Gerald D'Cunha

“ Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s needs, but not every man’s greed.” -       Mahatma Gandhi F or many days, now, some of my dear friends have been sending me strong appeals against the controversial decision by the authorities to axe over 2500 trees in Aarey forest to make way for Metro car-shed. Even though this issue concerns all of us in this city, why is that only some feel so strong about it, and why many of us, including myself, don’t? Honestly, most of us choose to see the other way. Because, it has not affected us ‘directly’, yet! Just as you and I, here in India, feel about the fire presently raging in the Amazon rain forests! Well, many of us do know what impact can such disasters – most of them, yes, caused by human greed in the name of development – can have on ‘life’. I didn’t say ‘human life’. I said, ‘Life’… all kinds of Life… animals, birds, insects, plant...

“I laugh when I hear that the fish in the water is thirsty. I laugh when I hear that people go on pilgrimage to find God.” - Kabir T here is a universal human weakness – and it dates back to the days of fallen civilizations – and it is: to place people on pedestal and trying to be smothered by them, feel loved and protected in their company… worship them as mentors, heroes,  gurus, Mahagurus and Satgurus… Make these mortals larger-than-life cut-outs, worship them as flawless, pure and give one’s all… And, then, ‘take’ everything from them blindly as divine… Give everything to them blindly… Eventually, what happens is:  one more dangerous bondage… What was supposed to free you now becomes a new prison… It’s sad to see this happen! T his room, where I am writing this Post, has no image of any deity. I have no image of any Guru or Master around me… My question is: “Am I not able to feel close to Almighty God?  How ...

“The real question is not whether life exists after death. The real question is whether you are alive before death.” - Osho Rajneesh H e was called Chander watchman. He was a Nepali. The housing society, where my classes and office are situated, had provided him and his family (wife and three children) a small temporary- shed to live. He mostly did night duty, and, to supplement his income, he and his wife both washed many cars early every morning. Three children, all boys, were in the age group of 3 to 13. None of them went to school, despite the best efforts made by some good-hearted residents. Essentially because, Chander’s stay in this colony was uncertain. He was an alcoholic and engaged in ugly scenes with his wife regularly. Many residents had complained about it and had asked the Managing Committee to remove Chander and his family from the society as it, according to them, posed a security threat for the residents… But, Chander was a...

B y the time I publish this Post on my blog, the national flag across our country – in every nook and corner that is – would have been already hoisted. The National Anthem and some patriotic songs, some snacks or sweets to children… maybe some games… with that would conclude our 71 st Independence Day celebration. We will not be able to change our ‘old ways’ of living even till the flag is descended before sunset… Our ways haven’t changed… “I am an Indian… and all Indians are my brothers and sisters,” this pledge is only confined to the tricolor pole or our children’s’ textbooks. Am I proud to be an Indian? Yes, I am. With all the good, the bad and ugly that my country offers me, am I still proud to be an Indian? Yes, I am. I do not like chest-thumping at all. The patriotic feeling, just like the feeling towards my parents and spouse, should be left to my bosoms. I know, it is ordinary citizens like you and me make this nation… I know, we h...

“S o, what’s the latest news?” I asked my twelfth-standard (ISC) students. “Kareena got a baby,” beamed excitedly Simran. “Baby’s name is Taimur,” added Aditi equally excited. “Who cares?” declared Gagan. “Girls will be girls and boys will be always boys,” I smiled in my mind. “Tell me, what is your opinion on the controversy over the name of Kareena and Saif’s baby?” “Why should any of us be bothered about that?” the voice was unanimous from these young-ones, “Whose baby is it, anyway?” I loved that… “Whose baby is it, anyway?” Certainly not mine… and certainly not yours. So, let us mind our own business. Let’s not sit on the judgment seat and shout, “The baby is given the name of a despot king… a mass murderer… an invader. Taimur!" Till this Pakistani man – whoever he is – Tarek Fateh tweeted and polluted the peaceful atmosphere here, I did not know who Taimur was, or what Taimur meant. And, the moment this man made this holier-than-though state...

Pic.: Chetna Shetty O n this Sunday morning, my wife and I had been to the Global Vipasana Centre (Pagoda) at Gorai. For a long time, I have been longing to visit this magnificent piece of architecture. I love anything and everything inspiring… great work of architecture… be it commercial or residential towers or be it cathedrals, temples, mosques or gurudwaras… or even bridges and flyovers… I feel inspired by the thought that loads of passion goes into building them… Another reason why I wanted to visit Pagoda was this: I have been, always, influenced by the teachings of Gautama Buddha, who, in my view, did not teach mankind any religion… In fact, everywhere around the Vipasana centres, you get to read this truth: Vipasana, the meditation taught by the Buddha himself,  doesn't  belong to any sect or religion… But, then, somewhere down the line, the essence and the truth get polluted by us – the followers, the interpreters, the mortals, the gullible… W...

So, now, the Easter is over. It is a Monday… and, I have these familiar Monday Blues right from the time I opened my eyes, this morning.  “Monday Blues are only in your mind,” some Mondays back, someone had tried to counsel me. I was feeling low and jittery as I do today. But then, I am feeling these blues today – on this Monday – for a specific reason: I suddenly remembered, while opening my eyes, today, that I hadn’t sent my Easter wishes to a couple of ‘significant’ people in my life! I don’t know which side of my brain was making me think and feel bad like that; because, within seconds, from another side of my brain, came this justification: “Relax buddy. Neither have you received any greetings from these ‘significant’ people!” Well, it did seem that we had squared-up… and, the scores had been settled. So, it did seem for a while that I should not feel those blues… and, I should go about smiling, up-beat. But, no; the...