Perform or Perish…is it ?

Perform or Perish…is it ?

We are so used to some old adages and sometimes even quote them often in awe of the great wisdom of the wise ones. Yet as the world becomes a global village , as technology advances the word ‘perform’ itself no more means just being better at the things that you do but in fact perform becomes old wine. The new adage should read ‘transform or perish’.

Let me give an example. I do not want to go as early as the IBM or General Motors story though it is just about two decades old. At one time when internet was through computers land lines cable manufacturing, cable laying was big business. Then came mobile phones, then wi fi and now even cloud computing where data storage has become a matchbox case. Another example is that of photography. Again I am not mentioning the old film roll and washing. I am citing the digital age , the social media and the speed with which information flows today. Your cell phone is the office tool. The Nokias, the Kodaks were iconic. In fact Nokia was so busy in perfecting their cell phones that they never even realized when the touch phone technology just pulled the rug off their feet and in no time taken over by Microsoft. Hacking is another big thing – remember the saga of Sony pictures having to cancel the December 25 release of The Interview because of security concerns from threats related to the film.

I am consciously quoting big names – the too big to fail types as well as well entrenched players . Take the case of Amazon . Amazon began selling its own smart phone, the Fire, in late July,2014 but failed to entice anywhere near the number of customers it had hoped would be interested in the mobile device. The company took a $170 million write-down during the third quarter of 2014, much of it attributed to unsold Fire smart phones, Amazon announced in October, a month after the online retailer dropped the price of the phone with a two-year contract from $199 to just 99 cents. The company reported it had roughly $83 million worth of unsold Fire inventory as of the end of the third quarter. Do you think they would not have done their own research? Yet somewhere down the line one incorrect decision can cause a big hole in profitability.

From the Jungle Raj to today we have come a long way. Now it is not enough to say that ‘the lion has to be faster than the slowest deer but the deer has to be faster than the fastest lion’. Now the rules of the game have so drastically changed that one has to not just perform but TRANSFORM or perish. What you did in two years has to be performed in half that time at double the speed is ‘performing’. Yet while doing so one eye has to be on the changing technology that throws up both – new opportunities as well as challenges.

So I guess the new mantra is : Transform or perish!

Anagha Hunnurkar

November 2, 2015

Come September!

Come September!

Yesterday was 5^th September 2015 celebrated as Janmashtami and Teacher’s day in India and as Kwita Izina -  the naming ceremony of 24 baby monkey gorillas that is a big draw as it attracts a lot of tourists to Rwanda. As a coincidence I was watching the film ‘3 idiots’ in which 5^th September had its unique relevance. September also evokes nostalgia of the super movie of yesteryears - Come September. So many ways in which one can refer to September, I thought.

As I sat listening to the bhajans at the Janmashtami celebrations at Hindu Mandal in Kigali, I realized that Lord Krishna is also addressed in so many different names. While one knows that these avtars being super human their qualities and their achievements are described through these names -  Like the Vishnu Sahastranam that describes Lord Vishnu in a thousand names or even the stotras that describe a deity in several names and forms – yet the question remains as to why is it that one needs to describe something in so many different ways.

Even a mother and child bond, the children address their mother as Ma, or Mum or amma, awwa , aai and the mother too calls out to the child with so many lovable names. As I kept pondering , I thought of another possibility. The vividness in names is not just to describe qualities but perhaps has a much expansive scope. It is a result of the expression of ever flowing love. As the human intellect blossoms it is able to capture the subtler meanings or emotions that need to be encapsulated in words. That gives rise to rich vocabulary. A mere action of tears flowing from eyes can be described in several ways: cry, sob, weep, wail, moan, bawl so on and so forth.

In contrast there are some words that have no synonym so to say. Words like infinity, cloud, are not called by any other name. William Shakespeare had said that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. What is in a name? Yet each name evokes a different feeling and as human sensitivities become subtler the language oozes in a free flowing prose or verse with figures of speech, vocabulary, rhythm that makes the heart beat and life joyful. After all variety is the spice of life, isn’t it? 

Anagha Hunnurkar

September 6, 2015

Mind Game

In a temple or at a common meeting place if someone asks you to write one quality or am emotion that you see or feel among the persons around you highly probable that you may turn around and say: Are you crazy, I don’t even know them. Yet if you read your mind carefully,it keeps making silent notes of all that you see or feel around you. People who do it with awareness end up developing observation skills.

Having heard so much on positive thinking I took this idea a little further, so that the next time that I was at a public place I started the same mind game but with a twist. I started the same mind game but with a rule or a menu to the mind. The mind had to observe and explore a quality or a virtue in the person around, be it a passerby, a woman selling fruits,a car driving past or a bird flying above. By the way, did you know that anything that is flying in the air is addressed as ‘ndege’ in Kiswahili? So funnily, a bird as well as an airplane is a ‘ndege’.

So coming back to the main point,as I started this new mind game, to my delight I came across things that I had never observed before e.g. all Rwandan women have a beautiful skin and feet with no cracks at all, be it your housemaid or even an old woman begging on the road. Another thing I found that disabled persons sit at select vantage points (read high foot falls) on the walk paths but never have a begging bowl or even an extended hand for begging. If passersby give, it’s OK, if they don’t, that is also OK. As you bargain with fruit selling women, if you make a counter offer to their price, they will simply say ‘Oya’ with absolute no expression on the face.You would think that she has agreed and would now want to buy. It only dawned on me latter on that sadly, ‘Oya’ means NO. She has not taken the counteroffer.

This mind game was now becoming both positive as well as funny. So then I extended it to observing shoppers at the mall or shopkeepers at smaller stores. It’s really hard to find a virtue in total strangers except for physical attributes. Yet the depth of the eyes, the smile on the face and the gestures do start telling a story. Being all alone sometimes,you are so engrossed in your own that sometimes you forget the game and have to remind your mind to commence. Once you get accustomed then you also start reflecting on those relations that you would want a better bonding. By and by you find that each one of us have so many good qualities. The competitive nature seeks to find out that missing 2 % rather than being happy about the 98%.
I remember when my daughter was about a 5 year old and I was perusing through her answer paper. She had missed the 100 mark by just one mark. I said to her, ‘Sonu, how could you do such a silly mistake’ The innocent replied: Ma, if I had known it is a mistake, would I have made it ? So actually we don’t do or make a mistake, it happens. Making mistake is a wrong English usage I guess.

Remember the score of 90 + of Sachin Tendulkar and the tense moments every time he missed the record? As they say the story of the 99 club. Once you reach 99, you want to get 100 and you lose all sleep.

Instead we reverse the order and be happy of the abundance around rather than finding faults and the world automatically becomes a better place to live, irrespective of its challenges.

Anagha Hunnurkar
Sunday, August 23, 2015

The flame of life

Many years back, one of the very first spiritual workshop I had attended was a training program organized by my office of a Swamiji , who was a sought after Guru in corporate circles. It is not really relevant who the speaker was as I have latter on attended so many other discourses and Yoga training/ workshops  , which in turn have helped immensely to progress in life, that I continue to be grateful to each of the masters and the line of thought. One of the things that one tends to do at such workshops is to seek all those unanswered questions about life. At that young age, one does not realize the wise saying: Don’t try to answer life’s questions cause by the time you are ready with answers, life itself changes the questions.

Well the reason I was reminded of this was because of a conversation with a youngster who said he can never forgive people for the wrongs that they afflicted on him. I had exactly similar strong emotions when Swamiji had asked all of us to forgive. Let go, he had then said. The whole idea was not whether who was right or wrong but whether you wanted to be hooked in the past, so that the present fritters away and  you deny yourself progress. To a young mind this is all very strange, to some extent unappealing and perhaps bizarre. Some even said it is denying the reality and living in Utopia.
So continuing the thread of forgiveness or being thankful and filling oneself with the emotion of gratitude is mainly for the subconscious to be free from the heavy weight of depression,sorrowful and sad thoughts to enable it to feel light and elevate itself to happier feelings of love, affection and abundance. It is only when one has emptied oneself of the dark feelings that one can fill oneself up with desirable qualities. One of my Guru used to tell me, look at those who do not have and you will appreciate how blessed you are.I used to respond by saying that it is no fair way of feeling happy by realizing that more people are in a despondent state than me. How can I feel better at the misery of others, I used to ponder. What sometimes elders fail to point out is the purpose. The rationale is akin to what we say – wealth begets more wealth. So feeling content with whatever you have right now  is the starting point to magnetize joy.

Another beautiful oft repeated example is that of an orange. When one squeezes an orange, one gets orange juice. Why is it that we do not get apple juice or mango juice out of an orange? Obviously, the reason is that an orange is filled with orange pulp. Similarly, if one’s subconscious is filled with depression, sorrow, remorse, negativity then when squeezed ( read challenged) all that will vent out is anger, frustration and the like. Hence the need is to fill the subconscious with positivism. The power of attraction ( remember 'The Secret'? ) advocates exactly that. The subconscious has to learn that it has to gear up to the thoughts which makes it feel cheerful and consequently it attracts happiness.

With these thoughts when I started to reflect as to whom I would like to thank – my life went into a filmy style flashback. Foremost were those who taught me – my Gurus –parents, my sisters,  teachers, bosses, friends and even my own children. All those who supported me in thick and thin , who instilled confidence in me.  Then came the benefactors – again parents were in forefront of the list, followed by a certain set of teachers, bosses,relatives. Then I thought of my supporters and admirers - your very own personal fan mail so to say. As the thought process churned,  to my amazement I found that I have more to thank those who harmed me than those who helped me. Surprised? Well, let me explain. The challengers, the attackers, the enemies and above all one time friends turned foes, know very well that an open competition would not work out well as they would get defeated hands down. So when meritocracy is wanting,they indulge in politics. At this moment I may sound pompous but let me complete. What do these people do? They create obstacles and  life becomes tough for you. One has to doubly prove oneself to singly match with such scheming mechanisms. The best example that I can give is that of the Mahabharat  fame wily Shakunimama who help the Kauravas to win over Pandavas. So coming back to our main point, I realized that these people are designed to be planted in one’s life so that one is able to surface the turbulence caused by the bitter experience, just as gold shines brighter when subjected to fire. So all ye people I thank you from the chore of my heart for hitting me on my weak spots as it has helped me to evolve and emerge.  You have done a service that even the most benevolent well-wisher of mine has not been able to do. Every prayer ends with thanks. We give thanks three times to cover all the categories, I guess.

Summing up, our soul or subconscious is also like a flame. If it glows like a lamp (read a calm and stable mind) it has the power to create magic. However, if it flickers like a faltering flame in a storm (read wavering mind) or like a blaze (read disturbed mind) then no guesses to tell that the result would be a disaster. The flame of life is happiness, the wick is the forgiveness, the oil is the gratitude and the lamp holding it all is the soul.
So the forgiveness is not for them but for you. It is for programming the soul to be happy. Even our prayers are sung in praise not because the Lord needs it but because we need to feel ecstatic and happy. This is the  key to our well being, which our forefathers knew very well and packaged it as a religion.
 
Anagha Hunnurkar
Monday, August 17, 2015

Jungle Raj

Jungle Raj

A cousin of my mine sent a video yesterday of a chase between an eagle and a squirrel. The eagle had to really work hard to get its prey. There were maneuvering tactics, a display of speed and rising emotions of valor, fear that gripped the viewer. In the end the squirrel managed to shelter itself by scurrying into a tree hollow. So for the eagle it proved to be a wild goose chase so to say.   Not wanting to give up, the eagle tried to put its beak in the hole but to no avail. Finally took the flight to find another prey. The maxim ‘survival of the fittest’ so aptly applied to that chase. It could have been anybody’s guess as to who would win. Yet since winning of the eagle meant death of the squirrel, as we watch the video our sympathies naturally rest with the squirrel. So when ultimately the panting squirrel peeps out of the hollow after the eagle has given up and flown away, one does tend to heave a sigh of relief and the beautiful large eyes of the squirrel leave their mark in our memory.

As I finished seeing that video was reminded about the hunt we witnessed at Serengeti park way back in 2005. It’s been ten years but some memories are so vivid. The wild buffalo was protecting its calf against a pack of lionesses. The hunt is strategic. It is no less a team work of a cricket or a football team. The vast grasslands of Serengeti are a perfect camouflage for the lionesses who position themselves like pawns on a chessboard or should I say like the game of kabbaddi, with two of them taking the lead and others waiting to cover the prey, but settled at a  calculated distance. The lion lay slothfully on a rock giving lazy glances once in a while to the hunting pack but otherwise blissfully enjoying the sun. The calf was closely following its mother and the daredevil buffalo was taking the lionesses by the horns flinging them far away. Again and again the lionesses were trying to hunt the calf but the buffalo was valiantly protecting it with its powerful nudges, use of hooves to kick and the horns to fling them away. 

The driver was telling us, by and by the buffalo will get tired as there are were about eight lionesses. So the game was that of the cat and the mouse. Tiring the prey until it gives up. Once tired the pounce and the hunting down becomes easy. However it needs a lot of strength even for that. That is the point where the lion will finally come and hunt the prey with his powerful attack. Again like the squirrel, our heart ran out to the meek calf. Lo and behold, after some time some more wild buffaloes – mainly bulls  joined in the struggle and in no time the mamma buffalo had gone very very far away with its calf, out of reach of the lions. The hunt had failed. The bulls were too powerful for the pack and the lions had to beat a retreat.

As I thought about all this I realized that nature has not been too kind with the hunters. Although the eagle had a sharp beak and claws or the lions had power, if one observes, one finds that the eagle was not able to fly with wings wide open as the squirrel was scampering through twigs and branches across trees. So with wings half open, the eagle had to space out itself and yet maintain speed. Similarly the deer and buffaloes have hooves and horns but the lion have soft paws. The sharp nails and teeth of the lions or the claws of the eagle are good enough for tearing off the prey once hunted but the hunting by itself is a lot of sweat and that too on a daily basis.

They do not have bank accounts for retirement, in fact forget retirement they do not have a store for even few days’ food. They have no rest or holiday nor financial planning for future. They have to earn their daily bread. Once into safety, the squirrel too has to search for nuts and can even store them for the icy days when there is no food available. Thus here again the herbivores are better off than the carnivores. As I said nature has not been too kind to them.

Although our sympathies go out for the squirrel or the calf, yet we do not stamp the eagle or the lion as beings accumulating bad karma. Nor does the squirrel think – O why this has happened to me? What have I done wrong that the eagle has to hunt me?  There is no mind chattering and it goes about in search of food. Living in the present, so to say.

It is we humans who waste a lot of energy in worrying for the future or ruing on the past. The power of thought and discretion, given to mankind is for creating value,  by living in the present. Plan for the future, learn from the past and move on.

Incidentally, yesterday -  also happened to be the day known as August Kranti Diwas, more popularly known as the launching day of the Quit India movement ,  when way back in 1942 , Gandhiji gave the call of ‘Do or die’ to attain sampoorna swarajya or independence. The call is as relevant today as it was way back in 1942. We have to keep putting effort or we perish. So whether we inculcate the philosophy of Lord Krishna, Gandhiji , Lord Buddha , Swami Vivekananda et all , the truth is to live in the present. The nature trail also teaches us just that, what say?

Anagha Hunnurkar

Sunday, 9^th August 2015 

Ubumuntu – In the name of humanity

Ubumuntu – In the name of humanity

Thanks to my niece, who is interning in Kigali, last week had an opportunity to visit the final night of the Ubumuntu Arts Festival held at the Amphitheater Kigali Memorial. It was a festival that showcased art from many participating countries in the form of workshops, panel discussions narratives, testimonies and skits. It is an arts centrist festival inspired by and created for the sake of humanity.

Indeed it is a very innovative initiative especially for Rwanda where there is no theater. It is an avenue where people from different countries come together to learn from each other and be empowered to spearhead the healing process in their countries. In fact it is art that goes beyond entertainment. It is art that forces one to introspect, empathize and perhaps even feel ashamed at the realization as to how low a human can fall.  The participating countries were Ethiopia , Sri Lanka, USA, Lebanon , Egypt, Canadian/ Serbian collaboration and  the five EAC nations Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi.

Since we had limited time in hand, could witness the performances of USA, Rwanda/ Sri Lanka joint initiative and that of Burundi, although would have loved to stay back and see much more. The moving testimony of the Burundian who was barely six years old, whose teacher Berita ( Bertha)  was taken away in a jeep , as she was a Hutu , right during the class. The head of the school came a few minutes later on to state that Berita would never return again. It was only when the senior children from the other classes started moaning, was the time that the child realized the grim reality. The testimony starts stating as to how being silent has become a way of life. The narrator then details the atrocities of the time and the adverse condition in which he grew. The narration was accompanied by ghastly pictures and questions on the economy. What happened to the cotton, coffee, cocoa, nickel and all the other natural resources? He questions.

Before this heart rending narration, there was a ballet presented by two young ladies from the USA. Breath-taking performance by Nicole and Cassidy named ‘Antigone’. It is the story of four orphans - two brothers and two sisters. Two brothers who fight for the throne and the sisters trapped between opposing loyalty. Finally both brothers die and the sisters are mourning in anguish.

In between the plays the announcer appealed to the audience to evoke the motto by addressing to one’s neighboring person ‘I am because you are, You are because I am. ’ It was a funny moment as the person next to me was an unknown Rwandan and we were perfect strangers to each other. Was reminded of the ad from Airtel, on the theme of friendship – mainly about sharing between friends -- 'jo mera hai wo tera hai’ ( what is your is mine, what is mine is yours)

 Yet the highest point of that part of the show that I saw was the presentation ‘Dear Children, Sincerely’ performed jointly by Rwanda and Sri Lanka. It was like a conversation across generations. The performance was in the form of three stories that were based on elaborate conversations with elders of over 80 years old who were born in 30s. This was that generation, which had never been exposed to the new technology. So the thought was to document some of these experiences and develop insights  about how they have seen their countries changing, what they understand on humanity, politics, etc so that history is not lost and the younger generation is connected to these struggles.  The format of the performances was that of street plays.

The first story ‘Seven decades deep’ outlined the era  of seven decades from 1930 to 2000 , wherein beginning  from Rwanda in 1930s and  Sri Lanka of 1940s , every decade was played as a parallel narrative story alternated between Sri Lanka and Rwanda to  portray the history  in a dance drama form. One of the revealing truths was that although there were a variety of subjects like the introduction of ID cards in Rwanda. Sri Lanka’s independence, the beginnings of the Sinhala- Tamil conflict, the story of youth insurrections, the Rwandan story of exile and the genocide, there were a lot of parallels between the two countries like civil wars, human atrocities, change in leadership and the resultant freedom of expression. Both are building institutions of democracy and there is struggle for something that is considered a given by the developed world.  The second story dealt with how the issues of marriage, sex and love were dealt in the past. The performance was subtle yet humorous in some scenes. The third story was about land and its place in our daily life.

It was a humbling experience. As our eyes met, me and my niece conveyed gratitude to the Almighty for having kept us in protective environs. Truly life does not give chance to some innocents in this world.

Anagha Hunnurkar

Sunday, July 19, 2015 

Kwibohora 21

Kwibohora 21

As Rwanda celebrates the Liberation day on the 4^th of July every year, it also reminds itself to be more resilient and advance socially as well as economically to acquire dignity. It is a grim reminder of the genocide, 21 years back that the people faced for 100 days until the Rwanda Patriotic Army took over and liberated them. It is a day of celebration when everyone wishes one another with greetings of: Umunsi mwiza wo kwibohora! Loosely translated as Happy Liberation Day.

On the eve of this day, we had paid a visit to a remote settlement in Kamabuye sector of Bugesera district as a part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the genocide survivors. It is in the eastern province and very close to the Burundi border. Being a poor country, although the Government does its part, there are limitations to the resources for rehabilitation. So various institutions in Rwanda do their might to support the rehabilitation of the genocide survivors by providing goats, school fees, medication , rehabilitating houses and many other ways. The fund that was collected by the financial institutions, this year was used to rehabilitate two houses which were in very poor condition. It was in this connection that we went to visit the sector and launch the houses that we supported in rehabilitation. One of the house belonged to a lady, well above 70 years old who lost not only her husband but all her eight children were massacred alive right in front of her eyes and she was the only one who somehow survived. Left with no resources and old age, she was very grateful that her mud house was now rehabilitated so that she no longer had to suffer the vagaries of wind and rain. The second house was donated to an old couple. As we were walking along the mud pathway  towards the settlement I was told that it was the current government who built houses for the survivors and that they all belong to different places but now have settled there. So basically the entire settlement was of genocide survivors.

The ceremony was short with speeches, ribbon cutting and testimonies of the genocide survivors. As I was looking at the audience I could but not miss that again here in this remote village too each one including children was wearing a foot gear be it sandals or shoes. The children were eagerly looking at me and waving as they could see that I was different, a foreigner. As the ceremony ended everyone joined the music for dancing in a circle. In a spirit of camaraderie I joined the dance. The women were so overjoyed that one of them hugged me out of glee. As I was waving good bye to the kids, each one wanted to shake hands with me. They were so many of them that I extended both my hands and in no time they all hugged me together. I had to balance myself, lest I lose stability and fall on them. True humanity is so pure and innocent. It does not need introduction and embraces humans with open heart. 

On our way we paid tributes to the genocide victims at the Ruhuha memorial site. Whatever one may have read or seen pictures about the 1994 genocide, a visit to any of the memorial sites leaves one forlorn. Even if you have seen picture, images or read about the genocide – what I mean to say is that even if you are in the know of it, one cannot but feel the remorse when one visits the memorial sites of the hapless victims. We were told that about 9500 were killed mercilessly with machetes, grenades and clubs.  As we entered the site there were skulls neatly laid out and thousands of bones that were stacked up.  A look at the skull and the teeth, one could tell that the people were young. Even infants had been massacred. There were coffins and even mass graves. Photographs of the innocent victims told a sad tale where entire families were made to perish.   In fact the coordinator told me that every year she visits the main memorial site in Kigali and is unable to ever complete the children’s section. She told me that infants were killed by banging them on the wall. Another story is that the innocent child was smiling at the slayer, not knowing what lay ahead just to be picked up and to be pounded in the mortar. Abdomens of pregnant women were cut while alive so that the unborn is taken out and killed.

She narrated that neighbors who were a day before sharing meals had turned killers in response to the call of the then government to finish off all Tutsis. Such was the insanity that even Hutus who supported, empathized or even tried to stop the killers were perished in the frenzy. As if this was not enough there are still statements made of genocide denial as if genocide had never taken place. It is in response to this denial that the sites are preserved by the local administration. We lay wreaths at the site and I said a short prayer for their eternal peace. I also sought a   pardon for I could clearly see that the innocent victims had been plucked out and were truly wronged. Moreover the survivors had not only lost their near ones but also lost in values, tradition and culture that is nurtured and passed from one generation to the other. This treasure they had lost forever. So many times we depend on our parents for support, relatives, sisters for sharing grief and joy. There are many here who are left all alone with no family to call their own.   Many of them were toddlers with nowhere to go and left to fend for themselves. 

As I walked out of the site I silently sought forgiveness of God and said to myself, really dear you have no reason to complaint for the wrongs done to you by people in the past. Those wrongs dwarfed in front of the agony that the genocide afflicted on millions in 1994.

Anagha Hunnurkar

4^th July 2015

Celebrating 21st June!

Celebrating 21^st June!

As I woke up in the early morning hours I was already aware that it is going to be a busy Sunday. The International Yoga Day was being celebrated in Rwanda too and was looking forward to participate in the day’s activities.

Yet, when I woke up and perused through the messages the enlightenment had already started. While being greeted for the International Yoga Day, that little machine of mass communication: the cell phone informed me that it was Father’s day, the longest day of the year,World music day as well as Sunday. Take your pick, it was telling me so to say-I mused to myself. Yet I did not have much time to fritter away as I was to get ready for the Yoga Day celebrations.
As I was going through the daily chores,was reflecting to myself as to how simple life was when 21^st June was just known as the longest day in the year. As we studied geography,  we realized that it is the day of the year with the most hours of daylight only in the Northern Hemisphere while  the Southern Hemisphere had  the fewest hours of daylight and not the earth as a whole. The day had another relevance too. It was the birthday of my friend and neighbor who was my age but in a different school. Way back in those days birthday celebrations did not have cakes but used to be with some dessert like payasam or kheer  ( a sort of pudding) and the child was blessed by the parents with the mother performing a small ritual called ovalne ( cotton wicks dipped in ghee and then lightened to felicitate the child)

Back to modern times, while I do not wish to dwell into observance of a day as some would say everyday is a Father’s day, every day is Yoga day or music day or that these days are being observed to commercialize events, promote consumerism and make good revenue as happens especially on Valentine’s day. Yet remembrance does have its own place in the human psyche. Of course it does involve exchange of a lot of jokes and funny one liners around the theme yet the fact remains that such jest too is creativity and someone is putting the thinking cap for cracking those jokes. At the same time think of those who have given their lives for a cause. Like Pandit Ravi Shankar, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi,  Zakir Hussain, M.S. Subbalakshmi, Beethoven, Zubin Mehta, Johnny Gimble – the list could go on and on  – but each one an iconic figure who gave their best in the service of music and offered to the world a divine gift that left the world spell bound and perhaps in a trance. Should we not honor the cause?Like music there are so many other creative pursuits be it performing arts,science, technology, architecture, pure arts and if every day was science day and everyday was music day we will be spending all our time in commemoration alone leaving little time for further creative pursuits.

The same goes with relationships.While at one end we have children who remember the father only on father’s day we have enough examples like Shravan Bal, who gave up their lives in service of their parents. Also there are millions who do not have parents anymore and do reflect nostalgically on their own parent when they read a poem or an essay glorifying mother or father. We all know that some lines aptly apply to our parents while some may not but yet the love and care oozing in those pieces of literature does inspire us to be better parents. If such observance creates the feelings of love, repentance, forgiveness to make the world a better place lessening the pathos of life, why not celebrate? So it is well that we assign aday for celebration.

The first International Yoga day celebrated in Kigali was hosted jointly by five organizations the Brahmakumaris , Art of Living, Transcendental Meditation of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi , African Healing Inside Out and Holistic fitness Rwanda. Having attended many yogic discourses and workshops in India,the presentations or speeches seemed very elementary. However that was necessary as the organizers had to first educate the people before taking them to the next level. Although hosted under the Indian banner it was really heartening to note that many Rwandans participated in the event. The Indian High Commission along with the Indian Non residents Association had invited a yoga expert who had specially flown all the way from Kaivalya Dham, Pune to Kigali for the event. His demonstration of yogic postures (aasanas) was breathtaking. All performed with a calm composure.

The common theme weaved around yoga being promoted as a tool that can help one to live a holistic life through the proper understanding of the trio - mind, body, intellect.While each of the institutions made presentation , most of us are in some way aware ofthese organizations. Of these  ‘African Healing Inside Out’ was an interesting feature. It described a technique called acroyoga. It is a practice that combines the dynamic wisdom of acrobatics with the awareness   of breath and balance of yoga. It also combines in itself the healing, loving nature of Thai massage known as shiatsu.
The hall was witness to a packed audience and happy faces. There were mothers with infants, small children;young and old underscoring that yoga has no limitations of age, culture or religion. It is for all.

Anagha Hunnurkar
Sunday, 21^st June2015.

To Rwanda, with love.........

To Rwanda , with love……….

As the car sped though the roads my eager eyes were gazing through the window. Neatly tiled pavements, clean roads and greenery all over met the eye. The car wound its way from the airport and as it neared the town I was amazed to see that the whole city was clean and beautiful. Yes my dear friends welcome to Kigali! Murakaza neza as they would say in Kinyarwanda.

The main roundabout a la our own flora fountain of South Mumbai is like a picture perfect neatly manicured garden with a flowing fountain in the middle and a center of attraction. The workers may be working discretely at night or perhaps early morning hours but at no point of time do you see even a speck of garbage in the precincts of the roundabout.  

Be it the church, the roads, the shops, the pavements – the cleaners are cleaning it with such zest as though it is not their work but their religion. It’s a great site to watch them clean the areas. There is a rhythm to their feet as though they are not working but dancing to some foot tapping music or may be playing a game requiring adept foot work.  

Initially,  I thought that perhaps it was just the main roads that were kept spotlessly clean. As the wanderer in me started taking long walks after having settled in the city, I found that not just the main roads but even small alleys and pathways that did not have any tarmac or asphalt, were clean too. The marketplace which is the most crowded and prone to garbage dumps is also regularly cleaned so that when the market is closed you find dirt free roads and not garbage dumps. In fact the roads and pavements in Kigali are so spotless that figuratively speaking, one could say that you can easily sleep on the roads. The  city is not just bestowed with natural beauty but you can realize that the city administration has gone at lengths in keeping it beautiful.

Another thing I observed that be it young or old, rich or poor - there is perhaps a community pride in dressing neatly and cleanly. I have yet to see anyone walking barefoot on the road - Be it even beggars or street urchins.

Rwandans have another great tradition that they follow every month called the Umuganda. On the last Saturday of every month each and every person right from the President to the grassroots all put in a hard day’s labour for community work. It could be building a road, or helping a friend to construct a house or digging the village well. Shops and all undertakings are closed and people are not allowed even on the streets. They have to be busy doing community service.

And yes I must mention the feeling of safety and security. I was told that I could go wherever I wanted without any fear even if I was a foreigner. Rightly so. The police that are posted are so shipshape and disciplined that it instills an automatic sense of respect for them.  You find that by evening there are gun toting military men posted at almost every corner or Street Square, which gives a real feeling of safety. They are quietly standing sentry to ensure that the streets are protected.

Discipline is their culture. You will find pedestrians crossing only at the zebra crossing and yes, the vehicles wait and allow you to pass. No honking, no screeching brakes. Even at the bus stand people are standing in a queue and when the bus arrives there is no jostling or pushing. Each one waits for the other to alight or board the bus as the case may be. All in harmony and peace.

When I was admiring the clean roads with one of the Rwandans he told me ‘Mama, it was no always like this. It took a lot of policing to see that people follow rules. So now it is our way of life.’ ‘ Byaybaye nk’umucyo noneho’ he said in Kinyarwanda – meaning It has now become a culture. Nothing surprising about it is what he meant. Yet frankly, on my part I was amused. Police could transform peoples’ habit? Elsewhere in some countries I have seen people palming off currency notes to police when they were caught peeing on the road or spitting. The police then looked the other way and all was hunky dory. You could throw rubbish, break traffic rules and all you need is a handful of currency notes to tame the police.

Does that mean Rwanda has no problems like the other nations? No, in fact the nation has more complex problems being a small land locked country with a thousand hills making logistics challenging. Then there are other issues like premature deaths, malnutrition, food supply, clean sanitation, health care, education and many more. Yet what is most encouraging is that the community as a whole recognizes the importance of agaciro ( dignity)  and  under one leadership is ready to rise like Phoenix from the gory ashes of genocide.

Imagine there are many who have grown up with no relatives at all; leave alone the nurturing of parents. When we look at the great lengths at which our parents strive to look after our needs, our value system and our traditions we can realize the vacuum that many of them have suffered with no one to call as even a relative.

By and by I realized that it is the Government’s avowed strategy of pursuing and demonstrating by action a zero tolerance to corruption that had percolated deep down to the lowest rung. I am told that if someone tries to bribe the police they would find themselves straight in jail. Simultaneously, if any police or other officials are found to take bribe, they were summarily chucked out of their jobs.

 A track record that ensures community discipline. So the spotless clean roads are not by chance but by design. It is by concerted efforts of both the administration and the community that this status has been achieved.

Rwanda I salute you!

Anagha Hunnurkar

Sunday, 14^th June 2015

Big Wonder

Big Wonder

As I was sipping cappuccino at the coffee shop with my friends, saw Mike waving at me. Mike is Makarand for the uninitiated.

‘Oh Mike when did you come from USA’

‘Just a week back dear’

‘How long?’ I asked. ‘I am here for just three weeks but this time there is a surprise.’ Mike was full of life as usual. A question mark writ large on my face.

‘Well this time Dorothy has accompanied me to India. So when are you coming to meet her?’‘ He asked. ‘O wow! Let me make it coming Sunday.’ I did not want to miss the opportunity of meeting Dorothy.

‘Sure! Come with your family in the morning and spend the day with us. After all haven’t met your kids for a long time now’ Mike’s hospitality spoke. ‘O sure’ I confirmed.

Mike had made it really big in the great US of A. He had flown way back in the 80s to do his Masters in computer engineering and stayed on initially working for a huge MNC and latter on settling to open his own IT Company. The tech boom had really helped him to make a gigantic success of his life. We had been in touch off and on. As technology advanced, letters that took a month to reach USA now transformed to emails and the world became a smaller place. FB and Whatsapp brought the world still closer and more personalized.

Mike had fallen in love with Kelly then. (Kalpana for the uninitiated) They were a happily married well settled couple with all comforts and luxuries and blessed with three kids – two sons and a sweet daughter. Life was full to the brim – success, name, fame- you name it and Mike had it. His palatial house had butlers and there were chauffeur driven Chryslers and Prado in the porch. When I had a chance to visit USA, I made it a point to visit Mike. Lived a life of ultimate luxury in those two days.

Yet, destiny had different plans. Kelly faced an untimely death and Mike was lonely. He immersed himself in work only to be more successful to a point where the stock of his company had zoomed at the bourses making Mike filthy rich. Yet Mike had never forgotten his roots and whenever he would travel to India made it a point to drop in at the same coffee shop whenever he was around. It was a stark contrast to some who had been celebrities in their own right but had the stiff upper lip and a snooty feel to their personalities. These types keep the safe distance and never indulge into friendship for fear that they may have to favor. Mike on the other hand was very generous and would help out whatever way he could - be it an opportunity, a job or even money.

So every time that we managed to meet, all of us used to tell him to remarry. His lone worry was bringing up the kids. He was not too fine with the idea of bringing a step mother at home. As time passed we got the news that Mike had finally married Dorothy. The couple was lovey dovey and Dorothy not only managed to be the perfect hostess but also a loving mother to Mike’s three kids. It was as if the clock had turned full circle to bring back the perfect life for Mike. Being part of the Mike fan club, we always used to get updates of things happening to Mike, his company and his family.
Mike was tied to his roots so to say and visited India every year. Once in a while he used to bring his kids to show them the incredible India right from the Taj Mahal, Kanyakumari, Gir forest, temples, Himalayas and all the rich heritage of India. Yet Dorothy never accompanied them on all these sojourns and we used to wonder why?

So now when I had a chance to meet Dorothy in person, I was too excited to see her. Dorothy was perfect in every which way one could imagine. Beautiful, demure, gentle – almost like Lizzie from Jane Austen’s - Pride and Prejudice, I thought to myself. We chatted and laughed. Exchanged old time memories with Mac and had a grand lunch. She was so perfect in every which way one could imagine. Her large blue deep eyes, her slender neck, the sparkling solitaires, her shapely toned body, her bewitching smile and her soft voice – everything about her was so mesmerizing. She even sang some songs from the Sound of Music. Time seemed to have halted in its feet.

Yet all of a sudden while the butler was serving coffee, the family dog Rudy happened to walk past and a brush of his tail happened to tipple the cup of coffee off the butler’s hands. The coffee spilled all over Dorothy. Her richly embroidered dress was smudged and Dorothy seemed to freeze with a listless expression. Mike suddenly jumped off his couch and quickly escorted Dorothy to the ante chamber. As the doors closed on us my thoughts were racing - Oh what a caring husband I thought to myself.

After a few minutes that seemed to last for lifetime Mike came out. When we enquired about Dorothy, he said ‘O she is all fine’ and yet something in his eyes told me that he was hiding something from all of us.  Mike was searching for excuses when little Stella spilled the beans. Actually Dorothy was not a human but a robot, she told us. Shock and surprise – the only two feelings we had then. I remembered having seen their wedding video and said ‘Oh but you both were kissing so passionately in the video. Just can’t believe she is a robot, Mike.’ Mike laughed and said that all that can be programmed into a robot. Oh really, how life like I thought to myself.

‘Well do you remember that serial – Small Wonder?’ asked Mike.

‘Yes, we do?’

‘Well to put things in perspective, I used to watch this serial in which the father had developed a robot that was just like a member of the family, a girl child, who was the daughter in the family. Well, I thought why not build a wife robot. I started researching on it and by and by developed Dorothy. She has all the specifications to be the perfect hostess, mother, and advisor and could also build emotions into her. The only thing is internally she is all metal and plastic. So although on the exterior she is a perfect being, internally she is still a machine. She needs to be taken care against liquids and also needs to be recharged just like all other gadgets.’

We were all aghast. The magic of technology was not easy to fathom.

Mike guffawed and said ‘Well,
 She is my Big Wonder’

Anagha Hunnurkar

Sunday, May 31, 2015

Simple questions of life…are they?

Simple questions of life…are they?

They say challenges come in  help us grow. Inspiring stories of grit and determination that helped in achieving the coveted goal. The story of King Arthur and the spider who failed to weave a web but kept trying until he finally could manage to weave it completely. Those who face and surmount indeed scale a new height but what about those who are unable to. We read about a Sachin Tendulkar or an Amitabh Bachchan but behind them there are millions who were passionate about cricket or films but failed to make their mark. Like, it is just who they are. There is nothing right or wrong about it. There are many who put efforts while there are some who are just disinclined to put the effort needed. Does that mean they cannot have dreams? Does that mean they do not have right to live or more clearly live comfortably, at their own pace? Has life always to be a rat race?

Not necessarily if there is one joker in the pack – destiny. Unknown to all of us. It is that joker which can turn the tables and a looser becomes a winner. What about that person then who lost,who had all the merit, had put in all efforts and yet destiny was not kind? Well he keeps trying like the spider till he achieves what he wants or is completely worn out. In short he has to lead a difficult path.

Then there is another joker in the pack called politics. There are umpteen stories of people who have managed to go to the top not on merit but on the basis of sycophancy. In fact when they see they can’t win on the basis of merit, they play politics.

It is an old adage – Jo jeeta wahi Sikander (the one who wins alone is the king) Lord Ram was the victor and Ravan was the vanquished .So we conclude that it is victory of bad over evil. Yet it may not be the whole truth. The world was in sway with the inspiring story of Lance Armstrong a seven time winner, his fight over metastatic testicular cancer  but latter on when he was stripped off his titles , today there is a whole new question mark on Tour de France tournament itself. The same is about cricket where match fixing has disillusioned people and no more a gentleman’s game.

Another joker in the pack is power. There could be exceptions like we see in the stories of the David and Goliath or Jack and the beanstalk. In real life the powerful shamelessly use ,in fact abuse power to overcome adversaries. That power could be money power,physical power or power of connections. It reflects as a success story but when that person looks at himself in the mirror, does the mirror on the wall tell the truth? Does his face hang in shame then or he justifies the act as the right thing to do?

A pack of cards has two or three jokers. Life has many. Another weird joker in the pack is the country you are born or do you call it simply fate?  If you are born in the US you have all the social security, all the top class facility and all you need is to perform. Yet if you are a boxer born in India in a remote village like Manipur, you have to fight all odds to become a Mary Kom.  

Spiritual texts prescribe that we have to overcome the six enemies – lust, anger, greed, attachment, pride and  jealousy. While romantic films and fairy tales always show a happy ending,in real life we find that the weak are exploited be it rape, murder, treason or coup. Sounds negative and all those who celebrate life with positive affirmations will not approve of the statement. 

So finally we come back full circle to Charles Darwin and concur to the survival of the fittest theory.Democracy or no democracy – there is no mercy or place for the weak.

Anagha Hunnurkar

May 17, 2015

On the occasion of Mother’s day ……..

On the occasion of Mother’s day ……..

All that I am, or hope to be, I owe to my angel mother – Abraham Lincoln

After the daily  early morning chores , as I clicked my cellphone to open WhatsApp (WA) , there was a barrage of messages announcing Mother’s day, thanking Moms ( pictures of mirror image of MOM as  WOW),poems dedicated to mother , children remembering their respective mothers, some with lovely pictures others with heartwarming content.

Yet there were others who mentioned that they believed that every day is Mother’s Day. We don’t need to devote one day for that. Going by that reasoning, everyday is an Independence Day if you are living in a free country. Every day is Valentine Day if you are in love and everyday is mourning as we are all mortals and dying bit by bit as we progress in life. Observance of such days helps in remembering , reuniting and expressing love – an emotional well being so very necessary to make life worth it.

 There was an eye opener too:

“Going by the number of messages expressing love for mother that have been posted on WA and Face book ( FB) today, even if half of it is really felt sincerely by the children , then all old age homes in the country would see a lock at their main gate.”

Indeed a critical reflection of the modern age. However there are two sides of the same coin. It is not always that the children have to be blamed. Many a times there are ego issues that come in the way.

Yet, in India even today there are many parents living with children and also joint families. Children take full care of the parents lovingly and with due sense of responsibility. Even those that are not staying together interact and meet often.

Although this concept of Mother’s day is imported from the west it is that day during the  year when children make attempt to meet their parents. No harm in receiving a loving post from your child. It also provides a platform or a chance for love to triumph over hate. An opportunity of healing,making up and forgiveness. Some say it is a western fad. These are few good practices (including Thanksgiving), which we reticent Indians can emulate.  In India too we do have matru din, pitru din, shikshak din, bal din , Guru Pournima and many more such days in our culture.

Although we always glorify mothers , there are many who have neglected their children. Not necessarily moms in the lap of luxury but even poor moms who have forsaken their kids for their own corporal enjoyments. Children are known to be mistreated by mothers and the psychology behind it could have other varied and morbid aspects : maybe stress, forced motherhood, a girl child when the family wanted a son,transferring their own insecurities and anger on the hapless . The woman could herself be subjected to domestic violence and living a miserable life.

Forced motherhood out of rape and ignorance can be painful for both the mother and child. Societal pressures do force such moms to abandon their children. Women expelled from their homeland with nowhere to go and forced into pregnancy by the very protectors , abducted women, refugees, wives of farmers who committed suicide, all those who exposed the dignity of the woman : motherhood may be seen as a curse rather than a loving tender relationship.

It is not always parents, it could be children who are the trouble makers, stubborn and giving parents a hard time. Some children are not easy to handle as their demands far outstrip the mental , emotional or physical capacity of the mother. The kids could be reacting to effects brought about by changes in their lives: peer pressure, bad company. Children tend to sometimes misjudge the harshness as lack of love. Thus slowly but surely and gradually all love is lost . Such children may grow up to be lonely, isolated by society and end up hating mom. So it is very important for the mother to weave a relationship of love and openness so that such strains are nipped in the bud itself. A positive attitude and a balancing act –the mother is in a constant see-saw position. Today we also have many counselors and intelligent software to help handle  the situation.

Mother – an image of love and sacrifice. Yet if we think deeply, apart from our own biological mother, this day is to commemorate and celebrate the  purity in the element of ‘Motherhood’. Revered mothers like Mother Mary, Mother Teresa , Florence Nightingale, KasturBaGandhi, Savitribai Phule, Mata Amritanandmayee, Anutai Wagh, Suzanne Brown, …….the list is endless. They are the ones who really mothered the forlorn. Let us all pay obeisance to them on the occasion of Mother’s Day!

Anagha Hunnurkar

Sunday, May 10, 2015 

Survival – an instinct or extension granted by the Almighty!

Survival – an  instinct or extension granted by the Almighty!

In our pursuit to build an institution for spreading awareness about breast cancer and hope for patients affected, several initiatives have been taken. Some involve the community. Eminent doctors from hospitals are invited for a presentation about the malaise and the ways in which one can help early detection which in turn improves considerably,the probability of survival.

Women folk have a cherished unsaid motto of family first and tend to ignore their own health over priorities of the family .Breast tumor may be of the size of a pea grain initially but can grow very fast if overlooked.  Being emotional,even a fear sets in about disclosing to the family or society.  Hence to underscore the importance of immediate action, Maina Foundation collaborated with Dr. Vaze of Nagpur in production ofa film : Zizak kaisi.(why the hesitation) 

Another initiative is to help some of the marginal patients who are operated for free at the Tata Memorial Hospital but do not have even the basic resources to fund post operative care, be it chemo or radiation.

The credo of Maina Foundation is‘Join hands to fight breast cancer’. Accordingly, Maina Foundation is at forefront in collaborating with hospitals and health centers to donate mammography machines.

A recent collaboration has been with a like minded institutions:  IamHER2. There are many types and stages of breast cancer and around 1.5 lakh new patients (As of 2014) are diagnosed annually, of which nearly 25 per cent cases (1 in 5) are HER2-positive and eligible for treatment with targeted therapies.

While working with the patients,one of the need areas we felt was to have testimonies from survivors as that could give hope to other less fortunate to have the will to struggle. Some survivors readily wrote their story while some others expressed apology as they did not wish to relive the circumstance gain in their memory. A valid point we thought.

In our pursuit to collect more stories, I was approaching a survivor so that she could write her story. When I narrated our mission, she was very encouraging. Yet she refused to write the story as she said that her survival was just that God had decided to give her extension of life. She said that there were 17 women in the hospital, when she was admitted and only three survived. So those three were the chosen ones.There is nothing creditable on the patient’s part in the recovery. It is all doctors’skills and God’s will.

She said women by nature are tough and also over the years get toughened. So it is far easier for a woman to recover than a man.  While she was narrating her experience she mentioned a few do’s and don’ts.

She said visitors who come to visit are more interested in narrating how other ladies suffering from similar disease,had died. To one such visitor she said, ‘please narrate a story of success rather than death. Or else at least refrain from narrating failures’. As it is the patient is mustering up courage against all odds and such visitors create nuisance value rather than empathy.

Another important thing is to go through the entire process of treatment as recommended by the doctor with full faith and not to use one’s own judgment to decide the line of treatment or interfere with borrowed opinion. Take your time to decide which doctor you would like to approach based on cost benefit analysis as these treatments are extremely costly. Once a doctor has been decided, leave all decisions to his wisdom.

Around the time that she was diagnosed for breast cancer, there were two deaths in the family. So people already concluded that she will be third in row to complete the sequence. How crude and rude? Please think of the patient’s psychology she urged. Please give her hope. Albeit there are support groups and websites that help the patient with guidance yet the atmosphere surrounding the patient is that of melancholy as if the patient has already passed away.

Worst of all she mentioned was that her grandson was born around the same time. People brashly remarked that he was a bad omen. Now what is it that the innocent child had done? She said painfully.

Let us all be truly empathetic while visiting a patient. Let us pledge to inspire the patient rather than discourage him. Remember as it is the patient is undergoing a trauma and don’t let her go down the abyss.

She opened my eyes to a great new truth: There is nothing creditable on the part of the survivor: It is all God’s design.

Anagha Hunnurkar

3^rd May 2015

Malaika nakupenda Malaika

Malaika nakupenda Malaika

Malaika, nakupenda , Malaika - This famous Kiswahili song by the African singer Mamma Miriam Makeba is an all time hit. It means ‘My angel,  love you, my angel.’ The song with her heavenly voice and lilting music captures you. The melody makes its place in your heart just like the time when you first would have heard ‘Come September!’ So even if you don’t comprehend the language,  you do sway in the mood.

And why I recall this? Let me tell you the story of Disha:

Disha had been my son’s classmate when we were in Dar and we had known the family quite closely. Disha was 13 then-demure and sweet with lovely expressive eyes – she was a born performer.  Her father Souravda - an accomplished corporate top executive, well respected in the community and her mother Sangeeta - a talent house of music. I used to take singing lessons from her and used to admire her patience as I just do not have the voice to sing but have great passion for music.

While our singing sessions were on, at their house,never realized when Sangeeta and me became friends. I was always treated with fresh lemon grass tea at their home, which I relished. We had transformed from a  Guru – chela relationship and singing lessons became just an excuse for forging our friendship. I still have the ‘Saicharitra’ that Sangeeta had so lovingly presented to me. Sangeeta – Saibhakta and a great human soul! By and by came to know Disha too.Somehow I struck an equally beautiful chord with the daughter just as I had with her mom. We used to discuss at length about just anything under the sun from her career choices to films to current topics to sweet nothings. She used to come out of her study for a short break and seeing me in the living room ,would spend a few minutes chatting.  I was lucky to see her stage performance, too.  

Soon mom and daughter duo left for India after her SSC exams to settle in Kolkatta. As an only child, she was doted by her parents. Sangeeta chaperoned her so that Disha could make her mark in the career of her choice. Souravda was all by himself in Dar. Disha had made a portfolio of her and had showed me all the snaps. She looked lovely in a modern attire and was gorgeous even as a village belle. By and by time passed and she bagged a role in one of the TV serials. News came that she has been received well by the audience and we were all happy for her success.

Disha had visited Dar after she had become successful as an actress in her own right. She was combining studies with profession and was pursuing an arts degree. Yet when she came visiting she was the same old humble Disha – loving and caring, respecting elders. Fame had not gone to her head! All this was six years back! She was just 17 then and so much success at such a young age could have made any one have high airs.

She was as friendly to me and my son as she was before. How nice, I had said to myself!

Shortly thereafter, we too relocated to India and life was flowing its normal flow. 

One fine day my son calls up to tell me ‘Aai, Dishane suicide keli! She is no more’ OMG! Was I believing my ears? ‘Were you in touch with her’ I asked him ‘ No ma, have not spoken to her since last two years but now I am feeling so bad! Wish I was in touch with her. Wish I could have at least discussed and stopped her from taking this drastic step.’ Both of us were in a state of shock.  Disha the darling of the Bengali TV screen –an actress par excellence with a promising career , all of 23 …why Disha why!

The lemon grass tea would never be refreshing again!

Then it was Google Google to find out news about Disha! The news kept haunting me! Disha’s face book page was full of obituaries and I could make out that her Dar classmates too were shaken up by the news. Her beautiful face kept on surfacing in my memory now and then as if she wanted to tell something more than what the newspapers said.  Every two days I would Google to find out more about her ! I do not wish to go in what is right and what is wrong...what the society should do and the like. It is all easy to blame but the fact remains  that a promising career was lost as it could not handle the pressure.  In some way wanted to connect with Souravda and Sangeeta! The pain of losing a child sent shivers in my spine! 9th April 2015, can never be the same.

We normally say: May your soul RIP! But come to think of it, the soul never dies. It just leaves one body to take another form. Disha you continue to live in our memories! What happened to you is sad and may be in your best judgment you chose to leave this world but my dear, it was just the body that you left. Your soul would still be pining and am sure would one day get what it wants.

The word Malaika now has an identity – yes it’s you  - Disha! We all love you!

It is now an ode to the lost child - Malaika, sisi upendo wewe,  Malaika!

Love

Anagha aunty

Sunday, April 26, 2015

Allah tero naam, Ishwar, Bhagwan...........

Allah tero naam , Ishwar , Bhagwan..........

As I was watching PK, keeping the hilarious portion aside wherein people just go to illogical extremes in their beliefs and reach a point of blind faith, one pertinent question that the Tapaswi Maharaj asks PK is worth introspecting. He asks – OK , tell me if people should not believe in the power of God , where should they look during times of distress?

The message of the film is crystal clear. There is a power above us in which we rightfully trust. However, the means through which we try to get connected are sham as these are man made to exploit the fears of the masses. As they say in good times no one remembers God! It is only when bad time befalls that we earnestly pray for salvation. Also if we see the psychological set up during fear, distress or despair we agonize that there is loss of confidence, wavering mindset and fear of the unknown or the future. What next? We shudder at the thought. Such a weak mind automatically starts searching for solutions.

While watching PK I was also reminded of another film with a similar theme – OMG! The theme more or less is the same where in a comical way the film points out to the fallacy of blind faith. Religion is nothing but way of life. Yet it is made so complicated that the common man is really not able to fathom the reality from the corporeality. They say reality is God and whatever other forms you see is his Maya – creation. Another version is that of Brahman. Christianity believes in Jesus , Islam in Allah. As many religions that many faiths. Yet at the base of it all is a struggle to keep dangers at bay.

There is no denying the magnetic fields and its impact on humans. We have also known numerology, feng shui , vastu shastra – all trying to ward of evils. Then there is astrology that can accurately look into your future if the time and place of your birth is accurately recorded. Now how does one record time? Based on hospital records or in cases where the mother is alert and aware to see the clock in the labor room just at the point where the baby is out of her womb? Yet what is the guarantee that the clock in the labor room is accurate? Even a few seconds can completely change the predictions. Horoscopes and match making have had so many mutations just to get through the alliance and in fact couples are known to have lived happily ever after.

While the preachers preach non attachment to the body , when you see the monasteries and ashrams , they are no less than a palace. If they are so detached, why do they need such lavish habitats? So just as we have doctors, lawyers, teachers should we look at preachers as professionals who thrive by rendering God services just as a heart surgeon helps you to survive a heart attack? This is how the faith of the masses is systematically exploited to fill their coffers. By rendering faith services they have a thriving business with no regulations, no rules and a fan following that could put a celebrity to shame.

So we come back to the Tapaswi Maharaj's question - if people should not believe in the power of God , where should they look during times of distress? The answer lies in the question itself. Look nowhere but within. Trust yourself. Do what you are best at. Yet this exercise is to be done not during the time of distress but a continuous one where you regulate your breath and mind – the two closest to your body and soul. Something that the Karma yog – in the Bhagwad Geeta expounds.

By learning to breath correctly and taming the mind through meditation one can resurrect oneself when calamity befalls. If one is already well entrenched in the practice, he will not get perturbed in bad times. And mind you schools that engage in teaching breath and meditation are almost free to the sadhaks or the fee is minimal to cover costs.

Will this ensure that no calamities befall? No warding off evils is not possible. Even people who claim that they can do so are fooling themselves or the public. The external environment is not within our hands but internal strength is. Drawing a corollary - Indian stock markets are in an upswing. Does that mean they will continuously rise? The answer is obviously - no. The Indian markets are as vulnerable to global shocks as any other but yet after every challenge if the markets emerge strong, it reflects the resilience of the Indian economy.

Another thing is to keep engaged in oneself so much that you really do not have time to sulk. Wiping others tears is one of the best ways to forget one's own problems.

Zaroorat nahi hai ki har pal zubaan par khuda ka naam ho....

Woh lamha bhi ibadat ka hota hai , jab hum kisi ke kaam aayein!

When Amitabh Bachchan was asked in an interview about his bad times , he responded ….kuch nahi, main apna kaam karta raha,ek din kaun banega karodpati ka offer aaya and rest is history.

So while we are all like a cog in the wheel of the great design continue doing what you do best and leave the rest to destiny. Each birth is for a purpose. Destiny is the compass that guides you through to achieve that purpose. At the end of the day, no prayer of the unwavering goes unanswered.

Anagha Hunnurkar

7^th April 2015