Appreciate beauty.

I do not know who this girl called Coco is. I like her, not because she is a girl, but because she is damn beautiful. She is curvaceous, sexy and what not. She may have attracted thousands of eyeballs of men – young or old – by now and given them heartache, headache and made them feel mad for her.

In what turns out to be an overt statement, I just say that everyone likes to see photos of beautiful things and appreciate them. The things include beautiful girls, as well. But, wanting to see such photos, especially those of girls or women, does not mean that we are lecherous and have a lust for them or ogle at girls. Well, there may be some. But, most are not. They just want to have a look at such girls.  Taking a fancy for them and craving just for a glimpse again does not mean that we are used to such a ‘dare-devilry’.  Anyway, everyone of us wish we could see them live in front of us.

When it comes to appreciating beauty, I love beauty and like to see it. Words come out spontaneously in appreciation; “Wow, how beautiful!”  Beautiful, sexy, curvaceous, tall, svelte girls are an eye treat. They sort of provide succor for eye. They are turns-on, to be very frank.

Girls apart, green forests covering barren mountains, ice-covered mountains, rivers, flowers, terrains, rivulets, cities, monuments, historical towers, heritages, cars – to name the list – are among other things that are beautiful. Beauty to me again means that it must have the capability to bring smile to your face, the capability to make you feel happy at time of sorrow, the capability to make you feel relaxed, the capability to make you talk openly about

its quality, the capability to make you appreciate in front of your boy friends or girl friends, the capability to bring you closer to it, the capability to lure you into singing a song in its appreciation, and the capability to push you into a war, feud, face-off or envy.

I like rose; not because it is soft, but because it symbolizes love, peace and friendship.  Its petals are soft and throws hypnotic aroma. Its beauty is as much hypnotic as its colour. It is sort of magnetic, so to say.

Somebody has said; “Beauty is skin deep.” It may be true in relation to human beings and the nature of skin. Well, the skin – tan, white, black, wheatish or whatever – and its color vary from girl to girl, woman to woman and man to man. But, it can never be true in terms of things that are stable, immobile or mobile. Anyway, beauty is inexplicable. Beauty can’t be defined. It does not need mention. It is supernatural and super powerful. It is my thinking and I’ve experienced it.

Well, there are poets who have described this quality in their own lyrical language. They have described beauty based on each and every detail of body parts and have painted it flawlessly in their lyrics. Anyway, beauty – like many other things – differs from person to person and should be held in high esteem.

To me, beauty is what food is to body. Just as food is essential for a man to live, exactly in the same manner, beauty is as much necessary for a man to live.

The girls in the photos – no matter whether they are semi-nude or fully dressed - are beautiful enough to attract anyone’s eyeballs and rave reviews. There is no denying that we look at the girls in a quite different perspective.

The sea and the bridge over it, the tree with its reflection in the river and the stream that is cascading down the rocky terrain are soothing and give us a sort of what touches our hearts.

The girl in the picture is equally beautiful, but receives cat-calls instead of much-sought-after appreciation. The reason is that she looks seductive and is looked at in a different perspective. Her dress, gesture and posture are all what add to vulgarity.

Replicas of monuments built over many years ago in memory of their fond beloved are brilliant testimony of pure and immaculate love or something else. They are beautiful because of arts, carvings and many other details that have been finished with surgical precision.

Just let's have a look at the rose. How beautiful they are! They just captivate us and embrace us in their beauty. And, we unconsciously or subconsciously express our happiness and wonder and say; "Wow ! How beautiful!"  This sort of expression that comes out suddenly is actually a signature in appreciation of real, natural and immaculate beauty.

Likewise, we nearly jump in excitement when we see beautiful stream serenading down narrow and rocky terrain whistling a beautiful song. Old - vestige, so to speak - castles surrounded all over by beautiful flowers sort of mesmerize or hypnotize us and utter unconsciously: "Wow! What a beautiful/" These are the wonders of wonders. Girls, castles, monuments, seas, trees all are equally beautiful.  

The world is beautiful and so are human beings. In one word, everything that is available on earth is beautiful and so should be appreciated with open heart. At least, no less ! ! !

Let's us distinguish between 'Like' and 'Comment'

Don’t worry if I do not ‘LIKE’ the photos you paste on your wall. I’ll definitely tick ‘Like’, provided that they are nice, beautiful and charming to look at. I would instead comment on such photos as are mind-boggling and heart-rending. What does it mean if I like the photos that show butchering, street fights, violence, et cetera? Why should I tick ‘Like’ for such photos? Do you ‘Like’ violence? Of course, not. Then, it will be wiser if we comment rather than send ‘likes’ for the photos.

I’m still at a fix whether users of the social networking site, Facebook, are in the 17-21 age group. It must be so. Most users are seen pasting photos just to receive ‘Like’ for their photos, thinking that it will bring them closer to one another. This is enough to conclude that they are in that age bracket.

We do not seem even least bothered about whether the photos that show man-slaughters, street violence, disastrous accidents, natural disasters or any other things that send shivers down our spine are meant for ‘Like’. I think they may be thinking like what I’m thinking. But, without taking even a second, they just tick ‘Like’ disregarding the message that photos are intended to convey.

This is a spine-chilling accident in which people may have died leaving far behind their relatives, sibling, families, friends or colleagues, husbands or wives, boy friends or girl friends. If this sort of pasted on wall, this is not even remotely related to the fact that this is to be liked. Why to like the photo, instead of mourning the deaths or praying for eternal peace for the deceased.

Well, photos of beautiful places, cities, cars, buses, dresses or any other material things and couples or girls or boys have always been succor to eyes. They attract eyeballs and we just tick ‘Like’. This does bring happiness and smiles to our friends and makes them feel appreciated for their effort to search and paste such photos.

So, friends, we should not like everything that does not taste good. We can only comment on them.

Let's us distinguish between 'Like' and 'Comment'

Don’t worry if I do not ‘LIKE’ the photos you paste on your wall. I’ll definitely tick ‘Like’, provided that they are nice, beautiful and charming to look at. I would instead comment on such photos as are mind-boggling and heart-rending. What does it mean if I like the photos that show butchering, street fights, violence, et cetera? Why should I tick ‘Like’ for such photos? Do you ‘Like’ violence? Of course, not. Then, it will be wiser if we comment rather than send ‘likes’ for the photos.

I’m still at a fix whether users of the social networking site, Facebook, are in the 17-21 age group. It must be so. Most users are seen pasting photos just to receive ‘Like’ for their photos, thinking that it will bring them closer to one another. This is enough to conclude that they are in that age bracket.

We do not seem even least bothered about whether the photos that show man-slaughters, street violence, disastrous accidents, natural disasters or any other things that send shivers down our spine are meant for ‘Like’. I think they may be thinking like what I’m thinking. But, without taking even a second, they just tick ‘Like’ disregarding the message that photos are intended to convey.

This is a spine-chilling accident in which people may have died leaving far behind their relatives, sibling, families, friends or colleagues, husbands or wives, boy friends or girl friends. If this sort of pasted on wall, this is not even remotely related to the fact that this is to be liked. Why to like the photo, instead of mourning the deaths or praying for eternal peace for the deceased.

Well, photos of beautiful places, cities, cars, buses, dresses or any other material things and couples or girls or boys have always been succor to eyes. They attract eyeballs and we just tick ‘Like’. This does bring happiness and smiles to our friends and makes them feel appreciated for their effort to search and paste such photos.

So, friends, we should not like everything that does not taste good. We can only comment on them.

The above photo shows a jetliner crashing into a sea. You can imagine how many passengers may have lost their lives. If this sort of photo is pasted on wall and if someone asks you, can you tick 'Like'? No. Definitely no. Whereas sending 'Like' for photo, the second photo is the best example of liking.

Save Wildlife

Poaching of wild animals like tigers, lions and rhinos is on the rising trend worldwide. Government alone can’t do anything about it.  Under such a circumstance, conscious and educated people should come forward to make uneducated people and those who hunt down such animals just for fast buck aware of the importance of these animals in conservation of environment.

I’m skeptical whether our next generations will ever hear the names of these animals, let alone see. Of course, there will be only mention of such animals in books. Like we read in school the story of a king and a queen, it is likely that our children will only read about the animals, their habitat, their nature, their modus operandi, modus Vivendi and whether they are carnivorous and gregarious. They will be limited only to books. And students will read; “Once upon a time, there were tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos ………..“

Save wildlife

Poaching of wild animals like tigers, lions and rhinos is on the rising trend worldwide. Government alone can’t do anything about it.  Under such a circumstance, conscious and educated people should come forward to make uneducated people and those who hunt down such animals just for fast buck aware of the importance of these animals in conservation of environment.  

I’m skeptical whether our next generations will ever hear the names of these animals, let alone see. Of course, there will be only mention of such animals in books. Like we read in school the story of a king and a queen, it is likely that our children will only read about the animals, their habitat, their nature, their modus operandi, modus Vivendi and whether they are carnivorous and gregarious. They will be limited only to books. And students will read; “Once upon a time, there were tigers, lions, elephants, rhinos ………..“

Let them be where they are. Let them feel free where they feel. They are our friends in our efforts to save our environment.

Solitarysoul: Post-result frustration

It is more than a fortnight since school board result was declared. Students were seen waiting for their result with bated breath. Despair was writ large on their faces. They were excited as well. They were dead sure that the result would be out that day, as they had already come to know about it. They were excited and restless. Excitement began to evaporate by the evening, with the failed students becoming sad and the students scoring marks less than their expectation becoming even sadder.

My childhood friend’s youngest son was sad and pensive, even though he had passed the examination in first division and scored more than 74 per cent in aggregate. He was sad because the result was not up to his expectation. His result was not as impressive as to bring smile to his face and excitement to him. He had expected that he would pass the examination with distinction – well – with flying colours.

I dropped at his place just to know how he had fared in the examination and what the result of his year-long hard work was like. I was stunned for a while and lacked of words to express my surprise. It was like he had not worked hard, it was like he hadn’t burnt the mid night oil, it was like he had not paid heed to studies. It was like he had taken the examination lightly, instead. It was as if he had not prepared himself for the final battle of his school life to break through the iron-gate. It was natural for him to become sad; and if he had worn a deserted look and shed tears in isolation wailing that he could not pass the exam with flying colours, it was like he was trying to remember with which papers he had not done due justification.

Fearing that he might be frustrated like hundreds of students, I sort of motivated him and said that he could do even much better in future. I joined with his parents in their chorus that he would succeed and obtain marks enough to get admitted at a premium engineering, provided that he worked a little bit hard for another two years.

I often wonder what it will be like if students - hopeful of excelling in the examinations – fail or score much less than what fails to meet their expectation. They should be motivated and encouraged: failure and success are two sides to a coin. Failure and success come to life alternately. Failure should, however, not be attributed to their mental inability to catch up with their class mates or keep pace with what is taught in class. Failure to succeed to score marks can’t be taken as students’ weakness or inability to succeed in examinations.

My friend’s son has, over time, somehow or other managed to adjust to the post-result situation and is prepared to enroll in a local college. He has gained confidence over time and learnt how to preempt his post-result pain. This is an example of how he has coped up with the post-result confusion, tension and situation. Mom, dad and siblings did their best in restoring confidence in him and making him believe that he can do even better in years to come.

What are the students who failed or who have scored marks less than their expectation did post-result? How did they manage or cope with the situation, especially with the trauma that they had to undergo after their dream of quality results got shattered. What might their parents or siblings have done to console them? What idea might they have devised to pacify them? What steps might they have taken to encourage – not discourage – them? These are few questions, among others, that we, as responsible persons, should seek answers.  

And tear streams down spontaneously .......

It was nearly ten years ago, when I was a college student. I made friends with a girl almost my age. She was suave and svelte, yet simple. We would sit together in class and spend time together gossiping during leisure time and exchanging notes.  I cottoned to her. In fact, I had no iota of when it all began. It dawned on me only after she had gone home after the final exam.

My love, Sulochana – Sulu in short – one day said to me over phone; “My parents are marrying me off to a boy of their choice.” And, she stopped talking. The news jolted me and blanked me out for a moment. And shattered my dreams of continuing life with her and living together. Initially, it was difficult, though. I somehow controlled myself. I sort of negotiated with time.

Time ran – rather elapsed – into oblivion. It was only five years ago. I heard from some one I knew that the bottom had fallen out of her world. Her husband died in a road accident leaving her midway through the journey they had sworn to travel together. Starry-eyed they were, they had woven a dread. A dream of having their own home and children.

I came across her in the local market on one Sunday afternoon. On seeing me, she tried to snub me. But, I paced fast to her and held her hand. A word or two in her ear, I gave her a light pat on her hand and motioned her to a restaurant nearby. Face deserted. White skin had turned pale. Eyes had lost twinkle of college days. Hair plaited into a knot behind. She looked like groping for words. Her teeth rattled, lips wavered. Motionless. She sat on a bench beside me. She spoke nothing. As if words had run out of stock. On my persistence; however, she reluctantly narrated her story; a story of trials and tribulations.

Tear wells up in my eyes. “Would you mind if I propose to you?”, said I. “Well, I would rather you didn’t,: she said in reply in a husked voice wiping out tears at the same time. Thirty minutes spiraled out in eerie silence so soon, that we couldn’t ask much about each other. As it was getting darker outside, she readied herself and walked out promising that she would meet up in Kathmandu. We parted with heavy heart.

I felt like being flattened by the sky, when I heard one fine morning that Sulu was no more in this mortal land. My head reeled. The more I vividly called her image to my mind, the more I wept. Where was the promise that we had made together to meet up in Kathmandu? It was like the smoke that spirals out and disappears into air high up in the sky. The news came like a thunderbolt over me. I had sort of incarcerated myself for days.

Months passed and years, too. As the solitude evoked nostalgia, I somehow began to divert my attention and focus on studies. She died a second death. First, when her husband died. In her death, she could get what she had not while alive: salvation. This patriarchal society had perpetrated atrocities on her.

The minute her picture appears in my mind, I try to speak to her. And, immediately then I realize that this is only an illusion. And, I begin to pray to God for her eternal peace and weep in her memory. And tear streams down spontaneously …………

solitarysoul: Friend Requests

solitarysoul: Friend Requests: A good many beautiful girls come onto my monitor, but ……… sorry, I can’t make friends with them >>>>>>>> as I’ve been barred from sending...

Friend Requests

A good many beautiful girls come onto my monitor, but ……… sorry, I can’t make friends with them >>>>>>>> as I’ve been barred from sending them “friend requests”. In fact, I’ve been sort of placed under house arrest ……….. I can see and look at them, but can’t extend hands of friendship. Well, I’ve been informed in the meantime that I’ll be free in another three days. I’m beside myself with joy. But, I can’t say for sure how many more friends I’ll have thereafter.

Anyway, what will be my pride will be your envy, ………………… absolutely. 

Solitarysoul: Ler's work together to save environm...

solitarysoul: Let's work together to save environm...: Looks like friends are more interested in ticking likes for the photos than in commenting on the photos of Nature, its beauty and sharing information on them. In fact, no one seems (I’m sorry if I’ve offended anybody) even a bit concerned about the environment and how it should be protected from large-scale illegal or legal deforestation and depletion of natural resources. Deforestation, depletion, industrial emissions, among others, have added to our woes and caused increase in temperature at an alarming speed. 

This site that has helped us to network with people from different walks of like and provided a platform for us to air our ideas, experiences and concerns among us. Why not, therefore, make use of this site to spread awareness among people about the environment and the causes that are damaging our eco-system? This is just a suggestion – a request. 

The first & foremost duty that we can and should perform is to save Nature – our Mother Earth – where we can find beauty in almost everything that we see, touch, or feel and if She is not saved from what we say is rampant cutting-down of trees, uncontrolled industrial pollution and depletion of natural resources, we shall have not to wait long for the day when we are all be roasted alive in scorching heat. Let’s work in unison and spread awareness as much as we can ……… and as far as possible.

Solitarysoul: Ler's work together to save environment!

Looks like friends are more interested in ticking likes for the photos than in commenting on the photos of Nature, its beauty and sharing information on them. In fact, no one seems (I’m sorry if I’ve offended anybody) even a bit concerned about the environment and how it should be protected from large-scale illegal or legal deforestation and depletion of natural resources. Deforestation, depletion, industrial emissions, among others, have added to our woes and caused increase in temperature at an alarming speed. 

This site that has helped us to network with people from different walks of like and provided a platform for us to air our ideas, experiences and concerns among us. Why not, therefore, make use of this site to spread awareness among people about the environment and the causes that are damaging our eco-system? This is just a suggestion – a request. 

The first & foremost duty that we can and should perform is to save Nature – our Mother Earth – where we can find beauty in almost everything that we see, touch, or feel and if She is not saved from what we say is rampant cutting-down of trees, uncontrolled industrial pollution and depletion of natural resources, we shall have not to wait long for the day when we are all be roasted alive in scorching heat. Let’s work in unison and spread awareness as much as we can ……… and as far as possible.

Likes Or No Likes -------- Work To Save ENVIRONMENT

Looks like friends are more interested in ticking likes for the photos than in commenting on the photos of Nature, its beauty and sharing information on them. In fact, no one seems (I’m sorry if I’ve offended anybody) even a bit concerned about the environment and how it should be protected from large-scale illegal or legal deforestation and depletion of natural resources. Deforestation, depletion, industrial emissions, among others, have added to our woes and caused increase in temperature at an alarming speed. 

This site that has helped us to network with people from different walks of like and provided a platform for us to air our ideas, experiences and concerns among us. Why not, therefore, make use of this site to spread awareness among people about the environment and the causes that are damaging our eco-system? This is just a suggestion – a request. 

The first & foremost duty that we can and should perform is to save Nature – our Mother Earth – where we can find beauty in almost everything that we see, touch, or feel and if She is not saved from what we say is rampant cutting-down of trees, uncontrolled industrial pollution and depletion of natural resources, we shall have not to wait long for the day when we are all be roasted alive in scorching heat. Let’s work in unison and spread awareness as much as we can ……… and as far as possible.

solitarysoul: No more nudes, please ....

Since I've not received likes, however hard I've had tried to receive them from my friends and acquaintances for my 'What's on your mind', I pasted just 'no-no' types of photos on my wall much to the discomfort of my younger friends who are close to me. I was told, much to my satisfaction (I was satisfied and excited, because they had at least taken interest), later that they had talked among themselves about what had gone wrong with me. I told them 'nothing wrong' right away. Unlike my younger, teenager friends - girls or boys - I can't think even in the wildest of wild dream of ever pasting photos of nude, semi-nude or stark naked girls on my walls. Nor, can I ever think of tagging any friend in such a photo, for that matter. My sincere request, therefore, to all my friends is: Friends are friends, after all. Sharing such explicit material among friends publicly or tagging a dear friend to such objectionable photos is quite deplorable and objectionable. If, however, any friend is interested in it, he/she can, of course, share such photos via personal e-mails.

The recent past, I was puzzled to see a photo right at the click on my wall. It sort of transfixed me. Eyes remained open. I even forgot to blink. My mouth was half open (I was agape) in surprise. Why to create this kind of situation, when we feel uncomfortable? Why to paste such photos, whereas we can have beautiful photos, messages and educative slogans that we must endear ourselves to? My friends, facebook is, as is known, a social networking site where people of all ages are open to make friends with men & women and girls & boys and where people are networked, irrespective of caste, creed, education, profession and, of course, political views. Why, then, can't we share our views, opinions and paste such photos that look beautiful, illustrative and informative and that are awe-inspiring and thought-provoking, as well? This is just my suggestion and request to all my friends.

solitarysoul: Be Positive ..........

Why to think about the marks we score in examination? Why to rue the paper? Why to repent that, if I had tried a little bit, I would have solved the mathematical problem? There is no need to cry over spilt milk. What is gone is gone. Let’s think about future. Let’s prepare ourselves for future. Tests, examinations, trials and tribulations are our parts of our life. These are life’s real phenomena. One who rides the horse may fall. Knowing well that we may fall off the horse, we still want to ride the horse.

Just as the brook in an English poem says; “For men may come and men may go, but I go on forever”, we have to go on like the river, despite stony hurdles and bumps on the path ahead. We are not to despair even a bit at the face of trouble, problem or failure. Failure and success are two sides to coin. We become happy beyond control, when we gain something or achieve phenomenal success in our lives. We feel sad, when we fail in our attempt. Why? It is because we fail to live up to the expectation of parents, siblings, teachers, guardians, friends, well-wishers and loved ones. A one-time failure does not mean that we are not capable of doing the best in our lives or achieving what we have long had aspired to. There are also paradoxes in life: the more you read, the less you understand. The more you write, the less you score. The more haste, the less speed. These are the paradoxes. What defines your success is your passion. What translates your attempt into success is your hard work. What nurses your hard work is your commitment. What fuels your commitment is your dedication and devotion. Develop a habit of taking everything that comes on your path, in strides, no matter what. Always think about the positive. Be positive and think that you can ……………………… score more than what is your expectation. Time is yours. You can’t wait for time to knock at your door. You should learn when to tap or harness or make use of time, instead. Frustration and disappointment leads you nowhere. So, always be happy, cheerful and positive and stick to the fact that you can ……………………….. achieve success.

What is the result now? Disappointed by the result? Oops! Never let it come near you. You are capable and you know how to solve what puzzled you in the examination day and have the confidence that you can do much, much better in the examinations in the coming years. Don’t despair. Don’t lose hope. Don’t be sad. Always be like what you were – hansta, kudta, khelta kind of kid – one second before you found your marks beeping on the computer screen.

Go ahead and take everything in your strides and the world will be yours oneday…….. Got it?

Coco in Sexy Orange String Bikini in Miami.

I do not know who this girl called Coco is .............. whether she is a Hollywood actress or a supermodel. What attracted me was her body that was carved out of ............... like a huge stone ............. everything in detail …… with surgical precision. She is, no doubt, sexy. Her 'sexiness' has been pronounced even more by the dress that she has worn. Wow! What a body!  If there is God and if He has nothing special to do, He must be taking time off His 'nothing-to-do-at-the-moment' mode and busy carving out a beautiful and curvaceous girl like her. What is her pride (body) is our envy. If I’m saying a few words in appreciation of beauty, no adolescent friend should mistake it for an encroachment on his/her territory. ……  Mind you.

NO to Child Labour

The slogan, “Say NO to Child Labour” is dulcet to ear and sonorous, as well. It rings in ears like a melodious song. On the contrary, this sounds like coming from what appears to be an empty (hollow) drum. It sounds discordant. The slogan alone does not feed millions of hungry children, who are bound to work hard just for two times’ meal at restaurants, bus stops and in the homes of high-profile and highly-placed people. In this light, can you and I alone root out the social evil?  Of course, we can’t. How long do you feed such children? How long will a country feed the children? All the men and the women – poor or rich – want children. And, what will the children born to poor parents do when their parents themselves can’t eke out a living for all? Where will then they go? They are either lured by human traffickers or pedophiles, or end up at restaurants as helps or end up as rag-pickers or pick-pockets.

As the saying goes: “Half a loaf is better than none,” the campaign, kick-started in right earnest, should be continued towards making people aware of this social evil and giving more emphasis on controlling population, instead of walking in the streets holding banners in the sweltering heat. No one out there is ready to stretch his/her ear to hear what the whisper is about and widen eye just to read what the banners emblazon.

Commitment to transform the society is required on the part of all who are really into making the campaign a success. We have to change our mind-set, spread the message on a larger scale, ban the hiring of tiny-tots for household work and take legal action against whoever hires a child in contravention of laws of the country. 

World Environment Day

I was browsing through a facebook timeline.  The photos and the messages posted were informative, illustrative and brain-storming. One question instantly struck me: Can we ever be able to protect flora and fauna for our generations to see? Well, if we spearhead a campaign at our local level to spread the message that we can’t live long if we continue polluting our environment and keep defacing our mother earth, it may work wonders and spread like a wildfire. Programmes such as the ones where people are educated on the importance of forests, the importance of flora and fauna and reduction of industrial emission and control over use of pesticides, insecticides, among others, should be organized at all levels. No effort should be spared to create awareness among people – literate or illiterate.

What is very important is the passion and what is expected of everyone is his/her enthusiasm to join the bandwagon and work together to keep the environment around us clean. Anything that could have wider implications should be kicked off right at the local level in all the countries the world over. If we have a strong drive to do something and achieve what we have dreamed about in life ahead – both for us and for our generations – it’s no doubt that the success will kiss our feet.

Efforts should not be kept on hold midway through the campaign. Rather, they should be continued even in the wake of the event – World Environment Day..

Get well soon.....

I dropped at my friends’ the last evening.  In fact, I visited him to find out how his eldest son was doing. I enquired about him over a cup of tea in between our talks and he said; “It will be all right in 14-15 days.” His wife joined him and added rather confidently that he would be as good as before.

Their engineer son, who complained to his mother of the pain on returning from morning walk, grimaced and whimpered in pain. It is said that a vein has gone over another vain, hence the unbearable pain.

As I was getting ready for my office this morning, my wife said that the boy was crying. My son was at my friend’s place when I reached. He might have told my son how he felt and how painful it was to walk to toilet.

I often think why it all happens, ……….. why we are made to suffer or why we can’t be free from all deadly diseases or excruciating or debilitating pain. ……………. Whatever might have caused him the pain and ……………… whatever might be the reason behind his health condition, ……………….. what I only say is: GET WELL SOON.

Human capital

Employees are crucial components for an organization’s growth. They are like the nuts and bolts. Just as they are used to tighten two separate parts so as to facilitate un-interrupted functioning of a machine or any other thing, the employees are the major components to facilitate achievement of goals. Therefore, the need to enhance employees’ productivity is one of the major priorities of the organization. No matter how talented and skilled the employees are, they are to be provided job-specific training on a regular basis keeping in view the demand of their jobs. An employee could be skilled at a particular job and talented to deliver results. But, in the process of performing duties at higher levels, their talent and skill may not aid them to perform duties as satisfactorily and skillfully as before. Employees are human capital and their talent is accordingly tapped. Job-specific training apart, the organization should ensure for their satisfaction that they might derive from what they do by virtue of their talent and skill.

Sophisticated machines are there, money and material are there, if the human capital (read: human resource) is not taken care of, the talk of achieving goals could be a distant talk. Therefore, proper training to drive organization ahead should be provided continuously and care for employees should be on priority list, irrespective of level, performance and achievement. 

Teamwork

What I know is that like in a football team, where there is coordination among the players, there should be coordination among employees at workplace or in an organization. No player can score a goal or win the match alone.

The term - Teamwork - conjures up a picture where people with varied knowledge, experience and talent work together and where a coordinated effort among talented, skilled, experienced and qualified employees always tops the priority list, because this is the organization and the workplace where employees perform their assigned duties and discharge their responsibilities in groups.

Coordinated efforts, effective communication, cooperation, and intra-personal relationship are the major factors among others that contribute to achievement of organizational goals. Where there is teamwork, there is excitement and growth and progress of both the organization and employees.

There is light at the other end of tunnel

These days, I’m taking a great amount of interest in Facebook – a social networking site. It is as good as its name is. It is as close as a next-door neighbour – a click away.

This spontaneous interest is due largely to the fact that I can make friends with persons from different walks of life, that I can share views and experiences with such persons, that I can have a look at beautiful photos and enjoy them and that I can post on wall what I have on mind. Great! I’ve made friends with many girls and boys. Ha……… ha …….…. ha………………….….

Well, sharing views and interconnecting with people of different walks of life – students and professionals – is amazing. The site has brought us closer.

Making most of the leisure time, I had just surfed through the social networking site. An Adjective word – hopeless – caught my attention. It zoomed large before my eyes. I thought what the word was posted on the wall for and what the writer wanted to say. The word sent shock waves down my spine and kept coming to my mind. Promptly, I wrote on the wall hoping that this will assuage his disappointment, if any; “Why hopeless? There is no space for being hopeless in life. Be hopeful, optimistic and always try to see light at the other end of tunnel. They say; “There is a silver lining in every cloud.” When people can talk of the cloud that has no life, when people can see life in the cloud hoping for a better future, why can’t you, boy? Never lose hope. Got it?” I can’t say for sure if he is disappointed in his real life. I know him. He is just 20+ and has exceptionally high degree of zeal, energy and enthusiasm. He has a passion to do more than what others have ever achieved in their lives. He has the drive to move ahead in his life. Yet, the word, ‘hopeless’ from the young engineer, does not befit him and his outlook on the life looked getting blurred before me. Being close to him, I know what is going on his young, restive mind. He should at least share what is brewing and what he is thinking of at the moment. But, I am sure for one thing that he will remain strong in his conviction, stay unnerved in his decision as to how to lead his life ahead and be an example to his younger brothers. 

I know his father and mom. They are understandable and capable of feeling the nerve of situation. I hope that they can understand their son and read his mind.

What the younger generation of today is up to? They get disappointed and frustrated instantly even at a minor flaw. Frustration and disappointment are writ large on their faces, as if they were its inseparable part.  They are clearly visible on their faces. They tend to lose hope even at a second, as if there were nothing on hold for them for their future life and as if they were tired of their lives at so young an age.

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Concern

It rained on my side of the city the last night. It rained heavily, albeit for a short while. ...... It has given some respite to the denizens from the sweltering heat. ........... The temperature last recorded almost reached a terrible 41º Celsius. My God! ......  If the temperature escalates at  what is feared to be much higher speed than what it was during the month the last year, it should be a common concern for all – a concern about how to protect the earth, the atmosphere, the living things and the world.  ................ Denudation apart; industrial wastage, emission has contributed largely to the atmospheric change and this is the area where all conscious persons should work together before it is too late.

Death: be kind, not cruel.

I came to know about the sudden passing away of my friend’s teenage daughter yesterday. The grapevine has it that she had been undergoing treatment for her health condition for some time. How sad it is that she left her mom, dad and others at young age! Death, be kind, not cruel. Thou art merciless. May God rest her soul in peace and give strength to my friend and his family to bear the irreparable loss. My heart-felt condolence to him and his bereaved family. We deeply miss you, baby.

Heritage

From what I have read recently I conclude that the country like Nepal should make sure that its languages and traditions are cherished and safeguarded for the next generation. In the labyrinth of fast-paced economic growth worldwide, we are stranded and in pursuit to establish ourselves as educated, literate, cultured, socialized and rich. We try to copy the others, emulate their lifestyles, and adopt their culture and traditions. Learning from them their cultures, traditions, languages and lifestyles is not a wrong thing; rather, appreciating them and helping them to protect the vestiges is even more important. But, adopting them and following their foot-steps at the expense of our own cultures and traditions is not wise.

Our cultural heritage has what we can be proud of and take pride in being called the people of the country of Mt. Everest. However, it is not enough for us to make our generations feel proud. We should leave no stone unturned to protect what our fore-fathers have given us as heritage, and transfer it to the next generations. Well, there are people speaking different languages, following different cultures, religions and traditions in our country. Yet, they have lived together for ages in harmony and stood by each other at the time of need. 

What is pertinent now is that we should vow today itself that we shall not shun our responsibility mid-way, but somehow manage to transfer or pass on to the next generation what we have so far had nourished and protected for the generation after generation to see and feel ………………………………………… proud. 

Giving has the beauty.

What I think is beautiful in the world is what we give away with open heart and open fist. The real pleasure of life lies in giving away in whatever way we can, no matter whether it is small or big.  In fact, that is where beauty lies. The poor die of hunger for want of food. The sick die for want of proper medical care. The persons who die such deaths are none other than the down-trodden and poverty-stricken ones who are bound to live a hell-like life. No one will call to mind if anybody ever lived among such persons. Whoever is alive is left to his/her fate: hungry, thirsty and sick.

We are not even a bit ashamed to call ourselves human beings when someone among us is seen starving of food, water or dying for want of medical treatment. Prompt erupts a question in mind: where is our humanity? Why are we not sensible? Why are we not sensitive towards human sufferings? The only word in counter to question would be ‘why’. We can be sympathetic towards animals which are butchered to feed human beings. But, we are not even a bit concerned about how the poor, the sick and the thirsty manage to eke out a living, earn bread for the evening or arrange for two square meals for a day, buy their medicines.  Why should we be? We know that they are not our brothers or sisters. They are not born from the same mothers as we are.  We don’t lose even a second to point fingers at them and curse them and, if possible, beat them up and send them to jails for no mistake or offence of theirs.

We are educated and take pride in it and in what we think is our birthrights to torture and suppress the poor and gag them. Where do we usually be when they need us, ask us for our help and help them out in whatever way we can. We don’t happen to be there. Rather, we hang out, chill out and dine out late into the night. We rejoice more in ostentation than in coming to their rescue. Oh! It is the life. On one hand side, we spend time, money and energy for our own pleasures and on the other; the poor, the sick and the thirsty die for want of food, water and for want of medicines. It’s irony of life.  Giving has the beauty that has no nuance.  Giving has the pleasure that transcends all barriers. 

Lies

Telling a lie or lying to the Superiors that you took ill immediately upon reaching home, you are more likely to damage your career rather than winning their sympathy, more because you have breached their trust than because you were ill. It is to be noted that they have already started looking for an experienced, self-motivated, skilled and productive replacement, irrespective of consequences. 

Honesty and sincerity are two major things that stand you out among your colleagues. Whether in personal or professional life, a person is always regarded as being important and his/her importance is realized when the management feels that he/she is indispensable. 

As you are true to your personal life, why not be true to your professional life as well? You may rise and climb a ladder to success in your professional as well as personal life. You may earn a name or fame by virtue of your honesty and sincerity. Just by lying that you couldn’t feel well and that you could not report to your duty on time, you are wrong. For this is not the first time that you were absent without notice to the management. The management might have already surmised that maybe you are looking for an equally important opportunity elsewhere.

Never try to camouflage lies as truths. This will not help you. You will feel guilty, instead. You wouldn’t feel comfortable. You will feel shy of facing the seniors once you have taken him for a ride. However, you may feel comfortable with them if you have the guts to face them and tell them what it was real. 

The following are a few tips that can help you to cope with the situation that you think is deteriorating: 

1] Face your superiors

Tell them what went wrong with you, instead of lying to them. 

2] Assure them of the same level of spirit, motivation and zeal

If you really want to continue in your organization, there’s no harm in confessing. Assurance to them of your commitment to work with the same level of spirit and zeal as your started your career with the organization earlier will somehow help you to win their confidence.

3] Show result 

Start working and show the desired result. This shows your increased level of commitment.

4] Report to your Superiors

Reporting is one of the major constituents in an organization. This helps keep everything streamlines.

5] Avoid repeating the mistake 

Don’t ask for leave unless there is an emergency. But, this time you will not repeat the mistake. You should submit documentary evidence to ward off doubts. If, however, you can’t furnish the document, you should come back to duty at least one day before the arrival day. 

What you should always do is not to resort to lies, whether in personal or professional life. Lies – whether small or big – are lies; they have the potential to undermine your personal and professional life.

What it is like to be a manager?

I started my professional career as Assistant in a private company. I felt ecstatic and happy as long as I had worked with my first employer. I was happy at doing what I did and what was assigned to me from time to time.

I never thought what it was like to be a manager. After I had worked for two-and- a-half years, I jumped the job to a new company where I had spent more than two decades of my life. Time and my exposure to new avenues and responsibilities helped me in my pursuit of learning more and more new things and doing them in right earnest and with efficiency. I gradually kept pace with time and the responsibilities that devolved upon me. I gradually realized the importance of work and job and the significance of how glamorous and responsible a manager’s position is. I began to think and realize that every employee aspires to become a manager in his/her professional life. Initially, I didn’t know about it; nor, did I ever give a second thought to what it was like to be a manager. I was happy at what I was doing. I was satisfied with all that I did in my office.

In the course of – well – discharging responsibilities, I began to realize the importance of a manager, his/her official and social status, his/her command over juniors, his/her authority, power, rights.

Questions like what it was like to be a manager and what it takes to be a manager began to haunt me only after I had spent – well – ten years in the labyrinth of professional life. That education – no matter whether it is linear or non-linear – training, job-specific knowledge, skill, job-specific experience, efficiency, commitment, eagerness to do new things, skill at handling manpower, et cetera are all that are required for a man to be a manager. Over the period of time, I developed within me these sorts of traits and many other things that could help me to be a manager – a manager who could run an organization independently, a manager who would have his say in the management decision, a manager who has take on the pro’s & con’s, do’s & don’ts, what is crucial and what’s not, how to manage the workplace, and a manager who could boast of having the confidence of managing and running an enterprise successfully and efficiently.

I’m not even a bit ashamed to confess that I’ve no linear academic qualification. Despite having a non-linear academic background, I have come a long way and in the process of my professional journey and in my pursuit to better my professional career and life, I’ve developed an unwanted habit of reading newspapers, newsmagazines, books on management, et cetera and this has helped me a lot to enrich my knowledge and help me to bring what is helpful, crucial and indispensable into practice. Well, reading is my passion and this intensifies my interest in literature and aids me in my latest thirst for writing.

To be a manager – an able, efficient and proficient in languages and trades – one requires the traits and the ability to manage a system where people from different social backgrounds, traditions, cultures, economic backgrounds work in unison with one another and to achieve organizational goals at the same time. I realized what it was like to be a manager when I ultimately took over as manager and thereafter, as Sr. Manager and could manage companies by virtue of what I had learnt during my association with several companies, by virtue of what I had learnt through my perusal from different books and by virtue of my exposure to new areas where challenges were abundant.

I have now felt a new kind of vigour. I have now felt a new kind of zeal to do what I can do to scale the height of professional ladder. 

Addiction

It has been a sort of addiction to get ready for office early at 5 a.m.  Journey early  in the morning from my room to office and vice versa has lately been too risky as there is no certainty where and when on road I am going to encounter people protesting against the government for reasons known to them. Sporadic road blocks and rampant protests on the road have of late increasingly aggravated the situation. No one knows for sure what will happen where and when. Yet, people are bound to walk miles and miles on foot in such a volatile situation. 

I salute my Mother

I salute my mother, because she is a great woman who had kept me inside her womb for nine months, because she is a kind woman who gave me birth, because she is a great nurse who took upon herself all the responsibilities to nurse, breast-feed and tidy me up, because she is a guide who always took me along the right path and because she is my mother who alternately chided, scolded and loved me as I grew up walking behind her clutching her by her sari. 

I salute my mother, because she always made sure if I was hungry, if I took ill, if I returned from school on empty stomach, if I had money to bye anything to eat. I salute my mother, because she still asks me if I’m fine even though she is physically weak. I often wonder how strong is the bond between my mother and my brothers, sisters and me. The love that I get, the affection that I receive, the care I get even today are what have kept me even closer to my mom and made me aware of how obligatory it is to pay attention to her as & when she most needs me. Words can’t explain how happy I feel when I devote five minutes of my time to her care. Words can’t explain the satisfaction that I feel when I can be of little help to her. She does not discriminate between her children. She loves all equally, irrespective of who earns more, who is more educated and who cares for her more. She is the kind of mother who epitomizes love, affection and care for all. She is a brilliant example of how she brought us all up. I salute my mother and will always keep in mind the 14th of May and remember this special day as Mother’s Day.