Saturday, August 1, 2015

I am back! – My tribute to Dr Kalam.


Dr Kalam, the exalted Athman we are fortunate to have lived along with, is being remembered for having been an inspiration to many. My thoughts about him took me to the articles where I have written about him. One such article written soon after he became the President of India was lingering on my mind for long. It was about Karma and Destiny. Here I meant Karma in the meaning of action and destiny as the resultant action or Prarabdha Karma. Prarabdha Karma is what is going to happen whether we work towards it or not. But Karma is what we have to keep doing with our thoughts and decisions – which are of course motivated by our vasanas infused with the three gunas (sattwa, rajasa and tamasa). Under the spell of these gunas, and without being aware that we are indeed propelled by these gunas, we keep doing karma. (“na hi kaschit kshanamapi jaathu thishtatya karmakruth / kaaryathe hyavasha karma sarva prakruthi jair gunaihi//” BG – 3-5)


In that process, the kind of attitude that we develop – by the spell of gunas or by freewill – if it is there (!?) define how a person evolves. In a rejoinder to an article by Debarshi Sen highlighting the karmic angles in the lives of Dr Kalam and Mr Verghese Kurien, I wrote about the importance of attitude towards how an action needs to be done rather than the action (karma) itself. Reading those lines I thought – here lies the tribute that I have to offer to Dr Kalam!


I wrote, “These two (Dr Kalam and Mr Kurien) undoubtedly performed their karma in the new environs, but what fetched them rewards is their attitude — the mind to accept whatever comes in their way and perform with utmost commitment and dedication. Had they cast their eyes on the results of their karma, the disappointment from denial might have proved too much. They, instead, banked upon samathvam— treating failure and success alike — and went ahead with undiluted enthusiasm and dedication into what the Gita calls as karmasu kaushalam (dexterity in action). This attitude termed as samathvam, coupled with dexterity in action ensures that at no time failure bogs one down. A person with samathvam will care less about the results and instead start concentrating more on how to improve his performance.”


It is easier to write this and speak high about this virtue which is essentially the core of Sankhya yoga taught by Gitacharyan. But when we are actually facing a difficult situation – a crisis, this samathvam is just a word and not deed. When I myself faced tribulations in my life that put me offline for a year, I realized why Krishna specifically picked out King Janaka as an example for Karma yogi. It is easy to talk about karma and attitude, but to follow it when you are in the thick of the forest fire is something difficult.  May be you need a Divine help to regain your samathvam. The many thoughts on Dr Kalam that is around me at this moment of his departure made me think – should I allow my personal loss and pain derail my strive towards samathvam? This samathvam is not to do with results or expectations, but about how I am as always, in spite of the trials I am undergoing.


Most of the articles on Dr Kalam at this moment are about his connect with students or him as a People’s President. But not many seem to think how he had to wade through the aversion of the Sonia dispensation and Karunanidhis’ 'Kalam is kalagam' remark  that denied him a 2nd term.  Dr Kalam did not aspire for the position but he did want to become the President as that would give him another opportunity to make himself heard well and all around. When that opportunity was denied he did not get stuck, but instead found other ways to reach out to the youth – which he did till he breathed his last.


This is the message I read from him at this juncture in my life. As I go through the comments that have been piling up for a year – and numerous mails and phone calls that are asking me why I am silent, I am asking myself - Why am I silent? Am I lost into myself and in my pains? At the same time I know that nothing is going to be lost if a Jayasree does not write. Or can I allow myself to rust, or write whatever I know whether it is useful or not to others.


With these kinds of numerous thoughts, I thought of the remark of Dr Kalam as being on the God-synchronous orbit – a never ending travel that can only be stopped when God sucks you. Perhaps by getting back to writing till I am exhausted, I can pay him the best tribute that I can.




21 comments:

nutwit said...

You better have a very good explanation for ur exile. Welcome back :)

ceedaar said...

thanks for coming back . missed you very much . Happy Guru Poornima to you.

Skandan said...

Pranams,

Welcome back Mam, We don’t know what issue you had faced. But somehow we online readers got you back. For very many months, many of us here like me, used to log in to your blog, to see if there is any update, searched the google to see if we can connect with you or someone who can tell us about you. You were in our prayers.

Your contribution to the Sanatana Dharma and spreading it in your own is always commendable. I am sure it’s a matter of time that your problems will get solved.

Once again, welcome back Mam, Prayers and Pranams, Skandan.

agath said...

Madam,

Glad to have you back....why such a huge gap???

Shanthi said...

Welcome back !

'Tribute to Dr. Kalam' resonated very high with me. It is so true that no matter, where one finds oneself at any point of time, the attitude of samathvam will yield huge benefits to one's mental peace and to keep doing their best towards the best path available. Whenever I find the going-on tough, it will be apt to read this article to remind oneself the only thing that matters.

Virendra said...

It is good to have you back Jayasree ji.
Whatever it was, I hope you have a smoother ride from here on.

Regards,
Virendra

Krishna said...

Welcome back JayaSree mam. :-) Your presence is a breathe to us. Your silence is lifeless to us. I am just one of all those praying for your well being.

decefriteen said...

It is a relief to see you back.We felt something missing in our lives!

Sheela said...

Dear Madam,

First we Welcome you back!!
Your silence was quite disturbing prayed for your well being.
Now, Glad to know you will continue to share your Non Random thoughts!!

Regards
Sheela

kasaikannan said...

Dear sister
We all know that a sthithapragjna of your stature will not be jolted by
any small event. It is the Gods will to bring you back to share your vast knowledge
for the interested people
k v srinivasan

Kudanthaiamudhan said...

Nice to see you back. By chance when i tried your blog, it is active. welcome back to share your knowledge and study about sanatana dharma with us. Hope you are fine and doing in good health.

regards/ a.g.swamy

Jayasree Saranathan said...

To all the contributors of the comments here, my humble pranams to you. Its your affection, your patronage and the interest in the topics that I am interested, that keeps me tied to this blog. My next post is on "Neene doddavano" song liked by Dr Kalam. For me "Neevu -namma readersu doddavaru"!

Unknown said...

Welcome back, ma'm! Hope everything is fine. We missed you :)

appalam vadaam said...

We sure did miss you Jayasree Mami! Welcome back.

Yes, to keep doing whatever we are ordained is where our Karma lies. There is a great difference in treating it as a "karmam karmam" OR as the only thing that puts the mind at peace finally. IMHO, if this is where the mind quietens after its outpouring, then this is probably where our rest of the Karma lies. Something like a craftsman who finds peace after completing a masterpiece.

Looking forward to great insightful articles from you.

While you were away I had checked on articles where Rahu and Ketu are in different places from Lagna online - pretty interesting. Particularly at Ketu in 12th - as my father puts - Arum paadu pattu gnanathai peruvaar!

https://sacredastrology.wordpress.com/2014/01/12/rahu-in-6th-house-ketu-in-12th-house/

Would love to read your analysis whenever you get time!

Regards
Vasundhara.

A Senior Citizen said...

Madam JS

I was checking your website frequently during your absence. I felt I was missing something in my life. When I chanced to browse through your website today, I felt extremely relieved to see you back. I am personally happy that you are back. I do not know what has happened which resulted in this gap. Keeping that aside, I sincerely thank our GOD and pray to HIM that HE should ensure, you share your thoughts as frequently as possible so that we can gain rare insights and deeper knowledge in our balance lives.

With best personal regards

Dr.Guru.Raghavan

Badhri said...

Dear Smt. Jayasree,
What a nice surprise!, What a great relief!, and What a pleasing boon!, it is to have you back. A year of hiatus better left us searching for answers on your sudden absence. Whatever that be, we are very glad to have you back! May the Almighty bless you immensely to continue on without any interruption the selfless service you are doing in sharing the wealth of knowledge on our illustrious Dharma.

Regards,
Badhri

Unknown said...

MADAM,
GLAD TO SEE YOU BACK.
MORE THAN THOUSAND TIMES I
VISITED YOUR BLOGS FOR
UPDATES AND RETUREND WITH
DISAPPOINTMENT. LIKE MANY
OF YOUR FANS. PLEASE STAY
GOD BLESS YOU

Unknown said...

Jayasree ji please continue your work on Greek Astroogy Vs Vedic Astrology.Looking forward to it.

இராமகிர்ஷ்ணாராவ் said...

Dear Madam,

Nice to see your article after a long time. I was checking your blog once a while during last few months and was pleasantly surprised to see that you have been providing updates/insights into various happenings since early August.

My sincere prayers for your complete recovery from your current greif madam. We are simple people waiting to pick whatever we can from your knowledge filled articles.

Thank you so much for all your services.

Jai Shriman Narayana.
Regards,
Ramakrishna

இராமகிர்ஷ்ணாராவ் said...

Dear Mamda,

Nice to see your article after a long time. I was checking your blog once a while during last few months and was pleasantly surprised to see that you have been providing updates/insights into various happenings since early August.

My sincere prayers for your complete recovery from your current greif madam. We are simple people waiting to pick whatever we can from your knowledge filled articles.

Thank you so much for all your services.

Jai Shriman Narayana.
Regards,
Ramakrishna

narayana said...

Namaskara Smt. Jayasree,

Very glad to see you resume your writing again. May Bhagavan bless you with good health and continue to inspire you to write many more wonderful articles.

K V Narayana