The urge to karma

There was a time, many years ago, when I lived for considerable periods in a state of emotional exaltation wrapped up in the action which absorbed me. Those days of my youth seem far away now, not merely because of the passage of years but far more so because of the ocean of experience and painful thought that separates them from today. The old exuberance is much less now, the almost uncontrollable impulses have toned down, and passion and feeling are more in check. The burden of thought is often a hindrance, and in the mind where there was once certainty, doubt creeps in. Perhaps it is just age, or common temper of the day.
And yet even now, the call of action stirs strange depths within me, and often a brief tussle with thought. I want to experience again 'that lonely impulse of delight' which turns to risk and danger.
This urge of action(karma), this desire to experience life through action, has influenceed all my thought and activity.
Even my seemingly actionless life is tacked on somehow, by some process of thought and feeling,to coming or imagined action. Thus it gains for me a certain content without which it would be a vacuum in which existence would become intolerable.

Pursuit in science

A small news item in today's newspaper is worth consideration. One Ms. Himami Anand of Bangalore, a Pre-university student, who secured 4th. rank in CET(Medical), 6th. rank in AIEEE and 477th. rank for IIT has decided to join B.Sc. at I.I.Sc. Good luck to her. Not many would have taken such a decision these days.
If C.V.Raman's life epitomizes anything, it is the difficulty of pursuing pure science in a country that is poor(intellectually). J.C.Bose lost himself first in teaching and then in culture, while Meghnad Saha drifted to social uplift and politics. Homi Bhabha was more successful, but in institution building rather than in pure science itself.
It is true that nowadays money for scientific research is more easy to come by. But money alone does not produce good science. India has not got woken up to the fact that unless there is a proper environment, organised support and nourishment, occurance of excellence on the Indian scene would continue to be infrequent.
Public attitude to excellence also must change. Rxcellence(at least in science) is not a spectacle to be paraded and treated with civic receptions, Republic day honours and the like. Rather, it must be nursed, given necessary support and left alone to grow. Also, there must be a certain amount of boldness in keeping out the charlatans and the mediocre.

Another View

Scientists, it is said, think differently at times!
I recall the time when I saw the three-monkeys figurine for the first time. I was told that the monkey covering its eyes means "See no evil," the one covering its ears "Hear no evil" and the one covering its mouth "Speak no evil."
I studied them for a moment, then thought, "It could mean that the one with the hands over eyes is listening, the one with hands over ears is looking, and the one with hands over mouth is thinking."

Needed Good Debates

I sit in front of Television every evening to watch the debates amongst different political parties, which are arranged by various news channels. I look forward to understand their policies and perceptions on important current issues before the nation. But what do I find? I can see only the aggressive provocative rhetoric, cheap politics, accusations towards each other and a tendency to move away from the main issue.
To all the spokespersons representing their parties, who come for discussions(?), my advice is to let them know what Kahlil Gibran says? This wise man has said:-
"If you are well mannered towards those whose views are similar to yours, you may be said to exhibit a fairly good character. But, if you behave properly with those holding divergent views from you or who criticise you, then you deserve to be credited with having an excellent character."

Expensive Proposal

It may be difficult for you to comprehend how much Rs. 100 crores is, but I can help you!
A husband gave his wife Rs.1o lakhs and told her to go and spend Rs. 1000 everyday. The wife did so. Three years later, she returned and told him that money was all over and wanted more.
He then gave her Rs. 100 crores and told her to go and spend Rs. 1000 everyday. She did not come back for 3000 years.

Mother Nature

5th june is celebrated as world environment day every year.
I often wonder while observing happiness of the trees. They are happy for no reason. They are not going to become kings or presidents. Nor are they going to become rich and they will never have any bank balance either! I look at the flowers and it is simply unbelievable to find them so happy for no reason.
Let us preserve this innocence forever, which is God's gift to our planet.