Mahatma Gandhi - Father Of The Nation

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was the leader of the Indian independence movement against the British. Gandhi carried the India's movement for freedom for over 20 years upholding values of non-violence and peace. Winning a battle without raising a hand at your enemy is a feat not many could accomplish; but Gandhi did, earning him the title Mahatma, or the revered one.

Although his morals were imbibed in him since birth, his strive for freedom was not. It was in Africa, when he was studying law, where he was kicked out of a first class compartment becasue of his brown color, despite having a ticket. Gandhi realised the need for freedom not just for himself but the billion people suffering under the British regime back in India. He abandoned his studies and travelled back to India to spark the freedom movement, which was a 20 year peaceful war waged against the British.

Gandhi's policy of non-violence and peace were intially condemned, but holding strong to his beliefs he eventually gained several supporters which continued to multiply with every movement. He intiated satyagraha, the practice of buring British goods sold in India. Furthermore, Gandhi encoruaged Indians to boycott foreign goods which the British sold in India. This was a direct attack on the British as it hurt the growth of British companies. 

When the British raised the tax on salt, Gandhi led a group of followers towards the Arabian Sea, a treck which covered 240 miles. This was a campaign of tax resistance, where in Gandhi and his followers would illegally produce salt from seawater. Although Gandhi's methods were peaceful, his enemies weren't. The British continued to use violence to supress the movement, with several killings, including the massacre in Punjab, which was a public shooting of 1000 innocent men, women and children in closed quarters. Even in times of such brutality, Gandhi urged his followers to stick to their morals.

Despite the resistance, Gandhi contined to intiate several movements targeted towards the British regime. His followers grew in numbers, causing an intially weakened India to stand strong against the face of British oppression. On August 15, 1947, he earned India its independence. The man was justly called the 'Father of the Nation'.

Genius of Money - An Interview With Krystyna Jurzykowski

Krystyna is self aware women who has decdicated herself to philanthropic activities. She is currently the co-owner and head of operations at Fossil Rim Wildlife Center , a social enterprise that she intitiated. The firm established in Texas, has 3000 acres of land and bears home to over 1100 animals. This wildlife preserve is closest to and Afircan preserve, harbouring an environment to support antelopes, rhinos, giraffes and several other species.

Krystyna highlights the importance of passion and commitment in achieving ones task. She also mentions the significance of destiny which led her to work in this field. Her initial period in Fossil Rim was marked with several challenges but her commitment kept her to her goals. She also mentions that money can be used as a tool to achieve ones philanthropic goals if used correctly. Her belief as a child was that money leads to greed, which can negatively impact ones relationship with others. However, under her husband's guidance, she realised that money can serve to fulfill one's ambitions.

Money is not the only source of philantrophic activities; Krystyna believes that an individual could also devote his time and energy towards a good cause. She draws on her previous emphasis on commitment and passion towards any activity. Only if you have the passion for a particular objective will you achieve to accomplish it. Irrespective of the numerous challenges you overcome, having commitment to the goal will encourage you to counter all difficulties.

Finally, Krystyna talks about self awarenes, which can be achieved to sprititual and financial means. Being aware of yourself leads you do understand what you want to achieve. She quotes Gandhi, "Be the change you want to be", which emphasizes on the importance of displaying the qualities you want to see in the world. It is important for people to understand and reflect on their goals and objectives, leading them to be passionate about what they do. This way they will meet people in the same field as them, who are also equally passionate.

The Genius of Money - Chapter 10

The chapter focuses on the importance of paintings. Through the painting presented in the chapter, John Bloom describes to us the significance of paintings in describing the period they were painted. John Bloom refers to a painting from the 17th century, which portrays a woman sobbing in front of man. The picture describes a setting, in which the woman's husband may have passed away, and now she must fulfill his financial obligations. However, she is unable to get a job to do so, and is left confronting an unemotional creditor demanding his money.

The painting speaks volumes about the era. The 17th century, as depicted through the picture, emphasises on the partriarchal society. Mercantilism was practiced, a philosophy that favored men over women in all fields. Being a male dominated society, woman did not have much influence in society in regards to politics and economics and were left under the rule of men. Hence, through the image of the woman unable to pay her creditor, the chapter captures its point.

It is striking how an image can inform its audience so much about a period it was painted in. The painting of a particular period reflects the painters philosophy on life based on what he or she sees or experiences. Thus the painting ends up educating its audience on the culutre, society, politics and economy of the period.

The Second Amendment Is A Gun Control Amendment

Through his post, Adam Gopnik discusses the tradegy that occured in Oregon and the resulting debate on The Second Amendment. The shootings in Oregon, was another story of a mentally ill individual shooting several innocent school kids. While relatives continue to mourn their loss, Obama issues a statement saying: we know how to fix this. Parellel to the author's thoughts, I believe it is another dissapointing story of loss and incompetency in the government to control gun violations. The author draws examples from Australia and Canada who benefitted from gun control. He describes the law as an antibiotic to an infection. It is likely that stricter gun control measures will reduce the wasteful deaths in the country. 

The author berates the system by mentioning that every killer who is crazy enough to take a gun and shoot innocent kids to death has a wicked ideology that can often not be explained. And it is to these people the government willingly supplies rights to purchase guns. "Every mass shooter has his own motive. They all use the same tool." - Republican David Frum.

The author highlghts the misunderstanding regarding The Second Amendement, which has been long since its inititation. The law meant to secure “to the people a right to use and possess arms conjunction with service in a well-regulated militia.” However this has been misunderstood ever since with the government providing access to even the most lunatic of individuals. Adam concludes by pleading for not a change in the amendment but restoring the intended meaning when it was first constituted.

The Genius of Money - Chapter 1

The first chapter introduces the intersection of Spirit and Money. The realms of spirit and religion, engaged as they are with the non-material world, always find their way to work in a world that trades in money. The author draw on the example of religious organiizations the can be exempt from tax in the United States. The chapter futher decribes the relation between religious or spiritual practice, a private matter, and the world of money, which falls in the category of a public matter. Socities seek to treat these matters in a way that reflects their belief systems and political agreements, and several variants.

The example from the chapter that stood apart to me was the poem "Deciding" by William Stafford. The poet was aware of the nuance of an American consciousness that moves beyond the duality of heaven and earth, spirit and matter, and even good and evil. The poem decribes gold as kind of currency. It holds value as a precious metal, and harbors a long history of representating a deep curse of materialism. It is in the genius of the of the poem that expresses the inner capacity of miners to know how to trascend the simple duality (spirituality and materialism), and instead to be in both places at once - and thus in the third place. The chapter draws a comparison to Jesus, who was an exemplar and teacher of this conscious to see both what belongs to the world and what in the realm of the spirit, and beyond that to be able to discern and point out when the the two fall out of integrity. This understanding is intiutional and worthy of emulation, even if it is likely to fail.

Staffar points out that money draws on our lower or desire nature. The poet points out greed, which is synonymous with access to material goods and services. Futhermore, we are so dependent on money to provide for us in a evolved citified culture, money carries with it a dominion over our sens of well-being and our sense to self-sufficiency - a place close to our identity

Criket - A Game On Patience

Cricket, although not popular in the west, is the second most watched sport after soccer. From its origins in south east England, cricket has succesfully expanded its roots to commonwealth countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Zimbabwe. However it reached a roadblock in the west. The popularity of the game was and is still constricted to the east, giving me an opportunity to inform you about the game that has been present in my life since the past 20 years.

The game is played with two teams of 11, each having a mix of players capable of bowling, batting and fielding, with one charismatic captain to lead. The game is divided into two innings, where in one team sends out two players at a time to bat and score runs, where as the other pitches in all 11 players to try to concede minimal runs. The runs are scored with a bat either through hitting the ball out of the field with or without a bounce, or running back and forth across 20 metres crease. Every run is added to the score and team continues to bat till it bats out 300 balls (50 overs each with 6 balls) or loses 10 wickets. After the first innings, the second team comes on the chase the target. Wickets are taken by either hitting the stumps placed behind the batsmen or by cathcing the ball the player hit without the ball touching the ground. The most popular format of the game usually lasts for 8 hours, with each innings lasting for 4 hours, hence making it a game only playable by the ones who have patience.

In my country, India, the game was introduced by Englishmen during the British rule. They used cricket as way to spread their roots across Asia. Additionally, they also got company at the game. Very soon the game spread to all the Commonwealth games. In India, the game soon became an iconic sport with villages and urban centres playing the game. The game meant more than a passtime sport. A game of cricket between villages and British governance of the area would often seal their fate in terms of rule, tax and laws. In India the game was and is so adored, that every street you cross will have kids playing the sport.

Growing A Farmer - Cows

Deep into the book, the author, Kurt Timmermeister talks about cows. After having acquired his first  cow, Dinah, Kurt begines to learn more abut cows, their Time commitment and breeding process. According to the author, cows provide a symbol of a farm. The presence of sheep and goats give no more a look than a joint farm. However cows mean business. Cows required the most time commitment as compared to other domestic animals. Unlike pigs, goats and others, cows require your presence everyday to raise them well. 

In terms of breeding the basic concept is a female cow will breed and nine months later, produce offsprings. Two months before she is calved, her body will start producing in anticipation of her offspring. The offspring a cow can produce is a either a female, heifer or a male, bull calf. Females will live out their life on the farm, producing milk. Males will most likely be castrated after which they will be raised for meat. Their genders pretty much seal their fates!