It is that time of the year again when Lord Ganesh enters our lives bringing to fore the joie de vivre in us. In several places in India Ganesh chaturthi is a one day affair but in amchi Mumbai it could be anywhere between one to fifteen days. It is the season of gay abandon when people dance and jostle to welcome their favorite deity to their homes and mandals. The most eagerly awaited time for us Mumbaikars.
Ganesh chaturthi can be a logistics nightmare. The mere thought of transporting lord Ganesh idols across the streets of Mumbai can send a chill down the spine of any logistics planner. The entire operation of transporting the idols is more unplanned than planned but unbelievably much smoother than any planned operations. Like Mr. Amit Maheshwari, our CEO, often says, in India everything is ‘Jugaad’; things get done. The idols of lord Ganesh get transported with very few minor hiccups; not bad considering the sheer number of mandals and household that participates in this venture, not to mention the multitude of people.
Then comes the darshan time; long winding queues of spirited devotees throng the path along the barricades not minding the inconveniences of the makeshift pandals, resolute in their aim of having a glimpse of their lord. Some of the more popular mandals witness millions of devotees during the festival period, from early in the morning to late night. The devotees’ belief in their lord is total and absolute and nothing can deter them from visiting the deity at their favorite and chosen mandals. Much of the people management is done by volunteers appointed by the mandals and the general public, none of whom have any special qualification for it. The support from the government machinery to this whole spectacle can be at best described as rudimentary.
After the stipulated period of celebration it is time to bid adieu to the lord as he is reluctantly taken out in processions to be immersed in water. Again the logistics nightmare, the process of transporting the idols begins and once again the Mumbaikars sing and dance in gay abandon as they say farewell to their beloved lord. The atmosphere resonates with shouts of ‘Ganapati bappa morya, pudchya varshi laukar yaa’. The feeling of devotees as they return home after immersion is difficult to describe. It is as if they have parted with a beloved member of their family. With downcast eyes and heavy heart they trudge back to their respective homes with a lingering thought of the promised visit of their lord the same time next year…Pudcha varshi laukar yaa.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
The art of writing
The title of this post would lead one to believe that it is about tips on improving writing skills or becoming a good writer; it’s neither. It is just that so often my colleagues ascribe me with good writing skills, which I not-so-modestly decline possessing, that I thought I should write about my take on what I perceive to be good writing. This post is for all those who look-up to me as a good writer.
To qualify as a good writer, I believe, first of all a person should have an excellent command over the language one writes in. Second, the writer should possess good knowledge of the subject. Third, the writing should be lucid and go straight to the heart of the matter without beating around the bush. Fourth, excessive use of jargons and showing off one’s vocabulary must be avoided at all costs. Well there are lots of other qualifications which I may have failed to mention here, but these are some of the required qualities I could remember. I do not want to go too much into the technicalities of writing, I mean I can’t.
As for writing in English or understanding of the queen’s language, Softlink has many worthy people who can be spoken of as having this trait. There is Abhai for one, and then there is Arun, Girish, Rajesh, all these people have very solid grounding in the language. Abhai’s skill is ofcourse well know but few are aware of the proficiency of the other three. It is sheer happenstance that I was entrusted the task of communicating for the company, being the only person who could be spared for it. This should not be mistaken for any talent on my part for any given day one can punch a bunch of holes in my writings. I am a rookie as far as writing is concerned and I have this habit of complicating the sentences and twisting them so as to make them uninteresting to read, incomprehensible at times. Incidentally this is the only language I can write in and I can’t even do it without the help of a dictionary.
But one thing I must agree; the power to communicate gives one a high as no other thing can. And there is no shame in committing mistakes if one learns from them. Human beings have strived to express their thoughts and feelings from time immemorial. So guys if you feel disinclined to share your thoughts and feelings, atleast the ones which can be aired openly, because of public censure or ridicule, I entreat you to shed aside your fears and inhibitions to come forth boldly to convey your thoughts. Why should we worry about people who ridicule us or do not try to understand us? It is their inability and they should be ashamed of it not us.
To qualify as a good writer, I believe, first of all a person should have an excellent command over the language one writes in. Second, the writer should possess good knowledge of the subject. Third, the writing should be lucid and go straight to the heart of the matter without beating around the bush. Fourth, excessive use of jargons and showing off one’s vocabulary must be avoided at all costs. Well there are lots of other qualifications which I may have failed to mention here, but these are some of the required qualities I could remember. I do not want to go too much into the technicalities of writing, I mean I can’t.
As for writing in English or understanding of the queen’s language, Softlink has many worthy people who can be spoken of as having this trait. There is Abhai for one, and then there is Arun, Girish, Rajesh, all these people have very solid grounding in the language. Abhai’s skill is ofcourse well know but few are aware of the proficiency of the other three. It is sheer happenstance that I was entrusted the task of communicating for the company, being the only person who could be spared for it. This should not be mistaken for any talent on my part for any given day one can punch a bunch of holes in my writings. I am a rookie as far as writing is concerned and I have this habit of complicating the sentences and twisting them so as to make them uninteresting to read, incomprehensible at times. Incidentally this is the only language I can write in and I can’t even do it without the help of a dictionary.
But one thing I must agree; the power to communicate gives one a high as no other thing can. And there is no shame in committing mistakes if one learns from them. Human beings have strived to express their thoughts and feelings from time immemorial. So guys if you feel disinclined to share your thoughts and feelings, atleast the ones which can be aired openly, because of public censure or ridicule, I entreat you to shed aside your fears and inhibitions to come forth boldly to convey your thoughts. Why should we worry about people who ridicule us or do not try to understand us? It is their inability and they should be ashamed of it not us.
Friday, January 1, 2010
Bring About the Awakening
We all have weaknesses, all sorts of weaknesses, and we are nothing but slaves of these weaknesses. The question then is how do we fall prey to such weakness in the first place? How do we overcome these weaknesses and grow in strength?
It is the deceiving mind, which we are so much identified with, which is the root cause. These weaknesses manifest due to our identification with the mind. One may disagree with me on this, nevertheless it is true. It is foolish to think that we are in control of ourselves. If we reflect honestly on the nature of our mind we would know this to be true. One who is in control of himself would be totally devoid of avarice, envy, anger, prurience and caprice. The mind is a malady which affects us. The mind will do anything to ensure its survival, often diving into an abyss of dross and scum. Not knowing this, people vainly ascribe their weaknesses to all sorts of external sources, such as circumstances. The mind which can only dwell in the past and the future cannot exist in the present. It is this present that we must seek.
René Descartes says: "Cogito, ergo sum" (Usually translated in English as: "I think, therefore I am", but can be less ambiguously translated as "I am thinking, therefore I exist" or "I am thinking, on the account of being"). However there is an existence beyond this thinking existence which is our true nature. The thinking existence, which is absolutely false, takes you away from your true nature.
The mind is an imposter which gives us a false identity. The sooner one does away with this imposter the better, for it will bring forth one's true self. The best way to deal with the mind is to watch it without actually following the thoughts. If we follow this method scrupulously the mind will fall of its own. As Swami Vivekananda says: “Hold to the idea, ‘I am not the mind, I see that I am thinking, I am watching my mind act,’ and each day the identification of yourself with thoughts and feelings will grow less, until at last you can entirely separate yourself from the mind and actually know it to be apart from yourself.” He further says “Freedom can never be reached by the weak. Throw away all weakness. Tell your body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith and hope in yourself. Go on saying, ‘I am free.’ Never mind if the next moment delusion comes and says, ‘I am bound.’ Dehypnotize the whole thing.”
One thing is sure, it is not an easy task. But if we persist with grit and fortitude we are bound to succeed. Let us bring about this Awakening in us.
It is the deceiving mind, which we are so much identified with, which is the root cause. These weaknesses manifest due to our identification with the mind. One may disagree with me on this, nevertheless it is true. It is foolish to think that we are in control of ourselves. If we reflect honestly on the nature of our mind we would know this to be true. One who is in control of himself would be totally devoid of avarice, envy, anger, prurience and caprice. The mind is a malady which affects us. The mind will do anything to ensure its survival, often diving into an abyss of dross and scum. Not knowing this, people vainly ascribe their weaknesses to all sorts of external sources, such as circumstances. The mind which can only dwell in the past and the future cannot exist in the present. It is this present that we must seek.
René Descartes says: "Cogito, ergo sum" (Usually translated in English as: "I think, therefore I am", but can be less ambiguously translated as "I am thinking, therefore I exist" or "I am thinking, on the account of being"). However there is an existence beyond this thinking existence which is our true nature. The thinking existence, which is absolutely false, takes you away from your true nature.
The mind is an imposter which gives us a false identity. The sooner one does away with this imposter the better, for it will bring forth one's true self. The best way to deal with the mind is to watch it without actually following the thoughts. If we follow this method scrupulously the mind will fall of its own. As Swami Vivekananda says: “Hold to the idea, ‘I am not the mind, I see that I am thinking, I am watching my mind act,’ and each day the identification of yourself with thoughts and feelings will grow less, until at last you can entirely separate yourself from the mind and actually know it to be apart from yourself.” He further says “Freedom can never be reached by the weak. Throw away all weakness. Tell your body that it is strong, tell your mind that it is strong, and have unbounded faith and hope in yourself. Go on saying, ‘I am free.’ Never mind if the next moment delusion comes and says, ‘I am bound.’ Dehypnotize the whole thing.”
One thing is sure, it is not an easy task. But if we persist with grit and fortitude we are bound to succeed. Let us bring about this Awakening in us.
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