Vicks inhaler

The past 3 days have been suffering with a mild cold. Yet, my head was heavy, drooping eyelids and running nose.

That’s when I opened my medical kit to find something that would give me relief. And what did I find? The remedy to my nose, my saviour – the Vicks Inhaler.

Such a brilliant piece of invention. Kudos to the person or team that invented it.

I was reading the contents of the inhaler and was surprised to see natural ayurvedic ingredients which I am listing below:

1. Pudina ke phool 41.54% (Mint flowers)

2. Karpoor 41.54% (Camphor)

3. Wintergreen Tel 12.27%

Wow, such a simple mix, yet soo effective. Have to read more about the above ingredients. Till then happy inhaling

Silence is All

Silence is all, say the sages.

Silence watches the work of the ages;

In the book of Silence the cosmic Scribe has written his cosmic pages;

Silence is all, say the sages.

~ Sri Aurobindo

The present state of Education in India

There is not enough that can be said about the pathetic state of Education in India. Those who have done their undergraduate Engineering degree know that pretty well.

Reading the book on Education written by Sri Aurobindo, he describes precisely the state of Indian Education. It actually makes me laugh so much.

It would hardly be a good technical education for a carpenter to be taught how to fell trees so as to provide himself with wood and never to learn how to prepare tables and chairs and cabinets or even what tools were necessary for his craft. Yet this is precisely what our system of education does. It trains the memory and provides the student with a store of facts and second-hand ideas. The memory is the woodcutter’s axe and the store he acquires is the wood he has cut down in his course of tree-felling. When he has done this, the University says to him, “We now declare you a Bachelor of Carpentry, we have given you a good and sharp axe and a fair nucleus of wood to begin with. Go on, my son, the world is full of forests and, provided the Forest Officer does not object, you can cut down trees and provide yourself with wood to your heart’s content.”

Why is everyone still subjected to this kind of education when we know that there is no benefit from it? I remember a slogan on one of our friend’s t-shirts in college -> “I was born intelligent but education ruined me.“

High time for the education system to change at all levels. Really. I find myself sorely lacking in many aspects of life and dealing with people even though I have finished my post-graduation. I want the future generations to have an education where they discover themselves and are not subjected to the torture in the name of Education.

Snapping off ties

The last 2-3 weeks have been very exhausting for me. Physically, mentally, emotionally. I am down and trying to dig in and find the “ray of hope” within me to keep going. There is an aim or ambition I always set for myself (usually for my career) and that’s the only thing that keeps me driven and motivated. Even that “aim” or “ambition” is burning out like a candle that slowly melts away leaving behind smoke.

There was a beautiful relationship I had with a friend. That got snapped off. All of a sudden. Even before I could realise, there is “nothing” more. Though the friend has given up on me, I still have hopes that our relationship will revive. Not because I want it but because it was SOOO beautiful and fulfilling, it is hard to believe it got broken in the first place. Ofcourse there were ups and downs as in every other relationship. But the “downs” in this relationship was never between “us“, it was always external factors that played the spoilsport.

This was a friendship I dint want to give up at any cost. With this tie snapped off, I feel empty & hollow. As if I have to start a new life. So if you are reading this, do wish me luck that the relationship I lost is regained  I would be too happy. Infact I would get back a lease of my life.

I feel like the runner in a race who trails last. He’s tired, he knows he’s not going to win but yet continues running to reach the end point.

Because of this flagging enthusiasm, I am falling down in every aspect. I have been trying to read Tamil since past 2 years. I am able to read stories and novels. But I am too slow. Also I don’t yet know how to write Tamil. Sometimes comments from people does flag me off. I will not give it up though. I have to learn Tamil well. There is no way of “giving up”. Even if it takes me 10 years. Learning a new language is always a long process. I even want to learn “Telugu”. I can just read and write the Telugu alphabets. Being in Hyderabad since childhood and hopefully to retire in Hyderabad when I have grandchildren, its good to learn to read and write the language of your hometown, isn’t it??

Also, I have been ignoring my 2 wheeler driving. I got a beautiful “Dio” from Reva on October 3rd. I had learnt how to cycle just in the month of February this year. So a 2 wheeler was the next step. I tried driving it and the very first time I went and hit my apartment gate so badly. My head, shoulders, knees were badly hurt. And a kind of fear set in me to take the bike out. So I decided I need to learn the bike under some guidance and took to driving classes. The tutor I have Revathi miss is a very sweet and patient teacher. She has a “Sunny Zip” (a nice cute 2 wheeler) and I started practising on it. Now the problem is, I can drive the Sunny Zip very well because it is sooo light-weight but I am scared to drive the Dio as it is a bit heavy. Ofcourse, that should not matter at all. But you know “fear” has no reasons. It is just there. And with all the emotional turmoil I have been facing, it becomes difficult to “concentrate” and have the guts to take the vehicle out by myself. Added to it, the Pondicherry roads are just TOO bad. There is hardly any proper Tar road in and around my house. So you see even the Dio is lying there all by itself.

In the meanwhile, since I had learnt cycling so recently, I wanted to do it more. You know when you lose out on a skill for many years and when you learn it, you always feel like showing it off So to help me go around Pondy & ya to keep me fit and trim, I got a cycle for myself. It’s the only sane thing I have been doing the past 3 weeks. Really. When I am on the cycle and when the breeze hits my face, I feel like I am flying in air

To top it all, I have not been telling about all this to anyone. So I finally decided my blog is the best place to share it all as I always do.

Can’t say the cliched dialogue that I am feeling “light as a feather” after writing this post. I just know that writing out these things will make me get a hold on myself. To realise that one day in the distant future, I would come back and read this post and smile at how funny I am when I am down and out.

Ok, so keep tuned in to my blog. I love to crib. I love to share. I love to enjoy. And ya I love to dance. So let me continue this journey of life with little sugar and spice. Take care my blog friends. Accha tho hum chalte hain. Alvida.

Books for November

Indulging and reading books is one of my favorite hobbies. Not even a hobby, it helps me sustain and grow.

To know about worlds, cultures, animals and people I never could have imagined to visit personally. I would love to read in Indian languages too to broaden my perspective. I have taken the Tamil route first. Would love to explore Hindi. Infact, I have a novel called “Nirmala” written by Premchand in my collection. Any suggestions for Hindi or Tamil books are welcome (Oh ya, English too.)

So here is the list I want to explore this month

1. From Third World to First by Lee Kuan Yew

2. The Upanishads by Sri Aurobindo

3. Hopefully, the Count of Monte Cristo

Happy November reading to all!! May you all find the right books to enjoy this month.

Idea vs. Attitude

I was reading these notes on “Anachronisms” from the Karmayogi.net website.

I came across a sentence that made me think. I am quoting it below:

An idea can be given up more easily than an attitude, as an attitude is the result of emotions endorsing an idea at the stage of an opinion. Going deeper down, an attitude acquires a physical form and becomes rigid

Why are ideas more easily given up than attitudes?

This is an interesting perspective. I have met people with great attitude also have great energy, are more positive and cheerful towards life, have more friends and their life seems brimming with energy. A change in our attitudes can do wonders. I will give an example from a personal experience.

I am a very late riser. It’s the most difficult thing for me to get up before 7 or 8. I had to go to driving classes which started at 5.30am. I was nervous the day before of how I was going to manage it at 5.30am. I then made a resolve, when the alarm rings at 5am, I should get up with a smile and joy rather than curse that the day begins so early. And I couldn’t believe myself, the very next day I got up bright eyed and all cheerful at 5am and went to the class with so much energy. This worked for 9 days of the class. In between there were rains and I got back to my usual habit of getting up late. This attitude is so difficult to persevere.

But with persistence any attitude can be changed. What is your opinion about it? Do change of attitudes result in great results?

Have you given up an idea and found it easier than a change in your attitude? I would love to have answers from you all.

Think and have a great Thursday!!

To be in the flow…

I was reading these notes on Education from the karmayogi.net website. It is the most brilliant, comprehensive & visionary notes I have read on Education so far. Implementing this kind of Education will take India and ultimately the whole society many notches up. I would love to take up each point from the notes and discuss it here on the blog to get fresh ideas and your thoughts on Education.

I would like to discuss one line mentioned in the notes now. It struck me as being so significant to problem-solving.

When a man learns not to think, sufficiently and strongly, and sleeps over that silence for a considerable time, the answer appears in his mind.

My brother and I have discussed about this phenomenon so often. Usually my brother calls it being in the “flow”. You are having a problem in your code, say. You take a break for sometime and don’t think about the problem. Engage yourself in some other interesting activity and you will be surprised to find the answer when you come back to the problem again. My brother tells me he finds this method so effective sometimes. I personally remember one incident where this has happened. I was given an assignment in Lisp during my Masters. I worked very hard on the problem but with no proper outputs. I then shut off my mind from the problem and concentrated on other things. I got into the bus to go to school and was looking out of the window with the IPod plugged in my ears. And all of a sudden, this answer flashes across my head. Really, the whole statement of Lisp that I had to write to make the program work flashed across my mind. I literally ran to my computer lab and tried the sentence and lo, behold I got the right output.

Probably the same principle worked good for Archimedes when he ran out shouting “Eureka” and Newton when the apple fell on his head.

Why not apply the same method to solve our real world problems? I have never tried it before but interested to do it.

Have you had experiences like this? Have you experienced the joy of being in the “flow” i.e., when the answer just comes to you?

What makes this “flow” work? Is it because we clear our minds of the problem, we have much more clarity and clear vision? Would love to know your experiences

The Education Series – I

“Education” is a word that has made me very curious & kindred my interest the past few months.

What is Education? What kind of Education should children get? Is our present system of Education worth it? What is the present context or purpose of Education?

In my search for these answers, I got an idea. Why not make a series of posts on Education and get feedback on it.

My first question to everyone is “What is the present purpose of Education”?

My thoughts: To introduce the child to various subjects, make them cram for higher marks and exams and make them eligible to get a job.

My next question is: “What should be the ideal purpose of Education?“

My thoughts: “To make the child an individual. To make the child capable of understanding life, take decisions, be curious about various subjects (rather than memorise everything), discover answers, be independent, to have enough confidence and wisdom to handle life and people and ultimately help the society for its progress. To make the child rational and intelligent. To help develop their personality.“

My definition would just go on.

I would love to hear from you all.

Once I get all your answers, I will make a comprehensive list of it. With that list, can we make a shift from our present purpose to our ideal purpose? How can we make the shift? What would be the first steps for it? What changes need to be brought in each parent, teacher & school to bring about this change?

Meanwhile, there is a wonderful site:  http://geniuschildren.org/ based on Dr. Glenn Doman’s research to teach a child reading, maths, general knowledge etc. I am sure parents, teachers and educationists will find this site very interesting and informative.

This is a very interesting project I want to kick off. Each thought, step & increase in our awareness will bring greater tides in the society.

With this hope I make my first steps in this Education series.

Freedom of Noise

In India, we enjoy great FREEDOM. No doubt about it. People fight for their freedom. Human Rights, Women’s Rights, Education Bill etc etc all ensure more and more freedom for everyone.

But the greatest of all freedoms we enjoy (probably even as a Basic human right) is the freedom to make as much noise as we want.

I get up at 5a.m in the morning and take a stroll on the roads. The roads are empty with hardly a soul stirring. Even the street dogs are in deep sleep and they feel disturbed having to see a stranger (that’s me) walking so early in the morning. They bark feebly and get back to their cosy sleep.

Everything looks fine and beautiful. The dawn and the dark blue sky are soothing. I feel happy that the earth is engulfed in silence. The clock strikes 6a.m. Lo Behold!! The situation is changed. There is already considerable traffic on the roads. Dogs are full of energy running around barking at their loudest. Mami’s sleepily putting kolams outside. And there  a loud speaker in  a temple which blasts in full volume “Om Burba Vasuva” which keeps repeating atleast a 100 times.

Welcome to the world of Indian noise!!

I return home and dreamily pick up the milk packet and go inside the house. Suddenly I get a jerk. The neighbour “thatha” has turned on the devotional cassette singing “Om Namah Shivay” with so much volume that the whole apartment can hear it. Ofcourse I cannot blame the noble intentions of the thatha to want to “put in some” religious fervour in un-religious people like me.

I am no exception to the rule. My mom says I have such a thunderous laughter that two houses away can easily spot that it was “Ammu’s hysterical laughter”. Then I knew why my neighbours always give me a weird look when I walk on the roads.

How can I forget the phone conversations. People even 10 feet away speaking on phone can be heard easily without much strain. Whoever invented the term “eavesdropping” was definitely not an Indian.

Added to this we have noisy festivals. This Diwali was a “Ear-Opener” for me. I was in deep sleep. A 1000-wala was  lighted by the apartment kids at 6 a.m in the morning right below my room. I jumped out of my bed in a karate pose. (Ya, when I am alone in the house such kind of self-defence behavior just comes to me ). The entire day, I could hear a bomb/cracker going off every 10 minutes. I am NOT joking. If my ears had a feeling, they would have wept copiously that day.

I had gone on a picnic with some kids to “Parambikulam Wildlife Sanctuary” in the Palakkad district a few weeks back. In those dense forests, teeming wildlife and beauty did I realise “How much NOISE the cities are full of”. We took a trek in the dense Evergreen forests (about a 8 km trail) and we had to maintain the utmost silence to spot a wild animal. It was when I thought, “Silence is beautiful”.

When do we get the freedom of Silence in India?

-|

When I was drowning someone held my hand and pulled me up
Out of the waters I came tired, desolate and miserable
I was angry at the hands that saved me
Sweet and soft hands that tried to give me solace
I refused it. I rejected. I ran to fall again into another river
The hand yet again saved me
I was not angry
I was confused
I, who, did not deserve to live was saved over and over again
It had a meaning
The meaning was found deep in the core of my heart
The meaning was the hands that saved me

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