For He can Play His Drum Anytime

 

WE at leftright and thoda sa centre are mothers….. We can’t help feeling worried, actually saddened, at the disruptions this pandemic has caused to classrooms everywhere. Schools and colleges are shut down, with students being made to attend online classes. However, our children don’t find them engaging enough.  They’ve also realized that teachers can no longer keep as close an eye on them, and they’ve taken to neglecting their study routines, whether it be practicing their poems or cursive writing, their multiplication tables or the periodic tables, working out problems or making sentences with new words every day.

 

When we point this out to our children, they laugh at us for trying to sound like prophets of doom. “Just chill, ma…..there aren’t going to be any exams for a long time to come!” To them we wish to say, please remember that there will come a day sooner or later, when this pandemic will end.  And each passing day is bringing you closer to that end. Eventually when you get back to school, with all of you in higher classes and more to study, you will have to struggle a lot more if you don’t keep up with your daily routines now. Before you start comparing us to the boy that cried wolf, we’d like to share a story that we heard recently in an online classroom.  

 

Indra: The God of Gods

It is said that once Indra, the Lord of the Heavens, got annoyed with farmers on earth and declared that it would not rain for the next twelve years. Their fields would not yield any crops. In vain did the poor farmers beg and plead with Indra to change his mind – he stood unmoved.  When he got tired of listening to them, he  told them it will now rain only when Lord Shiva plays on His dumroo (his small handheld drum), having cleverly taken Shiva into confidence first. The harassed farmers then rushed to Shiva with their urgent pleas for mercy, but the latter had nothing to say to them except that He would not be playing His drum for at least 12 years!  

 

Shiva and his damru

The browbeaten farmers now resigned themselves to fate.  They had no option but to wait out the next twelve years. They thought what’s the point in even going out to their fields; without rain, nothing will grow. They began staying at home; the soil hardened, and all cultivated lands fell to rack and ruin.  But there was one farmer amongst them, who decided to keep up with the daily routine of tilling and ploughing his fields, and when the time was right, he even sowed seeds. The story spread far and wide among farmers everywhere; and soon he became the butt of much mockery and rude jokes.

 

However, he turned a deaf ear to all the insults and kept up with his daily labour as if it could rain any minute. To all who tried to reason with him, he had only one thing to say, “I know tilling, ploughing and sowing are all of no use without rain. But I am worried that by the time it does rain, I am going to forget all about farming! Even if I manage to remember, I would’ve definitely put on weight, become lazier and less prepared to work in the open fields under the scorching sun. So laugh all you want, but all this sitting around idly for 12 years, is not for me. Twelve years is a long time – what if I forget and cannot get back to farming even when it does rain?  What use will that be?  No sir, I am going to go out into my fields every day at the crack of dawn, work as usual, and return only at sundown!  

 

His words fell on the ears of Goddess Parvati as she sat beside her husband, Lord Shiva, on Mount Kailasa. “Did you hear that? I think he’s right…..12 years is indeed a long period of time. Please forgive me for saying so, but it’s quite possible that after 12 long years, you too forget how to play the dumroo. Have you thought of that?”  

 

At first Shiva laughed.  He was God; how could He forget anything? But as days passed, he began to feel perhaps there was some truth in what Parvati said.  After all, 12 years is quite a long period of time. He began to feel pangs of anxiety.  Suppose he forgot? He looked at the small drum in his right hand and felt he should play it – just to test if he remembered. He moved his hand and began to play the drum. 

Lo and behold! No sooner did the drumbeats roll out from the heavens that thunder crashed; there were flashes of lightning.  And then it began to rain.  Oh, how it rained!

 

The farmer who had kept his fields all ploughed and sowed with seed, ready for the rain, was rewarded with a bumper crop. 

The Farmer's Reward

His fields stood green and golden, fairly bursting with grain. All the other farmers, who had laughed at him for working in the fields, now rubbed their hands in regret.  How they wished they hadn’t stopped working in their fields! For if they’d spent that time in getting their fields ready for the rain, today their lands would also be filled with crops ready for harvesting. Instead, their fields stood brown and barren, with the top soil getting washed away by the rain water. 

 

What is the lesson to be learned from this story? This pandemic is definitely going to end – whether in two weeks, some months or a few years – so instead of wasting time in despair or getting disheartened in wondering when it is going to end, let’s shift our focus to that. 

Don't Waste Time Despairing

Let’s get to work on preparing ourselves to be ready for the time when it ends.  Let’s read up the unfinished chapters in the books we have.  Identify our weaknesses; work on getting rid of them; work on improving/building on what we know; think of ways in which we can become better than before. 

 

Work at Getting Better than Before

 How You Can Get Better: Constantly Review your Work

You never know when His drumbeats will begin rolling, so hold yourself in readiness. Practice is the key to improving oneself qualitatively.  It’s the secret that lies at the heart of success. If you want to rise to every challenge, know the answer to every question when the time comes; keep practicing. Because you see, He can play His dumroo anytime!

 

We feel sure this story would have struck a chord in all parents who are reading – let us know what you felt. Write your comments in the Comment section.  And as always, everybody please do read, share, follow and subscribe!  

 

  Image credits: Google

 

 

                                                                                                                                             

Motherhood Through the Eyes of a Daughter

There exists a natural bond between a mother and her child that is unparalleled.  This bond is a result of the nurturing care the mother offers and also the fact that she has willingly sacrificed her body and borne pain to create a new life.  This does not make an adoptive mother any less special.   She showers all her love on a child that would never have experienced a mother's love had she not embraced it whole heartedly.  This mother's day, while we were looking for ideas to come up with a post, Poonam (the author of Shivaji- The Virtuous Warrior King) mailed us another well written article on the "I love you-you don't love me" relationship she shared with her mother. Over to Poonam -- 

Mother and Daughter

Every mother makes some mistakes. Every daughter decides when I become a mother, I am never going to do that to my children. But inevitably ends up making some new mistakes of her own. No parent is perfect from the perspective of a grown-up child. But if we are questioned on it…we all admit to having a wonderful set of parents. Not because they provided us everything, but because we all realize they strived for it. They struggled.

It’s easier to accept our parent’s love and take their discipline and criticism in our stride, but their mistakes never get our sympathy. Maybe because despite attaining parenthood, the child within us is unable to come to terms with the fact that parents are humans too.  And humans are a compilation of all sorts of individual emotions, expressions and acts, including mistakes that are unique to them.

Grading parenthood is somewhat similar to our education system. An artistic mind is compelled to undergo mathematics enrichment classes while being tagged as ‘WEAK’ in the subject. It’s something that can’t be helped. That’s how the system works. But then, is every parent a failure according to his child? ‘NO’. It’s just the child’s perspective; every child has his/her own vision of perfect parenting and grades accordingly. But those are grades that come up for a sometimes reluctant, sometimes whole-hearted re-evaluation once the child writes the parenthood exam himself. The questions might vary. Previous experiences do help to a certain extent. But as the generation changes, the situations change. And then the same old story of grades comes in.

On looking back at the two previous generations and forward to the one ahead of me, I see a process of gradual change and improvements. My mother must have had a progress card for grandma. I had it for my mother and I’m sure my daughter will secretly treasure one for me. But the grading card that I carried for my mother never made me happy. The more mistakes I pointed out, the more I got buried deep inside. And our relations got more strained. And then one day suddenly, I came into my own and decided that I don’t want to judge her. I would rather be happy to ‘accept’. After all, a mother’s age is the same as the age her kids are. She was not a mother before. She was learning, struggling yet feeling small, comparing herself to other self-proclaimed perfectionists. I realized I was ignoring her efforts just for the sake of grading.

Time went by, and a person I had never known began to emerge. The mother I knew had no hobbies; the person I discovered was a voracious reader. I started seeing the unexplored side of my own mother. She was a wonderful friend. Till date our friendship has seen many seasons, bright and gloomy both. And I cherish every moment of it. I’m a mother of two daughters now. And yes, I know my report card must be having many red marks. But I’m not worried. Because there is one mistake that my mother had made, which I still consider a mistake and avoid making.

Apart from being a doting mother, a disciplinarian and a friend to my daughters, I have kept reminding them and myself that I am human. I might make mistakes but I’m ready to hear them out and at least I’m willing not to repeat them, even if rectification is not possible. I might not be a great cook. Maybe I won’t understand their choice of literature. I might fail miserably in some other subjects as well. But the silver lining here is I will never stop trying.

Mother and daughters next gen!

Not for the sake of being a perfectionist, but for giving my daughters the reason to love and accept me for what I am. The mother will never fail if the individual residing inside her succeeds. After all, I can be wonderful parent not because I can provide my children everything, but because I strived for it.

Do let us know your opinion in the comments section below.  We would also love to learn of your memories of your mother and your own experience(s) as a mother.  If any of our readers want to submit their work for publication, our email address is left.right.tcenter@gmail.com.  Also, do forget to follow, share, and to hit the subscribe button at the top, if not already done!

Disclaimer:  This is a personal blog. Any views or opinions represented in this blog are personal and belong solely to the authors. These do not represent views/ opinions of people, institutions or organizations that authors are associated with in their professional capacity.

About Poonam:

In spite of being busy with family commitments and almost in love with all of it, I still grab some time for myself. Teaching Math gives me the necessary adrenaline rush and words, the coveted peace. Every time I pen down a quote, poem or an article it leaves me with heartfelt satisfaction. Words and thoughts are my most loved toys to dwell with.

A lot of people think Math and creativity don't go hand in hand. Maybe. But they definitely are the best of both the worlds for me.

Go not to the temple -- Rabindranath Tagore

 

On his 160^th birth anniversary, I doubt one can write anything on Rabindranath Tagore which has not already been written before. 

He was a rare kind genius, the kind that is seen once in hundreds of years. If he wrote poetry, he became the first non-European and lyricist to win the Nobel prize for literature; if he wrote songs and composed music, he did so in a style that was never heard before, so unique, it came to be known as Rabindrasangeet; if he wrote stories, he invented the Bengali-language short story genre; if he wrote plays, they were not in prose, they were an unheard-of combination of dance and poetry where characters emoted in dialogues that were poems and actions that were dance; if he was an educationist, he gave to the world Viswabharati at Shantiniketan, a revolutionary experiment in education; if he stepped into political life, his views even when contrary to those of  the Mahatma were revered by the latter, who hailed him as “Gurudev”; if he was a philosopher, he moved a man of science like Einstein to think of spirituality; if he was a nationalist, he gave up the knighthood in protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre; if he was a social reformer, he came close to being assassinated because of wanting to blend Indian tradition with western philosophy, and if he was a painter; he experimented with letters of alphabet as works of art, he began the tradition of creating unnamed paintings that he wanted viewers to view through their own sensibilities and experiences and feel, interpret, understand them in their own way.

He is probably the only poet in the world who has written the national anthems of two countries; Jana Gana Mana which is India’s national anthem, Amar Shonar Bangla Bangladesh’s national anthem;  and, heavily inspired a third, which is Sri Lanka’s national anthem.

On the 160^th anniversary of his birth, we can only be grateful that such a luminous soul, who was a source of inspiration to commoners and princes, Nobel laureates and villagers alike, who taught future prime ministers, who has statues dedicated to him in cities and countries as far apart as England, Astana, Havana, Dublin, Vancouver, Fiji, Ankara, Tashkent, Budapest, Bucharest, Berlin, Paris, New York, Mexico and Mauritius – was an Indian. 

At Leftrightthodasacenter.blogspot.com we remember Gurudev with his own poem, which we feel is deeply relevant to the times that we live in.  Please do read and share and as always, do let us know of your views and thoughts in the Comment section below.  

 

Go Not to the Temple 

 

Go not to the temple to put flowers upon the feet of God,

First fill your own house with the Fragrance of love and kindness.

Go not to the temple to light candles before the altar of God,

First remove the darkness of sin , pride and ego, from your heart...

Go not to the temple to bow down your head in prayer,

First learn to bow in humility before your fellowmen.

And apologise to those you have wronged.

Go not to the temple to pray on bent knees,

First bend down to lift someone who is down-trodden.

And strengthen the young ones. 

Not crush them.

Go not to the temple to ask for forgiveness for your sins,

First forgive from your heart those who have hurt you."

                                                Rabindranath Tagore

Image Credit: Biswajit Debnath/The Hindustan Times

 

Thailand, Blending Modernism with Natural Beauty

Continuing our series of guest contributions, leftright 'thodasa' centre brings you Eknoor Sidhu's post on her trip to Bangkok.  Over to Eknoor -- 

Sometimes I ponder on the extent of destruction we humans have caused in nature, by building smooth highways, comfortable homes and huge malls for ourselves. As a human, I suffer pangs of  unrest and guilt thinking about it. But travelling to places like Thailand shows me the flipside of us humans. It fills me with a sense of pride to see how we, in some parts of the world at least, have succeeded in achieving a fair balance between our manmade fabrications and natural splendour. Thailand proudly boasts of this achievement — it is a reminder of how man has bridged nature and artifice in some aspects of his existence.

Sea waters at one’s feet and skyscrapers reaching out to the heavens   

Fierce and aggressive at times, and silent and serene at others, the sea on Pattaya Beach is a spectacular sight that the eye can never get enough of. The immense scenic beauty of nature one witnesses here is beyond words. As the cool, clean sea water splashes over your feet, you are overcome by the sudden urge to bend and feel it with your hands. And should a gust of breeze blow in that moment, one comes quite close to being transported to heaven! 

Seaside Panorama: A  Breathtaking View of Bangkok from Pattaya

It is quite an experience to stand on the beach at Pattaya and look up and beyond at the skyscrapers of Bangkok city, roughly 90 miles in the distance. The panoramic view has the effect of making you turn your head all around as far as it can go. The sight of  all those skyscrapers rising ever upwards can give quite a jerk to the neck and induce a feeling of dizziness, making one feel as if the sky has come closer. These opulent constructions in bricks and concrete are a standing testimony to how man has risen above all challenges and permanently marked his place on earth.

Modern architecture at its best in Bangkok

Indigenous handicrafts versus high-end brands

While expensive brands have always been a craze in the market, the handicraft industry all over the world is seeing a revival and rising from ashes like the proverbial phoenix. And so it is in Thailand. Big malls stuffed with high-end mass produced brands are a great attraction. But offering these branded goods stiff competition are the not-to-be-missed handcrafted products, with their unique, one-of-a-kind individual appeal that defies mass production.  Popular shopping areas in Bangkok are dotted with outlets selling captivating ceramics, bamboo and seashell crafts that beckon temptingly at tourists and do tickle your pocket!

 

Canal and road transportation

Like many other cities everywhere, Bangkok, one of the oldest metropolitan cities in the world is struggling hard to cope with the demands of its ever-increasing traffic. Well-connected metro rails and flyovers dotted with traffic signals crisscross the city like spider-webs, keeping the traffic organized. But truly unique to Bangkok are the boats and ferries on its traditional waterways. For a truly romantic and unique-to-Bangkok experience, one can dump the metro rail and choose to travel via ferries on canals that trail the city, offering a charming yet efficient  means of transportation. A popular tourist attraction, this water transportation has bridged the gap between the classic times and the modern era.

 

Foods of the World

A melting pot of delectable cuisines from all over the world, Thailand is a veritable foodies’ heaven. Not only is there a mind-boggling variety of cooked foods available to choose from wherever one goes, there is a distracting array of natural foods on display everywhere too. It is difficult to keep oneself from gorging on the variety of tropical fruits one sees, like the sweet and delicious pineapple or the marvellously refreshing tender coconut.

Bangkok:  The Street Food Lover's Paradise 
 

You can indulge in your heart’s desire, for beginning with authentic Thai cuisine, and exclusive seafood, you can find Italian, American food too that tastes as good as any you could find in the country of its origin. Starvation is a stranger in places like Bangkok and Pattaya. At every nook and corner, at all times of the day and night, one can follow wafting aromas from mouthwatering varieties of street foods. These are the stuff of unforgettable food memories, the kind that linger on your taste buds forever and are an exciting option to explore, whilst saving on money.

This is how the country of Thailand, once known as Siam, gives its visitors a vision of diffusing modernism in the natural environment, without much disturbing the latter; shining some much-needed light on how to bear our collective responsibility towards Mother Earth. A trip to Thailand is worth every minute of your time and every dime of the money you spend – a trip that shows how to make new friends, but never forget the old, be it technology, means of travel or consumer goods or foods.

So what did you think of Eknoor's first-ever travel blog? Don't forget to leave your much-awaited comments in the section below, and as always do share, subscribe and follow us at leftrightthodasacenter.blogspot.com

About Eknoor:

Our guest author, Eknoor Sidhu, lives with her family in the rural countryside of the verdant state of Punjab. Other than being a hands-on mum for her two young children (a lovely girl and an energetic boy), she is an avid cook and a gardener, who thoroughly cherishes her rural roots, growing her own produce in her kitchen garden. 

Eknoor firmly believes “A healthy lifestyle is the best empowerment.” She leads a fulfilled life, balancing motherhood with her professional roles as writer and editor that allow her to indulge in her passion for writing.  

She switches roles at will, feeding her desire for accomplishment and meeting the demands of a busy family and home life, endeavouring to enjoy the best of both the worlds.

Image credits: Eknoor Sidhu

Disclaimer:  This article is a reader contribution and all views and opinions in the article are those of the writer alone.  Other readers who may be interested in contributing to this blog may mail their articles with a short biography and a profile pic to left.right.tcenter@gmail.com.  The right to publication rests with the blog owners.