DATA

Data is the plural of datum, which means facts or information. We should know data about various things to be effective and happy in our life or profession. The quality and quantity of data collected and utilized largely depends on who, where, why, when and how one did it. Government agencies, private firms, individuals, regulatory bodies and voluntary organizations regularly need a lot of data about the status of their subjects, human resources, domestic expenditure, statutory compliance and social service.

In the modern age, many entrepreneurs and businessman have been collecting crucial data through different online and offline sources like Google and Facebook, physical visits, filling online data forms, third party enquiry and so on. Businesses may grow or collapse just based on data provided by others. Numbers can thrill or kill us.

To collect, store and disseminate data in a reliable manner, one needs to have the following qualities.

1. Complete/partial knowledge about the nature, volume and importance of data to be collected and utilized.

2. Reliable tools ant technology to properly store and retrieve data minding short and long term needs.

In India, almost everybody suffers a number of times because of the mistakes and blunders committed by those collecting, processing, feeding and maintaining data of various human and other resources. We can consider government employees and agents representing them first-rate criminals in this regard because they maintain our data in such poor and unreliable manner. Can we imagine anybody in India who never got bothered with any kind of issue related to wrong entry of data? Aadhaar, voter identity card, ration card, bank passbook, revenue documents, legal correspondence, PF accounts, driving license are just a few examples. They feed our data wrongly. They issue us identity proofs with errors and blunders. They refuse to offer us our desired service, when we produce these documents issued by them, saying that there are errors in them. We, the people of India, have been becoming the ultimate victims of these wrong data entries. It mostly occurs due to the following reasons:

1. Nasty rogues and scoundrels entering the systems of public governance and defense services through reservation system, lobbying, corrupt practices and sympathy job offers.

2. Government employees without reliable language and typing skills in almost every department.

3. Negligence while feeding data because there are no punishments for those entering data wrongly.

4. Wrong and useless tools and systems being used to feed, update and maintain data online and offline.

5. The carelessness of central, state and local governments towards data of various stakeholders.

As far as private companies and agencies are concerned, wrong data entry can happen and lead to the following problems:

1. Most of the companies in India maintain two kinds of documents; one is to show to the folks of regulatory authorities and one is for their internal and confidential use.

2. Every regulatory authority knows about the corrupt practices of firms in private sector in India. They take bribes hugely from the managements and allow them to show records according to their choice.

3. Every financial year, hundreds of companies in India amass millions of rupees through data manipulation techniques and procedures. This is the main source of generation of huge black money.

4. Most of the government authorities have close ties with those in the private sector. So, even if extraordinary measures, policies, procedures and programs are introduced by any government, they cannot be successfully implemented at ground level. Both manipulate data to the most possible extent.

5. All of us suffer immensely when we cannot do something important in time due to wrong data entry.  

Status of Data

Though most of us are concerned about the accuracy of data we have, in fact, we just neglect it.

1. We cannot utilize all kinds of data we have.

2. We can’t ascertain the accuracy of data unless it is something which we can feel and assess physically.

3. Many times collection and retention of data is just a formality to governments. They don’t take decisions based on data collected by subject experts. Data sleeps on papers and in disks for decades.

4. Most of the authorities in public and private sector are experts in data manipulation.

5. The most difficult aspect of data entry is with digits but not with letters and other particulars.

7. Processing data became very fast and reliable with computers and super computers.

8. Many superiors take the compiled and finalized data by their subordinates for granted to sign.

9. Data processing requires a lot of patience, empathy and vision on part of those handling it.

10. Many depend on data to take major financial or other decisions in their lives or professions.

11. The high the volume of data collected, the low its accuracy and dependability to all of us.

12. The modern world is depending largely on quite unreliable data knowingly.

13. The data of time, occurrences and phenomena changes so rapidly that we can’t capture it well.

14. Wrong data entry often leads to psychological problems and unbelievable financial loss.

15. Data presented by scientists and researchers of highest order often looks quite unreliable to us.

16. Those that are very cautious about any data generally maintain great discipline in their lives.

17. Never depend on data collected by governments and voluntary organizations. They may be lies.

18. Many spend huge time on collection of data but not on optimum utilization of that data.

19. Hackers like data of others a lot. They often wish to scare others based on data they collected.

20. Females share data very rarely in comparison to males, in life or profession.

SINECURE

Olu Budungi, a philanthropist and visionary, organized a get-together for the members of International Society of Sinecures in Nosagami Tisavoo, 1500 miles off Zena Sea. The admission fee was one lakh rupees for outsiders. Jensal Monopin, an investigative journalist, planned to cover this event secretly as unfamiliar media persons were strictly restricted entry to this historical event. He sponsored the admission fee for me and asked me to interview Kolan Tumba, honorary coordinator of this association. When the members of this association, who came from different parts of the world, were busy enjoying the bizarre moments of this celebration, with various educative programs and entertainment events, I sat with Kolan Tumba for an exclusive interview with him, on a beach, a little away from the venue of events of the day. 

I: Tell me briefly about your origin and growth as an individual?

Kolan Tumba: I was born in Lusaka Island. By the time I realized the importance of date of birth in one’s life as far as his association and identification with a particular society was concerned, my parents left me forever due to marital disputes between them. Father Jolare Bogatu adopted me and admitted me into his orphanage titled ‘Munvi Rusabu’. I was there for 10 years as a student. Later Evan Iomi, an idealist bequeathed his ancestral property to me legally and died of cancer. I grew up depending on the goodness of others always. I did not know what courses I should do to get a lucrative job. I did about 15 courses randomly from different universities in West Africa. When I was turning 40, I completely realized that nobody had a suitable job for my qualifications. I did not know whether it was a matter of honor or humiliation for me. By this time I understood that there should be one to share our feelings and keep our life balanced. I married Nongthu Dacolus out of choice. She had background and attitude similar to mine those days. I used to get about $20000 from the assets I got from Iomi. Survival was never a problem for me but identification and appreciation. Then I was living desperately in this dilemma.

I: How did you become the coordinator of this association?

Kolan: I should say it was the only exciting turning point in my pathetic life those days. It happened in 2005 or so. My wife and I were strolling along the Beach of Joosanti River that winter morning. We noticed one coming in a costly white car. He started crying soon after getting off this car that early morning. I felt empathetic but my wife insisted me on being indifferent towards that scene. I could not withstand that internal agony for a few seconds also. Why should a rich man cry that badly on a beach when I was around? God filled all with kindness to understand and help others. This genetic human concern made me run towards him. My wife stayed back not knowing what was to unfold between me and the stranger in that isolated area. I hugged and kissed him first. I requested him politely to share his innermost feelings with me to see if I could be of any help to him in those crucial moments. He said that he was a member of this association but all of them failed to find one to head it without monetary interest and concern for honor. He briefed me about the origin and growth of their association from 10 to 10 million members. I offered myself to head their association as an honorary coordinator. Within a month, I joined them for negligible remuneration. As I told you earlier, money was not an issue for me but identification and appreciation. Being head of an association, in which there are 10 million members, sounded like a windfall for me. I started my eventful journey with them by the grace of God.  

I:  What are the objectives and achievements of International Society of Sinecures?

Kolan: Sinecure means a position where work is very less but remuneration is very high. They get these jobs in private and public sectors by pure luck or lobbying. They don’t have worth of an office boy also but get paid handsomely for some reasons. For example: The chairman of a company desires to fill all key positions with loyal ones but not intelligent and challenging ones. He gives great jobs to his relatives, close friends and well-wishers hugely, not minding much whether they can do justice to those positions or not. Then, even governments recruit hundreds of idiots into key positions due to corruption, threat from external agencies or countries and recommendations from influential ones in their region. When we give value to the idea of loyalty but not character and subject knowledge of a person before deployment, we cannot observe standards and values in such organizations but loyal and worthless dogs and bitches everywhere. This association is the best example for it. I am deeply disappointed observing their culture and behavior in these celebrations over the years. Still I am continuing with them because others should know that I am associated with an association as big as this. Who has time to probe into realities?

I: What kind of designations and privileges do they have in different units of employment?

Kolan: I would explain you this phenomenon with one example. Lumusa Bomat is a member of this association. He is a vice president of operations in a multinational company. He got this position only because the owner of this company is his brother-in-law. Lumusa cannot write even four sentences correctly in English or his mother tongue. He does not have basic general knowledge also. He gets 10 lakh rupees a month from that company. He got a company car, villa and so many other privileges. All that he does in his chamber in the company is signing on a few files regularly for formality sake. They suffer a lot to hike 1,000 rupees to a hard-working employee in their company but hike thousands of rupees to these idiots in their company just because they are close to the owner. This is just one example. I believe 80% key positions in almost 90% of the mediocre companies in the world are filled by such rogues and idiots only. They have many honest, hard-working and intelligent subordinates under them. They get all pressing and important works done by them regularly but in public meetings they present themselves as the builders and promoters of great companies in the world. They spend money carelessly because they did not earn it struggling hard or applying their intelligence. They have authority to question and punish others regularly but nobody can do so towards them. They commit many mistakes and blunders knowingly or unknowingly but the management does not take it seriously. They scold if an office boy does not clean a dining table properly but their psychologies and behaviours have been infected and degraded a lot over the years. Companies often incur huge losses because of their ignorance and stupidity but management takes it easy since they are relatives of the chairman. Often I see thousands of such buffoons in these periodical meetings. They are worse than a beggar in reality but think and act like masters of authority and wisdom in companies owned and run by their kin and kith.

I: Why do company heads recruit such nuts at all?

Kolan: In India, many bosses like those who obey them without questions and doubts but not honesty and intelligence of their employees. They throw attractive jobs to their close ones always. They are like dust in the air. They don’t have value of their own. After joining a company, with a great designation like director or vice president, they show off unbelievably. They wear costly clothes; drive in highly modern and comfortable cars and live in homes of luxury. Nobody respects them once they are out of their company premises because they have no worth of their own. They don’t struggle to improve their knowledge or skills either because there is no pressure from the management. Once they assume these sinecures somehow, they remain there for years together. I hate these unscrupulous and insensitive rogues. They have no genuine concern towards the chairman or the company owned and run by him.  

I: How is it in public sector?

Kolan: Sinecures are high in public sector also. There are certain quotas for some categories of societies in all nations based on which they can get a government job easier than others. They get jobs for their children somehow. It is a tradition. Outsiders cannot enter those organizations easily. They are a strong syndicate. They lobby at various levels and achieve what they want. They conduct exams and interviews for formality sake but they bring their dear ones into those organizations strategically. HR departments act like facilitating agents in this setting. They bring their chosen ones only into their units. Mechanization and automation are there in many organizations now. Humans mostly play nominal roles of supervision and coordination in these workplace systems. They work very little but get huge salaries and benefits just because of their years of experience with that employer or in that industry. A fresh graduate or post graduate has no recognition or appreciation in this environment. Superiors do not accept the innovative ideas of youngsters in many companies. They expect their intelligent and dynamic subordinates to follow the old systems. This is how progressive growth is being curtailed in many organizations across the world. Those who joined various public sector units decades ago cannot unlearn faster and meet the demands of the modern times. So, they form into unions and protest against any measures of advancement proposed or initiated by managements or countries concerned. India is the best example for it. What happened in the USA today might happen after 50 years in India. This is all because idiots and rogues are there in key positions in many public sector units, who resist any change without a second thought.

I: Generally anybody is respected by others depending on what he knows and can do. How can incompetent ones in key positions get respect from their subordinates if they are dullards?

Kolan: What one possesses and how one appears influences us at surface level faster than what one knows and can do. Most of those who enter and continue in key positions in many companies across the world through back door act smartly and present themselves highly. Since the management pays them hugely and offers many privileges, their designations and material attractions earn respect for them. They are kings and queens in their companies but nobody respects them once they come out of their units. Others know about their ignorance and stupidity but keep quite being scared of their positions. They expect their subordinates to learn and improve continuously but they don’t struggle at their level to learn and grow intellectually. Many employees act smart roles before their superiors in many industries because it is a formality. We feel respect and affection towards those who have worth of their own and sensitivity. These idiots who enter companies through back door don’t have such virtues. If A takes 15 years to become an AGM from the position of an Executive, these dear ones to the management become so within five years. Theirs is a route of loyalty to management and cruelty towards subordinates. They don’t like their intelligent subordinates questioning them about anything. They don’t appreciate their subordinates honestly even if they do wonders. They do many immoral and illegal things at personal and company level but criticize others even if they commit a mistake. They use quite abusive language in meetings but expect respect from others. Those enjoying the benefits of sinecures in various companies don’t have empathy but selfishness and insensitivity. Who reach top positions through unfair means cannot understand the problems of others. As such, sinecures seem to be bottlenecks in the progress paths of thousands of companies and industries in the world. They don’t change to the better nor allow others to do it. Even governments have no control on them. They are like dead burden to the managements from one perspective because they refuse to change but expect wonderful packages from the organization. They suppress honest, hard-working and intelligent ones to pave way for their rapid growth there.

I: How can governments and private firms avoid or reduce the number of sinecures?

Kolan: I think it is not possible. Governments are run by idiots in many countries. They don’t have standards or values. They wish to see all their friends, relatives and well-wishers in respectable positions in companies and elsewhere at the cost of loss of great opportunities to really talented ones outside their domain. This is what we call nepotism; favouritism towards those who are related to them directly. For them talent is not important but relationship. They keep their wives, siblings, relatives and dear ones in highly influential positions to earn them respect artificially from all the stakeholders. In this scenario, how can we expect millionaires and billionaires to keep their kingdoms of business in the hands of intelligent ones but not their kith and kin? When recruitments take place honestly in the public or private sector; when the talent and skills of candidates are identified and appreciated; when governments take strict measures to ensure right staff for key positions; when people and employees don’t care much about artificial and worthless bosses in their campuses or outside; this dirty game can be stopped altogether. As long as there are selfishness and corruption in the minds of entrepreneurs and governments, sinecures cannot be avoided. Geniuses and visionaries cannot change this world much when most of the companies and government agencies are without standards and values. Sinecures exert heavy pressure on exchequer.   

I: Why don’t they learn and improve according to their changing designations?

Kolan: Those in sinecures are generally kept there based on the kindness of others. It could be a rich entrepreneur in the private sector or a minister in government. Others cannot question them as they represent power and cruelty in the contemporary world. They assign most of their crucial works to their loyal and intelligent subordinates. When great results emerge, they take that credit completely. If you observe the way of the world, you would notice that those in highly key positions are being paid hugely and treated greatly in comparison to those working hard at ground level. It has been happening for decades. Those with sinecures don't have pressure on them from others. They may take quite foolish and stupid decisions at times but others have to follow them without questions and doubts. They are like imposed villains in our lives. They block the growth of the companies and countries directly and indirectly remaining complacent, outdated and eccentric for years together. They may be engineers, doctors, teachers or accountants. If a teacher, who entered that profession illegally and immorally, fails to teach well to his students, their lives get spoilt. If an engineer fails to follow standards and values in construction of various buildings for the governments or people, damages and disasters are bound to occur. If a foolish doctor treats patients, they may die. If an accountant has no accounting and auditing knowledge, he may commit errors and blunders. So, sinecures are a curse to the contemporary society.

I: What are the negative effects of sinecures on a company or country in the long run?

Kolan: When idiots are allotted key positions in a company or government, they attract and encourage such rogues in their domain of businesses or activities. In course of time, only idiots remain at the top level in hierarchy. They don’t give freedom to their subordinates. Thus inefficiency and incompetence occupy the places of honesty, hard work and intelligence everywhere. It’s like cancer. We cannot defeat it but remain as permanent victims to it. This is what is happening across companies and governments in the world now. Fools and dullards instruct the intelligent and challenging ones what to do or not to do. All stakeholders suffer in the long run. Progressive change remains dead in documents. Anarchy prevails everywhere. Easy money circulates in the economy. Virtuous ones would be ridiculed and punished. Vice would be honoured and encouraged. The poor and helpless ones suffer immensely in all societies.

I: What are the major contributing factors to rise of sinecures in the present times also?

Kolan: Excessive and irrational love and attachment towards those of our family, community, religion, region, language, race and gender. If we observe the ratio of employees in many multinational companies also, those who are close to the top management assume key positions. When we stop considering the standards and values of those we keep in key positions, our firms and organizations fail to do wonders. We should recruit highly talented and honest ones into our units of operations. They should not accept the proposals of the management readily but carry out deep analysis about the consequences of those measures, policies and programs. When we keep our dear ones in important positions, we cannot question them strongly when they do something wrong because of our soft corner for them. If we deploy outsiders in such positions, we can give them freedom to implement ultimate policies and measures minding the long-term growth of our organizations. Nepotism should be avoided completely in private and public sectors. Only qualified, talented and sincere candidates must head different departments everywhere.

I: Do you believe that those who assume key positions in an organization just due to the generosity of those entrepreneurs work honestly for the growth of those business entities?

Kolan: We should not trust anybody blindly, including our children, wife and parents. When we offer great positions to many of our close ones out of goodness, they become a strong syndicate within that organization soon. They know the secrets and standards of that organization. If the management does not satisfy them continuously with lucrative offers of pay, facilities and privileges, they turn into enemies soon. We should keep proper checks and balances in every workplace. We should get crucial data and inputs from our secret agents in all our firms. We know about quite tragic developments in many organizations now. Children killing their parents; clashes among siblings for the ownership of property of deceased parents and so on. We should inculcate virtues in all those working in key positions in our organization. When superiors think and behave honestly, their subordinates do wonders for them. We should not hesitate to fire anybody that commits blunders or frauds in our working environment. It could be our sons, daughters or anybody else. Standards and values of a candidate must be our criterion of consideration and selection but not the idea of how much he or she is related to us. Those in whom we repose ultimate trust turn into our traitors soon. When we are sick or helpless, they get all the property transferred to their ownership. We should not be in a pitiable position wherein our staff members can dictate us terms and conditions. Many companies collapsed just because of trust of the management in the wrong ones. We should punish wrongdoers, at any level, to improve the morale of employees working there. They should feel an indirect warning of the organization that fraudsters would be sacked immediately and punished appropriately. Identifying and encouraging the right ones in right positions and discouraging and punishing unscrupulous ones is very important for the successful functioning of any system of operations. This happens only when the top level management wish to run their business entities based on high standards and values of their staff members. Everybody should be trained and expected to do the job according to the set standards and values of high moral and legal practices.

ATTENTION EVERYBODY

KNOWLEDGE

1. All that we know is knowledge. We cannot utilize all the knowledge we have.

2. Those that have more knowledge suffer more than that have a little in life.

3. Knowledge gained through experience is more useful than one collected mechanically.

4. Knowledge is never right or wrong. How one uses it makes the outcomes good or bad.

5. Knowledge cannot save us from tragedies because Karma is more powerful than this.

6. Imparting knowledge to others substantially contributes to their growth over time.

7. We should know about everything around us but do only that which is right in any context.

8. Brain is the storehouse of our knowledge. Save your head always to continue your life.

SKILLS

1. Being able to do something well reflects our skill.

2. Knowledge and skills are essential to all. Our existence and supremacy rely on them.

3. Skills are like ornaments and weapons. We have to polish them quite frequently.

4. Observation, practice, execution and analysis are important factors for skills.

5. We cannot gain all skills. We should identify and utilize others to be balanced in our life.

6. We should be physically and mentally strong to learn and execute various skills.

7. All material progress around us is a result of multiple skills of humanity for ages.

8. We cannot acquire skills without commitment on our part.

LIES

1. What we cannot estimate or feel physically or mentally looks like a lie to us.

2. Ninety percent of our perceptions and fantasies are based on lies in our life or profession.

3.  Sweet lies attract us more than bitter truths.

4. A lie endorsed and propagated extensively for long might sound and become a truth one day.

5. No human being with voice can die without telling lies at all.

6. Half of our histories and literature discuss and promote lies strongly and beautifully. 

7. A truth may become a lie or a lie a truth at any time just like that or with effort.

8. We need more planning and courage to deal with lies, not truths.                                                                                                                                   

NOVELTY

1. Most creatures crave novelty but cannot stay there or enjoy it for long.

2. Novelty is there in everything created by God but we often fail to notice and rejoice it.

3. Those that struggle for novelty cannot do much for others than those that accept what is given.

4. Novelty is often a direct or indirect result of evolution or revolution.

5. In life, most are predestined. You cannot alter the order of things scheduled by God.

6. Novelty is more of feelings and imaginations rather than uniqueness of its own kind.

7. Dreams are sources of novelty. What happened yesterday night never happens again.

8. Superficial blokes run after novelty but not thinkers, idealists and philanthropists.

LIFE

1. Life looks like an opportunity when we are happy and an imposed hell when unhappy.

2. Even one second in our life is not in our control but we feel that our life is in our control.

3. Those that struggle and suffer more in life can lead it more carefully than others.

4. Life is a blessing of God. We have to play a role assigned by Him. We cannot modify it.

5. Life is filled with mysteries and wonders. To feel them all, you must live longer.

6. Expecting a long life is avoidable ambition. Terminating it in the middle is a felony.

7. Desire what you deserve. God gives you what you deserve, not what you ask Him for.

8. Life is not a hell or heaven. It’s like a classic painting with different colours and meanings.

RELIGION

1. Religion is a guide showing what is good or bad. What you take from it is up to you.

2. A religion does not become great if many are there. How many became great through it?

3. Humanity is greater than all religions because God intends to see us with that vital quality.

4. Religion that influences our standards and values is greater than that changes our appearance.

5. All religions accept that God is one but often they clash with those of other faiths.

6. Now, for majority humans, religion is a formality and fashion, not a truly guiding force.

7. God doesn’t like religious blokes but who are spiritual. It’s a rigorous process to reach Him.

8. God blesses generous and hard-working atheists more than selfish and shallow priests. 

LOVE

1. A feeling and relationship desired and practised by millions of people across the world.

2. Most of creative works portray this concept and feeling in some manner.

3. Youth are so obsessed with this notion that they are feeling tragic if none is in love with them.

4. Many take it as a relationship triggered by physical attraction but not psychic refinement.

5. A powerful basic instinct compelling many to do unbelievable acts of happiness or sacrifice. 

6. Many satisfy themselves seeing it in others and other works if not in their personal lives.

7. An emotion and bond which can develop between any two of any order any time anywhere.

8. Primary reason for clashes between elders of orthodoxy and modernity in many nations.

FEMALES

1. A race which is taking ages to come out of the barriers of beauty and decoration.

2. The major factor contributing to tragedy or bliss in the lives of males across the world.

3. The only race highly misunderstood and exploited by most males anywhere.

4. Creatures of highest service and affection but with the lowest recognition and appreciation.

5. The only race which did not get absolute freedom even to this date in the world.

6. Modernity made them into crazy creatures rather than thoughtful and analytical ones.

7. They are goddesses of virtues because they give birth even to their villains knowingly.

8. Waiting for hundreds of years for pure love from males beyond the idea of status and sex.

FACTS

1. Humanity lives on assumptions and beliefs, not facts endorsed by others rationally.

2. Facts that hurt and disturb us reform us more than those that amuse or educate us formally.

3. Identifying, assessing and finalizing a fact forever is more difficult than knowing about it.

4. Many ask us to speak truths but we avoid it knowing that they cannot bear them at all.

5. If a fact kills one and a lie gives one life, prefer the lie. Life is more precious than death.

6. We can live even if we don’t know facts about 99% of things in this world. God made us so.

7. Facts give us knowledge. Enquiry into the genuineness of those facts makes us shrewd.

8. Deepest research into unbelievable facts makes us mad, eccentric, obsessive and bizarre.

VALUES

1. Values are the engines of our bodies. They decide how we live and die.

2. Our values should not change time to time but they should change us towards the best.

3. Values decide the quality and durability of our relationships, not material possessions.

4. Instead of preaching or discussing a hundred values, good to follow one value at least.

5. What we do to satisfy others is formality. Then how we are feeling is our actual value.

6. Life is possible without values. It is like a machine without individuality or worth of its own.

7. One with values can be happy on deathbed also; without, one can’t be so in a palace also.

8. Values are admirable virtues to be possessed by humanity. We must inculcate them strongly.

POLITICIANS

1. It is a game of buffoons and hypocrites involving crime, immorality and shamelessness.

2. One may enter politics with noble objectives but one cannot be so after entering it.

3. The only race of idiots in the world who take the maximum credit for minimum work.

4. The direct contributors to tragedies and pain of millions of people under their rule.

5. Double standards are an essential quality to become and remain as a politician.

6. The only job in India, which any scoundrel or loafer can get without qualifications.

7. They spend public money for their happiness but look down upon them always.

8. The worst race in the world, which cannot be compared to any species on this earth.

HUMAN BODY

1. The biggest wonder in the world which very few realize, acknowledge and celebrate.

2. A vulnerable frame with a multitude of thoughts, dreams and functions.

3. Bewitching in youth and bewildering while in old age, it’s like a candle burning.

4. Fire of basic instincts compelling us to commit many blunders knowingly.

5. An evil weapon for a materialist and a sublime guide to God for a spiritualist.

6. A tool with nine stinking holes, making fools adorn it with shawls and jewels.

7. The wisest of all creatures on earth, yet doing worst things against all always.

8. Discards what is available and runs after what is not accessible and possible.

EMPATHY

Empathy is one’s ability, faculty, willingness, sensibility, sensitivity, belongingness and preparedness to feel and experience the physical and psychological status of another in pain. It is a virtue. Practising it, we can build our relationships with others strongly at individual, social and national level. It is an attitude encouraging us to think and act towards mutual cooperation and coordination. Those that lack empathy fail as human beings. The primary reason for divorces in families, clashes between colleagues, enmity between friends, rivalry between states is lack of empathy between them. When we think that we belong to a universal family and we must avoid narrow-minded outlook while living and enjoying our lives, we feel empathetic towards all.

1. When a baby is crying, how do we respond? If it is not our baby, we ignore its cry. If it is our baby, we rush to it or expect that others should take care of it at once. When we move from the notions of I, My and Mine to We, Our and Ours, we are empathetic, humane and ideal.

2. When a natural calamity occurs or a disaster takes place somewhere in this world, we may not be able to go there or help them in any manner due to our poverty or other kinds of helplessness. Still there is scope to feel that pain internally and shed a few tears for them. It is empathy.

3. When a beggar seeks alms from us, we can’t ascertain whether he/she is really poor and helpless or not. It may be a profession to him/her. We offer them something readily. Empathy accepts a given situation as genuine without going for critical analysis or criticism of the other.

4. We cry often while reading a book of tragedy or a feature film of that order, clearly knowing that it is all fictitious. We are virtually feeling the pain of the characters in those creative works. Some don’t cry even if somebody is dying before them. Crying for others makes us sensitive.

5. There are stars of voluntary service in almost every part of the world. One Kailash Satyardhi is offering benevolent service to impoverished and helpless children in India. He looks like God to those children. He is an embodiment of empathy. Empathy means sharing the pain of others.

6. In the traditional Indian Hindu family system, a home-maker is predominantly a woman. She is supposed to sacrifice many comforts in her life for the sake of her family. Now this trend has changed. Husbands are helping them in chores. Empathy is the guiding force behind this change.

7. Many men look down upon widows in India. They cannot accept that she may not be the primary cause for that state of life. On the other hand, there are some gentlemen who wish to marry widows only. Those with empathy do things differently to console and save others readily.

8. In India, even after so much of scientific advancements and cultural changes, men do not wish to go for vasectomy. They believe that their wives should get tubectomy done. Some men are going for vasectomy now. They are getting ready to stop a crime against innocent women.

9. Writers and creative personalities of that order are pioneers of empathy in all ages. They feel your pain and suffering intensely while carving out different characters and creating scenes in their books, dramas and films. They make us experience pain of others through their works.

10. Social reformers, scientists, philanthropists, parents, relatives, friends, well-wishers and idealists too belong to the race of empathy across the world. We owe a lot to all those that think and act for us out of kindness. Without empathy, humanity cannot march forward in any age.

11. If we observe the culture and lifestyles of some austere practitioners of Jainism in parts of India, we realize that they don’t harm even ants. Every creature, created by God, is highly precious. We should not harm them at all. Religious practices without empathy are avoidable.

12. Most of the politicians in India regularly talk about many virtues but they don’t follow them. Teaching is easy. Practising is difficult. Those that teach much cannot change others. Those that practice rigorously can influence us tremendously. We must change first to change others.

13. Countries like Somalia are in abject poverty. On the other hand, we are misusing millions of dollars every day for smoking, drinking, sensual joys, luxuries, fashions and games. When the heads of rich countries lack empathy, some countries remain broken and tragic forever.

14. When we see somebody in pain on road or elsewhere, we think that somebody else is there to take care of them, not we. When we are in pain, even others feel the same. When we lack empathy, others appear us as outsiders. If we have it, all look like those waiting for our kindness.

15. How we bring up our children and train our citizens in our nation, largely influences our familial or national standards and values. Those born in some families have much empathy for all. Citizens of some countries offer selfless service to many. We must cultivate empathy.

16. Some farmers are growing tobacco, not minding that those consuming it ultimately may die of cancer. Many entrepreneurs are making harmful products to earn huge profits fast. When farmers and businessmen have no empathy for humanity, all suffer directly or indirectly.

17. We suffer much even if a thorn pierces through our sole while walking. We are cutting the heads and parts of bodies of millions of animals and birds regularly across places. Lack of empathy in humanity leads to non-violence of various kinds. Victims suffer a lot every second.

18. Christians, Muslims and Hindus are struggling to grow their cults through many campaigns. If your religion is good, I join on my own. If you compel me to join you by force, there is no substance in it. Religions without empathy are worse than slaughterhouses and brothels.

19. You have rights. I too have rights. If you enjoy your rights, without minding mine, you are a criminal. The ratio of criminals and sinners is increasing tremendously across the world now because they have no empathy but cruelty. Don’t grab anything. Ask for it. If not given, forget it.

Insights

1. Empathy is a kind feeling. All of us have feelings and emotions. It is enough if we practise kindness in most of the feelings and emotions we express daily towards others. We can do it.

2. We should reform our language to be empathetic towards others. Use words like please, thank you and sorry as often as needed. We can console others a lot just through our kind words.

3. Empathy means offering without questions and doubts, to benefit the other. Talk and take a little but do and give more. Don’t crave publicity. God is watching everything. He likes you.

4. God did not create anything or anybody without a purpose in this world. Insulting and harming somebody or something created by Him, you are attracting His wrath. He punishes you soon.

5. You may not be in a position to help and guide others much. At least identify and appreciate those who are serving others generously. Thus you are creating and promoting a great culture.

6. We need not be body builders or millionaires to change this world much. Save an ant from a pond. Give a biscuit pack or banana to a poor girl. With what feeling you are giving is important.

7. Those that have no self-control and self-criticism cannot help others much. Prioritize things. Plan everything perfectly. You will have a lot of time and resources to help others generously. 

8. You cannot find any creature in this world without defects and drawbacks of some sort. When you accept them, you can serve anybody. When you start criticizing, your growth is at stake.

9. You fail and suffer continuously if you lack empathy. When you have it, you can feel success in your failures also and happiness in your pain also. Empathy means sacrifice and service.

10. Empowerment is greater than altruism. Through dreams, you remain a utopian. Through imparting knowledge and skills through your efforts, you are making them self-reliant stars.

11. Question others more to make them creative and updated but not to decide whether you should help them or not when they are in pain. Even bad people bless us when we serve them.

12. God is the supreme and largest embodiment of empathy. He serves, saves and guides us without expecting gratitude from us. We can become gods, practising His qualities daily.

13. Looking for help from all is helplessness. Being equipped and prepared to help anybody any time is strength. Improve your strengths. Keep offering more. You are a star for God.

14. Your thoughts and acts of service should not be so ideal that you die on the way. God suffers much if you do so. You must be strong and live longer to help many innocent creatures of God.

15. Empathy demands inclusive culture. Think how you can accept others but not why you cannot accept them. If you start rejecting others, you cannot accept yourself also one day.