Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Death is not a leveller
I work in Cuddalore and commute to Pondicherry in the weekends. It was a Saturday evening and after a week’s hectic work, I was eagerly looking forward to a wonderful evening to spend with my family.
I was driving my car from Cuddalore to Pondicherry. The Cuddalore-Pondicherry road houses a lot of Engineering / Medical Colleges and hospitals & is always bustling with traffic. You are fortunate if you cross the 20 Kms road in less than an hour.
As usual the road was congested and I was driving cautiously as the villagers cross the road recklessly. My half an hour drive was so tiring and I had not even crossed half the distance.
All of a sudden the vehicles stopped moving. I waited for 10 minutes impatiently for the traffic to clear but in vain. I enquired with the passerby and he had no clue as to why there is a traffic jam. I decided to sneak through the traffic and maneuvered in all possible ways to move forward.
I reached a crossroads. There were no vehicles ahead of me but I could see a big crowd. I thought it was an accident and started moving slowly. Suddenly a group of young men rushed to my car and threatened me not to move the vehicle and asked me to get down from the car.
I hesitated for a while before I was forced out of the car. One guy tried to break the car wind shield while others stopped him. The man angrily told me “Why are trying to drive the car while all others are waiting?”
As I enquired about the issue with the people who had gathered there, I could see a dead man in a decorated Palanquin (customary in Tamilnadu) and the Palanquin placed in the middle of the crossroads blocking the traffic.
The situation was tense and emotive. A large section of men and women, some with placard, were shouting slogans against a Caste Hindu. I approached a lady who was close to me and asked her why they have blocked the roads.
I was shocked to understand from that lady that they belong to the oppressed community and they were not allowed to cremate the body in the burial ground by a Caste Hindu. She also told me that they were attacked with lethal weapons forcing them to retreat. She claimed that their community people are not allowed to perform the last rites in the burial ground and every time they attempt to cremate a body, they are assaulted. Also she claimed that they are fighting for the last 20 years for allocation of land for this purpose and their grievances are not heard so far by the administration.
The situation was going out of control and I was warned by the onlookers to remove my car as my car was in the close proximity to the agitators. But, I did not want to run away from the scene without doing anything as I felt that the agitators had a reason to fight.
I immediately called one of the councilors belonging to that particular community who in turn informed the police. The police were already informed of the agitation and they were on the spot meanwhile.
The Police Officials tried to pacify the crowd. I also joined the Police officials in the negotiation. But they were not convinced and demanded action against the perpetrators of the violence and those who abet the perpetrators. The senior officials reached the spot and they joined the negotiation. However, the agitators were not giving up and they demanded the intervention of the Collector. The police officials got in touch with the Collector and it was understood from the police officials that the Collector assured immediate action against the law breakers. The agitators continued their demand for Collector’s intervention in allocating burial ground for them and wanted the Collector to arrive at the spot and hear their grievances. The police official assured them that the Collector would hear them the next day but the agitators were not convinced.
Finally, the Collector had to arrive at the scene to pacify the agitated people and assured them of all support. Only after hearing straight from horse’s mouth, the agitators removed the body. The body was escorted by police to the burial ground.
The young man who did accost me and abused me earlier approached me and begged my apology. I uttered a few consoling words. I felt whatever has happened is cruel and they deserve justice.
I am of a strong opinion that the evil designs of misintrepreted Manusmriti are so deep rooted in the system that the society neither allows an oppressed person to live happily nor to die peacefully.
I remembered the lines of Mr.J. Shirley’s in Death The Leveller:
The garlands wither on your brow:
Then boast no more your mighty deeds;
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.
Published for MSN.COM
http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=e5d06912-f747-4ad3-a414-e44b3cb590b0
I was driving my car from Cuddalore to Pondicherry. The Cuddalore-Pondicherry road houses a lot of Engineering / Medical Colleges and hospitals & is always bustling with traffic. You are fortunate if you cross the 20 Kms road in less than an hour.
As usual the road was congested and I was driving cautiously as the villagers cross the road recklessly. My half an hour drive was so tiring and I had not even crossed half the distance.
All of a sudden the vehicles stopped moving. I waited for 10 minutes impatiently for the traffic to clear but in vain. I enquired with the passerby and he had no clue as to why there is a traffic jam. I decided to sneak through the traffic and maneuvered in all possible ways to move forward.
I reached a crossroads. There were no vehicles ahead of me but I could see a big crowd. I thought it was an accident and started moving slowly. Suddenly a group of young men rushed to my car and threatened me not to move the vehicle and asked me to get down from the car.
I hesitated for a while before I was forced out of the car. One guy tried to break the car wind shield while others stopped him. The man angrily told me “Why are trying to drive the car while all others are waiting?”
As I enquired about the issue with the people who had gathered there, I could see a dead man in a decorated Palanquin (customary in Tamilnadu) and the Palanquin placed in the middle of the crossroads blocking the traffic.
The situation was tense and emotive. A large section of men and women, some with placard, were shouting slogans against a Caste Hindu. I approached a lady who was close to me and asked her why they have blocked the roads.
I was shocked to understand from that lady that they belong to the oppressed community and they were not allowed to cremate the body in the burial ground by a Caste Hindu. She also told me that they were attacked with lethal weapons forcing them to retreat. She claimed that their community people are not allowed to perform the last rites in the burial ground and every time they attempt to cremate a body, they are assaulted. Also she claimed that they are fighting for the last 20 years for allocation of land for this purpose and their grievances are not heard so far by the administration.
The situation was going out of control and I was warned by the onlookers to remove my car as my car was in the close proximity to the agitators. But, I did not want to run away from the scene without doing anything as I felt that the agitators had a reason to fight.
I immediately called one of the councilors belonging to that particular community who in turn informed the police. The police were already informed of the agitation and they were on the spot meanwhile.
The Police Officials tried to pacify the crowd. I also joined the Police officials in the negotiation. But they were not convinced and demanded action against the perpetrators of the violence and those who abet the perpetrators. The senior officials reached the spot and they joined the negotiation. However, the agitators were not giving up and they demanded the intervention of the Collector. The police officials got in touch with the Collector and it was understood from the police officials that the Collector assured immediate action against the law breakers. The agitators continued their demand for Collector’s intervention in allocating burial ground for them and wanted the Collector to arrive at the spot and hear their grievances. The police official assured them that the Collector would hear them the next day but the agitators were not convinced.
Finally, the Collector had to arrive at the scene to pacify the agitated people and assured them of all support. Only after hearing straight from horse’s mouth, the agitators removed the body. The body was escorted by police to the burial ground.
The young man who did accost me and abused me earlier approached me and begged my apology. I uttered a few consoling words. I felt whatever has happened is cruel and they deserve justice.
I am of a strong opinion that the evil designs of misintrepreted Manusmriti are so deep rooted in the system that the society neither allows an oppressed person to live happily nor to die peacefully.
I remembered the lines of Mr.J. Shirley’s in Death The Leveller:
The garlands wither on your brow:
Then boast no more your mighty deeds;
Upon Death's purple altar now
See where the victor-victim bleeds.
Your heads must come
To the cold tomb:
Only the actions of the just
Smell sweet, and blossom in their dust.
Published for MSN.COM
http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=e5d06912-f747-4ad3-a414-e44b3cb590b0
Saturday, May 8, 2010
BY LORD's DECREE
Sachin is our close family friend. He is obsessed with Motor Sports. He spends most of his time playing motor sports in Play station and sometimes on Karting. He is not from an affluent family.
At least six years back when Sachin was around 18 years, on a Christmas day he was just gazing at the sky. He was astonished to see the stars forming F1. He thought it was God’s decree that he should be in Formula One and started thinking of getting into Formula One and nothing else.
He started going to the Church and telling Priests of what he witnessed. Priests told him that God shall show him the path. He started believing strongly that it is God’s wish that he should be in Formula One. Slowly he started losing his concentration in studies and finally discontinued his studies. He went for a job for a brief period and quit the job too. When his family members and friends questioned him why he has discontinued his studies, he used to say “God’s Wish is something different and this is not what God wants me to do”. He stopped listening to the advice of others.
Some people told him that Motor Sports is for rich people only and it is impossible for him to get into Formula One. His reply was “Impossible for human beings only and not for God”.
One day he embraced Christianity and became Jonathan. His desire of getting into F-1 surged. His mother told him that only by miracle he can get into Formula One and she cannot spend money for that. Sachin replied “My God have done so many miracles. Wealthy people have become beggars and beggars have become Kings in no time” and cited stories from Bible.
“Ordinary people do not understand this” he said.
He started spending more time thinking about Formula One watching F1 race on the TV screen, playing Motor sports in play station etc. Finally, because of pressure from his family to be more responsible he decided to go for a job. However, he decided that he would take up a job only as a car driver.
He took a job as a car driver and is still a car driver. It is more than six years since he saw the stars in sky. He has been waiting for more than six years for the miracle to happen. Nothing has improved for him. On the other hand things have only worsened. He has become older now and is now past the prime.
But his desire in F1 and his faith in God doing a miracle for him have just not faded even after six long years and so much of trouble.
God sees the truth but waits.
Published for MSN.COM
http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=7725c3e3-03fb-4b11-9840-8de7adc4ac0c
At least six years back when Sachin was around 18 years, on a Christmas day he was just gazing at the sky. He was astonished to see the stars forming F1. He thought it was God’s decree that he should be in Formula One and started thinking of getting into Formula One and nothing else.
He started going to the Church and telling Priests of what he witnessed. Priests told him that God shall show him the path. He started believing strongly that it is God’s wish that he should be in Formula One. Slowly he started losing his concentration in studies and finally discontinued his studies. He went for a job for a brief period and quit the job too. When his family members and friends questioned him why he has discontinued his studies, he used to say “God’s Wish is something different and this is not what God wants me to do”. He stopped listening to the advice of others.
Some people told him that Motor Sports is for rich people only and it is impossible for him to get into Formula One. His reply was “Impossible for human beings only and not for God”.
One day he embraced Christianity and became Jonathan. His desire of getting into F-1 surged. His mother told him that only by miracle he can get into Formula One and she cannot spend money for that. Sachin replied “My God have done so many miracles. Wealthy people have become beggars and beggars have become Kings in no time” and cited stories from Bible.
“Ordinary people do not understand this” he said.
He started spending more time thinking about Formula One watching F1 race on the TV screen, playing Motor sports in play station etc. Finally, because of pressure from his family to be more responsible he decided to go for a job. However, he decided that he would take up a job only as a car driver.
He took a job as a car driver and is still a car driver. It is more than six years since he saw the stars in sky. He has been waiting for more than six years for the miracle to happen. Nothing has improved for him. On the other hand things have only worsened. He has become older now and is now past the prime.
But his desire in F1 and his faith in God doing a miracle for him have just not faded even after six long years and so much of trouble.
God sees the truth but waits.
Published for MSN.COM
http://content.msn.co.in/MSNContribute/Story.aspx?PageID=7725c3e3-03fb-4b11-9840-8de7adc4ac0c
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thanks Dr.Sastry
It was a little less than a couple of years back, Dr.Sastry, the Evangelist for our OD (Organization Development) initiatives, ignited a burning desire in me to pursue PMP Certification.
In one of the Management Development Programs, Dr. Sastry organized a training on Project Management. I found the training to be very useful.
During the lunch break, we were discussing the Project Management skills for effective and efficient management of Projects. I enquired Dr.Sastry about formal education for Project Management. That is when Dr.Sastry told me about PMP Cortication.
He told the participants that one has to go through a formal training to gain the eligibility for exam and subsequently pass the exam to get PMP certification from PMI, USA.
At the end of the discussion he told the participants "PMP is a prestigious Certification and it is not all that easy to get certified. It is a tough examination".
My enthusiasm came down a bit. We went back to the training. The day was over and everyone moved out of the room thanking Dr.Sastry. While I thanked him, understanding my reticence he said, "It is worth the effort. You can do it". This gave me tons of hope and confidence. PMP certification was on top of my mind.
After settling down in my new assignment, I went through the formal training on PMP. Upon completion, I scheduled my exam. I suspended some my hobbies like Blogging, Guitar, networking etc. to prepare for my examination.
As our project was at helm of affairs and I shared major responsibilities, I could not prepare well for the exams and kept postponing my exams. Finally I had to schedule my exam as my eligibility was expiring and so I did. I had very little time and I slogged in the last few weeks.
Unfortunately, a couple of days before the exam, I suffered Supraventricular Tachycardia and was hospitalized. I was out of action for more than a month.
Under extenuating circumstances, my eligibility was extended by PMI. With my ailment my conviction and commitment for PMP certification only surged.
I scheduled my exam again and decided not to postpone, come what may. This time I had no excuse and was committed to the date. I prepared well and appeared for the exam and cleared the exam in my belated first attempt.
To say the least, I was thrilled to see the "CONGRATULATIONS" message on the screen after completing the test. There was a lot of satisfaction and joy of accomplishment. To restate Dr.Sastry,"It was really a tough examination" and the toughest of all I have taken so far.
All is Well that Ends Well.
Thanks Dr.Sastry for triggering the desire in me.
I thank my Wife, children and other family members for supporting and encouraging me.
At the cost of repetition, I have to thank my EMPLOYERS for having taken me this far.
Today I am a PMP, a two year dream realized.
In one of the Management Development Programs, Dr. Sastry organized a training on Project Management. I found the training to be very useful.
During the lunch break, we were discussing the Project Management skills for effective and efficient management of Projects. I enquired Dr.Sastry about formal education for Project Management. That is when Dr.Sastry told me about PMP Cortication.
He told the participants that one has to go through a formal training to gain the eligibility for exam and subsequently pass the exam to get PMP certification from PMI, USA.
At the end of the discussion he told the participants "PMP is a prestigious Certification and it is not all that easy to get certified. It is a tough examination".
My enthusiasm came down a bit. We went back to the training. The day was over and everyone moved out of the room thanking Dr.Sastry. While I thanked him, understanding my reticence he said, "It is worth the effort. You can do it". This gave me tons of hope and confidence. PMP certification was on top of my mind.
After settling down in my new assignment, I went through the formal training on PMP. Upon completion, I scheduled my exam. I suspended some my hobbies like Blogging, Guitar, networking etc. to prepare for my examination.
As our project was at helm of affairs and I shared major responsibilities, I could not prepare well for the exams and kept postponing my exams. Finally I had to schedule my exam as my eligibility was expiring and so I did. I had very little time and I slogged in the last few weeks.
Unfortunately, a couple of days before the exam, I suffered Supraventricular Tachycardia and was hospitalized. I was out of action for more than a month.
Under extenuating circumstances, my eligibility was extended by PMI. With my ailment my conviction and commitment for PMP certification only surged.
I scheduled my exam again and decided not to postpone, come what may. This time I had no excuse and was committed to the date. I prepared well and appeared for the exam and cleared the exam in my belated first attempt.
To say the least, I was thrilled to see the "CONGRATULATIONS" message on the screen after completing the test. There was a lot of satisfaction and joy of accomplishment. To restate Dr.Sastry,"It was really a tough examination" and the toughest of all I have taken so far.
All is Well that Ends Well.
Thanks Dr.Sastry for triggering the desire in me.
I thank my Wife, children and other family members for supporting and encouraging me.
At the cost of repetition, I have to thank my EMPLOYERS for having taken me this far.
Today I am a PMP, a two year dream realized.
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