Gerald D'Cunha

  “Lord, we don’t need another mountain, there are mountains and hillsides enough to climb; there are oceans and rivers enough to cross, enough to last till the end of time.” (From the song ‘What the World Needs now’ written by Hal David and composed by Bart Bacharach)     F or several years, during our Public Speaking sessions, I used to ask young kids to speak on the topic – ‘What Success Means to Me?’. This was before the Google surfaced… and, the idea of AI was out of anybody’s imagination. Well, I say this, because, our young kids had to rely upon their own mind to tell what Success really meant to them… Means, what they thought, not what Google or AI thought. Maybe, some of them sought help from their parents or teachers… That’s about it. But, they all did speak on the topic – ‘What Success Means to Me?’. Now, after several years, these kids are grown-up to be ‘successful’ men and women… They are busy with their lives - family, business, profession o...

“The more you know who you are, and what you want, the less you let things upset you.” Stephanie Perkins   W e find men and women, who let their hair grow from back to grey and, finally, to white, everywhere  (I am not talking about Blonds) . Some do it, because, that’s the only way they know to go about life. They are mostly poor folks, who are not touched by the ‘beauty lies’ of a cosmopolitan life. But, in the very cosmopolitans, we do come across some ‘evolved’ souls, who let their hair turn from black to grey to white, and say ‘Let it be’! They are least concerned about what the world thinks. Ironically, many, like me, have quietly admired and envied these men and women… ‘So graceful’… ‘So dignified’… ‘So classy’… yes, these have been some of my own feelings. I am sure, many of you may relate to it… Well, before some may conclude, that people who colour their hair are sinners, liars or hypocrites, let me tell you this: they are not… I am not! I wish to introdu...

W ho is the richest man on this earth? Who is the strongest? Who is the most intelligent? And, who is the most beautiful woman in this world? Who is the fairest? Tallest?Wittiest?... All that rubbish, I say. This world has more than 7.6 billion people, today… and, I am supposed to vote for the richest, the strongest, the most intelligent, the most beautiful, the fairest, the tallest and the wittiest… Right? The wealthiest men do not flaunt their wealth, nor do the strongest men flaunt their bodies… The most intelligent men and women do not take part in the IQ and JK contests… nor do the most stunning women walk the ramp… Beauty, always, lies in the eyes of the beholder… Some of the tribal women are the most beautiful creations on this planet… While the wealth made of gold, stock and cash can corrode, the wealth made of intangible substance cannot… And yes, self-confidence can be the best attire we can ever wear… Ironically, our shyness can be th...

I was talking to a very elderly woman, who I call aunty. I have always admired her for her grace and wit. Every Diwali, she would send to our place a small box containing homemade Diwali sweets and snacks. We always felt special warmth when we opened that box… Simplicity, sincerity, love and blessings always came packed in it…  Yesterday, when I met her, she was very apologetic… “I have not been keeping well for some months… I won’t’ be able to send you Diwali box this time,” she said, “This is my age of no choice, no voice!” I pulled aunty close to me and said, “Aunty, don’t bother about the sweet box… You did it for so many years… Now, you take some break. Wishes and prayers are enough… You give us yours and we give you ours.” “I feel bad,” aunty said, almost choked with emotions! Later, at noon, I had been to the station area to pick some simple Diwali gifts to ‘a couple of people’. I saw a white, posh, chauffeur-driven Audi. I was curious to se...

I love the title of Sudha Murthy’s new book (Published by Penguin Random House India) – ‘Three Thousand Stitches… Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives’. I also love the phrase – ‘Cattle Class’! There is a ring around them… and they still ring in my heart ever since I first heard them via Sudha Murthy… For many days now, this story –  'Cattle Class’ – from Sudha Murthy’s latest book has been doing rounds in social media. And, for the right reasons: Two high-society ladies, dressed in expensive outfits and accessories, saw Sudha Murthy, who looked utterly ordinary – and, thinking that she was standing in Business Class queue in London airport by mistake… So, they suggested her to move to the Economy Class queue! Sudha Murthy is a great story-teller. You and I can easily relate to her… she is our aunt… if you are my age. She is our mom, if you are in your thirties and forties… She is our adorable granny if you are a teenager… and, for tiny ones, she is their super-dupe...

M y wife and I were invited for a Holi lunch at our friends’ place. They are a lovely couple with two little-children. They had invited four other couples who, too, were present along with their respective children. We wound up at 6 almost! What makes such sittings, special, I think, is the warmth and simplicity at hosts’ place. Lavish spread of dishes and cosmetic hospitality sends you home with that lingering emptiness when you leave the party. But, true warmth sends you home with fullness… My wife and I had such an experience, today! During our post-lunch discussion, a part of our discussion revolved around the ‘better school’. One of the lady-guests found the present ICSE-Board school ineffective and was asking if a certain SSC-Board school was a better option. All had a take on the subject. Bad-quality teachers, excess hype and empty promises, exorbitant fees and even a tough syllabus – yes, the particular ICSE-Board school scored low on all counts acc...

S everal years ago, we used to have our annual picnic to Gorai beach. Those were the days of no mobile phones… Colour TV hadn’t come, yet... leave alone internet and digital cameras… There were no video games and Candy Crush saga… multiplexes weren’t born… So, a picnic like ours – which was well-organized – would appeal to one and all… the affluent and the middle class, the local-college kids and the town-college kids, all alike… The challenge for us was to bring together all these young college boys and girls, right from 11 th standard to TY, who belonged to different colleges and did not know each other – yes, the challenge was to knit all of them together through series of volunteers’ meetings. A core leadership-group would call these 40-50 volunteers to animate the rest – about 500 to 600 young boys and girls -  to take them to Gorai beach and bring them back… yes, ALIVE! For almost ten long years, we went for those Gorai picnics… Mind you, college boys and gi...