text: The power of positive strength in you - The Economic Times
  Oct 17, 2017, 08.22 PM IST
  The other day I read an article - where Bush fails to come up to the standards of Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, for it seems this author felt that despite being the leader of the biggest power in the world, he failed where he succeeded, and that probably alone is our USP.
  It is said that Bush Junior tried to avenge his Senior's defeat at the hands of a small fry - somewhere - in Iraq. For that, he went to any extent - and it had the perfect mix of a Hollywood film - Lies, war and all the masala. Till in the end, the head of a state - hanged as an ordinary prisoner- but - as many people think - may be without a perfect trial.
  On the very onset, I must clarify that I am not taking sides. Each will have his own set of error and blunders and the cycle of nature shows - each is meeting his own dooms day. I am no one to predict anything about anybody nor is it ever possible to get into the dicey business of predictions. However, one important lesson that I have been taught by my masters, is that always appreciate that which is positive. It not only helps us learn, but also helps us understand our own weaknesses in a better light.
  This is where I stand that India still stands head and shoulders above others. Not that I am interested in taking sides or supporting political ideologies, yet the truth is - when it comes to discussions with the Sri Lankan Political Institutions, regarding the Tamil Ethnic Issue, it is said, that despite the fact that Mrs. Gandhi lost her soul mate - Rajiv Gandhi, yet she manages to keep her sanity. It was even appreciated that away from all political lime-light, she had the inner strength to seek mercy from death sentence, for one of the lady convicts in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case, when she came to know that the lady had a small child.
  I repeat, I have nothing to do with politics, but this positive strength seen in an individual, I don't think I have, and the day I manage to get this, I'll consider myself blessed. It takes a lot of strength to keep this balance, and this is the essence of Ahimsa, that alone can bring sanity to this world. Sadly enough, it is this that is expected of a leader and we don't see any global powers showing this.
  It is important to clarify, lest people think I am writing all this at the behest of some people, if you believe me, please do try to understand that there may be very many things I disagree with the same person, yet this is something that is positive and I felt stands out as a stark reality, in today's world. Not that anyone came and shared these secrets of hers in my ears, but I read this somewhere, and felt inspired to sit and think where we are heading for.
  Just as in the national economy, we see a stark gap between the rich and the poor, ever widening, there is an apparent gap that is widening in the global scenario as well. The biggest problem is probably that we all have started becoming convinced that if the end is right, then everything is justified - everything's justified in love 'n war - Old English saying.
  How sad. This probably has led to all the violence that we see around us and nobody is ready to listen to anybody. A heady mix of money and violence - that's what we see everywhere.
  Can we just pause for a moment - and look around and see - what are we heading for?
  If we do, then we'd realise hat there is no other way than what Centuries ago, the great sage - Patanjali - talked of in his concept of ashtanga Yoga - when, describing the very first stage - Yama - he said - Ahimsa, Satya, Brahmacharya, Asteya and Aparigraha. Then he went on to say that thse are the great Vows, beyond space and time.
  They remain the greatest vows today, practicing which, I'll be able to perceive the other as a fellow Human, if not a manifestation of the Lord and sure enough, my perception towards life, world and myself will undergo a transformation.
  But instead of preaching the world, the need is to begin here and now with myself. But the biggest question is - Am I ready for it?