Random Ravings

By Isaac Paul Ratnam

Born of a middle-class family, the author rose to eminence as a public prosecutor,
migrated to a short-lived private practice, suffered ignominy, regained some measure of lost reputation, and thereby changed perspectives of living with grace and tolerance.

In this book, he shares the experience of success, pain, loss, and the ability to not collapse in the face of challenging odds. The words and expressions are culled from the
author’s experience.

The views expressed in the book are entirely subjective and not a venting of failed frustrations but rather a desire to share and benefit others who may meet challenges in their life.
The author shares his giddiness at success, his calmness in failure, his composure in loneliness, his joy in guiding his daughters, his ability to face unbearable situations,

and eventually his preparedness to face his final departure from this theatre of joy, pain, satisfaction, and the people in his life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Partridge Publishing Singapore
• Release date: Dec 20, 2022
• ISBN: 9781543772463

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Copyright © 2023 by Isaac Paul Ratnam.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

CONTENTS

Introduction

Possession and Ownership

Control of Children

Cultural Disruption

Health, Death, and Thereafter

Relationship

Anticipation and Expectation

Power and Influence

Independence and Impartiality of the Judiciary

Lawyers and Liars

Road Rage

Blessings and Curses

Superstition

Religion

Marriage

Memories and Influence

Cravings

Fashion and Comfort

Existence

Knowledge and Data

Familiarity

Filial and Social Piety

Love and Hate

Substitution

Cheating

Prisoner

Nakedness

Arrogance

Contagion

Habits

Disruption

Queen of Virtues

Powerless

Triumph

Revelations

Pseudo-Psychologists

Urge to Trace

Noisy but Dumb

Notorious

Farce

Precipice

Hypocrisy

Reflections

Lifestyle

100 -Day Journal

Epilogue

Introduction

In the journey of life, one muses and mutters about the numerous aspects of living and carrying on, but none of these thoughts occur in any orderly style or method. It just happens. When one has travelled many a mile and many a year, these thoughts have a knack of accruing and accumulating. It may be of some value or none at all to one or no one, but the sharing of these thoughts become a yearning of uncontrollable and irrepressible urge. The words here are the physical manifestations of these hankerings. This an attempt at placing on paper these collected thoughts, not in any order but in random, as they arise.

The views here are not statementing of compulsory moral values or of philosophical virtues but rather the expectation of the benefit of experience of a well-lived and contented life that if passed on may be of some meagre use for others.

Every view is subjectively expressed, and the natural consequence is the inevitable divergence and deviation of opinion of the onlooker. The liberty of such disagreement would be the greatest recognition of the efforts of the writer in sharing these contemplations, without which the true value of this exercise may well be wasted. Indeed, if a contrary thesis to these perceptions is made available, society would be the ultimate beneficiary.

It needs to be emphasised this is not a thesis to contradict or challenge the views of great minds and philosophers of the past. Such indelible thoughts and expressions have made tremendous contribution to society, and the random ravings of this modest contributions cannot, in any imaginable style, expect to achieve. It is truly the record of emotional and mental observations from the age of nine to 79. Nothing more is intended.

It would be pointless to resist any and end all arguments, disputes, or differences of thoughts and views. In fact, it would be a healthy and awesome debate to indulge in such a dialogue if it serves to benefit society that alternate and valid views are expressed and shared with the community. If such a dialogue were to emerge, in however small measure, this discourse may have achieved a meaningful role.

Possession and Ownership

The urge and desire to possess and own emanates early in life. Toys, clothes, friends, and family must always remain your own, and you will resist any attempt to prise this away. The loss or deprivation of these simple emotions are tantrum-driven and resisted. As age progresses, these little desires grow into wider areas. Jobs, property, and personal relationships enter the equation. They build a basis of the foundation of your life. They become the tokens and symbols of security. One holds on to these material and emotional perceptions with fervour and total grasp. Any attempt to prise this away or any threats of the loss of such possessions cause tremendous emotional upheavals. One wonders why and what causes this needless stress in the lives of almost everyone.

The loss of a dear one causes pain and remorse at their going away. The threat to your job or the likely loss of your property creates anxiety and distress. Any dissipation of your savings is seen with similar fear.

The cause of such angst is the expectation of the need to preserve these ties and material for as long as possible as if such grip on ownership is eternal and everlasting. The sense of ownership and possession is, in reality, a façade for the need to feel secure for now and for the unknown future. It is the unrealistic belief that everything is permanent and unchanging. Like the flowing waters of a river that is ever changing in its journey to the sea, life is equally cramped with changes and eruptions that can never be predicted or expected. The compulsion to hold on is illusory as everything in life is temporary. Nothing can remain constant. Everything in life is in a constant flux of change. Events that affect and influence your life are seldom in your control. Social, economic, and political changes are constantly and inevitably affecting everybody. The style of clothes you wear, the place where you are used to staying, and the people you are accustomed to are always changing. These changes are continuously chipping away at the illusions of permanence one builds up in one’s mind. The tragedy in many a life is a stubborn unwillingness to accept changes. Places change, people change, economic conditions change, political conditions change. Change is inevitable. The ability to recognise and adapt to such changes and have the willingness to let go is a realistic formula for peace of mind and contentment.

But the grip of an urgent and constant need of