Santhosh's ramblings

"This is a story of empty pockets. During a recent trip to Rome, I enjoyed an evening in the company of a group that included a young Jesuit who had spent a year in El Salvador and was due to return there soon. At one point over the course of the evening’s discussion, Father Michael described the time he had spent at one of the L’Arche communities founded by Jean Vanier. L’Arche began in 1964 when Vanier bought a home in rural France and invited two adults with mental retardation to live there with him. Some sixty L’Arche communities now exist worldwide. The guiding spirit behind L’Arche differs dramatically from the therapeutic paternalism that often structures relationships between the “normal” and the “mentally handicapped.” L’Arche is a community dedicated to the unlikely proposition that the more able should not do things to or for the less able but should, instead, live with them in covenant. Writes Vanier, “Handicapped people are teachers of . . . the strong. With their tre...

(2023) I met Mrs. R after 20 years today. She and I were happy meeting each other after this long period. She said, “My elder son (who is Sero-positive) is a body builder and doing very well. Younger one is married and doing well too. I am doing fine.”    Then she told this story. “A year ago, I was waiting for my medications in the government hospital, and I saw this young lady who looked very disturbed. I went close to her and asked her what happened. She said you will not understand I am HIV positive. I smiled and told her; I am too, and I have been on medications for last 20 years. Then she said, you will not understand, I am pregnant, and I want to abort the pregnancy. I again told, I can understand, and told her my story. She after listening to my story, took my phone number and walked off. A year later I get a call from an unknown number, and it turned out to be the same lady. She did not abort, had a baby and is on treatment and doing well. This is what I do these day...

"We were a thriving colony, having settled here about three years ago. Nestled in a well-protected location surrounded by lush foliage and trees, with nearby gardens providing ample flowers for sustenance, we were flourishing at an almost overwhelming pace. At times, I thought the growth was too rapid for my liking, but the queen mother was content, and the colony saw an influx of new workers and drones.  The period from September to December was particularly bustling, marked by the addition of numerous new members. As a worker, these were busy days – foraging for enough food and tending to the needs of the newcomers. Yet, it was all worthwhile. We were a united community, and our lives revolved around the queen mother.   One late afternoon, disaster struck. Commotion and smoke filled the air as the hive was violently dismantled by the massive hands of a human being. Many of my companions perished. I was one of the fortunate few who managed to escape alongside our queen and th...

Traveling by train provides ample scenes for reflection and contemplation. Exiting a conference, where numerous conversations took place, the train ride became a valuable time for introspection. And then, I noticed it – a goods carriage securely locked with a robust padlock, not just one but three, with an additional metal wire holding them together. Below, there was yet another lock, unseen in the picture, reinforcing the security. This sight brought to mind two distinct conversations. One was with a friend passionate about something but hesitant to reveal it, fearing it might not unfold as desired. The other individual feared that their uncontrolled passion might inadvertently hurt others, leading to the constant act of locking it away, albeit with occasional leaks. Isn't this a common experience for many, including myself? The first lock represents behaviors stemming from preconceived ideas, notions, and perceptions, aimed at safeguarding the heart. Underpinning this is the seco...

 The schedule of the day care surgery of my mobile... 11.30 - Reached at 11.30 with an online appointment receipt – was attended to immediately (each appointment is 20 minutes apart). 11.32 - Was asked the problem (History taking), short and sweet with a smile. 11.33 - The phone was received with care undressed after consent (can I take the cover off?), for a quick general physical examination.  11.45 - Phone was connected to a soft ware checking app through a laptop – a thorough physical examination. 11.46 -The results of the physical examination were shared clearly, and the tentative diagnosis was shared (Battery life suboptimal), and the need for further evaluation was informed. 11.50 - Was asked if all backups were taken before sending for the invasive investigations – which was affirmed.  12.10 - A detailed hardware assessment was done over 20 minutes using software.  12.10 - The results were declared with additional system fault which might need addressing, and...

Beauty  Brokenness [Verse 1] I come down from the misty mountain I got lost on the human highway Take my head, refreshing fountain Take my eyes from what they've seen [Refrain] Take my head and change my mind How could people get so unkind? Hope

Morning visit to the care program for people infected and affected by HIV, and other individuals from marginalized communities, was soul-uplifting, as it usually is. Listening to the women who were being empowered through a tailoring project was both challenging and encouraging. It was challenging to hear the struggles faced by some of these HIV-positive and other marginalized women. However, it was encouraging to see how the team had thought reflectively about what could make a difference in the lives of these women who had no other options. All of this was motivated by love for these people. Still, there was a worry looming in the background - with the changing context of our nation, would this demonstration of love and compassion continue into the future? After all, the program was founded by a faith-based organization. The team was troubled by the potential reactive responses from those in power in our nation - could it hamper the support to these lives? (Those who want the product...