Hidden Treasure Series-Part XI - On Patriotism

My Dear Friends-on-Mother-Earth,

At the age of three, maybe inspired by my Dad and his fiery patriotism, the day-after India defeated Pakistan in the 1972 war, ‘Yours Truly’ was found  running in the street of melaveedhi in Thanjavur loudly rhyming “Ayub Khan Down Down, Pakistan Down Down”.  No wonder the child was lapped up by all and that instant is somehow green in my LEFT brain, which otherwise is useless in remembering names, numbers and formulae’s.

Wars after wars, man, the biological brute hasn’t learnt the lesson. However, as we evolve towards a peaceful world order, (thanks to India a.k.a Bharath) we need to redefine patriotism, isn’t it? Read on…

Ravi: Wonderful connecting with you again. From a scholarly perspective, can you trace the word patriotism and its origins as I FEEL that patriotism is dynamic and not a static regional perspective?

GRK: Sure Ravi.

‘Patriotism’ does not mean one’s territory consciousness especially in comparison with and at the expense of other territories. In this sense, it is nothing but a feeling of ‘in group’, something of exclusiveness instead of inclusiveness. Thus, it is anti-universal, if not anti-social, and inhuman.

Ravi: Wait a minute gentleman, did I get you right? Anti-social?

GRK: I understand your shock. The roots of the sentiment of patriotism go back to the tribal consciousness; especially to an inimical negative relationship with other tribes. The feeling of being patriotic to a tribe had grown into that of a clan or a caste. Later it encompassed to a race. Patriotism to a race later became a feeling to a region and then at last it has become a feeling to one’s political and geographical boundaries, i.e., nations and nationalities in the dictionary of political science. Thus it is primitive.

Ravi: And then what happened? How did humans redefine it?

GRK: He redefined Patriotism as a sense of feeling or PRIDE to one’s nation, race, caste, religion and THAT led to many inhuman acts. It has culminated in various forms of chauvinism including the atrocious fascism. At present, it is leading to various sorts of divisive movements and tendencies, in a country or among countries themselves, such as regional and language movements, ‘sons of the soil’ concepts, movements of locals, over emphasis on regional autonomy etc.  Thus, extreme form of patriotism to a limited object, leads to unhealthy parochialism.

Ravi, under the name of  patriotism, humanity was murdered, a country exploited the other country, one nation subjugating the other, a race dominating the other. Cultural genocide occurred in many parts if the world under the name of the sentiment. In-human exploitation and colonization of many countries took place. Blood flowed in streams; empires collapsed, masses were massacred and the earth was made miserable and left wounded and hurt.

Ravi: Well, that’s history, we all know, forgave and forgot. However, some countries do not have seem to have learnt the lesson. I was loathing with anger with American rulers for destroying Iraq to KILL one man. What does Patriotism mean in the current context, especially for this hold land, Bharath, one of the emerging economies, the future role model to the world? I’m aware of the greatness of this holy land and hence this Question.

GRK: Patriotism is a glorious and ennobling one. It’s a universal one. It should mean one’s sense of concern and care to one’s immediate fellow beings and surroundings. It must mean the generosity, the love and the great concern to one’s neighbors.  Thus it is a feeling or ‘homeliness’; a feeling of neighborhood and a feeling of generosity to one’s fellow beings and surroundings. The best meaning of patriotism is very well expressed in the saying that ‘charity begins at home’. Charity here does not mean giving a gift, or a dole to ill-placed people, but giving a generous human concern and treatment. All those people, all of us, who talk so much about patriotism, do we really have this generosity, this love and this concern to our neighbors, fellow beings and surroundings?  If it would have been so, this earth must have been much happier and peaceful place to live with.

Ravi: I guess the human LEFT brain is conditioned so that we only remember the negative feelings or provocable instincts in the sentiment of patriotism, the so-called national pride, racial pride, caste pride and religious pride; but not the positive & humane sentiment of generosity and homeliness to the immediate neighbors. Why is it so?

GRK: That’s because the ‘fish always rots from the head down.’ The rulers and the ruling-elites throughout the world are nowadays talking very much about the values of non-aggression, non-interference, Non-violence, and mutual co-operation and universal brotherhood and peace. Do they really believe in what they say and propagate? If so, why they are provoking their masses to hate the masses in other countries? Why each country, through a huge sophisticated propaganda machinery, is trying to spread hatred and canard of lies against its neighbors or other countries? Why one ruler is feeling insecure against the other? Why one type of government defames the other? Why one class of rulers indulge in cold war against the other class of rulers? Why THEN, Stuxnet  on IRAN? Why Memogate? Why and why? In fact often rulers and ruling classes and regimes provoke their masses to rise in war against the other countries masses, just to divert their attention from the growing suffering, poverty and exploitation at home. The fear and frenzy of war is used more as a tactic of survival for the ruling regime or system. Than as measure to protect one’s boundaries. Thus patriotism takes the shape of a war phobia.

Ravi: Allow to me add that Sports and entertainment are a great leveler sir. We adore an Imran Khan or WHY even a pugnacious Javed Miandad for his tenacity. Our Bollywood is adored there as well. We revere Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, the ‘Frontier Gandhi’. This hold land Bharath never invaded other country. What I’m suggesting is Masses, throughout the world history, in any country or in between the countries, never fought world wars. The rulers and the regimes, committed on the destinies of helpless millions, decided and indulged in world wars. They created war hysteria and hatred among the nations and races all under the name of so-called patriotism. The rulers even went to the extent of giving national awards to those who fought valiantly in the wars and massacred as many soldiers and peoples of the opposite country as possible. Is it a real valor to kill human beings enmasse and under the name of patriotism? Does this deserve awarding of national honors?  If an individual takes away another’s life, it is considered as a heinous crime. How is it that they justify and glorify and award honors to a soldier who kills many in war?

GRK: I’m glad for your understanding of this crucial aspect. After all human life is human life, in whatever context it is and to whichever country it belongs. It is precious and Godly! When do we realize this? When shall we start realizing it? After all, this tiny little precious earth cannot afford to have one more world war, without wiping itself off from the universe. Thus any sentiment, including patriotism which divides people, and causes hatred, has no place in this modern world. What we need now is Universal Consciousness and Universal Brotherhood and NOT the patriotism of insecurity in this world. i.e., due to the lack of intellectual self-sufficiency in us. We attempt confining humanity to national boundaries. We need to build the bridges of understanding between different countries, cultures and peoples. But NOT balkanizing people through the egoistic patriotic national consciousness!  That is the only way to lasting peace and happiness on this earth, my friend.

Ravi: Thank you so much for this sharing. I’m sure everyone would have a re-think on Patriotism - in the modern ‘flat-and-wired’ but divided world. India has since time immemorial been exporting Spiritual Gurus throughout the world and scores of spiritual seekers come to this land and India has always welcomed them. No wonder THEN, this holy land never waged a war against any country.

Folks, proud to be born as an Indian in this birth; in the emerging world order of universal brotherhood. And always our revered thanks to our spiritual thinkers and to the technologists from all over the world as well for giving the platform to share and care – online or offline throughout the world. B for meaningless and FEELINGLESS Bat-and-Ball has long been replaced by meaning and FEELINGS – Children these days chime B for ‘Bandwidth’ and Brotherhood. So let’s cool down Professor, because world would be a better place, albeit humans would pay a costly price to achieve it. Thanks a ton. My heart is indeed lighter after getting heavier first, how about you readers?

Ps: I suspect it was a Godly intervention to give Nobel Prize for peace to Obama as a deterrent in him, the American ruler, to wage wars like his inglorious and inhuman RIGHT brainless predecessors, notably as-deadly-as-Hitler father-son duo who MISUSED patriotism, ransomed the prosperity of ever-friendly Americans, bankrupting the treasury as well. I wish somehow I meet them once and give my peace of mind to them for what they have done to the world order.

Signing off with tons of joules of Positive Energy to Mother Earth and all living souls on it,

Ravichander Venkatraman

Hidden Treasure Series-Part IX-On Religion and Culture

My dear friends from across Mother Earth, across religions and cultures,

A relaxed Friday evening to all of you. Many a time, I used to wonder the usefulness of religion in modern era, especially in a civilized society. We are aware that religion based differences have started countless wars, even their sects with almost no difference, claiming more lives than any other cause in recorded history. 

Ravi: Pranams to you Shri. GRK. It was an awesome week that went by with almost doing nothing, but watching. Today was one the happiest days. Watching Ashwin ball-by-ball score a delightful maiden Test century against the Windies. Understanding cosmic consciousness and the connect; one of my prediction did come true today. Like to hear?

GRK: I already wished to you in your ‘inner’ introspections and ‘external’ adventures, my boy. Go ahead.

                                                    Courtesy: www.espncricinfo.com

Ravi: Thanks to ‘Times of India’, had an opportunity for a teta-a-tete with cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin and was simply stunned by the difference in the Thought(s), Word(s) and Action(s) process in him. A week after the first meeting, as playful am till today, I was playing cricket on my mobile phone when Ashvin, coming at number 7 top scored in two matches! Quite a feat considering that he is an off-spin bowler and that there are real batting stalwarts before him. I promptly SMSed him of this ‘playful’ incident and wished him that he would become the highest scorer in an innings. 8/10 would laugh at this or say wishful thinking, as we all know Ashvin as an off-spin bowler and not a batsman. Well, today, he scored a delightful Test century without any fuss and was the highest scorer in the Indian innings - coming at No.8 with only Nine, Ten and Jack to follow! FELT extremely glad that my wishful thinking came true.

On Religion

Ravi: Well, that’s the ice-breaker for the main course today. The Dalai Lama exclaims “We can live without religion and meditation, but we cannot survive without human affection.”  How true?

GRK: Nice to hear about Ashwin though I don’t follow cricket.  From what I hear from you, cricket is his religion and a way of life for him.

Well, Ravi, Religion means religiosity. Religiosity is an attitude of the brain. It is a way of life, practicing of a set of values such as

·         Love                                                 Gentleness

·         Non-violence                                     Compassion & Concern to co-beings

·         Neighborliness                                   Nobility                            

·         Contentment                                      Restraint on over-indulgences

Ravi:  THEN, Are visiting the places of worship, performing rituals NOT the means to reach GOD?

GRK: That’s the SAD part. Unfortunately, for majority of us religion has come to mean temples, mosques, and the churches. It has come to mean a system of beliefs and prejudices and a set of idols and rituals, rites and funerals and pilgrimages and holy bathes. Thus, we forgot that religion is only a means to realize an end, i.e., god or godliness. In this sense, religion has become a dividing force (among the people), destructive force and a negative force.

Ravi: But it is also a great unifying force, gentleman!

GRK: Yes, ONCE religion was a unifying force when humans were uncivilized or semi-civilized. However, in today’s context, in a civilized society, it ceases to be a unifying force, a constructive force or an inspiring force. An organized religion represents a hierarchy of power and thus creates and encourages a vested interest. Religion no longer represents religiosity. On the other, it is more a negation of religiosity. Hence, organized religion has no place in enlightened humans.

On Culture

Ravi: “Religious” people bound to disagree with this. So are people who believe in rituals. Let’s go with it. Moving forward, what is the real meaning of culture? Is it something to do with the way we dress or speak English?

GRK:  Nice joke. “Culture” does not mean table manners. It does not mean sophistication in dress, diet, housing and way of living.

Culture means refinement- meaning culturing, softening and mellowing of heart. It means the development of RIGHT brain – Resourceful states such as love, tolerance, generosity, compassion, tenderness, non-violence and above-all, forgiveness. Real love means a great concern to co-beings, to co-human beings-nay to the nature and surroundings. This love-this great concern-to others and their sufferings is possible when only we accept them and appreciate them as they are; but do not attempt to judge them according to our pre-conceived standards. This love nay humane love is possible only through real culture.

Ravi: May I add that, in other words, culture means tolerance to others and their way of life, however crude or imperfect it may appear to us. When only we can appreciate other, we can give tolerance to them. When only we tolerate others then only we can feel love or concern to them. Then only we can be generous and forgive the human weaknesses. For this we need tremendous patience, especially patience to bear with those who are inadequate and vulnerable (Children, women, subordinates, etc.)

GRK: Well said. Culture does not mean the development of LEFT brain and its faculties alone. It does not indicate acquiring cleverness, smartness, IQ and manipulativeness etc. it also doesn’t mean an ability to remember and acquire information (wrongly called knowledge). It is nothing to do with having status, rank, power, privilege and an influence. It certainly does not mean an ability to compete and win. Even in these days of aggressive competition, culture doesn’t mean the manipulative faculty of a person to survive in the struggle for existence, which on the other hand is feature of a ‘jungle’(sic) and NOT of a civilized society.

Ravi:  That’s awesome learning. Is culture got to do with universal values, we discussed earlier? Our first PM, Shri. Jawaharlal Nehru said “Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”

GRK: Absolutely. Culture is a set of human values which are universal in scope, appeal and implications. Practicing of these values and this culture-a culture of compassion, concern, non-violence, non- aggressiveness and co-existence is the only way for lasting peace and brotherhood on this tiny and fragile Earth. Thus, we need to understand and define culture in a more humane way.

Ravi: Well, not to worry Shri.GRK. I asked my daughters if they know their friends’ caste(s) and sorry came the answer. The world is in SAFE hands. Not to bother. For the moment, let’s CELEBRATE Ashwin’s century - Help yourself with a glass of beer and let me get a glass of butter milk with its condiments for myself - A toast for his religiosity and culturedness – AND, a toast to his ever-supportive family and meaningful friends as well.

Signing-off with a straight batted six! Have a celebratory weekend. Happy Thanksgiving Day as well!

Yours Truly

Ravichander Venkatraman

Hidden Treasure Series – Part V- On ‘Jealousy’

My dear readers,

Am indeed grateful to Times of India (TOI) for giving me an opportunity as a humble ‘reporter’. Click for the article “Quality Time with Family counts” and the other, a masterpiece WHAT children taught the elders – as to HOW and how NOT to celebrate Diwali – Click for that story “Sound Bites: Go easy on Noise”.

Well, I take the debits for having discontinued the ‘Hidden Treasure’ series in our blogs, walking-the-talk with Shri.GRK and sharing LIFE JUICES. Well, NOW, i swear on Mother Earth, that shall key-stroke one per week till we complete the series and bring out the e-book on Amazon next year.

Ravi: A happy Sunday evening to you Shri. GRK. Today i am going to listen to you on the dreaded disease called ‘Jealousy” amongst mankind since time immemorial. I suspect that you shall DO something, through your enlightened thinking; share the naked truth, and ‘mantra’ as well - so that most ‘migraines among mankind’ are cured!

GRK: That’s nice to hear, Ravi.  However, not sure if migraines (Especially among women) be cured because of this sharing. Anyway together we can make an attempt.

Ravi: Tell us Shri. GRK, i see Jealousy as a weakness and find it more among the educated and ‘haves’? Why this anomaly?

GRK: “Jealousy is INDEED a weakness”, Ravi. “It is an intense FEELING which consumes more the person who feels jealous than who is the target of jealousy. Often it is due to comparison. A person who compares himself / herself and measures in relation to others, other things and situations; he/she feels jealous of those people and the things”.

Ravi: Are there any other reasons that could be the root causes of Jealousy?

GRK: Jealousy is also due to the sense of possessiveness. “We feel to possess things, gadgets, houses, motor cars, wives/husbands and children too. Whenever one wishes to possess somebody, (SAY a girl!) or something, and fails to possess, he feels jealous of that somebody or something”. The sad part is, “In our attempt to possess friends, girls and children, we forget that they have their own individualities, their own interests and their own will, and hence, cannot be possessed as dummies and tools”.

Ravi: Professor, we have witnessed people in power or the highly educated be “insecure”. Could that pave way for Jealousy – a heart-killer in real-life!

GRK: Yes, my friend – Jealousy is also due to the ‘feeling of insecurity’ nay, ‘inadequacy’ in one’s brain.  A highly dominant LEFT brain which is frightened of its realities and inadequacies, attempts to possess things, people, ideology, bank balance, religion or ‘love’, as a substitute for its inadequacy (feeling of insufficiency). The frightened LEFT brain feels possession as an anchor, as compensation and as a refuge. A frightened LEFT brain is a lonely brain. It is a desolate brain, which suffers from the feeling of insufficiency and inadequacy. Thus it lacks ‘peace’. Jealousy is the feature of an under-developed RIGHT brain AND an aggressive LEFT brain, nay, a possessive brain.

Ravi: That’s awesome learning – What I simply understand that Jealousy is a result of lack-of RIGHT brain development, notably, at childhood. We, in India, are conditioned to a particular religion, stream of study, ‘rote’ learning, societal conditioning etc – However the silver lining is, my dear GRK, Gen Y and Gen Z are different from yours and mine generation. They have clarity in their thought and an awesome RIGHT brain, furthered by Group activities in school, thanks to the eradication of a dreaded COMPARISON tool called ‘ranking’. Today it is ‘grading’, WITH both subjective and objective grading, you know well. And there are creative ‘projects’ activating Their RIGHT brain. Knowing their talent and the platform already laid to them, plus the opportunities in India, i swear professor, if their RIGHT brain is nurtured, there shall be many Nobel prize winners and more and more successful CLEAN entrepreneurs as well from upcoming generations - from India, in India, by Indians.

GRK: Yes, I agree on the upcoming generation To a great extent. We are in such a ‘rat-race’ that there is no time for people to introspect, FEEL people around them – Where is the time for RIGHT brain activities like ‘Caring and sharing? And knowing what their wards want?

Ravi: And, What are the implications when Jealousy breeds?

GRK: Jealousy breeds competition, nay conflict -It may result in sorrow, agony, sense of deprivation and a feeling of un-fulfillment, thus it becomes a self-consuming weakness-ultimately affecting the brain.

Ravi: Awesome learning Shri. GRK, helping understand the vagaries of human ‘brain’ behavior. Well, Shri.GRK, please could you share with us a ‘mantra’ for mankind to come out of this malaise- A source for ‘migraines’ or even ‘heart-attacks’!

GRK: Yes there are three ways. Very simple ones, indeed.

·         To STOP comparing things and people in relation to oneself.

·         To NOT to feel to possess things and people.

·         DEVELOP RIGHT brain activities consistently.

Ravi: Well, Shri. GRK, thank you so much for this ‘sharing’ and shall expect you to talk on ‘Self’ next Friday. So, long, THEN.

GRK: Thank you Ravi. Sure we shall share on ‘Self’ next week.

Folks, let me end this ‘piece’ with a quote from Aristotle on ‘Jealousy’

“Jealousy is both reasonable and belongs to reasonable men, while envy is base and belongs to the base, for the one makes himself get good things by jealousy, while the other does not allow his neighbor to have them through envy”.

i even loved this one from Van Wyck Brooks:

“Magnanimous people have no vanity, they have no jealousy, and they feed on the true and purity wherever they find it. And, what is more, they find it everywhere”.

Love

Ravichander Venkatraman

Let’s Re-Discover-TO-Discover ourselves - IN Career AND Life as well!

My Dear Wonderful brethren, sons and daughters of Mother Earth,

THANKS to the ‘digital age’ we live, have promised to MYSELF, that we share ‘one-blog-a-week’, every Saturday evening - failing Sunday Morning  - to readers from Arctic to Antarctic, WHEREVER, in Mars  - in our lifetime, or in Venus during Gen Y/ Gen Z’s lifetime – Wherever and Whenever  - there is ‘bandwidth’! Apart from the techies who MADE these happen, should we not celebrate the visionary SOULs of Late Shri. Dewang Mehta, former President of Nasscom, politicians like Late Shri. Pramod Mahajan, in India, who stressed the importance of providing ‘Internet bandwidth’ to everyone as along with the basic necessities of life Roti(Basic Food),Kapda (basic clothing) and Makaan (Place to live) in this ‘digital age’ a.k.a  Kaliyug. Let’s Thank them NOW.

Being a weekend, I thought ALL would read PEACEFULLY, thereby many would avoid BROWSING -  Many a time, we humans, “Missing-the-Juice-for-the-Taste” -  choosing to remain “Bolted-AND-Beated-in-the-Heat”, “Disagreeing-Agree, instead of Agreeing-Disagree”, many a time – our knowledge or wealth or physical beauty proving a bête-noire to ourselves!  - From ‘State Politics’ to ‘Sports Politics’, from ‘mundane Teachers’ to ‘mindless Terrorists’, In Parliament or Prison, At home or office, the situation is the same, isn’t it? No issues and complaints, whatsoever as ‘Life is a Package’, right? However, shall WE all say THANK you ‘Digital-Age’ for all the COMFORT, the ‘ubiquitous mouse’, to start with! Many SIMPLY AWESOME. Some, unimaginable for everyone to own, even a decade back – i.e. Mobile Phones, SAAS and Cloud Computing’. All societies always have marched and moved on. We ALL also have to move on  - and do WHAT? (Avoid WHY here) We move on only to…

‘Re-Discover-TO-Discover ourselves’. AND, in that, the only constant companion is ‘change’ – predominantly ‘mindset’ change - WHAT and HOW we think – IS it pre-dominantly LEFT or whether there is generous use of the RIGHT brain as well, like the ‘Sage of Omaha’ Shri. Warren Buffet to our ‘Living MK Gandhi-like  Shri. Manmohan Singh, or President Obama, the ordinary human who became the powerful Man on Mother Earth. “HOW to do that?, Ravi ‘boy’”, my friend R. Ravikumar a.k.a Ravi Yettan, is asking me NOW.

Simple. Very simple. However, whether in learning ABCD or Astronomy, we always should take baby-steps FIRST, isn’t it? The first baby-step HERE is Self-Introspection, with oneself sitting on both sides of the table AND seeing both sides of the coin as well. And THEN FEEL. The TRUTH about oneself. In my reading experience, have found that the legendary Tamil writer Shri. Balakumaran has always stressed in most of his novels on this – “As HOW to deep introspect oneself / situation – in Sex or in Spirituality?” There could be lot of techniques, including Yoga or Meditation or ‘simply NLP’. Choose what is Ogay with you, not ME. Nor your spouse. Nor your parents either.

WHAT of the WANT and the HOW  - To Re-Discover-to-Discover in Career or LIFE?

In any situation, career or in daily-life the basic LAW IS the SAME. The first fundamental LAW is :  WHAT DOES ‘ONE’ WANT? ( Read NOT What one’s kith and kin WANTED for you ). The ‘What of Whatever The WANT’, one has to decide. Not me nor their kith and kin, though, we ALL would bombard with inputs from our experience, whether applicable to YOU or not, mostly out of love! Love also has an other side, we miss most of the time. In Thamizh, it is called “Anbuth Thollai”! Many a time, WHAT we say have little or no relevance to ONE’s SITUATION, I have observed.

Once the WANT is clear, once one FEELs is measurable – THEN one has to work on ‘HOW of the WANT’ before getting into the little doses of WHY, ‘When’ and ‘Where’ wherever required. Also think of  some or many “mundane societal rules” and “archaic regulations” to change to achieve one’s WANT, if it’s in our purview. Shall we move on, Ravi Yettaa?

(Many of you folks who are in leadership or in ‘niche’ position(s), from Team lead to a CXO to a Scientist- who are looking for a ‘break’ -  Apply a ‘Brake’ from this ‘piece’ and ‘Take a break’ NOW. Am gonna SHARE with you the mantra I/we share with senior folks I/we come across while ‘Enabling Leadership Human Capital’ TO Organizations WHO CREATE ‘Wealth With Wisdom’.

Based on the feedback I received on my performance over the last 10+ years in Enabling People and Organisations, I FEEL I have graduated from being a charismatic ‘People Enabler’ THEN to a humble ‘Career Doctor’ NOW. Hence this particular sharing. I FEEL, many of you require help in ‘Resume writing’. Most of the CV’s are not contemporary – Those that catches the EYE quickly – Many have large doses of qualitative stuff – Little or no quantitative, most "FEELLINGLESS" - like a text book! Kind of "Statement of account" category. If anyone require a ‘Extended hand’ to get your CV done -  with your FEELINGS and NEVER “Just Queen’s English” You may write to our friend Ms.Suba of SLN Global Services suba.aspire@gmail.com Her profile is in http://in.linkedin.com/in/subaln I understand that if you are ‘delighted’ with the output, then they charge a nominal fee.

“Someone may write a better CV than her, Ravi”. Cool. That’s the first step. That alone, may not help oneself to  fully ‘Re-Discover-to-Discover ONESELF’. Folks, by default, being ambassadors to our clients, WE always share with the senior folks -  who seek a 'change' - a fair understanding of the WHAT, WHO and HOW of the Organization and WHERE are they heading NOW?  THEN I/We tell these folks to make a ‘powerful power point presentation’, on the following lines, to start with.

WHO are YOU and WHAT you bring to the Table? WHO refers to the quantitative brief summary of oneself, including one’s passion. WHAT ‘one brings to table’ refers to WHAT you specifically bring in to the Table is w.r.t. the Organization’s today’s needs and tomorrow’s WANTS. There are other aspects which we share with them to complete THIS simple but effective exercise. Many a time, especially my post NLP period, applying some of those simple and effective thoughts, WORDS, techniques and learning’s, has helped the senior folks, to help them ‘Re-Discover-to-Discover THEMSELVES’, Some decided to call it a day and ‘be on their own’. No issues, if G&W coffers don’t fill up as a result if their decision, after THIS exercise. We look at relationships. Preferably Long term. 

As far as possible, WANT has to a realistic ONE, some may even look “Not achievable”, first instant. Deep ‘Self introspection’ would reveal wonders about oneself. CAN be only FELT by oneself. THEN, one would start to love oneself. (One of the Powerful Diamonds shared in our earlier blog dated Sep 17,2010) “Do you know WHEN most of us THINK and CARE about ourselves”? The answer is shocking  - but true, brain scientists have found. That is, during our sleep in the night, when our benevolent RIGHT brain is verily ACTIVE. No wonder humans get ‘dreams’ only during the night, and not during day! Being, a ‘moon walker’, since college days, I have observed my Principal mother earlier and my Professor wife now, talk to themselves during SLEEP– Most of the time it is related to their work and for THEM ‘Work is their Sanmaargam’, like for most Japanese and for many Indians who ‘work-to-death’! For me, it’s NLP. For you, it could be Budhism. For him/her something else or simply NOTHING. Sanmargaam is best defined “THE Path(s), One needs to take to attain salvation”. ‘Victory’ or owning a ‘Ferrari’ is quite obvious here.  In fact they are significant at the start. Then they might become insignificant, to SOME, later…

Like, the ‘scholarly and sage-like tech czar’ whom am going to meet on Thursday Oct 28^th – Shri. KVR - A techie WHO Once built and owned ‘Ferraris’, in fact  helped many OWN as well – Then gave many away, some to build a Shirdi Saibaba  mandir to spread HIS teachings - Is today monk-like, unlike a monk! Is today working on finding eco-friendly  and 'economically viable' solutions for the benefit of  'human-kind', especially in Renewable Energy. I have a WANT to share with YOU  - His sage-like advises, nuggets of wisdom, some diamonds AND some ‘PURE fresh juices’ as well! You too, don’t you? ‘Furthen’ THAT WANT of OURS to make it happen as dunno if he will have the time. I have lots, though!

I sign off sending truck loads of ‘Godiva Chocolate-like LOVE’ to all of you, to your wonderful families as well.

Anbudan

Ravichander Venkatraman a.k.a G&W Ravi, a ‘brinjal’ to one of his Guru-like human!

Democracy is THE Freedom to USE one's Brains!

This ‘piece’ is dedicated to Gen Y and for  Gen Z, both for whom I am happy dedicating some of my TIME today)

My dear 'Many Playful  Brothers' and 'Many Matured' Sisters,(Read Younger to me, some exceptions either sides, I LOVE them All – As "Life is a Package" isn't it?)

Read and enjoy  the ’The Hindu’ column -  Conversations with the Self - Click the following link:

http://www.hindu.com/mp/2010/09/13/stories/2010091351040300.htm (OR) http://www.ttsrinath.com/articles/Self/Conversation%20with%20the%20self.pdf

Re-read and 'Munch' the INFERENCES, AND then 'inhale' the learning RIGHT NOW, this magnificent 'nugget-of-wisdom' given to us by Shri.Dr.T.T.Srinath(TTS), an ‘institution’ by himself today. Comes across as a 'savvy-sage', a ‘doyen’, a rare 'gem', we HAVE amidst us -  WHO, in an 'Outstanding career'  wearing many ‘hats’ - Has ‘shared and  cared’ for many 'humans' - From CEO's to his car-driver and his family as well! Drink from the 'Ocean of Gyana' @   http://www.ttsrinath.com/articles.htm if YOU WANT, especially the one's on Self-Management, Organisation and  Entrepreneurship should you further WANT to quench your thirst of SEEKING ‘knowledge’ from PURE sources!

Let me share four ‘real-life’ SITUATIONs NOW, where people have USED / MISUSED Democracy! Read on…

1^st Situation

The Scene: IPKF in Srilanka, Late 1980’s – TRUTH narrated by my ESSAR colleague Capt. Banerjee(Ban) who served as an Army Captain, fighting the LTTE. Well, the ‘real’ story is, when his soldiers captured a house, where, supposedly, the family of local LTTE head was staying. His friends(YOU MAY LIKE to call them ANIMAL-like later!) in IPKF were “eyeing lecherously” and “lusting" for the beautiful fiancée of the said LTTE leader, in the house. My friends in Srilanka had also earlier shared atrocitites commmitted by IPKF to the Tamil women in Srilanka when all they were supposed to do was peace-keeping! I FELT few perverted souls having tarnished our glorious armed forces. Folks, here goes the climax. Take a DEEP BREATH…! After some days, during a bitter fight, my wonderful friend Capt. Ban was SAVED from a “gory” DEATH by the same LTTE leader - As a favour of Capt Ban. being very stern to his men NOT to touch any women-folk! There were ‘landmines’ all over them and our friend was saved, his friends too were, thanks to Capt. Ban’s value systems and using his creative brain that instance! Shall we salute Capt. Banerjee NOW, wherever he is NOW. AM doing. RIGHT NOW. I haven’t met him after 1997.

2^nd   SITUATION

 I wasn’t inclined in LEFT brain activities, I suppose. Always wanting to ‘Take the road less travelled’ The Destination was only sometimes sweet. The journey was beautiful, though, all the time! Can you do yourselves a favour  or after some time?- All of Gen Y and Gen Z MUST Watch the Tamil movie “Maaathi Yosi” – with friends. Available on the InterNET. ‘Google’ through!. I want to watch with you ALL in any class of theatre! – Lot of LIFE lessons!)

For our Final Year Engineering project work, ‘we took the road less travelled’. Being a production Engineer - Instead of doing the normal machine shop related Final Year Project, our TEAM did something NEW, in those early ‘computer’ times in 1988. We developed an inventory software in C/Dbase and applied in a REAL LIFE situation with REAL data from a Textile mill in Madurai. During the ‘Viva-Voce’, one of the highly “Left Brain” dominated “EQUATIONS” professor stopped us during mid-way (I haven’t entered the scene, then) and remarked “This is NOT what is required of a Production Engineer – You may REDO”!!! TRUST me, one of my studious mate almost “pissed in his pant(s)” and he was always in the top 5 in the class. The other ‘class topper’ friend of mine, who developed the marvelous software looked at me to take over.

REST is history, folks – ‘Yours Truly’ gave a quick summary  and THEN gave a punching BLOW, producing the ORIGINAL letter from the Textile Mill ‘MD’, which acknowledged that THE Software developed by these Students of REC, Calicut would save Rs.20Lacs/annum! Big amount those times,isn't it? We not only convinced ‘A doubting Thomas-like’ Dr. Prof. .X, but stood first in College – in Project assessment! Many did do back-breaking and ‘beautiful masterpieces’ as well  - in machine shops. But we were awarded FIRST!  (However, I shudder to think if we had to REDO after one year!  Out of 5 guys in our project batch 3 would have gone NUTS, for sure!)

3^rd SITUATION

Recently a Church priest in the US,(US, they SAY, the “epitome” of EXTREME democracy and “epicenter” of ARROGANCE!), proclaimed that he’s going to organize burning ‘The Holy Quran’. Thank Almighty, President Obama intervened! Surely as  President Obama opined, there would be MORE joining the MOVEMENT against America had the priest DONE what he WANTED to do! Isn’t it? 

4^th Situation

Hope you all remember recently, HOW, one of the top Naxal leaders ‘Col.Azad’ was murdered by THE “police” after being escorted for peace talks!!! (With Swami Agnivesh as mediator!) Do you think, by this “double-cross” and “stabbing at the back” method and tactics, adopted by the current Indian Cong led Govt, would BRING PEACE? This may not be relevant for you and me, for NOW. And do remember folks, Naxalism is spreading-wider in India across over 10 states, spreading FAR and wider, in many forms and shapes, thanks to decades of “Exclusive Growth” being followed and practiced in this wonderful ‘Mother India’, EVEN NOW. 

INFERENCES, FEELINGS and SHARINGS about all ABOVE SITUATION(s):

Capt. Banerjee in the 1^st SITUATION, my awesome ‘project leader’ Shri. B.Viswanathan and ‘Yours Truly’ in the 2^nd ,President  Obama in the 3^rd, Agnivesh to an extent in the 4^th have ALL used their benevolent and creative RIGHT brain to FLOURISH - to come out of the SITUATION, with gains on all FRONTS.  They have also used their ‘Analytical’ LEFT brain, though, only to a lesser extent! Capt. Ban COULD have allowed those animals and himself also to “prey”(Sic) on Thamizh women in Srilanka, I could have shouted at the professor or could have kept quiet like other mates of mine,  President Obama could have kept quiet (Token of acceptance!) and Swami Agnivesh would not have taken the risk, for human good! Am not sure if he would or other ‘Spiritual Statesman’ or ‘Living learned Sages’ would EVER mediate with the Naxals on behalf of the Govt? Who are the losers? You and ME. Of course. HOW? Will blog Later. Some may take the ’juice(s)’ in this blog and may not even read that one.

On the contrary, Dear, People like Capt. Ban’s army of “SOME Animals in Humans” – (Read SOME soldiers in IPKF) in the 1^st Situation, that professor who nearly KILLED all of us ‘mentally’ with his “ONLY Analytical reasoning”, devoid of any creativity in the 2^nd, the Church priest in the 3^rd , the Indian Govt and the Police force responsible for “murdering” of Col. Azad in the 4^th have ALL misused democracy. THEY NEVER used NOR were taught to use their CREATIVE and benevolent  RIGHT brains, I suppose – As MANY of us still have the colonial hangover! “Folks, the BRITS left us for GOOD, 63 years back!”

  

“WHAT is Democracy”, THEN, Ravi?         

1.        Is it Freedom of Speech alone?
2.   Is it freedom to flaunt/hurt with our newly found wealth or wisdom in this ‘Kaliyug’? (which according to me  started after World War II)
3.   Is it the freedom to burden women-folk with many chores – from ‘Kitchen to Kaasu’ (Money)?
4.   Is it the FREEDOM to STOP anyone achieve their WANT through “ubiquitous rules”(Sic) and “archaic regulations”, arrogance or ignorance?
5.   Is it AVOIDING or IGNORING the ‘elderly’  and the ‘deserving’ NEEDY?
6.   Is it parents or elders pampering young children’s minds, thrusting upon them TO DO without understanding WHAT their wards WANT?
7.   Is it spending “mindlessly”- from ‘tech gizmos’ to tutorials?
8.   Is it  dis-respectfully, in arrogance or ignorance ALWAYS “disagreeing-agree” OR WORST plainly (without thinking) ‘agreeing-agree’?
9.   Last but not the least, Is it ONLY “Exclusive Growth” as we see in some parts of the world, including “shining” India (in parts though?)

 “Any thing more to ADD to the above LIST”, Ravi? I don’t know. One may fathom more.  SHARE them.

All I’m SHARING is  - READ and CHERISH the Topic and THE HEADLINE NOW.  ‘FEEL IT’, ‘DO IT’ and ‘LIVE IT’, if YOU WANT.

Before signing off, according to the learned, “Democracy is simply the Freedom to use one’s brains” - The CREATIVE Right brain in particular. Our “over-used” LEFT brains need to be ‘Quietened’ and THE ‘benevolent’ and ‘Creative’ RIGHT brain activated fullest. May I further add that “Democracy is all but ‘Inclusive Growth’ and that it allows people to gently ‘agree-disagree’ most of the time or sometime OR  sometimes ‘agree-agree’ on SOME or MANY things. NEVER ‘disagreeing-agree’ on ANYTHING.

Cheers to ALL who read AND SHARE this ‘piece’ with anyone relevant. NOW, Ravi is performing a ‘WAKA WAKA’, with ALL of YOU, ‘wonderful’ Gen Y and Gen Z. Love YOU ALL. Un-conditionally.  As YOU are. And, if am destined, ALL of us together will do a ‘WAKA WAKA’ one-day, technology helping us to do from wherever we are!!!

Note: Ravi is enjoying his democracy, and hence grateful to Almighty to be born in ‘Mother India’, this birth. In the Next one, also Don’t wish to be born anywhere - May be in BHUTAN, where they talk and ‘trying-to-walk-the-talk’ - Of ‘Gross Domestic Happiness (GDH) and NOT ‘Gross Domestic Product’(GDP), we all have mastered! More on that later…

A wonderful and HAPPY weekend to all you ‘wonderful’ SOULS. Like the I ones, I am fortunate to ‘witness’ last week, during the 4-day programme, at Rajalakshmi Engineering College, Chennai

Anbudan (With Unconditional Love)

Ravichander Venkatraman