Acharya devo bhava

This world and our country have seen great men who have devoted themselves as teachers that has significantly influenced the course of history. Right from Confucius to Aristotle to Albert Einstein to our dearest Dr. Radhakrishnan, in whose name we celebrate this day, have left behind immortal lessons for us to preach and practise for the good of humanity.

Teachers have perhaps the most sacred of duties for they are the modellers of the minds and shapers of visions. As we thank all the teachers in our lives for guiding us, let us as a generation remember that whoever amongst us become one ourselves, we are carrying the torch that has been passed on to
us from such men as above.

'A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.'

For a greater country. For a greater world.

"Wherever men love reason, shun darkness, turn over towards light, praise virtue; despise meanness, hate vulgarity, kindle sheer beauty, wherever minds are sensitive, hearts generous, spirits free, there is your country. Let us adopt that loyalty to humanity instead of a sectional devotion to one part of the
human race.” - Dr. Radhakrishnan.

Greetings on the eve of Teacher's Day.

The Trial, 1922. A lawyer at the accused's stand.

Barrister MK Gandhi held surprises right from the beginning leaving the Magistrate startled when he declared his profession as 'Farmer and Weaver' to pleading guilty at the first call to suggesting the Judge to resign if he found the prevailing law 'evil' to finally thanking the Judge for doing his duty as called upon by the law.

The strongest argument in favour of the prosecution at that moment was, that if the government does not prosecute Gandhi, they may never be able to prosecute him afterwards; for the spread of his mischievous propaganda during the following few months was anticipated to 'advance beyond an academic stage and affect the India Army.'

However, on the contrary, it was a political blunder.

What was intended as a strategic attempt to curb the national movement in fact, backfired.

Judge Broomfield: 'And I should like to say in doing so that if the course of events in India should make it possible for the Government to reduce the period and release you, no one will be better pleased than I'.

Gandhi: 'So far as the sentence itself is concerned, I certainly consider that it is as light as any judge would inflict on me, and so far as the whole proceedings are concerned, I must say that I could not have expected greater courtesy'.

Rakhi Purnima

The Rakhi Purnima, which is celebrated in great reverence, is a significant part of our culture. Every practise that we follow is associated with a story as our ancestors were aware of the power that a story could carry for years to come.

One such story goes that one day during their exile, Krishna happened to visit the pandavas in the forest. While handling a physical labour, a piece cut a part of his finger. Draupadi immediately tore a part of her saree and bandaged thehurt.

Krishna promised to repay this uttering the blessing 'Akshyam', 'May it be unending'. The act took the centre stage of the epic tale of Mahabharat when Draupadi was disrobed by the Kauravas.

Women, in such symbolism, tie the rakhi to men with a faith that they are protected at all times.

On this day, as our country is plague by some evil elements, true rakhi is when every women in our land feels safe and secure. That day is not far.

Wishes from someone who does not have a biological sibling but in turn a million brothers and sisters.

At the stroke of the midnight hour...

People refused to buy bus fares, assuming they should now be free. A humble beggar walked into an enclosure reserved for foreign diplomats. A policeman asked him for his invitation.

'Invitation?'. he answered, 'Why do I need an invitation? I have my independence. That's enough.'

It was the feeling of a common man 69 years ago. It went far deeper that a mere desire to enter a previously reserved establishment.

Today, as we pay homage to those who laid down their lives for our independence, and look up to the tricolour that symbolises the ultimate sign of sacrifice, the heart echoes the millions of voices that cried 'Oh lovely dawn of freedom that breaks in gold and purple over ancient capital.'

'If there is any land on this earth that can lay claim to be the blessed Punya Bhumi...'

Independence Day wishes.

Guru Purnima

A Teacher maketh a Man. On this auspicious day of Guru Purnima.

Indian culture holds the Guru in the highest pedestal than any other culture in the world. The mantra goes as maatha, pitha, guru, deivam. It is through one's parents that one enters this world. Thereafter, it is the Guru that opens the door to greater possibilities and growth. Since ancient times, this land that has seen many enlightened souls and masters, has celebrated and dedicated this day to one of the three most revered persons of one's life, the Guru.

It is befitting today, to quote the late Dr. APJ, who himself wanted to be remembered not as a scientist or a president, but as a teacher; he said, '3 people can change society: the mother, the father and the teacher.'

On this auspicious day, let us bow down to our Gurus, in devotion and gratitude, for the knowledge and wisdom that they have dispensed and taught us.

Wishes on this day of Guru Purnima.

Mellisai Mannar...

One of the greatest legends of the music fraternity, MS Viswanathan breadth his last today. The classical band of TMS, PBS, Kannadhasan, Vaali set stage to bring the mellisai padangal up in the heavens. 

Rest in Peace.

Intha mannum kadal vaanum marainthu mudinthaalum
Marakka mudiyathada
Uravai pirikka mudiyathada -

This earth, sea, and sky, though they may disappear and end
It is not possible to forget; such bonds are inseparable...

For all the deeply connected moments that msv gave us...

Simple Acts of Kindness

Today I bring you a story that happened a few minutes ago. 

The time is a little after supper, around a quarter passed eight. I had dined alone at the cafeteria and was looking to go for a walk. My kindle accompanied me. I sat to read at what I think is perhaps the centre most spot of my university. Phone was plugged to the power-bank for charging. There were students walking about here and there. Few crossed by, the rest walked on lanes that were in front and back. 

I was sitting beneath a tree. The flood-light provided me the right illumination to read. With it came a host of flies attracted to a solely sitting rigid figure as myself. Since no man or dog were in the vicinity, the flies chose me with hardly an option really. So I decided to walk about in close circles, slowly, very slowly, holding the kindle in one hand, the other inside the pocket. The phone was left where it had been. 

Moments later, two boys walked passed. They saw the phone lying there and lamented, 'Ye kiska phone hai?'. I looked at them. They looked at me. I looked at the kindle. Then, I watched them walk away. 

After going a good fifty meters, they returned. 

'Excuse me bhai, ye aap ka phone hai?' one of them asked. 

'Yes,' I replied instantaneously without a touch of emotion or concern or even a smile. I watched them walk away for the second time. 

They had come back to make sure the phone belonged to it's owner and that they were not of the kind to walk away, leaving behind an accidentally abandoned phone. 

Such an act of kindness and consideration that humans show one another is much needed especially for our times. I hope the story tells it's own lesson and reminder. I wish I could have thanked them for it.