Common People --Extraordinary deeds

Simple people --Extraordinary deeds

http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/unusual-takes/article5244211.ece?homepage=true

Interesting people who have indulged in life long deeds. Role models who inspire me.

Ilavarasan

What a sad sad sad day...Just feeling void.

Philosophy of Work

I understand how hard it is to look out for a job as I have spent really tough times in my job search at the height of the worst (yet) financial downturn. Naturally, my views in life have changed quite a lot from that experience and has given a lot of perspective on the importance of good people in your life. So I will always be more inclined to work for great people than for a great organization. I must have read all the coverage on the plight of unemployed/underemployed people/families in NY Times for more than 2 years and I can picture myself being one among them. Even after that I remain optimistic and confident that the only way to succeed in life is to work hard and be imaginative.

One of the comments that I came across in the gazillion articles that I have read stayed with me. I just want to put it here so that it will be useful for me anytime and I term that as philosophy of work. Here goes it.

" Here's a suggestion. Get a low level job in any good firm. Be the hardest working person there, by being the first person to get to work and the last person to leave. Always volunteer to do the worst jobs and show that you are thankful for the job. You will be amazed that generally people will notice and you will succeed. If you simply sit around complaining and thinking that the world owes you anything, you are naive and you are seriously impairing the chances of your success in the real world. It is really that simple".
-Unknown.

People I come across

These days I come across more and more people with extraordinary courage. The courage to live life by their terms. There are many characteristics that define these people - selflessness, fighting for justice, intellect, devotion, brilliance, simplicity, humbleness and living the life which they love because they don't know otherwise. Greatness lies within. Its not about money, ability or being famous. Its about the fight in your heart and the courage you exhibit. May be these are just thoughts that are imagined by my fertile mind, but I would like to believe that they constitute the truth. After all nothing in life is achieved by being a cynic. The way I see it, the underlying strand that unites these people is the integrity. I consider the ability do the right thing as integrity. Its not about not making any mistakes, but everything to do with owning up responsibility and doing the right thing. Genuinely. Sincerely. Humbly.

Acharya V. V. Sadagopan is one such polymath. I came across this great person when I was reading about another such and it is staggering to believe that a human of his ability, intellect and compassion worked and lived among us.

http://www.hindu.com/fr/2005/03/04/stories/2005030400170300.htm

http://www.carnatica.net/artiste/sadagopan.htm

http://gkamesh.wordpress.com/2010/05/09/vv-sadagopan-music-mystic/
http://www.medhajournal.com/articles/myblog/628.html

http://www.stdpathasala.org/about/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdtwwIMOw1U
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQQIeMH9g6o

His shisya Sri. Srirama Bharathi is as erudite scholar as his guru is and it is clear that the world is a richer place due to their life. I hope to write more about other people who are my heroes but above all that I would be more than happy to take a sip from their wisdom.

I miss Madurai

Especially this time of the year when the lordess is coronated, followed by her joyous marriage and the temple car festival and the procession of her brother and the....

India

To my limited knowledge, few places in the world can match the unmatched tolerance that citizens of India seem to possesss. While there are plenty of occasions in which the attitude of Indians may seem to border apathy, it even confounds the most hardened cynics as to how this land of diverse language, religion, culture, character and soul functions and flourishes as a singlular entity. There is something in the common man which makes them wise and their benevolence in thought, in spite of everday difficulties never ceases surprise me. It is no wonder that Mahatma Gandhi had his core ideologies based on adherence to non-violence and abhorrence to intolerance.

Here's an article in NYT about the Golden temple in Amritsar.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/30/world/asia/30india.html

The philosophy of giving

The measure of a person is a difficult quality to evaluate. It is not measured by the words uttered but indeed by the worth of it. Stated differently, it is earned, not bestowed. In this article, the Oracle of Omaha, buttressses his words through deeds. A truly worthy role model, not because of the money he makes but because of his strength of character, humility and clarity of thought which is revealed through this insightful piece but most importantly backed by action.
http://money.cnn.com/2010/06/15/news/newsmakers/Warren_Buffett_Pledge_Letter.fortune/index.htm

I can only think of the story of half gold, half flesh mongoose from Mahabharatha. It's not a question of "how much" but it has everthing to do with timing. Valluvar got it spot on.