HOW I GAVE UP SMOKING

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    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.

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AMBEDKAR: FROM CASTE TO CONSTITUTION

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    Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar’s life indeed serves as a beacon of inspiration for those committed to equality, social justice, and dismantling oppressive systems. His insights into the caste system were groundbreaking and remain relevant even today. His statement about the caste system being a “monster” that must be eradicated for any real political and economic reform resonates deeply. By acknowledging that caste is not just a division of labor but also a division of people, Ambedkar illuminated how deeply it harms not only individuals but society as a whole.

    His critique of the caste system’s eugenic claims and its failure to produce a better society reflects his understanding of how it stunts human potential. Caste, in his view, doesn’t just harm the oppressed; it also disorganizes the social fabric of those who perpetuate it. Ambedkar’s assertion that caste doesn’t improve the race but instead demoralizes it points to a broader critique of how hierarchies and inequality can stunt collective progress.

    These perspectives are not just theoretical but were put into action in his tireless efforts to reshape India’s Constitution, fight for the rights of Dalits, and challenge the deep-seated social structures that perpetuated caste-based discrimination. His contributions laid the groundwork for a more just and equitable society, making him one of the most significant social reformers in modern history.

    He was born into a Mahar family, one of the castes considered untouchable in the rigid caste hierarchy of India, on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, Madya Pradesh, where his father served in the army. Despite facing severe social discrimination, his early life was marked by a strong desire for education and an urge to challenge the status quo that oppressed people like him.

    He studied at some of the best institutions globally, including Columbia University and the London School of Economics, where he earned doctorates in Economics. He later trained as a lawyer at Gray’s Inn, London, and became one of the most highly educated individuals in India at that time. Dr. Ambedkar’s life was devoted to fighting for the rights of the Dalits and the marginalized communities in India. His famous slogan, “Educate, Agitate, Organise”, continues to resonate, urging oppressed people to seek knowledge, actively resist oppression, and unite for their rights. Bernard Shaw once stated, “Dr. Ambedkar’s struggle against the caste system and his determination to free the Indian masses from the shackles of superstition and inequality was truly revolutionary. He understood that real progress could only come through education and social reform.”

   As the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constitution of India, Dr. Ambedkar played a pivotal role in shaping India’s legal and political framework. His vision helped enshrine fundamental rights such as equality, freedom of religion, and the abolition of untouchability in the Constitution. His contributions were critical in ensuring that India’s Constitution became a beacon of justice and equality, not just for Dalits but for all marginalized groups. He held a belief that, Constitution is not just a lawyers’ document but a vehicle of life, and its spirit is always the spirit of age.

    He was also a staunch advocate for women’s rights and fought for their protection and upliftment within Indian society. He was instrumental in introducing provisions for reservations for Dalits, Tribals, and Other Backward Classes, ensuring their access to education and employment. Author of umpteen titles, he chose to embrace Buddhism as a response to the caste-based discrimination entrenched in Hinduism. His conversion was a radical act of defiance and transformation.  

    His contributions to the Indian Constitution and his steadfast fight against caste-based discrimination laid the foundation for the rights of the marginalized in India. In 1990, India’s highest civilian honor, the Bharat Ratna, was posthumously awarded to him. The salutation “Jai Bhim”, popular among his followers, remains a powerful symbol of his ongoing impact. ‘I want all people to be Indians first, Indian last and nothing else but Indian’ He said.

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India Afloat like the Ship of Theseus

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My piece was published in the Goan News Everyday (Newspaper) on 23.2.25

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:AP:2f6da47d-1b85-4f2e-a702-130b71db7be4

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HUXLEY’S TAKE ON TRANSLATED WORKS, BHAVAN’S JOURNAL

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Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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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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SHORT STORY: LIFE LESSONS

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    Once upon a time, during India’s partition, three refugees landed in a city. They had walked for many miles over the past few days and were tired and hungry. They were looking for alms as they had no money to buy food.

    As tired souls, they went around the streets, markets and even the nearby colonies, but no one provided them with either money or food. Tired, they filled their stomach with some tap water, after which they crossed the road and entered a park to rest under a tree.

    They hadn’t adequately befriended themselves, even when they were together for the last couple of days because their focus was purely on food and shelter as they were tired, hungry and even sick. For them, fleeing persecution, organizing food, water, shelter, and survival was of immediate consequence during the days that they had been together, and not so much befriending themselves.

    Their hunger was now reaching a burst point. Luckily a group of people from a charitable organisation came to their rescue, having realised they were refugees. They gave them a dozen bananas each. Upon receiving the bananas, they were thrilled. They started jumping in joy as if they had recovered their lost fortune.

    Soon, the first refugee, who appeared to be the most hungry, ate all his twelve bananas in a go and burped loudly, and then decided to rest.

    The second refugee, ate six and kept the balance six close to his chest and decided to take some rest.

    The third refugee, after eating six got up with the remaining six in his hand. He told his comrades that he was going to the nearby market and would return soon.

    The first refugee who had eaten all his bananas was rather puzzled at this banana-behaviour of the balance two refugees. As hitherto, they were cribbing, they were ravenous, but when they got bananas to eat, they wouldn’t finish it. And by now, about half-an-hour had passed when he saw the third refugee at a distance, walking towards him, without bananas in his hand. Upon seeing the third refugee without bananas, the number one refugee got a little suspicious. He couldn’t resist, and without waiting for the third refugee to arrive, he suddenly asked the second one.

   ‘Hello, comrade! You were so hungry, but you didn’t finish all the bananas. Why are you keeping these six bananas with you?’

    The second refugee replied, ‘I have kept it for the evening. For who knows in this unknown city you might not get any charity again, so as a precaution I have kept it for my dinner.’

    ‘And what about you? You had gone to the market with six bananas, but now you have none with you.’ The first refugee asked the third refugee who had arrived by then.

    ‘Well … well, I ate six and sold six, and now I have money to buy two meals.’ Replied the third refugee.

    The parable conveys a smart worldly message. The first refugee ate all the bananas in one go, thinking some Good Samaritan or God would not let him go hungry. The second refugee showed a streak of saving and cautiousness for the rainy day, so he ate six and kept six for dinner, but the third refugee had that entrepreneurial drive in him, so he ate six and sold six.

    Introspect, who made the wise decision under the circumstances, and what would you have done under such trying conditions?

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THE CONTRIBUTION OF OUR PAST IN THE REMAINING JOURNEY OF OUR LIFE

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    Life cannot blossom in a vacuum. It needs something to latch on to, where the past comes in handy. Remember, our future rests on the toil of our yesterday. Our days ahead are an outcome of the struggle of our present. The years ahead slumber on our unruffled dreams waiting to unravel. This is when the unfigured life ahead, tow-chains with the pristine past.

    A chapter titled ‘The Journey of Life (Excerpt)’ in the book ‘365 Days for Travellers—Wisdom from Chinese Literary and Buddhist Classics’ edited by Venerable Editor Master Hsing Yun makes an interesting point. It says, ‘Who said not to look at the past? Past successes can give us encouragement or examples to improve upon. The failures of the past are great experiences and exactly the things to learn from. The blank spaces of the past are exactly what encourages us to exert ourselves to compensate for it.    

    The chapter also talks about the present. It says, if it’s suffering, you are currently being tormented, and if it’s happiness—you are currently enjoying it. But do not get knocked down by suffering, nor get intoxicated by joy. Be mindful because the present moment passes in the blink of an eye. No matter how grand the happiness is, it’ll pass. We should be happy and we should cherish the past and the present journey because we never know what tomorrow will bring.

    In the journey of life, there are wide open roads, as well as small wooden bridges. Do not be envious of those who walk on open roads, and do not mock those who walk on open roads, and do not mock those who walk on small wooden bridges. Only those who experience it themselves would understand the flavour of life. You can only accept it when it happens to you, without running away.’

    My serenades of today are all because of those accomplished rehearses of my past. But this is certainly not adequate because beyond is the harsh and cruel environment where one needs to fight on and on to get to a glamorous future.

    Sanity exhorts us to forget the past and enjoy the present because the future is unknown. But I say, the unknown will be unknown till it is shown, so be with your present, but with your experience. The bright days ahead will only evolve out of your achievement. Achievement is like heaven that’ll come with your perspiration and perseverance.

    But before the flashy today and the glamorous tomorrow, it was only my laborious spell in the past that held my hand and showed me the directional arrow. And beware, as and when the flashy today and glamorous tomorrow dwindle, much will be gone and little will be left for the days ahead, but yes, there will be a treasure to applaud that lies in the realms of the past and the bygone days.

    This is when you’ll realise that there is no rollicking future without a great past,

but there is a great past even without a rollicking future. Work hard today that helps your tomorrow and even rewards you with a rich yesterday.  

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AESOP’S FABLES: THE LION AND THE ASS

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AESOP'S FABLES 
5. THE LION AND THE ASS
    A lion and an assembly went into the forest to hunt. They saw wild goats run into a cave there. They decided to catch and eat them. The ass got an idea and went inside the cave and drove the goats out. The lion stood at the entrance to strike them down and kill them. The ass made such a frightful noise in the cave, kicking and braying, that the goats came running out in fear, and the lion caught them and killed them. The ass came out of the cave, brimming with pride, and said, "Did you see how I made them run?" The lion said, "If I hadn't known you, I would have run too."
    Moral: A loud mouth doesn't impress those who know him.
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AESOP’S FABLES: THE MONKEY AND THE CAMEL

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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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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:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

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AFTER BIRTH, DEATH IS THE FIRST SPIRITUAL TIP

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

Posted by Kamlesh Tripathi

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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:

NAME OF ACCOUNT: SHRAVAN CHARITY MISSION

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IFSC code: BKID0006805

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AESOP’S FABLES: THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE TREE

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AESOP'S FABLES 
2. THE TRAVELLERS AND THE PLANE TREE
    There were two travellers on a bare and dusty road. They were going to another village. On the way they came across a tree known as a Plain tree. They stopped to rest under the tree and looked up at it. Suddenly, one of the travellers said, "What a useless tree this is! It bears no fruit." The plain tree was annoyed to hear them criticize him. It said, "You both are so ungrateful. You've taken shelter under my shade, and you're calling me useless!" The two men were ashamed, so they apologized to the tree and then off they went their way. The Plain Tree stood tall and proud and no man ever had the courage to say anything to him.
    Moral: Many services are met with ingratitude.

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