Insights in sight

Adventures for the soul - Bengaluru to Leh by car.

2017-06-03T17:33:00.003+05:30

26 July 2013: a date etched in the annals of time for 3 friends who took off on a road trip. Neetan, Dheeraj and Madhu (me) had planned this trip for long but somehow it was always on the edge - leaves, business trips, health, dropouts, family compulsions - a whole gamut of reasons had come and gone before we put our foot down and started off.

Reaching Jammu - all about optimization!
The first leg of the journey was the long and arduous drive of 3,125 km from Bengaluru to Jammu via Mumbai - Surat - Ratangarh - Pathankot. The bridge across Narmada was our first test of grit, navigation ability and patience. We set out from Bengaluru on Saturday at 4 am and managed to reach Jammu on Monday by 6 pm. The whole stretch was about covering distance, balancing speed with mileage and sleeping as little as possible. To save time, we had packed 50 jowar rotis and chapatis with chutney powder, jam, pickle, etc. Instead of stopping frequently at dhabas/hotels we would have this packed food while the drive was on. Occasionally we would stop on the roadside to take a quick leak. That's it! Ratangarh was the only sleep over - on Sunday night. Saturday night we had slept only 3 hrs in the car itself - on the side of a highway off Surat. Only such grit and optimization helped us cover 3,125 km in a span of 62 hours - including a good night's rest!

Reaching Srinagar - preview of a heaven!
A whole day's journey lay ahead of us from Jammu to Srinagar. We went through tunnels. Crossed over deep & threatening bridges. Waited for hours in traffic pile-ups on mountains. Enjoyed the fragrance of pine trees at Patnitop. Wondered at the significant number of girls who attended schools despite having to walk long distances! Noted women working hard in the fields without waiting for a man to assist. (talk about empowerment!) Encountered hidden army personnel in mountains carefully watching over the security of the travelers on the highway. (only then we realized how tense Kashmir was!) One cannot explain Kashmir - it has to be experienced. No judgment. Just observing as we go. Srinagar wowed us with its idyllic beauty and pristine environs. The lake beckoned. We had arrived - this was heaven!

Crossing Zoji La to reach Kargil - danger at every curve!
Srinagar - Leh highway offers a unique experience unlike any other in entire India! The landscape changes like a chameleon in colors, terrain, vegetation, altitude, road conditions, and what not! The Zoji La is the highlight of this stretch. The mountains here are dry and the rocks powdery. No tarmac. No roadside balustrades. A roaring river waiting at the bottom for the careless traveler to plunge to their death from the soft surface that is easy to crumble under the vehicle's weight. The hurry of the taxi drivers and other tourists makes this stretch even more treacherous. Sometimes snow melts and creates a water crossing on this stretch and it requires very careful navigation. Otherwise it is quite uneventful in reaching Kargil from Srinagar. :-)

Kargil to Rangdum - the road we should have avoided!
It was quite late in the day when we arrived at Kargil and finished our lunch. However, we were still upbeat about reaching Rangdum the same night. We started off 3-ish in the afternoon and managed to reach half way to Purtikche. That is when we came across a water crossing that had a nice waterfall feeding it from the mountain's side. Two of us got down from the car and guided Neetan to drive across safely in the turbulent waters. Just when we thought we had done it and were starting off we looked back - and saw a Maruti 800 getting stuck in the water. The driver had two very young kids - a boy and a girl - both less than 8 years of age. The car turned off and refused to get started again. We went back to the car and tried to push it, but the icy cold water and the pelting pebbles in the stream made it an impossible task. So, we got the kids out of the car and carried them to dry land where another villager had come by. We tried a lot to help the car start or move, but it was stuck obstinately in the freezing waters. To their luck, a construction truck came by and immediately we got our towing hook and rope from our car, attached it to the Maruti 800 and got the truck driver to pull the vehicle out. This whole adventure took 2 hours off our charts and we realized Rangdum would remain a dream to explore another day. So, instead of returning to Kargil the same night, we continued up to Purtikche. Found the HPTDC guest house and stayed the night there. It was raining when we slept - probably, the whole night. But we were too tired to realize that. Plus, the cold made us snuggle deep into the thick blankets provided by our gracious host.

Purtikche to Kargil - the unexpected happens!
We set out the next morning from the guest house to visit a glacier nearby. We could actually touch and feel the glacier. It was a bit muddied since it was quite late in summer. However, it was one thing I could tick off my checklist of TO-DOs in life. It was almost 11 am by the time we came back to the same water crossing that we had successfully crossed the previous evening. Again, two of us got down and Neetan navigated across the water. This time, our car got stuck! We brought out the heavy wooden planks that we had carried with us for situations like this and put it under the wheels. The water force was so strong, that it just smashed them across the stream and carried them away! The icy water and the constantly pelting stones on our numb feet made it impossible for us to expend all our energy in pushing the car. The front left wheel was stuck in a crevice and refused to budge despite our best efforts. Meanwhile the cabin of the car started filling up with icy cold water from the stream. We started panicking. There was 3" of water inside the car already and our food was being threatened next! Luckily for us, another construction truck came by - and we repeated the trick from the previous evening and our car was out!

But not so fast. We had to bail out the water from the car cabin using paper cups and it took 2 hours for the 3 of us to complete it - plus wipe the insides clean with newspapers. Finally, we were ready to move on. Just as we did, the car started screeching like a banshee! We freaked out at the loud noise and got down to check. We realized there were pebbles from the stream stuck between the wheels and the brake discs. We managed to pull them out - and only then we realized that there were many more on the inside of the front bumper and engine bay as well. Another hour later, we had rid the car of all pebbles and finally moved on. It was almost 3:30 pm by the time we almost reached Kargil - only to find a huge pile up of vehicles on the highway!

A friendly Military Police informed us that the cloud burst of the previous night had caused landslides in 7 points across a 10 km stretch on this highway around Kargil. We got down and watched the Border Road Organization personnel bring the earth movers and heavy diggers on trucks - and assemble them on the spot. The BRO started the work in all earnest within an hour - really fast! By then it looked doubtful that the debris would get cleared - and we asked the Military Police how long it will take. He then realized that we were tourists stuck on the road. He informed us that it will take at least 2-3 days to clear a way big enough for vehicles to move through the debris! We were left aghast. He then asked whether we had had lunch. We said no. At that instant, he offered us his lunch box and water. We were so touched by the selflessness of our armed forces at that moment! Here they were, working on a thankless job for people who hated them, in conditions totally hostile and treacherous. Despite the hard work - they managed to smile and retain a kind disposition to strangers and offered their own food & water without caring about their own basic needs! Hats off to our armed forces!!

We refused to take their food. So, he helped us get a secure parking location nearby for the car. Advised us to carry minimal luggage and walk the next 7 km to Kargil. It was easier said. The roads were filled with knee deep muck. Totally slippery - and the high altitude did not really make it easy for physical labour. But we managed to arrive an hour and half later in Kargil and checked into a hotel for the night. 2 days later, we continued to Leh.

Kargil to Leh - magnetic hill and silence!
The road from Kargil to Leh is pretty much dry. No vegetation on either side of the road. The mountains have barren rocks that change colors and hues from hill to hill. The whole journey was like a penance - silent, meditative, contemplating the meaning of life, feeling small in the vast wilderness and feeling the might of the mountains along side. The magnetic hill - a point little before the Leh, felt supernatural after such a trip leading up to that point! A car parked here - in what seems like an downward slope - actually starts rolling against the slope, and locals attribute that phenomenon to a strongly magnetic hill nearby. Of course, it is bunkum! But after the kind of journey we go through from Kargil to Leh - it is hard to not believe in the myths.

38 km later, we arrived at Leh.

The Big Bang Theory of Love: A Penny for my thoughts!

2012-05-06T14:42:00.004+05:30

“…and it all started with a Big Bang!” Thus The Big Bang Theory heralds an unusual comic blend of unexciting physics and engineering with a street-smart woman’s passion for men, wine and shopping. Nerdy has long been funny, but nothing beats the eccentric characters of Sheldon, Howard or Raj. Compared with them Leonard seems a more realistic personality! Penny is our typical girl-next-door-from-small-town-but-in-big-city-with-bigger-hopes!

Everyone who has followed the series will know these and maybe some more details about these characters. Probably some can even recount every dialogue! But if someone were asked “What did you learn from The Big Bang Theory?” what do you think would be the most likely answer?
I can safely hazard a guess that “love” is definitely not at the top of anyone’s mind while answering that question! Most would recall the sexual frivolity and adultery that is replete across the seasons, but few would have thought about the undercurrent of the nascent love in the series. The on-screen pairs Leonard-Penny, Sheldon-Amy and Howard-Bernadette evoke hilarity even while advocating the essence of love and people in love.

Let’s study the relationship of the lead couple, Leonard-Penny. Penny begins her journey in TBBT as the playgirl who beds any man who she meets on a date. Obviously she has been having some trouble getting into a meaningful relationship as she always ends up falling for the dumb jocks. In one episode Sheldon even calculates the insane number of men that Penny must have slept with since she started dating at the age of 14. But... all that changes after she falls for the geeky Leonard. She becomes a one-man girl who, in-fact, throbs for his return from the Monopolar Expedition to the Arctic Circle. If this kind of a drastic turn-around is not love, then what is? This is not a one-off instance. Even later when Penny and Leonard decide to “remain as friends” we see that she does not date any other man; well, at least she doesn’t bed the men she dates. Though there were some episodes where she transgresses, they actually do not result in the “act” itself. For instance, when she discovers herself naked in bed with Raj she is horrified and deeply regrets the situation; she cringes. She immediately sets about righting the wrong. As we discover later, nothing actually happened between her and Raj. Was this an attempt by the TBBT team to maintain the image of Penny as a pining girl-in-love? I would like to think so!

Leonard is the quintessential geek who is totally infatuated with Penny from the beginning of the series. His strong feelings for Penny are seen in his frequent outbursts of jealousy and in his frequent compromises to her. Though Penny’s beauty can be attributed to his strong desire for her, we also see in the later episodes that Leonard actually develops the talent of picking up girls naturally. Was this the Penny magic? Though he has physical relationships with a variety of beautiful women like Raj’s sister Priya, Dr. Elizabeth Plimpton, the comic nerd Alicia, etc. still he has a soft corner for Penny. Despite Penny’s initial rejection of his love, he realizes that she still loves him but is not yet ready to accept such a responsibility currently. One incident worth noting here is the scene where Priya, who Leonard was seeing then, asks him to distance himself from Penny as Priya feels threatened by Penny’s beauty. Despite Priya’s repeated requests Leonard is not able to say those words to Penny. These and many such incidents show the strong bonding of love between Leonard and Penny.

The love of The Big Bang Theory’s lead couple is not the kind that is heralded in the usual romantic movies. It is a subtle and constant undercurrent that underscores their every interaction. The hallmark of their relationship is the tolerance and acceptance of their partner for what they really are. Is this not what they call "true love"?

The blurred line between fun and depravation

2011-10-31T22:08:00.005+05:30

Moving into the new millennium India was considered as the emerging super power comparable with US, Japan and China. A key factor for this prediction was the burgeoning growth of youth as a percentage of the total population. Come 2012, China is already witnessing some effects similar to the developed countries of the Western Hemisphere where the percentage of aged population is superseding the percentage of working population (youth). India is not yet expected to touch this threshold in the next two decades. But for India to realize this "advantage of youth" its youth need to understand the significance of the expectations resting on their shoulders and work for taking it to fruition. This brings us to the topic of fun and depravation; the blurred line that many youth fail to perceive!

For centuries mankind has been plagued with disasters caused by addictive substances. Most common of them being alcohol. For a chemical with a fairly simple molecular combination, it is quite potent and induces complex reactions upon intake! For most youth, the touch with alcohol begins as a fun activity and a step in the right direction for peer-acceptance. For many more, it is a "fashionable thing to do" and for yet others it is passed on genetically from similar illustrious parents. Whatever be the reasons for getting started, it is the sustenance of the habit by an individual that decides how good / bad it is. This being the case it is all the more important for youth to handle this habit with more care and ensure that they are behaving as responsible citizens.

Being a teetotaler I cannot comment much on the fun of drinking, but all the same I have been quite close to a wide gamut of drinkers and have shared tables with them many times. The sum total of all these experiences has still failed to impress upon me the virtue of having alcohol as a fun drink.
I repeatedly ask myself (and drinkers) how can any drink that -

* tastes yuck

* smells bad

* makes u woozy and act like a monkey

* helps u puke your fine dine

* misguides your moral compass

* makes u swoon and fall under the mercy of anyone around

* causes untold social embarrassments

* and gives a splitting headache in the morning

and so on and so forth, be considered a fun thing to have? Of course, it is fun for a guy like me who hangs around parties watching other people make fool of themselves while drinking OR for some guys who are "waiting to help" beautiful (but stupid) girls who drink too much and "lose it" OR for third parties who see a stoned person who is an easy target or robber / rape. Considering all the pros and cons, net-net, alcohol consumption is really a stupid way to have fun while paying through your nose for all the unwanted consequences post-drinking!

The really sad part is that I have witnessed so many girls who are normally intelligent, smart and appreciable but act like nuts when drunk. They are at the mercy of guys around them and who can really vouch for a guy who has a beautiful but stoned girl on his hands? He may not rape her, but what can he NOT DO in such a situation? I am surprised that such girls don't even consider these things before getting started down that path. So much for the women's cries of equality and progress! If this is progress, then what is the direction or goal that we are headed at? It is a different story when a guy is drunk. Like some literacy ads of last century in India said, "educating a man is educating a person whereas educating a woman is educating a generation". If this is the kind of education women are getting themselves what will they teach the next generation? Does India need 650 million booze filled monkeys by 2035? Many students who go for "higher education" in foreign universities act like it is the end of the world tomorrow and it is their call-to-duty to finish all the stock of booze at the nearest store. Entire nights are spent cracking bottles, shouting like lunatics and abusing each other. So much for "Masters" and "higher education"!

Personally, I feel the reasons for such behaviour is the blind aping of the Western culture. Many youngsters take it for granted that to be modern they need to act like the characters of popular sit-coms mouthing profanities in every alternate line of speech, accepting indiscretions & infidelity as a "cool thing" while pumping themselves with dope & booze. It is not wrong to be impressionable, but it is wrong to be impressed upon without sufficient analytical thought about the same. While such negatives are sponged-up, very few positive traits like being civil to strangers, sharing with the larger people, social activities, etc. are imbibed by the majority. Being self-centred and nuclear seems to be the rage of the day.

To all those who drink, smoke or dope I would like to close this write-up with a few questions to ponder over. How strong are you really if you have to smoke or booze to get over the everyday ups-and-downs that life throws at you? Are you so incapable of finding happiness within & outside without alcohol? When did embarrassing yourself become a virtue? What good are you adding to this world / country / family / self by boozing?

The Second Freedom Movement of India

2011-09-04T20:16:00.001+05:30

India, a few centuries ago, had nearly 20% of the entire known world’s wealth and it was this enormous wealth which attracted the innumerable plunderers and colonists from ancient times. The recent treasures discovered in the cellars of a South Indian temple are testimony to the incalculable treasures stolen from our country. The repeated onslaughts by the various cultures and countries left the majority of the population bereft of wealth and basic comforts. But finally, Indians managed to throw away the yoke of colonialism and fight their way through to complete freedom. Er... did I say “complete” freedom?

Well, excuse the term “complete”. “We, the people”, have not yet attained complete freedom. A nation can call itself free only when it is administered by truly “free” people, systems and processes. To this end, we have failed miserably! One of the living legends of Kannada theater Sri Narasimha Murthy – popularly known as Master Hirannayya – makes a funny yet interesting observation about the manner in which India got its freedom in his epic play “lanchAvatAra” (Kannada: ಲಂಚಾವತಾರ) which attacked the social ill called “corruption”. For the benefit of the larger audience, I shall only provide the gist of his lengthy dialogue in a translated form here:

“When did India get freedom?”

“15^th August 1947 at midnight”

“At midnight…! Who are the ones who are usually awake at midnight?”

“Not common folks like you and I but only the thieves and robbers!

“So, someone gave something to someone at midnight while we (majority of Indians) were all sleeping and to this day we don’t who gave what and what we have to do with it… so we are all just continuing to sleep”

This excerpt from his play, more or less summarizes the apathy of the vast middle-class citizenry in India since the last 64 years regarding politics and corruption. Today, in India, corruption has become a way of life! The systems do not move without the necessary “greasing”. Why do the people in important positions like government jobs, bureaucracy, policy making, lawmaking, etc. assume that they need something “extra” over and above their designated pay? Who gave them the right to take extra while drawing a salary with perquisites as well? The answer is simple: WE! We, the spineless people of India, have given-in to the demands of a corrupt system created by corrupt people. We have grown up to believe that “nothing gets done without giving a bribe”. It is really sad to see the current youth throw up their hands in despair and give up without a fight. Even the so-called educated people have thrown-in their towels!

At this point I would like to drive home one point. Don’t try to change the world or the system; but change yourself! As a great personality coach advises “you cannot control the things that happen in your life; but you can control the way you respond to them!” When we internalize this concept it makes us feel empowered to fight this menace of corruption. We cannot change the corrupt people or the system BUT we can change ourselves! If each of us decides to NOT give or take a bribe, that in itself, is a powerful blow to the systemic corruption. We may not see an immediate change. We may not see a change in our lifetimes. But we can always be proud that “I did not support corruption in my life”. The choice is yours!

3-Step Guide to Success in Life

2011-07-04T12:28:00.002+05:30

This is something which I have always wanted to share with everyone I know and I believe it has the power to change our life! So, read it again and again until you internalize the powerful messages conveyed by one of the greatest minds that India has produced in the recent centuries - Veerasanyasin Swami Vivekananda.

It is our own mental attitude which makes the world what it is for us.

Our thoughts make things beautiful, our thoughts make things ugly.

The whole world is in our own minds.

~ Swami Vivekananda

In short, our thoughts make us what we are and what we make of our life! The secret of success, happiness and balance in life is realizing this. Today, in our life, we are so busy in trying to catch up with so many things going on around us that we have a strong chance of missing what WE want. We get misguided by the wants and successes of others around us and seldom try to understand what "I" want in my life. So, realizing what "I" want in life is the first step to a bright and successful future.

If your past actions have made you what you are today,

then it is natural that your current actions will make your future.

~ Swami Vivekananda

When we realize this simple truth i.e. realize and internalize this truth, nothing is impossible to achieve. We become the creators of our own destiny! This is a belief that the great Veerasanyasin held till the end of his brief yet bright life. It is a belief each of us should hold dear to our heart and believe in it completely. It gives us the power to achieve ANYTHING. So, believing "I" can succeed is the second step to success.

To exist is to change;

To change is to grow;

To grow is to succeed;

To succeed is to keep on being a success forever!

~ Swami Vivekananda

Successes, like jeans, come in various sizes and designs and no single jeans fits all! :-) Succeeding once is common, succeeding several times is possible, but being a "success forever" - how feasible is that and how confident are we about it? This is a topic I have dealt with in depth in my post http://madhuranathr.blogspot.com/2011/06/being-success-forever.html and I request you to go through it at leisure. There I have shared my own thoughts about what is "my" definition of success. Following the process outlined in that blog should help you in defining "your" ideal of a success forever. So, defining "what is my idea of success" is the final step to enjoying a sustained success.

कोऽतिभारः समर्थानां किं दूरं व्यवसायिनाम् ।

को विदेशः सविद्यानां कः परः प्रियवादिनाम् ।।

~ Panchantantra

[Translation]

What weight (responsibility) is heavy for a capable person?

Which place is far in work (or for a hard-worker)?

Which place is foreign (alien/unknown) for a knowledgeable person?

Who is an enemy for a soft spoken person (or one who knows to speak well)?

This subhashitam from the Panchatantra beautifully summarizes the limitlessness of a person who has opened up his/her mind. If we open our mind to its limitless possibilities and unhinge our imaginations from its restrictions nothing is impossible or distant. So, my dear friend, free your mind, open up its potential to achieve and go out into the world that you can create - and succeed! You are your own limitation and you are your own motivator. Your positivity will lead you to newer horizons which you never imagined existed. Go, do it!

Role models

2011-06-12T13:48:00.002+05:30

“MY DADDY STRONGEST…!” – A line from a TV ad of the last decade makes a lot of sense to us when we see a small child shout it out. It captures the very essence of this writings title. As a child most of us would have looked up to our parents as role models in life. We try to model our own behavior, styles and speech based on our parents. Over the years we are exposed to new people, new environments, new experiences and soon each of us idolize someone other than our parents as a role model. Not that the parents are no longer “valid” role models for us, but it’s just that we begin to realize that each have their own short-comings and some other person outside the family is actually more stronger, braver, fashionable, etc. which captivates our imaginations and hence we aspire to be like that person; our role model.

From my earliest childhood memories I can pick out my father as my greatest role model. He is honest, God-fearing sincere, loving of his family, uncorrupt, hardworking, intelligent, street smart and some more. I have idolized him for all that he is; and for all that he is not – alcoholic, abusive, corrupt, etc. Such qualities and strength of character I have tried to emulate from a young and impressionable age. I am a teetotaler and that, I feel, is a start!

I think I was in high school when I first heard about the Infosys and its enigmatic founder N R Narayana Murthy. The papers were abuzz with his stories, background, the achievements of Infosys and the man at the helm of it. The sophisticated English NRN spoke could not be mapped with a humble roots or upbringing. The IIT brains showed through in his work. The middle class backgrounds humility and concern for the general masses was evident in his chosen life style and various works. Here was a man who had inspired thousands since the start of Infosys and surely millions more by the time I write this article. Yes, he was definitely a role model for me. I could connect with his values, ideals and thoughts at a sub-conscious level. It was inspiring!

Enter Nandan Nilekani, the CEO of Infosys when I joined the organization in 2005. Suave, charismatic, ever-smiling and a totally charming personality, Nandan was inspirational to say the least. A dashing young man – yes, he exudes youth at any age – to head one of the most respected organizations of India was something fantastic. Of course, he did a great job of it. Infosys grew 4 times its size during his tenure of 5 years at the top post. Definitely, a role model!

Fast-forward to 4^th June, 2011 – the day before my second wedding anniversary. I had flown down to Bangalore from Mumbai especially for that memorable event. How memorable it would turn out to be I could never guess! Snoopy (my cute German Shepherd), my wife and myself took an auto from Indiranagar to Rajajinagar to catch up with my parents. Snoopy being nearly 4.5 feet long, very mischievous and restless, I decided to put my laptop bag in the storage space behind the passenger seat. After a tiresome journey (for Snoopy) of an hour we finally reached our destination and I got out of the auto first, followed by the belligerent Snoopy, who was now eager to break free and run up the stairs to meet my dad, and lastly my wife stepped out. After 5 minutes in the house I suddenly realized I had forgotten my laptop bag behind the seat. Immediately I took my dad’s 2-wheeler and shot off in roughly the route the auto may have taken after dropping us off. Half an hour later my guesses and driving proved fruitless. We did not know the auto number, the driver’s license details nor anything else that would help uniquely identify the person or his vehicle. As I thought more about it I realized that it was not just laptop; the bag had contained my passport, my marks cards of SSLC, PUC and BE, as well as my degree certificate and marriage certificate! In short, I had lost my identity!!

Now what do I do? How could I possibly get duplicates of ALL those documents within 2 weeks? I was confounded, to say the least. Yet, there was a tiny flicker of hope in my heart. I had seen the auto driver when I got into the auto. It was a face which reflected innocence and nicety. When I reflected on it, I was somehow very confident that if at all that person found the laptop bag he would definitely return it to me. I said so to my parents and wife as well.

Hoping is one thing; reality is another. Per reality and per procedure I was supposed to register a complaint with the nearest jurisdictional police station reporting the loss of my items and key documents – especially the passport. That was the only way I would be able to procure duplicates in future. Everyone have a phobia of the police. I, for one, have never developed it in my life. I believe that if I have not done a mistake there is nothing wrong that can happen to me – that too from police! When I went to lodge my complaint, the police response actually vindicated this belief of mine. Never once did they hint at “something…”, nor did they take my loss lightly blaming this “careless guy”. Instead, the ASI who spoke to me took the necessary details from me, made a note of it in the station house book and immediately gave out a wireless message to all the police stations of Bengaluru. I heard the broadcast message within seconds on the Motorola wireless set which was on his desk in front of me. I was positively thrilled. Not everyone is corrupt in the police after all. Not every complaint needs a “something” to get it registered. The ASI also guided me regarding the next steps like getting an affidavit done detailing the loss of my documents so that it can be attested by the police and utilized for my duplicate passport application. He also promised to file the FIR the very next day to help smoothen the way for me. This was all so nice and this niceness is what most people do not expect when they approach the police. But it’s true; it happened to me!

My next tryst with the police was at the DCP (East) Office of Bengaluru, Shivajinagar. The sprawling DCP office sitting atop the transport hub at Shivajinagar was practically deserted when I went there at 6 pm on a Saturday. Still, luckily, I was able to find a gentleman who listened to my predicament and assured me that they would try their best to help me identify the auto driver by face. The computer operator who was supposed to do this was off home for the day and the person talking to me called him in front of me and requested the operator to give us a slot the next day, Sunday. After the call the gentleman told “I can understand how much it hurts to lose something of value. I know it is paining you a lot right now. But you say that there were important documents in it which are practically useless for any auto driver. So, 200% of 100% I feel you will get back those documents if he gets it. I will also pray to God on your behalf. Don’t worry. Go home now.” Coming from a policeman, the italicized line above was really touching for me. How many people around us in today’s world would actually say such a thing and actually mean it? I could see he meant it. Kindness and gentleness are rare qualities in any human being. Seeing them in a policeman is an exception in itself! So, you see, here was another role model for me. This gentle policeman showed that “you can still be yourself irrespective of what you do for a living”.

But the story doesn't end here. Sunday 11:35 am I was almost near the DCP office and I got a call on my mobile “Sir, are you coming?” I was pleasantly surprised! Not only was the police computer operator going out of the way to help me by accepting to see me on a Sunday, but he was also punctual and proactively calling me to check if I was coming or not. Too many surprises for a person to handle in 2 days! I confirmed I will reach in 5 minutes and I did. At the office within minutes we realized the humongous task that lay ahead of us. Bengaluru had 1+ lakh auto drivers and all their details lay before us. We could see thousands of passport size photographs bundled in packets and thrown into huge trays and cartons lying in that room. Luckily, my wife had noted the last part of the address – “…jinagar, Mysore Road” – on the driver display card in auto. My dad and wife made a fairly accurate guess that it must be Bapujinagar. With that filter we started searching in the computer and retrieved close to a 1000 results. After nearly 1 hour and having seen close to 300 photographs we realized it was getting nowhere and already I was thinking of alternate routes to track down the auto in my mind. All the while this policeman never once complained that he was working on an almost impossible task on a Sunday!

Just then I got a call from my brother. He was shouting excitedly “Madhu the auto driver has brought back the laptop…” – the sweetest words anyone could have uttered to me at that moment! I asked my bro to detain that auto driver as much as possible and that I would reach home in 35 minutes. I thanked the policemen who had helped me at the DCP office and requested them to buy some sweets for their families as it was my wedding anniversary that day. Both rejected the 500 I gave, but I assured them it was not for the laptop, but for my wedding anniversary. Finally, they wished us and accepted it. Nice! J

By the time I reached home my dad had brought 2 boxes of sweets and already presented them to the auto driver and his brother-in-law who had accompanied him. A lot had already been said and done by my family before I reached home with my wife. I thanked the man profusely when I met him for the second time in as many days. When I told him “you must have seen all those documents in my bag. They were sooo important to me and you brought them all back to me. I am so grateful for that…” and to that he said “Sir, I don’t know what all that was because I cannot read or write. I did not even realize it was your bag. So I took the bag to my brother-in-law who can read and it was he who told me that ‘this man’s entire life is there in this bag’ and gave me the address. So we brought it along today morning. Even if we could not find you we would have given it to the police station. But before doing that we wanted to try once to reach you ourselves…” I was dumb-founded at that moment. Here was a man who earned not more than 300-400 on an average day. Here was a young man of around 24-25 who would naturally have all the likes and temptations of youngsters of that age. Any person educated or not, would be tempted on seeing a high end mobile or a laptop. Not just for the monetary value but just by the attractiveness of the product itself. Here stood a man without the benefit of a good education and its associated teachings of the righteous behavior and yet this young uneducated man had made a choice to take the “right path”. He had not yielded to any temptation, or maybe he did not have any. Without realizing the importance of all those documents he had decided to return a bag that did not belong to him. Even if he had sold that laptop bag to a thief he would have easily made 25k!! How many days should he drive an auto for earning that 25k? Yet, this young man had brought it back to me and when I offered him a fair recompense for that act he was not ready to accept. “Sir, you have given me sweets. That is enough. Please don’t try to put a value my nature by giving money” I can hardly think of an “educated” government employee or the “highly educated” civil services members saying something like that. Of course, not all are corrupt. But a whole lot of educated people have no qualms about being corrupt. Amidst such masses, this young, uneducated and poverty ridden auto driver stands out a head above the shoulders. His sincerity and dignity could not have been taught by education. He had cultivated it personally.

So, you see, this article is a tribute to that auto driver, Manjunath Hegde. He shall forever be a role-model to me and my children. He proved that a role model can come from any walk of life and make an impact on others. He showed me and to the society that a man can always choose the right path irrespective of his financial and family background, nature of work or education. It is to that young man who chose the “right path” and provided me a humbling experience that I pay homage to by trying to capture his honourable deed and words herein.

Being a success forever

2011-06-04T00:54:00.003+05:30

“Veerasanyaasin” Swami Vivekananda was a giant among philosophers and one of the greatest proponents of Hinduism, that too, at a time when the entire nation of Hindus had been subjugated by foreigners financially, morally and politically. Some of his quotes are eternally etched in the ether of this universe and in the collective psyche of mankind. “Arise and awake”, “Sisters and brothers of America”, “We are what our thoughts have made us”, etc. But, personally, the most motivating thought for me is –

To exist is to change.

To change is to grow.

To grow is to succeed.

To succeed is to keep on being a success forever…

This thought is so powerful and speaks out to the entire humanity in a single line! When I tried to delve on the means for the realization of this “success forever” in my life, I was confounded by the high bar set by this last one line. How can anyone achieve a success and keep on being a success forever? That brought me to the more basic question “What do you define as a success in life?” I went down the path of discovering this elusive definition of success in my own personal context. At this point I would like to make it very clear to the readers that this context is very important for any person to realize success and own it happily. As the saying goes, “to each his own”.

Normally when you ask any person what is their definition of success in life we hear things like –

- Becoming a CEO

- Becoming an IAS officer

- Marrying a rich spouse

- Building a house

- Buying a car

- Starting a business

- Winning an election

- And the list goes on….

But honestly, is this a success in life? Success is something that gives you happiness. How happy will that person be when someone builds a bigger house or buys two houses or has a better car or marries a richer spouse or becomes CEO of a bigger company…? Well, I feel such things can at the most be termed only as an accomplishment or an achievement and not a success. An accomplishment is always beatable, but success? That is lasting!

So what is my idea of success in life? From a very young age I have always done certain things without realizing the significance of those actions. I have always been a very helpful person from a young age. It is not that I would do it because someone told me to do so, nor because I would enjoy the appreciation after doing the good deed. It was just something I enjoyed doing. As simple as that! Helping someone in need whether requested or not was something which came naturally to me. It was a personality trait. Now guess what? That is success! Each time I helped someone in a way big or small I had a kind of satisfaction in me. I had succeeded in making something better for someone in their life! That thought would make me happy. That is the kind of success no one could take away from me; forever! So, as I realized. This was a success that lasted long. But this alone did not make it a success forever. Now my definition in life for success is to help; that is something I can do anytime, anywhere and to anyone. So as long as I exist I can keep doing it. So long will I be reaping success. So now we see it is a success forever! So simple; yet so true!

Man made God

2011-05-28T17:24:00.012+05:30

Contrary to the popular adage – and belief – that God made man in his image, in reality, it was more the other way round! But then there is a theological / spiritual / philosophical debate that I do not want to instigate here with such a seemingly-biased statement. Let me clarify – the scope of this article is to only discuss about the “Man-made God”.

“What is God?” has been the primordial question for mankind. A more fundamental question should be “Who told man about a God?”
So, starting with this basic question we see that “God Himself revealed His existence to man” is what most of the scriptures and mythologies say to get the basics out of the way. In fact, when we just browse through the mythologies and legends of most civilizations, cultures and religions that exist (or existed) on the earth, we see stories of Gods. There is no end to the legends of these Gods!

Now let us see what are the characteristics generally attributed to God (apart from super human strengths and abilities) –

All forgiving, merciful and patient
Unlimitedly compassionate and kind
Benevolent / helpful to people who pray to the God
Mighty and powerful, yet uses it only for good deeds

So on and so forth; all imaginable good characteristics are attributed to God. Now let us try to analyse these characteristics / traits of God. Are these really the traits or characteristics NOT present in a human? Of course, they all are! But what really differentiates a man and a God is the degree to which each possesses or displays these traits! In God, these characteristics are amplified many times over; limit tends to infinity. Then why is a human being not called a God? Just think. Has it not happened before? Think again. What about the sages of the Vedic culture, monks of Jainism and Buddhism, Jesus, Sai Baba, etc.? They all are considered as Gods and for the simple reason that they too displayed the same traits discussed afore with a magnitude far greater than which is normally attributed to or attained by the ordinary human. So, is this a case to declare that GOD was man-made? Not quite!

Again, when we refer the mythologies and legends of Gods of various cultures and civilizations we see a markedly common factor among them all. In all cultures we come across at least one story or a legend which depicts a failing God i.e. a God who does not really fit the picture of only good type of God. In many stories, we also note that the main Gods of the pantheon themselves have some misgivings and failings at one point or the other. Common sins of the mankind like jealousy, lust, anger, revenge, etc. are seen in the Gods too! Consider the Seth of Egyptians, the Indra of the Hindus, the Bel of the Chaldeans – most Gods have legends depicting some misgivings. Now why does God fail? Naturally, because man (or mankind) made the image of God and attributed all good and bad in his own nature to the super-entity he had created by imagination. Generations of humans contested upon the characteristics of God and each in his own image added a legend / story / trait to a God – better still some have added their own Gods to the pantheon and declared them supreme over the others! Thus, Gods have good and bad traits a la humans.

Coming back to the age-old question, what is God? One possible answer would be – God is that super-entity that man imagined to control others indirectly and also to control vast resources. Man made the God as is portrayed today across cultures in its various facets to pass on his own guilt after a sin to the action of God; or maybe to look-up to a superior unseen force in times of his calamity and feel confident that “He” is there to protect man; or maybe to show that man can become like God by achieving his characteristics – which are after all only the accumulation and amplification of man’s own traits! But what do we see today? Man forgets that he has made this “God” and fights over it. He kills animals and fellow humans mercilessly over petty concerns regarding whose God is greater or better or the ONLY One!! Fie on them!

Penance to Patience

2011-05-28T12:59:00.003+05:30

“Well… Shouldn’t it be patience to penance? I mean, we need patience to perform penance, right?” could be a typical question that arises when one reads the title. But, no! There is nothing wrong with the title.

In my life, I have had varied and interesting experiences which have taught me several important lessons. The most important of them being patience! Several individuals have directly or indirectly had a bearing on my road to achieve patience. The earliest I can remember is a friend in my college who first initiated me onto this journey of seeking.

It was a hot afternoon in Bangalore and a Chemistry Lab was scheduled within the next hour. As was my habit since school days, I had not come prepared for it. In this case, I had not completed my Practical Record and fearing punishment I had decided to do so just before entering the lab. So I sought my friend’s already completed practical record to copy some diagrams. As I began my hasty work I began cribbing about the need for writing practical records for Chemistry Lab which, in all probabilities, I may never refer in my life again or even need in my job. She listened for a couple of minutes to my angry ranting and finally said “Why are you making it so hard for yourself?” I was surprised by that question and asked “What do you mean?” She replied “See, whether you complain or not you MUST DO this work. So why don’t you do it with a smile instead? That way you will not have to suffer more agony than is required in doing this unpleasant work…” It was a profound statement, that! It was more like a revelation to me at that moment. How true! I am not avoiding the work (unpleasant situation) by cribbing and getting angry. Instead I was still doing that and at the same time making it all the more unpleasant for self by getting angry and feeling frustrated. That day, I learnt my first lesson in patience.

Working at a prestigious Indian MNC is definitely a privilege, as most would agree. But then, it too has its share of pain points. Organizations maybe great but not all people in it will be. All is not fair at the highest and best places as many would know by experience. Faced with unpleasant people and situations I would take the defensive approach and retaliate – quite flagrantly. “Such strong and aggressive reactions only worsen the situation. The moment you show a negative emotion, the focus of the listener will shift from the ‘message’ to ‘the way the message is being delivered’; and that defeats your goal of having a constructive discussion. You cannot achieve results from such means…” my friend, mentor and manager advised me. That was the second step of my journey.

Having a baby is not really easy. In my life, I had a demo version – a German Shepherd puppy. As a first time pet owner I was not totally prepared for what a pup can throw at its household in the way of tantrums and mischief. I felt, I was totally unprepared for what unfolded since my pup’s entry into my life and home. Several things changed at once at my home and its inhabitants. I did not know what to do or how to handle the new situation. I just stayed steadfast in my decision and decided to go through with whatever comes. It was a great test of my diplomacy and convictions. After all that I got to keep him at home permanently and what does my beloved puppy do? He dirties the place anytime and anywhere, chews through the furniture, destroys leather items like footwear, belt, etc., seizes toothbrushes, shampoo bottles, ghee bottles, etc. Well the list can go on and on. Who will not get angry when one returns home in the evening to find the costly leather couch at home chewed through by the dog? Well, I don’t know about others, but I did not! Yes, that was a miracle! The immense unselfish love that my pup gave me convinced me that repaying such love is definitely not with anger; but patience. A pup taught me the third and most sustaining lesson of my life in patience.

I have, since long, developed a habit of practicing patience in small ways. I can stand for hours in a queue and still not get frustrated. I can see my pup chew a costly item at home and still smile at him. I can wait for days or months to accomplish my targets and still not panic from reversals. I can stay an entire 2-day weekend at home and still not feel frustrated by it. I, I, I, … All these things begin with “I”. The journey to patience too, begins with “I”. Each person should introspect and understand that patience is a virtue attained not by birth or training but by penance! It is a penance to be observed continuously in life.