Problems Maketh a Man (Ofcourse Woman as well)

It is my firm belief that like the way fire brings firmness in metal like iron and glitters to metals like gold, problems that an individual goes thru makes his true self. A person who hardly encounters problems in life may be good but his exposure to difficulties life presents him/her, can make/show him as better and matured individual. I am not trying to suggest a thumb rule here that every individual presented with subtle difficulties of life will become better. Only that, when presented
with problems, real worth of an individual comes out. Let me try to illustrate that by categorizing person's response to problems into three ways.

First category of individuals, who when presented with problems. lose self belief and succumb to the problems. Some people in this category lead a defeated life and repent every moment of their journey. Others who could be the extreme, may resort to suicide.

The Second category of individuals, deal with the problems and seem victorious. But with a single intent of prevailing over problems they compromise on ethics/morals. And they defend everything they have done blaming on the circumstances. They pretend and try to convince others that they had no choice, while in reality they had choice but they chose easier option. In the end in scale of virtues they lose and their craving for pity and respect from people of highest ethical standard will go in
vain.

Final category of individuals who can't be merely measured by heights they scale up in material terms, but they are definitely successful in moral terms. They don't give up their ethics, come what may. They are cognizant of the fact that there are shortcuts that can ease their lives, but they are never tempted to take them. They pursue the values defined with unperturbed devotion and abide by them in spirit and practice. It is beyond doubt that these individuals get applauded and respected by people
of similar category irrespective of their social status and wealth. They would be respected by people of above two categories as well, if they think more openly. Else they sometimes can be perceived as losers by people who prefer shortcuts. How ever like it takes a good goldsmith to assess purity of gold, it takes a person who understands values in life to understand their true worth. 

నర నరాలలో జీర్ణమైన రామనామం

తెలుగు వాళ్లకు రాములవారికి గల సంబంధం విశిష్టమైనది. రామమందిరం లేని ఊరు తెలుగు సీమలో ఉండదంటే అతిశయోక్తి కాదు. పసిపాపలు కూడా రాములవారిని చూస్తే జేజి పెట్టక మానరు. రామాలాలి పాడి పిల్లలను నిద్దురపుచ్చడం తెలుగుపడుచులకు అలవాటు.

కలియుగమునందు నామసంకీర్తన వల్ల పాపరాశి నాశనమగునని శాస్త్రవాక్కు. ఆశ్చర్యమందిన వేళ అయ్యోరామా! అను మాట మిగుల వాడుదురు. ఏదేని చూడకూడని దృశ్యం చూచిన, వినజాలని మాట వినినగాని రామరామయని అందురు. అన్నార్తులు అన్నమోరామచంద్రా! అని ఏడ్చెదరు. ఏ ప్రభువేని ప్రజను రంజించిల్లునట్లు పాలించిన రామరాజ్యమును తలపించెనని నుడియాడుదురు.  ఉదయమందు కౌసల్యా సుప్రజా రామా అను మంత్రం మార్మోగును. పిల్లలకు అనుదినం శ్రీరామ రక్ష కట్టుట తెలుగు తల్లుల దినచర్యలో భాగమైనది.  క్రొత్త పుస్తకమును ఆరంభించుట శ్రీరామ వ్రాయుటతోనే. 

శ్రీరామ నామము తెలిసిపలికిన, తెలియక పలికిన పాపరాశి ధ్వంసమగును. ఒకనాడు దారిదోపిడి చేయుదొంగలు ఇట్లు మాట్లాడుకొనిరట 'వనేచరామ వసుచరామా' అనగా 'వనమందు సంచరించెదము, యాత్రికులను దోచుకొందుము'. కాని వారి పలుకులయందు రామ నామముచ్చరించుట మాత్రం చేత వారు  సద్గతుల  పొందిరి. అది రామనామ మహిమ.

Beauty is skin deep?

A thing of beauty if a joy for ever says John Keats. But the question arises immediate is what is beauty?

Beauty is a subjective thing. What one finds beautiful may not be seen same by other. This is in someway a good feature. Imagine every person wanting to have same beautiful thing in his/her possession. This can lead to conflicts at minimum and wars at maximum. Remember Helen's beauty is what has caused Trojan war and brought the entire Troy down. An Artist sees a beauty in the world and creates an immaculate piece of art that reflects it. We might also see the same scene day in day out, how ever we fail to recognize its beauty that's depicted by the artist.

Is beauty really skin deep? I am sure in the real world we see men running behind fair skinned girls and girls falling for handsome boys. In the youth, outward beauty glitters but doesn't it fade away after the age grows? Does this mean we do not find beauty in older people?

In Indian scriptures there are two places where synonym of beauty (Saundrya/Sundara) is used. One is Saundarya Lahari verses by Adi Sankaracharya on goddess Parvati and other is Sundarakanda in Ramayan. Ramayan goes to the extent of stating, Hanuman is Sundara Kapi but it does not refer to the outward beauty.

External Beauty is accentuated by Internal beauty but converse may not always be true. A person who is leading a serene life with no malice in any of his deeds and no evil thoughts carries a serene beauty that is usually non-imitable by any make-up. A person who is always surrounded by evil thoughts and indulges in evil deeds, carries certain black dot on the face despite outward beauty. This phenomenon is common, but not so easy to put in words.

Person with internal beauty usually exhibits a calm and patient disposition. He/She typically has undisturbed sleep at nights and unperturbed day. Ornaments usually used to augment beauty of person, but the person with character augment beauty of ornaments as per Vidura in Mahabharat. Also outward beauty is to be worn out and disappear as person ages, where as inner beauty not only flourishes with age but also earns respect. So its obvious that beauty is definitely not skin deep.

మరపురాని మనిషి - మా రాముడు తాతగారు

ఇది రాయాలని చాలానాళ్లుగా సంకల్పం ఉన్నా తెలుగులోనే రాయటం సబబు అనిపించడంతో ఆలస్యం అయింది. రాముడు తాతగారు పరమపదించి 20ఏళ్లు అయినా ఆయన వ్యక్తిత్వం వల్ల చిరస్మరణీయులు. వారు కాకినాడ వాస్తవ్యులు. నా బాల్యంలో వేసవి, పండగ శెలవులు ఇవ్వడం ఆలస్యం కాకినాడ వెళ్లడానికి ఉవ్విళ్ళూరే వాడిని. దానికి ఒక కారణం మా నాన్నమ్మగారింట్లొ ఉసిరి చెట్టు, పక్కన ఉన్న ఉయ్యాల, మరొక ముఖ్యకారణం మా అమ్మమ్మగారింట్లొ రాముడు తాతగారు చెప్పే కధలు, విషయాలు.


ఒక మనిషిని జీవించి ఉండగా తలచుకోవడం పెద్ద విషయం ఏమీ కాదు, కానీ మరణించిన తర్వాత కూడా తలచుకోవడానికి మంచితనం మాత్రమే కారణం అవుతుంది.
చూడచక్కని రూపం, మనిషి మంచి పొడగరి, ఆజానుబాహువు, నల్లటి ఉంగరాల జుట్టు, నగుమోము, మృదుభాషి. శాంతమూర్తి, బహుచమత్కారి చలోక్తులు వెయ్యడంలో దిట్ట. ఏ పని చేసినా ఒక పద్దతిగా చేయడం రాముడు తాతగారిలొ ప్రత్యేకత. అది రోజు చేసే భోజనం కావచ్చు, తినే కంచంలో ఒక్క పదార్దం వదలకుండా ఒక్క మెతుకు మిగల్చకుండా తినేవారు. ఆన్నం పరబ్రహ్మ స్వరూపం అని చేతల ద్వారా చెప్పేవారు. నేను ఏ రోజైనా అలా తింటే నా భార్యతో 'మా రాముడు తాతగారిలా అందంగా తిన్నా ' అనడం రివాజు. రామకోటి రాస్తే ఒక పేజిలో లింగాకారంలో, ఒక పేజిలో ' శ్రీరామ ' నామాకారంలొ రాసి ముత్యాల్లాంటి అక్షరాలతో చూడముచ్చటగా ఉండేది.

మా పెద్దన్నగారు (మైదిలి) ఆయనలా ఆజానుబాహువు. మా చిన్నన్నయ్యకు (పవన్) మరియు నాకు మృదుభాషణ కొద్దిగా అలవడ్డాయి. మా తమ్ముడు (కిరణ్) ఆయనలాగె పొడుగరి. మా మావయ్య కుమారుడు (శ్రీరాం) ఆయనవలె చమత్కారి. కాని మాకెవ్వరికి ఆయనవంటి పరిపూర్ణత సిద్దించలేదు.

చిన్ననాడు ఆయన చెప్పిన కధలు నేటికీ నేను మరువలేదు. విరామం లేకుండా నేను అడిగే ప్రతి ప్రశ్నకు విసుగు లేకుండా ఆయన చెప్పిన సమాధానాలు నాలో ఆలొచించే స్వభావానికి పునాది వేశాయి. మేమంటే అపారమైన ప్రేమ చూపించేవారు. దినచర్యలో ఆయన చూపే నిబద్దత ఆదర్సప్రాయం. ప్రతి నెల క్రమం తప్పకుండా ఆయన పంపే కుశలప్రశ్నలతో నిండిన పోస్ట్ కార్డ్ కోసం ఎదురుచూసిన రోజులు ఎన్నో. ఒక్క కార్డ్‌లొ సకల విషయాలు పట్టించడంలో ఆయన చూపిన ప్రజ్ఞ ఎన్ని కమ్మ్యూనికేషన్ కోర్స్‌లు చేసినా రాదు. ఆ దస్తూరిలో అందం ఆయనకే సొంతం.

ఆయన నేను 7వ తరగతిలొ ఉండగా స్వర్గస్తులైనారు. వెళ్తూ కూడా నాకు ఒక కొత్త విషయం చెప్పారు, అబ్బాయి ఈ ప్రపంచంలో ఎవరూ శాశ్వతం కాదు అని. 7వ తరగతి విద్యార్దికి అది ఒక మహావిషయం. కాని ఈనాటికి ఆయనలేని లోటు తీర్చలేనిది. మా అభివృద్ధి చూసి ఆనందించేవారు, మాకు కష్టాలలో సలహా చెప్పేవారు. నా జీవితంలోని మరపు రాని మనిషికి అశ్రునయనాలతో.

Mid Year Review

In most companies it is mid year review time, so I thought its worthwhile to have an introspection on resolutions made in Jan.

Satsang: Hadnt got a chance to meet my friends more than once. We had spent some quality time on that meet though.
Ekadashi: Revised this goal to do better job in Chaturmasa that started with Toli ekadashi.
Reading & writing:
Blogs - 6 so far including this one (not bad)
Stories - 0 (Terrible)
Reading - 1 book so far (bad)
No Procrastination : Did a good job first Quarter and slowly losing track recent past
Puja:  Did a good job first Quarter and slowly losing track recent past
Less Eating Out: Last 2 months we are eating out a lot. Need Course correction
Financial Discipline: One paramter I am on track and beyond
Personali Discipline:
 1. Work scheudle - inconsistent
 2. Eating Habits - Average
 3. Meeting attendance - Inconsistent
 4. Weekends - Average even though not working, not spending adequate quality time on reading.writing
 5. Colas - Couldnt resist temptation all summer.
 6. Stress Free - Trying my best to do this.
 9. To Do List  - Inconsistent
 10. Vacation - On track
 11.  Continuous assessment -- In progress.

Over all rating - Inconsistent , Need to improve

Drusyam Movie Review

I have just come out of Imax watching Drusyam movie. Its quite sometime, I stopped writing reviews as some of my views and reviews seemingly hurt few members of fan community. But I thought of writing few words about Drusyam to make an exception.

Drusyam is a remake from Malayalam movie of Mohan Lal and it seemed fitting that Venkatesh did the telugu version, given his interest in remakes. And more as so the character portrayed matches the age, personality and stature of Venky. I am glad director chose to rope in veteran Meena as Venky's wife in the movie instead of trying some one like Katrina kaif and for a refreshing change Venky didn't dance for songs in the movie. :-)


Context of the movie is increasing exploitation of adolescent girl through blackmail by ill-brought-up son of a filthy rich/powerful IPS officer and how an average middle class father tries to protect his family from the wrath of police. Director tries to touch a very relevant problem that's  corrupting today's youth and has dealt with subject well. Story is told as a flashback, not sure if that is required for the story as opening scene really served not much purpose. Movie has a slow start trying to establish the characters in the movie and picked up pace gradually. It is a gripping story told neatly afterwards.

Venky did justice to the role of a middle class father and has carried the movie's intensity all through. Meena did her bit in the scope provided by the story. Nadia is outstanding as the IPS officer who tries to gruel Venky's family to get the truth out. Other low key characters were picked well, even though I felt actor of calibre Uttej like always got a mediocre role. Over all its a movie that's worth a watch and if applicable pick a lesson or two back home.

Women -- On Eve of Women's day

On the eve of Women's Day wanted to write something about them. I didnt know where to start but here I start. I was most often misinterpreted as too conservative outlook on life and extending the same to views on women. On the contrary I have great respect for the women and will try to depict my views.

1. Women form very important part of our lives. Life is difficult to imagine with out them right from nurturing the infact in the form of a caring mother, a sibling and close buddy in growing up, a supportive partner in life, a venturing
colleague sharing work load in march to success, to a daughter whose life we want to secure and protect.

2. Mother happens to be playing a more crucial role in building character of the person. We would have not seen Sivaji's, Swami Vivekananda's, Rabindranath Tagore or Mahatma Gandhi, if their mothers did not play their part so well.

3. The Siblings and childhood buddy's are all the way helping us in petty as well as huge problems that put us off many a times. Their softer and relatively mature touch to problems have let us in feeling of awe many a times as we grew up.

4. In undeniable fact that any great thing a man accomplishes would have been impossible, if not for the support and encouragement he receives from the wife. Many sacrifices made behind the scenes by the family and stable family life are usual commonalities shared by many successful men.

5. Having worked in different organizations for over a decade, I can very confidently say, the women colleagues bring all together fresh perspective to work. I always admire the way they perform their roles so exceptionally well at both work and home. And more importantly they rarely complain about it.

6. My real planning for life (including financial/career) only started in full flow after I have seen cute little face of my daughter. Some new feeling of responsibility that I needed to do all in my capacity to secure her future started that moment.

Few words of caution/conservatism:

World has transformed today and is no longer an ideal place to live. I would want women to be more vigilant in life.

1. Be careful about the camouflages. They on the outside look like nicer people but have got evil intentions that are hard to predict.

2. Be little conservative. Conservatism might look like curtailing you in demonstrating your full capability. But realize that it is infact a mechanism to avoid any big catastrophe.

3. Be yourself. You don't have to take up something out of peer pressure or family pressure or self induced pressure.

4. Do not expect or accept any concessions for being a women. You really don't need it.

5. Handle emotions well. Not to say that all women are fragile but my observation is most of them are.

6. Working or Homemaker but understand the finances well. Don't be fully dependent on husband/father/siblings. They can make bad decisions too.

7. One specific thing for adolescent/young, be cautious about life. Decisions made out of thrill, emotions like love/anger can impact lives of self as well as near and dear.