Gerald D'Cunha

“After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” Aldous Huxley T hanks to the lockdown, I have been able to watch scores of Bruce Springsteen’s music videos. His songs and music are the ‘Stories of Life’ as Jon   Stewart said in Bruce’s honour at the Kennedy Center (2009). Listen to Jon … As per the tradition, earlier that day, President Obama had hosted a small party at the White House. In his speech, he had said, “I am the President; but, he is The Boss’ (referring to Bruce’s famous music album. Listen to Obama: ‘Stories of life’ and ‘He empties his tank’ – yes, these are powerful image-words about the life and work of Bruce Springsteen. His songs are the stories of hard life, the life of the underdogs – you and me… Simple, straight and forceful. Perhaps, that’s the reason why you see so many li’l kids, young men and women and elderly at his concerts – his ‘empties his tank’ for them… ‘through the...

I t was a busy narrow-street. On both sides of the street, there was hardly any space left for people to walk. Everyone was maneuvering his way through the chaos, and so was I. Just then, a friend of mine, who happened to pass by on his motor bike, sighted me… He spontaneously parked his bike on the side and crossed over to my side to talk to me. Even before I could remind him to park the bike little away, where there was some open space, the motorist behind him yelled, “Akkal nahin hai kya?” I instinctively knew it would provoke my friend… Yes, it did. “Tameez se baat karo,” my friend pointed his index finger. “Gaadi hatao ,” the motorist screamed… “Nahin hataunga,” my friend challenged. By then, the motorists from all sides were honking incessantly… I pressed my friend’s hand and gently whispered, “Let’s take your bike a little ahead and talk… It’s better for all of us.” Luckily, my friend did not show any resistance… He crossed ove...

Pic.: Mini Milind “People say that walking on water is a miracle; but to me, walking on earth  peacefully is a real miracle.” - Thich Nhat Hanh   M y wife is associated with a company which promotes one of the finest sets of educational books. As a regular feature, the company holds an annual international-conference for its folk in some of the exciting places on globe… Well, this time (next week) it will be in Ho Chi Minn City of Vietnam. “Vietnam?” I asked my wife, this morning, “It was totally destroyed during the Vietnam War.” It was evident from my question, how much informed I was about the post-war Vietnam… The War had lasted twenty years (1955-1975). Since then, it is forty years now… There is peace… The lush-countryside peace is back there… Ho Chi Minn City, commonly known as Saigon, is a city in southern Vietnam. It is famous for playing a pivotal role in the Vietnam War. My wife told me that one of the top tourist a...

Pic.Anjana Srivastava A rjuna was Kshatriya, a fighter. And, he was the best fighter of his time. Still, when it came to the epic battle at Kurukshetra, he was a mentally-tortured soul... He did not want to fight his own cousins and uncles... even though he knew he was the best fighter and even though he was on the side of the ‘righteousness’... That’s why, when Krishna, the Lord who ruled Dwaraka in human form, offered a choice to Arjuna to accept his (Krishna’s) mighty army to fight for him (Arjuna) or to take Krishna himself as his guide and counselor, the great fighter, Arjuna, chose the latter. He urged Krishna to guide him as his charioteer, which Krishna did... Arjuna’s plight is our plight, too. In life, who wants war, leave alone a war with one’s own near-and-dear ones? Like him, most of us try to avoid war... we go through our mental conflict: Should we? How can we? We plead God to do away the war from us... our ‘cup’, our ‘test’... In Mahabharata...

If peace is what I yearn for, Peace should be my call! Peace always involves another person... And, I really wish, He too yearns for it... the way I do! I wish, He understands me - My hurt, My anger, My fear...  And my pain. Yes, I wish, He will not repeat his acts -  Deliberate or otherwise... I just want him to drop the weapons... Understand me, Apologize to me, Promise me... Love me! But then... It is my wish! Why do I yearn for peace? For whose sake - his or mine? What if he doesn't come around? Doesn't understand me? Doesn't apologize? Doesn't promise? When we drop our guns, The world thinks the war has ended... And peace has come. But, we alone know what peace is... And when does it come! If peace is my heart's thirst, Peace should be my call... And, therefore, it goes: Peace can come in my heart... Even in the midst of war! I needn't wait till he is rea...