Simple Living

Goa has been engulfed with gloom after the passing away of the Chief Minister, Manohar Parrikar. The tributes have been flowing describing various qualities. It was pertinent to note that the foremost quality was endorsed even by his adversaries and critics… the feature of simple living!

Over the years, simple living became Parrikar’s trademark. His attire remained the same. The way he interacted with people did not change. His food habits and his personal lifestyle did not alter as he grew from one leadership position to another. And that is the most important lesson to learn from personalities like him.

Simple living includes voluntary practices to simplify one's lifestyle. Simple living may be characterized by individuals being satisfied with what they have. They do not aspire to change lifestyle as per their perceived improvement in their status. They do not wear masks that try to ‘fit in’ and become a different persona.  

There is the fresh breath of freedom without masks. It helps increase quality time for our relationships. Simple living ensures we remain true to ourselves. There is no reason to pretend to be somebody you are not. It empowers your self-esteem and controls the negative distraction of measuring up to expectations of others.

Simple living leads to being at peace with who we are and what we have. Such an attitude leads to being able to see the larger picture of our society and our world. Such perspectives lead to great thinking as we are at peace and can see wider and deeper. It is a wonderful choice to lead a life sans complications based on trying to become somebody else.

We must choose simple living

That will lead to high thinking

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Differently Abled

On Women’s Day, members of Samraat Club Panaji felicitated poet, author and artist, Frederika Menezes. Afterwards, someone voiced our collective sentiment, ‘It was such a great honour to meet a dynamic person like Frederika! I feel like I have received a huge gift… a gift of inspiration to happily face all odds’.

Indeed, Frederika is an inspiring personality. Though confined by constraints, she created many literary works - ‘The Portrait’ (poems), ‘The Pepperns and Wars of the Mind’ (fantasy novel) and ‘Stories in Rhyme’ (verse for children) and ‘Unforgotten’ (a love story for young adults). She is also an artist creating her paintings digitally.

Her poem, ‘The Different Normals’, features in the Class XI English textbook. She received Yuva Srujan Puraskar Award in Literature in 2016. Her first book received praise from President, Dr. Abdul Kalam. She recited her poem in the Goa Legislative Assembly. She is one of the Election Icons for Goa. All her achievements seem epic when one sees her attitude to rise above the constraints of being differently abled.

The term ‘Differently abled’ emphasizes the fact that many people with disabilities are quite capable of accomplishing a particular task or performing a particular function, only in a manner that is different from or takes more time than that of people without the disability. Eventually, ability is an offshoot of positive attitude.

So often, so many of us lament our limitations. We blame constraints for inabilities. Many years back, Monday Muse featured the inspirational story of Naseema Hurzuk who said the biggest challenge was to overcome the belief handicap. Inspirational icons like Frederika show us that we can overcome any hurdle if we pursue our ability, even if differently abled!  

No, none in our world can be called disabled

Yes, there are the inspiring differently-abled!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Rise

You may write me down in history

With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I’ll rise.

The above lines are from the first verse of ‘Still I rise’ - one of Maya Angelou's most popular poems. It brings along the imagery of a soaring bird. Its flight may arouse envy but such negativity will not stop it from rising. Even if pulled down and fettered, it will rise after freeing itself of the shackles.

The poem pulls up those who condemned the blacks as slaves. Though it has a defiant tone, it is also a beacon of optimism. It is an empowering expression of the struggle to overcome prejudice and discrimination. For those who understand the meaning of repeated wrongdoing, the poem becomes a motivational anthem.

The verse sends out a clear message of hopefulness. No matter the setback, there is always hope to cling on to. It inspires to lift your head against adversity. Hatred, injustice and greed cannot be killed but that must not stop you from rising and fighting. Even when crushed in the dirt, like dust one can rise.

We must not allow unfair setbacks to demotivate our progress. The right ones, even when wronged, must strive to set things right. The task may be huge, but the wrong will be first undone by the hope-empowered belief to keep doing everything necessary to eventually rise!

Rise with belief in hope…

Unknot the fettered rope!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Progressive

Creative entrepreneurs, Rajdeep Naik and Suchita Narvekar have been regular rebels. Besides following their passion, they display social commitment through their plays, films and more importantly, through their positive actions, in personal and social space. One more such illustration happened at their marriage ceremony.

Rajdeep walked in with the Constitution of India in his hands. Suchita glowed without the rule of wearing gold ornaments. A lady priest led them (and the audience) through explained rituals of the Rashtra Seva Dal – an organisation that follows the ideals of Jyotiba, Savitribai Phule and other reformists.

Instead of ‘pheras’ around the fire, they walked together around the map of India. Water brought from their two villages was showered on a mango sapling. Family members took turns to light up a lampstand. They took vows of gender equality, social responsibility, responsive togetherness and other progressive commitments.

Progressive is not just about being the opposite of regressive or conservative. People, who are progressive, initiate and involve in reform. They are interested in positive transformation and progress in thought and behaviour. They like new ways of doing things and are open-minded about change.

Rajdeep and Suchita are worthy role models. Their marriage turned into an inspirational instance. The curbing of wasteful expenditure, the dropping of meaningless ceremonies, the gift of Suchita’s evocative drama-scripts to the guests… in more ways than one, the marriage had many meaningful messages.

Many, who are progressive in personal space, find it tough to be such in social site. We succumb to real or imagined pressure. Rajdeep and Suchita deserve greater appreciation for not only making the choice but taking the time and effort to get all loved ones on board. After all, being progressive is worthier as a collective ideal!

When the rebels walk a progressive way

They encourage others to similarly stray!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Deserve

Want to do something for a soldier?

Be a citizen who is worth fighting for!

The above lines are among responses to the death of paramilitary forces attacked by a suicide bomber. Most reactions have shown solidarity for the martyrs. Many insisted on counter strikes on the actual hands that facilitated the killer. Some questioned whether we were worthy of such sacrifices of the men in uniform.

It is natural to be pained by the incident. It is normal for anger to rise when our troops are attacked in a proxy war. This pain and anger comes from our sense of gratitude towards the ones who guard us. But it is pertinent to ask whether we deserve the toil and sacrifice of the ones who serve us even at the cost of their life.

We cannot really choose the method and timing of the response of the armed forces to such an attack. But we can choose how we will measure up to be deserving of their commitment to secure our safety. We must ask whether we have aligned to the appropriate actions as countrymen.

We must share our appreciation and show our solidarity with the ones who serve us with dedication. But empathy should not be about just feeling their pain and anger. We must commit to be responsible citizens to our country and countrymen. So they who serve will know that they do it for those who deserve!

Empathy for the sacrifices of those who serve

When we do what needs to be done to deserve!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Say It!

“Half of what I say is meaningless;

But I say it so that the other half may reach you!”

-       Khalil Gibran (Sand and Foam)

In interpersonal communication, language contains a lot of the unnecessary or the irrelevant. But it is pertinent to note that it is in the interaction that insights are to be found. Like the treasure is to be found after substantial travel, meaningless banter often leads to significant comprehensions.

The pearl will not be found till we don’t pry open the shell. More importantly, we have to open many shells to reach the one that contains the shell. When we allow ourselves (and others), the luxury and liberty of speaking freely, the chances increase of new understanding. Unbridled free expression often can unravel wisdom.

So often, so many of us insist on minimum message. In fact, in the technology driven world, our impatience rises with the length of communication. We want terse and concise expression. But concise is not always precise. On the contrary, brevity reduces scope for the involuntary. We must say it for others to hear it!

Beyond the brevity, say it freely

Greater insights may slip surely!

~ Pravin K Sabnis

Hide & Seek

The late Dilip Deshpande was a media person. He loved to read, wander and talk.. He would share his insights on the books he read, the people he met, the places he visited and the situations he encountered. He wrote a series of newspaper articles and reviews of plays. But no one knew that he wrote poems.

Last Saturday, his enthusiastic wife, Kalpana ensured the publication of his two books: one of his archival articles and the other of his hidden poems. After his demise, Kalpana stumbled on his book of poems, each accompanied by the time and date that the poem was penned.

But, Dilip’s colleagues, friends and family never knew of the poet in their midst! They never knew that he, who was open about everything, had kept one aspect hidden!

A person may not reveal his passion or skills, for whatever reason. But the onus is to reveal the hidden is not just on the owner through the process of 'disclosure'. It is also for the other to notice! And one can notice if one can discover. One can discover if one is open minded.

In the game of hide and seek, the real task is of the seeker to search and discover. The one who hides has a motive to hide. The seeker should have a greater motivation to discover. This role of the seeker who discovers the hidden is the role of a true friend. A friend should be like a mirror as well as a lens.

Hey buddy, so what if your talent you hide

I shall seek insights of the potential inside!

~ Pravin K Sabnis