A change in perspective: Getting a Job!

A change in perspective: Getting a Job!: "There was a time when people went from one office to another looking for a job. Government jobs were the 'in' thing. Things have changed th..."

The Great Chennai City Guide ~ over a Cuppa Filter Cofeee and Saambhar Vadai.

Having lived in the overwhelming metropolis of Chennai for almost two years, here are some survival tips, general information, do's and don'ts  for newbies:

The moment you step outside into the open, you ll realize with immediate effect that Chennai is a beautiful city with all three climates ~ hot, Hotter, HOTTEST! These three seasons rotate cyclically without leaving the slightest probability for the occurrence of  intermittent showers for months together. In case such showers occur, the temperature goes down by a half or quarter degree. But your Machan friend will tell you that you have no cause to worry; all Chennaiites are fervently praying for relief from the intense cold. But till then you could use his spare monkey cap and Blazer.
You could opt for the public transport to reach your place. These buses are quite economical and the MTC has made all possible arrangements for the ease of passengers. In case you don't know Tamil, you could read the bilingual electronic boards on the buses that exhibit the end destination as well as the route of the bus. Err.. that is if you are lucky enough and your timing matches the English version of the essay exhibit that scrolls at a speed slower than the proverbial snail. Else you can run behind the bus waiting for the Tamil version to end which, to happen, will take an eternity. But even for such a contingency, passengers could use the brilliant system of bus numbers*.  
*Conditions Apply: Unless you want to prolong your trip or escalate its status to one of adventure, I would advice you to be doubly careful with numbers. Eg. E18 bus goes to Guduvanchery, whereas 18E goes to Ramapuram  and both places are almost 50 kms. apart. Oh! Also watch out for the bus number crossed by a thin almost invisible line, which means that the bus will go to yet another location.

Chennai is a very helpful city. An angel with the khaki unbuttoned shirt would have loaded your luggage in his auto even before you considered it as an option. Please have at least the minimum sense of courtesy, say: "Nandri Anna" (meaning Thanks Brother). "Enge Ponum?", he will ask. (Where do you want to go?). And then you will realize that not all that glitters is gold. My advise: Say Courtesy, my foot and start haggling! The auto-drivers will have you believe all the following things:  All the roads in Chennai are one ways. All are jammed, some accident has taken place on all the roads due to which a round-about route has to be resorted to, all are heavily manned by police. There are no U turns and the CM's parade is passing through all the flyovers and underpasses at the same time. The auto-drivers live by the adage, I am I. Their application of logic is by no means questionable.
According to them it will cost you less to call an auto from the stand than to hire a returning one that happens to cross your residence! The closer you are to your destination, the more the charges! ~ are mere snippets doctrines that I have always been at a loss to explain and my auto-wallah is tired of explaining it to me.

The confusing pandemonium that the roads in Chennai are has been beautifully explained on an earlier post here. Negotiating the traffic might be a term anywhere else, but people in Chennai take it too seriously. In fact here most people are busy negotiating rather than driving. I have, on many an occasion seen traffic held up due to a negotiation, either friendly or otherwise between two bus-drivers or auto-wallahs. But after all civility is a thing ~ especially among neighbors (which sometimes even extends to their dogs that they take around with them) ~ that you can't really accuse that they inadvertently cause blocks and once in a while accidents too!! So please beware when you are taking a shortcut through Mylapore or Annanagar. Or better buy a road-roller for a vehicle. (Side-effects: The vehicle will drink petrol like Pepsi and you better start a bit early. But after all its risk-less, a concept that appeals to all middle-class Chennaiites)

One must not miss the opportunity to taste the sambhar-vadai, or the half-a-million varieties of Dosais or the Filter coffee at reputed chains like the Saravana Bhavan etc. You must place your order ~ if you can call it an order ~ by almost begging for food, reminding the waiter every time he passes by your place and in some situations even buttering him up a bit!! In case you decide to tell him to hurry up as you have to go somewhere, better be prepared with a story to back your statement up as the chances are high that the waiter may ask you the reason too. (Don't worry, the process is very similar to the way you ask for leave from your boss) But as I said times are changing and the process is being refined. I am sure that in a  couple of years people who want to have food in such restaurants might well be expected to bring in an application letter for being allotted a table along with a letter addressed to the waiter substituting the practice of ordering.

And at the end of all this begging, waiting, understanding...they will say "Chennai Super Kings k aaghe whistle podu" The voice sounds familiar though the appearance of Ranchi cricketer MS Dhoni in a lungi is a compliment in disguise to the typically non-superfluous ways of this city. And then you suddenly realize that no matter what, there is a strange flavor to this city - the saltiness of its Marina beach, the busy High Court inter-junction, the sweat of its sultry heat, the familiar 'dae machan', the rush at Satyam, the MCD at Skywalk, the temple at Mylapore, the delicious smell at the Vasantha Bhavan in Tambaram, the interiors at the Barbecue Nation near T.Nagar......... there is something about this city that sticks on to you.
So Chennai k Aaghe Nejama whistle podalam ne nanikeren!! Pode MaCHA  (I think, Chennai deserves a whistle after all, Come on Man!!!) Apidi pode ....... pode .....pode ..... Apidi pode ..........

*This post is dedicated to the loving memory of my dearest friends Sathyanarayanan (Sato) and Ravi Shankar (Bhaiyya), both of whom I lost on the 23rd of May, 2010. You both will continue to live in my heart now and for ever for without your point of view, I could have never loved Chennai even as much as I do. May you both rest in peace.

Have a laugh!

Oh! Just look at this flash video. Its simply superb. Kudos to the people who made it. Helped me laugh. I am sure all of you will like it.

*Please click PLAY .. sit back and enjoy.

Le- Paradizei, My two years at Chennai - I, a preface.

Like some of my not-so-fortunate friends, and most certainly unfortunate me, Nikhil had a tough time in during the short trip in Chennai. He has chosen to relate his trauma here. Please don't ask me why he chose to call Chennai "Samsland". I have no idea.
I shall soon write down, probably in great detail of the numerous adventures and misadventures that happened with and to me in the Box-Spiral City..(see their script that stares you in the face everywhere). But two things: like Nikhil has wisely said, his post is a comic satire and not meant to provoke anyone - (for that matter local script will stare you in the face till you train your mind to read it.. what else can the poor script do?), and Chennai is a beautiful city with its unique features like any other city almost anywhere, which is soaked in the richness of culture as its Nai dosa is soaked in Ghee!

mADhatTerS

I was searching for some quick-bits for my readers when I came across the world's easiest quiz. Indeed the world is a crazy place to live in, and I fear that some day all of us so-called 'normal' people would be branded insane if this be the standard of our ridiculousness:

 

WORLD's EASIEST QUIZ:   (Passing requires only 3 correct answers out of 10!)  

 

1) How long did the Hundred Years' War last ?

2) Which country makes Panama hats ?

3) From which animal do we get cat gut ?

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution ?

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of ?

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal ?

7) What was King George VI's first name ?

8) What color is a purple finch ?

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from ?

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane ?

 

Before I proceed let me remind you once again that you need only 3 correct answers to

pass this quiz. 

 

ANSWERS:

 

1) How long did the Hundred Years War last ? ANS: Obviously 116 years

2) Which country makes Panama hats ? ANS: Ecuador

3) From which animal do we get cat gut ? ANS: Any donkey would know that it comes from Sheep and Horses

4) In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution ? ANS: When else do they have time? Like normal people they celebrate it in November

5) What is a camel's hair brush made of ? ANS: Donated by its best friend the Squirrel ('s fur)

6) The Canary Islands in the Pacific are named after what animal ? ANS: Dogs, is the right answer. If you did not get that you are one yourself.

 

7) What was King George VI's first name ? ANS: Admitted, this is a bit tough. It was Albert

8) What color is a purple finch ? ANS: Come on now. You can't  be so dumb. It's CRIMSON. Are you blind or something?

9) Where are Chinese gooseberries from ? ANS: Where else can they get them at feather-weight prices, than New Zealand.

10) What is the color of the black box in a commercial airplane ? ANS: Oh! This one is a sitter..ORANGE of course!!

*All the questions asked herein are true and not fictitious in nature. Any co-incidences, verification matches and authentications are very much possible. All places, animals, names, colors mentioned herein are real and might have all types of connection with anybody or anything dead or living. 

# Many many thanks for the inputs to Mr, Praveen Kumar C.

 

Driving the DIVINE INDIAN WAY < by Mr. Amit Banerjee >

I could not stop admiring this post and could not trace its link. So, hoping that I am not trespassing into copyrighted territory, and with full credit to the person who is probably its author, I am posting it here.
Hope you guys will enjoy it as much as I did. On Chennai roads at least most of it is true.

- DRIVING – DEVINE INDIAN WAY

Driving in India For the benefit of every Tom, Dick and Harry visiting India and daring to drive on Indian roads, I am offering a few hints for survival. They are applicable to every place in India except Bihar, where life outside a vehicle is only marginally safer.
Indian road rules broadly operate within the domain of karma where you do your best, and leave the results to your insurance company. The hints are as follows:
Do we drive on the left or right of the road?
The answer is "both". Basically you start on the left of the road, unless it is occupied. In that case, go to the right, unless that is also occupied. Then proceed by occupying the next available gap, as in chess. Just trust your instincts, ascertain the direction, and proceed. Adherence to road rules leads to much misery and occasional fatality. Most drivers don't drive, but just aim their vehicles in the intended direction. Don't you get discouraged or underestimate yourself except for a belief in reincarnation; the other drivers are not in any better position.
Don't stop at pedestrian crossings just because some fool wants to cross the road. You may do so only if you enjoy being bumped in the back. Pedestrians have been strictly instructed to cross only when traffic is moving slowly or has come to a dead stop because some minister is in town. Still some idiot may try to wade across, but then, let us not talk ill of the dead.
Blowing your horn is not a sign of protest as in some countries. We horn to express joy, resentment, frustration, romance and bare lust (two brisk blasts), or, just mobilize a dozing cow in the middle of the bazaar.
Keep informative books in the glove compartment. You may read them during traffic jams, while awaiting the chief minister's motorcade, or waiting for the rainwaters to recede when over ground traffic meets underground drainage.
Occasionally you might see what looks like a UFO with blinking colored lights and weird sounds emanating from within. This is an illuminated bus, full of happy pilgrims singing bhajans. These pilgrims go at breakneck speed, seeking contact with the Almighty, often meeting with success.
Auto Rickshaw (Baby Taxi): The result of a collision between a rickshaw and an automobile, this three-wheeled vehicle works on an external combustion engine that runs on a mixture of kerosene oil and creosote. This triangular vehicle carries iron rods, gas cylinders or passengers three times its weight and dimension, at an unspecified fare. After careful geometric calculations, children are folded and packed into these auto rickshaws until some children in the periphery are not in contact with the vehicle at all. Then their school bags are pushed into the microscopic gaps all round so those minor collisions with other vehicles on the road cause no permanent damage. Of course, the peripheral children are charged half the fare and also learn Newton's laws of motion en route to school. Auto-rickshaw drivers follow the road rules depicted in the film Ben Hur, and are licensed to irritate.
Mopeds: The moped looks like an oil tin on wheels and makes noise like an electric shaver. It runs 30 miles on a teaspoon of petrol and travels at break-bottom speed. As the sides of the road are too rough for a ride, the moped drivers tend to drive in the middle of the road; they would rather drive under heavier vehicles instead of around them and are often "mopped" off the tarmac.
Leaning Tower of Passes: Most bus passengers are given free passes and during rush hours, there is absolute mayhem. There are passengers hanging off other passengers, who in turn hang off the railings and the overloaded bus leans dangerously, defying laws of gravity but obeying laws of surface tension. As drivers get paid for overload (so many Rupees per kg of passenger), no questions are ever asked. Steer clear of these buses by a width of three passengers.
One-way Street: These boards are put up by traffic people to add jest in their otherwise drab lives. Don't stick to the literal meaning and proceed in one direction. In metaphysical terms, it means that you cannot proceed in two directions at once. So drive, as you like, in reverse throughout, if you are the fussy type. Least I sound hypercritical; I must add a positive point also. Rash and fast driving in residential areas has been prevented by providing a "speed breaker"; two for each house.
This mound, incidentally, covers the water and drainage pipes for that residence and is left untarred for easy identification by the corporation authorities, should they want to recover the pipe for year-end accounting.
Night driving on Indian roads can be an exhilarating experience (for those with the mental makeup of Chenghis Khan). In a way, it is like playing Russian roulette, because you do not know who amongst the drivers is loaded. What looks like premature dawn on the horizon turns out to be a truck attempting a speed record. On encountering it, just pull partly into the field adjoining the road until the phenomenon passes. Our roads do not have shoulders, but occasional boulders. Do not blink your lights expecting reciprocation. The only dim thing in the truck is the driver, and with the peg of illicit arrack (alcohol) he has had at the last stop, his total cerebral functions add up to little more than a naught.
Truck drivers are the James Bonds of India, and are licensed to kill. Often you may encounter a single powerful beam of light about six feet above the ground. This is not a super motorbike, but a truck approaching you with a single light on, usually the left one. It could be the right one, but never get too close to investigate. You may prove your point posthumously. Of course, all this occurs at night, on the trunk roads. During the daytime, trucks are more visible, except that the drivers will never show any Signal. (And you must watch for the absent signals; they are the greater threat). Only, you will often observe that the cleaner who sits next to the driver, will project his hand and wave hysterically.
This is definitely not to be construed as a signal for a left turn. The waving is just a statement of physical relief on a hot day.
If, after all this, you still want to drive in India, have your lessons between 8 pm and 11 am-when the police have gone home and The citizen is then free to enjoy the 'FREEDOM OF SPEED' enshrined in our constitution.

VISHUDINA AASHAMSAKAL ! HAPPY VISHU!!

On the happy occasion of Vishu, I would like to thank all my readers who have made this blog their favorite hangout. I hope that this new year sees all of you in good health enjoying prosperity and peace. Let me also take the opportunity towelcome the new readers to The Garden of Eden.  Happy reading !

Adam and Eve...Burqa-nasheen

She wore a black burqa, held a Nokia phone in her left hand and walked past me in the wee hours of the morning yesterday. I stood at the door of my home looking at her enveloped form thinking "does the first train to Chennai Park arrive now?" "will my friends, Myank, Pati and Nishant make it conveniently here?".....humming "En Idayam ... Hossana...Hellllo o o..."    "Helloo o" "Hello o". "Hello Sir, excuse me!", she said. "Could you please tell me where the Police Station is?"..."Oh! There", I pointed out. She looked at the bi-lingual board, and apparently was taken aback. "Oh! Okay. Sorry I did not notice it." I saw her deep round eyes as she batted them for a while, seemingly embarrassed at the omission. Then in a brisk, sudden movement she turned and started walking toward the building she was looking for. In a couple of minutes her puffed black form was shielded from vision by the opaque concrete walls.

As I turned I thought.......


Doesn't a woman's being "in wraps" endanger the relative position of others in the society with whom she interacts or converses? For instance the girl who talked to me yesterday, knows how I look, what exactly my features are, what wristwatch I was wearing, how my expressions are, whether or not I have a mustache, how exactly I sound (my sound is not muffed, unlike her's) etc. If you consider that we both used the same amount of time and effort to speak to one another, it seems naturally unfair that she should have a natural relative information advantage just because she is a woman and a Muslim together. She could file a more accurate information report about me than vice-versa. So even while talking to you she remains disguised, covered and concealed and hence she does not allow a level playing field in even a potentially harmless natural conversation.
In a public place a "purdahnasheen" woman has no identity. She is can not recognized, identified or described. She, even in the real world, lives a virtual entity. She does not have a face or features. She suffers what can be the most blatant and perverse kind of sexual objectivity. She lives in a world where she is treated as a shapeless, formless creature where the only thing that she lives by is the identification that she is Muslim and a woman simultaneously.
I ll keep back my comments till I receive feedback on what has been told till now.
You might also look this post up.

The balance of life. Context: Forgiving.

I have reasons to believe that despite the civilization and development brought about by time to man's thought process, basic survival instincts and strategies have pretty much remained unchanged. The "jungle raj" still exists among the hectic activity of modern life and life sustaining activities. It is imperative that man remains cautious, else even today he will be annihilated. if you compare this to the "law of the jungle" where all animals big or small have to remain cautious in order to survive, you would find it strikingly similar. In our daily lives, within colleges, offices,home, playground, pubs and not to mention during times of war, we are all indulged in self protection and self preservation by making our ground stronger and no matter how strong we are there is still a threat (like in the jungle food chain where no matter where you are in the food chain there is always a hunter and you are always the prey). You stop being hunter the nanosecond you lose focus and caution. That moment you become the PREY -  no matter who you are. Rajiv Gandhi was PM, India when he lost caution, America's Pacific Fleet was the strongest fleet in the World when they were caught sleeping in Pearl Harbor, Brazil lost focus for a nano-second when France's Zidane struck them and stole the World Cup of 1999...examples are innumerable.

In my life I decided to be cautious due to various circumstances I and my family have faced over the years and it has stood me in good heels. In most situations, I have always worked form an advantage and never allowed considerable laxity in my vigil. But it is not humanly possible to continue relentless surveillance against getting cheated, against mistrust, against the wolf in sheep's clothing. And there steps in a thing called "trust".

You trust a person because you need time off from this fight. And you need an ally, in fact you need many allies. Family, friends, lovers etc. are important because if they backfire they can cost maximum damage. Heard the adage, Known devil is better than unknown angel? When I trust someone, I give him or her my best, contribute to the relationship, make adjustments as required and give cover fire. All I ask in return is trustworthiness as I know that many may not be able to give the amount of commitment I give.

But some make the deadly mistake of treason. And that is something that doesn't classify for me as a mistake. Hence there is no forgiving it. For me treason means that the person lacks humanity. Even dogs are loyal to their masters who in some cases may feed them meagerly. Why are human beings (supposedly a superior class) not being able to even emulate their inferior brotheren?

And distrust needs retaliation. And when it comes to retaliation (apart from exceptional cases) I ensure that consequences are not exactly what you would not call awful. I am a good friend but a better enemy, I say and I mean it.

And as far as forgiveness from God goes, I have forgiven enough people to earn it. To forgive a person who has drilled a hole right through your back is to endow him powers to complete what he couldn't initially. And life gives only one chance. And if forgiving was the sole objective of mankind why would the Mahabharata war happen? Couldn't Krishna advice Arjuna to forgive his cousins (in fact Arjuna volunteer's for it)? Why did Jesus rebuke Mary even while carrying the cross to his death, couldn't he have forgiven her? Or for that matter why doesn't God forgive us all and open the gates of heaven without any discriminating criteria? Wouldn't it be much more easy to forgive everyone for their sins? (especially for God in this case).

Leave God, among human beings Gandhi is one key apostle who both preached and practiced forgiveness and non-violence through his ideal of Sathyagraha. When a girl once approached Gandhiji in Kolkata and asked him, "Bapu, you talk about forgiving and non-violent behavior; what should I do if when I am crossing the lane to my house, the guys tease me and touch me where they shouldn't. Gandhi's unequivocal response was, "Beti, I would advice you to take out your slipper and beat them, irrespective of consequences".

Sometimes, forgive is just a word. It means nothing. Because the opposing entity is too big. And treason is probably as big as it could get.

I am a good friend but a better enemy.

A 2010 Love story - Vinnaithandi Varuvaya. (Will you come past the clouds?)

Note: Though this is a Tamil movie, I would request my readers to read this post. After all who doesn't like listening to stories?

'Out of all the girls in this wide vast world why did I love Jessie?', asks Karthick. The same doubt resounds again and again like the reverberation of the Nile amidst the rocky Greek terrain it flows through. In fact even Jessie too asks him the same question. And the answer is ... a smile (coupled with a nod of the head, if you could call that an answer). 

A bit of foreword before I continue further: 

Silambarasan -  the pervert, was the first opinion of the lead actor that I had heard. Strengthened by the numerous scandalous videos that appear as soon as you type in his name in You Tube and convinced by friends who said that the father-son duo only believed in making movies that were derogatory in nature, I decided to keep away from all Simbu movies. But if anything, Vinaithandi Varuvaya shows Simbu's potential as an actor. Though I am not sure if I should hand over the bulk of the credit to director Gautham Menon. 

The movie shot against the picturesque silhouette of Alapuzha and a few shots in hitherto undiscovered Malta, is a visual treat. I was not so impressed by the graphics of Avatar as by the shots of VV. Music deserves no comments as it has been under the care of Academy award and Oscar winner AR Rahman. Deservingly, the music release was held in London and not even in India. The track Hossanna is already at the top of the charts. Kudos team!!

The story still remains 'a typical love story'. But the stealthy charm to VV is characterised by its simplicity that touches the heart without a word being spoken. What with Jessy's run-of-the-mill Polaris job as a software analyst in a blue and white saree and the laptop bag slung over her shoulder walking fast to catch the office bus, what with cinematographer Ganesh's ordinary looks and humble humorous nature, what with Karthick's blue Pulsar bike, the film smells of simplicity with not much melodrama normal Tamil films are guilty of. Even the story is so simple, the guy and girl from diverse family backgrounds love each other, the brother and father of the girl play the typical villans and there is a bit of fight and commotion as well. Then when everything seems to fall in place there is the question of practicality and career interests. Obviously, to keep it a bit different the wily Menon has added a twist to the end. But the film doesn't fail to touch the heart. 

I heard that the movie has something to do with Menon's own life and that it can be safely said that not everything about the movie is pure fiction. 

The movie - both its versions - with the twist and without - make for a good watch. 

But the question still remains and that is what I would like to ask all of you too:

Out of all the girls in the world, why did I love Jessy? (*fill in the name of the girl you love)

Books v/s books

Much has been said about the inadequacy of the current education system. But look at Dev's viewpoint of studying here. I think it is innovative to say the least though not sure of its practical propositioning.
I liked the guy's thinking a lot.

Emerging India.

I am responding to Suvro Sir's call for debate on this topic. Last time I read the post, I made a great mistake - of clicking on the links mentioned as precedents. Human mind keeps on wavering, I kept reflecting on the ideas mentioned therein so much so that I had exhausted my "blogging break". But every cloud has a silver lining; I think I have better clarity on the topic because I have thought about diverse opinions that have already come in.

Forget the jig-saw puzzle of politics, the stampede for an engineering seat, the ever speeding race for relative advantage, the rotting values, increasing crimes, hatred, tension, pollution...................SILENCE!
STOP........REWIND>>>>>>>> RETAKE.

I want to live in an India where I am I. Where my body finds a home, my mind finds peace and my soul finds expression. Just that, nothing more. Let me explain.

I wish to live in India - where my body finds a home.
I was brought up in Durgapur and all throughout I have lived in R-II/44, Housing Colony. On numerous occasions my parents have contemplated a change in location but have been dissuaded from doing so possibly due to my strong attachment and love for my home. I just want my India to provide the facilities that R-II/44 could!
My home provided us with the basic need of shelter and protection from various natural disasters and more often from unfavorable weather conditions. But more importantly, I could invite my friends over for a cup of coffee or a game of chess without fear or without permission. Sadly being an Indian, I can not invite a Pakistani to tea without inviting unwanted attention. Suvro Sir talks about how his daughter brought an infant puppy home. In my childhood I remember bringing home puppies and kittens. Though the kittens often stole milk from the kitchen and ran away, I could still unabashedly bring more in. Sadly India today warns the Dalai Lama and keeps his activities under surveillance, cannot protect the basic right to free expression of thought of Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen and frustrates MF Hussain to surrender Indian citizenship. On the other hand in R-II/44, all this was possible because my home was strong and my parents were almost angels exhibiting to me the highest standards of humanity. I wish I could have the privilege of living in an India that is strong inside but humble outside, is strict like a father and enforces discipline but loves and cares like a mother who is ready to forgive when it is necessary. I wish to see an India that adheres to the saying: "athithi devobhava" and treats all that seek refuge equally and without fear or prejudice.

Where my mind finds peace:
Such is the enormous impact of the green bills that it had become the fulcrum of all human activity. I am just doing my Masters in Business Administration but even at this level I can see numerous of my classmates doing things that cannot be associated with them or their. Our purchases now a days are biased by innumerable advertisements that boldly and repeatedly scream out lies. Our opinions are played upon by the press that cannot be relied on any longer. Our living style influenced by ridiculous diktats from people who have been repeatedly victims (and in some cases intentional propagators) of "wardrobe malfunctions".
To keep the mind stable amidst all this clutter, people need "gurus" and "Babas". No wonder that Sri Ravishankarji's The Art of Living is such a big hit with the average Indian.
In spite of constitutionally being declared a secular country we have dual principles where one of our central ruling alliances is known to be communal in nature. One scion of the Gandhi family - Varun Gandhi, goes to jail his remarks against the Muslims, while Gandhi himself spent the last few days of his life advocating unity.
Our mind is full of news - corruption, bribery, scams, politics, currency garlands, Oscar, movies, affairs, Page 3,.........where is the mental space to think about proper ideas, poetry, scientific innovations or even mere observation? So much so today THOUGHT itself is missing. We choose to be listeners and then without thinking or further research on the subject amateur talk.
Chatter.. patter.. blah ..blah.. did you know Mrs. Chopra..?..he is like that.... Sonia eats pork and beef.........plastics are bad for health.. no no who said...@#$%(*@##......
SILENCE.
I NEED an INDIA where the mind will be at peace.

Soul finds expression:
.... I don't have words to explain this part. The day my soul finds expression, is when I can air my views without fear, and without bias of any sort. That I can do when my body is protected and my mind at peace. Only then TRUTH will pluck the strings of my soul and compose the melody of Love. I shall wait for that day.

Or will it be in vain?

Quotes: on Tendulkar

"Nothing bad can happen to us if we're on a plane in India with Sachin Tendulkar on it."
- Hashim Amla, the South African batsman, reassures himself as he boards a flight


22 more to go... read on!

Sachin's Double Ton : Kudos!

Who can forget the Boxing Day Test in 1999? India was visiting Australia and the series truly predicted to be a clash of the titans was being fed live to numerous cricket enthusiasts all round the world. Sachin Tendulkar, by then arguably the greatest legend in cricketing history, was displaying his batting prowess. From the bowler’s end a lanky pace-man was charging in. Rodney Marsh’s latest talent excavation, the boy from Australian beach track with a characteristic toothpaste smile, was called Brett Lee. Lee’s incredible pace broke the back of the visiting men in blue as he ended with 5 – 47. Tendulkar, had fought on with his sweeps and drives amassing 116 and 52 but could not stop the visitors from losing by around 167 runs.
11 years later destiny saw these two men once again, eye-to-eye. Brett Lee, by now had more than 300 wickets in his kitty had had gone ahead to become the fourth highest wicket taker for his country signing in his name just behind Dennis Lillee, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath. But that day, the 26th of February, 2010, while Sachin Tendulkar in Gwalior blazed off to yet another high – founding the elite, hitherto unheard club of a double ton in an ODI, Brett Lee was the bleak picture of a gladiator fighting a cage fight. In his desperate effort to stay afloat in the cricketing world, Lee had decided to amputate his involvement in the longer version of the game to save his chances at the ODI version. Fortunes had been reversed as the maestro in the Blue jersey number 10 looked towards the heavens above and Lee looked down after the announcement. In the words of noted columnist, Peter Roebuck, “Such are the cruel ironies and sweet pleasures of sport.”
Sachin has been one player who has seen sportsmen emerge as stars and then prove to be mere meteors as they die after a bright flash. And who could be a better example of that other than his own friend Vinod Kambli? Though Tendulkar is one hell of a classy player, it was not as if the world of cricket has not seen class and style before him or will not even after. Vivian Richards was a man whose presence could singlehandedly change the course of a match, but statistics tell us that his deliverables were determined by his mood. Steve Waugh fell as soon as his sport became a job (so did tennis icon Andre Agassi) and lived outside his comfort zone. Douglas Hondo fell to the sad political state of affairs in his country. Ganguly fell to overconfidence, though he returned from resting on his laurels and proved his worth, one last time – a big flicker of a flame before it goes out. Andrew Flintoff and Shane Bond already have hung up half their boots too. There are others in the arena still, most notably, West Indian Brian Lara and Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasurya who are still taken note of but none have the durability and the endurance of the little master.
Even otherwise, Sachin has been a success. Lee’s image received a severe blow with his divorce from Liz Kemp, Tiger Woods’ media partners are scampering for shelter after his infidelity came to light following a traffic accident, Cheryl and Ashley Cole are having their share of “irreconcilable” problems. Sachin has been happily married and thankfully hasn’t felt entitled to bow to temptations till now. And I am sure that everything in his life has been worth the wait - even the double hundred.
It is surely not easy being Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Definitely, if cricket is religion, Sachin is GOD!

The Curious Case of Rotten Deemed Varsities.

HEADLINES:

18 Jan., 1996 - Lisa Marie Presley files for divorce from Michael Jackson.

18 Jan., 2010 - Indian Govt. files for divorce from erring Deemed Varsities.

18^th of January marked a disastrous turn-around in MJ's life after which nothing was pretty much the same. The King of Pop, subsequently, was left running from one controversy to another till he was finally laid to rest at the Forest Lawn Mausoleum in 2009. Came 18^th of January once again 14 years later and the honeymoon tryst between the UGC and Deemed Varsities in India came to an end.

Both events are similar yet different in their own ways. While both events are controversial and represent a turnaround, the latter (hopefully) will be for the better. My reactions:

Who's the idiot here?

A little while ago, I came across an interesting comment here about the movie '3 idiots' which offers to the reader an opposite perspective. The author is a Senior Editor of CNN IBN. This is my answer to what she has to say.

When a Father Prays

Of the many things that have attracted my attention of late, is the realization that I need to grow up as a better human being in order to have a credible chance at inspiring my children to do so. And naturally the question arises: "What is the definition of a perfect human being?" or "When can a parent be happy about having done a good job at raising a child, not a parasite?"
Brothers and sisters, Ladies and gentlemen, for many years this question was unanswered but I found the answer to this question, after roaming around half the world, in my father's study. I don't know the source, but regardless of whether my father wrote it by himself or whether he was inspired by someone, the fact that he has it hung as the only framed poster in his room makes me kneel humbly before my Dad and say: "Here's a Man!"

The poster reads, and read it very carefully my dear friends, for it comes from the sacred recesses of the heart of a father who lives on, his life a candle, diminishing as it burns in constant turmoil, but still giving light to his family. I might not have said this to you directly Dad, but in front of the whole wide world: You are the best. I am lucky to have you by me now and always. Acha, (that is what i call my Papa) I love you!