From Chaos to Clarity: An Ode to 2011

It’s been a long time since I last wrote in my blog. And to be really honest, I did really miss this space. It’s a place, where at the end of the day I can write down my feelings, expressions in the form of words and enjoy every bit of it. So, what way to start rather than going down the memory lane and wonder how 2011 been for all of us.

In 2010, I would have described myself as difficult, confused, anxious involved some health problems. My 2011 saw me evolve into a person I would describe as honest, open, a conversationalist, compassionate, different, adventurous, curious, kind, warm, evolving and happy, in short, a contented man, to quote G.K Chesterton.

Last year there were events in India which were a combination of great pride & honor, along with some that filled me with deep sorrow. Further on this page, I have noted some of the most important moments which I hold from last year.

Political, bureaucratic, corporate and individual corruption in India is rife. It is fine for India to be proud of its high GDP growth rate, but that does not serve to shift attention at home and abroad from the growing corruption at all levels of governance. The funniest thing was, the man who positioned himself as the face of the Commonwealth Games in India, the man at the helm of affairs was sacked on account of alleged corruption, bringing an unceremonious end to his tenure.

In April, the redoubtable Team India won the 2011 Cricket World Cup. An inspired India regained the coveted World Cup after 28 years as they suppressed formidable Sri Lanka with a convincing victory in a nerve-wrecking final to script a glorious new chapter in their cricketing history. The generation comprising legend cricketers like Gavaskar & Amarnath must be happy to see that the World Cup comes to the country once again. One more event that really made all Indian proud - The F1 2011 Race was held at the Buddh International Circuit, Noida. Though, I am not much of an enthusiast –yet it makes me proud that India is making it to the Global level. 2012 Olympics in London holds high hopes and promises for the athletes and sports personnel in our country. I wish their hopes are accomplished and India rises high in the medal tally.

There were events of glory, and there were events of great sorrow and loss. Famous painter M.F Hussain, Maqbool Fida Husain, known as the 'Picasso of India', passed away. The man walked bare-foot throughout life, a gesture that kept him in constant touch with the earth. I think this touch made his work so lively and vital.

Another saddening event was the passing away of Legendary Bollywood actor Dev Anand. ‘Main zindagi ka saath nibhata chala gaya' went the timeless melody from the movie Hum Dono. Nonchalantly puffing a cigarette and wandering through the woods with gay abandon, Hindi cinema's legendary hero Dev Anand embodied the spirit of this ode to life on screen and in personal life. For generations Dev Sahab will remain the style icon.

"The Ghazal King", Jagjit Singh, Recipient of Padma Bhushan award, became silent eventually. He rediscovered the ghazal genre for common Indian in 70s and 80s. He had a soul-stirring voice and his greatest contribution was that he made ghazals accessible to everyone; he gave joy and pleasure to millions of music lovers in India and abroad. Whenever I listen to him, I remember the last two lines of "The Solitary Reaper" by William Wordsworth:

The music in my heart I bore,  
Long after it was heard no more.

I am sanguine about the year that passed by and I wish the year 2012 will bring faith and fulfillment for all of us. I write this not because I have a few words and vocabulary but because I have a sincere theme. The quest for new themes every hour, everyday for my readers is my ENDLESS ENDEAVOR.

Be content, do not contend !

Among the 10 classics that have influenced me, my style, my love for reading, my life at large, 3 Men in a Boat, certainly occupies a definite place. This book has taught me how to accept life as a comedy, fun, a source of endless interest. The Jerome magic pervades the book through and through and this magic can be seen in the freshness and spontaneity that make the book an all-time classic. Jerome's eye could see the potential humour of little incidents and his pen was able to show them to the world at large. When I read 3 Men in a Boat I just wish if only I could emulate his uncanny skill in producing even the small details of life with so much interest. The 3 friends enjoy life to the fullest - for them "yesterday was a fine day, today is a fine day and tomorrow will be a fine day". In a world we live in there is always a contention that makes life so unbearable sometimes. For all cares, anxieties, uncertainties, stress and strain of life I feel Jerome K. Jerome's 3 Men in a Boat, is a wonderful panacea. 

The fifteenth chapter and more particularly the old boatman rowing in the river is an example for all those who think life is but a race. There is something so beautifully calm and restful about this man. He is free from fretful haste, vehement striving which I consider a bane of twenty first century life. This boatman does not strain himself to pass all the other boats. If another boat overtakes him and passes him, it does not annoy him. This may trouble and irritate some people. But, what I admire most in him is his sublime equanimity amidst all ordeals. This simple character has taught me a beautiful lesson about life - How to be content and not to contend. My ENDLESS ENDEAVOR is to quest happiness in small, ordinary, quotidian facts and events of life. Let no one misinterpret my approach as a pretension.

Lead thou me on ...

Whatever I am and whatever I will be, I owe to my teachers. They are the ones who have taught me the wonder of the books, the eternal mystery of the bees in the sun, the flowers in the blue mountain and birds in the infinite sky. Each of them has added a new dimension to my life and personality helping me to grow into what I'm today. I still remember the days when I was in the classroom being taught by my teachers filled with awe and wonder at their delivery of the subject, analysis of every theme and above all the depth of their knowledge. It will not be fair on my part to mention anyone of them because all of them have contributed to my building. One thing I have learnt from my teachers - with knowledge and knowhow one need not fear. Courage, conviction and comprehension - the three rare virtues I have imbibed from my teachers, if not fully, atleast to a little extent. That is my strength. Today when I teach my students I'm simply imparting whatever I have gathered from my great teachers. I have learnt, not to add a price tag to my brain, mind and heart. My sincere request to my students is to carry on this message so that the ideals do not stop and stand still. The ENDLESS ENDEAVOR is to inculcate these rich values among my students whom I love so much, I'm sure they will walk on the path of righteousness. My sincere prayer to my teachers is - Please lead me on.

Song of innocence

14 November is Children’s Day, the birthday of Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, the man who combined in him the solemnity of a statesman and the innocence of a small child. On this occasion I will refer to a few books and essays by Panditji, especially – Letters to a daughter, Autobiography among the books and Testament among the essays. Nehru’s literature has remained my companion through my life. I can never feel detached about them. If I apply Francis Bacon’s maxim, all virtues of a good book apply to his literary work. I wish the parents encourage their children to read Pandit Nehru’s work and that will be a great tribute to this illustrious son of India. My father was an ardent admirer of Panditji and he gave me this inspiration. Children’s day every year brings to my mind a story by Oscar Wilde - The Selfish Giant. The story touched me much and I think the story rightly says that when the children play in the garden, spring returns in all its bloom, fruits ripen, flowers break out, butterflies skip. It is painful that in this mad rush to build concrete jungles we are making our towns and cities empty of beautiful gardens. The question arises – where will the children play? They need playgrounds, gardens and parks, leisure and encouragement. When I see the children today, sometimes I feel they are missing what we enjoyed so abundantly and fully in our childhood. My childhood was full of fun, games and of course studies. I was ceaselessly inspired by my mother who understands academics better than even I. My father was a man who saw a number of dreams in his children and he felt himself fortunate in us. Thus both my parents were a perennial spring of love, affection and encouragement. Years back, I was invited as judge in a debate competition in one of the schools, the topic being- “20^th Century has robbed the childhood of the present generation children.” There is a difference between rob and steal. When robbery takes place one knows it but cannot help it. But one is stolen without his knowledge or awareness. Indeed, 20^th Century is robbing the childhood, the golden childhood. Children are virtually helpless; I don’t know who is to blame. Let the children enjoy each moment of their childhood, let the spark in them glow more and more, let the promise in them come out with its full glory. My ENDLESS ENDEAVOR is to sing the song of innocence for the children.

Sky is not the limit...

O. Henry's literary offsprings - Della & Jim can upset the mathematician's apple cart asking him the difference between 8 dollars a week or a million a year. When I was a student in the college, an essay by G.K Chesterton influenced me much - The idea of cubic content of the mathematician and the sweet content of the poet. Chesterton's essay - The Contented Man influenced me to imagine Attic in an attic. Recently during my visit to Mumbai I saw highrise buildings burgeoning all over the city. Sometimes I wonder those who live in this enormous buildings almost touching the firmament, do they enjoy the warmth of the sun, the width of the courtyard, the openness of a terrace. Life is so easy in a small town or a small village where you get a cottage with a courtyard, a compound, a pretty garden, a green lawn, a few big trees with sparrows chirping throughout the day. Years back I wrote a poem in Hindi- धुप  . In this life of contest and competition I have got everything but a handful of sunshine. Happiness in life consists in seeing books in running brooks, sermons in stones and tongues in trees. The din and bustle of life in Mumbai, the busy occupations have their own fascination. But, contentment is something else. Della and Jim were the happiest magi because they cared for and shared with each other. That is Happiness. When this becomes the idea of happiness, there is no limit to it. Even, not the sky. High-rise buildings will take you higher and higher but sky is the limit. But, in true happiness even sky is not the limit. To attain this happiness, the cubic content of the poet, and to kindle this in every heart is my ENDLESS ENDEAVOR.

Inspiration

Urdu poetry has always been a source of inspiration for me. The richness, the depth and the range of Urdu literature has added new dimensions to my thoughts and ideas. Mirza Ghalib and Majrooh Sultanpuri are my favorites throughout. A line from Majrooh Saab is the impulse behind this blog - I was alone on my way to the destination. People joined me through and through and here see the caravan. ("Main akela hi chala tha janibe-e-manzil magar/Log sath aate gaye aur karavan banta gaya" ) Great poets and their writings enrich our self, our personality and add meaning to our life. Whenever I have lost hope or faith in my purpose and pursuits, I looked forward to poets like Pablo Neruda, T. S Eliot, W. H Auden in English. Among the poets in Oriya- Sitakant Mahapatra is my all time favorite. What irks me is the indifference of the present generation to good writings, good literature, good books. Rabindranath Tagore is very close to my soul. Tagore has inspired me to love literature and from his writings I have learnt that the world of literature is wide like the Pacific, high like the Himalayas.

But above everyone is one and only William Shakespeare. Even if I read him everyday, I feel I have just collected a few pebbles. My ENDLESS ENDEAVOR is to see my dear students getting inspired by great writers. Let them feel the flavor of good literature. Let them not miss this aspect of life which is equally important like any discipline in science. Literature without science is vague and science without literature is arid. Let them complement each other

The Chapter opens...

My Facebook account has convinced me that we live in a large world where there is endless scope for communication and interaction. The response that I have received during this last few days is simply overwhelming. My friends and my students have inspired me to go ahead with the blog so that I can come closer to them. There is no hesitation to acknowledge that my students are my best friends. I share my best moments with them. This blog is opened today with a view to letting them more into my thoughts and feelings. I will be happy if they too share their ideas with me because that is my best source of enrichment. 

Today I start writing my blog and look forward to more and more response. Let everyone of my well wishers be a part of this ENDLESS ENDEAVOR.

-Arun Palit