The Karma Confusion

(for "mature" and broad minded audience only)


It is said in the scriptures that the decision whether our souls would be saved or not, would be based on our actions. In the Hindu perspective, the philosophy which I adhere to, it would mean that the decision would govern whether my soul would be exposed to the procedure of rebirth, in some life form. In the Christian philosophy, the decision would govern whether my soul would see heaven or hell. (I am specifically not pointing to other philosophies because I do not know much about them. I save myself from the habit of commenting on things which I do not really know about!).

Now, if there is any God (I am not still sure, if there is any), in His (I am also not sure if God has a gender) perspective all souls should be equal, independent of the life form (the physical form of the body). It is in this perspective of equality, that I have a question.

Consider a sequence of incidents and a list of life forms; a human, a cat, a donkey and a cow. The human is a hardworking washerman earning an honest living by washing clothes. The cow has recently given birth to a calf. The donkey and the cat are pets to the washerman, the donkey usually carrying the washed clothes back from the washing place, and the cat saving the household by eating away the rats. One fine morning, the washerman has a fight with his wife, he goes to the river with the soiled clothes, washes them and puts the clothes on the donkey's back and shouts on the donkey. The donkey was feeding on the grass by the side of the river, gets annoyed with the washerman and gives him a kick on his groin. The washerman writhes with pain, but returns home with the clothes. He goes to milk the cow, with the recently born calf tied at another corner, and the cow kicks the washerman again. Somehow, the washerman manages to milk the cow. After half an hour, the washerman keeps the boiled milk at the corner of his house and goes outside to nurse his injuries. In the meanwhile, the cat feeds itself on the milk kept for the children and the wife. The Washerman returns home, sees the empty container of milk, gets angry and beats the cat badly.

At this point there is a huge earthquake, and the world is destroyed. Now it is decision time:

1. The washerman complains that he has been honest throughout his life, but he has had to bear sadness and pain due to the cow, the donkey and the cat.
2. The cat says it has been faithful to the washerman and feeding itself was the only way to keep itself alive. The washerman beating the cat was not justified.
3. The cow says that her milk is first for the calf and then for anybody else and therefore the washerman is not justified about complaining.
4. The donkey says that it was feeding on the grass peacefully and the Washerman's anger was not justified.

It can be seen that it is the same incident, the same story, the same set of life forms, but Karma changes perspectives according to the character and dharma of the person. Therefore, in our perceptions of the Karma (that is the life forms on earth), a decision on who would go to heaven or hell is not possible.

Now, can we conclude that thieves, backstabbers, nymphomaniacs, kleptomaniacs, pedophiles, sadists, psycopaths cannot expect to be judged on the same platform as normal people? Would the normal people agree to be judged on the same platform?

 This is my Karma confusion!

Directives for men: The Sexual Harrassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

At the outset, I would like to thank the women who agreed to deliberate with me on the various issues (in person and over the phone), with respect to the professional and social interactions between two different genders are concerned. I would also like to thank, Ms Archana Gondhalekar, whose speeches I listened to, two times.

I would like to clarify here that the word gender used in this article are limited to "Male" and "Female" only, although the terminology, as on date, has been extended to include LGBT also. It is also worth mentioning here that this article has been written with Indian people in mind, therefore the international audience might find some terms incomprehensible.

This article deliberates on the various implications of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and the corresponding rules, for men. Why was this act needed? In the society, mostly the rules are drawn out for people who do not "fit" to an acceptable social norm.

The history of this act, goes back to the days when an Angan Vadi worker, Smt. Bhawari Devi dared to protest against child marriage. Child marriage, at that point of time had been declared illegal, and therefore Bhanwari Devi had done nothing wrong. Some of the villagers aged from 20 to 70, perhaps with a feeling of malice, or with a motive to "set her right", gangraped her. As expected this lead to litigations, formations of sexual harassment guidelines and lately the creation of a parliamentary act in 2013.

Directives for men on the various aspects of sexual harassment in the purview of the act 

Unwelcome advances and physical contact 

One of the many points mentioned in this act is about "Unwelcome advances". Men might wonder on this point. How does an individual decide, what is welcome and what is unwelcome? Consider this example. You are enjoying a warm cosy evening with your family, while there is a knock on the door. The "guest" is someone whom you do not like. Even if your background or previous generation has taught you, "Atithi Devo Bhavah" (The guest is divine), you might have to politely ask the person to leave your house. Arguing similarly therefore, the woman (your colleague) would tell you what she "likes" and what she doesn't.

The dress and the seduction 

When it comes to sex, sexuality, and expression of sexuality, men happen to think in binary. If I were to quote many feminists, I would write "Men live with their brains between their legs". When it comes to women, their expressions are two fold. First comes attraction, and then comes seduction. Therefore, if a woman is wearing an amply revealing dress, it does not imply "Come and have sex with me!". Instead, it means "Look at me! I am beautiful!". Stop misinterpreting the dress as a gateway for sex or sexual advances.

She hugs other boys, so she should not mind if I hug her! 

No! At the workplace, hugging is completely inadvisable! In my opinion, hugging is an act of intimacy, whether it be a "feeling" of father-daughter, or "boyfriend-girlfriend" or "brother-sister" or "teacher-student". Keep all your hugs, caresses, touches at home, while you leave for the office.

Also, "she hugs other boys, so she should mind if I hug her" sounds illogical and similar to "She has sex with her boyfriend, she should also have sex with me!". A woman has the right to chose, who she loves, who she marries and with whom she has intimate relations and moments with. In no way, can a man dictate that.

Can I touch her hand? 

It is worth mentioning here that women rely on their sixth instinct to distinguish between touches. Therefore, you can touch her hand only if you seek her permission first. If she refuses, stay away. In the best case, avoid any thought of touching the hand, or any other part of the body. In my opinion, in the light of this act, it is advisable that women be greeted either with a courteous bow, or with a polite Namaste. All that nonsense about "professional behaviour requires shaking hands" can go for a toss.

Verbal conducts of sexual nature 

The act mentions "Sexually coloured remarks" which might confuse men too! Many men are habitual of vomiting adult jokes at the slightest provocation. Many also use double meaning. Men, therefore are confused when women make sexually coloured remarks either on themselves or about some other people in the public. In such cases, it is advisable to stay away from controversy.

No double meanings which might lead to misinterpretation or malicious use of "setting you right". Whatever, the case may be, however hard a woman might try to get some double meaning out of you directly or indirectly, keep your tongue in control.

Non-verbal conduct of sexual nature 

Staring at women 

Men are confused about the staring clause popularly used by women, owing to the following different reasons:

1. It is natural for a man to look at a woman irrespective of his marital status. So, how can one avoid looking? 
2. Men have the habit of staring into empty space with a thoughtless mind. They might keep on staring into the empty space for hours together (this video from the Canadian comedian Russell Peters tells us a lot). Can this be misconstrued? 

In my opinion, the act relies on the sixth instinct of women. As per the women I have conversed with, a woman would know, if a man is looking at her in the "wrong way". However, men are advised that the "sixth instinct" or the "gut feeling" may misfire in some cases. However, women are also usually watchful about the event occurring repeatedly over time. Therefore, do not keep looking at a woman for more than 5 seconds, when you are not talking to her.

Showing pornography or asking for sexual favours 

Seriously? Are you a nymphomaniac / pervert? It is a serious NO! However, "close" you might feel, the woman is to you, in no way should such acts be committed!

Is this act necessary? 

Yes! It has been observed that women have been subject to continuous harassment in the society. With time, these events are on the rise. It is therefore fair enough, that women are given a platform, a strong one at that, to voice their views and raise objections, against certain age old practices.

Is this act biased towards women? 

 No! The preamble of the Honorable Indian constitution and the Honorable Indian constitution itself, rule out any gender bias amongst the citizens of the country. Therefore, in this country, no law can be founded that is biased. In the context of this article, refer to clause number 10, in the rules document, where it says that complaints with proven malicious intent shall be dealt with the same severity as those mentioned in clause number 09.

How do I certify my integrity? 

The former Director of IIT Kanpur, Prof. S. G. Dhande, had repeatedly said during many orientation programmes for the new students that "You should have your certificate of integrity in your pocket". It is a shame that honorable men, or men with their integrities in place would have to resort electronic devices to certify their integrity in the light of this act (malicious intents cannot be ruled out).

1. In this context, make sure that your workstation / workplace has a camera / CCTV mounted, and that the video feeds have sufficient backup. Also make sure that you have enough space to move away if any unwelcome advance is made upon you. 
2. Always prefer a working place, where there is a fellow worker or workers watching you (for most of the time), inspite of your innate quest for privacy even at the workplace. 

Your relations with colleagues (male or female) 

Workers who work day in and day out for generating good academic records, peer-reviewed publications, patents and have their names mentioned in the annual reports of the organisation they are working for, need to take special care. The risk of jealous colleagues thinking of "setting them right" is high.

Further, as far as my conversions with overtly performing colleagues go, people in India, inspite of the Honorable Indian constitution in their hand, have not learned to respect others' rights to their own opinions. It is quite possible that jealous colleagues (male or female) might feel that the best way to stop you from performing (to set you right) is to allege sexual harassment against you.

On the positive side, protection exists in the form of rule 10, although, on the flip side, it would be best to avoid crossing swords with anybody.

How to begin a conversation with a female colleague?

Frame the question well in your mind. If unsure, write it down on a piece of paper. Make sure that there is no double meaning, vulgarity, white or dark sarcasm in the question. Do not sneak up to the woman from her behind (in case she is sitting with her back towards you). Call her politely and ask if she has time for a question. If she says yes, proceed with the question. If she replies in the negative, just walk back to your seat and do not insist. If she is interested, in what you were saying, she would ask you later. If she does not, you should get the hint. 

What to do if I find a female colleague staring at me? 

Just as males find it sensually pleasing to stare at women, women too, once in a while, like to feast their eyes. However, this is NOT at all an invitation for physical proximity or activity. She might be a spy for someone, and might be keeping an eye on you, as well.

In summary

The infamous Canadian actress Sunny Leone sums it up well in this video, where she complains about a co-contestant wrongly "touching her". To paraphrase the conversation, "When a woman says NO, it means NO. It does not mean YES, and it doesn't mean MAYBE!"

References: 

1. The Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013; Last accessed April 10, 2014. http://wcd.nic.in/wcdact/womenactsex.pdf 
2. The Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act - Rules, 2013, Last accessed April 10, 2014. http://www.lawyerscollective.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Sexual-Harassment-at-Workplace-Rules.pdf 
3. Constitution of India (2008), Last accessed April 10, 2014. http://lawmin.nic.in/coi/coiason29july08.pdf 
4. Russel Peters: Women are thinkers, Last accessed April 10, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoHxb4zMa1Q 
5.  Sunny Leone complains against Amar Upadhyay, Last accessed April 10, 2014. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPVRXJoD1Ac

An open letter to Lord Voldemort

Dear Lord Voldemort,

You may fail to recall this incident, but I do not. In fact, I cherish it with a sprinkle of pepper and salt everyday. Your lame attempts to teach arithmetic to your kid, and his replying that 1 and 1 make 11 still brings a lot of amusement to my peers and colleagues.

You may wonder why I chose to call you Voldemort. Don't! Because, believe it or not, your demeanour and spirit lie akin to the Dark Lord in J. K. Rowling's creation of the Harry Potter series of books. You consider disagreement as a personal threat, and your habit of throwing the weight where it isn't even necessary is a sharp indicator in that direction. Pardon me, if I call you a Bolshevik as well.

I do not know why, but it seems to me that you breathe and live under the belief that the world needs a messiah or a saviour, all the time. Did you misinterpret the following message from the Bhagavad Geeta? Did you see yourself as a mighty saviour yielding the Sudarshan Chakra?

यदा यदा हि धर्मस्य ग्लानिर्भवति भारत ।
अभ्युत्थानमधर्मस्य तदात्मानं सृजाम्यहम् ||
परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् ।
धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे||

"Mujhe change chaahiye!" is and has been your motto! Yes, change is good, if for the better. But, still better is improvement! Improvement comes from knowing a system, by understanding what might have gone through the minds of the people while they framed the "holy constitution", rather than sheer, abrupt and unprepared change. What was riding on your mind? Satan? Couldn't you understand, that changing a "system" or an ecology might alleviate the problems, but would bring in a new set of issues that you might be hitherto unaware of? If you know what the problems were, couldn't you lead the people to trust the system and improvise it? But no, your evil ego overcame the sheer common sense that one might expect from a person of your stature.

It is amazing that you trusted a set of people who first preached on your behalf that you were a messiah, a leader of fresh change. The same set of people used your name, and threatened various units in the campus. The same set of people were found abusing you and kicking walls and windows in the campus. I named them the "Smart Munnas", but if I were to use a Harry Potter simile, they were the "death eaters", with no life / opinion of their own, but feeding on the ideas and happinesses of other people.

There were also a small set of people who wanted the people to benefit. Call them the Mensheviks if you will, but they were ready to cooperate for the sake of the system, with YOU. But you saw them as a threat.

You lay your belief on them, who would merely seem to ejaculate on your "holy" command. You never stayed inside the endroit and you think you knew all the people? You didn't. But instead you wanted to threaten all the people who wanted to help and improvise.

People asked mysterious questions during the various gatherings, didn't they? You think, we didn't understand? You were wrong! You lay your belief on those, who favoured you at one time, but forged signatures to vote against you. You think, we didn't know? You were wrong! Each and every time, the advice from a small group of us was to avoid clashing against the big rock. But, they didn't understand. Did you, consider our position?

You threw away the most hardworking guy away from the endroit, the one who used to work 12 hours a day, without seeking any extra remuneration? Our only understanding was that you were overcome by your Satanic ego, to prove that you were the boss and trying to "save" the endroit. The hardworking guy, went away and so did the practices of systematic working. Total disarray was visible.

You never, reconsidered your decision did you? Perhaps, you would, when you grow old and feeble, Voldie.

Our only hope was that you left your ego, and saw reason.

Sincerely and yours truly.

चुप्पी

आज खुश तो बहुत होगे तुम ! लो चुप्पी ठान ली मैंने ! तुम्हारे रोज रोज के ताने, तुम्हारे रोज रोज के शक़।  तुम्हारे हर बात में यह ठहराना कि मैं हर मायने में गौण हूँ। त्रस्त हूँ पर फिर भी चुप हूँ। ह्रदय पे बोझ है तो क्या हुआ? चेहरे पे झुर्रियाँ बढ़ रही है तो क्या हुआ ? दिन-ब-दिन सिर के बाल सफ़ेद हो रहें हैं तो क्या हुआ? तुम्हारी ख़ुशी तो जरूरी है ना?

तुम्हारी बात को ठुकराई तो तुम बात करना बंद कर दोगे, खाना नहीं खाओगे, ताने मारोगे! जानते हो, तुमसे बात करने से पहले चिंता होती है कि आज कौन कौन सी गालियाँ सुनने को मिलेंगी? तुमसे बात करने से पहले अपने ह्रदय को पुख्ता कर लेना होता है कि कहीं तुम्हारी चुभने वाली बातें मेरे कोमल मन को चोटित न कर दे। तुम्हे मुझे चोटित कर कौन सी ख़ुशी मिलती है?

किसी को एक्सपीरियंस या तजुर्बा होने पर वो सही नहीं हो जाता।  तजुर्बा उन लोगों या समाजों तक सीमित होतीं हैं जिनसे तुमने चर्चा या विचारों का आदान प्रदान किया हो।  किसी बंद कमरे में बैठकर लोगों के सम्बन्ध में अंधी राय बना लेना और उसी राय पर विश्वास करने लगना मात्र बेवकूफी कि निशानी है।  तुम बार बार कहते हो न "मुझे थर्टी इयर्स का एक्सपीरियंस है"! यह मात्र एक छलावा है जिसमें तुमने अपने आप को फंसा लिया है।  ऐसी बातें सिर्फ हास्यात्मक कार्यक्रमों तक ही सीमित होती हैं।

कभी पतंग को उड़ाया है तुमने? जब कोई पतंग उड़ती है तो उसकी डोर को पहले खींचते हैं, फिर ढील देते हैं। ऐसा करते करते पतंग उड़ने लगता है।  लेकिन इंसान पतंग नहीं होते।  ऐसा करने से इंसान उड़ता नहीं, कन्फ्यूज़ ज्यादा हो जाता है।

चिड़िया उड़ का खेल

याद है बचपन में वो खेल हुआ करता था - चिड़िया उड़? किस तरह किसी खिलाडी के द्वारा गलती करने पर उसे मार पड़ती थी? उस मार से तो चलो आदमी बच के निकल भी जाए, तुम्हारी चुभने वाली बातों के मार से कौन बचेगा या बचाएगा। कुछ कहने लगेंगे तो फिर वही खाना बंद, बातें बंद| लो अब अमूल मक्खन कि मालिश करो चार दिन तक! झूठी माफ़ी भी मांगो, चाहे गलती की हो या नहीं!

इसीलिए अब मैंने चुप्पी साध ली। खुश रहो तुम! काश कि तुम ऐसे ही खुशियां मनाते रहो, मुझे दुःख पहुंचाते रहो, और मेरे मुँह से आह तक न निकले! एक जीवित लाश में परिवर्तित कर दिया है तुमने! मुबारक हो! एक नयी कठपुतली मुबारक हो!

-- निशा 

Goodbyes and Hellos - 2013

My year began with a goodbye to my Hall of Residence Four at IIT Kanpur. I had stayed there for eight long years and more. I definitely had my share of learnings, in  terms of building a progressive society, motivating people and more. I made good friends too, from the very famous Tony Jacob to the very humble Vivek Mehta. It has been a privilege knowing them. I might have left the Hall, but its memories remain etched in my mind. 

My supervisor Dr. Bharat Lohani insisted that I take the opportunity to deliver an invited lecture at Dr. Babasaheb Marathwada University Aurangabad. The visit to Aurangabad was a lesson in how humble beginnings might lead to great achievements. Dr. Suresh Mehrotra's amazingly inspirational way of motivating people left me astounded. At the same time, meeting Dr. Pravin Yannawar, Dr. Ramesh Manza and Dr. Bharti Gawali Rokade were indicators that I should put in more efforts in my research work and publications. 

MGM's Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College, Aurangabad

My visit to Aurangabad and a probing question by Dr. Suresh Mehrotra - "If all good people went to `good' places, who will come to the place which are not `good'?" motivated me to start a conversation with a college of Aurangabad. I came for a visit to Jawaharlal Nehru Engineering College and was floored by the welcoming nature of the Principal Dr. Sudhir Deshmukh, his motivated talks and willingness to develop the college further into an institute of national repute. My meetings with Dr. Sanjay Harke, Dr. Ravindra Deshmukh and Dr. Abhay Kulkarni were enlightening. I was especially impressed by the infrastructure developed by MGM - IBT, where Dr. Sanjay Harke is the Director.

With Shitla Tripathi ji

With Ram Kewal Maurya ji

I finally had a chance to take a degree at the convocation, the previous one's being either mailed to my place of residence, or being brought in by a third person. Instead of partying around, I chose to spend time with Shitla Prasad Tripathi ji and Ram Kewal Maurya ji. If I have gained a lot from my fellow research workers, I have also learnt a lot from Tripathi ji and Maurya ji. For each and every technical problem of mine. They were a great help.


Remember Narayan dada, the one about whom I talked about in my blog last year? I saw him frail and shaking. When I saw him, he got down from the cycle, and told me that he was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his throat. It was surprising that all through his trauma, he had been looking for me for support, and people had been telling him that I had left the campus. I talked about his condition to the residents of Hall Four and most of them went to see him. Some even called him from outside the campus.

A scene at the CC Canteen @ IITK

The month of August began with a goodbye, with me bidding adieu to the city I spent nine precious years in, Kanpur. There were small meetings with Prof. Onkar Dikshit, the person who supported me a lot, morally and financially, and my thesis supervisor Dr. Bharat Lohani. Dr. Nandini Nilakantan also invited me for a luncheon at the Campus Restaurant. 

Arun Nishad, your help for packing up my things was one of the greatest helps that I would remember. On the day of bidding goodbye to the campus, it was raining, and I, perhaps inspired by the clouds, shed a tear or two, in the moments of loneliness that I found on the railway platform. I was en route to Chennai then, and met a lady Tarzan during the journey! 

The next few days went away like a breeze, and I entered Aurangabad. A small and dusty city yet to learn the values of maintenance and cleanliness, but yet consisted of people with big hearts. Sachin Deshmukh helped me to find a place of stay, and Prahlad Pawar ji was kind enough to rent me the place. 

I taught two courses this year. Teaching mathematics to the students with no mathematical background was one of the challenges that I took. The results would say if I was successful, which are yet to come as I write this document. 

The end of year enlightened me with an emergent thought. The expression of "Independence" is expected to arrive with a feeling of an exclamation mark, but instead in many of us, it exists with a question mark in terms of daily life - common feelings like hunger, love, sadness, sleep, thought are well affected by this question mark.

With a desire that you are able to convert this question mark into an exclamation in the coming days, I wish you a very happy new year.

हिंदी रूपांतर 

भारतीय प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान के चतुर्थ छात्रावास को अलविदा कहने से मेरा यह वर्ष शुरू हुआ।  अनेकों झगड़े, रात भर का जागना और दोस्ती इन्ही सब की यादें समेटकर मैंने हॉल ४ को अलविदा कहा। हॉल ४ में रहने के दौरान अनेकों से मेरा परिचय हुआ जैसे विख्यात टोनी जेकब और विनयशील विवेक मेहता।  हॉल ४ से मैंने कई चीज़ें सीखीं और आशा है कि इन सीखों को मैं अपने जीवन में उतार पाऊंगा।

मेरे पी एच डी के मार्गदर्शक डॉ भारत लोहनी ने मुझे डॉ बाबासाहेब आंबेडकर विद्यापीठ में जाकर व्याख्यान देने के लिए प्रेरित किया। यहाँ मैं प्रो सुरेश मेहरोत्रा से मिला। डॉ प्रवीण यन्नावर, डॉ रमेश मंझा और डॉ भारती रोकड़े से मिलकर ऐसा लगा कि मुझे अपने शोध कार्य में और अधिक मेहनत करनी चाहिए।

इस व्याख्यान के वजह से मेरी बातचीत औरंगाबाद के एक महाविद्यालय से होने लगी। डॉ सुरेश मेहरोत्रा ने पूछा कि " यदि हर अच्छा व्यक्ति "अच्छी" जगह पर जाए, तो हमारे यहाँ कौन आएगा?" अतः मैं पुनः औरंगाबाद आया। यहाँ, जवाहरलाल नेहरू इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज के प्रधानाचार्य डॉ सुधीर देशमुख से मिलकर बहुत अच्छा लगा।  वे इस महाविद्यालय को राष्ट्रीय स्तर के प्रसिद्ध शिक्षण संस्थानों कि गिनती में लाना चाहते थे।  इसके अतिरिक्त मैंने डॉ संजय हर्के, डॉ रविन्द्र देशमुख एवं डॉ अभय कुलकर्णी से भी मुलाकात कि।  जैवविज्ञानं और प्रौद्योगिकी संस्थान के आधुनिक प्रयोगशालाएं और कम्प्यूटेशनल शक्ति देखकर मैं दंग रह गया।  अतः मैंने जवाहरलाल नेहरू इंजीनियरिंग कॉलेज कि ठानी।

आखिर वो वेला आ ही गयी जब मैंने किसी दीक्षांत समारोह में भाग लिया।  इससे पूर्व मेरे समस्त उपाधियों को में व्ययक्तिक तौर पर ले नहीं पाया था।  समारोह के उपरांत जहां लोग होटलों में जाकर खाना खाने कि योजना बना रहे थे, में शीतला प्रसाद त्रिपाठी जी और राम केवल मौर्या जी के साथ फ़ोटो खिचवा रहा था।

आपको नारायण दादा के बारे में याद है? उनके बारे में पिछले वर्ष मैंने लिखा था।  उनको मैंने बहुत कमज़ोर और शिथिल रूप में देखा। पूछने पर पता चला कि उन्हें वैद्य ने बताया है कि उन्हें कर्क रोग है।  उनका एक बार शल्य चिकित्सा हो चुका था।  उन्होंने बताया कि वे मेरे बारे में पूछते रहे और लोग उनको बताते रहे कि मैं आई आई टी परिसर छोड़कर चला गया हूँ।  मेरे पूर्व छात्रावास के लोगो को बताने पर कई उनसे परिसर के हेल्थ सेंटर में मिलने गए और उन्हें ढांढस बधाई।

अगस्त का महीना मेरे लिए कठिन रहा। जिस परिसर में मैंने ९ वर्ष बिताये उसे विदा कहने का समय आ गया था।  विदा लेने से पूर्व, प्रोफेसर ओंकार दीक्षित, जिन्होंने मुझे कई बार धैर्य बंधाई और आर्थिक सहायता भी दी, के आशीष वचन प्राप्त करने आवश्यक थे।  इसी के साथ मेरे पी एच डी के मार्गदर्शक डॉ भारत लोहनी से भी मार्गदर्शन प्राप्त किये।  डॉ नन्दिनी नीलकंठन ने भी मुझे मध्यान्ह भोज के लिए आमंत्रित किया।

श्री अरुण निषाद ने मेरे सामान को समेटने में जितनी मदद की उसकी प्रशंशा करने के लिए मेरे पास शब्द कम हैं।  आई आई टी परिसर को विदा कहने के दिन वर्षा हो रही थी, और सम्भवतः बादलों से प्रेरित होकर, रेलवे प्लेटफार्म के अकेलेपन में, मेरे चक्षुओं से दो आंसू छलक पड़े। मैं चेन्नई की ओर अग्रसर था और रास्ते में एक लेडी टार्ज़न से मुलाकात भी हुई!

अगले कुछ दिन बड़ी तेज़ी से बीत गए और में औरंगाबाद में कदम रखा। यह एक धूल भरा शहर है, परन्तु यहाँ के लोगों के ह्रदय विशाल हैं।  सचिन देखमुख ने मुझे एक रहने का स्थान ढूंढ़ने में मदद कि, और श्री प्रह्लाद पवार जी ने अपने घर को मुझे किराए पर दिया।

इस वर्ष मैंने दो कोर्स पढ़ाये। जैव विज्ञान के छात्रों को गणित पढ़ाना शायद कठिन था। मैंने अच्छा पढ़ाया या नहीं, यह तो परिणाम आने के पश्चात ही पता चलेगा!

वर्ष २०१३ के अंत में एक दुर्दान्त विचार मेरे मन में कौंधा।  यह कि हम कहते हैं कि हम स्वतंत्र है, पर अधिकतर भारतीयों के लिए स्वतंत्रता छद्मवेश में परतंत्रता का ही नाम है, चाहे वो सोच, विचार, निद्रा, क्षुधा, प्रेम, अनुराग कुछ भी हो। इसीलिए स्वतंत्रता एक विस्मयादिबोधक चिन्ह के साथ नहीं वरन एक प्रश्नवाचक चिन्ह के साथ हमारे मन में उत्पन्न होता है।

वेद कहते हैं "तमसो मां ज्योतिर्गमय" । इसी प्रेरणा के साथ कि आप इस छद्मवेशी परतंत्रता को वास्तविक स्वतंत्रता में रुपान्वित कर सकें और प्रश्नवाचक चिन्ह को विस्मयद्बोधक चिन्ह में बदल सकें, मैं आपको नव वर्ष कि शुभकामनायें देता हूँ।  

कैफियत

कभी दिल्ली के चौड़े रास्तों के बीच उगते पौधों को देखा है? गुज़रते वाहनों के धूल और धुएं से लथपथ, शिथिल, निर्जीव, काहिल और न जाने क्या क्या हो जातीं हैं। किसी उगते पौधे को स्वास्थ्य होने के लिए खुली हवा, प्यार, पर्याप्त मात्र में खाद आदि कि आवश्यकता होती है।  दिल्ली ही क्यों किसी भी शहर में रास्तों के दोनों तरफ या बीच में उगते हुए पौधों कि ऐसी ही दशा होती है।

ऐसा प्रतीत होता है कि मैं कोई ऐसा ही पौधा हूँ। धूल और धूएं से काहिल, शिथिल। धूल शायद तुम्हारे चिंतन कि, और धुँआ तुम्हारे मन के निष्क्रिय कारखाने की।  धुँआ शायद तुम्हारे किंकर्त्तव्यविमूढ़ता कि भी है।  चतुर्दिशाओं के बाजे गाजे और तुम्हारे मन के काल्पनिक धूम धडाके।  कभी किसी का बाजा बज उठता है और खुल जातीं हैं तुम्हारे  कल्पनाओं का विशाल भण्डार!  उन घटनाओं कि कल्पना करने लगते हो जो वास्तव में होते ही नहीं।  ऊपर से तुम उन काल्पनिक चरित्रों, पात्रों, और घटनाओं पर विश्वास करने लगते हो।

हर किसी के विश्वास, आशा उसके अपने होते हैं।  उन विश्वास और आशाओं में सबको लपेटा नहीं जा सकता।  जब कोई लिपटता नहीं तो उसे यह भी नहीं कहा जा सकता कि वो धोखेबाज़ है! धोखा तो तब होता, जब कभी कोई इस बात का वाद करता कि कुछ भी हो जाए, वो उसके वास्तव और तुम्हारे कृत्रिम जगत में कोई अंतर नहीं रखेगा।

वास्तव क्या है और कृत्रिम क्या है, इसके सम्बन्ध में बहुत अलग अलग राय पंडितों ने दी है। कभी यह नहीं कहा जा सकता है मेरा वास्तव सत्य है और तुम्हारा वास्तव कृत्रिम।  कभी यह नहीं कहा जा सकता कि तुम्हारा मानना सत्य है और मेरी सोच गलत। चिरकाल से सनातन धर्म के संस्कार खुली विचारधारा के हैं।  कभी नहीं कहते कि यह मना है, वो मना है।  हाँ! अनेक वस्तुओं, पदार्थों के गुणों कि चर्चा अवश्य पाये गए हैं। यह मना है, वो मना है ऐसा मात्र निम्न स्तरीय विचारधारा के समाजों का परिचायक है।  बंद घरों या कमरों में रहने से विचार कभी खुले नहीं हो सकते।

तुम बारम्बार कहते हो यह न करो, वो न करो। कभी कभी तो तेज़ सांसें चलने पर भी तुम्हारे सवाल खड़े हो जाते हैं।  हो सकता है मेरी सांसें तेज़ ही चलती हों! या फिर हो सकता है कि वर्जिश का कार्यक्रम चल रहा हो। कुछ भी हो, कैसा भी हो, कैफियत मांगने लगते हो! ऐसे कैफ़ियतों कि आशाओं से बारम्बार घायल क्यों करते हो? एक बार में ही बोल दो कि मर जाओ!  जान छूटे तुम्हारी! और मेरी भी!

--निशा

कांचा चीन्हा या कांच के सपने ?

तुम कहते हो मैं आज़ाद हूँ, एक पंछी कि तरह, पर जब भी उड़ने कि कोशिश की तुमने तो मेरे पर ही काट लिए! न! वह पर मेरे पीठ पर नहीं उगे थे।  वह तो मेरे ह्रदय में थे, अब सोचो काट दिए तो कितना दर्द हुआ होगा।  अरे, तुम बड़े होकर दिल से खेलते हो? मैं तो सोचता था कि यह सिर्फ कमीनों का काम है!

कोई कमीना कर्म से होता है, कोई सोच से।  पर मेरे पर काटने का जो कमीनापन तुमने किया वह लाजवाब है। पहले कहा "उड़! चिड़िया उड़!" फिर जब चिड़िया उडी तो कुशब्दों के वाण छोड़ दिए।  नन्ही चिड़िया अब क्या करे? वो कहते हैं न अंग्रेजी में "बैक टू स्क्वायर वन!", वही हाल किया।  अरे यही सब करना था तो पहले बता देते?

यह जो चिड़िया उड़ वाला खेल होता है न, बड़ा निराला है।  कोई गलती करता है तो मार खानी पड़ती है।  पर कुछ कलाकारी से उससे बच भी सकते हैं।  ह्रदय को थप्पड़ पड़ने पे बचने कि उम्मीदें कम रहती हैं।  पर यह तुम्हे कौन समझाए? तुम अपने अलावा किसी के सम्बंध में नहीं सोचते, यह तो मुझे अब जा के पता चला है!

भारत देश में अनेको कुसंस्कार म्लेच्छ जातियों द्वारा लाया गया है। वो तो सुधर गए हमें देखकर! पर हम ने उनकी देखा-देखी करनी शुरू कर दी। और तुमने तो पराकाष्ठा को पार कर दिया! सोच इधर कि, काम म्लेच्छों के! कहते हो मैं आज़ाद हूँ, पर हूँ नहीं।  कहते हो कि तुम्हे बहुत अनुभव है, पर बातें सुनकर ऐसा लगता नहीं!

म्लेच्छ जातियां कहती हैं कि आज़ादी मना है।  बस मना है! कोई अनसुनी करता है तो सूली पर चढ़ा देते हैँ।  तुम कहते हो कि मैं आज़ाद हूँ और फिर सूली पे चढ़ा देते हो! अरे इंसान कहाँ जाए? तेल लेने?

आजकल हर रोज यही खुद को आईने में देखकर सोच रहती है - "इतना करके क्या मिला? बाबाजी का ठुल्लु?" कह दो कि सपने मत देखो, सोचना बंद करो, किताबें मत पढ़ो, अरे और तो और नौकरी भी मत करो!  अरे कह दो कि ज़िंदा भी मत रहो। नहीं तो मेरे पास दो ही विकल्प हैं: या तो कांचा चीन्हा बनो, या फिर कांच के सपने लेकर बैठे रहो, निठल्ले!

--निशा

तुमने क्या समझा?

तुम्हे घर साफ़ करते देख काफी कष्ट होता था।  तुम हाँफते थे, पसीने से तरबतर होते थे।  इसलिए कोई दोस्त कभी  घर नहीं आया। मैंने दोस्त कम ही बनाये। शायद मैं आदि हूँ अकेलेपन का।  इसीलिए जब कहते हो यह तुम्हारे घर आएगा, वह तुम्हारे घर घुसेगा, तो समझ में आता है!  यह समझ में आता है कि उस बचपन का अकेलापन आज भी जारी है, उसी तरह।  शायद तुम चाहते हो कि मेरा ख्याल कोई न रखे, या कोई  मुझसे बात न करे, एक तुम्हारा ही हक़ ।  शायद तुम मुझे जीवन भर के लिए अकेला कर देना चाहते हो!

तुम ऐसा चाहते हो, क्योंकि मेरे जीवन साथी चुनने पर तुम्हे आपत्ति थी।  उफ़! कौन कौन सी बातें तुमने न कही। मैंने तो स्कूल में यही सीखा कि हम सबका खून लाल ही होता है, फिर यह फ़र्क़ कैसा।  यह जातपात कैसी? म्लेच्छ समाजों कि तरह क्यों सोचा तुमने? आज भी उन दिनों कि सोच से रोम रोम सिहर जाता है।

तुम न कहते हो कि मेरे दिमाग कि नसें ढीली हैं। या फिर मेरी खोपड़ी उलटी है।  ऐसा तुम कई सालों से कहते आये हो।  फिर बुरा क्यों लगता है जब कोई मुझे मंदबुद्धि कहता है ? शायद सभी को मुझे मंदबुद्धि कहने का अधिकार हो जाए इसीलिए तुम बार बार सबके सामने ऐसा कहते हो? या यह फिर यह कोई अभिनय है?

तुमने शायद समझा कि तुम्हारा ताना मैंने बूझा नहीं। उसी समय समझ में आ गया था। अंतरजाल पर जाने के लिए सरकारी सामान का प्रयोग करूं या गैर सरकारी, इससे तुम्हे तो कोई फ़र्क़ नहीं पड़ता।  पर फिर भी तुम बोले।  तुम्हे तो अंतरजाल पे जाना आता ही नहीं, फिर बोलने कि होड़ क्यों थी? क्यों यह ज़ाहिर करते हो बार बार कि मेरे पास एक साधारण गैर सरकारी महाविद्यालय कि नौकरी है और तुम्हारे पास कोई है जो सरकारी अफसर है।  उस अफसर को सलाम है।  उस अफसर ने मेहनत की है। सम्भवतः मैंने मेहनत नहीं की। परन्तु ये बार बार कहना?

अब तुम्हारे ताने तो मेरे खाने तक पहुँच गए। कितना कुछ जो पसंद था, छोड़ दिया मैंने। लो मैंने अब तो आलू के परांठे भी छोड़ दिए।  तुमने धीरे धीरे मेरे पसंद कि सारी चीज़ें ले ली। आज तुम मेरे साँसों तक पहुंचे हो, कल क्या मेरे गले तक पहुंचोगे?

मेरी तमन्ना है कि मैं तुमसे पहले जाऊँ।  समझो तो आखिर कि मेरे बिना दुनियाँ कैसी है? खूबसूरत ही होगी शायद !

--निशा

Milestones 2012

Last year, it was all about silence. This year, I would be talking about milestones. Milestones that have left indelible impressions on my mind.

This year, the months of June and December would be known as the milestone months for me. The fruit of eight years came out in the form of a 166 page document with a fair amount of pictures and YouTube videos. A presentation version of this document was screened in December thus receiving generally positive comments. This fruit took too long to ripen and yet, on the last day of this year, my mother called up and asked me if I was well. The contents of the conversation were sufficient to tell me that she was still proud of me. On the day of the presentation and after, I missed my father again and again, because he appears in my dreams every now and then, perhaps to wish me well and convey good luck for my studies and life in general. I would also take this opportunity to thank Professor Onkar Dikshit and Dr. Nandini Nilakantan who took most of my worries away by listening to me when I had to crib! Dr. Bharat Lohani, thank you for all you have done for me.

My friend Nilanjana had a baby boy this year. She named him “Rig” after the Rig Veda (oldest book on Hindu scriptures). Sarika, a common good friend, whom I met at Delhi (after 10 years) during a conference, perhaps appeared more excited about describing the baby than the mother herself.

Constructive criticism and politics for the welfare of the junta totally went missing from the Hall 4. The person, who had sacrificed 40 years of his family life for serving Hall 4 was shown the door. The demeanour meted out to him by the Chieftain of the ship was demeaning, hurtful and in bad taste. Shri S. N. Pradhan, lovingly known as Narayan dada, had to leave the Hall premises in “10 minutes” with tearful eyes. He was shifted by the administration to Hall 9. I am told that within a span of two months of his departure from Hall 4, the Dean of Students' Affairs of IIT Kanpur, met him personally and congratulated him for establishing a good accounting and recording system in Hall 9. This was also the first time when, an aspiring politician of Hall 4 remarked, “Sir, you are very idealistic. If you move away from your ideals, you could achieve a lot!” I thank the Almighty, if he exists, for giving me parents and teachers who taught me to stand my ground in the most adverse of circumstances.

The Bhagavad Gita inspires us to be bold and believe in actions without craving for the result to “benefit” the self. It is in the “Karma” we should believe in and there is where the excitement lies. I was never a great fan of new year resolutions. Sometimes we avoid things, thinking of the consequences. The teachings of the Bhagavad Gita have inspired me to change this characteristic. The Bhagavad Gita also teaches us about “skins” the soul wears from one life to another. One could easily extend this logic to memories from one phase to another. Memories should be let gone, for good, for shifting from one phase to another.

On that note, as I gear up for the life forward from this point, I wish you a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

বিস্তীর্ণ এপারে

ক্যালকাটা ইয়ুথ ক্য়ার - এর ভূপেন হাজারিকা অনেক দিন আগে "বিস্তীর্ণ দুপারে" নামের গানটা গেয়েছিলেন| আশির দশকে-র এই গান খুব ই জনপ্রিয় হয়েছিল| পরবর্তী কালে এই গান কে অন্যান্য ভাষায় অনুবাদিত করা হয়| গানটি যে অন্য ভাষাতেও জনপ্রিয় হয়েছিল বলা বাহুল্য| গান-এর মর্ম কি সেটা হয়ত আমি ছোটবেলায় কিছুই বুঝিনি, কিম্বা হয়ত বোঝার চেষ্টাও করিনি, কিন্তু হালের এক ঘটনা আমাকে এই গানটির দু লাইন মনে পড়িয়ে দিল: 

... নৈতিকতার স্খলন দেখেও, মানবতার পতন দেখেও, নির্লজ্জ ভাবে তুমি বইছ কেন? ...

আজ কানপুর নগরে বসে, আমি এই রচনা টি লিখছি| কানপুর-এ আমার এই অষ্টম বছর. আমি যেখানে বসে, তার থেকে ৩-৪ কি. মি. দূরে মা গঙ্গা বয়ে যাছেন. নগরের নোংরা, আবর্জনা, অবসাদ সব ধুয়ে নিয়ে যাচ্ছেন - যতটা পারেন আর কি? লিখতে লিখতে সুকুমার রায়-এর পাগলা দাশুর কথাও মনে পড়ছে| পাগলা দাশুর ক্যাবলা মার্কা কথা আর তার হম্বি তম্বি ভাব, ছোটবেলায় এই গল্পগুলো তো খুব ই হাসিয়েছে| সুকুমার রায়-এর এই চরিত্রটি নিছক ওনার কল্পনা না কারুর প্রতি ব্যঙ্গ সেটা আমার জানা নেই| 

দুঃখের কথা এই যে আজকালকার নেতা গোছের যারা উত্পন্ন হয়েছেন তাহারা এই পাগলা দাশুর চরিত্রের মতন-ই| দিনের বেলা কোনো কন্যার আলু-থালু বক্ষ যুগলের বিবরণে কিল্লল্লের প্রকাশ কিম্বা গামছার নীচে দিয়ে উঁকি মারতে থাকা কোনো অধস্তন ব্যক্তির জননাঙ্গের আকারের সম্বন্ধে তারস্বরে বিবরণ, রাতের বেলা বসে সিগারেট, মদ টানা আর নিরর্থক কূটনীতি, এরাই হচ্ছে আজকালকার পাগলা দাশু| মাননীয় বিধান চন্দ্র রায় একদিন বলেছিলেন "আজ বাঙালিরা যা চিন্তন করবেন, কাল দেশ সেটা নিয়ে চিন্তন করবে"| সেটাই যদি ধরা হয়, তাহলে কি কাল ভারত দেশের কোনায়ে-কনায়ে পাগলা দাশু-রা ছেয়ে যাবে? চক্ষু চড়কগাছ করে দিচ্ছে এ ধারার চিন্তা! 

বাঙালিদের মধ্যে সর্বহারাদের রবিনহুড হবার চিন্তাধারা দেখা দিয়েছে| কিন্তু কথায় বলে "নিজের বেলায় আঁটিশাটি আর পরের বেলায় দাঁত ক পাটি?" এক পাগলা দাশুর মাঙ্কি ক্যাপ হারিয়ে গেছিল| দুদিন পরে দাশু দেখেন যে এক গরিব ছেলে ওই মাঙ্কি ক্যাপ টা পরে ঘুরছে| অমনি কেড়ে নিলেন, দুটি বকা লাগিয়ে ফেললেন, আর ফোঁশ - ফোঁশ করতে করতে নিজের বাড়িতে ঢুকলেন| কি লজ্জা কি লজ্জা! এই গল্প শুনে তো স্বয়ম রবিনহুড রেগে বোম হয়ে গেছিলেন!

আর - এক রবিনহুড তো কর্মচারীদের হাত থেকে চায়ের গ্লাস-ই কেড়ে নিলেন, বললেন তোমাদের তো দুধ খাওয়া বারণ, চা টা কি হাওয়া দিয়ে তৈরী হচ্ছে? হে মা ভবানী, এই রবিনহুডের গর্দান নাও! কর্মচারী সকাল সাড়ে ছটা-র থেকে রাত্তির ১০ টা পর্যন্ত ঘষ্টাছ্ছে, আর ওদের চা পর্য্যন্ত বরাদ্দ নয়? ছি ছি ছি! আগে শোনা গেছিল যে এই রবিনহুড একবার সরস্বতী পুজো-র মন্ডপ থেকে একজন কে এইজন্ন্যে তাড়িয়ে দিয়েছিলেন, কেননা ওই ভদ্রলোক বাঙালি নন! আর শোনা যাচ্ছে যে ইনিই নাকি বাঙালি দের নেতা| মধ্যান্য ভোজনে বসে, সেই বক্ষ যুগলের গল্প, আর বারান্দায় দাড়িয়ে জননাঙ্গের আকার বিশ্লেষণ, এই কি বাঙালি, এই কি আদর্শ বাঙালি নেতা?

বাঙালি দের প্রতি প্রার্থনা, এরকম পাগলা দাশু দের কখনই লাই দেবেন না, বরং পশ্চাতদেশে দুটো জুতোর বাড়ি মেরে খেদিয়ে দেবেন|

2011: The year of silence

The reader might be puzzled owing to the title of the article. Each year, there is an experiment that I run on myself, regarding the terms that I would maintain with the people around. The ideas for these experiments often come from the experienced people. Some practices are successful and some, owing to the "human being" I am, fail.

The experiment this year was silence. There weren't many blogs this year, nor the despair and agony. Whims and egos were mostly responded through silence. Even some enquiries... Each year in my notes, I have been vocal about my achievements. This year, I choose to be silent about them. I will instead touch upon some of the remarkable incidents that happened this year.

Nirmali and Vivek decided to tie the knot this year and I seized the chance to travel to my home state Madhya Pradesh (not to the home town sadly). It was satisfying to taste the water and the food there. One could easily say "back to my mother's lap." It was also an opportunity for me to boast about the home state to friends who hailed from Bihar and Kerala, whom I had accompanied! Vivek, finally delivered his open seminar in the month of December and has left for his home town. Hope he will be reaching Tezpur pretty soon. May he find his "ideal industry" in 2012.

My friend and colleague Susham Biswas, finally defended his thesis. Finally relaxed, wasn't he? He left me with a question ... "When are you defending?"

The last bit of 2011 was a sad in the history of IIT Kanpur. People in the position of responsibility were blamed of being indulgent in their demanour, and some were found taking sides with their common sense gone for grazing the grass. People in the position of responsibility were found saying "I don't care what your feelings are!" I am reminded of Michael Jackson's song "They don't really care about us!" 2011 was a year, in which IIT Kanpur saw people threatening poor workers shivering with cold, that they would lose their jobs if they took broken twigs to warm up their homes.  

2011 taught that being angry and whimsical doesn't really help everytime, a suggestion that I recall to have given to one of my relatives, a year or two earlier. It also taught that criticism isn't the most welcome move for some people in this world, inspite of the fact that culturally, our country has earned its accolades and knowledge from being sceptical and curious. Often, in the absence of genuine arguments and logic, attributes like "Ghajni" and "Fatty" are easily earned.

The eve of the New Year was rainy ... and so was the first day of January. The celebrations of the New Year were dampened therefore. As this day passes, I hope wisdom, heath, health, happiness and sunshine spreads, in IIT Kanpur, India and the World in general.

प्रजातंत्र

बाबासाहेब अम्बेडकर जी ने जब भारत के संविधान की रचना की थी, तब संभवतः उन्होंने सोचा भी न होगा की "प्रजातंत्र" शब्द का इस प्रकार दुरुपयोग हो सकता है. हमारे देश में आज का प्रजातंत्र अल्पसंख्यकों की राजनीति, महासख्यकों की कुटाई और धनाढ्यों की वाहवाही के खेल का मैदान है. आज हमारा देश वही चला सकता है जो दो या अधिक गुटों में लड़ाई करवा के मेवा खाने की हिम्मत रखता हो. आज हमारा देश वही चला सकता है जो अपने दामन को बचाकर दूसरों के कन्धों पैर बन्दूक रखने की हिम्मत रखता हो. आज हमारा देश वही चला सकता है जो प्रजातंत्र के नाम पे प्रजा को गुमराह कर मजा लूट-ता हो.  

कुछ ऐसा ही हो रहा है हमारे इस देश में जगह जगह पर. मैं संसद का अपमान नहीं करना चाहूँगा, इसीलिए किसी मंत्री, संत्री की बात नहीं करूंगा. तो आइये यंत्रियों की बात करते हैं, अभियाँत्रिकों की बात करते हैं. एक अभियांत्रिक था, सत्येन्द्र दुबे... जिसके बारे में कहते कहते उनके शिक्षकों की आँखें नम हो जातीं हैं. हाल ही में आई आई टी कानपुर के गोल्डेन जुबिली समारोह में जब सत्येन्द्र जी का उल्लेख हुआ, तो उनके शिक्षक फफक कर रो पड़े. 

और आज की बात है २०११ में जब किसी तेल कंपनी से निकले हुए हताश अधिकारी श्रीमान रोली पोली इसी प्रजातंत्र का हवाला देते हुए, दिन में १६ घंटे से अधिक काम करने वालों के मक्खन एवं दूध बंद करवा देते हैं. वही श्रीमान रोली पोली कडाके की ठण्ड में अपने कमरे पर ब्लोवर का सेवन करते हैं, और बाहर ठिठुरते कर्मचारियों को धमकाते हैं की "लकड़ियाँ ले गए तो मैं ऊपर शिकायत कर दूंगा, तुम लोगों को नौकरी से निकलवा दूंगा!" सुनने में आ रहा है की श्रीमान रोली पोली अपना काम छोड़कर अब राजा का पद सँभालने की तैयारी कर रहे हैं. मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम श्री राम ने प्रजा की बात मानकर और हारकर अपनी पत्नी को राज्य से निष्काषित कर दिया था, और यहाँ भावी राजा अपना उल्लू सीधा करने की बात कर रहे हैं. 

अब बात करते हैं श्रीमान झंडूलाल बनारसी के सम्बन्ध में. श्रीमान बनारसी बिन पेंदे के लोटे हैं, अर्थात गंगा गए तो गंगा दास और यमुना गए तो यमुना दास. जब तक उनका नाम हर काम में न हो, तब तक उन्हें चैन नहीं पड़ता, उन्हें चाहे इसके लिए कोई कुकर्म ही क्यों न करना पड़े. इसी कारण वे झंडू भी हैं. उन्हें उनका खेल ४०० लोगो के पेट एवं ४० लोगो के रोजगार से भी अधिक प्रिय है. २-३ वर्ष पूर्व जब श्रीमान बनारसी के शराबी मित्र प्रजातांत्रिक चुनाव हार गए थे, तब उनके और उनके मित्रों के मुख से वचन कटु आ रहे थे!  

ततैया तोप के बारे में क्या कहने! उनको अंग्रेजी और हिंदी तो छोड़ ही दीजिये अपनी मातृभाषा भी ठीक से नहीं आती. ऐसे व्यक्ति जब एक शब्द में खाने के गुणवत्ता का कारण पूछते हैं, तो श्रीमान बनारसी के कान अपने आप खड़े हो जाते हैं. और हाय रे मिलिट्री पुत्र! अपनी बात तो ठीक से कह न सके और राजा का सिंघासन भी गवां बैठे. प्रजातंत्र जो ठहरी हमारी अभियांत्रिक जनता! 

जनता को संभालना होगा और अपनी आँखें खोलनी होंगी. विशेषकर निरी चंडूखाने की गप्प छोड़कर अपने तीसरे नेत्र को खोलना होगा. वरन वोह दिन दूर नहीं जब हम कहने को मजबूर होंगे: "जब हर शाख पे उल्लू बैठा है तो अंजाम-ए गुलिस्तान क्या होगा?"

त्रिया चरित्रं

"त्रिया चरित्रं, पुरुषस्य भाग्यम, देवौ ना जानाति कुतो मनुष्यः"


अर्थात स्त्री के चरित्र और पुरुष के भाग्य के सम्बन्ध में तो देवों को भी नहीं पता है, मनुष्य क्या चीज़ है. बचपन से ही इस श्लोक को सुनते आ रहे हैं हम! मुझे ऐसा आभास था की संभवतः यह श्लोक स्त्री के चरित्र पर लांछन है, परन्तु हाल ही में हुए कुछ विशेष घटनाओं ने मेरे इस आभास को गलत प्रमाणित किया.


चलते हैं २-३ वर्ष पहले हुई घटना पर. सुश्री सोनल मान सिंह जी कानपुर में आयीं हुईं थीं. स्पिक - मेकै के विरासत कार्यक्रम के परिप्रेक्ष्य में किदवईनगर  स्थित विद्यालय में उनका कार्यक्रम होना था. कार्यक्रम के आरम्भ में ही उन्होंने ऐसी कुछ बातें कहीं जिन्होंने मुझे झकझोर कर रख दिया. जो उन्होंने कहा उसका एक उद्धरण यहाँ प्रस्तुत है - "... आप सभी ने सुना होगा की भगवान् श्री राम ने वन में जाकर एक पत्थर पर अपने चरण धरे. कुछ ही क्षणों में वह पत्थर एक नारी के रूप में बदल गया. वह नारी देवी अहिल्या थी!" फिर उन्होंने हम सभी से प्रश्न किया "...लेकिन यह सोचिये की जिस भगवन श्री राम को मर्यादा पुरुषोत्तम कहा जाता है, क्या वे कभी भी किसी नारी के ऊपर पैर रखेंगे?" समस्त दर्शकगण निस्तब्ध थे! फिर उन्होंने स्पष्ट किया "... वाल्मीकि रामायण में उल्लेख है की देवी अहिल्या ब्रह्म ज्ञानी थीं. जब इन्द्र उनसे मिलने आये थे तब अहिल्या ने उनको पहचान लिया था. संस्पर्श हुआ, और गौतम ऋषि भी क्षुभ हुए. परन्तु एक ब्रह्म ज्ञानी नारी को गौतम ऋषि भी श्राप नहीं दे सकते थे. उन्होंने कटु वचन कहे. कटु वचन सुनकर देवी अहिल्या ने क्रोध में एक पत्थर का रूप धारण कर लिया. जब श्री राम आये तो उन्होंने पत्थर को प्रणाम किया, तब देवी अहिल्या प्रकट हुईं" देवी अहिल्या के ब्रह्म ज्ञानी होने का उल्लेख ना जाने क्यों, वर्तमान ग्रंथों में नहीं मिलता. संभवतः नारी का सम्मान करना हम भूल गए हैं.


अब वर्तमान के कुछ घटनाओं पर हम ध्यान केन्द्रित करते हैं.

1. कलर्स चैनल पर बिग बॉस नामक धारावाहिक प्रतिदिन दर्शाया जा रहा है. इस कार्यक्रम के बारे में अधिक जानकारी प्राप्त करने के लिए कार्यक्रम का वेबसाइट देखें. इस कार्यक्रम एक प्रतिभागी श्री आकाशदीप सहगल, जो स्काई वाकर के नाम से जाने जाना पसंद करते हैं, ने एक अन्य प्रतिभागी सुश्री महक चहल के व्यक्तिगत जीवन के सम्बन्ध में कुशब्द कहे (विडिओ Youtube पर देख लें). इन कुशब्दों के साथ यह भी कहा की "तू गन्दी औरत है". हम जब अकसर किसी महिला को गन्दी औरत कहते हैं, तो संभवतः हमारा संकेत उसकी चरित्र पर होता है. संभवतः हम यह भी कहना चाहते है की उस महिला को अपने यौनेच्छा पर नियंत्रण नहीं है, एवं वह महिला अपने इस इच्छा की प्रतिपूर्ति करने हेतु किसी भी पुरुष अथवा साधन का सहारा ले सकती है. किसी महिला के यौनेच्छा पर टिपण्णी करने का अधिकार किसी पुरुष को है? क्या कोई पुरुष अपने यौनेच्छा पर नियंत्रण रख सकता है? यदि नहीं तो क्या वो "गन्दा पुरुष" नहीं हुआ? क्या कारण है की हम "गन्दी महिला" या "गन्दी औरत" की परिकल्पना तो कर सकते हैं, परन्तु एक "गंदे पुरुष" की नहीं? 
2. हाल ही में किसी नामी महाविद्यालय के एक छात्रा ने आत्महत्या करने का प्रयास किया. मैं आत्महत्या के प्रयास करने का कारण तो नहीं जानता, परन्तु उस के पश्चात जो घटनाएं हुईं उनपे प्रकाश डालना चाहूँगा. कुछ दिनों पहले ही उस महाविद्यालय से निकाले गए छात्र ने उस छात्रा से दूरभाष से संपर्क किया और कहा की "तू इसका सारा इल्जाम महाविद्यालय के नियमों पर लगा दे!" इसके कुछ दिनों पश्चात किसी एक छात्र ने एक वेबसाइट पर उस छात्रा के नाम का खुलासा करते हुए उसके सम्बन्ध में गन्दी गन्दी बातें लिखी. यह वेबसाइट घटना के लगभग १ वर्ष बाद बनायीं गयी.  आत्महत्या के प्रयास की घटना हुई, और उसके एक वर्ष बाद वेबसाइट बना. यह कैसा जाल, और यह कैसी चाल? गलती किसकी? लड़की की या फिर किसी चोट खाए हुए और बिलखते हुए आत्मा की? अब यदि लड़की शादी करती है तो उसके वैवाहिक जीवन पर क्या असर होगा?
3. आई आई टी कानपुर के हॉल ४ की बात पर मैं आना चाहूँगा. घटना का पूर्ण उल्लेख करना अनावश्यक है, परन्तु किसी कारण वश हॉल ४ में काम कर रहे एक महिला पर दुश्चरित्र होने का आरोप लगा. उनका दोष मात्र इतना था की उन्होंने हॉल ४ के मेस कर्मचारियों के शौचालय का उपयोग किया था (यहाँ यह कहना आवश्यक है की हॉल ४ में महिलाओं अथवा महिला कर्मचारियों के लिए कोई शौचालय उपलब्ध नहीं है). तो क्या महिला शौचालय भी न जाए? क्या नारी होने की यह व्यथा भी झेलनी होगी? ऊपर से हॉल ४ के महान मेस प्रबंधक महोदय ने टिपण्णी की: "सर मैं तो 100% गारंटी लेने को तैयार हूँ. वो औरत तो ऐसी ही है!" "ऐसी ही है" अर्थात वो दुश्चरित्र है! यहाँ बताना उचित होगा की हॉल - ४ के लगभग सभी छात्रों ने मेस प्रबंधक के इस आचरण की निंदा की!

उपरोक्त सभी घटनाओं को देखकर तो यह प्रतीत होने लगा है की स्त्री के चरित्र के सम्बन्ध में वर्तमान में बहुत सारे  व्यक्ति जानकारी रखते हैं या रखने लगे हैं. एक स्त्री की सोच क्या है यह तो वो ही जाने, क्या यह लोग अपने आप को भगवान् बनाने के प्रयास में लगे हैं?  



इस चर्चा के पश्चात इस निष्कर्ष पर पहुंचना आसान है की किसी स्त्री के चरित्र पर वार करना एक सामाजिक कुरीति एवं खेल हो गया है. चूंकि महिलाएं अब पढ़ लिखकर लड़कों से टक्कर लेने में कुशल हो चुकीं हैं, इसी कारण संभवतः एक भय पुरुषों के मन में घर कर गया है. आखिर कब तक यह कुरीति चलती रहेगी? आखिर कब तक पुरुष स्त्रियों के चरित्रों की गारंटी लेते रहेंगे? आखिर कब तक यह विश्वास समाज में जारी रहेगा की जब एक नारी किसी पुरुष से बात कर रही हो, तो वो अपनी उपलब्धता उस पुरुष को बता रही है? 

Harry Potter and the Visits to Hogwarts

Hogwarts actually accepted me! That was, to put in the humblest of the available expressions, mindblowing. I had just returned after spending a year with the Beauxbatons school of Magic, and was in a natatory stage with the memories of the likes of Fleur Delacour. While I surfed the Leaky Cauldron for purchasing essentials for my entry to Hogwarts, various people stood with mock respect, which probably led me to believe that the top of the world had been already achieved, though I was treading along somewhere in central India. As the Hogwarts express left its usual platform, rumblings in the stomach and thumpings in the heart followed till the point I made the entry into the magical palace.

The humble welcome

Our days began with the morning rounds of the forbidden forest (for the couch potatoes). Surprisingly, the plump Madam Sprout and the handsome Cedric Diggory were leading the sessions. Cedric Diggory was there for pretty obvious reasons, but of course the reasons themselves were conspicuous by their presence in terms of cardinality. Later in the day, when the tall and charming Professor Dumbledore shook hands with me, asked my name and introduced himself, my jaw hung in sheer awe of his sheer humility. Later, in a meeting of the freshers and the professors, Remus Lupin, who was humble, and Filius Flitwick who called himself the “aspiring politician” yet humorous. His very persona sounded “Wingardium Leviosa”. The charming Ms Pince from the library was another wonderment who spoke more than a language or two. Gilderoy was present too and he was, if one may forgive the expression, silent! 

 

A few from the freshmen kept on asking whether I had really been to the Beauxbatons school for a year before I had joined Hogwarts! The curious people wanted to know if I had really encountered Fleur Delacour the quarter-veela from that college. I had a tough time answering the curiosities and trying to impress them with my french at the same time!

Snape and his symphonies

Professor Snape made his presence felt in a remarkable fashion. He was infamous for his brutally exaggerated criticisms of people who were unaware of healthy practices and had ambitions of being managers rather than being magicians. He often opined that they were muggles or brought up by muggles. However, on the other hand was of the most amazing personalities in the college. magic just lay in his delivery, and he would practically romance with whatever he taught. Percy Weasley and his classmates often recount his interactions with him while at Hogwarts. tells me about the stories that he wove with the beams and bricks and their interaction in the group named G9. Professor Snape, in the following years, surprisingly turned sweeter. At a certain point of time, Professor Snape became so student friendly, that he decided to pay extra efforts to students and the facilities required for them. Unfortunately, for strangely unknown reasons he decided to apparate to another magic school, when he was nominated for the best teacher award at Hogwarts.

The buzzing bumblebees

One of the famous initiatives of the Fat Friar were to bring the bumblebees from various colleges of magic to Hogwarts. He thought that it would be nice to increase the future students of Hogwarts and would help some poor muggles to turn into excellent wizards. The bumblebees would always turn up each summer in different colors, shapes and sizes. They were always the favourites of Professor Snape who would always entertain them with his jokes, even giving them names of the feline creature, in case someone wished to appear for a C.A.T. Examination. Sometime Professor Minerva McGonagall would also turn up to give a motherly touch to the entire process of training the bumblebees. And it was amazing how multiple versions of Hermione Granger, Colin Creevey, Justin Finch-Fletchley and Luna Lovegood would turn up each summer, though a couple of Dracos would appear once in a while. Over the years, they would always fly international class, either with a big dream or a doctoral scholarship. The Ron Weasleys were severely missed on such occasions, though Neville Longbottom made himself quite available. After 28 days of rigourous training on the various aspects of magic, the bumblebees would ritually create a pool of tears before departure.

The Professors' Putterers

Each semester, the Professors were given some Putterers to help them in the courses of magic. Of course, as expected, there were three kinds of them. Firstly there were ones who were the Gryffindors. Secondly, the Ravenclaws and lastly, the Hufflepuffs. One or two amongst them did emerge from Slytherin, but they were negligible in number. The Gryffindors were always putting in an extra effort and were always assisting in courses and the O.W.L.s, The Ravenclaws were the intelligent ones and were making themselves useful in the activities of the college while the Hufflepuffs were rather, to put in the least strongest of words, good for nothings. They would go to any extent to make an idiot of themselves, especially when special help was expected of them. The “pegs” and “arrows” would invariably appear similar to them. 

 

The Hufflepuffs were also had a special group amongst themselves. The misuse of Hogwarts artifacts group was the most infamous in the college. This group actively participated in calling names for female students, whiling away their time in browsing publications seeking connubiality in the Daily Prophet or over the Wizarding Network.

Gaddings with the Gilderoys

“Gather around, gather around. Can you all see me, can you all hear me? Excellent....!”

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

If pomp and show were anything to go by, the Gilderoys were the example. Equipped with a dainty grin, their initial days at Hogwarts were spent in the quarterage of the Fat Friar and Professor Snape. In the later years, they got so apparently and incredibly busy in making themselves popular by going cock-a-doodle-do, that they forgot their own apprentices. Their apprentices became slowly timourous about the ramifications of not telling Gilderoy and attending someone's charms class, the wizard or witch might end up with a red and black seal on the scroll. The one reason that the mandrakes shrieked when someone crept up near a Gilderoy was this.

Wonderings with the Weasleys

A bespectacled guy, Ron Weasley turned up a year later than me to the Hogwarts castle. Timid by appearance, but the heart of an Indian tiger, he came along with Jeanne. Jeanne was rather shy to make an appearance at public meetings, but was knowledgeable enough to make an impression. Like Harry, Ron too got stuck with one of the Gilderoys, for some time. Ron wanted to tour around, get out of the Hogwarts castle and was keen to get himself known for good reasons. Life would of course have different plans for Ron. His ventures for adventures were repeatedly blocked by Gilderoy in favour of Fluffy, the three headed creature. Alas! If only he had listened to Harry, regarding the realities of the college and Dumbledore's kind heartedness.

Athenaeum Bibliotheca

The only place where I found myself comfortable was the athenaeum. In the mornings when the rays of the morning sun bathed the athenaeum, people like Collin Creevey used to rush out to catch a glimpse of the same with their wizard rolls. The fountain that lay close by in the form of Hedwig, was a reminder of knowledge to all who were interested, and a reminder of Lavender to all those interested in the arrows of cupid and its potions. It was also one of the favourite places of Nymphadora and Lupin. Lupin tells us that he used his handkerchief and the love potion to make Nymphadora fall in love with him. 

 

Warm in winters and cool in summers, it was an excellent place to be in. One could go to the reference section or to the restricted section and read books to one's heart's content. In fact, if there was any place in Hogwarts where one could obliviate the memories of worldly sadness, the athenaeum was that.

Vivacious Voldemort

Vivacious Voldemort was intelligent, convincing and held the power of hypnotic talk to convince any person who had the courage to oppose him intellectually. Interestingly the Fat Friar, Professor Snape, Repus Lupin, and the Gilderoys were all under the hypnotic influence of the Vivacious Voldemort. Probably, they were under the influence of the imperius curse. 

 

However, Voldemort was a previous student of Hogwarts, and it was proud of him. He had implemented several positive practices with which the student were fearlessly able to critique and question the system. He had once famously commented “If you have no solution, do not complain”.

Exodus

As I gently plan my exit from Hogwarts to possibly move into other magic schools, I would not greatly regret being here for sometime. I would take back the memories of intellectual friends and good books … and pray not the Hufflepuffs! 

 

Author's note: This is an article in figurative language with caricatures copiously borrowed from the Harry Potter Series by J. K. Rowling. Although, the series deals in the world of magic, the author has experienced that similar reflections happen in the real world. A millions of thanks to Ms. J. K. Rowling for writing those seven nice books, which are an example of exceptional story telling.

Learning from 'X' Generation

X is a representative of the number 10, an allegory for Generation X, also an emblem for danger and a symbol for dissatisfaction. The manifold effect that 'X' can generate can either increase or diminish an entity, it could push someone up the skies or thrust someone into sheer oblivion. It could also actually inspire somebody to rest in peace, for ever.

X gave me books. From those about Michel Angelo and the Sistine chapel, to those about the philosophies of the East and the West, were the good things that I found again. Dr. Nandini Nilakantan, thank you for rejuvenating my interest in books as well as in Algebraic Topology. I could relive the days when I was “intelligent”, while I audited your course. Thank you as well for giving me a patient hearing on my research area and problems associated with geometry. I also made friends with Dr. Naren Naik, from the Department of Electrical Engineering, and we had a brief tête-a- tête on our research areas.

X, in the midway, came up with the SPIC-MACAY's national convention organised at IIT Kanpur. Learning “Naad Yoga” from Ustad Zia Fariduddin Dagar sahab from Four to Seven o'clock in the morning, for three days, is one of the proud and privileged memories that I would cherish for my life. The sitar by Ustad Shahid Parvez, Koodiyattam by Shri Margi Madhu, Mohan Veena by Pandita Vishwa Mohan Bhatt were mesmerising. Apart from that coming close to people like Nilesh Khaitan, Vivek Agarwal, Gunjan, Hemangini, Surbhi, Sarayu, Chandana and Tavishi was a wonderful experience.

X saw Srinath defend his thesis and Bhavna happily graduate from this institute. The sheer happiness that bore in their faces were lights of hope that I might just have in the future.

X helped me reunite with a few schoolmates of mine on the happier note, while on the other hand and on the sorrowful side a dear schoolmate and class fellow Nigel Eric Wills passed away in Australia. He was a genuinely good soul and he would surely be missed by our classmates and all his friends. A similar unfortunate incident at IIT Kanpur rocked the student community during the examinations.

X should be really thanked in the end. I couldn't be doing justice without mentioning it. It reminded me of the famous John McEnroe outburst “You can't be serious!” Over the last six years, I hadn't seen myself with so much of bitter emotions compared to that of the last few months. The lab which hustled and bustled with laughter and gaiety two years earlier, now wears a deserted look today, because people had to walk out of the lab and work in the library to pacify their exasperation.

X wasn't represented as a thesis in this document. It's merely a perspective on how 'X' treated me over the last 12 months. On the last day of the year, I am wondering as to whether I should mull over the good things that happened or the “evil-that-men-do” sorts. This could be also on how lessons were learned from events and occurrences, those which I am so naïve to ignore every time. I wonder how it is back to square one for me again and each time, where “square one” represents the principles and ethics that my parents chose to inculcate in me. This isn't a thesis on “square one” either, because it seems to effortlessly vanish in thin air once we talk about it, because the sheer mention of it brings scornful looks, contempt and disappointment. This isn't a thesis on “make-your-presence-felt”, because over the past few months it was felt that this phrase meant asking repetitive foolhardy questions that people CAN answer and not asking questions that make people think. This document is a reminder to people that I do not copy or lift, but write in my own words.

Wish you a happy new year.

The War Cry

It's a remarkable day in my life. It isn't if such remarkable days didn't happen earlier. But this one is unique.

The world has its incredible ways of judging people. Well, at least my part of the world does. The educational ecosystem is almost brimming with blooming busybodies called bootlickers and those who like to be bootlicked, and further those who have the guts to tell me "Hey look! I like that bootlicker!", and ask me, albeit indirectly, "Why don't you be like him?".

Could I say that bootlickers have always pissed me off? Oh yes, surely! Right from the beginning of my career, where a frequent boozer dared to berate me using my chivalry as an excuse, right till date, where a seemingly horrible chatterbox and research stalker tends to grab all the 'effin' attention.

If we try to write a how-to manual on methods of grabbing 'Effin' attention, one can easily produce a state-of-art. I am actually avoiding the risk, since I might just be violating some intellectual property rights because I haven't got the time to scan through the patent database. Still if there are any of those ways left, they can be summarised by saying "eat up all the 'effin' resources" that you can, while you are at it." Do so much of it, so the other guys are labelled failures to make the best of the resources, after all matrimonial websites and web-cams are cheap things to procure for most people.

I declare a war cry today on this 'rut' in places of higher education. A war cry far wilder than that of Harbhajan (see picture - courtesy CricInfo). So much so, that I would like to risk showing the person my third carpal bone on such dramatic and provocative occasions.

Lessons from Life 2009

2009 began normally for others, while I recovered from experiences in 2008. The first three months were full of brutal flashbacks of the last year repeatedly appearing in my dreams. My mother suddenly fell sick in the month of April and was drained of energy to a substantial extent. Probably the tensions of 2008 had taken a lot from her. My mother has had severe bouts of asthma before and had very bravely handled herself while my father was sick in 1995 and 2006. This was probably for the first time I experienced the “tigress” going weak and saying “I cannot take it any more.” This was also probably for the first time that I was unable to attend a critical situation in the family owing to my academic pressures. My mother was hospitalized two times within a month. I finally decided to take leave and go see her for a week.

I had the opportunity of visiting Delhi two times in this year and had mixed experiences. Interacting with colleagues and students from IIT Delhi was an exciting one as we chatted on areas of mutual interest and comparing our “bulla” sessions and facilities with theirs. In this connection, I would like to mention the names of two very motivated students of our institute Veerender and Alok, who sort of kept on pushing Susham and me to interact with people from the industry and defence. I also remember taking the risk of missing the train to meet Soumita, who is very actively working in the area of social issues.

I have always remembered that my father had told me how he had worked hard to study. He used to wake up early in the morning, light a lantern and study. When the sun rose, daily household chores were handed to him. It must have been very difficult to live along with these chores then, as the economic conditions were not pretty favourable then. He had always tried to give his two sons the best of the education possible and that he could afford, while he never compromised upon his principles. During the riots of 1984, he played an active role in saving one of our neighbours. I have always been very proud of my father for his standards regarding work and society. Unfortunately, on the fourth day of August in 2009, I helplessly saw the “Royal Bengal Tiger” succumb to his conditions of a severe kidney failure. My father must have loved me very much, for he still appears in my dreams, smiling, hale and hearty, and indirectly inspiring me.

Shortly after my father's death, my mother suffered a silent cardiac attack. With all the might possible, we brothers prayed for her health, while we planned to shift from our home town, Jabalpur. Had it not been for the support from S. K. Bannerjee, Mr. K. Mukherjee and Raju Bhaiyaa, we would have been reeling under severe pressure. The month of August was further unfortunate as my mother's uncle also passed away after falling down and staying two days in the hospital at Kolkata. In this condition, it became severely difficult for us to communicate about my father's death and mother's ill health to my maternal grandfather. It still is.

Dr. Bharat Lohani and Professor Onkar Dikshit, help me get back to my feet after these incidents. Had it not been for their kind words, I would have been still having the brutal flashbacks.

This year, I got back in touch with many of my schoolmates. I was particularly getting jealous of my younger brother owing to the advantage, in terms of technology, he had in keeping up with his peer group. It was a nice experience chatting with old friends with the same vengeance as in school days, albeit with a better sense of humour.

I have had many good news this year as well. Moumita and Susham had a baby in the month of August. Shweta and Ray Mitten are expecting their baby sometime soon in 2010. The same is the case with Nathalie and Roger Goodall, from the Goodall family with whom I had the chance to stay while I was in France, and have kept in touch with me.

My research colleagues from the institute and group friends Nirmali Goswami and Bhavna Bhalla got their respective appointments as teachers. It has always been nice to chat, argue and quarrel on specific points on areas of common interest with these people. I wish them a very fruitful career ahead.

The morning of the first day in this year was cloudy, foggy and cold. However, as the sun rises further in the sky and the sunshine, smiles and warmth spread, I wish you all the best for your journey through this year. Times would be peaceful, sometimes they might be turbulent as well, but I wish that you find God with you always by your side.