Sunday, 6 November 2016

Parippally orphanage a symbol of love not Taj Mahal


Love is opening up of the soul,not an obsession.


I celebrated my Diwali along with some bright  children of Parippally Orphanage adopted and run by Mata Amritanandamayi Devi Math ,burst crackers with them ,played football and enjoyed every bit of it.

It is the just the joy and smiles on the faces of these children that make Paripally a symbol of Love.

I believe the people who meet the children here light up,rather then the other way round.

Some curious thoughts come to my mind.

I am very astonished that people believe “Taj Mahal” is an epitome of love.Taj Mahal was constructed out of sheer madness and it cannot be a symbol of love.

It is symbol of selfishness, of anarchy and obsession as demonstrated by the Shah Jahan by cutting of the hands of the labourers who built the Taj Mahal so that they are not able to replicate the structure.

I am still astounded by the ignorance of people who call Taj Mahal a monument of love.

A symbol of love ,is a place where people feel happy and smiles come from within the heart and soul –like the Parippally Orphanage. 

Saturday, 5 November 2016

Anandam-Parmanadam


Cinema is an art it doesn't give you what you desire - it tells you how to desire.


A malayalam movie film which is fresh and innovative.

It has a fragnance of a “mulla poo”(jasmine) and beauty of a horizon.The charm and innocence of a child’s smile.

It has a refreshing humour which keeps the people coined to their seats for the entire duration of the film.

The film with 20 year olds give a fresh breadth to new age cinema,the director,productor,actors all bring fresh air into the young generation cinema.


It takes you to a fantacy world for the duration of the cinema and keeps to entertained in its real sense still the end which I believe is missing in either hollywood or bollywood movies.

Other fimmakers around the world can look towards Malayalam cinema and can give reins to young hands.

There may not have been a story, no social message but I it provides me enough reason to smile coming out of the cinema hall.

Just a six day Industrial trip to Humpy and Goa –Anandam is Paramanandam.

Wednesday, 26 October 2016

Misplaced Compassion


Righteousness is the truth within.



Today we are in danger of falling prey to misplaced compassion. Like pleading for the case of Afzal Guru,by some prominent people like P.Chidambaram and a few JNU students.

Also the recent case of Burhan Wani ,being projected as a martyr by some media channels.
I believe totally in the word compassion in both letter and spirit, but shouldn’t we be careful of misplaced compassion. Burhan Wani being treated as  a Hero is pretty unfortunate.

Shouldn’t we  exercise compassion towards our innocent people who have lost life’s because of Burhan and Afzal Guru.Shouldn’t the people killed by these terrorist deserve more respect , thought and prayers.

Shouldn’t the country be righteous towards these innocent citizens whose near and dear ones have been lost.

Shouldn’t the media and the people think a little about the innocent people who have faced the brunt of theses hardcore militants. Also in the cases of some famous film personalities the media does exercise false compassion thus influencing a major chunk of people instead of sticking to the truth and being righteous towards the innocent people who have been affected by them.

Today in the name of compassion we are pardoning hardcore terrorists, (the media projects them as matyrs) we are showing compassion towards them and being absolutely heartless towards the innocent people who were killed by them. Thousands of pages of print media , plenty of prime time has been devoted to these fundamentalists but not a single ounce for my innocent citizens.Are they not our citizens?

Many army men,many paramilitary jawans have lost their lifes doing their duty.There children and mothers  have not done any sin,do they not have any expectations from my country and its people.

Don’t they deserve better. Is law not same to all. Give it a thought.

Sunday, 16 October 2016

India and its Ideals




ॐ असतो मा सद्गमय ।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय ।
मृत्योर्मा अमृतं गमय ।
ॐ शान्तिः शान्तिः शान्तिः ॥


Meaning

Lead me from falsehood to truth,
Lead me from darkness lead me to light,
Lead me from death to the immortality
Om Peace,Peace,Peace.





India -A land from where spirituality and philosophy have again and again rushed out and deluged the world.A land of the greatest sages from where wisdom originated and spread its wings.

The land with the mighty snowcapped Himalayas at the top and rivers roaring like the oceans. The ideal of India is based on the ages of tapasya and sadhana of its Sages ,Rishis and Mahatma’s-their Renunciation ,not based on its filmstars,cricketors,or politicians.India has been blessed with numerous gems over a period of time-like Lord Krishna,Buddha,Shankara, Chaitanya,Ramakrishna Paramhamsa,Ramana Maharshi and Mata Amritanandamayi Devi to name a few.

Religion is instilled in the blood and veins of every Indian.And their religion is not about fanatism or convertions,their ideal of religion is based on –“Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu” meaning everyone in this world be happy and prosperous.

Indian history also practically validates this argument ,that India has never attacked any other country-it has never believed in the use of force  to get more land or show supremacy though it is the same India which has withstood the shock of centuries,of hundreds of foriegn invasions.It is the same land which stands firmer than any rock in the world with its undying vigour and indestructible life.

Women form a soul in this holy land.Matrudevo bhava –meaning be one for whom the Mother is God.Every women is looked upon as mothers ,there is no question of lust or any carnal desire- that is the ideal of this ancient land unlike the west where women are observed a mere objects for sensory satisfaction.The highest ideal of a wife is purity and being chaste unlike the west.

Here it is very interesting to note that the western media ,asks India to take care of its women-to a country that taught the world how to look upon its women.

In India ,women is the embodiment of sacrifice, from the time of her birth ,to her family , to her husband and then to her children-she sacrifices.In India if father is the breadwinner, mother is the soul of the family .

Indian culture instill values of Atithidevo bhava meaning be one for whom the guest is god.It has been generous and magnanimous in giving back to the world be it knowledge,spirituality,wisdom,yoga or Ayurveda,or the architecture and design of its temples-it never charges.

The values of Indians are rooted in purity ,compassion and truth.

Monday, 12 September 2016

False rape cases on a high…



Strengthen the muscles of your heart not the muscles of your hand-Mata Amritanandamayi Devi



In 2012 India as a whole was shook by the Delhi rape case.And there were lot of outrage shown by media and society to deal sternly with the accused. As a part of a civilized society I take great pride in appreciating the actions of the people of my country,be it activitists,media ,politicians or the judges.

But what is alarming is that such uproar and havoc had been created of the right reasons but the after effects have been gruesome, cruel and harmful.
There has been an increase in the number of false rape cases being reported by women to settle personal scores.

Two of my friends have been at the receiving end of this law .(both different cases).
Under  law of IPC section 376(1),stating ---raping after promising marriage,he was arrested.

And on what basis do they arrest the person ,just on the basis of single police complaint by the girl.No verification,no history of the women is taken in to account.

In an age of live in relationships and premarital stands ,a literate city girl easily misuses this law to get back at the guy ,whom she had physical intimacy with consensually at a time when they were in a relationship. The guy has the full right to say that they were in a mutual relationship and after finding each others differences and attitude had moved on. 

My friends life’s have been shattered, their family have a social stigma attached to them.They have difficulty in seeing what the future would be. The parents face social humiliation everyday. I wonder what is their fault?And what is his?I know the courts would acquit him,but the damage has already been done."Its difffcuilt to walk on the streets outside …people look at me as I am a rapist”—he says."I ask him to tell them to fu*k off”.

The girl on her part has no such baggage,she is not forced to have feel any humialiation,she is full of political vendetta. Her family is not facing any social stigma.And above all if the case which she files goes against her she has nothing to lose.Neither will she have to face any criminal proceedings, neither is any compensation penalty imposed on her.

I call upon all activists,media , lawmakers , law implementers and society to shown the same alertness in dealing with this rising menace of false rape cases  in order to sustain the harmony in a civilized society.

Media so called fourth pillar of democracy plays an important role in creating awareness about provisions of law and consequences of filing false rape cases against innocent alleged accused .It is important to mention the observations of Fast Track Court Judge while acquitting the alleged accused and highlighted the role of media in following words:

“I hope and trust that the media, which is an important pillar of our democratic set up, would strive to highlight the plight of rape accused after their acquittal by courts in the same way in which they report filing of rape cases.” [Para 12]
Court further observed that “Be that as it may, the accused herein is acquitted. This is all what this court can do in his favour. Rest is upon the society in general and media in particular how they would treat the accused hereafter.” [Para 13]

I have written a few posts on my blog on women empowerment,I believe in it completely that women have to be empowered---empowered in the heart rather than in the head,as my spiritual guru Mata Amritanandamyi Devi puts it clearly “Strengthen the  muscles of your heart not the muscles of your hand.”---only then true empowerment happens.




This post on Quora does provide an insight
Sharing
https://www.quora.com/What-are-some-cases-stories-where-some-women-have-misused-the-Indian-laws-that-were-made-to-protect-women

Wednesday, 31 August 2016

My Home

Sometimes I feel my home is like the GAZA strip.
I always listen to the fights between my father and my mother ( for almost few decades now).
They fight, quarrel, abuse and it continues for hours .
At least there is a ceasefire in Palestine-Israel conflict, there is no ceasefire at my home.
It continues for hours, days and months, nonstop without any interruption.
Words are exchanged, mother in laws and father in laws names are taken.
I watch in silence, just witnessing, sometimes trying to calculate who will win this one, just like an Indo-Pak match, but I am sure not to take sides, least I may get ripped apart.
But over the years it has become a joy now to listen to their fights, fully understanding that emotions and understanding are not about artificial-ism they have to be real, one does not fight if you don’t have the love for the other person.
Now if they don’t fight  they may not be able to sleep well and if I don’t hear them fight I cannot sleep well.
When I reach home and listen to them fight, I know everything is alright.
Love has many dimensions; it can be expressed in different ways just that is needs to be original.

And thank gods that India does not have gun and bullets freely available as in the US.

Friday, 29 July 2016

A trip to Goa village,Malcopon.

"If you wait for the certificate from everybody,you would not get the certificate from God" - Mata Amritanandamayi Devi



I am working with the best minds of Amrita. Six third year mechanical students, all guys. Had a fun filled 7 days. These were the best days of my life spent after joining Amrita.

My internship to a small village in the interiors of Goa, Malcopon ,was really worth it.

Away from the clutter of my office staff and superiors, it was seven days of heaven. As I said working with an extraordinary team with the minds who were around 20 years old, matching much to the caliber of the IITians and IIMs,infact a touch above them always, in the nature of being ready to serve spontaneously.

We were all new, buzzing with the uncertainty of how the villagers would be to us. That was the excitement of not knowing how things were and what to expect.

We were glad that they accepted us wholeheartedly with open arms. We got started with playing a football game with the children. And that served as an icebreaker.

Work started with meeting few locals asking them about their problems, issues that the villagers face. They were very open with their inputs and honest.

Later on work caught momentum and was carried out and various things were accomplished:health camp was conducted,PTA was conducted,Yoga session was held,Amalabharatam session was conducted,Tree Plantation drive was conducted.

We also had our focus areas on education and youths. As part videos were shown and a street play was conducted with the village youth and in their language konkani.





I am very happy with the time spent with these guys and wish them all the best for their future endeavors and hopefully we will have a lot more opportunities to explore the world around.

We would thank Amrita University and our chancellor Mata Amritanandamayi Devi for providing us with the practical opportunity to learn from the society.Hopefully many more universities will follow suite like the IITs,JNUs and Jadavpur University.