"There's not one club in Europe with an anthem like You'll Never Walk Alone. There's not one club in the world so united with the fans. I sat there watching the Liverpool fans and they sent shivers down my spine. A mass of 40,000 people became one force behind their team. That's something not many teams have. For that I admire Liverpool more than anything."
- Dutch legend Johan Cruyff after Istanbul.( Liverpool won the Champions League Final)
"We were sitting in the dressing room and we could clearly hear thousands of fans singing You'll Never Walk Alone. Can you imagine how that felt? We were 3-0 down in the Champions League final and all we could hear were 45,000 people letting us know they still believed in us. We knew they had endured a long journey and made so many sacrifices to be there. It was at that point we started to believe too."
-Luis Garcia on what inspired the amazing comeback in Istanbul.
"Liverpool's fans are just amazing. The best feeling I have at away games is Anfield. It is just incredible. I love it. You get goose bumps when you see their supporters sing You'll Never Walk Alone." Arsenal and France star Thierry Henry
When you walk through a storm
Hold your head up high
And don't be afraid of the dark
At the end of the storm
Is a golden sky
And the sweet silver song of a lark
Walk on through the wind
Walk on through the rain
Tho' your dreams be tossed and blown
Walk on, walk on
With hope in your heart
And you'll never walk alone
You'll never walk alone
I have tears in my eyes !! (sniff!).
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Always Be Your Best !
A consolation after today's tough day in office !!
"When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.
While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.
That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgement
if you won or lost each day.
Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.
For all that really matters
when you're finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best?
- Tom Krause
"When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.
While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.
That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgement
if you won or lost each day.
Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.
For all that really matters
when you're finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best?
- Tom Krause
Monday, December 15, 2008
Finally !!!
Finally, he did it ! It was long time coming, but ultimately, come , it did !!
At last his loyalists can go without indulging in justification sessions. A fourth innings century on a deteriorating pitch and that too in a winning cause !!
Wow , this century tastes so so so much sweeter than most of his centuries !!
I will not rue over the fact that I couldnt witness it on TV or in person. At last his detractors can heave a sigh of relief as they do not have to wage a loosing battle !!!
Only we ( his supporters ) will know how much we waited for this elusive knock... the jewel in the crown !! His boyish leap into the Chennai air, goes to show how much he himself wanted it !! wowwwwww !!!!
Thank you Lord !!
P.S - Just one more wish.... Hope Dravid's fortunes too turnaround !!
But, yaaaayyyyy !!! Am so happy !!! Yeeeehhhaaaaawwwww !!!!!
At last his loyalists can go without indulging in justification sessions. A fourth innings century on a deteriorating pitch and that too in a winning cause !!
Wow , this century tastes so so so much sweeter than most of his centuries !!
I will not rue over the fact that I couldnt witness it on TV or in person. At last his detractors can heave a sigh of relief as they do not have to wage a loosing battle !!!
Only we ( his supporters ) will know how much we waited for this elusive knock... the jewel in the crown !! His boyish leap into the Chennai air, goes to show how much he himself wanted it !! wowwwwww !!!!
Thank you Lord !!
P.S - Just one more wish.... Hope Dravid's fortunes too turnaround !!
But, yaaaayyyyy !!! Am so happy !!! Yeeeehhhaaaaawwwww !!!!!
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Tits and bits... to fill your mouth with a smile !
A CHILD'S PRAYER
A mother I met told me that she saw her little boy sitting in a corner of the room, saying " A-B-C-D-E-F-...."
"What are you doing?" she asked
"Mom, you told me I should pray, but I have never prayed in my life and I dont't know how. So I gave God the whle alphabet and asked him to make a good prayer of it."
Morning Walk
Six am - Two women in their salwar-kameez are out for their morning walk. As they walk, they talk about their important friendships: husbands, kids, coworkers. They occasionally touch each other's shoulders, stop, face each other and laugh. A sun-dried seventy-something man, wearing an orange sweater and monkey cap, walks by, smiles , and says, "You two look like you're doing ballet together." And so they are. As friends, they are dancing in synchrony: listening, encouraging, challenging each other.
And these two women are My mother Shobhana and her best friend Meera aunty (as I call her) And this is me, Shobhana's son's view of these two beautiful ladies, while they are on their morning walk in the garden near our residence. A son watches on her mother to catch those glimpses of joy on her face, to watch her animatedly describe her son's and daughter's exploits and sorrows - and share her heart with the sole person who can - her friend. Cheers to friendship.
( Inspired by an article in "In the Company of Friends".)
A mother I met told me that she saw her little boy sitting in a corner of the room, saying " A-B-C-D-E-F-...."
"What are you doing?" she asked
"Mom, you told me I should pray, but I have never prayed in my life and I dont't know how. So I gave God the whle alphabet and asked him to make a good prayer of it."
Morning Walk
Six am - Two women in their salwar-kameez are out for their morning walk. As they walk, they talk about their important friendships: husbands, kids, coworkers. They occasionally touch each other's shoulders, stop, face each other and laugh. A sun-dried seventy-something man, wearing an orange sweater and monkey cap, walks by, smiles , and says, "You two look like you're doing ballet together." And so they are. As friends, they are dancing in synchrony: listening, encouraging, challenging each other.
And these two women are My mother Shobhana and her best friend Meera aunty (as I call her) And this is me, Shobhana's son's view of these two beautiful ladies, while they are on their morning walk in the garden near our residence. A son watches on her mother to catch those glimpses of joy on her face, to watch her animatedly describe her son's and daughter's exploits and sorrows - and share her heart with the sole person who can - her friend. Cheers to friendship.
( Inspired by an article in "In the Company of Friends".)
I could not stop that.... you now know ! ;-)
For a week or so, I let out a sigh of sympathy. Then for a week I let out a sigh of joy and then for the rest of those days, I let out a sigh of envy ! - All directed at one person in particular. The person in question is a dwarfish man ( I don't know if its rude to call him that), standing outside Kemp Kids on M G Road.
This person is a 'small' man of about 3 feet or so in height. His job is to don a suit of various animals and stand outside the Kids Kemp shop welcoming the customers and the kids who walk in. He is short, has a rough edge to his face, has a grumpy look perennialy and dresses shabbily when not inside that suit. But once inside the furry suit, he seems to be such a cute little dynamite. He plays around with the kids, waves good-byes to the people passing by the shop, gives little fluffy candies to kids and gives them hugs. Thats his job.
Earlier, I started to be really sorry on seeing him eking out a living by doing such a 'menial' job. Thats why the sigh of sympathy. That's when I saw certain other things.
The kids were so comfortable playing around with the furry dog or a roly-poly rabbit. They enthusiastically shook his hands and climbed on top of him. He was equally happy in cupping their tiny hands and giving them hi-fives ! Thats when I started giving out sigh of joy
This became a daily activity for me gradually. I used to step out of office to have a cup of tea near this store and used to pass by the place where our 'dummy man' stands. Some times when there were no kids to play around with, he would try and while away his time by waving at us and blabbering nonsensical gibberish through the mask over him.... How funny I used to think. I used to just give him my typical smile and move along. And other times I used to see him sitting on his chair, carressing and lovingly playing with a kid. One image will never be erased out of my memory... the image of a small 3 year old girl, sitting on his lap and hugging him. And he too wrapped his claws/hands around her. She sensed this and tightened her hold, her tiny & chubby fingers cushioning inside his furry exterior. What a poignant moment that was !!! I could imagine his face slowly relaxing and enjoying this show of affection, even though I could not see his face inside the mask.
How a little girl, with her innocence, ironed out the creases on his forehead. How a 'simple' job like his, gave him the comforts that I could never get !
Thats when I started to sigh out of envy !
How I would also love to swap places with him, just to experience the touch of child over my skin! My skin has burnt out of lack of touch. An innocent touch of a child, gives me such a tremendous adrenaline rush that I cannot capture it in words or emotions. Everytime any kid - be it my relatives' or my friends'or even strangers'- hugs me or touches me, I feel so elated. Not even a woman's touch feels so good as does a little child's. It comes second only to my mother's touch. :-)
This person is a 'small' man of about 3 feet or so in height. His job is to don a suit of various animals and stand outside the Kids Kemp shop welcoming the customers and the kids who walk in. He is short, has a rough edge to his face, has a grumpy look perennialy and dresses shabbily when not inside that suit. But once inside the furry suit, he seems to be such a cute little dynamite. He plays around with the kids, waves good-byes to the people passing by the shop, gives little fluffy candies to kids and gives them hugs. Thats his job.
Earlier, I started to be really sorry on seeing him eking out a living by doing such a 'menial' job. Thats why the sigh of sympathy. That's when I saw certain other things.
The kids were so comfortable playing around with the furry dog or a roly-poly rabbit. They enthusiastically shook his hands and climbed on top of him. He was equally happy in cupping their tiny hands and giving them hi-fives ! Thats when I started giving out sigh of joy
This became a daily activity for me gradually. I used to step out of office to have a cup of tea near this store and used to pass by the place where our 'dummy man' stands. Some times when there were no kids to play around with, he would try and while away his time by waving at us and blabbering nonsensical gibberish through the mask over him.... How funny I used to think. I used to just give him my typical smile and move along. And other times I used to see him sitting on his chair, carressing and lovingly playing with a kid. One image will never be erased out of my memory... the image of a small 3 year old girl, sitting on his lap and hugging him. And he too wrapped his claws/hands around her. She sensed this and tightened her hold, her tiny & chubby fingers cushioning inside his furry exterior. What a poignant moment that was !!! I could imagine his face slowly relaxing and enjoying this show of affection, even though I could not see his face inside the mask.
How a little girl, with her innocence, ironed out the creases on his forehead. How a 'simple' job like his, gave him the comforts that I could never get !
Thats when I started to sigh out of envy !
How I would also love to swap places with him, just to experience the touch of child over my skin! My skin has burnt out of lack of touch. An innocent touch of a child, gives me such a tremendous adrenaline rush that I cannot capture it in words or emotions. Everytime any kid - be it my relatives' or my friends'or even strangers'- hugs me or touches me, I feel so elated. Not even a woman's touch feels so good as does a little child's. It comes second only to my mother's touch. :-)
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Jumbo - The Great !!!
The eyes are moist, and my heart weeps.... I do not know if it weeps out of sorrow or it weeps out of nostalgia, or out of respect.... All I know that this is emotional as emotional can be.
Anil Kumble has retired from international cricket. And a fan still wipes the tears straming down.... :-(
Anil Kumble has retired from international cricket. And a fan still wipes the tears straming down.... :-(
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A dash of light and colour, is all it takes... :-)
From the moment I opened my eyes today at 7 am, I was feeling wonderful. Some days are like that, na? Just perfect....
I am passing through the most stressful days of my career, as is evident from the scarcity of posts on my blog for a very long time now. Even when I sleep, its fight against the darkness... a jostle for daybreak to happen... so that I can wake up and hit for work... not because I am so in love with my work... duuuhhh... but for the simple reason that I have too much to do and I am bad at time management (whatever that means )
But today I was relaxed... I opened my eyes and I lay there on the bed... now that is rare... very rare... as soon as eyes open, its as if there is some military command given to my legs to just unwrap themselves and put their beloved self on the floor. But today was going to be different.... I was convinced. I woke up with a smile on my face... how refreshing :-) The day saw me cooking breakfast... a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs mixed with crumbs of bread, onions, green chillies with a dash of oil... it was good... nothing revolutionary but nice. Not perfect but normal ... just normal....and for once I realized what normal feels like.
The day panned out well with lots of reading, watching the Little Master hit the Australian bowlers ( did I mention anytime that I love test cricket more than one day or twenty twenty ) And then with a hot cup of tea in my hands, I put on some nice music.. and made my way outside my apartment. Walking around in your slippers, shorts and comfy jersey - I swear it was such a nice feeling..... The whole building reverbrating with the music emanating from my apartment... everyone could hear it but I do not think anybody was disturbed... for once Winamp decided to play those songs that could be pleasing and uplifting !!
And there you go... like icing on the cake.... kids came bustling out of their houses... suddenly it was like a carnival... those little ones didnt shriek or make any noise... just kept playing their weird games... sometime hiding inside my legs, sometimes climbing over me and sometimes asking for a sip of my tea... he he he....
And when kids are playing, their mothers can never be away , can they? They have to always spoil the fun with their pedantic looks... whew....
These young mothers are the prime example of obnoxious creatures... why do they look at you so suspiciously everytime, as if you are one of those who have just got out of prison and out to disturb their peaceful and normal life. Its a grouse that I have of the so called 'families'... they think of bachelors living amidst them to be outsiders... whew... as if we do not belong to any families... I face it everyday when I open up my apartment's doors and windows to let in sunshine and fresh air.. and there you go, the lady living in the apartment will close her door on me... why yaar, ? I dont have any interest in poking into your household , honey... chill !!!
Lolz !!!
And whilst those kids were scampering around and I was blissfully unaware of the stares that I was getting from those young mothers.... I get a call from my friend. And you know what, I am standing on the second floor common area, there are these ladies around in the third and first floors, gossiping secretively, every now and then glancing furtively at me.... and what do I do.... he he he .... I talk about them staring at me in no unequivocal terms and at a quite audible volumet to my friend.... I ask her, " I wonder why they staring at me yaaaa?" And she just laughs back and says, "Anna, are you wearing your skimpy khaki shorts that you wore on the day I visted you?" I said yes. And then the way she laughed gave me full idea as to why they were staring at me.... I will not say any more....
So there I go sipping on my tea and oh ya... watering my potted plants... what admirable courage they showed past month or so, when they survived without any care from my side.... Oh, I showered them with my love and attention... cleaning them with gusto. It felt so lovely doing household work and not be bothered about any work related pressure.... all these activities made me realize... being alone on Diwali, is not that bad afterall... :-) ...
And the day continues still.... a nice shower with warm water, a date with the Almighty at the Ayyappa Temple and a nice supper awaits this fellow.... and of course Bill Aitken is yearning for my attention... his book 'Seven Sacred Rivers' still remains unfinished... just one of the unfinished businesses that I have to round off this perfect day with ! A lonely but perfect day !!!!
Hola !!!!!
I am passing through the most stressful days of my career, as is evident from the scarcity of posts on my blog for a very long time now. Even when I sleep, its fight against the darkness... a jostle for daybreak to happen... so that I can wake up and hit for work... not because I am so in love with my work... duuuhhh... but for the simple reason that I have too much to do and I am bad at time management (whatever that means )
But today I was relaxed... I opened my eyes and I lay there on the bed... now that is rare... very rare... as soon as eyes open, its as if there is some military command given to my legs to just unwrap themselves and put their beloved self on the floor. But today was going to be different.... I was convinced. I woke up with a smile on my face... how refreshing :-) The day saw me cooking breakfast... a wonderful breakfast of scrambled eggs mixed with crumbs of bread, onions, green chillies with a dash of oil... it was good... nothing revolutionary but nice. Not perfect but normal ... just normal....and for once I realized what normal feels like.
The day panned out well with lots of reading, watching the Little Master hit the Australian bowlers ( did I mention anytime that I love test cricket more than one day or twenty twenty ) And then with a hot cup of tea in my hands, I put on some nice music.. and made my way outside my apartment. Walking around in your slippers, shorts and comfy jersey - I swear it was such a nice feeling..... The whole building reverbrating with the music emanating from my apartment... everyone could hear it but I do not think anybody was disturbed... for once Winamp decided to play those songs that could be pleasing and uplifting !!
And there you go... like icing on the cake.... kids came bustling out of their houses... suddenly it was like a carnival... those little ones didnt shriek or make any noise... just kept playing their weird games... sometime hiding inside my legs, sometimes climbing over me and sometimes asking for a sip of my tea... he he he....
And when kids are playing, their mothers can never be away , can they? They have to always spoil the fun with their pedantic looks... whew....
These young mothers are the prime example of obnoxious creatures... why do they look at you so suspiciously everytime, as if you are one of those who have just got out of prison and out to disturb their peaceful and normal life. Its a grouse that I have of the so called 'families'... they think of bachelors living amidst them to be outsiders... whew... as if we do not belong to any families... I face it everyday when I open up my apartment's doors and windows to let in sunshine and fresh air.. and there you go, the lady living in the apartment will close her door on me... why yaar, ? I dont have any interest in poking into your household , honey... chill !!!
Lolz !!!
And whilst those kids were scampering around and I was blissfully unaware of the stares that I was getting from those young mothers.... I get a call from my friend. And you know what, I am standing on the second floor common area, there are these ladies around in the third and first floors, gossiping secretively, every now and then glancing furtively at me.... and what do I do.... he he he .... I talk about them staring at me in no unequivocal terms and at a quite audible volumet to my friend.... I ask her, " I wonder why they staring at me yaaaa?" And she just laughs back and says, "Anna, are you wearing your skimpy khaki shorts that you wore on the day I visted you?" I said yes. And then the way she laughed gave me full idea as to why they were staring at me.... I will not say any more....
So there I go sipping on my tea and oh ya... watering my potted plants... what admirable courage they showed past month or so, when they survived without any care from my side.... Oh, I showered them with my love and attention... cleaning them with gusto. It felt so lovely doing household work and not be bothered about any work related pressure.... all these activities made me realize... being alone on Diwali, is not that bad afterall... :-) ...
And the day continues still.... a nice shower with warm water, a date with the Almighty at the Ayyappa Temple and a nice supper awaits this fellow.... and of course Bill Aitken is yearning for my attention... his book 'Seven Sacred Rivers' still remains unfinished... just one of the unfinished businesses that I have to round off this perfect day with ! A lonely but perfect day !!!!
Hola !!!!!
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
The first sign .... Now the prayer begins
It took me almost two days to come out of the shock of the improbable win of Liverpool over Chelsea at Chelsea's home ground, Stamford Bridge. How the hell did Liverpool pull it off!!!!!!!!! I am still dazed.... I never gave them a chance of winning it.... I just thought that if we play well , then maybe we can escape with a draw. All the pundits just confirmed my belief. So here I was sitting in front of my TV without even a prayer. Hmm.... and God has some superb ways of proving that HE exists.
I dont exactly know from when I started supporting Liverpool Football Club... I guess from the time Michael Owen burst on to the scene and since he played for Liverpool, I by default became a Liverpool supporter. But when he shifted to Real Madrid, I still didnt feel like supporting Real. Thats when I realized that I had become a true Liverpool fan. After Owen's departure, I found myself heroworshipping other liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, Riise, Carragher ( I modelled my game on his style... I will always consider him to be the best defender after Paolo Maldini)
This win gives me confidence but it still doesnt convince me about Liverpool winning the Premier League. I am ashamed to say this being a big fan of the club... but I cant see the champion stuff in them.... just a feeling... i do not say that to my friends, because I do not want to sound like a pessimist....
But rest assured, I will never stop supporting the team however bad they play. The toughest of times Liverpool FC went through and I was there shouting at the top of my voice in order to cheer them ( albeit in my living room ).
Now I have a fear - as is evident from the title of this post - I am afraid this win is God's way of pleasing us . Maybe God just wants to give us such record breaking wins , just to soften the shock of not winning the league :-( Call me a pessimist if you want to , just as far as sports is concerned and my favourite teams are concerned.... am a pessimist !
Now begins my prayers for the elusive League triumph.
I dont exactly know from when I started supporting Liverpool Football Club... I guess from the time Michael Owen burst on to the scene and since he played for Liverpool, I by default became a Liverpool supporter. But when he shifted to Real Madrid, I still didnt feel like supporting Real. Thats when I realized that I had become a true Liverpool fan. After Owen's departure, I found myself heroworshipping other liverpool players like Steven Gerrard, Riise, Carragher ( I modelled my game on his style... I will always consider him to be the best defender after Paolo Maldini)
This win gives me confidence but it still doesnt convince me about Liverpool winning the Premier League. I am ashamed to say this being a big fan of the club... but I cant see the champion stuff in them.... just a feeling... i do not say that to my friends, because I do not want to sound like a pessimist....
But rest assured, I will never stop supporting the team however bad they play. The toughest of times Liverpool FC went through and I was there shouting at the top of my voice in order to cheer them ( albeit in my living room ).
Now I have a fear - as is evident from the title of this post - I am afraid this win is God's way of pleasing us . Maybe God just wants to give us such record breaking wins , just to soften the shock of not winning the league :-( Call me a pessimist if you want to , just as far as sports is concerned and my favourite teams are concerned.... am a pessimist !
Now begins my prayers for the elusive League triumph.
Friday, October 3, 2008
For.....????
Do you hear me?
Do you feel me moving through?
With my foot upon the gas,
Between the future and the past,
I am here...
...here where the desire to vanish
is stronger than the desire to appear !!
Do you feel me moving through?
With my foot upon the gas,
Between the future and the past,
I am here...
...here where the desire to vanish
is stronger than the desire to appear !!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Singapore - Losing her virginity in the night
Oh its awesome !!! Look at that circuit.... never has an F1 race made me go so ga-ga over it.... I have not stopped talking about it for the past three months. Its the Singapore GP of the F1 season and its a night race... yes my dear...its a NIGHT RACE !!!!
The speed demons will be zipping over the streets .. you heard me right... the streets of the wonderful city at night.... Singapore is the second of the only two street circuits in the F1 calendar and its the first night race....
Speeding in daylight itself is a nerve-wracking proposition. And here there are a bunch of fanatics who are thinking of driving at 300kmph in the night !!! And there are a million other fanatics like me who are grinning from ear to ear at the prospect of a historic race ... ALL IN THE DARK!!
The city is hosting her first street race and that too at night - this is so commendable of Singapore. Hail the officials for having the guts and the confidence. I wish it all the success and I hope all the people in Singapore appreciate this historic event. How I wish I could be there .... anyway no doubts that I would be glued to the tv today and tomorrow.
I couldn't contain my excitement and hence typed this early morning without even getting ready of office.....what the heck !! Man has stopped building the Taj Mahals, the pyramids and the Collosseums... but the pursuit to build something that still trascends the boundaries of comman imagination still remains. We, the modern humans, are still building, creating and conceptualizing some path breaking things. The romanticism has still not died out of us. And that's why the Chandrayaan must happen. Its to satisfy our inner child... to explore the exotic, to create the exotic and this race too is a tribute to that breed of exotica. Its intoxicating :-)
I am blabbering... I think I must better switch the tv on to spare my blog of more tautology ;-)
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Pop !! God gives the answers !
A dear one asked me, "How goes life?". Now what is new in this question? This is the most cliched, over-used, under-rated and self-analytical question that all of us keeping using as a greeting. When we ask someone "how's life?", we never intend to get an honest reply.... most of the times, "life's good", "nothing new machan", "life's rocking" etc kind of replies. I somehow end up thinking a lot each time someone asks me this question. And give an honest answer which sometimes embarrasses the other person since they would not have bargained for an 'introspective insight' into my take on my life. Lolz!! well, I find delight in that quandry that the person faces. Devilish ! Lol !
If someone asks, "Kaka, how are you?", I would spontaneously reply, " Am good." But not so for the former question. Lolz !!
Anyway, as I said, when as usual I was wondering about this question.... I got this :
A Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students
"How much do you think this glass weighs?"
'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:
What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
'Nothing' …..the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"
….. ventured another student & all the students laughed
"Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?"
asked the professor.
'No'…. Was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students
"Exactly!" said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,
But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep.
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you leave office today,
Remember to….
'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '
So then I got the answer to my question. I replied back:
" Hakuna Matata"
If someone asks, "Kaka, how are you?", I would spontaneously reply, " Am good." But not so for the former question. Lolz !!
Anyway, as I said, when as usual I was wondering about this question.... I got this :
A Professor began his class by holding up a glass with some water in it. He held it up for all to see & asked the students
"How much do you think this glass weighs?"
'50gms!' .... '100gms!' .....'125gms' ...the students answered.
"I really don't know unless I weigh it," said the professor, "but, my question is:
What would happen if I held it up like this for a few minutes?"
'Nothing' …..the students said.
'Ok what would happen if I held it up like this for an hour?' the professor asked.
'Your arm would begin to ache' said one of the student
"You're right, now what would happen if I held it for a day?"
"Your arm could go numb, you might have severe muscle stress & paralysis & have to go to hospital for sure!"
….. ventured another student & all the students laughed
"Very good.
But during all this, did the weight of the glass change?"
asked the professor.
'No'…. Was the answer.
"Then what caused the arm ache & the muscle stress?"
The students were puzzled.
"What should I do now to come out of pain?" asked professor again.
"Put the glass down!" said one of the students
"Exactly!" said the professor.
Life's problems are something like this.
Hold it for a few minutes in your head & they seem OK.
Think of them for a long time & they begin to ache.
Hold it even longer & they begin to paralyze you. You will not be able to do anything.
It's important to think of the challenges or problems in your life,
But EVEN MORE IMPORTANT is to 'PUT THEM DOWN' at the end of every day before You go to sleep.
That way, you are not stressed, you wake up every day fresh &strong & can handle any issue, any challenge that comes your way!
So, when you leave office today,
Remember to….
'PUT THE GLASS DOWN TODAY! '
So then I got the answer to my question. I replied back:
" Hakuna Matata"
Monday, September 1, 2008
"What you dancing for, kiddo?"
Nauseous !
That is how I felt when I saw the pictures of the kids jumping around, celebrating the verdict of the Central govt. to allot land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board ! What are they being involved in this for? What do 5 year old kids understand about religious politics, agendas and propagandas ? Why are they so blatantly celebrating the ‘victory’ of ‘Rama’ over ‘Rahim’ ! It just saddens my heart.
Have we descended to such levels wherein we involve our innocent children in fighting for such base and immature causes. I still remember one member of some agitating group in Delhi giving sound bytes to the media that he knew that the bandhs and strikes were causing inconvenience to the public, but then to right a wrong or to fight for a cause, people will have to bear with such inconveniences and make such sacrifices. ‘sacrificies’? boy are you serious … I just shook my head in disgust.
Is this the way we are thinking? Have we lost our sense of reason? I mean which cause is being eschewed here by making millions and millions of people suffer in hunger, thirst, pain and misery? Just to get a few acres of land which does not even belong to any among those protestors?
A few weeks back I had seen a protest on M G Road near Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was being staged by the Pandits (from J&K) and who were in Bangalore. I saw kids and women shouting slogans and holding placards! Why are innocent boys and girls being made a party to such innocuous protests? Is this the learning and education that we are providing our children? And why are we using children to make up the numbers in a protest march?
I wondered while I saw the children dance along with a few elders, with colours of their faces and clothes – Do they even know what they are dancing for and what repercussions it might have on the relations between different sects of people? One of these celebrating children might grow up to become a Hindu fundamentalist bragging about his childhood days’ ‘netagiri’ or one of them might just grow up to become a sensitive individual who is against such narrow mentality. Will they both be able to forget this incident for the rest of their lives?
I don’t think so.
That is how I felt when I saw the pictures of the kids jumping around, celebrating the verdict of the Central govt. to allot land to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board ! What are they being involved in this for? What do 5 year old kids understand about religious politics, agendas and propagandas ? Why are they so blatantly celebrating the ‘victory’ of ‘Rama’ over ‘Rahim’ ! It just saddens my heart.
Have we descended to such levels wherein we involve our innocent children in fighting for such base and immature causes. I still remember one member of some agitating group in Delhi giving sound bytes to the media that he knew that the bandhs and strikes were causing inconvenience to the public, but then to right a wrong or to fight for a cause, people will have to bear with such inconveniences and make such sacrifices. ‘sacrificies’? boy are you serious … I just shook my head in disgust.
Is this the way we are thinking? Have we lost our sense of reason? I mean which cause is being eschewed here by making millions and millions of people suffer in hunger, thirst, pain and misery? Just to get a few acres of land which does not even belong to any among those protestors?
A few weeks back I had seen a protest on M G Road near Chinnaswamy Stadium. It was being staged by the Pandits (from J&K) and who were in Bangalore. I saw kids and women shouting slogans and holding placards! Why are innocent boys and girls being made a party to such innocuous protests? Is this the learning and education that we are providing our children? And why are we using children to make up the numbers in a protest march?
I wondered while I saw the children dance along with a few elders, with colours of their faces and clothes – Do they even know what they are dancing for and what repercussions it might have on the relations between different sects of people? One of these celebrating children might grow up to become a Hindu fundamentalist bragging about his childhood days’ ‘netagiri’ or one of them might just grow up to become a sensitive individual who is against such narrow mentality. Will they both be able to forget this incident for the rest of their lives?
I don’t think so.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Hop, skip, jump & fly.... !!! ;-)
Hop, skip, jump & fly ….
Usain Bolt must have cringed out in shame when he saw that athletic figure running on the roads of Bangalore. Whats the fun running 100 mts in 9 seconds in a lane where there is no hurdle… he he !!! Usainbhai, how about running at full steam on the footpath lining up M.G. Road? Hmmm… bolo bolo.. ;-)
Boy, I have had the best fun walking on M G Road in the evening time. Its wonderful, I swear ! My office is on M.G. Road near Trinity Circle. And invariably once in a while I take a walk from there to the other end of the road i.e. Anil Kumble circle. Trust me, its such a good stress reliever ! you see so many people walking around – women, children, beggars, peddlers, old couples, pimps, policemen, rich & the poor, celebrities & commoners, businessmen & loafers, students & destitues….. so many of them !
It’s a study in contrasts. Seriously ! The road is the hub of shopping and business and yet it is green enough and spacious enough ( am turning a blind eye to the Metro Rail work ). All I do is just walk with a smile on my face. You would be amazed with the way people smile back sometimes and frown the other times. Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! the older people will always smile back at you, the young teenagers will always smile back. Its only the corporate rats who do not smile back as if they are the busiest people on Earth. Whew !
Then again, M G Road is a nice mix of people wearing all sorts of clothes… the hippies, the executives, the casuals, the semi-casuals, the skimpy, the burqas, the frocks, the shorts, the birthday suits and the Armani suits… all in one single stretch !
Of course the peddlers just add to the charm… I buy a guvava and munch on it while walking down and I cant help but look admiringly at the Bangalore sky, over the Manekshwa parade ground…. One side of the road is choc-a-bloc with buildings and structures while the other side is a huge open space used by the Army & NCC. Tree lined boulevard of the Cubbon road is close by and I can already see some children making their way to the cubbon park. I turn back and see Hard Rock Café on the wayside… hmmm.. well… been long since I made it to this place… I make a note of coming there.
But then a walk on M G Road can never be complete without a visit to India Coffee House ! lolz… this ramshackle coffee house is study in permanency… seriously I tell you…. The waiters, the soot on the walls, the dirt on their white uniforms, the limited menu, the dosa sans sambar, the anglo-indian menu… boy … with all the glaring mistakes that a retailer/restaurateur can make all presenting themselves in full glory at Indian coffee house, yet it’s a study in excellence of an idea. It got the first rule of Retail Marketing right. I was taught in my b-school… the first thing that a retailer has to get right is “Location-Location-Location”. And boy Indian Coffee House got the first rule bang on !
I quietly have a coffee, throwing glances at the contrasting crowd over there… yaaaa… here too, do visit, the neo rich and the commoners… what a nice mix ! some are reading and others are just relaxing over their coffee cups… I bet a Barista or a Coffee Day can never give you such pleasure.
Oh there is the shop that me and my sister came to shop…. I remember how amused the shopkeeper was when he was dealing with Shalu (my sister ) … sorry let me not reveal the idiosyncrasies of my sister or she might just not let me into Chennai the next time am there ! ( do you get a feeling that I am afraid of her… wel.. ummm.. errr… no comments ;-)
Coming to the best part of it all… you can walk on the road, staring at the motorist waiting at the signal. You see, you can have a clear look at them. Ever noticed how the face and disposition of a person on a bike or in a car is when they are waiting at the signal… or even of a person who is inside an auto … what goes through their minds when they are alone on/in the vehicle and looking around. ??? I always try and lock my eyes with them and try and see their reactions. Its interesting. I will maybe write more on this in a later post.
Another fun thing is when you are crossing the road over the zebra crossing and you see a swarm of vehicles, just waiting there due to the red light. They all would look at you while you cross the road… boy… its amusing… I try and look back at them and walk leisurely…. It’s a long stretch of zebra crossing and you can easily be caught in the jam, if you are not quick enough to cross within the stipulated time. And that is what happened to me… I was walking cooly over the crossing and suddenly I see the vehicles going vroom vroom…and I run for my life… I run like a mad man over the last 10 meters… he he he… while am running I catch a woman smile with a glint of mischief in her eyes as she is showing how not to cross the road to her 5 year old child. I smile back. Yeah right….. duhhhh !!
Whatever…. By the time am back at Trinity Circle, am smiling like a drunk monkey ! Chattering like a intoxicated baboon and looking haggard like a langoor . lolz !
That was fun ! and that is what I do every few days … I just disappear from office for half an hour or so. Switch off my phone and take a walk …. :-) all by myself and all for myself ! :-)
Usain Bolt must have cringed out in shame when he saw that athletic figure running on the roads of Bangalore. Whats the fun running 100 mts in 9 seconds in a lane where there is no hurdle… he he !!! Usainbhai, how about running at full steam on the footpath lining up M.G. Road? Hmmm… bolo bolo.. ;-)
Boy, I have had the best fun walking on M G Road in the evening time. Its wonderful, I swear ! My office is on M.G. Road near Trinity Circle. And invariably once in a while I take a walk from there to the other end of the road i.e. Anil Kumble circle. Trust me, its such a good stress reliever ! you see so many people walking around – women, children, beggars, peddlers, old couples, pimps, policemen, rich & the poor, celebrities & commoners, businessmen & loafers, students & destitues….. so many of them !
It’s a study in contrasts. Seriously ! The road is the hub of shopping and business and yet it is green enough and spacious enough ( am turning a blind eye to the Metro Rail work ). All I do is just walk with a smile on my face. You would be amazed with the way people smile back sometimes and frown the other times. Ha ! Ha ! Ha ! the older people will always smile back at you, the young teenagers will always smile back. Its only the corporate rats who do not smile back as if they are the busiest people on Earth. Whew !
Then again, M G Road is a nice mix of people wearing all sorts of clothes… the hippies, the executives, the casuals, the semi-casuals, the skimpy, the burqas, the frocks, the shorts, the birthday suits and the Armani suits… all in one single stretch !
Of course the peddlers just add to the charm… I buy a guvava and munch on it while walking down and I cant help but look admiringly at the Bangalore sky, over the Manekshwa parade ground…. One side of the road is choc-a-bloc with buildings and structures while the other side is a huge open space used by the Army & NCC. Tree lined boulevard of the Cubbon road is close by and I can already see some children making their way to the cubbon park. I turn back and see Hard Rock Café on the wayside… hmmm.. well… been long since I made it to this place… I make a note of coming there.
But then a walk on M G Road can never be complete without a visit to India Coffee House ! lolz… this ramshackle coffee house is study in permanency… seriously I tell you…. The waiters, the soot on the walls, the dirt on their white uniforms, the limited menu, the dosa sans sambar, the anglo-indian menu… boy … with all the glaring mistakes that a retailer/restaurateur can make all presenting themselves in full glory at Indian coffee house, yet it’s a study in excellence of an idea. It got the first rule of Retail Marketing right. I was taught in my b-school… the first thing that a retailer has to get right is “Location-Location-Location”. And boy Indian Coffee House got the first rule bang on !
I quietly have a coffee, throwing glances at the contrasting crowd over there… yaaaa… here too, do visit, the neo rich and the commoners… what a nice mix ! some are reading and others are just relaxing over their coffee cups… I bet a Barista or a Coffee Day can never give you such pleasure.
Oh there is the shop that me and my sister came to shop…. I remember how amused the shopkeeper was when he was dealing with Shalu (my sister ) … sorry let me not reveal the idiosyncrasies of my sister or she might just not let me into Chennai the next time am there ! ( do you get a feeling that I am afraid of her… wel.. ummm.. errr… no comments ;-)
Coming to the best part of it all… you can walk on the road, staring at the motorist waiting at the signal. You see, you can have a clear look at them. Ever noticed how the face and disposition of a person on a bike or in a car is when they are waiting at the signal… or even of a person who is inside an auto … what goes through their minds when they are alone on/in the vehicle and looking around. ??? I always try and lock my eyes with them and try and see their reactions. Its interesting. I will maybe write more on this in a later post.
Another fun thing is when you are crossing the road over the zebra crossing and you see a swarm of vehicles, just waiting there due to the red light. They all would look at you while you cross the road… boy… its amusing… I try and look back at them and walk leisurely…. It’s a long stretch of zebra crossing and you can easily be caught in the jam, if you are not quick enough to cross within the stipulated time. And that is what happened to me… I was walking cooly over the crossing and suddenly I see the vehicles going vroom vroom…and I run for my life… I run like a mad man over the last 10 meters… he he he… while am running I catch a woman smile with a glint of mischief in her eyes as she is showing how not to cross the road to her 5 year old child. I smile back. Yeah right….. duhhhh !!
Whatever…. By the time am back at Trinity Circle, am smiling like a drunk monkey ! Chattering like a intoxicated baboon and looking haggard like a langoor . lolz !
That was fun ! and that is what I do every few days … I just disappear from office for half an hour or so. Switch off my phone and take a walk …. :-) all by myself and all for myself ! :-)
replacements
I was just wondering .... there is no person in this world who is indispensible ... isn't it? I mean everybody is replaced by someone else in our lives...
So... what about God? Is God indispensible? or rather... is God dispensible?
So... what about God? Is God indispensible? or rather... is God dispensible?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Seigneur Montrez Votre Face :-)
# Why do we need shelter from God?
My prayers are selfish. I wonder what the others come and pray for. What does the old man pray for/about? Why is the young man crying with his face covered? What do people pray for ? - Health? Happiness of dear ones? Most of them pray for others. Only I pray for myself. Only I pray for love. Only I pray for a companion. Bank balance is zero - but none the poorer.
# Why Does a Man Cry ?
He cries when he is helpless, when he finds that he was raped, mentally and physically. When he knows that he was used and abused.
#But whom does he cry for ?
One need not cry for someone. One can cry for something. Man cries when as soon as he wakes up he wishes for the end of the day.
'Merci' => Mercy
My prayers are selfish. I wonder what the others come and pray for. What does the old man pray for/about? Why is the young man crying with his face covered? What do people pray for ? - Health? Happiness of dear ones? Most of them pray for others. Only I pray for myself. Only I pray for love. Only I pray for a companion. Bank balance is zero - but none the poorer.
# Why Does a Man Cry ?
He cries when he is helpless, when he finds that he was raped, mentally and physically. When he knows that he was used and abused.
#But whom does he cry for ?
One need not cry for someone. One can cry for something. Man cries when as soon as he wakes up he wishes for the end of the day.
'Merci' => Mercy
Monday, August 11, 2008
Of Sweat, Skill & Mind - And above all Belief
It is one of those times when I cannot express how happy I am feeling even though there is nothing personal in this.
Abhinav Bindra was 17 when he went to Sydney on the back of some eye catching performances that caught my eye. I have followed his progress ever since and needless to say was disappointed when he didn’t live up to his potential in the last few years. How I cried like a baby when he lost a chance to win a medal for India in 2004 Athens Olympics. I remember I took out the frustration by lapping my football ground 25 times.
In his quest for Olympic glory Abhinav had to face some uncomfortable questions when he was repeatedly on his being from a high class family. Abhinav is from a very rich family and that did help in him not being too bogged about pursuing his goals. But I used to always be wary about this chap since I thought once he failed in Sydney he would be distracted and would not reach the heights that many of his fans thought he could. But when he came back strongly in 2004, my admiration for him became more stronger. He was never my favourite sportsman, but I somehow had a soft corner for him.
Never thought he would get the gold yaar !!! whew ! a few days back The Times of India carried an interview of him, wherein the interviewer asked him, whom does he want to credit with his resurgence. He he told coolly “ I will credit only myself for this”. I was shocked to read it since I thought he was not being modest. But I guess he knew what he was saying. Its this steel that got him the gold. Lesser mortals cannot understand all this and might term his attitude as cockiness or overconfidence. Anyways its like Howard Roark of The Fountainhead…. All of us admire him in spite of his attitude. Objectivism .. hmmm
Anyways today as Abhinav has bestowed his country with a medal that will be the cynosure of all discussions ( read cricketer bashing, in the wake of our team’s failure in Sri Lanka), we can just wish for this great sportsman to carry on with this and remain focused.
I am not able to pay a tribute to Abhinav Bindra since I think his journey has just begun. Also I am too overwhelmed to write any good English. He ! He ! He ! I wish I can wait to pen a tribute to some other men and women who have gone to Beijing to vie for the glory…. Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Anup Sridhar, Anju George, Rajyavardhan Singh, Gagan Narang, Leander Paes. I believe in them.
But today I am very sure that God is kind.
Abhinav Bindra was 17 when he went to Sydney on the back of some eye catching performances that caught my eye. I have followed his progress ever since and needless to say was disappointed when he didn’t live up to his potential in the last few years. How I cried like a baby when he lost a chance to win a medal for India in 2004 Athens Olympics. I remember I took out the frustration by lapping my football ground 25 times.
In his quest for Olympic glory Abhinav had to face some uncomfortable questions when he was repeatedly on his being from a high class family. Abhinav is from a very rich family and that did help in him not being too bogged about pursuing his goals. But I used to always be wary about this chap since I thought once he failed in Sydney he would be distracted and would not reach the heights that many of his fans thought he could. But when he came back strongly in 2004, my admiration for him became more stronger. He was never my favourite sportsman, but I somehow had a soft corner for him.
Never thought he would get the gold yaar !!! whew ! a few days back The Times of India carried an interview of him, wherein the interviewer asked him, whom does he want to credit with his resurgence. He he told coolly “ I will credit only myself for this”. I was shocked to read it since I thought he was not being modest. But I guess he knew what he was saying. Its this steel that got him the gold. Lesser mortals cannot understand all this and might term his attitude as cockiness or overconfidence. Anyways its like Howard Roark of The Fountainhead…. All of us admire him in spite of his attitude. Objectivism .. hmmm
Anyways today as Abhinav has bestowed his country with a medal that will be the cynosure of all discussions ( read cricketer bashing, in the wake of our team’s failure in Sri Lanka), we can just wish for this great sportsman to carry on with this and remain focused.
I am not able to pay a tribute to Abhinav Bindra since I think his journey has just begun. Also I am too overwhelmed to write any good English. He ! He ! He ! I wish I can wait to pen a tribute to some other men and women who have gone to Beijing to vie for the glory…. Vijender Singh, Saina Nehwal, Anup Sridhar, Anju George, Rajyavardhan Singh, Gagan Narang, Leander Paes. I believe in them.
But today I am very sure that God is kind.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Shruti's Gift !!!
There are some gifts that are not really 'gifts' and yet they mean so much to you.
Some of the times, when you are feeling really down, there are certain people who sense it and help you deal with the situation. They might not offer a solution or make you happy all over again, but they might just help you deal with it like a man.
Today, Shruti just helped me in such a way. She sent me this poem and I cannot express how much apt this poem was or how it just helped me think positively. It was really sweet that she took the pains to search for hours and hours together to gather the most appropriate words to send to me. Such gestures make you feel so proud of yourself. Proud that you know such wonderful people who really are nice ! These days its so difficult to do something for others, and yet such wonderful souls keep doing such beautiful things to help us poor souls. Who says gifts have to be tangible or even big or valuable.... such small gestures are sometimes the most priceless gifts that a person can get.
As a tribute to a wonderful person, I reproduce the poem she sent me, so that all you readers can also appreciate the powerful words that Tom Krause ( the author ) penned.
Always Be Your Best !
When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.
While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.
That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgement
if you won or lost each day.
Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.
For all that really matters
when you're finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best?
- Tom Krause
Some of the times, when you are feeling really down, there are certain people who sense it and help you deal with the situation. They might not offer a solution or make you happy all over again, but they might just help you deal with it like a man.
Today, Shruti just helped me in such a way. She sent me this poem and I cannot express how much apt this poem was or how it just helped me think positively. It was really sweet that she took the pains to search for hours and hours together to gather the most appropriate words to send to me. Such gestures make you feel so proud of yourself. Proud that you know such wonderful people who really are nice ! These days its so difficult to do something for others, and yet such wonderful souls keep doing such beautiful things to help us poor souls. Who says gifts have to be tangible or even big or valuable.... such small gestures are sometimes the most priceless gifts that a person can get.
As a tribute to a wonderful person, I reproduce the poem she sent me, so that all you readers can also appreciate the powerful words that Tom Krause ( the author ) penned.
Always Be Your Best !
When you think it doesn’t matter
if you fail or pass the test.
Keep in mind the reason why
you should always be your best.
While the whole world may not notice
if you tried to give your all,
there is a person in you
to whom it matters if you fall.
That little voice inside you -
which directs your thoughts each day -
will make the final judgement
if you won or lost each day.
Never can you fail yourself
if you give it all you’ve got.
The world extends a hand to you
when you give life your best shot.
For all that really matters
when you're finished with your test,
is not the final score at all -
but did you do your best?
- Tom Krause
Friday, July 25, 2008
An innocent question !!
Formal dresses !!! It is a common practice to wear formal clothes in offices. So we always tend to dress up in blues, blacks, whites, greys ( not me !! grey is not for me), khakis, beiges etc etc. But pre-dominantly it is the menfolk who wear such colours. For men the definiton of formals is
1) Cotton trousers with or without pleats & shirts that are not cheks, usually full sleeves.
2) Colour of the above must strictly be non-flashy or bright. Usually the ones listed out above.
But for women there is no restriction of colour. They all wear reds, pinks,parrot greens, yellows (yuck !), even fluorescent. !!! And all these on a weekday. Sure they wear white-shirts-and-black trouser' type western formals too. But their concept of Indian formals, always baffles me. THey will wear all such bright colours.
Now do not get me wrong at all ! I love the cheerful colours. I absolutely love it when a woman walks in a graceful cotton salwar kameez that is as bright as my face on seeing her. Same for the lovely ladies who wear those graceful western formals.
All I am asking is for some equality for us poor men too !!!
I mean, why can't a man wear a nice bright coloured shirt to work on a weekday? And why are full-sleeve shirts so sacrosanct? I mean, why do I get pulled up for wearing a bright coloured shirt to work? I just do not get it. If these colours are jarring to the eyes of others, then would they not create the same affect when women sport such colours themselves?
There was this lady in this all male meeting yesterday, wearing bright pink salwar, bright pink lipstick and golden brown hair to complement her beautiful whitish skin. And she stood out like an eye-candy out there. The question here is should she realize it and be more restrained in her choice of colour or should we men stop looking at colours as being so jarring to our eyes? Do we need a change in the way we think? Do we stop looking at women who dress up like dolls in our offices as frivolous? I mean its so wrong to think of a women like that when she actually might be a sensible person ( most women are ). But still we men will make fun of her and talk about her looks and mannerism more than the content that she spoke.
Its true na.... there is something not quite honest about the way we think.... and by 'we' I mean both men and women....
A little thougth is required in our pre-conceived notions.... dunno if I made sense, but still... i feel there is some lack of honesty and some hypocricy involved here... somewhere somthing is not quite acceptable to my heart. !!
chuck it man!!! there goes another of those beautiful creatures in... oh, let me guess... a yellowish, orangish, reddish, maroonish, greenish dress....I cant even spot her face... her dress is that bright... he he !!! not to mention about her bright yellow shoes and cherry red lipstick. Along with him walks a man in sky blue full sleeve cotton shirt and a black pleated trouser. ! he he !! both are the same designation and have come to meet our head of the department. How strange is the way the rules are defined for men and women !!!
funny !!!
1) Cotton trousers with or without pleats & shirts that are not cheks, usually full sleeves.
2) Colour of the above must strictly be non-flashy or bright. Usually the ones listed out above.
But for women there is no restriction of colour. They all wear reds, pinks,parrot greens, yellows (yuck !), even fluorescent. !!! And all these on a weekday. Sure they wear white-shirts-and-black trouser' type western formals too. But their concept of Indian formals, always baffles me. THey will wear all such bright colours.
Now do not get me wrong at all ! I love the cheerful colours. I absolutely love it when a woman walks in a graceful cotton salwar kameez that is as bright as my face on seeing her. Same for the lovely ladies who wear those graceful western formals.
All I am asking is for some equality for us poor men too !!!
I mean, why can't a man wear a nice bright coloured shirt to work on a weekday? And why are full-sleeve shirts so sacrosanct? I mean, why do I get pulled up for wearing a bright coloured shirt to work? I just do not get it. If these colours are jarring to the eyes of others, then would they not create the same affect when women sport such colours themselves?
There was this lady in this all male meeting yesterday, wearing bright pink salwar, bright pink lipstick and golden brown hair to complement her beautiful whitish skin. And she stood out like an eye-candy out there. The question here is should she realize it and be more restrained in her choice of colour or should we men stop looking at colours as being so jarring to our eyes? Do we need a change in the way we think? Do we stop looking at women who dress up like dolls in our offices as frivolous? I mean its so wrong to think of a women like that when she actually might be a sensible person ( most women are ). But still we men will make fun of her and talk about her looks and mannerism more than the content that she spoke.
Its true na.... there is something not quite honest about the way we think.... and by 'we' I mean both men and women....
A little thougth is required in our pre-conceived notions.... dunno if I made sense, but still... i feel there is some lack of honesty and some hypocricy involved here... somewhere somthing is not quite acceptable to my heart. !!
chuck it man!!! there goes another of those beautiful creatures in... oh, let me guess... a yellowish, orangish, reddish, maroonish, greenish dress....I cant even spot her face... her dress is that bright... he he !!! not to mention about her bright yellow shoes and cherry red lipstick. Along with him walks a man in sky blue full sleeve cotton shirt and a black pleated trouser. ! he he !! both are the same designation and have come to meet our head of the department. How strange is the way the rules are defined for men and women !!!
funny !!!
Giving back to the society ! - eh ? what's that?
My senior colleague and me, were returning from our client meeting about 30 Km from Bangalore city. And since both of us share a nice rapport, we were having a free wheeling discussion on our careers, family etc. He narrated about his struggles in life working in Mumbai, Kerala and Bangalore. His outlook on how the career progresses and how we try and manage our family along with all this. Hmmm… he was telling me how on a holistic perspective, God had been kind to him. Although he never was rolling around in money and happiness, yet he says that there has always been a help from up above and that HE has always taken care of him in tough times.
Then he said that he can now afford the various luxuries of life and he donates Rs. 500 to some temple and charity. He said that it was a way of giving back to the society. Ever since ( its been a week now )- this has been going around in my mind.
Is this a way of giving back to the society?
Many people have a thinking that they have to give something back to the society. And donating money to temples and charity is a way of doing that. I am not sure if it’s the right thing. I mean…. I dunno . But for the first time I really am unable to frame my thoughts on this and that is precisely why I have put this on my blog before writing about it.
I myself have donated to charity and I felt nice about it. But then I never had the feeling that I am giving back to the society. I just felt like any ordinary thing. I am ashamed to say this, but I just felt like I just gave a rupee to the road side beggar. I mean, I made a donation to an organization and yet, I felt as if it was a …. Dunooo…… man ! This sucks ! how can I not feel anything and yet feel so much ? :-(
What is giving back to the society ? Can anybody really explain ?
Then he said that he can now afford the various luxuries of life and he donates Rs. 500 to some temple and charity. He said that it was a way of giving back to the society. Ever since ( its been a week now )- this has been going around in my mind.
Is this a way of giving back to the society?
Many people have a thinking that they have to give something back to the society. And donating money to temples and charity is a way of doing that. I am not sure if it’s the right thing. I mean…. I dunno . But for the first time I really am unable to frame my thoughts on this and that is precisely why I have put this on my blog before writing about it.
I myself have donated to charity and I felt nice about it. But then I never had the feeling that I am giving back to the society. I just felt like any ordinary thing. I am ashamed to say this, but I just felt like I just gave a rupee to the road side beggar. I mean, I made a donation to an organization and yet, I felt as if it was a …. Dunooo…… man ! This sucks ! how can I not feel anything and yet feel so much ? :-(
What is giving back to the society ? Can anybody really explain ?
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Hooked ?
Whats this thing about marriage, that everyone seems to be so keen on ?
If there is one question that I have to constantly keep on answering is , about my marriage.... whew !
"so any good news?", " so what plans for the future?" they ask
I shoot back," what future?" . " about marriage !!!" they exclaim.
What the heck, is future = marriage ? Geezzzz !!!
I can understand older people asking me that question, but I cannot fathom as to why even the young people ask me the same. Well, I expect them to understand our thinking more. But all they care for is " who is the new girl in your life?" " which woman are you dating now that you are single and a smart eligible bachelor?" whooaaaa... " what do you mean by that?" I ask, " Was I not eligible or smart earlier?" They just roll their eyes !! Boy, did I miss something here I ask myself. Instinctively I look into the mirror. And what do I see... well.... any changes in the past one year... well... ummmm... yes, I start the count,
1) clean shaven more often
2) lenses
3) long hair which, for a change, is well maintained ( still growing them but will chop them off any day, boss doesn't want me to look like a 'hero' - how sad )
4) more fat around my bones ( he ! he ! )
5) always a smile on my face
6) emminent lack of stamina - proof of my dour corporate activities ( or rather lack of it )
7) Dislike for money. Thats why I try my best to not be left with any as soon as possible ( chuckle !)
8) expert cook ( this has turned to be a curse - my mom was commenting the other day, " I always thought cooking is a criterion for girls to be called eligible but never knew that my talking about your culinary exploits will get the women flood me with marriage proposals."
9) no body odour (makers of BRUT must be a happy lot - hope they give me some shares for I too deserve to be given credit for the spurt in sales. Afterall I have been a loyal user of their product for 15 years now !!!)
10)naaahhhh... cant tell you this
So, .....
so nothing.
orkut was supposed to help find new friends.... but this marriage thingy has to crop up evertime I chat with my old friends .... everyone is obsessed with it... get a life man ! is there no other topic to talk about !!!! And when I say this, they feel hurt ! :-( whats there to be hurt about... I mean ! Chill madi !!!
And then there are these women from school who are now married.... and they think they have suddenly got the right to 'help me out as well '!! Can you believe that !!! They try and think of all the girls who liked me back in school or college and ask... " is she married already? why dont you tell her about you being single again. Am sure she still likes you. "
jesus !!! grow up woman !!!! that was school/college... long time back... people are not waiting there for me.... and its not as if I have a problem here finding women that I need to go on a search mission ! lolz !! :-) ammmo !!!
Arrey, even my sister is getting frustruated with this.... she already has to deal with the various relatives and family friends who seem to be troubling her with proposals.... to top it off, now she also has to be a messenger for 'pretty and homely ( what does that word mean anyways... duhhhh !!!) girls'. I still remember her class-mates commenting about the length of my moustache( ya, i used to have one back in school), my trousers etc etc and how my sister used to come home giggling and tell me and mom about all that...And now those very girls have become 'eligible and homely' it seems. But why me yaar.. go hunt somewhere else ! I am not ready to be caged yet.
We both were wondering the other day while we were out shopping on commercial street - " are we even ready for this?" It remained a rhetoric - thank god !
It seems all my friends are getting married - so? God, if they wanna then let them. why asking me to follow suit? I am a kid ! I wanna go to Africa, I wanna trek the Himalayas, I wanna bungee jump, wanna run as fast as the wind on the beach and win the best dancer prize for Latin American style.... kitna kuch karna hai abhi... :-) he ! he ! he ! I can see you laugh !!! You wait, guys !!! When you are busy panting away after your dozen kids and you over-weight wives, I will be hanging from some tree, trying to photograph the way the sun's rays fall over the rocks in some God forsaken land... maybe that land will be named after me "The Menon Place" - naah sounds like some run-down cafe in Puerto Rico.
Anyways I think I am blabbering enough... moreover my mood has changed to a pleasant one - thanks to the impromptu showers - rains just cleansed away all my irritation... whew !!! oh yeah... listening to spanish guitar pieces are a great way to pep up your spirits... am already listening to it... so I will now stop writing nonsense and do some 'leg-shaking' - 'hola :-)
beunas noches !!!
If there is one question that I have to constantly keep on answering is , about my marriage.... whew !
"so any good news?", " so what plans for the future?" they ask
I shoot back," what future?" . " about marriage !!!" they exclaim.
What the heck, is future = marriage ? Geezzzz !!!
I can understand older people asking me that question, but I cannot fathom as to why even the young people ask me the same. Well, I expect them to understand our thinking more. But all they care for is " who is the new girl in your life?" " which woman are you dating now that you are single and a smart eligible bachelor?" whooaaaa... " what do you mean by that?" I ask, " Was I not eligible or smart earlier?" They just roll their eyes !! Boy, did I miss something here I ask myself. Instinctively I look into the mirror. And what do I see... well.... any changes in the past one year... well... ummmm... yes, I start the count,
1) clean shaven more often
2) lenses
3) long hair which, for a change, is well maintained ( still growing them but will chop them off any day, boss doesn't want me to look like a 'hero' - how sad )
4) more fat around my bones ( he ! he ! )
5) always a smile on my face
6) emminent lack of stamina - proof of my dour corporate activities ( or rather lack of it )
7) Dislike for money. Thats why I try my best to not be left with any as soon as possible ( chuckle !)
8) expert cook ( this has turned to be a curse - my mom was commenting the other day, " I always thought cooking is a criterion for girls to be called eligible but never knew that my talking about your culinary exploits will get the women flood me with marriage proposals."
9) no body odour (makers of BRUT must be a happy lot - hope they give me some shares for I too deserve to be given credit for the spurt in sales. Afterall I have been a loyal user of their product for 15 years now !!!)
10)naaahhhh... cant tell you this
So, .....
so nothing.
orkut was supposed to help find new friends.... but this marriage thingy has to crop up evertime I chat with my old friends .... everyone is obsessed with it... get a life man ! is there no other topic to talk about !!!! And when I say this, they feel hurt ! :-( whats there to be hurt about... I mean ! Chill madi !!!
And then there are these women from school who are now married.... and they think they have suddenly got the right to 'help me out as well '!! Can you believe that !!! They try and think of all the girls who liked me back in school or college and ask... " is she married already? why dont you tell her about you being single again. Am sure she still likes you. "
jesus !!! grow up woman !!!! that was school/college... long time back... people are not waiting there for me.... and its not as if I have a problem here finding women that I need to go on a search mission ! lolz !! :-) ammmo !!!
Arrey, even my sister is getting frustruated with this.... she already has to deal with the various relatives and family friends who seem to be troubling her with proposals.... to top it off, now she also has to be a messenger for 'pretty and homely ( what does that word mean anyways... duhhhh !!!) girls'. I still remember her class-mates commenting about the length of my moustache( ya, i used to have one back in school), my trousers etc etc and how my sister used to come home giggling and tell me and mom about all that...And now those very girls have become 'eligible and homely' it seems. But why me yaar.. go hunt somewhere else ! I am not ready to be caged yet.
We both were wondering the other day while we were out shopping on commercial street - " are we even ready for this?" It remained a rhetoric - thank god !
It seems all my friends are getting married - so? God, if they wanna then let them. why asking me to follow suit? I am a kid ! I wanna go to Africa, I wanna trek the Himalayas, I wanna bungee jump, wanna run as fast as the wind on the beach and win the best dancer prize for Latin American style.... kitna kuch karna hai abhi... :-) he ! he ! he ! I can see you laugh !!! You wait, guys !!! When you are busy panting away after your dozen kids and you over-weight wives, I will be hanging from some tree, trying to photograph the way the sun's rays fall over the rocks in some God forsaken land... maybe that land will be named after me "The Menon Place" - naah sounds like some run-down cafe in Puerto Rico.
Anyways I think I am blabbering enough... moreover my mood has changed to a pleasant one - thanks to the impromptu showers - rains just cleansed away all my irritation... whew !!! oh yeah... listening to spanish guitar pieces are a great way to pep up your spirits... am already listening to it... so I will now stop writing nonsense and do some 'leg-shaking' - 'hola :-)
beunas noches !!!
Persepolis
Did you manage to catch this movie recently? Yes? - tussi great ho !
No - he ! he ! he ! go get a life then buster !!
I mean, how could anyone who claims to be cinema-lover miss this one? At the risk of sounding immodest.... what the heck...no risk-visk... immodestly speaking - I am a better connoisseur of cinema than you, in case you have willingly chosen not to watch this movie.
Its an animated movie. Its even more surprising that it made it to the theatres in India. Oh I am so glad am living in Bangalore. Its the perfect city for arts and culture... am loving every moment. I just wait for the weekends to catch a play or an exhibition or a concert or a book reading.... its only this weekend that I stayed at home for two full days doing nothing... absolutely nothing. he he !! There is a reason for that.
Oh this film is about rebellion... oh did I tell you about 'rebels' story of my life... ummmm...no I have not... ok I have to write about it sooner or later. Its about the 'rebel' in me and how my search for a fellow 'rebels' who turn out to be as boring and as hypocritical and as orthodox and as predictable as any stereotype would be. Whew ! Its about gradually being conscious of the rebel in me, then somewhere down the line loosing touch with it, my battles with normalcy and the resulting chaos that I created in my relationships,... blah blah... and such boring stuff !!! he he !!! Oh if you are thinking of the rebel as the commonly understood meaning of the term, then you are way off the mark... I have a different definition of what being a rebel is.... its not about doing things against the society, but communicating to the society.... hmmm... well wait for that post....
The last time I had given a short preview of a topic that I wanted to write about but was not getting the guts to write about - I ended up writing it ( the receptionist blog, about the females ). So this too is a way of ensuring that I do write about this topic too. I will... lets see how I finish it.
Oooh !! Do not forget to catch this movies as soon as you can. It was a really good effort. Won many awards... check it out on the net. Persepolis is directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud. A girl's take on the life in Iran during the upheavels ! A political satire, a dark and grim reminder... fantastic creativity.
No - he ! he ! he ! go get a life then buster !!
I mean, how could anyone who claims to be cinema-lover miss this one? At the risk of sounding immodest.... what the heck...no risk-visk... immodestly speaking - I am a better connoisseur of cinema than you, in case you have willingly chosen not to watch this movie.
Its an animated movie. Its even more surprising that it made it to the theatres in India. Oh I am so glad am living in Bangalore. Its the perfect city for arts and culture... am loving every moment. I just wait for the weekends to catch a play or an exhibition or a concert or a book reading.... its only this weekend that I stayed at home for two full days doing nothing... absolutely nothing. he he !! There is a reason for that.
Oh this film is about rebellion... oh did I tell you about 'rebels' story of my life... ummmm...no I have not... ok I have to write about it sooner or later. Its about the 'rebel' in me and how my search for a fellow 'rebels' who turn out to be as boring and as hypocritical and as orthodox and as predictable as any stereotype would be. Whew ! Its about gradually being conscious of the rebel in me, then somewhere down the line loosing touch with it, my battles with normalcy and the resulting chaos that I created in my relationships,... blah blah... and such boring stuff !!! he he !!! Oh if you are thinking of the rebel as the commonly understood meaning of the term, then you are way off the mark... I have a different definition of what being a rebel is.... its not about doing things against the society, but communicating to the society.... hmmm... well wait for that post....
The last time I had given a short preview of a topic that I wanted to write about but was not getting the guts to write about - I ended up writing it ( the receptionist blog, about the females ). So this too is a way of ensuring that I do write about this topic too. I will... lets see how I finish it.
Oooh !! Do not forget to catch this movies as soon as you can. It was a really good effort. Won many awards... check it out on the net. Persepolis is directed by Marjane Satrapi and Vincent Paronnaud. A girl's take on the life in Iran during the upheavels ! A political satire, a dark and grim reminder... fantastic creativity.
Aamir
Oh how could I forget to recommend this... am kicking myself that I missed communicating this to all of you through this blog. Only today when the movie is to be premiered on tv, am I remembering that I should have written about it a month back when I saw the movie. I would have atleast helped in filling atleast a couple of seats if not more.
Well its again a recommendation for a movie... I know there are zillions of others who write about movies, but then I just can't help but pay my respects to the makers of this movie.
Yes am talking about Aamir. Its a pity that due to the pressures that such low budget, sans-stars-films face, that this movie is already going to be premiered on prime time tv. Its such an amazing movie... I saw it and am in love with it. I am not saying that its one of those movies like Jo jeeta wohi sikandar ( which I can watch everyday and still not get bored). Its a movie that will hit you for the honesty and its purpose. I especially love the music.
What stands apart are the protagonists eyes - Rajeev Khandelwal must take a bow here for his restrained acting. I always have a penchant for anything that is restrained.
The lack of romance or leading ladies is so refreshing and reassuring. Who needs mindless romances anyways. Although at first I thought it would be a real dark sort of a film, yet when I came out of the theatre, I was smiling. All I could think of was the look on Rajeev Khandelwal's face when he stands there with the suitcase in the last scene of the film. I felt like standing up and saluting him ! He did one thing that a perfect gentleman and true lover of righteousness would do. God would just have loved him ! :-)
Please do watch this movie if you love good cinema. It feels so nice when you spend those Rs.200 for the PVR movie show at Forum and still come out feeling that the movie was worth every penny !
Well its again a recommendation for a movie... I know there are zillions of others who write about movies, but then I just can't help but pay my respects to the makers of this movie.
Yes am talking about Aamir. Its a pity that due to the pressures that such low budget, sans-stars-films face, that this movie is already going to be premiered on prime time tv. Its such an amazing movie... I saw it and am in love with it. I am not saying that its one of those movies like Jo jeeta wohi sikandar ( which I can watch everyday and still not get bored). Its a movie that will hit you for the honesty and its purpose. I especially love the music.
What stands apart are the protagonists eyes - Rajeev Khandelwal must take a bow here for his restrained acting. I always have a penchant for anything that is restrained.
The lack of romance or leading ladies is so refreshing and reassuring. Who needs mindless romances anyways. Although at first I thought it would be a real dark sort of a film, yet when I came out of the theatre, I was smiling. All I could think of was the look on Rajeev Khandelwal's face when he stands there with the suitcase in the last scene of the film. I felt like standing up and saluting him ! He did one thing that a perfect gentleman and true lover of righteousness would do. God would just have loved him ! :-)
Please do watch this movie if you love good cinema. It feels so nice when you spend those Rs.200 for the PVR movie show at Forum and still come out feeling that the movie was worth every penny !
Love Song for No One
Siva, my flat-mate, asks some intersting questions sometimes out of the blue. He on Thursday night again asked one question to which I am still wondering what the answer actually is. The one thing common between us is that we both have this tendency of asking questions to which we do not really need an answer to. I mean, we are fine if there are no ready answers available.
He said, "These music directors and film-makers like Ilayaraja, A R Rahman, Mani Rathnam, etc have gave us such good music and movies ! You know Anup, I have been the happiest when I am listening to their compositions or watching their movies. Some of the best times of my life have been spent watching or listening to their works. They have helped me face sorrow, feel happy, express myself, relax and feel God. And what have I given back to them? I agree, we can buy their CDs, buy tickets to their movies and above all appreciate them. Thats it.... what more .... I mean I agree they make a lot of money and are very well off in life , but still, can it be a fair enough return for all the help they did to me during various stages of my life? Tell me Anup? "
And a rare occassion when Anup went silent.... I could just nod my head in wonderment. I could not counter it and I agree !
A R Rahman starts every speech of his by thanking Allah. He says that, "This fame and fortune is all yours and due to your benevolence" and that is how he starts speaking. Everything he owns and creates, he gives the credit to God. How humble ! There are some times when I just wonder, whether I am a lesser human!
Anyways, there it goes, another song of the various gems that John Mayer croons.... John Mayer... listen to his songs at night, I bet you will find peaceful happiness. He is not sad in his renditon... but rather realistic. Usually there is no right or wrong, repentance or weeping, or even ecstacy ! somehow his voice and guitar strings just seem so right !
Staying home alone on a Friday
Flat on the floor looking back
On old love
Or lack thereof
After all the crushes are faded
And all my wishful thinking was wrong
I'm jaded
I hate it
I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
Get here
Searching all my days just to find you
I'm not sure who I'm looking for
I'll know it
When I see you
Until then, I'll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one
I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?
Oh no way
He said, "These music directors and film-makers like Ilayaraja, A R Rahman, Mani Rathnam, etc have gave us such good music and movies ! You know Anup, I have been the happiest when I am listening to their compositions or watching their movies. Some of the best times of my life have been spent watching or listening to their works. They have helped me face sorrow, feel happy, express myself, relax and feel God. And what have I given back to them? I agree, we can buy their CDs, buy tickets to their movies and above all appreciate them. Thats it.... what more .... I mean I agree they make a lot of money and are very well off in life , but still, can it be a fair enough return for all the help they did to me during various stages of my life? Tell me Anup? "
And a rare occassion when Anup went silent.... I could just nod my head in wonderment. I could not counter it and I agree !
A R Rahman starts every speech of his by thanking Allah. He says that, "This fame and fortune is all yours and due to your benevolence" and that is how he starts speaking. Everything he owns and creates, he gives the credit to God. How humble ! There are some times when I just wonder, whether I am a lesser human!
Anyways, there it goes, another song of the various gems that John Mayer croons.... John Mayer... listen to his songs at night, I bet you will find peaceful happiness. He is not sad in his renditon... but rather realistic. Usually there is no right or wrong, repentance or weeping, or even ecstacy ! somehow his voice and guitar strings just seem so right !
Staying home alone on a Friday
Flat on the floor looking back
On old love
Or lack thereof
After all the crushes are faded
And all my wishful thinking was wrong
I'm jaded
I hate it
I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
Get here
Searching all my days just to find you
I'm not sure who I'm looking for
I'll know it
When I see you
Until then, I'll hide in my bedroom
Staying up all night just to write
A love song for no one
I'm tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
So tired of being alone
So hurry up and get here
I could have met you in a sandbox
I could have passed you on the sidewalk
Could I have missed my chance
And watched you walk away?
Oh no way
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Six Pence None The Richer
Take my sorrow and my sin
I will run into Your arms again
Hold me Father
Once again my tears are dried
By Your perfect love that's river-wide
Over-flowing
As I stand on its bank
With my arms overhead
I am overcome
As I breathe
The air of Heaven
Drawing in Your fragrance
When I breathe
I feel your fullness come alive
Inside of me
You're the breath that I breathe
Covered by the evening sky
I turn my gaze to where Your kingdom lies
Deep inside me
A silent whisper in my mind
Sweet surrender to Your love divine
Peace enfolding
In the stillness I empty my soul
And Your healing presence flows
As I breathe
The air of heaven
Drawing in Your fragrance
When I breathe
I feel Your fullness come alive
Inside of me
You're the breath that I breathe
It's taking hold
It's second nature when I
Savor...
When I
Savor...
You
As I breathe...
I will run into Your arms again
Hold me Father
Once again my tears are dried
By Your perfect love that's river-wide
Over-flowing
As I stand on its bank
With my arms overhead
I am overcome
As I breathe
The air of Heaven
Drawing in Your fragrance
When I breathe
I feel your fullness come alive
Inside of me
You're the breath that I breathe
Covered by the evening sky
I turn my gaze to where Your kingdom lies
Deep inside me
A silent whisper in my mind
Sweet surrender to Your love divine
Peace enfolding
In the stillness I empty my soul
And Your healing presence flows
As I breathe
The air of heaven
Drawing in Your fragrance
When I breathe
I feel Your fullness come alive
Inside of me
You're the breath that I breathe
It's taking hold
It's second nature when I
Savor...
When I
Savor...
You
As I breathe...
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Just in Time
20:30 hrs on a Saturday. Me sitting in office. everyone's left and there is just one light flickering in the office... of my laptop screen !
Wonder what I am doing sitting so late in the office on a Saturday night.... well... am I even working? ... ok with Naresh Iyer crooning 'Kaadhal Konjam' through my computer and me reading the espnstar.com site, I do not think I am really 'working'. hmmm... !!!
I have a nice home, where we just washed the curtains a few days back, and did our laundry, bought a new carton of room-freshneer from the whole-sale shop ( chuckle !),got new special effect electronics gadgets to increase the dolby effect of our appartment - and yet I spend the 18 hours in a day outside of this wonderful place !
hmmmm... oh let me stop writing this and get back to work.. yeah yeah... i found out some work now for myself.... Oracle Fusion Middleware .. yaaa... i will do that work now... :-)
Wonder what I am doing sitting so late in the office on a Saturday night.... well... am I even working? ... ok with Naresh Iyer crooning 'Kaadhal Konjam' through my computer and me reading the espnstar.com site, I do not think I am really 'working'. hmmm... !!!
I have a nice home, where we just washed the curtains a few days back, and did our laundry, bought a new carton of room-freshneer from the whole-sale shop ( chuckle !),got new special effect electronics gadgets to increase the dolby effect of our appartment - and yet I spend the 18 hours in a day outside of this wonderful place !
hmmmm... oh let me stop writing this and get back to work.. yeah yeah... i found out some work now for myself.... Oracle Fusion Middleware .. yaaa... i will do that work now... :-)
A Precious Human Life
"Every day, think as you wake up.
Today I am fortunate
to have woken up.
I am alive,
I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.
I am going to use
all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment for
the benefit of all beings.
I am going to have
kind thoughts towards others.
I am not going to get angry,
or think badly about others.
I am going to benefit others
as much as I can. "
- His Holiness The XIVth Dalai Lama
Today I am fortunate
to have woken up.
I am alive,
I have a precious human life.
I am not going to waste it.
I am going to use
all my energies to develop myself,
to expand my heart out to others,
to achieve enlightenment for
the benefit of all beings.
I am going to have
kind thoughts towards others.
I am not going to get angry,
or think badly about others.
I am going to benefit others
as much as I can. "
- His Holiness The XIVth Dalai Lama
Monday, June 23, 2008
Our God forsaken land !
Sometimes I wonder - " Will God ever forgive us for what we have done to each other?"
But then I slowly realize that " God left us long time back !"
But then I slowly realize that " God left us long time back !"
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Jaane Koi Aanewala hai !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIjwCnE840U
There has been something on TV that has caught my fancy for the past few weeks. Never has a television commercial effected me so much. So much so that I just stare at the screen whenever I see it. This advertisement is that of Vodafone for their “chota credit” top-up. I am sure many of us might have seen it. Isn’t it one of the most wonderful and meaningful advertisements to have hit our television?
I sure think it is. :-)
The best aspect of the Ad is its execution. We all know that creatives are sometimes very tough to be executed and many a times, what comes out on screen is not what was conceptualized and hence does not have the same effect on the audience. But not in this case. The way the whole ad pans out and displays the emotions in a perfectly restrained manner is noteworthy. The girl’s sighs and the boy’s stylish responses just swoop me everytime I watch the Ad.
The background score is also so apt. The problem on display is such a common occurrence of our school days…. The frentic pace at which we write when the final bell is about to ring for the end of the stipulated exam time… the last minute glances as to which desk was the examiner collecting the answer sheets from… all was captured in a precise and controlled manner. The girl displays her disappointment in such an elegant manner… her conduct through-out the Ad was such a study in elegance and charm. The boy on the other hand comes off as a naughty character with a golden heart, although lending a drop of ink is no big sacrifice ! His style and quick-thinking is what endears him to the audience, not to mention his ‘bugs-bunny’ teeth .. he ! he ! :-)
And most of all the poignancy of the moment when they both look at each other while she dips her pen’s nib into the ink-drop is what melts my heart. There are a few times in our lives when we face this sensitive moment when we share a special moment with someone. It does not have to be a special friend or someone who is close to you… not at all… !!! It can be a perfect stranger ! A stranger whom you might never meet again in your life. But it does not dilute the moment from your memory. So many of us would have surely faced such ‘moments’. Tell me, have you not? :-)
I have been smitten by this Ad and it brings out a lot of memories. Memories of some moments from my schooldays and college days, memories of special people and also unspecial people, loved ones and strangers.
Moments !
Our life is made up of these moments na ! Some people can live a lifetime in those few moments and some can live a life with the help of these few moments. Wonder what we are? Think about what I just said – maybe you have an answer !
Till next time !
P.S. - Do not ask me the meaning for the title of this post. I myself do not know. Felt like saying "Jaane koi aanewala hai !" - Strings ! :-)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yIjwCnE840U
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Plenty to name in a ' Name'
Today morning, a friend informed me ..... " Jo has become Mrs. Subramanyam !"
Jo... the girl whom she had known all her life as Jo ( Jyothi ) had suddenly taken another name ! I was even more puzzled.... why do we change the names of women once they get married? I have seen some castes/regions in India, changing the first names of the newly wed women. So the innocent 'Tulsi' becomes 'Kalpana', Veenas become Lakshmis (lol )... and so on.
Why is there need for changing the single most important identity of a woman? I remember once asking the question to one of the elders in such a family back in Baroda and the reply I got was “ She has entered a new household, and become part of a new family. She now belongs to her husband and his family. So she must shed all her previous roles and become like this family. So changing name is a part of that process.”
I was livid ! I am still livid ! How can you say something like that ! How cruel !
Notice the usage of the word “belong”…. How can a person belong to another ? I have never understood this concept ! She is an individual with unique set of characteristics. How can you even imagine that you can change her and all that is her, by just changing her name ! How naïve !
Imagine what must be going through the mind of the girl ! She must be a wonderful lady with unique qualities and abilities – abilities that help her think in a manner that nobody can even fathom. Her nuances and intricacies of her mind…. All a unique package…. And yet she is forced to think like all of us normal people do… forced to assume an identity that is ‘not her’
Will a guy ever change his name ! I know that I will never agree to change my name! But yes, I will never force a woman to change her name. Heck I wont even agree to a woman changing her last name !
Why should a woman be always be known as a Mrs. Iyer or a Mrs. Menon or a Mrs. Subramanyam or a Mrs. Sharma ! And we take it a step backward by sometimes referring to her by mentioning her husband’s name ( for e.g Mrs. Sanjay or a Mrs. Deepak )
Why is the woman not allowed to keep her name as before marriage? I for one had always thought that I will never force the woman in my life to change her name , not even the surname (last name). Now I will never get that opportunity to show my rebellious nature… but I do always make sure that I drill this into my friends’ heads… that they must dare to not let the love of their lives, lose their identities. I know that by changing the name, it does not mean that the woman loses her identity… but still why the heck should she even have to do that….. Ask any woman, “ lady, do you ideally would like to change your father’s name attached to your maiden name? “ and she would say “ No “. Women love their parents far more than we men do. It does not feel good when they need to throw away their family name and assume another.
So why don’t we all let our women just be. Lets not get into fickle minded monotonous rules dictated by some demented fools
Jo... the girl whom she had known all her life as Jo ( Jyothi ) had suddenly taken another name ! I was even more puzzled.... why do we change the names of women once they get married? I have seen some castes/regions in India, changing the first names of the newly wed women. So the innocent 'Tulsi' becomes 'Kalpana', Veenas become Lakshmis (lol )... and so on.
Why is there need for changing the single most important identity of a woman? I remember once asking the question to one of the elders in such a family back in Baroda and the reply I got was “ She has entered a new household, and become part of a new family. She now belongs to her husband and his family. So she must shed all her previous roles and become like this family. So changing name is a part of that process.”
I was livid ! I am still livid ! How can you say something like that ! How cruel !
Notice the usage of the word “belong”…. How can a person belong to another ? I have never understood this concept ! She is an individual with unique set of characteristics. How can you even imagine that you can change her and all that is her, by just changing her name ! How naïve !
Imagine what must be going through the mind of the girl ! She must be a wonderful lady with unique qualities and abilities – abilities that help her think in a manner that nobody can even fathom. Her nuances and intricacies of her mind…. All a unique package…. And yet she is forced to think like all of us normal people do… forced to assume an identity that is ‘not her’
Will a guy ever change his name ! I know that I will never agree to change my name! But yes, I will never force a woman to change her name. Heck I wont even agree to a woman changing her last name !
Why should a woman be always be known as a Mrs. Iyer or a Mrs. Menon or a Mrs. Subramanyam or a Mrs. Sharma ! And we take it a step backward by sometimes referring to her by mentioning her husband’s name ( for e.g Mrs. Sanjay or a Mrs. Deepak )
Why is the woman not allowed to keep her name as before marriage? I for one had always thought that I will never force the woman in my life to change her name , not even the surname (last name). Now I will never get that opportunity to show my rebellious nature… but I do always make sure that I drill this into my friends’ heads… that they must dare to not let the love of their lives, lose their identities. I know that by changing the name, it does not mean that the woman loses her identity… but still why the heck should she even have to do that….. Ask any woman, “ lady, do you ideally would like to change your father’s name attached to your maiden name? “ and she would say “ No “. Women love their parents far more than we men do. It does not feel good when they need to throw away their family name and assume another.
So why don’t we all let our women just be. Lets not get into fickle minded monotonous rules dictated by some demented fools
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
To make you look 'successful' - buy a flip phone !!
Okies … another quickie !
Flip phones have made a grand comeback into the Indian market with a large number of users going in for these models of phones in India!
Motorola introduced clamshell models ( popularly known as flip phones) in 1996 and they made an entry into India a bit later than that. Initially although such phones did create a buzz in the market, just as the Irridum project did. But ‘flip-phones’ took a beating in the Indian market due to various reasons. The popular reasoning that gained acceptance during that time was that such phones required use of both hands. This was a disadvantage that was seen to be root cause of non-acceptance of the users who, in those times, were mainly business-class.
There were other disadvantage like the form factor, the non-sturdiness and the lack of ease in use, when compared to the normal phones.
Now – it seems all disadvantages are forgotten and there is nobody who does not fancy a flip phone. !!!!!
Mainly due to intelligent marketing by Motorola who wanted to associate their brand to a niche design like the flip phones and also due to the change in the mindset of the users of mobile phones in India.
I am amazed to find that all my classmates from my PG days, after getting a job, the first thng they do is to change their handsets ! Funny, eh! And most of them have gone in for flip phones !!!
I don’t know if they are all trying to make a statement that they are successful and upwardly mobile – a common perception among non-users of flip phones. Whatever be the reason, but it’s a very commonly known fact proven through research, that mobiles phones are perceived to be a fashionable accessory and many people want to show-off their handsets, since they equate it to their status and fashion sense! True – if watches, clothes, caps, spectacles, belts etc can be used to show-off, why not mobile phones !!!!
But all said and done, the disadvantages with the flip phones still stay and are here to stay. Just that people have found a way to justify their more fashionable choice. Nokia would be wondering why they went into designing ’user-friendly’ models !!
As I write this, I can see my friend who passed out with me in college, trying to write something, type something on his PC and also attend to his ringing phone … yeah flip phone… wonder why people who are in sales and other such professions who require to multi-task, go in for such phones when a simple traditional design would have served their purpose much better… maybe there is a reason that I am not able to comprehend.
There are many other friends of mine who too went in for a flip phone as soon as they got a chance to buy a new phone. Now I wonder whether I too will fall into that trap.. after all who does not like to be admired ! But as of now, I can just laugh at all my peers who bought a flip phone and are trying to justify it … he ! he ! he ! What a funny situation !
But Motorola needs to be appreciated for their persistent and intelligent marketing. They used the famous personalities well ! Whoever classified customers as ‘logical’ and impulsive’? All customers are illogical after a certain point of time – read after getting a new job !! he ! he ! he ! I can see at least one of my room-mates getting ready to beat me up for this piece !!!
Flip phones have made a grand comeback into the Indian market with a large number of users going in for these models of phones in India!
Motorola introduced clamshell models ( popularly known as flip phones) in 1996 and they made an entry into India a bit later than that. Initially although such phones did create a buzz in the market, just as the Irridum project did. But ‘flip-phones’ took a beating in the Indian market due to various reasons. The popular reasoning that gained acceptance during that time was that such phones required use of both hands. This was a disadvantage that was seen to be root cause of non-acceptance of the users who, in those times, were mainly business-class.
There were other disadvantage like the form factor, the non-sturdiness and the lack of ease in use, when compared to the normal phones.
Now – it seems all disadvantages are forgotten and there is nobody who does not fancy a flip phone. !!!!!
Mainly due to intelligent marketing by Motorola who wanted to associate their brand to a niche design like the flip phones and also due to the change in the mindset of the users of mobile phones in India.
I am amazed to find that all my classmates from my PG days, after getting a job, the first thng they do is to change their handsets ! Funny, eh! And most of them have gone in for flip phones !!!
I don’t know if they are all trying to make a statement that they are successful and upwardly mobile – a common perception among non-users of flip phones. Whatever be the reason, but it’s a very commonly known fact proven through research, that mobiles phones are perceived to be a fashionable accessory and many people want to show-off their handsets, since they equate it to their status and fashion sense! True – if watches, clothes, caps, spectacles, belts etc can be used to show-off, why not mobile phones !!!!
But all said and done, the disadvantages with the flip phones still stay and are here to stay. Just that people have found a way to justify their more fashionable choice. Nokia would be wondering why they went into designing ’user-friendly’ models !!
As I write this, I can see my friend who passed out with me in college, trying to write something, type something on his PC and also attend to his ringing phone … yeah flip phone… wonder why people who are in sales and other such professions who require to multi-task, go in for such phones when a simple traditional design would have served their purpose much better… maybe there is a reason that I am not able to comprehend.
There are many other friends of mine who too went in for a flip phone as soon as they got a chance to buy a new phone. Now I wonder whether I too will fall into that trap.. after all who does not like to be admired ! But as of now, I can just laugh at all my peers who bought a flip phone and are trying to justify it … he ! he ! he ! What a funny situation !
But Motorola needs to be appreciated for their persistent and intelligent marketing. They used the famous personalities well ! Whoever classified customers as ‘logical’ and impulsive’? All customers are illogical after a certain point of time – read after getting a new job !! he ! he ! he ! I can see at least one of my room-mates getting ready to beat me up for this piece !!!
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
And they call it Green !!
Just another quick one !!
Have you all noticed the way the construction firms name their properties. 'Palm Springs', 'Silver Oak, 'Daffodils, 'Palm Springs', Oasis, 'Green Valley', etc etc...
All of them are everything but that !
What an irony that concrete structures and conceret jungles that we humans create are anything but greeen... There are constructions coming up all around the cities and all the greenery around those plots are being razed to the ground. And yet we have the balls to name the very same building built out of cutting down 50 pine trees as Greenview or a Pine Spring. How ironical !!!
Sample the few projects that are on-going or already constructed in the Garden City
Swanlake, Highlands, Springtime, Sunshine, Oasis, Four Seasons, Greenwoods, Orchid, Jasmine, etc et..
It just seems very funny to me !!! Isn't it?
Have you all noticed the way the construction firms name their properties. 'Palm Springs', 'Silver Oak, 'Daffodils, 'Palm Springs', Oasis, 'Green Valley', etc etc...
All of them are everything but that !
What an irony that concrete structures and conceret jungles that we humans create are anything but greeen... There are constructions coming up all around the cities and all the greenery around those plots are being razed to the ground. And yet we have the balls to name the very same building built out of cutting down 50 pine trees as Greenview or a Pine Spring. How ironical !!!
Sample the few projects that are on-going or already constructed in the Garden City
Swanlake, Highlands, Springtime, Sunshine, Oasis, Four Seasons, Greenwoods, Orchid, Jasmine, etc et..
It just seems very funny to me !!! Isn't it?
Monday, April 28, 2008
Five Point Someones !
Five Point Someone – brings a smile to your face :-) … doesn’t it ? And what about the play ‘Five Point Someone’? Seen it, right? If your answer is no, then I guess you must not be a theatre-goer!
Anyways, I know that there have been enough reviews, comments, posts, articles, etc about the play by Nikhila Kesavam, but still I cannot rest in peace without giving my take on it. Maybe because after all, its about one of the most talked about and most adored books of our times.
It was such a difficult job to suppress my curiosity about how Madras Talkies would present the ‘iconic’ characters and the whole ‘feel’ of the book. While reading the book each one of us must have imagined the Kumaon hostel, the IIT campus, the Insti building rooftop and the characters - to be of a certain nature. I was wondering as to how the director, cast and crew will live up to the hundreds of ‘imaginations’ that the legions of the book’s lovers had weaved in their hearts and minds !!!
Even though it was one of my favourite production houses, Evam, that was producing the play, yet the fact that I had not seen much of Madras Talkies’ works, was the cause of my apprehensions. ( We all know that when we go for an Evam event, we will end up exercising our funny bone. Note to self:- I must make it a point to attend Madras Talkies’ show at the earliest opportunity, since they are the oldest Indian English theatre group)
The Play ( Staged on April 12th, 19:00 hrs, Rangashankara, J P Nagar)
My apprehensions were unfounded! They put up a lively performance. As suspected by yours truly, the play started with “Another brick in the wall” floating across Rangashankara’s magnificent ‘sanctum sanctorum’ and that laid to rest my nervousness since it assured me that the book’s/story’s soul had not been tampered with !
The dialogues were crisp, the pace good and the direction was decent as well. The play was very honest in its adaptation and the director managed to plug all the usual loopholes that creep in when a book is adapted for the stage. The ‘grown-up Hari’ narrating & floating in and out of the present, was really note-worthy especially since he had the audience guffawing most of the times !
BUT…..
I have this sneaky feeling that the play failed to be a ‘classic’. Although it did manage to be a very good value for our money and although it did bring out a very very very nice comfy feel getting out of the hall, yet I feel it missed ‘greatness’ by some way. The plot and the unique characters had the potential to create a humdinger of a play which never was in this case. I think the acting was a reason for this since except for ‘Alok’ ( I refrain from using the actors’ real names) the others were just ordinary in their facial expressions and body movements. Their dialogue delivery is what kept the pace lively since all the characters rendered their dialogues with great gusto and precision.
The Real Actor
Alok’s was undoubtedly the best portrayed character and it was such a new thing for me since the actor managed to endear himself to me and the whole audience to his character. I must admit that it managed to create a fondness in me for him which was not there earlier after reading the book. The actor gave a different dimension to the character by his conspicuous ‘chest heaving’, the fuming and fretting and the spontaneous dialogue delivery. So ‘enthusiastic’ was his dialogue delivery that I, sitting in the first row, had to run for cover everytime he came close to me fearing that his saliva would fall on to me. (chuckle!)
Competent others
The others, Hari and Ryan, were competent but not spectacular. The manner in which the Hari agrees to what Ryan says, even though a few seconds back he was dead against the plan, is not convincing. Ryan on his part doesn’t come off as the ‘cool dude’ as much, but manages to portray his angst and mysterious personality well. It his monotonous and repetitive use of his hands that gave a weariness to the character. But it was his dialogue delivery that was amazingly clear and powerful. His conversations with Alok were splendidly portrayed with a thread of tension and strain running right through Ryan’s body – which betrayed his emotions. And of course the narrator Hari, although in the beginning gives an impression of a poor attempt at innovation, ultimately justifies his element and presence in the play, by dishing out some of the best dialogues and witticism laced with sarcasm ! The professors were of course very well depicted.
The Angelic Tormentor
Now coming to the most important reason that I wrote this post. The character of Neha !
Neha, aaaaaahhhhhhhhh… Neha !!! (sigh ! )
‘The Book Neha’ - She was the magic that kept surprising the readers in the book by Chetan Bhagat. According to me, the ‘book Neha’ was the most complex character of the whole set. She is the reason I love the book so much ! No female character had captured my imagination as much as Neha had done. Her flirtatious nature which she mixed with her revulsion towards ‘other boys of IIT’, he brushes with her father, her talks about ideology, her craving for her brother, her unmindfulness at the stupidity & timidity of Hari’s nature and her unforgettable ‘intimate session’ with Hari in her home when her parents were gone, her loyalty towards Hari even though they were both working in different cities, her way of supporting her family and yet confiding in Hari, her ‘laying off’ and then getting back together with Hari after he cheated her and dragged her into the controversy, her independence and yet dependence on Hari for emotional support although he was not at all emotionally stable himself – all added to the aura around her character. I am sure every one must have had a picture of Neha in their minds. I have created a character of Neha in my mind that has far greater qualities than even Chetan Bhagat sketched in her and this Neha has always tormented me with her guile and passion.
‘The play Neha’ – She disappointed ! :-(
Although she came very close to the appearance of Neha that I had in my imagination, yet her portrayal lacked the depth that the character demanded from the actress. The girl was heavenly beautiful with a very expressive face, yet many a times the expressions were very juvenile in nature. Her exclamations and dialogue delivery lacked the assurance and conviction. It was evident that she was delivering dialogues and not talking naturally. Her sense of timing was also not very good, which was reflected in the luke-warm chemistry between her and Hari. Even the love scenes where Hari holds her and kisses her, and then the way in which she drags him inside – was bereft of the sense of intellect that always accompanies my understanding of the character. Her eyes were not showing the upheaval inside of her. Maybe I will blame the author Chetan Bhagat for having not explored her character even further since she trusted Hari whereas nothing in the whole of the book justifies a supposedly intelligent person like trusting her with her deepest secrets. And hence the actor was caught between portraying an intensely passionate , intelligent girl and a typical teenager who is bubbly and enthusiastic of all that’s happening around her.
In short the ‘stage Neha’ failed to bring out the ‘lovely & mystical Neha’ of the book that I had come to love and long for ! Although beauty-wise, I would rate the ‘stage neha’ to be beyond anybody’s most beautiful imagination since she radiated beauty and love in her every step, every dialogue.
Overall Nikhila Kesavan did a wonderful job of presenting to us a wonderful play that was honest and well thought out. It was fully worth it to come across far and wide to see it. It is a must-watch for everyone especially since it’s a joy to see the characters come alive on stage and its entertainment guaranteed. The most important thing that the play lacked was what we all call in hindi as “thehraav” (stillness). There were some scenes in which a pause here and a lingering there would have created a magical effect on the audience – but sadly that ‘thehraav’ was missing.
Yet I would recommend this play to everyone ! and I mean everyone ! People who have never been to plays, people who do not go to plays much often are the best people to enjoy this play. Even the audience that I saw was not the usual theatre –going bunch of Bangalore, but a huge crowd of ‘Five Point some’ book’s fans and friends etc. For a regular it would have been a novel experience - the constant ‘multiplex like’ murmuring, cheering, clapping etc. which reflected a ‘non-theatre going’ audience since they lacked the basic civilities of a ‘theatre audience’. But who the heck cares when it’s a fun show that is shown since its ultimately about touching your hearts with the plays and making the audience feel nice about the play. And that’s what Madras Talkies along with Evam did. They put up a cheerful, energetic and enthusiastic show that managed to win the hearts of all those who were present and plenty more outside.
My advice to all of you is to catch the play as soon as possible to relive your wonderful moments when you read the book. I am not sure but I think, Evam usually travels to Bangalore ( never missed any of their shows here) and Hyderabad (had read about them performing there when I had been to the city) for their shows apart from their home base in Chennai. But yes, nothing can match the magical ambience of Rangashankara… no, not even Museum theatre, Chennai !
So that’s it from my side. By the way Basheer’s short stories are being adapted to a play called Sangathi Arinya by Paul Mathews and is running in rangashankara. So in case you want to catch some poignant takes on the lives of men and women and their relationships in rural backdrops of Kerala, then go ahead ! Its well worth it. My mom loves Basheer ! Already bought her some 10 books and she manages to finish each in a day. I wish Basheer had written something that went beyond 100 pages. Would save me from the trouble of going to M. G Road ( Bookworm or DC) and scourge for his books to be sent back to Baroda to that voracious reader i.e. my mother ! :-)
He ! He ! He ! :-)I enjoyed writing this post… it is so much fun, criticizing and commenting about others’ creations…. Real test would be when I can manage even half of what all these wonderful artists create. What a wonderful world we live and how amazingly wonderfully different and yet equally enchanting worlds these artists create ! Amazing !
:-)
Anyways, I know that there have been enough reviews, comments, posts, articles, etc about the play by Nikhila Kesavam, but still I cannot rest in peace without giving my take on it. Maybe because after all, its about one of the most talked about and most adored books of our times.
It was such a difficult job to suppress my curiosity about how Madras Talkies would present the ‘iconic’ characters and the whole ‘feel’ of the book. While reading the book each one of us must have imagined the Kumaon hostel, the IIT campus, the Insti building rooftop and the characters - to be of a certain nature. I was wondering as to how the director, cast and crew will live up to the hundreds of ‘imaginations’ that the legions of the book’s lovers had weaved in their hearts and minds !!!
Even though it was one of my favourite production houses, Evam, that was producing the play, yet the fact that I had not seen much of Madras Talkies’ works, was the cause of my apprehensions. ( We all know that when we go for an Evam event, we will end up exercising our funny bone. Note to self:- I must make it a point to attend Madras Talkies’ show at the earliest opportunity, since they are the oldest Indian English theatre group)
The Play ( Staged on April 12th, 19:00 hrs, Rangashankara, J P Nagar)
My apprehensions were unfounded! They put up a lively performance. As suspected by yours truly, the play started with “Another brick in the wall” floating across Rangashankara’s magnificent ‘sanctum sanctorum’ and that laid to rest my nervousness since it assured me that the book’s/story’s soul had not been tampered with !
The dialogues were crisp, the pace good and the direction was decent as well. The play was very honest in its adaptation and the director managed to plug all the usual loopholes that creep in when a book is adapted for the stage. The ‘grown-up Hari’ narrating & floating in and out of the present, was really note-worthy especially since he had the audience guffawing most of the times !
BUT…..
I have this sneaky feeling that the play failed to be a ‘classic’. Although it did manage to be a very good value for our money and although it did bring out a very very very nice comfy feel getting out of the hall, yet I feel it missed ‘greatness’ by some way. The plot and the unique characters had the potential to create a humdinger of a play which never was in this case. I think the acting was a reason for this since except for ‘Alok’ ( I refrain from using the actors’ real names) the others were just ordinary in their facial expressions and body movements. Their dialogue delivery is what kept the pace lively since all the characters rendered their dialogues with great gusto and precision.
The Real Actor
Alok’s was undoubtedly the best portrayed character and it was such a new thing for me since the actor managed to endear himself to me and the whole audience to his character. I must admit that it managed to create a fondness in me for him which was not there earlier after reading the book. The actor gave a different dimension to the character by his conspicuous ‘chest heaving’, the fuming and fretting and the spontaneous dialogue delivery. So ‘enthusiastic’ was his dialogue delivery that I, sitting in the first row, had to run for cover everytime he came close to me fearing that his saliva would fall on to me. (chuckle!)
Competent others
The others, Hari and Ryan, were competent but not spectacular. The manner in which the Hari agrees to what Ryan says, even though a few seconds back he was dead against the plan, is not convincing. Ryan on his part doesn’t come off as the ‘cool dude’ as much, but manages to portray his angst and mysterious personality well. It his monotonous and repetitive use of his hands that gave a weariness to the character. But it was his dialogue delivery that was amazingly clear and powerful. His conversations with Alok were splendidly portrayed with a thread of tension and strain running right through Ryan’s body – which betrayed his emotions. And of course the narrator Hari, although in the beginning gives an impression of a poor attempt at innovation, ultimately justifies his element and presence in the play, by dishing out some of the best dialogues and witticism laced with sarcasm ! The professors were of course very well depicted.
The Angelic Tormentor
Now coming to the most important reason that I wrote this post. The character of Neha !
Neha, aaaaaahhhhhhhhh… Neha !!! (sigh ! )
‘The Book Neha’ - She was the magic that kept surprising the readers in the book by Chetan Bhagat. According to me, the ‘book Neha’ was the most complex character of the whole set. She is the reason I love the book so much ! No female character had captured my imagination as much as Neha had done. Her flirtatious nature which she mixed with her revulsion towards ‘other boys of IIT’, he brushes with her father, her talks about ideology, her craving for her brother, her unmindfulness at the stupidity & timidity of Hari’s nature and her unforgettable ‘intimate session’ with Hari in her home when her parents were gone, her loyalty towards Hari even though they were both working in different cities, her way of supporting her family and yet confiding in Hari, her ‘laying off’ and then getting back together with Hari after he cheated her and dragged her into the controversy, her independence and yet dependence on Hari for emotional support although he was not at all emotionally stable himself – all added to the aura around her character. I am sure every one must have had a picture of Neha in their minds. I have created a character of Neha in my mind that has far greater qualities than even Chetan Bhagat sketched in her and this Neha has always tormented me with her guile and passion.
‘The play Neha’ – She disappointed ! :-(
Although she came very close to the appearance of Neha that I had in my imagination, yet her portrayal lacked the depth that the character demanded from the actress. The girl was heavenly beautiful with a very expressive face, yet many a times the expressions were very juvenile in nature. Her exclamations and dialogue delivery lacked the assurance and conviction. It was evident that she was delivering dialogues and not talking naturally. Her sense of timing was also not very good, which was reflected in the luke-warm chemistry between her and Hari. Even the love scenes where Hari holds her and kisses her, and then the way in which she drags him inside – was bereft of the sense of intellect that always accompanies my understanding of the character. Her eyes were not showing the upheaval inside of her. Maybe I will blame the author Chetan Bhagat for having not explored her character even further since she trusted Hari whereas nothing in the whole of the book justifies a supposedly intelligent person like trusting her with her deepest secrets. And hence the actor was caught between portraying an intensely passionate , intelligent girl and a typical teenager who is bubbly and enthusiastic of all that’s happening around her.
In short the ‘stage Neha’ failed to bring out the ‘lovely & mystical Neha’ of the book that I had come to love and long for ! Although beauty-wise, I would rate the ‘stage neha’ to be beyond anybody’s most beautiful imagination since she radiated beauty and love in her every step, every dialogue.
Overall Nikhila Kesavan did a wonderful job of presenting to us a wonderful play that was honest and well thought out. It was fully worth it to come across far and wide to see it. It is a must-watch for everyone especially since it’s a joy to see the characters come alive on stage and its entertainment guaranteed. The most important thing that the play lacked was what we all call in hindi as “thehraav” (stillness). There were some scenes in which a pause here and a lingering there would have created a magical effect on the audience – but sadly that ‘thehraav’ was missing.
Yet I would recommend this play to everyone ! and I mean everyone ! People who have never been to plays, people who do not go to plays much often are the best people to enjoy this play. Even the audience that I saw was not the usual theatre –going bunch of Bangalore, but a huge crowd of ‘Five Point some’ book’s fans and friends etc. For a regular it would have been a novel experience - the constant ‘multiplex like’ murmuring, cheering, clapping etc. which reflected a ‘non-theatre going’ audience since they lacked the basic civilities of a ‘theatre audience’. But who the heck cares when it’s a fun show that is shown since its ultimately about touching your hearts with the plays and making the audience feel nice about the play. And that’s what Madras Talkies along with Evam did. They put up a cheerful, energetic and enthusiastic show that managed to win the hearts of all those who were present and plenty more outside.
My advice to all of you is to catch the play as soon as possible to relive your wonderful moments when you read the book. I am not sure but I think, Evam usually travels to Bangalore ( never missed any of their shows here) and Hyderabad (had read about them performing there when I had been to the city) for their shows apart from their home base in Chennai. But yes, nothing can match the magical ambience of Rangashankara… no, not even Museum theatre, Chennai !
So that’s it from my side. By the way Basheer’s short stories are being adapted to a play called Sangathi Arinya by Paul Mathews and is running in rangashankara. So in case you want to catch some poignant takes on the lives of men and women and their relationships in rural backdrops of Kerala, then go ahead ! Its well worth it. My mom loves Basheer ! Already bought her some 10 books and she manages to finish each in a day. I wish Basheer had written something that went beyond 100 pages. Would save me from the trouble of going to M. G Road ( Bookworm or DC) and scourge for his books to be sent back to Baroda to that voracious reader i.e. my mother ! :-)
He ! He ! He ! :-)I enjoyed writing this post… it is so much fun, criticizing and commenting about others’ creations…. Real test would be when I can manage even half of what all these wonderful artists create. What a wonderful world we live and how amazingly wonderfully different and yet equally enchanting worlds these artists create ! Amazing !
:-)
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The turn at full throttle !
At last I crossed the '80-60 barrier'. What is it? well, its riding your bike at 80 Kmph ( atleast ) and taking a 60 degree turn on full throttle !!!
Well, whenever we ride a motorcycle, we slow down while taking a turn. Well, a few weeks back I decide to change that practice. Ever since I have been trying to take steep turns without slowing down. And after a lot many unsuccessful attempts, I managed to do it two weeks back. I rode the bike at 85Kmph and with full throttle, took a steep 60 degree turn.
today I did it again - just to prove to myself that it was not a fluke the last time. The difference is that I did it when it was raining !! he ! he ! he !
Suddenly today on my way back home, it started to pour from the skies ! I was in one of my 'charged up' moods and it didnt take long for the adrenalin to flow through my spine.... the next thing I am doing is speeding down the airport road - the road is slippery and wet, there are petrol spills all around, and the visibility is not very great ! In midst of all this, there descended upon me this foolish urge to go for it. A desire to take that risk... a deep 'pull' from my soul... dunno why such things occur...maybe when you got nothing to lose, your mind does not comprehend the repurcussions of your actions.
Anyways I did it and all the while was shouting at the top of my voice. Purging, ablution, clensing... whatever its called..... but does it help? Maybe
try this stunt out.... it gives you a high, allright ! but yeah if you care for your well-being too much, then forget it.
Well, whenever we ride a motorcycle, we slow down while taking a turn. Well, a few weeks back I decide to change that practice. Ever since I have been trying to take steep turns without slowing down. And after a lot many unsuccessful attempts, I managed to do it two weeks back. I rode the bike at 85Kmph and with full throttle, took a steep 60 degree turn.
today I did it again - just to prove to myself that it was not a fluke the last time. The difference is that I did it when it was raining !! he ! he ! he !
Suddenly today on my way back home, it started to pour from the skies ! I was in one of my 'charged up' moods and it didnt take long for the adrenalin to flow through my spine.... the next thing I am doing is speeding down the airport road - the road is slippery and wet, there are petrol spills all around, and the visibility is not very great ! In midst of all this, there descended upon me this foolish urge to go for it. A desire to take that risk... a deep 'pull' from my soul... dunno why such things occur...maybe when you got nothing to lose, your mind does not comprehend the repurcussions of your actions.
Anyways I did it and all the while was shouting at the top of my voice. Purging, ablution, clensing... whatever its called..... but does it help? Maybe
try this stunt out.... it gives you a high, allright ! but yeah if you care for your well-being too much, then forget it.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Tequila Sunrise !!!
All the ‘panchatatvas’ of Nature ( Fire, Water, Air, Sky & Earth) have got this mysterious quality to them. No wonder then that nature has always been the playground for the mystics around the world. For me it’s always been the sky that captures my imagination among all the five. Of course Fire comes a close second.
That Sunday when I stepped out of the train at Chennai station, I was a bit different from all the other passengers who were also alighting. I was not in a hurry at all. Leisurely I walked down the platform while the rest were jostling and hustling to get their luggage and kids in order. All of them had a place to go to…. I didn’t ! at 4:30 am when you land up in a city where you do not have any place to go to, then its not the best of situations that you are in and it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure that out.
Anyways. I made my way to the outside and immediately the familiar, damp & warm air of the city filled my nostrils. I inhaled the air that had filled every pore of my body for two months when I was there a couple of years back. The city had helped me realize some truths about life and had seen my transformation.
Whenever I come to Chennai I pay a visit to the beach – either Marina or Elliot's. So where did this vagabond land up when he had no place else to go to at that early hour? – yes, the beach. Took a bus and was on my way to the beach. Travelling in the bus you can see the ‘gallis’ of Chennai where the womenfolk would be drawing the ‘kalams’ with the rice batter early in the mornings. The grayish-orangish light streams of the dawn, performing a tango ( tamilian version ) with the ‘Vishnu sahastranamam’ chants wafting seamlessly in the atmosphere. The ‘mullapoov’ (jasmine) adorning the women in their just washed hair… with even the water drops still sparkling from their lovely mane and once in a while dropping on to the back of their blouses, dampening the cloth and mixing with the sweat of Chennai, creating a smell that just is intoxicating !
I get down mid-way and decide to walk. That’s much better. This way I can observe each and every detail. There are some men who are up ( Chennai is a city of early risers) and are getting ready for their morning walks. I thought to myself “Aaah, now I can see something different too” . Then I could see the women all sitting near the door of their houses and sipping their coffee, taking small break from the back-breaking work that they need to get back to in a short while. Have ever noticed women closely while they are sipping their teas/coffees? I always do. There is a serenity that envelopes them, their faces lose their wrinkles, the eyes become more expressive and soft, the eye-lashes blink less and there are long periods of ‘staring into nothingness’. Its the quality that the women have, of prioritizing their thoughts, unlike us men who never seem to switch off. Even in college, sitting in the canteen, sipping our teas, I would stare at those ‘pauses’- if only one could read into those ‘pauses’ !!
Anyways, we are digressing… hmmm… so taking this cue from them, I move on to my destination, ready to submit myself to the forces or the lack of it !
The Marina beach in the mornings – a sight worthy of the trip. I had expected to see the vast sand since I assumed it wont be crowded at 5 am. But then in this country, it would be only a fool who would make such assumptions ! The beach was crowded. No, not with the usual families and children running around enjoying the beach, but with the homeless. To wherever my eyes could scan, there were people who were sleeping on the sand, some covering themselves in blankets and some without. They were sleeping in ones, twos and threes. This is not the sight that I was expecting. These days I have sometimes got this calmness around me when I am confronted with such sights. I instead of feeling all worked up, started to slowly weave my way in between the bodies scattered on the sand. An old man sleeping alone clutching his tattered bag, a well dressed man who had just woken up and was arranging his ‘bed’, three women maybe from the same family lying together – all three are lying with their backs down and are wide awake, talking something like those girls who have slumber parties when they crash at one of their friends’ place and giggle, chatter or sob late into the night. Also small kids sleeping in between their parents, and surprisingly a young couple, deep in sleep in each other’s arms. But the single men outnumbered the rest. These must be typically migrants from neighbouring towns and villages who in the day time make their living in & around the beach and crash on the sand-bed in the night. What a life ! I wonder and plug in the i-pod into my ears. Thank god Golu lent it to me for the trip !
I am listening to Eagles and make my way into the water. Like they show in the movies… I walk across the waterfront, leaving my footprints over the wet sand, only to see the water come and wash them away. The water lashed on to my feet and for once my ‘strong footballer feet’ act like a grandmom’s. The feet jump, scream and flinch at the touch of the water…. I let my feet play with the water and the sand and divert my eyes at the skyline. The sky !
Usually all of us associate the term – ‘vast’ with the sky. We say, “Look, how vast the sky is!!” I always blurt out…. “Look, how ‘paavam’ the sky is !!” I don’t know why I feel like that. I have yet to figure it out. I started to feel like this about the sky when I used to stare at the western sky in Ettimadai campus of Amrita School of Business – when I used to stand on the topmost floor of the building and stare at the sky while taking a break from some work that I was doing.
The sky over the waters, was starting to turn orange, pink and violet mixed with the grey. I was tempted to read the shapes that were being formed by the clouds. Dragons, ships, tiger, axe etc etc are the shapes that we all usually make out of the clouds… isn’t it? Well, all I could see was clouds… no shapes, no meaning…. I have always lacked the ability to read the skies, read the clouds and make a story out of it. Maybe that’s why the sky has always been so mysterious to me. I see Mr. Shivamani , the acclaimed drummer from Chennai, squatting on the water while the camera was taking shots of him. He was playing on the water, patting the water when it came in waves, and creating some musical effect from it. Maybe he was shooting for a video or for a commercial … I just like a man in a daze walk right in between him and the camera. He stares at me, but does not say anything… he just looks at me curiously. The camera man also does not say any expletives as I had thought he would. But just stands there waiting for me to move away. I start to wonder…. “ Am I looking like a ghost to them ?”
Anyways I move away, find an empty boat and plonk myself on to its edge. Sitting there I stare at the ocean, the sun slowly rising, the sky turning into orange, the ‘sleepers of the sand’ slowly waking up, the drummer trying to invoke his creativity, the joggers exercising their muscles, the salty air turning more and more warm and the vagabond sitting on the boat, smiling as he listens to the Eagles crooning “ Tequila Sunrise”….
Its another tequila sunrise
Starin slowly cross the sky, said goodbye
He was just a hired hand
Workin on the dreams he planned to try
The days go by
Evry night when the sun goes down
Just another lonely boy in town
And shes out runnin round
She wasnt just another woman
And I couldnt keep from comin on
Its been so long
Oh, and its a hollow feelin when
It comes down to dealin friends
It never ends
Take another shot of courage
Wonder why the right words never come
You just get numb
Its another tequila sunrise,this old world
Still looks the same,
Another frame, mm...
That Sunday when I stepped out of the train at Chennai station, I was a bit different from all the other passengers who were also alighting. I was not in a hurry at all. Leisurely I walked down the platform while the rest were jostling and hustling to get their luggage and kids in order. All of them had a place to go to…. I didn’t ! at 4:30 am when you land up in a city where you do not have any place to go to, then its not the best of situations that you are in and it doesn’t take an Einstein to figure that out.
Anyways. I made my way to the outside and immediately the familiar, damp & warm air of the city filled my nostrils. I inhaled the air that had filled every pore of my body for two months when I was there a couple of years back. The city had helped me realize some truths about life and had seen my transformation.
Whenever I come to Chennai I pay a visit to the beach – either Marina or Elliot's. So where did this vagabond land up when he had no place else to go to at that early hour? – yes, the beach. Took a bus and was on my way to the beach. Travelling in the bus you can see the ‘gallis’ of Chennai where the womenfolk would be drawing the ‘kalams’ with the rice batter early in the mornings. The grayish-orangish light streams of the dawn, performing a tango ( tamilian version ) with the ‘Vishnu sahastranamam’ chants wafting seamlessly in the atmosphere. The ‘mullapoov’ (jasmine) adorning the women in their just washed hair… with even the water drops still sparkling from their lovely mane and once in a while dropping on to the back of their blouses, dampening the cloth and mixing with the sweat of Chennai, creating a smell that just is intoxicating !
I get down mid-way and decide to walk. That’s much better. This way I can observe each and every detail. There are some men who are up ( Chennai is a city of early risers) and are getting ready for their morning walks. I thought to myself “Aaah, now I can see something different too” . Then I could see the women all sitting near the door of their houses and sipping their coffee, taking small break from the back-breaking work that they need to get back to in a short while. Have ever noticed women closely while they are sipping their teas/coffees? I always do. There is a serenity that envelopes them, their faces lose their wrinkles, the eyes become more expressive and soft, the eye-lashes blink less and there are long periods of ‘staring into nothingness’. Its the quality that the women have, of prioritizing their thoughts, unlike us men who never seem to switch off. Even in college, sitting in the canteen, sipping our teas, I would stare at those ‘pauses’- if only one could read into those ‘pauses’ !!
Anyways, we are digressing… hmmm… so taking this cue from them, I move on to my destination, ready to submit myself to the forces or the lack of it !
The Marina beach in the mornings – a sight worthy of the trip. I had expected to see the vast sand since I assumed it wont be crowded at 5 am. But then in this country, it would be only a fool who would make such assumptions ! The beach was crowded. No, not with the usual families and children running around enjoying the beach, but with the homeless. To wherever my eyes could scan, there were people who were sleeping on the sand, some covering themselves in blankets and some without. They were sleeping in ones, twos and threes. This is not the sight that I was expecting. These days I have sometimes got this calmness around me when I am confronted with such sights. I instead of feeling all worked up, started to slowly weave my way in between the bodies scattered on the sand. An old man sleeping alone clutching his tattered bag, a well dressed man who had just woken up and was arranging his ‘bed’, three women maybe from the same family lying together – all three are lying with their backs down and are wide awake, talking something like those girls who have slumber parties when they crash at one of their friends’ place and giggle, chatter or sob late into the night. Also small kids sleeping in between their parents, and surprisingly a young couple, deep in sleep in each other’s arms. But the single men outnumbered the rest. These must be typically migrants from neighbouring towns and villages who in the day time make their living in & around the beach and crash on the sand-bed in the night. What a life ! I wonder and plug in the i-pod into my ears. Thank god Golu lent it to me for the trip !
I am listening to Eagles and make my way into the water. Like they show in the movies… I walk across the waterfront, leaving my footprints over the wet sand, only to see the water come and wash them away. The water lashed on to my feet and for once my ‘strong footballer feet’ act like a grandmom’s. The feet jump, scream and flinch at the touch of the water…. I let my feet play with the water and the sand and divert my eyes at the skyline. The sky !
Usually all of us associate the term – ‘vast’ with the sky. We say, “Look, how vast the sky is!!” I always blurt out…. “Look, how ‘paavam’ the sky is !!” I don’t know why I feel like that. I have yet to figure it out. I started to feel like this about the sky when I used to stare at the western sky in Ettimadai campus of Amrita School of Business – when I used to stand on the topmost floor of the building and stare at the sky while taking a break from some work that I was doing.
The sky over the waters, was starting to turn orange, pink and violet mixed with the grey. I was tempted to read the shapes that were being formed by the clouds. Dragons, ships, tiger, axe etc etc are the shapes that we all usually make out of the clouds… isn’t it? Well, all I could see was clouds… no shapes, no meaning…. I have always lacked the ability to read the skies, read the clouds and make a story out of it. Maybe that’s why the sky has always been so mysterious to me. I see Mr. Shivamani , the acclaimed drummer from Chennai, squatting on the water while the camera was taking shots of him. He was playing on the water, patting the water when it came in waves, and creating some musical effect from it. Maybe he was shooting for a video or for a commercial … I just like a man in a daze walk right in between him and the camera. He stares at me, but does not say anything… he just looks at me curiously. The camera man also does not say any expletives as I had thought he would. But just stands there waiting for me to move away. I start to wonder…. “ Am I looking like a ghost to them ?”
Anyways I move away, find an empty boat and plonk myself on to its edge. Sitting there I stare at the ocean, the sun slowly rising, the sky turning into orange, the ‘sleepers of the sand’ slowly waking up, the drummer trying to invoke his creativity, the joggers exercising their muscles, the salty air turning more and more warm and the vagabond sitting on the boat, smiling as he listens to the Eagles crooning “ Tequila Sunrise”….
Its another tequila sunrise
Starin slowly cross the sky, said goodbye
He was just a hired hand
Workin on the dreams he planned to try
The days go by
Evry night when the sun goes down
Just another lonely boy in town
And shes out runnin round
She wasnt just another woman
And I couldnt keep from comin on
Its been so long
Oh, and its a hollow feelin when
It comes down to dealin friends
It never ends
Take another shot of courage
Wonder why the right words never come
You just get numb
Its another tequila sunrise,this old world
Still looks the same,
Another frame, mm...
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Ethical Dilemma !
A quick post from my side again - Now this ethical dilemma stuff are pretty interesting to me. Consider this.
You are parking your vehicle in a parking place and the security guard charges you Rs. 10 /- but does not give you the receipt for it. What do you do?
Well, I am quite a believer in honesty and doing the right things. So I usually stand up to something unfair that is happening around me and always try not to break any rules. Many in Bangalore abide by the rules and also are quite sensitive by nature. I mean Bangalore has people who have a more humanistic view of happenings around them. So we Bangaloreans many a times take pride in adhering to the rules. So the natural tendency for me was to ask for receipt from the fellow since I did not want to be a party to someone who was cheating his employer of money.
But then I remembered what Preetham ( my friend from Hyderabad ) had taught me last June. I have written about him and my learning from him in a previous post in this blog. I started thinking " What harm will happen if this guy takes that 10/- note? Anyways this money is going to the super-rich owner of the mall. Will that ten bucks not help that poor chap who has a family to support? With the inflation raising upto 7.4% levels, will it not have affected that chap's daily subsistence?"
That security chap was apprehensive if I would ask ticket or not? He would have immediately given me the ticket if I had asked for it even once , that I am sure of. So since he was not all that bad a person, then why should I mind him earning an extra buck if that ensures that his child gets the 'pencil box' that he always wanted?
Is it not true that we only bargain and haggle when we are dealing with 'economically backward' people in our society? Why do we mind them getting a few rupees extra when we do not mind the pub owners, coffee shop owners, the branded clothing outlet owners getting hundreds of bucks extra for something whose cost price might be 100 times lesser than the retail price?
But again I was left thinking whether I was encouraging the security fellow to continue being dishonest? Afterall he was not doing the right thing , was he?
I would be then aiding in a honest fellow turning to be a petty fellow swindling his employers.!!!
Difficult for me.... any answers please? This disturbs me a bit... and I face it in many places !!
What do I do ....? Its an ethical dilemma !!
You are parking your vehicle in a parking place and the security guard charges you Rs. 10 /- but does not give you the receipt for it. What do you do?
Well, I am quite a believer in honesty and doing the right things. So I usually stand up to something unfair that is happening around me and always try not to break any rules. Many in Bangalore abide by the rules and also are quite sensitive by nature. I mean Bangalore has people who have a more humanistic view of happenings around them. So we Bangaloreans many a times take pride in adhering to the rules. So the natural tendency for me was to ask for receipt from the fellow since I did not want to be a party to someone who was cheating his employer of money.
But then I remembered what Preetham ( my friend from Hyderabad ) had taught me last June. I have written about him and my learning from him in a previous post in this blog. I started thinking " What harm will happen if this guy takes that 10/- note? Anyways this money is going to the super-rich owner of the mall. Will that ten bucks not help that poor chap who has a family to support? With the inflation raising upto 7.4% levels, will it not have affected that chap's daily subsistence?"
That security chap was apprehensive if I would ask ticket or not? He would have immediately given me the ticket if I had asked for it even once , that I am sure of. So since he was not all that bad a person, then why should I mind him earning an extra buck if that ensures that his child gets the 'pencil box' that he always wanted?
Is it not true that we only bargain and haggle when we are dealing with 'economically backward' people in our society? Why do we mind them getting a few rupees extra when we do not mind the pub owners, coffee shop owners, the branded clothing outlet owners getting hundreds of bucks extra for something whose cost price might be 100 times lesser than the retail price?
But again I was left thinking whether I was encouraging the security fellow to continue being dishonest? Afterall he was not doing the right thing , was he?
I would be then aiding in a honest fellow turning to be a petty fellow swindling his employers.!!!
Difficult for me.... any answers please? This disturbs me a bit... and I face it in many places !!
What do I do ....? Its an ethical dilemma !!
Airplane tags - Why do we keep them ?
One Doubt ...
We see many people carrying bags with airline tags hanging from it, dont we? Tags of Kingfisher, Indian, Spicejet, Jet etc et. I find it utterly despicable. I would be irritated to have a useless tag around my bag that keep poking my nape.
Why do people not remove them as soon as they are out of the airport. They remove all other stickers but let the elastic cord tag to be on their hand bags. There are people who will carry those bags with those tags around for many a days after their air travel. Isn't it just ridiculous ?
Is it to show-off that you travelled by airplane? Now come on.... how can people be so naive and so childish. I started noticing this queer phenomenon about two and half years back when one of my classmates after flying back to college from home, carried around his bag with the Paramount airlines tag around it for many many months. ( i think he never removed it thereafter )
After that I have never failed to notice this whenever I see any hand-bag. funny, eh?
There are so many frequent travellers, some of them have this irritating habit and some do not. I remember when I travelled by airplane for the very first time, I immediately removed the tag as soon as I got out of the airport - I found it irritating and very repulsive. As if it was putting a sticker on to your self and endorsing some brand for free. So cheeesy !!!! yuck !!!
Even today a few minutes back I saw a lady carrying a beautiful hand-bag ( and I do know a thing or two about the quality and aesthetics of hand-bags ;-) ). Now the whole look of the bag was spoilt by that irritating "kingfisher" tag on it. I thought to myself, " How can you spoil the look of such a beautiful bag by such naivety?"
Have you all not noticed this phenomenon? What do you think about the real reason for this? It just never ceases to amuse me !!!
We see many people carrying bags with airline tags hanging from it, dont we? Tags of Kingfisher, Indian, Spicejet, Jet etc et. I find it utterly despicable. I would be irritated to have a useless tag around my bag that keep poking my nape.
Why do people not remove them as soon as they are out of the airport. They remove all other stickers but let the elastic cord tag to be on their hand bags. There are people who will carry those bags with those tags around for many a days after their air travel. Isn't it just ridiculous ?
Is it to show-off that you travelled by airplane? Now come on.... how can people be so naive and so childish. I started noticing this queer phenomenon about two and half years back when one of my classmates after flying back to college from home, carried around his bag with the Paramount airlines tag around it for many many months. ( i think he never removed it thereafter )
After that I have never failed to notice this whenever I see any hand-bag. funny, eh?
There are so many frequent travellers, some of them have this irritating habit and some do not. I remember when I travelled by airplane for the very first time, I immediately removed the tag as soon as I got out of the airport - I found it irritating and very repulsive. As if it was putting a sticker on to your self and endorsing some brand for free. So cheeesy !!!! yuck !!!
Even today a few minutes back I saw a lady carrying a beautiful hand-bag ( and I do know a thing or two about the quality and aesthetics of hand-bags ;-) ). Now the whole look of the bag was spoilt by that irritating "kingfisher" tag on it. I thought to myself, " How can you spoil the look of such a beautiful bag by such naivety?"
Have you all not noticed this phenomenon? What do you think about the real reason for this? It just never ceases to amuse me !!!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Delirium - Blabberings of a feverish mind and body
Delirium ----- when each and every part of your body aches, when you cannot figure out whether it is day or night, when you close your eyes you see nightmares, when you open your eyes you see ghosts, when you do not have any control over your tongue and blabber our unimaginable sentences, when you do not have any control over who you are messaging and whom you are mailing, when you do not have any control over what you are blogging, when you feel like the most sinful person in the whole wide world, when you feel betrayed by the very persons whom you trusted, when you feel guilty as well as a martyr, when you have such a mixture of emotions that you cry and laugh at the same time, when you feel alone, when you feel deprived, when you feel weak, when you struggle for the grip over your life,when you do things against what your friends tell you, when you think you have friends but a deeper introspection says otherwise, when you feel like having been tossed around like a cabbage piece in a salad, when you know that the temperature that you are running for the past 2 days is just a sign of the obvious, when you are away from the biggest ravager of your life and still cannot hate - that what is called love... pure and blissful, a feeling not enjoyed by many. Lucky are the ones who are in this phase. I am in that. Pain never felt so welcome.
Saturday, April 5, 2008
coz' there are times when you don't even have the right questions to ask
I had read a story in my 7th standard class text – The Hitchhiker ( part 1 and part 2 ). It was about a hitchhiker ( duuuhhh …!! ) who used to pick people’s pockets while they were driving. It was a joyful piece replete with witty dialogues between the hitchhiker and the drivers. But our ultra serious teacher made it very difficult for us by narrating us stories of how hithikers loot people of their belongings and how dangerous it is to give a ‘lift’ to anybody these days ( rather those days )
My relative gave me a sense of dejavu when she too started narrating how dangerous Bangalore had become off late with roadside robberies and loot. They used to warn me about venturing out late in the night and giving ‘lifts’ to people, etc but then when you are young and restless, there is very little that you do not want to experience. So typically her words just had to travel the small distance between my right ear and left ear which most of the times is just vacuum.
I encounter so many strange sorts of people in my daily life, that sometimes I just wonder if God consciously could create so much variation in this world. Don’t we all come across such characters – people who truly make us stand up and take notice, people who just amaze you with their unique characteristics, people who just take your breath away with their actions/beauty/brains/presence. Yes, we all see them and sometimes we wish that we could even know them.
On my way to office each day, I see them standing in the roads at various places, showing their thumbs toward the motorists zipping across them. The expressive face of my relative used to flash in front of my eyes whenever I used to see these hitchhikers. I was adamant in obeying her guidelines until Arun happened. I have written about the Arun incident in an earlier post. Any ways… it became a regular affair this – of giving a ride to people on my bike whenever they used to ask for one while I was on my way to office. The only criteria was that the person should look decent. Says Smart Alec, “ It take so much time to find out whether a person is decent or not. How can one decide in a few seconds.” To this I have only one reply – that I just let my heart decide on looking at him/her once whether he/she deserves the lift and also whether that person is in genuine need of a lift.
On some days, I give as many as 3 to 4 lifts within a span of half an hour or so.
I met them on one of those days when I was as usual zipping on my way to office. The elder was about 8 years old and the younger about 4-5 years old. Both were standing on the roadside when they asked for a lift. I was amused that a small girl like her was showing her thumb and asking for a ride with a tilt of her head, like they show in the movies. There was no decision for me to make. I asked them to hop on and they gleefully jumped on to my bike. The small girl sat in between me and her sister, and she clutched my tummy tightly. Although her tiny little fingers had not seen the nail-cutter in ages, what caught my attention was the shape of her fingers. So beautiful and exquisite were here fingers, that’s how God makes these kids. They are so beautiful and fresh when they are small. Her fingers wrapped around me and slowly she tightened her grip, such that her fingers were crumpling the perfect ironing of my shirt. Everytime an oncoming vehicle came close to ours, or every time there was a risky and wayward maneuver that I made, I could feel her fingers tighten around me. And as soon as the danger was averted, she would relax her grip. Her mouth would be glued to my back as she pressed her face into my shirt. This was the way she was clinging on to me and I could make out how scared she was of travelling on the bike. Neverthless, I dropped them at the junction of their school and could only faintly hear the elder sister shouting a “ thank-you uncle” to me.
I did not hear it because I was too dazed with the experience. I realized how beautiful the feeling was when I felt the tightening of her fingers around me, how she had the trust and faith in me a total stranger, to be sitting on my bike. That’s when I felt that I would miss this. Miss this feeling of having kids with me, this feeling of responsibility, this feeling of being trusted with someone’s life, this feeling of total faith, this feeling of closeness with innocence. That’s when I realized how a decision that I had taken for the rest of my life was going to make me sacrifice me such simple and elementary pleasures of a man’s life.
The next day I saw them again and this time again I just stopped my bike even before the girl could start her ‘bollywoodesque’ hitch hiking gestures. Anyways again both of them clung on to me as if they would to their dear life. It always made me feel as if I was a Moto GP biker who was riding at 200 Mph and taking 90 degree turns on my bike. I looked at the speedometer… “ am I going too fast..naah… just 40 kmph… am I riding too rough?... maybe I should not sway my bike so much, maybe they are feeling uncomfortable….etc etc.” Then on my riding started to get dictated by what I assumed to be the girls’ comfort factors. I was talking to myself and chiding myself everytime the little lady’s fingers tightened across my stomach. Not the least for spoiling my ironed shirt, but for the anxiety that I was making her go through.
It soon became a routine – I would pick them up everyday from that same spot and drop them again at their school junction. I never made an attempt to always be there at the same time since my household chores took up a considerable time in the mornings. But I used to meet them atleast 3 times a week. The rest of the days I used to offer lifts to other school going children. I stopped giving lifts to grown-ups since I was enjoying the company of their tiny-tots. I knew there would be some kid or the other on the way ahead and so used to refuse giving lifts to even elderly people ( of course I made exception in case the person in question was really old or tired ).
Once when those two girls were again waiting for me, I offered the little girl a seat on the petrol tank of my bike in the front side. She readily nodded her head and I helped her on. Now her sister was happy since she did not have to keep the kindergarten mickey mouse bag from rubbing into her nostrils. She could now sit in peace at the back. The little one used to every now and again creen her neck and look up at me with her brown eyes and then again peer at the traffic ahead. Well, I have this habit of blowing kisses to anyone who shouts at me on the road. For e.g once when I cut across a car and forced him to brake suddenly on the middle of the road, he started to abusing me and insulting me saying how irresponsible the ‘software people ‘ were, and how even after being educated we did not obey traffic rules.. etc etc.. All true. So I out of my mischief just blew a kiss to him and winked. Our little lady saw that and started aping me whenever I had to brake or stop suddenly. To my consternation she started doing it to even women vehicle rider/drivers. I made angry faces at her, rolled my eyes and shook my head vigorously to make her understand that she should not do it. But that little devil would not understand. I forcibly asked her to sit at the back to punish her and prevent her from doing it again.
Well, then I didn’t see the sisters for many days after that and I started wondering what happened. I for a couple of days even waited at the same spot to see if they were being late and the next two days came early to check that possibility out as well. But to no avail. I had started missing them now. Although I was giving lifts to other kids, still my eyes were constantly searching for those two girls. Then one day one of my colleagues happened to notice a mark at the back side of the shirt toward the bottom part. It was maroonish-brownish-orangish sort of a mark. I said, “Must be some bird dropping or some stain of that sort.” She retorted, “ Bird dropping do not leave a stain. And to me this looks like a blood stain. I think you bled and that why that stain. I am pretty sure about it. “. “ Don’t be silly. How can I bleed from my back, of all places ! come on ! “ said I and continued peering into my computer. Then slowly I started to recollect as to when was the last time I wore this shirt. Yes, the day when I last met those two girls. I was wondering how that stain had come over there on my shirt… and slowly I realized a horrifying thought. It was her !
The tiny little angel who gave me reason to smile everyday on my way to office. She bled from her mouth ! And now when I want to know what happened to them I have realized another strange little truth… I had never spoken anything to those girls in those 3 months of our ‘friendship’. Heck, I didn’t even know their names !!
Strange are the ways in which God gives hope and then we loose that hope due to our own folly.
“ yet each man kills that he loves …. “
My relative gave me a sense of dejavu when she too started narrating how dangerous Bangalore had become off late with roadside robberies and loot. They used to warn me about venturing out late in the night and giving ‘lifts’ to people, etc but then when you are young and restless, there is very little that you do not want to experience. So typically her words just had to travel the small distance between my right ear and left ear which most of the times is just vacuum.
I encounter so many strange sorts of people in my daily life, that sometimes I just wonder if God consciously could create so much variation in this world. Don’t we all come across such characters – people who truly make us stand up and take notice, people who just amaze you with their unique characteristics, people who just take your breath away with their actions/beauty/brains/presence. Yes, we all see them and sometimes we wish that we could even know them.
On my way to office each day, I see them standing in the roads at various places, showing their thumbs toward the motorists zipping across them. The expressive face of my relative used to flash in front of my eyes whenever I used to see these hitchhikers. I was adamant in obeying her guidelines until Arun happened. I have written about the Arun incident in an earlier post. Any ways… it became a regular affair this – of giving a ride to people on my bike whenever they used to ask for one while I was on my way to office. The only criteria was that the person should look decent. Says Smart Alec, “ It take so much time to find out whether a person is decent or not. How can one decide in a few seconds.” To this I have only one reply – that I just let my heart decide on looking at him/her once whether he/she deserves the lift and also whether that person is in genuine need of a lift.
On some days, I give as many as 3 to 4 lifts within a span of half an hour or so.
I met them on one of those days when I was as usual zipping on my way to office. The elder was about 8 years old and the younger about 4-5 years old. Both were standing on the roadside when they asked for a lift. I was amused that a small girl like her was showing her thumb and asking for a ride with a tilt of her head, like they show in the movies. There was no decision for me to make. I asked them to hop on and they gleefully jumped on to my bike. The small girl sat in between me and her sister, and she clutched my tummy tightly. Although her tiny little fingers had not seen the nail-cutter in ages, what caught my attention was the shape of her fingers. So beautiful and exquisite were here fingers, that’s how God makes these kids. They are so beautiful and fresh when they are small. Her fingers wrapped around me and slowly she tightened her grip, such that her fingers were crumpling the perfect ironing of my shirt. Everytime an oncoming vehicle came close to ours, or every time there was a risky and wayward maneuver that I made, I could feel her fingers tighten around me. And as soon as the danger was averted, she would relax her grip. Her mouth would be glued to my back as she pressed her face into my shirt. This was the way she was clinging on to me and I could make out how scared she was of travelling on the bike. Neverthless, I dropped them at the junction of their school and could only faintly hear the elder sister shouting a “ thank-you uncle” to me.
I did not hear it because I was too dazed with the experience. I realized how beautiful the feeling was when I felt the tightening of her fingers around me, how she had the trust and faith in me a total stranger, to be sitting on my bike. That’s when I felt that I would miss this. Miss this feeling of having kids with me, this feeling of responsibility, this feeling of being trusted with someone’s life, this feeling of total faith, this feeling of closeness with innocence. That’s when I realized how a decision that I had taken for the rest of my life was going to make me sacrifice me such simple and elementary pleasures of a man’s life.
The next day I saw them again and this time again I just stopped my bike even before the girl could start her ‘bollywoodesque’ hitch hiking gestures. Anyways again both of them clung on to me as if they would to their dear life. It always made me feel as if I was a Moto GP biker who was riding at 200 Mph and taking 90 degree turns on my bike. I looked at the speedometer… “ am I going too fast..naah… just 40 kmph… am I riding too rough?... maybe I should not sway my bike so much, maybe they are feeling uncomfortable….etc etc.” Then on my riding started to get dictated by what I assumed to be the girls’ comfort factors. I was talking to myself and chiding myself everytime the little lady’s fingers tightened across my stomach. Not the least for spoiling my ironed shirt, but for the anxiety that I was making her go through.
It soon became a routine – I would pick them up everyday from that same spot and drop them again at their school junction. I never made an attempt to always be there at the same time since my household chores took up a considerable time in the mornings. But I used to meet them atleast 3 times a week. The rest of the days I used to offer lifts to other school going children. I stopped giving lifts to grown-ups since I was enjoying the company of their tiny-tots. I knew there would be some kid or the other on the way ahead and so used to refuse giving lifts to even elderly people ( of course I made exception in case the person in question was really old or tired ).
Once when those two girls were again waiting for me, I offered the little girl a seat on the petrol tank of my bike in the front side. She readily nodded her head and I helped her on. Now her sister was happy since she did not have to keep the kindergarten mickey mouse bag from rubbing into her nostrils. She could now sit in peace at the back. The little one used to every now and again creen her neck and look up at me with her brown eyes and then again peer at the traffic ahead. Well, I have this habit of blowing kisses to anyone who shouts at me on the road. For e.g once when I cut across a car and forced him to brake suddenly on the middle of the road, he started to abusing me and insulting me saying how irresponsible the ‘software people ‘ were, and how even after being educated we did not obey traffic rules.. etc etc.. All true. So I out of my mischief just blew a kiss to him and winked. Our little lady saw that and started aping me whenever I had to brake or stop suddenly. To my consternation she started doing it to even women vehicle rider/drivers. I made angry faces at her, rolled my eyes and shook my head vigorously to make her understand that she should not do it. But that little devil would not understand. I forcibly asked her to sit at the back to punish her and prevent her from doing it again.
Well, then I didn’t see the sisters for many days after that and I started wondering what happened. I for a couple of days even waited at the same spot to see if they were being late and the next two days came early to check that possibility out as well. But to no avail. I had started missing them now. Although I was giving lifts to other kids, still my eyes were constantly searching for those two girls. Then one day one of my colleagues happened to notice a mark at the back side of the shirt toward the bottom part. It was maroonish-brownish-orangish sort of a mark. I said, “Must be some bird dropping or some stain of that sort.” She retorted, “ Bird dropping do not leave a stain. And to me this looks like a blood stain. I think you bled and that why that stain. I am pretty sure about it. “. “ Don’t be silly. How can I bleed from my back, of all places ! come on ! “ said I and continued peering into my computer. Then slowly I started to recollect as to when was the last time I wore this shirt. Yes, the day when I last met those two girls. I was wondering how that stain had come over there on my shirt… and slowly I realized a horrifying thought. It was her !
The tiny little angel who gave me reason to smile everyday on my way to office. She bled from her mouth ! And now when I want to know what happened to them I have realized another strange little truth… I had never spoken anything to those girls in those 3 months of our ‘friendship’. Heck, I didn’t even know their names !!
Strange are the ways in which God gives hope and then we loose that hope due to our own folly.
“ yet each man kills that he loves …. “
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