An idea, a thought, an anecdote, a story or a poem a day!

'The tragedy of the commons', heard about this phrase, another reason to be ashamed of human nature which is selfish and greedy, as we are careless and ignorant, we grab everything! A king made a big pond in front of his palace, and asked his people to donate a bucket of milk from each house,  to fill it and in the morning, he found a big dam of pure water,  as each person thought, who will know, if I throw a bucket of water instead of milk..... This dam, the commons, is the place or the thing, which is common,  belongs to none, doesn't belong to one person, neither you, nor I though it belongs to us when it comes to such a public good, we don't realise any limits, We, those who have the power to take what we want,   we keep taking We, those who have the greed not the need  For things  that nature willingly gives As it cares for us,  but do we?  There is a need for us, to know, to realise, to understand that it can't go on like this We can't ...

We can't go back in time to do what was left undone,  Or to undo that was done. The moment has passed, it isn't there, waiting for us,  to complete that what was paused, to make the amends to what we had missed to heal the hurts that we had inflicted. The need for these amends is no more But we can apologise,  an apology is better than an 'ignore', it says, we didn't forget, the hurt, the loss, the injustice, we can say sorry, for the grief caused!  In time we can't go back. But from time we can learn!  

Teaching, facilitating, helping, counselling, motivating to learn,  building the context,  building on what's known,  opening new vistas, giving the taste of the unknown, challenging, exciting the learners,  to explore the value, the power of language, knowledge and information  leading or coaxing them towards their goal, that they need to know, but still sometimes ignore Yes, teaching is everything,  But till the learner understands the need, and wants to learn,  nothing works. You can take the horse to water but cannot make it drink As an adult language learner, he or she is his or her own rider!  (Feeling a bit disappointed in teaching English to those wanting to achieve things, wanting to get further in life, but forget the steps towards that goal, and settle for much less) 

"Can I've a do nut please?"  I was very new in Australia, and still not sure of my pronunciation of new things.  Pronouncing 'do', just as do in 'I do' , I had put emphasis on 'do' , do: with a u: sound instead of 'oh', like dough. The shop assistant giving a disapproving look to me, said,  "oh do you mean a do (oh) nut"!  Feeling completely flabbergasted I said, " yes, I do"  pronouncing my  'dough' as 'do'!  English!!!  vague, tongue and argue - all ending with gue but pronounced so differently! Sir this point is a bit vaguu;! You fool, it is not vagu:, it is vague! Sorry sir, it was just a slip of tonguu:! Oh, ok, don't arg! The Professor said! 

When the moon grows big and round and shiny Only as big as a full moon can be, it gets eclipsed.  Not always, but sometimes!! The blood moon The super moon The pink moon The strawberry moon! What ever it is called  Even the Buddha jayenti moon, the moon of wisdom, and the intellect,  as once in a blue moon, it comes under a shadow, The dark shadows of ignorance cover it for a while.  The Earth, the world, comes in between  Till the Sun shines again!!

  Human existence and its purpose,   We, who live human life, sometimes we  think about our life, our body,  and the soul that  resides in it.  If we don’t, maybe we should.  Is it something we borrow? Is it for us to keep and use as we wish? Or i s it something that we  have to  return  at the end to its maker?    Sant Kabir's dohe, or couplets, that my father used to recite, singing in his deep, nasal voice, throw some light on such questions. One of them is about human life as wearing a shawl, that needs to be kept clean:     “Jhini jhini bini chadariya.   Jhini jhini bini chadariya.  pingla taana bharni,  sushumna tar se bini chadariya –  so chaadar sur nar muni odhi,  odhi ke maili kar diini chadariya Das Kabir jatan kari odhi,   jyon ki tyon dhar deeni chadariya". This shawl, made of a very refined cloth, is woven by nature with the three threads, ingla , pingla and sushuma...

 There is poverty, and hunger   lack of food, not enough to go around,  and then there is affluence and too much food,  plenty, enough, to go to waste. There are many children, and  limited resources,  and then  there are so many resources, unused,  cities created to make a point, remain empty, clothes, shoes, cars, big mansions office, school buildings, books, computers.  There is poor health, and disease but not enough medicine,  even no vaccine for those who want it, and urgently need, and then there are those who don't want it, but are forced, asked, and offered,  and then vaccine for those people who actually don't need it, at least now.  Is it an equal world? A fraction of the world population holds more than double of what the rest, around 7 Billion people possess. No it isn't an equal world!  It can be called instead  The inequality Virus , as it highlights 'inequality and deepened poverty around the worl...

Nostalgia,  About the same times spent the period and  the stories shared  and the songs heard, When shared among those by those who share a past,  of a family,  culture,  country. it binds them transports them into a shared zone in a shared place of comfort, enjoyment, sharing grief, laughter, tears!  An Indian, an Afghani, and a Pakistani, travelling together in a van, one is the hostage, the other is the terrorist, and the last one is the driver, a mercenary, all enemies in a hostile situation, are listening to a Bollywood song playing on the radio in the van, suddenly all start singing along, forgetting their enmity, fear or hatred for one another! (A scene from a Bollywood movie, I had watched a few years ago). Lets get nostalgic! (Heard about the role of shared nostalgic moments in team building on Radio National Counter Point today)

What a smile can achieve!  Today, while walking on my way to  the gym, I was crossing a drive way, when a car backing out of the building, obstructed my way, and then it stopped right there, not sure if it was because of me, or some other reason it had stopped, I stopped too. Should I go behind it and cross, or should I wait for it to move, I kept looking for the driver to notice me or to give me some indication. But none came, and after a few seconds, the car started to roll out again.  I tried to look at the driver. I was frowning as the driver, he or she had not even bothered to look for any pedestrians. I was a bit annoyed, and ready to say something rude,  but then... as the car was turning into the street, the person sitting on the passenger seat, an older woman, looked out, her face was beaming with a huge smile, as she waved at me.  And I couldn't help but wave back at her, and I noticed, I was smiling too!  I smiled at the person in the lift, going...

 The relationship of Silence This relationship of silence between us opaque, and  thick, that one could cut it with a knife, like the skin of a butchered animal,  revealing all the gory details of our strife. Your insolence, and my defiance,   your not remembering, or acknowledging, mine not forgetting, or forgiving! Yes, the victor gets to write history. And history decides who and for that matter ‘what’ is remembered  in the story. But I refuse to be forgotten, or to forget what you did.  You may ignore my presence: But I was, and I'm, and I will be! I am alive, am here and I will be. you can't overwrite me. I’m of the land, the mountains, the trees, and of the sea I never tried to write my name on them, like you did,  I am them, and they are me!

What's happening in the world, somewhere far from me, in another part,  That's not my problem!  If there is unrest or flood or a drought, and if people are dying in India of Covid,  it has nothing to do with me.  If children are getting killed in Gaza,  it is not my fault. But, what's happening in another part of the world,  it is still in my world,  so it is my problem too,  one day, it could be my part of the world, it could be me, and it could be my children too!  Remember the result of ignoring others' problems:  First they came for the socialists, I didn't stand up, then they came for the Jews, I remained silent, and then they came for me!  Though someone might say, "That's not my problem!"  But, isn't?  Aren't we all in it together?  (The quote is attributed to Martin Niemoller,  a German priest and an Adolf Hitler's critic).

A small note of music Neera I am  thinking of  creating music  of such majesty, and so grand  that I can shake the world,  change the way people behave. A symphony to bring a revolution,  to change the way people think  on this land! And in my humble, miniature world, on a crisp winter morning,   a swallow sings outside the window,  creating, in its one-man band, a  cacophony of peace, love and  loyalty  and I just bury my head in the sand! 

 This body in which we spend our days, breathe, eat, sleep, live We have the responsibility to keep it healthy.  To keep it clean, well nourished, maintained So that we can look after others, rather the other way around. This body is the temple of god!

This question or a set of questions one might ask oneself What I'm looking for Who or what? Where Why &  How If it is a journey, where am I going? Or am I actually going anywhere? If this a search for someone, or something, then where are they? If this is my destination, then for how long? There are no answers, if I don't ask these questions, if I don't pursue, I don't get it, as life is a persuasion of a kind!

What is the meaning of life, that is what we don't get to ask Or think about Or ponder over  The life itself keeps us occupied, and our thoughts, along with our actions, remain immersed in our day to day routine of living.    We do have a full life but is it, a meaningful life?  We don't get to ask this!! 

Enjoyed a Beautiful day at the Taronga zoo today. It all seemed so normal and usual, humans everywhere, car park full, ques to see animals from up close, to take photos with the koala, or to feed the giraffe, or to admire the elephants.  Or the rush to see the seal show, booked out, ques to get food, coffees, ice cream, children running around, shrieking with happiness at the playful meerkats digging the dirt, or the naughty chimpanzee jumping from the tree to the pit with leafy branches, throwing back at each other.  While the graceful zebra stands alone , the giraffe family is grazing together. And at The tiger walk, tigers basking in the afternoon sun, after a sumptuous lunch, yes, the real ones, and one tiger pacing around going round and round, as if in an orbit, made just for him, and a kid saying "I can watch this the whole day", while another was crying on missing out on seeing the baby spider. Looking at the animals, in captivity, so aloof, graceful, indifferent to t...

My father left a legacy  of words,  A treasure that is endless timeless and priceless decoding his writing and appreciating the meaning is our treasure hunt!  At the back envelopes some in his diaries, and many are scribbled on his books,  For example on an old book that belonged to my father these pearls of wisdom are scattered,  scribbled in his unique writing, cryptic and his simultaneous use of Hindi and English script  Pearls that he had picked up from the dirt and dust of this life along with what he had discerned from his readings, to create wisdom, that he lived by, and gave us, as his legacy.  His message of hope that this very world is our heaven  As it is where we are and it is where we are going, both places are the same, our father's home  Keeping ourselves, feeka , or simple in everything, thoughts, actions, and speech, is the only way to achieve Him.  Solution for our problems is in our own hand, only we can rectify our is...

After days, and months, the focus of the news has shifted from Covid, or Vaccine, and the question of the closing or opening of international borders, and what else is happening in the world has come into the lime light!  There has been a car bomb blast in Afghanistan, which killed tens of people, female students, children mainly, and now a clash between Israel and Palestine that has been raging for the past couple of days, ten Israelis and 100 Palestinians have been killed.... and it goes on. A bloody story which seem to have continued from the time immemorial.  People clashing for power, property, or for their different ways of praying to the same God!  The reasons are many, but we know, it is mainly because of Politics Religion Polticised religion Religionised politics  Religiosity Political fervour That forces people to kill each other. But it is time to remember That no one, not any one has won this war, this holy war! 

Gasping for that what was taken for guaranteed   Clean air Ease of breathing and now lack of oxygen  What is the matter, it seems nature has turned its back on humanity. So what is life going to be?  A battle or a compromise!

Who are these people where do they come from where do they live How do they live? And, why do they live? Questions that we ask, ponder over, and ignore. 

Yes,  with the humaN world, extending its borders and encroaching upon the wild where can the wild go? And those we consider Pests? Where can the bats, ibis and monkeys go?  Their habitat is no more.  Human world has pushed in!  They only come in close contact with us due to us , not because of their choice, because of their helplessness,  as they don't have a choice, it is our choice, our greed  our need. That we end up living closer to them.  And then, ironically These animals are considered pests, a nuisance, a danger to our health, house or hearth But in reality Who is the danger? Who is the nuisance  And who is the pest? Who encroached upon whom?  (Listening on the radio about bats and virus, that they carry around). 

It was a typical wintery day, today Clear, blue skies,  golden sunshine,  no cloud in sight Cosy, warm in the sun, if you could get there, but  Cool in the shade , freezing inside the house,   A little sniffly, an urge to get cosy, have a glass of ginger tea,  holding in both hands, warming, sending signals of comfort to my brain,  At rest , relaxed, content, and nostalgic,  missing what is in the past, another winter, another season,  it seems just yesterday when it was, when I was, when you were!  yes, time flies! 

 AlwYs there, always with us, and a part of us That we keep celebrating and being celebrated!! 

  Hospitality and our craze to be seen eating at a place, with a Brand name!! What a juxtaposition! Rules of hospitality -  Guest is most welcome Customer is always right... and so on!  Reason for doing the best to satisfy the clients, guests and customers  they pay with money, to get paid in return for satisfying food, comfortable seats and timely drinks! Basically, they pay to be seated and served with dignity! But with the trendy brand name places, where customers crowd to have the 'experience of just being there', or mainly to be 'seen' to be there, to have eaten there for the experience or for the Instagram, or for a Facebook post or check in, what happens then? The standard of what is served, and where, and how it is served, slides! With the guest being a complicit in keeping the façade of a place, the service becomes complacent,  instead of complaisant, complimentary or courteous! But trends come and go, and these Grounds are the fields, where g...

  5 words: gild, shell, compete, heat, splinter To see the sea world By neera To see the sea world is to see a mirror that shows us, refined, an edited version of the human world by comparison defined! The rainbow colours gild the fabric of its nautical being each sediment shines like a star in this deep deep blue holding its own splinter of light, its own point of heat There is no need to compare or to compete,  The coral circles, the patches of seaweed, the schools of fish and the colonies of shell  all moving alone or together, whether to feed or to seed swaying, swimming, swarming, striding  in and out,  with a splash or a swish, a swagger, or a sigh each finds its food or becomes someone else's feast No human greed, no hoarding strife This world beneath, it is a circle of life, much more carnivorous, but much more harmonious than the world we live in!  

Who am I ? You don't know Maybe you don't want to Don't need to or cannot  know. And  Who you are,  I want to I need to I can know. But I don't try  to know!!  Too hard Too much work Too little time Too much to do Too much to give in So,  we give up!  As to do so. You need to re-centre  I need to re-focus So we can find each other.  

At the art exhibition on 5th of May evening, it was  the Vivid a celebration of light, and colours,  some  really bright, and happy colours,   coral pinks, mauve blues, turquoise greens, peach oranges, lime yellows,  splashed, on stark white or dark canvas,  shiny, sparkling, artistically woven, and knitted beautifully  in the shapes of strange sea creatures, corals, and mythical sea birds  as they may appear in a little girl's dreams,  and the artist, herself beaming, radiant,  bright eyed, with childlike simplicity,  full of glee and honesty about her dreams, fears, her love and happiness,  opening a door, just ajar,  with a shaft of light,  letting us in, into her world, beckoning us to see how she imagines the world to be.    Art Exhibition May 5, 2021: Underneath the Veneer by Neis Wai https://artshinelicensing.com/artists/neis-wai/

In Indian Mythology, it is believed that the world goes through a petiod of time divided by four eras or ages, which are Satyug The age of truth Treta The third age, (there is a reason why the third age came before the second age) the age of ethics and morality, truth and good overcoming the evil, and mostly succeeding, Lord Ram came as an avatar to show values and duty for everyone through his own actions, teaching what each person needs to do in his/her role in society! Dwaper The second age, declining morals and struggling righteousness, the age of Maha Bharat, the big war, and the Bhagavat Gita Lord KrishN came in this era, as an avatar of Vishnu to teach the world about detached action and also introduced strategies to overcome evil, asking humanity to act, unattached and with no desire for selfish goals. Kalyug The fourth era it is this present time immersed in sin, we are now in it.. Too much evil, sin and it is time for repentance Avatar Kalki Avatar! Or Covid??? The world le...

Yes, where is truth? what's the truth and what is false, made up, or untrue, about something?  How can we know, how can we find out?  We can't unless we seek truth unless we ask, and listen, and see  (opposite to Gandhi's three monkeys). Yes, we can find truth  by seeking, what we know, what we believe in,  but also  By asking questions, By listening to what others say,  By looking at the other side too.  But we need to know that there is truth! It doesn't show itself, it doesn't impose on others, it keeps to itself! Yes, truth is absolute knowledge is relevant!

When we can't do what we normally did,  when we can't get back to the routine we normally followed  When we can't be with people that we always hung out with When we can't carry on what was our life style When we have to stay put, still and alone It is time to reflect and evaluate, value and appreciate  It is time to think, time to be a better person. 

After the pandemic has hit hard business as usual After the lock down business as usual After so many jobs were lost business as usual After so many lives were lost business as usual yes even in those houses  where everything is lost with the loss of one life,  Even there, one day, it will be normal, business as usual!   Yes, nature's cycle  it's system  What is abnormal, becomes normal with time!