Kite in the Office

Some people do have strong belief in symbols. I had visited this office few years ago where a Kite was placed just outside the wall of the corporate office. It was a real kite. When I enquired about the reason, my friend in that office told me that his Managing director always believes in symbols and this time the symbol of company’s growth has been chosen as the kite. The vision is, the way the kite soars high up in the sky, the company’s financial results too will. This was quite interesting for me, as I knew that my friend’s company was actually not doing well. Few days later, I came to know that the company closed down. When I met my friend again, he used the same symbol to explain that the company’s kite was cut by the competitors and the market situation. He also told me that people in the company had used many other frills to save the company, but nothing succeeded.

I and my friend both had a lesson to learn. Symbols can motivate, but they cannot replace the actions required to get the work going. I know many people around me who strongly believe in symbols, but the success came to only those who really did hard work on the ground. Let us introspect, are we too obsessed with symbols.

Dr. Sunil Ji Garg

The 12th Disciple

How many disciples Jesus had is not worth a question. Everybody knows that Jesus had 12 disciples. Still, a very hot question is there. Who was His 12th disciple? As we learn from the Bible, it was Judas Iscariot who later betrayed Jesus. As Christmas rolled in once again, I tried to explore further. Who was actually the 12th disciple of Jesus? Bible says that Judas was substituted by Matthias, according to a joint decision of the other 11 disciples. Unfortunately, Bible has not mentioned this name once again. Nobody knows what Matthias did in his later years. Incidentally, there came up a man who declared himself anointed an apostle; that was St. Paul. He would have been an apostle but not a disciple, because every disciple invariably needs to be a student too. St Paul was not trained under Jesus. However, there are theologians who argue that St Paul was the choice of the Spirit. 

If somebody asks me about my role as a Christian, the answer I might give could be that I am His 12th disciple. A disciple who betrays the values Jesus taught and every evening choosing to finish into the darkness of oblivion, like Judas Iscariot; sometimes talking high on the relevance of discipline and commitment to attain realization, like St. Paul; and sometimes living unheard like Matthias. I do not find myself either in the row of disciples nor among committed promoters of the Word. I find more glimpses of my spirit in Judas who causes crosses and later repenting stronger than Peter, the Head. 

May the spirit of Christmas strengthen everyone to live the challenges, in God given purity of sublime surrender.

Joseph Mattappally

Silver Jubilee

I graduated in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Roorkee (now an IIT) in the year 1970. This university celebrates the silver jubilee of all its students twenty-five years after they graduate. Thus our batch’s silver jubilee was celebrated in November 1995. I was looking forward to this day with enthusiasm and also made efforts to ensure that many colleagues attended. As a result, as many as one hundred and forty-three colleagues turned up. The celebration went on for the whole day and we had a wonderful time. We recollected our old memories, forgetting our present positions and behaved with each other like we did in our university days.

The University of Roorkee is an old institution with great traditions. Its alumni are generally very close and celebrations like these are held without exception. In addition to the silver jubilee, there is a tradition of celebrating a golden jubilee after fifty years and a diamond jubilee after sixty years of graduation. All these celebrations are held simultaneously. At the time of our silver jubilee, there were twenty-four participants for the golden jubilee and four for the diamond jubilee. It was a pleasure to listen to their accounts of myriad experiences. All of them mentioned the traditions of the university, even though they had faded with time. I joined the university in 1966 at an early age after passing the first year of my B.Sc. I had been a good student and had topped in the entrance examination. Till today, this event remains the most pleasant surprise of my life. I came from a semi-rural background with little exposure beyond my class and family. Therefore, joining the University of Roorkee as a topper was something for which I was not exactly prepared. 

This university had a tradition of giving prominence to the topper, usually called ‘senior’ and he or she attracted the attention of all. I was no exception and became the victim of extra ragging as a result. Fortunately, form of ragging in those days was healthy and it helped the new entrants to shed their inhibitions. I was not very studious and coped with my studies in a relaxed, natural way. I also participated in games and other activities. Fortunately, I maintained my first position through and stood first at the final examinations. I was also declared the best all-rounder of the university and got the Chancellor's gold medal for that achievement. In all, I got nine medals and awards. Subsequently, I joined the IAS and was allotted the U.P. cadre. I was liked by most of my colleagues and they felt proud of my achievement. I noticed this during the silver jubilee celebration too. Twenty-five years is a long period in one’s life and that too, after graduation. This is the period when we have maximum interaction with the world which shapes our personality in the true sense. Close contact with colleagues is possible only rarely and most of us remember only some of their traits. This is true of everyone and one need not be upset if one's personality is not correctly understood by others. This is more so in the case of those who look at life deeply and develop their personalities beyond body and mind. Incidentally, I am one of them and, therefore, try to see a deeper meaning in every interaction. The silver jubilee celebration was no exception and I drew two positive messages from this celebration.

The first is from the fact that even after twenty-five years, my colleagues had great regard for my maintaining the first position throughout my university stay. This fact was proudly mentioned by them whenever I was introduced to anyone. I feel that it is true for all those who maintain their positions, in whatever field they are. Be it in the field of business or any other profession, those who maintain high standards throughout are revered by all, notwithstanding professional rivalries. Of course, the additional requirement is that such positions should be maintained by fair and natural means. Those who keep on shifting their positions are hardly respected. In other words, it is the stability which gives a shining quality to one’s personality and this is respected by others.

Rakesh Mittal IAS

Be Positive

All thoughts, good or bad, are creative and our experiences in life are the result of habitual and predominant thoughts. What goes on in your mind can really determine your actions and decides whether you are positive or negative. If you always think negative thoughts, you will always turn out to be a negative person. It is better to think positive thoughts. Focus your imagination and efforts on becoming a positive person. It is much easier to effect change if you just put your mind to it and change your thoughts. We cannot always control things that happen in our lives, but we can, with some effort control what we think in our minds. The only thing between you and your desire to be happy is the fact that you think negatively. This little known fact keeps many from reaching their goal of happiness.

Smile at strangers and although it may seem a little weird, it actually makes you feel more positive and happy. You may even brighten that other person’s day with just a smile. Listen to positive music as it is a great way to remain positive. Volunteer or help others as helping others leads to a happier outlook on your own life. You will feel great and will evolve as a good person. Replace negative thoughts with positive ones and look for the benefit in every situation. There are pros and cons to most situations and you get to choose which one you will focus on.

The more positively you will act, the earlier you will reach your goals and get rewarded. 

People often wonder how to be positive in their thoughts and actions, especially when they are unhappy and unsatisfied or when life is difficult and tough. Like every other subject, the know-how of how to be positive can be learned and the skill developed. Begin by becoming aware of your thoughts and exchanging your negative thoughts with positive ones. It is our mind that creates the kind of life we live. We cannot always have control over our external circumstances, but we can control our inner world of thoughts. Focus your mind on the good things you already have in your life. Appreciate your friends and people in your life who have stood by you through thick and thin. Feel lucky to have them with you. Look for the good in every situation. There is always something good or at least something useful to learn, even in difficult or unpleasant situations. The true test of an individual to remain positive is when challenges become difficult. Stop criticizing others. With a little work and effort you can change how you think, which will automatically change your attitude, expectations, actions and reactions which will lead to more motivation, happiness and an improved life.

Dr (Mrs.) Archana Bharat

The Funny Dream

This time I don’t want to surprise you in the end that this was a dream. From the very beginning I am telling you that this was indeed a dream. I was being carried to the heavens on a buffalo by the “Doot” of death God ‘Yamraj’. The journey had just started. The ride was quite wobbly. Very soon I fell down. Surprisingly even a bad fall like this could not wake me up from my dream. The “Doot” shouted on me first and then started murmuring to himself. I carefully listened to his self talks. I could understand that he was sulking. He was saying that his master has not made proper arrangements to carry a fat person like me. His buffalo is old. He had demanded to get a “Howdah” made for the buffalo’s back. But nobody listened to his genuine demands. In his anger, the “YamDoot” left me there itself and vanished away. 

So I woke up the same way as I get up every day. Even without falling from the bed, I remembered the dream to share it word by word with you. The fun of the story was soon over, when I decided to analyse this dream. I thought why such characters are coming in my dreams. Do I see lot of sulking people around me or is it something fishy inside my own personality. Was it a lesson to me from the creator’s side? After the analysis the message was loud and clear. Dreams do help us to find the darker side of our own personality. It is up to us to listen to them and take a corrective action, or we can keep finding faults even in our dreams.

Dr. Sunil Ji Garg

New Masters, New Nation

Rapes and rapes, it pains India too much. How are we going to solve this ethnic (?) issue?  Recently I happened to read one Daud Arif (a student of Jamia Millia Islamia, currently in USA), who wrote point blank that raping is my right. His post begins asking “Who am I?” See how he tries to answer his own question. He continued, “I am a male for whom my family might have killed my unborn sister, or perhaps sisters, till they got to know it is me who is going to come in this world. You see, how honored I am in the hierarchy even before I arrive on the earth? When I come in the world, I start learning at times by spoken words, at times by the things I see around. Few neighborhood families do take up the curse of giving birth to a female child. Oh yes, I heard females are curse in scriptures, Maybe God said it……”

Certainly, he is proving what he believes. If we look at the Indian Scriptures from a perceptive angle, I assure you that you will see yourself at the co-creator’s desk. The science of positive thinking says that you create what you wish. Buddist Suttha (Dhammapada) clarifies it by saying “You are your own master, and you make your own future”. Indian Scriptures say that Creator actually is the sum of everything in this universe, living or non-living. That means that you are responsible for all the experiences you go through here. They are invariably your own conscious creations.  Twin towers would not have fallen down unless there were enough to intend that. Unless you had yearned for tickling skin stories in dailies, there would not have been so much of sex abuses here. I don’t say that you begin intending positively right from now onwards; I just want you to look into the fact that if you change positively, definitely there will be at least one to shout, ‘raping is an offense’. 

Joseph Mattappally

Constructive Destruction

In September 1995, as Development Commission of Steel I accompanied by boss the Secretary (Steel) on has visit to Gujarat. It was a four-day visit covering a number of places. The visit was a combination of official work and a pilgrimage which made our schedule very hectic, and we had to travel long distances every day, starting early in the morning. This put pressure on our drivers also but fortunately they were very patient. One driver in particular was pious and seemed to have acquired wisdom as a result of his long faithful service. While travelling from Alang to Somnath, we were discussing several matters in which the driver also participated. During the course of the journey, he gave us a very interesting definition of GOD. The three letters of the word GOD, he said, show the three qualities or Gunas of the Almighty, ’G’ representing ’Generation’, ‘O’ representing ‘Operation’ and ‘D’ representing ‘Destruction’. This way they symbolised three in one name, Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh. The function of Lord Brahma is to Generate, Lord Vishnu Operates while Lord Mahesh’s function is to Destroy. If any of these activities is ever stopped, the cycle of life will come to a standstill. Thus, all the three activities are Godly and have equal importance. This sounded very interesting as well as logical.

It is easier to accept Generation and Operation as Godly activities but it is not so when we think of Destruction. When I reflected on this, it became clear to me that even Destruction is a dynamic activity and a necessary link in the chain of life. It also took my mind to Alang, the place we had visited that morning. Alang is a small port in the state of Gujarat which is known for its’ ship-breaking industry. The special features of the beach make this place suitable for ship-breaking, an activity which has grown at a very fast rate during the past few years and has contributed greatly to the country’s economy. The industry is also a major supplier of raw material to certain industries in the steel sector. The scale of activity at Alang is enormous and one can appreciate this only after visiting the place. While taking us around, the representatives of the industry showed a sense of pride in their contribution to the growth of the steel sector and rightly so.

If we look at the ship-breaking industry from a different viewpoint, it is only a destructive activity. The ships which are built with great effort are cut down to pieces and recycled. How can we call it a developmental or constructive activity? This doubt can be removed if we compare it with the destructive role of God. In this world or universe, whatever has been created has to be destroyed after a certain period. Then only is the flow of life possible. Thus, destruction is an essential part of the lifecycle. While this is true of God’s creation, it is equally true of man’s creation also. Whatever has been created has to be destroyed one day. And if the phenomenon is a natural one, it becomes a constructive activity. Thus, when a human life comes to an end after it has been lived fully, it is a happy phenomenon. Similarly, if a ship is broken after it has served its purpose, it becomes a developmental or constructive activity. In this way, the ship-breaking industry plays the role of ‘Shiv’ in the world of steel. Nature destroys and her destructions are always constructive.

Rakesh Mittal IAS