Dear New Year

Dear New Year,

I write this letter to you on behalf of my fellow human beings. You are someone very special for all of us. I write this to remind you about the many things we did on the new year eve, as we eagerly awaited your arrival. We stayed up late into the night, sang songs and danced to happy tunes. Many of us even played with fireworks wishing fresh hope and renewed joy into the lives of six billion of us.

Trust me, as we waited for you we drafted many resolutions, decided to be different and imagined wild fortunes for ourselves. As we lay in your lap during the next 365 days, fill us with love and peace and harmony and help us grow into bigger and wiser humans. With the passage of time, as you turn old and as we all eagerly wait once again to welcome your sibling make sure we see him as better humans.

Christmas

I was invited by Al's family to their home near Berlin for Christmas. The family was so very affectionate that when I was returning I suddenly started missing my own home. For the first time I ever went to Church on a Christmas day. One of Al's brothers married a mexican girl and people visiting the church thought I was her brother :). When all of us returned home after the mass everyone played musical instruments. Father on the piano, mother singing the carols, the children playing clarinets and flutes made the evening one of the most wonderful evenings of my stay here in Germany. We then exchanged christmas gifts ;-)! After having the dinner, we went to a church at which Al's grandfather was a pastor for 30 years. The musical concert at the Church got over at 12 midnight. The next day, we went on a sight seeing tour. Al's father was my guide and explained the historical significance of many places that we visited (a shiplift, a monastry, a kind of hill top from where you could see sever lakes, an Ostrich farm ..).

During my stay, I told them many stories about India and Indian Culture. I told them about the Indian marriage system and the life long dedication of Indians to their spouses. Their bewildered ears didnt believe that this could be true, their curious minds had many questions and incessantly sought answers.. The experience of staying with them was very educative and relaxing. I was getting the first hand experience of the life of germans and i should confess i really enjoyed my christmas.

This being the last post of this year, I thank all the people who crossed my way and enriched the experience of living on this earth.

Wish you A very very happy and prosperous new year!

On Freedom

The Freedom to BE
To live and love
The DREAM

The Freedom to SEE
To feel and judge
The EXPERIENCE

The Freedom to THINK
To inquire and question
Conventional WISDOM

The Freedom to EXPRESS
To imbibe and profess
One's BELIEF

The Freedom to ACT
To succeed and win
Someone's HEART

The Freedom to GROW
To pursue and realise
An AMBITION

The Freedom to BE
A HUMAN BEING

Musings of Jagannadha Tamvada

ICE and Cologne

I had to go to Cologne the other day. Naidu(a parthi classmate of mine) lives there and I met him after almost two years. Incidentally, it was also the 80th birthday of Sai Baba and we both went to the Sai Organisation in Bonn for bhajans in the evening. For the first time I travelled at a speed of 320 Kms/hr on ground. The Inter-City Express International going from Frankfurt till Amsterdam covered the distance between Frankfurt Airport and Cologne(197 Kms) in 57 minutes. The breath-taking speed and the picturesque landscape made for a heavenly combination that left me thrilled. Normally the ICEs touch a speed of 160 Kms an hour, but this one was an exception! 

Abdul Kalam

These were some of the questions that children asked our President on children's day. I feel we are very fortunate to have Abdul Kalam as the president of our country. For a full list please see rediff or Indian President's website

Ragamala Rahi Datta : Respected Sir, Mahatma Gandhi loved India, Subhash Bose loved India, They fought for freedom of India. How I love my India?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: When you are a student, acquire as much knowledge as possible. Work hard and have a mission in your life

M.S.Adityan : Respected Rashtrapatiji, You are a great man and a national hero. I am keen to know one strong reason that makes you a great person. I am asking this as I don't know how to idolize you. As a Nuclear Scientist, As President of India or as a humble down to earth person who likes children. Namaskarams
President APJ Abdul Kalam: My dream is to have a thought that "I should known for being a good human being".

Radhakrishnan: Respected Our President what is your highness message for children on children's day, November 14,2005 with love and god bless you
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Dear children, I have got the following message: Dream, Dream transforms into thoughts, Thoughts results into action, action results into achieving the mission. I suggest you to have a purposeful d ream in your life.

S.Arun Venkat Krishna : Sir: If God appears before you, what request will you make at HIM ?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: I will pray: Almighty God bless my nation with people of hardworking and knowledge and thereby make the nation economically developed nation.

Surbhi Jain : I am a student of class ix. In our School's report card, there are two items where grades are provided - "Concentration" and General Efforts". My father says if I have Grade A in both, I will always have good marks in all subjects. Is he right?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Normally, father should be right. My father, used to tell me, the highest education is the acquisition of knowledge continuously.

G.Uday Kiran : Dear sir,Kalam, how can you manage to build a dynamic India in the conditions of unemployment,poverty and corruption?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Problems gives challenge. Challenge leads to achievements with knowledge and work.

D N Joshi : Sir, how much time one should dovote for becoming a good student?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: A good student arrives when his learning process takes care of two aspects. One is knowledge acquisition, another acquisition of a good value system.

NITESH SONI : Mr. President, What's your first priority for the nation?
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Lifting the 260 million people from below the poverty line.

Tushar Wadhwa : Sir, I want something new and I work new experiment. my parents and my friend laugh me
President APJ Abdul Kalam: Don't get disheartened. The people who have a dream and worked hard and didn't deviate from the aim have all succeeded.

President APJ Abdul Kalam: In Conclusion: Friends, I have a message for you. Can you send me a mail in a quarter page for the following question? "What will I be remembered for?" The "I" stands for you friends. Each one of you can answer to my question through my website: www.presidentofindia.gov.in. In short, you may share your dreams with me. I will respond to the interesting mission of yours with a book of mine. May God bless you

Poster Presentation

Imagine being marooned on a land with plenty of good food surrounded by sea on all sides. Also imagine being lucky to share the same plight with some beautiful people. Would you grumble? Not necessarily! I experienced the same feeling today when I attended a conference in which almost every presentation was in German. I understood some presentations that had more pictures and less text. I also made a poster for the first time in my life and notoriously I am penning down here almost everything that I did for the first time.

Interviews

Today for the first time I interviewed students to hire research assistants for myself and for our group. My heart wanted to ensure that the students feel comfortable and relaxed. Possibly I was imagining myself being there in their shoes or I was behaving the way I wished someone interviewed me. We humans are undeniably sensitive to the fact that we have many things in common.

Being on the uncommon side of the table, I could gauge the minds of people whom it seperated. One mind concious of opportunity, the other looking for a productive colleague. One trying to impress, the other making judgement about the impressions. Each attempting to explore the other and the possiblity of profitable fructification from a potential wedlock. Few minutes, intricate yet simple questions, insightful answers, 'biased or unbaised' opinions that lead to decisions.

Might is Right?

Does a nation have a right to impose its principles and convictions on another? In twenty first century when the meaning of 'sovereignty of state' is clearly understood, what on earth could justify a nation teaching another the concept of Democracy? History stands testimony to the fact that mounting civilian casualties is the only fruit of such misadventures. Is the value of human life so insignificant that world leaders could afford sacrificing it in such huge magnitudes?

The fact that democratic nations are waging this war, makes me question if democracy could be considered synonymous with civilization. Whether war is breaking terror networks or creating them has become a simple question with an obvious answer. Unfortunately even today, the world doesn’t dare to contest the actions of mighty! Unable to appreciate this war, I feel either they are deluded or they wish to delude the world into an improbable safe and heavenly order.

On Being Human

Somehow human being is a 'wonder' and reflects the pinnacle of God's creative prowess. As a micro-cosmic representation of the universe, he inherits a pretty rich legacy. He wondered why the sky was blue and how the bird flew. He reasoned the blueness of the sky and designed a plane that made him fly! He wondered if he could touch the moon and lo! he walks on it pretty often now. Man aimed at victory and relished glory. His inquisitiveness, his ability to dream and his power to turn his dreams into reality, his love for his posterity mark him as the crown prince of the creation. I am proud to be a human. Beyond the pseudoness of being German, American, Indian or African dont we see a realness of being Human?

A 'Natural' Question?

Long since I started believing that the basis of the Universe is love, a fundamental question arose in my mind again and again: Why do people suffer? and this turns into a more pertinent question when I see that the suffering is a direct result of nature's fury.

Either we have a 'Mother' called 'Nature' who is both loving and furious or her love manifests at times as 'fury'. If love and love alone is the fundamental basis of the creation, none of the explanations satisfy my heart and make me understand why suffering exists in this world. 'Law of Karma' that defines the process of our life as a reflection, reaction and resound, the 'Law of Non Dualism(Adwaitam)' that emphasises the role of the 'One' who is responsible for everything seem to some how contradict each other.

After pondering for a long time, after asking this question so many times, I just wonder if we have enough insight into the way the universe works. If this world with all its glory and suffering is rooted in 'Love' then there is something that we missed all the way..!

My First Trans-Atlantic Trip

My first journey across the Atlantic ocean to the United States of America let me with beautiful memories. The main purpose of the trip was giving a presentation in Kansas City. Erik and I were together till we reached Kansas. On the morning of 27th we boarded the German high speed train that would take us to Frankfurt Airport. I reached the railway station just 3 minutes before the departure time and joined a tensed up Erik who was eagerly waiting for my arrival. The Conference was enjoyable with everyone eagerly giving their visiting cards to everyone! My presentation was also well received. My first impression of US is somewhat paradoxical. I never felt like nor was I ever treated like a foreigner in this land of foreigners. Thanks to the multitudes of people from across the world that constitute the vitals of America, I felt pretty much at home. Color is the spice of life of here! I also jumped in joy to browse through thirty channels on TV that were all in English. I was equally thrilled to see an english newspaper in the morning and I could ask for directions without bothering least about understanding them!

On Friday evening I left for my cousin Sanju's home in Richmond. He is one of my cousins who ventured into America for doing his Masters in 90s. I admire him much and conversing with him is lively and insightful. His parents(dodamma and peddanaaru) live with him and he lives with his wife(vadina) and nine months old son(sameer) who is more American than Indian. I had a great time at Richmond. Peddanaaru resembles my father very much. He retired from Indian Airforce and is enjoying a retired life now. Dodamma and Vadina made exquisite south indian cuisine throughout my stay. We drove to Washington DC on saturday. Shiva Vishnu temple in Baltimore, Capitol Hill, Smithsonian, NASA space museum, White House, Jefferson House, Lincon Memorial were some of the many sites we had been to( most of them were previews and we saw more of exteriors than interiors!..:). 'Pulihara', 'Daddojanam' and 'Prasadam' formed the main course of the menu that we relished in front of the Capitol under a huge tree. We returned to Richmond by around 12.30 midnight and retired after a long day. On sunday, we watched 'Paramanadaiyya Sishyulu Katha', an old telugu hilarious classic that leaves its audience with many giggles. I spoke to my cousins Rama, Raghu, Radhamma, Saila and Sugreev on phone and saw Akhil and Alekhya on webcam.

On monday morning, I left for Boston and I will write about my soulful experience in Boston later. I came back to my pavilion in the picturesque and disciplined Germany yesterday!

On Academicians

Someone pointed to me today evening the irony of his choice of becoming an academician..

"I thought (before becoming an academician), that I will work for two hours a day (giving lecture at the University) and the rest of the time is there for myself..Now I realise I work for not two but twelve to fifteen hours a day." Laughing at this irony and the twist in the time that is needed to devote to work, this gentlelman dreamt for a second about being an MBA and a relaxed heaven!

Being an academician is a wonderful experience, as it affords freedom; but at the same time it involves huge responsibility and self commitment. Even this gentleman would not trade into becoming an MBA if he had a choice, for nothing in the world can make a true academician relinquish the beauty of indepth study! Do you believe that people at the age of eighty three are still writing books? Does academics somehow promise perpetual youth?? may be..

Sania..I 'm impressed

An Indian girl confronted world no. 1(my favourite Sharapova) in US open fourth round yesterday. I was thrilled as I saw this not-much-experienced Indian girl powerfully attack the mighty one. After two games I couldnt resist calling other Indian friends to tell them history is happening.

Sania won the hearts with her tenacity. Playing with Sharapova is not a joke, and sania's undefatigable spirit inspired me. She lost the match as everone foresaw but she dared to dream. A girl of 18 years taught me many vital lessons of life.

The Wander TAG

This year's Institute's Wander-Tag(Hiking Day). We all assembled at the Jena Paradies Station at 8.30 in the morning, got into a regional train, got to our destination in 15 minutes and WANDERED. 

Across the rivers! 

Through the woods.. 

Aimlessly wandering on the Wander- tag! 

The First Football Match

Yesterday, I went to play football for the first time in Germany. Everyone, except me, was in shorts. I was unanimously chosen as a goal keeper by my team. Thanks to my best efforts the other team made eight wonderful goals. We had five goals to our credit at the end.

What struck me in particular is how everyone tried to be professional even though it was a mundane match. They wore perfect dresses. They fell and cried perfectly when they fell during the course of the match. It was after three years that I was running on a playground. The last time I remember playing was as the captain of our basket ball team at my university in India.

I was totally exhausted (and I liked the feeling). The Saale river with all the greenery around near the ground made it look beautiful.

Life is a play
and you have a say..

Enjoy it as you lay
under the sky so gray

Make love and happiness your way
Deep in them
Resolute as you stay..

Life is a play
and you have a say!

Jena

The place called 'Jena' in which I am living right now. Carl Zeiss (Sony Camera Lens) has its establisments in Jena. Three Max Planck Institutes( Economics, Chemical Ecology, Biogeochemistry), Fedrich Schiller University and University of Applied Sciences are the research institutes and educational institutions here. River Saale also flows through the town

The Spirit of Non-Dualism(Adwaitam)

One of the most wonderful things that happened to me in my life is knowing little about the real Indian philosophy of non-dualism. In its crux, the person who is writing this is GOD and the person who may read this is also GOD. There is only GOD and He became this creation. He loves Himself and He confronts with Himself. It is He doing everything to Himself!

Now comes the obvious question to my mind: who am I then? Who is this GOD and what is the relation that I have with Him?

'Earth is but a manifestation of My Being.
Made out of My Life!
Wherever you look, I am there.
Wherever you walk, I am there.
Whomsoever you contact, I am that person.
I am in each, in all My Splendour.'

"I am You;You are I; that is the truth.
There is no distinction.
The appearance of differences is the delusion.
You are waves; I am the ocean.
Know this and be free, be Divine.”