25th Aug 2010 - Gandhi Jayanthi

                       For long i was aghast at the state of indian politics,like many others.But the reason was a bit different - i was upset that the native / common people were subject to all kinds of harrassment in the name of development.Be it the big dam, mining or any other dream project(for the select few), it is the native people who is relocated w/o any consideration.All in the name of good for the country - damn it!
                       Consider this - a big dam to serve a few thousands to irrigate better at the cost of lakhs who loose their livelihood and horror of horrors their home.In addition, environment is never cared for.I dunno how this can be justified.To top it all, no proper rehabilation for them as well - consider narmada bacho andolan and tonnes of other big projects.Knowing our largely second rate politicians, bureaucrats, govt. officials, this is no surprise.
                       But 26th Aug was a red letter day in the history of indian politics.Resisting huge pressures from the orissa govt, Environment minister Jairam ramesh had the courage and conviction to stop the mining of Niyamgiri hills for bauxite ore.
                       To add honey, Rahul gandhi has publicly backed the ban and had lent his voice for the tribals of Niyamgiri(even though it could be for votebank politics, it is still a laudable stance).Atlast, there is hope for India...Truly Gandhi would have been satisfied at these developments - this is real gandhi jayanthi.

http://www.governancenow.com/news/regular-story/ramesh-champions-environmental-laws-corks-niyamgiri-mining

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/article103761.ece - amnesty international's news on Niyamgiri

http://www.survivalinternational.org/about/niyamgiri - for more about the tribals, their life & plight.

    
P.S: Orissa govt will not backup so fast, already the chief minister has started cribbing publicly.Let us hope this one is a real victory.

Silent Revolution

"You know what! We can now buy isha's food products near our home - right in Ramapuram". I was surprised & happy upon hearing this from my wife. We decided to visit it in the weekend. Actually my wife got this news when she participated in Isha's "Run for water" campaign.

Weekend came, off we went in my new Honda Shine with our gundu. To our surprise, we could not locate it and so went back. After few days, my wife told "Got the exact address and landmark, please buy kanji, verkadalai on your way back to home from office".

Located the stores, entered it little bit tired from my office work. Met a tall well-built man in early 40s', wearing rudrakash.

"Ramki, came to buy isha products."

"Saleem,Isha meditator".

Oh, i could not believe, Saleem or sanjay. Did i hear properly. Of course it was saleem.

I was amazed and openly told him

"Cannot believe being a muslim that u r wearing rudrakash".

He smiled and i continued

" Didn't they object in ur family?".

"I don't wear it when i go to mosque.".

I totally forgot why i came there and started chatting with him. My eyes fell upon sadhguru's photo at a corner of the shop. He continued...

"You see, i'm a electrical enginneer into real estate. Suffered a huge loss of 15L during this recent recession. I was restless and was totally shattered. Someone suggested to me to try isha yoga. That's how i ended up being a meditator. I'm now more happy and contented.I have now started this garments business, hope i can break even soon".

I was once again remainded about isha's silent revolution in people's lives which includes urs truly. My heart ebbed with gratitude for my master:-)

Note:

Saleem is still a practising muslim, he is very proud of his own religion.

In fact he explained to me the link between science and islam.

Life as it is

Woke up very early by my standards - 6.30A.M.Weather was tender, Sun not yet in it's full fury.Thought will go upstairs, atleast in a weekend, to enjoy fresh breeze.The next 15 mins:

A squirrel, hanging like an acrobat, munching away the seeds of what looks like tamarind.Another one does the same but in a less risky way:-)

I was interrupted by the movement of our never-say-die bird - the crow.It perched itself comfortably on the adjoining tree, probably wiating for it's breakfast.

I saw a sparrow eating the seeds in a nearby flower tree.

Can our friend bee be far off if flowers are near-by?

When i gazed on the roadside, saw 3 puppies playing with each other, unmindful of the passing vehicles.

I heard a noise nearby and saw 2 crows sitting in our rooftop close-by.

What is that - is it dust? A watched it closely - it was white in color.Not sure, i tried to catch it could not catch any of them. Hmm. finally managed to catch one of them - wow, it is a tiny little white fly!

If these many of our beloved partners can live just near my home, which is definitely not green by any standards, how many could live in the planet?

It is not only about the 1411 Tigers of india that matters.The world is full of beautiful lives full of activity, can never ever be created by mortal men like us even in our wildest dreams.A great remainder, early in the morning!