lessons for the humans from the birds

                             Lessons for the humans  from the birds 

One day, I was sitting in the balcony, and was sipping the hot tea at 6AM with total calmness in my mind. I was enjoying the power of silence and peace existing around aro . I was aimlessly  looking at the trees, the sky, the paper boys and the   milk suppliers . I was also watching the butterflies sitting on the flowers, the parrots sitting  on the neam tree, the crows and the pigeons flying in groups hurriedly in groups. I understood that, all of them were very busily engaged in the task of collecting their morning food and water. Sadly the sparrows were missing, I know that, these birds would get their food from residences and hotels and roadside eateries. But I am not sure whether they would get sufficient water in the water deficit city like Chennai.

Birds seem to have an amazing and enviable life. It is because, their needs are minimum and hence their life is simple. Their basic needs include only  food, water and shelter and not even clothing which is fundamental need to human’s. There is no need for them to take  efforts to look better . Hence there is no need to take special care about appearance through better dresses, make up or accessories. They don’t  strain themselves to  maintain a particular status to impress others. They don’t  resort to corrupt  methods  since they don’t have  to accumulate  wealth for their seven generations    They do not think about past and future and seems to live only for the current day..  They do not have to spend on the health, food and education needs of their offspring’s for at least 20 to 25 Years. They do not bother about settling them in life  till they get their life partners  or  carrier  for survival.

Look at their simple philosophy towards their children! They look after them and protect them only till their wings become stronger and enable them   to fly independently. They do not tag along their children forever  and interfere in their life resulting in conflict of interest between elders and youngsters. I think the birds community does not even recognise their parents or siblings once they go out of their parental nests . Bird observers might throw light on this matter. They have no expectation from their children  and hence there is no disappointment even if they do not meet them again in their life time.  Empty nest syndrome does not affect the birds. I think they are not in the habit of   complaining about loneliness or neglect or abuse by children in old age.. The birds are not affected by the hassles of modern life such as, competition for survival, materialism, recession,   inflation, pollution, etc. They don’t have to bother about inflation and balancing their budget since they live on the motto of “live for to day.” They do not accumulate things for posterity. They are brisk, early risers ,follow orderliness in their  daily tasks .

We can draw many lessons from their life they are   

·        Early to rise and early to go home..

·        Eat only until yours hunger is satisfied .

·        Share your food with others when you have excess over your needs.

·        Move on groups. It is safer.

·        Mind only your business .

·        Do not tag along children after they are grown up.

·        For contentment in life keep requirements to the minimum .

Valuable lessons indeed to enjoy peace of mind .

Indias daughter

This article written by me was published in Beyond Head lines, an online magazine on ,10.3.15                                                   

               “India’s daughter” - a meaningless opposition

 In this era of communication revolution, strangely, the Indian government believes that by banning one documentary “India’s daughter,” India’s image regarding treatment of women would be protected. In reality, whenever   a book or film is banned, people’s curiosity is kindled to know about it .For that same reason I saw that film in U Tube before it was lifted from it. The statements  of  Mukesh Singh,  the rapist and of the  two lawyers didn’t shock me, because worse statements have been made in the past  regarding rapes in India by politicians who happen to be MLAs , MPs , ministers and an ex Chief Minister of  a state  and also by judges, police officials and by Khap Panchayats . This document has academic value since, it is narrated through a simple format, crisply edited, and everyone’s views recorded without any bias and focused on its main theme. It covers all the aspects of the rape crime viz., the general mind set of even educated persons like the lawyers in the matters connected with women, the behavior of men when they are under the influence of liquor and brave heart’s fight for survival. According to me this film should be shown in every college in India  I t should be  for part of sex education so that, the girls would have a clear idea regarding the unsafe environment in which they live and the mind set of not only rape offenders but also of men in top positions. This understanding would help them to take suitable self protection methods when they enter into the outside world for education , job or travel .This film will make the parents think  about the ways in which they have to mould the character and values of their sons. In reality this film has paid rich tribute to the women of India through filming the narration of the mother, the angry reaction of young India, women activists, ordinary women and working women who rose in revolt against the barbaric crime Their prolonged protests, candle light processions and angry outbursts made the then government to appoint the Varma committee and made them to enact a new Law against Rape offence. Through this film the world will get a chance to see the women power of India. India’s image was already dented severely when it is ranked 4^th among the countries unsafe for women and when some countries issued guidelines to follow when their women travel in India. This film might help in elevation of India’s image a little by filming the use of the potentiality of women power against injustice done to the daughters of India. Nirbabaya’s case was  only a last straw in the camel’s back . The film maker would have chosen to produce documentary  on Nirbaya’s case which happened in India  to show case to the world the uprising of Indian men and women  against a barbaric crimes committed on Indian women . This is the answer to those who repeatedly  ask “why a film  on Indian Rapes  alone ?”

Women Day's significance

The purpose of  Women’s Day is deeper. It is the day when women have to decide about  the need to be economically independent , so that tahy can live with dignity and without being abused . It is the day when they are expected to  assess their  skills and potentialities and take a decision regarding their future goals in life . It is day when they should analyse about the various resources at their disposal which would help in achieving those goals. It is day when women should decide dependency on women should be totally given up. It is day when she should realise  that her safety and dignified living can not be provided by the government or laws or  police or parents of  institution’s head but, by her own wisdom , self protection methods and avoidance of unsafe surroundings. On that Day when women achievers are honoured they motivate others to lead  and productive life instead of reaming as wasteful human resource There is nothing wrong in celebrating it , because as home makers and  they contribute to the well being of the family and  the society and as carrier women in organised and unorganised sector to national income

AAP affairs

             The victory for AAP  in Delhi is not Kejriwal’s alone. Thousands of well educated and qualified volunteers have left their lucrative jobs in India and abroad to lend support to the  new party which promises “change” in the political atmosphere of India. Many intellectuals have added credibility to AAP by their support and by their  productive role in shaping the constitution ,framework and principles of AAP  which appealed to the voters in Delhi and elsewhere. It is not good for the future of APP, if the founding members of the AAP  party are treated shabbily one after another and made to exit unceremoniously, unmindful of their productive contributions to the party . If   violations  in the basic principles of the party are pointed out due to genuine concern about the image of the party, they are to be   met with genuine answers and not by sacking those who raise them..  

iNJUSTICE TO POOR SENIORS IN THE CURRENT BUDGET

It is very strange that in a  country where millions of poor elders do not get any pension at all or get between Rs 500 -1000 a month, the income tax paying pensioners complain after every budget’s presentation that,  their saving capacity  gets dwindled due to new indirect taxes  and yet, exemption limit is not raised  .The Federations of the Senior Citizens Associations have been demanding, for along time , a  universal pension of Rs 2000 to all the poor seniors in India to enable them to meet their basic needs and to live with dignity in their sunset years without being abused by their caretakers, who are also poor. This demand is socially justifiable and economically possible . Hence,  the present  government can some how mobilise  resources to meet this demand , because poverty in old age is very cruel and painful .

The budget -2015

We have read and listened to the elaborate discussion on the budget presented by experts , and people representing  different sectors . The corporate sector is happy But to the real   estate sector , the common man and to the  farming sector this budget is a huge disappointment. The real estate sector is  very unhappy since, it has not been considered as part of infrastructure and the increase in the service tax to 14% will prove to be quite burdensome to the home buyers though it is  the largest employment provider and second largest GDP contributor to the Indian economy,. The common man is going to be over burdened by higher freight  rates of railways, excise duties, fuel prices.-and the  service tax. This budget has not presented any mechanism to save the farmers from their terrible economic strains. More over ,Huge reduction of funds for the Union government-sponsored projects in the Budget is going to affect the state finances .    

The budget -2-015

The much expected budget was presented on 28^th February and the opinion of all the experts ,politicians and the common men were  heard and read . The budget proposals always  burden few sections and benefit few other sections Growth via greater productivity and jobs creations and reducing income inequality   seems to be the major aims . Proposals to un hoard  Black money look grand . May be we will achieve higher growth rate, because of the priority given to the corporate sector as expected from the BJP government. But we are  frustrated with  the  promises  for narrowing down of income in equalities and control of black money , because we are not going to achieve them  in our life time  or during our children’s and grand children’s lifetime since,  no government is serious about these goals and they know about it. .