You brought me into your arms 90 years ago. I was caressed and loved by you, and gave me everything I desired. When I grew from childhood to adolescence, I looked around me and then I saw your beauty. You were the most beautiful amongst your siblings from around the universe.

You have mountains, hills and dales, to plush meadows and forests – where animals roamed around freely. Birds of every feather livened up our lives with their chirping. And most of all, you gave us the four seasons – lastly the great ocean that reverently touches your feet for your blessings. Above all, you imbued in us – life’s moral values through the teachings of our gurus, Gods and Goddesses.
Your achievements were many but the one I would like to tell the world that you gave us the figure “ZERO” without which the world would have been zero.
The other story is about you being known as sone ki chidiya (Bird of Gold). I had put my head in your lap, and when I asked you about this, you told me this story, while stroking my head. The people in Britain had heard about me being a “golden sparrow”. So out of curiosity one Englishman came to India. He went to meet Chanakya, because he was the most learned man. He was invited by Chanakya to his humble abode. The Englishman saw Chanakya doing some work by the light of an oil lamp. When the visitor sat down, Chanakya put out the lamp and then lit another one. The visitor was a little puzzled and asked the reason as to why he had done that. To which, Chanakya replied that the lamp he was working with, its oil was provided by the government and that lamp he now lit, its oil was bought with his own money. This was the level of honesty.
Mother, while I was growing up, you were also advancing in years. It must have pained you to witness the biggest migration to witness at that time when you were partitioned.
Thousands of us were massacred, and as many fled their homes, not knowing where they would find shelter. But soon you brought solace to these homeless people and they found their feet and have been thriving, having forgotten their past.
All this happened many years ago and now we are in the throes of technology. I have lived through that era and seen the drastic changes that have taken place, which I feel I can’t adjust to. I seem to have lost the compass of my life and do not know which direction to take; go by old ideologies or be confronted with the new ones, which I am unable to fathom or handle.
My mind goes back to the times when there was no hatred or animosity towards any religion, though you were plundered by hordes of invaders, from neighbouring countries, because your moral values were so high.
Now you can see for yourself how we have evolved in this new generation. Technology has given us everything, like aircraft, cars, buses, trucks, telephones. This has given us connectivity, with our sibling countries. I must thank the engineers, scientists, educationists and doctors who have helped in making our lives more interesting and challenging.
But all this seems to have taken a turn and I quote Einstein, who once said that technology will bring about a generation of idiots. We talk about landing people on the moon, but what about the earthly people, where have we landed them? You can see for yourself how we have evolved.
Everything has gone up not in the general sense, but crime and corruption take the lead. We look to the morning newspapers to update ourselves on current affairs, but all we get to read in the just three papers is rape of children, by fathers and uncles, juvenile boys killings eight old, burglaries, chain snatching, and the bigwigs cheating banks and the public and committing any number of frauds. Mother, what have we come down to some of our politicians and bureaucrats are hand in glove – each one works for personal gain. Politicians hold rallies all over the countryside, making speeches promising certain benefits and relief for some. But are they doing this for the country’s prosperity? No – my belief is that it is for their own image building. When you do something good for the country, let the citizens judge you, and never find fault with your detractors. Disarm these with politeness. I think it will really work for your image.
As I said before, technology has done wonders for us but on the negative side, it has not been good for the young as I feel. It has stopped them, from using their brain. Everything is provided for at the click of a button, at family get-togethers, each one is busy on the cellphone. Conversation is almost zero. But yes it has done wonders like connectivity with people. You can talk with your loved ones and see them anytime.
Mother, you are a large part of the universe and have been bestowed with everything possible. But we still have a big divide. Tell me how we can tie ourselves to caste, religion, and languages as we are so diverse in our thinking. We all belong to you, so why this hate mongering amongst ourselves.
Dear Mother, please shower your blessings on us and make us better human beings so that we can serve you to the best of our ability and make you proud of us. And we want a world that is free from want and fear.
I am truly blessed to be your child.
With all my love

Email:---------------------dr.dkgiri@gmail.com