ESSENCE OF RAMAYAN

What do you learn after reading Ramayan. Is it about the story of  king Ravana with ten faces and twenty hands or it a legend written by Vatmiki about the miseries of Sita?. What Rama did to SIta? He listened to one dhobi who was instrumental in spreading the most malignant scandal about Sita. It is true that Rama humiliated Sita not once but twice. What righteousness he can hold for. He behaved like a king not like a human. The pain and sorrow of leaving SIta was there in Rama of Tretayug until he left his mortal remains in Saryu.


But you find a lot of modern Rama’s in Kaliyug. They hire end number of washerman to get rid of Sita(s) and these washermen wash their stories in all oceans over this sacred earth. These modern Kings will hand over their bottle of blue paint to all their associate dhobis to paint Sita blue. Blue is a beautiful colour, colour of Ocean, colour of Sky. But for these kings it is to be misused to get rid of the ones who question their misadventures. There is a sage called Durvasa he thinks he is the only can blow curses at others and get angry.  If we question him he gifts a curse. And you see what rage of a sage can bring- only curses to this earth.

The essence of Ramayan is not to portrait Rama as the great savior of righteousness. One should understand his weakness as a King.  He could not balance his kingdom, righteousness and Sita. The essence of Ramayan is not to portrait Rama as the great saviour of righetousness but as a human caught between righetousness and his kingdom. 

I have not seen freedom struggle. But I have heard and read about it frombooks on freedom movement. My grandmother's sister, a hindi teacher participated in freedom movement. She has met Gandhi and spoken in a meeting where he attended. She remained unmarried for a cause and she has explained to us several times how India struggled to get her freedom. She was a simple lady and wore only a white khadar mundu and a cotton blouse. My mother was born before Independence and she used to explain how world wars affected India as a whole and about the shortage of food supplement. They talked about spies of America and what ever little information they receive from news papers. We grew up respecting gandhi. But khadar lost its texture and true meaning as power crazy politicians of all parties monopolised on it to make a mockery of it later. Gandhi was not keen to grab power or fought for power. His motto was freedom for his home land. He said it openly that India's soul remainsin its villages. I wish people in power should take initiative to reform villages. Educated people are shifting their base from villages to cities in search of jobs or better life. If villages are self sufficient there is no such need for people to migrate. When I speak about Gandhi I remember Grace, my teacher. She and her friends after hearing a speech of Gandhi donated all their gold jewellery for freedom movement. He was such an inspiring soul and I don't think any one can claim his credentials. People are so selfish in this new free world and interested in calling other human beings worms or dirt or filth. They don't even know power is not for to misuse but to save the grace of our nation. When I see people misuse their power to gain wealth and to settle scores , I think of Gandhi. He used his strength for a cause power for a cause - freedom. He is respected for that.

INNOCENCE LOST

I have watched a Malayalam movie recently. It was an interesting movie with high end political dramas and the role of media in between. How dangerously these net work functions and it is true that the word 'innocence' you find not any where. It is now an alien strange word. It is all about money, power and prestige.  It is true that media heads sideline their own honest reporters and honesty is the word people use these days as weapon to target their own hidden motives.  It is true that no one in this world will cry over a columnist’s death or even of a reporter. If you have a media house of yours it is easy to sell your version of the stories or even you can promote your family members and the ones who fall on your feet and threaten your opponents. Bargain and barter and share the booty of the total sale. Expand territories, do a cover up of charity and kill the innocents. How ridiculous... they work on quarterly profits, on target basis. They need to pay for their employees, photographers, journalists who write garbage bin columns like owning a BMW is prestige (Davood Ibrahim can afford end number of BMWs or even luxury vans or even a Lamborghini). Such is the cheap functioning strategy of the media, more profits less values. Who is there to protest, questioning voices are cut of from the vocal chord. Yes... let them survive, after all food for a few reporters or those live on that. At least they should have the honesty to write this is a paid up news- to promote or to demote…. as captions in their breaking headlines.. It is true this world lost its innocence and we people lost even the trust in media.

VEENA - MUSICAL NOTES ON STRINGS
(From Awakening Indian to India)

One of those spectacular features of India's complex and rich musical tradition is the evolution of a wide range o musical instruments of various kinds : percussion, wind and string instruments.

The Veena is considered as the Queen of Musical Instruments and it is popularily associated with goddess Saraswathi. The Veena comes under the chordophonic groups of instrument. It is a long necked lute with a large resonating bowl called the Kudam.This is hollowed out of a block of wood. There is also a smallest gourd called the kudukkai, which hands from the neck.This serves as a rest. The narrow end of the Veena is usually shaped like the head of a dragon. Two of the playing strings and the drone strings are made of steel whereas the other two are made of brass. To enhance the resonating quality a hold is made on the Kudam. The tonal quality of the Veena depends on the size of the Kudam.

The player holds the Veena across the lap. Only the pointing finger and the middle finger are used to play and the little finger is used to keep time on the Tala strings. This instrument is common in South India and is an important instrument in Carnatic Music.

There are different varieties of Veena. Some of them are Mahanataka Veena, Saraswathi Veena, Rudra Veena, Vichitra Veena etc. Saraswathi Veenais know as the queen of Veena's.

People of India  are not bothered about Mayavathi's  Dollar or Indian Currency Garlands or about Ministers who prefer to stay in Star Hotels. Educated class is well aware of the politics politicians of all parties play and the gimmicks they do to capitalise situations. Each situation is an opportunity, a milestone for them.        A foundation they lay for their future. It is like Pepsi and Cock War; Madhur Bhandarkar has pictured in his Movie -Corporate. We people of India will not be surprised of  politicians who form alliances with parties to remain in power.  It is a matter of power and they diplomatically term it as the policy of the party. We, the general population understand  their chess board games. There is no difference in politicians or the flag they carry forward. In general you find a few, handful of non corrupt politicians and they really struggle to survive or will be victimised. And media certainly adds flavour in favour of a few politicians and turn against a few. They work on a strategy called TRP. It is like a politician who parks a car in the non parking area get escort and protection from the polcie force whereas a commoner gets a challan to pay the fine.

To be honest, we people of India as a whole unit fed up of all you politicians, biased media and Bureaucrats. They will do no good for India. Politicians will go behind power, media behind TRP (and behind film stars and their flues and fevers). Let Mayavati accept garland of rupees or Let a minister stay in Star Hotel. After all they are not Gandhis. Gandhi died long ago and he was not elite middle or lower. Job of the media has turned so fashionable now to go behind them to fill their exclusive gossip columns and cartoon specials. Struggle for survival… food for a few, but how long one digests bland continental gossips of politicians and film stars. Why can't they allot  one column for a Jawan who guards our borders. We,  People of  India would like to know about them and not about exclusive page holders or ministers of all parties.

Jai Hind

Param Vir Chakra

The Param Vir Chakra (PVC) is the highest gallantry award for officers and other enlisted personnel of all military branches of India for the highest degree of valour in the presence of the enemy. PVC is the post-Independence equivalent of the Victoria Cross.

The PVC was established on January 26, 1950, by the President of India, with effect from August 15, 1947, and presently it is the second highest award of the government of India after Bharat Ratna (amendment in the statute on January 26, 1980 resulted in this order of wearing).


The medal was designed by Mrs Savitri Khanolankar (born Eva Yuonne Linda Maday-de-Maros to a Hungarian father and Russian mother) who was married to an Indian Army officer. By sheer coincidence, the first PVC was awarded to her son-in-law Major Som Nath Sharma for his bravery in the Kashmir operations in November 1947.


The medal was designed to symbolise Rishi Dadich who donated his thigh bones to gods for making Vajra and Shivaji's sword Bhawani.


The medal is of 1-3/8 inch radius and is made of bronze. In the center, on a raised circle is the state emblem, surrounding which are the four replicas of Indra's Vajra.


The decoration is suspended from a straight swiveling suspension bar.


On the rear, around a plain center, two legends separated by lotus flowers. The words Param Vir Chakra are written in Hindi and English.


The ribbon which holds the PVC is of 32 mm length and purple in colour. The award carries a cash allowance for those under the rank of second lieutenant (or the appropriate service equivalent) and, in some cases, a lump-sum cash award. Subedar Major Bana Singh of the 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry was the only serving personnel of the Indian defence establishment with a PVC till the Kargil operations.

Param Vir Chakra winners so far :-

 1. IC-- 521 Major Som Nath Sharma, 4 Kumaon Regiment, November 3, 1947, Badgam Kashmir (posthumous)


2. IC-22356 Lance Naik Karham Singh M M, 1 Sikh Regiment, October 13, 1948, Tithwal Kashmir


3. SS-14246 Second Lt Rama Raghobe Rane, Corps of Engineers, April 8, 1948, Naushera, Kashmir


4. 27373 Naik Jadu Nath Singh, 1 Rajput Regiment, February 1948, Naushera, Kashmir (posthumous)


5. 2831592 Company Havildar Major Piru Singh, 6 Rajputana Rifles, July 17/18, 1948, Tithwal, Kashmir (posthumous)


6. IC-8497 Captain Gurbachan Singh Salaria, 3/1 Gurkha Rifles, December 5, 1961, Elizabethville, Katanga, Congo (posthumous)


7. IC-7990 Major Dhan Singh Thapa, 1/8 Gurkha Rifles, October 20, 1962, Ladakh, India


8. JC-4547 Subedar Joginder Singh, 1 Sikh Regiment, October 23, 1962, Tongpen La, Northeast Frontier Agency, India (posthumous)


9. Major Shaitan Singh, Kumaon Regiment, November 18, 1962, Rezang La (posthumous)


10. 2639885 Company Havildar Major Abdul Hamid, 4 Grenadiers, September 10, 1965, Chima, Khem Karan Sector (posthumous)


11. IC-5565 Lieutenant-Colonel Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, 17 Poona Horse, October 15, 1965, Phillora, Sialkot Sector, Pakistan (posthumous)


12. 4239746 Lance Naik Albert Ekka, 14 Guards, December 3, 1971, Gangasagar (posthumous)


13. 10877 (P) Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, Indian Air Force, December 14, 1971, Srinagar, Kashmir (posthumous)


14. IC-25067 2/Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, 17 Poona Horse, December 16, 1971, Jarpal, Shakargarh Sector, (posthumous)


15. IC-14608 Major Hoshiar Singh, Grenadiers, December 17, 1971, Basantar River, Shakargarh Sector


16. Naib Subedar Bana Singh, 8 Jammu and Kashmir Light Infantry, June 23, 1987, Siachen Glacier, Jammu and Kashmir


17. Major Ramaswamy Parmeshwaran, 8 Mahar Regiment, November 25, 1987, Sri Lanka (posthumous)


18. IC-57556 Captain Vikram Batra, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, July 6, 1999


19. IC-56959 Lt Manoj Kumar Pandey, 1/11 Gorkha Rifles, July 3, 1999, Khaluber/Juber Top, Batalik sector, Kargil area, Jammu and Kashmir (posthumous)


20. No 2690572 Grenadier Yogendra Singh Yadav, 18 Grenadiers, July 4, 1999, Tiger Hill, Kargil area


21. Rifleman Sanjay Kumar, 13 Jammu and Kashmir Rifles, July 5, 1999

EPIC

In our village temple of Narasimha there is this annual function of Narasimha Jayanthi. It is an auspious day Lord has has come out from a pillar to save prahlada, a great devotee of Lord Vishnu. It falls in the month of May. Before Narasimha Jayanthi there will be this 7 day reading of Bhagavath, story of Lord Vishnu and about his incarnations. Great Sancrit Scholars Venmany Vishnu, Krishnan and Paleli Narayan Namboothiri were invited to read the purana and explain stories in detail. All were experts in their respective fields and created an ambience of an era where Gods lived. Paleli has taught us a few slogas and I remember one about Jagadambika.

Ananaythranaikapranava hrudaye
devi dishame
dhanam dhanyam soukhyam
haricharanabhaktim cha vinayam
asooya matsaryaadhyanupama
manorogashamana
praveenam vanim
sathprakara paramaahlaada jananji
Sree Jagadambikaye Namaha.

In a materialistic world it is difficult to understand the meaning of this sloka. People are always on others nerve to either cut or to damage and matsarya the only weapon people keep to find a way to go on the top order and trap others in dangerous nets. It is true that including me all humans enter in a friendly world and turn as enemies of one or the other circumstances. And it is difficult to escape or run away when in hurry to prove a point or two and the outer layer tags on to Matsarya and from there the miseries begin. When I sit and edit a line I find a hand from a world of Matsarya near me and I will be forced to show my Matsarya and the circle of that dangerous net break all the wisdom acquired from life. There this prayer is effective; to eradicate matsarya and other manoragas like asooya, one should pray goddess Jagadambika.

You many ask, who has the time for all this, epics are out dated. This is a world of hypocrites. Might is Right. Right is Might. I am confused about all the wisdom I have acquired. Goddess, give me the wisdom to come out of all these confused hypocrisies