A look into the past

Those who really feel something about the present, always look into the past. And when we look into the past, we always discover something; something about us and our own world. Many a times, that discovery leads to this...

'If I would have been what I was; I wouldn't have been what I am.' - A J Oka.

Mistakes

'To err is human.' A popular remedial thought that comes in handy after one discovers his/someone else's mistake. And the thought is very true; but a little incomplete. 

'Everyone makes mistakes. But, once a person makes a mistake, he should first be wise enough to realize it; and be quick enough to correct it, or smart enough to cover it, or bold enough to accept it, or prepared enough to face the music, or just hardened enough to face the music and still not move.'


- A. J. Oka

Paradox of Human Nature

Human nature is probably the most complex thing in the world. We often find ourselves puzzled by the way how others behave, and also how we behave. To add to this complexity, there are two contradictory, or conflicting feelings or desires that humans have. These feelings are common across all humans; though more or less in terms of intensity. 

'Man is by nature a social animal' is what Aristotle had said. True it is. Any person wants to be with people, and among people. However, there is something else that any person makes an effort for, and that is Individuality. Any and every person, though he/she wants to be a part of the society, likes to be either better or different than other people.

'There is an inherent and definite paradox in human nature, as humans want to be associated with other humans and at the same time, make an effort to differentiate themselves from other people.' 

- A J Oka.

Whimsy Creativity

We often hear stories about highly creative, highly intelligent people. Certainly, these people differ from the other people. Their understanding of subjects is much faster and deeper, the perspectives that they have, are unique and that is why they fare better in whatever they do. We also hear about these people because of their peculiar habits and whims. Like, some people get amazing ideas while they are asleep; there have been writers who'd go to a mountain and write wonders; I also know about a super-brilliant carpenter who had to have 'gutka' placed in his mouth to get his creative juices flowing. There are thousands of stories like these. It does not mean that the creativity of these people depends on such things, but it cannot be the same without such things either.

'Whims are an integral part of Creativity' 
- A J Oka.

Stories

Stories. People grow up listening to stories. Stories of brave men, great kings, stories of fairies and deities. They grow up and then the stories are told to children. Some, however, do something during the time between these two phases. 

'Stories are there not just to be heard and told. Stories are there to be Made.' 
- A J Oka.

मदत

’मदत ठरवून करताही येत नाही, आणि ती करणं ठरवून टाळताही येत नाही.’ - अ. ज. ओक

वेळ एक; राग अनेक

मुंबईत फ़ार दुर्दैवी घटना होतात हो. हल्ले काय, स्फ़ोट काय, छोट्या छोट्या (तुलनेने) गुन्ह्यांची तर गणतीच नाही. पण राजकारणी पक्षांचा या घटनांकडे बघण्याचा दृष्टिकोन बघून हसू येतं. घटना एक, पण प्रत्येक पक्ष त्याकडे आपापल्या चश्म्यातून बघतो. आता हल्ले, स्फ़ोटांचं बघता, सत्ताधारी, ती घटना ही कशी ’अपघात” होती आणि ती थांबवता आली नाही म्हणजे आम्ही बेजबाबदार कसे ’नाही’ अशा आशयाचं काहीसं बोलतात. सत्तेबाहेरच्यांना हीच घटना”संधी’ म्हणून दिसते. आम्ही असतो तर हे कसं थांबवलं किंवा परतवलं असतं हे पटवून देण्याचा त्यांचा प्रयत्न असतो. काही तर फ़ार चमत्कारिक असतात. म्हणजे, कापुसकोंड्याच्या गोष्टीत जसं काहीही उत्तर दिलं तरी सांगणारा पुन्हा ’कापुसकोंड्याची गोष्ट सांगू?’ या पालुपतावर येतो तसं यांचं आपलं एकच काहीतरी असतं जे ते धरून बसतात, मग घटना कुठलीही असो. थोडक्यात हे कसं आहे माहित्ये, की

’संगीतात वेगवेगळ्या वेळी आळवायचे वेगवेगळे राग असतात, पण राजकारणात मात्र वेळ एकच असली तरी वेगवेगळी मंडळी वेगवेगळे राग आळवतात.’ 


- अ. ज. ओक

The Astro Effect

Astrology forecasts. We find them in almost every newspaper, almost every single magazine and other periodicals. Most of us spend time as well to read them and further to think about what is written in there. These forecasts sometimes lead to strange and very funny situations. Something like this.

Your astrology forecast says that you will receive an unexpected opportunity this week, and you start expecting it. How ironic!

- A J Oka.

लहान-मोठं

वयानुसार माणसाचे विचार बदलतात हे जरी खरं असलं, तरी बरेचदा, वय वाढलं म्हणजे आचार-विचारांत एक ठराविक बदल व्हायलाच पाहिजे, असा काहीसा प्रकार बघायला मिळतो. कॉलेजमधे गेल्यावर मुलांना शाळेत केलेल्या गोष्टी करणं ’काहीतरी’ वाटायला लागतं. पुढे नोकरी लागल्यावर मग कधी खाली उतरून एखादा खेळ खेळणं म्हणजे अगदीच लहान मुलासारखं वाटायला लागतं. मोठं झालं की साध्या साध्या गोष्टींवरच्या प्रतिक्रीया ’मोजून मापून’, ’कॅल्क्युलेटेड’ यायला लागतात. केवळ ’आता मी काय लहान आहे का असं खोखो हसायला?’ असं म्हणून पोट धरून हसण्यासारख्या विनोदावरही रुमालाआडून हळूच्च हसणारी लोकं असतात.

उलटही प्रकार असतात, नाही असं नाही. म्हणजे पत्त्यात भिकार सावकार चा डाव लहान मुलाइतकंच लहान होऊन रमून खेळणारी मंडळी असतात. टॉम अ‍ॅण्ड जेरी चा एखादा ५० वेळा बघितलेला भाग पुन्हा तितकाच आनंद घेऊन बघणारे आजी आजोबाही (वयाने) असतात. 
 
"मोठं होणं आपल्या हातात नसतं; पण लहान रहाणं नक्कीच आपल्या हातात असतं."
-अ. ज. ओक.

Exercise / व्यायाम

“I’ve had a very hectic day today and I have no energy left for exercise”

“It is a holiday and I want to have complete rest”

“To eat good is more important than to workout.”

...explanations, reasons like these to avoid exercise are plenty, and we often hear or say them ourselves. But,

“Exercise is one of those things which when you want the least; you need the most.”

- A J Oka.

"उठायलाच हवं का रोज सकाळी व्यायाम करायला?"
"एवढं काय होतंय एक दिवस व्यायाम नाही केला तर?"
"मला काय बॉडीबिल्डर किंवा मॉडेल व्हायचंय का?"
"मी रोज लोकल आणि बस मधून प्रवास करतो. बेस्ट व्यायाम आहे तो."
...व्यायाम टाळण्यासाठी अशी अनेक कारणं, स्पष्टीकरणं आपण ऐकत असू किंवा देतही असू. पण,

"व्यायाम ही अशा गोष्टींपैकी एक गोष्ट आहे की ज्यांची जेंव्हा सर्वात कमी इच्छा असते, तेंव्हाच सर्वात जास्त गरज असते." 
- अ. ज. ओक

Fixing

Cricket, politics, reality shows, talent hunts, films, awards, education, scholarships, social clubs, corporate; you name a thing, and you can smell fixing. It is such a virus, the intensity of which shoots up when one tries to suppress or curb it. It has been there; and is growing and unfortunately, it really seems that it ain't gonna stop so easily. 

'Fixing is a Fix that cannot be Fixed.' 
- A J Oka.