A Salute - Welcoming Shri Rahul Gandhi

A solemn salute to welcome

Shri Rahul Gandhi

For donning the mantle of a leader of extreme calibre

Woven through years of struggle by renowned personalities

From the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi and in succession by

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Smt. Indira Gandhi, Shri Rajiv Gandhi and 

Upheld in the same measure by Smt. Sonia Gandhi to be held aloft today by Shri Rahul Gandhi

The Indian National Congress or INC holds an unenviable record of having achieved a stunning victory for which it was formed. Constituted on 28^th December, 1885 the INC committed itself wholeheartedly to enlist the support of natives with a specific purpose namely, to emancipate the nation and people from the clutches of foreign rule. As a sequel to this development, the national tricolour went up the mast at Lahore on a cold morning of 26^th January 1930. The unfurling of the flag was carried out by none other than Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru himself.  That very same day INC was declared an independent and separate entity entrusted with a unique purpose of steering the nation out of a turmoil borne out of alien rule and domination of their motherland. 

No individual, group or society, least of all the very natives themselves, would ever suffer their motheland to be held under fire or allow it to be gradually engulfed in to a conflagration.  This could not only jeopardize the rhythem of life for people and their descendants but was also fraught with serious repercussions for posterity.  Exploited and stripped clean of its colour and gait, the nation could no longer tolerate subjugation at the hands of foreign power which, in effect were intruders in to their motherland. Hitherto much had been sacrificed by way of dignity and lives.  Alien laws were thrust upon a people who were yet to earn a right to possession what to speak of freedom of breathing peace.  Centuries passed but to no avail.  The claimants to a land they were born and bread of were compelled to move around with fetters fastened to a yoke of suppression endured by them for centuries.  Indeed, when it came to living a life of their own, they were barred beyond torturous fetters. 

It was therefore, imperative that India which saw much bloodshed including toll of lives of people entrusted with the responsibility of safeguarding lives, territories or reputation of rulers, emperors, dynasties and kingdoms with hardly a breathing space within their own motherland made one last ditch effort to drive foreigners away.  This certainly called for a massive struggle for freedom and the entire nation was therefore, on their feet to snatch back or retrieve their motherland.  That was in the year 1857 when a spirited struggle for freedom from foreign rule gained ground and soon the rumbling started being felt beyond the periphery of closed doors and offices. It was then that a ray of hope seemed visible to a people groaning under age’s yoke.  What would otherwise have been deemed to be a farfetched dream for a nation that was struggling to be counted as an entity in a world of advancd knowledge, education and technology, all of a sudden came alive in unison, with vigor and determination to wrest control of the land from foreigners.  In a final thrust under the able leadership of eminent intellectuals and renowned men of caliber and under a newly constituted symbol namely the INC, a novel identity was established and people unitedly strained every nerve to the extent of embracing martyrdom and fought single handed setting aside all differences arising out of colour, creed, culture or language.

INC took the lead in the struggle which got a boost as Mohanadas Karamchamd Gandhi made a spectacular headway with his non-cooperation and civil disobedience movement through a massive and gigantic weapon namely “Non violence”. 

No amount of weariness, hungar, scarcity or desolation could deter the invigorated and determined mob from procrastinating on the one only and immediate aspiration uppermost in their minds viz. liberation of motherland. This way everyone equivocally and under the able guidance and astute stewardship of a triumvirate namely Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Muhammed Jinnah took on the British rulers unmindful of what could have befallen their fate if per chance the then ruling elite came down heavily on them to quell the violence or set at naught their one only and common goal of freedom from foreign rule.  The people of India eventually realized that the stars were looking up and a goal they were after was well nigh and within their sight.  What was needed was a blind following of a leadership which professed vision and determination for reaching a culmination under an armed struggle of national importance.

Gandhiji assumed the leadership of Indian National Congress as President during the year 1921. Prior to his arrival on the Indian scenario the mahatma had successfully led two revolutions in South Africa to the delight of natives there. His arrival on the Indian scene was seen as a refreshing light in view of his educational background which enabled him to communicate freely with the British rulers. He actively participated in a Satyagraha in support of indigo farmers at Champaran and followed it up with another successful campaign against enhanced taxes and revenues imposed at Kheda in Gujarat. As President of INC he decided to revamp the organization with special focus on setting up offices in remote areas of the country. Simultaneously, he also outlined principles of Satyagraha whereby the membership of INC  started growing larger day by day.

Even so, there were teething problems which needed to be resolved major among them being factional hurdles with a random few among the activists resorting to extremist agenda.  Men who personified extremist tendencies within the consortium of people from all walks of life were Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai and Bipin Chandra Pal among others, who manifested tendencies which failed to match non-violent policies followed by Mahatma Gandhi. 

Apart from a host of varying perceptions that posed a major challenge to braving the onslaught by British government in power, was the diverse culture that separated two warring religious majorities namely Hindus and Muslims whose rivalry had not abated for many centuries.  However, such internal vibrations could not in any manner pose hurdle for a nation that was beset with a dilemma of immense magnitude namely a hijack of its administrative machinery by foreign powers. Such indigenous problems could not in any manner deter the Indian National Congress from establishing a foothold firmly within farflung areas of an undivided India. Mahatma Gandhi was in full control of the outfit and party as its President, as well as fully competent to take on the British through his peace initiative and diplomatic strategies. Incidentally, the formation of INC and subsequent agenda followed by reforms set forth by Mahatma Gandhi had a chronology of events unfolding to the delight of an exuberant crowd spilling on the streets at the mere call of Mahatma Gandhi. 

Riding high on the waves of an enthusiastic nation and an exuberant crowd ready to fall in the line of fire for the liberation of their country, Mahatma Gandhi sought to firmly establish his move against British by specifically working against caste differences, untouchability, poverty and religious and ethinc boundaries.  Although India was a predominantly Hindu nation, yet INC had within its membership people from every religion, ethnic group, economic and linquistic class.

There were surprises too for the INC as the newly appointed Viceroy to India namely Lord Irwin publicly favoured a dominion status for India and pushed for the issue to be discussed threadbare in London during 1930 and 1931.  However, neither of the conference could achieve a result beyond a halt on the question of religion.

Driven to the wall by an indomitable agitation by a high pitched populace and maddening crowd of undivided India, the British were left with no option but to bow before the wishes of natives and order a retreat.  Mahatma Gandhi achieved the impossible to the delight of a nation already plundered of its enormous resources and wealth.  The INC succeeded in achieving its end with resounding success and a jubilant Indian National Congress rode in triumph to the present day Parliament House for a victory celebration.  The calendar proclaimed it as the 15^th day of August, 1947.  This way a nation was born out of the exploited culture through centuries of foreign rule.

The last Viceroy and first Governor General of independent Union of India namely Lord Mountbatten announced the partitioning of the British Empire in to India and Pakistan under the Independence Day Act, 1947.  On 26^th January, 1950 India became a secular and democratic republic whereby a new Constitution was adopted.

The exit of British rule hearalded a new era in the archives of Indian history.  Not only did it throw open trade, industry and indigenous culture to flourish at the hands of natives, rather it even set the pace for progress and development of a by now partitioned India. However, all credit ought to go to the Indian National Congress which consortium of indigenous personalities made freedom a reality and set about by guiding the teeming millions of this vast sub-continent under the able guidance of those very architects of Indian Liberation movement.       

For achieving independence, the INC held behind it a whole nation of enthusiastic men and women, dedicated to the core. That was during the forties.  Save for a few stray, scattered and insignificant number of opposition groups endorsing certain outdated, mutilated and uneven views and strategies that too concentrated mainly in the North, the entire nation was wholly united under one banner of forging a path towards the zenith of achievements. Indian National Congress became a force to reckon with and the party so projected became a symbol of oneness for many decades thereafter.

A pause is needed here!  One must not lose sight of the fact that the period of struggle was one of dedication, mutual trust and perseverance.  There is need also to remember that it was essentially an age of submissiveness not of compulsion which earned the nation a spectacular success. There was an air of Godliness, an environment of cooperation but above all there was a ray of faith, hope and charity within the minds of one and all.  It was a period when people realized the need to foster charity for one another – Charity that chimes out of a Christian refrain and which fosters love for one another. Till the time British ruled the nation, there was a monitoring apparatus namely ‘Faith – Hope & Charity’ for suppressing tempers arising out of high handedness by one group or the other be it even Hindu Muslim riots or similar uprisings.

The British left the country but left behind a legacy as well which was attributed to Christian charity that kindles within people of diverse faiths and culture a sublime sense of godliness or charity for one another. Incidentally, the refrain went on to inspire the nation and people for few decades thereafter till it faded in to a quagmire of ‘Hindustan’.  However, there is need to remember that a sense of brotherhood can seep in to people’s conscience only if they set aside their differences with regard to faith and worship, which in a society of diverse beliefs and religious cultures it amounted to asking for too much. The end result was that an enduring communal harmony was loath to come about.

In essence, it was that very same Christian refrain which bound people together and which ultimately rewarded the nation with what has hitherto been nurtured by the Indian National Congress or for short the Congress Party for imparting a human touch to people both young and old.  However, the multitudes or the masses outside Congress Party have long since forgotten the bind that kept them together for many centuries.

Immediately after achieving independence the mob which was uptill now united under one struggle till the time India was partitioned asserted its fragility of mindset, culture and reasoning.  To a people that fought together in an environment of Christian charity a new nomenclature was imposed by a people who knew no broad perspectives. They started indulging in grabbing and depriving their neighbor of what ought to have been the due of others by right.  Close on the heels of a hard fought battle for independence and in an environmnent of diverse people, culture and religion was fastened a new yoke of individuality namely ‘Hindustan’  This divide exposed a people that were corrupt to the core. It exposed the mentality of a majority who were starving for a new culture namely ‘corruption’.

Quite elementary though because left to themselves the ‘Indian populace is adept at grabbing enormous resources including wealth left behind by the British.  Fortunately though, after the British left India all the fortune of wealth and resources came to them in abundance.  It was like raining divine manna straight out of the heavens. People neither expected nor were they worthy of such bounty bestowed on them with so hot a fortune, that too in abundance. Individuals and groups prospered, development soared all around, education gave them a boost and they the Indian masses came to be acquainted with what extra comfort and luxuries the world had in store for them. Resultantly, people started stepping up their ambitions till finally an ecstasy of having attained a hard fought freedom receded in to the horizon of a fading memory.  And in its place emerged a sudden jolt which made people and individuals disagree with one another. 

The well to do and more influential among the ones that inherited large fortune started exhibiting a show of arrogance.  These many started antagonizing the good that was being carried out by the dedicated men and women of yesteryears. A split was imminent because the more arrogant ones began to find loopholes within a system so carefully nurtured by the INC.  The long and short of it all is that with democracy throwing up a multiparty set up, there was room enough for unscrupulous people to hide their monstrous visage and assert their individuality through manipulation at various levels.  This way there came about a division among people, in their views, attitude and above all a psyche that promoted extremism of a political kind namely ‘corruption’.

A state of disagreement began to creep in and divisions started showing up in a people who reverted to perversity and corruption.  A new found craze to rename places started goading the minds of a people who were lavishly bestowed with unexpected wealth, luxury and comfort. A state of extravaganza made them lax in their commitments and blunt to the responsibility they took upon themselves through a Constitution which merely became an instrument that ensured the setting up of government which was to gift them a life of comfort while the government danced to people’s tune for serving their ends.  The new set up prompted the masses to scale heights above the elected government unmindful of the role they were required to perform.  In short a period of unscrupulousness and corruption took the nation by surprise. 

A nation that was an outcome of chaste dreams nurtured by its national leaders right from Mahatma Gandhi, Jawahar Lal Nehru onwards followed by his daughter Late Smt. Indira Gandhi and thereafter, her son Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi in sequence, and as cherished by worthy leaders of a large nation, became objects of smear campaign let loose by mean and narrow-minded people of little fame. 

Rather than upholding a sublime gift of independence achieved through hard fought struggle by the Indian National Congress was squandered away for mean objectives by people and elements that had their own irons in the fire. Parties grew up in numbers and leaders who gained a voice among restless and unscrupulous elements started flourishing to dictate terms to a government and people of eminence, as a result of which the government including dedicated and prominent people  of eminence had to succumb to dictates by these hoodlums in their bid to make a niche for themselves at the cost of the nation, its people and the lofty ideals for which the nation stood.  India which acquired a dedicated and charismatic leader in Smt. Sonia Gandhi was not spared either, rather even she was pelted with aspersions at will by people who managed to head a party or group, to the detriment of her own reputation as also of the party and folks she herded all through right from Late Shri Rajiv Gandhi’s demise.  All these made a dent in the image of a nation that was already at its zenith of achieving recognition among world powers.

Despite all odds, a dedicated Smt. Sonia Gandhi held on to her position in the interest of the nation and party.  All the glory and reputation achieved through years of struggle withered away due to selfish and partisan attitude by people whose only outlook was to achieve personal fame.  Howver, Smt. Indira Gandhi was resolute in her struggle to uphold values and reputation of the country.  In order to create a nitche for themselves each in his own narrow way chose to slam outright the Indian National Congress, its leaders and people within the government. The outcome of this fall out by narrow minded elements is what the present day parties portray in the break away groups under the style of BJP, RJD, BJD, BSP, DMK, ADMK and what have you?  These parties and people under similar outfits are presently basking in the shade of their own petty and mean minded interests not trustworthy for a nation that is galloping towards an age of superior glow and resonance.  The very nation which grouped under the Indian National Congress to carry the nation forward has broken away for self esteem and self projection on account of their mean minded attitude.

The present day parties and leaders who merely promote themselves under the guise of ‘politics’ are poles apart from what the leading figures of yesteryears had expected of them and for which they had laid down their lives. The unknown author of the quote “some give freely, yet grow all the richer; others withhold what is due, and only suffer want” says it all!

Immediately after achieving independence, the nation had to occupy itself with national priorities which included among others to tame people into subordination, shed their barbarity and streamline a process that had to equal standards of an already advanced world.  But even as the process of chalking out remedial measures to set the wheels of the nation on rails, the country was overtaken by the threat of an ominous war that loomed large in the horizon, precisely the next door neighbour. 

If therefore, Indian National Congress be epitomized as the elite of the honest and righteous people who steered the Indian subcontinent then, then there is more than reason for the people to repose their faith in the one only consortium of like minded people (read INC) who have hitherto strained their every nerve to make India a vibrant power to take on the world. Incidentally an independent nation that managed to survive many devastating catastrophes, menacing wars, threatening civil strifes and shattering internal confrontations is due to celebrate its platinum jubilee a decade or so hence, all of which go to the credit of the Indian National Congress.  The INC has consistently served the nation keeping in mind the interest of diverse regions, communities and people.  However, spreading canard or alleging aspersions on people who dedicated their lives and service for the people and nation is by itself an act of extreme discourtesy. 

Moreover, most allegations are blown out of proportion to belittle that particular individual, unkindly targeted to allow hooting and clapping by ignorant street urchins, merely to elate oneself or to be projected by those very street urchins as saviors or applauded as gods or goddesses of a modern day world of crime and criminality. Yea, why not categorize these gods and goddesses as belonging to an unblemished category of divine perfection?  And these divinely appointed spirits forget for a while that those people whom they target are human being first, elected representatives next, people who dedicated their lives for the service of the nation in sequence besides being sons and daughters of the same soil as of today, sons & daughters of other human beings as well.  And for a split second these divine spirits even forget that the people they target have not deserted their posts, position, homes or the country.  What transpires thereafter is a spate of abusive gossips emerging from streets and corners of an otherwise dignified nation, with detest of the very people elected to represent the nation with dignity by the same street urchins by use of abusive reference to people who hold or hitherto held the reins of a country that millions of countrymen did elect with a mandate to govern the nation under a Constitution adopted by all on 26^th January, 1950.

Moreover, many of the allegations which do the round targeting these respectable, honest and dedicated men or women of caliber and reputation would have been blown out of proportion to hit where it hurts most.   Allegations that are seasoned, nursed to abusive limits, slept over for days to stretch them to areas of inaccessible untruth but above all jumbled up to compel a person to despair out of frailty or human finiteness.  Allegations which overwhelmingly rely on surmises, allegations which mostly arise out of casual hearsay, trumped up canard, or unauthenticated gossips.  As a matter of fact these allegations are cooked up to deliberately add leverage to gossips without any definite knowledge of what has transpired during the period of service put in by those elected representatives of people. 

These hooded elements spearheading accusations even forget that their acts solely smear the image of the nation, people or their achievements to levels of profanity and unthinkable sacrilege.  They also need to realize the sensitivity of issues which touch not only the nation, its outlook, its image and acceptability by the world but also to give due consideration to the spill over of such accusations which would not go down well with the ordinary, ignorant and uneducated people on the streets, who would least be competent to grasp the intricacies of allegations being floated by people who arrogantly exhibit a show of indisputable integrity. 

India is essentially a divided lot.  There can hardly be a consensus on any issue without allowing largesse to an opponent.  This holds equally good in all matters, be it on the streets, in business establishments or even on political platforms. As a matter of fact India is a unique country which carries with it an appaling picture of diversity in every sphere such as its culture, language, traditions, religious beliefs etc.  So why not on the issue of rumor mongering with the endangered topic called corruption?

Certain statistics stun the opposition. Some even stun the nation. However, all statistics stun the power hungry and starving lot among the opposition all. Even so, history will please the righteous citizens and people of a 1.3 billion nation who have within them the sublime truth and confidence in a government that is functioning to its very best.

INC or the Indian National Congress (1885-2012) which heads the UPA government at the Centre is the one only national party – repeating – the one only national party which has never altered its name, profile, agenda or its dedication.

INC is the only national party which has been associated with the greatest and renowned leaders of a free India since last 62 years before independence and 65 years after independence.

INC is the only national party which has never diluted its charisma, its ideology, its ideals, its dedication and its unique status be it within the party, within its leadership, within the nation or outside it.

However, the recent record breaks even the backbone of the opposition, that the communal party in connivance with Hazare, Ramdev and a few power hungry leading figures attempted to flay the alleged flaws within the government. They nevertheless, had to beat a retreat and break up in to fragments. The fragments then retreated in to the backyard of their own realm of greed and corruption to decide whether to enlist themselves under a political outfit or to wag on till the master noticed its movements.

Rumour mongering like backbiting, spitefulness and vengeance is a common vice among all people of diverse societies or groups.  However, alleging things or flinging aspersions on individuals, groups or government as have been reportedly overheard through hearsay or public gossips amount to a grave crime in a society which is bound by a government, law and judiciary.

Corruption is a state of moral perversity or eroded equilibrium which could as well be described as a hate campaign to defame someone else.  People who hoard money over themselves do so with a view to projecting themselves heads above others and the nefarious ways they achieve this end is a culmination of how base an Indian mindset can be.  Out of a culture of oneness that started during the freedom struggle emerged a vicious mindset bent on looking down upon others with scorn and detest.  And India like many other countries has joined the bandwagon with least regard for ethics-manners & etiquette or discipline in public or private lives.  In short the British held on to the Christian refrain of Charity and Love, which got transformed in to a state of animal wisdom or jungly culture. 

Corruption does not necessarily require wealth to become victim of greed. Corruption is an innate tendency to hate another in to suppression.  In effect it amounts to a liberation struggle of a peculiar kind viz. a struggle  to build up that which one gained out of someoneelse’s magnanimity and here that magnanimity refers to the decision of British to say to themselves in all humility ‘enough is enough’. 

The adage “sufficient for the day is the evil thereof” took its first ever toll after the undivided India was partitioned in to Pakistan including East Pakistan or present day Bangladesh on the one hand and an India of the present day era on the other.  

We must keep in mind the fact that only people with corrupt mentality, corrupt dealings and fully acquainted with what corrupt structure means alone would cry hoarse pointing finger at others. But people who are truly just or righteous will only think in terms of reforming a people, society or nation.  This is the one only attitude to redeeming the misguided on to a mainstream category of people. Spearheading falsehood or spreading canard about individuals is a sign of despair in their resolve to reform through peaceful means.  Law needs to catch up with such attitude which amounts to hooliganism under the hood of democratic agitation. 

The country is very much on rails and no amount of rocking carried out by the communal elements in tandem with regional parties and disgruntled elements can derail the government or the nation.  The present government under Indian National Congress has been doing the nation proud but someone needs an unbiased mind and that crucial intellect to decide and be convinced as to which way the country is developing and fast.

Much more remain to be said on Emergency, War and Corruption. They definitely will come in installments.  But never forget the fact that the nation is a crowd of more than 1.3 billion and for taking the teeming millions on an onward journey ahead, the nation must speak in one voice and be guided with one only hand namely the Indian National Congress! To be continued…………………. Cheerio, Bye!

Much more remain to be said on Emergency, War and Corruption. They definitely will come in installments.  But never forget the fact that the nation is a crowd of more than 1.3 billion and for taking the teeming millions on an onward journey ahead, the nation must speak in one voice and be guided with one only hand namely the Indian National Congress!   

ETHICS, MANNERS & ETIQUETTE - LEAF-2

In an animating and bountiful display of divine architecture, God put together an entire universe, all in one piece and that too out of nothingness. No measurements were taken, no adhesive used either; He fixed the massive stars and planets all in one go, at locations which remain unexplored by man even to this day. The basic elements which went in to piece together an infinite universe comprising all forms of life were eternal love, divine truth, omniscience and omnipotence. Incidentally, the creation of universe by the Almighty was preceded by God chastising the devils for their act of rebellion against divine will.  Through this one act of creation the Almighty established a dividing line which separated divinity from humanity, infinite from finite and spirit from matter.  And man, as the ruler of the universe, was positioned at one edge of the finite world while the other extreme came to be occupied by Satan led by Lucifer and his bad angels. 

The only barrier that separated one from the other was death in the case of human beings and eternal damnation for the devils.  However, neither had the liberty to stray in to the domain of the other without the explicit nod of the Almighty.

It may be worth recalling that God created angels in His own mystical image thereby ordaining them to exist with all splendour, radiance and resplendence in the company of other angelic spirits much like God Himself.  After many millions of divine years, God decided to create the universe and all creatures with it. This done, He gave charge of the universe to his supreme creation namely man.  The bad angels under Lucifer could not withstand the Almighty lavishing love sublime on human beings ranked below them.  A section of such angels rebelled against God which act of theirs attracted the wrath of Almighty who ordered His archangels to banish them out of the celestial bliss in to a state of deprivation in hell. 

Relegated to a nadir of abysmal existence and having forefeited their right to exist either as part of an infinite realm or in a finite world with human beings as company, and having been made an outcast, detested by all, deprived of a graceful existence, and above all having lost the grace and favour of God Almighty Himself, Satan has had to resign himself to his eternal fate and languish for ever in hell in solitude and damnation.  Satan in his attempt to obviate his antipathy towards human beings contemplated a plot to avenge the drubbing and humiliation received at the hands of Almighty by successfully driving a wedge between man vis-à-vis his creator, the Almighty and Everlasting God.

Incidentally, Satan deemed it an ignominous scourge to exist within the periphery of infinity under abject deprivation. Forelorn and despondent, having been denied access to human world and pushed to leading a life as evil spirits within the narrow confines of eternal doom, he made good his plan of floating unproductive and hazardous elements in to the world, with an eye to wean away as many of the human beings in to his domain, namely hell. To this end he put in his all, by toiling day in and day out so as to make man his fodder and the world an eyesore to his own creator.

Hard-work, devotion, dedication, patience, spirit of denial, sacrifice and to top them all perseverance. Virtues in abundance!  You name them. He has them all – the Devil!

If there is any single trait that we ought to learn from the devil, it is perseverance. As a matter of fact, perseverance is an attribute the devil is so possessive about and would not dare part with even grudgingly for a no-return. He has been on the job for millions of years, industriously straining his lacerated physique, toiling hard in the hope of weaning away as many humans into his abstract world of despair and devastation. A ghost of an enigma and an outcast of divine wrath, devil can never abide by the dictum of God or His angels. He observes no law; obtains no justice. Like a live and pale shadow, he goes about his chores profusely pining for the lost bliss of celestial serenity. Having squandered away his divine gift, he has been destined to survive in isolation away from the bliss of divinity and God! And the greatest slight he has had to bear was creation of the universe and man followed by his redemption.

Satan has been on the prowl ever since the beginning of creation.  Being barred by God Almighty from making direct contact with human beings, which act could spell disastrous for the weak creatures namely man, a malignant Satan indulged in proxy war directly on human beings but indirectly on God. He did this by floating pernicious instincts that could rent apart the honour and dignity of human beings and by infesting the universe with a spell of pointed discord, malaise, destruction, devastation, melancholy and death upon man in a manner that could leave the humans vexed with a life of indignity and dishonour.

We live in a universe that was wholly and graciously gifted to man by God Himself through an act of predilection.  However, the host who caters to man is the devil himself who has the entire universe hijacked for his amusement, in a manner that the universe might appear lacerated and famished as Satan is. There is therefore, no wonder that life provides a lot of disconnect among human beings which are but an outcome of misperceptions, misunderstandings or misprojections by people and nations who deem it their exclusive right to abide by each one’s temperament.  Incidentally, the emerging trend among human beings is indicative of a colossal departure from the strategic design and divine will originally outlined by God for man and the universe. 

Strategic meddling and rampant maneuvering in core aspects of creation as also in the overall activities of man by Satan, by and large disturbed the rhythem with which life first started.  Moreover, the devil wasted no time in twisting man made laws and faking judgements to suit his sinister designs in order to pit one against the other.  An avalanche of divided perceptions lashed the citadel and the fortifications of man’s inner trust and mutual harmony, all of which took a beating at the dexterous manipulations by Satan.  Even the huge strides made in the field of Science and Technology did not stand up to the quantum expectations of a civilized world. In his effort to augument the prospects of a pompous life, man started eyeing to attain excellence. Excel he did, but his inferior instinct gave the game away.  As is bound to happen, when shine starts enveloping the universe, the darker elements take advantage of the sparkle.  An arrogant man found himself groping through a vicious circle of his own make in an attempt to buy himself peace and tranquility, which was not to be.  For by the time comfort and luxury of his choice showed up, life had altogether become a haphazard trap wherein man’s interaction with other human beings drew flak, as a result of which he only met with stumbling block at every cross road. He was unable to proceed with errands without doling out largesse in his manners, approach and attitude with people in order to keep them in good humour for having his way.  Incidentally, man strayed far too much in to a realm of peevishness; thanks to an imp playing his part exceedingly well to the detriment of man and the universe.

In this context, it needs to be emphasized that the goodness of God is infinite.  The onus for all the perils and hazards including the curse of destruction, devastation and death falls squarely on the one only adversary of God namely Satan, who deliberately played false with the fate of man and pinned him down to such a state of helplessness.  God as the supreme Good can only vouchsafe to protect the free will endowed on Satan and his entire creation including man. Satan has been untiringly sawing the seed of pain, suffering, discomfiture, discord, death, and likewise inflicting heavy casualties on human beings through natural catastrophes such as earthquakes, volcanos, tsunamis or other perils and even displacing the good due to man by delaying the sequence of peace, happiness and prosperity.

When Satan engages a proxy to play host to guests (read human beings) who have been gifted with the entire universe by Almighty Himself, man has every right to assert his prowess to overcome the hazards so placed by Satan.  Whatever situation the world may be in as of today, is on account of man’s mistrust of his creator or on account of his towing a different line.  This needs amendment.  As of today, the world is a divided lot with one side wholly and flourishingly following the diktat of Satan. On the other hand there is hardly a handful of faithful ones following the precepts of the supreme Creator.  Obviously a tussle would always exist between the two in the form of competition or prod. What may then emerge would be grotesquely a blurred picture of misunderstanding by some, high handedness by few and a host of evil instincts let loose by Satan creating havoc for the just ones.  A finite man loses count on all aspects but God does not.  When a close relative of his passes away man appears overcome with grief, whereas when someone else far away falls victim to another’s misadventure, he merely looks on with casual approach.    There is need for introspection. There is need to open up to a universal conduct, a universal approach and a universal attitude. 

Man was created by God out of love and predilection that he might bear testimony for the infinite love bestowed on him through His eternal and divine truth manifested in His omniscience and omnipotence. Being the only heir to an infinite creation, man is greatly indebted to and owes total allegiance to God only. As such, his primary objective ought to be to strive towards greater glory of God which can best be achieved through a life adorned with human attributes namely ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’.

Survival is vital for existence for it is the flavour of life, a flavour which lingers on till you fade away from the world; in like manner flavour or survival demands dignity, which being the cream adorning one’s life and which caters to one’s ambitions and aspirations. With cream and the flavour in hand, one only needs to give shape to the material aspect which makes the difference viz. the goal one sets for oneself.  The voyage you are on should not be anchored until you attain a wholesome success, a renowned fame and an envious reputation which should shape your destiny and provide the needed impetus to the onward thrust, add dimension to your thrill and confer on you a cause for celebrations.  So destine your future with élan, bestride an elegant world of sophistication, profess a broad outlook, lead a circle of your closest friends with dynamism and allow your future to smile on you to the delight of your near and dear ones with a new episode titled “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette – Leaf – 2”.

A unique concept styled ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’, minutely framed to broadly include all the required features intended to give one and all a direction on how to go about their journey to fame, reputation and success and savour the glory of a carefree life is submitted herein for the benefit of everyone.  Every attempt has been made to include all categories of people in to paving the way for a pleasant and peaceful destiny.  Special care has also been taken to bring about an environment for coexistence of all sections of people from every walk of life and people from all disciplines, irrespective of category, profession or standing in the society, to enable advance with a secured identity of their own.  With the world progressing at a fast pace and the demand for absorbing knowledge, experience and competence far exceeding the schedule and timeframe as determined for each, the elite who would stand to succed in life would have to minimize inordinate delays in tackling certain areas of expression and articulation. It is of paramount importance that we keep in mind the effectiveness of clear-cut expression, communication and articulation. 

One should also bear in mind the time-frame by which one needs to devise ways and means of skipping unnecessary and time consuming work out so as to keep abreast of the challenge being faced by the present day generation, which far exceeds one’s capacity, capability and speed.  Seeing the need for people to cover extensive stretches of ground before arriving at a plausible distance of one’s goal, attempt has also been made to give a boost to a virtuous life far surpassing the normal stretch of mediocrity and lack of professionalism.   With the standards having fallen far below the affordable levels, and which would necessarily warrant an increased and enhanced foresight by both young and old in attaining one’s goal, and for providing a cosmopolitan approach to people and their lives, every minutest of details have been taken care of so that a Chapter for the reform of life and attitude of people may reach every section of people so as to benefit equally one and all. 

The overall features have been meticulously framed and a pattern adopted with rigorous exercise keeping the need of time and generation.  It is important to remember that progress in life demands novelty in approach, positive interaction with people and ability to communicate with people with grace. Any let up in projecting oneself with ease could result in decline in one’s image which can psychologically affect the momentum, the focus and resultantly tardy the progress. ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette’ attempts to formulate this exercise whereby people with determination and skill may not lag behind in attaining the pinnacle of glory to the advantage of themselves, the society, the nation and the world.  The purpose and aim in defining the theme for success of all is to place everyone within the parameters of a vocation for achieving recognition so that the entire exercise would tantamount to a life-long experience that would necessarily come to stay for the betterment of people who matter in a society.

The moment you step out on to the road, be sure, you are being watched by hundreds of people from different walks of life. These may constitute businessmen, professionals, educated, uneducated, powerful, influential, prominent or high-ranking and besides of course, your neighbors, acquaintances and the list goes on to level up to the present day population.  However, it is up to you to convert people’s looks or advances in to a line up for your friendship. And what would you make of this line up, an archive? Friends make up your day-to-day strength to surmount problems in life. Be sure, your attitude test starts the moment you are on the road to achieving a goal. 

Life does not provide a magic for attaining position, authority or for fulfillment of one’s dreams.  Likewise, a path to recognition, an achievement, fame, success, reputation etc. has to be traced through tireless efforts combined with determination and skill.  An accomplishment of any of the aforesaid glory, when achieved by way of a virtuous life, dedication and competency will alone add milestones to your lingering reputation and herald an era of joy and fulfillment.  Such a disposition alone would positively make an impact on your life and a supreme acknowledgement of your achievement endorsed by those who would later on flock to you for guidance.  People who feel inclined to taking up such challenge, ought to brace themselves up for any eventuality mindful of the fact that nothing comes free in life and mediocrity and half-heartedness would serve no purpose till you achieve the goal set out for yourself.  Your adversaries would strike when and where you least suspect.  Ostensibly the unscrupulous or wayward elements may even attempt to drift you off the mark. And the extraordinarily gutsy elements might even attempt a cakewalk or a free ride over your self-respect and good demeanour.  Be not dismayed nor should you lose heart, for even as you renew your efforts to gain control of yourself, the necessary windfall boost will come your way for “the reward for hard work and a dedicated effort is always decided by the giver of life, the creator”.  You only need to accomplish your part i.e. the endorsement of God’s will and the world is yours!

In our dealings it is vital that we be prepared to face people of diverse nature and category be it in age, education, culture, view or social standing. Even so, it is of paramount importance to be on extra alert always while maneuvering to achieve our errand or submitting a view at the disposal of others or even at soliciting an advice or opinion.  Remember, on most occasions your activities would be suspect in the eye of shadowy elements or proxies who may or may not have your good in mind and hence vulnerable to attempts of sabotage by shrewed and dastardly elements lying in wait for people on fastrack.  Never lose sight of your goal, for you are there not to reverse a process or to distance your destination, much less to sideline your means to achieve the end. Remember, your end is your success and means your attitude. If you persevere in your focused approach, you stand chances of enhancing the prospects of a glorious end through “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.

Our elders aver that “idleness is the mirror of the devil”.  In the same breath they also caution us that “excessive speed gets one nowhere” (Chinese proverb).  In order to tread on a safer alley to avoid tripping over inadvertently we need to adopt a focused approach, lest the enemies catch us unawares and consequently our progress get hindered.

Maya Angelou is on record with her “I find it interesting that the meanest life, the poorest existence, is attributed to God’s will, but as human beings become more affluent, as their living standard and style begin to ascend the material scale, God descends the scale of responsibility at a commensurate speed”.

A caution, therefore, for those aspiring to attain their goals is to remind oneself time and again that their activities are always under the scanner of the evil elements and an occupied mind is as much prone to devil’s agents.  Once you decide to plunge in to the arena of competitiveness, you would have to get accustomed to tremors from the devil’s proxies who would not sit idle till you fail them.  You would be playing a battle of wits. Things could drag you to embarrassing moments.  However, such adversities are bound to prop up time and again for the devil knows well that the proxies engaged by him would never reach the final destination but are bound to fall back somewhere in the race.  Beware of the prod by the devil.  Utilize your weapon namely patience, fortitude, forbearance and valour.  He who rides rough shod over your integrity would get weakened with the passage of time. Take an earthly assurance that those who battle your integrity today, belittle your esteem, make light of your self-respect and those who do not heed your courteous gestures and moves would one day stand in awe at the sparkling image you would radiate even as the pursuit of your goal would reach near fulfillment.  They would then hang their heads in shame at the folly of having played foul throughout. 

As for a solemn assurance, you have the convincing words under a divine assurance from our Lord Jesus Christ Himself who said “I am the way, the truth and the life” when he emphatically taught that -

Mathew 5:10-11

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven.

People who wish to advance in life; they would have to be on their toes keeping humour and cheap talks at bay. Be of a focused mind as well as maintain a focused approach with determination that can surpass falling prey to attempts by people with inferior instinct at demeaning your self respect.  The unruly and treacherous elements could exploit your attitude to the hilt. Always remember, you are there in your interest and your interest is your goal, to be achieved at all costs. Dare them, and the evil shall vanish at Godspeed!

However, in order to achieve a vertical climb, in order to attain the glory of fame, honour and reputation, one requires a soul mate – to be precise a friend.  A friend who would qualify to be one when you grope about for solace of trust, one who would have the sanctity within capable of linking the finite with infinite, a friend who would have an image of your reflection, image like yourself which would satisfy your craving for perfection, human perfection – him you might term a friend.  A friend who would remind you of yesterday, satisfy your today. And above all a friend who would assure you of a tomorrow. Such a friend would have the potential to not only boost your image but even to add a chain of like friends to your following and even multiply the number to form a circle that would allow you a free interaction as also enhance your prominence, your prestige and your prospects.

When you need a favour, be it material or even if it be of a spiritual nature, of all the neighbors around, you sure can count on your friend to deliver and he alone will do so diligently.  A time tested mutual friend would always have your interest in equal measure as his.  A friend would be a friend in life, a friend in adversity and a friend till infinity who would have no qualms about making sacrifices to any extent for a friend who can buy our trust even to death.

Chieri is a tiny hamlet on the outskirts of Turin in Italy.  It was a quiet evening on the night between 3 and 4 April, 1837.  John Bosco, now Saint Don Bosco (1815 - 1888) was seated by his study table, engrossed in reading and recollection. Alongside the study was a dormitory with nearly twenty seminarians of his age, preparing for a night’s rest.

All at once a thunderous eruption rent the air. Strong winds lashed at the latched doors and windows flinging them wide open. There was rattling sound all around. The impact was beyond comprehension and the magnitude beyond human confabulations. The entire apartment shook below the feet or so it appeared. An earth quake of such magnitude could be understandable, but a heavens quake was never desirable, especially at a time when the young seminarians were retiring for a night’s rest after a hectic day’s schedule. The roaring winds deafened the curious minds in to exchanging bewildered looks all around as also at each other unable to gasp for breath at such astonishing developments that confused their minds. In short, it was a night portending unforeseen disasters.  Then as though from nowhere in the vicinity, a tender glow of celestial light wafted over an otherwise hilarious heaven. All eyes were fixed on to the gush of light steaming out of thickened heavens. As light spread out with swirling intensity, a soothing melody followed by a mild tune chimed out of the flooded lights, generating bliss like radiance all around. As the humming of music died down in streaks, a soft voice echoed out of nowhere. “Bosco, my friend – I am saved”. The voice echoed away in to distant night and the music retreated in to timeless memory. The serenity of the night returned while the nearly two dozen youngsters sat clustered around each other unable to fathom what the mirage was all about. The entire episode brought about a thrill of horror in to the advancing night.  However, for Don Bosco it was a unique event which rendered his conviction a consummation.  He recognized the voice as that of Luigi Comollo, an intimate friend and colleague who pursued his studies in the Seminary where he passed away on April 2, 1837.

Luigi Comollo and Don Bosco had casually entered in to a pact that whosoever passed away first would return to convey to the other where and in what state he was.  Born on April 7, 1817 in Pra, Cinzano, Italy, Comollo pursued his studies in the Seminary where he passed away on April 2, 1837. Within two days of his passing away Comollo hastened back to earth to fulfil the promise made by him to Don Bosco, his most trusted friend. 

St. Don Bosco on various occasions referred to the episode narrated above. However, on all occasions he cautioned his students and colleagues to refrain from making such a pact since it was fraught with dangerous consequences for the very reason that the two realms of humanity and divinity are poles apart from one another and any attempt to bring them together could jeopardize the equilibrium of the lesser denomination viz. human nature or the universe.  Nonetheless, the readers would do well to carry away a great lesson Don Bosco himself wanted to teach others viz. the totality of selfless love for a neighbour which we in human terms call ‘friend’.  It would have been nearest to impossible for a person to return to a finite realm of human existence after having left the world whereby the soul of a person had parted from the human body.  By coincidence, there is reason to believe that this may perhaps have been one unique instance of a pact arrived at between friends and a logical fulfilment of pact under peculiar circumstances despite tremendous odds to the contrary.

Much stands debated though, but man’s attempt to piece out an exact or closest definition or identity of friend have always made him rely on the one only inspired Holy Book, the Bible.  Who is a friend? 

Friendship accords us a plank. Friendship provides us with an opportunity to theme our lives.  Friendship shapes an occasion to repose our trust in someone who would match our image and likeness, of the resemblance that God made man. Much of what we profess, much of what we learn and all of what we own, we owe it to a friend or friends, young or old, inferior or superior, opponent or well wisher.  Only a negligible percentage of the knowledge we possess is the outcome of our own hardwork. Friendship provides us with an exercise that moulds our thoughts, our deeds, our experience, our years, our lives but above all our own attitude.

Fame, success and reputation can only stem from a well founded base embedded in knowledge, virtues and congeniality.  Ethics is an exercise in this direction.  Much of the resistance we encounter in practical life arises out of our rigidness born out of arrogance or ignorance.  But if we succeed in bending our perspectives uniformly with a mellowed voice, an appealing tone, a pitch with a rhythem that can chime in to the ears of others, an entreat, a request with regret for intrusion, then there are chances of a success in mollifying an adversary or breaking the freeze in people’s attitude.

“Ethics, Manners & Etiquette” are traits which render man a specie apart from all other creatures roaming the earth or hovering the skies.  Although the three characteristics namely “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”  merely complement each other, yet what goes a long way in moulding one in to an upright man in the eye of the society, as also the one single aspect which prominently distinguishes a person as extraordinary from the other human beings is Ethics.  Ethics forms an integral part of any dignified living while the remaining two namely Manners & Etiquette merely feature as compliments to the former for purposes of decency and decorum in life.

Having arrived at the threshold of Ethics, it is important to point out how for trifles we are in the forefront, eager to demean others, to strip people of their dignity without the least respect & reverence for what they are or for what they merit or for what they command. In our eagerness to promote our ‘ego’, we push people in to pits of despair and devastation, not even allowing them to make amends for slight and finite errors. Attitude demands a greater degree of tolerance, which we all lack.  “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette” covers much for bringing about herculean change within such capricious people who make no bone of their attempts to browbeat people who deserve utmost respect.

Ethics is an esthetic art which enables one to sense, evaluate, judge, concur or act morally, justly and accurately with a positive frame of mind as also in a disciplined manner on issues of common interest relating to spirituality and human life.  Incidentally, Ethics relates to acts of perceiving, deliberating upon, deciding or acting on any aspect of divine or human life within the frame-work of morality and virtuousness. Although the term ‘Ethics’ is commonly referred to philosophically as the art of deciding the right and wrong side of life and resultant activities but in real life it encompasses a wider perspective having a larger meaning to supplement one’s ability  and to infallibly deal with all aspects concerning life. 

How ethics came to be born? After many million years of existence in solitude, God descended over the universe of infinite time and eternal matter.  For a moment the essence of time, infinity and eternity came to a standstill and the clock of creation started ticking for man.  It was at this juncture that God created a positive concept called man. He did this in His own image and likeness.  He then infused in to him a soul which portrayed the grace and radiance of divine presence within his human physique that constituted man in his prime stage of creation.  This way man came to exist.  However, after man’s fall from grace due to treacherous connivance by Satan, man imbibed certain idiosyncrasies wholly and exclusively owned by the devil whereby the body of man got contaminated in to a naked waste with ruined countenance prone to decay and destruction.  The curse of Satan got the better of man and man lost the grace, favour and right to evoke the grace of the Almighty.  Ethics was born the day our first parents disobeyed God.  The structure of man’s composition changed to mere flesh and blood ultimately destined to end at the instance of devil’s spitefulness.  A man who, through no fault of his, was drained of his graceful and sublime senses, made to part with the gracious instinct endowed by God and made to fall through unfathomable depths of meanest instincts imbibed from the devil himself. That same man is now destined to rise in pursuit of a goal, fame, success and reputation through a novel standard envisaged as the one only path to ascending the pinnacle of glory and which is now brought to you under a new episode titled “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette – Leaf – 2”.

Ethics is all about moral values, positive psyche, conscious assessment, dignified approach, broadened outlook and a host of other virtuous connotations, all comprehensively envisioned and effectively positioned with conviction and grace.  Dignity of every person grows with reason and realization, much the way he advances in age and wisdom.  The root element and the depth of dignity lies in age, reason and realization as also the manner in which a person conducts himself, the maturity he reveals within and the equilibrium he projects with utmost ease.  A well founded base possessing advantages like knowledge, virtue and good demeanour can stimulate a person to ascend to heights of fame, success and reputation with ease.

Ethics is a unique apparatus capable of monitoring human instinct, human senses and negativity in life. Human nature is prone to insinuation by way of circumstance, temptation, prod, nag, goad and similar antagonizing attempts to divert one’s goal, attention or focus. Be you of steady mind and never allow such negativity to gnaw in to key areas where you need to focus your thrust or where you have achieved partial or full success, for it is never easy to recover a lost ground.  However, valiant people will bypass all such temptations and forge ahead with determination and thrust.  Maintain your mental equilibrium and all adversity will fade away with the passing of time.

“Ethics, Manners & Ettiquette”, if linked to practical life, the very chances of survival of law and the courts would appear bleak. Remember, in your pursuit of your goal of your choice, every aspect of life would be on your side including state, law and administration because you hold the flame of ‘honesty, simplicity and truth’ of the like of ‘silence, simplicity and steadfastness of resolve’, under your banner “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”. 

And what is a law that has done precious little to make man conscious of his duties and responsibilities towards society? What after all is a judgment that needs years to arrive at a manipulated truth? Seeing the time lag between the first motion and the final judgment, it can safely be inferred that considerable manipulations have taken place with the passage of time vis-à-vis the incident, the place of occurrence and the circumstances of a crime. Moreover, a judgment too is passed based on deliberations by Counsels, where even the judge would never have steered out of his seat to arrive at a just judgement or to hasten a process of justice. In a nutshell, a ridiculous instance of delivering a wrong judgement!

Incidentally, man has become a mere spectator and at best a casualty under the vigilant eye of law and justice, allowing innocents or those without criminal bent of mind to become one or to languish in jails or at best silently bear the ignominious pain of death and devastation under fabricated laws and judgments.


Devil is aware that the only power on earth capable of resurrecting, restructuring or renovating and rebuilding the creation back to its original shape prior to the first sin, is God Himself who alone can dispense justice to humans. 

Be focused for your destination is nigh. You cannot change your features, but the attitude you can, at nobody’s expense. With the universe galloping towards an unknown destination, with its original features disfigured having encountered a perilous journey through millions of years in succession, the only trust you can repose is in yourself, your attitude, your good demeanour to arrive safely at your projected destination. In order to counter the evil that you might come by at appropriate intervals there is only one solution to rely on, namely “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.

Your magic is in your own hands and if you have the courage to hold aloft the trinity flame of “Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”, then fame, success and reputation will be yours to reach out for. The magic has to be evolved by you and this can best be achieved through a process of everlasting consequence. Hence await the next episode of ‘Ethics, Manners & Etiquette”.