Monday, November 18, 2024

Life 3.0

Today marks a significant milestone in my career as I complete 10 years as an Assistant Professor at Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, a state public university in Odisha. Before stepping into academia, I spent 11 years in the software industry in Bangalore, navigating the fast-paced, results-driven world. These two contrasting chapters of my professional life, as I call them Life 1.0 and Life 2.0, have been a journey of discovery, adaptation, and sometimes frustration. Moving from corporate to academia in a government setup has been nothing short of a culture shock, and reflecting on this journey has brought valuable insights about how both worlds function.

When I joined the University, obviously I was unprepared for the dynamics of a government setup. But I guess I adapted somehow. In the software industry, clarity in roles and expectations drives efficiency. Decisions are often guided by data, logic, and collective goals. On the contrary, in academia, I encountered a system deeply intertwined with hierarchical sensitivities, procedural red tape, and individual egos that frequently overshadow the work itself. In the government machinery, decisions are not always about what is best for the system but about what maintains the delicate balance of power and status among individuals. Navigating this has taught me a different set of skills—patience, diplomacy, and an acute understanding of interpersonal dynamics. And most importantly—when to remain silent!

One of the most surprising and disheartening aspects of working in a government setup is witnessing how personal egos often take precedence over organizational objectives. A simple decision or suggestion for improvement often gets mired in debates about "who said it" rather than "what was said." This often demotivates you as you feel that the information is never reaching the top bosses who often intend to do wonders.

Over the years, even I developed a trait within me that never existed before: ego.

Government institutions are inherently different in structure and purpose from corporate organizations. While the private sector focuses on profitability and growth, government setups operate to serve public interests, often grappling with resource constraints and diverse stakeholders. But these structural differences alone do not explain the inefficiencies. Bureaucratic inertia—stemming from rigid hierarchies, a focus on compliance/procedure over innovation, and a lack of motivation—makes progress slow. Government institutions often function in a state of comfort with the status quo. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it!"

Automation, which I once took for granted in the corporate world, is a significant challenge in government setups. There are many skill gaps. The resistance to change is clearly visible. The lack of adequate training for staff to use new technologies hinders successful adoption. Government institutions still rely on outdated systems like hard-copy letters, making integration with modern technology complex and costly. Even if they use technology as old as 50 years like email, it's always advised to take a printout of that email.

Another stark reality I have observed is the gap between university curricula and the needs of the industry. In my software career, I witnessed how rapidly technologies evolved and how companies adapted to stay competitive. Yet, in academia, I see curricula that have remained largely unchanged for decades. While the industry has moved on to adopt new skill sets, many Indian universities still emphasize outdated theories with limited practical relevance. However, there are challenges involved in this transition. Introducing modern courses often requires infrastructure, faculty expertise, and most importantly funding that many universities lack. A reluctance to move away from traditional syllabi persists, partly due to inertia and partly due to a lack of awareness about industry trends.

What do I miss here? Well, Saturday is not a holiday for academia—that is something I dearly miss. I do get summer vacations but they often get spent attending training programmes. And of course, I miss the money from my corporate days—it's hard not to.

Despite the challenges, my 10 years in academia have been rewarding in many ways. I have had the privilege of shaping young minds, contributing to research, and meeting eminent personalities. Being in corporate life, I perhaps wouldn't have had a chance to be near the President of India.

In the corporate world, I was doing a job—making someone rich. In academia, I am doing a service—making my students rich. There is nothing quite like the moment when a student calls me to share the news of getting a job. That simple call, brimming with gratitude and excitement, makes all the challenges worthwhile.

People often ask me which one is better. My answer is still "I don't know!"

I don't know, if I came here by accident or by destiny? Forrest's words from the movie Forrest Gump ring in my ear: "I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floatin' around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happenin' at the same time."

Looking forward to another decade: Life 3.0 !!!

~Swarup 

Sunday, April 18, 2021

Amabasyaara Chandra Audio Book

କଥାକାର ଅଡ଼ିଓ ବୁକ୍‌ସ୍‌ ଦ୍ୱାରା ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ଅମାବସ୍ୟାର ଚନ୍ଦ୍ର ଅଡ଼ିଓ ବହି....

ପ୍ରଥମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ଚିତ୍ରଲେଖା) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_0FluocsHk

ଦ୍ୱିତୀୟ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ମିସ୍ ନୀରା - ୧) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44vzco4W2kE

ତୃତୀୟ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ମିସ୍ ନୀରା - ୨) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0GRKyGUAlA

ଚତୁର୍ଥ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ସଲିମ୍‌ ଭାଇ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTTPvcASs0Q

ପଞ୍ଚମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ରେସ୍‌ କୋର୍ସ୍‌): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7N6sKZwsxIw

ଷଷ୍ଠ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ବାଈଜୀ): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMI2P3Zt9a4

ସପ୍ତମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ପଣ୍ଡିତଜୀ) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AybmY1B9mMs

ଅଷ୍ଠମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ମନୀଷା - ୧) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQomlpWMmSc

ନବମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ମନୀଷା - ୨) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vn2DsVx0s4

ଦଶମ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ (ମନୀଷା - ୩) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S2va7vrIeDk

Sunday, February 07, 2021

Odia translation of "The Hill We Climb"

ମୂଳ ରଚନା : ଆମାଣ୍ଡା ଗୋର୍‌ମାନ୍‌

ଭାଷାନ୍ତର: ସ୍ୱରୁପାନନ୍ଦ ବିଷୟୀ

(୨୨ ବର୍ଷୀୟା ଆମାଣ୍ଡା ଗୋର୍‌ମାନ୍‌ ହେଉଛନ୍ତି ଜଣେ ଆମେରିକୀୟ କବୟିତ୍ରୀ ଓ ସାମାଜିକ କର୍ମୀ । ତାଙ୍କ କବିତାରେ ରଙ୍ଗଭେଦ, ଜାତିଭେଦ ବିପକ୍ଷରେ ଏବଂ ଶୋଷିତ, ନିର୍ଯ୍ୟାତିତ ତଥା ନାରୀମୁକ୍ତି ସପକ୍ଷରେ ଶାଣିତ ସ୍ୱର ଫୁଟିଉଠେ । ନିକଟରେ ଆମେରିକାର ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ଜୋ ବାଇଡେନଙ୍କ ଶପଥ ଗ୍ରହଣ ସମାରୋହରେ ସେ ନିଜର ସ୍ୱରଚିତ “ଦ ହିଲ୍‌ ୱି କ୍ଲାଇମ୍ବ୍‌” କବିତା ଆବୃତ୍ତି କରି ସେ ଚର୍ଚ୍ଚାକୁ ଆସିଥିଲେ । ଲେଖାଟି ସେହି କବିତାର ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାନ୍ତର । )


Original Poem

My Translation

When day comes we ask ourselves,
where can we find light in this never-ending shade?
The loss we carry,
a sea we must wade
We've braved the belly of the beast
We've learned that quiet isn't always peace
And the norms and notions
of what just is
Isn’t always justice
And yet the dawn is ours
before we knew it
Somehow we do it
Somehow we've weathered and witnessed
a nation that isn’t broken
but simply unfinished
We the successors of a country and a time
Where a skinny Black girl
descended from slaves and raised by a single mother
can dream of becoming president
only to find herself reciting for one

And yes we are far from polished
far from pristine
but that doesn’t mean we are
striving to form a union that is perfect
We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters and
conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us
but what stands before us
We close the divide because we know, to put our future first,
we must first put our differences aside
We lay down our arms
so we can reach out our arms
to one another
We seek harm to none and harmony for all
Let the globe, if nothing else, say this is true:
That even as we grieved, we grew
That even as we hurt, we hoped
That even as we tired, we tried
That we’ll forever be tied together, victorious
Not because we will never again know defeat
but because we will never again sow division

Scripture tells us to envision
that everyone shall sit under their own vine and fig tree
And no one shall make them afraid
If we’re to live up to our own time
Then victory won’t lie in the blade
But in all the bridges we’ve made
That is the promise to glade
The hill we climb
If only we dare
It's because being American is more than a pride we inherit,
it’s the past we step into
and how we repair it
We’ve seen a force that would shatter our nation
rather than share it
Would destroy our country if it meant delaying democracy
And this effort very nearly succeeded

But while democracy can be periodically delayed
it can never be permanently defeated
In this truth
in this faith we trust
For while we have our eyes on the future
history has its eyes on us
This is the era of just redemption
We feared at its inception
We did not feel prepared to be the heirs
of such a terrifying hour
but within it we found the power
to author a new chapter
To offer hope and laughter to ourselves
So while once we asked,
how could we possibly prevail over catastrophe
Now we assert
How could catastrophe possibly prevail over us? 

We will not march back to what was
but move to what shall be
A country that is bruised but whole,
benevolent but bold,
fierce and free
We will not be turned around
or interrupted by intimidation
because we know our inaction and inertia
will be the inheritance of the next generation
Our blunders become their burdens
But one thing is certain:
If we merge mercy with might,
and might with right,
then love becomes our legacy
and change our children’s birthright

So let us leave behind a country
better than the one we were left with
Every breath from my bronze-pounded chest,
we will raise this wounded world into a wondrous one
We will rise from the gold-limbed hills of the west,
we will rise from the windswept northeast
where our forefathers first realized revolution
We will rise from the lake-rimmed cities of the midwestern states,
we will rise from the sunbaked south
We will rebuild, reconcile and recover
and every known nook of our nation and
every corner called our country,
our people diverse and beautiful will emerge,
battered and beautiful 

When day comes we step out of the shade,
aflame and unafraid
The new dawn blooms as we free it
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it
If only we’re brave enough to be it

ଦିବସର ଆଗମନରେ ଆମେ ନିଜକୁ ପଚାରୁ ଏ ଅନ୍ତହୀନ ଛାୟାରେ ଆଲୋକ ପାଇବା କେଉଁଠି ? ଆମର ସମସ୍ତ କ୍ଷତିର ସମୁଦ୍ର ଆମକୁ ଲଂଘିବାକୁ ହେବ । ଆମେ ଏକ ଭୟଙ୍କର ପରିସ୍ଥିତି ଦେଇ ଗତି କରୁଛୁ । ଆମେ ଶିଖିଲୁ ଯେ, ଶାନ୍ତ ସର୍ବଦା ଶାନ୍ତି ନୁହେଁ ଏବଂ ଆଦର୍ଶ ଓ ଧାରଣାରେ ଯାହା ଠିକ୍ ତାହା ସବୁବେଳେ ନ୍ୟାୟ ନୁହେଁ । ତଥାପି ସବୁକାଳେ, ଆମ ଅଜାଣତରେ ଆଗାମୀ ସକାଳ ଆମର ହିଁ ହୋଇ ରହିଥାଏ । ଆମେ କୌଣସି ପ୍ରକାରେ ଏମିତି ଏକ ଦେଶରେ ତିଷ୍ଠି ରହିଛୁ ଯାହା ଏବେ ଯାଏ ଭାଙ୍ଗି ପଡ଼ିନାହିଁ କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହି ଦେଶ ନିର୍ମାଣ ତଥାପି ସରିନାହିଁ । ଆମେ ସେହି ଦେଶ ଏବଂ ସମୟର ଉତ୍ତରାଧିକାରୀ, ଯେଉଁଠି ଦାସତ୍ୱର ବଂଶଧର ତଥା ଏକ ଏକାକୀ ମା ଦ୍ୱାରା ପାଳିତ ହୋଇଥିବା ଏକ କୃଷ୍ଣକାୟ କୃଶାଙ୍ଗୀ ଆମେରିକାର ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତି ହେବାକୁ ସ୍ୱପ୍ନ ଦେଖିପାରେ ଏବଂ ଏକ ରାଷ୍ଟ୍ରପତିଙ୍କ ପାଇଁ ଦିନେ କବିତା ଆବୃତ୍ତି କରିପାରେ ।


ଏବଂ ହଁ, ଆମେ ଶୋଭନୀୟ ଓ ନିଷ୍କଳଙ୍କ ନୋହୁଁ କିନ୍ତୁ ତା ମାନେ ନୁହେଁ ଯେ ଆମେ ଏମିତି ଏକ ଦେଶ ଗଠନ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଛୁ ଯାହା କି ସର୍ବସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ । ଆମେ କେବଳ ମାନବ ସମାଜର ସମସ୍ତ ସଂସ୍କୃତି, ରଙ୍ଗଭେଦ, ଚରିତ୍ର, ଓ ଅବସ୍ଥା ପାଇଁ ପ୍ରତିବଦ୍ଧ ଏକ ମହତ୍‌ ଉଦ୍ଦେଶ୍ୟରେ ଏକ ସଫଳ ଦେଶ ନିର୍ମାଣ କରିବାକୁ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରୁଛୁ । ତେଣୁ ଆମକୁ ଆମମାନଙ୍କ ମଧ୍ୟରେ ଯେଉଁ ବିଭେଦ ଅଛି ତାକୁ ନ ଦେଖି ଆମ ସମ୍ମୁଖରେ କଣ ଅଛି ତାହା ଦେଖିବାକୁ ହେବ ଏବଂ ସେ ବିଭେଦର ପ୍ରାଚୀରକୁ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବାକୁ ହେବ କାରଣ ଆମ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ ଗଠନକୁ ଅଗ୍ରାଧୀକାର ଦେବାକୁ ହେଲେ ଆମକୁ ସେ ସମସ୍ତ ବିଭେଦକୁ ଏଡ଼ାଇବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ । ହାତରେ ହାତ ମିଳେଇବାକୁ ହେଲେ, ଆମକୁ ପ୍ରଥମେ ହାତ ତଳକୁ କରିବାକୁ ପଡ଼ିବ । ଆମେ ସମନ୍ୱୟ ଚାହୁଁ ଏବଂ ଚାହୁଁ କି କାହାକୁ ଆଘାତ ନ ପହଞ୍ଚୁ । ସମଗ୍ର ବିଶ୍ୱ ଏହି ସତ୍ୟଟି ଜାଣୁ ଯେ ଆମର ସମସ୍ତ ଶୋକରେ ବି ଆମେ ଆଗେଇ ଚାଲିଥିଲୁ, ଆହତ ହେଲେ ବି ଆଶା ଛାଡ଼ି ନ ଥିଲୁ, ଥକି ପଡ଼ିଥିଲୁ ହେଲେ ଚେଷ୍ଟା କରିଥିଲୁ । ଏବଂ ଶେଷରେ ଆମେ ଏକତ୍ର ବିଜୟଲାଭ କରିଥିଲୁ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ନୁହେଁ ଯେ ଆମେ ଆଉ କେବେ ପରାଜିତ ହେବା ନାହିଁ, ବରଂ ଏଥିପାଇଁ ଯେ ଆମେ ବିଭେଦର ମଞ୍ଜି ଆଉ କେବେ ବୁଣିବା ନାହିଁ ।

ଆମ ଶାସ୍ତ୍ର ଆମକୁ ସନ୍ଦେଶ ଦିଏ ଯେ, ସମସ୍ତେ ଦିନେ ସ୍ୱାଧୀନ ଓ ସମୃଦ୍ଧ ହେବେ ଓ କେହି କାହାକୁ ଭୟଭୀତ କରିବେ ନାହିଁ । ଆମେ ଯଦି ଆଜିର ଏ ସମୟକୁ ସାମ୍ନା କରିବାକୁ ଚାହୁଁଛୁ ତା ହେଲେ ଆମକୁ ଜାଣିବାକୁ ହେବ ଯେ ତରବାରୀର ଧାରରେ ନୁହେଁ ବରଂ ସଂପର୍କର ସେତୁରେ ଆମ ବିଜୟ ନିହିତ । ଏହା ହିଁ ପାହାଡ଼ର ସେ ପାରିରେ ଥିବା  ଆମେ ଖୋଜୁଥିବା ବିସ୍ତୀର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଘାସ ପଡ଼ିଆ ଯେଉଁ ପାହାଡ଼ ଲଙ୍ଘିବାକୁ ଆମକୁ ଅଦମ୍ୟ ସାହସ ଲୋଡ଼ା । କାରଣ, ଆମେ ଆମେରିକୀୟ ହେବା ହିଁ ଆମର ଗର୍ବ ଓ ଗୌରବଠୁ ଆହୁରି ବେଶୀ କିଛି ଏବଂ ଆମକୁ ଆମ ଅତୀତର ଭୂଲ୍‌କୁ ବର୍ତ୍ତମାନ ସୁଧାରିବାକୁ ହେବ । ନିକଟରେ ଆମେ ପ୍ରାୟ ସଫଳ ହୋଇ ଆସିଥିବା ଏମିତି ଏକ ଶକ୍ତିକୁ ଦେଖିଲୁ , ଯାହା ଆମ ଦେଶକୁ ଯୋଡ଼ିବା ପରିବର୍ତ୍ତେ ଭାଙ୍ଗିବାରେ ଓ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ରକୁ ବିଳମ୍ବିତ କରିବାରେ ବଦ୍ଧ ପରିକର ।

କିନ୍ତୁ ଗଣତନ୍ତ୍ର ସମୟେ ସମୟେ ବିଳମ୍ବିତ ହୋଇପାରେ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏହା ସ୍ଥାୟୀ ଭାବରେ ପରାଜିତ ହୋଇପାରିବ ନାହିଁ । ଏହି ଅତୁଟ ସତ୍ୟ ଓ ବିଶ୍ୱାସରେ ଆମେ ନିର୍ଭରଶୀଳ । ଆମେ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତକୁ ଦେଖିବାକୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ କିନ୍ତୁ ଇତିହାସ ଆମକୁ ଦେଖୁଛି । ଆମେ ଯାହା ଭୟ କରୁଥିଲୁ, ସେହି ପ୍ରାୟଶ୍ଚିତର ଯୁଗ ଏବେ ଆସିଯାଇଛି । ଆମେ ଏପରି ଏକ ସମୟର ଉତ୍ତରାଧୀକାରୀ ହେବାକୁ ପ୍ରସ୍ତୁତ ନ ଥିଲୁ, କିନ୍ତୁ ଏମିତି ଏକ ସମୟରେ ବି ଆମେ ନିଜକୁ ଆଶା ଓ ଖୁସି ଅର୍ପଣ କରିବାର ଏକ ନୂତନ ଅଧ୍ୟାୟ ରଚନା ପାଇଁ ଶକ୍ତି ପାଇପାରିଛୁ । ଦିନେ ଆମେ ନିଜକୁ ପଚାରୁ ଥିଲୁ ଯେ ଆମେ ବିପତ୍ତି ଉପରେ କେମିତି ବିଜୟଲାଭ କରିପାରିବା? ଆଜି ଆମେ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ କରିବା ଯେ ବିପତ୍ତି ଆମ ଉପରେ କେବେ ବିଜୟଲାଭ ନ କରୁ ।

ଆମେ ପଛକୁ ହଟିବା ନାହିଁ କିନ୍ତୁ ସେହି ଦେଶରେ ଆଗକୁ ବଢ଼ି ଚାଲିବା ଯେଉଁ ଦେଶ କି ଆଜି କ୍ଷତବିକ୍ଷତ କିନ୍ତୁ ସ୍ୱୟଂସଂପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ, ଦୟାଶୀଳ କିନ୍ତୁ ସାହସୀ, ପ୍ରଖର କିନ୍ତୁ ମୁକ୍ତ । ଆମେ ପଛକୁ ହଟିବା ନାହିଁ, ଧମକରେ ଭୟଭୀତ ହେବା ନାହିଁ କାରଣ ଆମେ ଜାଣୁ ଆମ ସ୍ଥାଣୁତା ଓ ନିଷ୍କ୍ରିୟତାର ଉତ୍ତରାଧିକାରୀ ହେବେ ଆମର ପରବର୍ତ୍ତୀ ପୀଢ଼ି ଏବଂ ଆମର ଭୂଲ୍‌ର ଭାର ତାଙ୍କ ଉପରେ ପଡ଼ିବ । ଗୋଟିଏ କଥା କିନ୍ତୁ ନିଶ୍ଚିତ, ଯଦି ଆମେ ଦୟା ସହ ପରାକ୍ରମକୁ ଯୋଡ଼ିବା ଏବଂ ପରାକ୍ରମକୁ ଅଧୀକାର ସହ ଯୋଡ଼ିବା ତେବେ ଆମେ ପ୍ରେମର ଏକ ଅନନ୍ୟ ଯୁଗ ଗଢ଼ି ତୋଳିବା ଓ ତାକୁ ଆମ ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କର ଜନ୍ମାଧିକାରରେ ପରିଣତ କରିପାରିବା । 

ତେଣୁ ଆସନ୍ତୁ, ସେହି ପୁରୁଣା ଦେଶକୁ ଛାଡ଼ି ଆମର ନୂଆ ଦେଶକୁ ଆପଣେଇବା । ମୋ କୃଷ୍ଣମୁଗୁନି ପଥର ଛାତିର ପ୍ରତିଟି ନିଃଶ୍ୱାସର ବିଶ୍ୱାସ, ଆମେ ଏହି କ୍ଷତବିକ୍ଷତ ଜଗତକୁ ଏକ ବିସ୍ମୟ ଜଗତରେ ପରିଣତ କରିବୁ । ଆମର ଉତ୍‌ଥାନ ହେବ ସ୍ୱର୍ଣ୍ଣାଙ୍ଗ ପଶ୍ଚିମରୁ, ପବନପ୍ଲାତ ଉତ୍ତର-ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଯେଉଁଠାରୁ ଆମ ପୂର୍ବପୁରୁଷ ବିପ୍ଲବର ଅୟମାରମ୍ଭ କରିଥିଲେ; ଆମର ଉତ୍‌ଥାନ ହେବ ମଧ୍ୟ-ପଶ୍ଚିମ ରାଜ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକର ହ୍ରଦ କୂଳ ସହର ଗୁଡିକରୁ, ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟସ୍ନାତ ଦକ୍ଷିଣରୁ । ଆମେ ଆମ ଦେଶର ପ୍ରତିଟି କୋଣ ଅନୁକୋଣ ପୁନନିର୍ମାଣ, ପୁନଃସ୍ଥାପନ ତଥା ପୁନରୁଦ୍ଧାର କରିବୁକ୍ଷତାକ୍ତ ହୁଅନ୍ତୁ ପଛେ, ବିବିଧତା ଓ ସୌନ୍ଦର୍ଯ୍ୟରେ ପରିପୂର୍ଣ୍ଣ ଆମ ପ୍ରଜାଗଣ ପୁଣି ହସି ଉଠିବେ

ଦିବସର ଆଗମନରେ ଆମେ ଛାୟାରୁ ବାହାରି ଆସିବା । ଜଳିବା କିନ୍ତୁ ଭୟଭୀତ ହେବା ନାହିଁ । ନୂତନ ସକାଳ ସେବେ ଜନ୍ମ ନେବ, ଯେବେ ଆମେ ତାକୁ ଉଦ୍ଧାର କରିବା । ଆଲୋକ ସବୁବେଳେ ଉପସ୍ଥିତ, ଖାଲି ତାକୁ ଦେଖିବା ପାଇଁ  ଅଦମ୍ୟ ସାହସ ଲୋଡ଼ା; ଆଲୋକ ହେବା ପାଇଁ ବି ତ ଅଦମ୍ୟ ସାହସ ଲୋଡ଼ା ।


Friday, May 22, 2020

Looking for Savitri 2.0




Today is Savitri Vrata (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savitri_Brata). On this day, two books always come to my mind. One is Savitri Vrata katha (Story of Savitri) read today in every Odia household and another Sri Aurobindo's Savitri (of course it's about Savitri!).

This book - "Savitri - a Legend and a Symbol" an epic poem by Sri Aurobindo, has been lying at my home book shelve for more than twenty years - almost never opened, never read by anyone in the family. During my graduation days, I attempted in reading and making a sense of it. My brevity lasted only two days with only three pages of reading of which, most of the time was spent on browsing the dictionary. If someone has a little superiority complex of having master over the English language and vocabulary, he/she should try reading this book. First few pages should be enough to show him the mirror. Such strong is the vocabulary, poetic brilliance of symbolism and metaphoric mysticism that even Englishmen fear to dive into it.  You can read this book at http://savitrithepoem.com. This must be the greatest epic in the English language. This is one exceptional epic by one exceptional man. Salute to him.

Like all poetry, it's the poet's own muse; his/her own egoistic expression that a reader has to tolerate. Savitri is no exception. My guess is that, the number of earthmen who understand 20% of it should be in single digit. Its central theme revolves around the transcendence of man as the consummation of terrestrial evolution, and the emergence of an immortal supramental gnostic race upon earth"

I got translations of Savitri too in my native language Odia. The first one by Mohapatra Nilamani Sahu, who instead of simplifying the text, further complicated it with narrative obscure Odia prose. While reading that, I felt, understanding in English itself could have helped. And the other one by Nimai charan Mohapatra who translated it again into Odia poetry ! It' again kind of a biblical translation understanding which is another nightmare.  Each of these Odia author tried to show their brilliance in Odia and did the same mistake what Sri Aurobindo did!

Sri Aurobindo envisioned about Superman who will get a descent from Divine leading to the "triumph of spirit over matter" but it all depends on human receptivity, human willingness to transcend the present limitations and man's preparedness to be disillusioned about his own hypocrisies. It is not a question of an individual transcending; it is the question of humanity transcending.

You may agree with me that, if at all Sri Aurobindo wanted humanity to show some sort of preparedness, he perhaps missed the bus as a Guru or as a coach. Humanity is dying today. In the day to day struggle, what humanity needs to survive today is solace, comforting words, words that can heal; Simple words that an average person with average IQ like me can understand. Literature should be for the masses; if it's not helping the society, it's of no good use.

I often wonder why Manoj Das never produced a translation of Savitri! Perhaps he's even confused between Over-fitting and Under-fitting!!

Savitri 2.0! Anyone listening in the cosmos....???


Thursday, April 02, 2020

Odia books, magazines and News portals in Internet

ଜାଣି ଆଶ୍ଚର୍ଯ୍ୟ ହେଲି ଯେ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ଭାଷାରେ ଏତେ ସଂଖ୍ୟକ ୱେବ୍‌ସାଇଟ୍‌ ରହିଛି...

ଓଡ଼ିଆ ପାଠାଗାର
http://oaob.nitrkl.ac.in/
https://ova.gov.in/
https://odiabibhaba.in/
https://www.odia.org/

ସାହିତ୍ୟ ପତ୍ରିକା
http://www.ameodia.com/
http://www.odiasahitya.com/
https://kadambini.in/
https://sobhana.in/
http://odiagapa.com/
http://www.aahwaan.com/
https://shubhapallaba.in/
http://www.aetajeevan.org/
http://sahityasansad.com/
http://www.nirvedaodisha.in/
https://samadhwani.com/
https://www.preranaodia.com/
http://www.shilashree.org/
http://www.molekha.com/
https://odia.pratilipi.com/
https://www.rtajhara.com/
http://satyaprakashsethy.com/
https://www.odishavibe.com/

ଖବରପୋର୍ଟାଲ୍‌ (ଇ-ପେପର ଓ ଫେସବୁକପୃଷ୍ଠା ବ୍ୟତୀତ)
https://www.samajalive.in/
http://sambad.in/
http://www.prameyanews7.com/
https://www.dharitri.com/
https://nitidin.com/
https://khabar.odishatv.in/
http://kanaknews.com/
https://odia.news18.com/
http://nandighoshatv.com/
https://theargus.in/
https://www.pratinidhiodia.in/
https://www.samayalive.in/
https://zeenews.india.com/hindi/zeeodisha
https://thesamikhsya.com/odia/
https://www.baghuabarta.com/
https://thequiver.in/
https://sancharlive.in/
https://nirvaynews.com/
https://odishabhaskar.com/
https://odishakhabara.in/
https://odishasambad.in/
https://odiadunia.com/
https://www.odishakranti.com/
https://knewsodisha.com/
https://odishareporter.in/
https://www.odishalink.com/
https://odishanewstoday.com/
http://www.voiceodisha.com/index.php
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Thursday, January 16, 2020

42


In his essay “Beginner’s guide to immortality”, Venkatesh Rao has rendered a nice allegory:  “Human life is like walking into a movie halfway through, and having to walk out again two minutes later. You’ll have no idea what’s going on when you walk in. And chances are, just as you begin to get a clue, you’ll be kicked out. So unless you are lucky enough to walk in during a scene that is satisfying without any longer narrative context, your ability to derive satisfaction from your two-minute glimpse will depend partly on your ability to construct meaning out of it”.

What’s the meaning of Life, the universe, and everything? Zaphod – a character in the novel/movie “Hitchhiker’s guide to the Galaxy” believes that the true answer lies in the planet Magrathea, only accessible through trial and error; and when he asked this question to the alien computer named Deep Thought, it mysteriously answers “42”. Just 42! A disappointing answer to a question as grave as meaning of life. As I turned 101010 (42 in binary) today, I feel like I am still constructing the ability to construct the meaning of my life. Why I am here in this Universe…?

While holding my first new born daughter from the hands of the nurse, the first thought that came to me is: if not for anything, to create this innocent life of flesh and bone, God had created me. I thought, this feeling is unique to me, only to be surprised by my friends that even they had similar feelings.

Since time immemorial, human’s quest is centered for this unsolved: Why he/she has come to this world? None of the religion gives a direct answer to this; all they do is how to live a life in this Samsaara (Loko), so that you can enjoy your life in some another Loko (read heaven) or some Magrathea. Your existence in this movie called Samsaara for 2 minutes which translates to some 80-90 years is just another birth-death cycle among trillions of life forms on this earth.

While listening to a session on Life-Death-Moksha at ISKCON Bangalore, a question came to my mind: Supposing no creature is attaining Moksha, and all of them taking rebirth, then, are the total number of souls — a constant? If yes, what’s the value? When I asked this in the Q&A session, the IIT educated monk speaker cleverly answered perhaps just to diffuse the situation: “Yes, It’s a constant, but I don’t know the value”. Since then I never got a chance to validate his answer.

Am I not just another number among that few trillions soul? By accident or by destiny? Forrest’s words rings in my ear: “I don't know if we each have a destiny, or if we're all just floatin' around accidental-like on a breeze, but I, I think maybe it's both. Maybe both is happenin' at the same time”.

“Just Do It!”… Bhagwad Geeta resounds from infinity!

Why?

Forget why…“Just Do It!”…This time Nike resonates.

Which one is more weighted? Effects of doing or side effects of doing? Or the side effects themselves are the effects, which I fail to realize? And, at times, did I not carve for those side-effects? Did I not felt bored with all those right actions, right conducts? Did I not, wished to be chained (read settled!) and did I not want to break free…?

ବନର ପକ୍ଷୀ ଶିକୁଳି ଖୋଜେ..
ପଞ୍ଜୁରୀ ସାରୀ ଖୋଜେ ମୁକ୍ତି...

ମୁଁ ଯେ ଖୋଜେ………


Wednesday, August 15, 2018

Happy Independence Day!!!


As the dollar breaches the 70 mark against rupee this 71st Independence day, one wonders when we will have independence from dollar?

Independence day celebration has been a great moment for us every year. I still remember my struggle in my hey days, to fetch the laddoo that's being distributed in my native town after the independence day parade celebration. It was not like I could not afford to buy that laddoo from a nearby shop, but the thrill and pride of fetching that laddoo among the crowd, the jostling among thousand hands stretching just to get that one laddoo was like fetching my share of independence. Myself and those thousands definitely felt that pride—an illusion that none of us really understand.

Independence from whom? Independence from one foreign government! Are we independent now? Or put it in another words: Are we self-dependent? And finally the question: Are we free?

Tough questions for average persons even to ask, leave alone getting answers. Are celebrations like Independence day are systematic frameworks, so that citizens don't ask such difficult questions and shut their mouth with a laddoo?

About one old freedom fighter of my town, when my daughter asked why that guy is called a freedom fighter and not an independence fighter, I didn't have an answer. There's no such compound word called "Independence fighter". There are freedom fighters but nobody is called an "Independence fighter"! Strange... isn't it?

Freedom vs Independence. Age old debate...

Nobody defined freedom better than Ayn Rand which is like "Freedom, in a political context, means freedom from government coercion. It does not mean freedom from the landlord, or freedom from the employer, or freedom from the laws of nature which do not provide men with automatic prosperity. It means freedom from the coercive power of the state—and nothing else".

State. Government. Artifacts to curb freedom or supply freedom? Amit Varma in his 5th Aug 2018 Article in Times of India(https://goo.gl/5cWNvq) argued: "India’s biggest religion is not Hinduism but the Religion of Government. We in India seem to think of the government as the solution to all our problems. We behave as if the State is a benevolent entity with unlimited resources of its own with which it should fulfill all our wishes: ban what we don’t like, build what we want built, spend on what we think are good causes. Statues, loan waivers, awards for sportspeople, ministries for cow protection, and so on. In all this, we ignore one essential truth: Every act of government is an act of violence".

Well, Banks collected a whopping Rs 5,000 crore from customers for non-maintenance of minimum balance in their accounts in 2017-18. Indian Railways earns Rs 1,407 crore via reserved ticket cancellation in 2017. Tactics that we the government employs to coerce our own people!

Government: Of the people, by the people, for the people.

Freedom from Governance? Freedom from Lagaan? Independence from dollar costing ₹70?

Happy 71st Independence day folks!!!