My friends, I have a very simple solution for your problem of lack of time. MAKE IT
A HABIT TO RISE EARLY IN THE MORNING AND RETIRE EARLY TO BED IN THE
EVENING.
In your 24-hour day routine, if you just make an alteration of two hours you will feel a
sea change. What I mean is that you rise at 6 am instead of 8 am,
which is the usual
wake up time for most of us, your day will look bigger. A Wake-up call that's two hours
early will actually give you the benefit of six hours.... effectively. Let me explain how.
In the evening, if your time to hit the sack is between 12 am and 1 am, start sleeping
at 11 pm and you will be surprised and will ask yourself, " Where were these two extra
hours earlier in my life?" Yes, the right time to sleep is 11 pm. And the right time to
wake up is 6 am. One month of this routine and all your complaints will disappear.
On the other hand, if you wake up at 8 am, and have to reach your office, school or
college at 9-10 am, the first thought that crosses your mind is, " My God, its 8 am
already and I have only two hours left." And then you run towards the bathroom. You
want to read the newspaper, go to the toiler, brush your teeth, shave, bathe and above
all have breakfast and even prepare your bag.Tell me, how can you finish all these chores
in two hours? There is only one way -
Dhoom - Dhad - Dhushoom - Phata Phat - At break-neck speed. And, the next moment,
an image of you on the road.... Running."
Now, just for experiment sake; turn the hands of your clock back by 2 hours. Wake up
at 6 am instead of the usual 8 am. You have 4 hours to do your morning chores with
ease and comfort. You will be surprised that you are still left with 15 minutes of spare
time. These 15 minutes, you can use to laugh and smile with your family members.
Nowadays these moments are in very much short supply. And, now when you leave for
your work with happy face... your hair won't be flying all over the place....the knot of the
tie will be proper... no buttons will be missing... and lo... you would have reached your
destination well composed and in good humour.
If there are some people, who are keen to take more advantage of early rising, I
would advise them to
rise at 4 A.M. if they can. The morning hours of 4 A.M. to 6 A.M
(Two hours before the dawn), called Brahm-Muhoort in Shastras, is the most peaceful
and the quietest 2-Hour period in the whole of 24 hour cycle of the day. The quantity of
Oxygen is maximum during this period.
Whatever you accomplish and achieve during this blissful period cannot be done at
any other time during the day. This period is good for meditation, concentration and
studies. But, if you want to wake up at 4 A.M., you must be in bed by 10 P.M.
If you are able to savour and rejoice this Bhrahm-Muhoort everyday, then your life is
made. You will experience the bliss of heaven in this very mortal world.
And its very likely that you may reach the state of becoming Shaktimaan.
So why not start from today?
" SHUBHASYA SHEEGHRAM
Do not wait...SHEEGHRAM...SHEEGHRAM ".
So make a note of this Shaktimaan Mantra:
" If you want to stay day-long fresh and alive
Friends, there is nothing better than Early Sleep and Early Rise".
I stop here; rest, later, in the next column.
Learn to respect the food. It is said that man works to fill his stomach but, I have often seen that when he gets a break from his work to eat his lunch or dinner, he is pre- occupied with some other work instead of food on his plate. He is either talking to somebody or conversing on telephone, watching T.V or listening to the news. He eats his food like a machine; his mind is involved with other things. This is absolutely the wrong way to eat food and shows disrespect to the
food, for which one toils day in and
out !
When we look at an attractive dish or at one of our favourite dishes, our mouth
starts watering; watering of mouth or salivation is perfectly natural phenomenon and
happened to all of us. It does not mean you are a glutton. It is not a weakens but an
essential part of digestion – the first step in the process. If, when the food is served
and your saliva glands do not rise to the occasion, then it means either you do not like
the food that has been placed before you or that
are unable to give your attention to the food.
If you salivate at the sight of food, then it is a good beginning to your digestive process.
However, if your mouth is not watering it does not mean that the food will not be
digested. It will only take a little longer to digest
Saliva, a digestive juice, is secreted from the gland hidden behind our tongue and helps
in digesting carbohydrates in the food we eat. And for this, it is
also very important that
we must chew our food well.
Our food will be very easily digested when we chew and enjoy the food served in front
of us. Only then, will all the juices from our digestive system be secreted profusely from
the glands, which will help digest glucose and proteins. Only then will our bodies receive
all the nutritive elements from the food.
So I say: When you eat, leave all your work aside- No TV. No Conversation. No
Telephone. Give your undivided attention to the food and then see for yourself how
easily it is digested.
There are many people, who are victims of indigestion; often due to disrespect to
food they eat. What is disrespect to food? If you gobble up the food without chewing
because you are in hurry to get to work or school or your attention is some where else
while eating, then it is considered disrespect to food and such food will not be digested
easily. If you do not care for the food then why would food look after you and
give you
its nutritive value to you... Isn't that right?
There is another point I would like to make. The world is slowly moving towards
vegetarianism because they can now see the advantages. The green and fibrous quality
of vegetarian food is good for digestion and digestive system. Vegetable keeps it in good
working condition and increase life span.
So if possible adopt a vegetarian lifestyle or at least make salads an essential part of
your Meals. Believe me you will be benefited.
Okay, so here I stop...... Rest in next column.
I have felt that, today, the kids grow very quickly. Of course, it is obvious that I am not
talking about their age. I am talking about their premature aging.
Now a days, kids are gaining knowledge in the Multiples. Their exposure to media is
manifold...TV...Computer...Internet. All these media are shrinking our world. Earlier,
the information that
used to take years to reach us, reaches the kids today in a matter
of months, if not days. So today the children are more knowledgeable compared to the
kids of our days.
Now you will say, "What is the harm?" I would say, "Quite a lot !"
Even though it is very good to be knowledgeable, but it should be according to age. Or
else, tell me, why are the kids first sent to the nurseries? I will reply my own question,
because they should be able to carry the load of studies of higher classes. Then, they
are sent to the first standard, then second ... third ....fourth and so on. Then they pass
the school to go to college. All these stages are necessary because the grasping and
understanding power of children increases slowly according to age. The quantity &
quality of information imparted should be according to the level of their grasping power,
so that they are able to understand it.
Just imagine if a student of fourth standard is suddenly
given lessons meant for tenth or
twelfth class; he will be perplexed and won't be able to understand head or tails about
it. Even if he understands it, he may not be able to digest it or may be this piece of
information or knowledge be more harmful to him than beneficial.
Are you getting me what I am I trying to say......? I am talking of the knowledge or
information, which should be given at the correct age. There are few things in life about,
the birds & the bees, which if kept away from the children, are good for the growth and
development of healthy mind and their big future.
The reach of TV, Computer and Internet is limitless. There is no age bar. Anybody &
everybody can tap it. It is boundless ocean of knowledge. Whoever has the access,
the information is given with no reservation. The media do not have the control over
the receiver. It does not have the instincts and mature mind like old grand-parents
have, which tells them about what information to be imparted to whom? and more
importantly... ! At what age?
You may say that I am talking of gone-by old ideas. No, my friends, I am looking
at a very worrisome period around me driving us with the speed of a storm into a
dangerous future. I see today's children losing their childhood.....!!!! We too were
children....we also had our childhood and grew up to be teenagers and then adults; but
we lived our childhood in the age of a child as a child. Today's children have a polluted
childhood.....Polluted by the impurity of Adultness, which robs them off the innocence
of their childhood, the joy and laughter of the childhood.
Childhood is the age to run around, to remain ignorant of the ways of the world. And a
knowledgeable person will neither be interested to run around nor like to be ignorant.
Ignorant person is the one, who is not aware of the ways of the world. Once, he is
knowledgeable person, he is in the know of lots of information. Even the
information, of
which, had he remained ignorant, would have been beneficial for his healthy mind and
body.
To be knowledgeable is good but some times it is also good to be ignorant. Yes,
there are some things, which should be known to us in adulthood only. And, to remain
ignorant in childhood of these things, is how the Law of Nature wanted us to live....that
is why God has given us different stages of in life.... Birth, Childhood, Adulthood,
Middle-age, Old-age and Death. Our Physical and Mental states are different in all
these stages of life, according to the requirement of that stage(age). If a person has
an Adult-mind in Childhood or Child-like Mind in Middle-age, there will definitely be
problems with his life. So that is why I say, "Live with Law of the Nature. Your life will be
Healthy without Anxiety, Tension and free of Worries.
I am not speaking about the personalities who are endowed with extra-ordinary Brains
and Traits from
early childhood. You might have read some-where....A child of ten-
twelve years of age has finished his graduation....A child of Ten Years of age can recite
all Shlokas of Srimadbhagwad-Geeta....and other extra-ordinary things some children
can do. They are called Child-Prodigy. They are exceptions and are God-Gifted. Their
extra-ordinary intelligence is recognized in their childhood, some times even in Infancy.
Such children should be definitely be encouraged. But an average child should be
imparted with only that much of knowledge, which he or she can easily digest without losing his innocent laughter of childhood. This will be very beneficial for his future.
You must have heard, "Healthy Body is abode of a Healthy Mind." The healthy
childhood is very essential and important for the whole span of life. Unnecessary
heavy load on the mind and brain of the child can hamper his physical growth and
development. He may development his mind very well but may lag behind in
physical
growth; but for a healthy and happy life, it is very important to have a good balance of
mind and body.
Now, I would only like to tell the present day-parents that they should not load their
children with so much weight of 'things to do' that the children are left with no time at all
to live a carefree childhood. It is the Parents who must decide the programmes the kids
watch on TV. The Parents must keep an eye on what the kids are seeing on computer/
internet. It is the Duty of the Parents to guide the children on the right path.
The future of the child depends on the fact that whether his parents had time for their
kids when they needed them the most for advice and counseling. They should not be
brought under unduly heavy pressures. Why my child is weaker than my neighbour's,
syndrome should not change your attitude towards your child be harsh with the poor
child. Every child has
his own grasping power. Their exams should not become your
test. It is foolish on the part of the parents if they make a prestige issue of the progress
in studies of their wards. Let them grow and develop as the Mother Nature wants them
to be. Otherwise they would loose their self-confidence and be demoralised. If that
happens, it will be very sad for you as well for the child, and then no one will be able to
do any thing about it.
Here I stop. Rest in next column.
Friends, we teach our kids to do prayers, to go to temples, Guru- Dwaras, Mosques or Churches. It is a very good habit we inculcate in our children. Prayers increase self-confidence, makes one mentally strong, helps in concentration; but today, it is very important that children be taught to worship their bodies like a temple more than any other kind of religion-teaching. I watch children abusing their bodies and not really caring about it, except for cosmetics, which is external.
By abusing the bodies, I mean, smoking Bidis or cigarettes at a young age,
chewing Paan, betel-nut or worse, Gutka; excessive Television-watching, to
sit with a stoop, stand with sloping shoulder, uncaring about not keeping nails
& teeth clean etc.... etc. All these habits are being picked up by the children in
very dangerous proportions. That is why, Shaktimaan says, "We must teach our
children to treat and respect (venerate) their bodies like a Temple." This body will
be with them all through their lives; so if they want to really enjoy life to the fullest
then they should keep their bodies healthy with healthy mind.
Children, if you want to become Shaktimaan, then you must keep your body well-
balanced. A body is well-balanced when it is in-tune. Yes, as when you want to
create good and melodic music from an instrument like Sitar or Tabla, then first
they have to be tuned. Similarly the human body is also like an instrument; so
when you want the maximum from your body then you
must bring all the organs
of the body in tune and harmony or you may say that robust body is akin to well-
balanced body. For this, you must exercise all the organs of your body besides
just taking care. I will keep on informing you about how to take care of these
organs in this column from time to time and also tell you about how to avoid the
abuse of your body, so that your body will be well-balanced and in future,
can become Shaktimaan (with Mental & Physical strengths.)
In this direction the first Shaktimaan-Mantra is, "Sit Tallest, Stand Tallest and
Walk Tallest..." You must Use Your Full Height. This will make your spinal
column straight; and straighter the column, stronger it will be and help you to
keep you healthy in every way.
Spinal column is the most important bone-assembly of our body. This column
bears the load of our body all our lives and keeps it straight. If you acquire the
bad habit from your childhood of sitting, standing or waking with a stoop then
your spinal column will become
curvy and you will like an old man even without
reaching old age.There are some more harmful effects of a bent Spinal column
like back-ache, harmful effects on the organs like lungs & stomach, get tired from
little effort, forgetfulness and not be able to think or apply mind properly. And
if somebody has defective or bent spinal column from childhood then he may
remain small in height.
I have observed that very often tall people walk with a stoop. I think they have
this habit due to the fact that they have to meet and talk to people much smaller
in height. Before Amitji entered films, every tall man used to walk with head-
drop, as if they were ashamed of their tallness but after he became a star, all the
tall people became confident and started walking tall with their chest blown. But
Shaktimaan says, "Good height is a God-Gift, so why be ashamed of it!!!. Use
Your Height and be healthy!!!
Yes, so friends, if you want to use your body fully then
your posture while
standing or walking could be described as, "Chest-Out, Stomach-In, Shoulders-
Drawn back, Head-Upright and A Permanent-Smile on the face...." And then you
will see how enjoyable and lovely the life is.
Beyond this, I can describe a well balanced body as.....
A Head Well-Balanced on Shoulder,
A Shoulder Well-Balanced on Pelvis,
A Pelvis Well-Balanced on Pair of Knees,
A Pair of Knees Well-Balanced on Pair of Heels,
A Pair of Heels Well-Balanced on Toes.....
And in this posture you will hear in chorus from people around you, "Wah kya
baat hai !!!"
Here, I stop....Rest in the next column...
OFTEN people do not recollect things when they want to. After some time, recollection
strikes suddenly. People always curse their memory, or their power to recall, for being
weak.
But, the strength of your memory depends on you. Everybody can sharpen his or
he memory.
It is the easiest thing to do. All it requires is to perform each task with
enthusiasm, concentration and dedication. And not do one thing while your mind is
occupied with another.
Our mind is like a library. Just like a library has many books, whatever we see in our
daily life, is imprinted on our minds and filed away. And like we pick up books we need
from the library, we can access stored information from our mind.
The computer stores large amounts of information and by clicking on a button; the
information we require appears in front of us on a monitor. Similarly, there are millions
of pictures and pieces of information stored in our brain, which we can recall at any
time.
But for ease in recall, organization is necessary. If the books in a library are not kept
according to their names in alphabetical order, then we won't be able to get the book
when needed. So when we appreciate somebody's sharp memory, then in effect, we are
saying that his " library in the brain is well catalogued and organized." Because he has
the desired picture very clearly etched in his mind so, when he wants to
recall, he sees
the picture or information instantly, just like a computer.
Some times we don't remember a name. We try very hard, but cannot seem to recall.
Then we stop trying and get busy with something else and suddenly, in a flash, the
desired name occurs to us and we say " Aha, that's the name."
Why can't we recall the name when we want to?
The library of our memory was not in proper order. So, we stop trying to recall but our
sub-conscious mind keep trying and, in the end, after going through millions of options,
arrives at the right one.
If the information could have been retrieved from our memory in the very first
attempt, then, it would be called healthy or alert, well balanced and organized. If the
information can be recalled only after a few hours, then such a mind may be called a
little disorganized or tired. If the information cannot be recalled at all, then such a mind
would be called totally disorganised,
unbalanced and uncontrollable. Such people are
often called ' bhullakadds '.
Don't worry it is not a permanent or incurable problem. But how can one get over this?
That is quite simple. " Don't forget to read the next column...
As I was saying last week, the forgetfulness is not a permanent or an
incurable malady; just as tiredness is temporary setback and is gone after
some rest and relaxation, similarly weak memory or malady of forgetfulness
can be improved upon by little effort, some exercise and little more hard-
work.
There are many ways to improve a weak memory, as
the people say.
Some say,
"One must chew seven almonds with honey every morning,"
where as some recommend medicines. Almonds are good and so is honey;
both should be eaten. But, like in a library, only a librarian can bring order
in a disorganized and scattered books and not a magic wand. So, if a
librarian decides that he has to organize everything, then with little effort he
can have a well catalogued and organized library. Similarly, if you resolve
to improve your memory, then there is no question at all of a failure.
There are hundreds of mental exercises but select one and work hard on
that. For example, I would suggest to you one exercise, on which if you
work hard, soon you will be counted among people with a tag line," What a
memory! A Photographic Memory."
The memory which enables one to recall the description of "only once
seen item/event" verbatim, is, what we call "A Photographic Memory."
If
you do not have such a memory; then don't despair, make an effort and
you will be a proud owner of such a memory.
Only effort you have to make, is to do every thing with full total
concentration & dedication....use all the Five Senses while doing a task....
Visual, Hearing, Smell, Taste and Touch.... keep all your senses alert
to receive any signals. I would go a step further and suggest to you, to
perceive through all the five senses. This will enable you to see and feel
the thing with all senses and etch a very clear picture in your mind; which
is like a book in a well organized & indexed library and hence can be
retrieved, at will.
All through your working hours, whatever you do, do it with full enthusiasm
and let all your Five Senses perceive the task at hand! That's all you have
to do, so that your five senses can receive and perceive the signals of a
scene or event or just any thing, like antennae.
Become a part of the environment and surroundings, enjoy every moment
of the atmosphere; your mind will become stronger, alert and healthier; and
then watch your memory improving...becoming sharper.At the end of the day, there is another simple thing you must do. In your
mind, you must rewind like video player and try to see and feel all the past
day's events/scenes, from the first moment of the dawn to the dusk, very
minutely. In 5-10 minutes, before sleep, just try to recall, "When you woke-
up?" What was the first task you accomplished? And what all you did whole
day?
Travel with the images of the day's events and then see how clearly and
effectively these images are imprinted in mind. After this practice Whenever
& Whatever you want to recall, it will come to your mind, instantly, with full
details. And then, nobody can call you forgetful........... Bhullakadd.
People will start calling you, "A Man with a Remarkable Memory." So, start
right away, yes, this
very instant. And start with, recalling the things, I have
told you just now!
Enjoy each and every moment of your existence and feel, you becoming
SHAKTIMAAN!!! at least in the department of Memory.
Here, I stop....Rest in the next column...
"Baby-sitter convicted of hitting the child, to watch her favourite television
programmes, when she was supposed to be looking after the child."
This is the news-clipping of a foreign news paper but it wont be surprising, if
in near future such head lines may appear in our news papers too. The rate at
which the western culture and life style is being imported;
this is not very far
fetched.
The only remedy to avoid such incidents taking place in our own country is that
we should look after and rear and tend our future generation, our children our
selves and not leave this essential parental obligation to a servant or an ayah.
Spend time with children. They need you and your time more than any body at
this young. This is the age when the feeling of vulnerability and insecurity is at
the highest level. A small child recognizes only two things; one-Milk & second-
Smile! "Whether a person is a Friend or an Enemy?" Is the question uppermost
in the eyes of any child when he sees any face? If you scare him of, they will cry.
And if you smile at them, they may break into a charming smile with a feeling of
security in your company.
It may not have been happening in the villages but the life of people in the city
and metros, has become extremely mechanical; not only a husband but even the
wife goes to earn their livelihood. In such a situation, the child is denied of the
basics of a child's upbringing, love and adoration of the both working parents.
Childhood is the golden period of life when child's mind is not filled with the
worries of the world. And these are the moments of life when his mind is a clean
slate; whatever is written on it, will remain with his mind through out the life.
That is precisely the reason why I say," If at this opportune period, you leave the
child alone or with a servant or an ayah then what will be written on the clean
slate will not be what you wanted. Your child may adopt other people's thoughts
and sanskaars, which may not be acceptable to you."
The first person, child comes in contact when he enters this world and
recognises is his Mother. Mother is the first teacher of the child. Then, the
Father figure comes close to the child. And the education given by the Father &
Mother lays the foundation of any thing
taught even at later stage of life. After the
parents the child learns from the servant/Ayah, friends or whoever comes close
to him after the parents.
And later the teachers keep on filling up the empty space of the slate with the
information. And as the child grows, his opinions, thinking power and viewpoints
become stronger, firmer. The child learns from everybody else except his own
parents, because they are too busy. He starts formulating his own opinions and
ideas. And it comes as a shock to the parents when they see their child exhibiting
behaviour patterns & habits, totally unexpected of him, which he or she was
never taught by them. And when objected and forced, the child rebels because
he is totally alien to your ideas and thoughts; and then one hears the clichéd line
from the bewildered, sad and angry parents," Kya maine tujhe is din ke liye paida
kiya tha?" Hindi film's favourite line heard, right from Mughle-Aazam to any tear-
jerker favourite Hindi film.
I won't say that the child does not commit a mistake but more often then not, I
would rather blame the parents. Because, in such cases, you will invariably find
that when the child at the tender age wanted to be with parents, they did not
have time to even sit with him, leave alone talking to him. The Mr. Money-spinner
may have been busy making money and the mother, involved with her own
kitty-parties & Rummy sessions. The impressionable lonely child at home was
the sole responsibility of either an ill-literate and uncultured servant or an ayah.
When they should have become his friends, they were with their own friends at
business lunches or public relation cocktail dinners. Then how do these busy
parents expect the grown child to follow in their footsteps later?
Make your children, your friends. Play with them and win their confidence.
Understand their point of view. Do not reject them out right, with remark, "You
don't know life. You are too young to tell me." This will
discourage them to talk to
you openly. They will clam up in front of you and try to find some other listener
to their ideas and communicate, get convinced and assimilate other people's
thoughts in them. This will create a communication gap and conflict in the ideas.
Fear is a very strong emotion and a child's young mind is very susceptible to it.
If the child is raised in the secure environment of the presence of parents then
such child shall grow to be a fearless and confident man. FEAR is the biggest
enemy of man; Children should be kept away from this at all costs. It costs just
few dialogues with the growing and curious and bewildered child, perceiving the
world around him, always looking for a companion to talk to.
Children need their parents more when they are young and growing than when
they are old. And the parents do not need their children more when they are
young but more so when they are older. So, it is in the parent's own self-interest
to be communicative and be
friends to the young children, when kids need them
the most. Because, if the parents were not with the children when they were
young, then how and why should the grown children
their old age, even by law of equality.
Today, the life is going at a very fast pace. The rate, at which the western
culture is being imported through the media of TV, Films, inter-net etc., the first
and primary responsibility of the parents should be to guide their children. The
guidance will be, very well and easily accepted in the young age but if you have
any notions or dreams of guiding or leading them, at older age then do not be
shocked if they shatter. Because by that age, the child has already found his
bearings rightly or wrongly. And, if the child seems to be rebellious and on a
strayed path, then the parents are equally to be blamed along with way ward
child. Kids are not rebellious by nature. They rebel when their ideas clash with
the ideas of their parents, with whom he was
incommunicative during all his
formative years. So, rebellion is the result of circumstances; and the parents
with their mature minds were definitely, in a better position to ease or better the
circumstances than the young immature minded kids.
So, I once again say, "Even though, you indulge to may make money, attend kitty
parties and gamble in Rummy sessions, your real treasures are your sons and
daughters. Indulge in them. Because if they go astray then no amount of money
will be of any avail; or you kitty parties or business lunches or public relation
dinners with big shots, etc... Help your children make their future, talk to them.
Be communicative with them and you will be in touch with the future. You can
narrate them your lore and listen and discuss with them their ideas. Your kids will
be with you physically & mentally. They will lead you to your future, which will, it
become bright, comfortable and secure.
Okay here I stop. Rest in next column...
"Baby-sitter convicted of hitting the child, to watch her favourite television
programmes, when she was supposed to be looking after the child."
This is the news-clipping of a foreign news paper but it wont be surprising, if
in near future such head lines may appear in our news papers too. The rate at
which the western culture and life style is being imported;
this is not very far
fetched.
The only remedy to avoid such incidents taking place in our own country is that
we should look after and rear and tend our future generation, our children our
selves and not leave this essential parental obligation to a servant or an ayah.
Spend time with children. They need you and your time more than any body at
this young. This is the age when the feeling of vulnerability and insecurity is at
the highest level. A small child recognizes only two things; one-Milk & second-
Smile! "Whether a person is a Friend or an Enemy?" Is the question uppermost
in the eyes of any child when he sees any face? If you scare him of, they will cry.
And if you smile at them, they may break into a charming smile with a feeling of
security in your company.
It may not have been happening in the villages but the life of people in the city
and metros, has become extremely mechanical; not only a husband but even the
wife goes to earn their livelihood. In such a situation, the child is denied of the
basics of a child's upbringing, love and adoration of the both working parents.
Childhood is the golden period of life when child's mind is not filled with the
worries of the world. And these are the moments of life when his mind is a clean
slate; whatever is written on it, will remain with his mind through out the life.
That is precisely the reason why I say," If at this opportune period, you leave the
child alone or with a servant or an ayah then what will be written on the clean
slate will not be what you wanted. Your child may adopt other people's thoughts
and sanskaars, which may not be acceptable to you."
The first person, child comes in contact when he enters this world and
recognises is his Mother. Mother is the first teacher of the child. Then, the
Father figure comes close to the child. And the education given by the Father &
Mother lays the foundation of any thing
taught even at later stage of life. After the
parents the child learns from the servant/Ayah, friends or whoever comes close
to him after the parents.
And later the teachers keep on filling up the empty space of the slate with the
information. And as the child grows, his opinions, thinking power and viewpoints
become stronger, firmer. The child learns from everybody else except his own
parents, because they are too busy. He starts formulating his own opinions and
ideas. And it comes as a shock to the parents when they see their child exhibiting
behaviour patterns & habits, totally unexpected of him, which he or she was
never taught by them. And when objected and forced, the child rebels because
he is totally alien to your ideas and thoughts; and then one hears the clichéd line
from the bewildered, sad and angry parents," Kya maine tujhe is din ke liye paida
kiya tha?" Hindi film's favourite line heard, right from Mughle-Aazam to any tear-
jerker favourite Hindi film.
I won't say that the child does not commit a mistake but more often then not, I
would rather blame the parents. Because, in such cases, you will invariably find
that when the child at the tender age wanted to be with parents, they did not
have time to even sit with him, leave alone talking to him. The Mr. Money-spinner
may have been busy making money and the mother, involved with her own
kitty-parties & Rummy sessions. The impressionable lonely child at home was
the sole responsibility of either an ill-literate and uncultured servant or an ayah.
When they should have become his friends, they were with their own friends at
business lunches or public relation cocktail dinners. Then how do these busy
parents expect the grown child to follow in their footsteps later?
Make your children, your friends. Play with them and win their confidence.
Understand their point of view. Do not reject them out right, with remark, "You
don't know life. You are too young to tell me." This will
discourage them to talk to
you openly. They will clam up in front of you and try to find some other listener
to their ideas and communicate, get convinced and assimilate other people's
thoughts in them. This will create a communication gap and conflict in the ideas.
Fear is a very strong emotion and a child's young mind is very susceptible to it.
If the child is raised in the secure environment of the presence of parents then
such child shall grow to be a fearless and confident man. FEAR is the biggest
enemy of man; Children should be kept away from this at all costs. It costs just
few dialogues with the growing and curious and bewildered child, perceiving the
world around him, always looking for a companion to talk to.
Children need their parents more when they are young and growing than when
they are old. And the parents do not need their children more when they are
young but more so when they are older. So, it is in the parent's own self-interest
to be communicative and be
friends to the young children, when kids need them
the most. Because, if the parents were not with the children when they were
young, then how and why should the grown children
their old age, even by law of equality.
Today, the life is going at a very fast pace. The rate, at which the western
culture is being imported through the media of TV, Films, inter-net etc., the first
and primary responsibility of the parents should be to guide their children. The
guidance will be, very well and easily accepted in the young age but if you have
any notions or dreams of guiding or leading them, at older age then do not be
shocked if they shatter. Because by that age, the child has already found his
bearings rightly or wrongly. And, if the child seems to be rebellious and on a
strayed path, then the parents are equally to be blamed along with way ward
child. Kids are not rebellious by nature. They rebel when their ideas clash with
the ideas of their parents, with whom he was
incommunicative during all his
formative years. So, rebellion is the result of circumstances; and the parents
with their mature minds were definitely, in a better position to ease or better the
circumstances than the young immature minded kids.
So, I once again say, "Even though, you indulge to may make money, attend kitty
parties and gamble in Rummy sessions, your real treasures are your sons and
daughters. Indulge in them. Because if they go astray then no amount of money
will be of any avail; or you kitty parties or business lunches or public relation
dinners with big shots, etc... Help your children make their future, talk to them.
Be communicative with them and you will be in touch with the future. You can
narrate them your lore and listen and discuss with them their ideas. Your kids will
be with you physically & mentally. They will lead you to your future, which will, it
become bright, comfortable and secure.
Okay here I stop. Rest in next column...
I some-times wonder and am rather curious to know what was in the
mind of the person who first gave the title of Idiot Box to Television.
Yes, TV, which has grown into such big modern medium of
information, education and entertainment, being given title of an Idiot
Box seems meaningless.
But I don't condemn the man totally because he must
have had his
own reasons to call, the inseparable means of entertainment of any
modern household, an Idiot Box.
It is possible that in those days it may not have been that big an
agent of information and education as it is today, but today, it has
shrunk the world into a small district. The pictures and sounds of far
of places, even on the other side of the planet are brought into our
drawing rooms, literally with the bat of an eye-lid!
Thanks to TV, via satellite telecast.
Also, who takes the credit of keeping us in touch with the latest trends
and fashions of life-style, culture, politics and sports goes to?
Nobody, but, our Television-sets, sitting in our drawing rooms, object
of every body's attention!
Then, is it fair to call it an Idiot Box?
I think, to an extent, it can be called an Idiot Box, depending on,
When and how are you watching it? If you do not have anything to
do and you are sitting idle,
watching TV then, that wont make you
an idiot, instead it would entertain you or educate you, depending
on the programme on TV. But if you are watching TV while you are
busy or occupied with some other important work, then the TV would
definitely make an idiot out of you to the degree you are involved with TV.
Complicated? Come, I will explain to you. I believe that TV has
tremendous power to attract attention of any and everybody. For
example, any person entering a room with people and a TV set will
first look at the TV set in the room and then turn his eyes towards
the people. Even while he is conversing, his attention will always be
diverted towards the Television set. There is very interesting example
of the servants at home, when you are having your meal and the TV
is on in dining area. Ninety-nine percent of the time, you will see the
attention of the servant being diverted towards TV. So the TV makes
you an idiot in that proportion.
According to me, an Idiot person is one, whose mind and body are
not in tune. Whatever the mind orders the body has to follow the
instructions immediately. If there is any delay, then there is some
problem somewhere. I am not talking about the person weak in mind,
or a spastic person. If a person is of stable mind, if his limbs are in
co ordination and if he does not suffer from any other malady then
the reason of delay in following the orders from the brain, could be
lack of concentration. I had written earlier in one of my articles that
concentration is very essential for any task. And if 100% efficiency is
needed in a task then it is very much essential that the person should
give his 100% concentration. Television can play a distractive role
here.
If you want to accomplish a task and you do not want to forgo the
attraction of Television then speed of accomplishing your work will
be slower. The task, which should take 10 minutes to be done would
take
20 minutes. So you have become an idiot in that proportion, of
50% .......Ha...Ha...In this sense the TV is an Idiot Box.
All doctors advise, "Do not watch TV while eating...." The reason?
.....I had earlier written in one of my articles, "Your food will not be
digested perfectly." And also, another damage television has done to
our to life-style is, the absence of a happy animated family -dinner.
No longer you see, the family sitting together on the dining table,
enjoying food and talking to each other and getting to know about the well being of family members. Today, we do see the family on the
dining table, but all of them looking at the TV set (if all of them agree
to see the same programme) kept in prominent place in the room.
Now you know, why doctors advise against watching TV while eating.
Your concentration on eating will be very limited. The moment you
start eating your food, the digestive juices in our body, helpful in our
digestion, are secreted in the required quantity and quality in various
parts of our alimentary canal. The eyes look at the delectable food.
A signal reaches the glands at the back of our mouth to activate the
secretion of saliva for digestion. The moment saliva mixes with the
food, a signal is sent to the glands further down the digestive path, as
if telling every gland on the way, "Be ready for the reception, the food
is on the way." And this ensures a healthy digestion. It is no laughing
matter. Believe me, it is true. Try one day, to have your food with out
watching TV. You will feel the power of your digestion yourself.
That is why I say, do not get addicted to TV. Select few programmes
and put the TV on, only for those programmes. And definitely keep
your TV off, when busy in any other physical or mental activity. You
never know when this Box will make an Idiot out of you.
Now, aren't you convinced that TV can be is an Idiot Box?
Here I stop. Meet you again in my next column...
I had said in one of my earlier SHAKTIMAAN SAYS articles to the kids "SIT TALLEST, STAND TALLEST, WALK TALLEST! " I had also said that Body is Temple, Simply, worship it... do not abuse it. And I had promised that I should keep on providing them with the tips (Shaktimaan's Mantras) regarding each and every organ of the body.
In the mean time I devoted my articles dealing with the subjects with regards to
the parents, teachers; expressed my feelings and thoughts about the problems
faced by our country. Now, I thought about my promise and felt the need to talk
to the children and inform them about human body.
Today, I would like to shed light on the advantages of playing Outdoor Games.
Children, our body grows at a very fast pace during childhood. Our bones
increase in size thereby increasing the height of body. The size and weight of our
body and features keep on increasing daily in this age. In childhood our body is
full of energy. You must have seen a small kid being instructed by his parents to
keep quite and sit at one place. But the child will rarely sit still. He will always be
up to some tricks. The reason being the child is full of energy. It is very important
that this energy be spent. Older people in general have less energy that is why
they may like to sit still.
Games and sports play very important role in the mental & physical growth of
children. There are two kinds of sports/games: Indoor games; played inside the
four walls of the house & Outdoors games, games played out side the house in
open grounds. Both kinds of games are good but in childhood, when the physical
growth of the body is at a very fast pace, Out Door games are especially very
important and should be played more often.
Indoor Games do not contribute much in the physical growth of a child on the
contrary it may have some disadvantages. Playing Indoor games in a sitting
position for a long time may induce pain & aches in the back and knees and
may slow down blood-circulation in the body. And the video games which you,
the kids play for hours together, sitting in front of TV/Computer, exercising your
thumb will definitely make your thumb strong and your brain bigger but the rest
of your body will remain as it is, with out any growth. And in
addition, the long
exposure to the TV/Monitor will ruin your eyesight.This does not mean that Indoor Games like carom and chess are not good. They
improve your concentration and mental growth but for physical growth of a child
Outdoor games are essential.
When you play any out door game, you will find that your blood circulation
will improve significantly making you feel better. All the parts of your body get
adequate amount of blood. This makes our immune system of the body stronger.
Likewise, all the Out door games strengthens our Bones and increases the
muscle-power of the body. The activity of any games makes you sweat and
perspiration removes the waste liquids of the body, which makes the body
energetic and healthy.
Out Door Games like badminton/tennis give very good exercise to the arms,
legs and even eyes compared to video games, which are really very bad for the
eyesight. Swimming is very good for the full body.
The biggest advantage of Out Door games is that they
are played in open air and
in Sunlight which means that besides ample supply of Oxygen, our bones get
very good supply of Vitamin-D strengthening them. When we play some vigorous
games our breathing becomes deep and our lungs expand breathing in large
amounts of Oxygen going in each and every corner of lung. Heart also works to
fuller capacity thereby making it possible for Oxygenated Blood to reach in every
part of the body, especially our brains, which needs large amount of oxygen to
work with great concentration. The lack of Oxygen in the brain could very bad
for it, e.g. Loss of memory, Far-sightedness and the power of analysis. The body
could loose vitality. You will never feel healthy fresh; even a little hard work will
tire you off.
There is no life with out Oxygen. They say, "Fire is lit where Oxygen exists."
As the Oxygen is essential for the fire so it is, for the body. It is extremely
important for the Oxygen to reach in every part/organ of the
body for it to work
perfectly. And only an Out Door Game can guarantee this.
If you play Out Door games, you will breathe in fresh air rich in Oxygen and if
you only play Indoor games then you will not be able to avail the priceless gift of
nature.
In short, if you play Out Door games, you will be fit; and as Shaktimaan says,
"Whoever is fit will be a hit."
So, promise me, my young friends that you will participate in at least one Out
Door Game. I must clarify one thing here that cricket is not the only Out Door
game. We, in India, give importance to only Cricket. There are many Out Door
games other than Cricket, which you can play e.g. Hockey, Football, Tennis,
Badminton, Swimming, Judo-Karate, Chor-Police and even Kho-Kho and Hu Tu
Tu and Kabbadi (breatheless). Any of these games are good for your health.
Understood? Haven't you? What are you waiting for?
Go, Start playing.
Shaktimaan is with you and promises that you too will become Shaktimaan, very
soon.
So here I stop. Rest in the next column.
Cigarette manufacturers wash their hands off their responsibilities towards society by just writing the statutory warning that ' Cigarette smoking is injurious to health' in small letters on the cigarette packet or in some insignificant corner of the hoarding. Everybody knows ho hazardous smoking is to health. Even manufacturers know that it is very dangerous for the
user but they do not do anything beyond giving a statutory
warning because doing anything more will be like committing hara-kiri. A lion cannot be
friendly with a deer. So, very smartly, cigarette manufacturers just wash their hands off
this social crime.
A smoker reads the statutory warning and does not take heed because he is addicted.
His system and blood is used to the nicotine from the cigarette smoke. The demand for
more nicotine forces him to smoke more. I do not understand whom to blame. It is very
sad that despite a clear view of the dangers, his vision is impaired by the dark clouds of
tobacco smoke. The smoker cannot help but keep on smoking, walking as if blindfolded
on the path of certain cancer, leading to death.
This is the story of mature people with intelligence. If they are willing to understand,
they can because it is not difficult. Yet if they refuse to understand then nobody can
make them understand the harm they are
exposing themselves to.
Now I want to talk to children who have their whole life in front of them and a lot
could be written on their clean slates. My friends, the age group of 10-16 is the most
impressionable age. Any impression created on young minds at this age is very difficult
to erase later in life. That is why, the child crosses this delicate age without picking
bad influences or habits, becomes strong and courageous later in his life. He won't
find anything impossible in life. The span of the last couple of years in school and a
few early years in college are the formative years in a child's life. The behavior of the
teenager in these years will decide the kind of life he will lead in later years.
Often, a child is seen alone, away from his group of friends, pondering over whether
he should go along with his friends unwillingly or to follow his own likings. These are
the testing moments in the life of a teenager, which everyone has to undergo. The
decisions made at
these moments will indicate the future course of life. He will often
thing that if he does not go along with his friends then he will be left alone and called
a lallu, a bhondhoo! He has to be mentally strong enough to stand-alone against the
crowd. These are the testing times when he has to be always ready to make the right
decisions. If he passes these tests then he will certainly become Shaktimaan in his life.
Do not get carried away by the crowd, fashion or by friends. What is paramount is your
own individual mind, your own liking and your intellect. Use your power of thinking and
decide. Do whatever you think is right. The first and most frequent of these tests is the
cigarette. Then comes drinking liquor, and lastly fashion.
If your have thought clearly that cigarette smoke is not good for your health and will
only pollute your lungs, make the decision to refused a stretched hand holding out a
cigarette for you. Then, believe me, you have
won a major war on the health front for
the rest of your life.
Do you know that no body has been able to force me to smoke, drink or gamble? Even
now, nobody in the film industry, famous for its drinking parties, can force me to drink
even a drop of alcohol.
So, as I was saying, nobody could force me to drink liquor either when I was younger
or today, though the film industry is famous for its nocturnal liquor parties.
One incident in my institute days made me think about the effects of drinking. Once I
saw a very handsome, tall, young man lying face down in a sewage drain. The reason?
He was drunk! I wondered why a perfectly
decent man was behaving like an animal. So
whenever anybody asked me to have a drink in the name of friendship, I would reply
that if your friendship hangs on a peg of whisky then please keep your friendship and
peg to yourself.
So develop the habit of thinking objectively and then resolve to refrain from an action
that is harmful to you.
I started doing yoga from the early years of my life. If you do pranayam, you will
realize how importance fresh air is to the body. It does wonders to your vision. You will
learn that smoking pollutes your lungs. Why should you harm your lungs? Would you
become your own enemy?
Friends, it is said that knowing is solving half the problem. I am sure you all know that
smoking is bad for your health. How can you then be blind to the health of your body?
This body is an instrument, which will be with you your whole life. It is this instrument
that will keep you active, functional and vibrant. That's
the reason I say that the body is
a temple, worship it as you worship deities.
Now, when half your problem is solved then what is so difficult in solving the other
half? Just resolve to quit smoking. At least make a beginning. Start with smoking half
the number of cigarettes you smoke a day, then reduce it to a quarter, and so on. Your
body will begin to feel more fresh. And once you have given up smoking totally then
you will feel really good. You will have a good appetite and increased energy levels.
Recently, a colleague informed me that by the year 2015, the number of people who
will dies of lung cancer would touch 20 Lakh everyday. It is a startling figure but more
startling is the fact that my colleague is himself addicted and is unable to quit, despite
his doctor's advice.
While driving, if you see a deep hole on the road in front of you, then you go around
it. Then why don't people addicted to cigarettes, liquor and gutkha apply
the breaks
on their addiction? It might be a difficult task but it is not impossible. What one needs
is determination and will power, which everyone has within him. One needs to sit and
think with cold logic. One will realize what a fool once has been by being one's own
enemy. One will then stop doing these harmful things to one's body.
People have very funny notions about for their drinking problems. Around 10 years
ago, I told a famous film director in good humour, " Why don't you drink fresh juices
sometimes instead of liquor?" His retort in Punjabi made me speechless. He said "
Kaade vaste? ( Whatever for?) If I drink juice, then my stomach will say, " Ae kee
chalaa aa raya hai?" ( What is this funny liquid coming down in the stomach instead of
the usual liquor?).
Another time, another famous film director refused to have dinner without his usual
couple of drinks, after a late shoot. He said " I will not insult my drinks by
having dinner
without them."
I could not tell them anything then but today I can say confidently that if you insult
liquor, it will not matter at all but if you insult dinner, then it will definitely trouble your
body.
The same thing applies to cigarettes, gutkha or other addictive drugs. Please take my
advice and give them up. Start respecting, worshipping and caring for your body, and
you will immensely benefit.
I hope that one-day cigarette; liquor and gutkha will be banned not in India but
throughout the world.
I was born in Mumbai. I did my schooling here. I did my graduation in this Metro City. Did my post graduation in the Mega City. I even found my vocation in this Metropolis. I have seen great changes in Mumbai and its people, right in front of my eyes. I feel that the rise in the heights of skyscrapers is directly proportion to the depth of insensitivity and fellowship in the people of this Mega Metro City of Mumbai. Machines have grown bigger and bigger as also the people have become
machines. People are just running!
Nobody has time to stop and think about any thing; not even to feel about anybody. They
are following the culture of 'Just Do it, Just Do it' and have become like automatons.
I was born in Mumbai. I did my schooling here. I did my graduation in this Metro City.
Did my post graduation in the Mega City. I even found my vocation in this Metropolis.
I have seen great changes in Mumbai and its people, right in front of my eyes. I feel that
the rise in the heights of skyscrapers is directly proportion to the depth of insensitivity
and fellowship in the people of this Mega Metro City of Mumbai. Machines have grown
bigger and bigger as also the people have become machines. People are just running!
Nobody has time to stop and think about any thing; not even to feel about anybody. They
are following the culture of 'Just Do it, Just Do it' and have become like automatons.
There used to be time when one used to see warm,
sunny and smiling faces and today where ever one looks one sees only deadpan faces. Earlier, one used to see six feet tall healthy, robust students in college campus. One used to feel happy to see strong young men, glowing with energy. Today, in the college courtyards, you see only so called young men chattering away in groups. Their conversation is replete with vulgar and slang words & making fun of their teachers and professors. Their dare devil stories are no match to the sailor's tall tales, hollow and lightweight in all respect, let it be studies or valour. They have every thing, one hand clutching a Cell phone and fingers fidgeting nervously with cigarette and keys of a swanky BMW, but what is missing in this picture of modern student is healthy body, brains and the college books in hands. I wonder, what these students do in the classrooms? Whether they study or just shoot arrows at the back their teachers? They have become famous for tall stories. They just talk and talk....
and do
nothing like impotents. And if the future our country is going to rest on their impotent
shoulders then this is a very worrying situation.
Those five mute spectators, who were present in that compartment in that train, will
never be able to forgive themselves all through their lives. One among them showed his
apprehension that he might be carrying a weapon. To him my reply is, " A fool drunk
like him does not carry any weapon. Even if, he had carried it he would not have been
able to use it properly to harm any one. One said that he did not pull the chain because
he thought that the goon would run away. I wish he had pulled the chain, then at least
that girl's would not had to go through this horrendous atrocity. Somebody remarked in a
light vein that they had become like three monkeys of Gandhi ji. "How very unwise thing
to say? If Gandhiji taught us not to see, hear and say wrong things but he never said that
do not go up against a wrong thing."
Children, my friends, Shaktimaan is not Shaktimaan because he is strong. He is
Shaktimaan because he comes to help people caught in dire situations. Shaktimaan wants
each and every one of you to become Shaktimaan, who will be always be ready to help
each other.
Recall that episode of Shaktimaan, when few goons were forcibly taking a child from
its mother in front of a frightened mute crowd. And despite Geeta Vishwas's insistence
Shatimaan does not come to the help and keeps on watching the goons taking the child
away.
Why did Shaktimaan not help that woman despite being present there?
To know, this read my next column........
And till then, try to recall the scene...
So, did you recall the scene in Shaktimaan episode, in which Shaktimaan keeps on watching instead of coming to the rescue of the mother whose child had been forcibly snatched from her by the goons in front of a mute crowd, despite the insistence of Geeta Vishwas? Geeta is very surprised at this non-action of Shaktimaan, instead Shaktimaan tells to the goons that
they should carry on with whatever they were doing. When she
insists, Shaktimaan replies that there was big crowd watching mutely like impotents, this
misdeed of the goons, who are just five in number. If they want then these five goons
cannot do any thing, but they are standing like impotents. When they do not want to
help themselves then Shaktimaan will not help them. This answer was heard by a small
child who, then picks up a stone and throws at the goons with the words, 'Shaktimaan
is right.' Then the whole crowd follows the example of the child, attacks the goons, and
apprehends them, rescuing the child.
I am narrating you this scene as an example because I want you, children, to be
courageous and always be ready to help yourself and others. Never curb the natural
human instinct to help others. Is not there a saying, 'God also helps those, who help
themselves.' Children, God will always be with you if you have noble and kind thoughts.
Cultivate these feelings from
the childhood and you will grow into a better human being.
Aren't we to blame for stifling this human instinct to help others, downfall of our moral
values? I want to question the govt. by addressing to the police that are they not also
responsible for the mute, impotent and stand-aside-watch behaviour of the society and
Mumbai people in particular. Do you know, Why nobody in the co-passengers, had the
guts to stand up to beat the goon and save the hapless mentally challenged child? The
thoughts in the mind to prevent anybody to come to rescue of the girl mainly are: He
would be very influential person; or if I do anything to him now, he may get his gang
of goons tomorrow to beat me; I am a family man; I should not get involved in these
ruffians; let it be. The feeling of insecurity of his self & his family over powers him. And
he looses all his courage and then either he disappears from the scene or becomes a mute
spectator, a frozen impotent man, as it happened
on that night to the co-passengers in
that compartment. I wish one man had gathered courage and led the group and started
beating the goon. I am sure that whole group would have followed him and the poor girl
would have been saved from the inhuman and dastardly act of an animal. And also the
co-passengers would have had been spared of the life-long self-torture of self-abuse.
Remember, crowd is very powerful. What is needed is the leadership, to harness this
power.
I would ask of the police department that they should create an atmosphere, so that
everybody should feel secure. I am sorry to say that police has lost all its credibility and
this is an alarming situation for any healthy society. Because, if anybody hesitates to go
to police station to lodge a complaint then be rest assured that the society is in for bad
days. There are two paths for an ordinary citizen to go for the solution of his problem;
one, which goes to the state governance i.e. police and the other to the goonda-raj. If he is
feel
unsafe even to file a complaint with the police then these are signs, which speak very
loudly of the approaching Dark Ages.
I am of the view that the need of our nation is the real life super heroes more than the
imaginary TV super heroes like Shaktimaan. So, children, become strong and healthy,
physically and mentally thereby to grow up into Shaktimaan, so that you are prepared and
ready for any such eventualities when you can not only act to help your self but also help
others. And also, in future no goon dare do such heinous deeds. The women of this nation
should feel secure with next generation.
In the end, I want to appeal to the law makers of the country, the govt. that they should
not let the judiciary system be lax so that no criminal could advantage and roam around
free in the society even for a day. If one is rapist like this fellow in the train that was, then
he should be immediately, without losing a day should be hung, setting an example to the
other goons. A rapist
must be punished with out delay.
I stop here, with the hope that a day will dawn when the children will grow into
Shaktimaan which will make sure the safety of our women folk; mothers, sisters &
daughters. The army of Shaktimaans will not only freeze the approaching Dark Ages but
also kill the darkness.
I Have seen, and you must have too, people going through the pockets of their coat, pant or shirt for their passport or air tickets at the airport counter or trying to find the car keys while unlocking the car or looking for important office papers just while leaving for office or looking for a piece of paper to note down a phone number while on the phone or forgetting
where the remote control is kept etc.
What will you call such people? Forgetful blockheads? No sir, Many such people may
have a fairly good memory but are often so involved in numerous little things that their
memory can't cope. They can easily be titled, ' disorganised'. I can very confidently say
that 90 per cent of people we come across are disorganised. Actually the pace at which
time is running is so fast that even the smartest people just get carried away in the
quick flow, especially in a city like Mumbai where man is becoming more and more like
a machine.
Anything floating in the current of the river, whether a small leaf or a heavy trunk of a
tree or a boat without a boatman, will flow with the speed of the current. But a good
swimmer or a good boatman will always control the speed and direction of the flow
according to his will.
Today, the demand of the hour is to be organised.
If you want to be a successful
person then be organised. The person who is unaware of himself and his surroundings
will not know when he is robbed of his possessions. There are so many thieves around
that you won't know when you will be relived of your necklace or wristwatch.... or when
somebody picks your pocket. So make a habit of being alert.
Have you seen a crow? Have you seen how cautious he is while approaching his scraps
of food? One eye is always on his surrounding. No movement escapes him. He will fly
off at the least hint of danger. One must learn the trait of alertness and quick reflexes
from the crow. By this I don't mean that one should be over cautious but to be alert
should be top priority in today's living. Otherwise there are people who are so involved
in themselves that they may be totally unaware of even an attack by a knife-wielding
robber till the last moment.
It is not very difficult to be organised. Just take a step
towards it and you will slowly
become automatically organised. Just will yourself and keep a few things in mind.
Increase your concentration, increase your observation power and most importantly,
increase control over your. Assimilate yourself with the atmosphere. You should always
be in control of things around you, in your office, in the classroom at school, at the
airport, railway station or bus stop or even on the road. Assimilate your surroundings
wherever you are.
Make a habit of knowing what is behind you, what is in front of you and what is
happening on either side of you. Always keep the windows of your mind open and be
aware of the happenings around you. Misfortune or accidents do happen without any
announcement and if it does happen then the degree of qualitative and quantitative
loss will depend entirely on how much aware and in control you were during the
incident.
That is why I say, friends, have control of your
surroundings. You will be able to control
your life. You will be called an organised person. Success loves an organised person.
So start from this very moment. Okay, now answer my question – do you know who
was around you when you read this article?
If you have answered this correctly then you are on the right path. Cheers!
Here I sop, rest in next week's column.