Underwear Emotions

The Dark Knight

2011-08-21T08:40:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I am writing about Rahul Dravid. There have been countless articles written about him and boy, what articles they have been! Two stand out in my opinion. One can be found here and the other similarly titled one here. I have attempted (albeit, only an attempt) to draw some inspiration from them for this one.

The fourth test match between India and England is in progress at The Oval as I pen this. The post-tea session on the fourth day to be exact. After spending around five hours at the middle, he had seen it all. The entire Indian team collapsed in front of him in the first inning. After carrying his bat, he was soon to walk out to open once again in the second inning. All in a space of around ten minutes!

Much has been written about Dravid. Some very poignant, some philosophical, some statistical, some euphoric and some motivating. For fifteen years, he has been my symbol for hope. When I needed to put in that extra hour of studies, I thought of Dravid. In all my failures, I thought of Dravid. After hard earned success, I thought of Dravid. When all else has gone against me, I think of Dravid...

To me, he is the pinnacle of struggle. He is the pinnacle of mastering that struggle. He is the unsung hero. When the night is dark, Dravid sticks his neck out and waits for the Light. When in the midst of the storm, Dravid waits for the calm. When the opposition attacks, Dravid waits. When all else is lost, Dravid waits...

Much like the pensioner who waits for the red tape to sanction his money, like the anxious man who waits for the birth of his child, like the school kids who wait for their exam results, like the Indian citizen who waits for the end of corruption, we all wait like Dravid. To me that's why Dravid is so special. His heroics so clearly relate to the struggle we undergo in our daily lives. We might succeed, we might fail, but, we wait. We can dream of emulating a Sachin Tendulkar but we can hope to live like Rahul Dravid. And to me, that is the greatest tribute I can pay to the man!

I have taken utmost care not to bring any statistical data into this. Nor any comparison. This is an article dedicated to Rahul Dravid and only him. It is my view on the amount of sacrifices he has made for the cause of the country. It is my view on how he is the backbone for the Indian team. It is my view on how he has always been the backstage artist for many a theatrical masterpiece. It is my view on how his on-field valor has scripted my pre and post-adolescent life.

Amidst all this contemplation and thought, Rahul Dravid takes guard and waits....

Cool Comfort

2011-06-01T08:54:00.000-07:00

I have now realized that being cool and feeling cool are completely different things. I know of a good set of close friends, who, wholly fit into the "being cool" category. Having said that, I can say with certainty that, these good people will swear by their grave that being cool is not one of my traits. Believe you me, I have tried. But I'm just not cut out for it and I have made my peace with that!

But, feeling cool....that's an entirely different thing. There have been plenty of occasions in my life where I have felt cool, as if all the problems were lifted off my shoulders. And, for a fleeting moment, I made my place in my own limelight!

I shall attempt to, in this blog, take you through this journey which pretty much spans across my life thus far. Don't be surprised if you call some of my own, yours too!

-> Elevated to drinking coffee or tea instead of Bournvita
-> Wearing full trousers to school
-> First bicycle gang with friends
-> Lead actor in neighbourhood play (still fancy the lead actress :))
-> First dinner using fork and knife
-> Use of a tie outside of school
-> Cheering by classmates during farewell party speech in college
-> First cricket bat
-> First air-guitar imitation
-> First travel by air
-> First pair of shades (yes, those free ones with Rasna!)
-> Standing in front of the riders' seat on a scooter
-> First shave (and the stinging after-shave)
-> Coloured clothes to school on birthdays
-> Use of pocket money at school during "snacks-break" (I used to get Rs.50 per month then)
-> Use of ink pens at school
-> Bunking classes in college
-> Owning my first car/bike
-> Strip-club experience at Las Vegas
-> First beer

As you can infer, most of these "feeling cool" experiences (for me) have occurred during school/college days. Perhaps, that's why I look back fondly over those years. As we grow older, such instances to cherish diminish, as we get entangled in the web of life....

Driven By Cars

2011-03-26T07:25:00.000-07:00

Well, this post has taken five and a half years in the making. This one, I am particularly proud of, not because of the content but the memories this brings me.

It is a well known fact that there is an affinity between men and cars. A bond that defies logic, a desire that fills many a heart, an adrenalin pump that surpasses expectations. Over the past few years, I have been fortunate enough to drive a bevy of beauties, women who respond to the slightest touch without a whine but more to the tunes of a grunt. Carnal pleasures aside, a bug called Wanderlust propelled these desires to ecstatic levels.

Over the past few years, I have taken many a road trip, burning miles and fuel to conjure up some classic journeys with good company. As a trusted ally, the car was the fulcrum of these trips. Over these trips, the joyous occasions and memories that were spent inside the vehicle all became an attribute to the vehicle, and the trip itself. It is difficult to explain how much of the burden of long haul trips the car has withstood, giving me only pleasures and comfort. Much of the success of these trips can be strung straight to the car and a part of me desired that the car could have been with us longer than the trip itself. To add to this, my own vehicle had been a brother-in-arm on many solitary journeys either in the heat of the day or the cool of the night. Somehow, a good car always produced good trips which, in turn produced great memories which, in turn strengthened the bonds of friendship. Oh what a perfect full circle! This actually overshadows the desire to try new vehicles each trip, which believe you me, coming from a guy is a testament to the magnificence of the car!

To this day, aside from my vehicle, three more cars come right to mind when I recall some memorable trips.

BMW 325i: Well, what can I say about this car that has not been already said by many? My first car ever and boy what a machine she was! A true driver's car combined with some kick-in-the-nuts German sturdiness! I have clocked more than 35000 miles spanning across 5 years and not once has there been complaints from her end. She has sheltered some of my most introspective moments all the while engulfing me with the warmth of the orange light emanating from the instrument dials that has duly given her a face. A five year relationship truly platonic! Thank you, Maya!

1) Toyota Sienna LE/XLE: Three words come to mind...Oh my God! Rental agencies call this a mini-van. I prefer to call it mini-memory. It is quite amazing that we have used this car over a couple of road trips fit for a king! This car has accompanied us across the stretch of America (well, almost). We have clocked close to 7000 miles across different road trips on this one and every bit of it has been wonderful to say the least. This car has taken us via Arizona, New Mexico, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, Iowa and California. Spacious interiors, good sound system and a comfortable ride were some physical highlights. I fall short of words when it comes to mental highlights.....

2) Nissan Altima 2.5S: Again, a wonderful machine that is very close to the heart and wonderful to drive. This has taken us across the length and breadth of California over multiple trips amidst some great company and unforgettable times. Quite peppy despite it's size, great high quality interiors, large boot-size, quality sound system are some highlights.

3) Mazda 6: This machine was part of recent trip with friends and family thrown in. This car pretty much came out of the factory when we rented this. And, what a christening it received! We had clocked almost 3500 miles across 10 days over a wonderful wonderful trip. This was very special since it was driven by only two people for the entire duration of the trip. Again, very spacious interiors, smooth engine and a fantastic audio system were some highlights.

Having given due credit to the above special four vehicles, here's a full list of ALL the cars (and events in them!) I have driven over the past five and a half years.

1) Dodge Neon -My first drive in the States, in Texas
2) Suzuki Grand Vitara -My driving test
3) Pontiac Grand Prix -First freeway drive
4) Toyota Corolla
5) Nissan Sentra -Had only 8 miles on it when I rented this one! The newest car I have driven
6) Hyundai Sonata -First drive in Minnesota
7) Honda Civic -Friend's first love
8) Toyota Camry LE
9) Honda Accord GLX
10) Lexus SC400 -First drive in Seattle. Again, friend's first love
11) Mazda 3 -Seattle again, first female friend's car I drove
12) Subaru Outback
13) Pontiac G6 -Driven during my interview time with Qualcomm
14) Chevrolet Impala -First car after a full time job
15) Volvo XC90 -First drive in New Jersey
16) Ford Focus -Last car driven after graduating Masters
17) Acura TSX
18) BMW 530i -First stick shift in the States
19) BMW 135i
20) Chrysler Pacifica -First drive in California
21) Infinity G37 S -First all guy road trip!
22) Ford Fusion
23) Volkswagen 2.5 Rabbit -First Mark Knopfler's concert
24) Ford Escape
25) BMW Z4 -First to clock 100 mph
26) Hyundai Santa Fe
27) Toyota Sienna LE/XLE
28) Mini Cooper S-Zippiest car I drove
29) Honda S2000
30) Nissan Altima
31) BMW 328i
32) BMW 335i
33) GMC Yukon
34) Volkswagen Jetta -Car with the best road trip mileage
35) Infinity G35
36) Mercedes Benz E-Class -First super luxury car
37) Mazda 6
38) Toyota Prius -First Hybrid
39) Ford Mustang -Beast of a machine. Last car driven in USA
40) Lexus IS250 -Smooth as silk
41) VW Golf GTI -Wolf in Sheep's clothing
42) BMW 325i - Maya-My only love

Memories

2011-03-14T06:19:00.000-07:00

New beginnings, and old memories often go hand in hand. I have been hit by an idea and will try to give it form in this entry.

Every human being undergoes change in life, be it professional, personal or spiritual. Some get the gift of all three. Some try to fight with just one. In the end it all boils down to acceptance and dealing.

I'm not very fond of change. Mainly because it shuts down the current state of being, a state of happiness and opens up a state of surprise, a state of unknown. More than anything it merges the present into the past, turning it to memories.

Everyone has memories, good and unpleasant. One might remember incidents dating to their childhood while others may be content with the recently concluded past. I do not have any fond memories of growing up, of my school life. Back then, I was trying so hard to fit into the classroom to ignore the lessons life had to teach outside of it. Back then, I was surviving to stay afloat when I should have ventured to find out how deep the water was.

Over the years, I have striven to develop maturity, not only to understand the bigger picture of life but try to delve into philosophical aspects of my existence. Over the years, I have experienced love and tried (and still trying!) to understand it. Over the years, I have been tempered by events that test character. Over the years, I have tried to break away from the cocoon of comfort to dive into the unknown.

Today, as I try to paste an identity on myself, I can only define myself by the events that have occurred in my life and how they serve as memories. To that end, as I close my eyes only two periods in my life come to mind. First- my estranged, albeit glorious days during undergraduate studies and Second -my time in an unknown land whilst groping in the dark for my destiny. I, still have not found my destiny but am hoping to unite with it sometime during this lifetime.

Across these two periods, what has remained constant is the circle of friends. People who have identified me as an entity and people whom I have accepted as my state of being. With them, occasions have been aplenty, joy has known no bounds and memories will forever remain etched.

Today, I urge you to close your eyes and identify your memories because, they will define you. They, will string your past to your present and teach you to identify yourself for the future!

Engulfed in an Enchantment

2010-09-26T16:50:00.000-07:00

We constantly play cat and mouse in our daily lives. Each day where dog eats and rat eats rat. We don't have time to stop and take a deep breath, fill up our lungs with air and breathe all worries and problems out. But, sometimes we resort to the dark confines of our minds to pick out memories...Memories locked up and buried deep down.....

The flight announcements for boarding were underway. I grabbed my backpack and proceeded for security checks prior to boarding. Armed with a magazine and my ipod, I tried to come to terms with a mind tired from the past journey. It was a long one. Caffeine consumed did not seem to help. They never seem to. Lazily, I stood in line and emptied my pockets of it's belongings to their routine scan and passed though the human scanner myself. The procedure was over before I realized it. I had close to an hour before boarding the aircraft. Aimlessly, I wandered around to find a seat and proceeded to read, having found one. Uninterestingly, I scanned through my ipod to find a soundtrack to relieve my weary mind. Suddenly there was a faint thud right next to my foot. I turned to see a passport case lying right next to it. Out of spontaneity, I picked up the passport case and looked up to hand it to it's owner.

She was still fumbling with the lot in her hand but stopped quickly to thank me. She proceeded to the seat opposite mine. I continued to follow her actions as she put her passport case back in the purse. She had a novel in one hand and a beverage in the other. She looked up to acknowledge me once again with a smile. I was transfixed on her. She must have been in her twenties, was wearing a t-shirt and jeans. Her feet were covered in knee length boots. She had some sort of scarf loosely wrapped around her neck. Her face was resplendent with a glow indicating that she was not fatigued by her previous travel. Her reading glasses were thick rimmed and oozed some fashion sense. She had lovely blue eyes which complemented her blonde hair. Her tresses, unevenly spawned across her shoulder had twists and curves at their ends. She started reading her novel, stopping occasionally to sip her beverage. Her lips adorably tightened and closed after each sip. Frequently, her fingers swirled around her hair-locks in a beautiful waltz. She looked absolutely stunning and her actions, quite bewitching.

As I continued to observe her from head to toe, I could sense a free kindred spirit. I concluded that she was either a journalist or an environmentalist....

....She looked up to hear the announcement meant for boarding and stood up to join the growing line. I followed suit, my mind no more weary and completely transfixed on her....

My joy knew no bounds when I realized her seat was right next to mine.During the course of the journey, I learnt that she was from Sydney, Australia. She worked as a freelance journalist with a popular newspaper and was quite smitten by the wanderlust. She was heading to Goa to meet up with some friends. She was looking for some suggestions and I offered some. Our conversations were interlaced with bits and pieces of anecdotes and did not result in anything gripping. How I wished for something more!

As the plane touched down, it was time to bid adieu...To this ravishing lady who had simply stolen my breath away. We stood next to each other waiting to claim our bags. For one last time, I turned around to look at her, at her beautiful blue eyes, at those golden locks gently resting on her shoulder....For one last time, my mind heaved a huge, pitiful sigh as I walked away....

Her face turned into an image etched in my memory. It surfaces now and then to serve as a cold breeze wafting into an otherwise mundane life. It must go back now....to the deep confines, hopefully to resurface soon.....

Wishes

2010-08-11T22:11:00.001-07:00

-> On that hot afternoon on the Mumbai local, he was there
-> On that worn out audio cassette tape, he was there
-> On the day 12th board results were announced, he was there
-> During the days of adolescence, he was there
-> Over arguments on rock and roll, he was there
-> On the Sony walkman, he was there
-> During my days away from home, he was there
-> During the days of failure, he was there
-> During the days of discovery, he was there
-> During the times of friendship, he was there
-> When I spent hours staring at the wall, he was there
-> While preparing for exams, he was there
-> After my first rejection, he was there
-> On that February evening, he was there!
-> During the days of lonely travel, he was there
-> During long drives into the night, he was there
-> In foreign lands, he was there
-> On trans-continental flights, he was there
-> In my life today, he is there

Happy birthday, Mark! You have crafted my life to the tunes of your guitar. I'm still picking up the chords.....

Dare To Dream

2010-07-18T20:23:00.000-07:00

I do not like reviewing movies. This article, though embodies a movie in it's context, is not a review but, more of an after thought. I might seem to be treading on the borders of both, nevertheless.

I saw Christopher Nolan's Inception yesterday and am scrambling to write this when musings are fairly fresh in the mind. This movie, in its simplest explanation, is a journey of an estranged man trying to re-join his little daughter and son. While most artists would choose physical modes of transport to complete the journey, Nolan chooses ideas and dreams, and indulges the viewer at the speed of thought. The Master has truly become the Maestro!

I walked out of the dark confines of the hall into the light not knowing what had just hit me. I remember my lips bore the distinct shape of a smile. An idea was revealed, a concept materialized and the mind tried to decipher. Nolan chose a point on the circumference of a circle to start his story, comes back to the same spot and then takes off tangentially to complete his narration! I am still trying to answer most of the questions but am eager to get this post away, purely because of the raw joy I am experiencing. A drunken revelry, if you must.

I have oftentimes wondered about some of the questions Nolan asks but, have only managed to grope in the dark. Of-late, my belief in humanity and it's materialistic goals have only gone into a sour state. Plants and beasts would pull off living in harmony with Nature better than humans can or will do. Growth, efficiency and prosperity will not be at the cost of destruction. The so-called extra sense that apparently separates us from them is merely a farce. If spiritual sense were to be compared among the same sample set, observations and inferences will be different.

Then this movie comes along...A two something hour epic that engages every grey cell. It felt wonderful to be part of an intellectually challenging task to which, there were no absolute outcomes. Forget about strife, oil-spills, global warming, pollution, depletion of natural resources. Go-ahead, and indulge in this masterpiece, in this idea, in this dream -and it's Inception!

Vision

2010-06-27T18:57:00.000-07:00

-> I see the beauty of creation
-> I see the power of destruction
-> I see corrugations on hard rock
-> I see uniformity in the sky
-> I see the shadows of rocks caused by the setting sun
-> I see shrubs with foundations laid on solid rock
-> I see shapes and colours
-> I see stillness in vast areas
-> I see giant arches formed by erosion
-> I see snow covered mountains
-> I see colour of the sky change it's hues during sunset
-> I see the little squirrel prancing on the rocks
-> I see striations of green amidst brown
-> I see rocks rocks and rocks
-> I see that once a mighty river had it's surface thousands of feet above where I am sitting
-> I see the little hummingbird and it's flight of fantasy
-> I see rows of tiny ants marching in a straight line

I see....
I see....
I see I am nothing.

Rambling -The Way It Is..As Is

2010-04-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

"The Week That Was"

Remember this TV programme? As a kid, if you needed information about current events occurring across the country and globe, this was the programme every teacher and parent would swear by. A no non-sense programme conveyed brilliantly by Mr.Prannoy Roy.

That was then..the simpler times. Today, well, that's an entirely a different story. Journalism as we know it is more focussed on dirt, scandals and partisan views. Today, what underwear Katrina Kaif favours or what how many milligrams of mass Shilpa Shetty has developed on her belly is of more concern than Maoist insurgency or the Financial Budget. News agencies have forgotten to focus on state of affairs of national importance as fulcrum and treat these as and when they arise and forget all about it. One thing that stays on is bloody entertainment news, if one dares to call it that! Unfortunately, as a reader I am to blame as well. If titillating images are displayed to me right next to matters of home security, your guess is as good as mine as to where the little mouse pointer would go. As a two-way street, efforts from both ends needs to come. If given an option of pure, unadulterated news, I will very gladly soak it up.

This post will be mostly a medley of coherent and tangential thoughts. Bear with me...

Social Networking:
That's what everyone is apparently doing these days. Ever since the advent of Facebook, people are wanting to put themselves out there....literally!

Oh my God, I just farted...Status update
Oh my God, I just took a shit....Status update
Oh my God, I have a fucking bad head-ache...Need some coffee..like now!!...Status update

This is what we have come to being. Vanity is an inherent quality man possesses but keeps under check (well, most at least)! Now we have a medium to expose it. What is worse is hundred -million people replying to all status messages. Lots of constructive time and bandwidth into super productive use, really.

Tweet...Tweet...No no no..it's not Tweety, that cute little bird that kept us glued to TV sets. Twitter is here. I think everyone from Obama to Tharoor...from sexygirl765 to cooldude99..from the guy next to me to Batman, "tweets" (yes, another one to the Lexicon).Apparently, micro-news is macro-news today. Assimilation of text more than 140 characters is too much for the brain today. Looks like micro rather than macro brain is here to stay!

An interesting afterthought to this is the desire of man to submerge/indulge in what someone else is "up-to". Good point for discussion, that!

IPL:
Picture a scene where thirteen men dressed in whites occupy a ground playing cricket. Well, of course you can't! I'm a fool to paint this illusion. Today, what you see is thirteen men in snazzy outfits trying to play a power game. Of course, please let your mind wander to some girls clad in clothes that'll rip your fly apart.

The gentleman's game is dying. I am actually part of this revolution and it's not a good feeling. I probably will be part of the last generation of people talking about deft flicks, unimaginable late cuts, the art of loop and flight. More importantly, I will be one of the last people to watch Sachin Tendulkar or Rahul Dravid play test match cricket. Men, whose on-field revelry has scripted many a life!

Even with the cloud of controversy engulfing IPL, people will stick to it..Not for the game but for the celebrities frequenting matches and late night parties. Players are enticed with moolah never seen before..will the arrogance and cavalier attitudes be far behind? With players being fought over, used and abused like condoms, honour, pride, hard work, spirit of the game will be left far behind. Men of honour will be just merely photos on the wall and with them will die my memories and comfort zone.....

Legends of the past and present are crying out to save the unadulterated form but all I can hear is the "TWEET" of Mr.Franchisee and Mr. Politician....

Spirituality:
Ah, the tangent topic! I have been thinking about this for a bit and came up with this...

- A woman who travels 80 KM a day to wash dishes
- An old man who can't hear well chauffeuring and getting people home safe
- A man whose presence makes you feel secure
- A man who drives a van to feed the poor and homeless relinquishing a fat paycheck
- A social worker working with old neglected people, orphans and abandoned children
- A man who unites an entire nation each time he steps on the cricket ground
- The same man who takes the effort to meet with and seek the blessings of an elderly lady
- A man who raised an unimaginable amount of money purely on trust when up against the wall
- A mother who bestows altruistic love on her kid

This to me is spirituality and I have made my peace with that.

Water:
The most precious reserve. Dwindling away fast....Man's materialistic desires into foray once again in depleting water. I shall reserve my thoughts on this and instead request you to read the April 2010 issue of the National Geographic magazine.

I have rambled on for a bit here. A feeling of self-righteousness has engulfed every Indian away from his motherland. I am no exception. I liked being part of the system within the failure rather than wander away to point fingers at it, good or bad. I liked being in a comfort zone no matter how ruthless it appeared to be. I liked being part of a system where order and method was not a daily dose. I liked not to be faced with an identity crisis everyday.

Maybe, if I still were in India.....

One For The Ladies

2010-01-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

There were thatched huts and cottages. Children were playing and having outdoor activities under the cool shade of trees and makeshift shelters. Some were painting, some were being read to, some writing...

I was standing here, amidst this controlled chaos. Tiny tots running around in their bright coloured clothes. The little girls were looking so pretty in frocks and the boys in their t-shirts and shorts. Some were playing tag and having a lot of fun. There was a vendor distributing cotton candy and the little kids screamed each time they would get a stick in their tiny hands. Somehow they were amused by the colour code shared between their dresses and the candy. Watchful eyes of the teachers were scanning for any misbehaviour. Parents were discussing how naughty each kid was at home. There was a sense of satisfaction when little anecdotes were exchanged.

I could see the beautiful valley behind this setting. Tea plantations laced across the crests and troughs. Lush green earth was draped by a grey cloudy sky. It was the perfect weather, very English. Every now and then a drop of condensation would land gently on the shoulder. The kids would jump with joy each time this happened. The weather gods were playing a game with them.

My gaze shifted back to the valley. This was a perfect time for a cup of tea, I thought. Wordly desires were no more the focus of the mind. This is what bliss must feel like. As I was dwelling more into the attributes of this new found serenity, a voice broke the silence. "Saab, Chai?" I turned quickly, a sense of reaction one would display if startled. I saw a man, dressed impeccably, reminding me of Jeeves the Butler. White uniform that had been ironed to perfection. He was holding a tray that reflected the whole sky up above. On it, cups and saucers with thin gold lines flowing across the rims were lined up neatly . They were adorned with floral designs. "Saab, Chai"? He asked once again politely. "The ones in the fist two rows are Cardamom and the third row is Ginger". "What would you like"? "Ginger please", I said. Somehow, the idea of sipping hot ginger tea made me intertwine with the weather. The tea was truly heavenly. It was as if the taste buds were consumating with the aroma!

I started slowly shifting my gaze back to the activities. My eyes became transfixed on this little girl sitting on a ledge by the rose bush. She was wearing a pink frock, her hair bottle necked into a ponytail. A little headband with butterfly images kept the hair in check. A few strands had purposely escaped the clutches of the band and enveloped a small part of the forehead. She was wearing high socks and a perfectly clean pair of buckled shoes. I had not seen her earlier. She jerked her head one way. Probably checking if her mother was still around. As she turned back, her eyes focused vision on me. She began studying me in much the same manner in which I was observing her. She was not interested in the games other girls were playing. She was not interested in the cotton candy. She sat still and seemed to have taken a sudden interest in me. Her tiny, mischievous eyes began studying me intently. Her gaze shifted slightly to her left. Maybe she was looking at the steam coming out of the tea cup I was holding. I followed her gaze and found that it was indeed the case. We looked back up at each other at the very same moment and our eyes locked with each other.

I was overcome by a mixture of flattery and uneasiness. Here was this very pretty girl looking at me from head to toe. But she was studying my every move. Time stood still. Seconds went on by in hours, it seemed. Then the harmony was broken. She jumped quickly off the ledge and landed firmly on the solid ground. Took a quick look around to see if she could still spot her mother and began her walk toward me. She took small but sure step almost hopping each time. I was transfixed on this little girl. My tea had become cold, there was no steam coming off it now. I did not care. I watched her all the way. She came and stood right in front of me. She was even prettier up close. Her rosy lips broadened and gave the most beautiful smile that I had seen. Time became an entity that stopped.

"Hello", she said. I was searching and fumbling for words. Awkwardly, I responded and managed a smile. She lifted up her hands gently and comfortingly indicating me to lift her up. All the time, her smile kept increasing in small measures. I placed the cup and saucer on the ground and obliged. She looked at me. Her smile changed to a gentle laughter. She was enjoying my discomfort thoroughly. Her face was very close to mine. We could measure the distance between our eyes by our fingers. A wonderful fragrance of moisturizing cream emanated from her face. "You are very pretty", I said. She let out a giggle acknowledging my compliment. "You look so satisfied and contented" she remarked. I was taken aback. Why did she make that comment? "But your eyes reveal more". I was intrigued. "Really, what do they reveal"? She took time to respond as if purposely piquing my curiosity. "They conceal a lot of anguish, a lot of pain"."Haha"! I smirked as if to rebuff her comment. She looked at me without batting an eyelid. "Try merging what you observe in your surroundings with negative memories in the mind and you will be at total peace with yourself". She moved back indicating me to put her down.

Before time and noise took over my senses, I saw her running playfully back to her mother. I looked down at the cup and saucer I had placed on the ground earlier. I don't know why. A few seconds later, my eyes frantically searched for her in the crowd. I wanted to hold her up and talk to her again. My mind was frantically searching for questions I would ask. Perhaps I would not stumble this time. Why did she make those comments? Why did she choose to come to me? What was she trying to convey?

But..I would never see her again.

The Mask Behind the Face

2009-11-27T20:37:00.000-08:00

I have been afraid and my worst fears came true
I have been living in the shadow of my alter ego
I don't have an identity of my own
I spend most of my life in calculated disgust and anguish while I make people laugh
I use wit and humour as a defense mechanism
I play the joker role to the point of no return
I let people walk over me
I am afraid to speak my mind
I always have contradictory thoughts
I am always confused
I am not creative. I cannot think out of the box. I have no imagination
I have been suppressed by myself
I am complicated
I am not forthright
I do not have complete mastery over anything. I have not been truly good at anything in my life
I have always lived in the shadow of others
I think whoever I am, whatever I am is just luck
I do not persevere enough
I think being romantic is corny. I have been bowled head over heels by only one person. I will never experience that feeling ever again in my life
I am not opinionated. I do not have clarity in my thoughts
I am not a good orator
I am not satisfied with what I have
I don't have a clue of what I am doing with my life
I don't think I can make an impact in someone's life
I will not make a good husband
I do not take well to criticism. I only get more confused by it
I cannot differentiate between hard work and smart work
I am too lazy to learn. I shirk and take the easy way out
I do not know how to handle serious responsibility
I cannot differentiate between idealism and practicality
I do not think anyone will give a shit if I suddenly die
I am easily influenced by others
I cannot concentrate on one thing ever for a short while
I cannot be one with myself
I introspect much but never act on it
I will not be able to choose a partner for myself
I will not be a good role model for my kids
I will not be able to earn true respect from my wife, family or friends

I live therefore I am
I breathe therefore I am
I exist therefore I am

I am the Mask behind the Face

Life of Things

2009-09-20T20:10:00.000-07:00

I have been reminiscing a bit over the past couple of days...and in the process came across an idea for this blog entry.

I let my mind trace back to my childhood to identify some material things that were best classified mundane, but surprisingly seem so vividly etched somewhere in the memory. So I present a few to you:

1) Calcium Sandoz tablets in dog-like can
2) Phantom cigarette-like candy sticks -my only tryst with the puff unfortunately :(
3) Luxor sketch pens and Camlin pencil with the pink flowers
4) Reynolds ball point pen
5) Camel Ink bottle and Hero pens with the gold cover
6) Cherry blossom white canvas shoe polish
7) School uniform -a white shirt/white pant/black belt and shoes..We should have been beaten to death for even wearing this!
8) Bold and the Beautiful and Baywatch..Thank God for Star Plus!
9) BSA Bicycle
10) Malgudi days/He-Man and the Masters of the Universe/Superhit Muquabala
11) Crown CRT TV with switches to change channels
12) Finger chips/fries with Maggie hot and sweet tomato sauce
13) Assembly before commencement of a school day
14) Kangaroo exam pad with the clip to hold the paper and wooden ruler used to demarcate the margin from the main page- Often this was the trusty ally of a teacher to do some knuckle crunching!
15) The first pair of Bata/Corona black shoes with laces -I know everyone used to wear that proudly with anything and everything and loved the noise it used to make while walking
16) Big Fun bubble gum with the cricket statistics/collectibles
17) Gold Spot -The Zing thing!
18) Cutting chai glass -The smallest thing with a "satisfaction guaranteed" tag
19) Godrej shaving bar+brush
20) Pan Pasand/Mangobite/Coffeebite/Cadburys Gems/Nutties
21) VIP Underwear
22) Amul butter
23) Doordarshan Spirit of Unity short programmes
24) Balcony/Dress Circle seating arrangements in movie theaters
25) The Times of India, India Today and Sportstar
26) Usha Sewing Machine
27) Crocin and Anacin tablets
28) Lakshmi bomb cracker -There never was a Diwali without it!
29) Indian Railways food -shitty but I absolutely adored it!
30) Eveready batteries

These were some of the items/commodities that popped up in my mind. I re-lived my entire life as I thought of these. All of you have, at some point been associated with one/many or all of these. I am also certain that readers will come up with much more.

As an aside, this article lays emphasis on the importance we give to material items. Ironic because we do not give spirituality it's due!

Wham...Bam....SLAM!

2009-08-22T12:33:00.000-07:00

Allllright!!

This post will be a an act of sorts between 3 people. Jackass Judge, Pub(l)ic Prostitutor (Pube) and Duffer Defendant. A not so typical courtroom drama..

JJ: Order in the courtroom...ORDER in the courtroom...
PP: But Mi Lord...there is no one here but you, me and Duffer
JJ: I know Pube...I like to just bang this hammer thingy on the table.....

PP: Ahem..ahem....let's proceed on with the case then....Mishter Duffer Defendant, do you plead guilty to the charges?
DD: ?????
JJ: Oh for Satan's sake, let Duffer know what he is guilty of!
PP: Sorry Mi Lord...I have'nt been in the courtroom for a while...
DD (to himself): Looks like I can wriggle my balls out of this...whatever "this" might be!

PP: Alright Duffer, the charges against your name are being virgin, being single and a bad forgotten childhood....Babool..oh sorry Kubool hai???
DD: Mi Lord, Mr. Pube is trying to convict me of these false allegations.....I request a rematch...
JJ: OK...but Duffer, you must please keep in mind that this is not a game...It's your past life we're talking about...
DD: Screw that...I want a rematch...

PP: Duffer does not know what he's talking about...Mi Lord, I would like to present the Case for the Defence...
JJ: OK Pubes...Proceed before I need to take a leak again

PP (Clearing his throat): Duffer, I will be asking you a few questions based on which Mi Lord Jackass will decide for or against the charges on your name
DD: Mi Lord, I request the court to proceed...Do I get some time to practice?
JJ: DUFFER!! Please pay attention to the questions! Don't make me strike this hammer thingy

PP: Name?
DD: Defendant...Duffer Defendant

PP: Address?
DD: I'm normally in my own world..
PP: What the Fuck??? Mi Lord..permission to Object
JJ: Screw that...Overruled!
PP: Mi Lord Jackass, with all due respect..what the fuck was that???
JJ: I always wanted to say...OVERRULED! Proceed...but I'll interrupt you from time to time..

PP: Phone Number?
DD: 1&2..But only Nature is allowed to contact at it
PP: You're being smart eh?? Wait for the next few...I'm going to rip you apart..

PP: Date of Birth?
DD: Two hundered and Eighty Eight hours before yours
PP: How do you know that? You do not even know my Birthday...
DD: I did that to confuse the Prostitutor...
PP: Point Taken...The Prostitutor is confused....moving on..

PP: Sunsign?
DD: April fools day....
JJ: Could have been called Duffer's Day..
DD: Thank you Mi Lord...
PP: That was a sarcastic remark....You Duffer!

PP: Your Biggest Assets?
DD: Yet to come
PP: What the fuck?????
JJ: Order....ORDER....Never mind...I did that just for kicks

PP (to himself: I'm stuck like a whore between Jackass and Duffer): You're Sad About?
DD: I will miss you all
PP: You mean...when you will miss all your friends?
DD: ahaan
PP: FUCK!!

PP: Your Most Memorable Moment:
DD: When I came out in this world, the Doctor was so happy!
PP: Looks like the Doctor was a peadophile...Was it someone called Mike???

PP: Your Biggest Strength?
DD: Below the belt and in the mouth
PP: Let's see...that's below the belt.....and..
JJ: Me want to see...me want to see...
PP: Mi Lord...please control yourself....All in good time...
JJ: Order in the courtroom!!

PP: Your Hobbies?
DD: Walking around hills and Reading
PP: Walking around hills????????
JJ: Reading is not actually a hobby...It's more of a knowledge thing....Free thought of the day..

PP: Your Favourite Singer?
DD: Myself..
PP: Oh really??? Are you being funny???? How can you rate yourself as a favourite...That's so full of vain

PP: A girl/boy you like the most and why?
DD: Myself because I am just outstanding and cool
PP: Hmm....Self righteous bastard. Mi Lord please note this point
JJ: Can I borrow your pen?

PP: Ok never mind...You love wearing?
DD: Clothes, Rings and a Girl on my arm...
JJ: What are the rates and the cost involved?
PP: Mi LORD!!!!!!

PP: Your Best Male Teacher?
DD: Please GROW UP and get out of school...
PP: Point taken...Mi Lord.please note this.....Oh never mind..

PP: Your Favourite Movie?
DD: M, HSSH, KKHH, HAHK, ID4...
JJ: Can we have a Morse Code expert here? Looks like Duffer is trying to say something..
PP: No Mi Lord, they used to be popular acronyms for movies...
JJ: Fuck Me!! You have to be kidding

PP: Your Favourite Serial?
DD: Kellogg's Choco...
PP: NO! Not Cereal...Oh never mind!

PP: The Novel You Love?
DD: Jeffery Archer....
PP: Now you have proved that you are retarded....

PP: Your Favourite Animal?
DD: Cat because I resemble it...
JJ: Oh Goody!! Duffer is a Manimal...Quick!! Turn into a frog
PP: Mi Lord, we do not have a princess to bring him back...

PP: Your nickname?
DD: The Excellence of Execution!!
PP: Oh fuck! (To himself:This self gloating bitch is killing me)

PP: Your Ambition?
DD: Getting lots of 3M
JJ: Where are them code breakers?????

PP: Your Dearest Pal?
DD: Yeah Right!! The one and only Pamela Anderson Lee..
JJ/PP: Oh really?? Ours too!

PP: Your Favourite Actress?
DD: All those who do less of acting and more of showing
JJ: We have reached new levels of bonding now....Order in the courtroom!! ORDER in the courtroom

PP: Your Best Female Teacher?
DD: Boooooooze
PP: Very Nice! I have noted that point!

PP: Your Dream Lover?
DD: How do I know who loves my dream?
JJ: By Jove! That was rhetoric. Order ORDER!

PP: Your Favourite Comic?
DD: Playboy/Debonair..well that's comic for me..
JJ: How dare you toy with the emotions of this court???? Objection OVERRULED!!!!
PP: But Mi Lord, I did not object...And it should have been SUSTAINED and not OVERRULED!
JJ: Screw you!! Next question....

PP: Your Favourite Actor?
DD: Sorry! I don't swing that way. I'm strictly HETERO
PP: Fair enough. I'm not so I'll move on...

PP: Love to You Is?
DD: Physical Attraction, Chemical Reaction and Biological Reproduction
PP: WOW! Will you marry me???

PP: The Teacher You Hate Most?
DD: Grow Up!
PP: Ok

PP: Your Most Embarassing Moment?
DD: In school, I'd left my fly open
PP: Very nice...I hope you were covered....
JJ: Were you..were you..were you???
DD: Yes Mi Lord. Please cover yours..

PP: The Person You Hate the Most?
DD: I don't hate..I love everyone...
PP: My my! (To himself: Kill me...kill me NOW!)

PP: Your Latest Crush?
DD: Last night I crushed a bottle of mineral water...
JJ: Oh you did..did you?? I crushed one today

PP: Your Favourite Pastime?
DD: Roaming around and travelling
PP: Now wait a minute....Got you there! Roaming around and travelling are two contradictory things...One is planned, the other is not!! I say, Mi Lord...Objection
JJ: We will now take a short recess
PP/DD: You can't take a recess now!!!!!
JJ: Ok then..I'll dig my nose instead....

PP: What You Feel For Me?
JJ: Pube!!! Don't!!
DD: It's ok...I would like to answer that....You're not as dumb as you look..So start looking smarter!!

PP: I am through with my cross examination, Mi Lord....Please deliver your verdict to the court if Duffer is a Loser
JJ: Has the Jury reached it's verdict???
PP (sighs): Mi Lord Jackass, there is no Jury remember?
JJ: In that case, we will take a recess here.....

So that was it! In case you did not get what the hell I've been talking about, this extract was based on a collection of nonsense written in my SLAM Book. So I hope I have wasted your time. Inconvenience is not regretted.

Claimer: All the content here is reproduced in it's exact form. So go screw yourselves!!

Medley Of An Amalgamation

2009-06-07T17:31:00.000-07:00

Well back after a pretty long time. I'm personally very fond of this entry since I cooked this up extempore. Well, most of the ideas were shaping up for a bit but I needed a nice catalyst to eventually put this down. Enter Cafe Myriade in Montreal, Canada. Fantastic place, great ambiance and superb service.

This entry will essentially be a myriad of emotions. Introspection, disgust, satire anger, joy, discovery and the lot. Well, here goes:

1) I have learnt so much from someone who has never taught me anything
2) The most endearing thing ever said to me was not a compliment
3) The only way you can try to concentrate is by looking up at a clear starlight sky
4) I have connected with someone without exchanging a single word
5) Friends are relative to time, location and company
6) The next guy is as perverted as you. You just choose to express yourself!
7) I have observed that each person in a crowd is different in appearance but so similar in behaviour
8) The only thing common in men/women/girls and boys these days is an ipod
9) Lust is always in a woman's asset. Not in hair dyes, shitty alterations and gothic stuff
10) I cannot own the car I love the most. It is not my type
11) Noise can be found in silence and vice versa
12) The most difficult thing is to simply close your eyes and think of NOTHING. You will amazed at how chaotic the mind is
13) I can't recall the name of the restaurant where I have had the best food in years
14) I am so fond of loneliness that I think I'll marry it
15) I find shopping for music is actually relaxing. ONLY music
16) Technology is actually a bad thing. Things worked just as efficient when it was not around
17) The only thing for which I use the pen these days is to sign receipts
18) Buying the correct gift for friends is a painful task
19) Right handed guitarists look much more cooler than left handed ones. Being common has it's own charm!
20) Confidence and skill are instantaneous qualities. The challenge is to repeat the crests cose to each other
21) The closest companions I have are my ipod and my music
22) I actually make a living finding faults in someone else's work
23) I have been afraid my whole life. I'm afraid to change that!
24) EVERYONE is insecure. They show it in different ways. But they definitely are
25) There is always one song I listen to when I'm feeling blue. It is not my favourite
26) I have realized that losing weight is more in the mind than actual physical exercise
27) The greatest pleasure is to take a leak/dump after holding on for long. Sex is not even a close second!
28) No matter how hard you try, there will always be someone who does it better
29) You can actually judge a person by the type of music he/she listens to
30) My greatest regret is not learning to play guitar
31) Sex is hard work. I wonder if a lazy bum will be good in bed
32) I am amazed at the reverence I get when they realize I am Indian. Pity we do not see it among ourselves

Well, that's the long and short of it. It's pretty amazing what a Cafe Mocha and Polish donuts can do!

PS: The most weird thing happened to me today. As I was reading the National Geographic magazine, the phrase I was reading exactly matched the ones on a song. Now, how often does that happen to you?

Just so I don't forget:
Song: I Dug Up A Diamond -Mark Knopfler/Emmylou Harris
Phrase: "Once in a lifetime"

Guess it really is!

The Journey Inwards...

2009-01-14T20:11:00.000-08:00

A trip homeward bound is a mixed bag of emotions. Stuff like meeting up family and friends is good. Not knowing what to expect from them is bad.

I was placed in the mixed bag this time. Cynicism is still very much a part of life in India. It's annoying really and more so if some of it came from close friends. Everyone has a right to opinionate but there should be mutual camaraderie. I tried to be an observer to most issues I went through but am not sure if I managed stuff alright.

My qualities, thoughts and beliefs have not changed after leaving India but somehow got the feeling a few back home believed they have. It was painful to see folks you know think you're as stupid as a blonde bimbette.

Anyway, here's a list of things that saw a high:

1) Rode a bike and was glad to know I can still ride one!

2) Travelled in an Ambassador. Fuck Bentley Flying Spur, the Amby still rocks!

3) Ate bhel puri and wada pav at places I never knew existed

4) Spent time with some folks that I never thought would

5) Met a lot of people and travelled quite extensively

6) Travelled by second class in a train. Man, that's a great nostalgic feeling

7) Got around 10G of carnatic music and will probably take a year to listen to all of them

8) Visited my Alma Mater and spent a wonderful and memorable time there

Here's stuff that I did not get to do but had planned on:

1) Drive the car

2) Sit at the rocks on the beach looking at the waves lashing at them

3) Walk along Marine Drive

4) Visit Bade Miya to eat Kababs

5) Go to Shivaji Park

6) Eat Chinese Bhel

I might have missed a few too but that's the gist of things. I wanted to journey spiritually this time and Auroville definitely did not disappoint. I know shit about spirituality but certainly want to get more involved. I bought a lot of books on this and have gone through two of them. I still am far from what they preach but let's hope I try spinning the wheel soon.

I observed that people often mistake that your aims/aspirations change when you leave your home country. A few people openly told me and some indicated it by actions. I keep coming back to this even if I do not want to because that's what is spinning in my head now and the fingers are just typing what the mind is ordering...People don't seem to understand that I have some beliefs and thoughts of my own and instead ridiculed me on quite a few counts. It hurt when someone you've known for a better part of your life ridicules or opinionates on each and every action you have. Am I to move on thinking that I need not be affected by it or sit up to note if I am being blinded by my ego? Am I actually being respected by my friends or do they just think I'm a joker trying to bring a smile to people's faces?

Home is a vague entity to me now. Is it the place that gets me my bread and butter or is it the place my heart wants to be? And even if I listen to my heart, will practicality take over? I am actually scared that I would contradict my own belief system.

Responsibilities also increased. Do I fulfill them on my own? Should I bother my folks with it? Should I respect the independence given to me and make my own actions? Is this the right time? I have a lot of unanswered questions and the scary part is I do not know how to find the solution. I saw a friend, who is usually very composed, groping in the dark with new found responsibility. I am not sure if I am prepared for such a situation...No. I know I'm not.

Not wanting to sound sceptical but cannot avoid it. Why am I so scared? This entire trip might have been a lot of fun but it has raised a lot of questions about the spirituality of who I am, what I want to be, what my motivation is and where my destiny lies. Am I being respected for who I am or for what I do?

The Pleasure Is All Mine

2008-11-02T11:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone likes to be part of a revolution, a change that sweeps across the masses. Our grandparents would have been overjoyed to have been living during the time of India's independence. Our parents lived through India's inclination stint towards glory, the Beatles and Hare Krishna movements.

Most of the present generation, I am sure would consider it a priviledge watching India's cricketing giants play as they grew up. Anil Kumble, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly and VVS Laxman have been motivational figures in different aspects. Ah! To watch their struggles and comebacks makes you want to apply it to your daily life. I belong to the present generation and have been inspired by each one of them.

Anil Kumble: Determination; Sachin Tendulkar: Humility; Rahul Dravid: Hardwork; Saurav Ganguly: Attitude; VVS Laxman: Perseverence. Qualities that would sum up these greats.

Today we are at a threshold where it is time to bid adieu. Two of the five have already hung up their boots. The services performed by these players cannot be described in words. Their commitment to the country cannot be doubted. Their influence on a nation cannot be questioned.

As we stand on the brink of seeing these warriors ride proudly into the horizon, all we can do is stand up and applaud. Sometimes there is so much one wants to say or write but a gesture is just sufficient.

In this entry, I recollect some of the moments (not in order of importance) that gave me hope that when all seems lost, perseverence is the only attitude that matters....

1) Sachin Tendulkar's twin centuries against Australia at Sharjah that enabled India to come from nowhere to lift the Coca Cola cup.

2) Rahul Dravid's kiss of the India cap he scored the winning runs were scored at the Adelaide Test.

3) Sachin Tendulkar's six of Shoaib Akhtar during the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

4) Natwest Series Triumph in England where two young guns carried the flame of hope to victory.

5) Saurav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid's partnership at Taunton in the 1999 World Cup against Sri Lanka.

6) VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid's partnership at Eden Gardens against Australia that brought India from no man's land back into the limelight.

7) Anil Kumble bowling 14 overs with a bandage in West Indies and claiming the prize wicket of Brian Lara.

8) Rahul Dravid's first century at the Wanderers in South Africa.

9) Anil Kumble's 10 wicket haul at the Feroze Shah Kotla against Pakistan.

10) Anil Kumble's leadership during the 2008 India/Australia test series.

Now as the mantle seems to be passing on (if there is anyone who is willing to take it), I am sure no one will be able to replace the Fab Five. At this juncture all I want to do is thank them for impacting my life and always wearing their hearts on their sleeves.

Here's wishing you the best in the future.

Sin For A Win

2008-09-05T23:39:00.000-07:00

Oh Father forgive me, for I have sinned!

Las Vegas, the Sin City beckoned. Three hungry wolves along with a civilized couple made the 5 hour journey burning gas and clocking miles into the desert. The heat was not to last for long, the oasis appeared, cool shade and water for the hungry hearts.

It appeared as if all the drunk Greek goddesses descended upon this city like a bee to a honey suckle musk. Mini-skirts, cleavage, blondes, brunettes and booze. Bliss for the sore eyes!! To add to it, there were the casinos where money flowed in but never out.

The night follows the day and the creatures come to feast during the night time. Never had a street seen so many chicks fluttering about. Never was there so much "food" for the wolves. Never was a ride to a club so anticipated. Never was a scent of a woman so sweet and a touch so unforgettable! Never......

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happened to the wolves stays with the wolves. What happened to the civilized couple..well that's for everyone to know!

Oh Father forgive me, for I have sinned!

Long WeAkend blues

2008-07-06T21:53:00.000-07:00

Well well, I'm back after a self-issued sabbatical. This blog will be a plethora of some stuff I've been meaning to write for a while. So sit back and enjoy...

To start with, I was lucky to see Mark Knopfler in concert at the beautiful Greek Theater in LA. I have practically grown up listening to Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler. Of course, this was at a time when people my age were gripped by the likes of Boyzone and Ricky Martin. So, I would consider myself to be pretty impressive listening to rock as compared to wannabes! The fascination and respect for Mark Knopfler grew and so did my CD collection. I can now safely say that I have his complete work. Now, ten years hence, as I find fascination with other eighties legends, Dire Straits/Mark Knopfler are still on the most-listened list. There was a time for close to a year, where I'd listen to Sultans Of Swing every single day! What's more admirable is that the humility of the man has grown as his fame and fortune increased. No airs about him (very unlike an immensly talented rockstar), he is aptly called "Silent man of rock and roll".

Anyway, coming back to the concert, I witnessed magic being created and played with. Every magician has his wand, Mark has his array of guitars. Accompanied by friends, I enjoyed every second of the concert screaming and singing the songs along with him. This was to a point when the infection rubbed on to my friends as well. All in all, a wonderful wonderful evening. Ah, I wish I'd see him again soon!

Moving on, I really fail to comprehend the long weekend syndrome. In case you are not with me, Long weekend syndrome is a disease whose symptoms are necessary and compulsive travel during the long weekend. If the long weekend begins on a Friday, families are packing their bags hastily so that they do not even waste four and a half minutes on the actual day! Oh that would be torture. At a time when we are still burning on our asses with the increase in fuel prices, I fail to understand the travel! I would rather lie in bed doing nothing all day! Of course, it would be nice to have a hot chick lying beside me, but then I'd be doing something! But let's not tread that path for now...

A couple of days before the long weekend, all people are asking and talking about is where the other person is heading to. This happens at work, phone conversations and even at gas stations! Of course not to mention, the tourist spots making all the cash at our expense. All the airfares have increased too. They'd be looking at every traveller on the long weekend and thinking, "Ah! Gotcha fuckers!" Anyway, it's not my place to judge who should do what (I think I've judged already) but it's definitely my space to write about it. Oh by the way, you can judge me all you want! In the words of Eric Cartman, "Screw you guys. I'm goin' home".

I've also been getting extremely pissed off at all the girls increasing their privacy settings on Orkut. This prevents us from looking at their albums! Why the fuck did Orkut introduce this feature?? If my understanding is correct, a website's popularity is judged by the number of hits. After this feature, guys like us are the ones taking the hits and not the website! I'm speaking for all the single men...no all men, who would very willingly agree with me! What's even more annoying is that even some "guys" have locked their albums. Talk about insecurity!! To be honest, it's so irritating to look at a "prospective" headshot in the profile picture only to find the album locked! This is like foreplay failure...so even talk about sex can safely be dismissed. Girls, please, let us judge your appearance by inviting us to your albums! Don't torture us by locking them. You are depriving us of our favourite pastime even more than lazing around with a chilled beer! Why put all the photos in the first place when you're feeling so insecure about it?? Think about it, what makes you think that someone in your "friend's list" isn't lusting after you?? Atleast, this way you're doing some social service and that ain't a bad thing after all.

And lastly, it's fucking annoying to see girls and "non-girls" use words like "Ma photos/Mah car". How hard is it to say "My photos/My car??" Also, as compared to Mah, it's still one letter short! Another popular word that pissed me off was "fren/frenz". For the ignorant folks, this stands for Friend. Kill me man...kill me now!

Also, for all the guys who write, "I'm simply gazzing through your profile", "Can I make frandships with you?", "Can I wanna be frands?", please continue the torturous Englees. Thank you for an honest attempt to make the reader laugh his ass off! Life will not be the same without you!

Escape

2008-05-18T15:13:00.000-07:00

The mind has been acting up very frequently since the last post. The heart never gave in to writing though!

To begin with, I saw a movie which stirred my very soul. I normally do not well up during movies no matter how sentimental they are but this one was an exception. Most of you will agree and the other half probably do not have a heart! The story is set in San Francisco and is based on a true life portrayal. Will Smith plays the lead and in case you haven't already guessed, I am talking about 'The Pursuit Of HappYness". Please take the time off to see this one. It will definitely be time well spent and a lot of lessons erupt from it that could be easily applied in practical life.

Professionally, things could not have been better. The advantage of working in a core technological company means you have interactions with some truly brilliant folks by the hour. What is even more amazing is the humility each one possesses. The disadvantage is that I have to be always on my toes and leave no stone unturned so that I do not look like a fool in front of them. But the ramp-up has been good and smooth so far and not to mention exponential! I wonder how long it will be before I reach the tip of the curve and say hello to Mr.Gauss!!!

Having said that, there have been instances where the motivation and the will power does not gel in well. Such situations leave me sulking and wondering what the hell I have done to feel so out of place. Many a time, it even takes motivation to get out of bed in the morning. Many a time, I long for Saturday on a Monday morning. I have heard of Monday morning blues but this is ridiculous.

There are weeks that fly at the blink of an eye and there are some that take eons to end. There is something missing. In these times, I wonder how bad would it be to renounce all these luxuries. Simple things in life take priority. I want to work with people who have not been fortunate. I want to help save the world from Global Warming and Baptisms by Fire. I want to give more than I earn. I want to take trips to Himalayas and Dharamshala. I want to breathe clean oxygen enriched air. I want to splash cold waters of the Ganges on my face in the morning after camping on her bank during the night. I just want to escape......

Re Search

2008-03-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

This is a conversation that was created after reading a few articles I came across on news websites. Sit back and enjoy..

Me: Hey Re and Search! How are you guys?
Re: I'm fine dude
Search: Wazz happening?

Me: I'm good guys. Just was musing over some recent research studies and findings
Re: Oh really?
Search: Yeah every news channel comes up with research analysis these days

Me: So this article is about how your life will imporve if you have steamy sex in the morning.
Re: Ho boy! All I get in the morning are burnt pancakes and stale milk
Search: I get steamy stuff man...Just that it ain't sex

Me: No guys really...I read this article
Re: You know what I'm wondering? Do the researchers get any practical training during these studies?
Search: If they did, those nerds would get LAID!!

Me: Interestingly enough, I read another article which says that your sex life will improve if your parents do not beat you as a kid.
Re: No wonder! I got my ass whopped when I was a kid! Little did I know it'll slow my sex life this much!
Search: I'd rather refrain from this topic. I had a bad childhood...it's showing up now!

Me: You know we should conduct our own research man...This kinda shit will get us some publicity and some money!
Re: Which asshole is going to fund the project?

Me: All you need is a good topic to work upon...we'll find someone and burn his cash
Search: I have a few in mind actually....
Re: Well, let's hear them!

Search: We can say Research shows that pigs like dirt
Re: Oh yeah! That's a good topic! I have one more...Research shows that Eating healthy can enable a man to stay in shape.
Me: Now we're getting somewhere. All we need are topics like these and some jackass will pay us to carry our research.

Re: We also need to make sure that we throw a couple of things about sex in there!
Me: Yeah, people read anything remotely related to sex. It's like free porn for them!
Search: I got another one. Research shows that having sex for the first time helps you lose your virginity!
Re: Yeah man! That's a good one. People don't really know about that.

Me: We also need lots of dumb topics too. Because that's what research is all about.
Re: I got it! Research shows that if you stay outside on a hot day, you are likely to get a headache.
Search: A couple more like that and we're golden!

Me: Research shows that driving a car gets you to a place faster than walking on foot!
Re: Yeah..people will definitely read that one with great interest

Me: Now that we have our ideas, lets find some corporate stooge and become sellouts!
Re: Yeah....let's get on it
Search: Right on!

And so you have it! Lots of new ideas that will pan out as research studies. Watch the news pages. Atleast one of these will soon be there!

Quest For Culture

2008-02-18T16:19:00.000-08:00

I had a rather interesting chat with my friends yesterday night. We touched topics ranging from how the stars rule one's life to conceptualizing the exsistence of the Almighty. Somewhere in between we were musing about the culture and traditions that India stands for.

All of us had different viewpoints. What is culture? What is tradition? We could not arrive at one conclusive answer to both these questions. Can culture be intepreted as something that has been handed from generation to generation? Can we say culture exists in the way we practise the art of living? Maybe it is different for every individual and the way he/she perceives it. Yet, similar to the mysteries of the universe, there were more questions than answers.

I argued that culture is, in short, "Be good, Do good". What our ancestors believed need not be applicable to us. As long as we remain true to the inner voice, we exhibit a cultured living. To me culture can be seen in the way a child respects his parents. To me culture is a teenager not influenced by alcohol/cigarettes. Having said that, I know good friends who drink and smoke regularly but still carry out the duties of a son respectfully. Is my opinion on culture incorrect then?

Outward appearances and westernization may have hit the common man in India today. We hear about rape and illicit sex becoming the order of the day in our country. Would the great gods and sages of the past forseen this behaviour when they defined culture? Again, more questions than answers!

One longs to be in the arms of comfort when he is deprived of it. I want to undertake the quest for these answers when I am homeward bound. How much will I be able to satisfy my thirst remains to be seen. Noone can take away your identity but I believe you can surely shape it if you know what you seek and desire. Self discovery is, quite similar to spiritual discovery. Yet, I have experience of neither to quantify it.

A friendly chat inspired this post. Will an eager desire be able to identify it?

Anil K(ing)ble vs Steve (F***)nor

2008-01-06T10:54:00.000-08:00

I normally do not express my views about cricket matches. I have believed that it should be left to the experts. I witnessed an extremely engrossing test match between India and Australia and will remember it for all the wrong reasons for many many years to come.

There are only certain things that can be said on television...the so called ethics comes into play there. But there are no such boundaries here. This is my space and I am the king here. I shall refrain from the technicalities because they have been presented quite beautifully in these links. I shall just stick to what I personally believed.

Taking a leaf out of Gautham Bhimani's post match presentation:

1) Mike Hussey should have been given out off Ishant Sharma when there was a clear nick off his bat. The umpires were catching their forty winks there.
2) Andrew Symonds had nicked the ball so loud that even the smallest hair on my ass heard it. But it seems like Steve Bucknor did not have my ass on his ear and as a result he did not hear anything.
3) Symonds was caught napping when M.S.Dhoni did some super quick work behind the stumps in the second innings on two occasions. On both counts the umpires thought they shall let Symonds continue to bat because of the strong "partnership" they had developed.
4) Rahul Dravid had his wall broken just when he had laid the foundation. Again Bucknor reminded me of that spoilt little kid who pees in the living room just after it has been cleaned. You just feel like whopping his ass.
5) Saurav Ganguly was given out caught behind by Mark Benson. Micheal Clarke cliamed that he had caught the ball cleanly and an ignorant captain supported his cause. Benson should have referred to the square leg umpire but took Ponting's word. I know ignorance can be a bliss, but in this case it required a bitch slap.
6) Ponting dove around like a cat on a hot pan to hold on to what he believed was a "correct" catch off M.S.Dhoni. If Ponting was right, then the TV cameras were wrong. And according to him they were! Oh, you poor technology...I am sorry to say you have died here.

I have always believed that fortune favours the brave. But in this case, it fucked us on the deal. Team India played against 13 players without the 12th man on the field! The force of a billion people could just stand and watch the atrocities that were committed on the field. After a lot of discussions and post match analysis, here's what I feel.

1) When the Australians get kicked at, they do not go down sportingly. All kinds of tactics were conjured up that reminded me of the arguments we used to have when playing street cricket.
2) Post their "win", Ponting said in reference to Saurav's dismissal fiasco that "That's how the game should be played". I think just because Ponting is the captain of a world class team, he rules the world and has a say in everything. If a man claims he is so honest, why the hell did'nt he walk when he had edged the ball in the first innings? Well, Mr.Ponting, just like how you think you own everything in cricket, I think you are an arrogant man and I own this space.
3) Hats off to Saurav when he did not acknowledge the crowd after reaching his 50. The mark of protest was clearly seen. I am sure if Dada were captian, we would have noticed a walk out similar to Sunil Gavaskar/Chetan Chauhan and Arjuna Ranatunga/Team Sri Lanka.
4) I bow down in reverence to Anil Kumble who maintianed dignity while talking to the media unlike his counterpart. I felt goosebumps when I saw Team India walking out to the field to congratulate them on the win. I personally feel they should not have done it but they rose above the game itself.
5) It will be interesting to see if an issue is raised against Australia's excessive appealing. Their reaction to every appeal turned down was as if they thought that the umpires were complete jackasses. Whether or not it ensures a penalty is a topic for another day. I guess in the ICC rule book if a team from the sub-continent is charged, they should be fucked! All other teams can do whatever they please.

6) I feel public speaking techniques and people management classes that Team India receives should be withdrawn. Play cricket just the way you play in crowded parks and narrow streets where every player is an authority. Believe me, that's the approach needed while playing in Australia.
7) I salute Harsha Bhogle and Sunil Gavaskar for a super post match talk. I especially loved the way Mr.Bhogle grilled all concerned in a sublime manner. As always Mr.Gavaskar's emotions were worth watching and his thoughts worth listening. Hats off to you Sirs! I now know why you are deeply respected in the cricketing fraternity.

Anyway, all has been completed. I cannot help but smile at the fact that if the roles were reversed, and if India had been in Australia's position, the game would have been played in much better spirit and dignity. Go Team India...Go Anil Kumble! You have locked horns with the bull and almost brought it down. Hang in there because one billion people are behind you to pick you up if you fall.

QUAL Talk

2007-12-28T18:17:00.000-08:00

In this talk, Dr.Irwin Jacobs explains the business and technology model of Qualcomm. A rather well essayed talk, lots of aspects from CDMA to WCDMA, from the company's history to where it is now and where it is headed are covered quite beautifully.

Watch it when you get the time!

Ministry Of Music

2007-12-24T22:44:00.000-08:00

I stumbled upon this profile on youtube while looking through some Dire Straits covers....This guy is awesome. Nothing fancy, nothing hard just good ol' stumming/rhythm on some super tracks. From CCR to Dire Straits..from Bob Dylan to Sting...from Beatles to Eagles....this guy really gives the original artists a run for their money!

Having gone through his profile on youtube, he used to be a subway singer. It's just wonderful to find pure talent hidden underground! Kudos to Mr.Malvasio....Hope you guys like him too.

On another note, I've always been meaning to write this. There are a few songs that just soaks you into them. I had the opportunity to witness firsthand as to how a song can get you so invloved(read lonesome late night drive). Here's my list of those soulful songs:

1)Brothers In Arms- Dire Straits
2)Every Breath You Take- The Police
3)Knockin' On Heaven's Door- Bob Dylan
4)Golden Heart- Mark Knopfler
5)Horse With No Name- America
6)Classical Gas- Mason Williams
7)Wild Mountain Thyme- Mark Knopfler
8)American Pie- Don Mclean
9)Please Forgive Me- Bryan Adams
10)The Last Resort- The Eagles
11)Tears In Heaven- Eric Clapton
12)I'd Love You To Want Me- Lobo
13)Russians- Sting
14)Chariots Of Fire- Vangelis
15)Affirmation- Savage Garden

16)Red Dirt Girl- Emmylou Harris

17)Wonderful Tonight- Eric Clapton

18)Romeo and Juliet- Dire Straits

19)Done With Bonaparte- Mark Knopfler

20)Nothing Else Matters -Metallica

Devil's Advocate, God's Justice

2007-12-22T23:50:00.000-08:00

I had vowed never to see The Devil's Advocate again. I liked the episode when Mr.Thapar cross examined Ram Jethmalani but then afterward the show became a playground for a bully ring with Mr.Thapar shouting toro toro...

I was stunned at the way Mr.Thapar questioned Mr.Rahul Bajaj, an industrialist who has put two wheels on this country over a decision to join the Rajya Sabha! It was not in good stead that this episode was carried out and was to my complete dislike. I think Thapar was low key when interviwing Mr.Ratan Tata. I shudder to imagine if the show had it's usual matador effect. I can only smile and note that Mr.Tata would have been calling the shots with the "bull" jumping around!

Anyway, after a long time, I managed to watch this episode. I really like Sanjay Dutt. He has a natural charisma that puts him a cut above all the rest. It is very heartwhelming to note the change in this man. All things come of age and Mr.Dutt certainly has.

Watch the man, the enigma, the charisma, the actor....Sanjay Dutt!

Start Meejik...Roll Phillim

2007-12-21T22:29:00.000-08:00

Today was good! Had no work at work...had lunch with friends..came home really early....felt good speaking to one of my really good friends on the way home....had a super dinner with friends...and now planning to go for a drive listening to Mark Knopfler!

So a casual, lazy day you may say. Like I mentioned before, dinner was a congregation of friends, most of whom I know really well, some in the process of getting to know. I happened to watch some bits and pieces of Nach Baliye and realized that we have some pretty good talent. Then we saw some new movie songs and I realized that we have no talent there! I do not mean to speak ill about our movies. I am very eagerly awaiting Taare Zameen Par, a movie that has exceeded audience expectations before it begins. I enjoyed watching Nayagan,Lagaan, Andaaz Apna Apna, Chak De India, Swades which, according to me has become a cult classic. And these are just to name a few. But the new movies are BAD! No acting, no dance, no choreography and more importantly no direction! It's just a bunch of people running around. I cannot believe that an idiot actually put his money just to show some hot chick in the skimpiest clothes imaginable that she would be a social outcast!

Be that as it may, and barring a few good movies, I think we do have a long way to get to Hollywood. I have witnessed some great, mind blowing movies over the past few years. Men of Honour, inspires me to this day. Deep end of the Ocean is the epitome of drama, Rocky urges the youth in me to come out. A Beautiful Mind is a wordless wonder. Batman Begins was The Dark Knight at his best (I am counting the days for Summer 2008 when the Dark Knight Returns!). I have seen Ice Age a million times. The Bourne Trilogy can be seen all together without a break and you would not know the time that flew by! The Italian Job keeps you at the edge of your seat right from the word go. These are just the tip of the iceberg.

Coming back to Indian cinema, Bollywood is all about the masala. I would actually categorize most Indian movies in that. I saw a couple of Telugu movies and I think if I would have seen them in my school days, I would have failed Physics and definitely failed Logic! And if I would have watched the tele serials, I would have failed life. To be honest, all the tele serials are the same....Two women bitching about each other and about a million other actors that would cause your head to go topsy turvy...leaving you with the three golden words...What The FUCK!!!

Anyway, closing on the satire, it was a good day today.

Maa...

2007-11-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

A couple of events spurred this post. One was a conversation with a colleague and the other was a Wall Street Article sent by a friend.

India, Bharat, Hindustan- A land of multiple names, a force of over a billion people. A country steeped in history,culture and traditions. A democracy that is forcing it's way to the top. The land of Gods, from Sages to Gandhi, from M.S.Subbalakshmi to Sachin Tendulkar, if it is talent you are seeking, you are looking at the oh so familiar, vaguely triangular piece of land jutting out from the base of the Asian continent.

As students and now, as working professionals a lot of us squeezed out of the protective arms of our motherland to seek solace elsewhere, but the domestic call has been ringing in our ears. Trends are changing now. The quintessential Indian who opted for the prized Green Card and US citizenship, is now thinking his thoughts through. I have come to know a lot of people who, are returning back home to their motherland...to their roots.

As these events surround me, I wish to present my side of why the Mother's call has been ringing in my ears too! So here goes...

-> I want to get stuck in traffic with horns blaring and mobile shops selling chana
-> I want to walk on Worli sea face with the waves splashing it's misty foam on my face
-> I want to drink filter coffee made by my mother each day before going to work
-> I want people to stare at me awkwardly when I thank them
-> I want to drive a manual transmission vehicle on the "right" side of the road
-> I want use the public transport at wee hours in the night
-> I want to be served food on the flight even if it is only for thirty minutes
-> I want to see "General Stores" which is a one stop Wal-Mart at walking distance from home
-> I want to go to a medical shop and get medicines without hundered forms and prescriptions
-> I want to have official, expired auto insurance and still be able to drive my vehicle
-> I want to have the local mechanic work on my vehicle and charge me a nominal fee
-> I want to drive on Marine Drive and experience freeways right in the heart of the city
-> I want to be able to wear formals to work and have my boss yell at me
-> I want to interact with "don't give a damn" government servants
-> I want to go to my college where the first thing you see is Lord Ganesha
-> I want to use the toilet without toilet paper
-> I want the familar plastic tub and mug to have my bath
-> I want to be able to eat outside beyond midnight
-> I want to take a late night walk around Shivaji park with hundreds of people
-> I want to get directions to a place by asking people on the road
-> I want to use the SI system for measurment
-> I want to see women dressed in Sarees or salwaar kameez
-> I want to go to temples and hear the namaz chants from mosques early in the morning
-> I want to build my furniture thorough carpenters and not assemble it myself
-> I want to see senior citizens discuss current affairs during their morning walk
-> I want to see my kids start their day in school with prayers
-> I want to eat Alphonso mangoes during the summer
-> I want to celebrate festivals with family and relatives
-> I want to see people being driven around
-> I want to go to the beach to eat bhel puri and sandwiches
-> I want to be able to travel by Indian railways in three tier coaches and sleep on the top
-> I want to eat Idli, Vada and chutney served by the Indian railways
-> I want to see my kids hear bedtime stories from their grandparents
-> I want to travel in a double decker bus and sit on the top front row
-> I want to see houses made of bricks and concrete with multiple layers of paint
-> I want to see friends who have known me better than I know myself
-> I want to get up early to stand for hours to see Siddhi Vinayak on Ganesh Chaturthi
-> I want to use sms and missed calls as the main form of communication
-> I want to see Mahatma Gandhi's face on the Indian Rupee note
-> I want to carry more than a thousand rupees in my pocket
-> I want to travel during rush hour in Mumbai local trains
-> I want to send my kids to school in auto rickshaw pools
-> I want to be amidst company that talks about cricket and movies
-> I want to read India Today
-> I want to be able to read The Times Of India whilst having my morning coffee
-> I want to visit orphanages and donate to the needy
-> I want to go to Meenakshi temple and just stare at the beauty of the Goddess
-> I want to seek blessings from temple elephants
-> I want to eat Krishna sweets' Mysore Pauk and Grand sweets' potato chips
-> I want to drive by all the streets and roads that I used to frequent and invoke nostalgia
-> I want to see entertainment programmes in languages that are native to India
-> I want to look at the Bandra Worli sea link from a small street at Shivaji Park
-> I want to go for unplanned, destinationless drives on a motorcycle at night
-> I want to go to Nariman Point and compare it to New York city
-> I want to be able to say town and not downtown
-> I want to meet all my teachers
-> I want to have long talks with my friends late into the night
-> I want to just look at my parents and thank them without having to say a word

Some things that can only be longed when you are far. Just to take a leaf out of the Mastercard advertisement, there is only money that USA can provide, for the bigger picture called life there is India!

Dreamt in India...Made in Germany...Owned in America

2007-10-24T18:48:00.001-07:00

Automobiles are synonimous to guys much the same way jewelery is to girls. Every guy has a dream car that he hopes he will own someday. From collecting pictures to dinky cars, from technical expertise to silly arguments, guys have always been passionate about the automobile.

BMWs, Ferraris, Mercedes Benzs, Lexuses, Maseratis, Lamborghinis, Porsches, Mustangs...aaah... every guy gets to orgasmic stage immediately after this foreplay! To us, the car is not just a means of transport from point A to B. It is about passion and the pleasure that's as sweet as drinking water from an oasis.

One of the first major purchases after obtaining full time work. The thrill of test drives, the feel of the machine is just awesome. Having gone through one myself, I can vouch that the time you first drive your baby out is truly a Kodak moment! It is doubly exciting when all my friends have gone into this mode pretty much at the same time. So long telephone calls and knowledge transfer has been the order of the day.

My black beauty is my pride and joy at the moment. For a guy who's been passionate about cars ever since I can remember, the Blue/White symbol with trademark twin headlamps and grille meant that nirvana had been attained. I can almost touch the halo over my head now!

I know she'll keep me happy for a long time and I know I'll not give her a reason not to! So symbiotic relationship it is. So I'll end this post with the excitement that is, my dream, my babe, my soul mate, my pride, my joy...my car.

Looking Washington Talking Seattle

2007-10-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

A recent trip to Seattle invoked a lot of mixed feelings. While I had an absolute blast during the trip, I also witnessed generous portions of change in how my friends think, react and perceive life. I have known these people for the better part of my life and it is pretty amazing to understand how rapidly one grows into maturity.

There were a lot of issues touched right ranging from future plans to attitude about life. I found myself being engulfed with ideas that, to be honest that were thrust right into my face. I have always been a keen observer and listener to others' thoughts and views and this time was no different.

A feeling of an identity crisis swept through me. When you hear other people convey emotions, there is so much that hits you that all you are left with is wonderment. Sometimes even insecurity crept up. I am not an individual that conveys his thoughts too much but this time I wanted to but somehow, could not. A lot of times when your near and dear ones have a viewpoint towards life, you would want to match them. This is normal human tendency. But then, when will you be on the giving end as compared to the receiving end? Kinda easy to discriminate between the two but hard to realize!

Anyway, moving forward, professional life has been on the up over the month and I hope it continues to remain that way for quite sometime!

On the lighter side of things, San Diego totally rocks! But I'd urge everyone to pay a small visit to Seattle. I know you'll not be disappointed!

Dad-A Father Figure

2007-09-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

When you have a lot of things to say about a person, have you realized you do not know where to start? And worse still, where to end!

When I was small, everyone talked about mom looking after me but he was there to look after me when no one was looking. When I was having problems with Math and Science, he was the patient teacher. When I needed money for the hot samosas at the school cafeteria, he gave me money without asking a question. When I demanded an increase in weekly allowances, he never budged so that I could learn to save. When I reached adolescence, he took all my emotional outbursts and still managed a smile and suffered alone. When I left for college, he consoled mom when he was crying inside. When I left for higher studies, he pretended to be busy so that he would not have to bear the pain of being away from me. When I bought him a gift from my first salary, he showed it to everyone like a small kid. When I returned back, he showcased me proudly to all his friends. Today he gives importance to my opinions like a second self.

To everyone, a dad is someone who is not around a lot. Someone who goes to work the same time you leave for school and gets back much later than you. Someone who worships work and respects it. Someone who keeps a check on expenditures and draws the line between luxury and moderation. Someone who likes to read his morning paper with his coffee. Someone who does not like to be disturbed when the news is on. Someone who maintains an account of day to day expenditure. Someone who never discusses problems in front of the kids. Someone who is always practical. Someone who has a wealth of experience in holding and pulling a family through thick and thin. Someone who does not support boyfriends or girlfriends. Someone who has the super sense to spot the good and bad qualities in your friends. Someone who does not opinionate unless asked for. Someone who will not hesitate to do anything when it comes to providing the best education for his kids. Someone who gets your daily meal by spilling his sweat and blood. Someone who always cries inside and never on the out.

Yet, he is always the under acheiver of the family. A mother's love is truly alturistic. But no one ever talks about fatherly love. The truth of the matter is, why do we look upto our fathers the way we do? A professional and a practical man who would call a spade a spade. Maybe because, a motherly love is more coaxable, makes you feel more secure?

These were some of the thoughts that ran through my mind as I was watching an episode of The Wonder Years, where the dad has been portrayed as a closed man. I thought of mine while watching that episode and my entire life flashed in front of me. I thought of how I gave him joy, how I caused him pain, how I hurt him and how I respect him. Family ties tend to strengthen over distance. Mine surely has.

Super Babe!

2007-08-25T08:39:00.000-07:00

I think Nirvana would be attained if I could drive this!

http://www.saab.com/microsites/aero_x/GLOBAL/en/index2.shtml

On a different front, this is a different kind of a beauty! I saw Nicoletta Romanoff in a superhit Italian movie about family ties. While I liked the movie, the actress had a different kind of an appeal too!!

http://www.allcelebrity.it/Romanoff/

Always aiming to please!

To Revise or Not to Revise

2007-08-23T22:18:00.000-07:00

Graduation with no job is like dressed up with nowhere to go! Suddenly time stands still. How much can you search for jobs? I'm pretty sure each database server in every company knows my Resume by heart. I'm pretty sure it must be thinking....Shit this guy again!

But that's just the order of the day. Funny that after 16 gruelling years, we come to USA to become small entities in "The Land Of Opportunities". The next couple of years instills a firm resolve in everyone never to touch a texabook once more! So thinking thus, we graduate...only to find that the ordeal does not end there. This time we have a powerpack of the previous 18 years. Pretty easy to receive a powerpacked punch! I seem to lose the mark of differentiation between funny and irony.

So I have been brushing up right from my multiplication tables to complex technologies. From A for Apple to behavioral interviews. It's a good feeling that you still remember your multiplication tables from 1-12. Beyond that, my Casio fx-115W does the job without complaining. Inspite of this, we get screwed in the interviews. I think God has branded us to get fucked time and again so much that we can earn our bread and butter just by passing on the knowledge or maybe the art. I'm not being a pervert so please sense my sarcasm.

Over the past few weeks, I have been regularly clocking close to 6 hours per day pouring over books, online materials and what not. I even have a pdf version of my multiplication tables. Pretty high tech huh! I truly feel sorry for my laptop..the poor guy sits awake the whole day. I guess when Sony built mine, they would not have realized that this guy's birthright is to get screwed. Kinda similar what God thought about me! So I guess we are made for each other. Oh I cannot forget bandwidth utilization. Time-warner is surviving because of me!

So with my grey cells going black, I better end this blog before it shuts down completely!

Rajni Mania

2007-08-16T06:43:00.001-07:00

A friend of mine recently sent this about Rajni! I actually wish some of them were true! Thalaivar rocks!!!

*There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Rajnikant has allowed to live.
* Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Rajnikant.
* Rajnikant counted to infinity - twice.
* When Rajnikant does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
* Rajnikant is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.
* Rajnikant doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.
* Rajnikant gave Mona Lisa that smile.
* Rajnikant can slam a revolving door.
* Rajnikant does not get frostbite. Rajnikant bites frost.
* Remember the Soviet Union? They decided to quit after watching a Padayappa on Satellite TV
* There are no races, only countries of people Rajnikant has beaten to different shades of black and blue.
* Rajnikant’s house has no doors, only walls that he walks through.

Adolescent Graduate

2007-08-10T16:25:00.000-07:00

So end of the innocence is here. Tomorrow I graduate from being a college student to a job seeker. I would like to take this opportunity to be thankful for all those sleep inducing classes over the past couple of years. The teachers put us to sleep so quick that we would be dreaming about the hot chick in the late night movie the previous night. Too bad we won't relive those memories again.

So memoirs of a student life that taught me the following definitions...

Engineering: Logical excuse to screw up...Every single time.

Studies: New word in your dictionary...Visited by accident.

Research: Forceful imprisonment in a lab.

Lab: Deadlier than Alcatraz.

Assistantship: Formality for freeloading some money.

Library: A place where you get high speed internet access for any non academic websites.

Classroom: A place where you hone your skills to sleep with your eyes open

Books: A commodity that weightens your backpack tenfold.

Notes: Something the professor gives to show he has free access to the copier.

Exams: Quick and painful fuck.

Girls: Anything that is non-male.

Confidence: A feeling of getting through the month with only 100 bucks in your pocket.

Frustration: An engineer's bosom buddy.

Late: An engineer's definition.

Wishful thinking: Hooking up with a girl.

Booze: Best friend on Friday nights.

On-campus job: Timepass for many hours in the week.

Gymnasium: A place that NEVER should be visited during the semester.

Laptop: Style statement that burns a hole in your pockets...pants...thighs

Apartment: Hang out place for your friends...friends' friends....friends' friends' friends....

Kitchen: Home for cockroaches.

Internship: Money for nothing.

Permanent Job: 9-5 burnout routine.

Car: Owned by a friend...Driven by you.

Groceries: Monthly savings wholloped in an hour.

Road-Trip: Long drive where expenses are divided by 5 or more!

Vacation: Actual excuse to get up late.

Weekend: Something that lasts for as long as the blink of an eye.

Cooking: Something only eaten to live.

Your cooking: Your pride...and only yours.

Friend's cooking: A foreplay to food poisoning.

Cleaning: One time activity before inspection.

Wal-Mart: Cheaper than a dollar store.

Mall: Never to be visited with a girl.

Time: Only available to waste.

Graduation: Ceremony to commemorate the above knowledge.

Jobhunt: Every graduate student's worst enemy.

Thus I graduate into ignorance. But then again ignorance is bliss. So I shall stick with that. Congratulations to me!

The JUST IS League!

2007-08-04T21:47:00.000-07:00

I had been meaning to write this for a few days now. I had been completely hooked on by the cartoon series-Justice League. This was WB's attempt featuring a star studded cast of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, Martian Manhunter, Hawk Girl and Flash. These characters formed the initial line up which eventually led to Justice League Unlimited featuring truly unlimited heroes!

So as a brief introduction, Superman and Batman had been fighting crime in their respective cities of Metropolis and Gotham and occasionally bumped into each other. Green Lantern was somewhere in deep space and so was Hawk Girl who came from the planet Thanagar. Wonder woman was busy training in her kingdom of Amazon where men where forbidden but the ladies were bombs! Flash was just runnin' around...

During an earth threatening situation (So what else is new?) Martian Manhunter (Jon Jones) used his telepathy to bring these heroes together. Then it was Superman who proposed the Justice League. Batman the lone wolf he was, chose to act as a part time member and founder. So this is a conversation among the first Justice League members. Read on!

Superman: So thank you all for coming. We have a crisis on our hands.
Flash: Do we really??? I'd say these lovely ladies are causing a crisis to my heart!
Batman (to himself): Jackass!
Jon (reading Batman's thoughts): Hehe
Wonder woman: Be serious guys. Justice League is not a joke.
Green Lantern: Yeah. And we are soon going to convince the villians that it definitely is not!
Superman: That's the spirit GL!
Hawk Girl: So WTF is the problem now??
Superman: Right right....Joker and Lex Luthor have joined forces.
Batman(to himself): Sonofabitch....This Joker is always up my ass. One of these days I'm gonna fart on his face.
Flash: I'm on the case. I'd like WW and HG for company.
GL: No Flash! Anyone but these babes. How about my bitch?
Superman: No foul language!
GL: I meant bitch..as in a female dog.
Jon: Pervert! In Mars we did not have bitches....Just Martians!
WW: Yeah. Speak for yourself.
Superman: Anywayyyy...what are we going to do?? Batman?
Batman: I am going to kick Joker's ass so hard this time that it'll not be a joke to him.
HG: That's it!! I want in on the ass kicking too.
WW: Oh no you don't! GL's your boyfriend. Bats is mine!!
Batman: Will these ladies ever let me work?? This is why I said I'm a loser.Ahem..sorry..loner.
WW: Sure...How about you and me lonesome tonight at the watch honey??

SM: Shit! Elvis just died!
Flash: How come grumpy Bats gets the ladies??
Jon: Ladies do not prefer sissies!
Flash: Hey! Who are you calling a sissy??
Superman: Oh brother!!!
GL: Hey HG! You and me..groovy tonight? How about it???
WW: Hey Batman! You still have not answered my question.
Jon: I wish I were stuck in Mars.
Batman: So Superman. Ignore these women. They always screw around with the good guys and fuck around with our duties!

Jon: Yeah ladies.It's better to be old and dutiful than bold and beautiful.

GL: Free advice from Mars? Really???
SM: Yeah. WW and GL...You will stay here in the Watch Tower. No food for you tonight.
Jon: Throw in the no food thing for Flash too. He never keeps his trap shut.
Batman: Yeah. In fact, I can bear with Joker than with this clown!
HG: Hey WW...What do we wear tonight?
WW: I think our costumes are sexy enough!
HG: Right on!
Batman: I thought SM assigned you guys the Watch Tower duty.
HG: So who says a woman can't dress up??
Batman(to himself): Oh Fuck! Women!!!!!!
Jon: Hehe...So SM who is going to fight Luthor and Joker?
SM: Finally!! Batman and GL will take down Joker. You and me will go for Luthor.
Flash: What about me??????
SM: You are with the Bitch. Till further notice!
WW: Awwww...Don't worry honey! After our watch, we shall model for you some of the new outfits we bought. Won't we HG?
HG: For sure! Will FTv be there??
SM: I'm gonna quit this job. I was a better loser when I was alone.
Batman: I second that!!!
SM:???????
GL: Wow Bats! You do have a sense of humour!
Batman(rises): Now let's go for some ass whipping. Last one to the plane is THE Loser.
SM,Jon,GL: We don't need a plane dumbfuck. We fly!
Batman(has the look of a Suckkaa on his face)
GL: Aww...Do you want in on the modeling too??
Batman: NO THANKS! I prefer the Suckkaa!! Laterz Dudez
GL: Seriously aren't you a little too old for dude lingo??

Flash: Well, smack my ass and call me Flashie!!

SMACK....SMACK....SMACK..
Jon(to himself): Now that's what I call a Justice League meeting.

I really am a huge Batman fan! But I HAD to blog this! If there ever is going to be a movie on Justice League, this would be my take on the characters:

Superman: Ben Affleck
Batman: Christian Bale
Wonder Woman: Jeniffer Connelly
Hawk Girl: Denise Richards
Green Lantern: Samuel.L.Jackson
Flash: Mark Wahlberg
Martian Manhunter: Bruce Willis

So I hope you have realized that I have way too much free time!!

Rajni Dubbing!

2007-07-30T12:37:00.000-07:00

For all you Tamilians out there!

I died laughing!!Ensooy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHFKrKmcjUg

Why?

2007-07-29T11:02:00.000-07:00

Why are we born? What is our purpose in the Divine will? What is our contribution to the universe? Are we one with it?

Why are we protected in the womb for nine months? Why do we cry the moment we come out of it? Why are we given the parents we have? Which birth of ours is this one? Do we know it as a child? Can we really hear the voice of God when we are babies? Why do our parents care for us so much? Do we really care for them? Why is the only altruistic love that of a mother's? Why do they constantly put our happiness before theirs?

Why are we educated? Why are the most important things learnt by practice? How does an illiterate man learn the values of life? Are we all illiterate before God? Why cannot supernatural phenomena be explained? Why do we believe only in what we see? Can we ever comprehend the unexplained?

Why do we run this rat race? What happens after one race is completed? How many more do we have to run? What happens at the end of it all? Why do we follow a protocol in life?

Why do we get married to someone? How do we know a soulmate? Why do we love someone so dearly? Why is our first love so special? Why is it difficult to unite with our first love? Why don't we ever forget it? Why does it hurt when turned down? Why do we compromise after marriage? Why do we fight and make up? Why do we need a partner to share our feelings with?

Why do we feel the pressure to perform? Why can't we maintain focus when things don't look bright? Why do we fail? Do we possess the will to fight back? Why do we find excuses for our failures? What is success? How do we measure it? Is it relative? Why do we want more? Can we ever be content with what we have?

Why do we spend money? Why do we save it? Why are we slaves to it? Is there anyone who has true superiority to money? How much is too much? Why do we compare salaries? Why do we feel jealous of others' success? Why do others mock our success? Why do we act professional? Why do others want gain at your cost? Why do we do the same?

Why do we feel the importance of something when we do not have it? Why don't we realize an entity's importance when we do not struggle to get it? Why do we take people for granted? Why do we miss someone after they are dead? Do they know we miss them? Why can't we talk to the deceased? Why don't we know when we are going to die? What will happen 1 year from now? 1 month? 1 day? 1 hour?

Why can't we stop time? Why is it the single most governing element known to man? Was there a purpose to the concept of time?

Why do the little things in life grab our attention? Why do we feel positive seeing a sunrise? Why do we behave like little children on a sea shore? Why do we admire the beauty of nature? Why do we destroy it? Why are we saddened by suffering? What do we do to prevent it? Why don't we offer to the needy? Can we ever obtain true maturity?

Why are we blessed with friends? Why do we feel happy at their success? Why do we feed saddened by their failures? Why do we compare our failures with our friends' success? Why do we look upto them for support? Why do we still feel lonely amongst their presence? Why do we expect partiality within friends? Why do we crave for attention? Why do we fight for our friends? Why is it difficult to balance friends and parents?

Why do we die? What happens afterwards? Is there life beyond death? Do we take another birth? How do we know these facts? Can we assertain them? Can we meet God in the next world? Why do we fear God now? Does he really exist? Are sages true? Can they possess the will to renounce all wordly pleasures? Can we become sages? Will we do it because we want to run away from responsibility? Why do we find so hard to balance activities and spirituality? Can we ever do it?

Will we be at peace with ourselves? Will we be at peace with our surroundings? Will we leave everything to destiny? Can luck and destiny co-exist? How many lives do we need to answer these questions? Will that be the end?

Music Vibes

2007-07-25T09:52:00.000-07:00

As a kid, my tryst with Carnatic music was rather extensive. My grandfathers followed it with great interest and so did my father. Fundamentals were learnt by me at a young age. Not much, but enough to appreciate the subtleties .

Recently, while doing some random searches on the internet, I stumbled upon some works of Dr.K.J.Yesudas and Dr.John.B.Higgins. I grew up listening to my father's cassettes and my affinity towards these two great artists grew then. It was awesome to hear those ragas and songs once again. Music in it's pure form!

Dr.Yesudas' Mahaganapathim and Dr.Higgins' Entharo Mahanu Bhavulu were classics that invoke great interest among young and budding artists even to this date. I also came upon some songs from the movie Sindhu Bhairavi. A Balachandar film starring Sivakumar in the lead is studded with carnatic songs by Dr.Yesudas. It is amazing that their charm still holds even today atleast with me. It is hard to find classics these days. If you get a chance to watch the movie, I would highly recommend it. The story is about a famous carnatic artist and his love for music, his love affair with his fan, his downfall and return to stardom. Very beautifully taken!

Dr.Higgins' rendition of the krithi Entharo Mahanu Bhavulu is considered a gem and his most recognized work. This song is attempted with difficulty even with Indian artists. An American doctorate of music, he was well known and respected among the Indian music fraternity as a gifted foreign artist. He holds the distinction of an American artist performing at the Thyagaraja Music Festival, a highly regarded and sacred fesival of music. He has been aptly given the title Bhagavathar- Scholar of Music.

Perhaps my quest for work these days has sparked my interest once again in carnatic. I found myself remembering most of the words in these songs. I guess the subconscious mind still preserved them!

Listening to music these days is listening to noise. I can't imagine people actually appreciate them. On the western music front, pure rock and roll nearly died after the eighties. What resulted was an onslaught with no definitive theme and lyrics that were filled with bullshit. Artists focussed more on how they looked rather than how they performed! There are very few performers left today who make good music and their charm holds good to this date.

Well, it seems like I've discovered my roots. Hope this tree expands!

The Mind of a Jobless man!

2007-07-17T23:16:00.000-07:00

As a certified (well atleast by me!) job seeker, I seem to have a lot of free time on my hands. Waiting for calls that may or may not come is surely a lot of work! I seemed to have received the gift of time. All I need now is a gift of space and I could well make a continuum.

I wish to present a recent phone conversation (read techinical interview) that I had with Sidney a while ago. Please pay more attention to what I thought rather than what I said. Fine line that.

For those illiterate ones, unfortunate technical graduates like us have to go through the ordeal of one (or two) telephonic interviews before we are called for an on-site one. That is the company's way asking you to remove your pants and bend over.

Sidney: Hello! Is this Siddarth?
Me(answering): Hello Sir! I was expecting your call.
Me(thinking): Damn! Sidney's a man!

S: I wish to talk to you. Are you free?
M(a): Sure Sir!
M(t): Are you freaking kidding me???? Free is my middle name!

S: We are currently screening candidates for this profile.
M(a): Oh..ok
M(t): Reeeaally?? Was I scratching around when I applied for it??

S: I wish to speak to you about the same. Can you explain the projects you've put up?
M(a): Sure....blah...blah....blah....
M(t): Read it bitch! It's only in English and it's definitely not rocket science!

S: Oh good...I see...
M(a): blah...blah...blah....
M(t): Don't interrupt my train of thoughts..As it is I do not have too many of 'em!

S: Very good. Seems you have used this tool a lot...
M(a): Thank you. Yes, I have used it quite extensively in my coursework
M(t): If you ask about it..I swear I'll swear!!

S: Can you tell me how to use this aspect of this tool to tailor this application?
M(a): umm....blah....blah....umm..blah
M(t): FUCK! There I kept my promise.

S: It appears you have done a bit of team work too...
M(a): Yes. I seem to have rather nice memories of working in a team.
M(t): Seeing is not believing man!!

S: Can you explain?
M(a): blah...blah....blah...
M(t): I go the distance to make sure that I have chicks in my team. Do you know how hard it is especially when you have such a small number of them in engineering???

S: Ok....Can you tell me what is abc concept and how is is applicable in this situation?
M(a): ummm.....I'm not sure Sir..
M(t): WTF?????

S: Give it a try....
M(a): I think it can be used in...ummm...blah..blah...ummm
M(t): Man! I'm lying my ass off!!

S: Ok...I'll buy that....Tell me what do you mean by blah...blah...
M(a): umm...blah...blah....
M(t): Sonofabitch..you bought that???? Either I should get a Nobel prize or you should quit!

S: Seems I have asked all that I wanted to....
M(a): Ok..
M(t): Funny you're still alive and on the phone.

S: Is there anything you want to ask me?
M(a): Yes, can you expand on the specifics of this profile?
M(t): What is your underwear size??

S: Oh,alright...blah....blah...blah....
M(a): ummm....uh-huh...uh-huh...ummm
M(t): I'm making bedroom (or bathroom) noises now..

S: blah...blah...blah....blah....
M(a): ????
M(t): ???????????

S: blah.....blah....blah...blah.....blah.....
M(a): I see...Very interesting....
M(t): ????????????????????????????????

S: I guess that's pretty much the profile...
M(a): Very good Sir... seems to be to my liking...
M(t): Will Carmen Electra go on a date with me?

S: Is there anything else?
M(a): Oh yes!...blah...blah...
M(t): Really??

S: blah...blah...blah....
M(a): Thank you very much
M(t): Wow..you can talk! I was just trying to show off.

S: Well, that wraps it up. Thank you for your time.
M(a): A pleasure Sir.
M(t): I used to aim to pee..Now I aim to please too!!

S: We will notify the results soon. Have a good day!

M(a): I look forward to hearing from you.

M(t): Kill me...Kill me NOW!

(Dis)claimer: All characters in this post are fictitious. Any resemblence to these characters only assertains the fact that you had way too much free time to think about this post when you met them!

Geo-BEATS Mumbai!

2007-06-27T18:48:00.000-07:00

Well,well,well...Another blog but nothing significant...I came across this website that gives people a good idea about different cities especially the ones in India. Can Mumbai be far behind?? NO!

There are a number of snippets on the city and it's flavours. If you are a foodie, please do check the link below! There were bits and pieces that even I was not aware of!

Anyway, I have mentioned a lot about this city in a number of my blog entries. I shall soon be back with some interesting musings soon... Till then I leave you with the popular adage...."You can take a man out of Mumbai but you can never take Mumbai out of a man!"

Have fun watching these!!!

http://www.geobeats.com/videoclips/alldestinations/india/mumbai

Mumb(h)ai!!

2007-06-21T21:01:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine recently sent out this link. After going through it I realized the wonder that was Mumbai.

Set into 10 parts, this documentary takes you through the business capital of the country, it's lifelines, it's dabbawallahs- case studies of whose buisness model are being studied in some of the best business schools, it's sea link- a modern day civil engineering marvel. I am sure it'll invoke a great sense of pride!

Watch it...feel it..enjoy it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErjpC_42vcA

(Sh)It happens only in India!!

2007-05-24T14:57:00.000-07:00

I came across this article a while ago and burst out laughing. These things happen only in our country!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6620461.stm

Jokes apart, the most annoying this is how no-one claimed responsibility for the incident. I hoped that the salvage trucks would have been rushed into duty or atleast some heavy machinery would have been employed to remove the plane from the already congested and choked Mumbai streets.

Just wanted to post this article and let you guys read on for yourself. Oh and don't go around teling me to claim any responsibility! I'm just an innocent blogger!!

Luxury to Poverty..All in a blog!

2007-05-10T15:24:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to view the day to day activities that happen at Deep Griha Society in Pune courtesy my sis who went there. I would like to mention that at this time, I am humbled more than ever. As modernization engulfs the world, people tend to get lost in the materialistic world to no ends.

We need to be thankful for the presence we have in society, a good education provided by our parents, who burn the midnight oil to make ends meet. Seeing these children at Deep Griha Society was an eye opener on the hardships the young children go through. Most of them being orphans, completely rely on the institution for their food, clothing and shelter-essentials we take for granted.

They say that "Luxury becomes a necessity when the neighbourhood has it". How true! The picture above shows that young minds of tomorrow are still in dire poverty. We talk at length about globalization and economic foundations, but can't we dedicate a small portion of our wallets for these kids? There is another instituition "Udavum Karangal"-translated to helping hands. This organization is based in Chennai and is doing very good work to feed, educate and shelter orphaned kids. There are plenty of selfless social workers who dedicate their lives for these kids. Blessed are these people who give expecting nothing in return.

I am not urging anyone to donate any money. Nor am I propagating any organization. All I am asking is to take some time off to think about the world outside shopping malls and excessive spending. I am sure you will get lost in introspection. Just like me...

Anyway, on a lighter note..hearty congratulations to my sis, who became a graduate with honours. Welcome to the world of ignorance....But then again it is bliss ain't it???

Something To Me...

2007-05-05T18:06:00.000-07:00

This will bundle up a few thoughts that I'd been gathering purely for the purpose of blogging!I guess I'm getting the groove alright!This list will be a mixed bag of both serious and casual remarks,so don't get overly bored!I'll try to keep it as exciting as possible.

Introspection to me is....A means of discovery
Life to me is....A quest for a destination we do not know
Bliss to me is....Taking a leak after holding for long
Romance to me is....An act that happens only once in a lifetime
Failure to me is....A motivation to stand up and try again
Motivation to me is....A urge to accomplish something
Beauty to me is....Maharani Gayatri Devi
Raunchy to me is....Silk Smitha
Grace to me is....A tiger stalking it's prey
Ecstasy to me is....Watching a BMW whizz by
Team to me is....Something you belong to.Something you have to earn
Work to me is.....An everyday survival
Knowledge to me is....A relative affair which makes you want to bury yourself
Pain to me is....Seeing children without parents
Security to me is....Knowledge that your family is behind you
Support to me is....A person whom you can call anytime,to talk about anything
Family to me is....Something that cannot be described in words
Friends to me is....A rare combination of quality and quantity
Culture to me is....Something that runs within you
Sprituality to me is....Something that will always elude me
Uneasiness to me is....A feeling of rejection when proposing to a girl
Music to me is....Mark Knopfler
God to me is....An illusion that's a sure reality
Fear to me is....A feeling that can only be explained by the Supernatural
Success to me is....Shortlived because you will soon find shortcomings in it
Analysis to me is....A introspection on this post

I have listed mine.Have you done the same?

Whose Mumbai Is It Anyway?

2007-05-05T14:39:00.000-07:00

I recently went through this article that claimed that Mumbai has lost it's Marathi Ethos.After having read it,I could not agree with the author less.

The author talks about how the once Maratha dominated Mumbai is now the field of play for every Indian from all across the country.In this context,he feels that the glory that used to synonimous with the city is now on the decline.The city of textile mills,according to him,has been swept by an array of multi-storied buildings and in the process of globalization,has lost it's identity.

I have been one of the "outsiders" to city.Having spent the better part of my life here,I have actually seen the city evolve and develop into the powerhouse it is today.On some occasions,even New York City comes a far second compared to Aamchi Mumbai.I am sure there will be thousands like me who support my view.

The Parsis turned this city to a financial hub.The mantle was carried on by industrialist J.R.D.Tata,then Dhirubhai Ambani,then the Birlas and the trend continues to grow with Ratan Tata,Kumaramangalam Birla,Mukesh and Anil Ambani.These people put the city and eventually the country on the global map.

What is it about the city that draws people to it like a moth to a flame?The vibrance,the acceptance by it's people and above all the never say die attitude of the inhabitants of this wonderful wonderful city.The author in the column goes on to add that during the bomb blasts,only the people of the chawls came to the rescue of the affected.While I agree with him on the fact that these people were there to help first but the others were not far behind.I was there when the blasts happened.I could see the city being overcome by humanitarian approaches.For once,walls of society were broken.A lot of innocent people shought refuge behind sheltered environments and not once was the hierarchical order brought into play.It is during these times that we forget our positions in society to help human-kind.

During the recent train blasts,I was overjoyed to see Mumbai take to the street to help the victims.I know that nowhere in the world will you see such compassion.So to disagree with the author that Mumbai has lost itself to non-Maharashtrians,I would like to add that Mumbai has rediscovered herself in new hands!

It is important in this age to progress rapidly with technologial advances.But,if we remember our roots,our origination,our culture,we are doing more than our share of keeping the spirit of India alive.To sit back and revel at the past and brooding over it is an act of foolishness.But to remember that past and move on..that's progress.

I am an Indian,born in the temple city of Madurai,spent my pre-teens in New Delhi,tempered in Mumbai and surviving in USA.I represent the spirit of Mumbai.I am a Mumbaikar!

Why a Desi?

2007-05-03T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's almost been 2 years in the big bad USA for me and two long years away from the land I call home.I have been meaning to write these thoughts for a while now but now I have a medium!

Almost every Indian who comes here tries to inculcate practices and customs followed by the Americans.It's almost tailor made because we hear so much about the "western civilization" that we adopt it subconsciously.We know every state in USA before we know our own!Pubs,night clubs,strip clubs..you name it we have heard of it!

An extremely annoying thing is the way we try to find fault in the culture and the land that's in our blood.Once an Indian sets his ass on American soil,he tries to bring down fellow Indians so that he can fit into the "American culture".Is this something we do for kicks?If an Indian crosses the street when the lights are not in his favour,how many of you go,"I know it!That guy is an Indian"?Well,the next time you become all judgmental imagine the shit you were in when you got here.We criticize the Indian government for the chaos the nation is in.Every country is in shit.Just that one uses toilet paper while the other uses hands!

How many of you call a fellow Indian DESI???Haha..this must be good!I can see people hiding their faces as I type!Oh,he does not have a car....he's a Desi.Oh,he writes colour instead of color..must be a Desi!Oh he wears a tshirt with trousers...must be a Desi.WTF is wrong with you people??

I agree that it becomes difficult to adjust to new environment when you come from conservative backgrounds.Just for a moment think that you were in the same position not so long ago!So why the double standards?

This attitude is pathetic and sad.To bring down a fellow Indian just to mingle and look good amongst others is something we have been very good at!Why can't we treat our countrymen with the same respect?Why do we pour our compliments to people here?

Some things to muse and fuse your brains!

My first blog!!

2007-05-01T17:09:00.000-07:00

Yipeee....I never knew this was so easy!

So to begin with,do not feel scared or overly "excited" about the blog title.Stupid google returned invalid results for every f!@#$%^ word I typed.Just then the idea of being original came to mind.So underwearemotions was born!Please do not think double meaning and all....I swear to god..me good boy..None of my friends will swear by that!

So why the new blog=your question..Hmm..Inspiration from another friend=my answer.Anyhoo,having taken a LOT of pain in creating this blog,I have to go through even more pain in keeping it alive.So immediately after me postings,you replyings.OK?

Next hardest thing...to talk..oh ,blog about a topic.Sharry...new boy you see.No knowings of lingos yet!

It is every person's dream to "un-work" at work.This does not mean redo the work you did.I would have said re-work then!I have been fortunate to have done that for 9 months.The best part is that you get paid for it.A lot of less fortunate folks look at other means to derive pleasure at work.Sightings the figure in the next to next to next desk->Getting no response from her->not giving up hope and retrying the same thing again tomorrow.Damn,I want that!Not that I want work..but I should feel satisfied at the end of doing nothing productive.

As engineers(if I can call myself that!),we are trained to optimize everything.With the best free advice given by many many people(parents and teachers especially included),we continue to optimize on a lot of things.Food,sleep,figure/dude sightings are examples.So it is by default that we need to optimize un-work!Agree with me here.The more support I get,the more productive and optimized at work I can be!

So far,I have managed a lot of random bakwaas.I just realized that to blog,you need to have a clear picture of the topic in mind.Since this is my first blog while I'm "optimizing" at work,echoos me!

Well,that's about it on this one.I have come up with a lot of topics and thoughts over the past couple of days and it's just a matter of time before I put pen on paper...or in this case keyboard on monitor!See you guys soon.