Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.: Sherry Haridas “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love have always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time, they can seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall. Think of it, always.”   ―   Mahatma Gandhi I have, always, found a lot of solace in the statement: “Being peaceful is more important than being right.” If I believe in its opposite – “Being right is more important than being peaceful,” I should be prepared for a life of never-ending conflicts, enmity, compromise with ethics, company of disgruntled people, and, above all, isolation… In the long run, the human heart aspires to be at rest… To let go and feel the quiet space inside… So, the being-right mindset is, always, donned by the one who has put his own ego-thrill before anyone else’s welfare…The larger-good is a foreign vocabulary in such a person’s kingdom… Losing is tough to accept f...

Image courtesy: Google Just outside my classes, we have a small garden. For last couple of days, the little kids – Vyomie, Tanish, Vishesh and a dozen others, all between age 10 and 12 – have been planning for their mega-show – ‘Dahi Handi’ .   It will be staged in our gardens, today evening, at 4. Vyomie and gang had barged into my office, last afternoon – throwing themselves out of their school bus, they had straight away come into my office – to announce: “Sir, you have to contribute Rs. 30/- for the ‘Dahi Handi’ ; we are coming in the evening to collect.” “Ok sweet-hearts,” I pulled them close to me, “Shall I give it now?” “No, we will come in the evening,” they said in a chorus… At 5 sharp, in the evening, they were here with a neatly-prepared list. They proudly started from me… So, I am waiting… I am excited! L ord K rishna is a very inspiring teacher - Dashing and dynamic… Practical and tactical… Loving an...

  Like others, I too did not leave home yesterday. Yes, our TV was on right from 7 am till late in the night! It is really unusual in our house. We watch less TV, a few programmes here and there. In fact, there was a time, we managed without a TV for close to ten years! Life went on smoothly… We did not miss anything! So, yesterday, when our TV was on, and we were glued to the live telecast, like that, I found it quite unbelievable! Well, this Post is not going to be about our addiction to TV or sensational news or about Balasaheb Thackrey. Even if I write a word on him, it might seem an overdose… So much is said, written and shown about him. I think, that’s enough. Some days ago (on 2 nd November), I had written about Balasaheb in my Post – ‘The Lion And The Sunset’. I had written in that Post, that, though, like so many, I too did not like or approve his kind of Politics, I had admired the Man for so many things. My...

In another context, I was writing today a report. And, I ended it with these lines: “What is true, will always triumph; What is not, will not!” Well, I will tell you on another day as to the context in which I had written those lines. But, I did write them feeling for them in every pore of my being!  Yes, I meant it: “What is true, will always triumph; What is not, will not!” How does the Universe operate and how does Life thrive on this planet… How do the stars live for eons… from do they come and to where do they go… How do all things in the skies and the oceans and all things on land and human hearts keep their rhythm so beautifully, well, I have no idea.  What Science tells me, I have simply ‘accepted’… to be true. But, my acceptance of the truth does hardly matter for all things to go about the way they do.  So, how am I so sure of what I had written, today: “What is true, will always triu...

My young son was insistent that I should watch the first two editions of Christopher Nolan’s trilogy on ‘The Batman’. So, at home, he arranged to screen for me, along with his own authentic commentary, the first two Batman classics – ‘The Batman Begins’ and ‘The Dark Knight’. Yes, I had missed both of them when they were first released. This time, I truly enjoyed the ‘Super-hero’ drama… I was, particularly, overwhelmed by the genius of the filmmaker – Christopher Nolan… his convictions, his vision, his grit and his stupendous hold on the medium. And, of course, his infectious passion. It left me speechless… Inspired! So, this morning, I watched, along with my son, the last edition of the trilogy – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’… Where else?  You need to watch it only on a giant screen at IMAX, parked yourself on one of the top-most seats! I could realize the reason why my young son had gone all way out to watch the very first sh...

There is a simple spiritual law. It goes like this:  “When you leave a place – any place - you leave it in a better condition than you found it when you first came in.” Well, it says, ‘Any place’! Just a while from now, Mr. Kamal * and his family are all set to step into their new house. The auspicious moment is just round the corner… and, they have invited my family, too. I have asked the Florist to deliver a lovely bouquet at the stroke of the clock… “Wish you and your family all happiness, prosperity and peace, dear Kamal,” I have written on the note.  What a happy moment for young Kamal and his family! Incidentally, the man who sold that house to Kamal was not liked by anyone around. He had lived in that house for nearly five years… and, during all these five years, he had been a chronic complainant… mean and vengeful… short-sighted and selfish. Well, it is not my perception… It is the general perception of everyone around ...