Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Mohammad Yunus

This year’s Nobel Peace Laureate Dr. Mohammad Yunus of Bangladesh is among the best possible recipients of the Nobel laurel. Pioneer of the micro credit financing scheme, he has played a role no less than possibly Mother Teresa’s in the lives of his countrymen and countless others around the world where the micro credit system has been put to practice.

85% of the educated world is populated with people who write tomes on economics, global warming, North Korea going nuclear and generally making a basket case of this world, 10% spend their lives waging war a.k.a. M/s Bush, Bin Laden etc. The balance 5% is what makes the world tick. It takes the likes of Dr Yunus to really go into the heart of pressing human problems and evolve truly unique solutions. Economic inequality, lack of access to education and religious narrow mindedness are the most potent causes of friction in society today. Dr. Yunus’s greatest contribution has been to craft uncluttered and practical 'on-the-ground' solutions, to help people escape the drudgery of poverty, based on the basic human principles of trust, honesty, and willingness to work hard.

The fact that women are the biggest beneficiaries of his schemes will ensure that generations to come will reap the benefit of his poverty eradication mission.

Congratulations Dr. Yunus!

My Ma's 3rd Anniversary

It was on this day (according to the Hindu Calender), three years ago that I lost my Ma. It was so sudden that it was, as if, I was hit by a sledgehammer. I can still recall the day. I was in office when I got a call from Baba that Ma had to be hospitalised. I could think of nothing but on how to get on the next flight to Calcutta. I don't recall how I managed to get a ticket but I was travelling alone. When I reached home and started packing up I get a call from my brother telling me 'Ma is no more'. I just froze up! not a single drop of tear. I remember going to the Corporation Bank ATM to withdraw cash for a second air ticket for my wife. Flew into Calcutta, that was in the midst of a heavydown pour. As I write the images come up vividly in my mind's eye - my brother and Minku (brothers friend) were waiting outside the terminal. We just couldn't speak. Drove down towards home, brought cigarettes on the way (a 20's pack I remember). The downpour had been so heavy that we were water logged right upto our front gate. There was Ma, in the small front verandah, lying on the cot - as if sleeping. Someone had smeared sindur on her forehead. I just stared! My Pishimoni was there and I remember seeing my wife breakdown. I remember touching Ma, patting her hands, which I loved doing when she was alive.

Everything was in an automode for me. Took Ma to the crematorium atop a truck which we had to cover with a tarpulin due to the steady drizzle that was on. Remember laying down Ma, who had by now been transferred on a makeshift bamboo ladder (for the sake of a better expression), on the cold hard floor of the crematorium. I just can't explain what I went through when I saw this! The endless Q dosen't even spare the dead. Smoked I don't know how many cigarettes before her turn came. I saw the body for the last time being pushed into the electric chamber, and darkness for those left behind.

I remember Ma every single day of my life, more so when I pray before going to sleep. I still carry out the one act that she told me to to do before I go to sleep - write a virtual 'Ma' on the pillow using your fingers. You shall forever banish nightmares!

Also read my brothers remembrance of Ma in his blog. Click on the link below (Opens in a new window):
I Love My Mom

Ma was here

We long for a year for the Durga Puga’s to come and how time flies when Ma is here. The five days of festivities are over and we are back to our normal routine. What starts out with the ‘Mahalaya’ when we usher in the Goddess to the accompaniment of devotional songs and Vedic Stotra chanting, culminates on Dashmi (the 10th day) when Durga returns to her husband’s place and we symbolically immerse the her idol as a farewell.

Our inseparable link with spirituality and God is best amplified during this season. Durga is welcomed home (earth being her fathers abode) as one welcomes one daughter and worshipped. A huge community expression of the human spirit. We are creative and bold and spendevent we get to bond not only with the God within ourselves but humanity. As an expression of joy or more appropriately ‘Ananda’ and a celebration of human life we spend time feasting, donning new clothes and giving myriad channels to our creativity. There is no place like Kolkata (Calcutta) to see this months planning for and executing the pujas. The saddest part is letting go. For 4 days when we have Ma in our midst we don’t keep a track of time but Dashmi soon looms large. We bid farewell to Ma as we would our loved ones and one has to feel the sadness to believe it.

Music forms an integral part of the celebrations and to my mind that is the best form of offering prayers – the channel that helps you to link up to God. Though ‘baithaks’ or musical congregations are drying up at the pandal level the television is proving to be a great platform. This time was no different and really enjoyed some of the shows that were on telly. The channels that should find special mention are ’24 Ghonta’ and ‘e-TV’. Both of these are regional Bengali satellite channels.

The images that you see in this post are from this year’s (2006) pujas. Hope you enjoy the stunning range of creativity.


Images courtsey - Debopriyo Kar