Courage & Kindness

Yesterday evening we (entire family) went to watch Cinderella. It’s a movie made 50 years ago. Yet we found it fresh and captivating. An oft repeated children fairy tale enthralled everyone, the little children as well as the senior citizens. Cinderella’s inherent kindness with courage to withstand adversity brought for her fortunes.

 

Kindness indeed is a virtue which however small in action never goes waste. It enhances self-esteem, but more importantly, kindness brings happiness. In our morning walkers’ club, often the subject of how to improve the morals in the society is discussed. Though India is known for its tolerance & kindness, yet today it is felt that citizens show scant respect for others.

 

Everyone complains about the conduct of our people. Undoubtedly with the uncanny behavior no one has anything to gain but a lot to lose.

Courage is another aspect of personality which helps you to have a positive attitude. Someone wrote, ‘life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage. How true! A person who lacks courage can hardly live life. They just exist, like other living beings. Life comprises a series of events. Some are to our liking. Others are not so good and certain others very disturbing. The Bhagvad Gita teaches us that all such events good or bad have to be borne by each individual. If you have courage, you may face these without fear. But if you lack courage there could be some horrifying experiences even though the events remain the same.

 

One may belong to any religion, they usually pray before any dire encounter. Prayer has a certain power. In fact courage is not the absence of fear. Human beings when faced with an unexpected untoward situation are bound to face fear. When you decide to embark upon a challenging situation, you are fully aware of the danger involved. You may be struck with fear but you still go ahead. It only means that you have conquered that fear. Courage is not absence of fear. Courage is nothing but conquering the fear.

 

Great success can be achieved by someone who adds perseverance to courage and kindness. When you do that even the most difficult tasks can be completed with ease. In fact lives of all great men clearly illustrate that they had courage, were alwere always kind, and they all persevered.

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Golden Rules to Build Your Confidence

Lack of Confidence

First of fall we need to understand the reason for lack of confidence. Lack of confidence is due to a fear of one kind or another (mostly unfounded). As an American wrote, “my life was full of misfortunes which never happened”.

 

Of course, one need not be reckless. Yet, harboring fear never helps. We need to think rationally and pen down what makes us afraid and why. This process helps remove some of the fear and begins the path of building confidence.

 

A famous Management Guru one said that there are four ‘C’s which form the foundation of an individual’s growth and a Company’s progress. These four virtues are – Curiosity, Confidence, Courage and Consistency. The most important of these happen to be Confidence. If absence of confidence the other virtues will simply disappear.

It is said that “they conquer who believe they can”. Self-belief is thus the second important factor in building up confidence. Confidence emerging out of self-belief is necessary for any significant achievement. New opportunities always carry some incidence of chance. For taking any initiative you must be prepared to take calculated risk. In fact not taking any risk is the biggest risk of life.

 

Further, Confidence enables you to trust yourself. And if you don’t trust yourself, nobody else will. No one will feel secure in placing any responsibility on you. That will be the dead end. There is no further growth.

Lost Opportunities


Often we do not see opportunities because we are not interested. On the face of it, lack of desire acts as a strong handicap in our progress and growth. But, Confidence trains our mind to desire what the situation demands. It makes us alert enough to recognize and seize emerging opportunities. With desire created by confidence we look ahead, strive hard and succeed.

Confidence breeds courage 

For taking risk of any kind one needs to have courage. If we have confidence; we will be able to rise up to the demands of the situation. So we must go ahead and take calculated risk. Courage enables us to move ahead! Yet, if there is no confidence it will be very difficult to harness courage.

 

Smile


Most people lack self-confidence. You can help them! Smile. Your smile will reassure them. You will be doing a great job helping them to gain confidence. This is particularly true when somebody is meeting a new group of people. We must also remember that the more we are helping others to gain confidence, the more we enhance our own self-confidence! We help ourselves too!!!

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Mahashivratri

Mahashivratri is an extremely important celebration for all Hindus who believe in the power of lord Shiva. Shiva and Shakti together mark the convergence of power, devotion and renunciation. The festival according to Hindu calendar is celebrated on Krishna Paksha Chaturdashi in the month of Maagha.

 

People all over the country go to Shiva temples. They chant Om Namah Shivay and offer Bell Patra and white flowers to the Shiva Ling. Thousands of devotees gather together at important Shiva’s temple all over the Indian Sub-continent. Pashupati temple in Nepal is revered by Hindus from all over the world.

 

According to another legend, Shiva saved the world from the disastrous effects of the poison that emerged as a by-product of the churning of the Milky Ocean (Samudra Manthan), by consuming the whole of the poison. Shiva could arrest the poison in his throat by his Yogic powers and it didn’t go down his throat. His neck turned blue due to the effect of the poison on his throat and henceforth he is also known as Neela Kantha or The Blue Throated.

 

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National Girl Child Day

24^th January is celebrated as the National Girl Child Day every year. This was started by earlier government in the year 2008. It appears neither the programme was conceived correctly nor its implementation brought any results till today. It appears the objectives of the celebration of the Girl Child Day was only to enhance the image of the Nehru Gandhi Dynasty. We have seen over the past few years that many such initiatives have proved to be counter-productive.

 

Actually the subject is far more serious than the conception of the programme and activities normally followed. Symbolic activities to address a problem which is far more serious should have no place in the society today.

 

There should be concentrated efforts to ensure that girls must be provided education. All facilities should be granted. More than that, there should be initiation programme to emphasis our cultural traditions. In Hindu tradition a lady is respected as an embodiment of knowledge, wealth and power.

 

When we do Saraswati Puja knowledge comes easier than ever. Likewise Mata Lakshmi brings wealth. When we want to evoke power to destroy the evil in the society we prayed to Durga Mata.

 

 

Devi Pujan is practiced in all the states of the country. This is also unifying force. At many Devi temples people of all castes and sects come to pray. Invariably their prayers are answered.

 

It’s important for the government to do all what it can to empower women. She is the mother of all creation.

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JAI MATA DI

Romantic Music Director of Hindi Films

Omkar Prasad Nayyar was born on 16^th January 1926 in Lahore in an educated respectable family. He had developed a love for music unlike any other member in his family. His father was extremely against singing. At that time most of the educated families thought in Lahore that music is practiced only by ‘Mrasis and Bhands’. These were the people almost like jokers who would come and entertain on celebrations of events by well placed families. O. P. Nayyar as he was always known challenged his father and left home to come to Mumbai. He thought that he would try his luck to become a great music composer.

 

After struggle in Mumbai he got his first break in 1952. He was given the opportunity to direct music of film ‘Asmaan’. There after he did a couple of movies of little merit. However, he met noted director and actor Guru Dutt. He impressed Guru Dutt who gave him a number of movies- ‘Baaz’ (1953), ‘Aar Paar’ (1954), ‘Mr. & Mrs. 55’ (1955), and ‘CID’. The music of all these films was appreciated by the audience. With these films to his credit, O. P. Nayyar came into limelight.

 

Aar Paar

 

CID

Nasir Hussain who was another important producer engaged him for his film ‘Tumsa Nahi Dekha’ that was released in 1957. Then there was no looking back for O. P. Nayyar. He became very important music director of the Hindi films.

 

 Tumsa Nahi Dekha

When he had left home he told his father and other members of the family that he would show his face only after earning fame. When he became famous he went to his father’s place in a new car. He flaunted his riches and fame in front of his family. He was well received though his father was still not very happy.

O. P. Nayyar never gave opportunity to the great singer Lata Mangeshkar. Instead female singers who sang for him were Geeta Dutt, Shamshad Begam and later Asha Bhosale. It is said that when Asha Bhosale started singing for O. P. Nayyar, he stopped calling Gita Dutt. Once Gita Dutt who was suffering due to problem with unhappy relationship with Guru Dutt telephoned him for work. To that O. P. Nayyar answered that he had made contract with Asha Bhosale that he will not use any other female voice.

 

Life of O. P. Nayyar shows that he just followed his heart. He was less bothered about anyone including his family members and friends. In some ways O. P. Nayyar was like Steve Jobs. Both brilliant but both not worldly wise to maintain good relations with people around.

 

 

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Army Day.

15^th January is very important day for The Indian Army. It is called the Army Day. The day is celebrated to honor the courage and brave soldiers of our army who sacrificed their lives for the nation. The reason why the Army Day is celebrated on 15^th January is because the first Indian General K. M. Cariappa took over as commander-in-chief of the Indian Army from General Sir Francis Butcher. This took place on 15^th January 1949. Since then Army Day marks an important event to salute the brave soldiers of our country. General K. M. Cariappa was later designated as the First Field Marshal of the armed forces.

 

The celebrations comprise of a Parade with tributes being paid to Army soldiers who sacrificed their lives at the Amar Jawan Jyoti at India Gate in New Delhi. In fact, the Parade starts after paying homage at the Amar Jawan Jyoti – the eternal flame that reminds us of the lives of brave Indian soldiers.

After the Parade which includes military shows to display new technology and accomplishment in the Indian army, Bravery awards and Sena medals are distributed on this great occasion. During the military show the developments like missiles, tanks, military vehicles, helicopters all are displayed. The nation celebrates the Army Day as an inspiration to all who are connected with Indian Army that protects our motherland.

 

 

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Makar Sankranti

According to the Gregorian Calendar Makar Sankranti is celebrated every year on 14^th January. There are only rare exceptions when the festival is celebrated on 13^th or 15^th January. Most of the other Hindu festivals fall on different dates.

 

 Til Gul Ladu

 

Gul Poli

It is a festival to celebrate harvest. In many parts of the country this harvest festival is celebrated with lot of activities. The great thing about Hindu festivals is that they promote social interaction. Makar Sankranti is no exception. In Maharashtra the festival is celebrated by exchanging sweets. Halwa and Til Gul Ladu are particularly prepared on this day. Gulachi Poli which is a delicacy a served during lunch. Gulachi Poli is a traditional Indian bread-chapati/paratha with a difference that there is filling of ground till, besan(gram flour) and lot of pure ghee. People greet each other with ‘Til Gul Ghya, Ani Goad Goad Bola’- promoting better interpersonal relationship. Haldi Kunku is distributed among married women. The gifts of utensils, clothes and sweets are exchanged.

 

Makar Sankranti is also an auspicious occasion on which Sun God is revered. Millions of people take bath in Holi Rivers. Ganga Sagar where river Ganges flow into the Bay of Bengal is particularly popular.

 

In Tamil Nadu the festival is known as Pongal and is celebrated by preparing lots of sweets and Tamilian dishes. These are served on planten leaves. Another marked feature of this festival is that people fly kites in open spaces. Very decorative and colorful kites are made for the occasion. It is a wonderful festival where people participate with the enthusiasm and gusto.

 

 

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