Gerald D'Cunha

I admire people who can create magic with words – yes, the same words that are available to you and me, to all. Call it ‘Creative-writing skill’, ‘Gift of imagination’, ‘Gift of story-telling’, ‘Word play’, ‘Word recipe’, Spinning-a-yarn’… call it by whatever name you want; but, like any creative person around us – a poet, a song writer, a playwright,  a dance choreographer, a lyricist, a chef, a mathematician, a scientist, a stand-up comedian, a photographer, a film-maker, an ad-maker or a magician - this person, too, can create magic with his words.  Yes, give him the same bowl of words, and he can be the alchemist! And, I love that… I was fortunate to meet one such person, today, in one of the reputed Mumbai colleges, where I had gone to conduct a session for senior teachers. Her name was Mrs. Shubha Mukherjee and she taught English in this college. Mrs. Mukherjee is a very affectionate and graceful lady. During the course of our discussion, ...

Pic.: Anand Ashokan I had last watched the animated Disney-movie, ‘Aladdin’, when my son was a little boy. Like everyone else, I remember how his heart would light-up every time Genie popped-out of the bottle... grew big, bigger and the biggest... and shrinked, once  again... With his elastic movements, he regaled our little boy as much as he regaled us, his parents... Disney’s animated-characters seem and sound so real that, leave alone my little son, I – all of age 36 then – did not realize that great Robin Williams was speaking from Genie’s body! Though I haven’t watched the movie for close to twenty years now, I still remember some of its brilliant dialogues. One of them is so profound and inspiring; but, ironically, it comes from one of the most unlikely characters in the movie – the Merchant! “Do not be fooled by its commonplace appearance,” reminds the Merchant, Like so many things (in Life), it is not what is outside, but what is inside, that ...

Are we all Alchemists? Yesterday morning, during our Certification programme (2012 PD Course), I had the reason to believe: Yes, we all are! Our students – the young ones, the little ones and the middle-aged – were profusely thanking each of the teachers for making difference in their lives. They were absolutely sincere while expressing their feelings. And, for the teachers, it is an incredible feeling of satisfaction. To feel that you have been able to touch someone’s life – be an agent of change… transforms him into some fine soul – honestly, for a teacher, it is an incredibly satisfying feeling.   Last morning, while addressing our graduating students, my friend - a very loving and committed teacher and trainer himself – Mr. Uday Acharya – said some nice things about me. He told the audience about the fabled ‘Philosopher’s Stone’. The legend has it that, the Alchemists would use a Philosopher’s Stone to convert the base metal into...

You are mighty O lord… And Your faithfulness surrounds You… You rule over the surging sea… When its waves mount up, You still them… Psalm 89:8-9 For, a day in your courts, Is better than thousand elsewhere… I would rather be a door-keeper In the House of God Rather than live In the tents of wickedness. Psalm 84:10 Today morning, at 7.45, I received the first Biblical passage from Pravin, my friend in Mumbai. He is a Hindu and sends me, now and then, a Holy passage… Sometimes , when I rise in the morning… and, sometimes, when I am about to retire.  Cicie, lives hundreds of miles afar… and sends me a Biblical passage , every morning. Today, I received the second passage from her at sharp 7.47! I was pleasantly surprised. What a divine co-incidence… That, two of my well-wishers have to send me two inspiring passages from the same section of the Bible… and at the same time. We...