Finding Nemo

इंद्रधनुष की छटा निराली , कभी लालिमा तो कभी हरियाली , जीवन की भी रीत ऐसी , कभी आँसू तो कभी बातें सुहासी।  धनुष है सन्देश प्रेम का  धरती से आकाश के मिलन का , और जीवन  स्वयं ईश्वर से मानव का।  फूल खिल उठते हैं , पक्षी सुरीले गीत गाते हैं , बरखा और सूरज मिल कर नाचते हैं , जब इंद्रधनुष के दर्शन होते हैं।  और यहाँ गोली चलती है , छुरी भोंकी जाती हैं , उसी जीवन को ख़त्म करने के लिए , जो ईश्वर से हमें मिलता है।  इंद्रधनुष के रंग कई , पर सब रंग दिखें साथ।  मानव के भी रूप कई , पर हम रहे खुद को बाँट।  माँ के लिए  सब बच्चे होते समान , फिर प्रकृति की गोद में , हम करों बनें असमान।  My work published on an hindi portal in 2001 -  http://www.anubhuti-hindi.org/nayihawa/n/nitinrastogi/indradhanush.htm

Few days ago, friends and I got into a discussion – a discussion that I just try to avoid at all costs – the Varna system. I try to evade the topic as much I can, because it has been blown up out of proportions already. It has become such a political hot potato that not only everyone wants to get it off their plate, but also want to add spices to be able to eat it. Hence, in a nutshell, everyone hates this topic, but would like to keep the debate to make whatever gains they can. Who am I to fight the world? Here we go again! Varna or caste system started with the Hinduism, but has been exploited by many. The earliest examples of the caste system may be many but the few notable ones are – Kevata and Shabri in Ramayan, Karna and Eklavya in Mahabharata. Not only the Shudra’s or Brahmins talk about it, but even Arjuna and Krishna spoke of the caste system at length in Geeta. चातुर्वर्णयं मया सृष्टं गुणकर्मविभागशः । तस्य कर्तारमपि मां विद्ध्यर्कतारमव्ययम् ।। ४\-१३ Sri Krishna tells Arjun ...

We discussed the concept of hunger in my previous post – “What’s your promised land?” It’s the hunger that defines the needs and the goals for oneself. We also discussed the need for motivation in the other post – “Who needs motivation?” In this post let’s examine how we should motivate using the concepts defined earlier! It is a known fact that the life is a sequence events and our life is shaped by how we handle these events. What we should also see that our desires change at every step. Thus changing the desire for the Promised Land. The sequence and the decisions may be different for every human, and hence our lives are different too. It is very difficult to define a common path or a common stand for all to measure up. How do I motivate others in such a case? The answer is simple – communicate to them by realizing their Promised Land. Look for what they want. Watch what are they hungry for? Once we determine other’s hunger, it is easier to empathize and motivate. Remember, Vish...

When Hanuman and his group of monkeys reached the sea shore in search for Sita, all of them discussed ways to cross the sea. Some said that they could jump upto 100 yards but it may not be enough to reach Lanka on the other end of the sea! They even started to think ways to lead their lives without returning to their home – Kishkindha and face the wrath of failure. Then, amidst all the discussions, an old bear – Jambvant spoke to Hanuman – “Oh Vayuputra Hanuman! Only you can cross the ocean. You can easily jump across the ocean and reach Lanka in no time. You have descended on the earth for a purpose. You had once flew and ate the Sun itself. Your power and reach has no bounds”. Hanuman had forgotten his powers due to a curse. Jambvant was praising Hanuman and motivating him to realize his potential. He chose his words carefully, realizing his power and putting the overall goal in front of Hanuman inspiring him to achieve. In Bhagwad Gita, Krishna told Arjun that one must lead the...