From Ramakrishnan

Hi all,
Let me wish, though late, a happy birthday and many happy returns to Uma, Ram and Jayanth.

Referring to Ramu's two posts:
1. I have read somewhere that the Hindu Religion is based on duties of every one only. The rights of anybody arises only when the other person performs his duty. This is what I read and I am quoting from memory. If one accepts this it becomes easier to tolerate or pardon or ignore if someone fails in his duty towards us (though this is not easy to do without resentment or a desire to punish)and also to do out duty to others without demanding appreciation. If the children do their duty towards their parents without reference to how the parents behave/behaved the senior citizens will not suffer so much today, emotionally or economically. On the other hand, there is not so much problem in the parents doing their duty to the children which comes naturally out of affection and the desire to see that the children are well settled. In Tamil, Thanthai Magarkatrum Udavi Avayathu Mundhi Iruppa Cheyal. Magan Thanthaikkatrum Udavi Ivan Thanthai Ennotran Enum Sol. (Both from Kural). However, with the change in life pattern, the problem now is not so much lack of affection but the need and even necessity to restrict the family size and go abroad for better prospects.

2. Regarding the corruption in the ruling class. Yes, the poor common man learns to smile and since the rulers see God in this smile, they ensure that the number of such people keeps increasing. Today I wanted to buy mangoes and picked up two mangoes and the weight was 750 grams at Rs.48 per Kg. I simply smelled the mangoes (they have not started charging for this), replaced the mangoes and came home and the shopkeeper smiled meaningfully and I returned the smile. Two more persons added to the smiling category.

-Ramakrishnan.