Every year, on Guru Poornima there is a frenzy of celebrations. But have we ever acknowledged the people who have taught us the greatest lessons of life? I make a humble attempt to express my deepest gratitude to those who have guided and shaped me. Let me begin by mentioning my parents, especially mother, who selflessly lived for our wellbeing. I remember her -- graceful and elegant, always adjusting, sacrificing and living for us four siblings. Never did she say anything negative about those who had pained or wronged her…. Her hard work, dedication and love for perfection always inspire, even though she is not with us in her physical form. My father, strong, loving, an upright policeman, a patriot and most of all a good human-being….hope that one day I can do them both proud. My siblings, whom I love dearly…. such incredible human beings! Nisha didi, Anshu didi…

Right from my childhood, while other peers were busy in normal mundane affairs, my curiosity to know what a human body comprises of and to unravel the processes which made it diseased, always fascinated me. In this curious exercise, I got an opportunity to sift through varied subjects, which, in the normal course, were neither needed to be pursued for academic distinctions nor for any specific motive in mind. I was not sure whether what I inferred was, in fact, right or wrong, but whatever I acquired, with the Divine Grace, made me believe that what all of us call as a “man” is a product of “discursive formations” and of the “socio-political contingencies” of the various epochs of human history. The concept of “man” is beyond grammar and logic. “Man” is an invention of society, in the same way that “being” is an invention of metaphysics. While a famed…

Before proceeding with penning down my musings on “Svadhyay” I find here an opportunity to profusely thank Venerable Meena Om ji, the originator and the exalted driving force behind this innovative platform of pranam.org, to have encouraged me to lay bare my personal experiences, which I think, are never ending to uphold the infinite concept of swadhyay. It would be pertinent to refer to what Swami Vivekanand once told a seeker when asked how many persons have been influenced by his sayings. He said that even if he can change only one person in his life time, it will make his life well lived for. As truth is eternal and multi faceted, therefore, Swami Vivekanand succinctly opined that “Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true." Through these musings what I am conveying about my personal experiences with “svadhyay” is true as well.…

Now starts the step by step story of my journey in pursuing “svadhyay”. Between the age of 5 to 10 years, children played “gulli-danda” or “kanche” or flew kites, all my innate self drove me to collect herbs, plant flowers, fruits and roots, macerate them and put them in one “pateela” discarded by my mother. In the name of fire, I used to make a “desi chulha” by using three bricks in stand on position. Collect dried leaves and dried twigs from a number of trees growing in our house. In the boiling cauldron, some salt and some sarson oil was put to prepare medicine, which in my juvenile mind, perceived to cure humans and cattle of their ailments. Apart from my innocuous shenanigans with plants, I took to reading “Satyarth Prakash” by Swami Daya Nand, Books by Swami Vivekanand, Swami Ram Tirath and Swami Satya Nand. These books was…

It was more than two and half years since I had been on Speaking Tree site of Times of India. I as a seeker was pulled to interact with spiritually inclined souls. Initially after seeing so many famous names in the Master’s category at Speaking Tree fourm, I felt I could interact with them and revive the spiritual knowledge which is dormant in me. I know many will agree with me that this was one of the criteria for becoming a member of that esteem site which is suppose to be the first spiritual site in this country.I understood the importance of having the association of a Master who is a true Saint, and then I naturally wanted to have a one to one contact with them. I started to blog my thoughts and send Personal Message to them as I would send to my other seekers. After say about…

Having been in business for more than a decade and a half, the travails and tribulations of being a woman entrepreneur in India have been like climbing mount Everest most often than not. Until now. And how do I claim this? Through the two ‘AA ratings’ that are infallible hallmarks and the basis of our Culture – experience, anubhav and the subsequent realisation, anubhuti. Even though I have been banking with the second largest private bank in the nation --HDFC, my recent interaction with them has been nothing less than horrific. As the lockdown lifted and we all limped back to work metaphorically, the reality of having incurred huge losses hit me like a brick on the head! The shops we retailed in were shut, buyers cancelled purchase orders and unsold stock grew by the day. Chances of reviving manufacturing were slim as most migrant workers were still at home…