Brithday Blog

It is hard to imagine that I am turning 42 today. It was a grand celebration today quite exceeding my own expectations - thanks to Ramya. She had quietly called up Sambu athai, Kala, Aruna, Mahesh & family and had arranged for a grand lunch. The menu was grand - Puri, aloo, Dahi Vada, Pulav, Boondi Raitha, Chips, Curd Rice and Gulab Jamoon. Just missed amma. She wanted to have a nice music session as well. But after eating all these goodies I was in no mood to sit down and do any exercise. We all had a nice chat and every one left at around 2.30pm.

It is a bit strange but I was a bit embarassed that I was getting all the importance even after so many years ! I had a lot of calls from friends, colleagues and from within the family circle. I guess you feel blessed. Even Radhika and Sitaraman called up. It helps you reflect philosophically and be contended with what you are and what you have. Strangely we all aspire to achieve some thing in life which we are not at present and keep running after it without savouring the moment you have at present.

Talking of Radhika and Sitaraman, their trip to India this time - between 21st June 2008 and 12 th July 2008 (for Sitaraman) and 29th July 2008 (for radhika) was memorable. We were able to gel very well and understand each other quite well. We drove all the way to Yercaud and spent 3 days just staying in the resort doing pretty much nothing except watching movies and chatting. Radhika seemed to love every moment of her time with Ramya and both of them just had a blast going out and shopping and meeting up friends, relatives, talking, laughing etc. I wish Shruthi had a sibling to enjoy such things when she grows up. I pity her as her nearest cousins are either boys or if there are girls they are far off !

The Beiging olympics kicked off yesterday - a special day - 08-08-08 ! There were interesting debates on how China showed to the world its might and prowess in its spectacular opening ceremony. Some were of the view that India should be learning from all these and others very sceptical about it ! I guess the problem we as Indians have is the inability to listen and accept each other. It is another matter that we are fiercely independent but in working together for a cause, we cannot be endlessly arguing. We do that quite well. திமிருத்தனம் prevails almost everywhere. I am not sure if it is a trait ingrained in our genes or it is because of years of suppression. I may be some times be criticised for being cynical and pessimistic but if we look around us we will realise why say so. We have fantastic laws - written constitution and all that - but we will not follow them. Ask any one why, he will ask - who does ? !! I have endless arguments with my dear friend Ramabhadran who blames me for being idealistic and not practical. Well...if doing what you are supposed to be doing is idealistic then I really wonder what is idealism !

I have some strong views on these. A society should cherish and have strong moral values and respect honesty, righteousness at all times. It is the foundation of a stable society. In today's India, it does not seem to matter if you are good - you have to be smart. Smart in the sense of outsmarting others even at the cost of causing his downfall ! That is not going to help. If there is a way to win but make the other man realise he has lost to a better guy on the effort then I will value that more than winning through "hook or crook". If this is a strong phrase let me use this - Most of the guys seem to work to win as long as it meets his needs - self centered. There are a lot of compromises here - values, morals, ethics. These things do not matter as long he keeps winning. I feel a little strange in such a society. I asked Guruji - Shri Para Vidyananda Saraswati (aka Shri S Ranganathan) who now lives in Vanaprastha teaching Vendantic principles to the inmates. He says you can live by your values but cannot control what others do. Well it is a way to come out of the dilemma but it is not a solution to change the prevailing situation. He says you cannot change everything. You can only control what is within your control. He is correct. But in this process, every one just does his own will and just chooses to ignore the society around him. What should I do would be your question. You have to talk - question - debate often - more often. Futile you might say. I agree. It would have just sown a small seed into the minds of people who have been corrupted. At least it will start putting them in a dilemma - on the way to realisation.....