Missed You, Missing You, Will Always Miss You

Sometimes it feels surreal that I have been living without my father for seven long years. Not a day has passed when I haven't thought of him. On some days more so than others.
My father was a man of very good understanding, quick wit and warmth. He was creative, passionate, thoughtful and loving. He didn't care much for discipline but compensated for it by great enthusiasm. He was knowledgable in a lot of subjects like Politics, Religion, Philosophy, Cinema, Music, Current Affairs, Trivia etc. Towards his later days he spent more time learning Madhwa shastra through his huge books collection. He was always a voracious reader. He was always ready to learn new things and to teach what he knew. He would be at equal ease with children as also with grown ups. He was friendly and had a charming smile.

When I was a child my father was my hero. I hung on to his every word. As a teenager, I used to dismiss the advice he often gave me, like most people of that age do. Later in life when I needed his advice the most he wasn't there to give it. I sometimes close my eyes and strain to recall what he had said on certain occasions. Did he have any unfulfilled wishes? Is there anything I can do to fulfill them now? There are many thoughts I want to share with him, get his opinion, share a joke and laugh together with him.

Now whenever I see a thin, handsome, oldish man of above average height wearing spectacles, checked shirt and white dhoti I can't help but remember him.

Thought For The Day

"When I'm not doing something that comes deeply from me, I get bored. When I get bored I get distracted and when I get distracted, I become depressed. It's a natural resistance, and it insures your integrity."

Maria Irene Fornes

Don't Worry, Be Happy

Confession: I used to read self help books few years ago. Not the Dale Carnegie ones but Anthony Robbins, Deepak Chopra and Stephen Covey etc. I used to be very motivated soon after reading their books but that motivation didn't last long. Later I started learning about our ancient Indian texts like Mahabharat, Bhagavat etc. through discourses and I was struck by the profoundness of the wealth of knowledge of our land. Then on, these self-help motivational paperbacks appeared rather shallow and quick fix to me. I was very happy to find this article on the Internet that points out what's wrong with this genre of books that have been on the bestselling lists worldwide.

Gist of BG

I came across a very good gist of the Bhagvad Gita on the Internet. The following appears on the back cover of a book by Dr. S. G. Mudgal. It so aptly summarises the message of Gita.

The world, according to the BG is real and not illusory, nor an illusion. The jivas are real. Bondage and attainment of Moksa are also real. Jnana and Bhakti are inclusive; ultimately it is Bhakti which leads to Mukti. Grace of Guru and God are emphasized. Bhakti continues even in the state of Moksa.

The Gita does not advocate the doctrine of Karma Sanyasa; but advocates the performance of Karma as worship, as dedication and an offering to God. Work thus done with a sense of dedication or worship, is liberating and not binding.

Weekend Break From Mumbai

I have been doing some vacation research. Some place near Mumbai for a weekend break. I am looking for some quiet time with nature and it seems Matheran is perfect. I don't know if the place is as good is it's on the travel brochure but I like the idea of 'no motor vehicles allowed' in this place. Yes, it seems that no motor vehicles are allowed in the tiny hill station of Matheran which is near Karjat on the Mumbai Pune highway. That's peach and quiet! I can also fulfill my dream of riding a toy train too. I don't have to go all the way to Darjeeling or Simla.

Doctor

One of the things that annoys me is how some people are so in awe of 'doctors'. What is it with such people? I like to think that medicine is a profession like any other. Sure it's well paid and prestigious but sometimes too much importance is attached to it. There are people who think they are failures if they don't become a doctor and they carry this regret for the rest of their lives. I have seen this kind of obsession where those who have been unsuccessful in becoming a doctor have to push their child to become one. If both are unsuccessful at least find in laws who are doctors. Surely this 'doctor' obsession is not only in India but also in U.S. as I noticed in the 'Friends' sitcom.

The Media Loves Illnesses

The media loves illnesses. Especially the swine flu. Otherwise why would they show constantly the number of people down with this flu, number dead and predict how many would be affected by it. It looks to me like an election result in progress. It does little but create panic among people. I developed a sore throat few days ago and I think if I should get myself tested.

I received an email today that read that there's no need to panic by the H1N1 virus. Here is the details of the email.

These are few facts about swine flu when discussed with the leading epidemiologists.

1) Swine flu, that is H1N1 flu is not new, first detected in 1987

2) Infective stage of flue is 5 days, 1 day before and 4 days after onset of symptoms

3) The best way to prevent it spreading is asking patient having symptoms of flu like fever cough and running nose to take rest at home for 4 days so he does not transmit it

4) Masks are of limited value if any, in this disease, it can spread through droplets on your skin, through contact etc, and I have seen that the masks in Pune are worn as fashion statement, while walking on road today morning I saw people wearing masks coming out for a morning walk with their dogs!, many wearing masks around their necks, and so on, infact these masks shall act as the vehicles to carry the virus, instead, avoiding crowded places or cinema halls or malls where airconditioners are on, is advisable, because you get recirculated air, where the virus density multiplies

5) Death after H1N1 flu is not common, infact infections like measles is taking toll of thousands more every year, and we are oblivious of the facts. Swine flu is being blown out of proportion by media trying to create hysteria among lay people.

6) Fever accompanied by respiratory distress, should be immediately notified which is likely to be a complication of H1N1 flu

7) The mortality is less than .01 percent of those affected, that means may be one in 10,000 affected is likely to suffer the life loss.

8) If you remember, 2 years ago SARS was blown out of proportion, what happened? Humans develop immunity to the virus, the same is going to happen, we develop immunity in due course of time, the virus is in the air, you can not stop it, our body is already developing the immunity so nothing to panic.

We need to take care of children and elderly who have less immunity and do not let them go to crowded places that is all .

Thought For The Day

"As a scientist, I am not sure anymore that life can be reduced to a class struggle, to dialectical materialism, or any set of formulas. Life is spontaneous and it is unpredictable, it is magical. I think that we have struggled so hard with the tangible that we have forgotten the intangible."

Diane Frolov and Andrew Schneider