Is Pakistan imploding?

Pakistan has been a rogue state as it exported state-sponsored terrorism. The terrorists, nurtured there, have been fomenting trouble in Jammu and Kashmir over the years, killing hapless civilians which has now been thwarted owing to the abrogation of its special status providing Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution and the trifurcation of the state into three union territories viz, Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh. The ISI has been directing a lot of its nefarious activities on India and we have suffered them silently - the unfortunate part being the fifth columnists in our country have also been carrying out their anti-national activities under their cover.

But the age old saying that anyone using the sword for his survival will finally, be overwhelmed by the same sword is coming to reality in Pakistan if one were to go by the news. A civil war seems to have erupted, with the Sindh province as the epicenter - will it all end up with the Pakistani armed forces being driven back to the barracks once for all? It's high time that such a situation comes about for the good of that country!

Now, let's have a quick run down of the implosions taking place :-

It all began when the High Command of Sindh Police has been ridiculed and mishandled by the Pak Army. Police personnel have gone on mass leave.

* 10 Karachi police officers have died in clashes between police and the Pakistan army. A civil war is brewing in Pakistan as its troops are invading its own country. The Pakistan Army Rangers have been put on high alert in the whole of Sindh.

* Heavy fire was exchanged between the Pakistan Army and the Sindh Police in Karachi after the Army tried to take custody of SP Mohammed Aftab Anwar. Five Pak Army officers died in the firing.

* Several shops in the shopping malls owned by the kin of the defence forces have been torched. 

One must understand that this news have come out despite a blanket censor imposed on the media by the Pak Army! 

India has always preferred a strong Pakistan, working towards its prosperity and to refrain from rogue activities. Let's only hope that the innocent civilians aren't put into difficulty and the implosion is contained! But yes, the Army must get back to the barracks and come under the control of a civilian government; only then will that country get its much required reprieve from sliding to anarchy and lawlessness.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores, the usual Wednesday 'aarathi' of the house and was ready by a quarter to 10. Lekha, along with Suma, had gone to collect the entitlements on her ration card and on return, called on the ailing Sathiamma, our first maid on settling down at Guruvayur.

Could video call Krish sir, at NOIDA, New Delhi, who's going for a retinal surgery tomorrow. The ophthalmologist has said that it's a major intervention but he'll be back home by afternoon. Both their sons are abroad, one in Dubai and the other in Canada. 

Lekha had applied a home-made pesticide by mashing and grinding ginger, garlic and green chilly in equal levels on the plants in the vegetable garden. The recipe for the potent concoction was acquired from You Tube!

We spoke to my friend and classmate, Babu Sahadev and his wife, Suma at Toronto, Canada. It was nice catching up with them. Time wise, they're only 91/2 hours behind us and I was always under the impression that it was 14 hrs!    

Dedicated to all moms!

A woman, renewing her driver's licence, was asked by the woman at the Registry to state her occupation. She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is", explained the woman at the Registry, "Do you have a job or are you just a.....?"

"Of course I have a job", snapped the woman. "I'm a Mum". "We don't list 'Mum' as an occupation, "housewife covers it", said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient and possessed of a high sounding title like, 'Official Interrogator' or 'City Registrar'. "What is your occupation?" she probed.

What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out, "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations". The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. i repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

"Might I ask", said the clerk with new interest, "just what do you do in your field?" Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). 

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in humanities (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most-run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money".

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7 and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (a 6 month old baby) in the child development programme, testing out a new vocal pattern (crying).

I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than 'just another Mum'.

Motherhood! What a glorious career? Especially when there's a title on the door.

Source : Adapted from a post received from a friend. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at our usual time, the chores and was ready a trifle late as there were three telephone calls - from friends. Finished up pending jobs.

Be like the Sunflower.

Sunflowers turn according to the position of the sun. In other words, they "chase the light". You might already know this but there is another fact that you probably do not know.

Have you ever wondered what happens on cloudy and rainy days when the sun is completely covered by clouds?

They turn towards each other to share their energy. 

Nature's perfection is amazing. Now let's apply this reflection to our lives. Many people may become low-spirited and the most vulnerable ones, sometimes, become depressed.

How about following the example of the beautiful sunflowers?

"Supporting and empowering each other". Nature has so much to teach us.

Spread goodness........it will come back to you.......

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The purpose of Navaratri celebrations. 

I'd given a detailed account of Navaratri, in my blog of yesterday. Given below is information that will cover the entire perspective.

Navaratri means nine lights. Darkness is associated with night. What is this darkness? It is the darkness of ignorance. The purpose of the navaratri celebration is to enable man to get rid of nine types of darkness which have taken hold of him. When a reference is made to Devi, it signifies the unified form of Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. 

The three together represent Shakti. Shakti is the energy that accounts for all the phenomena of Prakruti (Nature). Nature is energy and the controller of that energy is the Lord. Prakruti is made up of the three qualities - Satwa, Rajas and Tamas.

Saraswati represents the Satwa Guna (Serenity), Lakshmi represents the Rajas/Rajo Guna (Activity) and Parvati represents the Tamas/Tamo Guna (Destructiveness). 

As Prakruti is made up of these three qualities, to get control of Nature, man has been offering worship to Durga, Lakshmi and Saraswati. These are not goddesses but deified symbols of the three qualities.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. It was a quiet day to begin with and the start of a week.

The Kudumbasree ladies had come across a snake in the compound and stopped work. One eighth of the compound is left to be worked on. The matron has said that male workers would be deployed to complete the remaining work. They would be able to handle such a situation better. 

I'm glad that the situation had ended this way despite the fact that the work has got extended.  

Navaratri.

On 16 Oct was the first of the Malayalam month of 'Tulaam'. And many of us wished each other on the auspicious occasion of Navaratri, yesterday. It's believed that the Goddess fought every night to defeat a demon.

On the first night she quelled Kaama, the demon of Lust.

On the second she extinguished Krodha, the demon of Anger.

Then on the third night she dispelled the demon of Attraction, Moha.

Then she shattered Lobha, the demon of Greed.

In the fifth night, she came face to face with the demon, Mada and vanquished Hubris.

On the sixth night she confronted the swirling demon of Jealousy, Matsara and defeated it.

Then still smiling with the energy of beauty, she went forward and smote the ugliness of Swartha, the demon of Selfishness.

On the eighth night she killed Anyaya, injustice.

On the ninth night using only her kindness she banished Amanavata, the dreadful demon of Cruelty.

Then on the morning after the ninth night, she was about to rest when she realised that her most difficult foe was upon her.

She sat in the Lotus position, laid down all her weapons and with a gentle sigh and a quiet smile, she dissolved the final demon. Ahankara, her ego.

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Real fasting of Navaratri at the intellectual level means purification of the soul in the following ways :-

Prathama - I will leave all my Anger.

Dwitiya - I will stop Judging People.

Tritiya - I will leave all my Grudges.

Chathurthi - I will Forgive myself and everyone.

Panchami - I will Accept myself and everyone as they are.

Shashti - I will love myself and everyone unconditionally.

Saptami - I will leave all my feelings of jealousy and guilt.

Ashtami (Durgaashtami) - I will leave all my fears.

Navami (Mahanavami) - I will offer Gratitude for all the things I have and all which I will get.

Dashami (Vijayadashami) -  There is abundance in the universe for all and I will always tap the same and create what I want through unconditional love, Sadhana, nishkama seva and faith.  

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Washing machinex of bed linen as it was a bright, sunny day.

Participated in the webinar, "Jan Vigyan Eco Digital Jagriti in Mission Mode" by Annavarem Vandana, of Hyderabad, from 1500 - 1600 hrs. The young lady put across her presentation very well. 

The Daffodil Principle.

Several times my daughter had telephoned to say, "Mother, you must come to see the daffodils before they are over". I wanted to go but it was a two-hour drive from Laguna to Lake Arrowhead. "I will come next Tuesday", I promised a little reluctantly on her third call.

Next Tuesday dawned cold and rainy. Still, I had promised and reluctantly I drove there. When I finally walked into Carolyn's house I was welcomed by the joyous sounds of happy children. I delightedly hugged and greeted my grandchildren.

"Forget the daffodils, Carolyn! The road is invisible in these clouds and fog and there is nothing in the world except you and these children that I want to see badly enough to drive another inch!" My daughter smiled calmly and said, "We drive in this all the time, Mother". "Well, you won't get me back on the road until it clears and then I'm heading for home!" I assured her.

"But first we're going to see the daffodils. It's just a few blocks", Carolyn said. "I'll drive. I'm used to this". "Carolyn", I said sternly, "please turn around". "It's all right, Mother, I promise. You will never forgive yourself if you miss this experience".

After about twenty minutes, we turned onto a small gravel road and I saw a small church. On the far side of the church, I saw a hand lettered sign with an arrow that read, "Daffodil Garden". We got out of the car, each took a child's hand and I followed Carolyn down the path. Then, as we turned a corner, I looked up and gasped. Before me lay the most glorious sight.

It looked as though someone had taken a great vat of gold and poured it over the mountain peak and its surrounding slopes. The flowers were planted in majestic swirling patterns, great ribbons and swaths of deep orange, creamy white, lemon yellow, salmon pink and saffron and butter yellow. Each different-coloured variety was planted in large groups so that it swirled and flowed like its own river with its unique hue. There were five acres of flowers.

"Who did this?" I asked Carolyn. "Just one woman", Carolyn answered. "She lives on the property. That's her home". Carolyn pointed to a well-kept A-frame house, small and modestly sitting in the midst of all that glory. We walked up to the house.

On the patio, we saw a poster. "Answers to the Questions I Know You Are Asking", was the headline. The first answer was a simple one. "50,000 bulbs", it read. The second was, "One at a time, by one woman. Two hands, two feet and one brain". The third answer was, "Began in 1958".

For me, that moment was a life-changing experience. I thought of this woman whom I had never met, who, more than forty years before, had begun, one bulb at a time, to bring her vision of beauty and joy to an obscure mountaintop. Planting one bulb at a time, year after year, this unknown woman had forever changed the world in which she lived. One day at a time, she had created something of extraordinary magnificence, beauty and inspiration. The principle her daffodil garden taught is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

Daffodil garden is one of the greatest principles of celebration.

That is, learning to move toward our goals and desires one step at a time - often just one baby-step at a time - and learning to love the doing, learning to use the accumulation of time. When we multiply tiny pieces of time with small increments of daily effort, we too will find we can accomplish magnificent things. We can change the world.......

"It makes me sad in a way", I admitted to Carolyn. "What might I have accomplished if I had thought of a wonderful goal thirty-five or forty years ago and had worked away at it 'one bulb at a time' through all those years? Just think what I might have been able to achieve!"

My daughter summed up the message of the day in her usual direct way. "Start tomorrow", she said.

She was right. It's so pointless to think of the lost hours of yesterdays. The way to make learning a lesson of celebration instead of a cause for regret is to only ask, "How can I put this to use today?"

Use the Daffodil Principle. Stop waiting.......

Until your car or home is paid off * Until you get a new car or home * Until your kids leave the house * Until you go back to school * Until you finish school * Until clean the house * Until you organise the garage * Until you clean off your desk * Until you lose 10 lbs * Until you gain 10 lbs * Until you get married

* Until you have kids * Until the kids go to school * Until you retire * Until summer * Until spring * Until winter * Until fall * Until you die...

There is no better time than right now to be happy.

Happiness is a journey not a destination. 

So work like you don't need money. Love like you've never been hurt and Dance like no one's watching.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. My income tax return has been filed.

Twenty ladies of the 'Kudumbasree collective' worked on the Raj Nivas' compound, removing the weeds and wild grass. Already 50 people have worked over the last three days and the last and the lowest of the flats needing weeding out, which will be done on Monday!

Participated in the first webinar on "A Hand Full of Green Intelligence" by Dr Pamposh Kumar of the DST, Govt of India from 1200 - 1300 hrs. Was educative.

Participated  in the Aazhchakkoottam on "Crimes of Murders and Kerala" by Mr Jacob Punnoose, Ex-DGP of Kerala. Very nicely presented!        

The Law of Wasted Effort.

Do you know that lions only succeed in a quarter of their hunting attempts? Which means they fail in 75% of their attempts and succeed in only 25% of them.

Despite this small percentage shared by most predators, they don't despair in their pursuit and hunting attempts.

The main reason for this is not because of hunger as some might think but it is the understanding of the "Law of Wasted Efforts" that have been instinctively built into animals, a law in which nature is governed.

Half of the eggs of fishes are eaten.......half of the baby bears die before puberty.......most of the world's rains fall in oceans.......and most of the seeds of trees are eaten by birds.

Scientists have found that animals, trees and other forces of nature are more receptive to the law of "wasted efforts".

Only humans think that the lack of success in a few attempts is failure......but the truth is that : we only fail when we "stop trying".

Success is not to have a life free of pitfalls and falls.......but success is to walk over your mistakes and go beyond every stage where your efforts were wasted looking forward to the next stage.

If there is a word that summarizes this world, it will simply be : continue all over again.

Source. What'sApp.

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In jest.

A woman walks into a butchery shop just before closing time and asks, "Do you still have chicken?"

The butcher opens his deep freezer, takes out his only chicken left and puts it on the weighing scale. It weighs 1.5 kg.

The woman looks at the chicken and at the scale and asked, "Do you have one that's a bit bigger than this one?"

The butcher puts his only chicken back into the freezer and then, takes it out again.

But this time when he puts it on the scale, he carefully keeps his thumb on the scale pan.

And the scale now shows 2 kg.

"That's wonderful", said the woman.

"I'll take both of them, please!"

In a situation like this, you realize at once that your integrity and reputation are firmly on the line.

Your wisdom becomes foolishness and your cunningness becomes stupidity.

Until now the butcher has his head inside the big deep freezer, looking for the first chicken.

Remember :

* Always tell the truth and you'll be free! * A good name is better than riches * Live to express yourself and not to impress others.

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. Two KSEB line men came by, asked me to shut down the inverter as they were going to work on the overhead line. Why was the requirement to shut down the inverter asked for, I'd my doubts on, but maintained my silence and went along with it. The electricity was restored at about 1800 hrs. And there were a few power interruptions in the course of the evening - subsequent to it - making me wonder as to what work they had carried out during the entire day?

Attended a webinar on "Eco Eureka Principles for Eco Digital Skills and Green Benchmarking" by Dr S Nagarathinam, Head of the Department of Communication and Linguistics, Madurai Kamaraj University from 1700 - 1800 hrs. It was an interesting presentation. 

 

Etiquette to right parenting.

For all parents!

Thirukkural was written by Thiruvalluvar (A Tamil poet/writer) more than 5,000 years ago. It's one of the ancient sciences on Human Behaviour which has not changed despite Modern Education and Technology!

               SOME GOLDEN THOUGHTS OF THIRUKKURAL

  1. If your children lie to you often, it is because you over-react too harshly to their inappropriate        behaviour.

  2. If your children are not taught to confide in you about their mistakes, you've lost them.

  3. If your children had poor self-esteem, it is because you advise them more than you encourage them.

  4. If your children do not stand up for themselves, it is because from a young age you have                    disciplined them regularly in public.

  5. If your children take things that do not belong to them, it is because when you buy them things, you   don't let them choose what they want.

  6. If your children are cowardly, it is because you help them too quickly.

  7. If your children do not respect other people's feelings, it is because instead of speaking, you order  and command them.

  8. If your children are too quick to anger, it is because you give too much attention to misbehaviour      and you give little attention to good behaviour.

  9. If your children are excessively jealous, it is because you congratulate them only when they              successfully complete something and not when they improve at something even if they don't                  successfully complete it.

10. If your children intentionally disturb you, it is because you are not physically affectionate enough.

11. If your children are openly defiant, it is because you openly threaten to do something but don't        follow through. 

12. If your child is secretive, it is because they are sure that you would blow things out of proportion.

13. If your children answer back at you, it is because they watch you do it to others and think it's            normal behaviour.

14. If your children don't listen to you but listen to others, it is because you are too quick to jump to        conclusions.

15. If your children rebel, it is because they know you care more about what others think than what is    right. 

Tailpiece.

Got up at 6, the chores and was ready by a half past 9. 

There's a cat that is trying to be friendly with us. We give him food and do not disturb him if he's lying around outside the house, even if that position comes in our way. We've named him Kittu. Must be about a year old and is grey in colour with black stripes.