Cerebrates

2011-10-20T12:55:00.004+05:30

आज बहुत दिनों बाद हिंदी में लिखने की परम इक्षा हो रही है--कारण कुछ दिने पहले अपने एको दोस्त को हिंदी के कुछ ब्लॉग पढ़ते हुए देखा, हमने उन लिंकों को लैपटॉप हिस्टरी से नहीं हटाया. आजकल जब भी मौका मिलता है उसे पढ़ लेते हैं.

जीवन में कुछ नए मोड़ भी आये हैं इस दौरान, जैसे एक, कि हमारी शादी तय हो गयी है और दिसम्बर महीने में तिथि निश्चित करी गयी है. मित्रों ने प्रसन्नता तो व्यक्त की और साथ में नयी जीवन में आने वाले संघर्ष की लिए आगाह भी किया-- कहते हैं जीने का तरीका ही बदल जाता है! जरूर ही सच होगा, कई विवाहित भी हैं.

इसके अलावा, पिछले कुछ दिनों से लखनऊ शहर में कई दिन लगातार रहने का मौका मिला, अवश्य ही अलग सा अनुभव था.. जब कभी कभी रहते हैं तो आये दोन फिल्म देखने चले जाते थे, परन्तु अब कई दिनों से नहीं गए. , घर पर खाना भी ज्यादा बनता है. इन सब के बीच, हम ये जरूर चाहते थे कि एक बार गाँव घूम आयें परन्तु इतवार और शनिवार तो ऑफिस के काम निपटने और घर व्यवस्थित करने में लग जाता है.

चलिए अब थोडा ऑफिस का काम कर लें. शादी ५ दिसम्बर को है!

quicews

2011-05-16T23:35:00.003+05:30

I desperately wanted to write quick updates, got really sad when blogger wasn't working. I discovered that in recent past blogger had gone some big updating and maintenance stuff. I realised it would be tough life without blogger. Well this means become regular!!!

I finished reading Atlas Shrugged. This is a success given that I had this book for last eighteen months or so and most colleagues saw me struggling to read pages amidst work.... Two week stay in Lucknow - one weekend at home did the trick. Well, this is typical of me but I found myself asking people this question - there is a girl and there are three boys. One who she knows since childhood this has been in her life say 20% of life, one who is a professional help and has been part of 70% of his life, and the third one is like an idealist she likes and has been in her life for even shorter period of time. She chooses one of the three ultimately - who is the one? I want them to say number 2. I wanted it that way in the book.

Anurodh convinced me to take off the mouche that I had been rearing for last four months. Guess am getting one again soon, but a good change for time being.

And this should definitely go into record - One of my friends advised me to use all my market research skills to tell this girl whom you met recently to go out for dinner. At the end of everything my take is that nothing else but the rightest combo works - there has to be right time and right place and right moment of luck. You are right MR skills did not work rather there was no time to apply.

in Ludhiana for this week. The lassi, rajma dal and buttermilk are awesome. More later.

ps- yes you read it write the title is quick news....

Bloody Subconscious

2011-01-21T00:41:00.003+05:30

I really do not care what the definition says, I refer to this as something which is like repository of events in life. The repository has its own fun games ... throws out random stuff from your life. On such stroke screwed last week.

I was in Bhuj (believe me it is one of the finest places to go for recreation, hang out, tapasya, honeymoon or just anything). The week passed like anything, hectic days, fun evenings and workaholic nights (market research has all colors). Anyways, I believe life is always fun in Bhuj. Until the day before I was supposed to leave, I woke up with a dream. One of the colleagues also dreamed something weird relating to professor's daughter hanging out with him and Prof finding out or something related to that...

My dream was of this girl from school and college and masters and until couple year back. I really had tough time (actually every one has) when the one sided affair was brutally murdered. This is not the first time the "memories" haunted. That is to say there have been occasion when one such dream or thought would sweep away hours or day probably. Over time I also recognized that subconscious makes effort to decide the scale of destruction. This could actually be measured like scale of an earthquake.

Well returning to dream. I even got hugged. certainly above 8. he he he....

Shit Collector

2010-10-10T13:56:00.007+05:30

Okay I admit, this is bad. I have to be regular. The time is scarce and I am the same old lazy boy.

Today something happened that forces me to write. Tons of thanks to Sachin (my colleague and friend) who constantly pushed/bugged blackmailed me to write my views down. Thanks Paditjee/Netajee.

We were at the jasidih railway station, its the one that people usually get down at, to reach deoghar/baidyanath dham. I was there for work. Back to scene, I spotted a guy who was cleaning the tracks, no big deal we have seen them all over the station. But this guy was cleaning the shit (sorry for not using the other fancier words)with broom and a plastic pad, with bare hands and normal clothing. People on the adjoining platform were throwing stuff/sneezing next to him, giving no attention whatsoever. Forget the respect. I have a better picture of this scene and would upload when I get hands on it. So that you know what it really feels like seeing this - a bucket full of shit, a person collecting it with hands and junta.

Times when we revolutionise the living style, we try to live in disinfected world, we gives thousands of condoms free of cost to clog our own bathrooms( i think its time we seriously think about a khadi wala one he he) and we start using hand sanitisers. When our Railways boast of new techniques to prevent pollution they cause, this is real scene on one of the busy railway track. I call it in-human, How could the authorities responsible and the contractor allow such acts by the cleaner or lets call shit collector.

Technically, A technology that would involve dropping shit at required destinations which could later be extracted as human manure does not look that difficult to me. These places could be halts between major stations or stations, where the shit tanks open and clear into mechanically operated holes that connect to railway disposal pits somewhere deep down. PPN: I hope it reaches right ears.

Culturally, what about us. How could we be so oblivious to our deeds. This applies to all and sundry. I am not gonna talk solutions. We are best at it!

PS: PPN is post paragraph note.

When to lie

2010-07-20T11:21:00.002+05:30

Actually never lie. A lie is always a lie!

For the sake of conveniences however we generally lie and then find rationales, to do away the guilt. And of course I have done some of those very recently. A great deal of intellectual masturbation followed while I with some similar level intellects tried to analyse this.

I say lies could be honest, innocent, smart-ass, rude and pushed. Yes there are honest lies. Honest ones are those that prevent you from crunchy situations. These are not intended to hurt anybody but a preventive step. Something like, " hey I am busy right now will call you later". You said this to your friend because you were going out with other bunch to a bar and thought that the friend would not be a good fit. Innocent lies are what kids do, its like "No I did not do this" types. This is the start of things. The kind of lies one puts up; helps him/her become smarter or stupid in future. Smart-ass lies are the ones that you usually see in conversation between start up affairs. "darlin I have some official meeting to attend in Mumbai, so won't be able to meet you but would try calling, and of course you plan to sip beer right after. This is just an example, it could be between boss and subordinate or friends. Rude and pushed ones are those which are actually pranks with short term or long terms affects on the person.

What do you do if you are caught. Smart dudes always come out. They always a smart-ass lie to cover the previous one. Average ones suffer and simpler ones are doomed. What if that friend ultimately finds you in the bar and that you are busy drinking or the girl whom you just lied is sitting at the same bar. Some might accept explanations and some might not. Then relationships become hard to maintain.

The learning is either be smart ass or do not dare to lie. Per me I will be suffering at least for a week, might be doomed as well. Or may be I am dealing with smart ones. Oh to be more transparent, what I did was an honest one!! but I am sure I am not even doing that in future.

ps and disclaimer - please do not make out anything from the examples. These are, as name suggest examples only.

updates

2010-07-18T10:11:00.002+05:30

Badda Being was really sad when was directed to my blog, just to find two paragraphs talking crap. I am very sad for his disappointment. I am angry with me as well, as have not been writing at all. I should not do this.

Well, so I changed coordinates in life again, at Lucknow now. This change involves change is work profile as well. It requires me to travel a lot. I am looking forward to live out of suitcase. I do not know if I will be like Ryan (read Up in the Air) hating those 10-12 weeks when I am ground.

I am living in a penthouse (yes in lucknow) on top floor of a mansion. The place is more than luxuriously furnished. It is a kind of place you'd fall in love instantaneously. I made a decision to live there. Of course I knew I would not live there for long. Yes the honeymoon is already over and we would separate. Looking for more homely and independent place.

Lately i realised that boys do wholesale shopping at the start of a relationship or when they are out of that. (Girls always do wholesale never mind). So when one of my room mate wears new apparel every time, I know this guy has been axed. Good luck, i wish you never get the other set of reasons for shopping spree.

Something that has started hurting me now is that when my friends ask, dude how you doing, and then have to follow up.. you do not look that excited. Crap, when I would learn to be able to make gesture and fake faces. I can not always hurt them with this. Smart ones realise this over phone too. Per reasons I do not know what is the case. Recently I have had good time. I am able to talk to good friends often, have met some really cool dudes over here. I don't know what's the gap. Okay this of course brings the topic of girlfriend/shaadi/absence of "someone". Believe me it could not be that. Why, coz I really do not feel that gap. Seriously there is a huge one :) but thats not the reason.

Some really good trips are ahead, I will be in Leh next week, between travels. So that'd be fun. Pictures will be duly shared. signinig off now.

2010-04-12T19:27:00.003+05:30

Tried to write some stories on the blog and could not do that earlier. I am travelling too much, perhaps that is one reason. Since december I have not stayed at one place for more than a week. Also there are some issues haunting me, yes they are very much about life and all that.

Regarding blog I often felt bad for not writing esp the year end blog. The best for me last year were my nature trips. I visited many national parks and went to himalayas. Well nothing else was fantastic. T

Few Updates

2009-11-10T17:40:00.003+05:30

After a long time indeed! I do not know why though. I was not very busy but did not feel like writing or may be was so very confused and had nothing to write. A friend yesterday told, he came to know that I am in Allahabad through the blog. Now you know why I am back.

There are things going on with me. Pretty things yes. Like my father wants to marry me off soon but respects my opinion. My boss thinks I am useful to the organization but does nothing to help me come over the useless fellow feeling. I have joined a exercise centre, gym is a better word, still people ask are you doing something. Dear friends have contributed with books and advices but the tummy is stuck at 38!

So you know things are going. Soon there will be a year-end blog and then a new year. I can predict it now. Dull, still struggling to get decent things in life, and being stupid at matters where you need to show intelligence.

If this post looks very blue, I can not help. I can not write good things that happen with me. Like I lost my music player on train, a guy who hardly knew anything about me found me and now it is on its way back to me. Very rarely you get something like this in your life. Good things are so rare that they are not for public.

Oh there is guy who sent a friend request on orkut and this guy had a picture of Tigress that I took in Kanha earlier this year. I was surprised, it was only with fellow travellers and no body else is supposed to have that. Well, I tell him this and also request him to reveal his identity. The next day he upload more pictures and this time also from bandhavgarh. Hell. No body knows who is he and why he is using our pictures (frankly, till date all of them that were uploaded were shot by me) with out credit :( . See c'est la vie.

2009-06-04T09:15:00.003+05:30

Dad pointed out that two kind of people are rife in India.. one who give suggestion on any stuff, one who give medical suggestions. It can be anyone anywhere anytime. Imagine at four in the morning, I am on road trying to do something that is called morning walk. This pan shop guy who doesn't know me, is there to open the shop, says.... run, walking doesn't do good. Well this is the great Indian diaspora can't run away from it.
I have decided not to extend any suggestion unless sought.

If

2009-05-26T12:34:00.003+05:30

If you can keep your head when all about you
are loosing theirs and blaming it on you
if you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
but make allowance for their doubting too
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting
or being hated, don't give way to hating
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise

If you can dream- and not make dreams your master
If you can think - and not make thoughts your aim
If you can meet triumph and disaster
And treat those two imposter just the same
If you can bear to hear the truth you have spoken
twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools
or watch the things you gave your life to, broken
and stoop and build them up with worn out tools

If you can make heap of all your winnings
and risk it all on one turn of pitch and toss
and loose and start again at your beginings
and never breadth a word about your loss
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
to serve your turn long after they are gone
and so hold on when there is nothing in you
except the will which says to them "hold on"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue
or walk with kings - nor loose the common touch
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you
If all men count with you but none too much
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
with sixty seconds worth of distance run
your is earth and everything thats in it
And which is more you'll be a Man, my son!

Rudyard Kipling
(1865-1936)

ps - from my diary. I did not know I used to write the poems I liked.

2009-05-12T23:48:00.003+05:30

This is funny, I got an email that said- " what is similarity between Shahrukh Khan and Ghandi jee. The answer is - Both returned to India after getting insulted in SOUTH AFRICA.
This IPL stuff is getting too messy for KKR and Shahrukh, but I don't feel sad about them (some of my friends do think that at least they should win a match now while consoling dada). For me it is not about dada, it is a food for thought that what makes a team win matches. A similar (in terms of composition) deccan charger team was pain in ass last year, this year it is everybody's apple's eye!

bty, the Kaziranga trip pics are now uploaded here.

elections velections

2009-04-24T15:52:00.006+05:30

I am little senti about me not able to cast my vote, but I swear this post has nothing to do with this sentiment. Neither it has anything to do with the fact that last evening the traffic around our locality was very jammed and I was stuck in it. I have been witness to election process more closely than many of the fellows for two simple reasons - My dad being central government employee often played a role in elections as observer or presiding officer. Second, I live 100 meters from the place where all the voting machines are deposited for counting of votes later on.

I heard deputy election commissioner bragging about the fact that this time all the poling booths will be put in direct touch with CEC, delhi. This will be done through phones, mobile phones, road transport, if nothing available, man messengers will be used. oops did he forgot kabutars! I do not want to make a mockery of this. It is certainly a great fact and exercise if executed properly. Why I scoff at this process is because I know it is never well planned. So much manpower is just burnt into the flames of elections. You will know why soon.

Once the elections are over say by 5 PM. The team from the polling booth has the responsibility of submitting the EVMs (electronic voting machines) at a designated spot in the district. In Allahabad it is Mandi area (100 meters from my house). The teams travel from far away places, as far as 80 to 100 km to do this. Since everybody converges to the same spot, it causes traffic jams, and commotion. The guys who handle EVMs are more scared for their EVMs than anything, they want to deposit those as soon as possible. Yesterday I saw many guys just walking for a kilometer or so to reach the spot because their vehicles were just stuck . There was no police protection for them. All the police crowd was just around the Mandi area. There was no traffic police to control the unexpected increase in number of vehicles. Wait was it unexpected.. no everybody knows that poll parties would go to Mandi to deposit EVMs. This story happens every time there are elections and the whole process remains unchanged. Aren't they looking. Of course they are.. but unless some guys loots a EVM, they are not going to wake up.

Vehicles are captured to be put into election service. I wonder why they need to capture vehicles, why not sign a proper contract with the vehicle owner that includes insurance cover in case otherwise happens. More than that, you can always make the deal lucrative, you waste thousand of rupees in fake securities. But if EC's task is easily handled by police guys and with some income, why they would bother about a smooth and transparent process.

It is time for election commission to modify some of its rules and modus operandi.

Kaziranga, IPL, Elections

2009-04-23T12:06:00.008+05:30

Few things at this point of time really suck - The process of making electoral rolls and the hindi commentary at the IPL.

I was very excited about the notion that I will be casting my vote this time. There were many calls to Dad and to an uncle who lives close by. Today at 8AM I was at the polling booth with fastrack specs on!(recently my fake Rayban specs were taken away by a friend and I was given those). Well the policemen and the polling officers were not that cordial as I assumed. The previous night I got a slip which mentioned my correct house number and wrong name. Party agents do their homework and give you slips so that can just go to the polling booth and the officer can quickly search you in the polling list with them. Since my name was wrongly spelt, actually it was a different name altogether, so that was invalid. I tried to search for my name for around 15 minutes in the list with polling officer, failing to find, I returned back.

The guys who do hindi commentary in IPL matches telecast on Setmax channel talk bulshit. It is bad to such an extent that this guy said Muralidharan while he wanted to talk about Dilshan. You can not except such kind of errors yaar! They do not analyze properly too, the Delhi guys were well beyond 150 which is respectable score in T20 and this guy said, "now delhi has come out of the initial shock.." dude they were already out of the shock when they made 90 in 10 overs!

I traveled to Kaziranga in the second week of April. Going to Northeast part of the country is always fun, this time it was special. Kaziranga is one of the two biodiversity hotspots in India. Since it was with friends, who are really into wildlife and forest conservations the safari's often ended up with the discussion with how, what, when questions. I will upload the pictures from the trip here soon. Also I bought a Nikon D-90 which certtainly will push me more towards forests.

If you are planning a trip to Kaziranga - There are 3 ranges where one can do safari's (jeep and elephant as well) - central, eastern and western. There is Panbari reserved forest and couple of other ranges from reserve forests around (i remember ghorakati) where one can do the trekking. Remember it is something you would like to do if you really love forests, and you have high chances of spotting wild elephants. Yup its a different feel when you watch while you are on foot, even the presence of armed guards won't let you feel that you are not in danger. The regular elephant safaris start early at 5 and 6 in the morning. Jeep rides start at 7:30 and 2:30.

Rhinos are the biggest attraction in Kaz. However the real bosses are the elephants. Well, Rhino's too are not lesser, they can be very dangerous too. You won't appreciate the fact unless you got a rhino making a charge at you or is very close to you. I did not, even after the Director of the park told about this. On the last day, however, I saw that happening to our jeep and it was mesimerising, of course it had a percentage of fear too. Tiger sighting is not frequent at Kaz, no body asks for that too. While we did that, almost all gypsy drivers recognized.. - oh thats the gang that wants to see Tigers! One reason can be that it is all well covered from around, even the grasslands have grasses that can hide an elephant. Also the forest is really dense, I wonder if Tiger would come out. May be it is characterisic of Tiger living in a rainy climate.. I do not know the real reason.. What is it Tiggy? Well you can see Gibbons and a lot of birds, deers bisens and if lucky species like jungle cat, monitor lizards, other reptiles, and so much other stuff. I got one gibbon shot in my camera.

The most used entrance is Central range, the place is called kohora. It is 90 kms from Jorhat and around 230 km from Guwahati. All the buses going to Jorhat/dibrugarh/Digboi from Guwahati pass through the kaziranga. For the bus booking (if you want really good Ac buses) you should hang around in Paltan bazaar area. There are many travel agencies and you can book tickets. We used Network Travels. You can get state transport buses from ISBT too.

ps - If you want to hang around in Guwahati for artefacts, handicrafts and traditional dress items (including Naga shawls and lashing pheas) GMD road is the place. The showroom that I remember is Pragjotika (government owned), but there are many on the other side too.

Coming back to IPL, Hayden has put the match in favor of Chennai kings.. he smashed 50 in 22 balls! Man.. the match is in Chennai's hand as of now. Hmmm, I want Mumbai Indians and Deccan Chargers in the finals.

Updates

2009-03-22T13:20:00.006+05:30

I have shifted to Allahabad permanently now. Yeah, sadly so. I am living at the same house where I spent my childhood, teenage and part of youth. Believe me you do not want to live at the same place alone, where you lived with family.

Well, work has kept me busy and that is one reason for the timing of this post. Whatever time I have goes to house maintenance. But this did not stop me from squeezing time for a visit to Banaras last sunday. Banaras always fascinated me, it fascinates me still. My earnest desire to visit the place however came from the book Kashi ka Assi. read excerpt . Of course it is coarse and very crude description of place but it aggravated my desire anyways.
The adjacent pic from one of the 365 ghat, looking at assi ghat and others.
Banaras also called Benaras or Kashi or (an even fancy name) Varanasi is in one word "mystic". The place is adobe for Hindus. Scriptures maintain that if you die here, you are directly routed to the way to heaven!. Mahatma Budh, gave his first teaching here at Sarnath. 11th teerthankar (god messenger) for Jains was born here. The place is famous for tantriks, the place was famous for Bais (with them, comes mujra and kotha, Bais were very different from mordern day pros, they had power that even kings did not have or did not show, I wish there was a better word), the place is famous for alleys and litters, the place is famous for Kashi vishwanath (one of the jyotirlings), and sankatmochan temple, and the place is famous for banarsi pan. From a tourisim perspective, you can read this and if you are more interested wiki has a better description.
My colleague pointed out the guy with Gaylord Ice-cream trolley. Sure, now Indians do point out the word GAY.
Banarasi living style now is a mix of old beliefs and culture with western culture and living styles. There are malls and there are foreign liquor shops, you can see lasses in jeans and boys smoking marlboro, english book shops. Then there are famous puri-kachouri breakfasts, banarasi pans, lassi's, of course weed (that is one of the main attraction of tourists), thousands still taking a morning dip in Ganges, people still coming here to leave old mothers. Banaras represents the centuries old Indian culture of adopting each and everybody with their goods and bads, perfectly. People from all around the world come here, some live here for months, some years and some life long. Everybody just mingles in.

The adjacent pic is from the famous "Ganga aarti" at the Dashwamedh and Prayag ghats. Below is an advertisement for hotel rooms. The last one is a r andom pic.

Freinds of a smoker!

2009-02-16T16:18:00.002+05:30

Ajay unfortunately has friends who are smokers. This story is about one such smoker friend and ordeals of Ajay. Ajay is my colleague at CMF and we met recently in the ernakulam (read Cochin). Well Ajay and I became really good friends and he paid the price fairly soon. Today as we returned from Cochin, I was caught by a police dressed in plain colthes. Offence?? - read the heading!

I did not feel the intensity of the situation untill I knew that these guys are not going to leave me soon. They wanted me to stay there for some hours so that they could produce me before the court. This was unncessary as you can always pay the fine for the offence and get going. Anyways, Ajay, Sachin and Awdhoot (other freinds) were there and we tried talking to them. We gave many options and giving some money (you can call it bribe) was also not untouched. However, this guy would not listen to me and friends.

I actually had to wait for hours to get back and the real pain was that you did not have anything to do. I did not want to sit and I kept on trying my luck. Anyways, the fun was people who keep on coming including some white collar and blue collar employees. Ajay, also kept talking to the acquaintances who kept waiting for friends to come out as he was waiting for me. I liked the story of the guy who visited the old chennai central jail in the morning and now was on verge of going to jail if he could not provide money for the fine. Then there were other guys including autowalas and some who could not find a safe place to urinate.

Well, it was tough for me and even tougher for Ajay to be in the situation. I just had no words to thank him. And as for smoking is concerned I had one as soon as I came out!

Tatanagar-Allahabad quickies

2009-02-07T09:30:00.018+05:30

Amidst all the travels I have been doing off lately this caught my attention. My quick comment to this report (which was not published by the editor) was, "Girls do not believe Ms Renuka, she wants you to get beaten and watch "that" from her cozy office. Of course the politics will start over. She should lead the way!" Renuka is a perfect politician face of these times.
Adjacent Pic - Random picture, from Sultanpur Bus Stand in UP.

I attended the national conference on Social entrepreneurship, organized by XLRI, Jamshedpur. The speaker list was impressive teeming with Ashoka Fellows and likes of Vijay Mahajan, Joe Madiath (gram vikas fame), Samit Ghosh (founder Ujjivan), Sushmita Ghosh, Ved Araya (Srijan) and Mr Venkat Changavalli (EMRI, and one of the best speakers as per me). The list is endless, better check out this.

For pictures and a real feel of the stuff etc click here, hopefully they have a picture of me in this audience - a guy in blue kurta and trying out french cut beard). The two day event can prove to be a turning point in the lives of many. There were success stories of how people have build up institutions and organizations. Ones which were out league and which were never thought before. Goonj and Rikhsa bank are a phenomenon today, both of them were started with a noble idea and then went through a complex process of development and recognition, in between helping many. Speakers talked about how the idea came into and how they managed to take this ahead, however all of us felt that it could have details of their struggles too, which was very ambitious on our behalf, as this was first such gathering and there were so many speakers. If I had to understand how Ved Araya excelled, I need to spend at least a month 24x7 with him. (XLRI campus in the Picture)

The pic below is from the light and sound show at Jamshedpur. JRD Tatat I guess, my camera was able to capture the lazer show pictures very well.
Time to talk about my takes from the weekend (31 Jan -1 Feb, 09) - the feeling was great, was meeting so many people, who have managed to create organization for the first time. Actually all of them were first timers for me. Even being working so closely MFIs, I never met Vijay Mahajan (I am not kidding). So this was the biggest take. No body specifically talked about social entrepreneurship but need of professionalism, business mindset, keen eye to look at problems around and hittng at the problem and not the symptoms, were some messages that speakers detailed about. Visiting Tatanagar and XLRI was the third motivation and why not, a city that has so much to do with just one family must be a place to visit. The difference is evident every time one crosses the TATA controlled area and the general Municipal area. The light and sound show at one of the places in Jamshedpur was really good.

Abhishek Choudhary, who has just opened a company called Innovantage, and I traveled back together. While I got down at Allahabad, he went to Delhi. Abhishek and I had studied together at IIFM, so it was fun meeting at the conference, alsoI had the opportunity of eating delicious bengali home made food. On train talks from the conference and in general about development continued, along with sessions of remniscence and dumbcharades. Of course co-passengers were confused. Some times you take pride to confuse others isn't it.

Allahabad was witnessing annual month of magh, and the temporary sangam city was in place. The "city" has been shown many times at various places including national geographic. Below are two pictures of Ganges catchment area in night, that I captured from Shastri Bridge. ( I certainly need a SLR camera now, kind funding is sought)

going to be in Cochin next weekend, I am excited.

Jharkhand voters are exemplary!

2009-01-21T17:50:00.003+05:30

Actually I have been thinking of writing this since I read about it. The chief minister of Jharkhand lost his election. There is a long story. Mr Soren, was an elected member of parliament resigned from parliament to take up the job of CM. Point to be noted, UPA, NDA, and JMM (Sibu's party) fought against each other in state and parliament elections. The result of state elections were hung assembly. At the same time, UPA was seeking confidence vote in parliament, and they offered Sibu Soren the Chief Minister's seat, which he took and resigned from parliament after UPA won the confidence vote. It was very clearly a political game plan, where rivals come together for mutual benefits, ignoring conman and ignoring their own ideologies. Mr Soren was in power and he should have won, but he lost. The public just voted him out. They showed, Boss, you can not go on fooling around here. I was very happy.

The media, should have highlighted this point and they should have conducted panel shows regarding Sibu's loss and rise of Indian voters. I could not see any. Yesterday I read MJ Akbar's article in Times of India, that talked about importance of media. I smiled at the fact that media cooks only those stories, for which they get money to buy grocery and spices..!

what a movie?

2009-01-17T00:21:00.002+05:30

I don't know but it was a really bad decision this time. I decided to watch chandni chowk to china, in one of the worst movie-watch decisions lately. If this picture runs, it will prove Akshai Kumar is doing some vodooo stuff and witchcraft.

The movie is complete disaster. I could just say that this is bad remake of "shaan", the celebrated Amitabh-Shashi kapoor starrer. That also beacuse the villian resembled Ajit from Shaan. You know the full set of events that would happen in next 2 hours with in 25 mintues into the movie.

There is no story, no comedy, no stunt and no choreography, no cinematography, no direction. Every actor incuding Mithun da has been just wasted. Please please don't watch this movie. If you are going with girlfreind it is just perfect.

New Years and Changes

2009-01-14T18:52:00.006+05:30

Why don't I start with some philosophy. "Change is inevitable in life", everything that happens is for good. Mr William Kumar in his book talked about story of a man who never wanted a change in his life while he was going through the changes every second. He was getting older and there were million cells dying and million new cells coming up every sec..

Cut the crap. I don't know, who is william kumar. Philosophies help to explain what happens around you. They may fit rationally and if they don't you create a new one to fit that. 15 days in January now. Still there are people who have not called me to wish Happy new year. I wish they would call me now. New year season works untill Valentine's, which extends until Holi.

I hardly look at the past year. I can not do that. It was so bad for me. Though '1' is lucky for me but 2008 which sums to 1 was not so. I hardly made a difference in personal and professional life. I can not imagine a single "banda" about whom I could write in "persons met in the year". This essentially means social interaction was limited to not your "types". Or may be my "types" has changed and I still don't know it. Opposite sex continued to maintain a safe distance. When I was in college at Allahabad, girls used to think "this boy is loafer". This was good in a sense that there was reason for "dont be close" logic. Now! hmm.... Physically, I was on the wrong path all through the year. I gained as much as I lost last year. I kept away from any stuff which could have resulted in calorie loss. Towards end, I unsuccessfully tried to revive relations with a friend, whose memories still haunt me. Professionally, I remained stuck at the same place where I was in 2007.

Only happiness came from friends who got married last year. I could attend only few but it was good to see friends getting married and starting new phases of their lives.

The new stuff always brings something new. I started on a very wrong note. The assignment I did in the first week of the new year failed miserably. Since it was not my fault and I could not help, I felt worse. The failure affected people whom I loved. Shocked and demotivated I passed the second week. Professionally it has been really bad so far.

It is not that I am sad, not eating, living in dark rooms, or my face burried in pillow most of the time. I watched Theater for that matter and went to Kanha national park (pics). It is just that I don't feel like living anymore, and more so when I am writing this stuff. There is nothing exciting, challenging happening with me. Neither I am so busy that I do not have time to think about exciting things, otherwise I would have been doing okay. Everything is just mundane.

Luck by Chance

2009-01-01T18:58:00.006+05:30

The Title of the post has nothing to do with the soon to be released Konkana Sen - Farhan Akhtar starrer movie. "Luck by Chance" meant a lot to a small group of wild life enthusiasts. Gypsy drivers of Corbett National Park Safari use this phrase to tell you about the possibility of spotting a tiger.

When Lakshmi told about her wish to visit Corbett in mid December, I thought - so good for her. Though I had no plans of traveling again, soon I was calling people to find out ways to get into Dhikala – the best place to stay inside corbett. We could not get any thing on hands except an assurance to a foreigner colleague of ours that we could get dorms. Actually it kind of hurt us too b'coz we never got a positive reply from the corbett office people even after fax messages and many phone calls. A female foreigner accent did what we could not. Anyways that was the only ray of hope for us and we were all set to go to Ramnagar. Meanwhile the guy did not pick up the cell when we tried to call for other formalities.

Five of us reached Ramnagar on 25^th morning and went straight to Corbett Tiger Reserve's office. We met a guy, actually a gypsy driver, Qayuum who told us our options. We could try for afternoon safari to Bijrani and come back evening or can try our luck with the current reservations for the night stay at any of the places - dhikala, bijrani, gairal, jhirna and a couple more names. He looked quite genuine to us and quickly became our favorite. Later on we were proud of having Qayuum with us. He was just fantastic and really good to us. He was really good in spotting wild life including birds. At an age of 20 he was better than many experienced guides in the Corbett campus. All kudos to the girl members of team led by Minakshi and Lakshmi, we got Dhikala stay for two nights and we were more than happy. On the same day (25^th)at 10 Am we were at the Dhangarhi gate and filling up the register to go to Dhikala. Later on when we wanted to spend a night in Bijrani, Minakshi and Lakshmi did a great job to push officers to give us a room. We stayed at Ramnagar till 29^th evening. The trip got really well planned; by the end we had done as many as 10 safaris inside national park and two night safaris in nearby sitavani forest. We got to stay three nights inside the park.

The fun, excitement, fears and adventure of living inside a forest is a great experience of life time. The day trips have their own fun but nothing can match living inside the forest. In India none of the national parks offer stay inside the national park. Dhikala at Corbett becomes more fun as the campus is surrounded by grasslands on three sides and Ramganga River on one side. It is very beautiful and there are always tigers around. Going to Corbett was a little nostalgic to me. I had been to Corbett twice during my summer internships at IIFM in 2005. Though I could not find any old face either at the Office in Ramnagar or Dhikala campus, I could recognize the log-huts, the director's residence in dhikala, the watch tower on sambar road and long car raod and thandi road.

Lakshmi and I shopped for binoculars on the 24^th night. One can not just admire the wild life without binos which provide a real close look. I always wanted to have a really good pair, and had this idea of getting a pair from US. In delhi I wanted to buy a up to 2k okay types bino. Well I ended up buying an Olympus 7x35 binocular, thanks to lakshmi for selling the idea. The binocular has a great night vision along with clarity and precision systems. We were packed with binoculars and Divya’s really good 10x zoom camera. We took some really good pics, like this bird picture. Though I am sure I will buy a DSLR before my next national park visit.

Pictures from the trip have been uploaded here, here and here. Qayuum took us to really beautiful spots in dhikala and bijrani. One such place was machan chowd, there we spotted a pair otters playing together, actually one had a fish and the other was trying to snatch, I don’t know if they were competitors or siblings but it was a delightful sight. It was Animal Planet happening right in front of your eyes. Just imagine the scene – so there is this pair of otters which has just ran away to the other stream of river, there is still a otter pair swimming in the first stream, there is wooden log on the bank and a serpent eagle is sitting on it, egrets are flying over and there is duck too. This was machan chowd, when we looked around we saw dhikala campus in front, dense forest just behind us, we were standing in the river belt, a group of storks flew away from our left. Again, there was this crocodile spot very close to the bank of river; a side road from the main road few kilometers ahead (towards dhangarhi) of khilanauli takes you there. Believe me it was a real romantic place. Yes inside the jungle.

We watched a herd of elephants crossing the road and eating stuff inside bushes. The females crossed the road with kids. Since we are Animal Planet and Nat Geo watchers we knew why the second female kept the kid on the other side while crossing the road. Divya was fan of this emotion and Lakshmi was in tears. I was watching the video that I made and I could here Lakshmi saying “I always wanted to see this” and the guide saying "please guys don’t talk.. these creatures are really dangerous"! I think they never looked dangerous except for the male tusker we saw in bijrani. The single tusker was gazing at us and it was so furious.

Qayuum told us, in his 4 years of gypsy driver career, he has seen leopards only four times. The fourth one was with us. Yes we did see the elusive Leopard. It had a monkey for lunch and sat on a tree for hours. It was an awesome sight, the leopard was yawning and we could see the jaws, front canines etc.. I wish we could go little closer and had a really good camera to capture all its moves. There was a retired IAS standing on the bonut of gypsy, the guy stood there for hours taking hundreds of pictures of the leopard, he knew that the leopard had eaten what parts of monkey even!

Finding a Tiger is really easy in the park, unlike leopard or bears. You get alarm calls, pug marks etc to exactly locate the Tiger and then you just wait for your "luck by chance" to see it crossing the road or coming out and walking towards or away from you. For those who don’t have the “luck by chance”, Tiger passes away from rear side of gypsy or it just don’t come out. We never saw a Tiger inside the national park. We just did not have the luck by chance there. We saw a perfect Tiger dating process though… The Tigress walked down from the elevation and the Tiger was already there in the grassland, we heard its “aaaoooom” growl. There were alarm calls that proved one of them was moving. We rushed to the road (called ram singh road) and we heard growls, these were mating calls. We stood there, couple more gypsys came and Tiger did not come out. The pair was really really close to us you know. Later on we learnt that people saw that pair some hours later in a grassland close by. This was not the first time or last time we had such a close "not to see each other" encounter with Tiger.. It is all luck by chance you know. We came out of Dhikala without seeing a Tiger. It was really hard to believe but it was it. Divya was leaving the next day and Qayuum suggested we should go to near by sitavani temple and the forest in the evening. I did not want to do that, but it was better than sitting in the Hotel room. All of us went. A guy told us, there are two tigers wandering around the road. It was something unbelievable to me coz it was really populated place by any means. The forest was dense but still.. anyways so we were excited there were alarm calls of spotted dear and they were closing in. While many gypsys passed, few guys stopped, waited and left, few stuck like us. We did not wait for long, a Tiger came out of the jungle and crossed the road, did some stuff, looked at us and walked away from us for some 10 meters and then went again into the jungle. My blog on Kanha had a description on Tiger’s presence in a part of jungle. This part of sitavani forest had the same feeling, everything was tensed, only Tiger was not, our heartbeats were fast and nerves tickling, the jungle and the trees and the air were tense and stood still only The Tiger walked! It went back into the jungle, we waited there for little more thinking it would come out again but it did not. Those 15 minutes of wait was full of fear and excitement, it was all dark and we were the only ones.. The Tiger could have come out from anywhere, could have just jumped on us or really really close to the gypsy. I remember how Minakshi clung to me and only Qayuum’s words “I am here and nothing will happen to you” eased her bit. We wanted to see the Tiger as well. It did not come out however.

The post has really gone long. I will stop now. But the stories and talks would continue. Qayuum still calls us, yesterday he called to tell about a python. I always wanted to see a python in Corbett, he was so happy to know where the python lives and has promised to take us to the place during our next visit.

rondome

2008-12-22T18:21:00.004+05:30

This year was really dull for me, I was wondering how this year's year ending blog is going to be like. If you are all happy on new year's eve or first day and want to level, you are invited to visit my blog.

I was watching movies and cursing terrorists last time when I wrote my blog. I came to Jabalpur after a long time but could not stay for long, had to travel to couple of places as 1 days trips. And it is after like 4o days that today I have found myself alone again for more than 24 hrs and I will be on a train with in next 24 hrs. My affinity to grow bigger and bigger is increasing by days and I really am some kind of big fat monster now.

On other note, internet with search engines, including google desktop makes us feel like kings..no! Kings used to ask for anything and servants/maids would bring that to him. If you want anything today you just key those words... its happening with me for sure. Other day I was looking for matchbox lost somewhere in my house. I thought.. can i just type matchbox and it appears!

Blasts Blasts

2008-12-04T00:22:00.010+05:30

When some guys blasted places in Mumbai, I was in a cinema hall watching Yuvraj. We circled around Dhaulakuan, Safdarjang, Chirag Delhi couple of times after the movie. This was our proxy for long drive. I came back at around 2 and slept. Next day my freind Mike asked - "do you know they attacked some places in Mumbai", I said ohh! Bombs again! He said NOoo real gun fight dude!

I was sitting on my chair whole day looking at news channels all around the world. I was more scared than angry. I was more into state of helplessness. By the time friends started talking about the whole series of event I was feeling better and I was calm. There were suggestions, anger, refusal, disgust all aorund, but I never felt anything. I got phone calls, read reports about how some big shot people were killed, how some hi-fi people were saved, how media still ignores the conman (this was about lesser media coverage of people who died at the CST station than Hotel Taj or Oberoi) and yes series of emails to Prime Minister and text messages to raj Thackrey! Oh and I can not forget the video from Pakistani new channel, which said America Drafted 9/11 and they were smart, whole world believed them.. and stupid Indians just made a fool of themselves. He added - "the images of dead terrorist do not look Muslim, they have saffron band". I just laughed, who said attackers were Muslim. I do not realize religion has to anything with terrorism. When some Muslim leaders asked not to bury the dead bodies in their cemetery, I kind of felt bad. So what if they were anti-human.. they were human themselves!

I was indifferent to the whole blast case. I am still indifferent. I really do not feel anything. I think it had to happen and it happened. Its like nothing is in our hand. Other wise Maharashtra CM would have paid heed to messages from Home ministry. Other wise one family in Faridkot (in Pakistan) would not be so poor that one of his child would sell himself for 1.5 Lakhs to the terrorist group. Everybody has this Stomach to fill. Everybody is working for his/her stomach, some find nobel ways, some find activist ways, some find con-man ways like blue or white collar jobs, some become small time thieves, dacoits and some become uggh.. terrorists and politicians. I just do not understand why some really educated buddies fall into terrorist traps.

Anyways, I have been to another movie (Oye lucky....) after mumabi blasts.. the movie was blast, really liked it. Oh and one of my alimnu ran into me while I was eating mac puffs and drinking tea in the McD near Reagle cinema hall. He was with his girlfriend! wow sirjee was my first reaction... Anyways I had tickets for the movie in the near by Rivoli and so all of us went down to see who is the person accompanying me for the movie. Well sirjee said - "yaar CMF mein bahut sundar log kaam karte hain". I said - "She does not work with CMF" and sir jee stares at me.. believe me it was fun. Sirjee left and we watched the movie. No comments on the movie it is really fun. watch it.

कुछ अपने बारे में

2008-11-22T10:44:00.002+05:30

बहुत दिन हो गए कुछ लिखे हुए, हलांकि अपने दूसरे ब्लॉग में हम बहुत एक्टिव हैं। न लिख पाने का एक कारण बहुत ज्यादा घूमना भी है। चेन्नई से इलाहाबाद, जबलपुर, भोपाल और फ़िर देल्ही। तो हाल फिलहाल देल्ही में ही हैं।
इस बीच कई लोगों से मिलना भी हुआ, घर में भांजे, भांजी से, माँ, पिताजी से; आई आई ऍफ़ एम् में मित्रों से, और फ़िर देल्ही में कुछ दोस्तों से। खैर क्यूंकि काम की अधिकता कुछ ज्याद ही हैं तो ज्यादा घुमान फिरना नहीं हो पा रहा हैं। लेकिन रात में अपने कलीग्स के साथ घूमते हैं, पक्के से! एक दो पिक्चर तो देखना ज़रूरी ही था, लेकिन जब फ़ैसला करना पड़ा दोस्ताना और दसविदानिया के बीच तो जीत दोस्ताना की ही हुई। शायद ज्यादा दीमाग लगाने के मन नहीं था और साथ में एक कन्या भी थी ;-)। कई सारे रिवियु पढ़े थे हमने तो अंदाजा था ही की कहाँ बोरे होने वाले हैं - लेकिन एक जगह सभी समीक्षा कारों ने गलती की। जॉन, अभिषेक की तुलना में ज्यादा सटीक जान पड़े हमें तो, ऐसा लगा अभिषेक को कुछ ज्यादा ही बोझा दे दिया गया गे-पना निभाने का और हमें तो थोडी सी ओवर एक्टिंग लगी। बहरहाल अभी दसविदानिया और युवराज देखनी हैं पक्के से!

देल्ही में कुछ नई चीज़ें भी हैं, जैसे की हर रात आप इन्द्र के आधे पुजारी बन जाते हैं; हमारे आसपास तो अभी सभी वैसे ही लोग हैं, गेहूं में घुन कौन बने अब। कुछ जगह ऐसी पता चली जहाँ आप रात के १-२ बजे तक घूम सकते हैं। दिक्कत सिर्फ़ एक, अगर ऑटो वाला रास्ता नहीं जानता तो पोलीस के वैन से मदद मांगनी पड़ती हैं और ये कभी कभी खतरनाक हो सकता हैं।
इस हफ्ते के अंत में दिल्ली के नजदीक के इलाके "नॉएडा" घुमने का विचार हैं, बहुत सुना हे "ऐलीविअट" के बारे में, शायद वहां भी जाएँ ।
बाकी तो सब ठीक चल रहा है ज़िन्दगी में...

Indian Ocean Live!!

2008-10-20T16:03:00.008+05:30

Indian Ocean, the music band performed live in Chennai on sunday!

When Santosh called me to ask if I would like to go, I could not believe why he is asking this question..damn yes. Later I had to go alone but santosh made sure I had some company.

Organizers started with intorductions why- how- this- that... which was the most boring part. And then came the first song guess what was it... "Jhini", written by sant kabeer. There would be no one who wouldnt know Indian Ocean at least visitors whom I know, still Indian Ocean is a band which has this speciality in genre known as Fusion.... It uses mix of classical and rock/pop music. Similarly the vocalist also sing a wide range from classical to mordern. Susmit, Asheem, Rahul and Amit came together 19 years before. Rahul hosts the show and is one of the lead singer, Asheem is other vocalist. The band members have multiple talents. Amit is just not a natural drummer, he plays flute and tabla.. too. Asheem sings, plays tabla, tarang etc.

Well you can read this on their website too. I should talk about the show. Rahul mentioned in last 19 years they have just 30 songs. He said they are to lazy to do more and which is going to change as they have some new songs this year. wow!! There is a story behind each Indian Ocean song.

Then next couple of songs were - bhor and a new bengali composition. Guys were shouting for "Bandeh", "Kandisa" and "Marewa".

When Rahul sang Bandeh, I was mesmerized. I had not slept the previous night, and believe me when I sat inside the hall my eyes were so heavy, I actually slept during one of their long music sequence but things changed after "bandeh". I can stil hear..." are ruk jaa re". Marewa is a song dedicated to river Narmada. I never knew this, I could have answered my apartment mates,when they asked to low down the volume, that boss this is a devotional song. Marewa is unique in a sense as there is no drum in Mareva. Kandisa was the last performance. It is actually a syrian choir prayer. You dont understand the lyrics but you can sure understand the feelings when they sing it. Rahul got this while driking Old monk with his keralite freind who was teaching in Himalayas... (courtesy - Rahul, just before the song was to be performed).

You know I.O's composition of each and every song is fantastic, and the songs are always energetic. After each song.. it felt like the hall is full of some energy. Music and lightings were also great. The performace ended and I was wondering should I go to their rooms and say a hi.. I know there were many people thinking the same.

I wrote about getting bored in Chennai in my last post... koi to sunta hai yaar!!

Living Outside

2008-10-17T23:54:00.008+05:30

My longest stay in Chennai has kept me longing for Jabalpur. Really I miss the place very much. One obvious reason is mobility. I am not having a bike here and Auto guys just empty your wallet. I miss the beautiful scene from my house in Jabalpur, the evening breeze, the big house and freedom to sit in any corner. Guys, this is okay if I miss it, Its my home anyways!!

I am staying with Santosh. He has been sweet and caring, (santy buy a car, you have freinds like me dude!!!). Chennai is not so boring though, there is always an action, if nothing then cricket cmputer game that Santy plays and I watch. I kick him when he gets Sachin out and we both abuse Australian players for being so accurate. There are colleagues with whom I can share fags and smiles everyday. I am happy to have typical south indian pongal-vada-idli for breakfast. Santy's house has wi-fi and AC . With regular internet and confortable temperature am sleeping properly too.

I have not seen chennai properly still and I am coming here regularly for last two and a half years. I know there are meuseums, churches and parks in the city. There are some very good beaches (other than Marina) too. But I have not been to any of these. Only metro-thing that I have done here is eating out in different places for dinner mostly. Places where dinner costs somewhere between 250 to 1000 Rs per head, auto charges extra.

Well I am here for few more days and will try to see some places.

Chronology of Ingenuous love story(ies)

2008-10-10T13:41:00.006+05:30

Read or heard a couple of motivating quotes lately - you dont know whats going to happen years from now and then you dont want to repent on something you wanted to do and never did. Shitt man I always want to propose a girl if I like her - I want to tell her see we can start knowing about each other and search likes and dislikes and see if we are a good fit. I never do that. I just need to ask that person if I should always do whatever I want to do.

A corollary to it is how do you communicate, you are not flirt or a wanton but obvioulsy a boy; you may sound the other way and it is really sucidal. The girl may have wanted to talk to you (+hang out) but didnt becuase you sounded like .. "uff he is crazy". And many potential love stories fail.

They do not exactly fail coz I keep them alive. And there comes a situation where I say - Everybody knows about my love story, should I tell the girl too! I try to get courage but basically dont know if I should go ahead. Experts say that even their asses are freezed when they propose a girl. It is quite okay if I don't go ahead with the idea.

After this comes a phase where I try to find out why I should not think about the girl and thus end up thinking more. This helps though. You find a reason for not thinking it can range from size of ears to the way she moves her hands anything (the mantra is to find why she is not perfect?).

Everybody's heart beats but people are coward often coz they dont drink .... (was it a sprite advertisement or mountain dew). Believe me even drinking does not help you may get the courage (people will support me here) but you make mess of what you talk. The result is just one now you become flirt, crazy and bevda for the girl. The story ends here.

updates

2008-10-03T12:42:00.004+05:30

There was an email from Mr Lal mani Tripathi in my inbox today. Can you guess the first reaction? Yes I remembered Lal chandra Tripathi joke (the lathi joke). I holidayed a bit last week in Lucknow. It was good meeting a great freind and then staying at sister's place. As soon as I met Bhaskar we danced and inferred that I should dance more. The next thing was discussions about deen duniya and acuquaintances. Apart from this I drove a lot and now quite confident in driver's seat.

A freind called me to find out how was my eid, he got abuses. After some time one more called up for the same. I was the bakra... I returned today and am full with classical overtunes. The first application in my laptop was bade ghulam ali singing "yaad piya ke aaye" and "hari om". By this time I have shifted to Kumar Biswas. Read (with rhyme) some from him here -

basti basti ghor udasi, parbat parbat khalipan

man vina se mor lut gaya is misree ka chanchal tan (need to check)

is dharti se us ambar tak do hee cheez gajab kee hai (he says you will clap in first line and dance after the second)..

ek to tera bholapan hai

ek mera deewanapan

Well, things are going on and I will be little busy over the weekend. Big trips ahead!!

वेलकम टू हिन्दी

2008-09-25T13:26:00.007+05:30

पिछ्ले कुछ दिनों से ये एहसास हुआ की ज़रूरत पड़ने पर हिन्दी भाषा के उचित शब्द दिमाग में नहीं आते। थोड़ा दुःख भी हुआ और शर्म भी आयी। खैर ज्यादा कुछ किया नहीं जा सकता, आप उसी भाषा का प्रयोग ज्यादा करते हैं जो की आपके आसपास के लोग प्रयोग करते हों और जो लिखबे में आसान हो। याद आती हैं हमें अपनी दसवीं की क्लास जब हम टीचर के नोट्स अंग्रेज़ी में लिखा करते थे। बड़ा मज़ा आता था दोस्तों को समझ में नहीं आता थे के ये ऐसा क्यूँ करता है, अब लिखना आसान हो जाता था और थोड़ा भाव भी बढ़ता था।

हाल फिलहाल में हमने देखा "वेलकम टू सज्जनपुर"। फिल्म तो वाकई तारीफ के लायक है और हमारे लिए तो बहुत ही। पुरानी यादें ताज़ा हो गई। फ़िल्म की कहानी सज्जनपुर नाम के गाँव की है। ये कोई काल्पनिक गाँव नहीं है, वाकई में हैं। इलाहाबाद और जबलपुर के बीच में। बहुत ही वास्तविक बनाई है - भाषा की बात करें या पहनावे की , एक्टिंग की बात करें या जगह की, सब कुछ बहुत ही ग्रामीण परिवेश में नज़र आता है। फ़िल्म में काफी बातों का समावेश है रीतियाँ, कुरीतियाँ, हसी, दुःख, जलन, सभी कुछ। सभी किरदार बड़े सटीक बैठे हैं। सीधे साधे लोग, चालाक और धूर्त लोग। सज्जनपुर ऐसा गाँव है जो कि उन्नति की और धकेला जा रहा है अस्पताल है, रोड है झाड़ के घर भी हैं और पक्का मकान भी है, पोस्ट ऑफिस भी है और यहीं से जुड़ी है नायक के ज़िन्दगी। वोह लोगों के लिए चिट्ठी लिखता है, समस भी लिखता है, सबका दाम निश्चित है। कुछ लोग पैसा देते हैं तो कभी कभी जडीबूटी भी मिलती हैं ..... (आपको हसीं जरूर आएगी इस सीन में)। अंत में कुनाल कपूर भी देखने को मिलते हैं

ये बात तो हुई पिक्चर की। लाइफ में सब कुछ ठीक ठाक ही है. कई दोस्तों की शादी हो चुकी है अपनी कोई गर्ल फ्रेंड भी नहीं.... :)। अभी एक मित्र ने बहुत गाली दी, हम अपने बचाओ में कुछ कह भी नहीं पाये। खैर लाइफ चल रही है।

Popcorn

2008-09-13T21:12:00.005+05:30

While bombs blasted in Delhi, I watched a theatre act in Jabalpur. Titled Popcorn it was one man act. More on it but first on blasts. I returned to get the news on blasts in Delhi. I had no words to say, I was shocked and I was angry. My first reaction however was number of dead and then a list of friends who live in Delhi. As far as I know they are safe and I feel good. On the provious night I watched "Mumbai meri Jaan" - story of blasts and after effects, people recuperating from mental shocks and finally getting over with the trauma. I don't have any commentary on blasts or people behind it or people who suffered. I am without words and thoughts!

On my way to house I knew I am going to a write about well performed, one man act which had all the tastes of emotions and a critique of present India. Blasts have demotivated me but still am writing. It was my first theatre watch, so I have no benchmarks to compare with. The light effects were very nicely used. Bright, dark, red, blue, yellow. In the play the protagonist is a popcorn seller at the railway stations and he tells stories from his life. His start - I am the grass and I grow over you, over your deeds, I know what you do, what you think. Well, as soon as the guy talks about a story, the light effects would move him into that situation. Most instances from life were included - like Banks running after (the bank in play was "lelo ji lelo ji bank"), great Indian thinkers, corruption, new generation of girls (which is still too indigestible to great indian men) etc. The play had a serious commentary on Army personnels behaviour with civilians esp in the train. This guy had dreamt of serving nation by joining Army, had to pass a month in the city as recruitment got postponed. He sold popcorns for a month, during that he once went to the Army coach with the intention of giving them popcorns free of cost. They beat him to death, while he pleaded mercy, they shove away women and beat old men. This guy decided otherwise from there.

His performance was very good especially the emotional scenes. He described a mad woman on platform who was later on raped by a fruitseller. Every emotion of his was fabulous. I will say it was a good start to plays for me. I will watch more.

2008-09-09T10:19:00.002+05:30

You know what shocking is Rock on, A wednesday, and Mumbai Meri jaan, have not yet got opened in Jabalpur. People are happy with some Singh is King.

Yesterday I had to bring CDs of these movies. Watched "A wednesday", really fast paced, very good, fantastic plot and marvelous acting. Anupama and Nasseer steal the show. Watch for Naseer's dialogues towards the end.

You know I somehow guessed the motive of Naseer asking for release of terrorist. Does this mean I can go for writing scripts?

Naseer character's name was never revealed in the movie and I think Neeraj Pandey conveyed the strongest message through this. If you think it is kind of movie (like krantiveer, gangajal, krazzy 4 types) where you get messages and thus refrain from watching it. Forget it. It is just 90 mins movie and you enjoy the acting and dialogues and pace.

I think I must commend Neeraj for this. Small things like towards end everybody trying to save Naseer, or just better beating Jimmy gave to a bad cop, the traffic cop admitting bribe, Naseer forgetting the grocery bag after the big act.. the abuses (very bold and free flowing)... add spices to the show. I will say very good directional debut.

Colors of Life

2008-09-04T22:05:00.003+05:30

There are floods in Bihar. There was communal violence in Orissa recently. There were protest and agitations in West Bengal and J&K, some of which still continue. A secret letter in US made our media go humdrum. A guy (read Mr nanda) gets a jail term for a crime he commmitted almost 9 years ago. Media said its justice - "bhagwaan ke ghar mein andher nahin hai der hai.." bulshit it is not bhagwaan but our brilliant kingsize-lifestyle Judges and red tape. Please dont bring bhagwaan into all this. Oh! there was a sect of budhijeevi talking on the same lines.....
This is just a side of umpteen faces of life. And this is all Black.
Life is green and purple too. See the movies. See Big Boss. See Cricket. Go to facebook/orkut.

There is a big emotional color too and has a quick affect on human. Especially humans residing in India. Bihar floods is a great and latest example. Offices are donating salaries, NGOs have come up to help those who want a share sympathy (kind/materialistic) with the affected populations. Sadly our politicians still prefer aerial route to visit the areas. I still wonder how it possess a security threat and that how many times national leaders have gone to see a national disaster. Anyways you can not deny emotions in this country. A foreginer becomes emotional here and speaks out heart (read Gary Kirsten). Indians then prevent him from being so emotional.

I take pride in being little agnostic (dont want to be a atheist and a anatheist). Also it sounds zara hatke so.... But I wonder who manages all these colors in life and around. You are happy, you are sad, sometimes you want to cry becuase you are sad, and at times you cry because you are happy hmm.

Why I am writing all this? I just had a long day and I am all colorful, more on the darker side, more stressed and exhausted. The red is missing. I miss red.

Blogging

2008-09-03T18:56:00.002+05:30

I started writing blogs in year 2005. I was inspired by few batch-mates at IIFM and very soon i realized that it is a wonderful medium to convey feelings, write things which you can not write in general. At present I write on India-developement blog and IIFM Blog. I am also listed in Sulekha blogs though I do not write there. Cerebrates is my personal blog.

This is my 101st blog and I am happy. In all these years I have written about issues related to my life, about places, books, movies and every time have received support from friends who have been kind enough to read and comment on the writings. Thank you guys!!
Don't have much to say, gonna celebrate blogging tonight!

Delhi

2008-08-30T09:48:00.004+05:30

I am in Delhi - NCR for some time now in a kind of longest stay ever - 4 nights... Nights are okay and days are terrible. Yesterday I kept on moving from one place to another, sun was as scorching as Chennai, there was sweat all over and I was very tired. Cabs, bus, Auto, Rickshaw, No 11.. uff. There should be more trees in Delhi. Last night was spent in a Mall, while moving around I continuoulsy thought of value of money I spent. It was also terrible becuase I had to see a stupid movie called Ckompany, when I wanted to see Rock on.

Ckompany, a really bad movie, which you'd prefer only if you are with a "setting" and are only interested in skinny clad girls in item numbers or may be stupid funny instances of comedy. You may take your mom/wife along if you want her to know reality behind her favorite TV soaps. बालाजी वालों ने अपनी ले ली है फ़िल्म में! और बहुत ही बेवकूफी भरे अंदाज़ में...

I also feel like being made a hostage. The mobility is really stuck, whatsoever. My idea of not living in such a fast life got more reasons yesterday. I am small town guy after all.

Common lines after people get drunk...

2008-08-23T14:58:00.003+05:30

A dear friend from IIFM sent this to boozers of the gang.... most of us just fell away. How??
See the conversation below the message:
Common lines after people get drunk...

1. Tu to Mera bhai hai...

2. You know i am not drunk...

3. Gaadi mein Chalaunga...

5. Tu bura mat maann bhai...

6. Mai teri Dil Se Izzat Karta hu...

7. Abe bol daal aaj usko, aar yaa paar....

8. Aaj saali Chad nahi rahi hai kya baat hai??

9. Tu Kya samajh raha hai mujhe chad gayi hai...

10. Ye mat samajh ki pike bol raha hu...

11. Abe yaar kahin kam to nahi padegi itnee...

12. Chhote, Ek Ek Chhota aur ho Jae...

13. Baap ko mat Sikha.

14. Yaar magar tune mera dil tod diya...

15. Kuchh bhi hai par saala Bhai hai Apna...

16. Tu Bolna Bhai, kya chahiye...Jaan chahiye hazir hai ???

17. Abe mere ko aaj tak nahi Chadee...shart laga saala aaj tu..

18. Chal teri baat karata hoon usse, phone number de uska...

and the best one...

19. Yaar aaj uski bahut yaad aa rahi hai

The conversation (with edits)
-This one is really true. Kahan ho aur kaise ho pfm 06 ke darubazon!
-How can you forget *******???...He still uses most of these lines when drunk.
-he is pretty well there.. :) see the list..
-Isme ek aur surprise entry hai... ******
-Where is akk the "drunken" spirit

-Bhaiyon./. aap logon ne bahut passive smoker dekha hoga magar pehla passive drinker dekhiye.--- ****:)

- :)) Passive Drinker.. ha ha
Baki log shaam ko reply karenge..itna akal nahi hai kal last workdays tha.. abhi sab hangover utar rahen hain.. shaam ko reply marenge..
-Haan yeh to hai... ye kamina khud nahin pita tha hamari daru se maze letha tha
- mera experience to yeh bhi kehta hai ki kabhi pine waalon ne bhi ek nahi pine waale ka mazaa liya hai :).... ****, *** etc can confirm :)

-dekho.. salon maine ek mails se sare darubajon ko mila diya.. daruparty plan karo..aur mujhe bhi Chakhna khane ke liye and Passive Drinking ke liye invite karo... :)
- "sarvsehmati se ye aadesh paarit kiya jaata hai ki bade bhaiyya hum sab daarubaaju kiliye sammanpurvak ek jabardast daaru party ka aayojan karenge..sab bhailog apna apna menu bhaiyya ko mail jald se jald mai kare taaki tayyari acche se ho sake..."

Cheers, I loved it dudes. Miss you guys.

2008-08-18T14:49:00.002+05:30

just to tell am alive and hale and hearty and you should watch "bachna ae hasino". It is not going to be super duper hit movie but it is good. Minnisha is very good at least. Songs are fantastic.
You'd love it when kunal kapur hits/puts Ranbir in jungle and shares a whisky.
Moreover Jabalpur is fantastic, after long rainy stint Sun is back!.

some updates

2008-08-01T11:27:00.006+05:30

Couple week back I traveled to one of the remote districts of MP. I went to learn about Pradan's work in the district. Dindori is a tribal district and has a beautiful landscape. I was so mesmerized by the beauty of the place that I wanted to go there often on weekends. But it is 150 kms from Jabalpur and requires a drive of 4 hours on bike plus the road is not still very good. The adjoining picture is nothing when I remember the actual scenery. Every thing was very fresh and green.

On the bus there were couple of people traveling to same office and we never knew about our destination. It was a surprise to see them in the office again :). We were then together for most part of the day talking to SHG members and looking the greenery. He commented later on that - you actually looked a very serious personality in the bus.. but you are totally different, you are so alive.., its great to meet you.." wow!! I was on some level of heaven!
Passed some time "late night" in one of the cinema halls watching the "tully" movie. Uff there were really too many slaps. It doesnt happen in dreams even; how could director decide to do that? There are thousand other means to show the rudeness of girlfreind you know, like various other things including wearing women dresses.. but slaps! Its not indian for sure... But the movie still has typical indian masala - girl doing away with scant dresses towards end, songs with no relation to the story, and perfect mis-match between the lead-lady of the start and end (in this case it is girl's character in this case the one who slaps vs who cries!). One can watch the movie for perfect Ranvir Shorey.

Everything else is going fine in my life. The question to ponder however is it moving anymore??

A part of life I can not forget

2008-07-29T15:13:00.004+05:30

So, writing this on the eve of a day that has remained an occasion until today. It used to be a day for which I would start planning months before. It is a birthday – of a very good friend. This year though I thought about it with more or less the same vigor, I know I wouldn’t be sending any gift, calling or even writing an email to wish. Why? - I was asked not to call, send a text message, write an email or even write a blog. It’s been months I have not heard and I can not stop myself writing this blog.

Why this happens in relationships? You start expecting more, it is dangerous when it just from one side. Yes, I expected more out of the relation. I don’t know if it was bad or good, but we are humans and we have emotions and feelings. Even animals expect favors! I am tempted to write few more things about our relation, its kind of reminiscing a wonderful friendship and relation. We used to talk a lot, used to learn each other’s woes – try to comfort each other, It was so intense that I started thinking we are kind of most important persons in each other’s lives. It happened because I wasn’t looking at the other side. I thought if I am good why I should care about people around (an analogy to this is people in love, they don’t care whom their partners are talking to, as they know the boy/girl are not going out of relation). I was wrong. The guy was almost out. I was completely occupied, but never knew about the other side (the blame is on me, cause friends me to look out! he he he). Pictures, movie clips, gifts, shopping everything are just a memory now.

It became worse, when I exerted lots of pressure on the relation. I never knew what’s happening on the other side of world; I was ignored, made jealous, made fun of, brain-washed. Sometimes it was so intense that I hated myself for doing all the bads (yes I thought myself as a culprit, I still think). I still have dreams, same dreams that I used to have, kind of same emotions… still. Time is a healer, so they will die. I hope that is true, but that wont happen am sure.

The guy maintains I will be happy, when he is not around and be thankful. It may be true coz sometimes people know what is the right match for them, but both persons should be given a chance. Even experts say (for the love cases) – tell her/him, let her/him know you and then decide. A negative decision in that case doesn’t hurt. So, never ever I am going to be thankful for sure. I ruined years of my life, I am not stranded in dark alley just because I was not depending on this part of my life for my professional and large chunk of personal life. I still believe it was a beautiful dream in my life; it’s just that I woke up early.

That’s why you need to sleep more. Forget the story, keep the morale.

deadly choices

2008-07-25T12:22:00.005+05:30

The one thing am most afraid of is people thinking about me. Actually, everybody likes being talked of. The fear I have is - they would not talk good. Though "badnaami mein bhi naam hai" I don't want that naam.
Today early morning a junior from MBA college called. After routine talks he wonders whats wrong that I have sticked to one job for so long?. A job which requires you to live in small cities and other, not so positive accessories. The reasons he opined were - 1 either you have lost the edge, or 2. there is something wrong. I said both. When people talk about a person, they make opinion from limited information which is dangerous.

Though he was right. Now, since morning I am wondering what to do? In my two years and some months of career, I have been confused everytime - thats a truth. Experts have their own opinions on my poly-dilemmas. There are confusions everywhere, believe me even in the type of girl you want to marry ( a professionaly educated household, a household, a smart professional.... , don't go in kind of profession sigh!). Which kind of job you want to do? Do I want to work for some real reasons, or money, I am going to do something in village or want to sit in cozy rooms in cities/metro.

From various choices available, it seems staying confused is the best.

movie, book, ???

2008-07-16T01:32:00.003+05:30

There are two things for this blog today. (rather three). The third one is a secret.
I watched the night show for Jaane tu ya jaane na. The movie is running successfully all over India.
I guess so, coz I had to buy a black ticket for it. I actually wanted to see it a week before, could not get the ticket. At that time I did not buy the black ticket. I did today. Why - oh its again cost benefit analysis, leave the crap.

Quite obvious that I liked the movie ( as of now I have written only about movies which I liked!). Whom did I like the most. The girl. I saw this girl first in her debut movie tujhe meri kasam. That movie is my favorite till date. The story was quite similar to JTyJN. Girl and boy not knowing (aware is better word) about their feeling towards each other and find it only when they get some body in between. Well this blog is about the new one. What I liked most in the movie the most was sudden glimpses of Nasiruddeen shah, Khan brothers and Paresh Rawal. A perfect Rom-com.
While at present I am listening to the great tamil music on my TV, I still remember the song (kahin to ...) . I also felt very happy for the fat guy who got a GF jlt. [People jlt is Just like that and I use this often]. I wont say anything about the movie, but that you should watch this movie for sure.. apan ki bhasha mein mast timepass hai re.

The second thing is this new book I finished this evening "keep off the grass". This tells more about author and the book. I really enjoyed the book. I would recommend it for every MBA. Very serene, prudent, funny and pertinent. Karan bajaj the author has written it very well. It is at time very simple like Chetan bhagat and at times very philosophical like.. i dnt know.
Ohh. the book actually has more philosophical narration but you would love that for sure coz they are all in typcial MBA jargons. I will write the famous quote from the book, one of those which I remember - "why do they have quotes at the begining of a book? If you want to say something, just write it in the fucking book". You will love the way Karan tells the storys of protagonist's dilemma everytime. Sala everytime cribbed about leaving Investment banking, big money and comapring this with stupid situations....
Read the book. I rate it at par with five point someone and catcher in the rye (a little bit).

The third thing is - am drunk dude!

Wimbledon and Gender bias

2008-07-08T09:12:00.002+05:30

It occurred to me last night that Venus Williams got a heavy designed plate for her Wimbledon title. R Nadal got a big golden (color?) cup for the same title. Why the two prizes are different?

I got confused when a quick search revealed that the prize amount though has no gender bias - both get £750,000 now. So, they just want to show off with a more catchy memento for men! I don't know if gender bias is so prominent in countries like England, probably UN should concentrate more in England. An implicit bias is more treacherous and dangerous too. Here, at least our sports ministry knows that they don't pay much the required amount of attention for women sports.

Trains and Life

2008-07-05T19:00:00.002+05:30

I don't fight now; I succumb. Seems like writing poor stories about Indian railway and its officials is never ending. This time, my e ticket did not get confirmed and as per rule it was now a canceled ticket. So, I was ticket less, had to purchase a general ticket. Suggestions came from officials to try luck inside the train and I went ahead. Now, there is AC TTE standing and people offering him money to get a seat, unfortunately this guy couldn't earn a single penny as far as I know coz there were no empty seats. I had to look out for sleeper TTEs, the one I found immediately asked for 100 Rs and said go and sit anywhere in the 4 coaches, I wont ask a fine from you, I gave him the buck. He came again in the night, alloted a seat and asked give me a 100 more, I gave him that too.

While lying on my berth, I thought should I have protested, I must have asked him to cut the receipt and charge the legitimate amount but then I wouldn't be lying on a berth...

If you leave this waiting list ticket and late train affair, journey inside railway coaches are always fun. The whole Diaspora is amazing. This time my co-passengers were two old people. You can now imagine the talks – about old age, houses children etc.., but I enjoyed that completely, made comments at points and make them laugh.

On the other front things are moving in my life, as far as I am traveling. Really, I stop and I find everything is standstill too. So Jabalpur is seriously not 'happening'. I plan to do many things and end up a long list of tasks lagging. I don’t know…!!

2008-07-01T08:10:00.002+05:30

Few days backI was travelling to Ranchi. My train was 5 hrs late and it was again a painful timepass at railway station. I remembered how railway stations have played a big role in my life. Not that I started my career/education/life from there but I certainly have some afflicitve memories.

One is obviously, getting late stuff. I have waited at stations for as lonng as 7-8 hrs. I can now write a guide on how to keep waiting for late trains. The other is about crying. Really I have cried a lot at stations, more so in allahabad and once in bhopal and pune. (People, quite obvious reasons may not be the one, so dont guess!). I find that indian railways give ample time to be on your own and you can exhibit your emotions.

Well, the good thing with Indian rail is that inspite of no somking boards and all, you can smoke safely. TCs and coach attendants don't say anything. You just have to take care of GRP/RPF.

I don't like it

2008-06-26T14:06:00.007+05:30

This is about people and their perception. We know ' First impression is last impression'. A common person's preceptions and attitude are build around this phrase only. While I also am not against the rule but certainly in my opinion its not the last. There are people who looked mischievous, shrewd, dumb or stupid to me when I first met them.

'One needs time and space to understand a person' is again a general beleif. I would just modify it to 'One needs to have lots of interaction to understand a person'. Irregular communication or interacting at specific points of time doesnt reveal the exact personality. I go by these and don't make idea about people at the start (at least I try to) or even after a long period of time, if we do not interact very often.

And I feel bad when people put me on those rules. You can't judge me just by the way I interact with my people, my colleagues, write emails or talk on phone. At the same time I can't go to everyone. There are many things which people will never know....

Sorry for an absolute abrupt ending. This is supposed to be the end of this blog.

ps - usage of 'person' is very conscious; I want to be gender neutral.

Past few weeks!

2008-06-20T00:00:00.005+05:30

Finsihed this book IIM to Gunjandwara by Rohithari Rajan. The story telling is fantastic, plot is real, and reading is fun. Everytime I read the book I felt am in two villages of uttranchal where I lived for 2 months during my first internship at IIFM. Reading was a nostalgia to me. Especially the way people interacted with us, women interacted with us, the long walks around the village, eating and all stuff.

At the time of buying, the book looked like story of origin of Porject Shakti of HUL, (that was the motivation anyways!) but it was more like experience of a guy who went to village for the first time. And he and his colleague somehow started with an idea which later on became premises of Shakti. Its a good book to read for everyone, gives first hand account of a noth-indian villages, customs and lives..

Apart from reading, I travelled quite a lot these days so didnt find time to write. I met some close freinds lately and went to my village too. The gap between two successive visit to the village has remained more than 15 months for past few years but now I think more about my village..... Thanks to reliance comm. my life seems miserable to me these days.. Internet speed is like there is no internet at all and call drops whenever it feels like. This has made me slow and I don't feel good.

Well, Its been raining in Jabalpur and I have gone to some rainy-rides, thankfully not gotten ill yet. I may be going to the Dam tomorrow!

the 3 mistakes of my life

2008-05-23T01:14:00.005+05:30

Finished this book and want to write few thing immediately about it.

A quote - " A 'very good freind' is a dangerous category with indian girls. From here you can either make fast progress. Or, if you do it wrong you go down to the lowest category invented by Indian women ever - rakhi brother. Rakhi brother really means you can talk to me, but dont even freaking tink about anything else you bore..." Page 170.

I really like the fun in it, have seen many guys becoming rakhi-brothers in my school and college days. And I am tempted to write this one too, at page 185 "I looked at her. She is too beautiful to study maths. Maths is for losers ...."

The book is "the 3 Mistakes of my life" by Chetan Bhagat (needs no introduction). The guys three mistakes were 1)being too pressed by a business idea, 2)getting involved with best friend's sister, and 3)not jumping quickly to save a boy under attack. The backdrop is Gujrat in early 2000s so you have stories related to Bhuj earthquake, WTO attack, Guarat riots and there is flavor of politics, cricket and yes! love and exuberance.

Well I wrote it down for you, even though Chetan summarises it at the end. As usual the flow is fantastic, I finished it soon as I started it. The text and presentaion is better than the second book, more like 'Five point someone' this time. And again it is very cheap.

Kolkata wrap up

2008-05-16T10:47:00.005+05:30

"I'd write a lot about Kolkata", I dreamt it when I was there. Schedules were so tightly packed that I never found time. But I certainly have one word for the city - Fantastic. Leave the climate and it is great place to live. The first thing that came to mind was, when I entered Kolkata from Howrah was - this is an old city, capital of british. I was already thinking about british moving in lanes, looking at old buildings thinking who'd have lived there 200 years before.

People suggested a lot of places/things to see, but I covered just three - Park Street, Esplanade and Metro. No kali temples, no victoria, no math and no museum.

First Day in Kolkata

2008-04-27T20:20:00.004+05:30

ladkiyan dekhti to hain party!! (girls do look at you dude!!). May be bongoli girls are much better in finding out right boy :).
City center/Inox/Mall types is just 15 minutes walk from the place where I stay in Kolkata. It is a place where all GDI reports fail, all fheminists come to a stop and suddenly you start looking at a world with equity - gender and human, (all of it changes when you come out of that world though!!). So, what happens there? There are plenty of girls, outnumbering boys; who said sex ratio is less than unity, it seems to be more. Women look more decisive than male counterparts, they look more dominating.

At a place with such character(istic)s it is no big deal if a gorgeous girl looks at you , but apan to Up wale bahiya hain, to yahi bahut hai... (am from UP, so this is like a big deal). Well, before you start thinking this guy is getting more frustu day by day, let me tell you it is not the boy, it is the AGE.

While coming out of howrah station I was scared you know, crowds of Kolkata, but was relieved when I saw none and usual day traffic in anyother Indian city. It occured later that today is a sunday and now I think - if this is the rush on Sunday what about weekdays..!!

There are various places to be explored in Kolkata and I'll see how successful I am in coming days.

Orkuting blues

2008-04-24T06:36:00.003+05:30

I have just realized that my orkut community list has increased to 42... and I never subscribed to more than 12 or 15. The funny thing is they are like - salman khan's fan club, teenagers... I have never been salman's fan, how do they know i just liked him in 'jab pyar kisi se hota hai'. I am not a teenager and never susbscribed that group. The list is endless and am still to figure out how it happened.

Childhood days of orkut (read when it started) were very good, you didnt have much things to do, you could see pictures, write scraps and testis... then came videos and javascripts. Those javascripts would bring roses to your screen, though it looked like a pshyco has developed that, it was ok .... tolerable. Gradually roses shifted to monkeys.

A change came with more innovations in javascript, now when you paste a javascript in the address bar, it runs a worm or like a worm. It adds you to bullshit communities, it scraps to your friends (randomly) and you never know you scrapped. It happened with me some days before, I felt very bad and sent a message to everyone.

If you receive a scrap saying - i have changed my id....., you were looking fine....., or combination of javascript i would suggest you not to open or try it.

There were few good changes like the local language that you can use now, much more security, people now block scraps and pics and videos from general public. But what if you just broke up with your girlfriend and she blocked you from orkut and you had all those lovely scraps and photos at her account only!!!

TCs love me!!

2008-04-21T15:27:00.005+05:30

My travel plans are very instantaneous. Last week I had to go to Allahabad, there were no tickets available and I was confused. The respite came when a friend told me he is travelling to Allahabad too and will be happy to share his berth with me, I got up and went to the railway station, got a ticket and went straight inside the coach.
The TC came at around 3.. I knew I'll have to pay him because they never insist on fines, it adds nothing to their pocket. I said Sir, please make a ticket for me and I am happy to pay the fine with penalty, he said Ok but I wont allow you to sleep in AC even if you had given the fare and penalty amount. The sleeper class were all full and I had no option left but paying him. This started a series of negotiations that hasn't been mastered by me but by the TC. They do this every while and then, and Me, while I know the tricks and all, can not talk nicely to people when I know I am doing a wrong thing. Guys like me motivate guys like TCs to become corrupt. There are a set of reasons for it, like why I wouldnt get a ticket? I have to travel and I am all tied up. There is no option. I feel bad and I cant do anything. I want to pay the fine and TC wouldnt take one.

Well, My friend says - Sir we are college kids (i look like one still!!), and have no big money with us, and parents have given counted money... please see if you can do something, I know we should have talked to you earlier but I swear we talked to the earlier TC from Itarasi.
TC - no..what you guys think, you tried to befool me... hmmm, not a single rupee less than 500, see I am not putting you out of the coach, you know I can do that.
Akhand - sir, we travel a lot in this route.., this time make a concession, you are like big brother, uncle (take anything which is relevant), and you can help us.
Nitin (the friend) - Sir, this guy will meet you many times, here only with this general ticket, so there wont be a problem, I see a good relationship coming here. TC smiles but is looking wicked
Akhand - And I'll always come to you for help and pay you.
TC - and I'll always call police to put you in jail..
We laugh brazenly.
TC - ok make it fast, and see here police will be here in next station, I have already written a letter, shows us the letter, we see and think we know you are bulshitting.
Sir, take the 300 please. Nitin said. TC - police is at the next station.
Somebody comes and discussion stops.
He goes and sits in this seat, we go there he is smiling at us, there is someone already sharing in his seat and is smiling too. I pay him 300.
He comes to me and says, fine in the morning leave this coach and go to a sleeper class. Sir there is no seat, I said. Police is here but!!
Nitin said, sala... he wants all the 500 and I say there is no sleep in my eyes now, the vodka is already gone.
Anyways we sleep, Manikpur comes (where i am supposed to leave the coach) and I get down to take some tea, I have three cups and the TC helps me in bringing one cups to my seat. I offered him tea he rejected, never said about leaving or money.
I think if in night I had panicked I would have ended up paying 400 with the same result.
The moral of story is - Time is best negotiator.
While we discussed about the TC thing, Nitin always wanted to take out the the TC's cap, which will show his bald. and Nitin making plans of asking money back.

two words about the trip - My official work was fine and finished nicely, the bad thing was that I couldnt go to see my house and felt really bad about that. The place where you lived for twenty years!! I really felt bad but was so exhausted that I hardly made to the place where I was staying. I went to lucknow for the weekend and met some dear ones - all boys!!

Bandhavgarh National Park, MP, India

2008-04-14T11:18:00.010+05:30

I wrote this couple months before:
...Of course our heartbeats were changing frequently with the increase in no. of Alarm call but that part of jungle wasn't like the ones we have been seeing since morning. We were full of fear and excitement and so was that small part of the jungle. That happens when the Tiger is on move...This is from my trip to Kanha blog.

It was different in Bandhavgarh. That small part of jungle had just witnessed a kill and we were the only humans in there. Yes we did see a Tiger making a kill (spotted deer), waiting there for few minutes and then dragging it to a nearby bush. It happened in the evening trip, which started off badly, our guide was not willing to to come with us (he wanted to go with foreigners) and he pushed us on a route which is never known as tiger territory. For one hour we drove aimlessly inside the jungle, our gypsy-driver was not so happy with the guide and I was sleeping in front seat. One amongst us, spotted something moving some 300-400 metres away on the other bank of pond and we all stopped. It was a Tiger pouncing a deer!, we missed the first part so dont know if it came running or jumped from the bushes behind onto the kill. Anyways it stood holding it by neck, watched us and then started dragging it. There was a smell around.

You know in India, people have stories all the time ready to be served. Our guide was no different, just after we had seen the tiger he started telling about this tigress (he said it was a tigress) and her cubs and how it would hide the kill and go for cubs, or may be eat a part of it and then go for cubs.. blah blah!! Well, we waited there for half hour more, anticipating tiger would come back to drink water or something.... and there were some alarm calls going on too.

Bandhavgarh (in wikepedia) is very famous for Tigers. It has the highest density of Tigers (25-28 in 105 acres, a part which is open for visitors), so one has the highest probability of seeing a tiger. Bandhavgarh is also famous for vultures and caves. There are some 4 kinds of vultures but you are required to go at the top of hills and special permission to go there (which is ususally after the morning trip is over). We didn't go there. There are many young tigers in Bandhavgarh, our morning trip guide talked of atleast three tigress having 7-8 cubs in all. Young tigers ensures that one has seen a tiger at least once, because they are visible, playful and keep coming out. We could see two brothers walking around from just 50 metres. The view however was not very good due to bushes and rocks around.
One who has been to jungle would know how difficult it is to see animals in wild, 1. you never know where they are, and 2. they camouflage very well. No Park allows you to enter very early around 4-5 Am, which is the best time. Thus it becomes really difficult for one to see lots of wildlife. You'll know in sometime how we enjoyed seeing wildlife at 4 AM. Well, before going to Bandhavgarh, I read in some blog that the forest here is not as good as Kanha's. Everytime I was wondering why one would write that. Forests are always beautiful and it was green all around as Sal trees had just got their new attire (leaves). The forest in bandhavgarh is more hilly though, so there are rocks and hillocks more than Kanha. But then due to that, there are caves and right at the top it becomes a paradise for vultures (since I didnt go there, I dnt know why?? but it is).
Fauna - Apart from Tiger, and Deers, we saw a procupine (dead or killed, but eaten) in morning and even it was dead, the thrones were looking dangerous, Jackals, langoors and red face monkeys in galore, and a monitor Lizard. My desire to see a leopard or bear didnt realise. Birds - quite a few I can remember - green bee eater, black orbis, Stork, yellow neck oriole, kingfishers - one with brown neck/chest, spotted black on white, and general white necked, (we wanted to take pics but birds very camera shy!!)
Logistics and Support I will say it is not as well managed as Kanha, but certainly one of the best managed parks in the country, (Kanha is a benchmark, Bandhavgarh would certainly be in Top 5). Badhavgarh has more of "chalta hai" attitude. There are plenty of shops on the entrance gate but they all look at your pocket. There is MP Tourism guest house and good hotels too for stay. MP Tourism lodge/hotel looked good amongst them. The entrance of Park is Tala, a village in Umaria district, and as it should be, it looked like a developed village.
Travel Though Umaria is the nearest railhead (30km), for travellers Katni (100 km) would be the last rail head. The road from Katni to bandhavgarh is under construction, so there are some really bad patches. Leaving those, road is good and sometimes wonderful. The jungle starts after 15 kms from Umaria, so you can actually find wildlife on and around road if you are lucky. The chances are high if its a night time. We could see hare, deer, and Civet cat on the road, at around 4 Am. Other ways to reach Bandhavgarh can be to take Taxi from Satna or Jabalpur (from jabalpur it goes to katni first). One can fly to Jabalpur from Delhi and Indore/Mumbai.
Picutres from the Trip

Bandhavgarh - Caves, Tigers and vultures are must see, and I recommend one to go to Bandhavgarh for sure. As far as I am concerned, I am going there again and again.

Adventures in rocky forest

2008-04-06T20:26:00.005+05:30

This was a planned party. There were 8 of us, 4 bikes and destination was Katav, a place near Majholi. It is called so because British actually cut the mountain to make a pass. Normally you make bends and roads along the mountain. People say they used tanks etc for long to be able to cut it - stories you know. The place is beautiful, and there is a stream too.
We were going to cook there and so carried all those stuff. I was carrying all the water stuff, mineral water, special water and all. We climbed up the hill to find a shade and sit with our chores while our cooks were preparing lunch down near the stream. People started shouting and thus shoved lasses. There were few local boys too and 2 of them having long hair like Dhoni, so they were named dhoni. Then started a stream of comments from here, "Dhoni teri..............." people took care not to forget any relation.

Now, you have to be careful with those doses, and gosh you were on a hillock, there was a rocky terrain to pass, Hmm exciting you are careful and you want to be more careful, and there is something which is not allowing you to. Everybody fell. Everybody got hurt.
People took bath in the stream except me, for I was enjoying things people were doing in water। Playing around and abusing and in between we had our lunch.

This is best part of the trip. We were lying on a rock big enough to hold us full. The dhoni guys were passing by very close and I tipped guy next to me, it dhoniiiiii..... teri ...................!! They were coming to us and I told all guys to be silent. Here is the conversation, remember we were on high.
भाईसाहब आप लोग हम पर कमेंट मार रहे हैं । नहीं भइया । यार ऐसे तो नहीं होता है (थोड़ा तीखे अंदाज़ में)। अरे भाई बुरा ना मानो, .... आपका नाम क्या है (कपिल और ), यार कपिल टेंशन ना लो ये लोग बड़े दुखिं हैं धोनी को इसलिए गरिया रहे हैं, क्यों की satta लगाया था इन लोगों ने धोनी पर हार गए हज़ार रुपए, यार आप बुरा न मानो ।
he he he they left and here we were having stomach ache!!

2008-04-04T11:01:00.003+05:30

My official birthday records say I am 25 running on 26. My family records tell that I have completed 26 yesterday this year. "This year" because it changes every year for we use Indian calendar to celebrate the occassion.

I am not very sure, but this may first time when there was no one around who knew today's my birthday and there is a fun in it. You are happy and people don't know why?? Dad called several times to find out how I am doing but that was lull for I did not plan.

In evening I went out and bought a present for myself - A 4 GB sony multimedia player.

wrap up on Bihar tour

2008-03-31T16:11:00.007+05:30

Last time when I talked about Bihar, it was for friend's wedding and I promised to write more about my trip and more so on my first stay in Bihar.
People always threaten you/get frightened, the name itself has become analogous to place where you have to be very cautious, where you'd find notorious people and where living is tough etc. I didnt find things like that. I was in state capital and it looked like anyother Indian state capital. I went out to Nalanda and it was same as going to Puri from bhubaneshwar, Mahabalipuram from Chennai or Vidisha from Bhopal. I felt more comfortable going to Patna, than I would be when going to mumbai or anyother new city for that matter. May be coz I've got friends in Patna.

In one trip I can not dicuss about socio-economic profiles or conditions but would certainly say "roads need to be built up fast" and this is true for half of the country. I loved it when car driver showed residences of Lalu yadav and Nitish Kumar, facing each other. Next question - Who is more popular?? Nitish, after some thought process.

Seeing Rajgir was important, frankly speaking I never knew about this place, Bhaskar knew about it, My dad knew about it, said you should see it. The best thing in Rajgir is ropeway that takes you to a shanti stupa on a hillock, and the shanti stupa+monastery, made jointly by Indian and Japanese Governements. On the ropeway, I was scared, more while going up, its like moving up on a chair with world below and the chairs are open. While getting down Bhaskar was just behind me and was clapping and shouting making me comfortable, I got a video of him!!We did not pay for the ropeway, our host made it sure. "Mamaji" was the answer, if anybody would ask. The cost is though very little, I think Rs 30 per head.

There is a warm water source and you can take a bath too, we did. I am usually shy in bathing in open, but there I felt like taking a bath. Our host provided a shop for changing clothes. There are many old strucutures that you'd like to see (temples, caves, fortune caves, Bimbisar caves, His dad's (Ajatshatru) Jail, Arjuna -Krishna's chariot marks, and many Budhist and Jain temples). The Naxal area is also just round the hills!!

While returning we planned to booze, the final yes from bhaskar only when we entered the city (I am always game for ..) so we really had less time. After unsuccessful attempts at local brand shops, we could spot a english shop, and what a fun we got Vodka in Regular Use Medicine (RUM) bottle.

Well, while returning the train got 4 hrs late, I could only abuse Rahul (He met us outside the station and said - your train will be late for sure!). So I sat around and passed my time in a restraunt at Railway station. Suddenly there were 20-30 guys in the restraunt - uff what was that now! They were having a meeting - a political I thought, but they were students who came there to learn about some computer course offered by a company doing business like Amway. They become member, make new members and learn things. It comes with supplements like english courses and I remembered Outlook's cover story The english curse (requires free registeration to read) couple week's ago.

Black and White

2008-03-13T00:55:00.010+05:30

आज ब्लॆक एन्ड व्हाइट दॆखी, नाइट शॊ!! मज़ा आ गया. क्या एक्टिग है. Well was trying to write in Hindi, but this is taking a lot of time!! There is lot out on movie, so I am writing what I liked:
Songs - perfect, All the songs right from Mehndi to Haq Allah! I dnt know the music director but the blend is perfect. And where is the lyricist, these songs are melodious because there is cute combination of words, hindi, urdu, punjabi all in one. Music does the rest of mesimerization.
Anil Kapoor - for a moment, I thought he is trying to repeat Virasat and wasn't interested, but he has impressed a lot. The best from him is - when he is trying to say and isn't able to speak after his wife's death and then consoles his daughter.
Shagufta - Internet is really bad here, otherwise I'd have written her real name. Shagufta is a character in movie. But I liked the girl more, GORGEOUS ALL THE TIME.
Dialogues - Kudos to Subhash Ghai. Continuously sends out messages, very loud and clear! Two are my favorite (sorry I am mentioning them as I remember) - "this currency note, for this one forgets religion, caste, creed, this is what matters" And, Anil Kapoor towards end "they sent a terrorist here, we made him a human, this is our response to them" wow!!
Hey, isn't the first one a reality, this happened to hinduism (intra-religion) and is happening inter-religion, inter-region. At last people are seeing people by qualities!! I like a tribe because of their qualities, I love freinds because they love me. People loving people, I hope this messge gets across.
Do watch the movie.

F3

2008-03-08T12:38:00.003+05:30

I drank a lot in February. I am still under hangover. And it was not alcohol. It is some beautiful friendships.
As you read on there are few questions for you to ponder -1. Why great saints never lusted for damsels of Indra's court, who came to disrupt their tapasya? and 2. Where you'd have gone if you were Nalanda university passout, 1500 years ago?

Santosh came to Jabalpur in mid February, a week passed in a moment; we were talking, roaming, and cooking. I had shifted to a new house on the same day so,santosh had to see packed cartons around, enjoy various smells and sleep on floor, which I feel was not so good. Anyways the view from my house is fantastic, and that was the only good thing wrt logistics. We went to meet few people around and there were occasions where Santy proved his might by mesmerizing people, creating ideas and then presenting them to the world. You feel good if there is guy like him with you. Santy has knack of taking out jokes from anything and even nothing and I enjoyed it to the fullest here. Since I was on strict budget and I didnt take him to restraunts, he had to eat whatever we cooked. He obliged every time. I was very happy all the time, coz it feels like home when you are not alone. Thank you san, Come again, we gotta do many things.

I went to Patna for Parth’s marriage and the wedding was so much fun. Parth, his Parents and relatives were all very caring. This couldn’t have been better. I met bhaskar after a long time and three of us (including Parth) were together after a long time. Parth is no girl leaving house after marriage but bhaskar n I wanted to cry, really! I enjoyed the wedding moments and phtography. We'd text message Parth every time he or Jyoti (Parth’s wife) would make gesture on the reception day and Parth's eyes would seek us to smile and abuse.. Ohhh and I danced a lot, bhaskar n I were dancing like fanatic, on yes we were little fanatic :). Aunty, while introducing me to relatives would always add, “this guy is next in line” and later on Amy asked me if I found a girl at the wedding…. I heard steve jobs talking about connecting the darts!!!

Parth was married and tired after exhaustive function, so bhaskar and I went to Rajgir and Nalanda without him. At Nalanda, I felt proud by mere standing there while Bhaskar kept on reiterating the importance and value of this ancient university and rightly so. Each hostel room reminded me of people like chanakya sitting/lying in there (chankaya studied at takshila, even older than Nalanda, but I don’t know any pass out from Nalanda). Pics. Rajgir few kilometers from Nalanda is very beautiful place, surrounded by hills around; this place is famous for being a Jain and Budhist shrine. There are many symbolic and attached stories drawn from Mahabharat and ancient kings Bimbisar/Ajatshatru. If you feel the place, you’ll feel proud and out of this world. But feel it.

This blog is about friends, so I am not writing about my first trip to Bihar, that’s due for sure. As of now Lots of love to Parth, Santosh and Bhaskar. F3 is Friends, February, Fantastic.

Trip Kanha National Park

2008-01-28T23:13:00.001+05:30

This time its not about me or my life or anything related to me. It is about KANHA, enough to understand what am talking about but let me write a couple sentences more. Kanha is a national park in state of Madhya Pradesh in India. It is one of the best managed parks in the country and is also one of the best places in the world to see a Tiger. I shouldn't be describing what can be seen in Kanha or how one can enjoy the place, there are many resources for that, some of which I would be recommending at the end for sure. While you read the blog do click here to see some of pics I clicked during the visit.

I'd write about the best part of kanha safri. During the evening ride we got to see fresh Tiger pugmarks. They were over the tyre marks that means either Tiger has walked from here recently or certainly with in 2 -3 hrs when all the vehicles from the morning safari were gone. We were excited, but since we saw many of them in the morning it wasn't not that high. We moved ahead found fellow tourists on their vehicles looking for a tiger. No calls no signals, nothing.

Tiger is certainly the biggest attraction in the park but it is not everything. During the safaris we could see many species which are really rare like couple of Wild dogs, Jungle cat, King Vulture (big white spots on the wings downside when it flew were marvelous), Serpent eagle, owlets and Barasinga (there is fenced area for barasinga inside the park). The Storks were really beautiful, combination of orange and black colour couldn't have been better. Added to this there were pugmarks of bear and leopard.

Well, soon our guide stopped the car and we were listening to alarm calls. The first one was a sambar's alarm call - A tiger is on move, we were excited. We stayed there for sometimes while other vehicles took different positions around the area (if one of the vehicle finds the Tiger, all others get the information, you never know which direction the Tiger would go!). There was another call, this time spotted deer's and everyone knew that Tiger is moving towards left. All Vehicles rushed to that direction, we too. My heartbeats were certainly more than 72.

Now when I think of that situation I remember the whole ambience was different. Of course our heartbeats were changing frequently with the increase in no. of Alarm call but that part of jungle wasn't like the ones we have been seeing since morning. We were full of fear and excitement and so was that small part of the jungle. That happens when the Tiger is on move.

We actually overtook others and stopped little ahead from everybody, the calls were many the langoors, deers etc but the special was of Tiger’s own. Yes we could hear its noise, I can't describe the feelings of people there but I was scared. There were more alarm calls from other places that means there were other tigers nearby too. Our guide said keep an eye around we may find another tiger coming out from the other direction. I was looking around rotating my neck like an owl. There was a big noise and we were told the Tiger has made a kill, our guide opined there are more than one tigers (based on the number of alarm calls) and may be they are at loggerheads over the kill but later on we found there was only one tiger or else there could have been more furious noises coming out of the place. Well so we waited around that place for quite sometime but Tiger did not come out. Gradually all the alarm calls were off, Tiger decided to stay with the kill. It was time to get out of the park.

The Tiger was supposed to get out of the bushes down the hillock to the plain and all of us could have seen the Tiger. The unlucky part came to us when fellow tourists (in other vehicles) became really noisy and couldn’t be stopped. Lakshmi my colleague at the office was really angry over their behavior. Her anger was right, may we couldn’t see a tiger because of noisy guys around. The analyst in me says there is a lot of thinking needed to examine their behavior. So as of now lets put the blame on their guide and driver. It’s their duty to control the tourists.

We didn’t see a tiger but really enjoyed the trip. That gives me two reasons to go back to Kanha over and over. It was a fantastic feeling there inside the park.

Logistics: Few things from my side will help you a lot. Remember wikepedia, Google, http://www.mptourism.com/ , Kanha Field Director's office No: 07642-205760 (keep on trying, the phone lines are sometimes bad), Lonely planet (as lakshmi says). The official website http://www.kanhatigerreserve.com/ does not work.

Search for the information you need there is a fun doing it. As Lakshmi found a video from Kaziranga where a Tiger attacked a mahout riding an elephant (can you imagine a a jump of 12ft height) Watch it here. You can also visit Laksmi's picasa page for more pictures from this visit and information about visiting the park.

Trips to kanha and other national parks in MP are certain and I know seeing a tiger in wild is also certain. Its the time that is not.

bad blogs

2008-01-15T16:15:00.000+05:30

Last few days, some candid statements by fellow bloggers have made me think of writing a code of conduct of blogging. You are free to express yourself, but there should be some checks and ethics. Like, denounce somebody, but let the other know..., for gods sake weigh the things you are writing, and if its a general topic, research it; The point is in order to vomit our feelings, we should not make other's cloth dirty. Lets not forget etiquettes guys..
On my side, Ok.. I admit a mess around me. There are many things to do and there are lot of things around here and Mukesh's sad songs are on.

2008-01-06T12:37:00.000+05:30

The bike moves at 50kmph, and there is traffic and ditches all around. You are drunk quite heavily and you are the driver and no pillion.... nothing happens you reach home safely, just that you have your fingures bleeding. There is no pain, that takes over your body in the morning with a hangover. You have missed calls from your parents, who were wondering where you have gone, what happened? Next morning you are confused about the date; coz your dialed number list shows a number, which as per you, was dialed two days before. There are time checks and you remember - while lying like a stupid in bed you called her and she didn't pick. You have already missed your morning walk and guitar class, stories all made up. Now you wonder about a story for others around you, while standing before a mirror searching for wounds.

You are just fucked up yaar! The indian cricket team looks fucked too.

year end blog, 2007

2007-12-30T15:03:00.000+05:30

New things first. Last day I bought two books - novels in Hindi. One is my all time favorite raag darbari, and the other one is chitkobra. While, have read the first book and wanted to have a copy with me, chitkobra was something unheard, frankly the design at the front impressed me. I thought it would be blink type book.. but its a story - a novel and a google search tells me it created turbulences. All this happened at Itarasi railway stn yesterday.

Since October, I have been travelling much for fun. I visited some very remote places in Jabalpur, had parties and biked a lot. The year is going to begone and looking at it give me nothing to think about. Really. Believing in the axiom 'Every second teaches you something' I can say there were 365X24X3600 learnings, sadly most of them told nothing new. A freind told me "Akhand you know how to be satisfied", I think if this is true am among the few cowards coz I shouldn't have been here professionally and similarly in personal life. I can't be satisfied when I know I haven't worked enough to get the night meal or when I know the girl I love is being kissed by her boyfriend. I am not satisfied yaar, I am afraid of taking action, so kinda coward.

But, I know these were not my ultimate goals, therefore am not depressed. I had my plans and if I leave the lack of due dilligence, I have marched towards that and am doing fine. I have a controlled life, though not colorful. That's why I look satisfied.

New persons this year: I can only think of Ashish Gupta as an addition, He is big boss of my partner ogranization. He is cool and brilliant, very warm and great companion. He is the ideal at this point of time and I have lots to learn from him, but I don't know how.

Some freinds who have been part and parcel, professional and personal, who form my life:
Shweta is sweatheart and inspiring and good, she is just great. Satya, is good freind and guide, Jayesh has been good, though he was out of touch in mid-year, but banged into in last days and we talked a lot and lot. Bhaskar and Parth, make me smile, comfort and they know me and love me :) Santosh, I am lucky he is there. Abhishek, Alok and Shobhit, I can speak my heart with, shout and love. One liners donot speak my mind, I just wanted to name them and remember in this year end blog.

Family was much on positive side unlike last year. Things went from wrong to somewhat good. I feel at this front though my contribution was not much, but I played my role nicely.

Professional life has been swinging a lot, my mind sways me from one side to other. I am afriad of failures. I know this shouldn't be there but it is. 6 years back, father told me I lack dilligence, he knew I was brilliant, I had plans and he had confidence that wouldn't dilute even if I made mess. But he was right, I know my abilities, sometimes they get diluted because of underconfidence, sometimes overconfidence, sometimes lack of spirit and sometimes lack of stupid personal disappointments. May be I like flowing with time.... don't know

At this point I feel how some good qualities are not "the last sought after traits". I am preseverant and C S Rathore complimented me on that at IIFM. My school teacher have always praised my intelligence and brilliance, I am also positive and quick learner. Good to put in CVs though, they are not enough to get you what you desire, you have to push yourself continuously, think, plan and act. Action is what matter, Everybody thinks, but either they don't plan or they don't act and sometimes both. Then comes various channels you can work through, you have to know them, search and create them. There is list for this and all will be important as you keep stepping up the ladder, but the bottomline is to push and be motivated and plan.

I am 25, still a long way to go in life, but I need to retrospect, everybody must. I wasted some 4 years of my life and in a sense some 10 years. You can't play. Everbody in this world gets success but it is upto you at what stage of life you plan for it (courtesy Jayesh to his brother) and its true in a sense.

I am not depressed, not looking at shits. I just know, I have never used my potential to the fullest till date or I just don't know my potential. Don't want to reveal myself again, but some act of introspection and a plan must be there.

Well, there are no resolutions, they are made in process. No, there is one, anyhow see the Tiger!!

Year end quickies

2007-12-22T02:33:00.000+05:30

I thought of putting few things very quickly so that they are not missed in the year end blog. We often forget little things or often we ignore them but these little things form our lives. Not trying to be a literature guy; its JLT.

Yes, so got again one of the passions this year, it is usage of Acronyms, I remember class X and below when I used to take notes in acronyms and hinglish. It was fun while referring them back. I resorted to that for a while during college but didnt last long.

I have enjoyed abusing and denouncing myself through out the year in that may be called the most important things in my life (you can guess it, you call it being stupid). Now I enjoy it while griefing

Have watched Ricahrd Gere more and now I am a fan. So now there are Tom hanks and Richard Gere. And I have suffered in Jabalpur for the lack of a good English movie parlour.

I had a crush, it was yet again an engaged lass and so :(.

I had some good outings, i visited tourist places in east and west India, Jaipur and Khajuraho. I am regretting for not having visited National Parks in MP. While I try my best to end this draught by going to some in the remaining days, I know I have to get this practice of moving alone.. you just can't get partners like that.

And I have often felt like blogging on things like why it rains from sky, or why am bad at sticking to friendships/acuaintances or why I am still a pure, I don't have the slightest idea why havn't I??

Well to this date, I think my best work on plagiarism has been "woh dekhti hi nahin apni hatheli ko, usme gadhi see lakir meri hi hai" (just changed the dundhli see with gadhi see) got nobody to use it though!!

Tezpur, Assam

2007-12-04T16:49:00.000+05:30

First time I came to Assam, I was 14 years old, youngest in the group. I was participating in National Children Science Congress, representing KVS. I appreciated the place, I liked the people, but I was very much protected and I was not exposed to world.

Since 2006, Assam is more familiar to me, have travelled to more than one districts of the state, have been out on my own and have grown some analytical attitude. The place is also changed, lot of people and government things coming in. Political and technical empowerment coming into too. You need to be really careful while on move.

Unchanged, is my liking for the place.

Few people get so excited when I tell them my parents are in Tezpur. Very quickly comes - "girls are so easy to get there, they are very open society". And "you must explore the place (implicit is for girls)". One gentleman even said its very promiscuous there!! Poor me always forget I'll not get many chances to get out and try exploration.... and any chances bestowed if any are not going to work my way!!

Got some insights of villages in Tezpur from my car driver. I was keen to know about the girl thing - you know but you need to be quite disciplined in talking such matters. The guy had already shown me an ULFA restraunt before so I was more disciplined. So as per him there are lot of instances where boy and girl elopes. He was a teenager so supported the fact that parents would most of times get older boy for their daughter; and girls find it better to run away with the younger one she is in love with (if any). And more or less when they return after some years they are accepted and loved.. What about college girls? (very subtle question) - it was too subtle for him, as he kept on telling stories of boys getting drunk, fights etc. So really no discovery on how to get the girls there.. Next time if I'd find a person who thinks am lucky to be going to Tezpur, certainly am going to ask HOW??

Tezpur is kind of different than typical Assam and I can think only two things as probable causes - there is continuous inflow of people from Arunanchal ( they are really very broad minded), and Its been big defense settlement since early 1920s.

And yes I did visit a Tea garden and processing plant. It was not a big Tea plant for sure, but could see the actual processsing. The leaves are moistened and made softer by allowing warm air to pass through, they are then crushed in a style that juices do not flow out of it.. it is done by doing the crushing porcess in phases, (Before being finally made a paste the leaves went through 3 phases of crushings). Once the paste is ready, comes the most important part. The paste is entered into a big cylinder, open at both ends and it spins and revolves.... The technique is magnificient because the paste comes out rolling in the shape of round spheres (as we get from market) from the other end. These spheres are then spread out and remember they are still green in colour. These are then baked (and turn black) and then they are passed through a series of seives for grading. Didn't click any pic there!!

One more thing; the tea gardens look good, like well trimmed bushes. I was excited to go to a garden coz I used to think of big gardens and ladies picking leaves as in the Bhupen Hazarika song (komal - 2 ungliyan, tod rahi hai pattiyan... Do you remember??), and leopards hidding in the garden. It was not like that. The tea plants were just waist height in Tezpur. There are bigger ones in other parts of state.

Apart from outing to some places and tezpur city, I confined myself in the Airforce campus with, on few occassions, morning walks (that would start at 8 Am) and playing with suyash. The walks were really pleasent sometimes as I used to get many salutations (salaam sahab, jai hinds..) from airmen who were going to or returning from office. I never got the reason, How I can resemble their officers - I am not slim-trim, and moreover no officer walks at 8 Am. Anyways I enjoyed that.

And there are a lot of monkeys, 3 leg monkeys, 2 leg monkeys, some body part missing monkeys and yes, healthy monkeys. They live inside the campus and raid houses/blocks at their will.

ps - And a fact not much revealed that I had my first crush in Assam during the science congress, she was a girl in our group, 12th std from Andhra.. (I like older girls still!!), she was pretty - thats it!

Why Offbeat Movies are Cup of tea?

2007-12-01T14:35:00.000+05:30

I was in an isolated place when two high profile movies - om shanti om, sawariya were released. I was lucky not to get CDs. Many freind's had pathetic reviews, except hindustantimes, and timesofindia most of rating portals also said similar (bad) things. Though I watched some part of sawariya at Rajmandir in Jaipur but I went to see the cinema hall not the movie and came out in half an hour. Khalid (HT) and Nikhat (ToI) used to write good reviews earlier don't know what happened. Do they talk to decide what to write??..

Well, I watched Water, and a real investment in Cd. The movie moves you, not just the story but acting, background, and slow pace but best suited. Though shot in Sri Lanka resembles Banaras quite well. The small SriLankan kid looks pretty as Chuiyaa (in movie). Lisa Ray very comely even after her hair were cut later in the movie and then Seema Biswas - terrific performance. And there is Raghuvir Yadav in the role of eununch -perfectly played, a fact I found only after I read about the movie. Another interesting fact is that Raghuvir's three movies have been nominated for Academy Awards in best foreign language film category viz salaam bombay (india), Lagaan (india), Water (Canada).

Yes, canada the sad thing about the movie, its a canadian movie, not an indian. It was released in 2005 worldwide, but got released in India much later in March 2007. The movie originally was to be shot at Banaras in 2000 but nothing worked out.

The movie is about tradition of leaving widow women from in-laws houses. How difficult it becomes for them to survive, some women are forced into prostitution to save others. Prostitution is a bad word, lets us say "some women are forced to satisfy lusty riches to get living support". The contemporary (1938's) Indian society is very well shown in the movie. Raghuvir the eunuch always appeared suspicious of gandhi [to quote " you know what he says, (pause) Who (asks to listener)?? GAndhi!!! says widows should get married, they are unaware of love, who does not know love (mocks)" in a perfect eunuch style]. And then there is Vinay Pathak and Waheeda Rehman very happy, having blind faith in the type of lives they are living, and there is John Abrahim, Gandhi's fan.
One should watch the movie, its a change and a good movie. A different plot and different era!

ps - I am listenning to Aaja Nachle's title song repeatedly to find out what is that which UP and Punjab's government have found - I think it is "bole mochi khud ko sunar..." in second paragraph. Not sure.. but is it something which should stop screening. Politics Politics...

pps - next blog on travel!

Tawang, AP

2007-11-27T15:26:00.000+05:30

Recently toured Tawang in Arunanchal Pradesh. We have been planning for this tour ever since my father was posted to Tezpur, it realized after 20 months. The trip time was majorly divided into two parts - traveling in car and sleeping in bed. So everything to enjoy was in way! Arunanchal is famous for scenic beauty and yes it is really beautiful. There is no market place to shop as such but you’d wonder and admire life at those heights. People have almost all the amenities thanks to roads and Army. From Tezpur to Tawang the big settlements amongst circuitous roads are – bhalukpong, tenga (valley), bomdila, dirang (valley) (all in west kemang Distt of AP with headquarters at Bomdila), jung and tawang (Tawang distt of AP). All other are either Army’s or Border Road Organization’s offices. Places to know and admire are sela pass, jaswantgarh, umpteen waterfalls on the way, gorgeous women and dresses, happy little tipsy people. (Adjoining Pic - Tawang District Headquarters)

(Adjacent Pic - Sela Pass, 4193 meters) I stayed at two places during the trip Bomdila and Tawang both in western parts of AP. At Bomdila you enjoy as you do at any new place while Tawang is a tourist destination famous for a lake, a monastery and china border. Parts of movie Koyla were shot at the lake and that’s how it became famous, sometimes also called madhuri lake. The monastery is second highest such budhist settlement in world; moreover it’s always a great to learn about any religion. In local language, which more or less resembles Tibetan, these places are called gumphas..., monks are called lamas and there are lady lamas too. Actually the Buddhists sect in western AP is influenced by Tibetan Buddhism. I saw their books and couldn’t figure out whats written in there (it was tibetian lang), also the arunanchali language has no written script. China border is at 17k ft height, some 60 kms from District headquarters. Imagine the roads taking you to 17k ft. its real tough road to go, always nerve testing. Roads are full with very inspiring messages all the way on BRO’s signboards. I liked those.

....The Signboard at Jaswantgarh in memory of Rfn Jaswant Singh, who paralysed Chinese forces almost single handedly....

During the day we watched all these tourist places and set out for Bomdila in afternoon. The decision was itself risky; you cannot afford to drive in those roads in a car at night. While people do travel in night but there are very few of those kinds, mostly transport guys and they use vehicles like trucks, mini trucks or Sumos. The car took 12 hours to reach Bomdila, I was sitting on the front seat and on each turn I would clinch my fist, with jaws tight and heartbeat little faster, uncertainty and cold mixing together. I must confess it added to the excitement of travel but that was much after, while I was about to sleep. My advice will be to essentially do a night ride at those heights, but not in a car better be a sumo.

Female Monks, not willing to be captured in camera, thanks to driver atleast they stopped.

I really liked people as I always do. This time more may be due to their appearance and ability to speak fluent hindi. The part of AP I visited had mainly Buddhists and they told me “ours is very calm place, go to other parts of state and you can really be in problems”. We didn’t go shopping as such but made a few stops to eat. No wonder people asked for liquor during daytime and you can find it in all eating places, its too cold every time. Take my word the place is a delight for non vegetarians. For me delight came from Kiwi – I ate kiwi and saw kiwi orchard. Kiwi is like any other high altitude fruit like plums, apricots and it was delicious. I had never eaten it before but had seen it various times though at fruit shops, never knew it was kiwi, before.

The traditional women dress is finca. It is kind of thing draped around waist and there is an upper which resembles a tshirt. Often you’d find a jacket over that tishirt. Women also drape their babies around their backs. Very similar is traditional assamese dress except in Assam instead of t-shirt women again drape a cloth resembling lower cloth.

For more pics please visit (I recommend) - http://www.orkut.com/Album.aspx?id=1826344550302018863

If you are planning the trip - Since there is lots of travel, the whole trip should be planned for atleast 6 days. Four days for travel to and fro, + two complete days at Tawang and you could go to see China border as well and look around place, appreciate people. You need special permits to enter through Bhalukpong , but thats not a big problem for central government employee. Also you will have to take permit from Tawang office for china border visit. You should always have something to eat with you, you love to eat seeing the beauty and may be you dont like the food you find. And there is always state's tourism site for logistic information.

There was fun all around. I found an occasion to show father a man with really long hair and shared my idea of same, before I could say anything he was quick to tell me see what the guy is doing - he was washing a car and sadly he was just a worker. Anyways he looked damm good with long hair like women. Let me tell women of AP have really beautiful hair – every time mom wondered what they do with hair. Anyways I don''t have long hair now, planning again!! Adjacent pic - Dad, Suyash, and Mom - People who took the trip

ps - please enlarge pics for better view!

Few trips Ahead.. in exile

2007-10-25T20:48:00.000+05:30

I always try to be phoney.. i dnt know why. It doesn't do me any good especially if important things are at stake like taking to a girl you like.. I always fail.

Anyways I will be off to Tezpur and Arunachal pradesh for sometime. When I would return there would some more trips to unknown location in south. Right now I just feel little scared of travelling in 48 passenger aircraft. At the sametime I am damm scared of leaving a life that I have been living for last 10 years.

People do change their lives, change is always a constant in life. Its happening in my life, it was happening earlier also, but it revolved around a dream. The dream is still there, just am kindaa awake now. And planning to achieve that dream. I want a change where that dream becomes a reality.

There is a typical romantic feeling with me at present. Excited and Scared! no more scared less excited... I can only think of Christopher in the book Into the Wild, He went on a self initiated travel to higher ridges of Alaska, he was lively and he was brilliant. He wanted to do adventures but didnt want to die but died because he was unlucky to be trapped in nature's plays.

Why people are unlucky!

Not Going out Tonight

2007-10-20T11:10:00.000+05:30

Today is Dussehra, most of the Jabalpur families are out roaming. The celebration reminds me of Dhadhikandav fair in Allahabad. I have grown up roaming kilometers in the fair and today I dont feel like going out. I have decided not to go outside today - may be I am nostalgic or may be am afriad of roaming like a stag in cold. The decorations are wonderful though and one should not miss it, and also the wonderful crowd.

In morning, however I visited some places viz Rani Durgavati Fort, a huge statue of lord shiva and an animated ride towards Mandla.

This picture was taken on way to fort, while I was climbing the hill, there was this small cut from main route... And this place was like finding a hidden treasure up above the hills. I really thanked my instinct for pushing me to the cut. ( can you see how sunlight sieves; nature is the biggest craftsmaker, and kudos to cameraman too).

I will paste the other pics in the long awaited Jabalpore blog!

There are drums all around here and while I planned to sleep by 8, I am still awake!
I'll try??

ps - there are pretty good songs in the movie - "no smoking".
jab bhi cigerette jalti hai, main jalta hoon"...
One more - "kash laga -2": somewhere from middle "jalti hain tanhayian, taapi hain raat raat jaag jaag ke, udti hain chingariyan, guchhe hain lal lal geeli aag ke..."

jodha-akbar

2007-10-18T14:27:00.000+05:30

I read in some news column that Ashutosh Gowarikar found a chemistry that existed between Queen Jodhabai and king Akbar. They are showing that chemistry in a movie called Jodha-Akbar, due for release in January (someday which is lucky for Ashutosh). The movie is also called a magnum opus and depicts the chemistry of 15 years (from age 13 to 28).

Wow! am enthralled. First thing I did was search for the word "magnum opus" cause I had seen usage of "opus" quite often in cinema news. Opus means 'musical work that has been created' and magnum means 'great'..... sahi hai!! I was also wondering what chemistry (that is musical too, science and arts together) Ashutosh found; because history says it was all politics. Since the film is well researched, may be they found a hidden magnum document, where jodha expressed her feelings for Akbar and he in turn attacked their Place, bargained her later. Moreover later lured brother-in-law to become one of his loyalists. May be there was some reincarnation kind of thing for these two. I would look forward to see that, because that is something history didnt find out.

There is one more possibility, the movie depcits the marital life of jodha-akbar. May be they found it was unique and which mughl-e-azam could not show or didn't show. Ask me, and its all imagination. I dont think people were that open to write love stories on records, in those times. It is all imagination and little attached history. Like Shahjahan bulit the Tajmahal, and revolted for Mumtaj. Now everybody can make a story of what happened. If this reasoning sounds ok, then choice of jodha-akbar for this imagination sounds ridiculous to me at least. People would certainly doubt the possibility of it.

Why didn't he assume a normal couple to depict that chemistry! Would have been great, may be a hit too, but lesser on chances of Oscar selection.... :). Well what I really like about the movie is that the female's name is before the name of great king. See this is trick, Akbar-jodha always sounds better than jodha-akbar, but they went with lesser easy option, they want support of women organizations too. And beacuse I like both the leads and Ashutosh, I will see the movie.

Oh! I forgot, Ashustosh has this art of finding stories from histroy which everybody overlooked. Remember Lagaan... Has he got Links?? May be metempsychosis or reincarnation

cricket kum hai

2007-10-14T22:18:00.000+05:30

Everything is fantastic in India's cricket history at the moment, they are enjoying, celeberating, playing, selecting, fighting except winning. Great! I am amazed at their terrific ability of self-exploiation. Symonds/Hayden should stay in the Oz team and the onus is on Indian bowlers and fielders. They even helped Gilchrist in getting form. Kind Indian Cricket team.

Yes, I am in bad mood; India has lost the 5th match. They are down 4-1 and it hurts. I am not worried at losses; they are part of game. I have never blamed the abilities of the team, I am trying to figure out whats worng with the team. They are loosing, Symonds makes 100+ in 80+ balls and Ganguly just the reverse. When people should stick to crease and make run, atleast singles, they try to read the ball, I mean when you have 318 to chase try to make run na ... and they know all this yet not doing. Is something wrong with the attitiude.

No, I think and Yes I beleive. Its a fact that the team has been at the best when it has played under pressure, may be 8/10 times the story has been like that. Why they are not under pressure, they were 3-1 before todays match... Blame our brilliant fans, the welcome, team has received after tte T20 world cup win, would be enough for atleast 3 series ( and I want to be proven very worng this time).

Come on, learning is the key! learn from your rivals.

Answer to "What do I do"?

2007-10-03T13:59:00.000+05:30

The statuettes no longer amaze me, I have seen them many times! seen them in bhopal too. Am not going to stop writing because I couldn't click some of those. (plz refer to previous blog for the context).

Recently two music albums viz 'sawariya' and 'bhool bhuliaya' have made me feel good. Though the love songs haunts, (its my prob actually) I find the albums good. In 20 bucks there were many more movie albums in the same Cd Thanks to tech boom, I remember buying single audio cassette as costly as 120 re. By the way did i ever tell that "unchained melody" by righteous brothers is the best romantic songs I know till date...

Misfortune is a dreaded word, and its proponents believe more in it than its counterpart i.e. fortune. Well there are few things which makes me not to believe these proponents, I think misfortune is an excuse of not having done something or achieving. There are some incidents which can be termed misfortunes like some cigarette misfortunes can be - 1. you light the cigarette and threw it away while keep the burning/burnt matchstick in mouth and 2. you light from the other end! First one hurts though. A professor did an experiment where he asked people to fill 20 page questionnaire; in one of the pages there was a note something which could have made them win some money. Some people saw that , some didnt. ( you must have come across this earlier )What do you call this.. was this misfortune. My answer - No, they were just busy seeing other things, it would have been misfortune if they had seen that note and still couldnt pay attention, thinking it was fake!!

It makes me think that people often use 'unfortunates' and 'misfortunes' for a different word which is "being unlucky"! Yes those people were unlucky for they didnt see that. Now lucky and unlucky is again a debate but it exists for sure, you will have several references of these.

So, you can very well control misfortunes and being unfortunate. Use your common sense as much as you can but dont be alec! But being lucky or unlucky is not in your hand it just becomes.

enough bulshiting...

Life is not that cool while Jabalpur is getting cooler as days are passing by.

signing off ~ A

ps - and I really hate it when people say Sachin should not play now.

What do I do??

2007-09-29T11:14:00.000+05:30

What has kept me away from writing here... not that I am busy but that I have gone more lazy.. So here is the reason, there are two squares in Jabalpur which have some statuettes depicting farmers working. They look so fascinating that I thought my next wirintg at blogger must have them and it should be about Jabalpur.... and since then have been very lackadaisical. Jabalpore + pics must happen soon or it will be jinx..

waise I have been indeed busy over-
1. why chak de looked as remake of western sport movies combined together
2. meeting some freinds in Delhi, I have to send the pics still
3. longing for bloody marry and stern wish to stop that longing
4. is Rani Mukherjee going to marry or not.. she is that age
5. unnecessary celebrations/prizes/emotions over t20 world cup win - thank god it got solved as soon I remembered the death of football lovers and the crowds at football matches in europe. People need to have a sport to die for!!

Oh and am loving Shantaram.... the analysis of human behavior is fantastic... and the story

Reviews

2007-08-10T09:52:00.000+05:30

My last writing talked about pshycology, I wrote that often you can learn from books and here is this book 'Above Average' by Amitabha bagchi - IIT-D Prof at present. It is not the types of Quirkology, but an account of a boy's mentality, how he deals with friends who are different in all the aspects, and how he sees his Profs, freinds, girls... and his life. A long train journey provided me an opportunity to read as much as 80% of the book in one go and I was deeply nostaliged by the stories. Later I finished the book in haste as I promised to give it to a friend before I left Chennai. Well, there are few things which I really liked - names of I E Irodov, SL Loney, ML Khanna ...guys preparing for engg exams would know that the first two books are like key to IIT. The book has stories of wanderings around Delhi, efforts to learn play Drum and being a 'Drummer' and there are very well analysed incidences with friends. And the book is written in a really different style, a story starts and then it is left unfinished and a different account/incidence starts, it is left and then one more starts... all these not linked, but by the end of whole account there appear links which may not necesarily be a direct, may be just a psychological link.. :)

From book to movie - watched 'Gandhi my dad' oops 'Father' last week. Whats in the movie??Watch it for the acting and screenplay, watch it for direction, watch it for the way story has been told withour hurting many!! Though I thought movie would be very direct but many things were left unsaid and now this is a beauty of the movie. I loved Akshay's terrific performance. He didnot overact, did not shout and when he shouted everybody would have moved for sure. I liked the movie definately. Its 3.5 out of 5. The other movie which I have not seen yet, but would be watching it very soon is 'Chak De'. I know the plot, I know the message but I am going to see screenplay and direction and obvioulsy Actresses (there are quite a bunch of them in the movie, all unknown, my friend says they were very good!) and I want to see how Shahrukh can act in his similar ways everytime and get applauds.

India won the test match series against England.. Great, I thought they would win the third test match too.. I just saw that the match is withdrawn. Well the win is a feat.

Freaky-quirk blinks

2007-08-02T14:30:00.000+05:30

What is your idea of "human psychology"? Answers - difficult, hard, impossible, stupid, one needs to be very careful, you need experience, why the hell you are worried... The list is not exahustive.
I would say the very first reaction to this question should be - Boy you are talking of males or females?? Yes! sex is very important to human psychology, it is as important as socio-economic, natural, historical, environmental, personal, biological, physical and chemical factors, (these are some internal and external factors affecting a human being and thus it's psychology).

No, I am not going to write about how impossible is it to know what goes inside a female. I just wanted to make a point that sex is a factor, people often neglect it.

Well, read any book and there will be some psychological aspects - even freakonomics is combo of economics and psychology ( remember sumo wrestlers, people changing names...). Leaving pure fictions any book/writing conveys some psychology and it can help us understanding a lot of things that happen in the world. There are two very good books that I know can help you a lot in getting a nice idea of P'logy. Richard Wiseman's Quirkology ( a series of out of the earth experiments) and Malcom Galdwell's Blink. These books have tried to tell us "why things happen in a way". I found them interesting, analysis of an event or phenomenon is backed by lots of sciences, facts, experiments and examples - these are fabulous reads

We all know the famous market research failure of "Coke" in late 80s, there is a very good explanation of the whole thing in Blink. Also we can we find a common background for successful marriages in the book.

Have people really seen ghosts - is it some chemistry or physics, and Is Monalisa really smiling in the world famous painting?? read Quirkology.

Since I am knocked out of fever and bruises, I leave this here and would take on later.
Meanwhile Congratulations to everybody for India's win at Tentbridge, UK. I hope they win the series.
Some tears for me as well.

Restless

2007-07-29T01:07:00.000+05:30

It is 2 Am, 29th July, 2007 and I am abusing myself for not going out in evening. I wanted to go out and get some fags, thought would be able to do without. It was a bad logic!!

I literally stopped some months before, was actually asked to do so and I conceded. Gradually it again started, " if I concede, shouldn't I expect some return". I did not get any and in fact was pushed really hard. There are good things and bad things, I wrote sometime back that Good-Bad is a part of a continuum; so Bad for you may be Good for me and other co-ordinates may sometimes change in such a manner that a Good would suddenly be Bad. Hmm, the logic still exsits with one addition - This continuum is not linear, it is 3 dimensional.

Well, so some Good and Bad, and am back to what I was few months before. 10 is a good number. Pele used to wear the same number, I think Zinedine, Sachin also have the same number.

I never intended to write this, rather I was building on some idea of writing about Politics, some new Google/Orkut/Internet surprises. This is not what I want to do, but you are never so lucky. Life is not beautiful!

Smoke to save earth from you!!

2007-07-05T10:02:00.000+05:30

Do spend some seconds to read this
"The World Health Organisation contends that tobacco products will kill up to one billion people in this century unless governments in rich and poor countries alike get serious about curbing smoking. Already, this preventable epidemic kills 5.4 million people per year. Half of those deaths are in developing countries like India, where lighting up is still considered by many a macho Marlboro Man thing to do"

Huh ho... Marlboro Man !! The paragraph goes on to say that rich and developing countries should try to make Tobacco products as punitive as they can be - this means taxes and taxes.

My immediate reaction - A quick study to prove that Indian Bidis are not that harmful, as they are raw. I do not know whether they are as harmful as cigarettes, but I have heard some guys saying this. The picture coming to the conscious is of the people who I have seen making bidis. The fact coming to brain is that MP government earns around 2 Billion from this leaf business alone. Don't know about cigarettes but Bidi making industry supports millions of poor in states of MP, Chhatisgarh, Orrisa for sure, even when they are exploited. So my worries are worthy!.

ITC wouldn't have problem with increasing taxes. ITC- IBD is bettering with time and its on TOP, While rich dedicated smokers would smoke whatever the rates may be. Once a smoker always a smoker.
Some more
"The only way smokers can be weaned away from this highly addictive and killer activity is to make it as difficult as possible for them to puff. Towards this end all countries should introduce measures such as punitive taxation, bans on cigarette ads and ensuring that public places remain tobacco-free so that second-hand smokers are also protected"

Can we really push people not to smoke in public places - :), NO, unless the fines are charged stringently. I have seen people smoking at railway stations (big stations where GRP is on move continuously), People are not afraid of. So Government needs to create an environment of fear if it is serious. But what with these dedicated smokers - A guy was traveling in Indian railways, was caught by TC and paid 200 Rs fine. An hour later caught 2 more times by GRP paid 50 Rs each time..! and god knows how many more times he was caught.
below is an dedicated smoker pic sent to me by a friend... its good doesn't affect but

ps - The two guys above are taking up the responsibility of the title - we need more..! Sometimes I think Nick Naylor in "Thank you for smoking" had a great job!
pps -title and ps talk of good things about smoking... the blog is crap!

Wine culture!!

2007-07-01T12:23:00.000+05:30

The times of India pic moved me today morning. Though I knew the phenomenon, I was happy that its happening in India. I could not stop myself from copying it and showing it to people. Thats one part where India is growing for sure.

There are things which are actually confusing - developing a foreign taste - its just an intrusion. Western dressing styles have intruded and so do the living styles and now its Wines. I do not know if Indians were ever fond of wines, I know some raw things are prepared using wheat, mahua, grapes, sugarcane etc and they are typical Indian drinks. I am sure Wine is new to Indian tastes... wait what Indra used to take? (they called it somras was it wine or something else... it looked like wine). Anyways I am happy with something that is called Indian Wine.

Well in most of the wineries it is a tradition to put grapes in a large Drum (really large), where these grapes are meshed by women walking and dancing over it. Then it is left like that for sometime and after some days goes for other processing. Meshing can be done by machines and looks more hygienic too but in Wineries people treat this as an auspicious thing and it is sometimes celebrated too.. This is just like our Indian festivals like Lohiri, Pongal , dussehra etc... related to Crops. Wow! thats happening in India.. one more celebrations added to the list.

Bike

2007-06-27T22:59:00.000+05:30

Whenever I used to think of bikes I knew I am going to get a Pulsar.. really!. but what I have now is a Passion. I was forced to buy the HH bikes coz of their USPs - average, resale value and low maintenance. A good question can be if ur choice was pulsar and you came to HH then why not a CBZ or honda's Unicorn.. answers are - I dnt like Unicorn , and if CBZ then I'd prefer Karizma... Now since buying Karizma would have been a real stupid decision (going to fields in KArizma showing off women and looting off wallets...) so no CBZ.

I was confident of buying a pulsar even a day before coz it was favorite of favorites...!! but then I was told to buy a bike which suits me and my job and then low cost good looking bike with better seating space was the only thing I had to see ( coz when u travel 100k a day, the back really hurts if you did not sit properly and that too only from HH). We were just roaming and passed around HH showroom, found this new Passion alloy wheels black body... see below

looks better from the other side though!

and fortunately the shop owner was my freind's freind. So what - I decided to buy it.. the same day I was told to buy a bike that suits me. Earlier I was begging friends for I was colllecting 64k for pulsar. The Passion is 48k. and looks sporty! One more thing - passion actually does not allow me a speed more than 60 -70 ( it cries after that), so better given that I drive fast!

Point of Advice: People can buy Splendor in all its variations depending upon choice of model, CD delux, Suzuki's Heat. If its style boss just buy Karizma in its bright red/black or yellow color... and no other. And if you have big (cc) bug troubling you buy a Royal Enfield 300 cc.

Last few reads

2007-06-21T08:11:00.000+05:30

Finished the Lance Armstrong's book last week. Though not much to say about the story everybody knows it - that he had Cancer - he got chemotheraped and survived, later won Tour de France, the most prestigious cycle races around the world. Few comments on the style -
1. Really very frank! I have not lived his life so don't know if there are lies but its really frank.
2. You'd know to get a lot about Cancer, IVF, and Cycling.
3. You'd learn the type of attitude you need in difficult situs
4. You'd know how and what support you should have in your life?

I would give it 3.3 out of 5.

The big news today however is that I have made my mind not to read Fireproof by Raj Kamal Jha. It makes me cry ( the footnotes), I'll tell if somehow complete the book.
Note - the book is fiction based on riots in Gujarat, feb 2002

And there is one more I must tell about - a real brave book by - Asra Nomani. I am proud of her Indian origin. The book "Standing Alone in Mecca" is story of a Muslim woman trying to find her voice, her ordeals for the Hajj and others ( I haven't read it all yet). The important thing for me however is that first few pages of the book talk about a place called Allahabad :) And if you want to know Why/How Daniel Pearl (he was south Asia chief of Wall Street Journal at that time) was murdered buy this book immediately. Asra was with Daniel and his wife, when he was kidnapped and his throat was slit. I have not finished this book yet, but it seems to be a good read, getting to know much about the religion too. After reading it, I am seriously looking to read a book on Buddhism.

What else - Life is NOT cool.

ps- i could have provided links for books and reviews but i dnt feel like. Why am saying this? - coz i feel like saying it :-)

Why I Knew JBJ will FLOP

2007-06-17T12:28:00.000+05:30

Very simple - its yet another yashraj films (I told sometimes back how much i hate plots of yashraj movies) and there is no Rani!!

Do watch Dharma guys.... brilliant plot and superb acting!!

She is Gone

2007-06-09T10:46:00.000+05:30

Yes! She is GOne.... Though I never saw her, I always wanted not to see her. I knew many guys were poor targets for her. She changed the ways we used to live. She tried to change family equations.. I am still confused whether for good or bad. She was successful too.

Tulsi would not die from many hearts for sure, but I know certainly a large chunk of population would be relieved. Barkha Dutt has written a nice article on her - she has also blogged about empowerment and raunchiness in today's context and role of Tulsi. (Lib Serivce, TV Style if you want to read).

But there are still many running, and many praying for their DEATHS.

Random

2007-06-07T08:49:00.000+05:30

Why it all comes back? I understand world is round, time is cyclic.. history repeats... but characters dont - people die, how everything can come back. If yes I'd love it comes back.

Who in this world can not be selfish, even monks leave everything to get closer to gods. I think am pretty unselfish.

Good or Bad - really am unable to understand the dynamics of persons being good and bad, the only logic that explains this is "Relativeness", and on this continuum people keep changing position - I mean everybody, so may be I am still at the same place and some body moved from one point to another, and I became bad for that person, Even it is also possible that two of us were at the same position and may be someone(s) else changed its positions in such a manner, that relative positioning between us became bad.

It sounds as a good logic, even explains why Mallika sherawats are good for men and bad for women at the same time. ( Of course there are exceptions !)

I am really hating the characters in Karan Johar movies, he doesn't understand anything. Worse even yashraj films OR may be I am.......

Confused, what am thinking?

Here is one from SantaBanta.com.. some times you really find good things -

An elderly man lay dying in his bed.
In death`s agony, he suddenly smelled the aroma of his favorite chocolate chip cookies wafting up the stairs.
He gathered his remaining strength, and lifted himself from the bed. Leaning against the wall, he slowly made his way out of the bedroom, and with even greater effort forced himself down the stairs, gripping the railing with both hands. With labored breath, he leaned against the door frame, gazing into the kitchen.
Were it not for death`s agony, he would have thought himself already in heaven: there, spread out upon newspapers on the kitchen table were literally hundreds of his favorite chocolate chip cookies.
Was it heaven? Or was it one final act of heroic love from his devoted wife, seeing to it that he left this world a happy man?
Mustering one great final effort, he threw himself toward the table, landing on his knees in a rumpled posture. His parched lips parted; the wondrous taste of the cookie was already in his mouth; seemingly bringing him back to life.
The aged and withered hand, shockingly made its way to a cookie at the edge of the table, when it was suddenly smacked with a spatula by his wife.
"Stay out of those," she said, "they`re for the funeral."

Some more humor - Find this chicken of the sea add, if it doesnt play download it, just few Kbs..
http://www.funtoosh.com/mclips/play.php?id=slm_beauty

Goodbyes and Goodlucks

2007-06-02T12:07:00.001+05:30

This is a professional transfer, I am leaving Vidisha and would settle down in Jabalpur for next few months. While I am saying a final Goodbye to place, I must share some wonderful moments I had at this place.

I will start with my place of residence, It happens to be a unique place in the city. There are just 11 houses in this apartment. I lived in House no 2, Number 1 is the first house from left.

This pic is taken from front, which was my favorite time pass place. Often I used to stand there with camera and I would click on things . I am sharing two of those "clicks" below, One is a punjabi possession, the five guys are dressed as Guru, while the second is of a boy, who was walking tall using sticks.

Can you see women brooming the road. People have the same gender thinking sadly!!

I lived a nice social life in Vidisha, for my neighbors were good and being a small place people had a unique sense of recognition. Whenever I used to come back from field or a tour cleanliness of my place especially my house always made me feel good. My sister and Mother had a good time when they were here for sometime.

I could not exploit myself here to the extent I could have. I did not buy a bike otherwise could have explored far away places in this district, For there are caves, mines, forests everything present here. While this would be the repentance as am leaving this place, I am happy that I could manage to see some of the very unique things at this place. There are two hillocks with in the city and both are historic. One is Lohangi, there a "mazaar" so its religious too. I climbed this hillock 2-3 times and believe me you would not like to come down.

This is a view of city from Lohangi. You can see the railway track too.

Then there are "Caves of Udaigiri", though Caves are closed now, it still is a good place to be known as picnic spot. People do come here to enjoy, boys and girls come here too... Sadly I visited this place just once. Below is a view from top of the place and the next one is a sculpture on the mouth of a cave.

I think this is God Narsingh

There are small small dams on river Betwaa with in the city and they are constructed in a manner that they usually are good swimming place in mornings, and good picnic spots in evening. Thankfully these are not much explored! Below is a one.

So, all this would have told you something about the place and that how rich this place can become if opportunities are taken up. Sadly people are not taking opportunities. While still I have not written about the world's most wanted site at this place it. But before Sanchi, I should tell that these things are in the southern parts of the district, go to north and west, you'd be even more amazed.

Sanchi, - there are remains of Mahinder's body parts (I think nails and hair). There is a budhist temple inside and Sanchi is a World Heritage Site - very beautiful, scenic and pacifying. I have some very emotional memories attached to this place. I went to this place quite a few times , I have been there with the most person in my life. I just wish that the place be powerful enough to fulfill wishes.

For me the monument at Sanchi is not the only place to see, the MP tourism's guest house is my favorite too. I spent some good evenings at this place, for me this was the only place in vidisha..

Jabalpur is a fun place, its central to some of my dreams - chindwara, bandhavgarh, amarkantak. But Vidisha will not fade away.

ps: forgive me for not putting any sanchi pic.
pps : dates are always important, so please bear if they cause problems.

Frankly

2007-05-29T04:24:00.000+05:30

When somebody asks you to write - you hate writing,
When somebody asks you to travel - you hate traveling,

actually am wondering why we hate things when asked to do!

Why people need freedom, when "All Free" system has higher chances of failures. The greater the entropy the greater the collisions - everybody will become Gas.

What is best way to control society - religion?, politics?, Uncontrolled?......................... CONFUSED!
What happens to us when we Die?

I am just wondering!!
Any guesses why I like Physics?

Updates

2007-05-27T21:01:00.000+05:30

Places:
I visited Allahabad last week. I am very happy with the slow pace it is moving really!! There is no fast growth as Lucknow or Bhopal, people are still satisfied, they do not seem to be in hurry. Most of the roads are still not repaired timely, 2 -3 buildings (shopping complex types) have come up in last 2 years, Kanha Shyam is still the only 4 star hotel and masala cold drinks, roadside chaats etc are still the favorites. Not many fun places and neither new industries. Somebody says either it creates Prime Ministers or Nothing. But I commend Railways - their new colony is apple's eye, its a must see in Allahabad.

I am actually happy that Allahabad still maintains its old culture amidst heavy intrusion. There are reasons which are quite obvious - First, Prayagraj Exp, carries more than 1000 people daily to Delhi (why they would care about masti here??). Second- Movement from near by villages, so in Allahabad it's not urban getting metro-urban it is more like rural/semi urban getting urban. Third - Lots of area is covered by defense and rivers (thanks to sonu bhaiya for pointing this out). Fourth - Loss of focus, thanks to political Uncles and Aunties.

Took this pic last time - this is Allahabad's Sabzi Mandi. This is really big Mandi spread over 1X1 Km area (I think, but not less than this)

I bet you would like Allahabad as it is - it is calm and very pacifying, you would love the taste of water. Let me tell, the Hindi (leave the local dialect) that is spoken in this area is the bestest of all - the modern Hindi (the "khadi" Hindi).

Travel:
I have been very unlucky turned lucky in this. I never get confirmed tickets, miss trains - which is the unlucky part and the lucky part is that I always find some channel to put in more money and get a comfortable journey. This is enough will not tell more on this.

Books:
Got a good reading set at this time - Still completing Broken Music by Sting. Brideless in Wembley by Sanjay Suri is sitting on table gazing at me - boss start me!! - I am sorry, been traveling a lot. Got two new from Allahabad - Standing Alone in Mecca by Asra Q Nomani and It's not about the Bike....... by Lance Armstrong. I have started the later and it is really well written - seems Lance has knack of writing as his knack of driving. I will write about this book once I finish it.

Work is calling me now!!

Chennai again

2007-05-16T17:04:00.000+05:30

Thinking what I will be able to do in next two days I am in chennai...

1. Beaches - long live dream, I need to wake up very early in morning.
2. Inox - ?? I'll prefer room party this time.

Anything Innovative: blank... dnt have much time actually.

Kissing Woes

2007-05-14T08:19:00.000+05:30

This blog is not what happened when a girl kissed me for that matter I have never been kissed, this is about something else.

Was thinking last night what would happen if a girl would kiss me - I cant reciprocate!! Yes, do not know why, but certainly I do not have that art as of now. I have learnt nothing from movies, nothing from Imran Hashmi, and nothing from James Bond, Spiderman... Lets see this from a girls point, I think a girl would reciprocate nicely if kissed - do not know why but I think she'd.

Well with this comes one more - most of the girls of my age atleast have one kiss experience, Reason - I know few girls who do not have a boyfriend Or to put other way there are very few friends, where I have no idea if they have a boyfriend.

Important : A boyfriend / girlfriend is the one with you have initmate realtions, you share things, you believe them, have faith trust etc more than anyone else. And its not a friend who happens to be a girl/boy.

I thought above was very important, anyways, contrast is with boys, I know very few boys who have girlfreinds. Why from Kisses to Boyfreind/girlfriend - there is a direct relation.. so am not loosing my way.

Lets have a simple calculation: suppose there are 10000 boys, taking male female ratio (Beleive "The Hindu"), there would be 9270 girls (there are implicit assumptions... of course), there are 730 males left unattented. Just imagine how many boys would be there unattended, when population is about 10000 times of this number730,00,00, and 25% of this belong to my age group - ie around 18.2 million. Unfortunately I also belong to this number.

I saw "never been kissed" few years before- its a good movie, reflects my situation nicely, Drew Barrymore was ugly in her school days and boys used to make fun of her... ( waise no body makes fun of me, but am not handsome), later she became journalist, turned gorgeous and went to the same school for a story, remained there as a student, this time she attracted everybody including the boy who made fun of her... (unfortunately over peirod of time I have not turned handsome).

So, I belong to a no "girlfriend category", do not know "how to reply if a girl would kiss me", and I am "not handsome" ... These are bottomlines.
Guys do something for me!!

Ps: I am running on a tight schedule and I am writing this crap here, when I should have been analysing my questionnaires... Something is wrong seriously.

Chennai...

2007-05-11T12:13:00.000+05:30

Chennai has always been good to me. I never find it boring because of its climate it actually helps me in getting some flabb off. I have visted Chennai in quick successions in recent past and felt good again. There were few 'new' this time. One of them is Inox, so everytime I find reasons for coming here and I would suggest everybody to visit Inox for sure, its a fun place and a good time pass.

Searched a good Ayurvedic Restruant- "Sanjeevanam" on the Nungambakkam high road, it is really good, some typical Tamil Dishes cooked and served in Health friendly manner. Please make note of word "Served" - yes. So they do not serve cold water, no cold juices (the fruit juices are at room temperature and since the restruant room is AC, you feel they are lukewarm) anyways thats the USP of it.

This time, got to know more about geography of Chennai, now I can go to some places without any assistance, I mean i know the roads that lead to Spencers, Inox, Satyam, Ega, Kodambakkam, Zara, Park etc....

There are many other things to tell about, but for the time being am stopping with a repentance - I have not seen Chennai beaches yet - neither Marina nor Besant Nagar. I plan it everytime and it fails everytime.

Plans are always highly overrated !!!

Summer's Rudders

2007-05-05T10:57:00.000+05:30

Heat is on a high!, I know precautions while moving out - lots of water, sunglasses, a cloth to cover head or a cap, eat onions, drink juice (with lemon), eat yoghurt, eat less, drink more (water) and travel less. Lets try these some from my side -

Do not bath in morning. Bath in nights, preferably 8-9 PM.
Do not wet your hair regularly.
Smoke with Tea (two hot thing will give cooling effect!)
Do not read Climate Change reports
One tonic (gin or vodka in afternoon), kills the hot antibodies.. People who take alochol come down to beer.... beer shitt.. I hate it.
Any addicition is Vice in summers, but if you do it between 12 - 3 PM, it keeps you healthy. Though in nights try just two pegs/gms of whatever u take. (two is necessary to kill microbes from the day, more than two would make you restless in summers (for sometime) unless u have an AC).
Do not take milk cofee or Tea, somehow i feel milk in cofee/tea makes you ill, go for Black!, Trust Coffee from Barista.
Use Mathaa (salted watered curd) .
If in Field, do not take rest in shade, it makes you sick to move again.
Do not cry, remember salts are necessary in summers. drink glucose after u cry.
Similarly for Loo.
The most important thing is if you do not Drink Alcohol or are addicted.. start at once, it keeps u away from diseases.. coz its the biggest !! For heart patients/obese persons, please prefer Red Wines than usual Alcohols!.

The most important thing however is your attitude (psychology and motivation). So
be positive.
be confident.
and do not forget to say "I Love You" to your loves... this is the best addiction.

There should be days like this

2007-04-27T10:59:00.000+05:30

I am not a high EQ guy but yesterday cried while attending a Funeral. I could not withstand the way "body" was being treated (like it was a substance to burn, camphor ghee etc was being poured on it). I cried and I was the only one out of family crying, there were others too but my tears didnt stop.

This was the morning incident, I came back to home. Somehow reminisced Chris McCandless, lead of the book Into the Wild, and I again felt very sorry for the way he died. The book is good as it blends Emotions, A real story, Heroics and Adventure together. When I searched for this book to get more informaiton about the writer, was surprised to know that it is already a movie due in September 2007.

Last night started this book "a million little pieces". The best comment about the book is by evening Standard "Frey really can write. brilliantly and if you don't think so, f*** you" (frey is the author). The story is of a drug addict who has come to a rehabilitation center, his emotions, fights, dreams and past relations.. nicely written .... atleast up to where I have reached. This is surely a good book. a must read!! for the way it has been written - typical american slangs, straight forward, and rhythymic toooo.

These three things left me restless by night... funeral + death of guy who was an adventurist + story of a drug addict... my God !! Tried to call someone in vain....

Anyways Today I feel better!!, woke up early :)

You were Helpless

2007-04-17T14:17:00.001+05:30

Last night I had a terrible experience. Planned a quick tour to Jabalpur from Vidisha, got to know that there are seats available in the overnight train. When I communicated the decision to mother, she was speechless - this is not the way you plan trips, this is all she said.

Well, I was out at 11 30 Pm waiting for the train and meanwhile gossiped with brother-in-law. Train came, I got into the coach and asked attendant if seats are available? Yes was the reply. The scene inside was horrible, TTE was selling seats with a RPF personnel standing along. Pay the money, there will be no receipts was the statement. The money being asked (Rs 600/-) was the same as you would have paid for the reservation, so it was not even Bribe, it was sheer Rape of passengers. Meanwhile he was pushing me so hard - "Decide soon" and kept on repeating the phrase. I said "Sir, Why aren't ya giving receipts, I need it!!". He blatantly said - There are no seats then!! Do you want a birth - take this (pointed at a middle birth) or Go out (pointed at the Door) ??

Unable to decide, I came out went to the adjoining sleeper class and started looking for empty births. All the time I kept thinking "How can I call someone to get TTE punished, why I don't have CVC's number, Can I tell this to Station Master?". I know I was helpless!! Well I slept on a birth and at 2 Am TTE again comes for the ticket ( there was only one TTE in the train, and he was on selling spree with the same policeman with him - what a mockery again, he asked for Rs 150 this time).

I knew he would come here too and before sleeping, I was thinking what can I do if he comes here and asks for the money, shall I push him for the fine and receipts?? So when he came I told him - what is this, you did the same thing in Ac coach, not here please!!. He said Ok give 100 bucks, see there are many (pointing at policemen) to share and he was so frank in saying all this (I wish there was a word meaning Blatant and Bastard). I gave him 100 bucks and slept. TTE nightmare was over. There was no sheet and I was shivering all through....

And then I dreamt of someone, whom I would have never liked to dream of at least. I met her 10 years before in school during 10+2. She used to be our Classteacher and was the happiest person around if she could punish us. Last night I dreamt that she didnt allow me to enter into the class room and I was standing near the door. ( now I think probably classroom resembled the train coach). I was trying hard to get inside and she would not budge, all my requests etc were helpless. Then I dreamt somebody patting on legs... "Boss utho jabalpur aa gaya". I was at Jabalpur actually and some Sane soul was helping me from the Class teacher.

I remembered Mrs. Sugna (the classteacher) until I got a room for myself.

Driving Nonsense!!

2007-04-07T11:12:00.000+05:30

Comments on my Driving style.... I have never been a regular driver for long. Its always been in phases. I just had a similar phase recently in Jabalpur, Living in Vidisha didn't give any opportunity to drive, so Jabalpur was a change !.

Traffic system in MP as such is very paralysed and I mean it.. If there is a single word describing the style, it will be - पेल दो !!!. Everybody drives for themselves, never care about others. So the Mantra is " You also do not Care about others..". The situ is nobody cares and the system goes. Driving in Jabalpur is mockery of traffic system. Red Lights are just to tell "भाई मन हो तो रुक जाऒ"- NO body cares, Honking on Turns - No body cares, Indicator on turns - " हाथ ही दिख जाए तो बडी बात हॆ" and no body cares even. All rikshaw, tempo, cycles, cars.. are proud players. I did not see a accident in past 15 days - I also dont care. Road Crossing is even more stylish - You'd remember your college days - how daringly we used to cross roads, sometimes going right into heavy moving traffic .. coming in front of bikes/cars and stopping them and few words accompanying them... Jabalpuriyas all are college goers then !! ( but they do not shout, असली कालेज नही जाते ना!!!) . But you need to take care of them.

One style from Jabalpur, which I will certainly capture sometimes is that most of the new bikers have no Registeration Number on Number plate. Its most of time blank - white. To show see how daring I am., but then most of Jabalpuriyas will become daring - perfect impact study research If Sanjay Dutt's Darings had affects?? (Src: Lage raho munnabhai). My Bike also had no numbers; I asked for it and then forgot..., Later I realized Boss Do not worry, You are Daring :) .

My style of driving - was even more furious. I am a fast driver but I do not have this "attitude".. My fast driving attitude got a boost here in Jabalour when sort of "no care" attitude mingled with it. It was fun, all back in इलाहाबादी ishtyle.. , After three years I was again shouting at tempowalas, fellow bikers, pushing truckwalas and what not.. I was the king, no respect for any vehicle.. Why to bother its the style. Only time I was in trouble was when a bike suddenly came in front from left side, it was like hidding next to tempo and as soon I corssed tempo, the bike started... Smack... his bike, nothing happend to me! I was in speed and he had to put on breaks, I looked back shouted " भाई लड के आऎ हो क्या, काहे भिड रहे हो??".. (dnt see words, tone is always bad), No time to listen to Reply.......

Jabalpur is not very special in traffic sense (except for the blank number plate style). I have seen in various parts of MP, people have very poor Driving Sense or its just Driving Nonsense - what to say You also enjoy sometimes..

Contd...

2007-04-02T11:33:00.000+05:30

Behind any successul story ; there is a villian....

What shall I do? I became villian in my own.

2007-03-28T15:33:00.000+05:30

Having troubled life these days........, dnt know what to do???

There is utter dissatisfaction but dnt know what?? I am unable to analyze too cause there are problems all around.

There is no benchmark for me to compare with. I know the answer to my problems too "- do not think much - keep on doing your work - God pays back". This is what gita says and rightly too, coz i have seen whenever I have done things just like that i was happy with results.

The big fallacy however is that the same god has given this rational-emotional mind. Why the hell I will not think? Why I wont think of everybody's Happyness? Why cant I love someone? Why I will live a scarce life? Why this has to be me?

I am really screwed.

ps: dont tell everybody has problems - i know this.

Tamsiks at Best??

2007-03-09T12:10:00.000+05:30

Past few days were of extensive traveling, covering south and central parts of India. Fun components were inbuilt into it. While I was in Chennai, I went to see Indian France - yes Pondicherry and travel to parts of MP got me stuck in Chatarpur ( small district in North-east of MP) where stands one of the biggest attraction in India: Khajuraho.

Pondicherry gave an opportunity to see the famous Aurbindo ashram (though I never knew of it, but my co-travelers found it worth watching and I too after visiting it). I found Aurbindo interesting to read (later sometimes). The focus was cheap liquor in Pondi so soon we were on ample buying. It included Red Wine and Champagne with me having two units of flavored Smirnoff and then off to a distant village on sea beach!!!. It was fun, the three hours we were not on India, not in France rather we were on some rocks and water. We were seeing life in all forms; hardness of rocks - softness of froth - versatility of ideas................

The east coast highway was fun to move on!!

The bigger revelation was Khajuraho, rather is - am still here. There is no word tell about the beauty of the temples, the architecture, ideas which led to their construction, and more over the wild life sanctuary and Tiger reserve nearby – all in one package.Though I just visited few places, I am more than happy. Khajuraho must have been a mystical place in 10th century, for various developments here have still not been able to overcome the mystics.

There are five temples collectively known as Monuments of Khajuraho as listed in list of World Heritage Sites. Each temple was built separately by different Bundela kings. Khajuraho temples tell – Why God is necessary in life and why one must complete all duties for which the life was bestowed upon. Before visiting any temple from inside a circumambulation must be done. This ensures one sees all activities that are performed in daily routine. One must leave all feelings and emotions outside the temple before entering and perhaps the circum-ambulation reminds – Man forget this, this and this too. Now go for God!! , since meeting with God requires utmost attention one can not let emotions pour in.
(On lighter side – come out again circum-ambulate n remember everything again!!)

The Laxman Temple

The scriptures were fascinating and I was searching all the time, I was searching for those things which are often overlooked by others (thanks to an extensive internet research). I was able to find sculptures which were hidden or not so pronounced. Each had description of some or other activity and you need to think/find out how nicely it has been depicted - so you can find a woman just came out from bath and even expression of emotions when one sees wrong happening in front. Believe me you will love the depiction. One must see the night “light and sound” show, which is one of goodies in all ASI sites.

After writing all this about Khajuraho, I don’t know if the Title still suits the description, but it should - you know me guys!!

Everytime you would find a God, surrounded by sensuous poses - refelcts the highest level of concentration that one Needs for both

The woman has just come out from a Bath

Rhena Fall is a must see

Coming up Next: Bhedaghat stories from Jabalpur, Bastar Paintings

I do not know what emotion am in for Bhopali Lass ??

2007-02-22T03:24:00.000+05:30

Last evening my elder sister told an incident from Bhopal - " a girl put Varmala into her boyfriend while groom watched.... " I did not pay attention to it for I know news channels and newspaper find masalas all the time... and moreover its ok!

I was in my way to Bhopal today to meet some friend and this news was hot everywhere. I learnt about it much during the 1 hr travel and you know Indian railways offers this "free of cost" news service with expert views from everybody. Somebody started saying: " the girl surely has shown way for many"
Psg2: There is no way, she just messed up!!, No one would do that
Psg3: Ok what happened later, I just heard Police had to intervene
Psg2: Oh! all the baratis were mad..., they destroyed all the things that were supposed to go to grooms place, Police came and stopped them, took the girl and boy with them.. gave them three option ( i was thinking Is Mr psg2 is relative of the boy or girl.. he knows many things) - 1. go with parents, 2. marry each other, 3. .. I forgot, but he told something..
Psg4: So she married him??
Psg2: Yes Poor guy, he was hooked you know, he would have never married the girl... ( uff he is certainly boy's relative)
Psg1: Whatever u say, the girl took a strange and nice step... its unique !!
Psg 2: Poor guy and Poor parents
A group: Yes it was bad for girl's parent and even worse for boys.... this media is very bad. (everybody gets reprimand in India U know!!!)

Bhopal station was near and this young group was busy somewhere, a group of old person was near to me now and One of them said - " hey do you know one girl yesterday did... blah blah.."

Old2: this education is ruinning children, the more educated one becomes, worsens the situation of parents
Old3: yes most of the times they are helpless... u ask them abt son/daughter marriage and they say - he will decide or make decision.
Old1: It was so bad for parents.... I heard a similar story from Allahabad where girl ran away three days before.. it was bad but the house was not ransacked atleast as has happened here... ( I was happy to hear Allahabad!!)

I was initially smiling overthe "Old people" conversation but their sentiments moved me later.. especially the one regarding helplessness of parents. I thought over it and found its true. Why this happens and all are parents unhappy with this? I figured this happens beacuse things are not actually same as they were before call this generation gap or change or mordernization or miscommunication or bad or good but it is like this. Whether this affects parents negatively depends on how the message is being conveyed... After all parents are there to love you.

Bhopal came we descended I met my friends, came back.. but this notion has been haunting me since I heard this... In this case was girl's action wrong, or parents were bad ( we do not know their story...)?? Most of the time girl is easy target for hatred and parents for sympathy... (like everybody is doing) but no one knows truth. May be it was destined to be like that...

I am happy for new couple, and the groom ( he shud get a good bride now)... do not have any emotions for parents.. coz I dont know anything abt them.

I am the kettle of fish

2007-02-15T23:10:00.000+05:30

Everything is in mess right now, just thanks to few things in world:

Unchained Melody
ITC Ltd

Things which should not have been there:

Internet
Cellphone

Why do people live in this world - to get worldly pleasures and to earn something.. What if they are sure not to get or earn any, Is there any point in them bugging mother nature!!!

February

2007-02-06T09:41:00.000+05:30

February is always hectic, everybody in India becomes the Busiest. All working men/women have their year endings, teachers have exams to take, and school children/college people have practicals on head n exams in the very next month. Income tax department becomes God, every citizen can be seen moving to the office directly or indirectly, you know their favorite movie: Salary less in March!!! . Banks/Corporates etc either Party or suffer depending on whether they achieved target!!. February actually brings movement to many lives especially laggards - from any alms of the society. February is even more special in personal overtures. It is the month of Love, the season of Spring.. and it really springs you. Middle of month brings Cock Day!!, (cock day is common name of Valentine's day).

I know a very common story - boy meets girl, goes senti, tries a lotto tell n propose but is unable to do so.. blah blah...... I was watching Choti se Baat (amol Palekar and ashok Kumar), where Ashok helps fattu Amol to get a girl. Ashok kumar died... otherwise I could have advised this boy to meet him. Is the girl unlucky or boy?. Thank God!! this hasn’t happened to me, it’s just a story which actually comes to real as Valentine’s Day come closer (guys come out from covers). Boys out there try to do something unique (some girls too). There are people to help them - some are Pro while few are Amateurs (through their experiences), there are websites to help too!!!.

So everyone is busy!! What I am doing this February?? Professionally I have targets to finish, am already two months behind!! But this happens when there are many stakeholders. There are three organizations working together and there are at least 5 parties to my work. I enjoy my work, no doubt about it especially when your bosses are good. I have still deadlines to meet.

I have had my plans for this valentine too. My plans…. Uff I can write a book on My Plans - which never succeed. I am actually on the verge of scrapping a plan which was not great but sort of good. My premonitions are high and any next plan is going to be a mess. Hence I am not making any more plans. This month what am going to do is writing blogs about my Valentine. I will be cheating for sure because my dictionary is surely out of words for her but let me give a try. I may not be honest with words but I will not be dishonest for sure!!

This is my present to you Huny this Valentine.

Memory Walks..

2007-01-30T20:48:00.000+05:30

Life is not all about loosing things or gaining things, You never know what you are going to get and what desires would remain unfilled for always. The only thing you carry always is Memory. My memories find a lot of time to ping me on my morning walks. There are incidents which ignite them.

I wake up late so am out for walk only by 8, this is bad I know but its better to be late than No walk at all. Every morning I see girls going to schools, lasses going to college and boys all around them also going to school/College and trying in vain to concentrate about first lecture. Its a sight.... beleive me!! Everytime I see boys staring/commenting/talking among themselves about girls I think "lage raho....... sahi hai". I try to "read" both stimuli (read boys actions) and reaction (read girls actions)..... I swear its fun.

All this leads to flurry, I remember my college and school times. All bunked classes swirl in front suddenly!! and even some girls too.... especially the grad finals when we seldom attended practicals and the times during exams when I used to finish paper early so that I can join other friends to see girls... Thanks to Love Tree.

My "reading" of these incidents often give me very less time to actually see girls. I think seeing them as a neutral person gives more releif than just watching... I experience this every morning.

Dont know why am being pervert, I should see them na...... Hey am not Ill!!

English songs... and Romance

2007-01-17T18:36:00.000+05:30

I have been a music freak. I remember listening to songs on radio when I was in 7th standard. In 9th standard I got this Tape-recorder and radio was lost for sometime. It was flood of cassettes in my house. Whenever I got money I used to buy a new cassette. But Radio never lost its value, it was my best companion in class 10 board exams and years after. I remember Sitting with dad and listening to 10 Pm radio song show, he would be reading newspaper most of the times. (whenever I say radio its Vividh Bharti channel). Graduation was different, CD systems were pouring in and I was having computers as a subject so everything was very quickly digitizing itself. Cassettes were not gone in a whim, even now I have pet shops for Taperecorder repairing and cassette buying/recording, but the technology has pushed them to develop a different knack now.

Well I wanted to tell about my experience of English Romantic songs, somehow started with this description of my love for music. English songs were alien till I first bought a cassette of "Aqua" n one named "Mysterious Girls" that had fast numbers and it was good for a boy who was starting to love english songs. Fad for english songs was growing..........

My real exposure to english songs was two years before, when I was in IIFM. Batchmates had collection of songs, I confess in 90 % cases the names were new to me I had never heard of BSB, MLTR, Pink Floyd, Pearl Jam, Eagles, Beatles, Van halen , Bob Dylan / Marley, Enrique, Christina, Bees Gees, Metallica Kylie Minogue, Celine Dion, Dido, Santana or Avril Lavigne before (there is a long list..... actually, this is what inside head at this time). There are bands and then there are individual singers too. In India there are never so many names you know. The best part is each singer got a unique style, so go for Bryan or Ricky or Shakira or Robbie Williams, they are all good. And then there are styles rock, pop, jazz, classic, folk, electircal n Rock in intself is father i never heard of fast rock or punk rock earlier. Even there are many stlyles that I dont know.

My initial fondness in english songs was music - combo of whatever instruments they use. Obviously I was inclined fast tracks, As I watched videos, I found styles are more appealing, I heard them without video many times and I found some were really very good. I remember Robbie Williams, Enrique, Kylie Minogue, Linkin Park and Eagles. Interest in english songs was on high n it was goin high. I will thanks Rahul and Shubro ( both were roomates in IIFM n had great collection of english songs) for my collection. Soon I was interested in lyrics too and now I know whats the real thing. Romance is my flavour and Roxette, Michael Bolton, Sting, Bryan Adams really rock. I will write about my favorite 5 here.

Michael Bolton
Right now I donot know much about him , Wikepedia is always there. I like his style, he is tall and long hairs and handsome. Here am mentioning two of his songs..

Tell me how am I supposed to live without you
Now that I’ve been lovin’ you so long
How am I supposed to live without you
When all that I’ve been livin’ for is gone
Lyrics
You Tube

Said I loved you but I lied
cause this is more than love I feel inside
Said I loved you but I was wrong
cause love could never ever feel so strong
Lyrics
You Tube

Both of these songs are really good for heart broken people. The second song is little more rich in words, the former is simple yet can move ya.

Celine Dion
She has never impressed me, but lyrics of this song and the intensity with which she has sung it, has brought this here in my list. This is dedicated to movie Titanic and I like it.

Every night in my dreams
I see you, I feel you

Love can touch us one time
And last for a lifetime
And never let go till we're one

Love was when I loved you
One true time, I hold to
In my life we'll always go on....

Lyrics
You Tube

Stevie Wonder
This song is really great, can use it for proposing a girl, I am big time fan for the way this song was sung

No new yearss day.. To celebrate
No chocolate covered candy hearts to give away
No first of spring... No song to sing
In fact heres just another ordinary day
No april rain... No flowers bloom
No wedding saturday within the month of june
But what it is.... Is something true
Made up of these three words that I must say to you

I just called to say I love you....

Lyrics

You Tube

Ronan Keating
This is a real romantic song, play while you are with your love. This song was used in the big romantic hit Notting Hill. Again the style is mantra...

It's amazing
How you can speak
Right to my heart
Without saying a word
You can light up the dark
Try as I may
I could never explain
What I hear when
You don't say a thing......

Lyrics
Download

Sting

This is the best, no words just listen to it and keep your eyes on lyrics, the style will rock you

I dream of rain
I dream of gardens in the desert sand
I wake in vain
I dream of love as time runs through my hand....

You Tube
Lyrics

The list is not exhaustive, I just mentioned few, there are others like Rod Stewart ( listen to his "have I told you lately that I love you" song, nice expression of Love) Bryan and Roxette ( listen to "It must have been love" by her). The difference is even greater than the difference you find in english and hindi movies. As for Stevie's song is concerned, you'd find it similar to aate jaate from Maine Pyar Kiya, dnt know who copied the tune....

Its not that only english songs can move one's heart, For us hindi songs have a bigger impact as they directly attack subconcious mind. We know great singers we had n their powers too. But this blog was for english songs.. may be next time.

?????.....

2007-01-14T16:26:00.000+05:30

" Your desires are problematic today, for they don't support your long-term goals. You may be tempted to just disregard your illogical emotions and go ahead with your plans. But it's not that simple. You might not be able to talk yourself out of what you want. Give yourself a few days in order to make your decision" - This is what tarot.com says in google homepage today for Aries.

I woke up at 11 today, head inside was BOOM like I have been drinking for hours. Usually this headache comes every morning when I wake up, today it came with a bang. Checked mails and after a long gap went for sun bath today. I remember few calls from relatives in morning and I was bad to them. Sitting under sun made me more vulnerable. Out of blues there were views coming inside like I was a black box or new human magent which can capture every possible wave in this world. Personally and Professionally I was made a disaster by them. I came back, change is always good was the mantra.. checked my homepage for news n jokes. Mr tarot.com blew me away. though I dnt believe in astrology but when something is in front of you and is seemingly true you are bound to think over it.

Phrases like "long term goal", " might not be able to talk yourself", "problematic desires" and "disregard" are all signs of evil n the mother of all is "illogical emotions". My goodness, I had all these with me!!, where did they come from? I didnt inculcate a new desire or emotion last night. Whatever is with me has come through a period of time n through a series of rational decisions and thinking process. They sometimes be out of line but never illogical, I mean studies or writings can never be illogical, love and affections can't be illogical.

Whatever, it is there and I am still vulnerable, for last one hour was trying to think what I can do to get out of this, 1. I thought of calling Dad, BSNL the grt, saved him ( it was good actually otherwise he would have been sad), 2. Thought of writing something, this is the result, 3. motivational songs, couldnt think of anything better than Lakshya and am listening to it, 4. watched few sequences of Saving private Ryan, 5. walked to and fro in bacony n terrace watched poeple moving around..

Sort of relieved, but still not normal, I am waiting for something actually.

Blood Brothers/Daily Reports/ n Whats New?

2007-01-12T13:30:00.000+05:30

Finished this book ( Blood Brothers) by M J Akbar few days before, thought of writing about it as soon I finished it, couldn't do cause wondered what I would write? so I am writing what this is all about with no analysis. The book says its family saga of MJ Akbar himself, starts with his Grandfather Prayaag from Bihar who comes to Telinipara in West Bengal to work in jute mill, gets new parents, marries a muslim girl, starts businesses and becomes one of the richest and respected in the area, then to his father Akbar, his friends and lifestyle, his desire of white woman n then Mr MJ himself. I would say its a great book I could not wait for days to finish it. It is called blood brothers coz at all times of family life they ( grndpa, akbar n MJ) had a small group of freinds including Muslims, Brahmins, Thakurs, British Officers.. The conversations in the group varied from country to governance to festivals to religion to family crisis. They were all different (culturally, mentally n economically) but united ( again culturally, mentally n economically)..... its typical "story types" but when you read this embedded in important events of history, you actually Like it.

Well, the days are quite simple and calm with no big tours ahead, I actually planned to go to Lucknow, didn't go, I had planned for a trip to west parts of country but its hanging too ( i know). I am reading books, going to field, working on a pilot questionnaire and sleeping.

I got a beard in new year and this is a change, some guys have actualy asked me " what happend to you" or direct questions like " what happend to your girlfriend or if she rejected your proposal??" he he he :) am loving this. My answer to all this is "oh this is just a routine change" the logic is ( चिक्ने चेहरे पे तो कोइ फ़िस््ला नहिन शायद धादी मै हि फ़स जाये) isnt this logical??? Another new is the book am reading by Arun Shourie.. its an essay n seems good, built around Mr Nehru and his speech over researvation... I like his writing style. No good movies these days (reason: बहुत दिन से बाहर न्ही निक्ला, and buying movies from online stores seems unnecessary expense!!). Life has been good otherwise me, lapy n books wanna see.........

This pic is five days back, beard is much better now.

Stephen Waugh

2007-01-07T12:50:00.000+05:30

I brought this book "Out of My Comfort Zone" by Stephen Waugh ( A great Aussie cricket player) last september. This book has been one of the best reads, I read it only when I was quite relaxed and could read for 1 hr at a stretch. I was glued to it, everytime I read, and this book has been a learning experience too.

The book has details of all the matches where Steve was involved, his analysis of his situtaions, his team's situations, Prematch notions - Fears - Pressures, post match celebrations - Analysis - conversations, everything is there. You love to learn about, liquors, the wanderings and prank and my favorite is Ambrose Vs Steve sequences. His strategies as a captain, team management, taking player's side during matches, private letters to all players before a series makes him one of the best captains and also won him two recors for Austraila: he is the world cup winnig captain and he lead aussies for their continous 16 undefeated test match record. It should be compulsory reading for all Captains irrespective of game they play.

I came to know about Steve a lot, as person and while I was reading about his first cricket series, I found the title best suited to it. Steve's own feelings, fears thinking, everything is there. I dont know if he hurt anyone in his book for he was very honest ( seems from reading of book). As far I am concerned I felt bad for his description India during his initial trips (late 80s) later he never complained about that, he did complain about summers in the sub continent though.

And this is the best part of book which is not written by steve, its from Lynette, his wife. Very frank and honest presentation of her emotions and opinion. Well this book is also a successfull love story and for this I rate it top 5 reads of all times.