Whatever happened to humanity?

In this mad mad materialistic world, often I find myself alone. Materialism is not bad but it shouldn't grown into a demon that will swallow humanness from people. But either we are very close or have already crossed the stage. I have seen people who call themselves religious and god-believing treat others without basic human courtesy. The fault of those others is that they don't have as much wealth or health or even imaginary things like caste than their perpetrators. What a shame!

How dare we call ourselves a civilized world when we can't see a human being in a human being? We see the brand of clothes he is wearing, whether or not he owns a car and if yes, which one, whether or not he owns a house in a metropolis, how extravagant he is, how does he look- is he fair and handsome. But what about the man's humility, his knowledge, his love, his gentlemanliness, his simplicity, his sympathetic nature, his emotions, his being void of bad habits... where do these things figure? Man has become a commodity. Everybody wants a nice product. Humans are expected to be everything but that.

The problem I find is that there is a ready template of an ideal life. Our lives are compared with this and when we find difference we call it bad. But when will we acknowledge the fact that Nature has made us different- a simple fact that none other has the same fingerprint as mine proves it. We are not nuts or bolt manufactured by a machine. We are bound to be different. We are supposed to be what we are. But in this race of adhering to the template we are losing ourselves- our true nature. What a tragedy that the greatest human life we have got is being wasted in such fashion.

To my Teachers, With Love

Childhood is often likened to clay. Most important person who acts like an clay idol maker is our Teacher. Even in our scriptures, teachers are equaled to gods-Acharya devo bhava. Indeed teachers have a great role to play in our lives. They can make or break our lives. I remember my teachers today.

I am not "successful" for the world. May be, less than 1000 people even know that I exist. Perfect. But I am student of life and can distinguish between good and bad. That for me is good enough. And I owe a lot of this to my formative years and hence to my teachers.

Mrs. Devika and Sister. Catherine were my LKG and UKG teachers at St. Michaels, Dandeli. All through, I have been blessed to be my teacher's pet. I was good academically- among top 2 in the class- and naughty too. I still remember Mrs. Devika in splits narrating an incident of me hitting a girl's face with a duster and then emptying the dustbin on that girl, to my mother. My mother full of nerves.

Mrs. Cecilia and Mrs. Fernandez were my teachers who taught me to read and write texts in English and ever since English remains my dearest language. The beautiful stories of 'Beauty and Beast' and 'George Washington and Cherry Tree' narrated by Mrs. Cecilia are still fresh in my mind.

The motivation that I received from Mr. Devaraj and Mr. Killedar at KLE's Nipani when I was out-of-form is tremendous. They convinced me to bring myself into my work. Their work was not just restricted to my academics, but sports and cultural events. The role I played of a Post Master and my fumble in a skit at school Annual Day brings a sweet smile even as I type this. I remember my English teacher, Anita, who would even share her umbrella with me and my brother when we didn't had one.

Mrs. Kavita (Science and Math), Mrs. Renuka(Biology), Mrs. Pujar (Social Science and Kannada), Ms. Mary Diaz (English), Ms. Zai (Math), Late. Mrs. Rane(English), Ms. Deepa Pai and my tuition teacher- Geeta Raj were instrumental in making a shy and confident-less boy, that I was, to an assertive school topper. Ms. Deepa Pai's wiping my tears when I was chastised for playfully forging our Principal's signature, Ms. Diaz's inspirational words, Mrs. Rane's last words with me- asking me to take SSLC exams confidently as our school's reputation depended on me, Ms. Zai's blooming face when I had finally overtaken the former school topper, Mrs. Kavita's praise during the event to felicitate me and Mrs. Renuka's gently touching my cheeks to congratulate me on my SSLC results... what can I do to bring those magical moments back... It brings goosebumps when I relive them.

Oh man! What a life it has been! I am sure all of us have such endearing memories of our teachers. I bow low to my teachers.

Let's laugh with others

We all know the maxim- a friend in need is friend indeed. We have also heard that the person who sympathizes with us or gives us a shoulder to cry on when in distress is the one who is truly ours. I have realized over the years that more important than the person who cries when we cry is the one who laughs when we laugh- one who becomes happy when good things happen to us. If the first kind are rare then the second kind are rarer.

Even some of my friends, when I share some happy news seem very uncomfortable with their responses. They find it so difficult to come up with some positive expressions and words. Life is never a zero sum game. Our happiness has not come on account of somebody else's sorrows. What is happiness other than a state of mind? There are people who are happy having half-cup tea at a road-side stall and there are people who are sad even after buying a brand new bunglow just because the gate lock is not of their liking. So, why not be open and natural? Why not be happy at others happiness?

I am at the other side too. Over the years I have developed the attitude of celebrating others successes or happy moments, sometimes even more than themselves. Giving treats when they get a sal-hike, throwing bachelor parties, taking them for small getaways, playing colours, organizing birthday parties- sometimes it may feel a little ostensible or as some of my friends say foolish- but I know of no one "correct" way of living. It brings joy in doing things just out of happiness and not for any other purpose. It's blissful to do things that make others feel that this man is happy on your happiness; he is celebrating your success or happy events.

Let's have an open heart, let's do unconventional or "foolish" things, for they are called so because not many had the audacity to try them. There's nothing bad or ugly in this world.