Graffiti on a Granite

The 'Dawn' Effect

2011-02-21T17:36:00.000-08:00

I have been a 'morning person' from times I can remember...I used to be waking up much earlier than any member of my clan including my parents...even during holidays or weekends I can't sleep more than 7'o clock! That has always been the case...and the thing I like about this ingrained habit of mine is that it comes with a a bundle of advantages, few of which are -

You feel real fresh and rejuvenated when you wake up early and take in a whiff of unpolluted air first thing in the morning. This is to be felt...so go ahead and try, in order to believe.
Secondly you get to orient your mind in a peaceful environ with the help of meditation or just by communing with nature, before entering into chaotic day to day life. The effect can be felt as the day goes by...you still get to be active when people start showing signs of fatigue.
Next you get to be real productive in the truest sense of the word as you start earlier than others. I always say to myself "Miles to go before I sleep" whenever I wake up or hit the bed...so much to do in so less time, so waking up gives you that edge over others definitely.
There is one major plus to waking up early is also that your brain is sharper and ready to receive the best you can send to it...the brahma muhurt period is supposedly very auspicious and conducive to study your favourite subjects...this can be a boon to the student community!
Last but not least it lets you chase your passions like singing or dancing or painting as in my case thereby providing a finer aspect of living a fulfilled life.

So go ahead, catch your z's early and see the benefits for yourself...!

Sleepless in South...

2011-02-06T16:26:00.000-08:00

Moving to South is an eventuality that awaits me given the nature of my aspirations and the environment that I long to have for myself and my family apart from the fact that I hail from TamilNadu...but I have come to realize that it comes with a price attached to it as well...

One such recent trip has confirmed that part of the bargain would be to get up early, like it or not...what came in as a blessing during my school days is not so much welcome to me suddenly! My mom promptly used to keep an alarm at 3 and wake us (myself and my brother) up during the pre-exam and exam days, give us a cuppa of steaming chai and let us study...even though I am a morning person, that was way too much and I used to doze off nicely but for the sudden checks that my sadist brother used to have on me opening my study stealthily to see if I am awake and studying...later by 4 am, I used to get the steady company of the loudspeakers with all top singers crooning to their favorite Gods and Goddesses based on the time of the year...

But now, when you are a working professional, you are so used to sleeping late and waking late, and I for one, want to sleep atleast till 6 so that I can function normally without any irritation the next day. But come to reality and you find that there are so many people ready to blare the loudspeaker first thing at 5 am in the morning and assure you are sleep deprived...I was in the hotel room and sat up right hearing the sudden increase of decibel :). First came MS with her divine recitation of Suprabhatam followed by Mahishasuramardini stotram by Sulamangalam sisters, then Unnikrishnan's Bharathiyar renditions...While this was happening, there were several other noises in the backdrop that finally got submerged in the hum of city life, and by then it was 6.20 and I knew I cannot go back and sleep like a baby :(

In spite of the Supreme Court giving strict orders on noise pollution, banning usage of loudspeakers between 10-6, no one seem to take this seriously here! After all, rules are meant to be broken!

This is a hard truth that set in me but assuming I want to do something worthy in my life, making use of that additional hour can be a boon...so here I am welcoming the sounds and shlokas in my life to make me 'what I am meant to be...!'

Quotations Freak...!

2011-01-15T08:59:00.001-08:00

It's a strange realization that dawned on me when my colleague pointed out the number of quotes I have surrounded myself at work yesterday....there it was...open for everyone to see; on my mini whiteboard - some scribble on a quote from Aristotle, one from Kabir from the bluish gray HelpAge India Calendar, a motivational tabletop calendar, a green-calendar with tips to go green, Dilberts quotes, and a screen saver too with quotes! Quotes everywhere...

Jeez, why I do surround myself with so many quotes? Have I turned into a sort of 'Quotations Freak'? Even if that's the case, what's wrong? Come to think of it, it all started with my optimistic notion that 'World is Good' despite of all things that one hear or sees or reads. Not all is lost...so when you are surrounded with workplace negativity and the negativity from hearing unwanted news around you, one would need a constant source to renew one's energy...and probably that was what I was aiming for unconsciously ...by helping myself with an ample serving of quotations...

It is so nice to start a conversation over a quote...it happens all the time with me, much to by surprise or even embarrassment (though it is not!) almost every other day someone stops by, cares to read what I have written and then comments on it whether I like it or not, and more often I have found that they smile at it and our conversation ends on a positive note. One day much to my astonishment, a colleague said that he reads drops by my cubicle everyday to read the quotations I write and to get a little dose of motivation! Wow...now that was unexpected, given the fact I he is not one of the best guys to hang out with given is sharp sarcasm levels the moment he opens his mouth...this is simply an example of what profound impact a written word can do to anyone...so I am happy that by doing these mindless yet mindful stuff of being a QF, I am helping myself and also others, albeit inadvertently.

So before signing-off, let me give you a dose of QOMD (Quotation of Maha’s Day) from my stable...

"Successful and Unsuccessful people do not vary greatly in their abilities..They vary in their desires to reach their potential."

Spawny Thoughts of the Web

2010-02-05T02:28:00.000-08:00

Well it has been more than a year now since I blogged...Why did I want to start blogging in the first place? To express my feelings, pent up opinions, or to please the world and update them on my thoughts and whereabouts..? It is pretty much the former, the latter can be a bonus attached to it...but I think you can enjoy blogging only so long as you do it for yourself...in this period of 1 year and 2 months, facebook and twitter has emerged and I am trying to catch up with the fascinating way to interact with same people, in the same language for almost same reasons in a different site...sounds weird but weird things have started to be the norms of society in large...we accept anything that is being hyped, without even stopping to think if we need them in the first place...you are tweeting, so do I, because everyone wants to do, everyone things it is hep, everyone wants to be followed?...to those, whose privacy is a holy affair, these sites - especially twitter can pose hazards...and lets not forget another point here...you may have fan following you but you gotto be also "politically correct" to tweet...if not anything! One wrong timed or wrong worded message, you are going to get yourself into a controversy for God knows how many days! And mind you such things have a knack to undo the holier past too! We have seen too many incidents in the recent times of celebrities and politicians being drawn into dirty mud for the same reasons...

Nonetheless, to make things easier for me to connect with my contacts, who are losing patience, I have updated my profile in linkedin and created a new facebook account...but I am determined not to be tempted to chat or post unless I am OK with it in terms of time and space...until then, I am not going to get bogged down due to the fascinations of the web...I surely can't do blogging or surfing at the cost of having the house under fire...I suppose no one should...It is time we realize the priorities and try to balance life and enjoy everything to the fullest...Yippie....

Memories of my Grandma

2008-11-15T08:45:00.000-08:00

My dear Patti ( paternal grandma) passed away today evening after almost 6 years of being bedridden at the ripe age of 95. She was a pillar to the entire clan, commanding respect for who she was, rather than what she was. She has produced 200 odd clan members through her 11 children and had seen 4 generations in her life. She has seen her grand-daughter's grand-daughter...she also managed to outlive her husband (my Thatha) by 23 years...but it is a sad state that in the last decade of her life, her sons were really bowling her from one place to another creating chaos in otherwise what would have been a smooth living...she had gone to live with her sons in Mumbai, Chennai, Coimbatore etc...now that her chapter is closed, thankfully and much to everyone's relief, this nasty exchange has come to a grinding halt. Apart from having some good memories of her during my childhood, the one I would always hold dear to heart is her presence in my wedding and her blessings she bestowed on me and my husband. It meant a lot to me and made my day! Later sometime in 2005 when I last saw her, she was not so feeling well but did pose for a photo shot with me, my hubby and my dad in Hyderabad. I think I've imbibed a lot of qualities from her that time only can test me to show as a proof...All she had was a meagre pension that she got from the Government with which she could hardly buy her medicines but her sons who were financially well off always carried on the show so well that she did what she wanted to in her lifetime and made everyone serve her. She was a classic example of a person who could command respect sans money power. Relatives across the world came to seek her advice and suggestions as she was the most elderly of the family. All said and done, I have a slight regret that I couldn't show my daughter to her before her time was out...Hope she blesses us from above and guides us in the right path for generations to come. May her soul rest in peace. OM!

"Peas vs Pills" workshop in Bangalore

2008-09-11T01:14:00.000-07:00

My doc friend Dr. Nandita Shah is conducting a workshop on Naturopathy...if you are interested please attend the same. More details below -
Day/Venue/Time - Saturday 27 September 2008 at the Alliance Française de Bangalore from 9am to 5pm.

Coverage -
1. Health, disease and the scope of medicines.
2. What is the healthiest diet for our species? Understanding our anatomy, physiology and real nutritional needs.
3. Why the foods we are eating today cause disease.
4. Results of diet change.
5. The relation between diet and stress.
6. The relation between diet and our environment.
7. How to manage making the transition without missing the foods we are used to.
8. How to handle social situations.

Workshop fee: 1750 Rs. (1500 Rs. per person for couples / families).
Register by 12 September to avail of the early bird fee of 1500 Rs. (1200 Rs. per person for couples / families).
This includes breakfast, lunch, a snack and workshop materials.
For more information and to register for the workshop, contact info@sharan-india.org
Tel. 99864 78000.

Shallow Relations? Not for me...

2008-09-09T01:07:00.000-07:00

Does a sun sign truly define a person? Are we not a product of our environment and upbringing as well apart from other parameters? I am thinking all these because recently my cousin who visited me was telling how his girl friend being born in the same sun sign as mine had shallow relationships...and he was surprised when I said that I strongly believe having only deep and meaningful relations. Is it just him or is it a tendency for the newgen to typecast someone into something because they belong to a particular sign...? While it could be true that being under the same sign may give you certain set of basic characteristics, it would and can not make you a replica of other person belonging to the same sign. Afterall, we are people hailing from diverse regions brought up in diverse climes and hence we are bound to have diverse tastes. It would be senseless to compare an Arian hailing from South India to an Arian hailing from say Russia or Mexico...What could be similar would be that they may both tend to be adventurous or say have a drive to start something unique etc. and that's about it. Making weird comparisons would actually harm the relationship as you approach the person with preconceived notions. Right?

Serenity redefined...

2008-09-08T01:01:00.000-07:00

To perk up my mood and ofcourse to have a much needed break, we went on a bumpy and windy ride to a place called Harihareshwar. The route (via a place called Bhor) was scenic and breathtaking...we halted quite a number of times to take snapshots of the beauty that we couldn't get enough of. It was nothing like what I have seen earlier...there were milky waterfalls, alright but what made the trip worthy was that the roads were just laid adjacent to the lake...It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that it was the best drive I ever had in India...I could compare the experience of being in Seattle and enjoying the drizzly weather with a laid back attitude. The weather was perfect, occassionally showers turning to serious rain and then just pure mist - atop hills and engulfing us...we checked out into a hotel in a nearby place called Srivardhan and left early morning to Harihareshwar where we had darshan of the Trinity and Parvathi and Kalbhairav. Then off to a place called Dive Agar (pronounced something like Divyaagar) where we got to see 'Suvarna Ganapati' meaning Golden Ganesh which was found in a nearby lake abou 7-8 years back intact in a copper casing. History says that someone had made it perfectly well and dropped it in the banks of a river and that the Golden Ganesh was found and then idolized immediately and devotees keep flocking here especially during the Ganapathi pooja time. So we were lucky to go there by sheer chance at the right time. Another deity we paid our darshan was 'Somjai Devi' in Srivardhan. The devi was all dressed beautifully and shone brilliantly with all her might and prowess. You know what I would have prayed for...with that our trip ended and we came back via Tamhini Ghat and this time though it was not close to the beauty we witnessed while going, it was still a classic picture perfect route that put us back in Pune by dusk...and though it was aching all over my body, the mind and soul sure seemed to have enjoyed the spirit of the mini-vacation.

Melancholic ‘Me’

2008-08-29T00:28:00.000-07:00

Fate spares none; we need to undergo the highs and lows of our lives no matter what and who we are. It is a realization that sets in every time a low occurs to us than when we flyi sky-high. Being between projects can be fun; but not when your employment itself becomes a looming question mark over your head after continuous, long period of idleness…this is hard truth…when a company fails to utilize your skill sets suddenly, it dents your self-esteem hugely…sipping a cuppa chai and listening to a melancholic marathi song over the radio in the nearby stall, I could sort of feel the sadness seeping through as one of the ingredients of the masala chai. It had a very depressing effect and even though I could hardly figure out what was been sung, I felt as if the song reflected my inner state – a perfect treat for a soul experiencing emotional turmoil…resisting the tears that was making way to well my eyes, I quickly gathered myself and my belongings and made an exit to avoid stares from fellow colleagues. I have not been able to express myself so well in the recent past and somehow started believing to hold things to myself rather than share the gloom with even my better half. There have been hints given to friends and family about the underlying dejection but not with so much exactitude for the fear of making them worry unnecessarily. So while the world spins around silently, here I am waiting for the one good news that I want to hear more than ever in the history of my career – ‘Welcome aboard our company…have a pleasant stay’…won’t this become a reality? Oh it would…that’s the HOPE that keeps me going…while I await that day with my fingers crossed, I know soon I would rewrite my destiny...

My note of Thanks to Universe...

2008-08-06T01:17:00.000-07:00

There have been times when I have utterly felt lonely and times when I really enjoyed my solitude. Moving to Pune recently was a classic example of the latter transforming to the former kind in a period of time…the same ‘me’ who was surrounded by umpteen numbers of friends and colleagues now seemed a lonely soul walking the corporate corridors. And not to mention my idea of not making friends ‘just for the heck of it’…oh that would possibly never happen in my life which has seen spontaneous friendships most of the time. Recollecting the ‘first-time-meets’ of all my friends I must say that there was instant frequency mapping and matching that worked out magically to follow over the next years till now…why do I say all these now? Because one such totally ‘one-off’ incident happened to me at office a month ago when I met this person through a ‘food committee’ meeting and ever since no turning back and no loneliness for me…there is so much energy and life in the relationship that I feel elated and so special with every conversation we have...I am sure this is going to be a special one to treasure in the coming years. And as the days roll on I could see the how true the following line that I recently read in a magazine is – “How often the next person you get to meet may go on to become one of the most significant relationships of your life?

Thanks Universe for blessing me with wonderful people around…

Losers!!!

2008-04-07T09:56:00.000-07:00

Kannadigas, well atleast the majority of them, get provoked with the slightest news about their language or cauvery issues...I really feel that, being in this state/city for almost 2 years now and witnessing all non-sense...Politics, Tamil Movies/Cables and Water issues all intertwined unnecessarily..

What Rajni told is purely his freedom of speech and also a gesture to support a state that has made him a star...how could it be alleged as wrong?...how could that be misconstrued by these people? Why should that irk them unduly? Why can't they think and reason it instead...? why to resort to cowardly actions of banning Tamil movies in the state until such time Rajni apologizes? Why are they so easily provoked? The pro-kannada elements have to really be mature be able to sensitize things...being loyal is one thing and being reasonable is another...there must be a balance of both while taking a stance on issues...God save Rajni...I don't want him to apologize for some mistake that he didn't commit...

It ain't any fun :(

2008-03-24T09:36:00.000-07:00

It sucks big time...searching jobs I mean...really you got to find time to do it - it is so boring so you have to pull yourself to do it...and me with a kid in one hand and work on the other, it is hard...but I am getting there...applying atleast for a job per day...so I must know things soon...the direction and the speed ofcourse of my job hunt...hope it goes well...got to hit the bed now...chow!

Resuming Résumé Work

2008-03-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

It was a bit of a challenge to gather all information, sort and sieve them and put them in a meaningful way in my Résumé but it was worth it. It took me 3 nights each of 2 hours to do this...now my Résumé is ready and uploaded in couple of job sites. Hopefully I should start getting some calls from next week...

I hate to go through rounds of interviews but then without that how can one recruit you into their organization? This time around it might be a little different as the profile I am looking for is more on the domain level than any software specific. But I am so anxious to find out how I sell my skills and get a better deal for myself...normally I undersell myself which is bad...now I really need to atleast show what I know and toot my own horns little if not boast about it inorder to get a fair deal. I think I am all set for the action...So here's to me...! Get, set, go...

To cut a long story short...

2008-03-11T07:08:00.000-07:00

Well since my last post which dates back to more than a year now, many events have taken place at my end...To put it in a sequence...

I was totally caught up in work, work and more work...in the mean, became pregnant and had been blessed with a baby girl in June end...she is now almost 9 months and keeping me totally busy...had maxed out on my maternity leaves and now resumed my job though for this month alone, I am working from home, so to say...but finding myself in office every next day :(

At a more personal level, not much cooperation from both of our parents for taking care of the child but somehow we have managed the show by taking leave on and off and with the help of a full time maid so far...another 3 months to go to look for a good creche for her...that's a separate worry I have there but no matter what care they provide, nothing like me taking care of my own child...hmmm...not that I don't have a choice now to quit work...but in the best interest of the child and to have financial freedom soon, we both have decided to work only for few more years and then retire to a small suburb in Tamilnadu and take care of her completely...but whatever it is, I want to do justice as a mother for her and can't wait until I retire, for the best part of her childhood is NOW and HERE...so may be if working from option is not extended in my company further, I might start looking for a more flexible, Women-friendly organization :D shhhh....! That way, all things would be solved...

At a professional level, I am feeling so underpaid and overworked these days - thanks to my ML, I lost one appraisal and though I am going to complete 2 years in my current company, not a penny of increment had taken place in my CTC since the time I joined, which is pathetic...they didn't even inform me about the appraisal process when I was availing my ML :-( so bad isn't it? I came to know of it through my colleagues...when I asked the HR and my boss, they had a humble but rude reply to say - to wait for the next year's appraisal! What nonsense...see, I know I am a much needed resource in my company and my practice - having contributed to more than 6 projects successfully in a span of 1.5 years...they can't let me go so easily but again; the loss would be greater at their end than mine - as for me, I can get a job easily in less than a month for the expertise and experience I have - this I say not out of arrogance but out of confidence...

Anyways, all I know now is that its time to update my obsolete resume and post it in atleast 2 jobsites to start getting some calls and also assess my market value...may be by end of April things should be rosy again :)

For now, I am trying to enjoy every free minute I have with my baby darling and hearing her babbles and whispering to her softly 'I love you'

Btw, somewhere in between, we had our housewarming done to our new house and rented it out in Hyderabad...and also celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary recently...some personal accomplishments there...trying to fill out the gaps of my rantings...:)

Phenomenal Woman

2007-03-06T21:59:00.000-08:00

On the eve of International Women's Day, let me publish here a remarkable poem by one of my favourite woman personality of the world - Writer and Poet Ms. Maya Angelou...This is dedicated to all phenomenal women I know...

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips,
The stride of my step,
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please,
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees.
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees.
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes,
And the flash of my teeth,
The swing in my waist,
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say,
It's in the arch of my back,
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed.
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud.
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels,
The bend of my hair,
the palm of my hand,
The need of my care,
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

-Maya Angelou

To All Women On This Earth - "Be your natural self and show your inherent beauty and strength at all times...to live happily and gracefully."

Just stopping by...now that it is 2007...

2007-01-27T08:18:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year...had been pretty busy since my last post...been on a business trip to the UK for a month and then been quite busy with other stuffs at office and personal life...Celebrated the New Year with my parents after almost 9 years which was great...It turned out to be a memorable one...

Was going thru the TV today as was alone at home and realized that there is nothing much worth seeing in it these days...There is lot of crap being telecast and replayed day in and out, and filtering thru them is a gruelsome process that I don't wanna go thru...It was definitely much better during the single channel DD days...! Oh I really miss them...!

Apart from my routing chores, I am down with 'Shantaram' from past week onwards though I have managed to cover only 60 odd pages...it sure is interesting and I wish to get more time to complete the book real fast...

Ah...I have also started cooking a lot at home these days...which apparently is not so welcome by my better half but seeing my skills improve by the day, he has had less to complain of late...so I am kinda getting the perfect 'homemaker' feeling that is giving me a lot of satisfaction.

Whatelse!...hmmm...some of my lost contacts have tried to renew their relationship with me and I have used total discretion in deciding whether or not to renew...I don't want the ones that gave me bitter experiences or put me uncomfortable to take forward this year...it's like a purging process for me...I get purified by weeding out those unwanted links and get all renewed with good energies and vibes from the only ones I trust and adore and feel comfortable...now that's working miracles for me and I am finding myself happy most of the times...oops touchwood...:)

I have lots to throw out of my mind but they have to wait and come in installments in this blog sooner or later...but for now that's it until my next halt with loads of info...

Adoption...??? Are you out of your mind ?!?!?

2006-10-17T04:47:00.000-07:00

I want to adopt…it might be coincidental with what Madonno has done now…but it has been my passion to adopt at least one child in my lifetime and provide an all round comfort and security. No one is able to understand me…not even my partner who dismissed my plan saying that we could sponsor education for two kids till they stand on their own legs but standing tall against adoption…

Why is adoption a taboo even in 21st century?

Is it that only sterile couples have to think it as a last option? Can’t fertile couples think of it as the first option?

I am fully aware of the way society might react if such an event takes place with me or for that matter anyone in my position. They might badmouth by saying that me or my partner is infertile…there could be reservations from my in-laws too that can affect the child being treated fairly. But all said, it is my dream and I have full rights and control over it. To make it a reality is hard but not impossible.

Aren’t there are enough children on this earth who are orphans and who need love, care and money which are vital for their healthy growth? All children are God’s gift isn’t it…I want to be the change I want to see in the world (quote Gandhi) and hence want do something about it…and by doing so I can fulfill my dream and also show my motherly love towards the child.

Last night I brought this topic up with my husband and he seems to have a neutral opinion now but gave me a hope for his change of mind in the future…

I want to gather more information from couples who have adopted and are happy about their choice…if you are one among the fortunate to adopt a child, please let me know your thoughts…if you had any apprehensions or hesitations in the beginning of your journey towards adoption…and what have been the pros and cons…

I would be celebrating Diwali in Hyderabad…and return next week…

So, have a safe and colorful festive season ahead...! See ya...

Living it up...

2006-09-29T04:03:00.000-07:00

Ok...so there has been a long gap in my postings...except for the previous one that I posted just for the heck of it but of course with good intentions…so here are some interesting info that has happened in the gap period…

Though not having internet connection at both home and office could be attributed as the main cause for the 'no-post' period, there had been extreme project pressures and travel that had kept me on my toes...literally every weekend is spent on traveling to Hyderabad where we have bought a house :-> The housewarming was also done a month ago that was intentionally kept as a low-key affair.

That could be called as a personal milestone for us as it is the first and formidable investment of our earnings in an asset (well now a liability but a prospective asset once rented) Now that it is over, the furnishing work is going on which again takes our time as we end up going and supervising the work every weekend. So it is always - leaving on Friday night, spending 2 days at Hyderabad and coming back on Monday morning to go to work...this is likely to continue for another 2 months or so. But nevertheless, the hope that the furnished house will fetch a decent amount that could cover our EMI, has kept me going so far in a damned profession that I loathe.

This weekend I am heading to Chennai to celebrate my Appa’s 60th birthday…and to meet one of my best friends after a 5-year gap. I am looking forward to both of them eagerly…!

Couple of days back in my office library, I chanced upon a book named ‘Managing your career’ from Harvard Business Review, which was THE book required for me to find solutions to my problems of being at career life’s crossroads. While I am still reading it, I have made up my mind to embark on a soul-searching mission by taking time-out sometime in the first quarter or next year…come on…I got lots to accomplish in my life…I know that….!

But as of now, I am enjoying the free time I am having at hand after having completed 2 projects back-to-back…I might also take up an internet connection soon, to help me keep connected to the world at large…and satiate my thirst for knowledge and writing.

Till then, happy blogging and Shubh Navrathri…

Many faces of my man

2006-07-15T10:53:00.000-07:00

He curls, he naps
Yeah he is a toddler!

He jokes, he wits,
Yeah he is a joker!

He shouts, he scares,
Yeah he is a growler!

He hurts, he snubs,
Yeah he is a snider!

He guides, he leads,
Yeah he is a mentor!

He loves, he cares,
Yeah he is a lover!

Creativity Vs. Inspiration

2006-04-27T03:00:00.000-07:00

Artists of various spheres seems to be facing a shortage of creativity...for, creativity in one’s own rights alone sets the person apart from the crowd, even makes one stand out of the same fraternity...writers, fashion designers, architects all included.

Fashion designers lifting designs from others have been quite common now more so in India. The accuses are the same all the time...that one has copied someone else’s imaginative work blatantly.

As for writing, it isn’t new either. Recently, Dan Brown caught a lot of attention on that aspect...and now it is Kaavya Viswanathan.

Couple of years ago, I remember buying a lot of Interior Designing books to my sister who herself was a budding designer then, with an intention to help her. But she refused them outright, saying that if she reads them, she would tend to think on the lines of what she sees and that her own creativity would go for a toss if she goes over them!

I wasn’t convinced...as a wannabe writer myself, I read a lot of books – one has to read a lot in order to write...that’s my point and in my sister’s case, the same holds true. One has to know how things are done in the world, at the same time not borrow the existing ideas but use it to fuel their own imagination and come up with something fresh.

Like Samit Basu has said in today’s HT, there is a chance for a person’s favorite author to influence his or her writing but copying paragraphs and similar sentences would be unforgivable. Think of it...such act has raised questions on KV's credibility and has brought nothing but disrepute...and may be just as Shobha De suggests, its better for the publisher to withdraw the book itself rather than resorting to other damage control...for this sure looks beyond repair.

Sleep to that !

2006-04-20T08:50:00.000-07:00

Well getting job is one thing but if that job calls for relocating, now that would be another thing...getting job is the easiest part in today's employee market...the relocating part is never easy...it starts with finding the right packers and movers, shortlisting them and zeroing it to the one who gives the best estimate based on the limits your new company has set...start packing things you can't let them pack and hold dear to yourself...like certificates, other documents, jewellery, important books, few pairs of clothing and bare essentials. Now that's gonna take a lot of time even if you are already organized, but for unorganized wrecks like me, that's gonna be a double effort, coz you don't wanna dump everything and go to the new house and search for things...hence wise people like me, start organizing and packing things in advance...but the last 2 days I spent amazingly unproductive...just sleeping and eating and playing and having all the fun...totally oblivious to the fact that the upcoming days are gonna be pretty hectic...and those days start right from tomorrow...:( For some reason or the other, I become lazy when it comes to household chores...the interest is there, the initiative is not there; the time is there but a helper is not there...there it is...I need a person to help me to get the initiative, to use my time effectively to clean, organize and pack things...hence while writing this, I took a break and checked if my neighbor's maid can come and pitch in and found she indeed can...So, I am gonna be so busy and highly productive after a 2 day hiatus...not bad isn't it...and now I will promptly get back to my blogging once done with that...till then you take care and so will I...

Whirlwind Reflections

2006-03-31T09:10:00.000-08:00

Appraisal time sucks…the entire appraisal process is an eye-wash...don't get me on that now...

Went to Vaishnodevi after 2.5 years and it was one hell a lot of memorable experience. Unexpected unbelievable windchill, faced with just a shawl and a monkey cap, irritated by just a nanosecond of darshan that was put as a biksha to a devotee who has come climbing for 8 hours...with hunger doing the job of adding fuel to the fire that is frustration, rain started pouring down with lightning and then the power went kaput for 5 hours at a stretch...waited sitting in a dormitory, me and hubby huddled together in a small place dozing on each other, shivering and trying to catch a few winks and waking up every now and then when a baby cries or the door slams. We felt like illegal immigrants in the refugee camp...finally at daylight break, we climb down only to go and pack our bags and head straight to the station...

Moving to a new job right now and it is another tiring but exciting experience...almost thru in an interview with a top 5 IT company...they are giving me a good break and good money :) I am quite content with the way things are shaping up but anxious too about the move down to south, and the time it would take for us to settle down...

Felt like blogging a thousand times this month but just couldn’t get myself to do it due to several reasons...because I shouldn’t miss blogging this month, I write this post in an urgency with just 1 hr 20 mins to go precisely before the next one begins...:)

Just got some tips from internet to do some office pranks…just my kinda stuff...so I am all set to play them on some of my colleagues who wouldn’t mind being laughed at...

And off I go to catch a few 'z' s...see ya...

All things said and done...

2006-02-02T21:48:00.000-08:00

Death is a stark reminder about the impermanence of life...the after life of death is very mysterious to me...What happens when we die? Whom we become...do we go to heaven or hell...and is there any more births at all after death? If yes, how long it takes us to get to another form...etc etc. All such questions went on my head when my Periappa (my dad's elder brother) died due to post surgical complications after undergoing a successful by-pass surgery. This left me and my relatives in a state of shock...this is a case to be reckoned as a unique one as just 3 months ago he lost his eldest son who was born with a hole in the heart, and who suffered through 31 years of his life with consuming lot of medications and taking injections...

Now that both chapters are over, I pray God to give strength to my Periamma and her second son...her only hope for tomorrow and the only left connection with her husband...

This experience was very transforming for me...I realized that nothing lasts forever...only the words said and deeds done matter at the end...And also we ought to enjoy every single day thinking it is the last...so that atleast our regrets approach zero as we grow...I cried a lot but nothing changed...we laughed the same afternoon when someone joked on something...Nothing stops because of someone even in situations like this. The life around keeps going...rather it pulls us to do the routine no matter what...

I made a resolve to keep my parents happy always - I wouldn't hurt them at any cost...nor blame them for anything...just thank them for what they have done to me and shaping me as the person I am today. I have forgiven whole-heartedly for whatever wrongs they have done too...No more counters I would entertain on my mind...but only do deeds unconditionally to one and all...Yes that is what I want to do...to honor my Periappa's memories that are so fresh even today...

Hooked Up !?!?!

2006-01-13T02:13:00.000-08:00

Yes but the hooker is a non-living being, but making a superb living on the internet and making loads of money at that…any guess? To make your life simple, let me present you “ZUMA”, the online game that I am hooked up now for more than a week…It’s more like a sucker…sucks all the energy out of you by making you play with it nonstop. Now lets tread back down the memory lane…3 years ago, when one of my team members, got so used to playing this game during office hours I used to reprimand him telling that he shouldn’t be playing it but in case if he wanted to for a break, he can do so only for few minutes. I was worried about other members getting influenced due to him…after all everyone else except me were males in the team and you know they never outgrow their playing period. But to my horror, I started seeing all guys playing this game at one point that used to make me furious. But thankfully, I never took any action as the deliverables were not affected because of the playtime.…Last week, when I got some free time at work, I was chewing on the idea of playing some online games and went to yahoo and spotted this hooker…and no turning back from then on….my networking, my blogging and chatting all came to a grinding halt ever since. Instead of reviving them after a hiatus due to my exams, they are still waiting to be touched. I can say now proudly that I am on my way to becoming an expert in that (damn) game…So wish me good luck…(but pray I shouldn’t be swallowed by the monster in the middle).

Welcoming 2006 with a Cheer

2005-12-30T00:43:00.000-08:00

Dear World!

Have a splendid New Year...Here are my wishes for this New Year for each one of us...

"Choose to love-rather than hate.
Choose to smile-rather than frown.
Choose to build-rather than destroy.
Choose to persevere-rather than quit.
Choose to praise-rather than gossip.
Choose to heal-rather than wound.
Choose to give-rather than take.
Choose to act-rather than delay.
Choose to forgive-rather than curse.
Choose to pray-rather than despair."

Keep it coming!

Wish me also to make a successful start in my writing career and my business and have peace of mind and happiness, good health and some decent savings, more time to travel and write
...;) Nothing more, nothing less...

Love,
GS

Vote for the Indian of 2005

2005-12-18T07:40:00.000-08:00

NDTV has come up with a poll asking viewers to vote for "Indian of 2005", from a group of 13 personalities who have made waves of sorts in 2005. Featured in it are Sonia, Sania, our PM, Dravid, Big B etc...One among them is Manjunath! What a great thing...I rushed to my mobile and sent an SMS immediately voting for him...than anyone else, he is the one who deserves it...If you are not aware of who he was and why he should deserve, please refer to this dedicated blog on Manjunath that would tell the whole story.

So, pick up your mobile and type 'India Manjunath' (i.e India space Manjunath, without quotes) and send it to 6388 and fetch him atleast the posthumous reward for his undying integrity.

Cheers!

Year-end Laments

2005-12-12T01:38:00.001-08:00

The time of the year when you wanna escape from life has come for me...yes the exams...I dread them...well, what can you expect from someone who has had nearly a decade of gap after graduation? Early wakings, hot teas, and short naps...these were the trend while I was in school and college...mom used to do all the service without any laments...but here I am doing all the day job and household chores and trying to find an hour to study among the 24 generously available to me...some time management here and there can just help me though...I hope I get thru all my papers (7 of them), if not get a distinction, so that I can head to my second half of my second year gracefully...Guys, wish me good luck...! Till then this blog may survive with meagre one-liners... :-> Take care! Ciao

Time to call the shots...

2005-12-02T21:52:00.000-08:00

I am fed up of working almost a decade now...and I know I would breakdown if I don't have a good sabbatical soon. It is clear to me that I am at my career crossroads...I hate to come to work everyday, clock in 8 hours nonstop and do something that doesn't matter to me...all I know is I have done enough justice to the studies that my parents provided and have benefitted many folds from it. Now it is time to call the shots and go for what I actually want to do...Setup a new business with an unfailing USP? A journalist? Playback singer? A painter? A theater person? I have lot of options before me...After all we need to use to gifts God has given us and make the most of it in our lifetime isn't it? Then why making a switch from an established career to a vocation of arts is so hard? Probably because of the uncertainty that is involved in doing so...I spoke about this with my husband and he seems to agree with it but he is asking me to have my job for another year that would bring our loans to a stable mode...Can't blame him either - letting me do what I want immediately would be simply impossible due to several liabilities we have at present...Hence I have proposed him a transition period that he has agreed to...by mid of next year, I would be ready to take the plunge, one that is not into the dark but with some certainties for which I would start doing the groundwork right away. This way I would know my real calling and be ready with the industry contacts that can propel me to heights in the right direction. And I have already started my groundwork and quite happy with that...But I have started seeing my day job as the number 1 enemy from doing what I want...so unconsciously I have and I am developing a distaste towards it and its not helping me anyways. I am going beyond my deadlines on deliverables and hating to go to meetings or worse even loathing to talk anything computers...it has literally choked me and managed to box my creativities till date...

But this damn gyaan that says everything happened for good and urging me to go forward with my ambitions keeps popping on my head...So, all I have to do is try to enjoy my job as long as I am here with my company and perform atleast OK if not great until I release myself from the clutches of the routine I have got myself into. So wish me good luck Universe!

The IIT's faulted system

2005-11-20T22:28:00.000-08:00

Alas! What a tragedy has befallen IIT! Very sad indeed for Mr. Vijay Nukala who had gone thru tough times inside the campus and finally taken his own life. It looks like Chetan Bhagat’s characters from his first novel have come live in several ways. I see Vijay as "Ryan, Alok and Samir", all rolled into one. Ryan because Vijay was very innovative and had natural talents and had a knack with computers; Alok because he attempted suicide and Samir because he was dead scared of his dad’s(Dr. Anjaneyulu) strictness.

The IIT system might be a famed one but it surely has its downside too which many belonging to the fraternity know. I feel that once a person is in the campus, he or she is expected to perform no matter what emotional turmoil they might be facing inside. May be it is high time the IITs start thinking of the emotional well being of its academicians and try to make a more flexible curriculum and may be assign counseling sessions to help vent feelings in them.

In this case though, the culprit for Vijay had been his own dad and of course undeniably IIT. Great achievement...by the most esteemed technological institute of India…! Way to go...Would this incident atleast make them come up with some measures to address these flaws?

But one thing they ought to answer is their conscience. Anyone who has read FPS could relate to this incident and can see thru what would have happened. May this is just a tip of the iceberg?

The long lost friend

2005-11-05T01:05:00.001-08:00

Blame it on me reading this fantastic book – “Five Point Someone” by Chetan Bhagat…It left me with a pang inside for not having a close friend for so many years now! Yes I need one now…badly! I only know God would bring me one at the right time.

I used to be always surrounded by friends...I donno may be it was in my blood to go out of my way and help my friends always...and in return of course I got a wonderful circle of friends with whom even now I am in touch. Friends from the computer class, MBA coaching class circle, college friends, school friends, neighborhood friends etc...I used to really juggle my schedule to make everyone of them happy...those were the college days I am talking about...but this great time lasted even until the time I left to America about 8 years ago. It was fun...total fun...and I damn miss it now...! I must say I made the most of it and can carry those fond memories with me lifelong.

My inner voice says that those days would never come back...Now you may ask why I crib on this? Coz, I literally don't have a close friend now! I don't have someone on whom I can lean upon and cry during hard times or share my happiness or just vent my heart's feelings without thinking twice...I hate to think twice before I talk...but don’t things change as we grow up and get married?...chances are our friends would be those with whom we spend most of the time - i.e., our cohorts, neighbors etc. but again there is a certain level of caution we exercise before saying something to them...we sort of get into the "Should I or Should I not" mode before talking to them...it is never the same friendship we shared with our buddies during the good old days with sheer innocence and freedom...we just knew that they were there for us no matter what. We never thought to hide anything from them, for they were part of us...yeah however one might retain the old friends till this date, the equation is never the same. We just call them up once in a while and during that time, we just don’t want them to hear our problems…the personal touch which was there is gone now due to the distance and hence the closeness too. Priorities and pressures, push us further into a cocooned existence where we are bound to interact only with our spouse. They become our sole(soul) rescuer.

But what happens if we want to discuss about our spouse to someone? At such times, we desperately need a friend…a person who can listen to us, non-judgmentally. Someone who could give us some insight into the problems or at the very least one who could empathize with our situation and console us. And I can never be a close friend with any of them whom I call as friends today…my compatriots…either in office or at home. So, I guess I am indeed searching for that person who can salvage my sanity over a long period of time…and hope that person comes at the right time to give me pleasant solace. A quote by Aristotle, so cut-out for this situation – “Without friends no one would choose to live, though he had all other goods.”

Slim Formula – Time tested by me, on me…

2005-10-25T05:00:00.000-07:00

Yeah first the criticisms and then the remedy for the most needed...Whatever size you are, doesn't really matter...Now check this magic formula.

Eat only 75% of your requirement – which means, whenever you eat, just when you think your hunger is gone, stop the intake of food right there…You can start following this tip immediately but make sure you serve yourself small quantities to avoid wastages. Indulgence in food is accepted if it is only once or twice a week.
Climb up staircases in office and at home at least 3 times a day, keeping away from the lift/escalator.
Reduce the intake of processed food and fast foods. That would help reduce the bad fat accumulation in your body.
Say ‘NO’ to carbonated drinks. Stock up on fruit juices and water.
Drink 2.5 – 3 litres of fluids every day of which 2 litres must be water and the rest could be other fluids like juices or tea or coffee.
First thing in the morning, after completing your nature calls, freshen up and do 1-2 full course of ‘Surya Namaskar or Sun Salutation’ following the breathing techniques, which is known to catalyze the weight reduction process. Other specific yogasanas or aerobics, could also be performed if the time permits.
Have a glass of water after ten minutes of completion of the above exercise and then continue with a glass of warm lime juice with a spoon of honey. This not only flushes the toxins outside from your body but also helps to reduce your fat.
You can alternate Amla (Indian Gooseberry) juice with lime juice too to double up the benefits.
And finally, follow the ancient proverb "Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper." as told by Adelle Davis (1904-1974), as much as possible.

This regimen if followed religiously, should see you get slimmer by each week, and help you have a glow on your face :) ...Good Luck and have a great start !

Why do Indians drive the way they do?

2005-10-25T03:25:00.001-07:00

An interesting article that would provide us a wakeful ride when behind the wheels...(appeared in THE HINDU sometime back)

WHAT is it in our psyches that make us drive the way we do? What happens to us (who keep reminding the world ad nauseum of our glorious 5000-year-old civilisation) when we get behind the steering wheel of a motor vehicle?

One reason could be that the motor vehicle gives most of us more power than we could ever have and much more than most of us can handle. It becomes a weapon in our hands, and glory is, a weapon whose user is anonymous and hidden behind tinted windows. Of course, the bigger and more powerful the weapon the better — hence the popularity of SUVs. Even simple bus drivers have over one hundred passengers at their mercy, whom they can terrify and make sick at will, as they careen around mountain hairpins and overtake at the same time. (Not to mention every other road user, with or without a vehicle.)

Another well cited reason is that (usually for males) it is perceived to be macho to drive a powerful vehicle (long red sports cars or big chrome bikes are the usual cliché here) at an obscene speed. Of course, abuse this particular beastie (especially motorbike) even just a little bit and it'll scrape your face and brains (if any) off on the road and ensure that it all ends there and then.

Complex issue

Actually, what the above reveals is that we have a humongous inferiority complex working in tandem with cowardice of equal magnitude.

Inferiority because anyone who is comfortable with his station or position in life will have no need to go screaming down the wrong way of a one-way street at 100 kmph, or draw spaghetti lines while weaving in and out of traffic in order to draw attention to himself. And cowardice because he (or she) is doing this while anonymous behind those tinted windows, or smug in the knowledge that if he does mow down a dozen children he or she can always get away scot-free thanks to uncleji in Parliament or some such place.

It also, more disturbingly, shows us up as a people who are appallingly irresponsible, callous and who have devalued and degraded human life. Not much a progress report for a 5000-year-old civilisation is it? Worse, this can often become schizophrenic. The same person, so warm, helpful and caring in ordinary life, suddenly transmogrifies into a rabid, power-crazed Frankenstein when behind the wheel of a motor vehicle.

Rule of the road

There are other more simplistic reasons why we drive the way we do, though these are not excuses. Most Indian drivers do not seem to be aware of the existence of something called `rules of the road', forget what they are. (This does not mean you cannot be courteous.) The more foolhardy believe that if they are fated to meet a truck headlong at 100kmph because they are driving on the wrong side of the road, then so be it. If it is fated, why try to drive on the right side anyway, you can't defy fate can you?

The state of our roads and the state of our vehicles are also cited for blame. Public transport running on bald tyres on bad roads and with bad brakes is ` an accident' waiting to happen. Unmarked speedbreakers that send two wheelers into orbit are another danger. Again, are these `accidents' or the obvious results of sheer negligence and shameless disregard for human life?

Around 75,000-80,000 people are killed every year on our roads, in what we call road mishaps or accidents. We achieve this with far fewer vehicles per capita than most other countries. Sure, you may say, we also have one billion idiots jaywalking all over the place — how many other countries have to contend with that? Well, there are rules (and punishments) for jaywalkers too. And remember they're usually at the receiving end of your manoeuvrings behind the wheel.

It's not very difficult to change things. Remember, barbaric Indian drivers (and "death wish" jaywalkers) at home turn magically into law-abiding bunny-rabbits abroad. (Again, that cowardice!) Simply because driving tests are tough, laws are implemented rigorously and punishment is severe and exemplary and it doesn't matter who you are, or your uncleji is.

So let's not kid ourselves. It can be done and we would be a better more humane people for it (and more worthy of our 5000 year-old boast). Certainly it would be nice if it could be done before any of us, or anyone that we know and care about, is turned into roadkill by yet another psycho on the loose.

The fat, The ObEsE & The OVERWEIGHT

2005-10-20T04:29:00.000-07:00

Now there is a big question that nags me whenever I see a fat person in varying sizes...Why do people become so huge? How did they let that happen?

Is it heriditary or caused due to obsession for food?

If it is heriditary, it would be acceptable to an extent but if it is the second reason, then it is unforgivable...I see school going kids, more and more getting obese or overweight...It is so surprising that even their parents are so blind to their own deeds, taking Children to fast food joints too often and making them get used to the unhealthy foods. This was a common sight to me when I was in the US but Indians doing the same in this decade is highly bothering me.
Now why should other people becoming fat affect me?

Overeating individuals do atleast one of the following :-

1. Deprives atleast a single human from having a decent meal in any given day.

2. Inflicts sorrow onto themselves - they buy diseases which are caused mainly due to overeating; they spoil their image and give themselves less chances of opportunities(A recent survey on Employers said that most preferred a good looking individual as opposed to any extremes.)

3. Becomes unwelcome due to their overweight at most of the places - be it in the queue, or the bus or the train.

I feel there is a need, an absolute need to take care of one's health and stay slim and fit. This way we reduce all the above 3 things...we are accountable to our own health and also to the world at large. There is a phase when we start realizing that we are getting bigger and if only we take due corrective and preventive measures at that crucial time to get back to normal weight it would be a desirable thing to do. But what normally happens (based on my observation) is we dont take measures whatsoever and even if we do, we don't practice them religiously even when our figure is at stage!

However, there are exceptions to the 3rd point above. Adnan Sami, for instance...is so huge but still he is welcome everywhere which is because of his innate talents...there was my ex-colleague named Milene Thrasher, who lived up to her name, and was so fat to thrash our then project manager but was always a happy & cheerful person who made witty jokes everytime...and hence welcome anytime, anywhere. Oh but I still remember the way she used to squeeze into her SUV's driver's seat...one pitiable scene!

So, the point I want to drive home is this - We need to take care of our health before it is too late; We need to control our taste buds in order to have a healthy life so that we enjoy eating whatever we want and eat them lifelong. The bottom line is a healthy body is a sign of a healthy mind and vice-versa.

And I hear one of my friend saying that she has become healthy, time and again which means she has become plumpy and fat! Isn't it the vice versa?

Support Icons for Rashmi and Gaurav...

2005-10-13T19:56:00.000-07:00

I say "I DO" :D

Article on IIPM in Indian Express

2005-10-13T05:40:00.000-07:00

Article on Indian Express on the IIPM dispute with the blog community published today, 13th October, 2005.

I am very glad to see IE and HT carry the controversy courageously...Both IIPM and IBM have all emerged so dirty out of this episode...Never thought the IBM guys would stoop to such low levels! They have tarnished their company's image in the process...

My full support goes to Rashmi and Gaurav...Hic Hic Hurray!

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=152721

2005-10-13T05:27:00.000-07:00

Hindustan Times article on the IIPM Debacle published in the October 11th issue

2005-10-11T12:01:00.000-07:00

Mission to Heaven - Goodbye my dear brother...I will miss you. May your soul rest in peace.

The “Bamboozled” Vegetarian

2005-10-08T02:55:00.000-07:00

For the past one week HT had published a series of article named “Meat of the Story”…reading it gave me a lot of insight as to what is going on with food products which are even marked vegetarian. It has surely terrified the daylights out of me…I realize that I have consumed a lot of rennet, animal fat, or eggs without my knowledge! Horrendous right? Now what can be done? I can’t throw out anything from my system; whatever I have eaten in the past…they are all long digested, disintegrated and absorbed in the body…The mere thought that I have eaten all these is churning my stomach giving an unending nausea.

It is all the more amazing when one realizes that a vegetarian in India, is not able to maintain his or her chastity…Isn’t it a despicable thing that demands attention and action?…atleast from what I have taught and known, India was a predominantly vegetarian country, of course lacto-vegetarians forming a whole chunk of it.

If one vegetarian cannot lead a happy life in this country then where is it going? Where would all this end? The western lot who were mainly meat eaters, are now taking religiously to vegetarianism and veganism, thanks to the reach and glamour of Yoga and meditation which prefers practicing such diet as a way of life. On the contrary, I could observe that many born-vegetarians are going for non-veg food; blame the advent of exotic restaurants that cater specialized cuisines and influence of media.

I guess it is time the Government empathizes with the vegetarians and does something constructive to eliminate the fear from their minds while consuming their food. When a country like Canada or USA can come up with pure vegan products, why can’t India where things must be simpler?

In spite of the initial success that I had in becoming a pure vegan, I had to give up on it because of the permeation of the lacto-products in most of the food stuffs that invariably contained at least some traces of any of the dairy products especially ghee, butter or cheese and left me with no choice but to cook all meals at home which was simply not an ordinary task given my hectic office timings. That made me to revert back shamelessly to becoming a lacto-vegetarian once again.

But now after hearing all these terrible things, I have completely dropped eating out, given up on chewing gums, imported chocolates, my once-favorite jellies to name a few…my eyes are getting tired due to looking at things skeptically but do you think I am left with any choice? In case I do eat readymade food, I take the arduous task of doing a google search for the description of ingredients. My previous article should give a clue as to how staunch I want to adhere to the ethics of becoming a pure vegan!

The Great Indian Perspective

2005-10-04T02:01:00.000-07:00

I sent a forward mail on how being vegetarian could positively affect the planet and how it is the way going forward for a healthy life to some of my Indian and American friends. And I received instant responses from them - both negative and positive.

My two american friends wrote something like this - "Wow! This is excellent...I never knew these facts...I have never given it a serious thought...this would definitely provide some 'food for thought'. Thanks for sending.'

My observation - The mail displayed the average American's open-mindedness and taking things in the right sense and seeing them in the correct perspective.

Check my response from my Indian friends -

"I don't really know from where people are able to get these stats. I believe god created everything for the goodwill of humans. It is upto each and every individual's to decide according to his likes and dislikes. But no one should enforce it. Livestock is not good for the planet....Be part of the team which kills the livestock.... become a non-vegetarian...kill and eat what you've killed..."

My observation - See how they have interpreted and arguing against the facts? This shows a average Indian's sturdy unchangeable mindset...What they have always been doing from childhood is the right thing and there is literally no scope for a change even if the facts are laid out in black and white.

Since my intention was never to force or impose things, I had to send out an apology mail to couple of them...As a fellow human being, I think it is my duty to enlighten people and leave the choice to them...be it religion, politics or food. I have always strongly believed in following what you feel.

Soemtimes I feel people like them should be bold enough to come and talk to me directly to get things straight. I am very much open to a healthy debate, but again even for a healthy debate, we need open mind...! You can't afford to get offended for small things...For me change is growth and an open-mind which absorbs good things is going to be one that ultimately has eternal wisdom.

A powerful way to end suffering on the planet

2005-10-04T00:39:00.000-07:00

The world is heading towards a drinking water shortage. It takes 500 litres of water to produce 1 kg of potatoes, 600 for 1 kg of wheat, 2000 for 1 kg of rice, but 100,000 for 1 kg of beef. Livestock consume 80% of the world's water supply.

60 million people die of starvation each year. It takes 12 - 16 kilos of grain to produce 1 kilo of meat or milk. Livestock consumes 40 % of the total grain grown worldwide. A vegan needs 0.5 acres of land for sustenance, a non-vegetarian 30 times this amount! Starvation can literally be wiped out by wiping meat off our diets.

Our diminishing forests are seriously threatened by grazing animals. Large numbers of wild animals are killed each year to protect or to make room for grazing animals in our food chain. 260 million acres of virgin forest in the world are cleared for cropland to support a meat-centered diet.

Meat is energy intensive. The world's petroleum reserves would last for only 13 years if all humans were meat eaters but 260 years if all humans were vegetarian.

Animal husbandry and slaughter result in air, water and land pollution. The total increase in the number of animals killed for food in the world per year exceeds the total human population!

We are descendants of primates that are primarily fruitarian, and our anatomy is similar to theirs. There is ample evidence to show that a balanced, non-refined vegan diet is the best for our health.

Whether it is to improve our health, end global starvation, save wildlife, conserve water and energy or reduce pollution perhaps the greatest impact each individual can have is to reduce or stop animal products in their diet.

Gandhi said, "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated." Oct 2nd, Gandhi's birthday is also celebrated internationally as World Farm Animals Day – a day to remember the torment that more than 50 billion farm animals undergo during their short lives before the slaughter every year.

Greg Vs. Ganguly

2005-10-01T01:40:00.000-07:00

Much discussed, much publicized duel but still these are my humble opinions...

This is a politically motivated, deliberately done deal, alright.

Some Indians including Ganguly have been so shortsighted. Why are they unable to see the weak side of a person? Is a person always strong? Physically or mentally? Yeah there is no doubt that he is a person of great caliber and has proved himself earlier. But not in the recent past. And who says that a person whoever has had a strong physical, mental and emotional health cannot get deranged?

Every man or woman on this earth goes thru all cycles irrespective of their celebrity status they might enjoy on a mundane level. I think, overall we Indians fail to understand this.

Next, Greg Chappell never had any inclination to publicize things or mar Ganguly’s name, but it is now clear just as Mr. Siddhu said in his interview with NDTV, that both Chappell and Ganguly had been used as pawns here by the totally unprofessional BCCI. They are power hungry mongers simply interested in their political ambitions and greed for power. Nothing less than that defines them. So they had proved themselves so cheap and mean by creating a controversy of sorts and practically benefiting by distracting people from the BCCI elections.

Another main thing is we Indians are just not used to criticism. Why couldn’t Ganguly have taken the report sent by Chappell in a positive way in such a way that gives him a chance to introspect and grow more mature? Why did he get so offended? Does he think he can never err? Why is he so immature to even think that he can never fail? Not knowing his own shortcomings is a definite weak point for a Captain. If he himself cannot afford to study and analyze his own attitude, how could he be a good captain to his team? The bottom line lies in the fact that Indians fail to discipline ourselves and when some outsider comes and advices us to be, we get so offended and are unable to take it in a positive way because we are short sighted.

And now unnecessarily our dear Bhajji is also paying a huge price for letting out his anger thru his words so unprofessionally! But thank God for the PCA which if not have intervened, things would have become ugly!

GS - Theory I

2005-09-29T00:08:00.000-07:00

I have come to some interesting conclusions by way of observing things many times and hence propounding my theories here. As it goes without saying, there would be exceptions to this rule too...

"The length of a girl/ladies hair is directly proportional to the patience she carries."

Idiotic Craze - Blame the media

2005-09-20T09:50:00.000-07:00

Even as I pen this article, I see a reporter at Headlines Today commenting about the on going craze for her at the Sunfeast Open...Now wait a minute...who am I talking about? Yeah...Sania Mirza, who made waves when she made it to the 4th round in the US Open, one of the prestigious Grand Slam. She could be a budding performer alright but what happened to others? The others who are budding in other sports, and the others who already made it to the top earlier in the same sport and other sports? Why her now? What decides the media to go 'ga-ga' about her? And keep watching her moves? Why do they idolize her?

And another important thing that gets to my nerves was the media going overboard for performers in the minority communities as opposed to the ones in the majority community...Why is this bias in a Hindu majority nation? Do we want to prove our secularity to others by doing so? Why this bias? I was so irritated with all the media hype and got a link to another blog where what I just had in mind was written...Check it out -

http://o3.indiatimes.com/valls

It is a fantastic write up on the overall Sania "Mania"...

Read the comments mainly...while I appreciate SM for her commendable work, I fail to understand her stand on her own performance or say underperformance...I feel she is blind to her own faults...she needs to improve, infact improve a lot in order to make a positive mark at international level. Humbleness is the key to self-realization which inturn is the key for success. That's my take!

Now as I conclude this article I read the headlines about "The Mitrokhin Archives" that says the media was bribed time and again by KGB...Well, I am really not surprised!

Gurus and Gadgets

2005-09-19T00:07:00.000-07:00

There is a striking similarity that I have found with these two terms.

They both come and go - changing rapidly,
They both take us to the extremes - one to the material and the other to the spiritual,
Both have a power to tempt us to seek them and cling on to them, and
Hence they also make us feel powerless without them!

Knowing this thankfully early on, and seeing the scandals related to gurus and godmen these days, I prefer directly to interact with God...I take the best advice from elders and try to read some ancient books which are authentic ones...We don't necessarily need to have a Guru but if we get a good one, then it is well and good. But having said that, I feel religion, all religions for that matter and their respective masters have become commercial...And so I have more than enough reasons to say that I keep aloof from Gurus.

As for Gadgets, the moment you buy the latest one, you still have a high probability to become obsolete in few days itself. So rapid is the inventions and discoveries that we just can't keep pace with the changes...there is a point where we ought to compromise and settle for what we have in our hand.

Retreating into a Shell

2005-09-02T01:25:00.000-07:00

Sometimes things that happen in your life pose a threat to your personal and social life - especially when the thing is a bad one. You tend to retreat to a lonely place, shut yourself away from the entire world and tend to be let alone to mourn your loss. One such thing happened to me recently that catapulted our new found joy to a deeply disheartening one. And the effect showed immediately on me...thank goodness for my husband's support - I could come out of it as quickly as I went in...I believe such things happen in everyone's life and it is upto us to take it in a positive spirit however compelling the loss may be. As Krishna says in the Gita - Whatever happened till now happened well; What is going on is happening well and What would come also would happen well. That was so meaningful to me at this time. Yes loss happens, sadness pervades everyone - no one is spared...but we ought to move on...move on forward to discover the freshness in life. Life has lot more to offer us and I guess we should let it take its own course. And I am glad to put my past behind and move further now...and anticipate a fresh new start.

Things I hate

2005-09-01T02:39:00.000-07:00

What? Remixes
Why? It proves that creativity in the form of music and lyrics is attaining zero degrees for the music community. No excuses would be convincing.

What? Soaps
Why? They think they are more realistic while that is not the case. Instead of pulling scenes from real life, what they portray due to the wild imagination, unfortunately becomes a reality.

What? Youth of today
Why? Excepting few, most of them have tons of attitude and loads of arrogance! They think they know too much and talk too much, fail to follow elder's advice and in the name of independence, screw up their own lives, and fall on their parents only when they fail. And another thing is they think they would be left-outs if they don't be as trendy as their peers...They invite trouble by dressing down and trying to be another Bipasha or Celina!

What? Too much of make-up and cosmetic surgery
Why? While little make-up might add some value to your face by enhancing some features, too much of it really spoils your natural beauty...and this plastic surgery craze! I can never understand it...why these days people are not accepting themselves the way God has created them? If we can't be comfortable with our own natural looks how else others could be with us?

What? South Indian music sparing Malayalam
Why? Again it is due to the fact that cheap lyricists and music directors in the name of novelty have emerged who can only but give just 1 hit music in their debut movie; amazingly they get lot of offers after that stint and they go down in the audience’s expectation but nonetheless flourish as they take the public as granted.

More to come...hit list and hate list :) watch out

Will we outgrow the "blog-phase"?

2005-08-01T01:22:00.001-07:00

Is blogging just a temporary phase in a person’s life where the urge to write in order to feel light and good engulfs and makes the person resort to this lively medium of communication to the world? Would we all ever outgrow of this phase?

Not sure about others though, but my blogging is here to stay. It may be irregular and probably come to a complete stop like the time I gave it a break for 3 months owing to several taxing reasons, but nonetheless it would survive at least as I give it a fresh lease of life every time I visit it.

I often feel to write what I see, what I hear, what I perceive, what I understand etc, to make myself understand the situation and things better…or to vent out my frustration or emotions.

I don’t care what I write but for me it should make sense…and time and again I have seen positive and negative responses to the feelings I embed in my writings…for I may be right or go wrong at times but who cares! It is my feeling that I am putting down not bothering about any sort of acceptance from any corner of the world.

I do dream to have my own column in a newspaper someday…so that everyone can hear my voice. I know I should deserve it before I desire it, but hey there is no harm in dreaming…Luckily for me, most of my dreams have come to realization till now.

The last such “dream-come-true” experience was my visit to Honolulu, Hawaii on a project for 3 months – that was a dream I started having ever after seeing Rajkapoor’s movie “Around the world” when I was say doing my 6th standard. In that movie Rajkapoor travels the world and he visits Honolulu too…at that age, the word “Honolulu” fascinated me and got ingrained on my mind soon that I failed to forget it! I remember it so clearly – I saw the bikini clad ladies and kids loitering the beach sands and enjoying the blue waters. Though the period from the start of the dream to the realization of it would have been almost 2 decades, that is still encouraging and stands to the fact that dreaming is essential…

And hence I know I will write today, tomorrow and all the days to come and one day would find myself acquire at least the state of Columnist if not anything at all.

Wrath of Gods

2005-07-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

Looks like Gods are pouring out their anger on the people of Mumbai thru the lashing rains...probably help wash the various sins of the city residents...but the price they are paying is huge...! Terrible to see the Mumbaikars wade thru the flooded city roads with the help of volunteers who have thrown the ropes across to facilitate the climb...

The rain was bad to me also...first day of the heavy rains 26th July turned out to be a nightmare. Myself, my husband and our colleague come into our dark house around 7 pm only to find one of the bedrooms filled with water for 1 inch or so and almost trying to enter the hall and other rooms...goodness! I got into action immediately putting 2 cotton bedsheets that we had used earlier as curtains to use - immersing them into the water and squeezing the water out into the bucket...since the task was arduous, I took some 5 minute breaks every now and then and completed finally in 1 hours time collecting a quantity of 1.5 buckets of water, must be around 10 litres of water easily! That was quite an exercise for me as soon as coming from the office...my husband pitched in at the fag end of it ofcourse...:) Can't blame him - he was talking with the colleague who had come from another city - to fix some technical glitches...

This was followed by frequent to constant power cuts, and intermittent water supply...although now things seem to be getting fine. Still makes me wonder how long the good thing is gonna last as the Gods are replaying their last week act, making things harder for the common man...I feel so grateful to have atleast the basic amenities met!

There were two holidays last week declared by the Government itself and I just hope this week too there might be 1 or 2 given the weather conditions...That should give me some good time to prep myself to the upcoming 2 exams on one day - Human Resource Management and Strategic Management...God only knows how I did my yesterday's exam - Financial Management...It was pathetic - that much I am sure...the total exam duration is 60 minutes for 40 objective questions; while we were into 25 minutes of giving the exam, the invigilator comes and warns to complete the paper soon lest the power may get cut off! Can you believe it? I came to know that there were no UPS even...! Even more surprising...Left with no other option, I resorted to answering some 10 questions randomly based on my liking of the choice...:)) It was fun but my anger towards my institute is not gone...I plan to write to those idiots shortly and see what they have to say about this whole thing...Meanwhile I worked a lot today cleaning up home to a large extent...and getting ready to face a whole new week from tomorrow.

Call of the Monsters

2005-07-18T01:15:00.000-07:00

They are everywhere…nothing is impermeable for them…any guess who they are? Count down begins now...

10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
.
.
.
and they are…

Did you guess “Mosquitoes”???

No…they are the invincible Telemarketers!!!

...the loyalty towards their job and the allure of money that they earn out of getting a handful of clientele everyday makes them to call as many people during the day and late nights…

When you expect a call from your loved ones, what do you get first? A call from the dear old Telemarketer…

When you expect an interview call, who calls to irk you? The good old Telemarketer!

When you want to wind up for the day, and curl up on the bed with your favorite novel, whom do you end up saying goodnight? The same old Telemarketer!

They even permeate the office complexes, find out your numbers somehow, get the right extension and give you a non-stop fright…

Oh boy…I had this all when I was working and residing in the US 3 years back but now I see the same trend revisiting India and I am very much worried…

May be its time to learn how to live with the evil to so that we can appreciate the goodies in life !!! What say?

Cost of Uncertainty? Certainly Free!

2005-07-13T03:20:00.000-07:00

What should we do when things are quite uncertain? Like the one I am facing presently? The job I thought is going to be the one I would stick to for a long time to come, seems to be wobbling all of a sudden due to unexpected causes...The place where I thought would stay for a year or two atleast also seems to vanish down under my feet...planning to drift me to new places...is it a good thing or a bad thing? Simply I don't know!

I am confused now...the world seems to revolve around me without any sympathy to let me have the free time I deserve. Or is it the otherway round? Am I chasing things too aggressively and getting myself lost in the ocean of life? No idea...I wish I knew the answers.

Oh! How I long to take a long vacation around beaches, mountains and vast deserts? Go for skydive, scuba dive and all adventurous sports... I guess tonight I will take a call on what I really need and how to go about getting it...I had enough...I don't want to sound complaining or ungrateful to life...I mean I enjoy life but too much of uncertainty is certainly bad...ain't it?

Extremely Annoyed...

2005-03-30T23:41:00.000-08:00

I was at my office, gaping at the monitor as usual, working on something relatively important, and this guy comes to me all of a sudden out of nowhere and points me to a sheet of paper in his hand and asks me some guidance to fill it...Oh God I thought...not again! May be this is the extreme of all the cases I have handled so far...controlling my anger, I asked him if he knew who I was or which department I belonged to. He replied that he didn't know but pleaded me to help him...how could one be so idiotic not knowing where he is or where to seek help! I was about to burst out but told him that someone has wrongly sent him to me and requested him to head to the other end of the block if he needed any help.

He went off feeling miserable. Lack of directions in my huge office makes it even more complicated for new comers who totally get lost, in an office which has many buildings with blocks and wings and floors...its quite natural a person would feel that he or she is in a maze without any directions whatsoever. Having faced the same situation some months back when I joined the company, I couldn’t help but empathized with him. But hey, there are ways and means to ask a person about anything, be it direction or any other help. You can't take someone for granted, intrude their workspace, spoil their concentration and time and energy, ask a stupid blunt question and walk away! May be such people need some tutoring to this effect...but how many things can you teach a person too? There is a limit where education can play its role and common sense comes into picture.

Huh...I wonder how many are going to bother me like this in the future. Till date I was very patient but today was one odd day where I lost control of it and went berserk. Moments later I felt so bad but thought its OK and got on with my piling work.

2005-03-25T02:32:00.000-08:00

Vista of Tranquility

The DVC

2005-03-22T03:37:00.000-08:00

Finally I got my hands on the one novel which my friends and the media world over are raving about...The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown...I was so happy to get my own copy though it was not a original paperback edition...but a local copy. I couldn't control my curiousity so I just started right away...Was a slow start than I expected, but I tell you that it must be a damn good one the way it puts you restless merely by making you think "What next"...and add to it the fact that I am inquisitive esp. when it comes to religion and don't have a tendency to take things at face value. I need to convince myself what is right and then choose to follow it. So, this was a welcome change in my reading which suffocated a while with my work related readings and findings and draftings. There was this interesting debate in the BBC on the same topic when the Catholic Church started to issue statements about the novel publicly. Check these links out!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3541342.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4357493.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4350777.stm

It is sad indeed to know that truth is neither accepted nor is welcome. There was this "Have your Say" in BBC Section that ran for a long time debating on whether or not we need to take the DVC seriously, look at it as a fact or a mere fiction...As for me, with 100 odd pages completed now, I could say it is a fact-coated-fiction...the author himself has declared upfront that the information contained in the book is accurate. Not only that, many have concurred with his theories and perceptions. I ought to wait and see how the story is yarned till the end...If anybody reading this post has read the novel already and has some concrete opinions, please let me know by commenting.

Ideal Sunday...

2005-03-13T02:42:00.002-08:00

Today i could call it as an ideal sunday after a very long time... - woke up late, had my brunch, and after that had a good oil massage from my better half followed by a hot bath. It felt toooooo good...relaxed my tired nerves and made me to feel cool and calm inside and outside. I could feel the heat coming out of my eyes...the long hours of sitting glued to my chair with eyes staring continuously the monitor and running to the meetings with my peers, travelling in the rick...all has taken the coolness of my body. I resolved not to see the computer atleast today but my husband delegated some work to me and I didn't have a choice but to check his emails and prepare some presentations for his trainings to be done in the office. huh...and since I thought I should be regular at blogging here I am sending this update to the world...I miss my old blogger friends at rediff though! and if only rediff provided a service at par with google, I wouldn't have moved it from there either like others...

ok...that's for now. See ya.

Welcome to a Great New Year...

2005-01-04T20:53:00.000-08:00

Aloha!!!

Happy New Year dear bloggers...I am very excited due to the arrival of the New Year but at the same time saddened by the news of the Tsunami and the vast destruction that it has brought to our fellow humans.

I just wish God gives the survivors enough courage and strength, peace and happiness soon and help them in the healing process.

At my end, I am really looking forward to great happenings this year...

Firstly, I would be studying a lot on Management on account of my current MBA e-learning.
Secondly, I want to explore my creative side and start doing some painting and ofcourse extensive writing, which I feel is in my blood.
Thirdly, lot of financial streamlining would take place and make my mind lighter - Investments, Tax Planning, Property purchase et al.
Fourthly, I plan to travel a bit to rejuvenate myself, along with my husband.

On top of all these I would want God to grant me the all-accomodating nature even more than I possess now and evolve internally with introspection and reflection.

I just hope all these and more would materialize this year...

But who knows I may be up for more surprises! Surely I will keep you posted.

Right now, the one thing on my mind though is how to help the Tsunami victims!

May God rest the lost lives in peace.
Amen,

RW

Hello World!!!

2004-11-30T09:35:00.000-08:00

Hello everybody,

Just inaugurated my blog site here. I intend to use this blog effectively to express myself...so keep peeping in when you get time.

Ciao,
More to come on your way! :)