Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Christmas 2008 has also passed . At home no star was hanged - a frist in perhaps 30 years. No plum cake made- perhaps a first in 25 years... A christmas night booz and dance was there.. first time of its kind.

Jesus' birth is being celeberated on 25th December every year. Even the church differ in confirming the date as exact. Many who celeberate Christmas do not know what exactly the day is. For them it is a merry making day to beat the winter.

But besides the controversy of his date of birth, Jesus dwell in the minds of people who believe in him as God and who love him as one of most acclaimed men. To me he is an enigma. He answers many of my queries... but I am yet to get answers to a multiple of my other anxieties. I believe, he has fairly given me everything that I have... I also truly believe that he pulled me back from many of my falls. But for him, I confess, I would have managed myself worse. The carismatic group insists that we only believe in what is said glossy about him. According to them criticising Him is a big SIN. 'You should be GOD fearing', is what they profess. This thought may have derived from our age old partriarchial system where obedience is the doctrine. The family partriarch is always right, nobody has the authority to question what he does. For Generations we were made to follow this writ without opposition. Here I recall the famous matriarchial system followed by the 'Nair Tharavadu's' wherein only the children from the women folks had any stake in the property of the tharavadu. No offspring of a male member of the matriarchy was entitled for a share of the property. But alas ! here too, the head of the family was never never a woman. But the eldest male member of the family who ran the writ.

The family system has gone for a swirl and it is the nucleur family system which run the show in case of majority of households. There are exceptions depending on the economic, social and cultural characteristics of particular regions and social groups.

Coming back to Jesus, my unanswered questions are not circling me. I have fullest gratitude to him for keeping me safe in his hands.

But my question is for the ones who are deprived of a few grains to fill their stomach, for those who still do not posses a cloth to cover them from cold and heat, for those who do not have a roof over their head.... the list of woeful anxieties continue... I again ask him where is his justice system, towards the currupt criminals, who run the world, the country, the church, the temple. Why he is turning blind on the cheaters of the poor, exploiters of the vulnerables.... Answer Lord...

Notwithstanding my queries, I still wonder and am astonished to watch that those so called people who are abundantly blessed by him spare little time for praising him... whereas the one- time mealer make it a point that he attend the sunday mass, hold family prayer in the evening etc. etc. Is it because you have given them a straw by saying " those who starve (in the heart) are lucky for theirs is the heavenly kingdom".

I viewed a LaBL team addressing a gathering of villagers, wherein the LaBL bosses(two of them) , one of them even corss legged were promptly chaired while the villagers, elderly people, ladies and kids squat in the muddy filed attending. They should have shared their seats. What a social emancipation. The villagers can now have lantern for free but also dream of going to the city to be like one of them ? A village emancipation program... In bolywood (what is that ?) movies all villagers are good, beatiful, living in havelis and great family bondages.... so the city dwellers dream of making it to the cosy village one day.

Heaven is promised... where hell is true.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Advise for free

I have always been good at delivering free advises. A doctor seldome apply his own medicine on himself or his dear ones. However I have gone for one of my prescriptions, sidelining this practical thought. Those who know me closely have the outcome. So I do not feel the need to script it here. Exceptions are there in this attitude too.
What is coming before our eyes is the ones which hit us hard. This is perhaps the reason why we repent on failure of one assignment or other. This is not a right approach. We should weigh our failures and successes. While we will have a solid reason for the failures in what we have done, or what we are doing or propose to do, seldom do we go after the reason for our success in some other ventures.

Like one can not get back the stone one has thrown, it is futile to recall and munch the reason for failure. This exercise often pull one back from stepping on for the next climb. So forget the past and leap. Again, I have an adivse, please look around before you jump. This is, as usual, one of my free advises.

This apart, all advises are not free.
Doctors, Lawyers, many others make comfortable living out of advise.

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Victim of Displeasure - Un welcome guests

It is now almost three weeks that I have not made any musings. Not because there were less events, but preoccupation with other things.

The past three weeks were news oriented and write ups after write ups and political analysis were filled in the air for and against the Bomb Blasts in Mumbai.

However, a notable change in the attitude was visible. The Muslim community came out strongly against terrorism, condemned those who preach murder in the name of God. This is a welcome move from the community which has been victim of suspicion everytime such an incident took place in India. Notable change in the attitude was the 'Hindutva' lobby's who would not have spared the other community on such an incident, perhaps because the shadow of 'Hindu terror' doom large over their head. Any how, even the Pak authorities were quite reconciled, obviously under the American pressure. There was mud slinging in Kerala over the miserably misinterpreted ' dog show'. Silly people. The Abhaya case passed through the side lines. Three of the anointed servents of god were lodged in CBI lock up for ungodly acts. The Church yell of victimisation, cruelty, torture etc. But the upsurge they have been trying to lodge could not incite the subjects like earlier occasions. Perhaps, the Patriarchs foget that people now read, write and see the writing on the wall. OR is itn't that Abhaya's wandering cries were heard by the GOOD God and he has directed the sleeping govt machineries to act at last. We have faith in the Indian judicial system, though it is alarmingly slow. The Chruch should have not meddle with justice system. Abhaya and her family too need justice. I support Jomon for his brave stand and all he did withstanding the giant. A True David and Goliath story.

The other day we were in George kutty's House. A big mansion with all amenities in place. I was treated with mugs of beer followed by lunch with kappa, meen curri, meen peera, beef cury and chor. But above all the warmth shown by GK, Leelamma, Lego, Teddy and their kids swelled our hearts. They have not changed in spite of their being so rich. We have cut short our further visits and came home and slept.

The last three days were busy for blocking unwanted visitors from Bangalore. Baby was so tense and busy. By God's grace, Mohanachayan has agreed to take over the task. That was a great relief. I have called all my sisters and brothers wherever they are. All were politely told about my inability to accommodate them in Ernakulam. They have their displeasure, rightly so. You can not accommodate all at all times. You can not condemn their feelings too.

Chechi's children, Neema, Neena, Jenny were all elated and thrilled towards the marriage. They have demanded a pre marriage party, which we will have to plan after Christmas. Nisha's mail came and she is also taking part in the marriage. My cup of joy overflows. Wants of words, I quit.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Who is a Judge ? Who is a healer ?

The last week end would have been quite a sad, tragic one, but for that God had his plans.

When two individuals have difference of opinion, they often think of separation. An easy way out. The fall out seldom given a second thought. When a husband - wife combination quarrels, it is humane to come out with the conclusion in favour of the person who reports it, or whom we have a soft corner for. Sympathy - but this may not do justice always.

Moncy and Kunjumol have to open up themselves before each other and sort out their differences in all sense. No one else, but they themselves, can do this exercise with some success. After hearing from both of them I could gather that this couple has had no bondage of being one in spirit ever since they joined. Each one is adamant to prove his or her point and thrust upon the same on the partner without giving an iota of consideration for the other. Both have not fully broken their umbilical cord connections.

I am no judge, nor a psychologist. But learning from life, I thought it fit to advise them to reconcile their problems, sitting together and opening up. That is why I called Moncy today and gave him an elderly advise to patch up with his wife. I am confident, if he does this sincerely, he would be able to sort out his problems, their problems, I mean.

I wish them good luck.

Monday, November 10, 2008

Value of a grain of rice

When we think self centred, we will not see anything beyond the circumferance.

We have to increase our spectrum to include other things and happenings around us. That is how we open a gate for others to think. Great thinkers and professors did this. That is why we have come this far. Our thoughts need not be always correct and accurate. But it give others a link to agree or disagree and of course think.

There are two ways of thining ... one being "let me add one drop to the vast ocean"... the other is "what difference it makes with one drop in the ocean... forget it". This philosophical tip is said and repeated umpteen times by great scholars from time immemmorial.

The other day, I wrote, if Binu could plant a tree for the next generation....... there are umpteen ways of putting this thought... but why Binu only...., all of us including me should introspect in this respect.

Our children should be tought the journey of the grain from the slushy paddy filed to their bon china plate....

This is an exercise every parent should undertake while rearing their children.

Value education is not just teaching them about Ram, Jesus and Mohammad. Buto also letting them know the source of our basic necessities. This should be included in the class room syllabi also. So that when they make the country's economic plans, these section of the society, who are very often forgotten elements also included.

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Wah America ! Wah !

It is not an ordinary another day. It is certainly the marking of a new era, Yes indeed ! Barak Obama has made it to the White house, the most powerful yet very hot seat in the world. It is History.

Looking at Obama's origin, it is just another feather to the great democracy, that America is, the people of America chose a man of substance over his colour and other odds.

America is certainly the greatest democracy, a living example of how democracy thrives against all odds.

Down here, we are still looking forward to 'Kings' and 'Queens' to rein us.

Monday, October 27, 2008

God save them from your wrath

Diwali is suipposed to be the season of greeings. Some exchange greetings with sweet words and some with gifts. I have received lot many sweet greetings, and I am supposed to be glad.

But two news saddened me, and gloomed over my happy time.

The first news appreared in the Hindustan Times : A seven year old boy alongwith a few others of his age group was rescued from a 'Zari' factory in Seelampur by Police. He was tutored by his employer to tell every one that his age is 14, to escape the the hand of law.What a shame ? Children under the age 7 to 13 are found there working for the 'zari' unit from 7 a.m. in the morning to 1 a.m. i.e. 18 hours at a stretch. The 7 year old fled Bihar to fetch a living for his family as he felt, it is his responsiblility, being the eleder of the family, to look after his youngsters.The saddest part is he has to wait for a year to earn a salary as he is an 'apprentice' at the moment. God knows, how many are left behind in the jammed ghettos of Seelampur and other places like this young citizen of India. God where are you ? I cannot stop my tears ?

Next news was about my youngest ' aliyan'Binu who reached home from Bangaloru early in the morning and threatended his aging mother that he will fell one or two trees to earn money, for, god only knows, what ?
That house has turned out to be a pond of leaches. Each one pull down the other for a suck of blood of his share and more. The irony is that none of them have never ever thought of planting a sapling for their next generation could also fell a tree (so painful) for a living.

God save them for they do not know what they are doing