By the sea

Last month I decided to get back to my first real love. So I went on a vacation and took my wife along. We spent a whole day on the beach.

The sea is alluring beyond all beauty. I grew up beside the sea. She was there when I retired for the night; she was there when I woke up in the morning. My dormitory at school was just over a hundred meters from the coast line. I slept listening to the sea.

She had many moods and you could not just predict. She will be calm one morning and terribly rough in the evening. On such days you could hear her ferocious outbursts all through the night. Sometimes, I confess, it was scary.

When she is calm dolphins played in her lap. Real dolphins in the ‘wild’, jumping out from the waters in a perfect arc and getting back in at a distance. If you listened carefully you could hear the dolphins laugh. Often I desisted from throwing in my fishing line for fear of hurting her. Then I would sit on the shore and spend hours just watching her change colours.

I have never had a problem in my marriage!.

GOD and prayer

From time immemorial to this day debate on GOD and Religion continues. I write about neither; nor is this an attempt on a fresh debate. This is also not a discourse or a belief.

I want to put in a very simple way how I see the world. Whatever one believes or does not, it is a fact that there is yet something (enabling creation of life (as opposed to creation of babies!)) beyond comprehension of known science. Let us call it ‘Supreme’ for want of a better word.

Giving ‘Supreme’ a character and in deference to gender equality say it is ‘Her’.

Dvaita (dualism) theory says that I and ‘Her’ are different – preached by Madhava.

Advaita (non-dualism) theory says that I and ‘Her’ are same – preached by Adi Shankaracharya.

I feel it takes more to understand Advaita than Dvaita, hence Dvaita.

I define prayer as nothing but a means to concentrate ones mind on the immediate. Methods for prayer propagated by different religions/societies/groups are varied but ultimately it all aims at concentrating the mind on the immediate.

Just a tickler…

Any one interested to dive a bit deep into this, I recommend the writings of our former president and a great philosopher Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan. Quoting Sankaracharya he says in his essay on Bhagavad-Gita

“The entire world of manifestation and multiplicity is not real in itself and seems to be real only for those who live in ignorance (Avidya). To be caught in it is the bondage in which we are all implicated” !

Heady stuff…..cheers!

Democracy and governance

Democracy is a way of life. It’s not only about governments and rights. It is also about what we as individuals and as groups do every day that contribute to society and make it a better place to live. In India it is also about Nation building.

The common belief is that the four pillars of democracy are Legislature, Executive, Judiciary and the Press (Media). I would say that the people are the strongest and most important pillar of a democracy. This aspect, more often than not, eludes all discussion.

Here is the major lacuna in our democracy. In India only half the eligible voters register. About a third of those registered exercise their franchise. The legislature thus represent about seventeen percent of the population. The Government is formed by those elected by about nine percent of the population.  These percentages may have got mixed up but the fact is the people of India who are the perpetrators of our democracy are conspicuous by their absence from participation. The representation aspect though exists technically is practically non existent. A comparison of Democarcy in India with that of any other country, on a fixed template, to say the least is a non starter.

In such a system vested interests and self seeking politicians rule the roost. Hence governance is the casualty – not by default but by design.

Hey Indian, where are you and what is your contribution to democracy and governance?

"Gp Capt" Sachin

This is not about Sachin Tendulkar.  Sachin is an all time great sportsperson who has contributed immensely to the quality of Indian cricket in particular and to the game of cricket in general. Over decades he has given cause to Indians and all cricket fans of the world to rejoice. Along the way he has also exhibited virtues like integrity, honesty, perseverance and unquestionable love for game and country. He loves his family. He is human and humane and supports many charitable initiatives.

So, Sachin this is not about you.

Awards and recognitions are given to performers for achievements. They are specific like say ‘Cricketer of the year’ or ‘Arjuna award’ and non specific like the Padma series. There are rules governing these awards. There can be logical reasoning in bestowing these awards.

But I believe a military uniform can not be awarded or bestowed; it has to be earned. It has to be earned through months and years of grind, sweat and toil.

It has to be earned living through emotions of long periods of separation from your loved ones. It has to be earned by experiencing the reality of a possibility of not being able to see your loved ones at all in your life time. Therein lies the sanctity of a soldier. Therein lies the sanctity of the uniform. The uniform has to be earned and not given away for free.

I dare say some of the vestiges of the ‘Raj’ still lie hidden in the archaic rule books somewhere. Our democratic system has not had the time and gumption to revise them.  The British bestowed military ranks on a few kings from whom they had taken away their armies! Let us frame our own rules. Let us not be under an illusion that the youth of today will come in hordes to join the military just because you give undeserved ranks to certain achievers/celebrities. I say again it was long ago the Mughals and the British ruled over India. The British left our shores more than six decades ago.

When will the Government and people of India to give the soldier his due; give it at least now; even if it is more than six decades and five wars after independence.