Value Insight March 2022

MARCH 2022 1

2 VALUE INSIGHT

Governing Body Readers’ views are welcome. For
President feedback on the journal, contribution
and membership enquiries, please
Sri S. Regunathan contact:

Vice Presidents Secretariat:
Chamber No.10, o/o CPM-5, DMRC,
Sri Anand S Krishnan Airport Express Metro Station, Dhaula
Sri Satish Kumar Kuan, New Delhi-110010

General Secretary Phone:
+91-9599697643
Sri Ashwani Kumar
Website:
Treasurer http://www.valuefoundation.in

Sri Prem Arora Email:
[email protected],
Members [email protected]

Sri Sunil Kumar Sinha Note:
Sri Ravi Prakash Mehrotra Opinions expressed by authors/writers
are not necessarily be that of FRNV.
Editorial Board
Managing Editor

Sri Satish Kumar

Members

Sri Ashwani Kumar
Sri Prem Arora
Sri Sunil Kumar Sinha
Sri Ravi Prakash Mehrotra
Smt. Sudhamahi Regunathan

MARCH 2022 3

Content

06 Contributors
07 From The President’s

Desk
08 Subhashitam
09 Verbally Yours....

Sudhamahi Regunathan

13 The Power Of Speech

Neeraja Raghavan

17 Rally For Right Speech,
Ye Defenders Of Rights

Sujatha Padmanabhan

22 Benediction

Poojya Swami Bhoomanandha
Tirtha

24 Pay Attention To Your
Speech

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

26 Poetry

Rachna Joshi

29 Swami Vivekananda

S Regunathan

31 Speaking Stones

Aruna Srinivasan

35 Reflections

40 Childrens’ Corner

4 VALUE INSIGHT

@Bhupesh Pal

Greetings from Value Insights!

One of the secrets for the fact that array of articles on a specific subject,
India has an age old living tradition, a slightly plumper children’s section
they say, is that she has constantly are among the changes that have
reinvented herself. At every step, come about. We welcome aboard
she has assimilated the good and our many new writers with the
reinterpreted the old so as to hope that they will be associated
remain relevant. Interestingly, this with Value Insights for long. We also
month we celebrate a festival that introduce a new inspiring series on
is also said to be on this genre. Vivekananda as part of our regular
Holi, scholars say, is a festival built feature.
into the Hindu tradition, so as to
rejuvenate and cleanse the society This month we begin with the word
and reinvent itself. So this people’s as our subject of introspection
festival allows for a few hours of and understanding. All actions, all
consciously transgressing accepted dreams, all thoughts, we find, are
norms of conduct. Fresh energy first articulated in words. To choose
and new positive resolutions come the right words that lead to the right
centre stage after all the negative goal which is benefit to the listener,
and despondent energy is washed is the challenge.
out in colours.
We look forward to feedback and
Any makeover brings the energy of responses from our readers, even
the new and in this month of Holi, discussions on the ideas thrown up.
Value Insights has also decided to
reinvent itself. A new look, a new With hope and cheer…

Editor

MARCH 2022 5

CONTRIBUTERS

Neeraja Raghavan Rachna Joshi

Neeraja Raghavan is founder director Rachna Joshi is a poet and reviewer
of Thinking Teacher. With a PhD from who has lived in North America and
Princeton, her career spans corporate India. She has written four collections
research to academic positions in higher of poems: Configurations (Rupa & Co.,
education. Her passion lies in teaching 1993); Crossing the Vaitarani (Writer’s
Workshop, 2008); Travel Tapestry
and its effective methodology. (Yatra Books, 2013); and Monsoon and
Other Poems (Tethys, 2020). She works
Sudhamahi Regunathan as Senior Assistant Editor at the India

Sudhamahi Regunathan is writer- International Centre.
columnist-academic. She is former Vice
Chancellor, Jain Vishva Bharati Institute
(Deemed University). She has authored
ten books on different religions and their
philosophies, translated 15 from Hindi

and Sanskrit to English and has eight
edited works to her credit.

Sujatha Padmanabhan Aruna Srinivasan

Sujatha Padmanabhan has twin passions: Aruna Srinivasan is a bi-lingual writer-
theatre and teaching. She has three columnist-journalist, who writes in both
English and Tamil. Widely travelled she
decades of teaching experience besides has contributed to publications in South
being a theatre artiste. She has also east Asia and India. Aruna has woven her
written and directed short plays. wide range of interests and experiences
into her debut novel, The Cosmic Dots.

She lives in Chennai.

6 VALUE INSIGHT

From President's
Desk

The objectives of Foundation for organizational strength, encourage
Restoration of National Values are and motivate active participation
grand and noble and much required by members and bring more youth
for the country today. Every time I into our fold.
think of them I am filled with zeal
and enthusiasm. I find, whoever As for the second aspect, I reach out
I speak to also responds with the with a thought to as many of you as
same excitement. So I am confident read this magazine. Even though we
that FRNV is all set to progress. I talk of the values upheld by FRNV
have often heard a Subhashitani with relation to our country, they
being quoted which says: are Universal values, ones which go
to build a person of integrity and
अल्पायां वा महत्यां वा सेनायामिति निश्चय: । substance. Specifically, the Indian
हर्षो योधगणस्कयै ो जयलक्षणमुच्यते।। Diaspora can hugely contribute
to the growth of the organization
‘Whether the army is small or big, by not only communicating their
the sure sign of victory, it is said, is interests and views on WhatsApp
this one thing – the enthusiasm of or via e-mail, but also drawing
the group of soldiers that fight.’ from or expanding the capabilities
of FRNV in building pride for the
Our core group may yet be small but nation and her heritage in the future
our influence can be widespread. generation.
Our belief in ourselves and the
values we stand for are being As points for action, may we all try
constantly reinforced in our minds to bring in at least five new members
by our own experience and learning. each and enroll more subscribers
We must never stop marveling at the for Value Insights.
fact, that there are more people who
also believe like us than those who I would like to take this opportunity
do not. to convey my best wishes to all the
readers!
Work on any project has two aspects:
looking inwards and outbound S. Regunathan
activities. Looking into the first President/FRNV
aspect I feel we have to improve our

MARCH 2022 7

Subhashitam

के यरू ाणि न भूषयन्ति पुरुषं हारा न चन्द्रोज्ज्वलाः
न स्नानं न विलेपनं न कु समु ं नालङ्कृ ता मरू धज् ाः ।
वाण्ेयका समलङ्करोति परु ुषं या संस्कृ ता धार्यते
क्षीयन्ते खलु भूषणानि सततं वाग्ूषभ णं भूषणम् ।।

व्यक्ति को कं गन नहीं आभषू ित करते, न ही‌ गले में
पहने चन्द्रप्रभा के समान हार, न स्नान, न शरीर में
ले पित सगु न्ध, न फू ल, न ही ससु ज्जित के श। व्यक्ति
को तो के वल ऐसी वाणी ही सशु ोभित करती है जो
ससु ंस्कृ त हो। सत्य ही है, सभी‌ अलं कार एक दिन
विनाश प्राप्त होंग।े परन्ुत वाणी का अलं कार सदा ही
सच्चा आभूषण है।

Bracelets do not decorate a person, nor do necklaces
glittering like the moon, nor bath, nor smearing the
body with fragrance, nor f lowers, and nor decorated
hair. Only that speech embellishes a person, which
has been upheld with cultural refinement. Indeed,
all ornaments decay. Ornament of speech is always
the real ornament.

8 VALUE INSIGHT

















WORDS IN THE PRESENT

Rally For Right Speech, Ye
Defenders Of Rights

Sujatha Padmanabhan

Sujatha Padmanabhan quotes a study to say that 64 percent
Indians encounter fake news online, the highest reported
amongst the 22 countries surveyed and this can be highly
detrimental to national interest.

Angutara Nikaya (the fourth of the without choice forced to consume
five Buddhist Nikayas), presents any and every bit of news from
the incomparable notion of ‘Samma multiple sources. The ease of
Vacca’ or Right Speech, which availability of resources, public
wisdom has remained with us for platforms, social media handles
aeons and the foresight and vision like Twitter, Instagram and the like
that the Buddha’s Eight Fold Path have only increasingly complicated
propagated is something we have the interaction among netizens.
regrettably forgotten and failed to Whether a student, parent, teacher,
preserve in our daily lives. How else artist or businessmen, all equal
do we explain the terrifying threats stake holders, aren’t we all boggled
which vitiate the space that has by the content that plagues the
become an indispensable part of net? Being the largest democracy
our lives? As the world struggles to on the planet, that boasts of the
grapple with the deadly pandemic highest percentage of youth, we
and its associate challenges, we’re have greater cause for concern and

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WORDS IN THE PRESENT

have a dire need to detoxify this is evident from an inundation of
environment with Right Speech and groups and pages, replete with
Communication, now more than inflammatory and misleading
ever! content.

April 16, 2020 was witness to a Efforts are on to address the key
terrifying incident in Gandinchale challenges, trace and punish the
Village in Palghar, Maharashtra accused while we watch with
where two sadhus and a driver were growing concern at the efficacy and
lynched to death on account of success of these dangerous trends
rumours fuelled by WhatsApp about and how we are unarmed against the
thieves operating in the vicinity– plethora of content masquerading as
unfortunate victims of misplaced facts and how it impacts individuals,
wrath of a misled mob! family lives and the society at large!
How do we preserve our sanity
Manipulated in ways infinitely amidst all this chaos and keep a cool
subtle, we were mute witnesses to head when all around us, we stare
another chilling controversy that at extortion, fraud (hacking of bank
shook us to the core- The Bulli Bai accounts) identity theft, child porn
App case where several women saw and exploitation- now that any and
themselves auctioned! Examples every crime prevalent outside has
ad infinitum like the’ Sulli Deals’ invaded cyber space? How do we
App of July 2021 that was discovered hold in check the alarming trends in
subsequent to investigations in the community forming, hate rhetoric
Bulli Bai case, can be cited to show and accompanying aggression or
how precariously fragile a universe such blatantprovocation ofviolence?
we are in, given the volatility, We know now, it is imperative that
uncertainty and ambiguity of we have collaborative initiatives
present times. The Github and between government, publishers,
Twitter handle exposure alerted us social media platforms, civil right
to the dangers that are threatening groups and academia to put in
to engulf us and what causes greater place laws that govern /modulate/
shock and dismay is the involvement regulate published content. While
of the youth who are yet students or one is appreciative of the laudatory
dropouts. What further complicates efforts of all defenders’ / activists’
the issue is the anonymity that concern to guard the fundamental
the space offers, affording ‘safe democratic right of speech, we wish
havens’ for these cyber criminals all of us are equally proactive in
and virtual bullies and their reach ensuring that Right Sense prevails.
now extending beyond physical And for Right Sense to prevail, our
and geographical boundaries-the priority is to eliminate all threats,
irreparable damage they cause

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WORDS IN THE PRESENT

not escalate them! Let Right intervene. Let us pledge to maintain
Communication flourish for which the safety, security and sovereignty
we mandatorily use nothing but of this space by
Right Speech!
a. making sure we check/verify the
What constitutes Right Speech? reliability and veracity of the content
Going back to Samma Vacca, we in circulation
realize, the Buddha has mentioned
basically four types of abstentions. b. speak words that only empower
and enrich our lives
Abstaining from
c. weigh the worth of every utterance
a. false speech and only tell a sv tory worthy of
b. slanderous speech being told
c. harsh or hateful speech
d. idle chatter d. speak words which secure not
sever communities
The Buddhist Ethical Canon lays
significant emphasis on the third e. strive to dissuade and deter
precept of the Eight Fold Path since violators with determined resolve
it’s a mindful practice. When we and compassionate means
pause and reflect on what we Choose
to Say, we lay the foundation for An old Tamil saying comes to my
harmonious interaction! As peace- mind, ‘Upagaram seiyya iyalaadu
loving, just and responsible users, poinum, apagaram seiyyathiruttal
we must ensure we use extreme nalam’ meaning even if we are not
caution while we attempt to speak or able to help, it’s worthy not to cause
harm. India has become a case study
for adversarial, harmful networks
particularly during the pandemic.
Needless to say the lockdowns

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WORDS IN THE PRESENT

have further enabled an alarming between language and the medium,
spike in Bots or fake accounts and the better does the interaction
exposed our vulnerabilities. A study among users become! While the
by Microsoft found that 64 percent pluralistic space allows exponential
Indians encounter fake news online, growth in information at such
which seems to be the highest phenomenal speed, it also demands
reported amongst the 22 countries a code of shared ethics mutually
surveyed. A proliferation of edited beneficial for all to follow; it also
images, manipulated videos and requires an understanding coming
fake posts have successfully been from a widerhumanistic perspective
directed towards the targeted groups that overrides all sectarianism and
and the fallout and implications of inspires love, faith and hope to
such vindictive intent has affected lead a dignified and peaceful co-
the entire society. Is there any existence.
doubt that hateful and abusive
speech provokes violent retaliatory The Bulli Bai App and other cases
action? Don’t we have innumerable are a clarion call for urgent and
instances in history where hate immediate action! Our impulsive
speeches have incited such reckless reaction could easily be to
passion and revulsion that have led vociferously condemn outright
to obliteration of masses? Do we these deplorable and provocative
need a repeat Holocaust or a 9/11 to acts of aggression and violence
alert us to shun any kind of language with yet more abusive and vilifying
that causes disharmony? language! Many of us may even
feel righteously justified in doing
Language,indeed,hasevolvedinsuch so! How are we different then,
a dynamic and dramatic manner in from those who purportedly are
the last decade! Not that it has ever the perpetrators? The advocate of
remained static but the continuous peace, Martin Luther King, who fell
flux in which it has been has made to an assassin’s bullet (read hate,
us aware how representations rage, anger) warned - ‘Hate begets
also change and are continually hate-Violence begets violence. It is
modified, notwithstanding the fact all a descending spiral and the end
that each media also has its own is destruction-for everybody along
semiotics. Naturally language has the way of life, someone must have
been progressively adapting itself, the sense and morality to cut off the
absorbing neologisms and many chain of hate’.
novel ideas, so much so that our
own identity is consequent to how Let you and me be that someone to
we use language. The deeper the break, hinder any further harm and
understanding of the relationship not repose comfortably with a false
sense of assurance that we have

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WORDS IN THE PRESENT

not killed, induced others to kill or digital universe, we must only speak
incited anyone to be violent. Silence that which rewrites the nation!
and inaction at this juncture is also
collusion and abetment amounting No amount of reiteration is ample
to negligence! The Himalayan task to ensure that our youth needs to be
before us is to redefine for Gen Next cautious, questionwhateverwe read,
the significance of Right Speech post or share; let us closely monitor,
and to make sure we do not give up reflect and be vigilant users of all
ahimsa and tolerance, principles we social media! (FactCheck.org and
are historically known to persevere https://fullfact.org/about/ are two
in! Extolling the virtue and power sites that help us verify the truth).
of the spoken word, or Vak Shakthi, It would do us good to remember
Tiruvalluvar observes- that wisdom lies in discerning the
truth about the diverse things we
‘Since gain and loss in life, on come across from diverse sources.
speech depend The supportive initiatives of all
From careless slip in speech interested and concerned citizens
thyself defend’ will surely help foster our cultural
heritage when we willingly join
Each one of us needs to strive to hands to liberate what is under
erase these carbon footprints and siege, with Speech that is true and
to sanitize, stabilize, revitalize our free!

MARCH 2022 21

Benediction

The Mind as the Fulcrum

By Swami Bhoomananda Tirtha

Harih Om Tat Sat, Jai Guru, Jai Guru the mind. Basically and ultimately,
mind is the fulcrum point of our life.
Last night during the satsang,
somehow the subject of self and self- There are people who do not have
realization came up. I would like to intelligence. Even then they carry on.
complement that discussion with a We, first and last want contentment,
significant clarification. Do not think peace and fulfillment of the mind.
that the understanding about the self This can be obtained only by self-
and realizing it, rests solely upon the knowledge is another fact. Why
intelligence of man. We are living do I say this? Any attempt at self-
as embodied creatures. The word realization should be a process of
‘embodied’ certainly means we are purifying the mind, taking away
living in a body. This body is a seat for the constrictions of the mind and
five knowledge senses and five action instilling more and more expansion,
senses. In other words, the body is a purity, refinement and sensitiveness
seat for all the senses to be present to the mind. This process of mind
and to function. But the senses purification as we call it, is something
cannot function by themselves. Right indispensable. Unfortunately, many
from the start to finish, the senses people who take to the self and self-
have to be animated and activated realization either are not aware of
by the mind. I can open my eyes only this fact or they neglect it even if they
when the mind wishes and wills it. come to know of it. The seekers are
The mind employs the eye organ, not able to complete their saadhana
sees the objects, takes an impression and get fulfillment only because they
of the object and it preserves and are not able to build the necessary
remembers the impression. purity in the mind.

So, every experience, memory and Whenever the mind has to be purified,
knowledge, all are seated in the mind, it necessarily implies that our
sourced in the mind. So our life is sensory activities and interactions
primarily and ultimately mental. will also have to be reformed. We
The role of intelligence is only to cannot behave like animals, birds and
collect the information, collate it reptiles. We have a mind to think and
as collected by the mind and then intelligence to understand. So, all the
to derive knowledge and give the sensory activities should be subject
necessary direction and guidance to to the stable dictates and inspirations

22 V A L U E I N S I G H T

of the mind in which the intelligence they can also be mental. So in the
plays a very important role. mind level, articulational level,
sensory level, whatever impurity
सत्येन लभ्यस्तपसा ह्येष आत्मा and evil are there, they have to be
सम्यक् ज्ञानेन ब्रह्मचर्णये नित्यम् । discovered and eliminated. That
अन्तःशरीरे ज्योतिरयम् ो हि शूभ्रो means you have to choose your
यं पस्यन्ति यतयः क्षीणदोषाः ।। sensory indulgences, bridle them.

satyena labhyas-tapasā hyeṣa ātmā Similarly, you have to be very
samyak jñānena brahmacaryeṇa selective and pure in your talk.
nityam| Mean or display no harm to the
anta:śarīre jyotirmayo hi śubhro others. The mind has to expand,
yaṃ paśyanti yatayaḥ kṣīṇa-doṣā:|| including all the other people also
(Mundakopaniṣad 3.1.5) in it. Don’t think that: “I am alone,
my family is alone.” I am a member
Satyena labhyas-tapasahyesaatma. of the family, family is a member of
This atma, this self can be obtained the society, society is a member of
only by adhering to truthfulness, a the nation, the national is a member
mental discipline. of the globe, globe itself is a member
of the whole universe. As I am
Samyak jnanena brahmacaryena concerned about myself, I have to be
nityam: Also by the right guidance concerned about the world and the
from the intelligence in the form of society. Now, this is an expansion
knowledge and direction. – Getting free from the natural and
inborn constrictions of the mind
Brahmacaryena: By the practice of and allowing it to grow. This kind
celibacy. of a growth, purity, expansion and
refinement of the mind, this is what
Anta:sarire jyotirmayo hi subhro: is going to determine the success of
Within the body in the nature of your approach to self-realization.
brilliance and splendor, the self There is a play of intelligence there,
is constantly shining. It is being but primarily it is to bring about
eclipsed by the impure functioning with a note of compulsion and
of the mind and the unbridled inspiration, the purity and sublimity
activities of the senses. That is why of the mind. One should remember
we are not able to get at the splendor it.
of the self within.
Harih Om Tat Sat, Jai Guru.
Yam pasyanti yatayah ksina-
dosa: The striving souls when they (Excerpted from Saadhana, PR 08
become free of the defects or evil, Jan 2015 - Importance of Purity and
vices, so the process consists in Sublimity of Mind)
eliminating and eschewing all the
vicious traits in you. They can be
bodily, sensory, they can be oral,

MARCH 2022 23

WORDS AND SPEECH

Pay Attention To Your Speech

Thanissaro Bhikkhu

As my teacher once said, “If you can’t control your mouth,
there’s no way you can hope to control your mind.’ This is why
right speech is so important in day-to-day practice.

Right speech, explained in negative of the mind. Before you speak,
terms, means avoiding four types of you focus on why you want to
harmful speech: speak. This helps get you in touch
with all the machinations taking
a. lies (words spoken with the intent of place in the committee of voices
misrepresenting the truth); running your mind. If you see any
unskillful motives lurking behind
b. divisive speech (spoken with the the committee’s decisions, you
intent of creating rifts between veto them. As a result, you become
people); more aware of yourself, more
honest with yourself, more firm
c. harsh speech (spoken with the intent with yourself. You also save yourself
of hurting another person’s feelings); from saying things that you’ll later
regret. In this way you strengthen
d. idle chatter (spoken with no qualities of mind that will be helpful
purposeful intent at all).

Notice the focus on intent: This
is where the practice of right
speech intersects with the training

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WORDS AND SPEECH

in meditation, at the same time Expressing our humor in ways that
avoiding any potentially painful are truthful, useful, and wise may
memories that would get in the way require thought and effort, but when
of being attentive to the present we master this sort of wit we find
moment when the time comes to that the effort is well spent. We’ve
meditate. sharpened our own minds and have
improved our verbal environment.
In positive terms, right speech In this way, even our jokes become
means speaking in ways that part of our practice: an opportunity
are trustworthy, harmonious, to develop positive qualities of mind
comforting and worth taking to and to offer something of intelligent
heart. When you make a practice of value to the people around us.
these positive forms of right speech,
your words become a gift to others. So pay close attention to what you
In response, other people will start say—and to why you say it. When
listening more to what you say, and you do, you’ll discover that an open
will be more likely to respond in mouth doesn’t have to be a mistake.
kind. This gives you a sense of the
power of your actions: the way you Meditations 10. (published Feb. 13,
act in the present moment does 2021) Transcribed Dhamma talks
shape the world of your experience. on breath meditation and various
You don’t need to be a victim of past aspects of the Buddhist Path given
events. by Thānissaro Bhikkhu during the
evening meditation sessions at
For many of us, the most difficult Metta Forest Monastery primarily
part of practicing right speech lies from 2018-2019.
in how we express our sense of
humor. Especially here in America, h tt p s : // w w w. d h a m m a t a l k s . o r g /
we’re used to getting laughs with books/NobleStrategy/Section0008.
exaggeration, sarcasm, group html
stereotypes, and pure silliness—all
classic examples of wrong speech.
If people get used to these sorts of
careless humor, they stop listening
carefully to what we say. In this way,
we cheapen our own discourse.
Actually, there’s enough irony in
the state of the world that we don’t
need to exaggerate or be sarcastic.
The greatest humorists are the ones
who simply make us look directly at
the way things are.

MARCH 2022 25

WORDS IN LITERATURE

Poetry – The Poetry In Words

Rachna Joshi

Rachna Joshi shows us how poetry takes us to the very core of
the ideas of right speech.

Right speech and the use of right The religious establishments in
words, avoiding untruths and idle India continued a dialogue with the
talk has been central to the Buddha’s Bhaktas, and the many streams of
Right Speech concept in his Noble thought and practice frequently
Eight Fold Path. The Eightfold Path coexisted, and at times merged
consists of eight practices: Right with one another. For example,
View, Right Resolve, Right Speech, Bhakti and Sufism coexisted in
Right Conduct, Right Livelihood, North India. The importance of
Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, love was emphasized over bookish
and Right Samadhi ('meditative knowledge. Sages like Chaitanya
absorption or union'). The Noble Mahaprabhu, Narsinh Mehta and
Eightfold Path is one of the principal Guru Nanak have said this also.
teachings of Buddhism, taught to ‘Nanak dukhiya sab sansaar’. The
lead to Arhatship. shift of the language of writing
from Sanskrit to the language of the
Poets from all over have expressed common people also brought an
their feelings similarly, through opportunity for women’s creativity
the usage of right words, manifest to express itself in devotional
in the elegance of language used religion.
in their poetry. This sensitizes
people and builds an atmosphere Mystical poets like Meerabaihave
of camaraderie and appreciation of written songs and bhajans about her
each other. Great poets, like Tagore, devotion to Krishna which are sung
have achieved a balance between even today. M.S. Subbulakshmitoo
creativity and rationality. There are has sung them with great feeling,
two sides to a coin. Good and bad ‘Main Hari Charananki Dasi,
coexist. There are certain human Malin Vishay Ras Tyaage man
values common to all. ke, Antarhoteudaasi, Saawariya,
Mohaniya, MeroPiya, Prabhuaavo,
In India, in the middle ages, the aavo, aavo, aavo, aavoaavoji.’.
Bhakta poets challenged social Spirituality is the core of her
norms through their writings. poems which are epiphanic and
However, it rarely resulted in represent the emotions of love and
persecution and martyrdom of the transcendence.
kind that Europe saw for centuries.

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WORDS IN LITERATURE

As illustrated in the lines below Another Sufi poetry book,
from ‘Mira Asks Only to Join with ‘Conference of the Birds’ by Farid-
the Elephants & Parrots’ (Mirabai ud-Din Attar talks about the
Ecstatic Poems, Versions by Robert renunciation of Greed, Vanityand
Bly and Jane Hirshfield, Afterword Self-Pride on the wayto immortality.
by John Stratton Hawley, Aleph Birds like the hoopoe, turtle dove,
Classics, 2017): finch, parrot, etc., each representing
a human fault, pass through various
O Beloved, it’s promised that all valleys in their search, to meet
who speak the Name the Simorgh, only to realize he is
Will be saved. within. Everyone cannot make a
By its power, rocks lose their leap of Faith, most need a bridge.
hardness, Even Hindu philosophy has talked
They melt like ice into water; the of the four ashrams: Brahmachari,
earth itself grows tender, Grihastha, Vanaprastha and
Wanting to yield…’ Sanyaas. The Rigveda too talks of
the importance of ‘Tap’ or Tapasya.
For the English mystical poet,
William Blake, the life of the The less recognized English poet,
imagination was more real than Gerard Manley Hopkins, has written
the material world. This philosophy in, ‘That Nature is a Heraclitean
demanded the identification of Fire & of the Comfort of the
ideas with symbols which could be Resurrection’:
translated into visual images, word
and symbol, each reinforcing the ‘Birds build-but not I build: no,
other. His belief in the stages of but strain,
innocence, experience and higher Time’s eunuch, and not breed
innocence informed his vision. One work that wakes.
The need to show through images, Mine, O thou lord of life
rather than tell is the key to unlock Send my roots rain.’
this mystery.
Similarly, Emily Dickinson has said:
'When the voices of children are
heard on the green ‘After great pain, a formal feeling
And laughing is heard on the hill, comes…
My heart is at rest within my First chill, then stupor, then the
breast letting go.’
And everything else is still…'
(Nurse’s Song, Songs of Innocence In conclusion, I feel that life is a
and Experience, William Blake, series of experiences, and ultimately
Oxford University Press, 1970) one has to look within, instead of
looking at the other. One has to rely
on one’s own resources and look

MARCH 2022 27

WORDS IN LITERATURE

for inspiration in the quotidian. The Arjuna question
One has to refine and elevate one’s Is all effort wasted
mind, and realize that there is Scattered like the clouds
something beyond. Ultimately, it is Caught in a storm?
God’s grace. Poetry from all over is The Guru answers,
rich in metaphors and connotations ‘There is always a fresh start
and allusions to this theme. The use From where we left off’
of language and diction is central ‘Should she turn inward to hear:
to mystery and expressiveness. The Faith, devotion, meditation
nuances of language can capture the Release comes not by work, nor
kaleidoscope ofhuman experience— by progeny
love, heartbreak, and ultimately
renunciation. As mentioned in my Nor by wealth, but by renunciation’
poem, ‘At Night—Alone’, (Travel (Kaivalya Upanishad, shloka 2 & 3)
Tapestry, Yatra Books, 2013)

28 V A L U E I N S I G H T

Swami Vivekananda
The Universal Man

Shri S Regunathan That night when she was sleeping
she had a vivid dream. She dreamt
A Glimpse of the Swami in young Naren Lord Siva Himself had got up from
his seat of meditation and walked
She was sleeping quite soundly, or into her womb. Soon enough she
so she thought. Bhuvaneswari was conceived and the child born to
tired. Nowadays she was engaged in her was resplendent in beauty and
severe penance. She busied herself charm. He was born on the day of
the whole day making offerings Makara Sankranti, falling on the
and observing several austere 12th of January in the year 1863.
measures. The belief was that you The family wanted to name him
had to be in Varanasi to perform Durgaprasad after his paternal
this particular practice. But since grandfather. But Bhuvaneswari
she was in Kolkatta (then Calcutta) was very vociferous in her protest.
she had requested her aged aunt Durgaprasad had become an ascetic
who was in Varanasi to perform renouncing family and home. She
the rites required, while she did it wanted her son to enjoy life. She
in Calcutta. This way it was taken named him Vireswar. In later years
that she herself was performing the he came to be called Narendranath.
ritual at Varanasi. She was doing all
this as a prayer to Lord Siva to bless There was something about names
her with a son. and the boy, for in later years too
he changed his name several times.
Bhuvaneswari was married to The name by which he is most well-
Vishwanath Dutta, a very well- known today is Swami Vivekananda.
known lawyer in Calcutta. In fact he
was the third generation of lawyers Naren, as he was called at home
in the family. Bhuvaneswari was was not just delightful to look at but
a very young girl when she bore was also a bundle of mischief. While
two children, a boy and a girl, and most others enjoyed his pranks and
unfortunately lost both of them. of course, they make good stories to
Her loss saddened her till she gave narrate now, they quite exasperated
birth to three lovely girls, one after
another. She, however, still yearned
for a son. That is why she was
performing the penance.

MARCH 2022 29

his mother. It is mentioned in one highly ornate embroidered one. He
of the books about him that she barely wore it when he saw a monk
would dunk the little son of hers and gave it away to the monk. When
in cold water saying “Siva Siva,” to Bhuvaneswari asked him what had
calm him down. It is said that it did happened, she heard he had given
have effect. But for how long is a it away to the monk. That sent a
debatable question! The mother was warning signal to Bhuvaneswari.
very proud of her son and yet there She gave strict instructions that
would be times when she would Naren was to be led away from the
wring her hands in exasperation, place where monks could be seen
saying, ”Oh Siva I asked for you, visiting. Often if they were going
not the demon beside you!” You can past the house, young Naren would
imagine the bright eyed boy smiling be locked up inside his room to
at his mother’s helplessness! prevent any possible interaction.
But did that deter Naren? No. That
He was naturally highly pampered naughty boy found ways of calling
by his sisters but he teased them so the monks to his window and carried
much, sometimes to tears. When on conversations with them, often
he was very young two maids had donating anything he could lay his
been employed to keep an eye on hands on. That seemed to delight
him. Naren grew up in a full house. the young child.
A prosperous father had many
relatives living on his income. Naren’s maternal grandmother was
Bhuvaneswari was an accepting a great story teller. A Vaishnavite
hostess and so if the young boy had by faith, she used to regale Naren
much scope for mischief, he also with stories after stories from the
had many people to watch over him. Bhagvatam, of Gods and Goddesses,
And yet, two maids were required. of the Ramayana and Mahabharata
and even of the evolved sages of
You may remember that those and ancient times.
Bhuvaneswari’s reluctance to name
Naren after his paternal grandfather In fact, it is said that Swami
stemmed from the fact that the Vivekananda became fond of
grandfather had become a sanyasi. Krishna in his later years because of
He had left home in search of truth. these stories.
Young Naren showed a distinct
fondness for wandering monks. It (…to be continued…)
was customary in Bengal to make
the boy wear a dhoti when he was
just past infancy. So maybe he was
about five or six years old. The first
ever dhoti bought for Naren was a

30 V A L U E I N S I G H T

WORDS IN LEGACY

Speaking Stones

Aruna Srinivasan

Aruna Srinivasan tells us bits of history as she hears it from
many pillars across temples of South India.

Researches have shown that the musical notes particularly.
ancient communities across the
world, particularly in Africa, used Take the musical pillars of Hampi, in
drum beats to communicate the Karnataka, for instance. The temple,
tribal news far and wide. The sounds dedicated to Vishnu’s incarnation
of the drums would reach even up Vitthala, was built by Devaraya II,
to 20 miles. one of the rulers of the Vijayanagar
Empire. The musical pillars are
Did the ancient communities use located here in the ruins of Ranga
stones too for communication? May Mantapa. There are huge main
be, especially when we consider pillars which support the ceiling
all the musical stones that we hear and each main pillar has a circle of
about in various world heritage sites seven smaller pillars surrounding
and temples. Whether or not stones them. These smaller pillars give
were used forwider communication, out musical notes of Sa, Re, Ga, Ma,
certainly they were used as outlets when you stroke them with your
for expression – expression in fingers or a stick.

MARCH 2022 31

WORDS IN LEGACY

While the musical aspect of these rocks give out hollow and metallic
pillars is a huge tourist attraction, sounds when struck.
the fact that gentler music springs
from hard stone remains a mystery. Later, the old rock gongs morphed
Well, is it indeed a mystery? Or, was into lithophones – a string of musical
King Devaraya II aware of the music stones lined up to produce music by
emitting properties of these stones striking them. The Hornfels rocks
when he ordered to erect them? found in the Skiddaw Mountain
Or was it just accidental that these near the northern England town of
stones make such soft sounds? Keswick, are said to have a distinct
tone and longer ring compared
National Institute of Advanced to slate, another rock formation
Studies (NIAS) led by Dr. Sharada that gives out resonance. Today,
Srinivasan, conducted research on Keswick has many lithophones.
the Hampi rock samples. Located The first was built in 1785, by Peter
on the Deccan Plateau, one of the Crosthwaite, an inventor, who was
oldest geographical formations in interested in the musical properties
the world, Hampi is peppered with of the Skiddaw stones. Decades
a lot of rocks that are millions of later Joseph Richardson, a local
years old. stone mason, built a larger eight –
octave lithophone. His lithophone
Huge monolithic hills were formed was built with 61 Hornfels stones.
initially in the region and over a Later more steel bars, Swiss bells
period they disintegrated into huge and other percussion instruments
boulders and rocks with different were added and the lithophone is
shapes. These were originally gneiss now kept in the Keswick Museum
rocks, a kind of metamorphic rock and Art Gallery.
that are identified with their bands.
Some of these bands have deposits Apparently, King Devaraya II knew
of granular minerals that are bound about the musical properties of the
together with interlocking texture. rocks there. And so did the people
Due to their mineral composition, in the region. There are rock gongs
the rocks in Hampi are called Pink in the Vanibhadreshwara Temple
Porphyritic Granite. And the same in Mallapur, a town near Hampi. In
mineral deposits give the rocks Hire Benakal, anotherneighborhood
their resonant properties too. town, there are tombs which have
musical properties. So, it is quite
Ancientcivilizations used rockgongs evident that the people here were
to produce musical sounds as well as very well aware of the sounds of the
to convey messages through signals rocks in their region.
by raising sounds on the rocks. Due
to the presence of minerals, these Lithophones were common in

32 V A L U E I N S I G H T

WORDS IN LEGACY

Confucian rituals in China. In fact, aspects. The Saptaswara pillars emit
the culture of using tuned stones sounds similar to the seven musical
for music has been common in the notes of classical music. One of the
region - in countries like Japan, pillars depicts a Tabla player. The
Cambodia, Vietnam, Thailand and sculpture is partly damaged. But
Korea. Stone chimes are common one can hear the sounds similar
even today in many of the temples to the Tabla when one taps on the
in these countries. One of the adjoining thin pillar. Another pillar
oldest Lithophones was found in close by presents a sculpture of a
Thailand in 1949 and is still in use. A cymbal (Tala) player. The thin pillar
research paper by Roger Blench on adjoining emits a distinct high-
tuned percussions in Indo-Pacific pitched sound just as the sounds of
region, published by University of the cymbals used for Nattuvangam
Washington Libraries, elaborately in Bharatnatyam. And the pillar near
speaks of the tuned stones used in a sculpture of a Mridangam player
these places. The paper presents emits a deeper sound, resembling
evidence from excavations and Mridangam. Interestingly the sound
historical documents. from this pillar is different from the
sound emitting from the pillar with
Indian sculptors of ancient temples the sculpture of Damaru player.
were well versed in the knowledge
of different types of rocks. The The musical pillars seem to be
properties of the various rocks a constant factor in many of the
along with the architectural temples in the southern part of
knowledge are well documented in India. Be it the Nellaippar temple
many ancient literatures like Vayu in Tirunelveli, Meenakshi temple
Purana, a Sanskrit text, and one in Madhurior the temples in
of the major ancient Puranas of Suchindram near Nagarkovil,
Hinduism. Vishwaksena Samhita most of the temples in the region
and Narada Samhita are some more sport musical pillars. In Nellaippar
instances of such literature. These temple in Tirunelveli, when you
texts elaborately detail the ways tap one pillar the adjoining pillar
to identify the different properties also emits a sound in vibration.
of the rocks, methods to test their One can observe that these pillars
strength, sound quality and how are erected in various sizes of
to choose them appropriately for thickness, probably to ensure the
erecting major constructions as per exact musical resonant. Although
an architectural plan. most of the pillars are embellished
with one or the other exquisitely
The musical pillars in the Ranga carved sculpture, the pillars that
Mandapa of the Vittahala Temple in emit sounds are plain. The central
Hampi, there are certain remarkable

MARCH 2022 33

WORDS IN LEGACY

pillar could vary in height. But the The list of temples that sport
musical pillars are of same height musical pillars in the region is
with various girth and shape. long. The temples in the towns
like Algarkovil, Alwarthirunagari,
The samples of rocks from the Kalakadu, Kutralam, Thirupathi,
musical pillars at Suchindram were Thiruvanandhapurm, and Thenkasi
observed in the research conducted are a few names in the list.
by the Department of Geology,
Presidency College, Chennai. Dr Since the Deccan Plateau is one of
Subramaniam, geologist observed the earth’s oldest formation the
that these rocks contained rocks here are distinct and have
significant amounts of silica, which special properties, particularly the
is common in the rocks of Hampi too. sound resonating properties. That
Apparently rocks for the erection probably explains the abundance of
of the musical pillars in the region musical pillars in the region.
were sourced from several places
and lugged into the venues. So, the phenomenon of musical
pillars is more scientific than a
mystery.

34 V A L U E I N S I G H T

Reflections

In Word and Thought meaning, usage, formation, even
sound. Looking deeper into the
Our editorial team discovers that issue, we found we are perhaps the
from a society which placed great most verbose generation. The text
emphasis on the sound of a word, of the Vedas are known for their
we grew into one which collected brevity and a very telling excerpt
words from different languages, from Sri Aurobindo’s works gives us
if necessary, so as to able to have a glimpse of the Why and How of it. In
a word for every thought and sharp contrast, is the contemporary
have now reached a society which times where words are shrinking
communicates, no matter what the but in a different manner and
word… the whole emphasis seems to be
shifting from language to effective
If there is anything as old as the communication. If, in the Vedic ages
human being it is the desire to the emphasis was on the effect of the
communicate. Whether they be sound a word produced, that aspect
hieroglyphics or the yet-to-be is absent in the language used by the
deciphered Mohenjo-Daro script, modern generation. Shakespeare
the urge to communicate has always and Cervantes wrote so much. We
been there. Words have changed in fill our pages with words looking

MARCH 2022 35

for hidden nuances. We have added direct contrariety of their sense-
so many words to language that values. It is possible to restore
immortalize some experience or lost sense of words on a sure and
incident. Read on to find out more… scientific basis and to justify them
by an appeal to the observed laws
Resonance of Words… of association which governed the
development of Aryan tongues, to
From the past history of language the secret evidence of the word
certain consequences derive which itself and to the corroborative
are of considerable importance in evidence of its immediate kindred.
Vedic interpretation. In the first Thus, instead of having a purely
place by a knowledge of the laws floating and conjectural basis for
under which the relations of Sound our dealings with the vocables of the
and Sense formed themselves in the Vedic language, we can work with
Sanskrit tongue and by a careful and confidence upon a solid and reliable
minute study of its word families foundation.
it is possible, to a great extent, to
restore that past history of words. Naturally it does not follow that
It is possible to account for the because a Vedic word may have
meanings actually possessed by or must have had at one time
them, to showhow they were worked a particular significance, that
out through the various stages of significance can be safely applied
language development, to establish to the actual text of the Veda. But
the mutual relations of different we do establish a sound sense and
significances and to explain how a clear possibility of its being the
they came to be attached to the right sense for the Veda. Secondly,
same word, in spite of the wide one remarkable feature of language
difference, and sometimes, even the in its inception is the enormous
number of different meanings of
which a single word was capable and
also the enormous number of words
which could be used to express a
single idea. Afterwards this tropical
luxuriance came to be cut down. The
intellect intervened with its growing
need of precision, its growing sense
of economy. The bearing capacity
of words progressively diminished;
and it became less and less tolerable
to be burdened with a superfluous
number of words for the same idea,

36 V A L U E I N S I G H T

a redundant variety of ideas for the a hymn to use these common words
same word. with a great pliability, sometimes
putting forward the image of the
The Rishis’ use of language wolf or the cow, sometimes using
was governed by this ancient it to colour the more general sense,
psychology of the Word. When in sometimes keeping it merely
English we use the word “wolf or as a conventional figure for the
‘cow’, we mean simply the animal psychological conception on which
designated; we are not conscious of his mind was dwelling… It is so that
any reason why we should use that words like ‘ghritam’, the clarified
particular sound for the idea except butter, ‘soma’ the sacred wine, and
the immemorial custom of the a host of others are used.
language; and we cannot use it for
any other sense or purpose except (Excerpted from The Secret of the
by an artificial device of style. But Veda by Sri Aurobindo)
for the Vedic Rishi, ‘vrika’ meant
the tearer and therefore, among A Philomath
other applications of the sense, a
wolf; ‘dhenu’ meant the fosterer, “We’re all surrounded by words
the nourisher and therefore a cow. like air, and we all need them even
But, the original and general sense though they are often invisible, just
predominates, the derived and like air.”…Anu Garg
particular is secondary. Therefore,
it was possible for the fashioner of Does your back itch in that place
where the hands cannot reach from

MARCH 2022 37

to friends. Well, by itself that is not
news. But, what makes it news is
that his email was about the word he
had discovered that day. As he was
trying to learn the English language
better, he discovered words which
had interesting “ biographies”, as he
calls them.

the bottom nor can they reach from “I learned that each word has a
the top, above your shoulder…you biography, we call it etymology.
are frantically looking for even a Once you get to know a word,
pencil to scratch yourself? Well, even the most plain-looking word
that place in your body, which you has fascinating stories to tell. The
cannot reach to scratch, is called word "windows" is "wind's eye"
acnestis. It comes from the Greek etymologically speaking. How much
word aknestis, which means spine. more poetic can you get? It's easy to
fall in love with words, “Anu Garg is
Do you find yourself wildly quoted to have said.
gesticulating to explain to your son
or daughter far away, how loud the He started sharing his discoveries
neighbour’s birthday bash was? Just with people who were interested.
say it was a calliopean noise…that The first word was zephyr meaning
means it was a piercingly loud noise. a breeze from the west…the word
just happened like all his words
Of course, if you say this is dryadust, happen for the Philomath as he
I will stop writing any further. Even likes to be called, says words rush
though Sir Walter Scott dedicated to him asking to be selected for
his famous work, The Ivanhoe, to Dr. the day. Much like school children
Dryadust, F.A.S, no such person ever racing to be the first in line. Today
existed. He was Sir Walter Scott’s he sends out free mails to about
fictional creation. He dedicated all half a million people in 170 different
the dry historical facts that he had countries. You can register for an
learnt to Dr. Dryadust. email too at his website Wordsmith.
org. He has also co-authored a book
One can go on endlessly and that with his wife, Stuti titled, A Word a
is what Anu Garg does. In 1994, a Day: A Romp Through Some of the
young man from Uttar Pradesh, Most Unusual and Intriguing Words
now working as a techie in the in English. The book has run into
West Coast of the United States, several editions.
decided to send out regular emails
He not only gives you the

38 V A L U E I N S I G H T

"biographies" of the words, he lamenting on the loss of nuances
also discovers, for example, that and ‘feel’ of language. Designers are
Facetious is a word with all five however fashioning themselves as
vowels, once and only once, and ace communicators and thinking of
in order. Anu Garg says in one newer and newer ways to spruce the
interview, “Words are like colours communication with symbols other
on a palette, “You don’t have to use than words too so much, so that,
all those colours in a painting, but it even now many of the dimensions
helps to be able to find just the right are emerging—political, economic,
shade when you need it.” social, technological, typical of post
modernity.
IMO (In My Opinion)
There is a prediction that just as
In the future those who write full we are not able to understand our
words may be 1NAM (one in a Vedic Sanskrit, we will be unable
million). The Q4U is JOOC. As long to understand a text from the 22nd
as you are AAK, that is EOS. CYO my century too… “a linguist faced now
BFF. Can you see my BEG? Just to with a typical text from the 22nd
say TIA… century, he or she would be unlikely
to conclude that the language
No, the above are not typos. It just has radically changed in its core
shows you are not active in forums vocabulary or grammar. But we
like WhatsApp and other social might not be able to make much
media. Our literature of the future sense of it.”
will more likely read like the above,
say futurists. Q4U means question
for you. AAK means Alive and
Kicking, EOS means End of story,
CYO means See you online, BFF
means best friend forever and BEG
means Big evil grin. TIA is thanks in
advance.

Futurists say that as texts become
shorter, more fragmentary, and
multimodal (using pictures, color,
sound, ki-netics as well as words),
the strategies of interpretation and
ways of reading will also undergo
change. Of course, predictably
those worried about content are
wringing their hands in desperation

MARCH 2022 39

Childrens Corner

Your Words Describe You

You know in olden times, you could sometimes into a farmer’s field.
not shop online. If you needed Generally he was never disturbed.
something either you would have But, in one village, he strayed into
to go out to a shop and get it or a farmland and stayed there for too
someone would come to your long, eating too much. The farmers
doorstep selling it. There used to of the village felt the lion would eat
be many people who would carry all their crop. So they ran and got
different kinds of products on their some spikes, some arrows, some
back, on a horseback or on the back iron rods etc. and started throwing
of a donkey and move from village them at the lion. The animal got
to village selling them. They would scared. What did he do? He started
sell anything. Some sold salt, some braying!
sold pots, some sold vegetables and
some even sold jewellery. Instantly the farmers got to know it
was a donkey and not a lion. They
There was a tradesman who was rushed forth and drove the donkey
selling lovely pots and pans. He away. The donkey’s voice gave him
even had some jewellery. People away!
used to love to buy from him and he
made lots of money. He had a clever “Similarly’” say the wise, “your
strategy to feed his donkey. He had a words give you away. Speak gently.
lion’s skin with him. He would drape Speak wisely. Speak after thinking
the donkey with that skin. Then and reflection.”
from far away the donkey looked
like a lion and people were scared of (Based on Jataka tales number 189)
him. After all no one comes so close
to a lion to check out how exactly he
looks.

The tradesman would then lead
the donkey-dressed–as-a–lion to a
green field full of ripe grains and let
him loose. The donkey would have
his feast while the tradesman did
his job, found his food and relaxed.

The donkey-turned-lion would
sometimes stray into a forest,

40 V A L U E I N S I G H T

Childrens Corner

The Story of Chitragriva

There was once a pigeon called Next to his den was a pond which
Chitragriva. He was actually the king was actually quicksand. Anyone who
of pigeons. He had many pigeons entered that could never come out.
with him and they all loved him as
he was a kind king. One day as they Soon a traveller was walking past
were flying through a forest, they the forest. The tiger spied him and
saw a lot of grains scattered beneath roared. The traveller got very scared
a banyan tree. and started to run when the tiger
said, “Stop, stop, young man. I am
“Look, look, O king!” said one of the not going to kill you. See I am an old
pigeons in his group, “There is food lion, I will be dying soon. I have a
down there and I am so hungry!” golden bracelet with me, I want to
give it away before I die.”
All the pigeons looked down and
they all got excited. The traveller did not stop he was still
running. The tiger roared louder
‘Hold on guys,” said Chitragriva.”Is and send, “Stop, or else I will catch
it not surprising that in the middle up with you in a minute.”
of such a dense and lonely forest, we
are finding fresh grains? Seems like The traveller stopped dead.
a trap to me.”
“I cannot trust you,” said the
“Oh!” said another pigeon.”Who traveller. ‘After all you are the most
would come to a forest to strew dreaded creature of the forest. I do
grains? Come on, we are hungry.” not want the bracelet, bye.”

Chitragriva told all the pigeons to “No, no stop. Here is a God given
perch on a tree there and told them chance for you to make your life.
a story: See, my nails have become blunt
and my teeth have fallen. I cannot
“Once upon a time, there was an old kill. I want to give away all that I have
tiger. He found it hard to hunt. Then and die peacefully. Come take this…
an idea struck him. He walked into have a bath in the pond nearby and
his cave and searched out a shining come take this bracelet and make
bright golden bracelet that he had your life.”
taken off the arm of a prince he had
once killed. Carrying the bracelet The traveller was tempted. He
he came and sat outside his den thought hard. He decided to take the
waiting in a disinterested fashion. bracelet. He entered the pond but it

MARCH 2022 41

was a quicksand and he got caught. king had to oblige. But you know
He could not come out. The tiger got what happened thereafter…the
up slowly and picked him out of the hunter who had strewn the grains,
slush and had his meal! tightened his net when the pigeons
landed. You also know how the
“So,” said Chitragriva, “we should pigeons lost heart and felt bad that
not fall to temptation like the they had not listened to their king’s
traveller.” word of caution. But Chitragriva
said, “Do not lose heart, let us all
But, by then the pigeons in the fly together, for asti sanghe shakti
Chitragriva’s group had been eyeing …there is strength when we work
the grains and had built up such an together.”
appetite. “Oh no! I am hungry…I will
stop with two grains,” said one. They all flew together and carrying
their net escaped the hunter’s grasp.
“Everything cannot be doubted,” They thus found freedom when on a
said another pigeon,” we have to hilltop a mouse cut away their net.
take some risks.”
(Lead story of Hitopadesa)
In this manner, they all said they
wanted to eat the grains and so the

42 V A L U E I N S I G H T

Childrens Corner

Words made the Difference

Once upon a time, in a kingdom in to suffer, it is nice to be friendly with
Arunachal Pradesh, there lived a people. It is not nice to be angry,”
King and a Queen. They were very said the necklace to the Queen.
happy and they were also very rich.
In their kingdom everyone was But the Queen was insistent. So the
happy and rich. They spoke sweetly necklace said,” Go to the King and
to each other. They sang and danced say he looks ugly and is a fool.”
and worked very hard.
The Queen did that.
The Queen had a special necklace. It
could speak. Everyday the necklace The King got angry. He was rude
would advise the Queen on different to the Queen. They now started
matters, tell her a joke and ask her fighting. Every day they fought,
riddles. The talking necklace and more and more.
the Queen were great friends. One
day the Queen saw a man suffering The King fought so much with his
from some problems. She asked wife that he even forgot to go to his
the necklace, ”Why is that man court. He did not manage his state
suffering?” well. People in his kingdom started
becoming unhappy too. Everyone
The necklace replied, ”Those who started fighting. Soon there was no
are friendly to everyone do not food in the homes.
suffer. Those who are angry with
others suffer.” One day when the Queen was lying
on her bed and crying she realized
“But, necklace, his stomach is she had brought this on herself. She
hurting,” said the Queen. ‘What has quickly took out her necklace and
that got to do with being friendly or said, ”You are right. It is no fun to
not.” be unhappy. Please tell me how to
become happy again.”
‘If he had been friendly someone
would have given him medicine,” The necklace smiled. “Go to your
replied the necklace. “Someone husband, the King, who is so
would have taken care of him.” unhappy and sad. Tell him all that
happened and tell him you love him.
“Oh how can that be possible. I want You are sorry.”
to see how it works,” said the Queen.
The Queen did as she was told. The
‘Oh no! Don’t even try. It is not nice King was amazed to hear everything.

MARCH 2022 43

When the Queen said, “Sorry,”, the King hugged her and said, “I am sorry
too. Let us be happy again.”
The King and Queen now started looking after the people of their kingdom
and soon everyone was happy again.
(Adapted from a Singpho tale)
Some fun!

Anagrams

Do You know what an Anagram is?
It is a word, phrase, or name formed by rearranging the letters of another,
such as flow, formed from wolf.
What are the anagrams of :

44 V A L U E I N S I G H T
Answer: Eat, Seat, Dog, Reef, Mane, Shrub, Rescue

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ACHIEVING EXCELLENCE
IN INFRASTRUCTURE
CONSTRUCTION
THROUGH INNOVATION

Afcons is a part of the Shapoorji Pallonji Group

l Experience of over six decades in consistently delivering projects ahead of schedule
l Focus areas are Marine works, Highways, Bridges, Railway, Metro, Tunnels, Oil & Gas, LNG terminals
l Present in over 20 countries across Asia, Middle East & Africa
l Leader in Marine, LNG and Metro Rail in India
l Ranked in top 150 contractors globally; 7th in Marine & Ports; 13th in Bridges (as per latest ENR survey)
l First Indian infrastructure organisation to win MIKE award for five consecutive years

Contact: Afcons Infrastructure Limited Advertisement
Afcons House, 16, Shah Industrial Estate, Veera Desai Road,
Azadnagar, Andheri (W), Mumbai – 400 053, India
Tel No: +91 (0)22 67191000 Fax: +91 (0) 22 2673 0026 / 0047 / 1031
CIN: U45200MH1976PLC019335 Website: www.afcons.com

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