Toastmaster Speech 4 : Vivid Villages of North East - My Inner and Outer Shodhyatra

Vivid Villages of North East - My Inner and Outer Shodhyatra

It is dawn and you knock at a stranger’s house, requesting to take bath. The person might be sleeping or going out to farms, but he shows utmost hospitality. Greets you with Tamul (arecanut) and welcomes you in the home. When you come out, there is sweet rice and tea prepared for you and the whole family comes to greet you and gifts a few silk thread. During conversations you also get to know that some of the family members are loyal to ULFA, however you still feel the same love and do not fear.

Two years back, I got an opportunity to go for a foot travel in Dhemaji district of rural Assam, as part of Shodhyatra to find rural innovations and document traditional knowledge. We started from Dibrugarh on Ferry to cross the mighty Brahmaputra. There was water all around and no sight of a land, the atmosphere was calm and reflective. The splashes of the river were producing undercurrents of the mind and each one of us shodhayatris felt connected to each other.

As we reached Akajan village, we were greeted by Tamul and a group of over 100 traditionally dressed school children performing the Bihu dance.

Rainbows of north east!

Silent language of human hearts had started talking.

After the innovation contest, we went for the village tour to see the local life. I experienced beautiful mud houses with roofs of large leaves which worked as coolant, a fishing compound in every house, and kitchen gardens. It seemed to me an ideal life.

Each day we were moving to new village and knowing more about the people. At every village meeting we witnessed the whole village to greet us and cook the local food. The warmth and simplicity in smile could easily be noticed.  Local herbs, rice, salt, and jaggery along with some soups served on leaves and baboo cones, dint remind us of the paranthas.

We witnessed the local weaving tradition which was weaved into every girl’s life. We got to know that for marriage a boy judges a girl based on her weaving skills. A fact emerged that to propos a girl, he simply appreciates her work.

The were few shocking sights when we saw the state of few NREGA development projects and also saw boards saying Chinese government development project, and we realized the cause of anger among the people against government.

We met a centenarian who answered every question with a folk song. When we asked her whether her grand children listen stories from her, she sang a song. What is her age, she sung. She attributed her long life to the simple lifestyle.

Songs of life!

We ended the yatra by documentation of all the innovations and experience sharing. It was overwhelming to see everyone sharing a new vision for life and the learning from the grassroot innovators of our country. None complaint about the cold and facilities.

The practicum of a famous zen saying that you have to unlearn to learn new things. An inner shodhyatra has just begun for everyone!

Our purpose was to find the find rural innovations and learn from traditional practices but the yatra left us with much more for ourselves, our thinking and our tradition.

Few lines sum up my whole experience:

Mitti ki Mehak - Parvato ke Sath

Taazi Hawaein - Nadiyo ke Pas

Kheton ki Mehfilein - Jangal ke Beech

Itrate Pakshi - Manush ke sameep

Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant Dhage..

Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue Dhage

Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant Dhage..

Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue Dhage

Kahi Resham, Kahi Muga, Kahi Aries to Kahin Tasar

Kahin Missing, Kahin Assamese, Ahomiya kahin Boru Sootiya ke dhage

My third Speech at ToastMasters: Pen to Porsche Buy Buy Buy - first version

                                                        Pen to Porsche – Buy Buye Bye!

Dream:

Bank: Dear Mr. Jain, Welcome to the Royal Bank of Scotland Van Gogh Priority banking Services. Congratulations, You are entitled to a loan of Rs 50 crores as our priority banking customer.

Hello this Tarun : I have bought a Mercedes Benz, I have bought a Porsche, I have bought a Penthouse at DLF heights, I have bought a new Rolex, I have bought a new Harley, I have bought a new jeans, I have bought a Louis Vuitton shirt, I went to Disney world in Hong Kong.

Tarun: Now I want to buy happiness. .!!!!

Bank: Dear Sir, We cannot buy you the latter. There are somethings which money can’t buy but for everything else we have the MasterCard.

Tarun: But the man in your advertisement is so happy in the Disneyland. Where did he buy it from? Should I try the VISA?

Bank: Sir, we are better than VISA and our rates are low. There are something which money can’t buy but for everything else we have the MasterCard.

Tarun: But how do you look so happy?

Bank: Sir, I have got the cosmetic chin smile treatment for 2 lac rupees. As an esteemed customer we can offer you interest free credit for cosmetic smile chin treatment.

CONFUSED!!!!!

Real:

I take deep sigh as I am still with Pen and can decide whether I need to be mad for Porsche or take some time to write to read and write for happiness. We need not go for that cosmetic smile treatment as laughter can reach us naturally. Few of my friendstold me an interesting story,  were out for a night out and mapping streets at the night , when they met a person who was standing out of his Porsche and smoking. As usual tendency to poke in everyone’s life they went up to him to ask for a lift. This person asked them their salaries and making fun of them took them to five start buffet and drinks. And when he poured out his personal life, my friends were stunned.

Now taking everyone to a little intellectual heavy statistical journey.

According to a UN report, the top 20 %( financially) of the world’s population consume 86% of the total available resources. After the shift in mindset caused by Fordism in 1920s, each one of us aspires to live life like that of those top 20%. The fuelled monetary aspirations, uncontrolled credit spending, unwillingness to save and finding happiness in the newer material possessions are the key causes of current economic crisis. According to World Resources Institute, we require three earths to fulfill the American dream of the world’s citizens – An impossible dream! Unfortunately unaware of the realities, each one of us wants to leave our small heavens to find pleasure in hedonism and consumerism.

There can be numerous economic theories on the necessity of spending to grow the economy; however I want to ask which growth do we talk about? Whom are we racing against? And what are we achieving instead? Can a wealthiest man with all the luxuries be happy if no one acknowledges it? Or if non one like his Facebook Porsche photos? Can a broken family raise responsible kids with a BMW?

Aren’t we using the dysfunctional parameters to measure growth? Shouldn’t we form new measures to identify ourselves and the world vision? Is it necessary to spend 420 Billion USD on advertising when 50 billion USD can take care of the poor?

Dr Tim Jackson, author of an influential book, Prosperity without Growth,  writes: "The starting point must be to unravel the forces that keep us in damaging denial ... the profit motive stimulates a continual search for newer, better or cheaper products and services. Our own relentless search for novelty and social status locks us into an iron cage of consumerism. Affluence has itself betrayed us."

Coming back from the global statistical fundas to our own real lives. What should we do to connect with waves of statistics?

Can we all take a pledge to do kind little gesture to a poor everyday?

Can we all take a pledge to water the plants, feed the animals and birds everyday

Can we all become conscious of our environment and adopt mass transits

Can we all live simple and not show off, despite our wealth

Can we take responsibility to connect with our families wherever they are

Can we all take responsibility to be part of the same society where we started from, and keep grounded.

Can we can all pledge to pay actual taxes – the businessmen here should feel the pinch hereJ. My previous employer had the transactions done at Bermuda to evade the taxes but 90% workforce in India.

I believe this is possible. There is a small heaven inside waiting for us to reflect back and open our hearts to our environment. Break the walls of measuring success by affluence,. Here is a good news, We Indians in whatever state we are, ranks among the happiest nations

I would like to end with my version of a beautiful song by David Rovics.

There are places there are hills They’re not just called hills, they're really hills There are places where there are forests Not like "Twelve Pines," but really forests There are places where the birds sing And you can hear the eagle call know they're out there Somewhere beyond the mall There are places there are rivers Not surrounded by concrete, but living rivers With fish in them and frogs and little tadpoles With ducks and deer drinking by the sinkholes There are places far away The trees turn colors in the fall know they're out there Somewhere beyond the mall –

Beyond the Mall – by David Rovics

Heal The World
Make It A Better Place
For You And For Me
And The Entire Human Race
There Are People Dying
If You Care Enough
For The Living
Make A Better Place
For You And For Me

Shodhayatra Experience in Few lines

Anchuhe Grameen Dhage

Mitti ki Mehak - Parvato ke Sath

Taazi Hawaein - Nadiyo ke Pas

Kheton ki Mehfilein - Jangal ke Beech

Itrate Pakshi - Manush ke sameep

Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant Dhage..

Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue Dhage

Ugra ke Toofano ko Dhakti hui - Nishchal Muskan

Prakritik Vipdaon ko Juhthlata - Swawlambi Jeevan

Sondarya Padartho ko thukrati - Grameen Yuvtiya

Shahri Pehnave ko Chownkate - Paramparik Parivesh

Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant Dhage..

Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue Dhage

Kahi Resham, Kahi Muga, Kahi Aries to Kahin Tasar

Kahin Missing, Kahin Assamese, Ahomiya kahin Boru Sootiya ke dhage

Dhage kuch Nirjeev.. Kuch Jivant Dhage..

Nirbhay, Muskurate,Rangeen - Anchue Dhage

The Assam has long tradition of weaving. Every house has a bamboo hand made silk/wool weaving machine. The brides are selected based on their weaving skills. The innocence and free smiling were omnipresent. I depict here the lives of the tribes of Assam and their lives interconnected with nature.

Long Live Cultural Diversity of Our Country.....

Tarun

Beginning on the Bike....

Thanks Vamini Sethi for joining me on the bike journey...!  

Accelerating the bike with Vamini Sethi, my first friend on the bike!

Cheers,

Tarun 

Desires

Insaan ko Insaan banne ke liye kya chahiye.....

na daulat, na shohrat|

bas kuch hasrate chahiye||

na sajawat na banawat|
bas sadagi chahiye||

na jang, na takrar|

bas himmat chahiye

iss duniya mein hume insaan chahiye...

bhautik vigyaan ka jaal nahi|

vibhinn bhashaon ka abhiman nahi,

humein sanskarik kala chahiye

||

bahurashtriya sansthaan nahi|

sangmarmar ke makan nahi

humein sukhi parivar chahiye||

iss duniya mein hume insaan chahiye...

na top , na talwar

na seemayein , na senayein

humein prasparik prem chahiye

na jaat , na paat

na bhavishya, na itihaas.

vartamaan mein humein insaan chahiye....

Another day at the democracy

It was during my college that I first came in tryst with democracy or some intellectuals say the dance of democracy. Those were the university elections where fate of young graduates was to be decided to help them launch into mainstream national leadership later. I was not so concerned and geared up as were the other fucchas in the campus. Though my seniors were pretty involved and working dark nights to support the candidates for DR and CR. It was a stupid thought for me to work nights campaigning wasting your valuable sleep times after strenuous classes and ragging to add to the complexities. The collegial democracy never influenced me and many others even after we completed our 4 years and moved towards our corporate lives.

Today is my first election day in the national democracy, a movie with a bigger banner and same collegial stars as I used to think. However the day turned to a strange experience for me after I met 100s of national fucchas and got a chance to know their commitments towards the democracy. Please mind it was not a 100% positive encounter or a complete negative wash off. Though it was an observation which may inspire me momentarily to think of a solution to the democracy and not sleep casually.

Mr. Suraj (name changed) is a well settled 6 figure salaried corporate who was taking a single day leave to go to his residence in Bihar; the reason for which I got to know later after seeing a mark on his left index finger.

Then there were many who were cherishing an extra holiday as they had no means to vote in their present temporary locations.

There was another class who came to the polling booths and left smiling on the poor luck of the candidate who could have won if they had brought their Voting I –cards.

Then there was even another class who clueless about the candidates and decided thir choice midway enroute the polling booth. Aajkal zyada kya chal raha hai?

Then there were finally another class which I met lastly at the verification booth who was playing in-pin-septi pin. The great electoral musical chair was being played at the polling station!!!

Now I think that it is just the few percent of already truncated voter number who think, feel and believe in this democratic system. If I think I am one of them I should never miss a vote ever in any banner of democracy to inspire others. If I am an informed citizen who has analyzed my leaders before reaching the booth, I am sure I can help the hundreds of indecisive democratic souls to reach a right person thoughtfully.

A world free from tags and identities

Moving through the cities, listening to endless speeches from leaders everywhere, watching the statues , passing through the streets, passing through the hearts of hearts.......tresspassing the world of walls and barriers ..........one thing is immediately felt. There is a  hidden craving and struggle among everyone of us.. a st for idenruggle for identity in every emotion whether material or immaterial.

We have so many idol ideal ideas of our existence in form of Hindu sanskriti, muslim living, christian life. Then we have identification to ourseleves with Mahatma , mahaveer, ram, buddha , jesus, gurunanak. Then we identify ourselves with khalsa, jehads,  andolans and many more. Then we go further deeper there is identity of streets and corners with locales from that part of life... hearts and emotions.

We have developed a strong irreplacable root of our identity. Someone will ask, isn't it important to have an identity? yes it is!

However an identity identified by things immaterial in a material format is not required and creates problem with emotions of masses.

A jain with fake identity may not practice ahimsa but may go to fight to any extent for preserving his material identity "a I call" which is the tag he has got. He feels good being identified as jain and not while following ahimsa and tyag without letting others know and respect him subsequntially.

A Hindu want a temple build for Lord Ram but not on his life with wisdom and kindness. He respect hindu sanskriti and can make others respect the sanskriti by brutal force or a killing if it may require.

Muslim loves his community with a tag and can fight and kill to let others know that his 'muslim' tag identifies him with loving way of life.

Not quoting anyone identity specifically its same with other identities also be it christian, sikh or be it punjabi, marathi, rajput.. and so on. It may be any religion, any form or way of life it is definitely good and holy. Wht creates havoc is the way we identify oursleves with it without being a follower of one. Here following does not mean following the name or a flag. It means following the life and identfying ourselves internally as a being not a luggage with a tag.

Lets not become material in identifying ourselves to achieve the immaterial , the immortal.

Lets begin by naming our streets (which is highly required) with virtues and not virtuous (how much great he may be, he wants people to be same), as virtuous dont want publicities. Lets name our streets as ahimsa streets, love strrets, compassion streets and spread the message of life. 

Lets be ideological and not material in our choice for life. Lets follow the teachings of our gurus and religion but not let the tags follow our names. 

Lets not identify ourselves but discover and develop oneself. Lets think freely to be free!

Free from boundaries, hatred, crisis and war.

Let peace prevail in our immortal souls!