When Pushed to the Wall

When we are pushed to the wall, all of us behave in different manners. How we would behave depends on many factors. But collectively, I think it is the sum total of all our efforts before that point of time. I had had one such situation and even now I reflect on it sometimes on how it unfolded.

I was not great in finance. Though I loved maths since childhood and a thumb rule says guys who like maths should take up finance in MBA, the rule didn’t apply to me. A great contribution also came from one of our very popular professors who taught cost accounting, the first finance subject for us, in such a pathetic way that many of us got serious disillusion from finance, for our life. The episode which I am recollecting happened in the second trimester and the subject was financial accounting.

The professor was an accountant. His classes fell at 8.15 in the morning. Often I would be among one of the first students to check in. By the time class got over and it was time for attendance, almost whole of the class would be present. He was a gentleman and only smiled at such acts of smartness. I didn’t like the subject much, but I loved the way he delivered his lectures. Also, I loved the practical significance of whole of the finance he was teaching. Now trimester was about to end and it was exam time. I was confident of doing badly in the written exams, so I was staking high on the internals. For internal assessment, his proposal was unique – it would be eloquence on random subject related topic that he would throw at us. Some of us were scared and some happy. I was happy, thinking that it would be easier to speak about a topic than to do complex financial calculations for him.

Some guys spoke very well while many spoke inadequately short. Some very good students were found to be not good orators, while some who didn’t understand the subject but had memorized things, performed well. When someone was confused, we helped him/her with hints and hand gestures from the audiences. The session was going on well.

I got a topic to speak on, which was related to corporate credit valuation. There were five elements that he had taught us. I was confident and started writing the five elements one by one. But when I reached the third point, my mind became blank. I had forgotten the third point. I stopped and tried to recollect it for a moment. I couldn’t get it. I turned back and looked at the class. I expected someone to help me. Even a murmur would have helped, or they could have written the word on their notebook and raised it for me to take a peek :) But every face was blank. I was shocked. Some inconvenient moments passed. I was hurt that my class didn’t help me. Perhaps they were in a state of inertia. But the feelings of hurt suddenly made me remember the point in a flash. I wrote the missing point on the board, and resumed my speech. And then I went on and on.

I spoke for about 40 minutes, perhaps the highest in the class. While speaking, my mind just recollected the way our professor used to stand and speak every morning, in front of a largely vacant class room. My speech was a huge success and everyone appreciated it. But later on, I understood everything differently. Since I had goofed up in the beginning and then I was shaken by my friends, I took a kind of revenge on the world by putting more efforts in my speech. I could have settled to stop my speech short, but I was kind of making up for the loss. And my speech helped me immensely. As I had guessed, I didn’t do well in the written exams. But since I had got high marks in the internal assessment, I could clear the paper comfortably.

The episode gave me a glimpse of how we perform better in difficult situations. When we are pushed to the walls and have no one to support us, the best within us comes out to help us survive. The survival instinct propels every fabric of our efforts to put up a brave face to the opposition. Also, a feeling of hurt can do miracle in adverse situations. This is how a lot of heroes make stunning ‘come back’, be it in movies or in real life.

I think in such situations, right attitude is very important. We should accept the adverse and hostile situation as a challenge and then raise our limits to give it a tough fight. I am sure all of us can do it.

- Rahul

Michelle Obama proves Women as Eye-candy

I was reading the news about Chinese President Hu Jintao’s recent US visit. The newspaper had come out with a colored snap of Obama couple along with Hu Jintao. I was shocked to see the dressing sense and choice of appearance of Mrs. Obama.
 

Have searched the pictures from net and posting here:

While searching for the pictures, I also read the media discussing her dress, its color, and its designers.

When Barack Obama became the US president, Michelle Obama had quit her job and chosen to almost become a fashion model and a host. Since then, all the news she makes are about her designer clothes. At that time I had criticized her for choosing to become a “President’s Wife” rather than maintaining her own identity. Her gesture made other male-chauvinists justified – as soon as they start earning well, they make their wives quit their jobs. How was Michelle different, other than her choosing it instead of her hubby forcing her into it? 
 

Just viewing these pictures makes me feel bad. What is Michelle Obama trying to prove? If all she wants is for people to praise her ‘beauty’, in my view she looks ugly and inappropriate in her pictures. Her choice of dress for the occasion is pathetic and Chinese president and Barack Obama are looking awkward in her dominating but abject presence.
 

I wish Michelle Obama could have inspired women across the world, by not choosing to be an ‘eye-candy’ for men. 

Lessons from Ramayana by Khushwant Singh

Perhaps the only Indian (self-proclaimed) Atheist I have read properly is Khushwant Singh. But when I read what he wrote about the great Indian epic of Ramayana and its place in our society, I loved all his words. Here it is:

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Lessons from Ramayana

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It could be said that Indian children start imbibing the Ramayana with their mother’s milk. It is the first story they hear in their childhood. It has found its way into their vocabulary. Their most popular greetings are Ram Ram, Jai Ramji Ki, Jai Sitaram. We are reminded about it every year through performances of Ramlila which take place in all towns and cities ending with the burning of effigies of Ravana, Kumbhkarana and Meghnad on Dussehra.

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Then there are Bharat Milap and Diwali. The reason is simple. For us, Sri Ram is God personified, his wife Sita, our mother goddess, Lakshman, the loyal brother and Hanuman the faithful servitor. They represent the powers of goodness. Their enemy Ravana and his brothers represent the powers of evil.

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In essence, the story is of goodness prevailing over evil. We carry it to the end of our days on earth. When our dead bodies are taken out to cremation grounds, one mourner chants Ram Naam Satya Hai - the name of Rama is the truth; other mourners reply: Sat bolo gut hai - speak the truth and attain salvation.

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Taken from: Khushwant Singh’s review of ‘The Story of Ram and his friends in the forest’, written by Pratibha Nath and illustrated by Sujasha Dasgupta (Rupa). HT, Dec 12, 2010 http://www.hindustantimes.com/Ethics-of-journalism-and-lessons-from-Ramayana/Article1-637347.aspx

Smile Chain Inc.

Though I am now cured fully, my disease cost me 2 years of my life. I didn’t notice when I was beginning to delve into it. Gradually everything around me started getting blurred. And they reached me on the verge of suicide. First I stared feeling lonely at my house which I didn’t share with anyone. Then I started feeling lonely in office where I sat single in a glass cubicle which announced my privileged rank. Then I started feeling lonely in the car which my chauffer drove to my home. I had arrived after all. I had arrived, after all.

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My colleagues still shared their flats in order to manage high rents. They still sat in 1X4 cubicles. And they rode motorcycles. They had not arrived. I had arrived. And I had arrived at the cost. I had strictly controlled everything, sacrificed my pleasures, sacrificed family, and sacrificed the girl who loved me, all, to get that success. And when I finally got that, I started feeling a vacuum. A vacuum which no material buys could fill up. And then a visit to the hospital and everything changed.

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But one thing remained same throughout. She was my classmate actually. When I studied books, she took part in blood donation drives. When I spoke in seminars, she collected old clothes for the poor. On one day, as I came out of the airport, I saw her along with 20 poor children: she had brought them from far away village to show the city. To show an airplane. From a broken boundary of the airport. I didn’t think about her. I didn’t think about whatever she was doing.

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I didn’t think about her even when I saw her in my own office. In my own office building. What was she doing in an MNC where money was religion and dollars flowed in everyone’s veins? It was the first time I stopped and talked to her. She recognized me with a smile on her face. Her smile reminded me of my mother and I ran away from her. I ran away from her to my own glass cubicle. In my own world.

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Today, I have all the answers. I can see the past differently. And today, I think about her. Her parents had forced her into doing an MBA. But she chose to specialize in HR and took optional in CSR. Our MNC hired her because it wanted to appear more responsible and wanted the media to know about some charitable activities which she planned to start with. I remember her sitting in her cubicle very near to the pantry. She sat there every morning when I entered the office. She sat there when I went for lunch. And she sat there the day things started getting blurred for me. One day, when it was too tough for me, I tried jumping from the open balcony. But before my leg could rise, I saw her sitting there. And her smile came in front of my eyes. I fell down, but not from the roof but only on the floor. They took me to a hospital.

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I didn’t feel anything. How could anyone feel it after those medicines? Two years, made from moments saved from not doing non-profitable work throughout my life, were wasted. But ending it, I felt a relief. So I quit. I quit from the job where only my name was retained on the payroll out of respect. I quit from all jobs in this world. And I started a small company which sold flowers.

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Now, I live amidst flowers. Every day, I see so many young people come to buy flowers in my shop. I see her smile in all their faces. During the days of my sickness, I avoided mirrors. I was scared of seeing my own smile. Today, a smile is the logo of my company.

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I don’t know where she is working right now. I don’t know where she is. But I know her smile would be there on the face of so many lives she touched. Today, I understand that life is not about sitting in the costliest chair or drinking the costliest wine. Life is all about sharing smiles.

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Rakshit,
CEO, Smile Chain Inc.
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PS: This is a fictional story and all names mentioned here are fictional.

The Dormitory

Our office has a dormitory where employees can go and take a nap even during office hours. Unlike other industries, IT is very flexible and caring in this aspect. We were new and in the exploring phase. One day, our friend felt sleepy and thought to try out the dorm.

When he went there, it was 11 AM, perhaps not very popular time for many, because the dorm was almost vacant. There was only one other guy sleeping carelessly at the extreme end of the big room. But our friend saw that the guy was in his bare minimum. He thought that maybe it was a rule to sleep like that, so he also pulled out his shirt and even trousers and entered the world of dreams. When he woke up, it was 3 PM. Slowly, he looked around. And! He jumped! He jumped to get himself clothed ASAP! What had actually happened was like this:

Finding that the dorm was empty, a security guard had relieved himself into sleep without clothes. Our friend went there at that unfortunate moment and thought it to be a rule :). When he woke up, he saw many guys sleeping well dressed and the hall fully occupied! Only he was there without clothes! :)

What a scene! :)

PS: Though there are so many hilarious stories from my friends, I don’t feel like sharing them with all. But let me start with this one :)

The Anti Harassment Policy

Our company has a very strict code to prevent sexual harassment. Its acronym is ‘Shashi’ (name changed by me here to prevent identification). They don’t hesitate to lose the best of the talent, if one is found guilty in this case. The time I recall was from when we had joined recently and we were sent for an induction to know about this policy. For the days to come, references to this code with a curious name were to circulate in the fun moments at work.

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All of us were young, only a few were married. One day, a friend tells another, pointing towards another lady colleague, that she was married and had a baby. He perhaps found it difficult to believe, but confident that he was, he went straight to the girl and asks, “Do you have a baby?” :) The girl was clever and witted. And more relevant: she was unmarried. Hearing his query she appeared furious and scolded our friend saying how he dare could ask her that! Our friend was embarrassed in front of everyone. The girl went on to say that she would apply Sashi against him to take revenge. Our friend tolerated everything curiously and kept saying sorry, sorry. But when he returned, we didn’t find him either sad or embarrassed. The first thing he spoke when he came to us was a question:

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“Who is Shashi? Is she nice?”

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:)

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PS: Our friend is the same one who appeared in “The Dormitory”.

How Narendra Modi is Much Better than Barack Obama

After Obama’s 2010 India visit, no one had a doubt about the primary purpose of his trip. It was by and large a business trip with purpose to make business deals and job creations in the US.

Thanks to Obama Visit, the US made deals worth 10 Billion USDs, and generated 50,000 jobs in the US.

http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/189058

Now let us see the figures from the recent Vibrant Gujarat meet.

Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit 2011 resulted in investment promises of 462 Billion USDs and that amounts to job creation for 52 lakh people!

http://www.sify.com/finance/Record-breaking-Vibrant-Gujarat-a-resounding-success-imagegallery-others-lbomkvadgfe.html

Agreed that these are only promises and not confirmed orders, but even if Gujarat makes through 30 or 20% of these in the worst estimates, these are much higher than the Obama figure!

:)

- Rahul

Indian IT to Pay for 9/11 Healthcare

Ever since I started to understand him, I have kept an opinion that Obama is a man with a big mouth and a small vision – big mouth because he promises everyone a moon (each) and small vision because he thinks like he were administering a class of 20 students (who would always obey him). In his recent move to make me think about him the same way, he has made India and Indian IT companies pay for the healthcare of 9/11 Islamic terrorist attack victims!
 

Obama signs 9/11 health bill, sticks India with paying for it
 

https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_obama-signs-9-11-health-bill-sticks-india-with-paying-for-it_1490018
 

Indian techies slam US visa hike to pay 9/11 healthcare bill
 

https://www.ndtv.com/article/india/indian-techies-slam-us-visa-hike-to-pay-9-11-healthcare-bill-74675
 

I am sure Obama won’t have looked at India to pay for these medical expenses without being infatuated by and envying India’s success story. I wonder how far he is going to take his anti-India policies. Will he make Indian auto companies pay for toilet paper expenses in the White House? Or Indian biotech companies pay for yoga expenses borne by unemployed Americans? I wish he loses his next elections – and India and this world get rid of his low-vision populist decisions. I believe a partnership between India and the US is the need for both, and the partnership has to be on equal terms. And I think Obama doesn’t believe in such equality. At least his actions prove this.

Wisdom of Ganesha

Throughout our childhood, we learn so many lessons taught to us by means of stories. Often such stories contain our gods and hence they leave maximum impact on our minds. Here is a small portion of a legend, retold by Devdutt Pattanaik, explaining the concept of our insatiable want:

Kubera, the king of Yakshas, is the treasurer of the gods. One day, he paid a visit to Kailasa, the abode of Shiva, the hermit-god, where he met Shiva’s elephant-headed son, the corpulent Ganesha. He thought to himself, “Ganesha clearly loves food and Shiva can clearly not afford to feed him to his heart’s content.” So as a favor to Shiva Kubera offered to feed Ganesha one meal. When Ganesha accepted the invitation and entered Kubera’s kitchen, the Yaksha-king said, “Eat to your heart’s content.”

Kubera regretted these words. Ganesha’s appetite was insatiable. He ate everything that was in the kitchen and still asked for more. Food had to be bought from the larder and then from the market. But Ganesha was still hungry.

“More please,” he said raising his trunk. Kubera had to spend all the money in his treasury and buy all the food in the world to feed Ganesha but still Ganesha was not happy. Finally, Kubera fell at Ganesha’s feet and begged him to stop, “I don’t I have enough food to satisfy your hunger. Forgive me.”

To this Ganesha said, “You really think food will satisfy hunger! The difference between you and my father is that you seek to provide more food while he seeks to reduce hunger. That is why I sit in his house and not in your kitchen.”

Ref: “Rationalising Greed: Everyone wants more” ET, 14 Jan, 2011 (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/features/corporate-dossier/rationalising-greed-everyone-wants-more/articleshow/7279101.cms)

Bhishma’s Role

It is interesting to note how Devdutt Pattanaik evaluates Bhisma’s role vis-a-vis the ideal role during the Ramayana times:
 

1) Family more important than Kingdom for Bhisma: In the Ramayana, the kingdom of Ayodhya is more important than Raghu-kula, the family that govern it. In the Mahabharata, the Kuru-kula family is more important than the kingdom of Hastinapur it is responsible for. In the Ramayana, Ram, son of King Dashrath, upholds the tradition of the Raghu-kula, goes into exile so that the integrity of the royal family is never questioned and Ayodhya feels secure under its leadership. [u]In the Mahabharata, Bhisma, son of king Shantanu, gives up conjugal life, not for the sake of his kingdom, but so as to satisfy the lust of his father who wishes to marry Satyavati, the ambitious daughter of an ambitious fisherman.
 

2) Renouncing throne results in Dharma collapse: In the Mahabharata, like Ram, Bhisma gives up his claim to the throne for the benefit of his half-brothers. His half-brothers however do not behave like Bharat. They claim the throne. Focus of the cousins is all about inheritance rights, not royal responsibilities. Dharma collapses. Rather than share, the kingdom ends up being divided.
 

3) On Bhisma’s inability to Retire: The ashrama system of Vedic times was an attempt to ensure smooth transition to the next generation of kings while the old king was alive. After being a student, one became a Yajama or head of the household, then when the son came of age, one had to retire and finally renounce the world. This explains Dashratha’s decision to retire when Ram comes home with a wife. Bhisma, however, is never happy with the capabilities of the next generation and refuses to retire even after his grandnephews (the Pandavas and the Kauravas) have children of their own. His over-protective nature results in over-dependence upon him. No talent is nurtured and the family collapses. In the end, Bhisma has to be pinned to the ground with arrows, so that a new world order can finally be established.
 

Ref: Devdutt Pattanaik; ‘Indian corporates are looking to mythology for inspiration’, 19 Nov, 2010, Economic Times.

Ramayana: A Love Story

Ramayana can be taken in many ways, but I think it’s also a love story. It’s a love story of a prince who had to be separated from his wife when already banished from his kingdom and then he fights with evil forces and hardships to find and regain his love. When Seeta was abducted by Ravana and Ram was gathering army of monkeys and bears, at one point of time he says something like this, “They say that with passage of time our love and pain of separation calms down, but I have not felt any such relief…” How could he, when his love for Seeta was purest and divine? Rishi Valmiki describes it well. At another point, the prince says, “Whenever I see a beautiful thing, I feel how much Seeta would have enjoyed this!” And then he cries… The prince, who could move mountains and dry up oceans by his mighty arrows, cries in the memory of his beloved wife… At many places throughout Ramayana, the distressed Rama is shown to be consoled by his younger brother Lakshamana. Often Rama starts lamenting wondering how princess Seeta, his beloved wife and daughter of the great king Janaka, would be surviving amidst dreadful Rakshashis and demons. He is shown neither be hiding his feelings from his followers, nor letting his sorrow carrying him away from his righteous path. Seeta, on the other side, waits for her love every moment and spends every passing day in hope that that day would end her wait. Her love for Ram is so great and honourable that even for a moment she is not diverted.

Rishi Valmiki who was the first person to write about Rama’s story and to introduce Ramayana to this world, doesn’t mention anything about Sita’s exile to the forest after she and Ram had reunited, so we can take this for granted that once Ram restored Sita, they spent years of happy life together. As they say at the end of love stories: “And they lived happily ever after.”

After Ramayana, so many stories, poems, plays, and movies have been written and made, telling a love story in very similar lines: there are two lovers, and one villain; lovers get separated and hero fights to get back his love. In the end, they are reunited and live happily ever after… But no love story is as powerful, as divine and as elevating as the one between Ram and Seeta… It’s because Ramayana stands as a torch of light showing us the righteous way of life, and reminds us of the very high levels of moral standing that we should practice in life…

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 23

Reproducing a part from the book which I believe all of us should read and understand:

Now, a word to those of our times who read Raamayana and Bhaarata and other Puraanas. In these works, there are frequent references to Devas and Raakshasas. The latter were wicked, had no regard for dharma, and revelled in evil deeds. Asuras were also like Raakshasas. But even among Raakshasas there were a few wise and virtuous people. There spring up bad men even in the best of races and vice versa. On the whole, Asuras and Raakshasas were those who rejoiced in doing wicked deeds. It is a pity that some people in their ignorance identify the Asuras and Raakshasas with ancient Indian tribes and races – a view not supported by any literary work or tradition or recorded history.

The conjencture of foreigners that Raakshasas were the Dravidian race, is not borne out by any authority in Taiml or other literature. The Tamil people are not descendents of the Asuras or Raakshasas.

The Devas were generally upholders of dharma and took on themselves the task of putting down the Raakshasas. According to the Puraanas, they had at times to deviate from dharma in dealing with the Raakshasas, some of whom had attained great power through tapas.

The Devas were generally good; and those among them who swerved form the path of righteousness paid the price for it. There was no separate code of conduct for the Devas; the law of karma admits of no distinction between the Devas and others. The law dealt with the Devas as with others.

Wedded to virtue as the Devas generally were, lapses on their part appear big to us, like stains on white cloth. The Raakshasas’ evil deeds are taken for granted and do not attract much attention, like stains on black cloth.

The honest, when they happen to go astray, should evoke our sympathy. It is however the way of the world – but it is not right – to condemn in strong terms casual lapse on the virtuous, while tolerating habitual wrong-doers.

It should be noted that in the Puranas we see the gods getting entangled in dilemmas of dharma. Indra and other devas are shown often as committing serious sins. Why did the sages who told the Puranas involve themselves in such difficulties? Their aim was to awaken people to a sense of the dangers of adharma. Else, the sages need not have deliberately attributed sinful acts to their own heroes and created difficulties for themselves.

Some persons take pleasure in jumping to wrong conclusions from the incidents in the Puraanas. They argue, “Raavana was a very good king. Vaalmiki has falsely accused him of wicked deeds.” They ask: “Did not Raama act unjustly on a certain occasion? Did not Seeta utter a lie?” and the like.

Valmeeki could well have omitted incidents which are not edifying. Both Raama and Raavana were first presented to us by the poet Vaalmiki. There was no earlier work referring to Raavana that can be quoted to contradict Vaalmiki and stamp him as being partial to Raama, Seeta and the Devas, and twisting facts to deceive people. Vaalmiki’s Raamayana is the fountain source of the story of Raama; in it, one comes across seemingly wrong deeds.

Calm consideration of such situations would show that they are just portrayals of similar difficulties in our day-to-day life. It is for us to benefit from the moral trails contained in them. The lesson of the Ahalya episode is that, however deadly one’s sin, one may hope to be freed from its consequences by penitence and punishment. Instead of condemning others for their sins, we should look within our own hearts and try to purify them of every evil thought. The best of us have need for eternal vigilance, if we would escape sin.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap VIII, Ahalya; P40-42)

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 22

Fate is weird. We would never be able to understand fully, why things happened the way they happened. The author describes it in a wonderful paragraph when Kaikeyi’s mind was changed by evil minded Manthara:

And, yet, as Dasaratha told Raama, even the purest of minds is mutable. When fate conspires with bad counsel, any one of us might be corrupted. And this happened to Kaikeyi. The gods in Heaven had received an assurance, and the sages had performed tapas for the destruction of Raavana. What we call destiny, therefore, ordained that Kaikeyi’s pure heart should be changed by Manthara’s evil counsel. So says Kamban in the Tamil Raamayana in his own inimitable style.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XII, Manthara’s evil counsel; P62)

So true…

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 21

Fate and Karma

Life is weird. At one point, the author describes the unfortunate end of the mighty and righteous king Dashratha:

As described by Valmeeki in the early page of the epic, Dasaratha was one who had mastered all the Vedas and Shaastras, was a farsighted person, the hero of many battles, the performer of many sacrifices, follower of dharma, a far-famed king with many friends and no foes, one who had conquered his senses. His power was like Indra’s. His wealth was like Manu. Fate had ordered that such a one should exile his beloved son and die of a broken heart, with none by him in his last moments but two faithful women stricken by himself with a common sorrow.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XXIII, Last moments; P132-133)

Before his death, King Dashratha recalled an old happening when he had killed a young man (Shravan Kumar) by mistake and his old dependent parents had died learning this, but only after cursing the king of a similar fate. Therefore, we can understand why such an unfortunate fate descended over the righteous king…

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 20

When Hindus die, their children offer shraadha to them and do some rituals for the peace of the departed souls. I found reference to a similar gesture when Raama came to know about Dahsaratha’s death:

The princes, with Seeta and Sumantra went to the river and offered libations for the peace of the departed soul of the king. After other customary ceremonies, the princes returned to the cottage. They help each others’ hands and relieved their sorrow by loud lamentation.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XXVII, The brothers meet; P169)

It means the custom is so very old.

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 19

Leaving the body when purpose is over
At two places in Ramayana, I found instances of rishis entering into fire in order to get them free from their bodies. But in both the cases, they were very sure about their purpose having finished, after years of penances and collecting strength through Yoga. The same is not applicable to people like us.

When the princes came, Sabari produced the fruits she had gathered and kept for them, and described and showed to them the wonders of the Matang aashrama. Then with their leave, she kindled a fire and entering it ascended to heaven.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XL, Left eyelids throbe; P258)

They proceeded to the aashrama of Sarabhanga. Indra was there with other gods, talking to the rishi. Knowing that Raama had arrived, he cut short his talk and went away. Then Raama, with his brother and wife, approached the rishi and humbly saluted him.

The old ascetic said: “It is for you I have been waiting. It is time for me to leave the body but my wish was to see you first. And so I have been waiting. Now my desire is fulfilled, I pass on to you all the merit of my penances.”

Raama answered: “My Lord, should I not earn my own merit? How can I receive what you have earned? I have renounced everything to live in the forest. Advise me where I can best find an abode in the forest and send me forth with your blessing.”

The rishi knew the secret of Raama’s avatar and told him: “Learn from the sage Suteeksha where in the forest you should dwell.”

Then Sarabhanga kindled a fired and entered it. The gross body perished in the flames and a youthful ethereal form rose from the pyre and floated up the heavens.
(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XXIX, Viraadha’s end; P182-183)

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 18

Ram killed the vaanara king Vaali while hiding behind a tree. He had to do so, because Vaali had got a boon from Indra which gave him power to absorb the strength of his opponent when seen in sight. Therefore Raama had no choice but to kill him while not being seen himself. Vaali as such was a good king. But he had ego and his ego made him drive his own brother Sugreeva out of his kingdom. Sugreeva wanted to redeem his honour and his wife which all Vaali had captured, without any real wrong done on the part of Sugreeva. Raama had entered into friendship with Sugreeva and promised Sugreeva to get back his kingdom and wife. Therefore, Vaali had to be killed first. Here is how the author explains this:

Owing to the protective virtue of Indra’s necklace, Raama could not have met Vaali face to face and vanquished him, just as Raavana could not be conquered by the gods. Raama could kill Vaali only when himself unseen. And still the question stands, why should Vaali have been killed at all?

Perhaps the answer is to be found in what Kabandha said to Raama in gratitude for being released from his curse. “Through Sugreeva’s friendship you will recover Seeta” – Sugreeva’s help, not Vaali’s. And so Raama went in search of Sugreeva, found him and pledged his friendship and consecrated by fire. Sugreeva had committed no unforgivable offence against Vaali; yet vaali, with his supernatural strength, persecuted his brother. Hearing the latter’s complaint, Raama had pledged his word to kill Vaali and restore to Sugreeva his wife and make him king as his part of the contract of alliance. Thereafter, Raama had no alternative. To kill Vaali from cover became an inevitable necessity.

Raama erred in running after the magic deer to please his wife. Consequent to this, difficulties and sorrows and conflicts of duty pursued him. If we keep in mind that when God takes a lower and limited form by His own ordinance, limitations follow and we should not be confused thereby. This is my humble view as against other explanations propounded by the pious.


(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XLIII, The slaying of Vaali; P281)

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 17

Diversity

When Hanuman ji went to Lanka, he saw the city and its people. He also checked Raavana’s army. Ramayana describes at one place like this:

All the warriors were clad in armour. Some were handsome, some ugly; complexions varied from fair through brown to black. Some figures were very tall, others very short. Thus Hanumaan saw that the population had been drawn from a wide area with varying climates and that the army had been recruited from the pick of many nations.

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap XLVIII, The search in Lanka; P317)

It is apparent that there was "diversity" in Lanka. Even in those times, they did not believe in ‘racial supremacy’ or ‘regional chauvinism’, as happens today in many parts of the world (including many states of India).

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 16

Wrong Path is Easier

It is often understood that the wrong path is easier, to attain a short-term goal. Students cheating in exams can pass easily, while those who rely on their own have to give in months of hard labour. One can get his work done by bribing the authorities, but the one who doesn’t give in, has to make lots of efforts in order to get what he wants. Still, there is a greater good in following the path of dharma. This message comes out from the following episode in Ramayana.

Hanuman ji went to Lanka to find the whereabouts of Sita ji. They met and Hanuman ji was to return. Then an idea came to his mind – what if he carries away Sita ji from the sky route, on his back? That would save all the efforts of Ram and Lakshaman and would even prevent a war! But Sita ji didn’t agree. This is what she said, apart from mentioning that it would be dangerous thing to do:

“Apart from that Hanumaan, if you snatch me away stealthily from the Raakshasas it would be no credit to the valour of my lord. The honour of the Kshatriya race demands that he should come and fight and vanquish Raavana and redeem me as the prize of the victory. Would Raama have me stolen back even as Raavana stole me from him? No, my son, return and quickly bring Raama here with Lakshamana and the Vaanara army. Let my lord’s arrows destroy Lanka and send Raavana to Yama’s abode. His victory is certain. Like the fierce sun at the hour of doom, Raama’s arrows will burn the Raakshasa people to ashes.”

(C. Rajagopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LIII, Seeta and Hanumaan; P353)

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 15B

If Only

There is a very interesting episode when Hanuman ji is goes to Lanka, is captured and brought in front of Ravana. What he sees, is described below:

Clad in silk of golden hue, with the royal crown on his head, the jewels inlaid in it shining brilliantly, Raavana sat there, a figure of dazzling splendour. The whole court was brilliant with shining gold and gems, pearls and silk. His dark body, lit up by the marks of royalty, looked like a great radiant hill.

“Alas!” thought Hanumaan full of anger, wonder and pity. “If only this great one had not swerved from the path of dharma, not even Indra could equal him. What a form, what radiance, what strength! Trusting to the boon he had secured, he took to wicked ways and has lost his happiness and forfeited his greatness.”
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LVII, Lanka in flames; P369)

So true… Power without righteousness or dharma corrupts us… Ravana is a symbol of how one could pull oneself so low if carried away by ego.

- Rahul

2010-2011

2010 was the worst of the times; 2010 was the best of the times. This is how I will remember the year which is passing by. This year, I set to lose a lot – things that took years to come into shape. And then, bringing true the wisdom which asked to carry on with head up, the year also gave me back almost all it took away, with some ‘top-up’. That is how the year turned out to be one of the best of the times in my life…

I welcome 2011 with many goals and aspirations in my eyes. With a wish that it brings only happiness to all those I love and all those who love me.

Wishing 2011 to be a very prosperous and successful year to all!

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 15

Sympathy with Bad Characters

I guess all of us would at one point or the other, sympathise with characters like Duryodhana or Karna in the Mahabharata, or even Meghnad or Ravana in the Ramayana. C. Rajgopalachari explains this so well that I am simply presenting his text to explain:

Great poets in all languages delineate with sympathy even their bad characters allowing gleams of goodness to shine through occasionally, for nature has not made anybody wholly and unredeemably evil.

The poet’s aim is to direct the reader’s mind into the path of Good, the satvik way. For this purpose they use all their skill and power in developing even their raajsik and taamasik characters.

The reader who is held by raajasik and taamasik qualities, naturally tends to sympathise with such characters; much more so readers below the average who are untouched by the saatvik element. They would regard the deeds of the hero and other saatvik characters as mere fiction invented for blind worship, and identify themselves with the raajsik and taamsik characters and even claim these as their own kith and kin. They would find themselves attracted by such characters and follow their doings with considerable interest.

‘Paradise Lost’, the English epic on a Biblical theme, is famous throughout the world. In this poem Milton delineates the Almighty and Jesus, His spiritual son and human incarnation, as well as several orders of angels. But the most impressive character in the great epic is Satan who rebelled against God and brought sin and death into this world. Critics of English poetry admire Milton’s wonderful success in the characterisation of Satan. Similarly, the great dramatic poet Shakespeare has created a wonderful characterisation of Shylock, the usurer and miser. Even such embodiments of despicable qualities are presented by the poets as possessing courage, determination, energy and other good qualities which attract us and serve as a bright background to their blackness. In Vaalmeeki’s portraits of Raavana and Kumbhakarna too, we notice the same artistic skill. The cook who meets all tastes shows his skill in making out of bitter vegetables an attractive dish. So does the poet show his skill in portraying evil.
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LXI, Anxiety in Lanka; P390)

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 14

Ordinary VS Higher Morality

Kumbhakarna, a brother of Ravana, didn’t approve of Ravana’s act of abducting Seeta. He believed that if Ravana wanted revenge of Lakshamana’s insult to Rakshasi princess Surpanakha, he should have challenged Rama and Lakshamana personally and fought a one-on-one battle to avenge. But when Ravana sees danger ahead and asks Kumbhakarna for help, in the end he doesn’t deny his brother. Despite knowing that he was protecting the wrong doing, he went ahead to fight for Ravana, because Ravana was his brother and his king. But the same didn’t happen with Vibheeshana. Knowing that Ravana had done wrong, he tried to persuade Ravana to return back Seeta and apologise to Ram. When Ravana goes to war with Ram, Vibhishana chose not to support him despite he being his brother. So who out of Kumbhakarna and Vibheeshana was right? C. Rajgopalachari gives a wonderful explanation in brief:

Kumbhakarna acted according to his ordinary morality. This was a simple thing which everybody could understand. But Vibheeshana followed a higher morality. The path he chose was more difficult and likely to be blamed.

He knew (how could anyone else know?) his inward suffering at the thought of Ravana’s evil doings. Ordinary people could not sympathise with his situation. Even today, people find it hard, without elaborate explanation, to appreciate Vibheeshana aright.

(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LXV, The doctrine of surrender and grace; P411)

At another point, the author explains it again, for those who even today criticize Vibheeshana:

Men are restrained from evil by the wholesome fear that if they commit sin they would forfeit the affection and goodwill of their friends and kinsmen. This fear is a strong incentive to good behaviour and its removal would be a serious loss in society. All this is forgotten by those who argue that Vibheeshana was a ‘traitor’. Raavana was the first, unfortunately by no means the last, to dub him by that name. Those who are anxious to retain the support of kinsfolk while pursuing evil ways disapprove of Vibheeshana’s conduct. But Vibheeshana was not afraid of being a traitor. He would have nothing to do with adharma. His course was, however, not easy as we shall see.
(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LXIV, The vaanara’s doubt; P405-406)

I am convinced. If we support family members even if they do evil acts, we follow ordinary morality. Better not to encourage adharma and to practice higher morality. As the author says, “In a conflict of duties, each one follows his own nature.”

- Rahul

Lessons from Ramayana – Part 13

Lord Accepts All
“Our Lord accepts all”: this is a very important reminder to all of us. C. Rajgopalachari explains this very well in one episode in Ramayana.

When Vibhishana comes to Ram and seeks his friendship, others are not happy about it. Sugreeva protests and questions whether they should trust one who has deserted his own brother. But Ram says as follows, after explaining reasons why friendship and alliance with Vibhishana may be good thing to do:

“But there is a stronger reason. When one comes to me for refuge, I cannot reject him. This is my dharma. It doesn’t matter if as a result of this I suffer. Even at the cost of life I must do this duty of mine. Never can I deviate from it. Verily, I tell you, even if Raavana himself came to me for sanctuary, I would accept him without hesitation. How then can I reject his brother who has done me no wrong? Go and fetch Vibheeshana.”

Understanding this, Sugreeva lauds Ram for his sense of dharma and says, “May he (Vibheeshana) too become a loving friend of yours, even like us!”

In the Vaishnava tradition, this episode, in which Vibheeshana is taken by the Prince into his camp and innermost council, is held to be as important as the Bhagawat Gita episode in the Mahabharata.

It illustrates the doctrine that the Lord accepts all who in absolute surrender seek shelter at his feet, regardless of their merits or defects. Their sins are burnt out by the mere act of surrender. This is a message of hope to erring humanity. It is the heart of the Vaishnava faith that there is hope for the worst of us if only we surrender ourselves to the Lord.

This divine assurance is the life and light that a world filled with sin and darkness, needs.

(C. Rajgopalachari; Ramayana; Chap LXV, The doctrine of surrender and grace; P413-414)

- Rahul