I experience therefore I am

Most job application criteria require experience apart from formal qualifications. I have wondered why this is necessary especially when someone is applying for the job for the first time? Unless a person has a job, it is impossible to get the necessary experience.  
Philosopher Aristotle compared the mind of an infant to a blank clay tablet, "tabula rasa" on which experiences leave their mark. This could be applied to adults as well because experience is the best teacher in life. Growing up is a journey that we have to undertake every day of our lives and this journey will bring ample opportunities to experience the specific way of life. As we journey this life, our life is a blank clay tablet that has to be written as we experience situations and instances in life. It is important for any one of us to go through this journey as it unfolds. There are bad and good experiences as the consequence of learning, however, the goal of this journey of experience must be a good experience. The majority of people experience good things in life and this is crucial for our growth and for our happiness. 
The experience leads to knowledge and knowledge and not vice versa. Knowledge from the experience helps us to perform and conduct ourselves well. For instance, unless one has experience of heat, one will fail to recognize the fire. Experience teaches us lessons in life; lessons to cope with life and persevere in endeavors. Our mind craves to have positive experiences and rightly so we will have ample opportunities to fulfill this craving. Despite the negative experiences we can choose to embrace only positive experiences because it is in positive experiences we find our happiness. 3
We could experience pain in the form of feelings in the mind. This painful experience will make us resilient towards the specific situation and help us to cope with it. On the other hand, joyful experiences will propel us to strive to stay in that experience and also help us to constantly seek positive experiences in life. This is important for our existence and a form of the coping mechanism of life without which we will find ourselves delusional or psychotic. Experience conditions our behavior in life. For instance, a criminal commits a crime due to his past experiences of life and most criminals have a negative experience in their early life. 
We experience there we exist and if not for the experience we would be fish out of water. This is one of the important reasons why employers look for experience from the candidates of job. Basically, employers are seeking the knowledge they gained from the experience at the job. It is crucial that we gain as much experience as possible in our everyday lives. Let us strive to experience so that we can cope with life and learn traits of life. 

COP 26 too ambitious

How many of us are aware of the emission of carbon from our own vehicles that we drive every day. We witness this as we step on the road. As we know most combustion vehicles emit a certain percentage of carbon. Be that as it may, some motor vehicles are atrociously emitting smoke into the atmosphere. How can we address the important and urgent issue of emission?  

A number of world leaders gathered in Glasgow to discuss a serious issue of climate change. Pessimistically the Conference of Parties had ample effect on the populace of the world. It seemed optimistic as the grand opening with promising speeches by some of the key leaders including Prime Minister of Barbados and Prime Minister of United Kindom. Thereafter, all other speakers and presenters had a mouthful to speak and advise how we can control climate change within the next 30 years or so. Verbose and vocal presentations boosted the hopes of people and left to think all of us need to do something before it is too late. 

The COP26 took some ambitious steps towards protection of the nature, which is welcome news for many countries. Although some of the steps were unrealistic, they made an impression among all the attendees of the conference. Deforestation, reduction of carbon footprint, and use of electric vehicles among other important topics discussed were of crucial importance. Scientists and academics opined their views of how climate change is affecting humans and animals. Some of the ambitious decisions taken at COP26 could be considered long-run gaols which will take time because of its feasibility such as non-fossil fuel use. 

However, if the leaders addressed the immediate issue of emission from fossil fuel usage on our vehicles and industries. Although there are measures and commissions to monitor the emission, oftentimes they are ignored or shown a blind eye. We can witness the dark smoke from some of the motor vehicles which impact humans directly and nature Every country needs to address this issue urgently and penalize the perpetrators of carbon emission both private motor vehicles or large industries. It would have been helpful if this was done as an immediate measure to control climate change. It is not too late as we are still in the mood for COP26, we can control climate change with immediate monitoring of carbon emission from domestic and industrial burning of fossil fuels.  

Near Yet Far: A Pandemic to Remember

 COVID-19 Pandemic has created havoc globally. There are several studies that have been conducted as relates to the physical and psychological effects of Pandemic. Those effects are devastating and will remain for many years to come. Economic devastation is mindboggling and will take years to recover from this economic fall. Ample ink has been spilled on these topics of immediate concern and hence, states and organizations have come forward to address them with almost hastily. Therefore, I would like to focus our attention on two other aspects of human need and they are social and spiritual effects.

The human need to interact and mingle with others is necessary for our growth and evolution. Peaceful coexistence is possible if all persons engage in proper social contacts. The growth of the child largely depends on the society where children learn the traits of life and besides they gain knowledge from each other's experience. Likewise, adults socialize at work or otherwise which bonds them to live peacefully and hence evolve as whole human beings. Spouses and family members feel the effects of social distancing to reduce the spread of the virus. Family members are skeptical to touch each other which is natural because families want to protect each other. These effects are serious and will have a longlasting impact on individual growth. These impacts also might lead to human disasters such as enmity, quarrels, and alienation of others. Persons treat others with less dignity and respect due to distancing. Touch plays a significant role in the physical and psychological growth of individuals. This basic sense of touch has been curtailed due to the virus. It might take years to break this new normal of untouchability. 

Humans are spirit and body. Spiritual needs of humans fulfill other needs that are tangible. Although spiritual needs are not merely religious based but also inner peace emanating from the conscious. For many person spirituality rooted in religions as an impact on human growth and evolution. Worship places have been shut their doors. Persons have been denied access to their worship places by this deadly virus. Their right to a relationship with God has been trampled and destroyed. This will have effects on families and society. The relationship between God, humans, and the environment has been disturbed and will take years to bring them to perfect unity. The distance has been widening as the COVID virus is taking its toll around the world. Many have lost their loved ones and in retrospect, they have asked questions such as 'where is God?, why God is silent? why is God allowing this? is there, God?' 

In conclusion, I suggest that all of us reflect, ponder, and share our own struggles in fighting this virus. Human growth depends on all aspects such as physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and environmental. As our healthcare workers strive to help in combating this deadly virus, I urge everyone to focus on life and growth holistically. Help those who are struggling with their social and spiritual relationships. It is crucial to focus on these aspects so that humans grow and evolve as a perfect human person. The human being is possible only through a blend of all essential aspects. I appeal to find ways and means to bring this blend and help each other in this noble task. 

Democracy in India

The nations have been driven by a non-existent vehicle called Democracy. There’s an inevitable reality of divide and rule in any given democracy. Democracy has become a mantra for the powerful to achieve the agenda that ensembles one’s whims. I have found difficult to believe in democracy. I beg to differ in my view on democracy. Democracy is actually and truly a dividing factor. It leads us to believe that everyone is equal in a democracy. My argument is no alien to any leading political thinkers and is neither foreign to any politicians. Every politician knows exactly that democracy is just a concept that is used to divide to rule so their dishonest agenda could be met.

In recent times political situations throughout the world have shown us that the powerful and big mouthed political party or politician wins the race under the shade of democracy. It’s really an irony that democracy is divisive and fulfils the agenda of the powerful. It is a domination over powerless. I would not hesitate to say that democracy is but domination. It could be called the largest domination country in the world. The United States of America has been the strongest witness when the current president won the election but not by popular vote. In India, it has been a trend for the longest time that big gab can win the elections and indeed under the banner of democracy.

I would like to focus on Indian political situation after the independence. India has been portrayed as the largest democracy in the world. Why has it been called with such an honourable title when India has failed to witness that in reality? I am not pointing my index-finger at any particular party. But I argue that this is only a pretence under which Indian political parties enjoy the ride. What goes for one must go for all. Don’t deduct that I am anti-BJP or anti-Congress as a Christian. That would be immature of a balanced view. I truly believe that I am an Indian and I pledge by the tricolour and I am proud of my anthem. One thing I cherish from my childhood is the national anthem that we sang two times a day during the school days; mind you I went to a Catholic School. My love for the country was nourished right from my early childhood so is yours.

Democracy has been adulterated by conceit and egotism of a few influential people who invariably use the Democratic process to achieve hidden agenda. The people who jump on the bandwagon have been like people in Plato's cave. They break open the chains to see the reality outside the cave. Formerly, they thought the cave and shadows protruding in the cave was their reality. The ego and pride of the influential are fed with some realities like religion which has nothing or very little to do with politics. It has been baffling to witness how religion has become so crucial to Indian politics. For every politician, religion is the point of departure and a perfect entry into success because religion is divisive. The politicians like to feed on something that helps them to climb the nasty ladder. I was deeply disturbed and deeply concerned at how the sheepfold or followers of different religions have taken advantage of the faith to entertain the political gimmicks. There is an attitude of hatred towards others purely based on religious beliefs.

If Hindus think that they are the majority in India and it’s a Hindu nation, I am certain that the party they support will certainly win for the rest of the existence of India although it might not be Hindu state because I believe that Hinduism is a way of life; a life of prosperity and harmony. Hinduism must help everyone to live a life of integrity. If Muslims and Christians think that they need to come together to oust another party so that India is truly a multi-religious nation, I think we are heading towards hating Hindus. Let us not be fooled by the rhetoric that it is a complicated issue. No, it is not complicated issue rather it is truly a simple gamut. Think of your school days or think of the village that you lived where Hindus, Muslims and Christians lived together almost as a family. Why is that sentiment from school or village is messed with hatred? Isn’t it the politicians and party workers divide us so that they achieve their goals of success. This success that they look for is not for the development of the nation rather it is the success of their own development. Each of us needs to reflect on where we are heading with this kind of political disasters. We must not allow democracy to die in the hands of the powerful dictators.

The democracy that is not popular is a dictatorship. Recent elections in Venezuela where Maduro has shown that democracy is a dictatorship because he has proved that he is indispensable. He has the complete autonomy to choose and elect himself for democracy has failed. It might seem like a democratic election. I wish this doesn’t happen to India. This could be a possibility if people think that the leaders they adore are indispensable and cannot be changed. In which case, the political leaders will go to any extreme to come to power, extremes such as manipulation and rigging of elections. This detrimental to the well being of a Nation. If BJP or Congress thinks that only they can save the country, they are wrong and we have guard against these political tantrums which are for the gain of a select few.

Religion without humanity is legion; a legion of evil people who want to bring discord among different faiths. Humanity should be the culmination of any religion. Honestly speaking, the people who spew hatred towards others religions by saying that their true religion or this nation belongs to that religion, I am certain that they have no knowledge and experience of God in their religion. In other words, they know very little about their own religion. We must be able to challenge them to study to know and experience the beauty and goodness in their own religion. No religion teaches us to hate other religion. But it seems like humanity is kept out of the equation. I am a Christian but I try to draw inspiration from other religions because they offer meaning to my life. Religion is a way to God and not God himself so let’s get it right now before it’s too late. God is in every religion and every religion must indicate a pathway to God.

In conclusion, I want to mention that I grew up as a small boy watching the great epic “Mahabharata” on Door Darshan channel in late 80’s. We didn’t have television at home so our church priest used to show on his television. I never considered it as something only Hindus must watch but it was a great experience to watch one of greatest epics of India. In Mahabharata, there’s reference to Bharatvarsa in which Bharata tribe lived with the same plurality of caste, religion, culture, language and lifestyle like today’s India. This is why India is called Bharath. So, when we utter the chant “Bharath Matha Ki Jai”, let us keep the plurality at the forefront. This is why India is considered to be the greatest nation on the planet with it’s diversity in every regard. I grew up learning Tulu language which is predominantly spoken by Hindus and I am proud of it. This doesn’t mean that I give up on my mother tongue, Konkani. These two languages along with Kannada gives me a specific identity as an Indian. I appeal to everyone, especially our political leaders to work for unity and respect for each other’s beliefs. Let us bring humanity back to our religions. Let the democracy enjoy its sanctity. Let us pay heed to the silent scream of democracy and reach out to keep it sacred.