Random Ravings

Isaac Paul Ratnam

Description

Born of a middle-class family, the author rose to eminence as a public prosecutor,
migrated to a short-lived private practice, suffered ignominy, regained some measure of lost reputation, and thereby changed perspectives of living with grace and tolerance.
In this book, he shares the experience of success, pain, loss, and the ability to not collapse in the face of challenging odds. The words and expressions are culled from the
author’s experience.
The views expressed in the book are entirely subjective and not a venting of failed frustrations but rather a desire to share and benefit others who may meet challenges in their life.
The author shares his giddiness at success, his calmness in failure, his composure in loneliness, his joy in guiding his daughters, his ability to face unbearable situations,
and eventually his preparedness to face his final departure from this theatre of joy, pain, satisfaction, and the people in his life.

Sujets

• Personal Memoirs
• Biography
• Autobiography

Informations

• Publié par: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Date de parution: 20 décembre 2022
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781543772463
• Langue: English

Extrait

RANDOM RAVINGS
 
 
 
 
Isaac Paul Ratnam
 
 
 

 
Copyright © 2023 by Isaac Paul Ratnam.
 
ISBN:
Hardcover
978-1-5437-7247-0

Softcover
978-1-5437-7245-6

eBook
978-1-5437-7246-3

 
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
 
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
 
 
 
www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore
CONTENTS
Introduction
Possession and Ownership
Control of Children
Cultural Disruption
Health, Death, and Thereafter
Relationship
Anticipation and Expectation
Power and Influence
Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary
Lawyers and Liars
Road Rage
Blessings and Curses
Superstition
Religion
Marriage
Memories and Influence
Cravings
Fashion and Comfort
Existence
Knowledge and Data
Familiarity
Filial and Social Piety
Love and Hate
Substitution
Cheating
Prisoner
Nakedness
Arrogance
Contagion
Habits
Disruption
Queen of Virtues
Powerless
Triumph
Revelations
Pseudo-Psychologists
Urge to Trace
Noisy but Dumb
Notorious
Farce
Precipice
Hypocrisy
Reflections
Lifestyle
100 -Day Journal
Epilogue
Introduction
In the journey of life, one muses and mutters about the numerous aspects of living and carrying on, but none of these thoughts occur in any orderly style or method. It just happens. When one has travelled many a mile and many a year, these thoughts have a knack of accruing and accumulating. It may be of some value or none at all to one or no one, but the sharing of these thoughts become a yearning of uncontrollable and irrepressible urge. The words here are the physical manifestations of these hankerings. This an attempt at placing on paper these collected thoughts, not in any order but in random, as they arise.
The views here are not statementing of compulsory moral values or of philosophical virtues but rather the expectation of the benefit of experience of a well-lived and contented life that if passed on may be of some meagre use for others.
Every view is subjectively expressed, and the natural consequence is the inevitable divergence and deviation of opinion of the onlooker. The liberty of such disagreement would be the greatest recognition of the efforts of the writer in sharing these contemplations, without which the true value of this exercise may well be wasted. Indeed, if a contrary thesis to these perceptions is made available, society would be the ultimate beneficiary.
It needs to be emphasised this is not a thesis to contradict or challenge the views of great minds and philosophers of the past. Such indelible thoughts and expressions have made tremendous contribution to society, and the random ravings of this modest contributions cannot, in any imaginable style, expect to achieve. It is truly the record of emotional and mental observations from the age of nine to 79. Nothing more is intended.
It would be pointless to resist any and end all arguments, disputes, or differences of thoughts and views. In fact, it would be a healthy and awesome debate to indulge in such a dialogue if it serves to benefit society that alternate and valid views are expressed and shared with the community. If such a dialogue were to emerge, in however small measure, this discourse may have achieved a meaningful role.
Possession and Ownership
The urge and desire to possess and own emanates early in life. Toys, clothes, friends, and family must always remain your own, and you will resist any attempt to prise this away. The loss or deprivation of these simple emotions are tantrum-driven and resisted. As age progresses, these little desires grow into wider areas. Jobs, property, and personal relationships enter the equation. They build a basis of the foundation of your life. They become the tokens and symbols of security. One holds on to these material and emotional perceptions with fervour and total grasp. Any attempt to prise this away or any threats of the loss of such possessions cause tremendous emotional upheavals. One wonders why and what causes this needless stress in the lives of almost everyone.
The loss of a dear one causes pain and remorse at their going away. The threat to your job or the likely loss of your property creates anxiety and distress. Any dissipation of your savings is seen with similar fear.
The cause of such angst is the expectation of the need to preserve these ties and material for as long as possible as if such grip on ownership is eternal and everlasting. The sense of ownership and possession is, in reality, a façade for the need to feel secure for now and for the unknown future. It is the unrealistic belief that everything is permanent and unchanging. Like the flowing waters of a river that is ever changing in its journey to the sea, life is equally cramped with changes and eruptions that can never be predicted or expected. The compulsion to hold on is illusory as everything in life is temporary. Nothing can remain constant. Everything in life is in a constant flux of change. Events that affect and influence your life are seldom in your control. Social, economic, and political changes are constantly and inevitably affecting everybody. The style of clothes you wear, the place where you are used to staying, and the people you are accustomed to are always changing. These changes are continuously chipping away at the illusions of permanence one builds up in one’s mind. The tragedy in many a life is a stubborn unwillingness to accept changes. Places change, people change, economic conditions change, political conditions change. Change is inevitable. The ability to recognise and adapt to such changes and have the willingness to let go is a realistic formula for peace of mind and contentment.
But the grip of an urgent and constant need of a sense of security will never allow room for easy acceptance of any deprivation or variance of what one is accustomed to in their way of life. If one’s mother were gradually deteriorating into dementia, and if the time comes when she does not recognise or remember you, the trauma of such an experience can be devastating. If the job at which you loyally served for almost your entire life was threatened with disruption, the panic and distress becomes uncontrollable. The threats of technological and electronic progress leaving you behind in your style of accustomed living will inexorably disturb and constantly harass your equanimity of mind.
The key to control of your life must be your willingness to surrender and accept the inevitability of change. The acceptance of changes and the willingness to realise that change is beyond your control and your desires are yours alone, not of universal knowledge. The acceptance of this vital reality will ease the disruption. Possession and ownership are for the moment. It must be enjoyed and celebrated whilst it lasts without any longing for permanence. This sense of detachment to all and any aspects of life whilst it is still in you can provide a delightful aura of peace.
There is no greater wealth in this world than peace of mind. This can be possible with complete and unqualified detachment from people, possessions, and property. This is not to say be cold and aloof but, more importantly, to appreciate and realise that attachment of any sort to any aspect of life is illusory.
Control of Children
In almost all cultures and social context, children are considered your creation and, therefore, subject to your control and dictation. It is commonplace for parents to want their children to follow their guidelines in ethics, religion, education, and behaviour. In this regard, parents inevitably seek to want to control their offspring and mould them in their image. With modern information technology and education system, this is near impossible. Children were used to look to their parents for guidance, information, and direction in their lives. Today they have alternatives. They can obtain all they may need from the Internet. Suddenly, parents find themselves without the ability to make much contribution to the child’s dependence, development, and growth. They seem to take off on their own and in the direction of their choice.
This loss of control has created considerable filial upheavals. Filial piety and parental respect are things of the past. It is not to say love and affection between parents and children are non-existent. It is only of matter of realising and accepting that modern changes in lifestyles make social adjustments necessary and critical. Any rebellion or rejection of this approach can cause irreparable turmoil in the family.
Parents are accustomed to channelling their children to take over their jobs, follow their religion, eat their family type of meals, move and mix in their regular social and family circles. Whilst this may, by and large, occur as expected, th