Maurya Times

" India on the streets " by Chetan Bhagat We have all had that one uncle who keeps on reminding you how India is terrible. He tells you about how every government authority takes bribes - from the RTO to the ration shop to the municipality. He will tell you how no government department does its job well - the potholed roads, abysmal conditions at government schools and poor healthcare all being examples to support your uncle's theory. It is hard to argue with him, for he is right. Things don't work. There is no justice. Power talks. Equality doesn't exist. All of this, even though uncomfortable to hear, rings somewhat true. However, the uncle goes on to say this: "Nothing will ever change." He is convinced that our society is damaged irreparably, and India is destined to live in misery. Uncle Cynic goes on to doubt almost everyone, assumes the worst in people, and anyone who is trying to improve the country is branded as someone with a hidden agenda. ...

‘अंकल’ हम सभी का सामना किसी ऐसे ‘अंकल’ से हुआ होगा, जो समय-समय पर हमें याद दिलाते रहते हैं कि इस देश का भगवान ही मालिक है। उनकी हर बात का लब्बोलुआब यह रहता है कि भारत एक भ्रष्ट और नाकारा देश है, जहां जिंदगी गुजारना मुश्किल है। वे हमें बताते हैं कि आरटीओ से लेकर राशन की दुकान और नगर पालिका तक हर सरकारी अधिकारी घूस खाता है। वे हमें यह भी बताते हैं कि कोई भी सरकारी महकमा ठीक से अपना काम नहीं करता। गड्ढों से भरी सड़कें, खस्ताहाल सरकारी स्कूल, बीमार अस्पताल, ये सभी ‘अंकल’ की थ्योरी को सही भी साबित करते हैं। उनसे बहस करना कठिन है, क्योंकि वे गलत नहीं हैं। हमारे यहां सत्ता की तूती बोलती है, न्याय की आवाज दबकर रह जाती है, समानता का कोई नाम नहीं है। चाहे यह सब सुनने में कितना ही दुखद क्यों न लगे, लेकिन सच्चाई यही है। लिहाजा, ‘अंकल’ अपना राग अलापते रहते हैं कि इस देश का कुछ नहीं हो सकता। ऐसा लगता है जैसे उन्हें इस बारे में कोई भी शक नहीं है। निराश ‘अंकल’ हमारी हर चीज पर संदेह करते हैं और बुराइयों को उभारकर सामने रखते हैं। यदि कोई व्यक्ति देश को सुधारने का बीड़ा उठाता भी है तो वे यह घोषणा कर ...

The Buddha explained how to handle insult and maintain compassion. One day Buddha was walking through a village. A very angry and rude young man came up and began insulting him. "You have no right teaching others," he shouted. "You are as stupid as everyone else. You are nothing but a fake." Buddha was not upset by these insults. Instead he asked the young man "Tell me, if you buy a gift for someone, and that person does not take it, to whom does the gift belong?" The man was surprised to be asked such a strange question and answered, "It would belong to me, because I bought the gift." The Buddha smiled and said, "That is correct. And it is exactly the same with your anger. If you become angry with me and I do not get insulted, then the anger falls back on you. You are then the only one who becomes unhappy, not me. All you have done is hurt yourself." "If you want to stop hurting yourself, you must get rid of your ange...