Shyam Saksena
Electrical and electronics engineer.
Retired as Director of German MNC, Siemens. Thanks to assignments from my company, I could savor 25 countries and get to know their people and culture.
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Retired as Director of German MNC, Siemens. Thanks to assignments from my company, I could savor 25 countries and get to know their people and culture.
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- Contributor since
- 1/17/2008
Education/Experience
Bachelor of Engineering, BITS, Pilani, IndiaMotto
"Use your talents to the best. The woods would be very silent, if only the best birds sang."
Displaying Results 1 - 66 (of 66) for All Content
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Bhutan, The Last Outpost !If there is any land which is anywhere close to the Shangri La of the James Hilton novel/movie 'Lost Horizons', it is Bhutan. -
Bhutan - Part 1Those who have read or seen James Hilton's 'Lost Horizon' would recall Shangri-La, the Himalayan land where everyone was happy and never grew old. I am glad I went to Bhutan when it was not so open to the world, for I have seen my Shangri-La ! -
Women - Born to Toil30 years ago, when I first went to Ahmedabad, I was shocked to see young girls and women pulling carts, while menfolk were riding atop. Small mercies - now wooden wheels are replaced by inflated tyres. Men riding atop are also rare. -
Birth of a GoddessDuring Monsoon, on the banks of the river Ganga near Calcutta, potters fashion Goddess Durga , out of clay as an act of devotion. Shipped all over the world, the goddess is worshipped for 8 days and then immersed in a river or a pond , in a tearful farewell! -
Wither America?Even those in the public who are inclined towards the Democratic Party, should fight for Ron's stake to be honestly put before the country, before it is too late. This matter cuts across party lines.
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Wither Democracy!We once again need the likes of Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela. Perhaps, this collective will has been exercised by Obama winning the nomination. If he is elected he may turn the tide against the arrogance of the ruler and the apathy of the ruled.
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Grandparents' DelightWe are so happy that our grandchildren at Noelani School are being given, an exposure by way of trips and projects (even Robotics!), a privilege we never had. -
Patient's ProgressIn matters of health and perception of one's well being, each society has found its own solutions, which may not work for others, but do work for them. -
In the Wonderland of Euphemisms !Dictionaries define 'euphemism', as replacing an offensive word with a more socially acceptable word. I often wonder why we have to play this charade. Does this change the reality of the situation at all? -
Mind Over Matter - Part 4Hippocratic Oath: "I will remember that I do not treat a fever chart, a cancerous growth, but a sick human being, whose illness may affect the person's family and economic stability". -
Where Love Has GoneThe whole world of love, infatuation, marriage, relationships and so on is very vexed. All that we can say is, 'That life is a big mystery wrapped in an enigma! -
Mind Over Matter - Part 3A lot of diseases are not purely biochemical in nature or the results of infections, but had their origins in the mind. Also, the mind steered the course of diseases towards healing or deterioration.
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Exploring Photoshop - Part 1For beginners with artistic aspirations, Photoshop is a great enabler. It helps you to send your photographs on flights of fancy. -
Mind Over Matter - Part 2A cheerful and a positive mind is a very strong force, which determines the extent of healing. A good healer of today would tend to treat the Body, Mind and Spirit as one holistic entity, rather than treating them in different watertight compartments.
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MIND Over MATTERBeginning as a skeptic, now I a firm believer in the power of faith, religion, meditation, any belief system, a great sense of humor, a zest for living or a great purpose in life. Faith can move mountains! -
Himalayan VignettesHiking alone in the Himalayas is a mystic experience. On the one hand you have the majestic Mount Everest and on the other hand you have the serene abode of Dalai Lama, who lives in exile in Himalayan India, The whole place radiates serenity. -
Himalayas, the Abode of Gods - ContdAt least, once in a life time you must come to the Himalayas, to experience the mysterious spell they can cast over us! -
Himalayas, the Abode of GodsAt least, once in a life time you must come to the Himalayas, to experience the mysterious spell they cast over us! -
Suspicion of PlagiarismLife would be so dull, without these absurd punctuations!
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For Whom the Bell Tolls !When we identify with the trials and tribulations of others, as our very own - then we can truly say, 'any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind'!
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Mystery of the Lotus: Purity Among the SlushThis article and the accompanying photograph, is a tribute: from one who always stops by near the lotus pond and stares and wonders, at this eternal symbol of Purity, untouched by all the slush around it.
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Wither Education! 'Skills' or 'Values'High Skills with Low Values, produce people like Hitler or the Enron folk. High Skills with High Values produce people like Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King or Nelson Mandela.
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To Have or to Be !In the nineteenth century the problem was that God is dead. In the twentieth century the problem is that man is dead.
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Pygmalion: The Eternal QuestMy disappointment and anger knew no bounds. Had Mr. Shaw paid any royalties to Ovid?
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Crime and ForgivenessTo forgive is to set a prisoner free and discover that the prisoner was you!
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Roots and WingsWings cannot develop without roots, just as a tree cannot flower independent of its seed, its roots
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Roots and WingsTo become one with Nature, all that one needs is one's Muse and a faithful camera - while wandering in the woods!
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Dick Cheney's Naked Lady or My Lady in a Gown!'Seek and Ye shall find it'
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Loneliness and SolitudeBetween 'Loneliness' and 'Solitude' , there is grace associated with 'solitude', though dictionaries and critics may quarrel with me on this!
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Holi Festival - India's Riot of Color (Part 1)Holi is India's boisterous answer to carnivals of the Catholic world and Mardi Gras, New Orleans.
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Holi Festival - India's Riot of Color (Part 2)Village Holi Fair - A Colorful Prelude to the Festival of Colors, near the Exotic Temple Town of Khajuraho.
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Easter,The Day AfterTo love others as you love yourself, is the surest way of being truly religious. And you cannot truly give your love freely to others, if you do not love yourself and lack self-esteem.
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Holi Festival, India's Riot of ColorUnwittingly, I had lived through drug-induced Agony and Ecstasy. Never mind the ecstasy, but the agony continues to still haunt me.
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Once Upon a VillageThe innocent charm and native beauty of this girl has been stamped for ever in my memory. Is she what the ancient heritage and spiritual traditions of India stand for?
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Forgotten People Of India UndiscoveredWhile they live a very uncertain day to day life, they are blessed with hope,which reflects in their warm smiles towards the strange urban visitor.
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It was Fascination.......!Fellow CPs and friends have encouraged me and inspired me to put up another slideshow, about one facet of Nature, - leaves, which fascinate me.
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Leaves, Fallen Leaves and Carpet of BlossomsEverything in Nature is mystifying. That sense of wonder makes life exciting. My camera is my faithful companion, to help catch some moments of my bewitchment!
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Dear EditorI have always judged a newspaper's respect for its readers, by the amount of space the paper allows its readers to express their opinion
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Fallen Leaves and Digital ArtFallen leaves and patterns on them fascinate me. Here some are straight forward shots, while in others I have digitzed them to create collages.
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Digital NatureThe PC offers laymen like me the empowerment to create. Whether others will judge this as art or kitsch, I do not know. It was a thrilling experience for me, nevertheless.
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Great Poets Come Alive to Aid Needy KidsThat the great poets of the past have been brought alive, along with the leading national icons of India, to reach out to the needy child is a great tribute to all those from the past and the present, in making this unusual book possible.
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Robert Frost: Nehru's Gift to UsUnwittingly ,in his death Nehru not only left us the legacy of a tolerant secular democracy, but left us the legacy of Robert Frost.
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Gems at Our DoorstepsThere is a rich world waiting to be discovered just at our doorsteps. Let's stir out searching for it ! And why 'pine for what is not'."
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Maharishi, a Tribute to My GuruNo man in his lifetime has done so much to make the world more open to meditation, yoga and Ayurveda, with their attendant benefits.
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Meandering Among MiraclesThis is a short random walk through my small world of miracles, where faith and reason play their tantalizing games.
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Hawaii: A Personal JournalWhen one is in such an away-from-it-all heaven, one misses one's dear ones and develops that 'wish you were here' syndrome. So I was sending e-mails, whenever possible. So, this is not a professional travelogue, but a journal of unedited e-mails I sent.
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Gandhi, Obama's Inspiration!Gandhi was not only an apostle of non-violence and peace, but could be easily a corporate guru. Let's hope that Obama really meant what he said! It would augur well for the world.
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Trees, Life's Very BreathAll ancient cultures have wisely worshipped and revered trees,. From childhood we learnt to worship trees. I feel the reverence for the trees and plants - from the holy tulsi to the giant Redwoods. We should guard our trees, the gift of life that Nature has blessed us with.
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India, the Enigma of ArrivalI have often wondered about my many splendoured country and its paradoxes and mysteries. I am filled with less of hope and more of despair. Now a chance encounter in a remote island on the other side of the globe has left me completely mystified.
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Where Rama LIvesRama of Ramayana has got entwined with folklore, history, religion, spiritual solace and culture, to weave such a powerful and beautiful living tapestry.
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Maharishi, My Giggling GuruEvery time I sit down to meditate, I will giggle to myself, as my tribute to my Giggling Guru - who demystified spirituality for the common man. He did not ask him to be an ascetic to reach that state.
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Glimpses of IndiaIndia presents a fascinating variety of cultures and colors.
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An Owlish EncounterOwls are caricatured with a graduation cap, signifying their supposed wisdom. Others regard the owl as an evil omen, belonging more to Harry Potter's world. Indians believe the owl is the avian steed of goddess of wealth. So a lottery windfall is very much in order!
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Confessions of a Newspaper ReaderThere is a sadistic streak in me, which makes me hunt out all news items and scoops on scams, about the way our cities are being destroyed by our municipality, hand in glove, with 'reputed' builders, politicians and the bureaucracy.
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Radio, the Magic Box of My Days !Today, TV the Idiot Box is omnipresent even in our slums. But it is difficult to imagine, what excitement was caused by the arrival of the very first radio in our locality, way back in 1939.
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Osho - the Last EncounterThe world may remember him as Osho, the 'enlightened', but for everyone in our family he was affectionately known as just Rajneesh. He was my father's favorite student . He was also my pal.
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Who Wants Good News?Democratization and dumbing down of media have been criticized for the inevitable lack of depth. While we laud the democratization, we have to guard against wasting our resources on superficiality, trivia and the profane.
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Brown Saheb's SchooldaysRecently India celebrated 60 years of Independence. Perhaps our youngsters of today do not realize, what it means to be free. I recall my school days under the British Raj with a mix of humiliation and nostalgia. This is a page from my journal about my school days :
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How World War II Gripped Our FamilyOur entire neighborhood shared the placid, small-town routine. Then, suddenly, the gradual rumblings of war clouds in distant Europe added a certain animation to the small talk of my elders. The distant war spread its long arm and gripped our family.
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Nano: Cheapest Car Marks Quantum Leap in the Engineering WorldRatan Tata has produced a world-class people's car, not only for India but for the entire world. This car reflects so much of lateral thinking in every aspect of its concept, design and materials used, that worldwide manufacturing will never be the same again.
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Indian BridesIndian brides reflect innocence, coyness and the beauty of their rich ethnic background.
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Lights Off in Mumbai: Learning to Live With LessIt may appear as a wooly headed pipe dream, but one day mankind will have to come to terms, by force of circumstances, to live sparingly and heed the Gandhian dictum: "There is enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed."
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How an Encyclopedia Had Me Facing Sedition Charges in IndiaHow would you feel if one day you received a notification from the government of India asking you why you should not be charged for sedition. This is exactly what happened to me in an odyssey, which started in 1968.
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How a Hindi Film Song Thawed the Cold War in East BerlinAt the height of the cold war, we three young Indians treaded cautiously, in East Berlin. We were being shadowed and always feared the worst. Suddenly, the Russian fondness for Hindi film songs saved our day.
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Shakespeare on the Campus: Remembering My Theater GroupI wonder how the real Mark Antony would have reacted if the real Caesar would have jumped up from the dead. Would he have continued with history's most famous speech?
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Religion on TrialAll religions seem to suffer at the hands of their votaries, rather than from atheists and agnostics!