Business to the Buddha

Tag: Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

  • Indian Elections – Criminals in politics






    When Anna said once – “I don’t agree to party politics.” I didn’t understand that. During election days I was being very hopeful on good candidates from the opposition parties and hoping they would make it one sided whitewash of ruling parties. Unfortunately I was too optimistic about Indian political system. There are many tainted candidates from all parties who have been in power for so many years. Just to give you a perspective

    Criminals in Election

    Source – ADR report first 6 phases Link

    Note when my friend Vaibhav called to suggest write on elections I said no. He suggested don’t write favoring any party. So this suggestion boils down to what Anna Hazare said. A good way to make Indian political system accountable is voting a non criminal, non corrupt and good candidate at each constituency. Then forget he/she is from which party.

    This will eventually force everyone to put forth better candidates – educated and worth voting for.

  • Indian Elections – Divided we stand Together!






    You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; …they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    One of my friends – Vaibhav – called me last week. He said someone (Lets call him Ravi) came canvassing for a political party to him. Viabhav asked me if I can write something on Indian Politics! I plainly rejected saying my blogs relate to Business and Spirituality I wont write on politics.

    Economist'sHe further persuaded me, said- (Vaibhav speaks) let me give you my example, I said to Ravi – I am supporting who will form Govt! Ravi told me “good, are you sure you support criminals in politics, do you find corruption as chalta hai!…” Vaibhav said “no!” Ravi – than what is your take? Will you vote for corruption, criminals!”

    Vaibhav continued over phone “Pravin, it made me think. I shall vote for what I think is right even if that person loses election. Why dont you write?” I still said – no to political blog, I am favoring a better India, not any political party. Everyone must have their plans for a better India. Every party has different priority, we should respect each one. Vaibhav said do not write in favor of any party per se, ask people to vote for what they feel as right not necessarily for any party.

    Today I voted, so thought that I should speak my mind out.

    Earlier I have written on various topics closely related to governments, economy and corruptions. All these include crony capitalism as well (perhaps subtly). How can these big parties invest so much on election? Who funds them and what is the part in the flesh (of these invisible hands) in future policy making? According to news the Ad expense itself is in Crs ref Hindustan Times News! Forget about ground activities such as rallies, printing of leaflets and air travel of netas (buying votes by cash/liquor) etc. You should not be surprised when Economists (all educated – PhDs from the USA) are not looking at these expenses; perhaps they are saying that this is an inflow of money from Swiss banks so this is boosting Indian economy! Markets are anyways touching high almost every second day [Pun Intended].

    What I see in the current Indian political system is – lack of effective opposition. It is evident that the government also realized it. The UPA government has talked about everything except Janlokpal bill in 2011. Passed a weak bill (just to garner votes in 2013 state election & general election now). If we look at 2011 at various occasions Govt spoken to malign those who want to stand against corruption. The list includes – Anna Hazare, Kiran Bedi, Arvind Kejriwal (his wife) and Sri Sri.

    It has been observed that CBI can VERY efficiently work against those who can be threats to Govt. but CBI FAILS miserably to Find facts, File cases and Finish the proceeding against any political parties. It simply proves the current system does not work. I asked myself few questions about two years back – Will Mr Raja contest next election? Will Mr Sibal contest? Mr Digvijay Singh had been finishing his 10 years “Sanyas” after a comprehensive (Bijli, Sadak, Pani) MP Defeat, would he contest next Lok Sabha elections? All are answered now.

    Corruption has become talk of the history. No one speaks as passionately against corruption as we – citizen of India – voiced in 2011. The reason is simple – we are divided by political parties – we all want things to change, we do not want to change our narrow focus of political affiliation!

  • What difference will it make?







    I recently got involved with a project with the Art of Living. The project is based on the upliftment of residents of Dharavi. So, I just happened to visit the website of Dharavi School of the Art of Living. When I read this story on the site, I thought that this I would share on my blog.  Here is the story….

    The story of Starfish

    A small boy was walking along a beach with his grandfather. Every now and then he would pick up a starfish strewn on the beach and throw it back into the ocean.

    His grandfather watched for some time and then impatiently said, “Son, what are you doing? There are so many starfish. What difference will it make?”

    The small boy picked up one more starfish, looked at it, and throwing it back into the ocean said to his grandfather, “It makes a difference to this one! This one will live.”

    Often we are saddened, overwhelmed and paralyzed by the enormity of a task. But like the small boy, each one of us can make a difference to someone.

    The website concludes –

    The children of Dharavi are much like the starfish: strewn aside by circumstance and society. You can bring them back into the mainstream. Give them an education delivered with affection. They too can make a difference to this world. Wouldn’t you like to give them a chance? To know more about the school  Click here. To contribute to the school Click here!

    Source – http://www.dharavischool.org/the_starfish_story.html

  • Bit of commitment, that’s it!







    For a month I was in a kind of self imposed exile from blogging. I had ideas to write yet as a couple of people earlier suggested, I wont be able to continue blogging with time. I think their ideas ‘kind-of-caught-up’. It is my 100th blog so I was thinking about writing something special and thus waited to write a necklace (blog) having different blogs (as its beads and thread) in the 100th blog.  I’m keeping my idea of connecting my previous blogs in a necklace for future and writing on commitment. It only require small commitment and consistency to do something e.g. blogging.

    Yesterday evening, I was travelling from Nasik to Mumbai. I took a bus and therefore I had a chance to see farm lands, small villages and small water ponds on either side of road. During rainy season we see – at times – naturally created water ponds. It is surprising that in the summers we see acute water shortage. I was wondering about it. Simultaneously, my sister was reading a blog post of Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (Guruji) – Knowledge sheet. Here I am thinking about water-shed project concept and listening to my sister reading – austerity, what Guruji say – “…Austerity is often mistaken to be poverty, self-denial. It is neither. Austerity comes out of maturity. It is a sign of social health.

    Often people who practice austerity are resentful of richness. This is a very pitiable state. Such austerity is not born out of maturity but out of compulsion. The true austerity has tolerance for richness and is never resentful…”

    I see two connections here in my thoughts – commitment and austerity. The “austerity measures” being talked for a long time are not based on “social health” and therefore are opposed – because there would be a handful of people losing their “facilities” for doing service for the society. This austerity has come from compulsion. Isn’t it? There is lake of commitment in the actions of austerity.

    It was true in my not blogging too that I waited to write a very special blog on connecting all dots of my previous thoughts in the line of the concept of my blogging. We observe lack of commitment is the case in water-shed also. I remember my days as a kid in Dhar (MP). There I have faced water shortage problem and I personally used to travel long distance to bring water in summers. When we shifted to Indore I suggested few officials for rainwater harvesting, they did it. In the building where my parents live now, they have done rain water harvesting and that is not rocket science. I was wondering why we all are not doing it? We can fight and die for water but taking a small step is not possible. Why? because it requires “a-bit-of-commitment”.

    I have lost hopes from politicians and therefore not writing about that. Dhar where I used to live as a kid, had a king – King Bhoj – about 1000 years ago. He – unlike our politicians – knew the problem and worked to solve it. There used to be 12 lakes in Dhar, these lakes were connected, water overflow from one would end up collected in another and so on. We – as an Independent Indian – are fighting for “NOT CONNECTING RIVERS”, because it requires a bit of commitment. With Team Anna coming in the front I see a ray of hope that things would fall in place.

    What it requires is a commitment? Take one project complete it, whatever constraints are there resolve them. Next time I would write about commitment and theory of constraints.