CAG slams ONGC for tardy exploration
Press Trust of India / New Delhi 05 Aug 10 | 06:39 PM
Premier auditor the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has slammed Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) for systemic deficiencies in oil and gas exploration effort that resulted in no discovery in 16 blocks despite spending over Rs 1,460 crore.
The CAG in its report tabled in Parliament today said the performance audit of ONGC in its 37 shallow water blocks "revealed systemic and compliance deficiencies."
The deficiencies relate to "absence of norms for key activities, delays/failures in carrying out acquisition, processing and interpretation (API) of seismic data, delayed tendering, mismatch in planning of exploration activities".
The sluggish effort resulted in "unfruitful expenditure (of Rs 2,136.45 crore) and avoidable expenditure (of Rs 94.67 crore) besides entailing liability for payment of liquidated damaged (Rs 252.20 crore)", it said.
The audit was spread over 21 blocks that had been given to ONGC on nomination basis and 16 it had won under the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP).
CAG said ONGC made no oil and gas discovery in any of the 16 NELP blocks as all the wells drilled were found to be dry.
"The company had surrendered/proposed to surrender 10 of the 16 NELP blocks after incurring substantial expenditure of Rs 1,461.36 crore over the period 2004-08, though the company had bid for the blocks after analysing them," the report said.
In 7 of these blocks, ONGC took 8-12 months to complete Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) studies which had adverse impact on timely API of seismic data. "In the absence of norms, the reasonableness of time taken in completion of EIA studies and API could not be ascertained in the audit," it said.
"The pace of completion of API was also very slow in a number of blocks with the result that exploration commitments in the nomination as well as the NELP blocks could not be completed in time," CAG said.
"The slow pace coupled with the mismatch between rig deployment plan and availability/ deployment of rigs affected in fulfilling the drilling commitments. This had a cascading adverse impact as exploration blocks had to be surrendered after incurring substantial expenditure."
CAG asked ONGC to complete exploration activities in a time-bound manner to avoid surrender of blocks, prescribe norms for EIA, initiate tendering process well in advance and ensure availability of suit
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
CAG pulls up Sebi, Irda for retaining surplus funds
Government auditor CAG has rapped five regulators, including Sebi, Irda and PNGRB, for keeping their surplus funds worth over Rs 2,142 crore collected through fee and penalty outside the government accounts.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report has pulled up Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Insurance regulatory and Development Authority (Irda), Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for "contravention of constitutional provision".
"Scrutiny of the annual accounts of the five regulatory bodies revealed that these bodies were retaining their surplus funds generated through fee charges, unspent grants received from government, aggregating to Rs 2,142.47 crore at the end of March, 2010 outside the Government Accounts," CAG said.
Ads by Google Real Story About 2G Scam Only 22% of Companies Chargesheeted By CBI, Who are the rest ?www.2gscam.co.in1 Crore Life Insurance Pay less than Rs.1000 every Month Secure your Family for 1 Crorepaisabazaar.com/termICICI Medical Insurance Cashless Hospitalisation,No checkUp Or Paperwork Required. Buy Online!healthinsurance-icic
The practice by the regulators are in contravention of the instructions issued by the Finance Ministry that all ministries and departments of the government would ensure that funds of regulatory bodies are maintained in the Public Account, the CAG said.
"The Finance Accounts of the Union Government therefore do not present a current and complete picture of government finances to the extent of funds of Rs 2,142.47 crore lying outside the government accounts," it added.
Further, the CAG report noted that the Finance Ministry in December, 2009 and November, 2010 had said the broad guidelines relating to operationalising Sebi and Irda funds in the Public Accounts have been framed and conveyed to the Controller General of Accounts for drawing up the detail accounting procedure.
... contd.
Government auditor CAG has rapped five regulators, including Sebi, Irda and PNGRB, for keeping their surplus funds worth over Rs 2,142 crore collected through fee and penalty outside the government accounts.
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) in its report has pulled up Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi), Insurance regulatory and Development Authority (Irda), Pension Fund Regulatory Development Authority (PFRDA), Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) and Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for "contravention of constitutional provision".
"Scrutiny of the annual accounts of the five regulatory bodies revealed that these bodies were retaining their surplus funds generated through fee charges, unspent grants received from government, aggregating to Rs 2,142.47 crore at the end of March, 2010 outside the Government Accounts," CAG said.
Ads by Google Real Story About 2G Scam Only 22% of Companies Chargesheeted By CBI, Who are the rest ?www.2gscam.co.in1 Crore Life Insurance Pay less than Rs.1000 every Month Secure your Family for 1 Crorepaisabazaar.com/termICICI Medical Insurance Cashless Hospitalisation,No checkUp Or Paperwork Required. Buy Online!healthinsurance-icic
The practice by the regulators are in contravention of the instructions issued by the Finance Ministry that all ministries and departments of the government would ensure that funds of regulatory bodies are maintained in the Public Account, the CAG said.
"The Finance Accounts of the Union Government therefore do not present a current and complete picture of government finances to the extent of funds of Rs 2,142.47 crore lying outside the government accounts," it added.
Further, the CAG report noted that the Finance Ministry in December, 2009 and November, 2010 had said the broad guidelines relating to operationalising Sebi and Irda funds in the Public Accounts have been framed and conveyed to the Controller General of Accounts for drawing up the detail accounting procedure.
... contd.
CAG says scam at ONGC, NTPC cost govt Rs 1800cr
CAG says scam at ONGC, NTPC cost govt Rs 1800cr
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) audit of public-sector companies has revealed financial irregularities in bluechips like ONGC, IOC and NTPC. As a result of these irregularities, the government has lost a possible dividend inflow of more than Rs 1,800 crore. CNBC-TV18’s Abhijit Neogy reports.
Here is a verbatim transcript of Abhijit Neogy’s comments on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.
The annual CAG report for PSU companies is out and it says bluechips like NTPC, ONGC etc have indulged in financial irregularities. The irregularities range from overstatement of profits to overstatement of expenditure and that has resulted in a loss of about Rs 1,846 crore in dividend to the government. As far as ONGC is concerned, the understatement of profits through overstatement of expenditure is around Rs 257 crore. For IOC, it amounts to about Rs 207 crore and NTPC has inflated its balance sheet by about Rs 938 crore.
The frequent flyer programme of National Aviation Company Ltd. has also come in for some criticism from the IT audit of CAG. This particular mechanism doesn’t seem to be yielding much on the ground because the Action Taken Report, because last year, about 75% of recommendation of penal action has not taken off.
The Comptroller and Auditor General’s (CAG) audit of public-sector companies has revealed financial irregularities in bluechips like ONGC, IOC and NTPC. As a result of these irregularities, the government has lost a possible dividend inflow of more than Rs 1,800 crore. CNBC-TV18’s Abhijit Neogy reports.
Here is a verbatim transcript of Abhijit Neogy’s comments on CNBC-TV18. Also watch the accompanying video.
The annual CAG report for PSU companies is out and it says bluechips like NTPC, ONGC etc have indulged in financial irregularities. The irregularities range from overstatement of profits to overstatement of expenditure and that has resulted in a loss of about Rs 1,846 crore in dividend to the government. As far as ONGC is concerned, the understatement of profits through overstatement of expenditure is around Rs 257 crore. For IOC, it amounts to about Rs 207 crore and NTPC has inflated its balance sheet by about Rs 938 crore.
The frequent flyer programme of National Aviation Company Ltd. has also come in for some criticism from the IT audit of CAG. This particular mechanism doesn’t seem to be yielding much on the ground because the Action Taken Report, because last year, about 75% of recommendation of penal action has not taken off.
CAG raps ONGC for inflated Imperial buy
Expressindia » Story
CAG raps ONGC for inflated Imperial buy
Posted: Mar 24, 2011 at 1846 hrs IST
New Delhi The government auditor CAG has rapped ONGC Videsh Ltd for its buyout of Imperial Energy Corp saying reserves were inflated and unrealistic projections of output made to justify the Indian energy giant's most expensive acquisition ever.
OVL, the overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), in January 2009 acquired Russia-focused Imperial Energy for USD 2.12 billion (Rs 10,320 crore).
Imperial, whose main assets are in Tomskh region of east Russia, has produced lower than projected output and had inflated oil reserves.
"...the company has been able to achieve production of only 15,803 barrels of oil per day (bpd) as against the envisaged production levels of 35,000 bpd (at the time of acquisition)," the Comptroller and Auditor General said in its report tabled in Parliament today.
CAG calculated that lesser output meant Rs 1182.14 crore loss during 15 months from January 2009 to March 2010.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in August 2008 allowed OVL to acquire Imperial subject to stipulation that the rate of return on investment is more than 10 per cent. Also, OVL was to farm out a part of its stake to a Russian firm.
Before the acquisition, the technical consultant and OVL had estimated the 2P reserves (that have 50 per cent chance of being produced) of Imperial Energy at 790 million barrels of oil equivalent and 825 million barrels of oil equivalent respectively.
"With these estimates of reserves and long term crude price at USD 85 per barrel, the company (OVL) assessed the project as viable with the average daily rate of production of 35,000 bpd for 2009 and thereafter, to enhance the production up to 80,000 bpd by 2011," CAG said in the report.
Against this, the actual rate of production on October 20, 2008 was only about 5,634 bpd as against the projected output of 11,000 bpd. Average output in 2009 was 9067 bpd and for January-August 2010 14,724 bpd, much lower than what was projected at the time of acquisition.
"Consequent to low production, the company (OVL) could not achieve internal rate of return (IRR) of 10 per cent and incurred losses of USD 37.892 million (Rs 174.15 crore) and USD 212.464 million (Rs 1007.99 crore) for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively," CAG said.
Moreover, OVL had to reduce the proven reserve size of the asset during 2009-10 by 1.527 million tons "indicating the inflated size of reserves estimated by the company at the time of its acquisition."
"The company (OVL) did not address the reservations expressed in 2007 by Russian Resources Ministry regarding inflated reserve position declared by Imperial Energy Corp, at the time of evaluation of investment opportunity in 2008," CAG said.
CAG said OVL did not exercise the option of farming out a part of its stake in Imperial to "a local partner to leverage their combined financial strength and shared experience of the joint venture partner."
"This resulted in financial loss to OVL," it said.
CAG rejected OVL's reply that "due to discouraging and very different drilling results of 28 wells in three fields in 2008 and 2009, production could not be achieved as envisaged at the time of acquisition".
OVL "management's reply is not tenable as the subsequent drilling results and reduction of proved reserve size by 1.527 million tons during 2009-10 raises doubt about the reserve size of the Imperial Energy Corp and economic viability of the takeover," the CAG report said.
"The fact that the company even now is not in a position to generate a realistic production profile and bring out an economic analysis confirms that all the problems associated with these fields were not properly assessed at the time of evaluation of opportunity which led to poor production performance and consequent losses," CAG added.
CAG said investment risk could have been mitigated in the initial stage itself by farming out a part of its stake.
"The technical consultant while confirming the audit observation opined that it is a known fact that tight reservoir had poor productivity and also poorer recovery in comparison to a normal one. The prediction for production level was highly optimistic rather than realistic," it added.
CAG raps ONGC for inflated Imperial buy
Posted: Mar 24, 2011 at 1846 hrs IST
New Delhi The government auditor CAG has rapped ONGC Videsh Ltd for its buyout of Imperial Energy Corp saying reserves were inflated and unrealistic projections of output made to justify the Indian energy giant's most expensive acquisition ever.
OVL, the overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corp (ONGC), in January 2009 acquired Russia-focused Imperial Energy for USD 2.12 billion (Rs 10,320 crore).
Imperial, whose main assets are in Tomskh region of east Russia, has produced lower than projected output and had inflated oil reserves.
"...the company has been able to achieve production of only 15,803 barrels of oil per day (bpd) as against the envisaged production levels of 35,000 bpd (at the time of acquisition)," the Comptroller and Auditor General said in its report tabled in Parliament today.
CAG calculated that lesser output meant Rs 1182.14 crore loss during 15 months from January 2009 to March 2010.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) had in August 2008 allowed OVL to acquire Imperial subject to stipulation that the rate of return on investment is more than 10 per cent. Also, OVL was to farm out a part of its stake to a Russian firm.
Before the acquisition, the technical consultant and OVL had estimated the 2P reserves (that have 50 per cent chance of being produced) of Imperial Energy at 790 million barrels of oil equivalent and 825 million barrels of oil equivalent respectively.
"With these estimates of reserves and long term crude price at USD 85 per barrel, the company (OVL) assessed the project as viable with the average daily rate of production of 35,000 bpd for 2009 and thereafter, to enhance the production up to 80,000 bpd by 2011," CAG said in the report.
Against this, the actual rate of production on October 20, 2008 was only about 5,634 bpd as against the projected output of 11,000 bpd. Average output in 2009 was 9067 bpd and for January-August 2010 14,724 bpd, much lower than what was projected at the time of acquisition.
"Consequent to low production, the company (OVL) could not achieve internal rate of return (IRR) of 10 per cent and incurred losses of USD 37.892 million (Rs 174.15 crore) and USD 212.464 million (Rs 1007.99 crore) for the years 2008-09 and 2009-10 respectively," CAG said.
Moreover, OVL had to reduce the proven reserve size of the asset during 2009-10 by 1.527 million tons "indicating the inflated size of reserves estimated by the company at the time of its acquisition."
"The company (OVL) did not address the reservations expressed in 2007 by Russian Resources Ministry regarding inflated reserve position declared by Imperial Energy Corp, at the time of evaluation of investment opportunity in 2008," CAG said.
CAG said OVL did not exercise the option of farming out a part of its stake in Imperial to "a local partner to leverage their combined financial strength and shared experience of the joint venture partner."
"This resulted in financial loss to OVL," it said.
CAG rejected OVL's reply that "due to discouraging and very different drilling results of 28 wells in three fields in 2008 and 2009, production could not be achieved as envisaged at the time of acquisition".
OVL "management's reply is not tenable as the subsequent drilling results and reduction of proved reserve size by 1.527 million tons during 2009-10 raises doubt about the reserve size of the Imperial Energy Corp and economic viability of the takeover," the CAG report said.
"The fact that the company even now is not in a position to generate a realistic production profile and bring out an economic analysis confirms that all the problems associated with these fields were not properly assessed at the time of evaluation of opportunity which led to poor production performance and consequent losses," CAG added.
CAG said investment risk could have been mitigated in the initial stage itself by farming out a part of its stake.
"The technical consultant while confirming the audit observation opined that it is a known fact that tight reservoir had poor productivity and also poorer recovery in comparison to a normal one. The prediction for production level was highly optimistic rather than realistic," it added.
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Article 226 in The Constitution Of India 1949
All India Reserve Bank Retired ... vs Union Of India And Others on 10 December, 1991
Gujarat High Court
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Equivalent citations: (2000) 4 GLR 2879
Bench: R Tripathi
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition is filed by two petitioners, one, ONGC Retired Officers' Association and Shri V.G. Srinivasan, President (as he then was) of petitioner no.1. The petition is directed against the respondent Oil & Natural Gas Commission ("the Commission" for brevity) for excluding the employees who have retired prior to 1.4.1990 from granting the benefits under superannuation benefit scheme. It is the grievance of the petitioners that the scheme, formulated by the Commission is made applicable only to those employees who retired on 1.4.1991, or thereafter. It is the case of the petitioners that in fact a draft scheme was circulated for eliciting opinion poll by the Directorate of Personnel of the Commission. In that it was mentioned in clause (1) that :
"The scheme would be compulsory for each and every employee of the Commission who came on roll of the Commission on 7th October 1987 or thereafter."
It is also the case of the petitioners that thereafter the scheme with some modifications was again circulated which is at Annexure 'B'. In the modified scheme it was mentioned in subclause (C) of clause 1, under the heading 'Membership' that :
"All regular employees of ONGC are entitled to become member of the scheme.
The scheme would be optional to the present serving officers of the Commission, but not to officers joining on 1st April 1990 or thereafter who will have to compulsorily become member of the scheme and no option in his case would be available to them. Option in case of existing employees once exercised will be final and irrevocable."
It is submitted on behalf of the petitioners that in view of these two schemes, the prayers at para 14 of the petition are required to be granted, whereby it is prayed that direction in the nature of mandamus be issued against the respondent Commission to apply the scheme now known as "ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme", to all its employees. It is also prayed by the petitioners that to the extent the scheme is made applicable compulsorily to the employees who are in service as on 1.4.1991, the same should be declared unconstitutional and that the Commission be directed to make the scheme applicable to all its employees on their exercising option. Mr.Majgaonkar, learned counsel vehemently urged that the action of the respondent Commission of applying the scheme in its present form whereby the scheme is made applicable only to the employees who were on the rolls of the Commission on or after 1.4.1991 is unjust, arbitrary and therefore, the prayers as prayed for are required to be granted.
2. Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission has invited my attention to the affidavit filed on behalf of the Commission wherein para 9(ii) states that, "the scheme which was circulated in the year 1987 was only a draft scheme and it was, as the title shows, was circulated for eliciting opinion poll". It is also pointed out that it was thereafter with necessary modifications that it was recommended to the Central Govt. for making the scheme in question effective from 1.4.1990. Mr.Mehta has also invited my attention to letter dated 18.9.1991, whereby the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas granted its approval to the scheme with a modification so far as applicability of the said scheme is concerned in clause (iii) of the said letter which reads as under :
"The scheme may be made effective from 1.4.1990 subject to the condition that all employees who retired between 1.4.1990 and 1.4.1991 will be excluded from the scheme."
Mr.Mehta, learned counsel has submitted that the said modification was made by the Union Government by its letter dated 18.9.1991 , which is already produced on record of this case with an affidavit dated 10.3.1998. Therefore, the petitioners very much knew about the decision being that of the Union Government and if at all that decision was required to be challenged it was open to the petitioners to join the Govt of India as a party respondent to defend its decision. Mr.Mehta has also submitted that the scheme implemented by the Commission is only after approval from the Union Government and the said scheme is implemented as approved by the Union Government and therefore, if at all the decision of modification of date was to be challenged, the same should have been challenged by the petitioners only after joining the Union of India as party respondent in the present petition.
3. Mr.Majgaonkar for the petitioners urged that as regards the action of the respondent Commission of forwarding the scheme to the Union Government vide letter dated 29.3.1991 with a changed date of 1.4.1990 instead of 7.10.1987, no justification is put forward by the Commission.
4. It appears from the aforesaid discussion that the cut off date which is now prescribed for implementation of the scheme is a decision of the Union Government and if at all that decision is to be challenged by the petitioners, the petitioners ought to have joined the Govt. of India as party respondent so as to enable the Union Government to put forward the justification, if any for prescribing the said date. In absence of the Union Government before this Court, no reliefs can be granted against the Commission as the Commission is only an implementing agency of the decision of the Union Government whereby the Central Government modified the proposal sent by the Commission by letter dated 29.3.1991 in the form of change of date, as stated hereinabove.
Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission submitted that it is observed by the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of All India Reserve Bank Retired Officers Association & others v. Union of India & another, 1991 (6) JT 400, wherein the Honourable the Supreme Court was considering the question of prescribing the cut off date for implementation of pension scheme in substitution of CPF scheme. The Honourable Supreme Court held that :
"The underlying principle is that when the State decides to revise and liberalise an existing pension scheme with a view to augmenting the social security cover granted to pensioners, it cannot ordinarily grant the benefit to a section of the pensioners and deny the same to others by drawing an artificial cut off line which cannot be justified on rational grounds and is wholly unconnected with the object intended to be achieved. But when an employer introduces an entirely new scheme which has no connection with the existing scheme, different considerations enter the decision making process. One such consideration may be the financial implications of the scheme and the extent of capacity of the employer to bear the burden. Keeping in view its capacity to absorb the financial burden that the scheme would throw, the employer would have to decide upon the extent of applicability of the scheme."
5. Mr.Mehta has also pointed out that the present scheme was also the subject matter of a writ petition being W.P. No.1718 of 1996 under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Mumbai, wherein it was challenged by the petitioners therein that the scheme in question was not having financial viability and equitableness. Therefore, requested for the following reliefs :
- To quash and set aside the scheme.
- Directions be issued for not implementing the scheme.
- Operation of the scheme should be stayed.
- The respondent be directed to restrain from paying out the said funds in any manner for any purpose.
The High Court of Mumbai was pleased to pass an order on 5.11.1996, which reads as under :
"This petition under Article 226 is filed by some of the employees of Oil & natural Gas Commission (ONGC) challenging the validity of ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme ("Scheme" for short). The main grievance of the petitioners is that the scheme is not financially viable and the entire corpus of the scheme is likely to be wiped out soon leaving the Junior employees in service completely high and dry. The petitioners have therefore, prayed for quashing and setting aside the scheme. In the alternative, they have prayed for a direction against the ONGC not to implement the scheme.
It seems that the scheme was introduced sometime in May 1990 for the officers working in ONGC, although, some 3000 officers did not join the scheme, large majority comprising of nearly 18000 officers have opted for the scheme. so far around 2000 cases of those who have retired/ expired have been settled. Nearly 293 cases of death and/ or total permanent disability while in service the pending for settlement.
In their affidavit in reply ONGC has vehemently denied the petitioners' case that the scheme is not financially viable.
However, during hearing Mr.Dada, learned Additional Solicitor General, appearing for ONGC fairly stated that the Corporation has received actuarial report from M/s K.A. Pandit that the scheme is not viable. Mr.Dada also produced a copy of the report for the perusal of the Court. The report shows that the scheme is not viable on account of unexpected time in the salary and PAGE change in the formula of D.A. M/s K.A. Pandit have recommended that to make the scheme viable it is necessary to raise fund from the sources available. The fund position should be reviewed especially when there is a change on account of wage negotiation or the long terms recruitment policy. It is recommended that in order to take cases of the fund additional contribution should be raised from the year in which exorbitant salary rise has been given, i.e. 1992 and difference with 12% interest to be paid to the fund. It is also recommended that any difference of annuity cost because of above salary rise and interest payable to LIC for 1992 to date of payment of annuity should be raised in such a way that it does not pose undue problems to the existing members.
On a careful scrutiny of the report, it is clear, that the scheme is not viable unless additional funds are raised from difference sources. Otherwise, the scheme is liable to be scrapped altogether. The question relating to generation of additional funds will have to be considered by negotiations between the Officers' Association and the Corporation. The Bombay Association has appeared through the President, STO (MRBC), ONGC and has agreed for holding negotiations with the Corporation. However, the all India Association, i.e. ASTO (CWC), ONGC has not appeared although served. The central association is hereby directed to hold similar negotiations with the Corporation for the purpose of finding out solution for saving the scheme. In the meanwhile, it is necessary to issue ad interim relief in order to ensure that the fund is not further depleted.
The ONGC is hereby restrained from paying out from the funds of the scheme except in the cases of death or total/ permanent disability while in service, the Corporation is permitted to release the funds to the extent of 50% in such cases."
Thereafter, the said writ petition came to be withdrawn on the basis of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted before the Honourable High Court of Mumbai. It is clear from the order passed by the Honourable Mumbai High Court that it was on the basis of modification of the scheme as agreed in the said (MoU), the said writ petition came to be withdrawn giving up challenge to the scheme in question. This is to show that the scheme as was stood, was found to be not viable and therefore, the same was required to be changed under the MoU in question. In that view of the matter it is clear that if the said scheme found to be not viable even for implementing from 1.4.1990 it could not have been found viable for implementing it from any earlier date.
6. Mr.Mehta, learned advocate has also invited the attention of the Court to para 9 of the affidavit in reply at page 71, wherein it is stated in no uncertain terms that respondent no.1 only required to contribute a token amount of Rs.100/-. This is one of the conditions stipulated by the Govt. of India while according NOC to entertain superannuation benefit scheme. He has also invited my attention to the averments made in para 13 at page 73 that if the scheme is made applicable for officers, who retired from 1.4.1990, the scheme would become inequitable and unviable as the number of officers would receive disproportionate benefits compared to very less contribution made by them at the cost of young officers/ members.
7. In the light of the aforesaid discussion, the petition fails. No reliefs as prayed for by the petitioners can be granted. Rule is discharged with no order as to costs.
All India Reserve Bank Retired ... vs Union Of India And Others on 10 December, 1991
Gujarat High Court
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Equivalent citations: (2000) 4 GLR 2879
Bench: R Tripathi
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition is filed by two petitioners, one, ONGC Retired Officers' Association and Shri V.G. Srinivasan, President (as he then was) of petitioner no.1. The petition is directed against the respondent Oil & Natural Gas Commission ("the Commission" for brevity) for excluding the employees who have retired prior to 1.4.1990 from granting the benefits under superannuation benefit scheme. It is the grievance of the petitioners that the scheme, formulated by the Commission is made applicable only to those employees who retired on 1.4.1991, or thereafter. It is the case of the petitioners that in fact a draft scheme was circulated for eliciting opinion poll by the Directorate of Personnel of the Commission. In that it was mentioned in clause (1) that :
"The scheme would be compulsory for each and every employee of the Commission who came on roll of the Commission on 7th October 1987 or thereafter."
It is also the case of the petitioners that thereafter the scheme with some modifications was again circulated which is at Annexure 'B'. In the modified scheme it was mentioned in subclause (C) of clause 1, under the heading 'Membership' that :
"All regular employees of ONGC are entitled to become member of the scheme.
The scheme would be optional to the present serving officers of the Commission, but not to officers joining on 1st April 1990 or thereafter who will have to compulsorily become member of the scheme and no option in his case would be available to them. Option in case of existing employees once exercised will be final and irrevocable."
It is submitted on behalf of the petitioners that in view of these two schemes, the prayers at para 14 of the petition are required to be granted, whereby it is prayed that direction in the nature of mandamus be issued against the respondent Commission to apply the scheme now known as "ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme", to all its employees. It is also prayed by the petitioners that to the extent the scheme is made applicable compulsorily to the employees who are in service as on 1.4.1991, the same should be declared unconstitutional and that the Commission be directed to make the scheme applicable to all its employees on their exercising option. Mr.Majgaonkar, learned counsel vehemently urged that the action of the respondent Commission of applying the scheme in its present form whereby the scheme is made applicable only to the employees who were on the rolls of the Commission on or after 1.4.1991 is unjust, arbitrary and therefore, the prayers as prayed for are required to be granted.
2. Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission has invited my attention to the affidavit filed on behalf of the Commission wherein para 9(ii) states that, "the scheme which was circulated in the year 1987 was only a draft scheme and it was, as the title shows, was circulated for eliciting opinion poll". It is also pointed out that it was thereafter with necessary modifications that it was recommended to the Central Govt. for making the scheme in question effective from 1.4.1990. Mr.Mehta has also invited my attention to letter dated 18.9.1991, whereby the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas granted its approval to the scheme with a modification so far as applicability of the said scheme is concerned in clause (iii) of the said letter which reads as under :
"The scheme may be made effective from 1.4.1990 subject to the condition that all employees who retired between 1.4.1990 and 1.4.1991 will be excluded from the scheme."
Mr.Mehta, learned counsel has submitted that the said modification was made by the Union Government by its letter dated 18.9.1991 , which is already produced on record of this case with an affidavit dated 10.3.1998. Therefore, the petitioners very much knew about the decision being that of the Union Government and if at all that decision was required to be challenged it was open to the petitioners to join the Govt of India as a party respondent to defend its decision. Mr.Mehta has also submitted that the scheme implemented by the Commission is only after approval from the Union Government and the said scheme is implemented as approved by the Union Government and therefore, if at all the decision of modification of date was to be challenged, the same should have been challenged by the petitioners only after joining the Union of India as party respondent in the present petition.
3. Mr.Majgaonkar for the petitioners urged that as regards the action of the respondent Commission of forwarding the scheme to the Union Government vide letter dated 29.3.1991 with a changed date of 1.4.1990 instead of 7.10.1987, no justification is put forward by the Commission.
4. It appears from the aforesaid discussion that the cut off date which is now prescribed for implementation of the scheme is a decision of the Union Government and if at all that decision is to be challenged by the petitioners, the petitioners ought to have joined the Govt. of India as party respondent so as to enable the Union Government to put forward the justification, if any for prescribing the said date. In absence of the Union Government before this Court, no reliefs can be granted against the Commission as the Commission is only an implementing agency of the decision of the Union Government whereby the Central Government modified the proposal sent by the Commission by letter dated 29.3.1991 in the form of change of date, as stated hereinabove.
Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission submitted that it is observed by the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of All India Reserve Bank Retired Officers Association & others v. Union of India & another, 1991 (6) JT 400, wherein the Honourable the Supreme Court was considering the question of prescribing the cut off date for implementation of pension scheme in substitution of CPF scheme. The Honourable Supreme Court held that :
"The underlying principle is that when the State decides to revise and liberalise an existing pension scheme with a view to augmenting the social security cover granted to pensioners, it cannot ordinarily grant the benefit to a section of the pensioners and deny the same to others by drawing an artificial cut off line which cannot be justified on rational grounds and is wholly unconnected with the object intended to be achieved. But when an employer introduces an entirely new scheme which has no connection with the existing scheme, different considerations enter the decision making process. One such consideration may be the financial implications of the scheme and the extent of capacity of the employer to bear the burden. Keeping in view its capacity to absorb the financial burden that the scheme would throw, the employer would have to decide upon the extent of applicability of the scheme."
5. Mr.Mehta has also pointed out that the present scheme was also the subject matter of a writ petition being W.P. No.1718 of 1996 under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Mumbai, wherein it was challenged by the petitioners therein that the scheme in question was not having financial viability and equitableness. Therefore, requested for the following reliefs :
- To quash and set aside the scheme.
- Directions be issued for not implementing the scheme.
- Operation of the scheme should be stayed.
- The respondent be directed to restrain from paying out the said funds in any manner for any purpose.
The High Court of Mumbai was pleased to pass an order on 5.11.1996, which reads as under :
"This petition under Article 226 is filed by some of the employees of Oil & natural Gas Commission (ONGC) challenging the validity of ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme ("Scheme" for short). The main grievance of the petitioners is that the scheme is not financially viable and the entire corpus of the scheme is likely to be wiped out soon leaving the Junior employees in service completely high and dry. The petitioners have therefore, prayed for quashing and setting aside the scheme. In the alternative, they have prayed for a direction against the ONGC not to implement the scheme.
It seems that the scheme was introduced sometime in May 1990 for the officers working in ONGC, although, some 3000 officers did not join the scheme, large majority comprising of nearly 18000 officers have opted for the scheme. so far around 2000 cases of those who have retired/ expired have been settled. Nearly 293 cases of death and/ or total permanent disability while in service the pending for settlement.
In their affidavit in reply ONGC has vehemently denied the petitioners' case that the scheme is not financially viable.
However, during hearing Mr.Dada, learned Additional Solicitor General, appearing for ONGC fairly stated that the Corporation has received actuarial report from M/s K.A. Pandit that the scheme is not viable. Mr.Dada also produced a copy of the report for the perusal of the Court. The report shows that the scheme is not viable on account of unexpected time in the salary and PAGE change in the formula of D.A. M/s K.A. Pandit have recommended that to make the scheme viable it is necessary to raise fund from the sources available. The fund position should be reviewed especially when there is a change on account of wage negotiation or the long terms recruitment policy. It is recommended that in order to take cases of the fund additional contribution should be raised from the year in which exorbitant salary rise has been given, i.e. 1992 and difference with 12% interest to be paid to the fund. It is also recommended that any difference of annuity cost because of above salary rise and interest payable to LIC for 1992 to date of payment of annuity should be raised in such a way that it does not pose undue problems to the existing members.
On a careful scrutiny of the report, it is clear, that the scheme is not viable unless additional funds are raised from difference sources. Otherwise, the scheme is liable to be scrapped altogether. The question relating to generation of additional funds will have to be considered by negotiations between the Officers' Association and the Corporation. The Bombay Association has appeared through the President, STO (MRBC), ONGC and has agreed for holding negotiations with the Corporation. However, the all India Association, i.e. ASTO (CWC), ONGC has not appeared although served. The central association is hereby directed to hold similar negotiations with the Corporation for the purpose of finding out solution for saving the scheme. In the meanwhile, it is necessary to issue ad interim relief in order to ensure that the fund is not further depleted.
The ONGC is hereby restrained from paying out from the funds of the scheme except in the cases of death or total/ permanent disability while in service, the Corporation is permitted to release the funds to the extent of 50% in such cases."
Thereafter, the said writ petition came to be withdrawn on the basis of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted before the Honourable High Court of Mumbai. It is clear from the order passed by the Honourable Mumbai High Court that it was on the basis of modification of the scheme as agreed in the said (MoU), the said writ petition came to be withdrawn giving up challenge to the scheme in question. This is to show that the scheme as was stood, was found to be not viable and therefore, the same was required to be changed under the MoU in question. In that view of the matter it is clear that if the said scheme found to be not viable even for implementing from 1.4.1990 it could not have been found viable for implementing it from any earlier date.
6. Mr.Mehta, learned advocate has also invited the attention of the Court to para 9 of the affidavit in reply at page 71, wherein it is stated in no uncertain terms that respondent no.1 only required to contribute a token amount of Rs.100/-. This is one of the conditions stipulated by the Govt. of India while according NOC to entertain superannuation benefit scheme. He has also invited my attention to the averments made in para 13 at page 73 that if the scheme is made applicable for officers, who retired from 1.4.1990, the scheme would become inequitable and unviable as the number of officers would receive disproportionate benefits compared to very less contribution made by them at the cost of young officers/ members.
7. In the light of the aforesaid discussion, the petition fails. No reliefs as prayed for by the petitioners can be granted. Rule is discharged with no order as to costs.
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Article 226 in The Constitution Of India 1949
All India Reserve Bank Retired ... vs Union Of India And Others on 10 December, 1991
Gujarat High Court
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Equivalent citations: (2000) 4 GLR 2879
Bench: R Tripathi
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition is filed by two petitioners, one, ONGC Retired Officers' Association and Shri V.G. Srinivasan, President (as he then was) of petitioner no.1. The petition is directed against the respondent Oil & Natural Gas Commission ("the Commission" for brevity) for excluding the employees who have retired prior to 1.4.1990 from granting the benefits under superannuation benefit scheme. It is the grievance of the petitioners that the scheme, formulated by the Commission is made applicable only to those employees who retired on 1.4.1991, or thereafter. It is the case of the petitioners that in fact a draft scheme was circulated for eliciting opinion poll by the Directorate of Personnel of the Commission. In that it was mentioned in clause (1) that :
"The scheme would be compulsory for each and every employee of the Commission who came on roll of the Commission on 7th October 1987 or thereafter."
It is also the case of the petitioners that thereafter the scheme with some modifications was again circulated which is at Annexure 'B'. In the modified scheme it was mentioned in subclause (C) of clause 1, under the heading 'Membership' that :
"All regular employees of ONGC are entitled to become member of the scheme.
The scheme would be optional to the present serving officers of the Commission, but not to officers joining on 1st April 1990 or thereafter who will have to compulsorily become member of the scheme and no option in his case would be available to them. Option in case of existing employees once exercised will be final and irrevocable."
It is submitted on behalf of the petitioners that in view of these two schemes, the prayers at para 14 of the petition are required to be granted, whereby it is prayed that direction in the nature of mandamus be issued against the respondent Commission to apply the scheme now known as "ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme", to all its employees. It is also prayed by the petitioners that to the extent the scheme is made applicable compulsorily to the employees who are in service as on 1.4.1991, the same should be declared unconstitutional and that the Commission be directed to make the scheme applicable to all its employees on their exercising option. Mr.Majgaonkar, learned counsel vehemently urged that the action of the respondent Commission of applying the scheme in its present form whereby the scheme is made applicable only to the employees who were on the rolls of the Commission on or after 1.4.1991 is unjust, arbitrary and therefore, the prayers as prayed for are required to be granted.
2. Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission has invited my attention to the affidavit filed on behalf of the Commission wherein para 9(ii) states that, "the scheme which was circulated in the year 1987 was only a draft scheme and it was, as the title shows, was circulated for eliciting opinion poll". It is also pointed out that it was thereafter with necessary modifications that it was recommended to the Central Govt. for making the scheme in question effective from 1.4.1990. Mr.Mehta has also invited my attention to letter dated 18.9.1991, whereby the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas granted its approval to the scheme with a modification so far as applicability of the said scheme is concerned in clause (iii) of the said letter which reads as under :
"The scheme may be made effective from 1.4.1990 subject to the condition that all employees who retired between 1.4.1990 and 1.4.1991 will be excluded from the scheme."
Mr.Mehta, learned counsel has submitted that the said modification was made by the Union Government by its letter dated 18.9.1991 , which is already produced on record of this case with an affidavit dated 10.3.1998. Therefore, the petitioners very much knew about the decision being that of the Union Government and if at all that decision was required to be challenged it was open to the petitioners to join the Govt of India as a party respondent to defend its decision. Mr.Mehta has also submitted that the scheme implemented by the Commission is only after approval from the Union Government and the said scheme is implemented as approved by the Union Government and therefore, if at all the decision of modification of date was to be challenged, the same should have been challenged by the petitioners only after joining the Union of India as party respondent in the present petition.
3. Mr.Majgaonkar for the petitioners urged that as regards the action of the respondent Commission of forwarding the scheme to the Union Government vide letter dated 29.3.1991 with a changed date of 1.4.1990 instead of 7.10.1987, no justification is put forward by the Commission.
4. It appears from the aforesaid discussion that the cut off date which is now prescribed for implementation of the scheme is a decision of the Union Government and if at all that decision is to be challenged by the petitioners, the petitioners ought to have joined the Govt. of India as party respondent so as to enable the Union Government to put forward the justification, if any for prescribing the said date. In absence of the Union Government before this Court, no reliefs can be granted against the Commission as the Commission is only an implementing agency of the decision of the Union Government whereby the Central Government modified the proposal sent by the Commission by letter dated 29.3.1991 in the form of change of date, as stated hereinabove.
Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission submitted that it is observed by the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of All India Reserve Bank Retired Officers Association & others v. Union of India & another, 1991 (6) JT 400, wherein the Honourable the Supreme Court was considering the question of prescribing the cut off date for implementation of pension scheme in substitution of CPF scheme. The Honourable Supreme Court held that :
"The underlying principle is that when the State decides to revise and liberalise an existing pension scheme with a view to augmenting the social security cover granted to pensioners, it cannot ordinarily grant the benefit to a section of the pensioners and deny the same to others by drawing an artificial cut off line which cannot be justified on rational grounds and is wholly unconnected with the object intended to be achieved. But when an employer introduces an entirely new scheme which has no connection with the existing scheme, different considerations enter the decision making process. One such consideration may be the financial implications of the scheme and the extent of capacity of the employer to bear the burden. Keeping in view its capacity to absorb the financial burden that the scheme would throw, the employer would have to decide upon the extent of applicability of the scheme."
5. Mr.Mehta has also pointed out that the present scheme was also the subject matter of a writ petition being W.P. No.1718 of 1996 under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Mumbai, wherein it was challenged by the petitioners therein that the scheme in question was not having financial viability and equitableness. Therefore, requested for the following reliefs :
- To quash and set aside the scheme.
- Directions be issued for not implementing the scheme.
- Operation of the scheme should be stayed.
- The respondent be directed to restrain from paying out the said funds in any manner for any purpose.
The High Court of Mumbai was pleased to pass an order on 5.11.1996, which reads as under :
"This petition under Article 226 is filed by some of the employees of Oil & natural Gas Commission (ONGC) challenging the validity of ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme ("Scheme" for short). The main grievance of the petitioners is that the scheme is not financially viable and the entire corpus of the scheme is likely to be wiped out soon leaving the Junior employees in service completely high and dry. The petitioners have therefore, prayed for quashing and setting aside the scheme. In the alternative, they have prayed for a direction against the ONGC not to implement the scheme.
It seems that the scheme was introduced sometime in May 1990 for the officers working in ONGC, although, some 3000 officers did not join the scheme, large majority comprising of nearly 18000 officers have opted for the scheme. so far around 2000 cases of those who have retired/ expired have been settled. Nearly 293 cases of death and/ or total permanent disability while in service the pending for settlement.
In their affidavit in reply ONGC has vehemently denied the petitioners' case that the scheme is not financially viable.
However, during hearing Mr.Dada, learned Additional Solicitor General, appearing for ONGC fairly stated that the Corporation has received actuarial report from M/s K.A. Pandit that the scheme is not viable. Mr.Dada also produced a copy of the report for the perusal of the Court. The report shows that the scheme is not viable on account of unexpected time in the salary and PAGE change in the formula of D.A. M/s K.A. Pandit have recommended that to make the scheme viable it is necessary to raise fund from the sources available. The fund position should be reviewed especially when there is a change on account of wage negotiation or the long terms recruitment policy. It is recommended that in order to take cases of the fund additional contribution should be raised from the year in which exorbitant salary rise has been given, i.e. 1992 and difference with 12% interest to be paid to the fund. It is also recommended that any difference of annuity cost because of above salary rise and interest payable to LIC for 1992 to date of payment of annuity should be raised in such a way that it does not pose undue problems to the existing members.
On a careful scrutiny of the report, it is clear, that the scheme is not viable unless additional funds are raised from difference sources. Otherwise, the scheme is liable to be scrapped altogether. The question relating to generation of additional funds will have to be considered by negotiations between the Officers' Association and the Corporation. The Bombay Association has appeared through the President, STO (MRBC), ONGC and has agreed for holding negotiations with the Corporation. However, the all India Association, i.e. ASTO (CWC), ONGC has not appeared although served. The central association is hereby directed to hold similar negotiations with the Corporation for the purpose of finding out solution for saving the scheme. In the meanwhile, it is necessary to issue ad interim relief in order to ensure that the fund is not further depleted.
The ONGC is hereby restrained from paying out from the funds of the scheme except in the cases of death or total/ permanent disability while in service, the Corporation is permitted to release the funds to the extent of 50% in such cases."
Thereafter, the said writ petition came to be withdrawn on the basis of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted before the Honourable High Court of Mumbai. It is clear from the order passed by the Honourable Mumbai High Court that it was on the basis of modification of the scheme as agreed in the said (MoU), the said writ petition came to be withdrawn giving up challenge to the scheme in question. This is to show that the scheme as was stood, was found to be not viable and therefore, the same was required to be changed under the MoU in question. In that view of the matter it is clear that if the said scheme found to be not viable even for implementing from 1.4.1990 it could not have been found viable for implementing it from any earlier date.
6. Mr.Mehta, learned advocate has also invited the attention of the Court to para 9 of the affidavit in reply at page 71, wherein it is stated in no uncertain terms that respondent no.1 only required to contribute a token amount of Rs.100/-. This is one of the conditions stipulated by the Govt. of India while according NOC to entertain superannuation benefit scheme. He has also invited my attention to the averments made in para 13 at page 73 that if the scheme is made applicable for officers, who retired from 1.4.1990, the scheme would become inequitable and unviable as the number of officers would receive disproportionate benefits compared to very less contribution made by them at the cost of young officers/ members.
7. In the light of the aforesaid discussion, the petition fails. No reliefs as prayed for by the petitioners can be granted. Rule is discharged with no order as to costs.
All India Reserve Bank Retired ... vs Union Of India And Others on 10 December, 1991
Gujarat High Court
Ongc Retired Officers Asso. vs Ongc on 7 March, 2000
Equivalent citations: (2000) 4 GLR 2879
Bench: R Tripathi
JUDGMENT
1. The present petition is filed by two petitioners, one, ONGC Retired Officers' Association and Shri V.G. Srinivasan, President (as he then was) of petitioner no.1. The petition is directed against the respondent Oil & Natural Gas Commission ("the Commission" for brevity) for excluding the employees who have retired prior to 1.4.1990 from granting the benefits under superannuation benefit scheme. It is the grievance of the petitioners that the scheme, formulated by the Commission is made applicable only to those employees who retired on 1.4.1991, or thereafter. It is the case of the petitioners that in fact a draft scheme was circulated for eliciting opinion poll by the Directorate of Personnel of the Commission. In that it was mentioned in clause (1) that :
"The scheme would be compulsory for each and every employee of the Commission who came on roll of the Commission on 7th October 1987 or thereafter."
It is also the case of the petitioners that thereafter the scheme with some modifications was again circulated which is at Annexure 'B'. In the modified scheme it was mentioned in subclause (C) of clause 1, under the heading 'Membership' that :
"All regular employees of ONGC are entitled to become member of the scheme.
The scheme would be optional to the present serving officers of the Commission, but not to officers joining on 1st April 1990 or thereafter who will have to compulsorily become member of the scheme and no option in his case would be available to them. Option in case of existing employees once exercised will be final and irrevocable."
It is submitted on behalf of the petitioners that in view of these two schemes, the prayers at para 14 of the petition are required to be granted, whereby it is prayed that direction in the nature of mandamus be issued against the respondent Commission to apply the scheme now known as "ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme", to all its employees. It is also prayed by the petitioners that to the extent the scheme is made applicable compulsorily to the employees who are in service as on 1.4.1991, the same should be declared unconstitutional and that the Commission be directed to make the scheme applicable to all its employees on their exercising option. Mr.Majgaonkar, learned counsel vehemently urged that the action of the respondent Commission of applying the scheme in its present form whereby the scheme is made applicable only to the employees who were on the rolls of the Commission on or after 1.4.1991 is unjust, arbitrary and therefore, the prayers as prayed for are required to be granted.
2. Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission has invited my attention to the affidavit filed on behalf of the Commission wherein para 9(ii) states that, "the scheme which was circulated in the year 1987 was only a draft scheme and it was, as the title shows, was circulated for eliciting opinion poll". It is also pointed out that it was thereafter with necessary modifications that it was recommended to the Central Govt. for making the scheme in question effective from 1.4.1990. Mr.Mehta has also invited my attention to letter dated 18.9.1991, whereby the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas granted its approval to the scheme with a modification so far as applicability of the said scheme is concerned in clause (iii) of the said letter which reads as under :
"The scheme may be made effective from 1.4.1990 subject to the condition that all employees who retired between 1.4.1990 and 1.4.1991 will be excluded from the scheme."
Mr.Mehta, learned counsel has submitted that the said modification was made by the Union Government by its letter dated 18.9.1991 , which is already produced on record of this case with an affidavit dated 10.3.1998. Therefore, the petitioners very much knew about the decision being that of the Union Government and if at all that decision was required to be challenged it was open to the petitioners to join the Govt of India as a party respondent to defend its decision. Mr.Mehta has also submitted that the scheme implemented by the Commission is only after approval from the Union Government and the said scheme is implemented as approved by the Union Government and therefore, if at all the decision of modification of date was to be challenged, the same should have been challenged by the petitioners only after joining the Union of India as party respondent in the present petition.
3. Mr.Majgaonkar for the petitioners urged that as regards the action of the respondent Commission of forwarding the scheme to the Union Government vide letter dated 29.3.1991 with a changed date of 1.4.1990 instead of 7.10.1987, no justification is put forward by the Commission.
4. It appears from the aforesaid discussion that the cut off date which is now prescribed for implementation of the scheme is a decision of the Union Government and if at all that decision is to be challenged by the petitioners, the petitioners ought to have joined the Govt. of India as party respondent so as to enable the Union Government to put forward the justification, if any for prescribing the said date. In absence of the Union Government before this Court, no reliefs can be granted against the Commission as the Commission is only an implementing agency of the decision of the Union Government whereby the Central Government modified the proposal sent by the Commission by letter dated 29.3.1991 in the form of change of date, as stated hereinabove.
Mr.R.H. Mehta, the learned advocate for the Commission submitted that it is observed by the Honourable Supreme Court in the case of All India Reserve Bank Retired Officers Association & others v. Union of India & another, 1991 (6) JT 400, wherein the Honourable the Supreme Court was considering the question of prescribing the cut off date for implementation of pension scheme in substitution of CPF scheme. The Honourable Supreme Court held that :
"The underlying principle is that when the State decides to revise and liberalise an existing pension scheme with a view to augmenting the social security cover granted to pensioners, it cannot ordinarily grant the benefit to a section of the pensioners and deny the same to others by drawing an artificial cut off line which cannot be justified on rational grounds and is wholly unconnected with the object intended to be achieved. But when an employer introduces an entirely new scheme which has no connection with the existing scheme, different considerations enter the decision making process. One such consideration may be the financial implications of the scheme and the extent of capacity of the employer to bear the burden. Keeping in view its capacity to absorb the financial burden that the scheme would throw, the employer would have to decide upon the extent of applicability of the scheme."
5. Mr.Mehta has also pointed out that the present scheme was also the subject matter of a writ petition being W.P. No.1718 of 1996 under Article 226 of the Constitution before the High Court of Mumbai, wherein it was challenged by the petitioners therein that the scheme in question was not having financial viability and equitableness. Therefore, requested for the following reliefs :
- To quash and set aside the scheme.
- Directions be issued for not implementing the scheme.
- Operation of the scheme should be stayed.
- The respondent be directed to restrain from paying out the said funds in any manner for any purpose.
The High Court of Mumbai was pleased to pass an order on 5.11.1996, which reads as under :
"This petition under Article 226 is filed by some of the employees of Oil & natural Gas Commission (ONGC) challenging the validity of ONGC Self Contributions Post Retirement and Death in Service Benefits Scheme ("Scheme" for short). The main grievance of the petitioners is that the scheme is not financially viable and the entire corpus of the scheme is likely to be wiped out soon leaving the Junior employees in service completely high and dry. The petitioners have therefore, prayed for quashing and setting aside the scheme. In the alternative, they have prayed for a direction against the ONGC not to implement the scheme.
It seems that the scheme was introduced sometime in May 1990 for the officers working in ONGC, although, some 3000 officers did not join the scheme, large majority comprising of nearly 18000 officers have opted for the scheme. so far around 2000 cases of those who have retired/ expired have been settled. Nearly 293 cases of death and/ or total permanent disability while in service the pending for settlement.
In their affidavit in reply ONGC has vehemently denied the petitioners' case that the scheme is not financially viable.
However, during hearing Mr.Dada, learned Additional Solicitor General, appearing for ONGC fairly stated that the Corporation has received actuarial report from M/s K.A. Pandit that the scheme is not viable. Mr.Dada also produced a copy of the report for the perusal of the Court. The report shows that the scheme is not viable on account of unexpected time in the salary and PAGE change in the formula of D.A. M/s K.A. Pandit have recommended that to make the scheme viable it is necessary to raise fund from the sources available. The fund position should be reviewed especially when there is a change on account of wage negotiation or the long terms recruitment policy. It is recommended that in order to take cases of the fund additional contribution should be raised from the year in which exorbitant salary rise has been given, i.e. 1992 and difference with 12% interest to be paid to the fund. It is also recommended that any difference of annuity cost because of above salary rise and interest payable to LIC for 1992 to date of payment of annuity should be raised in such a way that it does not pose undue problems to the existing members.
On a careful scrutiny of the report, it is clear, that the scheme is not viable unless additional funds are raised from difference sources. Otherwise, the scheme is liable to be scrapped altogether. The question relating to generation of additional funds will have to be considered by negotiations between the Officers' Association and the Corporation. The Bombay Association has appeared through the President, STO (MRBC), ONGC and has agreed for holding negotiations with the Corporation. However, the all India Association, i.e. ASTO (CWC), ONGC has not appeared although served. The central association is hereby directed to hold similar negotiations with the Corporation for the purpose of finding out solution for saving the scheme. In the meanwhile, it is necessary to issue ad interim relief in order to ensure that the fund is not further depleted.
The ONGC is hereby restrained from paying out from the funds of the scheme except in the cases of death or total/ permanent disability while in service, the Corporation is permitted to release the funds to the extent of 50% in such cases."
Thereafter, the said writ petition came to be withdrawn on the basis of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) submitted before the Honourable High Court of Mumbai. It is clear from the order passed by the Honourable Mumbai High Court that it was on the basis of modification of the scheme as agreed in the said (MoU), the said writ petition came to be withdrawn giving up challenge to the scheme in question. This is to show that the scheme as was stood, was found to be not viable and therefore, the same was required to be changed under the MoU in question. In that view of the matter it is clear that if the said scheme found to be not viable even for implementing from 1.4.1990 it could not have been found viable for implementing it from any earlier date.
6. Mr.Mehta, learned advocate has also invited the attention of the Court to para 9 of the affidavit in reply at page 71, wherein it is stated in no uncertain terms that respondent no.1 only required to contribute a token amount of Rs.100/-. This is one of the conditions stipulated by the Govt. of India while according NOC to entertain superannuation benefit scheme. He has also invited my attention to the averments made in para 13 at page 73 that if the scheme is made applicable for officers, who retired from 1.4.1990, the scheme would become inequitable and unviable as the number of officers would receive disproportionate benefits compared to very less contribution made by them at the cost of young officers/ members.
7. In the light of the aforesaid discussion, the petition fails. No reliefs as prayed for by the petitioners can be granted. Rule is discharged with no order as to costs.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Poems
magine: by Rev. Stan Howse
Imagine what it would be like
To accept and believe
That all the good our Father has
Can never be achieved
Through all the striving that we do.
To make ourselves "worthwhile".
Imagine we could hear Her Voice say,
"All mine is yours, my child.
I love you, not for what you do,
Or say, or try to be...
I love you just because you are you
While imagining you are me."
Imagine, if you can this day
God's in you all the while,
Imagining Himself as clay
As Father, Mother, Child.
As The New Day Dawns: by William Simpson
Find out why the critics are saying, "...sheer joyful wisdom, wonder, warmth and wild beauty... The language is stunning... I think From The Path is more than just a book of poems. It is a way of thinking and being that comes from our connection with language and the power of words." - BookIdeas.com
"A spiritual bullet that will penetrate your soul with excitement for the written word.. poems filled with inspiration about... faith, love and beliefs. An appealing book of wisdom... a wonderful gift or tool for your own soul searching." - Midwest Book Review
As the new day dawns
The mist slowly evaporates.
Blending into the morning sun
In an intimate fleeting embrace.
The blossoming flowers dip and pray
Opening to new joy, new life.
So this day opens for me.
I begin anew.
Each breath a new existence
Freshly carved and shaped by
My willingness to share it with You.
As the blossom of my heart
Gently awakens and turns
Toward the entrancing gleam of
Your radiating presence,
Every goodness awaits me.
I am new again.
I am healed and refreshed again.
I am united with your persistent love again
I am glorified and redeemed again.
I am Your newborn child.
The Eternal Now: by Rev. Stan Howse
I am here to be me
For better or worse.
An attitude, an insight,
A blessing or curse.
I'm here as you see me,
I walk as you will,
And "as you believe",
I give all, or nil.
No past and no future,
I am just today -
Expecting no quarter,
No "instant replay".
I am this instant,
The Eternal Now.
There's nothing outside me,
And I give you this vow:
I am What I am and will be What I'll be.
In Me you're forgiven, in Me you are free.
The Dance: by William Simpson
The gentle zephyr brushes against the willow branch,
It drifts in waltzing motion to the thrill.
The ocean tide rolls and slides onto the shore,
Glistening in its reflected joy.
The cloud imperceptibly transforms its multi-dimensional halo of light,
Entrancing the souls of children and dreamers.
The motherly dove fluttering to build her spring nest,
Cooing the mysterious music of birth.
The throbbing heart of the expectant lover,
Hovering in eager longing for the appearance of her delayed beloved.
The elderly woman, body worn and consumed by years of toil
Shuffles toward Bethlehem embodied in her tousled bed.
The scuttling frantic thoughts of a fearful youth trapped in turmoil,
Ensnared outside his reason and wisdom, running away from his self respect.
All these tremulous waves of expanding motion,
Whirling, trembling, wandering, writhing, drifting
All shadows of Your intricate weaving dance,
Lightly moving to the music of ecstasy.
Affliction And Indifference: by William Simpson
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
Somewhere in a trash-littered alley
Cracked concrete and wet cardboard providing a pillow,
Lies a brother wearing the dull threadbare coat of despair.
If my joy in Thee does not include
Comforting and care for him
To what end is my joy known?
Somewhere in a small arid village
Cracked sun-parched clay providing a pillow,
A small sunken-eyed child is wearily starving to death.
If my love-delight in Thee does not include
Nurturing and protection for her
To what end is my love known?
Somewhere in a smoky shout-filled street
Cracked upturned earth and shards of metal providing a pillow,
Lies a torn soldier, eyes lost in the shock of death’s last tremor.
If my tears of tender sympathy for Thee do not include
Consolation and practical succor for him
To what end is my sympathy known?
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
A Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
When I give up the helm I know that the time has come for thee to take it. What there is to do will be instantly done. Vain is this struggle.
Then take away your hands and silently put up with your defeat, my heart, and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind, and trying to light them I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark, spreading my mat on the floor; and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord, come silently and take they seat here.
Another Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said “Here art thou!”
The question and the cry “Oh, where?” melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance “I am!”
What I Look Forward To: by Christine Lubbe
My God,
You know me,
You made me,
You hear me when I talk, when I think...
You are in me
these days I can feel your warmth in my chest when I think of you
I see you in the ocean, in the trees, in the sky blue
I have so much to realize,
please will you be patient with me?
Please hold me tight and help me to be set free.
I so wish to make you proud and have you smile when a thought of me crosses Your mind
I wish to change my life and to be loving and kind,
I dream of running into your arms, and having talks with You over the things You made,
sand, life, water, taste, love,
the creatures beyond and above,
about science and faith, about the solar system and the pyramids.
I want to live this life to please you, so that one day, we may share these conversations.
A Third Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
free ebooks or e-books open us to personal growth.
Fourth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
That I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured shadows on thy radiance - such is thy Maya.
Thou settest a barrier in Thine own being and then callest thy severed self in myriad notes. This thy self-separation has taken body in me.
The poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured tears and smiles, alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sing again, dreams break and form. In me is thy own defeat of self.
This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush of the night and the day. Behind it thy seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of curves, casting away all barren lines of straightness.
The great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky. With the tune of thee and me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass with the hiding and seeking of thee and me.
A Fifth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou has come down to me. O thou lord of all heavens, where would be thy love if I were not?
Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is ever taking shape.
And for this, thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself in beauty to captivate my heart. And for this thy love loses itself in the love of thy lover, and there art thou seen in the perfect union of two.
What Is Spirit? by C.J. Lamando (A visitor to the web site)
(I would that I could decant the stuff of the interior sphere –
the essence of being)
Words to clothe the invisible man
Within the I of infinite span?
A task best left to each on his own;
To sense, not determine as marrow to bone!
Distinguish and catalog spirit in vain!
An ether for body and mind to entrain?
An essence? An aspect? A quality given?
Delivered at birth in chariot driven?
Attempting a model to teach or to plan
Is likened to atoms which science of man
Assigns them a nature in theory sublime,
And each though at first and a period of time,
Explaineth in detail and truth doth uncover,
Finds still it’s lacking in one way or other.
Evolving it is, and so must its model!
And futile attempting to capture in bottle
Elixir specific for time immemorial
Or testament general for purpose tutorial.
The spirit unfolding revealeth its needs
To serve; or to rule; or to practice good deeds.
Inside Of Thee by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
I kneel down before the shallow waters, to reveal my own reflection. Just a mere window of the soul, is all that my eye's can be detecting. For what all that I consume, is not all that there is. We must look beneath the visual shell, for that is where we live. Reach deep my friend, and you shall find much more than you conceive. For who or what we may become, exist inside of thee.
Beyond Limitations by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Placing one foot in front of the other, I've climbed to higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to show my inner strength. No obstacle to hand for this warrior to overcome. I'm just a man on a mission to prove, my disability hasn't won.
Let It Be by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Let it be,
that I may someday touch the stars.
When all time for me has expired,
and the soul begins to part.
Guide me through the heavens,
where life one day began.
A perfect creation,
molded right out of
our Fathers loving hands.
God Alone by Alan Brooks (A visitor to the web site)
Lonely as the desert breeze,
When You hide from me and tease.
But I'll keep seeking You forever.
And when I find You then I'll know,
It was all just a show,
And I'll keep loving You forever.
God alone, to be my own,
God alone, forever after.
You and me, eternally,
Will live this beautiful life together.
There will be such bliss for me,
That I will want to share it with others.
This will be my soul victory,
When You are mine, all mine.
"And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with the breath of your own spirit..." Kahlil Gibran - from "The Prophet"
The Bee by Chani Warnasuriya
Thank You, Dear God,
For the richness of Your nectar
Spread so widely
In my beloved flowers,
Let me gather in abundance
this rich variety of liquid freshness
Exultantly!
To build up for You a kingdom
In secret,
A tower
Multiple celled
For Your glory!
A marvel of Your design
And my own Bee-zy work!
Amen
The Cow by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord, I chew and I Moo,
And I moo as I chew.
So free... in Your grassy meadows.
For who else can better
Muse at leisure
And chew the cud
With such pleasure;
For whom else are the springs
By the grassy greens
And the wide open spaces
To roam?
And at eventide,
When the farmer chides
And drives me all
In a bunch
to his ranch,
Please make me fruitful
With a pail or two
Of milk... of mild divine.
The Butterfly by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord,
Yes... I am here,
And also, yes, yes... I am there now
Where am I?
I don't know;
I want to be everywhere.
O how beautiful!
Is it all of it,
This world...
This sweet scent of the rose
And sparkle of dew on blossoms?
And fairies painting fancies
On my wings?
Then I must flutter and flutter,
To paint pictures in the wind
The finishing touch
To a great panorama.
Lord, please hld me for a moment
In time,
I have something
To whisper,
To You!
The Elephant by Chani Warnasuriya
I am Your elephant,
Dear God,
Big and mighty as You have made me.
But pardon me
If I also tell You
How uncomfortable I feel
About my big self.
Your jungles are a mess
When I walk,
Stampeding Your slender grass
With my lousy feet,
Making the earth crack beneath.
Help me be humble,
Make me wise,
And incline my intelligence to follow
Your decrees,
And as I raise my lone arm
In homage to You,
Fill it with thoughts about You!
Thank you!
The Cock by Chani Warnasuriya
Please do bear with me
For calling on You so early,
Dear God,
For it is I who usher in Your day,
Wake up the household folks,
And get them on their feet,
Being your dutiful servant,
I need Your special attention
To keep up to Your expectations.
So, Lord,
Do give me
A dash of Your seraphic splendor and effulgence
A little of Your glimmer,
Each day,
That I may proclaim Your glory aloud
And announce it joyfully,
Cock - a - doodle - doo,
in the wake up call to them all,
Down here!
Amen
Conceived by Sarah Chaplin
I close my eyes and spin in a whirlpool vortex of light and sound
I am delightfully inundated by the texture of the divine
Cleverly disguised as a tangible object captured by physical form
Frozen in time and space
Like a purely crystallized musical lyric
Serenading me with the voice of a thousand angels
Faintly whispering melodies of times gone before yet distantly present
An oddly sweet paradigm of reality
I crave to be able to stand wholly within its fullness
And sense its presence with utter clarity of focus
Sight unseen, it undulates through and around me
Like the caress of the teasing gentle breeze
It calls to me playfully
I shout out with a ragged tormented breath
Begging for it to reveal to me its beautiful elusive face
My frustration chases it to the bare outskirts of my consciousness
Sternly warning me of my foolishness
I feel lightheaded and a giggle escapes my lips
Enticing me out of my self imposed cocoon
Into a familiar abyss of joyful knowing
I am invited to dance within this awesome presence
To shed my many layers of knowledge and doubt
I AM FINALLY CONCEIVED!
I feel my formless attention being nurtured and swathed inside a bottomless womb
I am not alone, but yet there are no others here
I am infinite and expansive, I am suddenly encompassing
The Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the entire Cosmos
To my delight I am fuller than the Cosmos, I am full POTENTIALITY
Layer upon layer of unmanifest consciousness, further yet
I find I must abandon the accustomed mind to assimilate this new understanding
Unbridled , virgin POWER explodes as I witness the “Big Bang” of the foundation
Of existence. I am beyond thought, beyond emotion, beyond reason, beyond dimension,
As I marvel in the stillness and simplicity of Creation Unfolding.
I begin to wonder about humanity, mortality, and the privilege that launched this incredible insight…. And I find myself slipping back into disbelief and second-guessing, and back into my body…
With one big difference:
Inspiration to start all over again.
Circles by anonymous
We are circles, in circles
Brushing and touching
Reaching and breaching
Our narrow confines
Giving and needing
Following, leading
Calling and heeding
Reciting our lines
Thought Monster. Monstrous Thought. by Joanne Armstrong
I anticipate this is going to take time.
Assuming.
Guessing.
Fact. And no facts.
Comprehend. Yes. This conceivable idea.
No. Inconceivable. Or not entirely conceivable.
Certain.
Certain ambiquity.
Conclusion? Consider for a moment…
Hush.
Backwards.
Forwards.
Round
Around.
Envisage, briefly, the unexpected.
Epiphany.
Guess at it. Hold on to it.
Surmise.
A realisation. Presumptuous!
Backtrack.
Reminisce.
Hold.
Image. Time. Idea.
Ask question.
Question answer.
Suppose.
A rationalisation?
Gone.
Just like that.
Understanding.
No. Discombobulation.
I think. Too much.
I think I think too much.
magine: by Rev. Stan Howse
Imagine what it would be like
To accept and believe
That all the good our Father has
Can never be achieved
Through all the striving that we do.
To make ourselves "worthwhile".
Imagine we could hear Her Voice say,
"All mine is yours, my child.
I love you, not for what you do,
Or say, or try to be...
I love you just because you are you
While imagining you are me."
Imagine, if you can this day
God's in you all the while,
Imagining Himself as clay
As Father, Mother, Child.
As The New Day Dawns: by William Simpson
Find out why the critics are saying, "...sheer joyful wisdom, wonder, warmth and wild beauty... The language is stunning... I think From The Path is more than just a book of poems. It is a way of thinking and being that comes from our connection with language and the power of words." - BookIdeas.com
"A spiritual bullet that will penetrate your soul with excitement for the written word.. poems filled with inspiration about... faith, love and beliefs. An appealing book of wisdom... a wonderful gift or tool for your own soul searching." - Midwest Book Review
As the new day dawns
The mist slowly evaporates.
Blending into the morning sun
In an intimate fleeting embrace.
The blossoming flowers dip and pray
Opening to new joy, new life.
So this day opens for me.
I begin anew.
Each breath a new existence
Freshly carved and shaped by
My willingness to share it with You.
As the blossom of my heart
Gently awakens and turns
Toward the entrancing gleam of
Your radiating presence,
Every goodness awaits me.
I am new again.
I am healed and refreshed again.
I am united with your persistent love again
I am glorified and redeemed again.
I am Your newborn child.
The Eternal Now: by Rev. Stan Howse
I am here to be me
For better or worse.
An attitude, an insight,
A blessing or curse.
I'm here as you see me,
I walk as you will,
And "as you believe",
I give all, or nil.
No past and no future,
I am just today -
Expecting no quarter,
No "instant replay".
I am this instant,
The Eternal Now.
There's nothing outside me,
And I give you this vow:
I am What I am and will be What I'll be.
In Me you're forgiven, in Me you are free.
The Dance: by William Simpson
The gentle zephyr brushes against the willow branch,
It drifts in waltzing motion to the thrill.
The ocean tide rolls and slides onto the shore,
Glistening in its reflected joy.
The cloud imperceptibly transforms its multi-dimensional halo of light,
Entrancing the souls of children and dreamers.
The motherly dove fluttering to build her spring nest,
Cooing the mysterious music of birth.
The throbbing heart of the expectant lover,
Hovering in eager longing for the appearance of her delayed beloved.
The elderly woman, body worn and consumed by years of toil
Shuffles toward Bethlehem embodied in her tousled bed.
The scuttling frantic thoughts of a fearful youth trapped in turmoil,
Ensnared outside his reason and wisdom, running away from his self respect.
All these tremulous waves of expanding motion,
Whirling, trembling, wandering, writhing, drifting
All shadows of Your intricate weaving dance,
Lightly moving to the music of ecstasy.
Affliction And Indifference: by William Simpson
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
Somewhere in a trash-littered alley
Cracked concrete and wet cardboard providing a pillow,
Lies a brother wearing the dull threadbare coat of despair.
If my joy in Thee does not include
Comforting and care for him
To what end is my joy known?
Somewhere in a small arid village
Cracked sun-parched clay providing a pillow,
A small sunken-eyed child is wearily starving to death.
If my love-delight in Thee does not include
Nurturing and protection for her
To what end is my love known?
Somewhere in a smoky shout-filled street
Cracked upturned earth and shards of metal providing a pillow,
Lies a torn soldier, eyes lost in the shock of death’s last tremor.
If my tears of tender sympathy for Thee do not include
Consolation and practical succor for him
To what end is my sympathy known?
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
A Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
When I give up the helm I know that the time has come for thee to take it. What there is to do will be instantly done. Vain is this struggle.
Then take away your hands and silently put up with your defeat, my heart, and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind, and trying to light them I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark, spreading my mat on the floor; and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord, come silently and take they seat here.
Another Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said “Here art thou!”
The question and the cry “Oh, where?” melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance “I am!”
What I Look Forward To: by Christine Lubbe
My God,
You know me,
You made me,
You hear me when I talk, when I think...
You are in me
these days I can feel your warmth in my chest when I think of you
I see you in the ocean, in the trees, in the sky blue
I have so much to realize,
please will you be patient with me?
Please hold me tight and help me to be set free.
I so wish to make you proud and have you smile when a thought of me crosses Your mind
I wish to change my life and to be loving and kind,
I dream of running into your arms, and having talks with You over the things You made,
sand, life, water, taste, love,
the creatures beyond and above,
about science and faith, about the solar system and the pyramids.
I want to live this life to please you, so that one day, we may share these conversations.
A Third Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
free ebooks or e-books open us to personal growth.
Fourth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
That I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured shadows on thy radiance - such is thy Maya.
Thou settest a barrier in Thine own being and then callest thy severed self in myriad notes. This thy self-separation has taken body in me.
The poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured tears and smiles, alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sing again, dreams break and form. In me is thy own defeat of self.
This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush of the night and the day. Behind it thy seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of curves, casting away all barren lines of straightness.
The great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky. With the tune of thee and me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass with the hiding and seeking of thee and me.
A Fifth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou has come down to me. O thou lord of all heavens, where would be thy love if I were not?
Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is ever taking shape.
And for this, thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself in beauty to captivate my heart. And for this thy love loses itself in the love of thy lover, and there art thou seen in the perfect union of two.
What Is Spirit? by C.J. Lamando (A visitor to the web site)
(I would that I could decant the stuff of the interior sphere –
the essence of being)
Words to clothe the invisible man
Within the I of infinite span?
A task best left to each on his own;
To sense, not determine as marrow to bone!
Distinguish and catalog spirit in vain!
An ether for body and mind to entrain?
An essence? An aspect? A quality given?
Delivered at birth in chariot driven?
Attempting a model to teach or to plan
Is likened to atoms which science of man
Assigns them a nature in theory sublime,
And each though at first and a period of time,
Explaineth in detail and truth doth uncover,
Finds still it’s lacking in one way or other.
Evolving it is, and so must its model!
And futile attempting to capture in bottle
Elixir specific for time immemorial
Or testament general for purpose tutorial.
The spirit unfolding revealeth its needs
To serve; or to rule; or to practice good deeds.
Inside Of Thee by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
I kneel down before the shallow waters, to reveal my own reflection. Just a mere window of the soul, is all that my eye's can be detecting. For what all that I consume, is not all that there is. We must look beneath the visual shell, for that is where we live. Reach deep my friend, and you shall find much more than you conceive. For who or what we may become, exist inside of thee.
Beyond Limitations by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Placing one foot in front of the other, I've climbed to higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to show my inner strength. No obstacle to hand for this warrior to overcome. I'm just a man on a mission to prove, my disability hasn't won.
Let It Be by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Let it be,
that I may someday touch the stars.
When all time for me has expired,
and the soul begins to part.
Guide me through the heavens,
where life one day began.
A perfect creation,
molded right out of
our Fathers loving hands.
God Alone by Alan Brooks (A visitor to the web site)
Lonely as the desert breeze,
When You hide from me and tease.
But I'll keep seeking You forever.
And when I find You then I'll know,
It was all just a show,
And I'll keep loving You forever.
God alone, to be my own,
God alone, forever after.
You and me, eternally,
Will live this beautiful life together.
There will be such bliss for me,
That I will want to share it with others.
This will be my soul victory,
When You are mine, all mine.
"And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with the breath of your own spirit..." Kahlil Gibran - from "The Prophet"
The Bee by Chani Warnasuriya
Thank You, Dear God,
For the richness of Your nectar
Spread so widely
In my beloved flowers,
Let me gather in abundance
this rich variety of liquid freshness
Exultantly!
To build up for You a kingdom
In secret,
A tower
Multiple celled
For Your glory!
A marvel of Your design
And my own Bee-zy work!
Amen
The Cow by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord, I chew and I Moo,
And I moo as I chew.
So free... in Your grassy meadows.
For who else can better
Muse at leisure
And chew the cud
With such pleasure;
For whom else are the springs
By the grassy greens
And the wide open spaces
To roam?
And at eventide,
When the farmer chides
And drives me all
In a bunch
to his ranch,
Please make me fruitful
With a pail or two
Of milk... of mild divine.
The Butterfly by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord,
Yes... I am here,
And also, yes, yes... I am there now
Where am I?
I don't know;
I want to be everywhere.
O how beautiful!
Is it all of it,
This world...
This sweet scent of the rose
And sparkle of dew on blossoms?
And fairies painting fancies
On my wings?
Then I must flutter and flutter,
To paint pictures in the wind
The finishing touch
To a great panorama.
Lord, please hld me for a moment
In time,
I have something
To whisper,
To You!
The Elephant by Chani Warnasuriya
I am Your elephant,
Dear God,
Big and mighty as You have made me.
But pardon me
If I also tell You
How uncomfortable I feel
About my big self.
Your jungles are a mess
When I walk,
Stampeding Your slender grass
With my lousy feet,
Making the earth crack beneath.
Help me be humble,
Make me wise,
And incline my intelligence to follow
Your decrees,
And as I raise my lone arm
In homage to You,
Fill it with thoughts about You!
Thank you!
The Cock by Chani Warnasuriya
Please do bear with me
For calling on You so early,
Dear God,
For it is I who usher in Your day,
Wake up the household folks,
And get them on their feet,
Being your dutiful servant,
I need Your special attention
To keep up to Your expectations.
So, Lord,
Do give me
A dash of Your seraphic splendor and effulgence
A little of Your glimmer,
Each day,
That I may proclaim Your glory aloud
And announce it joyfully,
Cock - a - doodle - doo,
in the wake up call to them all,
Down here!
Amen
Conceived by Sarah Chaplin
I close my eyes and spin in a whirlpool vortex of light and sound
I am delightfully inundated by the texture of the divine
Cleverly disguised as a tangible object captured by physical form
Frozen in time and space
Like a purely crystallized musical lyric
Serenading me with the voice of a thousand angels
Faintly whispering melodies of times gone before yet distantly present
An oddly sweet paradigm of reality
I crave to be able to stand wholly within its fullness
And sense its presence with utter clarity of focus
Sight unseen, it undulates through and around me
Like the caress of the teasing gentle breeze
It calls to me playfully
I shout out with a ragged tormented breath
Begging for it to reveal to me its beautiful elusive face
My frustration chases it to the bare outskirts of my consciousness
Sternly warning me of my foolishness
I feel lightheaded and a giggle escapes my lips
Enticing me out of my self imposed cocoon
Into a familiar abyss of joyful knowing
I am invited to dance within this awesome presence
To shed my many layers of knowledge and doubt
I AM FINALLY CONCEIVED!
I feel my formless attention being nurtured and swathed inside a bottomless womb
I am not alone, but yet there are no others here
I am infinite and expansive, I am suddenly encompassing
The Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the entire Cosmos
To my delight I am fuller than the Cosmos, I am full POTENTIALITY
Layer upon layer of unmanifest consciousness, further yet
I find I must abandon the accustomed mind to assimilate this new understanding
Unbridled , virgin POWER explodes as I witness the “Big Bang” of the foundation
Of existence. I am beyond thought, beyond emotion, beyond reason, beyond dimension,
As I marvel in the stillness and simplicity of Creation Unfolding.
I begin to wonder about humanity, mortality, and the privilege that launched this incredible insight…. And I find myself slipping back into disbelief and second-guessing, and back into my body…
With one big difference:
Inspiration to start all over again.
Circles by anonymous
We are circles, in circles
Brushing and touching
Reaching and breaching
Our narrow confines
Giving and needing
Following, leading
Calling and heeding
Reciting our lines
Thought Monster. Monstrous Thought. by Joanne Armstrong
I anticipate this is going to take time.
Assuming.
Guessing.
Fact. And no facts.
Comprehend. Yes. This conceivable idea.
No. Inconceivable. Or not entirely conceivable.
Certain.
Certain ambiquity.
Conclusion? Consider for a moment…
Hush.
Backwards.
Forwards.
Round
Around.
Envisage, briefly, the unexpected.
Epiphany.
Guess at it. Hold on to it.
Surmise.
A realisation. Presumptuous!
Backtrack.
Reminisce.
Hold.
Image. Time. Idea.
Ask question.
Question answer.
Suppose.
A rationalisation?
Gone.
Just like that.
Understanding.
No. Discombobulation.
I think. Too much.
I think I think too much.
Imagine what it would be like
To accept and believe
That all the good our Father has
Can never be achieved
Through all the striving that we do.
To make ourselves "worthwhile".
Imagine we could hear Her Voice say,
"All mine is yours, my child.
I love you, not for what you do,
Or say, or try to be...
I love you just because you are you
While imagining you are me."
Imagine, if you can this day
God's in you all the while,
Imagining Himself as clay
As Father, Mother, Child.
As The New Day Dawns: by William Simpson
Find out why the critics are saying, "...sheer joyful wisdom, wonder, warmth and wild beauty... The language is stunning... I think From The Path is more than just a book of poems. It is a way of thinking and being that comes from our connection with language and the power of words." - BookIdeas.com
"A spiritual bullet that will penetrate your soul with excitement for the written word.. poems filled with inspiration about... faith, love and beliefs. An appealing book of wisdom... a wonderful gift or tool for your own soul searching." - Midwest Book Review
As the new day dawns
The mist slowly evaporates.
Blending into the morning sun
In an intimate fleeting embrace.
The blossoming flowers dip and pray
Opening to new joy, new life.
So this day opens for me.
I begin anew.
Each breath a new existence
Freshly carved and shaped by
My willingness to share it with You.
As the blossom of my heart
Gently awakens and turns
Toward the entrancing gleam of
Your radiating presence,
Every goodness awaits me.
I am new again.
I am healed and refreshed again.
I am united with your persistent love again
I am glorified and redeemed again.
I am Your newborn child.
The Eternal Now: by Rev. Stan Howse
I am here to be me
For better or worse.
An attitude, an insight,
A blessing or curse.
I'm here as you see me,
I walk as you will,
And "as you believe",
I give all, or nil.
No past and no future,
I am just today -
Expecting no quarter,
No "instant replay".
I am this instant,
The Eternal Now.
There's nothing outside me,
And I give you this vow:
I am What I am and will be What I'll be.
In Me you're forgiven, in Me you are free.
The Dance: by William Simpson
The gentle zephyr brushes against the willow branch,
It drifts in waltzing motion to the thrill.
The ocean tide rolls and slides onto the shore,
Glistening in its reflected joy.
The cloud imperceptibly transforms its multi-dimensional halo of light,
Entrancing the souls of children and dreamers.
The motherly dove fluttering to build her spring nest,
Cooing the mysterious music of birth.
The throbbing heart of the expectant lover,
Hovering in eager longing for the appearance of her delayed beloved.
The elderly woman, body worn and consumed by years of toil
Shuffles toward Bethlehem embodied in her tousled bed.
The scuttling frantic thoughts of a fearful youth trapped in turmoil,
Ensnared outside his reason and wisdom, running away from his self respect.
All these tremulous waves of expanding motion,
Whirling, trembling, wandering, writhing, drifting
All shadows of Your intricate weaving dance,
Lightly moving to the music of ecstasy.
Affliction And Indifference: by William Simpson
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
Somewhere in a trash-littered alley
Cracked concrete and wet cardboard providing a pillow,
Lies a brother wearing the dull threadbare coat of despair.
If my joy in Thee does not include
Comforting and care for him
To what end is my joy known?
Somewhere in a small arid village
Cracked sun-parched clay providing a pillow,
A small sunken-eyed child is wearily starving to death.
If my love-delight in Thee does not include
Nurturing and protection for her
To what end is my love known?
Somewhere in a smoky shout-filled street
Cracked upturned earth and shards of metal providing a pillow,
Lies a torn soldier, eyes lost in the shock of death’s last tremor.
If my tears of tender sympathy for Thee do not include
Consolation and practical succor for him
To what end is my sympathy known?
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
A Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
When I give up the helm I know that the time has come for thee to take it. What there is to do will be instantly done. Vain is this struggle.
Then take away your hands and silently put up with your defeat, my heart, and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind, and trying to light them I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark, spreading my mat on the floor; and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord, come silently and take they seat here.
Another Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said “Here art thou!”
The question and the cry “Oh, where?” melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance “I am!”
What I Look Forward To: by Christine Lubbe
My God,
You know me,
You made me,
You hear me when I talk, when I think...
You are in me
these days I can feel your warmth in my chest when I think of you
I see you in the ocean, in the trees, in the sky blue
I have so much to realize,
please will you be patient with me?
Please hold me tight and help me to be set free.
I so wish to make you proud and have you smile when a thought of me crosses Your mind
I wish to change my life and to be loving and kind,
I dream of running into your arms, and having talks with You over the things You made,
sand, life, water, taste, love,
the creatures beyond and above,
about science and faith, about the solar system and the pyramids.
I want to live this life to please you, so that one day, we may share these conversations.
A Third Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
free ebooks or e-books open us to personal growth.
Fourth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
That I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured shadows on thy radiance - such is thy Maya.
Thou settest a barrier in Thine own being and then callest thy severed self in myriad notes. This thy self-separation has taken body in me.
The poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured tears and smiles, alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sing again, dreams break and form. In me is thy own defeat of self.
This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush of the night and the day. Behind it thy seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of curves, casting away all barren lines of straightness.
The great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky. With the tune of thee and me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass with the hiding and seeking of thee and me.
A Fifth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou has come down to me. O thou lord of all heavens, where would be thy love if I were not?
Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is ever taking shape.
And for this, thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself in beauty to captivate my heart. And for this thy love loses itself in the love of thy lover, and there art thou seen in the perfect union of two.
What Is Spirit? by C.J. Lamando (A visitor to the web site)
(I would that I could decant the stuff of the interior sphere –
the essence of being)
Words to clothe the invisible man
Within the I of infinite span?
A task best left to each on his own;
To sense, not determine as marrow to bone!
Distinguish and catalog spirit in vain!
An ether for body and mind to entrain?
An essence? An aspect? A quality given?
Delivered at birth in chariot driven?
Attempting a model to teach or to plan
Is likened to atoms which science of man
Assigns them a nature in theory sublime,
And each though at first and a period of time,
Explaineth in detail and truth doth uncover,
Finds still it’s lacking in one way or other.
Evolving it is, and so must its model!
And futile attempting to capture in bottle
Elixir specific for time immemorial
Or testament general for purpose tutorial.
The spirit unfolding revealeth its needs
To serve; or to rule; or to practice good deeds.
Inside Of Thee by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
I kneel down before the shallow waters, to reveal my own reflection. Just a mere window of the soul, is all that my eye's can be detecting. For what all that I consume, is not all that there is. We must look beneath the visual shell, for that is where we live. Reach deep my friend, and you shall find much more than you conceive. For who or what we may become, exist inside of thee.
Beyond Limitations by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Placing one foot in front of the other, I've climbed to higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to show my inner strength. No obstacle to hand for this warrior to overcome. I'm just a man on a mission to prove, my disability hasn't won.
Let It Be by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Let it be,
that I may someday touch the stars.
When all time for me has expired,
and the soul begins to part.
Guide me through the heavens,
where life one day began.
A perfect creation,
molded right out of
our Fathers loving hands.
God Alone by Alan Brooks (A visitor to the web site)
Lonely as the desert breeze,
When You hide from me and tease.
But I'll keep seeking You forever.
And when I find You then I'll know,
It was all just a show,
And I'll keep loving You forever.
God alone, to be my own,
God alone, forever after.
You and me, eternally,
Will live this beautiful life together.
There will be such bliss for me,
That I will want to share it with others.
This will be my soul victory,
When You are mine, all mine.
"And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with the breath of your own spirit..." Kahlil Gibran - from "The Prophet"
The Bee by Chani Warnasuriya
Thank You, Dear God,
For the richness of Your nectar
Spread so widely
In my beloved flowers,
Let me gather in abundance
this rich variety of liquid freshness
Exultantly!
To build up for You a kingdom
In secret,
A tower
Multiple celled
For Your glory!
A marvel of Your design
And my own Bee-zy work!
Amen
The Cow by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord, I chew and I Moo,
And I moo as I chew.
So free... in Your grassy meadows.
For who else can better
Muse at leisure
And chew the cud
With such pleasure;
For whom else are the springs
By the grassy greens
And the wide open spaces
To roam?
And at eventide,
When the farmer chides
And drives me all
In a bunch
to his ranch,
Please make me fruitful
With a pail or two
Of milk... of mild divine.
The Butterfly by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord,
Yes... I am here,
And also, yes, yes... I am there now
Where am I?
I don't know;
I want to be everywhere.
O how beautiful!
Is it all of it,
This world...
This sweet scent of the rose
And sparkle of dew on blossoms?
And fairies painting fancies
On my wings?
Then I must flutter and flutter,
To paint pictures in the wind
The finishing touch
To a great panorama.
Lord, please hld me for a moment
In time,
I have something
To whisper,
To You!
The Elephant by Chani Warnasuriya
I am Your elephant,
Dear God,
Big and mighty as You have made me.
But pardon me
If I also tell You
How uncomfortable I feel
About my big self.
Your jungles are a mess
When I walk,
Stampeding Your slender grass
With my lousy feet,
Making the earth crack beneath.
Help me be humble,
Make me wise,
And incline my intelligence to follow
Your decrees,
And as I raise my lone arm
In homage to You,
Fill it with thoughts about You!
Thank you!
The Cock by Chani Warnasuriya
Please do bear with me
For calling on You so early,
Dear God,
For it is I who usher in Your day,
Wake up the household folks,
And get them on their feet,
Being your dutiful servant,
I need Your special attention
To keep up to Your expectations.
So, Lord,
Do give me
A dash of Your seraphic splendor and effulgence
A little of Your glimmer,
Each day,
That I may proclaim Your glory aloud
And announce it joyfully,
Cock - a - doodle - doo,
in the wake up call to them all,
Down here!
Amen
Conceived by Sarah Chaplin
I close my eyes and spin in a whirlpool vortex of light and sound
I am delightfully inundated by the texture of the divine
Cleverly disguised as a tangible object captured by physical form
Frozen in time and space
Like a purely crystallized musical lyric
Serenading me with the voice of a thousand angels
Faintly whispering melodies of times gone before yet distantly present
An oddly sweet paradigm of reality
I crave to be able to stand wholly within its fullness
And sense its presence with utter clarity of focus
Sight unseen, it undulates through and around me
Like the caress of the teasing gentle breeze
It calls to me playfully
I shout out with a ragged tormented breath
Begging for it to reveal to me its beautiful elusive face
My frustration chases it to the bare outskirts of my consciousness
Sternly warning me of my foolishness
I feel lightheaded and a giggle escapes my lips
Enticing me out of my self imposed cocoon
Into a familiar abyss of joyful knowing
I am invited to dance within this awesome presence
To shed my many layers of knowledge and doubt
I AM FINALLY CONCEIVED!
I feel my formless attention being nurtured and swathed inside a bottomless womb
I am not alone, but yet there are no others here
I am infinite and expansive, I am suddenly encompassing
The Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the entire Cosmos
To my delight I am fuller than the Cosmos, I am full POTENTIALITY
Layer upon layer of unmanifest consciousness, further yet
I find I must abandon the accustomed mind to assimilate this new understanding
Unbridled , virgin POWER explodes as I witness the “Big Bang” of the foundation
Of existence. I am beyond thought, beyond emotion, beyond reason, beyond dimension,
As I marvel in the stillness and simplicity of Creation Unfolding.
I begin to wonder about humanity, mortality, and the privilege that launched this incredible insight…. And I find myself slipping back into disbelief and second-guessing, and back into my body…
With one big difference:
Inspiration to start all over again.
Circles by anonymous
We are circles, in circles
Brushing and touching
Reaching and breaching
Our narrow confines
Giving and needing
Following, leading
Calling and heeding
Reciting our lines
Thought Monster. Monstrous Thought. by Joanne Armstrong
I anticipate this is going to take time.
Assuming.
Guessing.
Fact. And no facts.
Comprehend. Yes. This conceivable idea.
No. Inconceivable. Or not entirely conceivable.
Certain.
Certain ambiquity.
Conclusion? Consider for a moment…
Hush.
Backwards.
Forwards.
Round
Around.
Envisage, briefly, the unexpected.
Epiphany.
Guess at it. Hold on to it.
Surmise.
A realisation. Presumptuous!
Backtrack.
Reminisce.
Hold.
Image. Time. Idea.
Ask question.
Question answer.
Suppose.
A rationalisation?
Gone.
Just like that.
Understanding.
No. Discombobulation.
I think. Too much.
I think I think too much.
magine: by Rev. Stan Howse
Imagine what it would be like
To accept and believe
That all the good our Father has
Can never be achieved
Through all the striving that we do.
To make ourselves "worthwhile".
Imagine we could hear Her Voice say,
"All mine is yours, my child.
I love you, not for what you do,
Or say, or try to be...
I love you just because you are you
While imagining you are me."
Imagine, if you can this day
God's in you all the while,
Imagining Himself as clay
As Father, Mother, Child.
As The New Day Dawns: by William Simpson
Find out why the critics are saying, "...sheer joyful wisdom, wonder, warmth and wild beauty... The language is stunning... I think From The Path is more than just a book of poems. It is a way of thinking and being that comes from our connection with language and the power of words." - BookIdeas.com
"A spiritual bullet that will penetrate your soul with excitement for the written word.. poems filled with inspiration about... faith, love and beliefs. An appealing book of wisdom... a wonderful gift or tool for your own soul searching." - Midwest Book Review
As the new day dawns
The mist slowly evaporates.
Blending into the morning sun
In an intimate fleeting embrace.
The blossoming flowers dip and pray
Opening to new joy, new life.
So this day opens for me.
I begin anew.
Each breath a new existence
Freshly carved and shaped by
My willingness to share it with You.
As the blossom of my heart
Gently awakens and turns
Toward the entrancing gleam of
Your radiating presence,
Every goodness awaits me.
I am new again.
I am healed and refreshed again.
I am united with your persistent love again
I am glorified and redeemed again.
I am Your newborn child.
The Eternal Now: by Rev. Stan Howse
I am here to be me
For better or worse.
An attitude, an insight,
A blessing or curse.
I'm here as you see me,
I walk as you will,
And "as you believe",
I give all, or nil.
No past and no future,
I am just today -
Expecting no quarter,
No "instant replay".
I am this instant,
The Eternal Now.
There's nothing outside me,
And I give you this vow:
I am What I am and will be What I'll be.
In Me you're forgiven, in Me you are free.
The Dance: by William Simpson
The gentle zephyr brushes against the willow branch,
It drifts in waltzing motion to the thrill.
The ocean tide rolls and slides onto the shore,
Glistening in its reflected joy.
The cloud imperceptibly transforms its multi-dimensional halo of light,
Entrancing the souls of children and dreamers.
The motherly dove fluttering to build her spring nest,
Cooing the mysterious music of birth.
The throbbing heart of the expectant lover,
Hovering in eager longing for the appearance of her delayed beloved.
The elderly woman, body worn and consumed by years of toil
Shuffles toward Bethlehem embodied in her tousled bed.
The scuttling frantic thoughts of a fearful youth trapped in turmoil,
Ensnared outside his reason and wisdom, running away from his self respect.
All these tremulous waves of expanding motion,
Whirling, trembling, wandering, writhing, drifting
All shadows of Your intricate weaving dance,
Lightly moving to the music of ecstasy.
Affliction And Indifference: by William Simpson
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
Somewhere in a trash-littered alley
Cracked concrete and wet cardboard providing a pillow,
Lies a brother wearing the dull threadbare coat of despair.
If my joy in Thee does not include
Comforting and care for him
To what end is my joy known?
Somewhere in a small arid village
Cracked sun-parched clay providing a pillow,
A small sunken-eyed child is wearily starving to death.
If my love-delight in Thee does not include
Nurturing and protection for her
To what end is my love known?
Somewhere in a smoky shout-filled street
Cracked upturned earth and shards of metal providing a pillow,
Lies a torn soldier, eyes lost in the shock of death’s last tremor.
If my tears of tender sympathy for Thee do not include
Consolation and practical succor for him
To what end is my sympathy known?
Everywhere on this blue-green planet
Life is teeming with
Labor and play,
Affliction and indifference.
A Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
When I give up the helm I know that the time has come for thee to take it. What there is to do will be instantly done. Vain is this struggle.
Then take away your hands and silently put up with your defeat, my heart, and think it your good fortune to sit perfectly still where you are placed.
These my lamps are blown out at every little puff of wind, and trying to light them I forget all else again and again.
But I shall be wise this time and wait in the dark, spreading my mat on the floor; and whenever it is thy pleasure, my lord, come silently and take they seat here.
Another Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself, and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own, and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said “Here art thou!”
The question and the cry “Oh, where?” melt into tears of a thousand streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance “I am!”
What I Look Forward To: by Christine Lubbe
My God,
You know me,
You made me,
You hear me when I talk, when I think...
You are in me
these days I can feel your warmth in my chest when I think of you
I see you in the ocean, in the trees, in the sky blue
I have so much to realize,
please will you be patient with me?
Please hold me tight and help me to be set free.
I so wish to make you proud and have you smile when a thought of me crosses Your mind
I wish to change my life and to be loving and kind,
I dream of running into your arms, and having talks with You over the things You made,
sand, life, water, taste, love,
the creatures beyond and above,
about science and faith, about the solar system and the pyramids.
I want to live this life to please you, so that one day, we may share these conversations.
A Third Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Light, my light, the world-filling light, the eye-kissing light, heart-sweetening light!
Ah, the light dances, my darling, at the centre of my life; the light strikes, my darling, the chords of my love; the sky opens, the wind runs wild, laughter passes over the earth.
The butterflies spread their sails on the sea of light. Lilies and jasmines surge up on the crest of the waves of light.
The light is shattered into gold on every cloud, my darling, and it scatters gems in profusion.
Mirth spreads from leaf to leaf, my darling, and gladness without measure. The heaven's river has drowned its banks and the flood of joy is abroad.
free ebooks or e-books open us to personal growth.
Fourth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
That I should make much of myself and turn it on all sides, thus casting coloured shadows on thy radiance - such is thy Maya.
Thou settest a barrier in Thine own being and then callest thy severed self in myriad notes. This thy self-separation has taken body in me.
The poignant song is echoed through all the sky in many-coloured tears and smiles, alarms and hopes; waves rise up and sing again, dreams break and form. In me is thy own defeat of self.
This screen that thou hast raised is painted with innumerable figures with the brush of the night and the day. Behind it thy seat is woven in wondrous mysteries of curves, casting away all barren lines of straightness.
The great pageant of thee and me has overspread the sky. With the tune of thee and me all the air is vibrant, and all ages pass with the hiding and seeking of thee and me.
A Fifth Poem: by Rabindranath Tagore
Thus it is that thy joy in me is so full. Thus it is that thou has come down to me. O thou lord of all heavens, where would be thy love if I were not?
Thou hast taken me as thy partner of all this wealth. In my heart is the endless play of thy delight. In my life thy will is ever taking shape.
And for this, thou who art the King of kings hast decked thyself in beauty to captivate my heart. And for this thy love loses itself in the love of thy lover, and there art thou seen in the perfect union of two.
What Is Spirit? by C.J. Lamando (A visitor to the web site)
(I would that I could decant the stuff of the interior sphere –
the essence of being)
Words to clothe the invisible man
Within the I of infinite span?
A task best left to each on his own;
To sense, not determine as marrow to bone!
Distinguish and catalog spirit in vain!
An ether for body and mind to entrain?
An essence? An aspect? A quality given?
Delivered at birth in chariot driven?
Attempting a model to teach or to plan
Is likened to atoms which science of man
Assigns them a nature in theory sublime,
And each though at first and a period of time,
Explaineth in detail and truth doth uncover,
Finds still it’s lacking in one way or other.
Evolving it is, and so must its model!
And futile attempting to capture in bottle
Elixir specific for time immemorial
Or testament general for purpose tutorial.
The spirit unfolding revealeth its needs
To serve; or to rule; or to practice good deeds.
Inside Of Thee by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
I kneel down before the shallow waters, to reveal my own reflection. Just a mere window of the soul, is all that my eye's can be detecting. For what all that I consume, is not all that there is. We must look beneath the visual shell, for that is where we live. Reach deep my friend, and you shall find much more than you conceive. For who or what we may become, exist inside of thee.
Beyond Limitations by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Placing one foot in front of the other, I've climbed to higher lengths. Reaching beyond my own limitations, to show my inner strength. No obstacle to hand for this warrior to overcome. I'm just a man on a mission to prove, my disability hasn't won.
Let It Be by Robert Hensel (A visitor to the web site)
Let it be,
that I may someday touch the stars.
When all time for me has expired,
and the soul begins to part.
Guide me through the heavens,
where life one day began.
A perfect creation,
molded right out of
our Fathers loving hands.
God Alone by Alan Brooks (A visitor to the web site)
Lonely as the desert breeze,
When You hide from me and tease.
But I'll keep seeking You forever.
And when I find You then I'll know,
It was all just a show,
And I'll keep loving You forever.
God alone, to be my own,
God alone, forever after.
You and me, eternally,
Will live this beautiful life together.
There will be such bliss for me,
That I will want to share it with others.
This will be my soul victory,
When You are mine, all mine.
"And what is it to work with love? It is to weave the cloth with threads drawn from your heart even as if your beloved were to wear that cloth. It is to build a house with affection even as if your beloved were to dwell in that house. It is to sow seeds with tenderness and reap the harvest with joy even as if your beloved were to eat the fruit. It is to charge all things you fashion with the breath of your own spirit..." Kahlil Gibran - from "The Prophet"
The Bee by Chani Warnasuriya
Thank You, Dear God,
For the richness of Your nectar
Spread so widely
In my beloved flowers,
Let me gather in abundance
this rich variety of liquid freshness
Exultantly!
To build up for You a kingdom
In secret,
A tower
Multiple celled
For Your glory!
A marvel of Your design
And my own Bee-zy work!
Amen
The Cow by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord, I chew and I Moo,
And I moo as I chew.
So free... in Your grassy meadows.
For who else can better
Muse at leisure
And chew the cud
With such pleasure;
For whom else are the springs
By the grassy greens
And the wide open spaces
To roam?
And at eventide,
When the farmer chides
And drives me all
In a bunch
to his ranch,
Please make me fruitful
With a pail or two
Of milk... of mild divine.
The Butterfly by Chani Warnasuriya
Lord,
Yes... I am here,
And also, yes, yes... I am there now
Where am I?
I don't know;
I want to be everywhere.
O how beautiful!
Is it all of it,
This world...
This sweet scent of the rose
And sparkle of dew on blossoms?
And fairies painting fancies
On my wings?
Then I must flutter and flutter,
To paint pictures in the wind
The finishing touch
To a great panorama.
Lord, please hld me for a moment
In time,
I have something
To whisper,
To You!
The Elephant by Chani Warnasuriya
I am Your elephant,
Dear God,
Big and mighty as You have made me.
But pardon me
If I also tell You
How uncomfortable I feel
About my big self.
Your jungles are a mess
When I walk,
Stampeding Your slender grass
With my lousy feet,
Making the earth crack beneath.
Help me be humble,
Make me wise,
And incline my intelligence to follow
Your decrees,
And as I raise my lone arm
In homage to You,
Fill it with thoughts about You!
Thank you!
The Cock by Chani Warnasuriya
Please do bear with me
For calling on You so early,
Dear God,
For it is I who usher in Your day,
Wake up the household folks,
And get them on their feet,
Being your dutiful servant,
I need Your special attention
To keep up to Your expectations.
So, Lord,
Do give me
A dash of Your seraphic splendor and effulgence
A little of Your glimmer,
Each day,
That I may proclaim Your glory aloud
And announce it joyfully,
Cock - a - doodle - doo,
in the wake up call to them all,
Down here!
Amen
Conceived by Sarah Chaplin
I close my eyes and spin in a whirlpool vortex of light and sound
I am delightfully inundated by the texture of the divine
Cleverly disguised as a tangible object captured by physical form
Frozen in time and space
Like a purely crystallized musical lyric
Serenading me with the voice of a thousand angels
Faintly whispering melodies of times gone before yet distantly present
An oddly sweet paradigm of reality
I crave to be able to stand wholly within its fullness
And sense its presence with utter clarity of focus
Sight unseen, it undulates through and around me
Like the caress of the teasing gentle breeze
It calls to me playfully
I shout out with a ragged tormented breath
Begging for it to reveal to me its beautiful elusive face
My frustration chases it to the bare outskirts of my consciousness
Sternly warning me of my foolishness
I feel lightheaded and a giggle escapes my lips
Enticing me out of my self imposed cocoon
Into a familiar abyss of joyful knowing
I am invited to dance within this awesome presence
To shed my many layers of knowledge and doubt
I AM FINALLY CONCEIVED!
I feel my formless attention being nurtured and swathed inside a bottomless womb
I am not alone, but yet there are no others here
I am infinite and expansive, I am suddenly encompassing
The Earth, the Sun, the Moon, the entire Cosmos
To my delight I am fuller than the Cosmos, I am full POTENTIALITY
Layer upon layer of unmanifest consciousness, further yet
I find I must abandon the accustomed mind to assimilate this new understanding
Unbridled , virgin POWER explodes as I witness the “Big Bang” of the foundation
Of existence. I am beyond thought, beyond emotion, beyond reason, beyond dimension,
As I marvel in the stillness and simplicity of Creation Unfolding.
I begin to wonder about humanity, mortality, and the privilege that launched this incredible insight…. And I find myself slipping back into disbelief and second-guessing, and back into my body…
With one big difference:
Inspiration to start all over again.
Circles by anonymous
We are circles, in circles
Brushing and touching
Reaching and breaching
Our narrow confines
Giving and needing
Following, leading
Calling and heeding
Reciting our lines
Thought Monster. Monstrous Thought. by Joanne Armstrong
I anticipate this is going to take time.
Assuming.
Guessing.
Fact. And no facts.
Comprehend. Yes. This conceivable idea.
No. Inconceivable. Or not entirely conceivable.
Certain.
Certain ambiquity.
Conclusion? Consider for a moment…
Hush.
Backwards.
Forwards.
Round
Around.
Envisage, briefly, the unexpected.
Epiphany.
Guess at it. Hold on to it.
Surmise.
A realisation. Presumptuous!
Backtrack.
Reminisce.
Hold.
Image. Time. Idea.
Ask question.
Question answer.
Suppose.
A rationalisation?
Gone.
Just like that.
Understanding.
No. Discombobulation.
I think. Too much.
I think I think too much.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Book Review - The Secret : By Tim Challies
Book Review - The Secret : By Tim Challies (06/11/07)
Rhonda Byrne - The Secret The Secret is a phenomenon. Since the book debuted late in 2006 it has sold over four million copies with some thirty other translations now available or underway. It is likely to become one of the best-selling self-help books of all time and is being constantly praised and endorsed by celebrities. Venture into your local bookstore or look around you while waiting at an airport, and you’re bound to see people reading it and absorbing it. They will not just be people who consult astrologers and who listen to Tony Robbins tapes, but normal, average people like the ones who live next door to you. There are almost 1400 reviews of the book printed at Amazon with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5. The breakdown of those scores is interesting: fifty-two percent of them are 5-star, thirteen percent are 4-star and twenty-one percent are 1-star (Amazon does not allow a 0 rating).
This means that the majority of people, the great majority even, believe in at least some aspects of the book’s premise and teaching. They believe in the law of attraction.
The Secret began as a DVD. Rhonda Byrne had faced a particularly difficult time in life and came out of it only after she learned The Secret, which is her term for what is commonly known as the law of attraction. In gratitude she created a DVD presentation to share this knowledge and, having seen the remarkable success of this DVD (which has sold in excess of 1.5 million copies), she created a book by the same name. The claims are lofty: “There isn’t a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want.” Imagine that: the power to get absolutely anything. Who can resist that claim?
The law of attraction, which Byrne says is the most powerful law in the universe, states that people experience the logical manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, and words. This gives people direct control over their lives. A person’s thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) and feelings bring about corresponding positive or negative manifestations. Positive thoughts bring about positive manifestations while negative thoughts bring about negative manifestations. The theory is very simple. Because it is an absolute law, the law of attraction will always respond to your thoughts no matter what they are. Thus your thoughts become things. You are the most powerful power in the universe simply because whatever you think about will come to be. You shape the world that exists around you. You shape your own life and destiny through the power of your mind.
The steps to utilizing this law in life are simple and supposedly founded upon the wisdom of Jesus as we read it in Matthew 21:22. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The law of attraction demands only this:
Know what you want and ask the universe for it.
Feel and behave as if the object of your desire is on its way.
Be open to receiving it.
There are aspects of this law that are clearly attractive to the human heart. We all like to think that we have ultimate control over our lives and that we can have anything we want. We all want to control our destinies and to feel that the universe is at our beck and call—that it is a friendly force working with and not against us. This is, I am convinced, what draws people to the law of attraction.
But there are many areas in which The Secret has nothing to offer—in which the law of attraction as the most powerful law in the universe is simply an incomplete, irrational and even depressing answer. Allow me to suggest a few.
First, The Secret has no real ability to respond to the problem of human evil—surely the greatest problem anyone can face. Byrne admits that people’s first thoughts, when they hear of the law, is to think of times where masses of people lost their lives. According to the law of attraction, these people were necessarily on the same frequency as the event that took their lives. They may not have had thoughts of the event, but somehow their negative thoughts drew them into it. But this simply does not prove a satisfying answer to the world’s problems. Does this not mean that the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust were ultimately responsible for thinking negative thoughts that summoned this even to them? Does it not force us to believe that the people who died when the Twin Towers collapsed on 9/11 were responsible for calling this negative situation to themselves? Does it not mean that a young girl is ultimately responsible for the years of sexual abuse her father imposed upon her? The Secret offers nothing to these people but the understanding that their suffering is somehow their own fault. When we look at The Secret as the law that can bring you anything you want it has a clear attraction; when we look at it from the perspective of one who has suffered, it is clearly flawed.
Second, the law works itself out in ways that are breathtaking for their selfishness. For example, Byrne warns against listening to people speak about their illnesses or problems lest you begin to think negative thoughts and begin to manifest the negative consequences in your own life. She warns against sacrifice, either financial or personal, saying that sacrifice makes you prove your belief in lack rather than in abundance. She tells you to always place yourself first and to always look out for your own interests ahead of anyone else’s. She puts you in the place of God, as the one who stands at the center of the universe. The law of attraction continues in logical progression until it arrives at the inevitable end result of ascribing divinity to humanity.
The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there, for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.
She goes on: “You are God in physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet.” The law offers no higher power than yourself. This makes me wonder: what would the world look like if everyone followed The Secret and devoted themselves primarily to their own interests, forsaking compassion and sacrifice and other “negative” elements of life?
Third, the law, at least insofar as it is described in this book, makes no allowance for what happens when desires clash. What happens when two people set their thoughts on the same thing? While I understand that the universe offers infinite opportunities, can two people equally have the same thing? What happens when what one person wants is harmful to another person? What if one person’s pleasure is another person’s pain? If the law of attraction is the highest law in the universe, it must be that there is nothing to govern such cases.
Finally, the law also works in ways that defy both common sense and human experience. For example, when considering weight loss Byrne makes the unbelievable claim that food can only make you fat if you think it can make you fat. If you determine that food is unable to make you gain weight, you can eat as much as you want and never gain wait or suffer any ill effects. When considering health she suggests that we can heal ourselves of any affliction simply through the power of our minds. Interestingly, The Secret has been championed by Oprah Winfrey who offers her own life as testimony to the power of the law of attraction. The week after Oprah’s endorsement sales of The Secret jumped from 18,000 to 101,000. The week after a second endorsement sales rose to 190,000. Winfrey has since had to soften her enthusiasm as people were following the book’s advice to the extent that they were forgoing medical treatment, believing in the power of their thoughts to heal themselves. Doctors were unimpressed, as were the diseases and disorders which did not respond to the mind’s attempts to destroy them. Byrne even says that the law of attraction can grant immortality. Yet the people who teach this law seem to be aging at the same rate as the rest of us.
As I read The Secret it occurred to me that if the Bible were a product of human minds it would undoubtedly resemble something like this: a celebration of humanity, a portrayal of humans as divine, and probably the most idolatrous thing I’ve ever read. Within the Bible, in the first chapter of the book of Romans, God addresses this desperate desire to rid ourselves of God’s claim to our lives. “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts…because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” And amen. The Secret claims to be able to give us everything we could ever want. Yet it can’t even address the fundamental problems of human nature. It represents only the latest in a long line of attempts to revoke God that has continued since the first man turned his back on His Creator. There’s nothing new here but the fancy, twenty-first century packaging.
Rhonda Byrne - The Secret The Secret is a phenomenon. Since the book debuted late in 2006 it has sold over four million copies with some thirty other translations now available or underway. It is likely to become one of the best-selling self-help books of all time and is being constantly praised and endorsed by celebrities. Venture into your local bookstore or look around you while waiting at an airport, and you’re bound to see people reading it and absorbing it. They will not just be people who consult astrologers and who listen to Tony Robbins tapes, but normal, average people like the ones who live next door to you. There are almost 1400 reviews of the book printed at Amazon with an average rating of 3.5 out of 5. The breakdown of those scores is interesting: fifty-two percent of them are 5-star, thirteen percent are 4-star and twenty-one percent are 1-star (Amazon does not allow a 0 rating).
This means that the majority of people, the great majority even, believe in at least some aspects of the book’s premise and teaching. They believe in the law of attraction.
The Secret began as a DVD. Rhonda Byrne had faced a particularly difficult time in life and came out of it only after she learned The Secret, which is her term for what is commonly known as the law of attraction. In gratitude she created a DVD presentation to share this knowledge and, having seen the remarkable success of this DVD (which has sold in excess of 1.5 million copies), she created a book by the same name. The claims are lofty: “There isn’t a single thing that you cannot do with this knowledge. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are, The Secret can give you whatever you want.” Imagine that: the power to get absolutely anything. Who can resist that claim?
The law of attraction, which Byrne says is the most powerful law in the universe, states that people experience the logical manifestations of their predominant thoughts, feelings, and words. This gives people direct control over their lives. A person’s thoughts (whether conscious or unconscious) and feelings bring about corresponding positive or negative manifestations. Positive thoughts bring about positive manifestations while negative thoughts bring about negative manifestations. The theory is very simple. Because it is an absolute law, the law of attraction will always respond to your thoughts no matter what they are. Thus your thoughts become things. You are the most powerful power in the universe simply because whatever you think about will come to be. You shape the world that exists around you. You shape your own life and destiny through the power of your mind.
The steps to utilizing this law in life are simple and supposedly founded upon the wisdom of Jesus as we read it in Matthew 21:22. “Whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.” The law of attraction demands only this:
Know what you want and ask the universe for it.
Feel and behave as if the object of your desire is on its way.
Be open to receiving it.
There are aspects of this law that are clearly attractive to the human heart. We all like to think that we have ultimate control over our lives and that we can have anything we want. We all want to control our destinies and to feel that the universe is at our beck and call—that it is a friendly force working with and not against us. This is, I am convinced, what draws people to the law of attraction.
But there are many areas in which The Secret has nothing to offer—in which the law of attraction as the most powerful law in the universe is simply an incomplete, irrational and even depressing answer. Allow me to suggest a few.
First, The Secret has no real ability to respond to the problem of human evil—surely the greatest problem anyone can face. Byrne admits that people’s first thoughts, when they hear of the law, is to think of times where masses of people lost their lives. According to the law of attraction, these people were necessarily on the same frequency as the event that took their lives. They may not have had thoughts of the event, but somehow their negative thoughts drew them into it. But this simply does not prove a satisfying answer to the world’s problems. Does this not mean that the millions of Jews who perished in the Holocaust were ultimately responsible for thinking negative thoughts that summoned this even to them? Does it not force us to believe that the people who died when the Twin Towers collapsed on 9/11 were responsible for calling this negative situation to themselves? Does it not mean that a young girl is ultimately responsible for the years of sexual abuse her father imposed upon her? The Secret offers nothing to these people but the understanding that their suffering is somehow their own fault. When we look at The Secret as the law that can bring you anything you want it has a clear attraction; when we look at it from the perspective of one who has suffered, it is clearly flawed.
Second, the law works itself out in ways that are breathtaking for their selfishness. For example, Byrne warns against listening to people speak about their illnesses or problems lest you begin to think negative thoughts and begin to manifest the negative consequences in your own life. She warns against sacrifice, either financial or personal, saying that sacrifice makes you prove your belief in lack rather than in abundance. She tells you to always place yourself first and to always look out for your own interests ahead of anyone else’s. She puts you in the place of God, as the one who stands at the center of the universe. The law of attraction continues in logical progression until it arrives at the inevitable end result of ascribing divinity to humanity.
The earth turns on its orbit for You. The oceans ebb and flow for You. The birds sing for You. The sun rises and it sets for You. The stars come out for You. Every beautiful thing you see, every wondrous thing you experience, is all there, for You. Take a look around. None of it can exist, without You. No matter who you thought you were, now you know the Truth of Who You Really Are. You are the master of the Universe. You are the heir to the kingdom. You are the perfection of Life. And now you know The Secret.
She goes on: “You are God in physical body. You are Spirit in the flesh. You are Eternal Life expressing itself as You. You are a cosmic being. You are all power. You are all wisdom. You are all intelligence. You are perfection. You are magnificence. You are the creator, and you are creating the creation of You on this planet.” The law offers no higher power than yourself. This makes me wonder: what would the world look like if everyone followed The Secret and devoted themselves primarily to their own interests, forsaking compassion and sacrifice and other “negative” elements of life?
Third, the law, at least insofar as it is described in this book, makes no allowance for what happens when desires clash. What happens when two people set their thoughts on the same thing? While I understand that the universe offers infinite opportunities, can two people equally have the same thing? What happens when what one person wants is harmful to another person? What if one person’s pleasure is another person’s pain? If the law of attraction is the highest law in the universe, it must be that there is nothing to govern such cases.
Finally, the law also works in ways that defy both common sense and human experience. For example, when considering weight loss Byrne makes the unbelievable claim that food can only make you fat if you think it can make you fat. If you determine that food is unable to make you gain weight, you can eat as much as you want and never gain wait or suffer any ill effects. When considering health she suggests that we can heal ourselves of any affliction simply through the power of our minds. Interestingly, The Secret has been championed by Oprah Winfrey who offers her own life as testimony to the power of the law of attraction. The week after Oprah’s endorsement sales of The Secret jumped from 18,000 to 101,000. The week after a second endorsement sales rose to 190,000. Winfrey has since had to soften her enthusiasm as people were following the book’s advice to the extent that they were forgoing medical treatment, believing in the power of their thoughts to heal themselves. Doctors were unimpressed, as were the diseases and disorders which did not respond to the mind’s attempts to destroy them. Byrne even says that the law of attraction can grant immortality. Yet the people who teach this law seem to be aging at the same rate as the rest of us.
As I read The Secret it occurred to me that if the Bible were a product of human minds it would undoubtedly resemble something like this: a celebration of humanity, a portrayal of humans as divine, and probably the most idolatrous thing I’ve ever read. Within the Bible, in the first chapter of the book of Romans, God addresses this desperate desire to rid ourselves of God’s claim to our lives. “Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts…because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.” And amen. The Secret claims to be able to give us everything we could ever want. Yet it can’t even address the fundamental problems of human nature. It represents only the latest in a long line of attempts to revoke God that has continued since the first man turned his back on His Creator. There’s nothing new here but the fancy, twenty-first century packaging.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
EX-ONGCIANS - SELF DISCIPLINE
Friends - We have the proud privilege being ex-employees of an esteem organization,ONGC. We would always remain indebted to it. As its ambassadors we have to project its image in public wherever we are. To vouch for its interests, its well being.So, we should always take its name with honor. We may have our own frustration, complaints, reservations, grievances, resentment on account of few people...few policies but all this should not have telling effect on ONGC in tarnishing its image.......With deep sense of remorse and regret I have already apologized for my curt utterances, if any... NOW WE HAVE TO EXERCISE SELF - DISCIPLINE. It is also necessary when we are planning to invite all Ex-CMDs and Directors/Members to this group, who also remain the part of system.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
A Love So Beautiful
This poem lacks the meter I generally employ in what I write. It was written to go with the music of a song called "A Love So Beautiful" I believe it was sung by Kenny Rogers and perhaps Sting. If you are familiar with the tune of that song it will make reading of this one easier. It started out as a love poem for a person but I quickly realized that a love so beautiful had to be for Christ.
A Love So Beautiful
1…. I cannot help but feel the way I do, for you,
I contemplate the things that you have done and do
A love so beautiful, Eternally
A love so beautiful, you set my spirit free
2… You gave to me a love that I’d not known before,
You quenched a lasting thirst that I would thirst no more,
You are so beautiful; You’ve satisfied,
You are so beautiful; for me Jesus, You died,
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
3… You bid me come and called me from the darkness, past,
You gave me hope and joy and promised it would last,
A life so beautiful; I live again,
A life so beautiful; with You will I remain,
4… You planted seeds of love within this heart of mine,
You broke your bread and gave to me your cup of wine,
A deed so beautiful; in awe I stand,
A deed so beautiful; I can’t comprehend.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
5… You gladly bore my sins upon that cross of shame,
In humbleness you shouldered all the world’s blame,
Your love so beautiful; You gave to me,
Your love so beautiful; that we could all go free,
6… Though innocent from birth to death, you suffered scorn,
They mocked the King and crowned You with a crown of thorns,
You are so beautiful; You are the King,
You are so beautiful; we owe you everything.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
7… You suffered as they pierced your flesh with nails of steel,
And all the while, love in your heart is all you feel,
You are so beautiful; Christ crucified,
You are so beautiful; for sinners you have died.
8… You bore my stripes, upon your back; you felt my pain,
You suffered all the sadness of the world’s disdain,
Christ, You are beautiful; God’s gift to all,
Christ, you are beautiful; I have heard your call,
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
9… In agony, you gave it all with your last breath,
Committed to Your love for all, unto the death.
A love so beautiful; removed my sin,
A love so beautiful; I scarce can take it in.
10… Oh glorious day, when from Your cold, death tomb, repose,
A bright new day with death defeated, You arose,
A life so beautiful; I love You so,
A life so beautiful; I want the world to know.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
*JPiC Forum For Writers
A Love So Beautiful
1…. I cannot help but feel the way I do, for you,
I contemplate the things that you have done and do
A love so beautiful, Eternally
A love so beautiful, you set my spirit free
2… You gave to me a love that I’d not known before,
You quenched a lasting thirst that I would thirst no more,
You are so beautiful; You’ve satisfied,
You are so beautiful; for me Jesus, You died,
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
3… You bid me come and called me from the darkness, past,
You gave me hope and joy and promised it would last,
A life so beautiful; I live again,
A life so beautiful; with You will I remain,
4… You planted seeds of love within this heart of mine,
You broke your bread and gave to me your cup of wine,
A deed so beautiful; in awe I stand,
A deed so beautiful; I can’t comprehend.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
5… You gladly bore my sins upon that cross of shame,
In humbleness you shouldered all the world’s blame,
Your love so beautiful; You gave to me,
Your love so beautiful; that we could all go free,
6… Though innocent from birth to death, you suffered scorn,
They mocked the King and crowned You with a crown of thorns,
You are so beautiful; You are the King,
You are so beautiful; we owe you everything.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
7… You suffered as they pierced your flesh with nails of steel,
And all the while, love in your heart is all you feel,
You are so beautiful; Christ crucified,
You are so beautiful; for sinners you have died.
8… You bore my stripes, upon your back; you felt my pain,
You suffered all the sadness of the world’s disdain,
Christ, You are beautiful; God’s gift to all,
Christ, you are beautiful; I have heard your call,
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
9… In agony, you gave it all with your last breath,
Committed to Your love for all, unto the death.
A love so beautiful; removed my sin,
A love so beautiful; I scarce can take it in.
10… Oh glorious day, when from Your cold, death tomb, repose,
A bright new day with death defeated, You arose,
A life so beautiful; I love You so,
A life so beautiful; I want the world to know.
Chorus
I pray each day from this day on, I see,
The life and love you gave me,
A love so beautiful, Christ Crucified,
A love so beautiful, for all the world You died,
*JPiC Forum For Writers
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
EX-ONGCIANS
Friend, after creating this Group, in a normal course, i sent mail to some of my very very close senior retired officers informing them about the draft Aims and Objectives as well as seeking their benign presence to grace this Group. Unfortunately, my gesture was not appreciated by one of our colleagues at Mumbai and he wrote to me as under with copies to a number of ex-ongcians:
'Dear Sh Badrinath vasandiji,
"I have been receiving your mails and I found that the informations given are found to be not correct. Any of your information in the past as well in the future preferably should have a support in the form of an office order etc other wise our friends will not believe you.
Just because the mails do not cost, you should not misuse the natural benefit. This is my elder brotherly advice. Take it or through pl".
While expressing my high and sincere respect and regards for our senior colleague in view of his vast and active contribution for the cause of retired community, I would also like to make it clear that in service matters/jurisprudence expression of "personal opinions" vitiate the proceedings/issues. We have to limit our discussion or writing etc. within rules which have its own in-built system. I would never make any posting on this page if I am not fully aware of the issue and have no order etc to collaborate. I have with me all orders of the Corpn issued since 1958 in addition to so many clippings from the news papers, courts' verdicts and a number of books on rules.But, certainly there may be a lot which is not know to me or I am wrong on that account. Every body would appreciate that no one in the entire universe know the full truth...one knows half and half is known to other one..and the one who knows the half does not know which half he knows or which half he does not know... we have to understand this very fact......sharing on such common platforms , however, enriches us knowledge, bring clarity on issues. In the era of globalization, collective wisdom of highly experience retired employees has been recognized as one of the most import asset world-wide. Being the last one from the old-generation (1966-2008), mine was the long fight against wrong during the period of Shri Raha. Thousands of postings I made on ORnet.....and i was fortunate enough when Shn Raha himself identified me for Covet Award of CMD just few days prior to his departure from ONGC..It was a separate issue that my one time best friend, just within minutes of Shri Raha departure not only closed the file but also disconnected me from the ORNET..but upto the last moments of my service in ONGC I kept that man within his limit....THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF FACT THAT I WAS WELL TRAINED IN RULES AND REGULATIONS BY SOME OF STALWARTS OF ONGC LIKE LATE HARBANS LAL(HAPPENED TO BE MY UNCLE ALSO, SHRI KRISHAN VEER ETC.ETC . BY VIRTUE OF MY SECRETARIAL DISCIPLINE, INVOLVEMENT IN CULTURAL AND THEATRICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CORPN FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES AND BEING IN SOCIAL FIELD IN ONGC AND DERHA DUN, I REMAINED TO CLOSED TO THE SENIOR OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.. AS IS THE CASE WITH SHRI JAUHARI LAL WHO IS ALSO IN THE GROUP...MY WRITING TO SUCH PERSONS IS NOT SOME THING UNPRECEDENTED IN ANY WAY....I STILL HAVE THE SAME RELATIONS WITH THEM ..
'Dear Sh Badrinath vasandiji,
"I have been receiving your mails and I found that the informations given are found to be not correct. Any of your information in the past as well in the future preferably should have a support in the form of an office order etc other wise our friends will not believe you.
Just because the mails do not cost, you should not misuse the natural benefit. This is my elder brotherly advice. Take it or through pl".
While expressing my high and sincere respect and regards for our senior colleague in view of his vast and active contribution for the cause of retired community, I would also like to make it clear that in service matters/jurisprudence expression of "personal opinions" vitiate the proceedings/issues. We have to limit our discussion or writing etc. within rules which have its own in-built system. I would never make any posting on this page if I am not fully aware of the issue and have no order etc to collaborate. I have with me all orders of the Corpn issued since 1958 in addition to so many clippings from the news papers, courts' verdicts and a number of books on rules.But, certainly there may be a lot which is not know to me or I am wrong on that account. Every body would appreciate that no one in the entire universe know the full truth...one knows half and half is known to other one..and the one who knows the half does not know which half he knows or which half he does not know... we have to understand this very fact......sharing on such common platforms , however, enriches us knowledge, bring clarity on issues. In the era of globalization, collective wisdom of highly experience retired employees has been recognized as one of the most import asset world-wide. Being the last one from the old-generation (1966-2008), mine was the long fight against wrong during the period of Shri Raha. Thousands of postings I made on ORnet.....and i was fortunate enough when Shn Raha himself identified me for Covet Award of CMD just few days prior to his departure from ONGC..It was a separate issue that my one time best friend, just within minutes of Shri Raha departure not only closed the file but also disconnected me from the ORNET..but upto the last moments of my service in ONGC I kept that man within his limit....THIS COULD BE POSSIBLE ONLY BECAUSE OF FACT THAT I WAS WELL TRAINED IN RULES AND REGULATIONS BY SOME OF STALWARTS OF ONGC LIKE LATE HARBANS LAL(HAPPENED TO BE MY UNCLE ALSO, SHRI KRISHAN VEER ETC.ETC . BY VIRTUE OF MY SECRETARIAL DISCIPLINE, INVOLVEMENT IN CULTURAL AND THEATRICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE CORPN FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES AND BEING IN SOCIAL FIELD IN ONGC AND DERHA DUN, I REMAINED TO CLOSED TO THE SENIOR OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES.. AS IS THE CASE WITH SHRI JAUHARI LAL WHO IS ALSO IN THE GROUP...MY WRITING TO SUCH PERSONS IS NOT SOME THING UNPRECEDENTED IN ANY WAY....I STILL HAVE THE SAME RELATIONS WITH THEM ..
Saturday, May 21, 2011
UNITS OF ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS
UNITS OF ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS' ASSOCIATIONS.......
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, E-25, ONGC COLONY,SABARMATI,AHMEDABAD-380005
President : Nand Ram Mob No. +919426511366
Secretary : K.A. Gehani M: +919824431427
ONGC FAMILIES WELFARE ASSOCIATION, 1329, 32nd F Cross 26th Main IV Block, Jaynagar BANGALORE
President: H.G. Prasanna Tel No. 080-26645247
Secretary Manur Venugopal Tel No. 080-65958354, Mob. : +919448463643
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATION, BARODA, 37, SANKHESHWAR SOCIETY, MAKARPURA ROAD,VADODRA - 390009
President : G.P. Sahi, Mob: +919327920604
Secretary :
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, BARODA, 6,DEEPKUNJ SOCIETY,OPP. NOVINO BATTERIES,MAKARPURA ROAD , BARODA-3900010
President : Bhag Chand, Tel No. 0265-2655434 Mob: +919426536745
Secretary: L.N. Saxena Mob: +919824035818
ASSOCIATION OF ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES ( SEVA CHARITABLE TRUST) CAMBAY, E-6F, ONGC COLONY,KANSARI,KHAMBHAT-388630 Dist. ANAND
President : Shrishbhai Shukla , MLA Vidhan Sabha (GUJARAT) Tel No. 222266
Secretary : B.D. Sharma Mob : +919374808799
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, CHANDIGARH, 2733,PHASE VII, S.A.S. NAGAR (MOHALI)
160062
President : B.S. Kohli Tel. No. 0172-2647724/4642733 Mob : +919872322622
Secretary : S.S. Chowdhary
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION,CHENNAI
President : PSV Nambudiri M:+919940340014
Flat 2-C,No.7 Canal Bank Road, RA Puram, Chennai-600028
Secrtetary : P.J. Narayanan Tel No. 044-26481613 Mob: +919840792865
30/2, Subramanian Street, Purasabakkam, Chennai-600024
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, DEHRADUN
President : Dr. Kundan Lal Goel Tel. No. 0135 2742414
8, Bengali Mohalla, Dehradun-248001
Secretary : Shri M.P.Sharma Tel No. 0135-2531708
M:+919411170739
EX ONGC EXECUTIVE WELFARE ASSOCIATION, NEW DELHI, C/O ARYA OFFSHORE SERVICES PVT. LTD.,NO. 8, BALAJI ESTATE,2nd FLOOR,GURU RAVI DAS MARG,KALKAJI,NEW DELHI-110019
President : S.K. Manglik Tel No. 011-22716888
Secretary : S.D.Kapoor Tel No. 011-26538169
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATION,GUWAHATI BRANCH
President : J.C. Dutta Baruah, H.No. 6,Apurba Path,Japorigog,Tiniali, Guwahati-781005 Mob: +919854171891
Secretary : A.J. Baruah, H.No. 4, Polash Path,Zonali City Bus Stop,R.C.Baruah Road Area, Guwahati-781024
Tel No. 2450727
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, HYDERABAD,401,GULMARG ENCLAVE PLOT NO. 65, SRINAGAR COLONY,HYDERABAD 500073
President : V.C. Mohan Tel No. 040 23750954
Secretary : P.V. Rao, Flat No. 402,Sri Sai Towers, S.B.I. Colony,Gandhinagar,Hyderabad-500080
Tel No. 27535465
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, KOLKATA CHAPTER, 68/5,HARIPADA DUTTA LANE, KOLKATA-700033
President : Shri A Mukherjee Tel No. 033-24783867, Mob : +919836313484
Gen. Secretary : Shri A.C. Mukhopadhyay Tel No. 033-32905152 , Mob: +919831243566
RETIRED ONGC EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, LEENA NIWAS, Nr. RAILWAY STATION,VARKALA, KERALA-695141
President : Shri K.V. Kumar Tel No. 0470-
Secretary : Shri Shamsudeen Tel No.0470-
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, SURAT, B-403, ROYAL ARCADE, NEAR RELIANCE TOWNSHIP,PIPLOD,SURAT-395007
President : Shri P.K. Agrawal Tel No. 0261-2253565 Mob No. +919824138483
Gen.Secretary : Shri H.N. Saxena Tel No. 0261-2720718 Mob No. +919825393515
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE SANSTHAN, B-12,MAHAVEER COLONY,RATANADA, JODHPUR 342001
President : K.N. Raturi Mob No. +919829537074
Secretary : R.C. Tayal Mob No. +919252065368, Tel No. 0291-2515172
ONGC EX EMPLOYEES WELFARE ORGANISATION MEHSANA, A-107-108, ONGC COLONY, PALAVASNA, MEHSANA-3
President : J.S.Rawat Tel No. 262698 4,Srikripa Society, Mehsana-2
Secretary : R.S. Mehta Tel No. 262698 11-A, Vishnu Nagar Society, Mehsana 2
ONGC(L) RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE SOCIETY, EASTERN REGION,SIVASAGAR,ASSAM, OLD AMLAPATTY, SIVASAGAR-785640 (ASSAM)
President : Dr. D.N. Gogoi Tel No. 03772-222527 Mob: +919435156052
Gen. Secretary : D.K.Bharali Tel No. 03772-223740 Mob: +919954489537
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, E-25, ONGC COLONY,SABARMATI,AHMEDABAD-380005
President : Nand Ram Mob No. +919426511366
Secretary : K.A. Gehani M: +919824431427
ONGC FAMILIES WELFARE ASSOCIATION, 1329, 32nd F Cross 26th Main IV Block, Jaynagar BANGALORE
President: H.G. Prasanna Tel No. 080-26645247
Secretary Manur Venugopal Tel No. 080-65958354, Mob. : +919448463643
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATION, BARODA, 37, SANKHESHWAR SOCIETY, MAKARPURA ROAD,VADODRA - 390009
President : G.P. Sahi, Mob: +919327920604
Secretary :
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, BARODA, 6,DEEPKUNJ SOCIETY,OPP. NOVINO BATTERIES,MAKARPURA ROAD , BARODA-3900010
President : Bhag Chand, Tel No. 0265-2655434 Mob: +919426536745
Secretary: L.N. Saxena Mob: +919824035818
ASSOCIATION OF ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES ( SEVA CHARITABLE TRUST) CAMBAY, E-6F, ONGC COLONY,KANSARI,KHAMBHAT-388630 Dist. ANAND
President : Shrishbhai Shukla , MLA Vidhan Sabha (GUJARAT) Tel No. 222266
Secretary : B.D. Sharma Mob : +919374808799
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, CHANDIGARH, 2733,PHASE VII, S.A.S. NAGAR (MOHALI)
160062
President : B.S. Kohli Tel. No. 0172-2647724/4642733 Mob : +919872322622
Secretary : S.S. Chowdhary
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION,CHENNAI
President : PSV Nambudiri M:+919940340014
Flat 2-C,No.7 Canal Bank Road, RA Puram, Chennai-600028
Secrtetary : P.J. Narayanan Tel No. 044-26481613 Mob: +919840792865
30/2, Subramanian Street, Purasabakkam, Chennai-600024
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, DEHRADUN
President : Dr. Kundan Lal Goel Tel. No. 0135 2742414
8, Bengali Mohalla, Dehradun-248001
Secretary : Shri M.P.Sharma Tel No. 0135-2531708
M:+919411170739
EX ONGC EXECUTIVE WELFARE ASSOCIATION, NEW DELHI, C/O ARYA OFFSHORE SERVICES PVT. LTD.,NO. 8, BALAJI ESTATE,2nd FLOOR,GURU RAVI DAS MARG,KALKAJI,NEW DELHI-110019
President : S.K. Manglik Tel No. 011-22716888
Secretary : S.D.Kapoor Tel No. 011-26538169
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE ASSOCIATION,GUWAHATI BRANCH
President : J.C. Dutta Baruah, H.No. 6,Apurba Path,Japorigog,Tiniali, Guwahati-781005 Mob: +919854171891
Secretary : A.J. Baruah, H.No. 4, Polash Path,Zonali City Bus Stop,R.C.Baruah Road Area, Guwahati-781024
Tel No. 2450727
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, HYDERABAD,401,GULMARG ENCLAVE PLOT NO. 65, SRINAGAR COLONY,HYDERABAD 500073
President : V.C. Mohan Tel No. 040 23750954
Secretary : P.V. Rao, Flat No. 402,Sri Sai Towers, S.B.I. Colony,Gandhinagar,Hyderabad-500080
Tel No. 27535465
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, KOLKATA CHAPTER, 68/5,HARIPADA DUTTA LANE, KOLKATA-700033
President : Shri A Mukherjee Tel No. 033-24783867, Mob : +919836313484
Gen. Secretary : Shri A.C. Mukhopadhyay Tel No. 033-32905152 , Mob: +919831243566
RETIRED ONGC EMPLOYEES ASSOCIATION, LEENA NIWAS, Nr. RAILWAY STATION,VARKALA, KERALA-695141
President : Shri K.V. Kumar Tel No. 0470-
Secretary : Shri Shamsudeen Tel No.0470-
ONGC RETIRED OFFICERS ASSOCIATION, SURAT, B-403, ROYAL ARCADE, NEAR RELIANCE TOWNSHIP,PIPLOD,SURAT-395007
President : Shri P.K. Agrawal Tel No. 0261-2253565 Mob No. +919824138483
Gen.Secretary : Shri H.N. Saxena Tel No. 0261-2720718 Mob No. +919825393515
ONGC RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE SANSTHAN, B-12,MAHAVEER COLONY,RATANADA, JODHPUR 342001
President : K.N. Raturi Mob No. +919829537074
Secretary : R.C. Tayal Mob No. +919252065368, Tel No. 0291-2515172
ONGC EX EMPLOYEES WELFARE ORGANISATION MEHSANA, A-107-108, ONGC COLONY, PALAVASNA, MEHSANA-3
President : J.S.Rawat Tel No. 262698 4,Srikripa Society, Mehsana-2
Secretary : R.S. Mehta Tel No. 262698 11-A, Vishnu Nagar Society, Mehsana 2
ONGC(L) RETIRED EMPLOYEES WELFARE SOCIETY, EASTERN REGION,SIVASAGAR,ASSAM, OLD AMLAPATTY, SIVASAGAR-785640 (ASSAM)
President : Dr. D.N. Gogoi Tel No. 03772-222527 Mob: +919435156052
Gen. Secretary : D.K.Bharali Tel No. 03772-223740 Mob: +919954489537
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
