Can we do something?
This morning there was a joke in the newspaper about the Chinese overtaking the Americans. Chinese kids chuckling over having Americans working for them in 2030. “Why do great nations fail?”, the teacher asked. “It happens because they turn their back on the things that make them great.” Non-violence, honesty and pride made India great. [...]
Of Anthems…
Its a commonly held misnomer that the Indian National Anthem ‘Jana Gana Mana‘ was written by Tagore in praise of George V. Tagore who had the guts to refuse knighthood, would not write in praise of any George. The anthem was written as Ode to God – intentionally to let the British think its in [...]
The Ballad of Father Gilligan
Another beautiful poem that I recall from my school days is the Ballad of Father Gilligan, especially the last stanza: The old priest Peter Gilligan Was weary night and day; For half his flock were in their beds, Or under green sods lay. Once, while he nodded on a chair, At the moth-hour of eve, [...]
We all have pain
When I am feeling low, feeling pained and feeling the need to share it with someone I am sometimes reminded of the following from a Checkov story called Misery. It’s an interesting read. His misery is immense, beyond all bounds. If Iona’s heart were to burst and his misery to flow out, it would flood [...]
Ozymandias – the king of kings
The frequency of postings having gone down a bit, the readers may be wondering what I am up to. I am preparing for the first anniversary of this blog. Today I want to share with you a second poem that has persisted in my memory since school days – the first one having been Twenty [...]
Upagupta – a poem by Tagore
Upagupta is a beautiful work by Tagore. The story goes as follows: Upagupta is a disciple of Buddha, and goes from one place to another. He is sleeping in a small town when a dancing girl wakes him up and requests him to sleep at her home. Upagupta refuses, and tells her “I will visit [...]
