WEEKEND LIGHTER: WHY AM I LIKE THIS?

WEEKEND LIGHTER: WHY AM I LIKE THIS?

(January 23/24, 2016, No. 4/2016)

Feel free to mail your views on this edition of WL to mgwarrier@gmail.com

I

Beautiful explanation by Swami Vivekananda:

Explaining the meaning of ‘Association’. He said:

  “The rain drop from the sky: if it is caught in hands, it is pure enough for drinking. If it falls in a gutter, its value drops so much that it can’t be used even for washing the feet. If it falls on hot surface, it perishes. If it falls on lotus leaf, it shines like a pearl and finally, if it falls on oyster, it becomes a pearl. The drop is same, but its existence worth depend on with whom it associates.”

Always be associated with people who are good at heart.

Source: Email from Vathsala Jayaraman, Exrbites Group

My VIEW:

Slightly extending/stretching the theme or re-interpreting, I remember many whose writings I have read, people who talked to me (one to one, in class rooms, in trains, when they were giving religious discourses etc.) who inspired and influenced me. I was a child when Dorai Swami Shastrigal talked to crowds in temple premises, I grew up listening to Swami Chinmayananda, had the previlege to glance through Russel, Satre and the like in the University Library, Trivandrum during 1960's...the list can go on. I have listened to Rajagopalachari, E X Joseph, V K Krishna Menon, Dr N Gopalakrishnan, Narendra Modi, Sukumar Azhikode and many others who were/are capable of giving inspiring lectures.

Books that influenced me include Shankarabhashya of Upanishads, Bhagavadgita, Russel’s books including ‘Conquest of Happiness’, books by Gandhi, Nehru, collected works of Vivekananda…list can go on…recently the books by Kalam and Dr Rajan (Fault Lines).

II

__._,_.___

 The Hindu, January 22, 2016

FAITH

Important questions

There were people, who were prepared to punish even their own family, if some wrong had been committed by them, said K.Sambandan, in a discourse.

Such a person was the legendary King Manuniti Chola. His son Veedhividangan’s chariot ran over and killed a calf. The king summoned his ministers and asked them what the punishment was in such a case.

They said that according to law, the person who had killed the calf would have to be handed down a death sentence.

Saint Vallalar, in his work ‘Manumurai kanda vachagam,’ captured the anguish of the king.

But while the king cries for his son, he asks himself many questions. “Did I hurt or betray a friend? Did I impose unfair taxes on my subjects? Did I give false evidence in a court? Did I help thieves? Did I turn away those who came to me for help? Did I split families by carrying tales? Did I molest any women? Did I hesitate to bow before my teacher? Did I tease educated people? Did I criticise my elders? Did I keep a bird captive in a cage? Did I sell adulterated food? Did I silt up ponds full of water? Did I cut down trees that afforded shade to others? Did I pull down buildings that belonged to the public? Did I keep temples closed? Did I mock those who believed in God? Did I ignore the advice of my parents? Did I speak ill of God?

What sin have I committed to lose my son?” the king cries. Because of the king’s sense of justice, his son and the calf are both brought back to life.

These are questions every person must ask himself, when he or she is in trouble. But we never ask ourselves what we have done to deserve something.

III

WL pick of the week

The Economic Times, January 21, 2016

Chat Room

Charity Now a Global Business*

Apropos the edit, `Inequality With a Brighter Side' (Jan 20), in the 21st century, poverty is a lucrative industry and charity a global business. So, there are stakeholders who do not want poverty to be eliminated, though India has boldly stated the country's intention to move from the objective of poverty alleviation to poverty elimination. The anxiety of several organisations to promote charity --instead of focusing on the need for distributive justice, or a global initiative to put in place a wages, income and prices policy that will reduce the level of disparity in household income --is agonising.

M G WARRIER Mumbai

*Submitted version copied below:

January20, 2016

In praise of inequality

This refers to your editorial “Inequality With a Brighter Side” (ET, January 20). Oxfam report primarily intended to mobilise more funds for charity, by making new revelations about further accumulation of wealth among few, has not made many suggestions that will help handle poverty better.

In 21^st Century, poverty is a lucrative industry and charity a global business. So, there are stakeholders who do not want poverty to be eliminated, though India has boldly stated the country’s intention to move from the objective of ‘poverty alleviation’ to ‘poverty elimination’. The anxiety of several organisations to promote charity, instead of trying to focus on the need for distributive justice or a global initiative to put in place a wages, income and prices policy that will reduce the level of disparity in household income is agonising.

In India, while past savings idle in the lockers and vaults of several institutions in the form of gold bars and jewellery, the taxpayer is paying for further accumulation of wealth by the lucky few. Even the cost of the security provided for the unaccounted wealth which certain organisations and religious bodies refuse to bring into the mainstream economy is met by the government.

M G WARRIER, Mumbai

Work culture

This refers to “A Billion-Plus Loiterers” (Economic Times, Funny Business, January 21). First, it is not at all funny to assume that 80 per cent of Indians are ‘loiterers’. My quarrel ends with that observation. I agree with every other thought expressed in the article.

Indian private sector is abusing cheap labour, from SSC-failed(before that no one fails!) to IIT/IIM products, in a manner slaves were used long back and prisoners are being used now in some countries. For the exploitation of employment situation in the country by organisations across public and private sectors, we cannot blame the ‘exploited’ alone.

Definitely, there is need to improve work culture. We thought, privatisation and ‘globalisation’ will solve our problems. Slowly recognition is dawning. What is needed is recognition of dignity of labour, ensuring a sense of belonging among workers by meeting their lifestyle and social security needs which calls for a change in the approach to wages, income and prices.

M G WARRIER, Mumbai