Author: S Ramesh Shankar

Born in Trichy, Tamil Nadu, India, I have been brought up in different parts of India. Graduate in chemistry and post graduate in personnel management and industrial relations. Have been a HR practitioner for 38 years in the industry and have experience in working in steel , automobiles, FMCG and engineering industry. Was head of HR for Siemens in South Asia based out of Mumbai till March 2019. Currently founded hrishti - joy forever, a social enterprise to give back to society and work as Chief Joy Officer.

Mahakumbh 2025

I was always fascinated by the Kumbh mela and had a dream to visit the same, some day. Over the last many years, every time ,the Kumbh mela was announced, I looked at the crowd and decided not to venture out.

This year, I took the plunge. They say, this year is special, as it is the “Mahakumbh”, which happens once in 144 years after 12 Kumbhs, as some planets fall in one line. I did a bit of planning, which I usually do and booked my travel and stay ,about three months back.

I was excited to undertake this spiritual journey ,along with my spouse. I was aware that it is going to be a tough one ,with millions of people thronging to Prayagraj from around the world, and not only India.

We landed at Prayagraj on 14th Jan 2025, the day of Makar Shankranti, one of the most auspicious days of the Mahakumbh ,for our Shahi Snan. As we left the airport, all the roads in the city ,led to the Sangam. As we approached the city outskirts, the roads were thronged by crores of devotees walking there to the Sangam or returning from there.

The roads were blocked and no four wheelers were allowed. We were stuck in traffic snarls for hours and after a lot of patient waiting ,were allowed to enter the city, when the crowds subsided a bit. The air was filled with spirituality and the atmosphere electric.

We reached our tent ,after about four hours on the road from the airport , which would be just under 20 kms. Although, it tested our patience, we were blessed, to be amongst the crowds ,in one spirit. Then a long 10 kms walk led us to the Sangam and back, for the Shahi Snan or the holy bath.

When you take a dip in the Sangam in the icy waters, your body shivers but your soul is lighted up. After you come out of the water, you feel rejuvenated and are grateful for this opportunity amongst millions of people from around the world ,to take this dip on this auspicious day. We were told more than 35 million people took a dip on this day.

Both me and my wife, are not strictly religious by nature. In our book, service to mankind is service to God. Being good to everyone around you every day and then giving back to society, in your own small ways is religion for us. But this experience ,was surreal. It has to be experienced to be believed.

It is indeed a confluence of the mind, body and soul. When this happens at a time, when many planets are aligned, one can feel the spirit within you. It gives you the strength to sustain yourself and the energy to give back to the society, in whatever ways you can.

We would like to salute the organisers of the Mahakumbh. The city was clean all over and even the Sangam was kept clean with a lot of effort from the house keeping staff. The entire city was lit and every crossing was decorated and every wall painted, across the city.

What impressed us the most, was the spirit of the people of the city. They told us, if you have any problem, ask any person on the road and they will help you. There is no religion, caste or creed in this supreme festival of the Mahakumbh. Everyone is treated alike. We were showered with rose petals, when we arrived at the airport and our entire stay for two days ,was spotless and most comfortable.

After having conducted, the marriages of my daughter and son, I thought ,I have achieved a great feat in my life. But, after having witnessed the “Mahakumbh”, one realises that whatever we achieve in life is miniscule, compared to the scale and planning involved in such events. I admire the state and central agencies for this grand event. The appropriate use of technology was also very evident in this whole exercise.

The next day I visited Ayodhya to get the darshan of Lord Ram in the newly inaugurated temple. Here again, a ten km walk ,up and down in all,was needed to get the darshan of the Lord. But the queueing system (in spite of millions of devotees )needs appreciation as all of us,as devotees could get the darshan within two hours .

The “Mahakumbh” is a testimony to modern India. We can achieve what we dream to do , through systematic planning and seamless execution.

Let the spirit of the “Mahakumbh” bring peace and prosperity to the world.

S Ramesh Shankar

17th Jan 2025

Clarity versus Confusion

Our life every day will transcend from clarity to confusion and the other way around. Today in most circumstances, the situation is grey rather than black and white. However, we find some people, who can deal with grey as easily as with black and white.

The question before us is – “ How to evolve clarity ,in a situation full of confusion ? As I said earlier, the world today ,is more grey than ,black and white. We cannot determine most things, which are beyond our control.

It is like the gloomy weather in the western world ,during winters. When the sun shines, it is a black and white situation. Even the shadows are crisply clear. However, when the sun does not come out and it is a gloomy weather, we have a choice to crib all day or enjoy the existing weather.

In life, we always have a choice and it is up to us to decide, what clarity or confusion means to us. Nobody else in the world, will define confusion or clarity for us. If a situation is confusion, it may be worthwhile to take a step back and ask if it is only for us ,or is it for the whole world including us.

Imagine someone getting confused, on the restrictions imposed by governments, during the pandemic. The pandemic was unpredictable and the restrictions were a necessary way ,to deal with the crisis. Governments around the world, were trying their best ,to deal with the situation ,based on their daily assessment and understanding.

On the other hand, we may go on a long drive ,since the weather predicted was bright and sunny. We may be clear in our mind, that the drive is going to be enjoyable ,as the weather is going to be favourable. However, after a few hundred kilometers, there is a thunderstorm and the weather turns horrific.

We have a choice to blame the weather and regret our decision, to go on a drive with our family or enjoy the sun and the rains ,with equal fervour. Either choice, is in our hands. In one of them, we may appear confused and in the other we may be clear ,that we want to enjoy either way.

Life is no different. Some days may be sunny and other days gloomy. It is up to us to make a choice and enjoy the day ,irrespective of the weather. The weather is not in our control but the choice we make, is in our hands.

In organisations, great leaders will always be clear ,in making a choice, however ambiguous ,the situation may be. They will not vacillate in reversing their decision or making a new choice ,as the situation demands. On the other hand, brittle leaders ,will blame the environment for their failures.

Even in families and communities, parents, teachers and community leaders ,will make choices and lead the the group forward rather than blaming the circumstances or environment for their failures.

Let us learn to make the right choices in life and enjoy every day as it is. We can remain confused in any situation or be clear and move forward. It is up to us to make the choice always.

Let us learn to make the right choices always.

S Ramesh Shankar

9th Feb 2024

 

Future of children

I am a born optimist. I always feel our future and the future of our children is bright. We live in an era, where technology is galloping ahead every day. Artificial intelligence is challenging human intelligence every day of our lives.

Let us start with education. The scope of education is limitless today. We have moved much beyond the classical education system. There are multi- disciplinary approaches in every step of the education system.

The schools have multiple approaches to educating a child. The use of technology in education, is enhancing the learning abilities of children. Education is cutting across boundaries of nations and universities. educations institutions are truly turning global, to learn and share their latest research and teaching methods.

If we move to the life of children within homes, it has also developed in a multi dimensional way. Today ,children have access to information and technology ,at their fingertips. They need not walk out of their home, to know the best school across the world ,for any field of education.

Similarly if we take the field of sports, the world is the playground for children. Kids have access ,to the best training and coaches ,across the world. They can learn and train from any part of the world and practise anywhere as per their choice.

If we move to arts, theatre and films, technology has shrunk the time taken to make movies. Today ,kids can learn to make videos and films even on mobile phone and many successful films, have been launched. Access to art museums across the world ,is at the click of a button.

The one area I may be a bit concerned ,is the area of social institutions. The concept of “marriage” and “family” as social institutions ,are breaking down and hence children may not have the social net around them ,to guide and support them in times of crises or need. However, I may be wrong in my assumption and may be other social institutions may take over this role of parents and siblings.

As parents and teachers we need to ensure that children do not become overtly competitive and ambitious, which treads on the sensitive line of human relationships between peers. It is best to compete with oneself rather than with others. We need to inculcate this human value continuously, in our children. This could also result in disappointment where parents and teachers can play a role ,to channelise their ambitions and goals ,in their areas of strength rather than weaknesses, so that they succeed.

The average intelligence of the child today , is multiple fold of the past generations. The learning ability and also the ability to adapt and change ,is also much better than ,what we had experienced in our childhood.

While technology will definitely take us to a brighter tomorrow, we need to guard and ensure ,that the basic human values are instilled on the child. These could be as simple as respect, gratitude, contentment and so on. These values need to instilled by schools and parents, with equal partnership.

We also need to evolve a social and political system in society, which embraces human values and promotes them. If we end up in a highly competitive world ,where human value diminishes, then that may not be the best future for our children.

I see a bright future for our children , and responsibility to create the future ,lies on us. We need to imbibe the best of technology and embed them, with the best of human values, for a happier world tomorrow.

Let us create a future for our children, which is better and happier than what we have today.

S Ramesh Shankar

5th Jan 2024