The lesson of life

I still remember those days when I was in the upper primary in schools. Our class teacher taught us many important lessons that were not restricted to the courses of studies. One sentence he used to utter always echoes in my mind even today. He used to tell- "Schools and colleges give you only certificate and degrees. But the really knowledge that you get is in the practical field of life. So always remember that the world is the greatest school and the life is the greatest teacher" I am going to narrate an incident that is related to the theme.

One morning I was sitting in the balcony of my house after the routine morning work. A lot of people were on the move in the street. Elderly people who had overeaten during their youth were trying their utmost to get rid of the fat they had accumulated. Those who dig well everyday were desperate in finding avenues to get some income for the day to maintain the family. I noticed that a stone neither very small nor very big in size was lying at the center of the road. Careful people were trying to avoid it and make their way with an indifferent attitude. Some sensible gentlemen(?) who usually move in groups were very much happy to find a topic of discussion. They started cursing people who were responsible for the matter. They further commented that when no one was bothered to remove the stone from the road as it could give rise to traffic hazard. Probably they forgot that they could have easily removed the stone to a safer place. A young boy who was on morning walk with some of his friends hurt himself when he was hit, as he did not notice the stone. He called names to some unknown people for the incident. But it was a pity that the stone was still lying on the road.

Suddenly I remembered my teacher's words and went down to remove the stone. While coming back I was thinking is not the path of our democracy full of a number of such stones that endanger the life of individual , society and the country? Are we conscious to think of removing such stones even in dreams?

We think that our responsibility ends with the casting of a vote in the election once in 5 years or even earlier as per the demand of the situation. We should not forget that only conscious citizens make a democracy successful.Life has a lot of lessons to teach us if we are keen on learning.

Honesty has nothing to do with financial stability

We have heard since our schooldays that truth is stranger than fiction. I experienced the reality of this quote some time back. I was in a hurry to reach my office one morning when my car showed some problem. As I was not having enough time to call a mechanic, I preferred to hire a cycle rickshaw for reaching office in time.

I always try to study people, from various walk of life and put the reality of their life in pen and paper which I enjoy. I noticed that the rickshaw puller did not have anything on his body which we could call cloth /dress. He had one torn lungi on his waist and a gamchha(towel) on his shoulder. On inquiry I came to know that a cunning man, whom most of us call clever(?) had taken the rickshaw by availing of a Bank loan under the poverty alleviation programme of the Government in the name of the rickshaw puller and was charging Rs.25 per day to allow him to pull the rickshaw. Since the man was not educated he did not know what foul game are playing played under such programmes of the Government and how the HAVES are deriving all benefits that is meant for the HAVENOTS. I felt that I was also a party to this sin as I was also working in a Bank. To console my aggrieved heart I told him to stop pulling that particular rickshaw from that day onwards. I told him that I would arrange a loan for him and what ever money he was paying now daily to that nasty man, he should deposit in his loan account.

I was taken aback to see that the man started weeping. I asked him the reason. He told that none on this earth had ever thought of his welfare. The tears are out of the joy that someone who is totally ignorant about him was thinking about him. He further expressed his inability to avail of the loan. I was curious to know the reason. He told that the Pandit of the local mandir had said " give whatever you have to others but never take anything from anyone because the ATMA does not get PEACE with a burden especially when it is related to money". He again explained if he dies in an accident which is very common now on our roads, his ATMA will never rest in peace if he fails to repay the Bank loan. My head bowed down on listening to the reply of the poor(?) rickshaw puller. When multi millionaires in this country in connivance with bank people are playing all tricks in finding ways for not repaying bank's loan, is not this rickshaw puller an exemplary character for the society? Why after all should we tell that poor man are not honest?

Out of compassion I paid him Rs.15/ when I reached my office. The gentleman, yes definitely he should be termed a gentleman, politely gave me back Rs.5/- and told that the reasonable charge is Rs.10/ only. Is it not unfair on our part to look down upon such great characters only because they are not equivalent to our status in terms of money and other material pleasures?

antonym and synonyms- a change in the thoght

While we were in schools, much stress was given on learning of Grammar of all the languages. Since English is being given a preferential treatment at all levels in our country, the teachers were also very much concerned about teaching proper usage of English. I remember SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS made very interesting study in those days. Whenever our English teacher asked any question on this topic there was a competition between all of us to be the first to answer.

However after completion of study and on entering public life, I noticed with much pain and agony that what we had learnt in school and colleges had proved useless in the practical field. We have all forgotten the true meaning of different words that we use. Most of us have only one point in their life that is "building of career and achieving success at any cost". We never pay any attention to what our heart and conscience tells us but are eager to listen to all the just and unjust, whatever it may be, instructions of the boss. We do not have time to take our children to the Doctor when they fall sick but are very much concerned on the ill health of the pet of the boss.

I must come back to the point. I wanted to tell how we have started misinterpreting words. I give below some examples

We do not differentiate between humility and flattery. That is why one who can flatter very soon occupies top and important posts.

We do not have the sense to know the difference between Ego and self respect. That is why one who has self respect has to suffer throughout the life.

But in spite of this there are people who know what are virtues and what are vices. Only because of such people who are very few in number now a days, the country is still running. May GOD help us.

An interesting comment on Global warming

Most probably since the last 3 decades we have been accustomed to hear, please note not listening to, a lot of lectures to be more perfect sermons on protection of environment, global warming and social forestry as a means to combat with this menace

A lot of NGOs are happy with increasing their assets by arranging seminars, symposium etc which are graced by eminent personalities expressing their concern over the situation. Some other agencies with much pomp and ceremony are active with their campaign of social forestry and plantation drive, the sole objective of which is to get their photos published both in the print and the electronic media.Huge amount of public money is also spent on this account. But have we ever thought that after so many plantation ceremonies where have the trees vanished? If we go according to files, taking in to consideration the number of seedlings planted during the last 30 years the country by this time would had been turned in to a dense forest.But what is the reality today, 10months out of the 12 months in a year is hot. We were keeping the fan on during the summer only when we were kids, whereas it is impossible to stay comfortably without the AC even in the early part of winter.

One day while sitting in the office during lunch break,I was very much disturbed at this state of affairs,when the sweeper who was an illiterate man came to me and asked me why I was so serious. I told him the reason and just out of curiosity to know his reaction asked him can you tell me why the world is so hot? He told politely I have never gone to schools and do not know much about all these but I have heard people telling that increasing number of concrete buildings, motorized vehicles, rapid industrialization and above all deforestation is the root cause of this disaster. But Sir, frankly speaking all these points are baseless and are meant to be-fool the public. If you ask me I would tell when each one of us has developed a trend of negative thinking how can poor GOD keep the world cool. Only when we start believing in peaceful co-existence and develop a sense of caring the interest of our fellowmen then only the world would turn cool.I was surprised at the great thought of an uneducated man who is definitely wise then us, what I think. Friends this is a true incident in my life. Would you please care to think on this and add your might to spread the message to others?

Bank Nationalisation- a mirage in the desert

When Banks were nationalised in 1969, the greatest publicity that was made was " Bank's money which were in the hands of a handful of people will now be available to the common men" All those who are sensible never believed in this false promises, because a dialogue from a popular Hindi movie goes as "Promises are made no to be kept"

Have we ever thought that when we do not believe in nationality then who cares for nationalisation and that is a simple logic. Most of us especially those who claim themselves to be intellectuals are in all praise when it is a question of America, Russia, China, Japan and even smaller countries. But they are in the habit of finding faults with our own country. They probably forget that they also have certain amount of contribution for this situation.

Having served in a nationalised bank for long 36 years, I have closely and keenly observed all the irregualrities followed with all sincerity in the Banks. The result is growing numbers of frauds, economic irregularities and large number of loss making branches. It is an unbelievable fact that those who are responsible for this are often in the good books of the bosses and they go on rising in th ladder of promotion whereas those who speak of principles are taken to task. I have found people who request the authorities to get the a posting as per their wish but they should be made the branch manager only. One can very well imagine the motive behind this request. I have seen a branch of a leading Bank which had sanctioned loans 10 times to the amount of deposit. No one either the inspecting personnel or the administrative heads have pointed their fingers at this and one fine morning the branch was closed down. A cashier

of a branch of the same bank in Odisha has pocketed large sum of money which he had received across the counter from the public and had handed over counterfoils to them . The complaints lodged by the public with the administrative office went to deaf ears. Ultimately the public locked the branch and sat in DHARNAS when the said cashier absconded. But no one visited the branch though it is hardly 60 kms away from the state capital. Loan waivers, OTS schemes are very cunningly handled to benefit the persons who are close to the concerned officials

These are a few example of a leading bank in th state. The whole scenario can very well be imagined by people with sensible way of perception. Even then we beat drums and blow

trumpets and claim that bank nationalisation has been very successful, which is far away from reality.Mr. F.M can you hear me ?

Are we really honest?

In the modern time most of us expect others to love the motherland and be ready to sacrifice for its sake. But what is the reality? Hardly do we find someone who discharges his duty with honesty, sincerity and integrity, be it a salaried Babu, a powerful bureaucrat or the almighty(?) politician. After all what is the reason behind this devastating situation? Definitely the only answer is the increasing power of money.

Everyday we come across news items published in various newspaper or t.v channels that such ans such was caught by the vigilance for having assets disproportionate to his/ her income. Bu what is the outcome. A huge amount of expenses in the name of inquiry and the result is "WOHI MURGE KI EK TANG"

The dangerous trend of loan waiver to defaulters of Bank loan, relaxation to non payment of various taxes has encouraged the evil forces and discouraged the honest. People who put forth their demands peacefully and in a democratic way are beaten up mercilessly by the police whereas those who consider violence as the only way are invited with full honour for discussion.

If this trend continues that day is not far away when we have to consider Democracy as Demo(n)cracy. Harimohan Jha, a popular writer from Bihar had rightly stated PRAJATANTRA-Mutthi Bhar logon ke liye MAZATANTRA aur baki sab ke liye SAZATANTRA. In spite of this all of us pose to be the greatest nationalist and patriot.Oh God, please show the right path to all those who are responsible for this situation. I hope GOD would accept my prayer

Should we not remove the mask from our face?

एक युग ऐसा भी था, जब फ़िल्मी गीत समाज के लिए कोई न कोई सन्देश देते थे /  अब तो यह बेहूदा और सस्ता मनोरंजन का माध्यम बन गया है / एक गीत थे पुराना "दूसरों का दुखड़ा दूर करनेवाले -तेरे दुःख  दूर करेंगे राम" / उसी गीत को आधार मान कर उसी धून पर एक नया गीत पढ़िए ,जो देश में बढ़ते जा रहे काले  धन की समस्या पर है / मित्रों से अनुरोध है कि इसे प्रसारित करें कुछ तो अंतर पड़ेगा  ही 

विदेशों में काला धन रखने वाले -  आएगा न यह धन तेरे काम

क्या नहीं यह धन धूल समान  -    आएगा न यह धन तेरे काम --------

क्या क्या चालें चली रे तूने  , खुद को खुदा तू कहने लगा 

क्या क्या गुल खिलाये तूने , चमन पे पतझड़  छाने लगा 

दिल में झाँक के देख ज़रा तू (२) देश को कैसे किया बदनाम , विदेशों ------

धन तो है रे चंचल छाया , आज यहाँ तो कल है वहां 

उसके पीछे  गँवाया जीवन , इतनी समझ तुझमें है कहाँ 

आये यहाँ जाने कितने ही  - छोड़ गए एक दिन यह धाम, विदेशों में-------

कर उपकार तू दुखियों का  रे  ले ले दुआ ग़रीबों  का 

औरों का जो भला करता है ,बात क्या उसके नसीबों का 

अच्छा कर्म जो करता जग में , जिंदा रहता है उसका ही नाम, विदेशों में ----

अपने को समझा भाग्य विधाता , तुझपे विधाता हँसने लगा 

अक्ल पे तेरे पड़ा था पर्दा , तू सच कब यह समझने लगा 

तू तो है एक माटी का पुतला, सब के दाता हैं  एक  वही "राम", विदेशों में ----