Gerald D'Cunha

“The real man smiles in trouble, gathers strength from distress, and grows brave by reflection.” - Thomas Paine T here is a fierce debate going on – and, it doesn’t seem to end – on the manner we have responded to terrorism in Kashmir, particularly, on the manner our government has responded to the latest Uri killings. Those who are extremely loyal to P.M. Narendra Modi are busy defending him… why the measured response is the most sensible thing, and not the outright retaliation. On the other hand, those who are not so loyal to him - especially the Modi-baiters – remind us of how aggressively he had blasted in Aap Ki Adalat (Rajat Sharma’s show) mocking at the knee-jerk response of the PM of the time, Mr. Manmohan Singh. Modi had roared on that show like an angry lion… So, his detractors, now, point to us about the very same knee-jerk response he is now showing, when he is in PM’s hot seat… I like both my Prime Ministers – Narendra Modi an...

Pic.: Sherry Haridas “Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear…  and a fool from any direction.” - Pro Rodeao.com Sports League I   was eating my dinner last night. I had a very hectic day… I was very tired. So, as I was having my dinner, my cell-phone rang… It was someone I knew very well. Instinctively, I picked the phone. “Is it such an important call? Can’t you get back to him after the dinner?” my wife reminded me… I took her advice for granted and began to talk to the man on the other end… That's my first mistake... The man had a certain complaint (my social work). Well, now that I had picked his call… so, I might as well satisfy him, I thought…. That’s was my second mistake… I kept explaining and reasoning out with this man… and he was taking me round and round and round. I was heading nowhere… I explained to him that I was having my dinner… I had just come home after a ...

Pic.: Umang Pahwa I n life, some things, we can not ignore... One of them is the political climate in which we all live. Most of us do not like to indulge in party politics, even though we all have our own party affiliations. The beauty of this is: just as we all live here, in this marvelous city, surrounded by people of different religious faiths, we all, also, live so surrounded by people of different political leanings. Just as our leanings when it comes the on-going IPL teams. If ten of us are watching a match, all ten may not root for the same team... And, that’s how it should be... I have wonderful neighbors – people from different religious faiths. They belong to different parts of India ; they speak different languages, follow different cultures and food habits... They, also, have their own political leanings... and, nothing of these has stopped us from living together as amazing neighbors... The Lok Sabha-elections verdict is clear: it is going to be ...

Pic.: Mehul Bhuva “All you need is ignorance and confidence ...and the success is sure.” Mark Twain I have been teaching, in small and big batches – and even for single students – over three decades now. It feels nice, very fulfilling, when my students remember me, thank me, talk about me with pride and gratitude, and, sometimes, hero-worship me. As a human being, I silently crave for such attention, such adulation... I would be bluffing, if I say, “No, I don’t.” When you have taught a particular batch of students for an entire year, when you have deeply believed that you have given your best shot putting all the passion and love in your work... when you have thought, so strongly, that you have inculcated some fine values and infused some great confidence in your students... yes, when this is your belief and hope... you, obviously, expect your students to show some ‘visible’ gratitude when they leave you o...

Pic.: Rajiv Sharma “Remember, this meeting never took place.”… “Remember, this conversation never took place.” W henever I have come across this movie dialogue, I have immensely liked it. The person saying this wants to convey: Look, it is private… only between you and me. No one else should come to know about it. When I think of this dialogue, I feel very inspired, too. The reason for that is: It is the fear of what people will think… and what might be its consequences… yes, that makes us tensed, all the time. For example, if someone says something nasty about me, in public, I might feel offended or angry. I might even react to it, immediately. If the same thing is said in private, when there is nobody around, I might take it a lot differently… So, it is clear from this, that the value we have attached to other people’s opinion… yes, it makes all the difference. Is it possible for us to separate what someone says ...

Some people call it ‘being open’. And, some call it ‘being pliable’. Whatever it is called, it is absolutely needed to live in this world – not only effectively but also intelligently. And, yes, peacefully, too. Being rigid about anything in life – be it a religious, social or moral idea – makes living only more and more complicated. The world we live in is an incredibly fast-changing world, incredibly vibrant… And, therefore, by its very nature, it is not compatible to any kind of rigidity. When things churn, you need to swing into action… keep moving, keep fitting, and keep finding your new space… Else, you will be knocked out into the sidelines… Left behind into the oblivion. It applies in every sphere of life… As a parent, you need to be pliable – realize that your children live and grow up in a swiftly changing world… So, change with the times… Be open to the new ideas which your children embrace as they grow up… As an employ...