Bad TIme

It looks like bad time has come, big time.
- Rise in oil prices
- Rise in other prices
- No monsoon
- Depleted ground water
- No power
- Uncertainty in govt.
- Manager not happy with work
Hoping for a quick leap to good times tomorrow...

Global Living

“Hey Raju, why are you wasting your time simply roaming around here in the village? See Ramu, he has gone to the city and is now earning in both hands, he bought a new TV and fridge for their home here. Why don’t you go to the city as well and earn something”, Raju’s mother is shouting, while serving a cup of coffee in the morning. Raju’s mind is filled with his mom’s words as he is traveling to his village sitting in the door of the general bogie in the train.

Raju has always had interest in agriculture. But, both his parents kept urging him to go to the city and work. After listening to these words for almost a year, Raju had to go to the city along with his wife in search of greener pasture. He joined a chemical factory in the city; the work is to mix chemicals. He has to stand for 8 hours and if the next shift guy will not turn up it will extend to 8 hrs more. It has been just work and sleep, for just a meager salary. After a year or so, he’s going back to the village for a festival. He sent his wife first reserving a berth in sleeper class. And he’s going in the general bogi the next day. When his parents asked, he said that he dint get the leave. Only he knows the cost of that lies is Rs. 300. Only he knows how many days he skipped meals to save money for buying a TV.

This is the scenario in most of the homes in the villages these days I believe. And few of them in cities would be facing the same thing in their houses except for they are bogged to go to America or England to work. May be the parents are not to be blamed here; this situation is result of the modernization or globalization. Not sure where this trend will lead to.

p.s. Inspired from an article in telugu newspaper Eenadu (don't remember the date and other details)

Wish for darkness

9pm, study hour in the night before bed. Power goes off, and a huge shout of joy from students. Teacher follows with a shout too, but to keep the boys quiet. And next minute, only one wish by all students in the classroom, generator shouldn't work so that they're allowed to go to bed immediately. A short scene from my life in boarding school.

Last night, I was reading a book deeply interested, power goes off. And then, I hear children in the building and colony shouting with joy, cracking jokes. That's when I recalled the above said scene. There were days I badly wanted a power-cut, days when there were no responsibilities, days when there were no hard deadlines at work :)

Space

How many times did I get irked seeing people block the roads by putting up the tents for some event in their home? I think I need to punish myself now :)

I had to put up the tent on the road in my street (very less vehicles move in my street so not much of a problem created). Then, I thought about this; people do this when out of alternatives. The terrace of house covered with pent-houses these days, no empty space within the house compound, only option left is to block the road. You can't go to a function hall (spend so much money) for just a pooja at home. In villages, there are big houses and wide empty spaces and are used for gatherings. What to do in a town/city?

I think I'll not get agitated next time I see anyone blocking the roads in the streets.

Zindagi

Zindagi pyar ka geet hai
Ise har dil ko gana padega
Zindagi pyar ka geet hai
Ise har dil ko gana padega
Zindagi gham ka sagar bhi hai
Hanske uspaar jana padega

Zindagi ek ahsaas hai
Toote dil ki koi aas hai
Zindagi ek banwas hai
Kat kar sabko jana padega
Zindagi pyar ka geet hai
Ise har dil ko gana padega

Zindagi bewafa hai to kya
Apne ruthe hai hamse to kya
Haath me haath na ho to kya
Saath phir bhi nibhana padega
Zindagi pyar ka geet hai
Ise har dil ko gana padega

Zindagi ek muskan hai
Dard ki koi pehchaan hai
Zindagi ek mehmaan hai
Chhor sansar jana padega
Zindagi pyar ka geet hai
Ise har dil ko gana padega
Zindagi gham ka sagar bhi hai
Hanske uspaar jana padega

I'm not sure why am I posting this song here. I heard this song for first time and I liked it!

Sorry??

Kabhi Kabhi mere dil me khayal aata hain...song running in the background in the cab....I was thinking about the word 'sorry'. I realized I use that word more than once everyday. I already started the day with a sorry to cab driver for making him wait for half an hour. Questions in my mind:
1) Am I doing so many mistakes that I have to be/say sorry daily?
2) or am I using it even if it's not required?

Answers?

I was wondering why there would be seven and only seven wonders on the earth, reading about ancient/modern seven wonders during good old kiddo days. I still wonder. I believe earth has innumerable wonders.

Introspection?!

He criticises every action of his. He questions himself every minute. He feels every work he does should have been done in a different way. He is afraid people are observing his every action. He knows he did not do anything wrong. He is under so much of inner pressure. He is no more happy and too much of introspection is affecting his health, relations, work and what not.

He hasn't yet realized being happy is the important thing in life after all, irrespective of what you do and how you do.

Mother!

A house is in under fire. Much to the astonishment of people, a cat runs into burning house, comes out holding a kitten with it's teeth. It goes again into the fire, and brings out one more kitten. It's half dead by the time it saves all it's 5 kittens. It took few months of treatment for this mother cat to recoup. The cat's name is Scarlet, and this incident took place in 1996, at a garage in New York.

A kid elephant is playing in the river with it's mother. Suddenly, the river floods and kid struggles against the force of water. The mother elephant standing on back legs, uses all it's energy and lifts it's kid with the trunk and throws it onto the bank. In the process, it slips and taken away by the water current. Much to the astonishment of that national park employees, it comes back to it's kid, the next day. The mother's name is Mashu.

There are many such incidents which show greatness of a mother, who loves her child and can go upto sacrificing her life to protect the child. After all, mother is a mother, whichever the species.

There is also a different argument that maternal love isn't always be about sacrifice and seemingly selfless devotion of a mother to child is just a selfish strategy to ensure her genes live on.

Whatever it is, a salute to all mothers.

p.s. We need to take an oath, we protect and take care of our parents in their old age.

Try?!

Hmmm, it's been months I wrote something(silly things which I used to write) here. It's not that I didn't have time to write, my mind just refrained to do so for unknown reasons. I've been a reader all these days browsing through many of the blogs.

I'll try to write down regularly again, no promises though.

"Try not. Do....or do not. There is no try" :-)

BREAK!!

I went to Chennai the previous week-end, the city which I wasn't very impressed with. My sole purpose of visit was to meet my friend V and spend sometime as we hadn't met for an year. We did not really plan anything how to spend 4 days (Thu,Fri,Sat, Sun). But I was very excited, for two reasons I can say. One was that I'm going to meet my best friend after an year. And the second was much awaited relief from the work.

I quickly completed my work, shot a mail to TL and left an hour early from office on Wednesday. I checked everything 2-3 times that I was not forgetting anything. I rushed to the station, found my berth and sat down. My co-passenger next to my berth was a real extrovert. In 5 min from start of the journey, he already knew my name, my work, my hobbies and my native place. :) It was a bit surprising for me, I being a very reserved person. I thought for a while and questioned him all the things he had posed me. The conversation went on, on and on. I was just answering his questions most of the times and sometimes asking him the same question he asked, "what about you?" :)

We had dinner, exchanging the food we brought. I was surprised listening that he eats min 7 rotis for a meal (he was yet not stout), as I can only eat 3 max :). We chatted for some more time after dinner and it was sleep time. I was happy that time passed by fast chatting with that guy. I lied down with my blanket on me, did not know when I was asleep listening to the passenger's gossips and the train's weird sounds. I got up before an hour to the scheduled arrival time. Spent that hour just peeping through the window.

Reached Chennai Central station at last. We were walking towards the exit gate, and I got call from my friend. While I stood by explaining V where I was, the guy walked off. I was a bit disappointed we didn't exchange 'bye' after a nice journey together. Kabhi Alvidha Naa Kehna? :) V arrived very soon and we went to his room remembering our meeting an year back.

We rested for sometime and then planned to have brunch and get into a theatre for a movie. Just when we were starting, I realized I forgot the 1 GB memory card of the camera, only 32MB card was present :( We had noodles at food court in Spencer's Plaza, famous shopping mall in Mount Road (it's like M.G. Road of B'lore).We stepped into a multiplex and booked tickets for the show of new Bond movie at one hour past noon (ticket was costly, 110/-, I grinned what's so special in Chennai.). I suggested getting into a book store as there was lot of time left for the show. So, we got into Landmark. We spent time checking different books and at last I bought 'The cat and the pigeons' of Agatha. It was time for the show and we went to the theatre. The bond movie was not bad and was worth watching once. It was dark already when we were out of the theatre. We then went to Spencer's Plaza and shopped some clothes. Later, we had dinner at Subway. We left for the room after dinner. Day one completed.

The second day, we had our breakfast and went to museum. Bad luck, museum is closed in Fridays. :) So for time pass, we planned to goto Anna Zoological Park. We took city train from Egmore to Tambaram. From tambaram, we went to Vandaloor by bus. We had our quick lunch at a motel and entered the zoo. I was feeling like a child going into the zoo and I was remembering the last time I came to this zoo when I was in 6th standard. There aren't many animals but one in each kind were present. I got to know the difference between Jaguar(has bigger marks on the body) and Leopard (has smaller marks on the body). All the animals were sleeping post lunch :) Different kinds of birds along with our national bird peacock were treat to watch. After taking a peek at the animals, we started for the marina beach, part of the Chennai culture. Spent the whole evening at the beach and got back home. Day two completed.

The day three started early for us in the sense that we had to get up at 4am and were in the bus station by 5:30am. We caught the bus to Puduchery or Pondichery, the journey was 3.5 hrs on East Coast Road(ECR) via Mahabalipuram or mammallapuram. The streets in Pondi were planned and the roads named in French. The houses were of French style with long and lean doors and windows. Aurobindo ashram here is a famous one with many foreigner disciples in this ashram.The ashram was well maintained and I bought couple of books written by Aurobindo. Then came the Pondichery beaches, swimming banned in the beaches here following the death of few children. The beaches were beautiful. People will not miss taking liquor here as there aren't any taxes and hence cheap, as in Goa. We spent the day visiting a vinayak temple, a church and roaming around the town. We got back home in the evening. Day three completed.

The day four was more of a rest day, woke up late. I had steam dosa in breakfast. We thought of watching a movie, but could not find a good movie. So, we went to Saravana stores at T-nagar, wherein everything is sold at price less than MRP. I bought few clothes, CD cases etc. We had lunch at one of the restaurants and got back to home.

Thinking that the four days passed by very fast, got into the return train in the evening.
This time, I didn't get any companion in the train. I read a book for sometime, had dinner and slept off.

Coming home, I had to get ready and go to work as usual, the routine started all over again :(

Z for?

The other day I was talking to an American customer, Jeff, on phone. During the conversation I had to tell him an user id and password. Userid: 'TDCADMIN'.

me: Jeff, it's T

Jeff: P?

me: No, it's T!

Jeff: P?

thinking how in the world should do I tell him T...I could catch it well when my master taught me the alphabets...searching for words starting with T to tell him.....only after a long pause my mind could come up with 'Telephone' which I was using all the while....:)

me: Jeff, it's T for Telephone

Jeff: Oh! it's T

Thank God! He could get it this time...

me: D

Jeff: B?

grrrrrr

me: it's D, D for Dog!

Jeff: ok (in a low voice)

smiling.....quickly noted down words for other letters...
C-Cat
A-Apple
M-Mat
I-what?what? haa, Important
N-Nail

me: C for Cat, A for apple, D for Dog, M for Mat, I for Important and N for Nail

Jeff: Ok, I got it.

OMG! I've to tell him the 11 letter password now!!!!

Champion!!

How many times have we just left off even trying to do some tasks thinking that we cannot do them. Here is a guy who has reached the summit of Mt. Everest. You may think there are many who've climbed Everest, so what's special here. Yes, it's special, he is a double amputee. He is Mark Inglis of New Zealand. With two artificial legs, he has climbed the highest peak. He is a real example of determination, grit. He is a real champion.

Wanna know more about him: http://legsoneverest.com/

Indian Media??

It's been a long time I've updated this blog. I've been busy with work and there isn't much time for blogging. I'll try to update regularly again.

One thing I observed in last few days: headlines in all the papers and TV channels have shown Big B and Chiru for receiving doctorate from universities. It's fine they've projected these popular guys, what my complaint is that why didn't they do the same for scientists, cartoonists, social workers who've also received the doctorates on the same dias. Why don't they project them better so that the youth gets inspiration from them?

Hectic Week

After so much of work in the long week-end, the week was not cool either. We had to shift our house on thursday.The packing of things started on tuesday only, I was doing the packing during the day and working in the night. This had deprived me of my sleep, my favorite work to do.:) Finally, we shifted on thursday.

In the evening, after arranging some basic things in the house sat down on the bed and took the cell to play some silly games on it. Very soon, got a call from a friend, he could not hear anything I was talking and call got disconnected. And the culprit was the mobile signal; signal reception was very poor. The lesson learnt is when searching a house verify if mobile signal reception is good in every room. :) So guys, please don't yell at me if you cannot reach my cell. Any ideas how I can improve the signal reception?

Festival??

Got up early morning, applied the oil to body and hair, took bath then. Put on new dress which I had selected searching quite a few shops. Pooja and then cooking was over by 12pm, so no breakfast but lunch directly. Uncle, aunt and cousins joined for the lunch. Taking the prasad first, had very good lunch containing non-veg delicacies. Watching TV for sometime, had a small nap. In the evening, we along with the friends and neighbours went out to take a glimpse of 'Paala Pitaa', a blue bird which is our State bird. We would go to farms in search of these, and put a namaskaar to the bird. Then, collected the Jammi leaves, took the ashirwaad of parents and exchanged hearty hug with friends placing these leaves in their hands. Later, attended the cermony of burning the Ravana, a symbol of Good's victory over Evil. Having a light dinner, went to bed with all the day's memories playing in the mind.

This was my time table on Dussehra day until few years back in my home town. Hmm, I'm now here in this city, that too working almost all the day. I never felt like Dussehra today. I miss those days where we used to enjoy like anything on festival days. I very much miss those days when festivals used to bring happiness and bonding.

Big Burden

I was looking at some school children waiting for their school buses while I was returning home today. Most of them were bit bending in front, due to the heavy school bags they carry on their back. The bags were looking double the weight of the kids. Pity for those kids! I was thinking of my school days, the bags were lot light with only few books in them. I don’t know what extra they are teaching the kids these days. The guidelines are that the school bag should not weigh more than 10% of the kid’s weight. I don’t think so the school managements are following that.

Deadline!

The days (err, the nights rather as I’m working in US business hours and sleeping all the day) are passing by so fast like a fighter plane. Now-a-days (nights??) I’m so obsessed with orkut, that I’m opening it first prior to even checking my work mails. Am I expecting someone special to leave a scrap that’s making me to check the site so frequently?? May be……I don't know...

On my way to home today, an ambulance passed by. It was 8 am and the traffic was heavy already with school buses and people trying to reach the work places in time. As we expect on our roads, the ambulance was having tough time going through the traffic. I was thinking of the patient and relatives, the agony they would be facing. Suddenly another thought came in my mind, what would be going on in the mind of the driver of that ambulance with so much of pressure on him to take the patient to hospital in time??? The deadlines at our work are nothing compared to his, right???

Brain?

Well, I'm presently short of ideas on what to pen down. I'm eating a chocolate now to see if that ignites something in my mind. Why chocolate, it's known to increase pleasant feelings, reduce tension. Hoping this way I can calm down and make my right brain work.

And now, what are these right and left brains?

In 1960s, an American psychobiologist Roger W Sperry has discovered that the human brain has two very different ways of thinking. One (the right brain) is visual and processes information in an intuitive and simultaneous way, looking first at the whole picture then the details. The other (the left brain) is verbal and processes information in an analytical and sequential way, looking first at the pieces then putting them together to get the whole. He was awarded Nobel prize also in 1981.

For some weird reason, our right and left brain hemispheres control the 'opposite' side of our bodies, so the right hemisphere controls our left side and processes what we see in our left eye while the left hemisphere controls the right side and processes what our right eye sees.

I've read from an article that though right-brain or non-verbal thinking is often regarded as more creative, there is no right or wrong here; it's merely two different ways of thinking. One is not better than the other, just as being right-handed is not superior to being left-handed. What's important is to be aware that there are different ways of thinking, knowing what your natural preference is, and if it's strongly verbal (left brain) rather than visual (right brain) being open to trying new approaches to make right brain work.

Hmmmm, whole chocolate is in the belly now but my right brain still seem to be sleeping...... :(

Blog-Ad

The companies have started promoting their products using the blogs now. What they do is make a blogger write a very good review of their product. This entices the people reading the blog to the products. So, next time you read a review of any products in your favorite blogs, don't get carried away :)

Life is moving on...feeling pity for the victims of terrorist attacks, laughing at cheap politics in the state, feeling sad for retiring sports legends....