Power Corrupts Absolutely

There is so much talk of corruption in all walks of life – around the world in general and in India in particular – that one may think it as a new phenomenon. Corruption seems to have become a ‘way of life’ in some countries. Media and famous personalities are pointing fingers at people in high places. Everyone is holding ‘holier than thou’ view.

In 1887, Lord Acton said, “Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men.” Lord Acton must have had deep understanding of human psychology while making such a remark. Indeed, corruption is not a new phenomenon. It is as old as the humanity. Each one of us carries seeds of corruption, which may sprout in appropriate circumstances. One may not know about it until thrown in such circumstances. Mahatma Gandhi once said that he would truly find out whether he is non-violent only when he is being shot and his heart is filled with compassion for his assailant.

It is ironic that he, who begins his fight against those in power with clean objectives and concern for masses, becomes like them upon getting the power himself. Power has such a magical power. Several fundamental transformations take place within one’s psyche when one gets power. He gets detached from the very mass that he represented. It becomes nearly impossible to resist the temptation to fall for the flattery that is showered upon him from all sides. All those privileges that once stared at him from a long distance are now at his disposal in abundance. He starts enjoying the very privileges, attention and comfort that he once criticized. Every passing day gives him a sense of immunity against law. With time he becomes so accustomed to this life style that he fears losing it. It is then that he turns to corrupt means of holding onto his position and power. Money is amassed in a hurry to ensure continuation of present lifestyle in the absence of this position and power. The question, therefore, is not who is corrupt, but who can guard against his weakness for corruption. Who can stay in tune with his conscience when strong winds of temptations are blowing all around him? Next time we point a finger at others, let’s not forget that the other three fingers are pointing at ourselves. World will be a better place only if more people starts minding their own business in ethical manner.

Quarter life at Crossroads

The article, “Quarter Life Crisis” (Wknd. 5 Nov 2010) was bang on target in highlighting the dilemma of today’s young generation. Advanced education and liberal upbringing should have enabled them to become anyone they wanted. Ever increasing resources of the world should have helped them achieve what they wanted with ease. Alas, things didn’t turn out this way. The root of the problem appears to be their not knowing ‘What they want’. Hence, transient temptations from every direction and instant pleasures are hard to resist. And yet, hardly anyone seems to be happy. Those in such a dilemma may take consolation from the fact that everyone before them has passed through this stage in varying degree. Further, I wish to share some thoughts on the ‘Way Forward’:

• Find what you are most passionate about doing consistently. Your definite chief aim in life can be found around this activity.
• Understand that mind is a great servant but a terrible master. It works best when instructed. Hence, use its power to your advantage by directing it to that in the world which would further your chosen goal. Don’t allow multitude offerings of the world, including Internet, Facebook, Blackberry, TV, etc. tempt you into mindless wondering. Use all of them with a purpose. Always ask, “Why am I doing this?”
• Until you find your definite chief aim in life, do whatever you are currently doing to the best of your ability. This will add dignity to the work and give you the much needed satisfaction and happiness.
• Understand that better opportunities will become visible only when your mind is relaxed. An anxious mind cannot attract any worthwhile opportunity. You will be locked-up in a Catch-22 situation.
• Never stop celebrating. The fact that you are alive is a reason enough to celebrate. There is a place and purpose for every atom in the universe. Why should you compare with or emulate anyone else? What a needle can do, a sword can’t. There is a seed of uniqueness hidden in everyone. Your only business in life is to discover it and express in its full glory.

Self-fulfilling Prophecies

It was nice reading a cute list of nice things that can happen to us, but don’t (“As good as it gets” Weekend, 22.10.2010). Grief is a wasted energy, but we often indulge in it. While blaming others for our miseries, we forget that everything in this world is controlled by the law of causation. We are in our current state of health, mind and circumstances due to our own past actions and decisions that we took or didn’t. Similarly, our present decisions and actions will determine what sort of future we shall inherit.

I believe that we are all victims of self-fulfilling prophecies. All the while, we are talking to ourselves in our minds. This rambling of thoughts, whether intentional or not, act as auto-suggestions to our sub-conscious mind. Our sub-conscious mind is like a giant computer which processes every suggestion it receives and translates into reality with the help of nature’s infinite power, without bothering whether the suggestion is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.

Thus, a hopeful person sees opportunities all around him and reaps success, while a pessimist keeps missing them and meets with failures. So let’s first watch what we say in our minds and then watch what we do in the world. Henry Ford has rightly said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.”

Why Read Fiction?

Iman Kurdi has raised an important topic with reference to the French writer Charles Dantzig’s book entitled: “Why Read?” (“Why do we love and need to read fiction? Here is why!”, KT, 12th Oct 2010). People often carry guilt of having wasted valuable time on reading fictional stories. Many consider reading a book of fiction as escaping from real life. If the work of fiction is cheap and intended to arouse only base feelings, then I agree with such observations. However, classic works of fiction are entirely different ball-game.

Life is nothing but a stream of experiences. Birth, death and everything in between, whether success or failure, are just experiences. Each experience shapes our personality, thoughts, habits, character and destiny. A life is rich and fulfilling if it is filled with a variety of valuable experiences. However, it is not possible for anyone to gather the entire gamut of experiences from different walks and eras in one life-time. A work of fiction fills this gap.

But for Shakespeare’s works of fiction, I wouldn’t have been able to experience the Victorian era and intense human emotions. But for authors like Robert Ludlum, Fredrick Forsyth, Alistair MacLean, Jack Higgins, Ken Follett and Ian Fleming, I wouldn’t have got the thrilling and chilling experiences of cold-war espionage. But for the engrossing works of Arthur Hailey, I would have remained ignorant of the intricate worlds of Aviation, Healthcare and Hotels. But for authors like Premchand and Sarat Chandra, I wouldn’t have experienced the value-based rustic rural life of Indian villages. Authors of fictional work create stories out of their own life experiences, beliefs and acute observations of the world around them. Thus, they are able to transport their readers into different make-believe worlds where readers can enjoy the experience of living those worlds. We unconsciously pick-up our role models from these stories and start emulating their character and ideals in our own specific walks of life. Ayn Rand’s book entitled, “Atlus Shrugged” continues to have a major impact on American society fifty years after its publication. Based on the principles of morality in public and corporate dealings, this work of fiction is being referred to by Americans as prescription to cure the current economic crises. It was rightly said by someone, “There is nothing true in History except name and date, while there is nothing false in a fiction except name and date.”

Comprehensive Website on Bapu

We seem to have forgotten Bapu’s Birthday on 2nd Oct. No TV channel showed any special program on him or his work. No newspaper brought out any special supplement. No new stamp was issued in his honour. No new bridge or road was named after him. No friend sent any sms to celebrate his birthday.

Then I came across this great website on Bapu, which was forwarded to me by a non-Indian. Bapu, we Indians may have forgotten you, but the world has not and will not. Long live your name and teachings.

Click on the link below :

http://www.mkgandhi-sarvodaya.org/

Looking for an ideal Life-partner

It was heartening to read a young man’s views on marriage (“Arranging love marriages: A fine balance”, by Aditya Mahajan, KT, 22nd Sep 2010). Love at first sight happens in stories and movies. In life, we are often attracted towards certain individuals. This attraction may become so strong for a certain individual that we may confuse it with ‘love at first sight’. In reality, more often than not, it is still an attraction based on certain strong sensory input, which often clouds judgment. No wonder, such love is ‘blind’ and the person is said to have ‘fallen’ in love. However, life cannot be lived with such blind love. It is important to establish that the attraction leading to certain ‘special’ feeling is beyond physical attributes and base interests. Subtler the source of this attraction, longer it will last. Marriage is not merely a union of two individuals; it is a fusion of many more things such as aspirations, values, life-styles, likes & dislikes, families and even cultures. Such fusion is not possible if both partners are rigid. Flexibility is the cornerstone of this fusion.

Looking for an ideal life-partner is similar to looking for utopia on earth. Since no one can claim to be perfect, how can one even attempt to find an ideal life-partner? The best one can achieve is a good match. For this, however, you have to start with yourself. An accurate assessment of your own strengths and weaknesses would help in establishing realistic criteria for your life-partner. While listing the criteria, you must include all aspects of the desired match, including family and society that you wish to live with. These criteria must be prioritized in order to give due weightage to the important ones. Finally, when you come across a matching partner, listen to your heart more than the mind. Mind has the tendency to trap you in the state of ‘analysis-paralysis’. It will always throw doubts on whatever you decide, while heart will always show you the right path.

A man marries a woman, not a wife. He must make a wife out of this woman through patience and understanding. Similarly, the woman must make a husband out of the man after marriage. The path of marriage is that of team building – starting with excitement, turning into a storm, leading to normalization and finally understanding. Love is what one discovers in this journey. As the understanding deepens, so does the love. How else would you describe the deep bonding between two aged people who have lost their physical attributes to attract each other? They are ready to give everything for each other without any trace of expectation. Love is not blind for them. It becomes the light in which they see everything clearly. They don’t fall in love. They rise to the pinnacle of love.

Pride of Possessing Books

Anthony F. D’Silva evoked nostalgic memories of yesteryears with his article “Is it time to bury the old tomes of knowledge?” (KT, 20th Sep 2010). I was particularly touched by his history professor’s purchasing an Encyclopedia Britannica instead of a car, when faced with a choice between the two. I wonder how many of us would have done this then as well as now. Books have been known to be our best friends, as they silently wait for us to be taken on a mind’s journey which enriches our lives. However, books are no longer the only tools of acquiring knowledge. Internet has almost completely overtaken books in so far as searching for any knowledge is concerned. But, how about the pride of possessing good books? Have we lost that too?

While acknowledging the value of instant access to any knowledge by the click of a mouse-button, I believe that we would never lose physical touch with books. Despite the Internet access to online Dictionaries and Thesauruses, I keep Webster’s Dictionary handy on my table. The joy of looking for various meanings of a word and its usage in a dictionary is unparallel. I still carry many books on my bookshelf from my younger days. Oldest one is Bhargava’s Anglo-Hindi Dictionary (in tattered condition) that was passed on to me by my elder cousin who was my role model when I was just entering my teens. I vividly remember the time when I used to feel certain honour in visiting Calcutta’s National Library. Scouring for some hidden treasures amidst heaps of old books on the pavements of College Street, Esplanade and Free School Street was a regular pastime. I remember becoming member of a readers’ club floated by Hind Pocket books through which I could purchase new books of my choice at discounted price. Waiting for the postman with the VPP (Value Payable Post) of my facourite new books was filled with some subtle joy. The pain of paying from my hard-saved pocket money was more than compensated by the look and smell of new books. Putting protective cover on every newly purchased book was an exercise of immense value. Personalising the book with a sentence (“This Book runs under the sweet care of…”) in the best of my handwriting on the first page was a matter of great satisfaction. Underlining quotations or important sentences and writing my own notes on the page-margins of the book was my way of making interactions with the author. Preserving books autographed by the authors or gifted by some close friends with sweet messages carried immense emotional value.

Can Internet and e-books ever provide these joys? Can they ever substitute the intellectually charged environment and smell of a well stocked library or your own study-room, where your thoughts develop wings? Can they ever become your trusted friends whom you can reach in your privacy without any electronic aid? No, I strongly believe that there will never be a time to bury the old tomes of knowledge.

Awakening Corporate Conscience

Global economy is still struggling to rise after the great collapse in 2008, despite so many stimulus packages introduced by different countries, heavily borrowing money from future generations. It is, as if, we are trying to revive a person who has suffered a massive stroke. Indeed, a business corporation breaths and lives just like a human being. It is similarly made-up of a body, mind and soul. It similarly gets sick when different organs of its body stops functioning in unison and the mind falls out of harmony with the soul. When we continue to ignore symptoms of any sickness, it is only a matter of time before a serious blow is dealt to the corporate health bringing miseries to its stakeholders. The recent economic meltdown, I believe, is the cumulative result of ignoring the role of the corporate conscience. We can make more stringent laws. But people would still find loopholes in them and exploit them. The only most effective step is to awaken corporate conscience.

Major corporate houses don’t seem to have learnt this lesson yet, as evidenced in the case of BP’s catastrophic incident of the Deepwater Horizon rig in the Gulf of Mexico. We can see ample examples of ignoring this lesson in many organizations around us. Have organizations learnt to create a sense of belongingness among its employees? Are corporate goals beyond just making money? Do they also embrace principles of service to humanity and protection of the environment? Are employees motivated enough to keep corporate goals above their individual greed? Does the organization take good care of its employees’ personal and professional development, which is unquestionably the most important motivator (even more than the money)? Is the management able to lead from the front, presenting themselves as role models and setting examples of uncorrupted service? Is there a transparent system of rewarding employees for their work without any discrimination? Is there a system for creating corporate memory based on individual employee’s lessons learnt, so that past mistakes are never repeated by any one? Do employees work according to well-defined uniform policies, standards & procedures across all functions? And last, but not the least, is there a corporate conscience which every employee can relate with? I wonder how many corporate houses today can boast of saying “YES” to these questions.

Understanding Body Language

Vikram Bohra’s piece, “The NRI Nod of Dissent” (Wknd. 20th Aug 2010) humorously presented nodding nuances of Indians. True, it is confusing when you see one shaking his head from left to right and the other from up to down, you are not sure who is saying ‘yes’ and who is saying ‘no’. However funny or frustrating this may appear, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to change such aspects of body language. If one spoken language can acquire multiple accents from different parts of the world, then what chance we have to standardize various body languages that are so deeply rooted in their respective cultures? And, why should we even try to standardize? Isn’t variety the spice of life? Wouldn’t it be better to understand different accents and body languages rather than try to change them?

When we understand a body language, we also gain insight of the related culture. Although we are all humans, each one of us communicates differently, as if each is from a different planet. Most, if not all, interpersonal conflicts are rooted in the misunderstanding of each other’s view points. Every language, however perfect and refined, has inherent limitations that may distort any communication. Hence, it is vital to first connect with the other person’s mind through unbiased compassionate attitude. When a harmony is thus established between two minds, any communication – even with flawed language – will succeed.

I am hurt

A dear friend of mine, Debasis Chatterjee, wrote the following letter to a group of friends (me included) expressing his hurt from the current change of priorities in people's lives. Please feel free to share your thoughts connected to this post.

People may blame us for 'generation gap' kind of talk. But, it is true that the prioities have changed over time.

Hindi cinemas and TV soap's have a lot to blame. And our shameful desire to copy from the West, be it dress or music or culture at large. (side note on this act of 'copy'ing. It is very selective, as we do not copy the good things from the West, such as their willingness to do hard work and general sincerity about work. In general, they do not have to be supervised.)

The priorities have changed for most people's lives. I suspect that we no more have genuine teachers instilling good values and foundation of Indian history (such as Netaji, Gandhiji, Vivekananda) in young students' minds. Quiz questions these days will have topics from Bollywood rather than Indian history or mythology. Silly. Republic Day or Independence Day programmes in the school premises were much awaited for by young students. I vividly recall our Geography teacher drawing India's map on a board in front of all of us and that would set the stage for the Headmaster to come, do flag hoisting and then give us a great speech.

People are in the rat race for material values. Many have to succumb to corruption, just to meet ever increasing demands of himself, wife and his children. Flat TV, laptop, expensive car, expensive dress and shoes - the list is endless.

People are selfish. How often do we hear of selfless acts? People are down to atomic families and cannot imagine having guests more than just a short visit. They always think of 'Atithi, kob jayoge?'. It was commonplace in Kolkata in earlier days to have most families to have long-term guests from ancestral village place, either studying in university or working in an office. That was so much accepted in joint family structures where people shared or rather cared to share.

Do we find dedicated teachers any more? My Maths teacher from 'Hindu School', who was reputed to be one of the best in the city in my time, did not even charge me for his services of private tuition for the period when Naxaite movements handicapped him from coming over to my place to provide tuition. He instead offered a few selected students to come to his Nebutala 'mess' (that is where he stayed as a bachelor). We would pay him visits from time to time, and get some quality time from Late Baren-babu free of charge.

Do not get me wrong. There are still good acts happening here and there, even now. But, it appears to be exception than 'order of the day'.

Any comments are welcome to this trail of thoughts.

Cancer of Corruption

The ongoing sad saga of corruption surrounding the coming Commonwealth Games in India is a matter of deep anguish for all sports lovers. It is appalling to see dirty secrets tumbling out of the closets every day. Worst of all, no one seems to be taking the responsibility. In fact, the oft repeated blame game has started, while the start date for the real games is fast approaching like a bullet train. I have often wondered why there is no corruption in the animal kingdom or any other creations of the nature. Why only human kingdom carries the cancer of corruption?

Perhaps, the answer lies in the fact that we humans are unique species. We are endowed with the power of thinking and choosing, which no other creations of nature possess. But, this power is like a double edged sword. We can make or mar our lives with this power. When our focus is upon getting something without working for it and without making the necessary sacrifices, we are tempted to use this power in finding and using short-cuts. However, history is testimony to the fact that no one ever enjoyed the fruits of corrupt practices. Every corrupt person had to ultimately pay the price of his deeds. And yet, no one seems to be learning this lesson. So long as there is a selfish desire in anyone, there is a potential for corruption. That is why we must inculcate higher principles and values, which will protect us from falling when temptations run high.

I sincerely hope that people with focus on selfless service for the nation would come forward to take control of the coming Commonwealth games in India and make us proud of our nation before it is too late.

Pen is mightier than Sword

The article “Clever games media plays” (KT August 5, 2010) was thought-provoking. True, the media is no longer the voice of voiceless. It now plays God, “creating” and “making” news where none exists. In many cases, it has become mere mouthpiece of powerful politicians and rich industrial houses. The line between “real” and “paid” news is blurring. What was once a sacred profession, run by passionate people burning with the desire of presenting the society in its true image, is fast losing its sanctity. Are we readers condemned to suffer? Similar views were also expressed in the recently held Ramnath Goenka Memorial debate (sponsored by The Express Group and NDTV) ending with a consensus on taking serious steps to correct this situation.

I believe that “ethics” are at the core of every profession and business. I also believe that there should be no difference between “personal” and “professional” ethics. Whatever ethics one follows in personal life, gets reflected in one’s professional life as well. So, the correction must start at the personal level. I implore every media person to conduct the following self-enquiries before reporting any news:

• Will I proudly face my mother after reporting this news?

• Will I be able to proudly declare later to my children what I am about to report?

• Will I be able to sleep peacefully tonight after reporting this news?

There is no harm in media running its profession as a “business”. After all, money is required to run a media establishment. However, greed should not have any place in this business. A great responsibility lies on the shoulders of every media establishment. What they do may have far reaching effects on the society. Do give some space for the politicians and the industrialists to say what they wish to say. But, please don’t present their ‘views’ as ‘news’. Do show the ugly side of society, where serious corrections are needed. But, also find and reveal the finer aspects, in greater proportions, that will inspire the readers and make their days beautiful. Indeed, pen is mightier than sword. Please use it with great care.

Illusive Vanity

Bikram Vohra may have humorously touched a raw nerve in all readers (“No one’s Indispensable”, Wknd. 16 July, 2010). We all carry this illusive notion in varying degree that we are indispensable. However, there are some who have convinced themselves that world would come to a naught without them. It is not uncommon to come across such people at work place or in social circle. I am particularly amused by those who would always find an excuse of being busy when invited, but would express their deep hurt when not invited. When you call them for a friendly chat, they would start telling you who all dignitaries they met and what all important tasks they accomplished. In the company of such people, you start doubting your own worth.

Feeling worthless and feeling indispensable are two sides of the same coin. There is no need to feel either. Each one of us is endowed with a unique talent and each one of us is important for the creation in his/her own way, however small it may be. Our pride should come from doing whatever we do to the best of our abilities, not from talking about it.

Blame Game

Two possibilities arise whenever a mistake is committed – ‘learn’ from the mistake or ‘blame’ someone (or oneself) for the mistake. One can exercise only one of these two possibilities at a time, not both. We love to play blame game because it is an easier option. No corrective effort required and no old habits to be changed. Just hurl some stones of blames and carry on with ‘business as usual’. But, these stones of blames cause hurt – sometimes deep wounds that do not heal for a long time. When we blame others for our mistakes, we create ill will around us. When we blame ourselves, we destroy our self-esteem. Self-condemnation is akin to self-pity. We somehow seek solace in self-pity. In extreme cases, it turns into suicidal tendency leading to disastrous results. What we don’t realize is that, by playing blame game, we close all doors of learning and growing.

Indeed, becoming aware of one’s mistake or weakness is a great moment of celebration – not condemnation, because this moment may open door for learning and growing. You can only move from where you actually are, not from where you pretend to be. Your acknowledgement of mistake is the acceptance of your current status, from where any change is possible. Your denial creates an illusory relief and you perpetually live a life of pretension. On the other hand, your acceptance brings real relief and, in the relaxed frame of mind, you clearly see the path to learning and growing. You are also guaranteed not to repeat the same mistake as you would have grown out of it. There is nothing wrong in making mistakes. To err is human. But to constantly and consciously repeat a mistake is living unintelligently – much below the human dignity.

Authentic Living

Reading about Kiran Bedi in the Wknd. (“Sharpshooter”, 21.05.2010) was a thrilling experience. I was reminded of my meeting her way back in 2001, when she visited Abu Dhabi to launch her critically acclaimed biography, “I dare”. While getting her autograph on a copy of this book, I asked who her idol was. She replied, “Mahatma Gandhi.” Notwithstanding her violence-dominated Police profession, she explained how she always looked for ‘goodness’ even in hard-core criminals and thus could maintain a non-violent attitude in her life. Her enthusiasm was infectious and I felt as if I was standing next to a power-house of infinite energy. No doubt, even now she works 24 x 7. I am inspired by her statement, “There is no place where I have to be – there are only places where I need to be and ought to be.” She is truly a shining example of ‘authentic living’. I wonder how many of us can also say, “My work is my holiday.”

Handling Work Stress

Mr. T Ram Kishore was surely not serious while suggesting to ‘stop with this enthusiasm business’ and carry on working under stress (“So who’s happy in his job?”, KT May 19, 2010). Enthusiasm may not pay bills, but it fills you with life. Stress is the worst silent killer of modern society. Almost all major diseases emanate from stress. But, we don’t have to give in; we can effectively deal with it.

When a piece of metal wire is bent, it comes under stress. There is now an internal pressure within the wire to return to its original shape. Similarly, whenever human mind deviates from its natural state, it becomes stressful. Stress, indeed, is an internal cry for returning to natural state. Our natural state is that of serenity, calmness and relaxation.

We are most relaxed and happy when we do what we love to do. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have this luxury. Our work is somehow forced upon us due to reasons such as: financial, family, legality, skill limitations or just going with the flow. Hence, the only way out is to love whatever we do and do it to the best of our abilities, as doing is the only thing under our control. We should also guard against developing an unconscious habit of complaining, as it prevents new opportunities from approaching us. Only a relaxed mind has the ability to scan far and wide for better opportunities. A relaxed mind is inherently in receptive mode, while a complaining mind is inherently in rejection mode.

We are entirely responsible for our own stress. Outside world will be what it is. It cannot change itself to the liking of each individual. People, places, weather and situations are what they are – not under our individual controls. Hence, the first step in handling stress is to have ‘realistic’ (if not ‘zero’) expectation from the world. Stress automatically starts building-up inside us when ‘we don’t do what we ought to do’ or ‘do what we ought not to do’ in a given situation. It starts like a spark and, if not immediately checked, it soon engulfs our entire psychosomatic personality. Therefore, it is vital to be acutely aware of its initial signs, such as: heat in the head, increased pulse-rate, losing control over speech, trembling, etc. When such signs are noticed, we should mentally withdraw from the scene immediately and fine-tune our expectations. Deep breathing, yoga, playing sports, reading favourite books, listening to favourite music and socializing with close friends are well known effective stress busters. Indulging in food and other addictions are the easiest diversions that provide temporary relief, but do much more harm in the long run and hence must be avoided.

There are situations when we feel ourselves against the wall with no way out. Again, it is because of our own narrow vision under the circumstances. Asking questions like, “what is the worst thing that can happen?” actually calms down the mind and allows us to focus on finding alternatives. It is important to have meaningful goals in life, but being obsessed with them is sowing seeds of stress. We must be natural in all our actions under all circumstances. We must also trust that nature will provide us whatever we need and whenever we need for our survival and growth. We should remain receptive to nature’s bounty and always follow our own conscience. Anything forced is not forceful – only stressful.

According to Chuang Tzu, “Easy is right. Begin right and you are easy. Continue easy and you are right. The right way to go easy is to forget the right way and forget that the going is easy.”

Whenever I am faced with a stressful situation, I often turn to this prayer:

“God, grant me the

Serenity to accept the things I cannot change…

Courage to change the things I can…and

Wisdom to know the difference.”

Future of Books

In his article “Read the latest iPad?” (KT, Wednesday, April 7, 2010), Marc Aronson has asked a question; “Does the arrival of this new gizmo mean the end of books as we know it?” My answer is “No, Never.”

Besides the issues sighted by Marc, e-books suffer from many other disadvantages. To start with, you need a gadget that runs on power. What if it runs out of power or simply breaks-down just when you are deeply engrossed in reading? Small screen size will put further constraint on the already failing eye-sights of aged readers. What about those readers who are not skilled at operating electronic gadgets? How long can you keep these e-books readable at the current rate of obsolescence in technology, unless, of course, you keep changing the gadget? E-book format itself may go through a revolutionary change in a not so distant future.

Then, there are other socio-psychological constraints with e-books. Can you read e-books at all locations, all weathers and all circumstances? How will you derive the pleasure of lending or borrowing an e-book? How are you going to highlight, underline important paras or make notes in the margin space of the e-book? How will you obtain author’s autograph or gift the e-book with your own hand-written message that may survive many generations with nostalgic memories? How would you put attractive covers on an e-book? How can a visitor to your house get impressed with your collection of e-books? Would it still be possible to make new acquaintances by picking an e-book that was accidently dropped by someone on the pathway? And, last but not the least, can you preserve a flower between the pages of an e-book rekindling sweet memories of the past?

Luck Factor

Recently, I stumbled upon the research findings of a psychologist on ‘why some people are always in the right place at the right time, while others consistently experience ill fortune.’ He conducted a simple experiment. He gave same number of both lucky and unlucky people copies of the same newspaper, and asked them to look through it and tell him how many photographs were inside. He had secretly placed a large message halfway through the newspaper saying, “Tell the experimenter you have seen this and win $250.” This message took up half of the page and was written in type that was more than two inches high. It was staring everyone straight in the face, but the unlucky people tended to miss it and the lucky people tended to spot it.

He concluded that unlucky people are generally more tense than lucky people, and this anxiety disrupts their ability to notice the unexpected. As a result, they miss opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through newspapers determined to find certain types of job adverts and miss other types of jobs.

Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there rather than just what they are looking for. His research finally revealed the elusive “Luck Factor” based on the following four steps:

1. Listen to your gut instincts – they are normally right.

2. Be open to new experiences breaking your normal routine.

3. Spend a few moments each day remembering things that went well.

4. Visualize yourself being lucky before an important meeting or telephone call.

Luck, indeed, is an intersection of opportunity and preparedness.

We The People

Wherever a mass problem or a wider issue exists, there is a need for a leader. Common people are too shy or too busy with their own everyday struggles. But, they can easily gather behind the one who appears to talk about their welfare and gives voice to their collective woes. A true leader will strive to solve their problem at the earliest. Indeed, he carries a clear vision of the intended solution. However, no sooner the problem is solved, the need for the leader also disappears. This is the catch.

Having accomplished the mission successfully, a true leader will move on to other things in life which may or may not give him similar mass recognition. But, many leaders cannot face such an end. Hence, they turn into either politicians or self-proclaimed leaders of aggressive organisations fighting for public cause through violence. Both know that their survival depend upon keeping the problem alive and the issue burning. No wonder then that so many issues in the world are still open even after many decades and many so-called leaders.

I refuse to believe that common people are interested in any kind of violence or prolonging any problem. No common man was happy at the killing of an eleven-day old baby by the mob recently in Srinagar. It is, therefore, entirely up to the common mass to recognise a true leader and reject the calls of so-called leaders with vested interests. It is now high time that ‘we the people’ stop becoming pawns in the hands of such self-proclaimed leaders. Failing this, common mass would remain condemned to the destiny of unending problems and continue to bring more misery upon itself.

Is Contentment still a virtue?

Throughout human civilization, it has been said that the key to happiness is ‘contentment’. And yet hardly anyone believes in this maxim today. Modern management schools go to the extent of preaching the virtue of having some stress called ‘good stress’ for progress. They argue if you are satisfied with what you already have then why to work for progress. Most of the current young generation agree. They feel that their present unhappiness is the fire that keeps them going. In the field of material pursuit, it appears logical too. But, is the progress all about amassing material wealth, earning name, fame, and power? If it were so, why did many of those who achieved all of this also died unsatisfied and unhappy? We need to properly understand certain laws of life.

There is a place and purpose for every atom in the universe. Everyone is born with some unique talent which must fully manifest itself in one’s lifetime. Those, whose unique talents flowered in their lifetime, lived a meaningful life and died with smiles on their lips. Material success for them was incidental not intentional. Contentment is not about what you have. It is about your mental attitude towards what you have. World is like a newspaper catering to everyone’s tastes. We should use the world’s resources like the newspaper readers who read only what interests them. No reader imitates the taste of other readers. Hence, all readers are content with what they read from the same newspaper. But, in life, we are often found imitating others, disregarding our own deepest interest and natural urges. This is how we lose our grip over contentment. We must realise that nature provides for all that we need at any given time to manifest our hidden unique talents. However, we build our list of complaints by focusing on what we need to imitate others. A complaining mind can never rest in peace and never perform a perfect action. An imperfect action can never guarantee success. Frustration and more complaints naturally result from such failures. We are ultimately caught-up in the vicious circle of chasing happiness through a restless mind. Contentment, therefore, is the greatest virtue for mankind. It is abundantly clear in the nature. Every flower is happily busy in spreading its own unique fragrance. Every bird is happily singing in its own unique tone.

Journalist's Moral Dilemma

An incident recently dominated all Indian news media. The incident depicted a police officer, brutally attacked by some criminal, lying in a pool of blood and crying out for help while important ministers, their security personnel and other people standing as mute spectators. The police officer later died. This incident was captured on camera by some unknown journalist who happened to be there. This has kicked-off heated debate among intelligentsia. What was the moral duty of that journalist – saving the life or taking the picture?

There is no consensus on one answer. My take on this situation is that the unknown journalist was not thrilled to take those pictures. Perhaps he knew perfectly well that it was impossible for him alone to save this life. Indeed, he was filled with rage at the sight of such an ensemble of people simply watching him bleed to death. So, he did what he was trained to do. He captured this horrible sight on camera and shared it with the world. As a result, we are having this debate. Sensitivity of those present on the scene is now being questioned. The general apathy of the masses is being deeply felt. High sense of empathy with such victims is being invoked. Many of us, who watched these pictures, have resolved not to be mute spectators. The unknown journalist obviously failed in his moral duty to save this life. But, perhaps, he has managed to save many of the future lives under similar circumstances.

Creating Classics

Pico Iyer’s article on the life and classic works of Somerset Maugham was no less than a classic piece itself (Wknd. 15th Jan 2010). According to Cambridge University, only those works of literature are considered ‘classics’ which are in publication and widely read even after 40-50 years of their first publication. It is because a classic work has a life of its own. It finds roots in the hearts of its readers. Generations after generations continue to derive inspirations from such works.

Creation of a classic is an act of divinity. It starts with an idea taking root in the author’s mind. With time, that idea gathers so much momentum that the author can no longer hold back his pen. While pouring his thoughts on the paper, he relives the lives of each character. He delves deep into his own experiences while painting the vast canvas of his plot. A point comes when he becomes a mere medium through which words tumble out from some far away source. He emerges from every writing session more relaxed and rejuvenated. His entire focus remains on truthful expression of his thoughts and feelings. He does not care whether his work will be ever published or read by anyone. And yet, such works would never gather dust. An honest expression from the heart of an author will find way to reach the hearts of his readers. We are never tired of reading such classic works. Indeed, the joy of reading doubles with every repetition. Authors like Somerset are the testimony of Buddha’s words, “Your work is to discover your work, and then with all your heart to give yourself to it.”

War and Peace

After witnessing the total destruction in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of World War II, God decided to have a teleconference with America, Russia and England who had emerged as the most powerful nations on earth. First He asked Russia what they want so as to stop the recurrence of another war. Russia replied, “Being communist, we don’t believe in You. However, if you are as powerful as claimed by your believers then please annihilate America from the Earth. Thereafter there will be peace on earth.” Disappointed with the Russian answer, God turned to America and repeated His question. America said, “We believe in Your power. If you really wish to see peace on earth, please wipe-out the name of Russia from the map of the earth.” By now God was thoroughly disgusted. With flickering hope of peace, God now turned to England and posed the same question. England most humbly replied, “We don’t have any wish of ours. Just fulfill the wishes of both America and Russia.”

This is surely a joke. But, the message is real. We are told that a ‘war’ is being fought to bring ‘peace’. But, each war leads to yet another war somewhere else. Manufacturing arms and ammunitions is perhaps the biggest industry in the world. What would happen to this industry without wars? What is it that drives humans to go into wars? We seem to have forgotten the meaning of co-existence. This is perhaps because we are confused on the real meaning of ‘winning’. Every outward desire to win is a sign of some defeat within. Greater the urge to conquer the world, emptier the person is from within. However, the fact remains that no amount of external conquests can fill the void within. Hence, all efforts ought to be directed inward. We must fight fiercest war within with our own weaknesses, negative tendencies and wrong ideas.

Recently, while visiting a village fare in India, I chanced into a small gathering where a young poet was reciting his fresh poetry. One couplet struck a deep chord in me. Roughly translated, it means, “No one is eager to tread the path of righteousness. But everyone is ready to fight in the name of God.”

Let’s welcome the New Year and the New Decade with a resolve to give peace a genuine chance.