Speakout#25 - The presence of mind in a taxi ride

I usually think more than twice when sharing a news that can pass worry unless it would only help if I shared the news. I came to know about an incident that happened to one of the students in the University I study a day before.

A girl from Delhi arrived to Bangalore and booked a cab ride to go home around 7 p.m. For those who haven't traveled the airport road, there is a huge stretch of road once you enter the outskirts of the city and enter the highway while passing between small areas or fields by the side.

The cab made a stop in between where there were no people around and the girl had noticed that a gang of bikers had been around the cab for a while. The driver said the car had broke down somehow and exited the vehicle to check it and the bikers stopped and offered to help.

The girl felt something off and exited the vehicle immediately taking a note of the vehicles number around and crossed to the other side of the road while phoning her friend. The friend told her not to worry and sit in the car and talk to him through the ride. The girl called her father following that call. The driver asked the girl to stay back but she ignored him. The girl explained the situation and her father (an influential man) told her to take note of everything and sit back in the car with the call on.

In the same time, the father called up the police commissioner at Delhi and got through the nearest patrol unit near the girl in Bangalore. The girl waited for a while on the road and the patrol unit reached. The bikers had slowly left by then. The driver said the vehicle was ready. The patrol unit told her to leave in the same vehicle and that the unit would follow her without the driver's knowledge.

The girl listened and got back to the vehicle and the girl was dropped back home safe. It was around 11:45 p.m. by then. The girl had noticed at times in the ride that the driver would fiddle with his phone quite alot.

After reaching home, the girl got a call from the police after a while. News came that the driver was a serial rapist and the bikers were a gang from a trafficking racket. The driver was working along with them. The police had captured them and gave them a good time treating them well. The girl's presence of mind and luckily, some influence got her back home at the late hours.

Apparently, the bikers work in a formation driving around the car keeping a distance watching for other cars and all they need is a passage of 30-45 seconds in a highway where nobody stops if they see some vehicles with people outside parked to the side. The bikers can inform the driver to stop via call/SMS. Information such as what roads to avoid or take, whether the coast is clear or not to execute an operation etc.

The company providing the cab services cannot be put at fault completely here since the  background check in Bengaluru would not help with a person who has buried a criminal history somewhere in Chennai or Mumbai in a country where crores of people live and more than ten thousands share the same name.

What we would like to tell you further is that we keep mindful of how we are when we are in places where we are not with our company of people. I know what I'm sharing is extremely troubling and I might getting a couple of messages or comments questioning me further. But most of the times, we are only responsible for our safety.

One would blame the cab service company now. I would say no, we cannot point our fingers just towards them. I could say Bengaluru is at fault and never safe then. Then one would point their finger at me and tell me, all the cities and towns alike are so. The truth is danger can be lurking anywhere. This is just one of different incidents shared.

These inhuman beings are not scared of anything as we, as a society, have given them the advantage of keeping quiet when violated. Almost more than 90% of the cases violating the dignity of women are never reported because these scums film the incident and keep it as leverage intimidating families further with mental torture.

When you travel alone and hire a ride, make it a point to inform someone who can reach you about the cab details preferably in front of the driver. Try travelling with company and avoid late hours, especially while traveling long distances.

There is no point harvesting paranoia here. All I'm saying is that take consideration when your friends and family tell you to take care and not to travel alone a lot next time.

And yes, please share it with everyone you know. I'm thankful that the news was shared. Be mindful.

SpeakOut#24 - Needs and desires.

What I am about to tell is quite simple. Yet in the simplicity of things, we may just read through and smile and forget it; thinking that we have kept it safe on the shelves in our mind to use it when it comes handy. However, such simple things are always lost.

We have needs. Needs of different kinds. We prioritise our needs based on the way we lead our life.

And I am no one to tell you how to lead your life. You decide it for yourself.

All I ask is that you do not harm anyone else in the course of trying to fulfill your own individual desire/need. 

Because we can dive into the murkiest depths at times when we only pay heed to a desire. And desires rise the most when we are not in our senses.
At times, that is all we desire... to weaken our senses. To cause harm to oneself is wrong too, might I add?

I speak from experience.

This is nothing new. Yeah, you knew it. How about acting upon it?

Speakout#23 - The evening sunlight that spread across our faces - Experiences from Kolar, Karnataka

I am pursuing my Masters in Social Work at Christ University, Bengaluru now.

It has been 9 months since I wrote the last time here. I did feel like sharing in between but I would not have a beacon to keep me writing for long enough. Right now, however, I have a soothing music jam session being played by a few friends and their music team from University where I stay . A couple of melodious voices with the violin and the tabla adding the ingredients. They sing "Dheere Chalna..."

Last month, some of my classmates and I were staying at a village called Yeldur in Kolar, Karnataka. We had to do our fieldwork as part of our course curriculum. We worked with the Kolar Project of the University's NGO that takes care of around 18 villages in the region. We would work in the project office in the day with reports and move out into the village and meet the villagers to observe, interact and take part in their activities. Several of these villages would be atleast 5km+ far from our project office and there have been times we have had to cross more than 30km one way to reach some villages.

Yeldur and the places around have a dry land vegetation with a lot of green agriculture that man has introduced there. You can find either acres of flat barren land or land with some cultivation going on. In between you can find curves and the land around giving you a desert feel with the land around looking like a lake or huge water body that dried up once upon a time. You can find plenty of tamarind trees there but that is a natural though. You can also see a lot of the ragi yield everywhere on the road being grounded or blowing into your face while travelling. The mornings begin cold with the fog and mist that passes slowly until the sun breaks through after which it is only the sun striking down on you with a cool breeze. Bike riders would like the kind of travel experience the place would offer.

Certain things which make an impression in my heart, I love to share these things exactly like how I saw it to a very few people I feel I need to share with. I'm taking a part of my conversation with such a person because I felt recently that maybe this experience could inspire more to explore the world around them.

"The ride to the village in the evening was amazing. The sunset had begun by the time we left the agency and it was shining on our faces by our side constantly while I rode to the village. The reddish golden light filled everywhere and broke the trees, the plants and tall grass in the fields from our right crossing us and falling to the fields to our left. Again the rays felt warm while the air was getting cool in time. It was just spectacular since I was listening to songs from CokeStudio in the background so I felt like being in a traveller movie. It pretty much felt like my display pic in WhatsApp now. I would keep riding calm at a decent pace watching the nature move while I kept moving to my destination. From good roads to broken roads. A horizontal flight of pigeons from left to right from a bit above while an autorickshaw sped across towards my direction. We met a crossroad and got to the next road and there were school children walking home. There were these three children from the lot walking home who were toppling on each other while walking trying to bug each other being their naughty selves. Also I noticed these birds of prey (Idk whether it is a falcon or eagle or a kite) that seemed to be gliding around all chill similar to my bike ride but then take a sudden drop and split to different sides when they spotted something. 
The ride back to the agency was more beautiful. All the roads back in darkness but the star lit sky made it hard for me to look at the road and ride. I've never seen so many stars altogether. There were bright ones and then bit bright ones and fading ones and then stars like shades. How can they come in shades? I had never seen these many stars from Kerala even. I would keep calling Shashank (my friend) who sat behind by my hand and point to the sky quietly while I rode and he would shout all the possible words of exclamation in his vocabulary covering for me too. Hehe.

All the while, while I rode to the village and got back to the agency I had in mind that you had to see this. Maybe because of how we like to observe things.

Around 40 students are staying over at the agency here. They've a soft skills training program at our campus in the morning and they will leave in the first bus from here. The agency will wake up in 15 mins now to get ready. The first bus is at 0430.

We had to give an orientation session to the youth about soft skills after we got back from our villages around 8 p.m. After the session, while all of us guys looked back at the sky we realised we might be looking at constellations and Shashank got this app to spot the stars and we found out that we were looking at Orion and some other names. Hehe.

It is still beautiful to watch now. I'm stargazing as I write. I woke up from sleep  somehow seeing your reply and remembered I had not written to you as I had planned and wondered how I fell asleep. So I set out and started writing it all down. It is such a chilly night. The half moon and the stars shine so clearly that I feel I could climb up the agency building and jump and catch the moon and fall down lol

We have a much cozy place to sleep tonight. We were moved from the garage next to the agency office to the upper room within the agency office. This agency building is another thing that is interesting to me. At times I feel like I'm in a villian's lair cum office that was made from a previous small sized factory building. 

The upper room is smaller so it is easier for heat from our bodies to accumulate and make us feel warm. Yet I woke up from the cold and I'm outside where it is much colder. I'm so awake now hahaha I feel like something that was put to frost in the freezer. I'm going in now before the youth guys wake up and get shocked seeing me outside. They'll have to take bath in this cold. I shudder at the thought of it.

I'll be sleeping well now that I've written all this down. Idk if it would make sense though since I wrote alot to process in such small space or if I missed anything that I had thought to write.

Hope you read this in a good time or it makes you feel good if the time isn't so.

Guess you would be sleeping now and then waking up to the Azaan there! God is Great! :)

Haha the cold has blocked many noses here. I'm hearing snores in unison and in parts. Such harmony! "

Speakout#22 - Mar Baselios Dayara (Mount Hermon), Njaliakuzhy - The blessed land where a servant of God became an epitome of Orthodoxy and a beacon to Christian life.

Our Lord has risen! Indeed, He has risen!

Greetings to all in Christ. +++

Recently, I had the chance to spent a day and night at Mar Baselios Dayara* (Mount Hermon), Njaliakuzhy and a day at Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady in Kottayam, Kerala with some MGOCSM** students of Christ University, Bangalore .

Geevarghese Mar Ivanios of blessed memory, former Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kottayam founded Mar Baselios Dayara as his monastic abode where he spent most of his time in prayer and learning. Thirumeni nurtured the lives of all living beings who shared their lives and time in his abode, spiritually and physically.

Born in a protestant family, Thirumeni*** embraced Orthodoxy inspired by the Orthodox life and prayers introduced to him by his aunt who he visited in his childhood. Mar Ivanios' knowledge and wisdom went into vast depths which gave meaning to silence and simplicity, his signature style. A man of unceasing prayer, Mar Ivanios was saved from his deathbed and won a battle with cancer in his young age by the intercession of Kuriakose Mar Gregorios who is entombed at Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady. Mar Ivanios' intercessions also yielded miracles in his earthly life. Thirumeni transformed to be an epitome of Orthodoxy, a beacon to Christian life, an inspiration and hope to many.

Mount Hermon, where this servant of God is entombed, continues to nurture those who seek their path to God and to fill their meditative energy from its aura. The monastery follows all the canonical hours of prayer according to the Orthodox tradition. The chants of Jesus prayer and Kyrie-laison**** brings everyone together, focusing their mind, body and spirit into one purpose, ask for His mercy.

Currently, Fr. George Philip is the Abbot of the monastery. In the other hours, the members of the community spend their time looking after the agriculture,  the surroundings of the monastery and other duties. One can stay there for a certain time and take part in the community life of Mar Baselios Dayara by contacting the office and informing beforehand, individually or as a group.

I highly recommend a visit there to spend time in silence and contemplation. It will be a unique experience to many especially when one sees that prayer and meditation here goes beyond the track of time and lives inside those who follow the Orthodox life.

A silent powerhouse. We strongly felt the presence and intercession of our Mar Ivanios. Every beautiful thing there speaks of him and his strong faith. This is the closest place  to an (or the only) Orthodox Monastery I've felt we have in Kerala. It has also been a nurturing ground from where quite a number of priests have come forward in our Church fulfilling responsibilities in different levels in our community as Thirumeni's disciples. It was good to meet a part of Christ MGOCSM. I appreciate them to have taken some time to visit Mar Baselios Dayara, Njaliakuzhy and Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady in between holidays and internships.

Perhaps another time, I would like to share something about Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pampady and its founder, Kuriakose Mar Gregorios of blessed memory, an undeclared Saint of Malankara.

* Dayara - Monastery (Origin : Syriac).

** MGOCSM - Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (1908), students movement of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church

*** Thirumeni - In this context, a title used to address bishops in Kerala among Orthodox/Jacobite/Marthoma communities. 

**** Kyrie-laison - Lord, have mercy upon us (Origin : Greek).

News I came across #3 - As they say in Kerala, there is more to life than GDP

http://m.theglobeandmail.com/globe-debate/as-they-say-in-kerala-theres-more-to-life-than-gdp/article4309924/?service=mobile

SpeakOut#21 - Marian's Tuesday Morning Motivator from Genesis 28:15 :)

This is an adapted version of a part of a conversation I had with Marian, my Coptic friend.

Marian -

Hello Alen. I missed chatting with you. I disappeared these days because I'm a little bit sick (cough and sore throat) but it is ok; but pray for me to be able to sleep because tonight was a horrible try to sleep and resulted in a very bad mood because I slept only for 5 minutes then woke up again coughing and so on!Wow! Do you know? For the first time I felt that I had to thank God, every time I wake up for having a quiet and peaceful hours of sleep. It really deserves to be done constantly because you can simply know how valuable this gift is when you miss it for sickness or troubled times like what I experienced lately. Anyways, I am fine. Don't worry! Just wanted to speak with you!
By the way, today a very nice verse attracted me and I wanted to share it with you. In Genesis 28:15, when Jacob was escaping from his brother Esau and meeting our Lord in a dream, this is what God told to him "Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to his land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you."
What wonderful words especially "I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you". Wow! They are very comforting and encouraging words that are worthy to be recited all the time. I felt how is God is faithful to us regardless if we are or not or we deserve it or not. Although Adam lost eternal life with his own will but through his words I feel God is addressing the whole mankind with this great promise "I won't let you perish or forsake you!" till I get you by any means back home! Isn't this an amazing promise?"
Whenever you feel down or disappointed, just rehearse these words slowly and experience their deepness. I ensure to you, whatever you meet in life and obstacles you may face, everything is under control. It has a purpose and leads finally to fulfill this promise. Nothing is happening by coincidence. Just try to watch how God manipulates everything in great wisdom, even if it doesn't seem to be like that. Don't worry about anything, just present all your concerns before Him. Trust him and let Him deal with them in His Own Way! May God be with you!

Alen -

Good morning. Thanks for your words  Pray that you get much better. God bless. 

Hello again  I was reading through your message again. I was reading through message again. It is true that we do not realise the gifts of the life God has given us until we miss it. I always remind myself to say thanks to God and go to sleep after saying the Jesus prayer.

and the thought you mentioned after it is really motivating  I hope I can remember this further in life and not forget it. 

Speakout#20 - Spiritual Self Pride & Ego

I've come across people who have a prayerful life or spiritual knowledge but often do not put it into actual use and turn it to wisdom but bloat about it and expect to float nicely in life and exhort their claimed prowess over whoever they want.

They think that they do all that is needed to satisfy the Almighty above and their deeds have brought the goodness around and no one else they co exist with have a hand in them with their actions.

These people have not tried to see everyone equally but judge everyone with prejudice. Their thoughts are the principles of life. Those who give heed to them blindly are blessed and the rest will meet trouble in their way soon. The Living God will punish whoever they feel won't go their way. At times, trouble does fall upon the ones they keep ill thoughts against and they take it as God's judgement and are pleased with it. Sadistic, they do not even think for a moment keeping ill thoughts lets evil play around too. Unfortunately, everything they do is justified.

These thoughts shared probably have a damp and negative aura surfacing but take a moment, reflect yourselves and recognise how much we ignore our faults while evaluating others for theirs every second and accuse them thinking 'because their fault is not as same as  mine so give them some cleansing, I'm fine'.

I believe Karma applies along with faith for a good spiritual life. Smile. Share goodness. Stop bickering just because things do not go the way you want. Stop forcing your burdening thoughts on others and make them drown.