Warrier's Collage November 23, 2021

Welcome to Warrier's COLLAGE On Tuesday November 23, 2021 Where's Happiness? : https://youtu.be/CpvuhK27Cpo Good Morning Nice Day M G Warrier Thought for the Day* "All birds find a shelter during rain. But eagle avoids rain by flying above the clouds. Problems are common but attitude makes the difference." *Received from V Rangarajan Spirituality/Faith 1) Dr Charan Singh charan singh (@CharanSingh60) Tweeted: Unity in Diversity - 78 जो ब्रहमंडे सोई पिंडे जो खोजै सो पावै पीपा प्रणवै परम ततु है सतिगुरु होइ लखावै पीपा, राग धनासरी The creator who prevails in universe is within us: search & find True spiritual teacher guides to realize Almighty within 695, SGGS https://twitter.com/CharanSingh60/status/1462512725033041920?s=20 2) Soul Talk* The Cobbler who also mends souls : There is a cobbler who sits across the street in front of my office building. Every day, I see that there is a stray dog who comes and sits with him as soon as he arrives at the place, and he feeds him biscuits and some times milk. The man goes about his work while the dog sits there and gives him company. One can feel that there is a connection between them and that unknown to everyone, they are having a conversation without a word being said. There is also food that he brings for birds, which he keeps at different places on the street pavement where he sits for his work. Many people stop by and ask him for directions, and he always guides them with a smile. Even if he doesn't get any business from them. If he sees a homeless person going by, he offers them water and food that he has brought for himself, and engages in conversations with them. One can see and feel the peace the conversations bring to them. I felt called to go and meet him today. He smiled at me and said his name is Dayaram, and asked me if I would like to have tea?! Pleasantly surprised, I say, "Sure, let's have some tea." Here is a man who would be struggling to make Rs. 100 a day, out of which he would be spending around Rs. 12 - Rs.15 on the food that he brings for the dog and the birds, and the two cups of tea would cost him another Rs. 14. His being is rich, he smiles radiantly, and his calm, effortless, abundant state of being is infectious. I tell him that I have been observing him and what he does, and that I am humbled and fascinated by it. We get talking, and I refer to the dog, and he says "Oh! he's just one of us - God's Own Creation". Talk about non-duality! He goes on to say that "I am not serving...it is He who is making it happen via this person. It would be egoistic to say that 'I' am doing it!" I fold my hands and bow to him, and request him to accept some money, saying, "It is not I who is giving you this money, it is He who is sending it to you via myself." We laugh and he graces me by accepting it. As I am about to leave, he says : "Maango Ussi se, Baanto khushi se, Kaho na kissi se" (Ask from Him, but then don't just accumulate it - give it away to others with happiness and gratitude, and do it silently!) The cobbler who apparently mends shoes, mended my soul today. *Forwarded by Dr Kamala Unnikrishnan Bangaluru OBITUARY* : SAD TO REPORT DEMISE OF G MOHANDAS EX-RBI, Chennai yesterday (Nov 22) night after suffering a heart attack. HEARTFELT CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY AND PRAYERS🙏-Warrier (*Message from B Chandraiah) A Current Affairs 1) Letter from Sudheesh Nambiath, IGPC IIM Ahmedabad Dear Mr Warrier, Thanks for your mail sharing your concerns. We are glad that you decided to pen it down to the Editor, it makes a big difference for the larger benefit of citizens. We sincerely hope that the government takes these recommendations seriously and looks at means to build trust in the system. Will wait and see how BIS starts implementing their Act post 30th November. Regards, Sudheesh Nambiath | सुधीश नांबियाथ Head, India Gold Policy Centre (IGPC) | प्रमुख, भारतीय स्वर्ण नीति केन्द्र (आईजीपीसी) Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad | भारतीय प्रबंध संस्थान अहमदाबाद 2) News you can use "Press Release" https://m.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_PressReleaseDisplay.aspx?prid=52596 Date : Nov 22, 2021 The Punjab and Maharashtra Co-operative bank Ltd.: RBI announces Draft Scheme of Amalgamation The Reserve Bank of India has today placed in public domain a draft scheme of amalgamation of The Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank with Unity Small Finance Bank Ltd. (USFB), a banking company incorporated in India under Companies Act, 2013, and having its Registered Office in New Delhi. USFB has commenced operations with effect from November 1, 2021. B Media Responses 1) Public Sector Vs Private Sector To The Editor The Hindu Business Line Letters November 22, 2021 Review basic features This refers to the article "For the right public-private mix in farming" by Sthanu R Nair (November 22). No one can dispute the spirit of the concluding paragraph that agriculture should graduate to a business from the present 'activity for livelihood'. Whether private sector should be the main player in the transformation or government also should have a major role in this world depend on public trust in rich and the powerful. To understand the trust issues we can substitute 'rich' by 'Private Sector' and 'the powerful' by 'government'. For the poor and hungry, the greed of the rich to become richer and the corruption and inefficiency in the Public Sector are both exploitory in impact. Here, only the will of the government to infuse trust in the people in legislative and regulatory architecture can resolve the present impasse. For the purpose, just as rebuilding old dams, bridges and buildings has become the talk of the day, basic features of statutes which give special status to incomes, assets and heritage wealth may need a relook in the context of economic and social changes that have taken place after independence. M G Warrier Mumbai 2) Remembering Dr M Balamuraleekrishna : V Babusenan Thiruvananthapuram The provocation to write this small piece is the picture of a phenomenon in south Indian music inserted in the Remembrance column of yesterday's(November 21) 'Hindu', by his family and disciples. The legendary Dr Balamuraleekrisha passed away five years ago. Had he lived, he would be past 91 now. The fame of this musical prodigy of Sankaraguptam village in East Godavari district of the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh reached the capital of Travancore-Cochin state much before he actually came to Thiruvananthapuram in 1953. The music lovers, including the staff and students of the Swathi Thirunal College of Music (Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer was its Principal at that time) were eagerly awaiting his arrival despite an effort to discourage those in the college saying that, being an Andhra man, Balamuralee's singing was not pure Carnatic music and this might vitiate the style of the student community. Because of this very reason, VJT Hall, the lone fully equipped auditorium in the capital at that time, was overcrowded on the day of the concert. Needless to say that Balamuraleekrishna mesmerized the entire audience with his beautiful voice and mastery in singing. The tempo reached the highest point with the RTP phase. The listeners sat speechless when he elaborated the ragam 'mohanam', followed by the ragams 'kalyani' and 'anandabhairavi'. Many were shedding copious tears of joy. After singing 'thanam' in all the three ragas, he said that he would proceed to the' pallavi' which he himself had composed. To the utter amazement of the audience, the line "Mohanangi, kalyani, pahimam aanandabhairavi" he sang in the same three ragas : mohanangi in mohanam, kalyani in kalyani and pahimam anandabhairavi in anandabhairavi. And the pallavi he sang in all the six kaalas! When Balamuraleekrishna concluded his recital, there was thunderous applause for quite some time. The Rajapramukh, rose from the front row, slowly walked up to the stage and covered him with gifts*. *From the auto-biography of the late Communist leader Kumarakom Sankunni Menon who was an avid lover of classical Carnatic music. C Book Review : The Conquest of Happiness By Bertrand Russel | by Nithesh | Medium https://medium.com/@mlessp/the-conquest-of-happiness-by-bertrand-russel-812fe183ee00 Firstly, I did not understand how a normal family worked. Secondly, I always prefer to stay away from those who loved their family. For a very long time, my opinion about this institution was distorted by my own prejudices and experiences. I was so ashamed of it that I barely spoke about my ‘family’ with my friends. Of late I have found that I can introspect whenever I read or write about the topic. ‘Our parents love us because we are their children and this is an unalterable fact’, say Russel. Perhaps, I might disagree openly with this statement. I also confess that I have never made an attempt to stand in the shoes of a parent. In the very next page he opens another blind spot in my opinion about parents. “On the other hand there is an intimate blend of power and tenderness. The new creature is helpless, and there is an impulse to supply its needs, an impulse which gratifies not only the parent’s love towards the child, but also the parent’s desire for power." This is perhaps the greatest learning from this book. This book is nothing but a compilation of conversations with an erudite and sensible uncle from another age. I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for an engaging, non-taxing and uncomplicated understanding of happiness. D Life 1) Old age homes as a fact of life : https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/open-page/old-age-homes-as-a-fact-of-life/article19523768.ece There have been many transformations in recent years that have had an impact on society in different sectors – societal, financial and personal. Lifestyles have changed, some for the better and a few with negative consequences. The population in general has been reaping the benefits, and mostly those from the younger generation have been able to realise many of their dreams and develop their careers in a better fashion than was possible earlier. However, the senior citizens, referred to as elders, face certain problems as a consequence of the social transformation. This is reflected in the transition from the traditional ways of life to modern patterns, which require many compromises and adjustments. One of these involve old age homes (OAHs). What is the genesis of old age homes and how have they changed life patterns for the elders? These questions need to be examined dispassionately. (Continued at H1) 2) Hunting for a Care Home? Hurry Slowly! : M G Warrier https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/readersblog/warriersviews/scouting-for-a-care-home-hurry-slowly-9814/ The second part of the caption is a universal dictum applicable to every stage in life and in respect of almost every activity, we undertake. The hurry, but, starts from the time when the child is still in mother’s womb when the parents are in a hurry to know the child’s sex or at least to be sure that the child is in perfect health, to the time when one is waiting for the last journey in the departure lounge. Depending on the burden of one’s sin, the departure lounge could be a comfortable couch, ICCU of a posh hospital, inside a vehicle or one’s place of stay/work, or if one is extremely lucky, while one is on ‘duty’. Most of us, after a certain age, start worrying about where this departure lounge could be, in our case. These thoughts, and the awareness that friends have started advising about the minimum care I should be taking ‘at this age’, (they are concerned, one should be more ‘careful’ when one’s age is on the wrong side of seventy) ended up in my accepting an invitation to visit a care home for the aged, in our city. My host, Nayar, recently retired in a high position from a government department. He, with his spouse who is self-employed, sold off their immovable properties and shifted to this care home, let us call it “Shelter”, with an intention to spend the rest of their life here. The reason, to quote Nayar himself: ‘Both our children are well-settled abroad with no intention to return to India. We too, have no intention to be dependent on them during the last quarter (this is a new usage I am coming across!) of our lives.” “How you selected “Shelter”? (Please open the link to read full article 🙏-Warrier) E Happiness Poetry! "15 Poems About Happiness To Reset Your Day | Book Riot" https://bookriot.com/poems-about-happiness/amp/ "Poetry has power, and one of its greatest powers is to let you step into a moment or a feeling with another person and think “Yes, I've felt that too". If you don't have an exact experience that maps onto the one in the poem, reading poetry can still be a wonderful way to find common ground, and gain an inkling of what it may be like to see the world through the poet's eyes. Poetry deals with all aspects of the human experience, and all feelings – and sometimes, it's wonderful to step into a moment of happiness and share it with the poet. Poems about happiness can lift us up when we feel down, and remind us that there's good in the world even when things seem bleak. Please open the link for poems like this : HOW HAPPY IS THE LITTLE STONE BY EMILY DICKINSON How happy is the little Stone That rambles in the Road alone, And doesn't care about Careers And Exigencies never fears — Whose Coat of elemental Brown A passing Universe put on, And independent as the Sun Associates or glows alone, Fulfilling absolute Decree In casual simplicity —" F Leisure 1) Excerpts are specialists in their own areas!* After a morning walk, a group of doctors was standing at a road-side restaurant enjoying a cup of tea. Then they saw a man limping towards them. One doctor said he has Arthritis in his Left Knee The second said he has Plantar Faciitis The third said, just an Ankle Sprain ...The fourth said, see that man cannot lift his knee, he looks to have Lower Motor Neurons But to me he seems a Hemiplegia Scissors Gait, said the fifth. Before the sixth could proclaim his diagnosis, the man reached the group and asked, ”Is there a cobbler nearby who can repair my slipper?" This is exactly how the Experts talk on Social Media & Television these days..!! *Received from S R Badrinarayanan Cheñnai via Group mail. 2) SMILE* Two cannibals eating a clown, one turned to the other and said: ‘does this taste funny to you?’ What do you call a Frenchman wearing sandals? Philippe Philoppe Did you hear about the magic tractor? It turned into a field. So I rang up a local building firm, I said 'I want a skip outside my house.' He said 'I'm not stopping you.' What do you call a sleeping bull? A bulldozer Why was the bee flying down the motorway with his legs crossed? He was looking for a BP station I have a gravel path in my garden while my neighbour's is concrete. I think mine wins on aggregate. So I just asked Siri: “Surely it's not going to rain today?” She said: “It is, and don't call me Shirley.” *Source : Internet G Quotes about Happiness "Happiness Quotes - BrainyQuote" https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/happiness-quotes Like : "The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature." Marcus Aurelius (Marcus Aurelius Antoninus was a Roman emperor from 161 to 180 and a Stoic philosopher. He was the last of the rulers known as the Five Good Emperors, and the last emperor of the Pax Romana, an age of relative peace and stability for the Roman Empire. He served as Roman consul in 140, 145, and 161. ) This could be a repeat. But we forget happiness faster 🙏-Warrier H 1) Continued from C1 To understand the concept of OAHs, one has to go back in time five to six decades to see the life pattern of elders and chronologically trace the developments that led to the slow yet steady changes that were necessitated by circumstances. There was the much-acclaimed joint family or extended family system wherein elders lived with not only their children but also with their brothers, sisters or uncles and aunts in nearby houses, mostly in villages or in small towns. They all used to live close by, helping each other for many purposes, be it happy small events or big occasions like marriages. Everyone was close at hand for any emergencies such as health problems or deaths. Thus, the social fabric was well-woven and due respect was given to elders. This system enabled elders to lead reasonably happy lives with hardly any tension, as they had the confidence that someone would take care of them when needed. Whenever there was some health issues for an elder, the whole family would run around to attend to all needs, rendering medical to personal assistance. With perfect understanding on caring and sharing the duties, the elders did not feel let down or lonely. Another major blessing in those days was the system of a ‘family doctor’: each family would have a friendly physician who would be ready to visit houses whenever someone was unwell. Besides medical attention, the doctor would instill confidence with pleasant words of encouragement, which would in itself often cure the illness. Thus, a close, well-knit family system served wonderfully the elders in particular and all others in times of need. In those days when most of the deliveries used to be at home, the doctor was easily available to attend to the woman members of the family. The scenario changed slowly and steadily with the decline or disappearance of the joint family system, which was replaced by the nuclear family system. A 50-year analysis would reveal the great transformation. Many reasons may be attributed for this change, which reflected not only the whole family set-up but also the life pattern of elders, who became dependent, partially or totally. The major factor was the disintegration of families, necessitated by the migration of sons and daughters, as also relatives from their places of birth to towns and cities in search of greener pastures. This was for education, jobs, career enhancement, marriage, amenities and improved lifestyles. While the younger generation had no difficulty in moving out of the house and adjusting themselves to new environs and adapting to new ways of life, it the elderly population found the change to be a hardship. For them, to move away from their own places with attached sentiments, comforts and property holdings, and a fairly happy life, to new environs in the cities was tough. But they had to sacrifice and compromise for the sake of their children and for their own security — financial, health and social. So, the stage was set for new life pattern of life for elders. Are they all in the same life system with their children? What are the variations and problems they face? The patterns There are five patterns that elders today face generally, which are situation-dependent. In one, elders stay with children in the same house in the city, which ensures financial and health security. In another situation, they live alone in a separate house with children living elsewhere in the city, considering proximity to places of work or the educational needs of children. Here, the family members visit the parents once a week or when any health problems necessitate their presence. In a third scenario, elders stay alone in a town or city while the children live in faraway cities for employment; the children visit once in a few months for occasions or emergencies of health. In a fourth pattern, elders live all alone in the city, the children having migrated to foreign countries or for higher education, jobs and so on. The children will be living settled and comfortable lives with family and children, with all material comforts. They will visit the elders once in two or three years; this situation causes health-related and emotional insecurities, though the elders will be financially sound thanks to foreign remittances. In another pattern, elders live with relatives or in old age homes, either with spouse or alone, with financial, health and emotional insecurity. Elders, both men and women, who remained single without marriage invariably landed in OAHs. Each of these situations has its own merits and demerits. While many elders accept the change, others are unable to adjust, and start grumbling and sulking, which is understandable considering the age and exposure to circumstances. Among the estimated population of over 10 crore in the country in the age range of 65 and above, at least 10 to 20% will be above 75 who face health problems to different degrees. Due to personal compulsions many have emigrated and stay with children mostly in the United States. But some are unable to travel owing to health reasons such as immobility or other personal reasons, and go in search of OAHs. Genesis of old age homes Each family has its own problems, with a single child or two or many sons and daughters to look after parents. As they give priority to their own lives with a bright future, many children face the embarrassment of taking care of their parents. Here comes the question of whether to stay back in the country to provide a comfortable life for parents in their advanced age or to migrate to other countries. Attracted by advanced technologies that provide opportunities to prosper in life and by materialistic benefits, many youngsters migrate to greener pastures, leaving behind parents to take care of themselves or with relatives. In the absence of either option, the choice is to leave the elders in OAHs under the care of others who manage the system. Thus OAHs were born to help chiefly the non-resident Indians (NRIs), to relieve them of the tension of leaving behind parents under the care of someone outside the family system. So, the OAHs were a concomitant of the emergence of the nuclear family system. Having said that, it must be admitted that there are sons and daughters in some families who do not want to leave their aged parents and prefer to take care of them until their last breath, by opting to remain in the country with the satisfaction of whatever employment and other benefits they have commensurate with their education and qualifications. Thus, the mindset of children varies widely and parents have learnt to compromise with the given situation. Life in OAHs Just as in the case of systems in other sectors, OAHs have also become highly commercialised. There has been a virtual mushrooming of OAHs in recent years. It has become a lucrative business, thanks to the NRIs who are prepared to shell out huge deposits to admit their helpless parents in OAHs. The cost of providing accommodation, food, comforts and medical help is high. A cursory glance at the number of OAHs in the country reveal that there are different categories of them to cater to the needs of elders, depending on the payment capacity. While some OAHs seem to provide good facilities, others lack such comforts. It is not that all elders are taken care of well by the managements. Some of them impose restrictions. The food served is reported to be of low quality and deficient in quantity in many of them. A recent newspaper report spoke of how a poor elder in an OAH was beaten for asking for more food. So also their bedrooms and toilets are often poorly maintained. Some of the managements do not utilise payments made to them by children in India and abroad, leaving the helpless parents in the lurch. Such abuse and misuse of OAHs come to the limelight often, but seldom is action taken to rectify the situation. There are some well-managed OAHs too, though they are very costly. Thus, most of the elders in OAHs are not very happy, confined as they are to isolation. Unfortunately, children are unable to come on time when parents fall sick or even die in OAHs. But there are some elders who feel comfortable in OAHs for the freedom and friendly atmosphere with other elders who keep them company, enjoying the time with TV, games and gossip. They show some detachment from family members and feel more secure in OAHs and avoid a restricted life with their children. The life of elders in the present age is full of problems, both for themselves and for the children. The fortunate few depart with satisfaction and peace of mind, while others leave with an unhappy state of mind. Meanwhile, the OAHs have come to be a part of our social system. rajvel44@gmail.com