Category Archives: facts

Interesting Facts: The Story of Stolen Idols

June 24, 2025article, autobiography, facts, Uncategorizedart, asi, blog, british, buddha idol, customs act, dutch, history, indian art, kamlesh tripathi, los angeles county museum, nalanda museum, national art squad, new york, new york's metropolitan museum of art, shravan charity mission, STOLEN IDOLS, subhash kapoor, temple raiders, true-crime, unesco, vallabh prakashshravancharitymission

INTERESTING FACTS: STOLEN IDOLS ARE SACRED OBJECTS. WE NEED TOUGHER LAWS TO CATCH TEMPLE RAIDERS. (THE TIMES OF INDIA 6/10/24)

    The US recently handed over 297 stolen antiquities to India. But getting them back was not an easy task. S Vijay Kumar’s love for Indian art and antiquities prompted him to set up the India Pride Project in 2014. It now has volunteers across the globe who help track down pieces of our looted heritage. A veritable Sherlock Holmes of art crimes, Kumar speaks to Sneha Bhura about what’s needed to stop the plunder.
    Q. You and your team spend hours looking at brochures, identifying marks on artefacts, and working with law enforcement. Tell us what an idol chase involves.
    A. It takes years of effort. Leads usually come from friends and volunteers. One of our important victories, for instance, was the return of an 8th-century bronze Buddha idol stolen from the Nalanda Museum in 1961. It ended up at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), and though India had been seeking its return since the ’70s itself, the museum denied the request for lack of proof. We worked with the ASI and Economic Advisory Council (EAC) member Sanjeev Sanyal, who helped gather evidence and the Buddha idol was finally handed over in 2023. Many museums don’t reveal provenance (proof of origin), making it harder to trace missing artefacts.
    Q. Why does it take so long for countries to give them back to India?
    A. No country willingly returns stolen artefacts as they are often acquired for millions of dollars. India neglected restitution efforts for decades, recovering only 19 objects between 1970 and 2000—and none between 2000 and 2012—owing to the lack of a national art squad or theft registry despite being a signatory to the 1970 UNESCO convention against illicit cultural property trafficking. From 2012 on, the country has secured over 2,000 restitutions. Including the current haul, the US has returned 578. It may seem like a significant number, but they stem from that one big arrest of notorious art smuggler Subhash Kapoor in 2011. When his storage was raided in New York, 2622 objects were seized, 1600 of which belonged to India. Tracking sales of Kapoor’s stolen items to various international museums has also helped India recover many of these artefacts. As for delays from the US, it’s partly because of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) insisting on physically inspecting and certifying each object in storage locations—a costly and unnecessary step. There have been several improper identifications as well, causing more delays.
    Q. What happens if an artefact is with a private collector rather than a public museum?
    A. Recovery from private collectors is particularly difficult since naming and shaming tactics don’t work. Collectors often hide the objects for years until public memory fades, only for the items to reappear in private estates, like swimming pools or gardens.
    Q. Subhash Kapoor’s arrest shook the international art world as it exposed a wide network of smugglers, restorers and suppliers who looted temples and low-security sites, selling artefacts to collectors and prestigious museums including New York’s The Metropolitan Museum of Art. But has the arrest stopped the smuggling of antiquities abroad? Are we doing enough to protect our own heritage?
    A. Not really. We are losing thousands of art objects every decade. Sadly, even Kapoor has been charged with only four cases pertaining to Tamil Nadu thefts. India doesn’t have a specific law under the IPC for temple or heritage theft. So, these crimes were often tried under IPC Section 380 (housebreaking theft) or the Customs Act, with minimal sentences. Tamil Nadu amended Section 380 in 1992 to impose stricter penalties for temple thefts, but a drafting error set the maximum penalty at just three years. This resulted in a 12-year sentence for Kapoor, which he has already served. Also, the broader smuggling cartel remains active, with key figures like antique dealers Vallabh Prakash and his son Aditya still absconding. In 2022, EAC submitted a report to the PMO recommending a national art squad and a finder’s fee for recovering missing objects. But except for the signing of the Cultural Property Agreement with the US this year, little has changed. Idols are still leaving the country. Countries like Italy engage law firms in America to take auction houses and museums there to court. But India lacks the capacity to handle international art crimes. These responsibilities shouldn’t fall on ASI alone.
Q. Many Western museums and collectors argue they are “taking care” of these ancient treasures and should be allowed to keep them without acknowledging the colonial loot. Your take?
A. This argument is unfair and was never valid. History belongs to its geography, and these artefacts were illegally removed, often by colonial powers. British and Dutch rulers took priceless idols in exchange for trivial items like sacks of rice or spectacles. These objects were not created as art but as sacred objects to worship, intended to reside in temples. Today, India can care for them. Moreover, most stolen artefacts end up in private collections, often tied to money laundering and tax evasion, making this a large issue of organised crime. My work is to ensure that Indian art is not seen as fair game in the international art market. If we don’t stop the open auction of stolen Indian antiquities, thieves will continue to rob and plunder.
Q. What happens to the artefacts once they return to India?
A. We advocate for returning artefacts to their temples or sites, which has happened in Odisha and Tamil Nadu. When idols were restored, entire villages celebrated. It was like the homecoming of the gods. Rather than quietly ending up in a Delhi museum, artefacts from archaeological sites should be returned to their respective states, for they are the real custodians. (TIMES OF INDIA, OCTOBER 6, 2024).

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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The Significance of Number 18 in Hindu Scriptures

May 12, 2025article, facts, mythology, shravan charity mission, snippet, spiritual, Uncategorized18, art, books, epic, inspiration, kamlesh tripathi, kauravas, mahabharat, pandavas, poetry, scriptures, shravancharitymission, spiritual, travelshravancharitymission

Number 18 unquestionably is considered auspicious and has great significance in Hindu scriptures. This significance is highlighted in the great epic, the Mahabharata. While reading the holy epic Mahabharata, you will find that it is divided into 18 parvas (sections). Let’s not forget that the holy war of the Mahabharata, fought in Kurukshetra, was fought over 18 days. The battlefield witnessed 18 divisions (akshauhinis) of armies. 11 divisions were on the Kauravas’ side and 7 were on the Pandavas’ side. At the end of the war, which lasted 18 days, it is believed that only 18 prominent individuals survived. This underlines the transformative impact of this conflict, which had spiritual and moral dimensions.

The Bhagavad Gita, which is a sacred discourse delivered by Lord Krishna and is the most important part of the Mahabharata, also consists of 18 chapters. At the end of its 2^nd chapter, Lord Krishna outlines 18 qualities that define a person of steady wisdom (sthita-prajna), highlighting the traits of one who has achieved spiritual victory.

Apart from the Mahabharata, the number 18 also appears in other key Hindu texts. There are 18 major Puranas and 18 Upapuranas, which include stories, teachings, and cosmological concepts. There are 18 Dharmashastras, guiding principles of law and ethics for righteous living.

The central idea of all scriptures of all religions in the world is the same. The prime idea is the victory of the higher being over the lower one, or righteousness over unrighteousness, or of the good over the evil, and of dharma over adharma. Ved Vyas had originally titled the Mahabharat as Jaya (victory). The word Jaya is in the opening stanzas of both the Mahabharata and the Gita.

Interestingly, in the ancient Katapayadi system (numerical notation system) of Sanskrit numerology, where letters are assigned numerical values, the word “Jaya” (meaning “victory”) equals 18. The original name of the Mahabharata was Jaya Samhita, and it appears in the opening verses of both the Mahabharata and the Gita. This numerical value emphasises the theme of spiritual triumph. To highlight the significance of the word Jaya, the number 18 is given a prominent place not only in the Mahabharata but also in various other Hindu scriptures. Thus, the number 18 is repeatedly used as an auspicious reminder to stay alert in our constant battle for inner spiritual victory.

Across all Hindu scriptures, the central message remains unchanged: the victory of dharma (righteousness) over adharma (unrighteousness), the higher self over the lower, and good over evil. The repeated use of the number 18 serves as a symbolic reminder of this ongoing inner battle—and the ultimate goal of achieving spiritual victory, or jaya.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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HOW I GAVE UP SMOKING

April 10, 2025article, article on feedback, casual causerie, column, facts, health tip, kamlesh tripathi, literary corner, Uncategorizedblog, cancer, chennai, cigarettes, coffee, connaught place, delhi, health, heart disease, how i gave up smoking, indian railways, kamlesh tripathi, life, packs, quit smoking, shoestring, shravan charity mission, smoking, station, tea, travel, voiceshravancharitymission

Giving up smoking is one of my greatest victories. It all started long ago when I began my first job. I was surrounded by colleagues who smoked, and gradually, I too got into the habit. At first, it seemed like fun, but over time, it became an ingrained addiction. I started with just a few cigarettes, but before I knew it, I was smoking a whole pack of ten a day. Within a year, it escalated to three packs, and over the next few years, it stabilized at around 4-5 packs a day. This had physical consequences for me—my voice became raspier, and I realized I was trapped in an unhealthy cycle. I would light up before meetings, after meetings, when I was stressed, depressed, or even as an accompaniment to tea or coffee.

I noticed the side effects in myself. I would sometimes get a sore throat, which the smoking aggravated. My appetite decreased. My shoestring monthly budget kept stretching because of smoking. It started to dawn on me that giving up smoking could be a win-win situation: better health and saving. But, like many smokers, I too struggled to quit. I tried various methods—timing my cigarettes, switching to Pan Parag, and even extinguishing my cigarettes after a few drags, only to light them up again. But deep down, I knew the dangers—cancer, heart disease, and declining health.

The real turning point came during a long train journey from Chennai to Delhi and back. I had applied for a job in North India and had received an interview call. I was excited but also nervous. It was a long train journey of 36 hours, and in the rush to get to the station, I forgot to buy cigarettes. I only had two left in my pack, and I smoked them both at night, planning to replenish my stock in the morning. When I woke up in the morning, I reached for my cigarette pack reflexively, but the pack was empty. The next station was over an hour away, and I thought to myself, “Why not use this as an opportunity to quit smoking?” I was reminded of Mark Twain’s famous quote, ‘Giving up smoking is easy, I have done it hundreds of times.’

When the train stopped at the next station, I was tempted to buy cigarettes, but I decided to hold off. Soon, the train rolled out of the railway platform, and I felt victorious because I had managed to resist the temptation. This was my first small victory, but it felt significant. Thereon, I kept myself busy by reading a book, drinking more tea, and avoiding railway platforms that might have tempted me to buy cigarettes.

By the time I reached Delhi, I had gone 36 hours without smoking. It wasn’t easy. The interview went well. I had some free time to explore Connaught Place in Delhi. I stopped at a bar for a shot of brandy. It helped in the chilly weather. I felt the urge to smoke. But I resisted again, and I succeeded; I felt good. Later that night, I boarded the train back to Chennai. By now, 48 hours had passed without cigarettes. The thought of buying a packet of cigarettes didn’t cross my mind. It was a baby success which I didn’t want to share with anyone. Finally, after 72 hours, I reached Chennai without smoking.

My body and mind began to synchronise well without cigarettes. I noticed I felt better—hungrier, more energetic, and even focused. I realized smoking wasn’t just an addiction—it was a nervous and insecure habit. It might have provided temporary pleasure, but it was ultimately damaging, both physically and mentally.

Occasionally, I felt insecure without cigarettes, especially in high-pressure situations or when I had a long trip ahead. But gradually, I became more resilient without them. I had learned that the easiest way to quit smoking was to stop abruptly. No great planning was required. You don’t need to gradually cut down; you just have to decide to quit, and your body and mind will adjust to the void. I found better ways to cope with stress, and life without cigarettes became the new normal.

Soon, I began to enjoy the benefits of quitting smoking. My body was healthier, and my mind was at peace. I realized that quitting smoking wasn’t just about giving up an addiction—it was about regaining control over my life and health. In the end, it turned out to be one of the most rewarding things for me. It wasn’t easy, but it was worth it. It saved my money, improved my health, and gave me a sense of accomplishment. For anyone struggling to quit, I hope my experience can be of help. Perhaps God had sent me for that interview only to give up smoking where Indian Railways helped me.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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AFTER BIRTH, DEATH IS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL TIP

April 2, 2025article, column, facts, moral lesson, parables, Uncategorizedgod, kamlesh tripathi, karma, Kathopanishad, mahabharat, moral, mother earth, Nachiketa, shravan charity mission, spiritual, story, yudhishthirshravancharitymission

My piece was published in The Goan Net Everyday on 30.3.25.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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READER’S REWIND: THE JOY OF A MORNING WALK

January 4, 2025article, articles, autobiography, casual causerie, causerie, facts, Uncategorizedkamlesh tripathi, shravan charity mission, spiritual, storyshravancharitymission

Article published in The Goan Everyday on 3.1.25

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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THE SHADOW CIRCUS: THE CIA IN TIBET

October 24, 2024article, column, facts, Uncategorizedbuddhism, china, chinese, cia, communist, culture, Dalai Lama, history, india, kamakhya prasad tripathi, kamlesh tripathi, lhamo tsering, Pandit Nehru, ritu sarin, shravancharitymission, stcircus, story, tenzing sonam, the shadow circus: the CIA in tibet, theshadow circus, tibet, white crane filmsshravancharitymission

On Oct 19, 2024, Friends of Tibet invited me to witness this great documentary titled: ‘The Shadow Circus: The CIA in Tibet’. It is a 1998 documentary by Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. The film uncovers the untold story of Tibet’s recent past- a narrative that is both courageous and heartbreaking. The film is produced by White Crane Films, an independent film production company founded in 1990 in London by filmmakers, Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam. The company has produced several feature films, documentaries and art installations under its aegis.

After the Communist Chinese invasion of 1949 and its subsequent takeover in 1959, Tibet has been a country under occupation. Since then, resistance to Chinese rule, both inside Tibet and in exile, has been an ongoing process, transforming over time in response to the changing situation in China and the shifting winds of geopolitical alignments. But little is still known of the guerrilla war that was fought from the mid-1950s to 1974 when thousands of Tibetans took up arms against the invading forces of China. A movement that spontaneously erupted in Tibet became entangled in global geopolitics when the CIA got involved in 1956. Code-named STCIRCUS, it was one of the CIA’s longest-running covert operations until it was abruptly abandoned in the late 60s. The resistance collapsed in 1974 when its last stronghold on the Nepal-Tibet border was shut down by the Nepalese army at the behest of China. For reasons that have to do with both the covert nature of this collaboration and the fact that Tibet’s armed struggle sits uncomfortably with contemporary narratives of the non-violent nature of the movement, this episode has languished in the forgotten corners of recent Tibetan history. Ritu Sarin and Tenzing Sonam have researched this story for many years, inspired by Tenzing’s late father, Lhamo Tsering, one of the leaders of the resistance and the key liaison between the resistance and the CIA. Serving as Chief of Operations, he oversaw the activities of the resistance, while at the same time maintaining an incredibly detailed archive of photographs, documents, letters and maps. The exhibition, SHADOW CIRCUS, re-evaluates the audiovisual material that Ritu and Tenzing gathered over the years by weaving in Lhamo Tsering’s personal archives and presenting a re-mastered version of their documentary, to create a more complete and complex mosaic of this still largely obscure story.

The filmmakers foreground the subjective position of an intermediary between the CIA and members of the resistance – Lhamo Tsering- wherein individual aspirations and national interests fail to provide a symmetrical historic trajectory. The unresolved nature of the militant image and its ethics of circulation became a potent focus of inquiry during this pivotal time in Tibet’s armed liberation movement and international alliance building that included one of the most networked intelligence agencies in the world, with its ultimate betrayal as the final act. As Lhamo Tsering said in an interview shortly before his death, “In my opinion, I don’t see our armed struggle as something helpful only at a certain point in our history, something that is finished. I believe we should look at it as one chapter in our continuing struggle for freedom, one that still has some meaning.”

I was asked to introduce this great film and talk about my book “Awadh Assam and Dalai Lama … The Kalachakra” because I’ve been associated with His Holiness the Dalai Lama since childhood in some manner. When I was just two years old my late father Sri Kamakhya Prasad Tripathi then a member of the Assam cabinet and before that, an MP in the first Parliament of India on the advice of Pandit Nehru received Dalai Lama and his retinue on 18 April 1959 in Misamari near Tezpur as a GOI representative when he fled from Tibet during the uprising there. You will find videos of that on BBC and British Pathe. Besides I’m also an author and columnist. In my latest book ‘Awadh Assam and Dalai Lama … the Kalachakra’ the arduous journey of His Holiness is described. I have also written columns on His Holiness that were published in The Assam Tribune, The Shillong Times and Bandra Times. In my book, there is a chapter that takes you through a conversation between His Holiness and my father which is quite exclusive and hitherto not told. The book was blessed by His Holiness in Dharamshala on 22^nd November 2022.

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Publications of Kamlesh Tripathi

BOOK TITLE: GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in eight prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in the libraries and archives of Canada; the Open Library; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore and the Library of Cancer Aid and Research Foundation, Mumbai. The title also finds a mention in a book titled ‘Enduring Cancer: Life, Death and Diagnosis in Delhi’ by Dwaipayan Banerjee published by the Duke University Press).

BOOK TITLE: ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

(It is a book on ‘singlehood’ about a Delhi girl now archived in Connemara Library, Chennai and Delhi Public Library, GOI, Ministry of Culture, Delhi; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

BOOK TITLE: AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

(This 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, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is catalogued and included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland; Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California; The Peshastin Public Library and The George Public Library near Washington, a Northern Central Washington Libraries branch; the Flagstaff City-Coconino County Public Library in Arizona in the US and the Salina Public Library, Kansas, USA.

BOOK TITLE: 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 at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2016).

BOOK TITLE: TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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

BOOK TITLE: RHYTHM … IN POEMS

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems are about our day-to-day life. Poems from this book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times, Bhavan’s Journal and Arunachal Times. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

BOOK TITLE: MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

BOOK TITLE: AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(It is the story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21^st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE). Included in the library of Friends of Tibet.

(POEMS, SHORT STORIES AND ARTICLES OF KAMLESH TRIPATHI PUBLISHED IN JOURNALS AND MAGAZINES)

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars, June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. The Nag Mandir 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24; 47. Exploring Ancient Egypt, 1.8.24; 48. The Story of Dhruva, 16.8.24; 49. Two Hundred Years of Tea in Assam 16.9.24; 50. The Cosmic Messenger 16.10.24;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: Happy New Year 8.1.23; 2.Poem: Spring 12.3.23; 3.Poem: Right and Wrong 20.3.23; 4. The Gush of Emotion—Writing, 26.3.23; 5. The Nag Mandir, 7.5.23; 6. Poem: Mother 7.5.23; 7. Poem: Rain Rain 9.7.23; 8. Poem: You Come Alone You Go Alone 6.8.23; 9. Poem: Rain Rain (Second Time) 10.8.23; 10. Poem: Guru Teacher 1.10.23; 11. Poem: Autumn … The Interim Heaven 15.10.23; 12. Poem: Happy Diwali 12.11.23; 13. Overcoming Blindness: Learn it the John Milton Way 10.12.23; 14. The Happy Prince and The Happy Man’s Shirt 31.12.23; 15. Annus Mirabilis -2024 7.1.24; 16. Gandhi to Mahatma Gandhi- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. Poem: Together But Not Made For Each Other, 11.2.24; 18. The Birds Bees and The Spiders of Nicholas Guildford and Jonathan Swift 25.2.24; 19. The Overcoats of Nikolai Gogol and Ruskin Bond 10.3.24; 20. The Ethnic Colours of Holi 24.3.24; 21. A Lesson from Dalai Lama, 21.4.24; 22. Poem: Morning Walk 28.4.24; 23. Trip to Rhine Falls, Switzerland, 19.5.24; 24. Poem: Hurt 2.6.24; 25. Poem: Your Conscience Was My Sign On 16.6.24; 26.Poem: The Eerie Ways of Time 7.7.24; 27.Poem: Celebrating the T20 World Champions 14.7.24;28. Read to Rise above mediocrity, 4.8.24; 29. Poem: Desire vs Reality 11.8.24; 30. Jack Ma’s Pristine Advice to Employers, Employees and the Youth 22.9.24;

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

Article: 1. The Magic of Reading 11.12.23; 2. Gandhi to Mahatma 29.1.24; 3. Geography of Solitude 8.4.24; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 22.4.24; 5. A Source of Inspiration, 29.4.24; 6. The Four-Legged Library, 12.5.24; 7. Age and Achievement, 10.6.24; 8. Read … To Rise Above Mediocrity, 1.7.24; 9. Crusade for a College, 25.8.24; 10. Hemingway’s Iceberg Theory (Panorama) 27.9.24; 11. Short story: Love in the Air, 20.10.24;

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

Poem: 1. Hope—In The Arc of Twilight, 13.8.23; 2.Poem: Spring 3.3.24; 3.Poem: The Morning Walk 10.3.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

Articles & Poems: 1. Poem: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. Poem: Mother, 1.6.23; 3. Poem: Rain Rain, 1.8.23; 4. A Lesson From Dalai Lama, 1.6.24; 5. Read to rise above Mediocrity 1.8.24

THE GOAN

Poem: Autumn – The Interim Heaven, 6.10.24

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: Indica by Megasthenes; 14.3.22: About The Dimasa Kingdom Assam; 10.12.22: Grand Trunk Road–Uttarapath; 5.10.23: The Ghost Town of Kuldhara Near Jaisalmer;

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

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JACK MA’S PRISTINE ADVICE TO EMPLOYERS, EMPLOYEES AND THE YOUTH

June 27, 2024article, autobiography, column, facts, Uncategorizedchinese, jack ma, kamlesh tripathi, shravan charity missionshravancharitymission

In the Chinese treatise, Mayun De Rensheng Zhexue: Chaungye Rensheng (The Life Philosophy of Jack Ma) and others, one finds Jack Ma’s prescription for a better life. Jack Ma Yun is a Chinese business magnate, investor and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of Alibaba Group, a multinational technology conglomerate.

What should employers have more than their employees? Employers must never compare themselves with their employees in terms of skill. If employees don’t have better skills than employers, then employers have hired the wrong people. An employer should have a sense of perspective, capacity and strength. The employer’s perspective should be to look beyond the employees. Since an employer is a leader his capacity deepens through experience, at times being at a disadvantage and being able to tolerate the intolerable. He should possess greater strength to resist failure. A good failure has perspective, capacity and strength.

Jack Ma has four suggestions for the youth: 1. What is failure? Quitting is the biggest failure. 2. What is strength? You will find out once you experience challenges, injustice and resentment. 3. What is your responsibility? To be more diligent than others, to work harder than others, to be more ambitious than others. This is your responsibility. 4. Fools speak with their mouths, the intelligent with their heads, and the wise with their hearts.

Don’t let complaining become a habit. Human beings are the most degenerate species. Compared to beasts, humans are physically weak. Compared to dogs humans are olfactorily weak. Yet humans are extremely advanced when it comes to complaining. One should be grateful for this era of change and for the countless people who keep complaining, because the time they spend complaining becomes your opportunity. Only at the time of change do individuals become aware of what they should want and what they should give up. It is harmless to complain occasionally, but when it becomes a habit, it is like drinking seawater: the more you drink, the thirstier you get. In the end, you will realise that successful people are all “fools” who choose not to complain. The world will not remember what you said, but will remember what you did!

On starting a business (start-up) he says: It’s challenging to provide a coherent explanation of a good idea. But what can be clearly explained is usually not a good idea! To start a business, seek the right people, not necessarily the most successful ones. The most unreliable things in this world are connections. “Freebies” are the most expensive things in the world. Today is very cruel. Tomorrow is even more brutal, but the day after tomorrow will be beautiful. But most people die tomorrow night and only the true heroes see the sunrise the day after.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

(The book is about a young cancer patient. Now archived in 8 prestigious libraries of the US which include Harvard College Library; Harvard University Library; Library of Congress; University of Washington, Seattle; University of Minnesota, Minneapolis; Yale University, New Haven; University of Chicago; University of North Carolina, at Chapel Hill University Libraries. It can also be accessed at MIT through Worldcat.org. Besides, it is also available for reading in libraries and archives of Canada; Cancer Aid and Research Foundation Mumbai; Jaipuria Institute of Management, Noida, India; Shoolini University, Yogananda Knowledge Center, Himachal Pradesh and Azim Premzi University, Bangalore).

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; It is also available for reading in the Indian National Bibliography, March 2016, in the literature section, in Central Reference Library, Ministry of Culture, India, Belvedere, Kolkata-700022)

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, which is the undying characteristic of Lucknow. The book was launched at the Lucknow International Literary Festival in 2014. It is included for reading in Askews and Holts Library Services, Lancashire, U.K; Herrick District Library, Holland and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library, Mecklenburg County in North Carolina, USA; Black Gold Cooperative Library Administration, Arroyo Grande, California; Berkeley Library, University of California).

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

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

RHYTHM … in poems

(Published in January 2019. The book contains 50 poems. The poems describe our day-to-day life. A few poems from the book have been published in Shillong Times, Bandra Times and Bhavan’s Journal. The book is available on Amazon, Flipkart and Onlinegatha)

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

(The story of the man who received His Holiness The Dalai Lama and his retinue in 1959 as a GOI representative when he fled Tibet in 1959. The book was launched on 21^st November 2022 by His Holiness The Dalai Lama at Dharmshala. The title is archived in the library of the Department of Information and International Relations (DIIR) Government of Tibet, Tibet Policy Institute (TPI) and the personal library of His Holiness The Dalai Lama. The title is also archived in The Ohio Digital Library, USA. It was recently included in the digital library of the world-renowned company APPLE).

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24; 46. Book review: A Forgotten Chapter 16.5.24;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 1.10.23; 11. POEM YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 8.8.23; 12. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 13. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 14. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 15. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 16. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 17. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 18. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 19. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT 25.2.24; 20. THE OVERCOATS OF NIKOLAI GOGOL AND RUSKIN BOND 10.3.24; 21. THE ETHNIC COLOURS OF HOLI 24.3.24; 22. A LESSON FROM DALAI LAMA, 21.4.24; 23. POEM: MORNING WALK 28.4.24; 24. TRIP TO RHINE FALLS, SWITZERLAND, 19.5.24; 25. POEM: HURT 2.6.24; 26. POEM: YOUR CONSCIENCE WAS MY SIGN ON 16.6.24;

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24; 3. GEOGRAPHY OF SOLITUDE 8.4.24; 4. A LESSON FROM DALAI LAMA, 22.4.24; 5. A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION, 29.4.24; 6. THE FOUR-LEGGED LIBRARY, 12.5.24; 7. AGE AND ACHIEVEMENT, 10.6.24;

THE ARUNACHAL TIMES

POEM: 1. HOPE—IN THE ARC OF TWIGHT 2, SPRING 3.3.24; 3. POEM: THE MORNING WALK 10.3.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23; 4. A LESSON FROM DALAI LAMA 1.6.24;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;

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

*****

BIBLIOBURRO: THE FOUR LEGGED LIBRARY

April 16, 2024article, autobiography, casual causerie, causerie, column, facts, kamlesh tripathi, literature, travelogue, travel,alpha beto, biblioburro, brahmin, catskill mountain, columbia, holindshed's chronicle, kamlesh tripathi, kumbhakaran, la gloria, luis soriano, MACAULAY, rip van winkle, shakespeare, shravan charity mission, story, taiwan, the donkey library, tibetanshravancharitymission

The Biblioburro (The Donkey Library) is a travelling library that distributes books to book readers being carried on the backs of two donkeys, Alfa and Beto. The concept was initiated in La Gloria, Columbia, by one passionate teacher Luis Soriano. The Biblioburro operates within the central municipalities of the Department of Magdalena, on Colombia’s Caribbean shore. In La Gloria, Columbia, many rural communities lack access to books, which limits the educational opportunities of children. Luis Soriano’s Biblioburro aims to bring books directly to these communities, by bridging the terrain gap and giving children the chance to experience the magic of learning.

If you can’t reach the books let the books reach you is Luis Soriano’s philosophy of life. He introduced knowledge to the children in remote areas through books. Luis Soriano reminds me of a Tibetan folk-tale which is about a village that had no mirrors. As a result, no one had ever seen his or her face until a local trader who travelled to distant locations bought a mirror and introduced it in the village when for the first time everyone saw their faces and got emotional.

Remaining ignorant or illiterate is like the dormant Kumbhkaran who slept for six months at a time and that brings me to the short story of Rip Van Winkle by the American author Washington Irving, first published in 1819. The story is about a Dutch-American village in colonial America. There a character by the name of Rip Van Winkle meets some mysterious Dutchmen, drinks their mysterious liquor and falls asleep in the Catskill Mountains. He wakes up 20 years later to a changed world, having missed the American Revolution. So that’s what a (metaphoric) slumber or ignorance might do to you. The Catskill Mountains conversely remind you of La Gloria, Columbia and Luis Soriano’s Biblioburro where the rural communities lacked access to books and that limited educational opportunities for children leading to illiteracy. Not reading and learning is like sleeping. Sadly, Rip Van Winkle did not have Luis Soriano and his Biblioburro to wake him up before the American Revolution.

In ancient times Brahmins were considered as moving libraries or knowledge reservoirs when scriptures were not written. Killing a Brahmin was therefore a grave crime because in actuality you were destroying knowledge or burning down a library.

In the heart of rural Columbia, where the rugged terrain meets the horizon, a man and his two faithful donkeys carry a precious cargo of knowledge and imagination.

Together, they form the Biblioburro (the donkey library), a mobile library of around 120 books that roam the countryside, spreading the joy of reading and learning to children who would otherwise have no access to books. As they journey across mountains and valleys, Soriano and his companions are greeted with excitement and wonder by the young readers who eagerly gather around them.

After finishing high school in La Gloria, Columbia, Soriano knew he wanted to become a teacher. He got a job at a small rural school while completing a degree remotely from the Universidad del Magdalena. However, he found that his students were not progressing and did not do their homework, which he attributed to their lack of access to books at home.

Despite his limited access to resources, he resolved to bring knowledge to his pupils by bringing books to them. One day in the year 1997, with the help of one of his donkeys and a stack of books, he set off before dawn and embarked on a challenging journey across the countryside. He travelled several miles, stopping at the homes of each of his students to read with them. Afterwards, he lent them the books and promised to come back to collect them the next day. Day after day, he repeated this process, arriving in the early hours of the morning, long before school started. Soriano’s Biblioburro soon became more than just a mobile library. It became a beacon of hope, a symbol of possibility, and a gateway to a brighter future.

More than two decades later, Luis Soriano has not stopped. Despite being robbed a couple of times, facing violent threats, and enduring many injuries during his travels, Soriano continues to promote literacy because he believes it is crucial for ending violence and bringing peace to his country. His library which started with only 70 books, today, boasts a collection of more than 7000 titles, most of which were donated after his inspirational story was made known to the public via media.

But who inspired Luis Soriano to do this noble job? The scourge of illiteracy perhaps and the libraries showed him the way. Established in the early 19^th century was the world’s biggest Library—The Library of Congress which retains copies of significant English publications deemed significant for America. Bookstores in Taiwan allow young students to read their books (on the display shelf) while sitting on the store premises. Books nurture ideas just as William Shakespeare got the idea of Macbeth from Holished’s Chronicles. Babbington Macaulay never remained without a book. Whatever the occasion he had a book in his hand. Luis Soriano had realised the importance of books for his countrymen.

*****

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Like it and Share it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

RHYTHM … in poems

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 18. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT 25.2.24; 19. THE OVERCOATS OF NIKOLAI GOGOL AND RUSKIN BOND 10.3.24; 20. THE ETHNIC COLOURS OF HOLI 24.3.24

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24; GEOGRAPHY OF SOLITUDE 8.4.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;

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

*****

GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI-Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa

February 12, 2024article, autobiography, book talk,, facts, Gandhi, General awareness & Knowledgeindia, kamlesh tripathi, karma, mahatma gandhi, shravan charity mission, south africa, storyshravancharitymission

Article published in The Shillong Times on 28.1.24

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

Like it and Share it

Shravan Charity Mission is an NGO that works for poor children suffering from life-threatening diseases, especially cancer. Our posts are meant for our readers, including children and adults, and have a huge variety in content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause? The bank details are given below:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

Account no: 680510110004635 (BANK OF INDIA)

IFSC code: BKID0006805

Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

RHYTHM … in poems

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22; 27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23;

SHILLONG TIMES—SUNDAY EDITION

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24;

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;

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

*****

Immorality exposes the Chink in the Armour

December 18, 2023article, causerie, column, fable, facts, short story, storyachilles, asura, bhasmasur, chink in the armour, god, kamlesh tripathi, karma, mohini, ram, ravan, Shiva, shravan charity mission, spiritualshravancharitymission

The very idiom “chink in one’s armour’ refers to an area of vulnerability. There is no denying the fact that each one of us has a ‘chink in our armour’. Even the most powerful person on earth has a chink in his armour. Destiny bestows a chink in everyone’s armour that subjugates a Vardan (boon) if the person becomes immoral. This is when the armour reveals the chink. Traditionally the idiom is used to refer to a weak spot in a figurative suit of armour. The usual meaning is similar to that of the ‘Achilles heel’.

There was once an asura who with his marathon tapasya and devotion was able to please Lord Shiva. In return, he obtained from him the powerful ‘Vardan’ to burn anyone to ashes the moment he placed his hand on his head. The asura came to be known as Bhasmasur because he could reduce anyone to ashes by his mere touch.

Bhasmasur was indeed delighted by this vardan of Lord Shiva. So he decided to try out, his newly acquired power, on Shiva himself. When Shiva learnt of his intention he fled in horror and sought the help of Lord Vishnu, who transformed himself into Mohini the renowned apsara to distract Bhasmasur. Overwhelmed by lust, Bhasmasur begged Mohini to marry him. Mohini agreed but laid down a condition that only if, Bhasmasur could dance like her. Bhasmasur agreed to her condition. During the dance, Mohini touched her head. The deluded Bhasmasur, blinded by desire, copied her, and he put his hand on his head too and was burnt to ashes, much to the delight of Lord Shiva.

Achilles, in Greek mythology, is the hero of the Trojan War, a central character in Homer’s Iliad. He is the son of Peleus, the king of the Myrmidons, and the Nereid, or the sea nymph, Thetis. Achilles was brave, handsome, and the greatest warrior of the army of Agamemnon in the Trojan War. According to Homer, Achilles was brought up by his mother Thetis at Phthia a city in Greece with his inseparable companion Patroclus. Thetis the mother of Achilles dipped Achilles as a child in the waters of the River Styx, which made him invulnerable, except for the part of his heel by which she held him—which is called the proverbial “Achilles’ heel.” Achilles was invulnerable all over except for one heel that remained untouched by the water of the River Styx.

According to the legend, after the Trojan War, the Trojan prince Paris at the request of his sister Polyxena ambushed Achilles. Paris shot a fatal arrow into Achilles’ vulnerable spot … the heel. Paris was avenging his brother, Hector, whom Achilles had killed.

In the Mahabharat, Gandhari made a single purposeful exception to her blindfold when she removed it to shield her eldest son Duryodhana. She poured all her power into her son’s body in one gaze, rendering Duryodhana’s entire body, except his loins, as strong as a rock. But Krishna foiled Gandhari’s plan by asking Duryodhana to cover up his private parts before meeting his mother. Later on their decisive encounter on the eighteenth day of the Kurukshetra battle, Bhima smashed Duryodhana’s thighs, a move both literally and figuratively below the belt, breaking the rules to kill him.

In the Lanka War in Ramayan, Vibhishan’s knowledge about the secrets of Lanka proves invaluable to Ram. Vibhishan freely divulges many secrets that become key to the success of Ram’s attack. In the climactic battle between Ram and Ravan, when Ram is unable to kill Ravan, he reveals the secret of Ravan’s invulnerability to Ram. He tells Ram that Ravan has stored the nectar of immortality (amrit) in his belly and it is necessary to dry it first and then kill him. With this knowledge, Ram is finally able to kill Ravan.

A boon is not an easy object to handle. It comes with a lot of responsibility. Use your brains if you need to copy someone. And if your karmas are immoral no amount of boon, Raksha or Suraksha Kavach or armour will be able to save you.

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Kamlesh Tripathi’s Publications

GLOOM BEHIND THE SMILE

ONE TO TANGO … RIA’S ODYSSEY

AADAB LUCKNOW … FOND MEMORIES

REFRACTIONS … FROM THE PRISM OF GOD

TYPICAL TALE OF AN INDIAN SALESMAN

RHYTHM … in poems

MIRAGE

(Published in February 2020. The book is a collection of eight short stories available on Amazon, Flipkart and Notion Press)

AWADH ASSAM AND DALAI LAMA … The Kalachakra

BHAVANS JOURNAL

Short stories, Book reviews and Articles published in Bhavan’s Journal: 1. Reality and Perception, 15.10.19; 2. Sending the Wrong Message, 31.5.20; 3. Eagle versus Scholars June, 15 & 20, 2020; 4. Indica, 15.8.20; 5. The Story of King Chitraketu, August 31 2020; 6. Breaking Through the Chakravyuh, September 30 2020. 7. The Questioning Spouse, October 31, 2020; 8. Happy Days, November 15, 2020; 9. The Karma Cycle of Paddy and Wheat, December 15, 2020; 10. Power Vs Influence, January 31, 2021; 11. Three Refugees, March 15, 2021; 12. Rise and Fall of Ajatashatru, March 31, 2021; 13. Reformed Ruler, May 15, 2021; 14. A Lasting Name, May 31, 2021; 15. Are Animals Better Teachers? June 16, 2021; 16. Book Review: The Gram Swaraj, 1.7.21; 17. Right Age for Achievements, 15.7.21; 18. Big Things Have Small Beginnings, 15.8.21; 19. Where is Gangaridai?, 15.9.21; 20. Confront the Donkey Within You 30.9.21; 21. Know Your Strengths 15.10.21; 22. Poverty 15.11.21; 23. Top View 30.11.21; 24. The Bansuriwala 15.1.22; 25. Sale of Alaska 15.2.22; 26. The Dimasa Kingdom 28.2.22;27. Buried Treasure 15.4.22; 28. The Kingdom of Pragjyotisha 30.4.22; 29. Who is more useful? 15.5.22; 30. The White Swan from Lake Mansarovar 30.6.22; 31. Bhool Bhulayya 15.9.22; 32. Good Karma 30.9.22; 33. Good Name vs Bad Name 15.10.22; 34. Uttarapath—The Grand Trunk Road 1.12.22; 35. When Gods Get Angry 1.1.23; 36. Holinshed’s Chronicles 15.1.23; 37. Theogony 15.2.23; 38. Poem: Mother 14.5.23; 39. THE NAG MANDIR 30.6.23; 40. The Story of Garuda 30.7.23; 41. Janmabhoomi vs Karmabhoomi 31.8.23; 42. The Ghost Town of Kuldhara 15.9.23; 43. The Tale of Genji 15.10.23; 44. The Soul Connection 1.12.23; 45.Book review: Jungle Nama … a story of the Sundarban 16.3.24;

THE SHILLONG TIMES

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: HAPPY NEW YEAR 8.1.23; 2. POEM: SPRING 12.3.23; 3. POEM: RIGHT AND WRONG 20.3.23; 4. THE GUSH OF EMOTION—WRITING, 26.3.23; 5. THE NAG MANDIR, 7.5.23; 6. POEM: MOTHER 7.5.23; 7. POEM: RAIN RAIN 9.7.23; 8. POEM: YOU COME ALONE YOU GO ALONE 6.8.23; 9. RAIN RAIN (SECOND TIME) 10.8.23; 10. POEM: GURU TEACHER 10.8.23; 11. POEM: AUTUMN … THE INTERIM HEAVEN 15.10.23; 12. POEM: HAPPY DIWALI 12.11.23; 13. OVERCOMING BLINDNESS: LEARN IT THE JOHN MILTON WAY 10.12.23; 14. THE HAPPY PRINCE AND THE HAPPY MAN’S SHIRT 31.12.23; 15. ANNUS MIRABILIS 2024 7.1.24; 16. GANDHI TO MAHATMA GANDHI- Incidents that Shaped Gandhi in South Africa 28.1.24; 17. POEM: TOGETHER BUT NOT MADE FOR EACH OTHER, 11.2.24; 18. THE BIRDS BEES AND THE SPIDERS OF NICHOLAS GUILDFORD AND JONATHAN SWIFT 25.2.24; 19. THE OVERCOATS OF NIKOLAI GOGOL AND RUSKIN BOND 10.3.24; 20. THE ETHNIC COLOURS OF HOLI 24.3.24

THE ASSAM TRIBUNE

ARTICLE: 1. THE MAGIC OF READING 11.12.23; 2. GANDHI TO MAHATMA 29.1.24;

BANDRA TIMES, MUMBAI

ARTICLES & POEMS: 1. POEM: SPRING, 1.4.23; 2. POEM: MOTHER, 1.6.23; 3. POEM: RAIN RAIN, 1.8.23;

ARTICLES IN THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ESAMSKRITI

29.12.2020: INDICA BY MEGASTHENES; 14.3.22: ABOUT THE DIMASA KINGDOM ASSAM; 10.12.22: GRAND TRUNK ROAD-UTTARAPATH; 5.10.23: THE GHOST TOWN OF KULDHARA NEAR JAISALMER;

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

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