Posts tagged ‘family’
Transitions in Life!
- Transition, change from the past, for the present
Do we notice the imperceptible changes taking place around us? Mostly not; unless compelled to do so.
The most common culprit of almost imperceptible change is age. “Why do you wheeze when you climb stairs for just two floor?” My daughter asked me last week. I passed it off as a toll taken by age; though the reality is that this weakness is an old one and remained unnoticed.
Most resist the external symptoms of time and related wear & tear. A thumb rule is that the older a person is, the more time taken for formal dressing. So there is a calculated effort to impress- bright colors, branded shirts/pants, hair waved back carefully. Sometimes I wonder, whether the person is comfortable in the role being enacted (for the sake of family). Why not let go and be what you actually are? But then, do many of us know ourselves well to decide to be as and what we are?
God, with His sense of irony, has made human beings attach undue importance to parts of body which have limited utility. Hairs on the head is a classic example of a decorative object. It does not serve any great purpose (unlike hands or legs). But the impact a great hair style has on the subject and his/her viewer cannot be measured. So we find youngsters staring hard at mirror for long periods, patting their hair, men keeping tufts (meant originally only for certain purposes) like women, old men and women dyeing their imperfectly to evade the toll of time and all sorts of odd behavior if examined in the light of reason.
When I was a young boy (several decades back) only school boys and domestic men servants (who washed clothes, vessels, cars etc.) wore half pants in Mumbai. Now of course, it is a fashion statement to wear half pants and odd sized pants on all occasions (except job interview) and thereby attempt to belong to another age group. So, when I wear a shorts (called half pant in the past) to the gym, I have an uneasy feeling that someone would call me to wash their car.
The real changes take place in our sub-conscious and then trickle down to external visibility. This is noticed only if we meet the person after a reasonable gap. Mentally we slow down- that is reduce the pace at which we want to live hereafter. We see this around us but do not observe. We want less surprises- less changes – expected or unexpected. Life has to be same from yesterday to today. But God and the world around us have a gleeful pleasure in altering our well laid down plans. So we find sedentary grandparents rushing off to USA/Gulf countries for a new career in babysitting (most probably no one sits, the baby runs around and we run after it continuously till our legs pain).
Did our parents sit back and ponder over their errors of omissions and commission? Did they even admit it to themselves? My son reminded me recently in non-judgmental manner of the instances when I beat him during his childhood. Did I beat him? Yes, I did. For what reasons? I do not remember. Do I regret it now? Yes. But when I look at my daughter trying to tame my grandson (unsuccessfully at times) by oral requests and then resorting some small corporal punishments, I realize that these are inevitable and cannot be examined by hindsight.
Do we lose our ambitions, zest and enthusiasm with age? I would say they become more tempered. The goal posts change. Survival up to the goal post becomes more important than running past it. Some unexpected past time or interest catches serious attention. So it could a social or a religious organization in which there is some lurking desire to play a more prominent role. I have seen several large institutions run by persons most of whom had retired from gainful occupations long back justifying to this logic.
But what is most important in all this is identifying what our heart really seeks- what is it that would give us great happiness. This is the most difficult part of life at any juncture. Long but aimless life serves little or no purpose. At each juncture of life, knowing what we want to achieve in our career, what we enjoy doing in our spare time, what relationships to invest in to make our life more beautiful is vital. This is more easily said than done.
I envy today’s youth some of whom are clear eyed to give up easy choices and seek for what they really want. India has given choices which did not exist some decades back. But whether they are able to achieve a balance between their material success and mental happiness is a moot point. This perhaps applies to youth and younger generation in any point of time- yesterday , today or tomorrow.
So next time I visit the nearby shopping mall, I will take the plunge and buy the black shirt with stripes displayed at Zodiac shop. My family’s puritanical views on wearing such garments can take a back seat.
I will look handsome in that shirt- rather as handsome as I looked some decades back.
Anjeneyan.
Influences in life.
Ananth’s blogon influences set me thinking on how the persons around us impact our thinking and behaviour. His blog was on the conscious impact of few persons around him. I felt that the impact on the sub conscious mind by our environment is worth thinking of.
Last year I attended a marriage in Chennai. My aunt (father’s younger sister) exclaimed that “you look like my brother in your present attire” or something to that effect. Instinctively, I felt flattered. Why should I feel so? My father, from the time I remember, looked his age and some more. He was severely short sighted, though tall, was stooping, had very less teeth, dark complexioned, with a furious temper and highly rigid opinion on several aspects of life. His was a hard act to follow. But still, some of his achievements and decisions make us still look up to him and any resemblance-genetic or otherwise- gives us a sense of inner glow. This however comes with some of the turns and twists life takes and compels us look into the mirror and admit reality at least to ourselves.
In Indian context, the first influence is our parents. The first English alphabets and nursery rhyme was taught to me by my mother whose formal education stopped at primary school. Forty six years back, we had come to Mumbai from a small village in Kerala. We had to adjust to a metro life in a hurry. Learning a foreign language and rhyme (twinkle twinkle little star…) was the first step. I have a sentimental belief that since this was the only subject my mother taught me, I was always good at it.
How did our parents express their love to us or to each other? How many of us remember our parents smiling with a shy love or laughing wickedly over an adult joke said privately to each other? Did they hold each other in their arms and dance the way we saw in the movies of 60s? May be so. Did they do it in our presence? Never. How did this lack of physical or public expression of love (an Indian trait) impact us? Well, most of us – at least in South India- are uncomfortable with a physical expression of love- even of the platonic variety- in public and may be even in private.
What is the situation today? Very difficult to say. My belief is that today’s youth are caught between the example set by their parents and the peer pressure. What is the right thing to do? I feel that some amount of display of positive emotions strengthens relationships and establishes some bonding.
Peer pressure or friends or lack of it is the next strongest influence in any life. How would lack of peer pressure or friends influence a person? Like many shy persons, I found it difficult to create an easy going friendship with the group in which I was studying or working (hai-bye relationship). I did exactly what I felt like doing. Some of it succeeded due to several factors- some within and some beyond my control. But the difficulty in creating an easy going “life of the party” kind of relationship remains.
Peer pressure come most obviously in the “science or commerce” kind of decisions post schooling. Most of such decisions are based not on what the boy or girl wants to do in life post education and how attractive that avenue is. Some years back I had asked my cousin (who is a medical doctor (MBBS)) why is there a craze for medical admission when the returns are not commensurate with the efforts- at least in India. He said that it was due to lack of real understanding of the profession and its pressures. Last week’s news article said that the application for medical admission has fallen significantly while demand for engineering admission has surged. One classic example is the number of engineers who joined for IT related courses even when it was apparent that many of the industry leaders are from different streams of engineering and such streams offered good long term prospects.
There is a big board I see on the way to office every day. It says “To the world you might be one person; to one person you might be the entire world. So drive carefully.” I feel this poignantly states our relationship with those we love very much- spouse, children, parents, siblings etc. Whenever we wear a new dress, after examining the image on the mirror, we go to our spouse and ask hesitantly ‘do I look handsome?’ A small smile of appreciation, a tart comment makes our day. I say to myself- I certainly look handsome in this shirt. I sometimes think that even Manmohan Singh or Sonia Gandhi must be asking their family members about their appearance before stepping into public gaze. This is only a small example how our spouse and/or family members appreciation matters to each person. Family support is a great strength of Indian way of life and gives an anchor for our life.
Do parents listen to their children? Yes, they do; especially when children start growing up and express their opinions. The external environment has changed and is changing so rapidly that only highly self opinionated parents will disregard the views emanating from their children. If we have to keep communication lines open with them, we have to listen, but not necessarily agree with them and provide an adult feedback. Does this influence us? Yes it does. How does it influence us? Not easy to say. But their love and appreciation of our achievements and forgiveness of our failings matters a lot to us- at least to me.
Lastly religion, religious beliefs, practices, rituals and the whole baggage that comes with it. These are so intensely personal that they are hard to pin down or express in a logical or coherent manner. It matters to us hugely. Even lack of belief in all these things matters hugely. Here again the dominating influence is our parents. We observe them and then decide consciously or unconsciously as to what we should do.
I have not touched up on the influence of our life in service as that deserves another blog.
So who influenced you? Why don’t you look at your parent and start wondering how they have influenced you?
TV Soaps, Reel & Real life: Winds of blurry reality
Twirling Dreams & Blurring Reality
Money, passion, exhaustion and fame…. Drawing to a weekend where serenity was the magic to the tempo of realism called Life!
Met up with an old buddy, yes, the same friend who shared his dream with me and wanted the same to be shared with all of us through this platform: Choked by a crab
He said, I want to share another one this time.
I asked him, “You spend too much time sleeping, don’t you?”
Thank God, he took it lightly, just the way I had meant it.
But he meant business as he straight away quoted “I saw a baby monkey running around me with whom I was playing and then feeding a watermelon”
We knew we were no Birbal, so we got Sherlock. No, not the web search app from Apple (That’s still Google for us).
We got searching and finding all probable combinations. Why? ‘coz my chum seemed quite uneasy and anxious since a couple of days with this and he said, lets put this again on board.
The combination of a baby monkey being fed watermelon, hmmmmm….
The Web help sources said, That could mean putting jointly emotions of innocence which was trying to be grabbed from the past.,Unsettled triggers of unfinished business from childhood recollections that could have sparked very recently. That with a monkey that was being fed, probably expressing a betrayal of expectation from someone who should have been there more to support you who meant close to you and finally with a fruit that is either about ease or about fiery passion. These were amazing combinations which meant well, nothing to me as now I turned at my buddy.
Slowly we put the running ball together; I noticed a sneer and a sense of realization on his face. He said, I got my answers, now you quote down your lines.
His face was composed or a lot calmer now and now that I got that he got it, I was sure I need not try to know what it was.
But I felt uncomfortable when I quoted his dreams the first time on the blog after he said, go for it. Flash it across. Now a repeated second one made me say to him, ‘it’s not right to talk about your life on a Writers blog.’
He said a simple line after which I started to key in the new post here.
He quoted, “It helps me relax to read it across the blog and it helps me know, it’s just out there, happening and makes me feel in control from within. It’s good to flush it out of my system than to burn wakeful from inside in the barrenness.”
That’s when I realized the influence of Soaps on TV. With Ekta Kapoor and her Dramarama swarming the nation like a wild blaze, people find themselves sharing a part of it, some or any part of it at times and that’s what keeps them at ease and linked day in and day out.
It’s not the actors, it’s not the lines, its Reel reality with a dash of overflowing emotions bundled with of course repetitive unnecessary camera shots. (ya, ya I have seen an episode too.. big deal)
Well, I don’t know about me, but Ekta definitely built her dreams with it….
And to my pal, Happy dreaming buddy! Have a good nights sleep!
Chao!
Image Source: Click
Bringing up children
Bringing up children: Part 1: The Journey Begins:
Bringing Up Children
Every union should produce results. Progeny is one of the results of marriage- at least an expected result. Every newly married couple face overt or covert questions about their “plans”. Any delay beyond 3 years causes great consternation to the families of the couple first and then finally to the couple. All this creates a psychological need to have a child or children.
The initial clarity during the mating period of waiting for few years, settling in respective careers, purchase of dwelling etc. may have been achieved or could be in process. But now the need for a child becomes supreme. The conception takes place. I have a vague impression that women do have hesitation or some apprehensions about the entire pregnancy and delivery process. Most males disregard these apprehensions and the emotional and psychological coercion is enough for the women to cross this hurdle. The child arrives. Respective in laws troop in with broad smiles and a realisation of being grand parents.
Those who become grand parents before reaching the age of 60, mentally tell themselves that “we are like students who pass CA or IIT Entrance in first attempt while others who still troop to school with their children or run around for admissions to colleges are slow starters. But we are young grandparents. Old age associated with the status of being grandparents is not applicable to us”. Mothers are conferred an almost divine status in India.
One story I heard in justification of this status is something like this. One young student questioned placing mother first in the statement “Mata, pita, guru, deivam.”
The guru who was smart delayed the reply. After a few days, the guru asked the student to take a brick, tie it around his waist and go to the well and fetch water several times. The well was obviously at some distance. After the student got exhausted, the guru informed the student that a pregnant mother carries the child similarly for nine months and hence they get this status.
A typical Indian story which justifies the age old statement. Western civilisation has not placed such exalted status on parents. Probably they are seen as the medium thru which the life is created on the earth and the medium is like a vessel we use for cooking. The food is more important than the vessel. The mother now gets to see the life which was floating around in her belly. She is initially wonder struck. Then the awareness sinks in about her primary responsibility. Feeding a child at 12.30 am or 4 am is not something any human being can get excited about for weeks and months. The excitement of working as an executive in an air conditioned office is more palpable than cleaning a baby who will learn sanitary habits after some years. She wonders “God, why does any one say all this is exciting?”. The situation of Indians who have emigrated to middle east or USA etc. is even more difficult. These countries have strict laws for child care. Some countries insist on full time attendant till one year of age (this is what I understand).
The role of father at this stage is crucial. Few have any prior experience. They are forced to learn by trial and error. Many families erroneously do not educate their sons to be aware of basic domestic chores. So they land up in family life without any knowledge of the drudgery involved in maintaining a house in a nuclear family. I believe that it is at this stage the next foundation of family life is laid. Couple who work together (whether both are employed or only one is employed) and share responsibilities build a stronger edifice of their marriage.
The children watch and instinctively understand how their family lives and adapt accordingly. If the responsibilities get shifted to outside family members like in-laws or servants, then the pattern changes. We see distorted behaviour from the children. Excessive tantrums, need to seek attention of one or both the parents whenever they are present, inability to mix or be comfortable in a large group are some of the visible external symptoms. I cannot claim any memory of my two children’s early years. It all seems to be a blur now. When I watch my grandson grow, I feel a twinge of regret at not noticing and storing these memories at least in the brain. Cameras were expensive then and so there are few photos of those times.
Now Picasa contains a few hundred or thousand photos of various antics of my grand son. Most mothers would tell you that the first three years of the child are difficult but rewarding. Creation of life and its growth is still one of the greatest wonder in this world. The efforts we put in these early years yield visible results.
The exuberance of the child, its curiosity in exploring the world around it, lack of any fear or knowledge of danger gives the greatest pleasure. One of the memorable photos of my grandson (when he was less than a year) is his smile when he turns around to look at me before trying to pluck the AC plug from the socket. Today’s world does not give any educated person the time or privilege to think on such things.
Success brings its own material rewards and satisfaction. It requires great courage to step aside from such a path to enjoy such pleasures. Children demand lot of emotional attention. Our city life drains out our quota of Emotional Quotient leaving little for our family. This is where the distance with children/family starts building up.
Bringing up Children – Part 2: When do children grow up?
Perhaps when they start asking questions about the life we lead. Children consciously or unconsciously imitate parents in the early stages. At some point they question us- do we have to pray everyday? Do we have to write homework at 7.30 every day?
Cant’ we have the toy or something else his or her friend has? Slowly we have to set the boundaries within which we have to live. How does a parent explain that they cannot afford a particular expense as it is beyond them? I remember such a situation when my daughter asked for legitimate expense and I could not afford it at that time. I do not think I gave a correct answer. There is always a debate between quality time and quantity time devoted to children. In a traditional family, the father went to office to make a living and mother looked after the hearth. So father’s time was quality time. Children’s bondage with father was perhaps limited due to the then prevailing environment. This is evident from some of the movies we see of the 60s and 70s in any Indian language.
Today, with both parents employed in many cases, the distance or closeness could be the same. My belief is that children react well to a relationship where the parents are capable of receiving the confidences of their children. They should trust their parents sufficiently enough to exchange their innermost fears and receive emotional and physical support.
This is more easily said than done. This requires a long period of communication at a seemingly equal level without losing the basic authority as parents. Today’s parents do assist in homework, projects, exams and other burdens of today’s schooling process. Do they gain their children’s confidence in this process is a moot point. I saw one TV Debate program on parent’s involvement in their children post school education- Science or commerce, engineering or medicine and so on.
The program had parents and children on opposite sides of the debate. The vehemence of the children on the negative influence of parents on compelling choice of the education stream was quite an eye opener. The education expert – a college principal- said that we should trust over children with the choice they make and not second guess them. They generally know what they want and we should guide them only when they start expressing their doubts or seek help.
My wife has an interesting view on how teenagers and young adults fall in love. She says that when the children lack emotional support or live in an emotional vacuum in the house, they seek an alternative outside the house. This is how love develops. In many cases, this seems to be true. I have seen children whose parents live in a different era and perhaps are not able to relate to their children’s emotional demands. Parents live in an orthodox yesterday era- where passbooks are reconciled on monthly basis, eating out should be out sheer necessity, new dresses are purchased for birthday, Deepavali and school re-opening.
Marriage anniversary means visit to the nearby temple and then going to office. For children, Mcdonald is a fashion statement to be made, Coffee Day is THE PLACE to be seen wearing a jeans and latest tops with members of opposite sex. Spending a few hundred rupees on such an outing is normal. Would we have spent the equivalent of Rs 450 for our birthday party (what is party by the way?) say 35 years or 25 years back? I am told this is quite normal today. Cafe Coffee Day is the place for a small birth day party- the Cappucino costs not less than Rs. 30 or Rs. 35 per cup.
It is in such environment that love blossoms. If not love, at least rebellion against the ESTABLISHMENT. Long hair, awful looking half pants or three quarter pants, odd upper garments, skin hugging dresses which give quite the opposite message of the person’s character ( an otherwise timid person may look like today’s starlet in some youth oriented movie). Is falling in love wrong ? (QSQT with Aamir Khan and Juhi Chawla or Jane tu with Imran Khan to quote a more modern example).
No, love is a beautiful emotion without which life is not worth living. But falling in love at the age of 18 or 21 seems premature- especially in Indian context. Everything is a struggle here- unlike abroad. Choice of educational stream, admissions, quality of teaching, post graduate education, employment, choice of city or town or metro for employment, accommodation, transport- basic things in life which are taken for granted abroad, pose insurmountable problems for most young adults. Love seems to be a needless distraction in such an environment.
Take admission for engineering, Medicine or any other such professional courses as an example. Each State has got its own peculiarity. Every year there is some litigation to arrest or mar the admission process at the penultimate stage. There is some Government subsidy for such education, but there is something called private college also. In such an environment, the parent struggles to meet their children’s expectations, their own economic strength or lack of it and matching their children’s marks with that of the demands of the educational institution. In such a situation, when a parent hears about a love affair (of anyone else) then there is genuine astonishment on how does anyone get time or energy to get involved in such activities at such an young age.
Lastly, do children who have become full fledged adults (crossed the age of 25 in my belief) need or expect our influence or emotional help. I think yes. But this line is thin. We cannot aggressively intrude into their emotional territory (“don’t be pakao”), nor can we be in an indifferent stranger’s domain. We need to understand the turmoil going through their brain and heart and respond sensitively. We have ourselves passed thru this stage -perhaps without much parental support. So it is easier to assess their needs and probe gently –like a doctor examining an open or an internal wound. It is not easy as now they are a closed book written in a foreign language (or like prayers we recite in Sanskrit- we understand the meaning in a limited manner).
For eg. what do we tell a married son or daughter about the difficulties we face in a marriage? What do we tell about the screaming babies (see my earlier blog) and feeding them at 2 am in night and the support they can expect from their spouse? I often wonder about this. My feeling is that mothers are more forthright in these things and put the matter in a manner which would put their backs up. There would be grudging acceptance later.
I think it is a lifelong relationship. Children remain children for parents whatever be the age. When I used to come home late from office, my father, who was well into his 80s, would remain awake and pester my wife about when I would come. When I reached home, he would confirm that I have reached and then go to sleep. I could not then understand his anxiety. Today I understand it and want to tell him that I understand the deep love and affection that lay behind his non expressive demeanour. But for that I have to go to another world. Do you agree or disagree? Either way, do respond.
Image Courtesy: AnanthV
Young Talents – Aishwarya Venkat – Fiction – Onions…..
Why do we cry for the onion?
Many centuries ago, a tomato, a capsicum & an Onion were best friends.
One day, their master felt hungry & was looking out for them. As soon as he saw the tomato his pangs of hunger shot up.
All the three friends tried to flee but the master caught the tomato. He cut it into slices & ate it. The capsicum & Onion started crying for the poor tomato.
Next was the capsicum’s turn & he too was cut into slices & eaten by the master.
The Onion started crying for the capsicum again.
Suddenly, a spirit appeared in front of the Onion & asked him why he was crying.
The Onion said that his friends Tomato & Capsicum had been cut into slices & the Onion had cried for them. Now that he was all alone, there was nobody to feel and share his pain.
When he will be cut into slices, nobody would cry for him. The spirit blessed him & said that anyone who cuts you will from now on cry for you.
So the next time we slice onions, we know why we shed those tears, don’t we?
Aishwarya Venkat
Age:10 years
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Do post in your comments and views below
Tamen Negara Trip
MY TRIP TO TAMEN NEGARA
IMPRESSIONS OF A TRAIN JOURNEY
Toot! Toot! The train was about to leave as we scrambled to our bunks. There were 2 bunks on top of each other on both sides of the train with a pillow and a curtain. There was also a small light. At first we had to stay on our own bunks before we went into Malaysia but later we could go on to each other’s bunks for a game of cards. My friend Cole forgot to bring food so we all had to contribute to his dinner. After eating dinner, we went on to each other’s beds for some time to play. At 8:00pm, the teachers asked us to go to sleep. It is not easy to go to sleep on a bumpy train that keeps rocking all the time. I managed to sleep for about 3 to 3 and half hours. After we woke up at 3:00am, we took a short 10-minute walk to an inn. We had 6 people in our bunk with one single bed and one queen sized bed. That evening was tough!
ON THE RIVER SEEN FROM THE BOAT
“On you go, Rama’s group!” said Mrs.Ziemer, as we climbed onto the boat and got partners. My partner was Ahan. As we sat on the boat we put on our “Neil Pryde” life jackets, which Rama said was our responsibility till we reach Singapore. The boat ride was exactly 2 hours and 34 minutes (I timed it with my own watch!). On our way to Tamen Negara, we saw monkeys on islands, water buffalos and cows eating and bathing in the water and many more exiting things. After a long time of staring out, we finally reached Tamen Negara, the world’s oldest rainforest. The boat ride was really exiting and I think you should go too☺.
THE TREK TO TERESEK HILL
Puff! Pant! “ Not much longer!” shouted our local guide, Max. We tried to start the trek with out bottles full of water, but unfortunately, the water didn’t last us to the top of Teresek hill. We had to hike 1.7 km up the mountain and 1.7 km down the mountain. Long way! On our way up, our guide thought us how to get medicine out of a plant to cure leach bites, what wood to use to start a campfire, a juice called risen that comes out of a special tree that gives a wonderful scent when burnt, which vines to use to drink water (vines contain water; you need to cut it open to get it), many interesting facts about animals and many more fascinating and useful things. We stopped halfway up the hill, at the first view and the second view (the views were exquisite mountains), which was the top of the mountain. The trek was difficult but we made it!
SHOOTING THE RAPIDS
In the activity shooting the rapids, we got on to our boat to go to an island to play some games there. Soon after the boat started the driver at the back who was controlling the motor suddenly went really fast. But I realized that we weren’t the only ones. The other boats were speeding too! Suddenly, when our boat was next to another boat, the guide put an oar into the water and the whole boat next to us got drenched. Soon all the boats started doing this and we were all soaking wet. It was more fun when we reached the current because the water splashed a lot further. After we reached the Island, we played two fun games. The way back was not as interesting because nobody splashed anyone. That was super fun!!
THE CANOPY WALK
For the canopy walk, we hiked for about 30 min, until we reached the canopy walkway. The canopy walk was on a narrow bridge in which we had to stay 5 or 10 meters away from the person in the front. This was because the bridge could hold only a certain amount of people. The bridges started swinging and it was great fun as we tackled 5 bridges. The total distance was around 500 to 800 meters. The bridge was 45 to 50 meters away from the ground. Phew! That’s high! The activity was very interesting and I enjoyed it a lot.
In conclusion I would say that this trip was a super duper hit and the best I have ever been to so far! I just loved it and I think you should go there too.
Aditya Krishnan
Age: 10 years
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Do post in your views and comments below….
Life: Taking my breath away – ‘SIMPLE’ things
As I pondered at the starry sky for the moments that were spent I could plainly see the spills on the carpet and the stains on the mattress. I kept thinking I needed to improvise, a change would be good said my sanely perplexed brain.
Again, the dove flew off like the starry night before. Today, it reminded me of a work of art from one of the famous Italian painters and my mind wandered into one such artists words. He had said that an object that has been assimilated or formed and now needs no addition, no editing and no change is pure beauty…
Thank god for those famous quotes by artists.
That’s what I felt today, at the end of the day… it was beautiful… it was stunning… it was pure and perfect ….. simply because it was “SIMPLE”
My brain came to the present and looked at the wonderful things that were gifted to me till date.
It did not make me overlook the demands and the twinge, but gave me enough nerve to keep fighting, never go down on hope and have a conviction, a stronger faith in myself.
I had a horrible yesterday but had an awesome day today.
Had an amazing and astounding 10 hour sleep (keeping in mind my usual sleep of not more than 4-5 hours), woke up fresh, had a glass of my favorite mixed fruit Tropicana, did some workout and had a stupendous brunch fit for a king with a great friend of mine who also is an important part of my routine, someone from whom I take a lot of advice.
The day ended perfectly with a call from my side to a very kind and sweet relative wishing him on his birthday today which is a huge deal because of the fact that I barely remember even my own birth day.
At the end of the day, I had good food, great friend, amazing family and an awesome book to read not to mention my grand day with loads of real keeping fit routine and some virtual game plays on my computer.
So, I had grown up a bit today but with zest and loads of energy.
I was responsible for something that was not part of my job, I was with and around those who cared and vice-versa, I put enough energy into my physical and mental training today and after a long time could write a simple post for a blog, not too long and just like my day, could keep it simple.
So I guess, it’s not just the remarkable mind blowing things that make impact on us. It’s also these simple aspects from our everyday that make us cheerful, gives us hope and courage to face life with belief, dedication and optimism.
So….
When things go wrong
And life gets crude
Hang on to the soulful hope
That never keeps you aloof
Kiss her hand and breathe in her heart
Sing a song to the blues
and play your part!
— Ananth V
god bless and be well
Image source: http://ananthvclicks.wordpress.com
Ananth V
Warli Art India: UK Art Council: A journey, for Art’s sake!
March 11th, 2008
Destination: Bapugoan, Dahanu Village, Maharashtra, India
Purpose: Being part of the Documentation shoot about the Warli art and one of its immense talent: Mr.Ramesh Hengadi.
About the Artist: Mr.Ramesh, will soon be reaching out to the world showcasing his skills and bringing India closer in the art front on the international map. He is from Dahanu, India and is a master craftsmen and artist.
His benign behavior and simplicity will take you off your feet when you see his artworks. He has done his MA and has been into Warli art since a very early age.
The Journey:
I left from home at 5:30 am heading towards Churchgate station where I was to meet Mr. Barney Hare Duke and Mr. Jeremy Theophilus and leave for Dahanu.
I touched the meeting place exactly at 6:50 am and the vehicle arrived with the curious and skilled duo Mr.Barney and Mr. Jeremy. They both are partners of “A FINE LINE” and are project managers at HAT.
This program was being also funded majorly by the Art council UK.
As I learnt more about their work and about their travel around the world, I found something very interesting. They both actually loved art to the core….And instantaneously I knew that the journey would not be long and would be very informative and a great learning experience.
As Mr. Jeremy explained to me about their study on varied cultures, different art forms, distinctly varied media, about the totally unique cultures that each country offered them and the new discoveries about customs, traditions, people that they acquired, made the journey very much interesting for me. Mr. Barney told me about their research plans, documentary shoot about the artists and the art form at Dahanu village.
I then also came to know that I was going to meet the artist Mr.Ramesh in about half an hour, as he had travelled more than half the way so as to direct us to his home.
As my cellular phone rang and Mr.Ramesh enquired about where we had reached, we finalized on one point of meet and then…. I met the talented to the core artist.
As he got into the vehicle and the questions about his village and art work kept barging, his soft spoken ways and smile eased the pace of questions from our side. We were closer to reaching the destination and as we looked around, we saw my country, India with its beautiful crude beauty. The sceneries around were breathtaking and very picturesque.
In a total of 2 ½ hours, we touched his home and were greeted by his mother with ‘Aarti & red Tilak’.
The whole place looked very neat, clean and was stunningly beautiful. The people there were living a very simple life with limited resources and means, but were living happily.
Why wouldn’t they be, one of their artist was being recognized for his work and was being interviewed and documented on, before he left for UK to showcase his talent.
We went inside his home, met his big and hospitable family and within half an hour or so we were out, for exploring his village, their culture, traditions, their way of life etc. We saw his school, as his brothers, friends and other villagers took us around the whole village. We saw how they grinded wheat, rice etc, and the way the kids were taught to greet the elders and anyone who was new to their homeland.
They explained to us of their faith in the god, “Vagobha” meaning ‘The Tiger’ whom they worshiped in idol and symbolic form. They took us to that temple that was built and has been maintained since generations.
We obviously found dust and mud all around us, but yet, the air was amazingly fresh and there was absolutely no pollution. So, in other words, I was having difficulty breathing the fresh air…. Hmmm…. Only pure oxygen to breathe. Being from the polluted side of the world, I had no idea how to take that in… but I managed and survived.
The village was amazingly clean which reminded me of the media coverage and other hoardings begging our city dwellers to keep the city clean. There were dustbins in the village and the garbage was properly disposed.
It reminded me of the ‘ruffles lays’ packet that was thrown out in the middle of the road by one of the Honda city owners kid while we were leaving in the vehicle for Dahanu today morning. So much for a civilized city, Huh!
As I came out of the horrible flashback, back to the clean and fresh village of Dahanu, Ramesh’s brothers and friends showed us few other houses and the art works and the style in which the house had been designed and coloured, amazed all of us. It was clean, neat, colourfull and had motifs and other different wall paintings on the in and outside of the house walls. They had kept God idols etc hanging from the ceiling, painted the invite to the wedding in the houses where marriages had taken place, the lamps and wedding turbans that were hanging on the nails on the wooden pillars of their houses. Even with so much humidity and heat, the inside of the houses were cool because of the cow dung plastered on their walls.
The massive support that the whole village showered on its talented son, Mr.Ramesh H was something that one could feel so much positively in the air with such strong and happy vibes that were hovering across the whole village.
We then feasted our eyes to the amazing Tarpa dance while the Head Tarpa player (who was easily in his seventies) played the amazing looking musical instrument and the other dancers, performers and singers showed us their skills and brought us closer to the village, people and their art forms. They danced, hopped, twisted and turned greeting us and sang songs of THE GAURI (the God and Goddess) and the harvesting of crops which were very important aspects of the village life.
Later on as we looked at the Warli art, it was very clear that the Tarpa dance, the Tarpa, the harvesting process of crops and the gods, idols, temples, their faith, religion and worship played a massively important role in their upbringing and were vividly seen in their Warli art.
We travelled across to majority of the places and areas learning about Warli art and were gifted to watch the young artists and the master of Warli art at work. As the master craftsmen Mr.Ramesh and the 10 year old Ashish with his friends and elder brothers Rajesh, Ramesh took small pieces of cloth dipped in their soil / mud and cow dung, which had dried up now to look like a great canvas place for their art to be etched or created, they slowly began the magic.
As we watched their undivided attention and focus on their art being converted to shapes, forms, figures we could see that they were actually creating the different dances and performances that we had just seen their today, few hours ago. It looked amazingly alive and breathtakingly beautiful. The flow and the rhythm of the art work were exquisite.
Throughout as Mr.Barney and Mr.Jeremy were shooting the whole thing and taking notes, I had a real blast as I could not only learn about the art of warli, but also meet such sweet, skilled and amazingly talented people and learn so much about my own culture of the village life in India.
By the end of the day after taking rounds of the places where the master artist usually works, where he gets his inspiration from, later on we also caught a glimpse at the various artworks created by his wife on cloth, t-shirts, Ramesh’s unique combination of using the gourd vegetable to be used as pots, moulds and create amazingly exquisite showpieces of Warli art on it, we headed back to the vehicle. Mr. Jeremy treated us to a nice lunch and we then headed back home.
The journey back home was very much different than the way it began.
There was so much curiosity and so many queries when we had started at the crack of dawn, but as we headed back home, I was filled with so much awe of the humbleness, simplicity of their lives and pure art that I could feel rushing inside my head. I rested in the comfortable and BIG Chevrolet and went back home with a day, that was fun, had a huge learning experience, meeting brilliant artists, great people, the partners of A FINE LINE who had shown so much respect and love for the art and Indian culture…..
(For pictures of this whole journey, click on the link below: http://ananthvclicks.wordpress.com)
The day had ended with the setting sun and I was grateful to a very good friend of mine, Mrs. Neela Shinde for introducing me to the brilliant researchers from UK, was Thankful to both, Jeremy and Barney for such a wonderful journey and humbled by the loving and talented villagers at Dahanu.
God bless art and artists for spreading so much life, culture, love, passion hope and dreams all around us.
Be well
Ananthanarayanan V
http://techdivine.cgsociety.org
http://www.art.in/artists/ananthanarayanan-v.htm
Heat has to be two-way………….. or eventually it just loses the charm!
When something cold comes in contact with something hot, the heat is transferred to the cooler object till they both reach a balanced temperature……..
In real life, that translates to the fact that when something impactful comes in tune with something less or a lot less powerful, all the great force does is keep giving and it gets nothing in return.
Eventually, it turns cold too………… and life continues without impact and actual societal growth.
That is what the law or rule of science states. Indirectly. So is that how the world was suppose to function?
It is very true to say that all great or at least the majority of the most brilliant scientists have had a powerful spiritual force and a philosophical side. So whenever we look into any of their mind boggling theorems, we can take a part of our life and draw inferences from that too.
My article today is about one of the NGO’s.
I have always supported those less fortunate or less privileged in every aspect of life. But there are always exceptions in life and in these cases, such that, many a times, the good forces get taken advantage of by those less fortunate.
One such voluntary organization recently lost many a good volunteers and would keep losing more if the heat is only taken every now and then…….
I took a stand few days back in one such issue and fought for those who had come for a cause and got no satisfaction in return. The people who had come to help for the sake of helping the needy were taken for a ride….. by both those who were taking the energy and those who were the channel for the transfer of this heat and force…. It was an NGO and its so called, less fortunate members.
One has to understand clearly…… very clearly…..
Everything in life has to be two way.
If you need the heat, you also need to channelize and tune in enough support for the charge to remain and the power to be stable at least, if not growing. Or else, eventually, the power loses its charm on you and itself. The sad part is, people realize that only after the loss… but by then it is too late…..
The great Master and guide, Swami Vivekananda had once said, do not feel great that you helped someone, but feel huge that you got an opportunity to extend your services.
But I guess that has been used and abused by those who have taken the good heart and the good souls for granted in their life.
Trust me when I am saying this, I have seen big time NGO’s and voluntary organizations treating their members and volunteers as if they were doing some obligation by letting them contribute their time for the good of the few. At the same time when those less fortunate also take undue advantage of these good souls.
This article is for all those who have sailed on both the sides and also for those who have never been a part of the so called societal issues as they were busy crunching numbers at workplace, so fall into the hardworking, successful and happy souls of society category so to speak.
Someone told me few days back, things are a lot less worthy today as compared to their value before because the world has shrunk. I don’t believe that is true.
I say, the world has not changed a bit…. The only thing is…. Today, there is just less in it! Because so much has been taken over and over again…. We keep losing those with a heart to make a difference to the number crunching world of their own too fast off late.
Why, because, so much has been taken in and out of it that there seems to be a dearth of thinkers and philosophers today. And the way things are moving…. The world probably won’t remember them too.
I recently came across few organizations who fancied abuse of higher power at the cost of the talent, skills and most importantly the good heart of those who came there for a cause. The cause that seems to be forgotten by these NGO’s i.e. to extend a helping hand.
The bottom line being, if we need some positive charge out of life and when we can see it being delivered to us by someone, take the charge and win the confidence of the one giving the force to you. As his/her heart is like a Nokia battery, it runs for long, but you just keep using it…. It eventually dies off. Then…. Even if there is balance, there is no call taken, no voice heard, no network established…. As there is no life then left…..
So take and give…. Do not follow the principle of cold to heat and striking a balance… but create a bubble of energy around such that you rise to the level that you and the force gain the original level of energy possible….
Is that possible…. Why not… we are humans… we are not object of physics.
Like the amazing quote by Edmund Hillary to Mt.Everest goes:
I will conquer you again Mt.Everest. Because as a mountain you cannot grow…. But as a human… I can!!!
So grow and watch the world grow with you… if there is less in it…. Contribute being one… so that the charge never dies off…………….
As always…. Let me know your views and comments
Be well
Ananth V
image source:www.ua.com
Life: NEVER GIVE UP!
I was seven years old. It was barely seven am as I rubbed my eyes and was still lying on the comfortable bed. As my eyelids leisurely followed the cadence of the twinkling stars and I came back to full yet not so vivid vision of the place around, I looked for immediate comfort. I looked for my folks around.
Now this little kid that was me was getting a little anxious to not see his parents around him as he realized all of a sudden that the place he was waking up was also totally new and unknown to him.
I kept calling for my parents and no one answered.
My eyes opened up wholly and I got up in a jiff. As I looked around, my cry for my mom and dad only got louder as the room that I was looking at was at least about 3000 sq. foot big and there was not a soul around. My feet clamped the flooring and I took to faster steps and scurried around the first door that I found open.
I ran three floors downstairs still calling for my parents and now my voice was getting a little more raucous and whiny than before.
Bang!
I startled and shouted for help as I heard a huge clanking clatter to my left side where there was a huge door that was half open. I stood there motionless, scared and worried. I waited till I heard that noise again and then again.
Strangely though, I was a lot calm now and I slowly moved towards that open door and all I could see were massively humongous machines.The smell in that place was filled with fragrance of flowers. I step by step moved in between the clanking sounds and now a lot more confident as I saw a household face near one such machine.
It was my uncle, Mr. K V Ganesan. He owned that whole factory and as he looked at me and my eyes which had tears rolling down my cheeks from before, he immediately lifted me up and said, “Good morning dear. Let’s go and have something to freshen up your morning.”
Soon enough I was sitting on my dad’s lap and my uncle was narrating of probably what could have caused those tears to roll of my eyes. I was now too secure with my folks to admit it was right, so I just smiled and kept quite.
Ganesan uncle was quick to get that thought in my head as he immediately said, “You are a big boy. You were just curious may be and not afraid right?” and I immediately nodded.
That’s when he told me, “My dear boy, in your life never be afraid to accept your fears. As telling a lie and hiding it would only make it stay with you for a much longer time.” That was said to me almost two decades back and it still rings in my head like I heard it yesterday.
Whenever I had the chance to meet uncle Ganesan, I never missed the opportunity as when I grew up, I came to know that the man who was standing with the labourers that early dawn with the soap and machines working was the man who had built a huge business and won acclaims and accolades from all over the globe.
Ganesan uncle had even won awards / certificates from the then President of India for his contribution in the field of his expertise, for his work towards quality Soap products “Chitra Soap Works” and his loads and loads of contribution to the betterment of labour force in their town and city of Chennai which was then Madras.
He was an industrialist. He was a visionary and a true leader. He was the President of the Small scale soap manufacturers association of South India. He was someone who used to genuinely go down the line and help the less privileged section of society and was unbiased in helping anyone and everyone.
He was someone who always believed, preached and practised that the court of conscience is more supreme than the Supreme Court.
Ganesan uncle was someone who used to tell things as they were. He was a simple, straightforward, no-nonsense man. He always valued others time and was as brilliantly knowledgeable about the Holy book of Gita, the Vedas and the Upanishads, as he was about his flourishing company.
He could predict about people’s lives and he did not do it with anyone and everyone. He used to just talk and all of a sudden say something about someone and keep quiet. And he has always been right.
I do not know how he used to do that but I always still wish that I could have met him few more times and learn more about practicality and life and more importantly, the road to do things your way, your business and your hard work and as he lovingly used to put it, your profits.
He started his life from working in a hotel with a very modest beginning and reached to positions where almost everyone he met was influenced by him to the very core. He had an amazing charisma and optimistic vigor that he carried with him. It was probably this vibe which took him to the pinnacle of accomplishment and showered respect and laurels on him from scores of big shots from around the world.
The story of his never quit attitude sounds mesmerizing as he had told that to me once.
He told me that one day, when he had finished his work in the small time hotel where he was working, he saw that some customer had left a book on the seat. It was about midnight till when he had finished his that days errands and he was about to hit the sack, when something pulled him again towards that book. That book was about making something, something that was supposed to get things clean.
Hmmmmm……. Clean. He said to himself. Clean is good. Let me know more about this, he thought. Various optimistic possibilities flashed across his mind instantaneously. He started reading it page by page and before he looked around, it was already morning and his shift was about to start. He was fascinated by what he had read, but work was very much important to fetch him that day’s food. So he let the book in his small cloth bag that he had and got back to work.
The thought kept ringing in his head again and again.
That night after work he jotted down the things that were said to be required and asked those around, of things he did not understand what they meant. He tried to get as many of those as possible with him and replaced few others with what the people around had told.
He followed what was mentioned in the book and instead of using machines he manually grounded and got a thick paste with him in just few hours. It had no proper smell as he recalls, “I must have missed out on the fragrance part to be added as I did not have anything for that aspect back then.” But whatever he had got, he tried to put them in a box and tried them on the dishes and Woolah! They were clean in a jiff and looked a lot shinier.
He loved the concept and he began his dream and created Chitra Soap works and in the next three decades went global. His products were well known for their quality and cost and as years rolled by, he put scores of people on the job and built his dream neat and clean.But more so, with his intense sense of humor and immense technical knowledge and his pure business instinct, he touched a million lives on the way to the pedestal.
I don’t know why, but I remembered him very much today as I thought about something with respect to accepting my fear about something rather than hide and make it grow. At the end of it when the approach clicked to my advantage and I felt so proud that I had taken a brilliant decision at the end of the day, it just hit me hard as a bar of soap, and I came to my senses touching the fragrance of the whole story.
I was able to recollect something that had happened so long back and I started jotting down all that I recollected him telling me about life, faith, hard work and money.
So that may be, just maybe, someday, I grow up to be at least a third as brilliant, innovative and knowledgeable like him, just May be…. Someday……. As he told me always………. Never give up on your dream, whatever it might be……. Just never give up.
He is someone I always remember in my prayers and someone whom I hope is safe and happy up there in the company of the powerful almighty.
Be well
—-
Ananthanarayanan V
A ‘Desire’ to quote it just right!
A ‘desire’ to quote it, just right!
Last week’s questions and discussions on the current spiritual scenario: On youth, desire and spirituality:
“Desire is the root of all evil. Ancient wisdom says, stay away from desire”
Now this line caught my notice which said, Desire is the root of all evil.
Desire is never evil. What you desire and the approach in which you desire might lead you to evil. The issue was uncomplicated and yet had lot of depth in it as the master’s quote read: “I may always desire more than I accomplish – Michelangelo”
So, now the person, who had laid this query to us, perceptibly did it with an intention to set off something in me. Probably a nerve which was tickling my funny bone or may be a nerve that held my tolerance level high.
In any way, I thought of jotting this down by asking the same question to few others in the last 24 hours in the Q n A session on – current spiritual scenario: On youth, desire and spirituality.
An overall gist of people’s response was like this:
• Desire, if you do not, there is no need to live.
• If you desire more than you can, you will always be unhappy.
• If I do not desire, then nothing in life I deserve.
• Divine and spirituality is for old and retired people.
Ok. So there was a slight repairing or oiling required may be.
This is for all our youth out there today, saying ‘another day, another dime earned.’
First of all, desiring something is the whole basis and idea for survival.
Reason, the person who asked me the question had no job putting this personal question before me. But he desired to do more than his job profile demanded. So he asked.
I desired more, to know what people had to say, even though I am going to jot down at the end and express my views on the same, because I desired the need to bond and get in touch with all of them and get into their minds. And at the end still hold the power to speak and express….. hey, it is my blog!
On a more serious note, I did it to know and feel their pulse on the same.
So when we take a look at a term like desire, we see that desire is nothing but convincing. Convincing others or yourself. But this time, convincing that, there could be more to life. Convincing that this is how it has to be or not to be.
Desire is why a society stays alive. Desire is why we have grown beyond a religious or spiritual round table conference and are able to do this online today. Because someone desired to do more than there was.
Now coming back to the divine part, Desire is never bad.
The holy books have always shown us the technique to get what we yearn for. Being spiritual does not mean giving up on worldly pleasures. It means understanding what the earliest knowledge has left for us to learn and be paramount in whatever we ‘desire’.
I have been born into a very religious family. But luckily I never followed or obeyed the customs nor was I asked to. I chose to follow them by choice. I am not religious, but definitely spiritual. It helps me concentrate better than I can, which is fantastic.
Believe it or not, religious customs and traditions are what gives us more discipline and focus in life. People tend to take it in the wrong way.
A person who reads and is able to understand the books of such immense knowledge, can accomplish whatever he or she wants out of life.
You want to be rich, you want to be a superhero, you want to have a castle, you want to get a Ph.d.?
It’s all in there.
But, you take it and drink it as a whole. Do not try to take the gist of it. You cannot just smell your food and say whether it is perfect. You have to taste it and eat it properly to know.
I feel hilarious when people say, spirituality means giving away worldly desires or when I hear that these things are for those who are old. I feel sorry for both of them. Not because they do not believe in it.
Each of us has a choice to lead a life that we want to live, as we ‘desire’ (no pun intended).
I know that those people are already brilliant and talented enough to such an extent, that these disciplines if they acquire, each of them could have what they desire or seek out of life faster than they would.
And like one of my management lessons quoted: ‘A dime earned today, is more than a dime earned tomorrow’. So let us build our passion with the words of the wise and use it in our foray.
And mind me; it is also not something that is gained over just five to10 years. It’s an on-going process. It’s like having an MBA and applying that to work for 10 years to become the CEO instead of just doing it with a bachelor’s for over 20 years and ending up being a manager at 60.
At the end of it all, it’s each one’s choice and each one’s way of life. But it is always good to know, that there is something out there for us that can help us reach our goal faster than we desire.
So desire with spiritual knowledge or self-realization is great. Is victory. Is success. So let us desire and stay alive, kicking and winning. There are no regrets when you desire and dream.
So let us Desire, Dream and De-stress!
Happy reading.
———-
Ananthanarayanan V
techdivine@gmail.com
Thank You readers: from: ‘Ananthanarayanan V’
Thank you readers
Thank you readers so much for your love and support.
Your reviews and your emails have made everyday very special to me.
Thanks for all your affection.
I have gained excellent support for my books that have been sold through various online sites (USA,UK, etc…), through Hardcopy print (India) and have received fantastic reviews and ratings.
I would like to thank Mr.Viswanath, Mr.Ashis Das for their important initial support and for believing in me.
I would sincerely like to Thanks the Times Of India team for giving me very positive exposure and acknowldegment through their interview and a special thanks to all those who made my work / reviews reach to the TOI team.
Thank you so much
It has been a great ongoing journey and i hope it lasts till eternity…….
Thanks and be well
Ananthanarayanan V
few: Reviews & Ratings:
splendid and very original
25 Apr 2007 by amrita shangi
Mr.Ananth (techdivine)
I bought your book and it is simply splendid. Its original style and powerful quotes and words were amazing.
cannot wait to get your next book.
hope to see that soon and read your artcile in the Times Of India site too. Fabulous.
fantastic read
Amrita Shangi
India
GOd bless and be well
ANanth V
hi there
26 Mar 2007 by roopma nirula
got your book yesterday.
Splendid, simply splendid.
All these hours and hours of tireless work of yours has paid off well. Looking forward for your book on spirituality as i know how deep and intense your thoughts are.
will come & take your autograpgh on YOUR book soon.
take care
roops n
Re: hi there
24 Apr 2007 (updated 24 Apr 2007) by techdivine
Hi there
Thanks for your mail. It’s always great to know there are people who enjoyed the book and have taken time out to mail me back.
Thank you so much
god bless and be well
Ananth V
bought your book and got your gift
25 Mar 2007 by loila talpen
Hello mr.Ananth
I am Loila from USA and had bought your book and got your gift today. Its beautiful.
I wanted to know your style of symbolism and variation styles of your coffee table book and it was great to get your explanation on the same.
Loved the poems, your art and your art work.
Variety and unique style of the poem book.
Keep writing.
Gosd bless you.
Loila
USA
One Word ” UNIQUE “
18 Mar 2007 by raj kiran
Mr.ananth
I am not an avid reader but love the art and designs. I justd Loved the quotes and lines from your various sites.
so went ahead and BOUGHT the “Download copy” of your EXPRESSIONS book from one of your links and it was reaaly unique.
A very different style , extremely well written and designed.
Loved the Poems especially ” Lost, But yet guding…. ” and ” balancing Act “.
Fabulous illustrations, simple, subtle and distinct and goes great to connect with the poems lines and thoughts.
It was great that i purchased the downloaded copy of the book and got to read it immediately ….
The feeling what the Amazon No.1 Bestseller and Mr.Das have expressed are truly what is the real feel of your book.
There were so many quotes i could connect to from your book and have recommended with all stars to my friends and family to Buy the download copy of the book of EXPRESSIONS.
Great book, great style and amazing designs and art.
Keep writing and we will keep getting inspired.
5 Stars and Kudos!
Awesome Book and a great value for the buy and to read over and over again!
Regards
RajK
India
Do check out the TOI Interview here:
other links:
http://scorpion1681.tripod.com/id11.html
Life cannot get any better…..
Life cannot get any better…..
That felt so right in my dreams yesterday. Yes I would like to call my most recent weekend as dreams as things were so clear and so sweet. As one of my favorite quote goes, “Life is so clear in a dream, but when you wake up….it’s a blur!”
I spent two half days in the last 2 days with some of the sweetest and most talented people I know. I spent my lovely evenings with few of my nieces and nephews (Rithi, Ritish, Swati, Kaushik, Dishha & Alishha) and am about to meet two more of my sweet little niece and nephew by this weekend (Aishwarya & Shivam).
And what I quoted above is what I felt at the end of both days…… Life cannot get any better…..
These kids are in the age range of 4 – 15 and trust me when I am saying this, I learnt a lot of things on how to behave with elders from the smallest two kids and on how to be filled with passion from the rest. These kids know it all, from trekking to playing the keyboard, from painting to building awesome structures and trains, from elocutions to giving the most innocent and true smile one could see.
I learnt something very wonderful from each of them yesterday and finished my second book and my first Literature young fiction work finally after 10 months of work. The final draft will be starting by the end of the week and it should be hopefully ready soon and all thanks to my little sweet dreams of joy and hope, my little angels.
As kids, we never stop exploring, we never stop trying and we never stop questioning. The resultant effect, we never stop Learning, isn’t it?
It’s only when we grow we become “MATURE” individuals and think a million times before asking someone for help, for honestly giving a smile and curiously looking at someone with a million questions on our face.
One of my little angels said something about her friend and I asked her if she had a fight why would she want to talk to her again. She said the sweetest thing, “Mama, I was having cough and cold and was very tired some days back. So when she called so many times, I did not talk to her and mommy forgot to tell her I have fever. She got very upset with me. But she did not shout to me. SO may be when she got angry yesterday she was also not well. So I am anyway going to call her today and speak to her. She is my friend na.” This little kid is 4 years old, believe it or not. Just 4 years old.
We grow up and many a times forget that may be the other person could not do or say something because he/she was sick….. you know what I mean? And then we fall into the phase of what is termed in Human dynamics and Behavioral patterns as a classic example of “Attribution theory error” that is to say that, “he or she behaved so immaturely/ rudely” etc…. and when it comes to our reaction to things we always look at the circumstances that surrounded us because of which we reacted how we did. We justify things when we do it and not in others case. It s just like a boss saying the project did very well and It has to, I had put my heart and soul into it…..or in other case as oh the project failed and was obvious , my team was chaotic and should have cooperated better. The only thing that becomes easy when we grow is apparently the blame game.
SO what we see when we compare our behavior with the kids of today? Is the innocence officially lost? Has apparently “Practical” approach superseded our possible dreams? Has the “SUPEREGO” gone above the ego where one would learn to be more rational and in other words harsh and unnerving to other people’s feelings? I learnt to be more human because of those kids in the last two days and have found out few things and how to deal with things, with people and put it into use in my life. I can guarantee it would be better. At least my behavior would be more human with others. I hope so……
When I say all this I take a look back at my lovely school days when even a new table in the class used to pump up so much of anxiety, smile and happiness of what’s going to be the next change, will we shift to a new classroom, will all the benches be changed, etc.
Yesterday and the day before I heard my 4 year old two nieces using terms like “it was denied to him and it is not correct” , “that’s ok, we will make a new one if it breaks” etc. and I said to myself, my god….. Iff I would have been that mature at that age, hell…..if I could be that mature at this age…..Life would be so different and so much better.
These kids in the last 2 days have made me ponder over so many simple things in life that we can get happiness and peace from. No wonder they are said to be as sweet as the Lord himself. No wonder their innocence brings in so much happiness when we look at their faces.
They inspired me so much with their wit, their art works, their way of thought, I felt I was reborn. I took in and savored every single moment with them and can only hope that I get to see them and be around them more often and be a kid again…only this time a smarter and sweeter kid, just like them…..
God bless and be well
Ananthanarayanan V
image source:toys-to-you.co.uk
My Coffee: A case to begin all cases………
case to begin all cases
A case to begin all cases:
A nice cup of hot black coffee and a good speed internet connection, that’s all that counts!
A nice cup of hot black coffee and a good speed internet connection. With that of course god’s ultimate gift to mankind “MEMORY”. The world seems so beautiful.
People say memories of the past and anxiety of the future ruins our present. Well, I can’t talk too much about future and pressures as in today’s chaotic world I am one of those blessed individuals whose job so to say is one of the least stressful jobs on earth.
I am a teacher.
I got myself few diplomas, a degree, few certifications and a secure (a term which has become almost obsolete) job in a MNC about 5 years back. I was into the creative art and animation as a hobby for as long as I can remember. For it gave me a peace of mind and a lot of calmness to relax that every inch of tensed muscle in my body. Soon, I had made that hobby my work so I never had to feel the pressure of work again. So I said to myself.
I Left my “secure job” and 3 years had passed. Then one day, I met a young chap (meaning someone of my age, 5 years ago…. That is to say, I was a lot younger and more immature then….and life was good). He came to me and said, “Ananth, I am changing my job. I am shifting back to finance field where I was.” Hmmm…. Another one of my kind, I thought…with that doubt in mind… He continued, “Yes, I know there will be heavy pressure and I won’t enjoy doing it, but at least I will have some respect for what I do but could not handle the pressure of doing a job which especially in India, if more so related to the field of art hardly gets any recognition and respect even from those most close to you.” I told him to sleep over it. Give it some more thought. And not change the field just because he was unable to cope up with the pressure of being related to the field of art. He used to teach and freelance for money, the most important and easily understood term today.
Finally he did not leave the field, but left the job, saying may be some other work environment might cheer him up and provide more mental support to continue what he is doing. He left the job after a lot of convincing and fights with his seniors that he was sure he would not want to continue for personal reasons. He came back home and made few calls and got into another institute with a better pay scale to maybe, just may be help him gain more confidence in talking to his family and friends now that he had a job which was paying him literally as good as an engineer with an MBA or a CA/CS (naming them because even today, these are supposedly the more and most desirable jobs, trust me).
Few days later, while he had got well adjusted to this environment and was getting back home at 11:30pm from Andheri back home he met a kid sitting on the pavement opposite to the well known Leela hotel from where he was just coming out after his corporate presentation. He just stopped for a moment and then rushed back to the kid.
This19 year old was his student from the earlier institute. After a long discussion, this chap realized that after he had left the earlier place it had been 3 months since and still that institution had found none to replace him. Result was the fees from students were collected regularly and those deferring payments were put into defaulters and fined. But there were no sessions happening. There was no faculty.
This kid was a cobbler’s son with a bright & creative mind. So to say had been lured by the famous lines of getting the BIG moolah and glamour that the creative industry was posed to him by those selling it so much that he fought and convinced his dad to arrange for that huge sum for his diploma in animation course as he was somehow convinced that this industry holds for him all the riches and would take him to another level. He would get a pay check of at least Rs.8-10K to start with and sky would be his limit with his abilities and skills. Now he had ended up paying all that he could, his dad was down till his neck in debts and to worsen the case, there were no classes being conducted because of lack of faculties.
So much to say, the course and the infrastructure were anyway not up to the mark. Then both( the sir and his ex-student) tried for a lot of legal ways to help out for refund, but the system was so jacked up that they found themselves being mocked by society more and more and there was no justice at all. His dad, the cobbler died of a heart attack. He had no job and this course was finished by some emergency trainer who had little idea of how to go about with the course and needless to say there was no learning and no job for this kid. He now sits on the streets mending shoes just like his father.
Talk to him about Photoshop and flash, his eyes lit up and then die off with that same speed and intensity. That young chap and trainer came back home that day realizing that he was not just working and he did not just have a job. But as a teacher he had a huge social responsibility of taking good care of a noble profession which is sad to say becoming a faint identity. He now teaches and trains whenever anyone asks him if he has the time and not so just on the basis of monthly fees to the real needy. He has to face societal brunt for that. But at least he sleeps peacefully.
The above story is for any noble profession today. Be it delivering education or something as massively important as saving lives as in a doctor’s job. There are very few doctors’ who take cases without that patient fulfilling the basic formalities of “FEES”.
There have been so many a lives put in stake and so many futures given to shape by these noble professions, but in today’s social pressures, unless there is money involved there is no value for life or knowledge.
We are talking today about nuclear pacts, global warming. But what happened to those who are living at the tip of a life nothing less than a volcano mountain, ready to burst at any point of time. Their only mistake is of being born in a poorer section of the society. Their lives and pains are simply put out with simple lines by big time money makers as “Only the fittest will survive” (I guess they had the privilege of studying Darwin’s theories, “They cannot handle today’s competitive pressure” and only those with power and money will survive.
We close the above mentioned miseries with such simple lines learnt in our MBA class and big corporate chairs not even realizing that in this way we are going against war with our own people. If such noble professions today start refusing service just for the sake of money and if the society supports that, why are we even discussing a green world, a better technology and happy world? All that you do always comes back to you then and there. Life is as simple as that. So if we refuse help knowingly or with pure bliss of ignorance it is going to hit us back some day soon. Life is not just about numbers and targets. It’s about Lives and a smile.
Wouldn’t life be more fun if there were good competition and great learning all around us? Did not we feel happy in school when we were put against a large chunk of students and asked to compete? So why not help everyone raise the bars and lead a life of greater significance. Why not deal with the current misery, bureaucracy and corruption and actually kill the problems at their root cause. I get scores of mails and calls everyday from parents and people asking me where do I put my kid for further studies?
I am not a counselor or someone of that level to advice, so I don’t. I keep numb as even if I did I am sure I would be falling short of places and institutions both big and small to recommend today.
I know so many doctors and teachers today who have refused to render their honest and very much possible services to people because of lack of their ability to pay money. I am not asking you to do charity as all of us need to survive. But only that, do keep in mind that whatever you do, you are affecting someone or the other and what you can decide is HOW you affect them.
Remember, life has a way of balancing itself, what goes will come back. So the next time you decide not to cure a patient or teach a student for the sake of money alone Please think twice. As your decision is not just another corporate rule, it’s a way of life.
You have the power to be true to what you have sworn to do. To make the country a better place is not the government’s duty. It’s those who have given that power to the government to take good care of our HUGE family, our world.
So grow and let grow as it’s not everyone’s privilege to say that all I need today is “A nice cup of hot black coffee and a good speed internet connection, that’s all.” I know the great mentors like the Mahatma and Swami Vivekananda are gone. But a bit of their souls rests in all of us. So let’s try to search and find them, take all the pieces and get them back. That’s possible only if all our heart and minds would act as one. Everyone has come across some day something like this to say, to make a difference, to make impact…. A case to begin all cases. I apologize if I bored you and wasted your precious time with so many words and story but what can I say…… I am paid for it!
EXPRESSIONS by Ananthanarayanan V
EXPRESSIONS by Ananth V
EXPRESSIONS by Ananthanarayanan V
—The TOI Interview
For rhyme and reason
This Mulund resident’s book of poems is more than just brilliantly juxtaposed words illustrated with interesting art. One reading of the book and it is easy to see why Ananthanarayanan Venkateswaran’s heartfelt expressions have earned him accolades from all over the world .
Expressions are a verbal and visual journey into life. Through poems that transcend the words that describe them, they become an embodiment of the poet’s pains and desires. Ananthanarayanan Venkateswaran has been writing since he was in school and every word he chooses for his poems are well-chosen.
In person, his simple manner fails to belie his powerful intelligence and deep sensitivity that has given birth to this coffee table book. He admits proudly that he has designed the book cover as well, which is, “a reflection of the soul where the pink strains stand for the good, the brown for the evil and the green for hope.”
According to him, the best poem in the book is ’Lost but yet, guiding through’ which he explains is about, “People looking for a mentor in their daily life when all they seek is right within themselves”. Other notable gems include ‘Outcast’ which is about the agony of feeling alone; ‘Washed away’ is about the search for peace and ‘Living by my duty’ is about life’s lessons.” The book is based on symbolism. A remarkable example of symbolism in the book is the image titled ‘Where am I?’ that portrays Ananth’s ‘feelings of juggling between more than one world’.
The response to ‘Expressions’ has been growing slowly but steadily. Personal thoughts and ideas are beautifully intertwined with modern spirituality, in the poems.
Ananth’s spiritual side is attributed to his father’s teachings and his own commitment to social causes.
When Ananth is not working on literary masterpieces, he is working at Techdivine studios where he creates 3D animations, gaming concepts, clay models, sculptures, abstract art, relief works, human sketches designs for various companies, magazines and brochures.
He has also dabbled successfully in advertising and advanced animation.
As he puts it, “For me the learning curve will never end.”
Everything about Ananth speaks of his drive and individuality.
‘Expressions’ is his first published book but he emphatically states, “This is only the start.”
By Ankita Shreeram – Times Of India – Mulund Powai Plus – 21/4/07
EXPRESSIONS
My Book ” Expressions ” is now available for sale.” This book puts forth through poetry and symbolic illustrations the various emotions that each and every one of YOU can relate to at some level during your journey through the school of LIFE “
This Poetry book “Expressions” uniquely expressed with Art and symbolisms from Techdivine Studios by Ananthanarayanan V, would take you through simple cravings of human desire, through depths of emotions and through passion for creations of power and beauty wherein you would realize how fast and how soon does one’s mind, when you let it take control, devours of your time and life and takes you through the rollercoaster called LIVING! This book puts forth through poetry the various emotions that each and every one of YOU can relate to at some level during your journey through the school of LIFE.
The symbolic Block on top of every page tells all of you to hold on to your thought and cherish them.
DO write to me after you Purchase your copy as there is a surprise for you mentioned in the book, Waiting to be gifted to you by me!
Just Click on The link Below to Get a Preview and to Purchase your Copy of the Book.
http://www.lulu.com/content/709570
CLICK HERE TO PREVIEW AND BUY THE COPY OF THE BOOK!
http://www.lulu.com/content/709570
All works are Copyrights of Ananthanarayanan V and Techdivine Studios © 2007
click below
Link to Book Printing and Publishing By Lulu Publishers
http://www.lulu.com/content/709570
GET THE INDIAN EDITION OF THIS BOOK RELEASED LAST MONTH FOR Rs.180/- FOR BOOKINGS CONTACT : techdivine@gmail.com
Be more ambitious!
Interpretations Of the Technical Mind: “BE MORE AMBITIOUS “
Hello There,
I am Ananthanarayanan.V.
The Article here speaks about me pondering on my 25 th birthday this year for just one word that has been driving me at times to the edge of my life with great strength and it is what we term as ” PASSION “. Passion, would be a very subjective term as it means different things for different people, so I was looking at its closest synonym. Passion, is anything that can drive one to an extent to which all that is visible is to achieve and acquire that which is desired. I just turned an 180◦ from my chair and I saw my company’s Logo, that read ” BE More Ambitious “. I kept repeating that word and bingo, it hit me that passion for any technical individual is pure ambition. Ambition to become famous, acknowledged, acquire Higher Skills, tremendous growth, more and faster growth and it all screamed of one word : The Rising Moolah! Let’s face it, at the end of the day if we cannot turn our skills, ideas, concepts to creating and converting it into money, how much use is the extra Drive within us. I had participated in a discussion forum few months back referred to as ” Genesis of the Human Mind “, this heading now keeps screaming to me about the major vote for our debate where we spoke about giving back and thus winning in the long run, for a permanent recognition in the market. So it was Philosophy and Market Capitalization combined. Hey, we are entering into a new era of realization, aren’t we?
So where am I going with all this. I started with the word, Passion. Went on to the Logo with a slight shift from my usual seat and looked around and Devoured the meaning of our Logo, connected it to the dots of growth and finally touched the humble act of ultimate gain which I refer to as ” GIVING “. This is how we, Humans evolve slowly from the basic needs to the most powerful form of all beings and becoming what I would love to really be ” IMMORTAL “. The easiest way to become immortal is by forming an institution and then making it grow as the kindest and the biggest thirst of any human being is ” KNOWLEDGE “.
How do I come to that conclusion?
Who is richer, Bill Gates, Warren Buffet or Swami Vivekananda. I am not a spiritual leader who is going to give you a series of quotes and Prove what is Universally true. I am a technical person, so I will go for my traditional use of formulas to prove What is true.
Richness = Gains – Sacrifices, so we have Gains and Sacrifices on either side.
What did Bill gates and Warren Buffet acquire, tons and tons of money, fame and respect with some raised eyebrows. Now what are they doing : Giving back to the world as much as they can. And what did the swami do, took nothing and kept giving and what did he get, Immortality. He has been worshipped for generations and will be for centuries to come. SO will, the Mahatma and Mother Teresa. What did these people have : Money – No, A stylish and rich life – No, Respect – Yes, Admiration – Yes, Influence – The greatest. I met few foreigners in Singapore last month and we were talking about the power of the mind and they asked me where I was from, when I said India they immediately said : Oh! From the Mahatma’s land. So what makes the world drop everything and go on a hunger strike with the tiny looking fragile being, what makes the most so referred to as rich and powerful quiver in front of the swami and bow in front of his teachings and what makes the presence of Mother Teresa so truly powerful. It is their act of giving as much as one can without expecting a smile in return. So who has won the game of the three, those who acquired it all and now are giving it all back or those who have been constantly giving and leaving their prints in our mind, body and soul forever. So here the sacrifice made has won because of the credibility status it has gained. For the statements made by these great and in real terms powerful people is what we call as not INFORMATION, but pure ” KNOWLEDGE “. SO the Swami won.
So what has this to do with my company’s logo. Everything. As I read the logo my Intellect started calculating all the gains I have made in the last 1 year in the organization. What did my Balance sheet show me. There were no Liabilities, though my tax deductions seem to say otherwise. Just kidding. So what have I gained. Am I glad about the performance benefit given to me. My smirk from the face flew away and my mind was calm. In the 1 year with this organisation, that I have been associated here I have acquired tons of laminated cards and greeting cards and personal emails in scores from students at the end of every batch expressing their ” THANKS “. It was just one word that we use so casually most of the times that made me feel weak in my knees and so emotional. In reality was I being a Mahatma or a Swami, Oh dear god! Even thinking something like that would be a Capital Crime. I am just like a candle in front of the Sun. I have been just like any other ordinary person purely driven by the passion of My field and my desire to grow really fast and as a wise man once said, The easiest way to Success is to perform at least three times your level. So I did all this just being motivated to grow bigger and higher in career and prospects. And I gained so much in return. So much more. SO every institution which runs and succeeds with pomp and style, it’s actually a celebration of the People, the masses and those who have applied this knowledge derived from our esteemed fellow brothers and sisters imparting that knowledge to them for their personal growth and the society’s growth in general. So now let me sum up all this talk and take only the BIG words and try putting it together.
Greatness, Reach, Spreading, Generous, Institution, Influence, Act, Ponder, Giving, Money, Richness, Fame, Immortal, Service, Value and knowledge.
Any institution which is built on the foundation of giving, any individual who ponders & thrives on the belief of innovating at any cost and any organization with true values of being a pure service sector to the society will immensely grow through the act of generous giving with a true mission statement, will spread out the good word and stay alive for generations and be referred to as A POWERFUL MOVEMENT and thus grow up to be finally above all fame, money and power and be IMMORTAL.
So at the end of this discussion, the conclusion is :
To Grow rich and powerful and influence the world all we need to do is drive ourselves with pure passion and ambition and strive for our growth as Experts by spreading what we have gained and just simply – ” BE MORE AMBITIOUS “.
If all of this sounded too philosophical to you then I have achieved my goal as spreading of any good thing today in this modern era which is otherwise so consumed by ” greed ” is in our term referred to as being ” PHILOSOPHICAL “. So let’s all get more philosophical and grow by Innovation ,Intelligence and Impact and just get IMMORTAL.
Be well
techdivine
writer
anandha
karishmas
blessedart
anjeneyan
aduadi
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