Bharat Ek Khoj

 The Vedic hymns being sung in such a serious chorus followed by its Hindi translation equally impactful and in screen one sees the famed red rose associated with the first Prime Minister of Independent India. It just caught my eyes ears' full attention as a boy who was deeply in awe of history. Although at that time when I was barely 13-14 years of age I was in so much awe of Chhatrapati Shivaji after I first got to know about him in 4th Standard textbook that I preserved the textbook to read it for another 3 years during my summer holidays. 

Having stumbled upon something on television which is actually letting me get into the life and times of the heroes of history was something like a lifetime opportunity then. Iconic voice of Om Puri as narrator and Roshan Seth as Nehru giving an introduction about the epsiode was just too good.

I used to wait for the episode to the telecasted every Sunday night at 9.30. I was busy imagining the cast for episodes on Shivaji, and was surprised to see that my prediction to have Om Puri as Aurangzeb was dot correct. 

The serial certainly ahead of its time gave an idea for common people about how history began in indian subcontinent right from Vedic age to the freedom movement.Everything pictured so precisely and practically with no sensationalisation or controversy.

The serial is based on Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru's book 'Discovery of India' which he wrote in his  British captivity in one of the numerous terms he served in jail of British India. The show conceptualized by Shyam Benegal and many big names like Govind Nihalani being in roles of production, direction etc makes it obvious enough that it was serious and equally fun. If you are a film appreciator than these names need no introduction. Serious films with meaningful stories has been hallmark of Likes of Benegal and Nihalani. 'Manthan' about white revolution in India regarding milk industry is my favourite of Bengal's creations. But all this was an afterthought after I grew old enough and could appreciate what was parallel cinema and why it helped  shape serious filmmaking and contributed to the glory of Indian cinemas.

Back to the topic of Bharat ek khoj, it is beautiful and gives one an idea of the changing history and the times. The scene when Akbar slaps his son Jehangir or the episode on life of Ashok or the great chola King RajRaja are just too good to watch. Their are many episodes which make you think and realise how history has shaped us to the point we are now. The episodes on mediaeval Kingdoms, Delhi sultanates, Empires in south give a sufficiently clear idea about politics and life then the highpoint being the commentry it has on Mahabharat and Ramayana is too good.The contradiction in the society then with the episode of Eklavya is depicted so beautifully and is very impactful.My all time  favourite is certainly the episode on Mahatma Jotiba Phule, who was nothing short of a revolutionary social reformer, ably played by sadashiv Amrapurkar a solid actor. The scene of encounter between the  Ramoshi tribals who  are assigned on contract killing of Phule and Phule himself in dead of night is spine tickling. He shows them their foolishness in their ways and having a change of heart one of the Ramoshi later on becomes a learned Pandit and the other becomes Phule's security. Phule opened first school for girl child in India's Pune City and his wife used to brave the cow dung thrown at her while on way to school to teach girlchildren by using two sets of clothes. I am really thankful to the creators of the show, it's actors and whoever have helped in making of the series.

It's my favourite and I still do watch episodes every now and then, it is a ritual which takes me back to my happy moments of childhood with stories from history being brought into real on screen. I am attaching the link of YouTube if anyone find it interesting to check out the series on net.

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PL1EG23oYcaFu6SNAiofd0uco0sD0JeVji&si=zi9klwCqSMGH2Y6i

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अशांतता

 अशांतता वाटते मनात, भंग होते भान 

नको वाटतो आता हा नेहमीचा किलकिलाट 

रोजचा पराभव पचविण्यासाठी, रोजच् थोडुशी घेउन तात्पुर्ती का होईना आत्महत्या करायची .

आयुष्य समुद्रात कंपास मॉडेलल्या जहाजा सरखे भरकटून समाधिस्त होते जनू, 

डाव तर हरलेला,अर्ध्यातच बहुतेक का नाही मग सोडु?

माणसे जंगलातल्या पशूंनाही लाजवतिल इतकी विचित्र,

हरामी, भिकारचोट आणि विक्षिप्त.

शेती करतय एक, पाकिटात पॅक करून विकतो दुसराच,

सगळाच सावळा गोंधळ, सामान्य मानसाला घालतय गंडा,

अक्कल ठेवली गहान देऊलाच्या पायथ्याशी,

शिक्षण रोजगाराची गरज, ती कशी लक्ष्यात यायची ?

मार्क्स सांगून गेला आधीच दीडशे वर्षां आगोदर 

अफीम आहे ते नका लागू नादी,

पण आम्ही बसलोय तेच फुकत, बिनबुडाच्या चर्चा करत.

स्वातंत्र्य समता बंधुता भारताच्या संविधानाची पायदळी तुडवत!

अशांतता वाटते मनात, भंग होते भान .

- अक्षय 

Constitution day : Sanvidhan Diwas 26 th November.

26th November has been declared as a Constitution day by the Government of India.It was on this day in the year 1949 that the Constitution was adopted by the Indian Parliament.

                   Preamble of the Constitution ( sourced from internet)

One of the many anecdotes from that time is regarding the adoption of the Preamble. Representatives from various sects vied for adoption by pronouncing the names of Gods etc. However Dr Ambedkar prevailed by letting the preamble be adopted in the name of the people, AND that is why the preamble starts with 'We, the people '.Tracing the democratic principles of life to the earliest Indian traditions of democratic parlance in Buddhist Sangitis( council meetings), Dr.Ambedkar observed that ' if things go wrong under the new Constitution, the reason will not be that we had a bad Constitution. what we will have to say is that, Man was vile'. Also he likened the Constitution to a temple, which is a place of worship however if a demon enters the temple he said that he would be the first to burn such a temple. 

This is the clear and long-lasting vision provided by Dr. Ambedkar regarding his idea of the Constitution. Indeed the Constitution is a living document and has been undergoing changes as per the need of the hour. However very rightfully the basic structure of the Constitution has been kept intact. 

The philosophy of the constitution of a welfare state, the basic understanding regarding power to the people, education, health , safety etc basic functions to be undertaken by the State has been implemented by every Government. Though the Right to Information Act 2005, Right to Education Act 2009, Right to food Act 2013, Panchayati Raj act 1993 were enacted after almost half a century since the adoption of the Constitution in 1949. However slow but steadily we certainly march to our goal of a uited secular Bharat marked by Liberty Equality and Fraternity.

We are a nation of 135 crore. It is we who should own and celebrate the Constitution as a safeguard of the basic human dignity and right to live. Articles regarding Fundamental Rights, duties and Directive principles of State gives the Rights to the citizens and also provide us the way as to how to live our lives in the betterment of one and all. 

In the Indian subcontinent we have Afghanistan, Pakistan, Srilanka, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar etc .In my humble opinion I would like to state that the other countries in Indian subcontinent have suffered a very bad future post colonial era with countries going under Dictatorship or Fundamentalists. The ultimate sufferers are the people in such regimes. Whereas while other nations have suffered breakdown India on the other hand has maintained and is running itself like a well oiled machine solely due to the marvelous and wonderful Constitution our forefathers had envisioned and provided us. 

Many today assume the rights as a matter of course not realising what could have been the faith of country sans a enduring and principled Constitution. 

Lastly Constitution is not just a book , orcompilation of laws and codes, but a document embodying the fighting spirit and the struggle for freedom and dignity. It was the first vision document which the freedom fighters crafted and imagined. Therefore it is this spirit of belonging towards the Constitution which we all should embody and celebrate today on the occasion of the Constitution day.

Akshaymohan©

Buddha: The Light of the world

 Siddhartha left his place ,family, palace to stop the war between the two clans. One being the shakyas his own clan and the other was Licchavi clan. 

He showed what a man of courage, conviction, and right spirit can and should do.  He accepted the fate of leaving everything behind in order to stand by his opinion.He chose non violence, and brotherhood over war. Such was his strength of character that being a prince and having every possible luxury in his time at his feet he chose to create his own path. 

He was deeply hurt and left with an unsolved question of why should people fight over things which could have been solved amicably.  He searched for answers to human misery, he went on to become the greatest one the Buddha.

Buddha is an inspiration because he was a man who walked with his fellow men in this Earth never proclaiming to be God or God send being.

I would like to draw comparison between Socrates and Buddha. Socrates too was subject to tyranny and had to face death. He choose death in face of tyranny but never compromised his stand and principles. So was Buddha a prince who chose to leave everything behind to become an ascetic.

History is full of examples, it remembers men and women  who have imparted teachings to the society through their lives. Buddha still is relevant and will always be because he is and was the first physician of mind and psychology. Buddha's teachings are one of its kind considering their relevance in this world. He is the greatest mind the earth has witnessed till date.

© Akshay Mohan 

The new iPad

                 Guys I am really amazed this being  my first experience with an apple Apple iPad. The device is really smooth and real handy I must say that induces one to be more tech savvy and definitely it will make life easy.My iPad is 256GB 11 inches Wi-Fi plus cellular version which I have purchased for ₹94500.The 11 inch version is really good to feel in hand easily adjustable and what not. I am truly liking it and the experience is awesome. I think this is one of my best purchases. I have tried my hand at speaker notes in fact I am writing this article by dictating it to the iPad and I must say  it is really really really super cool to find iPad typing exact words which I am saying to it without any time delay. Currently I am in Nagpur and I had purchased this product from inspire Nagpur store . It’s my it has been only an hour that I have started using and experiencing this iPad and I just Can’t get enough of it.

 I just Can’t get enough of it.I think, it’s going to be I think it’s going to be a lovely start to a lifelong journey of associating myself with this really good product. It’s going to help me with my office work with my studies with my journal reading et cetera. And much more about which currently I am not in a position to imagine but will definitely update in this article as I will discover it in the days to come. 

So although I am not in position to write anything more but to conclude the product is extremely rich and polished the logo is definitely too much attractive the camera quality is extremely good the screen is very very very soothing on the ice and colour dark grey is really adding to the finish and richness of the product. 

_by Akshay

         

The ten commandments to crack UPSC Interview

 UPSC Interview is a livid process, it depends on the temperament of the interviewer but having said that one has to add that there is still a lot of space for the candidates to manoeuvre  and display their bright side.

Here are my ten noncompromising traits for facing and acing the interview:

1. Be yourself, you are unique: underestimating or overestimating yourself is strictly a no-no in UPSC, being comfortable in your skin is important for getting into your natural 'flow-state. Dhoni hits hard and looks good when he does so while technically sound Dravid uses it to display his solid defense and gradually build his innings. Each approach has its beauty, UPSC does not have any fixed personality benchmarks. So be Yourself.

 

2. Honesty is the best policy: The panelists are people who have spent their lifetime in administration, policy-making, and whatnot. Therefore, these people have huge experience in man-management and know a person the moment one walks in the room. This is very natural for someone double your age to understand for the very reason that they too at some point have been there and done that but more importantly their experiences will be too much most of the time more than the age of the aspirant. Therefore it is very important to be very honest and answer only what is known and what you are sure about. Bluffing is not an option here and nobody likes a civil servant who will bluff or lie to his boss! A better way would always be to politely tell that you are unaware of the answer.

3. The First impression is the last: Your entry till the time you answer your first question is crucial in the sense that you should not commit any blunders or appear uncomfortable in any manner. For eg saying good morning in the afternoon session etc., though you can be excused later based on your performance in the latter part of the interview why leave anything to chance. Just give as many mock interviews as possible and you will sail through the first impression part. Nothing extraordinary is expected but one has to avoid simple mistakes that happen unknowingly.

4. A picture is worth a thousand words: Always give examples in your answers: Using examples makes life easy for one and all. The panel too consists of human beings who too are prone to get bored, so make life easy and be ready with examples for your answers. For this in your daily newspaper reading, try to relate things and explain them to yourself and your friends to scale up your articulation.

5. Be passionate: You are a youngster and the energy in a  youngster should reflect accordingly to the tune of being infectious. I am not a proponent of being cocky or overconfident but whenever you have the answer which is close to your heart, do open up your heart to show your passion for the topic of discussion. This will definitely come in the picture when answering questions on a hobby or your region etc.

6. I think therefore I am: Have Opinion: Nobody likes a please-all attitude person because such people end nowhere at the end of the day. The opinion is the crux of free speech and  you should exercise it. This can literally make or break your interview. Because as a civil servant you would be required to present your view and guide political leadership. A civil servant is not working for his boss but is directly working for the society so be ready to go against the tide. If you give answers which are not showing your independent bent of mind maybe you will not seem that appealing. However, it is always important to back up your answers with facts.

7. Hobbies define a man: A hobby is your way of enjoying your own company. So be really genuine. However, on the contrary, it won't make you any less competent if you say you don't have any hobbies but we all have some likes, just be natural and truthful. You are not at any loss if you don't proclaim any hobby.

8. Look before you leap: Never be eager to blurt out your answers unless you have heard the question and given it a thought. Often, it happens that aspirant answers without completing the question and lands themselves in another related question. In crux what you answer is important but how you answer is more important. It is a simple rule, we have two ears to listen and one mouth to speak so speak in that proportion. Be measured and direct. If not in position to answer just say it plainly.

9. Practice make a man perfect: Practice as many mock interviews as you can. You can give as many mocks as you can and afford but the single most important thing you have to take from this is feedback from the panel. The feedback helps you to understand your negatives as well as positives. Do as many mistakes as possible because in this way you explore all the things that can go wrong and simultaneously you are upgrading yourself to understand what is working for you and what is not. Remember if you want to ace anything you have to practice it to the point of excellence. Be ready and do all antics you have in your mind in your mocks because the margin for error will be near zero so gather the feedback and try to improve upon it in each mock interview. Mind well you are increasing your good luck quotient by facing the mock interviews.

10. Rome was not built in a day: Remember we all start from scratch. The expert today was a novice yesterday. Mains was your knowledge exam, interview is your wisdom test. It has to be built up bit by bit, and good things do take time. Your time will come when you are ready. Just give your best and forget the rest! 

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11. Take a deep breath and be in moment: Not easy, i know it very well! But wait i am not going to tell you to start meditation when you have not done it till this moment! People are anxious, jittery and not sure what they are going to face. But relax, take a deep breath, if i am asked how? i will say go to a spa have a relaxing massage. Take atleast 2 massages before you appear for interview. It will help you to unwind your body and affects the mind in a very positive way. Some may think it is activity of indulgence which is an opinion i too carried for long, but it is hardly true, a good massage will make you relaxed in body and mind. We after developing habit of sitting for long hours develop postures and sore pains which we are not even ready to recognise because they become a part of our self. It is my request to all who are appearing for interview to have a good relaxing massage. If you feel great you would look great ©

-Akshay 

Ashok Vijay Dashmi

 Emperor Ashok was one of his kind, with an empire parallel to no other Indian king in indian history. Ashok Vijay Dashmi is celebrated to commemorate the date of Emperor Ashok's act of submitting to Buddha and his Dhamma.

Emperor Ashok was a great warrior and had attained all the qualities of a great King. He waged war against kingdom of Kalinga(Orissa), whic he won but was moved by the bloodshed and loss of life in the war. He was shaken to the core. In this situation it was only in Buddhist way if life he could see his peace.

Emperor Ashok was indeed a great soul. He erected stupas and stone inscriptions all round the country conveying Buddha's message of peace and love. One such inscription was deciphered by James Princep , this discovery led to the fact that Ashok was addressed to as 'Devanam Piyadassi' I e., One who is  loved by Gods'.

Emperor Ashok has done a great favour on India and its people by establishing a country with ethically motivated individuals.He helped establish Buddhism in neighbouring countries and had even motivated his own children to be Buddhist monks and sent them out of India for spreading message of Buddhism.

We as a nation pay our homage to Samrat  Ashok for his tremendous sevice to the cause of Buddhism India and World.

Akshay ©