Gerald D'Cunha

Pic.:Anand Sreedhar Y esterday was a Sunday… Early in the morning, I learnt that it was a ‘Father’s Day’. The first thought that crossed my mind was very funny one: ‘Who decides all these days… Who prepares this ‘special calendar’?” My dad died in 1984… More than 30 years ago. I have written about him in so many of my blogs and spoken about him at so many places, that, for me, to post a blog on a Father’s Day wasn’t a task at all… Still, I did not write a word yesterday… I didn’t feel like. Did it make me a less deserving son of my late dad? I ncidentally, my 24-year-old ‘only son’ (who works in Pune) was here for a day. He had just returned after a two-week trip to Netherlands. He left for Pune at 7 in the evening, yesterday. We had long discussion through the day… and had spoken on many different issues. Interestingly, neither he had remembered to wish me ‘Happy Father’s Day’, nor was I expecting him to do that… Did it make my son a less des...

Pic.: Shreeshay Patel “You can sacrifice and not love… But you cannot love and not sacrifice.”   ―   Kris Vallotton I had visitors in my office, a while ago – a father and his daughter. During the course of our discussion, the father told me that his daughter had given him and his wife a pleasant surprise, some days ago. It was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. The daughter had quietly worked from behind the scene… She had meticulously saved every rupee she had earned during the entire year (by giving tuitions)… She had contacted her parents' closest friends, who had been by them, in their good times and bad times… She had invited them along with some close relatives and arranged for a warm celebration in a beautiful venue… Her parents had no clue about it till the day of the celebration had arrived! For twenty-five years, the parents had been doing so many things for their daughter without making any ‘show’ about it. Small and big s...

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha “Sometimes I get so caught up in my own problems that I forget how amazing the world is.”   ―   Wendelin Van Draanen S ome days ago, my dear friend, Ashish, shared with me a beautiful story, which he had read on social media. In a distant land, there lived this man who was burdened by his problems… hundreds of them. So, one day, he travelled far to meet a well-known saint, with the hope of finding freedom from all his problems. Scores of people had already lined up to meet the holy man; and, by the time our man’s turn came up, it was night. The saint said, “Friend, I am very tired. However, as you have come from a faraway place, I suggest you spend your night here. I will attend to your problems tomorrow morning.” The saint, then, added this, “Do me a small favour, my friend. I have hundreds of camels here. Before you go to sleep, ensure that all my camels go to sleep.” The man agreed. In the morni...

Pic.: Shreeshay Patel “If you want to see the sunshine, you have to weather the storm.” - Frank Lane I had invited a dear friend of mine for our Sunday’s Dawn Club function. My friend is blessed with a wonderful family and he had been doing extremely well in his profession, too. So, to the world, it would appear as if there was nothing to complain about in my friend’s life… He only  had  things to be grateful for… And, that’s how my case, too, may appear to the world… I have a wonderful family… I am doing well in my profession… So, what else is there to complain about in my life? Let me correct myself… Not ‘to complain about’… But, ‘seek help’. Yes, help to sail through many silent storms in my life… Are there storms? Yes, plenty in our lives… I think, in everyone’s life, there are these storms… And everyone gets weighed down, anxious… Everyone needs a helping hand… everyone needs God’s grace… We only do not ta...

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha O n Sunday, we had the certification programme of our 2016-batch of P.D. students. During this programme, we had released our latest book – ‘What Makes Me Confident’. The book contained the impromptu speeches made by our students, both little-ones and young-ones. I had referred them as ‘Saplings’ and ‘Young Trees’ respectively. The book also contained articles from some successful individuals, who I had referred as ‘Mature Trees’. A copy of the new book was given to all present. Towards the end of the programme, 11-year-old Sumeet came to me and said, “Sir, my speech is not there in the book.” Sumeet had been a very restless – high-energy kind – kid all along. I had repeatedly asked students to hand over both the hard copies and the soft copies of their write-ups; I had taken utmost care while putting together the book. So, when the boy pointed to me the lapse, I not only got a lot surprised, but I, also, felt a little bad for this boy… Some...

Pic.: Shreeshay Patel T sunamis come, unannounced. In life, tragedies, too, come the same way – all unannounced! And, when they do, we all are left with the same two options: to go crushing down with them… Or, to rise above them. And, whether we go crushing down – overwhelmed by our fear, sorrow, self-pity and anger, or whether we will rise through the ashes, like a Phoenix, yes, it all depends on how reverently we view our lives… how closely we watch… how blessed and privileged we feel… how grateful, how merciful… and, despite a few tragedies that have come striking our doors… Should my life end with a tragedy which has struck me unannounced? Should I spend the rest of life in sorrow, self-pity, blame or anger? Should I lose my hope… should I give up on life? Or, is there something ‘better’ in store for me… A greater design, a divine purpose? Many times, when tough times come in my life, I see myself reacting with self-pity, blame, ...

Pic.: Shreeshay Patel - b Fo             - by SHYAMALA ACHARYA                 Former  lecturer /Mentor/Home-maker          C onfidence is a state of one’s mind. When we do something we love, we do not experience any fear or hesitation in doing it. This is exactly what I do… and, this is exactly what makes me confident.          Being a housewife, I do everything any housewife does or would do. But, along with all this, I am a housewife with a difference - 'A home-maker' and an active member of Chinmaya Mission (my extended home). I am very proud to say, that this mission has given and made me what I am today. My strength, my confidence, my self-esteem… all these are a blessing bestowed upon me by the Chinmaya Mission and my Aunt, Nirmala, who introduced me...

Pic.: Anima D'Cunha -  by ARNAB GUPTA Age 17 A t this juncture of my life, where most go weak at their knees, I stand up confident. I have almost zero regrets, because every time I had to decide, I was sure I was right. It was all because confidence was one of my virtues in every escapade I undertook. What really makes me confident is not just one thing, it’s a combination… Firstly, when I find myself being right most of the times, it boosts my confidence. However, when I err, I don’t feel negative and I take it as a challenge that compels me to try my best to be precise in my following attempts. Next, I don’t believe in comments or criticism that have no legitimate proof or are based on hatred towards me; I don’t worry about the reaction people would have towards me. When I know what I’m doing seems true to me, I don’t need to ask others… Call it a class of ego if you may, I would still be proud of it. There’s something ...