A Harvard DNA expert’s study finds: there was no Aryan invasion or migration; Harappan civilization was created by hunter-gatherers from Southeast Asia who became farming communities; mixing of groups from the steppe and Southeast Asia led to creation of two populations, and mixing of those two populations created South Asians today. Thus, there was no Aryan invasion. Is it?
Can we reflect, meditate? In the night before we sleep, or in the morning after we wake up, or whenever we feel like doing, but every day, at least for 1000 moments, seconds. At least once. Being empty, being useful. Can we incorporate non-violence? On, with us. With others, other life around us. At least directly. Peace with ourselves and our circle of influence. Expanding circle. Universe.
Language and culture go hand-in-hand. Many a time, it is not easy to distinguish between the two. Written language, spoken language. At home, on the streets, in the meeting places. In the books, films. Words are always not created from within. Many words are adopted, should be adopted, from other languages. Artificially created words would not take us far. Language need not be limited to literature of the past. Books, writings are required in various fields. Versatile use of language would make it ‘live’ language. Else it would be ‘dead’ soon. The script(s) also evolve. We have numerals written in many languages differently. Maybe, we should adopt/adapt Indo-Arabic – 0123456789. The same goes with culture. Culture lives when we live the culture, traditions, but adapted to new contexts, new realities. Can we learn in our mother tongue, local day-to-day language, for us to be learning faster, smarter? Can we also learn 3-4 languages as early as possible? Mother tongue language, regional language, link language, a classical language? Can we practise? Can we read 1000 books et al by the time we leave school/we graduate? Can we practise our culture, music, dance, traditions in the teens, and immediately thereafter? Can we transcend curricular, to co-curricular, extra-curricular, cultural in our schools? At least a third of the time.
My average stay with a workplace is just three years, 1000 days. Even after being blessed with exciting work of usefulness of a very high order, and unusually kind colleagues, seniors and people. Most of the time. Sometimes my heart pulled me out. Sometimes, there was unease in the ecosystem. Some other times, it was exigencies. In hindsight, it appears I need 8 stints, and 15 years, of varied, diverse but intense engagements. To come around into ‘livelihoods’, collectives-enterprises, PVM, self-help movement, n-living. For 24 years. Started with becoming independent livelihoods-poverty reduction-development practitioner, lifeworker; starting Akshara; becoming livelihoods people; joining SERP since inception; taking practitioner-academic role; joining NRLM in design; joining NF in its beginning. All these continue to be flowing in parallel, overlapping streams – livelihoods, 24 years, self-help, 24 years, N-way, 8 years. And continuing. Doing, unlearning-learning, facilitating learning, mentoring, building individuals-teams-institutions-systems, strategizing, scaling, and integrating.
Can we offer ourselves to be useful? Unconditional assistance? To heal, with agency. Willingness, space, ability – knowledge, skills, tools, expertise, patience, experience. Can we prepare ourselves and let the power and energy of the Universe flow through us? More ways, more ends. Can we?
Yes, we can. If we coexist, if we continue to flow in the streams. In N? aasramayoga for 7L.
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