Pinching Shoes

Commonwealth and welcoming an old prince.

2010-10-03T22:40:00.000+05:30

[Written on the India visit of Prince Charles after last Commonwealth games 1-April-2006 ]

Prince Charles-ji,
Europe was already of the white people. After finding America, they controlled that as well. They grabbed Australia as well. What is left is Africa and Asia, and these were the colonies of the white people.

So, in a way the whites had control of the whole world. And even after these countries got their independence, their exploitation is still going on! Now it is not called imperialism, but commerce and market.

Your country, Britain, I mean Great Britain itself is a symbol of white-ness. Sun never set in your empire. From the recently finished Commonwealth Games [this article was written in 2006 after the last CWG] readers would have known that in these games a total of 71 ex-British colonies participated.

Sometimes the so called patriots of these countries feign self-respect by changing names of places that may remind of the white lords. If this was enough, something would have happened by now. The real need is to change the over usage of English language, lifestyle, fashion etc. but these things might label one as fundamentalist and hard-liner.

If you see, in this respect America (USA) is the most fundamentalist and hard-liner. Even America was under Britain. Britain did nothing for it, just kept extorting taxes. So, one day British-origin residents of America stopped paying tax to the king of Britain and became independent. Very easily earned and affordable independence!

But what did America do for its own independent identity, hear me out! They call their language as American English, and have modified its pronunciation, spellings, grammar to suit themselves, just a tad bit different, to be different. Traffic goes on the right side, as opposed to left side in most of the world. Still, separate from the rest of the world, they have gallon, pound, pint, ounce, yard, foot, inch, mile. Similar to cricket, they have their baseball. They call football as soccer, and their football is different.

And they don't participate in commonwealth games either, which would remind them of their slavery.

And here we are - whose life is blessed just by speaking English or shaking hands of an English. In any Commonwealth meet, the Queen sits in the center like a school principal, and the heads of other countries gather around her like teachers, clerks, peons, and get their photos taken. So, Commonwealth means (to Britain) that "Our wealth is ours, and all yours' is common". Lest we forget our past and present 'lords', master and respectables, sometimes the queen and sometimes you keep coming to India with your ex or present wife. And we keep welcoming you like an emperor and feeling blessed.

So, O Just-now-came-and-gone, father of two young sons, sixty year old, husband of a divorced mother of two, prince Charles, Victory to you! This time you have come on a (India) New Year. Till now, we only new of Annd Domini (AD) years only, the Christian calendar. We do all our work by it, we wake up to it, and die by it. Even though five hundred years before Jesus Mahavir and Buddha had walked the earth. Two thousand years before that Harappa and Mohen-Jodero civilizations had flourished. And even before that are Rama, Krishna, Dwarika and Rama Setu (Rama's bridge). But according to your wish, we have the AD calendar.

By giving us the privilege of welcoming you in Jaipur on the occassion of (Indian) New Year, you have honoured the world guru India and the (Indian) New Year. We are grateful to you even for this. We could care less that our most revered gods - Rama, Krishna, Shiva, Vishnu are all darker skinned and we are dying to apply Fair and Lovely to become white like you! If possible, invent something so we all black baboons can also become white faced monkeys like you. Really, this dark color is so humiliating. You saw the villages, saw the daughter-in-law plastering the courtyard, accepted the crafts of this place, did a heritage walk in Jaipur, sat on teh throne and photographed with the elephants. We are again grateful to you for all this.

But, one thing in closing. Once before you had come when Padmini Kolhapure had kissed you. If it was the real princess Padmini of Chittorgarh, she won't even let your shadow fall on her. This kiss was a debt on you and you settled the score by kissing some ex-queen of here. But, now you should reduce your trips. You have crossed sixty. Now, you should sit at home and pray to the almighty. Do some chanting, or kirtan. Now, to remind us of our slavery, you should send the two sons of Diana with your latest girlfriends. At least there be some spice for the youth and media.

1-April-2006

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet) Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

With what disgrace !

2010-04-19T17:39:00.001+05:30

Tharoor ji,
Jai Shri Ram. This was bound to happen. We were sensing it for some time that this pie was not baking well. You, of course, didn't understand it in the high of being a minister. Now, not only is the position gone, but your good name, if you consider it of any value, is also gone.

Great Ghalib sahab has said,
'nikalanaa khuld se aadam ka sunate aaye haiN lekin
bahut beaabaroo ho kar tere kooche se ham nikale'
i.e. I have heard of Adam being kicked out of Eden
But I was walked out of your lane much more disgraced.

Anyways, now you can chirp on tweeter, tour Dubai or Canada, flirt around, good riddance to cattle class, stay at five or fifty-star hotel! No one to question. Though when someone is there to watch, only then it is fun to break rules - the attraction of forbidden fruit! Anyways, now that the minister post is gone, then to heck with the party, it is not going to keep you from being a 'widow'. At most, Congress can kick you out of the party but the perks of being an MP, paycheck and future pension - who can stop that. Have fun in the AV coaches of Indian Railway. We would even suggest that you should select a good train and not even get down from the AC coach. You don't have to pay anyways. And you can put the bungalow in Delhi on rent!

We have no dearth of suggestions. Maybe you can get bored. Anyways, just like Vetal used to tell stories to the King Vikramaditya (famous folk tales of India), so we will also tell you a story. And, after that we won't even ask you a question and put you in dilemma. So, listen.

There was a village bum. Simpleton and less educated. Didn't even know proper Hindi, forget about tweeting English. He somehow got married to a town girl. He would speak his country tongue, and she would show off her 'educated' Hindi. Many days passed, the boy was frustrated. Every time she would say, 'Got it? Did you get it?'. These questions are rhetoric and don't need an answer. One day the boy got tired and replied - 'Yes, I got it.' The girl was shocked. This was the first time he spoke back. She retorted - 'What? What did you understand?' To which the boy said, - 'I got it, you are not going to stay with me for much longer.'

So, my dear child, we got it the same day when you started to show off your English (Issue over use of 'Interlocutor' in reference to Kashmir, when talking to Arab leaders). Now, what is the point of crying over the milk, it is all done now. Remember, when in Rome do as Romans do. Be Indian, talk Indian. Common man wants desi oratory. Whatever may happen behind the curtains, you should display a bright white robe outside. People, they themselves maybe worst scum, but want their politicians to be squeaky clean like fresh milk. Those who visit the religious ashrams, may themselves ogle over the voluptuous devotees, but keep full track of the swami's wandering eyes. And at the release of any video, they themselves are ready to beat the swami's posters.

Listen to another funny story! We got tons of them! Now, you have no rush to go to the ministry and we have nothing else to do but to write letters to great souls like you. In an intellectual state of India, a priest was performing a wedding. Priest was also no less than the host. More than half the guests were high, and so was the priest. After the ‘phere’ (circumambulating the sacred fire), he said, 'Now let the bridge and groom get up and put hand prints on the wall.' One family member who noticed, said 'Punditji, you didn't make them go round the fire proper number of times, it is one less than needed.' Without missing a beat, the priest replied, 'If they are going to live happily ever after, they will do so even with one less round.'

So, the math of married life is also something like this. If it is to succeed, even the most mismatched marriage may last lifelong. If not, then even love marriages break up quickly. Your first marriage was also love marriage? Full twenty five years. Two nice children as well, by God's grace! The householder stage (grihastha ashram) is said to be only of twenty five years. After that, one hands over the responsibilities to the children and prepares for a retired social service life (vaanaprastha ashram). And you married second time after fifty, when you should be retiring from a life of pleasure. How would the poor children take this? As per our calculations, you should get the kids married, and let your daughter-in-law earn some ‘punya’ by taking care of you, and you should play with the grandchildren. But, this pleasure is not in their luck who only think of their own fun.

You second wedding was in 2007 at the age of 51. Is that an age to marry! And as if your second wife was a young bride? She was also fully experienced. Well, here is another story; your story reminds us of so many stories! A village man married very late. Girl was from the village as well, and she too was of good age. Man said, let us go for honeymoon. After three four days of honeymoon, she asked, so when are we going to honeymoon? So he said, ‘What were we doing all these days?’ To which the woman said, 'You didn't have to come so far for this. This we could do in the fields any time.' So, your second one was smarter than you thought. In Hind we say ' aap ser to wo savaa ser'. That marriage had to end this way only. Divorce is either on the way or already finished.

Now, you are seen with your third friend. She too is no naive girl. Has her own business in Dubai. Lust destroys man's intelligence. Dasharath too was over attracted to Kaikeyi and lost his mind to have send Rama to exile. Rama and Ayodhya, both suffered for his decision. And now, you are also stuck in such fatal attraction. For such situation only, the saint Kabir has called woman as 'maya' (enchantress) and 'Thagini' (cheat). But who can escape such maya? Only those who either have the grace of God on them or love their family, wife and children.

We would suggest that you should reconcile with your first wife and live in some peace. May the Lord bestow some good thoughts in you.

19-April-2010

Original Hindi Post

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

Bring good through non-violent means - a message to Hindu protectors and Western detractors

2009-02-10T07:25:00.009+05:30

One should bring the good of creatures with non-violent means.

In the recent past, there has been a lot of uproar, first by the protectors of Indian culture and then by the protesters. Be it the attacks on women in pub, the pub culture, or the proposed Valentine Day disruptions. None of them have got it right. The protectors are as selective in their quotation and interpretation of the culture as the protesters. In all this, they both are losers because none of them are actually getting the true points of the past (the quoted culture) or the present (the changes in times, the harmony of society, the amicable solutions). Just like the environment is never in danger, but the humans and life forms are due to the changed environment, similarly, it is not the culture that is in danger, but people who lose the power of interpretation of what is right and wrong, and how to handle the wrong. Maybe the protectors have a purely political motive of garnering votes from non-urbanites with these urban issues that have no relevance to most actual voters.

[The main aim of this article is to set a balance between extreme opinions about Indian culture people and media are spreading by misquoting or misunderstanding the ancient texts. This article quotes the scriptures in context so that we can appreciate the wisdom gone by and apply only the good points in our lives. Despite the length this article tries to shed light into the liberal views our ancestors had, compared to the very narrow minded and violent nature of today's culture-custodians. Thank you for your patience]

In all this, it is surprising that Times of India went to Wendy Doniger for her expert comments and printed them in the Sunday issue of Bangalore edition (Feb 8, 2009). Wendy is well known for her skewed perspective of Indian culture and philosophy (her interpretations of Ganesh and seeing phallic symbol speaks more of her mental state than of Indian culture). There are only two types of voices being heard – one, of those who haven't lived, and do not have much compassion for, Hindu culture and religion e.g. Wendy, (after all how many times are Hindu scholars asked to comment on Christianity or Islam); and two, of those who born as Hindus have spent lives in the rituals (or maybe not) but without broadening their knowledge to the context and reasons of such practices. Surely, most of them have failed to understand what Hindu society was like prior to external influences and subsequent calcification of society when some bad practices became norm in Indian society. There are much better scholars of Indian culture, both Western and Indian, whom TOI could have approached to comment.

This silence needs to be broken with the proper quoting, understanding of our texts; because two wrongs don't make a right and we may be the ultimate losers if we lose the true message of the great minds of our past, whose study of human psyche and its dilemmas is amazing. Most of the philosophical texts need patience and clear mind to understand. Most of the social texts need the proper understanding of the context of the society as well as the statements and reapply them to modern contexts properly. To throw around prejudices and bad mouthing is quick and easy; to explain them properly takes more time.

Let me first take on Wendy's coverage of Hindu scriptures and the selective, biased quotations. While Manusmriti has been a pet stick to beat Hindus, the detractors have no idea or intention to know of the greater good in this social constitutional guide, without whose understanding no one can claim to understand the past and present of the complexities of Hindu society. Such a text didn't survive centuries because it oppressed women and certain sections of the society, but because it understood that the needs and abilities of different sections are different, and catered to all.

Wendy asserts that the problematic male attitude towards women can be traced back to Upanishads. She says, "But we also find in the Upanishads the first seeds of a renunciant movement that rejects the desire to have children, wealth, and women, warning that sexuality must be controlled, primarily by controlling women." She fails to quote anything from these esoteric philosophical discourses where the rishis have tried to put social controls on women, that too of others. Rather, we see even in ShrimadBhaagavat MahaPurana (श्रीमद्भागवद्महापुराण) , 3:14:9-28 that Diti (दिति), wife of Rishi Kashyap (कश्यप) in her amorous mood one evening asks him to satisfy her. Then Rishi Kashyap says, 'Like a person crosses an ocean on a ship, similarly the householder, while supporting all the other aashrams (brahmacharya ब्रह्मचर्य, vaanprastha वानप्रस्थ , sanyaas संन्यास ) crosses the ocean of worldly miseries. Wife is said to be the half body (ardhaangini अर्धांगिनी ) of a man desirous of the three goals (dharma धर्म , artha अर्थ , kaam काम ). Man pursues truth and life worry free when his wife takes the responsibilities of the home management. ... But still, this is the time for evening meditation, the hour of Shiva; hence please wait till I finish my duties.' Diti still insisted and Kashyap obliged her accepting it as destiny, rather than cursing her or oppressing her.

The wise have always warned the saadhak (साधक), the pursuer of truth and spirituality, of the dangers of distraction to the penance of truth. And lust being one of the strongest to overcome. Kaam is one of the six internal enemies - 'kaam काम (desire), krodh क्रोध (anger), moh मोह (attachment), lobh लोभ (greed), mada मद (delusion), matsar मत्सर(jealousy)' Hence, the saadhak has been warned to avoid any situation where they may fall victim to the temptation. Nowhere have they said, unlike many other religions and societies, that women are evil by themselves. It would also help to read Shukasaptati (शुकसप्तति), a story of a merchant son who goes out to foreign lands for business, leaving behind a young bride with his wise parrot and maiynaa. When the new bride in the company of friends is overcome by sexual desire, she tries to arrange to meet many men. The wise parrot and maiynaa, tell her stories with riddles and keep her at home on the condition of telling the answer. Nowhere do we find women forcefully kept chaste. A popular saying goes, 'Even the wife leaves the poor, indeed poverty is the source of all ills.' Even as late as Chaanakya's Chandragupta, there are provisions of women inheriting property from their parents, and rules on after a woman's death, how much should the children from her previous husbands get in inheritance.

As for the Upanishads, that source of pure pursuit of truth, they accept practical truth to be relative to time and space. In Taittireeya Upanishad, Shikshaa Valli, at the graduation, the guru gives the last sermon to the outgoing students, "satyam vada. dharmam chara. ... maatRi devo bhava. atithi devo bhava. ... atha yadi te karma-vichikitsaa vaa ..." (सत्यम् वद । धर्मं चर । ... मातृ देवो भव । अतिथि देवो भव । ... अथ यदि ते कर्म-विचिकित्सा वा ) i.e. "Speak the truth. Follow the dharma (right path). ... Be of the thought that mother is divine, father is divine, teacher is divine, unannounced guest is divine. Follow only those of our deeds that are unblemished, not others. ... Even after this (10-14 years of residential study with the guru) if you have a dilemma about the right duty or behaviour (about a situation), then whatever the braahmaNa (ब्राह्मण) (i.e. the wise thinkers) of that place - the wise who are of noble thought, able (to guide), engaged (in duty and good conduct), of unharsh nature, desirous of the right thing – whatever they do in the context of that situation, you should do, whatever they say, you should say." [Taittireeya Upanishad, Shikshaa Valli, 11 Anuvak ]. This shows that truth has to be reinterpreted with time and location, and those who are wise, good natured, engaged in work (not idle talkers) and of noble thought, only they should guide the society in situations of dilemma. And the greatest of great rishis of the Upanishads were humble and realistic enough to acknowledge their possible shortcomings and the change of applied truth with time and location.

The very title of Wendy's article 'If the wife is not radiant, she doesn't stimulate the man" is selective and distorted, even though factual and universally accepted. It connotes as if the Indian culture has sanctioned the treatment of women as property by men. Whereas, it is only those selfish men who have not read the scripture or have not even thought on their own, that treat women likewise. Here is the full context and preceding text to this first line of the shlok 3:61 from Manusmriti. After talking in chapter 2 about the roles and conduct of a student, a brahmachaari, chapter 3 deals with marriage, in-laws, guests and hospitality:-

The wise father (of a girl) shall not take anything by way of 'fee' from her groom. By taking a dowry out of greed (bride price), he becomes the seller of his offspring [3.51].
The relatives who, out of folly, live off of the woman's property like vehicle, clothes; those sinner go to worst hells [3.52] (forget about dowry given by the bride's father, it was more prevalent for the groom to give bride price, as is in many other cultures as well.
Many rishis have prescribed a token fee of a pair of cow and bull in 'aarsh'(आर्ष) marriage, but even that is akin to selling your daughter [3.53].
Where such fee is not taken (but may be given out of affection by the groom's side), that is not selling, but worshiping/respecting and showing affection to the woman [3.54].
If desiring more prosperity in life, father, brother, husband, husband's younger brother (older is considered as father only) they all should respect the bride and adorn her (with ornaments) [3.55].
The divine are extremely happy where women are respected (worshipped, figuratively), where they are not, all actions (projects) are fruitless [3.56].
The family in which the daughters or newlywed brides mourn, that family suffers a quick destruction; and where they don't it surely prospers [3.57].
Those homes that these disrespected women (daughters, daughters-in-laws) cast curse upon, they are eradicated as if destroyed by (the tantric deity of black magic) Krityaa (कृत्या) [3.58].
Hence, men who seek prosperity should always respect women, (and) on solemn occasions and festivals, adorn with ornaments, clothes and food [3.59].
The family in which the husband is content with the wife and the wife is content with the husband, is certain to have divine blessings [this doesn't mean only sexual contentment as the headline of the article connotes, but how the two perform their duties to the home, family, their conduct, etc. like how a wife manages the whole house, relations, children, finances etc. or how the husband protects, earns, has social reputation, standing and circle etc.] [3.60].
If the wife is not attractive (doesn't attempt to attract with makeup etc.) and/or the husband is not attracted; the husband's progeny is not possible on that account of lack of attraction [3.61].
When the women look beautiful (adorn jewelry, do makeup, dress up) the whole family looks good, and when they don't everything looks insipid. [3.62]"

The main headline of TOI was only the first line of 3.61. Even that in itself is a simple fact that if the wife is not attractive, the husband will not get to extend his own lineage. So this again, is a factual warning to the husband not just the wife. He should keep her happy, respectfully, and encourage beauty in family and life.

The second jibe Wendy takes at Manusmriti is, "Some Hindu texts by male authors remove from men entirely the responsibility for the conflict between sexuality and chastity and project it onto women. The dharma text of Manu even admits that what makes women so dangerous is the fact that men are so weak: 'It is the very nature of women to corrupt men here on earth; for that reason, circumspect men do not get careless and wanton among wanton women. It is not just an ignorant man, but even a learned man of the world, too, that a wanton woman can lead astray when he is in the control of lust and anger. No one should sit in a deserted place with his mother, sister, or daughter; for the strong cluster of the sensory powers drags away even a learned man.'"

This is from Chapter 2 of Manusmriti, where the duties, roles of the brahmachaari, the student, are mentioned. He is warned of the distraction of the senses coming in the way of his studies, and advised to avoid situation where any such temptation is possible. He is instructed to not even touch feet of guru's wife if she is young [2:212] The part of avoiding to be alone with a young female relative should be seen in the perspective of those times with sparse population, no electricity. A look at the reducing age of maturing among today's teen should give an idea why such situations were warned of. It simply admits the weakness in face of such strong temptations. Different people of different background would have different resisting powers. And it is not always the man who is tempted. Devayaani (देवयानी) of guru Shukraachaarya, was attracted to Kach (कच) who was her father's student. When proposed, he refused saying that she is like her sister (guru's daughter). He of course got a curse for it that he will never be able to practice his knowledge.

Wendy goes on to say - "This second, misogynist group produced texts advocating the repression of and, in some cases, violence against women. ... For the renunciant movements addressed a problem that was also of great concern to worldlier Hindus: addiction. ... A tension therefore runs between the vitality of the Hindu sensual and artistic traditions, on the one hand, and the Puritanism of many Hindu sects, on the other. ... 'Pub culture' is indeed no part of classical Indian culture, but both repression of women and respect for women are."

First, Hinduism never says one size fits all. Hence there are different practical sets of rules and guidelines for the four varnas (types of people by nature and profession), four ashrams (the four age groups) and the two genders. The eight types of marriages of women for the good and bad of the four varnas in this and next world are braahma(ब्राह्म), daiva(दैव), aarsh(आर्ष), praajaapatya(प्राजापत्य), gaandharva(गान्धर्व), aasur(आसुर), raakshas(राक्षस), paishaach(पैशाच) [MS 3:20]. Of these, first four are recommended for all, but the rest four are only permitted to certain varnas depending upon their innate nature. Nowhere have the householders been denied the pleasures of life, indeed it is the householder alone who has the moral right to enjoy the pleasures of life. The goals and paths of a householder are different than from a renunciate, and hence they are given different advices.

The whole Kaamasutra guides in the controlled, rightful enjoyment of life. But don't be fooled in thinking that Kaamasutra does not accept the need and existence of alcohol, youth parties, public festivals, social merrymaking, aphrodisiacs, prostitution or the dangers of them. In the celebration of Madanotsava (मदनोत्सव) "the king himself would watch from the palace terrace, the merry making of the urbanites, when the alcohol (only special types of alcohols were allowed in public events) made the women so intoxicated that they would throw colored water on any men, and the streets were covered with colored powder and water, the streets were so crowded all night that people's shoulders got bruised." Even Chaanakya didn't recommend banning alcohol or the drinking of it in "pubs", but rather to control the production, quality, distribution and sale of it and properly tax it. Manusmriti says that the consumption of meat and alcohol is not unnatural to happen with humans, but it has its own ill-effects.

And lastly the quotation of 'In childhood she is guarded by father, in youth by husband, and in old age by sons, women don't deserve independence' [9:3], this holds true even today, where crime against women happen at all ages, even more so in cities. But, this ethos of this statement is that women are the reputation of a family, no one thinks great of women or families with women of lose character or of bad company, even today in any society. But how does one protect the woman? Manusmriti says, "No man can protect a woman by force, so employ some of the following methods [9:10]. Ensure that they are not idle (just like idle mind is devil's workshop), and engage them in the management of money matters (investment, expenses), shopping, hygiene, religious functions, kitchen and home making [9:11]. Relatives cannot protect a woman even by locking her up, but only those women who protect themselves (by taking care and avoiding situations of illicit temptation) [9:12]."

It is important that that we try to understand our culture, past, traditions after giving proper effort and time to it. Also, important to remember is that Indian culture has never gone against women, celebrations or senses on its own. They have only prescribed a moderation in any enjoyment, without which any society or person will soon become aimless. In both extremes of current protectors and protesters, culture and the good name benevolent Lord Raama is getting dragged in mud, but the loss is only of us, living Indians. While every human should remove the weeds from their ancient wisdom, firstly attempt should be made to understand its botany to know what is weed and what is flower.

And the violent protectors of Hindu culture should also pay heed to this gentle instruction from Manusmriti to the student, who will later go out and do good for the society:

'अहिंसयैव भूतानां कार्यं श्रेयोनुशासनं । वाक्चैव मधुरा श्लक्ष्णा प्रयोज्या धर्मिच्छता ॥'

One desiring dharma should bring the good of creatures with non-violent means using sweet and gentle words.

If you liked it, write your comments

Original Times of India article

(c) 2009 Shashikant Joshi, a graduate of IIT Kharagpur and an IT professional by trade has been entertaining himself with the Indian scriptures for over 20 years. He has also written a book of poems, Hindu prayer book, made an audio CD on Hitopadesh, written a screenplay for stage show, edited and published a monthly magazine in Cleveland Ohio, USA, and has also given lectures at Cleveland State University on Indian culture and spirituality.

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Welcoming Obama

2009-02-01T22:08:00.003+05:30

Dear Barak,
Blessings! Well wishes. Maybe sycophants may say that for the president of USA some heavy-weight words should be used. But somehow we (used in the sense of King’s English) feel that if there is that much formality and distance, then what is the point of even writing a letter. You are of the age of my former students, my children and we are a teacher. And you know that a teacher never retires. Just starts lecturing anyone, anywhere, as if teaching in a class. We also know that you studied in an ordinary school where there would have been teachers like us - hard and strict from outside but inside? ... approachable, inclusive and personable. In the so-called ‘big’ school, the teachers teach less and learn more because in such schools, students come wearing their influential fathers’ shoes, not their own.

We read your book. Not because you are president but because you are a different kind of president. You have risen from the soil. We can smell the soil and sweat in you. Clinton also wrote a book and even sold a lot, but we didn’t read it, because that was written by a president and licentious man. These days it has become a fashion to cash on whatever little good or bad publicity one can garner. The so called ‘great’ personalities also get many writers on rent. What to read them! But you wrote this book not while you were a president but even before you became a presidential candidate. Hence there is a thinking youth reflected in it and not a shrewd politician.

You have seen dreams and that too of an honest man. We want to join you in those dreams. In your blood it is not just the ‘Eat, Drink, Make merry’ kind of consumerist American dreams, but your blood also has Asia and Africa whose civilizations have been ancient, simple and hard-working. It is very important to have a seasoning of these cultures in the American political dish of today because the world has seen the results of pure consumerist culture. ‘Only consumption’ ruins not just people but countries and the whole world.

America gets the credit for the Hiroshima and Nagasaki, fueling the Cold War, encouraging the Islamic fundamentalists and being the main representative of making consumption the only goal of life. The departed have left thorns for your office tenure. Your path is not easy. Your name, Barak, means ‘blessed’. May God give you the good fortune and strength after giving you the opportunity to be a blessing to this entire world. You have understanding, and now power in the form of the office. Now, all that you need is good company, because the powerful quickly get sweet-spoken sycophants who waste a lot of time. We saw that happen to our former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He had some vision. He opened doors to new technology because of which now India is a power in IT and other technical fields. The kind of absolute majority he got (more than 2/3 seats) he could have changed the constitution for the good, but the sweet-spoken ‘well-wishers’ never gave him the time for thought clarity. If he wanted he could have passed uniform civil code, uniform education, ended Section 370 and other far-reaching and revolutionary works, but what did people advise? ‘Override and slap the Supreme Court in the Shah Bano case for the Muslim vote bank.’ Then they advised to open the locks of the Ayodhya Ram Temple and get Hindu votes as well. And the result? In the dilemma he got neither Ram nor maya (neither spiritual nor material gain). Rather, had to eat onions as well as get the boots. (A thief was punished with either eating 100 onions or getting beaten with 100 shoe kicks. He chose to eat onions, and couldn’t finish, so he got the kicks as well. Similarly, Rajiv lost trust of both Muslims and Hindus). Just beware of such advisors.

Your oath ceremony preparations are going on with lot of pomp and show. It is a bad time for the American economy. If we were in your place, we would not have spent even a cent. Nowadays, because of television, the whole world can see on television itself. Not sure if this was your desire or on the advice of some ‘well-wisher’. Nevertheless, it is true that for non-whites, it is a historic moment. They would be desirous to have the biggest ever such program. In such occasions, simplicity is more effective. The same money could have been given to the inner city schools with low funding and economically weaker sections of the society.

Over here, it gets over-crowded even for small functions. But these days there are lot of incidents of ‘explosive’ situations in crowded areas. In your case, just take care that there are no race riots. If all goes peaceful, we will take that as a sign of maturity of your people. This is the time to test the patience of the ‘whites’. Earlier the America who hoisted the flag of consumerism and now is suffering slowdown, we wish the same America now, under your guidance, set an example of simplicity, hard work and frugality.

You will take oath on the Lincoln Bible. Your national motto is - ‘In God we trust’. Actually, there is only one God, but somehow none of the god-men seem to agree on this basic tenet. They will proclaim there is only one God, and then fight in the name of the same God! In the name of religion, they will make armies, and either by force or by coerce they will convert. Over here, Gandhiji (and only Gandhiji) used to sing ‘Ishwar, Allah are both Your names’. But no religion gave him recognition in their religion. Is it necessary to be extreme for the sake of religion? Every new religion started with a new God and started on a Crusade to wipe out older one. For you not just race, even religion can pose a problem. Over here, our national motto is - ‘Truth alone triumphs’. The great Upanishads say that Truth is God and there is no bigger penance than the path of Truth. Truth is also more scientific, but accepting truth doesn’t allow individual shops for these religious god-men! We have another great thought of essence - ‘This is mine, that not - such thought is of the narrow minded. The benevolent consider the whole earth as their family.’

If you take inspiration from this thought then you will truly become a blessing for the whole world. In your leadership, this world becomes a better place - with these well-wishes,

Sincerely,

Ramesh Joshi
18 January 2009

Original Post

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

India died

2009-01-28T09:39:00.003+05:30

Dear readers,
With a heavy heart I inform you today that India has died. Death is the ultimate outcome of life. One who is born will definitely die. But the cause of my sorrow is that where India died there was no lack of any care or facility. There was lot of love and care and still death came! Now, what can we do? Just give the condolences. A two minute silence can be observed. India had the protection of the most powerful person on earth. When time comes then even on the most powerful person, the most common person can throw a shoe and people will watch the fun!

I got the news of India's death from Fox News where, from the office of Laura Bush in White House, it was told that India died at the age of 18 years. So is India only 18 years old? Well sir, if the birth was 18 years ago how can the age be more than 18? The happy news is that Laura Bush considered India as part of her family.

Because of her being 18 years old, India was about to get voting rights. Who knows a permanent seat in the Security Council of UN as well! If America wants, what is impossible? But now what, India already died. Now you would say how is this possible that India dies and we are still alive? But this has happened time and again. Mafia killed engineer Satyendra Dubey of the Golden Quadrilateral (highway system built between the four Indian metros) and nothing happened. Manish Gupta was killed when he refused to give 'donations' on the birthday bash of a powerful politician and nothing happened. Take a fresh example, (Mumbai) terrorists were from Pakistan the whole world knew, and Pakistan stares in the eye and chuckles saying they were not from Pakistan. It will keep happening like this in future as well. You give proof and it says they are not sufficient. In future also it will keep saying like this. Even US denied the move to brand Pakistan as a terrorist state or India's 48-hour deadline. The whole world is watching the drama, if this is not dying then what else is?

But you be the World Guru, the economic powerhouse!

Now let me in you on the secret that India is none other than Laura Bush's dear cat whom the lady named India out of love. Some of you, out of excess showing off of national pride will say that the naming of a cat as India has hurt India's national pride. But what can be done of this? This happens all the time! In America Lord Shiv, Lord Ganesh, Mother Kali get printed on sandals and toilet bowls!

Otherwise, a cat is dearer to the master than a dog.

The naming of the cat is not a new story; it was done back in 2001. Then I had written two kunDaliya verses (Kundaliya compilation - 'Apni Apni Lanka' i.e. 'To each his Lanka') so I would like to present those here -

(Translation from the original)
Ramoo, Bhola, such names servants always get
With Lord Ram or Shiva, don't be upset
Don't be upset, 'ridiculed'? Why do you say?
A cat is better than a dog in every way.
Joshi, being Their dog world wags and yelps aloud
We are Their dear cat, we should be proud!

(Bhola = innocent, or Lord Shiva; Ramoo = from Lord Ram)

Just because India has become Bush's cat
Why the anger, and why are you sad?
Why are you sad, don't you know elite pet
Traveling to exotic places, in luxury they get
Say Joshi Poet, purr and enchant them, O pet
Forget mouse, chicken that too Kentucky, you get.

6 January 2009

Original Post

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

Kashmir problem is British brainchild

2009-01-27T12:50:00.003+05:30

(Context: Tony Blair's Foreign Minister Jack Straw was in India in 2002. That time he accepted that Kashmir issue was created by British policy. There are times when the truth slips out of the mouth of the shrewdest person. So it slipped out of Jack Straw's mouth as well. Now this is a different story that people like Miliband don't understand or act insane on purpose. I am sharing an article written on Jack Straw's 'confession' back in 2002)

Mr. Jack Straw Sahib,
Prostrations, Me Lord. You are Foreign Minister of the mega-empire that build our nation (India). You are worth worshiping, even though your name has 'straw' in it. Ever since you have become a shameless wagging dog of US, it seems there is only straw (fodder) in Britain. In fact, here in our country we don't even have that. Whatever little fodder was left for animals, the politicians have scandalized it (Fodder scam). For us you are a 'jack' - a support apparatus to remove a punctured tire. Even if Britain is now only a 'master of none' but for us you are still a 'jack of all'.

Actually Britain sucked India dry. From a 'Golden Sparrow' it became a wandering beggar. There was a decent enough national integrity which you dismantled by dividing among religion. On this basis the itch you started has now become decaying leprosy. In the Jalianwalla Bagh (fenced park in Amritsar) the marks of your love for justice are still intact. Your queen is a gutsy lady. She came here, saw the Jallianwala Bagh, but didn't express the slightest of guilt or sorrow over the massacre of 1919 of innocent civilian men, women and children. Macaulay spent the money for Indian education on a new education system to inbreed clerks for the British empire. Filled Indians with an inferiority complex for India itself. We have started considering not only our language, culture, food, history, traditions but also our parents as a thing of shame. Through the grace of intellectuals like Catherine Mayo (author of Mother India) India, over time, has gained the status of a very backward and uncivilized country in the world. The Dhaka cotton (malmal) that won't let Manchester rise, was systematically ruined just like the industry and labor of this region. Priceless things like our Kohinoor and many Indic manuscripts are still with you.

America apologized for dropping the N bomb on Japan. Pope apologized for the gross deeds of the priests. Japan apologized for its soldiers' atrocities on women (Nankin). Jews even today make Germany pay through the nose for the atrocities of Nazi Hitler.

You have shown signs of a big heart by acknowledging that Kashmir is the brainchild of England. But to sit on the chest of defeated history, you don't need a big heart but a big scumbag. India is grateful to England even today. If not for Britain who would have built the Presidential palace, Parliament building, Connaught Place, railways for us Indians? Who would have established rule of law in a lawless land? Without English, how could a multi-lingual country engage in conversation and how would have freedom movement started? In here, we still have people singing praises of the British Raj. And you are repenting in guilt? This doesn't grace the 'brave', the 'victor'.

We are still walking in your footsteps for India's progress. By regretting, you will weaken our self-confidence. Someday if you have time, come over, and we will show you how we have made English even more mandatory than air and water. All expression of thought has to abide by Oxford English Dictionary. We have been so meticulous in breeding herds of clerks that farmers have resorted to suicide. Earlier we used to burn bonfire (Holi) of foreign goods, now we pride by doing the last rites of Indian goods. Earlier, industrialists were respected and today we are eager to sell whatever government industry at whatever prices to whomever. Now, ghee,milk, fruits, grocery, cloths, grains everything has started coming from foreign. Even in this hot tropical country, people have left the natural buttermilk and fruit juices and are dying for carbonated cold drinks.

We drink even more than Europe. We have washed and dried Gandhi squeaky clean. Come and lets see, there is not even one Gandhi cap in the parliament. During election campaign a fake Sachin wearing Gandhi cap was a source of entertainment. The nation that you divided on the basis of religion, we are taking it to the natural conclusion of dicing and slicing it on caste and subcaste. You used to do education development with liquor tax. Whether or not we developed education, we have made sure to have opened a liquor shop in every nook and cranny. We never listened to Gandhi who said if they made him dictator for a day he would close all liquor shops. The old geezer was senile! How can you run kingdoms and empires without liquor? In the media we ourselves strip our sisters and mothers.

We look for reasons in films for national disrespect and riot but ourselves sell bidi and tobacco with the photo of Ganesh, Tulsi, Ram or Shiv. Women are not safe in home, college, market, office, road, anywhere! In the name of Mother Goddess Shakti, the malpractice of Sati is being praised. There is religious (dharma) uproar but actually evil (adharma) is on the soar! When you left there wasn't any debt. Now we have attained the goal of 200 billion US greenbacks (back in 2002). Population is three times and criminals will soon have a majority in parliament and legislative assembly.

Someday, take out some time and purify this land of India with the holy dust of thy Holy Feet. Come, see, the destruction and ruining that you could not complete what all we have done to ensure that and tell us what more we can do. How else can you guide us in this regard?

Original Post

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

Heart attack early in the morning

2009-01-27T08:46:00.006+05:30

On 5th January 2009, Times of India Bangalore edition had a front page headline about heart attack in early morning hours. Doctors from Wockhart and Narayan Hridayalay hospitals said that most hart attacks happen between 4 to 6 am. In medical terminology they also explained many reasons. The article also mentioned that in Holland and Germany shops and office open at 11 am so people can get up relaxed; go to work without feeling rushed. There is a Hindi saying that when you invite the blind, an extra person, the helper, will also come. That is, an invitation to the blind is an invitation to two.

This (heart attack in the morning) is like that, it is not even a problem. It is a gift of the market and consumer focused culture. In normal office days, people are made to work so much and at times they do this willingly, that they don't even get time to breathe normally. They are overworked and under appreciated. The weekend partying with lot of drinking, food, and lack of sleep tires these pursuers of happiness. Then on Monday they have to be back on time, extra tired, the so called 'Monday morning blues'. This over working and extra tension becomes a reason of heart attack over years. If there is already any predisposition then rushing in the morning, jumping out of bed makes the possibility of a heart attack even more.

People look for all solutions only in the sheep mentality of money-earning and money-spending market driven economy, because they have lost faith on the time tested and ancient life wisdoms of Indian culture. And whatever little they have then consumerism focused media shakes them again and again. Otherwise Brahma Muhurt (1.5 hours before sunrise) is an auspicious time for nature to be fresh, active and awake!

You go to work on time, come back on time, eat timely and sleep and get up o time - then there is no problem! From Friday evening till Sunday evening don't torture your body or daily routine. On a holiday also, get up on regular time and follow the same schedule. Then you will have all then 8-10 hours that you would have worked on other days. This extra time, spend with family, take care of extra chores left over together, follow some hobby - arts, gardening, dancing, singing, anything. Or go on a family outing and return in reasonable time to not stress the evening. Without extra time, money or being separate, you will enjoy the company of the family which will strengthen the family bonds and the day goes by without rushing. Why should joy require excessive eating, drinking, and waking? Enjoyment is not something you can cramp seven days worth in a day!

Lets talk about the heart attack in the morning. If you remain normal, calm there will be no rush. There is a simple solution to this in the Indian tradition. In the morning, upon waking up, one should sit on the bed and recite these two shloks -

कराग्रे वसते लक्ष्मी, कर मध्ये सरस्वती ।
कर मूले स्थिता गौरी, मंगलं कर दर्शनम् ॥
(karAgre vasate lakshmI, kara madhye sarasvatI |
kara moole sthitA gaurI, mangalaM kara darshanam ||)

i.e. At the tip of the hands (finger) resides lakshmI (the divinity of prosperity), on the palm - saraswatI (the divinity of knowledge).At the base resides gaurI (shakti, the divinity of power and energy), it is auspicious to see the hands in the morning. Which means, that all the power, knowledge of the divinities resides n your own hands, make prosperity with your own hands, as long as you have your hands, you will make the day, it will be fine! [explanation by Shashikant]

समुद्रवसने देवि, पर्वतस्तनमण्डिते ।
विष्णुपत्नि नमस्तुभ्यं, पादस्पर्शं क्षमस्व मे ॥
samudra-vasane devi, parvat-stana-maNDite |
viShNu-patni namastubhyam, pAdasparsham kshamasva me ||

i.e. O Wife of viShNu (the all pervasive divine force), with ocean as the garments and mountains as the breasts, please forgive me for I am going to step on you with my feet.
This is a humbling request to the earth, the provider, nourisher, caretaker like a mother, that without stepping on you, I can't go about my daily business, so even though you are like my mother, forgive my stepping on you. Contrast this with the arrogance of 'you have dominion on this earth and its resources'. [explanation by Shashikant]

If recited at normal pace these will take about a minute and a half, which is sufficient time for the blood pressure to get normal from a lying down position to a sitting up \position. Lying down all night brings the heart and brain at the same horizontal level and quickly rising causes a sudden pressure drop in the brain and a surge on the heart which has to now pump to a vertical body. One who practices this in the early morning hours will have no fear of heart attacks in the morning. Similarly, every major step of the day is riddled with these speed bumps - there are shloks to be recited during bath, before food, at morning, noon and evening and one before sleeping.

Pondering upon the meaning of these shloks will reveal that it will also make your determined to work hard and be humble to the 'Life Giver'. Only if the doubt goes away! We are living in a fundamentalist time when Yoga is getting religious diktats of being detrimental to the religion from Christianity and Islam religions. For such people it is aptly said - the one without any faith is destroyed.

5 January 2009

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

Miliband - came, spoke, insulted!

2009-01-26T21:04:00.006+05:30

British Foreign Secretary David Miliband graced Indian soil on the festive occasion of Makar Sankranti and Pongal (पोंगल). Though I couldn't see the maturity and experience on his face or in his work as is needed for this. Probably Rahul Gandhi called him for a picnic in India. No wonder, he was showing the cows in Uttar Pradesh villages.

Ever since they are not profitable as before they are not revered as before, but still Hindus don't kill or eat them. Even today on Makar Sankranti, people feed them green fodder for some punya. In Karnataka cows and oxen are decorated and worshipped like in Northern India it is done on Gopashtami (गोपाष्टमी). England won't have any decent cow left. First they were fed their own remains (powered bones) which made them 'mad' and in name of Mad Cow disease killed millions of them. Quite possible, there may not be any real cow worth seeing. Maybe they bite if you go near them!

India still has some ordinary cows. Actually, all of India has become a cow. Any one can come and beat this cow. And then they preach to India,just like a raped woman is told 'You should look worthy of raping in the first place! It is your fault.' If someone's necklace gets snatched then she is scolded 'Why do you wear gold and lure the bad elements?' Something of this sort is Mr Miliband advising India. He says 'Kashmir is the cuase of terrorism.' That is, first solve this, that is give it to the separatists, terrorists. That is what USA has wanted all along since 1948!

Why doesn't Miliband suggest such an innocent solution to terrorism to US - 'Listen brother, quit Christianity and embrace Islam and then Osama will become your religion-brother and wtop terrorism.'

Miliband doesn't know why the Kashmiri Pandits are not seen today, whom 'saints' like Azhar Masood, at the behest and protection of Pakistan, scared them out of their own motherland in the name of serving Islam. And Delhi government kept silent for vote bank politics. After all, how could a small official has the guts and audacity to suggest such a thing to India? So what was Rahul Gandhi kissing up to him for? If you put them on a pedestal, they will piss on our head!

24 January 2009

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

Trodden hearts (like a banana field)

2009-01-05T22:12:00.005+05:30

Perhaps he is very sorrowful
He is always laughing a lot

Told them my woes all life long
Still to tell there is a lot

Keep only whatever is good
Though I have said a lot

Heart is shredded like a banana field
In these alleys, wind blows a lot

Why to meet and break illusions
About whom we have heard a lot

We know our destiny even though
Their kind blessings are a lot

Original Post

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Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi

You!

2009-01-05T21:56:00.010+05:30

Like the moon you shine
But you are not mine

It is scary even inside the home
Ever since guard you have become

We bear the torture of high noon
You are cool as the evening moon

Who can be you support?
Have YOU been anyone's support?

Above (our) heads, the water flows
But you sit pretty on the shores

2 Feb 2001

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Original post

Translated from the original works of Ramesh Joshi from the following blogs - Jhootha Sach (True Lies) and Joshi Kavi (Poet)
Original (c): Ramesh Joshi. Translation (c): Shashikant Joshi