The Wise Believe They Are Immortal

Cambridge English Dictionary defines "NEET" as "Not in Education, Employment or Training" and denotes a youth who has completed his education, but is not engaged in any activity or is unemployed. It appears this was the usage by the UK government in the 1980s. But in India, NEET means "National Eligibility cum Entrance Test" that is held for deciding the eligibility for admission to the undergraduate classes like MBBS, BDS and allied courses. It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on All-India basis. Students desiring admission to these courses make all out efforts to perform well in this examination and secure a seat for admission to the courses. There are complaints about conduct of the examinations from time to time, like improper way of conducting the examinations and leakage of question papers. Nevertheless, all desiring students seeking admission to these courses look forward eagerly for the examination and its results. 

The examination was conducted two days ago, on Sunday, 4th May, 2025 in various centres across the country.  As is customary on such examination days, some eager parents also accompany their wards to the examination centres, anxious about locating the right room for writing the examination, encouraging them to well and so on. Some even wait outside the examination centre till conclusion of the examination and enquire about the performance of the candidates. This is indeed the culmination of months of efforts be the candidates, tutors and family members. 

Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh was one of the centres for conduct of the examination on Sunday. Among the many candidates and others waiting at the examination centre was one 72-year old Pothula Venkatalakshmi as well. As the parents and guardians wished the candidates well urging them to perform well, all the candidates moved towards the rooms assigned for them to write the examination. Pothula Venkatalakshmi also moved along with the candidates. One of the officials tasked with the conduct of the examination gently told her that parents are not allowed to enter the rooms. She produced her admission card and informed that she was also one of the candidates writing the examination. Dressed in a modest salwar kameez (photograph given above) she confidently took her seat and went on with writing the examination. 

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It appears the NEET lifted the age limit for writing the examination in 2022. Thus being able to write the examination, Venktalakshmi availed the opportunity. Reports say that she earned admiration form everyone around the centre and later from all over the country, She underlined the fact that determination and pursuit of dreams does not come with any expiry date!

One of the seven great Rishis, the Saptarshis, Sage Bharadwaja is a shining example of continuous learning, for the entire life span, getting extensions in life span and even then continuing to learn for ever. Please click here to read about his unquenchable desire for learning. 

We know of innumerable instances where people believe that the learning process concludes once a final degree (in their opinion) is obtained and working life starts. We also have some examples around us where many persons who were deprived of opportunities to get proper education in their younger days doubling up in later years in life and earning tremendous recognition for their efforts as well making valuable contributions to the society. 

Venkatalakshmi has chosen to write an entrance examination for a probable 4-year course. The pursuit of the goal requires tremendous physical energy as well as other resources. The desire to achieve the goal is paramount as we can recognise this from her endeavours.

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There is a Subhashita in "Samoyochita Padyamalika" that symbolises the spirit shown by Pothula Venkatalakshmi. It is as under:

अजरामरवत् प्राज्ञः विद्यां अर्थञ्च साधयेत् 

गृहीत इव केशेषु मृत्युना धर्ममाचरेत्  

Ajaraamaravat pragnyaha vidyaam arthancha saadhayet 

Gruheeta iva kesheshu murutyunaa dharmamacahatet 

A wise man should consider himself immortal 

(free from ageing and death) 

while putting efforts for learning and earning (resources like money etc,).

At the same time, while doing good deeds (practicing dharma), 

he should do them quickly 

as if death is dragging him by grabbing his hair!

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This beautiful saying summarises how we should shape our attitude towards life. There is no end to learning and earning. It should be pursued till the last breath. Otherwise, we cannot achieve these goals. On the other side, do good as quickly as possible and don't postpone it. Life is indeed uncertain. 

Pothula Venkatalakshmi just did not explain this to us. She has showed it to us by her own efforts! 

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This is my 450th blog post. I am beholden to all readers, friends and well-wishers who have motivated me all along, by their kind words of encouragement.

Man and the Beast

The word "Beast" has different meanings.  Dictionary defines a beast as "any large nonhuman animal, especially a large, four-footed mammal.  It also defines a beast as "a live creature, as distinguished from a plant".  Another accepted meaning of "Beast" is "the crude animal nature common to humans and lower animals".   So, beastly nature is common to humans and animals.  Recent happenings in Delhi and the sad death of a young girl is a startling example of beastly men.  Animals kill other animals mostly for food.  But man does not need any real reason or rationale to kill other animals.  Of course, he has innumerable reasons to kill other human beings.  We often hear someone say - "Do not behave like a beast, behave like a man".  What distinguishes a man from a a beast?  When does a two legged animal called man become a "Human being"?  These questions crop up from time to time.  Are there any clear answers to these questions?  These questions have clear cut answers in ancient Indian wisdom and literature.  It is indeed important to know these answers at present times, especially when one reads in the media regularly about the beastly acts of so called humans.

There are certain qualities that distinguish "Man, the animal" and "Man, the human being".  Bhartruhari, the original triple centurion on account of his three Shatakas, brings out this difference beautifully in a small sloka in his Neetishataka:

साहित्य संगीत कला विहीनः साक्षात् पशुः  प्रुच्हविषाणहीनः |
तृणं न खादन्नपि जीवमानः तद्भागधेयम्  परमं पशूनाम् ||

Saahitya sangeeta kalaa viheenaha saakshaat pashuhu pruchha vishaana heenaha
Trunam na khaadannai jeevamaanaha tad bhaagadeyam param pashoonam!

A man who does not have any interest in Literature, Music and Fine Arts is an animal personified.  But there are two noticeable differences.  First difference is in appearance.  Man does not have a tail or horns that animals usually have.  Second and more important difference is that man does not eat grass like animals do.  "The Creator" has made this vital difference probably keeping the welfare of animals in view.  If man was habituated to eat grass also, he would consume the entire grass available on earth and force grass-eating animals to die of hunger.  Thanks to the Creator's wisdom or discretion,  whatever you may call it, animals are at least left with grass to fill their stomachs.  But man is more intelligent than the Creator, make no mistake about understanding that.  What if the Lord has not given him an instinct to eat grass?  Man can eat grass-eating animals themselves.  There are experiments being made to manufacture fuel (ethanol) from grass and already certain type of grass is consumed by man to fuel his cars.  The day is not far off when the Creator's designs are defeated by this wonderfully intelligent animal called man and the animals may have to live just on air.  Again, air that is abundantly polluted by man!

Let us get back to the main qualities that differentiate a man from a pashu, an animal- the ones of interest in Literature, Music and Fine Arts.  These disciplines are expected to refine a man and dispel the baser instincts in him.  Fill him with compassion and humility instead.  "Aatmavat Sarva bhooteshu", meaning seeing his own reflection in every living being.  Music, literature and fine arts provide him scope to think of other things that make life more interesting and worth living.  Children are taught to learn and participate in these events since a tender age.  Parents take great pains in providing them opportunities to inculcate these values.  Every child that learns music does not become a M S Subbulakshmi or Balamurli Krishna.  Similarly with writers and artistes.  They may not themselves reach the pinnacle;  but they can appreciate a master in their field better.  They may take out some time from the routine life to sit in a concert, read a good book or move around in an exhibition or museum.  These things make appreciation of finer things in life much better and civilise a man.

A question may arise then.  What about the kind of literature or art that achieve the opposite effect; that of provoking man to even more beastly behavior?  Let us not insult arts and literature by including such things in their purview. Literature, Music and Fine Arts are words earmarked for those instruments that refine a man; and transform him from a beast to a real man.