Shiva: Living with all

Writing this exactly in the middle of the Shivaratri, sitting alone in my room and watching a rare photograph (in fact a snapshot of a painting) of Lord of the lords Shiva; is something really thrilling for me. Just got this photograph of the Mahadev somewhere on the internet; and with it, got a flood of different thoughts and feelings in my mind.

Shiva is the oldest worshipped deity in the world. Unborn and immortal, the most powerful destructor yet the savior, he is being worshipped everywhere by all, since infinity. Right from the tips of the Kailas where they say, he resides, to the southernmost corner of the land at Rameshwara, Shiva is worshipped everywhere in India. While he is the deity of Sadhus who forsake materialistic world in search of the spiritual or sometimes of the ghostly world; he is also being worshipped by the people who enjoy family life. From warrior Kings to Vaidik Brahmins, from rich to poor, from technocrats to tribals, all worship the Mahadeva. Shiva accepts delicate flowers from the artists as he is the master of all fine arts while on the other hand, Ghost catcher Tantricks offer him skulls and ashes and he accepts that with equal pleasure.

Shiva rules over ghosts and also rules over arts. He blesses the demons and also blesses the gods. He forsakes the worldly relations; still is a family man. He is destroyer and creator, too. He is hot tempered and naive too. He is fearful. He is lovable. He is ugly. He is attractive. He is mystic. He is simple. A brutal killer, a passionate Lover, a caring husband, a loving Father; still out of all this, Shiva is a Yogi who enjoys Samadhi for ages together. How many personalities reside without any conflict in this one person? I think this is what makes him a Lord of the lords.

In fact, all personalities of Shiva do reside in every human being, too. But, Shiva becomes the God of all Gods because he lets all the personalities groom and show. Like us, he never lets the injustice happen with any emotion of himself, he never suppresses any of his personalities. When he wants to win fear, he wanders through the crematoriums, and embellishes himself with hot ash of incinerated corpses. When he wants to dance, he forgets whole world and makes it a ‘Tandav’. When he wants to make love, he makes it with all passion for ages. When he wants to express grief, he lifts the dead body of his wife in hands and walks whole world screaming in her remembrance. When he is pleased with the penance, he gives anything and everything asked by the devotee. When he is angry, he beheads his own son. When he wants peace, he goes into Samadhi, and if someone tries to disturb, he burns him into ashes.

Instead of indulging into the futile exercise of winning the emotion, Shiva goes natural and lives with the emotion, giving the emotions the due respect they deserve. He stays with all and this is the way how he stays out of all. Like in Dvapar Yuga, Shrikrishna stays with all -- with thefts, with Rasa Leela, with running away from warfront, with sixteen thousand and one hundred and eight wives, -- and still he becomes 'Yogeshwar’ by staying out of all. Shiva, too, is a Yogeshwar.

Just think once about people like you and me. Countless of personalities and infinite emotions we murder day and night. How many of us kill artist in ourselves for money-making job? How many of us suppress our tears just to show that I am strong. How many of us don’t laugh and don’t dance on being happy; just to show that I am modest or mature. How many of us need liquor to be strong and speak truth. How many?

Well, no one, even other deities could not become Shiva because Shiva is the free soul. He is living ‘with’ all emotions and all differentiated personalities, without keeping them aside. What we can do is just a try to give justice to as many emotions, and as many different aspect of our own personality. I think, one can do this much, for sure.

Respect for Love

Most of us celebrate it as a day of love while others ridicule saying that love is for all the time, and why to restrict it for one day? With number of people in its support, and many in the opposition, Valentine’s Day, probably enjoys (?) its most controversial status when it comes to India.

Views may defer completely on why and how to celebrate Love on this one particular day; but, Valentine’s Day provides a fresh opportunity to write on the most beloved subject of the writers – Love! Right from a three-line haiku to an endless epic, everything has been, can be, is being, and will be weaved around this phenomenon since the ages and for the ages to come.

Well, the day faces criticism for sure; but the phenomenon called Love for which it is celebrated, never (ever) faces any controversy even if being so diversely understood and explained. There are countless, completely contradictory expressions, explanations and stories of love, still, it is accepted with all different views and expressions universally that Love is something best, one of its kind, and greatest!

So, if all understand that all believe in superiority of love, then why fights are still there?

This is what comes into my mind. Everyone agrees on the fact that no one opposes Love. No country, no religion, or no philosophy says that Love is bad. The opposition, the controversy, conflict and quarrel begins with the way to express love. Elders hate it when youngsters hug and kiss each others publically. Conservative people find it as an insult of Indian culture if Indians follow the foreign customs like Valentine’s Day. Simply, not Love, but the way of expressing it creates controversy. Then what is the way out?

Recently I was reading the Marathi translation of Dr S L Bhyrappa’s milestone novel ‘Parv’. It explains Epic Mahabharata with an Aanthropological point of view.  In Mahabharata, every human race (The Kshatriyas of different clans, Rakshasas, Nagas, Gandharvas, Devas and many more) has its own customs and traditions and it proudly maintains those. Other races, too, respect those traditions, even if they may be having complete contradictory practices in their respective clans.

This respect is the reason why many races, traditions, civilizations prospered in India making it a great land of unity in diversity. If we start respecting others’ traditions, without disrespecting our own; there will be ‘zero conflict’, on most of the issues, including Valentine’s Day.

Literature and life

Writing this piece from a well updated and swanky media centre established in the campus of Rajiv Gandhi Engineering College Chandrapur, which is all decked up to host the annual extravaganza of Marathi literature – The Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan; is simply a great feeling. While roaming around, I can see reporters from various media groups – some new faces, and some very well known; taking notes, filing reports and sending emails. Being an insider of this media brigade gives a proud feeling. And this proud feeling doubles, when I realize that I am here to be a part of a literary event – one of the most prominent literary events of the modern age – The Sahitya Sammelan.

Millions and millions of books around on hundreds of stalls; and if one starts taking a round of this exhibition seriously, even three full days of the festival would fall short. One after another, the symposiums on various subjects and orations by literary greats would be the special attractions. Poetry summits, story telling events, and cultural events will add more colour. Literature is something out of the world phenomenon and traditionally it has influenced one and all. Literature has initiated revolutions – social and political, it has shown path to the change-makers; and it has done probably the greatest work of documentation of changing thought-process of human race. Still, the organizers have to call film stars and theatre actors to attract crowds at the festival. Well, whether this huge number of college-going youths was there to see them, or due to the compulsion (probably made by their respective colleges), is still an unanswered question though; because, film stars are no more crowd pullers these days. Does it mean that the youths were there for the love of literature? This probability also fades as the number of youths turned in to visit book exhibition was very less than those who participated in the rally. Then why they were there? As I said before, just because it was made mandatory to them.

The event began in the evening with eminent speakers stressing mostly on the thought-process of youths. They said it is dire need of today to let youths know about the literature and its importance. They took blame on themselves saying that the generation of seniors failed to produce literature attracting youths. But, is it really true? Is only the so called low quality of literature responsible for poor reader-connect?

What I think is what I experience. I used to read a lot during my school days. My parents made me read some trademark novels of Marathi (Mrutyunjay, Yugandhar, Rau, Chhava, Yayati, Swami, etc) when I was in high school. Then, as soon as I started going to college, I suddenly stopped reading. Even if being a student of English Literature, I preferred to refer the ready-made notes as reading original text was very much time-taking for me. But, I used to concentrate the lectures very carefully to note down anecdotes shared by my lecturers, who, most probably, must have read all the original texts.

If someone used to ask me, what I was reading at the moment, I used to answer – ‘Nothing. And why should I read?’ I used to think that with Internet, all information is there on my finger-tip and I should not waste my time in reading. Well, my memory, or say, anyone’s memory is not like computer’s, that remembers everything read. So, why to stress the memory and read when the ready-reference is available right besides you?

Well, well, well! I started my professional life and realized that I was a biggest fool. Human memory is not like computers, yes. And believe me; it is better than the computers’. When we read something good, it pleases us. Then we forget it and read something else. And to our own surprise, the thing forgotten re-appears in our mind suddenly, at some moment, catching us unaware! Our brain captures something interesting, stores it somewhere in an unknown zone and re-sends it to our main memory box whenever we need it. This exercise of brain is very interesting. Once, we start reading, we start realizing this amazing capability of our brain.

One book gives thousand reasons to think. Our brain starts interlinking the books, comparing the thoughts, and much more, which we don’t even realize. All this happens automatically. Hence, now, I again read, just to see the amazing qualities of brain.

Accessing Internet gives instant information, and that is very important for that particular moment. But, reading literature teaches life.

Ethics: Changing or losing?

Was busy in some important work these days! Yes! This was the only excuse I gave to all my friends who kept asking where I was all these days, and why I discontinued writing this blog.

Well, civic body elections are scheduled in my city and journalists are busy in ‘various’ types of work. As a local daily, my newspaper is also taking out special pull out pages, fondly called as advertorials, and frankly called as paid news. Being a part of news room, I am deployed to make pages, compose the data of ‘achievements’ and highlight it on the page using as many ways (tricks, in fact) I know. I am getting handsome amount for that, no doubt. In corporate, they use the term remuneration or compensation for the payment. I think, ‘compensation’ is the most suitable term for the money I am receiving to compose the paid news. Compensation for the compromise I am making with my journalistic ethics.

Well, I am very new. Who taught me about the ethics? The books and the universities! But, life outside the books is different. Does it become ethics just because it is quoted in the books? Or it become ethics because the great elders practiced it in their era? If change is the most constant phenomenon, ethics may also witness the change. So, is it the new form of ethics? Praising someone ‘in newspaper’ for money? Is it journalism or its mockery?

Good or bad, but the change is here and there is no doubt about it. The ‘Mahavishnu of Mount Road’, even if being a ‘Bhishma Pitamaha’ of the ethical journalism, is facing stings of arrows from the so called unethical ‘marketing’ tactics of the corporate news house. “They are not doing press. They are doing cheap marketing,” one of the visitors from Chennai, who was brought up with The Hindu, expressed while we were having discussion just after Times Group’s entry in Chennai. Almost three months have passed after this discussion, and now the television advertisement war has begun. To The Times of India’s offensive commercial, The Hindu retaliated with some exclusive punch lines doing justice with its age and dignity. The bottom-line of this war is the same. What is the real journalism? What is the real ethics? Are they changing?

If the journalism of courage or journalism that speaks straight-forward truth, being non-favouring and non-bias is the ethical journalism; then people, be ready to pay twenty-five rupees a day for a newspaper. In today’s era, media is no more neutral. It shouldn’t be – as it meant to stand for the right. But, being with the right every time, may invite troubles, the deadly troubles. And in today’s age of growth and money, how many of us could take up troubles?

The age, where even the pious work of imparting education has become money-making business; and where they charge class-wise money for the Darshan of the almighty in a gold-plated temple; how one could expect a small newspaper shouting only for the principles – for the ethics!

Exactly, here lies the root cause. Ethics are missing from every field, basically, from people. Principles are missing from our hearts. If most of us understand that the paid news is unethical; why politicians insist to publish it by paying even more money than the advertisement charges? (Just because they know that it influences mindsets of their voters). If someone says, cheap marketing tactic is not the Press; and all of us nod affirmatively to his statement; then why the newspaper doing the same is posing a threat to the ancient and ethical newspaper? (Because people are purchasing it to see nude photographs of women)

Ethics are as it is. But they have lost their position. Now, ethics exist in mouth, not in mind. Because, we – the people; allowed them to leave our minds.

We can change it, too. Mind it.

Realizing the domain

Enthusiasm and anxiety were struggling to overpower each others in his mind when my friend was leaving for Mumbai to follow his dream to achieve something unconventional in sound engineering, a field mostly untouched by people from Vidarbha, especially from my hometown Yavatmal.

I had been a part of many such platform farewell meets on railway station even before this one; and I am sure to attend many more such in future, as people will continue to leave hometowns in search of better educational and professional opportunities. But, this farewell meeting was different. My friend was leaving neither for pursuing higher education in engineering or medicines, nor to join any high paying job in a multi national firm. He was leaving in search of himself, in an entirely unknown scenario.

“I will learn by myself. There are people working in this field. Working with them will be learning itself,” he was saying with confidence in voice and uncertainty in eyes.

Well, my friend, just close these ‘eyes with uncertainty’ and just jump out! The parachute of confidence will land you safe at the dream destination. At least you realize that this is the only thing which you want to do in your life. You are not searching yourself in the scrap of all career options – banks, BPOs, factories, and administrative examinations – but, you know your domain. Now search will become easy,

As his train departed, I remembered my time. I was leaving for comparatively known field, the journalism. But, when I joined, I realized how ignorant I was. Since then, I am learning and will keep on learning for all the time. But, at least, I know, what I want to learn.

Yes; something unconventional, creative, and what pleases me a lot! This is what I am doing. When they compare how less I am earning than my engineer friends, and how bigger name would I have made if I would have tried some service commission examinations, I just smile at them. This smile comes from within. Oh come on! I am enjoying each and every moment – good and bad; each and every experience – happy and sad; and each every reaction – bouquets and brickbats; with equal enthusiasm. What else one expects? I know my domain and am searching myself in it. After all, just like the sky, success, too, is the same and is there for everyone, fields no bar.

Generally, we run behind the thing which we don’t have and always underestimate what we have with us. My colleague who attended Indian Science Congress was lamenting that India lacks far behind China and other countries in scientific research. India spends only 0.9 per cent of the GDP on science. Some other colleague added that we lack on army front from America and navy front from Russia. Someone said we are far behind in industrialization and construction fields than Japan. We are in Stone Age of hardware development as compared to Koria and Malaysia. On tourism front, we lack ages behind Singaore and Canada. Finally, the discussion ends on the universal thought that India is eaten up by corruption and is the worst place in the world to live for progressive minded people.

Criticizing the development or more precisely non-development of science, industries, buildings, bridges, and finally – money – in India comes as an outcome of the ignorance of our domain. The most ancient civilization, India is known for what? It is not industrialization, or building high rises or developing science gadgets; but it is spirituality.

The land has given Buddha to China and Japan. It has taught Jesus Christ the basics of Christianity during 12 years of his stay in Indus. It has inspired Prophet Mohammad to formulate Islamic rules and regulations. It has given all 24 Teerthankars of Jainism to the world. It has given the brave hearts Sikhs right from Guru Nanak Dev Ji. It has given philosophy and Darshans to the world. It has given the mother of all religions and beliefs, the greatest way of living life – The Hinduism.

India is known for the thought it gives to live the life without being materialistic. Because, science or industries or money or gadgets have limits; and spirituality is limitless. India leads the world on the front which no one feels has any importance during the days of money, and everyone feels as the most important during the days of death.

Being Indians, we should understand in which field exactly we are leading. We can borrow technology from all over the world, but not the thought. While listening ourselves criticizing her on the technological, and money making fronts, Mother India must be passing the smile from within, the smile I can relate with.

Feeling Tendulkar

It was unbelievable for me when my Facebook status update informing about my first semester result received spontaneous replies from more than 50 online friends. Moreover, for whole day, I was busy in receiving congratulations from office colleagues, seniors, friends, classmates, teachers, HoD; even the office clerk, too, congratulated me. Needless to say, my family members were all in joyous mood. Initially, each one asked for the party, and later, everyone wished me to continue achieving similar success in remaining three semesters, too.

With one small success, the expectation for three more and even bigger successes got created. Directly or indirectly, a new responsibility of maintaining the university topper position automatically came to me, and I accepted it as a proud crown. This achievement made me realize that there are many people around me who are watching me silently. They observe me, think about me and very rarely – comment too. This feeling is even pleasant than being a topper.

Now the person, who wants to repeat the first semester success for remaining three semesters, more desperately than any other person around, is myself. How beautiful was it to receive message after message of congratulations that day! I don’t want to miss it in any semester ahead. Yes, my success is very small, but it inspired me to shoulder bigger responsibility. And, I accepted it as if I was waiting for it. Success serves responsibility and makes it look easier to shoulder.

Why only success? Failure, too, serves a responsibility to overpower and emerge. On every positive and negative turn, life only serves a new responsibility. It’s like completing tasks in TV game. Clearing one level takes you to another to face bigger challenges, tougher obstacles.

Bigger success gives bigger responsibility while biggest success gives biggest one!

Every time when he walks out in the middle with his heavy bat, he looks at the sky. In fact the sky itself stares at master blaster. The sky is full of expectations. These expectations come from those who love him, follow him, and worship him.  Whenever he scores a milestone, their faith strengthens. If he fails, they disappoint. This is the biggest success serving biggest responsibility. Sachin Tendulkar shoulders it.

 Many Greats say, Tendulkar knows how to stay away from this pressure of expectations, others defer saying that he falls prey to this pressure. Is it possible to stay completely away from what others are feeling, thinking, and talking about you?

I don’t think so. And why should we keep away from it? After all, living with others is living for others. This is what our culture teaches. Let me take every compliment and every congratulation comment as a new responsibility and every success and failure as an entry into new level of this game.

Tendulkar must have been doing this only all these years while looking straight into the sky of expectations.

Deeply rooted

She is going. After staying with us for almost three and a half years, the girl is getting married now. She will leave our office to start new life. Well, while I am really happy for her that she is getting married, I am a bit anxious too, as she will not be with us in the office anymore.

In fact, her leaving is not at all shocking. Nothing out of the world is happening. It was like pre-decided that after getting married, the girl was to leave the office. Many a times, it was me, who used to ask her when she was going to get married? We all colleagues used to discuss each others’ marriages for long time after our day’s work. At that time, I never even imagined that I will feel so bad when she will leave, really. Attachment catches us unaware.

On the other hand, I know that this feeling is momentary. Just within a week or two, we all will learn managing without her. For the first few days, or weeks, she will call or message quite regularly. Then messages, too, would become occasional. Then one or two in a year, and finally, they will stop. I know, years after, if we will meet each others suddenly some day, we will just speak formally and would feel happy for each others. Detachment, too, catches us unaware.

She was smiling. She was looking at everything around in the office, her desk, her computer, her chair and all. She was giving chocolates to everyone and was saying good bye. A huge enthusiasm about coming days was hiding the small but earnest feeling of grief in her mind. How girls could manage all this? They are wonderful.

For one guy to whom she loves, she is leaving her family, parents, her friends, her city, her job, her career, and may be so many of her routine habits; even her name. She is ready to restart for him and she will restart; that too, willingly. In India, we Brahmins proudly call ourselves ‘Dvij’ (who takes two births) as we believe that we get another birth after ‘Maunj’ (thread ceremony). However, real ‘Dvij’ are the girls, who have to take rebirth after marriage. I imagined myself at her position just for a few seconds, and I found myself in tears.

No! I can’t leave my world so easily, with smile on my face. I can’t hide my disappointment so effortlessly, howsoever bright may be the future. Even today, I had to struggle a lot to hide my disappointment of losing company of her -- a friend, a long time associate. Oh God, what would happen, if I have to leave everything like she is doing?! I started hating myself, and entire male fraternity.

How reluctant we males are? We find some girl beautiful, and charming and brilliant and suitable and we propose her. We feel proud if we propose her for marriage, and not for affair. We feel bad, if she denies and we feel like her masters if she accepts. We take this entire transformation so casually, without having a single thought on what the girl must be thinking of. Boys are born bastards.

Attachment and detachment caught me unaware, but when this realization caught me, it left me in tears for hours together.