My Writings 

All content presented here are for the purpose of informing and enlightening. There is no entertainment value, and no puns and pulldowns. Sources of parts of text, and sources of information and inspiration are mentioned in appropriate places.

My writings here are centered on human values. We all share this world, and our actions always have an influence on our family, neighborhood, community and society. It is meant to make the reader think - think about himself, and how he can change to make things better for everyone.

For inspirational messages check getmotivation.com

2005 essay contest at aBetterEarth.org Prize-winning essays

2005 essay contest at aWorldConnected.org Prize-winning essays

The mind of a delinquent youth 

Fellow citizens, why do you turn up every stone and scrap to gather wealth, and take so little care of your children, to whom you must one day relinquish it all... - Socrates

As a little kid, all he wanted was to be loved, all he needed was a companion with whom he could share his great new world. A world which has no meaning now. The little heart that knew no wrong, how could it have grown into such a monster? A monster that once was a sweet blossom. His parents were everything. He shared all his joys with them. To him they were everything. But like most little kids he did not know that what they were doing was not right. They cared for him, they made sure everything comes easy to him, but they were not conscious of his needs, that he just wanted to be with them.

He had a troubled life at school. His parents did not care even to appreciate the work he was doing. He was so isolated from all his family. No one came to visit them. The neighbors lived their own busy lives. He was depressed. He did not care for the rules at school, for his parents did not have him under such control. He did not care that he went late almost everyday. He was not courteous, for the kid knew not about any such thing. He set himself away from his whole class, and had no friend. Home was not a good place to study. And his parents did not mind him watching stuff that they watched on the television.

His mom came home one day after work, and called up his dad, informing him that she was being relocated on duty for the next 3 years. The following week, mom packed up and left, the house became more desolate than ever. The boy's performance in school was very poor, and he did not like the going to school anymore. He stayed back home, pretending to be sick, and spent his time watching television all day. His dad was getting angry at his behavior, and was at the receiving end of a lot of work pressure. Foul language was not spared, and the boy, unknown to him, was taking in all the anger and negative thoughts. But he felt meek now. At the end of the term, his dad decided to send him to his mom's place, and changed his school.

At the new school, life was terrible. He was bullied by the bigger boys, and he hated them. His mom was seldom at home, and so he took things into his own hands. His anger made him an impulsive person. He had no control over the things he was saying in anger. He was often reprimanded in school for his bad behavior. His school decided that he was a volatile student, and his teachers looked upon him as a nuisance. His feelings were vented at home in his room alone, listening to violent rock music.

On a good day he wanted to leave it all. He wanted to escape from this horrible life. He wanted to start anew. But there were very few of those. One day he was at home alone when a masked burglar broke in, and ransacked his living room. His music player was taken right before his eyes. Mad at the thief, he chased him to a shady part of the city, screaming out all the foul things he knew. He was boiling with rage when he caught the thief. But the burglar called up the support of some of his cohorts, and the boy was beaten up, and thrown astrew in front of his neighborhood. Those living near him did not even want to come and help him. He lay there until his mom came home that night.

He wanted revenge badly. He went to the shady place again after recovering from the blows. This time the policeman patrolling that area caught him and the other thugs, and sent them to prison. In jail, he was forced into the habit of smoking. His mom came to visit, but said that she was ready to get him out only if he changed his behavior. Now he felt orphaned, for he had no one to turn to. He had been dismissed from the school for he missed the exams. He could not gain admission into any school, for his past had left an indelible black spot on his already poor credentials. He fled from home, and there was no one to stop him. He stole a vehicle, and drove to the next city. He went far away from home, thinking this was the only way out...

What happened next is not the point. The above account is not surreal. Did the boy have any desires? Any fears? Anger and hatred marred everything for him. That he wanted to live after all this is just because of a selfishness that is natural in all human beings. He could have taken to a life of stealing for food and living an outcast forever.

Was he stupid? Where did his parents go wrong?
Were they wrong in giving him every material thing from the beginning, that he grew up believing that the world owes him a living and everything comes on a platter?
Were they wrong when they just laughed when he used bad language, and made him think it was cute?
Were they wrong in not giving him any moral values, culture, faith, waiting for him to learn them all himself?
Or were they wrong in pulling people in office down, slandering them in front of him, and venting out their pressures on the mal-performing kid, instead of understanding his troubles, empathizing, and finding solutions and workarounds?

This world can go on even with no courage, with no luck, with no achievement. But nothing can happen if there are no friends. If people want to be good parents, they must first become good friends with their children. Good parents should also try to be good teachers. For the little one is waiting to become someone like the parent.

If a child lives with criticism, he learns to condemn.
If he lives with praise, he learns to appreciate

If a child lives with hostility, he learns to fight
If he lives with tolerance, he learns to be patient

If a child lives with ridicule, he learns to be shy
If he lives with encouragement, he learns confidence

If a child lives with shame, he learns to feel guilty
If he lives with approval, he learns to be like himself

If a child lives with fairness, he learns justice
If he lives with security, he learns to have faith
If a child lives with acceptance and friendship,
He learns to find love in the world - Shiv Khera

2005, Friday July 1

The shape of things to come 

Under review.

Every Indian should know ... 

Inspired by the work of James Haskins in documenting about the major religions of the world

The main desire of a Hindu is not to become a perfect human being on earth
or a happy dweller in heaven, but

to become united with the eternal, universal spirit (Brahma).
In Brahma there are no differences or separations, no time and space, no good and evil, no joy and sorrow, no desires of any kind. In fact, in Brahma there is no sense of individuality, but only pure being, consciousness, and bliss.

For some the above quote makes no sense. For some, it is outrageous and outlandish. Few would agree that this is the heart of one of the earliest religions in the world. Hindu does not mean one who wears a sacred thread around his torso, visits the temple and breaks coconuts, one who worships idols and several gods, one who smears ash on the forehead. This is the spirit of the way of life of the people south of the Indus river, going back to 1500 B.C.
It begins and ends right here.

How much man has added on to this fundamental belief! India is now a multi-cultural, demi-westernized country. By 'India' I mean the people, their cultures, traditions, beliefs, their past and murky present.

"...In Brahma there are no differences, no separations...". Did people see it in an alternative interpretation, to evolve and enforce separations and differences on earth? Is that how the terrible "caste system" evolved? Well it should have taken centuries to enforce an inhuman and outrageously discriminating system, which deemed some people (the priests) as the most honorable, the warriors (on whose side was glory), with less honor than the priests, the merchants and craftsmen who were the source of business and taxes, and the servants (the most lowly of the system)

The system has drifted on into the 20th century. It is horrendous to think of the things that people did way back in the BC 's to make people actually categorize themselves into these absurd classes. How is a person superior to another just by being born into a "higher class"?

It is to get rid of such stupid things that reformers of the modern times are trying to make sure that every child has proper primary and secondary education. They have to see through the baselessness of the horrible system that still creeps into various situations in modern life. Well the thing is so much around, there are political parties that survive on the premise of the system. Students seeking to enter college are given preference based on caste (well atleast they give preference to "lower castes")

It is easiest to scrap the system in rural areas, where people have a greater feeling of collegiality and attachment to the basics. They live as one big family, and have a simple, fair and transparent way of governing them. They not only shun away from too much of modern life and thought, but also such "social evils" as the caste system are quickly dying. Some villages even flaunt that everyone of its residents is equal. The dreams of the reformers are slowly becoming realities.

But we do have a long way to go. Education is the key to bring up awareness, and helps in realizing that opportunities can and will be equal to all people. Awareness helps people stand up to the outrage, and ward it off the earth. The system should be killed the same way it was brought in. There is little use in education, unless you put it to good use, teach it to someone, and bring light into a shadowed life. Start from your own home and neighborhood. Treat everyone in such a manner that everyone feels they are equal and respected. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Life is very simple really. People should realize that what they do, affects not only themselves, but also others. Because this earth is shared among all humans (and all the flora, fauna and elements of nature). Make a conscious effort. The social evils of caste, racial discrimination, and all other similar forms should be kicked out as quickly as possible.

2005, Monday June 27

Honor among terrorists  

A tribute to the teachers of primary and middle school, under whose care the foundation of entire society is built

We have seen aged people being supported and helped out, depressed and mentally challenged people being rehabilitated. Is there any way to rehabilitate a terrorist?

Here is what needs to be analyzed. The causes of a person taking to acts of violence, the background and situations that forced him into the brutality, and the factors and people that drive his thinking and acts, and the goal he struggles for.

Imagine this. If it is possible to figure out in primary school itself that a person is going to become a terrorist, then what can be done by the school teacher? What can be done by the parent/guardian?

While you are pondering, here is some food for thought....
Why does sickness and disease persist in this world? If the world were "created" then did it come with the negatives attached?
What role does man have in perpetuating the negatives in this world?
Do the negatives have a purpose? Dogs and their wild cousins are said to have the optimal condition in their body for the production and development of rabies (they need not contract it. It just comes). The fatality of the infection is 100%. Is there a purpose in this?
Why is it easier to turn to negative ways?
Is the world governed by choices?
or by cause-and-effect?
.....

Imagine this now. Suppose the school teacher whose ward became a terrorist, had the opportunity to use a "time machine" to take her back to the past. Back to the time when he was under her care. Is there anything that can be done, so that the child does not grow up into his hideous future?

What role does a teacher have in a child's life? What are the most important things that a teacher at the primary level considers for the wards under her? If corrective action is to be taken, where does she start from?

What is the role of teachers in class, other than imparting lessons and academics? Could the teacher in question have had anything to do with tuning (or rather, twisting) the mind of the would-become terrorist?

Is someone who teaches a terrorist, a terrorist herself? What about his parents and family? His companions? The law and the government?
A terrorist is also a human. A human, with dreams, hopes, ambitions, a human capable of having emotions, fears, and caring.
If a human turns into a terrorist, who all are to be blamed? What if your own son becomes a terrorist?

A single person taking against society in activities of brutality is never come across. Terrorists always operate in groups. A group of people who are extremists - due to their upbringing or conditioning, a group which has common frustrations, with people suffering identical pasts, with people who are so driven to achieve what nobody wants.
Anger, hatred and fear fuel their actions. They have no victory ever, because theirs is not the popular opinion. Because all their sacrifice could mean nothing to most people. Because they do things in vengeance, which fuels itself, and takes them farther away from humanity. They have maximum concern about themselves. They are the worst case of selfish beings on the face of the earth. The terrorist also has concern for people who suffered similar pasts. This is because now he has someone who reminds him of himself, and has one more person to pull support from. Support in extremist activities. Support in influencing more people to take up his cause.

Is it justified that he bring this upon himself? Will a terrorist ever give up his "cause"? Does he have to forsake his own life, and the life of everyone he influences and affects? Is life so meaningless to anyone? Especially to anyone who is so selfish, he parted from his previous, pre-terror life, just because he now has a vision of making up, solving problems, and achieving things? Is there so much meaning to the words and actions of a terrorist, that people are influenced and taken to it? Is it getting him anywhere near his cause? Is someone else's cause his cause?

And is the cause so pulling that breaking free from it is impossible? Someone influenced him into terrorism. Is it possible for him to be influenced again by a positive force, so that he sees the folly of their ways, and makes his group also see the light?

Does it take an extremist to rationalize with another? Is monetary satisfaction the cause for arson? When will the terrorist see that his actions are doing nothing to improve the situation? That gaining more support does not mean achieving acceptance among a group? That he is not the whole world, and he shares it with other innocent people? People who deserve a fair share of his world, and peace?

When will he see that there is no battle going on, and there are no two sides in war? That it is possible to quit it all and try and begin a new life? Is it possible to make society understand that a terrorist can never stay a terrorist all his life? That people change, and past actions do not mean anything in the present and future? That the society itself is to blame when someone takes to terrorism, and that to change him, we need to change ourselves (before they feel the need to change society?)

If you wanna make the world a better place,
Take a look at yourself, make a change

This piece was written extempore, over 2 hours past midnight. Part of the reason why the numerous questions figure in it. Questions, to most of which the answers are implicit.

2005, Sunday July 3

Patience is a virtue 

Need I compromise?