WEF report promises `achhe din' for India

If one is to go by  annual study report of the World  Economic Forum, India has made a drastic improvement in its global ranking in terms of public trust in politicians, diversion of public funds, `irregular payments and bribery' at government offices as well as favouritism shown by the government officials to influential corporates.

In terms of favouritism shown by the government officials to influential corporates, India has made a giant leap from 94th position last year to 49th position this year, while it terms of public trust in politicians, the WEF report has placed India on 50th position from 115th last year. Similarly on matters related to  'diversion of public funds', India's ranking has moved up to 60th place, from 98th last year. 

Appreciable improvement in India's global rankings on the above-mentioned parameters is an indication of  country's `achhe din' (good days)  as being claimed by the present ruling government, in the time to come.

However, on the flip side of it, according to report, there are many areas of concern for the country as well and the new government will really have to make a Himalayan efforts to improve India's global ranking on overall global competitiveness front  where India's rank has slipped 11 place to 71st position amid challenging economic conditions.

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On Teachers Day

Undoubtedly teachers are the one who have thought all of us how to read, how to write and how speak. They have made us able to interact with the people. Selflessly they become our friend and teach us the lesson of life.  They are the role model of all of us who give their best to make us responsible citizens and good human beings. Many of us would not have been so much responsible, understanding, had teachers not been in our lives.

And frankly speaking that without teachers our lives would be like a book with no lessons.  A Teacher is not only that persons who gives you his/her  8 hours to teach you your syllabus but instead a teacher could be you mother, your father, your friends or anyone who teaches you, understands you well.

On Teachers Day today, let us not only bow our heads before our teachers and pay respect to them for making us what we are today but also spread their virtues, teachings, ideologies to our younger generations to make our country a great nation and restore its pristine glory.

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NCRB report, increasing incidents of crimes against women

Increasing incidents of crimes against women in our country had only eroded reputation of our country where since time memorial women had always been held in high esteem. If  the latest repors of the National Crimes  Records Bureau are anything to go by,  92 women were raped on an average every day in India. According to report, the  total number of rape cases reported in India has gone up to 33,707 in 2013 from 24,923 in 2012. 
Among all the Indian states, Madhya Pradesh continues to be on the top as far as number of rapes in the country are concerned. As per the NCRB data, Madhya Pradesh at an average records 11 rapes every day, with a total of 4,335 such cases, which is the highest in 2013 among all other states. 

The NCRB data is a gruesome reminder to the fact that notwithstanding salutary changes in the socio-economic condition of women in our country with growing level of literacy among them, they continue to be at the receiving end in our society in our male-dominated society.

It is high time we need change our mindset towards women  and must not treat them as an object of deriving sexual  pleasure. No society or for that matter a nation can progress on moral, spiritual and social parameters unless and until we give respect to women they deserve.

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Building Bridges

Once upon a time two brothers who lived on adjoining farms fell into conflict. It was the first serious rift in 40 years of farming side by side, sharing machinery, and trading labor and goods as needed without a hitch.

Then the long collaboration fell apart. It began with a small misunderstanding and it grew into a major difference, and finally it exploded into an exchange of bitter words followed by weeks of silence. One morning there was a knock on John's door. He opened it to find a man with a carpenter's toolbox. "I'm looking for a few days work," he said.

"Perhaps you would have a few small jobs here and there. Could I help you?"

"Yes," said the older brother. "I do have a job for you. Look across the creek at that farm. That's my neighbor, in fact, it's my younger brother. Last week there was a meadow between us and he took his bulldozer to the river levee and now there is a creek between us. Well, he may have done this to spite me, but I'll go him one better. See that pile of lumber curing by the barn? I want you to build me a fence - an 8-foot fence - so I won't need to see his place anymore. Cool him down, anyhow."

The carpenter said, "I think I understand the situation. Show me the nails and the post-hole digger and I'll be able to do a job that pleases you."

The older brother had to go to town for supplies, so he helped the carpenter get the materials ready and then he was off for the day.

The carpenter worked hard all that day measuring, sawing, nailing.

About sunset when the farmer returned, the carpenter had just finished his job. The farmer's eyes opened wide, his jaw dropped.

There was no fence there at all. It was a bridge... a bridge stretching from one side of the creek to the other! A fine piece of work handrails and all - and the neighbor, his younger brother, was coming across, his hand outstretched.

"You are quite a fellow to build this bridge after all I've said and done."

The two brothers stood at each end of the bridge, and then they met in the middle, taking each other's hand. They turned to see the carpenter hoist his toolbox on his shoulder. "No, wait! Stay a few days. I've a lot of other projects for you," said the older brother. "I'd love to stay on," the carpenter said, "but, I have many more bridges to build."

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मन को शुद्ध रखें, कुसंस्कारों का त्याग करें।

एक बार समर्थ स्वामी रामदासजी भिक्षा माँगते हुए एक घर के सामने खड़े हुए और उन्होंने आवाज लगायी - “जय जय रघुवीर समर्थ !” घर से महिला बाहर आयी। उसने उनकी झोलीमे भिक्षा डाली और कहा, “महात्माजी, कोई उपदेश दीजिए !”

स्वामीजी बोले, “आज नहीं, कल दूँगा।”

दूसरे दिन स्वामीजी ने पुन: उस घर के सामने आवाज दी – “जय जय रघुवीर समर्थ !”उस घर की स्त्रीने उस दिन खीर बनायीं थी, जिसमे बादाम-पिस्ते भी डाले थे।वह खीर का कटोरा लेकर बाहर आयी। स्वामीजीने अपना कमंडल आगे कर दिया। वह स्त्री जब खीर डालने लगी, तो उसने देखा कि कमंडल में गोबर और कूड़ा भरा पड़ा है। उसके हाथ ठिठक गए। वह बोली, “महाराज ! यह कमंडल तो गन्दा है।”

स्वामीजी बोले, “हाँ, गन्दा तो है, किन्तु खीर इसमें डाल दो।” स्त्री बोली, “नहीं महाराज, तब तो खीर ख़राब हो जायेगी। दीजिये यह कमंडल, में इसे शुद्ध कर लाती हूँ।”

स्वामीजी बोले, मतलब जब यह कमंडल साफ़ हो जायेगा, तभी खीर डालोगी न ?”

स्त्री ने कहा : “जी महाराज !”

स्वामीजी बोले, “मेरा भी यही उपदेश है। मन में जब तक चिन्ताओ का कूड़ा-कचरा और बुरे संस्करो का गोबर भरा है, तब तक उपदेशामृत का कोई लाभ न होगा। यदि उपदेशामृत पान करना है, तो प्रथम अपने मन को शुद्ध करना चाहिए, कुसंस्कारो का त्याग करना चाहिए, तभी सच्चे सुख और आनन्द की प्राप्ति होगी।"

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