मन का खेल

 एक छोटी सी बात, या शायद उतनी छोटी भी नहीं..... आप ही बताएं 

खुद से जीता खुद से हारा

मन का ही तो खेल था सारा

मन से लालच

मन में तृप्ति 

मन को मारा तो मन ने ही मारा 

मन ही देव मन ही दानव 

सत्य, मिथ्या, जीवन मन 

मन ही जीव, मन ही मानव

 

10 days, 4 News, 1 lesson

In a span of 10 days in October, India lost a few prominent names from the entertainment industry. Their start was different in the industry, their style was different, their success and strengths were different, still they were all unified in more ways than one. Firstly the industry they were a part of. But bigger than that they all were known for their work.

I saw their work as a child and knowing that they were all active till recently is excellent.

Pankaj Dhir – the Karan from Mahabharta, I was in school and Mahabharat was the quintessential TV series to watch. Knowing Karan through Pankaj Dhir’s acting, his choices, his story, his agony and his commitment had left a mark on me, and I am sure, on many others from my generation.

Satish Shah – “Yeh jo hai Zindagi” to Commissioner DeMello of “Jaane bhi do yaaron” breathing life in his dead-body act, to Indravadan Sarabhai of “Sarabhai vs Sarabhai” and hundreds of other timeless acts

Asrani ji – This Angrezo ke jamane ke jailor from ‘Sholay’ who was active in movies before I was born to being my 15-year-old son’s favorite actor from hundreds of movies through the recent decades.

The 4th name on the list is Piyush Pandey. My confession, I had not known his name until recently but fondly knew his work for decades. In addition to thousands amazing things he did in his life, he gave every one living in India the masterpiece “mile sur mera tumhara” one of the most defining and unifying anthem of our generation and the generations to follow.

Respect and gratitude for what they did in their lives to fill our lives with so much colors, entertaining us, making us feel so many emotions through their acting, writing. Teaching us a few lessons on the way. Leaving us with countless punch lines and memes to share and enjoy. I didn’t know any one of them personally, but they had an impact on me through their work. And this week, they left with a profound message that one can impact so many lives, by just doing one’s own work with sincerity and commitment. Salute and gratitude to all of you!

The Golden Goose - Fable retold (Nature vs Man's Greed)

 We’ve all heard the fable of the goose that laid golden eggs. The farmer, blinded by greed, killed the goose hoping to harvest all the gold at once—only to end up with a dead goose. It’s a story we laugh at, ridiculing the farmer’s foolishness. But the truth is, greed has always been a part of human nature. Sometimes, greed driven actions lead to nothing but disaster.

India, with its rich tapestry of climates and landscapes, has always been a country of breathtaking beauty. Nestled in the north of the country, the Himalayan states—Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand—have long held a special place in the hearts of travelers. They have always offered serenity, peace and unmatched beauty to their visitors.

As India’s economy surged in the late twentieth century, so did its citizens’ appetite for travel. The mountains, once quiet and pristine, began to buzz with tourists. Locals and businesses saw an opportunity—a golden goose in the form of tourism.

With rising tourism demand came rapid development. Hotels sprang up to accommodate the increasing tourist influx. Markets and eateries mushroomed to cater to every taste. Valleys were filled with concrete, and single-lane roads lazily wrapping around the hills were ballooned into six-lane highways by shaving and chopping the same hills they once embraced. The hills, once defined by their serenity and peace, began to resemble the cities from downhill.

The transformation was swift—and brutal. Forests, the lungs of the Earth, were sacrificed for profit. The crisp mountain air, once scented with pine, was soon overpowered by the acrid fumes of diesel and air conditioners. The landscapes was no longer a sanctuaries, they became the concrete jungles grown over the hills.

As the natural charm faded, a new motivation emerged: social media validation. Pictures, reels, and hashtags took center stage. The need to showcase the perfect vacation became another layer of greed—one that fed into the cycle of overbuilding, over visiting, and overconsumption.

Nature, strained and suffocated, and eventually retaliated.

The delicate balance of the ecosystem started to unravel. With fewer trees and disrupted wind patterns, clouds struggled to condense and release rain. Until one day, they burst—dumping millions of gallons of water in a catastrophic deluge. Landslides followed, buildings crumbled, lives were lost.

This time, the goose didn’t die. It struck back. 

The damage to humanity was devastating. But the damage to nature was deliberate—and manmade. If we are to heal, we must first acknowledge our role in the destruction.

Healing is not difficult, let us just:

• Plant trees—in your backyard, in your community, anywhere you can.
• Stop polluting rivers, forests, or anywhere.
• Create mini forests in parks and open spaces.
• Build harmony with nature, And let Nature be the giver as it always has been.

Nature has always been generous. It will offer golden gifts again—if we nurture it or just stop harming it anymore. So today, make a promise. Plant a tree. Care for it. Let it grow. And in doing so, let us grow too.

This is not just a blog. It’s a prayer—for healing, for hope, for harmony.

जो होगा ...देखा जायेगा

Technology growth these days is phenomenal, although technology job market stays volatile. Since I have always worked in technology sector, so the triumph of technology growth and the job market scares both echo close to ears. Around 10 days ago there was a news about job cuts in an organization where I have many friends working. That followed by a much larger job cut this week in another organization. I spoke with many of my friends impacted in last few days. sharing a few thoughts below that were verbalized more than once in those talks.

ज़रूरतें है

किराया है

इधर उधर का खर्चा है 

पर जिंदगी उस से बहुत बड़ी है 

इसलिए don't worry 

जो होगा.. देखा जायेगा

रिश्ते - रिश्तेदारिया हैं 

दोस्त हैं यारियां हैं 

अच्छा या बुरा चर्चा है 

पर जिंदगी उस से बहुत बड़ी है 

इसलिए don't worry 

जो होगा.. देखा जायेगा

काम हैं, जिम्मेदारियां हैं

आज करनी कल की तैयारीया हैं 

कभी सेहत का भी हर्जा है 

पर जिंदगी उस से बहुत बड़ी है 

इसलिए don't worry 

जो होगा.. देखा जायेगा

जिंदगी इंद्रधनुष सी है

जो दिखते नहीँ वो भी रंग है 

हर एक का अपना तरीका है

हर किसी के अपने ढंग है 

अच्छा, बुरा, कुछ बहुत बुरा है 

कोई खुश है तो कोई बिगड़ा है

पर जिंदगी उस से बहुत बड़ी है 

इसलिए don't worry 

जो होगा.. देखा जायेगा

From Back of my Notebook - 12

It was annoying to get the rain, and then came the Rainbow

Never go to bed angry, resolve whatever it is, before sleeping. Better dreams assurance if you do.

Always greet with a smile and warmth. Even if your house is cold, your heart should stay warm to those who visit.

Always say bye with a smile, let people carry that image of you, till they meet you next.

While going outdoors; Pray, for a sunny day, still always pack an Umbrella. The Almighty might have plans to greet you with freshly washed landscapes and may be a rainbow hanging in the sky.

Rainbow has many colors, only 7 of them are visible to us, never lose faith in colors that you don't see, know that they are there.

Not being able to see colors beyond the 7 in the rainbow is a blessing, don't confuse it to be a limitation.

Moonlit nights are as beautiful as starlit nights, enjoy the beauty and don't judge the moon's appearance on any night.

The clouds that mask the moon and darken the night are the same clouds that bring life giving rain. Never forget that on dark cloudy nights.

Last 11 pages form back of my notebook Below, in reverse chronological order

From-back-of-my-notebook-11

From-back-of-my-notebook-10
From-back-of-my-notebook-9
From-back-of-my-notebook-8
From-back-of-my-notebook-7
From-Back-Of-My- notebook-6
From-Back-of-my-notebook-5
From-back-of-my-notebook-4
From-back-of-my-notebook-3
From-Back-of-my-Notebook-2
From-Back-Of-my-Notebook-1 

From-Back-Of-my-Notebook-1 

स्वविश्वास (एक पेड़ की कथा) / Confidence (Story of a tree)

स्वविश्वास (एक पेड़ की कथा) / Confidence (story of a tree)

Scroll down if you don't read Hindi

पेड़ को गर्व था

थी जड़ें इतनी गहरी

सालो से तना खड़ा था

जंगल के एक छोर का प्रहरी

 

तूफ़ान कितना भी हुंकारा

किन्तु पेड़  गिरा नहीँ 

आँधियो ने पत्ते नोचे पर

पेड़ तनिक भी हिला नहीँ

अचल अडिग अजेय

पेड़ अनगिन युगों से 

स्वविश्वास लिए  खड़ा रहा

फिर एक दिन चंचल चिड़िया

आ के पेड़ के कान में बोली

काश तुम चल सकते तो देखते

पहाड़ के उस ओर भी एक जंगल है

झील है, झरने हैं, प्रकृति का सौंदर्य है  

पर

काश तुम चल सकते तो देखते ! 

पेड़ ने सुना और सोचने लगा 

जो गर्व था  वो कुछ ढह सा गया

जड़ ताकत नहीँ बाधक लगी

प्रहरी का स्वविश्वास उस पल से

पंगु का स्व-आभाव बन गया

पत्ते पीले हो कर गिरने लगे

जड़ निर्बल हो मुरझाने लगी 

दीमक तने के बल को खाने लगी 

और जो सदियों के तूफ़ान ना कर सके

वो चंचल चिड़िया का उलाहना कर गया 

पेड़ का  विश्वास हताहत हुआ और 

पेड़ खोखला हो स्वत् ही मर गया !

For my friends who don't read hindi - 

The tree was very proud, its roots ran so deep. For years its trunk had been standing, Sentinel of one end of the forest. No matter how menacing the storm roared, the tree did not fall. The winds shattered its leaves but could never move the tree even a bit.

Immovable, unshakable, invincible!

The tree stood there rooted in self-confidence for countless ages

Then one day a mischievous bird came and whispered in the tree's ear

“If only you could walk, you would see, there is a forest on the other side of the mountain too. There are lakes, waterfalls, the beauty of nature on that side is mesmerizing.

Alas, you can’t; If only you could walk, you would see”

 The tree heard that and started thinking. The pride it held for centuries, started to crumble. The unshakable roots that had been his pride, started appearing to be an obstacle. The self-confidence of the sentinel turned into self-doubt of a cripple in that moment. The leaves turned yellow and started to fall. The roots lost its power and started withering, the termites saw the opportunity and infested the trunk, gnawing its strength away.

 So, what the storms of centuries could not do, was done by the misplaced pity of the mischievous bird. The tree lost its faith in its own strength, became hollow and eventually died on its own.

Moral of the story ( Poem)

~ Learn not to be like this Tree and let any doubt impact your self esteem and confidence

~ Try not to be like this bird and hurt someone's pride even by subtle suggestions and misplaced sympathy

लम्हों के किस्से

 लम्हों के किस्से 

लम्हों को सहेज कर 

ज़हन के दामन में रख लेना 

लम्हा जब पनपा तो ता-उम्र 

का  किस्सा बन जायेगा 

काटना, बांटना, छांटना    

जैसे भी सुनाना उसे 

तुम्हारी शख्सियत तुम्हारे वजूद का

वो एक हिस्सा बन जायेगा 

हर महफ़िल में सब फिर

तुम्हारे किस्से याद करेंगे

उन किस्सों की  बातें

तुम्हारे साथ, तुम्हारे बाद करेंगे 

तुम किस्सों की जान बनना

किस्से तुम्हें ज़िंदा रखेंगे 

इसलिए 

लम्हों को सहेज कर 

ज़हन के दामन में रख लेना 

लम्हा जब पनपा तो ता-उम्र 

का  किस्सा बन जायेगा 

One (Intentional) Step

An old proverb "a thousand mile journey starts with 1 step". One step at a time still is the surest way to cover a thousand miles.  Willingness and commitment to each of those steps is a must to eventually arrive at your destination. But even more critical is to take the very first step. Before that 1st step,  the commitment to travel a 1000 miles is needed

One can always ask, what will the willingness alone do, if one lacks ability to walk? Though a fair question, but an equally fair response is that true willingness has strength to create ability to walk, or to find another way.

Those who have travelled know that there will be days when each foot may weigh a ton. This short note is just a reminder for those days. A reminder to take that 1st step. Don't  use the feet alone to take the step, pour genuine intent into it. Invest your faith in each step. Invest your faith in what is waiting for you at the end of the 1000 mile journey. 

You will reach, just remember One ( intentional) step at a time (raised with faith) is indeed the surest way to walk a Thousand miles.

Touch Sensitive

Lot of people born in the eighties or before will remember very different gadgets from what we commonly use today.

The wired phones, even those with rotary dials. The black and white televisions making way for their colorful next generation. Knobs to change the channels. 

The knobs and the rotary dials step aside to make way for the buttons. The buttons slowly moved from the devices to remotes based on infra red technology. The cassette players, morphing into smaller handheld walkman. Soon after cassettes left the stage to let the spotlight shine on the compact  disks. At the same time walkman decided to upgrade to CD as well. But shortly the music and the videos moved to memory cards and then directly to devices.

Every so often a development fast tracking the journey of its predecessor to move from Old to obsolete.  A big leap was "touch", the devices started being sensitive to touch and the sensitivity and control from touch has been getting finer every day. Newer devices are way more touch sensitive than what started more than 15 years ago.

Each technological development, by design, improved the comfort and day to day efficiency of tasks.

However, when you look at the impact on people, there has been a similar trend, although not noticed or related directly. 

During the rotary phone days people were tough, resilient immune to praise and criticism,  were hardworking and so on. Then came the seventies and eighties, the push button users. Strong, opinionated, ready to make a difference, eager to exert effort. People in these times didn’t like their " buttons" to be pushed the wrong way. Took some intent and effort to push those buttons and they reacted. 

The remote users developed more sensitive buttons, quick to react, indirect criticism started getting noticed in these times. 

And finally the touch sensitivity arrived. People in this time became very sophisticated, very smart, appeared informed, quick to accomplish great things. Efficient users of resources and multitaskers. At the same time becoming overly sensitive to touch. A little push or a gentle brush can result in huge impact. Each one connected to a global web through a zillion media applications, so the touch need not be physical, it can be remote from across the continents. Can’t operate without 'touch'. But with heightened sensitivity the touch needs to be precise. 

In my support, I want to mention that till about 10-12 years ago, I had never heard an elementary schooler state " my feelings are hurt. " A statement that I've heard even from preschoolers regularly these days.  In older times people were introduced to those deeper feelings much later in their lives.  

Again, it is not about a particular age group, people across the generations are becoming more 'touch sensitive' every passing day. 

While the sensitivity is increasing, sensibility seems to be on a decline. A very disturbing trend. Two trends in two wrong directions. With that heightened sensitivity and diminished sensibility, add the remote access to those over sensitive feelings through the social media apps. The apps that serve information and mis-information blended with a finesse. The AI generated media, the deepfakes and so on. The touch sensitivity has created a large size of very volatile and remote controllable population.  

Not a criticism, just an observation. 

But also a hope that some old fashioned  sensibility develops in place of excessive sensitivity to start the healing process which might be really needed. 

 

 

 

 

 

I A S for Success

Initially I started writing this as a quick note as a new year suggestion for the School and College students and People who are new to work-force. While writing, I realized that many of us can use this. Intentionally kept it generic and simplistic.

 

IAS is what one needs to succeed. 

(No, not the IAS as in Indian bureaucrats, read below for what I mean by IAS)

 Intent   - This is a measure of attitude towards the task  being performed and the field that it is performed in.

Ability - This is a measure of the skill set that one possesses to perform the task. Ability needs to be developed through right effort. If one has the Intent, then one can work on developing the Ability. 

Situational awareness - This is a measure of responsibility one displays while performing a task. Alertness to understand the situation and fine tune the performance accordingly. This is what a pilot with right Intent and right ability will use to correct the course and keep the flight safe and comfortable. 

Adherence to these three is a sure way to Success. When you have the right intent and attitude.  Followed by right preparation to attain needed skill and excellence.  Continuing to keenly adjust your course of action based on situational nuances. The result is a certain Success.

Success - This is measured by a scorecard, satisfactory completion of a task, personal growth, contentment, joy, respect earned, trust invested and victory.

 

PS: I encourage you to apply this IAS in any field and witness that it leads you to Success. Share your experience when you apply this.

 

Welcome 2025

For many years, I have been writing this to recap the year that left and to welcome the year that is starting. Thanks friends and family who read this and send me notes, comments, good wishes, blessings and a lot more. I am always grateful for that. This year's post is very personal. 

2024 for me and my family was a year like no other. We did so many things that in any circumstance will be listed as huge ups in life. My wife started a new Job, my older son got into the college of his choice, we bought a new house so all that can be listed as a big bold check mark in the list of life. But before any of these, one person decided to not read any of my blogs. Not just any reader, the most important one, the one who has been my critic and my mentor in every step of my life, My Mom. She decided to leave us all in February of 2024. While the year gave many material things, it took a large chunk of the heart and soul away. 

It is painful to lose a part of you, however in this case I didn't lose a part, I lost the 'Whole' that I have been comfortably a part of all my life. She used to say that I will always be a child in her eyes. I always felt strange, how can she even think that, for a 50-year-old man. But since the day I lost her, I frequently feel lost like a child. 

I strongly believe that, after she ascended to heaven, she negotiated with the almighty to grant us all so many things that we had wanted for quite some time. Like a new job for my wife, a new home for us all, a transfer to a better place for my brother, admission to the college of choice for 2 of her grandchildren; the list goes on. We all want to  enjoy those blessings with her, but she is not here anymore. Knowing her, she will be celebrating each of these gifts from where she is. She celebrated everyone's success (irrespective of her relation with that person) from the core of her caring heart.

This sums up what 2024 has been for me. All the political and social and economic events in the world just weaved through as the back ground acts in a stage play, while personal flow of life stayed center stage in 2024. The elections in my birth country India and my current nation USA in 2024 have been very significant for the world to come in future. Staying hopeful of a great tomorrow is important, which ever side of the political aisle you see yourself on.

Anyhow this is a post is about welcoming 2025, and as promised on Jan 1 2024, let us review the list we made at the start of 2024 and recommit for 2025

Humanity - I still repeat my OSOR (One Species One Race) slogan as we need that more and more. Let us attempt to break away the race, region and gender identities. Be PROUD OF OSOR each day of the year.

Family – A key reason for being, a key motivation for doing what all one does. Health is very precious, I wrote this last year, and repeat again for everyone, you may not even know what you are WORTH TO SOMEONE; stay healthy for your family each day of the year

Kids - To my son and my niece in college, now that you are enjoying independence; I encourage you to SPREAD THE WINGS even wider while also suggesting to STRENGTHEN THE ROOTS that have made who you are. For my younger boy; you can shine brighter than most, keep faith and focus. All kids SHINE BRIGHT each day of the year.

Friends - Can not be more grateful for each one of you. Last year I requested you to "BE THERE" and you were there when I needed it. I will not take it for granted as blessings should never be taken for granted. I hope to stay worthy of having each one of you in my life. I PROMISE TO BE THERE for you each day of the year

Self – On 1^st January 2024 I wrote HOLD ON (no matter what the challenge, the stakes or the state of mind). Didn't know that I would be tested on that promise, I did not break it. What remains is still too worthy to give up. Revising the promise to HOLD ON (No matter what the challenge, the stakes or the state of mind) each day of the year.

Celebration - Celebrating everyone’s achievements can be so liberating and fulfilling. CELEBRATE each day of the year

God - You only know what you do. I am not complaining about what was lost in 2024; and I repeat my request to GUIDE AND HEAL, listen to our prayers or don't but give us all what is best for us each day of the year

 

 HAPPY NEW YEAR MAY THIS YEAR BE EXCELLENT IN EVERY WAY FOR YOU

2024 note to revisit: https://nuancesofbeing.blogspot.com/2024/01/welcome-2024.html