Dussehra for a Cycle Rickshaw wala

To get involved in or getting motivated by someone is a normal thing for any human being. But, in imbibing that level of comprehension, the thinking animal- the Homo sapiens, always use their cognitive faculty more than their affective or emotional ones. Exceptions are rare but not unavailable. Such an exception happened during the high day of Dussehra while I was travelling in a cycle rickshaw. The cycle rickshaw wala is the man who pulls the weight of the entire world, but, hardly gets an ear to his ‘knowledgeable’ verbal discourse. Many a time we ignore the fact that he is talking to us, while at times we lend just half an ear to satisfy his ego and our super-ego.

Honestly, the listening started in the latter form. But, very soon I was startled by the enormous amount of information he is throwing out both from his knowledge and experience. He was taking me through the congested streets of a residential area where we noted that on every junction a Ravan effigy was being mounted by the young residents (mainly) of the particular area, making it difficult for the cycle rickshaw wala to take his normal route to reach my destination (which was more of his, than mine now). At each point where Ravan was being mounted, he was shooed way; a very common scene of road rage against the suppressed lot of such rickshaw pullers. He tried to ignore the use of words on him by the residents each time and tried to engage me with his extra-ordinary knowledge in Ramayan. He explained that these effigies will be burnt in the evening, symbolizing the killing of Asur Raja Ravan by Lord Ram during the sunset time. The moment he understood that he got a patient listener behind him, he started narrating the entire Ramayan. At each junction, we were met with youngsters mounting the Ravan effigy, who were unnecessarily harassing the man and forcing him to change the direction. I could see the frustration and helplessness of a poor downtrodden man, who belongs to the bottom of the socio-economic strata of the Indian class-conscious society.

He kept on continuing the dictation of Ramayan, while he was busy changing the routes to avoid the Ravan effigies. And, then as if, it had to happen, the situation reached a dead end whereby in a junction all the three sides were blocked by mighty Lanka Raja Ravan. I had no other option than to get out of rickshaw. I handed him the full route money he had told me initially, though he refused accepting it at the first go, owing to the moral itch it has caused him in not making me reach my destination. While I was getting down and paying him, he told me that what they (read the rich brats who were mounting the effigies) were doing was one of the greatest sin. Lord Ram was rendered less effective after the killing of Ravan, since it was after all a Brahmhatya. Neither did I accept, nor did I reject his proposition. But, for time-being I nodded my head in accordance with him. He advised me to read Ramayan for a better understanding. Finally, parting ways, he gave the lesson of the lifetime. The self-centered, arrogant, supercilious behavior which these brats show on the people, who are perceived to be of no use, is the real Ravan which should actually be burnt away. Many a time, we are, what we are not. Moving away from him, I shouted, “What is your name?”. The reply came Ram Kumar! 

COMMUNALISM : A VENOMOUS IDEOLOGY

"It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be"

       

              Justice Markandey Katju recently pointed out 1857 as a watershed year in the history of communal relations in India. The seeds of communal divide sown during the period, gave its deadly fruits around the independence period, when the country was divided into two. Communal ideology consists of three basic elements or stages. First, it is the belief that people who follow the same religion have common secular interests. The second element of communal ideology rests on the notion that in a multi-religious society like India, the secular interests, that is the social , cultural, economic and political interests of the followers of one religion are dissimilar and divergent from the interests of the followers of another religion. The third and the most critical stage of communalism is reached when the interests of the followers of different religions or communities are seen to be mutually incompatible, antagonistic and hostile. The sudden and uncontrolled swift from second to third stage results in riots, pogroms; Babri-Masjid-Ram Janmabhoomi, Gujarat carnage etc. to name a few. Thus, communal violence is a conjunctural consequence of communal ideolgy.

          Psychologically, insecurity precedes communal ideology  The thought of 'lesser in numbers' will inevitably lead the minority communities to stick together and to form distinct union.The dedicated classes carried out on religious tenets are a correlational consequence of the same. These are conducted to keep the mass base intact and to showcase the unified strength. Greater the insecurity, greater the communal thinking. Hence, Communalism always has has been the expression of the interests and aspirations of the ever insecure middle classes in a social situation in which opportunities for them were grossly inadequate. The main appeal of communalism and its main social base also lay among the middle class. The evergreen intent of outweighing others through words and deeds, if controlled can easily put a full-stop to this communal poison. Lal Bahadur Shastri kept some lines of Guru Nanak on his desk. When translated into English they read: " O Nanak! Be tiny like the grass, for other plants will wither away but grass will remain evergreen." In this time frame of competing communal forces seeking to influence the nation, the country will do well if, like Shastri, it heeds Guru Nanaks wisdom.

The Eye Behind the Stumps: MARK BOUCHER

          It is indeed really sad to hear the retirement of the most successful Test wicket keeper in such an abrupt way. At a time when cricketers especially, the wicket keepers struggle to carry on for even couple of consecutive series, Mark Boucher stands apart as the most consistent Proteas warrior for the last 14years, falling just short of his 150th test appearance. Any cricket enthusiast who has been following the game for the last two decades, will definitely term Boucher as the sole wicket keeper of South Africa when other teams had seen regular replacements of their respective wicket keepers. 999 international dismissals by Boucher across all formats will definitely stay as a record for a longer period of time. 

          The accident, once again shows the importance and calls for the need of protective guards(helmets) to be worn while keeping the wickets. With the change in bowling strategies,especially, greater variations in terms of turn and pace, the job to keep the stumps has become more demanding and risky. Hope, the bail has not done any long term damage to Boucher and he recovers very soon. Prayers and wishes, to the most successful Test wicket keeper on his road of uncertain recovery.

Presidential Election: The Next Fanfare

          Raisina Hill is being used as a dumping ground. The delayed understanding of candidates on Presidential run on the matter is really surprising. The way candidates are slinging mud 'in public' on their rivals is totally condemnable. The constitution makers never seeked to take the battle to the streets. Neither them, nor the state aspired for it. The constitution of India explicitly states that the President of India is elected by indirect election, that is, by an electoral college; which consists of a) The elected members of both Houses of Parliament; b) the elected members of Legislative Assemblies of the states; and c) the elected members of  the Legislative Assemblies of Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry [Art.54]. 

          This constitutional segment is clearly violated when proposed candidates take the fight to the street in the name of campaigning which is severely undermining the office of President of India.The struggle to make it to the top of the warrant of precedence and to set a legacy should not come at a cost of violating the basic tenets of the Indian constitution. At least, the election to the topmost office in the country demands certain decency and genuinity from the opponents as per the rule of the law.

SOCIAL ENTROPY

          Travelling just happens to me. In the last journey; I noticed a girl in the next seat. Her phone was ringing constantly. She picks up her charger and keeps it for charging. Nevertheless, the ringing continues every now and then, disturbing the sleep of everybody in the coach. Finally, making an end to the ring, she picks up the phone and just screams against her dad on the other side. She was having a 'waiting' ticket. Hence, her father was worried about her getting a berth. That anxiety must have inspired the man in calling her daughter again and again. Nobody, in the compartment liked her tone and tenor of talking to her father. The case didn't last long, she got a berth as soon the ticket examiner came. After an hour or two, around  1 o'clock midnight, everybody gets up again due to the ring of the mobile again. but, interestingly, this time she talks in calm, composed, sweet manner. And, again, its a male voice this time. The call lasted for more than 3hrs disturbing the sleep of everybody out there. No doubt, it can be anybody in the world, other than her father. Everyone who was awake there because of the ring of the bell, looks at each other surprised in seeing the change in the communication pattern.

          Entropy is the degree of randomness.This is one thing which is constantly increasing. Thanks to Newton, for lucidly stating this years ago. Let, us be more specific. The type of entropy which is increasing at an alarming rate and is an area of concern is the Social Entropy. A healthy system and practice is there in deciding the President of the country, still there is uncertainty in decision making and randomness in the vote-support of the allies. Interestingly, after all the so called deliberations, the ruling alliance decides to extricate the finance minister from the post and send him to Raisina hill. The randomness, the author sees is not in making the FM, the President; but doing it at a time when there is economic slowdown and policy paralysis. 

          Anything can happen in a country where one witnesses some random man changing into Pinky and grabbing the medals at international level. Two things can amuse us. One, How did he get into the squad, when even for the smallest government job we have all sorts of tests, including the physical ones.Two, still after this disguise, he comes up with no medal in some of the athletic meets. We have an inherent instinct in always picking the right man for the wrong job. Many lawyers in managerial positions, engineers in banks and financial institutions, etc.. The case of Pinky, being an extension of the same. The sudden burst in the tennis world before the championship is yet another case of increasing social entropy.

          The print media reports Kerala as a state which tops in criminal activities. This is randomness; which breaks all the conventional ideas that education, literacy, greater human development, better socio-economic status precedes the formation of a peaceful and non-criminal state. This randomness does not restrict itself to any single state. It has a feature of its own, its an epidemic, highly contagious in nature. Examples don't stop here, they are in plenty. Everywhere we see the peaking of social entropy.

          An ancient Palestinian story goes like this. A traveller, after his days travel, heavily tired, reaches a house around the late-midnight. He knocks the door. At once, the landlord opens the door. Seeing the person very tired, he goes to the kitchen only to understand that there is not even a single piece of bread left in the home. He  tells the traveller to get inside and take rest and tells him that he will be back with some food very soon. He rushes to the neighbour, knocks the door. Palestinians during those days sleep around the fire in a single room. Hence, if any single person gets up, it accounts to waking up of everybody in that room, disturbing the sleep- the only recreation of the poor working class. The man keeps on knocking the door,only to see that no one cares to open the door. Lets pause here, and scan the mind of that individual who is knocking the door for somebody else's' food. This man builds the social chain, he stitches the social fabric. Everyone of us is supposed to play such a role. We forget the role, we forget the script, we increase the randomness, the social entropy. Was she correct in talking harshly towards her parents? Is the government doing right in stabilizing the economy? What is the spirit in getting a medal in disguise? Why isn't education positively correlated to peaceful conditions in a state? Let us introspect.

Desiderata

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant, they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let not this blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore, be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams; it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful.

Strive to be happy.


--- Max Ehrmann

Found in old Saint Paul's church, Baltimore, dated 1692 

H.G Dr.GEEVARGHESE Mar OSTHATHIOS Metropolitan: Beloved Thirumeniappachen

"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project ,all your thoughts break their bounds. Your mind transcends limitations,your consciousness expands in every direction and you find yourself in a new great and wonderful world" - PATANJALI

     Sabharathnam Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church is widely known in India and abroad as a prophet of social justice and as a propagator of the universal religion of love. His passion for justice, equality, sharing and love is grounded on the Christian doctrine of Holy Trinity. He has given a new approach to the Christian Theology based on the Indian Philosophy and introduced the theory of “Atraita” to complement the theory of Advaita. He is the President of the Malankara Orthodox Church Mission Board since 1979. He taught in the Old Seminary for over 50 years. He has written about 56 books of which 13 are in English. He has participated in so many national and international conferences as a leader, preacher and a resource person. He is the founder of Mission Training Centre, Mavelikara which gives training to lay missionaries of love and evangelism. He also started more than 40 humanitarian institutions, movements and projects all over India for poor people, HIV positive patients and their children, cancer patients, leprosy patients and their children and orphans, old age homes for men and women,Sick Aid Foundation, House Building Aid Foundation, Self Education and Employment Loan Fund, Save a Heart Foundation, Karunya Guidance Centre, Visrantibhavan, etc.He is also a poet who has written more than 50 songs. The spiritual and revolutionary ideas in the songs, of course will inspire the mind of the faithful urging them to repent and dedicate themselves fully to the Triune God.(http://geevarghesemarosthathios.org/images/home.html)

     For the author he was more than a Thirumeni; the transformation happened during the Junior National Association for Mission Studies (NAMS) conferences' held in and around the divine campus of Mission Training Center, Mavelikara, during the last part of the previous century. The best part of the camp was the interaction with Thirumeniappachen every evening which inevitably extended towards night. The way he sits with us all along the camp and even during the dinner time, having the same food in an ordinary plate, the way he takes his own insulin-injection are all now memories. The insights, the ideologies, the songs, the speeches, guidances were much superior and class apart. He was the factor which motivated the author to attend the first three conferences of Junior NAMS. He belonged to a different generation and class altogether with hardly anybody left in the same. He was an individual for whom the IQ-EQ explanations might have rendered redundant owing to his high Spiritual Quotient (SQ). He was the true follower of the Jewish carpenter-his master. He was a true leader of the church who never yearned for positions. He was a leader much like a shepherd. He stayed behind the flock, letting the most nimble go on ahead, whereupon the others follow, not realizing that all day along they are being directed from behind. 

     He was inspired by the power of love. He was committed to the doctrine of holy Trinity. His cognitive thoughts broke all the bonds. His consciousness expanded in every single direction. No doubt, he was the citizen of a new, great and wonderful world. A prophet, a great soul leaves us. He walked along the path of love. He did not falter. He has taken us to the apex and has showed us the glorious vista that surrounds the world of love and empathy. It is our duty to take up from where he has stopped. The intercessions of Thirumeniappachen will be always with us.

THE TOLERANT PEOPLE

In a desert plain in Tanzania, in the shadow of volcano Ol Donyo Lengai, there is a dune made of volcanic ash. The feature which makes it the cynosure is that, it moves bodily. Technically known as “Barchan”; the entire dune walks across the desert in a westerly direction at a speed of about 17mts/year. The wind blows the sand up the shallow slope on the side and then as each sand grain hits the top of the ridge, it cascades down on the inside of the crescent and thus the whole horn-shaped dune moves. This dune effectively symbolizes the life of any individual in his 50’s.

            The ominous period which displays the past glories, is equally a light house of future worries. The changing trends, change in living standards, mass media, spirit of realism, spirit of compromise and pragmatism have all contributed equally in defining the 50’s of one’s age, all the more crucial. The essentialities being dealt with it turns out to be the greatest concern of the period. Of all the twitching factors; Disconnection of one’s matured children gains primacy. This is the stage when the individual realizes and recognizes his children to be grown up, physically, psychologically and professionally. The children start taking decisions on their own and show resentment which sends mixed feelings to the parents in question. The 50’s is a stage which witnesses a host of burgeoning important decisions in their child’s life; at least in the Indian context, which is yet to embrace the total individualistic culture of the west. Other than the development of indifference shown by the children, the decision of their marriage is the greatest dissonance producer of the period. This can be manifested in greater severity and can be inimical if the children are the proponents of love-marriages. The fast disappearing arranged marriages has also its share of concern, thanks to the decision-paralysis caused due to the paradox of choices.

            If the indifference of one’s pedantic children were the pushing factors; Compassion demanding old parents, acts as the pulling factor. If one has enjoyed the company of parents at the time of happiness, what is that restricts him from spending time with them in old age (read distress).This rationale working out at the level of super-ego tends to give immediate conformity to their demands. But, the change in the behavior of old people which includes increased stubborn nature, greater reliance on text than on context, fear of isolation, overly time-consciousness, religious adherence to specific  food-schedules, ego-defenses, etc. inadvertently puts enormous pressure on the people who are looking after them and are in their middle age. This essentially is another factor which induces the virtue of tolerance. Ubiquitous work pressures works out as the third important dimension of the theory. This is the period when the individual holds the highest offices in his career, which calls for greater commitment, responsibility and time. The individual in their 50’s who work in perilous atmosphere take a direct hit from their professional side in terms of work pressures. This is a period where he needs to guide, direct and motivate the sub-ordinates along with efficient conformity and effective interaction with the superiors. This is also the period where the inter and intra departmental politics is at the all time high and where speculative colleagues wait for any miniscule errors which renders one to be easily castigated and thereby humiliated. The finality of these pressures leads to the fourth dimension - the inevitable retirement. Psychological studies conducted around the globe, show that retirement is the state which produces maximum dissonance in a human being, after deathbed. Retirement steals away the identity of the individual. This identity crisis ricochets to the next factor; De-individualization of self. ‘Self’ which is an actor, guiding thoughts, feelings and actions, loses its significance and succumbs to the pressure of other two generations. This surrender of both the subjective and the objective self for the family good is outwardly manifested as tolerance. The final factor which magnifies the tolerance of the 50’s is the courage-vulnerability paradox. The word courage comes from the Latin word ‘cor’, meaning heart and the original definition is ‘to tell who you are with your whole heart’. But, unfortunately 50’s is an age in the lives of individuals where the courage takes backseat, which inevitably has become the cosmic law and, makes the individual vulnerable and not venerable. The extraneous pressures are so high that the people in their 50’s are willing to let go of who they thought they should be in order to be who they were. They fully embrace vulnerability. They believe that what made them vulnerable made them beautiful.

            This is the group of people who are always ignored, a group that stands out as a conundrum, a group always in a predicament, a group always ready to strike a Faustian bargain, a group caught in between bellicosity and rigidity of two generations, a group that is highly self-actualized, a group that is the life-force power of the society, a group that galvanizes the lives of near and dear ones, a group that imbues new ray of hope to both the generations, a group that projects more and more peace into the world, a group that clearly displays the Christian ‘Agape’, a group that embellishes human life and maintains the balance of the universe, they are the moving sand dunes of Tanzania, they are the silent directors of the show. The tolerance continues, the show goes on.