Life is Beautiful if you care

Last month, I had to travel from Bengaluru's Kempegowda International Airport to Lucknow. I have traveled this route many many times before. Every time it was a journey of me myself, I never bothered to see which I saw this time. Something which is still lingering in front of my eyes. It was a challenge to being considerate, modest, caring and very humble in 'reality'. This is a story of a person who silently taught a lesson to all whoever witnessed it.

My flight was at 11.25 am, so i decided to take Uber from my home to airport. It's expected that you reach at least one hour before the departure. This rule make it to reach in-person by 10.25 am. The airport is 50km from my home, yeah 50! The best case for a typical morning traffic would be a travel time of at least 90min. So in an ideal situation, I should be leaving around 9 am. Well, life is highly non-ideal, I better need a margin of an hour for to absorb the shocks of real apathy of Bengaluru's Traffic. So in any case if I leave home by 8 am, I should be comfortably be reaching on time. Now I need to take care of the real time Uber booking issues, you never know when the cab will arrive. So 30min more margin, now i have to leave at 7.30 am. Ah lot of calculations!!!

So, booked Uber at 7.15am and cab arrived by 7.20am. A good omen! Started at 7.30am and I reached Airport by 9am! Wow! All my calculations went for a toss, but it's happy to be wrong here.

For all those who don't want to spend money against airport elevated foods, this airport has a nice Staff Canteen, good to explore. If you are looking for non-dramatic, simple meal this is the place. 

After enjoying an authentic Dosa here, I was wandering around the airport area, for my surprise, a wonderful life sized Dasara tableau was placed. Wow it was beautiful, Kudos to Airport Authority, they are always on their toes to promote our culture. Before i get into the story, let me put on record my sincere appreciations to Bangalore Airport Authority for the marvelous works they are doing in uplifting our heritage.

Now, back to the story! After getting an automated boarding pass in about 30-40 seconds, which is an unique advantage, if you don't have a check-in bag, I walked in for security gates. Here is where I met the hero of my story. 

Again for my pleasant surprise, this airport has automatic tray dispensing system which are used to keep the bags for x-ray scan. The movement of these trays is automatic but, placing is to be done manually. When we take the bags out we have to keep the trays in a bin. The machine takes from bin and gives the trays for next person. That is how it works. 

I was wondering about this technology which I had thought of as a project during my B.TECH days. A project idea which was discarded by my limited vision, 10 years ago, now is standing in front of me making money for the designer and making life simple for security personnel at airports. So i say, no idea is small, discuss with someone who understands it, before discarding.

While I was wondering about this, one more part which was new for me was, the huge queue of people. More than 90% were women, which made the security check slower. Because men's gates were free but we had no access till that point! So officials were literally waiting for men to walk in for them to frisk. 

Right in front of me was a man with a small kid on his shoulders. It was a small sleeping cute kid indeed. His wife was in queue and her line was very long. We (me and the guy with kid) both kept our luggage in the tray for x-ray and moved along. 

Both of us got through and we are waiting for our luggage which is in for x-ray. First lot of trays came out of machine and ours were yet to come. The belt can accommodate about 10 boxes and the next ones can come only after it is cleared. For people who are not well versed with this security system, the trays are to be taken out by individuals and place them in bins designated. 

As soon as a batch of trays came out, people who were waiting before us grabbed their belongings from the trays and left. Nearly half of them forgot to place trays into the bins. So, only few trays could actually come out from the next batch. Mine and the hero's bag came out. I took my tray and walked out, but ... The hero who was carrying his cute little kid removed 2 trays of others along with his tray, with a simple intention, to clear the space. The act is very simple but gave a lesson to many people there. Some of the people who forgot to remove their trays came back. I too grabbed few trays and cleared the conveyor belt. 

You don't need words to teach a lesson, Simple actions teach more than the words could have! Life is beautiful with actions, of care and responsibilities. 

Practice is better than Preach!

There is nectar in the last bite

An incident today reminded one my teachers from my engineering first year. The title of this post "There is nectar in the last bite" is his statement. I have to curse my bad memory, I am not able to recollect the name of the teacher. If he is reading this post, I seek for his forgiveness. During my BTech, he taught us engineering drawing. He was pretty senior professor and a very noble man.

He used to come to our hostel mess for lunch everyday. Each and everyday he saw huge amount of food being wasted by most of inmates of the hostel. Twice a week we used to have his class, one of them were on Wednesday after lunch. He came to class as usual, with all drafter, ruler, compass ... on one hand and colour chalk pieces on the other hand. By the way, his drawings were amazing, we couldn't draw on paper, he used to draw on board!

First statement of his that day, "All of you people should understand that there is nectar in the last bite. Because, that bite contains, the remains of everything you ate, chapati, palle (sabji), rice, sambar, pickle, curd, chutney, everything. If you leave that on the plate, you just missed the Amrit!... ".

This is a story of 2007, now it's 12 years passed, but still I remember this. It is possible that the words I have written are not exactly matching what he said though, but the philosophy was definitely that.

Obvious question is why this story now? Here's the plot. Try to be with me, savour the taste of the culture of my people.

Today (7 sept), holiday!! My maid was also on leave. So after spending a lot of time watching Chandrayan-2 descent into moon with the heavy heart, sleepy mind and teary eyes, I watched prime minister's address and slept around 9am. Next round of waking up took place at10am.

So I decided to have my native food. To all who don't know about my whereabouts, I trace my roots to northern part of Karnataka, which is one of the southern states of India. Presently staying in the Telugu and Tamil dominant areas of Bengaluru. Old Bangalore has some really nice dining places, most of them are near Majestic and surrounding areas.

For people who wish to have Jowar Roti meals you should visit Basaveshwara Khanawali (Khanawali is hotel like, with limited menu). Just to put things into perspective, Lord Basava was a Finance/Chief Minister in Bijjala Kingdom in 12th century. Because of his karma, he attained god-hood. This is unique to India isn't it? "नर करनी करे तो नर का नारायण हो जाये". Today he is our guiding light, he comes from my place! Or, I come from his place!

Anyways, the point is Basaveshwara Khanawali serves authentic North Karnataka food. So, I went to Majestic, there is one, named as "Bagalkoteyavara (people from Bagalkot's) Basaveshwara Khanawali". Now don't ask me what's Bagalkot, it's my home!!! I had to pay ₹80 for the meal get a token and be seated. I was asked to sit at the inside most table, next to kitchen. This is also unique about my people, they want less serving distance.

It was a 4 seater table. To understand the authenticity of the place, the table will have groundnut chutney power, pickle and salt kept, we eat a lot of it... If you don't eat lot of spice, don't even touch the chutney, it will ruin your apatite for sure. A nice big clean looking steal plate was kept in front of me, it contained Chiili Chutney, curd and salad. It's not American salad, it's Indian Salad, it contained cucumber, onion and radish, 2 pieces each. No salad dressings, we eat original.

I was to wait for sabji Roti to be served, one mid aged man in white Nehru-shirt and Dhothi (typical dressing of my place) came and sat in front of me. Please note it's a 4 seater table, me and my bag occupied 2, he and his bag occupied 2. He took the same meal, same token!

Hot, handmade thin, perfectly baked Jowar Roti was served for both of us. He got a call, he said he would call later after lunch. Still sabji was not served, he got one more call. This time he received and said "I spoke to minister, he was hopeful to get the work done.." oh man, this simple looking man has links of ministers! (This was to give his intro, that I wasn't sitting with an idiot).

Sabji arrived, bhendi (okra/ladies finger), Daal (lentils) and Batani (matar/peas). Don't worry these won't be spicy. We started eating, I was keenly observing the man sitting in front of me. First bite, he made namaste and ate, next went on. Next came the turn for rice sambar, what a lovely sambar it was!.

Now comes the main part of this story, at the end of lunch, 3 pieces of bhendi were remaining in my plate and none in his. He washed his hand in the plate. (Believe me, in these Khanawalis, there is a clear instructions on notice board saying don't wash your hands in the plate). I was surprised, how could the sanskari person of his stature don't respect the rules?

In the very next moment, he lifted the plate and drank all the water! That didn't surprise me, neither it was awkward. I tried looking at other people if someone is giving a strange look. Not one person gave a damn! This is because the culture of this place teach this. Next moment, he put more water in the plate and drank that too. Again did namaste to the plate and he smoothly walked out.

The philosophy is simple, every grain of food that made it to the plate bears the the name of the person who eats it. One grain has the effort of farmers to sow and grow it. Effort of engineers to provide water, corporates to provide pesticides and fertilizers. Dalals for distribution, sellers for retails, and lastly the cook and the hotel management to prepare and serve the food.

No one has a right to waste the food. If you don't want, don't take it. If you are doubtful of something, take little. If you like something, be comfortable. Afterall the food is essential, respect the food, respect the effort.

Anna Dato Sukhi Bhava!

Live it, Enjoy it, and leave it!

I received an image in watsap message some two weeks back, you might have seen it. It carried a question on it, It was very simple question. Lets see whats your answer for that question, be honest, you can comment your answer if you wish. Only request  is, be honest to yourself before answering. 

The image had one empty seat in a metro train, (assume that it was emptied at a station when this picture was taken). there were 4 people standing who were actively looking for seat. Now the question is, who among those 4, deserves that seat the most. Now don't think that its first come first serve basis to occupy the seat, all of them boarded the train at a time. Those 4 people standing are looking as below. (I am  trying to explain the best I can. Obviously exaggerated!) 

1) A rich looking well suited-booted, 6ft tall handsome guy, who is working on his Laptop while standing. He looks very tensed, seems like he has a deliverable to meet before he reaches to office.

2) A very old granny, who was carrying a lovely barbie doll in her hand, probably she is carrying it for her grand daughter. Her face skin is loose and dry, she is really old. 

3) A man whose left leg is fractured. He is with a walker, left leg is folded, his face is projecting the pain he is in. Looks like he is just discharged from a hospital after he met with an accident. 

4) A young lady who is pregnant. She was carrying a small vanity bag and lunch bag, may be she is travelling for work.   

Now before reading further, try and comment what is your answer, who deserves the seat, the most?

I too answered this question. Thought process is same as what you thought just now. But, the point is not what I am thinking, or what you were thinking, but what the traditional values teach us? We are surrounded by so many good people, for whom definition of good comes in blood. I was surprised when I saw my answer happening in front of my eyes live! 

It was Krishna Janmashtami being celebrated in an apartment where I stayed that day. It was weekend, which added colours to the celebration of birthday of a person who taught us how to live! The celebration of the re-birth of wit, humour and knowledge. There is every reason one enjoys to celebrate Krishna. 

After the end of the some programs on stage and photo sessions with all the lovely Radhas, and cute Krishnas, now it was time to savour the tastes of prasadam. I have to acknowledge that the on-stage programs were not only beautiful and timely, but were meaningful. Colourful decorations with a glittery lights all around the place added to the joy everyone present. 

Coming back to prasadam session, where a large paper plate full of items were provided, i cant even name all of them. I could see Poha (Avalakki), Laddu (Undi), Kheer (Payasa), Boiled Chana (Kadale) etc. (to remember some!). I was in well managed queue to get it. Once I got it, both my hands were busy, so was the case with everyone! Thank you Krishna, Happy Birthday. Let your birthday come every month! 

Now, its time to introduce heroine of my story. A fairly old lady, who was sitting all through the program. I had noticed, standing was real painful for her. She was holding knee while getting up. I saw this granny, sitting and eating the prasadam very happily. I could see how much was she enjoying it, as she started with the first bite. Believe me, it was real delicious kheer, I loved it!. Annadato Sukhi Bhava.  

Now comes one more character of this story, a pregnant lady, who happens to be a very close relative of mine. She is carrying, 8 months now. As she came with 2 hands full of eating materials, I was searching for a place for her to sit. I directed her to a chair which was empty and next to the chair where old granny was sitting. For my surprise, that chair was soiled by the thick kheer I was enjoying. Someone really lost a fortune when their cup full of kheer was over turned on that chair, poor guy! The kheer is lovely, but no one wants to sit on the chair full of kheer. That too when they are dressed in the ceremonial attire!  

Obviously, she (pregnant lady) chose to stand, I was still looking for a chair, but I didn't see any empty ones. In about seconds, the granny who was seeing all these activities, simply called the pregnant lady as she slowly got up and offered her seat! She wasn't done with her eating, she was halfway through, but she still offered her chair. Next, the pregnant lady refused, she requested granny to be seated, but, reluctant granny said, "I am done, you need this chair!, please sit". 

Now, think about your answer, don't change it now. Own it. 

Its the birth that counts more than death! Its the life that weighs more than apathy! Its the brightness that wins over darkness! World is a beautiful place, Live it, Enjoy it, and leave it!

Jai Sri Krishna!

A touchy Story which I witnessed.

Most of us are busy with our lives, hardly we have time for wasting it on others. Having said this, we are so involved within ourselves, we often believe what has happened with us. we get worried if our kid sneezes, we are worried if spouse gets a mild fever, and we also get tensed when elders at home cough. Because these are our people, we care for them. A cough or a sneeze is considered big a decease. Today, I am trying to narrate one of touchy stories which happened in front of me.

Before the main story, as usual some buildup! it was last Sunday, considered a good day for lifetime events at home. we had an invite to attend a house-warming ceremony to which all the family members were in Bangalore. After spending a lovely day with all the closest relatives in the evening it was time to disperse for all of us. Everyone was returning to their native places, some had train, some bus , some flight and some drove their vehicles. My relatives was to leave in bus which was scheduled to leave at 9 pm from Bangalore. Everyone staying in Bangalore  knows for the fact that, you need at least 2 hours from Whitefield to majestic even with your own vehicle. So we decided to leave early, for not taking risks. All my relatives together hopped into a Uber cab and started travelling. For our surprise, the road was clear; yes i mean it! in half an hour we reached the bus stop.

Now that we are one and half hour early, we didn't had anything to be done, so I sat on the footpath because there were no empty chairs. obviously I couldn't choose to stand for an hour! Thanks to Swatch Bharat Mission, the footpath was clean without any paan stains. In a few minutes of me sitting there on the footpath, many people started to sit, I am sure their legs were paining already. I call this as status quo. I believe that, we have to be what we are, we have to behave like what we are. there is no reason to convince the world maintain the status quo. If that place was not clean, then it would have been a different case.

Anyways, coming back to the story, in a few min, I noticed that, I was sitting next to a luggage which was there before I even reached the place. This is one of the classic examples of not being aware of what next to us, this is also true because we are in the safest possible country on earth. The luggage I am talking about was a small gunny bag and a dismantled wheel chair, which was folded into a small structure. I thought somebody is transporting it and that is why it is packed like that. 

In a moment, a physically challenged man came who was walking with 2 walker sticks. A small kid was walking alongside with him, he was a cute kid, was barely able to walk. He came near the language, and started to assemble the wheel chair. Since, he was on 2 sticks, it was hard for him. Next moment, a lady walked in to the place and she replaced him in assembling the wheel chair. Since, I was there, I thought of helping them out. I asked and she instructed how to do assemble it. That was pretty simple, i could do one wheel and on the other she did.

Here comes the turn in the story; after the wheel chair was assembled, the man sat on the wheel and the kid climbed on his lap. The small gunny bag was picked up and the lady took the walker sticks in hand and they started to move together. There were suppose to be two walkers in her hand, but there were three for my surprise. As they started to move, I noticed that the lady was also physically challenged, the third walker was hers.

All of them happily moved away but, I was bit in a fix, we are that type of people who often complain even with everything, The anger and sad faces are common visuals today. But looking at this humble happy family, I was touched. For being happy, it not about what do we don't have but about what we have. 

Truth behind #truth

Its more than a year now, I am running a micro-blogging campaign on facebook with a hashtag #truth. Some of them are well received and some of them have gone unnoticed. Bottom line is, I feel happy when someone's thoughts reverberates with mine. 

Often my friends ask me for clarification on why have I written something, and what I actually meant. Over months now, I have learned that I should not argue for the comments people make on it; for a simple reason that, the post is my opinion and comment is theirs. There cant be fight over opinions! 

It takes a lot of effort from my side to make a couple of sentences, I had to go through some content, if at all, I feel like posting something then I generally post. Many a times, I write and delete for I myself not getting convinced with what I am scribbling. Some times I also don't post when it makes no sense to post. Well, having said all this philosophy, many of my posts are senseless in  someone else's sight. 

Now, I am planning for elaborating 'some' of my micro-posts here. Not sure how it helps, if at all, lets see. I am also not sure, if I try to mean something and something else I write, it is also try for someone reading this, if they read something, they make something else. 

Posts have meaning when there is substance. 

There is substance if there a story. 

There is a story if there is #truth! 

Okay, I will come back with something more sensible soon.