globalised export of Indian spirituality

The 11-19 July days have been indescribable in words. Attended my first Ramkatha live, an introspection for me at least. Lots of seeds planted in the brain which will bloom into flowering plants whenever appropriate weather and supporting conditions arrive.

The additional comfort and pleasure comes from the fact that each day more than ten thousand seekers - young and old alike turned up to listen to the humour filled and amazingly articulated oration of Moraribapu. I wouldn't even attempt to summarize what the moral of the Ramkatha is because its not supposed to be summarized, its just beyond anyone’s ability to do so. Its expanded and convoluted meanings are supposed to be experienced rather than explained. I would point other seekers to summarized translation in English from each day from a very learned scholar Shri Naginbapa here. The notable surprise being a very few British Indians would be actually understanding the language of the oration as it was in Gujarati dialect. God bless the organizers for a very gigantic and noble cause, which millions like me benefited in person and across satellite broadcasts.

The clapping and the reciting of age-old sayings reverberating from tens of thousands beneficiaries lifted the Wembley Arena with oceanic tsunami each day. Renowned artists from back home made the occasion musical each day and sang and played straight from the heart. Notable ‘celebrities’ from different walks of the society made their presence felt e.g. David Cameron praising Indians for their law abidingness, least criminal record and close family relations. The part that most hit me from his well delivered speech was him looking up to Indian way of life as an Ideal and that’s where he wishes Britain should move towards. I hope it’s not just A rhetoric to please the audience at hand and a strong belief.

Another such experience from history pages was advanced course at Bangalore, AOL Ashram. The serenity of the place still comes to the head. I think it’s good that spiritual leaders are receptive of the 21st century needs and have evolved for it. Everyone who can make a difference, is trying to. There are young people in their entourage who assist them in modern day technology dependencies like media and internet. All the notable people would have a website with lots of information on them now, this to me as great step and building block for a better tomorrow.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so will try and put together a few pictures of the whole event in this weekend. The whole week was very busy, with a lot of patchy showers throughout the week, just walked home in the midst of one such shower, staring in amazement at the fully coloured rainbow.

Colourful

stories, stories and more stories!

Although the title sounds more like an irritated response of civilians to justifications given by their political representatives, but I do not wish to elaborate in that direction. After the assistance to a marathon cooking session for roomies, was awake early in the morning. In anticipation of what promises to be a historic Wimbledon final, there’s a bit of time to collate a few thoughts. I’ve followed a strict routine, since a few weeks now, of NOT being glued to computer screen during weekdays post work hours. This has been working well, I think. But conversely, weekends have been more or less lazy surfing.

I stumbled upon very old interest in Panchtantra fables. Wheels of time bring back old interests and hobbies. I am sure that the moral perception of my demographic generation was built by television series’ on early nineties. Ramayana & Mahabharata televised with special interest and nudging of late PM, Rajiv Gandhi was a very thoughtful step. Rudyard Kipling’s Jungle book and the legendary Sher Khan voiced by Nana Patekar. Sunday morning Chitrahaar and Disney were as much a family affair as Balaji soaps of the day.

The reason I’m so with the impacts of those TV series’ in the thinking of the generation is because those are the only way I can visualize those characters. Arun Govil was the Ram, Deepika Chikhaliya was Sita and the great Dara Singh as Hanuman. Doesn’t matter how many re-makes people make, these won’t get erased from the head. Same goes for Panchtantra short stories, Malgudi Days and the likes.

The weirdly interesting fact is after a long time when you read the story, atleast I feel you settle upon an evolved understanding of the simplicity of the intent. Like the main characters are mostly animals and they talk of *Dharma* (the moral conduct). These may be evolved folk lore passed on to generations after generations in vernacular dialects. Would suggest to go through a few of them for sure.

Childish

Murray vs Roddick

This is my first post from the office; it’s a Friday evening when most of the office is in the Wimbledon mania. Roddick and Murray are battling it out on the Wimbledon centre court turf. Roddick's just snatched the third set after a gruelling tie breaker.

Lots of cheers in and around the office as most of them stuck to their screens on BBC Live sports streaming site. The way Federer's played this tournament is just un-imaginable and shows how great he is. Not a set down throughout to the final. For Murray fans, its good if he loses the semi's today rather than being annihilated on Sunday at the final till the inevitable happens and Roger creates history with his grand-slam grabs.Will leave for home now among the ooh's and aah's. By the time I reach home, we'll know who's going down on Sunday :)

Ciao

Feeling Hot Hot Hot!!

The soothing sunshine has moved on to become scorching heat. Underground temperatures inches above the ground, hence authorities have put up signs to carry a bottle of water during day time. It's slightly odd for countries and designs which are created to use as much heat as from the atmosphere to switch sides and try and cool things down! Global warming is hitting us in un-imaginable ways.

I am reminded of floods in Rajasthan, which houses largest desert of India. News channels later reported a few people dying because they didn't know swimming. How do you expect people who've never seen so much water to know swimming? Another scene from Gods must be crazy 2, where Xi's kids fall into a tank of water, and are quite thrilled by it. APJ Abdul Kalam, our most respected President writes in his book that a school girl in Bengal asked him a very interesting question. She said every year there are many people suffering because of floods on Bengal and many other people suffer because of droughts, why not take all the water from big rivers to the desert?? Innocent but truly intriguing. River interlinking projects has had many for and against debates. China AFAIK has implemented it fir Yangtze, but it caused water borne epidemics to spread, which later deemed the interlinking as not feasible.

We learn from our mistakes. Concorde being an ideal example. Man wants to fly in supersonic speeds. I'm wondering whether BA would have hit such huge losses if they wouldn't have lost many million on the failed Concorde project. The thirst of the superlative doest eludes the human brain.

Any ways football continues to give me my share if perspiration and sound sleep. Williams’s sisters again reach Wimbledon final proving that it is their family championship tournament. Saw the whole TV series Chanakya, which I was very impressed with. He was the visionary teacher of Chandragupta Maurya who was the first king to unite India as a country as early as 320 BC. The series shows many interesting facets of the then society, Alexanders invasion and lots of other internal fighting’s. Many things to say regarding those, but am sleepy so...

Later

not a good year for defending champions

As summer sets in, two major setbacks for defending champions can be sited this week. First is Nadal pulling out of Wimbledon this year, starting this week, because of his injury. This diverts the media to Federer, who will now be increasingly pressurized to break the record of # of grand slams of a previous great of the game, Sampras. Murray would definitely give him a spirited fight if they clash. These games are getting so very increasingly competitive. Well, that’s why may be they’re International isn’t it.

Secondly, what a heart-break for a billion fans of Indian cricket! Defending champions, who looked rusty all throughout their title defence, were relieved of their pain by being knocked out comprehensively. And the gung-ho of the media channels throwing personal slurs at individual players. People in general and x-cricketers hired by tv-channels giving nonsensical reviews and blaming. Fans burning effigies. These are very common after a major set back for the Indian team. This forces, and quite rightly so, for international spectators like Mike Artherton to make comments like - Indian cricket fan is very immature.

Optimistically though, think of the billions of man hours saved which otherwise if they would have made it to the semis or finals would have been spent glued to the TV or websites! We've all bunked school or college or called sick or worse saw matches at offices! Productivity during interesting cricket matches takes a definite hit. Hence as the motto of life says, whatever happens, happens for good. This time it's for the world GDP!! When I write that I am torn between whether the TV ratings and the next world cup broadcasting right bids would be effected by it at all! It was interesting to know from Harsha that 90% of revenue for ICC comes out of India and that only four cricketing countries' boards are self sufficient namely - Australia, England, South Africa and India! Rest all are funded by ICC, so effectively India. Hence BCCI is A lobbying group at ICC events coz they know that if they pull out of it, largely cricket comes to a stand still.

Anyways, we have the T20 finals today and we have Pakistan playing against Srilanka. Both the teams are good, Srilanka slightly more dependable than Pakistan. But its cricket, so you never know. If Afridi and guys are fired up, they do have the potential to win this time around. Haah, what a coincidence it'll be, if last runners up for T20 & Wimbledon win this time. (Pakistan & Federer) ;)

In the fever of cricket, I got a chance to play in a tailored version of T20 called Last Man Stands! I regret to say that we were convincingly defeated by a professional looking side. We looked like school boys playing after years - well actually to be fair, it was months for most of us. Noteworthy contribution to the side was an over from me 6 4 6 6 Wd 4! Well in retrospect, it looks like contribution to the opposite side! Lot of running around! But positively sound sleep. Well, I am blessed with sound sleep through heredity anyways!

The pain that the body goes through after a gruelling day is enormous, particularly if you’ve toiled after a long time. As your muscles cramp up, you concede to the thought that the schedules for the actual players of the game are so gruelling. You literally go to the bathroom and come out and bam – there’s another world cup. Its easier for us to comment saying – thats their job and they get paid for it, but actually deep inside we know that its very difficult. We always want a Yuvraj to dive desperately for every ball that whizzes past him and we always want an Agassi to pull out a unbelievable picturesque shot between his legs. But, it surely takes hard work of a lifetime of to reach to a stage where the world audience expects something from you. But its very easy for the world audience on the other hand to expect a “lot”, hence...

Respect

sporting week - cricket football tennis

This week, Federer clinched French open and cried like a baby (as usual). FIFA player of the year switched his allegiances from Man U, who lost recently to Barcelona, to Real. Indian side was restricted by Bravo’s persistence at Lord’s in the T20’s. Many now believe its going to be tough for India to make it to the semis now. But as a adamantly wedded cricket fan – I believe in our guys.

Thanks to a close friend, attended my second Fire Side Chat organised by the IIM-A Alumni members here. The timing of the talk couldn't be better. The guest speaker was Harsha Bhogle. The topic was evolution of cricket with T20. His insight of the subject was absolutely thorough and was at his witty best. From IPL to T20 WC, from team owners to confused coaches, from Australians to South Africans, from match fixing to women’s cricket, from Virender Sehwag to Sachin’s son – myriad of topics came to light in various contexts. All in all, it was a great evening spent with very down to earth gents & ladies. These people want to promote the brand IIM, which has decent recognition back home in India, across the globe. They are involved with fabulous charities and NGOs to help girl child education – through initiatives like Pratham & its UK wing. This was covered by the Indian edition Forbes launched recently in collaboration with Network 18.

Just reading the news of IIFA Awards concluding at The Ventian Macao, as the Film industry reaches completes its international step for the 10th continuous year. Its great to witness acceptance of India, as a colourful brand of cultures. Over lunches through the week as usual, we continue to have passionate and insightful discussions regarding various things – EU elections, political turmoil in UK, Christiano’s £80m switch from Man U to Real, Cricket, Football, India and many more. One of my colleagues finds different religion “fashionable”. The colourful threads that we tie on our wrists look “cool” to him. He has this notion that all such threads are dipped in the Holy water of Ganges. Its funny how people perceive such things and interesting question is from where?

I’ve taken on the arduous task of finishing a 500 pager – Imagining India by Nandan Nilekani. Let’s see when I finish it. The T20 is coming at an interesting stage now. As the statisticians are coming into play for determining the teams to qualify in the semis. India play their crucial game against England at Lord’s tomorrow, which Paresh Rawal defines as the Mecca of Cricket in Cheeni Kum. Images of Saurav Ganguly flamboyantly swirling his t-shirt at the Lords Player’s Gallery, in the adrenaline rush of beating England come to my head. Is our current “Captain Cool” Dhoni capable of doing something like that tomorrow? I think not. The only one capable of doing such thing as we know him is...

Yuvraj

exciting week - mixed bag

It's one of the days when you are tired and wish to get to rest earlier than usual time has got other plans. Your usual commute which takes forty odd minutes streaches up to two+ hours! Transport for London screws your plans! Details in a bit.

This week had been splendid in the beginning with great sunny days. Office mates seem to pulling out their summer outfits of shorts and carrebean shirts in anticipation. A different enthusiasm flows throughout the schedule if the weather is supportive. Different styled shades are tried out to prevent the eyes from brightness and reflections. The day starts earlier than usual as light permeates through quite early. The times when you retire to bed in light are still a few days away. Light on mood, busy with work.

The cricket mania about to grip London with the warm up games of the T20 World Cup. India being the Defending Champions, would definately force me to follow the tournament to conclusion. Just defeating our arch rivals in the warm up game, comprehensively at that. Sachins famous words - 'We've now beaten them four times in a row in all our World Cup encounters' come to my mind. Remembering the time, we were in college and had to move the Tele out in the parking for all to see the match. Sachin and Sehwag smashed Rawalpindi expess above third man in consequtive overs with their distinct styles! The jam packed parking errupting with cheers on each boundary and heartburned expletives on each wicket. The victory rally with available vehicles at the time. The whole celeberations of the educational township continuing late in the night. I can imagine the jam packed stadium at the Oval today, celeberations will surely not abate till dawn tomorrow. All remains now of those days is - sweet memories! No regrets - no complains. Things could have been better, but they were best as they have been played by Time.

Coming back to tfl, we had leaving drinks of a close friend who's moving back to Mountain View. So was down at a pub on Portobello Road. Took the sloppy H&C line to Hammersmith. Then had to take the Picadilly. There were announcements of 'minor' delays on that line. I waited with grudging passengers wanting to get to Heathrow to catch their flights. Announcements advices to take the train on a platform and change from the next. Got down at next station, religeously following announcements. 5...10....15 minutes! No train, frustration mounts. In the summer moods, as bright sun was shining in my eyes in the morning, hadn't put on the usual jacket. Weather decides to test me. Temperature starts to fall. Lot of waiting! It's funny expressions on peopes faces when they are frustrated, and more so due to the fact that they can't do anything about it! Reached the station finally and now the bus tests patience. Finally after waiting for quite some time in vain, when I decide and start to walk, a bus zipps by! Aaarrgh, as temperature falls further down.

Interesting day when friends are Skydiving for charity, enlightened EU citizens will be voting for change for better times for their representation in EU parliament! And that's it for my first post from the little genius device called iphone.

Whew!!