Role Models and Inspiring Lives

Gandhiana-28: SPEECH AT PRAYER MEETING, NEW DELHI, December 11, 1947

2011-10-18T16:49:00.000+05:30

BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

A friend desires that the verses from the Koran we recite here should be explained. These verses are ancient. The Koran was composed by Mohammed Saheb—it was spoken by him, thirteen centuries ago. The extracts from it that we recite are considered sublime like our mantras. The very reading of it bestows merit on the reader. It is good to know the meaning, of course, but even without knowing it a correct recitation itself is of great value. I can now explain the substance of it. I do not know Arabic or Persian. I do possess a translation, but it is not here now. Tomorrow I can provide a literal translation. In substance, it is a prayer to God. God is one and the same, by whatever name we may call Him. Allah is one of His names. Then His attributes are described. He is called Rahim and Rehman but He is one God. It is then said that God alone can save us from Satan. Satan drags us down and makes us do evil deeds only God can save us from that fate. Man admits that he on his own does not do noble deeds but God prompts him to do so. Man is like a drop of water in a sea. If God does not save man Satan will devour him.

God is great.God is All there is. His mercy alone can save us. I should say that however much we may recite this prayer, ponder over it and follow its import it is not enough. You may ask why in that case Muslims indulge in such barbarous behaviour. But then do Christians who have made so much progress, who are learned, follow the teachings of the Bible? Where are the Christians that live according to the Bible? Where are the Hindus who conduct themselves according to the Gayatri? We recite from Ishopanishad, “All things are pervaded by the Lord”, meaning that God is in everything. He gives us everything. Whatever a man possesses has been given to him by God. We should renounce all and enjoy what we must. Nothing is ours.

House, property and everything is surrendered to God. It is a great thing. Then it is said that we should not be envious of others’ riches. We should not covet another’s wealth. Let the Hindus but conduct themselves according to this one single mantra. Let the whole world thus conduct itself. It is not for the Hindus alone. It does not even mention Hindus. Let the Sikhs conduct themselves according to the mantra. It is not as if they did not believe in it. If everyone conducted himself accordingly the tragedy we have been witnessing all around us could not have come to pass. Everyone is not wicked, nor is everyone an angel. We cannot say that all Sikhs are wicked while all Hindus are angels or that all Muslims are angels.

Another verse is from the Parsi scripture. The first mantra in the prayer proclaims obeisance to the Guru. It is followed by other verses in Sanskrit. Then there are bhajans. And yet we do not keep our hearts clean. It is a painful thing.

Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol.98

Gandhiana-27: AHIMSA TOWARDS ENEMIES

2011-10-09T10:29:00.001+05:30

A correspondent says in substance:

Individual ahimsa I can understand. Corporate ahimsa between friends is also intelligible. But you talk of ahimsa towards avowed enemies. This is like a mirage. It will be a mercy if you give up this obstinacy of yours. If you do not, you will forfeit the esteem you enjoy. What is worse, you, being considered a Mahatma, mislead many credulous persons to their own and society’s harm.

Gandhiji’s Reply:

That non-violence which only an individual can use is not of much use in terms of society. Man is a social being. His accomplishments to be of use must be such as any person with sufficient diligence can attain. That which can be exercised only among friends is of value only as a spark of non-violence. It cannot merit the appellation of ahimsa. “Enmity vanishes before ahimsa”, is a great aphorism. It means that the greatest enmity requires an equal measure of ahimsa for its abatement. Cultivation of this virtue may need long practice, even extending to several births. It does not become useless on that account. Travelling along the route, the pilgrim will meet richer experiences from day to day so that he may have a glimpse of the beauty he is destined to see at the top. This will add to his zest. No one is entitled to infer from this that the path will be a continuous carpet of roses without thorns. A poet (Pritam ) has sung that the way to reach God accrues only to the very brave, never to the fainthearted. The atmosphere today is so much saturated with poison that one refuses to recollect the wisdom of the ancients and to perceive the varied little experiences of ahimsa in action. “A bad turn is neutralized by a good”, is a wise saying of daily experience in practice. Why can we not see that if the sum-total of the world’s activities was destructive, it would have come to an end long ago? Love, otherwise ahimsa, sustains this planet of ours.

This much must be admitted. The precious grace of life has to be strenuously cultivated, naturally so because it is uplifting. Descent is easy, not so ascent. A large majority of us being undisciplined, our daily experience is that of fighting or swearing at one another on the slightest pretext.

This, the richest grace of ahimsa, will descend easily upon the owner of hard discipline.

NEW DELHI, December 8, 1947
Harijan, 14-12-l947
Collected Works of Gandhiji, Vol.98

Learning from the Great-4:

2011-09-26T07:13:00.000+05:30

From my great-grandfather, not to have frequented public schools, and to have had good teachers at home, and to know that on such things a man should spend liberally - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Learning from the Great-3:

2011-09-21T12:38:00.001+05:30

From my mother, piety and beneficence, and abstinence, not only from evil deeds, but even from evil thoughts; and further, simplicity in my way of living, far removed from the habits of the rich - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Learning from the Great-2:

2011-09-05T06:06:00.002+05:30

From the reputation and remembrance of my father, I learned modesty and a manly character - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Learning from the Great-1:

2011-09-04T07:31:00.001+05:30

From my grandfather Verus, I learned good morals and the government of my temper - Marcus Aurelius Antoninus

Inspiring Quotes-12:

2011-08-01T07:58:00.000+05:30

I have learned through bitter experience the one supreme lesson: to conserve my anger, and as heat conserved is transmitted into energy, even so our anger controlled can be transmitted into a power that can move the world - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Videos-12: The Wisdom of Solomon 1/6

2010-11-27T07:31:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to Apocryphile1970 and YouTube.

Inspiring Videos-11: The Wisdom of Benjamin Franklin

2010-11-11T11:09:00.000+05:30

For a detailed article on Benjamin Franklin from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Franklin

Grateful thanks to WileyStudios, YouTube and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Videos-10: The Wisdom of Buddha

2010-11-10T18:56:00.000+05:30

For a detailed article on Gautama Buddha from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha

Grateful thanks to WileyStudios, YouTube and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Greetings

2010-11-05T06:48:00.001+05:30

Happy Diwali to all!

Inspiring Videos-9: The Wisdom of Socrates

2010-11-02T17:43:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to WileyStudios and YouTube.

Inspiring Videos-8: The Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln

2010-11-01T10:07:00.000+05:30

For a detailed article on Abraham Lincoln from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abraham_Lincoln

For reading the Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln from the Abraham Lincoln Association:

http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/

Grateful thanks to WileyStudios,YouTube, the Abraham Lincoln Association and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Videos-7: The Wisdom of Henry Thoreau

2010-10-31T08:40:00.000+05:30

For a detailed article on Thoreau from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thoreau

Grateful thanks to WileyStudios, YouTube and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Videos-6: The Wisdom of Ralph Waldo Emerson

2010-10-30T10:05:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to Wileystudios and YouTube.

Inspiring Videos-5: The Wisdom of Napoleon Hill

2010-10-29T06:44:00.000+05:30

For an interesting article on Napoleon Hill from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napoleon_Hill

Grateful thanks to Wileystudios, YouTube and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Quotes-11:

2010-10-25T20:19:00.001+05:30

There will be nothing to frighten you if you refuse to be afraid - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-10:

2010-10-21T16:45:00.000+05:30

Truth is the law of our being - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-9:

2010-10-20T06:34:00.000+05:30

I may be a despicable person but when truth speaks through me I am invincible - Mahatma Gandhi

Video Biographies-5: "Albert Einstein"

2010-10-19T11:35:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to Labidiomas and YouTube.

Inspiring Lives-47: Aamir Khan

2010-08-17T16:56:00.003+05:30

I did not know much about Aamir Khan except that he is a Hindi Film actor, director and producer. There was a mail from Digg in my mailbox about 150,000 farmers death in India. That led me to a video in YouTube, which made me realize that he is much more than that; a warm-hearted, sweet person, who follows his in whatever he does and his concern for fellow human beings. The first video led me to video after video about him. It was all highly impressive.

I have seen one or two movies of his (Rangde Basanti and 3 Idiots) and have seen his song numbers in TV. And of course, Tare Zamin Par directed by him; he also plays an understanding and sympathetic teacher. What a movie! The 45-year old actor still looks like a charming college student. In the videos, I observed his clarity of thought and thoughts expressed in neat language.

Then I went to Wikipedia and read his biography.He has been associated with some critically acclaimed and commercially successful movies as an actor, director and producer and a lot more. Quite an admirable personality and an inspiring guy. I am providing below links for those who want to know more about him. Further, I also viewed the six-part videos of Aamir Khan and Hillary Clinton from the program organised by Teach India. Very very inspiring and interesting videos!

Biography of Aamir Khan from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aamir_Khan

His blog:

http://www.aamirkhan.com/

His Facebook id:

www.facebook.com/aamirkhan.com

Aamir Khan in IMDB:

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0451148/

Aamir Khan Interview Part - 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnCEjuhHb7o

Aamir Khan in a face to face interview Exclusively on ETC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzIXg93UOIM

CNN Interview Aamir Khan Q a. A.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iP7El5_sGWg

Interview with Aamir Khan and Hillary Clinton - PART1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NO-ivhdy43E

Interview with Aamir Khan 22,06,2008

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FmeiIqrrpgk

Aamir Khan Biography Part 1-1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rVGcKsCy2A

Grateful thanks to Aamir Khan, YouTube, IMDB, Teach India and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Lives-46: Julian Assange of WikiLeaks

2010-08-13T07:26:00.009+05:30

Recently I saw an interesting video interview at TED Global 2010. Till that time, WikiLeaks is just a name I knew. I surmised it was leaking out classified documents exposing misdeeds of people in power. Through this video interview, I learnt about Julian Assange, Editor-in-Chief of WikiLeaks. The interview was fascinating. Then I took steps to know more about Assange. Naturally, I went first to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, and read the biography of Assange and learnt some more interesting facts about him. His parents were running a touring theatre company in Australia and hence they were on the move most of the time. As a result, Assange was enrolled in 37 schools and later six universities!

He was a hacker, free software developer. With the help of Whistleblowers, WikiLeaks exposed the extra judicial assassinations in Kenya, "a devastating portrait of the failing war in Afghanistan" (as New York Times called it) and Baghdad civilian killings. ( video depicting the killing of at least eighteen people, including two Reuters journalist, by American soldiers from an helicopter) WikiLeaks archives contain a huge collection of classified documents, which would be of great interest to investigative journalists. Assange stands for transparent and scientific approach to journalism. He is often called as one of the most intriguing people in the world and Internet's freedom fighter.

Assange has been awarded the 2009 Amnesty International Media Award (New Media) for exposing extrajudicial assassinations in Kenya with the investigation, "The Cry of Blood – Extra Judicial Killings and Disappearances", 2008 Economist Index on Censorship Award, Sam Adams Award for his integrity and ethics and various other media awards.

It is said that the 39-year old Assange never stays more than a week at a place and travels most of the time and hence spends more time in airports. A very interesting and courageous guy! God bless him!!

For further reading:

Julian Assange from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Assange

WikiLeaks from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikileaks

Julian Assange: Why the world needs WikiLeaks

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNOnvp5t7Do

Grateful thanks to TED Global, YouTube and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Nehruviana-1:

2010-07-14T13:52:00.001+05:30

I am something other than a Prime Minister, too. I am also a human being. Often I find myself struggling for some light, for a vision of what one should do, for a glimpse of the truth and of the pathway to the truth.

From Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's address at the UNESCO Indian National Commission, New Delhi, March 24, 1951.

For a brief biography of Nehruji from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawaharlal_Nehru

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Quotes-8:

2010-06-29T10:57:00.002+05:30

I do not believe in the doctrine of the 'greatest good of the greatest number'. It means, in its nakedness, that in order to achieve the supposed good of 51 per cent, the interest of 49 per cent may be, or rather, should be sacrificed. It is a heartless doctrine and has done harm to humanity. The only real, dignified, human doctrine is the greatest god of all, and this can only be achieved by uttermost self-sacrifice - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-7:

2010-05-14T10:07:00.000+05:30

If we are to teach real peace in this world, and if we are to carry on a real war against war, we shall have to begin with the children - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-6:

2010-05-13T18:16:00.001+05:30

The force generated by non-violence is infinitely greater than the force of all the arms invented by man’s ingenuity – Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-5:

2010-05-12T21:58:00.001+05:30

Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will – Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-5:

2010-05-09T20:53:00.000+05:30

Patience and perseverance, if we have them, overcome mountains of difficulties – Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-4:

2010-05-07T21:31:00.001+05:30

Mutual courtesy and respect was foundation of culture - Mahatma Gandhi

Inspiring Quotes-3:

2010-05-02T20:52:00.000+05:30

Weeding is as necessary to agriculture as sowing - Mahatma Gandhi

Achievers-7: Amitav Ghosh Wins Dan David Prize

2010-04-29T17:50:00.002+05:30

Well-known Indian writer, Amitav Ghosh, author of SEA OF POPPIES, has won the one million dollar Dan David Prize for his remarkable reworking of the great tradition of the Western novel in transnational terms.

Dan Award prize is awarded annually in three areas: Archaeology, Performing Arts and Material Science. Previously, two other Indians have won this prestigious award: Prof C N R Rao for Material Science and Zubin Mehta for Performing Arts.

Source: PTI and The Hindu, India's National Newspaper of April 29, 2010.

Article from Wikipedia, for detailed info on Amitav Ghosh along with his photo:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amitav_Ghosh

Grateful thanks to PTI, The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Inspiring Quotes-2:

2010-04-27T07:10:00.001+05:30

Just as appetite comes by eating so work brings inspiration -
Igor Stravinsky

Inspiring Quotes-1:

2010-04-26T19:24:00.001+05:30

There will be two dates on your tombstone and all your friends will read them. But all that's going to matter is that little dash between them – Kevin Welch

Achievers-6:

2010-04-25T09:36:00.003+05:30

Wu lu, a 49 year old farmer from the outskirts of Beijing, has become a household name in China for his homemade robots. Now, the creations that he calls his children are about to gain international renown.

Made from scrap materials including wire and screws, Wu has invented over 47 robots which can pour tea, offer smokers a light and paint pictures.

Wu, wo received no education after primary school, has become a hero in Chinese media for his whirring, ticking and talking inventions, and now foreign media have taken an interest in him ahead of his appearance at the Shanghai World Expo which runs from May to October.

...

Born into a family of farmers, Wu invented tools in his Mawu village to help farm more effectively such as changing his bicylce into a seeding machine. His latest project is a robot that can give massages.

Excerpt from "China's 'robot dad' to show his inventions to the world" in The Times of India, Chennai Edition of April 22, 2010 with source being Reuters.

For the original article from Reuters:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63J18O20100420

Grateful thanks to The Times of India and Reuters.

Gandhiana-23: "Gangabehn and the Spinning Wheel"

2010-04-11T11:33:00.005+05:30

(When the movement of boycotting Videshi goods was conceived, Gandhiji began promoting the spinning of khādī for rural self-employment and self-reliance Thus khadi became an integral part and symbol of revolution and the Swadeshi movement. Khadi symbolized independence itself.)

In the year 1917, I was taken by my Gujarati friends to preside at the Broach Educational Conference. It was here that I discovered that remarkable lady, Gangabehn Majumdar. She was a widow, but her enterprising spirit knew no bounds. Her education, in the accepted sense of the term, was not much. But in courage and commonsense, she easily surpassed the general run of our educated women. She had already got rid of the curse of untouchability, and fearlessly moved among and served the suppressed classes. She had means of her own, and her needs were few. She had a well seasoned constitution, and went about everywhere without an escort. She felt quite at home on horseback. I came to know her more intimately at the Godhra Conference. To her I poured out my grief about the charkha, and she lightened my burden by a promise to prosecute an earnest and incessant search for the spinning wheel.

...

At last, after no end of wandering in Gujarat, Gangabehn found the spinning wheel in Vijapur in the Baroda State. Quite a number of people there had spinning wheels in their homes, but had long since consigned them to the lofts as useless lumber. They expressed to Gangabehn their readiness to resume spinning, if someone promised to provide them with a regular supply of slivers, and to buy the yarn spun by them. Gangabehn communicated the joyful news to me. The providing of slivers was found to be a difficult task. On my mentioning the thing to the late Umar Sobani, he solved the difficulty by immediately undertaking to send a sufficient supply of slivers from his mill. I sent to Gangabehn the slivers received from Umar Sobani, and soon yarn began to pour in at such a rate that it became quite a problem how to cope with it.

Mr.Umar Sobani's generosity was great, but still on could not go on taking advantage of it for ever. I felt ill at ease, continuously receiving slivers from him. Moreover, it seemed to me to be fundamentally wrong to use mill-slivers. If one could use mill-slivers, why not use mill-yarn as well? Surely no mills supplied slivers to the ancients? How did they make their slivers then? With these thoughts in my mind I suggested to Gangabehn to find carders who could supply slivers. She confidently undertook the task. She engaged a carder who was prepared to card cotton. He demanded thirty-five rupees, if not much more, per month. I considered no price too high at the time. She trained a few youngsters to make slivers out of the carded cotton. I begged for cotton in Bombay. Sjt.Yashvantprasad Desai at once responded. Gangabehn's enterprise thus prospered beyond expectations. she found out weavers to weave the yarn that was spun in Vijapur, and soon Vijapur Khadi gained a name for itself.

While the developments were taking place in Vijapur, the spinning wheel gained a rapid footing in the Ashram. Maganlal Gandhi, by bringing to bear all his splendid mechanical talent on the wheel, made many improvements in it, and wheels and their accessories began to be manufactured at the Ashram. The first piece of Khadi manufactured in the Ashram cost 17 annas per yard. I did not hesitate to commend this very coarse Khadi at that rate to friends, who willingly paid the price.

I was laid up in bed in Bomaby. But I was fit enough to make searches for the wheel there. At last I chanced upon two spinners. They charged one rupee for a seer of yarn, i.e. 28 tolas or nearly three quarters of a pound. I was then ignorant of the economies of Khadi. I considered no price too high for securing handspun yarn. On comparing the rates paid by me with those paid in Vijapur I found that I was being cheated. The spinners refused to agree to any reduction in their rates. So I had to dispense with their services. But they served their purpose. They taught spinning to Shrimatis Avantikabai, Ramibai Kamdar, the widowed mother of Sjt.Shankerlal Banker and Shrimati Vasumatibehn. The wheel began merrily to hum in my room, and I may say without exaggeration that its hum had no small share in restoring me to health. I am prepared to admit that its effect was more psychological than physical. But then it only shows how powerfully the physical in man reacts to the psychological. I too set my hand to the wheel, but did not much with it at the time.

In Bombay, again, the same old problem of obtaining a supply of hand-made slivers presented itself. A carder twanging his bow used to pass by Sjt.Revashankar's residence. I sent for him and learnt that he carded cotton for stuffing mattresses. He agreed to card cotton for slivers, but demanded a stiff price for it, which, however, I paid. The yarn thus prepared I disposed of to some Vaishanava friends for making from it the garlands for the pavitra ekadashi. Sjt.Shivji started a spinning class in Bombay. All these experiments involved considerable expenditure. But it was willingly defrayed by patriotic friends, lovers of the motherland, who had faith in Khadi. The money thus spent, in my humble opinkion, was not wasted. It brought us a rich store of experience, and revealed to us the possibilities of the spinning wheel.

I now grew impatient for the exclusive adoption of Khadi for my dress. My dhoti was still of Indian mill-cloth. The coarse Khadi manufactured in the Ashram and at Vijapur was only 30 inches in width. I gave notice to Gangabehn that, unless she provided me with a Khadi dhoti of 45 inches width within a month, I would do with coarse, short Khadi dhoti. The ultimatum came upon her as a shock. But she proved equal to the demand made upon her. Well within the month she sent me a pair of Khadi dhotis of 45 inches width, and thus relieved me from what would then have been a difficult situation for me.

At about the same time, Sjt.Lakshmidas brought Sjt.Ramji, the weaver, with his wife Gangabehn from Lathi to the Ashram and got Khadi dhotis woven at the Ashram. The part played by this couple in the spread of Khadi was by no means insignificant. They initiated a host of persons in Gujarat and also outside into the art of weaving handspun yarn. To see Gangabehn at her loom is a stirring sight. When this unlettered but self-possessed sister piles at her loom, she becomes so lost in it that it is difficult to distract her attention, and much more difficult to draw her eyes off her beloved loom.

- Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhiana-22: Why Politics?

2010-04-09T18:16:00.002+05:30

To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face one must be able to love the meanest of creation as oneself. And a man who aspires after that cannot afford to keep out of any field of life. That is why my devotion to Truth has drawn me into the field of politics; and I can say without the slightest hesitation, and yet in all humility, that those who say that religion has nothing to do with politics do not know what religion means.

Gandhiana-21: Don't make a fetish of it!

2010-04-03T10:31:00.001+05:30

...So long as there are different religions, every one of them may need some outward distinctive symbol. But when symbol is made into a fetish and an instrument for proving the superiority of one's religion over others, it is fit to be discarded.....

Gandhiana-20: The march towards Truth

2010-03-31T17:37:00.003+05:30

In the march towards Truth, anger, selfishness, hatred etc. naturally give way; for otherwise, Truth would be impossible to attain. A man who is swayed by passions may have good enough intentions, may be truthful in word, but he will never find the Truth. A successful search for Truth means complete deliverance from the dual throng such as of love and hate, happiness and misery.

- An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth by Mahatmaji

Honours and Awards-5: Chennai-born Scientist Honored

2010-03-29T17:06:00.003+05:30

Hasan Suroor writes in The Hindu of March 27, 2010: "Chennai-born Shankar Balasubramanian of Cambridge University has been named Innovator of the Year by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), Britain's leading agency for academic research and training in non-clinical life sciences.

He has been awarded 10,000 Pounds in recognition of his work on Solexa sequencing, the high speed genome sequencing technology. The award, now in its second year, is meant to encourage research that has practical impact on quality of life.

...

Prof.Balasubramanian, whose parents moved to Britain a year after he was born, graduated in Natural Sciences from Cambridge University and went on to do a PhD. He worked with David Klenerman of the department of chemistry, to invent low-cost and high-speed genome sequencing technology.

Excerpt from The Hindu, Trichy, March 27, 2010.

For further details from BBSRC Websiste:
http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/media/releases/2010/100319-dna-sequencing-pioneer-innovator.aspx

Grateful thanks to Hasan Suroor, The Hindu and BBSRC.

Gandhiana-19: "Funds for Public Institutions"

2010-02-24T19:45:00.002+05:30

...My desire was to secure for the (Natal Indian) Congress a permanent fund, so that it might procure property of its own and then carry on its work out of the rent of the property. This was my first experience of managing a public institution. The property that was purchased was leased out, and the rent was enough to meet the current expenses of the Congress. The property was vested in a strong body of trustees and is still there today, but it has become the source of much internecine quarrelling with the result that the rent of the property now accumulates in the court.

This sad situation developed after my departure from South Africa, but my idea of having permanent funds for public institutions underwent a change long before this difference arose. And now after considerable experience with the many public institutions which I have managed, it has become my firm conviction that it is not good to run public institutions on permanent funds. A permanent fund carries in itself the seed of the moral fall of the institution. A public institution means an institution conducted with the approval, and, from the funds, of the public. When such an institution ceases to have public support, it forfeits its right to exist. Institutions maintained on permanent funds are often found to ignore public opinion, and are frequently responsible for acts contrary to it. In our country, we experience this at every step. Some of the so-called religious trusts have ceased to render any accounts. I have no doubt that the ideal is for public institutions to live, like nature, from day to day. The institution that fails to win public support has no right to exist as such. The subscriptions that an institution annually receives are a test of its popularity and the honesty of its management; and I am of opinion that every institution should submit to that test. But let no one misunderstand me. My remarks do not apply to the bodies which cannot. by their very nature, be conducted without without permanent buildings. What I mean to say is that the current expenditure should be found from subscriptions voluntarily received from year to year.

These views were confirmed during the days of the Satyagraha in South Africa. That magnificent campaign extending over six years was carried on without permanent funds, though lakhs of rupees were necessary for it. I can recollect times when I did not know what would happen the next day if no subscriptions came in. But I shall not anticipate future events.....

Excerpt from "An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth" by Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhiana-18:

2010-02-20T19:03:00.000+05:30

You must not lose faith in humanity. Humanity is an ocean; if a few drops of the ocean are dirty, the ocean does not become dirty - Mahatma Gandhi

Gandhiana-17: "Brahmacharya" (The Vow of Celibacy)

2010-02-19T17:33:00.004+05:30

After full discussion and mature deliberation I took the vow (of Brahmacharya) in 1906. I had not shared my thoughts with my wife until then, but only consutled her at the time of taking the vow. She had no objection. But I had great difficulty in making the final resolve. I had not the necessary strength. How was I to control my passions? The elimination of carnal relationship with one's wife seemed then a strange thing. But I launched forth with faith in the sustaining power of God.

As I look back upon the twenty years of the vow, I am filled with pleasure and wonderment. The more or less successful practice of self-control had been going on since 1901. But the freedom and joy that came to me after taking the vow had never been experienced before 1906. Before the vow I had been open to being overcome by temptation at any moment. Now the vow was a sure shield against temptation. The great potentiality of brahmacharya daily became more and more patent to me....

The knowledge that a perfect observance of brahmacharya means realization of brahman, I did not owe to a study of the Shastras. It slowly grew upon me with experience. The shastraic texts on the subject I read only later in life. Every day of the vow has taken me nearer the knowledge that in brahmacharya lies the protection of the body, the mind and the soul. For brahmacharya was now no process of hard penance, it was a matter of consolation and joy. Every day revealed a fresh beauty in it.

But if it was a matter of ever-increasing joy, let no one believe that it was an easy thing for me. Even when I am past fiftysix years, I realize how hard a thing it is. Every day I realize more and more that it is the walking on the sword's edge, and I see every moment the necessity for eternal vigilance.

Control of the palate is the first essential in the observance of the vow. I found that complete control of the palate made the observance very easy, and so I now pursued my dietetic experiments not merely from the vegetarian's but also from the brahmachari's point of view. As the result of these experiments I saw that the brahmachari's food should be limited, simple, spiceless, and, if possible, uncooked.

Six years of experiment have showed me that the brahmachari's ideal food is fresh fruit and nuts. The immunity from passion that I enjoyed when I lived on this food was unknown to me after I changed that diet. Brahmacharya needed no effort on my part in South Africa when I lived on fruits and nuts alone. It has been a matter of very great effort ever since I began to take milk. How I had to go back to milk from a fruit diet will be considered in its proper place. It is enough to observe here that I have not the least doubt that milk diet make the brahmacharya vow difficult to observe. Let no one deduce from this that all brahmacharis must give up milk. The effect on brahmacharya of different kinds of food can be determined only after numerous experiments. I have yet to find a fruit-substitute for milk which is an equally good muscle-builder and easily digestible. The doctors, vaidyas and hakims, have alike failed to enlighten me. Therefore, though I know milk to be partly a stimulant, I cannot, for the time being, advise anyone to give it up.

As an external aid to brahmacharya, fasting is as necessary as selection and restriction in diet. So overpowering are the senses that they can be kept under control only when they are completely hedged in all sides, from above and from beneath.... Fasting is useful, when mind co-operates with starving body, that is to say, when it cultivates a distaste for the objects that are denied to the body. Mind is at the root of all sensuality. Fasting, therefore, has a limited use, for a fasting man may continue to be swayed by passion. But it may be said that extinction of the sexual passion is as a rule impossible without fasting, which may be said to be indispensable for the observance of brahmacharya.

....

Brahmacharya means control of the senses in thought, word and deed. Every day I have been realizing more and more the necessity for restraints of the kind I have detailed above. There is no limit to possibilities of renunciation even as there is none to those of brahmacharya. Such brahmacharya is impossible of attainment by limited effort. For many, it must remain only as an ideal. An aspirant after brahmacharya will always be conscious of his shortcomings, will seek out the passions lingering in the innermost recesses of his heart and will incessantly strive to get rid of them. So long as thought is not under complete control of the will, brahmacharya in its fulness is absent. Involuntary thought is an affection of the mind, and curbing of thought, therefore, means curbing of the mind which is even more difficult to curb than the wind. Nevertheless the existence of God within makes even control of the mind possible. Let no one think that it is impossible because it is difficult. It is the highest goal, and it is no wonder that the highest effort should be necessary to attain it......

Excerpts from "AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY or THE STORY OF MY EXPERIMENTS WITH TRUTH" by Mahatma Gandhi.

Gandhiana-16: "Unity of Life"

2010-02-06T17:35:00.003+05:30

I do not want to live at the cost of the life even of a snake. I should let him bite me to death rather than kill him. But it is likely that if God puts me to that cruel test and permits a snake to assault me, I may not have the courage to die, but that the beast in me may assert itself and I may seek to kill the snake in defending this perishable body. I admit that my belief has not become so incarnate in me as to warrant my stating emphatically that I have shed all fear of snakes so as to befriend them as I would like to be able to. It is my implicit belief that snakes, tigers, etc are God's answer to the poisonous, wicked, evil thoughts we harbour.... I believe that all life is one. Thoughts take definite forms. Tigers and snakes have kinship with us. They are a warning to us to avoid harbouring evil, wicked, lustful thoughts. If I want to rid the earth of venomous beasts and reptiles, I must rid myself of all venomous thoughts. If in not seeking to defend myself against such noxious animals, I die, I should rise again a better and fuller man. With that faith in me how should I seek to kill a fellow being in a snake?

Gandhiji in Young India, April 14, 1927.

Inspiring Videos-4: "Tribute to Gandhiji"

2010-01-31T21:01:00.001+05:30

Grateful thanks to Viru3000 and YouTube.

Inspiring Videos-3: Remembering Gandhiji

2010-01-31T19:41:00.001+05:30

January 30 is Gandhi Memorial Day. To commemorate this, I have embedded an inspiring video for your kind perusal.

Grateful thanks to Mukesh Chawla and YouTube.

Inspiring Videos-2: "I have a dream" - Dr Martin Luther King, Jr

2010-01-19T09:38:00.002+05:30

Grateful thanks to 'superjsuh' and YouTube.

Milestones-10: January 12

2010-01-13T18:37:00.007+05:30

SWAMI VIVEKANANDA

Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 in Calcutta and attained mahasamadhi on July 4, 1902.

The Government of India in 1984 declared and decided to observe the Birthday of Swami Vivekananda as National Youth Day every year from 1985. It felt that the philosophy of Swami Vivekananda and the ideals for which he lived and worked could be a great source of inspiration for the Indian Youth.

To understand the impact of his powerful life, I am reproducing a passage from the wonderful book, "Eternal Values for A Changing Society" by Srimat Swami Ranganathanandaji Maharaj:

The Intensity of Vivekananda's Brief Life

"Swami Vivekananda's span of earthly life was hardly forty years, but within this short period, he lived an intense life, first as a student in school and college, then as the foremost disciple of his great Master, Sri Ramakrishna, then as a wanderer across the length and breadth of India, and lastly as the spiritual teacher of West and East. His public teaching commenced with his speeches at the World's Parliament of Religions at Chicago in 1893; and he passed away on 4 July 1902. He spent four intense years in the United States and England, and five equally intense years in India delivering his message of a universal and practical spirituality, and setting in motion a movement as an effective conduit for the furtherance of his message.

Everywhere, he taught man to realize his divine heritage. The innate divinity of man was the constant theme of his teachings. This teaching cuts across all divisions based on political or religious affiliations. Its assimilation by man will make for a character at once deep and broad. He held that spirituality was the core of every religion; dogmatic exclusiveness and intolerance are no part of true religion. The more spiritual a man, the more universal he is. He held that the modern age stood in urgent need of this education from religion, by which men will learn to make their love of God flow into the love and service of all men. He worked hard to give this spiritual orientation to the world's religions, so that they may be transformed into wholly constructive forces and become capable of redeeming modern man from his inner impoverishment in the context of external enrichment".

For further reading:

Biography of Swami Vivekananda from Vivekananda Vedanta Network:
http://www.vivekananda.org/biography.asp

Swami Vivekananda: Life and Teachings from Belurmath.org:
http://www.belurmath.org/swamivivekananda.htm

Swami Vivekananda, an article from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda

National Youth Day from Belurmath.org:
http://www.belurmath.org/national_youth_day.htm

Full text of the book, Vivekananda, A Biography by Swami Nikhilananda:
http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda_biography/vivekananda_biography.htm

Reminiscences of Swami Vivekananda:
http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/reminiscences/reminiscences_of_sv.htm

Full Text of the Complete Works of Swami Vivekananda (9 Volumes):
http://www.ramakrishnavivekananda.info/vivekananda/complete_works.htm

Grateful thanks to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; Ramakrishna Math and Ramakrishna Mission, Belur Math; Advaita Ashrama; Ramakrishna Vivekananda.info and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Gandhiana-15: "Gandhiji and Smoking"

2010-01-10T20:28:00.002+05:30

...
A relative and I became fond of smoking. Not that we saw any good in smoking, or were enamoured of the smell of a cigarette. We simply imagined a sort of pleasure in emitting clouds of smoke from our mouths. My uncle had the habit and when we saw him smoking, we thought we should copy his example. But we had no money. So we began pilfering stumps of cigarettes thrown away by my uncle.

The stumps, however, were not always available, and could not emit much smoke either. So we began to steal coppers from the servant's pocket money in order to purchase Indian cigarettes. But the question was where to keep them. We could not of course smoke in the presence of elders. We managed somehow for a few weeks on these stolen coppers. In the meantime, we heard that the stalks of a certain plant were porous and could be smoked like cigarette. We got them and began this kind of smoking.

But we were far from being satisfied with such things as these. Our want of independence began to smart. It was unbearable that we should be unable to do anything without the elders' permission. At last, in sheer disgust, we decided to commit suicide!

But how were we to do it? From where were we to get the poison? We heard that Dhatura seeds were an effective poison. Off we went to the jungle in search of these seeds, and got them. Evening was thought to be the auspicious hour. We went to Kedarji Mandir, put ghee in the temple-lamp, had the darshan and then looked for a lonely corner. But our courage failed us. Supposing we were not instantly killed? And what was the good of killing ourselves? Why not rather put up with the lack of independence? But we swallowed two or three seeds nevertheless. We dared not take more. Both of us fought shy of death, and decided to go to Ramji Mandir to compose ourselves, and to dismiss the thought of suicide.

I realized that it was not as easy to commit suicide as to contemplate it. And since then, whenever I have heard of someone threatening to commit suicide, it has had little or no effect on me.

The thought of suicide ultimately resulted in both of us bidding good-bye to the habit of smoking stumps of cigarettes and of stealing the servant's coppers for the purpose of smoking.

Ever since I have grown up, I have never desired to smoke and have always regarded the habit of smoking as barbarous, dirty and harmful. I have never understood why there is such a rage for smoking throughout the world. I cannot bear to travel in a compartment full of people smoking. I become choked.
.....

Excerpt from 'An Autobiography or The Story of My Experiments with Truth' by Mahatma Gandhi.

Inspiring Lives-45: "A Mother's Promise: Barack Obama's Biography"

2010-01-10T09:23:00.002+05:30

Grateful thanks to 'BarakcObamadotcom', Barack Obama and YouTube.

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T06:19:00.001+05:30

Wish You All

a Happy, Prosperous and Purposeful 2010!

- Suri

Role Models-6:

2009-12-23T19:12:00.002+05:30

Role models are important to bring about big and lasting changes. Most societies have progressed because they have had generations of role models who demonstrated good behaviour and discipline - 'Infosys' N.R. Narayana Murty

Gandhiana-14:

2009-12-23T19:11:00.002+05:30

Secularism is equal respect, not equal disrespect, for all religions - Gandhiji

Gandhiana-13:

2009-12-13T09:28:00.001+05:30

Create - always create; to create is noble, uplifting, inspiring; but the moment you seek to gratify the senses by merely enjoying the creative powers you begin to cheat creation and to destroy all those higher spiritual forces within you. It can end only in disappointment.

Gandhiana-12:

2009-12-10T13:12:00.000+05:30

Mankind is notoriously too dense to read the signs that God sends from time to time. We require drums to be beaten into our ears, before we should wake from our trance and hear the warning and see that to lose oneself in all, is the only way to find oneself.

Milestones-9: November 30, 09

2009-12-01T05:58:00.009+05:30

Winston Churchill

A colorful and interesting personality. I have heard (mostly from my father) and read a lot about him. I recall whatever I could remember now and record them, with a little brush-up from Wikipedia and other sources from the Net.

Two-term Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, who lead his country to victory in World War II. He occupied several other important positions in the British Govt like Home Secretary, Chancellor of the Exchequer and First Lord of the Admiralty. He was born on November 30, 1874 and he died on January 25, 1964 at the ripe old age of 90. He was a scion of a noble family with anscestors like the Duke of Marlborough and their ancestral home was the Blenheim Palace.

He was an imperialist through and through. My dad was an admirer of him. I heard many interesting things about him. Only later I read about him and had some of his famous books in my possession and read a few of them like Great Contemporaries, The River War, A History of the English Speaking Peoples and a few volumes of his Second World War series.

He vehemently opposed the appeasement policy of Asquith and I remember his famous quote: "An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile, knowing that it will eat him last". That is what exactly Hitler would have done. You cannot compromise with evil. Your duty is to fight it.

Then his famous quotes about Dunkirk, where Britain escaped from near catastrophe. "Never in the history of mankind, so many owe to so few" and "You cannot win a war by evacuation."

When he assumed office of the Prime Minister during World War II, he promised his people: "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat"

The surprise of surprise was immediately after leading his country to victory in WW II, his party lost the election and Clement Attlee succeeded him as Prime Minister, but for which India's Independence might have been delayed. For, Churchill was not for granting independence to India.

However, after India's independence, accepting political realities and realizing the importance of India in Asia, he wanted to have India on their side. He praised Jawaharlal Nehru as the Light of Asia.

Towards the end of his life, probably there was an offer for lordship and he toyed with the idea of the title, "Lord London" but his son, Randolph Churchill, successfully dissuaded him.

Also I remember his visit to USA during World War II and some well-known anecdotes:

Referring to Hitler's threat that he would wring Great Britain like a chicken, Churchill said using Americanism: "Some chicken, some neck".

Churchill was staying as a guest of President Roosevelt in USA. Roosevelt once entered his room and was embarrassed to find Churchill naked/semi-naked (probably after a bath). Churchill made it easy for Roosevelt by joking that "Britain has nothing hide from the USA".

He was a prolific writer and his books were read avidly. It was said that his publishers paid him on per word basis. His books fetched him Nobel Prize for Literature.

A stutter in early youth. He overcame this handicap and became a famous orator. He had a great command over the English language and could sway people by his speech. Once in Parliament the opposition members levelled many charges and allegations against him to which his simple reply was: "All of them were "terminological inexactitudes". Nobody could immediately follow what that meant. Had he openly said "they were all lies", there would have been a great uproar.

If you surf the Net, you will find a lot of interesting anecdotes about him, in addition to his famous quotes.

For a detailed article on Churchill from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winston_Churchill

His speeches and podcasts from Historical Podcasts:
http://historicalpodcasts.googlepages.com/winstonchurchill

The Churchill Centre and Museum's Website:
http://www.winstonchurchill.org/

Grateful thanks to Historical Podcasts, Churchill Centre and Museum and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Gandhiana-11:

2009-11-19T20:11:00.002+05:30

The outstanding impression my mother has left on my memory is that of saintliness. She was deeply religious. She would not think of taking her meals without her daily prayers. Going to Haveli - the Vaishnava temple - was one of her daily duties. As far as my memory can go back, I do not remember her having ever missed the Chaturmas (Literally, a period of four months. A vow of fasting and semi-fasting during the four months of the rains. The period is a sort of long Lent). She would take the hardest vows and keep them without flinching. Illness was no excuse for relaxing them. I can recall her once falling ill when she was observing the Chandrayana vow (A sort of fast in which the daily quantity of food is increased or diminished according as the moon waxes or wanes), but the illness was not allowed to interrupt the observance. To keep two or three consecutive fasts was nothing to her. Living on one meal a day during Chaturmas was a habit with her. Not content with that she fasted every alternate day during one Chaturmas. During another Chaturmas she vowed not to have food without seeing the sun. We children on those days would stand, staring at the sky, waiting to announce the appearance of the sun to our mother. Everyone knows that at the height of the rainy season the sun often does not condescend to show his face. And I remember days when, at his sudden appearance, we would rush and announce it to her. She would run out to see with her own eyes, but by that time the fugitive sun would be gone, thus depriving her of her meal. "That does not matter," she would say cheerfully, "God did not want me to eat today." And then she wold return to her round of duties.

Excerpted from "My Experiments with Truth" - the Autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi.

Milestones-8: November 5

2009-11-05T06:19:00.007+05:30

1. WILL DURANT
-------------------------
Will Durant, the great writer, historian and philosopher. was born on this day in 1885 in Massachusetts, USA and passed away on November 7, 1981 at the ripe old age of 96.

I am a great admirer of his books. I have read about Will Durant and his famous 11-volume 'The Story of Civilization'. I even had the opportunity to glance through them at the Madurai Kamaraj University Library during one of my visits about 20 years ago. As the books were in the Reference Section, I could not borrow them though I had six borrower's cards with me.

Then during a visit to Coimbatore, I saw his 'The Story of Philosophy' (paperback edition)with a platform seller and bought it at once at the unbelievably cheap price of Rs.60/- on August 15, 2000. Though I started reading it immediately, due to some reason or the other I could not continue; to crown it, I misplaced it somewhere. Then during June 2003, while I was searching for something, I found it! I was so happy and decided to complete the reading.

One would think a book about philosophy would make very difficult reading. Not this book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. Only I could not just finish in two or three days like a novel. I had to savour every little passage, and as a result, I could complete its reading only on June 29, 2003. (Sometimes I have this habit of recording in the books I buy, the date and place of purchase and price so also when I completed their reading, I would record that date. That is how I am able to furnish all the dates mentioned above.

'The Story of Philosophy' is a great book; a wonderful book and a memorable one too. I still keep it on my desk with the idea of reading it again.

Then there was another book he wrote with his betterhalf, Ariel Durant, which I borrowed from the Madurai Kamaraj University Library and read avidly. It was about Literature, English and European. They had made a study of great writers and their works. Unfortunately, I do not remember the title of the book and also not able to locate it in the Net.

My dream is to read the 11-volume tome of his 'The Story of Civilization' and write about it in my blog, before I die. So help me God!

For a detailed article on Will Durant from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will_Durant

For more info about Will Durant from Will Durant Foundation:
http://www.willdurant.com/home.html

2. J.B.S.HALDANE
-----------------------------
Renowned Biologist, J.B.S.Haldane, was born on this day in 1892 in Oxford, England, and passed away on December 1, 1964 at the age of 72 in Bhubaneshwar, India.

He is a pioneer geneticist. He had radical political views, admiring Marxism, supporting Stalin and joining the Communist Party. Finally, disillusioned he left the party. He spent his final years in India, passed away there.

For a detailed article on JBS Haldane:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._B._S._Haldane

Grateful thanks to Will Durant Foundation and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Milestones-7: November 4

2009-11-04T06:22:00.003+05:30

SHAKUNTALA DEVI
------------------------------

Calculating prodigy from Bangalore, India, Shakuntala Devi, was born on this day in 1939. Her feats got into the Guinness Book of Records. She has written several books on Puzzles and Numbers.

She lives in Bangalore, India and we wish her a Happy Birthday.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakuntala_Devi

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Milestones-6: November 3

2009-11-03T06:33:00.005+05:30

1. AMARTYA SEN
-----------------------------
Nobel-prize winning Indian economist, Amartya Sen, was born on this day in 1933. He is an Economics Professor at Harvard University and a Fellow of the Trinity College, Cambridge. He has received more than 80 honorary doctorates. His books have been translated into 30 languages. He was awarded 'Bharat Ratna' (the highest civilian award in India) in 1999.

His famous books include 'The Argumentative Indian' and 'The Idea of Justice'.

Professor Sen, who is now 76, lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts and spends the winter in Shantiniketan, West Bengal, his birthplace. (He was named 'Amartya' by Rabindranath Tagore, which means 'immortal'. )

For more details, his autobiography in Nobel.org:
http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/economics/laureates/1998/sen-autobio.html

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amartya_Sen

2. ANDRE MALRAUX
--------------------------------
French writer, adventurer and statesman was born on this day in 1901 and he died at the age of 75 on November 23, 1976.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andr%C3%A9_Malraux

For another detailed article:
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/malraux.htm

3. BENVENUTO CELLINI
------------------------------------
Italian sculptor, painter and musician, Benvenuto Cellini, was born on this day in 1500 and he passed away at the age of 70 on February 13, 1571.

I have a copy of his famous autobiography, which I am sorry to say, I am yet to read. The full-text of his famous autobiography is available at Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext03/7clln10h.htm

For a detailed article on Cellini from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benvenuto_Cellini

Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg, Nobel.org, www.kirjasto.sci.fi and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Milestones-5: November 2

2009-11-02T06:14:00.004+05:30

1. GEORGE BOOLE
---------------------------------

British mathematician and Father of Computer Science, George Boole, was born on November 2, 1815. Digital computer's logic is based on Boolean Algebra. He was a Professor of Mathematics at Queen's College, Cork, Ireland. He was a modest man devoted to intellectual pursuit and was well esteemed by his colleagues.

Boolean Algebra would have remained obscure but for Claude Shannon who took it for his master's thesis at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and showed to the world the application of Boolean Algebra to digital circuits.

His college honoured him by naming its Library and its Centre for Informatics Research after him. A crater on the moon is named after him.

He died of fever on December 8, 1864 at the age of 49.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Boole

2. MAHENDRALAL SARKAR
----------------------------------------------
Father of Indian Homeopathy and Founder of the Indian Association for Cultivation of Science(IACS), Mahendralal Sarkar, was born on November 2, 1833 in Paikpara, Bengal. He was also a social reformer.

He provided homeopathic treatment to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa during his last days for his throat cancer. He became an admirer of his patient, though he did not accept him as an incarnation of God as a man of science. I have come across many references to him in the Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna. Further, during homeopathy classes, I learnt more about him and his conversion from allopathy to homeopathy as a seeker of truth. He openly proclaimed at a meeting of the British Medical Association the superiority of Homeopathy.

It was at the IACS founded by Sarkar, C.V.Raman carried out his research which culminated in his winning the Nobel Prize for Physics. Raman was Honorary Secretary of IACS.

He passed away in Kolkatta on February 23, 1904 at the age of 70.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahendralal_Sarkar

3. JAMES THURBER
-----------------------------------
Popular American Writer and Cartoonist, James Thurber, died on this day in 1961 at the age of 66.

In my youth, I have enjoyed reading his famous book, 'Three Men in a Boat".

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Thurber

4. SHAHRUKH KHAN
-------------------------------------
Famous Hindi film Hero, Shahrukh Khan, was born on this day in 1965 in New Delhi.

I have seen some of his films and thoroughly enjoyed them. He is natural actor, easily captivating the audience. I have seen his films, 'Dil To Pagal Hai', 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai', 'Devdas' and 'Kal Ho Naa Ho'. He has also produced films like 'Asoka' and 'Chalte Chalte'. Before entering films, he was a popular TV actor. He has won the coveted Filmfare Award for Best Acting seven times and probably win some more.

He has a large number of fans not only in India but in other countries also.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shahrukh_Khan

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Milestones-4: November 1

2009-11-01T06:16:00.005+05:30

EZRA POUND
------------------
American poet and critic, Ezra Pound passed away on this day in 1972 at the age of 87. He was considered to be the center of the Modernism movement and had great influence on poets like T.S.Eliot, Yeats and Joyce. His epic poem, 'The Cantos' is considered to be his major work.

During World War II, he openly opposed the involvement of America in the war and made radio broadcasts and wrote articles in support of Fascism. After the war, he was arrested and interned in a detention camp in Pisa. There he wrote the 'Pisan Cantos'. Then deported to USA, where he was tried for treason; however, as considered insane, he was put in a mental asylum and spent twelve years there. By the efforts of his fellow poets, especially Robert Frost, he was finally released and returned to Italy, where he finally passed away in Venice, Italy and is buried there.

Hugh Kenner published a book entitled, 'The Poetry of Ezra Pound' in 1951, which rekindled interest in the work of Pound.

For a detailed article on Pound from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ezra_Pound

For life and works of Ezra Pound from Modern American Poetry:
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/m_r/pound/pound.htm

For readings of Ezra Pound's 'Cathay' with Full-text:
http://paintedricecakes.org/languagearts/poetry/cathay_pound.html

Grateful thanks to 'Modern American Poetry', 'Painted Rice Cakes' and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Milestones-3: October 31, 2009

2009-10-31T12:30:00.011+05:30

October 31. Today morning I looked up Wikipedia to know about the milestones of the day. Wikipedia had a lot to say about Oct 31. But I chose only the names known to me and thought I would reminisce about them.

1. SARDAR VALLABHAI PATEL
------------------------------------------------
First comes Sardar Vallabhai Patel, the Iron Man of India, who prevented India from going to pieces immediately after Independence. Unifying and Integrating India was his greatest achievement. Thinking of the India of today, I wish he were there. Selfish politicians have encouraged fissiparous tendencies for their own selfish interest. We don't know how long India will hold together. What is there to stop India going the USSR way?

The great Sardwar was born on this day in 1875 and passed away on December 15, 1950 at the age of 75. Like Gandhiji, he hailed from Gujarat.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vallabhbhai_Patel

For another article from PIB, the Govt of India's portal:
http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr98/fe1098/f1510981.html

2. INDIRA GANDHI
---------------------------------
She was Prime Minister of India for 15 years, till she was assassinated on this day in 1984 at the age of 66.

Bold, strong-willed, she stood up to the male politicians and showed the world her capabilities. My grievance is she did not bother about ways and means, which has resulted in damaging the democracy carefully built up by people like her father, Jawaharlal Nehru and Vallabhai Patel. She paved the way for hereditary rule at the centre and in the states.

She visited India and her helicopter landed in our office campus. She also delivered a talk to the staff members of our organisation. This was the only occasion when I could see her in person.

For a detailed article on Indira Gandhi from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Gandhi

For an article about her assassination from the New York Times:
http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/bday/1119.html

3. SWAMI DAYANANDA SARASWATI
--------------------------------------------------------
One of the great spiritual leaders of India and founder of the Arya Samaj. According to Wikipedia, he was the first to give the call for Swarajya in 1876. He championed equal rights for women and supported educating women of India. He translated the scriptures from Sanskrit to Hindi so that the masses can read them.

According to Wikipedia, he was poisoned to death on this day in 1883 at the age of 59. It was Diwali. He magnanimously forgave the man who poisoned him and helped him to escape the wrath of the king.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Dayananda_Saraswati

4. JOHN KEATS
-----------------------------
The famous English poet was born on this day in 1795 and passed away on February 23, 1821 at the young age of 25. He was one of the heroic figures of Romanticism along with Byron and Shelley. Tennyson and Wilfred Owen were influenced by his works.

I studied his poem, 'On his first looking into Chapman's Homer', as a prescribed text in college. Later I also read his 'To Autumn' and "Ode to a Nightingale'.

For reading a detailed article on Keats from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Keats

For reading his poems from Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/etext05/pkt1710h.htm
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/23684/23684-h/23684-h.htm

For a List of Poems by Keats from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Poems_by_John_Keats

5. CHIANG KAI-SHEK
-----------------------------------
One of the powerful leaders of Kuomintang and an associate of Sun Yat-sen, father of Nationalist China, was born on this day. He was the first and third Chairman of the Nationalist Govt of China. He fought a long-standing war with Mao's communists and retreated to Taiwan, which he ruled with an iron-hand.

He passed at Taipei, Taiwan, on April 5, 1975 at the age of 87.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiang_Kai-shek

6. SEMMANGUDI SRINIVASA IYER
-----------------------------------------------------
The great legendary Carnatic vocalist, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, passed away on this day in 2003 at the ripe age of 95. He received many honours and accolades like 'Padma Bhushan', 'Padma Vibhushan', 'Sangeetha Kalanidhi', 'Isai Perarignar' and 'Kalidas Samman'. He was considered as the grand-sire of Carnatic music.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semmangudi_Srinivasa_Iyer

For his interview which appeared in 'Frontline' of Oct.24-Nov.6, 1998:
http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1522/15220650.htm

7. SACHIN DEV BURMAN
---------------------------------------
Popular Hindi Film Music director, singer and father of Rahul Dev Burman (equally famous as a composer of Bollywood) passed away on this day in 1975 at the age of 69.

I have enjoyed some of his beautiful songs from films like 'Tere Mere Sapne', 'Guide', 'Abhimaan', 'Aradhana', 'Sharmilee', 'Jewel Thief' and many more. Some of the films I have seen just for the sake of his songs.

He has won several national awards and the Filmfare award several times. He was awarded 'Padma Sri' in 1969.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SD_Burman

8. HARRY HOUDINI
-----------------------
Magic shows have a charm not only for children. Hungarian, Harry Houdini was the greatest magician the world has seen. He was a skeptic and did not believe in the supernatural.

It is said that he died when a student delivered several blows to his abdomen when he was reclining without allowing him to prepare himself for it. As a result of this, he died of peritonitis on this day in 1926.

For a detailed article from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Houdini

Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg, PIB, Govt of India, 'Frontline' and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
==========================================

Milestones-2: October 25

2009-10-25T06:49:00.006+05:30

1. PABLO PICASSO:
--------------------------------
October 25 is the birthday of Pablo Picasso, the Spanish painter and sculptor; a giant of a creative genius in the world of art. He was born on October 25, 1881 in Malaga, Spain and passed away at the age of 91 on April 8, 1972 at Mougins, France.
To read a full article about Picasso from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pablo_Picasso

2. GEOFFREY CHAUCER:
-----------------------------------------
Geoffrey Chaucer, English poet and author of The Canterbury Tales passed away on October 25, 1400 at the age of 56.
To read a full article about Chaucer:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Chaucer

To read Chaucer's Canterbury Tales and Other Poems in Project Gutenberg:
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/2383/pg2383.html

3. EVANGELISTA TORRICELLI:
-----------------------------------------------
Torricelli, the Italian mathematician and physicist and inventor of mercurial barometer and Torricelli's Law, passed away on October 25, 1647 at the young age of 39.
To read more about him in Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evangelista_Torricelli

Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
=====================================

Reminiscences-2: "Dr Deepak Chopra"

2009-10-22T15:19:00.011+05:30

Today is October 22, the 63rd birthday of the renowned endocrinologist, popular speaker and author of many bestselling books, Dr.Deepak Chopra. I am a great admirer of Dr Deepak Chopra and like him, an enthusiast of alternative medicine.

First of all, let me convey my hearty greetings to Dr Deepak Chopra: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your, Sir! May God grant you a long, happy and purposeful life!!

My introduction to Dr Deepak Chopra was through my friend, Professor S.Raghunathan, who was the Director of Computer Center, Alagappa University for a time. He told me about him and lent me his best-selling book, 'Quantum Healing'. It is a memorable and wonderful book, which I loved. I read the book through at one stretch and thereafter, started taking notes. Reading the book was all right, but taking notes proved to be very difficult. For it nearly amounted to copying the entire book! The book is studded with gems through and through , especially for people like me, who are deeply involved in Homeopathy. It helped me to gain a lot of insight into Homeopathy, though Dr Chopra himself has been an admirer of Ayurveda.

Later whenever I saw a secondhand bookshop, I would enquire whether they had any book by Dr Chopra. Thus I started my own collection of his books (Quantum Healing, Unconditional Life, Ageless Body and Timeless Mind and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success and started reading them one by one. With every book, my admiration for him started growing.

Then thanks to YouTube, I started hearing his famous video interviews and talks: The 30-part video talk on Quantum Healing the 11-part Quantum Health; Jesus: Story of Enlightenment; His interviews with Richard Dawkins and Alan Steinfeld ; and many more (which I have embedded in my video page at Orkut for the benefit of my friends). Watching them was an enlightening experience.

He has written more than 45 books and has won many awards and accolades. His latest book is "Reinventing the Body, Resurrecting the Soul".

The Chopra Center for Wellbeing was opened at Carsbad, California, in 1996 by Drs.Deepak Chopra and David Simon to help people experience physical healing, emotional freedom, and higher states of consciousness. It offers a wide variety of programs, retreats, and teacher training programs that integrate the healing arts of the East with the best in modern Western medicine. Its goal is to guide people about healing principles that they can use to nurture their own health, restore balance, and create greater joy and fulfillment in their lives.

Chopra Centre's official site:
http://www.chopra.com/

Then there is THE CHOPRA FOUNDATION dedicated to improving health and well-being, cultivating spiritual knowledge, expanding consciousness, and promoting world peace. Its mission is to advance the cause of mind/body spiritual healing, education, and research through fundraising for selected projects.

Dr Deepak Chopra's official website:
http://deepakchopra.com/

In the above site, the most interesting feature his answers to our questions. Some regular features include: 'Ask Deepak', 'I am currently reading...', 'Daily Inspiration', 'Upcoming Events'.

For a detailed article on Dr Deepak Chopra from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deepak_Chopra

Kindest regards to Dr Deepak Chopra and Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Diwali Greetings!

2009-10-17T08:07:00.001+05:30

HAPPY DIWALI TO ALL OF YOU!

With Love

Suri

Gandhiana-10:

2009-10-15T20:32:00.002+05:30

Himself love-incarnate, Gandhiji has shown by his own example how to achieve victory over the forces of darkness and destruction, and convert even the so-called enemies into friends by power of love and by suffering in one's own person. Jesus' suffering had always drawn his deepest admiration, and he, too, walked the same thorny path for redeeming the humanity of its sins and sorrows.

Excerpt from the Preface by Anand T.Hingorani to the book "The Law of Love", a compilation from Gandhiji's writings. Published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai.

Gandhiana-9:

2009-10-02T21:38:00.003+05:30

A very touching incident from Gandhiji's life (Reproduced from the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol.1):

When Gandhiji was 15, he had removed a bit of gold from his brother’s armlet to clear a small debt of the latter. He felt so mortified about his act that he decided to make a confession to his father. Parental forgiveness was granted to him in the form of silent tears. The incident left a lasting mark on his mind. In his own words, it was an object-lesson to him in the power of ahimsa.

The original not being available; his own report of it, as found in An Autobiography, is reproduced here:

"I wrote it on a slip of paper and handed it to him myself. In this note not only did I confess my guilt, but I asked adequate punishment for it, and closed with a request to him not to punish himself for my offence. I also pledged myself never to steal in future."

According to Mahatma Gandhi : The Early Phase, p. 212, one of the sentences in the confession was : “So, father, your son is now, in your eyes, no better than a common thief.”

Video Biographies-5:

2009-09-23T12:03:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to Chuck Vogan and YouTube.

Milestones-1: "Senator Edward Kennedy dies of cancer"

2009-09-15T08:27:00.003+05:30

1. The death of John F.Kennedy's last surviving brother signals the end of an era that held sway from the early 1960s. Edward Kennedy lived in the shadow of his more famous brothers in the formative years of his political life and carried on their legacy admirably over the next three decades. Championing the cause of health care, civil rights and world peace. Senator Kennedy won a place in the hearts of thousands of Americans and left an indelible mark on American politics. - Harisankar Kurup, Secunderabad.

2. John Kennedy, the liberal-minded President, and, later, his brother Robert, died young. The mantle fell on Ted Kennedy to carry their legacy forward. And what a signal contribution he went on to make to health care, civil rights and social justice! To cap it all, he used his political stature to get the first African-American U.S.President elected - in a fitting tribute to the Kennedy legacy. - R.Narayanan, Ghaziabad.

3. As a Senator for nearly half a century, Ted Kennedy's was the most prominent voice in the U.S. that spoke for the disadvantaged. He was the undisputed champion of equal rights for the working class. He was a man of peace. Besides opposing the Vietnam War, he played a crucial role in resolving the conflict in Northern Ireland by helping to bring about the Good Friday agreement. - Ramesh G.Jethwani, Bangalore.

From 'Letters to the Editor, The Hindu, August 29, 2009.
Grateful thanks to M/s.Harisankar Kurup, R.Narayanan, Ramesh G.Jethwani and The Hindu.

Video Songs-1: "OBAMA SONG OFFICIAL VIDEO - Michael Franti and Spearhead"

2009-09-14T17:34:00.001+05:30

Grateful thanks to Michael Franti and Spearhead, 'Violinsand' and YouTube.

Video Biographies-4: "Mother Teresa"

2009-09-05T07:05:00.002+05:30

A brief biography/profile of Mother Teresa from http://WatchMojo.com/ in their 'Women with Mojo Series'.

A detailed biography of Mother Teresa from Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mother_Teresa

Grateful thanks to WatchMojo, YouTube and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Gandhiana-8: "Einstein on Gandhiji"

2009-09-04T08:06:00.000+05:30

Grateful thanks to YouTube.

Gandhiana-7: "God is Truth, Life, Light, Love and the Supreme Good"

2009-09-02T11:31:00.002+05:30

Grateful thanks to YouTube.

Gandhiana-6: "A Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi" by Satish Kumar

2009-09-01T07:44:00.003+05:30

Resurgence editor and ecologist Satish Kumar emphasises the importance and relevance of Gandhi's message of non-violence.

Grateful thanks to Mr.Satish Kumar and YouTube.

Gandhiana-5: "His Triumph changed the World Forever"

2009-08-29T08:58:00.001+05:30

Video Biographies-2: "Bill Gates"

2009-08-27T11:44:00.004+05:30

This is a documentary from biography channel about Bill Gates biography.

For a detailed article on Bill Gates from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates

Grateful thanks to Bill Gates, YouTube and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

Gandhiana-4: "Nehru on Gandhiji"

2009-08-24T07:34:00.004+05:30

What was his great power over the mind and heart of man due to? Ages to come will judge and we are too near him to assess the many facets of his extraordinarily rich personality. But even we realize that the dominating passion of his life was TRUTH. That truth led him to proclaim without ceasing that good ends can never be attained by evil methods, that the end itself is distorted if the method pursued is bad. That truth led him to confess publicly whenever he thought he had made a mistake - Himalayan errors he called some of his own mistakes. That truth led him to fight evil and untruth wherever he found them regardless of the consequences. That truth made he service of the poor and the dispossessed the passion of his life, for where there is inequality and discrimination and suppression, there is injustice and evil and untruth. And thus he became the beloved of all those who have suffered from social and political evils, and the great representative of humanity as it should be. Because of that truth in him, wherever he sat became a temple and where he trod was hallowed ground. - Jawaharlal Nehru

Video Biographies-1: "Tony Robbins Biography"

2009-08-21T10:43:00.015+05:30

Listening to the 5-part biography of Anthony Robbins was a wonderful and inspiring experience. It made me so happy and I found myself shouting, jumping and dancing like a child while listening. The whole day I was full of energy and enthusiasm and was doing things which I have been postponing for long. It had a tonic effect on me.

Incidentally, I am already an admirer of Tony Robbins having read some of his great books like 'Unlimited Power' and 'Notes from a Friend' and have actually benefited by them.

People listen to his talks and attend his workshops with great interest. This personal development guru, behaviorist and highly successful writer of many best-sellers, who has popularized NLP (Neuro-Linguistic Programming), is really a great and inspiring person.

I thought I should share this interesting video with others. Hence I am embedding this in my blog and hope whoever visits my blog, plays the video and listens to the presentation and benefit by it.

To learn more about Tony Robbins, a detailed article on him from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Robbins

I am grateful to Anthony Robbins, Biography.com, YouTube and Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia.

In the News-9: "Pop Icon Michael Jackson dies"

2009-06-26T16:49:00.005+05:30

The King of Pop died of cardiac arrest, reports say, which is a great shock to all his fans throughout the world. Wikipedia reports that at the time of death, he was scheduled to 50 concerts from July 2009 to March 2010, tickets for all of them already sold out.

Like most celebrities, Jackson was also hounded by the media and some of his mad followers. One is reminded of Elvis Presley, who also rose to the height of fame and fortune and died an untimely death. Probably they both had problem in coming to terms with their name and fame.

In fact, there is another link between the two of them. Jackson was married to a daughter of Elvis Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, who was a singer and song-writer. But the marriage failed within two years. Jackson had to go through many difficulties like accusations of child molestation, drug addiction etc.

One could only feel sorry for both of them for they definitely had their unique talent. May their souls rest in peace!

For detailed Wikipedia article on Michael Jackson:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson#2009:_Death

For detailed Wikipedia article on Elvis Presley:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvis_Presley

Grateful thanks to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Honours and Awards-4: "Kalam Honoured!"

2009-06-12T13:52:00.003+05:30

Dr A.P.J.Abdul Kalam has been awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws by Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland for his distinguished public service. At the honouring ceremony, the University's Vice-Chancellor, Dr Peter Gregson described Dr.Kalam as an outstanding world statesman, scientist, educator and visionary who had inspired millions in India and around the world.

In his reply, Dr Kalam called for pooling global resources for common good. He said that in today's borderless world, countries could not afford to remain isolated as problems affecting one country had implications for others also.

Dr Kalam said that he had noticed anxiety among youth on how to deal with a world devastated by conflict. But he expressed the belief that youth could do it. He called for imaginative leadership to bring people together and build a peaceful world.

Source: "You can do it, Kalam tells youth" by Special Correspondent, The Hindu, June 12, 2009.

Grateful thanks to The Hindu, India's National Newspaper.

Reminiscences-1: "Rabindranath Tagore"

2009-05-07T07:36:00.005+05:30

What Rabindranath Tagore, Joseph Broz Tito, Gary Cooper, Ruth Prawer Jhabvala and Eva Peron have in common? Well, they were all on born May 7; of course, the years are different. On this 7th day of May, I chose to reminisce about one of them, viz., Rabindranath Tagore.

My first introduction was to his novel, The Wreck. It was an abridged version meant for pre-university-level students. Somehow a copy came into my possession and loved it. Later I also saw a Tamil movie, based on that novel. I learn that the novel has been filmed into other languages like Hindi also. Much later, I borrowed a copy of Tagore’s “Gora” from the local library. I was fascinated by the novel. Later when I saw it displayed on a platform for sale, I jumped at the chance. So I possessed a copy of it also and could read it again. I remember to have underlined the lines most appealed to me. The journal in which I had jotted down has disappeared. Most of the quotes have disappeared from my memory. I remember at least one quote to the effect: "He who does not fight evil is also a wrong-dower; for it is he who is the cause of all evil in the world."

In my office, a few famous lines from Tagore’s Gitanjali and displayed prominently at the entrance, which I liked very much. They are:

Where the mind is without fear and the head is held high;
Where knowledge is free;
Where the world has not been broken up into fragments by narrow domestic walls; Where words come out from the depth of truth;
Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection;
Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way into the dreary desert sand of dead habit;
Where the mind is led forward by thee into ever-widening thought and action--
Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

Beautiful lines.

On browsing I find, Project Gutenberg has many books of Tagore (full text). I am glad to furnish for the benefit of my visitors; they are as follows:

Tagore, Rabindranath, 1861-1941
http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/t#a942

* Wikipedia
* Chitra, a play in one act (English)
* Creative Unity (English)
* The Crescent Moon (English) (as Translator)
* The Cycle of Spring (English)
* Fruit-Gathering (English)
* The Fugitive (English)
* The Gardener (English)
* Gitanjali (English)
* Glimpses of Bengal - Selected from the Letters of Sir Rabindranath Tagore (English)
* The Home and the World (English)
* The Hungry Stones and Other Stories (English)
* The King of the Dark Chamber (English)
* My Reminiscences (English)
* The Post Office (English)
* Sadhana : the realisation of life (English)
* Sadhana, the Realisation of Life (English)
* Songs of Kabir (English) (as Translator)
* Stray Birds (English)

In our Literary Study Circle at Karaikudi (which is defunct now), at one meeting Tagore’s short story, Post Office, was discussed. Prof.Palani Raghuladasan who initiated the discussion. I could feel how much the short story has touched him. It is a beautiful story. Full text of Post Office is available in Project Gutenberg and I invited readers to take a look at it.

Grateful thanks to Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Role Models-1: "Young Saviour: Student buys Orphanage"

2009-04-26T21:16:00.003+05:30

A student who visited a run-down African orphanage was so moved by the children's plight that she raised 30,000 Pound Sterling to buy it. Amy Lambert, 24, set about gathering funds after witnessing the horrors at the decrepit Kichijo Orphanage in Tanzania. she spent eight weeks volunteering there last summer, when cared for 150 boys and girls, many of whom had lost one or both parents to AIDS and HIV. Lambert found children who were starving, dangerously dehydrated and sleeping in dirty beds. The undergraduate at Bath Spa University raised more than 30,000 Pounds Sterling in just seven months. Her offer to buy the orphanage was accepted earlier this year.

Courtesy: The New Sunday Express, Tiruchy, April 26, 2009 ("Vignettes")

Grateful thanks to The New Sunday Express.

TED Talk-1: "How I am trying to change the World" by Bill Gates

2009-03-17T15:13:00.003+05:30

Honours and Awards-3: "Postal Stamps of Darwin"

2009-02-18T15:59:00.005+05:30

To commemorate the 200th birth anniversary of Charles Darwin, the propounder the Theory of Evolution, Britain has released a set of Ten Postal Stamps.

Darwin also appears on the Bank of Britain's £10 note.

Courtesy: AFP and The Hindu, Madurai, Feb.13, 2009.

Detailed Wikipedia articles on "CHARLES DARWIN" and "THE COMPLETE WORKS OF CHARLES DARWIN ONLINE":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Darwin
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Complete_Works_of_Charles_Darwin_Online

Works of Charles Darwin at Project Gutenberg: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/d#a485

Grateful thanks to AFP, The Hindu, Project Gutenberg and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Gandhiana-3: "Gandhiji's Speech at a Prayer Meeting"

2009-02-13T16:37:00.002+05:30

GANDHIJI'S SPEECH AT A PRAYER MEETING IN NEW DELHI ON July 7, 1947, a month before Independence:

BROTHERS AND SISTERS,

Last evening I told you why it was that the prospect of freedom that is about to be ours did not fill me with joy. Today I wish to tell you how you can turn a bad thing into a good thing. What has happened has happened. Nothing is to be gained by brooding over it or blaming others. In legal terms it will be only a few days before freedom comes into effect. All the parties have arrived at an agreement and they cannot go back upon their word. Only God an undo what man has decided to do.

The easiest way would be for the Congress and the League to come to an understanding without the intervention or the help of the Viceroy. In this the League would have to take the first step. I do not in the least imply by this that the decision about Pakistan should be
undone. It should be taken as final, no more open to discussion now. But if ten representatives of either party sit together in a mud hut and resolve that they will not leave the hut till they have arrived at an understanding, then I can say that the decision they arrive at will be a thousand times better than the present Bill which is before the British Parliament and which envisages the setting up of two Dominions. If all the Hindus and Muslims who come to see me or write to me do not deceive me, then it is clear that no one is happy with the division of India. They all accept it against their will.

There is also another method, perhaps as difficult. The army is going to be divided—the army which so far had one single purpose— whatever that purpose might have been. This division of the army certainly fills the heart of every patriot with fear and misgivings. Why are two armies being created? Are they to defend the country against foreign aggression or are they to fight against each other and prove to the world that we are good only for fighting and killing each other? I have deliberately painted before you this frightful picture so that you may be warned. The way to escape this is, at any rate in my
view, attractive. Will the Hindu masses and all those who have taken part in the struggle for freedom pass the test today? Will they rise up and say that they have no need for an army or at least take a pledge that this army will not be used against their Muslim brethren whether they be living in India or Pakistan. By saying this they will turn their thirty-year-old weakness into strength. Maybe the method I suggest will be considered foolish. However, I must say that God has the power to turn foolishness into wisdom as He has done so many times in history. Those who have set out on the dangerous course of dividing the army should pay heed to what I say.

[From Hindi]
Prarthana Pravachan–I, pp. 227–8

Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol.96.

Honours and Awards-2: "Dr Mani Lal Bhaumik"

2009-02-12T15:39:00.004+05:30

Quoting IANS, SiliconIndia.com informs of a Rare Honour for Indian American Scientist, Dr.Mani Bhaumik. He has been chosen as the Sole Patron for the International year of Astronomy 2009. This year is being observed by UNESCO and The International Astronomical Association as the International Year of Astronomy to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Galileo's astronomical telescope.

Dr Bhaumik is a world-renowned physicist, best-selling author and inventor of excimer laser which is used for eyesight correction. This method popularly known as Lasik Surgery has helped more than fifteen million people world over. He is a multi-millionaire and philanthropist, with hundreds of patents.

More on Dr Bhaumik:

Detailed article on Dr.Mani Bhaumik from Wikipedia (with his photo):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mani_Lal_Bhaumik

"Mani Lal Bhaumik: HELPING THE KIDS STAY AFLOAT"

http://www.prideofindia.net/mani.html

"Code Name Success" from Indian Life & Style, A Lifestyle Magazine for the Indian American Community (with many color photographs):

http://www.indianlifeandstyle.com/ILS-Sept-Oct05/looking%20glass.htm

Grateful thanks to IANS, SiliconIndia.com, PrideofIndia.net, indianlifeandstyle.com and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

How To-7: "How to Be a Good Parent"

2009-02-11T17:03:00.002+05:30

How to Be a Good Parent

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Being a parent is one of the most fulfilling experiences a person can have. There is a natural instinct that seems to come to a new parent, but there are bits of advice that can help when you are challenged in the growing up years. The most important thing however, that any parent can give their child, is a sense of being loved. More at www.goodparentclub.com

Steps

Express love and affection.

A gentle cuddle, a little encouragement, appreciation, approval or even a smile can go a long way to boost the confidence and well-being of your children. Sadly, many children seek this kind of acceptance from their peers (who are wholly unqualified).
Tell them you love them every day
Give lots of hugs and some kisses
Love them unconditionally; don't force them to be who you think they should be in order to earn your love.

Listen to them.

Express interest in your children and involve yourself in his and her activities.
Create an atmosphere in which they can come to you with a problem however large or small.

Help them feel safe

Respect their privacy as you would want them to respect yours; for example, if you teach your child that your room is out of boundaries to them, respect the same with their room. Allow them to feel that once they enter their room they can know that no one will look through their drawers, or read their diary.
Instill in them, a sense of belonging by displaying individual and family portraits on the walls of the house.
Don't argue with your spouse in front of the children. If they are sleeping, argue quietly. Modern divorce rates have children feeling insecure and fearful when they hear parents bickering. In addition, children will learn to argue with each other the same way they hear their parents argue with each other. Show them that when people disagree, they can discuss their differences peacefully.
Avoid favoritism. Surveys have shown that most parents have favorites, but most children believe they are the favorite. If your children are quarrelling, don't choose sides.
Give up your vices: gambling, alcohol and drugs can jeopardize your child's financial security. Smoking almost always introduces health hazards to your child's environment. Second-hand smoke has been linked to several respiratory ailments in children. It could also contribute to the early death of a parent. Alcohol and drugs might also introduce health hazards or violence to your child's environment.

Provide order.

Set boundaries such as bedtimes and curfews, so they learn that they have limitations. By doing so, they actually get a sense of being loved and cared about by their parents. They might rebel at those boundaries, but inwardly enjoy knowing that concerned parents love them.
Encourage responsibility by insisting they clean their room and make their bed every morning. Even the youngest of children can learn to tidy their room and put their toys away in the box at the end of the day. As your child grows, give them more responsibility.
Teach them what is right and wrong. If you are religious, take them to the religious institute that you follow.
Don't routinely do things for your children that they can learn to do for themselves.
Model moderation and responsibility when it comes to drinking. Explain that they will have to wait until they are old enough to enjoy a drink with friends and talk about the importance of designated drivers. Failure to discuss these issues early sometimes contributes to sneaking and dangerous experimentation.

Praise your children

Avoid comparing your children to others, especially siblings. Each child is individual and unique. Celebrate their differences and instill in each child the desire to pursue their interests and dreams.
Teach your children that it is okay for them to be different and they do not have to follow the crowd. Teach them right from wrong when then are young, and they will always be able to make their own decisions, instead of listening to others.
Remember that your child is not an extension of yourself. Your child is an individual under your care, not a chance for you to relive your life through them.

Avoid criticism by focusing on the behavior.

When your child acts out in a harmful and spiteful manner, tell him or her that such behavior is unacceptable and suggest alternatives. Avoid statements such as: "You're bad." "Go away!" etc.
Be assertive yet kind when pointing out what they have done wrong. Be stern, but not cross, when you tell them what you expect.
Avoid public humiliation. If they misbehave in public, take them aside, and scold them privately.
Model the behavior and character you hope your children will adopt and live by the rules you set. Show them by example in addition to verbal explanations. Children have a tendency to become what they see and hear unless they make a conscious and concerted effort to break the mold.

Be consistent.

Enforce rules that apply to every person leading a happy and productive life.
Enforce the same rules all the time, and resist your child's attempts to manipulate you into making exceptions.
Control your temper.
Communicate clearly. Children should be very familiar with the consequences of their actions. If you give them a punishment, be sure they understand the reason and the fault
Life is a great teacher. Don't be too quick to rescue your child from the results of their own actions if the consequences are not overly severe.

Spend time with each child individually

Set aside a day to go to a park, theme parks, museum or library depending on their interests.
Attend school functions. Do homework with them. Visit their teacher at open house. Even if it means taking some time away from work. Remember that children grow fast, and soon will be on their own. The time you have now with them, should bypass the time you have at work.

Be a Role Model - Young kids are like sponges. As parents we are our children's first role model. Pay attention to what you say or do around them and think about what kind of example you are making.

Want to teach kids about charity? Get involved and take your kids with you to a soup kitchen or homeless shelter and help serve up meals.
Teach kids about chores by setting a schedule and having them help you out. Don't tell your child to do something, but ask for their help.
Want your kids to listen to you? Show them you can listen to them.
If you want your son or daughter to learn to share, set a good example and share your things with them.

Allow them to experience life for themselves - But don't just lose total control. Don't make decisions for them all the time, they must learn how to live so that they are ready when they are adults.

Tips

If you're trying to quit a habit, look into groups that can help you overcome it. Always get support, and have someone you can talk to when you begin to get a craving for your habit. Remember that you're not only helping yourself, but you're helping your child as well.
Reflect on your own childhood frequently. Identify the mistakes your parents made, and make and effort to avoid them. Every generation of parents gets to make a whole set of new mistakes.
Encourage introspection by sharing with your children your own self-evaluations.

Warnings

Do not be afraid to be a parent. Do your best, be their friend, but never let them forget you are their parent.
Parenting does not stop when a child grows up. Being a good parent remains a life-long role.
Do not strictly follow the parental behavioral stereotypes of your culture, race, ethnic group, family, or other defining factor. For example, it is a commonly seen stereotype that Asian parents will force their children to achieve impeccable grades and take math and music classes, etc. These stereotypes are WRONG! Each child is individual and each parent loves their child. Please do not believe that there is only one way to raise a child.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

How can I be a good parent? by the Family Doctor dot org editorial staff
Being a good parent by George Leary
More4kids Parenting and FamilyAdditional tips shared with permission from More4kids.info.

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Good Parent. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-6: "How to Be a Trendsetter"

2009-02-11T17:01:00.001+05:30

How to Be a Trendsetter

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Do you want to be an inspiration to others? Do you want people to look up to you? Here’s how to be a trendsetter!

Steps

Be popular. People will generally follow the trends set by a popular person.

Start by being more "seen"; make people notice you and stop treating you like you weren't even there. Talk louder if necessary, make jokes, learn how to be the center of attention- and love it.
Make friends- preferably among the popular. But if you can't stand the popular kids at your school, don't worry; you can be friends with anybody you want.
Have a strong, inspiring personality. This is one step people often forget when trying to become popular; you have to be confident, know how to stand up for yourself, voice your opinions and be influential- at least among a small group of people, for example your friends. Just make sure your opinions matter and your presence is sought after.
Be charismatic. Know how to speak to make people like to listen to you: appear interested in the conversation, keep a charming smile on your face, be enthusiastic, tell a joke every now and then.
Become a role model. Keep in mind, however, that a role model isn't always the goody-two-shoes parents and teachers want their kids to become; take a look at Massie Block (the main character of the The Clique novel by Lisi Harrison)- she's a mean, bitchy and arrogant girl, yet a lot of kids want to be like her. Of course, this doesn't mean you must automatically be mean and conceited- it just means you should find your own way of being a role model, by discovering and enhancing your own best qualities. In the case of the typical goody-two-shoes, these qualities are kindness, correctitude and love of learning new things; in Massie's case, they are leadership skills, good looks and sophistication. Which would be yours?

Be smart. Usually, when people see you as smart (witty smart, not nerdy smart), they will be more interested in hearing what you have to say. Make a lot of witty remarks and come up with interesting ideas. Voice your opinions as often as you can.
Be original and creative. In order to have people to want to be like you, they must have a clear definition of you in mind; in other words, to remember you and your personal style.

Have an interesting and complex personality. Try to incorporate as many -good- character traits and qualities in yourself. Be curious, flexible and eager to improve yourself.
Have various tastes. Enlarge your horizons in matters of music, films, sports, fashion and whatever other fields you're interested in; discover new interests as well. Get a new hobby.
Spice up your appearance. Tired of looking like the average Joe/plain Jane? Develop a signature style: find a scent that's distinctively "yours", develop a fetish for a certain color, find the designs that look best on you and look for them every time you go shopping, whatever. Just find a look you can call "yours"- special, unique and very distinctive. If you feel like you need to change something about your appearance, try getting a new haircut or dyeing your hair- it's noticeable and makes you feel better about yourself.

Know what people already like. In every school, there are already some trends which have been set before. What do kids at your school generally like? What's specific to them? Notice their behavior as a group and put down everything they have in common. There are some sayings they use often, a clothing style they like more; some interests they all have and sports they all practice.
Be confident and act cool. When you like yourself, you'll make other people like you too. Same with your interests; if you really care about what you like, you'll make others like those things more; while if you don't, you'll leave the impression that you are boring and you give up easily. Start talking about your own hobbies and interests like they're the most interesting things anyone can do. Put passion in what you do and try to involve others in your hobbies too. If you really care about what you like, you'll make others like those things more; while if you don't, you'll leave the impression that you are boring and you give up easily.
Be well-informed about everything. People generally like to have somebody who knows all the latest news; they usually go to that person to ask them what the latest trends are. Everything that's new gives people something to talk about.

This also includes gossip; keep on track with everything that happens in other people's lives. Make them trust you, so they will tell you more of their secrets, therefore giving you something to gossip about.
Find some interesting websites about the latest trends, the coolest places to hang out etc. Check them out periodically to see what's new.
Buy some tabloids to keep up with everything that happens in the celebrities' lives.

Let others know what you do on a regular basis. Talk about yourself-and do it confidently; let people know you better. Making a profile on Myspace also helps. When planning to hang out with some friends after school, invite other people too- or at least let them know about it.

Warnings

Don't go out of your way to make people like something they actually don't and never will. This will make you seem desperate and pathetic.
If you are successful in becoming a trendsetter, you may have the not-so-pleasant surprise of being around loads of wannabes who will copy every single thing you do. It can get annoying.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Trendsetter. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-5: "How to Be Your Own Hero"

2009-02-11T16:58:00.000+05:30

How to Be Your Own Hero

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Be your own hero. Trust that voice within, the good one, not the one that tells you to give up and go to the pub. Improve those problematic areas in your life by becoming your 'hero'.

Steps

Choose your Hero: first you must choose a personal hero; real, fictional, dead or alive. What are the qualities you look up to in this person? If you don't have one, you can create one based on the qualities you most admire in people or would love to possess. Such as being confident, strong, assertive or authoritative.
Emulate your hero: to begin with simply consider the qualities of this hero and act some out in private. Get into their mindset by assuming their posture, using their expressions and striding in the same strong manner.
Re-enact the past: consider some situations at work you think should have gone better. This may have been during a meeting or presentation, whilst on the phone or just chatting with your boss during lunch. Next play out these scenes as your hero. How would they have acted in the same situations? What would they have said or done?
Try it for real: now you have to take on some of these characteristics. It may feel strange as you are not used to behaving this way.
See how it feels to use these qualities in reality. Ask yourself whether you were just acting as your hero or if you were uncovering hidden attributes to your own personality. You will probably discover that you are not just pretending to be your hero – but that you are, in fact, your own hero.

Related wikiHows

Sources and Citations

Video: How To Be Your Own Hero

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be Your Own Hero. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-4: "How to Be a Good Role Model"

2009-02-11T16:53:00.001+05:30

How to Be a Good Role Model

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

You would be surprised if you found out how many people look up to you. Think about how many people in your own life that have inspired you to get to where you are today. By being a good role model, you can help others to achieve success in their own lives.

Steps

Be aware of your actions. Realize that somebody is watching you most of the time. Whether you are working diligently or picking your nose, chances are somebody noticed.
Identify your bad habits and problems that you have. This could be everything from getting drunk on purpose or not getting enough sleep. To know if it is a bad habit or not, ask yourself the following questions:

Does it hurt others around me?
Is it detrimental to my health?
Are the results of my actions good or bad?
What are the long term effects?
If I stopped doing it, would I become a better person?

Once you figure out your bad habits and problems, fix them. Try doing little punishments to yourself whenever you do the bad habit and reward yourself for not doing it. You may not be able to stop doing it all at once. Try decreasing it little by little until you stop. Then, make sure you don't start again.
Show off your good qualities. Chances are, people will see everything good that you do too. Make an effort to go out of your way if you think that you can help someone.
Be an inspiration. Whether you're a parent, teacher, coach, athlete, artist, or anything else, do what you do best. People you have never met and never will meet are watching you perform. It is up to you to meet their expectations and show them the right way through example.

Tips

Talk and become friends with the people who look up to you. Chances are, many of your friends do look up to you, whether you realize it or not.
If you are a parent, put your family first.
Older siblings, set a good example. Your younger siblings are imitating you most of the time.
Remember, no one is perfect. Just do your best.
If you are student, use the character traits that you learned about in school. Such as: empathy, honesty, attentive listening etc.

Warnings

If you are a bad role model, it will hurt those around you. Turn your life around, and you will be turning around more than one life.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Be a Good Role Model. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

How To-8: "How to Help Your Teen Resist Negative Peer Pressure"

2009-02-11T16:52:00.005+05:30

How to Help Your Teen Resist Negative Peer Pressure

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Peer pressure is a part of every teenagers life. Negative peer pressure can be one of the most difficult parts of growing up for some teens. The best ways to help your teen resist negative peer pressure is to teach them how to be confident with who they are and to help them become self-aware. Here are some pointers that you can use to help you accomplish this.

Steps

Spend as much quality time as you can with your teen. Try to tap into your teens interests, even if they are different from yours. Be in attendance at their games, school plays or activities. By doing this, you are giving your teen clear signs that you love and care about them.
Practice good communication skills. By showing your teenager that you are listening, you will also keep them talking to you. Your teen needs to feel that you as a parent are approachable and open-minded otherwise, they will not share what is going on in their lives.
Be respectful of your teen. Encourage your teen to think about the effects of the decisions they make, this will teach them to solve problems. The ability to solve problems is one of the good characteristics of good self-esteem.
Cultivate your teenager's self-awareness. Prompting your teenagers self-awareness will help your teen build confidence on having their own opinions. By getting your teen to reflect on something, your teen will start to think about how they feel and be more comfortable having an opinion. When you encourage your teen to talk about their feelings, you raise more self-confidence and your teen is in a better situation to ward off negative peer pressure.
Set some boundaries. Positive discipline and setting limits gives teens a sense of security. Keep your rules fair and consistent. Try to keep your rules to a minimum by focusing on the major areas of concern and continue to revisit and negotiate the consequences and rules as your teen gets older.
Inspire accountability in your teen. It is extremely important that you allow your teen to learn from their mistakes and learn to take the full responsibility for his or her actions. If your teen gets into trouble, they will never learn the natural consequences for their behaviour.
Give encouragement whenever possible. Offer your teen encouragement if you notice them struggling with something. Encouraging your teen in a positive way will definitely give them a boost and help them feel good about themselves when they are trying to achieve.
Praise your teen when appropriate. When your teen is working hard and has accomplished a certain goal, be sure to offer them praise when they deserve it but don't overpraise.
Nurture your teen's competencies. Your teen needs opportunities for success. The earlier you nurture your teens hobbies and interests, the more opportunities your teen will have for success. Once your teen succeeds, it brings a good feeling about themselves. If your teen doesn't show any interest in hobbies or activities, help your teen find their niche and nurture that interest. the more interests your teen has, the less likely your teen will get bored and get into trouble.
Inspire trust. Telling your teen you trust them is very powerful. When your teen feels trusted, they feel more independent and less need to rebel.
Use humor. Teens value a sense of humor in their parents. Appropriate humor can often resolve difficult situations.
Take time for yourself as well. When you refuel yourself, you will be in a better state of mind to be a parent and be a much better role-model. Your teen copies behaviours they see, so being good role models goes a very long way in helping your teen resist negative peer pressure.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Help Your Teen Resist Negative Peer Pressure. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

====================How To-3: "How to Choose a Role Model"

2009-02-11T16:48:00.001+05:30

How to Choose a Role Model

from wikiHow - The How to Manual That You Can Edit

Role models are important. They help us become the person we want to be and inspire us to make a difference. Choosing wisely means that you are influenced correctly and will help you be the best person you can be.

Steps

Choose someone who has a lot of confidence in themselves and their abilities. A good role model would be someone who knows who they are. You don't want someone who is down and who will bring you down. You want someone who won't pretend to be someone they are not, and won't be fake just to suit other people.
Consider someone who thinks it is alright to be unique; even if that means accepting some ridicule. They should make you feel good about being yourself, they shouldn't make you compare yourself to them and wish you were pretty.
Think about someone who interacts well with others', and someone who is kind and can communicate well with people.
Look for someone who is living life the way you would like to. If you want to be a famous author, your role model could be someone who has been successful at writing. If you have always wanted to be a nurse, your role model could be someone at your local hospital who is dedicated to their job and someone who you look up to for their achievements.
Find someone who doesn't always take credit for what they do. Like a teacher or nurse. Not a celebrity or athlete because most of them tend to be conceited.
Choose a role model who may have done something you find admirable, such as raised a lot of money for charity, saved lots of lives, helped people in need or discovered the cure for a disease.

Tips

Keep in mind that having a role model does not mean you become exactly like that person, remember to retain your individuality.
A role model should be someone who you want to be like, and someone you admire.
You shouldn't change yourself to be like your role model; be like them, but put your own individuality into the things they do.
"Believe in yourself, fulfil your potential, be your own Role Model". [1]
Your role model doesn't have to be a real person, or someone who is alive. Maybe you consider Anne Frank to be your role model, or a character from a book. That's okay, but bear in mind that instead of being able to directly ask your role model for help, then you'll have to think, "What would he/she do in your position?"

Warnings

Some poorly chosen role models may take advantage of their position.
they also can direct you to a wrong place where you dont want to be.

Related wikiHows

Article provided by wikiHow, a wiki how-to manual. Please edit this article and find author credits at the original wikiHow article on How to Choose a Role Model. All content on wikiHow can be shared under a Creative Commons license.

====================Honours and Awards: "Bharat Ratna to Bhimsen Joshi"

2009-02-11T16:19:00.004+05:30

Noted Hindustani classical vocalist, Pandit Bhimsen Joshi (87) was presented with Bharat Ratna, country's highest civilian award, at his residence in Pune on February 10, 2009.

The award, announced after a gap of seven years, was last given to melody queen, Lata Mangeshkar and shenai maestro, Ustad Bismillah Khan.

The vocalist, whose name was announced for the award on November 5 last, had requested that on account of his frail health he may be allowed to receive the award at his residence and that the presentation may be a low-key affair.

Accordingly, in deference to the wishes of Bhimsen and his family, the award was presented at his residence.

Bhimsen is the sixth person from the field of art and culture to get Bharat Ratna after Satyajit Ray, M.S.Subbulakshmi, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Lata Mangeshkar and Ustad Bismillah Khan. - PTI

Courtesy: PTI and The Hindu, Madurai, February 11, 2009.

Detailed Wikipedia articles on "BHARAT RATNA" and "BHIMSEN JOSHI":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bharat_Ratna

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhimsen_Joshi

Grateful thanks to PTI, The Hindu and Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

===========================Achievers-5: "Padma Awards"

2009-02-03T12:01:00.006+05:30

The Govt of India named distinguished personalities - 133 personalities from various fields -for the Padma awards on the occasion of the 60th Indian Republic Day, January 26, 2009. Some of the prominent names are:

Padma Vibhushan Awards

Mr.Sunderlal Bahuguna, Environmentalist

Mr.G.Madhavan Nair, Chairman, Indian Space Research Organisation

Dr.Anil Kakodkar, Chairman, Atomic Energy Commission

Sister Nirmala, Missionary

Padma Bhushan Awards

Mr.Shekar Gupta, The Indian Express

Mr.C.K.Prahalad, Michigan University

Mr.D.Jayakanthan, Tamil Writer

Ms I.J.Ahluwalia, Chairperson, Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations (ICRIER)

Mr C S Seshadri, Director, Chennai Mathematical Institute

Mr.Ramachandra Guha, Historian

Ms Sarojini Varadappan, President, WIA

Mr Abhinav Bindra, Olympic Medalist

Mr.Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission

Lt Gen Satish Nambiar, Director, USII

Padma Shri Awards

Ms Aishwarya Rai, Bollywood Actress

Mr.Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Captain, Indian Cricket Team

Mr Harbhajan Singh, Spin Bowler, Indian Cricket Team

Mr Pankaj Advani, Billiards Champion

Ms Aruna Sairam, Singer, Carnatic Music

==================================Newsletters of Interest-2: "Gandhi Journal"

2009-02-02T17:52:00.005+05:30

"Gandhi Journal" is a free email newsletter from the Complete Site on Mahatma Gandhi, www.mkgandhi.org. Every month they publish articles by eminent Gandhians and scholars on relevance of Gandhian Philosophy and related issues. Thoughts of Mahatma Gandhi are also find a place in it.

For example, the January 2009 issue of the journal contains the following articles:

1. "Gandhi and Christianity" by Ambassador(Retd) Alan Nazareth

2. "A Gandhian Approach to International Security" by Ambassador(Retd) Alan Nazareth

3. "Mahatma Gandhi and his Contemporary Artists" by Bhaswati Bandyopadhyay

This is a newsletter for people who would like to know more and more about Gandhiji in small doses.

For subscribing to this eJournal, just click:

http://www.mkgandhi.org/g_journal/journals.htm

The Testament of Jawaharlal Nehru

2009-01-28T13:46:00.004+05:30

"I have received so much love and affection from the Indian people that nothing that I can do can repay even a small fraction of it, and indeed there can be no repayment of so precious a thing as affection. Many have been admired, some have been revered, but the affection of all classes of the Indian people has come to me in such abundant measure that I have been overwhelmed by it. I can only express the hope that in the remaining years I may live, I shall not be unworthy of my people and their affection.

To my innumerable comrades and colleagues, I owe an even deeper debt of gratitude. We have been joint partners in great undertakings and have shared the triumphs and sorrows which inevitably accompany them.

I wish to declare with all earnestness that I do not want religious ceremonies performed for me after my death. I do not believe in any such ceremonies and to submit to them, even as a matter of form, would be hypocrisy and an attempt to delude ourselves and others.

When I die, I should like my body to be cremated. If I die in a foreign country, my body should be cremated there and my ashed sent to Allahabad. A small handful of these ashes should be thrown into the Ganga and the major portion of them disposed of in the manner indicated below. No part of these ashes should be retained or preserved.

My desire to have a handful of my ashes thrown into the Ganga at Allahabad has no religious significance, so far as am concerned. I have no religious sentiment in the matter. I have been attached to the Ganga and the Jumna rivers in Allahabad ever since my childhood and, as I have grown older, this attachment has also grown. I have watched their varying moods as the seasons changed, and have often thought of the history and myth and tradition and song and story that have become attached to them through the long ages and become part of their flowing waters.

The Ganga, especially, is the river of India, beloved of her people, round which are intertwined her racial memories, her hopes and fears, her songs of triumph, her victories and her defeats. She has been a symbol of India's age-long culture and civilization, ever changing, ever-flowing, and yet ever the same Ganga. She reminds me of the snow-covered peaks and the deep valleys of the Himalayas, which I have loved so much, and of the rich and vast plains below, where my life and work have been cast. Smiling and dancing in the morning sunlight, and dark and gloomy and full of mystery as the evening shadows fall, a narrow, slow and graceful stream in winter, and a vast roaring thing during the monsoon, broad-bosomed almost as the sea, and with something of the sea's power to destroy, the Ganga has been to me a symbol and a memory of the past of India, running into the present, and flowing on to the great ocean of the future. And though I have discarded much of past tradition and custom, and am anxious that India should rid herself of all shackles that bind and constrain her and divide her people, and suppress vast numbers of them, and prevent the free development of the body and the spirit; though I seek all this, yet I do not wish to cut myself off from the past completely. I am proud of that great inheritance that has been, and is, ours, and I am conscious that I too, like all of us, am, a link in that unbroken chain which goes back to the dawn of history in the immemorial past of India. That chain I would not break, for I treasure it and seek inspiration from it. And as witness of this desire of mine and as my last homage to India's cultural inheritance, I am making this request that a handful of my ashes be thrown into the Ganga at Allahabad to be carried to the great ocean that washes India's shore.

The major portion of my ashes should, however, be disposed of otherwise. I want these to be carried high up into the air in an aeroplane and scattered from that height over the fields where the peasants of India toil, so that they might mingle with the dust and soil of India and become an indistinguishable part of India."

Gandhiji's Talisman

2009-01-21T14:30:00.004+05:30

"I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him. Will he gain anything by it? Will it restore him to a control over his own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?

Then you will find your doubts and yourself melting away."

-M.K.Gandhi

August 1947

From The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, Vol.96

Newsletters of Interest-1: "Biography and Memoir"

2009-01-21T10:16:00.003+05:30

The Boston Public Library and NextReads jointly bring out many email newsletters of interest regularly on monthly/bimonthly basis. The genre which is directly relevant to this blog is their newsletter, "Biography and Memoir". For example, the January 2009 issue of this monthly email newsletter contains information on 11 interesting books with photos of cover page, a brief write-up on each book and other relevant details like Publisher, Publication date, ISBN number. In some cases, 'Table of Contents' and/or 'First Chapter' are also available.

If you are interested, you can click and subscribe for this free email newsletter:

http://www.bpl.org/

All the best!

Websites to Watch-1: "Omnibiography.com"

2009-01-20T17:48:00.005+05:30

Omnibiography.com is the largest directory of biographies on the Web. It contains over 110,000 biographies online, information on important people from antiquity to present time, with search facility - by name, by country, by region.

Those love biography, who derive inspiration from reading about great lives could give this website a try.

www.omnibiography.com.

In the News-8: "Sahitya Akademi Awards for 21 Literateurs"

2008-12-30T17:43:00.002+05:30

Seven Novelists, six poets, five short story writers and three critics have been chosen for the National Sahitya Akademi awards for this year. The coveted award carries a cash prize of Rs.50,000/- and an engraved copper plaque, will be given away on February 17, 2009.

The awardees are: K.A.Appan (a well-known critic for his collection of essays in Malayalam), Govind Mishra (for his Hindi novel, 'Kohre Mein Kaid Rang'), Rita Choudhury (Assamese novelist), Vidya Sagar Narzary (Bodo), Srinivas B.Vaidya (Kannada), Ashok Kamat (Konkani), Shyam Manohar (Marathi), Mitetr Sain Meet (Punjabi), Sarat Kumar Mukhopadhyay (Bengali), Champa Sharma (Dogri), A.O.Memchoubi (Manipuri), Pramod Kumar Mohanty (Oriya), Om Prakash Pande(Sanskrit), Jayant Parmer(Urdu), Suman Shah(Gujarati), Shri 'Kirat' (Nepali), Dinesh Panchal(Rajasthani), Badal Hemba(Santhali), Melaanmai Ponnusamy (Tamil), Nabi Aatash(Kashmiri), Hiro Shewkani(Sindhi).

Awards for Telugu and Maithili to be announced.

Source: The Hindu, Madurai (Date not available).

Grateful thanks to The Hindu.