25 August 2011

The angry elephant has now begun to run free













  • Why do powerful elephants tethered by just a a slender chain remain calm, peaceful and productive?
  • What allows a relatively puny man to control the giant? 
  • Why does the elephant not break free which it can very easily do?







To domesticate and control the fiercest of animals, man breaks the spirit of the animal. The mahout ties the baby elephant up and no amount of resistance or opposition helps.
The calf is also beaten selectively and kept hungry for extended periods. 
At last the calf develops a fearful and submissive attitude towards its master. Any deemed act of opposition will be met with pain and torture. 
The small chain becomes a powerful psychological restraint.  The same technique used by despotic /exploitative rulers and corrupt administrators to break the spirit of the people that they rule or seek to control.






Emasculating the population, autocratic and thus arrogant rulers do pretty much what they want, even so under the guise of a democracy. Sadly this has been the case in India since past five decades.





The problem with corruption and exploitation is that it feeds on itself continuously and always spirals downward and things keep getting worse until something snaps.
Similarly when an elephant has been pushed too hard and is made to work perversely and harder just to enrich its master, its enormous patience gets exhausted. It then rebels against its  own mahout and attacks and kills him and also destroys all those structures and people directly associated with the mahout.





The noose of injustice, bad governance and exploitation by our own leaders and government has been tightening steadily but has now accelerated greatly in the recent past.  The liberalised Indian economy provides great opportunity for the development of our economy but also the perfect way for corrupt people to launder their money and bring it back into India through various front entities.

How else can one explain Mauritius with a current GDP of US$ 8 Billion investing US$ 205 Billion in a decade in India alone? So rampant and insatiable has been the greed of many of our officials and elected representative that it is open and shameless and even considered a badge of honour to be seen to be corrupt.

Like the elephant the people of India have broken their chains. They have rediscovered a true spirit thought to be long broken and dead.

On the proposed Lokpal bill, our cunning political leaders and the arrogant government still see Appu the tame elephant  which can be ignored and at worst be threatened into submission.  

The trumpeting is getting louder by the day as the elephant is walking free and unchallenged in the middle of the city, as yet unsure what to do.
The  Jan Lokpal bill need to be discussed and a broad consensus has to be evolved for an adequate and effective anti corruption solution but ignoring the writing on the wall and showing utter disdain and contempt for the people's popular expression is fraught with grave dangers.  What Anna Hazare has done is, reignited a spirit into the Indian people.  


The elephant has realised just  a bit of its immense power. It must be handled with fairness and respect that it  justifiably demands. The mahout which is the government must realise its folly and make amends and try to win back its elephant. In spite of all the provocation the elephant is merely running free and only showing its displeasure. If the politicians and the government do not respect the elephant and enrage it further, they are in real danger of getting grievously hurt if not mortally, much like the arrogant and foolish mahouts. 


The government has a few draconian laws and also enormous firepower in its police force and its para military. They believe they can bring down the angry elephant. With their finger on the trigger all they are looking is for an excuse to put down the elephant. It is not inconceivable for the politicians to engineer riots, but that may just enrage a giant herd of elephants.

History shows that evil and corrupt rulers look their strongest just before they collapse.


11 August 2011

It is not your fault



Unable to find a good job after studying law in England Mahatma Gandhi ji in the year 1890 took up  a job in South Africa. At that time apartheid*was at its peak and in the gross injustice inflicted by man on man  Gandhi ji found his element.


A great soul does more than touch the person, the Mahatma transforms. Ordinary souls or 'athma' achieve greatness when they are able to connect to God or 'Par -athma' and absorb some of God's infinite greatness.  They achieve spiritual strength and they become fearless, yet compassionate, wise and yet humble, this permits them to transform the world as we know it.


Those who are so blessed also attract people and resources almost automatically, even more so because they need them but do not plead for them.  Gandhi ji had many supporters and one of his great admirers and followers was a German industrialist named Hermann Kallenbach.  In 1912 Kallenbach bought eleven hundred acres of land near Johannesburg and gave them to Gandhi ji, who founded a settlement called Tolstoy Farm ( Gandhi ji was a great admirer of the Russian writer Leo Tolstoy and they corresponded frequently.)



One day Gandhi ji, had to travel to Johannesburg for some work and the car that they used at Tolstoy farm needed to be serviced at the garage. He asked his son Manilal to accompany him to town. He instructed Manilal that while Gandhi ji attended to some affairs Manilal should get the car serviced and then return to pick him up for the journey back home at 5:30 pm.


After the young Manilal had delivered the car to the garage he realised that he  had lots of time to spare. Wandering around he saw that there was some sort of entertainment  show going on. Manilal bought a ticket and so enjoyed the afternoon that he soon lost track of time.

As the show ended Manilal panicked as he saw that the time was 6:00 pm he rushed to pick up the car and Gandhi ji. In a response most of us are familiar with, when Manilal arrived to pick up his father he glibly lied, that he was late because the folks at the garage could not finish the servicing in time.



Manilal not yet a father could not appreciate the fact that parents worry when things do not go as planned with their children. Gandhi ji at 5:30 pm had called up the garage to find out if the car was ready and was told that the car was awaiting delivery since 4:00 pm.

Gandhi ji looked at his son with dismay and said; " That you must lie deeply saddens me. However I do not blame you, it is all my fault. There must have been some lapses or deficiencies from my side and I must have made some great mistake in your upbringing." "I will have to atone for my mistake  and I wonder what I must do." Gandhi ji continued.


Manilal had been exposed, and was apologetic, but Gandhi ji refused to yield blaming only himself. After a minute spent deep in thought Gandhiji declared; "I will punish myself by walking home rather than drive there. Manilal, you take the car home and I will come walk home." Gandhi ji immediately started walking toward home which was 27 kilometres away.


Understanding parents takes a lot, and understanding a Mahatma even more. Manilal kept apologising profusely and sought his father's forgiveness. Gandhi ji simply turned a deaf ear and kept on plodding along.


After walking for many hours Gandhi ji arrived home early in the morning with Manilal trailing in the car the entire way.  Gandhi ji did not complain and for that matter did not even utter  a word for the reason for the delay or what had transpired.


This incident was narrated by the ashamed Manilal to the worried residents of Tolstoy farm. Manilal was saddened by his poor conduct, and vowed never to tell a lie again. from that day on Manilal devoted most of his life spreading the message of the Mahatma.


My thanks to the compassionate and talented Dr. Naresh Thukral who also happens to be my brother in law for narrating this incident to me.


* Apartheid - Meaning apartness in Afrikan. Apartheid was race discrimination viciously practiced by a  minority group of white foreigners that ruled the native and foreign coloured people of Southern Africa by violence and sheer terror depriving them even basic rights.

03 August 2011

The Bengali & The Tiger


Actual poem written by a Bengali school teacher

Through the jongole I am went
On shooting Tiger I am bent
Boshtaard Tiger has eaten wife
No doubt I will avenge poor darling's life


Too much quiet, snakes and leeches
But I not fear these sons of beeches
Hearing loud noise I am jumping with start
But noise is coming from my damn fool heart


Taking care not to be fright
I am clutching rifle tight with eye to  sight
Should Tiger come I will shoot and fall him down
Then like hero return to native town


Then through trees I am espying one cave
I am telling self - 'Bannerjee be brave'
I am now proceeding with too much  care
From far I smell this Tiger's lair


My leg shaking, sweat coming, I start pray
I think I will shoot Tiger some other day
Turning round I am going to flee
But Tiger giving bloody roar spotting Bengalee


He bounding from cave like footballer Pele
I run  shouting 'Kali Ma tumi kothay gele'
Through the jongole I am running
With Tiger on my tail closer coming


I am a telling that never in life
I will risk again for my damn  wife!!!!

My thanks to Ms. Priti Quinn for this article

02 August 2011

The Bitter Woman









We may not be aware of it but every encounter with another being, effects us in some way or the other.

This is why the ancients stressed upon the company we keep. Good, noble and loving people enrich us and some not so good people tend to impoverish us.

With good fortune, it was on the auspicious day of Gur Poornima (full moon) at the ashram of Baba Ishwar Singh in Dehradun (India) that my wife Mohini and I met a spiritual man, Kulwinder Singh who makes a living by driving a taxi in NewYork city.

Contrary to perception, truly spiritual individuals are egoless people, often witty, deep in character and exude peace and joy. A spiritual person can impart positive energy to us if we are receptive. Their presence always leads to an awakening, like the petals of the bud blooming into a flower.

The nature of Kulwinder's work brought him into contact with many people. Passengers drifted into his life for a few minutes to a couple of hours.  He shared this as one of many experiences, on how his life had been transformed by the teachings of the Guru.
__________________

One day a lady got into Kulwinder's cab. She was quarrelling  with someone at the other end of her cellular phone.  She was in a terrible mood and and snapped an address at Kulwinder . Soon after they started they got caught in a traffic jam. The woman turned her wrath on Kulwinder, she was very unpleasant, and disrespectful. She vented all her anger on Kulwinder, blaming him for deliberately delaying her by moving so slowly through the heavy traffic. She then resumed her quarrel with the unfortunate person on the phone. This was repeated several times during the long drive. Kulwinder remained unaffected by the woman's disgraceful behaviour.

About 10 minutes before they reached their destination the woman hung up her phone. Brooding for a while before holding her sullen face in her hands, she began to cry.

When they arrived Kulwinder said “ Miss we are here” . The woman just sat unmoving in her seat. Kulwinder reminded her a couple of times that they had arrived at their destination.

When they arrived Kulwinder said “ Miss we are here” . The woman just sat unmoving in her seat. Kulwinder reminded her a couple of times that they had arrived at their destination.

She looked up and started crying again and said “ I am sorry, I abused you, I know my behaviour was unacceptable. You may not know it but I am not a bad person, and normally do not behave in this way. Its just ....... .  However I am very curious as to, why did you not react and say something back?”

Kulwinder replied “ Miss, I do not know what your problem is and why you behaved in the way you did. I cannot change you or your circumstances but I can definitely manage my response. If you permit me I can tell you what I believe in and maybe you will understand why I did not react”

The woman still sniffing requested Kulwinder to say more.
______________________

“Let me first tell you a story about Mahatma Buddha” Kulwinder said;

One day as he approached a village, Mahatma Buddha met an aggressive man who was in a foul mood. He started abusing Lord Buddha, who merely stood there listening to the man for quite a while as the insolent man went on and on with his acidic tirade.  At last, exhausted and emptied of his toxic anger the man sat down.

Mahatma Buddha politely asked " If you have finished, may I proceed on my journey?"
______________________


The foul mouthed man looked at the Mahatma in astonishment and said; “ I have been so bitter in my behaviour towards you and abusive in my conduct, yet you just looked at me smilingly. Are you deaf, a coward or mad? “

Mahatma Buddha said “ I have just come from the neighbouring village. As I was departing from that village, a kind man presented me a tray of wonderful sweets. I took the tray, and I shared the sweets with other residents of the village and everyone was happy. Unfortunately my brother, you gave me something which I cannot share with anyone else, therefore I cannot accept what you have showered on me. You must take what you have brought here for me, back with you.”

Kulwinder told the woman “ Had I accepted what you gave me, I would have shared the misery with the next passenger, and whoever I came in contact with for the rest of the day. Imagine the pain and anguish I would have inflicted on my family when I returned home. Forget me for a while , think what will happen to you when you walk around with this toxic anger? How will be your behaviour with your loved ones and your family?”

The woman started sobbing uncontrollably and after a few minutes said “please forgive me and thank you for your words of wisdom”

Kulwinder Singh, replied “ It is God you must thank for his great mercy and kindness and my Guru for his teachings which I imbibe.”

* Guru Poornima is also the auspicious day on which lord Buddha gave His first sermon at Sarnath (Uttar Pradesh, India).
* Mahatma means great soul.

                                                                 

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