Santhosh's ramblings

These are summaries of a day long conversations which I had yesterday as some of us travelled into Hitauda, Nepal, a small town 60 km from the border. Conversations with people whom I met, the vehicle drivers, friends, myself and with God (I presume He was listening into my un-uttered conversations too)! We left the campus at about 7:15 AM and walked over the border – closed to vehicles because of the blockade by the Madeshi’s or Indian immigrants in Nepal. At the border – on the bridge which is the so called “No man’s land” – (both countries say it is not in their jurisdiction ad so they cannot do anything,) there were tents which are supposed to be occupied by the protestors. But it was empty. There were a few young men, trying to make people who were walking across donate to their cause. No vehicles are allowed by the Indian side to cross, saying that border is closed. Other than Bikes and Ambulances! Tongas, Rickshaws, and Tuktuks, wait on either side of the bridge to pick up

As one looks around and reflect on nations, kingdoms, corporations, leaders and powerful people and families, and even faith based communities, one starts seeing a trend of behaviour. They – (we) come into a position of power or influence and soon start thinking that we have “earned” it. Though it is evident for all to see that this was not an earned identity but a bestowed one, we start believing that we have earned it by our own ability and might. And this leads to an A rrogance. Whether it is based on position, knowledge or even character it does not matter. But an arrogance derived out of sense of having earned it by our effort. This A rrogance if untamed, leads to B elittling others. All the others are seen as insignificant and only seen as instruments to be used for their own good, or at best, an irritation. This comes out of a feeling of we are the “ B est”, and all the others are far below our standards. If faith based, we look at from Holy vs Unholy, sinner Vs Saint perspect

I am generally apolitical by nature. I do read political stories and news in a very cursory way, to get an idea of what is happening across our Nation and the world. But a few events which evolved and are still evolving in the communities around where we live opened my mind to a different perspective through which I should look at the world and what emerges around us. One was the “Indo-Nepal standoff” which is still an ongoing issue, that has impoverished a nation and put its citizens to almost three months of lack of basic resources for daily life. As one reads through the news from both these nations, we see conflicting reports. One blaming the other, and each trying to wash its hands off from the issue, and passing the buck to the other. But the reality is clear for all those who live close to the ground to see. It is all about, how the bigger and powerful wants it way, and how it expects the smaller and weaker to respond. It is all about years of consistent bullying by the strong

One of the challenges of living today is – surviving in the midst of blatant hypocrisy. As one looks around, whether in the political scenario, global scenario, faith based communities, family lives and individual and leaders lives, we find this open divide. A divide between what they speak and what they do. A divide between their personal lives and public life. A divide between what is expected and what comes out in life. This has become more of a challenge since self-promotion and covering what is not worth promoting is seen as acceptable, at all levels of interaction. When hypocrisy becomes an accepted way of life, one is faced with some complex questions. The question of giving up on the context. The question one would struggle with is, shall I give up on the context where I am. You are in one context and you see lives which do not match up to your standards or values which the community you are part of expects, (especially in the lives of people you look up to or in leadership,

What are you doing here, a question asked by God to Elijah. This question was asked a couple of times. I do not think it was a “geographical” question, but more of a “philosophical” one. God wanted to know, what he was doing in the current context, how he reached there. A question I need to ask regularly! What am I doing here…? If someone had asked Elijah, where are you now, he would have replied – Tired and exhausted – had a tough whole day work and then forty day’s journey. But the full day work was the turnaround of the century! By one day’s work, the whole nation had turned around. Of course he developed a few enemies through this action, but what was that when compared to the turnaround of a whole nation? That is when God asked this question – what ARE you doing here….But along with this question, God provided a good sleep and some home delivery food…That was the concern of God! He would have also said, depressed, down and out. He was in deep self-pity – I am the only

There is a new world emerging. The new world has various characteristics. A few which I observe are.... One – it is a globalized world. A world where things which happen in one part of the globe will affect the other part. A world where events of every part of the globe is well known to other parts of the globe. A world where every aspect of life in one part of the globe is open for people in other parts of the globe to see and aspire for or reject. This is true for economy, religion, culture, life style and travel and communication. Connect and be part of it, or lose out. Social media, instant communication, instant travel, international investment, international work, Mall walking, all are part of this new world. Testing out the changing values, the new “religions” and “life styles” is the hep thing to do, if not, one is seen as a regressive. Two – it is a young world. The young are emerging as the new world order. The young with their massive numbers are changing political

Every other day a 12 to 13 year old boy walks in, mostly alone, but sometimes accompanied by his younger brother, who is about 7 -8, visiting many of the families in our campus, taking orders for chicken. He is our chicken supplier! He was walking in and my first reaction was – how can this boy, who is less than 14 be doing the work of an adult. My last few years of experience with “right based responses”, “advocacy” on “Child labour” and such related issues, which I had opportunity to be part of  was rekindled and I was asking around – how can we allow this to happen! How can we even allow this boy to come into the campus? We should put an end to this! Till 2 days back when I took a walk outside the campus and saw his “shop”. His shop was – a trolley (Tela Gadi) on which a middle aged man was cleaning and cutting chicken. And he and his brother, was the home delivery system. Possibly the person who was cutting and cleaning was his father – I am yet to talk to him. And for him to