Journal O Ram

Happy Independence Day!

Freedom is one of the things which I love. I love my Independence. I celebrate Independence Day in my own my way. My grand father was a Police Officer. So, there were so many values which I received from him. That's why I always keep remember him and keep referring to him when there is a context. Some of the values I can out-rightly list is self-discipline, discipline, punctuality, patriotism, spirituality, travel, joint-family living, family values, respect for elders, fearlessness etc etc etc. Before, I mention how he influenced my life, I must give a little background. Our home "Sri Venkateswara Nilayam" at 50-44-1, P&T Colony, Seetammadhara, Visakhapatnam - 530013 is has 3 large bed rooms, veranda, hall, dining room, kitchen and pooja room. A big car shed good enough for indoor cricket. A huge terrace with space enough to hold a wedding reception. There were 2 water storing tanks above the ground and one huge overhead water tank. All this has relevance at a later point in this journal. A block behind my home is a big play ground.

Discipline / Self-discipline:
When it is comes to discipline, I mean every one among the kids has to get up early in the morning and recite Sri Venkateswara Suprabatham. It has become a natural for all the kids (I was in my 1st standard at school) to brush teeth, take bath on their own, get dressed up, 'definitely' polish ones own shoes, clean and pressed clothes. When we go on tours, everyone must carry at least one luggage and he is responsible for the luggage till the end of the journey. Even the youngest kid is responsible may be for a water bottle or a pillow to carry it. All were so well tuned that everyone used to pick one luggage without a need for continuous instructions.
Shoes are kept at a designated place. Everyone has to fold his bed sheet and place it at a designated place.

Punctuality:
In the childhood days, I remember 6pm to 8 pm was definitely reading time. 8pm to 9pm is definitely dinner time. 9pm to 10pm is fun, chatting, music, tv or whatever before going to bed.
There used to be a routine schedule which was followed without even being aware that it is followed. Never late to school. We used to be in train station well in advance to comfortably catch the train without any rush.

In between, I have lost track of this value and the results have been terrible. I remember, we missing train, or catching the train while it is running when I am first time taking Swapna to Chennai after my wedding, going almost an hour late to train station to receive my mom in Chennai, going 3 hours late to the airport to receive Swapna and Srimaye when they came first time to USA, missing so many time lines.

Now, the important thing is to retain the value called "Punctuality!"


Health:
Once in three months all the kids have to get a dose of 'Aavadham' for cleaning the stomach. That would really be a fun and run weekend. Fun to catch the guy to give him a dose. Then the guys run to the restroom, for the whole of morning session. Then for lunch it will be rasam, mutton curry and rice. Unforgetable! It definitely cleans the whole stomach.
Applying oil to the hair and keeping it clean and combed. That brings a strong nourishment to the roots of hair and gives it a strong texture. Fruits for the season are definitely part of the family daily meals. Indeed is a wonderful way to live life.

Frequent indigestion, loss of hair, laziness and other side effects for not having a balanced diet and maintaining health.

Now, the important thing is to be aware health and become health conscious. Fit body can be maintained with healthy food. Applying oil to hair is key to keep the hair roots strong and healthy. It also prevents any headaches that are likely by cooling the head.

Patriotism:

I heard one saying which, I am not sure of the source. It says, in a family if there are three boy kids, the eldest is to protect the home and manage the family by staying at home. The elder is to get out of home earn money, get food and wealth to the home. The youngest is to protect the nation. That is the kind of contribution from each of the family towards nation and it is an unstated commitment. If it were not so, then I don't thing India would have achieved freedom. And imagine, even women equally participated in the freedom struggle. The patriotic spirit is unimaginable. With the population issue in India, now there is little chance of having three kids at home and on the contrary, the protection of the one kid (boy or a girl) is at the highest risk for terrorism, accidents, illness or whatever the reason.

As he was a retired police officer, in our drawing room, we used to have huge framed pictures of
Mahatma Gandhi - Father of the Nation
Dr. Rajendra Prasad - First President of India
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishna - First
Motilal Nehru - First Prime Minister of India
Dr. Subash Chandrabose - Freedom Fighter


I think it is very fortunate to be grown along with Grand Parents. Any body who is grown up in a joint family will have a fortune of values, which otherwise can not be obtained. Leave alone a joint family, a single family itself is not able to keep tightly integrated to live together. In the modern world, the families are disintegrated. And this is becoming more unavoidable situation. Husband, Wife and Children of the same family find it impossible to live in the same home together for reasons of education, work, earnings, business or what ever be the case. So, it is like best of the worst when one is to have the same family integrated and live together in the same home.


Freedom is not in doing whatever we like.
Freedom is in doing what is right with a strong will to do it, whatever be the case.
Freedom unlimited is best experienced in abundance and when the limitless boundaries are kept in mind and discipline in maintained.
Freedom is very personal to ones own self, yet the restrictions would come into play when one the freedom of others is intruded.