Category Archives: snippet

SHORT STORY: THE PRICK OF CONSCIENCE by Kamlesh Tripathi

October 9, 2025short story, shravan charity mission, snippet, Uncategorizedincle, kamlesh tripathi, police, robert, shravan charity mission, story, tea stall, the prick of conscienceshravancharitymission

Enjoy my short story published in The Assam Tribune on January 5, 2025. Happy reading.

THE PRICK OF CONSCIENCE

    It reminds me of a time when I used to go to a park every day, early in the morning. The place was absolutely still and quiet and reminded me of those neat and peaceful words — pin-drop silence.
    It was a long walk from where I stayed. It was also the midway for me, where I used to take a break. The park was located on the banks of a river and was about 25 to 30 feet higher than the normal flow of the river water, and in between the two, there was a deep gradient. To secure the area from anyone falling into the river, a rugged railing had been raised only recently. The other end of the park touched the busy road, coming all the way from the airport and passing into the main city. Beyond the river, there was a tall, dark hillock that gave a great sense of scenic fulfilment.
    All around, it was lush green, especially during the monsoons, when the gushing water level, at times, used to rise and ripple past the edges of the gradient to enter the park. I normally sat there each day for about ten to 15 minutes, for some meditation and introspection that refreshed me to take on the tough day ahead. I had relocated to the city some six months ago as an inspector in the police department. In the park, I also met many health freaks coming for morning walks, and some just to lollygag.
    Close to the main gate of the park, there was a small tea stall. I guess it grossed all its revenue early in the morning while serving the morning walkers. Once in a while, it also served hot bhajiyas that tasted deadly with the hot tea.
    I had become a little pally with the tea stall owner, who was young and appeared somewhat educated. There was always a newspaper lying in the stall where tea buffs often rushed through the latest headlines, only to exchange informal barbs.
     As a regular visitor, I had started recognising quite a few faces there. Gradually, I even got to know the names of a few. One out of them happened to be an old person who was normally quiet. One day, the stall owner, who knew that I was a police inspector, introduced me to him. His name was Robert.
    In a matter of days, I started interacting with Robert and referred to him as ‘Uncle’. He must have been around 70. He spoke very little. But whenever he did, he was to the point. He was normally in his own world, and nothing amused him.
    The days passed on as usual. One day, Robert walked up to me and asked, “Are you in the police?”
    I said, “Yes.”
    “Then can you do me a favour?”
    I asked, “What favour?”
    He looked at me for a while and said, “Many years ago, when I was young, while playing in this park, I fought with my best friend. Unfortunately, the fight took an ugly turn. As a result, I pushed him down the slope over there. Sadly, he fell into the river. It was the peak of the monsoon when the river was in spate and he was swept away, never to return.”
    “Oh God! But did you tell the police that you had pushed him down the slope?”
    “No!”
    “But why?”
    “Because I was scared I’ll be arrested. So, the police registered a case of an accident stating that he didn’t know how to swim, so he drowned.”
    “So then, why are you telling me your story now, after so many years?”
    “After 50 years, to be precise, to clear my conscience. You’re in the police, if you want, you can still arrest me for the crime.”
    “Have you told this to anyone else?”
    “No.”
    “But why?”
    “Because he was my next-door neighbour.”
    “So how does that matter?”
    “It matters because, years later, I married his sister.”
    “But does she know that you were the one who pushed her brother?”
    “A few years ago, I did tell her. She couldn’t bear the shock and passed away within weeks.”
    “And what about your children?”
    “I have two sons. Both are in Australia. They don’t know about my crime. But maybe you can tell them after I’m arrested or I’m gone.” After that, he picked up his walking stick and started walking. Perhaps, he was heading home.
    After the unwelcome conversation, a couple of days passed, but I did not see Robert. One day, when I reached the tea stall. I was informed by the stall owner that Robert had committed suicide. I was shocked to hear the news. Perhaps, he was preparing for it, mentally, when he told me about his act of crime. I morosely attended his funeral, where I even got to meet his two sons, Richard and Simon, but I did not mention anything.
    After that, I continued with my morning walk, as usual. One day, when I arrived at the tea stall, the owner gave me a sealed envelope that Robert had left for me. I opened it. There was another sealed cover within, bearing the name and address of Richard in Australia, with a request to send it to him through a reliable courier, which I did.
    Robert, after losing his wife, couldn’t have taken a chance with his sons– he didn’t want them to commit suicide. But he wanted to confess his crime to his children, which he did after he was gone.
    Most certainly, your pricking conscience is the most relentless jury in you.

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

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 of content. We also accept donations for our mission. Should you wish to donate to the cause of cancer? The bank details are given below:

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Celebrations in Mumbai: 90th Birthday of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

July 9, 2025article, snippet, Uncategorized14th Dalai Lama, 90th birthday, birthday cake, buddhism, cuttine cake, Dalai Lama, dolly thakore, film, his holiness, kamlesh tripathi, kundun, shravan charity mission, tibet, whole-freedom, whole-resistanceshravancharitymission

On the auspicious occasion of the 90th birthday of His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, Friends of Tibet hosted a heartfelt celebration dedicated to honouring the spiritual leader’s lifelong message of nonviolence, compassion, and global peace. The venue was St Paul’s Institute of Communication Education, Bandra, Mumbai. The event brought together a diverse group of attendees from long-time Tibet supporters and human rights activists to members of the cultural and literary community. They all united in their admiration for the Tibetan leader and his enduring legacy.

The celebration began with a warm welcome and a moment of silence in honour of His Holiness’s contributions to humanity. The highlight of the event was the ceremonial cutting of a birthday cake, symbolising both joy and reverence. The honour was performed by two distinguished guests: Dolly Thakore, an acclaimed film personality known for her work in theatre and cinema, and Kamlesh Tripathi, a respected author and columnist recognised for his insightful writing and advocacy.

Their presence added a layer of cultural and intellectual depth to the proceedings. Both guests spoke briefly, expressing their admiration for the Dalai Lama’s teachings and the resilience of the Tibetan people in the face of decades-long adversity. The film was introduced to the audience by author Kamlesh Tripathi.

Following the cake-cutting, attendees were treated to a special screening of Kundun, a powerful film directed by Martin Scorsese that chronicles the early life of the 14th Dalai Lama and the Chinese occupation of Tibet. The film served not only as a cinematic tribute but also as an educational experience, reminding the audience of the historical and political struggles that shaped the Tibetan diaspora and His Holiness’s path as a global spiritual leader.

The venue was packed with passionate individuals, young and old, who came together to reaffirm their commitment to the Tibetan cause. Many expressed that the event was more than just a celebration; it was a moment of reflection, unity, and renewed dedication to the principles of truth and nonviolence that the Dalai Lama has championed throughout his life.

The evening concluded with informal discussions, where guests mingled, shared personal stories of their connection to Tibet, and signed a commemorative banner expressing wishes for His Holiness’s long life and continued well-being.

In times of global unrest and uncertainty, gatherings like these serve as gentle but powerful reminders of the values that transcend borders: compassion, justice, and the unwavering belief in peace. Friends of Tibet reaffirmed its commitment to amplifying these ideals and supporting the Tibetan community in their ongoing struggle for cultural and political rights.

As one participant noted, “Celebrating the Dalai Lama’s birthday isn’t just about honouring a person — it’s about honouring a way of life, a vision for the world that is kinder, wiser, and more humane.”

Written and posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

Author, Poet, & Columnist

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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Panchatantra: The Curious Monkey

July 3, 2025book corner, short story, short story on wild life, snippet, story, Uncategorizedart, books, friends, kamlesh tripathi, karma, lesson, log, monkey, moral, parable, photography, poetry, shravan charity mission, story, tug, wedge, wood, woodcutters, writingshravancharitymission

“Wow! What’s that?” The curious monkey asked his friends–fellow monkeys. The friends, looking in the direction he was pointing, saw what had attracted his attention. It was a log of wood.
“What’s so interesting about a log of wood?” His friends asked.
Instead of answering the friends, the curious monkey ran to the log and jumped on it. Looking at the wedge in the middle of the log, the monkey reached out to touch it.
A little further down, a group of woodcutters were laughing and enjoying their meal, unaware of the prank the curious monkey was about to play. They had been cutting this log of wood all morning and had managed to cut a part of it, but they had to take a break for lunch. Not wanting the log to close up again, they had placed a wedge in the slit to keep it open.
This wedge was what the curious monkey began to tug at, while the other monkeys stepped aside. Suddenly, the wedge snapped and the log of wood shut, trapping the curious monkey’s leg.
While all his friends ran away in fear, the sad little monkey sat there in pain, waiting for the woodcutters to return from their break.
Lesson: Unnecessary interference in others’ matters may interfere with the matters of your life.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Shravan Charity Mission’

June 27, 2025snippet, UncategorizedGloom behind the smaile, kamlesh tripathi, ngo, refractions from the prism of god, shravan charity missionshravancharitymission

Bandra Times, Mumbai, releases an ad for Shravan Charity Mission, applauding its activities.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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Speaking Tree: Kabir Spun Indic Syncretism Through His Dohas … by Kamlesh Tripathi

June 12, 2025article, column, moral lesson, parable, quote, snippet, Uncategorizedkabir, kabir spun indic sybcretism through his dohas, kamlesh tripathi, shravan charity mission, speaking treeshravancharitymission

Written and 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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https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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AESOP’S FABLES: THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL

April 2, 2025casual causerie, causerie, fable, parable, short story, snippet, Uncategorizedaesop's fables, kamlesh tripathi, king, lion, monkey and the camel, shravan charity missionshravancharitymission

AESOP'S FABLES 
4. THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL
    Once, there was a great celebration to honour King Lion. The monkey was asked to dance before the audience. The animals were pleased with his grace and lightness as he did one dance after another. The camel got envious of seeing the praise that the monkey got. He was sure that he could as well as the monkey. So rising in his hind legs, he began to dance too before everyone. But as he kicked out, the animals found it hard to keep their toes from under his heavy hoofs. The camel hit many animals as he danced. At last, the animals were so angry and disgusted that they drove him out into the desert.
Moral: Do not try to ape your betters.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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AESOP’S FABLES: THE DOCTOR FROG

April 1, 2025short story, snippet, Uncategorizedaesop fables, fox, kamlesh tripathi, moral, shravan charity mission, story, the doctor frogshravancharitymission

Once, there was a little frog. It had decided to become a famous doctor. It came out of the pond and went to live in the marshes. It sat on a rock there and proclaimed to all the animals, "I am a learned physician. I am skilled in giving the right drugs and I can cure all your diseases. I am a doctor."

All the animals were impressed and wanted to use the frog's services for their cure. After some time, a fox came forward and called out to the frog, "You! And a doctor! How come? How can you claim to have cures for others' diseases when you cannot even cure your own lame legs and blotched and wrinkled skin?" The frog did not have any answer and he was ashamed of his doing. All the animals started laughing. The frog quacked in embarrassment and returned to the pond.

The moral of the story: Heal yourself first before healing others.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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No Effort Goes In Vain

October 11, 2024article, ARTICLE SPIRITUAL, casual causerie, column, parable, shravan charity mission, snippet, spiritual, Uncategorizedart, books, buddhist, dharma, dharmapada, EFFORT, food, greek, hiroshima, japan, kamlesh tripathi, photography, shravan charity mission, sophocles, spiritual, suez canal. hu shih, tragedian, travel, VAINshravancharitymission

Primordial times are privy to the fact that nothing is achieved in life without effort. The effort could be either positive or negative. The choice is yours as God doesn’t control your Karma. A negative effort could lead to the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan’s Hiroshima and Nagasaki eradicating it completely. In contrast, a positive effort could be the construction of the Suez Canal which shortened the maritime distance considerably, between Asia and Europe, thereby accelerating the cargo and passenger movement by sea. And every inch of effort bears a proportionate result, as per the law of nature.

Hu Shih, a former Chinese diplomat to America who was also an essayist, fiction writer, literary scholar, philosopher and politician once said, ‘Life on its own does not mean anything – it takes on any meaning that you decide to give it. Instead of spending all day contemplating the meaning of life, we may as well attempt to do something that gives it one.

Be bold when making a case and cautious in seeking evidence; be earnest in all matters and solemn in your conduct. We must be firm in believing that today’s failure is yesterday’s lack of hard work and effort and that today’s effort and hard work will surely lead to tomorrow’s great success.

The moments when you are sad and disappointed are the times when you need courage and faith the most. You need to firmly believe that no effort and hard work ever goes wasted in this world. I may not be the one to succeed – yet no effort will go in vain.

Every part of yesterday makes up for what I am today; do not think too far ahead and grieve. From now on, I shall reap as I sow.’

The sane advice from the Buddhist Dharmapada is, ‘The effort is like a treasure. Those who make positive efforts are mindful, pure in conduct, self-disciplined, and live in accordance with the Dharma, have ever-increasing glory. Through effort, heedfulness, and self-discipline, the wise make a continent for themselves that cannot be submerged by flood. The foolish and ignorant indulge in heedlessness, while the wise guard his heedlessness as if protecting a gem’.

‘There is a story of effort behind every success’ says the Chinese venerable master Hsing Yun. He says ‘The name of the effort may vary. Just as, to succeed, one needs hardships; to be celebrated one needs pressure; to gain honour one needs to labour; to achieve one needs to sacrifice and be dedicated. An ancient tree survives wind and frost. A skyscraper is raised with money and sweat. An old business has its ups and downs. An old man is tested by misfortune. Those who don’t look back have no past. Those who don’t look forward have no future. Those who don’t seize the moment have no present. Those who don’t master themselves will not change the society.’

Hsing Yun further says ‘Repeated action becomes a habit, the habit becomes a character, the character becomes fate and fate rules your life and when you work hard, don’t worry about success or failure. When you have done your best don’t worry if you’ve failed, for no effort goes in vain.

Here I’m also reminded of the Greek tragedian Sophocles who said, ‘Success is dependent on effort’, and have you ever seen an idle man succeed?

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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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;

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;

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 NET

1. 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;

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AGE AND ACHIEVEMENTS: 5 LIT LUMINARIES

May 30, 2024article, causerie, column, interesting facts, kamlesh tripathi, literature, short article, shravan charity mission, snippet1857, alaska, anton chekhov, Arjuna, british east india company, edgar allan poe, gunpowder empires, guy de maupassant, john keats, kamlesh tripathi, life expentancy, mughal empire, nikolai gogol, shravancharitymission, swami vivekanandashravancharitymission

What is the right age to achieve something in life? Is 40 years, too little time, or adequate time to achieve something in life? Let us consider the lives of five lit luminaries of the 19th century who were more or less contemporaries and who became world-renowned figures in their short lifespans. Let’s start with Swami Vivekananda a Hindu monk, a spiritual guru and a literary-luminary, lifespan 12 January 1863- 4 July 1902, a total of 39 years. Then you have the American writer Edgar Allan Poe, who was born on 19 January 1809 and died on 7 October 1849, a life span of 40 years, followed by the French writer Guy De Maupassant, born on 5 August 1850 and passed away on 6 July 1893 a life span of 42 years. On the rostrum, there is also Nikolai Gogol, a Russian writer of Ukrainian origin, who was born on 20 March 1809 and died on 21 February 1852, a life span of 42 years. And last but not least we have Anton Pavlovich Chekhov, a Russian playwright and short-story writer born on 29 January 1860, and died on 15 July 1904, at the age of 44. They all left behind a phenomenal legacy of success and heaps of lessons for future generations within the ebbs and flows of their limited lifespan.

The mean life expectancy in the 19th century was 40-45 years. Global life expectancy today is around 72 years. There are two off-shoots to this. One, the subject authors lived for around ninety to hundred per cent of the average life expectancy of those times. Two, they only lived for around forty years – a period, perhaps, too less for any milestone achievement, barring sports and maybe some other careers. When we compare 40 years with today’s life expectancy, it is only 55% in terms of years. The point then is: Does life expectancy have anything to do with your major achievements in life? The case study of the quintet doesn’t say so. There are authors, poets, and literary figures from other countries too, who gained fame but died very young, prominent among them is John Keats to cite an example who died at the age of 25. So, isn’t it ironic that some in a short lifespan of 25 to 40 years made gigantic strides, while others couldn’t manage to do that even in a century?

In the 19th century, these five authors witnessed watershed changes in their countries. Some major events were as follows: India had the First War of Independence in 1857. British East India Company was replaced by the British Crown in 1858. Russia had the Crimean War between 1853 and 1856; the Caucasian War, between 1817 and 1864; and the capture of Tashkent by the Russian Army in 1865. In addition, Alaska was sold in a sale in 1867; the Russian-Turkish War happened in 1877, and the Russian famine in 1891. Alexander III the emperor of Russia passed away in 1894, and the first congress of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP) was held in 1898 in Minsk now in Belarus. In America and Europe, slavery was abolished through an act; the First and Second Industrial Revolutions which overlapped with the 18th and 20th centuries respectively led to massive urbanization. Construction of the Suez Canal commenced in 1859, linking the Mediterranean Sea with the Indian Ocean through the Red Sea, providing a more direct shipping route between Europe and Asia. The Islamic gunpowder empires (Ottoman Empire, Safavid and the Mughal) were formerly dissolved and the European imperialism, brought much of South Asia, Southeast Asia and almost all of Africa under colonial rule. It was also marked by the collapse of the Spanish, Zulu Kingdom, First French Empire, Holy Roman and the Mughal Empire.

Even with all the hullabaloo in their country and continent, there was calm and composure in these five lit luminaries. They had a single focus, just like the Arjuna’s concentration – the eye of the fish and that was – to keep writing till their last breath. Though born in a Bengali Kayastha family in Calcutta, Swami Vivekananda was inclined towards spirituality. He was influenced by his guru, Ramakrishna, from whom he learnt that all living beings, were an embodiment of the divine self. Therefore, service to God could only be rendered by service to mankind. Anton Chekhov even when he fell sick in 1885, kept writing till he died of tuberculosis in 1904. Edgar Allan Poe was born in Boston, the second child of actors David and Elizabeth Poe. His father abandoned the family in 1810, and his mother died the following year. He became an orphan yet he fought back to become one of the most formidable writers of short stories. When Maupassant was 11, his mother, an independent-minded woman, divorced her husband. Afterwards, Maupassant lived with his mother, who was the single biggest influence on him, but that entailed hardships. Gogol lost his father at the age of fifteen, yet he aspired to become a writer.

The short lifespan of these great writers only teaches us that achievements are not a function of a long lifespan.

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

https://kamleshsujata.wordpress.com

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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 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; 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;

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;

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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