SILENCE !!!!!

Silence…… A state which in one way can be defined as a total lack of audible sound………………………………………………………………………………………..

The above stated brief definition looks quite rigid with little or no flexibility.  But why a post on Silence when the whole world is buzzing with lots of happenings????

Simple!!! The more the world is progressing, the more void it is creating and thereby paving way for SILENCE……

SILENCE literally may mean an absence of an audible sound but this seven letter word may take an altogether different meaning under different situations..

Now I being in the academic profession encounter quite a variety of silences.. Silence in a classroom when I teach and explain gives a positive impression.. I feel a sense of satisfaction that I am able to reach out to my students.. Silence that sometimes prevails when I ask questions in the class just annoys me to the core.. I try to introspect myself..

A person’s silence is basically interpreted in many different ways.. When we are a part of a group that is engaged in an aggressive discussion about a topic our silence may be treated in variety of ways by individuals of our group.. Some may feel we have little or no knowledge whatsoever about the topic….. Some may interpret that we wish to maintain a neutral stand as we don wish to become pages of a bad book.

In some situations our silence just pays us heavily as we loose opportunities by not speaking and by not clearing our stands ….. Sometimes silence becomes a very powerful tool in assessing things better than if it were spoken…

But are there situations in life where silence gives us an inner peace, comfort and provides us with a sense of pride????? Yes there are situations in our lives when these feelings keeps touching our soul just as waves of a sea touch the sands of the shore….. it is the tendency of human beings to fall short of words when they are too happy or either too sad…. There are few instances in one’s life when our silence is mistaken as our weakness…. Sometimes we maintain silence because that becomes the need of hour.. Situation makes us so mature that we do not wish to counter react and justify ourselves though we have the capability to break the silence…We don’t feel like  presenting the scenario to the whole world from our perspective.. We let go few things because holding on to them will only cause us more misery…

Technically speaking silence exhibits polymorphism!!!!

SILENCE THUS TRULY SPEAKS A LOT!!!

Poison that GLITTERS !!!!!!

Poison that is glittering gleefully in every home with a wicked smile on its face !! Poison that is being loved by children and adored by teens…. Poison that is being purchased with lots of interest by parents….. Poison that is being praised for its superficial beauty and ironically inner evilness…

I talk here about a very malleable metal called LEAD !!!! Forget paints that have lead content. Now the beautiful and the envying ornaments are not spared. A recent study by an NGO named ‘Toxic Links’  shows high lead content in artificial ornaments. All the samples that were taken for study showed the presence of lead in varying quantities, some of them 1,000 times more than permissible limit.  Pink , bright orange colored samples contain giant amount of lead and are the first ones to be sold out because they are truly attractive and cheap. It is not only the case with colored jewelery but non coated jeweleries are also found high with lead content.

NOW WHY LEAD????

Here is the answer… Lead is durable and can be molded into shape very easily. It is corrosion resistant. It makes jewelery eye catching and attractive.

HAZARDS????

List would be endless but let me name a few. Young children are very easily prone to lead poisoning.  A child’s IQ level can drop down drastically.  A carrying mother exposed to lead poisoning may cause harm not only to herself but also to the unborn. Anaemia, minute skin rashes to sever skin ailments, abdominal pain, constipation, sleeplessness, headache, irritability are common affects of  being exposed to lead poisoning. Affects to the central nervous system, severe heart and kidney disorders  are also seen in people having high lead content in their bodies.

The unfortunate thing here is our country has no law that enforce limits on lead content in raw jeweleries, toys and other products in contrast to the European countries and the US where the law is very stringent. Its time not just to raise voice but also make it sound loud!!!!

So folks it would be totally silly to blame somebody for the situation we would be in tomorrow if we do not take preventive measures now.  Explore the consequences well in advance before bringing  AN UNWELCOME GUEST home !!!!!!

STAY SAFE !!!!

My experience as a PRO

I in this post would like to share my experience I had as a Presiding Officer(PRO) for the 2008 Assembly Elections.  I got a surprise when I was told that I have been assigned the duty of a PRO. I kept on wondering that it was  just the last year I had actually casted my first vote and now I am supposed to be a PRO.

To be frank I was quite happy with it because I hardly knew the responsibilities of a PRO:-) But it was then when I started enquiring I began feeling numb… My another problem was reading and writing Kannada.. I have done my schooling uptil 8th standard outside the state… So when I came to my native I had to learn from the scratch right from Aksharmala and that was a tough ask.. I studied kannada only for two years and was done with it… I have the notion of only simpler Kannada words.When I got to know that all the forms to be filled and the study material provided for the polling process is in Kannada I started to panic.. Everyone I  had approached basically had nothing so exciting to say about a PRO’s role.. I was getting only negatives to hear.. One of the reasons to it could be people who were assigned this role before may not have had a good experience… Somewhere after hearing this I started to loose my confidence..

Me and my friend who also got this very same responsibility went to the district collector for the change of designation in the election duty….  When I spoke to her about assigning us some other role, this what she had to say “ I have assigned the job to engineers who are supposed to be responsible and I in no way will entertain the change of designation“.. Her words were a bang to my face… As I was coming out of her office I realized I had no obvious choice but to just go for it…

Then the series of training programs started… We had three rounds of training programs with hands on sessions as well… I started realizing how important my role is… PRO is a person who is totally responsible for the polling in a given constituency just as a project manager is responsible for the project completion..  I was getting familiar with the  risks involved in it as well… I had met my team during the training program..

Then came THE DAY.. I was assigned Saukoor constituency in Byndoor… We had to go to Kundapur the day previous to polling to report and collect all the materials right from small tags to the  ballot boxes…. We finally boarded our bus.. I had so many questions hovering in my mind… How is my team?? how will I fill in the forms?? Will the polling be a success???? I knew I had to wait for  answers..

We reached our destination , a school where polling had to be conducted.. The locals were truly helpful… A very well known temple was adjacent to the school.. I knew somebody is there to help me out for sure… We were accommodated by the temple priest and I thank him and his family for the wonderful hospitality.. Will never forget the wonderful coffee he had prepared for all of us early in the morning…

Then came the much awaited  day.. After taking the blessings of the Goddess we kick started the polling at sharp 7 in the morning.. It looked like a never exhausting queue… As I went out for a regular round to see how the queue looked like, I could hear people whispering “‘she is the PRO” and their eyes looking at me.. I was feeling the power then which went totally unrealized.. I had the authority today!!!!!

An altercation broke between two agents belonging to two different parties and it was duly sorted out by me and my team…Everything was going flawless….. We reached the end of the polling.. It was 5 pm.. Bang!!!!! the doors were shut down.. I had to seal the ballot boxes.. Meet local politicians.. put signatures on official documents and sign off…..

I would be totally doing an injustice if I don mention MY TEAM… The team comprised of Mr. Sanjeeva, Mr. B. Laxminarayana Rao, Mrs Celestine, Mr Harish, Mrs Vimala and two security guards.. It was a family working towards a common goal… My head just bows down in respect for Mr. Sanjeeva, a calm and composed person.. A humble and a truly down to earth man..I know how much I have troubled him for filling up the forms:-) I vow my team members a lot…

With a sense of satisfaction we all left the place again back to Kundapur and surrendered all the official documents with the  ballot boxes.. We all departed in Udupi.. “I have learned a lots from u all” this was what I kept on silently telling to my team….. Job is just half done… My duty would be over once the results were out and I had to keep my fingers crossed.. After  some days as the results were out I had finally the time to rejoice..

“ I have assigned the job to engineers who are supposed to be responsible and I in no way will entertain the change of designation“..I thank the DC for those words which made me face the challenge… I truly appreciate the way she works, the grace she has in herself and the way in which she handles tough situation…..

The journey of election duty was challenging and the results were fruitful…. This is one such instance which I recollect today and tell myself challenges makes you bring out the best in you!!!!!!!!

Atithi Devo Bhavah

Awesome phrase is it not???? Ministry of Tourism , Government of  India has introduced  “Atithi Devo Bhavah Program” that aims in sensitising key stakeholders towards tourists through a process of orientation and training….

Undoubtedly this program is creating awareness among the common mass of people.. This is something the tourism ministry is doing to promote tourism in India……..

But in our everyday lives does Atithi Devo Bhavah mean only foreign nationals… Atleast not for me….. Anybody who comes as a guest to my house.. anyone who comes to my hometown as a visitor are  also people to whom I can equally apply this phrase….

Respect has always been a part of the Indian soul….We have always respected our teachers, our elders, our parents and our guests…….Its the same nation even now… But now people are changing ironically!!!!!! We have lost the attitude of hospitality we were once famous for ……

Let me take the example of my own hometown which is just thronged by visitors from different places.. How kind and polite are we towards them???? I wish to quote few instances which I have actually visualized…. My hometown, Udupi is known for temples….. Most of the times the temple and adjoining areas  is filled with people… People who are visitors stand in a never ending queue for that one glimpse of  the LORD….. But we do have people who are  locals coming from the other end and doing Darshan… Result???? The queues is never moving ahead.. Visitors which includes young children and elderly people keep waiting and just waiting…… I have seen it not just once but several times…. I personally have raised this issue but just as expected could find nothing changed…

Whats the solution to this??? I have made it a point that either I stand in the queue or if the queue is huge then at-least not to enter from the other end….. Just stand far away pray and come out…..

Another incident is related to the parking issue… It happened so that I had once parked my vehical near a tourist vehical.. There was  no NO PARKING sign board at all….. We had actually parked our vehicals in front of some houses.. When I came back, to my surprise I saw a traffic police collecting a huge sum from the tourists.. And me??? I was politely asked not to park here anymore !!!!!!! Why this distinction?? Because I am a local…. I should have have been equally treated or the other party should not have been fined…..

Its not just the temples or incidents related to parking.. Even hospitals are no exceptions… And its not something that is acceptable…..

I am not generalizing this rude behavior.. Many of the locals have openly shown their resilience to such behaviors (parking issue is one such example) and  hats off to them…..

Its a simple logic… If someone in a house is rude to you wherein you are a guest, you don’t encourage others to go there….. Let us not make our place a hostile environment.. Its not just my hometown, if every individual everywhere incorporates the attitude of compassion and hospitality then the world would be a much better place to live in….  Let us not become  literates who are totally uneducated….

Something’s Missing

Folks the next post goes with something I have missed and will be missing throughout my life.. Its the warmth and love of my grandparents…. I never had the experience of being with my grandparents….. I was too small when I lost both my maternal and paternal grandparents…

I have seen houses that glitter with  grandparents… Every child needs a grandparent to grow more securely into an unfamiliar world. Whats it that a present day generation misses out???? Its undoubtedly the unconditional love of their grandparents…… They miss the warmth, the humor, the child like heart, the pearls of wisdom… This is the pathetic present day society.. We just loose and loose under the pretext of  being a  perfect family staying aloof from people who really are gems to us….

Giving a present to grandparents, celebrating grandparents day, giving them surprises…. Isn’t it awesome and satisfying…… I have missed this and I do consider myself very unfortunate….

Grandparents sprinkle a kind of stardust over the life of grandchildren.. Often it so happens that a grandchild sees its grandparents as icons…  They set examples.. They are the people with wisdom of sages… We learn from their experiences.. Thats why we do have phrases like ‘Grandma’s recipes’,’ Grandma stories’ and many more of them…

They are the ones for whose lap children fight over… They lend a ear of concern to their grandchildren… They never run out of hugs, compassion and kindness…….

But let me ask a question??? Why do we run out concern for them?????Why do we become so mean and cruel that we forget that those skinny and feeble hands are longing for ours to hold on??????????

We become self centric…. We lead a materialistic life… All are in search of a perfect family.. Which is totally imperfect… A family that has no human values….. The gravity of bonding is zero…. This is what we are today!!!!!!!We are too busy to lend ears to them.. We have started to laugh at their childlike behavior..Their advices looks silly to us and out of context….

Aging causes a lot of changes in ones body…. creaky bones, diminishing vision are inevitable.. Mental status changes drastically.. Behavior becomes childlike.. All these are natural phenomenon which is not self inflicted….. But we are too intelligent to understand this……

I have seen live examples where these elderly people are abandoned forever….. Its disheartening that these elders  rose a family so admiringly and their loved ones just without thinking twice abandon them.. They are made to live in Homes governed by someone else…. Some face even worst calamities…..

When will we learn????? When will we be humans again????  I know what I have missed.. But its not the case with all….. Cherish the angles that you have……. In the autumn of their lives they are just waiting for that one gesture of love and compassion…………………………………………. Let us not let them down……………..

Practice Compassion……..

Hi all… Long time since I wrote anything   Reason…… I AM TOOOOOO BUSY…….

Friends sometimes I feel what  have I done for the growth and betterment of our society……. It always had been a dream for me that I should actively do something for our society… May be towards the betterment of downtrodden women, orphans, physically challenged and the like…… But frankly speaking it is not materializing….. I remember that in my school days few of my interested friends and I had been to ‘Manasa’.  Its a school for mentally challenged children.. We also found few grown ups there….  We spent our entire day with them… We taught them little bit of drawing.. Played games.. Distributed sweets…I just cannot explain you all  the happiness and contentment that I had.. When I recollect it I feel that yes I  have done something though very very small…..

Show compassion.. listen to  somebody who wants to speak up.. UNDERSTAND THE SILENCE……

Its not just me..Most of us aspire to do something honest.. something selfless..There are several factors which sometimes serve as a hurdle though…..
BUT THERE ARE MANY THINGS THOUGH NOT SUBSTANTIALLY BIG BUT WORTHY ENOUGH WHICH CAN MAKE US AND OTHERS FEEL HAPPY ….. I read few things from an article which I liked a lot…Very simple but worth following..

1.  HELP AN ELDERLY PERSON CROSS THE ROAD.

2. PLANT A TREE.

3. GIVE GUIDANCE TO A PERSON LOOKING FOR CERTAIN ADDRESS.

4. FEED BIRDS.. PUT SOME BIRD SEED AND WATER ON YOUR WINDOWSILL.

5. DONATE BLOOD.

6. GIVE OLD BUT REASONABLY GOOD CLOTHING’S TO SOME CHARITY.

7. DISTRIBUTE SWEETS TO CHILDREN OF A GOVT SCHOOL IN SOME REMOTE PLACE .

8. LEAVE  GENEROUS TIP FOR A WAITER AT A SMALL RESTAURANT.

9. SEND  NOTE OF SUPPORT TO, OR VISIT SOMEONE WHO’S GOING THROUGH A TOUGH TIME.

10. GIVE UP YOUR SEAT TO SOMEONE ELSE IN A TRAIN OR A BUS.

11. PAY A NEEDY CHILD’S FEES.

12. WRITE A LETTER OF PRAISE TO A PUBLIC SERVANT FOR DOING A  GOOD  JOB.

13. BE A GOOD LISTENER TO SOMEONE WHO NEEDS IT.

14. GIVE A LIFT TO SOMEONE.

This list seems endless.. but do try it out…… Its amazing…. even in our busy schedule there is always room for kindness and compassion….

Can we save our NATIONAL PRIDE??????

Yes can we save our national pride???? U heard it all right….. AM TALKING ABOUT THE 1411 (approximate) TIGERS LEFT ALIVE in our country…….Tiger the proud king of the jungle whose realm was unchallenged by anybody gradually fell prey to the greed of humans…. Tiger hunting became a  matter of pride to the kings.. now though the era of kings and rulers is a past, tigers have not found  a sigh of relief….

Tigers are drastically falling prey to poachers who just get a  high price for every organ of the helpless mammal…. And thanks to the people who do a planned encroaching of the tiger territory leading to a  dwindling tiger population….

Tiger was chosen as the national animal of India because of its agility, strength, grace and enormous power… Its a symbol of royalty… But now the very symbol of royalty is being disgraced to the core…..

1411 just 1411(approximate)…its alarming guys……day is not far when the next generation would ask “dad mom how did the tiger look like”… and the helpless mom and dad would browse the internet or some other sources to show some well documented videos…Its pathetic is it not??? zoos without the national animal… white tigers are on the verge of being extinct and soon the others would follow them…

What can be done???? Send messages.. blog.. create awareness….. Give up items which are a matter of luxury…. tiger claws used in chains and necklaces…. I don know what people relate it to..But to me it just indicates their cowardliness.. Stop using medicines having tiger bone mixture.. stop using items made up of tiger skin..I firmly believe in the phrase‘ WHEN BUYING STOPS , KILLING STOPS ‘.

Timely reports of illegal land encroachments  to the concerned authority can do a whole lot of good….There are many many many many things that a lay man can do in the interest of this national animal of ours..

Its not  just the question of tigers… Its about all the animals that make up the beautiful wildlife.. Many many spices of birds and animals are on the verge of being extinct..

PLEASE LET US NOT MAKE TIGERS  A HISTORY…… CONTRIBUTE TO THE NOBLE CAUSE OF PRESERVING OUR NATIONAL PRIDE IN EVERY LITTLE WAY POSSIBLE…

The unsaid so far…………….

To be very frank I never knew that I would be writing or to be very precise drafting my first post on a sheet of paper at 3 am on 26th Dec…. Wish to say something which I think I have hardly spoken till date….My blog goes with the phrase “NO WAR PLEASE” …… I think I would have not  got a better phrase than this..

WAR …….  Though a three letter word but its mighty enough to destroy everything…. “War is a state or period of armed hostility between two or more separate entities aimed at reorganizing a subjectively designed, geo-politically desired result.” Well this happens to be one of  the definitions of war which I barely understood..

War among nations , war within a country, may be a civil or an ethnic war…. We have also seen examples of cold war between nations and its impact too..

But what about the war within oneself ?? the armageddon that happens within oneself constantly… Yes do this, its right.. No do this, this is right………… Eventually we end up doing nothing.. neither this nor that… We constantly engage ourselves in a relentless and never ending battle…. where there is no victory but the battle itself becomes more fierce…What I mean to convey is human mind is a repository of many unspoken, hidden emotions.. We face many instances in life…. There are many challenges we face. May be related to career, family and many more…. the pressure build up is so high that we ultimately give up…

What is the impact???? Frustration, anger and a feeling of being lost in a world of abyss…. We without our knowledge become not so good in the eyes of our loved ones… Reason???? We tend to show our frustration , anger on people whom we love and adore.

But we forget that everything has a limit……We unknowingly create a barrier between us and our loved ones…. broken relationships is the Aftermath of this War………

There are several ways to end this never ending chaos that silently takes us away from our loved ones… But one has to really try hard for it…..

I wrote this post because I have seen relationships broken down to ruins within no time……. Which is the greatest loss of  one’s life….. I was very much touched by the English movie Dragonfly( Saaya happens to be the remake in Hindi)……Morale was pretty straight forward……Something unsaid gets conveyed through some means to people by their loved ones even after their death……

God sends only few people who loves us truly in the form of our parents, friends and others… Let us not loose those angels in our lives……

Is it so difficult to end the war within ourselves?????? NO at least not at the cost of our loved ones………