The Power of Hope.

It is customary to reflect what all has happened in our personal lives, individually and to our family members during the year- 2007- that is just coming to an end. This reflection stirs up many of our emotions, some of which have a cascading effect in our outlook and attitude. Yet, it has been a proven maxim that to sail in life smoothly and happily “One needs to develop a positive attitude”. We all indulge in this exercise every year around this time and some of us resolve to do better in the next year. Thus, we begin afresh our life of HOPE.

The problems in life are transitory in nature, for they keep coming at you as per your perception and mind set. Problems that weigh you down are best tackled with a positive frame of mind and left aside without pondering too much on them. Those events which have brought joy and happiness may be allowed to linger on for a while, before they get lodged into a corner of your memory.

I am in the habit of maintaining a personal diary for years, which habit I imbibed from my father. I keep rummaging through those diaries occasionally if not often. They certainly invigorate me most of the time, though some of the events I recorded sadden me, but do not depress me. In hind sight, sometimes I feel they should not have been put in print. But, then that would reflect only a part of me.

I recorded my medical history very briefly. Reading this along side my diaries surprised me how a state of feeling- “HOPE” keeps you going ahead, and how powerful it is.

We all hope for the best in all our endeavours, and wish the same to all those who come into our life. We do say that hope is life and life is hope.

As we grow old, we better be aware that we take a reverse path of growth- in mind and in body. The path becomes more painful if you are carrying an illness, and most of us would carry.

Yet, if you develop a hopeful feeling that would be excellent which would prove to be the king of all medicines. I bet on this. This is the Power of Hope.

How do you develop this?

Study the problem, analyse it threadbare, and get aware of it. Consider this as a problem thrown into your lap by nature, through one of those mysterious ways of god. The first step to tackle the problem is not to think too much about it, but kindle your hope steadily, and strengthen it. Put your mind into those activities which takes you away from the depressive moods, and slowly cultivate them as a regular habit. Your HOPE gets built slowly, becomes your partner in progress, and turns into a powerful force.

This way you lay a hopeful path.

I Wish each and everyone- Known OR Unknown to me- a Happy and hopeful year of 2008.

A wishful list of Hopefuls:

I hope:

1. The Schengen zone example is followed in countries across the world, where there is a possibility. In the years to come, the zone would have 24 countries that include many from Eastern Europe. A scenario unthinkable a decade ago.
2. Belgium Does not break. Flanders and the Walloons patch up their simple differences.
3. The Kosovo issue is resolved.
4. The Americans elect a Leader sensibly, and not carried away by rhetoric’s.
5. Whoever becomes the US President, resolves domestic issues, and evolves a new foreign policy.
6. The countries in the Middle-East Region think in terms of economic prosperity for their people instead of indulging in sectarian violence.
7. Pakistan elects a leader, who has a vision to put the country on a path to progress.
8. The terrorists all over the world lose their physical and mental senses, and die a mysterious death.
9. The leaders in India develop character worthy of emulation.
10. The Asian continent grows spiritually, and sets a trend for tolerance and peace.
11. I get back to my feet from my wheel Chair, if the above happens.
12. And finally, with the blessings and grace of god, the power of hope works.

Tailpiece: In me Senator Barack Obama has an admirer, outside of USA. If he believes in ‘The Audacity of Hope’, I believe in ‘The Power of Hope’. Why not you too?

A Heinous Crime.

The assassination of Ms. Benazir Bhutto is an extremely wicked crime. Al Queda has claimed responsibility for the assassination, and goes on to declare that it did the act, as she was a precious asset of America!

What rubbish talk? The organization has no shame. The fundamentalists who continue to support these terrorists would eventually have to pay a price for it.

It is time that Moslems all over the world introspect, and come out openly to condemn these acts of terrorism.

The military rulers in Pakistan, who have been in control of that country, have never won a battle even as a military unit, which they can be proud of. They are a disgrace to their own country. They have been training terrorists, nurturing them, telling the outside world a pack of lies, betraying the trust of other countries. They misappropriated billions of dollars, and sadly there is no account for it. It has to be written off.

Ms.Benazir Bhutto’s assassination is going to have an impact on the type of governance that nation is going to choose in the long term. The people have been left in the lurch by these power mongers, and it is time the world help them to choose their own leader in a peaceful atmosphere.

Peace loving Indians feel very sad at the turn of events, in Pakistan, although something of this nature was in the air. She escaped an earlier attempt.

We all feel close to the Pakistani people, as they speak a language known to all of us, and continue to feel disgusted at the intransigent attitude of some of their leaders. The one thing that is lacking is a “MUTUAL TRUST”

As a first step, Musharraf should reinstate the dismissed judiciary; invite the existing political leaders of all parties, evolve a consensus decision to put the country on a course of prosperity. After the meeting, he should depart from the scene, and live in exile. The army should get back to barracks. That is their place.

As an ordinary person, what more do I expect?

Intellectual Slavery.

Whenever a State minister or Central minister of our country, come to address a meeting or inaugurate a function at an educational institute (An example), I see plethora of officials connected with the institute accompanying him/her vying with each other to be as close as possible to the minister, with folded hands trying to explain a point here and a point there. These scenes we see regularly being shown on TV, and published as a photo feature in the national newspapers.

The body language of these officials irritates me. They reflect an attitude of Servility. These officials go overboard, and reply to the queries of the ministers in a slavish manner, repeatedly uttering - ‘Yes Sir’. This is again annoying.

The leaders want this attention, and should they feel absent of it, they express their annoyance in no uncertain terms. Sometimes, the head of the institute is pulled up for not extending ‘due’ courtesies to an elected representative!

It is a pity that this culture is so ingrained in this country that a powerful intellectual lobby that is capable of influencing a public issue is wanting.

There are ever so many associations representing their interests, but always seem to work at cross roads, thus proving ineffective finally, and invariably end up as an affiliate of a political party.

The attitudes set by the political leaders, have percolated in all public and private institutes, be it an academic institute, a corporate or even a small school. This, I feel is the cause of Intellectual slavery. I mean this servile attitude.

I am not saying that the leaders should not be shown respect, but they can always be addressed with courtesy, politeness and uprightness.

They say, the pillars of democracy are the legislature, the judiciary, the bureaucracy, and the media. The legislature is instrumental in framing rules and regulations for governance and by their position enjoy enormous power. This power corrupts their mind and body. They misuse their power vested in them. They treat those officials who do not tow their line of thinking, with scant respect, and very often chastise them in public.

The officials, who are well educated, are by and large selfish; seek favours from these leaders for personal gains.

Those intellectuals who are upright, have belief in certain values and have a code of ethics are side-lined.

So, in every pillar of democracy, we have officials, calling themselves intellectuals adopting a servile attitude, thus causing damage and reputation to good and fair governance.

This phenomenon is not confined to India alone. I see this pattern in almost all the countries that are in the news for wrong reasons.

This intellectual slavery could be a cause for lack of visionary leaders growing into statesmen the world would respect.

Global Surveys

I have been reading with great interest, the blogs written by many in the statesmanblogs, on many issues. I do say that they have enhanced my perception of issues of importance, and enriched my knowledge. Some of the comments to blogs have been on a personal level, which I genuinely felt ought to be avoided. This is for the simple reason that the writers have an absolute right to their views as they see and perceive to the best of their knowledge.

When I was in Austin during the first three months of this year, I watched many of the PBS programmes on TV, and came to know about the United States-based PEW Foundation. On my request they sent few brochures of their Organisation, through which I came to know the wonderful work they are doing.

Through their global surveys, they seek worldwide public opinion on many issues - political, social, and economic - and publish their findings. It’s a source of knowledge and awareness of issues.

I would strongly recommend many of my gentleman blog writers, friends and others to visit the website (http://pewglobal.org/) to enhance their thinking further.

Now, the survey findings reflect the opinions of global public as a group. Many of us, being individuals and not part of the survey, may differ with the findings. That is fine. But what matters is that they churn your thoughts further, and provide you a basis to form a better opinion and understanding of the subject and the particular issue.

THE HINDU, one of India’s national newspapers carried an article - “India in the world: how we see ourselves” written by Meera Nanda, in its edition dated December 11, 2007. The writer has summarized some findings of the Survey conducted by Pew Foundation for its 2007 Global Attitudes Survey. The writer has highlighted the Indian perception. I read the article with much interest.

Being an Indian, I sometimes find very difficult to assess a fellow Indian’s mind. This is because our actions do not always match our thinking. It could be true in my case too! But that is for others to judge! Many a time we contradict ourselves. This is no doubt unfortunate, but that is the way human nature sometimes is. It is certainly complex.

A parting word - Comment certainly, but do not hurt the feelings. One can be articulate, in speech and in writing. Yet, views can be communicated strongly.

There is a proverb in my native language - TELUGU. Translated, it says “A person, who gets along in life, without hurting himself, and without hurting others, is a wise and contended man.”