The Myth of the American/European Dream

When I went to the USA in 1995 for graduate studies, it was for three reasons: (1) an opportunity to study at some of the world's best universities, (2) I got a scholarship (I hail from a normal middle class family and wouldn't have gone otherwise) and (3) for the  adventure of it all - new country, new people from across the world, new experiences.

In my eleven years there (MS, PhD, Postdoc), I met many awesome people (and a few jerks - which is perfectly normal, they are everywhere) and still have active friendships in the US and other parts of the world. I respected people around me and carried myself with an equal measure of self respect. At no point I felt "overly eager" or "desperate" to stay on in the US. It's important to have a dream, a goal, in life - but there's no reason for it to be an "American Dream" or "European Dream" or whatever - the world's a big place with tremendous charm and variety all around!

I see a lot of people continuously affected/perturbed by policy shifts in the US (or elsewhere) as if our lives and happiness depend fundamentally on any one region of the world. This is a display of a very low level of self respect and not cool. The whole world is certainly open and I encourage the concept of a global citizenship by all means, but go anywhere only if you are received with respect - not otherwise.

Chill out! Keep your self respect intact, your skills and knowledge super sharp, and make positive contributions only and only where and with those you feel respected.

Spines straight and chins up!

Movie recommendation: Mr. Holland's Opus (1995)

This is one of those movies that touches me every time I see it - for a somewhat unusual reason - it got the entire messaging wrong! Here are a few thoughts from my side, yours when you watch the movie:

1) Mr. Holland, an aspiring composer, doesn't find time to complete a symphony he's working on as he's expected to continuously work overtime by the school where he teaches music appreciation. Towards the end of the movie, he is told that although he couldn't complete his composition, the students he has taught and nurtured are his symphony.

This is a very very flawed argument. The concept of a 40 hour week was created for a reason! People have their personal lives above and beyond work and they have all the right to pursue their personal dreams once work hours are over. This understanding needs to be firm at every workplace. In the context of this movie: When someone carries beautiful music (or some other form of knowledge) within, conditions have to be created for that music (knowledge) to come out. There is no glory in that not happening! Teaching responsibilities can very well be brought to balance if more wisdom prevails.

2) Even with his tremendous contribution that earned him the above praise, he is "let go" along with the arts teacher because of funding constraints. The entire music, arts and dramatics program is cut because the city reduces the budget for schools.

Now, any sensible educator will tell you that arts are as important in school education as mathematics, science and other subjects. Some kids grow up to be novelists, some musicians, some mathematicians, scientists and engineers. All these pursuits are equally important in an educated society. If there is a funding constraint, then, starting from the principal, salaries can be reduced for all teachers! A school principal making such a choice is a disgrace. Of course, the bigger disgrace is school budgets reducing instead of increasing!

As Mr. Holland, the music teacher being let go, remarks: "If you cut the arts, sooner or later these kids aren't going to have anything to read or write about."

He's right.

3) There is a logical flaw at the end of the movie: The lady who showers the praise mentioned in Point 1 above on him is an ex-student of his who has grown to hold a very important position in the city administration. If she feels so strongly about his contribution through teaching, she very well could have used her power to find the funds required to keep him and the arts teacher (instead of them getting dumped!).

It's an excellent movie! Pick it up if you haven't seen it already 🙂! You will see a brilliant man with a heart of gold getting chewn to bits by a thankless society and false ideals 😏!

Consolidate. Unite. Express.

As you read this post, bear in mind that I have already spoken against making Hindi compulsory in schools or/and offices around the country. I'm educated enough to know that we are a nation of tremendous variety - languages, philosophical systems, religions - and every freedom must be maintained to allow all variety to express itself and thrive.

Yet, I understand the need for symbolism. And I believe what I'm saying is important:

Below is a picture of our capital, Nai Dilli (New Delhi), Railway Station. On the top, the name of the station is displayed in three languages: Hindi, English and Urdu. I think we ought to make the following two changes:

1. Add the name in two more languages: Gurmukhi (the primary language of the Sikhs) and Pali (the primary language of Buddhists).

2. Order them in such a way that the Hindi script (Nai Dilli) is in the center and the English script (New Dilli - not Delhi (anglicized)) is on the extreme right. (Using English as the medium of instruction in schools and colleges is a practical necessity as it helps our students engage with the world at large easily - but giving it any "central importance" anywhere is just an immature lack of self respect.)

We consolidate, we unite, we express our identity on the world stage with confidence. This is important. Very important.

What Is Kumbh Mela Really About?

If you live a life of character, integrity, honesty and steadily work on bringing your senses and mind under your control, the Ganga, the spiritual river, will flow outwards from within you (that's the significance of Ganga flowing out from Lord Shiva's head) and will purify you and uplift those around you spiritually.

The Kumbh mela historically has been a spiritual conference that brought together people making a spiritual effort once every twelve years to discuss and share their realisations, discoveries, efforts and practices. And during the conference everyone took a dip in the Ganges every morning to affirm their commitment and start the day. Our immense spiritual literature, the Vedas, the Upanishads, the Six Darshanas, is a testament to this culture and effort.

It has never been about just going to take a dip in the river to wash away your sins vagairah vagairah. If you're living a sinful life and believe that just taking a dip in the Ganges and paying some pandas and pujaris will save you, then you are not just sinful, you are also stupid.

The only way, absolutely the only way, to save yourself and progress spiritually is to change yourself.

There is no other way.

Righteousness Above All Else

Always remember: Your first and foremost commitment is towards what is righteous.

This commitment supersedes every other commitment: your country's political and administrative leadership, society, superiors at work, and if they are being unethical, then even your family, your parents, your relatives, your teachers or your Guru. Even when it comes to religious scriptures, if your conscience, your inner sense of right and wrong, makes you feel that something is wrong with what the scripture says, you have to respect your conscience and do what you feel is the right thing to do 

Read the Bhagawad Gita. Understand Arjuna's predicament.

He enters the battlefield to fight a righteous war and finds himself facing his elders, his teachers, his relatives, his fellow countrymen. He wants to quit.

Krishna says: Nothing doing! A just war has to be fought, no matter who is in the opposition.

You and I don't have to fight wars. But we must have the courage to call a spade a spade. If someone is being unethical, unrighteous, no matter who it is, we have to be able to speak our minds and oppose them.

If we can do this, we become the backbone of an ethically just and sound family, society and country.

If not, we only make things worse. We live what I call woogly woogly weak spirited lives ourselves and allow others to do the same.

Ultimately righteousness has to win. Whichever individual, family, society, country, aligns itself with righteousness, it enjoys the support of the divine. There is no "mine" and "others'" leeway allowed in this :).

In fact, righteousness is the correct translation of the word Dharma. The usage of the word Dharma for religion is completely flawed.

Living a Dharmic life means being ethically correct and righteous moment to moment, day to day. And this is our highest commitment. To live Dharmic lives ourselves, to support those who live Dharmic lives, and oppose those who don't.

Songs for Burundi

My first three musical contributions are now online (links below). These are dedicated to the people of Burundi, presently the poorest country in the world by Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, an appeal to those of us who might be in a position to help such countries. I am convinced that the only way, the only way, in which poverty and suffering can be alleviated is through love.

All three are simple home recordings with just a cell phone propped against the wall - but the intent is sound and the music heartfelt. In time, hopefully there will be opportunities to collaborate with other musicians who want to make a similar impact. I'll gladly upload studio and stage recordings when that happens.

Many of you have supported my writing efforts at my blog over the years. It'll give me great pleasure if you also take some time to listen to these pieces and see if you would like to support my musical efforts by following me on YouTube/Instagram and liking and sharing the music.

Links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@beshpuniyani

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brijesheshpuniyani/

Thanks!

Peace & Love

Brijesh

Where's the pride in calling oneself backward?

As you read this post, bear in mind that: 1) I hail from a family that has seen its share of struggles; sleeping on railway platforms, traveling in unreserved compartments, four people staying in one room; and 2) I've been known to be anything but a casteist/classist at work or elsewhere.

This was in 2011. I was chairing the Senate Under Graduate Committee (SUGC) at IIT Kanpur, a body that essentially oversaw the academic administration of all UG students. One unfortunate, yet essential, task was to make decisions on which students to put on warning or probation. And for some students who kept performing below par despite all nudges, assistance, warnings and probation, it would come down to making a decision on whether it was best to ask them to leave IITK and join some other college, or in case of severely extenuating circumstances like health concerns or family emergencies, give them more time to recover to acceptable academic standards.

In one such meeting we were explaining to a student and his father that there was no way we could keep the student on. He had some 15-20 backlogs with no extenuating circumstances, had been through the warning-probation period (which lasts at least one full year and is usually extended), and just had to go.

Eventually when all discussions and arguments led nowhere, the father stood up and spoke belligerently: "Ham backward hain, backward! Aap hamein nahi nikaal sakte!"

Now this is certainly not true. Students under affirmative action get extra leeway at the time of admission, but once they are in the college, they are expected to clear courses like everyone else. And if someone's academic performance falls too low, he or she has to go regardless of forward/backward/caste/class. And eventually, the student and his father had to, very correctly, accept this.

But what left me stunned was the sheer arrogance with which the father said "ham backward hain!".

Truth be told, the sentiment should exactly be the opposite! Extreme poverty aside (which is the real backwardness in society), if anyone calls you backward for reasons of birth or community, every fiber in your being should rebel with a "kaun kehta hai ham backward hain aur aap forward? ham bhi utne hee forward hain jitne aap! koi kami nahi hai ham mein!"

This shift needs to come in our society. Thinking of oneself, calling oneself, or allowing anyone else to call one backward is psychologically denting! Your whole approach to life becomes negative. You have decided stay on the backfoot unnecessarily.

No! Step forward! Make your presence felt! Work hard, do the best you can, and then let the chips fall where they may!

[Extreme poverty of course is a different matter! We must go the extra mile to help students coming from severely poor families regardless of their caste, class, religion or gender.

Note: My views on combatting backwardness effectively are here: https://strike-a-pause.blogspot.com/2022/10/a-four-point-algorithm-to-combat.html ]