higher classes (10-11th class) or other teachers who can convince and gather poor kids and teach them. We can provide infrastructural help like providing books, school uniform, day-2-day expenses etc.
2. Plant trees: Talk to people living in a colony to plant tree near their houses. Convince people to take care of them and water them atleast 2-3 times a week. Colonies with trees look beutiful and people love to live there. Trees attract rains and weather cycles improve with less severe summer, etc.
Other individuals are encouraged to exchange ideas and implement similar efforts in their region. Feel free to give suggestions and share experiences
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