Welcoming 2k12

Welcoming 2k12……..

‘You have been created one of a kind - there has never been one like you and there never will be again’ As I was reading this sentence, my world halted around me….. is it true? Is my life so significant? Or is it some figment of imagination, I pondered.
We move around in the world as one among 7 billion mortals with an embedded thought that no one is indispensible. You are nothing great. Irrespective of your participation, the world moves on or the show must go on – is what we have grown up with. That the world is far from perfect and your existence is just another miniscule insignificant event in the evolution of the universe. It really does not matter. And now here is a line that shatters all these and boldly reiterates that my life is as significant as any other on the planet.
‘Everything matters’ the book continues to state. I decide to take it on face value and dabble in it. Feels nice, I think to myself. Feels important.  Suddenly the dwarf in me with all its doubts, fears and disappointments in life is smashed to smithereens. As I reason I realize that nature with all its glory has weaved a design and every pattern that it weaves is made of millions of us. Just think about it .It has been empirically proven that each human being has a distinct thumb impression that is unique and the buck does not stop here. Each person has hair that is unique and no other person can have a similar strand of hair. The same is true with the DNA – the genetic code. Nature’s creativity is fathomless – imagine having 7 billion and more (if we include those who have been dead and gone) distinct thumb impressions and hair fabric.So much diversity driven to perfection that each human palm is unique.

And so if each one of us is unique it automatically follows that any efforts to standardize or classify into commonalities is just meaningless. The talk of the ‘common man’ is a facade. Every quality in a human being is unique and perhaps symbolically expressed as 33 crores Gods and demigods in the Sanatan Dharma – more popularly known as the Hinduism. As I write , I realize that as on 1st January 2012, at this moment the universe is not  complete without me.  Nature found it necessary to create each one of us as a divine design with a clear vision and focus. Although we may not know the divine intent and our role in it, we do know that each one of us is endowed and entitled to use the unique qualities within us to make life a meaningful journey. Just like the fingerprints, the spirit within, the thoughts, the feelings, the ability to reason and take action is inimitable. When they say ‘realize yourself’, all one needs is to understand one’s potential based on the unique qualities that one is born with and have the conviction to create. We need to kindle the spirit and keep it glowing despite the situation for it is these vibrations that would ultimately help you to change and create your own world.
After all ‘the butterfly effect’ manifests itself in the form of a tsunami. The vibrations from a butterfly flapping its wings at one end of the globe can result, through the permutations of the nature’s forces around, into a multiplier effect that can cause a tsunami at the other end of the globe. When we understand this, then every moment becomes a progressive step in life’s voyage.
As we welcome 2K12, let us all step in with this conviction, as the world is full of possibilities and options. All we need to do is to bring ourselves to realize the immense potential within and match it with the opportunities outside to create our own world.

Anagha Hunnurkar
1st January 2012

Arts or Science, Commerce first!

Arts or Science? Commerce first!

As man tried to unfold the secrets of nature, eternal laws like the law of gravity or laws of motion were established. The world continued to evolve and every theory was put to test.  As ideas keep boiling, new thoughts are churned;. e.g critics like Socrates had pointed out that the study of physics was purely speculative, and lacking in self-criticism. He was particularly concerned that some of the early physicists treated nature as if it could be assumed that it had no intelligent order, explaining things merely in terms of motion and matter.

Modern thinking in fact accepts the intelligent order in everything around us. The mango seed has in it the wisdom or knowledge of sprouting into a mango tree and bearing mangoes, which just can’t be replicated by any other seed, mutant or otherwise.

Coming back to the  laws of gravitation, they  were further explored and  Einstein’s   theory of relativity , e = mc²  , that underscored that the speed of light as the fastest, became the basis of physics only after being tested repeatedly over and over again. The speed of light — 186,282 miles per second (299,792 kilometers per second) — has long been considered a cosmic speed limit. And while the world moved on, there is now a breakaway discovery that could wipe out the earlier thinking. There is an astonishing uncovering by one of the leading laboratories of the world , CERN, based at Geneva,  that there have been particles named neurotics,  existing for billions of years that actually moved faster than light which in a way questions the Einstein equation. While further research would corroborate the findings, one thing remains certain  - ‘change’ is the only constant.

Here is a suggestion for a similar ‘change’ in the modern day textbooks. When we start studying a new subject  - be it physics, chemistry, geology, astronomy, economics, accountancy, management science, political science, liberal arts, life science etc., before delving on the definitions and other minutiae, there is invariably a chapter on discussing whether the subject is an art or a science?

Let us take the example of a surgeon. No doubt that he has qualified himself through a structured study in theory and practice. Yet there is an art of handling the scalpel that ultimately, distinguishes the skill of the surgeon. Thus every chapter delves whether the subject is an art or science and concludes that almost every subject is an art as well as a science. And yet no book ever deals with the fact whether the subject is ‘commerce’?

The material world that we live in, recognition mostly comes in the guise of wealth and unless the art or the science has the ability of being exploited commercially, its opulence is not valued .Take the example of the author JK Rowling, who was a pauper before Harry Potter was a runaway hit. Was she not talented before Harry Potter? Yes she was, albeit, the world took note of her only when success made her the pillion rider.

In the world of Indian music , Shankar Mahadevan could establish himself , through ‘Breathless’ a genre that was different from the contemporary. Recently Dhanush came out with the Tamlish song – Kolaveri di, a runaway hit, again for being different. In fact going further, the entire exercise of ‘branding’ is in fact being distinct and yet the irony is no actor or artist wants to be ‘branded’

So the order of the day is ‘paradigm shift’ in doing things that has the potential to generate commercial success. Hence the effort   should be to create awareness of ‘commerce’ and while a subject is being evaluated on the yardstick of science or art, it should also delve on the locus whether it is ‘Commerce’. Would surely make life easy…what say?

Anagha Hunnurkar

25^th December 2011

Radhekrishna

Krishna : Arjun &  Radhekrishna

Shaila had just returned from a trip to North India. “I tell you, when we visited Kurukshetra , there was just no sign of battle field at all’ ‘Half of Mathura is full of  mosques’ she was narrating, and pondering - ‘I wonder  whether Mahabharat is real or fictional.’

One would realize that it is rather easy to document history than ‘visualize’ and create content  with such intricate details of each and every character, complicated story line and the interplay of dynasties to create Mahabharat – a grand epic by the great sage Maharshi Ved Vyas. At the same time when history is narrated, it is based on the writer’s perception of events, because obviously, he is not a witness to every scene. Based on the documents, facts and narratives of those who witnessed, a homogenous story is weaved and there is some level of ‘poetical freedom’ that adds an aura to the epic.

There is always some mysticism as old civilizations replace new and traces of the yore are enveloped by time. Both Ramayan and Mahabharat are epics that have been read and re-read for generations and the magic of Ram & Krishna fills every heart of the faithful.

Yet for a second, let us imagine that Krishna and the whole of Mahabharat and Bhagwat Purana was a work of fiction. Two relationships that have been eternalized are that of Krishna  and Arjun &  Krishna and Radha:

Krishna and Arjun: they are cousins by birth, close friends, symbols of man & God and the zenith of their relationship is  the narration of  the Bhagvad Geeta on the battle field by Yogeshwar Krishna to his disciple the brave Arjun with an assurance that a total surrender is liberation. The Krishna Arjun dialogue symbolizes the Guru shishya parampara of asking questions, quenching doubts and attaining clear vision.

Now let us see the relationship of Krishna & Radha – it can be crystallized in just two words: Eternal Love. Radha’s love towards Krishna in the terrestrial meaning is not just the relation between a man and woman. The feeling of this love is divine and phenomenal which gives this love a pious form. It extinguishes the distance of the support and supportive to materialize as Radhekrishna. Whether it is Krishna’s murli, Radha’s peacocks, the peacock feather sported by Krishna and their past times, it all emerges that Radha is the soul of Krishna - further immortalized by Jaidev’e Geet Govind.

 Both Radha & Arjuna are at once on an equal plane with Krishna and at the same time have surrendered fully to Krishna, the supreme being. Krishna is friend (equal) and Guru (higher) to Arjuna. Krishna is Radha’s soul mate (equal) and Lord (higher) Is it not amazing that you find them on two planes at the same time and still fully appreciate the submerging of the two planes.

The Krishna Arjuna pair symbolizes the path of knowledge /action (Dnyan and karma Yog ) and the Radha Krishna pair symbolizes the path of devotion  (bhakti yog ) – all leading to one goal – liberation.

Anagha Hunnurkar

11^th December 2011

Chalo Delhi !

Chalo Delhi !

‘Madam ,you will need at least 8 hours to reach Delhi’ The reception officer at the Claridges was telling Swati.

But the internet shows just five hours from Mussourie to Delhi, Swati pondered as she approached the group. What should we do? When should we start? Better start early than regret – suggested Tanvi. ‘Best is let’s ask the driver’ ‘Kuldeepji, how long will it take to reach Delhi?’

‘Arre Sahab, koi badi baat nahi hai ji. Bas che ghanton mein pahuncha doonga’quipped the driver.

Ok then let’s have breakfast and start by nine am. After all the map is showing a distance of  283 kilometers. We all were delighted and retired for our last night after having spent a wonderful holiday –Haridwar, Hrishikesh and now Mussourie. However enchanting the nature, one thing finally remains true, after all the fun & frolic , one is always so delighted to return home.

We all assembled at the breakfast table, luggage packed, ready for pick up . ‘The road is winding through the hills. Let’s not eat much’ a wise advice but the spread was so delightful and inviting that our taste buds spelt riot in our minds. Yet with an earnest control, all of us had a frugal breakfast. As we checked out, our luggage was firmly fastened on the carrier of the Innova   and no sooner had we taken our seats, the car sped through the rich vegetation of spruce and junipers bidding farewell to Mussourie.

The serpentine road with its deep bends and curves and the rising trees –the scene was picture perfect to the eyes but not so welcome to the stomach. The amla supari packet was opened – a sureshot remedy for road sickness. Each was given handful to keep munching so that the sour juice could keep vomiting at bay. The driver was continually requested to go slow but empty roads are so inviting to a seasoned driver. The car kept speeding through the beautiful hills.

And the inevitable happened. Neel was feeling sick since morning and was in deep sleep when all of a sudden he woke up only to vomit. The car had to be halted , cleaned and took off valuable 45 minutes from our schedule. On the way we also realized that although the map indicated 283 kilometers, the actual distance by road was much longer due to winding roads.  

As we sped past Dehradun and approached Sahranpur, the road was dusty and crowded.The hills had long given way to the plains.O what a difference! We also  realized that we were behind schedule. TSo to keep note , we started calculating the time spent and the kilometers covered. Sometimes the average used to come at 45,  sometimes 60. Like an ODI where we keep tab on balls left and runs needed, we were keeping a tab on our score. As we reached Muzaffarnagar, we had to go in the city to pay the road tax. Wonder why the RTO is not having a cell on the highway itself. Like toll tax, if road tax is to be collected from all non UP vehicles, why not have a booth on the bypass itself, knowing fully well that the road leads to the most visited places like Haridwar and a regular tourist path. But then customer convenience and state administration do not always work hand in hand. Another 45 minutes were lost in this entire milieu. So to make over for the lost time, we decided to skip further halts for any snacks/lunch etc and decided to make do with whatever eats we had carried with us for the journey.

The car sped forward to Meerut and by the time we reached Modinagar it was already 4 pm. The road was choc a bloc and our flight was at 6 pm. I was discussing with Swati, whether we could call up someone in Delhi so that we could request them to do some arrangement –as  I was suggesting one name after the other, suddenly I thought about calling up Air India. The call just could not get through. It was 4.45 pm and we were still at Modinagar.  We could clearly see that we were losing our own ODI.

The spirit within would not but just give up. And as I kept trying the voice on the other side said: May I help you? Eureka ! I had managed to get the line. I told the person about our flight details and to our delight , the voice on the other side said that the flight is delayed by an hour and would leave at 7 pm. ‘Madam, since you are at Modinagar, you will easily reach because the doors do not close before 45 minutes and we allow passengers who are stranded’ , assured the voice. But my inner voice did not agree.

‘Thanks please but could you tell me whether we could reschedule our flight and take a latter one?’

‘Yes Madam, you could do that but you will have to pay the differential fare and additional fee of Rs.500 per ticket. Since you are six passengers, bahut kharcha hoga Maa’m’ ‘Is there no way, you could help me? We are in a very bad traffic jam and there is no way but to sit in the car and wait for it to clear’ I wailed.

‘let me check and come back, Can you please hold?’ said the voice. ‘O sure’ –I  

‘Maa’m I have good news for you. When a flight is delayed, the passengers have two options: either they can take the rescheduled flight or they can change the flight, with no extra fee.’ ‘O wow, then in that case can you please reschedule it to 9 pm ?’ What a relief I said to myself. In no time our flight was changed and was told the procedure to be followed once I reach airport.’ As I thanked the ‘voice’ there was again a delight and a sigh of relief amongst the team. The traffic too started clearing and by and by we reached Ghaziabad.

As we reached the outskirts of Delhi through Ghaziabad , we were again welcomed by a snarling traffic jam. This is  truly becoming like the  movie ‘Chalo Delhi’ said Tanvi. One by one we were trying to overcome hurdles, and new hurdles were surfacing. By the time we reached Delhi on the way to the airport, we realized that Formula 1 race was over and the traffic to the airport would also be dense. Yet all through the journey God was on our side.  When HE had decided to reach us safely to Mumbai , who could come in our way?

Finally we reached Delhi Airport. The flight which was to take off at 9 pm, flew only at11.45 pm and we reached our Mumbai home- sweet home to snuggle in our warm beds at 3 am.

Our version of Chalo Delhi!

Anagha Hunnurkar

20^th November 2011

Haridwar - On the banks of Ganges

Haridwar - On the banks of Ganges


‘Madam, hurry up please’
‘Yes! I’m coming!’

I rushed out of the hotel room with Akhilesh and Neel in tow. As I clambered down the staircase, the punditji at the reception folded his hands in a Pranam and rose up to guide us to the location.  He had been specially arranged by the Hotel to enable us a glimpse of Ganga Aarti. The veneration of the Ganges, more like a mother than just a river.

We hurried out of the hotel, which was situated at the banks of the great Ganga and paced across the embankment or the ghat . It was a five minute walk but the Aarti would start any moment. We had managed to reach Haridwar just in time to have a quick shower and rush for the Aarti.  My heart was keeping tempo with punditji’s stride but the feet were falling short the pace. The kids easily marched with punditji. Not wanting to be delayed I started running across the walkway .On the way we started hearing the Aarti. ‘It’s only for 5-6 minutes’ Punditji was explaining. As we walked over the bridge the loudspeaker bellowed the Aarti .It was Anuradha Paudwal’s sweet voice. She was joined by thousands of devotees who sang in harmony to her chantings. As we sat on the foot steps of the bridge slowly the scene unfolded itself.
The Ganges was flowing rapidly between the two banks of the ghat. On one side was the clock tower opposite Har ki paudi or pairi, a familiar site , having seen  so many of its pictorial representations before and on the other side were the temples of Ganga Mataji. The area is woven into promenades, river channels and bridges that create a pleasant riverfront ambience, with the major ghats and religious activity clustered around the Har-ki-Pairi temple. Metal chains are placed in the river to protect bathers from being swept away by swift currents.
 It was dusk and the spectacular daily ceremony of Ganga Arati was being witnessed by thousands of people spawned onto both sides of the embankment. The priests were holding the huge brass oil lamps, which were tapering upwards in a spiral of seven storey. On every level,  oil lamps were housed in a neat circular array. The lamps set alight and aglow, gave a feeling of a towering mountain of fire, petering out as it rose. The priests were waving the lamp in encirclement to the tune of the music, the conches and the gongs. What a site. There were 21 such aartis across the ghat and as the flames or deepshikhas swayed up and down, their reflection in the rapidly flowing waters of the Ganges created dancing flames on water. Coupled with the cool breeze , it was a melting point of heat and cold.
The atmosphere was laden rich in holiness and one felt so blessed to have been able to witness the sight.  While the eyes were shut in reverence, the next moment they were opening to seep in the beautiful sight that lay in front. The mind and body struggle – whether to look inward or look outward. While you were amidst thousands of people, yet you were all alone merged with the divinity.
 In minutes, the Aarti was concluded and the crowd dispersed. The punditji promised us that the next day we would be able to actually stand at the banks with oil lamps in hand and do the Gangarti ourselves. The very next day we were ushered into one of the temples lined up at the embankment. There was recital and chanting, the priest, performed the pooja and we followed though the rituals that finally culminated into the Aarti described above.
After the Aarti, the priest took a lamp that was placed on a bed of flowers in a small boat made out of leaves. All eco freindly material I noted. In fact there was no use of plastic bags either, anywhere in Haridwar, I had observed.  He took us to the embankment once again and with the mighty Ganges as the witness recited some mantras. Now a new scene unfurled itself and the priest while reciting prayers took promises from us to feed the poor, the Brahmins and the cows. He also requested us to make a sankalpa of offering ghee for the lamps. It all sounded so very pious and divine. After all charity, service and holiness go hand in hand, we thought. At the end of it all we lay the leaf boats in the river and the lamps kept flowing with the river current far far away into anonymity.
With our hearts full, our spirits enlivened and our soul levitated we came back to the temple. The priest told us that the promises that we made on the banks translated to Rs. 12001/- .That was the shock of the day. All the positivity and elation just evaporates when you realize that all along, the priest was viewing us as a bakra for fleecing a good sum.  As I reflect back I think the priests have been implanted there by the Almighty so that suddenly there is not an upsurge of thousands of souls seeking salvation. So the priests, by their devious ways of demanding a ransom, do the role of bringing us back to the material world with a bang or a thud. We settled for a sum that we had predefined in our mind but in the process we learnt a valuable lesson. When we live in a material world, like any other service, the pricing of this service should have been decided by us well in advance. After all it is said that administration cannot be run on emotions.

Yet on a positive note, the Ganga Aarti  is one of the most structured charismatic presentations of the divinity by mankind, which gives an immense sense of fulfillment. Truly Haridwar – the gate of the Lord.

Anagha Hunnurkar
5th November 2011

Stay hungry, stay foolish –Salaam Steve Jobs

Stay hungry, stay foolish –Salaam Steve Jobs

Dussehra morning! As Supriya woke up to the thoughts of revelries and happiness of the day, her face lit up. After the morning routines and rituals, she logged in to see  the emails.

Her daughter had written to her: Ma, did you see, Steve Jobs died? He's been one of my personal idols and I remember when I was extremely depressed, his speech helped me get through it. Ma his words, ‘Sometimes life is going to hit you with a brick. Don't lose faith.’ Still ring in my ears. Supriya  could sense the loss and the pain that her daughter felt in his passing away.

As Supriya read the email, her memory flashed that he was suffering from cancer, his commencement address - hugely circulated on emails as one of the most inspirational talks etc. etc but her daughter’s email surfaced another shade of his yeomen service to humanity – his words served like a salve to the wounded soul. A young girl struggling all alone away from the family to find a foothold in the great US of A found solace in her most distressing moments. Imagine how comforting it is to a mother’s heart.

When one looks at the chronology of events, the background, of a man who was dying, all of 56 - one is struck with awe and admiration. There were fair chances of Steve becoming another unknown unsung person but it was his philosophy and the 'never say die' spirit that made him what he was. In his own words: “Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Irrespective of the product, whether the Lisa, Mac, iPod or iTunes, the common code was that he had the vision of knowing what the customer would want tomorrow rather than working on what the customer needs today.

Supriya’s thoughts drifted to her childhood – She remembered how  as a child, all of twelve or thirteen , she  had once asked her Dad as to what would be his message to her as a daughter…..He had then said : Be ready to die , any day, any moment. The child in her was flabbergasted then but as she grew up she realized the potency of those words.

Today we know that Apple’s iPhone, the brainchild of Steve Jobs (1955-2011) gained immense popularity since its launch in 2007 and remains the star performer among all Apple products. While Steve Jobs was at the helm, the company went from one success to another, always staying ahead of the competition and taking away a huge chunk of profits. The iPhone 4S was just released a day before he passed away – may be as a salute or a swan song of this great magician.

No doubt not only Apple but the world will miss this great leader who has steered the company to such great heights. Steve Jobs – you not only gave Apple and its amazing products to the world but you enriched the world itself by the power of your words.

The celebrated poet John Donne had written a  sonnet ‘Death be not proud!’ in which he ends up saying:Death you shall die.How aptly it applies to you, Steve.You continue to live in our hearts.

Amen!

Anagha Hunnurkar

8^th October,  2011

Dreamz unlimited

Dreamz unlimited

Generations of children have grown up reading and hearing bedtime stories, fables, parables and other pieces of fiction. Almost each one of these stories ends up with a moral. As one looks back at some of these stories, one wonders whether due thought was given to the lasting impression that would be made on the readers, who by and far are small children. No sooner did this realization dawn on me I was taken aback. Surely there would have been a thinking process, I thought to myself. 

Even while directing /producing a film, the filmmaker lays lot of emphasis on the ending because it leaves a lasting impression on the audience that can make or mar the success of the film.

While warding off this thought was the most immediate reaction, a deeper analysis made a startling revelation. Take the example of the most famous story of the rabbit and the tortoise. To start with, the stage is set for unfair competition only to demonstrate the ‘twist’ in the tale. While it seeks to glorify virtues of being slow and steady; it negates the qualities of the nimbler footed rabbit. The tortoise, on his part does not bother to wake up the rabbit and goes to win the race. Mind you, both were friends. If a friend does this to you in real life, will you like it?  A recent email forward rewrote the story wherein it brings to the fore the strength of each player. To start with, both tortoise and rabbit set a common goal. The story goes on to say that the rabbit carries the tortoise on his back and they  set for the journey. On the way, they come across a river and now it is the tortoise’s turn. The rabbit piggybacks on the tortoise, which swims to the other shore. Thus both manage to reach the goal by putting their respective strengths to work and set a concrete example of co-operation rather than cut-throat competition.

Similarly,  the story of the Sun and the Wind, where both argue as to who is stronger. Then they both set to prove each one’s might by using their powers on a human being who is passing by. The challenge is to make the human remove the shawl that he has wrapped around him. The Wind blows and blows. The result: The man clutches to his shawl all the more tightly than ever before. Then it is the turn of the Sun. The Sun scorches and scorches till the point comes when the human being can’t bear it any more and throws of the shawl. This signifies the victory of the Sun over the wind and a mute lesson on rivalry.

Take the story of the ‘milkmaid and her pail’ who wishes to make it big one day. On the way to the market as she is carrying her pail of milk on her head, she sets her thoughts to work a way to get rich. ‘I will sell this milk and save some of the money’ ‘A time will come when I can then buy more cows’ ‘With higher sales, I will set up a poultry’ …the story goes on and on and at one point the milkmaid thinks to herself ‘Then I will be invited to a grand party and I will wear a new dress’ At that moment the girl scornfully tosses her head in rejection at the thought of all the young men who woo her at the dance that she was to attend. With that she nods her head and the pail comes toppling down, crashing all her dreams. The moral: Don’t day dream. Think intently, is it the dream that brought the misfortune or is it the scorn that slowly came creeping in the mind?  All was well till the point that she was pursuing her commercial activities. It was only when negativity slithered in her psyche that things went wrong. Instead of planting fear about dreams per se in general, would it not be worthwhile to have the moral as: Dream Big in wakefulness.

When the children read these morals just before bedtime, imagine the impression on the sub conscious mind, which is said to be active and assimilating all the information while we are asleep. Today the world has bore the brunt of harmful competition be it real wars or brand wars. At the same time we know that it is only those who dared to dream big, made it Big.

Anagha Hunnurkar

1^st October 2011.

musings: And they lived happily ever after.

musings: And they lived happily ever after.

Catch them young!

Catch them young!

There is a story of a Sufi saint who embraced Sufism at a very early age. When he was a child, his mother wanted some fuel to light the chulha to cook food and requested her 5 year old to get some firewood. The lad set out in the woods nearby and brought a large log of wood all the way dragging to his house. “Ammi, here is the wood’ When his mother saw it, she said, ‘My child, this is too big for the chulha’

‘I know Ammi but why bother to bring several small twigs and splinters, which would take more of your time. So I thought better to bring a big one at one go, so that you have enough firewood for the day’.

The mother laughed amusingly. ‘On the contrary, my child, besides the fact that it will take too long to burn, there will be too much smoke everywhere. Go and fetch smaller twigs so that they burn well, give enough fire for cooking and there is not much smoke’

 The mother was narrating the practicalities of life but left a thought trail in the child’s mind. As he went to fetch firewood he thought to himself, ‘Just like the twigs, I am also small now and so could easily be possible to draw closer to God and to more fully embrace the Divine Presence. Once I grow big then I will be like the fire log, full of smoke. Like the smoke I will be filled with negativities. Then I will have to first get rid of the smoke through repentance from sin, the purging of contemptible qualities and evil traits of character, and its only then that I will be able to ignite the fire within - connect with my true inner nature and the Lord’ No sooner did this realization dawn on the little child, he left the stack of wood at the doorstep of his house and left in search of God only to later emerge as a Sufi saint.

How true it is! Whatever we do in the childhood becomes the bedrock of our later life. I remember once while chatting with my sister, she happened to say that making rotis is so easy while it took very long to learn bhakris. She  reflected that as children we always used to vie for making chapatis and mom used to leave some flour for both of us .The rotis then used to end up in varied maps of India but what we learnt then , we never forgot in our later lives. We had no such opportunity with bhakris and so they continue to pose a challenge even today. Or for that matter , my mother in law who is known for wonderfully soft, delicate  & thin bhakris had told me how at the tender age of twelve, she had to cook for her father as her mother had died very early and there was no one else to cook in the house. Her father ungrudgingly used to eat whichever way the bhakri was made. The lessons learnt in those tender years helped her to graduate into the making the most lovely bhakris that I have ever eaten.

Then there was Saru – never attended college or lectures. At about two months before exams, she used to ask us the portion and then Saru was a regular fixture at the library. She used to literally start at page 1 and we all used to wonder how she would be managing all the subjects, in such a short time only to find her name topping the result sheet displayed on the notice board – a la the 3 Idiots fame Rancchoddas Shamaldas Chanchad ‘Rancho’.

As children, we were never allowed to spend summer or winter vacations without some definite activity. We could pursue anything – embroidery, crochet, reading books,  just anything in the afternoon (no going out in the sun). Only then were we allowed to go for playing in the evening.  We used to so much love to play carom or playing cards instead. All that was allowed only after we had invested some time in reading or such other activity. It helped us to mould ourselves into a value system that made me fearless towards any dogmas and as we grew up we developed a tendency to free thinking unfettered by any superstitious allegiance to any isms, political or religious. I could improve upon my handwriting and started writing in running script only due to these indulgences in vacation. We never realized the value then but now hold us in good steed.  

Then there was a demon called Mathematics in our tiny lives and later the same demon revisited our house when my children were growing up. The seers say that mother is ‘Pratham Guru’  but to tackle this demon I was fortunate to have two: Aai and Somankaka. The invincible riders in geometry, the cos, sin & tan of trigonometry and yes who can forget the derivatives & integration of the calculus….all these fangs of the multi-hooded cobra called Mathematics were demolished by these two gurus who worked so selflessly to enable me to overcome the numeric horror so much so that by the time I reached college I had in fact learnt to take over these challenges to a stage that more difficult the sum the greater the kick in solving it.. Then years rolled by and one day I saw the same fear in my daughter’s eyes. She was wailing that she could not manage Maths. It was then that I told her to approach Maths on a horse back like Jhansi ki Rani rather than a fearful mouse. ‘It is only then that you will be able to overcome the fear?’ I told her. (Self experience, you see) ‘But how to ride, Ma’ There was an astounded look in her eyes.  ‘You will see’ I had told her then and almost everyday we solved sums for two hours. She was in 6^th standard then and the same girl who wept in class as she could not answer the Maths teacher’s question then, bagged 98/100 in her Board exams.

As they say – it’s all in the mind. Powerful that it is, it can be the worst enemy as well as the best friend. Choice is yours.

Anagha Hunnurkar

September 24, 2011

And they lived happily ever after.

And they lived happily ever after.

The bright Sun shone majestically in the sky and after a long time Mumbai got respite from the rains. Mumbaikars were so used to the cloudy gloomy sky for the last four months that a clear sky was a welcome sight. A perfect time for a short picnic, Arnav announced as he came back from his morning walk. Purba’s face lit up. Wow! What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday.

‘Let me quickly prepare the picnic basket’ chirped Purba delightfully.

‘Don’t bother dear, we will just eat in the hotel’-Arnav

‘No way! Kids would fall sick and then the joy of the picnic would be all lost if they miss school’ –Purba

Arnav shrugged his shoulders and left the decision to his wife. ‘Would you please ready the kids, Arnav?’

‘No no, I want to check on the car and besides before leaving I want to make a few phone calls. Darling, you are so good with all these things, please you manage.’ Arnav carefully worded his response but Purba was not naïve – she got the message loud and clear. At the same time she knew that the earlier they wrap up, longer could they have time for a day out.

As she scurried to the kitchen, she paused for starting the washing machine on the way. While busy at it she mentally decided the menu – sandwiches, aloo paratha, curd rice. At the kitchen platform, she put the potatoes & rice in the cooker on one side, she started making preparation for chatni, took the butter from the fridge and got on to the job at hand.

‘A cup of coffee darling’ Arnav hollered from the drawing room. Purba wiped the sweat off her brow. She did not want to tip the apple cart and quietly got on to put the milk to boil on the gas stove.

‘Kajal darling, wake up dear. Papa is taking us for a picnic’ She bellowed from the kitchen. No time to go to childrens’ room and wake her up she thought to herself. But Kajal was a smart kid. She refused to get up at such wake up calls, that too on a Sunday and just tossed herself from one side to other and merrily continued to sleep. After many trials finally Purba had to give up and went to the bedroom to wake up Kajal. While leaving the kitchen she made sure that the coffee was served, the potatoes were cut into halves, ready for peeling and the rice was spread to cool. As she entered the childrens’ bedroom she paused – O what a wonderful sight. Kajal and little Chotu were both in deep sleep and looked so very innocent. She nudged Kajal, kissed her on the forehead and beckoned her to wake up. The faster that they got ready, the earlier they could leave, she convinced the seven year old. ‘My darling angel, go and brush, I have made semia upma for you.’ Kajal jumped out of the bed at the mention of her favorite dish and Purba was back in the kitchen.

While Kajal was having her breakfast Chotu also woke up and toddled to the kitchen. ‘Mummy pick me up ’ he kept urging to Purba. ‘Kajal dear take care of your little brother’

 ‘Why should I mommy – he is such a pest’-Kajal ‘No beta, he is your little brother, the apple of your eye’ urged Purba

‘Hmph, he is rather the worm in the apple’ the witty girl responded.

‘Don’t say that darling. He is God’s gift to you’ –Purba

‘But mommy I asked for a little sister and when I realized that God is not giving , then I prayed for a puppy – not this fellow’ –Kajal.

Purba did not know to laugh or cry. Here she was busy and there the little one needed attention. Arnav had already left to check on the car. She lifted the baby and while holding him in one arm, continued to cook with the other. She kissed Chotu on the cheek. Chotu was now comfortable. In this entire milieu the washing machine was ready with washed clothes. She hurriedly went to the washroom, brushed Chotu’s teeth and lifted the clothes from the washing machine into the bucket. Ready for the maid to hang them on the clothesline.  She quickly mixed some milk with the upma in a bowl and settled Chotu at the dining table for the breakfast. In the meantime she told Kajal to go for bath and get ready.

Before going back to the kitchen she quickly went to the wardrobe to take out the clothes for the children and herself. She was literally fighting against time, she thought. The Goddess Durga with eight arms now made sense to her. Surely the Goddess could not have managed to take care of the world with just two arms? She thought to herself.

Purba so much needed help. Initially, she had tried very hard to get a full time maid but was not easy. She had to let do with a top servant and had finally resigned to take on the domestic responsibilities along with her job. Irritated initially, she realized that the family ties were much stronger as the kids loved her food and valued the time she spent with them.

By and by the family was ready for the day. As the car sped through the beautiful countryside Purba sitting in the front seat besides Arnav, had a satisfied happy existence, with soft music floating in the air.  The children were chirping on the back seat. ‘Momma see that bird’ ‘Papa , the AC is not coming behind’ etc etc.

She then realized that while every fairy tale had a happy ending, in real life someone has to toil for a happy ending.  

Anagha Hunnurkar

18^th September 2011.

Harry Potter & Tales of Krishna

Harry Potter & Tales of Krishna

Saturday afternoon, soft rain pattering on the window sill and a hot cuppa of freshly brewed coffee with a lovely book to read – a perfect picture of peace and serenity. As I was prying through my books to pick up the right one, the TV in the drawing room caught my attention as Ajay Devgan was belting fiery dialogues in high decibels. The movie in question was ‘Singham’ – a 2011 Hindi remake of Tamil film. It had the makings of a normal masala film a la Janjeer or Don of the 70’s & 80’s that gave Amitabh Bachhan the image of a angry young man. The film is centered around  Bajirao Singham (Ajay Devgan) a brave and honest policeman with fire in his belly,  all set to ‘serve his nation’ in a police vardi. The story winds itself through known course of   high-voltage stunts, slow-motion action cuts and larger-than-life powerful action-emotional drama. 

As I was watching the stunts, I was also reminded of a different type of action packed suspense movie –Air Force One. Was wondering – what is it in them,  that these movies command such immense repeat value? These films are loved by the masses and the classes, the men and the women, the young and the old, the rich and the poor alike. Singham is the kind of film which keeps the viewer glued to the storyline and gives him the solace that there is hope of a fight against corruption! The triumph of good over evil! With spicy dialogues flavored with Marathi clichés, heroism, death-defying action sequences and pulse pounding thrills, no matter how dismissive one might be of films that have no space for shades of grey, such films keep lovers of ‘action packed  potpourri’ engaged. 

A runaway super duper hit that comes to my mind is the character of Harry Potter - a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author J. K. Rowling. The books chronicle the adventures of the adolescent eleven year old Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's quest to overcome the evil dark wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aim is to subjugate non-magical people, conquer the wizarding world, and destroy all those who stand in his way. As children, we used to be so engrossed in reading Enid Blyton’s Famous Five and Secret Seven books that had similar plots. Never realized when we graduated to James Hadley Chase to Alistair Maclean and later on to Arthur Hailey. 

These books have gained immense popularity, critical acclaim and commercial success worldwide despite some fair share of criticism, including concern for the increasingly dark tone. 

One wonders as to how such unrealistic images and scenes appeal to the public eye when to a logical mind, this all sound superfluous. Despite knowing fully well that it is ‘old wine in new bottle’ the fantasies portrayed in these stories continue to enjoy public patronage. One gapes at all this with awe and disbelief but a careful review reveals that the mass appeal lies in many aspects that are effectively interwoven in the fabric called story line. 

Let me attempt to enumerate a few:

The famous utterances of Oliver Twist in Charles Dicken’s celebrated novel – ‘Please Sir, can I have some more?’  Is a expression of a meek force that tries to question the established system that tends to suck within itself the weak and fortify the powerful. Is it not the same stirring force that literally churned the nation to support Anna Hazare’s fight against corruption?

An additional interesting aspect of the plot is that the hero is but always coming from very humble background be it Harry Potter or Oliver Twist – both orphans or for that matter Slumdog Millionaire whose main hero is an adolescent from the zhuggis of Mumbai. There is fantasy and a coming of age flavor peppered with elements of mystery, thriller and romance.

One more common thread that these storylines share is that the enemy or the villain of the piece is very mighty and powerful while the hero though weak in terms of resources has a steely will power. The many heroes are symbolic faces of primarily good versus evil, with evil continually trying to corrupt and exploit good, but good winning out in the end.  Apart form the dogged determination, there is a deep suffering that triggers inborn and innate powers that surge forth in defiance, to root out the evil. There is thrill, suspense and drama entwined into a seamless story with a happy ending.

As the hero progressively faces social and emotional situations that give him a setback, he learns to overcome the problems that face him, including even ordinary teenage challenges such as friendships and exams, and the greater test of preparing himself for the confrontation that lies ahead. Many a times all this is portrayed through an effective tool –‘flashback’ 

Interestingly, these characters although imaginary co-exist in and within a known environment: Harry Potter & Oliver Twist in London, Air Force One deals with real life President of USA while Singham is portrayed in Goa. The environment completely separated from reality is intimately connected to it. This leads the reader /viewer to make believe that it can happen just anywhere, anytime or perhaps he also tends to identify himself with the hero. This is not restricted to men alone as women also identify themselves in such backdrops that make a Jhansi ki Rani or ‘Udaan’ based on Kiran Bedi’s biography and many more, runaway hits. By blending fiction to reality it tends to create a fine balance of truism to the larger than life superman type characters. A smooth transformation from real life to reel life and back , so to say.

When one delves deeper one realizes that this is not a recent phenomenon and dates back as early as humanity itself that makes legendary figures from the Ramayana, Mahabharata or even the Bible to live a life of magic, mystery, in born powers etc etc.

Let me take the life of Krishna as a representation of all the mythologies and folklore. Right from  the prophecy that Krishna will be the cause of  his uncle, Kansa’s death upto the point that Krishna is immortalized, the life sketch is a panorama of miracles and larger than life happenings which make the stories endearing even today almost 5000 years later. Be it  the  heroic feat of Vasudeva to take the new born baby Krishna from the prison cell to Nanda’s house, the suckling of the ogress Putana off her life by the infant Krishna, the taming of  the serpent Kaliya who poisoned the Yamuna river,  the lifting of Gowardhan all portray Krishna’s role as a protector of people. 

Lord Krishna advised the people of Vrindavan to take care of their animals and their environment (symbolically the Gowardhan hill) that provide them with all their necessities, instead of worshipping Indra annually by spending their resources. Was this not a spiritual movement started by Lord Krishna which went against the orthodox forms of worship of the Vedic gods such as Indra?

And then there is romance, song & dance too. The stories of his play with the gopis eternally portrayed as ‘raas leela’ in Jayadeva’s Geet Govind and the immortalized worship of Radha Krishna, to this day is a testimony to the captivation around these tales. 

As a young man, Krishna overthrew and killed his maternal uncle, Kansa, after avoiding several assassination attempts from Kansa's followers. He reinstated Kansa's father, Ugrasena, as the king of the Yadavas and became a leading prince at the court – the triumph of good over evil.

The pinnacle of Krishna’s brilliance is the Bhagwad Geeta, which is the bedrock of Hinduism – a way of life and has inspired many thinkers & philosophers to express the  potency of the fathomless epic be it the Dnyaneshwari, Geeta Rahasya, Geetai et all. Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta is a revered text and often described as a concise guide to Hindu theology besides being a practical, self-contained guide to life.

We also have the real life narratives of Chatrapati Shivaji , chronicled by eminent historians like Purandare , which are thrilling, full of valour & determination, and continue to inspire us.

All this reveals just one truth - that the main theme is triumph of life over death and justice over prejudice - irrespective of which cultural backdrop the storyline is based. It is the innate desire to be happy and devoid of suffering on one hand and the actual unhappiness or sorrows that one faces in real life that makes living in a world of fantasy, albeit for a brief time, a need, which is as crucial for the emotional satiation just as air, water, shelter are essential physical needs. 

It’s said that religion is opium for the masses. The success of these stories does reflect the need of some such opium to numb the pain of injustice and  cheating born out of indeterminate discrimination.

While learning to endure, what cannot be cured, these stories give a strong message, hope and solace against adversity. It’s the angst that finds expression .And so their success.

Anagha Hunnurkar

12^th September 2011

शोध

शोध
'अरे मी चष्मा कुठे ठेवला?'

इथे शोध, तिथे शोध. चष्मा  वापरून झाल्यावर अगदी नेटकेपणाने ठेवलेला  चष्मा कधी वेळेला मिळतच नाही. एकदा का तो ब्यागेत गेला की त्या अलीबाबाच्या पोतडीतल्या अनेक कप्प्यातून, कुठल्या कप्प्यात मिळेल  हे काही सांगता येत नाही. भरपूर शोधूनही नाही मिळाला  की आहेच मग इथे बघ अन तिथे बघ.

मग एखादा पोक्त सल्ला 'वेळीच नीट ठेवला की मग असा गोंधळ  होत नाही.'
'अहो, वेळीच नीट ठेवला होता पण आता नाही मिळत आहे 'आधीच चष्मा न मिळाल्यामुळे हैराण झालेले मन अजूनच कावून जाते.


 आपण जर विचार केला तर उमजते  की खरे तर प्रश्न नीट ठेवण्याचा नाहीच आहे.  प्रश्न आहे आठवण्याचा. दिवसभरात आपण इतक्या लहान सहान गोष्टी करत असतो की अनेकदा त्या क्रिया 'reflex action' म्हणून होऊन जातात .त्यामुळे स्मृतीपटलावर त्याची नोंद होत नाही. आणि मग आपण शोधत रहातो -  खरतर आठवत रहातो. माझ्या सासूबाई म्हणायच्या की उजव्या हातानेच नेहमी वस्तू ठेवावी म्हणजे  विसरायला होत नाही.परंतु आपण इतक्या घाईत असतो की वस्तू ठेवताना हे भान राहत नाही.


माझी  एक मैत्रीण, विनोदिनी. तिची नेहमीची सवय की काहीही गोष्ट परत  करताना ती माझ्या हाताला चिमटा काढते. मला तिची ही सवय फार विचित्र वाटायची. पण आता विचार केल्यावर कळते  की तिच्या या सवयीमुळे कुठलीही गोष्ट जाणतेपणीच  होते.  त्यामुळे 'अगं तू माझे डूल परत केलेस का ग? ' असा सवाल कधीच विचारावा लागला नाही.

त्याउलट सविता.तिला कधीही काहीही विचारा.उत्तर एकच - आहे , पण शोधावे लागेल.
तिचा शोध सततच चालू असतो. टापटीप, स्वच्छता याची अंगभूत आवड. तिचे कपाट कधीही उघडावे. व्यवस्थितच असणार. अगदी छोट्यातली छोटी गोष्ट सुद्धा व्यवस्थित गुंडाळून, घडी करून पेटीत ठेवणार. पण इतक्या असंख्य गोष्टी की कुठली गोष्ट कुठे ठेवली याचा अचूक विसरच पडणार. बरे यादी बनवावी तर काय काय गोष्टींची यादी बनवणार ? आणि कितीदा बदलत राहणार? कारण खरेदीचा सोस ही दांडगा. दिसली सुंदर गोष्ट , घे विकत.मग ती वस्तू  सध्या तरी वापरण्यासारखी नसते किंवा आणखी काहीतरी  काम करायचे असते. मग तात्पुरती त्याची वर्णी कपाटात.

 अनेकदा शोधून शोधून थकल्यावर आपण शोधायचे सोडून देतो आणि अचानक एके दिवशी विनासायास ती गोष्ट आपल्या हाती लागते तेंव्हा झालेला आनंद हा अवर्णनीय असतो.


 आम्हाला लहानपणी एक धडा होता : चिंगीचे दप्तर. ही चिंगी दिवसभरात जे दिसेल ते गोळा करून दप्तरात ठेवायची. खडू, मोराची पिसे, रबर , पेन्सिली, गोळ्यांचे चांदीचे कागद, नाणी, प्लास्टिकची  फुले, मणी,  बटणे, सागर गोटे, शिंपले, अरीस्पानी तुकडे -  अशा एक ना अनेक अफलातून गोष्टी तिच्या दप्तरात असायच्या  व आम्हाला परीक्षेत प्रश्न असायचा : चिंगीच्या दप्तरात काय आहे? एवढा राग यायचा त्या चिंगीचा . हिचे उद्योग आणि प्रश्न आम्हाला. बरे काही कमी लिहावे तर मार्क कापायला बाईही तयार आणि आईही ओरडायला तयार. नीट पाठ करून का नाही जात. बरं काहीही ठोकावे तरी बाई लाल शाईने अधोरेखित करायच्या. दोन्हीकडून पंचाईत. पण नंतर याच गोष्टीचा पुढे 'मेमरी गेम' खेळताना खूप फायदा झाला.


जसजसे मोठे होत गेलो तस तसे शोधाची व्याख्याही बदलत गेली. कधी नोकरी - तर कधी जीवन साथी. जुन्या पुस्तकांच्या दुकानात किंवा पुस्तकालयात मी कितीतरी वेळ चांगले पुस्तक शोधण्यात किंवा वाचण्यात घालवला आहे. पण या शोधाची मजा काही औरच असते. त्याउलट जावई शोध लावले की हसून हसून पुरेवाट.आता तर इंटरनेट मुळे अगदी पंचवीस वर्षानिसुद्धा  आम्ही शाळेतली मूले एकत्र एका ग्रुप मध्ये  आलो आहोत. बालपण परत परत अनुभवायला तर मिळतेच पण त्याउपर अगदी नि:संकोचाने आपली मते मांडायला एक व्यासपीठ मिळते. Facebook मुळे तर अनेक आप्तज जवळ आले.Google सारख्या 'शोध' engines  मुळे तर आता जगाच्या पाठीवरचेच नाही तर त्याही पलीकडचे सुधा क्षणात कळते. अर्थात अजूनही 'बायकोला सदा आनंदित कसे ठेवावे?' हा प्रश्न Google ला टाकला तर 'अजून शोधात आहे' असे उत्तर मिळाल्याचे ऐकिवात आहे.

 असा शोध करता करता हळू हळू जीवनाची संध्याकाळ कधी होते ते कळतच नाही. आणि मग आणखी एका शोधाची सुरवात होते - आत्मशोध.मला वाटते लोकमान्य टिळकांचे 'गीता रहस्य' किंवा पंडित जवाहरलाल नेहेरूंचे 'भारत -एक खोज' हे ग्रंथसुद्धा   कुठेतरी आत्मशोधाच्या दिशेचे पाऊल होते.सखोल विचार केल्यावर असेही दृष्टीस येते  की आपले अक्खे  जीवनच मुळी एक आत्मशोध असतो. फक्त फरक एवढाच की तरुणपणी कशाची उसंत नसल्यामुळे आपण त्यावर अधिक विचार करत बसत नाही. मागे वळून आपला जीवनपटल  पहिला तर अनेकदा आश्चर्य वाटते की कसे आपण त्यातून गेलो. आता परत ती वेळ आपल्यावर आली तर कदाचित आपण नाही करू शकणार ते दिव्य. परंतु प्रत्येक प्रसंगातून जाताना समाधान असते की आपण त्यावेळी जो प्रयत्न करायचा  होता तो पूर्ण केला.कुठे कमी पडलो नाही किंवा आळस केला नाही.

सतत आनंदी राहणे हे काही शक्य नसते. जीवनाच्या चढ  उतारात हिंदोळे खावेच लागतात. कधी फसले जातो तर कधी अविश्वासाने आपल्याकडे बघितले जाते. काल परवा पर्यंत आपली वाटणारी मंडळी आपल्यावर उलटतात .सीझरलाही शेवटी म्हणावेच लागले ' ब्रुटस यु टू?' पण म्हणून काही जीवनाची शोकांतिका होत नाही. जीवन हे अव्याहत चालूच राहते व आनंदाचा फुलोरा पसरतच रहातो.

अनघा हुन्नुरकर
४/०९/२०११

सोशल नेटवर्किंग - एक हवा हवासा अनुभव

सोशल नेटवर्किंग - एक हवा हवासा अनुभव

'हवास तू, हवास तू,
हवास मज तू ,हवास तू'

जेव्हा facebook विषयी बोलले जाऊ लागले तेव्हा अर्चनाला  वाटले होते - काय बाबा ही नवीन भानगड? इथे रोजच्या इमैल्स आटोक्यात येत नाहीत  तर अजून कशाला नसता उपद्रव. कितीदा तरी कोणी न कोणीतरी विचारायचे   - Are you on facebook? प्रश्नाला मार्गी लावायला  अर्चनाचा रामबाण उपाय असायचा - हसून नाही म्हणायचे व अधिक चर्चा  नको म्हणून विषय तरी बदलायचे किंवा तिथून काढता पाय घ्यायचा . असे करता करता दोन तीन वर्षं लोटली.

एक दिवस का कुणास ठाऊक अर्चनाला हुक्की आली. Facebook जॉईन तर करूया - बघूया जमतंय का -    जमलं नाही  किंवा कटकट वाटली तर  सोडून जायचा रस्ता आहेच.  अर्चनाने Facebook जॉईन केले आणि जणू विश्वाची कवाडेच उघडली. अनेक जुन्या  मैत्रिणी, मित्र यांच्याशी पुन्हा  गट्टी तर जमलीच पण त्याही पेक्षा जास्त म्हणजे जगातील , विश्वातील अनेक सुंदर आविष्कार  विना सायास घरबसल्या घडू लागले. तुम्ही म्हणाल - हं यात काय मोट्ठे ? ते तर u-tube किंवा कुठल्याही सर्च  इंजिन मधून सहज उपलब्ध होईल. मान्य! पण एवढा वेळ कोणाला आहे? आपल्याच दोस्तांनी आपल्यासाठी निवडलेले छान  छान  संदेश , ध्वनिफिती, ध्वनी चित्रे  अगदी घरबसल्या पाहायला मिळतात. आपल्या सर्व नातेवाईकांची , स्नेह्यांची खबरबात , कोपरखळ्या , त्यांचे अनुभव , त्यांचे देशातानाचे अनुभव,  त्यांचे जीवन ,त्यांनी काढलेले फोटो -अगदी सगळं सगळं क्षणात flash  करता व बघता येतं. देणारे मनसोक्त देत असतात  - आपलीच झोळी अपुरी पडते.

बहिण -भावाचा  जाहीर संवाद , मैत्रिणीनी घातलेली कोडी याबरोबरच विचारांची देवाण घेवाण , संवाद, परिचर्चा, अगदी सगळ्यात सहभागी होता येतं आणि खूपच मजा येते. वर्षानो वर्ष मनात असून सुद्धा भेटता येत नाही, बोलायला वेळ नाही , ही खंत पार नाहीशी होते.आले काही तरी मनात -घाला status वर. आपसूकच उत्तरे , प्रतिसाद येत राहतात व त्यातून अनेक मजेशीर , हसवणारे संवाद घडतात. अनेक समविचारी groups ही असतात. या सोयीमुळे तर अनेक प्रश्न मार्गी लाग्ण्यासही मदत होते. कोणी   आजारी  आहे , रक्ताची  गरज  आहे - मदतीसाठी खुपजण पुढे सरसावतात व माणुसकीचा दुवा मजबूत होतो.

मध्यंतरी लोकपाल बिलासंबंधी झालेल्या अनेक मोहिमांना सुद्धा सोशल नेटवर्किंगमुले प्रसिद्धी व जनाधार मिळाला  हे सर्वश्रुतच आहे. मनाच्या  कक्षा रुंदावून किती प्रकारे एकाच गोष्टीचा विचार होऊ शकतो याचाही साक्षात्कार होतो व आपली क्षितिजे आपोआपच विस्तीर्ण होतात. कोण काय लिहितो, काय ट्विट करतो यावर अनेक प्रतिक्रिया वाचायला मिळतात. उदाहरणार्थ: Cattle क्लास ही नवी संज्ञा प्रथम सोशल नेटवर्क  वरच आली, नाही का?

अजून  एक  गम्मत  अशी  की  संवादातून  भरपूर  करमणूक  होते . आता बहिण भावातील हा संवाद बघा:
भाऊ: दोन दिवसात ती येणार! ताई तू आईला सांगू नको.
ताई: मी सांगणार.
भाऊ: मी तुला ट्रीट देईन.
ताई : कधी? कुठे?
भाऊ: आता आलीस ना लायनीवर ....वडा पाव
ताई : नाही ..मला रस्त्यावरची स्वस्तातली ट्रीट नको....'मिन्ग्स' ला जाऊ

हा संवाद चालू असताना एखादी मावशी  मध्येच  लिहिते: पण, मला पण तुझ्या  आईचा मोबाइल   नंबर  माहिती आहे.....मी सांगणार
भाऊ: ट्रीट कटाप...... करा काय करायचं   ते
मावशी: नाही रे , मी नाही सांगणार ....अशीच गम्मत केली..... तू दे तुझ्या ताईला ट्रीट
ताई: अगं मावशी , तो नुसतं म्हणतो, आयत्या वेळेला मलाच पैसे काढावे लागतात ....म्हणतो कसं - मी wallet घरीच विसरलो. मावशी I tell you, these second born are  महा  चालू  stuff.

असे सुखसंवाद, सुखदुखाची देवाण घेवाण, चांगले पुस्तक, चांगल्या आठवणी,म्हणतात ना - जे जे उत्तम , उद्दात्त , उन्नत, महन्मधुर ते ते...... सर्व share केलं जातं....आपण स्वकीयांपासून कितीही दूर असलो तरी क्षणात जवळ येतो. आणि  हे  सगळं  तुमच्या  वेळेत  , तुमच्या  सोयीनुसार  आणि  तुमच्या निवडीप्रमाणे - वाटले तर सहभाग घ्यावा , वाटले तर नुसतीच गम्मत अनुभवावी, वाटले तर दुसर्यांचे विचार वाचून आत्मपरीक्षण करावे - Choice is totally yours. अगदी स्वच्छंदी पाखरा सारखेच.

आता या सगळ्याला  व्यावहारिक बाजू सुद्धा आहे .नाही असे नाही. आपण जितके जास्तीत जास्त सोशल नेटवर्किंगचा वापर करू तितका  प्रवर्तकांना अधिक नफा. जास्त जाहिराती, जास्त स्पर्धा.

बिकट प्रश्न भारी!

परंतु सगळेच शोध हे असेच असतात. वीज निर्मिती, पाणी, दूरदर्शन .....एक हवा सोडली तर काहीही फुकट नसते. अगदी रक्ताची नाती सुद्धा - पण आपुलकी, प्रेम या भावनांनी ओतप्रोत भरून जाणे - याला तुम्ही किंमत ठरवूच शकत नाही - मूल्यमापनाच्या  पलीकडचे नाते  - दोन घडीचा डाव, याला जीवन ऐसे नाव.

अनघा हुन्नुरकर

ता. क. : कृपया आपला अभिप्राय जरूर कळवावा,  ही विनंती

गोतावळा

गोतावळा

समोरच्या आजी एक एक धागा पिशवीतून काढत होत्या व गुंडीला गुंडाळत होत्या. बघता बघता त्या धाग्यांचा चेंडू होत होता.न राहवून मी विचारले - कसले हो हे धागे?

त्या म्हणाल्या 'अवो, आमी जितं कामाला जातो तितं  हा गोण्याना बांधलेला असतो , तो आमी  खेचून घेतो बगा . प्रत्येक धागा एक मीटरचा असतो.'
'जरा वोढून  बगा  की  , तुटतोय का तुमच्या हाताने' आजी खिदळत होत्या.आणि खरंच की हो. धागा अगदी मजबूत. 'घरच्या शिवनाला  कामी येतो. गोधड्या तर फारच छान शिवल्या जातात बगा ' आजी सांगत होत्या.

'अहो मुंबईत गोधड्या वापरतंय कोण?' - माझे शहरी मन बोलले. 'अवो आमचा गोतावळा लई मोट्टा बगा. गावाला  मुलींना गोधड्या पाठवते'
'नातवंड उबेत छान झोपतात. तेव्हडीच आजीची माया.नाहीतर म्या म्हातारीला पैसे काही पाठवणं  जमत न्हाई बगा '

आजीबाई बोलून गेल्या आणि मी मात्र विचारांचे जाळे विणु लागले. खरंच निसर्गाने प्रत्येकाला जे हृदय आणि माया दिली आहे त्यामुळे सहजच निसर्गाचे केवढे मोठे काम होते. दूर राहणाऱ्या आपल्या नातवंडाना मायेची पाखर या प्रेमापोटीच, नाही का? बाहेर जोरजोरात पाउस पडत होता व अश्या मंतरलेल्या वेळी सगळं विसरून पावसात मनसोक्त भिजावेसे वाटत होते. न राहवून मी खिडकी उघडली व वाऱ्याच्या झुळूकीबरोबर पाउस ही आत आला. मस्त कॉफि  बनवून मी निसर्गाचा विचार करत होते.

कॉलेजात पहिल्याच वर्षी शिकलेला economics  चा धडा आठवला 'Man is a social being' निसर्गाने माणसाला घडवले ते असे. त्यामुळे उपजतच तो गोतावळ्यात रमू लागला. कधी नात्यांचा गुंता झालाच तर तो सोडवू लागला नाहीतर वेगळी चूल मांडून वेगळा डाव खेळू लागला. परंतु सतत  गुंतत राहिला- कधी कामात, कधी संसारात , तर कधी परमार्थात. सुख दुखांच्या लाटांवरती  हिंदोळे खात खात 'याला  जीवन ऐसे नाव 'म्हणत माणसे जगत असतात व मरत असतात.काहींना कर्तुत्वाचा ध्वज उंचावायला मिळतो, काही श्रीमंत होतात , तर काही गरीबच राहतात. 'असे का' याचे उत्तर मिळाले नाही की जे आहे त्यात समाधान तरी मानायचे किंवा कर्म भोग  म्हणून जे संचित आहे त्यास सामोरे जायचे.

'एक धागा सुखाचा, शंभर धागे दुखाचे
करी जरतारी वस्त्र माणसा तुझिया आयुष्याचे'

जर अक्खेच वस्त्र जरतारी असते तर सतत टोचले असते व जीवन असह्य झाले असते.म्हणून तर ऐश्वर्यात लोळत असूनसुद्धा सुख हे वाकुल्याच दाखवते. अगदी मजेत पिक्चर पहात असताना एवढासा किडा जरी त्या अंधारात चावला तर सारे सुख हिरावून जाते व आपण त्या चावलेल्या भागाच्याच विचारात रहातो.

परंतु हे सगळे होत असताना , ऋतू चक्रे फिरत राहतात, निसर्गाची अव्याहत प्रगती चालूच राहते. जगातील प्रत्येक जीवित गोष्टीला कामाला लाऊन - झाडे, प्राणी, माणसे - सगळ्यांना कामाला  लाऊन निसर्गाने आपले काम करवून घ्यायची  एक छान शक्कल लढवली - आपल्या  बाळांची माया .मग त्या माये पोटी  कितीतरी जगत्पासारा सहज वाढीस लागतो. व दुसरी गोष्ट म्हणजे माणसाला निसर्गाने सगळे दिले परंतु समाधान दिले नाही. मनुष्याकर्वीच नानाविध शोध लाऊन evolution चालूच राहते . आजचीच बातमी बघाना - खगोल अभ्यासकांना ब्रह्मांडातील  सर्वात मोठ्ठा जलाशय सापडला आहे .

ही जी धडपड करण्याची प्रवृत्ती आहे , ध्यास आहे त्यातच प्रगती आहे. आला दिवस गेला दिवस - यात कसली आली आहे मजा?
अर्रेच्या मीच किती बघता बघता विचारांचा गुंता केला बघा  व त्यात कधी आपण सगळे गुरफटले गेलो कळलेच नाही.शेवटी म्हणतात न -  कालाय तस्मै नमः.

अनघा हुन्नुरकर
२५/०७/२०११

भुर्र

भुर्र

लहानपणी आम्ही एक खेळ खेळायचो. ज्याच्यावर डाव असे तो पक्ष्यांची नवे घेई ...... कावळा, चिमणी, पोपट.......त्याने कावळा म्हटले कि आम्ही सगळे भुर्र म्हणायचं. मग मध्येच तो ससा किंवा सिंह असे म्हणायचा. जर कोणी भुर्र म्हटले तर त्याच्यावर डाव जायचा. काल सहजच या खेळाची आठवण झाली व मनात खुदकन हसले. त्यावेळी आम्ही कधीही 'दिवस' हा शब्द उच्चारला नाही. दिवस म्हटल्यावर भुर्र म्हणायचे कि नाही हा मोठा प्रश्न पडला असता.

तोच डाव जर आज खेळलो तर निर्विवादपणे 'भुर्र' च म्हणावे लागेल. कधी शाळा  कॉलेजचे दिवस सरले, नोकरी लागली, लग्न झले, मुले झाली  .बघता बघता ती मोठी झाली  आणि  काल परवा म्हणता म्हणता प्रकर्षाने जाणवले की त्या ओघात आपणही 'दिवस' भुर्र म्हणायचे सुद्धा विसरून गेलो. ज्या मुलाचा पहिला वाढदिवस आपण बघितला तोच आज डॉक्टर किंवा प्रोफेसर  म्हणून समोर येतो व जीव हबकून जातो. अर्रेच्या , मैथिलीचा मुलगा एवढा मोठ्ठा झाला? विश्वासच बसत नाही. सतत नमस्कार करून आशीर्वाद घेणाऱ्या  आपल्या डोक्यात अचानक प्रकाश पडतो की आता आशीर्वाद देणारी मंडळी खूपच कमी झाली आहेत आणि आपणच आता आशीर्वाद द्यायच्या वळणावर येऊन थबकलो  आहोत.

देणाऱ्याने देत जावे, घेणाऱ्याने घेत जावे,
घेता  घेता एक दिवस घेणाऱ्याने
 देणाऱ्याचे हात घ्यावे

 - या विंदा करंदीकरांच्या ओळी कितीदातरी ऐकल्या बोलल्या असतील पण आता जेव्हा मुले दहावीच्या निकालाचे पेढे घेऊन येतात तेव्हा सहजच आपले दिवस आठवतात व आपण खिशात हाथ घालून त्याला पैसे देऊन भरपूर कौतुक व आशीर्वाद देतो. मन मात्र आपल्या दहावीत रमून गेलेले असते. शाळेतली ती मज्जा मस्ती अनुभवत असते. अवधान येते पण मन रुंजी घालताच असते.

अशा गोजीर्वाण्या दिवसांना कधी कधी वर्तमानाचा चटका सुद्धा लागतो बरं का . शेवटी हा साप शिडीचा किंवा झोक्याचा  खेळच की. कधी वर तर कधी खाली. खाली असलो तर वर जायची धडपड आणि वर असलो तर गालावर खेळणाऱ्या  मंद झुळूकेचा आनंद. असाच एक एक  दिवस आपण जगत असतो , दिवसांची  वर्षे होतात, वर्षांची दशके आणि मग आपण म्हणतो - याला जीवन ऐसे नाव.

पण एका गोष्टीची जाणीव असेल तर सरती वर्षे सुद्धा सुंदर होतात. मन जर सत्तरीत षोडशवर्षा  राहिले तर वर वर वाटते की आपण मनाने तरुण आहोत  व हेच महत्वाचे. परंतु त्या स्थितीत सुद्धा वर्तमानाचे  भान नसेल तर हसेच होते नाहीतर निराशा पदरी पडते. मी मध्ये  एकदा एका ऐशी वर्ष्यांच्या आजी बाईना भेटले होते.त्या शास्त्रीय  संगीताच्या  विशारद  होत्या. त्या वयातही नवीन राग, सूर , ताल व चालींच्या सतत शोधात असायच्या. मला त्यांच्या या उत्साहाचे खूपच आश्चर्य वाटायचे. शेवटी न राहवून मी त्यांना त्याबद्दल विचारले. त्या जे म्हणाल्या त्याने मी अवाकच झाले. त्या म्हणाल्या - अगं हि पैशाची पुंजी वर थोडी घेऊन जाणार? शेवटी संस्कारच आपल्या बरोबर येणार - हि पुढच्या जन्माची तयारी आहे. वेळ अगदी थोडा आहे त्यात जेवढे जमवता येईल तेवढे जमवायचे.

एकीकडे त्या आजीबाई तर  दुसरीकडे बालगंधर्वांचे उदाहरण. आपल्या शिदोरीत किती व कसे जमा करायचे हे ज्याच्या त्याच्या मनावर अवलंबून. आणि म्हणूनच काही म्हणतात :कालाय तस्मै नमः , तर काही त्या काळावरही विजय मिळवतात. 

 

अनघा हुन्नुरकर

 

My Deepa: an illumined soul

My Deepa: an illumined soul

When I first met Deepa , I met her as Milind’s wife or may be Somankaka’s daughter- in- law. They had just shifted from Jamaica and Ria then was tiny tot suckling her thumb in the car seat cradle. With her affable nature Deepa can make any one her own and we caught on so well as if we knew each other for ages. This was I think almost 15-16 years back and today when I see Deepa’s Empire I am aghast.

A live example of what focused hard work can deliver. She is Managing Director of Lumiére business solutions with 45 people on roll, mother of two, a loving wife, a doting daughter, a loving daughter in law, home maker, yoga enthusiast, Ganesh bhakt (visiting Mahad once every month), student of Spanish, dog aficionado, pianist, superb event organizer, green fingered plant  lover, a great cook , japa chanter, a enormously large-hearted friend, superb host, avid reader, great at socializing and partying, globetrotter…….the list does not end. From dawn to dusk the karma yogi is working endlessly without getting exhausted year after year after year.

The only time I found Deepa lying in bed was when she was advised strict bed rest as she had a broken back. Even while lying on her bed, she was fervently working on her laptop as she had time lines to meet which she would not fail to meet. Usually many a vendors whether a tailor or an IT solution provider, are late in their deliverables. With Deepa it is other way round. Her business solutions are available to the client yesterday, instead of tomorrow. Does that mean she has been just a one track committed hard working woman?

Oh no, she has learnt the balance of wheel of life, long before it was touted around by management gurus. She can give quality time to her children as freely as she can give quality to her client. I often wonder, as I gaze at her in awe, what material is she made of? I had learnt in books about Men of Steel, grit & determination. But very often they had been so engrossed in their missions that the family was ignored or was managed by the spouse. Here is Deepa: the perfect example of the Goddess Durga with her eight hands, who managed all fronts with sheer perfection.

She does not just manage time, she plans her life. Not just a new year resolution but she exactly knows what she wants and when. Once she told me that she knew precisely what she was looking in a husband and when she met Milind she knew that they would be a perfect match. Today when you see both of them, one realizes that Deepa did know unerringly and not that she was boasting. If a girl can be so mature in her teens imagine the level of maturity in the forties. Today Deepa does not plan a day or a year, she plans a decade and she is never ever late. Accurately on time or a wee bit early but never ever late.

What distinguishes winners from also ran, wheat from chaff is not just great brains, will power, discipline but a focussed approach with timelines and milestones, chalking out a clear cut program of when to do what - at 20s, 30s, 40s eg Deepa wanted to know the piano at 50 and it takes 10 years to know it well.So she started taking piano lessons at 40. She wanted to know Spanish , which takes 5 years, by 48.So at 43 she joined Spanish classes with her two kids.They enjoy Sunday mornings together with a private tutor and learn Spanish.A group activity, quality time to children and a new skill being mastered.All packaged in one.

You would wonder, does that mean that she never had her low points? Honestly she did have - just as all of us do. She did have to go through the ebbs and tides of the ocean of life but mystical as it may sound, every ebb was taken as a learning lesson, every tide an opportunity. She matured into a beautiful warm person, humble and loving.

Working for Deepa is a huge learning experience. One is on a constant learning curve and if you are passionate about learning, it’s your perfect place cause Lumiére is a University in its own right. Flexi time, work from home, onsite, offsite you name your choice and Deepa knows to fit you there. Running an organization that is majorly women centric has challenges of its own. And mind you, its women from all age groups, all walks of life and different strata of society. She manages all with élan and undaunting spirit. Quality has always been the hallmark and be it home or office you just can’t fail to notice the aesthetics. 

What started off as a one desk space office has over the years grown into a huge company. They shifted offices, people joined & parted ,some moments were sad, some were joyful, capital was injected frequently as client base was expanding, timelines were becoming tighter, cost cutting challenges, she had to face all. With dogged determination she continued to deliver and the rest is history. As they say: hum chalte rahe, kafila badhta gaya.

That’s Deepa for me. I consider myself blessed that the Lord associated me with her. She considers me almost as her elder sister but frankly when I see her growth trajectory I feel so miniscule like a grain of rye. Deepaji, tusi great hoji!

With all my love

Anagha Hunnurkar

June 04, 2011

Moon Meditation: A Close Encounter

Moon Meditation: A Close Encounter

The road was winding through the hills and plains .At times it used to take a serpentine bend and at times it would lay itself like a long bitumen carpet and as our car sped to the remote rural landscape , it was an utter feast to the eyes. It was strewn in a riot of colors with green fields complementing the yellow sunbathed grain farms with water ponds rushing past our vision,  in between. Water lilies, lotuses and the water birds inviting us to participate in nature’s play.

As we sped past, my thoughts kept dragging me to the beautiful water lilies. I have often wondered as to why we hurry to destinations leaving such glorious spots in between just to picnic at a place which is sometimes so arid and barren . Why not just choose a lovely spot on the way for the picnic than to aim for a destination. As my thoughts drifted to the excitement of exploring the imaginative picnics, I felt a nudge. Minaxi was pointing out to a heron in flight, its wide wings spreading out its double fold. The bird in full control of itself in flight,  swooped past the surface of another passing pond and as it soared upwards , had a fish in its beak…..Ooohs and aaaaahs followed at this Aha sight.

By and by we reached the ashram. It was a wonderful scenic place with a Shiv temple besides a small lake. Soft cool breeze from the lake and chants of Om Nama: Shivay welcomed us with the serving of lemon juice - A perfect refreshing recipe to the journey - weary. As we were resting,  people continued to come in twos, fours and larger groups. By and by we were a group of more than 100 people who had arrived for moon meditation on the full moon day.

Slowly we walked in and around the temple .There were trees laden with flowers and fruits, cows shed where we could feed the cows and see them being milked, vast open spaces and the jungle beyond the lake.

As the evening shadows stealthily progressed to a starry night, we were served a delicious simple meal and told to rest for a while as the moon meditation was to start at 10 pm sharp. I remember as a child, we could enjoy starry nights even in the hustle bustle of Mumbai, then. Today as you peek from the airplane while landing at Mumbai, it looks like a city adorned with jewels and diamonds dazzling to fade the shine of the stars above.

The arrangements for the meditation were simple but special. Just outside the ashram the floor was smeared with cow dung now sun baked and having a distinct aroma of its own. A large picture of Shivji was placed in the porch of the ashram  and durries were spread on the floor. Beyond the durries, plastic chairs were lined up for the elders. As the arrangements progressed, as luck would have it, there was a sudden load shedding and the power supply seized. We were in pitch dark with the stars above. The full moon was still young and rising. Slowly and surely at the stroke of 10 o’clock the music was played on the battery powered system. People assembled for the event. Some sat in padmasan, some in vajrsan and some just sat in sukhasan. As the kirtan began men and women , young and old were all merged in the Lord’s name.

By the time the kirtan came to a high pitch we never realized that it was close to midnight and now the full moon in all its glory shown almost right over our heads. The soft white cool light, the murmur of the lake, the small lamps flickering in the dark, the silhouette of the temple in the background -  all was so very mesmerizing. The black sky with its starry studs had shrouded us. We below and the moon above. As we sat still we were guided into meditation.

We relaxed and laid our mind to rest. With every instruction, we were merging deep within. From body consciousness to soul consciousness – it was an inward journey. Our bodies slowly started becoming lighter as if floating in the waters of the lake and then further lighter rising into the air like feathers till a point came that we became unmindful of our bodies. A thought free existence. A serene and calm feeling…..wait a minute….should I say feeling? Cause we had gone beyond feelings.  If you ever had a close encounter with the cosmos, you would exactly understand the mysticism. In those enchanting moments, divinity oozed from the universe into our souls. It was as if the kind moon was bestowing freely the spiritual energy in abundance. Every soul was submerged in the celestial, all alone, despite being in a world full of existence, oblivious to the footsteps of time. Each soul was emerging stronger to reinforce positive energies and an aura with the awareness of the subconscious.

As we sat there in harmony with the universe, slowly we were awakened to the soft chants of OM. In a split second we were brought to the material world. As we rubbed our palms and placed them on our eyes to slowly open them, we realized that we had experienced a priceless know-how of the journey within.

Anagha Hunnurkar

14^th May 2011.

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