Monday, 21 November 2011

AT CROSS-ROADS WITH GOD'S DESIGN

Look young ,feel young.   I believe the design of the world by the God or who-so-ever is the creator is optimum . Human-beings have tried to improve upon the God's design , to satisfy some of the social needs , primarily cosmetic needs.The greying of hair , as the age advances is one such design parameter , which has not found favour with homo-sapiens. We all want : firstly--to look young and secondly -- to feel young , if possible.
 Forever young and immortal.   In an old Indian story ,  Alexander the Great , felt sad one day .He thought-- ' even though I am the conqueror of the world , I will grow old and then die like a common man.What is the use of all heroism and victories , if I can exploit the gains of my victories for a limited period only'.This dissatisfaction and search for a solution ended when he met an Indian hermit who revealed him the secret of  immortality  and permanent youth ,   There was a pond of nectar nearby , if only Alexander could go there and take it , he will live for ever.
    He rushed to the pond and when he was about to drink the water there , he heard a voice, it  cautioned him to wait . He saw a very old crocodile coming out of water  slowly . Later he learnt  , it was 5000 years old , with his limbs nearly lifeless but yet alive. He could not die , although he wanted to .
   He did not want to be immortal with physically ineffective limbs . He rushed back and once again met the hermit and  said, " to be immortal is of no use ,if you are not young. Could you direct me to a pond which offers both ? " The hermit obliged and Alexander rushed to another pond further away . He reached there and was about to drink the coveted nectar , when he heard lot of shouting going on , as if people were fighting . He saw 7--8 handsome young persons fighting for favours of a young pretty girl. They told him , they were all from  the same family ; great-grandfather down to great--grandson . Here in this scenario a great-grandfather was competing with his great-grandson , both infatuated with the youth of same pretty girl. The story ends here , Such situations do not arise normally in our world ;  optimally designed by the God.

      Now human-beings live longer and with good health . They naturally want to look young also . Artificial aids to look young are available in plenty; but there are higher needs in the hierarchy of needs . This realisation  accelerated  ladies onslaught for equality in all facets of life . They question God's design as they feel they are at a great disadvantage.A beginning was made when women athletes wanted to postpone the menses cycle ,when it clashed with the sports events .

     Women have realised that one of the feminine features due to which they are at distinct disadvantage as compared to men is that they have to complete motherhood's biological functions before the onset of menopause.Thus the major portion of youth of liberated women , the prime period of one's life is unproductively ( as for as career enhancement is concerned) utilised , except for reproduction of human race. The solution can be : why not delay menopause and be able to reproduce till 60 ? This will enable a lady to build her career to the highest pinnacle till late fifties and reap the gains of her enhanced career for the rest of her life , just like men.There-after she is free to indulge into motherhood business ie. motherhood to be achieved as late as possible and may be after retirement .The good news is : its feasibility has been explored by the medical science ; it is possible,but there is a need to analyse its social implications.
   Marriage fulfills an important social need of human-beings ie.it provides each partner a compulsive friend , to overcome the loneliness of the incorrigible individuals who by nature can not be friendly in social circles. Even among birds and anmals there are species where they live as a couple.The attachment and love for eachother has been a subject of love stories , where the death of one spouse affects the other.To share life together as husband and wife or as a couple, has evolved slowly as human civilisation developed . In the present era with the concept of liberation , the need for separate identity among women , who used to be a mere shadow of the husband is on the increase even  in Oriental societies.Gone are the days when a women used to identify her success with that of her husband .The present day lady is rightly fighting for her identity and her own success in life and wants to contribute on her own in the society. If one accepts marriage as an essential institution, it must be noted that children are the essential cement which keep the bond alive.Many a time, minor differences and fights among the parents crop up and get resolved as both parents realise the necessity to stay together for the sake of proper development of children . God forbid . the liberated women in search of more success in life delay motherhood till 50-60s , the absence of child in the home would deprive the marriage institution of an essential nutrient which cements the marriage.

   A society becomes richer with integrated development of all the three ingredients : a liberated woman who is successful and who has her own identity ,  a happy home with well cared, satisfied children and a happy marriage of mind and body between the two. The impact of delayed marriage or delayed motherhood on society  and its effects need to be analysed with a view to check on uncontrolled   research , to alter the God's designed life style. .
                                                                                                                           (CS Arora 1998)  

Wednesday, 16 November 2011

SEARCH FOR CO-TRAVELLER IN LIFE

We all dream for our life partner . In Oriental societies ,where marriages are still a once in a life time event ; slowly the scenario is changing ,and following in the footsteps of Occidental culture.I was still unmarried in 1971 at 25 years , and trying to locate the face of my better-half , all the time , all the places  and among all possible eligible young ladies.
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In this crowded world,
I search for you.
In every feminine face, I search for you.

As the income-tax people ,search for black money,
in every film-stars house.
I search for you, among all potential candidates.

As customs people suspect smugglers,
in every tourist,
I search for you ,in every feminine face.

As a pick-pocket dreams of big catch,
in every victim,
I dream of you ,in every face.

As the 'adjutant ' looks out for the improperly dressed,
in every youngster,
I look out for you.

But alas ! in vain !
My thirst remains.
I still don't know you.
Who would be my co-traveller in my life.
                                           Capt  CS Arora


Monday, 7 November 2011

THIS IS LIFE ( for most of us)

A POSITIVE THOUGHT
'It is never too late, to improve upon oneself''
At 15 , Khrushchev could count only thirty.
For he had as many sheep to look after.
Ho Chi Minh was a cook till forty,
And you know he was President thereafter.
So you would agree,
There is hope for me too:
for I am only thirty,
and slightly better of than the two.

BOOK KEEPING

7 hours sleep,
8 hours office,
plus 5 hours of
Bath ,meals,'calling on' and chit-chat.
And still,
I have 4 hours up my sleeves,
for my QIP (Quality Improvement Programme).

CONFESSION
Now,
I do feel guilty ,
For those unaccounted 4 hours every day,
I mismanaged in the past!
4 into 365 into 30 hours !!
Oh Lord, please forgive me once for all.

RESOLUTION
This day,O Lord ,
I resolve :
to plan my work,
and work on my plan .
Today will be the historic day,
when I changed the course of my life
From 'good for nothing ' to a successful , worldly-wise.

A VISION
Years hence,
When I go to address public metings,
I will tell this to the gathering :
'This is how,
One fine day,
I strode the path to success'.

PROCRASTINATION
Let me relax,
Before I take off,
With my QIP.
One last afternoon nap,
And a glance at 'Filmfare',
Or a 'farewell' matinee show in town,
should do no harm.
For tomorrow ,
I will be earnest,in the race of life.
May be tomorrow that TOMORROW arrives,
May be IT does not.
And gets postponed again.
Law of Inertia !

JUSTIFICATION

Any regrets ?
What bloody regrets !
This world needs average people too,
Who mis-manage their time,
Contented and unambitious!
Sad at times,
For,they represent those,
'who have nothing to look back with pride
and nothing to look forward with hope!',
when they retire from the race of life.
But , for them who stand out,
from the rat race of life,
Who would notice the 'outstandings'
O Lord,
I regret,
I have'no promises to keep'
I have 'no miles to go before I sleep.
                 ( Major CS Arora 1980)  

Sunday, 6 November 2011

WHEN SHE IS AWAY !.............WHEN HE IS HERE !

A set of poems written in 1978-79 , when posted in Military College of Mechanical and Electronics Engg.First poem depicts the plight of a newly married youngster , when the wife goes to her parents for a couple of weeks.Second poem depicts what happenens in an army unit when its annual inspection is on.
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1.   WHEN SHE IS AWAY

When she is away,
I am free.
Freedom,
the unrestricted late-hours,
the drinks , the movies and,
the kingdom without the nagging queen,
are all , restored to me.
I enjoy my lawlessness,
and the irresponsible irregularities,
of my life.
But soon,
the life is a bore;
without her warm smile,
the drinks are tasteless
and the movies are charming no more.
And me much older,
than those good old days,
of bacheor-dom,
my loafing around,
goes unrecognised.
Tired and dejected,
I come back to my cold house.
The door I open,
stares back at me,
the bed is un-inviting ;
the night is darker ;
her pillow smells of her.
But she is still away !
..........................................

2.   WHEN HE IS HERE

Stage setting
The chuna is there,
and geru too ;
OC has come
and CO too .
The deceptive calmness,
the hidden blood pressures.
And here is the flash!
He has started ,
for the adm inspection due.

Prayers
God bless GOC,
God bless G-1,help me always ,
to make them happy.

Report
Shree-man!
(God bless me),
10 officers
( 2 with faded uniform,
O mere Bhagwan !)


Unit Morale,

One deserted,
sheer bad luck;
not my fault,
I assure you ,Sir !

Unit Welfare
This unit delegation,
for AA examination,
and part A,B,C and D
is largest, you see.
But we give ,
chance to others,
and wait for our turn,
when favourable opportunities return.

Mess Secretary
Hullo ! A..D..C !
Bolo kya hai ji!
GOC ki favourite dish ?
This is my CO's wish!

After the Dinner
Thank you ,Sir !
Our pleasure Sir,
(as long , report is excellent!)

In the bed-room:
O my wife,
I think I saved my life.
If I am correctly understanding,
then I am OUT-STANDING !
                                                         Capt CS Arora 1978
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Notes-- 'CHUNA, GERU are limestone powder, bricks powder for white-washing and red coloring etc.
OC -officer commanding, CO-commanding officer, ADC-'aide-de-camp' of General Officer Commanding(GOC) of a division ,G-1 staff offr to GOC, promotional exams --armanent art--AA, officers exams part--A,B,C,D.;'bolo kya hai ji'--vernacular language 'what can I do for you'; 'shreeman'--sir , 'bhagwan'--God.