WOMAN

Of Woman

Woman, a vast sky,

That covers man and his all acts,

Above faith and belief,

She deserves respect

By Mukesh Sharma

Woman, a mystery,

No man can solve indeed.

Like a God She is,

Perceived, not easy to please.

Woman, a mother,

That procreates really.

Makes a child a man,

And a man a baby.

Woman, a desire,

An eternal spring.

Began with Adam,

Shall end with Eve.

Of Woman

Woman, a dream,

Every man delights.

Be it in dead of night,

Or a full daylight.

Woman, a touch,

Man can feel not.

With open eyes,

But in mind, eyes shut.

Woman, a smile,

Where silence treads.

Only a truth seeker,

Can understand and read.

Woman, a pleasure,

So serene and still.

Only a faithful can,

Experience and feel.

Woman, a namaaz

Offered with attitude all.

Niyat not broken,

Except on mother’s call.

Woman, a worship,

A matter of belief is.

Can be propitiated with,

Pure mind and sacrifice.

Woman, an azaan,

That turns one on.

And reminds,

God's not far off.

Woman, an Eid,

Believers wait and wish.

After holy ramzaan what,

Relation between man-God is.

Woman, a Diwali,

That dispels darkness.

Even in deep sorrow,

Can bring happiness.

Woman, a nature,

That nurtures all.

Like a universe,

Beyond man’s call.

Woman, a public,

That makes netas.

Bears all the brunt,

With no complaint.

Woman, an India,

Holding all together.

Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Christian,

Like a marigold flower.

Woman, a vast sky,

That covers man and his all acts,

Above faith and belief,

She deserves respect.

Is God Doing His Job?

Is God Doing His Job?

No religion is perfect. It won’t be wrong to say that the imperfect religions have done more harm than good to humanity. Man is killing man for sheer religious supremacy

By Mukesh Sharma

Anything which is beyond the comprehension of human mind, is considered as the work of God; an act of God. Where logic ends, God emerges. That is why the faithful of different faiths believe: God is omnipotent. God is omniscient. God is omnipresent. But the moron mind of this blogger doubts the veracity of such lofty statements, particularly, when one looks around and sees the mindless killings, massacres and the atrocities  committed by man on man across the world. No need to go beyond India. What eye doesn’t see, heart doesn’t grieve. Look at the recent brutal butchering of a happy family of three – Bondhu Gopal 35, his 8 month pregnant wife 30 and their 8 year old minor son, in Murshidabad, a muslim majority locality in West Bengal. The pics of hacked dead bodies which are doing rounds on social media, send chill down the spine, and are more macabre than the scene of Hollywood horror movie. It is not difficult to understand that the split of second before death each hapless victim must have thought of God; must have made last ditch effort; must have hoped for a miracle; must have squirmed like an unfortunate animal slaughtered by the butcher. But nobody turned up, no help arrived from any quarter. A pertinent question arises in the mind of poor common man: Is God doing his job?

Hapless Victim of Religion

The severed head with open lifeless eyes just hinging on torso, lying on the ground with blood splattered all over, and deep cuts on the body of the deceased are the tell-tale sign of ghastly battle for life more repulsive than the hunt by animals which kill their prey for food. The two legged animal so-called man is the most ferocious, for, he can kill another man just for his ego, jealousy, greed, libido or religion. Animals can be trusted but not a man. After axing the man of the family, the killer must have turned to the woman. Though she was 8 months pregnant and was in the bed, the killers opened her neck with no mercy  before she could move, and left her lying in the pool of blood on the bed itself. After that, the killers  must have turned to the innocent 8 year old child who had witnessed the killing of its parent with stupor, and the poor child was also done to death by slitting the throat. The cime scene shows that the killers  have  put to shame even the most heartless and horrific Mongol emperor Changez Khan.

What aches the heart of this blogger is  the selective attitude and response of so-called ‘intellectuals’ who raise hell at the drop of the hat; return awards; hold candal march; and write letters to PM only for a particular community. It is these self-styled custodians   of society who sow the seed of schism for their selfish ends.

It is said that the deceased Bondhu Gopal was an active member of RSS. It is alleged that he was an eyesore to a particular  community, which is in majority in Murshidabad. However, the local police denies any political or religious angle behind the gruesome killings. Whatever, may be the reason, the three innocent lives have been put to death in a country that has government, police, and judiciary by the fearless killers who are still at large. Barring the non entity, no ‘big’ netas has come forward to make strong statement. As always, netas are overbusy in their ‘political game'. To netas, people are just a scrap or trash after the date of election. A twitteriti rightly says:

“Congress makes government on the dead bodies of its leader, and BJP on the dead bodies of its workers.”

M.K. Gandhi says: “No religion is perfect.” It won’t be wrong to say that the imperfect religions have done more harm than good to humanity. Man is killing man for sheer religious supremacy. Self-styled religious leaders are misguiding the poor populace. The weak are easy target of their religious leaders. Hope is the staple diet of the weak. And the God is the best source of hope as propounded by fables, parables and mythological stories. Surprisingly enough, the brainwashed people want to die in the service of their God. All the religion believe God is the creator of this universe; God is the father of this world; all are equal in the sight of God; God takes care of his children. If it is so, is God doing his job?

Immortal Ravana

Immortal Ravana

Ravana is no longer the mythological rakchhsa; he is a  wily 'businessman' today; he is nobody’s fool when it comes to business. Ravana is a great peddler of promises; he is a hustler of hope

By Mukesh Sharma

From time immemorial, Dussehra is being celebrated as a victory of Good over Evil. The effigy of Ravana is set on fire amid huge cheering crowd watching the ‘act’ with all gusto and gaiety. While covering such a 'gala' day,  this blogger happened to have overheard an interesting conversation between a child and his father yesterday. “Was Ravana a bad guy?” asks a child surprisingly. “Yes beta,” the father answers caressingly. “All bad men must be burnt to death” the child murmurs with the mirth. When violence is legitimized, it becomes custom, and even a king follows the custom. It is known to all that Lord Rama killed Ravana. Did Rama really kill Ravana? Was it really a victory of good over evil? If my valued readers ask me, the answer is ‘no’. If Lord Rama had killed Ravana, there would not have been Ravanas in legion today. If it had been the victory of Good over Evil, it(evil) would not have been all pervasive today. Lord Rama might have killed the mortal body of Ravana; his spirit lives on. Ravana is immortal.

Immortal Ravana

Since the day of Lord Rama, Ravana has come of the age; he doesn’t have long mustaches; he doesn’t wear crown; he doesn’t dress himself as a king; he doesn’t laugh loudly.

On the contrary, Ravana doesn’t call himself a king but the people look upon him as king; he doesn’t use any arms but he uses his words as arms. Ravana’s bark is worse than his bite.

Ravana wears simple kurta-pyjama but his gesture are very complex; he never speaks truth but the people accept his words as truth; he never helps anybody but he never says no for help; he calls himself servant of people, but he lives like a king and his masters (the people) reel under poverty; he doesn’t do any work but his wealth continues to get multiplied every year; he looks like a mortal man with limited capacity but his words are heard all over the world where the voice of the common people can't be heard beyond a few steps;  he is not God but he has the power to write or change the destiny of the people.

Ravana is no longer the mythological rakchhsa; he is wily businessman today; he is nobody’s fool when it comes to business. Ravana is a great peddler of promises; he is a hustler of hope; he owns political parties for his political ambitions; he owns big business houses; he owns  newspapers and TV channels; he owns universities and colleges; he owns big coaching centres. It is an irony that the people have faith in Ravana. Faith knows no reason.

Ravana is above caste and creed; he knows no religion; he never fights himself but can get killed millions – Syria, Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, etc. are the example of his 'benevolent' acts, and he says it is for the 'salvation' of the people.

Some religious minded people offer prayer as per their religious belief in  Temple, Mosque, Gurudwara and Church etc. They hope that once again Lord Rama would come to earth and kill Ravana,  and emancipate the humanity. But the possibility is remote.The people are not able to understand the simple fact that  one Lord Rama is not enough to eliminate millions of Ravana today.

Despite all the facts, the people organize Ramleelas with all religious fervor. Dussehra is celebrated with all fanfare. What is interesting to note that in all these so-called Ramleelas,  Ravana himself comes in the guise of Lord Rama in white clothes and shoots arrow to kill the Ravana. Strange are the ways of the world. Ravana burns the effigy of Ravana. Hope my valued reader can guess about the true identity of Ravana in today’s world.

The Awkward Age

The Awkward Age

A complex and complicated age of sexual attraction, obsession, insinuation, friendship, relationship, dream, hope, discoveries, realisation and confusion

By Mukesh Sharma

Life is a playground of different ages  – childhood, youth, middle age and old age. In other words, to a foetus, mother’s womb is the playground; to a baby, mother’s lap is the playground; to little kids, school is the playground; to youth, this world is the playground. When a boy enters into manhood, when a girl enters into womanhood, he or she has to face umpteen unforeseen and unexpected challenges. It is this age that lays the stepping stone of future life; it is this age that can make or mar the life. It won’t be wrong to call it the Awkward Age.

Though each age has its own pleasure and pains, the Awkward age is the most complicated and complex  –  it is the age of soapy sexual attraction; it is the age of obstructive obsession; it is the age of infiltrating insinuation; it is the age of fierce friendship; it is the age of relentless relationship; it is the age of harbouring hopes; it is the age of dashing discoveries; it is the age of retributive realisation; it is the age of chaotic confusion.

The Awkward Age

Sexual attraction

Be it male or female with the development of secondary sexual characteristics, one starts feeling one’s body sexually – all erogenous zones get activated. The rush of testosterone and progesterone make one feel the urge for sex. It is for pure physical needs that one gets attracted, unconsciously, towards the opposite sex. Hunger makes living beings to look for food. It is not easy to control or curb the instinctive desires. Further, opportunity gives rise to thoughts, thoughts to desires, and desires to action.

Since man is a slave of desires, very often unbridled desires land him in problems. The mind occupied by unsavory wants is a Satan; it prods body to fulfill desires. After food, sex becomes the priority; life goal is sidelined; self-esteem is set aside. A man becomes an animal, and animals can’t see beyond a few steps. When a life-giving river crosses its banks, it causes flood, death, and destruction. A sex-hungry man is a devil in darkness and a gentleman in daylight; he keeps up the appearance for the fear of society and law only.

The remedy for the disease lies in the mind itself which is epicentre of all the actions and reactions. Fulfilment of desires doesn’t control mind. In fact, mind can be controlled by the mind only; it can be both, the best friend and the worst enemy; it hates opposition; it hates suppression. However, mind loves compliance.  Deviation from the path of thoughts without fighting can be the best solution. Mind can be reined in with the breath and work only. A yogi controls mind with breath, and a worldly man with work. Keep mind occupied. If solitary, don’t sit idle; if idle don’t be solitary. An idle mind is the house of Satan. A preoccupied mind in the pursuit of goal keeps the rave thoughts away. Sex is not purpose of life but it is a means of life.

Obsession

Next enemy of budding men and women, is obstructive obsession; it enters unnoticed. When an adult male or female finds someone attractive, physically, psychologically, intellectually or spiritually, he or she develops obsession; it may be developed without any response from other ends. This unrequited love leads to obsession. Of course, good is best, if you have not seen the better. Comparison demeans. And here is the cure for the obsession. Look for the better one than the good one. Obsession shall be cured. Choice brings the cheers.

Insinuation

Yet another deadly enemy of youth is infiltrating insinuation. Easy victim is one who follows the auto-suggestion that a particular person is perfect to fill the void. Here a few exchanges of glances, eye contracts in silence and occasional touch-ups are misconstrued as love rather than physical needs. The gravity of a woman body is not less than gravity of earth. Even the best flyer must fall, if one is not into space beyond the gravitational pull. The best remedy for the insinuation is to take the eye off the object allure. Heart doesn’t grieve what eyes don’t see. Out of sight, out of mind is the buzz-world.

Friendship

Youth is an age of friendship. And it is here, the most youth fall prey to fierce friendship, and often end up paying heavy price. In this utilitarian world, a true friend who is beyond selfish ends, who is away from mathematical calculations of profit and loss, is an extinct species. However, far from home, one comes across many faces in his or her daylong struggle. Here, usually, nodding acquaintances are misconstrued as friendship. Says David Tyson, “true friendship comes when the silence between two friends is comfortable.”

No doubt, a true friend can be an asset; a comforting counsellor; he is always there when you need him most; he always stands by you through thick and thin; one can rest one’s head on his shoulder and can shed tears; he is your bedrock strength. Late Arun Jaitely who was college friend of Rajat Sharma, is said to have changed the life of today’s renowned anchor and owner of India TV ( Rajat Sharma). Late Rajiv Gandhi who was close friend of Amitabh Bachchan, changed his life by introducing him to then famous actor Mehmood, and that ushered him to film world. With the birth in a family, one is blessed with hordes of relatives; no choice if relatives are not good but God is kind enough to allow you to choose friends of your choice. While true friends make life, false friends mar the life. So beware of false or fake friends. Keep off callous and shallow friends. An open enemy is better than false friend. Listen to reasons and inner voice that will guide you to choose true friends.

Relationship

Unfulfilled desires make a young man or woman enter into a relationship. Indian society is not promiscuous; unlike west, it is still governed by social mores and strong belief; and beliefs are stronger than reasons. Any relationship against the social conventions is rated as illicit. Such relationship is casual and circumstantial; it is not based on love or trust. Someone has well said: a relationship without trust is like a car without a petrol, you can stay in but it won’t go anywhere.” A bad relationship will make you feel more alone than when you were single. Says Socrates, “The hottest love has coldest end.” Keep tab on wanton desires. Don’t enter into any illegitimate relationship. The best way to avoid it think of your beloved mom or dad dreaming to see you as a successful person in life. Fast food satisfies hunger instantly but spoils health for good.

Dream

A youth without dream shall be treated as dud. A well defined dream can be a driving force in one’s life. So it is not bad to have dream. But fulfilment of dream doesn’t come by mere having it. Dream comes true with perseverance and patience; it requires indefatigable industry and incessant efforts to take on failures. Mind you, success is just one step ahead of failure. Commenting on dream, APJ Abdul Kalam says:

“Dreams are not

what you see in

sleep, it is the thing

which doesn’t let

you sleep"

The desire for the fulfilment of dream must come from within; it must not be induced. If one loves one’s dream as a man loves the body of a woman during love encounters, no dream can go unfulfilled.

Hope

What breath is to body, hope is to life. What is noteworthy is hope often brings misery when one becomes more hope centric than karma.   Action ensures success not sheer hope. ‘Action’ is present and ‘hope’ is future. Present is in our control, not future. Hope without action is meaningless. Every action is preceded by a cause which leads to effect and finally the result. None can prevent the cause from producing its effect. Don’t hope, harness natural forces and resources and achieve the cherished goal of life. The poet Wordsworth puts the crux in his touching words:

“The eye can’t choose but see,

We can’t bid the ear be still,

Our bodies feel where’er they be

Against or with our will.”

Do your best, leave the rest to the free will of God.

Discoveries

Youth is also the age of dashing discoveries. Each youth is Christopher Columbus who has to discover his own ‘America.’ One acquires knowledge through exploration and discoveries. It gives one the first-hand experience related to different aspects of life. One learns to distinguish between right and wrong; one comes to know two wrongs don’t make it right in life. The empirical knowledge makes one enjoy the whiff of truth; it is this knowledge of truth that fulfills a man/woman at the end of the day.

Realisation

With the knowledge of truths, comes the realisation. However, lofty falsehood is, it is short lived. However, fragile the truth may appear, it lasts for ever. Truth can’t be created; it always exists in nature; it is to be discovered by the seeker. Youth must be a truth seeker.

Confusion

The Awkward age is characterised by the chaotic confusion. It is a state of mind when you are not able to reach any concrete conclusion: what to do, how to do, where to go, how to get there. Confusion eats away confidence. In fact, inexperience breeds confusion. Man is born as ‘inexperienced’ but dies as ‘experienced.’ So confusion is an inherent quality. Whenever, overcome by confusion, act like a child; it always gets its confusion cleared by asking questions after questions. Inquisitivity and inquiry clear the confusion. Put all the answers to your questions to test. Truth will come out. Follow truth religiously. Learn from confusion; learn from mistakes; learn from failure. You are the best teacher of yourself. Beware of false or fake teachers. Their end is not your success but your money. Commenting on confusion, Henry Miller rightly says: “confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not yet understood”

Immortal Soul of Bapu in Peril

Immortal Soul of 
Bapu in Peril

"A man without education is like a brave man without arms. Kings govern men and learned men govern Kings"

By Mukesh Sharma

Come the date of 2nd October, political parties in government are out to float full page ads in newspapers. Clad in starch white kurta pyjama, netas rush to the samadhi of Bapu in the morning to pay floral tribute in full glare of media cameras  - a mere charm offensive. The commoners allege that Mahatma Gandhi is the only iconic man of Indian politics who has been cheated the most in the last 72 years of independence and next comes the hapless people. It seems that Bapu’s immortal soul is in peril.

One of the leading families of Indian politics has become the self declared ‘proprietors’ of surname “Gandhi”, and often beats the drum of seclurism propounded by Bapu. Most of netas have staked claim on the patriotism of Bapu, and now are self-styled “patriots’. Even the walking stick of Bapu has been snatched away and is being used as danda to terrorise the innocent people. A few have laid their hand on the specs of Bapu and are using it in ads for commercial gains. Buck does not stop here, 2000 note that carries the pic of Bapu predominently, adorns the coffers of the rich and corrupt netas who live kingsize life. Perhaps, out of shame, only loin cloth of Bapu has been spared. It is a open secret that the netas pretend to follow Bapu’s principle and philosophy just to ingratiate themselves. Truth is stranger than fiction.

Last night, this journalist/ author happened to have talks with the soul of beloved Bapu in dream. Here are  excerpts of conversation:   

His immortal soul in peril

Author:  Bapu, how is the India of your dream?

Bapu: I shall work for an India in which the poorest shall feel that it is their country, in whose making they have an effective voice, an India in which there shall be no high class and low class of people, an India in which all communities shall live in perfect harmony . . . . There can be no room in such an India for the curse of untouchability or the curse of intoxicating drinks and drugs . . . . Women will enjoy the same right as men . . . . This is the India of my dream.

Author: Bapu, the rich are getting richer the poor are getting poorer. It has given rise to many social evils and has jeopardised the unity and integrity of India. What is the solution to this problem?

Bapu: The rich can not accumulate wealth without the co-operation of the poor in the society. So non-violent non co-operation and civil disobedience are the right and infallible solution.

As soon as a man looks upon himself  as a servant of  society, earns for its sake, spends for its benefit, then purity enters into his earnings and there is ahimsa in his venture. Moreover, if men’s mind turns towards this way of life, there will come about peaceful revolution in society, and that without any bitterness.

Author: Materialism is on the rise, the rich love to flaunt their wealth through their acquisition. any suggestion?

Bapu: Non-possession is allied to non-stealing.  A thing not originally stolen must neverthless be classified as stolen property if we possess it without needing it. Possession implies provision for the future. A seeker after truth, a follower of the law of love, can’t hold anything against tomorrow. God never stores for the morrow. He never creates more than what is strictly needed for the moment. if, therefore, we repose faith in his providence, we should be assured that he will give us every day our daily bread, measuring everything we require.

Author: Would you throw some light on your Principle of Non-violence?

Bapu: I am not a visionary. I claim to be as practical idealist. The religion of non-violence is not meant merely for the rishis and saints.  It is meant for the common people as well. Non-violence is the law of  our species as violence is the law of the brute and he knows no law but that of physical might. The dignity of man requires obedience to a higher law - to the strength of the spirit.


Author: Is education necessary for the development of man?

Bapu: A man without education is like a brave man without arms. Kings govern men and learned men govern Kings.

Author: Who is wise?

Bapu: A wise men is not he who considers how he may get out of an evil, but he who sees to it that he doesn’t fall into it.

Author: What is truthfullness?

Bapu: No man’s Religion can be right unless his heart becomes right, nor can his heart become right unless his tongue is right . . . .

Author: Can anyone become Sanyasin by wearing saffaron clothes?

Bapu: A Rishi or Sanyasin is one who has realised himself. Sannyasa according to the Gita is the renunciation of actions prompted by desire.

Author:What is true development?

Bapu: True development consists in reducing  ourselves to a cipher. Selfless service is secret of life. To rise above passion is the highest ideal.


Author: What is God ?

Bapu: Truth is God. This God is living force. That force resides in the body, but is not the body. He who denies the existence of that great force, denies to himself access to its inexhaustible power and remains impotent.

Author: What is Indian Culture?

Bapu: Indian culture is neither Hindu, Islamic, nor any other, wholly. It is a fusion of all. I want culture of all lands to be blown about my house and as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any. I refuse to live in other peoples’ houses as an interloper, a beggar or a slave.

Author: Indians are losing trust in Indian civilization?

Bapu: We are inhabitants of a country which has so long survived with its own civilization. Many a civilization of Europe is destroyed, but India, our country, survives as a witness to its own civilization. All scholars agree in testifying that the civilization of India is the same today as it was thousands years ago. But, now we have reason to suspect that we have no longer faith in our civilization. Every morning we worship, recite the verses composed by our forebears, but we don’t understand their significance. Our faith is turning in another direction.

Author: How do  you judge religion?

Bapu:  After long study and experience I have come to these conclusions:
i) All religions are true.
ii) All religions have some error in them.
iii) All religions are almost as dear to me as my own Hinduism. My veneration for other faiths is the same as for my own faith.

Consequently, the thought of conversion is impossible . . .  Our prayer for others ought never to be:
‘God give them light thou has given to me!’ But: ‘Give them all the light and truth they need for their highest development.’

Author: How can a man be truly religious?

Bapu: A man can be truly religious when he is truly good.

Author: How do you see nationalism?

Bapu: My idea of nationalism is that my country may become free, that if need be whole of the country may die so that humanity race may live. There is no room for race hatred here. Let that be our nationalism.

Author: Do you think that prevailing political system and political powers people’s representatives enjoy can change the life of miserable millions?

Bapu: Political power in my opinion, can’t be our ultimate aim. It is one of the means used by men for their all-round advancement. The power to control national life through national representatives will become unnecessary of the national life becomes so perfect as to be self-controlled. It will then be a state of enlightened anarchy in which each person will become his own ruler . . . . In an, ideal state there will be no political institution and therefore no political power.

Author: Can great reform be achieved without winning political power?

Bapu: The thinker like Thoreau said ‘that government is best which governs the least.’ That means when people come into possession of political power, the interference with the freedom of people is reduced to a minimum. In other words, a nation that runs its affairs smoothly and effectively without much State interference is truly democratic. Where such a condition is absent, the form of government is democratic in name.

Author: How the standard of public life can be raised?

Bapu: We shall never be able to raise the standard of public life through laws. We are not made that way. Only if the lives of the leaders both private and public, are perfect will they be able to produce any effect on the people. Mere preaching will have no effect.

Author: How unity can be brought about?

Bapu: In my opinion unity will come not by one mechanical means but by change of heart and
attitude on the part of the leaders of public opinion.

Author: How can heaven be brought upon earth?

Bapu: Here, I subscribe to the truthful views of Sh. Satish Chandra Mukherjee who says:  ‘If we could erase the Is and Mine’s from religion, politics, economics, etc., we shall soon be free and bring heaven on earth.’

Author: What is your wish?

Bapu: I don’t ask for temporal power, nor do I ask to go to heaven, nor even to attain nirvana, what I ask for is that I may be able to relieve the pain of those who are in pain.

Author: What message you would like to convey to present generation of politicians and people?

Bapu: My life is its own message. If it is not, then nothing I can now say will fulfil the purpose. I have no complain against my assassinator. May god bless him and rest his soul in peace.

Assassinating the body of course doesn’t matter, for, out of my ashes a thousand Gandhi will arise. But what if people assassinate or burn the principle I have lived for?

(Statements of Bapu given here are based on the works of Mahatma Gandhi compiled in the book 'The Essential Writings of Mahatma Gandhi, OUP, 1995)