HAPPINESS IS A VOYAGE

We convince ourselves that life is better once we are married, have a baby, and then another. But we get frustrated because our children are not old enough and tell ourselves that all will be well when they are older. Then we are further frustrated because they reach adolescence and we must deal with that. Surely we will be happier when they grow up – and so it goes on, with happiness a distant mirage, always awaited. We also tend to console ourselves with various thoughts such as life will be better when we get a new car, when we can take a vacation or when we finally retire.

The truth is that life is always full of challenges. There are always obstacles, an ordeal to get through, bills to be paid, work to be finished, etc., etc. It has finally dawned on me that these obstacles are life. This point of view has helped me to appreciate that there isn’t any road to happiness. Happiness is the road. So enjoy every moment – don’t sigh over the blessings of others, or their achievements or honours, because applause dies away, trophies gather dust and winners are soon forgotten. Remembered are those moments and those souls who were close by.

Another key to happiness is genuine concern for others. Some time ago, at the Seattle Olympics, nine athletes, all mentally or physically challenged, stood at the start line for a 100 metres race. The gun fired and the race began. Nobody was actually running because it just was not possible in his or her condition but they had the spirit to participate and win.

Suddenly one boy tripped and started crying. The other eight stopped and came back. Then all nine walked shoulder-to-shoulder to the finish point. They found happiness in sacrificing their chance of winning so that their friend would not lose. The crowd applauded and the people who witnessed it still talk about it as a great moment.

Life is short and it is important to help others win, even if it means slowing down and reducing our own chances in the race of life.

Happiness finally seems to be within our grasp.

Based on a feature (‘Inner Voice’) in the ‘Hindustan Times’ dated Nov. 03, 2006.

A PICTURE OF MY GRANDDAUGHTER

Today's post is just a photograph of my grandaughter, Nayantara, now 3 months' old. Isn't she a beauty ?

Of Life and Death

It’s been a long time since I posted anything on my page. In fact, the last one was on the 9th July, 2006. Well, a lot has happened since then in our family, both good and bad. This post will, therefore, be solely confined to family matters. First, the good news. A daughter was born to my son Ujjwal and daughter in-law Aditi on the 15th of July. My wife and I were overjoyed at the arrival of our granddaughter. However, we could not see her immediately as my son lives in the Netherlands.

We were planning a trip to that country. However, before that could materialize, we had to rush to Delhi to be with my mother in-law, who had been fighting cancer. The disease had been confirmed when she had had an abdominal operation to remove a non-functional kidney. She took the news very calmly and went through the radiation treatment as the doctor suggested. Chemotherapy was not done in view of her age – 83. However, her condition started to deteriorate from July, soon after the radiation sessions were over. Her food intake gradually decreased till she could not eat more than a few spoonfuls in one day. She faced much pain, especially in her bones, but also in the rest of her emaciated body. There was no effective medication. There was not much that could be done except to make attempts to give her some relief from the excruciating pain. She bore the pain very bravely. She remained in a state of drugged stupor in the second half of August. With not much nutrition by mouth, she grew progressively weaker. She did not want to be fed by any other interventionist approaches. We knew it was a question of time. The end came on the 1st September. An era ended with her passing. She was one of those rare people who gave generously of herself but never asked for anything in return. For us, she was a tower of strength and love who knit the family together. Her house will never be the same again.

We went to the Netherlands after the funeral. We are there at the moment and enjoying every moment as we watch the antics of Nayantara, our granddaughter, almost three months old now. Her sweet smile soothes us and takes away a lot of the pain of the last few months. We all wish that we could have shared these moments with Ma. I cannot help thinking that, in the midst of life, we are in death.

Mother, we will miss you.

TIBETAN MONKS AND FOOTBALL

The World Cup fever has gripped the monks of Tibet as well! A recent newspaper report says that at Tibet’s holiest shrine, young monks are getting up at 3 a.m. – not to pray, but to watch the World Cup matches.

Lights flickered in the windows of the Potala Palace, former home of the Dalai Lama, as France beat Portugal this week to set up a final showdown on Sunday, 9th July, 2006, against Italy. It was reported that the monks watched on a 54-cm colour TV, drinking Coca Cola and eating instant noodles.

Lobsang, a 27 year old monk said, “ I get very excited, very happy, when I watch the games because I get to see a lot of the famous players.” Like many of the 83 monks at the Palace, Lobsang goes by only one name.

Tibet’s Buddhist monks are not encouraged to play soccer, though they are allowed to watch.

All this, of course, is a long way from the time when Lhasa was known as the Forbidden City and hardly anyone had seen the Potala Palace, let alone the Dalai Lama. But then, this is the 21st century!

ONE FOR THE ROAD

My son recently sent me a link to the following news item which I found most interesting. It will certainly appeal to those thirsting for adventure. I reproduce the item in toto (well, almost) from the website which anyone interested can visit at: http://www.indianarc.com/

THE WORLD'S MOST BIZARRE MOTOR SPORT- ENDURANCE AUTORICKSHAW RACING, Aug 21-28, 2006

Be part of history and don't miss the birth of a new motorsport. The Indian Autorickshaw Challenge is a 1000km (590 miles) rally through the most scenic roads of southern India in a three-wheeled motorized vehicle. The race is open to everyone regardless of experience, nationality, and age. The organizers will provide rickshaws. You'll have 2 days to prepare your vehicle before the start.

A REMARKABLE PHOTOGRAPH

If you look at this picture very carefully, you can notice that Black ones are shadows, white ones are the real camels... The snap has been taken from above......... Simply unbelievable!

FIFTY YEARS OF INDIAN IMMIGRATION TO THE USA

Fifty Years Ago.

Did you know that the quota existing for Indian immigrants to the USA in 1954-55 was only 100 per year! A newspaper report says that, the number of Indians migrating to the USA between July 1, 1954 and June 30, 1955 was 116, inclusive of 33 persons who entered that country as non-immigrants and whose status was later adjusted to that of immigrants. This point was discussed in the Lok Sabha on May 22, 1956. One of the members asked the concerned minister whether India proposed to move the US for a ‘little increase in this quota’. The minister replied, ‘As far as we know, even this quota of 100 is not filled up every year’!

Read on for the current situation………

With Mexico being the undisputed Numero Uno in immigration to the United States, both legal and illegal, the battle rages on for claiming second place honors for the coveted Numero Dos award. And the current leader is—India.The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and its Office of Immigration Statistics (OIS) in the USA keep tabs on immigration statistics with their annual yearbooks released at the end of each fiscal year. The latest offering from September, 2004, shows India winning the battle for second place in naturalized American citizens. [Yearbook of immigration statistics for 2003 -- PDF, page 134]:

“Mexico was the leading country of birth for persons naturalizing in 2003, accounting for 56,093 new citizens. Other major countries of birth for persons naturalizing in 2003 were India (29,790), the Philippines (29,081) Vietnam (25,995), the People’s Republic of China (24,014). . .”

Source: http://www.vdare.com/mann/050228_indians.htm

IN A BLUE MOOD AT THE COSTA DEL SOL - APRIL, 2006

 

THE INDUSTRIAL SCENE IN INDIA - A HUNDRED YEARS AGO

I found the following details from a most unlikely source – the ‘Prabuddha Bharata’ magazine published by the Ramakrishna Mission! Here are the facts, selected from the issue dated May, 1906:

Breweries: 23, Cotton mills: 132, Distilleries: 20, Flour mills: 34, Ice factories: 47, Ironworks: 28, Jute mills:34, Mica works: 12, Oil mills: 56, Paper mills: 10, Potteries: 13, Rice mills(including those of Burma): 26, Saw mills: 28, Silk factories: 16, Sugar factories: 17, Tanneries: 17 Tobacco factories: 11, Woolen mills: 7.

Well, at least we had some industries back in 1906!

MISCELLANY

THE GOOD SAMARITAN

In these days of the ubiquitous bottled drinking water, the following news item published recently in the ‘Hindu’ made me blink:

From a Railway Board circular of 1956 directing “Authorities of all railway stations in the country to look out for philanthropic gentlemen in their respective localities who will volunteer to supply drinking water during summer to passengers travelling by trains. The railway authorities will supply them with utensils for the purpose.”

ILL WIND

From a newspaper report:

The Dutch police have confiscated the saxophone of a busker who played so badly his audience complained. He performed at the railway station at Leiden, and had been reportedly told to leave.

The Woods are Lovely, Dark and Deep

 

Isn't She A Beauty !!!

 

FIRST WOMAN AT THE WHEEL

We all know that Karl Benz was the inventor of the automobile. However, it is not so widely known that, until August 1, 1888, nobody, including Karl Benz, had made a long-distance journey by car. The credit for that goes to his intrepid wife, Bertha Benz. This is the story of a drive Bertha embarked upon, the first time that anyone drove more than 25 miles.

Bertha had been very supportive of her husband’s efforts in developing a ‘horseless carriage’ ever since they were engaged. However, much to her frustration, her husband never risked taking the car too far out of Mannheim, where they lived. Bertha knew that to project the pioneering self-propelled vehicle as a viable alternative to the horse-drawn carts and carriages of the day, it had to demonstrate its capability over long distances.

So, on that fateful morning in August, Bertha, 43, then a mother of four, left a note that she was going to Pforzheim where her mother lived. She took her sons, Eugen, 15 and Richard, 14, with her. What she did not mention in the note was that she would be travelling in Karl’s three-wheeled car. Not wishing to wake Karl up, the trio pushed the car out of Benz’s workshop-cum-garage and beyond the block before starting the raucous 1660 cc, 2.5 hp(at 500 rpm) single-cylinder engine. And so they set off for Pforzheim. But there was a glitch; they didn’t know the way.

They travelled across the Neckar river to Weinheim. From there, they steered south to Heidelberg. The simple cooling system of the car required topping up with water every now and then. The carburettor doubled as a fuel tank too, but could only hold 4.5 litres of ‘ligroin’(a petroleum distillate used as a solvent), on which the car ran. By the time they reached Wiesloch, via Heidelberg, they were very low on fuel.

To buy ligroin, Bertha stopped at the local ‘Apotheke’, or chemist’s shop, which can justifiably claim to be the first filling station in the world. They took more supplies at the towns of Langenbrucken and Bruschal and continued to Durlach. At one point, the fuel line became blocked, so Bertha removed the obstruction with her hatpin. An ignition fire also short-circuited, so she made an insulator out of one of her garters. The ingenuity of the fairer sex! From Durlach, they turned into the hilly Black Forest region. That is when the inadequacy of the car’s two-speed, belt-driven gearing system became apparent. The lower gear was just not adequate enough to take it up the inclines. The solution was simple: two of them got out and pushed, while one steered.

After cresting the hill, it was time to descend. The block brakes working only on the rear wheels just about managed to slow the car down, but the brakes wore off pretty fast. So Bertha stopped by at a cobbler’s to get the blocks lined with leather. By sundown, they arrived at Pforzheim, having covered 62.5 miles(100 km), or about half their round trip. Bertha had made her point.

Mercedes-Benz is still doing rather well.

[ Sources: An article by Abhijit Mitra, Business World, Jan. 9, 2006 and the website: www.autoland.am]