CAN WE DO THIS ? Lessons to be learnt from Japan

1. THE CALM
Not a single visual of chest-beating or wild grief. Sorrow itself has been elevated.

2. THE DIGNITY
Disciplined queues for water and groceries. Not a rough word or a crude gesture.


3. THE ABILITY
The incredible architects, for instance. Buildings swayed but didn’t fall.


4. THE GRACE
People bought only what they needed for the present, so everybody could get something.


5. THE ORDER
No looting in shops. No honking and no overtaking on the roads. Just understanding.


6. THE SACRIFICE
Fifty workers stayed back to pump sea water in the N-reactors. How will they ever be repaid?


7. THE TENDERNESS
Restaurants cut prices. An unguarded ATM is left alone. The strong cared for the weak.


8. THE TRAINING
The old and the children, everyone knew exactly what to do. And they did just that.


9. THE MEDIA
They showed magnificent restraint in the bulletins. No silly reporters. Only calm reportage.


10. THE CONSCIENCE
When the power went off in a store, people put things back on the shelves and left quietly.

CAN WE DO THIS ? AT LEAST LETS MAKE A BEGINNING.

Going back to School...Get together JPNV 1985-96 batches

Today my school JPNV has arranged a Get Together event for ex-students who passed out 10^th in 1985-to 1995. It was always good to go back to school and listen to teachers’ views. It was great opportunity to listen to most respectable Bhau (Shri Vamanrao Abhyankar). Today he chose to speak to topics which are most apt for the age group attending 30-40 yrs. With today’s’ fast paced life, people are faced with deceases at the age of 30 to 40 which people used to experience at the age of 50+ for earlier generations. We should make sure that we progress in four areas – Physical, Intellectual, mental and spiritual. If you ensure that you practice all these, you would ensure you have good and enjoyable life after 50+ even though your physical energy may start declining but in other areas you could still progress. He also touched the very sensitive issue of ethics. With India finding its’ place in top corrupt place in world, it is very much need of society to have corruption free environment. We may not able to influence others for not to be corrupt but we can pledge that we will not indulge in corruption.

After this thought provoking talk we enjoyed food and chat with batch mates and teachers. Many teachers could not remember all names and it was like introducing with name and class.

Teachers who are retired now were given respect and were felicitated.

I enjoyed the evening and took learning from respected Bhau’s talk and decided that I will not have a day without exercise.