There are so many beautiful reasons to be happy!

 Yes, there are so many beautiful reasons to be happy... there should be... 

 Received the message in one of the WA groups (@Suhrid, August 29, 2023)... thought of scribbling some related thoughts... 

If you have seen the morning daylight, you are one of the fortunate ones who could see the daylight, because many do not see them and leave the body while at sleep (approx. 20%)... But is it that, you are feeling a bit more sleepy and want to hold on to the bed for some more time? You can, but you should not extend it too long either, since the data available does not encourage you to do that either (check the link below)... so sleeping in moderation is good... Even if you want to lie down for some more time, you can do it by lying still and thank the almighty for letting you see this morning, and you can also feel the fresh breath... Also, on late rise, most of us might have experienced to do things in hurry and missed out something or the other while going to school/market/office/, isn't it? So enjoy getting up from bed with happiness on your face when you have 6-10 hrs sleep (depending on your age, of course)...

You are also fortunate to get up and work for your body, --- washing your face (eyes and face muscles get rejuvenated), brushing your teeth (they help you taste delicious dishes, fruits, etc), drinking a glass of warm water (rejuvenates your intestines)... not many people can do that on their own... especially who are bed-ridden, or who missed out their arms and legs since birth or due to tragic accidents... why not celebrate every action of yours in the morning??... 

You also need to enjoy your movements in the morning... say, walking around your home, or on the terrace, or going out for a morning walk, or moving your arms and legs freely (of course, without hurting anyone!! 😄), bending or stretching different parts of the body, --- half an hour is sufficient for a healthy person , and if you are having any ailments, light and slow exercises/movements are effective though they take a bit of more time... A percentage of people do not get to move their body too due to age or health constraints...  Why not enjoy those voluntary movements you can make now?? 

You need to enjoy the food that is available to you, be it breakfast or lunch or tiffin or dinner... a good percentage of people do not have something to eat two or three times a day... some do not have anything to eat for the whole day... it is unimaginable to us who are fed with thee to four light/heavy meals everyday... but you often find that who consume less are healthier than who consume in an uncontrolled manner... it is because they do take interest and pride in valuing only their taste buds and not the body, the instrument for all type of work, be it physical or mental... so we need to enjoy whatever we have in our plate... (of course, not the insects or bits of hairs or stone particles etc which may be due to carelessness of the cook or his/her helper or may be due to unscrupulous business persons who adulterate food items thinking of making profits, - such foods cannot be classified as food at all... 😄)

Then you hold on to books/newspapers... they need to be enjoyed too... whatever small book you have, it may be pocket book of quotes, it may be an article pertaining to science or spirit or culture or technology or anything else that please you... which expands you from within... true or wise learning always help one to expand from within, rather than contract himself/herself with negative articles, news, devices, etc. 10 -15 minutes of positivity at the beginning of the day provides quality fuel for the day... and 10 - 15 minutes of introspection (simply sitting at a place with or without closed eyes, doing nothing except observing the thoughts, or may be standing and staring at the sky...) in the evening, provides quality fuel for the night!!! 

And then your workplace... you have so many reasons to be happy... whether it is the kitchen, whether it is your office, whether it is doing a work for your family or society... you are the ones who have been chosen or who are privileged to serve... sometimes the amount or nature of work creates a stress on us... but then you must enjoy mentioning your limitations to others, politely, and do work according to your limitations... one would work and feel better when one can work according to his/her limitations! We are stressed when we work out of our capacity to deliver, mostly because we know how to perform the work but cannot handle the large amount of work, and sometimes the work itself requires substantial time for understanding than performing it... but then be happy with whatever you can perform in stipulated time of your office hours... there's no need to push hard trying to please someone by working out of your capacity at the cost of your health... there are reasons to be happy in whatever small you can deliver... every small action has the potential to reach the heart at both ends 😊

And then the relations --- whether they are aged or young, whether they are your own parents or your in-laws, whether they are your own siblings or of others, whether they are your own children or others, whether the relations are sweet or bitter 😄, whether people surrounding you are praising or cursing you --- (what is this guy saying??? You have reasons to be happy??? Doesn't that sound crazy??!!!... )... Well relations come to us through our surroundings, and good or bad relations are often built up through our own actions... yes, that's true, relations are built up through our own actions... strong relations are built over long time periods, slowly, steadily through mutual understanding, through patience, by being pure in thoughts (unharming, excusing, praying, respectful, honest, etc.)... it has been seen that a strong relationship often builds on mutual respect - that is through respect from either ends - high or low, young or old, etc. One must have patience in establishing a strong relationship... You will find that relations, good or bad, have helped you grow from within... and growth is always enjoyed... isn't it? So whatever relations, you have reasons to be happy, isn't it? 😄

Finally, there are reasons to be happy for whatever problems you are facing daily or for years... it's not that we should feel happy only in favorable conditions/situations... adverse conditions or situations are also a means to be happy😊...    discomfort are ways or means to get to comfort... times of disturbance or restlessness are means to go towards times of peace or rest... be happy for any unpleasant situations that come along you way of life... Once Amitabh, the veteran actor in Indian cinema, expressed despair  over the difficult times he was facing even after putting up strong struggles, to his father, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, and what did his father reply?? "Beta, sangram-hi jeevan hai" meaning 'struggles only are life'... Swami Vivekananda said that if one is without a problem in a day, he can be sure that he is on a wrong path... greet the problems, the struggles with a smiling face and be sure that they should pass away because YOU are greater than the troubles that meet you... Tat twamasi !!!

Did this article (pretty long!!!) provide you a reason to be happy?? 😆.. if it did, why don't you leave some comments below? 😜

And hey!!! are you unhappy??? If you are known to me, do not hesitate to text or call me. I will try to get connected to you sooner or later. 😊

Best wishes for a happy life 😊

https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fsleep%2F30.10.1245 (report regarding sleep)

What a coincidence! While writing this article with rabindrasangeet playing in the background, it happened that this particular song got played, while I was towards completion of this write-up... a reason to be happy 😊

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj-lFCOkp9Y (Rabindrasangeet --- sadaa thako aanonde)

বিশ্ব রক্তদাতা দিবস ২০২৩ (World Blood Donor Day 2023)

আজ ১৪ই জুন, ২০২৩। NIT Meghalaya NSSকে একটা কাজ দিয়েছিল। অবশ্য, কাজটি স্বাস্থ্য ও পরিবারকল্যাণ মন্ত্রণালয়ের অধীনে থাকা স্বাস্থ্য ও পরিবারকল্যাণ বিভাগ NIT Meghalayaকে দিয়েছিল। একটি শপথ নিতে/নেওয়াতে হবে। শপথ নিলাম এবং সকলে যাতে সেই শপথ নেয়, তারও একটা ব্যবস্থা করা হল। মধ্যে, "কাজ" দাবি করলো, পুষ্টিকর খাদ্য/পানীয় ছাড়া সে সক্রিয়ভাবে কাজ করতে দেবে না। তাই, একটি course থেকে সবেমাত্র শিখে নেওয়া পুষ্টিকর পানীয়র recipe প্রয়োগ করা হল। রং দেখেই মাথা অতি সপ্রতিভ হল এবং মন ও মুখের সাহায্যে ১৯৭৩ সালে তৈরী Yaadon ki Baraat সিনেমার ধর্মেন্দ্রর সেই বিখ্যাত dialogue ঘরময় আলোড়ন ফেললো!! --- "मैं तेरा खून पी जाऊंगा !!" "खून"ই বটে!! বিশ্ব রক্তদাতা দিবসে (World Blood Donor Day) যে ABC juice এমন একটা চিত্রনাট্য রচনা করতে সাহায্য করবে, লেখক কস্মিনকালেও ভাবেনি। 

ABC অর্থাৎ apple, beetroot এবং carrot (আপেল, বীট এবং গাজর) juice তৈরী করার উপায় --- ১টি আপেল, ২টি মাঝারি আকারের বীট এবং ৬-৮টি গাজর দিয়ে তৈরী করা যাবে এই juice। এটিকে nourishing juice বলে কোর্সটিতে বলা হয়েছে। Juice তৈরী করার পর যা অবশিষ্ট ছিল, তা দিয়ে দুপুরে ভাত খাওয়ার সাথে একটি নতুন পদ তৈরী হল যা উৎসুক পাঠক বিশেষ ভাবনা দিয়েও উদ্ধার করতে পারবে না ---- Pulp ও বেসন যোগে ABC বড়া ভাজা। 😄

আর যেটি ABC juice তৈরী করতে গিয়ে by product হিসেবে তৈরী হল, সেটি আর কেন এই চিত্র নাট্যে বাদ থাকে!! একটি reel তৈরী হয়ে গেল! কি আশ্চর্য!!! 

WBDD-ABC reel

জয় বিশ্ব রক্তদাতা দিবসের জয়!!!

English version (??😄) ---

The Dept of Health and Family Welfare under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had asked all the citizens to take a pledge on the World Blood Donor Day! NSS was given the task to communicate to all faculty and staff regarding the pledge. While making some arrangements for the same, the work demanded some nourishment!😄... And guess what, the mind immediately settled in preparing the ABC juice just learned from a recently enrolled online course. ABC refers to Apple 🍎, Beetroot, Carrot 🥕 juice in the ratio of 1:2:6 (or 8), all of medium sizes. The colour of the extracted juice immediately provoked the mind in uttering the famous dialogue by Dharmendra in the 1973 film, Yaadon ki Baraat --- "Main tere khoon pi jayoonga" (the english version may be thought as, "I would drink your blood!"😄) --- perhaps the effect of preparations for the World Blood Donor Day had seeped into the subconscious mind quite well!!😄

Additionally, there were two interesting deliverables on this Blood-Juice story play... 😄😄😄... Firstly, the pulp of ABC was utilized to make ABC shallow fry in the lunch and secondly, a reel (in Instagram whose link is provided above) was also the by product of the entire WBDD journey!! 😄

Victory to World Blood Donor Day!!

 

Twinkle twinkle little star...

Twinkle twinkle little star,

How I wonder what you are!

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond 💎 in the sky!!

Yes, the moment you receive the message below, these lines may pop up in your mind... and I am no exception to that.... Received the message in one of WA groups today (@Suhrid, June 13, 2023) morning, and since the group is mostly associated with students of all categories, thought of scribbling down some thoughts...

As a teacher, we must believe that we are the instruments who can help each pupil shine in a way where they can exhibit their potential in exuberance. Now, usually in schools and colleges 

we hover around syllabus based education without accessing this uniqueness of a pupil. We assume that the students in a particular stream have come by their choice or have chosen the stream themselves. This is not true in many cases as the candidates are inclined to think in the line of the thoughts of their parents, friends, wellwishers, etc, who are mostly inclined to the current happenings or current trends which are result based or result oriented. Now if you have some result-oriented thoughts preoccupied in your mind, do you have an appetite for spending time in studying the candidate thoroughly and understand his/her strength/potential and guide him/her accordingly? In this era of YT, Instagram, FB, etc you have so many persons, especially youth, with 10K, 100K, 1M, 10M followers which have been perhaps never evaluated through any education institution. But they themselves have grown up and have become superstars by following their own passion. When you have mark or grade based evaluation, which is inevitable in any of the present education system, it is very difficult to judge a student by his/her inherent uniqueness or potential. In marking/grading system, a student is judged by the marks or grades he/she obtained and in all his/her future endeavours, including jobs, awards, etc, the students are primarily  judged by GPA/CGPA. You hardly find parents/teachers who are indifferent to the above result-based judgement of students and often are keen in reminding their wards/students that they need to do very hard work for improving their results -- the goal being to bring the very best out of the students. Somewhere, I had read a quote or statement which says that you cannot judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree (well, though it's an extreme example). However, hard work the fish 🐠🐟 does, it never succeeds in climbing the top of the tree. Any student, who is made to work hard without much liking for a subject, he/she can never excel in the subject. On the other hand, if a child's/student's passion is understood by closely monitoring him/her, and all aid is provided to him/her in following her passion, he/she would do hard work without stressing himself/herself. 

I sincerely believe that we (as parents/ teachers/ educators) are the ones who are responsible for our wards/students to shine or twink brightly in the sky --- in the sky of confused, despaired, frustrated, impeded, thwarted students/pupils who are kinda forced for performing rather than performing by choice! A child's or a student's interest or passion can be observed at a very early age or might be at a later stage by closely observing his/her activities and I feel that he/she should be encouraged to do hard work in his/her respective choice --- success is bound to come!! India's Youth icon, Swami Vivekananda had mentioned that "Purity, patience, perseverance are the three essentials to success and above all love". And, if a child or student is encouraged to follow his/her passion, the above three parameters are by default embedded in his/her fight towards unearthing the infinite potential within.

Well, the other important thing as mentioned here is that the teacher be the star seeing whom one would be encouraged to shine like him/her. What needs to be followed or what could be the qualities of a good teacher/ parent? I think we will try to look upon these parameters at another write up. Though, I would like to begin the discussion here. For me, the first point a teacher should be possessing is that he/she should be open to all ideas, discussions and discuss the good or bad in the statements or ideas that have surfaced. (to be continued... ???...😄)

Maha Ashtami - October 2014

Went to a short trip during Maha Ashtami of Durga Puja Festival.. One of elder brother's friends Mr. Ashish Hazra, called me up on Saptami and enquired whether we can go for a short trip to either Belur Math or Bishnupur.. Since me and father were the only ones who were in home.. asked whether we will be returning the same day or not.. soon after it was fixed.. The day was also 2nd October, Mahatma Gandhiji's Jayanti and this year Prime Minister Narendra Modi decided to celebrate this day as Swachh Bharat Mission, and wanted to be a part of this program (even if at micro or nano level), so created an event in FB and shared it among friends...

Ashish da had called me up around 6:10 am after traveling on foot 5 km from his village home (auto rickshaws ply after 8 am) in Uluberia.. and we finalized that we will board Kharagpur-Hatia passenger at 8:35 am. Thanks to the railway card (ATVM - Automatic Ticket Vending Machine card) - or rather prepaid card otherwise I would have missed due to heavy queue..

Through out the journey witnessed the Swachh Bharat Mission carried out by Railway officials while the train was moving through various stations.. sweeper brothers keeping the platform clean.. CRPF brothers taking oath and etc.

Bishnupur is famous for terrakota and balulchari.. (Link) Got down around 10:20 am and found that Bishnupur too is clean..

The day was hot and humid and both of us were longing for some coconut water but nothing was noticed.. all the shops were almost closed celebrating the most auspicious day of the Durga Puja festival..

However we started off foot to the bus stand (at most 2 km away from the Railway station) as the Rajbari (palace) was in that way...

Reaching the bus stand we quenched our thirst by having two cold drinks and then booked an auto rickshaw (had to pay Rs 100/- more than usual) who seemed to guide well through our short tour..

Began with the Ras mancha.. earlier Bishnupur Mela and the Ras mela used to be held at the same time until Bishnupur Mela was declared as National Fair and held during 23 - 27 Dec every year..