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.