Did it take such long
For earthlings to
discover water in me!
Mother always
Knows springs of
Affection that wells up
In me quite often
And my love for her
Can never dry up
As much as my tears
Of joy and sadness
(Written three days after it was announced -- in September 2009 --
that Chandrayaan-1, the aborted moon mission,
discovered water on moon.)
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Sunday, September 13, 2009
For a sane society
The media, chiefly electronic media, went to town again with the tragic death
of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in a helicopter
crash in the jungles near Kurnool.
If newspaper reports are to be believed, as many as 140 people died unable to bear
the loss of his death. How much of this is true is a moot point. But at least some deaths
could be attributed to the shock and grief graphically conveyed by the media.
Mass hysteria, among the supporters, spurred by the almost non-stop
coverage of his death and its impact was a factor.
The hype that surrounded YSR's death was such that one wondered whether he was a
national leader of such standing who deserved so much coverage. Even a small stone
is a big brick for the TV channels to throw at the public. The one news channel that
tried to maintain some balance was Headlines Today.
After all the dust has settled, the question that remains in focus is the mindless
and sensational coverage of the electronic media on senstive issues. Clearly, some
guidlines are needed and some self-regulation will go a long way in ensuring a sane and
healthy society.
of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) in a helicopter
crash in the jungles near Kurnool.
If newspaper reports are to be believed, as many as 140 people died unable to bear
the loss of his death. How much of this is true is a moot point. But at least some deaths
could be attributed to the shock and grief graphically conveyed by the media.
Mass hysteria, among the supporters, spurred by the almost non-stop
coverage of his death and its impact was a factor.
The hype that surrounded YSR's death was such that one wondered whether he was a
national leader of such standing who deserved so much coverage. Even a small stone
is a big brick for the TV channels to throw at the public. The one news channel that
tried to maintain some balance was Headlines Today.
After all the dust has settled, the question that remains in focus is the mindless
and sensational coverage of the electronic media on senstive issues. Clearly, some
guidlines are needed and some self-regulation will go a long way in ensuring a sane and
healthy society.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
When Moon visited India
It comes once in a bluemoon
When the daughter
In the sky
Visits celestial mother
Comes calling
Soon after the search
For her beautiful face
Casting her might
Her silken saree
Caressing mother
For longer time
Before vanishing
Back in her spot
She starts smiling
Till mother sees
The bloom
Then hides again
(Written after the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009)
When the daughter
In the sky
Visits celestial mother
Comes calling
Soon after the search
For her beautiful face
Casting her might
Her silken saree
Caressing mother
For longer time
Before vanishing
Back in her spot
She starts smiling
Till mother sees
The bloom
Then hides again
(Written after the total solar eclipse on July 22, 2009)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Which is not adulterated?
Which is not adulterated?
In this kaliyuga, which is not adulterated -- the food
one eats, the air one breathes,
the petrol one fills in, etc.
The worse of it is inthe form of
even human relationships.
Everything seems to be interdependent: one does
something in return for something. though it is
not explicitly stated. Even this could be understood.
What cannot be is the improper ways in which these
things are done --- dishonesty, bias, cheating, and
suppression and oppression resulting from
caste/communal/racist feelings and attitudes
and jealousy.
The list goes on depending on the social and
political situation.
So, what does one expect at the end of the day!
If one gives a thought to these and acts appropriately,
responsibly and without all the negative emotions
that not only spoils one's personality and standing
but also ruins many bright lives in society, one will have sealed
a key place in society. One whose life inspires others.
In this kaliyuga, which is not adulterated -- the food
one eats, the air one breathes,
the petrol one fills in, etc.
The worse of it is inthe form of
even human relationships.
Everything seems to be interdependent: one does
something in return for something. though it is
not explicitly stated. Even this could be understood.
What cannot be is the improper ways in which these
things are done --- dishonesty, bias, cheating, and
suppression and oppression resulting from
caste/communal/racist feelings and attitudes
and jealousy.
The list goes on depending on the social and
political situation.
So, what does one expect at the end of the day!
If one gives a thought to these and acts appropriately,
responsibly and without all the negative emotions
that not only spoils one's personality and standing
but also ruins many bright lives in society, one will have sealed
a key place in society. One whose life inspires others.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Which is not fixed?
After watching the T20 final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka on June 21, 2009, one would think
what went wrong with the Sri Lankan team that didn't pack a punch in the final. The Sri Lankan cricket tigers are not the ones to submit meekly. But their lacklustre performance in the match, except that of captain Sangakkara, did raise many questions in the minds of fans and watchers.
One was even led to think whether the match was fixed. What are the factors that lie beneath the unexplainable performances of teams, only a few might know. An Australia- England or South Africa final would not have looked like this, one is sure.
While we all know cricket is not beyond match-fixing, what else is not?
One wonders whether everything except birth and death -- may be you can throw in marriage inbetween! -- is fixed!
A related post titled "Barcoding" (Nov. 18, 2007) can be seen in the archive.
(Here is the link: http://nidhikripa.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=12)
what went wrong with the Sri Lankan team that didn't pack a punch in the final. The Sri Lankan cricket tigers are not the ones to submit meekly. But their lacklustre performance in the match, except that of captain Sangakkara, did raise many questions in the minds of fans and watchers.
One was even led to think whether the match was fixed. What are the factors that lie beneath the unexplainable performances of teams, only a few might know. An Australia- England or South Africa final would not have looked like this, one is sure.
While we all know cricket is not beyond match-fixing, what else is not?
One wonders whether everything except birth and death -- may be you can throw in marriage inbetween! -- is fixed!
A related post titled "Barcoding" (Nov. 18, 2007) can be seen in the archive.
(Here is the link: http://nidhikripa.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2007-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2008-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=12)
Monday, May 4, 2009
Sex edn on cell
In an earlier blog on "Dangers to personal life" I had lamented the use of cell
phones for commercialising the fine concept of love and the dangers it poses
to gullible youth.
The latest to emerge from the West is that the instrument is being used to
educate youth on sex in the positive sense of the term. Well, the positive after
all the negative things that go with it! At least they are thinking in those terms of
raising awareness.
It may come here after long long years but much damage would have been done
to the youth and children.
phones for commercialising the fine concept of love and the dangers it poses
to gullible youth.
The latest to emerge from the West is that the instrument is being used to
educate youth on sex in the positive sense of the term. Well, the positive after
all the negative things that go with it! At least they are thinking in those terms of
raising awareness.
It may come here after long long years but much damage would have been done
to the youth and children.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Worship everything
'Worship the creator, not his creations" ran the church message.
This view is also expressed by some Muslim scholars. One
also gets the same idea embedded in other religions like Hinduism.
Though Hindus broadly agree with it they worship the sun and
the moon, the two astral bodies. The day starts, for the religious
among them, with Surya namaskar. The direct benefits from
it makes them worship it as god himself. In fact, they have as
many gods and goddesses corresponding to the forces of nature.
Who can deny that nature is itself god? Does one not see god in
the designs on the wings of butterfly, in the interior decoration
in fruits, and in the eternal space?
Perhaps the saying meant that one should not worship man
himself. While it could be true that man is the seed of all
evil and is to be despised, he is also divine in nature.
The Self or atman resides in all of us irrespective of one's caste, creed, religion, gender
and status, so say Vedas and Upanishads.
Apart from worshipping god in form or without form one has to
know how to realise the god within which is only a manifestation
of the divine force prevalent everywhere. Then one crosses
all the barriers that divide man.
This view is also expressed by some Muslim scholars. One
also gets the same idea embedded in other religions like Hinduism.
Though Hindus broadly agree with it they worship the sun and
the moon, the two astral bodies. The day starts, for the religious
among them, with Surya namaskar. The direct benefits from
it makes them worship it as god himself. In fact, they have as
many gods and goddesses corresponding to the forces of nature.
Who can deny that nature is itself god? Does one not see god in
the designs on the wings of butterfly, in the interior decoration
in fruits, and in the eternal space?
Perhaps the saying meant that one should not worship man
himself. While it could be true that man is the seed of all
evil and is to be despised, he is also divine in nature.
The Self or atman resides in all of us irrespective of one's caste, creed, religion, gender
and status, so say Vedas and Upanishads.
Apart from worshipping god in form or without form one has to
know how to realise the god within which is only a manifestation
of the divine force prevalent everywhere. Then one crosses
all the barriers that divide man.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Being tough
While speeding through the busy roads on a hectic day
I chanced upon a quote on the rear glass of a car. It said:
Tough times do not last long.
But tough men do.
Stopping at the next signal I opened my helmet shield
and told the driver-owner that it was a very good
quote that gave inspiration. To my surprise, he said
many people have done so!
Tough world! No doubt. You ought to be tough, at least
in mind, to beat the odds I felt.
This is an addition to the more popular saying:
When it gets tough, the tough get going.
I chanced upon a quote on the rear glass of a car. It said:
Tough times do not last long.
But tough men do.
Stopping at the next signal I opened my helmet shield
and told the driver-owner that it was a very good
quote that gave inspiration. To my surprise, he said
many people have done so!
Tough world! No doubt. You ought to be tough, at least
in mind, to beat the odds I felt.
This is an addition to the more popular saying:
When it gets tough, the tough get going.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Nan and Nano
Like Nano,
She came like a whirlwind, swept us all by her geniality, sincerity, hardwork and pleasing manners – all moulded in a beautiful format like the Nano.
Short tenure but excellent record.
One hopes she did not have any trouble as Nano has had. We would have said No-Go, No-Go but Nan O, she is going.
Cheers to her on the new journey she undertakes.
And prayers for her continued happiness and welfare.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Dangers to personal life
At first look I thought it was one of those routine SMS
mercilessly pumped through the wave frequencies into
your cell -- has it not become another biological cell --
by innumerable operators.
Another look and I was drawn. "Are you in love?" it started.
Who is not or was not, I thought. Then the fizz opened.
It sought to hook, to use the precise term, youngsters by promising
to give tips to be smarter if you are in love, and the tips are
available, separately, for boys and girls who are to SMS
for different numbers. And it comes with a cost of course,
at Rs.1 per SMS.
First, there was apprehension about TV bringing into the house
obsecenity, vulgarity and soft pornography that was the
domain of yellow journals and pavement booklets and
of course the Big Bad Guy -- the movies.
Then came the computer which threw open, through the
worldwide web, an ocean of information on all subjects
on earth, including relationships. E-mail turned into
Evil mail. Everyone is familiar with the Tamil movie
song "O Maria, O Maria" that depicts young love
going online.
Now that the cellphone is the most personal and popular
means of communication, the baddies are at it again, turning
this useful gadget into a love-making instrument.
And the operators themselves are into this business of love.
Who has opened this gateway for all such purposes
that are detrimental to societal norms?
With no government hold on the electronic mass media
and inhouse norms regulation lacking, the people at
large are in grave danger of their privacy being intruded
upon, their children being exposed to irresponsible elements
and stalkers and societal norms being demolished.
mercilessly pumped through the wave frequencies into
your cell -- has it not become another biological cell --
by innumerable operators.
Another look and I was drawn. "Are you in love?" it started.
Who is not or was not, I thought. Then the fizz opened.
It sought to hook, to use the precise term, youngsters by promising
to give tips to be smarter if you are in love, and the tips are
available, separately, for boys and girls who are to SMS
for different numbers. And it comes with a cost of course,
at Rs.1 per SMS.
First, there was apprehension about TV bringing into the house
obsecenity, vulgarity and soft pornography that was the
domain of yellow journals and pavement booklets and
of course the Big Bad Guy -- the movies.
Then came the computer which threw open, through the
worldwide web, an ocean of information on all subjects
on earth, including relationships. E-mail turned into
Evil mail. Everyone is familiar with the Tamil movie
song "O Maria, O Maria" that depicts young love
going online.
Now that the cellphone is the most personal and popular
means of communication, the baddies are at it again, turning
this useful gadget into a love-making instrument.
And the operators themselves are into this business of love.
Who has opened this gateway for all such purposes
that are detrimental to societal norms?
With no government hold on the electronic mass media
and inhouse norms regulation lacking, the people at
large are in grave danger of their privacy being intruded
upon, their children being exposed to irresponsible elements
and stalkers and societal norms being demolished.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Bettering the battering
In the face of difficulties and testing times when you feel down and out
and when you are helpless, there are ways to surmount them if you just hold on and find other ways than the usual route. Grit, determination are required not
only when you do physically challenging tasks like driving a vehicle
in heavy traffic on narrow roads.
See inwardly and persist in doing the things normally required.
Soon you are out of the morass.
Martin Luther King III, while visiting the Mani Bhavan in Mumbai said
that he will return home more determined after seeing
the difficulties and challenges here. He referred to a white man, who
apologised to him, after four decades, for having beaten him
up in a bus.
A.R. Rahman quoted on February 20.
These are some nuggets that infuse inspiration and confidence in
minds battered by inhuman humans.
and when you are helpless, there are ways to surmount them if you just hold on and find other ways than the usual route. Grit, determination are required not
only when you do physically challenging tasks like driving a vehicle
in heavy traffic on narrow roads.
See inwardly and persist in doing the things normally required.
Soon you are out of the morass.
Martin Luther King III, while visiting the Mani Bhavan in Mumbai said
that he will return home more determined after seeing
the difficulties and challenges here. He referred to a white man, who
apologised to him, after four decades, for having beaten him
up in a bus.
A.R. Rahman quoted on February 20.
“I can relate to the film because I take life positively and feel that even after great depression, something good will come out,” said the composer in a telephone interview from Los Angeles. “Almost everything is finished for this guy [film’s hero] but there is still hope and then he... succeeds in the end.”
These are some nuggets that infuse inspiration and confidence in
minds battered by inhuman humans.
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