Big collapse.

If you haven't heard its sound, the collapse was probably big. If some information and it's effects can't ever reach you, that information just does't exist for you. Thanks to cosmic speed limit and expanding universe. I wish we were so torn apart by the expanding universe, or a black hole, or whatever, that we go beyond each other's event horizon. But alas, few things are just beyond space-time, I'm just stuck with you. I know you won't understand this and I, in most likelihood, don't want you to.

Hrishikesh Alshi
Bangalore

Science and the God.

Science does not have and never had any problem with God. Science has a problem with the concept of God that religions evoke. All science needs is compelling evidence and religions do not have any. Religion says, “I don’t know, hence God”. Science says, “I don’t know, let’s find out”. The problem with religious approach is that, it shuts up your curiosity by giving delusive answers to your curious questions. Further, you are not allowed to question these answers, you are asked to believe in it. However, science keeps questions unanswered until it knows the answer precisely. Science will never ask you to believe in something. Even the most elite scientists hold no authority in science. Science only accepts anything if it has sufficient evidence, after it is thoroughly argued, questioned, debated and tested. On the contrary, religions are but belief systems. And strongly religious people generally proudly claim to have unshakable belief. Unshakable belief?! I mean, think of it. Unshakable belief means, they’ll not change their belief in any condition. Even if they are shown overwhelming, constantly accumulating, contrary evidence to their belief. In other words, they are proud of being brain washed. Such people are effing disgrace to the human species.

Hrishikesh Alshi

Bangalore

Don't be nice, just be fair.

Last Saturday, I dropped one of my friend to the Bangalore City railway station. I didn't have five rupees change, so he bought me a platform ticket. He joined the platform ticket queue and I stood nearby. While everyone, including my friend, were quietly standing in the queue. Two girls directly reached to the platform ticket window and asked for the platform tickets. These girls didn't bother to join the queue! I started looking around for a signboard that indicated a separate queue for women. Wasn't any. When the ticket issuer insisted them to join the queue, one of these girls asked my friend to buy a platform ticket for her! The catch here is that there were couple of girls standing in the queue too, in front of my friend, this girl did not request those girls. While I wished that he should not entertain this request, which he did, the other girl asked me for the same. I refused. When you help such people who do not bother to join the queue, you are, in a way, discouraging the others who are standing in the queue for one thing and for the other thing, these girls think that you are an idiot and that they can get anything done from you by virtue of being girls. And some guys fall prey to this and few morons ironically feel privileged. In today’s world, use your mind and help only then. Nobody dies in the want of platform tickets. Help only when it is really required. Don't be nice, just be fair.

Hrishikesh Alshi
Bangalore

माऊली सांज, अंधार पान्हा. विश्व सारे जणू होय कान्हा...

From quite some time I was trying to understand the meaning of the words 'Consciousness' (चेतना in Marathi) and 'Awareness' (जाणीव in Marathi). Dictionaries identify them as synonyms of each other and people sometimes use these words interchangeably. Do they have overlapping meanings?

My instinct and innate feeling tells me that there is some subtle difference. Even after a lot of reflection, I'm not able to differentiate between these two words in the manner that is clear and complete.This humble attempt is just to pen down my own understanding of the meaning of these two words.

'Consciousness' is the state of mind and 'Awareness' is the state of soul. Mind actually have four states:

1. Unconscious state.
2. Subconscious state.
3. Conscious state.
4. Super conscious state.

Under the influence of anesthesia, in deep-dreamless sleep, due to brain injury our mind enters the realm of unconsciousness. Awareness is zero in this state of mind.

Subconscious and Conscious states of mind work very close together. Anything that is routine, our conscious mind delegates to the subconscious mind. For instance, consider this situation, when you are learning a car driving. You have to do everything consciously, changing gears, pressing accelerator, controlling steering etc. But soon when it becomes a routine, your conscious mind finds no challenge in it and delegates this responsibility to your subconscious mind. You can then focus on more interesting stuff like listening music while driving your car etc. Let us take one more example, when you move to a new house, you have to consciously find the light switch among the available switches, to switch on the light. After few days, whoa! you switch on the light without even thinking about it. You press the correct button. Always!

If it is too routine a work, even your subconscious mind finds it no more challenging and delegates this work to your unconscious mind. Evolutionary biologists tells us that, at early stages of human evolution, the beating of heart, digestion etc were conscious and voluntary activities.Over the huge period of time, as they became too routine an activities, that our conscious mind delegated them to our subconscious mind and then they were delegated to the unconscious mind. That is the reason why, heart beats even when a person is in coma.

Yoga tells us that there is one more state of mind that is super conscious state. This is the supreme state of mind and there is full awareness in this state. This full awareness is nothing but the enlightenment of the soul, self-realisation, salvation etc. This is the state when you (your soul) release its true self i.e its omnipresence and that there is no personality but God.

More the consciousness more will be the awareness. No discovery has ever happened in this world without the concentration of mind. When scientist concentrate his mind on something, it reveals its mystery and scientist become aware of it. Concentration is also one way of controlling your mind. More you concentrate more will be the consciousness. We can increase the consciousness of mind by controlling it. One way to achieve this is by meditation. In meditation, you control your mind and in the process increase consciousness of your mind and become more aware.


Hrishikesh Alshi
Nagpur/Bangalore

भिशील ऐकून असले वेद, बन दगड नको खेद!

1. Love is not so blind.
2. Free lunches are not really free.
3. Good can happen to a bad and vice versa.
4. God does not interfere in the laws of Physics.
5. Give world the best you have and often you will regret.
6. When less profit becomes loss, peace of mind goes for a toss.
7. Do good to others at your own risk.
8. No one knows God and there is no guaranty that your prayers will be answered and that you will get good in return of good (even in the afterlife, if at all it exists).
9. There are unanswered questions and that doesn’t mean you should accept theology.
10. Good things are often simple, tasteless and boring.
11. You do not need to ‘believe’ what you ‘know’.
12. Life is mostly business, plus mother.
13. Happiness is NOT in ignorance.
14. One pays most for the things one gets for nothing.
15. Unshakable belief is an attribute of a lunatic.
16.  Life is not fair unless you understand Physics completely.
17. Don’t be nice with others, just be fair.
18. Men do not have the liberty not to be strong.
19. Beautiful girls have the right to be stupid, men will laugh at their silly jokes and it is easy, for men, to forgive their cardinal sins.
20. Testosterone drives the world.
21. It doesn’t matter how much you bargain, you will always feel cheated.
22. It doesn’t hurt to be an idiot until you know it.
23. The difference between a fool and a good person is that the fool doesn’t know he is being fooled.
24. Believers have the psychological advantage over those who think rationally.
25. Stupid people are cocksure and intelligent men are full of doubts.
26. Your kindness will be considered as your weakness. Don't be kind.
27. One sided love can ruin you to the core. Mostly you will never love again.
28. Good things are often done out of fear, for reward or to retain image. And if done for any other reason, then, that is true love.
29. Beauty of women and the wealth of men.
30. It doesn’t matter how much you love someone and how crazy you are about them. If they don’t love you back it is not even worth two cents. And that is most certain.
31. Desperation can spoil any preparation.
32. Hating math is NOT cool.
33. Every other science is but the manifestation of the laws of Physics.
34. Most happy people are happy not because they are enlightened but either because they aim/expect low or they don’t know their responsibilities.
35. It doesn’t hurt much what you don’t know. What hurts is what you don’t know you don’t know.
36. Life is not easy but it’s worth living.
37. If you think people will stop judging you once you ‘prove’ yourself, you need to rethink. People still judge Tendulkar.
38. If you don’t care about yourself no one else will.
39. You are not rewarded as having brains; you are rewarded as using them.
‎40. Competition is good.
41. Time does NOT heal everything.
42. Astrology is unscientific nonsense.
43. Any order that is created in your life, creates much more disorder somewhere else in the universe. This, in Physics's jargon, is called as 'Entropy'.
44. Humans do not have free will, believe it or not. We live in the world of causation where NOTHING is free.
45. Silence does NOT speak louder than words.
46. Brain can never dwell on the soil of belief.
47. Correlation does not imply causation.


Hrishikesh Alshi

God does not play dice.

"Incredible creation!" He exclaimed. He was mesmerized with the beautiful scenery on the Pune-Mumbai highway, on our journey to Mumbai. I looked out of the window to see the beautiful fall of water from the green mountain, a soft drizzle, a rainbow, birds flying just above the rising Sun, a deep orange colored sky and the Earth carpeted with green grass. And coincidently all existed together.d it was incredible. But I doubt if it was a creation. When he exclaimed "Incredible creation!” he inherently meant that that scenery was created and (I assumed he meant) God created it.

Was that a creation? Did God create that scenery? Who created this world, Sun, Moon, Stars and the Earth? You see, Earth, such a complex habitat, perfectly suitable for our living. Water, oxygen, carbon, ozone, rain, soil and plants all exists and in correct proportion to sustain life. Can it exist by chance? Randomly? Just by coincidence?

It is very natural for average human being to attribute it to the God. And why not? Our common sense tells us that everything that exists is a creation and God is the creator. Most of the people today believe in this theory. This theory is called Creationism and those who believe in this theory are called as creationists. According to creationists God is separate than his creation. Bible and Qur’an advocate Creationism.

Well, what “Sanātana Dharma” has to say about it? “Sanātana Dharma” is the real name of what we call today a “Hindu Religion”. We got the name “Hindu” in 13^th century. Hindu really means people living in the land across the river Indus (Sindhu). The religion taught by lord Krishna in Shrimad Bhagwad Geeta is “Sanātana Dharma”. There are two theories in “Sanātana Dharma” first is द्वैत वेदान्त and the other is अद्वैत वेदान्त .

द्वैत meaning two i.e. God and universe are two different entities. God is creator and this universe is a creation. अद्वैत meaning 'no two' i.e. God and universe is no different. अद्वैत वेदान्त is considered as the most influential and most dominant sub-school of the Vedānta .

Advaita Vedānta says

“Brahma satyaṃ jagat mithyā, jīvo brahmaiva nāparah”

This means, Brahman (God) is the only truth, the world is an illusion, and there is ultimately no difference between Brahman (God) and individual self (or Universe i.e everything that exists).

Just to elaborate, “There is no personality other than God.” Advaita Vedānta does not make any difference between creator and creation. This means God is everywhere. Not so easy to comprehend?

Let us see. How do we get any knowledge about this world? Well only through our five basic sensory organs, eyes, ears, nose, tongue and skin. And you see, each of these sensory organs have their own limits. Our eyes can only sense the light if its wavelength falls under a particular range. That’s why we can not see X-ray light etc. Same is the case with our ear. It can only sense the sound falling in the particular intensity range. This is true for all of our sensory organs. This means that we can not know anything that exists but does not happen to fall in the range of any of our sensory organ. Imagine a substance or a living being which exists but does not fall under the range of any of our sensory organ then it just does not exist for us! But with the advent of microscopes, telescopes and other scientific instruments we have kind of broadened the range of our sensory organs and thus we can see the living beings which are not visible to the naked eyes. The gist is that we know very little about the things that are around us. Our perception about this world is limited to the limits of our sensory organs which is bit broadened by the advent of few advanced scientific instruments.And further more, what we perceive from our senses is only true RELATIVE to humans. Well, a red rose is red only for humans. The same red rose is black for a cat and may be blue for some other animal. So what is the absolute color of the rose? Red? Nopes. Then what is the reality? What is the REAL color of rose? Well, the reality itself is RELATIVE. Today’s science says that there is no ABSOLUTE reality.

Advaita Vedānta claims that, there is actually no rose! No red color. There is but one continuous omnipresent God. Not convinced?

Imagine you are in a dark room and your eyes can see very little. You happen to see a snake. You tell yourself that it cannot not be a snake and you try to touch it. Your hand feels the texture like snake and you shout. Someone switches on the lights and you realize that it was actually a rope. Well, your fear was real and your loud shout was also real. And the existence of snake was also the reality but only in that dim light. This (if applied to our red rose example) means, for whatever sensory range human have got, the color of rose is red. But only RELATIVE to the human sensory range.

During the revelation of ‘Srimad Bhagavadgita’, God Krishna had bestowed special incredible sensory range to Arjuna and due to which Arjuna could see the ‘Vishwarup darshna’ the omnipresence of God. When he was bestowed with the special sensory range he actually saw that there was no ‘Kurukshetra’ no chariot no horses no trees no earth no sky no humans and not even himself but only continuous God (omnipresence of God). Then he realized that there is no other personality but God.

It is only due to our own restricted sensory rage that we perceive one continuous omnipresent God to be a rose, a table a chair. How can God be omnipresent? Well, everything is either living being or non living being. All the living beings and even non living beings are made up of matter. Matter is nothing but energy. (E = mc²). So every thing that exist is but the manifestation of energy. And the most subtle form of energy is God. In that way this world and every bit of it is one continuous omnipresent God. In other words, this world and every bit of it is but the manifestation of God.

To put it in the layman's terms, if the God happens to come in front of us and if we try to see him with whatever sensory range we are bestowed with, we will see this universe! We will see exactly what we see daily, a rose, a table, a chair, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth and stars i.e. this universe. And if the God happens to bestow us with that incredible sensory range which he bestowed to Arjuna, we will realize that there is no existence of a rose, a table, a chair, the Sun, the Moon, the Earth and stars i.e. this universe does not really exist. But there exists one continuous omnipresent God. The universe that we see today is but one continuous omnipresent God but due to our restricted sensory range we get the illusion of the existence of this universe.

Advaita Vedānta claims that, the existence of most subtle God is spontaneous (spontaneous meaning without its creator). This argument of Advaita Vedānta is still consistent with the modern day science.edānta rejects the existence of a personal God. Who rewards good and punishes evil. Who listens to our prayers and interfere in the functioning of the universe. It says that universe reacts to your actions and these reactions follows certain laws. If you happen to comprehend these laws you can leverage them to achieve whatever you want. And thus there is no need of personal God to answer your prayers. So much encouraging!

Let us see what the modern day science has to say about it.One of the most elite scientists of today’s world is Dr. Stephen Hawking. He is English theoretical physicist and cosmologist. When pressed on his own religious views by the BBC channel 4 documentary, Genius of Britain, he has clarified that he does not believe in a personal God.

Note that by personal God he means a God that is and can be related to as a person. Generally speaking, the term "personal God" mostly refers to the theistic conceptions of God that exist in the Abraham faiths and certain denominations of Hinduism (like in Dvaita Vedanta. Note the difference between Dvaita Vedanta and Advaita Vedānta both are opposite to each other. Dvaita Vedanta advocates the creationism however Advaita Vedānta advocates one continuous omnipresent God i.e. speculation of God as "the All")

Dr. Stephen Hawking further says, “Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going.”

And Stephen’s latest book “The Grand design” argues that invoking God is not necessary to explain the origins of the universe, and that the Big Bang is a consequence of the laws of physics alone. In response to criticism, Hawking has said; "One can't prove that God doesn't exist, but science makes God unnecessary."

Science argues that the whole universe at the time of big bang was extremely incredibly squeezed in a size of a dot, 13.7 billion years ago. And then during big bang it exploded and expanded (and it is still expanding). But that dot along with the laws of Physics (like the law of Gravity) existed spontaneously (without its creator).

As you can sense modern day science denies the existence of the personal God but it accepts the “spontaneous creation” which is consistent with Advaita Vedānta. Modern day science does not yet accept or even deny the existence of one continuous omnipresent God i.e. the speculation of the God as "the All" who does not interfere in the functioning of the universe.

But the concept of spontaneous existence (of dot and laws of Physics) goes against common sense. Because whatever we know of today is a part of creator-creation chain. We can not think of something existing spontaneously (without its creator). If I say, "There exist something that was not created by any creator" it goes against common sense. There are few things that go against common sense but are perfectly logical. For Example: a concept in the Theory of Relativity that says "Two person's argument may contradict each other but can yet both be correct." Another example could be, "Time and space is no different". Yet another example is "If one can travel beyond the speed of light he can reach the past." - These statements were proved by Dr. Albert Einstein. The statement, "There exists something that was not created by any creator" might go against common sense but can still be correct. We need to understand that our common sense is developed by our day-to-day experience is mostly limited to our habitat, the Earth. But in comparison with the universe and multiverse the existence of Earth is way too insignificant. So our common sense can not be the ultimate just of the ectly logical.

The billion dollar question is, why can't something exist without its creator? Even creationism says that the God exists without its creator. If God can exist without its creator then why can't the whole world exist without its creator? It is not easy for anyone and everyone to question it because it has become our instinct. But paradigms do change. If we are truly rational then we should be able to question "Why there can NOT be an existence of something without its creator?” Thousands of years before "Gravitation" was an instinct of people. Nobody asked "Why things fall down?" It was an instinct, it was so very part of their lives, it was OBVIOUS to them so no one questioned it but one true rationalist did question his instinct. He asked "Why things fall down?" and "Gravitational Force" was discovered. And the whole world embraced his theory. Then years later Newton’s theory got discarded. And scientists realized that "Gravitation" is not a force it is a phenomenon, it is a characteristic of matter (and significant characteristic of massive objects like Earth and Sun).

Actually, because we (humans) are residing here on Earth and we know very little about the Universe. We tend to think that someone (God) must have created this world. We can’t believe that our complex habitat (Earth, soil, water, oxygen, rain, plants, food, Sun etc and that too in correct proportion which is suitable for our existence) got created at random, by chance, by coincidence. But only if we study the universe we realize that there is no coincidence at all!!! To make things simple, let us first understand what COINCIDENCE is and what it isn’t. Suppose if I wanted “four” on the face of dice. I threw the dice and suppose I got “four” in very first throw it IS a coincidence. Suppose I threw a dice six times (or more than six times) and If I got “four”, it is NOT a coincidence, then.ing is that the probability of getting four on the face of a dice is 1/6. Suppose the probability of existence of this habitat is 1/x (x can be incredibly large) and there are x or more than x planets (habitats) in the multiverse then it is NOT a coincidence at all. And science tells us that such is the case. There are many more planets than x in the multiverse. So it isn’t a coincidence at all. In fact, chances are that there are few more such planets where life exists. Chances are that we humans are not alone. Probability of the existence of aliens is significant.

We now know that our galaxy is only one of some hundred thousand million galaxies that can be seen using modern telescopes, each galaxy itself containing some hundred thousand million stars. And each star may have few planets orbiting around it. Earth is just one of it. Do you now see that the existence of life on earth is NOT a coincidence? If the existence of our complex habitat (ozone, oxygen, carbon-di-oxide, water etc) had 1/X probability (X be incredibly high) and if there are more than X such planets (habitats) then existence of earth, our habitat and life is NOT at all a coincidence. You see, God is not necessary to explain the origins of the universe, and that the Big Bang is a consequence of the laws of physics alone. One can't prove that God doesn't exist, but science makes God unnecessary.. That’s why Dr. Albert Einstein said "God does not play dice".

Hrishikesh Alshi
Nagpur/Bangalore
Date: 18th June 2011
Source: Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

That Makes You Larger Than Life.

Kalyani Taai is one of the greatest person I had ever been with. The bestest thing about Kalyani is that she is "Sacred", by all means. Her thinking, her actions and most importantly her relations with everyone are absolutely sacred.

Most amazing thing about Kalyani Taai is her brobdingnagian influence on me. Even a very trivial thing that she does makes a great impact on me, at a very deep level. I belie her every now and then but internally, at one level, I tend to believe whatever she says. If she says this person is good, this book is good, this certification is good or this company is good. I start respecting that person or thing. And even more astonishing thing is, if she happens to say the same person is not good. Yes. I still do believe it. This is the thing with all sacred and genuine people that their impact on you is very deep and pleasing.

Taai is a 'Way' I have always followed intrepidly.

You have been my sister
for many years,
We have laughed together
and shed some tears.

We have had harh words
and pulled some hair,
but against the world
we are the terriffic pair.

Our times together
are very few,
I just want to say
I love you.

Rushu.
Nagpur/Bangalore

"Ek Parva Sampala" - The End Of An Era.

On the notice board of the S.R.K.N.E.C administrative block. We saw a notice about the "DREAM COMPANY". Package 5.2 L.P.A with other benefits. I wondered, I would not be allowed to appear for this company as I was already placed in WIPRO but I realized, my luck again had a pleasant surprise for me. In the red bold letters they had typed, "NOTE: ALL THE PLACED STUDENTS ARE ALSO ALLOWED TO APPEAR.".

I made my mind to give the best shot and from the very day started preparing. Informatica decided to have campus recruitment on 9th July 2007 in S.R.K.N.E.C, Nagpur. As engineering exams would be comfortably over by then. Who cares about M.C.A. exams and students anyway? For us, it was a day between two papers. On seventh we had 'Computer Graphics' paper and on twelve we had 'Distributed Operating System' paper.

I never believed I would get into this dream company but I offered the best shot. I am short of first class in graduation and to add to this I am a failure in the last year of graduation. Academically, I have wasted one year of my life. Being a fifty nine pointer in my graduation I only targeted Lambent Technologies (of late called as Global Logic) but you never know what life has instore for you.

On the day of the interview, by mo0rning 7:30 or 8:00, we all assembled at the administrative block of S.R.K.N.E.C. We kept on talking with each other but I am sure noone was much interested in that talk. I was in my own reverie. After a long, enfeebling and hot day, I was the last person interviewed by Aditya Shangi and Shreesha Balakwadi, two wizes of Informatica. I was full of enthusiasm and energy. This is something I have learned during my pursuit of Cricket, 'to perform the best when it matters the most'. I believe, I performed my level best in the interview. Good wishes of beloveds and luck played its role and I got shortlisted in the last four candidates. You may somehow explain how it feels when dream comes true but how could you explain when something you never dreamt of, never even had in wildest of your thoughts, comes true?

Kalyani Taai and I reached "Dharampeth". I felt vibrations of mobile in my pocket as I was about to park my bike. I took my mobile out, thinking it was Bhau kaka. Yes. I saw, "Bhau Kaka calling..." on my mobile screen. Nither I disconnected his call nor I answered it, my mobile kept on ringing. We entered through the door without knocking it. I saw Bhau kaka was sitting on the sofa in his lily-white pajama and banyan having telephone receiver in his hand. He was kind of irritated and raring. He looked at us as we entered the hall. I waved my ringing mobile, he kept the receiver down. The thing about Bhau Kaka was his mood transformation from irritated to smiling was possible in no time. This is the thing with all innocent and genuine people. He gave us a welcome smile and I read curiosity in his eyes. I could not resist the enthusiasm and excitement exploding out of my heart. I held the black colored T-shirt I had brought with me. At the back of that T-shirt he read...

got innovation?
INFORMATICA
"The Data Integration Company"

I kept looking at his face as he read that out. I was eager as hell to see his expressions. I saw the copiousness of selflessness, innocence, satisfaction and happiness existed on his face. Bhau kaka is one of the most loved and admired person in my life. I explained him how the interview have been. He was very happy and satisfied that day. We could not talk much as it was pretty late night.

Bhau kaka, my eldest paternal uncle. A 58 year old (though always looked ten years younger), voluntarily retired person. He was a chieftain of our bizarre joint family. We have this wired concept of joint family, we live in separate abode yet share the joint family culture. Bhau Kaka was the simplest person you can imagine. Simple appearance, simple living and simple nature. He was principled yet mother-hearted person. Very disciplined yet forgiving. Innocent yet shrewd. Strict yet loving. A self made man. He had panopthic knowledge in almost all arenas, you name it. History, geography, civics, politics, current affairs, mythology, religion and even spirituality. He was a very honest person all he had was hard earned money yet never hesitated to spend it on needies. His nursing was tend. He was a great son and had all "Shravan baal" traits in him. In Kalyani Taai's words he was "Sacred". ( "Pavitra" ). He made incessant adjustments and sacrifices all his life.

I and Taai have brobdingnagian influence of his. Specially Taai and Bhaukaka had intimate bond between themselves. He was no less than a father for us.

Just after few days of this mega event of getting a dream job, on 15th July 2007, we invited all my uncles for dinner, simply. It was all my idea. I importuned Aai for inviting them for dinner.

It was about 19:00, I and my youngest uncle, Bala Kaka, were watching "Aaj Tak" on television. Prabhu Chawala was having "Seedhi Baat" with Himesh Reshmiya. Actually we were not much intrested in "Seedhi Baat" we were waiting for other two uncles to come. Aai was in kitchen preparing "Dashmaya" (A recipe in Maharashtrians.). Taai was out for some work and pops went out to deliver tiffin for Aaji.

A mobile rang. Uncle sitting beside me took the call and in a moment his facial expressions sunk. Looking at his expressions I got the gut feeling and I pretty much sensed the approaching cataclysm. In shivering voice he said, "Bhau Kaka cha accident zala aahe." (Bhau Kaka met with an accident.). Call was still on. I and Bala kaka, we rushed towards the door. I asked Bala kaka, while putting on shoes, "Who is on the call?", anticipating it was some stranger calling from the accident spot. Bala kaka replied, still in shivering voice, "It's Raju, (My other uncle) who lodged Bhau kaka in the car, rushing him to the "CIMS" Hospital". He added, "Truck hit him."

We rushed to CIMS hospital. I ran inside the hospital and inquired the receptionist about the casualty while catching my breath. She said no casualty reported latterly. I was bewildered and asked her to arrange a doctor urgently. I was literally panic-stricken. I kept running in the hospital in the hope of catching the doctor. In the meantime the car carrying Bhau kaka reached in front of hospital. When I saw Bhau Kaka, He didn't have major wounds. I felt a bit relaxed. But when I took a closer look he was unconscious. We took him to the stretcher and rushed him to the casualty ward. Doctor took him inside the ward and closed the door. I heard words from Raju Kaka, "Gela to". ( "He has passed away".) . I wanted to believe, I didn't hear that. I wanted to believe I heard something mistakenly. We waited for doctor to come out of the ward.

Doctor came out of the casualty ward and said "He is not alive". These are the ethics in the medical field. A doctor would never say someone has died. They use better words to put it in front of the relatives of a dead. Which doesn't make any difference to the relatives anyway. My senses froze for a moment and I missed a heart beat. As if time had stopped for a moment. Doctor's words echoed in my mind. I felt a prompt impuissance. Beside me was Raju kaka. Who probably had the hint earlier. As he was the one who received Bhau kaka from the accident spot and took him to the hospital. I bosomed him tightly. I don't know why? May be I needed an immediate support.

A thought about my Aai rushed my mind. What if Aai comes to know about this news? What if she asks Taai to take her to the hospital. I knew it would be difficult for Taai to ride after knowing all this. Thoughts occupied my mind, How am I going to tell this news to Taai? How we are going to tell this to Aaji and Aatya. How would they react? How can this happen? How can Bhau kaka leave us? How? How? How?

I became overly concerned. I felt no one should ride a vehicle as it is gonna be extremely difficult to ride a vehicle having such jumbling of thoughts in mind, impuissance in body and grief in heart.

I made Raju kaka sit on the bench. I asked him not to ride the bike. I took the bike keys from Bala kaka and started riding the bike towards the home. I experienced how difficult a bike riding could be. My senses were throttled. I felt lack of coordination. My legs were trembling and I felt immense difficulty while changing the gears of the bike. I somehow managed to reach home. I made my mind not to tell this news to Aai and Taai, immediately. As I never wanted to loose the control of the situation. I wanted to take both Aai and Taai to the Aaji's place where everyone was supposed to gather. As I never wanted Taai to ride, which meant I had to make a double trip to the Aaji's place. I never wanted to take the risk of telling them before taking them to the Aaji's place. As it would have been extremely difficult for me to ride double seat after they knew it.

I parked the bike and stood near it. Took a breath. I took my shivering hands to the face. I rubbed my eyes and face as if to wipe off the facial expressions and entered inside the home. I told Aai that Bhau kaka is okay and having minor wounds. I told her to come to Aaji's place with me. Taai had a gut feeling. I don't know how but she sensed some cataclysm. She started boohooing. I told her that nothing had happened and told her that her gut feeling is wrong. To convince her, I told her that Bhau kaka shook hands with me and is perfectly fine.

In the first trip I dropped Aai to the Aaji's place and in the second trip I took Taai. On our way, Taai kept asking me if I am telling the truth or not. She kept asking me if Bhau kaka is okay or not. While I was riding the bike she had kept her hand on my shoulder. I kept my left hand on her hand and reassured her. Somehow I managed to convince Taai that Bhau kaka is alright.

I dropped Taai to the grani's place by this time, almost everyone from the apartments, relatives and friends gathered. This mob created a doubt in my Aai's mind. She obviously thought, if Bhau kaka is alright, why so many people have gathered? She felt that Bhau kaka is severely injured and is admitted to the ICU. She insisted me to take her to the hospital. I tried to refuse but she didn't listen. One aunty from the apparent signaled me not to take my Aai to the hospital. My senses were frozen and I was feeling great difficulty in driving the bike. I didn't want to ride double seat. That too Aai. I wanted to avoid the risk. But Aai insisted persistently. Finally I gathered some courage and strength, I don't know from where, and agreed.


On our way to the hospital Aai kept asking me if everything is okay or not. I answered her patiently. I was also in deep grief and on top of which I had to pretend as if nothing had happened. She kept on asking me and I lost my patience. I kind of shouted on her, "Nothing has happened. Now would you keep some patience? We are reaching hospital, you see him by your own eyes. And please be quiet. Let me ride properly."

We reached hospital. I parked my bike, by the time Aai started walking inside the hospital. I ran behind her to catch her. I held her hand and said, "Aai, Bhau kaka gela." ("Bhau kaka passed away."). Aaai kept looking at me. May be in my eyes or may be in zero.

As it was an road accident it became a police case and body had to undergo postmortem. The next challenge for us was to tell this news to Aaji and Aatya.

After sometime Bala kaka reached home and started sobbing loudly. He is very emotional sorts. He lost his conscious twice after knowing this mishap. Because of his loud cry Taai felt strongly about the mishap and immediately called me. She asked me directly if Bhau kaka has passed. I said "Yes". As it became very difficult to hide by then and ofcourse it was easier for me to tell this unpleasant news to Taai on the telephone than in person. She asked "What 'Yes'?" and started asking me "How can this happen?", "How can he leave us?" I didn't have the clue what to answer.

Noone slept that night. Next day morning, Raju kaka took the responsibility of telling this unpleasant news to Aaji and Aatya. Indeed it was a very difficult task to tell a mother that her son is nomore. Rahu kaka told Aaji in presence of our family doctor, "Bhau aataa aaplayat nahi."(Bhau is nomore with us.). We received the body from GMC. As Bhau kaka was a bachelor I assumed and honoured with the responsibility of his last rituals. Bhau kaka was a person who used to care about things when it had meaning, and never used to cry on the things that had happened. Bhau kaka took immense care of grandpa when he was alive but when our grandpa passed away he didn't shed a tear. He was a "Karma Yogi" and had a divine wisdom. Learning from him, I told myself to study for the C#.NET paper, I had after two days. (On 18th July 2007).

Just after returning back from the funereal. I called my friend Makarand and told him about this tragedy. I told him that I could not study here at my home. So I asked him if I could join him in studies. He immediately agreed. But I asked his mother saying that I have "Sutak" (In Hindus 'Sutak' is the period of 10 days after a demise of a family member. For these 10 days Hindus are not supposed to go to anyone's place.) and is it okay for her if I study at their place. She being a great person accepted gladly. I and Makarand, we studied together. On 16th I was very disturbed and hence could not concentrate much. Without much preparation I appeared for that paper.

Next few days were a nightmare for us. I believe my family members are blessed with high emotional quotient and wisdom as everyone accepted the situation in short time. Literally on the tenth day the environment of our home seemed sacred. People who visited our place said it doesn't seem atrocious infact it seems a festive environment like the day of Ganesh Chaturthi.

I and Raju kaka, we scattered the asthis in Narmada. My life changed entirely after this event of loosing a person we worshiped. Really, those days would never comeback. Sad.

When we came back from the Ash scattering ceremony. Kalyani Taai said, "Ek Parva Sampala".


Datta.
Nagpur/Bangalore.

देणारयाने देतजावे. घेणारयाने घेतजावे. एकदिवस घेणारयाने, देणारयाचे हात घयावे.

I got a call on my cell.This is a special ringtone assigned to a group, in my mobile. This group includes my very special friends. Six friends are included in this group. Neither do I pick there call, nor do I disconnect it!

After a long ring, It got converted into a miscall. I called him back.

"Heyyy good morning! Whats the matter? You called exactly on time today. that's great!"
It was 19:00 in my watch. I have this wicked habit of wishing 'Good morning', at any time of the day, if it happens to be the first talk, on that day.

"Nothing like, 'called on time' and all. I just came home and called you." He said.

The hidden message was - "Don't feel so important. I did not remember to call you, on time. It just happened coincidentally."

"Okay" I said. Knowing clearly that, it wasn't a coincidence.

"Hey, Vinod! Will that be fine? If I call you back after 15 minutes? Actually, I am on the way to home. I will call you up, once I reach home."

"Ok. Fine"

"Is there anything urgent?"

"Nopes. Nothing urgent."

"Okay then. Will catch you in 15 minutes."

"Okay bye."

"See ya."

"ya"

I was waiting for my 'egg fried rice', at the roadside vehicle. It costs me 20 bucks and quantity is enough for the dinner! It is reasonably hygienic and tastes good.

I took the 'egg fried rice' parcel and started walking my way, towards home.On my way towards home, I happened to cross a married couple.

"Please help us. We are from Nagpur. We will talk in Marathi. We don't have money to get tickets to Nagpur and we are hungry for the whole day." they said in bespeaking voice.

I looked at the them. A kid was sleeping on the man's shoulder. They were poor but were not looking like beggars.

I wondered, "How do they know that I am from Nagpur? and I am Marathi? or its just a coincidence?"

I was hungry and having food with me. If my father is having a meal and even if his enemy is around, my father will, definitely and without fail, call his enemy to have food with him. Being a son of a great father, I could not disrespect the request made by those people, specially when, I am having food in my hand.

"How much money do you want?" I asked him. This question may sound majestic but I really wanted to know, what amount they want, me, to help them with.

I thought 50 bucks should suffice. Getting them food is okay, but getting there railway tickets is certainly not my chore.

"We need to go to Nagpur. We need two tickets. One ticket is 210 bucks (May be, they were talking about the general compartment fare.) and we are hungry since morning. At least, we need one ticked for her." he said, pointing to his wife.

"Give your address. We will return all your money, once we reach Nagpur."

"At the most, I can get them 100 bucks, not more than that." I thought.
Actually, when conflict happens between brain and heart, I tend to follow the heart!

I took 100 rupees from my purse and gave it to him.

"We bow you. we are hungry from the morning." they said desperately.

"I bow you. Please get us some more money." His wife said. How is it possible? for a man to elude such a request? I respect women and its very difficult for me to say 'NO'.

Such things happens with almost all of us. While walking on the road, many times, people ask us for money and more often than the not, some of us try not to elude there request.

"How much I will spend like this? How much I will give them? What if these people are fake? What if this only is there business? May be, after getting money from me, they will laugh at my stupidity and foolishness. It is also possible that, they will use this money to get there beer. Any thing is possible. What if they are really needy?" Last question overshadowed all the questions and possibilities.

I understand that, giving easy money, may encourage there act of asking for the money. I clearly know, giving money to beggars is not absolutely correct. I am not proud of the fact that, I give money to beggars and the people like those were standing in front of me. But, there are many things which are also, not absolutely correct. I clearly know, that, some things which I do, as the matter of routine are also not absolutely correct, but still I does those things daily, like -
- I waste 1000's of rupees on my birthday, just for treating my loved once. Instead of wasting 1000's on food, I could definitely spend this money for some trusted charity.
- Ideally, I should not use any imported stuff.
- I unnecessarily shout on my mom.
- I don't exercise daily. On and On and On...
Many things I do, daily, are not absolutely-correct. This is for sure.

Very few things in this world are absolutely correct. Others are just relatively correct! relative to your perception, relative to your philosophy, culture, caste, religion, time and place.

"We are living in the world of perceptions and not in the world of facts!"
"All we can do in this world is, 'Have best intentions' and 'Give our best'." - this is what my experience about life taught me.
"Don't waste your life in making right decisions! Make decisions and make them right!"

"If they will use this money for having beer or for some other foul purpose, I don't have control on that.I can only do so much about anything."

What I can do is 'have the best intentions' and 'give my best'.

I took 120 bucks more, from my purse, and gave it to them. Total 220 busks. Thinking that, this will get them one ticket for the lady and some 10 rupees extra, to have some milk or some food for the child. If they need some more money, they will get it from some other fool, like me.

"Please give some more money. We will return it on your address." They asked again.

"This is all, I can give" I said with muddiness. As there was a serious war going on, between my brain and the heart.

I left the spot and started walking my way.

"Please give your address. We will return your money to your address." both of them, said in harmony.

"Its okay." I said, with a smile, to make them feel better.

As I was walking my way to home, I had a very strange feeling. The feeling was the blend of satisfaction and unhappiness. I was satisfied as my heart was praising my deed and unhappy because my brain was cursing it.

But I thought, "I can't help all the poor people on this planet. I am not in the position to do that. My heart is not that big. So, that is out of question. Can't I even help those? Who come to me and ask me for the help?"

I reached home and called Vinod. After having a normal talk with him. I said ...

"Hey, Let me ask you one question...

You are away from Nagpur... walking on the road .... one couple comes to u with the child sleeping on the guy's shoulder ... they requests to for 500 bucks .. they say that they are from your native place and know your mother tongue ...they will return all your money to your address once they reach to say Nagpur .. they say they didn't eat anything from morning .... they requests u like anything ... they say that they will bow u ...n all .... they say 210 is train fare from Bangalore to Nagpur ... so they ask for 500 bucks, so that they can take 2 tickets n have some food... u have 500 bucks with u ... n even if they wont return u ... u are okay with that... money is not a very big problem for u ... but u are really saving money ... n u have to save your money for at least 1 year with dedication.
what will you do ?? they are strangers for you."

"I would have given them 500 bucks and would have felt lucky that they came to me and I got the opportunity to help them out. I would purchase one jeans less, than I would have purchased in Diwali. A Jeans will definitely cost me more than 500 bucks. I would have saved 500 bucks there." he replied firmly. Without any confusion, doubt and second thought! What an Instinct!

I was very embarrassed, about my gesture and deed, after listening to his answer. Vinod has a big heart. He thought me one lesson,for the lifetime, that day. "If you get an opportunity of serving someone, Actually, you are lucky!"

"That's why I respect you so much, Vinod! That makes you larger than life!" - I thought.

"I gave them only 220 bucks." I confessed. With regret.

"I correctly suspected that this incidence happened with you.
That is also okay. At least they will reach Nagpur somehow." A person with a big heart, said.

"Sorry" I said, very emotionally.

"Sorry? Why?" Vinod asked me. curiously.

"Simply" I said, with heart full of sentiments, respect and admiration for Vinod.

There is a saying in Marathi.

"देणारयाने देतजावे. घेणारयाने घेतजावे. एकदिवस घेणारयाने, देणारयाचे हात घयावे."

It means, "The person who is serving others, should continue serving. The person who is being served, should also continue. One day, A person, who was being served, should take the hands of the serving person."

If you carefully look at the postures, of the hand of the person, who is serving and the one who is being served, in the picture, above. You will understand the meaning of the sentence...
"One day, A person, who was being served, should take the hands of the serving person."

This means, One day, the person who is being served today, should change the posture of his hands and start serving others.


Hrishikesh Alshi