Antigone

Antigone is a tragedy written by Greek playwright Sophocles. This play portrays many conflicts that humans go through in their lives. The backdrop of the story is set in the competing motives of a teenager girl Antigone and her Uncle, the king Creon. Antigone had two brothers who killed each other in a battle to the throne. Upon their death, Creon declared that, since Eteocles was the one who was fighting to save the state and Polynices was trying to evade it only the former should be rewarded with the rites of death. And the body of Plynices should be left to the dogs and birds without burying.

Antigone considers it her duty to provide proper burial to her brother Polynices also. She out rightly disobeys the decree made by Creon which instructs people not to touch or bury the body of Polynices. Creon’s position is that since Polynices was an enemy of the state, society, no personal relations or duties to him should be observed. On the other hand Antigone thinks that whatever may be the stand of the society, personal duties to her brother must be observed.

This point brings about the oft felt dilemma between the society and the individual. It paints a picture where what an individual considers to be correct and essential is at complete contrast with what society holds true. Antigone believes that the laws made by humans are inferior to the laws made by god and therefore she can disobey them. Creon strictly maintains that laws of the state should be above everything and no personal ties of relationship should prevent one from following them.

Creon sends Antigone to the prison, with an intention to kill her. However he later realizes that due to this act Gods are angry at the state. However by the time he knows this he is far too committed to the decision of killing Antigone and hence can’t reverse it. Creon’s son Haemon was in love with Antigone. He kills himself when he finds that his father killed his fiancé only in order to set an example, win a debate or prove a point that his opinion was correct.

On hearing the news of Haemon’s death, Creon’s wife also commits suicide. Creon is the only character alive at the end of the play. The play leaves reader with several questions, who was more right between Creon and Antigone? Intuitively we may find Antigone to be right yet, Creon’s stand can also not be entirely wrong or rejected. Definition of what is just, is also something that becomes very crucial in the play.

But just as in the play, most of the times just can’t be defined, universally. And if it were left to the personal definitions, people will only use it to commit unjust acts all the time under the garb of personal definition of justice.

Tiya, A Parrot's journey home

This book is a wonderful account of experiences that one face during the course of life. Tiya, protagonist parrot listens to the voice of his invisible guide, Hans. Motivated by this he leaves the cosy comforts of his life at banyan and moves into the unexplored lands. Through his journey he encounters myriad types of people and creatures. Each encounter is a challenge of life, and it just keeps getting tougher as Tiya moves ahead in his journey.

Character of Tiya is an illustration of how an individual moves up from one stage to the other in life. Each stage is different and offers unique perspectives on the psyche and learning of an individual at that particular stage. This is described beautifully in an event where Tiya initially shows exuberance for being a teacher to all, soon discovers that it is impossible to teach anyone anything. In addition to this, one also sees that the progression from an insolent young parrot to a poised parrot was not an overnight transition; Tiya had undergone a lot in order to achieve that transition.

Another thing that the book very subtly describes was the importance of all the people that Tiya met in his journey for the attainment of his ultimate stage. This underscored the importance of all the experiences in one’s life.

Another thing which is worth thinking is perhaps, that there is no clear definition of what all we could achieve, what all we could be, the limit to the function of life is dependent totally on us. However one thing is sure, however and wherever you may take it, it will have to have some essentials like humility, simplicity and truthfulness in order for it to be called a true attainment.

This book will have to be re-read after some time to see which stage of journey am I now at?

I hope to return home soon, and successful.

Connection of Cricket, Honesty and Hardwork

Cricket is one of the most addictive things around. Only those who watch it know it. The excitement of each ball, each run, classic cover drives, unconventional cut over the keeper and all those things that happen in a day’s play are unparalleled and unmatched.

Besides this excitement of sports, cricket also represents the classic philosophical aspect of life. This is best reflected through the uncertainty and honesty of the game. In one of the recent test matches India won the game just by one wicket, Bangladesh defeated New Zealand very dominantly. In both these instances the hardwork met with honesty. When hours of perseverance, practice and patience meets with the random, uncertain and pure form of game, the resultant actions are such that leave all with their mouth wide open in awe and wonder.

Cricket is not great only because it provides lot of money and entertainment. What makes it great is that in that ground, most of the times, level playing field is ensured for all. On that ground, hard work meets with honesty and you see the results.

I wish everyone was a cricketer or a sportsman at least. But alas…….

LossoLogy…. Learning from losses……

The premise on which we live our life is fundamentally optimistic. We almost take it for granted that our life tomorrow will certainly be better than it is today. While this may be true for most of the economic and professional aspects but it is not entirely true for the many other personal aspects of life. Scary as it may sound, but at times life gives us jolts that break our entire intellectual, professional and ability related prowess and arrogance.

Fickle is the power that we draw from our advantageous background, schooling, upbringing and qualification when it comes to stand up to some of the unavoidable circumstances that life has to offer. Loss – of any type - is one such instance. Be is as basic as that of a child who just lost his ball, or of that mother who lost her newly born boy, loss always shakes us from within. It always leaves us brooding over questions starting from, why? How? What?

What comes to our rescue at this time is not the networking we did for climbing the career ladder, but the bonds we made through genuine care, love and kindness for others. Not the skills we developed like slaves but the strengths we developed as independent individuals. In no way the importance of skills and networking can be undermined, however we must remember the weapons in the real war called life are different. These things may be of little use when we confront life in its worst form.

Conscious effort to imbibe and inculcate, the ability to not only withstand the loss but also coming from it as a stronger individual, may help.

Once a senior mentor of mine had told me, “the strength emanates from moral values, knowing yourself, and sense of “NON Negotiable values in life.” This holds true in all times.