Where NaMo is making an exemplary impact with “Swachh Bharat” campaign towards clean India, I am sure we all are truly happy with the mission and trying our best to keep our places and societies clean. We find so many problems cropping up in day to day life of our society and still there is a long way to achieve the “Developed nation” from a “Developing nation” tag.

I will not discuss other issues but directly come to the main point of writing this blog and that is – EDUCATION. Here, I am not talking about our education system or its faults but on the education for the underprivileged children.

“Children’s Day” – as it is celebrated on 14^th November does not really carry any value in our true beliefs or sense except for sharing a few videos, photos and messages on various platforms and wishing each other “Happy Children’s Day”.

We all are aware that, “Every third person in an Indian city today is a Youth. With an unrivalled youth demographic, 65% of Indian population is 35 or under, and half the country’s population of 1.25 billion people is under 25 years of age. (Courtesy: The Hindu). With such a strong youth empowerment in a country like ours, it can definitely be a great achievement if there is a reduction in the illiteracy rate or availability of 100% education facilities.

Such a target cannot be expected only from the ministry or government. The pillar of our country which is the Youth Power can definitely do wonders! There are various institutions and organizations that I know are working towards the drive of education but it is not enough. We still have small children and youths who beg at the street and just like my dad always states, I too believe that, “Begging is nothing else but a profession”. I personally never like the sight of children begging. It has always disturbed me in a manner I cannot define or explain.

Values and morals are the two basic necessities of all human beings.

Remember: Everything starts from us and for us! We have to take a stand to develop ourselves by developing our country. After all I am pretty sure we all want to live in a “Developed Nation”. Why do we need to follow instructions when we can make them on our own? We all are the society’s sunshine.

How Can We Contribute?

1. If you have a maid servant at home, ask him/her if they have any kids at home. If yes, then you have got the opportunity to enhance a person’s future and there is nothing more real and challenging than this!

2. Many a times you go to a street side tailor or duplicate key maker or shoe shine or any other common daily working person that you have always observed sitting near your place and working for everyday wage. Ask them how much do they earn on a daily or monthly basis? Their answer will definitely leave you in a perplexed condition. Take their kids to your custody of basic teaching.

3. If you find some time off from work and other activities and are wondering what to do with your life, then please get out of your zone immediately and face the stark reality!

The kids from slums are totally uneducated because they are into a vicious circle of a family background of illiterates who do not know the value of education. They are as human as we are who wants to live in a better environment and a better society. They are willing to do hard work when pushed beyond limits. They want to get educated because when they view a certain sign board or a literary piece or hoardings, they do wonder what is written. They also feel like attending school when they look at others doing the same. Trust me they need a GUIDE, a MENTOR! That guide and mentor can be YOU!

Just like a teacher always plants a seed of wisdom, a citizen always plants the seed of development. If we cannot fulfil this part, then it is better to remain in a total isolation rather than living in a society!

Those summers that seemed to last forever…..

“So they have finally arrived!” This is the very first thought that came to my mind when I met them on the lift. The 2 children who must be around 10-11 years of age had a pair of bow and arrow (which were hand made out of wood). It was a moment I will never forget - watching the sheer excitement on their little faces. I too couldn't hold my own excitement back and asked, “So kiddos, started off with your summer vacations?” One of them answered with a smile, “Yes di!” I further asked about their plans i.e. how are they going to spend their Vacation time. They just said they will be playing video games. I gave them a confusing look and asked again, “This is it?” No outdoor activities, acquiring new skills, nothing! I gave it a thought for a moment and again one of them answered, “Yes that’s it di, it’s fun!” The lift door opened and they left immediately running towards one of the boy’s place. For the next 2 minutes, I remembered how I spent my summer vacations in this very place using the same lift and the lawn that we have outside in the society. I would sometimes skip my lunch and play the whole day out with friends. It was like a complete crazy vacation time for us, an unending experience filled with joy, excitement and adventure. We used to be all set for an adventure to discover new games and new hobbies. When it used to get really hot in the summers, we would rather than staying back at home, go play games like carom board, chess or table tennis. I personally used to learn classical vocals and painting. Coming back to the present, I have rarely watched children playing or discovering what they love these days. They are either too busy watching television or playing video games. A summer vacation doesn't really hold any special significance for them as it used to for us. They already play outside, watch TV and play video games during their normal school days and then they do the same during summers too! What’s the use of the so called “Summer vacation” then?

Summer vacation holidays are meant to enhance knowledge and skills. The skills or talents like music, painting, yoga, karate or any other indoor/outdoor sports can be acquired by either joining classes or discovering ideas at home. It is one of the most amazing time of the year during the school days that one can never get back in life. This only reminds me of the famous lyrics of a song – Summer of 69:

"Oh, when I look back now

That summer seemed to last forever

And I had the choice

Yeah, I'd always wanna be there

Those were the best days of my life"

Yes! It's damn true! Those were actually the best days of my life and I will always cherish them!!! I just wish they could have lasted forever......

GOD – Myth or Reality?

When scientists are trying to find the truth about the GOD particle I was wondering how today’s youth connects to GOD. How much belief they have on Him? How do people rate their own belief system in God? The question wasn’t that interesting but answers were….

“Believing in God brings positivity in our life and helps us to keep going in the right direction always. Life is lived on two things – One is desire or hopes and the other is belief. God is the base of these things on which we are living. He lives inside us through hopes and beliefs. When you do well, you get good results.” says Yash Bhatt a BBA student from Narayana Business School.

For some people like Bhavya Vadlamani an engineering student from Hyderabad, parents can be treated as God. According to her, “I don't need to go to temples and pray. I have them at home.” Says another person Himanshu Shah who is currently pursuing his masters at Stony brook University and is in the profession of developing a world class software, “I feel fortunate to live the kind of life that I have with such great and understanding parents, friends and education. There have been instances where I have gone deviated from the right path, but somebody or some instance just during that time has made me realize what's right and that way I have felt God’s presence.”

“Belief” is the word that is more precisely used to define GOD. A belief that he will listen to your prayers and it can do wonders or heal your pain. Is that so?

“I used to believe in him more as a child. I would think he'll raise the sun from west for good people. But that’s impossible of course. Now I believe he does help you but he has his own parameters.” Yash Joglekar, an instrumentation and control engineering student from Gecg explains.

"Parameters" - or more commonly known as "Karma", Bhagvad Geeta cites "KarmanyeVaadhika-raste, Maa Phaleshu Kadachana" - Your right is to work only but never to its fruits.

This can be elaborated; you are bound to discharge your duties with devotion. Don't expect the fruits of your deeds. Don't remain idle. Expect nothing in return (for your deeds). Whatever one does with desire binds us to the cycle of birth and death.

But do people really take it this way?

NC Puneeth, research assistant at IISC Bangalore at present and who is also an IIT Gandhinagar graduate has got a very interesting philosophy,"Science is my God. It is the reason for everything, reason for life. I am an agnostic. I do not care whether God exists or not. Nothing can influence our life. It came through evolution or from natural processes. Basically it is not possible for us to know if God exists because we are locked up to our consciousness. I don't think everything has a reason. Many things are just by chance. May be he is really there and controlling everything but I don't agree that we should sacrifice reason and be irrational in the name of God. When you say God did not want me to pass the exam so I failed, you stop taking responsibility and seeking the real reason you failed. So, to cut story short - I am agnostic and I believe in science."

 

 

Science.... fact... figures... Reasoning....

In Hanuman Chalisa, it is said:

"Yug sahastra yojan per Bhanu! Leelyo taahi madhur phal janu!!"

1 Yug = 12000 years
1 Sahastra = 1000
1 Yojan = 8 Miles

Yug x Sahastra x Yojan = par Bhanu
12000 x 1000 x 8 miles= 96,000,000 miles

1 mile = 1.6 kms

96,000,000 miles x 1.6 kms = 1,536,000,000 kms/ 96,000,000 miles to Sun

NASA has said that, it is the exact distance between Earth and Sun (Bhanu) which
proves Hanumanji did jump to Planet Sun, thinking it as a sweet fruit (Madhur phal).

It is really interesting how accurate and meaningful our ancient scriptures are. So do we have the proof by science itself about the existence of God?


So what's the conclusion then...? Reading the fine lines gives us the answer.

A belief that GOD will come, listen to your prayers, get you good marks, get you what you want; maybe not.

Karma holds the key. Your deed ultimately gets you there where you want to be. But is that simple? Then why people say "jo hona hai hokar rahega"? If something is destined to happen how does Karma affect it?

The answer again lies in our ancient scriptures. The theory of Karma is much detailed and broad than we think. Karma phal cannot be confined to one birth i.e. it has a bearing on the process of rebirth.

So do our scriptures suggest that there is no God? To get the answer I'll boroow the concept of a famous book - "The Secret" where it describes a power of positivity at all places, but nobody knows how it works.

The answer is pretty simple - this power of positivity is called GOD. This is how I see him. I know an idol may not be able to give you materialistic things, but looking at the GOD does gives you strength and purity. Thus the things you attract can be termed as "positivity".

I won't conclude on lines whether GOD exists or not but there are things which are
beyond reasons or chances. There are questions which will always remain unanswered.

(Half contribution by Mr. Rajit Tillani)