Saturday, December 24, 2011
Monday, December 12, 2011
MATRIMONIAL SEARCH - THE ART OF MATCHMAKING
Friday, December 9, 2011
SELF ESTEEM - How to Build Your Self-Esteem
Thursday, November 24, 2011
THE LOG KYA KAHENGE SYNDROME - The Disease to Please
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: HOW TO GET YOUR MONEY'S WORTH IN LIFE
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: NEGATIVE ATTITUDE
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: An Inspiring Thought at 11 AM on 11.11.11
Monday, October 31, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: DO YOU WANT TO QUIT SMOKING
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MICROWAVE HAZARDS - BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: MY FAVOURITE SHORT STORIES PART 56 – THE MYSTERY O...
Friday, October 7, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: SELF CONFIDENCE - ARE YOU A CONFIDENT PERSON - Check Out Your Confidence Level
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: TOOTHACHE
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: DOG WISDOM - Lessons on the Art of Living
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: ARE YOU SEARCHING FOR YOUR SOULMATE
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: SELF IMPROVEMENT
I read it. I thought about it. And now I practice it.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: EATING SLEEPING ART OF LIVING
EATING SLEEPING ART OF LIVING
A Story
By
VIKRAM KARVE
Spirituality, Meditation and Art of Living had become the “in thing”.
Courses on the Art of Living were proliferating all over and every one was rushing to attain instant happiness, inner peace, nirvana and bliss.
A wise old man, a teacher, living in the neighbourhood announced that he would teach instant Art of Living free of cost.
On the first day he drew a huge crowd.
“What do you all want to achieve?” the teacher asked the audience.
“Inner peace, tranquillity and true happiness,” everyone shouted in unison.
“For that you have to attain enlightenment.” the teacher said.
"How?" the audience asked.
“By practicing the Art of Living,” the teacher said.
“How do you practice the Art of Living? Please teach us,” the audience asked the teacher eagerly.
“It is simple – just eat and sleep,” the teacher said, “you can practise the art of living by eating and by sleeping.”
“What nonsense!” the astounded audience exclaimed.
“Yes,” said the teacher nonchalantly, “When Hungry, Eat and When Tired, Sleep – that is the Art of Living”.
“Everybody does that!” shouted the audience.
“No. Everybody does not Eat when they Eat and Everybody does not Sleep when they Sleep”, the teacher said calmly, “but when I eat I only eat and when I sleep I only sleep. That is the Art of Living I practice – I live in the present moment fully focussed on whatever I am doing with full awareness.”
Dear Reader, do you agree?
VIKRAM KARVE
Thursday, September 8, 2011
PARADOX OF HUMAN BEHAVIOUR
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
OLD IN AGE but YOUNG AT HEART
OLD IN AGE but YOUNG AT HEART - Anti Ageing Formula
HOW TO REMAIN A YOUNG SENIOR CITIZEN
ELIXIR OF LIFE - A delightful Anti-Ageing Formula
Zest for Living and Passion for Learning
By
VIKRAM KARVE
There are a number of retired senior citizens in the colony where I live in Pune.
Yes, there are still large numbers of pensioners living all over Pune though Pune is no longer a pensioners’ paradise.
I have noticed one intriguing thing.
Though most are of these persons are of the same chronological age, some are “young” and some are “old” - yes some appear young and some seem old - after all your age is what you feel.
Further observation reveals the anti ageing formula for remaining young:
Zest for Living and Passion for Learning is the best anti-ageing recipe that keeps you young forever.
This is the true elixir of life.
Look around you and you will see what I mean.
There are many oldie-goldies who are living life to the fullest and are always eager to learn new things and there are also others who have no “juice” left in them as they have lost the spirit to enjoy learning with enthusiasm and relish the pleasures of life to their utmost.
I know a “young” senior citizen who, after retirement, started learning classical music from the scratch, enjoyed studying for 10 years till he completed his sangeet alankar, living life to the fullest in true epicurean style – good food, music, concerts, plays, movies, travel, picnics, swimming, trekking, playing with his dogs, social work, you name it – he did it ... and with the advent of internet he is enjoying moments exploring the mysteries of the web, learning new things and latest technologies, actively blogging with passionate fervour, and with gusto doing all sorts of learning activites, creative writing, surfing, social networking, making virtual friends, teaching music – for him variety is the spice of life. He lives a delightfully active life, loves the company of youngsters and has the enthusiasm and energy of a child – and though in his late seventies he is “younger” than even those chronologically many years his junior and it is his zest for life and passion for knowledge that keeps him healthy, happy and youthful.
Remember you are as old as you feel, not as old as you look, nor are you as “old” as your chronologically age says you are.
It is in your hands to forever remain a “young” senior citizen.
I will end this piece with a quote from Mahatma Gandhi:
Live as if you are going to die tomorrow
Learn as if you are going to live forever.
It is breathtakingly simple to remain young forever, Dear Reader.
It is all in the mind.
Here are some tips on how to feel young and forget your chronological age.
1. Spend time in the company of young happy people.
It is better to spend your time with cheerful younsters who are enjoying life in the present rather than make yourself miserable in the company of pessimistic, gloomy, cynical old fogies who keep living in the past, carping and complaining about the present, and worrying about the future. It is better to remain with your family and kids rather than go to a retirement home (old age home). Teaching and mentoring youngsters (never give unsolicited advice or moral lectures) is rewarding and good too – I love to teach as I enjoy the company of cheerful motivated young students and this keeps me young and enthisuastic about learning too.
2. Get a Pet Dog.
Another useful anti-aging technique is to get a pet dog and enjoy playing with your dog. Pet parenting and your pet dog's antics and will keep you happily occupied, cheerful and healthy, besides ensuring regular exercise as your pet dog will ensure you take him out on walks at least twice a day. There is nothing more joyful than playing with your dog and talking to him. This morning I gave my dog Sherry a vigorous bath and felt really young and energetic. A dog will bring out the child hiding in you.
3. Rediscover your childlike enthusiasm.
Stop reminiscing about the "good old days" and start living it up every day doing whatever you like with zest and passion to learn new things like blogging, social networking, making real friends and virtual friends with common interests and passions, exploring the mysteries internet and enjoying the benefits of information technology. Yes, keeping oneself uptodate and abreast of the latest technologies keeps one mentally stimulated. Use technology effectively to keep young.
4. Re-discover your romantic mischievous side.
Become “naughty” once again, have fun and discover the beauty and romance of life. Why not harmlessfly flirt a bit? Remember that the moment you stop appreciating and being attracted to beauty, you have become “old” and life is not worth living.
5. Learn new things, develop new hobbies and nurture your creative interests
Try to have a positive attitude and optimistic temperament and keep learning new things and nurture your creative interests, hobbies, exercise, play, travel, eat out, see movies, have a ball...
All you’ve got to do is to have a zest for living and passion for learning.
First thing in the morning, the moment you get up, recite your new Art of Living Motto:
“Live as if you are going to die tomorrow, learn as if you are going to live forever”
Dear Reader, here's wishing you eternal youth - may you remain young forever with a a Zest for Living and a Passion for Learning.”
So Cheer Up and Live it Up...!!!
VIKRAM KARVE
Copyright © Vikram Karve 2011
Vikram Karve has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Did you like this article? I am sure you will like the stories in my recently published book COCKTAIL comprising twenty seven short stories about relationships. To know more please click the links below:
http://www.flipkart.com/cocktail-vikram-karve-short-stories-book-8191091844?affid=nme
http://www.indiaplaza.in/cocktail-vikram-karve/books/9788191091847.htm
http://www.apkpublishers.com/books/short-stories/cocktail-by-vikram-karve.html
About Vikram Karve
A creative person with a zest for life, Vikram Karve is a retired Naval Officer turned full time writer. Educated at IIT Delhi, ITBHU Varanasi, The Lawrence School Lovedale and Bishops School Pune, Vikram has published two books: COCKTAIL a collection of fiction short stories about relationships (2011) and APPETITE FOR A STROLL a book of Foodie Adventures (2008) and he is currently working on his novel. An avid blogger, he has written a number of fiction short stories and creative non-fiction articles in magazines and journals for many years before the advent of blogging. Vikram has taught at a University as a Professor for almost 14 years and now teaches as a visiting faculty and devotes most of his time to creative writing. Vikram lives in Pune
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
AM I A VICTIM OF DEEMED CORRUPTION
AM I A VICTIM OF DEEMED CORRUPTION ?
This morning while discussing recent events pertaining to Anna Hazare’s Anti-Corruption Movement, the Lokpal Bill and current events, someone mentioned the term “Deemed Corruption”. He said that if a government servant delays the work of a citizen beyond a reasonable time then that government servant will be deemed to be corrupt and it will be a case of deemed corruption. After hearing this, I thought of a recent problem which is happening to me and I wonder whether I am unwittingly a victim of deemed corruption.
When I was in the navy we were required to be prompt in the performance of our duties, but unfortunately the same promptness was not shown towards us by various civilian “babus” especially those in accounts offices. And now, for no fault of mine, I am facing a problem after my retirement too, owing to the indifferent attitude of the lower bureaucracy. I retired almost one year ago but even till today a part of my retirement benefits have been withheld because of gross inefficiency on the part of a nameless faceless clerk. Let me tell you about it.
Our Accounts Office withheld a substantial amount from my retirement benefits for adjustments towards house rent since my original rent bills were not received by them from the MES (Military Engineering Service) from the year 2008 onwards despite reminders. (I had no role to play in this - the MES is required to directly send the bills to our Accounts Office promptly in a time bound manner). Of course, my pay office had been deducting provisional house rent every month from my salary but they said they had to reconcile with the original rent bills, adjust plus or minus, get it audited, and only then could they release the money due to me.
I occupied those government quarters in 2008 and vacated them in 2010. Monthly provisional rent has been regularly recovered from me. The biggest joke is that the MES has issued me a Final Clearance Certificate and a Final No Demand Certificate when I vacated the house. These certificates have been sent to the Accounts Office. But all this is of no use as they want the original rent bills from the MES and there is nothing I can do about it except write reminders and wait patiently.
Someone told me that as per norms the MES is required to send rent bills to the accounts office every quarter (within three months) but in this case the work has been delayed by almost four years by some clerk in the MES and I am the loser for no fault of mine. There is no effective grievance redressal machinery to whom I can complain. All that is happening is that there is ever-increasing correspondence as letters and reminders are being exchanged between various agencies but nothing seems to move the mighty clerks of the MES.
I wonder whether this inordinate delay is due to inefficiency or is it a case of deemed corruption?
Is it possible that my work is being purposely delayed because I did not pay the required “mamool” or speed money? Frankly I don’t know whether I have to pay a bribe to the MES clerks in order to get this routine work done – I have never done so before and I am not going to do so now.
This case shows that how the clerks of the lower bureaucracy are supreme. They have no accountability and seem to be invulnerable. No one is held responsible for such delays and for non-performance of their duties. I am sure many such cases of “deemed corruption” are happening everywhere and common citizens are suffering for no fault of theirs as their work is inordinately delayed by lower bureaucracy.
Anna Hazare is right. Whereas Grand Corruption and Multi-Crore Scams grab the headlines and this may be important at the macro level as it affects the nation, at the micro level, it is petty corruption by the lower bureaucracy which is troubling the common citizen. It will be a great relief to the common man if the chronic problem of omnipresent all-pervading petty corruptioncan be addressed effectively.
I wish the government enacts a strong and effective Lokpal Bill which brings the lower bureaucracy under its purview, specifies a time bound Citizens Charter, implements and puts in place an effective, prompt, easy to use, e-governance style IT Based online Grievance Redressal Mechanism and, most importantly, incorporates the concept of deemed corruption and stipulates severe punishment and heavy penalties for those indulging in deemed corruption and harassing the common citizen. This will surely help alleviate the distress caused to the common citizen.
PS - As far as my case is concerned, I don't know what to do. Any suggestions on how to solve my problem?
© vikram karve., all rights reserved.
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: AM I A VICTIM OF DEEMED CORRUPTION ?
Friday, August 5, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
URBANIZATION OF THE MOFUSSIL GIRL - Story of a Modern Girl
Friday, July 29, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: A Soldier’s Story - A Classic on THE ART OF LEADER...
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: Facebook, Twitter as addictive as `smoking or drin...
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
THE SOLUTION
“I don’t know how I am going to solve this problem,” Anil said.