tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11698810900416114062024-03-13T05:38:27.813+05:30Jagat Singh BishtThis blog is about the life and times of Jagat Singh Bisht and his friends. Mostly based on facts but fiction cannot be ruled out as memory and judgement may fail at times. I invite anyone who has known me even remotely to contribute and enrich the contents of this blog.CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-3607020395351887632020-06-27T10:37:00.000+05:302020-06-27T10:37:09.040+05:30Jagat Singh Bisht: Brief Story<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am sharing my story in brief and shall be happy if you share yours too!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;">I went to St. Gabriel’s School, Ranjhi, Jabalpur and did my master’s in chemistry from the University of Jabalpur. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joined the state bank of india as a probationary officer and retired as an assistant general manager. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Settled down in Indore. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I, along with my wife, practice and teach happiness drawing upon yoga, meditation, laughter yoga, spirituality, and positive psychology – the science of happiness. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Our son and daughter in law are based in Auckland.</span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1c1e21;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#JagatSinghBisht #yoga #laughteryoga #meditation #spirituality #positivepsychology</span></span></div>
CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-64167794471079156352018-11-28T07:23:00.001+05:302018-11-28T07:23:13.555+05:30Everything You Wanted To Know About LifeSkills<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vcFabVTru4I" width="480"></iframe>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-78921622819189301132017-06-28T10:48:00.002+05:302017-06-28T10:48:26.842+05:30East Meets West: Retreat in Rishikesh (India): October 1 - 7, 2017<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz20TiOgKLdzbCvCtP0TaFkclMcU66dCrjGCu4Xrc57aI1BtivzaC9YHSFQY72JdjCE4gISosd2BTSa7644h1Tq_bxrJuCV0rvNqyMYyQ8ApPZ1bo6fgg2y31Bp4xoD8ikPI8645ne934/s1600/East+Meets+West+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz20TiOgKLdzbCvCtP0TaFkclMcU66dCrjGCu4Xrc57aI1BtivzaC9YHSFQY72JdjCE4gISosd2BTSa7644h1Tq_bxrJuCV0rvNqyMYyQ8ApPZ1bo6fgg2y31Bp4xoD8ikPI8645ne934/s640/East+Meets+West+II.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Yoga means to join or unite with a higher power or spiritual force. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Join us at </span><a class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/page.php?id=108688589155948&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rishikesh/108688589155948?fref=mentions" style="color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">Rishikesh</a><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"> for a Comprehensive Retreat on Yoga, Meditation, Laughter Yoga, Spirituality & The Science of Happiness. Be there! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<br style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">To get in touch, you can call us on: 7389938255 or write to us at lifeskills.happiness@gmail.com.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Jagat Singh Bisht</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13.2px;">
<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Founder: LifeSkills</span></div>
</div>
CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-60400707363025090112016-08-05T16:51:00.002+05:302016-08-05T16:51:22.598+05:30Jagat Singh Bisht, Happiness Coach & Laughter Yoga Master Trainer<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNem2CtU0LtTjujzfLQTJw_HKVqhRtDV-16OvGsQL5_Gpw0g6NAGRNWPjqCdGKKWtq87ueJG2EHUKNAejXny-CdGtdkp5e6UN7wMeUTkuoSV4R1j1KYGzz-YSon-AsIs7W4A94OayMqo/s1600/Logo+High+Res..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNem2CtU0LtTjujzfLQTJw_HKVqhRtDV-16OvGsQL5_Gpw0g6NAGRNWPjqCdGKKWtq87ueJG2EHUKNAejXny-CdGtdkp5e6UN7wMeUTkuoSV4R1j1KYGzz-YSon-AsIs7W4A94OayMqo/s320/Logo+High+Res..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQokgNGrg7x3RTqcJrKG1LxtBL1bytIX-4Jcv-3N072BMPoiUG_q_k7KC540T2vpi94mGmkFxs5rC-tgbCQxI5h4z3A4T3J-ueTlPUSmj0RXfaxidWZkjDpaSghZxZjBerHr_i7BZsIQ/s1600/Portfolio+Jagat+Sir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQokgNGrg7x3RTqcJrKG1LxtBL1bytIX-4Jcv-3N072BMPoiUG_q_k7KC540T2vpi94mGmkFxs5rC-tgbCQxI5h4z3A4T3J-ueTlPUSmj0RXfaxidWZkjDpaSghZxZjBerHr_i7BZsIQ/s640/Portfolio+Jagat+Sir.jpg" width="451" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-19089523243657113612012-03-08T17:59:00.001+05:302012-03-08T17:59:17.139+05:30Laughter from Tashkent<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/pvlJc62jW38?fs=1" width="480"></iframe>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-83130072248676508992011-11-10T13:14:00.000+05:302011-11-10T13:14:32.482+05:30Laughter Yoga in the State Bank of India<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaOzZk9K0zb2CcQPymnfDBXcdxDNvXW20VOvilR4GEflNEWQxH4ed4gVf-sMfbkNWyypLKUWfoBDcUvYDC0W6QngWdZAzWB8xjSgYuiFLr8UVSOAFvqdtsFf2U-O7qP5mkVyrAthwxlI/s1600/g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcaOzZk9K0zb2CcQPymnfDBXcdxDNvXW20VOvilR4GEflNEWQxH4ed4gVf-sMfbkNWyypLKUWfoBDcUvYDC0W6QngWdZAzWB8xjSgYuiFLr8UVSOAFvqdtsFf2U-O7qP5mkVyrAthwxlI/s320/g.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ibd56Xk8afLDig87JqefOWafDRItSTrpQ16gWuM4bChLuuXTVmCGC1mba636l3c9620NVmURH4eljG4gdjxTPGXHgksC-IXRN326NUXkFHc7b8PH2gB7vnn-qxrqJk5tS-OC2xKtt_4/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Ibd56Xk8afLDig87JqefOWafDRItSTrpQ16gWuM4bChLuuXTVmCGC1mba636l3c9620NVmURH4eljG4gdjxTPGXHgksC-IXRN326NUXkFHc7b8PH2gB7vnn-qxrqJk5tS-OC2xKtt_4/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbMqNefXdX9I12t4KlnfOhON7Zd6vvZG_NaBkqDAgIxnkMfS5NyJggrV3jfan5UPC9TdFrvjfyphdVjoRgfuhyHfrvVTFTdj4auWXhUVNrRPyREnHyq0x5a10nTLpTAaPUxE75AtawE/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3nbMqNefXdX9I12t4KlnfOhON7Zd6vvZG_NaBkqDAgIxnkMfS5NyJggrV3jfan5UPC9TdFrvjfyphdVjoRgfuhyHfrvVTFTdj4auWXhUVNrRPyREnHyq0x5a10nTLpTAaPUxE75AtawE/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBxxJKIxcsalrI96BYk20369sVOMauqbVVRC0jSmHUufrfYGChcZCJO98hkLRNmne0J9JEsnR_nA3pV2Nk4XQ_Md2HjhiKbeEvxTyrsMfB2bzAkpqiy1pPlOOdNAmocWNwNs_gD6s7FM/s1600/c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTBxxJKIxcsalrI96BYk20369sVOMauqbVVRC0jSmHUufrfYGChcZCJO98hkLRNmne0J9JEsnR_nA3pV2Nk4XQ_Md2HjhiKbeEvxTyrsMfB2bzAkpqiy1pPlOOdNAmocWNwNs_gD6s7FM/s320/c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLGc5g4PFVmUruv1FA30YltwcCYa5SG3mtKTSEpmkQsxDnuoGV8tDG__ESgzVFhylaql_L31ba4ABZPOH8AaJgp5mGohvzRVPm6272bk-Qhbm5mstvjeyBkRaGGuANyDoBzfxsUr-cT4/s1600/d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLGc5g4PFVmUruv1FA30YltwcCYa5SG3mtKTSEpmkQsxDnuoGV8tDG__ESgzVFhylaql_L31ba4ABZPOH8AaJgp5mGohvzRVPm6272bk-Qhbm5mstvjeyBkRaGGuANyDoBzfxsUr-cT4/s320/d.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2brrTMN06KQ9vf2tbsb2tHjiEOzVz1ThAqvBudoIRC-_TUAg00g0hAIwhPUBeQWhziwgNbZ0-SQacdyYkkVLZOtZ_PMUiBPja9xNXzVq8gBZ6IFIxMjtvhZ9TVopqp1YkT93xiS3WZg/s1600/e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP2brrTMN06KQ9vf2tbsb2tHjiEOzVz1ThAqvBudoIRC-_TUAg00g0hAIwhPUBeQWhziwgNbZ0-SQacdyYkkVLZOtZ_PMUiBPja9xNXzVq8gBZ6IFIxMjtvhZ9TVopqp1YkT93xiS3WZg/s320/e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRWEkGKl9odg62yolZldnrnM1zkZJeC2eiPiCNeLqZsf73OboqYgsLM-Ha0uaikoDfaGoON1JuaL729QRLov1IkxIx5EFgYCFNhZI0pHz9Xn7JnF_jfhvbxTQAXjKZ8uM_N0tO75sDXo/s1600/f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvRWEkGKl9odg62yolZldnrnM1zkZJeC2eiPiCNeLqZsf73OboqYgsLM-Ha0uaikoDfaGoON1JuaL729QRLov1IkxIx5EFgYCFNhZI0pHz9Xn7JnF_jfhvbxTQAXjKZ8uM_N0tO75sDXo/s320/f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I have had the privilege of introducing Laughter Yoga in the State Bank of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> and laughing with thousands of my colleagues during the last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I have recently completed thirty-two years of my service in the State Bank of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region>. It has given me bread, butter and a respectable place in the society. Now, it is time that I give back something to this great institution. I am sure my humble contribution will bring cheer to some of the souls here. I would like to be remembered as a messenger of love and laughter when I retire from the Bank.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">We started the journey of laughter on the 13<sup>th</sup> of September, 2010 when we inaugurated the Laughter Club of State Bank Learning Centre, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city> with a bunch of newly promoted officers. Whoever came to the learning centre after that has had a brush with laughter yoga. We laughed every morning with a small group of willing laughers from all the groups who poured in week after week. A shining feather in our cap was training thirteen young trainee officers as laughter yoga leaders who eventually earned internationally recognized certification while they were at the campus. How can one ever forget the fun evening filled with gibberish nonsense, laughter exercises, singing-dancing-play-laughter and games arranged by newly recruited assistants!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I got opportunity twice to make presentations at the grand auditorium of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Bank</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Academy</st1:placetype></st1:place>, Gurgaon before officers from all over the country. I am really grateful to the General Manager and Principal who participated in the laughter sessions with total childlike playfulness on both the occasions which has engraved a deep respect for him deep in my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">It seems that the Almighty has been showering copious blessings from the top. I also showcased laughter yoga at the <st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placename w:st="on">Bank</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Staff</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">College</st1:placetype> and State Bank Institute of Information and Communication Management located in <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Hyderabad</st1:place></st1:city>. I conducted a laughter yoga session for bank guards, assistants, probationary officers and faculty at the State Bank Learning Centre, <st1:place w:st="on">Goa</st1:place>. It was a unique experience as all of them laughed from their being level making it absolutely difficult to distinguish differences in their grades as they laughed like kids.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">Last week, we have started Chetana Laughter Club at our new State Bank Foundation Institute (Chetana), <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city> set up to groom fresh officers of the Bank. Henceforth every new officer of the Bank will have a tryst with laughter yoga at the beginning of her career and ‘Very Good Very Good Yay’ as her mantra.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">The laughter virus has meanwhile spread to other centres – <st1:city w:st="on">Kanpur</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Lucknow</st1:city>, <st1:place w:st="on">Goa</st1:place>, Nagda, Nagapattinam etc. – through some well meaning trainers and officers. It is indeed good to hear that those who laughed with us for a while, have gone back and started propagating laughter it in their own way. What more can one desire!<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I have put up the concept of laughter yoga briefly before the Chief General Manager and Head of the Strategic Training Unit and he seemed to like it. The former CGM and Head was all for it and mentioned it to the Deputy Managing Director and Corporate Development Officer when she visited <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city> to inaugurate State Bank Foundation Institute. She already knew a lot about the benefits of laughter yoga and appreciated the endeavour of using it in human resources trainings.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">I am also grateful to the Director of my Institute for permitting me to use laughter yoga as ice-breaker, energizer and wellness routine during the training programmes.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">My mission is to touch the lives of all the two hundred and twenty-two thousand employees of the State Bank of <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> with Laughter Yoga for their health, happiness and well-being.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">(Before I close, I would like to share that my wife Radhika has been with me all along in this mission.)<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US">- Jagat Singh Bisht<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-88495385475641107892011-05-09T15:50:00.000+05:302011-05-09T15:50:56.961+05:30Laughter Yoga is a Divine Life Skill<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UNkqZn2sohX00-VgxFQg8iztL930r07veiHZPTPW7fXy3L2Y1lkYooxeD-e-bBOKzI5ThQgtXS47FONMFrsxkasibauzsRRC9L5roCgjC092Q8EzdHxbYb7-AvZH1QfT7C3fKYJl4MQ/s1600/life_skill_1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5UNkqZn2sohX00-VgxFQg8iztL930r07veiHZPTPW7fXy3L2Y1lkYooxeD-e-bBOKzI5ThQgtXS47FONMFrsxkasibauzsRRC9L5roCgjC092Q8EzdHxbYb7-AvZH1QfT7C3fKYJl4MQ/s320/life_skill_1.JPG" width="320" /></a></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The compliment that I cherish most came from Anurag, my 24-year old son. He loves adventure sports and takes care of fire and safety hazards at Nestle. I was visiting Gurgaon, the town where he works, and was suddenly asked to do a presentation on Laughter Yoga. When I told him about it, he remarked, “Papa, this is a unique life skill you have acquired. You can do it anytime, anywhere, for anyone. Now, you have the heavenly gift of giving joy to other beings. That is really wonderful.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This insight coming from a youngster is amazing. I had gone to attend a workshop on leadership skills at the State Bank Academy. It was an awfully cold morning – the earlier day was the coldest in the last 46 years. There were 44 participants, all senior officials of the Bank, in the workshop. When the Principal of the Academy came to address the participants, he observed, “The energy level appears to be low. I have never witnessed something like this at the beginning of any programme. What’s the reason?”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of us responded,” It is terribly cold and foggy, sir. We are not used to such a climate. Our flights landed very late in the night. It was chilling cold and windy. We have not had enough sleep. Moreover, we carry a lot of stress in our roles as such.”</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As the class didn’t appear to take-off convincingly, I requested for a 5-minute slot and assured that the class would cheer up in a while. The Principal was magnanimous enough. I asked everyone to clap and chant ‘hoho-hahaha’ and ‘very good very good yay’ and followed it up with a few laughter exercises. The atmosphere brightened instantly and there was warmth all around.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Thereafter, we did some laughter exercises every morning before the start of sessions and everyone relished it. I also did a presentation on Laughter Yoga in the auditorium where several officers of the Bank, senior and junior, from all over India were present. The presentation was well received. After a few months, I went there again with my wife, Radhika, to give one more presentation before a much bigger audience.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have done sessions for school children, housewives and elders. Everyone loves it. We are regularly invited to a reputed yoga and naturopathy centre in our town for laughter therapy. The feedback from patients is very positive.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">One of the members of our laughter club told us that her parents stayed at a remote place far away and felt lonely. She learned the steps of laughter yoga from us and jotted down some exercises which would be more suitable for them. Now, she has gone to them and would be spreading some good cheer in the neighbourhood.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laughter Yoga can be done for those in the orphanages, hospitals and prisons. The educational institutions are very conducive to Laughter Yoga. It takes stress out of workplaces and makes life vibrant for those who feel lonely.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We were curiously watching sunrise with many tourists in a hill station recently. As the sun came up, everyone was thrilled and clicked their cameras vigorously. Then, after introducing ourselves as Laughter Yoga trainers to the crowd, we requested them to join us for a brief session of laughter exercises before moving back. All agreed readily. A short but sweet session followed and the joy of watching the sun rise was enhanced manifold.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Laughter Yoga is truly an invaluable life skill which we can use to bring joy to all around us anytime, anywhere. It is Divine!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">coolbisht@hotmail.com</span></div></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-18122370907826462242011-04-06T17:57:00.001+05:302011-04-06T18:45:20.116+05:30Laughter Yoga: A Return Gift of Everlasting Cheer to the Society<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s8A3UP3bIOZP_3IFZqgwgy3vH069l4b-lCJlgXDnJZw9Ad70EJ-t5WqOAkVL97Uf6SvYpiQOWuw2u53E-5ukcxFd9U4R0uFK_qQC80G5EO6MadBJVd_UcZI3egRYlw74TVsnXHrX9xw/s1600/jagat1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2s8A3UP3bIOZP_3IFZqgwgy3vH069l4b-lCJlgXDnJZw9Ad70EJ-t5WqOAkVL97Uf6SvYpiQOWuw2u53E-5ukcxFd9U4R0uFK_qQC80G5EO6MadBJVd_UcZI3egRYlw74TVsnXHrX9xw/s320/jagat1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">My journey of Laughter Yoga (LY) has been a very fulfilling and satisfying one. I feel blessed to practice LY almost daily with a large number of people and bring joy to their lives. I express my sincere gratitude to Dr Madan Kataria and Madhuri Kataria who have imparted this divine life skill by which I can touch human lives instantly, anywhere and at any time.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I have been closely studying Positive Psychology and Authentic Happiness for a long time and believe that doing something worthwhile and meaningful for your fellow beings and intimate social interactions with those around you alone brings true happiness. LY is the best tool to achieve this. We can have warm relationships with people and also bring unlimited joy in their lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I always wanted to give back something to the great institution where I have been working for more than thirty-one years. I also wished I could inculcate positive values in school children and bring smiles on the faces of the sick and old people. The society has given me so much and I wanted to give a return gift of everlasting cheer to its people. LY has equipped and enabled me to do that on a continuous basis, each and every day of my life.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I was a shy kid and a studious student. I always wanted to sing, dance, play and laugh freely in groups. Now, I can do that and also make others experience joy by doing that. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We have formed a social group <b><i>Laughter Yoga @ Indore</i></b> comprising of LY lovers and professionals in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Our mission is to propagate LY in and around our town for health, wellness, joy and peace. We wish to take it to the schools, colleges, workplaces, communities, hospitals, clubs, gyms, slums, old age homes, orphanages and even prisons. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">We run two regular laughter clubs here. <strong><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Suniket Laughter Club</span></i></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span>meets every Sunday morning for LY exercises at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Shrinagar</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Extension</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Public</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype>, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city>. In addition, my wife, Radhika, who is also a Certified LY Teacher, holds Ladies' Laughter Kitty every Saturday evening at the Community Hall of Suniket Apartments, Shrinagar Extension, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">Khajarana Road</st1:street>, <st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city></st1:address>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><strong><i><span style="color: #333333; font-weight: normal;">Laughter Club of State Bank Learning Centre, Indore</span></i></strong><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span>was formally launched on the 13th September 2010 at the State Bank Learning Centre, <st1:address w:st="on"><st1:street w:st="on">Manik Bagh Road</st1:street>, <st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city></st1:address>. It is a unique laughter club. Every week, new trainees come to the centre for learning. They join the club, leave by the week-end and spread laughter back at their homes. Next week, another set of new participants join, and so on..</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I first saw Dr K and Madhuri conducting a laughter session at the <st1:placename w:st="on">Lokhandwala</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype>, <st1:city w:st="on">Mumbai</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region> more than a decade ago and feel overwhelmed to conduct laughter sessions with my wife Radhika at <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city>. It has transformed our lives totally. Our joy knew no bounds when Dr K remarked recently, “You are doing a wonderful job. I am proud of Radhika and you!”</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #0b5394;">coolbisht@hotmail.com</span></i></div></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-67290608092264452322011-03-16T15:47:00.001+05:302011-03-16T15:47:53.827+05:30Laughter Yoga with Carolyn and Des<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">Carolyn Laughalot and Desmond Nicholson, Laughter Yoga Leaders from Eltham Laughter Club, <st1:city w:st="on">Melbourne</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Australia</st1:country-region> visited Suniket Laughter Club and Laughter Club of State Bank Learning Centre, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place> under the exchange programme of Laughter Yoga International Clubs. They also giggled with the school girls of <st1:placename w:st="on">Sarada</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Ramakrishna</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype>, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city></st1:place> and laughed with their teachers.<br />
<br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKM1HaydOCQSkt2vzkWrNCoG1edU3QpnWPXbaZB-m6Plcjr3U3p9JZrXNb5_n94jRautcEHxVgNMiSeqxaD7tvd4QCO3dXmHrVtzDcnpoCJAz0o8NRQqNBRSZKRw2xE8eeSzXdDVlyrw/s1600/DSC00565.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZKM1HaydOCQSkt2vzkWrNCoG1edU3QpnWPXbaZB-m6Plcjr3U3p9JZrXNb5_n94jRautcEHxVgNMiSeqxaD7tvd4QCO3dXmHrVtzDcnpoCJAz0o8NRQqNBRSZKRw2xE8eeSzXdDVlyrw/s320/DSC00565.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIosp4xSumEH2nKyC-gt-i0TmxjCPPZrkREe80sxIanRJiFeLwo0MLkFyblvT5wCKgiTtVpO0PPr-kLAGPoHRJSjWYQ2AZSYLjSLpLa84IId-XKyKKOfN6fwv5k-OywLWVUh0rmAECbk/s1600/DSC00578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIosp4xSumEH2nKyC-gt-i0TmxjCPPZrkREe80sxIanRJiFeLwo0MLkFyblvT5wCKgiTtVpO0PPr-kLAGPoHRJSjWYQ2AZSYLjSLpLa84IId-XKyKKOfN6fwv5k-OywLWVUh0rmAECbk/s320/DSC00578.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmiELtCiaR2Ejr2Im6yd054zJnh9tRTlIsB3VcIDgbXJpfAe1nH6CZWEnwPWC64hdFC46f23edReEutyGLOvn5MlmzqBpG_sV94GNQWdGioqeWIiQwUOxBMqJFMlSpp9R2r2Kp8i3uMM/s1600/DSC00599a.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPmiELtCiaR2Ejr2Im6yd054zJnh9tRTlIsB3VcIDgbXJpfAe1nH6CZWEnwPWC64hdFC46f23edReEutyGLOvn5MlmzqBpG_sV94GNQWdGioqeWIiQwUOxBMqJFMlSpp9R2r2Kp8i3uMM/s320/DSC00599a.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPTPS_7N1zXIh75Fa474A4vKPHeqnTkLuh8EuOEABqBWEDdk5OOOAjKEPe4ZsoOTtOmxEC8nBzR93bEAR6C5vI-6JLRHUzAvnBKcQml0ic-DEXCne4e3q-ZLkVywf78GE5sDtcVwThyphenhypheng/s1600/DSC00607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoPTPS_7N1zXIh75Fa474A4vKPHeqnTkLuh8EuOEABqBWEDdk5OOOAjKEPe4ZsoOTtOmxEC8nBzR93bEAR6C5vI-6JLRHUzAvnBKcQml0ic-DEXCne4e3q-ZLkVywf78GE5sDtcVwThyphenhypheng/s320/DSC00607.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWqvfD-G6CLzxM617RpvqaMKLkHDxiXGfuSy_KwIpbuvc-eWtGYUWtvuGFmPAUqDLNkKyYr2XJZmzeaxyTXRylCPhvdwievdZSGDelxqn5scOIjgmse2Hz0uBBcL0D_xhUT0yV7JzGAM/s1600/DSC00609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWqvfD-G6CLzxM617RpvqaMKLkHDxiXGfuSy_KwIpbuvc-eWtGYUWtvuGFmPAUqDLNkKyYr2XJZmzeaxyTXRylCPhvdwievdZSGDelxqn5scOIjgmse2Hz0uBBcL0D_xhUT0yV7JzGAM/s320/DSC00609.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsv2SNWjoQZphdvN_fx4X3xhjTTSuAHSUjEInAXUxqmS24lLvTMMEOuGoY5j6aTVHCzC7CqPlK4Hbj1QCgSP96D1WC43UdrH6bLPQnyQqhySILm2uD3IIcHTbp8KnFKJUPMa-scIumkc/s1600/DSC00626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCsv2SNWjoQZphdvN_fx4X3xhjTTSuAHSUjEInAXUxqmS24lLvTMMEOuGoY5j6aTVHCzC7CqPlK4Hbj1QCgSP96D1WC43UdrH6bLPQnyQqhySILm2uD3IIcHTbp8KnFKJUPMa-scIumkc/s320/DSC00626.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
It was an enriching experience for the members of these clubs in <st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city> as Carolyn and Desmond enthralled them with the Victorian flavour of Laughter Yoga, especially Kangaroo Laughter, Giggle and <st1:city w:st="on">Wriggle</st1:city>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">New Zealand</st1:country-region> <st1:place w:st="on">Rugby</st1:place> Hakka Laughter and Donkey Laughter.<br />
<br />
Carolyn and Desmond were guests of Dr Madan Kataria, the founder of Laughter Yoga, at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:city></st1:place>. They stayed with us at <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Indore</st1:city></st1:place> and we had deep discussions till late in the night on the inner spirit of laughter, new laughter exercises and the manner in which we conduct laughter sessions.<br />
<br />
While we appreciated their fusion of energy healing and dance with Laughter Yoga, they loved Follow-the-Leader and Singing+Dancing+Playing+Laughing=Joy incorporated in our laughter sessions. While switching between laughter, they used Hoho Hahaha and deep breathing; whereas in our clubs we use Very Good Very Good Yay more often. They loved Cricket Laughter exercise created in our club and Desmond added a piece to it.<br />
<br />
I prepared Indian Chai (Tea) for them every morning while my wife Radhika, who is also a Laughter Teacher, cooked Poha (Rice flakes) for them in the Indorean style which they relished. My mother, who is almost 80 years old, usually doesn’t prefer to move out of house, accompanied us for an excursion to nearby Maheshwar and Mandu, which are places of great historical value, as she felt that it would be too long a day without her new found daughter Carolyn. I had long, leisurely strolls with Desmond, who has a great sense of humour, in the evenings and talked about everything from Cricket to <st1:place w:st="on">Kashmir</st1:place> and Australian grapes to Indian wine.<br />
<br />
We would like to express our gratitude to Dr Madan Kataria who arranged this exchange and would like to share that it has been a really great motivating experience for the laughter lovers in this part of the country.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-40868223790398951372010-12-26T20:04:00.002+05:302010-12-26T20:35:14.187+05:30Touching human lives with laughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WcDZ6gJldwme1Tpyj963ZW__3fK_gU7N1AR6sirDq_Em9J0mOudj1pjqO7ghYMsOCLaPIQLRwmD3RE9QIJelJTi-DjkJDpvqXwSDtu80pVX3J0UcRTKo97XT6oCuRBJ3yOPB1gPdofc/s1600/Jagat+and+Radhika+Bisht.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3WcDZ6gJldwme1Tpyj963ZW__3fK_gU7N1AR6sirDq_Em9J0mOudj1pjqO7ghYMsOCLaPIQLRwmD3RE9QIJelJTi-DjkJDpvqXwSDtu80pVX3J0UcRTKo97XT6oCuRBJ3yOPB1gPdofc/s320/Jagat+and+Radhika+Bisht.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Jagat and Radhika Bisht</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">During the last hundred days, we (Radhika, my wife, and me) have laughed with more than a thousand people. It has really been a life changing experience! We are now proud to have a life skill with us with which we can connect to any group of people anywhere, anytime and make them laugh unconditionally. We feel cheerful throughout the day. The life is full of joy. We have converted our bodies into factories that utilize oxygen from the atmosphere, rejuvenate each and every cell of our system and manufacture feel good endorphins. We are as healthy and energetic as one can be, touch wood, and have not taken any medication since we turned Laughter Yogis. We feel deeply fulfilled as we are instruments of happiness and health for others and are able to touch their lives with a new joyous way of life. Our lives now have a meaning and a mission – to make others happy and healthy!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">I had my tryst with Laughter Yoga one fine morning in Mumbai, more than a decade ago. Dr Madan Kataria and Madhuri Kataria, the founders of laughter yoga, were leading a laughter session in Lokhandwala park. The experience was simply out of the world! I had to wait for more than a decade after that. In the month of October this year, Radhika and myself, along with more than 20 laughter professors from all over the globe, were baptised by Dr Kataria himself at Bengaluru.We have never looked back after that..<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We run two laughter clubs – the Suniket Laughter Club and Laughter Club of State Bank Learning Centre, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city> - regularly. Here are some experiences shared by the members..<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Let us begin with ourselves. The pain in my knee joints is a thing of the past. I get up early in the morning every day and work till late in the night without any feeling of fatigue. Radhika doesn’t need her blood pressure pills any more and her frequents bouts of sinusitis have simply disappeared.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Many among a group of newly promoted bank officers felt nervous to face the audience in their public speaking sessions. They were asked to join laughter yoga sessions, after which they shed all their inhibitions, and gathered the courage to speak freely. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Another group was required to appear for a tough test for promotion to the next cadre. They felt tired at the day end and had no energy left to study. Those who attended laughter exercises in the morning not only improved their attention span in classes but could also study for a couple of hours more in the evenings.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">An elderly businessman felt severe pain in his neck which travelled across his shoulders and back. The pain was acute and disabling. After he joined our laughter club, the pain is gone. He has developed a regular habit of getting up and going for morning walk. His wife tells us that he seldom laughed earlier and never mixed socially with people. She is pleasantly surprised at the transformation.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">An income tax officer, who has retired recently, has shared that his lungs are fully cleared after the laughter session and the feeling of freshness lingers throughout the day. We get feedback of feelings of well being, energy and health on a continual basis from our member friends. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We were also invited to conduct a laughter therapy session for about 80 persons in a camp organized recently by the National Institute of Naturopathy, Pune at the Naturopathy and Yoga Research Centre, <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Indore</st1:place></st1:city>. The response was overwhelming. They found such great value in this alternate therapy that they decided to honour us on the spot after going through our session. The standing ovation, with chants of Very Good Very Good Yay, lasted for more than ten minutes..<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">We look forward to touch many lives with joy and bliss.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Wish you a very happy and joyous new year!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b>Jagat Singh Bisht<o:p></o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Laughter Professor<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">coolbisht@hotmail.com</span></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-67015126914063899972010-08-11T21:11:00.003+05:302010-08-13T08:23:15.737+05:30Laughter Yoga – A Life Changing Experience<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><i><br />
</i><br />
<i>Laughter lowers blood pressure, relaxes muscles, improves blood circulation, increases oxygen level in the body, elevates mood, brings hope, enhances communication and boosts immune system. Dr Madan Kataria has contributed to the happiness of mankind by successfully blending free laughter with yogic breathing and evolving the unique concept of Laughter Yoga. <o:p></o:p></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw8uKlCVTKrgU8M1QVMD54nxebSITLeUbZXWfnPCSOxsq2CT-tHFqhkPHNjoQhSyx-dC6AjAgtnfeaIKNYGmaU7NT57MF_BSekffba2eOjKzwZJFUpDApBG_I-56GCCav3rbYAxwALg4/s1600/laughter+yoga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRw8uKlCVTKrgU8M1QVMD54nxebSITLeUbZXWfnPCSOxsq2CT-tHFqhkPHNjoQhSyx-dC6AjAgtnfeaIKNYGmaU7NT57MF_BSekffba2eOjKzwZJFUpDApBG_I-56GCCav3rbYAxwALg4/s400/laughter+yoga.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><o:p><br />
</o:p></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound. It is a breakthrough laughter delivery system that enables a person to laugh continuously for fifteen to twenty minutes. It is a powerful exercise routine and a complete wellbeing workout which is fast sweeping the world.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Dr Madan Kataria, an Indian physician, along with his wife Madhuri, started the first laughter club in a park in Mumbai on 13<sup>th</sup> March 1995 with just five members. Today it is a worldwide phenomenon with more than six thousand social laughter clubs in sixty countries. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">It combines unconditional laughter with <i>pranayama </i>– yogic breathing. Laughter is simulated in a group exercise with childlike playfulness and eye contact, which soon turns into real and contagious laughter, without relying upon jokes or comedy. The concept is based on a scientific fact that the human body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter – one gets the same physiological and psychological benefits from both types of laughter.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Natural laughter comes just for a few seconds here and there but to get scientifically proven health benefits of laughter, we need to laugh continuously for ten to fifteen minutes at least - loud and deep from our diaphragm - which is possible only in social laughter clubs. They are non-political, non-religious and non-profit social clubs run by volunteers trained as laughter teachers and have no membership fee, no forms and no fuss.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">A typical laughter yoga session includes clapping and warming up, deep breathing exercises, childlike playfulness and laughter exercises which may be yoga based, playful or value based exercises. Laughter yoga exercises are sometimes followed by laughter meditation where laughter may flow spontaneously like a fountain. The session ends with guided relaxation and grounding exercises. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Clinical research on laughter yoga methods has shown that laughter lowers the level of stress hormones in the blood. It fosters a positive and hopeful attitude and one is less likely to succumb to depression and helplessness. The regular club members say it makes them happy, healthy and energized. In effect, it has changed their lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">Laughter yoga is an effective cardio workout and helps in staying fit. It increases blood circulation and relaxes muscles. Laughter yoga changes your mood within minutes by releasing endorphins in your brain. One feels energized and fresh throughout the day and can work more without getting tired. Laughter clubs provide a rich social network of people who care about one another. One learns to handle difficult situations effectively without losing composure by imbibing the essence of laughter yoga.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">In <st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region>, laughter yoga has been introduced in many schools in <st1:city w:st="on">Baroda</st1:city>, <st1:city w:st="on">Surat</st1:city> and <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Bangalore</st1:place></st1:city>. It has recently been included as a subject in the curriculum in one of the universities in the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Scientific research shows that laughter can help to resolve many workplace issues and is gaining popularity in companies and corporations across the globe. Laughter yoga is being practiced among seniors in many aged care facilities in <st1:country-region w:st="on">Canada</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">USA</st1:country-region>, <st1:country-region w:st="on">Israel</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on">Europe</st1:place>. There are hundreds of people in laughter clubs all over the world who are suffering from cancer but laughter has brought a new hope into their lives.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">The ultimate objective is to bring good health, joy and world peace through laughter. This innovative concept has been widely accepted and reported in Time magazine, National Geographic, BBC, CNN and many others.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.laughteryoga.org/">www.laughteryoga.org</a></div>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-26729563540476697512010-07-06T09:47:00.001+05:302010-07-06T09:59:16.791+05:30A Tantalizing Cheque That Bounced<div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #674ea7;">By</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"> JAGAT SINGH BISHT</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qa1T6o80tsVeaj1WxCW4wPqyjWkxP9BJGmC_fguh3-pOsTSMGlLz1V78tMNMWPr5DbDmdTp2vUvs34VJWcTU9PCZ_Y2u8RzpQoTGMsYyZul5PgHwYNGw0z5sdWw_zhEx0hQDnCLaNHk/s1600/graceful+woman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9qa1T6o80tsVeaj1WxCW4wPqyjWkxP9BJGmC_fguh3-pOsTSMGlLz1V78tMNMWPr5DbDmdTp2vUvs34VJWcTU9PCZ_Y2u8RzpQoTGMsYyZul5PgHwYNGw0z5sdWw_zhEx0hQDnCLaNHk/s320/graceful+woman.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">She</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"> was statuesque. I was spellbound and gaped at her like a boor as she walked into the Bank with an elegant ease. My heart missed several beats as she looked around with her doe eyes. Her exquisite charm brought the hustle and bustle in the banking hall to a standstill. The atmosphere suddenly turned ethereal.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Those were the days when I was posted in a sleepy little town and had nothing better to do than pass cheques in “good faith and without negligence”. The era of class banking was fading away and the concept of mass banking was yet to catch on. In the process, we were deprived of both – the classic beauties as well as the village belles.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Nonetheless, there was an occasional lucky break. There she was! Ravishing and gorgeous. The beauty that I always dreamt and fantasized about. She presented a cheque at the counter for payment and I waited expectantly to pass the most tantalizing cheque in my life.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">A series of silly thoughts passed through my mind… Should I call her closer and tell her that the signatures do not match perfectly? No-no, that would be too amateurish. I should be more subtle…</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">My counter clerk pushed the ledger towards me. I could clearly see the mischief in his sparkling eyes. He proclaimed a bit too loudly, “It seems, sir, the cheque is bearer.”</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">I felt embarrassed as he cast a meaningful glance at her. I knew he was speaking in our code language in which a bearer cheque meant an unmarried girl. Likewise, we referred to married ladies as account payee cheques. School-going girls were post-dated cheques and ageing aunties were, of course, stale cheques.</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">The cashier made the payment with a flashy smile as I had never seen him do earlier. After counting the notes, she turned back towards our counter. Gracefully, she approached my counter clerk and said, “Thanks a lot for the prompt service. Well, let me introduce myself. I am Mrs Kapoor.”</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Mr Kapoor, the new Branch Manager, had just taken over and had gone away to attend a seminar at the head office. Keeping a hand over her mangal-sootra, she remarked with a gentle grin, “Now, you know, the cheque isn’t bearer. It is account payee!”<br />
<br />
</div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 300; line-height: 20px;"><div style="text-align: justify;">And, she walked away triumphantly…</div></span>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-15687611074942581122010-01-13T17:57:00.008+05:302010-01-17T11:53:24.796+05:30Citizenship as a way of life<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color:#ff6600;"><strong><span style="font-family:verdana;">I have found my Guru</span><br /></strong></span></span><br /><span style="color:#993399;"><strong>A Life Transforming Encounter With Citizenship</strong></span><br /><br /><br />I feel quite fulfilled in my journey of life. I have reaped sufficient outer fruits, plenty of inner fruits and countless joys of contribution. The only fruit that eluded me is promotion. Of late, I have also started hoodwinking it as a return gesture! I have a well located house, a decent lifestyle, cheerful health (touch wood!), a loving family, good friends of both sexes (much to the envy of some of my dear friends!), some publications to my credit, a steady growth, an understanding of human behaviour, taste for arts and culture, satisfaction of contributing significantly to my extended family and an ever growing pool of well wishers.<br /><br />Though I always felt at peace with myself, I had no one to look up to in intriguing times. My friends went to temples and prayed, some of them pursued yoga and meditation and others had their own ways of finding solace. I do not believe in any rituals though I don’t mind going to temples etc. During times of crisis, I felt a sense of void. May be it was because I had a predominantly scientific view of life.<br /><br />I have been a sincere student of human psychology and a behavioural science trainer (minus the eccentricities, of course). I delved in to positive psychology and was for a while thinking of designing a programme on authentic happiness (based on the work of Martin Seligman and others on the subject) as my mission in life is to make people happy. The school of thought I was following laid down various components of happiness beautifully and, in the end, stipulated that all these would bring happiness but you should also do something worthwhile and meaningful in your life. Making a positive contribution was just one of the building blocks of authentic happiness among so many others.<br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Beginning of my citizenship journey</span><br /><br />It was sometime in June 2009 when all the Circle Development Officers and Intervention Leaders gathered for the first workshop on Project Citizen-SBI at the Corporate Centre, Mumbai. This was the first time we saw and heard Mr V Srinivas – half-sleeved white shirt, curly hair and the glow of conviction. He propounded the concept well but most of the audience at that time felt that it was too abstract. I remember interacting with him during the lunch break to share with him my experience with <em>Parivartan</em> and the need for Hindi and vernacular versions of the programme. I extended an invitation to conduct pilots in Bhopal Circle and also complimented him for his outstanding oratory skills, knowing little then about his deep conviction and intense engagement with the subject.<br /><br />Then we had a longish workshop and pilots at Taj Banjara, Hyderabad during August where I found time to go through the foundation notes on various dimensions of citizenship. This was followed by pilots at State Bank Academy, Gurgaon where we had a solid apprenticeship in all nuances of Citizenship and also the art of facilitation. Here, I would like to add that this programme has given us a rich pool of well equipped facilitators and prompted our Training System to take a giant paradigm leap forward. Later on, the facilitator gym back home was a unique experience. We shuttled many a times to the multi purpose hall at the Bandra-Kurla complex to fine tune the programme versions and our own understanding of citizenship.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">A new way of life<br /></span><br />As the citizenship orientation programmes progressed, I found myself deeply immersed in citizenship – classes, travel, talking with participants over phone, contributing for the Google groups of Intervention Leaders and Facilitators, setting up and propagating the CitizenSBI blog, answering all the queries from across the country (as if I was an expert in citizenship!) and developing a real as well as a virtual citizen community. I found that I was working and thinking citizenship 24x7 and felt charged up all through with no traces of fatigue. Some friends started saying that I have internalized citizenship and was becoming more and more citizenized with each passing day. All put together, we looked at 101 dimensions of citizenship from 1001 different angles. Don’t believe? Just go through the groups and the blog!<br /><br />It then dawned upon me that I have discovered a new way of life. I had started contributing positively on a regular and continuous basis in so many spheres and was in a state of flow. In my college days I had adopted cricket as a view of life. Cricket helps you to develop sportsman spirit, accept defeat as well as victory and is a gentleman’s game. The citizenship philosophy gives a lot of fulfilment as we continuously get opportunities to touch lives of others. It is not just something swantah sukhai, it caters to the welfare of others.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Some faces of my success<br /></span><br />The facilitators and participants have reposed so much trust on me that I have developed confidence to find a pathway to any problem under the sun and overcome the challenges. This strength is derived from the faith that others have on me.<br /><br />One of the citizens who had suffered an unforgettable hurt and found life meaningless, has found solace in contributing to the cause of citizenship daily. May I reproduce the exact words –<em> aaj phir jeeney kee tamanna hai</em>…What more impact can a programme have on an individual’s life?<br /><br />One of the master facilitators told me that whenever we need anything in citizenship, we know that you are always there.<br /><br />I have already shared the story of the citizen union leader who contributes regularly for my learning centre and is a regular visitor. He finds something amiss if he doesn’t have a cup of tea with me on any day. I know I can depend upon him. He is my Man Friday.<br /><br />One of the intervention leaders says that he has developed the writing habit because of my continuous follow up with him to contribute for the blog. We converse almost daily and he reveres me like his elder brother.<br /><br /><br />I know that I can touch lives. For that I realise that I should be pure in my heart. Not that I was lecherous in my deeds but I have curbed my baser instincts even in thought and feelings.<br /><br /><br />Tasting some success out of CitizenSBI blog, I created some other blogs too. One of them was for my son who is a biker and loves to perform stunts. When his friends praised the blog, he had this to say to his friends on Facebook – No yaar, I have not done it. It’s my dad. He is an expert blogger now.<br /><br /><em>Aur merey paas Maa bhee hai</em>! I understand that my mother told folks in our native place the other day – <em>Bhagwan sabko merey Jagat jaisa beta deh</em>! What more can I aspire for after this?<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc33cc;">Eklavya finds Guru Drona</span><br /><br />During my entire journey of citizenship, I have been watching one man with a lot of respect. I have read all his writings like we read scriptures (and here I don’t mean “without applying my mind”!). His dedication and devotion to the cause of citizenship is simply amazing. I have never witnessed such conviction earlier in my life. In my heart of hearts, I have accepted him as my Guru. I am his follower in words and deeds.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSTv4-RaHeHdw9_TE4m4Ya0Ft_B8TAVgDaGsX_gFqXTppcbGR1fh3AQVzQEwxb3KJiBsm597EClcE0km3ft5PGNLliOdAscvRIr5-lmb4sA_YApdhFKVw9iMdVIby5qCjXPE7pA0VEw4/s1600-h/author1.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 195px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427286152562347858" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSSTv4-RaHeHdw9_TE4m4Ya0Ft_B8TAVgDaGsX_gFqXTppcbGR1fh3AQVzQEwxb3KJiBsm597EClcE0km3ft5PGNLliOdAscvRIr5-lmb4sA_YApdhFKVw9iMdVIby5qCjXPE7pA0VEw4/s200/author1.jpg" /></a><br /><br />Just like Eklavya found a guru in Dronacharya, I have found my guru in Mr V Srinivas, CEO and Lead Researcher, Illumine Knowledge Resources, Mumbai. The similarity hopefully ends here. I presume he won’t ask me to present my thumb to him in <em>guru-dakshina</em>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Many of the readers would already know about him but for those who don’t and feel curious, I provide below a link to know more about him:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.illumine.info/srinivas.htm">http://www.illumine.info/srinivas.htm</a><br /><br />I invite you to be my <em>guru-bhai</em> or <em>behen</em> and join my community.<br /><br /><em>P.S. – I also love and adore his entire team – Biren, Joyeeta, Rebecca, Mahima, Parul …<br /><br /></em><span style="color:#cc33cc;"><strong>JAGAT SINGH BISHT<br /></strong></span><span style="color:#cc66cc;">State Bank Learning Centre, Indore</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#6633ff;">coolbisht@hotmail.com<br /><br /></span><span style="color:#6633ff;"></span>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-29668134629525435522009-12-31T23:01:00.016+05:302010-01-01T13:46:02.455+05:30The Early YearsMy name is Vijay Nair. Please excuse my American spelling. I have studied in SGHS from 8th to 11th finishing in 1971. Jagat and I were classmates during those years.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjTDlPt6kNR1X-qag7vw_Cgio7zLX97p4VmpuM_j2om1ubR3fvvbL03UKg8dd6-8tvmZqTKiOurxZ7i8v4t4N1wnQD0S2lhKgJxNF3k6a7K7C6RAvaIcPKbLd6mbnnGT8UPCGp7e66NE/s1600-h/DSCN1176.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421645728342418690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNjTDlPt6kNR1X-qag7vw_Cgio7zLX97p4VmpuM_j2om1ubR3fvvbL03UKg8dd6-8tvmZqTKiOurxZ7i8v4t4N1wnQD0S2lhKgJxNF3k6a7K7C6RAvaIcPKbLd6mbnnGT8UPCGp7e66NE/s200/DSCN1176.JPG" /></a> Many of you might be wondering why I chose the title ‘The early Years’. It is because those were the most impressionable years of my childhood. You know, as teenagers we were naturally curious and landed in a lot of trouble! By the way, the photo showing Soumen, Jagat and Casmir was taken in November 2004 when we had a reunion of the class of ’71. Let me talk about the reunion first. How it all started with me was a desire to connect to my ‘old’ friends and to know how they were doing. In summer ’04 I think I first located Barkat Singh in Ranjhi who then led me on to others like, Jagat, Subir, etc. Imagine! Talking to someone after 33 years! I was very surprised I could connect with so many of them. There were others also that I connected like the Ferns family, Elsie’s (she is a teacher at the school now) family, college-mates and others. On Nov 12, ’04 I landed in Indore station and looking out of my window I recognized Jagat right away. We were just kids when we knew each other and now I would be a guest at his house!<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiryjn-3ElrJBLW-Oq-pNohHSCbTVw7BDPSaJaBruj4YZWQDBeRU3XQbACsQakvQILHR4MuCegfSX1FJTBOnFOvDmlzDKVqgaTv7ismkj3uyrxP3S3K-UluaEq7sw9xlTSkfQke23VCdI/s1600-h/DSCN1148.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421647859230134082" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiryjn-3ElrJBLW-Oq-pNohHSCbTVw7BDPSaJaBruj4YZWQDBeRU3XQbACsQakvQILHR4MuCegfSX1FJTBOnFOvDmlzDKVqgaTv7ismkj3uyrxP3S3K-UluaEq7sw9xlTSkfQke23VCdI/s400/DSCN1148.JPG" /></a> <em>Vijay with Jagat's family at their home</em><br /><br />His situation was such that he was working in Jabalpur but his family was living in Indore. However, I received a warm welcome at his home. Being Diwali I was expecting some festivities with a visit to a nearby temple, but it was a great surprise to see the unending fireworks that lit up the sky late into the night! It was my first visit to the city and like a proper host, Jagat showed me the sights around town. Two places stand out. One is a palace with French and English influences and the other is ‘Chowki Dhani’. His hospitality was great. It was the first time in over 20 years I had celebrated Diwali like this. Usually here we used to visit a family from Allahabad/Indore, do the Shree Ram ‘aarti’ and have dinner. Here it is illegal to burst firecrackers. Oftentimes, being of a commercial inclination, they set up a huge ‘mela’ which is mostly sales/exhibition. But one can still buy a good painting, clothes jewelry and, of course, have Indian snacks.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqcBMdwmGCkB5EKuZBcRtmlEQik3Lr7KEcKtC8vmcxK0lAabUsdfqH36dyqRxBsWNHITu8Msh7aoDJWGE0X5O5tomeGY8g1i0yyaKv34AV_k_hyphenhyphen5TsqvWyjdhh7ovfGFRPsR01IFvNAg/s1600-h/DSCN1152.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421647864670316674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHqcBMdwmGCkB5EKuZBcRtmlEQik3Lr7KEcKtC8vmcxK0lAabUsdfqH36dyqRxBsWNHITu8Msh7aoDJWGE0X5O5tomeGY8g1i0yyaKv34AV_k_hyphenhyphen5TsqvWyjdhh7ovfGFRPsR01IFvNAg/s400/DSCN1152.JPG" /></a> <em>Jagat and Vijay inside Indore-Bilaspur Express</em></div><div><em></em><br />On Nov 15 ’04 Jagat and I took a train from Indore and landed in Madan Mahal station the next day. We were met by Babulal, alias Prabhir Mitra, for whom I was carrying what I call expensive plyers! It was early morning. Little by little I met them all. First of all I was struck by the change in some of them. I remembered their faces from a long time ago. It is a trick the mind plays. They too would be wondering at my change, right? I met all kinds of people – my old classmates from school and college, others who were ex-college, and school and college teachers. I will stop the reunion stuff here and move to the years at school.<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT1TxbU48505582SXo0z6kD_HhuDRMjUzKeMJIjBnVXdzvqtx0cyqAD__25JjwquAme_xt7fSSJJDpIApMYhc0GBAy20LpONQ3BvmJFtiAsZJdAZTjOmUGtPfHaHwEhG7Wmo4Wp9m_y4/s1600-h/DSCN1311.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421647870727619170" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuT1TxbU48505582SXo0z6kD_HhuDRMjUzKeMJIjBnVXdzvqtx0cyqAD__25JjwquAme_xt7fSSJJDpIApMYhc0GBAy20LpONQ3BvmJFtiAsZJdAZTjOmUGtPfHaHwEhG7Wmo4Wp9m_y4/s400/DSCN1311.JPG" /></a> <em>Vijay was the most sought after class mate during re-union</em></div><em></em></div><div><em><div><br /></div></em><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpfytubNdrcOrg2NKX84hs5A9YpTdTt5zgl8PLNbgUH5j-0ubnAD5DeDsb8QooqSinau29xpiZyXf8bt2fpKat87iVGh7_AhX-tMzPpTrk4CBNkDrZm_l_aoQ3T2UZZMQQkGZUh6486o/s1600-h/DSCN1183.JPG"><em><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5421647864981099682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVpfytubNdrcOrg2NKX84hs5A9YpTdTt5zgl8PLNbgUH5j-0ubnAD5DeDsb8QooqSinau29xpiZyXf8bt2fpKat87iVGh7_AhX-tMzPpTrk4CBNkDrZm_l_aoQ3T2UZZMQQkGZUh6486o/s400/DSCN1183.JPG" /></em></a> <em>Class of 1971 re-union at the Kanha National Park</em><br /><br />My dad was in the Ordnance factories service and in ’67 he got transferred to Khamaria, near Jabalpur. This is his second posting in the area, the first being GCF where he was till ’62. So after moving we had to find a school for me. I remember when I went to SGHS how they tested me. They gave a set of questions to answer and I remember ‘Godavari’ was the answer to one of them. There was also an ‘interview’. I was anxious how my test had gone, but I was admitted. In those days there were very few houses near the school. One could look out and see open land outside. Ditto for the area behind the school. Here is a list of teachers who taught me that I remember. Br. Joseph, Br. Bosco, Br. Gilbert, Br. Frederick, Br. Justin, Br. David, Mr Shrivastava, Br. Paul, Mr Sharma, Mr Dinkar, Mr Choudhary, Mr. Khare, Pandit sir, Mr Mehra, Ms Khera, Ms Usha, Ms D’Souza, Ms Pathak, and many more. There was a young Englishman visiting, was it ’68? I don’t remember. Later, I wondered what prompted him to come to SGHS.<br />Br. Joseph was our 8th grade class teacher. With him we went to the yearly picnic to Khatau(?) with a truck lent by Barkat’s dad. We had great fun with all rolling around! Gooseberries (amla) along the river bank were a hit. The next year it was Bargi Tank and then Burno Tank? I do remember seeing the movie ‘Aradhna’ starring Sharmila Tagore and Rajesh Khanna in ’70 after the picnic.<br /><br />Ms Khera, who joined SGHS in ’69, always used to be dropped off at school by her husband, riding pillion on his scooter. It used to be a Vespa. Barkat used to come to my place to play badminton. I remember one prank played by him. One day in Ms Khera’s class he brought a rose. I am sure he was playing with it innocently when all of a sudden Ms Khera caught him! She gave him a good scolding. What was he doing? Only he knows! She was very strict. I was scared of her, for you know, she would require her home-work on her desk as she walked in. If not, get out! I remember another drama associated with her. Once she stood us all in a line and asked us a question. As to what I don’t remember. She told us to speak the truth. An act of hypnotism followed. We thought we were invincible and she was not able to find out. Here is another prank. In ‘71 her whole class bunked to watch the newly released movie ‘Purab aur Paschim’ starring Manoj Kumar and Saira Banu! But she is what made us all we are today. Hats off to her! The last I spoke to her was in ’05 when she was in Pune.<br /><br />Simultaneous equations used to scare me in the 8th. So would titration because I thought the end point could vary. Hope they have some sort of ion sensor now-a-days to determine that. But Br. Frederick who taught us Chemistry was very kind. He even helped me do a science project involving photography which is when I was able to coax my dad to get me a camera. It was an Agfa Click III. He taught me the basics of photo development.<br /><br />I did the NCC program at school. It was the naval corps, so were dressed in white for the evening exercises. Even though tough I remember eagerly waiting for the snack at the end of every session! There was a wiry instructor barking at us to straighten up. The camp at Gwallior stands out in my memory. It was a 10 day event ending just before Diwali in ’69. The camp site in Gwallior was beautiful with a lake nearby where we practiced rowing and took other routine classes. I remember weighing myself at the station before and after the camp and discovering I lost 5 kg in the camp!<br /><br />Mr Shrivastava was our Hindi teacher. Why we called him by the nick name ‘chussad’ I can’t recall. He used to have dreamy liquid eyes. Mr Sharma also taught HIndi. I remember he made a joke with the song ‘Aaj maine ladki pasand kar li …’ He was tall and had sharp features. It is a pity that with such teachers I find I have not studied the language enough. I am OK with any conversation but it is the reading that I think I missed. Other than one Gulshan Nanda novel, I don’t remember reading any Hindi books. But more than this, I did much injustice to Sanskrit and Pandit-sir who taught us the language from 8th to 10th. I always had the question in my mind what is the need for ‘avam’ in ‘aham, avam, vayam’, that is, the use of a separate word representing two of anything. It is not so in English. Today I wish I had learned Sanskrit more diligently for so many of our ancient texts are in it. The ‘Manorajyam’ story stands out clearly over the years.<br /><br />Mr Khare had been our Math and Physics teacher. He was strict. One day as a punishment he made us all go out to the ground, kneel on our knees and crawl! That was very hard! I must have been overweight. I saw some sprinting across.How many of you remember the movie we all went out together after 11th? If you said ‘Kati Patang’ you are right! That pretty much ended my association for the time being with SGHS when I went to do Engineering in the nearby Govt. College. But I remember my days with SGHS and the subsequent reunion fondly. I will always hold those memories dearly in my heart. </div></div></div></div>Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-34159547027442468982009-12-25T22:32:00.006+05:302009-12-26T11:42:44.167+05:30The Four Musketeers<p>While attending a workshop on CitizenSBI programme at Hotel Taj President, Mumbai a couple of days back, I noticed that a seminar of Tata Power Company was going on in the adjacent banquet hall. I felt slightly curious and walked in during the break and, after enquiry, discovered Vijay Chourey, my college mate, there. That took us back to our college days...</p><br /><p>We studied at the Govt. Science College, Jabalpur from the year 1971 to 1974 and completed our Bachelor's degree there. Those were days more of fun than serious studies. We - Vijay Bajaj, Arvind Harshey, Vijay Chourey and yours truly - were the four musketeers of our class. After the classes were over we used to stand at the <em>tiraha </em>near the CPWD office and talk and talk. Our discussions were not on any particular topic, nor meaningful by any means, but they kept us together. We used to laugh a lot is what I remember now. Arvind stayed in the colony nearby, Bajaj was from Narmada Road, Vijay stayed at the Satna Building and I came all the way from Ranjhi. Arvind looked like a child and the office clerk refused to hand over the scholarship money to him. Next day, he had to come with his father to collect the scholarship.</p><br /><p>I am not able to recollect the names of many of my class mates. Some names which I remember are P P Dubey, G P Dubey, Manjeet Kaur Jabbal and Uma Devi. Just four of them. I also remember a fat boy much older than us (whom we referred as <em>Dadaji</em>) who came from the suburban Panagar. He was a warm guy and I wonder where he is now and what he is doing presently. As far as I remember, we had one dark Vishwakarma in the class whom we referred to as the <em>policewallah.</em></p><br /><p>Our Professors were Handa (the Giant), Mahalaha, D K Mishra, S K Mishra, Nilose, Sahastrabuddhey ( also known as the <em>policewallah</em>), Madam Chauhan and Paliwal Sir. I am forgetting the name of a moustachiod Mathematics professor who pronounced "equation" as "yoocation" with a twist of his moustache - probably he was Mr Premchand. All of them were really good. Once a strike was called by the Student Leaders (which included Sharad Yadav) and the four musketeers opted to attend a Physics lecture of Professor Nilose. The leaders came to the class and warned us of dire consequences after we came out but the professor continued with the class.</p><br /><p>One of us four musketeers was having a one-sided love affair with one of the college girls. He sent her a love letter full of poetry. Soon he got the reply from her. The reply was Spirituality of a high order with the concluding words <em>-Eeshwar aapko sadbuddhi de! <span style="font-size:+0;"></span></em></p><br /><p><span style="font-size:+0;">The flash back has just started. Let us go back in time and re-create those dreamy days. May I request the two Vijays and any one of our class mates who are reading this to continue the string. I shall also contribute when I recollect more incidents. Bye till then.</span></p>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-41026111867729979112009-12-20T23:03:00.005+05:302009-12-20T23:19:55.171+05:30एक व्यंग्यकार की आत्मकथा<strong>यह एक व्यंग्यकार की आत्मकथा है. इसमें आपको ’एक गधे की आत्मकथा’ से ज़्यादा आनन्द आएगा. गधा ज़माने का बोझ ढोता है, व्यंग्यकार समाज की विडम्बनाओं को पूरी शिददत से मह्सूस करता है. इसके बाद भी दोनों बेचारे इतने भले होते हैं कि वक्त-बेवक्त ढेंचू-ढेंचू करके आप सबका मनोरंजन करते हैं. यदि आप हमारी पीड़ा को ना समझकर केवल मुस्कुराते हैं तो आप से बढ़कर गधा कोई नहीं. क्षमा करें, हमारी भाषा ही कुछ ऐसी होती है.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>इस आत्मकथा में जितने प्रयोग सत्य के साथ किये गये हैं, उससे कहीं अधिक असत्य के साथ. यह निर्णय आपको करना होगा कि क्या सत्य है और क्या असत्य. मोटे तौर पर, उपलब्धियों के ब्यौरे को झूठा मानें और चारित्रिक कमज़ोरियों के चित्रण को सच्चा जानें. आत्मकथा का जो अंश अच्छा लगे, उसे चुराया हुआ समझें और जो घटिया लगे, उसे मौलिक मान लें. जहां कोई बात समझ में न आये तो उसका ठीक विपरीत अर्थ लगायें क्योंकि व्यंग्यकार शीर्षासन के शौकीन माने जाते हैं.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>व्यंग्यकार ज़माने के साथ चलता है और उनको पहचानता है जो गिरगिट की तरह रंग बदलते हैं. आपकी रुचि और रुझान की भी उसे पहचान है. इसलिये उसकी आत्मकथा में आपको भरपूर मसाला मिलेगा. इस व्यंग्यकार की हार्दिक और शारीरिक ख्वाहिश है कि वह भी कमला दास और खुशवंत सिंह की तरह चर्चित हो. इसलिये वह आवश्यक हथकंडे अपनाने को भी तैयार है.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>अब आत्मकथा आरंभ होती है.....</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>संयोग से मेरा कलयुगी अवतार संस्कारधानी जबलपुर में हुआ जहां से ओशो रजनीश, महर्षी महेश योगी और हरिशंकर परसाई ताल्लुक रखते हैं. आज तक मैं यह नहीं समझ पाया कि लुच्चों-लफ़ंगों के लिये मशहूर इस शहर को संस्कारधानी क्यों कहा जाता है. भगवान रजनीश की प्रवचन-पुस्तक ’संभोग से समाधि की ओर’ का गहन अध्ययन मैंने जवानी के दिनों में गैर धार्मिक कारणों से किया था. महर्षि महेश योगी के प्रति मेरी गहरी श्रद्धा तब से है जब उन्होंने भावातीत ध्यान के माध्यम से विश्व शांति का अनुष्टान किया था और अमरीका ने इराक पर ’कारपेट" बमबारी कर दी थी. हरिशंकर परसाई का प्रभाव अलबत्ता मेरी सोच पर पर्याप्त रूप से पड़ा है. शायद वे ही इस व्यंग्यकार के प्रेरणा पुरुष हैं. उनकी तरह लिखना-पढ़ना चाहता हूं लेकिन टांगें तुड़वाने में मुझे डर लगता है. मैं प्रतिबद्धता का जोखिम मौका देखकर उठाता हूं.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>हरिशंकर परसाई के सान्निध्य में कुछ बातें सीखीं. व्यंग्यकार कोई विदूषक या मसखरा नहीं होता. वह पूरी गंभीरता और सूक्ष्मता के साथ घटनाओं को देखता है और विसंगतियों पर निर्ममता से प्रहार करता है. एक बात में अवश्य वे मुझे ’मिसगाइड’ कर गये - उन्होंने मुझे ध्यानपूर्वक रवीन्द्रनाथ त्यागी की रचनाएं पढ़ने की सलाह दी. मैंने उनकी आग्या का पालन किया. प्रारंभ में तो बहुत आनन्द आया लेकिन जब प्रत्येक व्यंग्य में महिलाओं का नख-शिख वर्णन आने लगा तो मैं दिग्भ्रमित-सा हो गया. लिखते-पढ़ते वक्त मुझे जगह-जगह गद्य में उरोज और नितंब छिपे दिखाई देने लगे और मेरी बुद्धि और गद्य भ्रष्ट होते गये. मुझे लगता है कि सम्मानित व्यंग्यकार की खोपड़ी में कोई रीतिकालीन पुर्जा आज भी फ़िट है. मेरे लेखन में जहां कहीं घटियापन नज़र आये तो उसके लिये आदरणीय रवीन्द्रनाथ त्यागी को ज़िम्मेदार माना जाये.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>शरद जोशी के व्यंग्य मैं मंत्रमुग्ध हो कर पढ़ता और सुनता था. उनकी शब्द छटा अलौकिक होती थी और मैं मुक्त मन और कंठ से उसकी प्रशंसा करता था लेकिन उनके चेलों में एक अजब-सी संकीर्णता व विचारहीनता दृष्टिगोचर होती है. वे हरिशंकर परसाई और उनके स्कूल के सभी व्यंग्यकारों को खारिज करते हैं जबकि उनके स्वयं के लेखन में दृष्टिशून्यता है. मैंने व्यंग्य लेखन की शुरुआत भोपाल में की थी लेकिन ऐसे व्यंग्यकारों से दूर ही दूर रहा. छ्त्तीसगढ़ अंचल के कुछ नामी व्यंग्यकारों के प्रति मेरी श्रद्धा, काफ़ी कोशिशों के बाद भी, उमड़ नहीं पाती.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>आज तक मैं यह नहीं समझ सका कि इतने बड़े सरकारी अधिकारी होते हुए भी श्रीलाल शुक्ल और रवीन्द्रनाथ त्यागी इतने अच्छे व्यंग्य कैसे लिखते रहे. मैं एक अदना-सा बैंक अधिकारी हूं लेकिन लाख चाहते हुए भी लिखने-पढ़्ने के लिये उतना समय नहीं दे पाता जितना उच्चकोटि के लेखन के लिये आवश्यक है. नतीज़ा यह है कि मेरी गिनती न तो अच्छे अधिकारियों में होती है और न ही अच्छे व्यंग्यकारों में. मैं विग्यान का विद्यार्थी था. यह मेरी ताकत भी है और कमज़ोरी भी. जीवन और लेखन के प्रति वैग्यानिक दृष्टि मेरा ’असेट’ है और साहित्य का घोर अग्यान मेरी कमी.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>व्यंग्य की दुनिया में महिला व्यंग्य लेखिकाओं और प्रशंसिकाओं की कमी बेहद खलती है. शायद ’व्यंग्य’ शब्द में ही विकर्षण प्रतिध्वनित होता है. फ़िर भी, भविष्य के प्रति यह व्यंग्यकार आशावान है और इंतज़ार के मीठे फ़लों के लिये पलक पाँवड़े बिछाये बैठा है. एक गृहस्थ व्यंग्यकार इससे अधिक खुले आमंत्रण का खतरा मोल नहीं ले सकता. मेरी इकलौती बीवी और मेरा इकलौता बेटा सब कुछ जानते समझते हुए भी मुस्कुराकर सब कुछ झेलते रहते हैं. उन पर दो अलग अलग व्यंग्य महाकाव्य बुढ़ापे में रचूंगा. अभी ’रिस्क’ लेना ठीक नहीं. अपने प्रेम-प्रसंगों पर भि फ़ुरसत में कभी लिखूंगा. इनमेम धर्म, संप्रदाय और प्रदेशों की संकीर्ण मानसिकता से ऊपर उठकर अनेकता में एकता की राष्ट्रीय भावना आपको दिखाई देगी. प्रारंभिक प्रेम कथाएं ’प्लेटोनिक’ हैं और बाद वाली ’फ़्रॉयडियन’ - यानि मैं निरंतर विकास क्रम में आगे बढ़ता रहता हूं.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>लेखन और प्रकाशन के क्षेत्र में मैं बहुत ’लकी’ रहा. थोड़ा लिखकर खूब छ्पा और प्रसिद्धी पाई. कुछ साहित्य-संपादक मेरे खास मित्र हैं और कुछ पंकज बिष्ट के धोखे में मुझे बेधड़क छाप देते हैं. कई बार आकाशवाणी और दूरदर्शन पर भी मैं पंकज बिष्ट के नाम से वार्ताएं प्रसारित कर चुका हूं. स्थानान्तरण के बाद जब किसी नये नगर में पहुंचता हूं तो शायद इसीलिये मेरा परिचय ’सुविख्यात’ लेखक के रूप में कराया जाता है. मैं खामोश रहता हूं. मेरा पहला व्यंग्य-संग्रह ’तिरछी नज़र’ भी उसी धोखे में छ्प गया. प्रकाशक बेचारा आज तक पछता रहा है. पुस्तक का शीर्षक देखकर गलतफ़हमी में नौजवान और बूढ़े सभी इसे रस लेकर एकांत में पढ़ते हैं. बच्चे उसको पढ़कर बाल-साहित्य का आनंद पाते हैं. कुछ विद्वान आलोचकों ने इस भ्रम में पहले संकलन की तारीफ़ कर दी कि शायद आगे चलकर मैं बेहतर लिखने लगूं. पाठकों को मैं, खुशवंत सिंह की तरह, मसाले का प्रलोभन देता रहता हूं और वो मेरी रचनाएं किसी झूठी उम्मीद में पढ़ते चले जाते हैं. साहित्यिक मित्रों को बेवकूफ़ बनाना ज़्यादा मुश्किल नहीं होता. उन्होंने लिखना-पढ़ना, सोचना- समझना, काफ़ी समय पहले से बंद किया होता है. उनसे मिलते ही मैं उनकी कीर्ति की चर्चा करने लगता हूं और वे जाते ही मेरी प्रतिष्ठा बढ़ाने में लग जाते हैं. साहित्य का संसार अंदर और बाहर बड़ा मज़ेदार है.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>समाज में व्यंग्यकार कोई सम्माननीय जीव नहीं माना जाता. इस जंतु को थोड़ी-बहुत स्वीकृति ’भय बिनु होय न प्रीति’ के सूत्र के अंतर्गत ही मिलती है. नासमझ लोग उससे उसी तरह खौफ़ खाते हैं जैसे क्रिकेट में बल्लेबाज तूफ़ानी गेंदबाजों से आतंकित होते हैं. मुझे तो ’लेग स्पिन’ गेंदबाजी में ज़्यादा आनंद आता है. लाइन, लैंग्थ और फ़्लाइट में परिवर्तन करते हुए, लैग स्पिन के बीच अचानक गुगली या फ़्लिपर फ़ैंकने का जो आनंद है, वो बाऊन्सर पत्टकने में कहां ! सार्थक और मारक व्यंग्य वही है जिसमें खिलाड़ी क्लीन-बोल्ड भी हो जाए और अपनी मूर्खता पर तिलमिलाने भी लगे. व्यंग्य में लक्ष्य-भेदन की कुशलता के साथ-साथ खेल भावना, क्रीड़ा-कौतुक और खिलंदड़पन भी हो तो आनंद कई गुना बढ़ जाता है. गंभीरता अपनी जगह है और छेड़छाड़ का मज़ा अपनी जगह.</strong><br /><br /><br /><br /><strong>यह आत्मकथा मैंने बड़ी संजीदगी के साथ शुरु की थी लेकिन लंबा लिखने का धैर्य मुझमें नहीं है और जो कुछ भी आड़ा-तिरछा लिखता हूं, उसे छपवाने की मुझे जल्दी रहती है. अतः आत्मकथा न सही, फ़िलहाल आत्मकथा की भूमिका पढ़कर ही कृतार्थ हों. शुभचिंतकों की सलाह पर धीरे-धीरे मैं अपने व्यंगों को ’चुइंगम’ की तरह खींचने का अभ्यास कर रहा हूं. अगर सफ़ल हुआ तो कभी न कभी आत्मकथा अवश्य लिखूंगा........<br /></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong><br /><br /><br /><strong></strong>CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-53328429950386003292009-12-18T17:52:00.004+05:302009-12-18T18:04:39.304+05:30Old Group Photographs<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUrVjUgXg99OkQiLGph4Tt3NzctSozvecXym20YK-M0RXneQ5o861PXb0E0G2bwinekbSvJwqp4DEmTrNKntLOGC-plN7i-m1iUTymCvZIsN-YWLvS3Zf3ewVaG_-Toer0dB1md41WUg/s1600-h/VII-Class-66-67.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416551511104107666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUrVjUgXg99OkQiLGph4Tt3NzctSozvecXym20YK-M0RXneQ5o861PXb0E0G2bwinekbSvJwqp4DEmTrNKntLOGC-plN7i-m1iUTymCvZIsN-YWLvS3Zf3ewVaG_-Toer0dB1md41WUg/s320/VII-Class-66-67.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Nzx4QiDPK0tftdZeowihffJAseVGIkMq9PjfFY6CyT4mBG0_4SJAUrZyi4i1ZmEAvUxLEc683skZR1GdyPYxy5SrmwMob766yTY28F-QmrPMWtNGcbqPAnCuvP_nbmf5v2ZcqDuyyPw/s1600-h/VIII-Class67-68.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 221px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5416551502741029490" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Nzx4QiDPK0tftdZeowihffJAseVGIkMq9PjfFY6CyT4mBG0_4SJAUrZyi4i1ZmEAvUxLEc683skZR1GdyPYxy5SrmwMob766yTY28F-QmrPMWtNGcbqPAnCuvP_nbmf5v2ZcqDuyyPw/s320/VIII-Class67-68.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div><br /><br />Two old group photographs of Class of 1971, St Gabriel's School, Ranjhi, Jabalpur.<br />The first one was taken in Class VII in the year 1966-67 and the second one in Class VII in the year 1967-68.<br /><br />Guess who's who?CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-132711148629107052009-12-16T19:40:00.002+05:302009-12-16T19:47:52.889+05:30Class of 1971 Reunion<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQv8KLs-RXWFyg-bCnub0ePhu1IjvbUZ-jwAC2cFWhg6hfXVagG22HORjIercv43vvl0RF1t66OsXOdFuc8nIqqen1E2nroNIYILQ90_0WTrAp_6Ta1FjojxGMWL-TLNabxZMXdJV_bU/s1600-h/DSCN1310.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiQv8KLs-RXWFyg-bCnub0ePhu1IjvbUZ-jwAC2cFWhg6hfXVagG22HORjIercv43vvl0RF1t66OsXOdFuc8nIqqen1E2nroNIYILQ90_0WTrAp_6Ta1FjojxGMWL-TLNabxZMXdJV_bU/s400/DSCN1310.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415836670483576706" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzDYU9zZZSgd1Qq0NHPZI064yqr74tH8Q2PL4yp31-1sAEhInv-cB4JDtxF_2rRqcLFnzxqg_X7G3YWm-T6s5-h1_EHGKjG0gVhW731kAt-quEWzyYkEGimpvmBo0SU_jGZupNQZX9iY/s1600-h/DSCN1283.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkzDYU9zZZSgd1Qq0NHPZI064yqr74tH8Q2PL4yp31-1sAEhInv-cB4JDtxF_2rRqcLFnzxqg_X7G3YWm-T6s5-h1_EHGKjG0gVhW731kAt-quEWzyYkEGimpvmBo0SU_jGZupNQZX9iY/s400/DSCN1283.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415836662350318882" /></a><br />A photograph of school taken during friendly cricket match and Soumen-Jagat-Samuel at the re-union.CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-29567611020341933822009-12-13T18:15:00.000+05:302009-12-14T13:42:49.690+05:30My SchoolMy fondest memories are from my school days. I had my primary schooling at St. Joseph's Convent, Ranjhi, Jabalpur. We were innocent kids then. I cried while being taken to school initially. I don' have many memories of my primary school but I vividly remember that one morning during assembly, my classmate Subir was called to the front after prayer. His hair had grown long. Sr Jude made him sit on a chair in front of all, called for scissors and cut his hair. It looked as if a mouse had run over his head!<br /><br />After our primary schooling, we moved on to St. Gabriel's School, Ranjhi, Jabalpur which was almost adjacent, with only a small church standing between these two schools. The year was 1965. Even before we had gone there, we had all heard about Dinkar Sir. You could have loved him or hated him but no one could ignore him. And, he wouldn't leave you alone either. He was just like an omnipresent policeman. You took one small wrong step and you would find him staring down upon you!<br /><br />If I were to name one person from the school who has impacted my life, it would be Bro. Frederick, my Chemistry teacher. He had a unique way of teaching Chemistry and spreading the message of Chemistry to one and all. We organized a Science Club, a Magic Club and a Photography Club. We learned science by doing real experiments. I remember assembling a telescope, a small radio transmitter and a substitute for the Kipp's Apparatus. We became soulmates while at school and I kept in touch with him till he passed away recently. I reverred him and he was always proud of me. When he was transferred from Jabalpur to Patna, we had gone to see him off at the railway station and I still remember that when the train started moving I bid him good bye and then started running on the platform after the train and waving madly with tears in my eyes. By his blessings, I was selected as a National Science Talent Scholar and got meritorious position in the Board examination.<br /><br />The other teachers whom I remember with a lot of respect are Mrs Prem Kheda, Bro John Bosco, Bro Joseph, Bro David, Mrs O D'Souza, Mrs Kulkarni, Mr Khare, Sharma Sir, Shukla Sir, Chaudhary Sir, Mehra Sir, Lazarus Sir and Shrivastav Sir. We had, on one hand, a teacher with a dhoti who taught us Sanskrit whom we called Pandit Sir and, on the other hand, a suited Englishman John Peak who came to our school every year for a few months all the way from England to teach us English Grammar. The standard and commitment to academics was of the highest level.<br /><br />We also played a lot of games in the evenings - football, cricket, volleyball, badminton, table tennis and what not. I was good at atheletics - enjoyed the 100 metres dash, football and cricket - a medium pacer. May be because of my overall performance in academics and sports, I was elected as the School Leader in the year 1970.<br /><br />Recently, many of us from the Class of 1971 visited our Alma Mater and had a re-union at the Kanha National Park. The school was gracious to arrange a beautiful cultural programme and friendly cricket match for us. Some of my classmates are Ainsley Niblett, Avinash Gaikwad, , Barkat Singh, Bijoy Mukherji, Cashmere Fernandez, Chandra Babu, Hardit Singh, Kumud Chakrapani, Rebecca Mullick, Richard Hendricks, Rita Basak, Rita Bhambani, Shanta Murthy, Samuel Walker, Shobha Pawar, K S Rajan, Mahendra Parmar, Mukundan Menon, Prabir Mitra, Soumen DasGupta, Subir Bhattacharya, Tapas Mukherji and Vijay Nair.<br /><br />I re-visited the school in the year 1976 in my new avatar as a Chemistry teacher which I remained till I joined the State Bank of India in October 1979. My colleagues were Mr O P Mehra, Chaudhary Sir, Dinkar Sir, Madam Tobin, Madam Pushpa, Bro Barnabas, Bro Philips and Bro William. I am touch with many of my students of those golden days through social networking sites.<br /><br />This is just a beginning. I will write more about my days at the school soon. Meanwhile, I introduce you to one my talented students, Shashwati SenGupta, whom I adore and who is in regular touch with many of her schoolmates. She has been after me to start writing this fast and has been pressing me hard. She has also promised to write me a testimonial and be my official biographer! I am requesting her to add some more pages to the sweet memories of our school. I also invite other Gabrielites to freely contribute to this blog. I may be reached at <a href="mailto:coolbisht@hotmail.com">coolbisht@hotmail.com</a>. Bye for the moment!CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1169881090041611406.post-16671322257900937382009-11-09T06:35:00.001+05:302009-12-10T12:12:49.840+05:30Life and TimesThis blog is about the life and times of Jagat Singh Bisht and his friends. Mostly based on facts but fiction cannot be ruled out as memory and judgement may fail at times. I invite anyone who has known me even remotely to contribute and enrich the contents of this blog.CoolBishthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00219593063374651673noreply@blogger.com0