goa-paradise lost

Goa,an idyllic getaway from the wear and tear of daily life has become a graveyard of lost dreams.A place famous for its laid back attitude,sunshine,beaches,feni,sea-food and music now wears a desolate look.Most people have sold their old Portuguese style bungalows to builders for construction of apartments and flats.The number of vehicles in Goa has gone up ten-fold.
Goa was famous for its hospitality and warmth-instead now it has become mercenary and ugly.Outsiders have taken over the hotel and food sector and are out to fleece gullible tourists.Dona Paula,Calangute,Anjuna,Aguada and Vagator have all been converted into personal fiefdoms by criminals and anti-social elements who provide drugs and girls.

smart cities

'Smart cities' is the buzz-word in India today.Present trends indicate that in the next few decades,almost 70% of the world population will be in urban areas.
There cannot be any doubt that the majority of urban areas in the world are a nightmare.Pollution,traffic congestion,crime,slums,ugly skyscrapers and reduction of green spaces are a common feature of most cities and towns.As a result,most people living in urban areas suffer from a sense of alienation and insecurity.
'Smart city' does not mean a wi-fi connected city but a city where human relationships are valued more than anything else.The emphasis should be on low-cost and aesthetic habitats.There should be many green spaces,water bodies,cycle and pedestrian tracks,inexpensive and environment friendly public transportation and abundant availability of inexpensive day to day requirements.There should be an optimum population size for every city.Renewable energy should be preferred over fossil fuels.
While planning,there should be room for libraries,museums,art galleries,auditoriums and sports grounds.

loss of the aesthetic sense

Man today has lost the aesthetic sense and everywhere there is only cheapness,vulgarity and obscenity.In search of quick fame and riches,people are only producing trach to cater to the masses.Even the best of artistes are compromising on excellence and producing only mediocre works.
The really talented and versatile people prefer to stay away from the limelight and are quite content to pour their influence on those around peacefully and unobtrusively.They in their modest way are encouraging people to realize their true worth and strive for it.Like sculptors,they are constantly polishing and refining those in whom they find any potential.
While the vast majority are debasing and vulgarizing everything,the gifted people are trying to bring out the concealed beauty in everything.
The Goddess of beauty is Aphrodites or Saraswati.To be worthy of the grace of Saraswati,the devotee has to be single-minded in the pursuit of beauty.

the gift of the magi

'The gift of the Magi' is a beautiful love story by the famous author O. Henry.It is about a couple who love each other immensely.The husband is a clerk and the wife is a home maker.They earn just enough to make both ends meet.
Della has beautiful golden hair of which she is extremely proud and spends hours combing her hair.Jim has a valuable golden watch which he treasures immensely.
With Christmas approaching both Della and Jim want to give each other gifts.
Della decides to sell her beautiful hair to be able to buy a golden chain for Jim's watch while Jim decides to sell his watch to be able to buy a set of pearl combs to hold Della's hair.
On Christmas eve they are both stunned to find that their gifts are worthless for one another.
To love another is to be able to sacrifice the most precious thing one has to make the loved one happy.

the amul story

The "Amul" story is a story of vision,determination,team-spirit and pursuit of excellence in a hostile environment.
It was Sardar Patel's vision of self-reliance which was translated into reality by Dr.Verghese Kurien and the farmers of Gujrat.The Sardar knew that without a strong agricultural base,India would never be able to rise to its full potential.Dr.Kurien,a young engineer,was sent to the Kaira District to organise the poor farmers and set up a dairy cooperative.Working round the clock,Kurien was able to set up a dairy cooperative.Starting with milk,the cooperative soon diversified into butter,cheese,sweets,chocolates,curds and other products without compromising on quality.

mississippi burning

"It is Rudra who holds the world in the hollow of his palm,till the debt to him is paid,the law of Vishnu cannot prevail" Sri Aurobindo
The Fegusson verdict not to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer who killed Michael Brown,a black teenager in St.Lois,Missouri could be a water shed moment in the history of america.If the Judiciary does not rise to the occasion immediately and frame charges against Wilson,it could easily plunge America into a civil war.
For the past several decades, America has been pursuing an isolationist trajectory and against civil rights.Phone tapping,Patriots Act,espionage of overseas governments,racial discrimination and military intervention in other countries have been the corner stone of its domestic and foreign policy.
'The hens are coming to roost'.karma is no jest as America will soon discover to its immense discomfort.

kabuliwala

"Kabuliwala' is a poignant story by Tagore about a father's love for his daughter.A Pathan comes to Calcutta from Afghanistan to earn a living selling dry fruits door to door as well as lends money on word of mouth.
He misses his small daughter in Afghanistan and befriends a girl Mini.He goes to her everyday and tells her stories about Afghanistan.He also shows her a hand impression of his daughter on a piece of paper which he carries with him.From time to time he returns to his native land to meet his family and bring dry fruits.

His peaceful routine is interrupted when he gets into a duel with a borrower who refuses to repay his debt and in a heated moment the Pathan kills the man.He is arrested and sent to jail for a long time.When he is released,he is an old man and before returning to Afghanistan he wants to meet Mini but when he goes to her house,her father tells him that Mini is getting married and cannot meet him.

the rabbit and the tortoise

Around 5000 BC while Homer was composing the Illiad in Greece,Pt.Vishnu Sharma was composing the Panchatantra in India-tales illustrative of the complexities of life.
Once,in a forest,The rabbit and the tortoise decided to run a race.The rabbit was sure of winning but he wanted to teach the tortoise a lesson.
The day of the race dawned.In the presence of all the animals of the jungle,both of them set out.After going a short distance,the rabbit decided to take a nap,quite sure of his victory.While the rabbit was sleeping,the tortoise was going steadily with small steps towards the goal.
After a couple of hours,the rabbit got up and assuming that the tortose was still behind,started walking slowly towards the finish line.
To his amazement,he found the tortoise waiting for him at the finish line.The moral of the story is 'slow and steady wins the race'.

bhopal

Bhopal-the capital of ancient Malva ruled by the great Emperor Vikramaditya.Malva was renowned throughout the world for its culture,beautiful women,architecture and natural beauty.Here Kalidasa composed Meghdoot,Vikram-Urvasie and Shakuntalam-sanskrit poetry of the highest order in 4th century B.C.
On the midnight of 31st October 1984,the roof caved in on Bhopal.MIC gas as deadly as cyanideescaped into the atmosphere from the pipes of the Union Carbide plant in Bhopal.Within minutes thousands of poor people,animals and trees were gasping for breath and dying like flies.Those who survived were blinded or maimed for life.Even today the effects of the tragedy are visible in Bhop[al.
Even after 30 years of the greatest environmental disaster of the 20th century,the victims have not been compensated or the town rebuilt.The persons responsible were able to escape to America without facing a trial.The American courts are still delaying the pending proceedings and refusing to give justice to the victims.
How many Bhopals,Chernobyl's,Fukushima,s and Mexican gulf oil spills will it take to stop man's greed and hatred for fellow creatures?

keeping the social fabric intact

In the western world and even in many parts of Asia, the social fabric has been badly damaged resulting in alienation and exaggerated individualism.
Indians are slowly waking up to this reality and are realizing that keeping the social fabric intact is the topmost priority. Indian culture as opposed to western culture has always given more importance to social issues rather than to individual achievements.When other ancient civilizations like the Greek,Roman,Egyptian,Islamic,Christian and Chinese civilizations have perished,the Indian culture is still alive and kicking.
The westernized urban Indians and so called elite members of society may still want to keep India westernized but even they will find themselves helpless against the tide of Indian resurgence.

lalla of kashmir

Makaris zan mal isolum manas
ala me labon zanas zan
sun yali dyuthum nishi panas
soruy buy tah boh no ken

(when my mind was cleansed of impurities
like a mirror of its dust and dirt
I recognized the self in me,
I realized that He was everything
and I was nothing)
In the 14th century,there lived a beautiful woman mystic named Lalla who was so intense in her devotion to Lord Shiva that she would wander naked in the valley.Her face and body radiated a childlike innocence and serenity that no one took offence or cast a second look.
The present times with its cheap maxims of morality finds nudity obscene. Infact people today wear clothes to hide their ugliness and the present day motto is "clothes maketh a man".In many parts of India,even today the tribals live bare-bodied and are in much better shape than most city folks.

joan of arc

Joan of Arc belongs to the front rank of individuals like Mazzini,Vivekananda,Shivaji and Laxmibai who appeared at crucial moments in a nation's history and saved it from extinction.
France was in dire straits and surrounded by hostile forces within and without.The Church,the monarchy and neighbouring  England had ganged up against the legitimate rights of the French peasentry.
Against family opposition,Joan joined the French garrison while a teenager and initiated a rebellion in the ranks and persuaded them to take up arms against the King.She led the forces to spectacular victories against the ruling coalition and reached P

aris.
Just when victory was round the corner,England sent in its soldiers to the aid of the French king.
By guile and deceit,Joan was captured and burnt at the cross on charges of sorcery and witchcraft.Her sacrifice was not in vain and she lit the spirit of rebellion among the French people.

mathematics for fun

The obsession with numbers has destroyed the spirit of mathematics.Mathematics is essentially a study of the universal principles of existence.Harmony,beauty,simplicity and relativity are vital components of mathematics..
Today the study of mathematics is only intended for sustaing the 'use and throw'culture everywhere. No wonder children find mathematics boring and a drudgery-better avoided.A fragmented approach is in fact the anti-thesis of mathematics.
To make mathematics more interesting to children,the teacher should show the students objects of different shapes and colours thereby stimulating their imagination and creativity..Mathematics has to be related to every aspect of life to make it meaningful.
Instead of teaching children to regulate their life by the clock,they should be able to live in accordance with the environment.A bio-rhythm friendly life will be both spiritually and physically more rewarding.
Mathematics can be related to aesthetics by teaching the children the principles of ergonomics-the science of design.A voice enabled software is the next big thing on the cards and the basic concepts can be included in every school curriculum.Space-time continuum can also be a part of the syllabus.

physical exercise

" The Vedanta can be better understood by playing football rather than by reading scriptures." Vivekananda
A world wide movement for physical fitness of children,women,men and the aged can bring about a sea change in attitudes.Exercising in the morning keeps a person active and cheerful throughout the day.It keeps the adrenalin flowing and the anti-bodies at bay.It also helps to cleans the body of all toxins.Jogging,walking,cycling,tennis,swimming,skipping,aerobics, and yoga are some of the easy and inexpensive ways of maintaining body tone.
Statistics indicate that obesity is the single most important factor for onset of cardio-vascular,knee-joint and breathing disorders.By exercising regularly,women can have easy pregnancies and less post-natal complications.
Physical fitness can also help in personality development and better job prospects.
Let us begin today!

beat constable

The beat constable is the heart of any police force.Unless the police force is in minute-to-minute touch with the people,it cannot prevent crime or trace the real offenders.
By keeping in touch with the people,it not only builds a better relationship but also makes for a secure and safe society.
These days in India the police are often accused of high-handedness and being in league with the criminals.People are hesitant to go to the police station to seek help.In Maharashtra,TV sets have been installed in all police stations and the cops are found watching the news or cricket matches.
Every policeman should do beat duty for whatever period.Instead of relying on force or intimidation,the police should inculcate a respect for law among the people.Doing beat duty also makes for physical fitness which is often found lacking among policemen in India.

music

DUKE ORSINO

If music be the food of love, play on;
Give me excess of it, that, surfeiting,
The appetite may sicken, and so die.
That strain again! it had a dying fall:
O, it came o'er my ear like the sweet sound,
That breathes upon a bank of violets,
Stealing and giving odour! Enough; no more:
'Tis not so sweet now as it was before.
O spirit of love! how quick and fresh art thou,
That, notwithstanding thy capacity
Receiveth as the sea, nought enters there,
Of what validity and pitch soe'er,
But falls into abatement and low price,
Even in a minute: so full of shapes is fancy
That it alone is high fantastical.

twelvth night.shakespeare

India and Germany have always led the world in music and philosophy.Both have the power to lift man to higher realms of consciousness.Beethoven,Mozart,Bach,Tansen,Pt.Ravi Shankar,Ustad Bismillah Khan,Pt.Bhimsen Joshi,M.S.Subbalaxmi and Ustad Allah Rakha are world famous names in music.

A good musician is in touch with the reality and is able to transmit higher vibrations to those around him.It is said Mian Tansen could attract wild deer,when he used to sing in Akbar's court.

Due to the prevailing 'use and throw' culture modern music has become cheap and vulgar.Instead of rejuvenating the spirits,it deadens and numbs the senses.

To be a good musician requires years of disciplined training under the guidance of a Master.In India,the tradition used to be for a disciple to reside with the Master and live like a member of his family.It is not unusual for a top class musician to practice for 12 to 14 hours in a day.Giving too many public performances can affect the quality of the music.

Today,some talented musicians like AR Rehman,Indian Ocean and others are experimenting with fusion music which combines diverse musical streams from around the world.It could be the way to the future.

mahaveer

Mahaveer was the only Indian saint who attained the truth relying entirely on his own efforts.The path of Tapasya is an extremely arduous one and the chances of failure are extremely high.One has to be a born warrior to to follow Mahaveer.
Today,the Jain community is giving a bad name to the teachings of Mahaveer.Most of them are in money lending,trade,politics,media and industry.In short,they have a stranglehold on the country's finances.Instead of encouraging enterprise and progress,they want to take India backwards to some crazy notion of 'Ram rajya'.The Jain business community believes in dynastic succession and not a merit based enterprise.Their financial system is highly centralized and controlled by a small group of ruthless individuals.Their attitude is ascetic and opposed to music,dance,good cuisine,beauty and women.In short,they are the 'Taliban' Of India.

a second chance

America was a great nation because it believed in giving every individual 'a second chance'.People who were broken in spirit and body elsewhere felt alive on reaching the shores of America.There was a feeling of 'Deja vu' about America.
Lincoln,King,Eleanor Roosevelt,Jefferson,Washington,Edison,Mohammed Ali,Jobs and Zukerberg-all ordinary people who had only known failure but had 'belief' and ultimately that is what matters!
If America is to become a 'Power house' again,it will have to give everyone a second chance.

robin hood and his merry men

King Richard goes on the crusades and leaves his younger brother Prince John as regent of England.John,a debauche and drunkard,along with the nobles,exploits the poor farmers and local tradesmen by imposing taxes and levies on land and farm produce.
Robin Hood is a gallant and chivalrous man who wins over the hearts of the people by robbing the barons of John and sharing the riches with the poor.He gathers around him a team of brave youth who hide in the Sherwood forest and attack the rich merchants passing by.Robin's friends include Little John,Will Scarlet and Friar Tuck who are experts in archery and the staff.
The Sheriff of Nottingham tries his best to capture Robin and his men without success.Lady Mariam,who is betrothed to John,loves Robin and escapes from the castle to join Robin.

che guavara

'Che' is an example of how one man with an uncompromising idealism can challenge impossible odds and win.
Cuba,a veritable paradise on earth,was under the thumb of the mightiest imperialist power known to man.It was a predominantly agricultural country and the population mainly Hispanics.The people though hard working had been reduced to slavery and denied the fruits of their labour.
'Che',while a teenager was inspired by the writings of Walt Whitman,Lenin,Marx and Engels.After the success of The Russian Revolution,'Che' and many other like him were emboldened to overthrow the Capitalist regimes in latin America.'Che' organised a band of youngsters and trained them in Guirella warfare.They would sabotage enemy transportation and communication lines.Since they had the support of the people of Cuba,they could easily escape detection by the armed forces.They obtained sophisticated weapons and ammunition by raiding the army depots and camps.Ultimately'Che' and his band of merry men succeeded in liberating Cuba and establish a communist society.

indian dance

All great Indian rulers from Chandragupta to Shahjehan were patrons of dance and music.India has myriad forms of dance-from tribal to ballet forms.
In india,Dance and music have been able to preserve standards of excellence amidst poverty and decadence all round.Pt.Ravi Shankar,Pt.Bhimsen Joshi,Ustad Bismillah khan,Mallikarjun Mansur,Begum Akhtar,Sonal Mansingh,Uma Sharma and Birju Maharaj are some of the cultural luminaries of India.
Indian dance is both sensuous and spiritual.To be a dancer par excellence one has to have superb control on body movements and emotions.Practice of dance requires years of disciplined training under a master and continues throughout the life.The dancer has to go on refining her art ceaselessly.

less government

The modern state is a recent phenomenon all over the world.It originated in Europe after The French Revolution and soon spread to all parts of the world.Today the state has become a hand maiden for powerful business interests and functions to promote their interests.
In India,the influence of the state is all pervasive-education,agriculture,industry,law and order,culture and media are all state regulated.A few idiots sitting in A/C offices in Delhi or the state capitals determine the destiny of 1.2 billion people.
The state has destroyed enterprise,initiative,creativity,harmony,liberty and individuality and made people robots to be manipulated at will.The MPs&MLAs instead of functioning as public servants behave like autocrats and are only interested in preserving their privileges.
There should be a public debate on the role and functioning of the state.Defence,currency,public health and law and order are the real functions of the state and all other matters can be taken care of by the people themselves.

india-at cross roads

It appears that India is now slowly waking up to its enormous potential and loosening the self-imposed shackles on its progress and growth.However the road ahead is a long and difficult one and fraught with grave dangers.The people must realize that there can be no metamorphosis without pain and every Indian must be ready to make sacrifices in the larger interest.
The vast majority of the poor and downtrodden have suffered long enough and all those who have made merry at their expense must be ready to pay the price for their misdemeanours.
For various reasons Indians have become selfish,immoral,treachrous,corrupt and lazy.Due to uninspiring and misguided leadership at all levels,the people have lost all sense of purpose and direction.As a consequence India has become poverty ridden and weak.There is a serious threat to the unity and integrity of India from all directions and all kinds of criminal and anti-social elements have taken hold of the body politic.The vast majority of the youth who are the key to India's future are confused and have become sitting ducks for politicians and criminals.

A strong purgative will have to be administered to all those suffering from indigestion caused due to amassing ill-gotten wealth.
A concerted effort will have to be made to rise above petty considerations and ensure that men of integrity and competence are appointed at all levels.
The education system will have to be overhauled and the best talent from all over the world will have to be attracted to make India a world-leader in education.

the supreme court of india

The Supreme Court of India,except for a few aberrations,has always been conscious of its responsibility 

towards the Constitution and the people of India.The Judges and lawyers of the Supreme Court are persons of the highest integrity and competence.Most of them have come up the hard way and are aware of the complexities of India and its people.
The Supreme Court has been watching with deep concern,the erosion of credibility of all the institutions established under the Constitution.It has been forced to assume a pro-active role to safeguard the Constitution.
As a consequence of the !991 economic reforms,there has been an unprecedented increase in corruption,nepotism,financial irregularities and a general decline of values all round.
To put an end to to 'Crony capitalism" the Supreme Court has been subjecting every executive decision to judicial scrutiny.It has made it absolutely clear that'No one is above the law' and any person who exploits the nation's wealth for personal benefit shall face the consequences under the law.

vivekananda on women's education

" I want the women of India to be educated while

retaining their purity and sincerity"
Vivekananda had tremendous affection and respect for women.He was a worshipper of Kali-Goddess of strength.He would always look for the leonine and majestic in women.He sincerely believed that women had the capacity to change society for the better.
Unfortunately,Indian women,swayed by the false glitter of western culture have conveniently interpreted freedom to mean licence.
Perturbed by the neglect of women in India,Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar and others had thoughtfully made suitable provisions in the Constitution to elevate their status in society.However,the successive governments while paying lip service to Article 14,made no efforts at the grass roots level to bring  women into the mainstream.Obsessed with electoral politics,women were seen as vote-banks to be suitably manipulated.
Today,India has the highest levels of women and child trafficing,maternal and infant mortality,gender violence,aminocentosis and dowry deaths in the world.
If India is to emerge as a progressive,united and prosperous country,women will have to do some serious soul searching and re-define their role in society.

indo-australia ties

India and Australia are both members of The Commonwealth of nations and share common goals and dreams.Both are parliamentary democracies and believe in allegiance to the Constitution.
Australia,being a young nation,does not carry any ideological baggage and is thus in a position to play a vital role in the world.It has a huge land mass,a small population,a vast coastline and abundant natural resources.
Indo-Australia ties could be instrumental in leading the world to a new paradigm of prosperity,peace and fraternity.There is a large diaspora of Indians in Australia who are making significant contributions to Australian culture and economy.
Strong Indo-Australia ties could be vital for peace and prosperity in the entire Pacific region.It would be therefore in mutual interest to strengthen Indo-Australia ties.

mahabharata

The battle of Kurukshetra was fought for 18 days and at the end all the 100 children of Dhritarashtra and their supporters like Bhishma,Dronacharya,Karna and others along with their kith and kin were annihilated.

Sri Krishna pleaded with Vidura and Dhritarashtra to give 5 villages to the Pandavas.But the Kauravas were adamant and refused to give 1 inch of the kingdom to the Pandavas and instead tried to kill them and Dusshasana even disrobed Draupadi in open court to humiliate the Pandavas.

It was now evident that war was inevitable.Sri Krishna then re-aligned the forces to ensure the annihilation of the Kauravas.He gave a last warning to all those supporting the Kauravas to abandon them and join the Pandavas.Some heeded his advice and deserted the Kauravas.

the ekka wala

The Ekka was a part of Indian life since The Mughal period.Even till recent times,Ekkas were available in all the cities of India.
The Ekka is a very comfortable mode of transportation and can carry upto 5 passengers comfortably.
In under-developed countries like India,the Ekka can help to conserve fuel and also help to reduce road rage and other mental disorders.

lever and pulley

'Whatever man can imagine ,he can achieve because God dwells in man" Sri Aurobindo

Archimedes the father of modern science said,"Give me  a lever and I can lift the world".
The lever and the pulley hold the key to power free engineering.The lever principle can be used in the automobiles,agriculture and other manufacturing units while the pulley can be used in the construction and irrigation activities.Proper application of the lever and the pulley can lead to conservation of energy and also generate employment.
A study of Leonardo da Vinci's drawings can give impetus to reverse engineering and better designing of ships,aircraft and houses.

the village market

It used to be a tradition in Europe and Asia to sell rural produce locally by displaying their products in the open,once a week.
This was an economical and employment generating arrangement.Food products,quality garments,utensils,furniture articles,bullock carts and children' toys were put on sale every sunday and everybody would flock to the market to buy their weekly needs.This arrangement not only encouraged enterprise but also instilled a sense of community among the villagers.In Europe,a carnival used to be held periodically in every village where artistes and entertainers would perform for children.Merry go-rounds and horse rides were a common feature.
The industrial age has resulted in the destruction of the tranquillity and unity of the village life and forced the rural populace to migrate to cities and towns in search of livelihood.

do bigha zameen

'Do bigha zameen'is bimal Roy's classic Hindi movie starring Balraj S

ahni depicting the exploitation of the landless labourers in India.
Balraj sahni,a poor farmer in rural India,is forced to migrate to calcutta with his family after he looses his small plot of land to the money-lender due to his inability to repay a small loan.
He becomes a hand-rickshaw driver who ferries people across the city.He earns barely enough to feed his wife and two children.His wife dies because of lack of medical treatment.
Balraj Sahni,a communist,learnt to ply the hand rickshaw to be able to play the role perfectly.

the postman

The postman has been the theme of stories and novels in many parts of the world.He is an integral part of our day to day life.Irrespective of the weather,he begins work at dawn and works round the clock going from door to door bearing good and bad tidings from all over the world.
A father waiting anxiously awaiting a money order from home or a soldier posting vigil at some far-flung outpost wait anxiously for the postman.
In our society,the postman has not been given his due recognition and lives a hand to mouth existence He can be seen walking on the streets with the postal bag across his shoulder or on a cycle unaffected by the happenings around him.In cities he has to climb numerous floors to deliver letters or other important documents.Most people do not even bother to speak a kind word or offer a glass of water but quickly take the letter and bang the door.

In India,the postal services are amongst the cheapest in the world and the postmen,the finest people to be found anywhere.

the rise and fall of the maratha empire

निश्चयाचा महामेरु, बहुत जनांस अधारु |
अखंड स्थितीचा निर्धारु, श्रीमंत योगी || 
या भूमंडळाचे ठायी, धर्म रक्षी ऐसा नाही |
महाराष्ट्रधर्म राहिला काही, तुम्हा करीता || 
The pinnacle of determination, protector of people,resolute in intent, wealthy yet detached from his opulence…
..There is no other on this earth, who has protected any people; It is because of you that the culture of Maharashtra survived 
-Samarth Ramdas Swami

Despite having produced outstanding men throughout its history,Maharashtra has had little influence on national events.Except Shivaji,no ther Maratha leader had the pan-India vision.If the Marathas had scrupulously adhered to Shivaji's vision of 'Swaraj' they would have been a force to be reckoned with.

India is a land of diversities.Throughout its ancient history,India has never been politically united but as a civilization and culture,it remains unique.

The vast majority of Indians,though poor and destitute,still revere individuals who stick to the truth,honesty,simplicity,patience and are emotional.

After Shivaji who laid the foundation for 'Swaraj',The Marathas like the Mughals and the earlier empires,tried to unite India politically on the basis of their military prowess but they could not win over the hearts and minds of the people. As a consequence,their influence waned and ultimately a totally alien and destructive force conquered India,which prevails till date.

pretty woman

'Pretty woman' is a movie starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts.It explores the delicate relationship between two people in a mercenary world.
Gere is a ruthless business tycoon who has reached the top by eliminating the opposition while Roberts,due to circumstances,is forced to solicit favours from men.
They meet fortuitously and through all the twists and turns of life are able to form a meaningful relationship.
The movie is a story of triumph of decency,honesty and goodwill over greed and ambition.

the crash of 1929

The stock-market crash of 1929 was fuelled by over-speculation,insider-trading,falsification of corporate accounts and massive default of bank loans by corporates.
In India today a similiar situation prevails.Even though consumer spending is declining and corporates are retrenching employees,the stock indices are rising to dizzy heights.It is obvious that the markets are rigged to attract FIIs and other gullible speculators to invest their funds in stocks.This will only jeopardize the hard-earned savings of the overseas investors.
The inevitable crash will make the 1929 crash look like a joke.

Indian media

With the exception of 'The Hindu'.DD Bharati and DD Urdu,the Indian media seems to take sadistic pleasure in tormenting the viewers,particularly the children.Totally unimaginative and boring,all the programmes are devoid of creativity,aesthetics and knowledge of linguistics.All the characters given prominence are bizarre and ugly.Lacking sense of dress,manners and humour,they excell in horror fiction.
Excessive importance is given to numbers,marketing,endless debates and interviews and cheap publicity.
It is common knowledge that most of the Indian jou

rnalists are hacks who are willing to sell their souls for a few dimes.Lacking depth,serious understanding of global issues and empathy,their writings are superficial and sensational.The media projects India as a prosperous and progressive nation while the reality is absolutely the opposite.
It is high time for all responsible Indians to put the media in its proper place-the dustbin.

hamlet

• This above all — to thine own self be true;
  And it must follow, as the night the day,
  Thou canst not then be false to any man.
• Polonius, scene iii

• To be, or not to be, — that is the question: —
  Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
  The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
  Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
  And by opposing end them? — To die, to sleep, —
  No more; and by a sleep to say we end
  The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
  That flesh is heir to, — 'tis a consummation
  Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep; —
  To sleep, perchance to dream: — ay, there's the rub;
  For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,
  When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,
  Must give us pause: there's the respect
  That makes calamity of so long life;
  For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
  The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,
  The pangs of despis'd love, the law's delay,
  The insolence of office, and the spurns
  That patient merit of the unworthy takes,
  When he himself might his quietus make
  With a bare bodkin? who would these fardels bear,
  To grunt and sweat under a weary life,
  But that the dread of something after death, —
  The undiscover'd country, from whose bourn
  No traveller returns, — puzzles the will,
  And makes us rather bear those ills we have
  Than fly to others that we know naught of?
  Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;
  And thus the native hue of resolution
  Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought;
  And enterprises of great pith and moment,
  With this regard, their currents turn awry,
  And lose the name of action.
• Hamlet, scene i

'Hamlet' is Shakespeare's most well-known work.It is the story of an individual who wants to improve the lives of the people of his country but is opposed by everyone,including his own kith and kin.Hamlet portrays the existential dilemma of every honest and sincere individual who finds himself helpless in the face of the grim reality.

tantra

Tantra is the ancient Indian science of rising to higher planes of consciousness without sacrificing the delight of existence.
Shiva is the chosen deity.Shiva represents the multi-facetedness of the universe.Balance,virtue,love,harmony and grace are his qualities.
Tantra enables a person to realize the truth while leading a normal life.Sex,knowledge,power,culture,art,music,sports,dance or anyother normal activity is permitted.What is demanded is sincerity,objectivity,balance,transparency and devotion to the Guru.The female is regarded as an embodiment of kali who slays the asuric tendencies in man.
Before embarking on the path of Tantra,the seeker has to be certain about his purity,faith and strength.The slightest weakness can ruin his prospects for good.