Reminiscences-1: "Rabindranath Tagore"

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"

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

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

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"

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"

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"

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

1. 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.
  
2. 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.
  
3. 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.
  
4. 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.
  
5. 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.
  
6. 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.
  
7. 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.
  
8. 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.
  
9. 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.
  
10. 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

• How to Be a Good Father
  
• How to Be a Good Mother
  
• How to Be a Good Stepfather
  
• How to Be a Supporting and Loving Stepparent
  
• How to Handle Your Child's Temper Tantrum
  
• How to Include Spanking in Child Discipline
  
• How to Put a Two Year Old to Sleep
  
• How to Teach Manners to a Toddler
  
• How to Become a Good Muslim Girl
  
• How to Succeed As a New Stay at Home Mom

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"

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

1. 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?
  
2. 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.
   
3. 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.
  
4. 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.
   
5. 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.
   
6. 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.
  
7. 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

• How to Dress Fashionably
  
• How to Start a Fad
  
• How to Start a Trend
  
• How to Be a Fashion Icon

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"

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

1. 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.
   
2. 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.
   
3. 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?
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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

• How to Find an Idol
  
• How to Choose a Role Model
  
• How to Be a Good Role Model
  
• How to Be a Teenage Role Model

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"

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

1. 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.
   
2. 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?
  
3. 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.
   
4. 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.
   
5. 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

• How to Be a Teenage Role Model
  
• How to Choose a Role Model
  
• How to Be a Good Person
  
• How to Upgrade Your Life As a Teenager
  
• How to Be a Cute and Nice Girl

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.