learnings

In November 2018 my friend suggested that we go on one of our bucket list destinations. Thus was born the dream of visiting Mount Kailash and Lake Manasarovar. About 17 years ago I had resolved to visit these places with my best friend. Hence it was a sentimental dream. It took me three months to decide though due to the cost factor. Once I decided I embarked on a fitness program - a couple of months of gymming, a month of yoga and avoided non veg, milk intake in coffee/tea etc. Decathalon the new sports store 9 or palace should I say!) provided us the necessary gear- shoes, thermals, flask, socks etc. Keep aside approximately ten grand for all this. The stuff is good and worth every paisa. We flew via New Delhi to Kathmandu. Kathmandu was disappointing especially due to old memories from films like Hare Rama, Hare Krishna.  At Kathmandu we visited Pashupathinath temple ( the lingam is beautiful), the jalanarayan temple ( the sleeping idol of Vishnu is gorgeous) and the Swayam...

This piece of art Stared back at me I’m unfinished it says Yet unable to complete I ruminate Many a question runs through No answers an’ too tired am I To seek .... Just as I stoop I spot a blind worm Pushing through the mud. Ramrod straight I stand Chin up girl chin up.. Been there, done that And there’s much more to do Much more to do Much more to do....

While travelling by the metro rail (within my city Chennai) I was awestruck at the setting sun. Such a perfect circle of pink and orange. A cloud drifted past the sun casting its black shadow. Did the shadow resemble castle or mountains? Two giggling teens commented on how the cloud had marred the beauty of the sun. They went back to their chatter. A young mother sat focussed on her toddler unmindful of the sun. A tired executive sat with his bulging laptop bag and a bigger tummy bulge. A senior citizen sat gazing listlessly. My hands automatically went to my cell to capture the sun. I looked through the lens. How bleak the sun looked. I looked again outside the lens. How beautiful. I remembered my son teasingly quipping ,' mom just enjoy the moment; you take such random pics which i am sure you do not bother to even glimpse later'. I resisted taking the pic and enjoyed the scenery which lasted for a few minutes more. In the evening as I walked I noticed the almost full mo...

My heartfelt gratitude to a wonderful friend Major Narayanan for remembering to invite me to this legend’s talk. I had read his book (Phantoms of the brain)and listened to its audio version too. From then on I have been following him. Seeing him in person was a dream come true. As usual what comes forth is his humility. His talk was peppered with live case histories and his sense of humour. My key learnings ( aside from Freudian thoughts) 1. Dr. Ramachandran narrated a lovely anecdote on change. Change is intrinsic to science and progress. Consider one building an edifice. One brick is not fitting in. Most would ignore. Some would change its dimension to make it fit. There would be one progressive thinker who would pull down the edifice to rebuild. Dr. Ramachandran says it is alright to pull down the edifice and bring in a new structure. 2. Most importantly he said even if it is your edifice it is alright if it is broken by someone else. Such an amazing insight into ego, inquiry ...

Every soul in my city knows that we have a water crisis looming in gigantic proportions. Since a de ade we have been reading and watching news on the water crisis. And this is across my country. Yet it is heart wrenching to see and hear people being so callous about using water. Educated people saying things like- if I don’t use up the water my neighbour will ; we can always buy water (sic). Just a little thought of using this life sustaining resource is something we can do without any trouble.