All I crave in life is being extra-ordinary, showing off extra-ordinary and living it up extra-ordinary.
Besides, I want an extra-ordinary group of people around (although I strive to prove them ordinary), an extra-ordinary family and overall an extra-ordinary relationship with an extra-ordinary soulmate
Well well well, I take like ages in selecting (may be a wierd word but an apt one too) the soulmate that is extra-ordinary. Coincidentally, I find one too.
Alas! soon (not-so-soon for some and some-time-later for some) he / she becomes ordinary as the relationship becomes ordinary. Eventually, life becomes ordinary and since gradually everything around is turning it to be ordinary, I attempt to catch-up with the race of getting extra-ordinary.
Today-owned extra-ordinary assets, tomorrow (most of the times literally and if not in a few days/weeks/months) becomes ordinary and day-after I resume to get something else that is extra-ordinary as I don't have the potential of extra-ordinary turned ordinary things to make extra-ordinary again.
I boast about being extra-oridinary but saying that I am an ordinary being but the irony is I happily categorize myself as ordinary waiting for some one to come and categorize me as extra-ordinary. Unfortunately, this is not the climax and the today-tommorow-day-after cycle continues as mentioned in the paragraph above.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
2. The World's Fastest Indian.
Last night I happened to experience last one hour of "The World's Fastest Indian", a 2005 New Zealand biographical film based on the Invercargill, New Zealand speed bike racer Burt Munro and his highly modified Indian Scout motorcycle. While I appreciate Sir Anthony Hopkins' performance, I was really amazed visualizing the life and passion of the historical Burt Munro.
I don't wanna discuss the movie as it's simply worth witnessing to rejuvenate the vigor within. However, I can't resist mentioning one sequence that absolutely reflects the hunger and passion of the legend.
Due to the heat generated from bike at higher speeds, the likelihood of his legs getting burnt had increased and hence he was advised to put asbestos filters on both his legs. However because of the cramped leg room in the motorcycle the legs covered with asbestos wouldn't fit in. Hence he decided to go with asbestos on just one leg. His folks were concerned and asked him not not take such a step as one of his leg might get roasted to the fullest possibility due to the amount of heat anticipated. To which he replied - "I have a spare one".
The passion of the soul killed the lust for his own body. Phenomenal.
I don't wanna discuss the movie as it's simply worth witnessing to rejuvenate the vigor within. However, I can't resist mentioning one sequence that absolutely reflects the hunger and passion of the legend.
Due to the heat generated from bike at higher speeds, the likelihood of his legs getting burnt had increased and hence he was advised to put asbestos filters on both his legs. However because of the cramped leg room in the motorcycle the legs covered with asbestos wouldn't fit in. Hence he decided to go with asbestos on just one leg. His folks were concerned and asked him not not take such a step as one of his leg might get roasted to the fullest possibility due to the amount of heat anticipated. To which he replied - "I have a spare one".
The passion of the soul killed the lust for his own body. Phenomenal.
Friday, November 19, 2010
1. Fiction.
Why don’t you pen down something in fiction – a short story or a novel or something?
Well, no one has asked me this question hence I asked my self and thought of writing something. The first thought that struck my mind was Love story. Nature reflects well. Anyhow, the next popping thought was - what kind of love story it could be? Two guys and a gal, Two gals and a guy, N gals and N guys, A guy and a gal with egoistic parents, just 2 guys, post-marriage break-up, Love one-Marry other-meet again. Enough! Well, my conclusion was - most of the love story concepts are either written or else they are quite stupid. Writing on the lines of already written might sound clichéd. The stupid ones obviously I wanna stay away with.
It was a good idea to take the love story idea out of mind and concentrate on another genre. Suspense. This sounds amazing. Impalpable ideas started hitting the corners of my mind and before I get to the core of it, I would get lost. Suspense is not your cup of tea, dude. Well it’s still a suspense – Who said the above line. I move on to next variety, nevertheless.
Comedy is the word that made me smile and I got a peppy feeling of making my pen run on the paper with bloating ideas on the comic events happenings and occasions. The only ingredient that was missing was a STORY. Two friends and their girlfriends plus a comedy of errors sounds pretty naïve whereas humor related to extra-marital affairs may result in a tacky outcome. Probably some multi-meaning script may work but then it would be too slapstick rather. Off-color was not the area I wanted to touch upon. Infact, humor was eventually something I felt I should give up.
Ghosts and re-incarnations is fiction within a fiction so don’t even want to give it a shot. All said and done, the time was to think beyond Love, Suspense, Comedy, Ghosts and re-incarnations.
Before I stress my brains anymore, I decided to stretch a bit by taking a stroll. As I peep out of my balcony, what I see is an 8 year old child is twisting hands of another similar aged boy and there it starts. They fight cats and dogs. Hey, why am I concentrating on their fight; it’s time to get back to my story. As my eyeballs set on the paper still looking like a clear sky, my blue sky thinker mind was still hovering over the action packed sequence. No marks for guessing but I was up and set for an action packed adventure. Soon the conjunction between up and set vanished and I turned upset as I was not able think beyond fights.
How do the greatest of fiction authors do it ya? Well, nothing is working for me – Love, Suspense, Comedy, Action – all futile. Enough is enough, no point in thinking further. Let me just put the pen and paper off the shelf and shelve the idea of developing a fabricated story. Time to take a short break and move on to something else buddy!
The next best thing to do was switching on the TV – the most effortless entertainment I believe. As I switched on, the running strip and the video being exhibited were displaying a murder story. Am I still thinking STORY STORY? Yes! And hey, Eureka! I was all set to pen down the most complex murder mystery of the world that might just create history. This was the best fiction genre of the world that had suspense, thrill, drama, action mystery and above all love & violence.
Two friends - One girl - Love triangle. Passion results in murder – huh! Pretty clichéd
Two brothers – Property dispute – One of them snatching away. Greed results in revenge and murder – I have already started yawning. What about readers?
Business magnets – Cut-throat competition – Rivalry – Setting up plan to get ahead of each other. Hunger results in murder. – This appears everyday in newspapers. What is new on my platter?
A common man entrapped by a dictator-type personality in village – Saga of sufferings – Faces murder charge – Life sentence – Freed after 14 years – Come back with a vengeance. Murder in public and surrender. Alas! Totally on one track.
Psycho killer on the move – Attractive personality – Traps females – False commitments – Murders them and vanishes. Too yucky!!!
Underworld – Clash of the Dons – Who will rule – Bloodbaths. Sounds more like an encyclopedia of murders
Political warfare. The first word itself is worse than a murder. Nothing to say further.
By now, I am totally out of my mind and need some peace. I am really far better-off with my non-fictional compositions.
Well, no one has asked me this question hence I asked my self and thought of writing something. The first thought that struck my mind was Love story. Nature reflects well. Anyhow, the next popping thought was - what kind of love story it could be? Two guys and a gal, Two gals and a guy, N gals and N guys, A guy and a gal with egoistic parents, just 2 guys, post-marriage break-up, Love one-Marry other-meet again. Enough! Well, my conclusion was - most of the love story concepts are either written or else they are quite stupid. Writing on the lines of already written might sound clichéd. The stupid ones obviously I wanna stay away with.
It was a good idea to take the love story idea out of mind and concentrate on another genre. Suspense. This sounds amazing. Impalpable ideas started hitting the corners of my mind and before I get to the core of it, I would get lost. Suspense is not your cup of tea, dude. Well it’s still a suspense – Who said the above line. I move on to next variety, nevertheless.
Comedy is the word that made me smile and I got a peppy feeling of making my pen run on the paper with bloating ideas on the comic events happenings and occasions. The only ingredient that was missing was a STORY. Two friends and their girlfriends plus a comedy of errors sounds pretty naïve whereas humor related to extra-marital affairs may result in a tacky outcome. Probably some multi-meaning script may work but then it would be too slapstick rather. Off-color was not the area I wanted to touch upon. Infact, humor was eventually something I felt I should give up.
Ghosts and re-incarnations is fiction within a fiction so don’t even want to give it a shot. All said and done, the time was to think beyond Love, Suspense, Comedy, Ghosts and re-incarnations.
Before I stress my brains anymore, I decided to stretch a bit by taking a stroll. As I peep out of my balcony, what I see is an 8 year old child is twisting hands of another similar aged boy and there it starts. They fight cats and dogs. Hey, why am I concentrating on their fight; it’s time to get back to my story. As my eyeballs set on the paper still looking like a clear sky, my blue sky thinker mind was still hovering over the action packed sequence. No marks for guessing but I was up and set for an action packed adventure. Soon the conjunction between up and set vanished and I turned upset as I was not able think beyond fights.
How do the greatest of fiction authors do it ya? Well, nothing is working for me – Love, Suspense, Comedy, Action – all futile. Enough is enough, no point in thinking further. Let me just put the pen and paper off the shelf and shelve the idea of developing a fabricated story. Time to take a short break and move on to something else buddy!
The next best thing to do was switching on the TV – the most effortless entertainment I believe. As I switched on, the running strip and the video being exhibited were displaying a murder story. Am I still thinking STORY STORY? Yes! And hey, Eureka! I was all set to pen down the most complex murder mystery of the world that might just create history. This was the best fiction genre of the world that had suspense, thrill, drama, action mystery and above all love & violence.
Two friends - One girl - Love triangle. Passion results in murder – huh! Pretty clichéd
Two brothers – Property dispute – One of them snatching away. Greed results in revenge and murder – I have already started yawning. What about readers?
Business magnets – Cut-throat competition – Rivalry – Setting up plan to get ahead of each other. Hunger results in murder. – This appears everyday in newspapers. What is new on my platter?
A common man entrapped by a dictator-type personality in village – Saga of sufferings – Faces murder charge – Life sentence – Freed after 14 years – Come back with a vengeance. Murder in public and surrender. Alas! Totally on one track.
Psycho killer on the move – Attractive personality – Traps females – False commitments – Murders them and vanishes. Too yucky!!!
Underworld – Clash of the Dons – Who will rule – Bloodbaths. Sounds more like an encyclopedia of murders
Political warfare. The first word itself is worse than a murder. Nothing to say further.
By now, I am totally out of my mind and need some peace. I am really far better-off with my non-fictional compositions.
Monday, October 25, 2010
2. Need and "To-Do".
As I write down my need list, the first thing that comes into my mind is a lavish 3BHK apartment that can make me feel content in life. To satisfy this "need", I start penning down a "to-do" list that mainly focusses on all the modes of making money, saving targets and approaching the ultimate objective as above.
On 24/10, I came to know a varied definition of "need" when I visited a few downtrodden places located a couple of hundred kilometers from Mumbai, the name that immediately creates a lavish feeling in practically everyone's mind as it is termed as a city where one can dream of everything and achieve anything. Coming to my experience, I would like to pen down a few things about my day visit to Mokhada and a few villages in there.
It is a mix of many things viz. Motivation, Empathy, Grief, Frustration, Eye opening facts, Eye-witnessing the definition of "Need", How a Social service should be defined, What is the difference between visiting an old age or orphanage entertaining them with movie / snacks and serving these people who in real sense are in absolutely downtrodden state. Most of the houses (on average approximately 100-120 sq. ft. floor space) had just a few vessels and that's all about it. A few may be had another pair of clothes and some food that would last for 3-4 days and that was their ultimate asset.
Also there were things to learn implement and developed within. It was more of a stimulation for me rather than assisting in contributing towards their needs. I was not even a "nimit" or postman. I was just an observer of things. It was just my good destiny that i could observe this. Besides, it was a little destiny for them that they could get some aid from donors and the folks who arranged the logistics for the visit. I did nothing but just went, saw and came back.
Ofcourse, did realize a lot of things, learned by experience but today when I m typing this I feel it was just an event. Although I am still visualizing their faces, it's a very shallow thinking of an "additional activity" which can be done once in a few months provided that I am not held up with anything else and the circumstances support. Having tagged myself as a spiritually inclined person, I just want to entertain myself with religious activities. When I say that, I focus on attending spiritual discourses and conferences at my convenience and go ga-ga over it. I easily manage to wash out everything at the end of it, most of the times much before the end of it.
Seva (Serving Society) is an integral aspect which I easily manage to skip from my heart, mind and soul. I strongly propose a few days of visit at such places with a very selfish reason of self-upliftment. I simply want to go and stay with them for 3 days, Cook food and Eat with them; all with an intent of realizing the value of "need".
My "need" and "to-do" list today is much above all the luxuries these people can even think of. Forget about LCD TV and DVD player, even a cell phone is apparently a pretty far fetched thing for them. Getting food, clothing and roof for the current day and witnessing tomorrow's sunrise is their "need". While I comfortably talk and listen about spiritual being, self-realization and salvation, I am unaware, untouched and unexperienced about the miseries of life. I crave for the maximum possible comfort before sitting for meditation / discourses and getting involved in any activity related to serving the society. This is nothing but a pity situation nonetheless.
225 kms away from the Maximum city where I comfortably throw away a couple of grands on a movie and dinner per couple, this is a bitter fact of the human beings (where entire family survives with the same amount for entire month and moreover it is extremely hard to earn the same for them)there that makes me feel pathetically ashamed of being human.
On 24/10, I came to know a varied definition of "need" when I visited a few downtrodden places located a couple of hundred kilometers from Mumbai, the name that immediately creates a lavish feeling in practically everyone's mind as it is termed as a city where one can dream of everything and achieve anything. Coming to my experience, I would like to pen down a few things about my day visit to Mokhada and a few villages in there.
It is a mix of many things viz. Motivation, Empathy, Grief, Frustration, Eye opening facts, Eye-witnessing the definition of "Need", How a Social service should be defined, What is the difference between visiting an old age or orphanage entertaining them with movie / snacks and serving these people who in real sense are in absolutely downtrodden state. Most of the houses (on average approximately 100-120 sq. ft. floor space) had just a few vessels and that's all about it. A few may be had another pair of clothes and some food that would last for 3-4 days and that was their ultimate asset.
Also there were things to learn implement and developed within. It was more of a stimulation for me rather than assisting in contributing towards their needs. I was not even a "nimit" or postman. I was just an observer of things. It was just my good destiny that i could observe this. Besides, it was a little destiny for them that they could get some aid from donors and the folks who arranged the logistics for the visit. I did nothing but just went, saw and came back.
Ofcourse, did realize a lot of things, learned by experience but today when I m typing this I feel it was just an event. Although I am still visualizing their faces, it's a very shallow thinking of an "additional activity" which can be done once in a few months provided that I am not held up with anything else and the circumstances support. Having tagged myself as a spiritually inclined person, I just want to entertain myself with religious activities. When I say that, I focus on attending spiritual discourses and conferences at my convenience and go ga-ga over it. I easily manage to wash out everything at the end of it, most of the times much before the end of it.
Seva (Serving Society) is an integral aspect which I easily manage to skip from my heart, mind and soul. I strongly propose a few days of visit at such places with a very selfish reason of self-upliftment. I simply want to go and stay with them for 3 days, Cook food and Eat with them; all with an intent of realizing the value of "need".
My "need" and "to-do" list today is much above all the luxuries these people can even think of. Forget about LCD TV and DVD player, even a cell phone is apparently a pretty far fetched thing for them. Getting food, clothing and roof for the current day and witnessing tomorrow's sunrise is their "need". While I comfortably talk and listen about spiritual being, self-realization and salvation, I am unaware, untouched and unexperienced about the miseries of life. I crave for the maximum possible comfort before sitting for meditation / discourses and getting involved in any activity related to serving the society. This is nothing but a pity situation nonetheless.
225 kms away from the Maximum city where I comfortably throw away a couple of grands on a movie and dinner per couple, this is a bitter fact of the human beings (where entire family survives with the same amount for entire month and moreover it is extremely hard to earn the same for them)there that makes me feel pathetically ashamed of being human.
Monday, October 4, 2010
1. 10 years.
A couple of days back (2-Oct), I accomplished a decade in the IT industry. Am mostly on the happier side to yet stick on to the same industry although have traveled through 4 organizations and umpteen locations.
Just thought of re-connecting to all those I knew and also started their IT career on the same day (3-Oct-2000).
This is what I wrote -
-------------------------------------------------
Hey Folks,
Just thot of dropping a Hello. 10 years back on the same day, most of us (I guess almost all) got their first earning on paper. It was indeed a great feeling.
There are many things to write about from Holiday Inn to the Maximum City (Mumbai) to the Capital (Delhi) to Krishna Continental to Bahrain to Gulf to Yiatros to Domios to Lophitis to Israel to Germany to UK to several EU countries to Maritime to Cards to Currium to Mitsis to Ariel to Downtown to Binges to 2 Rupee coin in Pool table to Agia Napa to Four Season to accidents to Nightlife to Fights to Bonding to Love to Timepass to Timekilling to Work to Culture to Food to Maggi to Indian Restuarants to Nicosia to Flag Hoisting to India Amabasaddor (Pawan I guess) to Crish Cash and Carry to Sevdas to Refugee to all those good, very good and extremely good experiences to relocations to settling in varied co-ordinates to future to marriage to kids to and until the current day....
I am sure I have missed a lots and lots of things as thinking of everything in 3 minutes was kinda difficult task for not-so-intelligent person like me :-). You may certainly wanna add more that will result in sheer fun along with a fantastic nostalgia.
However it's been a decade of our dosti-yaari and its amazing to know that we are going strong, stronger and strongest...
Love you all. :-) Hats off to each one of you for being an integral part of Dilip's life.
-------------------------------------------------
Although most of the write-up won't make much sense to those who haven't been a part of the journey and experience, I still thought of blogging it up :)
In ten years, I must have traveled thousands of miles
Having made a bunch of friends, brings loads of smiles
It's a great feeling to cherish the past, peep into the files
Relations are the strongest foundation, not just bricks and tiles
Just thought of re-connecting to all those I knew and also started their IT career on the same day (3-Oct-2000).
This is what I wrote -
-------------------------------------------------
Hey Folks,
Just thot of dropping a Hello. 10 years back on the same day, most of us (I guess almost all) got their first earning on paper. It was indeed a great feeling.
There are many things to write about from Holiday Inn to the Maximum City (Mumbai) to the Capital (Delhi) to Krishna Continental to Bahrain to Gulf to Yiatros to Domios to Lophitis to Israel to Germany to UK to several EU countries to Maritime to Cards to Currium to Mitsis to Ariel to Downtown to Binges to 2 Rupee coin in Pool table to Agia Napa to Four Season to accidents to Nightlife to Fights to Bonding to Love to Timepass to Timekilling to Work to Culture to Food to Maggi to Indian Restuarants to Nicosia to Flag Hoisting to India Amabasaddor (Pawan I guess) to Crish Cash and Carry to Sevdas to Refugee to all those good, very good and extremely good experiences to relocations to settling in varied co-ordinates to future to marriage to kids to and until the current day....
I am sure I have missed a lots and lots of things as thinking of everything in 3 minutes was kinda difficult task for not-so-intelligent person like me :-). You may certainly wanna add more that will result in sheer fun along with a fantastic nostalgia.
However it's been a decade of our dosti-yaari and its amazing to know that we are going strong, stronger and strongest...
Love you all. :-) Hats off to each one of you for being an integral part of Dilip's life.
-------------------------------------------------
Although most of the write-up won't make much sense to those who haven't been a part of the journey and experience, I still thought of blogging it up :)
In ten years, I must have traveled thousands of miles
Having made a bunch of friends, brings loads of smiles
It's a great feeling to cherish the past, peep into the files
Relations are the strongest foundation, not just bricks and tiles
Thursday, September 30, 2010
7. Challenge.
The root cause for almost any revolution to happen is Challenge. As soon as I am uncomfortable with something, it becomes a Challenge for me and to get rid off the discomfort I look for a solution.
More intense the challenge felt, quicker and better will be the solution. Well, by saying quicker I don't mean in terms of speedy results but in terms of action taken.
For instance, if I feel that 1BHK is too tight for me, I will strive to look for a 2/3 BHK if I really feel that pain as a challenge. Most of the times the challenge is felt but hardly any action is taken cos Compromise overpowers the Challenge and converts my discomfort to comfort. This makes me feel that 1BHK is also not too bad.
As a real life example, I am just imagining the Challenge that MK Gandhi must have sensed. Like many others, he initially must have felt that we need an independent nation by putting an end to the foreign rule. However, the further thought would have been on the life-death situation perspective. I will die if I won’t come out of the discomfort of bowing down to the foreign administration.
I want to live and hence I want to get the administration of out the way. This would have been the last and ultimate thought and post that only ACTION was the way.
I cannot live in a 1BHK flat. I will die if I continue to live. I want to live and hence from this point of time I want to step forward towards possessing a 2-3BHK flat.
Hey, what if Alexander Graham Bell was happy and didn’t sense any challenge with the traditional mode of face 2 face communication? Oops, my cell phone is ringing so let me think on this point later on.
More intense the challenge felt, quicker and better will be the solution. Well, by saying quicker I don't mean in terms of speedy results but in terms of action taken.
For instance, if I feel that 1BHK is too tight for me, I will strive to look for a 2/3 BHK if I really feel that pain as a challenge. Most of the times the challenge is felt but hardly any action is taken cos Compromise overpowers the Challenge and converts my discomfort to comfort. This makes me feel that 1BHK is also not too bad.
As a real life example, I am just imagining the Challenge that MK Gandhi must have sensed. Like many others, he initially must have felt that we need an independent nation by putting an end to the foreign rule. However, the further thought would have been on the life-death situation perspective. I will die if I won’t come out of the discomfort of bowing down to the foreign administration.
I want to live and hence I want to get the administration of out the way. This would have been the last and ultimate thought and post that only ACTION was the way.
I cannot live in a 1BHK flat. I will die if I continue to live. I want to live and hence from this point of time I want to step forward towards possessing a 2-3BHK flat.
Hey, what if Alexander Graham Bell was happy and didn’t sense any challenge with the traditional mode of face 2 face communication? Oops, my cell phone is ringing so let me think on this point later on.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
6. Khel.
Ayodhya me maidan banaao
ubharte hunar ka hosla badhao
Chhodo Jaativaad ke kaand-karm
Cricket hi hai bhaarat ka dharm
Court ke faisley se koi ek kom hogi naraaz
Kya yehi hai, sunhere kal ka aaghaaz?
Sab rahe khush aisaa karein upaay
mohobat ka rishta hai, sab ko miley nyaay
Mandir Masjid to bahot hai bhai
bhagwaan - bhakt ki to hai dil ki sagaai
Prarthana jo dil se nikle wo puri hai
phir ye sab vivaad kyon zaroori hai?
Is liye kehta hun, mandir masjid chhodo
in vivaado me beetenge saal, kharch hoge karodo
Stump thoko, balla ghumaao
Ayodhya me maidaan banao
Afsos....
Aaj Khel ban gaya hai dharm aur Dharm ek Khel
'Wo' hi jaane, insaano me hoga kab aur kaise mel
Hey Khuda, Yaa Bhagwaan, maaf karna tere bache ko
Ret (Sand) ko peel ke, usko nikaalna hai tel
ubharte hunar ka hosla badhao
Chhodo Jaativaad ke kaand-karm
Cricket hi hai bhaarat ka dharm
Court ke faisley se koi ek kom hogi naraaz
Kya yehi hai, sunhere kal ka aaghaaz?
Sab rahe khush aisaa karein upaay
mohobat ka rishta hai, sab ko miley nyaay
Mandir Masjid to bahot hai bhai
bhagwaan - bhakt ki to hai dil ki sagaai
Prarthana jo dil se nikle wo puri hai
phir ye sab vivaad kyon zaroori hai?
Is liye kehta hun, mandir masjid chhodo
in vivaado me beetenge saal, kharch hoge karodo
Stump thoko, balla ghumaao
Ayodhya me maidaan banao
Afsos....
Aaj Khel ban gaya hai dharm aur Dharm ek Khel
'Wo' hi jaane, insaano me hoga kab aur kaise mel
Hey Khuda, Yaa Bhagwaan, maaf karna tere bache ko
Ret (Sand) ko peel ke, usko nikaalna hai tel
Thursday, September 23, 2010
5. Easy.
One of my friends had penned down the following on email -
Woh path kya pathik kushaltaa kya, jis path mein bikhare shool na ho|
Naavik ki dhairya pariksha kya, yadi dhaaraayein pratikool na ho||
to which I replied with a subtle humor -
pratikool and shool
in theory sounds very cool
jab vaastav me fat ti hai
to chhatne lagte hai dhool...
iske liye mat swim karo nadi
jaha already khada hai pul
koi path ko muhskil na banaao
kyonki jeevan me kaam hai atul
to bhai meri baat maano
shool and all that, jao zara bhool
jo life mili hai mast
usko karo total vasool
:-)
Don't mind as mind is missing :-)
Woh path kya pathik kushaltaa kya, jis path mein bikhare shool na ho|
Naavik ki dhairya pariksha kya, yadi dhaaraayein pratikool na ho||
to which I replied with a subtle humor -
pratikool and shool
in theory sounds very cool
jab vaastav me fat ti hai
to chhatne lagte hai dhool...
iske liye mat swim karo nadi
jaha already khada hai pul
koi path ko muhskil na banaao
kyonki jeevan me kaam hai atul
to bhai meri baat maano
shool and all that, jao zara bhool
jo life mili hai mast
usko karo total vasool
:-)
Don't mind as mind is missing :-)
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
4. King and Pawn.
“Once the game is over, the King and the pawn go back in the same box.” - Italian Proverb
1. Many a times, I think I am a king, many a times pawn, and rest of the times am dwelling in between
2. I don't even 'like' to visualize the 'fact' that game will be over one day altho that day is a variable i, where i >= 0 and <= 14600 (considering 40 more yrs and 365 days per year)
3. After the game is over, let the king and pawn go anywhere, but while the game is ON, I want to be somewhere (above all, ahead of all, knowledgeable, identifiable, egoistic, peace-loving, authoritarian, radical, some or all of the above)
4. I don't even know whether I am playing the game or no. Just keep running and think I am playing
5. What do I want out of this game? if i don't know then how does it matter if I am gonna go in the same box or other or wherever. In today's state, I believe only 2 things - a. I am going to be here forever and b. If I pass away, that will be the end of the story. then, who cares...
Apologies - I didn't intend to damage the wonderful italian proverb.
1. Many a times, I think I am a king, many a times pawn, and rest of the times am dwelling in between
2. I don't even 'like' to visualize the 'fact' that game will be over one day altho that day is a variable i, where i >= 0 and <= 14600 (considering 40 more yrs and 365 days per year)
3. After the game is over, let the king and pawn go anywhere, but while the game is ON, I want to be somewhere (above all, ahead of all, knowledgeable, identifiable, egoistic, peace-loving, authoritarian, radical, some or all of the above)
4. I don't even know whether I am playing the game or no. Just keep running and think I am playing
5. What do I want out of this game? if i don't know then how does it matter if I am gonna go in the same box or other or wherever. In today's state, I believe only 2 things - a. I am going to be here forever and b. If I pass away, that will be the end of the story. then, who cares...
Apologies - I didn't intend to damage the wonderful italian proverb.
Friday, September 17, 2010
3. Connect the Dots.
Day in day out, I am tying myself in every possible knot
Don’t analyze a thing, never drill down on why and what
Just running behind something, yet not attaining a thing
Am I really working on, what I feel I always sought?
A bunch of such constant thoughts, make me feel lost
The moment shall I transcend, from this world of thoughts
First step then taken, shall really mean lots and lots
Thoughts won’t go in vain, cos realization shall connect the dots
Don’t analyze a thing, never drill down on why and what
Just running behind something, yet not attaining a thing
Am I really working on, what I feel I always sought?
A bunch of such constant thoughts, make me feel lost
The moment shall I transcend, from this world of thoughts
First step then taken, shall really mean lots and lots
Thoughts won’t go in vain, cos realization shall connect the dots
Monday, September 13, 2010
2. Local.
There is this classic story of Mumbai Local train where in a person who wants to get down at a particular station is advised by his fellow passengers that the train is not supposed to stop but might slow down so in case he wants to get down, he should jump out of train and to avoid tumbling down, he should continue running in the direction of train. He does so and in panic, he continues to run faster in the direction of the train. The train however slows down further and the people in the other compartment feel that this guy wanna board the train and eventually they pull him into the coach. Before he reacts, the train is already on the move at its normal pace.
In this train of a stereotypical life, many a times, I feel like doing something eccentric and attempt to get out of the train. However, I fail to stop on the platform and do continue my run in the direction of the train. Quite obviously, some one or other is already there to pull me up. Ofcourse, I am not blaming them as it was me who was supposed to stop and make sure that I am not hooked on the train again.
Someday I feel I should get down on the platform and don’t wait for another train going in same direction. :-)
In this train of a stereotypical life, many a times, I feel like doing something eccentric and attempt to get out of the train. However, I fail to stop on the platform and do continue my run in the direction of the train. Quite obviously, some one or other is already there to pull me up. Ofcourse, I am not blaming them as it was me who was supposed to stop and make sure that I am not hooked on the train again.
Someday I feel I should get down on the platform and don’t wait for another train going in same direction. :-)
1. Monopoly.
Buying cities and building houses and hotels over it is amazing fun. While it is supposed to be an entertaining game, it really reflects the craving of getting ahead of everyone by collecting maximum possible money, assets and beyond. As the number of players append, the fun increments. The race becomes more crucial and the competition all the more cut-throat.
There are several defined rules and several customized rules like making partners, taking loan from bank / participants, paying interests, selling the assets, etc – all with an intent of survival.
The game is gonna last for not more than few hours for sure but the excitement / agony / frustration / ecstasy dwells till the end and all the participants who were competitors take their original role by resuming as friends / relatives.
I have always loved to play monopoly. I am relentlessly playing it. One day it will end.
There are several defined rules and several customized rules like making partners, taking loan from bank / participants, paying interests, selling the assets, etc – all with an intent of survival.
The game is gonna last for not more than few hours for sure but the excitement / agony / frustration / ecstasy dwells till the end and all the participants who were competitors take their original role by resuming as friends / relatives.
I have always loved to play monopoly. I am relentlessly playing it. One day it will end.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
3. Walking.
I am passionate about Music. The day when I would become a legend is still a Dream. One beautiful day a renowned maestro calls me up and says – Would you like to learn Music? For me, its like half the dream turned into reality. He tells me - I shall teach you music for 500 hours and that’s all about it. Are you ready? Without a moment of hesitation, I nod with a positive reply.
Further he says – There is one condition and that is; Those 500 hours need to be completed in 30 days starting tomorrow morning 5AM. Although I am deeply shocked my passion nonetheless doesn't even give me another thought and with an internal vigor, I say – Yes. The calculation of 16 hours and 40 minutes a day is already done. However, that is not into consideration as I am visioning the obvious outcome out of the investment and dedication.
Did I learn and excel in those 500 hours?
What made me say a Yes?
What is dedication and how is it defined?
Was that the last opportunity of this lifetime?
Did I even think that I should put a little less than 100%?
The replies to initial four inquiries are immaterial. The reply to fifth query is – I felt that THINKING is also a waste of time at this juncture.
The self-management aces in my life gave me an opportunity to take me out and make me understand, realize, listen, learn and teach about nothing but SELF. They too talked on the similar lines on which the maestro focused on. They had a simple question – Have I zeroed down on THE decision / THE purpose of my life?
“What if yes and “What if no” was up to me to think on and do further inquiries.
I said – Well, I have not built up any purpose per se but I want to attain a significant or rather complete peace, bliss in my life and kinda self-realization is the ultimate goal. However I am not certain of how will I walk on it and what exactly needs to be done to judge if my purpose is right or wrong and once I am firm on my purpose what are the steps to be taken?
Observing the observer and experiencing the experience was a theoretical move suggested. What ever happens needs to be treated as happening. I am just a doer of my activity, a contributor in the event, a performer of my role but I cannot make anything happen in its entirety. For instance, a pot-maker makes a pot but he cannot make a pot out of sand. He has the ability to make the pot but he cannot make the pot happen.
What will be the benefit of doing this? Well, it will all come out of rigorous practice and experience and I shall get deeper inquiries from within and also answers to some or most of those. Also, the experts will be there to guide.
It did sound convincing and moreover, I did ask my self – Did I ask a single question to the musician who straightaway told me to give my 500 hours over a period of mere 30 days? Did I check with him on the further benefits and the intermediate milestones?
Well, rigorous practice and inner experience thing sounded good to me but what I did was just a little different than I did with Music maestro. I asked sometime to think about it.
Alas! I am still thinking.
Further he says – There is one condition and that is; Those 500 hours need to be completed in 30 days starting tomorrow morning 5AM. Although I am deeply shocked my passion nonetheless doesn't even give me another thought and with an internal vigor, I say – Yes. The calculation of 16 hours and 40 minutes a day is already done. However, that is not into consideration as I am visioning the obvious outcome out of the investment and dedication.
Did I learn and excel in those 500 hours?
What made me say a Yes?
What is dedication and how is it defined?
Was that the last opportunity of this lifetime?
Did I even think that I should put a little less than 100%?
The replies to initial four inquiries are immaterial. The reply to fifth query is – I felt that THINKING is also a waste of time at this juncture.
The self-management aces in my life gave me an opportunity to take me out and make me understand, realize, listen, learn and teach about nothing but SELF. They too talked on the similar lines on which the maestro focused on. They had a simple question – Have I zeroed down on THE decision / THE purpose of my life?
“What if yes and “What if no” was up to me to think on and do further inquiries.
I said – Well, I have not built up any purpose per se but I want to attain a significant or rather complete peace, bliss in my life and kinda self-realization is the ultimate goal. However I am not certain of how will I walk on it and what exactly needs to be done to judge if my purpose is right or wrong and once I am firm on my purpose what are the steps to be taken?
Observing the observer and experiencing the experience was a theoretical move suggested. What ever happens needs to be treated as happening. I am just a doer of my activity, a contributor in the event, a performer of my role but I cannot make anything happen in its entirety. For instance, a pot-maker makes a pot but he cannot make a pot out of sand. He has the ability to make the pot but he cannot make the pot happen.
What will be the benefit of doing this? Well, it will all come out of rigorous practice and experience and I shall get deeper inquiries from within and also answers to some or most of those. Also, the experts will be there to guide.
It did sound convincing and moreover, I did ask my self – Did I ask a single question to the musician who straightaway told me to give my 500 hours over a period of mere 30 days? Did I check with him on the further benefits and the intermediate milestones?
Well, rigorous practice and inner experience thing sounded good to me but what I did was just a little different than I did with Music maestro. I asked sometime to think about it.
Alas! I am still thinking.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
2. Mindset.
While taking a stroll after lunch, one of my friends asked me a metaphoric question with an exclamation – How can some one be so arrogant?!
I asked – What happened?
He told – There is this person who seems to be bigheaded that he doesn’t care what other person must be feeling. He never considers anything when he wants to get his work done.
Further he added – I cannot be like that. However I fail to understand what makes people act this way? Does it not create a pinch within?
I said – It’s all about what takes over the facts.
For instance, I said – If a poor fellow riding a bicycle or a handcart comes and dashes your car, you would usually react verbally but won’t take any money from him thinking that he is a poor chap. Let it be. What if another car bumps into yours? You would make sure he pays you or else you will take him to the cops. Fact is the same i.e. Accident happening. Damage is also similar i.e. Car need to be painted / repaired. However, the reaction is different. Why?
In the former case, Sympathy took over the fact while in the latter the focus was on the fact and nothing else. Net-net, there are different categories of people with varied attitude and mindset. There are some who think, if something is to be done, it is to be done – no matter what. While there are others, who feel that they cannot hurt anyone even if they have to bear loss (may be with distinct and assorted limits depending on person to person).
I asked – What happened?
He told – There is this person who seems to be bigheaded that he doesn’t care what other person must be feeling. He never considers anything when he wants to get his work done.
Further he added – I cannot be like that. However I fail to understand what makes people act this way? Does it not create a pinch within?
I said – It’s all about what takes over the facts.
For instance, I said – If a poor fellow riding a bicycle or a handcart comes and dashes your car, you would usually react verbally but won’t take any money from him thinking that he is a poor chap. Let it be. What if another car bumps into yours? You would make sure he pays you or else you will take him to the cops. Fact is the same i.e. Accident happening. Damage is also similar i.e. Car need to be painted / repaired. However, the reaction is different. Why?
In the former case, Sympathy took over the fact while in the latter the focus was on the fact and nothing else. Net-net, there are different categories of people with varied attitude and mindset. There are some who think, if something is to be done, it is to be done – no matter what. While there are others, who feel that they cannot hurt anyone even if they have to bear loss (may be with distinct and assorted limits depending on person to person).
Monday, August 2, 2010
1. The Escape.
Title – The Escape
Genre – Action / Thriller
Backdrop – Jaes Dawn (aka JD) is a notorious gangster with an intense criminal record. Cops are after him. Government has appointed a special cop with highest accolades in the department. Although his name is Keal Chous, he is popularly known as Killer Cop (KC). KC is madly after JD and one fine day he catches hold of him and he is put behind the bars.
Plot – In the opening scene, JD manages to escape from Jail.
Outline – KC is after JD. He does catch hold of him but once again JD manages to escape. However, he wants to teach a lesson to KC. To accomplish this, JD gets himself arrested by KC by creating a dramatic situation. KC feels he has attained success as JD will now undergo double rigorous imprisonment.
Plan – The time when JD had escaped, he had made all the arrangements to sabotage KC and hence he had got himself caught. Now as per this plan, he managed to escape once again. This time the situation was built up in such a way that KC was finger-pointed by the Government as all the evidences turned out to be against him and he was proven guilty in helping JD escape. As a result, he was suspended.
Moving on – KC was now totally disgusted with the system and circumstances. His only aim was to prove that the system is wrong and he can prove himself to be smarter than the system. He now starts his hunt for JD. He does find him and proposes a deal that JD and KC can work together and in short time turn out to be topmost criminals and much bigger than the system / government. JD is quite surprised but happy with the deal. He foresees the benefits in having an engulfed and wounded cop with him as he already was aware of KC’s potential and abilities. Together they work and become the uncrowned knights of the gangland.
Thrill – The thrilling part is each one had an individual interest. KC wanted to show that he is much powerful than the system. Basically, he was pretending this. JD wanted to take the advantage of KC and rule the world. The Government had a master plan to get JD and KC together. The first anticipated situation was – KC was sent by the Government with pre-defined agenda of making friends with JD and pretending that he wants to fight back against the Government with a vengeance.
Thriller – As the time passed, Government realized that KC has lost interest in Government’s plan and he was more concerned about his criminal activities and the world around it. The biggest surprise and suspense drama unfolds when JD is unmasked to come out as an undercover cop and confirms the above statement.
Conclusion – Basically KC was an honest cop but the corrupted system couldn’t digest him. Hence, a game plan of undercover cop in the name of JD was framed and he was instructed to make sure that the KC’s noble interest and the plan that Government had used should finally turn into his individual interest and the system can prove KC wrong and get rid off him forever. His suspension was not enough for the Government.
Genre – Action / Thriller
Backdrop – Jaes Dawn (aka JD) is a notorious gangster with an intense criminal record. Cops are after him. Government has appointed a special cop with highest accolades in the department. Although his name is Keal Chous, he is popularly known as Killer Cop (KC). KC is madly after JD and one fine day he catches hold of him and he is put behind the bars.
Plot – In the opening scene, JD manages to escape from Jail.
Outline – KC is after JD. He does catch hold of him but once again JD manages to escape. However, he wants to teach a lesson to KC. To accomplish this, JD gets himself arrested by KC by creating a dramatic situation. KC feels he has attained success as JD will now undergo double rigorous imprisonment.
Plan – The time when JD had escaped, he had made all the arrangements to sabotage KC and hence he had got himself caught. Now as per this plan, he managed to escape once again. This time the situation was built up in such a way that KC was finger-pointed by the Government as all the evidences turned out to be against him and he was proven guilty in helping JD escape. As a result, he was suspended.
Moving on – KC was now totally disgusted with the system and circumstances. His only aim was to prove that the system is wrong and he can prove himself to be smarter than the system. He now starts his hunt for JD. He does find him and proposes a deal that JD and KC can work together and in short time turn out to be topmost criminals and much bigger than the system / government. JD is quite surprised but happy with the deal. He foresees the benefits in having an engulfed and wounded cop with him as he already was aware of KC’s potential and abilities. Together they work and become the uncrowned knights of the gangland.
Thrill – The thrilling part is each one had an individual interest. KC wanted to show that he is much powerful than the system. Basically, he was pretending this. JD wanted to take the advantage of KC and rule the world. The Government had a master plan to get JD and KC together. The first anticipated situation was – KC was sent by the Government with pre-defined agenda of making friends with JD and pretending that he wants to fight back against the Government with a vengeance.
Thriller – As the time passed, Government realized that KC has lost interest in Government’s plan and he was more concerned about his criminal activities and the world around it. The biggest surprise and suspense drama unfolds when JD is unmasked to come out as an undercover cop and confirms the above statement.
Conclusion – Basically KC was an honest cop but the corrupted system couldn’t digest him. Hence, a game plan of undercover cop in the name of JD was framed and he was instructed to make sure that the KC’s noble interest and the plan that Government had used should finally turn into his individual interest and the system can prove KC wrong and get rid off him forever. His suspension was not enough for the Government.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
4. Zoo.
A few days back, while taking a photographic tour of a Zoo, initially I was taken aback thinking of those animals who love to wander around with no boundaries are stuck up in a tiny cage and that’s their world. However, I further felt that it may not be as bad either since they are secured and also get the food, medicines etc. Of course, they have to pay the price but life is still safe.
After a while, I got another thought – Is it not my story?
For my present and future security, I get my self into the cage of responsibilities, notions, etc and hardly move out from there during my lifetime. Well, actually I do move out and see the world but I always have that baggage loaded on my head and back.
Don’t I cage myself for a lifetime with a purpose of enjoying freedom in life?
PS (Courtesy Suchit) - During the French revolution, when the Bastille was attacked, and the prisoners freed, the old-time prisoners (who were bound to one place with chains in a dark room) refused to move out in the world. They just wanted to remain there.They were insecure of freedom. And so are we...
- Thank you so much, Suchit.
After a while, I got another thought – Is it not my story?
For my present and future security, I get my self into the cage of responsibilities, notions, etc and hardly move out from there during my lifetime. Well, actually I do move out and see the world but I always have that baggage loaded on my head and back.
Don’t I cage myself for a lifetime with a purpose of enjoying freedom in life?
PS (Courtesy Suchit) - During the French revolution, when the Bastille was attacked, and the prisoners freed, the old-time prisoners (who were bound to one place with chains in a dark room) refused to move out in the world. They just wanted to remain there.They were insecure of freedom. And so are we...
- Thank you so much, Suchit.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
3. Wanna Save More (?)
I want to save 300K INR in next 12 months.
What for?
So that I can keep it safe and use it after 10-15 years.
Why don’t I buy a car?
No ways – Car will depreciate over a period of time and I will hardly get any resale value after a few years. My investment of 300K will just fetch me a return of hardly 100K after using the car for 6-7 years. What will I do with 100K when I can still stay without a car and put those 300K in a fixed deposit and make at least 150K more?
Ever thought what happens to the hard earned money in it’s form over a period of time?
It does depreciate with inflation.
For instance, If I save 100 bucks and put it in a bank for 10 years thinking that I shall spend once it becomes 200, it sounds like a plan in the year 2010. At the onset of 2020, I think of withdrawing 200 bucks for spending and I realize that what I would get for 100 bucks in 2010, I am getting for 200 bucks 10 years down the line. I missed the chance of enjoying it for 10 years and now paying the same price for it after keeping it in Bank’s custody for 10 long years thinking that it’s multiplying.
Over and above, there are certain things which I cannot enjoy later due to my health and age. At that time, a thought might pop up – All that I earned seems to go in vain.
I know there can be several counter arguments to the above but the Crux is – what I feel like enjoying today, I should strive to.
What for?
So that I can keep it safe and use it after 10-15 years.
Why don’t I buy a car?
No ways – Car will depreciate over a period of time and I will hardly get any resale value after a few years. My investment of 300K will just fetch me a return of hardly 100K after using the car for 6-7 years. What will I do with 100K when I can still stay without a car and put those 300K in a fixed deposit and make at least 150K more?
Ever thought what happens to the hard earned money in it’s form over a period of time?
It does depreciate with inflation.
For instance, If I save 100 bucks and put it in a bank for 10 years thinking that I shall spend once it becomes 200, it sounds like a plan in the year 2010. At the onset of 2020, I think of withdrawing 200 bucks for spending and I realize that what I would get for 100 bucks in 2010, I am getting for 200 bucks 10 years down the line. I missed the chance of enjoying it for 10 years and now paying the same price for it after keeping it in Bank’s custody for 10 long years thinking that it’s multiplying.
Over and above, there are certain things which I cannot enjoy later due to my health and age. At that time, a thought might pop up – All that I earned seems to go in vain.
I know there can be several counter arguments to the above but the Crux is – what I feel like enjoying today, I should strive to.
2. What am I doing?
Got eyes to view the beautiful world and I am just looking at the loopholes
Got ears to listen to the tune of life and I am turning my ears on to gossips
Got speech to spread the word of God and I am just hurting folks by my words
Got nose to smell the fragrance and I am craving to smell the atrocities around
Got body to serve the needy and I end up serving it the whole day
Got mind to think and spread wonderful thoughts and I am cluttering it with all the dirt
Alas! I talk about purifying the soul, however overlooking at the functional glitches mentioned above
Got ears to listen to the tune of life and I am turning my ears on to gossips
Got speech to spread the word of God and I am just hurting folks by my words
Got nose to smell the fragrance and I am craving to smell the atrocities around
Got body to serve the needy and I end up serving it the whole day
Got mind to think and spread wonderful thoughts and I am cluttering it with all the dirt
Alas! I talk about purifying the soul, however overlooking at the functional glitches mentioned above
Sunday, July 11, 2010
1. Culture.
Last week, I came across a day long session on Cross Culture Sensitivity that had an objective of creating awareness of different cultures across the globe and the imperative do’s / don’ts to avoid embarrassments, gain confidence, smoothen conversations and eventually build stronger relations and acquire business benefits.
It was an edifying session with a lot of practical insights. The outcome was a self-implementing decision of following the “rules” as and when the situation arises.
A little bit of further analysis resulted in some self-induced thoughts. The way the culture varies across the globe, it does vary within a huge country like India. However, this was also touched upon during the session. Further, every individual also has his own specific way of life.
Connecting the above statement to the definition of Culture (Culture is nothing but a way of life), I felt that every individual has a self-culture which is over and above as well as a little more specific to the generic culture followed.
For instance, as a part of Indian culture, I love Cricket. Beyond, I love a specific player which is again common. Further down, I like to watch cricket on my TV screen with friends. This is kinda getting specific. Afar below, I liking to sip in something and taking a particular seat and a meticulous angle of viewing the screen now becomes very specific to Dilip’s nature and his definition of entertainment (or may be happiness or comfort of anything that is craved for).
While I visit places and meet people, I do take care of the cultural aspect and respect each individual relating his / her behavior to the culture they follow.
The question to me is – Can I also follow the same with each individual I encounter in my life, thinking that his / her nature & behavior is nothing but the culture that is liked by him / her?
PS: If the answer is yes, in my opinion it has to be backed up with complete willingness and peace within.
It was an edifying session with a lot of practical insights. The outcome was a self-implementing decision of following the “rules” as and when the situation arises.
A little bit of further analysis resulted in some self-induced thoughts. The way the culture varies across the globe, it does vary within a huge country like India. However, this was also touched upon during the session. Further, every individual also has his own specific way of life.
Connecting the above statement to the definition of Culture (Culture is nothing but a way of life), I felt that every individual has a self-culture which is over and above as well as a little more specific to the generic culture followed.
For instance, as a part of Indian culture, I love Cricket. Beyond, I love a specific player which is again common. Further down, I like to watch cricket on my TV screen with friends. This is kinda getting specific. Afar below, I liking to sip in something and taking a particular seat and a meticulous angle of viewing the screen now becomes very specific to Dilip’s nature and his definition of entertainment (or may be happiness or comfort of anything that is craved for).
While I visit places and meet people, I do take care of the cultural aspect and respect each individual relating his / her behavior to the culture they follow.
The question to me is – Can I also follow the same with each individual I encounter in my life, thinking that his / her nature & behavior is nothing but the culture that is liked by him / her?
PS: If the answer is yes, in my opinion it has to be backed up with complete willingness and peace within.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
3. Haal-Behaal.
Paristhitiyon pe hasnaa chahta hun aur rona bhi
par ye sab sochta rahaa to zindagi sirf babaal hai
Is se to khud ko mana ke khush rehna me bhalaai hai
Kyonki, mere se to kai jyaada, laakhon log behaal hai
sab kuch galat mere saath ki kyon hota hai
kyon mere karmo ki hi tedhi chaal hai
par kya main apne baahar bhi jhaank ke dekhta hun?
Amir-Garib, lagbhag sabhi, 'Sukun' ke bina kangaal hai
par ye sab sochta rahaa to zindagi sirf babaal hai
Is se to khud ko mana ke khush rehna me bhalaai hai
Kyonki, mere se to kai jyaada, laakhon log behaal hai
sab kuch galat mere saath ki kyon hota hai
kyon mere karmo ki hi tedhi chaal hai
par kya main apne baahar bhi jhaank ke dekhta hun?
Amir-Garib, lagbhag sabhi, 'Sukun' ke bina kangaal hai
Saturday, June 26, 2010
2. Time-waste.
Disclaimer: This blog is nothing but a time-waste; hence treat this disclaimer as a caveat :-)
There was this guy Aman, who would do nothing in life. He would just let the day pass and was very much satisfied with what was going on in life.
He had a very close friend Vikas, who would work hard, study and had high aspirations of earning money, power, esteem et al.
Vikas would always tell Aman – “Dude, you are just wasting your time. Do something, become something, set targets in your life like I did and plan for a great life ahead”.
Aman would just stay quiet, listen but never react. He never felt the need to react. He would smile and say – Ok.
Aman’s life was just a routine with daily chores and nothing else. On the other hand Vikas had already initiated the struggle by studying hard, scoring first-rate grades and excelling in all the things that he did. He would slog hard to achieve the impossible. He put in a lot of efforts as he always believed – Success is not a cup of tea. He didn’t even find the time to drink tea peacefully as the ambitions of having a seven course meal were riding on his back and making him run to the fastest that was possibly impossible.
Nothing much to quote about Aman’s life as it was still like the Sun’s routine. Here, Vikas, in his definition was leading ahead day by day. On each accomplishment, small or big, he would come to Aman and flaunt about it. At the end, he would add a comment – “Dude, you are just wasting your time and blah blah”.
Vikas turned out to be a software engineer and then a financial analyst. He had already invested a lot of time, money and efforts by now. He got an exceptional job. Still, he felt – something was missing as this is not the place yet where no one has reached. There were thousands, if not millions, of his age at the same stage. He always thought he would have earned enough esteem by the time he would finish his studies and get into a white-collar industry. When he realized that there are thousands in the race, he strived towards going ahead of all to earn the esteem he would crave for. Meanwhile, he also focused on earning Money as that was also one of the factors he would crave for with an aspiration to lead a luxurious life.
Aman was following the Sun. His parents asked him to get married. He did so.
Vikas’s parents were also persuading him to get married and settle down. Vikas was upfront in answering them by saying – First I shall settle down and then get married.
Besides money, Vikas earned a lot of things like – pressures, deadlines, stress, and exploitation. On each step, he failed to grab the carrots he was offered. He always thought that the carrot is not far-off. Still, he made a lot of money but now the pressure and stress had started hating money as money was always ahead of them. Hence, they decided to play a game and put money behind in the race. They generated some disease in Vikas’s body and as a result of which doctor’s started eating up a lot of Vikas’s money that he would always save for the future luxuries. Deterioration of health wasn’t acceptable as Body was the medium of earning Money, Power, Esteem and beyond.
Aman and Vikas would hardly talk but whenever they would, Vikas was still the same and so was Aman.
By now, Vikas had already passed the marriage age and also the charm. He was still running for the seven course meal while Aman was blissfully relishing the 3-meal-a-day routine.
Aman was simply wasting his time and Vikas, his life.
There was this guy Aman, who would do nothing in life. He would just let the day pass and was very much satisfied with what was going on in life.
He had a very close friend Vikas, who would work hard, study and had high aspirations of earning money, power, esteem et al.
Vikas would always tell Aman – “Dude, you are just wasting your time. Do something, become something, set targets in your life like I did and plan for a great life ahead”.
Aman would just stay quiet, listen but never react. He never felt the need to react. He would smile and say – Ok.
Aman’s life was just a routine with daily chores and nothing else. On the other hand Vikas had already initiated the struggle by studying hard, scoring first-rate grades and excelling in all the things that he did. He would slog hard to achieve the impossible. He put in a lot of efforts as he always believed – Success is not a cup of tea. He didn’t even find the time to drink tea peacefully as the ambitions of having a seven course meal were riding on his back and making him run to the fastest that was possibly impossible.
Nothing much to quote about Aman’s life as it was still like the Sun’s routine. Here, Vikas, in his definition was leading ahead day by day. On each accomplishment, small or big, he would come to Aman and flaunt about it. At the end, he would add a comment – “Dude, you are just wasting your time and blah blah”.
Vikas turned out to be a software engineer and then a financial analyst. He had already invested a lot of time, money and efforts by now. He got an exceptional job. Still, he felt – something was missing as this is not the place yet where no one has reached. There were thousands, if not millions, of his age at the same stage. He always thought he would have earned enough esteem by the time he would finish his studies and get into a white-collar industry. When he realized that there are thousands in the race, he strived towards going ahead of all to earn the esteem he would crave for. Meanwhile, he also focused on earning Money as that was also one of the factors he would crave for with an aspiration to lead a luxurious life.
Aman was following the Sun. His parents asked him to get married. He did so.
Vikas’s parents were also persuading him to get married and settle down. Vikas was upfront in answering them by saying – First I shall settle down and then get married.
Besides money, Vikas earned a lot of things like – pressures, deadlines, stress, and exploitation. On each step, he failed to grab the carrots he was offered. He always thought that the carrot is not far-off. Still, he made a lot of money but now the pressure and stress had started hating money as money was always ahead of them. Hence, they decided to play a game and put money behind in the race. They generated some disease in Vikas’s body and as a result of which doctor’s started eating up a lot of Vikas’s money that he would always save for the future luxuries. Deterioration of health wasn’t acceptable as Body was the medium of earning Money, Power, Esteem and beyond.
Aman and Vikas would hardly talk but whenever they would, Vikas was still the same and so was Aman.
By now, Vikas had already passed the marriage age and also the charm. He was still running for the seven course meal while Aman was blissfully relishing the 3-meal-a-day routine.
Aman was simply wasting his time and Vikas, his life.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
1. Place.
I would always feel that I love the city I live in. I still feel so. However, off-late I have realized that it's not the place I love it's what the place makes me feel I love or hate about... I know it's a random post and probably leading no where... The flow is also quite different than usual... Also, in one of my earlier post also I have hinted about the reasons for the attachments about the place...
The title is 'place' but the focus is out of place. bad joke! I really feel awesome when I think about home when away. The question is why I don't feel the same when I am very much here. I know that to write the answer is simple but to comprehend it is not so.
Well, having said this I just want to continue falling in love all over again with this place, people, thoughts, feelings, likes, life et al. I know 'continue falling in love all over again' is an abstract phrase but it is.
I am thinking whether I am writing just for the heck of it. The prompt reply is - NO. I am writing cos I feel like. It's been long I have received this feeling from within, rather have realized that this feeling is waiting to be expressed.
Don't want to conclude anything, don't want to sum up a thing, just want to continue living this life as good as this random post.
Too much yet none
All but less than some
Everything but still few
Old and stale, yet new
I did enjoy writing this and will cherish reading it over again and again. I don't care if you did enjoy or no. I might sound careless but to be candid, I am carefree :)
The title is 'place' but the focus is out of place. bad joke! I really feel awesome when I think about home when away. The question is why I don't feel the same when I am very much here. I know that to write the answer is simple but to comprehend it is not so.
Well, having said this I just want to continue falling in love all over again with this place, people, thoughts, feelings, likes, life et al. I know 'continue falling in love all over again' is an abstract phrase but it is.
I am thinking whether I am writing just for the heck of it. The prompt reply is - NO. I am writing cos I feel like. It's been long I have received this feeling from within, rather have realized that this feeling is waiting to be expressed.
Don't want to conclude anything, don't want to sum up a thing, just want to continue living this life as good as this random post.
Too much yet none
All but less than some
Everything but still few
Old and stale, yet new
I did enjoy writing this and will cherish reading it over again and again. I don't care if you did enjoy or no. I might sound careless but to be candid, I am carefree :)
Friday, May 28, 2010
1. Questions.
The question is not what do I need to do for quenching my thirst, the question is - what do I need to do to avert it forever?
The question is not what do I need to do for satisfy my hunger, the question is - what do I need to do to get rid off it forever?
The question is not what do I need to earn money, the question is - what do I need to be happy in a money-less state?
The question is not what do I need to maintain my pride and esteem, the quesion is - what do I need to transcend from the craving related to the same?
The question is not what do I need to do for satisfy my hunger, the question is - what do I need to do to get rid off it forever?
The question is not what do I need to earn money, the question is - what do I need to be happy in a money-less state?
The question is not what do I need to maintain my pride and esteem, the quesion is - what do I need to transcend from the craving related to the same?
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
2. Presence.
At times, I feel why does my mind dwell so much in future, most of the times and if not, in past? Seldom it’s is in present, aware and awake.
Although, I have seen that no matter what I have lived through my life and will continue to live till the end of it. Somehow, everything is managed and this is true not only for me but I believe, most of us. Of course there are hard times and soft times but that depends on many factors. Certainly, oscillating between the tenses won’t help.
For instance, I keep on thinking – What if I lose the current source of income? I feel, the immediate reply could be – I would find another one. Well, it might not look as simple still is it not the appropriate answer anyways? The answerless state won’t help for sure and thinking on elaborated replies won’t either.
I am not saying that there is no action required for these thoughts / queries. The mere action is the immediate reply and the planning, if required. As another example, my mind is constantly grumbling about being stagnant and looking for a change. This thought is disturbing me a lot. Now, I can start a series of questions and get the replies and act upon.
1) What makes me feel stagnant? – A. I want to explore something new and hence current profession is making me feel stagnant.
2) What do I want to explore? – A. I want to explore my passion
3) What is my passion? – A. My passion is to do some business
4) What type of Business? – A. I want to open a retail shop
5) What do I want to sell? – A. I want to sell garments
6) Have I started on Preliminary Investigation and Feasibility Study? – A. No
7) Do I want to start? – A. Yes
8) Please go ahead and do so. As and when I go ahead, I will get more questions and subsequent replies
9) If the answer to 7) is No, then please don’t waste time and either concentrate on the current profession or quit job, sit idle and leave it on destiny. Choice is mine :)
Planning and Action go hand in hand. Planning without Action is like daydreaming and hence chances are high that everything turns futile. It simply results in more and more dwelling in future, followed by accumulation of frustration and the ultimately “state of despair” occurs which leads nowhere.
Well, was I in present (aware and awake) while composing this article? Although I composed at one go, I fail to answer myself. What a travesty!
Although, I have seen that no matter what I have lived through my life and will continue to live till the end of it. Somehow, everything is managed and this is true not only for me but I believe, most of us. Of course there are hard times and soft times but that depends on many factors. Certainly, oscillating between the tenses won’t help.
For instance, I keep on thinking – What if I lose the current source of income? I feel, the immediate reply could be – I would find another one. Well, it might not look as simple still is it not the appropriate answer anyways? The answerless state won’t help for sure and thinking on elaborated replies won’t either.
I am not saying that there is no action required for these thoughts / queries. The mere action is the immediate reply and the planning, if required. As another example, my mind is constantly grumbling about being stagnant and looking for a change. This thought is disturbing me a lot. Now, I can start a series of questions and get the replies and act upon.
1) What makes me feel stagnant? – A. I want to explore something new and hence current profession is making me feel stagnant.
2) What do I want to explore? – A. I want to explore my passion
3) What is my passion? – A. My passion is to do some business
4) What type of Business? – A. I want to open a retail shop
5) What do I want to sell? – A. I want to sell garments
6) Have I started on Preliminary Investigation and Feasibility Study? – A. No
7) Do I want to start? – A. Yes
8) Please go ahead and do so. As and when I go ahead, I will get more questions and subsequent replies
9) If the answer to 7) is No, then please don’t waste time and either concentrate on the current profession or quit job, sit idle and leave it on destiny. Choice is mine :)
Planning and Action go hand in hand. Planning without Action is like daydreaming and hence chances are high that everything turns futile. It simply results in more and more dwelling in future, followed by accumulation of frustration and the ultimately “state of despair” occurs which leads nowhere.
Well, was I in present (aware and awake) while composing this article? Although I composed at one go, I fail to answer myself. What a travesty!
Saturday, April 3, 2010
1. CID.
“Mujhe us aadmi pe shaq hai” – says ACP Pradyuman as soon as he along with Abhijit, Daya, Vivek and Fredricks lands at the Changi International Airport, Singapore and witnesses a tall bearded man donning a black overcoat standing at the immigration queue. By quoting this statement, ACP means – I suspect this person.
On that very moment, Abhijit covers 3/4th of his eyeballs and utters – Sir, Let me follow him. Fredricks pokes as usual by saying – I am jumping on to the other side of immigration so that I can catch hold of him. ACP shouts – Shut up Fredie (ACP doesn’t have time to take his name in entirety). We are out of country and this is immigration queue. Fredie (now I have no time to type either) has no choice but to keep his shut.
Abhijit do one thing, stand in the queue parallel to the one he is and observe his movements - whispers ACP. Vivek intervenes in a soft but irritating tone – Sir, we are on a vacation and let us not forget that we are beyond the Indian political borders.
Again, Fredie gets in action – but sir, he might as well be an Indian and hence we got to catch hold of him. If you observed, he has a beard and most of the people that have beard are Indians. Right?
ACP almost covers his eyeballs, blows up his already blown up nose and quotes for the nth time since Fredie joins the force – “Freddie, for the first time, what you said makes sense”. Friddie is flattered now.
Vivek – but…
Daya – We are wasting time sir, Let me catch hold of him by his collars and advise him to co-operate with us.
ACP – No boys, do as I say. Abhijit, you move on to the queue as I suggested. Fredie, you wait here and Vivek, you come with me. Daya, you somehow manage to get his name, call me as soon as done and then, Vivek and I will make an announcement saying – Mr So –and-So, Kindly wait outside the main terminal at the Airport as Mr. Vivek wants to see you urgently. Vivek is a very common name in India and I am sure, should be in Singapore as well. Hence, Mr So-and-So would certainly know some Mr Vivek and will bother to wait. This is my master plan. How does it sound? Let’s move. We don’t have time.
Daya calls back in a few minutes saying – Sir, all our efforts will result in no fruit as the bearded man is a cop in Singapore, although he is a person of Indian Origin. Let’s get on to our vacation and stop chasing him.
ACP – Think out the box, Daya. What is a person of India origin doing in Singapore and that too, as a cop? Don’t waste time and give me his name.
Daya – Sir, his name is Paul Panchamiya.
ACP – See, I told you Daya. The case is not simple. Have you ever heard of such a name? This man is disguised and using a fake identity as well.
Vivek – Sorry to perturb you sir, but I feel Daya is right!
ACP – How long have you been with CID?
Vivek – Sorry sir, let’s proceed.
ACP – Smart boy. Let me make an announcement now.
Attention Mr. Paul Panchamiya, Mr. Vivek is waiting for you outside the terminal gate. Please see him - comes the announcement and is repeated again.
Paul is royally surprised with a shock of his lifetime. He wonders who is this Vivek? Not that he didn't knew any Vivek, he knew one. Vivek was a childhood buddy who had suddenly disappeared more than 15 years back.
Is he the same Vivek? If yes, then all of a sudden after 15 years, why he wants to see me? How come he knew my travel plans? If he is not the Vivek I know then who is he? and why does any other Vivek who I have never known wants to see me? Puzzled Paul keeps on thinking for a while in a state of despair. After more than 10 minutes, a self-motivation sprouts up with a few words to self - "Wait and watch. Will see what happens."
On the other side, CID team finishes with the immigration, collects baggage and clears customs. As they get out of the terminal, ACP thinks that if Paul knows some Vivek and if we keep our Vivek waiting outside with a "Welcome Paul -Vivek" board in his hand, he will fail to recognize and a chaos might be created. He instructs Vivek to do the same but as soon as Paul comes and before he comes up with any question, Vivek should say - I am Vivek's friend and here is a message from Vivek. You got to urgently meet Vivek at hotel Sea Princess Room no. 2334.
CID Vivek is now wating outside the terminal as instructed.
Paul comes out of the terminal and sees a sign board. Immediately rushes towards Vivek and before Vivek reacts or responds, utters - Vivek? Are you Vivek? How do you know me?
Now, it's CID Vivek's turn to get surprised. He is flabbergasted and simply forgets what to say?
ACP and team, who are keeping a close watch on their actions, sense that something is fishy. Now it was an action time from their side. Without a thought, the entire team surrounds Paul and in his premium classic style, ACP yells - Paul, you are under arrest.
Paul says - Ok. Now where are you taking me? and by the way, do you know who I am?
ACP says - Just shut up and come with us. They hire a couple of cabs and ACP drags Paul in one of them. Daya enters from the other end. Needless to pen down, Vivek, Abhijit and Fredie take another one.
Paul feels - He is kidnapped and is surprised to see kidnappers using "under arrest" jargon. It doesn't matter to him, nonetheless. Now, it's his time to come in action. Soon, he switches on his emergency alert transmitter that is used by Singapore cops in jeopardy situations.
This smart gadget transmits the signal at the nearest base station and beeps there. Each Police station over there has a base station for receiving signals and once the signal beeps in, the base station knows the exact location from where the signal was transmited.
In 4 minutes of Paul perfoming the intelligent act, bothe the cabs are surrounded by 5 police vans and all the vehicles come to a stand still in less than a minute.
In not more than another minute, ACP and his entire team is handcuffed and taken to Police station.
ACP recites the entire happening and his thought process. Paul, although wanting to laugh out loud on ACP's buffoonery, decides to deport them for creating a chaos for no reason whatsoever.
The entire CID team is sent back to the terminal.
Neither did they take a stroll on the singapore streets, nor they relished the singaporean delicacies. They could niether enjoy shopping at Mustafa's nor could they feel the adentures at Sentosa. They missed the night safari and they missed it all.
Awaiting the next possible flight back to Mumbai, everyone was furious on ACP but couldn't say as he was a senior person, obviously.
Breaking the silence, Fredie came up with his so-called sensible humour - "Sir, it's good that we are deported from Singapore back to India. Imagine, if this would have happened in India, where would they deport us to?"
ACP - Hmm, Fredie, for the First time...
Fredie interrupting the ACP - Sir, it's for the Second time... :-)
PS: I don't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments. This is just a fun-write with a sole intention of creating some humour.
On that very moment, Abhijit covers 3/4th of his eyeballs and utters – Sir, Let me follow him. Fredricks pokes as usual by saying – I am jumping on to the other side of immigration so that I can catch hold of him. ACP shouts – Shut up Fredie (ACP doesn’t have time to take his name in entirety). We are out of country and this is immigration queue. Fredie (now I have no time to type either) has no choice but to keep his shut.
Abhijit do one thing, stand in the queue parallel to the one he is and observe his movements - whispers ACP. Vivek intervenes in a soft but irritating tone – Sir, we are on a vacation and let us not forget that we are beyond the Indian political borders.
Again, Fredie gets in action – but sir, he might as well be an Indian and hence we got to catch hold of him. If you observed, he has a beard and most of the people that have beard are Indians. Right?
ACP almost covers his eyeballs, blows up his already blown up nose and quotes for the nth time since Fredie joins the force – “Freddie, for the first time, what you said makes sense”. Friddie is flattered now.
Vivek – but…
Daya – We are wasting time sir, Let me catch hold of him by his collars and advise him to co-operate with us.
ACP – No boys, do as I say. Abhijit, you move on to the queue as I suggested. Fredie, you wait here and Vivek, you come with me. Daya, you somehow manage to get his name, call me as soon as done and then, Vivek and I will make an announcement saying – Mr So –and-So, Kindly wait outside the main terminal at the Airport as Mr. Vivek wants to see you urgently. Vivek is a very common name in India and I am sure, should be in Singapore as well. Hence, Mr So-and-So would certainly know some Mr Vivek and will bother to wait. This is my master plan. How does it sound? Let’s move. We don’t have time.
Daya calls back in a few minutes saying – Sir, all our efforts will result in no fruit as the bearded man is a cop in Singapore, although he is a person of Indian Origin. Let’s get on to our vacation and stop chasing him.
ACP – Think out the box, Daya. What is a person of India origin doing in Singapore and that too, as a cop? Don’t waste time and give me his name.
Daya – Sir, his name is Paul Panchamiya.
ACP – See, I told you Daya. The case is not simple. Have you ever heard of such a name? This man is disguised and using a fake identity as well.
Vivek – Sorry to perturb you sir, but I feel Daya is right!
ACP – How long have you been with CID?
Vivek – Sorry sir, let’s proceed.
ACP – Smart boy. Let me make an announcement now.
Attention Mr. Paul Panchamiya, Mr. Vivek is waiting for you outside the terminal gate. Please see him - comes the announcement and is repeated again.
Paul is royally surprised with a shock of his lifetime. He wonders who is this Vivek? Not that he didn't knew any Vivek, he knew one. Vivek was a childhood buddy who had suddenly disappeared more than 15 years back.
Is he the same Vivek? If yes, then all of a sudden after 15 years, why he wants to see me? How come he knew my travel plans? If he is not the Vivek I know then who is he? and why does any other Vivek who I have never known wants to see me? Puzzled Paul keeps on thinking for a while in a state of despair. After more than 10 minutes, a self-motivation sprouts up with a few words to self - "Wait and watch. Will see what happens."
On the other side, CID team finishes with the immigration, collects baggage and clears customs. As they get out of the terminal, ACP thinks that if Paul knows some Vivek and if we keep our Vivek waiting outside with a "Welcome Paul -Vivek" board in his hand, he will fail to recognize and a chaos might be created. He instructs Vivek to do the same but as soon as Paul comes and before he comes up with any question, Vivek should say - I am Vivek's friend and here is a message from Vivek. You got to urgently meet Vivek at hotel Sea Princess Room no. 2334.
CID Vivek is now wating outside the terminal as instructed.
Paul comes out of the terminal and sees a sign board. Immediately rushes towards Vivek and before Vivek reacts or responds, utters - Vivek? Are you Vivek? How do you know me?
Now, it's CID Vivek's turn to get surprised. He is flabbergasted and simply forgets what to say?
ACP and team, who are keeping a close watch on their actions, sense that something is fishy. Now it was an action time from their side. Without a thought, the entire team surrounds Paul and in his premium classic style, ACP yells - Paul, you are under arrest.
Paul says - Ok. Now where are you taking me? and by the way, do you know who I am?
ACP says - Just shut up and come with us. They hire a couple of cabs and ACP drags Paul in one of them. Daya enters from the other end. Needless to pen down, Vivek, Abhijit and Fredie take another one.
Paul feels - He is kidnapped and is surprised to see kidnappers using "under arrest" jargon. It doesn't matter to him, nonetheless. Now, it's his time to come in action. Soon, he switches on his emergency alert transmitter that is used by Singapore cops in jeopardy situations.
This smart gadget transmits the signal at the nearest base station and beeps there. Each Police station over there has a base station for receiving signals and once the signal beeps in, the base station knows the exact location from where the signal was transmited.
In 4 minutes of Paul perfoming the intelligent act, bothe the cabs are surrounded by 5 police vans and all the vehicles come to a stand still in less than a minute.
In not more than another minute, ACP and his entire team is handcuffed and taken to Police station.
ACP recites the entire happening and his thought process. Paul, although wanting to laugh out loud on ACP's buffoonery, decides to deport them for creating a chaos for no reason whatsoever.
The entire CID team is sent back to the terminal.
Neither did they take a stroll on the singapore streets, nor they relished the singaporean delicacies. They could niether enjoy shopping at Mustafa's nor could they feel the adentures at Sentosa. They missed the night safari and they missed it all.
Awaiting the next possible flight back to Mumbai, everyone was furious on ACP but couldn't say as he was a senior person, obviously.
Breaking the silence, Fredie came up with his so-called sensible humour - "Sir, it's good that we are deported from Singapore back to India. Imagine, if this would have happened in India, where would they deport us to?"
ACP - Hmm, Fredie, for the First time...
Fredie interrupting the ACP - Sir, it's for the Second time... :-)
PS: I don't intend to hurt anyone's sentiments. This is just a fun-write with a sole intention of creating some humour.
Monday, March 22, 2010
5. Sunrise to Sunset.
Chadta Suraj dheere dheere dhalta hai dhal jaayega…
These are the opening lines of a song (actually a Qawaali) that talks about the transitory nature of life and time. These lines literally mean that the sun that rises; slowly will set in a while.
There was time when I would feel that the song is really very meaningful and is well-written. There are a couple of hard hitting lines where a reference is made to Alexander’s situation at the time of his death.
Yaad rakh Sikander ke hausle to aali the… Jab gaya wo Duniya se, dono haath khaali theIt means – Remember, Alexander had great aspirations throughout his life but when he left the world, both his hands were empty.
Besides, there are many such striking lines and verses in this entire song. Reviewing and explaining the song is not my objective nevertheless. What I intend is to focus on the phase of my life I have thought this song along.
The next phase of life was where I found this song to be extremely depressing and meaningless. I would transit myself into a state of despair on listening to this song. I would say to self – Why do I not want to enjoy and live the present moment and phase of life? Why do I want to think on such disheartening lines that make me feel gloomy and blue?
Thinking this I started disliking the song. Of course, I would enjoy it thoroughly when it was sung or whenever I would listen to it but then that was just because of the environment that it created.
Now that a significant part of life has passed away and the end is swiftly nearing, I feel like pondering over the song; this time not to learn the meaning behind it but to experience the essence of it.
Kal jo tan ke chalte the apni shaan-o-shaukat par, shamma tak nahi jalti aaj unki gurbat par
Yesterday those who were proudly walking down with chest-wide-open, today even the candles on their grave aren't lit.
Dilip is gonna be Yesterday soon!!!
These are the opening lines of a song (actually a Qawaali) that talks about the transitory nature of life and time. These lines literally mean that the sun that rises; slowly will set in a while.
There was time when I would feel that the song is really very meaningful and is well-written. There are a couple of hard hitting lines where a reference is made to Alexander’s situation at the time of his death.
Yaad rakh Sikander ke hausle to aali the… Jab gaya wo Duniya se, dono haath khaali theIt means – Remember, Alexander had great aspirations throughout his life but when he left the world, both his hands were empty.
Besides, there are many such striking lines and verses in this entire song. Reviewing and explaining the song is not my objective nevertheless. What I intend is to focus on the phase of my life I have thought this song along.
The next phase of life was where I found this song to be extremely depressing and meaningless. I would transit myself into a state of despair on listening to this song. I would say to self – Why do I not want to enjoy and live the present moment and phase of life? Why do I want to think on such disheartening lines that make me feel gloomy and blue?
Thinking this I started disliking the song. Of course, I would enjoy it thoroughly when it was sung or whenever I would listen to it but then that was just because of the environment that it created.
Now that a significant part of life has passed away and the end is swiftly nearing, I feel like pondering over the song; this time not to learn the meaning behind it but to experience the essence of it.
Kal jo tan ke chalte the apni shaan-o-shaukat par, shamma tak nahi jalti aaj unki gurbat par
Yesterday those who were proudly walking down with chest-wide-open, today even the candles on their grave aren't lit.
Dilip is gonna be Yesterday soon!!!
4. Mad Mad Mad.
Things that shud make me feel sad, I feel happy about them…
Things that shud make me happy, I feel they are sad…
I am going mad mad mad
Things that are bad, I feel they are good for my life
Things that are good for me, I feel they are bad
I am going mad mad mad
People whose influence is ruining my life, I go ga-ga about them
Those who think for my betterment, about them I don’t feel glad
I am going mad mad mad
Thinking about life seems to be just a waste of time….
There is nothing thats gonna affect me until I am fully clad…
I am going mad mad mad
Things that shud make me happy, I feel they are sad…
I am going mad mad mad
Things that are bad, I feel they are good for my life
Things that are good for me, I feel they are bad
I am going mad mad mad
People whose influence is ruining my life, I go ga-ga about them
Those who think for my betterment, about them I don’t feel glad
I am going mad mad mad
Thinking about life seems to be just a waste of time….
There is nothing thats gonna affect me until I am fully clad…
I am going mad mad mad
Saturday, March 6, 2010
3. Paheli Puzzlewaala.
Thinking of you creates a spellbound feeling within me. The entire environment within and around is filled with an eternal fragrance that soothes my heart. Your heavenly touch creates a striking reverberation in my senses. The best of all the chords are pale in front of your incredible voice. I simply adore your presence which makes me feel existent. The beauty of your being is the driving force of my life.
I love you. I feel you.
You are more than life to me. You are the one whom I am living for. I have always designed my life taking you into consideration. I earn for you. I yearn for you. Every step I take and every move I make, you are never out of my sight. Our bonding is immense to an extent that makes me feel a relation of several ages. My love for you is ever-growing. I have forgotten myself completely.
I am talking about Paheli Puzzlewaala, who is the only motivation behind my life.
You got to guess, Who is Paheli Puzzlewaala?
I love you. I feel you.
You are more than life to me. You are the one whom I am living for. I have always designed my life taking you into consideration. I earn for you. I yearn for you. Every step I take and every move I make, you are never out of my sight. Our bonding is immense to an extent that makes me feel a relation of several ages. My love for you is ever-growing. I have forgotten myself completely.
I am talking about Paheli Puzzlewaala, who is the only motivation behind my life.
You got to guess, Who is Paheli Puzzlewaala?
2. Happy Birthday Mr. Netakar.
“Happy Birthday Mr Aniti Bhaiji Saaheb Netakar. May you complete the century of your life.”
As soon as I move out of my house and even before I finish a kilometer of a stroll or a ride, my eyeballs hit umpteen such billboards wishing birthdays, anniversaries and victories and so to say, achievements. Each poster wishing a so-called administrator carries numerous signatures of so-very-called well-wishers. Most of the well-wishers are pretty much unknown faces for me. Leave aside well-wishers, many a times the administrator is also quite a stranger. I really don’t know if he is an authorized one or a self or party nominated position.
What do I have to do with these shakha pramukhs and shakha up-paramukhs (branch presidents and vice-presidents)? Why do I need to care about their birthdays and anniversaries? Why do these people who claim to clean up the city and make it a better place to live do promote such things that makes the city more chaotic with regards to ‘look and feel’? What is the point in so much of boasting? Do they fear that by not doing such things, they won’t get votes? Or for that matter, are they living with the perception that by doing such things they would be gaining votes? Whatever it is, do these guys have the right to mess up with the looks of the city? Have they lost their senses? Do they feel that the common man has lost his senses? What the buck! (Yes, it’s a typo)
What is the law and order doing? Why can’t they enforce some law as a result of which such cr#p is averted?
I remember nearly a decade ago when these parties would campaign during election by painting the walls and a fiery election commissioner put an end to it. It needs to happen again.
I am and want to stay happy wishing my folks on their birthdays and anniversaries through the medium of phone / text / f2f.
PS: Thank you Samir for suggesting the title.
As soon as I move out of my house and even before I finish a kilometer of a stroll or a ride, my eyeballs hit umpteen such billboards wishing birthdays, anniversaries and victories and so to say, achievements. Each poster wishing a so-called administrator carries numerous signatures of so-very-called well-wishers. Most of the well-wishers are pretty much unknown faces for me. Leave aside well-wishers, many a times the administrator is also quite a stranger. I really don’t know if he is an authorized one or a self or party nominated position.
What do I have to do with these shakha pramukhs and shakha up-paramukhs (branch presidents and vice-presidents)? Why do I need to care about their birthdays and anniversaries? Why do these people who claim to clean up the city and make it a better place to live do promote such things that makes the city more chaotic with regards to ‘look and feel’? What is the point in so much of boasting? Do they fear that by not doing such things, they won’t get votes? Or for that matter, are they living with the perception that by doing such things they would be gaining votes? Whatever it is, do these guys have the right to mess up with the looks of the city? Have they lost their senses? Do they feel that the common man has lost his senses? What the buck! (Yes, it’s a typo)
What is the law and order doing? Why can’t they enforce some law as a result of which such cr#p is averted?
I remember nearly a decade ago when these parties would campaign during election by painting the walls and a fiery election commissioner put an end to it. It needs to happen again.
I am and want to stay happy wishing my folks on their birthdays and anniversaries through the medium of phone / text / f2f.
PS: Thank you Samir for suggesting the title.
1. Slowdown.
Faster I run, nearer comes the end
Hence I would like to reverse the trend
Contra to the idea of turning town in metro
I would rather return; live happily in retro
Hence I would like to reverse the trend
Contra to the idea of turning town in metro
I would rather return; live happily in retro
Thursday, February 18, 2010
1. Disappear.
Since my mom had gone out of station, I was all alone. Although it was a Saturday night, I just planned to laze at home, sit back, watch television and peacefully sleep. I did so.
It was 7.30 am when my eyeballs hit the clock. It was a bit early for a Sunday morning but since I was up and fresh, I decided to go for a stroll. While stepping down, I saw my milkman stepping up and expressed that I don’t want milk. He gave a surreal look and before his response or my analysis, I jumped down to the ground level. Something was eccentric in the milkman’s look but then I didn’t care much thinking he might be a victim of hangover since it was a Sunday morning for him as well.
Passing thru my lane, I encountered my friend’s dad who was in his temple gear. Worshipping God in the morning is his daily routine. Most of the times when I see him, he is usually in his own world chanting something. Ditto this time. Still I thought of bidding a hello and when I did so, he looked at me but didn’t respond back. I was aghast but then assuming he must be in his godly thoughts, I resumed my walk. I was still wondering about back to back similar events nonetheless.
With all those thoughts gradually evaporating, I had a nice 30 minute walk. Hungry, I entered my favorite eatery and took some food coupons. Despite a busy morning, the coupon vendor still managed to response to my ‘happy morning’ greeting. I was happy assuming he recognized me but still not completely satisfied as he just responded with his heads down engrossed in catering to other customers.
After a wonderful breakfast as soon as I popped out of the restaurant, I witness a friend of mine from a certain distance cruising on his bike and as he passed perpendicular, I waved my hand. It seemed like he had simply ignored it. I consoled my mind explaining it must be because of a lot of crowd around; the wave must have gone unnoticed.
The mind was not ready to get convinced and as a result of which a lot of questions started haunting around. Walking down further, I could see my gym instructor approaching. This was an acid test for me. I rushed towards him, gave a broad smile and uttered ‘Hello’. He gave a smile in return and said the same. I was relieved. Before my breaths stay calm for even a degree movement of the second hand of the clock, he quoted – “Are you interested in joining gym?”
I almost fainted. It was like I had lost all my senses. I not only failed the acid test but my identity too. I couldn’t see any difference in strangers and acquaintances. On the verge of a volcanic eruption in my mind, I heard the same question again. I negatively nodded and rushed towards my house.
On my way back, I encountered the newspaper vendor and a local grocery store owner. Needless to say, both of them failed to recognize me. I just wanted to reach home at the earliest and hit the bed. Meanwhile, I thought I won’t even attempt to initiate with anyone I meet during my journey towards home.
While walking, suddenly I had a thought of calling up my mom and talking to her for a while. I felt that could be the best option to soothe myself and my wicked mind that was still pestering me to the core.
I took the deepest breath of my life and called my mom. The heartache that followed was deeper than the deepest breath I just took. It happened at the following moment when my own mom responded the call saying – “Whose this?”
Stunned, I froze. Wasn’t this the most horrifying question of my life? No. The next one was worse when I asked myself – Which life am I referring to? I was lost to such an extent that I started questioning myself about my own identity.
Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I gonna go?
It was 7.30 am when my eyeballs hit the clock. It was a bit early for a Sunday morning but since I was up and fresh, I decided to go for a stroll. While stepping down, I saw my milkman stepping up and expressed that I don’t want milk. He gave a surreal look and before his response or my analysis, I jumped down to the ground level. Something was eccentric in the milkman’s look but then I didn’t care much thinking he might be a victim of hangover since it was a Sunday morning for him as well.
Passing thru my lane, I encountered my friend’s dad who was in his temple gear. Worshipping God in the morning is his daily routine. Most of the times when I see him, he is usually in his own world chanting something. Ditto this time. Still I thought of bidding a hello and when I did so, he looked at me but didn’t respond back. I was aghast but then assuming he must be in his godly thoughts, I resumed my walk. I was still wondering about back to back similar events nonetheless.
With all those thoughts gradually evaporating, I had a nice 30 minute walk. Hungry, I entered my favorite eatery and took some food coupons. Despite a busy morning, the coupon vendor still managed to response to my ‘happy morning’ greeting. I was happy assuming he recognized me but still not completely satisfied as he just responded with his heads down engrossed in catering to other customers.
After a wonderful breakfast as soon as I popped out of the restaurant, I witness a friend of mine from a certain distance cruising on his bike and as he passed perpendicular, I waved my hand. It seemed like he had simply ignored it. I consoled my mind explaining it must be because of a lot of crowd around; the wave must have gone unnoticed.
The mind was not ready to get convinced and as a result of which a lot of questions started haunting around. Walking down further, I could see my gym instructor approaching. This was an acid test for me. I rushed towards him, gave a broad smile and uttered ‘Hello’. He gave a smile in return and said the same. I was relieved. Before my breaths stay calm for even a degree movement of the second hand of the clock, he quoted – “Are you interested in joining gym?”
I almost fainted. It was like I had lost all my senses. I not only failed the acid test but my identity too. I couldn’t see any difference in strangers and acquaintances. On the verge of a volcanic eruption in my mind, I heard the same question again. I negatively nodded and rushed towards my house.
On my way back, I encountered the newspaper vendor and a local grocery store owner. Needless to say, both of them failed to recognize me. I just wanted to reach home at the earliest and hit the bed. Meanwhile, I thought I won’t even attempt to initiate with anyone I meet during my journey towards home.
While walking, suddenly I had a thought of calling up my mom and talking to her for a while. I felt that could be the best option to soothe myself and my wicked mind that was still pestering me to the core.
I took the deepest breath of my life and called my mom. The heartache that followed was deeper than the deepest breath I just took. It happened at the following moment when my own mom responded the call saying – “Whose this?”
Stunned, I froze. Wasn’t this the most horrifying question of my life? No. The next one was worse when I asked myself – Which life am I referring to? I was lost to such an extent that I started questioning myself about my own identity.
Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I gonna go?
Sunday, January 31, 2010
2. Rann.
Seldom I go for a bollywood movie with heaps of expectations and all the more rarely are they fulfilled to the entirety. Rann is certainly one of those very few.
Although I won’t say that RGV is at his best but still this one comes very close to Company and Sarkar that were his best creations so far in my opinion.
The concept of showcasing of cold wars and dirty politics is not new (remember Corporate) although the medium is. One thing is certain that RGV cannot expect media to promote this fare (they have already started criticizing it big time) but as if does it care since he is sure that masses are here to do the needful.
Coming to the experience, I would say it was an edge-of-the-seat drama. Usually thrillers are categorized as e-o-t-s. In flicks with such a sensitive subject treatment matters a lot and that’s where this one scores ten on ten. Like many of his previous movies, the camera placement (weird angles-face hiding-close ups), background score (news recite, typical slogans) and editing are first rate.
The sequence of events is breathtaking. In the game of cricket, like a batsman on the crease, each character is given footage and the best part is everyone has scored a century. There are many scenes where I could see the Madhur effect. It seemed as if disciple has taught his master but I reckon somewhere master would have already trained his disciple who turned out to be the first to implement it. Doesn’t matter me anyways.
The casting is simply stupendous. Bachchan as anticipated is impeccable. Deshmukh shines. Yadav is wasted to an extent; nonetheless he is able to create some light moments. Kapoor gives complete justice to his character. Rawal is apt. Behl is astonishing. I have never before admired his performance. Girls have nothing much to do but they don’t look out of the place. Gul, Suchitra, Neetu, Simone and Mrinal add to the fragrance. Over and above, Sudeep as Jay Vijay Malik steals the show and I won’t be surprised if he bags a few awards. I was looking for a KK (remember Vishnu of Sarkar) in him but that is something I should have not done. He leaves a lasting impact. I might just watch Phoonk-2 for him(?)
Overall, this new(s) battle is a must watch. My verdict – 8.5/10.
Although I won’t say that RGV is at his best but still this one comes very close to Company and Sarkar that were his best creations so far in my opinion.
The concept of showcasing of cold wars and dirty politics is not new (remember Corporate) although the medium is. One thing is certain that RGV cannot expect media to promote this fare (they have already started criticizing it big time) but as if does it care since he is sure that masses are here to do the needful.
Coming to the experience, I would say it was an edge-of-the-seat drama. Usually thrillers are categorized as e-o-t-s. In flicks with such a sensitive subject treatment matters a lot and that’s where this one scores ten on ten. Like many of his previous movies, the camera placement (weird angles-face hiding-close ups), background score (news recite, typical slogans) and editing are first rate.
The sequence of events is breathtaking. In the game of cricket, like a batsman on the crease, each character is given footage and the best part is everyone has scored a century. There are many scenes where I could see the Madhur effect. It seemed as if disciple has taught his master but I reckon somewhere master would have already trained his disciple who turned out to be the first to implement it. Doesn’t matter me anyways.
The casting is simply stupendous. Bachchan as anticipated is impeccable. Deshmukh shines. Yadav is wasted to an extent; nonetheless he is able to create some light moments. Kapoor gives complete justice to his character. Rawal is apt. Behl is astonishing. I have never before admired his performance. Girls have nothing much to do but they don’t look out of the place. Gul, Suchitra, Neetu, Simone and Mrinal add to the fragrance. Over and above, Sudeep as Jay Vijay Malik steals the show and I won’t be surprised if he bags a few awards. I was looking for a KK (remember Vishnu of Sarkar) in him but that is something I should have not done. He leaves a lasting impact. I might just watch Phoonk-2 for him(?)
Overall, this new(s) battle is a must watch. My verdict – 8.5/10.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
1. Am I an Idiot?
Recently I saw a movie wherein the message given was – ‘Don’t run behind success. Strive for excellence. Once you excel, success will certainly run behind you.’ Very nice point.
Now, to achieve excellence it was said that one needs to define own ways by transcending the typecast system of education and follow the passion to avert a life full of incompleteness and dissatisfaction.
True to an extent but then following the passion right from any particular point doesn’t really work completely for me. I am talking from a perspective where I need to earn bread and butter which is the need of the time. Well, I am not saying that I am killing my passion but postponing the focus on it while not completely forgetting it.
For instance (just a fictitious example), my parents somehow managed to make me an engineer and in the midst of it, I realized that my passion was literature. I don’t say that writers don’t make money but to establish myself as a writer may take a few months or a few years or may be ages whereas by possessing an engineering degree, chances are high that I can find a nice job and earn a handful in few years. I can set a target for myself and plan to retire from that so-called ‘typecast’ profession after those few years.
Meanwhile, simultaneously I can find some spare time discovering literature and exploring the potential. Once I achieve my target, I can move on (to literature) full time. All my further targets till the end of life may be quite possibly related to literature – publishing books, composing poems, etc. This way I can plan my life and don’t end up frustrating – neither for the lack of money nor for the unfulfilled passion.
I don’t know if I am an idiot to think this.
Now, to achieve excellence it was said that one needs to define own ways by transcending the typecast system of education and follow the passion to avert a life full of incompleteness and dissatisfaction.
True to an extent but then following the passion right from any particular point doesn’t really work completely for me. I am talking from a perspective where I need to earn bread and butter which is the need of the time. Well, I am not saying that I am killing my passion but postponing the focus on it while not completely forgetting it.
For instance (just a fictitious example), my parents somehow managed to make me an engineer and in the midst of it, I realized that my passion was literature. I don’t say that writers don’t make money but to establish myself as a writer may take a few months or a few years or may be ages whereas by possessing an engineering degree, chances are high that I can find a nice job and earn a handful in few years. I can set a target for myself and plan to retire from that so-called ‘typecast’ profession after those few years.
Meanwhile, simultaneously I can find some spare time discovering literature and exploring the potential. Once I achieve my target, I can move on (to literature) full time. All my further targets till the end of life may be quite possibly related to literature – publishing books, composing poems, etc. This way I can plan my life and don’t end up frustrating – neither for the lack of money nor for the unfulfilled passion.
I don’t know if I am an idiot to think this.
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