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Sustainability: A Survival Skill for the 21st Century

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Sustainability is often seen as a trend or a lifestyle choice, but in reality, it is a crucial survival skill for the modern world. The events of the COVID pandemic reminded us how fragile our systems can be and how important self-reliance is. For many, having a small home garden was not just a hobby, but a necessity during uncertain times. This experience highlighted that sustainability is not just about saving the planet—it is about ensuring our own survival. In a world facing climate change, resource scarcity, and unexpected crises, the ability to live with less becomes a strength. Minimalism in clothing, mindful consumption, and the ability to adapt to situations like power cuts or lack of air conditioning are no longer optional—they are essential life skills. When we see global conflicts and disruptions, it becomes clear that resilience comes from how well we can adjust to limited resources. These are not skills that can be developed overnight. They must be nurtured...
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find God in nature

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This morning, as I stepped into my veranda, I noticed a moth resting quietly on the floor. I had always believed moths were dull, colourless creatures of the night—far less captivating than butterflies. But this one carried delicate, intricate patterns I had never paused to admire before. And the eyes on her wings caught my attention...In that still moment, it felt as though the moth carried a gentle powerful message. Just two days earlier, my brother had shared a photo of Maa Samaleswari, the revered goddess of Western Odisha. My mind connected the two instantly. Divinity is not confined within temple walls; perhaps it is born from nature itself. And I wonder—are we truly revering God, or quietly enclosing the divine within concrete boundaries? Beauty exists everywhere; we simply need the eyes to see it.
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The sun and the spider

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Every morning at sunrise I offer my sun  salutations with gratitude to the divine. Blessed to be able to see the morning light( many people living in urban spaces do not see the sun till late morning!). About a month back, I noticed one spider in our balcony, spinning its web waiting for the prey. The metal insect mesh in our balcony is so fine that even mosquitoes cannot pass through. Every day  I wondered how the spider gets his food!  To my surprise, after a couple of days I saw three more spiders ( little smaller in size). May be the young ones?? Its a mystery how they survive in this place without access to food. It has become a habit for me to look for them every morning. Their webs seem to be getting bigger. Glad to see that they are fine. What do they feed on? Harsh Sun and gusty rains in the past few days has not dettered their spirit for survival. I am reminded of Mr. Hira Rathan Manek. Born in a Gujarati family from Kutch, Mr. Manek's  visit to Aurovi...
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lessons in patience, lessons in love

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It's Ganesh chaturthi.  And I decided to unleash my skills in making sweet " kolukattai" . Thanks to the many cooking channels on youtube, I found an interesting recipe.  Marketing technique- " kolukkatai mould free with 500g pack " ! Decided to try the mould . I made a couple of futile attempts and then gave up. Decided to make my own shapeless " momo-like" kolukattai ! But my cook DID NOT GIVE UP . A couple of attempts,  and he GOT IT .  Finally we steamed the shapeless and the shapely ones ( no body shaming please .beauty is in the eyes of the beholder !) .  With all love presented to the divine form in our altar ( and ended up eating more than I should !)  Religion is to bond, not to fight, A way to unite, day and night. It's not a sword, but a gentle balm  It soothes the soul to keep you calm Let's not divide, let's come as one, And find the truth, beneath the sun.
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Spirituality Simplified

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The national youth icon of India. He died young and lives young ever in our hearts... My hero , my ideal. " He was the unconscious father of Indian Nationalism.He roused his mother land that was starving in superstitions and roused  their civilisational identity " says swami sarvapriyanandha. He was the man who took yoga to the west.yes, he is  the bridge between the east and the west . Subash chandra bose at  the age of 15 devoured  into the writings of Swami Vivekanandha.  He even ran away to become a monk. But the swamiji of the ashram said that his destiny was different.  Gandhiji , nehruji, all of them were inspired by swami's writings. Sister niveditha was starting schools , inspired by his teaching .He met jamshedji Tata on the ship during one of his journeys and they spoke about the future of science and technology in India . The seed for IISc was sown during that conversation. Swami had motivated Jagdish Chandra bose  to start ...
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Unforgettable moments with my children

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Gift of love from a young girl I have a  letter box outside my room where anyone can drop letters . I open it personally , keep it confidential and take necessary action . This morning there was a pretty long letter from a twelve year old . She had written about her grandparents, about how I was her father's first teacher etc ( I have been at Rajendra for more than  three decades , and we have our Alumni  admitting their children at our school now !) . These lines touched my heart  " Mam, I come and stand outside your cabin many times. But you are always busy" . And today I called her to my room and she spoke nonstop about her family, about how she has saved 150rs to buy gift for her mother's birthday etc . She has recently lost her grandmother ( who used to tell her stories ) and was emotional when she shared her moments with her . And she expressed her wish to learn veena( my children's day surprise for them ) . This deep yearning to learn  move...
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Portrait of a progressive thinker

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At 77 she is still reading , listening to audio books and sports her cheerful smile despite the many health challenges that daunt her. When  I visited her at her chennai home ( in dec 2024) she was wearing a self-designed maxie made from her soft cotton saree . And a pull over from her pure silk saree ( in pic) . I have always admired her ingenuity!  She is Meera athai , my mother-in-law's cousin sister .They grew up together ,  studied in municipal high school , Tiruchengode.  She was married at the age of seventeen. As he two sons started going to school, her husband late Dr.Ramanathan( he was the director at karur vysya bank ) noticed her passion for studying and supported her to complete her graduation. She went on to do her doctorate as well .  She worked as a professor in Loyola college teaching  American and European literature to students.  I fondly cherish the books she has gifted my son when he was young.  " Shakespeare for ...
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