Remembering Mahatma

Each time I read Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography, it sparks new reflections on his extraordinary life. He remains one of the most discussed figures in the modern world, and his philosophy of non-violence and service grows more relevant today than ever. I must admit that we Indians often know little about him and are ungrateful to this great son of our nation. Many pass judgments on him without reading his autobiography or understanding his life. There’s a tendency to belittle his achievements, and I can only sympathize with those unable to grasp the depth of a spiritually and morally elevated soul like the Mahatma. Gandhi’s Christ-like saintliness and purity of heart are widely admired. Yet, his autobiography reveals a strong-willed, curious man, deeply engaged with the world beyond his immediate sphere. His love for travel and his outreach are evident in his efforts to learn Tamil, Urdu, and other languages to connect with Indians in South Africa. His selfless nature won over even his adversaries, earning him countless friends. Though a practicing Hindu, his faith transcended rituals; he believed, “God can be realized only through service.” Gandhi acknowledged the influence of Christianity on his life, reading the Bhagavad Gita at the urging of Theosophist friends in England. His keen interest in studying religions, engaging in debates, and sincere tolerance toward all faiths defined his spiritual journey. God was the guiding force behind Gandhi’s actions and beliefs, marking him as a profoundly blessed soul. While deeply Indian at heart, he drew inspiration from global thinkers like John Ruskin, Leo Tolstoy, and Henry David Thoreau, transcending narrow nationalism. His commitment to sanitation and service led him to nurse those afflicted by contagious diseases, yet remarkably, he never contracted them. As a mass leader, Gandhi’s charisma inspired people to undertake even the most demanding tasks without him needing to ask. Steadfast in his ideals, he was nearly impossible to sway unless he chose to be. Gandhi’s autobiography is a must-read for all humanity. While it may not make us Mahatmas, it can undoubtedly make us better human beings. During a time when the world was at war, he wrote, “Soul-force is matchless,It is superior to the force of arms. Men who use physical force are strangers to the courage requisite in a passive resistence" (Satyagrahi). Through his life, he proved that ahimsa (non-violence) is the prerogative of the courageous, achieving greatness not through power or status, but by renouncing them. Gandhi’s teachings are more relevant than ever in a world consumed by mindless materialism and rampant consumerism, where wars are waged to assert dominance over the weak and to seize land and resources. Sadly, even in his homeland, Gandhi is often forgotten, reduced to a token figure as the Father of the Nation.

“Thum Allah ka Bachha Hain”

My first visit to Kashmir years back transformed my perception of the region. Upon landing at Srinagar airport, I was struck by its fortress-like atmosphere, surrounded by uniformed soldiers. The absence of civilians was stark, and I searched in vain for the person meant to receive me amidst the intense gazes of the army personnel. A phone call to my host yielded only his voice saying, “I’m here, come out.” I soon realized that, unlike other airports, visitors are not allowed near the premises. This gave me the initial impression that Kashmiris live under constant fear. However, as I left the airport with my host, my apprehension gave way to awe. The road to Srinagar was lined with lush greenery and misty mountains, a sight more verdant than any Indian city I’d visited. Towering chinar trees stood proudly, embodying Kashmiri heritage. Contrary to my expectations, life seemed to flow normally—people went about their daily routines, unbothered. The warmth of Kashmir’s people won my heart. Their hospitality made me feel at home, rivaled only by the kindness I’d experienced among Tibetans in Dharamsala. They served Kashmiri kahwa—a fragrant blend of cinnamon, saffron, cardamom, and green tea leaves—with the affection reserved for a dear friend. Everywhere I went, I saw hope in people’s eyes. Like anyone else, Kashmiris strive to make a living, nurturing ordinary dreams. Yet, many expressed frustration with the media’s portrayal of their land. “They never write anything good about Kashmir, only the bad,” a local businessman told me. It made me wonder if we, as a society, are too fixated on negativity. One of my most cherished memories is watching Dal Lake from a houseboat at dawn. As the mild sun rays kissed the foggy mountains, a cool breeze carried fresh air, and I longed to linger in that moment with a hot cup of kahwa. The sight of boats gliding across the lake, carrying everything from vegetables to handicrafts, was enchanting. Dal Lake felt like a bustling town of its own. I left Kashmir with a yearning to return, carrying wordless emotions in my heart. During my stay, I befriended an elderly caretaker at my host’s bungalow. He and his daughter warmly served me Kashmiri butter tea, a salty tea reminiscent of Tibetan tea. We spoke about his village, located far from Srinagar, and he kindly invited me to visit it on my next trip to Kashmir. His gentle and sincere demeanor was that of typical any villager, exuding warmth and innocence.While leaving Srinagar with a heavy heart,his words echoed in my mind: “Tum Allah ka bacha hai” (You are child of God). As he placed his hands on my head and murmured those words, I couldn’t hold back my tears.

Exploring Random thoughts

While flying from Mangalore to Delhi, I had a fascinating chat with a sailor seated next to me. He shared his experiences at sea, explaining how Indian captains are overly submissive to ship owners, leading to excessive workloads for sailors. In contrast, foreign captains boldly stand up to them. This rings true and exemplifies our deeply ingrained submissive nature. It reflects a broader trait in our national character: a pervasive fear of authority and the powerful, traceable back to our feudal era. Feudalism isn’t unique to India—many societies, including Europe, were once feudal—but the Industrial Revolution largely eradicated feudal mindsets in Europe, while India still grapples with them. Communal and class divisions remain deeply entrenched in our society as well. This fear of questioning authority makes our country fertile ground for high-level corruption, dragging us backward. Fear stifles free thinking and innovative ideas; nothing can flourish in an atmosphere of dread. Our parents instill this fear from childhood, as do our schools, where we end up rote-mugging whatever is taught. Education rarely encourages questioning or out-of-the-box thinking; instead, it produces an army of walking robots from our universities. Things are worsening today, as right-wing ideology seeks to capture educational institutions and instill hatred among students. They aim to erase the noble aspects of our history through xenophobia and propaganda.Thus, truth has become the biggest casualty—it’s increasingly hard to discern fact from fiction. Indians are constantly fed lies and propaganda: our media has been bought, the judiciary silenced or coerced into issuing government-favorable judgments, honest people jailed, bright young Muslim scholars imprisoned, elections rigged, elected representatives bought off, and scams an open secret. Yet we remain scared to question authority. This stems from an education system that silences the masses—one that chases money at the expense of conscience. As long as our families are safe, we hardly care about others. As the saying goes, “Catch them young.” For India to change and hold politicians accountable, our education system must transform. It should be value-based, fostering innovative thinking. It’s astonishing that a nation of over a billion produces only job seekers knocking on the doors of rich countries. We merely copy the West, with no original inventions or creations to claim. We must stop being blind devotees of politicians and religions; instead, embrace true spirituality and elect inclusive, kind leaders over divisive ones. Above all, we must teach our children to ask questions rather than blindly follow the herd.

Zoran Mumdani and US election

Zohran Mamdani, a charismatic, intelligent, and empathetic candidate for New York mayor, faces hatred due to his Muslim identity, with false propaganda labeling him as anti-Semitic and anti-Jewish. Is this a valid or ethical reason to hate someone? The United States demonizes communism as if the mere word threatens global disaster, and Mamdani faces a double disadvantage as both a Muslim and a socialist. Right-wing Republicans often react with outrage at the term “socialism.” I find this odd for a mature democracy. Is this another form of autocracy, where one ideology (capitalism, in this case) is tolerated while others are outright rejected or demonized? The U.S., despite its claims of upholding human rights and democratic values, has allegedly illegally detained and tortured individuals like Julian Assange and Edward Snowden under the pretext of the “Official Secrets Act.” Both sought refuge in other countries, exposing the hollowness of these claims as it actually an effort to extend U.S. influence over other nations. This hypocrisy is evident in how the U.S. and other Western countries treat Russia and Israel. Russia faces Olympic bans and sanctions for its actions in Ukraine, yet Israel’s ongoing actions in Palestine, including massacre of children, women, and aid workers, are largely ignored by these same self-proclaimed moral police. This situation echoes the Holocaust, with Israel perpetuating similar atrocities. Jews continue to invoke their historical pain to garner sympathy while committing violence against Palestinians. History was unkind to many, including Jews, Africans, and Indigenous peoples. Millions of Native Americans and Aborigines were annihilated in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, and countless Africans endured starvation and inhumane slavery in the U.S. and Western countries. What if these groups clung to their victimhood to justify invading, massacring, or annexing neighboring countries that had no role in their suffering? Palestine did not perpetrate the Holocaust; in fact, it sheltered Jews when they settled there. The U.S. and U.K. played a key role in creating a homeland for Jews, possibly driven by strategic and geopolitical interests in the Middle East, but this decision has led to grave consequences for innocent Palestinians. Today, the Israeli regime repeats the atrocities Nazi Germany inflicted on Jews decades ago. What, then, have they learned from history? Worse still, U.S. politics is entangled in issues of Semitism, anti-Semitism, and Islamophobia, with the latter becoming a key factor in winning elections. Is it wrong to call out injustice in the U.S.? Are Muslims not human beings? Must one support Israel and its atrocities against Palestinians to win elections in the U.S.? Why doesn’t the U.S. offer its own land to create a homeland for Jews instead of inflicting pain on Palestinians? This situation reminds me of the victim card played by the Sangh Parivar, an extremist Hindu group in India that staunchly supports Israel and its actions against Palestinians. Both groups suffer from acute Islamophobia. I believe those who support such atrocities lack humanity, behaving more like demons in human form. Unfortunately, such individuals are all too common on this planet. Has empathy ceased to be a virtue? However, I salute the courage and conviction of Zoran Mumdani for standing up and calling a spade a spade in an era of falsehood and fake propaganda. The world requires more Mumdanis to clean up the dirt and venom of hatred and jealousy.

Phule- A Must Watch

I recently watched Phule in a Delhi theatre, but the nearly empty theatre was disheartening. The few young men seated nearby were more engrossed in conversation than the film, which I found disruptive. This reflects a broader tragedy in our society: while films featuring superstars are celebrated, meaningful cinema like Phule, with its strong social and political relevance, struggles to find an audience. One of the reasons is the hero worship in India, where actors are glorified as demigod-like figures, often at the expense of a film’s quality and aesthetic depth. The audience’s sensibilities remain underdeveloped as they are fed low-quality films that prioritize glamour over substance. Writers, directors, and technicians have become secondary to the commercial dominance of money and heroes, which harm the very soul of cinema. Phule is an exceptional film with a powerful social message, making it a must-watch for every Indian. It tells the true story of Jyotirao Phule, Maharashtra’s first social reformer and India’s first ‘Mahatma’ (great soul), and his wife, Savitribai Phule. Set in the early 19th century, the film depicts an era when casteism and gender discrimination were rampant. Women were denied education, their sole purpose reduced to bearing children. The Brahmin community largely upheld these oppressive norms, though a few risked their lives to educate girls. Jyotirao, a learned man from his community, and Savitribai spearheaded a revolutionary movement to educate girls, sacrificing their reputation and safety in the process. Inspired by the French Revolution and global social movements, Jyotirao tried to demolish a system that denied justice to lower castes and women. His unwavering enthusiasm and fight against societal evils, alongside Savitribai, form the heart of the film. Branded as anti-national and a divider of Hindus by Brahmins for his reformative work, Jyotirao’s struggles mirror India’s current social challenges. While much has changed, progress remains slow, and we cannot yet claim to be a just society where Dalits and women are treated equally. Jyotirao’s words—that there will always be forces dividing society by religion and caste, but we must remain honest and work positively—Echo strongly. This message is especially relevant in modern India, where polarization driven by religion, caste, and creed is exploited for political gain. Pratik Gandhi delivers an outstanding performance as Jyotirao Phule, while Patralekha shines as Savitribai Phule. Writer-director Ananth Mahadevan’s brilliant script and masterful direction elevate Phule into a cinematic masterpiece. I appreciate Mahadevan’s courage and conviction for creating such a film in an era when India’s social and political fabric is falling apart due to propaganda, hatred, and division. Phule is a powerful reminder of the need for unity and justice—a film that is not to be missed and cherished.

Rahul's BharatJodoYatra

Jealousy, one of the most acidic emotions, is the central theme of Shakespeare’s Othello. Throughout the play, this “green-eyed monster” drives characters’ malicious actions, with nearly all—except a few like Desdemona and Cassio—falling under its sway. Othello is a classic example of how fear and low self-esteem breed jealousy in the human mind. Iago, perhaps the most villainous character in literature, orchestrates the destruction of many lives in this tragic play. When I think of Rahul Gandhi, Shakespeare’s Othello often comes to mind. Like Desdemona and Cassio, Rahul is a victim of jealousy. The fear within the Sangh Parivar of his charismatic and gentlemanly persona has led them to portray him in a negative light. Yet, truth cannot remain veiled forever. Rahul’s purity of soul shines through his demeanor and actions, and women, who often intuitively understand men, feel safe and comfortable in his presence. His interactions with the public, particularly women, reveal him to be an evolved individual—a rare gem in politics. His compassion and care cut through the torrent of hatred directed at him. The Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul’s remarkable endeavor, is a healing touch for India’s fractured soul. Walking the length and breadth of a vast country like India is no small feat. Support #BharatJodoYatra / My India 💚

My Blessed Village

After living many years in cities, I do crave for my tiny village in north Kerala as desert longs for prairies. I havn’t never enjoyed being in my native place when I was a child as my eyes were accustommed to those lovely landscape blanketed by lush greenery; blessed with tranquil and spectacular Thejaswini river. But I explore the wild beauty of this virgin land of late - ofcourse away from the mosquito bites, dust and dirtyness of Indian cities. My home is not in a village in its strict sense of the term as such villages hardly exist in Kerala. It has got many ‘vices’(sophisticated communication system, fashion and people far from being naïve) of a city but without losing its conscience. It is a place where one would like to lose her soul and be one with nature as Wordsworth sang in his poems. There are few things that make me proud of Kerala (forgive me if I sound parochial, that is not my intention) though I don’t really support ‘isms’(read regionalism, religionism, communism, etc.) of any kind or prefer myself to be called a citizen of the world by rooting firmly on the soil where I belong to. One can’t think of Kerala without its women population. Let me quote the words of famous painter M.F Hussain, ‘If Kashmir is all about Men and Mountains, Kerala is about Women and Nature’. I hardly seen any little girl begging around or doing house hold works, as happens in many parts of India sans going school. Even poor will toil hard to give their girl children good education. I feel Kerala is one among few states,where female infanticide is not reported. Of course the educated women of Kerala make all the difference.

Keralites are politically aware and generally well read. Writers like Khalil Gibran,Leo Tolstoy,Dostayevsky,Checkov,Pablo Neruda, Marques, etc. are like house hold names. Issues as Iraq invasion, the recent Russia-Ukraine war, Isreal- Palestine war and American imperialism are widely discussed and protested, often that justifies the saying about communist party here, ‘they open umbrella when it rains in Russia’.Keralites generally are interested in what is happening around them and often sympathise with the underdog. Communism and many social reformation movements by Ayyankali,Sree Narayana Guru etc had contributed to her social development and intellectual growth. I do remember the good old days when we in Kerala used to get books of all Russian masters like Tolstoy, Dostoïevsky, Chekhov, Turganev etc, from Russia (former Soviet Union) at an incredibly lower price-thanks to Communism. But I must admit that too much politicisation is pulling the state backwards. ‘God’s own country’ witnesses hartals (new incarnation of bandh as Kerala high court banned Bandh)and too many strikes as part of ‘political game’. But I am happy that God still dwells in this land! And true, my blessed village in north Kerala sail in my mind more often…

Story of Krishna

I met Krishna, a Nepali Chef during a Sunday service at a picturesque village in  Manali last year. It was a Nepali Christian gathering in a home amidst a lovely garden in the background of snow capped mountain, having rose ,apple , pears and cherry; the scent of beautiful rose flowers filtering through the window added a rare divinity to the interior of the home. I never had come across such devoute Christian gathering in my life, there was an intense spiritual pulling in the room, the young girls and boys in the choir were literally in tears out of pure bliss, Krishna seemed to have lost in divine love.
While walking back home through the narrow path lined with giant Himalayan Cedar trees(Devdaru) on either side, I asked Krishna as to what attracted him to Christ. ‘ Love’, he said without batting an eyelid. While trying to figure out his answer, he added, “ Madam, you will never understand the pain of a human being who doesn’t have anybody in this world.” He narrated about his cursed life in Nepal as an orphan, as a poor homeless child who was treated like an insect, his addiction to alcohol, drugs and many vices, his pain,hopelessness,anger and poverty. He said it was a foreign missionary who helped him come out of his wretched life through the love of Jesus Christ. Later he gave up all his addictions and found a job as a Chef in a star hotel in Manali.
 It was drizzling, and those light drops of rain helped me hide the tears streaming down on my cheek. The Nepalese gathered in that little home might have similar stories of pain and poverty, of desires, dreams and fears. But do we care to listen to the innate feelings of our fellow human beings in this toxic religious hate- mongering era? Aren’t our inner longing for love, our dreams feelings and fears the same? What difference it would make if Krishna finds Love in Christ or vice versa? Isn’t love the great healer? In our silent meditative walk, many such thoughts crossed my mind. I didn’t even realise it when we  almost reached at Krishna’s hotel. Krishna went in to work  with an invitation for dinner at his hotel. And the unpredictable mountain weather have it, Sun popped up from nowhere.

A doctor with God's signature in his hands

"No legacy is so rich as honesty," Shakespeare. He is a loner in the crowd, a rare gem among doctors and altruistic in a money-minting medical profession.Calm,gentle and compassionate Dr.Nelson Kattikatt walks alone in the privileged world of medical field with the serenity and grace of a blessed healer.His compassionate care makes him stand out among the doctors when a majority among them are immune to the plight of patients. His calm and sagelike aura is quite tranquilising even to the violent mental patients at the Government mental hospital in Trivandrum where he is the Chief Psychiatrist. Today when society as a whole belive that success is about amassing wealth and sensual gratification, and care little about the humanity as a whole, with his ethical and socialy responsible practice, he tries to live up to the words of Gandhiji that “ The best way to find yourself is to lose yourselves in the service of others.” He lends compassionate ear to each patient at the hospital and helps those who cannot afford costly medicines. No wonder, his patients adore him and shower him with adjectives as ‘ doctor with the signature of God and doctor with a blessed hand.’ Despite his humble back ground, money hardly tempts this brutally honest doctor and he does choose the road less travelled when pharmaceutical companies bribe the doctors with costly gifts and free overseas travels and laboratories with commissions. He stays away from such temptations and suggests laboratories to give reduction to patients instead. He has been maintaining this principle since his medical college days and those values are always very dear to him. And he strongly believes that doctors have a duty towards society unlike many other professions. ‘Service to humanity is the primary duty of a doctor.’ He says. How can he be detached to money in a world of materialism?” As a deeply spiritual person, it is easier for me.” pat came the reply. When speaking about the adoration of his patients, he speaks with the same detachment, ‘Whatever I am today is due to the grace of God, I am just a tool." In many of my interactions with him, I never have seen him losing his cool even in extremely tough situations; the hard realities in life might have tamed him to be tolerant, he reasons.As the son of a small shop keeper and the shame and inferiority complexes that thrust upon him by a society that glorifies money and influence, had deeply haunted him throughout his childhood, yet fighting against all odds, he has emerged as the Chief Psychiatrist of Kerala by his strong will, which reminds me of the quote of prophetic writer Khahlil Gibran, “Out of suffering emerges the strongest soul.” Like many exceptional people Dr. Nelson seems to be a misfit among his colleagues, has been misunderstood often and struggle to cope up. But nothing detracts him from serving his patients. For him it is service beyond the call of duty. Dr. Nelson is a voracious reader too and used to write poems during his school/college days, won many accolades for elocution,poetry writing,essay writing etc . But his creative side is in hibernation after became busy with medical practice, which he feels to be dusted off. Unfortunately, as the saying goes that no prophet is revered in his homeland, noble souls like him are not recognized in their own land.

Have a Taste of Bhutan

I had a very remote idea of Bhutan before I explore the country. A land far away from modernity, not connected by modern means of communication, where people are not much exposed to modernity, but happy. (But this was around 17 years back and was my first lone voyage to a foreign land.)Much has been changed today, the new king has ascented to the throne and democratic elections were introduced; and Bhutanese have more access to modernity.)( So the GNH (Gross Natinal Happiness) of which Bhutan is proud of, popped up in my mind always. 'Are you happy?' was the question I wanted to ask every Bhutanese I came across. Much of my prejudices are gone when I reached Thimpu, the capital. I could taste Bhutanese hospitality the very first day when my taxi driver took extra pain to find me a room (even without me asking for that). Thimpu is quite and lovely, people are friendly, curious and like to be photographed. I really fell in love with its unique architecture, besides there is no sky scrappers to intimidate you. It has got the feel and taste of a city, yet it is not in the rat race for modernity. Changes are evident with the introduction of TV and Internet in 1999. There are restrictions regarding certain channels and sites, still Bhutanese youth are quite trendy and up to date about fashion. They enjoy parties, dancing, liquors as any youngsters elsewhere in the world. India is very important for Bhutan due to economic and geographical reasons. As a country hardly industrialised, Bhutan has to depend heavily on Indian products and India give military protection also. Hindi films and serials are very popular there, I was even surprised when some little girls enquired me about Hindi film actors. It is a common sight in Bhutan where girls glued into TV to watch sas-bahu serials. Most of the Bhutanese understand Hindi (thanks to films and serials). And my home state Kerala is very popular among Bhutanese due to the huge presence of teachers from there. 'Keralites make good teachers than Bhutanese' some youth confirms. They are very proud about their country. Almost all the people answered in the affirmative to my question whether they are happy. Eventhough the country has voted for democracy, people aren't much bothered about that. But they love their king, probably no head of state earns that much love and respect in this world. 'In war like situations, our king lead the army in the front' a young forest officer says. The visionary king Jigme Wangchok's sincere efforts pay the dividents. Government tries the best to provide quality education to its people. It pays for higher studies in foreign countries to those students who are qualified. Beside, medical treatment is free to all in this country. 'We are lucky to be born here' says Karma Choeden, an young girl who works with an NGO. Young Bhutanese are not very keen to go abroad in search of greener pastures. Garab Dorji, an young IT officer with Thimpu corporation represents the spirit of educated young bhutan. 'I love to visit other countries, but not for work. I am happy here'.
Bhutanese girls are so elegant in their traditional 'Kira'. Though this dress is compulsory in offices, they are free to wear the dress of their choice outside. As crime rate is much lower, girls are safe and free in this country (serious crimes hardly occur here). In thimpu, I have seen girls running restaurants, shops etc. Tsongs, where the main administrative activities are done, lend a special charm to this tiny Buddhist country. Religion is a major influence in all aspects of Bhutanese life. Eventhough they eat meat, animal slaughter is banned. Development without exploiting nature and culture is the mantra of Bhutan. So there are certain villages that is restricted for travellers (ofcourse in Bhutan you need special permission to go almost everywhere). With 80% land forested, ancient temples, traditional way of living, Bhutan is really a delight for the mind and the soul. I still fondly remember the smell of nature during my journey from Thimpu to Phunaka. Bhutan is a place where one love to get lost in nature's abundance. It is probably the last Shangri-la on earth as they say. But the influence of west can be seen in cities. Hip-hop, fashion- all they ready to receive from West. X rated films and drugs popp into the lives of younsters, despite ban. Some youth already feel the threat. 'Today's youngsters are not modernised, but westernised. So they are getting more arrogant', Dr. Choeden points out. I feel, it would be extremely hard for the authorities to hold the young in the fold of tradition and values. Yet we have a lot to learn from this country about how to be modern without forgetting who you are.