A Sporting Soul Who Inspires Beyond the Arenal

A Sporting Soul Who Inspires Beyond the Arena

When we speak of athletes, we often think of strength, agility, and records that dazzle the eye. Yet, what lingers far beyond medals and trophies is the character of an athlete – the silent resilience, the philosophy of perseverance, and the humility that breathes life into their fame. Among all the professional athletes I have observed and admired, one figure shines brightest for me: Roger Federer.

Federer, with his racquet in hand, did not merely play tennis – he sculpted poetry on grass, clay, and hard courts. His game was a blend of art and science, fluid yet calculated, graceful yet fierce. To watch him glide across the court was to watch a dancer pirouette with precision, every stroke echoing the philosophy of balance and harmony. His sport became a metaphor for life itself: the ability to rise after a fall, to smile after defeat, and to remain grounded when standing tall at the peak.

What draws my respect is not just his astounding tally of titles, but the manner in which he carried his victories and defeats. In a world intoxicated by applause, Federer’s humility was like a quiet hymn sung in the temple of humanity. He bowed to opponents with dignity, embraced losses with grace, and spoke with a gentleness that revealed the philosopher within the athlete. In him, I see the essence of the Bhagavad Gita’s wisdom: “Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana” – perform your duty, without being attached to the fruits. Federer embodied this truth, for his joy seemed to lie in playing the game itself, rather than in the tally of conquests.

From a philosophical standpoint, he reminds me of Marcus Aurelius’ stoic strength – unwavering in turbulence, measured in triumph. His career was not merely a saga of forehands and backhands but a journey of resilience. Injuries, age, and doubts did not deter him; rather, they shaped his legacy into something more enduring than numbers – the legacy of endurance with elegance.

In a time where the world clamours for quick glory, Federer’s journey whispers an eternal lesson: greatness is not in the roar of a moment but in the echo of a lifetime lived with grace. His career is a testimony that life, much like tennis, is a game of rallies – a series of returns, each demanding focus, patience, and belief.

And so, whenever I think of respect, my mind does not rush to the dazzling scoreboard but to the man who stood at the centre of the court with serenity in his eyes and a smile that spoke of contentment. For me, Roger Federer is more than an athlete; he is a sage in sporting attire, a reminder that victory and defeat are but two passing clouds, and what remains is the soul that faces them both with equal calm.

In courts of grass, in clay, in light,
He danced with grace, both day and night.
A game, a life, a hymn so pure,
A spirit eternal, to ever endure.

The Art of Unwinding: A Soul’s Quiet Symphony

The Art of Unwinding: A Soul’s Quiet Symphony

Relaxation is not merely the absence of work or the end of toil; it is an art, a science, and above all, a philosophy of living. To relax is to return home — not to a physical abode, but to that inner sanctuary where thoughts slow down, the heart softens, and the soul breathes freely.

In a world that glorifies busyness, the act of relaxation becomes a silent rebellion. It is a conscious choice to step aside from the relentless traffic of obligations, and to allow serenity to seep into the pores of life. The philosopher Seneca once wrote, “True happiness is to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future.” Relaxation, therefore, is not an escape; it is an embrace of the present moment, pure and unadulterated.

For me, relaxation finds its form in the rhythm of simple acts. Sometimes it is a quiet walk where the breeze composes a song only the attentive can hear. Sometimes it is the play of light and shadow across the evening sky, where clouds form stories that poets have long tried to capture. At times, it is the turning of a page, where words act as bridges between the mundane and the eternal.

Relaxation also demands a withdrawal from noise — not just the external clamour of machines and voices, but the inner rustle of worries, regrets, and ambitions. It is in such silences that wisdom often whispers, and the heart gathers courage to continue its journey. Philosophically, one may see relaxation as the balancing point between being and doing — the sacred pause that nourishes both.

When I relax, I do not measure time, nor do I seek productivity. I allow myself to be carried, like a leaf in a river, trusting the current of existence. Relaxation is, in essence, surrender — not of strength, but of restlessness.

When the day is heavy with sighs,
I rest beneath untroubled skies;
A gentle hush, a sacred pause,
That heals the soul without a cause.

The breeze becomes my counsellor,
The dusk my soft philosopher;
And in that calm, I come to know,
The sweetest art is to let go.

So when the world demands its due,
I step aside to find what’s true;
Relaxation, tender, deep,
Is where the heart learns how to sleep.

Torchbearers of Eternity – A Teacher’s Day Reflection

Torchbearers of Eternity – A Teacher’s Day Reflection

The fifth of September in India is more than a date etched on the calendar; it is a day when the nation bows to its true architects—the teachers. The festival owes its roots to Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, a philosopher-President whose very life embodied the nobility of education. Yet beyond rituals and greetings, Teacher’s Day is a solemn reminder that the vocation of teaching is not merely a profession but a calling—an act of shaping eternity with chalk and compassion.

Having served in the realm of education for nearly four decades, with twenty of those years as a Principal, I see Teacher’s Day not as a ceremonial formality but as a mirror to my life’s work. It reminds me of the blackboards that became canvases of imagination, of staffrooms that were not mere chambers but incubators of ideas, and of classrooms that echoed not only lessons but also laughter, discipline, and dreams. My journey through the corridors of schools was never a solitary march; it was a procession of shared faith in knowledge, discipline, and the sanctity of human growth.

Philosophically, a teacher stands at the confluence of two streams—the past and the future. From the past flows wisdom, culture, and tradition; from the future gushes curiosity, innovation, and change. A teacher’s responsibility is to bridge these streams, ensuring that learners neither lose their roots nor forfeit their wings. In this sense, every classroom becomes a miniature cosmos where heritage meets hope, and where the teacher, like an eternal sentinel, guards the flame of learning against the winds of ignorance.

Teaching is often called the “mother of all professions,” yet it is also the most silently revolutionary. What other field allows one to craft minds, mould morals, and ignite revolutions of thought without lifting a sword or commanding an army? When I reflect upon my career, I see it as a battlefield where the victories were not measured in medals but in the smiles of students who conquered their fears, the confidence of parents who entrusted their children, and the growth of teachers who discovered new strengths under my stewardship.

This day, therefore, is not merely a celebration but an awakening. It reminds us that the chalk we hold is not fragile dust, but the script of tomorrow. The books we assign are not pages bound in leather, but wings that allow minds to soar. The school bell is not a hollow clang, but a resonant call to discipline, discovery, and duty.

Yet, like the sages of old—whether Aristotle who moulded Alexander, or Chanakya who trained Chandragupta—a true teacher never claims ownership of success. Instead, he or she remains content with the unseen, like the roots that hold the tree firm while the flowers and fruits receive the applause.

On this Teacher’s Day, I stand not merely as a retired Principal but as a grateful pilgrim of the temple of learning. My career was a river, at times calm, at times turbulent, yet always flowing with purpose—to quench the thirst of young minds. And though the formal journey may have concluded, the echoes of those years remain immortal in the lessons shared, the virtues instilled, and the lives touched.

A teacher is a lamp in the darkest night,
A humble flame, yet a boundless light.
Not seeking crowns, nor worldly praise,
But sowing seeds for brighter days.

The chalk may fade, the board grow bare,
Yet wisdom lives in the breath of prayer.
For every heart once taught with care,
Becomes a torch the world will share.

So let us honour, with thought profound,
The guardians of truth where they are found.
For in their silence, revolutions start
They shape the mind, they heal the heart.

The Weight of Grudges and the Light of Letting Go

The Weight of Grudges and the Light of Letting Go

A grudge is a strange companion. It arrives silently, like an uninvited guest, and lingers in the chambers of the heart longer than it should. It feeds on old wounds, nourished by pride and hurt, until it becomes a shadow that darkens one’s path. But does carrying such a shadow truly serve us? Or is it better to let it dissolve into the ether of time?

I do not hold grudges. They are heavy, cumbersome, and unworthy of the space they demand in my soul. Instead, I choose to shut the doors that lead to bitterness and close the windows that let in the cold winds of resentment. Life is too fleeting to keep rehearsing the theatre of past injuries. Like autumn leaves that fall to enrich the soil, I allow past wrongs to drift away, turning them into nourishment for self-growth.

Philosophers and mystics across the ages have advised against the clinging of grudges. Marcus Aurelius spoke of rising above the offence of others, reminding us that it is not the act itself but our perception that stings. In the Bhagavad Gita, the counsel is clear: the wise do not bind themselves with attachments of pain or pleasure, for both hinder the journey of the soul. To forgive is not to excuse—it is to free oneself from the invisible chains that hold one captive.

When I choose not to grudge, I am not proclaiming victory over others; rather, I am declaring victory over myself. My energies are redirected towards polishing the mirror of my soul, refining my ideologies, and cultivating inner harmony. Each closed door is not an act of bitterness but a conscious decision to guard my peace. Each shuttered window is not isolation but an act of prioritising serenity.

It is not silence that is empty; it is silence that protects, heals, and creates. In silence, I find my strength; in forgiveness, I rediscover my freedom.

Grudges are thorns that pierce unseen,
Shadows that cloud where light has been.
I choose not chains, but wings to rise,
To see new dawns with clearer skies.

I shut the door on spite’s loud call,
And close the window that darkens all.
For peace is wealth, and love my creed,
In silence I find the strength I need.

Not bound by hurt, nor trapped by pain,
I till my soul like fertile plain.
Where grudges die, new dreams will grow,
And wisdom lights the path I go.

Beyond Horizons: A Journey into the Unknown

Beyond Horizons: A Journey into the Unknown

There are journeys that take us away from our physical homes, and then there are journeys that peel us away from the cocoon of our known selves. The furthest I have ever travelled was not merely measured in miles, but in the widening arc of my imagination, my courage, and my spirit.

I remember the voyage—long, winding, and dotted with unfamiliar landscapes. The train of time seemed to move both faster and slower, as if testing my patience and resolve. Each bend of the road carried me away from comfort and closer to uncertainty. Yet, in that very uncertainty lay the thrill of discovery. I could feel in my bones the truth of T. S. Eliot’s words: “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”

The practical difficulties were plenty. Finances were strained; the air of loneliness often grew heavier than the luggage I carried; and my heart, though brave, often longed for the soothing embrace of familiarity. There were days when the very ground beneath my feet felt alien, when the taste of food carried no echo of home, and when language barriers turned simple conversations into riddles. Yet, every stumbling block became a stepping stone, shaping me into a traveller of not just lands, but of life itself.

Along the journey, I stumbled upon subtle romances—not the loud proclamations of love that novels glorify, but the silent courtesies, the ethical gestures that bloom in human encounters. A stranger who offered guidance in a crowded station, a local who shared food from their basket, a fellow traveller whose eyes carried the warmth of companionship without asking for names. These small romances with humanity stitched a fabric of belonging in foreign lands. It was not the possession of another’s heart, but the recognition of a shared soul.

Philosophically, I learnt that to travel far is to travel deep. The landscapes I crossed—the mountains, seas, and cities—mirrored the landscapes within me: of fear, of longing, of resilience. The further I went, the more I understood that home is not merely a place; it is a state of peace carried in one’s heart. In every sunset that dyed the sky with molten gold, in every temple bell that echoed across valleys, in every silent star-strewn night, I realised that the universe itself was gently whispering: you belong everywhere and nowhere.

And so, the furthest journey became the most intimate one. It was not about reaching a destination marked on a map, but about discovering the vast, untapped horizons within.

Beneath the arch of foreign skies,
I learnt that truth in silence lies,
Each road a verse, each mile a song,
To travel far is to belong.

Beneath strange moons, in lands untold,
I bartered warmth for nights of cold,
Yet every dawn, with crimson hue,
Unveiled a world both strange and new.

The rivers sang of time’s embrace,
The mountains spoke of inner grace,
And in their whispers, soft and deep,
I found the truths I yearned to keep.

The sea may part, the winds may roam,
Yet in my heart I carry home,
Beyond horizons, near or far,
I found myself—a wandering star.

A Dwelling Beyond Bricks: My Ideal Home

A Dwelling Beyond Bricks: My Ideal Home

Home is more than a structure of walls and a roof; it is the soul’s sanctuary, a sacred space where silence speaks and the heart finds rest. When I imagine my ideal home, it is not merely measured in square feet, but in the abundance of warmth, grace, and meaning it holds.

I see it nestled amidst nature, perhaps at the edge of a hill where the winds hum their eternal tunes or by a quiet lake where the waters mirror the sky. The garden is alive with bougainvillaea and marigolds, whispering to the butterflies and singing with the birds at dawn. The fragrance of jasmine, carried by the breeze, would linger like a prayer offered each evening.

Inside, simplicity reigns supreme. No gaudy ornamentation, no race for luxury—just an elegant balance of comfort and minimalism. Wooden beams and soft lights would create a warmth that soothes both body and spirit. A small library, with shelves sagging under the weight of timeless wisdom, would occupy a sacred corner. There, under the glow of a lamp, I would travel through the thoughts of philosophers, poets, and dreamers, who long ago left their footprints on the sands of time.

My ideal home would be a haven of conversations, music, and silence alike. A place where laughter rings freely, but where solitude is also deeply respected. The walls would not only echo with human voices but would also hold the resonance of hymns, ragas, and whispers of prayer. In such a dwelling, time would feel like a gentle river, not a raging torrent.

Philosophically, my home would embody the Upanishadic wisdom—“Tat Tvam Asi”—reminding me that every guest, bird, or breeze that enters the door is not separate, but a part of the greater whole. It would also reflect the biblical thought, “My peace I give unto you,” making the space a temple of harmony where even silence becomes eloquent.

Above all, my ideal home would not be defined by grandeur, but by goodness. It would be a place where compassion breathes in every corner, where kindness flows like incense, and where one learns daily that true wealth is measured not in possessions, but in peace of mind.

A home of light, not built of stone,
Where hearts unite, and none feel alone.
A garden of dreams, where hopes take flight,
A lamp of wisdom, forever bright.

In its quiet, the spirit shall roam,
Yes, that is my vision—my ideal home.

A Tear of Joy – The Soul’s Silent Hymn

A Tear of Joy – The Soul’s Silent Hymn

There are moments in life when words fall short, and the heart chooses to speak through the eyes. A tear of joy is no ordinary tear—it is a silent hymn of the soul, a crystalline pearl born out of gratitude, fulfilment, and profound beauty. Unlike the tears of sorrow that weigh us down, a tear of joy lifts us, reminding us of the invisible threads binding human emotions to the divine.

Joyful tears are the paradox of life—they come not in times of laughter alone but in moments when the spirit feels overwhelmed by grace. When a long-cherished dream sees the light of dawn, when the impossible bends before perseverance, or when beauty transcends reason—a symphony, a sunset, a whispered prayer—these are the occasions when the heart trembles and the eyes well up.

Philosophers have often spoken of such moments as the unveiling of truth. Plato likened beauty to the recollection of perfection; in that revelation, the soul rejoices with a sweetness too deep to contain. Spiritual texts too remind us that tears can be a form of worship. In the Bhagavad Gita, devotion is said to be complete when love overflows beyond the boundaries of the body. Similarly, the Psalms of David echo that tears of joy are an offering at the altar of the Divine.

Yet perhaps the most delicate tears of joy are found in the garden of romance. When two souls, once strangers, discover a bond too pure for description, the eyes often betray the heart. The first confession of love, the promise whispered under a quiet sky, or the moment when hands intertwine after long separation—these are occasions when emotion transcends words. A single tear glistening on the cheek of a lover is not weakness but an eloquence beyond poetry. Shakespeare wrote that “the eyes are the window to the soul”; in romance, they become the very stage where passion performs its truest act.

A tear of joy is thus not fragility but a testament of depth. It is the mark of being human, of being able to feel life in all its intensity. Sometimes, it arrives at the smallest gestures—a kind word, a selfless act, a touch of forgiveness. Other times, it flows at the grand realisations—that we are still alive, still capable of love, still worthy of grace.

These tears are sacred droplets, uniting us to the eternal mystery. They tell us we are not mechanical beings but vessels of emotions, capable of carrying both pain and bliss together. They whisper that life, however fleeting, is profound enough to bring the heavens into our eyes.

And when one such tear gently escapes, it baptises the soul with a soft reminder—that joy, when pure, is always touched by the divine.

A tear rolls down, yet no sorrow it bears,
It glistens with sunlight, a hymn of prayers.
A pearl of the spirit, too tender to hide,
A river of rapture, where grace does abide.

In the warmth of love, when two hearts meet,
A tear slips quietly, tender and sweet.
It speaks of devotion, unspoken, profound,
A silence of passion where true love is found.

It falls without reason, yet reason it brings,
A melody silent, a bird without wings.
O tear of sweet joy, you silently prove,
That the heart still remembers, the power to love.