Self-Realization

Gaurav Ojha

My quest towards understanding the concept of self-realization ran along circles of debates, discussions and doubts before I read the writing of Jiddu Krishnamurti. Before my encounters with the works of J. Krishnamurti, I also used to think of self-realization as a spiritual experience of the inner spirit or soul that culminated in the eternal spiritual quest of a seeker. And, as a free thinker with my non-theistic world-view, I was always a bit skeptical of all those ideas that relate self-realization with inner spiritual awakening.

However, J. Krishnamurti’s insights on self- realization emancipates the concept of self-realization from the narrow dimensions of significance it derives from religious dogmas, spiritual exercises, mystical experiences of spiritual seekers, and from spiritual masters, gurus, saints, sages and their esoteric interpretations.

With the radical insights from his works, I have come to realize that it is utter nonsense to think that one can know one’s self significantly, completely and fully, through isolation, exclusion, through regular practice of some kind of spiritual exercise and introspection in some solitary state away from all the hustles and bustles of life.

Similarly, it is not at all necessary to be a religious or a spiritual person, practice renunciation, give up your social life, live in caves and monasteries, and perform ascetic rituals regularly to comprehend the notion of self-realization.

To put it in the words of J. Krishnamurti, self-knowledge is a process, not an end in itself or a conclusion; and to know oneself, one must be aware of one’s actions and reactions in one’s relationships. Further, he argues that you discover yourself not in isolation, not in withdrawals, but in relationships: in your relationship with society, your wife, your brother, your mother, friends and family, and with other beings. Hence, self-realization is neither a spiritual achievement nor an isolated mystical experience; rather it’s an endless process of learning and re-learning where one becomes aware of one’s own self in relationship with others. Therefore, it’s nothing more than a self-illusion or ego-trip to transform your identity, take up a spiritual title and boast one-self as a self-realized person.

Besides, nothing exposes us wide open than our relationships. Our relationships provide us a mirror to observe our being along with its pretensions, denials, fantasies, inner torments, selfish desires and unconscious motives, inner insecurities and repressions by allowing us to see the projections of these hidden aspects of our inner lives in our relationships.

Hence, it’s our relationships, how we relate with our self and with others, and how we unveil our thoughts, emotions, actions and reactions in our dialogues and encounters with others that truly allows to us discover, acknowledge and understand ourselves better than any form of spiritual exercise, solitary meditation or religious escapism. 

Yes To Life

Gaurav Ojha

 Being a one-world and one-life person, I don’t like to think of my life as a rehearsal or a preparation for something better, behind or beyond this world that awaits me after I die. As a biological creature, I know, I am not going to be here forever. Hence, before death removes my character from this world, I want to play my part, become more conscious of this world and its exhilarating beauty, pursue knowledge, understand myself better and improve my character.

And, finally, when this brief drama of my life comes to its close, I wish to depart from the stage without leaving behind a sack full of burden, guilt or regret.

Human life is utterly transient. Hence, my life is only a brief spark in this vast universe, and soon the spark I am carrying will flutter and fade away. But as long as the spark lasts, I have promised myself to carry on with my passionate commitment to taste all the impulses of life in its utter recklessness.

I have come to realize that I am part of a universe that is utterly unpredictable and indifferent to human concerns; however, I can’t remain indifferent because for me my life, my search for knowledge and especially my relationships with other people really matter to me. Life has been unfair to me many times, and there are those usual days of languid confusions and vast sorrows, but I keep up with my constant solace knowing that the universe lives its life with me.

Moreover, human life is rather plotless. And, with all the tumbling experiences of life bubbling around us, we might feel that our human life is utterly meaningless without the presence of another world or an afterlife beyond this world. Similarly, we imagine a supernatural being that constructs and directs the narrative of our lives. And we also like to project unscientific, superstitious and meta-physical beliefs like destiny, laws of karma, sins of past-life, God’s will or grace, damnation and predestination to make meaning out of our lived experiences. 

However, our life only appears to be meaningless only if we consider the source of meaning to be outside of us. Whereas, our life is a continuous dichotomy of joy and sorrow, gain and loss, presence and absence, perfections and follies put together in a single package. Human life has poured itself out from this world, and it also passes away here. Hence, to live, enjoy and understand our human life authentically, without mere pretensions, prejudices and projections, we need that courage to say yes to life in all its shades and shadows and also embrace its utterly transient, random, unpredictable and contingent nature.

Waking Up

Gaurav Ojha

Many people are languidly happy with their religious beliefs, superstitions, hollow and insensitive rituals, hence it’s rather difficult and at times even dangerous to challenge and question their unscientific and irrational assumptions about human nature, human life on earth, laws of nature and about the mysterious universe. Therefore, I must confess, it’s not easy being a naturalist, humanist, free thinker, skeptic or non-religious in a culture context where many people take the concepts of spirituality, religious values, beliefs system, rituals, myths, astrology and the esoteric ideas like reincarnation, liberation and salvation for granted without ever doubting or making an inquiry over their validity.

Our universe is outside-less, and we human beings are finite creatures placed against a vast, infinite and mysterious universe.  I find it rather ridiculous to believe that we get thrown into the infinity of additional existence judged from our less than a century of human life we spent in this tiny speck of dust among millions of galaxies dancing in the sky. We human beings like to expand the briefness of human life with the concept of eternal life because we are still too afraid to confront our mortality. Without our fear of death and nothingness, it seems rather unconvincing to argue and believe that our finite human existence and its experiences, errors, memories, imaginations, actions and reactions, choices and decisions have those lingering impacts that last infinitely.

There is only this flux of life and nothing else apart from the sparkling sensations of being alive. I find myself living in an ever-changing world that is vibrant and alive. For those people who wait for eternal realms, heavens, Shangri-La, mystical worlds, paradise and other spiritual planets after their death, human existence may appear less meaningful to them than their ultimate destination. However, I recognize my death as my final destination. Hence, for me, the journey of my life is far more meaningful, exciting, vital and vibrant than my destination. 

As a finite being, I want to live my life with utmost care, joy, gratitude, creativity, courage and understanding, as I find little pieces of delights that keep on pouring out from the immediate experiences of my life. There is always music, dance and poetry in the organic rhythm of life. Whether it's paradoxical, complex, confusing, mysterious, painful, unknown or overwhelmingly beautiful, nothing can be as delightful as to wake up from the slumbers of our self-conscious delusions, to express our thoughtful love for actual life and to be alive, here and now.

My hand is shielded and my eye was fortified

my eye is a pharos in the sea–
that my heart jumps to the bottom,
my hand is dipped into it
the waters were coldly hot,
with a sensation that stole
my senses, my hearing then my sight.
I tried to escape with my sight first,
my hearing and my sense,
I waited second after second
and a year after year 
for the rescue from no one
still my hand dance for the hot sea waters.
let me snatch my sight
let me remove my hand 
from the mouth of the hell
& not to let its eyes marry the hell light,
now, let them see the sky's womb
& see how sun and moon were born.


Mubarak Said is a poet, an award winning  essayist and a  short story writer from Funakaye Local Government of Gombe state, Nigeria.

Said was a winner of 2020 ANCOPPS essay writing competition in Gombe state. He participated in many secondary schools competitions , including FRSC essay writing competition and so.

His works have been accepted and published by different Nigerian and international News papers and and literary magazines as World voices magazine, icefloe press, literary yard, beatnikcowboy, teenlit journal, ILA magazine, the pinecone review, Susa Africa, Applied worldwide, Opinion Nigeria, Today post, daily trust and daily companion.

Award distribution of Bangadondhu creative talent search competition & National Education Week-2022 in Chaipainawabganj district at Green View High School Auditorium

Abdullah Al Mamun

District wise competition result for Bangadondhu creative talent search competition & National Education Week-2022 declared in May 2022 and its celebration of distributing certificates and crests has been organized today 7 September, 2022 at Green View High School Auditorium by district education office and the prizes and certificates were distributed by Duty Commissioner of Chapainawaganj District A K M Galiv Khan, Principal of Nawabganj Govt. College, Chapainawabganj, professor Sankar Kumar Kundu and District Education Officer Md. Abdur Rashid. In this competition there participated so many students, scout leaders, scout groups, secondary school teachers, secondary school head teachers, madrasha teachers, head teachers, college students, college teachers, principals etc. In Bangadondhu creative talent search competition Jadid Khan, a student of Harimohan Govt. High achieved the best certificate in Language and Literature. Tajin Binte Reja, a student of Nawabganj Govt. College was awarded the best for competition in Mathematics and Computer. In this way certificates were distributed with 300.00 taka to every competitor from every category and subject.   Every year this National Education Week is held throughout the whole country and so many students and teachers are rewarded for their special performance in various sections. Those who can perform their best they can be rewarded as the national prize winners. Upazila is the beginning to reach the top of the honorable place. After winning the Upazila prize, in the district wise fight the best class teacher for secondary school is selected Md. Mahbubul Alam, Senior Teacher (English), Harimohan Government High School. Professor Sankar Kumar Kundu, principal of Nawabganj Government College is rewarded as the best principal at college level and this college is rewarded as the best college at this Sadar Upazila. In this way from so many categories  students and teachers are given the certificates and crests to their respective performances. Students are to compete with various types of songs, recitations, writings etc. Every year this competition is arranged by our government and students can have their chance to attend the competition to express their creativity. Our government is trying to reach our country to the level of the richest ones like Singapore, Thailand, America. These creative personalities will work heart and soul and take our country materializing our dream of our aspired Sonar Bangla.

By The Shadows

By the shadows suddenly I stopped and got down from the motorbike
How beautiful the place!
The green paddy field made the view a green carpet
By the way it stands the large tree
The shadows beacon --------
O dear, please be seated
At least halt a little and take the fresh breath in me
On the subconscious mind I heard the sound
The leafy tree spoke out in the silence
I lost myself closing the eyes
I lost myself in the shade and sun from gaps of the leaves
In midst of wind, shade and sun the blood springs as the dancing beats 
And lost in thy love that calms my heart and eyes
No caption - it's always a place you stand by
Let's go - that green horizontal world waiting for us. 

Through a crack in the wall, 

I see nothing. 

I hear a faint swirl of mutters and creaks and nothing. 

I sense a fear,

From me or the crack in the wall?

From me.


Eye to the hole, 

I stare and stare,

But nothing is nothing is nothing. 

I see nothing,

I hear nothing,

I sense nothing. 


Yet when I am far from the crack in the wall,

I see it,

I hear it,

I sense it. 


The crack in the wall is made up of nothing,

Yet it makes me feel the most of everything. 

I am it. 

Which makes me nothing.

Maniacal Drama

Extremism to its extreme

The iliad twice over

Yet missing more than

A hundred thousand soldiers

There's a killer on the loose

The new pennywise

The curtains haven't closed yet

This story isn’t near its end

Quiet panic

Tension is high

Cross your fingers and

Pray there's no encore

No more-

Chekhov's gun is on the wall

“La forza del destino”

Graffitied on the bathroom stall

The spotlight’s gone dark

The lead is dead

We pity the poor soul

Who found the queen’s head

The show must go on

Sanity is hanging on by just a thread

Everything’s gone wrong

And the stage is half set

We’re only in act three

Nobody knows where the prop manager went

Iago is carrying the head of Marie Antoinette

Exit stage left

Keep your eye on the apron-

The hit list is too long

Suspicion is high

Biases are burning

Don’t blink

It’s all a lie

Romeo is dead now

So is Snow White

Mufasa has fallen

Spock said goodbye

And Rose couldn’t save

Her poor young lover’s life

The audience is cheering

It all looked so authentic

News reports nineteen civilians have gone missing

time travelers 

you took our picture from a car window. 

i know 

because i saw the door frame on the edge of the photograph.

neither of us saw you take it, but i know it exists

because someone in the future is admiring 

the yellowing picture paper

that smells of antique stores and soap.

why had we stopped to stand in the middle of the highway?

not sure

who are you? 

i wont bother guessing because you care either way.

you stopped time in march.

the MAR on the side told me so.

what year? anyone's guess.

all i know is that she is looking at me and i am looking at the 

blue or the grey or the beige.