October 22, 2015

DANDIYA DANCE

DANDIYA DANCE

 


Dussehra festival is celebrated in India with the roots based on two events , both of which have been incorporated in the festival celebration. It is celebrated for the same reasons but in different ways in different parts of India. 

It is a time for holidays for all and the beautiful thing about India is the togetherness of people in celebrating festivals whatever the festival might be. 

It is a wonderful excuse for festivities, enjoyment, colorful dresses, visiting places, and above all a feeling of being together that can be electric and celebrative. 

The significance of Dussehra too is to be noted. It is the victory of Rama over the demon Ravana who had abducted the wife of Rama, that was Sita. Also Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahisasura. 

Thus both the interpretations mean the same thing at root in a symbolic sense. It is the victory of good over evil. The victory of good over evil is an exultant, triumphant feeling. The whole of human history is a tortuous journey of ups caused by good and downs caused by evil. When people win over the evil, they heave a sigh of relief, reaffirm their goodness and humanity and feel on top of the world. 

This is because being free is the most beautiful feeling, and a natural happiness . To be happy we MUST weed out the evil. That is our human function. Fight for the good by the good to end the evil is the watchword. And when that happens, there is and must be celebration.

The Dussehra is significant in our troubled and volatile times. Random and devious but extremely cunning leaders are taking the world straight to the dogs. We must hold the banner of the good, and never rest till we weed out the leaders who disrespect us and think they can rule us.

Who is evil? Anyone who has the impudence to think, that the common man is a fool. But as they say, do not underestimate the common man. Men can believe, but how long? Your game will be up…let us celebrate Dussehra and commit ourselves to the goodness of the good and kill without mercy all types of blind fanaticism, power lust that comes from hatred and envy.

Man is good, too good, if you let him be…let man win, let anyone who comes in the way through force realize that force will and must be met with force based on full moral right!!

Happy Dusshera to all men and women!! Jai ho!!

October 19, 2015

3 THE USE OF METALS – COPPER & BRONZE

9) CHEMISTRY – PART 2 

THE BEGINNINGS OF CHEMISTRY 

(3) THE USE OF METALS – COPPER & BRONZE

 


Long back the ancients accidentally discovered copper. Copper is usually not available in the pure native form. They are mixed with other substances and that is called as copper ores. Well, the ancients might have burnt blue green copper ore without realizing it, and then they must have discovered the strange, unusually shining metal when the fire died out. This was copper and they understood what to do to get copper.

From then on copper was made and another thing they learnt was the casting of copper. When copper is heated sufficiently and melted, that liquid copper can be given any desired shape and after hardening that shape remains. 

But copper had a problem. It is too soft, and cannot be used for implements where strength is needed. A way harden copper in some way was desired and then by accident an alloy of copper and tin was found and that alloy is bronze. This must have happened when both tin ore and copper ore burnt together by accident. 

This new metal was so strong and so useful that the age that followed the discovery is called Bronze Age. 

Bronze really ushered in the power of metals and it became a serious business for all the kings of the age to ensure a good supply of Bronze. Bronze was used for all implements, decoration, coinage, and war implements. 

Bronze led the way to iron simply because Bronze is difficult to obtain, but Bronze remained supreme in its usefulness.

October 16, 2015

DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL

DUSSEHRA FESTIVAL

 


Dussehra festival is celebrated in India with the roots based on two events , both of which have been incorporated in the festival celebration. It is celebrated for the same reasons but in different ways in different parts of India. 

It is a time for holidays for all and the beautiful thing about India is the togetherness of people in celebrating festivals whatever the festival might be. 

It is a wonderful excuse for festivities, enjoyment, colorful dresses, visiting places, and above all a feeling of being together that can be electric and celebrative. 

The significance of Dussehra too is to be noted. It is the victory of Rama over the demon Ravana who had abducted the wife of Rama, that was Sita. Also Goddess Durga killed the demon Mahisasura. 

Thus both the interpretations mean the same thing at root in a symbolic sense. It is the victory of good over evil. The victory of good over evil is an exultant, triumphant feeling. The whole of human history is a tortuous journey of ups caused by good and downs caused by evil. When people win over the evil, they heave a sigh of relief, reaffirm their goodness and humanity and feel on top of the world. 

This is because being free is the most beautiful feeling, and a natural happiness . To be happy we MUST weed out the evil. That is our human function. Fight for the good by the good to end the evil is the watchword. And when that happens, there is and must be celebration.

The Dussehra is significant in our troubled and volatile times. Random and devious but extremely cunning leaders are taking the world straight to the dogs. We must hold the banner of the good, and never rest till we weed out the leaders who disrespect us and think they can rule us.

Who is evil? Anyone who has the impudence to think, that the common man is a fool. But as they say, do not underestimate the common man. Men can believe, but how long? Your game will be up…let us celebrate Dussehra and commit ourselves to the goodness of the good and kill without mercy all types of blind fanaticism, power lust that comes from hatred and envy.

Man is good, too good, if you let him be…let man win, let anyone who comes in the way through force realize that force will and must be met with force based on full moral right!!

Happy Dusshera to all men and women!! Jai ho!!

INDIA’S DAUGHTERS

INDIA’S DAUGHTERS

 


HOW LONG SHALL WE PRETEND THAT WE DO NOT SEE?

THAT 15 CRORE GIRL CHILDREN ARE NOT LITERATE 

THAT 92 WOMEN ARE RAPED EVERY DAY… 

THAT 60% OF WOMEN ARE VICTIMS OF WIFE BATTERING AND MALE CRUELTY 

THAT 40% OF GIRLS DO NOT WORK OR ARE NOT ABLE TO WORK TO THEIR FULL POTENTIAL… 

AND WE ALL KNOW WHY… 

YET, 

WOMEN STUDY BETTER 

GIRLS SCORED MORE 

THAN BOYS BY 5 % FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS 

IMAGINE WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF WE TREAT BOYS AND GIRLS JUST THE SAME? 

KALPANA CHAWLA AND SUNITA WILLIAMS ARE THE WOMEN WHO WENT TO SPACE 

Chanda Kochhar, CEO ICICI Bank 

Vinita Bali, MD Britannia Industries Ltd. 

Kalpana Morparia, CEO J.P.Morgan 

Indra Nooyi, CEO Pepsi Co 

AND MANY OTHERS 

ARE THE TOP BUSINESS EXECUTIVES IN INDIA TODAY!

JHUMPA LAHIRI, ARUNDATI ROY, ANITA DESAI, KIRAN DESAI HAVE WON PULITZER PRIZES 

SAINA NEHWAL AND 

SANIA MIRZA ARE WORLD CLASS PLAYERS 

14% WOMEN IN THE TOP 5% IN THE CORPORATE WORLD

DO YOU NEED MORE PROOF THAT WOMEN ARE THE SAME AS MEN? 

HOW DID THEY ACHIEVE THIS? 

HERE IS WHAT SOME OF THEM SAY… 

ALL THAT A GIRL NEEDS IS WHAT ANY HUMAN BEING NEEDS… 

LOVE, RESPECT, GUIDANCE AND FREEDOM… 

ARE YOU READY TO DO THAT IN THE WORLD AROUND YOU? 

WOMEN AND MEN BOTH MUST SUPPORT WOMEN 

AND THEN… 

YOU WILL SEE THE POWER, THE SHAKTI 

UNFOLD IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES!! 

IS IT TOO MUCH TO ASK? 

THINK ABOUT IT….......

October 13, 2015

CAREER DEVELOPMENT

HOW DOES ONE IMPLEMENT A CAREER VISION?

HOW DOES ONE IMPLEMENT A CAREER VISION?

 


Remember, every field begs for work, for innovation, for somebody to pick up new ideas and bring into existence what was not there. This can be in any field. No field is small! 

There are literally thousands of ideas waiting to be implemented and nobody to implement them! That is the tragedy – the lack of supply of true workers, true learners, true human beings. 

Yet, at the end, it is SIMPLE, POSSIBLE, REAL. 

You learn, you see things and then you see that so many things can be brought into existence by your knowledge and then you fall In love and continuously work to achieve your vision. 

Yes, there will be hurdles – many of them. A new vision as a rule is unacceptable immediately. But a visionary start working. He works all the time and doesn’t wait for big success. Hence he gets it! 

You must ACT, you must start working because you love it and then it spreads and spreads. Why? Because it is true, practical, a value. A true value will, in time, be accepted. A visionary is not worried about success. He knows he cannot fail. He only has to wait. If not today, tomorrow he has to win. 

This is a very important point. 

A visionary does not think about succeeding, he need not, because what he has seen ( to him ) cannot fail; he has seen it, if today the world cannot understand , tomorrow they have to . Why? Because it is true and everyone needs it. So one day he wins. And he is not surprised! 

He does not suffer, not really, deeply because he has seen and he is working. He is peaceful, deeply. He is passionate and peaceful and patient. That is why he is joyous. You understand, he owns his knowledge and vision! Nobody can take it away! There cannot be anxiety and worry then! The very concept is impossible! 

M S Subbalakshmi knew too well what she knew and loved. She saw what she had to do. She did it. You see, there is no doubt, no possibility of it at any step! 

That is why such visionaries can face anything. Their courage too is unlimited. In history some died unrecognized –like Van Gogh. But Van Gogh knew what he had done; in ten passionate years he had achieved it! 

A visionary knows the value of life and his work. In that he is happy. Fame, money, position, is secondary and now you understand why their primary love is their work, not fame, money, position . 

The steps to implement one’s vision 

First, commit yourself out of self love, self valuing to true ambition. Tell yourself – “my life is important, I am important and I must live a great life, find life, learn and achieve it. 

Decide upon a career, a field. It could be anything .Trust me. If you have any special something, OK, otherwise decide on something and then stick to it, commit to it and develop a passion in it. 

You must start a process of true learning – asking questions, searching, reading , finding out from people. As you begin to see, truly see and understand, you will develop an interest, a strong one it. 

You go on and reach the end of learning, the light – the principles, the essential in your field. 

At this time, you will see hundred ideas that can be developed and brought into the world. You will fall in love with your vision. 

You start and not worry about success. Your struggle begins in service of your love. 

In time, not too long, you will get your chances, it will spread and spread and you will accelerate 

You will be peaceful and courageous in this whole period because you have seen the value of your vision and you are working, no doubts existing in your mind! 

You go on and on from success to success and reach the end - your vision brought into reality, functioning and benefiting the world. 

Your vision is actually infinite. You go on till the very end from success to success and leave a great legacy creating what was not there before and thousands and millions benefit. 

You will have lived a passionate life – the only true meaning of life.

October 12, 2015

WHAT IS A CAREER VISION?

WHAT IS A CAREER VISION?

 


We talked about acquiring knowledge, a real personal, interconnected deep understanding of your field. Real knowledge, true learning leads to a VISION – a clear picture about what you can do in the world. This is the most beautiful, most precious thing in the world . It is this that becomes the source of unlimited energy, enthusiasm and joy. It is this that leads to breath stopping action and work.

Once Pt. Ravi Shankar saw the light in music, once he understood music (not just accepted and repeated) he at once saw what was possible to him! He saw himself composing, rendering music without end! He saw himself on an adventurous journey where he would learn on and on and play on and on !

He had found the secret and knew that no one could take away this from him. It was not money, fame , position that he was seeing In the future. (though he got all these things). He was seeing what he will bring into the world that didn’t exist before, what he would do with the sitar and how he would give the same joy to millions.

Think about this. This kind of feeling of power (it is a great power!) to create great values is that trembling , is the ecstasy , is the laughter!

This is true of all great visionaries. Dheerubai Ambani after learning, truly learning about his area of business saw- as a vision – what he could do for India. He knew and saw and was sure- 100% . That was the root of his communicative ability! HHhh He carried ever body along! It was so clear to him his idea- and so practical and true , he could not remain still , he had to go on and on and on and he crossed all hurdles and achieved his vision !

Think of Gandhi, Mother Theresa, Sunita Williams, Einsten, Henryford, Bill Gates, Steve Jobs , M S Subbalakshmi.… all the great visionaries. Their fields were different but all learnt truly and all then saw their path and all were filled with an unlimited energy, passion , excitement and joy.

Who would want anything else if this is possible and real?

Dear reader, this is what happens after you truly learn, this is the creative principle , the very source and meaning of life . Life is nothing but learning and finding one’s clear vision and then making it true.

Now, do you understand, true knowledge is power – literally. It is not some empty, boring, dead thing. Oh no! It is exciting, pulsating with power. It is life itself!

In fact, true learning makes you realize that life is infinite! There are not one but hundred things to do! And you formulate and develop the full, lifelong purpose for yourself.

So obviously that purpose will not be limited. It will be unbelievable big. Ambani’s - “ I will change the face of India “ is a vision . “ I will earn a million “ is only a limited ambition. You understand , a vision is naturally , by its very nature , a big one.

Serena’s and Venus’s father saw his daughter ruling women’s tennis. He actually did. Jawed Habib used hair dressing and turned it into his vision.

A vision can be anything but since it flows from true learning, it encompasses the whole world.

It is unbelievable to ordinary people who are blind to this world. It is clear, simple, obvious, sure and exciting to a man who has seen it to be possible through true learning.

Yes! Learning and vision, knowledge and action are one! They are inseparable. To know, truly know, is to then see its applications, see what is possible and then it is to get excited and passionate, work and work and achieve the vision !

So, once you have finished your learning, you will naturally get hundred ideas of what can be done, the values you would bring into the world. It is here that you find your love ! Your vision, the possibility of what can be done, your new creative idea is your supreme and prime love.

And then you will go on and on, knowing no rest. You will work and work and no one can stop you .

How does one implement a career vision? We will see that in the next section.

October 11, 2015

THE ART OF TRUE LEARNING- WHAT IS TRUE LEARNING?



THE ART OF TRUE LEARNING- WHAT IS TRUE LEARNING?





The guru of Pt.Ravi Shankar ( The sitar Maestro) once said about Ravi Shankar that “it was as if he had discovered a great laughter and he has been laughing since then….”

There are many who learn sitar for years but none of them seem to discover that “great laughter”

Such examples can be multiplied without end……

There are many who paint, sketch, sometimes quite well in the sense that everybody says they are good but there is something that happens to a Ravi Varma (say) or a Picasso. These painters never stopped and more – they continuously grew, they went on & on & on trying, experimenting as if there was no end or no limit……. Again that “laughter”

I met an Indian movie director once and we had a long chat. In the course of our conversation he said “you know there are secrets to making movies. Once you know it , it is easy “. A year later, I read that he had won the national award. “ Secrets”, “laughter” “passion” , “ madness” – what is it about the learning process that some people become really crazy about it ? It is as if a lightening has hit them and they are changed ! It is love . People in love behave like this. But these people love things, fields, subjects. After all it is just a subject why should one become crazy about it?

Notice that in our schools, colleges – as a rule nobody seems to be crazy like that. We have periods, bells, text books, exams, competitions ,dull students, toppers but no one who talks about subjects as if he has gone crazy?

Nobody likes studies. In fact studying means boring!. The words have become synonymous. Laughter, secrets, madness on one hand and duty, seriousness and boredom on the other hand, again a duality. Again we come to point where a question needs to be asked.

What is true learning? When do we get hit by something? How is it what we discover the “secrets”, the “laughter”? Let us proceed to explore this whole business of learning fresh, sincerely with our mind & heart.

I will start with a shocking statement and then I am going to discuss it.

The majority don’t know anything, not really ,truly . They think they know but in fact, in reality they don’t.

The above is a sweeping, statement but the tragedy and wonder of the world is that it is true .

Why do I say that? What do I mean ? After all people do know something. After all they do go to school, do degrees, PGs, even Ph.Ds. They work too. If they didn’t know anything then how can they pass and how can they work and earn?

When I say that people don’t know anything I mean that the thing they know is not real, is not seen by their own eyes, mind and heart. It is a thing logically, superficially accepted but not as a real, actual truth, phenomenon and reality.

If you really know not many things but one thing, if that one thing you see, you comprehend and say “Yes! It is like that in reality and hence true “, you would be hit and your mind, your brain centers (so to speak) will open and be on and you will go on from there and start finding and discovering things. You will be led one after the other and for the first time discover the beauty, the magic and above all the wonder of our world…….

This point is difficult to understand but it is simple if I give you an example. 

Many people ‘know’ what causes ‘night & day’. We will accept it and now we say we ‘know ‘it. I challenge even this.

What causes ‘night’ & ‘day’? The earth turns once every 24 hours. When it faces the sun, there is day and when it doesn’t it is night. Simple. But do you agree? Do you feel it? Do you really feel that the earth is moving? Where and what is the evidence? How did we know it?

And why does the earth rotate (and revolve too). You see, the ‘answers’ & ‘ explanation ‘ when given to you didn’t hit you . Otherwise you would wonder about the above questions naturally. You would have brooded over it and worried about it. It staggers the imagination. doesn’t it? The whole earth moving in empty space and the sun constantly giving light for millions of years. Look at the number of questions then that can occur to us? Who or what put it in motion? How did it happen? When did it happen? When was the earth formed? Why? How? How does the sun give light? What is happening in the sun? And life, what is life? Why is life there in earth alone? You can go on now………hundreds of questions are triggered on your brain, even philosophical questions ……. Why are we on the earth? Is there a God? If yes, what, how, when? If no, who created that concept ,when ,why ?

You see plants and animals too having life? You look at a cat or a dog an insect or a plant and wonder …when did these come into existence, your teacher causally tells you life came a 300 crore years back and then life evolved … This staggers you … such a complex thriving , all working like clockwork, precisely began only a 300 crore years ago and then evolved ! That too only on earth ….. This process leads to almost all the questions and hence all the answers are laid open for your eyes to see and to understand. The very questions laid open the answers and you feel only now you understand , you are now seeing things ….you feel the power, the complexity and the simplicity –all at once , incredibly.

Laughter!?

Yes! A laughter rises from deep within you, you feel like the first man, the only man now . That is vision, sight understanding –the very meaning of being a man.

That is the godlike thing called true learning! The majority don’t know deeply because whatever they know they accepted without feeling, savoring, understanding, questioning and thinking. Why? Because they were not honest, simple, humble. They never thought or even knew that they can understand and see. They just accepted. And it is not really real, true, convincing to their own minds.

October 10, 2015

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR CAREER?

ARE YOU HAPPY WITH YOUR CAREER?








Whether you are a working professional or a student, the above question is very important

Are you happy with your career?

Is it precious to you, meaningful to you?

Do you get up every day and want to rush to college/office and start the exciting day?

Do you feel a tightening in your belly when you think about your life and the great things that are going to happen to you?

Do you feel an unlimited energy and enthusiasm towards your career /field?

It us such a terrible tragedy that the above feelings towards one’s work are extremely rare. 99% of the people are caught up with their busy schedules and do not find the time, the space, the peace to think these things. 

Thus they are forced to become followers. They follow the crowd. And what does the crowd follow? They do a job –a good paying one by which they mean a little more than average pay scales. They marry and have kids. They follow all the conventions set by society, they work for respectability , a bank balance and in the process forget their deep, inner desires and actually needs. A strange fear settles in their soul, not fear of some real danger. It is more an insecurity about life. They know they have missed and are missing real living, they carry an undefined pain and guilt and they can’ t even identify that in themselves. 

They are now driven to work. Note this point. The motivating factor, the ruling factor in their lives is not love but fear. It is fear that makes them run, it is fear that makes them shut their minds to their true desires and needs, it is fear that pushes them to make friends 

They adjust to this life and they define themselves as much lesser than what they could have potentially been. 

Isn’t the above true?

Isn’t this the reality all around us?

Yet happiness is possible. Energy and enthusiasm are real. There are people like that, the true, great leaders who do live like that.

The key to the psychology of great leaders who are deeply happy ,who get a great kick out of life is NOT genius or intelligence; it is courage , daring and lack of fear.

They demonstrate a daring to examine, question the things society tells them .Them develop their own vision of their life. They do not blindly listen to others. They take as their role models not their immediate boring people, but great personalities .They suffer from no complexes, insecurities & fears!

Their attitude is: I want a great life. I will work hard for it. I will die if I do not achieve great things. I will find out, I will not, cannot (!) settle for less!”

You see ambition, true ambition, not narrow, limited ambition, dominates their imagination. 

In that process of thinking, fear vanishes. They too fear, feel insecure at times but fear is not in the driving seat. It has been thrown to the back seat; they hate fear, weakness and following others .They love their life and cannot even imagine less than the greatest life.

All of us, each and every one of us, have this true ambition deep and hidden in our hearts. But we adjust and agree to live by the demands made by the society around us because we become lonely, frustrated, pressured and develop deep fears. We are always carrying that baggage and never even for a moment, do we feel free, hence joyous.

So you see, dear reader, it is not your ability as such, or your potential that limits you but your own decision to live a limited life! Only that!

You can become happy and develop an unlimited ambition, energy and passion towards your career and life.

For that you must understand that you do not really have to live like that. There is nothing to lose but only to gain if you decide to live life the way you deeply and really want. 

Remember, dear reader, you are a human being , you are born for joy , you can say that you are good enough but it never becomes true and deep within you know it. The truth is that you are born for greatness and a joyous life.

It is more than possible, it is natural! Now do you see the tragedy, the real tragedy of the world? It is not poverty, terrorism, corruption, lack of values. It is this “shutting one’s mind “and limiting one’s life by coming to wrong conclusions.

Many people say the following one time or the other in their lives. 

“I am not talented. I am average “

“Greatness is not practical. After all I will starve if I think these things”

“Everybody is better than me and I can never be good. Great people are born. I am not brave .I am not like that”

“Why fight? What for? I want to be happy & adjust. I will lose nothing “

“Great people are special. Me? A genius? Oh no!”

“I am happy. I am fine “

“People will not give you a chance. You have to adjust & compromise”.

“Why should I bother? Who am I to change the world?”

“ I don’t love anything. What is love?”

This book will, hopefully, give you the clarity you need to truly understand life and liberate yourselves from the shackles- invisible but real- that society forces and influences you to carry. 

First we discuss true ambition and how to develop one foe yourself.

Then we make clear how you can be a great learner and blast the fallacy of “I am average. I am not talented”

Finally we show you how a VISION, a lifelong work emerges from true learning and how to implement it!!

Happy discovery!!