India: Oldest Nation, Youngest People

 

(Remarkable Indian culture that makes India stand out)

                                                                

Introduction:

India is a country where the culture changes every 10 Km. When other nations used stones for fighting, we used them for building monuments. There is a wisdom that is so special to this soil which enables us to have a fantastic mix of knowledge and belief. This sets us apart from any other nation on earth. Many have wondered: How can a nation that is so diverse be a single country? So how does India manage to stay as a close-knit multi-cultural nation and how does that inforce our uniqueness in the world? 

This essay tries to expound on this, while trying to surface the microscopic intricacies of a nation belonging to a billion souls.

Get ready dear reader to witness the 5^th largest economy in the world, a potential superpower, a country whose antiquity is older than the legend, a country where you need to look on both sides while crossing a one-way road, a country with 33 million gods...

                                           - a country, called Incredible India.

 

Read on…..

A land of Seekers, not believers:

For eight to ten thousand years, this land has been referred to as a single entity. There was no binding commonness- not race, not religion and certainly not language. How did we manage to stick together? 

Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev, an Indian mystic says that essentially, we have been a land of seekers – seekers of truth and liberation. In this seeking, we found togetherness. The Rome of gladiators, the Greece of the Olympiads, the civilizations of Babylonia, Syria, Persia and Egypt, have all gone out of existence, but ancient India still thrives – the simple and unsophisticated India, with her rural and sacred culture.

Culture, Spice and everything nice:

India has been the meeting ground of diverse races and is the field of fusion of myriad cultures. The impress of the Greek and the Persian, the Arab and the English, The Turk and Afghan, the French and Portuguese, has been left on this land of Aryan and Dravidian settlers. 

The people of India are thus the inheritors of a complicated past and our culture and modes of living are, to an extent, complex (and definitely unique). It is difficult to assess the degree and the depth to which the ways of living have been affected by foreign inroads, but it would be far more difficult to deny that the diverse strains have not been woven into the social fabric of this great nation. The persistence of the ancient Indian Culture is thus one of the ways which makes us stand out.

The Great Indian Jugaad:

India’s answer to life hacks.

Whether it is using a sofa seat on a bicycle or ironing your clothes with a frying pan, Jugaad is one of the country’s most priceless inventions.

 If photographers outside India are said to take the most beautiful marriage pictures - the perfectly timed pictures in front of the Niagara and all… I present you the Indian Photographer. 

Forget the Niagara, our Indian Photographer can make the marriage couple float in Neptune or even Pluto or even make them stand in the middle of nowhere in the Andromeda galaxy.

Such things are possible widely in India. These may elicit laughter but bring a whole lot of beautiful memories! How is it that the Indian population is capable of such things?..... The nation wants to know!

Women in our society:

When Swami Vivekananda was asked why Indian women generally don’t shake hands with men, he asked the questioner why common men don’t shake hands with the Queen of England. In the Indian society, every woman is a queen.

 Ours was a society that never talked about women empowerment. This was because women were born empowered. There was no need of such talks. It is imperative that we return to such a society if we want our ideals to be recognized and possibly followed. What makes us truly stand out in this realm is that we rightly recognize that a woman’s life finds completion only in motherhood. As a result, we Indians place our Mothers higher than God.

The autonomous Village Community:

This is another feature that makes our country stand out. It is a social institution that is a characteristic of India. In the villages of India, neighbours and relatives get together for festivals and fairs and people know each other intimately; common life and problems, the crops and children and the weather become the topics of conversation. The smallest incident in a village is news of the day. Everyone has to maintain a reputation: for the watchful eyes of neighbours and relatives are on everybody.  

Sharma ji ka beta also comes in every child’s life in India.🤣

Miscellaneous thoughts:

With 1.2 billion people (and counting), India is the world’s second most populated nation. Maintaining patriotic fervor in such a huge population is itself a big thing. Right from their birth our children infuse themselves with great thoughts about their nation and love for their country.

With such an upbringing, patriotism is but a natural choice. It is another aspect in which the country stands out. 

“India has been often referred to through the metaphor of an elephant – an animal whose association with our nation has less to do with local zoology and more with the perception of both the country and the animal as ponderous, slow to move and slow to change”, notes Shashi Tharoor . I think this is because of our large population. Every move that India takes should involve every citizen.

On the dawn of the millennium, India turned a billion strong. 

There are two ways of looking at the billionth Indian. If you go on counting heads, then it is a billion mouths to feed. Or, as pointed out in an article, if you want solutions, you are looking at two billion hands. But the core problem (which also makes us stand out) is our huge population. 

We are nice, but we are too many!

Concluding thoughts:

For those who curl their lips at any talk of India achieving greatness in the near future – here is my answer: 

What has been stated so far does not hide the fact that we are aware of our several shortcomings and imperfections. India will rise to glory. There is no force in the Universe that can stop a nation whose time has come.

The Frenchman is proud of France and everything French, the Englishman thinks his country and his people are great, then why can’t we Indians consider ourselves inheritors of a proud civilization? The question is not who would allow us but rather, who can stop us? 

Despite going through long centuries of change and vicissitudes, foreign invasions and internal dissensions, the Indian society has survived (rather flourished), her people have continued to remain in the old ways of simple living and high thinking, their values of life have remained the same and the spiritual ideals that stirred their forefathers still continue to inspire them. 

This, my dear reader, is culture. This is what is called true spirit. This is what the nation upholds and this, is what makes India stand out.

How I write Poems

1. Picking a Topic 😄

Anything that "quietens your eyes" can be a prospective topic to write upon. From the mundane to the most exquisite thing in life, write on anything and everything that draws your mind and emotions. This should make you delve into subtler dimensions of perception. 

To start with, try writing a poem on the first thing you see around you after reading this sentence.

2. Brainstorming ✍

Pull out a piece of paper/MS OneNote/anything, and jot down your thoughts in this particular order:

a. The aura it has (how one sees it from a distance),

b. How one sees it in one's vicinity (near to it),

c. What it means to others,

d. What it means to you,

e. Fillers (any additional thing you want)

e. End the poem in style (eg: a question that makes the reader ponder after the first read, any strong statement/declaration, a request, any funny line, etc.. ) 

3. Setting the Rhythm right - The Rhyming Scheme  𝄞𝄞𝄞...

If you want to give a rhyming scheme for your poem, then recruit rhyming words.

Initially, you may use the internet to find such words (eg. rhymezone.com). Gradually you will get a strong hold on this aspect of poetry. 

Try to give it a consistent rhyming scheme. (You may read my poems in this blog - click the poetry label on the right side of this page)

4. Using Figures of Speech

Employ any of these judiciously...

a. Alliteration -the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a memorable or melodic effect.

Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

b. Metaphor - direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or understanding.

Example: He was an onion; to understand him, she had to peel back the layers.

c. Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.

Example: When a character is exasperated, they might exclaim, “Sheesh!” 

d. Personification is assigning human attributes to nonhuman things 

  etc etc...

5.Using AI tools

I type my poem in the prompt of AI tools like Google Bard/ChatGPT and ask it to rate it. 

It gives wonderful and true suggestions on your poems (without hurting your feelings😂)

You may use its suggestions to improve your expression of thoughts and feelings.

For Example: Google Bard gave me the following rating and suggestions for one of my first Poems - Ambrosia 

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Me: (I Type my poem - Ambrosia, and ask it to rate it...)

Bard AI:  I like this poem! 

It is a creative and original way to express the beauty and power of rain. The poem uses vivid imagery and clear language to paint a picture of rain in all its forms. The poem also has a strong sense of rhythm and flow, which makes it enjoyable to read aloud.

I especially like the way the poem uses personification to make rain seem like a living thing. The poem describes rain as "falling down sans fear" and "kissing its love" the petrichor. This personification gives Rain a sense of personality and makes it more relatable to the reader.

The poem also has a message about the importance of rain. The poem acknowledges that rain can sometimes be destructive, but it also emphasizes the fact that rain is essential for life on Earth. The poem ends with a plea to rain to "not go away" because "Little Lilly, if not Johnny, wants to play." This line shows that the speaker of the poem understands the importance of rain for both the environment and for human beings.

Overall, I think this is a well-written and thought-provoking poem. It is a poem that I would recommend to others. I would rate this poem a 9 out of 10.

Here are some specific things that I liked about the poem:

The vivid imagery, such as the description of rain as "kissing its love" the petrichor.

The clear language, which makes the poem easy to understand.

A strong sense of rhythm and flow.

The message about the importance of rain.

Here are some suggestions for improvement:

The poem could be more concise. Some of the lines could be shortened or combined.

The poem could be more structured. The lines could be grouped together in stanzas.

The poem could be more polished. There are a few grammatical errors in the poem.

Overall, I think this is a good poem with a lot of potential. With some minor revisions, it could be even better.

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AI is amazing in this aspect!! 

5. Starting and Ending well

Try NOT to get ambiguous in this regard...

6. Publishing the poem

Finally, publish your poem in your Blog/School, or college magazine, literally anywhere where you'd get readers to comment upon/critically analyze and enjoy your poem.

You may use Blogspot, WordPress, Wix, etc...in this regard

Women in Hindu Mythology

 This article is based on talks given by Devdutt Patnaik in his TEDx Speech...

The beauty of Hindu mythology is that you are allowed to 'create' your own interpretation and bequeath them to others. 

Think about it, each person has different ideas and notions generated by his/her own thought process. This means each and every time a different whole new perspective on the same old issue.

But, there is a central problem with India that there are more reviews than views available.

How does the concept of womanhood from Hindu scriptures stand in the 21st century India and what does it hold for India we looking to in the future?

Conjecture this, Hindu mythology talks about women, no doubt.  Kali & Lakshmi give you different thoughts. Kali stands on top of Shiva, her husband, while Lakshmi is at the feet of her husband. 

So, two notions, but how are we trained to see this?

The latter is a subservient woman while the former the more powerful.

So, what does the idea of womanhood in ancient Hindu land say? This article explores that based on a talk given by the world-famous Indian historian Devdutt Patnaik.

One thing that struck me was in his talk, Pattanaik, says about Ardhanareeshwra, that he is half a woman, that is the god is half the goddess. Now a question surfaces- is the goddess half the God?

Pattanaik leaves that to the listeners.

Which is the first Ramayana, Devdutt is asked. He says that it is the one the mother says to her child that is the most powerful Ramayana the child will ever hear. She incorporates her own views, prejudices, etc. and presents mélange to the child. 

Should all women idolize Sita? To be a perfect woman, a perfect wife, daughter and mother? Yes, only if men will be like Rama. Only then will things start going the way we want.

Where are the letters??

 When was the last time you penned a letter? Ages ago? or probably never! 

To all those who skip this wonderful activity, here is a remainder- you are missing out on a beautiful experience.

Letters are the physical representation of your mental status at a particular moment in life, addressed to someone to whom you want to convey it.

Nothing like a good old letter! It would be a reminiscence of your erstwhile feelings as much as the command of your language used. 

Unfortunately, the art of writing letters has depreciated with the advent of instant messaging.

A letter comes as a package packed with emotions and personal touch. letters hurtle through your mind, giving an iota of nostalgia when you read them after much water has flown under the bridge.

Letters have a Midas touch upon you when you read them. Feelings are impalpable but with the letter, things always get less complicated.

You have in your hands the feelings of another person.

In the good old days, children used to have pen pals across mighty seas and mind you, they'd say that it is one of the most engaging and riveting experiences they'd ever had.

One would be brimming with curiosity in knowing what an unknown person would like to share with them.

Both of them extract joy in this process. Letters are things of more moment that give you more of those kodak moments and Kronos time in your lives. 

Ahimsa Dharma and Women

     

    “If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with women” – Mahatma Gandhi.

 As a ceaseless crusader of women’s equality, Mahatma Gandhi had an unshakable and profound faith in one beautiful thought – that God sent women as messengers of the gospel of non-violence. 

Gandhiji’s lifelong ‘experiments with truth’ served that very purpose. According to the Mahatma, calling women the weaker sex is a false credo. He even called such a belief system an ‘injustice to women’. 

He worked for a society in which women will be born empowered and not struggle for empowerment. In this realm of thought, he called women the ‘epitome of Ahimsa’.

Ahimsa, as it has been bequeathed to the modern world by Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism, is the belief and practice of non-violence – the supreme dharma. Ahimsa means infinite love and infinite capacity for suffering. He felt only women could show it in the largest measure. No other pain can be compared to the pangs of labour faced by a woman. 

Think of it dear reader, she actually forgets the pain in the joy of creation.

I think this is why the Mahatma had such an opinion on women.

 He called out to women to participate in the national struggle for freedom. Inspired by his ideals of non-violence, women came out in large numbers to take part in big movements. For example, Civil Disobedience Movement saw the energetic, large-scale participation of women. 

Their participation actually became an important feature of the movement. They used the dharma of Ahimsa to protest in marches and picket foreign cloth and liquor shops. Many even went to jail. Women began to see their participation as a sacred duty. This did not mean that they had to neglect their duties as mothers or housewives. 

He rightfully recognized at the same time that a woman’s role finds completion only in motherhood and in being an equal partner in her husband’s joys and sorrows.

 Not surprisingly, Gandhiji frequently invoked the great women of India like Sita, Savitri, Draupadi and Damayanti in his speeches concerning women and Ahimsa.

 

If we notice any purity in Gandhiji, it is only because of his mother. 

His mother was instrumental in initiating him to a spiritual way of life upholding Ahimsa dharma. 

Annie Besant, Oliver Schreiner, Millie Graham Polock, Margaret Cousins, Sarojini Naidu, and Sushila Nayyar are examples of women who upheld Ahimsa in India and around the world.

How can we forget Kasturba Gandhi when talking about Ahimsa?

 An integral companion to Gandhiji, she was significant in his change of attitude towards women. His change from a dominating husband to a lovable partner and motivator in her life is a story that has to be read by every married man.

 Gandhiji acknowledged his flaw and corrected himself. From then, as said before, he became a ceaseless crusader for women’s dignity. The first cabinet of independent India consisted of two women members only because of Gandhiji’s ideals that were followed religiously. If the world has to prosper, it is not only through the cessation of wars but through the promotion of non-violence or Ahimsa. Women have an important role to play in this regard.

There is no need to look elsewhere for motivation and empowerment when the ‘soul force’ is already innate in her- the force that brings prosperity in a non-violent way. 

Ahimsa should the bedrock principle and philosophy in every person’s life and most importantly in a woman’s life for if she grows violent, a whole generation and its successors disintegrate in morality.

Women have always been on the side of Ahimsa. Certain exceptions may be there, but women should look beyond those vicissitudes and think long-term for solutions to a better tomorrow. It is here where Gandhiji’s lessons should be promptly incorporated.

 

As always, there will be a gang of ‘intellectuals’ who say that Gandhiji’s ideals of Ahimsa are old-fashioned and not pertinent to the modern world. To all those people, I present a testimony: Recently, Ria Sharma, a 26-year-old Leeds University student started a rehabilitation venture for acid attack survivors. 

She said that her prime source of inspiration was Gandhiji. In her words, “He taught us lessons that we will forever use in our lives.” 

This proves that Gandhiji’s ideals continue to inspire women to this date. He also rightly said that if strength refers to moral power, a woman is stronger than a man.

It is only a matter of realization of this simple fact that would make women achieve infinite strength and courage. Ahimsa does not simply mean having a ‘no fight’ attitude but it is the raising of one’s conscience beyond the need to fight. There is immense potential in a woman in this regard.

Life in the Digitalized Era.....

 

At the dawn of the millennium came the news that the whole world is now more a global village with the advent of the WWW. It was once in a lifetime revolution that spurred the digital era into its golden age. This fetish of staying connected… in a web ironically, is supplemented by the smart phone and associated gizmos.

Nowadays, it doesn’t matter if you are awake or asleep- but, if you are online or offline. 

I can sense that the greatest debate among the youth of today is the choice between Android, iOS or Windows.

I also wish to trace to roots of rural India where

A farmer can nowadays strike a deal with a multinational company with the press of a button,

A weaver in Pathamadai can sell his products on e-commerce platforms. and

A Fisherman in Toothukodi can assure a better catch with several weather inputs.

All of these are the gifts of a digitalized society.

Today in a world where Twitter has made everyone into a reporter, I can know what is happening on the other side of the world also…

India has decided to go electronic with its courts. I welcome this humongous initiative. Finally, the millions of cases will get heard and verdict delivered in short time cutting the now avoidable transport charges, printing charges and the carbon footprints associated in the whole process.

I can book a meal right from the comfort of my phone which prioritizes my gustatory delights based on my previous orders. I get it now, why is was named a ‘smart’phone.

Education through the Internet is really a boon for many students. E-books.. though they take away several joys of reading; are great as one may store as many as thousands of such books in a small phone. Earlier, people used to travel millions of km to far away universities to learn science and arts. But nowadays the professors of those universities are available with the click of a subscription!

Imagine how astonished Columbus would feel if I say that he can today navigate to literally anywhere on earth without getting lost! How would our dear Ramanujan today feel… as his theorems are getting proven by super computers within a fraction of a second…

…..or how would  CA aspirants would feel if I say that  all the calculative scrutiny of accounts that they need to do can be done with the help of a robotic assistant. And that too for free !          

                          Quite an amazing world we live in….!

While I’m all praises for this Digitalized lifestyle, let me on the offset remind you of how it has re-shaped our mode of living.

I sense that most of us are de-evloving !  …Right now many are with hunched backs like our great apes!

Not to forget how we forgot meeting our friends face to face this pandemic.

Let me also bring in here a proposition that a large proportion of us are getting ‘virtually blind’. I see many people crossing roads with their heads facing their phones in hands.

I fear someday that those precious prayers to God might be sent to Him with the click of a button!

Or what if electronic agarbattis fill our rooms? Not to forget how youngsters are pleasuring themselves in digital media, while they must be out there exploring the world, anchored in adventure.

When was the last time you penned a letter? Ages ago?? I say with a slight profound insight, that we have lost the thrill of ‘waiting’ for a letter.

In a world where people already wear societal masks, I observe a rapid flux of emojis. So,

we merely ‘exist’ in a digital world. We don’t ‘live’.

Let us for once, feel the warmth of the sun rather than the heat of our phones.

If given a chance, I would support natural stupidity over artificial intelligence. I say this because I am of the opinion that in today’s world, Brains are becoming bigger, but hearts are becoming smaller.

Friends, I recall reading this somewhere..

“In case of fire, please leave the building before posting it on social media !” 

I get the joke now, with this being a necessary placard in many buildings across the world!

The digital economy which aims to be cashless, I feel, is good substitute for large transactions. But the idea of a fully digitalized economy is far from reach even to the so-called highly developed nations. I support an economy, where paper usage is largely reduced and recycled.

I understand the glorification of this digitalized era, but I am more concerned of its cons rather than its pros, because, the former, leaves a more profound impact in our minds and emotions, and if I may say, our bodies also.

I wish the computers don’t invade us in every sphere of life, as it cuts us from the union with other life, as one gets stuck in the world wide WEB. Let us start to think again and limit the computers from doing all the thinking for us.

To sum up..I see digital media as a fire. We can use it to light a lamp or to burn the house we live in. We must use it just as a tool for effortless living, not living in itself.

….Let me……. sign out…….. for now.  

Grey Power : A 19-year-old’s Perspective

 

 

 

I had written this article around two years b4....... for The Hindu Open page Section 

(It didn't make it through the screening process though... 🤷🏻‍♂️ 

Old people have something that I call, - "Innocent Wisdom." 

These unsung heroes and heroines are in their penultimate or ultimate ‘stages’ in their lives. The knowledge garnered, the experiences established and their own understanding of the purpose of life lies dormant in them. These ‘flash upon their inward eyes’ from time to time.

As you grow old, it is said that your intelligence would be hijacked by your hormones! This decreases after a saturation point (=old age). So, the only humans who are actually intelligent are children and old people. The adults...... have no clue where they are! 

This is not to say that adults are unscrupulous but the fact on hand is obvious. 

But yes, children can be very uncontrollable at times and so are old people. Notice how beautifully God/Nature (or whatever) has created this divine connection between them. One could naturally wonder why such a covalent bond exists. 

To relive childhood you say? 

- What about the possibility of playing actively with friends? 

This remains dear reader... a cosmic mystery.

There is an alluring paean of Sudha Murthy titled ‘How I thought my Grandmother to read’. It narrates the story of one ‘illiterate’ Krishtakka who learns the Kannada alphabet from her Granddaughter. She learns it with gusto and then she touches the feet of her Granddaughter on Saraswati Pooja, as a mark of respect to a teacher. 

Our Scriptures tell us to put teachers before God. This is religion, this is culture. What more beautiful can a culture hold?! 

Your knowledge is a treasure that no one can rob. The reason for such a declaration is that knowledge is one of the most powerful tools to empower minds. This knowledge becomes fundamental in reaching greater heights in life. This thinking forms the basis of your character. 

As Dr.Abdul Kalam, a great teacher and seeker himself puts it; ‘Righteousness in heart sowed by teachers germinates and blossoms into a handsome character’.

Old people hate to be dependent:

This stems from their innate desire to be respected in society. But they also expect something. That is.... constant love from people encapsulating them. 

Don’t you think that is also being dependent? 

Well.......

The reason why old people are mysterious to comprehend is that they wish to be treated as peers by younger ones. They like to be poked jokes upon, like to gossip (very much!), but they demand a certain amount of respect also; though they don’t say it right across your face!

Alfred Lord Tennyson in his poem, ‘The Brook’ metaphorizes the brook’s course from its birth to its confluence into the river, to a human’s life. At the end, the brook assumes a peaceful demeanour just like old men and women who know that the best way to win a quarrel is to avoid them.

Old people understand everyone:

 The simple fact is that they have seen all the ‘stages’ of life. They know what the priority becomes at each ‘stage’ (an allusion to Shakespeare’s ‘The Seven Ages’.) As an ensue, they may aid in solving problems that arise due to the generation gap between people of different age groups.

It may sound ironical, but old people are the ones who feel the least generation gap. Think about it..... It will seem obvious. 

- They understand the romance during teenage,

- They understand the struggles of an adult trying to strike a balance between career and family.

 So they have an iota of literacy in comprehending human emotions. Some might be technophobic but they understand the immense importance of these gizmos.

Final Thoughts:

The darker side is scary. 

Old people tend to get depressed as some of their own families wash their hands off them. Old age homes spring up like grass every day. 

This needs to change. 

We need them. We need them to guide us, to lead us and to show us that every dark cloud has a silver lining. 

Trust me, the world needs grey power!