ON REPUBLIC DAY

here's a poem written on this day in 2007

my country’s flag flies full mast to full-throated singing and cheer

it’s great to have a public holiday… please pass on some more beer!

let school kids do the drill... national anthem is beyond us to sing

Independence put out foreigners… now elected leaders do worse things!

the pathetic politician waxes eloquent in his superficial sermon

puffed up chests will ease, Republic Day is just another occasion!

you see, it really isn’t something to be bothered about…

in my country’s consciousness, democracy is plagued by doubt!

I can rattle off the problems and fail to be part of the solution

it is sad but true that patriotism is just a plastic emotion!

but then, why is that when India wins that rises in my heart a cheer?

and why is it that when India loses that I succumb to my tears?

a foreigner’s abusive words may make me see red…

but, indeed for my country, I prefer to play dead!

I maintain my stoic silence as my nation is raped and razed

it is just a piece of land… my behaviour remains unfazed!

so what if I am a man of honour, so what if I talk the lofty talk

how can I forgive myself when I can’t do the patriotic walk?

we have to take the initiative, by each let this be heard

call it saving ourselves; call it patriotism or any other word!

don’t wait for someone to begin, it really starts with me…

to save my land, its people and every threatened tree!

they are so few… those who grab, loot and terrorise

we are so many and stronger… if only together we rise!

Republic Day belongs to us… we the public that is eager

to do what it takes to secure our country’s future….

Republic Day is a time to make the commitment again

to do what needs to be done to pull my country out of the drain…

love for our country should never be an occasional intention…

love for our country is when we speak through hands-on action…

let each moment be where, together we walk the united way

let each day be celebrated as our country’s Republic Day!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Connections

Robinson Crusoe was stranded on a deserted island, isolated from the world. His life took a turn with the arrival of Friday, a native he rescued from cannibals.

Friday wasn't just an aide; he became Crusoe's companion, teacher and more. Through their friendship, Crusoe learned survival skills, cultural exchange and the essence of human connection.

Friday's presence humanized the island, turning it from a prison into a shared journey. Their bond showcases the power of companionship in overcoming adversity.

Humans beings are wired for connection. It is a fundamental need. Real connections are built on empathy, vulnerability and genuine interactions.

Empathy lets us understand others' feelings, creating a bond. Vulnerability fosters trust, allowing people to open up and deepen relationships. Genuine interactions, like active listening and authentic communication, strengthen these bonds.

These connections impact mental health, happiness, and even physical well-being. They make life richer and more meaningful. We must choose to retain old connections and make new ones, too!

Reach out to strengthen your human connections

Let the need turn into a want, full of dedication

~ Pravin K Sabnis

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Meaning in Life

In the 1940s, Viktor Frankl was held captive in a Nazi concentration camp. His family, friends, and neighbours were captured too. Viktor lived the horror of losing everything to torture and terror. Despite the brutality, he never gave up his relentless fight for life.

He found meaning in his struggle, and that gave him the power to push ahead through unimaginable pain. After escaping, Viktor wrote a book called ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’, which chronicled his experiences. 

A quote by Nietzsche sums up his philosophy on how people were able to survive the camps, without losing the will to live: ‘He who has a why to live for can bear almost any how.’ Our reactions are not solely the result of the conditions of our life. They also arise from the freedom of choice we always have even in severe suffering.

Viktor wrote, ‘In some way, suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.’ But he cautioned ‘of getting stuck in suffering mode and mistaking it for nobility.’ He wrote, ‘Suffering unnecessarily is masochistic rather than heroic.’

Viktor underlined the power of purpose. Purpose is what gives us the strength to carry on, if not through dire conditions, then through difficult changes, transitions, relationships, and activities. Viktor concluded from his experience that the meaning of life is found in every moment of living; life never ceases to have meaning, even in suffering and death.

Bhagat Singh died at the age of 23. Alexander died at the age of 32 years. Mozart died at the age of 35. Swami Vivekananda died at the age of 39. They were able to live worthwhile lives, despite dying young because they were able to find and fulfil meaning in life. Robert Byrne has said it so well: ‘The purpose of life is a life of purpose’

Let’s find meaning in life and live it now

Live life with meaning before the final bow!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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Overthinking

 So often, so many of us believe that the more we think about something, the better our decision will be. We ponder a decision for hours or even days. We keep pursing the identification of multiple options.

However, research has shown that over-thinking a dilemma can actually result in a poorer decision. Of course, this is not to campaign for a spur-of-the-moment whimsical resolution.

We must use the process of unconscious thought... we give the problem time to be mulled over in the back of our mind, yet do not actively think about it. In situations involving complex decisions, unconscious thought is found to outperform the more logical and analytical counterpart.

We must avoid wasting too much time going over the same points again and again in our heads. Instead, we must bring key issues to mind, and then relax and give ourselves some time to absorb it. 

Many of us do this already - we are often reluctant to rush into a decision before ‘sleeping on it’ - however we also waste a lot of time agonizing over the pros and cons.

Our unconscious mind is better equipped to connect varied considerations, implications and solutions. However, we tend to consciously dig up a wealth of options and often lose focus from identifying practical solutions. We must remember the famous maxim – ‘too much of analysis causes paralysis’!

Over-thinking can create a paralysis...

The unconscious can do better analysis!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

 

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