Category Archives: beautiful lines

POETRY: WHEN I WENT WRONG

Copyright@shravancharitymission

 

wrong wrong 7 wrong1

WHEN I WENT WRONG

In the shimmers of life I never went wrong,

In the merry of life I never went wrong,

In the don’ts of life I never went wrong,

 But In the dos of life I often went wrong.

*

When I helped, I went wrong,

 And when I didn’t, I never went wrong,

 When I was relevant I never went wrong,

 When I was irrelevant I often went wrong.

 *

 When I trusted I went wrong,

 When I didn’t I never went wrong,

 My tragedies reminded me of my wrongs,

 Where in the mirror of life I lay upside down.

 *

 When I deviated I went wrong,

And when I didn’t I carried on headstrong,

For there will be moments of rights,

 That will later appear as wrongs,

And moments of wrongs that will appear as rights.

*

So one day I asked myself what is right and what is wrong?

And gently it said what calms you is right,

And what doesn’t is wrong.

*

And with all those who wronged my right,

I remain calm.

As sadly, I know how often I went wrong.

*

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

KNOW THY SELF … WHAT ARE YOU?

Copyright@shravancharitymission

i2 innerself i3

You are what you like to think,

You are what you like to remember,

You are what you like to discover,

You are what you like to recover.

*

You are what you like to speak,

You are what you like to read,

You are what you like to write,

You are what you like to hear,

*

You are what you like to dream,

You are what you like to do,

You are what you like to scream,

You are what you like to achieve,

*

You are what you like to preach,

You are what you like to tread,

You are what you like to grace,

You are what you like to brace.

*

You are what you like to appreciate,

You are what you like to criticize,

You are what you like to support,

You are what you like to kill.

*

You are what you like to sing,

You are what you like to worry,

You are what you like to celebrate,

You are what you like to mourn.

*

You are what you like as company,

You are what you like to eat,

You are what you like to drink,

You are what you like to mint.

*

You are what you like to enjoy,

You are what you like to crib,

You are what you like to scoff,

You are what you like to rinse.

*

You are what you like to encounter,

You are what you like to interface.

*

And last but not the least, and as you breathe,

Whether you like it or not,

Some day you will realise,

You are only a sum total of all these.

**

To know yourself, honestly plot two choices against each to know the complex beehive you live in.

*

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

TOGETHER … BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER

Copyright@shravancharitymission

 …. Cherish your struggle together

m6

m2

m

TOGETHER … BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER

 

 

 

In the bygones of life I find …

… We sacrificed so much … to be together,

But soon I realised we were not made for each other.

*

How well we began together,

Only to learn midway,

That we were not made for each other.

*

Every criss-cross of life we treaded together,

Every sorrow and happiness we faced together,

In those steep ups … and slimy slides of life we held together,

But then again I thought we were not made for each other,

*

Each step in life, we took together,

Every deed, and misdeed if any, we enacted together,

Knowing fully well we were not made for each other,

*

We saw each wrinkle lining up in us together,

And, also, each strand greying in us together,

Yet, I always thought we were not made for each other.

*

One day we noticed our walk was slowing,

And another day we saw our shoulders were drooping,

Yet we kept walking together,

But even then I thought we were not made for each other,

*
Not one but every sunrise was together,
Not occasional, but each sunset was together,
And of course we laughed and fought and cried together,
Even when we were not made for each other,
 

*

And then one day,

In my dying moments when we were together,

I saw we were not only together but also made for each other,

But by then it was late,

Because our physical togetherness was over.

*

Life is a drag if you wish to live in dissensions and a melody if you adopt togetherness.

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*

Share if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

 

HOW WE DE-STRESSED OURSELVES– IN A REAL LIFE SITUATION: The ultimate stress buster lies in your mind

Copyright@shravancharitymission

 

s1s2

    I was once faced with an ominous situation that looked like a lifetime disaster, where my younger child was diagnosed of ‘Brain Cancer’ when he was just about two-an-a-half-years old. What followed thereafter was a long battle of nerves, emotions, brawn and brain through the thick and thin of my fast corporate life. Even though, at the end of it we lost the battle, because we couldn’t save him, but not before fighting up to the last straw.

    I then had a very demanding corporate job. And during that phase of my life we were located in various metros such as Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi –NCR. Where, we did not have any day-to-day support from our extended family nor even old buddies. Nevertheless, we had to survive, by fighting the menacing circumstances, where, caring colleagues and friendly neighbours were the only ones who came forward to help us.

s3s4

    The prevailing situation fatigued me no end. I was working for some big banners those days who took good care of me. They were considerate under the circumstances. But I still had to continuously perform to keep my stalk and career ambitions alive. My wife, who too was qualified, had to abandon her career because she had to stay put at home to take care of the child. And beyond that, there were immense financial and emotional insecurities to deal with, in terms of expensive treatment, physical stress and the mystery behind the ultimate cure. 

    When he fell sick, we were in our late thirties. A tricky age, when we were not quite clear, whether we should adventure for a third child when the second was in peril to maintain the count of two. And God! it was a horrendous situation, when even the Indian economy every now and then was not doing well and lot of companies were issuing pink slips. This led to severe job insecurity, when every month our medical bills were spiraling above seventy five thousand in the final years of his life.

    But even with all these humongous issues we needed to work and survive. So, we charted out an omnipotent methodology to de-stress ourselves. It was a seamless combination of ideas, thoughts, mythology and even some physical exercises, that took us through the ordeal. And, as we were approaching the end, the intensity of stress increased exponentially, and under those circumstances this was how we eased our tension:

s7

  1. CHAIN OF STRONG THOUGHTS:

    Everything, in one’s life starts from the mind. Mind is your biggest problem. Your biggest enemy. But also your biggest friend. Your solution provider and leveler. So, we decided to control it by conditioning ourselves, in the following  manner: By …..

  • Deciding to do away, with all the negative emotions.
  • Nothing is permanent so why worry. Just keep doing what you are supposed to do under the circumstances.
  • PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) Pray and pray.
  • Don’t plan excessively. Take life one day at a time.
  • No matter how bad things are, they could be worse.
  • At any given time in your life. There is something going right and something wrong. This balances life. For in life not everything will go wrong, nor everything will go right in one go. That is the law of the nature.
  • Life is a very sturdy boat. So, just keep moving and don’t stop. For movement is life and stillness is death.
  • Whatever, you can do for the child do within your means. Don’t get intimidated by what others tell you to do. Especially, if it is beyond your means.
  • Our child may have to leave the world soon. But even I have to go some day. For that’s destiny. At the end of it we all have to go. No one can fight the law of nature. So why worry.
  • Don’t try to run the universe yourself. Leave few things to God. Your child could be one of them.
  • Human beings are blind. They can’t even see the next moment of life. So how can they predict the time of anyone’s death.
  • There is something called the destiny. Try and believe in it.
  • When the child was very critical towards the end days. I started believing in miracles all the more. Even when it did not happen with us. But it kept me charged under the circumstances.
  • I started taking my work more passionately. Remember your daily routine could be one of your biggest stress busters.
  • Just dress up and show up for work. Never sulk around in those negative surroundings and emotions.
  • After a bad day there is always a good day. But one really doesn’t know which is that bad day and which is a good day.
  • Only get dismayed by situations you have created for yourself and not situations that God has created for you. For he only will correct it. ‘Brain Cancer’ was God’s creation.
  • Try and be watchful whenever, there is a change of surroundings, locations, friends and colleagues around you. For, every change of situation, will have something new to offer. And, with that. There is also a possibility of some new energies coming close to you to influence you. Remember, life is all about positive and negative energies.
  • Life is an esoteric journey. For every new situation you’ll have some new company who would leave you when that part of the journey is over. So nothing is permanent.
  • To console ourselves we even started thinking. This child has a short life.  He is here to spread a message. So, don’t just feel morose about it and help the cause.
  • In those firefighting days we had created our own little Gods. Anything, that helped our circumstances was like a God to us. And, how clearly, we felt. There are two worlds. One is the world of cancer and the other is without it for the lucky ones. Where, we belonged to the former.
  • We never initiated a discussion around our child’s health to look for sympathies. As we believed in God and in ourselves.

PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES

  • I took up to regular walking and weekend Golf. It was a great stress buster.
  • Deep breathing became a regular activity that helped us in restoring freshness and rejuvenated our lives, even in those scary nights when we couldn’t sleep.
  • I got hooked up to one of the soap operas that suited my timing for deflecting my tired mind.
  • We kept our home ambience alive for we didn’t want to give advance invitation to death. And, in that, we looked for micro positivity in life.
  • Whatever the child wanted we provided. We were proud of him and never negative.
  • I got into a hobby that still continues. To divert my mind.

MYTHOLOGY A GREAT LEVELER

  • What to talk of human beings, when, even Gods had to leave their mortal bodies.
  • The biggest unknown boon of life is a painless exit and a dignified death. Mythology, combined with our circumstances taught us that.

    These are pointers from the book: “GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE” now catalogued in many libraries of the US including Harvard and Library of Congress. It is also catalogued in libraries of Canada and even India.

**

By Kamlesh Tripathi

*

Share if you like it

*

    Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR COPIES)

*****

 

SAU MEIN NINYANNABE BEIMAN, PHIR BHI MERA BHARAT MAHAN- BY A COMMON MAN

copyright@shravancharitymission

 

12

 

MERA BHARAT MAHAN

   

    I read something very interesting written behind a truck that I was following on a highway some time back till it stopped at a Dhaba. Where, I spoke to the driver who told me these were his heartfelt feelings about present day India. Since all the lines were written in Hindi. I too am presenting it in Hindi using English alphabets for a similar flow and effect. Truly speaking, the lines are quite apt for today’s India and also conveys the love for motherland. 

 

4

MERA BHARAT MAHAN

Sau mein ninyan-nabbe beiman, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Bukhe nangon ko nichod rahe hain beiman, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Jhoot per jhoot bol rahen hain gharman, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Sab ke hisse ka kha gaye neta aur afsaran, phir bhi mera bharat mahan.

*

Ajab ajab se jari hain farman, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Scam ke uppar hai scam, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Balatkar ke baad balatkar, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Mazhabon ke beech hai ab hai darmiyan, phir bhi mera bharat mahan.

*

Lal aur neeli battiyun ki hai bharmar, phir bhi mera bharat mahaan,

Shauchalaya ki hai mara mari, khule shoch ki hai bharmar, phir bhi mera bharat mahan,

Aur kya kahun Mahoday, in makarraon ke beech bhi hai, mera bharat mahan.

Written by a Common man–a truck driver.

*

Share it if you like it

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share it if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases. Should you wish to donate for the cause the bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(Archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. Book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

Story of an Indian salesman who is lowly qualified but fights his ways through uncertainities to reach the top. A good read for all salesmen. Book launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon.com and Flipkart

(CAN BE BOUGHT FROM ON LINE BOOK STORES OR WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

*****

 

WORD POWER-IDIOMS-PHRASES

Copyright@shravancharitymission

By Kamlesh Tripathi

A learned society values a person with a sound vocabulary.

123

  • Di-rigueur: Fashionable, up-to-date.
  • Quirky: peculiar or with unexpected traits, eccentric.
  • Avuncular: Kind of friendly towards a younger or a less experienced person.
  • Opprobrium: harsh criticism.
  • Grunt: of animal make a low, short guttural sound.
  • Liverish: slightly ill
  • tawny : of an orange-brown or yellowish-brown colour.
  • Tramp: walk heavily or noisily.
  • Honorofic: a title or word implying or expressing respect.
  • Shikoed: prostrating themselves upon the ground, the hands
  • Waddled: walk with short steps and a clumsy swaying motion.
  • Lithograph: The art or process of producing a picture
  • Sidelongness: a sidelong glance
  • Sallow: (of a person’s face or complexion) of an unhealthy yellow or pale brown colour.
  • Ochreous: a pale brownish yellow colour.
  • Priori: is a philosophical term that is used in several different ways. The term is suppose to mean knowledge that is gained through deduction, and not through empirical evidence. For instance, if I have two apples now, and I plan to add three apples, I will have five apples. This is knowledge gained deductively.
  • Ectoplasm: the more viscous, clear outer layer of the cytoplasm in amoeboid cells; a supernatural viscous substance that supposedly exudes from the body of a medium during a spiritualistic trance and forms the material for the manifestation of spirits.
  • Ensconced : establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place.
  • Equipoise: balance of forces or interests.
  • Discountenance: Refuse to approve of; disturb the composure of.
  • Wanton: Deliberate and unprovoked, sexually modest or promiscuous.
  • Solstice: either of the two times in the year, the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its highest or lowest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days.
  • Spigot: a small peg or plug, especially for insertion into the vent of a cask; a tap.
  • Confucian: relating to Confucius or Confucianism.
  • Kowtow: act in an excessively subservient manner.
  • Pedagogy: the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept.”the relationship between applied linguistics and language pedagogy”
  • Plenipotentiary: a person, especially a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country.
  • Boorish: Rough and bad mannered, coarse.
  • Quintessential: Representing the most perfect or typical example of a quality or class.
  • Jingoism: Extreme patriotism, especially in the form of aggressive or war like foreign policy.
  • Discomfiture: A feeling of unease or embarrassment; awkwardness.
  • Bete Noire: A person or a thing that someone dislikes very much.
  • Neologisms: 1. A new word or expression 2. The coining of use of new words
  • Intransigence: Uncompromising, stubborn.
  • Atavistic: 1. Resemblance to remote ancestors rather than to parents or animals 2. Reversion to an earlier type
  • Tall poppy syndrome: A social phenomenon where those with more merit or success are disparaged and pulled down.
  • Purported: Appear to be or do something, especially falsely.
  • Rime: Frost formed on cold objects by the rapid freezing water vapour in cloud or fog
  • Hegemonic: Ruling or dominant in a political or social context.
  • Impinge: To have an effect, especially a negative one.
  • Prosaic: Having or using the style or diction of prose as opposed to poetry; lacking imaginativeness or originality.
  • Fulsome: Complimentary or flattering to an excessive degree.
  • Raconteur: A person who tells anecdotes in a skillful and amusing manner.
  • Hurtle: Move or cause to move at high speed.
  • Callow: Inexperienced and immature.
  • Guffaw: Loud and hearty laugh.
  • Russet: Reddish brown in colour, rustic, lonely.
  • Delirium: Restlessness, illusions, incoherence.
  • Speckled: Covered or marked with a large number of small spots or patches of colour.
  • Ubiquitous: Present, appearing or found everywhere.
  • Balk: Hesitate or be unwilling to accept an idea or undertaking.
  • effrontery: Insolent or impertinent behaviour.
  • Inchoate: Just begun and not so fully formed or developed; rudimentary
  • Mallet: A hammer with a large, usually a wooden handle.
  • Accompaniment: A musical part which supports or partners an instrument.
  • Clammy: Unpleasantly damp and sweaty
  • Forswear: Agree to give up or do without.
  • Insouciance: Indifference; casual lack of concern
  • Mendicant: Given to begging; a beggar
  • Cannabis: A tall plant with a stiff upright stem, divided serrated leaves, and granular hair. It is used to produce hemp fire & as a psychotropic drug.
  • South Paw:Is the normal stance for a left handed boxer.
  • Ambled: to walk at a slow and relaxed speed.
  • Corpulent: Fat
  • Abound: exist in large numbers or amounts.
  • Deckle edge: is a type of rough cut edged paper used in the book trade.
  • Wading: walk with effort through water or another liquid or viscous substance.
  • Wrought: (of metals) beaten out or shaped by hammering; made or fashioned in the specified way.

Continue reading WORD POWER-IDIOMS-PHRASES

CASUAL CAUSERIE- MY HOME ALONG THE COUNTRYSIDE

Copyright@shravancharitymission

123

By Aolla Tripathi

The cock would crow in the nearby village almost at the stroke of dawn. The chatter and chirping of the birds wafted in the air, as I would linger on my bed a little longer, listening to it for some time. There is almost a languid laziness about the whole morning scene. I would get up yawning, bleary eyed. The footfalls of the cowherd, approaching, can be clearly heard. It is mingled with the jingle of the tiny bells around the neck of the cattle. The herd is almost always accompanied by a village urchin, the nominal ‘cowboy, just the antithesis of the gun slinging gunfighter of ‘ O.K. CORRAL ‘. All he has on his body is a nicker, a nondescript stick and a flute in his hand. Swarthy, he looks unruffled and happy.
The boy would ride a buffalo or rather recline on its massive back as the herd made its way to the green countryside a little beyond our house. The cattle spread out and settle down on the verdant pasture. The whole scene affords a blissful quiet occasionally broken by the lowing of a cow or the laboured chug of a passing train clambering up a gradient. The tracks are bare and empty with no nocturnal traffic. Where do they vanish at night has always been a mystery to me much as what the ‘cowboy’ eats during his long sojourns with his cattle.
It has rained last night. The trees are still dripping and the sun is trying to break out of a leaden haze. Our good friend ‘Gungadin’ appears once more with his merry band and heads straight to the Watch Tower which has always remained unmanned, why, a riddle as tortuous as the ‘Riddle of the Sphinx”. Though intended for Security it is only poetic justice that the young ‘cowboys’ use it to keep watch over their cattle. Well, this tower serves them during the rains. On a clear sunny day they would be rather on the sleepy meadows without a care in the world. It is not long before the strains of a folk song are audible. The little group is singing. The difficult rhythm of the folk song is soon abandoned; the easier ‘Filmi’ songs are tried out. Mom is up in arms against my slow motion cameo to the morning chores. I remind her it is a holiday. I hurry with my rituals and chores while sneaking a peek at them. This entire rustic scene is soothing and gives a restful continuity to my life. Years back life was not so humdrum. There was so much variety, so much innocent pleasure: Opening the coop and feeding the chickens, fetching water from a nearby spring, stealthily eating berries and oranges from the fenced orchard. Then there would be all the time in the world to laze around near the spring watching the seasonal brook going down in all its eddies and whirls. The water used to be surprisingly warm in the mornings. We wended our way over the ridges and ledges and ere long we were at the water point.  The noisy torrent of the stream would add to the din of our impromptu singing. The ‘soprano’ would take up a new piece as suddenly he would discard a new one. Alto, tenor, bass and all would join in the fun. While all this went on someone was sure to filch our meager repast. Oh! It was great fun. All the magic of youth and joy of life was there. I wonder if you have tried filling water in a bamboo stump. It is tricky- especially if you are collecting from a stream. Having apparently filled the thing and congratulated yourself for doing a good days work, you were more likely to find the ‘container’ less than half full on return home.
But it was the small fishing trips with my dad I enjoyed most. We would, for hours by the swimming pool, be waiting for ‘Godot’, as it were. Noise was forbidden. A tongue-lashing was in store if I made the slightest sound. There would be sudden ripple, a gentle tug on the fishing line amidst a flurry of movements up would emerge the silvery. The anglers are a queer lot. I have known some who would spend a whole day waiting for a catch. Catching fresh water prawns is another thrilling corollary, meant for the experts, I believe.
My mother, one of those traditional stay-at-homes would discourage these outings and would rather that I helped her out at home. I used to sneak out on some pretext or the other. Over the hills and dales and down the vale –that is how I used to love it-a far cry from the concrete jungles where I live now.

*****

BOOK QUOTES … INTERESTING LINES

Copyright@shravancharitymission

Name of book and author is not mentioned. Should you want to know please write to us.

ULYSSESHARRY PORTERBENHUR

  • For as his brain developed—you cannot stop your brain developing, and it is one of the tragedies of the half-educated that they develop late, when they are already committed to some wrong way of life.
  •   “It’s all very well,” grumbled Ellis, with his forearms on the table, fidgeting with his glass. The dispute with Mr. Macgregor had made him restless again. “It’s all very well, but I stick to what I said. No natives in this Club! It’s by constantly giving way over small things like that that we’ve ruined the Empire. This country’s only rotten with sedition because we’ve been too soft with them. The only possible policy is to treat ‘em like the dirt they are. This is a critical moment, and we want every bit of prestige we can get. We’ve got to hang together and say, ‘We are the masters, and you beggars—‘ “ Ellis pressed his small thumb down as though flattening a grub—“ ‘you beggars keep your place!’”
  • He followed her into the bedroom. In a week–it was only a week–her appearance had degenerated extraordinarily. Her hair looked greasy. All her lockets were gone, and she was wearing a Manchester longyi of flowered cotton, costing two rupees eight annas. She had coated her face so thick with powder that it was like a clown’s mask, and at the roots of her hair, where the powder ended, there was a ribbon of natural-coloured brown skin. She looked a drab. Flory would not face her, but stood looking sullenly through the open doorway to the veranda.
  • “Thank you, Monsieur.” She spoke in English but her voice was foreign, a rich low voice very seductive in quality. As she was about to pass on, she hesitated and murmured: “Pardon, Monsieur, but I think you were recently at Grasse?”
  • At the same time, the Emperor had a great desire that I should see the magnificence of his palace; but this I was not able to do till three days after, which I spent in cutting down, with my knife, some of the largest trees in the royal park, about a hundred yards distance from the city. Of these trees I made two stools, each about three feet high, and strong enough to bear my weight.
  • Alas,” said Candide, “my dear Pangloss often proved to me that the goods of this world are common to all men, that everyone has an equal right to them. Acting on that principle, the Franciscan should have left us enough to finish our journey. So you have nothing left, fair Cunegonde?”
  • P.V. Narasimha Rao came from humble home. His intellectual centre was India; his roots were deep in its spiritual and religious soil. His knowledge of Sanskrit profound. He was a man of learning, a scholar, a linguist and a thinker of the first order.
  • Gogol has never heard the term ABCD. He eventually gathers that it stands for “American-born confused deshi.” In other words him. he learns that C could also stand for “conflicted.”
  • The Don said meekly, “Wait, I’ll get you your money.” Then he went out into the garden and said to Sonny, “Listen, there’s some men working on the furnace, I don’t understand what they want. Go in and take care of the matter.”
  • “The rudeness spread to one of the assistant directors,” said Moriarty. “Instead of calling Marilyn for a scene, he would stand there and glare at her, tapping his foot for as long as he could. There would eventually be a big blow up, when all the man had to do was say, ‘Excuse me, Miss Monroe, we’re ready for you.’ She was denied all the prerogatives of a star.”
  • Taken aback by this passionate eloquence, Ruru lowered his staff. He feared that the snake might be a sage in disguise. Seeking to appease the great soul, Ruru said, “You do not seem like an ordinary snake. I believe you must be some other being only temporarily occupying this form. Tell me then, how did you come to be a snake?’
  • The sun was now setting. It was about three in the afternoon when Alisande had begun to tell me who the cow-boys were; so she had made pretty good progress with it- for her. She would arrive some time or other, no doubt, but she was not a person who could be hurried- Sandy’s Tale- Mark Twain page 107
  • I honour your circumspection. A fortnight’s acquaintance is certainly very little. One cannot know what a man really is by the end of a fortnight. But if we do not venture somebody else will; and after all, Mrs. Long and her daughters must stand their chance; and, therefore, as she will think it an act of kindness, if you decline the office, I will take it on myself.
  • FAY. Your son is a thorn in my flesh. The contents of his dressing-table are in indictment of his way of life. Not only firearms, but family-planning equipment. A Papal dispensation is needed to dust his room.
  • In a country as diverse as ours, there will always be passionate arguments about how we draw the line when it comes to government action. That is how our democracy works. But our democracy might work a bit better if we recognized that all of us possess values that are worthy of respect; if liberals at least acknowledged that the recreational hunter feels the same way about his gun as they feel about their library books, and if conservatives recognized that most women feel as protective of their right to reproductive freedom as evangelicals do of their right to worship.
  • The pigeon that stays at home is always in terror for the fate of the pigeon on the wing.
  • All this modern brag about women’s lib, male bashing appeared as poster signs for the erudite to read and jostle through this not-so-good world, as you still had the Ria’s of the world to be saved from the callous studs and the bitchy hens of the ‘scheming jungle’ called society.’
  • ‘Mar. Death is a penalty which a person can pay only once, and she has made that payment. What you wish to do has been done already for you. the last words she spoke were, “Anthony, most noble Anthony!” and in the midst of her speech, a rending groan came in the middle of “Anthony”; the word was split in two between, her heart and her lips. She gave up her life, and the half of your name was buried within her.’
  • “All is well so far. The lambardar reports regularly. No refugees have come through the village yet.I am sure no one in Mano Majra even knows that the British have left and the country is divided into Pakistan and Hindustan. Some of them know about Gandhi but I doubt if anyone has even heard about Jinnah.”
  • In the Mahabharata, Pandu has two wives but cannot have sex with them because of a curse. Pandu means pale and weak and could be related to the Sanskrit word panda meant for men unable to have sex with women for a variety of reasons.
  • ‘Mr Gilmer’s back stiffened a little, and I felt sorry for him. Perhaps I’d better explain something now. I’ve heard that lawyers’ children, on seeing their parents in court in the heat of argument, get the wrong idea: they think opposing counsel to be the personal enemies of their parents, they suffer agonies, and are surprised to see them often go out arm-in-arm with their tormentors during the first recess.’
  • ‘Well, there was once a tortoise, who was, of course, provided with a shell, and within this shell he used to hide for protection against the attacks of his enemies. One day, someone said to him, “You must find it very hot inside there in the summertime. Besides, when you are hidden, no one can admire your bodily perfections. Now, here is a serpent who will give you a million and a half for your shell.”’ ‘Good!’ said Monsieur Fouquet, laughing.       ‘So the tortoise sold his shell, and had to go about unprotected. He was discovered by a vulture, who, feeling hungry, broke his back with a blow of his beak, and had him for dinner.’
  • A little later, full into view swung a duplication of his dromedary, tall and white, and bearing a houdah, the travelling litter of Hindostan.’
  • Viswamitra, the greatest of the ascetic heroes of the Iliad of the East, had in him a perfect representative. He might have been called a Life drenched with the wisdom of Brahma- Devotion Incarnate.’
  • ‘He spoke bluffly, and only somebody like Sherlock Holmes or Monsieur Poirot could have divined that at the sound of her voice his soul had turned a double somersault, leaving him quivering with an almost Bill Rowcester-like intensity.’
  • Initially the losses ran to crores of rupees, Sir, but since we stopped production it has proved very economical !

SOME INTERESTING, #QUOTES AND #SAYINGS

Copyright@shravancharitymission

123

  • It is faith that removes mental turbidity and makes your mind clear.
  • Weakness on both sides is, as we know, the motto of all quarrels- Voltaire.
  • In the absence of writing, all knowledge was located in the mind of the Brahmin; this is why killing a Brahmin was forbidden as it was equal to killing a library. This made the Brahmin very powerful, too powerful. He jealously guarded his knowledge.’
  • The snake which cannot cast its skin has to die.
  • A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
  • How long can a snake keep straight.
  • Somewhere between the bottom of the climb and the summit is the answer to the mystery why we climb.
  • What matters is not the idea a man holds, but the depth at which he holds it.
  • If there is a lesson to be learnt from success of IT, it is that openness leads to job creation.
  • Peace is not absence of conflict, it is the ability to handle conflict by peaceful means.
  • What to eat and what not to eat are options available to only those who have plenty to eat and not for those who have very little to eat.
  • There are people in the world so hungry, that God cannot appear to them except in the form of bread
  • “Mind” the emperor of all remedies.
  • Consumers need a reason to stick
  • I became the dog who caught the car.
  • All cultures are distant relatives because they are all human contracts.
  • Every single time you make a merger, somebody is losing his identity.
  • The sweetest sound in the world is the person’s own name.
  • “Manam Pola Vaazhkai” Tamil- (The way your heart goes the way your life will be) law of nature.
  • The mind is everything. What you think you become.
  • Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything he learned in school.
  • They say behind every successful man, there is a wife and behind every successful woman a resentful husband.
  • Do not ask God to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.
  • Thinking is one thing no one has ever been able to tax
  • Life is a chaplet of little miseries.
  • The length of a film should be directly related to the endurance of the bladder.
  • Often it isn’t the mountain ahead that wears you out. It’s the little pebble in your shoe.
  • Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls & looks like work.
  • Absolute leaders nurture absolute followers who believe in absolute intimidation.
  • An Idea- Take up one idea. Think of it, dream of it, live on that idea, and just leave every other idea alone.
  • Winning isn’t everything- but wanting to win is.
  • Beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of introduction.
  • Forget the past and lose an eye; dwell on the past and lose both eyes.
  • You can’t depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus
  • You are what other people see you as.
  • There are weeks when decades have happened and there are decades when not even weeks have happened.
  • Well, I was always enamoured with the stepwells of India.
  • A city is like a person- you need to look into its darker sides to understand the whole thing. Everyone wants to present the beautiful to you.
  • I love cows, my grandmother told me, “If you want to feel God, look into a cow’s eyes.” Gandhi protected the cow because cow is the image of all sub human life.
  • You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.
  • ‘Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.’
  • There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same
  • Meaning of Life: What is meaning of life? Life is without meaning. You bring the meaning to it. The meaning of life is whatever you ascribe it to be. Being alive is meaning.
  • Election and Governance: winning a majority is one thing, running the country another.
  • If you compare life becomes miserable.If somebody is better than you, learn from them; enjoy others success. If some one is better than you at some level, do not whip yourself with comparision-.
  • Poverty is the parent of revolution & crime
  • ‘No matter if it it is a white cat or a black cat; as long as it can catch mice, it is a good cat.’
  • ‘If all had taken a leaf out of their Parents book, it would have been difficult for God to manage aspirations of mankind; as most would be on the right track.’

If you don’t know the author of these lines write to us.

*****

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

*

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

*

Share it if you like it

*

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life threatening diseases especially cancer. Should you wish to donate for the cause. The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

*

Our publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 7 prestigious libraries of the US, including, Harvard University and Library of Congress. It can also be accessed in MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in Libraries and archives of Canada and Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai)  

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(Is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi)

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(Is a fiction written around the great city of Nawabs—Lucknow. It describes Lucknow in great detail and also talks about its Hindu-Muslim amity. That happens to be its undying characteristic. The book was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival of 2014)

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

(Co-published by Cankids–Kidscan, a pan India NGO and Shravan Charity Mission, that works for Child cancer in India. The book is endorsed by Ms Preetha Reddy, MD Apollo Hospitals Group. It was launched in Lucknow International Literary Festival 2016)

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

(Is a story of an Indian salesman who is, humbly qualified. Yet he fights his ways through unceasing uncertainties to reach the top. A good read not only for salesmen. The book was launched on 10th February, 2018 in Gorakhpur Lit-Fest. Now available in Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha

(ALL THE ABOVE TITLES ARE AVAILABLE FOR SALE IN AMAZON, FLIPKART AND OTHER ONLINE STORES OR YOU COULD EVEN WRITE TO US FOR A COPY)

*****