An inspiring talk by Sheryl Sandberg COO of Facebook. She has great insights into this subject through her personal experience of  having 2 children and being in a top position.

Key take aways:

1. Believe in yourself and celebrate your successes. Do not underestimate your capacity.

2. Don’t leave before you are ready to leave.

3. Sit at the table. Rise your hand without leaning back to shut yourself out of opportunities.

All working women will find this talk very meaningful.

The first one was titled “India’s Crown Jewels: Female Talent“.

Quoting from the article:

Last week’s Financial Times ranking of the world’s top women in business included five Indian CEOs; another study (PDF) finds that 11% of the CEOs of the largest Indian companies are women.

The second was a news article in the Dec 5th Sunday Hindu magazine titled “Lives in Turmoil“. This article is about the research done by Sonia Faleiro on the women in dance bars in Mumbai and the travails they face especially with the ban imposed by the government on shutting down dance bars.It is the personal and true story of a 19 year old Leela.

What a contrast between these two new articles published around the same time. One of them gives me hope and optimism about the progress women in India have made and the other puts a question in me, if our society is really heading towards more equality? The process of development is slow and gradual. The freedom that most of the middle and upper class women wield today will surely penetrate to the bottom section of the society eventually. It is inevitable. It can happen in the very next generation if there is more awareness and awakening among all the individuals.

I sometimes feel my eyes blurred by all the loop-holes in our country, but these loop-holes are the very telescopes which clearly highlights  our weaknesses and should be used as a base to building a stronger, equal and a freer society.

Contradictions are replete in our life at every level: Whether to work or not work, love or arranged marriage, to start a new business or not and so many other things. The biggest contradiction is that of our present and our future. If we see the present as a potential seed for resolving conflicts, changing our perspectives – this seed may grow into a green and luscious tree in the future. Are we then doing enough in the present to ensure a brighter future for our succeeding generations?

Recently joined an art class to learn the basics of drawing. Drawing is a skill that ANYONE can learn. That is what I believe. It requires just 3 things: 1. Patience 2. Good eyesight 3. Hands & a pencil

Every drawing is an extension of ourselves on paper. Translating a three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional sheet is miraculous. You can lose the sense of time when you draw. However, the only problem I observe with a traditional art class in India is that drawing is taught like any other subject. Students are “prepared” for drawing exams rather than learning drawing for drawing’s sake. That is the same problem with the entire educational system in India. Children are “moulded” according to the teacher’s command rather than thinking for themselves and given complete freedom. Drawing class is “fun” but the approach they take in imparting the lessons can be more “freedom-oriented” than “exam-oriented”.

The rains had been continuous in Pondy for a few days. The weather is back to being sunny and pleasant.

The waking hours have extended. My day starts usually at 8 in the morning and ends at around 12pm in the night. There is nothing more satisfying than a busy and well-utilised day.

Finished reading the book “Parthiban Kanavu” a couple of weeks back. Loved the story. The story is that of Parthiban – the Chola king who is under the rule of Pallavas. Parthiban dreams of a free and self-ruling Chola land extending from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. However, Parthiban gets defeated and is killed in the battle with Pallava ruler Narasimha Varman. The dream of Parthiban is ultimately fulfilled by his son, Vikraman. One man’s aspiration can change the world. One Chola king’s aspiration got fulfilled 300 years later with the rule of kings like Raja Raja chola and Rajendra Chola. The romance between Vikraman and Narasimhan Varman’s daughter Kundavai is portrayed very beautifully. Reading about  good romance always makes me feel good.Will write a detailed review of the story soon.

There is no limit to our dreams or aspirations. They will always be fulfilled. That is the essence of “Parthiban Kanavu” brought out beautifully in the story interwoven with historical characters and events.

For now I bid bye to my computer and get back to reading the book “Aayirathil Oruvar” written by Sri Karmayogi.

Reeling down to the present, my boss (an American too) started a series of discussions on Sri Aurobindo’s Life Divine. And these talks are being recorded on mp3 as well and I am yet again taking down notes as I listen to them Life is indeed responding to my deepest aspiration. I had always wanted to learn and know about our universe, creation, god, our destiny, life, evil, solution to problems etc. I used to crave to attend such calls or discussions. Now, it is happening right in my office

My other deepest wish has been to read about India, understand the rich heritage of India and ultimately work for Indian development. There is something about India that attracts me. No, I am not at all patriotic. But, just the word “India” brings up so many beautiful and diverse images in my mind, it leaves me even feeling emotional at times

My brother had gifted me my first book on India “Freedom at Midnight” (though I haven’t read the book so far). I start the discovery into India and its deep and rich past with the book on “War and Diplomacy in Kashmir 1947-48″ by C. Dasgupta. Kashmir has been a problem for so long, it makes me wonder what’s wrong.

My dream and vision for 15th August 2010 is that the Kashmir issue be resolved completely (however that may be) and the people in that heavenly place get to see unity, peace and prosperity. (Being a little overzealous, I also wish for local terrorism in the form of naxalism etc also see a natural end).

What is it that makes man go behind perfection? At every step in life, we realise that there is something higher in store for us. For instance, first, my father had a cycle in the 50′s & 60′s. When his salary increased he went for a 2-wheeler(70′s/80s) and then from a car(90′s) to an SUV(2000′s). We may call this man’s increasing “physical desires”. At the same time, we can also see a parallel thread of rising human aspiration. We want to be better each day. We want to achieve something this year which we have not achieved the previous year. Goals, ambitions, desires, quest for perfection & happiness. We seem to always be in pursuit of something.

I was observing a pattern in my own life. I have been to parties, discos, long distance drives with family, hanging out with friends, family picnics, functions etc, But every time I did something, I always felt a void in me. A void that there is something better or higher in life than a mere party. Something more sensible than a mere friends-gossip session. One part of me felt, I was being too serious about life. The other part of me felt that all I was seeking was for a greater experience. A greater event. I could not explain this phenomenon.

Hundreds of questions passed through my mind everyday (they still do). That’s when I found the light gleam in the dark tunnel. Finally some words that felt like an answer to my restlessness. Which made me calm down and realise that this quest for perfection has been man’s highest ideal.

Quoting Sri Aurobindo’s words from the 1st paragh of Life Divine:

“The earliest preoccupation of man in his awakened thoughts and, as it seems, his inevitable and ultimate preoccupation, – for it survives the longest periods of scepticism and returns after every banishment, – is also the highest which his thoughts can envisage. It manifests itself in the divination of Godhead, the impulse towards perfection, the search after pure Truth and unmixed Bliss, the sense of a secret immortality.“

Essence: The quest for perfection, pure Truth, unmixed Bliss, immortality has been man’s earliest preoccupation and also the highest ideals his thoughts can envisage. These questions keep returning to us after every banishment.

Beautiful lines.