TURN YOUR DREAMS INTO REALITY

Last week I’ve finished reading a truly inspirational and highly motivational book named “The Alchemist” written by Paulo Coelho in simple English and straight to the point (177pages). It is a story of a shepherd boy who turns his dreams into reality in spite of many obstacles he faces through out his journey following his dreams until he succeeds. (No matter if you think that I am advertising, but I surely suggest one and all to read this, as good literature like this comes very less often).
By now, you all must have understood that I am going to focus on the topic “Dreams”. Yes! We all dream for betterment of self and the society as well. (Even these days in my department, this is being the hottest topic ever, “How to get placed [recruited] in Dream Companies?”) And one must dream always because, “If we don’t have a dream - how can we have a dream come true”. It is the dreamers who have paved the road to success. Though dreaming is of no harm, but it proves to be harmful only when we do not realize them and start working with a sincere approach to turn them to reality. We, the dreamers must mould ourselves in such a way that instead of many obstacles we face through out following the dreams, we must always be well-prepared to tackle every consequence until they are fulfilled.
Most of us dream but show no courage to pursue them. Our fears hold us back from pursuing dreams. We often fear of being failure and that is the reason where we lag behind. But even from failures (if we consider failure as the best teacher) we can learn many things and mainly the Optimism (A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty and one such optimist was Thomas A. Edison who once said, “I’ve not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that do not work”).
We always show courage, testing the waters but never try to get into them to create waves, as we fear that we may get drowned. And this is the sole reason; we try not to attempt difficult tasks and thus always try deceiving our own selves. But, if we don’t experience the pain of failure how can we enjoy the pleasures of success? And if we don’t work on our dreams some other might take a chance and thus we will lag behind. Again to support my statement I want to use Thomas Alva Edison as an example. He said “Most of my ideas belonged to other people who didn’t bother to develop them”, so, the ball is in your court now and it depends on your own decision whether to strike it or not. (This article is purely meant for people like I and not for those who had already fulfilled their dreams.)
And, in order to turn dreams into reality; we must develop strategies to execute our dreams (Azim Premji, CEO, Wipro). We must learn to put them into action. And to perform an action one must learn to Trust in oneself. (Trust: Trust should be like the feeling of a one year old baby. When you throw him into the air, he laughs because he knows you will catch him.) Creativity comes from Trust. So, we should always learn to trust our instincts, because these instincts (Dreams) not only make us discover our mission (goals) but also help us feel its demand and develop an enthusiasm and burning desire to get work on it. Thus, Trust a.k.a. self-confidence makes us self-reliant automatically. And once if we become self-reliant, we need not wait for others to help/guide us.
We are never alone in this world; because to my belief, the man with an imagination (Dream) is never alone. Dream itself is the best friend of ours which not only guides us how to reach the destiny but also walk hand-in-hand until we succeed in fulfilling our dreams. (“What the mind can conceive and believe – it can achieve” and hence we must develop a skill of listening to what our heart and mind says.) But, it is we the traitors who never try to listen to our best friend (Dreams) and always change our set goals by trying to work on the new one. Therefore, we must learn how to stick to our passions strictly (dreams, goals, imaginations, missions what ever you name it). We must remember a proverb which says, “You are only young as young as the last time you changed your mind”. And hence, we must not allow any fluctuations until we successfully fulfill our dreams (we can do anything we want to if we stick to it long enough – Helen Keller). And this is possible only if we Dream high and Think Big, and “Let us dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men”.
There also exists a problem named “Day Dreaming”. Most of us often do this, we dream a lot but never give it a sincere try on implementing it; and constantly, we waste our valuable time delaying them. But one has to remember that, we may delay but time will not. Therefore we must wake up at the earliest; as, “the best way to make our dreams come true is to wake up”. Instead wasting time dreaming multiple things, Plan out sincerely how to achieve your ultimate dream. Achieving dreams depends on how you set your priorities and how capably you schedule your work and time. You can close your eyes to reality but not to dreams and hence prioritize what you desire (want to acquire and really want from the life) faithfully. And if you really want to achieve what you dream then you will never sit back and no one can dare to stop you reaching your goals not even you. (“The dream is not what you see in sleep; Dream is the thing which does not let you sleep” – Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, honorable President of India.)
Therefore, in conclusion, I would like to request you all to keep your dreams alive (i.e., never let them die; “Death is not the great loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies with in us while we live”) and cultivate a habit of listening to your heart or mind what ever it says. Follow your dream and must not allow yourself sit weaving dreams (as we all are familiar that, “Footprints on the sands of time are not made by sitting down”) and thus, realize the importance and start working on it right now as we all know how precious the time is!! Always remember that, “Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals” –Henry Ford, so, never allow fluctuations in your dreams (set goals) and become the Creators of your own destiny, who can turn the dreams into reality; (and never live a life of a dreamer who can only dream).

Thanks and Regards
Srikanth Chintakindi
M.Tech (A.I.),
University of Hyderabad.

MEANING OF sinIvaali

sinI vaali - Lakshmi's Name (Arudra's Famous book - not on Cinemas)
Also a phase of moon from full moon to new moon.

SinIvaali is a name for Lakshmi in Lakshmi Sahasranaama.

Yes and no!

Sabda ratnAkaramu says: sinee vAli - candra kaLa kAna vacceDu amAvAsya, pArvati. In Urdu, it means Eid ka Chaand, and in English, it is the light crescent moon that appears the day after New Moon day.

Arudra in his book "sinee vAli", to disabuse people of the notion that the
title has something todo with the movies, says (in strict, dead, pale,
chandO-baddha tETageeti):

ee 'sinee vAli' narthammu jEsikonuTa
kA padamunaku naighanTi kArtha mittu;
candra kaLa kanabaDu amAsa kidi pEru,
sarwa mangaLa pArvatee satiki noppu.

Looks like Arudra versified the meaning from SR.

As to the confusion with Lakshmi, my speculation: Lakshmi sahasranAmam may
indeed have the word incorporated there, in a compound phrase; Lakshmi and
candruDu are considered siblings, both having been the result of the great
churning of the milky ocean. The refrain "poDamE ramA, kalumula seemA,
Satapatra daLammula naDumA" is still lingering in my memory)

In that book, expressing his thanks to SrISrI, varada (abbUri varada
rAjESwara rAvu), and kATUri (venkatESwara rAvu), Arudra says (again in
SDPCB kanda):

SrISrI, varadalu nA mit-
raSrI lavvAri tODa tarkincina viS-
va SrEyammulu matkA-
vya SrENiki kattaLAlu, vAriki nA thanks.

kATUri vAru pEriDa,
pATinci racincinAnu, vArE cAlA
pATupaDi kAvyasadana ka-
vATamu, peeThika, teraciri, vAriki nA thanks

Now what is the context of the above poems for the topics under discussion
recently? Inquiring minds can cogitate it out.

As long as I was quoting these poems from the book, I was thumbing through
it, and came upon a khanDika (inta grAndhikampu mATa kanTe EdannA acca
telugu mukka undA deeniki?), un-named, as all the other pieces in the book
are. It is the story of poor klArku sUryA rAvu. While the rest of the
pieces are free verse, this particular follows "rules"! I am afraid I may
be offending some by this statement. What, such free-birds as Arudra and
SrISrI following rules!

In any case, an example from it.

klArku sUryA rAvu klArku sUryA rAvu
pArkulO keLLADu panilOnci vacci
mEjAla bhUjamula mEdini lOnci
ciT-ThAla ceeTAla ciTTaDavi lOnci

roppukuni rOjukuni rOjella gaDapi
gAlikai jAlikai gAlincagAnu
pArkulO koccADu warkulO nunci
klArku sUryA rAvu kALLEDcukocci
....
What refrain does this remind you of? It took me a few seconds.

Thanks and Regards,
Srikanth.C (HCU).

SAVE HYDERABAD

On 30th Dec'06, I had been to necklace road to participate in Hyderabad Youth Summit-06 conducted by MCH with one of my friends. There I observed that total system has got completely failed in ordering the priorities and are constantly wasting money for such useless events. I was been there to write a slogan, then suddenly it stroked my mind that there used to be a slogan earlier "Clean Hyderabad- Green Hyderabad" but I firmly felt to write " Save Hyderabad". Yes if you want to survive in Hyderabad, then it is (y) our own duty to save it, as it is the most endangered city (Similar to Endangered wild species).

Now, straight-to-the-point, our city has three forms of dangers, going to occur due to Natural Calamities viz., FLOODS, FAMINES AND EARTH QUAKES and of course to a major extent by the Officials of Government and the Real Estate people.

Firstly, Floods can attack us anytime this rainy season, if good rainfall occurs, and River Moosi, which is one of the most silent Killers and hazardous causing Betrayal rivers is going to be the root source for that. Earlier it had destroyed 1/4th of Population in mid-70's, and once again this situation might arise as more than 60% of the river had been occupied by so called Real Estate People and the Government in the name of Beautification Projects (by lessening the width of the river and constructing unnecessary bridges and flyovers). The witness to yell strongly about the Destruction is still standing high in the name of Purana Pool Bridge (which has seen floods almost 10times till date).

Secondly, considering about famines. It is really sorry to say but one can easily count the number of trees existing in the city on fingertips. Once, Henry David Thoreau said, " If a man walks in the wood for love of them, half of the each day he is in danger of being regarded as a loafer; but if he spends his whole day as a speculator shearing off those woods and making earth bald before her time, he is esteemed as an industrious and enterprising citizen". May be the Corporate World and the common man too both together following the above rule blindly and in the race of Materialism they have even forgotten that they are harming our own self by masking the importance of Trees. Does one need to stress that the trees provides us with fresh breeze, which an artificial air conditioner cannot give? That they allow us to breathe pollution free air etc.,
You too will agree that our city is no more Green Hyderabad and I have no need to explain you about the two famines that we have faced last three years. How can one forget Himayath Sagar and Osman Sagar getting completely dried up (due to no rains caused by heavy pollution and no flow of water into the lakes due to obstructing constructions)? How can rain will be there if there are no trees to welcome the rainfall opening their hands to hug? How can a rainfall occur when there are no birds to sing welcome songs? Isn't that so pathetic?

Thirdly, the Earthquakes. In Stallion movie I suppose, Trisha sings a song "siggu tho chi chi . cheera tho pechi" and to my belief she does wear no sari (it does not mean that she wears nothing; but i meant that wears some skirts other than sari) and same with the case of hyderabad city. There are mountains/hills left for only namesake (viz., Banjarahills, Jubileehills, Kondapur, Nandinihills, Castlehills, Gayathrihills, Punjagutta etc.,) and in place of the same there exists huge complexes and buildings making the earthquake proned area to highly earthquake prone. The Hi-tech city region is endangered especially where many of you people working for Software and BPO industries.
In such inevitable situations, I thank God for not blessing us with "Sea or Ocean" or otherwise, we might have polluted as we see in the case of Hussain Sagar lake and R.Moosi or might be endangered again with one more problem named "Tsunami".

In conclusion, I would like to say that Human life is more precious than materialistic values. Though the land values in those areas are really costlier but still one can dare to plant a tree at least one for a building, then only there arises no situation to explain the future generation about the trees and mountains drawing the pictures either on canvas or a computer screen.

DREAMING FOR A POLLUTION FREE HYDERABAD...
SRIKANTH.C (HCU).

TURNING FAILURES INTO SUCCESS

SUCCESS IS GETTING UP JUST ONE MORE TIME THAN YOU FALL DOWN

On the other day when I was having lunch, one of my seniors asked me, “Being gifted with many skills, why aren’t you successful in achieving good GPA at semester exams?” Then I questioned myself, am I a failure? So, from this point of view I have thought of focusing on failure stories (good column appears every Sunday in Andhra Jyothi newspaper, where celebrities talk about their failure stories).
Why failure is never pleasurable? Is that because, it hurts all alike? Or the person who fails in an attempt is considered to be of no good?
But to my belief, Failure can make a positive contribution to your life, once if you learn to use it. For some optimists, it is the stepping stone for success, and for some pessimists, it is a huge mountain of obstruction.
If you know how to use it, then there arises no disappointment and you will be ready to strike again striving for success.
Step one is to, Question yourself, “Why did I fail?” and “Where did I went wrong?” and “What next, how I can improve myself?” If you start thinking in this manner you will find many answers ready at your hand. Start analyzing from the right beginning the causes responsible for your failure. Start working on it once again, and do it right now, because, “Success is getting up one more time than you fall down”.
Step two is to, Resist yourself, the natural impulse to blame some one else. Stop blaming others, it is your failure and you are the person who is solely responsible. And always remember that you can be winner only if you are willing to walk over the edge. Let people talk ill of you (as they usually do) when you get failed. Remember that, “you are not finished yet when you are defeated; you are finished only when you quit”. So, never quit from the race, “if some one speaks ill of you, let your life be such that no one believes him”.
Step three is, if some one else can help, don’t be shy of inquiries. Failure is the real good friend or teacher of ours. It unveils the truth or reality of the people. It makes us learn the real essence of life and also helps us to make us meet with the best friends who stand by us in such times.
Last step is that, one should allow oneself to experience the disappointment. Then only we can help ourselves to master it. Though, Success, encourages repetition of old behavior, is not nearly as good teacher as a Failure. You can learn from a disastrous event how to give a good one but not from the successful one.
In conclusion, I would like to say that, Failures does not mean the end of life; but it is the real start or a beginning. You are gifted with one more chance to prove your talents and give your best. So, never feel hurt, start working on your failures right then.

Thanks and Regards,
“Sinivaali”- Srikanth.C (HCU)
9346855723.

CONTRIBUTION

Last weekend, I suppose, on the day of my fresher party, one of my seniors, (in her address to all junior students of M.Tech), requested, “To repay something back, or say, contribute for the good and benefit of the Society and Department as well, from what ever we learn from the University.” Being inspired by her speech, I jotted down to explain the necessity of “Contribution”.
Once, Albert Einstein in his writings quoted, “A hundred times everyday I remind of myself that my inner and outer life depends on the labours of other men, living and dead; that I must exert myself in order to give in the same way as I have received and am still receiving”. Undoubtedly, he is the Man of deeds and not of words. (“A Man of Words and not of Deeds is like a garden full of Weeds”). He proved himself practically; he contributed a lot to the society. Even today the formulae he invented are still in practice, that itself proves him to be a legendary.
As I have always been saying in my every article to “Question Yourself” is applicable in this case too. (Say, if Albert Einstein has not questioned himself, would he be ever successful to make his contribution to the society). No matter how much you are going to contribute, but realize the necessity of contribution to make our society a better place for existence.
Here to support the above statement, I would love to furnish an anecdote (A short account of a particular incident or event of an interesting or amusing nature) of a squirrel in one of the epics, the Ramayana. Though it was fully aware of the fact that, it cannot afford to carry large stones on its back, but still throws the smallest mud particles possible in to the largest ocean on which the construction of a bridge was going on (and thus, makes its contribution and manages to attract the attention of Lord Sri Ram).
Isn’t this anecdote enough, to teach all of us the necessity for contribution, and make us remember our capabilities. And aren’t we such small squirrels, who can also dare to repay back from what ever we learn (for the betterment of society). Though, countless problems in the society exist resembling the largest ocean, still we have to build up the solutions by our own. And being social animals (remember, society is watching on us), it is our own duty to prove ourselves in this regard.
But the problem here is that, though we have the burning zeal and spark with in us, guiding us always to be good and do well; but when it comes for practicing, this spark gets drowned and turns to ashes. (Don’t you agree with me?)
Have you ever thought sincerely to contribute? If not (realized it till date), then start it right now, by questioning yourself that, “How can I make my society a better place for existence? And how best can I contribute for its betterment?” Try implementing with dedication (like Mother Theresa, who needs no introduction – “Helping hands are holier than praying lips”) and never expect something back again. (“Karman yeva dhi kaarashyay maa phalay shu kadhachana” says Bhagavad-Gita which means do your duty and don’t expect the fruits from what ever you do).
Stop criticizing the people who are making their contribution. It is the general human tendency, or say, Indian psychology itself, to first count the bad, and then only to count the good. Never try to discourage people those who contribute, encourage them always irrespective of who ever they may be. May it be a saint, or may it be a common man, treat all equally (not because of favoritism or criticism) and appreciate their efforts if possible and if you can. Abraham Lincoln said, “He has the right to criticize who has the heart to help.”
In my conclusion, I would like to say that, contribute whole heartedly, (not expecting anything back) though it gives an immediate effect (when you contribute clothes, money, food, at the times of natural calamities) or gives an after effect (when you pledge your eyes “www.giftyoursight.info”, body parts “www.mohanfoundation.org” etc.) apart from cultivating hobbies like donating blood even once in three months if possible or at least once in a year and gifting your old (torn out, unused) clothes of to the children at orphanages or juvenile homes etc., There are “n” number of organizations working for such noble cause of “Contribution”, so, if you cannot contribute directly, assist them at your leisure time, and thus, feel better, and, feel contented.

Thanks and Regards,
Srikanth.C, M.Tech (A.I.),
University of Hyderabad.

TAKE TIME OUT

One among my friends is a Doctor by profession. Being a doctor he is always busy with his patients and medical books. So, I never used to interfere in his matters through any kind of interaction as I am aware that his time is precious. (Of course, not only his, but Time of each one of us is equally precious and an old Zen Proverb says, “No day comes back again; an inch of time is a worth a foot of Jade”.) And once, he invited me for a lunch at his home and then immediately after that we had to drive to a charity home where he asked me to accompany him to carry some paintings with him.
I was surprised to see painting after lovely painting on the walls of his house and the charity home where we made a visit. I found a similarity in painting styles and as you all know that I am good at questioning, could not resist myself but to ask him “Who did these?”
“I did” said the doctor.
Knowing his long hours of duty and his heavy responsibilities, I again questioned him, “But how on earth do you find time to all these?”
“Find it”, he sputtered, “I don’t find it, I take it”.
His answer made me spell-bound completely. He became my role-model from then onwards, as he wanted me to realize the amount of time I have been wasting for a long, asked me to accompany him to the charity. Then he added a quotation of Leonardo Da Vinci, that, “Time stays for long for those who use it” and requested me not to use my time for unnecessary things as “Time” according to the Greek Philosopher Theophrastus, “is the most valuable thing a man can spend!”.
Now, all of you might ask me that don’t we know that Time is Money? Or don’t we know that time and tide waits for no one? Yes, I completely agree with you, but friends have you ever realized it soulfully. If so, then this article is not meant for you as you all are spending your time purposefully. But if not, I want to question you that how often; instead, do we let time spend us? Have you ever thought what else we can do about it to spend our time for a proper cause meaningfully? How can we really live with in 24 hours a day?
Ask yourself the questions like, Did I ever spent 15 minutes on a park bench, simply sitting quietly watching the squirrels or birds, which can refresh me for the rest of the day? Or do I have any creativity that can lead me cultivate a hobby that can kill my sheer boredom or give happiness/bliss to my soul when I get over tired or depressed? Or am I watching the beautiful nature around me, viz., mountains, trees, lakes, ponds while I travel in train/bus/cab?
I believe that for every problem there exists a solution and it exists in the problem itself. But to seek answers we again have to depend upon “time” to question our own selves. So, from now at least, take time out to sharpen your creative skills underlying in you, cultivate hobbies like painting, dancing, writing, collecting coins, notes, stamps, autographs, perfume bottles, match boxes, pens, erasers, etc., playing games like chess, Sudoku, crosswords, etc., and even reading books (I swear that a book is the real friend of us in the times of depression or loneliness) etc.,
Ask questions to yourself, like what I did on the other day at doctor’s home. I felt ashamed and also got realized the value of time. The doctor had left me such an impression that from then onwards time had started chasing me like tyrant. And thus I started reading books (which ever comes to my hand). And through this hobby of reading books, I cultivated one more hobby, of writing. (Such boring articles you are reading now.) (i.e., to write this little, I do read a lot, not only me, a great number of people including great personalities read. For your information, Pandit J.L.Nehru was found with a book under his pillow on the day he died. Thus, reading is an excellent habit to cut-off your distress or depression, you need not have to consult a psychiatrist as a book a day keeps psychiatrist away.)
In conclusion, I request you all creative genius people that you all take time out – that restores the lilt and zest to your living. Try to cultivate some hobby which is for some good to strengthen your personality and to the benefit of society too. Please, do not waste your valuable time watching television sets as it might kill your creativity and adds to your depressions.

Thanks and Regards,
Srikanth.C,
University of Hyderabad