tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17273495449431411302024-03-28T05:22:07.950-07:00guru'sGuru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-79404251656471800112023-02-20T21:02:00.002-08:002023-02-20T22:11:33.580-08:00Velliangiri Padayatra with a Ratha<p style="text-align: justify;"> My 1st Isha padayatra in 2020 was when I realized this <a href="https://guruprasadpr.blogspot.com/2020/02/padayatra-is-not-just-walk.html">padayatra is not just a walk</a>, its much more. Come 2023, its not just a padayatra, its a padayatra along with carrying a Ratha. This takes 19 days to reach Isha Yoga Ashram starting from Bangalore, and I could be a part of this only for the last 6 days. Still, enough experiences to last..</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoDWSrBOOP00vozHYN6jukr1EANu6SDCSPTZgGLtFxIlgGbhYaXGMTzBJadfW28cxvY4tS4poU-Z9BZp-_2TG-ErVL_QzeMiMS4W2Oe7ydMd_qvUo301sej8WfG3sEl5P7PS7BxUdTKYHGmBY3YMBA3gn4kD14TVLVXpYmUMgbhODXLhmdO7TyVeBNw/s1600/padayat.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeoDWSrBOOP00vozHYN6jukr1EANu6SDCSPTZgGLtFxIlgGbhYaXGMTzBJadfW28cxvY4tS4poU-Z9BZp-_2TG-ErVL_QzeMiMS4W2Oe7ydMd_qvUo301sej8WfG3sEl5P7PS7BxUdTKYHGmBY3YMBA3gn4kD14TVLVXpYmUMgbhODXLhmdO7TyVeBNw/s320/padayat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> One contrasting difference in walk vs walk with Ratha is in just walk, the intensity is much more because when you walk, walk and keep walking, you get into a zone, you get lost in the mind, things start reflecting, what not. With Ratha, you are moving slowly and always in a group so you getting into your own zone is lesser. However, the biggest advantage of a Ratha is the number of lives we touch upon along the way. As Sadhguru tells, What can be more joyful than putting seeds of Bhakti along the way? </p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span></span></p><a name='more'></a> I was wondering how to make it little intense for me, and then I found an option: pushing from behind the Ratha. That is one position where you can be involved with the Ratha, at the same time gives you the option to just close your eyes and walk along with the chant. Since you are always in contact with the Ratha, you will anyway be taken in the direction of the Ratha without actually seeing it. It worked wonders.<p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> So many people on seeing the Ratha entering their village, come to pull the Ratha, welcome it as if its their own, and their facial expressions tells it all. People moving in the buses or personal vehicles turning back to see, people walking stopping for a while and praying, people immediately throwing away their slippers when receiving Vibhuti, these images will not vanish easily. And for so many, its just tears of joy on seeing Lord Shiva. It is during these moments when I considered myself fortunate to be a part of this journey.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> There was a tangible difference on a day when we hit the roads early in the morning. Many people got up from their beds listening to the 'Om Namah Shivaya' chants running in our Rath, and when they opened their doors to see what's going on, there it is, Adiyogi Lord Shiva, giving darshan in his full glory. Imagine how would it be a for a dharmic person to begin a day in this fashion!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Once we enter rural, that is one opportunity to see how big the hearts of our people are. When they see you walk, they want to offer you something. One water melon shop owner starts cutting water melong pieces to each of us. Another water melon shop owner when told that we have our stomachs full and cant have water melon, loads 5 water melons to our vehicle and asks to have it whenever hungry. Another on-looker buys a box of water bottles and is offering to us. A person going on a 2-wheeler rushes to a nearby shop and purchases as many biscuit packets he can and comes and gives to us. I dont know whether this person has enough money to support his home, but then, that is this Punya bhumi for you. When you watch all these with absolute silence, there can only be tears.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> We had a team of padayatris, mainly akkas, involved in Vibhuti distribution to the devotees on the route. The amount of running these akkas did was phenomenal. Running from one shop to another, running from this side to the other side of the road, all with the sole intention of putting a drop of bhakti in the lives we come across. And the way people received it was more heartwarming. One Dhivya Akka had some innovative tactics though. Dropping vibhuti packets to people through the window in a running bus, in a running auto, etc. The joy on the people's faces was there to see when they never thought they could get the Vibhuti. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> There was a day when we started walk early in the morning around 4:30. There were people sleeping on the pavements. One such person woke up from his sleep, but still lying down with blanket covering till his neck and watching our procession, as in not keen in whats happening, but just observing. Dhivya akka went and kept one vibhuti packet near his face and moved on, he immediately got up, put the vibhuti on his forehead, and made a silent chant with his eyes closed: 'Om Namah Chivaaaya'.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> A shoutout to our co-padayatris from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@SSAdiyogi">S&S Adiyogi</a>, photos and videos were being taken and edited and uploaded to YouTube all during the course of the yatra. One hardly gets any rest during the yatra, then you wonder how these folks managed all these. Kudos to our S & S Adiyogi team. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> And how can I end this experience without talking about our chief sarathy, Satya Shiva. I never felt a Sarathi is an important part in a Rath yatra because its just a vehicle moved by people pulling it and we need someone in that Sarathi's position just to give direction to the Rath. I was horribly wrong. Sarathy is the one who controls the entire Rath. Let me give just one instance among the multiple ones of our Sarathy. We were going from Peelamedu to Sevashram in R.S.Puram of Coimbatore. And we had to cross a railway bridge. I have never seen in my life a ratha being taken on a flyover or a railway bridge, but yes, here we are. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> With lots of pulling and pushing, the Ratha reached the midway of the bridge. We were all relieved since the toughest part is over. No, I am wrong again, the toughest part is yet to come. The downward journey of the Rath in the bridge is going to be fast, and the bridge had a very steep curve towards the end of it. People in the front and the back of the Ratha stopped pulling/pushing. With no physical intervention, Ratha is running faster down the slope, and we padayatris are also running along with that. The Sarathy has to be in absolute control, he too has to run along with the Ratha at the same speed and also control/steer the Ratha to factor the curve. </p><p style="text-align: justify;"> The speed with which the Ratha was moving, if the Sarathy loses contact with the Ratha even for a second, its a disaster in waiting. Of course, it can never happen, after all, this entire process is happening with Sadhguru's blessings. Our Guruji Vinayak Shiva always used to say that once you tie Irumudi and start your padayatra, Sadhguru is there in you. And I understood the exact meaning of this when the Ratha crossed the bridge or to put in other words, our Sarathy gave a demo of what that line means. Satya Shiva, what you pulled off was a miracle. You are a wonderful Sarathy!</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> Padayatra is a culture of this Punya Bhumi which is becoming extinct. We always have that thought we need to do something to this from getting into oblivion. Thanks to Isha, yes, today we all should feel proud about the fact that we indeed did our bit to revive this culture.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Om Namah Shivay!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/heZ38oHRaBE" width="320" youtube-src-id="heZ38oHRaBE"></iframe></div><br /><p><br /></p>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-34124884524180707402020-02-27T21:52:00.001-08:002020-02-27T21:52:22.711-08:00padayatra is not just a walk<div style="text-align: justify;">
It was Dec 31st 2019, when I was going over my last years goals and finding out what got achieved and what not. As I started dotting for 2020, the thought of going for padayatra crossed my mind. I knew during Mahashivratri, Isha meditators go for padayatra from their respective places to Velliangiri. I wanted to do this, a padayatra from Bangalore to Velliangiri temple in Coimbatore. The only issue is the number of days I had to take leave. Couple of weeks later, the dates got announced, its from 7th Feb to 19th Feb. Excluding weekends, I had to take 10 days off. I applied, and my boss immediately approved it. Never I thought this will end up as the most wonderful time of my life, and I will never forget my boss for this.<br />
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Before the trip, I talked to our guruji, Vinayak Moorthy anna, who will be leading us during the padayatra. 2 things he said: "Anna, make sure you do not use your mobile during the trip. Even to your family, just message them where you are, its enough. You are with so many people, they will not worry. If you want to use mobile during yatra, its better you stay back, no point in doing this. You will not get an opportunity like this again. Second, keep in mind,while walking , the only thing you will do is to chant "Om Nama Shivaya", and nothing else". Never I thought this conversation would be the stepping stone for a beautiful trip to happen, and I bow down to Vinayak anna for making it happen.</div>
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Its 7th Feb. I switched off my data and left. From Jayanagar, 20 of us had our irumudi's tied, and started off the yatra in the evening around 8PM and reached our first destination.</div>
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Generally, our walking times are in 2 sessions. Morning session from around 5:30AM to 12 noon, and the evening session from around 4PM to 9PM, covering around 30 kms per day. Our stay and accomodation for the next 13 days till we reach Isha Yoga center is taken care by the Isha Volunteers from the nearby places. In the afternoon, the volunteers bring us lunch to a predefined place on the way. And during the night, the volunteers arrange for a place to stay and take care of our dinner as well.</div>
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I got my first surprise on reaching our first destination. The Isha volunteers who were waiting for our arrival, did padapoooja to each and every one of us. During padapooja, they will put water and wash your feet, put chandan and apply kumkum and do an aarti. I never had anything like this before. It was very uncomfortable to see someone washing your feet and do all this. After all, I am just an ordinary person sucked in this materialistic world running behind money, and here somebody washing our feet as if we are some god. I started trembling and getting little emotional. And this happened almost every evening when we reached an Isha volunteer place.</div>
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Isha volunteers are one which I would never be able to decode in my lifetime. The volunteers either prepare food by themselves or arrange it from outside paying from their own pockets. And they themselves will come and serve the food, and only after we all had taken food, they will have their food. In one such instance, we had dinner only after midnight at around 00:30 hours, volunteers had at around 1AM. The love and grace with which the entire thing is handled, I wondered do I deserve all these? For these volunteers, it is as if 20 Sadhguru's had come to their homes. How would you treat if your god comes home? This is the same way they treated 20 of us with care and devotion.</div>
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Sometimes I wonder why do they do all these? It is just that one word "Sadhguru", the feeling that taking care of these Shivas is taking care of Sadhguru himself. This world of Sadhguru's Isha is just a beautiful one, the more you be in it, the more you dont want to come out of it. The entire arrangement of padayatra created by Sadhguru is such that you just need to walk and be in your zone, rest everything is taken care of.</div>
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During a lunch at one of our volunteers house, it so happened that rice got over after first serving. And 30 of us are having lunch. Volunteer anna told us to just wait for another 5 mins and it will be ready and he kept us engaged to make sure nobody got up. The rice got ready in another 10 mins and everybody had their stomachs full. The same scenario in another place would have become a little unpleasant, but not here. I felt this Anna had so much of Sadhguru's grace, everything went so smoothly. It was like all the Sadhguru videos we had watched, we are getting live demo's for the same.</div>
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Before the padayatra, I felt I should not have any issues with the walk because I maintain a decent level of fitness. To my surprise, I was horribly wrong. The only difference is if others had felt pain from Day 2, i felt from Day 3. Period. From Day 3 is when the actual fight with pain starts and the level varies from person to person. You get boils on legs, and the boil broadens, then breaks and the process repeats til the end. Luckily, I came out of this easily. Vinayak anna had told us, "enjoy the pain the same way we enjoy a desert after a meal". The more attention you give to pain, the more it starts paining. Just give a damn to it. Another thing that helped me is the Osho book on Krishna I was reading before the yatra. Osho contantly tells pleasure and sadness are two ends of a pole. You dont long for only one, accept both of them gracefully. With this thought process and the continuous chant of 'Om Nama Shivaya', trust me, the pain never ever troubled. I became one with the pain.</div>
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As we keep walking everyday, people on the road will stare at us. Some ask about our whereabouts, some just look at you, some give a smile, some will do a pranam to us, some prostrate on the road itself. We give vibhuti prasad to them, some accepts, some does not. When first time some one came and prostrated at me, I did not know what to do, how to react. Again that uncomfortable feeling. All I did was to close my eyes and tell 'Om Nama Shivaya'. In one instance, a person in a 2 wheeler stopped next to me and enquired about our yatra. At the end, when I offered him vibhuti, he got down from the vehicle and prostrated on the road itself, and that is when I realized his left hand was amputated. What do I do with these people? Why do they do this and make us uncomfortable and emotional? I want to tell him I am not qualified for any of these things. </div>
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Over the time, I realized for people in Tamil Nadu villages, once you start padayatra, for them, you are Shiva, nothing else. So, people look at us as Shiva, when they prostrate, I just tell myself this is to Shiva and I am just a medium here and offer it to the Lord himself. It was a different life. No talks, only chant, chant and chant, people come to you,give vibhuti, people prostrate, stop by and offer it to Shiva, give vibhuti, move on. The chant and the disconnect with the day to day affairs has taken the body to a different level. And you become more softer, more receptive to what is happening around. And yes, you feel you are a limb of Shiva. All these things made me to promise to myself to be a better human being that what I am today. </div>
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From Hosur, starts the most beautiful part of the journey where the walk is through the villages. Trees on either sides, lush green fields, not many vehicles plying on the roads, sunrise and sunset which we get to see everyday, cows, buffaloes, hens, on either sides at almost every home, its a nature lover's paradise. This will continue for 7 to 8 days till we reach Bhavani.</div>
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After the first 3 days, I opted for Silence. Once you opt for this, you are not supposed to talk to anyone, just be in silence. In case of real need, we can use sign language. During walk, people on roads used to ask us about our whereabouts. So, I used to wear a Silence tag around the neck, and I had our source and destination written in Tamil so that I need not talk to them. Opting for silence ended up deepening my experience.</div>
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I think it was on Day 4 when we were going to Palacode. As I was walking with my chant on, there was a dog sitting on the other side of the road. It started coming near me, I did not bother, and it started walking alongside me. After a few steps, it hit my leg with its body, kind of nodding me to look at something. There was a small shop nearby. I bought a couple of biscuit packets. I continued walking, and started giving biscuits to the dog one after the other. It kept on eating. When both the packets got over, I showed the empty packets to it and told him its over. It turned and went back. As it went back, was trying to ponder over what exactly happened in the last few minutes. Perhaps, he was my friend in my last birth and felt happy seeing me.</div>
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It was an evening walk from Ammapet to Bhavani. Around 6 to 7 of us reached early and were waiting at a point just before the destination for others to arrive. The place was covered with shamiyana, most likely used for some car sales display during the day. A person in a TVS-50 stopped by, parked his vehicle and came to us. He asked, "Saamigala, where are you people going?". One of our Shivas told him that we are from Bangalore and doing padayatra to Velliangiri. The person was happy to hear this and he wanted to offer something to us. He asked , "Saamigala, shall I buy water bottles for 50 rupees for you people"? One of the shivas thanked him and said we have enough water. "Then, shall I buy Brittania biscuits for 50 rupees?" he asked very innocently. Other Shiva told him that we are going to have our dinner in sometime now and its fine. "Why you people are so good? You are not taking anything at all from me" told that person. To this, another shiva suggested him to offer that money in our biksha hundi. The person happily offered it to the hundi. And he prostrated at us on the road and went back to his vehicle. As he was about to start, he put the side stand and came to us again. He started in a low tone: "Saamigala,, veetla pasanga velai illama irukkanga, neenga konjom aasirvaadham pannunga saamigala (Swamijis, my sons at home does not have a job, please bless them)", he said and left. There was pin drop silence.</div>
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I am not Sadhguru, I am not Shiva. What can I do for him? He believed we can do something to him, he felt we are all closer to god, perhaps god might listen to our prayers more than his. I dont know whether he has money for his next meal, but he offered that 50 rupees with a hope. All I can do is to plead to Shiva for him which I did. During the entire conversation he had with us, his body language never gave a hint of such sadness back at home. With his family in such an issue, the man was able to conduct himself so well. I am again teary eyed as I am typing all this. I hope something better would have happened to him. And yes, he did give me a message that worries apart, you can still enjoy your life and be yourself.</div>
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It was Day 10, the day which would end up as a turning point in my life. We were going from Perundurai to Chengapalli, towards Avinashi. 90% of the walk was on the National Highway. And we were close to 40 of us, scattered across. As I was walking with the 'Om Nama Shivaya' chant on, suddenly an Innova came and stopped right next to me. The driver asked us: "Aap log kahan ja rahe ho (Where are you people going?)". Since I was in silence and could not talk, I flashed my tag which had our source and destination written in Tamil. The driver doing pranam, said "Om Nama Shivay". His expressions told me he had no idea what was written on it. I wish I had an English version in the backside. He simply did not look like a driver, he had some aura around him. As I was about to take leave, the driver pulled out a 500 rupee note from his pocket and offered it to me. I was taken aback for a moment. I took out my Biksha hundi from my bag and asked him to drop it in it. On seeing the driver offering, the people travelling in the car also offered a biksha to my hundi, and I gave vibhuti prasad to everybody, and then I moved on. The car left.</div>
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I continued walking. After a minute, I was slowly trying to recollect whatever happened. Why should someone offer to a stranger, an absolute stranger, not 10,50 or 100, its 500 rupees? He had no idea who I am, where am I from, where I am going to. He knows nothing about me. All he knew was I was chanting "OmNama Shivay". Had I been in his position, forget offering even 100, I may not even have stopped the car. Who is this person? What message did he try to give me? Suddenly I had a tear in my eye. It was a day when we were walking most of the time in service roads, and in the absence of it in the main road. At that moment, had I been walking on the service road, I would not have crossed that car. This entire thing would not have happened. But at that exact time, I was on the highway. Many times when people want to enquire, they prefer asking someone when they are alone. On that day, at that time, had I been walking with one more Shiva, the car may not have stopped at me. Nothing would have happened. My tears increased. I started feeling there is a specific message in this for me. The entire event was running in my mind over and over. From tears, I started crying. And the crying went on and on as I kept on walking on the highway. From Bangalore sitting inside a posh company, here I am, wandering on a highway, crying like a child and dont know why. The elusive question remained, "Who is he? Why did he give me 500?" Its burning and blasting inside my head.</div>
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When we stopped for lunch in the afternoon, I had food and slept off. When we started our evening padayatra, the morning events started running over in my mind again and the same thing continued. As were about to reach the destination of that day, I got a little composed, and felt comfortable. I started feeling as if lots of questions in my mind are answered. Things which were running in my mind for months which were totally unconnected to the morning event seems solved. Things around me were feeling more pleasant. These experience made me more softer.</div>
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I did not come to padayatra because walking to a temple is sacred and it gives punya karma. Something inside me kept telling that a padayatra is the one where I will get a lot of time for being alone will give me the much needed clarity for which I was struggling. And yes, this padayatra gave me exactly that. </div>
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And remaining in silence, I got to know so much about me without talking a word. With Silence, I was in a period of 10 days where I can only listen without passing an opinion. It was very tough to keep quiet. Whenever I found something wrong happening, I wanted to convey it, being in silence prevented me. Again, this told me a lot about myself. The silence and varied people experiences during the yatra slowly started answering my ever burning question of "Who am I?".</div>
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When I look back at the yatra, I feel how beautifully Sadhguru has designed the whole thing. You dont worry about food, you dont worry about shelter, just be with the process and experience the beauty of life. Sometimes I feel all these life enhancing experiences which were happening during the yatra might also be happening with us all the time. Perhaps, its just that I was not in a position to receive failed me from realizing whats happening around me. It could be someone could have genuinely come to help me, I might have ridiculed it. The silence, chant and outer world disconnect has taken the body and mind to a state where I started experiencing every tiny bit around me. </div>
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Padayatra is not just a walk, its a journey where your life will come infront of you. The nature and the people show you who you are, its less physical and full of emotions. I felt its part-2 of Bhava Spandana. This yatra changed the entire perception of life. I am indebted to my guru, Sadhguru, for my entire life.</div>
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Once when I was watching a Sadhguru video, he said "you should not think I am following Sadhguru's advice, I am doing this of Sadhguru, that of Sadhguru, but he has not even seen me, will I ever get his blessings or grace? " Sadhguru said, "you keep doing whatever you are doing. When the time is right, you will be attended to. Dont worry about that". I believed in this very strongly. And yes, during the padayatra, my time came, and my Sadhguru did attend to me. My life changed.</div>
Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-8443921610191713962017-04-03T23:02:00.000-07:002017-04-03T23:02:07.770-07:00my experiences during the yatra<div style="text-align: justify;">
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13 days, 13 locations, 2500 people, 70 buses and our Velkudi Krishnan Swami, who took us to Ujjain,Dakor,Somnath, Dwarakapuri(Gomathi & Bet Dwaraka), Nathdwara, Pushkar, Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Brindavan, Mathura, Gokul, Nandagram & Govardhan and showed us Krishna, Krishna and more Krishna. I have been following Swamiji for the last 2 years, and this trip for me is all about being in the divine presence of Swamiji. In order to be fully in the moment, I almost disconnected myself from the outer world. It was a break and recharge which I was looking forward to very badly, however, I ended up learning a lot of things.</div>
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I was part of bus number 29, named Thirumalai Nallan, a very lively bus with 38 people on board. Our 2 volunteers, Suresh and Ravi sir, a youth and experience combination, they were actually rocking. Ravi sir conducted an introductory session in the beginning where every yatrika got to introduce themselves and get to know others as well. It was a fantastic initiative by him which actually broke the ice and helped people to get going with others. And our Suresh, a person with a excellent sense of humour and great socializing skills. His socializing skills were such that where for the last 2 days we were part of a different bus, and in no time, he had quite a few people get going with him. For me, it was lots of learning from him throughout, and being his roommate all along made it more easier. </div>
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It was on day one, first time when we all got to see each one of us of bus number 29. People were coming in groups and getting boarded on to the bus. One group of mysore people were getting down from an auto. As they were about to finish loading their luggage, one person in that Geetaji realized that one of her bags is missing. She searched for the missing one among all their luggage and in the auto from which they got down, and it was not to be found. Others joined the search, no luck. The bag was missing. On Day 1, when you come for an yatra and if you find your bag is missing, you would be tensed and little worried, not Geetaji though. In her position, I would have got very tensed and ended up scolding my wife(my favorite punching bag). Geetaji so coolly said: "Oh, seems like my bag is missing. Let me catch an auto and go to the place from where we started, should be there". She took an auto, went there, found her bag and got back. This incident was running in my mind atleast for the next 3 hours. For many problems, all it needs is just plain common sense. That is what Geetaji showed me that day. I told myself that day I will never ever do anything silly when I come across such a situation in my life. Thank you Geetaji for that moment. </div>
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Many times during our yatra in Gujarat, we had to stop the bus for dinner. We had the food with us, but we needed a place where we can have food, and wash our hands and plates and move on. Most of the times, it ended up in a petrol bunk. When we find a petrol bunk, first we used to check with them whether it is fine with them if we have food and use their water and restrooms. Without a hesitation, they always said yes. And not just this, Some times, when the water stopped, they went out of their way to make sure water is arranged immediately for us. Add to this, the moment one bus stops, atleast 4 to 5 of our buses start stopping there. And the petrol bunk owner does not mind at all. They were happy to help us. And there was an instance where it was the opening day of the petrol bunk. The owner was so happy to see so many people using his place that day, he immediately got some sweets arranged, and started distributing to all of us. I learnt a lot on that day about what 'giving' is all about, in-fact, it was 'giving with absolutely no expectation', and the Gujaratis have very big hearts. Perhaps, this is the reason why Krishna chose Gujarat to have his kingdom, to tell the world what giving is all about.<br />
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The yatra was going on in full speed. And it was day 3 or 4, not sure. The bus started for the next destination. I went and sat in the last bench, my favorite seat. When I was looking at everybody around, just a thought dropped in: Why did this 38 become as a group? Why did THIS SPECIFIC 38 become as a group? There are millions of followers of Swamiji, out of which only 2500 lucky ones could make it to the yatra. Out of this 2500, there are so many combinations of 38 possible. Why exactly this 38 got formed as a group? I remembered a line which I had read in Deepak Chopra's book, 7 laws of nature: "It takes the entire universe to create this moment". He goes on to say that the universe always tries to give the best to you. The universe always wants you to succeed in everything you do. Perhaps, the universe felt there are so many things I could learn from this group, perhaps many people had solutions to the problems I faced. And it took the entire universe to create this moment. If this is really what the universe wanted for me, how special each member of this group is to me? It is so true when I look at the moments which I had mentioned earlier and many more such experiences which I had during the yatra.</div>
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One important thing I learnt in this trip is the way Shri Vaishnavas look at their acharyas. For them, acharyas come first, then the lord. This is precisely what Swamiji has preached in many of his Enpani audios: "If you go to God directly, he may or may not accept you. However, if you go through your acharya, he will definitely accept you". And I witnessed this throughout in the yatra. Shri Vaishnavas live and breathe Ramanujar. There were lots of lessons for me when I saw the kind of respect of given to acharyas. In my case(I am a Madhwa), I was around 20 years old when I got to know who our acharya is. And most of our pooja's are based on Lord, nothing much for our acharyas. Perhaps, this is the reason why the Madhwa siddantha could not reach much, we failed to give the due respect to our acharya. I have my homework cut out here.</div>
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And then about my swamiji. Swamiji is the person through whom I understood what God is and now visiting all the divine places in his presence, what more can I ask for. One thing I learnt from Swami in this trip I lost the right to ever use the phrase: "I dont have time". Here is a person, who in-spite of so many commitments, in-spite of being in the middle of a massive yatra, has all the time in the world to even get to the ground work of making sure the buses start on time from every place, making sure all yatrikas get darshan in every kshetra. If there is any issue during the yatra, swamiji will be one of the first to be present. Secondly, carrying 2500 people for a yatra and completing it as planned without a single blemish. Swamiji does not run an event management company, in-fact they would never undertake one of this kind. This yatra is completed by swamiji fully with the help of volunteers. To put it how big a thing is to take such a massive crowd along, the Melkote jeer said it beautifully during his speech in Govardhan: " I recently went for a yatra with 100 people to badrikashram. It was tough job taking 100 people. I dont know how Velkudi swami does with 2500 people. This shows how much of Krisna's krutagne Velkudi swami has".<br />
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Sometimes when you look at Swamiji, it seems it is much more than Krishna's Krutagne. His level of Bhakti is such perhaps the Lord Krishna literally holds swamiji's hands and walks along with him in every step. Swamiji's has told many times in Upanyasams that all you need to do is believe in God and do Saranagathi. And then he tells forget that you are doing it, it is lord who is doing it through you. Though I have heard this many times, perhaps I never did my things with complete belief in this. This is the biggest take away for me from this yatra : Belive the Lord is there with you in every step, and remove the phrases that "I do", just remove the word "I" from your mind. I came to this yatra, to take a break from the daily schedule, to get some fresh energy and rejuvenated. Now, I am finishing the yatra with much more.<br />
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Some yatrikas used to say that Swamiji is an avatar of Sri Krishna, so true you feel. But I do not want to put it that way. By doing so, I become clueless on how I can improve my life because I am just a normal human being, and he is an avatar of God. Instead, by feeling that he is a humble, simple human being who has won over God through his Bhakti and service, I get a lot of hope in life to follow him and his teachings. I pray to the almighty to give the best of health and the longest of lives to our Swamiji, there are so many souls out there who needs his healing.<br />
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Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-90149670834214632112017-04-03T23:00:00.000-07:002017-04-03T23:00:57.310-07:00Run.... Run Isha.... Run for Isha<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am not a runner, I never was. However, I eagerly wait for the month of December every year, when my employer JP Morgan Chase announces a 5Kms run scheduled for February in the following year. Just the announcement gives me a motivation to kick start my practice. The exact date of the event is in-fact the biggest motivation. Looking at the date everyday, I start increasing my running distance, and a week before the event, I make sure to reach the target of 5Kms. My goal is simple: I want to run non-stop and complete the run. My run timing is not great, does not matter anyways. It gave me a good opportunity to increase my fitness level, it gives me a good 2 month break to enjoy with the nature. </div>
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I am going to run again this year, TCS World 10k run on 21st May 2017. This run is going to be a lot different from the earlier one. Because this time I am going to run for a cause, <a href="https://www.ishavidhya.org/" target="_blank">Isha Vidhya</a>. What is Isha Vidhya? Isha Vidhya is a chain of schools run by Sadhguru's Isha foundation, 8 in Tamil Nadu and one in Andhra. Around 60% of the schools studying in these schools receive full scholarship, meaning their education is completely funded by donations. The remaining children are charged a nominal fee. In addition, Isha Vidhya adopts a lot of government schools where Isha trains the government school teachers. But, why am I campaigning for Isha Vidhya? Because I was in one of the Isha Vidya schools last Saturday, the one in Dharmapuri, and I saw what they do.</div>
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This Isha school in Dharmapuri is located in a very interior place, around 10kms inside from the highway. The moment we entered the school, the first thing we got to know: 27 kids from the school have been selected for the National level Spell bee competition. People who have been in rural areas would not be able to fathom this because they know better the prevailing education system. Kids there struggle to form a sentence. To get 27 students selected for an English spell bee competition is a huge achievement. All the kids could speak very fluent English. Once we entered the school, we realized that the Isha way of teaching is much different than the regular ones. For example, say a 7th standard students are shown videos of history once a week. Even if they are not able to grasp when being taught, they understand well during the video demo. For the little KG kids, majority of the stuff are taught through singing and dancing. <br />
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All the kids have a yoga period as part of their curriculum, where they are all taught basic yogasanas. Students are also taught about natural farming. They have 2 classes a week where they are taught about planting sapling/seeds and farming. Its a different story that due to lack of water, the fields have gone totally dry. All the kids are provided lunch in the school itself. The kitchen is maintained so nice and clean, the entire surrounding looked very hygienic. True to Sadhguru's words, where he says any cooked food should be consumed in less than 90 minutes, the food preparation gets over by 12 in the afternoon, and by 1:30PM, the students have finished their lunch.</div>
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Why am I telling you all these? Because I need your support,I need your help. Because I want you to be aware of Isha Vidhya and the work they do. I am running a fund raising campaign as part of the 10K run to support Isha Vidhya. If you find this is a worthy cause, if you feel Isha is giving life to rural children, please <a href="http://letzchange.org/campaigns/i-am-guru-raising-funds-for-isha-vidya-which-works-for-providing-better-education-to-the-rural-children-guru-prasad-p-r" target="_blank">donate to Isha Vidhya</a>. Your donation will go a long way in giving a future to a child. There are quite a few options:<br />
1. You can choose to donate any amount of your choice OR<br />
2. A specific donation amount of Rs.3,000/- will take care of a nutritious food for a child for an entire year OR<br />
3. A donation amount of Rs.12,000/- will take care of education of a poor child for an entire year. <br />
You can donate by clicking on this link : <a href="http://letzchange.org/campaigns/i-am-guru-raising-funds-for-isha-vidya-which-works-for-providing-better-education-to-the-rural-children-guru-prasad-p-r" target="_blank">Donate to Isha Vidhya</a></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlJZ3-1Cbdg/WOHXczM2dGI/AAAAAAAAHnM/L6B1tXxeOkwI-P-RiG1MPRNiiAf2LtfZwCLcB/s1600/isha%2Bvidhya%2Berode%2Bpongal%2Bcelebration%2B8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DlJZ3-1Cbdg/WOHXczM2dGI/AAAAAAAAHnM/L6B1tXxeOkwI-P-RiG1MPRNiiAf2LtfZwCLcB/s320/isha%2Bvidhya%2Berode%2Bpongal%2Bcelebration%2B8.jpg" width="320" /></a> Every day now, when I am practicing for the run, I run with a lot of purpose. When you run, if you lock your mind with a particular thought, I felt you will not even realize the time ticking, you will just keep on running. I think about these 2 faces. These are kids studying in the Isha Vidhya schools. A look at these faces tell you they dont know what is in store for tomorrow. My goal is same: I want to run 10kms non-stop and complete it. I want to make this run count. When I am going to run on the day of the event, I will be wearing an Isha Vidhya T-shirt. Hundreds of people will look at us, the t-shirts we are wearing which has the words "Isha Vidhya". These hundreds of people will try to know what "Isha Vidhya" does, they might discuss this with 100 more people. With so many people becoming aware, we are trying to create a chance for many such rural kids to get better quality education. As Sadhguru tells, we should do our job... How to make it successful, nature will take care of it.</div>
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I am waiting for the Run.. Lets run Isha, Lets Run for Isha Vidhya...</div>
Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-24589674402159044582016-11-07T22:30:00.002-08:002016-11-07T22:30:24.171-08:00Sri Ramanuja Anu Yatra 2016 - As it happened<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_NdLodnFxNw/WCEtpbpuzcI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/CjHiW70EFUACOzH_W1EwIqrYL5WN_StOwCLcB/s1600/dwaraka.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_NdLodnFxNw/WCEtpbpuzcI/AAAAAAAAHZ8/CjHiW70EFUACOzH_W1EwIqrYL5WN_StOwCLcB/s320/dwaraka.jpg" width="320" /></a> Sri Ramanuja Anu Yatra 2016, conducted by Kinchitkaram trust, under the guidance of Velkudi Krishnan Swami started on 14th October 2016 at Ujjain and ended on 26th October in Vrundavan. After starting from Ujjain, moved on to Dakor,Somnath, Dwarakapuri(Gomathi & Bet Dwaraka), Nathdwara, Pushkar, Kurukshetra, Haridwar, Brindavan, Mathura, Gokul, Nandagram & Govardhan. This yatra is to visit the Krishna temples and the places where Krishna leela's took place. I already shared <a href="http://guruprasadpr.blogspot.in/2016/10/my-experiences-during-yatra-with-my.html" target="_blank">my experiences during the yatra</a>, in this article we will see about the different places where Swamiji took us. All yatrikas had to come to Ujjain on their own. From here, the yatra starts.<br />
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Why is this called Ramanuja Anu Yatra ?<br />
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<li>In May 2017, Sri Ramanujacharya's 1000th birth anniversary will be celebrated. This yatra is to mark the occasion.</li>
<li>At every place, Velkudi Swami co-related Krishna's life with that of Sri Ramanujacharya's(who himself is an avatar of Lord Krishna) and explained the similarities in them. For example, in Sandipani Ashram in Ujjain, this is the place where Lord Krishna had his formal education. Swamiji said: Though Krishna knew everything and there is nothing he needs to know more, still he went and had formal education from a guruji. This is to tell the world that we cannot learn everything by ourselves. However knowedgeable we are, we still need a guru to teach us. Similarly, Sri Ramanujarcharya, though he knew everything, he still went and studied under a guru.</li>
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Discourse:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">In every kshetra, Velkudi Swami conducted a discourse to tell the importance of the Kshetra and all the related things to it.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Additionally, Velkudi Swami had a team of swami's along with him: Aravindalochanar, Thiurupullani Sundarrajan Swamy and Bhaktavatchalam Swamy who also conducted discourse at different places. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Aravindalochanar swamy spoke all along about the 74 simhasanAdhipathis, disciples of Sri Ramanujar. This is a very good topic and invoked huge interest. He also randomly got into some buses during the journey and discussed spiritual topics and answered the yatrikas questions around spirituality. Aravindalochana swamy is known for his discourse on Srimath Bhagavatham in Jaya TV at 7:30AM.</li>
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The places we went:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ujjain</b>, Madhya Pradesh 14-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Kshipra River</b> - This is one of the famous rivers in India where the recent Kumbh Mela took place in Apr-May this year. All yatrikas had bath here in Ram Ghat.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Sandipani Ashram</b> - Visit to this ashram. This is the place where Lord Krishna had studied along with Balarama and Sudhama.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dakor</b>, Gujarat 15-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ranchhodraiji Temple</b> - Darshan at Ranchodraiji temple. Lord Krishna is referred to as Ranchhodraiji here. Ran+chod+rai => In sanskrit, "ran" means Yudha bhoomi, "chod" is leaving, "rai" is prince, which means the prince who ran away from the Yudha Bhoomi. Jarasandha, father in law of Kamsa, wanted to take revenge on Krishna for killing Kamsa. Jarasandha attacked Krishna 17 times, and every time Krishna won. Finally, he took the help of Kalayavanan who had a huge army. When Kalayavanan tried to attack Krishna in Mathura, Krishna ran away and started fleeing towards Dwaraka. Krishna further enticed Kalayavanan into a cave where Kalayavanan mistakenly wakes up Muchukunda and gets burnt into ashes the moment Muchukunda looks at him. Since Krishna pretended to run away from the battle field when Kalayavanan chased him, he is referred here as Ranchodrai. A bhakt named Bodana brought the idol of Krishna from Dwaraka to Dakor. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Somnath</b>, Gujarat 16-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Prabhasa Kshetra</b> - This is the place where Krishna left this world when killed by a hunter. History : Krishna felt the purpose of his avatar is fulfilled and hence he want to go back to vaikuntam. Also, Krishna felt the yadavas have become arrogant and hence did a sankalpa to wipe out the entire yadava clan. Yadava kids, while playing, tied a rice-beater(ural) on to the stomach of a girl, made it look like a pregnant and went to a sage. The kids asked the sage to predict whether a boy or a girl will be born for the pregnant women. The sage got angry on this act of him being tested and told the kids: whatever is inside, the same thing will be born. As the sage predicted, the same ural was born. When they took it to the king, the king had asked it to be broken into pieces and thrown into the sea. An iron piece among the broken pieces got consumed by a fish. This fish went into the hands of a hunter, Jara, who used the iron piece in his arrow. When Krishna was relaxing under a tree in Prabhasa Kshetra, Jara mistook Krishna for a deer and shot an arrow at him. This hit Krishna's leg and led to the demise of Krishna. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Yadava Sthali</b> - This is the place where the entire Yadava clan killed each other. This is just near the sea shore. One day, when the yadavas were on a high, they started fighting with each other. As they ran towards sea, they picked the pieces of ural and started killing each other, and with this, the entire yadava clan got killed.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Balram Gufa</b> - This is the place where Balarama did tapasa and gave up his human form.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Dwaraka</b>, Gujarat 17-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gomathi Dwaraka </b> - The Krishna temple present here is the one which is commonly referred to as Dwaraka. Krishna is referred here as Dwarakadish. There is a temple for Devaki which is right opposite to Krishna, same in Bet Dwaraka as well. Devaki asked Krishna why Yashoda enjoyed all the joy of bringing up Krishna whereas she got only to give birth to him. Krishna said to Devaki that from now on every day Devaki gets to see Krishna and all the pooja done to him, and hence her temple right infront of Krishna's. History of this temple: As said earlier, Jarasandha vowed to take revenge on Krishna. After getting defeated 17 times, he took the help of Kalayavanan who had 3 crore soldiers with him. Krishna got to know of Kalayavanan wanting to kill him and hence devised a plan. Krishna thought that if he fights with Kalayavanan, Jarsandha in the meanwhile will start killing the yadavas and in turn will wipe out the entire yadava clan. Hence, Krishna devised an idea where in the entire people of Vrundanvan are to be shifted to a island where no human can easily enter. And hence, Krishna moved the entire yadava clan to Dwaraka.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bhet Dwaraka</b> - This is a small island which is around 20 miles from Gomathi Dwaraka. The Krishna idol here looks very similar to Gomathi Dwaraka. It is believed to be the place where Sudhama came to meet Krishna with avalakki. When Krishna moved his kingdom to Dwaraka from Vrundavan, Bet Dwaraka is considered as Krishna's residence, whereas the Gomathi Dwaraka is the place from where he ran his kingdom. Gomathi and Bhet Dwaraka is collectively referred to as Dwarakapuri.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Rukmini Temple</b> - Rukmini does not have temple alongside Krishna's, it is in a separate place in Dwaraka. This is what the Pandit of Rukmini temple said about the history of this place: "Once Krishna and Rukmini invited sage Durvasa for dinner and they themselves pulled the chariot of Durvasa. On the way, Rukmini felt thirsty and asked for water. Krishna drew the Ganga water from earth with the help of his toe and gave it to Rukmini who happily drank it. Sage Durvasa felt insulted since he thought Rukmini did not have the courtesy to offer the water to him first and hence cursed her. The curse was : Rukmini will never be together with her husband and sweet water will never be available in Dwaraka. It will always be salty". As a practice, even today in Rukmini temple, all pilgrims are given water to drink as a mark of Rukmini devi showing her courtesy to her guests. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nathadwara</b>, Rajasthan 19-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Shri Nath Dwaraka</b> - The name "Nath Dwara" means the gate which will take you to the Lord. The Krishna idol present in this temple was from Vrundavan, Uttar Pradesh. In order to protect the Lord from Aurangazeb's invasion, a person named Goswami Dawoji put the Krishna idol in a bullock cart and came to this place. On reaching this place, the bullock cart got stuck in mud, and could not move further. Goswami Dawoji felt that the Lord does not want to move out of here, and hence he did pratishtapan of the Krishna idol here, and hence the temple Shri Nath Dwaraka. In this temple, Krishna is still considered as a 7 year old child who cannot keep standing for a long time. Due to this, there is no continuous darshan for pilgrims. After every few minutes, the darshan stops so that the Lord can take rest. During the first darshan of the day, the Lord is completely wrapped up in a cloth with only the face visible. It is because they feel the child cannot withstand the early morning cold and hence the seva with only face visible. So many nice things in Nath Dwaraka you will experience.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Kangroli Dwaraka</b> - No information on this. When asked the local people, they said the same history associated with Shri Nath Dwaraka for this temple as well.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pushkar</b>, Rajasthan 20-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Pushkar Sarovar</b> - It is considered that the Lord Vishnu himself is present in the form of water. Before the start of evolution, Lord Brahma chose this place to perform a yagna. At that time, there was a daemon Vajranaban who used to kill little children. To protect the people and to save the children, Lord Brahma threw the lotus present in his hand on the daemon, and he got killed. This Pushkar Sarovar is the place where exactly the daemon was killed.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Brahma Temple</b> - This is the only place where you will find a temple for Lord Brahma. After killing the Vajranaban daemon, Brahma wanted to start the yagna. But Brhama's wife Saraswati has not reached Pushkar yet, and one cannot perform a yagna without the better half. Since Brahma could not wait for long, he married a girl, Gayatri, and started the yagna with her immediately. Saraswati devi arrived in the meantime. On seeing another girl performing yagna alongside Brahma, she cursed Brahma stating : "Barring this Pushkar, no where else in the world will people build a temple for you". </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Old Ranganthji Mandir </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">New Ranganathji Mandir</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Kurukshetra</b>, Haryana 21-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Brahma Sarovar</b> - This is a punya teertha, All yatrikas had bath here. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jyotisar</b> - This is the place where Lord Krishna did Gita Upadesha to Arjuna. Swamiji stressed the fact that this place is called Punya bhoomi, and not yudha bhoomi. Swamiji and his team did the complete Bhagavad Gita parayana of all 18 adhyayas which went for 2 hours. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Bhishma Kund</b> - This is the place where Arjuna shot an arrow to quench Bhishma's thirst. This is the same place where Bhishma recited the Vishnu Sahasranama lying in a bed of arrows. During the yatra, along with Swamiji, all the yatrikas got a chance to do parayana of Vishnu Sahasranama here.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Haridwar</b>, Uttarkhand 22-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ganga river</b> - Haridwar is at the base of the Himalayas. Since it is like an entrance to all kshetras in Himalayas, this place is called Haridwar(Hari -> Lord Vishnu, Dwar -> way). Having bath here is considered to be very sacred. All yatrikas took Ganga snan </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Saptarishi Ashram</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Ganga Aarti</b> at Hari Ki Paidi- Almost everybody would have experienced this. As swamiji said, once we are there during Ganga aarti, we never feel like going back.</li>
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<b>Vraj Bhoomi</b>: The places Mathura, Gokul, Nandagaon, Vrundavan and Govardhan are collectively known as Vraj Bhoomi. All these are part of Uttar Pradesh(UP) itself. The scenario now completely changes, where from having visited Krishna temples, it is all going to be the places where Krishna Leela has happened. One start difference between Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh: In all the cities of Krishna temples in Gujarat, everybody says "Jai Shri Krishna". Every conversation starts and ends with "Jai Shri Krishna". Come to UP, it is all "Radhey Radhey", "Radhey Radhey". It is to such an extent when I said "thanks" to a person who helped me, he said "no thankyou, only radhey radhey ". You see the posters or banners around you, its all radhey, there is no krishna. You ask anybody why, this is what they say: "Radhey ke bina krishna kahan (there is no Krishna without Radhey)". So beautiful it as to hear!</div>
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Once we entered UP, we were stay put in Vrundavan for the next 3 days. </div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Vrundavan</b>, Uttar Pradesh 23-Oct - The place where Krishna used to come everyday with his friends for cattle rearing. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Keshi Ghat - This is the place where Krishna killed the daemon Keshi who came in the form of a horse.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Kaliya Daman - This is the place where Lord Krishna subdued the serpent Kaliya. There is a tree in this place which they say is the one from which Krishna jumped on to the serpent Kaliya.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Madan Mohan Mandir - A beautiful temple of Krishna with Radha to his left and Lalita to his right.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Banke Bihari Temple - This is the most famous temple of Vrundavan. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Seva Kunj - This is the place where rasalila took place. Even today Radha and Krishna grace this place and no one is allowed after evening. The interesting part here is one can see the place full of monkeys the entire day. However, once it is around 5 in the evening, all the monkeys vacate the place and are back only the next morning.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Nidhuvan - Same like Seva Kunj. There is a pond here called Vishaka Kund. It is from this place where Swami Haridas found the deity of Banke Bihari Mandir.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Imlitala - Imlitala means tamarind tree. At this temple, there is a tamarind tree under which Krishna sits and gets himself absorbed thinking about Radha.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Dvadasitya Tila - After subduing Kaliya, this is the place where Krishna sat and basked in the heat of sun to alleviate himself from shivering. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Sri Rangji Mandir - This is a temple dedicated to Andal and Lord Sri Rangamannar.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Mathura</b>, Uttar Pradesh 24-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Krishna Janma Bhoomi - The jail where Lord Krishna was born. This is the same jail where Kamsa had kept Vasudeva and Devaki and Krishna was born as their 8th son.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Gokul</b>, Uttar Pradesh 24-Oct This is the place where Vasudeva brought Lord Krishna once he was born. Krishna lived in this place till he was 5 years old.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Nanda Bhavan - This is the palace where Krishna was brought up, the same place where Nandgopala received Krishna from Vasudeva. A very unique place where the Pandit asks the yathris to cradle and come to see Krishna and they let the yathris to rock the cradle.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Putana Vadha - This is where Krishna killed Putana and liberated her.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Brahmanda Ghat - This is the place where Krishna ate sand, and when Yashoda asked Krishna to open his mouth, she saw the entire universe. </li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Raman Reti - This is the place where Krishna crawled and walked as a balaka, hence this place is covered with full of sand today. Yathris are encouraged to roll about in this sand.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Nangagaon</b>, Uttar Pradesh 25-Oct - The place where Nandgopal moved to due to constant troubles created by Kamsa.</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Nand Bhaitak - The place where Nandgopala used to sit with his family members to discuss the well being of Krishna.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Dadhi Manthan Sthal - The place where Yashodha churns yoghurt.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Nanda Bhavan - Nandgopala built this house at the top of a hill to protect Krishna from the daemons sent by Kamsa.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Narasimha Temple - The temple where Yashoda prays to Narasimha for Krishna's well being. </li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><b>Govardhan</b>, Uttar Pradesh 25-Oct</li>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Govardhan Parikrama - This is the place where the Govardhan mountain is, the mountain which Krishna lifted in his little finger to protect the people from the fury of Lord Indra's continuous rain. During yatra, yatrikas did a parikarama of Govardhan for around 4 kms, not the entire stretch. The parikrma was reminiscent of the way in which Krishna and the people of Gokul went to Govardhan singing bhajans and dancing all the way till we reached. Melkote Jeer swamiji accompanying the yatrikas along with our Velkudi swamiji made it even more special. Once we reached Govardhan, Anna koota utsavam and Thirumanjanam was conducted at the base of the mountain itself.</li>
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Food and accommodation during the yatra:</div>
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<li>Accomodation is on shared basis. Mostly, it was 4 persons sharing a room. In some places, accomodation was provided in dharmashalas, and in some other cases it was in a hotel.</li>
<li>Food - As far as food is concerned, one will feel completely at home. Swami brought with him a 100 member cook team. The food quality is such that I did not come across any person during the yatra with food related health issues. Swamiji always emphasizes the need to have saatvik food habits, and more so when you are in a yatra of such kind. He definitely made sure it is being taken care of.</li>
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Yatra preparation:<br />
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<li>Though the yatra officially started on 14th October, it has actually begun on 12th October itself when we all boarded our trains for Ujjain. In order to make sure the yatrikas get into the mindset right from the beginning, Swami had arranged for distribution of booklets by volunteers in the train itself. This booklet contains information about the all the places which we were going to visit. It had content to last enough for the entire train journey of 36 hours. So, during swami's upanyasams at kshetras, we could understand it much better since we had read the history once. This looks a small thing, but made a huge difference.</li>
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Swamiji conducted an 90 minute introductory session prior to the yatra to brief all the yatriks about the yatra. One important thing he mentioned : "2500 people are going to be part of this. You are going to be in shared accomodation, may not be as how you wanted, please adjust it. There will be certain things which may not be as per your expectation, please adjust it. There will be lot many things which does not fit your bill, please adjust it. Lets put it this way: Why cant you take this trip as an opportunity to understand how tolerant you are? " For me, this is the most important message in the 90 minute speech which made the yatra a great one. If you take it seriously and be tolerant as swamiji asked for 13 days, you will feel at the end: "If I can do it for 13 days, why cannot I do it for a month? If I can do it for a month, why cannot I always keep doing it? " A beautiful life is awaiting you after the yatra!!!<br /><div>
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Hope you all enjoyed this yatra along with me while reading. This is just part 1 of the yatra. Part 2 is going to be next year. If you are curious and all set to register for the part 2 of this yatra, keep your fingers crossed! Swami will announce the dates sometime in February 2017. Lets pray the almighty to give more strength to our Velkudi Swamiji so that he can take many more people in his way!!!</div>
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P.S : All the sthalapuranam I have mentioned above are the information which I got from the booklet and some during swami's upanyasams. It is possible that I might not have captured it correctly. If I had mentioned anything incorrectly, please do mention in the comments section, I will correct it. Please do not get offended.</div>
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Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-89059969455813606922015-12-20T04:08:00.000-08:002015-12-20T04:08:34.098-08:00Pejavara Swamiji's 5th Paryaya<div style="text-align: justify;">
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The countdown begins. The 2016 <span style="text-align: justify;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paryaya" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">paryaya</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> when our own Swamiji </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vishwesha_Teertha" style="text-align: justify;" target="_blank">Sri Sri Vishwesha Teertharu</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> assumes paryaya, his turn to worship Udupi Shri Krishna for the next 2 years, is on 18th Jan 2016, just a few days away. As many of us know, Sri Sri Vishwesha Teertharu will be assuming paryaya for the record 5th time. This is a great moment for all the Madhwas, and we should try our best to be present in Udupi on the day of Paryaya.</span></div>
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<b>Why should I attend Paryaya</b>?</div>
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The great swamiji, who is revered by one and all, is going to assume the temple responsibilities for the record 5th time. Only Shri <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vadirajatirtha" target="_blank">Vadiraja Teertharu</a> has assumed 5 times before. This is a once in a lifetime moment and a proud one too, we may not witness any such in future. It is a great occasion for us. We should consider ourselves blessed if we can be there in Udupi and take Swamiji's blessings on that day.</div>
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Most importantly, the Swamiji is going to do Pooja in the Shri Krishna temple for the next 2 years, which was created by none other than our gurugalu, Sri <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madhvacharya" target="_blank">Madhwacharayaru</a>. And this paryaya system was introduced by one of the highest Madhwa saints, Sri Vadiraja Teeratharu. By attending events like these, we get an opportunity to show our respect to the temple and the system which our saints have created. </div>
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By the way, God likes these saints a lot. God wants devotees to give equal respect to saints if not more. This message was aptly conveyed during a discourse by <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velukkudi_Krishnan" target="_blank">Velkudi Krishnan Swami</a> : "God likes his devotee when the devotee approaches God through the saints. After all, it is these saints who tells God's greatness to the world. So, God always likes when devotees first worship his saints before approaching the God himself. This is the reason why when visiting a Vishnu temple, one should first get the blessings of the Alwars and the Ramanujar before reaching the Moolavar, the Lord. " On the same lines, it is Madhwacharyaru, the Lord's disciple, who showed us the Udupi Krishna. And in this century, it is Sri Sri Vishwesha Teertharu whom we look up to as the Lord's disciple. We all pray God. And we do count on his blessings a lot to succeed in todays world. And the Lord himself wishes that first one takes the blessings of his saints before going to the Lord. Hence, before even going to Shri Krishna, we should have the blessings of the Vishwesha Teertharu. And the paryaya is one of the biggest days for Vishwa Teertharu. And we should try to be there on that day to take his blessings. <br />
Finally, at times, Karnataka government tries to meddle with the temple affairs, raising talks of taking over Shri Krishna temple administration. Such talks happen when the government looks at us as a small crowd without unity. It is during events like these where we can show our unity by coming in large numbers. Let us gather in large numbers in Udupi on 18th. Let the temple city be decorated with kache/shaalu & sarees in thousands on the day of Paryaya. Let us make it a day like never before. When the government sees big numbers gathered, they will think 10 times before contemplating anything regarding the temple.</div>
Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-4714672576115980462011-09-06T21:31:00.000-07:002011-09-07T06:03:57.370-07:00My biggest achievement till date<div style="text-align: justify;">
Looking at the title, if you had thought I am writing about stuff after having achieved something really big in my personal life, you got it wrong. Or if you had thought I had done something astonishing in my professional life, you have still got it wrong. Some of you might already be thinking that finally some girl telling yes to marry this crazy guy has to be the biggest :), no you still got it wrong. Well, all I have managed is to get a driving license for a 2-wheeler . And yes, I do consider this as the biggest thing I have achieved. I can already hear somebody asking me, "Hey, you are 28. Getting a 2-wheeler license now!! What the fuck you were doing all these years :)?". I would answer you telling, "Actually, actually,.........".</div>
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We always blame the Government babus hearing stories from our friends and relatives on their horrible experiences which they had come across. For me, I do not want to base my opinion hearing things from here and there. And hence, I thought I will directly go and apply in RTO without approaching a Driving school. I wanted myself to go and see and experience what is it like in getting things done in RTO. My area falls under Jaya Nagar, and hence went to Jaya Nagar 4th Block RTO.</div>
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My Trip 1 to RTO: You first have to apply for an LLR. Only after a month of getting LLR, you can apply for a DL. Before I went to RTO, I had googled a bit on "getting a DL" and other stuff. I realized they ask some simple questions orally about basic traffic rules. And hence went little prepared.Once in RTO, paid the requisite fees for applying LLR. The next step is to get the signature from the "sir". Well, there is an officer from whom you need to get signature, and the peon outside instructs you to address him as "sir". I went to "sir" and the "sir" signed on the form. I was instructed to go and give the test. Went to the room thinking there will be an Oral test, but to my surprise it was a written test. </div>
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The test room was a kind of class room in a school with around 10 people sitting and taking the test. The person-in-charge over there handed over a question paper which was a laminated one and an answer sheet. Actually, they have set of 10 question papers which they give in rotation to people appearing for test. The test had 15 questions out of which you had to get 10 right to clear the test. And the time given is 15 mins, if I am not wrong. First look at the questions, I started wondering whether this test is meant for somebody to secure a license for a 2-wheeler or for someone who wants to become a traffic police. Not many questions I was able to even comprehend. But to my luck, the question paper had the answers marked in it for some questions. In fact, you need to see it little deeply to notice it. Perhaps, some guy while taking the test earlier, marked the answers in the question paper itself. On seeing this, my eyes lit up and I finished the test faster by giving the same answers, and went and submitted the paper to the guy. He collected the paper and asked me to go and sit.</div>
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After a few minutes, the guy called out my name and said, "Guru, neevu testinalli fail aagedeera. Ondu vaara bittu banni. (Guru, you have failed in the test. Come and appear again after a week)". For a moment, I cannot believe I have failed in an LLR test. For some strange reason, I had thought failure is not an option in this one. Add to this, the girl sitting next to me gave me a smile because she has passed, and I have failed. I could see the corrected answer paper of mine on the table, and I realized all those which had answers marked in the question paper were incorrect. Well, I realized its actually a trap laid out by these guys, and I went and sat beautifully inside it. Went home dejected.</div>
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My Trip 2 to RTO: No need to pay any fees again. But again had to go and get "sir's" signature. Sir signed and went to the test room again. Lot prepared this time. Got the question paper, but of a different series. Again answers marked in the question paper. However, this time I had things covered and most of them I was confident of. Still I would say some questions were beyond comprehension: A question read:"What should be distance between a towing vehicle and towed vehicle?" For God's sake, why should a guy applying for a 2-wheeler should be aware of this? Anyways, I completed the test and went and submitted the answer sheet and the question paper to the guy. Like last time, he asked me to go and sit. I told him its ok I will stand here itself, since I do not want him to call out my name and say I have failed again, in case of any eventuality. </div>
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The guy corrected, and said: "Guru, neevu mattu fail aagedeera.(Guru, you have failed again)". I hated that word "again". Little surprised this time, since I knew I got it right. I asked him to show my answer paper. He said, "What? Come again.". I said I want to see my corrected paper to which he straight away said:"I cant give you". Nothing more you can do in these places than keeping quiet. Let me talk about the other side of it. People giving test coming through driving school are not necessarily asked to appear for test. Even those who appear had their driving school's rubber stamp in their application form which is a sign for the testing guy to understand where they are from. And as expected, none of them failed. This was happening both the times I had come. To know my next step, I asked the guy should I come and appear for the test again next week? He said, "No more tests, next week you will have oral test".</div>
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My Trip 3 to RTO: Again to go and get sir's signature. Sir while signing asked: "So, 3rd time ah?" I gave a smile. This time, for the oral test, its altogether a different environment. It exactly is a class room kind of a set up where around 30 to 40 people are sitting. In the teacher's place, a traffic police is sitting who is a lady. She calls out the names one by one. When their turn comes, they have to go to her. She will ask you to show some hand signals. On convincing her, you will be cleared. My turn comes. I go to her. She tells how do you show stop signal? I showed. Then, how do you show left turn signal? I did. How do you show right turn? I did. Then she showed a chart and asked some questions showing some signals and directions, most of which I was able to answer. Then she asked me one question: "You are approaching a railway crossing. Which gear will you be in?". Feeling a little shy to tell her that I don't know to ride a geared vehicle, I answered saying: "Mam, actually, I am applying for a non-geared vehicle". She gave me a smile which had the message: "Thu nun magane".(Friends, please help me in translating this phrase into English :) ). I too gave a smile, in fact, the only thing I had been doing right from day I entered RTO. The traffic police cleared the test, and asked me to come and collect the LLR the week after.</div>
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My Trip 4 to RTO: On the specified day, which was actually a week after I gave the last test, I was in there right when the office opened, around 10:30. I went to the person from whom I am supposed to collect it and asked him for the LLR. He said: "Come after 4 P.M". I said: "Sir, I was told to come today". He replied: "Don't you understand what I say. I said come after 4 P.M. We issue LLR's only after 4 P.M". Went back.</div>
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My Trip 5 to RTO: Evening 4 PM the same day. I went and collected. Half the work done.<br />
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My Trip 6 to RTO: Now, the next stage. The test for DL and getting a DL. I had to pay Rs.250 at the counter, and fill a form. Once done, next thing is to go to that "sir" for signature. Sir signed and asked me to go the registrar. The registrar tells to first get an envelope with some Rs.30 stamps sticked to it. Got the envelope and went to the registrar. Registrar asks to sign in the register and tells me to go and give driving test which is in a different place altogether. I asked him, "Sir, which is the place where I should go for the driving test?". The registrar replies: "What you were doing when I was telling to the guy before you? Is it my job to sit and tell each and everybody where is the driving test? Bandbitru nun makklu (Pata nahin kahan kahan se aatey). Go ask that guy". Well, by now, I am more or less used to the RTO language.<br />
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I went to the place where the driving test is conducted with my Honda activa. The testing inspector collects the documents. To conduct the test, he asked to me go around the park and come, using hand signals at appropriate places. I took a round as per their instructions and again came back to the place from where I started. The police said to park the vehicle aside and come. I parked aside and went. He asked: "Where did you park the vehicle?". I said, here only sir. He said: "Do you know the parking rules? I am asking you only man, do you know the parking rules?". I just kept looking at him since I did not understood whats going on, after all, its him who asked me to park aside. He said again: "You should always park in the opposite side. Where have you parked?". I could not talk much. However, I said, "Sir, you said to park". To which he replied:"I told you to park. You should know where to park". Saying this, he failed me in the test and told me to come and appear again after a week. The pattern by now is very clear, there is no getting away without throwing money at them. He kept looking at me. I left the place.<br />
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My trip 7 to RTO: Went and paid Rs.50 for re-appearing in the test. Took the signature again, and the sir said to go and directly appear for the test. Went there. The police said to go back to the office and enter in the registrar and come. I said, the officer there had told me to come here directly. The police said: "Dont you understand what I say." I left the place and went to the office again. Got it signed by the registrar. Came to the police again. He looked at the vehicle and said:"Go and put the L sticker on both the sides and come". Yes, its my fault to go without L, however there are quite a few vehicles without L symbol. But then, the others are through agents. I searched for an electric shop and bought a red cellophone tape, and got the L done by myself and went to the police again. He looked at the vehicle and asked: "How did you get this done?". I said I bought a red tape and got it done. He said: "No no, this will not do. This will go off in a day or two. Go and get it painted from any shop. And have a look at this form which tells about the rules of L. The length of the L should be 18cm and width should be so and so cm. Go and get it done like this". And showed me a shop where the painting can be done. I stood there for a minute without able to realize what is going around me.<br />
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By now, I was fed up and thought of going back home. But then, I realized the story is going to be the same whenever I come again. I went around searching for a shop to get it painted, could not find any. I went back to the guy and said I could not find any shop. He said:"But, without the painted L, you will fail the test. Do you want to pass or fail?". Without telling anything, I looked at him helplessly. I asked him: "Tell me, what can I do now?". He said, "Ok,do one thing. Pay me Rs.150, I will see you through this test.". Shamelessly, I said yes. I had no option. I lost my patience. I lost my energy. I lost everything. Not able to resist anymore. At a time when the whole nation is going gaga all over corruption, here I am, helplessly supported the corruption even more. And yes, I achieved getting my DL, of course through bribing.<br />
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Moral of the story: "Zyaada shaana math banao, chup chaap go to a Driving School and get the job done." Courtesy: My friends Ashwath and Badri. I accept it friends. No wonder why my friend, Deepak Sharma, keeps reminding me, "Yaar Guru bhai, aap tho bohoth bada C ho :) ".<br />
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P.S: Friends, think for a second. The arrongant behavior of these babus(I have not even mentioned half of the abusive language here), the kind of methods they deploy, what kind of laws can restrict them? None. Whatever law you bring, it might restrict them from asking directly. However, you will be forced to such a corner, you yourself will voluntarily start bribing them. Simple question: Lokpal or Jan Lokpal or Aruna Roy's Lokpal. You bring in whichever pal you want, what can change the mindset of these unscrupulous people?<br />
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Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-30600621526924622252011-07-11T18:49:00.000-07:002011-07-11T18:49:20.987-07:00Dont worry, life is just the same as yesterday<div style="text-align: justify;">
Life is running faster, in fact much faster than what it was a few years back. Things are happening pretty quickly. The pace is very unsettling. We think we are living in the moment, but constantly worried and planning about that "tomorrow" which may or may not happen. A look at certain things reveals life has not changed much from how it was yesterday, all the thoughts of things going wrong or awry did not happen. We are managing it somehow and moving on, isn't it? If things are going on somehow, why should we worry? </div>
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I got up at 5 in the morning. When I come out of my room, mom is already in the pooja room, started her pooja which easily goes for an hour. This is that one thing which gives her a lot of satisfaction and peace. And she enjoys doing this. Once the clock ticks 6, she walks straight into the kitchen and starts preparing lunch for her son with all the love in the world. No wonder why the food is so tasty. It was the same yesterday, and its just happening today as well.</div>
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I slide my window aside to see the beginning of this beautiful day. The sun is just rising. Very calm outside. Chill breeze blowing across. Pleasant sound of birds cooing. A school boy studying in his terrace, walking from one corner to other. Suprabatha slokas being chanted in a near-by temple. I start playing the instrumental theme song from the "Bombay" movie, the song with which my day begins. Nothing much has changed from yesterday.</div>
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A newspaper boy in his early tens comes ringing his cycle bell. Stops his bi-cycle and parks it aside. Flips a newspaper from behind in a typical Rajnikanth style. Looks like he needs to deliver the newspaper to the house which is in second floor. Being lazy to go all the way, rolls the newspaper properly and throws it from the road. The newspaper hits the balcony wall and comes back to him. Second attempt. Hits the rod in the balcony and again comes back. With full concentration, the third attempt. Hits the bulls eye now. The newspaper lands right inside the balcony. The boy smiles and carries on with his next destination, I enjoyed his smile. Its the same as yesterday.</div>
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I got ready and near Mantri elite where my office bus comes. Its still around 3 to 4 minutes for the bus to arrive. Around 5 of us get in at this stop. One among us is a woman whose husband comes and drops her in his bike everyday at Mantri elite. They bring their year old baby along with them. Well, that mother might have played with her daughter for hours at home, but still this 2 to 3 minutes, the time just before the bus arrives, seems to be the most joyous moment for her. After all, its a separation for the mother from her baby for the next 9 hours atleast. The baby laughs for whatever this mother does, for whatever she has got to offer. R-7 bus arrives. People start getting into the bus, the mother plants a kiss on her baby's forehead and gives the baby to her husband. The baby waves her hand and tells bye to her mom. As she puts her foot into the bus, the mother too waves her hand with a tear at the corner of her eye. The moment is any photographer's delight to have in his portfolio. A very pleasant scene it is. It happens everyday.</div>
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I get into the bus and go to my seat which is the last seat, left window side. Even though I have changed companies, this seat is always mine. If you ask me why last seat, I have no specific answer than to say I like being in the last bench. I open the newspaper. Front page news, Petrol price hiked by Rs.3, and diesel by Rs.2. Went further. One of the ministers in the ruling central government has resigned due to corruption charges. Nothing different. Went even further. A pic of our chief minister with tears in his eyes and swearing in the name of Lord Nanjundeshwara that all these are opposition party's tactics and there is no fault of his. Its all the same as yesterday, no difference.</div>
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Bus is near Bommanahalli signal. Looked outside the window. Two motorists hurling abuses at each other, most likely the issue is one vehicle brushed aside the other. With each dialogue from either side, the tone is increasing in them in a typical "hungama" movie style, by the way just the tone went on increasing, nothing else. Meanwhile, some passers by had gathered and a small crowd got formed there, eagerly waiting for some action to begin. The abuses started to get more intense. To the crowd's bad luck, the signal goes green, both the motorists started their vehicles and carried on to their respective destinations as if nothing has happened between them in the last few minutes. Nothing different.</div>
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Bus has almost reached office, near Electronic city signal. This signal structure throughout the Hosur road is a little complicated wherein even a localite will find it tricky to understand which signal is meant for service road, and which one is meant for main road. Sometimes you feel these signals are a kind of trap laid out for people from other states who no way can understand all this. As expected, a lorry truck driver carries on driving thinking the green signal is for his side. Our traffic police uncle is waiting on the other side with a big smile on his face. With everything going as per the script, police uncle asks the truck driver to park aside and come and meet him. After some pointless talk, the truck driver takes some hundred currencies from his pocket and gives it to our uncle. Uncle starts his bony for the day, looks skyward and thanks god. Its just the same as yesterday.</div>
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A little look at all the things that happen to us, around us, friends, it is not much different from yesterday. The world has not come down, nothing much has changed between yesterday or day before yesterday. Day-in and day-out, we are tensed, little worried, thinking what is going to happen to this, what will happen to that? But then, nothing much has changed, nothing much has gone wrong. Things are happening pretty much the same. Then why should we worry too much in life?</div>
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One of my most favorite quotes is: " <i>Your today is the tomorrow which you worried about yesterday</i>". We, human beings, worry a lot. Worry for lot of things, worry for what has happened, worry for what is going to happen tomorrow. Read the above quote again. Yesterday, at this point, we were worrying what is going to happen tomorrow. But, here we are, having passed on, having lived successfully, managed the show somehow. This was the same moment which we were worrying yesterday. But, we have come out of it. So, why should we worry for tomorrow now? That will also move on, we will manage, we will handle, we will come out winning. Let's not worry. The more we worry, the more it becomes a habit with us. And believe it or not, most of the times, this worry is all about something which has never happened, or something which can never happen. At times, its just that we worry on something which is hypothetical. This human mind is a crazy one, keeps attracting anything, just anything. No wonder why a person said, "<i>Worry is a misuse of imagination</i>."</div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span"> Don't think too much about the past. Its gone. Don't think too much about the tomorrow. The more you think and plan for it, you are losing the present which is in your control. The past and the future are all maaya. The only thing we have with us is the "present", this moment. Lots of wonderful things are happening around us at this moment, lets love and enjoy those things. Look outside, look at the sky. Take a deep breath. </span>Every one of us is special in something or the other,<span class="Apple-style-span"> we all are unique in one form or the other. Cherish your uniqueness. Value the special gifts God has given to you. Forget your worries. This day is ours. Pray God to make this day a beautiful one. This moment is in your control, take pleasure in this, and make this a great one.</span></div>
Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-37796230135254415862011-06-20T21:14:00.000-07:002011-06-20T21:14:47.552-07:00It's free lunches in Tamil Nadu<div style="text-align: justify;"> "Free mixie or Grinder for families. Free laptops for senior school and engineering students. Rice at Re.1 per kg. 4 grams of gold for brides from poor families." This is how the manifesto of political parties looked like in the recent Tamil Nadu elections. Elections in Tamil Nadu are fought differently these days, in fact from the 2006 election. Its all about throwing freebies. The more freebies you have in your manifesto, the better are your chances. The concept of freebies started in the last term when the ruling government started giving Free color television for the people of Tamil Nadu. And guess what, it worked wonderfully well until the 2G scam came and spoiled the party. By the way, is it a government's job to buy things for the people?<br />
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<a name='more'></a> First, lets give a thumbs up to Tamil Nadu. Believe it or not, a unique winning model has been found to win an election which no government ever in India has thought or worked on. A model in which people are given freebies to give their vote in favor of the party. A model in which people are bribed in disguise to make a political party come to power. And if you had thought things like these does not work, it does, it indeed does . It has worked now successfully for the second consecutive time. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It is innovative for the reason that political parties saw that people are economically backward, people are suffering due to health issues, people suffering due to lack of jobs, etc. While thinking of how to enhance people's standard of living, in came a simple solution: Give freebies to people. This is like a person being given a booze to overcome his depression. Freebies ranging from Color TV, mixie, grinder, fan, 4gm gold for girls getting married, laptops for students. Lovely ideas!!! My only wish is our Prime Minister should consult the Tamil Nadu government and implement this amazing model in the entire country. When something is so good, why restrict to only one state, lets implement this model across India and make the whole country prosperous. A wonderful feeling to imagine India becoming an economic super-power in one stroke.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Lets look at this winning model a bit on a serious note. Why should a government give freebies to people? Is it a Government's job? A government giving out tax payers money to people in the form of freebies? Who is distributing whose money? Perhaps, it is a wishful thinking that people will forget all the things you did, and will remember the freebies you threw. Well, it is true that human memory is very short. We always remember what happened latest to us. Your friend might have done hundreds of good things to us, but if the last thing he did you is bad, we tag him as bad immediately. Very short human memory, rite. However, this did not work the same way in elections. The beauty of this whole freebies is people happily collected all the freebies, and finally went and voted to a person of their choice.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Every state government has an economy, and there is a budget for the economy. No extra cash can be parked for these freebies. This means the state has to pull out cash for those freebies which is meant for the development of the state. This means if your area is supposed to get good roads, you may not get it. If the state was supposed to have a world class healthcare system, you may not have it. If our education system is meant to improve with that money, it is not going to happen. With no money left, all the government is going to do is sit and distribute all the freebies. The bottom line is: Rural people are happy with the freebies, urban is busy paying tax. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> What about the state economy? Some reports say the state economy has crumbled badly after the free color tv distribution during the last term. Not surprising though. You can easily predict the economy this time with such a whole lot of freebies lined up. I wonder what will happen if trends like these start in other states as well. Nobody can explain or understand the rationale behind how giving freebies can eliminate poverty, how it can improve the standard of living of the people. Let me give you a small example of our late chief ministers Mr. Kamaraj and Mr. M G R.<br />
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It was in late 1960's, K Kamaraj, a visionary, was the chief minister of Tamil Nadu. Like every CM, Kamaraj also wanted to improve the standard of living of the people. The foremost concern in his mind was: the children of Tamil Nadu not getting education, or not coming to schools. Kamaraj realized that if children do not come to schools, the future will be a lot of jobless people who are uneducated. Uneducated youth can resort to anything, murder, robbery, dacoitry, and the state will become hell. He wanted a solution which will make or force the students to come to school. The leaders realized the hurdle which prevented people to send their children to schools was affordability of their education, and most importantly food. To address this, Kamaraj introduced the nutritious mid day meals scheme in Tamil Nadu through which all the children will be provided free food in schools. In 1982, when Mr. M G R became chief minister, he extended the mid-day meal scheme for all the primary school children in government and government aided schools .<br />
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This scheme cost the state exchequer Rs.100 crore which was a huge allocation in those days. But MGR went ahead since he realized this as the most important implementation needed for the state. With this one scheme, M G R increased the attendance of children to schools, addressed deaths due to malnutrition, and improved socialization among people of all castes. To know how successful it is, the same scheme has been adopted by the central government and was then taken across the entire country in 1996. This is the same scheme what we hear today in the name of "Akshaya patra". Read on, the success of this scheme forced the supreme court in 2001 to implement a new right, "The Right to Food" through which it declared every child in India studying in government and government assisted schools should be given free food.<br />
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Such is the history of Tamil Nadu. Such was the thinking of our leaders to raise people's standards. Such were the revolutionary ideas of our ministers which set the tone and the nation looked at us in awe. And today, today, we are in tatters, we are in tears. Even today the nation looks at our leaders in awe, when their photos are flashed in news channels while entering and leaving Tihar Jail. Come what may: A government's job is not to buy something for the people, instead its job is to enhance their living which will make them buy.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> One should feel a little pity for us, the people. Do we really have a choice now? If one party throws freebies, people may either accept and vote for it or deny it. But, when all the parties chant the same freebie mantra, where is the choice? The only choice left with the people is the quality of the freebies. It looks like 4gm gold proved to a better choice for the people this time. My leadership guru, Mr. Robin Sharma, often keeps quoting in his books and speeches, "There are no free lunches". Mr. Sharma means to say nothing comes free in life, you have to go and get everything. Perhaps, we need to write to Mr. Sharma stating to add a small invisible "Conditions apply." along with his quote since the phrase does not suit us.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> One of my favorite spiritual quotes is: "God may not give you what you want, but he will always give you what you need". The more you read this line, the more beautiful it looks. It indeed is a global phenomenon which no human being can deny. It means God does not leave anybody without the basic needs. Of course yes, the needs are different from person to person. One can look around and always say others are gifted with many more. But the truth is: God leaves all human beings equally on this planet with some basic needs. It is up to us to go and get what we want with what God has given us. Wonderful wonderful meaning. Well, If I am asked to give a quote to the Tamil Nadu government, I would re-phrase this same quote a little: "<i>God might just give you what you need, but this government will give you what you want.</i>" Eraiva, emmai kapaatravum.(God, save us).<br />
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</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-62677107971345855202011-04-06T09:33:00.000-07:002011-04-06T17:42:57.945-07:00Dhoni is super lucky, rite?<div style="text-align: justify;"> India won the T20 world cup. People said Dhoni is lucky. CSK wins IPL3. People say Dhoni is very lucky. CSK win Champions League. People say Dhoni is very very lucky. India crowned Number 1 in the ICC Test Rankings. People say this Dhoni has always been lucky. Now, the mother of all: India wins the WORLD CUP. What now? Dhoni is the most luckiest person on this planet? Or Super Lucky? Hey, hold on. One can be lucky once, or twice, or thrice, or max say for an year or two. If we say somebody is lucky all through his career, aren't we kidding? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It has always remained a puzzle to me why people say Dhoni is lucky. Personally, I do not believe in luck. For the simple reason that when you make mistakes we tend to blame it on not being lucky. By the way, what exactly is luck? Luck does not mean good fortune. The business books define luck as: "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity". But, can we say getting an opportunity itself is luck? Not really. Waiting for an opportunity to knock our door is one, creating opportunities is another. Whenever Dhoni does something different, he creates opportunities and when it clicks, it turns out to be lucky.<br />
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Now, look at Dhoni's success, you will realize what MSD is all about. A leader who believes to the core in what he does, and he does things by taking decisions which virtually stumps everybody right from the top cricketing brains to as small as an ordinary cricket follower, and backs it up with tremendous hard work. Those bold decisions, when clicks, people see him as lucky. And when it does not click, you know it, simply gets thrashed by the media all over the place. The best part of MSD is whenever his decisions click, he does not get overwhelmed with the response, when his decisions backfire, neither does he get bogged down by the criticism. He does not take decisions to please others. Neither he does things which is as per the book. He does what he thinks is right and stands by it. By the way, is not this what a leader is all about? To give an example of how Dhoni does not get overwhelmed when his super idea clicks, read this: During IPL3 finals, Pollard was caught in perhaps what is considered as the most unconvential position in the field. The fielder standing right next to the bowler's run-up. When Dhoni was asked about this superb positioning, this is what Dhoni had to say:"There is no rocket science behind the move. We found he hits a lot in that area, and tried keeping a man there, and it worked." This is what we call as a Dhoni Sixer off the field.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Many believe Dhoni is lucky perhaps because he himself says so. Whenever asked about the kind of team he has, Dhoni tells I am lucky to have a team like this. When asked about the commitment and the kind of effort his team members put, Dhoni says "I am lucky". When asked about his unexpected moves turning to be the trump card of a match, Dhoni says "I am lucky". Looks like Dhoni himself has partly created this lucky tag. Let me tell you one thing: These great leaders have something in common. When everything goes fine for them, they say I am lucky always understating their effort. However, when things do not go their way, NEVER they say that they are unlucky. Instead, simply they go back to the drawing board and start analyzing what wrong did I do without blaming anybody. This is MSD all about, a champion leader the country is gifted with.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Yuvraj turned out to be India's trump card in this world cup. Its a known fact that Yuvraj is the most talented player in this Indian team after Sachin. However, given the kind of woeful form he was in for atleast a year and a half prior to the world cup, there might have been some selectors who might have had a second thought on Yuvi's inclusion in the world cup. What about Dhoni's view point? Not once, not even once did Dhoni said a word during any of the press conferences about Yuvi's lack of form. He backed Yuvi to the core, saying always Yuvi can turn a match at any point of time, and he is just one step away from it. Imagine Dhoni kept repeating the same for an year atleast. And finally, it is Yuvi who showed us the way. It looks these leaders when they want somebody, no matter what happens, they give such a long rope to walk, they make sure the person is carried along. Hats-off to MSD. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> And for Sachin, what a moment it would have been!!! I wonder thinking had it ever happened in any sport where a whole team is playing for one person! A team which is so determined to give back the most cherished gift to their most important person. Kohli's statement to Nasser Hussain on taking Sachin for the honour lap summed it all: " Sachin has been carrying the burden of the whole country for 20 years on his shoulders. Its time we carry him now on our shoulders". Fabulous fabulous scenes those were to see Sachin so emotional!!!</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Dear Dhoni, you gave back the joy on the millions of faces of Indians when we were surrounded everywhere with scams and corruption. More than the joy, its the emotional tear at the corner of our eyes you brought when you hit that winning six in the final. Finally, when we saw you too in tears, the country realized you are also an ordinary human being who can get emotional. As Sanjay Manjrekar aptly put it: "The dam broke today". Indians love you Dhoni, the leader. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> MSD will carry on and on, will also carry his lucky tag along with him, and will continue to be so throughout his career, infact super lucky as he keeps winning more and more. No issues rite as long as it is advantage India? Keep this world cup aside, this Ranchi hero, this super quality individual, had been and will always be my role model, a huge inspiration. Hope this decade of Indian cricket will be known as the Mahi era.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> <br />
P.S: Spare a thought for the venue of the final: The Wankhade in MUMBAI. If at all India is ever to host a final of a world cup match, make no mistake, it has to be MUMBAI. The city which is home for some of the biggest Indian millionaires, has always been at the receiving end of biggest terror strikes in India. Attack after attack jeopardized people. The ordeal underwent by the Mumbaikars in these attacks is inexplicable. The amount of lives lost cannot be compensated. Now, when the ultimate thing happens for the country, it has to be MUMBAI which should be part of this. No way this is going to compensate for all the loss the city had nor it is going to minimize their pain, but definitely a soothing effect which makes their heart fill with joy, more so it is Sachin's world cup. ICC, thank you for doing your bit in choosing Mumbai and Dhoni for lighting up Mumbai.</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-77159586663197305152011-02-28T18:04:00.000-08:002011-03-01T16:59:03.738-08:00A leader Who had No Title - A Review<div style="text-align: justify;"> "A captivating story that teaches as it delights" read the quote of Paulo Coelho on the cover page of a book titled "The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari", authored by Mr. Robin Sharma. The quote made me to add the book to my cart. When I finished the book, a feeling perhaps it has to be the best book I have ever read. Googled more on Robin Sharma, and realized Mr. Robin Sharma is one of the top leadership guru's in the world. Felt a little ashamed that day that I never have heard about Mr. Sharma before reading the monk who sold his ferrari. Googled more on Mr. Sharma's books and realized every book of his is a best seller. The day I finished the ferrari, I rushed to crossword to pick up the next one :"The Leader Who had No Title".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> When you read any book of Mr.Sharma, you get a feeling this has to be his best book. Its worth every penny you paid for it. Usually, self development books are kind of authors talking about their own experience with some real life examples. Mr. Sharma is a little different. He creates a story line around the whole scenario which gives more life while reading it. Makes you to relate your life with the situations put in front of you. Initially, I thought the book is for people who are in leadership positions and above. But, a look at the title again, you will realize the whole point itself is you need not be a leader at all. The message coming of the book is simple: You do not need any title to be a leader. Without a title, you can give your best to your organization and your personal life. Its not a novel kind where you read by just flipping pages. A 201 page book, it takes quite some time to finish it if you are to read it properly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Mr. Sharma starts the whole leadership point with a very different approach: Blake is a person working at a book store who thinks there is nothing great in the job he does, and is not happy with the life he is living. At the graveyard, Tommy(Blake's mentor) asks Blake: How would it be when at your deathbed you feel that you have not done justice to your potential? You dreamt of lot, but never had the courage to take big decisions? You thought you will do a lot to the society but never had the time to do it? You thought you achieved a lot of material wealth, but never had the real happiness in you? Asking these questions, Mr. Sharma tells you first decide how you want to die. What legacy you want to leave behind? And now plan and live your life accordingly. The kind of words, situations, examples, phrases used by Mr. Sharma makes you close the book for a while as you read and do some thinking. Mr. Sharma now starts giving the 4 most important leadership aspects by taking Blake to his 4 teachers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Anna, the first teacher: Anna is a housekeeper in a hotel whose primary job is to keep the rooms clean. One can easily think what kind of a job it is, and what is so big to talk about the job. A quote of Martin Luther king: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” The point is: It does not matter what others think about your job. Do your job well, so well with so much of dedication which makes you enjoy and feel proud of what you are doing. And you do not need a title to give your best and make a difference in your work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Ty, the second teacher: The mantra here is: Turbulent times make you better leaders. There is a saying, "When the going gets tougher, the tough gets going". Mr.Sharma tells when the going gets really tough, you have the opportunity to bring the best in you. And if you resist, it does bring the best out. This chapter will take you the longest to complete since the whole chapter is dedicated to "change", a taboo word in one's life. How a human being starts suffering when he is out of his comfort zone. How to embrace the change being thrown to you. The more changes you come across, the more you come out of your comfort zone. The more you come out of your comfort zone, your comfort zone expands. The beautiful message delivered in this chapter is: "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jac, the third teacher: This chapter talks about: "The Deeper your relationship, the stronger your Leadership.". Here, the talk is all about making good relationships with the people. The more you invest in people, the more you reap. Make wonderful relationships with the people, be it your colleagues at your work place or the people in your life. The bottom line of this chapter is:"Give whatever you can to the people, you will always receive the best from them."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Jet, the fourth teacher: "To be a great leader, first be a great person" is the point about the chapter. This is the most beautiful of all the chapters. The message the author intends is in order to achieve whatever you want in your life, the first thing to happen is: You need to love yourself. Only when you love yourself, you can love others. The best part is the 7 fundamental things the author tells the readers to follow in order to make yourself a person whom you will love a lot.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> All in all, this book is a beautiful journey. This is the first time I am writing a book review. I felt enriched reading this book. Friends, I want you too to attain the same feeling, get all the wisdom which I had got from this book and hence this article.Go pick your copy now. Lets make our lives beautiful.</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-9228465263474883302011-02-21T18:04:00.000-08:002011-02-21T18:04:37.214-08:00This world cup format sucks...<div style="text-align: justify;"> 2 groups. 7 teams each, 4 teams who play cricket, and 3 who are learning. 4 from each group qualify for the quarter finals. Look carefully, all the good teams need to do is to beat those 3 dummy teams and you are into the quarter finals. Once in quarter finals, now, all a team needs is to play 3 days of good cricket and you will be the World Champions of cricket, immaterial of how good or bad you were during the league stage. Just 3 days of cricket to call somebody a champion? </div><div style="text-align: justify;"></div><a name='more'></a><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"> Kenya vs Newzealand. A world cup match getting over in a little over 30 overs, a match which is expected to be played for 100 overs. I wonder who is going to watch these matches anyway. SriLanka thrashing Canada the same day though Canada resisted little better than the Kenyans. I feel no other sport would ever have had such a boring world cup matches. The real action in this world cup is going to start only from the Quarter finals, which means only the last 7 matches has the real meaning. People in one planet are screaming about the death of ODI's and here we are trying to kill it and that too in a world cup.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The teams reaching the quarter finals is clear unless somebody really tries to kick themselves out. All these league matches being played is going to decide on thing: the quarter finals lot, who plays against whom in the quarter finals. Because of this reckless format, even the league matches against the top ranked countries is hardly going to evoke any interest since the result is just not going to matter. Imagine a world cup format something like this: Only the top 8 cricket playing nations will play the world cup. Each team will play against the other 7 teams. The top 4 teams would qualify for the semis. Just imagine the kind of interest and curiosity each and every match would have created. This would have filtered out the real 4 good ones.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Or atleast, the format of the last world cup was much better in which we had 4 groups, 3 teams were put in each group. 2 from each group will qualify to the super 8 where the real test begins. Now, we are back to the 96 world cup model. Any guesses why? India, the superpower of cricket, calls the shots. In the last world cup, India and Pakistan are out of the world cup even before the Super 8 stage, and alas, the sponsors, advertisers who are almost Indians, West Indies cricket board who hosted the world cup had very heavy losses. And hence, we are back to the old model wherein India is guaranteed to be in atleast till the quarter finals begin. Well sponsors should definitely make money, but they deciding the format of the world cup is a little more to digest. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Immaterial of howmuch ever we talk, when India play their match against the dummies Ireland or Netherland, we will still watch it, after all the sponsors now this is a cricket crazy nation :). When India and Pakistan got kicked out in the last edition, it upset us but many liked the format since it had the surprise package of big teams getting kicked out. Welcome to this ICC 2011 world cup which does not look to have any surprise whatsoever where things are expected to go as per the script.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-32315681051061981622011-02-07T18:48:00.000-08:002011-02-07T18:48:38.834-08:00And they say, we are a developing country<div style="text-align: justify;"> 15th August, my country got its Independence. 26th January, which passed a few weeks back, my country became Republic. With Independence, India became a country which can be ruled by its own people, whether you like it or not. Republic, gave a constitution to us, formulated with it the fundamental rights for every citizen. Today, a simple question I ask myself: Are we democratic? Do we still enjoy our fundamental rights?</div><br />
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Some of our neighboring countries has developed leaps and bounds, however they are not democratic. We think what is the point in growth when people cannot express their views and do not have a say in things. However, a closer look at ourselves reveal that we have neither grown nor have things which should be in a democratic country. Being democratic, one of the things is a citizen should be able to talk freely. A citizen should be able to express his views openly. Are you able to ? Fundamental rights of India lists out 6 Fundamental rights recognized by the constitution. Are we able to exercise them?<br />
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<div style="text-align: justify;">Self development books always tell you to stay away from negative news for the simple reason it will put a negative thought in your mind. Hence, I religiously used to turn the next page in newspaper the moment I see the words CWG, Adarsh and 2G. By the sheer weight-age of the numbers in 2G, Adarsh and CWG looks peanuts. How much ever I try to avoid exposing to negative news, I simply lose control the moment it is 2G, the magnitude of the number just forces me to read and look more at it.Yes, it is the popular figure 1.76 lakh crore. The same number which we are seeing day-in and day-out and flashed in our TV screens. The number which has given sleepless nights for the government For my readers, let me put the number in Rupees.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Rs.17,60,00,00,00,00,000</b></div></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> One of our fundamental rights in India is the right to freedom from exploitation. Look at the above number and ask yourself: Are not we exploited? Let me explain to you what the above number means. Imagine this: Dolls are becoming scarce in India and is in huge demand. X is an Indian, Y and Z are foreigners. One fine day, X suddenly wakes up and thinks to sell the dolls in a hara-kiri. Y comes to India, meets X and buys a beautiful doll for Rs.10. Y got it because Y came first, fair enough. Please do not ask a stupid question like how Y came first OR how come only Y came? Y immediately meets Z and sells the same doll to Z for Rs.1000. Its deal.<br />
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3 possibilities here:<br />
i) X is a joker.<br />
ii) Y is very shrewd.<br />
iii) X and Y organized a BEAUTIFUL game and made the country a joker witnessed by a billion audience.<br />
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You decide which is right. And yes, this kind of scam has happened </div><div style="text-align: justify;">i) in a country in which more than 70% of the population lives on less than Rs.30 a day</div><div style="text-align: justify;">ii) in a country in which this amount is 3% of its GDP</div><div style="text-align: justify;">iii) in a country which ranks 53rd in the list of poor countries.<br />
iv) in a country which has one third of the world's poor people</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Dear Prime Minister, the nation looked at you as the best person to lead the country, even when a coterie kept saying Soniaji is the de-facto Prime minister. Not anymore. The above number has re-defined the word corruption. The longer we stare at the figure, the more it de-moralizes us. For the sake of simplicity, media is showing it in terms of lakhs of crores because to read out the actual number, we need to google it out. The nation demands an explanation from you sir. The country needs a JPC. For once, the opposition is right on being hell bent on JPC. For the sake of the nation, please do not embarrass us in front of the world.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I am just an ordinary citizen, like one of those million citizens who gets fumed when looking at things like these. But, can I do something? Or do I have the guts to do? Do I have the courage to talk about a wrong doing politician openly? Or am I brave enough to write honestly about these ruckus created by our government in my blog atleast? The answer is NO. I admit I am just one of those virtually dead Indians who see and do nothing, and yes I am in a democratic country. To give you a sample of what is in store for us if you happen to take it to your hands, read this:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Satish Shetty, an RTI activist from Pune is just like one of us. Never he got deterred by those dangerous viruses existing in our country. Used the RTI act and blew the horn on the umpteen land scams which happened in Talegaon, Lonawala and Pimpri Chinchwad. Not just that, he exposed many such scams such as the keronsene being sold in the black market which is meant to be sold in ration shops. Satish Shetty, in fact digged out the pattern and the methods used to get this keronene in which he found out a large number of fake ration cards are being created and bought kerosene through these cards and sold out in the black market. What do you think will happen to somebody who does all such bad things for the government? End Result: Was brutally murdered by some un-identified people in broad day-light near his house in Talegaon. And in this country those un-identified people will remain un-identified.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Yashwant Sonawane, an IAS officer from Malegaon, is one of those honest IAS officers whom we get to read in newspapers. Sonawane was very popular for his secular and pro-sentiment views. Coming from a Dalit background, always worked to bring the Hindu and Muslims together in the sensitive malegaon region. Had a huge vision for the Malegaon area. On his way to Chandvad, Sonawane spotted oil pilferage going on outside a shop. Immediately, took the video footage of the entire incident and calls the officials for raid. Its quite logical that people like these is bound to face the wrath of those anti-social elements, no different in his case. End Result: The servants and shop-keeper of the shop poured keronsene on Sonawane and burnt him alive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Forget about you and me, a minister sitting inside the assembly needs securities to survive the assembly session. Incidents like this will make the common man to be bound to his house. But how many of us at least know incidents like these? How many of us really know what we are supposed to receive from the government and what we are receiving? Do we know who is our MLA? The famous section falling in this reluctant category is, yes you guessed it right, the salaried middle class which mostly is the IT class, which includes me as well. It is this IT boom which made the country feel India becoming a super-power in 2020, and my favourite president Abdul Kalam forming his slogan, "Vision 2020". Today, it is the same IT which I feel is partly responsible for the ruckus. How many of us really bother about who is in power, who is not? Which minister is doing what? Only when a group is discussing some serious issue, we go join them and pass one odd comment and laugh it off. This is our way of discussing a issue.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Let me explain this with an example. A few weeks back when the Telangana issue was on the boil, I was having dinner at a restaurant near Electronic City. A group of 3 guys were dining in the table next to me. 2 of them were having intense discussion on the Telangana issue which at times looked more serious. The third one did not talk, and was busy eating. One of the guys asked the 3rd guy his opinion, on hearing which got me clean bowled: The 3rd guy said: " Forget about Hyderabad going to Telangana or Andhra man. Even if Bangalore were to go to Tamil Nadu tomorrow, I don't care as long as I get my salary on the 1st of every month". Friends, this is the what I call, the salaried class of IT India. All we are bothered is how am I, how is my family, how much I have saved, how much can i save more, how many flats I have, which school do my children go to and all these at par or atleast one more than the neighbor next door. Damn the rest. IT India's slogan is pretty simple: "Baad mein gaya duniyadaari".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> We dont go to vote, we don't care about what the government does to us, murderous incidents like above will discourage us from thinking anything in those lines. But yes, we will look at the sops the next day the Finance minister presents his budget early next month. We are always concerned at things that hits our pocket. The least that is expected of us is to go out and vote when our turn comes next time. But please, not on the basis of caste or religion. On the basis of the candidate or the Government's report card. And for this to happen, people need to know what is going around them. The good things done to us, the bad ones forced on us, the games organized in-front of us, everything. Let's not a turn a blind eye towards everything hurled at us. The country has sank enough, not any more. True to Mr. Kalam's vision, I am also one of you who wishes this country becomes a super-power by 2020, this country the most developed one by 2020, the country with the best governance by 2020. For now, all we need to say is: "Hey Bhagwan, hamey bachale."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-34364132489445779552011-01-23T17:45:00.000-08:002011-01-23T17:45:17.212-08:00Waiting for "The Modi's India"<div style="text-align: justify;"> On my way back from office, and just got down from the office bus. Headed straight to a small tea shop by the road side. Had a tea, and picked up a Kurkure packet. The packet was so dusty, asked the guy to give me a different one. "All packets are like this", said the guy. I told him you could have at least cleaned it once before keeping for selling to which he replied angrily: " These bastards are relaying the platforms for the last 2 years. Things become dusty in just a matter of minutes". He went on adding "You are talking as if you are coming straight from America. The road projects only starts, never gets over. These politicians are all for money. Nobody cares a shit for the people using these platforms". Typical words heard from an Indian. I said in a jest, wait for sometime, looks like this Karnataka government can fall anytime. "So what? Nothing changes." he said, and added something more which took me by surprise: "There is only one good politician in the country and it is Narendra Modi".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> It is very rare for a common man to know more about a state level politician belonging to a different state. However, it is an exception in case of Modi. Winning election after election has made him to be recognized as a national personality. It is true the post-Godhra riots will always be a blot on Mod's image. The irony is the media brings Modi to the news channels always in relation with the Nanavati commission and SIT related to Godhra, however there is a silently unwatched or less talked about side of Modi, a statesmen who encourages development of the state to the core. India needs a Gujarat summit to realize the state is slowly becoming the economic superpower of India.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> “Modi lambi race ka ghoda hai” is what Anil Ambani said, quoting his late father Dhirubai Ambani's view on Modi, during the Gujrat Vibrant Summit last year. With the last Lok Sabha election results, the picture was very clear: Modi is to stay as the top man of Gujarat for a few more terms, if not for decades. Things are happening in Gujarat so faster, it has now caught the eye of the nation. Take for instance the business tycoons across the globe who were queued up for this year's Gujarat Vibrant summit which attracted investments worth 450 billion dollars. There are already talks that Gujarat is going to be the economic power house of India accounting for almost one third of India's GDP. The election results have given the trust to the corporates, Modi's state development mantra has given the confidence, add it to the corruption free government, making it a paradise for the people of Gujarat and the corporates across to choose Gujarat as a destination.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Everything is subjected to Inflation, and so is corruption. It simply does not make sense these days if the corruption amounts are in tens or hundreds of crores, and hence scams like 2G in lakhs of crores. Fair enough. The words 'Politics' and 'Corruption' go hand in hand in India. This successful government in Gujarat seems not to have any sort of corruption, but my understanding of Indian bureaucracy does not allow me to believe so. I asked one of my Gujju friends, is corruption ok or too much in Gujarat? He said, "Corruption, in Gujarat? Forget it. If Narendra Modi comes to know any minister in his government is corrupt, we don't need any CBI or CID. Modi will see him off".(My friend used a better word than 'see' while telling me, can't put the same here for obvious reasons.)</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> There is an old saying: "A good governance is possible only when there is a constructive opposition". The demonstration of this phrase can only be understood from Gujarat. Let me to take you back to the Nano story. The whole nation watched helplessly when our Didi ousted Tata from Bengal. Several states proposed to offer land to Tata. Tata's chose Gujarat. Modi's approval and the entire project formalities got over in a record span of 3 days. The project was expected to give direct employment to around 50,000 people, the worth of the project being around Rs.20,000 crore. Modi converted what looked like Bengal's loss into Gujarat's gain in no time. Attribute this to Modi seizing the opportunity with his thinking or Tata's trusting Gujarat.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Hard to digest the fact that a project of such a magnitude can see its way through in 3 days. Spare a thought for the opposition party, the Congress. Any opposition in a state will pounce on opportunities like this by creating all kinds of doubts in the minds of the people, but not the Gujarat congress. In fact, it is the state congress which convinced the central congress stating this project is for the welfare of the Gujarat people and it should go ahead. Just a wild dream: How will India be if every opposition party is like this!! Sorry for being so wild. Compare for a moment the Gujarat scenario to the opposition parties of some bigger Indian states say Karnataka, where the opposition is hell bent on bringing the government at any available opportunity, Andhra- where everyday a new party becomes popular in the name of Telangana, 6 main stream parties as of now, Maharashtra - it's not about the 3 main opposition parties, the ruling coalition itself has always had issues amongst themselves virtually leaving the state in the same position where it was 10 years back.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I believe a lot in single party government which in today's world looks like an out-dated phrase. Not a reality any longer. Coalition is always a bane for the state or the nation. Gujarat is blessed to have this. A state can do wonders when the government is single party. It can do even more when the central government is also of the same party. Keep in mind most of the Modi period had Congress at the Centre. I wonder how Gujarat will be when the BJP government is at the centre. Modi's charisma wins the people's heart, his works wins people's trust, the day when the BJP top brass bury their differences, Modi will be the top man of India. In Indian politics, BJP has been the choice at the state level in many states, congress at the centre because BJP has good state level leaders, Congress has amazing central leaders. The day BJP projects Narendra Modi as their prime minister candidate, the equations will start changing. Eagerly waiting for that Modi's India which is a corruption-free and is going to be all about development, development and only development.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I hope whatever we are seeing today in Gujarat is a rough draft. The fair copy will be implemented across the nation when Narendra Modi becomes India's top man. Gone are the post-Godhra days when people felt "Thank God, our state is not like Gujarat". Welcome to this Modi era where now the same people feel "Why is our state not like Gujarat?"<br />
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</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-30362645436283456032011-01-16T16:41:00.000-08:002011-02-26T20:37:06.824-08:00I may not remember Sachin for his 50 centuries but....<div style="text-align: justify;"> No Indian can deny the fact he had a small tear at the corner of his eye when Sachin raised his bat after scoring the 50th century against South Africa. I don't think any other player would have invoked such a kind of feeling in us. The same man had raised his bat so many times and looked at the sky to thank his dad, yet this moment will remain with us for at least quite sometime. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
<a name='more'></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Thousands of cricketing experts and analysts have talked a lot about Sachin, and I am not going to talk cricket now. I feel there is more than cricket which Sachin had offered to the country which makes him the supreme person of India. India have had so many great cricketers, so many great sporting personalities, but still the name 'Sachin' gives a smile in our face. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
There is no doubt that Sachin is one of the most watched faces in Indian television, the most watched in advertisements, the most in cricket channels. These occurrences can make one popular by catching people's attention, not necessarily gain respect. What makes Sachin so special wherein we simply cannot tolerate anybody talking against him even after a failure in a match. Personally, I feel, it is not the things on field which Sachin is being revered for, it is the things happening off the field.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The 2 instances in Sachin's career which I will never forget. It was a time in Maharashtra when the ant-North Indian sentiments were very high. When a question was put to Sachin on this, he replied: "Mumbai is for all Indians. I am a Maharashtrian, but I am an Indian first.". Well, somebody at his level could have stayed away from these questions like Gilchrist or Hayden when asked about the crime on Indians in Australia, but not Sachin. The statement though hurt some politicos, made the entire country feel proud of the man they have been admiring day-in and day-out. The respect and admiration Sachin earned from this is no where near the joy the Indians got on his 50th century. The timing of the whole episode could not have been any better considering the tension prevailing across at that time.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The second instance is in the recent past when Sachin had denied a 20 crore liquor endorsement offer. These are days when celebrities endorse any product beginning right from the tooth paste in the morning. Sachin denied this. Though this news came through the World Sports Group who maintains Sachin's endorsements, one of Sachin's close friends told the media why he denied the offer. He said: "Sachin has promised his dad he would never endorse the alcohol and tobacco products". Billion Indians watch him, millions of children watch his actions. What bigger a message one can give to a generation than this. A person may not listen to his dad, he may not live up to his words, but when his hero tells I do, the person thinks. For we Indians, if a person can make us think, trust me, we always look up to him.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> 50 centuries to Sachin will make many people admire him, acts such as above make people worship him. His on-field heroics could be great lessons for the next cricketing generations, however his off-field heroics are learnings for the whole nation. Sachin might hang up his boots with 60 Test centuries, but I will always remember him as a human being who always thought about the country first at every act of his. No wonder why Indians sit in the stadium with the banner: "Cricket is our religion, Sachin is our God".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-26825032893414000392010-09-30T10:58:00.000-07:002010-10-28T10:18:06.630-07:00If everyday could start at 7....<div style="text-align: justify;"> Its around 3:30 in the afternoon. A mail from HR stating a change in the office timing for one day, i.e., the next day, its 7 to 3 instead of the regular 9 to 6. The reason being internal precaution. Slowly, I realized the same thing is being circulated in many other IT companies. By the way, the next day is the verdict on the Ayodhya dispute.<br />
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For a moment, felt we are giving in to the religious fanatics by taking so much precautions. But then, an organization has lot of other factors to consider.Has not the country moved on since 1992? Well, I am not going to talk about Ayodhya now.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Started wondering how to get up at 5 in the morning to catch the 6:10 office bus. Was about to ping one of my friends staying in Warje to ask him for a pick-up the next morning. Just a thought in my mind, this instance of a whole company being present in the office at 7 in the morning may not happen again in my life time. How will the environment be Or will it be any different? The curiosity got a little more, and I finally decided to catch the office bus and be in office at 7 the next day.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Its 6:05 in the morning when I left home. Very dark outside. As I was walking, a couple of stray dogs accompanied me. Not a very comfortable feeling though. Stopped for a moment thinking they will go off, they too stopped. Could not think much and started walking again, they too started. Well, who said animals don't have sixth sense. Reached the bus stop, as expected the dogs too stopped and it looked like as if they both are guarding me on either side. 6:15 is when the bus should have arrived, and its 6:20 and has still not come. By now, one of the dogs has started giving sounds in its unique morning tone. Bus has still not come, and I dont want the Murphy's law to work at least for today, but then, its Murphy's law. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> By now, both the dogs are staring at me and giving those uncomfortable sounds. Started getting a little tense since I was alone, and they were two. Its 6:25, no sign of bus arriving. A feeling that I have been blocked on either side, and not able to move. Headlights flashing at around 50 metres, hoping it to be my office bus. Not sure since its still dark. As it came little nearer, started running with full speed towards the bus. And to my luck its my office bus. The dogs started chasing even faster. Don't want to look back, the bus is nearing and somehow pushed myself into the running bus. The driver gave a very indifferent look when I got in, I understand. Went and sat in my window seat, still breathing fast. A sense of a mission accomplished. Never thought will catch the office bus in-running. Bloody, who wants to come at 7 in the morning to the office.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Reached office at 6:55. Had there been an F1 on bus driving, there is no competition for our driver. Went inside thinking, hardly there will be people around. To my utter surprise, around half the wing is in. Trust me, this is something unbelievable in any organization. The atmosphere is very different, definitely not the same as how it used to be at 9:30. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Had a quick breakfast and back to my seat around 7:15. My colleagues sitting besides me have not arrived yet, and I am alone in the cubicle of 4. Started working. When I saw the time again, its 9:10 and I realized I managed to finish lot of things in the last 2 hours which normally would have taken me at least 4 hours. Cannot believe myself, but its true. How did it happen? Did i do anything differently? Nothing as such.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Was left wondering what happened in those hours. It never happened like this before. Is it the fact that the interaction with people is less? Or is it the power of the nature which makes you fresh early in the day? Or is it the fact that a human being is at his best during the first few hours in a day? Not sure, which one is true.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I am trying to re-collect the last 2 hours, cannot point-out anything which I did differently. However, there is a sea level difference in my productivity during those 2 hours. Some bells started ringing in my mind. I have read lots of blog posts on being a early riser, one of them being <a href="http://freestylemind.com/waking-up-at-5am-conclusion">Oscar's Free style mind</a>, wherein Oscar talks about the experiment he did by doing things early in the day.Its very clear that the energy level which is present at the morning hours is the highest. Never attempted to try things out before. How true those things were!!! Discussed with a couple of my colleagues about the morning experience. Everybody felt it was different and highly productive.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> A wonderful "feel good about yourself" kind of a feeling. The positive energy which started the day continued throughout the day. Realized its more to do with the fact that you being happy about yourself. I am still relishing the experience, and want to continue. I realize now why in those days our grand parents ask us to get up early in the morning and study which I never listened to. I wish they had explained the reasoning too and given a small demo as well. Never understood about the energy levels so much before, today I did. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Well, at the end of the day I was left with the feeling of why not everyday start at 7 in the morning. Thanks to all those religious fanatics. Had it not been for these people, I would never have got a chance to realize the power of the early morning hours.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Good night friends, need to get up at 5 tomorrow.<br />
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P.S: Friends, I will ask you all to try this once, if you had not tried yet. It works, and it does wonders to you. You start feeling really good. You will see your energy levels go so high. 5 to 9 is the peak time and do the things which you consider is most important for you. If it does not work, come and scold me here :) . </div><div style="text-align: justify;"> </div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-90431225689164653672010-09-05T08:35:00.000-07:002011-02-26T20:36:50.871-08:00those 2 days with Mr.Raj Mali<div style="text-align: justify;">6a.m in the morning. Day started as usual, getting ready to catch my 8:15 office bus near Karve Nagar, Spencer. A bag on my back with only a newspaper inside it. By the way, carrying a bag gives you the nice office-going look, does not matter what is there inside. Bus arrived. Started searching for a corner seat. Because this IT guy needs to read the newspaper freely, and the window seat is considered to be a disturbance, one of the reasons being you need to <br />
<a name='more'></a>open the window sometimes on the next person's request and the breeze starts blowing across the paper which does not let you to read properly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Reached office. Had breakfast, nice parathas. Its 9:15. Oops an Outlook reminder for the 2 day training programme, which is to start at 9:30. Totally forgot about the training, else would have thought of a better plan to skip while coming in the bus. Got sick about the thought of a trainer coming and going over all his PPT's as if there is no body else at his office to whom he can read that out to. Nothing is striking to me. Its 9:22, just 8 mins to go. Only idea coming to my mind is Microsoft should have set the default reminder time as 1day, instead of 15mins. Fine, no other option. Took a pen and notebook and reached the training room. By the way, this is a soft-skill training programme which is all about human behavior, human interception and team work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Its 9:28. In comes a person, very tall, little fat, a laptop hanging on one side of his shoulder, and carrying an ipod system set on the other hand. Kept the laptop aside, and first started getting his ipod system ready. "You guys like music, rite?", asks the guy. A chorus goes around, "ya ya". A beautiful number "Shukran allah.." from Kurbaan started. You cannot ask for a better melody than this to begin your day with. The guy himself seemed to be fully enjoying the song. I too started enjoying the music. First time, I saw somebody playing music in a training room. By the way, I realized this guy is the trainer of the programme.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The program started with what seemed to be the trainer's trademark beginning: "Coffee with Karan". A group of 3 people were formed, and they come to the center, and start introducing each of them. The first person introduces himself, and puts a question to the second person. The second person introduces himself, and answers the question, and it goes on like this. Once the introductions were done, the trainer asked us what all things you would like to be covered during this program. Every body gave their views on what needs to be covered like task delegation, interpersonal skills, managing a team, managing without responsibility, etc. One of our friends suggested his topic by asking the trainer: "How to manage non-productive resources?" which took me by surprise because I did not like the word "non-productive". The trainer simply noted it down, however requested not to use the word "resource". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> By the way, the trainer has not introduced himself yet. We realized this when he said let me introduce myself, "I am Raj Mali". When somebody comes to talk about soft skills, organizational pressure, ups and downs in life, we learn & experience more when it comes from a person who has gone through all this because you can see the genuinity in them. On this front, it could not have been anybody else than Raj. While he gave this introduction which went for around 20mins, one can realize the struggle he had to overcome, the pain, the amount of changes he had to accept, which finally brought to him to what he is today. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> The program got little intense with some card games. From the outset its a game, but every component of the game had something for us to understand about an organization, about people, about team. What is special about Raj is he had a very unique way of arriving at a point, and taking you along with him in every point. Its kind of sessions where every word and every sentence is powerful. Training is not an easiest job at all, but it is the most satisfactory job on this planet. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> I had to mention about the two observers here, Ravi and Dr.Rashmi, who had come along with Raj. When you look at Ravi's timing of his one-liners, you get a feeling Bollywood missed somebody. About Dr.Rashmi, a very warm person making some powerful observations. Its a different atmosphere out there. Usually, a training room has a trainer and the audience. In this case, the presence of observers added so much value and made it so different, a wonderful learning it was. Any discussion, Raj opens a topic, people start sharing their views, Ravi comes up with some mind-blowing funny one-liners in-between which makes people go crazy. The atmosphere was electrifying and the learnings were tremendous.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Now came the most interesting topic about human perception. The story of Ram and Shyam where different people interpret Ram differently in different circumstances. This story actually does not go off from you very soon, the simple reason being it touches the core problem of human psychology. I got completely engrossed and got lost for some time. Realized and experienced how a human mind undergoes different thoughts and phases as the information is available more and more and the visibility gets clear. Lots and lots of questions I asked to myself, felt like having a traffic jam inside my head. After a lot of crushing inside, finally, I stood at: Who am I? What am I?<br />
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Could not concentrate more after that. The thought that we always interpret a human being as how we are, not how they are kept running. The training got over for the day. But still, I am not able to focus on anything. The more I think, the more wider it goes. Went to bed in search of the answer for all the questions going across my mind.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Day 2:</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">6a.m. Got up from bed. Unlike everyday, reached to the window in the hall. Don't know why. Just started looking around, a calm atmosphere. Sound of the birds cooing. A nice feeling.Wanted to stay a bit longer there, its time to get ready for office. 8:15. Bus arrived. Got in. Found an empty seat near the window, and went and sat there . Again, don't know why. Opened the window. Slight drizzle outside. The sweet fragrance of the first rain after quite some time blushed across. Kept looking outside. A person in his early fifties doing a morning walk. A small girl waiting for her school bus to arrive with her mom. A vendor removing the shutter of his shop. Don't know why I still did not pull my newspaper out.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">I kept looking. A feeling of realization somewhere within. The more I looked, I felt the world outside is really beautiful, there are a lot of beautiful things happening around me, and I have the option where I can choose to see only the beautiful things around me. Everybody was listening as I was sharing all these with Raj and the team. Raj with his trademark style of giving Thumbs-up and said, "Lovely. If this is what our program has made you feel, I am happy". This is how the day began, with many of us sharing their thoughts & feelings and how their mindset is. Raj keeps saying, "thoda feel karo". I felt it Raj.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The second day was more on the team work. It had some beautiful concepts of how you align with your team without enforcing your decision. As said earlier, the beauty here is the way Raj arrives at this point after doing lot of analysis and stats. The topics slowly moved towards when you should say "No". A very interesting session where-in the bottom line is either you say yes or no, you have advantages and disadvantages. So, choose wisely.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Post-Lunch session moved closer to inter-personal skills.I got a feeling these personality development people spend a lot of time getting their games very right. Every game had some message or the other in every component of it. In the beginning of the games on Day1, I felt the same technique may not work in other places. However, as the program went ahead I started believing the fundamentals what Raj is trying to put is very strong and if implemented correctly, it has to work.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">The program was nearing its end. Came the final activity where 3 groups were formed of around 6 people each, and everybody telling the group how they contributed to the program, and what they could have done better, and what others feel they should improve. We were nearing the climax where Raj started the last phase when he asked his favorite question for one last time, "where are you?"</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">For me personally, it was one of the most important sessions I had ever attended. I finished stating when I walk out of the room today, I feel perhaps I spent 2 of my most precious days of my life. Everybody started expressing their views on how they felt the program will help them and sharing all the beautiful things which they enjoyed and liked most. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">Our friend who asked the question on Day1 "How to manage non-productive resources?" had been very silent all along. Whenever I saw him, he was observing very keenly, but maintained his silence. Made me feel there is something running in him. The show was coming to an end with people sharing their thoughts about how they feel. I wanted our friend to open up and share something. When most of us finished sharing our experiences and Raj was about to say Goodbye, our friend tells, "Raj,I want to share something ". Raj says," Please go ahead". </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;"> "I always thought a person is all about how technical he is. And thats how I looked at a person. I was wrong. I realize its not so. Your program taught me to look at a person as an individual and the value he brings. Thanks a lot Raj". The show ends.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: justify;">P.S. Dear Raj, a genius you are. I wish you great success, I wish your organization a great success, I wish you succeed more and more in making human beings. Friends, if you want to know more about Mr.Raj, please visit his website : <a href="http://rajmali.com/">RajMali</a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-32630401472172561632010-04-10T21:17:00.000-07:002010-06-19T05:56:40.962-07:00What is 3G? What are the benefits for the end user? When the world is getting ready to embrace 4G, Indian telecom ministry finally realized its now high time to go ahead with 3G after a deep slumber. Convince yourself with our all time favorite dialog, its better late than never. Welcome to the 3G world, its just a few days away before you can see your friend on video while calling him.<br />
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<b>What is 3G</b>? 3G stands for 3rd Generation mobile network technology. The 3G has lot of eye catching features compared to its predecessor 2G. The current 2G provides us with SMS, GPRS, Bluetooth, etc. The major benefit of 3G is actually the higher data speed connection, not surprising though since the telecom industry envisages ARPU(Average revenue per user) to be mainly being contributed by the VAS(Value Added services).<br />
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With 3G, the user will now be able to make video calls, a feature in which the caller and receiver can see each other while making calls. The data speed available will be much much higher than it was available in 2G. The speeds could clock around 20 megabits per second(mbps) whereas the speed provided today in 2G is a low kpbs. Over the years, the data speed is expected to increase further. Add to this the video conferencing and video-on-demand feature. All together we are in for a great time ahead with 3G introduction.<br />
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However, there is a catch here. All the mobile phone users will not be able to make use of the 3G if their handset does not support. One needs to have a 3G enabled handset in order to avail the 3G services provided by the service providers. The 3G enabled handsets start anywhere from Rs.4,500 these days.<br />
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Guys, get ready for the 3G evolution. And its time now for a max-mobile time out.Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1727349544943141130.post-26336022305356343932009-11-07T06:15:00.001-08:002010-06-19T05:57:49.777-07:00Anna, aap Hindi nahi boltey ho kya...<div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">It was one fine evening. I was sipping a cup of coffee. A call from one of my old roommates who had left for Chennai a month back on a new job offer. As I received the call, these are the exact words he said to me: “ Tumaare Chennai ke log aisa kyun hai yaar. Mein Hindi mein kuch pooch raha tha, wo English mein jawab de raha hai..bohoth gussa aaya muje. ……………………………..Waise, Idar Hindi kyun nahi boltey ? In logonko hindi se kya problem hai?”.</div><br />
<div align="justify">Perhaps he vented his entire frustration on me J . I had a tough time <br />
<a name='more'></a>convincing him. After all, I was not surprised with his question since it was not the first time I am being asked this.<br />
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In fact, many Indians have the same question in their mind. First of all, most of the people in Tamil Nadu do not know Hindi. Reason is simple: There was no Hindi subject in most of the schools. There could be some who knows Hindi but may not wish to address in Hindi. If you pose a question to any Tamilian in random asking “Why you don’t encourage/talk Hindi?”, the following are some of the possible answers you might get:<br />
1. That’s how it is here.<br />
2. It’s always like this. (I used to give this answer earlier )<br />
3. We don’t like Hindi.<br />
4. It’s like this for decades.<br />
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None of these are answers to the question. Isn’t it? The problem is most of the people are not aware why is it so. Not aware of why people don’t encourage Hindi. Not aware of why the Government does not encourage Hindi? Not aware of why Hindi is not a subject in the State Government schools? One State adamant on not using Hindi? Is there a reason at all for this?<br />
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Sri Lankans talk Sinhalese, Pakistan speaks Urdu, Bangladesh speaks Bangla, China speaks Mandarin, India speaks Hindi and English. How come India speaks English as well? We Indians today boast of having a competitive edge in English compared to other countries. Indian economy grew rapidly because of our English in the form of BPO, KPO, LPO .. you name it, we rock it. After all, British ruled not just India , some other countries as well . Then, how on earth is English an official language in India? Hey, we never thought about this. Isn't it? Let’s check a bit of History.<br />
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Our Indian Constitution in 1950 decreed that Hindi will be our national language, but as a transitional measure allowed English to continue for 15 years till 1965. As the 1965 deadline kept nearing, Tamil Nadu was one of the states which began to worry. The central government was very firm on having Hindi as the national language. The political parties in Tamil Nadu were completely against this move.</div><br />
<div align="justify">A Tamil leader, Annadurai, saw this as Hindi imperialism and stuck back with one of the most violent agitations ever to happen in the state, says Swaminathan Iyer. Many Tamil students immolated themselves in protest. The police started firing on rampaging mobs, killing at least 60. (Unofficial figures say it is more than 500). These incidents are not known widely.<br />
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With the fear that this language issue would cause serious problems to the Central Government, New Delhi retreated and assured all states that their adoption of Hindi would be optional, not mandatory. In 1967 the Official Languages Act was amended to specify that both English and Hindi could be used as official languages for all purposes.</div><br />
<div align="justify">This very moment looked like a victory for TamilNadu, we realize today how big a victory it was for India. It’s a landmark judgment which re-defined the future of India. It’s a decision because of which the country is able to create millions of jobs today. It’s a decision which made India a global power today, a power which can complete with anybody in the world. After all, Annadurai, a staunch Tamil Leader, fought for English, not for Tamil.<br />
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Does this justify not encouraging Hindi? Perhaps yes, for the earlier generations. The older generations had witnessed everything in front of their eyes, they saw the students immolating, saw their countrymen being killed. Injustice being meted out for a cause was the general feeling. What about us, the current generation?</div><br />
<div align="justify">We, the current generation, should feel proud of our leaders and their sacrifices , and understand the reality and move on. What is the reality? Reality is Hindi is our national language which majority of the Indians talk. Its a language which connects most of the Indians. And it makes sense for every kid in India to have an option to choose the National Language in their school. Let's not enforce , let's give them an option to choose Hindi. </div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">In fact, the languages in India is so much, and the culture is so diversified, it demands today for every state in India to have a 3 language formula: a regional language to connect with the state, Hindi to connect with the Indians and an English to connect with the world (adding one more to the Rule of 3). If we, the current generation or the youngistan, feel there is no harm in using Hindi, perhaps the next generation in Tamil Nadu might have an option to choose Hindi as a language.</div><div align="justify"><br />
</div><div align="justify">After all, one state cannot be isolated from the entire country. Isn't it high time we grew up and took a more enlightened view of the situation.... regardless?<br />
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Jai Hind.</div>Guru Prasadhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07898245472802947101noreply@blogger.com5