पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय...

पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय

ओठांचा चंबू गालांची साय

हेलिकॉप्टर होते हातांचेे

पायांचा रेटा सोसते माय

पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय

मायेच्या कुशीत बसून हळूच

दोन्ही हातांच्या मुठी वळीत 

मच् मच् दुद्दू पितच जाय

पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय

मायेच्या मांडीवर थोपटून घेईत

मनातल्या मनात गाणी म्हणीत

लुकलूक डोळे करीतच -हाय

पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय

निळ्या निळ्या पाळण्यात झोके घेईत 

हवेत पायांची सायकल चालवीत 

हाताची बोटे चाखत जाय

पिल्लू माझं करतंय काय

आईचे बोट घट्ट धरीत 

हळू हळू अलगद डोळे मिटीत

बाबांच्या स्वप्नात धावत जाय, बाबांच्या स्वप्नात धावत जाय...

No sun's too bright for you

Look above up in the sky

Greater heights there do lie

Bother you not from the dark eye

Never give up but apply

Still are there things to do

No sun's too bright for you

*** ***

'pandhariche bhoot mothe' by Sant Tukaram

A friend sent me a video link of an abhang recently. It was sung by noted vocalist duo Ranjani and Gayatri. The abhang was composed by much revered poet-saint Sant Tukaram Maharaj (1608-50). Maharaj spent most of time of his life in Dehu at around 25 km from city of Pune in Maharashtra. He along with other contemporary poet-saints like Samarth Ramdas was instrumental in keeping alive the cultural and religious identities of the religion in and around Mahrashtra through the Bhakti Sampradaay's philosophy. It is also known as Warakari Sampradaay and Bhakti Movement. The efforts were praiseworthy in the atmosphere prevailing then in the region. The region was was in great turmoil due to the never ending assaults and oppressions upon the natives thrusted by the Moghul army from the North and sultanates of Nagar, Vijapur (Bijapur) and Bhaganagar (today's Hyderabad). He also attacked the hypocritical behavior of a certain section of priestly class in the Hindu society. He spread the message of equality and devotion to Shri Hari Vitthal through his compositions.

At a later stage of life, Maharaj traveled to South and preached his philosophy, spread his thoughts through numerous compositions, written mostly in Marathi. He also restored a number of temples of Shri Vitthal, built many new temples with the help of local community. In Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, he is still remembered and his compositions are sung by people. I attended a few such programs, kirtan, in Chennai, Kalpakkam and Thenangur wherein the groups performed compositions of Tukaram Maharaj devotedly. Native Tamil singers with no knowledge of Marathi singing those abhangs is the icing on cake. These groups and the artistes like Ranjani and Gayatri are the reasons for Tukaram Maharaj's compositions in South India to survive test of the time.

***

पंढरीचे भूत मोठे
आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे

बहु खेचरीचं रान
बघ हे वेडे होय मन

जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी
जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी

तुका पंढरीसी गेला
पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला

The abhang 'Pandhariche bhoot moThe' is in the praise of Shri Kshetra Pandharpur , also called as Pandhari, and which is the chosen abode of Shri Vitthal and Devi Rukmini. Some of the characteristics of the place are described by Maharaj in this composition. He has adopted an unusual way while narrating the characteristics. He terms the place as the notorious one and goes on giving his own experience as an example to prove his hypothesis. It may be mentioned here that it is nothing but natural to understand that what he really means is not what his words literally suggest. Maharaj has used a soft humor in instilling a deep belief into the minds of people that the place is special. It is divine. It is the final destination the soul is searching to rest in peace. The abhang also tells us that one can have humor over Gods. The well intentioned one will please Gods and also can become wonderful vehicle for Him to reach the common man. This narration can be likened to descriptions of Mathura or Gokul known for the numerous tales of the naughtiness and deeds of a divine baby named krushna. The arguments put forward by Maharaj go as follows.

पंढरीचे भूत मोठे

आल्या गेल्या झडपी वाटे

Beware people! Pandhari (Pandharpur) is haunted by a dreadful ghost. Be careful when you are passing by this place or visiting it. This ghost nabs every one going near the place. If you are afraid of being possessed by the ghost, change your path or just cancel your plan in the interest of your (so called) well being.

That was literal meaning. In the hindsight, Maharaj wants to suggest exactly the opposite. He hints, if you stay away from the place, you will never have the divine experience which is possible only in the company of Vitthal-Rakhumaai. (Rukmini is referred to as Rakhumaai in Pandharpur and elsewhere by devotees.) And this is possible only if you go to Pandhari. The place will possess you when you will reach this place. You will loose your own self, ego, desires and the earthly beliefs. Thus, in no time, you will experience a closeness to the God.

बहु खेचरीचं रान 

बघ हे वेडे होय मन

The land around Pandhari is so fertile, and it is full with green. It is nothing but natural that the animals from all over would rush there for grazing. Hence the land is full with animals of all sorts. The sight will make your mind go crazy if you go even near to Pandhari. (खेचर is a hybrid between horse and donkey.)

The purpose of using this metaphor is not very clear and the metaphor may have different interpretations. I am picking the most logical according to me. It could possibly go like this. Like the land full with grass attracts the cattle, Pandhari being the food - source of energy - attracts mobs of people from all over the world. And when somebody goes there, the ghost does not leave him or her in its original form. This can be applied to the gender, race, caste, religion and species too. Thus forms hybrid minds which is possessed by the divinity.

जाऊ नका कोणी, तिथे जाऊ नका कोणी
जे गेले, नाही आले परतोनी

Maharaj cautions everybody that such a place which you are tempted to visit, a place which hosts a dreadful ghost whose only business is to nab and possess each passerby, should be left at a distance. Every sane person, every one who does not like such possession and the one who wants to escape if possessed, should not go to the place. Because, Maharaj says, no one has returned from this place. What a dangerous place! Even thought of going there should be forbidden.

तुका पंढरीसी गेला
पुन्हा जन्मा नाही आला

Maharaj gives his own example to support his arguments. He says, finally Tuka (Tukaram Maharaj himself) himself went to Pandhari intending to find the truth. Not only that he never returned, but also that he was never ever born again!

While concluding the abhang, Maharaj describes the great centripetal force the sacred place possesses that acts on each visitor and eventually does not let him go away. He goes on to tell us his own experience that underlines the holiness of Pandhari. He suggests that the life cycle of one's soul can completed with the pilgrimage of Pandhari. You attain moksha at sacred place. Actually, Sant Tukaram subtly tells us that he attained moksha after visiting Pandhari by saying that he was never reborn. In reality, numerous folklores exist about his सदेह वैकुंठगमन, the travel to Vaikuntha without shedding his physical form.

***

***

Weather - Cycle JAL hitting Tamilnadu coast on Sunday evening

Cyclone JAL will cross Indian coast on Sunday evening. It is expected to hit coastal line around state capital, Chennai, within two to three hours after 11.30 pm on Sunday (07/11/2010). Before reaching the coastline, if it follows the path predicted by IMD, it would have traveled around 500 km of ground distance or 270 knots. The above snapshot shows the predicted path. The cyclone is expected to slow down and shed its severity after travelling a few hundred kilometers in-land.

Google's diplomacy over India's political map

This is a snapshot of Google Analytics page for this blog. There is has been an increased visitors' activity due to Diwali time. Most visits are coming from the google search for diwali greetings. But real point of this post is a little different. Analytics shows two different maps for India! Map of Southern Asia has India's map in the 'American way' whereas map of India alone (after zooming in) shows the map in 'Indian way' at least from India. I would like to know if it is the same from locations outside India. I will be thankful if somebody stationed abroad can throw some light on this.

Musings over law studies

In last few days I am pondering over my ignorance for law studies I have had in the past. It is such a wonderful domain to study if one prepares himself to make the reading a habit. Although I am fond of reading, Law as the subject of study had never appealed me until very recent. I was always told by my friends in this field that they had to remember innumerable clauses and sub-clauses all the time and reproduce the 'right' clause at any time. Most of their energy was consumed in that activity and many of them were completely possessed by the fear of forgetting a clause or two. It was horrible! By that exclamation, I mean, I felt that the exercise of testing my memory, in case I were in their shoes, could be nothing less than a horrible experience! Whole prospect sounded unattractive. But then, in last few years, as I was growing up (read my brain) and when I read a few pieces in the constitution of India, a realization dawned upon me that studying law was interesting, rather damn interesting exercise. Myself being an ardent science follower, it was not going to be the mainstream activity for me. It will never be in future either. But today I have realized that some basic knowledge of the law and judiciary system is must for me as an element of the society. Similarly, in my opinion, it is necessary for all of us to understand this system.

I feel, studying law will become easier if one considers that law is driven by logic, kind of a rational logic. 'viveka', pronounced as विवेक in Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi and also in probably a few other Sanskrit-derivatives. It will immensely help the student of law if he decides not to be driven by impulses of swaying mind. This impulse, I think, is different from intuitiveness of the mind. Intuition gives the mind a direction, logical and desired during those circumstances, without going through the elaborate process of decision making. In the following paragraphs, I will try to analyze how in normal circumstances decisions are arrived at. I will also try to list the steps in order to elaborate this point.  And in the end, I will try to relate the usefulness of being good at decision making to study law.

The process of the brain's decision making follows the course of the steps listed below.

• Searching the data in form of information held by the brain,
• Collating relevant pieces,
• Forming and comparing alternatives,
• Applying best of the available criterion, and
• Finally making a choice.

The above steps can be elaborated with a more comprehensive structure of sub-steps. I have not ventured into that for the sake of brevity. As I have mentioned earlier, the decisions are not merely taken via this process, but they are arrived at through a carefully formulated methodology. In the present context, we can safely consider this methodology as the logic. Coming back to the intuition, I would like to mention that the intuition can bypass one or more steps in the above list. At times it can lead to the final step straight away. It also helps when none of the bits and pieces of information available is concerned with the circumstances leading to non-existence of the foundation on which the decision is to be arrived at. Intuition leads the mind in such uncertainty. A stable but brave mind can adapt the thought suggested by intuition and also can start following it. But this is where the real danger lies. Such following will yield disastrous results if the path directed by the intuition-led decision turns out to be a wrong one at a later stage. On the other hand, if the intuition-led course is followed with utmost caution and the new circumstances are continuously examined and correctness of the course is verified, we are safely lead to the desired destination more likely than not. Impulsive mind lacks these qualities, caution and the analytical quality of intuitive mind, and often leads to disappointing results.

Student of law can not rely upon intuitive thinking alone. He has to master the decision making process. He will be greatly benefited by intuition of the right kind if the results of the meticulously arrived decision and his intuition coincide. Such occurrence surely has huge potential to boost his confidence. This quality can be of vital importance to the lawyers, judges, law-makers and the law enforcement agencies; not to forget the curious students like you and me.

'viveka' of the law student plays an important role in this process. It helps while working on almost all the steps. It is worth noting here that this quality does not have alternative especially in deciding which of the pieces of information are relevant and also in deciding the criterion for evaluating different alternatives or possibilities found plausible. The student whose mind is occupied with the continuous quest for finding the truth is certain to have this quality. In other words, this quality comes naturally with the desire for the quest for truth.

Having discussed about the basic qualities to study law I will briefly touch upon how law is looked upon in the real world. Law is considered to be a system of rules, usually enforced through a set of institutions. Law shapes almost every sphere of life like politics, economics and society in numerous ways. It serves as a primary social mediator of relations between people. I have borrowed this definition of law from wikipedia originally phrased by legal philosopher H.L.A. Hart. This also prompts the student to have fundamental knowledge of the various spheres of life like a few listed above. This is where the mention of first quality, the habit of reading, comes into picture. It also helps in studying various cases and verdicts delivered in the past. Basic element of the society is a human being. Thus being a good observer of people and events also becomes essential for the student of law. Today being up to date about latest happenings has no longer remained difficult due to advanced print and electronic media and also due to widespread world wide web.

To sum the things up, I would like to say that studying law is an interesting and pleasant challenge for any curious intellectual. Events and their repercussions in society are good triggers for invoking interest in law studies. Also these studies have become a necessity for the professionals not as a part of acquiring general knowledge but to actually set up a regulatory framework for various transactions in their own organizations. Thus the student of law, how ever part time his studies could be, need to have a few qualities namely: liking for reading, logical and analytical ability, 'viveka', methodical decision making ability coupled with intuitiveness, hunger for knowledge, an urge to find truth and last but not the least, a lot of patience. Here I will conclude with a hope that every thing that I have tried to tell myself till this word will motivate myself to spend more time studying law.

*** ***

Guru Govind Sinh as remembered by Veer Savarkar

कोणत्या गोष्टीपासून प्रेरणा घ्यायची, अथवा कोणत्या व्यक्तिच्या जीवन चरित्रामुळे आपल्या मनावर सकारात्मक परिणाम होईल हे मुख्यत: आपल्या त्या त्या वेळच्या परिस्थितीवर व गत अनुभवांवर अवलंबून राहते. इतिहासातील कोणती तरी यशोगाथा एखाद्या व्यक्तीला प्राप्त परिस्थितीशी टक्कर देण्यास प्रवृत्त करेल. परंतु कदाचीत एखाद्या संवेदनशील मनास तीच यशोगाथा निराशेच्या गर्तेतही ढकलून देईल. प्रत्येक व्यक्तीची मानसीकता वेगळी असते, तसेच प्रत्येक व्यक्तीची परिस्थिती वेगळी असते. वीर सावरकर मुंबई मधील डोंगरीच्या कारागृहामध्ये होते. वेळ आहे सन १९१० ची. नुकत्याच त्यांना दोन वेगवेगळ्या खटल्यांसाठी आजन्म कारावासाच्या दोन शिक्षा सुनावल्या गेल्या आहेत. याचा अर्थ असा की सुटका होणार १९६० मध्ये. सावरकरांचा लहानपणापासूनचा एक मानस - एक महाकाव्य लिहीणे. हाताशी ना लेखणी आहे, ना कागदाचा चिटोरा. कारण या गोष्टी कारागृहात बाळगणेही गुन्हा आहे. दुसरा कोणताही मार्ग दृष्टिक्षेपात नाही. आहे तो फक्त पुढील ५० वर्षांमधील दिसणारा अंधार. या परिस्थितीत त्यांना आठवतात ते श्री गुरू गोविंद सिंह. त्यांच्या 'माझी जन्मठेप' या पुस्तकातील संबंधीत उतारा.

गोविंदसिंहाचे चरित्र

... प्रत्यही कमीत कमी दहा ते वीस कविता नव्या रचून आणि जुन्यावर आवृत्ति देऊन पाठ करण्याचा जर प्रघात ठेवला तर एक वा अर्ध लक्ष (ओळींचे) महाकाव्य रचणे संभवनीय आहे तर मग आजच प्रारंभ. प्रथम श्रीगुरूगोविंदसिंहाचे चरित्र गावयाचे.

कारण गोविंदसिंह हुतात्म्यांचा मुकुटमणी होता. थोर यशाने मंडित झालेले थोर पुरुष राजप्रासादांच्या सुवर्णकलशाप्रमाणे तेज:पुंज दिसतातच. पण आज मला त्यांच्या चरित्रवर्णनाने, त्यांची ती यशोगीतें गाईल्याने, तितकी शांति न मिळता उलट माझ्या कपाळी आलेल्या अपयाशाची तीव्रता मात्र अधिक जाचू शकण्याचा संभव आहे. आज मला त्या यशाच्या राजप्रासादाच्या पायाखाली खोल दडपून गेलेल्या अपयशाच्या पायाचे चिंतन हे ध्येय आहे. म्हणून 'चमकोर' दुर्गातून निसटताना ज्याचा संपूर्ण पराभव झालेला आहे, ज्याचे मातापत्नीपुत्र वाताहात होऊन संसाराची राखरांगोळी उडाली आहे, ज्याच्या शिष्यांनीही त्याच्यावर शपथपूर्वक ठेवलेल्या निष्ठेचे त्यागपत्र देऊन आयत्या वेळेस त्यास सोडून त्या पराभवाचे व अपयशाचे खापर त्याच्याच डोक्यावर फोडलेले आहे आणि तरीहि जो सिंह ते अपयशाचे व दु:खाचे हलाहल एकाद्या रुद्रासारखा अवतार धारण करून पचविता झाला, त्या गोविंदसिंहाचे ते अपयशच आज मला गेय आहे! या माझ्या भयंकर दु:खास व अपजयास ते मेरुदंडाप्रमाणे आधार होईल. माझ्या पिढीच्या अपयशाच्या, दु:खाच्या पराजयाच्या खोल पायावर भावी पिढ्यांचे यश:प्रासाद ते उभवील!

भावनांच्या मनो-यावर चढून माझे मन दूरवरची दृश्‍ये पाहण्यात रंगून गेले असता इकडे माझे हात ते काथ्याचे कठीण नाडे व च-हाटे तोडण्यात, कुटण्यात, उकलण्यात गुंतलेले होते. प्रत्यहींच्या म्हणून ठरलेल्या दहा पंधरा आर्या रचून झाल्या, काथ्या उलगडणेहि संपले! पण हातहि सोलून निघाले, फोड उठले, रक्त गळू लागले.

डोंगरीच्या बंदीगृहात, हेगच्या निकालानंतर किती दिवस होतो आठवत नाही. प्रात:काळी उठावे, व्यायामासाठी फिरताना योगसूत्रे मुखोद्गत म्हणावीत त्यावरील एकेकावर अनुक्रमे विचार करावा; मग सक्त श्रमाचे म्हणून कठीण काम दिलेले असेल ते करावे आणि ते करतानाच मनात दहाबारा नवीन कविता रचून व जुन्या पाठ झालेल्या आवृत्ति देऊन संध्याकाळी जेवण झाल्यावर तुरुंग बंद करून सर्व सामसूम झाली असता ध्यानधारणेचा काही अभ्यास साधावा व रात्री नऊ वाजण्याचे आतच निजावे. झोप मात्र गाढ लागे. एकलकोंडीतील हा कार्यक्रम चालला असता कधी कधी 'प्रवृत्तिचिये राजबिंदी | पुढा बोधाचिये प्रतिपदी | विवेकदृश्याची मांदी' (ज्ञानेश्वरी: अध्याय १८: ओव्या १०६९-७०) सारीत राहण्याची अटोकाट खटपट करीत असतानाहि चिंतेची व उद्वेगाची धाड एकाएकी कोसळून जसा काही गळा चेपला जावा, जीव कासावीस होऊ पाहावा. वाटे, आपल्यामागे कार्याचे काय होईल..... जर..... मग हेहि कष्ट..... पण क्षणभरात चमनाचा तोल पुन: संभाळला जावा.

- माझी जन्मठेप, लेखक: विनायक दामोदर सावरकर (१८८३-१९६६)

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Some misconceptions needing to be clarified

A friend of mine posted a news article stating Julia Roberts, an actress in the west, started following Hinduism. Well, that was nice. Each one has a right to follow his or her beliefs. There was a mixed response from netizens to Ms Robert's decision.  At least that's what it is reported till the date. I read through initial few comments below the articile. I found one interesting query. It was apperant that the author was trying to ridicule Hinduism on some counts. His comment read,

Please, can Julia or someone else tell me what I need to believe to become a Hindu. I am interesed. Also, tell me what caste I will be designated to, which god I should follow, can I marry more women if I chose to follow Krishna, is it possible to please god by giving them sweets...

There was response from others for this comment. And I can't say that it was all kind. Anyway, I thought that this is a person who represents a whole world which is trying to understand Hinduism but is not giving its best shot and, in the end, is getting confused. A confused person can never talk sense however honest his or her intentions be. Effectively, such person points fingers at 'the flaws'. Half baked cookies - I'd rather say half-baked wisdom! The above comment falls precisely in this category. Such a person needs to be taken into confidence and told, re baba, there are things in Hindu way of life which need thinking, which need application of rational thoughts; and at the same time there is a world, which is trying to ridicule Hinduism out of sheer ignorance, and it deserves an explaination.

An explaination which has some simple answers to the questions hurled like those in the above comment. Those simple answers could be the following.

• You need to believe that you can think and you can 'think and act' constructively. This religion allows you to think.
• Your caste will depend upon which work you will take up as your jeevan dharma hereafter.
• You may be asked to follow even your parents as elements of the God. And you may have to do that.
• If you choose to follow Krishna, you'll be asked to study his life and deeds. And you yourself will change your mind and will decide to marry only one good woman. Even otherwise, Law won't allow you to marry more than one woman. You're following Krishna; so what?
• You may not be able to please God/Gods by giving him/them sweet, nor meat!

Pleasing Gods is not so easy. It doesn't take any doctrine to prove this. Look how this gentleman's harmless but mindful comment has offended many. It makes me think how can he even think of pleasing the God!

*** ***

Courage

I received this message as a good morning message from my cousin. I couldn't agree with it more!

 

Courage doesn't always roar. 

Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day that says I'll try again tomorrow. 

 

Excellent image. But source unknown.

IF

I found a poem in an email forwarded by Rohan. He also told me that this poem was partly or fully recited by Federar and Nadal in a ceremony at Wimbledon. I started reading it. Soon I realized the weightage of each line. Although it appeared mostly as a verse but its rythm was unmistakable, pleasant with recurring rhyming. It ended, as if it was addressed to a child, as a set of qualities a man should possess in order to be called as a virtuous man. It remained unclear if the eloquence was made by a father or a mother or a guru. A brief search on google told me that the poem was titled 'IF' and was composed by none other than Rudyard Kipling. What a master piece of poetry this poem is!

In this poem, the words 'you'll be a man, my son' make the identity of the audience clear albeit literally. But on a second thought, it also makes us admit that the mantra given in the poem is essentially meant for all men and all women alike - a guide to become a virtuous human being.

 IF

If you can keep your head when all about you

Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,

If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you

But make allowance for their doubting too;

If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,

Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,

Or being hated, don't give way to hating,

And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream, and not make dreams your master,

If you can think, and not make thoughts your aim,

If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,

And treat those two impostors just the same;

If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken

Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,

Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,

And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;

If you can make one heap of all your winnings

And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss

And lose, and start again at your beginnings

And never breath a word about your loss;

If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew

To serve your turn long after they are gone,

And so hold on when there is nothing in you

Except the will which says to them, "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,

Or walk with kings, nor lose the common touch,

If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,

If all men count with you, but none too much;

If you can fill the unforgiving minute

With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,

Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,

And, which is more, you'll be a Man, my son!

- Rudyard Kipling (1865 - 1936)

Naresh - a guy like you and me

There is this interesting email in circulation for the last couple of years. Truly it is inspirational to all. The mail is not about the lack of certain ability but it is about how Naresh has overcome it. No doubt while achieving this feat his family and friends have stood by him. Naresh is blessed with one of the most wonderful family, comprising of his parents and his sister, one will ever get. You will find their mention in the text of the mail I am going to copy below my thoughts.

As you read the text, you will realize that he would not be what he is physically today if sensitivity towards emergency care was there in place and humanity was alive at the time of his accident. This makes the accident a social disaster out of simple ignorance about the eventualities. The society WAS responsible and we are the society. Then who knows lives of how many people get affected permanantly because they did not get medical aid in that golden hour.

Any way some people from the society are there with Naresh doing something for him which is much less than what ought to have been done when it was needed. Please note that while writing so, I do not have a slightest intention to belittle their contribution and sense of social responsibility. But in my opinion, they have done what was required to be done. Somebody had to do that. I must also say that they have confirmed a fact that humanity is present in the society even though it is not uniformly spread in each dimension. There are several nulls with regard to this quality. Today Naresh is an idependent professional supporting his parents, having seen his sister Sirisha married off happily last year. He is discharging his duties towards his family probably better than many including me! But, without something that was his own. So. Our responsibility is not over yet.

a Guy who got into Google



Naga Naresh Karuturi has just passed out of IIT Madras in Computer Science and has joined Google in Bangalore. You may ask, what's so special about this 21-year-old when there are hundreds of students passing out from various IITs and joining big companies like Google?

Naresh is special. His parents are illiterate. He has no legs and moves around in his powered wheel chair. (In fact, when I could not locate his lab, he told me over the mobile phone, 'I will come and pick you up'. And in no time, he was there to guide me)

Ever smiling, optimistic and full of spirit; that is Naresh. He says, "God has always been planning things for me. That is why I feel I am lucky." Read why Naresh feels he is lucky.

Childhood in a village

I spent the first seven years of my life in Teeparru, a small village in Andhra Pradesh, on the banks of the river Godavari. My father Prasad was a lorry driver and my mother Kumari, a house wife. Though they were illiterate, my parents instilled in me and my elder sister (Sirisha) the importance of studying.

Looking back, one thing that surprises me now is the way my father taught me when I was in the 1st and 2nd standards. My father would ask me questions from the text book, and I would answer them. At that time, I didn't know he could not read or write but to make me happy, he helped me in my studies!

Another memory that doesn't go away is the floods in the village and how I was carried on top of a buffalo by my uncle. I also remember plucking fruits from a tree that was full of thorns.

I used to be very naughty, running around and playing all the time with my friends.. I used to get a lot of scolding for disturbing the elders who slept in the afternoon. The moment they started scolding, I would run away to the fields!

I also remember finishing my school work fast in class and sleeping on the teacher's lap!

January 11, 1993, the fateful day

On the January 11, 1993 when we had the sankranti holidays, my mother took my sister and me to a nearby village for a family function. From there we were to go with our grandmother to our native place. But my grandmother did not come there. As there were no buses that day, my mother took a lift in my father's friend's lorry. As there were many people in the lorry, he made me sit next to him, close to the door.

It was my fault; I fiddled with the door latch and it opened wide throwing me out. As I fell, my legs got cut by the iron rods protruding from the lorry. Nothing happened to me except scratches on my legs.

The accident had happened just in front of a big private hospital but they refused to treat me saying it was an accident case. Then a police constable who was passing by took us to a government hospital.

First I underwent an operation as my small intestine got twisted. The doctors also bandaged my legs. I was there for a week. When the doctors found that gangrene had developed and it had reached up to my knees, they asked my father to take me to a district hospital. There, the doctors scolded my parents a lot for neglecting the wounds and allowing the gangrene to develop. But what could my ignorant parents do?

In no time, both my legs were amputated up to the hips. I remember waking up and asking my mother, where are my legs? I also remember that my mother cried when I asked the question. I was in the hospital for three months.

Life without legs

I don't think my life changed dramatically after I lost both my legs. Because all at home were doting on me, I was enjoying all the attention rather than pitying myself. I was happy that I got a lot of fruits and biscuits.

'I never wallowed in self-pity'

The day I reached my village, my house was flooded with curious people; all of them wanted to know how a boy without legs looked. But I was not bothered; I was happy to see so many of them coming to see me, especially my friends!
All my friends saw to it that I was part of all the games they played; they carried me everywhere.

God's hand

I believe in God. I believe in destiny. I feel he plans everything for you. If not for the accident, we would not have moved from the village to Tanuku, a town. There I joined a missionary school, and my father built a house next to the school. Till the tenth standard, I studied in that school.

If I had continued in Teeparu, I may not have studied after the 10th. I may have started working as a farmer or someone like that after my studies. I am sure God had other plans for me.

My sister, my friend

When the school was about to reopen, my parents moved from Teeparu to Tanuku, a town, and admitted both of us in a Missionary school. They decided to put my sister also in the same class though she is two years older. They thought she could take care of me if both of us were in the same class. My sister never complained.

She would be there for everything. Many of my friends used to tell me, you are so lucky to have such a loving sister. There are many who do not care for their siblings. She carried me in the school for a few years and after a while, my friends took over the task. When I got the tricycle, my sister used to push me around in the school. My life, I would say, was normal, as everyone treated me like a normal kid. I never wallowed in self-pity. I was a happy boy and competed with others to be on top and the others also looked at me as a competitor.

Inspiration

I was inspired by two people when in school; my Maths teacher Pramod Lal who encouraged me to participate in various local talent tests, and a brilliant boy called Chowdhary, who was my senior. When I came to know that he had joined Gowtham Junior College to prepare for IIT-JEE, it became my dream too. I was school first in 10th scoring 542/600. Because I topped in the state exams, Gowtham Junior College waived the fee for me. Pramod Sir's recommendation also helped. The fee was around Rs 50,000 per year, which my parents could never afford.

Living in a residential school was a big change for me because till then my life centred around home and school and I had my parents and sister to take care of all my needs. It was the first time that I was interacting with society. It took one year for me to adjust to the new life.

There, my inspiration was a boy called K K S Bhaskar who was in the top 10 in IIT-JEE exams. He used to come to our school to encourage us. Though my parents didn't know anything about Gowtham Junior School or IIT, they always saw to it that I was encouraged in whatever I wanted to do.. If the results were good, they would praise me to the skies and if bad, they would try to see something good in that. They did not want me to feel bad. They are such wonderful supportive parents.

Life at IIT Madras

Though my overall rank in the IIT-JEE was not that great (992), I was 4th in the physically handicapped category. So, I joined IIT, Madras to study Computer Science. Here, my role model was Karthik who was also my senior in school. I looked up to him during my years at IIT- Madras. He had asked for attached bathrooms for those with special needs before I came here itself. So, when I came here, the room had attached bath. He used to help me and guide me a lot when I was here.

I evolved as a person in these four years, both academically and personally. It has been a great experience studying here. The people I was interacting with were so brilliant that I felt privileged to sit along with them in the class. Just by speaking to my lab mates, I gained a lot..

'There are more good people in society than bad ones'

Words are inadequate to express my gratitude to Prof Pandurangan and all my lab mates; all were simply great. I was sent to Boston along with four others for our internship by Prof Pandurangan. It was a great experience.

Joining Google R&D

I did not want to pursue PhD as I wanted my parents to take rest now. Morgan Stanley selected me first but I preferred Google because I wanted to work in pure computer science, algorithms and game theory. I am lucky

Do you know why I say I am lucky?

I get help from total strangers without me asking for it. Once after my second year at IIT, I with some of my friends was travelling in a train for a conference. We met a kind gentleman called Sundar in the train, and he has been taking care of my hostel fees from then on.

I have to mention about Jaipur foot. I had Jaipur foot when I was in 3rd standard. After two years, I stopped using them. As I had almost no stems on my legs, it was very tough to tie them to the body. I found walking with Jaipur foot very, very slow. Sitting also was a problem. I found my tricycle faster because I am one guy who wants to do things faster.

One great thing about the hospital is, they don't think their role ends by just fixing the Jaipur foot; they arrange for livelihood for all. They asked me what help I needed from them. I told them at that time, if I got into an IIT, I needed financial help from them. So, from the day I joined IIT, Madras, my fees were taken care of by them. So, my education at the IIT was never a burden on my parents and they could take care of my sister's Nursing studies.

Surprise awaited me at IIT

After my first year, when I went home, two things happened here at the Institute without my knowledge. I got a letter from my department that they had arranged a lift and ramps at the department for me. It also said that if I came a bit early and checked whether it met with my requirements, it would be good.

Second surprise was, the Dean, Prof Idichandy and our Students General Secretary had located a place that sold powered wheel chairs. The cost was Rs 55,000. What they did was, they did not buy the wheel chair; they gave me the money so that the wheel chair belonged to me and not the institute. My life changed after that. I felt free and independent.

That's why I say I am lucky. God has planned things for me and takes care of me at every step.

The world is full of good people.

Hidden treasure

Dew drops on the grass blades on the bank of River Panchaganga

Travelling teaches us a number of things. One among them is finding joy in those thing which are at your immediate disposal but you have taken them for granted and have ignored. Sometimes interesting places to travel to are found just next to your neighbourhood. You only have to look for them. When you find and visit these places, you are left spellbound.

Curiously enough, the life too is not much different than this. The things you are searching for a long while are floating around you. And suddenly on one fine morning (or on evening or on, possibly, night), you identify them with their utility to you or a relation which was earlier hidden to you. And realise that that was what you had been looking for since so long! Morale of the paragraph is "look around with curious eyes" and "keep looking".

Sangharsh Bindu

I found a notebook with my late father's hand writing just two day back. For me it was a lost-treasure-found. I oversaw the content and found many notes. Several of them were elaborate. A particular one was a short story based on a real incident in his life. He has narrated his feelings and general atmosphere around him during those days. I think that the story is a mirror that reflects his mind and also the subtle ways, in which he has reacted to his son's adventures. The story also reflects how he has fought over concern arising out of some risks and has replaced it with a welcoming enthusiasm. It also plays a mirror for his son! I am posting the original Marathi script here.

संघर्षबिंदू
विनायक मोरेश्वर दुधगांवकर

संघर्ष हा कथेचा आत्मा असतो. कथेत निर्माण केलेला प्रश्न व त्याची सोडवणूक यावरच कथेचा गोडवा, औत्सुक्य अवलंबून असते. हे कथेचे तंत्र आणि कथेचा मंत्र. महाभारतातील प्रत्येक प्रसंग आणि संपूर्ण महाभारतच त्याचे सार्थ उदाहरण आहे. पण आपल्या ही छोट्याशा सीमित जीवनातही अनेक प्रसंग येत असतात, घडत असतात. ते मोठे नसतात. पण त्याची कथा मात्र बनू शकते हे निश्चीत.

आमच्या प्रसादने (मुलाने) बुलेट घेतली. घेतली ती मद्रास मध्ये. लहानपणी ल्यूना वर तो बसला, माझ्या पूर्वीच्या लॅंब्रेटा स्कूटरवरून तो पुढे उभा राहूनच फिरला. मग सायकल शिकला. मग घरी M50 आली. ती त्याने चालवली. M80 आली. अवंती (ऑटोगियर) आली. आणि त्याच्या आईने ख़ास त्याच्या साठी त्याच्या मामाची इंड सुझुकी घेवून दिली. तेव्हा तो I.I.T. मध्ये M.Tech. करीत होता. पुढे तो टेल्को मध्ये आल्यावर त्याने सुझुकी घरी पाठवली व नवे सुझुकी फिएरो घेतली. मोठे भारदस्त वाहन. भरपूर वापरले आणि Ph.D. साठी मद्रासला गेल्यावर ते मद्रासला नेलेले इकडे आणले व दिले. सायकल वापरीत होता. पण वाहन न वापरण्याचा उत्साह ओसरला असावा. प्रसादचा एक दिवस फोन.

"बाबा, मी बुलेट घेतोय. आई, ऐकतेयस ना?"
"किंमत किती?" मी.
"एकूण ८० हजार पडतील," प्रसाद.
मी गप्प. फोनवर त्याची आईशी चर्चा. मी गप्पच.
"बाबा बोलत का नाही? गप्प का?" प्रसाद.
मी हसतच सांगितले "कर्ज काढून तू घेतोस, घे. हे धाडस तरूणपणातच शोभते." वगैरे वगैरे.

प्रसादने बुलेट घेतली. तो कुठे कुठे गेला हे फोन वरून कळायचे.

६ फेब्रुवारी २००४. प्रसाद आज मद्रास वरून निघणार असे फोनवर काही दिवस आधी बोलला होता. सकाळ पासून त्याचा फोन असा नव्हताच. मी ही दोन तीन वेळा फोन केला होता पण फोन लागत नव्हता. लागला तेव्हा कळाले, तो मद्रासहून निघाला आहे. सकाळी लवकर. फक्त... बुलेटने निघाला आहे!

वार्ता घरात पसरली. किती मोठे अंतर. नवीन गाडी. एकटा येणार? वगैरे वगैरे. M80 वरून फार तर एका खेपेत मिरज, कवठे, तासगांव, भिलवडी, आष्टे, वडगांव करून परत गंगानगरी आलो की मोठा प्रवास केला असे मानणारे आम्ही. विचारानेच छाती दडपून जावी. झाले! सर्वच अस्वस्थ झालो.

सायंकाळी त्याने चित्रदुर्ग मधल्या एका हॉटेल मध्ये मुक्काम केला. दुसरे दिवशी सकाळी सव्वासहा वाजता मी त्याला फोन करून उठवले. तेथून हुबळी-धारवाड, बेळगांव व निपाणी मार्गे सहा पर्यंत सहजीवनमध्ये, असे त्याचे नियोजन. दुपारी फोन आला की हुबळीत जेवण केले आहे आणि तिथून निघतो आहे.

बेळगांव मध्ये पोचलो असा चार वाजता फोन. पुढचा फोन साडेसहा वाजता. "मी निपाणीजवळ आलो आहे. उशीर झाला आहे. वाटेत छोटासा अपघात झाला होता. मला व गाडीला काही झाले नाही. रस्ता ओलांडणार्‍या गुरांच्या कळपाला ट्रकने धडक दिली होती. आल्यावर सविस्तर सांगतो."

सायंकाळी अप्पा नुली आलेले, मिलिंदही आलेला. प्रथम मीही कशाला हे धाडस केले म्हणणारा. मात्र नंतर मीही पेढे आणले. हार सूर्यवंशी मेस्त्रींनी आणला. आरतीची तयारी केली. कशाला हे धाडस केले हा सर्वांचा सूर मी थांबविला व आता तो इतक्या लांबून येतो आहे, त्याच्या धाडसाचे कौतुक करुया म्हणून सांगितले. प्रसाद तसा उशीरा आला. पण त्याचे उचित स्वागत आम्ही केले. 'नवी बुलेट' हार परिधान करून आमच्या घरात विसावली. आम्हालाही आनंदाचे भरते आले.

प्रसादने प्रवास फार व्यवस्थित केला होता. गती नाही. ६०-७० किलोमीटर नंतर थांबायचे. काहीतरी खायचे असल्यास खायचे. दुपारी थोडी विश्रांती. त्यामुळे तो आला तेंव्हा फारसा कंटाळलेला, थकलेला नव्हता. कशाला धाडस हा संघर्षबिंदू संपला होता. उकल ही झाली होती.

(11/02/2004)

*** ***

Understanding Mahābhārat 1

The following thoughts are the translated extracts from the chapter on the life of Maharshi Vedavyās by Shri Pandurang Shastri Athavale. His discourses on ten most significant contributors of ancient Indian literature are published in the Marathi book 'Rishi-Smaran'. I am going to make an effort to update this 'Understanding Mahābhārat' series with the thoughts of various thinkers and historians about this great epic in subsequent episodes. Given the nature of this portal, I will not be able keep the posts in this series continuous. So I have created a link to this series from where all the articles will be accessible to the reader along with the course of publishing the posts. The link is put on the side column.


Maharshi Vedavyās wrote purān and Mahābhārat. But unlike purān, Mahābhārat is a historical document. The vast document and its events have mesmerised the whole world. Dr. Winternids says, "No literature produced in this world is a match for Mahābhārat." If I state the same, you will say that a brahmin will certainly endorse another brahmin. Here it is not me but it is a statement by Dr. Winternids. He says, "We will not find any event in the history of universe that will match the enormity of Mahābhārat."

The history documented by Vedavyās has positivity and spontaneity. Take a case of Bhishma, or of Krishna or even Draupadi. None retracts from his or her chosen path. Every one is strong willed. In this document, the author has chronicled the lives of people who have not lost balance even when their life is in enormous danger. Nobody's mind sways in difficult situations nor anybody dishonors his or her word. Incredible! Mahābhārat is full of lives spent while enduring pains and sorrows. Maharshi Vālmiki's Rāmāyan too has pain and sorrow in it. But his portrayal is more divine or godly. It sounds less human. Whereas, the depiction of pain and sorrow by Vedavyās in Mahābhārat is human.

Diwali greetings

As I am living through the morning of Diwali (Deepavali), I can't help but remember again and again the conversation I had with my father on the Diwali eve three years ago. While discussing about the festivals and their possible origins, he also talked about the Diwali. He said, "Like a little lamp lightens its little surroundings, a row of little lamps lightens a larger surroundings. Similarly an human being can lighten his surroundings; whereas an organised act - metaphor to numerous lamps organised in rows - can enlighten the universe." I couldn't agree less! I spent almost a week with him, a complete one without any other disturbance. What I mean by disturbance is that I was left with little energy to leave home, mainly to meet friends or for aimless wandering, due to high fever. The week later turned out to be my last acquaintance with him. All the while during Diwali I was cursing the fever. After that Diwali, I could only thank that 'untimely' fever which left me with my father's company!

I probably got deviated from what I really wanted to write. I logged in in order to wish all a happy, prosperous and safe Diwali. :-) I clicked the photograph in the greeting, which I have posted below, last evening after we placed lamps in front of our house at Ichalkaranji. The lamp is put on the back of a little earthen camel beautifully decorated with silk clothing, strings and a tiny bell around its neck. I hope the readers will like it. I have borrowed the message from the greeting sent by my friend Shri Jayant Pethe. I thank him for the greeting.



With this thought and also with the thought of a lamp spreading light to its surroundings, I sign off.

How men and women think

Today afternoon I received this mail from a friend asking me about my opinion about what a gift to her friend's fiance could be. The question and answers got to an interesting level and I decided to post this exchange here after seeking permission from her. This is how the conversation proceeded.

My friend:

"One of my friends is going to meet her fiance. He is of your age. She needs ideas of what to gift him. He is sober and likes traditional things like you. As far as what she has told me, his nature matches with yours. So tell me your ideas of any gift you would like to receive. :D

It's very urgent. So please tell me by tonight as per Indian time.

Cheers."

Prasad:

What's his nationality? Since you are sitting at across seven seas, I get this doubt! :D
Anyway, for sake of a quick answer I assume your friend is in India and her fiance is Indian. :-)

• Let her not buy an expensive gift.
• It can be something which he can keep with him or on the work table. e.g. pen, pen-set, pen stand, a photo frame (without photo or with a photo of his parents/family). Frame without photo will give him a subtle hint. He will invariably put her photo there. :D
• A greeting - handmade - does wonders.
• I also think of a ready made greeting with a personal message. Without a personal message, it may become mere a formality. Bigger the message more the positive impact!

Let me not confuse you with too many options. So I conclude. Wish your friend all the best on my behalf.

Warm regards"

My friend:

"wowwwwwwwwwwwwww :D

Sure. Thanks a lot.
By the way, just curious... why not an expensive gift? I told her get an expensive leather wallet for him. :D"

Prasad:

"Buying an expensive gift might give the guy impression that the girl is trying to show off her wealth, especially when the girl's family is better off financially than the guy's family. It will be a big turn off. I mean at least for me if I am pushed in such situation. Any way, the intentions, innocent or otherwise, become very clear by seeing how the girl presents the gift. :-) If the guy is convinced that there is no hidden purpose behind the expensive gift, he will accept it gleefully; he'll accept rather anything that comes for free. But I guess it is very subjective. :-)

Wallet itself is not a very expensive thing. Then wallet is not a gift I am very much fond of. Though I gladly received it when my sister gifted one to me.:D See, guys can be like that too!

Before that she had found my wallet in a weathered condition and had not sifted through it, thankfully so.

PS: This is becoming an interesting piece of article. Can I post it on my blog?"

My friend:

"Yes, yes! Sure!! :D Actually I have some more doubts since this very much reveals how men and women think.

For our subject, the guy lives in Delhi but is damn rich. My friend is from middle class. She says that she doesn't want to impress him an all, but gift him something which he will cherish for a long time. He also has told her, it seems, that he likes old things, like antique stuff. She is also thinking of a hand watch pretty much like the one Gandhiji used to have. But I influenced her with my wallet ideas. She is also thinking of the photo frame now. :D Her Mom suggests a shirt. :D Poor girl! But yes, you can write a blog post about this.

It's interesting to know how men and women think and also to know how men from different age group think. I guess you are from the next generation to me and my generation guys have different tastes as much as I see."

Prasad:

"Correction: I belong to a previous generation than that of yours. :D

Given the relatively humbler economical background of the girl, I believe she should not at all buy anything that is expensive for him. For once, the idea of an expensive gift for a rich is too much to afford for a middle class girl. Something like Rs 5999 for an Italian leather wallet! Middle class person will think of it as an obscene price. But given the situation of the girl, she will not find it that high and will try to stretch her finances and will end up in buying. Will that impress the guy? I am not sure. I believe a gift with a very personal touch, a gift which the girl has actually spent time with will be most valuable to the guy. The guy will remember it and preserve it for its shear simplicity.

Shirt is a common gift. There is a purpose behind gifting cloths to the would-be son-in-law which is to offer something that is utterly essential and also is very intimate. Cloths fulfill the purpose by fitting close to the body and also covering them. A kind of abstract idea. It is a very good one but is a common one. Well off guys have a lot of shirts, Ts, jeans at their disposal and they don't care for more unlike girls, who will be swept off their feet if they are presented with a sari or a beautiful dress. I don't want to label any of such inclinations good or bad, but this difference exists for sure. The shirt with other dress material can always be presented to the guy after the marriage."

My friend:

"Agreed. :D Perfect! :)"

I must thank my friend for allowing me to post this conversation here, which I have done before posting this and also am doing it here. Thank you! :-)

eka mulaachi goshT

गेले अनेक दिवस डोक्यात एक कल्पना घोळत होती. ती म्हणजे दुसरी तिसरीत असताना अभ्यास न करणे, व्रात्यपणा करणे आणि त्याचा परिणाम म्हणून बाईंकडून किंवा सरांकडून रागावून घेणे अथवा छड्या खाणे, ही नित्याचीच बाब असते. हो, हो! माझा स्वत:चाही अनुभव कमी अधीक प्रमाणात असाच काहीतरी आहे. मान्य करायला काय हरकत आहे! तुमचा काय वेगळा होता काय? असो. तर मी म्हणत होतो की असे असताना शाळेबद्दल थोडीशी संमिश्र भावना लहानपणी असायची. त्याबद्दल दोन ओळी लिहायच्या असा विचार मनात घोळत होता. काल रात्री त्याला मूर्त स्वरुप द्यायचे ठरवले आणि त्या 'दोन ओळी' लिहून पूर्ण केल्या. त्या अशा...

एका मुलाची गोष्ट

ती पाहताच माझी शाळा
हृदयी जो धडका भरला
जणू बांधची वाटे फुटला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

कारण की आठवते मजला
काही घोटाळाची झाला
गणिती पाठची दिधला
बाईंनी सोडविण्याला

खेळ-बाहुल्ल्या मधुनी
करण्याचा राहूनी गेला
नाही कारण द्यायायाला
काही उपाय नाही उरला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

तो इतिहासाचा तास
तिथे सनावळी अनेक
पण स्मरणी नसेची एक
पडे प्रसंग समोर बाका
वर्गी गनिमाचाची धोका
हुरहूर वाटे मजला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

दिले व्याकरणाचे पाठ
म्हणी घोका हा गृहपाठ
दिसे गुरुजींची छडी ताठ
म्हणती डोके हे की माठ?
आता तिच्याशी माझी गाठ
कसे उत्तर द्यावे त्यांला
प्रश्न भलता अवघड बनला
उरलेला धीरची सुटला

तोवर मज आठवली
ती देशपांड्यांची मनुली
अन वळलेली पाऊले
अलगद अशी थबकली

थांबूनी तेथे क्षणभर
शाळेकडेची वळली
तशी छडीची नी बाईंची
आठवण मागे सरली

पण हाय घातची झाला
वर्गाच्या दाराशीच
गुरुजींची पडली गाठ
ते पटकन झाले पुसते
अभ्यास करितशी का रे?
का हालवितो मुंडी नुसते?
का मुखीचा चंबू झाला?
मग मार असाची मिळाला
वाटे नकोची कळो कुणाला!

पण मनात मनुची गोष्ट
करी छडीचा घावही मस्त
असे म्हणून आत मी शिरलो
नकळत बाईंशीची भिडलो
मग क्रुद्ध बाईंनी केला
माझ्या पितरांचा उद्धार
समोर दिसला मजला
दिवसाचा भागाकार

कोप-याकडे मी वळता
सभोवार नजर ती फिरली
नजरेसच नाही पडली
ती देशपांड्यांची मनुली
कुठूनी बुद्धी सुचली
आणि शाळेवर मी आलो
झाला मोठा पश्चाताप
वर मनुचा राग अमाप

धरता धरता अंगठे
अश्रूंचा झाला पात
बैठका ही काढीवल्या
अहो मोजूनी त्याही सात
सारी पोरं फिदीफिदी हसली
इथे आमची स्वारी रुसली

मनु होती काल म्हणाली
आणीन हलवा उद्या डब्यातूनी
आणि ताईनी दिली तर
दोन मोरपिसे वहीतूनी

आज ती आलेली नाही
हलवान पिसे ही नाही
वर होई कानांची अन्
तळहातांची लाही लाही

थोड्या अवधी नंतरी
बाकावरी मोर्चा आमचा बसला
तिथे पिटपाट जनू फुदकला
कानी लागोनी हळुची म्हणाला
छकुली पहा ती लेल्यांची
बोलाविती आहे तुजला

तोवरी छोट्या सुट्टीची
घंटा ती घणघणली
आज डब्यात जम्मत आहे
धावत येता म्हणाली छकुली

ती अन् मी अन् जनू
बाहेर पाणी प्याया निघालो
भागाकारातील बाकी
नकळत विसरून गेलो
नकळत विसरून गेलो

***

Lessons from Purana

Purāna are the holy scriptures in the Hindu philosophy. They are collections of numerous stories about lives of different people or Gods. Each of them suggests one or more lessons about the life. Each mortal being is expected to keep these lessons in mind at ever juncture of his life. But if one asks what exactly is the sum total or the gist of all the lessons from Purāna, then he can be told that:

अष्टादशपुराणानां सारं व्यासेन कीर्तितम्।
परोपकार: पुण्याय पापाय परपीडनम्॥

अर्थात्
महर्षी व्यासांनी सर्वांपर्यंत पोहोचविलेल्या सर्व अठरा पुराणांचं सार केवळ दोनं तत्वात सामावलं आहे.
दुस-याला मदत करणं हे पुण्य आणि दुस-याच्या पीडेचे कारण बनणं हे पाप.

In English,

Only two sentences can sum up the eighteen Purāna by Maharshee Vyās.
To help others is the divine deed. To be the source of trouble for others is the sin.

Sarvātmakā Sarveshwarā - English interpretation

'Sarvātmakā Sarveshwarā' was written by noted Marathi poet V. V. Shirwadkar alias Kusumāgraj. This poem is a prayer which urges the supreme being for the enlightenment and upliftment of one's self and it is rendered by Kach, the son of Bruhaspati, on behalf of Devayāni in the play "Yayāti āNi Devayāni" (1966). The play is based on a famous tale from Mahābhārata. This prayer is a fallout of an incident as portrayed in the climax of the play; when Yayātee, having lost his youth and vitality due to a curse by Devayāni, is lying weak and pale on the ground. Kach urges Devayāni to reconcile her anger and in turn makes her agree to forgive Yayāti and to give him back his youth. Kach prays:

सर्वात्मका सर्वेश्वरा
गंगाधरा शिवसुंदरा
जे जे जगी जगते तया
माझे म्हणा, करूणा करा ||

आदित्य या तिमिरात व्हा
ऋग्वेद या हृदयात व्हा
सृजनत्व द्या, द्या आर्यता
अनुदारिता, दुरिताहरा ||

The prayer is an invocation and in the play it is rendered as the sanjeevani mantra. I have tried to interpret the poem in English prosaic form as it is the best I could arrive at. I am aware that it is difficult to call the lines typed below as verses. Never the less I have made every effort to be as conforming as possible to the original meaning of 'Sarvātmakā'.



Oh, you the one, who is infinitely wise
One, whom each mortal being worships
One, who bears holy Ganga upon his head
Oh my magnificent and divine Shiva, I pray to you.

I am a small element living in this universe
This universe is your kingdom and you are the ruler
You are the one who owns all its living creatures
I pray to you to look at them, have mercy at them
They may be doing good, they may be doing bad
Own them, and their ignorance, and save them.

Today the darkness has surrounded this universe
Oh Shiva, how can you see such sorrow and the plight?
I pray to you to be the Sun to show me the light
Enlighten me by teaching the principles and values of life
By the way of reinstating them in my heart
Give me the ability to do good and see good
Give me the courage, the strength and the power
And in turn make me a virtuous living being.

Oh, you the one who has conquered the evil
And the irrationals and the selfish and the cruel
Oh, you the one who has always sided with the good over the bad
I pray to you.

*** ***

शब्द: वि. वा. शिरवाडकर (कवी कुसुमाग्रज)
संगीत व स्वर: पं. जितेंद्र अभिषेकी
राग: भैरवी
नाटक: ययाति आणि देवयानी (१९६६)

*** ***

to kya baat ho...

बेहोश पडे हम सोचते हैं कि
इक सपना दिख जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

फूलों के संग इक खिलता चेहरा
जो मुस्कराये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

वो नाजूक हथेली आँगन हमारे
मेंहदी भर आये तो क्या बात हो ...

हाँथों में सजे खिलखिलाते कंगन
गुनगुनायें इधर भी तो क्या बात हो ... ||

परदानशीन का हटकर वो परदा
चाँद दिख जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

जालिम ये नजर इस प्यासे दिल के
पार हो जाये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

हाय... ये घने लहेराते गेसू
तनिक छाँव दिलाये तो क्या बात हो ...

इन लब्जों का झरना सुनसान बगीचा
जन्नत बनाए तो क्या बात हो ... ||

बल खाती जवानी सपने में मुझ को
हसीं सफर ले जाये तो क्या बात हो ...

ऐ माशूका तेरे ज़ानों पे आखरी
बीत जाये दो लम्हें तो क्या बात हो ... ||

पल भर का सपना पल भर के लिए
उनके सपने में आये तो क्या बात हो ...

पल भर की कहानी पल भर में कोई
उनको सुनाये तो क्या बात हो ... ||

*** ***