The mind of the Mahatma

Hi,

Had been reading some serious stuff over the last week. It had been some time since I read something serious. Hence, the impact of what I read last week left a deep impression on me.

The stuff I read was Gandhi - A Memoir, by William L. Shirer. The biographer was truly awesome as he could successfully penetrate into the mind of Gandhi. The energy levels of Gandhi, his basic love for action and his simple, yet shrewd political thinking - Shirer deserves a great deal of laurels for having brought forth all these to the reader.

Gandhi must have firmly believed that he would die only after winning Freedom for India. And what a life the man had led. I find it truly hard to believe his passion to free India - be it during his visit to England for discussions with the British, or during his visit to Manchester to witness the suffering mill workers, or while his visit to Shimla to visit the new Viceroy.

I was equally amazed by Shirer's ability to cover Gandhi's life with the same ease as he exercised in covering Hitler's (Shirer was simultaneously working on the rise and fall of the Third Reich). Shirer's mind must have had the ability to seek the true persona of human beings. Only then, I believe, he could have covered these two antithetical, contemporary and giant personalities of world history.

More later,

Vijay Pitchai

Events that disrupt the Halcyon

Hi,

The last few days took me to new areas and helped me meet new people. Thanks to events that were way out of the normal. These events unleashed rich experiences, that helped me mature more than I could ever imagine.

I wish to sum-up the last 2 weeks' experiences in the following manner:

"Live every moment as though they it matters a lot to you. Alas! A moment not so well-lived is a moment that you let slip into oblivion. Fire all your cylinders (you may call it energy / passion / being) to grasp the experience that comes to you on a platter. For, let us not forget, all life is a string of experiences assembled to form a unique rosary. And remember, it is an assembly of beads, which you alone could organize and you, hence, are completely responsible".

Take care!

Vijay

Facilities at our disposal

Hi,

I envy today's young minds. I state this as I see the world of opportunities staring at these young minds. I know some young friends who improve the way they speak using the "Record" option in their mobile phones. All they do is record and improve, and keep on improving it. These minds get to listen to MLK / Malcolm X / Kennedy as and when they feel like. They download landmark speeches from history and have an easy chance emulate great minds.

As a youngster, my chances of listening to such speeches or doing a Kaizen on my soft skills were limited.

The question facing today's young mind is, how far can it go. I would not surprised when such powered minds bring forth a new order to our pattern of thinking.

So much to ponder in this surprise-filled world!

Vijay

Death of a language's finesse

Hi,

I bought some Tamil literature works last week. These works were written 60 years ago.

As I began reading them, I found that the language had been richer, even 60 years ago. There were many words I ran into for the first time in my life. There were also some letters that had been in vogue then, now extinct.

It dawned on me that languages, if not properly patronized, can lose their elegance. I was also held in shock that how rich languages would have been several centuries ago. The resultant feeling was that of shock and despair, as we all work day-in and day-out to make our languages lose their elegance.

It is time to realize our heritage and stop further erosion of our rich past.

Vijay