అక్రూరుడితో శ్రీకృష్ణుడు మథురకు ప్రయాణం ...... శ్రీ మహాభాగవత కథ-63 : వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు

 అక్రూరుడితో శ్రీకృష్ణుడు మథురకు ప్రయాణం

 శ్రీ మహాభాగవత కథ-63

వనం జ్వాలా నరసింహారావు

సూర్యదినపత్రిక (02-12-2025)

కంII             చదివెడిది భాగవతమిది,

చదివించును కృష్ణు, డమృతఝరి పోతనయున్

                             చదివినను ముక్తి కలుగును,

చదివెద నిర్విఘ్నరీతి ‘జ్వాలా’ మతినై

కంసుడి ఆజ్ఞానుసారం అక్రూరుడు రథం ఎక్కి వ్రేపల్లెకు పయనమయ్యాడు. ఈ లోపున కేశి అనే రాక్షసుడు కూడా అశ్వరూపంలో, వాయువేగంతో వ్రేపల్లెకు బయల్దేరాడు. వాడు వ్రేపల్లెకు రాగానే అతడి భయంకరమైన సకిలింపుల వల్ల వెలువడిన ధ్వనికి గోవులు, ఆడవారు, మగవారు, పసిబిడ్డలు భయభ్రాంతులయ్యారు. ఆ మందలో కృష్ణుడు ఎక్కడున్నాడా అని వెతికాడు రాక్షసుడు. అతడిని చూసి గుర్తించిన కృష్ణుడు వాడిని యుద్ధానికి పిలిచాడు. ఇద్దరి మధ్య యుద్ధం జరిగింది. కృష్ణుడు తన చేతిని వాడి నోట్లోకి చొప్పించి, వాడి పండ్లన్నీ రాలిపోయేట్లు చేశాడు. చివరకు వాడు తన మాయారూపాన్ని వదిలి తన్నుకుంటూ, అరుస్తూ, నేలకూలాడు. వాడి దేహం రెండుగా చీలిపోయింది. అలా కృష్ణుడు కేశి అనే ఆ రాక్షసుడిని సంహరించాడు.

అప్పుడక్కడికి నారద మహర్షి వచ్చాడు. భూభారాన్ని తగ్గించడానికి అవతరించాడు కృష్ణుడని స్తుతించాడు. ఇంకా ఆయన చేతుల్లో చావడానికి చాణూరుడు, ముష్టికుడు, కువలయాపీడమనే ఏనుగు, కంసుడు, శంఖుడు, కాలయవనుడు, మురాసురుడు, నరకాసురుడు, పౌండ్రక వాసుదేవుడు, శిశుపాలుడు, దంతవక్త్రుడు, సాల్వుడు మొదలైన వారున్నారని అన్నాడు. ఇంకా ఆయన చేయాల్సిన పనులు అనేకం వున్నాయని, అవన్నీ లెక్కపెట్టడం ఎవరి తరం కాదని అన్నాడు నారదుడు. ఇలా చెప్పి నారదుడు కృష్ణుడిని స్తోత్రం చేసుకుంటూ వెళ్లిపోయాడు.

ఒకనాడు గోపబాలురు కృష్ణుడితో కలిసి అడవికి పోయి పశువులను మేపుతుంటే మయుడనే రాక్షసుడి కొడుకు వ్యోముడు ఒక గొల్ల పిల్లవాడిలాగా వచ్చి వారిలో కలిశాడు. పిల్లలు ఆడుకునే దొంగాటలో చేరి, నలుగురైదుగురిని తప్ప మిగతా పిల్లలను కొండగుహలోకి తీసుకుపోయాడు. వారందరినీ దాంట్లో వుంచి పెద్ద బండతో ద్వారాన్ని కప్పేసి ఏమీ తెలియనివాడిలాగా వెనక్కు వచ్చాడు. ఇది గ్రహించిన శ్రీకృష్ణుడు వాడిని ఒడిసి పట్టాడు. విడిపించుకోవడానికి వాడికి బలం సరిపోలేదు. కృష్ణుడు వ్యోమాసురుడిని చంపాడు. తరువాత పర్వత గుహ దగ్గరికి వెళ్లి బండను తొలగించి, గొల్ల పిల్లలను బయటకు తెచ్చి అంతా కలిసి వ్రేపల్లెకు వెళ్లారు.

ఇది జరిగిన నాటి మర్నాడు రథం ఎక్కి గోకులానికి పోతూ అక్రూరుడు, శ్రీకృష్ణ దర్శనానికి పోతున్న తన అదృష్టానికి ఆనందించాడు. అలా తాను పోవడానికి కారణమైన కంసుడు తనకు నిజమైన స్నేహితుడని భావించాడు. తనను చూసి కృష్ణుడు ఏవిధంగా తలుస్తాడోనని విచారించసాగాడు. వ్రేపల్లెకు చేరుకుంటూ, కృష్ణ బలరాములు సంతోషంగా సంచరించే బృందావనం చూశారు. చూసి అందులోకి ప్రవేశించాడు. అక్కడ గొల్లవారు గోవులను పిలిచే శబ్దాలను వినసాగాడు. పశువుల వెంట లేగదూడలను ఎత్తుకుని నడుస్తున్న గొల్లవారిని చూశాడు. మరింత ముందుకు పోయి కృష్ణ ధ్యానంలో వుండి అతడి కొరకు ఎదురుచూస్తున్న గోపికా స్త్రీలను చూశాడు. ఈ విధంగా బలరామకృష్ణుల రక్షణలో వున్న వ్రేపల్లెలోకి అక్రూరుడు ప్రవేశించాడు.

రథం దిగి కృష్ణుడిని చూడాలన్న తహతహతో వున్న అక్రూరుడు ఒకేసారి బలరామకృష్ణులను చూశాడు. కన్నుల నుండి ఆనంద భాష్పాలు రాలుతుంటే వారి పాదాలకు వినయంగా మొక్కాడు. భక్తులంటే ప్రేమ గల కృష్ణుడు హస్తం చాచి అక్రూరుడిని కౌగలించుకున్నాడు. ఆ తరువాత అక్రూరుడు బలరాముడికి నమస్కారం చేశాడు. ఆయన కూడా అక్రూరుడిని కౌగలించుకుని, చేయి పట్టుకుని, కృష్ణుడితో సహా ఇంటికి పోయారు. కుశల ప్రశ్నల అనంతరం నందుడు అక్రూరుడితో సంభాషించాడు. మామ కంసుడిని గురించి, తల్లితండ్రులు దేవకీ-వసుదేవుల గురించి అక్రూరుడిని అడిగాడు కృష్ణుడు. అక్రూరుడు వచ్చిన కారణం కూడా చెప్పమన్నాడు. నారదుడు కంసుడి దగ్గరికి వచ్చి బలరామకృష్ణుల సంగతి చెప్పడం దగ్గరనుండి, ధనుర్యాగం పేరు చెప్పి వారిద్దరిని తీసుకురమ్మని కంసుడు తనను పంపడం దాకా అన్ని విషయాలు చెప్పాడు అక్రూరుడు.

ఇదంతా విన్న కృష్ణుడు తన చుట్టూ వున్న నందుడు మొదలైన గోపకులను చూసి, కంసుడు యాగానికి పిలిచాడు కాబట్టి తప్పక వెళ్లాలి కదా! అన్నాడు. పాలు, పెరుగు, నెయ్యి, కట్నకానుకలు తీసుకుని వాహనాలలో బయల్దేరమని వారికి చెప్పాడు. అక్రూరుడు కృష్ణుడిని మధురకు తీసుకు పోతున్నాడని తెలిసి గోపికలు కలత చెందారు. ఆయన పోకుండా చేసే ఉపాయమేమైనా వున్నదా అని ఆలోచించారు. విరహతాపంతో భ్రాంతిని పొందారు. గోవిందా! దామోదరా! మాధవా! అంటూ స్వరబద్ధంగా పాటలు పాడారు. తన వెంట వస్తానన్న గోపికల ప్రయాణాన్ని నిలిపి వేశాడు కృష్ణుడు. నందుడు మొదలైన గోపాలురంతా తన వెంట రాగా అక్రూరుడు నడుపుతున్న రథాన్ని ఎక్కి మథురా పట్టణ మార్గాన బయల్దేరాడు కృష్ణుడు.

దారి మధ్యలో బలరామకృష్ణులు, అక్రూరుడు యమునానదిని చూశారు. కాలింది మడుగులో నీళ్లు తాగి బలరామకృష్ణులు చెట్టునీడన రథం మీద కూచోగా, అక్రూరుడు నదిలో దిగి వేదమంత్రాలను జపిస్తూ స్నానం చేశాడు. అక్రూరుడికి బలరామకృష్ణులు కాసేపు నీళ్లలో రథం మీద కూచున్నట్లు, కాసేపు చెట్టుకింద రథం మీద కూచున్నట్లు కనిపించారు. అక్రూరుడికి ఆశ్చర్యం వేసింది అలా చూడగానే. కాసేపైన తరువాత అక్రూరుడు నదీ జలాల్లో ఆదిశేషుడిని చూశాడు. స్తోత్రం చేశాడు ఆయన్ను చూసి. తనను పలుపలు విధాలుగా స్తోత్రం చేస్తున్న అక్రూరుడికి యమునా నదీ జలాల్లో చతుర్భుజ శంఖ చక్రాది చిహ్నాలతో తన స్వరూపాన్ని చూపించి అంతర్థానమయ్యాడు కృష్ణుడు. ఆ తరువాత అక్రూరుడు నీళ్లలో నుండి బయటకొచ్చాడు. ‘విచిత్రాలన్నీ నీలోనే వున్నాయి మహాత్మా!’ అని కృష్ణుడికి చెప్పి, సాయం సమయానికి మథురా పట్టణానికి చేరుకునేట్లుగా రథాన్ని తోలాడు. చేరి, రథాన్ని తీసుకు పొమ్మని అక్రూరుడికి చెప్పాడు కృష్ణుడు. (బమ్మెర పోతన శ్రీమహాభాగవతం, రామకృష్ణ మఠం ప్రచురణ ఆధారంగా)

A Beacon of Humanity: Par Excellence Human-Interest Story ..... The Legacy of Rabi Singh and the Spirit of Arihanth Ashoka By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao (As narrated by Dr AV Manohar Rao)

 A Beacon of Humanity: Par Excellence 

Human-Interest Story

The Legacy of Rabi Singh and 

the Spirit of Arihanth Ashoka

‘GREAT LOVE, CONSISTENCY, COMPASSION, 

DEEP HUMAN VALUES’

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

(As narrated by Dr AV Manohar Rao)

{{Published in Metro India under the Title 

'Humanity at the Gate: 

A Watchman who  became Family' on December 3, 2025}} 

In today’s fast-paced world, where individualism often overshadows empathy, every now and then emerges a story that restores faith in humanity. This is one such story, a real and deeply touching narrative that unfolded just few days ago in Hyderabad. It is not merely a story of grief, but of goodness, unity, compassion, and the invisible strength of human values. It is the story of a humble man, Rabi Singh, and the extraordinary warmth shown by the residents of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments and their neighboring community.

Eight years ago, a young, soft-spoken 21-year-old from Ranchi, Jharkhand, stepped into Hyderabad with nothing but hope, a willingness to work, and an honest smile. His name was Rabi Singh. He joined a security services firm for a modest salary. But what he lacked in material possessions, he made up with sincerity, dedication, humility, and genuine warmth. Wherever he was posted, he left an imprint, not merely as a security guard, but as a human being who cared.

The residents of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments recognized this earnestness and soon ensured that he was permanently placed with them. From then on, he was not just a watchman. He was caretaker, helper, guide, and above all, family. Understanding his humble background, the residents decided to pay him a little extra, compensating for agency commissions, and offering a special allowance. Over time, Rabi became not just the beloved caretaker of the 27-flat Arihanth Ashoka Apartments, but also a familiar, trusted, and respected figure for the entire Street Number 4 community in Ashoknagar, comprising nearly 230 families.

With his gentle manners, reliability, and affection, Rabi Singh became everyone's 'Blue-Eyed Boy.' Meanwhile, destiny had its own timetable. Just as quietly as he had entered their lives, his time was destined to end too soon. Death does not discriminate. At the age of 29, when life should have been blooming, fate intervened tragically.

Late one night, around 1 AM, 83-year-old Subba Rao, President of Arihanth Ashoka Apartments, received a phone call from Jharkhand. The voice of an unknown person on the other end broke the heartbreaking news that, Rabi Singh had been in his hometown attending to his hospitalized mother when he met with a fatal road accident. He had died on the spot.

Moments later, grief reached his little family too. Rabi’s wife, Pushpa, carrying their two young children, five-year-old Rudr and two-year-old Trisha, stood at Subba Rao’s door, sobbing in disbelief. The children, too innocent to understand, cried alongside their mother. In that moment of speechlessness and shock, Subba Rao, though grieving, rose to collect his strength, and his community awakened.

It is worth mentioning that Arihanth Ashoka is largely a community of senior citizens, many over 80 years of age. Yet, in that hour of need, age was no barrier. The elders acted wisely. They quickly reached out to the younger residents nearby, knowing that collective compassion was the key. Soon, help began to arrive. Kolluru Srinivas Prasad, a young executive living in the opposite apartment, responded immediately to the late-night call. With grace and selflessness, he stood beside Subba Rao and shouldered himself much of the responsibility, not out of duty, but out of humanity. Age and youth walked hand in hand, led by compassion.

The first decision taken was both urgent and humane. That was, Pushpa and her children should reach Jharkhand immediately, to see Rabi’s body before the funeral. Air travel was the only viable option, though costly. But the cost did not matter, but only kindness did. Without hesitation, residents pooled together ₹60,000 overnight. They booked tickets for Pushpa and the children on the earliest available flight, which incidentally had three vacant seats. kept some cash with Pushpa (Wife of Rabi Singh).  

The Humane and Compassionate with all his concern, the neighbor, Srinivas Prasad personally drove them to the airport. Meanwhile, Subba Rao contacted his friend, a senior executive with Indigo Airlines in Bangalore, requesting special care for the family when they landed in Ranchi. The reason was for them traveling by flight was strange experience and that too at a tragic time. They reached their place in time. It was not just help. It was dignity. And dignity is the purest form of love.

The Human-Interest Story in this is simply Great and at every stage there is a message and lots and lots of learning points. Firstly, on knowing the tragic incident, instantly, with no exception, all residents-both owners and tenants-of the Arihanth Ashoka Apartments as well as a neighboring resident, volunteered and with their munificent on the spot contributions, came to the rescue of Pushpa (and her children) wife of their watchman cum security cum caretaker Late Rabi Singh.

This story is not merely about financial help. It is a shining example of human values: respect, gratitude, belongingness, and emotional responsibility. Over the course of the next few days, both owners and tenants, young and old, even children of residents living abroad, reached out to support and contribute. They considered Rabi’s family not as outsiders, but as their own.

Rabi had joined them as a bachelor. He married Pushpa, also from Jharkhand, and was blessed with two beautiful children, Rudr and Trisha, miraculously both born on the same day and date. They lived in a room on the terrace of the apartments, not as tenants, but as extended family. Their birthdays were celebrated by all residents every year, just like grandchildren of the community. One resident, a schoolteacher, had lovingly taken care of the children since they were two months old, allowing Pushpa to work part-time and support the family's income. That was not charity. It was shared humanity. It showed that kindness is not always loud; sometimes, it is quietly lived.

The Association sent a message to Rabi’s family assuring them that they were always welcome to return and live with them, if they chose to. The entire Street Number 4 community, including Member of Parliament Dr Lakshman, expressed their willingness to extend help and support. Strength, in times of grief, is not found in words, but in shoulders offered to lean on.

Dr Manohar Rao, my brother-in-law narrated this Human-Interest Story. He mentioned that, the Residents Welfare Association of Street Number 4, consisting of over 230 families, has long been known for its initiatives of cleanliness drives, security, cultural celebrations, supporting neighbors in distress, and now, proposing Group Insurance for all watchmen, caretakers, and support staff, a visionary idea with immense potential to become a model for other communities and perhaps even a national movement. ‘Role Model of Community Unity and Strength’ indeed.

In a remarkable twist, it was revealed that just a week before his death, Rabi had sent his 23-year-old nephew from Jharkhand to take charge of his duty temporarily, almost as if he had sensed something. His humility and sense of responsibility were so deep that even unknowingly, he ensured his adopted family, the residents, would not face inconvenience. Perhaps, some souls simply know when their journey is about to pause.

This story teaches us something profound, that greatness does not always wear a uniform, hold a title, or command attention. Sometimes, it stands silently at a gate, smiles politely, remembers names, cares for people, and becomes part of a family not by blood, but by heart.

Mother Teresa once said, ‘THERE ARE NO GREAT ACTS, ONLY SMALL ACTS DONE WITH GREAT LOVE, CONSISTENCY, COMPASSION, AND DEEP HUMAN VALUES.” This story is living proof. And perhaps, this is how communities become families. This is how humans become truly humane. This is how humanity survives, flourishes, and inspires. 

Need for Power-Driven Wheelchairs in Airports By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Need for Power-Driven Wheelchairs in Airports

By Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Hans India (30-11-2025)

{The wheelchair facility is a critical service aimed at assisting passengers with mobility challenges, the elderly, disabled, or those with temporary health issues. Its genesis dates back to the mid-20th century when airlines and airports sought to accommodate passengers with diverse needs. The service stemmed from a desire to make air travel more inclusive}-Hans Editor’s Synoptic Message

The recent notification of Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) revising norms for air travel, which included allowing airlines to levy a fee for wheelchair use by travelers who have no disabilities, is a genuine decision.

This ensures availability of the facility to those who truly need it the most, and prevents misuse of wheelchairs by able bodied passengers. Airports are also expected to ensure the facility of an ambulift or provide a towable ramp, to help wheelchair passengers, embark and disembark with ease.

At the age of 77+, I visited a year ago with my 72+ wife, who had knee problems, traveling from Hyderabad to Amsterdam via Frankfurt on Lufthansa Airlines with a Schengen Visa, to spend few weeks with family members there. What it was to be Comfortable Business Class Travel, turned uncomfortable experience, due to the ‘Inappropriate Wheelchair Facility,’ not only in Hyderabad but also in Frankfurt and Amsterdam.

At Shamshabad Airport, blatant negligence was shown by the concerned airline staff. My wife, unable to walk from place to place due to her age and knee pain, suffered throughout the process to board or change the craft.

Shockingly, in Hyderabad, we were made to wait at the check-in counter, and finally none turned up until we decided to move on our own, fearing last-minute running. Only at that stage, one wheelchair was provided to my wife. I had to walk slowly alongside her. After the security check, I got into a battery car till the boarding gate.

At the time of boarding, the wheelchair attendant again did not turn up, and my daughter who accompanied us, had to push it herself. In Frankfurt, the experience was slightly better. In Amsterdam too, only one chair was available, which a lady attendant pushed with my wife in it, till the vehicle. She also helped with luggage collection, and we compensated her gesture.

On the return journey, incessant persuasion by my son worked, and though a bit delayed, we both were initially provided wheelchairs. But after the security check, instead of two persons, only one person remained to push two chairs alternately. After reaching the boarding counter, he left, promising to return at the time of boarding, but never turned up. To our surprise, half an hour before departure, the boarding gate number was changed.

We were panicky, as the distance to walk to the new gate was about a kilometer. Despite my problem, I had to push the wheelchair with my wife in it. Fortunately, at the eleventh hour, we reached the counter and boarded.

On reaching Frankfurt, the story turned more distressing. We were advised to be in our seats until the wheelchairs arrived. After the entire flight became empty, the crew, while leaving, assured us that we would be taken care of. None turned up, and we had no alternative, except waiting with crossed fingers.

 Eventually, we saw a small bus near the ladder. With difficulty, we got down and entered it. We were dropped inside a gate about which we had no clue. The stopover time was hardly two hours. We were alarmed. However, at the last moment, we both were literally pushed in a namesake wheelchair and left to our fate at the boarding gate.

On reaching Hyderabad Airport, no wheelchair facility was available, and by then, with all the unpleasant experiences we had, we decided to walk with great difficulty instead of waiting. The root cause of the entire problem lies in it being a free service that many opt for, whether genuinely needed or not.

Overenthusiastic airline authorities cannot provide the service to all, and this approach is absolutely wrong. What was the genesis of the wheelchair facility in airports worldwide? Which airline started it first? How successful has it been? What are its significant drawbacks? How is it being misused? Why not charge for it so that it may improve? How can the service be better provided? These are pertinent questions to ponder.

The wheelchair facility is a critical service aimed at assisting passengers with mobility challenges, the elderly, disabled, or those with temporary health issues. Its genesis dates back to the mid-20th century when airlines and airports sought to accommodate passengers with diverse needs.

The service stemmed from a desire to make air travel more inclusive. Major international airlines like Pan Am and American Airlines were among the first to offer wheelchair assistance, which later became a standardized service across airlines worldwide.

Gradually, Wheelchair Assistance has become an essential service at most airports, often mandated by aviation authorities such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), the US Department of Transportation, and India’s DGCA.

It provides a vital lifeline for passengers who cannot navigate large terminals, those with permanent disabilities, the elderly, or individuals temporarily impaired due to injury or illness, often traveling alone with no one to help.

However, drawbacks and issues have been plenty, as reflected in our experience. Long wait times, lack of personnel, and poor coordination, especially during layovers in large hubs like Frankfurt, are common. The service often suffers from undertrained or overburdened staff. Airport or Airline contractors usually handle it, leading to variability in quality across airports.

Lack of wheelchairs or staff during peak times is another issue. Increased demand, especially from passengers who do not genuinely need assistance but use it to skip long lines, further strains the system.

Charging for wheelchair service may seem like a deterrent to misuse, but it risks making travel inaccessible for those who genuinely need it. Air travel is already costly, and adding fees for essential accessibility services could burden disabled or elderly passengers. However, as part of genuine improvements and future enhancements, a thought may be given to better staffing and training for efficient handling of wheelchair assistance.

Technology integration, such as real-time tracking systems, medical proof screening, and enhanced coordination during layovers in large international hubs, could make transitions seamless.

Who should be held responsible for the inability to comply with the request, having agreed to it and keeping aged passengers tense until the last minute, and finally not turning up, as it happened to us when I had to push my wife’s chair myself and walking long distance with difficulty, despite my age of 77?

Undoubtedly, the responsibility for failure to provide wheelchair assistance promptly lies with the airline, airport ground-handling services, and airport management. They all together and separately, must be held accountable for not delivering agreed services, especially considering the physical and emotional strain faced by elderly passengers.

Wheelchair assistance in airports faces multidimensional challenges, from inconsistent service quality to overuse, inadequate manpower, and poor coordination between airlines and ground-handling agencies. Charging for the facility may not be the best solution, as it risks restricting accessibility for passengers who truly need it, particularly the elderly and those with medical conditions.

Instead, the focus must shift toward structural and technological reform. Airlines and airport authorities should invest in continuous training programs for attendants, coupled with real-time digital tracking of wheelchair requests.

Dedicated ‘Mobility Support Units’ in airports, functioning round the clock under a single nodal authority, could vastly improve service efficiency and passenger confidence. It seems that Singapore’s Changi Airport, London’s Heathrow, Dubai International etc. have adopted advanced models, ranging from automated electric wheelchairs to pre-bookable smart mobility services managed through mobile apps.

India too, through DGCA’s proactive approach, study them and can initiate a nationwide policy standardizing minimum service levels, mandatory response times, and graded certification for ground-handling agencies providing wheelchair assistance.

A thoughtful step in the direction of incentivizing private innovation by encouraging partnerships with reputed mobility technology companies to introduce power-driven wheelchairs and robotic mobility aids within terminals, may ensure safety, dignity, and autonomy for elderly and disabled travelers.

The Silent Strength of Courtesy and Gratitude ...... A Mirror for the Self-Assured : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 The Silent Strength of Courtesy and Gratitude

A Mirror for the Self-Assured

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

(November 28, 2025)

Published in The Pioneer on December 3, 2025

In the corridors of power, in homes where wisdom resides, and in institutions where knowledge is cultivated, a quiet truth often goes unnoticed that, greatness is not just built on talent, intellect, or ambition, but it is deeply anchored in humility, gratitude, and the grace of acknowledging others. These qualities do not merely decorate our character. They define its strength. The story of human conduct, whether in personal relationships or public life, begins with four simple yet profound words, which are moral compasses and character barometers. They are: Please, Thank You, I Am Sorry, and You Are Welcome.

From ancient Indian traditions to modern leadership doctrines, expressing gratitude and showing respect have always been considered fundamental righteous virtues. Yet, in today’s ambition driven world, few individuals, especially on climbing ladders of influence, tend to forget these basics. It is not out of ignorance, but out of arrogance. Courtesy becomes optional, gratitude becomes rare, and relationships become transactional or negotiable. These individuals rise out of coincidence, circumstance, or convenience, but without roots, and eventually, without respect.

This article is a reflection and a subtle message to those who have the power to shape systems, influence minds, and touch lives, to gently look within and discover whether success has blinded their civility. Equally it carries another message that, some ‘Magic Words That Build Character’ carry extraordinary power. They open hearts, mend wounds, and elevate relationships. They are neither ornamental nor ceremonial, but they are essentially foundational.

Please reflects humility. It acknowledges that one is requesting, not demanding. Thank You reflects recognition. It admits that something received was not an entitlement but a gesture. I Am Sorry reflects integrity. It shows the courage to accept fault without feeling small. You Are Welcome reflects generosity. It acknowledges the value of giving without seeking returns. People, especially in authority which they reached through help, should understand the strength of these words. That build not just influence, but trust. They do not need to announce their authority. People willingly give it to them. But those who see acknowledgments as weakness, apologies as defeat, and gratitude as unnecessary, may build empires, but ultimately stand alone in them, unsupported and brittle.

Why an accomplishment, in all probabilities, purely temporary in its nature, or at the most, semi-permanent, however much authoritarian position it might be, outgrow the appreciation, is a mystery. There are certain individuals whose leadership journeys are profoundly inspiring. Let us appreciate them. Nevertheless, they conveniently forget their early steps which were ably and genuinely guided by the goodwill of mentors. They also deliberately forget the support of well-wishers, and the silent blessings of those who believed in their potential. The reason simple: As ambition ascends, memory sometimes fades. They overlook the hands that helped them climb. They hold titles but lose values.

One such individual, well educated, once little known, and less noticed, knocked on the doors of opportunity seeking guidance of an elderly person known through his kin. He did not come alone. There was a hope, trust, and dependency in his inner calm. A helping hand was extended to him by the elderly, not for personal gain, but for pure goodwill as a family friend. From accommodation and advice, to introductions and interventions, that hand paved pathways for him. Coupled with his inner strengths, and with each milestone, his stature grew. And so did his silence. He achieved what he desired, proudly wearing the crown of success, yet somewhere on that ladder, he left behind the footprints of gratitude.

This is a phenomenon that exists in many spheres of life. Ungratefulness is rarely loud. Typically, it is silent, deliberate, and masked. It is not always in words, but often in the lack of them. The absence of acknowledgement, the refusal to accept past help, the eagerness to rewrite history as a one-man journey, are subtle signs. Few people believe that admitting help exposes their dependency. They seldom realize that, the ability to acknowledge others does not diminish one's greatness, but it magnifies it. The most dangerous kind of ungratefulness is not forgetting the favor, but remembering it and pretending it never existed. This is ‘the Paradox of the Ungrateful.’

Some individuals become indifferent because success gives them visibility, but not vision. Ambition gives them direction, but not reflection. They rise, but they do not understand who helped them rise. They stand tall, not recognizing that the base of their height was built by many unseen hands. For them, relationships become ladders. Once climbed, they are forgotten. They believe they are self-made, despite the truth that, no one truly is. Even a seed cannot become a tree without soil, water, sunlight, and time.

It is time that such people comprehend that, ‘Leadership Without Gratitude Is Only Power Without Grace.’ Great leaders command respect, not demand it. Their civility speaks it. A truly accomplished leader never forgets the teacher who opened the first door, the friend who provided the first platform, the mentor who gave the first opportunity, or the supporter who stood by when no spotlight shone on them. Leadership is not merely about strategy, oratory, or achievement. It is about acknowledgment.

A leader may command authority, but not affection if he or she is ungrateful. People may obey them, but never truly follow them. The Beauty of Humble Hearts is the Silent Power of Apology, which is not submission, but strength. It takes courage to accept errors, wisdom to correct them, and humility not to hesitate to apologize. None is always right, though they are always proud. Those who cherish relationships over ego are the ones remembered. The rest, only feared, and eventually, forgotten.

Greatness without grace is like a tall tree without roots. It appears strong, but one storm is enough to bring it down. This is not a criticism. It is a mirror. It is meant for anyone who once received help and subsequently forgotten to acknowledge it. It is meant for those who do not believe that relationships are stepping stones and cornerstones. It is meant for those who confuse fame with respect and success with stature. Those who possess brilliance, strategy, and oratory, but lack humility, may achieve fame, and accumulate wealth, but rarely earn loyalty.

A ‘Gentle Wake-Up Call’: If one has climbed high, the world applauds, but if one forgets who held the ladder, the applause eventually fades. One does not become extraordinary by merely achieving position, wealth, or recognition. One becomes extraordinary by retaining sensitivity, gratitude, and humility while standing in those positions. Those who extend help do not seek monuments or medals. They only want acknowledgment, not for their benefit, but for the dignity of human relationships.

In the end, when titles fade, positions change, and crowds disperse, only character remains. And character is built not on pride, but on gratitude. So, to anyone who has risen through life, look not just upward, but backward. Remember the doors that opened, the hands that lifted, and the voices that believed in you when you were still becoming. Because success is not how far one goes, but how gracefully one remembers. And sometimes, all it takes is to say: Thank You.

(This is a Gentle Reminder and Not a Reproach. These reflections are not drawn from mere observation but from decades of close associations with leaders, professionals, and achievers. I have seen people rise with the support of many, and then behave as if they arrived alone. It is painful, not because gratitude was expected, but because silence replaced simple acknowledgment. When gratitude disappears, relationships are not merely forgotten. They are devalued. I write this not to complain, but to remind that, greatness is never self-made, and humility is never optional).

Modi Revisits Sri Ram, Memory Turns Mission in Ayodhya : Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

 Modi Revisits Sri Ram, 

Memory Turns Mission in Ayodhya

Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao

The Pioneer (27-11-2025)

{‘Dharma Dhwaja is the renaissance of Indian civilization. Ram eternally connects everyone through emotions. Dharma Dhwaja is the glory of the Solar dynasty inscribed upon it and the sacred Om depicted. The engraved Kovidar tree symbolizes the greatness of Ram Rajya. proclaiming the ideals and principles of Lord Ram’} – Editor’s Synoptic Note

Watching on TV, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s spiritual walk in Ayodhya, on November 25, 2025, the feeling one gets was that, it was not just a physical circuit, but a deeply symbolic one, mirroring the Dhvani (Resonance) Kavya Valmiki Ramayana’s Rhythm of Devotion. He consciously visited shrines and sacred spots connected to Valmiki, Vasistha, Vishwamitra, Agastya, Nishadraj, Shabari, Jatayu and of Hanuman with devotion, highlighting how Ayodhya was not just the birthplace of Ram but the cradle where sages, saints, and seekers shaped the spiritual civilization of Bharat.

In every mention later, he linked Sri Rama’s journey with the collective wisdom of Rishis, implying that Rama story is also the story of Indian consciousness. Every gesture of Modi in Ayodhya carried sincerity, restraint, and humility. His unhurried temple walk, pausing to connect with priests, artisans, and devotees, touching the sanctified ground, and quietly absorbing the divinity, presented a unique precedent of how a temple is to be experienced, not as a monument, but as a living presence.

When he looked at the presiding Temple Priest, the way Modi with folded hands and bowed head spoke with him, it reflected not protocol, but genuine reverence. His heartfelt greeting the RSS Sarsanghchalak (Chief) Dr Mohan Bhagwat even while departing, marked by humility rather than prominence, reflected the value system where respect is neither staged nor obligatory, but is organic. 

From time immemorial, in the vast cultural continuum of Akhand Bharath, Sri Rama, the one and only divine name charms as heartbeat of all Indians. As Ayodhya rises as a Civilizational Statement, a unique and continuous civilization in its own right, here is our Prime Minister Narendra Modi, by chanting ‘Jai Siyavar Ramchandra, Jai Siyaram’ claimed that, the entire Nation, and World, was filled with the Spirit of Rama. He said that, Sri Ram signifies ideals, discipline, and the supreme character of life, not just as a person, but as a value, discipline, and direction.

Modi ceremonially hoisted the saffron flag, ‘Dharma Dhwaja’ on the Shikhar of the Ram Janmabhoomi Temple coinciding the ‘Auspicious Vivah Panchami of the Shukla Paksha’ in the month of Margashirsha, in the Abhijit Muhurta. Modi declared that, this marked the culmination of a Yajna, whose fire remained ignited for 500 years, and never broke in belief even for a moment. ‘The divine glory of Shri Ram’s family have been enshrined in the form of Dharma Dhwaja in the most divine and grand temple,’ Said Modi.

 ‘Dharma Dhwaja is the renaissance of Indian civilization. Ram eternally connects everyone through emotions. Dharma Dhwaja is the glory of the Solar dynasty inscribed upon it and the sacred Om depicted. The engraved Kovidar tree symbolizes the greatness of Ram Rajya. proclaiming the ideals and principles of Lord Ram’ stated Modi. He displayed profound reverence at the Dharma Dhwaja, folding his hands and lowering his eyes, not as a statesman asserting accomplishment, but as a true devotee acknowledging divine grace.

Modi contextually recapped the Valmiki Ramayana Sarga, in which Lakshmana, upon seeing Bharata from a distance, about to reach Chitrakoot, with his army during Rama’s exile, recognized Ayodhya’s forces, not by weapons or force, but by the majestic saffron flag embroidered with the sacred Kovidar tree, symbolizing Dharma, Lineage, Memory, and Spiritual Sovereignty. Thus, Dharma Dhwaja represents return of self-respect, heritage, and divine duty.

The Ram Mandir is a great turning point in Indian Spiritual History and Geography, the physical manifestation of civilizational resolve. Especially, it is a moral call to rediscover the values that Valmiki elicited from Sage Narada, who answered his question: ‘Is there a person embodying virtue, truth, compassion, sacrifice, intellect, righteousness, and grace’ with one word, Rama. Narada replied that, He was an eternal exemplar of Tyaga (Sacrifice), Dharma (Duty), and Maryada (Honor). Modi rightly evoked Ram Rajya as ‘The Model,’ where governance was compassionate, justice was righteous, and society reflected moral excellence. He reminded that Ram was the embodiment of discipline, truth, integrity, courage, empathy, and collective duty.

PM reminded that, when Shri Ram left Ayodhya for exile, he was Yuvaraj Ram. When he returned, he was ‘Maryada Purushottam’ depicting the knowledge of Brahmarshi Vashishtha, initiation of Brahmarshi Vishwamitra, guidance of Maharshi Agastya, friendship of Nishadraj Guha, affection of Mother Shabari, and devotion of Jai Hanuman. Rama returned not due to power, but due to values. And those values are now being enshrined again, not just in stone, but in spirit in Ayodhya. He said that seven temples have been built here for Brahmarshis Vasistha, Vishwamitra, Maharshi Agastya, Nishadraj Guha, Matas Shabari, Ahalya and Sant Tulsidas.

There is another layer to Modi’s message. He recalled that, nearly 190 years ago, Macaulay’s educational design systematically detached generations of Indians from their cultural roots. He reminded that independence came, but freedom from mental colonization did not and seeds of mental slavery were sowed. Modi gave a call for a new pledge that, the next ten years, must be dedicated to freeing India from this mental bondage, in tune with ideals of Dharma Dhwaja which embodied determination, struggle, and ultimate success. 

Ayodhya’s significance is geographical and philosophical, where ideals turned into conduct. Ayodhya, once an ancient river-bathed spiritual cradle, is re-emerging, as a site of pilgrimage and as a testament of identity. Modi envisions Ayodhya not only as a museum of the past, but also as a living, breathing harmony of heritage and futuristic progress. Ayodhya, which enshrined the principles of Dharma, aspires to become the capital of a morally enlightened, technologically empowered future.

The Ram Mandir’s towering Dharma Dhwaja is a flag not simply of dominance, but of dignity. Not of triumph over others, but triumph over doubt. It signals every Indian that, Ram is not about ritual, but about responsibility. Not about worship, but about transformation. Modi describes the metaphor of the chariot: wheels as valor and patience, flag as truth and highest conduct, horses as strength, wisdom, restraint, and benevolence, and sovereignties as forgiveness, compassion, and equality. This is Ram Rajya, the Governance model of values and Modi speaks with unparalleled reverence.   

And so, the story of Ram is no longer merely recited. It must now be lived. Just as Valmiki transformed from hunter to sage upon witnessing compassion, India too must evolve, guided by values, but not vanities. The true consecration was not of the idol alone, but of intention. Not just of Ram in Ayodhya, but of Ram within hearts. The question Modi left lingering is profound: ‘Rama Janma Bhoomi Temple is built. Saffron Flag Dharma Dhwaja is hoisted. Then what next?

The answer is equally profound. Together we build character, consciousness, Great Bharat, not just as a nation, but as a moral force, not just as an economy, but as an exemplar of humanity. Ram is the foundation. Ayodhya is the symbol. Education is the tool. And values are the direction. The temple may rise in stone, but Ram must rise within us. Only then will Bharat Truly rise.

PM Modiji’s manner of speaking, calm, centered, emotionally grounded, did not command attention, it invoked reflection. He never raised his voice to emphasize authority. Instead, he allowed silence, pauses, and reverence to convey sacredness. His words resonated not as a speech, but as a prayerful offering. In those moments, Narendra Modi was not just a leader describing Ram, but truthfully became a devotee embodying Ram, leading the way for others.

In his remarkably statesmanlike address, except for brief reference to the 500-year civilizational yearning, he consciously avoided any mention of demolition, disputes, judgments, exuberance, or past bitterness. Instead, he transformed the moment into a celebration of healing, harmony, and timeless cultural pride, setting the tone not of victory over others, but victory of values.