Warrier's Collage on Monday August 26, 2024

Welcome To Warrier's COLLAGE On Monday August 26, 2024 A Welcome To Warrier's COLLAGE On Monday August 26, 2024 A https://www.businesstoday.in/personal-finance/investment/story/sovereign-gold-bonds-rbi-shares-dates-for-premature-redemption-of-30-sgbs-first-date-on-october-11-442827-2024-08-23 Being shared in common interest. I have no investment in SGB. This savings instrument has earned annualized returns of 10.94 % so far. Last tranche of SGB was issued in February 2024. Nice Day B Book on my table : The Forestborns By Vardhini Amin The author Vardhini is daughter of Vivek Amin, Ex-RBI. Amin and I were colleagues in RBI Nagpur towards the end of last Century. He remembered me when his daughter published this book and kindly gifted a copy of the book to me. The Forestborns https://amzn.in/d/7N8Y5El The magical world of Vriksha is unknown to humans. Each night in soft moonlight, from towering trees to the tiniest shrubs, lively plant souls roam free. Yet they must not travel too far, or they may perish forever. On Earth is a hidden realm where the whispers of the trees hold ancient secrets. When sandalwood smugglers threaten to destroy the forest, Siah, a fiery young tree soul, must embark on a perilous journey to save her kind. In the winding paths of the woods, she encounters Avni, a young girl who often visits the sandalwood grove for solace. Siah and Avni must follow their own quests to preserve the harmony of their worlds. Until, in a twist of fate, a remarkable connection blooms between the two, and the forest witnesses a miracle in the face of danger – and life finds a way. The Forestborns is a heart-wrenching story of resilience, a shared past and the undeniable bond between humans and nature, reminding us that magic lives within us all. C Let's just argue https://m.economictimes.com/opinion/speaking-tree/lets-just-argue/articleshow/112719495.cms This is an interesting thought. The message is, there can be a different view. Many of us have rigid views on certain issues. Easiest examples are God and Politics. I'm sure, you are not going to agree with me, if I say "The atheist you are talking about may be a believer". That's because you have a rigid concept about God. Like one of the Ravi Varma paintings or the person nailed on a cross or whatever. Even in official meetings, my way of handling heated arguments was by allowing both sides to express their views and if there was no meeting point, go by the majority view, if it's consistent with natural justice and law of the land. D Media Response I Economic Times Chat Room August 22, 2024 EPFO Revamp This refers to the report "New EPFO IT System to be operational in Three Months" (Economic Times, August 22). With over 6 crore beneficiaries, EPFO will be the world's biggest social benefit organisation. With a small beginning in 1952, with the enactment of the Employees Provident Fund Act, 1952, EPFO has come a long way. Many functions like the present responsibilities of PFRDA which embellically belonged to EPFO got truncated, probably due to the unmanageable size in terms of number of accounts. Internal house keeping, especially with fast-paced changes in technology, has been finding it tough to cope up resulting in unacceptable levels of grievances and unclaimed funds. Let us hope, the present overhaul has taken into account all these and the emerging system is customer friendly. M G WARRIER Mumbai E Media Response II Economic Times Chat Room August 19, 2024 Restore the glitter This refers to your editorial "All That Glitters is...In Great Demand" (Economic Times, August 19). The concluding observation that India has learnt to put into productive use the recycled gold compared to the historical data may be true. But we as a country has been hesitant to touch idle unaccounted domestic surface gold stock for traditional and sentimental reasons. It is quite understandable that governments, both at Centre and in states will have political reasons not to touch idle gold stock. But at some point in time, we have to come out of inhibitions and at least survey and account our valuable assets. Gradually, following Tirupati and Guruvayoor, if the owners of such gold lockers release a portion of such gold stock as deposits with banks, our import bills will get reduced which will have an impact on economic development. M G WARRIER Mumbai F Bhagavad Gita : Vathsala Jayaraman Why Gita in a battle field? Whenever a student needs advice in a spiritual field,it is generally given by the spiritual teacher in some quiet, secluded place such as a temple, ashram, or church. Bhagavad Gita is unique in this respect. It was revealed by Lord Krishna to Arjuna on the battlefield of Kurukshetra amidst the hustle and bustle and great noise of chariots, elephants, horses, bows, arrows, etc. Many feel that it was impossible for Lord Krishna to have given such spiritual advice to Arjuna under those circumstances; but he did preach Gita on the battlefield, and his words did have the desired effect on Arjuna. Arguments have been going on from time immemorial whether Gita is a creation later to Mahabharatha, of which it is a part and whether it would have been possible to give upadesa in a battlefield. This is not the first time that Gita was being spoken about. In the 4th Chapter of Geetha it is stated that Lord instructed about this Geetha yoga to Surya first,then to Manu, later to Ikshvaku and to others in succession. Geetha is beyond the category of time. So the theory that Geetha is later addition does not seem to have a strong basis. We should not calculate time for reciting 700 slokas, time to grasp everything by normal human beings. It is presumed that within a reasonable time Gita was taught and learnt and there was a maya transcending all time, place and human beings. Too much logical arguments will lead us nowhere. If we try to approach Gita with a sense of submission we may be able to appreciate the fact better. Geeta should not be construed as a mere advice given to a friend imparting some ordinary instructions. When ordinary human beings are intelligent enough to argue about the timing, situation and the tension prevailing in a battle field, all knowing Vyasa would have definitely thought about this before revealing Gita thro the mouth of Krishna in a battle field. There is a strong purpose in Gita being revealed in the battlefield. Mostly we don't let the charioteer on duty. The reins (mind) are flapping around freely without the proper inner guidance and not giving instruction to the horses (senses). Hence they wander freely down any road they feel like in response to their past memories (Chitta). The chariot (body) takes a beating, the horses (senses) get tired, the reins (mind)) get worn, and the charioteer (Intelligence) gets lazy. The passenger is completely ignored. Put the charioteer back on the job : The solution to the problem is to retrain the charioteer (Intelligence) to pick up the reins (mind) and start giving some direction to the horses (senses). This training is called sadhana (spiritual practice). It means training all of the levels of ourselves so that we might experience the still, silent, eternal center. Allow the charioteer to serve the passenger: As the charioteer (Intelligence) becomes more stabilized in being back on the job, there is an ever increasing awareness of the fact the entire purpose of the chariot, horses, reins, and charioteer, are to serve as instruments for the passenger, the true Self. This is the essence of Gita. Gita is essentially a transformation. In the beginning we see Arjuna in tears totally unwilling to fight. He throws away his bows and arrows. After Gita is revealed to him, he is totally free from delusion and he is ready to obey Lord Krishna. That is tranformation what Gita is intended for. The world is a constant arena of battlefield. All thoughts, counterthoughts and disbelief are attacking us from everywhere.We have to face the attacks from unrighteous deeds, lust, greed, anger etc etc. It is imperative that we purify and control ourselves. to win the battle thro the grace of Guru and God. Transformation is essentially needed only when one is in a great conflict. Gita has proved to be all the more relevant in a battlefield as well as in day to day life. HAPPY JANMAASHTAMI TO ALL THE FRIENDS Vathsala Jayaraman G Bhishma Stuti https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_purana/bhiishhmastuti