Publications – 31 to 40: For The Joy of Sharing
PUBLICATIONS: 31- 40
#40. My Favorite Word
GUEST ARTICLE #30

By Usha Ramaswamy
Senior School Head
The Shri Ram Universal School
Hyderabad
Hyderabad, India
02-Apr-2022
REFLECT
Foreword by Venkat
There could be two reasons to be lost. Either we don’t know where we are going or we don’t know the right route. All education, knowledge, tradition and culture give us various abstractions, concepts, means and symbols to tread back on the right track. In other words the various stories, theories, models, laws, sciences, theorems, algorithms, and so on become guiding lights for us to move on than be lost or reinvent the wheel.
Despite these, there is a third reason to become lost (which seems more common) and that is in not being self-aware – of doubt and confusion while being on the right track. Here is where feedback matters and nothing could be better for the good to be told that they are good. Appreciation even for the tiniest things are instant guiding lights that bring energy and firm one’s commitment to doing the good.
Ms. Usha Ramaswamy, the Chief Appreciation Officer (in her friend’s words) unravels the science behind the art of appreciation and the special wonders it brought to her interpersonal interactions. The law of reciprocation always works be it in thought, deed or words of appreciation. An excellent choice of her favorite word that reflects in her beautiful experiences.
Reflect on what appreciation has done for you in your lives in this lovely recount by Usha.
STUDENT ARTICLE #3

Foreword by Venkat
To find such intricate logic in perceptions coming from a 13 year old is pure delight indeed! Ahana is also gifted in expressing her thoughts laid in good structure, words with an impactful ending. Congratulations and best wishes to her journey through life. Utopian dystopia is apt and more positive than dystopian utopia. The argument is well presented by Ahana and yes she is right on the perils of wishing for a ‘perfect’ world. Perfection like many other abstractions exists in and is experienced in the mind alone.
We as humans have two major limitations – limitations of our senses (the amount and the detail in information we can take in) and dual nature of the physical (at a point in time, we are physically either in a place or not but our mind can be in multiple places at the same time!). And these limitations vary with our age. Even if the world were to start with the so called utopian world, these limitations would ensure things ‘normalize’ into the ‘imperfect’ world as it is now. While these limitations seemingly separate us on the physical plane based on dualities (for example: two people not hearing the same amount of information, interpret two different realities of the same thing), they bring us together on the mental plane when the mind sees the non-dual nature of life and things. So wonderful to read this writing and to share my views on the same. Thanks to Ahana.
Enjoy the perfect (not utopian) experience of thoughts through the wonderful magical world of words that Ahana creates!
#37. Lost and Found- A Blessing
GUEST ARTICLE #29

By Meera Venkatesan
Learning Consultant, Performance Storyteller
Trainer, Creative writer,
Bangalore, India
30-Mar-2022
REFLECT
Foreword by Venkat
The best lessons in knowing the value of a thing come when we lose it. Meera in her simple style, joins the disconnected dots to form an embroidery of truth from her recent personal experience. We all have received a ‘refresher’ through the COVID pandemic to reconnect to the things that really matter and to regain ownership of the powers within. It is in the misplaced understanding of values that we often do not know what to hold on to and what to give up. Losing, then seems to be a great way to find ourselves back in the spirit we are endowed with. There is a wonderful tinge of humor in Meera’s writing which is eclipsed by the finishing lines that sets our thought rolling on a steady groove.
Enjoy in Meera’s words, the subtle force of life’s realities in finding the value of what we lose.
STUDENT ARTICLE #2

Foreword by Venkat
In this beautiful article by Ahana she contrasts the beauty of Switzerland with the searing issue of global warming of Earth. The power of the ‘Contrast’ is not only the ‘nut and bolt’ in her wonderful message but also of the parts where we are held in the framework of life. Without contrasts or differences which hit the eye (and the heart) one would never care to understand others’ needs, appreciate the value of what one has or become aware of the latent and unforeseen problems. While the beauty of Switzerland is comforting (and enticing), it has brought the discomforting reality to the eyes. It inspires for good action, more to protect the natural beauty around us than to create more Switzerlands around. Excellent and wonderful flow of thoughts from Ahana. Keep it up!
Experience the heavy jolt of inspiration from the bubbling joy of Ahana’s words from the Swiss Alps!
#35. Love Yourself
GUEST ARTICLE #28

By Aarti Hudiya
Positive Psychology Coach, Manager GlobalArt
Zumba Fitness Instructor
Bangalore, India
28-Mar-2022
INSPIRE
Foreword by Venkat
As we grow, we first read the lines, then learn to read between the lines, then read around the lines and finally sift through the pages of life that manifested those lines. This is in contrast to the paradigm of seeing a thing from different perspectives because there is as much meaning there in what is unsaid, unseen and the unfelt. The commonplace notions and stereotyped views on people and their physical characteristics are more for the comforting cushion of parochial bonhomie of some groups. It needs grit and a brave heart to stand one’s ground while being excluded by others outside the walls of such stereotypical labelling. One such brave heart is Aarti Hudiya and she shares her wisdom and rich experience in clear, practical tips for the new generation (Gen Z). Anyone born from 1997 onward is part of the new generation termed as Generation Z. Aarti’s success in the various roles she dons brings inspiration and courage to deal with similar labeling which every generation goes through in some form or the other.
A bouquet of inspiring, crisp and powerful thoughts in this simple yet beautiful article!
STUDENT ARTICLE #1

Foreword by Venkat
A knife is a weapon to hurt, a means to protect, a tool to cut open and a part of cutlery for food – all in one. Our outlook on incidents, circumstances and people is no different. It all depends on how we use it. Prisha’s beautiful narration beams a powerful message – of looking at problems positively as challenges and not as helpless obstacles. The incidents she shares bring clarity to the message. Wonderful writing with words of wisdom at such a young age. Wishes and blessings to the budding writer!
A wonderful article garnished with heart-warming anecdotes serving an inspiring message!
#33. Truth is stranger than fiction
GUEST ARTICLE #27

By Meena Sanyal
Retired IT Project manager, World Bank
Washington DC, USA
26-Mar-2022
EVOKE
Foreword by Venkat
A fruit in its various stages is potent with different qualities and benefits ideal for each stage. In its raw form, it is sour, perfect for pickles and in its ripe form, it is sweet, perfect for quick energy and the palate. Experiences and our views are no different. They bring a multitude of meanings over time and in differing contexts, tease our ever fragile temperament. And often the truth is such a variable that it becomes stranger than fiction! Meena recounts her wonderful experience and the range of moods she inadvertently found herself go through.
Enjoy a rolling trip on the coaster we call truth in the beautiful twists laid in Meena’s expressive style!
#32. My struggles to get a degree
GUEST ARTICLE #26

By C.I. Sivasubramanian
Aged 95, Retd. Director, Ministry of Commerce
New Delhi, India
25-Mar-2022
INSPIRE
Foreword by Venkat
Some fires when ignited can never be doused be it floods or rain. Uncle ji’s sweet story of earning a degree and a post-graduate degree in his 90s is testament of just that. It is poignant to see how priorities that brought him early into employment came at the price of delaying education and the same became a cause to delay progress in career (at the needed times). At a time when most would find earning a degree as irrelevant – post retirement – uncle still persevered and found his happiness of achieving what he was keen to complete in his 20s! A beautiful story indeed to fuel the fire in us to learn and succeed.
Experience the amazing journey of Mr. C.I. Sivasubramanian through life and the crowning glory of a seemingly elusive degree!