Four Months is a Long Time

Wow! It feels just yesterday I was celebrating New Year's and we were still in the middle of winter, and now it is April and springtime already. The flowers are begun to bloom and the weather is warmer. Nostalgia is a weird thing. It always makes you yearn for something you do not have. In a few days we will start complaining about how hot is has become and start wishing it becomes winter again when just until two weeks ago we were complaining about the unseasonally cold March. Guess that it life. A series of constant desires.
On that note, on the post below this one you will find my new poem and a few photographs I have taken recently.
Let us not yearn for the past, but work towards a better tomorrow.
Best,
Mukund

In the Eyes of a Killer Whale

In the Eyes of a Killer Whale

What is it that I see in your eyes?
Is it memories from days’ bygone?

Now distant and from a long time ago.

What is it that I see in your eyes?

Those beautiful shiny and glazed orbs,

Looking closely at all of us and things around you,

Plotting a secret and dark revenge,

For we trapped you,

And confined you to these glass walls,

A symbol of our perverted desires,

For we like nature,

But not when it is wild,

We like things tamed and domesticated,

And not free,

To be able to look at you,

With these barriers so that you may not harm us.

Or is it maybe,

The happiness of good-riddance,

From those long cold dark days in the open seas,

Where the food was scarce,

And life was an endless stream of near-deaths,

From personal rivalries, fishing boasts, or being trapped in ice.

What is it that I see in your eyes?

As I look at you, and you at me,

As you swim by in these huge monstrous tanks,

Which to you would be just a speck in the ocean.

Is it a wish to swim, and swim free,

And not be constrained by these glass walls,

Built for us to gape and ogle at you?

What is it that I see in your eyes?

Is it a look of gratitude,

Thanking us for our protection,

From the vagaries of the open seas,

And for the food we so dutifully provide to you every day.

I cannot say, for I do not know,

What is it that I see in your majestic eyes,

But sometimes at night,

I dream I am you,

I know I would rather swim out into the open ocean,

And face whatever life throws at me,

And swim free, and die free.

Mukund Palat Rao

(April 7, 2013)

The poem might be about killer whales but this is my opinion about all animals and fish and other living beings we have trapped in various zoos and aquariums all around the world.

Unfortunately I do not have any pictures of killer whales but these were a few images I found on my computer of animals in zoos and fish in aquariums.
(If you click on any of the images below you can view them on a slide show)

Parallel Universe

There is no one like you,
but you,
or is there,
someone just like you,
who looks like you,
eats like you,
loves a copy of the same person you love too.

Could it be,
that there be,
another person the same as me,
and you,
and you,
and everyone around us?

If our actions were the same,
would my life be dictating his,
or his mine,
in this strange universe with parallel universes.
Mukund Palat Rao
December 13, 2012

A Prayer for Peace

A Prayer for Peace

The mistakes of the past,
cannot be blamed on the present,
but remember it and do not forget,
for remembrance is all we have left,
now that everything has been lost,
our lands taken,
and our way of life destroyed.

There is a solemnity in old memories,
a common pain,
shared amongst us all,
a wistfulness of a different present,
that could have come with a different past.

But let things be,
the way the stand,
just the way the Lord above forgives us for our sins,
and forgiveness is a divine art.

Two wrongs have never helped set things right,
and things now can never be the same,
as it was in the past,
nostalgia is a wonderful thing,
but we might find ourselves more content beings.
if we give it up, get on, and let it go.
Mukund Palat Rao
December 3, 2012

This is dedicated to all the ongoing conflicts on our planet.

India's sixty sixth year of independence

On the occasion of India's Independence Day and exactly a week before I leave India to pursue my master's I only thought it fitting that my post be about India.

Poem: The India that I dream of

The India that I dream of

is one where no one needs to sleep hungry

the India that I dream of

is not limited to narrow metrics like the GDP and the Gini

but, is an India where a certain satisfaction and dignity of life is assured

the India that I dream of

is a country where her people are happy, and children educated

the India that I dream of

is one where you cannot be evicted from your land and your livelihood stolen

because you stand in the way of this certain idea of  ‘development’

but one where will only move out of your own vocation

the India that I dream of

is one where any religion (or none) can be practiced

without fear and with one’s head held high

the India that I dream of

is one where we can also accept a contrary option

and everyone’s concerns are taken care of

the India that I dream of

is not a military superpower

but a country strong enough to defend herself if need be
the India that I dream of
is a country which allows you to be different

the India that I dream of

is one where we are at peace

not just with ourselves but also with those around us

but most of all the India that I dream of

is one where all her children are truly free.

Mukund Palat Rao

(August 15, 2012)

What does it mean to be an 'environmentalist'?

What does it mean to be an 'environmentalist'?

I believe being an environmentalist is about living life with an increased level of consciousness, wherein, we try to live with an in-depth understanding of the choices we make, our actions and their consequences on the society and on the environment.

Let us take the example of an action that we often witness, which is of throwing away an empty PET (polyethylene terephthalate) bottle on the side of the road after consuming a soft drink. Many among us just do not pay heed to the fact that there is a high possibility that the bottle could remain there for years and years to come primarily because of slow biodegradability of PET. Before mindlessly throwing away batteries it is imperative that one should be aware of the heavy metals like lead present in them and how they contaminate the soil. As Rachel Carson has clearly explained in her book, ‘The Silent Spring’, a seemingly harmless act of spraying pesticides in one’s garden or agricultural field has potentially calamitous effects on the local eco-system. Hence, being an environmentalist is primarily about living with an increased level of consciousness.

The role of an environmentalist is also to help society awaken to the realisation that our present lifestyle is absolutely unsustainable. The way to achieve this is through education. It is important that an environmentalist helps those around to understand that we are a part of the biosphere and not outside it, and will therefore have to face the repercussions of our own actions.

Another practice that I feel is central to the philosophy of being an environmentalist is one of ‘live and let live’. Often, in the zealous pursuit of trying to conserve the environment people do more harm than good. Take the example of a nature photographer. In the attempt at getting the perfect shot they often tend to disturb and put at risk the very wildlife they claim to be trying to protect. The beauty of nature is in being a part of it and not in trying to manipulate it to serve our selfish pursuits.

In the same vein, a true environmentalist should try to ensure that his or her actions do not in any way achieve the opposite of what they are trying to accomplish. For example, before engaging in a tree plantation drive one must ensure that the tree species chosen for planting are suitable to the locality.

Being an environmentalist should not be an attempted act of ‘greenwashing’ wherein one can assuage oneself by saying that having taken part in a tree plantation campaign, it is fine to cool off in an air-conditioned room all day. Being an environmentalist is about accepting and adopting a way of life which is not in conflict with the environment. It is a continuing endeavour to contribute towards developing a sustainable society, with a fraternity of humankind; at peace with the surroundings, and using resources in a sustainable manner.

After having studied Chemical Engineering at my Bachelor’s program, I have observed that the industry predominantly remains dependent on non-renewable sources of energy like coal and petroleum for its energy requirements. These energy sources continue to contribute towards global warming. From this, I have come to understand that environmentalism must be rooted both in science and society. Mere activism cannot be an answer to our problems. Theories and premises must have a strong backing with facts and scientific methods. Only then will people believe in the veracity of our claims and the genuineness of our intent. Thus, being an environmentalist is not just being guided by high ideals but also demands good training and experience which must be rooted in one's day to day life.

Mukund Palat Rao