Warrier's Collage on Monday July 4, 2022

Welcome To Warrier's COLLAGE On Monday July 4, 2022 🙏 A Talk On Artha Shastra https://youtu.be/Yg_yOUPrB5s (Link Selection: M G Warrier) Good Morning Happy Birthday to all readers having Birthday during the week ending Saturday July 9, 2022. Ayurarogyasaukhyam 🙏 Best Wishes to all readers. "an !dea can change collage" Nice Day M G Warrier M 134 Words of Wisdom* https://youtu.be/phx4WvITEAY (*Link Courtesy : Saravana Varma Mumbai) A surprise statement : "We have come through a huge challenge and what we have found is that challenges make you stronger and more resilient" RRR Did he say this about Collage? No, he was @ Krea University Convocation last week : Know More : https://indiaeducationdiary.in/krea-university-hosts-convocation-2022-for-phd-students-mba-batches-and-the-founding-cohort-of-the-undergraduate-school/ What advice Raghuram Rajan gives? See H2 Collage Support Team Today V Babusenan A1 K Balasubramanian A4 S R Badrinarayanan. A3 Chandrasekar Venkataraman. A6 S W Fadnawis C Franklin Misquith B Dr M L Jayaraman Nayar. A8 S Nallasivan A2 Dr Prabha Ramadurai A5 Saravana Varma : Words of Wisdom (YouTube Link) C V Subbaraman A1, 3 V Sundaresan A7 Vathsala Jayaraman D M G Warrier E, F, G & YOU 🙏-Warrier A Messages/Responses 1) C V Subbaraman I Seasons of India The Changing Seasons of India - the six Ritus each covering two month period - are distinct from the western division of the year into four seasons. There is a long Sanskrt poem, titled Ritu Samhara*, (often attributed to Kalidasa but its authenticity is disputed by some scholars and researchers) in which the changing facets of Sringara Rasa in different seasons are stated to be described. I am unable to take the readers on to the musings of this poet. However, in a Subhaashita which I learned in my schooldays, it is stated how to differentiate between a crow and a myna (cuckoo) The verse runs: Kaakah krshnah Pikah Krshnah, Ko Bhedah piakakaakayoho Vasanthakaale Sampraampthe, Kaakah Kaakah, Pikah pikaha. {crow is black, myna is black, what is the difference between crow and myna? When Vasantha ritu sets in, you know crow is crow and myna is myna -( from their voices)} c v subbaraman *Ritu Samhara : https://sanskritdocuments.org/sites/giirvaani/giirvaani/rs/rs_intro.htm RitusamhaaramRitusamhaaram... or Ritusamharam 0r Ritusamhara as in a misspelt Itrans, but it is The Medley of Seasons or The Garland of Seasons around the deity of Nature called year. It is not annihilation of seasons according to the wording - samhaara- but, if a long vowel A is substituted in the word samAhAra, then it is an assimilation of seasons Ritu - samAhAram. These six seasons are the makeup material for the presiding deity of Nature, namely shiva-pArvati , the Five-faced God Shiva, whose five faces symbolise the five subtle elements of creation. II The Babusenan's column is not only informative but also inspiring. The line, The Genius is executed is an epitome of a big truth. If we look back on history, truth has often received punishment and the world has often realised the truth too late. Here are a few lines which sprang in my mind : I dedicate these verses to Shri Babusenan. The Genius is executed…… If a Jesus Christ can be crucified, A Socrates had drunk Hemlock and died, For teaching the youth Truth as he believed, Albeit now hailed as the wisest man lived, If Galileo was condemned to cell For he found the truth and feared not to tell That Earth was round and orbited the Sun Against the then untrue general run, Little wonder a Genius punished And declared as untruthful and banished. Wasn’t Julius Caesar stabbed to death On sheer suspicion as despot on Earth By the very men who came like his friends, Tho these friends too found their own bitter ends? In this "worldly order", disorder reigns Truth often lies hidden, covered by stains, A mute World oft looks upon injustice And reveals its abhorrent cowardice, Is this world then ever fine and honest Or where loathsome human weaklings infest? C V Subbaraman 3 July 2022 Babusenan responded : When one's own real feelings get reflected in one's poetic expression, such feelings get an added intensity. You know that I am referring to the 'abhorrent cowardice'.(whose? I leave it.) Nice poem indeed. But the line that inspired the poet in you is not mine. So, I am rededicating your beautiful poem to its real author, the great Einstein himself, of course, taking a small bit of it as mine. After all, am I not the person instrumental in drawing the poem out of you? V Babusenan 2) S Nallasivan Anayasena Maranam Yes, Pithamaka Bhishma had originally been blessed with the gift to choose the time to depart from the Karmic Life. But he lost the boon by siding with and supporting the Adharma and Evil forces. He had to suffer for 51 nights on a bed of Arrows from the 10th day of the War. S Nallasivan (Bhishma had option to choose the time of his departure : Once you make the option, you either enjoy or suffer for the rest of your life 🙏 depending on your baggage of "Punya and Papa". It's not RBI Pension Scheme to wait for second and subsequent options 🙏-Warrier) 3) C V Subbaraman If what is ordained is bound to occur, and what is ordained is an unknown and unpredictable future, what is the use of a wish, a prayer, or a desire? Be satisfied with the present, enjoy the present, whether good or bad, joy or sorrow, pleasure or pain. For, what we suffer is the result of our own past Karma, even God cannot change it! Do not disturb the God!! subbaraman (Collage adds : "Mistaking the sleeping Krishna for a deer, a hunter named Jara shoots an arrow towards Krishna's foot that fatally injures him. Krishna forgives Jara and dies. The pilgrimage (tirtha) site of Bhalka in Gujarat marks the location where Krishna is believed to have died." Yes, this is about the same Krishna who gave us Bhagavad-Gita) 3) S R Badrinarayanan Further on " Anayasena Maranam".. Question~ After darshan in the temple, sit down on the stairs/platform outside for a while. But why sit for a while? Answer ~ Tradition is that after visiting any temple, we come out and sit for a while on the foot of the temple. Do you know what is the reason for this tradition? I This ancient tradition is made for a specific purpose. In fact, quietly sitting on the foot of the temple, one should recite a shloka. People of today have forgotten this verse. Contemplate this shloka and share it with the next generation also. The shloka is like this~ अनायासेन मरणम् , बिना देन्येन जीवनम्। देहान्त तव सानिध्यम् , *देहि मे परमेश्वरम्॥ Anayasena Maranam Vina dainyena jeevanam Dehanthe tava saanidhyam, Dehi mey Parmeshwaram (English transliteration is a better Sanskrit version -Warrier 🙏) The meaning: Anayasena Maranam means that we should die with ease, without any trouble and never fall sick and be confined to the bed, don't die by suffering but let our lives go as we go about daily life. Vina dainyena jeevanam means there should be no life of dependency. Never have to be with anyone for support. Just as a person becomes dependent on others when he is paralyzed, do not be paralyzed or helpless. By the grace of Thakur ji, (Krishna ji) life can be lived without being dependent and begging. Dehante tava sannidhyam means that whenever death comes, let it be in God's presence. As at the time of death of Bhishma Pitamah, Thakur (Krishna ji) himself stood in front of him. Let life be released while having this darshan. "Dehi mey Parmeshwaram" O God, grant us such a boon. Recite the above verse while praying to God. Do not ask for job, car, bungalow, boy, girl, husband, wife, house, money etc. (ie worldly things), this God himself gives you according to your eligibility. . That is why one must sit and pray this prayer after having darshan. This is a prayer, not a solicitation or begging. Prayer is not for worldly things like for home, business, job, son, daughter, worldly pleasures, wealth or other things, whatever is requested like this is begging. The word 'prarthana' means - 'pra' means 'special’, ‘best', ‘highest’ and 'arthna' means request. Prayer thus means ‘special and highest request’. The darshan of God in the temple should always be done with open eyes. Some people stand there with their eyes closed. Why close our eyes, when we have come to see? Open your eyes and look at the form of God, nija-swarupa, of the divine feet, of the lotus face, of the shringar, take full enjoyment, fill your eyes with the beautiful nija-swarupa. When you then sit outside after darshan, then meditate on the form you have seen with your eyes closed. Meditate on your own soul within, closing your eyes and if God does not appear in meditation, then go back to the temple and have darshan again. 🙏🙏 --. .. As recd... Badri 4) K Balasubramanian देहान्त तव सानिध्यम्, देहि मे परमेश्वरम् ।। इस श्लोक का अर्थ है अनायासेन मरणम्...... अर्थात बिना तकलीफ के हमारी मृत्यु हो और हम कभी भी बीमार होकर बिस्तर पर पड़े पड़े ,कष्ट उठाकर मृत्यु को प्राप्त ना हो चलते फिरते ही हमारे प्राण निकल जाएं । I do want this kind of death. BUT, is it possible for any one who wishes for it? Is there an answer to it? Please knowledgeable xrbites elaborate. (No harm in wishing. But let's be sadly aware that all wishes are not fulfilled during this life 🙏-Warrier) SRB adds : Every individual would definitely prefer to have such an end only, more for reasons connected with his/her health that deteriorate on a daily basis after a certain stage making dependence unavoidable with none around these days.. There is no sure method to ensure this lest, the richest with money and power would buy this at will. It is a lottery that awaits one with huge suspense. And, one lives on hopes to die peacefully lest today's peace would be torn into pieces. Let today pass on well. Tomorrow is far away. . ... SRB 5) Dr Prabha Ramadurai Shared a message : BEAUTIFUL MESSAGES : Beautiful messages should always be shared with our friends. Prabha Ramadurai IF YOU ARE RIGHT, THEN THERE IS NO NEED TO GET ANGRY. AND IF YOU ARE WRONG, THEN YOU DON’T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO GET ANGRY. PATIENCE WITH FAMILY IS LOVE. PATIENCE WITH OTHERS IS RESPECT. PATIENCE WITH SELF IS CONFIDENCE AND PATIENCE WITH GOD IS FAITH. NEVER THINK HARD ABOUT THE PAST, IT BRINGS TEARS. DON’T THINK MORE ABOUT THE FUTURE, IT BRINGS FEAR. LIVE THIS MOMENT WITH A SMILE, IT BRINGS CHEER. EVERY TEST IN OUR LIFE MAKES US BITTER OR BETTER. EVERY PROBLEM COMES TO US EITHER TO MAKE US OR BREAK US . BEAUTIFUL THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS GOOD BUT GOOD THINGS ARE ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL. THE CHOICE IS OURS WHETHER WE BECOME VICTIMS OR VICTORIOUS. DO YOU KNOW WHY GOD CREATED GAPS BETWEEN FINGERS? SO THAT SOMEONE, WHO IS SPECIAL TO YOU COMES AND FILLS THOSE GAPS, BY HOLDING YOUR HAND FOREVER. "HAPPINESS" KEEPS YOU SWEET BUT BEING SWEET BRINGS HAPPINESS. 6) Chandrasekar Venkataraman Ref : V T Panchapagesan's Sunday Collage on July 3, 2022 You truly never cease to amaze me with your wisdom, knowledge and humility. Lucky to have found you. Thanks for everything. Chandrasekar 'Chandra' Venkataraman 7) V Sundaresan Responding to Vishnu Kelkar : It is almost a mini-autobiography which you have presented to the group cogently narrating your personal life with a tinge of nostalgia and deep indebtedness to your connections with RBI of sixty years. I appreciate your ‘elephantine memory’ at this age like our friend Nallasivan (who I believe is currently engaged in writing his autobiography which has been presented to the group in bits and pieces so far). Your beautiful narration goes to substantiate the common belief that age is only a number, which has not withered away any of the cognitive faculties as you are keeping yourself abreast of all events with dates and months apart from year; fantastic indeed! Many may not like to share their personal life in a group like this for obvious reasons and some, if at all, may share only the achievements part. When that being so, the narration from your humble beginning to the present comfort zone is really commendable and laudable. I am just a month elder to you and honestly, in our generation, most of us in the age-group of 70s and 80s could make only a very ordinary beginning and therefore, gone through the entire gamut of life cycle like that of yours. In that respect, we could enjoy some of the comforts which our parents could never even think of, while our children were fortunate enough to be in the midst of nice up-bringing. Our grand-children, of course are in altogether a different hi-tech world. The so-called generation gap has been ever widening, so too the love, affection and responsibility. We wish you continue to have this contented, peaceful and healthy life as hitherto. Sundaresan V 8) Dr M L Jayaraman Nayar Shared a memory I would like to pay homage to my Assistant Treasurers of Madras, my parent office. In 1980, I joined as Assistant Currency officer V2. All my ATs were as old or older than my Dad as I was 24. They treated me like a son. CT Subramaniam, Dakshinamoorthy, his brother, Palanivelu, Pachamurugesan... they were so affectionate. Pa to Treasurer AP Gopal taught me issue accounting of CD 88, then manual and gargantuan. The Treasurer Mr Joshi of Nagpur was very quiet but patient with the inexperienced ACO. God is Kind when he gives such good people to work with. B Collage Poetry Today Poem for the day : Franklin Misquith Each day brings with it a new dawn, But let's not our life go out and pawn, Instead we should show our brawn, And come lunchtime have a dish of prawn. Each week I step out and mow our lawn, And out to ours fields I go to reap some corn, Or plant along the way side acorn after acorn, On getting back home with a garlands of jasmine His and her statues I adorn. My youthful days are long past gone, Now each day I await a new morn, It's become a habit right from the day I was born, As I grew up out I would step and blow my horn, At no time in my life in someone's side I've been like a painful thorne. C Collage Nostalgia : S W Fadnawis Daily Indian Expres carries a column on its editorial page some important happenings on the same date 40 years ago. Some of those are quite interesting. In today's issue one of the items caught my attention under the title ' Borrowing Limits'. The central Govt. had stopped from 1st July,1982 the system of overdrafts to State Governments barring some exceptional cases. It took me to my years in Central Accounts Section at Nagpur Office where I was posted to same desk dealing with granting Ways and Means Advances (WMA) and Overdrafts to States. It was considered a very important job and in the absence of any machine, let alone computers, we had to work with total concentration with hundreds of calculations to be performed manually. A slight mistake could lead to a distorting of Govt balance with resultant fall-out which required recalculation of whole process. To avoid such situation, the work was performed at 2 levels, one by clerical staff and another by an officer. The figures were released only after agreement. We had to work beyond our scheduled lunch time almost everyday. A few years later, after my promotion, I was again posted in the same section as SO and on many occasions left office at 10 or 11 in the night. At the time of my voluntary retirement in 2000, I was again posted to CAS as AGM and had the fortune of working with our Collage editor Shri Warrier who presided over my retirement function. Of course our friendship dated back to the years of working in CO when we were travelling in contract bus together everyday. Although I was convinced of his deep knowledge and polite nature, I came to know about his extraordinary qualities as a learned person and more than that, as a rare human being. I am proud of our friendship. (Thanks 🙏 Fadnawis Ji. Compared to the social work you have been associating with, my contribution is nothing. Recently many friends are talking encouraging words for which I am grateful. After my trade union days (1964 to 1973), perhaps the period in my career I enjoyed most was the 20 months (199-2001) in RBI Nagpur. Destiny brought me back to Mumbai in 2001, against my wish to retire from Nagpur in 2004. I loved Nagpur Office and I got back the love in double measure. Perhaps, if I had retired from Nagpur, now I would have been sitting in some flat in Nagpur and writing this. Regards 🙏-Warrier) D Collage Essay : Vathsala Jayaraman Kautilya's Artha Sastra I Today's (July 3, 2022) Collage has a reference to Artha Sastra, which induced me to write on Artha Sastra. The Arthashastra is an ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economic policy and military strategy, written in Sanskrit. It identifies its author by the names 'Kauṭilya' and 'Vishnugupta', both names that are traditionally identified with Chanakya (c. 350–283 BC), who was a scholar at Takshashila and the teacher and guardian of Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, founder of the Mauryan Empire. The text was influential until the 12th century, when it disappeared. It was rediscovered in 1904 by R Shamasastry, who published it in 1909. The first English translation* was published in 1915. Continued at H1 *I own a set of three volumes of the Sanskrit text with English translation* and a commentary purchased with RBI book grant. When I claimed reimbursement, my Chief Officer in RPCD Shri Ramanujam felt that the content of Arthashastra did not comply with the requirement that "the books purchased by staff with RBI support should have something to with Bank's functions" or something like that he explained to me. I politely requested him to reconsider his views, if necessary in consultation with others, before advising me about the rejection as Bank's round stamp had been affixed on several pages of the 3 volumes by the section. After few days decision was taken in my favour 🙏-Warrier) *Kautilya's Arthasastra An Introduction Sanskrit Text, English Translation & Notes, 2 vols. https://amzn.eu/d/4j0D9SQ E Collage Books Kautilya's Artha Shastra https://www.thehindu.com/books/play-to-win-kautilyas-arthashastra/article38375490.ece/amp/ Kautilya’s ‘Arthashastra’ is full of practical advice, which makes it eminently readable The Arthashastra is an atypical text. For one, it is unlike the religious texts of that period in being quite precise and definite. One’s eyes might glaze over after reading some of the smritis , even the Upanishads, but the Arthashastra can easily hold the reader’s attention. Yet (this is also why it is atypical), it is not widely read or taught. Written in prose 1,500 or 2,000 years ago — nobody is quite sure — the text is a set of books that are part constitution, part penal code, part taxation manual, part landscape manual, among other things. One bit on battle and positional warfare is like Sun Tzu’s The Art of War . The work is credited to Kautilya, who may or may not be Chanakya, the Brahmin who is supposed to have orchestrated the defeat of the Nanda king in the Gangetic belt. F Leisure Jokes about failure* https://www.just-one-liners.com/category/problems-failure/failure/ *If you thought these were jokes, you are not alone. Many, including me, made that mistake Regards-M G Warrier G Quotes from Chanakya, Artha Shastra Guru https://techstory.in/chanakya-quotes/ Like : "Before you start some work, always ask yourself three questions – Why am I doing it, what the results might be and will I be successful. Only when you think deeply and find satisfactory answers to these questions, go ahead.” H 1) Continued from D : Roger Boesche describes the Arthaśāstra as "a book of political realism, a book analysing how the political world does work and not very often stating how it ought to work, a book that frequently discloses to a king what calculating and sometimes brutal measures he must carry out to preserve the state and the common good." Centrally, Arthaśāstra argues how in an autocracy an efficient and solid economy can be managed. It discusses the ethics of economics and the duties and obligations of a king. The scope of Arthaśāstra is, however, far wider than statecraft, and it offers an outline of the entire legal and bureaucratic framework for administering a kingdom, with a wealth of descriptive cultural detail on topics such as mineralogy, mining and metals, agriculture, animal husbandry, medicine and the use of wildlife. The Arthaśāstra also focuses on issues of welfare (for instance, redistribution of wealth during a famine) and the collective ethics that hold a society together. Many of the tedious parts of the text, i.e. lists, punishments, weights, measures, duties and responsibilities of different civic officials etc are all neatly compiled into tables for quick and easy understanding. Places where a visual representation would be useful are well identified and appropriate diagrams provided. Eg: battle formations, Fort/battle camp architecture etc. Finally , the text itself does not read like an ancient and irrelevant treatise, but is highly relatable to today's world and is in a way surprising and eye-opening for the fact that human society is very much the same for nearly 2000 years in its behavioral aspects and its dynamics as a society even though aspects like technology and morality have progressed. Arthashastra is highly recommended for every one interested in studying the dynamics of a society. Vathsala Jayaraman Artha Sastra-2 ( Artha Sastra and Tasmac shops) Recently I happened to read a book in Tamil about Artha Sastra based on a Sanskrit text. It may be strange to know that Chankya, the author of the great work Artha Sastra was the man behind the mushrooming of tasmac shops in every nook and corner of our motherland. But this is stated to be be an unquestionable fact. When the disintegrated societies were consolidated into kingdoms, Manu Dharma Sastra, Artha Sastra and Kaama sutra, the three important works became the guiding factors to regularise social, political and domestic life respectively. All these three works have been written in the interest of the rulers and not the ruled. That is why these works have been objected to by the elite for long. So many people, especially women are protesting against formation of liquor shops. Chanakya, the great would have definitely known that madhu makes people intoxicated and addicts. But he used this as a weapon to desist people from agitating against the Govt, since the intoxicated people would be in their own world and may not be in a position to participate in struggles against the rulers. Artha Sastra speaks in detail about liquors and their evil influence on human beings but recommend strongly that only the Government is entitled to sell liquors. It is the same as announcing 'drinking is injurious to health and promoting sales also. Artha sastra in essence made the rulers realise that there will be uninterrupted income to the Government and that many people who are victimized may not raise their voices. Two mangoes in one stone! In brief, the liquor was no longer a subject matter relating to Dharma, it was to a matter of political finance and commerce. What does Kautilya say? "Excess drinking should be prohibited and would be a criminal offence." Suraathayaksha 'was the executive in charge of supervising this crime heading a committee called 'Athayaksha' consisting of thirty members who will have constant vigil. Only the royal people should be authorised to produce liquors and sell the same inside and outside royal fort. Individuals cannot engage in this trade. Trespassers would be charge sheeted by the above committee and produced before the king for implementing severe punishments. Royal and the rich could store madhu in their houses after getting proper licence. Others could use liquors only in the premises allowed by the government. Lodges, choultries and inns were not empowered to sell liquors. Government would open bars in those places. During festivels people were allowed to make liquors at home for 4 days. The above instructions contained in Artha Sastra filled the treasuries of maurya kingdom with unimaginable wealth, to be followed by other dynasties. Cholas introduced the same taxation by a different name ( eezha poochchi vari) During British regime Abhari excise system was introduced in 1790 in terms of which liquor rights were handed over to the highest bidder. The amount collected which was just Rs1088- in 1790 rose to Rs9,28,000 in 1900 in Tanjore district alone. Britishers handled the liquor issue as an effective tool to control Independence struggle by entrusting liquor business by auction method to rich business giants.a very big liquor factory employing 10,000 people was opened in Pune. In 1898. Mc Dowells started the business and later acquired by Mallaiah family.Thus so many liquor companies started business throughout India even during British regime. Next to land tax, the revenue from liquor is the greatest even today. We blamed the British for keeping the people dull and unintrospective ,suitable only for clerical posts.Even after 68 years after independence things have not changed much. Better thinking individuals have settled abroad. Nobody is interested in bringing prohibition and analysing alternate source of income. Who is bothered about women who have to suffer at the hands of drunkard husbands? There are so many other essential aspects of Artha Sastra. The politicians have magnified this part alone and brand themselves as true followers of Artha Sastra. Chanakya has been portrayed as guru not only of 'Artha sastra but 'madhu sastra' also. Keeping citizens under intoxication is after all a bad idea. It might help the Ruler temporarily to avoid any uprising but in the long run, the Ruler should be looking for the citizens' contribution to the family and overall society without which no country can flourish. Most countries don't even know what is prohibition and liquor is available in plenty. But the citizens use it wisely for entertaining themselves or in some cases they take red wine for a healthier heart. Of course, there are exceptions everywhere and that is why Alcoholic Anonymous exist in every country. In most countries the alcoholics are the ones who don't have anything to look forward in life and don't even have a family. India has a very unique problem of daily-wager using his daily compensation to drink depriving the spouse and children eating at least two meals a day. It looks like these people use all kind of excuses for drinking. But when the government facilitates this process, It really breaks the hearts of people. The laws are made for the welfare of the citizens everywhere and may be it is time to bring prohibition and people only with license should be able to drink it. This will bring an affordability question but if that prevents women and children going hungry, it should be implemented. If citizens don't realize their responsibilities to the family and the society, only laws can bring them back to normalcy. In the present generation, if someone doesn't drink, people look at them like dirt particularly in the software industry. Here's a toast to Chanakya! Besides details on selling booze artha Shastra has important info like how to manufacture a magic ink that would make one invisible. Chanakya gives a very detailed formula for this too. Vathsala Jayaraman 2) Raghuram Rajan said : I am often asked for career advice and would like to leave you with three thoughts; 1. Know yourself. Learn who you really are, what truly enthuses you what truly excites you. 2. Challenge yourself. If things are easy then you are not growing. You don't know who you truly are. Find something that tests you. You will find the hidden depths within yourself. 3. Take others with you. You owe it to the society that you grew up in, the country that has nurtured you, to give something back. Giving back is not a chore but a privilege, a source of fulfilment, that we should all seek. Let me congratulate you once again and wish you all the best”