My readers by now have a fair bit of idea on why Mahatria’s thoughts are found to be so very inspiring by me, motivating me to share the same with the larger audience for their benefit.

In a discourse broadcasted on YouTube, he has very effectively highlighted the need to develop one’s subconscious mind. As explained by him, our conscious mind is only 1/8th of our total mind, the remaining 7/8 being the subconscious mind. And all our lives we use only 1/8th of our mind, which is as if in factory called mind that’s employing 8 workers, only 1 is working while the remaining 7 are being subsidised by this one!

According to Mahatria, power of man is in his mind, power of mind is in subconscious mind and power of subconscious mind is in subconscious beliefs. To build a powerful subconscious mind, he suggests a three pronged approach comprising the following steps:

(1) Avoid mixed associations – As he brings out in a very nuanced manner that’s become his hallmark, he says that during the course of any feeling, any emotion or any action, our mind thinks in favour of it as also against it. We have no clarity of thought and we tend to mix the issue in for and against parlance. If we try, what if we fail? What if our request is not accepted but turned down? He explains that having mixed associations is a basic trait of conscious mind, but when we build clarity of thought and purpose, we reach subconscious mind, stoking our subconscious beliefs. We must pursue our goals and objectives with a single minded devotion.

(2) Honour every commitment – As he cites an example that if you say that you will do yoga each 365 days of the year, you are likely to fail your commitment. When you are sincere and make a commitment with an unfailing promise to honour it, it reinforces subconscious beliefs.

(3) Run your victory laps – As he explains, negative feelings are more deep rooted and are embedded in the subconscious mind and beliefs. Sadness, anger, failure, loss are all deeply embedded. To overcome these, we not only have to seek success or victory, but celebrate !

All the above are simple truths that we are aware of – clarity of thought, dedicated commitment and inculcate positivity! But when explained in simple words and structured manner by Mahatria, the impact is immediate and lasting. He, in fact, inspires you to follow these simple time tested truths to improve your life!

I find his thoughts even more relevant in the current Covid scenario, because unless one sees this pandemic with a spiritual lens, it can be heart rending and extremely traumatic!

Life is uncertain and difficult,

Covid has added to its miseries;

Listen to divine and think differently,

Clarity will emerge by unravelling all the mysteries!!

Work from home (WFH) is posing newer challenges such as unlimited working hours, no breaks, mental fatigue and above all monotony. People are not taking leaves because as it is they are at home and there’s no scope for any outing or visit. People are not dressing up, grooming themselves, taking care of their physical health, binging on junk food and leading an unscheduled life style that’s hovering around office work and television. There’s no physical activity or mental stimulation. In fact, household tiffs and obesity are being cited as two most adverse outcomes of the current lockdown.

The problem is that most of the organisations are seriously exploring implementation of WFH even in post Covid times. It’s said that this is expected to result in substantial savings to the organisations ( rent, electricity, overheads etc) as also employees ( conveyance, travel time etc)

It’s not as if everyone is adversely affected by WFH situation. Women with dependent elders, young children and other such issues are rejoicing the idea of WFH. It gives them flexibility as also opportunity to fulfil other familial obligations. Those who used to spend hours commuting to office and back home should also generally be happy.

But besides everything, man inherently is a social animal and notwithstanding conveniences and flexibilities offered by WFH, he needs to meet people, exchange thoughts, mingle socially and at times, celebrate his existence. The very concepts of social distancing, avoiding crowds, working from home, staying indoors etc are anathema to his basic trait and that’s the reason why Corona’s impact is being felt so severely much beyond its contagiousness and fatality.

Corona has hit the very basis of mankind’s existence. It’s not so much to do with WFH, but overall constriction associated with it that’s driving people to psychological disorders, including suicidal tendencies. Yoga, meditation or mere chanting of God’s name can prove to be great stress busters in these Covid times. We need to treat it as a passing phase rather than being apprehensive about its permanence. If change is the only constant, then this scenario will also change and those who will see through it successfully and come out relatively less scathed will be the winners.

If those days are gone

How long will Covid survive?

Man’s resilience knows no bounds

Tomorrow is a new day of his life!

I love both The Dark and The Light, Evil and Angel, Good as well as Bad, because they all are incomplete without each other!

It’s Friday evening and after an excruciating week, as I just sit to relax and chill, a few random thoughts come to my mind. These are:

(1) As India overtakes Spain in number of deaths and stands at third position behind US and Brazil in total number of Covid cases, the country is unlocking slowly. Number of people on the streets, vehicles on the roads, shops open, offices gradually opening, sale of cars and bikes going up and several other activities almost touching pre Covid levels is a great dilemma, very hard to explain. When there were few cases, we were under strict lockdown ! Now that pandemic is peaking and so are deaths, we are trying to be going back to normal!

(2) Oxford vaccine is now getting into phase 3 trial, while as I am writing this blog, I understand our own Covaxin ( under the auspices of ICMR) has been administered to a patient in AIIMS and as last heard, so far there has been no side reaction. Is effective vaccine really about to be mass produced shortly and we are all going to be vaccinated over the next 3-4 months to be Covid proof?

(3) India and China are talking at military leadership level, but outcomes are not very clear! It’s said that while China has moved back its forces in Galwan valley, it’s not doing so in finger region of Pangong Lake. Indian Army is stocking up for long Ladakh winters! What’s happening there?

(4) Mumbai and Eastern parts of India are receiving record rainfall. But Mumbai lakes have 29% stock of water only while devastation in Bihar is unprecedented. Government is relying on record Agri production for Indian economy to piggy ride rural recovery! But with poor and farmers at the forefront of all natural calamities, this optimism seems slightly misplaced!

(5) Pakistan’s rhetoric on Kashmir is unfazed by Corona pandemic , while Nepal’s claim on owning up real Ayodhya is only adding to the confusion on the chances of improvement in India’s relations with its neighbours in short to medium term!

(6) A well run, largely profitable and having the distinction of acquiring numero uno position in aviation sector company like Indigo is cutting its staff by 10%. I think, earlier it had cut staff salaries too. Employees contributing to reserves built up over a period of time are getting sacrificed at the altar of pandemic for no fault of theirs. This in turn is leading to loan defaults. The job market is at its nadir.

(7) A bunch of Kerala doctors working in Mumbai decided to go back on not being paid salaries. There are several health workers, teachers and other government/semi government employees not getting salaries regularly! How will their kitchens run?

(8) Price of gold has crossed Rs50000 per 10 grams and interest rates on deposits are now hovering around 6% level. With 35% tax on interest, the return on deposits are proving to be too meagre for pensioners depending on this for survival!

(9) I haven’t touched a physical news paper for 4 months and am reading e papers, solving Sudoku and crossword in my register, which is very inconvenient !

(10) I am dying to go to my favourite South Indian restaurant at Matunga for my staple of idli, dosa, vada and thali! Don’t know when will I have all these?

The crux is that even in randomness, Corona is not sparing! It’s made such a deep impact on our psyche that while all our considered thoughts hover around it, it dominates even our random thoughts! Hope our country, businesses, rural economy, health sector and above all citizens, especially those who have struggled for food, jobs, livelihood during these Covid times show resilience to survive this to see the golden future that will come back for sure! Don’t miss the thought stated in bold italics at the beginning of this article! Without pandemic, we wouldn’t have valued our normal life!

Yes, precisely 35 years ago my life made a fresh beginning. It was on 22nd July 1985 that I joined as probationary officer in now defunct, by virtue of its merger in SBI, State Bank of Bikaner &Jaipur. Certain moments in one’s life are defining moments that on the hindsight seemed to be matters of routine, but eventually proved to be game changers.

Such game changing, life defining moments are few and far between and can be counted on one’s finger tips – at least this applies in my case. The first such moment I distinctly remember was opening of new branch of Central School , of which my mother came to know, stood in queue for hours to get the form and then to deposit it, prepared me for admission interview and got me into it. In fact, I had already passed my Class I from Government school and I ended up repeating the level in Central School. The next was selection as PO in SBBJ, the next most coveted civilian job after civil services. It was an altogether new experience, with new learning and new friends – a few of us being in touch till date – probably the next best to the school friends’ relationship , which dates back to 1968 with a few who are still in touch. 1985 is the next best indeed. This opened up further opportunities as I managed an opening in the then newly opening new generation private sector bank, Axis Bank, then known as UTI Bank in 1994 and it has been a great journey since then, now on the verge of reaching finishing line!

22/7/85 will always remain important date, etched in my memory. I might have left the organisation, organisation itself might have ceased to exist, but for many of us, the batch of 1985, 22/7/85 will be a defining moment and SBBJ an institution evoking awe, as we reflect at that moment after 35 years. Age has caught up; many friends have already ended their innings and started fresh one; many moved on – to new organisations, new destinations, including new countries; many are proud parents of brilliant children and a few of us are grandparents!

Long live SBBJ, albeit only in our memories! Long live association of batch of 1985, whose summer of 42 started in 1985, on 22/7/85 to be precise!

The media is agog with the clear probability of Corona vaccine getting readied in next few months. Suddenly, there’s hope of the life going back to normal – free of masks, sanitisers, social distancing and lockdown.

However, such a once-in-lifetime experience should not be allowed to go waste if the idea is to go back to the old normal. While old normal is welcomed for getting rid of the aforesaid Corona related compulsions, we must adopt new normal, the one I have tried to explain in the few lines composed especially for my readers. The verse reads as below:

Life after Corona

Till now we have only worried –

First it was about school and grades,

And then higher study and higher trades;

Then started the struggle for a good job that was well paid,

That would have met my needs keeping me in shipshape ;

Need for a life companion followed soon,

And the desire was to have nothing less than the moon;

After all what’s marriage without procreation;

Aren’t children God’s finest creation ?

Children needed to go to the best of school,

The very thought of smart children would make us drool;

Meanwhile need to get ahead in the job was imminent,

Unless the rat race was won, the success was not pertinent;

Children had to be educated in the best college abroad,

Lest they would not earn in dollars and be the lord;

Luckily somewhere Corona brought life to a standstill,

That forced each one of us to pause before the next thrill;

Realisation dawned that what looked like thrill was nothing but sham,

The life was not being lived but it was a mere chase up to glam;

And now I am worried –

More than half of the life is gone,

There was so much to do but what I have done?

Have so far lived life chasing what I didn’t have,

Little realising all the bounty that I already had;

Ergo, now I want to live my life,

And bid adieu to worry and strife;

Unless we learn anything from this Corona pandemic in haste ,

The entire experience of lockdown will go waste;

It will be back to the life of chasing big dreams and newer goals,

By sacrificing the small things around us and that’s not all!

We will again ignore the chirping of bird and whispering of tree leaves,

And we may face another disruption and again pray for a reprieve !!!

Vaccine and cure will obliterate coronavirus sooner than we believe and we should start preparing for living the life as bestowed to us by the lord almighty!

(1) चीन के वुहान में मेरा जन्म हुआ

देखते ही देखते मैं पूरी दुनिया में अमर हुआ

अमेरिका जैसे सुपरपावर भी सोच में पड़ गए

यह क्या हुआ, कैसे हुआ?

बताओ मैं कौन हूँ?

(2) लगता हूँ खांसी जुकाम जैसा

असली रूप मेरा विभत्स ऐसा

चौदह दिन में साँस रोक दूँ

अच्छे भले को कर दूँ शव जैसा!

बूझो तो मैं कौन हूँ?

(3) प्रकृति की छटा हुई है और सुंदर

हरे हो रहे हैं पेड़ नीले समुंदर

मैं तो अदृश्य हूँ दिखता नहीं

मारता हूँ साँस से घुसकर अंदर

बोलो तो मैं कौन हूँ?

(4) लॉकडाउन, मास्क, दूरी जैसे नए शब्द सिखाए मैंने

जो कभी देखे न थे ऐसे नज़ारे दिखाए मैंने

जिसने की मेरे तिरस्कार की हिमाक़त

उसकी कब्र खुदवाई मैंने

अब तो बताओ मेरा नाम?

(5) लगी है दुनिया वैक्सीन खोजने

दवा और काढ़े के फ़ायदे टटोलने

घर में क़ैद रहकर ही बच सकते हो

बाहर जाने के अंजाम है घिनौने

अब तो बताओ मैं कौन हूँ?

(6) आदमी ने बना दिया था धरती को नर्क

इसलिए मुझे सिखाना पड़ा ये कड़वा सबक़

जब उसे एहसास हो जाएगा अपनी भूल का

निकल जाऊँगा मैं लेकर पतली सड़क!

हार गए के जीतोगे मेरा नाम बताकर?

I would like to thank my readers for their candid feedback on my yesterday’s poem Monsoon magic that varied from outstanding to outstandingly gloomy! I had no option but to rework on my poem for one of the main objectives of mine taking to active blogging is to spread happiness and hope and not darkness and despair, which my poem unfortunately ended up doing! But I must be honest that this Covid pandemic has taken toll on my verve and enthusiasm and I actually wrote the aforesaid poem under gloom and despair. To change it into luminous and shining hope, I could think of no one but my young, highly erudite, compassionate and rooted to the ground friend Shyamashree Rudra, who in fact affectionately calls me Dada, elder brother in Bengali. And I would be doing a great disservice to her spontaneity and talent by claiming the credit for the last 4 stanzas of the poem, which she has composed on my request. What’s highly praiseworthy is the fact that she has used the same metre, genre and mood, as used in the first part composed by me, to make it look like a single work by a single author.

One stanza on a sister nursing her ailing brother has especially touched me as Shyama has dedicated it to my wife, who has been tending to her elder brother, a terminal stage cancer patient, with great dedication and devotion, keeping his and everyone else’s morale high under the twin devils – Covid and cancer.

Shyama is currently on a sabbatical-fulfilling her familial obligations. I wish her an active return to public life, for this world bereft of hope, happiness and humour needs likes of her to spread the shining light that they reflect through their attitude towards life and sheer knowledge gained from close interactions with humans.

Monsoon magic 1 was like black magic – dark, rueful and eerie. Monsoon magic 2 is reverse of it – cheerful, chirpy and cock a hoop! It says:

When the rain fell on the tin roof,
Pitter patter was so melodious;
Children played in water poodles,
Splashing sound was so mellifluous.

Bathing in the rain was so refreshing,
First shower had curative power so was said;
Neither it caused cold or cough,
Everything was joyful and so perfect.

Wet weather caused hunger pangs,
But ordinary food would simply not do;
Hot pakoras and hot cup of tea,
Were the must without any hullabaloo.

Come monsoon and heat would abate,
So first showers were eagerly awaited;
After sweaty and sweltering summers,
Rain brought happiness making everyone elated!

Where are those rains?
It’s either drought or disaster;
Gone is that sweet pitter patter,
Children avoid poodles as if monster!

Rains were welcomed as gift of god,
Flooding was rare and seldom;
There was no fear or panic,
For it was just a natural phenomenon!

This year is turning out to be special,
Transition from season to season seems seamless;
Covid has pushed us inside since winters,
Rains will lead to new winter, yet we shall still be hopeless!

Are things really that hopeless,
Is there still hope, I wonder;
Yes – if only we were to look for it,
In a sister tending to her ailing brother.

In a neighbor helping a neighbor,
In the chirping of the birds and the morning dew;
In the rains that washed away the dust,
And left the leaves sparkling anew.

In the fireflies sparkling at night,
And the sparrow tap-tapping on your window;
In the garbage collector who never misses his duty,
And the doctors and nurses saving lives in every way they know.

So as we travel these dark and dreary months,
Let us all hold hands through this pain;
Like the sun that rises every morning,
Hope too will rise once again.

Salute to human spirit, Corona warriors, resilience of nature and above all Shyamashree Rudra!

When the rain fell on the tin roof,

Pitter patter was so melodious;

Children played in water poodles,

Splashing sound was so mellifluous.

Bathing in the rain was so refreshing,

First shower had curative power so was said;

Neither it caused cold or cough,

Everything was joyful and so perfect.

Wet weather caused hunger pangs,

But ordinary food would simply not do;

Hot pakoras and hot cup of tea,

Were the must without any hullabaloo.

Come monsoon and heat would abate,

So first showers were eagerly awaited;

After sweaty and sweltering summers,

Rain brought happiness making everyone elated!

Where are those rains?

It’s either drought or disaster;

Gone is that sweet pitter patter,

Children avoid poodles as if monster!

Rains were welcomed as gift of god,

Flooding was rare and seldom;

There was no fear or panic,

For it was just a natural phenomenon!

This year is turning out to be special,

Transition from season to season seems seamless;

Covid has pushed us inside since winters,

Rains will lead to new winter, yet we shall still be hopeless!

It’s not for nothing that experts are increasingly realising the importance of Bhagvad Geeta in modern management learning techniques. In fact, several management colleges of repute have included this immortal classic tome in their curricula.

Came across the above episode from Mahabharat that encapsulates the Great fight between two great warriors – Karna and Arjuna. Arjuna charioted by Lord Krishna himself and with other protections as highlighted in the episode is the ultimate winner, but he’s crestfallen for the Lord, instead of appreciating his efforts, is seen repeatedly applauding Karan’s effort. This was hurting Arjuna’s ego, a victor and a leader ! But Lord’s explanation was very subtle ! He explained what all was available to Arjuna that catapulted him to victory, privileges that Karna was bereft of and yet he fought so valiantly! Lord explains that behind our achievements , there’s a divine will. Divine intervention puts us in right place at the right opportunity , paving the way for our achievement and success!

The above message is also contrarian to Bhagvad’s message of doing Karma or making efforts to achieve something! If indeed everything is attributable to divine will and divine intervention then whatever is in one’s Bhagya or destiny should be his for which he should not be expected to be doing Karmas. These seemingly contrarian and contradictory views in fact lend an insurmountable depth to Bhagvad’s learning that are required to be understood, imbibed and practiced and not just skimmed through for half baked inferences!

We would have come across several successful people claiming to be self made, attributing their success to sheer hard work, planning and strategy. But behind one’s hard work, planing and strategy also there’s divine will and no body should claim the success of any venture solely by himself. It’s not just by chance but divine will that one gets a viable idea, financial assistance and a great team that helps one realise his or her dreams! On the face, it’s all our efforts, karmas or purusharth, whatever you may call it, but behind it there’s an unseen, unheard, unfelt ( only experienced) divine will and intervention and one must be grateful and gratuitous for all this success!

I had earlier also written a blog on Mr Malik. Today as he celebrates his 75th birthday, I am tempted to say a few more things about his unique personality.

He belongs to that fast vanishing rare breed of people, who likes to go out of his way to help people, without expecting anything in return. If at all, he gets admonishment from his wife and daughters for needlessly getting into the matters of others. But that’s how he is! He just loves if two people to whom he is trying to help or introduce benefit from each other’s acquaintanceship!

He never keeps anything is in his heart and says it on your face. This has two effects – it puts off a set of people who do not like straight talk, especially if it concerns them and it also helps Mr Malik build life long relationships based on mutual trust and love once the person understands that plain speaking is in that person’s interest and done without any malice in his heart! In today’s time of tact and diplomacy where are such straightforward, honest and truthful persons calling a spade a spade!

You can like him, love him, adore him or dislike him, but you cannot repress him and his thoughts. He says what he feels and there’s no duality in what he says and does!

He worked hard for more than three decades and earned every penny and every position that he got! He never begged anyone for favours and this high self esteem distinguishes Mr Malik from ordinary mortals, who may not minding to bend a little to achieve something. He has never bent but stood erect staring at every challenge in its face and this quality of his makes his achievements all the more precious.

And yes all that matters to him is relationship and it’s importance. He is not the one to shy away from responsibilities that relationship bestows on a person.

As said before, where do you find such selfless, simple and straightforward people! Having one such in one’s close contact is the most cherished possession for anyone and for me it’s a blessing to be acquainted with him and to be counted amongst his friends! To end this piece of obeisance on his platinum jubilee, I will say:

Where’s the mould and the clay

That the almighty used to craft him, a pure silk; , a pure silk

Seems these got discarded as God stopped;

Making V K Maliks and persons of their ilk !