Developing Roots

From Kuhuks Visit to Jim Corbett National Park

I always feel that an individual is like a tree. Wherever he goes he needs to develop roots so as to be able to stand upright. By developing roots I mean, the individual needs to visit the hinterlands of the area he is moved to, so that he is able to aclimatize himself with the surroundings.

I have recently moved to Varanasi with a new assignment and now at times I do get time to sit back an realize. Realize, the opportunities I enjoy of being able to develop roots in so many different parts of this great country India. I have travelled out of my home since 1994 but it was when I joined MBA at Indore that I started realizing the importance of developing these roots.

During those days my grandfather was staying at Jhansi, at my uncle's and I used to visit them quite often. Once I remember, my grandfather mentioning to me that even the trees in around Jhansi do not seem familiar to what we had been accustommed of seeing at Allahabad. It was then I made a resolve to make myself familiar to the surrounding flora and fauna of wherever I dwell.

Since then I have stayed at so many places for work from Indore to Kolkata to Pune to Delhi to Bangalore to back to Delhi. My stay at Kolkata was short and thus I was not able to develop roots around the place but I can proudly say that I have loved each and every place I worked or each and every place I could develop roots.

Why do I look at things differently?

There was a question put before me as to why do I look at things differently.

I had been wondering on the same myself for quite a long time but was never able to understand. Then this time I had a chance to visit the Ram Dal at Chowk Allahabad and what I saw is something I do not think is seen or heard of at other places.

I took a few photographs with my mobile. Yes the one you see above is one among them. Since the light was just not right the whole idea could not be captured properly.

We have seen devotees worshipping idols all across the country but has anyone ever got a chance to see a God Idol worshipping human beings?

Well, that was exactly what is there in the photograph above, which I saw. I saw the idol of Lord Hanuman performing Aarti to the persons sitting on a tableau in the make-up of Ram & Sita. The idol had to be suspended from atop of the gateway prepared for the event. There are people who hold the idol from above and sides of the gateway and the idol is made to perform Aarti of the tabelau in which people are dressed like Ram and Sita.

Now, isn't it strange !

And ... Doesn't it not make me different from other people???

For more of what I think about, you may like to go through my ebook, Jai Shree Ram.

Why do we burn the Effigies of the Lanka Trio?

Every Dushehra we find hordes of people thronging on to the Dushehra fairs to burn the effigies of the Lanka Trio: Ravan, Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran. Many a times I stop to ponder why do we burn them?
The Lanka Trio: Ravan Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran were the leaders of Lanka at the times of Lord Ram. Lanka at that time was known as the City of Gold. A City of Gold would mean a highly prosperous city economy something almost unheard of during the times of Lord Ram. Then why do we burn the effigies of such people who could bring such prosperity to their nation?
We have learnt through the ages that it was Ravan who had abducted Sita while she was accompanying her husband to the 14 years of exile and thus Ravan was a bad demon. But then do we not also burn the effigy of Meghdoot and Kumbhkaran who just stood by Ravan, their king and near kin. Then why do we burn them as well every Dushehra and feel happy?
Or was it something much greater that these people had of which we are jealous and we try and burn and decimate. For more on the same thoughts you may like to go through my eBook, Jai Shree Ram .