२११६: वापर

आपण अनेकदा तहान भागवण्यासाठी म्हणून, किंवा सहज गम्मत म्हणून देखील थंड पेयाची बाटली विकत घेतो. अनेक वेळा थंड पेयाची उत्कृष्ट जाहिरात बघून देखील "एकदा चव घेऊया" असं म्हणून देखील विकत घेतली जातेच. हे प्रमाण तरुणांमधे जास्त असलं तरी सर्वत्रच बघायला मिळते. बहुतांशी त्यातलं चविष्ट पेय संपलं तरी ती बाटली राखून ठेवली जाते. ती छोटेखानी, रंगबिरंगी बाटली, अर्थात प्लॅस्टिकची पुन्हा वापरली जाते. कारण ती सोप्पी पडते सहज त्यात पाणी भरून न्यायला. ब्यागेत, पर्स मधे किंवा हातात धरून सहज आपल्यापुरतं पाणी नेता येत. तुम्ही पण अनेक ठिकाणी हे बघितलं असेलच. मला आज त्याच खरं कारण समजलं, उमगलं, म्हणून हा पंक्ती प्रपंच. 

ते पेय संपल्यावर त्यात पाणी भरलं जातं. पहिले काही दिवस त्या पाण्याला पण पेयाचा सुगंध येतोच. म्हणजे घोट घेतांना क्षणभर असंच वाटून जातं कि आपण ते उत्कृष्ट पेयचं पीत आहोत.  कित्ती भन्नाट ना? पितोय पाणी आणि वाटतंय गोड पेय, अहाहा. हा झाला एक अनुभव. त्या नंतर आपल्याला ती बाटली बघून मस्त वाटतं. दुसऱ्यांना पण बाटली बघून असं भासतं कि "काय मज्जा आहे त्याची, मस्त पेय पितोय" असं काहीसं. त्यामुळे मग ती बाटली अनेक दिवस, महिने, हारावे पर्यंत वापरली जाते. हरवली कि मग दुसरे पेय विकत घेऊन, पियुन मग तो सिलसिला सुरूच राहतो. अनेकदा मी ऐकलं आहे, जर अगदीच कोणाला पाणी प्यायची ईच्छा झाली आणि त्याने तुमच्याकडे पाणी मागितलं, तुम्ही हि अशी रंगीत बाटली दिली कि ते लगेच म्हणतातच, "मी पाणी मागितलं हे पेय नाही, पाणी नाही आहे का?" ई. मज्जा आहे कि नाही, कसं फसलं जातं बघा. 

अश्या सगळ्या फसव्या प्रकाराला सोडा आणि एक तुमची अशी पाण्याची बाटली चांगल्या कंपनीने तय्यार केलेली विकत घ्या आणि त्यातून पाणी प्या. हे असलं विकतचे दुखणे नकोच. खरं तर पेयांची बाटली ते संपलं कि व्यवस्थित फेकून द्यायची असते, रि-सायकल करायला दिली पाहिजे, पण नाही, नसता चिकटपणा.  फुशारकी वगैरे मारू नका कि मी कित्ती मस्त मस्त पेय पितो हे अजिबात दाखवायला जाऊ नका, आणि पेय जमली तर विकतची पिणं टाळाच. 

2112: Backstage Warriors

These are the silent players, often invisible, yet the entire crew depends on them completely. Take theater as an example—the drama’s name and the stellar actors performing on stage are the ones who receive all the applause and accolades. However, the immense contributions of the backstage warriors often go unnoticed or overshadowed.

Reflecting on this, I realize how my own body functions as a perfect metaphor for backstage support. My brain directs, thinks, acts, reacts, and helps me recollect countless things, making it seem like I’m performing well. But the truth is, this performance is entirely dependent on my heart consistently pumping blood—both my actual heart and the "second heart," my calf muscles. Every organ, every cell in my body works tirelessly behind the scenes to make this happen.

For years, I’ve taken these internal "backstage warriors" for granted, assuming it’s simply their duty to function without fail. But if we pause to think deeply, it’s not a small feat—it’s an extraordinary collaboration. These unseen warriors, along with nature’s forces, are the true performers behind any success attributed to me.

Without these backstage heroes—be it my body’s systems or nature’s elements like air, gravity, oxygen, and carbon dioxide—there would be no "me," no achievements, and no recognition in my name.

So, let’s take a moment to be truly grateful. Show appreciation to all those who work tirelessly behind the scenes, ensuring our existence and success without ever asking for acknowledgment.

२११३: मदार / भिस्त

पडद्यामागे काम करणारे कित्तीतरी कलाकार हे सातत्याने मागेच राहतात. जर एखाद्या नाटकाचं उदाहरण घ्यायचं झालं तर त्या कलाकृतीचं नाव होतं आणि त्यात काम केलेल्या नावाजलेल्या कलाकारांचं फक्त. पण बाकी गृहीत धरले जातात, कि त्यांचंच काम आहे आणि ते करत आहेत, करावंच लागेल, फारसं काय त्यात ई. अर्थात आताशा विचार आणि कृती बदलेली आढळते आहे, काही अंशी ज्यांच्यावरच आपली भिस्त असते त्यांना पण नाव मिळतंय पण क्वचितच. 

माझ्या मनातले फक्त सांगते, आताशा, इतक्यातच मला जास्त प्रकर्षाने जाणवतंय कि माझा मेंदू हा कित्ती म्हणजे कित्ती पद्धतीचे कार्य करतो. माझा तो दिशादर्शक आहे, विचार करतो, कृती करतो आणि करवून घेतो अनेक जणांकडून, हृदय, म्हणजे दोघेही, एक जे रक्तप्रवाह सातत्याने सुरु ठेवतं आणि पोटऱ्या त्याला प्रचंड साथ देतात उलट्या दिशेने प्रवाह सुरळीत राहायला आणि इतर सगळे अणू-रेणू अविरत कार्यरत असतातच, पण नाव मात्र आपलं होतं. मला पडलेला प्रश्न मी नक्की काय करते मग? सगळं तर हेच बघतात, मी मात्र नाममात्र. हे झालं माझ्या अंतर्बाह्य अवयवांबद्दल, पण तितक्याच ताकदीने हि भव्य दिव्य सुष्टी पण सगळं साधते, किंबहुना तीच सगळं करते, गुरुत्वाकर्षण द्वारे, प्राणवायू, वायू, आणि इतर सगळेच आत्यंतिक महत्वाचे घटक. निरपेक्ष सुरु असतं त्यांचं सतत कार्य, आणि नाव होत आपलं कि ह्या अमुक तमुक मुळे झालं ई. असो, हाच नियम जरी असला तरी त्या सर्व शक्तींचे, अणू रेणूंचे आभार माना मनःपूर्वक. ते आहेत, त्यांचं ते कामचं आहे असं गृहीत धरलं होत मी देखील, पण तसे नाही हे खूप प्रकर्षाने जाणवतं आहे मला सध्या आणि पटतंय देखील. ते अविरत, कित्येक वर्ष, न थांबता कार्यरत आहेत म्हणून मी आहे. ह्या शरीराला ओळख देण्यासाठी म्हणून फक्त एक नाव देण्यात आलं आहे. मग मी करते, हे सगळं माझं आहे आणि त्याचा दंभ मिरवणे बरोबर नाहीच. बघा एकदा विचार करून आणि मग नतमस्तक व्हा. सगळं तसंच सुरु राहील तुमच्याच, माझ्याच नावावर पण एका वेगळ्या ऊर्जेने, आनंदाने, प्रत्यर्पित होऊन, वेगळ्या पद्धतीने आणि जाणिवेने.      

 

2107: Speechless

I have always been fascinated by the overall execution, knowledge-sharing, and thoughtful narrations by ABji on the KBC program, which is why I watch it regularly. In one of the recent episodes, I was left truly speechless and inspired by both the contestant and AB Sir.

Participating in KBC itself is a long and challenging process—facing the camera, recalling answers under pressure, dealing with recordings, and doing all this in front of a studio audience, AB Sir, and millions of viewers across the nation. It’s undoubtedly nerve-wracking. On top of this, the contestant, a successful IT professional, had a slight speech difficulty. He had mentioned in his AV that this added an extra layer of challenge—worrying about answering on time, interacting with AB Sir, using the video-call-a-friend lifeline, and so on.

Hats off to KBC and AB Sir for their tremendous encouragement, support, and motivation, which helped him perform so well. It was inspiring to watch. Despite his challenges, the contestant participated with determination and confidence. AB Sir even remarked later that reaching this platform is the ultimate answer to all those who might have doubted or criticized him. Hopefully, this will also change perspectives and stop people from mocking his minor speech difficulty. Truly a motivating experience!

For me, this episode was a powerful lesson in perseverance and self-belief. It reminded me of the importance of encouragement and the need for resilience in the face of obstacles.

2106: A Golden Return

Engaging in one-on-one interactions with budding researchers is undeniably one of the most fulfilling experiences for me. While FDPs introduce participants to a wide array of tools that act as their research companions, the real transformation happens when they dive into their own projects. Inevitably, some get stuck along the way, and that’s where my personalized sessions come into play.

Today, something extraordinary unfolded. A vibrant and enthusiastic PhD scholar, feeling overwhelmed by an immense workload and seeking clarity, was considering heading to Vipassana for self-motivation and a mental reset to tackle her research. However, after our session, she had a remarkable change of heart. With a renewed sense of purpose, she confidently declared, "No more Vipassana for me, at least not in the near future. I now know exactly what to do, how to proceed, and just how simple it truly is. I was carrying unnecessary weight all along!"

Wow—a proud moment indeed! A pat on my back for making a difference. This success is not mine alone; it’s a tribute to my Symbiosis journey, which laid a solid foundation for my research expertise, to HIM for blessing me with the gift of storytelling, and to the relentless teams behind OpenAI tools who continue to empower researchers worldwide.

Moments like these remind me why I do what I do. Transforming confusion into clarity and witnessing someone reclaim their confidence—what could be more rewarding? Simply superb!

2105: Screen time

We constantly criticize the younger generation—teenagers and college students—for their excessive screen time. Middle-aged parents, academicians, and professionals alike wonder aloud, “What could they possibly be doing online all day?” Gaming? Instagram? WhatsApp? Endless scrolling through irrelevant platforms? It’s a million-dollar question that seems to plague us all. The consensus is that they're wasting time, damaging their eyes, necks, and overall well-being, with no meaningful outcome.

But let’s pause for a moment and redirect that critical lens. For years now, I’ve noticed a different reality unfold—one that calls into question the very people pointing fingers. Middle-aged and older individuals, the self-proclaimed role models, are no less addicted to screens. Under the pretext of being "responsible parents" or "working professionals," many are blatantly abusing their high-end gadgets and squandering valuable time.

Yes, some screen time is required for work or genuine responsibilities, but what about the hours they spend mindlessly glued to multiple screens? Watching irrelevant content, doom-scrolling, or juggling between OTT platforms and social media feeds? The same generation that once prided itself on reading hard-copy newspapers, pursuing outdoor hobbies, or meeting people face-to-face now finds itself anchored to couches, immersed in a world of digital distractions.

And let’s not ignore the irony—they complain about tiredness, neck strain, and overstimulation caused by loud music or flashy visuals. The same people who grew up in quieter, simpler environments now indulge in the very chaos they used to despise. How did this transformation occur?

Even more baffling is the hypocrisy. They berate the younger generation for "wasting time" while claiming superiority with anecdotes about how they "grew up in a disciplined era." Yet their actions scream otherwise. They’ve become the very couch potatoes they mock in the younger crowd.

So, let’s stop pretending. If we’re going to talk about screen addiction, let’s be honest about the root cause. It’s not just the younger generation that needs a wake-up call—perhaps the older one does too. Where are we truly heading if this is the path we’re all treading?

2104: Awaiting the Tooth Fairy, Once Again

When my twins were growing up, the tooth fairy became a cherished part of our lives. Unlike most families, she graced our home twice as often, given we had two little ones eagerly awaiting her visits. Each time, she was remarkably thoughtful, bringing just the right gifts, carefully tucking them beneath their pillows, and leaving silently. My twins would wake up with immense excitement, their faces lit with joy and encouragement from the magic of the fairy’s presence. Those moments were pure fun and unforgettable memories for us all.
Reflecting on my own childhood, school days came with their own set of unwritten rules—especially for girls. Oiling our hair and tying it tightly with ribbons was non-negotiable, and we followed this routine religiously throughout school life. It's now second nature to me, which is why I often find myself astonished by girls today, confidently leaving their hair open regardless of its length, texture, or thickness.

For me, a crocodile clip has become an indispensable accessory. These clips—strong, versatile, and colorful—are my constant companions. I have a collection of them in various shapes, sizes, and hues, and I feel a special connection with them. Recently, one of my favorite clips "lost a tooth" (yes, a tooth from the clip!). This particular clip has been with me for a long time, and we share an unspoken bond. Though one tooth is gone, the clip is still by my side, and the rest of its "teeth" remain intact.

This unexpected event made me think—why should the tooth fairy only visit for real teeth? After all, crocodile clips are like miniature replicas of the animal they’re named after, complete with teeth, jaws, and a firm grip. Doesn’t that make them deserving of a fairy’s visit too?

So here I am, waiting for the tooth fairy to make her magical appearance once again, this time for a beloved companion of a different kind. Come on, dear fairy—pay us a visit. We're ready for the fun to begin anew!