Freedom

Photograph by Charuhas Acharya

Freedom or Liberty isn’t a light word to be trifled with, long declarations are dedicated to it, wars are fought in its name and now, the state recognizes the right to freedom. The last one used to confuse me as a child. If we are born free then, why does some one confer upon us right to freedom? Then, I started growing up and saw birds in cages, animals in zoos, and humans trapped in their own virtual prisons, I realized how difficult it is to remain free. The poor animals are the victims of being the weaker species but man who is supposed to be intelligent isn’t free either.

Poems worth knowing - 2

Recently, I came across a poem written by Krushnaji Narayan Athalye, the poem serves to remind that good and bad attitude both are just as problematic when taken to the extremes. The key to finding happiness is to find the middle.

It is a 20 stanza poem written in the style of Manache shloka by Saint Ramdas. The below mentioned stanza is my favourite. Pardon my translation, I tried my best to convey the meaning.

अति कोपता कार्य जाते लयाला

अति नम्रता पात्र होते भयाला

अति काम ते कोणते हि नसावे

प्रमाणामध्ये सर्व काही असावे!

             -

atii kopataa kaarya jaate layaalaa

(Excess anger leads to failure of your work)

atii namrataa paatra hote bhayaalaa

(Excess humility gives an impression of cowardice)

atii kaama te konatehii nasaave

(Never do anything in extremes)

pramaanaamadhe sarva kaahii asaave

(Everything is good in moderation)

Poems worth knowing - 1

If
If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;

If you can dream---and not make dreams your master;