The Value of Simple Gestures

A lady worked at a meat distribution factory. One day, when she finished with her work schedule, she went into the meat cold room (Freezer) to inspect something, but in a moment of misfortune, the door closed and she was locked inside with no help in sight.

Although she screamed and knocked with all her might, her cries went unheard as no one could hear her. Most of the workers had already gone, and outside the cold room it's impossible to hear what was going on inside.

Five hours later, whilst she was at the verge of death, the security guard of the factory eventually opened the door.

She was miraculously saved from dying that day.

When she later asked the security guard how he had come to open the door, which wasn't his usual work routine.

His explanation: "I've been working in this factory for 35 years, hundreds of workers come in and out every day, but you're one of the few who greet me in the morning and say goodbye to me every night when leaving after work. Many treat me as if I'm invisible.

Today, as you reported for work, like all other days, you greeted me in your simple manner 'Hello'. But this evening after working hours, I curiously observed that I had not heard your "Bye, see you tomorrow".

Hence, I decided to check around the factory. I look forward to your 'hi' and 'bye' every day because they remind me that I am someone.

By not hearing your farewell today, I knew something had happened. That's why I was searching every where for you."

Be humble, love and respect those around you. Try to have an impact on people who cross your path every day, you never know what

tomorrow will bring.

Symbolic Meaning of Dasavatars

The 10 avatars of Supreme Lord Vishnu are also a symbolic representation of evolution of life on earth- How life was first created, evolved and various stages of human settlement!

1. Matasya - The first incarnation or avatar of Lord Vishnu was in the form of a fish and is known as ‘Matsya Avatar.’ It has now been confirmed by Science through various experiments that the first life forms evolved underwater.

2. Kurma - The second incarnation of Lord Vishnu was in the form of a tortoise known as ‘Kurma Avatar.’ Tortoise is an amphibious creature capable of living both on land and in water and it indicates the moving of life form from underwater to the surface of Earth.

3. Varaha - The third incarnation of Lord Vishnu is the boar known as ‘Varaha Avatar’. Boar is a complete land animal and in this incarnation, life form has moved out of water and has adapted to land.

4. Narasimha - The fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is the half-man half-animal form known as ‘Narasimha Avatar.’ This incarnation starts the transformation from animal to human form.

5. Vaman - The fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is the dwarf or pigmy sized human being known as the ‘Vamana avatar.’ A transition from the beastly form to human form and the development of intelligence.

6. Parasuram - The sixth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is the forest dweller known as ‘Parasuram.’ He has developed weapons and axe is his first weapon. Any sharp stone can be transformed into an axe and it also indicates the first settlement of humans in forests.

7. Ram - The seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Lord Ram. He civilized and has developed more superior weapons like the bow and arrows. He has cleared the forests and developed small communities or villages. He is very vigilant and protects his villages and people.

8. Balram - The eight incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Lord Balarama. He is portrayed with the plough – the beginning of full-fledged cultivation. Human civilization has developed agriculture and is no longer depended forest for food. The beginning of agrarian economy.

9. Krishna - The ninth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Krishna. He represents the advancing human civilization. He is associated with cows, the beginning of domestication of animals and development of economy, which continues to the present day.

10. Kalki - The tenth incarnation of Lord Vishnu is Kalki and is yet to arrive. He is believed to ride on a swift horse Devadatha and destroy the world. A clear indication that human beings will bring an end to life on earth. The numerous natural calamities created by human beings and the numerous nuclear weapons stored illustrates this.

Life after delivery!

This is a very interesting coversation I happened to find on the net. I find the questions very similar and I'm sure you would do as much.

                                                   ---
In a mother’s womb were two babies. 

One asked the other: “Do you believe in life after delivery?” The other replied, “Why, of course. There has to be something after delivery. Maybe we are here to prepare ourselves for what we will be later.”

“Nonsense” said the first. “There is no life after delivery. What kind of life would that be?”

The second said, “I don’t know, but there will be more light than here. Maybe we will walk with our legs and eat from our mouths. Maybe we will have other senses that we can’t understand now.”

The first replied, “That is absurd. Walking is impossible. And eating with our mouths? Ridiculous! The umbilical cord supplies nutrition and everything we need. But the umbilical cord is so short. Life after delivery is to be logically excluded.”

The second insisted, “Well I think there is something and maybe it’s different than it is here. Maybe we won’t need this physical cord anymore.”

The first replied, “Nonsense. And moreover if there is life, then why has no one has ever come back from there? Delivery is the end of life, and in the after-delivery there is nothing but darkness and silence and oblivion. It takes us nowhere.”

“Well, I don’t know,” said the second, “but certainly we will meet Mother and she will take care of us.”

The first replied “Mother? You actually believe in Mother? That’s laughable. If Mother exists then where is She now?”

The second said, “She is all around us. We are surrounded by her. We are of Her. It is in Her that we live. Without Her this world would not and could not exist.”

Said the first: “Well I don’t see Her, so it is only logical that She doesn't exist.”

To which the second replied, “Sometimes, when you’re in silence and you focus and you really listen, you can perceive Her presence, and you can hear Her loving voice, calling down from above."

                                                        ---

Isn't the first one like our mind, who doubts, who believes that he can explain it all, who believes himself to be rational, logical and scientific.

While the second one quite like our heart, who feels beyond his senses, whose faith is stronger than his limiting rational and whose eyes waits for the miracle to happen!

Science behind Vedic Traditions.

Many Vedic Traditions were considered superstitions, but upon introspection it is becoming evident that these traditions are based on full-proof scientific knowledge. They have moved from generations to generations as traditions and often the common people were unaware of the science behind them. Lets make an attempt to bring forward the science involved in each of these traditions and rituals.

1. Why do we worship Tulsi Plant: Hindu religion has bestowed ‘Tulsi’, with the status of mother. Also known as ‘Sacred or Holy Basil’, Tulsi, has been recognized as a religious and spiritual devout in many parts of the world. The vedic sages knew the benefits of Tulsi and that is why they personified it as a Goddess and gave a clear message to the entire community that it needs to be taken care of by the people, literate or illiterate. We try to protect it because it is like Sanjeevani for the mankind. Tulsi has great medicinal properties. It is a remarkable antibiotic. Taking Tulsi everyday in tea or otherwise increases immunity and help the drinker prevent diseases, stabilize his or her health condition, balance his or her body system and most important of all, prolong his or her life. Keeping Tulsi plant at home prevents insects and mosquitoes from entering the house. It is said that snakes do not dare to go near a Tulsi plant. Maybe that is why ancient people would grow lots of Tulsi near their houses.

2. Joining Both Palms together to Greet:

In Hindu culture, people greet each other by joining their palms – termed as “Namaskar.” The general reason behind this tradition is that greeting by joining both the palms means respect. However, scientifically speaking, joining both hands ensures joining the tips of all the fingers together; which are denoted to the pressure points of eyes, ears, and mind. Pressing them together is said to activate the pressure points which helps us remember that person for a long time. And, no germs since we don’t make any physical contact!

3. Why do Indian Women wear Toe Ring:

Wearing toe rings is not just the significance of married women but there is science behind it. Normally toe rings are worn on the second toe. A particular nerve from the second toe connects the uterus and passes to heart. Wearing toe ring on this finger strengthens the uterus. It will keep it healthy by regulating the blood flow to it and menstrual cycle will be regularized. As Silver is a good conductor, it also absorbs polar energies from the earth and passes it to the body.

4. Applying Tilak on the Forehead:

On the forehead, between the two eyebrows, is a spot that is considered as a major nerve point in human body since ancient times. The Tilak is believed to prevent the loss of “energy”, the red ‘kumkum’ between the eyebrows is said to retain energy in the human body and control the various levels of concentration. While applying kumkum the points on the mid-brow region and Adnya-chakra are automatically pressed. This also facilitates the blood supply to the face muscles.

5. Why do Temples have Bells:

People who are visiting the temple should and will Ring the bell before entering the inner sanctum (Garbhagudi or Garbha Gruha or womb-chamber) where the main idol is placed. According to Agama Sastra, the bell is used to give sound for keeping evil forces away and the ring of the bell is pleasant to God. However, the scientific reason behind bells is that their ring clears our mind and helps us stay sharp and keep our full concentration on devotional purpose. These bells are made in such a way that when they produce a sound it creates a unity in the Left and Right parts of our brains. The moment we ring the bell, it produces a sharp and enduring sound which lasts for minimum of 7 seconds in echo mode. The duration of echo is good enough to activate all the seven healing centres in our body. This results in emptying our brain from all negative thoughts.

6. Why do we have Navratras: Our living style has drastically changed if we compare it to the society hundreds & thousands of years ago. The traditions which we follow in present are not establishments of today but of the past. Ever thought, why do we have Navratras twice a year unlike other festivals like Deepawali or Holi? Well, both these months are the months of changing seasons and the eating habits of both the seasons are quite different from each other. Navratras give enough time to the body to adjust and prepare itself for to the changing season. These nine days were marked as a period when people would clean their body system by keeping fasts by avoiding excessive salt and sugar, meditate, gain a lot of positive energy, gain a lot of self confidence & increase the self determination power (fasts are a medium to improve our will power and self determination) and finally get ready for the challenges of the changed season.

7. The scientific explanation of touching Feet:

Usually, the person of whose feet you are touching is either old or pious. When they accept your respect which came from your reduced ego (and is called your shraddha) their hearts emit positive thoughts and energy (which is called their karuna) which reaches you through their hands and toes. In essence, the completed circuit enables flow of energy and increases cosmic energy, switching on a quick connect between two minds and hearts. To an extent, the same is achieved through handshakes and hugs. The nerves that start from our brain spread across all your body. These nerves or wires end in the fingertips of your hand and feet. When you join the fingertips of your hand to those of their opposite feet, a circuit is immediately formed and the energies of two bodies are connected. Your fingers and palms become the ‘receptor’ of energy and the feet of other person become the ‘giver’ of energy.

8. Why do we worship Peepal Tree:

‘Peepal’ tree is almost useless for an ordinary person, except for its shadow. ‘Peepal’ does not a have a delicious fruit, its wood is not strong enough for any purpose then why should a common villager or person worship it or even care for it? Our ancestors knew that ‘Peepal’ is one of the very few trees (or probably the only tree) which produces oxygen even at night. So in order to save this tree because of its unique property they related it to God/religion.

9. Start with Spice & End with Sweet:

Our ancestors have stressed on the fact that our meals should be started off with something spicy and sweet dishes should be taken towards the end. The significance of this eating practice is that while spicy things activate the digestive juices and acids and ensure that the digestion process goes on smoothly and efficiently, sweets or carbohydrates pulls down the digestive process. Hence, sweets were always recommended to be taken as a last item.

10. Choti on the Male Head:

Sushrut rishi, the foremost surgeon of Ayurveda, describes the master sensitive spot on the head as Adhipati Marma, where there is a nexus of all nerves. The shikha protects this spot. Below, in the brain, occurs the Brahmarandhra, where the sushumnã (nerve) arrives from the lower part of the body. In Yog, Brahmarandhra is the highest, seventh chakra, with the thousand-petalled lotus. It is the centre of wisdom. The knotted shikhã helps boost this centre and conserve its subtle energy known as ojas.

11. Applying Mehendi/Henna on the Hand:

Besides lending color to the hands, mehndi is a very powerful medicinal herb. Weddings are stressful, and often, the stress causes headaches and fevers. As the wedding day approaches, the excitement mixed with nervous anticipation can take its toll on the bride and groom. Application of mehndi can prevent too much stress because it cools the body and keeps the nerves from becoming tense. This is the reason why mehndi is applied on the hands and feet, which house nerve endings in the body.

12. Celebration & Cleaning During Diwali:

Diwali usually falls in October or November which marks the start of winter season and end of rainy season. Rainy season wasn’t a good time for everyone back then; many homes needed repair and renovation after a heavy fall. That is why time before diwali was considered the period during which everyone can indulge in cleaning and beautification of their home. And also take out their winter clothes and pack the summer ones.

13. Sitting on the Floor & Eating:

This tradition is not just about sitting on floor and eating, it is regarding sitting in the “Sukhasan” position and then eating. Sukhasan is the position we normally use for Yoga asanas. Sitting in this position while eating helps in improving digestion as the circulatory system can focus solely upon digestion and not on our legs dangling from a chair or supporting us while we are standing.

13. Why not to sleep with Your Head towards North:

Myth is that it invites ghost or death but science says that it is because human body has its own magnetic field (Also known as hearts magnetic field, because the flow of blood) and Earth is a giant magnet. When we sleep with head towards north, our body’s magnetic field become completely asymmetrical to the Earth’s Magnetic field. That cause problems related to blood pressure and our heart needs to work harder in order to overcome this asymmetry of Magnetic fields. Apart from this another reason is that Our body have significant amount of iron in our blood. When we sleep in this position, iron from the whole body starts to congregate in brain. This can cause headache, Alzheimer’s Disease, Cognitive Decline, Parkinson disease and brain degeneration.

14. Surya Namaskar:

Hindus have a tradition of paying regards to Sun God early in the morning by their water offering ritual. It was mainly because looking at Sun rays through water or directly at that time of the day is good for eyes and also by waking up to follow this routine, we become prone to a morning lifestyle and mornings are proven to be the most effective part of the day.

15. Ear Piercing:

Piercing the ears has a great importance in Indian ethos. Indian physicians and philosophers believe that piercing the ears helps in the development of intellect, power of thinking and decision making faculties. Talkativeness fritters away life energy. Ear piercing helps in speech-restraint. It helps to reduce impertinent behaviour and the ear-channels become free from disorders. This idea appeals to the Western world as well, and so they are getting their ears pierced to wear fancy earrings as a mark of fashion.

16. Application of Sindoor or Vermillion:

It is interesting to note that that the application of sindoor by married women carries a physiological significance. This is so because Sindoor is prepared by mixing turmeric-lime and the metal mercury. Due to its intrinsic properties, mercury, besides controlling blood pressure also activates sexual drive. This also explains why Sindoor is prohibited for the widows. For best results, Sindoor should be applied right upto the pituitary gland where all our feelings are centered. Mercury is also known for removing stress and strain.

17. Throwing Coins into a River:

The general reasoning given for this act is that it brings Good Luck. However, scientifically speaking, in the ancient times, most of the currency used was made of copper unlike the stainless steel coins of today. Copper is a vital metal very useful to the human body. Throwing coins in the river was one way our fore-fathers ensured we intake sufficient copper as part of the water as rivers were the only source of drinking water. Making it a custom ensured that all of us follow the practice.

18. Why do we Fast:

The underlying principle behind fasting is to be found in Ayurveda. This ancient Indian medical system sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulence. Since the human body, as explained by Ayurveda, is composed of 80% liquid and 20% solid, like the earth, the gravitational force of the moon affects the fluid contents of the body. It causes emotional imbalances in the body, making some people tense, irritable and violent. Fasting acts as antidote, for it lowers the acid content in the body which helps people to retain their sanity. Research suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction like reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, immune disorders etc.

19. Why do Indian Women wear Bangles:

Normally the wrist portion is in constant activation on any human. Also the pulse beat in this portion is mostly checked for all sorts of ailments. The Bangles used by women are normally in the wrist part of ones hand and its constant friction increases the blood circulation level. Further more the electricity passing out through outer skin is again reverted to one’s own body because of the ring shaped bangles, which has no ends to pass the energy outside but to send it back to the body.

20. Why Idol Worship:

Hinduism propagates idol worship more than any other religion. Researchers say that this was initiated for the purpose of increasing concentration during prayers. According to psychiatrists, a man will shape his thoughts as per what he sees. If you have 3 different objects in front of you, your thinking will change according to the object you are viewing. Similarly, in ancient India, idol worship was established so that when people view idols it is easy for them to concentrate to gain spiritual energy and meditate without mental diversion.

Source: Internet

The Great Escape

Netaji had escaped from the house arrest by British for an unknown political destination in 1941. Very few of us know exactly what had happened that night. This is certainly beyond the conventional thrillers. Mr Sujoy Dhar (Correspondent- Reuters Writer, Inter Press Service; Editor- India Blooms News Service / Trans World Features) gives a interesting account of that chilling escape story.

17 JANUARY, 1941. 1-30 a.m.: A loud clearing of the throat was heard from the top floor of a house on Elgin Road in Calcutta. It was a signal that stirred three anxiously waiting men into action. Like apparitions, they tiptoed down the rear staircase of the house, to a waiting car, a rare German-model Wanderer. The people of Calcutta were in deep slumber that wintry night, but the moon was staring bright on the city. So, the men were cautious that there were no shadows on the walls. One of the three was a distinguished-looking Pathan, in his closed-collar brown long-coat, broad pyjamas and black fez. The one carrying a hold-all opened the rear door for the Pathan, after putting the baggage by the driver's seat. Then he walked quickly to open the front gate of the house. The Pathan took his seat but held the door without closing it, so that anybody awake might not hear two doors closing instead of one. The third person now took the driver's seat and slammed the door, the sound of which only roused a pack of crows from their sleep. When the front gate was opened, he started the car and drove out, making a lot of noise and whizzing past the unsuspecting CID men, comfortably settled under blankets on a makeshift wooden bed, at the strategic junction of Elgin Roadand Woodburn Road. They slept, as Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose left Calcuttaforever, for an uncertain future and an unknown political destiny .

But lets move back a month or so, to a day in early December, 1940: Mian Akbar Shah was sitting at his home in Badrashi village, in the Nowshera district of the then North West Frontier Province, when peon brought him a telegram that read: "REACH CALCUTTA-BOSE". The 42-year-old handsome Pathan, then a leader of Netaji's Forward Bloc in the North West Frontier Province, took the earliest Frontier Mail, a night train from Peshawar. He reached Calcutta after three days and put up in a hotel on Mirzapur Street. The next morning he went to see Netaji at his Elgin Road residence where he was convalescing after his release from the Presidency Jail on 5 December that year, following a hunger-strike he had launched in jail. Two court cases were pending against Bose, and he was sure the British would not let him out before the War was over. Hence, he resorted to hunger-strike. Akbar Shah found his leader lying on the bed - weak and bearded.

Mian listened attentively as Netaji said, "Now I intend to go abroad, through the tribal territories of Kabul. So I need your help. You have the experience."

"Yes. It is not a difficult task. But you have to travel up to Peshawar by train, and through the tribal border in disguise," Shah replied.

Bose continued, "Mohammed Sharif, a member of the All India Forward Bloc Working Committee, is helping me. On his advice, I have stopped shaving and have grown a beard. I have a black Sherwani, and am learning from Sharif whatever else is necessary for the disguise." Shah told Netaji to assume the name "Ziauddin', and dress like a Muslim.

"It is time to rise and do something for the freedom of our motherland. The war is on, and I think I must get out of India and personally approach the leaders of countries which are enemies of British imperialism, including those of the Soviet government", Bose stated. The two then discussed the plan threadbare. Shah was introduced to Sisir Bose, Netaji's nephew. Shah and Sisir later went out to shop for the necessary items of disguise from Wachel Molla's, the famous Mohammedan departmental store on Dharamtala Street. Before leaving Calcutta, Shah spent some more time with Netaji, instructing him about his behaviour while passing through the tribal areas, and told him to let the beard grow freely. The language barrier, Shah said, could be solved by covering Bose's mouth and ears with a turban and passing him off as deaf and dumb.

The Boses had two houses. Netaji was staying at the Elgin Road house, while the one at Woodburn Park belonged to his elder brother, Sarat Bose. Sisir Bose, son of brother and freedom fighter Sarat Bose, got a summon from Netaji during the week following Netaji's release. It was about 57 years ago, but Dr Sisir Bose can still vividly recall the day which was to change his life so drastically. Reminisces Dr Bose: "My uncle called me and asked, "Can you do a job for me?' I answered with an ambiguous nod. "How well can you drive?" he enquired. I replied, "Tolerably well on the whole." He continued, "Have you ever done long distance driving?' I said 'no'. 'Look here, you'll have to reach me by car, one night, quite far, say Burdwan or some such place. But nobody must know.' Netaji slowy unravelled his mission. Dr Bose, a person not given to excitement outwardly, walked back to his Woodburn Park home, dazed with subdued excitement. His uncle had, in fact, told him to come back with a plan the following day. The secret confabulation began, and the two sat together on the bed and talked like equals. "What struck me most was that uncle was prepared to accept proposals from me ", Dr Bose recalls.

Initially, Netaji wanted his nephew to execute the whole thing without telling his parents, to which Dr Bose had agreed uncomfortably. The escape plan first went thus: Netaji would openly announce that he was retiring for convalescence to Sarat's garden house at Rishra, and from there Sisir would drive him secretly to Burdwan or Asansol. But this plan was cancelled. So was another plot or depart from Woodburn Park. The ground for the cancellations was the same-such moves would unnecessarily alert the police. Finally, they decided that the escape had to take place from the Elgin Road house itself. Netaji's niece, Ila, became a collaborator along with Sisir.

Relations, visitors, servants, the plainclothes policemen around the house, and even the Alsatian of one of Netaji's brothers, were closely watched. The run-up to the escape had its share of comic elements too. Says Dr Bose, "An unemployed but over-inquisitive relative of ours grew suspicious and started asking questions. So Netaji gave him a letter of introduction to some high-up person in the Tata's at Jamshedpur, along with a lecture on the shame of being in a continued state of unemployment, provided him with the requisite money and told him not to return to Calcutta till he was assured of a job. The gentleman predictably returned toCalcutta after Netaji had escaped, and of course without a job.

On 25th December 1940, Sisir gave his first endurance test, driving at a stretch to Burdwan in the morning and then returning to Calcutta to report to his uncle on the degree of fatigue he felt. He was also assigned to get Netaji's visiting cards printed in the name of Mohd Ziauddin, an insurance company travelling inspector.

Meanwhile, Sisir made a reconnaissance sortie to Bararee, near Dhanbad, where his elder brother was working, in a coalfield.

Ostensibly, Sisir was to bring back his mother from there to Calcutta. The details of the plan had been worked out by then. Netaji declared he was going into seclusion for a few days, when he would not see or talk to anyone. Food, strictly vegetarian, would be passed to him across a screen, to be put up in his room. Sarat Bose and his wife were also taken into confidence, and Dwijendranath, son of Sisir's eldest uncle, was to carry on the drama after escape. The Alsatian of Netaji's doctor brother could have posed problems, if left free in the night. So, when it luckily attacked a visitor one night, the collaborators got enough reason to convince the dog's master to keep it chained at night.

The D-Day arrived and night approached. But two cousins in that large joint family chose to hang around. Dwijen had to lead them upstairs and confine them to bed somehow. He later signalled Netaji, Sisir and Aurobindo, another cousin involved in the plan and entrusted with the job of opening the gate, when the road was clear of CID men.

"We drove out and took a detour deliberately. Moreover, in order to get to the G T Road crossing, we avoided the more convenient Willingdon Bridge at Dakhineshwar, taking the Howrah Bridge instead, because there was a toll system on the former. We heaved a sigh of relief only when we reached French post Chandernagore unscathed, without any encounter with the French police. At one point, while passing through Durgapur, then a forested area infamous for its dacoits, we had a near collision with a pack of buffaloes. Fortunately, the brakes worked and we were saved", narrated late Dr Bose, going down the memory lane.

On reaching his brother's house at Bararee, another round of acting followed. The next day, Sisir, his brother and his wife, drove Netaji to Gomoh, from where he was to catch the Delhi-Kalka Mail. "The train was scheduled hours after midnight. We watched him mount the over-bridge and disappear into the darkness. The rumbling of the approaching mail was audible. Eventually we heard the train steam off and then we saw a garland of lights moving away and away …", writes Dr Bose in his account of The Great Escape.

For a whole week, the drama was carried on, till it became public in a pre-meditated manner. Rumours abounded. Even the AIR, in a bulletin, announced that Netaji was arrested near Dhanbad. This was, however, contradicted later by the Associated Press of India.

According to an article by Mian Akbar Shah, titled "Netaji's Escape - An Untold Chapter", Subhas Bose reached Peshawar Cantonment station on 19 January in the same disguise. He was received there by Akbar himself, and Mohammed Shah and Bhagat Ram, also members of the Forward Bloc. Netaji was first taken to a good Muslim hotel, recommended by their tongawallah, but was later shifted to the house of Abad Khan, a trusted friend of Shah's. From Khan's house, Netaji left in the company of Bhagat Ram, Mohammed Shah and a guide, on 26 January, to find his way to Europe through the tribal territory.

In April 1941, all the upcountry collaborators of Netaji were arrested under the Defence of India Rules and put in jail for several years. In Peshawar, Netaji was helped by these men immensely, and made to look like a perfect tribesman.

According to Dr Bose, for two years, the British administration had no clear idea about the episode in Calcutta. The Central Intelligence even took the Bengal CID to task, and replaced them by the Punjab CID, to deal with what they called the Bose File. The Bengal CID's credibility had nose-dived. According to Dr Bose, though some British diehards, till today, try to project that Netaji could escape because the Bengal CID's surveillance on him had laxed, and that he was a free man when he escaped, the fact remains that there was never a moment when the vigil was relaxed on Netaji. The British had agents inside the Bose house, and even used some of his relations for information. "The truth is, Netaji was tracked down even in foreign countries in the '30s. There were at least 12 agents watching him constantly and reporting to the Special Branch on his every activity- from what he ate to who visited him, when. But nobody could dream that Subhas Bose would escape. After all, his plan was to catch the opponent unaware", says Dr Bose." But there was betrayal at some point later, and the British came to know of our involvement," he adds. Dr Sisir Bose was finally arrested in October 1944, and sent to the notorious Lahore Fort before his release in September 1945. 

Netaji had, in fact, maintained his contact with Calcutta after his escape, and sent messages to his brother, Sarat Bose, through the Japanese consulate. But his meticulous escape plan and its execution became the greatest adventure in the Indian freedom movement, and perhaps the most serious bungle of the British Intelligence in India.

Contended Living!

"Nine requisites for contented living: 

Health enough to make work a pleasure. 

Wealth enough to support your needs. 

Strength to battle with difficulties and overcome them. 

Grace enough to confess your sins and forsake them. 

Patience enough to toil until some good is accomplished. 

Charity enough to see some good in your neighbor. 

Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others. 

Faith enough to make real the things of God. 

Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future." 

— Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A Monk Who Didn’t Care for Ferrari

Prologue: I read this at alumniconnect.wordpress.com. I posted it here lest I forget it. This is a blog I would to read again and again. Truly inspiring!

With CPI of almost 10 in B.Tech. at IITK, he could have had any job or admission to any university. He declined all offers of job, admission, or scholarship to pursue one goal – Service to Society.

With 2nd All India Rank in JEE and his almost 10 CPI in BTech (he got only one “B”

grade), he could have had anything that he wanted. He was all set to make a materialistically enriching life, which millions aspire. With three sisters, he is the only son of his parents, and the entire family along with many of his batch mates, begged him to study abroad. A batch mate on a blog wrote, “I occasionallymocked his convictions and told his parents that he would eventually succumbto the lure of dollars, just like several of his batch mates.” But, he couldn’t be deterred from his single-minded pursuit of serving humanity. He would explain, “Just like Silicon Valley, social sectors too desperately need intelligent people.” He declined all offers of admissions and scholarships from prestigious universities and continued his Ph.D. at IITK. His goal: Service to Society

After his B.Tech and Ph.D. from IITK some 25 years ago, Dr. Ramesh Misra, now Swami Ramananda or popularly known as Ramesh Maharaj, teaches at the Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda University at Belur Math [Name of the alumnus has been changed at his request]. Unmarried, he has dedicated his entire life towards a social cause – education for the masses. He continues to positively impact the lives of the poorest of the poor. Recently, he helped save the life of 12-year-old Sarita, who developed a hole in her heart. Ramesh helped raise funds for her operation. Though many were doubtful of meeting the goal of raising Rs. 3Lakhs, Sarita was back home after a successful surgery, making his IITK classmate and next door neighbor in the hostel, put his faith in Ramesh’s words that , “there are a lot of good people in the world, we just need to reach out to them.”

IITK Days

As a student at IITK, through Vivekananda Samiti, he taught several of the mess workers’ children, besides other poor employees. He also stood for the cause of mess workers for their rights which irked the administration that wanted to take disciplinary action against him. However, the support for Ramesh from Computer Science department was too much to take any action. It is believed that as a revenge for his actions he received the only B-grade of his student life in Sociology course, thus denying him a chance to win President’s Gold Medal. Once again in 1993 at IITK, a construction workers’ cooperative was fighting for the right of full minimum wages to workers and against the contractor system. Workers had decided to organize a fast since the administration was reluctant to take any action. A professor of Computer Science Department and Ramesh joined the fast in solidarity.

24 Karat Pure Gold

Ramesh is 24 Karat pure brilliant gold! This is how one of his batch mate and now an IPS Officer recollects, “In IIT Kanpur and later on in the police service as an IPS officer, I had the privilege of meeting many sharp and intelligent people. But no one ever came anywhere near the pure brilliance this unassuming and simple boy (this is the way I last saw him in 1989 when we graduated from Kanpur) had. To give an example, those of us from Engineering stream know what kind of problems in Physics by I.E. Iredov has. Very few of those who make it to the IIT and other Engineering colleges are able to solve more than 30-40% of these problems on their own without the guidebook. Ramesh could do them all at the time he entered IIT.”

Another batch mate wrote, “I consider myself lucky to have been Ramesh’s batch mate at IIT-Kanpur. Personally I have never met a more gifted person, intellectually and spiritually, in my life. He was able to produce outputs with minimum input and was able to solve problems from all the engineering disciplines (not just computer science). His approach to problem solving is very refreshing and he makes even difficult problems look absurdly simple. If he explains, everyone understands faster and better than what our professors could do.”

This is what one GSV, who was an MTech student when Ramesh was doing his PhD wrote, “Ramesh lived above my room at IITK. I was amazed by the flock of PhD students from all departments standing in line outside his room waiting to see him and solve their thesis problems. He would get up after a long sleep and when asked, he would answer that he was busy teaching and playing with children in the neighboring village previous night. What an outstanding selfless humble personality! Then some students would take him to the Hall 5 mess buy him food and meantime he would crack the students thesis problem (including Mech. Engg.). We all looked at him like a superhuman above every other living student at that time. I knew that time that he could get any job in any country that any other student would desire (including me) but he would not have got the satisfaction that he had right now. We will never understand the bliss and satisfaction that he has right now, because to understand we need to elevate ourselves to that level which is rare to happen. I am proud that a highly intelligent fellow Indian is using his skills to improve the quality of education and future of India’s children.”

Doing your Best is what Matters Most

 Ramesh never cared for any award or recognition. He did not get upset when he was denied President’s Gold Medal at IITK due to one B-grade in a course which everyone thought was due to no fault of his. He did not get up in arms when hisB.Tech project work became a paper in ACM journal (ACM is the highest research society for computer science the EE equivalent is IEEE) but the reviewer of the paper, a renowned professor in computational geometry in Canada, without any contribution to the paper added his name as the first author and his student’s as the third author, putting Ramesh’s name in the middle. Nor he complained when his project partner was showered with accolades for best project in which  Ramesh did all the work. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to the society at large, Ramesh was conferred with the Distinguished Alumnus Award by IITK and is among the top 50 most influential alumni.

Childlike Simplicity

 Ramesh’s father was GM at  Bhilai Steel Plant and mother a professor of Electrical Engineering. Ramesh grew up with three sisters – all engineers. Ramesh was not only clear of what he wanted to do in life; he wanted to do it in the most inexpensive way. This is how a classmate of Ramesh from NIT Raipur where Ramesh did his 1st year BE after 10+1 before joining IITK remembers him, “He had only two pairs ofpayjamas and kurta. With a cotton hand bag on the shoulder, he used to go to the slum behind our college to teach students. Her mother used to request us to persuade Ramesh to buy some pants and shirts or at least few more payjamas andkurtas. But he wouldn’t listen.” He remained austere at IITK as well. A batch mate from IITK wrote that he managed to pass four years with just a pair of white kurta-pyjama. His child like simplicity still continues. On one occasion, a fellow monk’s computer was having some problems and he knew that Ramesh Maharaj could fix it. He called Ramesh Maharaj.  Ramesh Maharaj replied that he was quite busy. The fellow monk then told that he will give him a bottle of Thumbs-Up if he comes. Ramesh Maharaj was excited like a child to hear that and quickly turned up. The computer got fixed but, he forgot to drink the Thumbs-Up. “Ramesh is like a kid” – he told.

Courage of Conviction

 Many of us wonder but one of his batch mates from IITK point blanked asked Ramesh, “Did you know what you have done? How on the earth could you abandon all that and take up a monastic life?” He laughed. Throughout our discussion he maintained that it was not a sudden decision. It just grew over him. At the end of my direct question, he told me, “You know, I did not make much of renunciation. It is actually you, who did it. I left lesser stuff for something better and you left the better things to dwell over the mundane matters. Now tell me, who actually renounced?”

“Ramesh’s story is beyond inspiration, recalls his IITK class-mate and next door neighbor in the hostel. When I look around at my batch-mates, many of whom head companies, I consider Ramesh the biggest success story of IIT. His story should be a catalyst for all those who want to bridge the social abyss created by market forces and government inaction.”

Another visitor after meeting Ramesh, reflecting during his journey back home wrote, “Looking outside the bus window I could not help but reflect that Ramesh Maharaj is a wonderful example of an indomitable spirit, undaunted courage of conviction and above all, loftiness of character.  In a world where much of our activity these days is nothing more than a cheap anesthetic to deaden the pain of an empty life, Ramesh Maharaj stands tall with his head held high. Ramesh’s example is a testimony that while there might not be anything wrong inherently, in pursuing our goals, whether materialistic or not, at least some of our life needs to be spent for the upliftment of others who might not be that well-endowed or fortunate. Perhaps it need not always be with money but maybe some of our time, or maybe partially if not in full measure, no matter how small or insignificant the effort might be. I am reminded of Rabindranath Tagore’s quote – Life is given to us, we earn it by giving a part of it to others. It leads me to conclude that the opposite of love isn’t hate. It’s apathy.