31 Dec 2009

In and out. the other way...

Appears like some people can find comforts only when they spill their words their own fashion. Anon's ways though, can not be ignored. Here's another piece from Anon for this. the same story, different in its own ways. Received via mail, publishing rights denied, and still being overruled...
She was a special one in his life,
No! neither love, nor was she his wife :P.
For him, she was a dear friend,
In life's ways, a helping hand to lend.

They walked together on foreign lands,
In all his distress, she held his hands.
She had known his ways fairly well,
What he thought, she could always tell.

And then, when he learnt that she must go,
How to react, he did not know.
To show her, he put on a happy face,
but to accept the fact it took him days.

When now the fact he's come to accept,
Everything, he now sees in retrospect.
For all that she's been, for all that she's done,
He asks for her friendship, ever after she's gone.



If only Anon'd ever written "Fairy Tales" too...

24 Dec 2009

The Renaissance...

Has been ages since i've watched it for anything more than a few minutes. But today was different. Something attracted me towards this "Eternally Boring Game" of Cricket so much, that I sat before the TV for almost 2 hours (big time...)!!!
Yeah! never been a fan of this sport. My opinion - like someone has said long back, "11 Lazy lads aside, 6 twigs, and everything else talking in between is a bat and a ball". For long, I've heard only a selected few names on TV associated with the Indian Cricket Team. This was another big reason for me to ignore it. A handful of names can't rule a game! But it did seem like times are bound to change. It is no more necessary that Sachin R Tendulkar, or Rahul S Dravid or the likes are the only anchorages of the team. There were these two "Relatively inexperienced" lads, who took on a pretty hard chase. Inexperienced they might be, but never did they behave immature. Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli proved, that it is time for selectors to revisit their preferences. The calm with which these two boys played really amazed me. I'd never seen a chase of 300+ being run down with so much of calm. Of course, one possible reason being that i've not watched a proper game for ages now... Nevertheless, these boys did play wonderfully, and kept me glued to the Idiot's Box till everyting was over... The game these two lads played today... it was the best one I've seen in a long time. And Gautam certainly has learnt the ways of a Gentleman. Way to go boy. Admire your act. :) And an applaud for Virat too... for the wonderful game.
And then, like alwayz, every time I saw the Lankans drop catches, or misfield, I'd crib the lost opportunities.  And my bro even asked me if I'll ever in my life support the Indian Team.But that's me... Sorry! I'll never ever be excited if India wins a match... until the game's over. Kudos boys! It's the Renaissance of Indian Cricket. But let it not be a Crusade against the other Sports and Games. We're already shameful of most others.

20 Dec 2009

In and Out

Isn't it amazing... that some people move in and out of your life is such a short time... but still manage to leave a lasting impression in you! They come in as acquaintances... and then, before they leave, so much has changed... Like most (though not all...) of the people who have managed to leave a lasting footprint in the sands of my own life, it was another "Her". I myself wonder, why so much that I've learned in all my life (apart from whatever scholastic) has been from muliebrity. 
I got acquainted to her just about 2 years ago...and little had I then imagined that she'd influence my life so much. For a fairly long time, we were only "Acquaintances", but to be honest, I had never got acquainted to her  until as long. And then, came a day, when we were left to ourselves in a crowd. It was only then, as I can remember, did I accept her as a Friend. We were no more unacquainted acquaintances, but this though, wasn't "just like that". Soon, I believe I had proven she could believe me too... and now, within a short span, we were "Good Friends"... and times still changed. The two had vested upon the other, our trust, and this friendship was going to last. But then, one fine(?) day, I, having always been the more "Stupid" of the two, brought out an argument out of thin air, and strained one of those "invaluable" relationships of life. Things were mended over a short time, but that's when I'd really realized what this lady meant to me. Ever since, I've told her every little decision of my life... expecting her to correct me (I told you I was the more "Stupid" of the two... :P ), and so has she done. And then, a day came, when we could not talk to one another like we always did. I'm now left to myself at times, when I've to take decisions. And the only way I've been able to work them out properly... is by putting myself in her shoes, and pondering over. Or otherwise, remembering every bit of those countless hours of "Gyan" she gave me whilst telling me where I was wrong in my actions.
I really don't know why I wanted to mention "Her" here. It is probably because of all that has been happening off late with me, and my decisions. More importantly, because I've missed this lady, when I wanted her "Gyan" the most... Or, maybe because of the everlasting impression she has made in my life in such a short span.
Like Anon says,
"Life's a Motel, and there are those who come in to stay.
But it is those who go out, that show others the way."

21 Nov 2009

Total Recall...

xx/02/2000.
It was the last Birthday celebrated in School, atleast for my memories. In fact, i'm bad at remembering people's birthdays... but not everyone's though. I do remember some. Of course, it was a different story then. There were so many others who would remember more birthdays than i can ever in my life. Well, it certainly was something special for me. For all good things in life, there are somethings that will always be remembered. On this occasion, it was the aura all around. The air was a tangy Orange, and so were the birthday chocolates...
xx/08/2006.
It was the last month i would go to work by bus regularly. 'cos I had already purchased a bike with my first 3 earnings. I acutally got down at the wrong stop... of course, with a totally different purpose. It was a moonlit night at the bus-stop., and the least expected things happen in such circumstances. (No it was still around 8PM, and lots of people in the bus-stop too... so, don't let your imaginations run wild :P ) For once, a needle shimmered a silvery white on my own birthday. and I dared to miss my bus just to enjoy the moment, knowing it will be a loooong while before i get my next one...
21/11/2009.
Yes! Those prying eyes caught sight of the Needle in a haystack yet again. After 9 years, 8 months, and a few (i don't tell how many..) days, the colors in the air were precisely the same.. a tangy orange, and a shimmering white, blending into one another. Might even make people wonder if they were the same colors, but for eyes that can catch the needle it can also tell a lot more of it... :)
Another day that will be in the list of "Eternally Remembered"...
And btw, Anon's already caught me... something may soon be expected... depending on Anon's mood though...
Atleast, mine's a goddamn good one today... :D

1 Nov 2009

secret no more...

Long ago, I'd heard this quote "Secrets are things which someone tells everyone not to tell anyone". but i don't believe it. Anon has opinions on this too...
I've always been very fond of keeping secrets.
both mine, as well as others'. Some of them have been hidden for as long as a decade. There was one such that i thought can always be confided as long as it is in something personal, say my wardrobe or cell phone... or anything else like it. But sometimes, unexpected events reveal such secrets to the most unexpected of people. One such event happened yesterday, when it fell into someone's hands. the secret had once already revealed itself to him through one friend who betrayed. But that was a long time ago... past and gone and forgotten... not for me though. And now happens this event, which refreshes such memories. The one who knew it because of this betrayal... and possibly had even forgotten it all... now knows it as though i've confessed it to him!!! oh my! Both of us know each other as much and have faith in us that it will be a secret between us.
But still... today... there is a fear... somewhere deep inside...
can secrets never stay secrets only to those who know them? Just hope that it does not end up like the Secret quote.

16 Oct 2009

Is it In(dian)herent?

It was at the tip of the Indian Peninsula. I was at this place they call Kanyakumari, where I landed during an undestined trip. And then, there were these two other tourist guyz, with an English daily in their hand, and seeming so overwhelmed about something. I was busy looking at this Sadhu who was writing what people call destiny;) through my camera lens...

when I heard the reason. One of them spoke out that an Indian had won a Nobel Prize. I thought it was finally time to kiss at the feet of my motherland. But the fact was a little hard to digest for me.

"In all the 109 years since its institution, only one "Indian", Sir Chandrashekar Venkata Raman, has been worthy enough to receive it. Now, all of a sudden, another Indian!?! Wait. Let me look into this in more detail." So, I got hold of the newspaper from these guys. And when I saw the title reading Dr. Ramakrishnan Venkataraman (that's another Venkataraman.) indeed gave me an Indianized feeling. But it also made it all clear. "Indian born scientist wins Chemistry Nobel". Okay. That's it... another Prof Khorana in the list...


Well... not to complain of the "Indian Born" who won the prestigious reward for their intellect. But why do we take anything that is "Manufactured In India, Made elsewhere" as "Indian"? Are we unable to realize the fact that the very people that we call "Indians" have already given it up long ago? I certainly agree to the reason that this country is still not able to provide the best of facilities for research, for all possible reasons. But as long as such Intellectuals do not ask for, how is it that they expect things to fall into place? And unless they decide firm on staying back, how is it that they would ask for?

Coming back to the Indian Layman's "Manufactured in India..." problem... Is it that we are still not able to understand, that the prestige of winning has still not come to our country? What is the reason for the rejoicing some other country's success? We want every child in this country of a billion and more, only to be God damn Software Engineers! or a few rich or talented ones, Doctors. Being anything else is a taboo here, unless it's absolutely difficult to score high in the Pre-Uni courses. Unfortunately, even the number of people in international committees on Pure sciences representing India has been less than a handful. When is it that we will stop enforcing professions, and let people decide their own way of life, like that Sadhu... who's apparently doing it. When is it, that we will celebrate another Nobel laureate from our own country??? When will this ambition of Stockholm be fulfilled?

Oh and yes, speaking of ambitious dreams, I did complete a part of my other ambition... happened to visit Kanyakumari, and southern Kerala over a week... well... almost. Do visit...

14 Sept 2009

वाह रे Network, वाह रे mobile...

overheard an argument about better networks, saw a lady blocking the market way,
found a friend too busy, and even the real use of cell-phones... it was apparently to talk only to girlfriends/boyfriends!!

too many things about mobiles and networks today...
and when anon came to know of it, this is what it all ended with...

क्या idea है सरजी आपका,
जो कहा आपने "walk while you talk"
पर लागे है सब कुछ बकवास , if you don't watch while you walk.
देखा जो मैंने आज किसी को "walking-talking" करते हुए,
जाने क्यों चल रहे थे वो रास्ता रोके, धक्के खाते हुए

बातें हो जब इतनी सारी तो पैसे क्यों बरबाद करें?
second के हिसाब से चलके क्यों ना अपना bill भरें?
चाहिए अगर फिर भी आपको, selected लोगों से बातें करना,
चिंता की कोई बात नही, zoozoo जो साथ मे है ना!

सोचें अगर आप cartoon और कुत्ता बनाते नहीं आप का कारोबार,
dial कीजिये toll free Bharti को, शायद call उठा ले कोई at least एक बार
इसी लिए तो कहते हैं government undertaking सबसे बेहतर है,
Ad मे तो यही कहते हैं... की "हिन्दुस्तान बोल रहा है"!

Network जो भी हो, इरादे तो नही बदलती है,
जिन्हें देख सके, उनसे बातें तो हो जाती है।
जो भी हो, मिला है जो offer उसका सही इस्तेमाल करो,
girlfriend, boyfriend ही नही, कभी दूसरे दोस्तों को भी याद करो!

30 Aug 2009

Over... But Out!?!?

A long time since i've really felt like doing some activity here. But this stuff...! i should be mentioning it here... for it has been something so very dear to me...

It all began formally in 2005, when the big-guns gave a go ahead. By Nov 2008, it had reached it's culmination... Ever since, it's been something so fascinating... something that's redefinened, in short, ourselves. and then, sometime by April this year, a small snag developed somewhere and brought in problems. Things were still alive until last week. Everything was still somehow under control. Some minor activities had already been stopped, but the important talk still continued. Last week, just past the mid of night, for some unknown reason, everything stopped. There was no response. It was game over for a long standing relationship. so to say., mission control could no more communicate with the spacecraft. It was all Over!!! But so goes a saying: "well begun is half done."., and here... it went to more than just the beginning... It was far more than the beginning, a journey, that was not intended to end so soon... (Read a journey that should have not ended!)

But again, all good things come to an end... And this was such a beautiful thing... Built on the faith of so many! As it all terminates, it opens up newer avenues... leaving for us, its share of lessons... to be incorporated into the future...

No Regrets! the job is done... and this will stay in memories for ever...

22 Jul 2009

and then i missed it...

it all started on the 24th of October 1995... days when i did not know anything about superstitions or omens... at 11 years, all that i cared for... was the hand held video game that my ajji's neighbor's daughter had lent me.. i was happily spending time at my "Ajji Mane" in Padmanabhanagar.

The Precedence:
the day before., the 23rd of Oct 1995 is etched into my memory for ever... it was this day that i asked my first question in science. Prof Ramachandra Rao was giving a 2 day seminar on Vedic Chemistry at Aksharam. little did i understand that Chemistry and Physics were different... after that day's session, i walked up to him, and this was the conversation...

"ಅಂಕಲ್, ನಮ್ಮಪ್ಪ ಹೇಳಿದ್ರು light speed 3 lakh kilometers ಅಂತೆ... ಹೌದಾ?
"ಹೌದಪ್ಪ, ಅದು ಒಂದು secondಗೆ ಅಷ್ಟು ದೂರ ಹೋಗತ್ತೆ."
"ಹಾಗಿದ್ದರೆ ಅದನ್ನ correct ಅಂತ ಹೆಂಗೆ ಹೇಳ್ತೀರಾ? ಅದನ್ನ ಹೆಂಗೆ check ಮಾದಿದ್ದ್ರು? ಭೂಮಿ ಅಷ್ಟು ದೊಡ್ದದಿಲ್ಲ್ವಲ್ಲ..."
he said he'd let me know about it the next day. (i don't know if he did not know the answer at that point, or did not want a 11 year old to be confused with such "Weird" stuff...) but i was not there the next day i.e. on the 24th... my dad told me he mentioned me more than once on that day...
he'd just got back from the seminar at Aksharam.

The First:
My dad came back and woke me out of my reverie... and took me out to watch the sun with a shard of brown glass...
it was the first time i was looking into him. i could see him slowly being engulfed by something that was not visible through the filter. when i removed it, i saw the moon eating up the sun. it was my first solar eclipse. i could not contain my excitement, and saw the partial eclipse that was in Bangalore all through from the begin till the end.
a celestial love was kindled within me... ever since, i have been a faithful follower of every eclipse that could be seen from wherever I've been... unfortunate though, that I've never been in the path of a total solar eclipse...

This July 22nd, when i heard it would be a 60-70% eclipse for Bangalore, i was excited. for it would be the maximum eclipse i'd have seen. after having seen clear skies around 5:15 AM, i pulled out my T-scope and prepared myself to follow the sun. less than 5 minutes later, nothing but gray could be seen... the clouds had already pulled down curtains on a spectacle before it had begun... :(
thought it was just another of the lost opportunities.,(the fourth so far...) and went ahead with the day... that night had something really big for me. the news channels were all busy showing the "Diamond Rings"... mighty, beautiful, and sparkilng rings before the sun was completely eaten up...After having known so much over the years about eclipses, i felt so miserable for not having been able to take a glimpse of all this... miserable to such an extent, that a morsel would not go down my throat... still convincing myself that all that happens, happens for a reason...
doesn't it hurt when you lose the most romantic of rings...???
here's a glimpse of it...
Varanasi, 22ndJul 09
Image courtesy:ToI.

.

2 Jul 2009

Three years and a spect...

It's 3 years since i've taken my first appointments in a few hours from now... and like anything else, it's been ups-downs-ups all through... after all the while, here's what Anon had to say of it.
It seems like it were only yesterday,

that an opportunity came along his way.
He's one with a quest to know, never to saturate.

Just days after he'd been called a Graduate,

someone had offered him a job so big.
However, today it all seems to be a jig.
Even after three years of retrospect,
he wonders at his own prospect.

Responsibility for him's been a sacred task,
and he's taken them all behind a happy mask.
For having done his duties, he still feels proud,
but keeps searching for the silver lining in his cloud.
He'll be himself after living through a drought,
the day his passions will overcome his thought.
-Anon

18 Jun 2009

realizations of a "Ridetime"

Is something wrong?? I don't know. I only realized what I'd been doing at home. I was a schoolboy riding on the city roads. Some silly things I did... absolutely silly...

Fired somebody with a double barrel at a traffic signal for being a nuisance...
winked at her when i received a friendly smile...
rode like a small kid riding on an empty road, making "wheeee"stlinging noizzes...
got my bike to a halt at another traffic signal like a "Car"toon choking to a halt...
stopped all of a sudden to thank someone for letting me pass...
caught a few raindrops after getting back home, and sipped them... They were nectarine:D
intentionally went out and drenched myself head to toe...
and the silliest!!! well, felt i should tell the world all that i did today...

Does anyone know what's happened to me???


6 Jun 2009

Dawn.


The Sun has not yet appeared in the horizon,
people around this place have still not arisen.
Another beautiful bright day breaks in town,
as Ms.World comes out of her darkness' gown.

The colors of dawn are so astounding to see.
Wondering if this is how heavens would be...
In a while everything will be like it always is,
the ruffled sounds and sights, as another day proceeds.
-Anon

5 Jun 2009

Himachal, the Mystic Snow peaks...


No Image editors... this is as my 3.2Meg SE-K series cellphone cam captured the Himalayas in its most serene form. and as someone pointed, there was a touch of Mysticism in this photo... the top left shows the formation of "OM", which was also mentioned by one guide with us before we actually reached the camping site.

The "couple " rainbows welcomed our team of 53, as we reached the first of camps after touching a height just short of half the Highest @ 4207mtrs ASL, drenched in rain and snow...

WOW!!! i luvved the blend of green, white and maroon (from the mosses) after a stint just beneath the peak... that image was captured forever in my memories...:) unfortunately not in my cam.:(

Another memory with this trek was the encounter with a glimpse of how an avalanche begins., scarring 2. What if???

29 May 2009

यादें जब वापस आए!

Another one, that flowed down Anon's pen in the Mighty himalayas, seeing a face that reminded of someone else. Here it goes...

सालों पहले देखा था हमने उन अदाओं को,
पल पल उन्हें याद कर के जीते थे हम तो।
आज जब हम ने देखा किसी और चेहरे मे उन्हें,
खुल आए फिर से बीते दिनों के वोह हसीं लम्हे।

30 Apr 2009

Too much to speak!

But i'll keep 'em as short as possible...
starting early today morning... after a reallllllly long time, I saw her. No... it was just her photo thoh... :( actually, I was digging my cupboard for some documents, and found this photo where there was this charming face among a bunch of people...
okay... no more details!
NEXT!!
Rode my way to office absolutely crazy. I'd never ride my bike beyond 50. Today... I dunno why!
I've seen someone so feared, and named Death, at such close quarters, for just going past this limit by another 5kph, and twice at that. Hmmph! Since then, I've been feeling like Life's calling for another Life. and I've enjoyed it all...
Office: as normal as it always was, but a bit boring, with none to bug while I began drowzing as usual. :(
After office, went on to buy out a dozen/2 books. also, made some new friends at the book shop :D, asking me the same question to start off with... "So many books! Do you really read them?" Lips moved otherwise, but my (crazy) mind answered these crazy people something else every time. कभी दूकान शुरू करना था तो कभी चूल्हा जलाना था ;)
Done! after the shopping (like girls do... never knowing what to buy...) was returning home.
Now, it was time again for a pillion rider. Unlike my earlier experiences i've already spoken of, this time, it was no old man struggling for a family.
This time, it was Imran, a 13 year old boy. Father in Dubai, mom a housewife, and as he said, she would get about 30-35k every month from Dubai.
And what was he doing in front of a garrage where I picked him up???
Well! another shock! he worked there. "So ein Mist!" is what i could exclaim when i heard that.
asking him why he had to work, and why not go to school., it was an amazing answer to get...
"नही साब! मन नही लगती पड़ने को। बाप भी पढ़ा नही फिर भी पैसा मिलती ना। फिर मेरेको भीच १५० रूपये मिलते रोज़। तो कायको पढता मैं?"
i had absolutely no answer. Anybody???
And then, i reached home... the first thing to see on TV... the Zoozoos of Vodafone. their new brand ambassadors. though i have never given any oppurtunity to Vodafone/Hutch to serve me as my operators, i felt that the little pup gave it a more humanly and personal touch. It would be so much so nice... though, i admire the people who came up with these Zoozoos... a superb creation, for a full time animation with no animators, but live actors. Great job Vf... but see if you can get the dog into action too...
So, wishing me a gr8 weekend, lemme sign off... it's time to proceed with the new found books...:)

25 Apr 2009

Future in your hands.

Ever wondered how the future looks like?
H G Wells has given us a glimpse of it in "Time Machine"(1895). The story of a "Time Traveller", who goes into A.D.802701, and beyond, and gives us an insight into life of the future, comes back to the present, and tries to convince his friends. When they disbelive him, he decides to go on another trip in time, this time with gadgets to bring proof back. Does he succeed? Find time, and if interested, go ahead and read it.
A blend of creativity, Sci-Tech, and Literature in one story.
Wells has thought beyond his times, in a few facts of Physics, like the 4th dimension of time, before Einstein. If only he was a mathematician too... Einstein would have been too late:P

23 Apr 2009

is this a bloody joke!?!

yes, it seems to be one.
Before i excercised my authority today, i thought i should do a little bit of research on those who want to boss over us. i mean the candidates, who wish to represent us. (Thanks to the internet for having helped me so much.) Now, here, i come across all the High School Passouts, and highly qualified people fighting for power. In the midst of all these, stands one lady. She's the only lady from my constituency in the rat race.

There were new and experienced, young and old, tough and humble, all kinds of candidates. But one profile stood out of all the rest. wanna know who??
Yes, it was this lady. The moment i saw her profile, and her response to the top concerns of citizens, i thought i found what i wanted in this profile.

The foremost concern... It tops our country in global tables... yes, it was "Corruption".
Here's her response to it:
"Corruption should be prevented either by raising awareness among people and also by enforcing anti corruption act in the parliamentary level. This is the very big social problem could not be completely stopped unless and until the ideal society is created. "

Another concern: "Electoral Reforms". and here's what she had to say of it:
"The real criminals who have involved in severe cases should not be elected by the people. Even the political parties before giving the tickets should study the background of the candidates. "


N.B:The above citations are direct quotes, and no modifications have been done.

Now, ain't that something every leader would say??
she was honest with it too...

But what appealed the most to me, was the next big bang. It was a literal 11kV jolt down my spine. after saying so much about corruption, and corrupt politians, here's her (criminal) profile:
Charged twice, under sections
420, 465, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code. (click to know what they stand for.)
Did she remember even a single word of what she spoke in interviews about the citizens' concerns, when she submitted her contestant forms?

the reason for our country to be shattered and torn,
is the fact that it's ruled by such people baseborn.

(thanks anon, for the above 2 lines:))

"Kannada Barutha??"

Achtung:Readers, don't blame me for a rather long blog this time...
(btw, I've not taken long to type it all... ;) it's one I read somewhere, but felt I should publish, with some of my own spice :).

Aaaah! I am sure most of you in Bangalore would have heard this, but what is "kannada barutha?" here it goes. Bangalore the IT capital of India , the silicon city and now a Metro city opened its gates to almost all kinds of people. Very evidently the recent poll census proved that there are only 47% of original inhabitants in Bangalore/bengaluru. The life style of the city has seen a gradual change with Pizza Corners replacing MTR's, classy eat out's replacing "Vidyarthi Bhavans" and flashy pub's replacing all the "Mahalakshmi wine shops".

"Change is inevitable" from the days of HMT, BEML, HAL and BHEL to INFOSYS and WIPRO; Bangalore has a new look now on the world map. Gone are the days where a typical Sunday for any bangalorean was a nice romantic walk on the pavements of "LALBAGH...", "rave idli and coffee.." at the nearest yet old looking MTR and a wonderful Annavra film either at Santosh or central 'talkies'. Today's Bangalore is deluged in traffic, stress and pressure, Saturday nights without beer is desolate and a Sunday without a visit to either a nearest spa or health clinic is schlocky!! The gandhibazar's are now AC cooled super markets, majestic is now replaced by an ultra modern and diversified Brigade road, "Sri cauvery coffee joint" is now Coffee day... and "Bhagyalakshmi coffee adda"... is now Barista. With globalisation and more retail market the city will definitely see more forceful changes.

Have all these changed our language? Kannada the local language of Bangalore is supposed to be one of the most meaningful of languages; it also has an unique script as compared to many of its other counterparts; but what percentage of people really use Kannada in Bangalore now? The figures are staggering, only 37% of people speak kannada in the state's capital as i read somwhere. for rest it is only "Kannada barutha?"

Any normal guy starts with this sentence "Kannada barutha?" while talking to another person. people confirm before they speak the language. You want to ask an address in Bangalore? or reply to a question... then English is the most preferred language with Hindi. It's a fact that two kannidagas in an IT company always talk in a neutral language!! even the vendors and shop keepers are channeled to this new wave, the moment when you step in any shop in Bangalore , you are always asked "Kannada barutha?" or the entire conversation takes place in non kannada languages. People have lost the confidence of speaking in the local language and more over speaking Kannada on the streets of "M.G road "or "kormangala" is substandard.

Shopping malls in the city have been completely banned from using Kannada, not a forced one but definitely an adapted one. One has to confirm that the other person knows the language before he starts using any language. "ondu glass beer" is a insult when it comes to any decorous pub in Bangalore. "Swalpa menu card kodthira..??" has been replaced by "Can I have the menu card please...?"

Just to hit some facts, marathi is still the largest and common speaking language in mumbai even though mumbai has the highest no of inhabitants. Telugu is a practised ritual in yet another IT HUB Hyderabad. When it comes to tamil nadu, beware you can be alive either if you are a fan of rajnikanth or you know tamil. Malyalam runs in the blood of every mallu be it Kuwait , dubai or any hospital; but when it comes to kannada it isalways "kannada barutha?" and next is "namaskara."

I am neither a Kannada activist nor do I run any Kannada supporting organization, I am just a plebeian who just loves the language. Globalisation is the trend and modernisation is the mantra. but at the cost of a language? Sounds no logic.. Is speaking kannada down market? The answer has to be found within oneself. Next time when you hear "kannada barutha?"., just remember that "kannada runs in your blood.."

20 Apr 2009

Untitled.

Two lines of his, one friend wanted me to publish...
Why?? Well... for him, blogging is rather childish...

मजबूत यह दिल तुम्हारे इनकार से ऐसे खोखला हो गया।
मानो सावन न आया तो पत्थर जैसे डोख्ला बन गया॥

For those, who don't know डोख्ला, it's a Gujju Special, soft n spongy, swwweet n sour dumpling,
our canteen cooks prepare to the best of their abilities, never to match even a Gujju fledgling...

All these words are his, including this line...
all that I can claim, is that the blog is mine...
-Anon

(P.S: name not published:( , for that's what's asked of.)
I also don't know, what inspired to make a dhokla out of stones now:P

18 Apr 2009

springing nature...

this one, again from the jungles of the Western Ghats... Nature was at it's colorful best, with leaves just budding out in the woods.

11 Apr 2009

do it, or dont. Don't try to...

I've heard of this word "Try" from many people. I used it at one time too... maybe as a school boy. Then I learnt something. Someone asked me to try and drop a pencil; and made me realize what the state of someone's mind is, when (s)he "tries to"...
It's not just words that speak. I've learnt from life, that there are many other things that speak.
I once saw joy in my father's eyes as a small boy, (aged about 6 years.), though his words were as calm and composed as always... That was my first lesson to understand this.
As i grew up, I learnt... there are many other things that speak. the way someone smiles, the way someone reacts to your talk... even the way someone walks...
Even the composure of this blog speaks a million things... only for those who can understand though... wondering why I blog all this??
Only a few hours ago, I saw someone "trying to hide". It was so clear and evident that somethings were not acceptable. Still, the make-believe was that everything was ok. Accepting if something is not ok is always acceptable. But then... some people understand some things too soon... just be so very careful when you "Try" to pretend before such people...

4 Apr 2009

Heads and Tails...

Whenever I need to make a quick decesion, I toss a coin. "Heads, positive, Tails, Negative". I suggest many that this is the simplest way of deciding. I know, they would think I'm a moron or a Psycho of some kind, or something else, anything but normal. But there's a further secret step to be taken. This, I've only told those who've tossed a coin on my suggestion. Time to reveal it to everyone who wants to know too...
The moment I toss the coin, I also have a decision. A decision to toss the coin again, until it ends up in the affirmative. A few days ago, when I read Q&A by Vikas Swarup, I realized, how similar I was to the hero of the novel in making decisions., who had already decided what it was going to be. Heads, Positive, Tails, Negative... and he would never go with the tails for a Positive call... and would always win, for the fact that his coin was "Double Headed";)
"Decisions are already made..."

Recession... no better explanation

Yet again, but after one experience I had with a security guard, this time it was a traffic cop. Now, this time, it is not for me to think if we are worth... rather, this guy made me admire how even such "Jargons" of the "Civilized world" are so simply understood by these"People from the Small Towns" (छोटे शेहेर के लोग as they are commonly known across the बड़े शेहेर के लोग। ).
The beauty of their life makes me admire the छोटे शेहेर way of life. As always, like it's more out of habit (the habit of chattering too much;) ) than something else, I started talking to this guy too. The moment he realized my Engg. background, and that I work for a sw firma, the first thought that hit him was about recession. I was sure it was his first thought, because he took no time in asking how SW engineers made a living with this recession. Now, as I started explaining how less the impact of Recession in India was, and the hype that the media has created, he interrupted me. He said, ಬಿಡಿ ಸಾರ್ ಗೊತ್ತು ಈ Recessionಉ. (Meaning, leave it sir, We know what this recession means, and its menace too...). I thought it's time to close my mouth, and open my ears. so, continued hearing what he was saying...
This is how he explained "Recession" to me...
"There is a situation, where tomatoes cost 40rupees a kilo. wondering about the profit they would make if they grew tomatoes, everyone kicked off with tomato cropping at the same time. Now, a while later, when it was time to harvest, everyone was waiting for a shock. With all the crop harvested at the same time, the market was so full of tomatoes, that it became hard for the farmers to sell it at even 50paise a kilo, and the harvest was going down the gutter. Now, you people are the tomatoes, and all the SW firms, the farmers, who thought you tomatoes would be the best bet in a market so full of vegetables, to make the best profits."
Yes, he was so very simple. The way this छोटे शेहेर का आदमी spoke.. actually, had I been given an explanation like this at the first instance, I would not have taken so long as I actually did, to understand recession. How simple, and practical the lives of these people are. If only... I were from a place like where he was from... Life would have been so simple to understand... and so, would be the meaning of life...
Hats off to the simplicity of these people. Civilized earthlings, learn something from them. Recession would ceretainly not have hit us as hard as it has, had we understood life their way.

1 Apr 2009

The secret of a movie...

Never had I thought that such an incident can happen on such a beautiful Sunday eve. But it had to, and happened this Sunday. 2 of us, A friend of mine, and myself, were sitting on a bench and discussing about something (irrelevant here) when one guy, seemingly aged around 20 came to us, and enquired if we spoke Kannada. Getting a response in the affirmative, he started chatting with us for a few minutes, and so unsuspectfully...
A while later, his true persona was revealed. He had come to us with a purpose.
From what he told us of himself, he was a dropout after being unable to pass his 10th, and had to go to one of his relatives' house in Chamarajpet. He asked us if we could help him. When we enquired about his whereabouts, he said he lived with his parents in the Quarters adjacent. His parents never stopped him from going to the relative('s') house, neither were they ready to give him any money. So, he wanted us to give him something, so that he could.
We looked at each other for a while, and thought (the first mistake!) that he was truthful, and decided we give him some money, at the most 20bucks.(the second mistake!!) However, as it was to be, neither of us had any bill that could be spared for him. I said I had nothing lesser than a Rs.100 bill, and pat came his answer. "Irli sir, adanne koDi, naanu 60 rupai change koDtini" (Ok. give me the 100 rupees, and I will give you a change of 60 rupees.). The most horrible shock of my lifetime. A person who hadn't even 20 rupees to go to his relative('s') house, in no time, possesses atleast Rs.60.
Us:Why do you need money when you already have sufficient?
He:actually, wanted to buy a CD.
Us:what's important? CD or Relatives?
He:both... I also want to go to their home. (Which, I interpreted as CD being more important)
Us:and what's more important?
He: CD.
Us:which CD is it, that's more important than your relatives?
He:actually, I want to buy a CD of "Raaz". (For those who might wonder, it's a Hindi Movie. I've not yet seen it though.)
Us:But you could actually rent one and watch it for less than Rs.10.
He:No. I want to own a CD of the movie! (Ain't it a wonderful answer?)

This shook us up literally. What's so special about this movie?
What is the "Raaz" behind someone being so desperate to own a CD and watch the movie?
can someone let me know, before I waste bandwidth to download movies like Raaz to find out the "Raaz"???

31 Mar 2009

admire.. this!!

Admiration is a very short-lived passion that immediately decays upon growing familiar with its object, unless it be still fed with fresh discoveries, and kept alive by a perpetual succession of miracles rising into view.

28 Mar 2009

ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು

ಪ್ರಿಯ ಓದುಗರೇ,,
ವಿರೋಧಿ ನಾಮ ಸಂವತ್ಸರದ belated ಹಾರ್ದಿಕ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.
ಇದೇನಿದು ಇದ್ದಕ್ಕೆ ಇದ್ದ ಹಾಗೆ, ಕನ್ನಡದಲ್ಲಿ blog ಕುಟ್ಟುತ್ತ ಇದ್ದೀನಿ ಅಂತ confusionಆ?
ಏನಿಲ್ಲ. ಸುಮ್ಮನೆ ಹಾಗೆ for a change ಅಷ್ಟೆ. ನಮ್ಮ್ ಭಾಷೆ, ಸಂಸ್ಕಾರಗಳನ್ನ ಬಿಡಕ್ಕಾಗತ್ತಾ?
ಆದ್ರೂ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ ಏನೋ ಬಿಟ್ಟುಹೋಗಿದೆ ಅನ್ನಿಸತ್ತೆ ಈ ದೊಡ್ಡ ದೊಡ್ಡ ಸಿಟಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ.
for example, ನಮ್ಮ ಹಬ್ಬಗಳ ಆಚರಣೆಗಳನ್ನೇ ನೋಡಿ... ಆಗ ಒಂದು ಕಾಲ ಇತ್ತು. ಮನೆ ಮಂದಿ ಎಲ್ಲರೂ ಸೇರಿ ಹಬ್ಬಗಳನ್ನ ಆಚರಿಸೋ ಕಾಲ... ಆದ್ರೆ ಈಗ, phone ಮೂಲಕನೇ ಅಜ್ಜಿ ತಾತ, ಅತ್ತೆ ಮಾವ, ದೊಡ್ಡಪ್ಪ ದೊಡ್ಡಮ್ಮ, ಚಿಕ್ಕಪ್ಪ ಚಿಕ್ಕಮ್ಮ, ಅಣ್ಣ ಅತ್ತಿಗೆ, ಅಕ್ಕ ಭಾವ, and so on... ಎಲ್ಲರ ಆಶೀರ್ವಾದ ಸಿಕ್ಕು ಹೋಗತ್ತೆ. ಅವರ ಮುಖಗಳನ್ನ ನೋಡಿ ಅದೆಷ್ಟು ಕಾಲ ಆಗಿರತ್ತೆ ಅಂತ ಕೂಡ ಗೊತ್ತಿರಲ್ಲ ಕೆಲವೊಮ್ಮೆ.
ಆ ಕಾಲದಲ್ಲಿ, ಹಬ್ಬದ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ ಒಂದೆರಡು ದಿನ ಮುಂಚೇನೇ ಶುರು ಆಗಿರ್ತಿತ್ತು. city market, ಮಲ್ಲೇಶ್ವರಂ ಎಲ್ಲ ತುಂಬಿ ಹೋಗಿರೋದು family shoppingಗೆ. ಇವಾಗ ನೋಡಿದ್ರೆ, ಏನೂ difference ಕಾಣಲ್ಲ. ವರ್ಷವೆಲ್ಲಾ ಅಷ್ಟೇ ಜನ ಜಂಗುಳಿ ಇರತ್ತೆ. ಬೀದಿ ಬೀದಿಗೂ ರಾಶಿ ಮಾವಿನ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಬೇವಿನ ಸೊಪ್ಪು, ಹಾಕಿ ಮಾರಟಕ್ಕೆ ಕೂತಿರೋರು. ಇವಾಗ ಇಲ್ಲ ಅಂತಲ್ಲ, ಆದ್ರೆ, ಆವಾಗಿನ ಸಂಭ್ರಮ ಇವತ್ತು ಕಾಣೋಲ್ಲ.
ಈ IT ಬೂಮ್ ಯಾವಾಗ ಬಂದು ನಮ್ಮ ಊರಿಗೆ ತಟ್ಟಿತೋ ಅವಾಗ್ಲೇ change ಶುರು ಆಗಿಹೋಯ್ತು. ಇವತ್ತು ಜೀವನದ ರೀತಿ ಕೂಡ change ಆಗಿಹೋಗಿದೆ. But, ಕಾಲನ ಮಹಿಮೆ ಯಾರಿಗೆ ತಿಳಿಯತ್ತೆ ಹೇಳಿ?
ಹೊಸ ವರ್ಷದ ಬೇವು ಬೆಲ್ಲ ಬೆರೆತ ಜೀವನದಲ್ಲಿ, ಹೊಸತು ಹಳೆತುಗಳನ್ನ ಕೂಡ ಬೆರೆಸಿಕೊಂಡು ಜೀವನವೆಂಬ ಸುಂದರ ಪಯಣ ಮುಂದುವರೆಸೋಣ... ಸಂತಸದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗೋಣ...
ಮತ್ತೊಮ್ಮೆ, ಹೊಸ ಸಂವತ್ತಿನ ಶುಭಾಶಯಗಳು.

26 Mar 2009

I'm worth just....

Happened to pick up a middle aged person on the way today. He wanted to go somewhere along my way. For the fact that we were to be riding together for a while, I stroke a conversation wid him. After a while, as we spoke, got to know he's a Security Guard... his work places - far n wide... every day, a different location to guard. As we spoke, he told me some facts about his profession...
each shift lasted 12 hours on paper, but it could go longer if the reliever was not in time.
consequtive shifts do not continue at the same place.
if he's late to his next assignment by more than 30min, he'd be marked absent.
Most of the night shifts are nightmares. Owners, drunk, shout at them late in the mid of darkness, without any knowledge. These chaps, without any right to protest, bear it all for just a square meal a day.
said they needed to sometimes, work for 96hours, without break.
24hours of break if he's guarded for 96hours!!! I can't even think of staying awake for half the time!
A family in some far off village. whom he's to money order a part of his earnings.
for every shift from 7PM to 7AM, the earnings are a meagre 100 bucks, and a 120 if it were working 7AM to 7PM!!! (does this really matter to us??? he's paid for his work... ain't he?)
A meal on the roads costs him atleast 40 rupees a day. His life goes on with a savings of 60rupees/day.
Today, when I earn nothing short of atleast 7 times what he earns a day, and that for mostly whiling away time in an Air conditioned cubicle, and that for working just for 7-8 hours a day... (SW Engineers, don't tell me you work for 13 hours every day. I'm one among you... and know the facts.) it makes me ponder over and again over the same question...
"Is his hard work of days together, justified by what he earns?"
Aren't we engineers grossly overpaid for whatever we're doing?
Give it a thought... never know, you'll never even think of looking into the eyes of a security guard now on!! shamed by life...

21 Mar 2009

A man of words...

A man of words and not of deeds
Is like a garden full of weeds
And when the weeds begin to grow
It's like a garden full of snow
And when the snow begins to fall
It's like a bird upon the wall
And when the bird away does fly
It's like an eagle in the sky
And when the sky begins to roar
It's like a lion at the door
And when the door begins to crack
It's like a stick across your back
And when your back begins to smart
It's like a penknife in your heart
And when your heart begins to bleed
You're dead, and dead, and dead indeed.
-Anon

15 Mar 2009

Winning is...

What is winning? Is it always to be the Gold Medal Winner?
Or is it the determination to reach the finish line, come whatever?
"Cool Runnings" made me realize this fact of life, though I actually watched just the climax of the movie... The Jamaican team contesting in the winter Olympics, have been at the lowest of the points table of the Snowsled. Their coach Irv is determined to make them better, and a day after, their performance has been so astonishing, that they jump to the top 10, and better many a previous times clocked by other teams. In their final run, which would pretty much decide them as winners, their old and rusty Snowsled has given way. One of the slides breaks loose, and the team crash before they could reach the finish line. But their determination to touch the finish line has made them Heroes, inspite of all mishaps.
Not all movies are Karan Johar types... Well, that might have some message to convey too, but for now, it's been incomprehensible for me.
This movie, rather the climax, in such a short time, made me realize so much about life...

14 Mar 2009

picture-perfect


another one... this on a recent trek to Gerusoppa, a very small piece of evening life along Sharavati.

Patience-A Quote

Being from the Auto domain now, this is how He made me understand it-
"Patience is the ability to idle your engine...
When you feel like ripping through the gears".

13 Mar 2009

of movies and camps...

July 26th 2008.

It was a pleasant Saturday morning. A few of us friends took a RE to München from Stuttgart. I hadn't even thought, that I would see the world as it were 63 years ago. We boarded an S-bahn from München in the direction of Peterhaüsen, alighted at Dachau Bahnhof, and boarded the bus to Dachau. It was here, that I was exposed to a piece of the most dreaded chapter in World History.

The entrance was a huge one, but fully barricaded. There was only a small gate through which people could enter one at a time. Entering inside, I found the place nothing special. There were a few buildings along, and lots of empty space. We started with our guided tour, and our Ms.Guide (I don't remember her name any more... but she was a studentin of History.) walked us through the "Biggest Concentration Camp" of the Nazi Regime. After seeing the Military office chambers, we moved on to look at the "Elite Prisoners' " cells, and from there on to one of the 2 existing barracks of the originally constructed 12 of them. After this, she took us across to the "Gas Chambers", the end of world for the unfortunate millions, esp. Jews in Europa, who were caught, and put into these concentration camps. That day, I only heard what Nazi cruelty meant. (Well, in today's world, there are many more of such "Nazis", but that doesn't matter now.)

Today, I literally saw it all when I played "The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas". 8 year old Bruno, moves to the countryside because of his father's duties as a soldier. Being an adventurous kid, he starts to roam around the place, and encounters a Nazi Concentration Camp. There he meets another jewish boy Shummel, a name he's never heard of, who's of just about the same age. Their friendship leads them to another adventure. Shummel has lost his father. Bruno along with Shummel, decides to help him find his father. Bruno's mother, sensing that the place is not the right one for her children, decides to move back to Berlin. But Bruno, having decided to help Shummel., tresspasses into the Concentration camp, and dons the "Striped Pyjamas" like Shummel has always, and the 2 set out to search Shummel's father. As the two are on the lookout, they fall into a march of all the captives. They are taken to one of those cells, where they are told it is only for a Shower. As the two boys enter the shower room, darkness engrosses the chamber from all sides, but Bruno holds Shummel's hands tight assuring him of finding his father. This movie is one of the very few, that I would watch a second, a third... an umpteenth time, without being bored. The story originally by Irish writer Johm Boyne, is a splendidly woven story. Cruelty is not shown as cruel. It always enrobes itself in those more dearly abstracts like friendship, and love. Looking forward to reading the book.
For me, this movie stands out in its own wayz, though not a very pompuous one. Watch it if you get another oppurtunity.

8 Mar 2009

one of my favourite photos...

This was at Kudremukh, about a year and half ago.

Kepler Wakes Up

Johannes Kepler. He taught the world how the planets behave. NASA yesterday (IST, UTC, and the day before, ETZ.), after letting him take a deep slumber, woke him up. NASA wants him now, to look for planets in deep space. I'm speaking of the "Kepler" spacecraft named in honor of the German. The spacecraft was launched in an earth trailing orbit (i.e. to follow the earth all along, during it's revolution, and not orbit the Earth itself.) at 3:49 UTC on the 7th of March. The slumber that I mentioned, is the delay of about a year and a quarter in the mission., which was mostly financial @ NASA. Being used to detect planets in the Milkyway, that are approximately at our Sun's distance from the galactic centre, and in the same galactic plane, It will have a probablity of locating "Earth like" planets for 1 in about 200 stars. Which means, with an estimated span of 3.5 years, and about 3000LY deep, Kepler should have, by the end of the mission, found atleast 350-400 earthlike planets.
Hope I find my loooooong lost cousin soon...;)

PS:If anyone wonders why the label "travel", then please remember, that Kepler has to travel too, to reach outer space. lol...

My blog never sleeps...;)

at 3AM before dawn, I definitely am sleepless for long beyond my normal routine. Reason? Neither do I know. As well have nothing else to do. The stars not in their brightest veils, nor are books interesting me. So, This is what you do when you're sleepless, and your interests do not interest you. Turn on your PC, go online, and if you have a blog-sphere, start typing into it.
But, then type what? without any topic...
Well, lemme tell you some nonsense...
It was born way back in 2001, but died out instantaneously... But then, its resurrection happened in 2006, and again in 2008. Interested to know a secret?
the name of my blog-sphere, and my blogger site address, have something in common. (Whoever is able to guess it is entitled to win a worthy prize.)
well, That's too tough ain't it? okay then... lemme give you a clue...
The blog site address, contains 2 names (or parts thereof). Guess them, n link them to the blog name.
Now, to say, when do I blog? well, mostly when I'm not able to tell out somethings, they come in here. Otherwise, all that I remember of from the past, present, and the future, and want to share with people. I still have a lot to post here, but am not really convinced that they be put up. Anyone who's good at understanding psychology through usage of language, can very easily find out what kind of a person I am. Otherwise, even if you know me personally, I'm sure you don't know my person. So, now that you have some hints, go ahead, and rediscover all that you can.
Let's see how far you go...
Good luck:) to all those who have an answer to this post of mine;)
P.S: this post was typed between 3AM and 3:50AM. only that it had to be posted late, thanks to BESCOM, BSNL and my dear PC... if it's been confusing to you.

7 Mar 2009

A comedy of Terrains

One week ago, at about this hour, we had camped in the premises of a lonely house somewhere in the jungles of the Western Ghats. Starting off from Bangalore on Friday night, we reached Gerusoppa, famous for the Jog Falls, and proceeded towards a lesser known water fall called "Dabbe Falls". Our walk started off from a village called "Hosagadde", and a walk of about 5km to Dabbe, the house, which would serve us as a base. This fall is in the land vicinity owned by the family at Dabbe, and so, gets its name. We dumped our baggage, and backpacks at the house, and began our descent to the water stream around 11 AM. OH MY!! what a descent!! at close to just 10degrees to the perpendicular, and the Heater hi above at nothing short of 303Kelvin, we began. Thanks to the shoots, and the areals of all the banyans, we somehow found a grip for ourselves. Lucky us, the Sun had flushed all the blood suckers into the ground. (But, let me tell you, not being bitten by a Leech, somehow does not complete any Trek.:( ) After a descent for almost 45min, and about 350 feet, we caught our first glimpse of the gorgeous falls. "She was adorable":) after all the risks we took. Descending another 100 feet in the next 10 min, we were at the foot of the falls. Though the summer had limited the water that was dropping down, it was one sight not to miss. If this were the beauty of the summer, I stood imagining what it would be like, in the monsoons. Other mates, who were way behind also came and joined us in admiring the falls. But then, we gave them very less time. We splashed into the waters, and had a massage, that no sauna anywhere in the world will be able to give you. Water splashing from a minimum height of 30feet (after hitting upon the rocks), was gushing on to us, releiving us of all the pains on our way down. After about an hour of massages, we decided to move on, and amazingly, most of us felt that the way up was much easier than the way down. Again, courtesy the areals and the shoots all along. But we were almost as bad as we were when we started. Tired, and exhausted, we had our lunch that we'e packed at Dabbe, and after resting for a while, moved on to our next destination-KaNooru Kote. The fort, is now only a relic of a once thriving city fort, and the jungle has taken over almost every where. We reached the fort the next day at about 10-30 AM, and from there on moved towards Gerusoppa, where we were to board our bus back home. This leg of our trek was not really as enthralling as the first leg, to the falls. It was more of a "Jungle Walk" downhill. But Mr.Helios seemed to have no mercy upon us poor trekkers. Though we walked in shade for a fair distance, the heat was draining us out of all body fluids, and more-so, after taking a detour, that led us a long way to Gerusoppa, and walking about 2 hours more than the conventional route, we were literally camping at every place we found water. (Actually, even those from sprinklers in a land so rich with streams and rivers. that was our plight that day.). Finally, we realized we had detoured, at a tea stall in Gerusoppa, where the shop owner told this. Reaching the Sharavati at 4:30, we had a looooong swim in the river, and one of the boat riders even accepted and showed us along the river stretch for a while. This was to be the end of our trek, but we realized, that we were actually a while away from the KSRTC bus stand... This gave us another task at hand, but luckily, we found a KSRTC bus that runs into the old city once every hour or so, and it took us to our bus-stop. After finding that we were not fortunate enough for a proper dinner, was had some Upma, and Maggi, which we got prepared from one lady at a mess beside the bus stop. (Oh, and yes, we taught her Maggi-making...:) ) Gobbling it up, we were just fractions of a minute early at the bus-stop to board the bus that was to take us back to Bangalore.
With all that happened, it was a totally different experience.
But for those, who plan to take up this trek, my sincere suggestion would be to drop KaNooru Kote. it is just a long jungle walk, with not much exitement in the end. :(
Oh yes, one last thing to tell you... please do this. We carried a thrash bag all along our trek, and had accumulated a nett garbage of about 4-5kgs. It was dispersed only outside the tea shop in Gerusoppa. We are more responsible for the Earth, than any generation that has treaded Earth, or ones that will, in future. for, it is we who are to decide the fate of MoEarth.
P.S: for all those who would have loved to see the beauty of the falls, and the exhausted faces of the concrete jungle, treading "JUNGLES", I'm extremely sorry. None of the photos I clicked this trek appear worthy enough to be published.

The Character of a Happy Man

This Sir Henry Wotton Poem, is one of the few school days' poems that I still remember. Happened to read it today, and once more. We'd by-hearted this poem in 3 classes, but I've only till date, been to remember the first Stanza...

How happy is he born or taught,
That serveth not another's will;
Whose armour is his honest thought,
And simple truth his highest skill;

Whose passions not his masters are;
Whose soul is still prepar'd for death.
Untied unto the world with care
of princes' grace or vulgar breath;

Who envies none whom chance doth raise,
Or vice; who never understood.
The deepest wounds are given by praise,
By rule of state, but not of good;

Who hath his life from rumours freed;
Whose conscience is his strong retreat;
Whose state can neither flatterers feed,
Nor ruins make accusers great;

Who God doth late and early pray,
More of his grace than goods to send,
And entertains the harmless day
With a well-chosen book or friend.

This man is free from servile bonds
Of hope to rise or fear to fall;
Lord of himself, though not of lands;
And having nothing, yet hath all.

3 Mar 2009

Why somethings...

Why is it...
  • that, whenever I decide upon something new, something new comes up with the old, and nails me to wherever I am?
  • that, I've to give up somethings I've yearned for, for somethings, I've never cared for?
  • that, whenever I say something, it is more often "miss"interpreted than not?
  • that, most people still do not understand somethings with me?
  • that, somethings strike people so hard, even if I'm as meek as I can be?
  • that, somethings strike me so hard, even if they are not really at me?
  • that, people take it for a laugh, when I say I'm "serious" about something?
  • that, I still am not able to start off with somethings, though I've dreamt of them for long?
  • that, I care for somethings, that mean so less to me?
  • that, I realize it is just about time to see "someone" after long, but find out that somethings only get to be longer?
  • that, i publish something here, inspite of being aware that there's none that really cares whether I publish or not?
  • that, I pose so many questions, inspite of knowing somethings are useless?
  • that, I publish something, which will give neither me joy, nor (if, then) to those who read this?

26 Feb 2009

pre---post...

Did you start reading it only because you thought I'm writing something that happened before something happened, and then, about something that happened after that something happened?
If that's the case, then "April fool" in advance... :P
This is just a preparatory for a post i wanted to post, but would not... for there are some things, that better be unsaid... however, if it makes you any curious about what it all is about., I sure can post that post I wanted to post of the "something" that happened. Oh, n yes, something did happen... and whatever happened, I don't regret., for whatever happened is past and gone, though the post happening of whatever happened, does seem to be "not ok" to those who were there when the happening happened...
Confused?
Forget it... now, that's the way I am... and I'd'nt change just 'cos someone's not ok wid whatever happened thoh!!!

21 Feb 2009

Back-stage

Hi Readers,
I'm back after a fairly long break...
Yesterday, was a memoriable day at my workplace. With some freizeit left jeden Tag in my Büro, I even started off with some Higher level German. Co-incidentally, a Languages Day was being organized by the Organization, for people to showcase what their abilities in various Sprachen are... Our batch of Studenten, with a few others, and our Tutor, decided to do something for a good performance, and he came up with a suggestion. We were to play "König Drosselbart" one of those "Märchen" from the Grimm Brothers. The story of a haughty (not to be read hottie :P) princess, who due to her arrogance and pride, was married off to a musician off the streets, and had to live the life of a poor woman. Having not been able to do anything properly at home., her husband gets her to work in a royal Küche (cuisine i.e.). But then, she lately realizes, that she's at the palace of one of the kings, whom she had insulted earlier... and how did she face the past?? read it here.
Now, about what I had in it... Well, actually, nothing on stage. Everything that I did was off the stage. (Actually, I was the Erzähler of the story, and this was a result of people vesting their confidence in me being able to narrate the whole thing off stage...) However, thanks to my tutor, and the confidence he had in us, our Stück(Drama) was the show-stealer... Our perseverance to emerge with perfection had taken out a lot of effort from all of us. But it all paid off in the end. For me, it was after 8 long years, that I got in touch with the "Performing Arts"... and enjoyed every bit and piece of our success...
Here's a "Prost für alle Teilnehmer" for pulling off the most successful event of the day :)

25 Jan 2009

Never Quit-An inspirational Poem

"When things go wrong, as they sometimes will.,
When the road you are trudging seems up-hill,
When funds are low, and debts are high,
When you want to smile, but have to sigh.,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest if you want, but don't you Quit.

Life is a queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure has turned about,
When they might have won, had they stuck it out,
Don't give up though the pace seems slow,
Rest if you want, but don't you Quit.

Success is failure turned inside out,
The silver tint to the clouds of doubt,
And you never can tell how close you are,
It may be near when it seems so far,
Stick to the task when you're the hardest hit,
It's when things seem worst, that you must not quit."
-Anon

19 Jan 2009

Where lies the problem???

I only wanted my city to be as beautiful as it was when the British made it their "Pensioners' Paradise". And I'm bound to do it. However, last weekend was nightmarish for me. I was in the M.G.Road of Malleshwaram for some purchasing. (not the usual shopping. I knew what I needed ;).) The shopkeeper in one of those shops I entered was hell-bent upon distributing plastic bags with an ad like most others, for his shop printed upon it. It was an annoying sight to me. Observing that he was a "Not too old" guy, and would understand the concerns of plastix, I approached him. Just suggested, "Why don't you charge a rupee or two for each plastic bag? It helps reduce plastic garbage". His response shocked me for a while. He said "I don't care how people use/reuse the plastic bags I'm distributing, as long as my business is done". Well, he's thought for his business, and rightly enough. But has he ever thought of his children and the future generations that would live on, in and with plastics?? I tried my best to make him realize this, but he was worried more of his business.
Is it as difficult to touch people's thoughts? It wasn't, atleast for me. Until then.!!!

Miss U

yes... "Miss"ing you a lot today. :(

11 Jan 2009

Destiny. That's next.

I spoke of 2 words in an earlier blog of mine. Last week, I was talking to one of my peers at work of something, and she mentioned it as "Destiny". I feel this word too has a close association with the earlier ones. (I would not say Fate, iff it means something, and Destiny mean the same!!)
When I asked what it was, the answer I got was that some questions can not be answered. Why not? Every question needs to have an answer, and one that can sustain the question too. Well, for me, if there is no answer, then it only means 2 things: (a)Either that the other person does not know the answer, or (b)(S)He is ignorant of the question or the answer.
So now, What does Destiny mean? and are there really questions that can't be answered at all???

1 Jan 2009

An Interesting Sentence.

Look at the genius of this sentence. Every word has as many letters, as its position in the word count of the sentence here.
"I do not know where family doctors acquired illegibly perplexing handwriting nevertheless, extraordinary pharmaceutical intellectuality counterbalancing indecipherability, transcendentalizes intercommunications incomprehensibleness. "

Wishes with a difference.

The first of Jan has never been different from any other day of the year to me. Never had I, so far, voluntarily wished someone from deep within, A Happy New Year. I was at Bhashyam Circle in Sadashivnagar. My bike had just silenced itself, and I was looking at the signal, waiting for it to turn green. Just then, I heard a voice from somewhere. I turned to the right, and saw 2 little girls in an Innova. They seem not older than 10 or 12 years. One of them called out to everyone she saw, and wished him(her) A Happy New Year. It happened with me too. Just as I killed my Bike's engine, she wished me too. And I reciprocated with a wish to her. For once, the wish that came out of my mouth, were those from the depths of my heart. I could see the smile on her face when I said "Happy New Year to you too"., and her joys in the "Thank You". I knew that I had for once, made a difference to her, 'cos I did not see anyone else reciprocate her wishes. I had wished her with all my heart, and I knew I was happy too. I realized, that I was already smiling all for myself, before the signal had turned green. This little girl made me realize that it is not as much the occassion that is important, as the wishes on the occassion are, and for this, I am truly grateful to her. So, here's for all my readers, "Wish You A New Year, as you want it. Enjoy the coming days, with a fresh spirit, and have it your way."