THE HARDBOILED CYNIC

 

An all-time favourite number of many music lovers expressing the universal  pithy words  :
कुछ तो लोग कहेंगे
लोगो का काम है कहना !
signifies  that we have to accept other people's unwanted critical views and opinions ! Very few of us have that dextrous ability to let it go as Kishore Kumar belts out the  next line
छोड़ो बेकार की बातों को.....
as a consequence of which many are adversely affected and become diffident .
Is it necessary for others to talk in a disparaged manner trying to point out one's shortcomings /flaws and demeaning them ! Why are we so judgemental ? We have no right to judge others because of what they look like or believe in .
Well many will argue that they are veracious beings and it is their candid opinions that they express whether the other likes it or not , whether one is hurt , offended or discouraged .Some such toxic people cause more harm than good by their honest criticism. The naked truth is that one can never hope to find any change in them for they are immersed in self glorification !
        However,  what we can do is to make a conscious effort to ignore them and their harsh judgements .It is not easy as it causes hurt that leads to harbouring a grudge for such humans. But what we need to bring to mind is that such people deserve compassion as they are enmeshed in their own complexes.
Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about !
This is what we need to remind ourselves.
As we trudge along life's journey either we judge or we have been judged .Several of us do not have cognizance of this empirical fact.
A  natural  human failing that most of us are instinctively  prone to is that whenever we are in the company of friends  our immediate tendency is to discuss others  and their lives , mannerisms , their physical attributes etc mostly in a condescending manner. Only if we consciously negate this tendency and try to be more compassionate and accepting it would expand our minds and definitely elevate our inner being .Negativity and gossip tends to constrict our otherwise joyful core being .
We need to realise that as human beings we are all sailing in the same boat...no one is perfect . All of us have  several shortcomings and weaknesses which some awakened souls attempt to control and mitigate to a certain extent .
         Moreover one who knows oneself is never disturbed by what others think of him / her. So it is all important to know ourselves , our own capabilities,  our forte   also our own failings and foibles and have a balanced opinion about ourselves  as well as be confident about ourselves .
What others opine about us is their business and cannot be bridled.
         Therefore we need not accept , argue or feel humiliated by others' thinking but conscientiously try to just Let Go !
Our core being is like the vast blue sky untainted and unaffected . If only  we are able to shed our angst and repose in ourselves we will be at peace ...that state can be achieved through meditation alone .
And then we can consciously  refrain from turning into HARD-BOILED CYNICS or bear the brunt of their cynicism !

INDIA'S SHIVSHAKTI POINT

 

India's ShivShakti Point

With a good heart and good intentions, one  can achieve almost anything one wants in life .
When our actions are based on good intentions  our soul has no regrets .
This is exactly what the Farher of Space Science , Padma Vibhushan Dr. Vikram Sarabhai believed in. His lofty futuristic  plans were solely governed by noble intentions and that was making this planet more beautiful.  He firmly asserted that science should not be used just for competition but to make lives more comfortable and easy .
As the eminent danseuse Mallika Sarabhai , his daughter reminiscences about her legendary father's aims and intentions she feels that her Father's dream has come true with the success of Chandrayan 3.His noble intention fulfilled his aspiration   of winning the Dark side of the moon  .
For one remarkable evening the entire nation was moonstruck following the descent of Chandrayan 3 on the hallowed surface .
Years of relentless labour  and days and nights of intense hardwork by the mammoth team of scientists resulted in the realisation of their phenomenal goal on 23rd August 2023 . It was indeed The Divine Hand steering Chandrayan 3 to achieve the soft landing on the South Pole of the moon....an incredible and enviable feat for India to be the first in the world to achieve this .
        Good intention is always supported by universal energy because it is a vital ingredient for manifestation. Intention is thus one of the most powerful forces that translates dreams into reality. Indeed the Father of Indian Space Program  , renowned physicist and recipient of the prestigious Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar  award ,  Padma bhushan and posthumously conferred with Padma Vibhushan undoubtedly had nurtured big dreams with noble intent for his nation and the universe.
      The ethereal energy of Shiva and Shakti fructified into this surreal reality. 

THE GOOSE AND GANDER DICHOTOMY

       SitaRam , RadheShyam , GauriShankar , LakshmiNarayan , Umapati were popular names in the yesteryears which categorically proclaimed that  according to Vedic teachings and ancient Aryan scriptures women have  had a higher status than men so much so that  even when  names of gods and goddesses were  given to male children , the name of the goddess was always placed before the god ! Considered to be emblems of prosperity and good fortune Woman stood paramount in Vedic culture. No religious ceremony was complete without the wife's presence. In Vedic civilisation women were revered and valued not  only as child- bearers  , nurturerers and custodians  of new generations but also as individuals with immense ability to see the truth and contribute greatly to human society.

    Suddenly a society that honoured and empowered  women   started degenerating into a malicious  and spiteful setup with different norms for men and women. This gave rise to the most ignoble and the basest instinct in the male species , that of dominating their women folk which has evidently  had precarious ramifications on the Indian social fabric.
           Chauvinism in India dates back to the connoisseur of male domination, the great sage Manu who initiated and propogated a code of conduct that denigrated women and idolised men.  He opined that women are like property on which only the owner has absolute powers
." A girl   , a young woman or even an older woman should not do anything independently even in her own house."
He goes on to besmirch  The Creator's biological plan deliberating that during the menstrual period a woman is impure and should be considered untouchable, thrreby reinstating patriarchal norms .It was he who strongly  established   that a woman must always obey and be under the control of her father as a girl , her husband when married and then her son when she is widowed.
Equality was abhorred and the men were literally brainwashed and trained to condemn women folk and to subjugate them in every possible way.
It has been universally acclaimed that a society , a family where women are given their due share of respect and honour thrives. Viceversa wherever  women are snubbed  , disregarded and humiliated the family and society at large suffer and do not progress.
Countries where this is happening are living testimony to the fact .
...  Chauvinism is at its worst when it tends towards physical abuse. However , what is far more detrimental and demeaning than physical abuse is the mental torture that is caused by harsh words , chiding tones , the tendency to always shift the blame and make the other feel guilty . Everytime this happens not only is it a setback for self confidence it also creates a sore irremediable hurt within that is difficult to heal...it is as if some corner of the heart is dented forever.
          Excessive and indiscreet pampering of sons   instilling  in them a superiority complex from a very young age , gender bias over generations has led to nurturing chauvinism . The " pati parmeshwar " concept has likewose strengthened this mindset of the male species. Daughters were drilled and grilled on how to make their parmeshwars always happy ...be it through their culinary skills , their eagerness and prowess  to enjoy physical relations with the spouse  or their sharp wit , common sense and intelligence and the most mandatory ,  ofcourse through attractive external appearance .
        Our earlier generations were definitely at fault in raising their male children imbibing in them the notion that their supremacy is a sign of their manhood . The only way for chauvinism to die is to bring up sons as daughters  teaching  them basic human values and most importantly respect for their female counterparts..

        

A THOUSAND SUNS

 A Thousand Suns

The recently released epic blockbuster biopic Oppenheimer about this  scientist who is acclaimed as the " Father  of the  atom bomb"  is drawing flak in India  not due to his hazardous creation but due to his absurd and out of context  reference to Lord Krishna's saying in The Gita .
Krishna says " If the radiance of a thousand suns were to burst at once  in the sky  , that would be like the splendour of the Mighty One " . Oppenheimer said to have been very impressed by The Gita calling it the "most beautiful philosophical  song existing in any known language" attested his invention , the  explosion to this shloka of Bhagwad Gita !
The quote is there but  not the meaning and interpretation behind it ....that is Oppenheimer's own conception of the universe and his place  in it and of his ethics as they were .This is being strongly condemned in the political echelons of the nation urging Christopher Nolan , the direc tor of the film to ammend and remove the reference ..
        In another context  with the  steadily increasing gap in the ozone layer  one shudders to think of  the catastrophe of the splendour of what  just One Sun can result in. Global warming is now the cause of increasing fatalities. The numbers are low at present but if the Sun's rage continues to escalate heat and humidity it will soon become the number One Killer worldwide .
Green House emissions , ecological imbalance is resulting in natural disasters in the form of floods   tsunamis , excessive rainfall or droughts   landslides which mortals are finding difficult to cope with . .What is adding fuel to fire is the increasing blistering heat and unbearable  humidity . We are already fighting for water , the question is  how do we defeat this monstrous calamity looming large in front of us that is sapping our energy levels and causing irreparable damage to physical health .
Weather experts are reporting that the heat and humidity this year in July has broken all previous records of the past five decades. Not just India  it is a worldwide phenomenon ....Europe and US are reeling under this heat wave crisis .Non tropical countries are equally struggling with this unprecedented  cataclysm.The global average increase in temperature levels of 2 or 1.5 degrees may appear small but are enough to melt more Arctic ice and submerge low-lying islands.
Humans , governments , people at the helm of affairs all over the world are brainstorming of how to tackle and find a possible solution to this threat that is no longer distant and  that definitely spells impending doom and extinction of life.  Measures are being taken with biodegradable waste , ban on use of plastic , preserving flaura and fauna, use of aircontioning , refrigeration equipment , aerosol products that do not use Hcfcs or Cfcs  etc to counter the damage done .
At the country level each nation has an announced plan of reaching net zero carbon emissions. For example for Singapore it is 2050 , for India 2070. All this is emanating from the Paris Agrrement of UN climate change 2021 called COP21 where it was ratified byv196 nations.
Nonetheless humongous efforts and steps are still required . Working collectively and taking up cudgels together towards redressing this calamitous issue ,can we hope for some relief.
As we are all responsible for this crisis  all of us , peoples of the world will have to act together  constructively to survive .For now it is a matter of survival .
     Krishna's teaching that all is illusion or MAYA  is part of our ethos yet we mortals who need to go through the physical reality of life on this planet are in jeopardy .
So is Doomsday near or will a Saviour , Our beloved Krishna  reappear to rescue mankind from this upheaval and turmoil?
Rest ofcourse will be  as The Almighty has ordained !

WHEN HOLIDAYS WERE MEANINGFUL

 WHEN HOLIDAYS WERE MEANINGFUL

Those were the days when there would be holidays for every small or big festivals . Those were also the days when they were celebrated as per the rituals/ worship / revelry . Children being at home observed these varied festivals and participated in them too. For them it used to be a happy and fun - learning environment wherein they keenly witnessed rituals and how their parents , siblings   eders invoked and propitiated Gods and goddesses . Seeking blessings by touching the feet of elders after the puja  likewise impacted the young too.
All this  thus had a deep and everlasting  impact on their impressionable young minds . And that is how sanskars were imbibed.
So whether it was  Vat Savitri Puja or Teej or Savan ka Somvaar  or Harchhat , the apparently smaller festivals in comparison to Shivratri , Holi ,    Janmashtami ,   Navratra , Dusshehra , Karva Chauth followed by  Dhanteras , Chhoti Diwali then Badi Diwali  to name a few  they were marked with customary worship making children realise their significance . This strengthened their belief systems and faith.Likewise every province across the nation has its own similar festivals that are observed as per their customs and rituals.
         Festivals are an integral part of Indian culture acting as a vehicle for the presentation as well as preservation of our values and sentiments . They serve to  unify the masses  urging them to come forth and celebrate. Every festival in India has seasonal  , scientific  and religious   connotations  .  Holidays for festivals are an assertion of their importance.
           In the yesteryears when holidays were just not indulging in leisure or other pasttimes....every holiday was spent as the festival occasioned. With the ever building  pressure of  lenghthy syllabi to be completed  and extracurricular  and other functions  to be organised,  educational institutions were made to minimise holidays . Even long summer and winter breaks were the prerogative of the earlier more fortunate generations.
      Nevertheless there is no dearth of celebrations even now ...every festival is done so with fervour and a lot of fanfare. Even "visarjans " be it Ganesh Visarjan or Devi visarjan it is accompanied with a lot of opulence . What is deplorable is ,what has now become ritualistic , ie the consuming of liquor by the revellers that leads to unpleasant and sometimes untoward incidents. This ruins the sanctity and evidently manifests the lack of sanskars .  Moreover it is an insult to the Deity worshipped. We cannot entirely blame the youth for this lapse . It is their parents and elders who are more at fault in not being able to firstly drive home the seriousness and significance of each festival  and instil in them  reverence and regard  . Parents have to lead by example and celebrate festivals in the right spirit to make it a learning and enjoyable experience. At the school level just giving the students  routine  essays on particular festivals or festivals in general is not enough.  Institutiins have to share this responsibility by imparting to  the youth the required information about festivals and their sanctity.
Besides daily practice of prayer in the morning  after the morning ablutions   , even if  it is just  going to the mandir at home and bowing to the images of the deities must be an indispensable part of the morning schedule of children . For this parents have to make the effort . This will soon inculcate in them not only the habit of praying daily but also of surrendering to The Almighty as well as being respectful and accommodating. Ego can also be bridled then .That is how values and sanskars can be imbibed in young malleable minds.
         It is a myth that our holy scriptures    are meant to be read and practised in the latter half of one's life . If only The Ramayan , The Gita and their tenets for example are frequently made accessible to them through books or  verbal communication  , automatically young minds will be channelized and diverted to observe and practice the lofty ideals . Listening is an easy and effective means of learning. for children  . 'Shrawan' , 'Manan ' and 'Adhyayan "have been universally acclaimed as the pillars of pedagogy. ie listening , pondering and studying . Television channels , books like The Panchantra and the scriptures are all available that interstingly portray and narrate the noble ideals . Caretakers have to introduce them and motivate them in that direction.This will not only keep them away from damaging material that is so easily accessible in a click  albeit it will benefit them and society at large and be an effective tool in  minimising if not mitigating  aggression and violence.
         We delight and swell with Pride when our 4 year old recites an English or Hindi  nursery rhyme or The Alphabets . It is definitely something to be proud of .Together with this if these toddlers are taught and urged to memorise some shlokas / mantras and can recite them ....that would  truly promote holistic growth in them .
         The new generations will then be firmly rooted to their age-old and time-tested cultural heritage. 

DECLUTTER THE MIND

 DECLUTTERING THE MIND

Lord Krishna had shown " His Viraat Roop " to  Dhritarastra who could not appreciate it taking the plea of his physical inability to do so  and as he was under the influence of his son.
Krishna appeared in the same way infront of the haughty  Duryodhana who ignored  his Divine View overpowered by his skepticism , ignorance and arrogance  taking it as one of Krishna's gimmicks and magical powers.
Lord Krishna had manifested His Divine form to tell them that He  was All Powerful and was The Only One who could avert a war and  bring about peace between the hostile clans without any bloodshed..Unfortnately He was not understood.
      It was The Chosen One,  Arjun who recognised Krishna's  Divine "Viraat" form when HE appeared in it  and was mesmerised and  overwhelmed .It was Arjun who had the discerning  ability to recognise and receive Divine Grace .
         Receiving is an art in itself. To be able to receive Grace , Blessings,  good wishes requires sensitivity  and a pure heart. When doubts cloud one's mind which is  layered with various complexes and when the mind  is  always searching for logic and reason , accepting anything positive  becomes tedious.
       With an overdose of reasoning ,analysis  and the tendency to probe into the nitty - gritty of everything that has overpowered the human mind , the receptive faculty is waning. Everything is open to questioning and argument .
We are not willing to believe even age-old universal  norms without analysing them. This has had an adverse effect on social standards and  familial bonds too.
       Our minds that are a repository of stored experiences  easily accepts and responds to negative feelings rather than the positive. This creates layers of complexes .The mind  has therefore  become a  cache  of disbelief and doubts. The encumbrance of this unnecessary weighty baggage of complexes is not easy to jettison . Only when and if we are able to shed this clutter can our hearts and minds be liberated to Receive all positive energy .
   Just as a clean , uncluttered habitat always appears elegant emanating positive vibes  similarly once our efforts are directed sincerely in uncluttering the mind  only then will our sensitivity and purity  be manifested in all its sublimity. It is then that this pure mind and the pure heart will be ready to accept and  receive everything beneficial and purposeful.
     Healing for instance entirely depends on the affected person's intention and ability to receive. There are instances of patients  endowed with this receptivity to have  come out of dreaded diseases  , terminal illnesses and dire situations . It is their sincere belief in The Almighty that makes this happen.
         Some long distance healing systems like Reiki depend entirely on the readiness of the patient to receive healing . When we hold back and close our minds  or when doubts  cross our minds it immediately rejects any such power.
             How to unclutter and infuse ourselves with positive receptivity is what we need to work on consistently. Some pure souls are already endowed with it ...they are the great sages and enlightened spiritual  masters . They have controlled and subjugated their Ego   , have rejected skepticism and  have therefore been at the receiving end of The Creator's blessings.
They have realised that the ego trip is a journey that leads to nowhere ! 
             It  is the ego-centric mind that  is replete with disbelief. To be able to surrender the ego ,  unshackle oneself from the labrynthine network of materialism and inculcate some level of right thinking will lead to spirituality. We have to lead parallel lives ....the physical and the spiritual to declutter our minds and reorganise our belief systems. Only  then can we  be empowered to fully receive for that power is also endowed by The Almighty to the fortunate .We all need to strive for it .
           For this we need perseverance and good guidance. A spiritual Guru who can gives us sound guidance as to how to declutter our minds  and prepare it to receive,  is very necessary . Mindfulness  ie the awareness to be fully and consciously in the present helps the mind to receive positivity. Meditation  is   however , the most reliable and infallible method  that can gradually help to imbibe mindfulness , instil peace , think reasonably and thereby declutter  the overactivated mind . This requires constant practice , the motivation to go on persevering till the mind reaches that blessed state where it can openly  receive noble and lofty thoughts. This will bring happiness not only to ourselves but we will radiate that joy and positivity  to others too. This will truly fructify the idiom Handsome is that handsome does.  And then our receptive faculties will be more pronounced providing relief internally and outwardly.
Let us be beginners  always  for then the mind is open to receive and the false notion of "knowing all "does not predominate. Beginners suggests that then we are learners too  , always being ready to receive and assimilate. Healing of the mind and body happens then.
     Receptivity is thus the elixir for all kinds of panacea.

THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

 THROUGH THE LOOKING GLASS

What is most merchandisable on this planet  is Beauty. The human race seems to be trading with this commodity ever since its evolution with an almost aggressive sincerity in beautifying not only exteriors albeit in everything they  feel connected to.

We as a race are obsessed with an all- consuming desire for beauty .
We are so aesthetically pronounced that we seek beauty in everything around us .
The desire to have a beautiful house with a perfect layout  ,  adorned with hand- picked artefacts  ...with the facade of the house being  specially eye- catching together with a spacious  attractive lawn / terrace garden with the best of blooms  .... all this seems to somehow  appease our thirst for beauty.  Thus architecture , interior designing and the likes  thrive and have  lucrative market value .
       The same is with food ...gastronomic delights seem even more appetising and palatable when they are presented artistically .So it is imperative that  the garnishing  and presentation   be appealing  . Just not that ...captivating , well-done up and a  soothing  ambience of these eateries enhances the gourmets' delight .
         For both sexes  ,  be it fashion  , apparels   jewellery  accessories, the best of brands ...anything and everything that beautifies the human anatomy externally evidently justifies the clichéd maxim that  beauty is skin deep. All kinds of fairness creams for the young and anti- aging serums for the elderly to maintain that youthful beautiful look  ,   even hair colours of all shades have taken the markets by storm. Extensive research  is going on for accentuating and capturing Beauty.
          Never was preening infront of the  LOOKING GLASS  all Important as it is now. The most precious object ie the cell phones are well- equipped with filters acting as the most effective beautifying agents in enhancing  the exterior  countenance.. What is uppermost in our minds is our appearance which is  most vulnerable for it is constantly under scrutiny , judgement as well as criticism.
     Beset with the human failing of depending on others ' opinion about ourselves we relentlessly keep striving to be physically attractive and sought - after . This hysterical craving has taken over us so intensely that negating our Creator's creation we try to rectify and correct  whatever we do not like in ourselves .
Consequently beauty salons , fitness centres  ,  cosmetic surgery clinics to name a few  are most in vogue . Natural  beauty is a thing  of the past when ladies just donned the quintessential bindi to adorn their faces !!
Consequently  beauty is now becoming more and more  stereotyped as it is being  "manufactured and sculpted"  with natural beauty taking a backseat !
This insatiable quest is just not  skin deep. It is apparent in every aspect of life ....academics to professional careers to business developments we desire everything to be beautiful and alluring as well as perfect.
Relationships also come into this periphery and the beauty quotient in them is an enviable issue .
      Therefore with IQ and EQ now BQ is what has encapsulated the world. This preoccupation is also responsible for promoting inequalities , status prejudices and creating rifts in relationships
        Nevertheless  admiring or seeking beauty is  the most phenomenal quality of our our  species .When we are overpowered and overwhelmed by Nature's beauty...the magnificent  mountains , the surreal snowcapped peaks , the lakes , rivers ,seas , oceans  with their undulating waves    the trees swaying in the breeze , the flaura and fauna that we are blessed with  , all that is indeed enchanting .
       If we only direct our energies to understand that beauty is only skin deep and that  real beauty is the  beauty of the soul and that is infinite ,  life would be easy,   less complicated and really worth living oozing  with that elusive state of happiness.  For this we have to constantly remind ourselves that physical beauty is transient and try as we might it cannot be eternalised.  Similarly other attractive gadgets / belongings are equally ephemeral and it is futile to horde them for that thirst again is unquenchable. The need to possess the best is a permanent attribute among humans providing no peace of mind.
          Physical beauty appears petty  when compared to inner beauty ie  the beauty of our soul which is what shines always . The secret to look beautiful lies in inner beauty. Inner beauty is devoid of negativities. When NEGATIVITIES are mitigated it radiates externally . There is a special radiance on the countenance  when the truly happy self replete with love emerges .

  Such an individual is ever smiling , appears most desirable   is highly sought - after as he / she radiates the happiness which  is undeniably every mortal's ultimate goal. And then biological age has no significance ....such an individual is charming throughout his lifespan as he /she is at peace with himself / herself.
That is real beauty. Once we realise this  and relate to every soul can we understand the true definition of Beauty.

            The intent of this write up is neither to deride the sublime capacity we humans are endowed with  to admire and appreciate whatever is beautiful or  pleasing to the eyes ,  nor to forsake our avaricious desire to seek beauty . This  power to marvel , be in awe , wonder and appreciate is a Divine gift. One who has this adroitness is truly blessed and remains  youthful forever .
 
          We just need to realise that only to yearn and possess what is manifested as physical beauty will not bring eternal joy ...that precious permanent joy will be ours only  if we are able to recognise the beauty of the infinite soul in each one of us . For that it is crucial to shed  negativities and harbour good feelings.
Regarding ourselves what we seriously need to ponder is on one of Buddha's quotes....
"You are not responsible for the versions of You that exist in other people's minds."

          The crux is to treasure and cherish beauty with all its facets and dimensions and relish and savour  its ambrosia till one  gets satiated!!







    
        

OUTSOURCING INTELLIGENCE

 OUTSOURCING INTELLIGENCE

Back in those golden days approximately quarter century ago educators were entrusted with the noble duty of infusing and encouraging creativity which would promote original research in the future.
   Those were also the days when good handwriting was stressed upon and initiated from the primary levels in schools .Cursive handwriting books were in plenty as that is what each child was first introduced to in order to hone this skill.
Extra marks were given by examiners when they were impressed by the handwriting of examinees !
Likewise educators of every level had to be well geared up and adept in their pedagogy.
Unfortunately all this seem to be obsolete and redundant now.

With the invasion of mobile phones  ,laptops etc cursive writing for instance has taken a backseat. Typing on these gadgets has become the order of the day.  Credit is given to those nimble fingers which can do the job swiftly and efficiently
It has now become an ardous task to physically write and it is a pity that good handwriting has lost its credibility.
Attentiveness in classrooms is waning as the smart youngsters are keenly aware of easily accessible online sources that can help them in comprehending lessons and solving their problems or even writing essays  etc. The dreaded and dreary homework now is easily completed by taking recourse to such facilities .
         However,  it is prudent to take a balanced view of the upcoming new technological advancements . Artificial Intelligence is the most sought-after of the recent developments .And indeed it is commendable as we are reaping the benefits of the previous original researches which have led to this torrential exponential technological advancement. The implementation of AI is extremely beneficial and purposeful in facilitating highly precise intense calculations. Nor can its importance be undermined in solving complex problems in an unprecedented speed.
       Nevertheless  this  AI revolution is posing a substantial threat to the human race jeopardising their inherent innate abilities and skill sets .
 
     The most dangerous threat that is looming large and which is crushing natural thought process presently is the outsourcing of intelligence  and creativity.. what is disconcerting and disturbing is that the human brain is prone to become vegetative.  It has been said that Man uses only 25 % of his potential brain resources in his lifetime . This  25 % is also now being stifled  , swapped and quashed by Artificial Intelligence.
AI has taken over the thinking mind..
.one just needs to type a few relevant words on any topic one wishes to ponder on and instantly productive  , sensible and well - written thoughts are there on one's screen! That's it!!
The one thing that differentiated Man from Animals was The Almighty's blessing of endowing him with a powerful   , promising thinking mind . This increasing dependence on outside intelligence is actually a violation and negation of our Creator's divine gift .
The  immediate argument will certainly be that after all AI has also been devised by the human brain  and its popularity is increasing in leaps and bounds . Yet the dependence of the masses whether young or old is certainly taking a toll on the human brain .
Our innermost,  deep-seated emotions are also not our own now because they can be beautifully expressed in heartfelt words eloquently if required and also in verbose flowery language by outsourcing . This is in stark contrast to yesteryears when even the crude and unsophisticated language that we used could convey our feelings and sentiments effectively.  What  a pity that we are pawning our privacy too  now !!
Serious debates will continue on this outsourcing of intelligence for some time and then it will no longer remain a debatable topic. for our endangered species will  soon be totally hooked and ultimately become slaves of this technology .
      A more disillusioning peril  is what has been termed as technological singularity in which human intelligence will seem puny as compared to machines. Broadly speaking the already fast - paced technology will in the future spread in such  alarming proportions wherein machines will create and improve their own designs much more faster than humans !! Though still futuristic and hypothetical as it may seem experts opine that this can happen in the next few decades or even a few centuries later perhaps. Moreover this ever increasing intelligence and prowess of AI will incapacitate  humans from understanding or controlling what they themselves have created .
    So although human minds have created AI their ability to compete with it is very limited. The hunan brain is able to process 7 to 8 variables at once but AI can analyse billions of parameters in a very short time depending upon the computing power. This has other implications too ....many of the mundane repetitive jobs done by humans now will be outsourced to AI .We can imagine the world reeling under severe employment crisis in the near future.
   Today mankind is euphoric and seems to be celebrating this triumph in a big way .
This is truly living in the present ignoring the detrimental long term effects of what we are sowing for posterity.
However   , it is best to strike a balance acknowledging the positive impact of AI and also seriously pondering on how to minimise the mal-effects of this coveted technology . As it has always been recommended  it is best to follow the middle path ...that can happen when we are able to bridle this man-made formidable yet useful  technology so that it does not enslave us   ....and  more importantly it is imperative that we   use AI sagaciously and judiciously.

THE NEW AGE DADI / NANI

 The New Age Dadi

The stereo typed image of a benign smiling sedate Dadi or Nani  whose sole purpose in life should be making jars of delectable pickle  evidently never retiring from household chores , has now been transformed. 
That  was the  yesteryear Dadi -Nani  image  who was  in a joint family setup  totally engrossed  with family commitments and most importantly the rearing up of grandchildren.She then had  the authority to  take decisions too for the welfare of her grandchildren .
With  technological advancement   and social mobility the breakdown of  multigenerational  families  is visible today.  Nuclear families are thus the order of the day therefore limiting the scope of Dadis / Nanis now who enjoyed the earlier status and priveleges.. The Dadi Ke Nuske'  days are obsolete and gone .

The virtual disappearance of grandparents from the immediate family has become either circumstantial or compulsive. 
The flip side of this changed scenario is that it is giving more space and free time to them to revive their dormant interests.
The New Age Dadi / Nani comes as a surprise package intent on pursuing her passion, hobbies and indulging in what she had always aspired to do or to be !!
And why not ??
These grandmas are setting new standards and silently proclaiming that Age and status  is no bar in achieving their dreams and desires.
The New Age grandmoms have taken up cudgels to go ahead with their passions thus initiating positivity and vibrance not only in their own lives but also others around them .
Undoubtedly family support , encouragement good health and above all the grace of The Almighty are   extremely crucial and significant  for pursuing their interests  , nevertheless their   focus and determination deserve credit.
So whether it is a challenging task of mountaineering  , dancing , marathon-running , trekking , modelling,  ramp-walking ,  photography,  music or any other hobby  that involve both physical  strength ,  perseverance   focus and dedication it is their grit that makes them achieve what they had aspired .
This does not insinuate that they are not  loving caring doting grandmoms ...After all this prized status is indeed exhilarating and it is with grandchildren that they  enjoy the most .
The  New Age Dadis and Nanis are  a mixed combo...busting the notion of the Vanprastha ashram , infused  with vigor  and enthusiasm to pursue their dreams !! 

Is that not the key to happiness ,positivity and contentment ?