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Meditation – Best Addiction In Life

Our mind is a tool. The purpose of meditation is to learn using this tool and develop a feel for understanding God beyond what the mind shows in mundane life.

In this article, I am sharing the meditation technique, which I found very useful and works for me the best.

Our realities are different

Meditation is the most enjoyable experience in life. Depending on prevailing ‘Sanskars’, and external demands of life, I have seen many variations in my own form of meditation.

In these busy days, I am naturally converging to this form of meditation that I describe below. I am not sure if it appears in exactly this form in any other text of past. But then realities of my life are different from others. Demands of being extrovert are significantly higher. The forms of extrovertism have also changed significantly for people like me and youth of today. So much of exposure to mobile, laptop, internet, emails. For professionals, there is pressure and deadlines and quantity of work that is way higher than even in last decade. It is difficult to find out a completely quiet time for self. Hence, the way of meditation is also adapting to these changed realities. Most importantly, I am getting good results.

Shutting down distractions is the first challenge

Meditation is typically performed with closed eyes. That shuts down a major part of distractions. Being in a silent place shuts down another major component. And when these happen, typically the mind starts behaving like a monkey, frantically searching for a sense-organ to vent out its naughtiness. Or it starts getting into shutdown mode. In fact, I find many people confusing a nap with meditation. Nap itself is a good thing, especially if your are tired and did not have a good sleep. But the power of meditation is revealed when you are not sleep deprived.

Controlling the sleepiness is the second challenge

The goal of meditation is to control both sleepiness as well as monkey-ness of the mind. Thus, I find it beneficial to do a light warmup before meditation. Some light stretching and a deep breath are good enough. If you can time it with your workout time, nothing like it. If you can have some good workout, you would be wide alert and more focused. Then after meditation, you can resume your workout depending upon the kind of workout and meditation. This workout-meditation-workout cycle practically takes care of sleepiness to a large extent.

Calming the mind is the third challenge

Now the next challenge is to calm the mind. To tame the monkey, surrender to God is the best recipe I have discovered. I simply start thinking about life, the goal of life, how Supreme Lord is helping me, and gradually I start getting immersed in His enjoyment. What is important for this approach is that we understand what life is, what God is, what the purpose is, at least on a logical level, so that the emotional connect can be generated. That is why Patanjali enlists Swadhyaya or study as an essential component of Yoga. That is why the regular study of Vedic texts and introspection on them is so powerful. My books are honest reflections on this study and introspection process. For a modern youth, perhaps this is the best material available on this subject currently. As one progresses, one can move to more technical stuff that has much more power but need basic mastery. Eventually immersing in Veda mantras is the best thing.

Enjoying the company of God is the fourth challenge

As one enjoys the company of God, understanding Him, understanding self, with eyes closed, emotions start flowing out. At times, if you have been too distracted with worldly things, you may have to start the initial flow of emotions forcibly. You can start randomly with whatever enjoyable experience you have had in past and shift yourself into that. And then focus on your feelings at that time or situation, irrespective to things and people around you. Now start thanking Supreme Lord for giving the capacity to feel such enjoyments. Now gradually realize that source of enjoyment is within and hence even when no external stimulus is there, you can still generate this enjoyment from within. Thank Supreme Lord for that. Now gradually flow with emotions thanking Him again and again.

You need not thank Him in poetic language. It is just a feeling with or without words. Ideally without words, but don’t force yourself. Simply flow as it comes.

Repeat with other enjoyment occasions if required. But soon you would be filled with exhilaration. I never required to think of more than one enjoyment occasion. Everything starts triggering naturally, and I just enjoy.

Being a good team-worker with God is the fifth challenge

Now start feeling what does God demand from you to provide you such enjoyments. What should be your responsibility to be a good team-worker with God? Now you gradually start feeling the Theory of Karma. You get what you do. And you do what you think. If you surrender all thoughts to Him – who alone is a source of enjoyment – you will have continuous enjoyment. Feel yourself beyond time with Him always. He is always with you, and as you do, so he gifts.

Thus, move towards cleansing your mind of negativity that is against the spirit of this teamwork with God. Clear out each negativity as it comes. Take strong resolve to be the best now. Resolve to never give up and put your best in the same manner as God is putting his best. If it is required, be specific else simply flow with emotions. The Yam and Niyam of Yoga Darshan are good memory tags to help the process. Think of each of them, resolve, thank Him, feel the happiness and enjoy!

Reciting Ved Mantra during mediation

By this time, not one but multiple kinds of emotions will fill you. Don’t try to separate them. Holistically feel them all with silence. If an external noise or distraction comes, associate that also with enjoyment with Supreme Lord. To assist, at this point you can start reciting Om with each breath. I find it very powerful.

Now with each Om, emotional fun with Lord will keep increasing. Be there. Feel Him beyond senses, beyond mind, beyond everything. Simply He and You.

After sometime, monkey mind will start jumping again as it is not habituated to keeping silent for so long. Open the eyes at this time and break the pattern. Then again, close and start Om journey. Do it several times. Monkey will get subdued.

Meditation during worldly actions

Now open your eyes and start resolving or repeating the resolves. Thank again. Look at the world around you and see if that connect with Lord still remains. Since you have to live in this outside world for rest of the day, make sure you have Lord with you here as well. It is easy to practice meditation in silence with closed eyes. But the power of meditation must reach in this world that you will live in for 16 hours of your day.

If you feel the connection is vanishing, close eyes again, reconnect, open eyes and check again. With practice, you would be able to maintain the connection in the external world as well. Chant a few Oms loudly if possible.

Now start indulging in some activity. Again check the connection. You would find that a basic connection gets established that is always there at the back of mind. You are done!

Now make a habit of stopping every couple of hours or so, closing the eyes, discovering the connection, and reestablish it externally. This technique acts like a constant power booster. If possible, repeat the longer version in the evening as well, for say, 15 minutes at least. And once more before you sleep.

Meditation in bed time

To sleep, close the eyes, repeat the same thing but allow sleepiness to overpower if it does. Simply surrender chanting Om with each breath. If thoughts start monkeying, ignore and continue the Om. Soon you will master them.

Summary

This method is a basic meditation method that I, personally, found very powerful and is bringing wonders, effectiveness, intuitiveness, and success in life. One can combine it with various other methods and customize for special requirements.

Once addicted to this, no other addiction is worth even thinking about.
May Supreme Lord provide this Soma Ras always!

Om Shantih Shantih Shantih

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The Fire Within

There is this Fire within
That refuses to go down

I get lost often in the noise
Of world inside and outside
But then I suddenly realize:
There is this Fire within
That refuses to go down

I tried hard, the world tried harder
To douse the fire, give it no fuel
But it keeps burning
And refuses to go down

It burns me, makes me uncomfortable
But this discomfort is all I love in me
I exist till it keeps burning
And refuses to go down

I see the Fire everywhere
Inside me outside me
Wherever I see, whatever I see
Its Fire everywhere

This Fire is all I have
Life doesn’t matter
World doesn’t matter

This Fire is all I love
For I have nothing else to love
For I see nothing else to love

This Fire is me
This Fire is all I see
It keeps burning
And refuses to go down

– Sanjeev Agniveer

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I Will Never Quit

My life, my choice

I am tired, I am lost
I want to quit I want to halt.

Countless battles I fought
But the war is on, it never stopped.

I was born right here
In middle of battleground.
My spring, my youth
This is where I found.

I had my fun anyway
I would now simply run away.

I know many would continue to fight
Till death with full might.

So even if I quit
How it mattered.
I am just one
Weak and battered.

In any case, I had enough.
Am bored, completely done.
But would surely clap for others
When the battle is won.

Tell me why I should fight
I did not start it, right?

I just happened to be there
Bad luck, life was unfair.

But why stick, when I can decide
To enjoy music, have joy ride?

Relish, indulge, sing and dance
Life is beautiful, So much of romance.

My life, my choice….

Chapter 2: My life, their death

But then suddenly I realize
How can I simply ignore
Those who valiantly died
So that I live, to reach the exit door

They also loved the life
They could also have fled for romance
But towards the path of exit
They did not even slightly glance

I live today, I dream today
Just because they died
They were also just one… like me
But they continued the fight

They did not complain
Show any disdain
No lame excuses
No helplessness vain

They fought till end
So that I don’t die
If I don’t fight
Someone else will die

I love everyone
I love family and friend
For them I must fight
Till war comes to an end

To see all safe and sound
Is best fun without bound
War is a truth, no one can deny
Others must live, so I would happily die

I would love to fight
Until the war is over
Running away, quitting?
I would think never ever.

“My life, my choice”
Let parasites choose this way
“My life, for those who fought”
Beyond the ‘my’, till my last day.

– Sanjeev

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Significance of Significant Actions

Humans are designed for 2 things:
– to work
– to work for greater good, and not sensual indulgence. This is called Yajna in Hindu philosophy

All diseases – mental and physical – happen because we do what we are not designed for.

If you want to get rid of any disease – in self or society – the first step must be to make yourself addicted to your nature – doing hard work for greater good.

The beauty of life is such that what you give comes back with a multiplier. The Yajna will reap massive benefits for you.

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PROVEN Secret to Master ANY Habit

The first step to mastering anything …….
is to commit 4 continuous hours to it. Just work, no research, no analysis. Do it mechanically even if you do not understand anything or feel any control. Avoid any distractions. No phone, no internet, no gossip. Nothing except sipping water or taking short bio-breaks. Just you and your subject.

Once these 4 hours are over, you have created the Sanskars to propel you ahead.

Early mornings are best time for this.

Literally any habit can be acquired or eliminated.

Follow the 4-20-10-60-100 rule.

First 4 hours of continuous uninterrupted focus on task.

Then commit 20 hours of time on task in least possible duration possible.

Then be in touch with task for next 10 days.

By this time, habit will have made its home in your mind.

Continue for 60 days and habit will become part of subconscious. Like driving a car – you need not think actively about it.

If you persist for 100 days, you will never forget it for life.

There are additional hacks to make it even more deeper and quicker. But this vanilla formula itself will do wonders.

(Derived from Vedic mantras and Yog Sutra (Vyasa Bhashya), corroborated by several researches)

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Water & Wellness

The best medicine for 99% physical and mental problems is plain old tasty water.

If there is stress of any kind, increase water intake. Start with a liter first thing in morning.

All times are food for water except 30 minutes before and after food, and 30 minutes before sleep. Trust me, it is miracle.

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The Warrior

I wanted to relax.
Needed a break
Warrior shook me
“Get awake”

I shouted back:
“What the hell?
I am on vacation
Get lost or I will yell!”

“This is my home,
Far away from battle”
No enemy is here,
So let me settle”

“At last I can loosen,
A doze I can take”
“In peace of home,
Enjoy the break.”

“Do not disturb,
Just go away
You too enjoy life,
Do whatever you may”

Warrior said:
“Caution you must keep”
Enemy will attack
When you are asleep”

Enemy came,
When you came home
You carry the battle,
In crowd or alone

The enemy is inside you,
Alive and awake
The battle outside
Is completely fake.

When you fight outside,
You fight the enemy inside
But the moment you relax,
He revives big and wide.

Till he is dead,
You must not get asleep
Every moment everywhere,
Vigil you must keep.

Kill him who hides within,
Do not ignore
When he dies,
No more battles anymore.

– Sanjeev

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On Economy (Vedic Fundamentals)

I see very emotional debates on economy – whether Modi ruined it or saved it. By reading first two paras, one can judge whether the writer is from NDA or anti-NDA camp. Apart from Subramanian Swamy, am yet to read a balanced view so far.
Here is my take:

1. As children we would play Snake & Ladder and even claim some of us were ‘experts’ and some play ‘bad’. The reality however was that neither I played or you played. The roll of dice played. Ludo still had some scope to show ‘my’ existence. The next page of Snake & Ladder just made me roller of dice with no control over what would come out.
Economy is exactly the same.

There has been no major policy shift in economy since 1991 at least. It does not matter who is in government. Economy is behaving the way it would behave even if there was President’s Rule. Unless there are fundamental changes in policies, economy depends on environment and status quo, and not on government.

2. In an ideal scenario, we assume that a stable economy will grow at exactly same rate as last time-period. When the actual rate exceeds, we say government is good. When it falls, we abuse government for ruining economy! Reality is that the probability of getting exactly same number twice on a real number space is exactly ZERO.
All this debate and fight is time-pass.

3. Another foolishness is to pursue some very approximate misleading numbers like GDP. Ask most praising or abusing government this question – why should GDP be taken with such paranoia? How can one remember capture all the finesse and complexities and long term vision and happiness in economy?
Truth is GDP is just a convenient number – often nothing to do with actual economic robustness. Inflation rate is another such simplistic number.

Irony is that most governments and analysts end up just tracking these and few more simple numbers.
They are good, they give something to measure. But just because something about you can be measured does not make it represent you. Creatinine level shows how good your kidney functions. If it is high, it means permanent kidney damage. I had it few months ago. Kidney specialist recommended dialysis and what not. Had thorough ultrasound done. Came out that kidneys were healthier than normal. What was the cause? Turned out that I was doing extreme workouts. Muscles would break and raise creatinine levels. To end all speculations, I stopped workout for a few weeks. Levels came back to normal!
Every professional athlete has this fictitious creatinine alarm. And yet most nephrologists will not know because they deal with serious kidney cases and not healthy athletes.

Bottomline is that – to conclude government is doing horrible because some numbers came low is foolishness. It may be even good if you look complete picture. Vice versa is also true.

4. I do believe Indian economy has some fundamental flaws. I firmly believe we have been pursuing a wrong path for economic growth since 1991 (and in fact since 1950). To me, economy is all about wealth-creation. Wealth is not just goods and services you sell now. It is the intellectual property and competitive advantage you create in short, medium and long run. It is the dependency you create for rest of the world on what you can offer. It is also about being self-reliant in internal matters.
This vision cannot be pursued by smaller economies. But India is a world in itself. Even if earth was cut to size of India with zero dependence on rest of the universe, India would comfortably sustain itself. We have everything whole world needs. Apart from, probably some hobby items.

Also, India had a unique regional self-sustaining ecosystem – clusters of villages and towns meeting all major needs. This is a wonderful concept. Reduces costs, creates immunity from larger shocks, and yet provides that linkage with rest of the nation and world.
Thus, our economic vision should be honest to our realities
– self reliance
– creating dependencies
– creating internal immunities via micro-self-sustaining ecosystems

5. Unfortunately, these nuances get swept away in pursuing big approximate misleading numbers. We pursue self-defeating logics. We get desperate to create employments and invite every junk company to pollute us. Instead of creating dependencies, we become dependent. We do not pursue a roadmap where employment is created not to strengthen some time-pass foreign company, but strengthen our own nation. We refuse to create dependencies.

6. Another defeatist approach is to rely overtly on tax. It is like trying to generate electricity by putting windmills on highways that move when vehicles run. The problem is that electricity is generated at cost of increase wind resistance for vehicles. Many scientists tried such models that look awesome on paper, but failed miserably.
These GST, Demonetization are fine, so far they do not impact ease of doing business. It is a myth that black money is villain, or not paying tax is greatest sin. What about tax-free economies?
If we are really honest about tax-collection, the first and only step needed is to simplify the tax-laws. Why do you need CAs to do special courses to understand Indirect and Direct taxes? Why not make it a simple flat rate that anyone who has passed class 5 can calculate? The government that does it will be a brave government, in my perspective.
Keep things simple and straight – no complex rules, no special incentives, nothing. One simple rate for either direct or indirect tax. And make it mandatory for everyone above a certain income.

7. If after this, people still try to cheat the system, live with it or find other ways to address it. But not at cost of complicating ease of doing business. Whenever you make complex rules for GST or demonetization, it only impacts the small ones. Big fish always finds jugaad.

8. Pareto law talks of 80:20 rule. Target 20 percent for your 80% benefits. Not vice versa.

9. I agree with Swamy ji – increase FD rates and reduce loan rates. Thats a way to have more liquidity and incentivize wealth creation. Eliminate income tax so that people can focus on wealth-creation

10. Ideally, laws should be simple to need no CAs unless you are a multi crore company. That would be good use of CAs and motivate people to start business. Be liberal about it. Accept that entrepreneurship means failures and even attempts to beat the system. Encourage that so that innovations can come out.

11. Cashless is not king, cash is not villain. Lets face it. Cashless also means more frauds and more dependence on things we cannot control. Go slow. Do own homework first. Put robust easy secure systems in place and people will automatically adopt it.

12. People evade tax because tax-laws are stupid. Hassles in system are not worth it. And they do not see any benefits of giving tax around them. Putting danda on them will not work. Instead make laws simple, reduce dependency on whims of IT officers, and show government’s commitment to change things around them. People will happily pay tax and focus on generating more money instead of wasting time on saving taxes.

We must realize that almost all charitable activities in nation happen by same people whom are blamed for tax evasion. Cash is not bad. Tax evasion is a symptom. Real cause is something else.

13. I do not believe genuine efforts to revive economy will see results in 2-3 years. But someone must put efforts. And till then, ignore all this misleading discussion on blaming or glorifying governments for some GDP numbers.

14. I believe Narendra Modi has a genuine intention to revive the economy. I do not doubt his intentions. But I do believe he needs to shift gears from 1991 model of economy, and not miss the big picture in the noise that surrounds him. The economy model of BJP till 1996 was in right direction, and must be adopted without delay.

15. I am thoroughly convinced that economy can be totally transformed in 5 years in unimaginable ways by adopting the above-said Vedic model of economic growth. The current era of globalization and IT revolution is a golden opportunity for this.

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Why I Don’t Drink Alcohol

The Delhi gang-rape case of December shocked the entire nation. A lot of debate and protests stormed the nation as we struggled to identify the real culprits that perpetrated such a ghastly act and shook our collective conscience as a civilised society. We blamed the society for dehumanised mindset for women, we blamed police for not having adequate security and prevention mechanisms, we blamed the health infrastructure for not being able to save our sister. One culprit got unnoticed. It is alcohol.

Perhaps because alcohol is so rampant that even the people who highlighted this issue or shared heir grief are not out of its clutches. Bollywood was so emotional about this incident. Media was so aggrieved. They targeted godmen, politicians, social workers but left this criminal scot-free. Few highlighted the fact that all the rapists were drunk. Few highlighted the fact that globally there has been a very strong correlation between sexual-abuse and alcohol. The correlation is obvious – to act like a beast one must first shut down the brain that makes us human. And there is no better alternative to alcohol to bring this artificial dumbness to bring alive the animal inside.

For youth, alcohol is the greatest enemy. Dumbness of mind coupled with lack of responsibility gives rise to the most ideal conditions to breed crime and havoc. For industries that thrive on vulgarity, glamor and false hype – all of which require dumbing of mind below a certain threshold – obviously alcohol is the greatest ally.

That is why media and entertainment industry have been the most ardent promoters of alcohol and alcoholism. But for rest of us, who don’t believe in earning through rapes of innocents, commoditisation of women and crimes inflicted on innocents, please stop drinking alcohol. Please stop supporting an industry that may destroy someone close to you.

In wake of this shocking incident, we urge government to increase the upper age limit for drinking to at least 30. This is a wonderful way to save nation from this dreaded terrorist.

Here is why you should not drink alcohol and encourage youth to stop alcohol:

1. As per available scientific literature and research, the policy of prohibition till age of 30 years is next most scientific policy to adopt for the government. Alcohol is not part of essential mainstream culture of India thanks to our spiritual role models of all faiths – Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh, Jain etc. While other nations are struggling to wiggle out a way for tighter policies on alcohol due to cultural problems, India has a golden opportunity to destroy the problem before it becomes a monster. It is already a serious issue in India as per WHO and other research studies. But since it is not an essential part of culture, it is more easily preventable.

In developed countries, policy intervention through increasing minimum age for drinking has been the most effective method to control alcoholism and related losses to society. Refer following reputed researches:

http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx
(This is directly under US department of Health and Human Services)

http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/physician-resources/public-health/promoting-healthy-lifestyles/alcohol-other-drug-abuse/facts-about-youth-alcohol/minimum-legal-drinking-age.page

O’Malley, PM, and Wagenaar, AC. (1991). Effects of Minimum Drinking Age Laws on Alcohol Use, Related Behaviors and Traffic Crash Involvement among American Youth: 1976-1987. J Studies Alcohol, 52:5, 478-491.

http://people.ucsc.edu/~cdobkin/Papers/Alcohol%20and%20Crime.pdf

2. Drinking alcohol is not a “fundamental” right guaranteed by the Constitution,

3. Using the drinking age to prevent permanent social loss has a “rational basis” in available scientific evidence.
(refer http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx Issue 1)

4. The higher drinking age does not cause a permanent disability, but is only a temporary postponement of a specific behavior for the young person’s own protection.

5. The age to vote, to marry, to be an MP, to be a President are all different in India as per law. This is not discrimination but as per maturity levels for different activities.

6. The latest research shows that human brain continues to grow till mid twenties. The growth is not yet complete at 18 or 21. There is sufficient evidence to show that a brain of person less than 30 years cannot be considered to have completed its development.
Refer http://hrweb.mit.edu/worklife/youngadult/brain.html
Giedd, J. N. (1999). “Development of the human corpus callosum during childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal MRI study.” Progress in Neuro-Psychopharmacology & Biological Psychiatry 23: 571-588.

Giedd, J. N. (2004). “Structural magnetic resonance imaging of the adolescent brain.” Adolescent Brain Development: Vulnerabilities and Opportunities: 77 – 85.
Giedd, J. N., J. Blumenthal, et al. (1999). “Brain development during childhood and adolescence: A longitudinal MRI study.” Nature Neuroscience 2(10): 861-863.

7. There is also research to show that drinking causes permanent damage to human brain. A latest research by University of Cincinnati on drinkers of age 18-25 has shown that consuming four or more drinks in one incident for females and five or more drinks for males – was linked to cortical-thinning of the pre-frontal cortex, the section of the brain related to executive functioning such as paying attention, planning and making decisions, processing emotions and controlling impulses leading to irrational behavior. Alcohol might be neurotoxic to the neuron cells, or, since the brain is developing in one’s 20s, it could be interacting with developmental factors and possibly altering the ways in which the brain is still growing,
http://www.uc.edu/news/NR.aspx?id=13846

8. It also be noted that as per the Fertility Rate Estimates for Indian women, (refer http://censusindia.gov.in/vital_statistics/Vital_Rates/Vital_rates.aspx)
the rates peak at age 20-24 and is slightly less for age 24-29. Thus most children are born to mothers in age group 20-24 and then in age group 25-29. The same has also been corroborated by Department of Health and Family welfare (http://www.wbhealth.gov.in/Statistics_200506/14/14_1/14_19/14_19.html) and UNO (http://data.un.org/Data.aspx?d=GenderStat&f=inID:13)
http://www.indiastat.com/health/16/vitalstatistics/291/fertilityrate/17795/stats.aspx

It be noted that alcohol has a permanent damage on fetus and hence allowing alcohol for fertile woman implies permanently damaging our future generations. Even in developed countries like USA and Australia, the official government stand is that pregnant women should completely stop alcohol. Fetal Alcohol Syndrome is a dreaded disease caused solely due to alcohol consumption by nursing mother and makes the coming child permanently disabled intellectually.

Refer http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/DrinkingPregnancy_HTML/pregnancy.htm
http://fasdcenter.samhsa.gov/educationTraining/courses/CapCurriculum/competency1/effects1.cfm
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa50.htm

9. It also be noted that marriage age in India is increasing thanks to education and policy interventions.From 2000 to 2008, marriage age of girls increased from 18.3 to 20.6 in India, as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_indian-women-push-back-marriage-age_1350166). This means that age specific fertility rates will also shift upwards to higher age. So in best interest, it would be obligatory on the government to gradually push the minimum age for drinking to higher and higher and at least above 30 to ensure safety and intelligence of our future generations. To lower drinking age would be nothing more than a conspiracy to destroy future of the nation and destroying dreams of being lighthouse of world permanently.

10. Medical research has also shown a strong correlation between age of initiation of drinking and alcohol related problems later in life. Refer http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa68/aa68.htm
As per SAMSA (The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) research wing of Govt of USA
“Among young adults aged 18 to 25, the rate of past month illicit drug use was higher with increasing levels of past month alcohol use. ” Source: SAMHSA 1999 NHSDA.

http://www.adolescent-substance-abuse.com/alcohol-young-adults.html

So only a nation intending to destroy its future would think of NOT increasing minimum age for drinking.

11. Also be noted that research has shown that increasing age of drinking as most effective means to reduce alcoholism related problems.
http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx Issue 1

12. Alcohol, as per a latest research by Lancet – the most renowned medical research body of UK, is more dangerous than cocaine in terms of social loss
Refer http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61462-6/fulltext
It is much more harmful than cocain and heroine in terms of loss to others and individual as a whole.

13. India follows a 10+2 education system which implies that a citizen completes his or her graduate level education by early twenties and then either builds his career or seeks higher education. At same time, most marry, have children and attempt to stabilize family and career. This is the age when a youth enters new phase in life and if he or she is properly directed, can bring greatest benefits to self, nation, society and family. However if this age- when brain is also still developing and he is stabilizing socially and economically – if he or she gets addicted to alcohol, that is the most damaging thing to happen. Only after age of 30, when brain has fully developed, he or she has learnt to live responsible social life and has stabilized from standpoint of career and profession, can risk of introduction to alcohol – the greatest social evil as per research – be taken.

14. In India, already due to poverty, alcoholism is a big concern that destroys families after families. As per studies, people have spent more than their earnings on alcohol alone and damaged themselves and family. The incidence of alcohol related damage to others – accidents, fights, crimes etc – is highest among age group of twenties as per global and national researches. Thus while we welcome any future efforts to further increase minimum age of drinking, the reverse cannot be accepted in wake of national interest.
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/aa68/aa68.htm
http://resources.prev.org/documents/OutletsandInjuries.pdf
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/182-190.htm
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/191-194.htm

US govt recommendations also consider 18-25 as most crucial years from perspective of alcoholism. It says” Recent evidence suggests that heavy drinking during adolescence and young adulthood is associated with poorer neurocognitive functioning during the young adult years, and particularly with impairment of attention and visuospatial skills. This is an important area of research because a substantial portion of the young adult population drink at potentially harmful levels. Moreover, young adulthood, especially the college years between the ages of 18 and 25, is an important period in life during which key decisions in educational, occupational, and social realms are made that can have lifelong ramifications. Therefore, solid information on the causes and consequences of alcohol use during this developmental period is needed in order to devise effective strategies to prevent alcohol-related neurocognitive impairments.”
Refer
http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/205-212.htm
and http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/arh284/236-244.htm

15. Alcohol is considered even more risky for developing countries with growing young population as per research. Refer http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(11)60153-0/fulltext?rss=yes

Countries like Australia where alcohol is deeply embedded in culture is grappling with growing concerns over its future generations specially due to effect on 18-25 years old. Refer http://www.alcohol.gov.au/internet/alcohol/publishing.nsf/Content/01212F447EC2AD34CA257261001F1ACB/$File/alcfs09.pdf

So only an enemy of nation would favor reduction of alcohol consumption age.

16. Globally there is concern over rising alcohol usage in India. Refer http://download.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS014067360861939X.pdf?id=4d037fefcb72946c:5e6096b2:132df69fe49:-19c91318010521291

17. WHO has listed alcohol abuse as a major concern and documented a vast amount of research that showcase reasons why all national policies on health and future prosperity should discourage alcohol usage.
Refer http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/alcohol/en/

18. The WHO status report on alcohol 2004 http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/globalstatusreportalcohol2004_healtheffects.pdf
lists age 18-29 to HIGHEST GLOBAL disease burden due to alcohol use disorder (page 49)

29. WHO also notes that particularly worrying trends in alcohol abuse is the growing alcohol consumption in India and China. Refer http://www.who.int/substance_abuse/publications/globalstatusreportalcohol2004_conclusion.pdf

20. Some more alarming facts of alcohol abuse in India http://www.addictionindia.org/images-ttkh/alcohol-related-harm-in-india-a-fact-sheet.pdf

21. A very worrying study in National medical Journal of India
http://www.nmji.in/archives/Volume_19_2_March_April2006/Medicine_and_Society/Alcohol.htm

22. Data show bars and nightclubs are not safe, controlled locations. Studies have repeatedly shown a majority of alcohol outlets regularly break the law, for example, by selling alcohol to minors (Forster et al., 1994, 1995; Preusser and Williams, 1992) or selling to intoxicated patrons (Toomey et al., 1999). When the legal age is lower than 21, teens purchase the majority of their alcohol at liquor stores because it is cheaper than getting it at bars. They then consume this alcohol in homes, cars or parks. These areas are very difficult to control (Fell, 1985).

23. There is also some “trickle-down” effect in that when youth get alcohol they often give it to even younger teens (Jones-Webb et al., 1997a). When the legal age is 21, 19- and 20-year olds can often obtain alcohol from their friends. When the drinking age was 18 and 19, 17- and even 16-year olds were often able to get alcohol from their friends. If the drinking age is lower, more alcohol will be available to younger high school students and perhaps even middle school students. There will always be some people who violate laws, but this does not mean we should condone the illegal behavior by modifying the law. The age-21 policy has resulted in a reduction in the amount of alcohol consumed and a substantial decrease in the number of car crashes involving underage drinkers. These results have occurred despite the fact that the law is often not strictly enforced (Wagenaar and Wolfson, 1994, 1995).
Refer http://www.collegedrinkingprevention.gov/supportingresearch/journal/wagenaar.aspx

If someone’s choice impacts anyone else’s rights, those choices have to be restricted. That is why narcotics is prohibited as well. Alcohol is scientifically proven to provide greatest damage to others (apart from individual) and hence this dangerous choice must be restricted for sake of national safety.

Refer http://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(10)61462-6/fulltext

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Science, Bayes Theorem, and Kashmir

I always had a natural inclination towards science and maths. Perhaps the only domains of civilization today, where one seeks truth without fear of hurting sentiments, blasphemy, challenging earlier icons. Where truth is incremental, often contradictory. Where there is no probe on why I reversed my earlier approach. Where I build upon what has already been achieved. Where there is no glory in repeating the already established.

And yet all this happens in a rational manner. Not like some random epiphany of JNU scholars demanding Azad Kashmir one morning. Or a guru explaining how he can be at two places at same time taking recourse to some weird interpretation of Schroedinger Wave Equation. Whatever is there is thorough and analytical.

Even in academia, I find other fields that emulate this scientific approach through peer review, research process to still be very subjective and opinion based. Hence history is left or right. Sociology assumes certain foundations of human nature. I don’t blame them, because we have been unable to find a scientific basis for these.

But science and maths start with very basic axioms and laws. Those that don’t assume anything. Then they build a rigorous system of notations and definitions. Energy and force can be interchangeable in your political speeches but not in physics. Commutative law is commutative. Not about pardoning some prisoner. And then we preserve it all through peer review, documentation etc. Hence knowledge evolves. The scientific transformation is result of this discipline.

Of course there are gaps in this approach. Yes, epiphanies and serendipity find little place. But, with methods of simulations and smart design of experiments, even that is taken care of to large extent. Science evolves into technology and more fun begins.

I agree mystics who come with a completely out of world proposal like god-men have no place in this scientific world. But that is a blessing. We cannot leave our fate in hope of some god-men’s vision that none can either see or probe.

Science also needs a direction, they say. I disagree. Humans need a direction. Science is a framework, a tool. One who uses it needs to have purpose and goal, not the tool. If we try to put direction in tool, we will convert it into another epiphany of some mystic.

What science needs, especially in this analytics driven world, is full freedom from non-scientific pressures. Because a prime minister feels that solar energy needs to be promoted, you allocate funds from conventional energy research to solar energy and boost Chinese imports with little results. That is stupid and like putting a complex equation in a bracket and multiplying by zero. Instead let those scientists who have expertise decide these matters. Similarly, if my statistical analysis shows clear trends of demographics or faith being dominant variables with significantly low P-values, don’t ask me to kill my model. Don’t punish me for that. Don’t ask maths to lie. Accept what it says the way you accept what maths of image recognition gives you when you tag people on FB.

I have tried applying basics of this scientific approach in emotive fields like religion, culture, society, terror. The scientific framework never lied. Of course someone could come up and offer improvements. Even fights like Einstein vs Bohr, or Hawking vs Penrose, or Bayesian vs Frequentist would have been fun, meaningful fun. But here, rants of conspiracy follow. There are threats and challenges, allegations of being Pakistani spy or Hindu terrorist. One side is always angry. And the science student in me say, “What the hell is this. Back in IIT, they never slapped me if my project model was not accurate. At max, share your findings and publish your own research.”

To me, this hijacking of science by unscientific influences – politics, social activism, journalism, media etc etc is why we face terror, poverty and all nonsense we have. We end up applying science to less controversial and often trivial domains like porn, selfies, fashion, drama, etc, and fuel further unscientific attitudes. And a vicious cycle of unscientific control emerges.

An unbiased science will automatically evolve human as per the core inner drive that is inherently pure. In spiritual terminology, divine.
When I read Vedas, I find this spirit of evolution and am compelled to say, “Wow”. Sometimes I feel, let me throw away all the intermediary trash. And spend my life having fun with just Vedas and Science.

But then news comes – “Supreme Court refuses to probe into who killed a 1000 Kashmiri Pandits because it is an old matter.” And I wonder, “Why are we being punished because terrorists were prohibited from study of science in madrassas. And LLB course does not have a chapter on Bayes Theorem of Conditional Probability.”

Now I will dig out some evidence that will be ignored because Home Minister has to love “Kashmiriyat” – another unscientific jargon that influences what digital signal processing maths should be used to flash his smiling pic with Kashmiris. And my tryst with Vedas and Science and Maths will be interrupted.