TWIN DILEMMA

A visit by one of the twins named Ram and Lakshman sent us into childhood days, the envious collection of Amar Chitra Katha, the obsessive possession over toys and many other things. As yours truly and others mirthfully drowned ourselves in nostalgia, it was time to pull out the Ramayana. The quick read of Ramayana revived our memories and stoked new queries. Undisputedly Ram Lakhan is a common name for masculine twins in India, is it not strange to know that only Lakshman and Shatrughna are the twins while Lakshman is only a devoted younger brother of Rama and not his twin brother.

So, the most read epic also leads to revelations. Probably the movies and the natural feeling to name the twins as such which has recrafted the most "together" brothers as twins led to another mission. Who are the actual mythical twin brothers?

Lakshman and Shatrughna of Ramayana

Lav and Kush according to certain versions of Uttara Ramayana

Nakula and Sahadeva of the Mahabharata

Jaya and Vijaya of Vaikunta

Nasatya and Dasra - popularly known as Aswinikumaras

These names are not used for any of the twin brothers. In case of a male female twin could we consider names such as 

Draupadi and Dhrishtadyumna - none would prefer considering the tough lives they led

Kripa and Kripi- again not a very fond set for people who have even delved into the Mahabharata

Satyavati and Matsya - would never be a choice again due to the reason of she being the cause of Bhishma pratigya

Yama and Yami - never to be preferred by the mortals

But the most fascinating is that no twin sisters have been attracted to the names of Riddi and Siddhi. Is it that the father does not want to be Ganesh?

The illuminating lesson that emerges is that if the facts are twisted to suit one's needs too it will not attract any revulsion but if the powers that be desire that there needs to be an issue then a fiat would be issued on issues such as who could pray where to whom and when or whether Khilji could dream about Padmini or not. We could have an issue on whether it could be even feasible for Akbar and Jodha could have a song sequence or not. We could have panel discussions on whether someone has the right to speak or not as his forefathers had committed certain sins. IT IS A HONEST DILEMMA!!!

Another thought struck yours truly which could also invite the wrath of many, why do we not consider naming twin siblings as Surya and Pruthvi, if we wanted one to revolve around the other. May be a combative set of panelists would demolish this blog and consign it to the irretrievable recycle bin!!!

NOSTALGIA - A TRUE TRIBUTE

Merry Christmas meant a call to my friend's home to wish his parents on the day as yours truly would cherish the high school days of dropping into their place for a slice of the cake. The mentoring us from "chaddies" to trousers included these homes which formed part of our lives. Visits between homes. Monkeying around the guava trees. Exchanging the niceties of the diverse living was part of this metamorphosis. Decades later too the bonds have only strengthened even as my friend chose to leave the shores for a livelihood. 

Visits to his abode meant discussions that ranged from the need for his parents to be with him to the need for him to settle into marital bliss. The parents at no time treated yours truly different from their own sons who struck new roots Down Under. Their marriages did not diminish the bond either. The fact that the parents aged or the nephew became a handsome muscular hunk only garnished the relationship into a more savoury one to relish. Talking of savouring, visits to his home meant his father testing the delicate appetite of yours truly while the maternal instincts of his mother would be stoked deftly with beseeching looks and words to minimise the quantums. His mother would remark that it would be necessary to finish it all for the audible ears while catered to the needs albeit partially by reducing the intake marginally. These episodes were looked at as entertaining by the siblings and nephew while the parents were concerned about this unhealthy appetite.

The years had manifested into decades and the oft remark of the father to remind that yours truly needs to obey him in soft but equally firm words were episodes both looked forward to. In the year gone by the mother had suddenly become frail.

She had been in and out of the hospital for the last six months and not much was read into it albeit the fact that the brothers flew down as though they were just returning home from workplace. However, this Christmas call being received by my friend did not sound right but was reassured on a visit to the hospital. The medico in yours truly ( a person who is an expert in amoeba drawings as far as biology is concerned) held out the hope that she would be back home and it was only the weather that had played spoilt sport.

But, the diagnosis had gone as awry as any of the attempts to draw out anything other than an amoeba. The Sunday call to ascertain whether she was back home to decide a time of visit to promise her that if she would make me a sweet cake this time around it would be devoured without any remorse appeared to be a bit too late as the response was grave. Pepping the brothers up albeit superficially yours truly retired with the hope of being the all round entertainer once more at his home. The hopes were belied on the next day morning as it was announced that the benign hostess had hung her boots.

Thus, Sankranti which happens to be the day on which another friend's father called it a day a few years ago became the day for the final journey for this friend's mother. 

The visit to the church took yours truly to the time when a classmate of ours had lost his father. The culture of condoling was imbibed into us by our class teacher who took us down to their abode followed by the mass at the church. The church also the venue for the weddings of the family as well as the 80th birthday celebrations of his father now was still in its Christmas festoons to bid farewell to this mother of many. The priest read the sermon and the family was in tears while yours truly was immersed in the memories of the days that could no more be reminisced with her but only cherished. Repeated references to resurrection of Christ only invoked the question as to whether there could be one now.

The fact that the rituals of all religions involved the sprinkling of water on or around the remains as well as the different fragrances which are placed nearby confirmed the belief that in times when medical facilities were not this advanced, man needed to be sure that the journey was indeed the last and was probably testing the mortal remains for any semblance of life. 

Last tributes paid, the journey was made to the last abode and the best consolation that one could offer to the bereaved was a silent presence. The vaccuum is now patent. It is for nothing that it is said that all bereavements leave a void. Hard to come to terms but as it is said Time is the best healer. The time has now come for us to set ourselves as role models for the next generation as the earlier generation has done unto us.

NEW YEAR FLIGHT

Father Time has kept his date as the Gregorians chimed in a New Year. This year too rather the year gone by too ended on a hectic note as we raced to meet the year end deadlines. As merriment surrounded the workplace, with an eye on the clock the systems cluttered with data kept the otherwise dour workplace alive. The youngsters who were missing out on their New Year's Eve bash dished out wry humour which aided in keeping up the spirits whilst it was common knowledge that the pubs nearby had the revellers dousing themselves in a different spirit.

As yours truly went about the charade, the question as to the meaning of these daily chores at different workplaces created by humans came in for a mental scrutiny. The parents of two of the chums were in hospitals and one of them had flown down across the globe but there was no time for human courtesies. The strength of the crowd actually doing the work was that they saw little more than "to be done" attitude while the upper echelon was damning these very persons as the sloth who were ruining the institution. The middle was caught in the crossfire and did a tightrope walk.

Deadlines apart one wonders what would be a patient's plight with only doctors around with no nurses. Apart from the base of several romances, the patient would need just not patience but a lot more. There is an abuse of the working class. The racism is distinct. The chauffeur is no human as he is asked to wait in the vehicle while the boss toasts himself. The maid needs to be in the pink of her health and manage all her affairs with alacrity. Not that these classes do not have their own fair share of black sheep but the quantum that is spent out on their human quotient is also a matter of question. 

As files flew thick and fast, the youngsters suddenly rose up in unison, "Happy New Year". 2018 had not even been given a decent farewell of a two minute silence. 2019 had brought in its share of hope, aspirations, optimism and air of positivity. Will it be another year of the same routine or will things change for better or worse only time can tell.

But folks should that prevent us from using every opportunity to renew ourselves with hope and aspiration. So let us take this occasion to cheer up and greet everyone with a wonderful festive 2019.

A wonderful post is shared here to greet each and everyone

The Boarding on Flight 2019 has been announced....... 

Your luggage should only contain the b est souvenirs from 2018... 

The bad and sad moments should be left in the garbage....... 

The duration of the flight will be 12 months. 

So, tighten your seatbelt 

The next stop-overs will be:

Health, Love, Joy, Harmony, well-being and Peace . 

The captain offers you the following menu which will be served during the flight....... 

A Cocktail of Friendship 

A Supreme of Health 

A Gratin of Prosperity 

A Bowl of Excellent News 📰 

A salad of Success 

A Cake of Happiness 

All accompanied by bursts of laughter...... 

Wishing you and your family 👪 an enjoyable trip on board of flight 2019.....💥💥

Before Ends,

Let Me Thank All The Good People Like You ,

Who Made 2018 Beautiful For Me.

I Pray You be Blessed With A Faithful & Peaceful Year Ahead in 2019

Resolving to be a more frequent blogger another year begins!!!!!!!

THIS TOO WILL PASS

A series of setbacks leading to every action of yours trouly being misinterpreted and every word uttered being misunderstood led to a situation wherein silence was to be considered golden. As the debacles came to a downpour, the words uttered often by a well wisher "This too will pass" came to mind.

What do these words do? It just makes one realise that as the good times come to an end so do the bad times. 

It makes one realise that success was due to many others and as rightly said has many fathers. So will someone own up your debacles. No these are precious treasures which you need to adopt so as to be able to grow. It also teaches us to empathise and attempt understanding the reason behind the actions and words of others, however, unreasonable they may seem. Thus, this orphan for the world is your own creation and you are its father. Reflect on the day of fatherhood. Was it not a day you rejoiced? A day when a man tells the world that he has created a legacy. A day when the world admires the man who has convinced a woman to consummate, conceive and deliver. A day when the male rejoices his manhood with a babe in his arms. A day when a man relives his own childhood. A day he cherishes all his life with no measurable comparison and only second to that of the pleasure of motherhood. So the day you own up this orphan as a child of your own transforms the perceived sorrows into joys which in turn results in the world admiring you. Thus, this too will pass.

Let us in this background delve into the epic of epics, the Mahabharata where the worst of tragedies perceived comes to an end. So are the best of times. May it be the birth of the Pandavas and Kauravas or their weddings or the Rajasuya Yagna on one hand or the exile, the loss in the game of dice, the battle, the losses of lives of near and dear ones or the exile of the incumbent King with his consort. All did pass.

There is another fable that comes to one's mind. 

A devotee asks God "Why did you leave me at the time of distress?"

God answers "See the footprints on the sands of time"

Devotee: "In my good times, I see your footprints along mine but in times of distress there are only one set of footprints, My Lord"

God: " Those footprints are mine as I was carrying you since you could not walk through those times"

This parable also shows to mankind that one should not dwell on the present state but look to reason for moving forward.

Therefore, this too will pass is not only for bad times and hence cannot be a consolation. As this is the reality irrespective of good or bad times, it cannot be escapist. This is the real philosophy that everything has to pass.

To make this a bit more comprehensible, we can draw up two tales

A child is being taught the meaning of several words. It comes across a person named "Pichai" which means alms. But he is a rich man. Then comes across a beggar by name "Lakshmi" the Goddess of Wealth and so on. The knowledge that rose by any name shall remain fragrant hits the child when it comes across a corpse being carried only to know the name of the dead person is "Amar" meaning immortal.

The other tale is from the Mahabharata where Yudhishthira is to undergo the test of questions to quench his thirst and later revive his brothers. One of the questions posed to him is 

"What is the most surprising thing in the world?"

Yudhishthira replies

" The feeling of mortals that they are immortal"

This too will pass!!!!

AUGUST ABSENCE?

"An end of an era" has been a headline the frontpage has screamed through this month of August. Towering titans Karunanidhi, Somnath Chatterjee, Ajit Wadekar, Atal Behari Vajpayee, Kofi Annan have doffed their hats and bid adieu leaving millions baffled as to whether the spheres they once dominated would be able to survive their absence.

The Hindi doyen and the Tamil scriptwriter shared a single year of birth. Their poems shone through and paved paths for a new party to take root. The Jan Sangh, DMK, BJP owe a lot to them as the oratorial skills of these two doyens ensured a steady building of the parties. While the Tamilian's script could spur four Chief Ministers, the Hindi doyen was a master groomer of talent leaving a large second rung leadership who unabashedly wore him on their sleeve. If one could claim success even in his rival's success, the other could admire a Durga as well as castigate her. One chose to fight a battle through his life and even after death while the other built consensus through life and after death. One held Tamil against Hindi while the other held Hindi against English on the world stage. One became a Tamil icon while the other became a Pan India icon. Both shared a bond of being shrewd strategists and tacticians mastering the political landscape that the sun set as thousands walked behind even their cortege.

A cricketer par excellence and a great samaritan also in their demise shone through the grieving thousands. Wadekar and Chatterjee towered amidst these two icons in their exits showing that their place amongst the titans was very much in place. Even as the above sportsman and genial and sombretadministrator found their epitaphs being written the international diplomat Kofi Annan also bid an adieu. 

It would be common to say when we refer to them that in their august presence a deed was done but they have conjured an August Absence that is hard to fill. Though difficult to emulate would we be able to do so?

FRIENDSHIP - A RELATIONSHIP PAR EXCELLENCE

"A friend is not a person who need not ask you to do only what you like to do. U can also do something to please ur friend.  Friendship is mutual.  You need not hold on to ur opinions as always being right" was one of the comments that a post had elicited and as yours truly caught up with some posts on Facebook one of them had posted the need for a friend who would like Krishna not participate in the war but guide as well as another like Karna who would stand by the friend while pointing out his follies and try winning a war for him!!!

Lo and behold the need to blog surfaced instantly. Mythological friendships have always fascinated one and all. The honesty in the friendship between Krishna and Sudama bereft of the arrogance of post student hood achievements to lustily grab at the small pack of beaten rice or the straight forward approach of Suyodhana and Karna in the implicit trust they hold for each other. The interactions between these two characters from the time the former confers the title of AngaRaja on the latter to the day the former mourns the demise of the latter is a bonding which will make even the staunchest supporter of good v evil take a bow!

Another friendship that Suyodhana covets is the one with the son of his Acharya Drona - Aswathama who casts his dharma aside to fulfil a death wish of his friend. These in fact put the following saying to a severe test

Friendship cannot never subsist 

between a poor man and a rich man, 

between a man of letters and an unlettered mind, 

between a hero and a coward.

At least with these tantalising tales, yours truly has the fortune of being part of friendships which can be summed as

Understanding not agreement, 

Forgiving not Forgetting, 

Memories Last even if contact is lost

And

Ones who stay by your side

When the heart falls apart

But

Take pride in the 

Happiness from afar

While many think that friendship is about gossiping, chatting, sharing or caring for the problems they bring true friendship means while walking in opposite directions when they can stay side by side and reward each other with an abuse with a smile.

The coveted trophy of being referred to as "useless fellow" by the choicest of friends which brings a smile cannot be traded for a felicitation of tributes a la ones at a farewell. But none of us still have made the mark these mythical characters have made is a fact to be conceded while we unknowingly traverse to achieve the very same standards. 

Long live the relationship called friendship which Draupadi and Krishna showed can be between the opposite sexes too!

TREATS, ENTREATIES AND A DAY MADE!

The day had come to a close for the family and preparations were being made for retirement. The television anchor was at the highest decibel with a combination of his voice, the channel's volume and our own set's volume being placed at the maximum to suit the aging (y)ears of the inmates. The doorbell chimed over these tones to let in my late friend's son in who had come to collect some papers regarding claims to be made. As he settled down another laady landed with two kids to invite us over for a house warming.

Pleasantries exchanged, all attention centred on the younger of the two kids and to entice her into a conversation, chocolates were fetched and handed over. A couple were also handed over to the young man in his mid twenties much to the chagrin of the young kid. Soon we needled her and sought to compete for the treats in her hands. Liplocked and clenched fists moving to her rear for cover, the facial expression conveyed an absolute no to the entreating voices. The young man offered his quota to set an example which went in vain. Determination to safeguard her treats was writ large on the face of the young one raising chuckles all around. Her guardian espoused the cause of sharing, caring and loving whilst the young one quickly tucked away her earnings into a bag which contained the invites to join in the laughter.

The guardian was insistent on inculcating values while we profusely thanked her more for the wonderful prelude to retirement and less for the heartwarming invite. Innocence, Determination, Grit, Conviction embodied in a small body with a radiating smile which also conveyed her victory bid goodbye!

The day indeed was made!!!