Feel the goodness of life

I was traveling in my car alone last week and I was hardly few kilometers away from my house, that one of my car front wheels got punctured. I was forced to stop on the roadside.

I do not know how to change the tyre using the Jockey. I made a call to the service station and they said that the service vehicle was away and it will take more than an hour to attend the problem. While I was waiting one of my neighbor crossed by and he stopped and said that he will inform any vulcanizing shop near by. He again phoned me and said that he has informed and they will be there soon. I phoned the service station and said that I got help near by and there is no need for them to come.

While I was waiting a guy came by bicycle and I thought he was coming from the Vulcanizing shop.

He stopped and said me “ Sir, I saw your car parked when I went this way and I am seeing it again while I am coming back. What’s the problem with the Car

I replied “the front wheel got Punctured”

He asked “ do you have a spare one and Jockey in your car”

I said “Yes, but I don’t know how to change the tyre”

He said “I will help you”

Saying this he took the spare wheel and jockey from the car. He looked below the car to place the Jockey and got confused, since he has not changed wheel for a Maruthi 800. He said to me that he used to change Tata Sumo’s wheel. While he was struggling another guy came in a motor cycle and stopped and asked what’s the problem. This guy said about the problem of placing the Jockey. The other guy got from the motor cycle and placed the jockey in a particular place and lifted. Then he proceeded on his way

I asked “ Whether the guy in motor cycle was known to you”

He said “No” and started changing the wheel.

When I enquired about him he said He is Mr.Kasirajan and doing fish culture in the nearby Village called Milakarani. He said he is just 19 years old and his dad is doing real estate. His dads friend gave him the idea of doing fish culture. He got Rs 5 lakhs from his dad, leased three acres of land and in one acre he is ding fish culture with technical guidance from his Dads friend. His outfits were very simple he was just wearing a Lungi and a shirt. It was hot sun (12.00 noon) and he lied in road and did the wheel change.

When everything was over, I asked him whether he needs any money, but he refused. He asked me for water. Unfortunately I didn’t have any water bottle in my car. So I asked him whether he prefers to have a tea and he agreed. We went to a nearby shop where we drank Fanta, instead of Tea. He also bought a Cigarette ( I don’t smoke).

While in the shop I got his contact number and thanked him for the timely help.

On 18.02.2011, almost after a fortnight I called him by 6 pm and spoke with him. He got surprised and he asked me to come to his farm, to fetch some fish, as they are right now fishing and the fishes will be transported by 10 pm. I said “I will come some other day”.

I am planning to visit it farm soon, may be this Sunday.

Well, the help came to me in unexpected form. There is still some goodness prevailing in this world.

Moral of the Incident

1.    Learn to do small works by yourself while traveling in Car. Otherwise you will get stranded.

2.    God helps you in unexpected form, during troubles.

3.    There is still goodness prevailing in this world

4.    Don’t judge a person by his looks

5.    Money cannot buy help and support when you are stranded. 

    

QUOTES OF PAULO COELHO-1

• 
  
  I reproduce here some quotes of Paulo Coelho. More to follow   
  
  
  
  
  ·        And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it."
                                                                                                              
  ·        "It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting."
   
  ·        "One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving."
  
  
  ·        "So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you."
  
  
  ·        "There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure."
  
  
  ·        Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own
  
  
  ·        "The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and to get up eight times
  
  
  ·        Why do we have to listen to our hearts?" the boy asked.
  "Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you will find your treasure."
  
  
  ·        "I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now."
   
  
  
  ·        "You must be the person you have never had the courage to be. Gradually, you will discover that you are that person, but until you can see this clearly, you must pretend and invent."
  
  
  ·        "Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life."
  
  
  
  
  ·        "Try to find pleasure in the speed that you're not used to. Changing the way you do routine things allows a new person to grow inside of you. But when all is said and done, you're the one who must decide how you handle it."
  
  
  
  
  ·        "It was the pure Language of the World. It required no explanation, just as the universe needs none as it travels through endless time. What the boy felt at that moment was that he was in the presence of the only woman in his life, and that, with no need for words, she recognized the same thing. He was more certain of it than of anything in the world. He had been told by his parents and grandparents that he must fall in love and really know a person before becoming committed. But maybe people who felt that way had never learned the universal language. Because, when you know that language, it's easy to understand that someone in the world awaits you, whether it's in the middle of the desert or in some great city. And when two such people encounter each other, and their eyes meet, the past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written by one hand only. It is the hand that evokes love, and creates a twin soul for every person in the world. Without such love, one's dreams would have no meaning."
  
  
  ·        "If you start by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work towards getting it."
  
  
  ·        "Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity."
  
  
  ·        "The simple things are also the most extraordinary things, and only the wise can see them."
  
  
  
  
  ·        "If I am really a part of your dream, you'll come back one day."
  
  
  ·        "This is what we call love. When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you."
   
  ·        "If someone isn't what others want them to be, the others become angry. Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own."
  
  
  ·        "We pretend to be strong because we are weak."
  
  
  ·        "It's not what enters men's mouth that is evil," said the alchemist. It's what comes out of their mouths that is."
  
  
  
  
  ·        "If you want to control someone, all you have to do is to make them feel afraid."
  
  
  "No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it." 

Like The Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

Like The Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

I am a member of Madurai Readers club and I got an opportunity to do a book review on Like the flowing river by Paulo Coelho on 20^th Feb,2011.

When I shared with one of my friends, that I am going to do a book review, she forwarded me a literature review done on his famous work “The Alchemist” by a critic. The critic was very harsh and blamed that Paulo Coelho drew the inspiration for “The Alchemist” from the book “ One hundred years of Solitude By Gabriel Garcia  Marquez ( did I spell him right) and the book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Such criticisms are not uncommon to people who grow up in the ladder of success on a short span of time. There may be truth in what the critic says. However what I like more about Paulo Coelho is his narrative style which stays more close to our heart.

Coming to the book review on Like the Flowing river, I share now with the readers few articles that were of interest to me in the book. Like the flowing river is a collection of 102 articles in 227 pages published by Harper Collins and cost Rs295/ in Indian rupees. Each article run for just one to 3 pages and not more than that. It’s a collection of articles published in various newspapers around the world, based on author’s personal experience and stories he heard. Filled with values from Hinduism, Christianity, Buddhism and Islam the book is a real delight to read. I used to complete any book that I found interesting in two to three days and this is one such book (I have many unread books in my book shelf)

Paulo Coelho under the title “Prepared to battle with few doubts “pens his thoughts which came up while weeding his garden. A weed is an unwanted plant which finds a place by itself to live. Coelho says that every living thing in this world has the right to live and who am I to kill those weeds. On the other hand if the weeds are not killed, they will out grow the garden plants. Finally, the advice of Krishna to Arjuna in Bhagawat Gita, came to his rescue. Krishna says to Arjuna “Do you think that you can kill anyone? It is not you who actually kills and it is me who guides you into this. No one can kill anyone.

Paulo Coelho continues weeding without any hesitation.

There is an article comparing our actions with that of an ordinary pencil. Like a hand that guides the pencil, God guides all our actions, like sharpening the pencil, the problems and sufferings sharpens us to become a better person, we should “erase” our mistakes, the inner graphite (soul) is more important than the outside body and we should leave a mark of our life  in this world. Good comparison.

Then there is a story of Genghis Khan, the Moghal emperor and his Falcon, whom the emperor killed out of rage, only to realize later that, the Falcon only tried to save his life. He makes a replica of the Falcon in gold and engraves in its wings that “Your friend will remain as your friend, even when he does harms to you” and “any action done out of rage and anger, is bound to cause destruction”

When he talks about books and libraries he says that he hardly maintain a collection of 400 books and gives the rest to others. Only the books which he has some sentimental attachment and those which he refers frequently, find a place in his book shelf. Even dresses, he have only a few, that too most of them in black color to avoid confusion “What to wear while going out?”

Then there are three articles about Manuel, the common man. While we read we can see ourselves in him.

He narrates a lovely incident that happened during his travel in flight from New York to Chicago, where a youth requested the fellow passengers to volunteer themselves (12 of them) for a noble purpose. Read and find what it is.

The real story of a dead man wearing Pyjama’s  says the plight of dying like a orphan.

Imagine the ashes of a dead women traveling to 141 different places, the offerings and prayers done for her by unknown people. The woman, who had the wish to travel different places when alive, made a will so that at least her wish be fulfilled after death.

How to climb a mountain? - is about setting a goal for ourselves and moving ahead with steps that required for climbing a mountain. Again, this is a wonderful comparison.

Looking into other Garden says that we should plant our own Garden of life and not others.

 

The story of cloud and sand dune, his letter to President Bush on waging war against Iraq, the song he wrote once, returning to him in a wonderful way etc also were good to read.

There is much more to those who seek a good living.

I have used my own words to describe what Paulo Coelho has written. His writing will be more lively and more close to heart.  

 Happy Reading.

      

Few Poems I liked-1

Where The Mind is Without Fear

WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high

Where knowledge is free

Where the world has not been broken up into fragments

By narrow domestic walls

Where words come out from the depth of truth

Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection

Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way

Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit

Where the mind is led forward by thee

Into ever-widening thought and action

Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake.

                                                                                      Rabindranath Tagore

Memory

MY mind lets go a thousand things,

Like dates of wars and deaths of kings,

And yet recalls the very hour--

'Twas noon by yonder village tower,

And on the last blue noon in May--

The wind came briskly up this way,

Crisping the brook beside the road;

Then, pausing here, set down its load

Of pine-scents, and shook listlessly

Two petals from that wild-rose tree.

                                                                              Thomas Bailey Aldrich

Waiting

SERENE, I fold my hands and wait,

Nor care for wind, nor tide, nor sea;

I rave no more 'gainst time or fate,

For lo! my own shall come to me.

I stay my haste, I make delays,

For what avails this eager pace?

I stand amid the eternal ways,

And what is mine shall know my face.

Asleep, awake, by night or day,

The friends I seek are seeking me;

No wind can drive my bark astray,

Nor change the tide of destiny.

What matter if I stand alone?

I wait with joy the coming years;

My heart shall reap where it hath sown,

And garner up its fruit of tears.

The waters know their own and draw

The brook that springs in yonder height;

So flows the good with equal law

Unto the soul of pure delight.

The stars come nightly to the sky;

The tidal wave unto the sea;

Nor time, nor space, nor deep, nor high,

Can keep my own away from me.

                                                                                  John Burroughs

Lest I Learn

Lest I learn, with clearer sight,

Such beauty cannot be --

Tie a bandage, pull it tight,

Blind me, I would not see!

Lest I learn, with clearer will,

Such a wonder cannot be --

Oh, kiss me nearer, nearer still,

And make a fool of me!

                                                                  Witter Bynner

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods

THERE is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

            There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is society, where none intrudes,

By the deep sea, and music in its roar:

I love not man the less, but Nature more,

From these our interviews, in which I steal

From all I may be, or have been before,

To mingle with the Universe, and feel

What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

                                                                   

                                                               Lord Byron, (George Gordon)

He Who Ascends to Mountain-Tops

HE who ascends to mountain-tops shall find

The loftiest peaks most wrapt in clouds and snow;

He who surpasses or subdues mankind,

Must look down on the hate of those below.

Though high above the sun of glory glow,

And far beneath the earth and ocean spread,

Round him are icy rocks, and loudly blow

Contending tempests on his naked head.

And thus rewards the toils which to those summits led.

                                        

                                                         Lord Byron, (George Gordon)

On the World

THE world's an Inn; and I her guest.

I eat; I drink; I take my rest.

My hostess, nature, does deny me

Nothing, wherewith she can supply me;

Where, having stayed a while, I pay

Her lavish bills, and go my way.

                                                                        Francis Quarles

A Little Song of Life

GLAD that I live am I;

That the sky is blue;

Glad for the country lanes,

And the fall of dew.

After the sun the rain;

After the rain the sun;

This is the way of life,

Till the work be done.

All that we need to do,

Be we low or high,

Is to see that we grow

Nearer the sky.

                                                          Lizette Woodworth Reese

 

The Baby

WHERE did you come from baby dear?

Out of the everywhere into here.

Where did you get those eyes so blue?

Out of the sky as I came through.

What makes the light in them sparkle and spin?

Some of the starry spikes left in.

Where did you get that little tear?

I found it waiting when I got here.

What makes your forehead so smooth and high?

A soft hand stroked it as I went by.

What makes your cheek like a warm white rose?

I saw something better than any one knows.

Whence that three-cornered smile of bliss?

Three angels gave me at once a kiss.

Where did you get this pearly ear?

God spoke, and it came out to hear.

Where did you get those arms and hands?

Love made itself into bonds and bands.

Feet, whence did you come, you darling things?

From the same box as the cherub's wings.

How did they all just come to be you?

God thought about me, and so I grew.

But how did you come to us, you dear?

God thought about you, and so I am here.

                                                                                        George Macdonald

Different

How are we so "different"?
If "different" is just a thing.
If we all have certain features,
What does "different" bring?

People filled with hatred,
Can't possibly see,
That there's not really "differences"
Between you and me.

Looks can't show "difference",
If they're just there to be seen.
If you don't look like someone else,
Why are they so mean?

If being "different" is what is wrong,
I'd rather not be right.
And I'd want to finish living,
Doing the "different" fight.

by Vincen Tabatha

Just Being Me

The life I seek must be fast
The speed of life makes me laugh!
Death's just around the corner for
a Queer like me!
Well so they say all of them Freaks.
Homophobia I really do detest
What I am is what I do best!
Like if you want, Answer! This ain't no test
If you like me, "Great," then we're friends
If you hate me don't make me get upset!
I'm just a Dike whom nobody Straight likes
Well forget you all, cause we love each other
my Baby and I!
You don't have to shake my hand,
I'm not asking you to stare.

If you don't like what you see,
then get the Hell out of here!

I am what I am, So please understand
Even if you don't "Who really gives a damn?"

                                                                                                                by Elsa Nora

Poison

                                                                                                          

                                                                                                           by Melissa Roberts

Words that need to be spoken should not accumulate inside.

The hurt, pain or jealousy a person feels can not hide.

Sorrow and anger can be and will be suppressed.

But this only leads to a person feeling depressed.

Anger is a deadly toxin in which the body it flows.

When it takes over limb by limb, everyone knows.

The body - The mind controls and manipulates.

As the poison enters the veins and circulates.

When the poison reaches the heart it's too late.

Disastrous emotions take over such as revenge and hate.

The antidote to cure these emotions, is not so hard to find.

We must search to learn to control our spirited bodies and minds

AIDS

by Judy Burnette

AIDS was always just a word
yet now it bears your name;
But it has not changed how I feel
I love you just the same.

We should never judge another
with thoughtless words or deeds;
For we all have within us
wounds that have made us bleed.

So you have an illness
none of us quite understand;
It doesn't make you less a person
nor less a man.

You are still that same sweet person
that I have always known;
No matter the distance between us
in my heart you will always have a home

My Heart Believes In You

                                                                                        by Stewart Bradshaw

I kept my head up high,
and then you came my way.
I have been hurt so many times.
My heart filled with so much pain.
but now that pain has gone away.
For I have found a place I want to be.
This place I see is with thee.
For in your arms I have felt and seen,
a wonderful feeling that I cannot believe.
A safe haven in your arms just for me.
Now I give my heart to thee.
For my heart believes in you.

Nothing to lose

http://gita-blog.blogspot.com/2008/08/nothing-is-yours.html

Reposted by Layman

Once there was a rich man named "Richie". He was so rich that he had a big walled house. In that house there were big gardens in which all types of fruit laden trees were there. It was having it's own golf course inside the walled house premises. There was an area in which 12 number of cars were parked. Among these cars, 3 cars were of vintage era. Remaining 9 were of modern era, used by two of his young sons & by his one teen daughter. His wife too was a simple homely lady caring for all the family members. Sons were fond of horses too, so they had a stud farm nearby their car parking within the walled house only.

This walled covering of the house was having 4 entrance gates - each in one direction, east, west, north & south. All the gates were manned by 3 security guards, 3 each on one gate. In this vast area they had a palatial palace like living area in which there were 18 big rooms in which whole family used to live happily. There were servant quarters in which 21servants used to live, in which were cooks, drivers & others who used to look after this family.

"Richie" was very happy with his family as all his children were very loving & used to care about him very much. So was his wife, simple, caring & devoted to her family. "Richie" was enjoying the bliss of life, rather happy family life.

One day "Richie" was roaming alone in one of his garden & there was nobody other than him over there. Yes, there were birds chirping in the garden & it was giving a pleasant sound to his ears. He was enjoying the casual stroll in the garden, just by himself. Just while when he was staring at a beautiful small bird on the branch of a palm tree, he was stunned to see a dark bluish-black person of heavy built in front of him. He was wearing strange type of clothing & was fully laden with gold ornaments. He had a golden heavy crown too on his forehead. "Richie" was really filled with fear seeing that person in his garden. He was wondering how come this dark bluish-black person came inside his house when there were so many guards keeping vigil of the whole area at the entrance gates. At last "Richie" came to his natural self & asked that person.

"Richie" : Who are you?

The stranger replied, I am "Kaal".

"Richie" : Who "Kaal"? This is a strange name, I have never heard of this name.

"Kaal" : Meaning of my name is "Time". Kaal & Time are one & the same thing. People call me Time also.

"Richie" : "Kaal", "Time"................ I am not able to understand anything. How come you are able to enter my house? Who allowed you to enter inside my house?

"Kaal" : Your house!!!!!!!........."Kaal" laughs..........who said it's your house!!!!!!!!!!

"Richie" : Yes, of course, this is my house. This whole vast property is registered in my name, you can check with local city office too............all this property is mine, I am the owner of whole of this property.

"Kaal" : Ha, ha ha.................it is really amusing that you say that all this belongs to you. In fact, it does not belong to you.

"Richie" : What the hell are you talking?

"Kaal" : Yes, I am telling you the truth............this property & all these cars etc. are not yours.

"Richie" : This time you have really become mad that you are talking this nonsense to me.

(Richie calls his wife, sons & daughter.......all come nearby him & all are frightened to see this dark bluish-black person inside their premises)

"Richie" to "Kaal" : See, here are my sons, daughter & my wife. All are witness to that I am the owner of this vast property.

"Kaal......Again laughing..............Ha, ha ha.......these people are not your sons, daughter & your wife.........so how come they become witness to that you are the owner of this vast property.

"Richie" : This time you have really, really become mad.

**A great argument ensues between the two & Richie becomes too angry & calls his security guards. No one seems to be responding to his calls. Richie's voice gets louder & louder but no one among his guards seems to be responding. His face becomes too red with anger, he is shouting & screaming. During all this, he gets a severe pain in his heart & fells down on the ground. All his sons, daughter & wife rush to him but........it's unfortunate.........he is not breathing, his pulse has stopped & he is lying dead on the floor.

Richie's soul has left the body & is standing just near his body. "Kaal / Time" is still there in the garden. "Kaal" has all the powers to talk to the souls as He is the "Almighty Time", God himself.

"Kaal to Richie's soul" : Yes, "Richie", now tell me, who are you?

"Richie's soul" : How come have I come out of this body & why this body of mine is lying on the floor?

"Kaal" : You are dead & you have left this body, that's why you are seeing yourself as separate than this body.

"Richie's soul" : I am not able to touch my near & dear one's, not able to talk to them anymore.

"Kaal" : Yes, once dead, you can't do all this, as all these activities can be done with your physical body only & that is dead now. Now all these relations ceases for you. All this ownership of property was only while you were in that physical body, in which everyone used to recognize you. Living human beings cannot see the souls. For them you are dead & does not exist anymore. Now tell me, are you still owner of all this vast property.

"Richie's soul" : No, now when I do not belong to this physical form & physical world, how can all this be mine. When I can't communicate with anyone in this physical world, then how can I own anything of this world. Man falsely believes while living in his physical body that all this property etc. is his own.

"Kaal" : What about your sons, daughter & wife? Do you still feel the same about them?

"Richie's soul" : Yes, my love for them is same, but as I am not able to communicate with them, I am feeling different. I am also seeing that they have considered my body to be myself & as my body is lying dead on the floor, so they are feeling that I am really dead. Yes, all relatives are yours only once you are in the physical body. At the death of the physical body they too believe that their relative is dead & so dead is their relation with him.

Kaal" : Yes, you are absolutely right, Nothing of this World is Yours, neither property, nor relatives. All these seem to be yours, only once you are in this physical body. Once you (human soul) leave this physical body...................."Nothing is Yours".
***ABOUT KAAL: As per Bhagwat Gita, God declares in "Chapter Eleven verse 32" that He himself is Kaal (Time), the destroyer of the world. Purpose of Kaal (Time) is to destroy all people except his devotees. Below is Verse 32 of Chapter Eleven of "Bhagwat Gita" explaining "Kaal" :

"sri-bhagavan uvacha:
kalo ’asmi loka-ksaya-krt pravrddho
lokan samahartum iha pravrttah
rte ’pi tvam na bhavisyanti sarve
ye ’vasthitah pratyanikesu yodhah" (Bhagwat Gita: Chapter Eleven verse 32)

"Sri Krishna said: I am the inflamed Kaal (Time), the great destroyer of the worlds. My purpose here is to destroy all these people. With the exception of you [the Pandavas - his devotees], all the soldiers here on both sides will be slain."

Labels: Almighty, Bhagwad Gita, Bhagwat Gita, Body, Chapter 11, Chapter Eleven, Death, devotees, Gita, God, Hindu, Kaal, Krishna, Lord, Lord Krishna, soul, story, Time

MEDIA AND KIDS

There is a famous school in Madurai which charges Rs35000/ for admission to Pre KG. The school is believed by outsiders for its discipline and coaching. Kids of higher income group, only gets admission into this school. The  teachers there were warned frequently by their Management, not to beat the Kids  but just warn them for their misdeeds. The management also used to say that, if any such incident happens and a problem occurs, the management will not come for rescue and the teachers has to see their way out of the problem. The management also advices the teachers to keep their hands behind while scolding the children.

It happened one day that one of the Kids in the K.G class came to the teacher and Said “ Mam, Tharun ( name changed) is Planning to Kill you Man”. The teacher got shocked and enquired what happened. The teacher had just then scolded Tharan for some misbehaviour in the class. Annoyed by this the boy got angry. It seems that he called his fellow collegues and said that “ Let us tie our Mam and cut her into pieces with Knife”. Then we can all run away and escape.

How could such extreme violence come into the heart of 5 year old kid?  Who is responsible for this? His parents, the society, the media, or any other factor? The media and the society has to take the blame. The media continuously broadcasted the killing of a Kid by Mr.Poovarasi, who was cheated by the kids dad. Similar such happenings are telecasted repeatedly? Another kid – a girl child has asked her friend “ What dress your mom and Dad wore for Valentines day?”

Kids today are very sharp. They are exposed to hall the happenings in the society through the media. My kid who is also just 6 years old replied to me when I was just speaking about A.Raja’s arrest and that why no action was taken against Karunanidhi? She replied “ You know why Dad? That’s because he is a Minister. Poor girl doen’t know that Raja too was a Minister. But how come she came to Know that Ministers where beyond Justice in India? Yet another day my kid gave me a explanation about what the symbol “heart’ means. She said that “ two hearts are restless” in love. When I asked how do you know she replied that “ I saw that in a cartoon.

So be careful with your Kids. Guide them properly. Have a watch on the programs they see in Television. Never watch violent movies or grave murders that's shown in news, in their presence, Better you switch off the TV or block the  channels that may harm your Childs psyche. 

Todays Kids know terminologies like Pen drive, face book, CD, DVD, mobile phone, SMS, email etc etc which came to existances only in last two decades. But they do not know about the native culture, traditional foods and traditional games. Also they are turning more selfish, by seeing the persons around them. They start feeling jealous even at the age of five and express that openly. My girl once said “ My classmate is beautiful than me, but I did not feel jealous about her” which indirectly says that she is jealous.

Frankly I  spend lot of time with her, tell her good moral stories and fairy tales almost everyday. She is fond of listening to stories. She once conducted a quiz program of her own ( inspired by a TV show)

1.    How many wives my grand pa has

a.    One

b.    Two

c.     Three

2.    What color is the hair in grand pa’s head

a.    Black

b.    White

c.     He is bald

These are two sample questions she asked me. The other questions were less interesting or with less hum our than the above

Well. The teacher in that school said to her colleagues “ This Kids are planning to Kill me” yet I should keep my hands behind to avoid problem. How to manage such Kids? Anyone please guide us.

MILK TO COST DEARER AND DEARER MY DEAR INDIANS

Milk production in India has reached heights, from a volume of 17mn tons in 1951 to 110 mn tons in 2009 and expected to reach 115 mn tons in 2010-2011.. The Indian dairy market is currently growing at a annual growth rate of 7 %. Dairy production is an important and direct source of income for around 75 million families at National level of which only 11 million families are enrolled into 1 lakh village dairy cooperative societies. The milk production has increased, thanks to Operation flood and relaxation in MMP0 (Milk and milk products order) in 2002, which opened gateway for private sector investment. On the other hand, deregulation of Indian dairy Industry by termination of licensing requirements for setting up of milk processing and product manufacturing under the MMPO 2002, is likely to lead to social and economic problems, primarily to the small dairy farmers. Even after operation flood and new reforms, 80 % of dairy activity still remains in the unorganized sector. Currently dairy cooperatives and private players, form the organized sector to cater the needs of urban population. Hence the dairying activity is moving from villages to peri-urban areas, to have a cost advantage. With respect to Tamilnadu, it accounts for around 36 % of cattle population in the country.

The return of investment for the poor dairy farmers (small and marginal), who are the major stake holders in the industry is on downward side. The dairy farming once which was dependent on crop residues, natural resources and open grazing, is on declining trend and therefore if milk production is to increase, additional feeding should come from modern systems based on stall feeding and use of more concentrates. This has increased the cost of production considerably to small and marginal farmers. On the other end, milk price has not increased proportionately. The cost of concentrated feeds has increased by 20 % in the past two years and it is likely to increase further. 

At small holder level, inadequate feeding of animals due to escalating cost, more of disease incidence due to lack of sufficient knowledge and also due to inadequate health care services by existing systems, low genetic potential of animal since the farmers/existing system do not have the practice of maintaining the track record of animal at small holder level, exploitation of dairy poor by intermediaries, delayed payments and above all the high production cost remains as a big issue. 

In the past two years the cost of concentrated cattle feed is increasing at a rapid speed. The procurement price of cow milk with 4.3% fat and 8.2% solid not fat (SNF) is currently at Rs 15.54 per litre while it is Rs 23 per litre for buffalo milk with 7% fat and 8.8% SNF content with respect to aavin. The last revision in prices was made in September 2009. Though there has been only a Rs 5.50 per litre increase in procurement prices in the last five years, the retail price increase to the end customer has risen to nearly Rs 11 per litre. The Rs15.54 price is the price given to the procurement center which keeps a margin of 0.50 paise and hence the real producer gets only Rs15/litre of milk

Though Private players procure milk at comparatively higher rate, the calculation of Fat and SNF content is in their hands and any minor deliberate variation may cause dairy farmers dearly.

I have direct experience of working with poor women In Alanganallur block of Madurai district. Alanganallur is known for its famous bull taming festiveal “ Jalli Kattu”. The agricultural families used to depend on dairy as a additional source of income. But this is no more a scenario. Many a women has given up dairying or reduced the number of cattle they owned, mainly because increased cost of maintenance. The land for grazing has diminished and the cost of cattle feed has gone up by 20 to 50% in the last four years. For the past two years, the manufacturers of cattle feed is hiking their price, at least every two or three months. The price is highly volatile. Addition to this, the increase is petrol and diesel price, forces the wholesalers and retailers to fix more margin and ultimately the poor farmer suffers.

The productivity of cattle is another serious concern. The productivity directly is related to the amount of feed given, apart from the genetical efficiency of the cow to yield milk. The increased cost has made farmers to reduce the feed and this has led to high demand. More over apart from Jersey and HF cross bred cattle, no other alternative breeds got introduced, which shows our failure in research front. Progeny testing to maintain the yield of Jerseys and HF remains a distant dream due to failure of our extension machinery, which failed to reach the technology at farmers door step. Many farmers were ignorant about basic facts, that contribute to the yield of the cattle they purchase. Third generation and fourth generation crossbred’s, will no way be remunerative to the poor farmer, since the milk yield gets decreased.

Now the demand for milk is high, but the production is low. There is huge competition between the cooperatives and private players, to procure raw milk.

Surprisingly the demand vs cost ratio does not work for poor dairy farmers. The cost of transportation of raw milk to processing cost is already making a dent in the profit earned by the manufacturers of processed milk. They are forced to keep the market price on par with that of the competitors so that their market is not affected.

Now since things has gone worse, with milk producers demanding a higher price for the produce and started staging demonstrations, there is no way far the government, but to increase the procurement price of the The decision to hike procurement price of cow''s milk by Rs1.36 and 80 paise for buffalo''s milk was arrived at the end ofa meeting between the government and different milk producers''association.

The government has announces that there will be no change in the price of milk at the consumer end, which means that Aaavin has to take the burden. The state elections to commence in few months, the government do not want to displease the farmers and the consumers.

The hard fact is the milk is going to cost dearer to the consumers very soon in Tamilnadu. For instance Amul, the country’s major milk brand, has decided to increase the prices of its two top-selling brands, Amul Taza and Amul Slim and Trim , by Rs 1/litre from February 17 across Maharashtra. Other dairies have decided to increase the price by Rs 3/litre. Amul is the leading dairy brand in Mumbai. It procures about 40% of its milk requirement locally while the rest is imported from Gujarat. This is due to the decision of the Maharastra government increase in procurement prices by Rs 2.00 and Rs2.50/litre from 16.02.2011. The ultimate consumer price for amul brand of milk ranges from Rs30 to Rs38/litre.

The Karnataka government also has increased the milk procurement price by Rs2/litre.

Does this price hike going to benefit the farmers? Definitely not. The cost of production has increased many folds and this price hike is just an eye wash. This is not going to solve the problem permanently.

The economic policy of the government is the root cause for all these problems- the after effects of liberalization. The government has given more focus on industrial development rather than agricultural development. Does the policy makers not aware of this emerging crisis? They are aware but they will pretend blind. Even now they know pretty well that this procurement price is not sufficient to meet the cost of production of milk to the poor farmer. But they have no other go. They have to keep the consumers happy.

Beware. Milk prices are going to cost dearer than ever before. The ultimate price to the consumer may even reach Rs40/ in a span of two years. This is not a projection made by a economist. But by a person who knows the ground reality. Considered to be the important supplier of major nutrients for growth to children, the cost hike will lead to less consumption of milk by the poor people, which is going to add to the malnutrition problem.

And there is a no end to this. The similar thing is happening to agricultural commodities. The recent price hike of vegetables and onion is not a one time phenomena. The prices are never going to come down and even if they come down, that will be for a shorter period. Soon  the price of Onion will reach new heights.

Who is going to get affected. It is the poorer section of the people and the middle income group.

Our Nation got sold to super powers and the MNCs behind them when we resorted to structural adjustment in the name of liberalization and other demands to avail IMF loan. The fruits of liberalization were sweet, as the country’s overall economic growth was green. Now time has come for the  same fruit to turn sour and even rotten.  The development was at the cost of agriculture and the poor people.

Indians are surprisingly soft to the problems they are facing from exorbitant price hike to mammoth scams.  Probably they are more selfish to the core like politicians. Why we take unnecessary trouble while others keep mum? A day will come when people will realize that how much it has cost them. The wealth of the poor is getting swindled by MNCs. The politicians never mind about this since they care only about accumulating money in their Swiss bank accounts. Bribing as become a accepted norm in some countries like France where balance sheet can reflect money given as bribe. No one in India thinks that giving bribe is wrong when going to a government office. It has become a culture. India now is a land of different culture- corruption culture. Poor voters gets satisfied with the money given to them for voting, free Televisions, free meals at temples etc. They do not know that each and every one of us has a huge debt in his head, borrowed from an international lending agency.

Our selfishness and irresponsibility is going to cost more, more and more.