Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gam........................?????????

Kabhi "Pyaari Chhotee Khushiyan" to Kabhi "Gamon Ki Saugat" !!!!

enjoy reading the newly published books according to your mood.

and...........keep waiting ..........for the next book........beyond

Khushi & Gam !!!!//best//mg

Yeh Kaisa Bharat Mahan….....?????

FGR April-2011 article//mg


“Time Out” Dilemma for Board Students
Manisha Gupta

Recent CBSE boards for classes X & XII throw up an important issue, that of lack of time. A couple of papers later, trend shows that papers are “too lengthy” and many students are unable to complete them, inspite of knowing the answers.
Time Out ??

Well, in a country where “time” is hardly a priority even where it’s an absolute necessity, and where even a slight delay may lead to terrible mishaps, why, pray, do the examination systems pressurize children to huff-puff, rush and answer 30 odd questions in 3 hours? Would the heavens fall if they’re given a fewer questions or a little more time, so that they can perform to their best potential? Why this “Time Out” dilemma?

Competition… one would say. And speed is the essence of competition. Things must get finished in time, on time. Oh! In a country where an official can stay at a post for 3 years without doing much, where courts may take 14 years to decide a case which gives a punishment of 7 years, where a terrorist like Kasab, having created havoc in the 26/11 incident can live on for an indefinite period as the “proceedings” are still on even after two years and four months, students are stressed into performing the most important exams of their lives in 3 hours. In a county where clear cut landlord-tenant cases to hand over the house to its rightful owner can take the whole life time of the person, where a young criminal can live happily to old age before his case can be solved and he punished, where Governments can sit for 5 years and not answer even 15 simple questions, forget HOTS type questions, or provide solutions to even 15 pressing problems of society, what is the great ambition to traumatize young teenagers to complete 30 tough questions correctly in just 3 hours ?

Otherwise …….. “Time Out”!! paper taken away, and perhaps a career opportunity too. The poor child comes out of the examination hall dejected and hassled because he knew the answers but ran out of time.

Time bound competition and perfect peak performance under severe stress is perhaps the only way to judge competency or genius. Well, when with the Commonwealth games 2010 just round the corner, pray tell me how many of the projects had been completed on time? And was the Government or other agencies responsible in any way traumatized that time was running out? How and when the CWG infrastructure was completed, we all know. And we had the prestige and the image of the nation at stake. How competitive do we call our “Bharat Mahan” then?

Where trains, buses, flights, doctors, hospitals, emergency services……. nothing runs on time. Where Reliance tells its consumer, plagued by 15-20 marketing calls a day and that too during one’s child’s board exams, that it will take at least 45 days for them to activate a “Do Not Disturb” for our line, isn’t it ridiculous. There’s no “Time Out” for all these people.

Where India is losing heavily on revenue for not having yet registered the “Basmati” Rice as a Geographical Indication, there’s no time out? There are all kinds of “Basmati” being sold all over the world and we, inspite of having a relevant Act enforced for the past 7 and a half years, haven’t been able to register our most important export item. No time out??

Well, I am not advocating that children shouldn’t be tested for their genius, competency and caliber in exams. But can we not have an examination system where to test these and much more, we do not pressurize the children. Many may be geniuses but not necessarily jet speed performers. They surely can be given tougher questions but enough time to be able to write the answers comfortably. If this country can give an official 3 years on a posting or the Government 5 years and still not expect much results, isn’t it grossly unfair to expect board students to answer a lengthy paper in 3 hours?

Because……………… even if they do and reach the highest positions in this country, they may not end up doing anything for years together! Yeh kaisa Bharat Mahan…???

Even as I write this, there is news that the Delhi “Right of Citizen to Time Bound Delivery of services Bill, 2011” is in the offing. Once this is cleared, then government servants failing timely delivery of certain services may be liable to pay a fine per day of delay. Well, let’s hope… and wait…. and watch…!!
ManishaGupta©2011

The Imperfect Haiku

Here's a piece from my Column "The Second last Word" published in the Magazine, SME WORLD, April-2011 issue.

for all those sharing my grief and concern for Japan and the Japanese, here's a Unique and Innovative Haiku which is a combination of several Haikus . this creation came into being simply because what my heart wanted to say just could not be contained within the 17 words- 3 lines format of a perfect Haiku (but that’s not the only reason I call it “The Imperfect Haiku”…!!!!!).

and so my heart just went on and on and…....…..on and….. so did my fingers…..…..till they stopped.
And here’s the result!!//mg



The Imperfect Haiku

The article I had scheduled for this issue of SMEW can wait but the issue on which I am writing cannot!!

Here’s a piece dedicated to Japan and the Japanese. I share the grief of destruction with the country which showered on me tonnes of happiness and loads of pleasant memories during my year long stay in Japan. It is the country of Perfection, of Precision, of Persistence, of Patience, of Politeness! It is sad to note that God probably doesn’t like perfection or is it that He feared competition?? Why else did He take to destruction …of the ….Perfection?????

Here is a series of Haikus (a 5-7-5 words Japanese form of poetic expression of 3 lines) making one big Haiku depicting the current scenario.



Earthquake shook land below feet
Tsunami dared, the Nuclear reactor too flared
The sea stirred in anger


The volcano glared, everyone stared
Cars, trains, ships, planes engulfed by waves
like toys in water-tub drowned


Land, sea-waves and the fire
Showed simply no politeness, but only ire
To land of politeness personified


Land of the Rising Sun
Is one such which can never set
I am willing to bet


Rising everytime from the debris
Rebuilding from destruction isn’t an easy task
Cannot be done by everyone


Japanese- you’ve done it before
Can do again, build a much better
More perfect Japan than before


Like Edison, his lab burnt
When years of research went-up in smoke
Said coolly, at least now


All mistakes were burnt up
So that he could again start afresh
Attitude of hard-working, never-tiring greatness


Ye Japan, get-up, rise again
Rethink, rebuild and regain, build a Japan
World will love to gain


Feel God doesn’t like perfection
Could also mean that he fears competition
Why-else this destruction of perfection??


This year Sakura mightn’t bloom
To full extent, but surely by next
Cherry Blossoms will visit again


To enthrall tourists from world-over
To feast their eyes on the grandeur
Of country, beauty, its people


And you have “Fuji’ Yama
Which means mountain of “No Death” (Fu-Shi)
No destruction can put end


So be born again and
Again for that is what’s nature’s cycle
To learn, learn and unlearn


Then unlearn and relearn again
The Momos (Peach blossoms) shall again flower
Spreading fruit, beauty and fragrance


The Kinkakuji temple shall shine
In its Golden gleam forever, spreading light
In the darkness of weather


In the magnificent Todaiji temple
The Great Buddha there will reside forever
And spread knowledge and enlightenment!!


It is worth emulating from the Japanese, specially for M/SMEs, how to keep at it no matter what. Persistence and patience lead to perfection, even perfection of the courage to rebuild and restart after every destruction!

ManishaGupta©2011

Can you Hear the Silence...??????

here's another creative expression from an Anonymous reader of my Blog.it seems to be a silent questioning of the heart.

the poet in this case was probably too involved with the composition, to give a title to his creativity. well, i am taking the liberty of filling that up.hope its ok with the Anonymous ......and hope he's not going to sue me for it????

all of you, all over the world, do read and get back with any comments or reactions!! .......or maybe with more creations in response?? //best//mg

ANONYMOUS 2.

Silent Questioning......!!!

Beginning of the end of a starry, lonely night
Infinitely calm, and quiet
The Sun not yet anywhere in sight
The day just deciding to get bright

Calm and gentle breeze
Flowing though the ruffled hair
Caressing, touching
the wet cheeks, the cool air

Thoughts far away
reaching far into infinity
And yet, so little solace
from Nature's simplicity

And here is this soul
trying to put together pieces
Deep down in that lonely corner
where nobody reaches

For, the very one who could offer solace
created this, in the first place
And yet, the strange paradox
gets deeper with every instance

Where are we going
where are we headed
who knew, who knows
should not be asked, cannot be said

And while one thinks, and thinks
and ties oneself in multiple, strange knots
gets confused, frustrated
and infinitely saddened with unthinkable thoughts

Though the answers are simple
realization not that straight
What will be, is not here today
what is, will not be

Such is the destructibility
of each single moment
a madly burning fire today
gone tomorrow, leaving behind no trace, in an instant

And same way, the night will go away
followed by a bright day
but will that remain with us always
who can say

//////

Awaken Ye “Little India”…... India’s Intellectual Capital!!

hi all!!

here's an article published in the March issue of "Focus Global Reporter".

and mind you, this one is really hard hitting (hitting both the head and the heart at the same time) and provocative.
actually it was written some 5 years ago, but still holds water.

it was done for a magazine which wanted a very realistic, provocative and hard hitting article , but probably it hit too hard and the magazine refrained from publishing it.

anyway, those of you who can tolerate it are most welcome to read it!! //best//mg


Article

Awaken Ye “Little India”…... India’s Intellectual Capital!!
Manisha Gupta

Come on dear NRIs, it is time to now think a little and wake up to the fact that you are not just a “Little India” in a huge expanse of some foreign land, but a huge part of the “Major India” on this side of the globe! Non-Resident-Indians, Non-Returning-Indians, Not-Reliable-Indians, Not-Required-Indians or whatever else has been coined for the acronym NRI, I define them as “Non-Returning-Intellect” or “Non-Returning-Intellectual-Property” of India. The Brain-Drain has drained away our precious intellectual capital.

I firmly believe in the adage “pen is mightier than the sword”. For the sword only pierces through the physical body but the pen can pierce your heart. The sword kills the body at once and once and for all. The end! But the pen pinches the heart, kills the negatives and awakens one to a new thinking and a new beginning. And of course, since giving “life” is greater than giving “death”, the pen emerges victorious, serving a much higher purpose. This piece may be hard hitting- both intellectually and emotionally- hitting hard on the head (read “mind”!) and the heart at the same time.

You’ve proved beyond doubt that you have talent, mind, intellect and an intellectual capacity that can delve into beyond the so many beyonds. But isn’t it time now to prove that you have a heart as well. India is a very activity oriented country and so “motion” in every sense of the term is an integral part of India and Indians. Be it commotion or emotion, motion is there writ allover us. So where are your emotions? When your old mother slips in the bathroom, are you there to pick her up and carry her to the bed? When your aged father stays up all night due to an asthma attack, are you there to sit up with him in the scary night? Where are you? On the phone, on the e-mail, on the web camera? That’s it!! But they were very much there for every fall and every scary night of yours.

Think with your heart for once, because the mind is very smart. The heart is what makes you take the right decisions. The art of living is just fine but what about the art of “giving”? Don’t come here just as guests- part of a Diaspora to attend the “Pravasiya Bhartiya Divas” or a conference delegation- on a whirlwind tour to tire all your loved ones in trying to catch up with all the missed moments of the innumerable years since you last came. Even now it is they that give, with you at the receiving end as always. Whether its love or emotions or giving you every favorite dish of yours in that long awaited 3-4 day trip. So aren’t you still “taking” in the guise of “giving”?

Don’t you want to be part of “The Real India”? And help make it so attractive that we can have “little….whatever country” right here? Why try getting patents and royalties on your own country’s Traditional Knowledge base such as “Haldi”, “Neem” or “Yoga”? This doesn’t sound “Royal” in any way. And after all you should be crusading against misuse and exploitation of our ‘National Intellectual Property’, which you too are a part of. Why should someone else earn royalties from exploiting ‘Indian Intellectual Property’? All those talented Indian doctors out there, are you “really needed” where you are? And talking of community service, which community would you like to serve? Then why not come serve the people in your motherland who desperately need your medical expertise and dexterity. And don’t worry India is rich enough to compensate you for your services.

And neither does this sound loyal .Because it’s not just a question of royalties alone, but a bigger question of loyalties. Where do your loyalties lie? If they lie with the country that you are living in, that is giving you your bread & butter and honey & money and all the other materialistic pleasures, then you are not Indian. If things materialistic are your first and only priority, how can you call yourselves true Indians, because India is all about spiritualism, which other parts of the world are embracing?

And yet another question mark is loyalty in relationships. Living in the age of fast foods and instant gratification, there are some who apply the same rules in their relationships also, jumping from one marriage to another to another, generally in each case with a foreigner. At times it may be for a Green Card or for a foreign passport or for some other selfish motive but seldom for love or passion. Has living away from your homeland also reduced your level of selflessness, patience and tolerance and increased your level of self-oriented narrower virtues in life?
Why come to your own home as a guest. If you are Indian, you are the host here. And do you realize that wherever you are at present, there too you are just at best a guest. So what do you get being a guest in both countries? This only reinforces the fact that you have become “rootless”. NRI or PIO or whatever, but your roots are not grounded in “any soil”.

And why do you consider the NRI community as “Not Respected Indian” because they’re not given some special treatment by the “local Indian community” even though they pay fares at different flights, hotels or tourist spots in dollars? Because when you say you are “Indian”, then you are treated just like any other Indian. As per the Indian tradition-“Atithi Devo Bhavo”- and that’s why foreigners are respected more. On the one hand you want to be an NRI and a “real Indian” and on the other you want to be “respected” like the foreigners. If you really are an Indian, as you proclaim from all rooftops of the world, then why be hurt at being meted out the same treatment as we Indians do day in and day out and still stick to our “origin”, and don’t keep switching from one to the other for selfish purposes. We are Indian and remain so, for better or for worse. I think you yourself are quite confused about your identity. Aren’t you going through an “origin identity crisis” of sorts? For different selfish motives you want different privileges at different places in different circumstances. So if “being” Indian has its advantages of shelling out lesser notes or paying in rupees instead of dollars while traveling in India, you assume that role, when being an NRI gets you mileage and benefits of the Diaspora community, you assume that role. And since you have acquired the acronym “NRI”, it is always going to begin on a negative “N” note. Now whether it stands for non or not, or whatever, much can’t be done. Had you remained just an “I”ndian, you would have had the advantage being “I” all your life. Life can be what you choose it to be- simple or complex – “samajhnewalon ke liye ishara hi kafi hai, aur jo na samjhe wo ‘aNRI’ hain”!

India can do without NRIs but the big question is can they do without India? Experiences in Australia, Great Britain, Malaysia et al have highlighted the naked truth. India has always been a sleeping giant elephant, with long memories, patience and the ability to take sustained deprivation. But the giant is now up and about, moving with the energy, grace, pace and agility so truly the trademarks of a wise elephant.

It has “arrived”, driven by its own native resources and intellect, its own sweat and youth, not to forget the sleepless nights. It is an economy which has evolved with deprivation, scarcity and shortages but retained the fabric of tolerance and happiness. It is a thriving democracy on the threshold of becoming a global super power, the fastest growing economy in the world and soon to be a part of the select nuclear club and member of the UN security-council. We are proud when we go abroad as tourists, respected for being one of the highest spending community. Foreign universities pitch to attract us and, unlike the past, we seldom stay back. We want to be part of the Greatest Drama – “A Super Power India”. Indian companies have started attracting foreign students because they want to see the future global corporations from inside out and have the Indian experience on their CV.

There is no dearth of any form of capital in our country. We were a rich country, we are a richer nation. Whether its natural resources capital or human capital or heritage capital or Intellectual Capital, we are well endowed and a tough competition for the globalized world. And if you, the “Non Returning Intellectual property” of India do finally return, I think the whole world will be no match for our massive wealth of Intellectual capital.

How about a ‘reverse brain drain’ phase taking the globe by storm………???

My Dear Japan..........

i have been too shocked by the turn of events at Japan in the past one week!

too shocked to even express the shock.

it pains me to see the country and the people so dear to me, undergo such wrath of nature.

since i have lived in Japan (Sapporo- the capital city of the northern most island-Hokkaido), i feel really pained. the country and its people have given me many many happy moments and happier memories to cherish forever.

this series of disasters just shouldn't have happened.
have been trying to contact all my friends there to find out if they are fine.

i do sincerely hope that The Land of the Rising Sun shall once again rise from this calamity and come out a still better nation.

all my best wishes for my Daisuki Nihon!!
//best//manisha

Young Poet's First Book...!!!

here's the book cover of a young poet's first book -“Pyari Chhotee Khushiyan” - on hindi poetry. this is a collection of 30 of his poems written over the last 6 yrs. and by the way, don't miss the fact that this cover, which very aptly depicts the overall theme of the book, is a painting done by the little poet himself.

Congrats ! Atulya Gupta for publishing your first book at 11!!

great achievemnet!!

keep it up !!
Gambatte Ne !!!!
//best//mg