New direction... to my life...
A dad thinks...
Its right here, the day we were all waiting for... For the past year or so, there were so many things we wanted to happen, so many things we wanted to not happen, so many tests we wanted to come out positive and so many tests we wanted to come out negative... The stars lined up perfectly and everything turned out ALMOST as we planned it...
Tomorrow is the day when the babies will be delivered... S did an exceptional job of nesting the babies - so much that they dont want to come out at all... So, even if the delivery does not happen naturally, the babies will be delivered by a ceasarean operation... so, both S and i feel bad that we are pulling the babies out even though they dont want to come out... This thought makes my heart bleed...
To make S go through a surgery, where they will cut her belly and pull the babies out - the whole idea makes me feel like crying.
After umpteen days where the babies would move inside S and I would feel their movements with my palm, tomorrow, i will actually hold them in my arms. I dont know what I will feel then, but it will be the best feeling ever for sure.
Cant wait!!!
I know what you mean, and better...
Coming back after a really long time on the blogosphere... Blame it on work or stuff going on in personal life or the eternal time hog (a.k.a. cricket) or sheer lethargy, here I am back after just 14 posts in the year and none in the past 5 months or so...
Strangely, one of my favorite blogger Prem is back after a long hiatus as well... He posted again after a long time yesterday... So, a good coincidence there...
And what a topic to return after a sabbatical... To attend the book launch of Abhinav Bindra's semi-autobiography, one of the very rare gold-medal winners Olympians from India, and that too when it was launched by another giant in his own might - Rahul Dravid - is special.
To have a great feat written about is great, but to have it launched by an equally great and yet humble athlete is even better. For me, RD is the epitome of selflessness and discipline. He might have not got his due and has often been overshadowed by his more famous compatriots, but he is still has had a better fling at publicity than AB. So, the comparisons of their outlook is very refreshing, although unsurprising.
One more unsurprising attribute among all great athletes is the mutual respect. Rafa-Fedex, Sachin-Warne, Anand-Kasparov and countless others share this mutual respect towards fellow athletes where they look to each other as rivals and not as enemies. Though AB and RD are not related that way, but I am really heartened by their mutual admiration.
Another point I noted above is that this is a semi-autobiography. It is not entirely written by AB. He was assisted by one of the best sports writer in India - Rohit Brijnath. I feel ghost writing is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs to do. The key to ghost writing is to be essentially transparent between the author and the reader. The substance of the topic has to flow through without getting polluted by the style of the medium of writing. If you are successful at doing that, then the ghost writer will be invisible and there will be no mention of the good work and the real author takes all the plaudits. If you are fail at curbing your style, then the ghost writer will be criticized at masking the topic. I have not read this book, but reading this review, and especially this section, I have no doubts that RB has done a great job at it.
Strangely, one of my favorite blogger Prem is back after a long hiatus as well... He posted again after a long time yesterday... So, a good coincidence there...
And what a topic to return after a sabbatical... To attend the book launch of Abhinav Bindra's semi-autobiography, one of the very rare gold-medal winners Olympians from India, and that too when it was launched by another giant in his own might - Rahul Dravid - is special.
To have a great feat written about is great, but to have it launched by an equally great and yet humble athlete is even better. For me, RD is the epitome of selflessness and discipline. He might have not got his due and has often been overshadowed by his more famous compatriots, but he is still has had a better fling at publicity than AB. So, the comparisons of their outlook is very refreshing, although unsurprising.
- If a choice of another sport was give, AB would choose IPL (glamor, publicity) but RD would choose golf (privacy).
- For AB, success comes once in 4 years and he looks forward to it. He is not even afraid to share his secrets. For RD, it is intimidating.
- Both agree that hard work is the key to ultimate perfection which has its own criteria of determination. So, the journey is the same, the destination is different, and its undefinable.
One more unsurprising attribute among all great athletes is the mutual respect. Rafa-Fedex, Sachin-Warne, Anand-Kasparov and countless others share this mutual respect towards fellow athletes where they look to each other as rivals and not as enemies. Though AB and RD are not related that way, but I am really heartened by their mutual admiration.
Another point I noted above is that this is a semi-autobiography. It is not entirely written by AB. He was assisted by one of the best sports writer in India - Rohit Brijnath. I feel ghost writing is one of the most difficult and thankless jobs to do. The key to ghost writing is to be essentially transparent between the author and the reader. The substance of the topic has to flow through without getting polluted by the style of the medium of writing. If you are successful at doing that, then the ghost writer will be invisible and there will be no mention of the good work and the real author takes all the plaudits. If you are fail at curbing your style, then the ghost writer will be criticized at masking the topic. I have not read this book, but reading this review, and especially this section, I have no doubts that RB has done a great job at it.
What an occasion to miss. At least I look forward to reading the book.When reading a particularly fine passage in a co-authored autobiography, the almost inevitable question in the mind is, how much of this is the voice of the subject, and how much the voice and skill of his amanuensis. I was at the time a little less than halfway through a book studded with passages of stunning eloquence, and already that question had occurred to me multiple times.Now, after an evening of listening to the ace shooter speak, at ease extempore, I know: the skill, the craft, is Rohit’s, but the voice is indisputably Abhinav’s.
Anna - the idea and the execution
We Indians are doing our very best to emulate the freedom fighters from Middle East and trying to grab our share of freedom from our government. The government - which operates under the definition of "by the people, of the people and for the people" - is returning the favor by doing their very best to not succumb to the demands of the very people that they represent.
I did not expect the government to lay down at the first poke and accede to every single demand of the people - that would be akin to a kid agreeing to not eat candy just because the parents are asking not to. But I am more surprised that there are lot of people who are hand-in-glove with the government and are opposing this movement tooth and nail. A very good example of this resistance is this interview by Karan Thapar
From my extensive experience of "Devil's Advocate" series, I have come to know Karan Thapar as someone who mistreats his guests with a barrage of allegations without giving them a chance to respond. If someone is smart enough to give it back, he is prompt to leap to the next allegation and drop the previous topic as a hot potato. Here Karan Thapar plays the quintessential Karan Thapar to the hilt, doing just what he does every single time, and runs out of time when the guests have their answers ready. What is unclear from the confrontation though, is why Karan is being so pro-government and anti-reform.
And Karan is not the only one. I know at least 5 other friends / acquaintances who do not like / support the movement. Some of them do not like the idea, few other do not believe that the idea will work and the others like the idea but not the execution. I have heard counter-arguments like --
1 - This is a unconstitutional way of demonstrating and registering your protest
2 - What is the guarantee that vesting more powers, powerful enough to override the government in a council, will not create a Frankenstein monster, bigger than one that we are dealing with one right now?
3 - Why such haste and adamancy in a particular format of the bill?
There have been some ridiculous counter arguments as well like --
1 - From Dalit groups -- This protest stinks of pro-bramhinism. This will stop reservations for us.
2 - From Muslim groups -- This protest stinks of pro-hinduism. This will stop reservations for us.
Probably, a very good indicator of the insecurities in their minds and how crippled these groups are going to be without these crutches.
To all these groups, I have just 1 question - do they acknowledge that corruption is the biggest termite infesting hollow the bark of this country? If they do not accept it, then it means that they are a part of the corrupt brigade and are worried abt their future when, and if, corruption is eradicated. And if they do acknowledge, then as long as the idea is good, the execution does not matter.
The current cause has been the most peaceful one, probably since the candle light march after 26/11, and a mighty testament to this was the march in Mumbai on Sunday. So much, that the cops did not even have a bandobast (vigil) for this march. They were so confident that stone-pelting and burning of property will not happen that the cops did not even think it was necessary to oversee this march.
Having said that, no revolution is devoid of blood, no revolution has ever been achieved purely by the might of the pen. There has been a sword or a dagger lurking beneath the cloak of the pen wielding writer. And every revolution has been tainted by the red of the blood as much as the blue of the ink.
And if this revolution taints a few cloaks with the blue of the ink and the red of the blood, the blue and the red will look very pretty on the background of the green, white, saffron tricolor.
I did not expect the government to lay down at the first poke and accede to every single demand of the people - that would be akin to a kid agreeing to not eat candy just because the parents are asking not to. But I am more surprised that there are lot of people who are hand-in-glove with the government and are opposing this movement tooth and nail. A very good example of this resistance is this interview by Karan Thapar
From my extensive experience of "Devil's Advocate" series, I have come to know Karan Thapar as someone who mistreats his guests with a barrage of allegations without giving them a chance to respond. If someone is smart enough to give it back, he is prompt to leap to the next allegation and drop the previous topic as a hot potato. Here Karan Thapar plays the quintessential Karan Thapar to the hilt, doing just what he does every single time, and runs out of time when the guests have their answers ready. What is unclear from the confrontation though, is why Karan is being so pro-government and anti-reform.
And Karan is not the only one. I know at least 5 other friends / acquaintances who do not like / support the movement. Some of them do not like the idea, few other do not believe that the idea will work and the others like the idea but not the execution. I have heard counter-arguments like --
1 - This is a unconstitutional way of demonstrating and registering your protest
2 - What is the guarantee that vesting more powers, powerful enough to override the government in a council, will not create a Frankenstein monster, bigger than one that we are dealing with one right now?
3 - Why such haste and adamancy in a particular format of the bill?
There have been some ridiculous counter arguments as well like --
1 - From Dalit groups -- This protest stinks of pro-bramhinism. This will stop reservations for us.
2 - From Muslim groups -- This protest stinks of pro-hinduism. This will stop reservations for us.
Probably, a very good indicator of the insecurities in their minds and how crippled these groups are going to be without these crutches.
To all these groups, I have just 1 question - do they acknowledge that corruption is the biggest termite infesting hollow the bark of this country? If they do not accept it, then it means that they are a part of the corrupt brigade and are worried abt their future when, and if, corruption is eradicated. And if they do acknowledge, then as long as the idea is good, the execution does not matter.
The current cause has been the most peaceful one, probably since the candle light march after 26/11, and a mighty testament to this was the march in Mumbai on Sunday. So much, that the cops did not even have a bandobast (vigil) for this march. They were so confident that stone-pelting and burning of property will not happen that the cops did not even think it was necessary to oversee this march.
Having said that, no revolution is devoid of blood, no revolution has ever been achieved purely by the might of the pen. There has been a sword or a dagger lurking beneath the cloak of the pen wielding writer. And every revolution has been tainted by the red of the blood as much as the blue of the ink.
And if this revolution taints a few cloaks with the blue of the ink and the red of the blood, the blue and the red will look very pretty on the background of the green, white, saffron tricolor.
Confused...
Back on the blogosphere after a long time -- 2 months to be precise... Its been a busy time...
During my school days, a select group of students who had done well in studies were nominated for a advanced class called as "scholarship". This class taught the students Math, IQ and English meant for senior classes. I did well enough to be a part of this esteemed group.
During my scholarship days, as a part of my verbal course, I often learnt a lot of sayings like --
At that time, the only use of learning was to score more marks in the exam. We never had a chance to understand the meaning of those sayings. May be we were not mature enough to learn from experiences of life then. May be the safety net of our parents then was good enough to shield us from the heat of those moments.
But now that we are long out of the safety net of parents and home, we will will feel the heat and burn our fingers from such flames. Sadly, another saying comes to mind now
Some experiences in life make you question your beliefs, ethics and everything that you stood for. It forces you to not spend time with someone whom you really want to spend time with. It is makes you postpone the things that you really want to do now. It does not let you sleep when you really cant stay awake any longer. It makes you do things on weekends when the only thing you want to do is to put your feet up and relax.
When the core principles, that you led your life on so far, are questioned, it is a confusing time. You do things that you would not allow yourself normally to do. You make decisions that you know you are going to regret in the future.
This may not be the best decision on some other day, but in today's circumstances, it is the best decision....
You take the decisions in best faith, and just hope that --
During my school days, a select group of students who had done well in studies were nominated for a advanced class called as "scholarship". This class taught the students Math, IQ and English meant for senior classes. I did well enough to be a part of this esteemed group.
During my scholarship days, as a part of my verbal course, I often learnt a lot of sayings like --
Do not judge a book by its cover
Grass is always greener on the other side
All that glitters is not gold
At that time, the only use of learning was to score more marks in the exam. We never had a chance to understand the meaning of those sayings. May be we were not mature enough to learn from experiences of life then. May be the safety net of our parents then was good enough to shield us from the heat of those moments.
But now that we are long out of the safety net of parents and home, we will will feel the heat and burn our fingers from such flames. Sadly, another saying comes to mind now
Experience is a comb that comes after you turn bald
Some experiences in life make you question your beliefs, ethics and everything that you stood for. It forces you to not spend time with someone whom you really want to spend time with. It is makes you postpone the things that you really want to do now. It does not let you sleep when you really cant stay awake any longer. It makes you do things on weekends when the only thing you want to do is to put your feet up and relax.
When the core principles, that you led your life on so far, are questioned, it is a confusing time. You do things that you would not allow yourself normally to do. You make decisions that you know you are going to regret in the future.
This may not be the best decision on some other day, but in today's circumstances, it is the best decision....
You take the decisions in best faith, and just hope that --
The book with a torn cover is an awesome read...
The brown grass on the other side is soft and cool...
The non-glittering metal is platinum...
Empty the bucket list...
This post is dedicated to a bunch of people whom I have met over a period of last few years - friends, families, acquaintances etc. and my interaction with them...
1 - Live, don't just exist -- I have heard this quote from umpteen forwarded emails over the years. Never had a chance to get a justification. Then one day, all of a sudden, one close relative was suddenly unwell. When we called to check on him, I mentioned that I was worried about him. He said - "I have enjoyed my life, I have lived my life and done almost everything that I wanted to do. If I die now, I will die happily with all my wishes fulfilled. My bucket list is almost empty". That one statement changed my perspective about this quote.
2 - Listen to your heart but obey your brain - or - think with your heart, decide with your brain -- Another quote passed on to me as a bit of wisdom from my old roommate. He was almost 5-6 years older than me and had been there, done that. A very wise statement that lets you choose the right options and then choose the wisest one amongst all. Even to date, I follow it to the core and have not regretted it.
3 - Empty the bucket list -- A very good friend of mine recently chose to quit a good job, drive all across the country, spend a month with entire family, another month with friends (a day or 2 with each good friend) throughout his journey to a well thought destination from the career point of view. He obviously took a big risk, which I would not dare to do today, but was probably banking on the fact that he has a very good reputation at work and he can always come back to this workplace in the worst case scenario. In any case, he would not have incurred anything other that some financial hollow. Turns out he has landed up a good job at a very prestigious company. Aal is well now.
4 - Empty the bucket list -- This topic has the same description as the previous one, intentionally. Another colleague quit his job after working for 12 years. He has saved enough money to last him for a couple of years and he wants to do everything that he ever wanted to do. This is much riskier than the 2 month break that the earlier friend has taken, but this friend's motto is - do it when you can do it. The risk is worth it.
5 - Its never too late to empty the bucket list -- And for the rest, who are not quite the risk takers, don't hesitate to start checking off the items now. Its never too late or too early to do it. And when you do what you always want to do, it is still equally exhilarating and satisfying.
So, last weekend, when S and I checked off one more off our list. It was supposed to be a surprise for S, the bubble burst just a few minutes before that though. It was still an amazing feeling to say "CHECK!!!"
Fully worth it... Just that the list is too long!!!
1 - Live, don't just exist -- I have heard this quote from umpteen forwarded emails over the years. Never had a chance to get a justification. Then one day, all of a sudden, one close relative was suddenly unwell. When we called to check on him, I mentioned that I was worried about him. He said - "I have enjoyed my life, I have lived my life and done almost everything that I wanted to do. If I die now, I will die happily with all my wishes fulfilled. My bucket list is almost empty". That one statement changed my perspective about this quote.
2 - Listen to your heart but obey your brain - or - think with your heart, decide with your brain -- Another quote passed on to me as a bit of wisdom from my old roommate. He was almost 5-6 years older than me and had been there, done that. A very wise statement that lets you choose the right options and then choose the wisest one amongst all. Even to date, I follow it to the core and have not regretted it.
3 - Empty the bucket list -- A very good friend of mine recently chose to quit a good job, drive all across the country, spend a month with entire family, another month with friends (a day or 2 with each good friend) throughout his journey to a well thought destination from the career point of view. He obviously took a big risk, which I would not dare to do today, but was probably banking on the fact that he has a very good reputation at work and he can always come back to this workplace in the worst case scenario. In any case, he would not have incurred anything other that some financial hollow. Turns out he has landed up a good job at a very prestigious company. Aal is well now.
4 - Empty the bucket list -- This topic has the same description as the previous one, intentionally. Another colleague quit his job after working for 12 years. He has saved enough money to last him for a couple of years and he wants to do everything that he ever wanted to do. This is much riskier than the 2 month break that the earlier friend has taken, but this friend's motto is - do it when you can do it. The risk is worth it.
5 - Its never too late to empty the bucket list -- And for the rest, who are not quite the risk takers, don't hesitate to start checking off the items now. Its never too late or too early to do it. And when you do what you always want to do, it is still equally exhilarating and satisfying.
So, last weekend, when S and I checked off one more off our list. It was supposed to be a surprise for S, the bubble burst just a few minutes before that though. It was still an amazing feeling to say "CHECK!!!"
Fully worth it... Just that the list is too long!!!
Top of the lot...
Glancing at the TIME Top 100 people list.
Its a list of 100 people from so many fields of life - politics, sports, medicine, social service, entrepreneurs, artists etc. Some I have followed very closely in the past few years, some that I knew of, some I wasnt even aware of.
But then, if I have to find 100 people every year and only for good reasons, then I admit it is going to be not so easy. Still, i believe that a lot of the names here are purely due to the position they are occupying today -- and this applies mostly to the politicians (David Cameron, Angela Merkel, Michelle Obama, Paul Ryan, Michele Bachmann, Joe Biden, Gabrielle Giffords, John Boehner and a bunch of them others). Its an ode to the chair, not to the chairperson. Some of them are here due to their 1 year of fame -- Julian Assange, Wael Ghonim, Mark Zuckerberg, Colin Firth etc -- not due to consistent good work. The real hat tip goes to the selfless individuals whom I had heard very little (or almost nothing) who have been slogging real hard, anonymously, for a lot of years of humanitarian causes like water, education, human rights, democratic rights and often ended up on the wrong side of the lawmakers. No wonder there are so many of them in the list.
My winner from the list though is Takeshi Kanno. why? Read here.
Here are a few thoughts that sprung in my mind when i was scrolling through the list -- right at that instant --
1 - Wael Ghonim -- The google boy to caused the Egypt revolution. For me, he was the face of the revolution, not the brain. Every cause has a brain who masterminds it, has a martyr who is sacrificed for the cause, a beneficiary who gains due to the cause and a face who publicizes the cause. In Wael's case, he was just lucky to publicize the cause. I dont think that his contribution to the revolution in Egypt is bigger than any of the martyrs who lost their lives or who are permanently disabled / crippled. But he gets the publicity here because he was the face that everyone saw. He was the identity of the revolution.
2 - Julian Assange -- The Wikileaks guy. The only difference between him and Wael Ghonim is that while Wael was the face, Assange is both the face and the martyr in this whole Wikileaks episode. Not only has he lost his anonymity, funding and freedom, the only thing he has earned is a rape lawsuit.
3 - Dhoni -- someone who really is wearing a crown of thorns while sitting on the most revered throne in the country. The sole reason he deserves to be here is because he still has his feet on the ground.
4 - Mukesh Ambani, Azim Premji, VS Ramchandran, Aruna Roy -- Proud to be an Indian
5 - General David Petraeus -- The US Army General. Weird to read his name in this list, on the day he is removed from the post.
Those who, I feel, rightly deserve to be here --
1 - Reed Hastings -- CEO of Netflix, just for totally revolutionizing the movie rental business.
2 - Kim Clijsters -- It takes a lot of courage and character to leave a sport at the age of 23 when you are right at the top. And if thats hard enough, she became a mom, came back and won the US open twice in a row. Hats off.
3 - Aung San Suu Kyi -- Burma's democracy advocate. Takes guts to survive out there championing her cause. The fact that she is alive should get her to this list, every year.
4 - Fathi Terbil -- The lawyer in Libyan revolution. The martyr there. To take the Gaddafis, in Libya, via the legal route is not easy and he dared to do that.
5 - Maria Bashir -- Fighting for women's rights in Afghanistan. Try living in that country as a woman first, you should get your name on this list just for that.
Those who, I feel, did not deserve to be on this list --
1 - Mark Zuckerberg -- Just at the crest of the success wave of FB. Declined a big buyout offer from other companies, may have done a big mistake. With every Tom Dick and Harry jumping on the social media bandwagon, FB may not be a mighty force in a couple of years and he might be left ruing his decision. Just look at Orkut's fall from grace - nowadays, even the profile page does not load any more. Does anyone recall that scrapbook was the most craved communication medium a couple of years back?
2 - Colin Firth -- Does acting well in a good movie make you an influential person? Lucky to be at the right place at the right time.
3 - Joe Biden -- This is the first time I am hearing of him after he got elected.
4 - Ahmed Shuja Pasha -- Pakistan spy chief. The only thing mentioned abt him was that the November 2008 attacks in Mumbai happened within a week of him taking office and that he does not trust the US. How does that make him influential, important or famous?
5 - Gabrielle Giffords -- Only claim to fame is that she was shot and is now recovering in one of the best medical facilities in US, on taxpayers money.
6 - Michelle Obama -- If I have heard very little of Biden, I think MO doesnt deserve here because I have heard too much abt her.
7 - Michele Bachmann -- A politician who loves to shoot from the lip. The easiest thing to do, sit in the critics chair and point to the problem. No words abt the solution though.
6 - Justin Beiber -- Riding on the crest of momentary success.
7 - Oprah -- this one cant get enough of the publicity
8 - John Boehner, Paul Ryan -- Riding on the opportunistic budget crisis.
Not sure if you would agree with my opinion or not, but this list deserves a perusal. Go fetch!!!
The demi-god or the demi-devil?
The most revered Shri Satya Saibaba (SSS) passed away on Sunday 24th April, hitherto known in India only as Sachin Tendulkar's birthday. After a brief illness, he died leaving his countless devotees in a sea of sorrow.
SSS was famous. He had a lot of devotees - from the rich to the poor and from the famous to the anonymous - and he was literally treated as a demigod by each one of them. Like the proverbial rose flower, he had a few thorns up his crown. There were quite a few of his detractors as well.
SSS was famous. He had a lot of devotees - from the rich to the poor and from the famous to the anonymous - and he was literally treated as a demigod by each one of them. Like the proverbial rose flower, he had a few thorns up his crown. There were quite a few of his detractors as well.
When I woke up on Sunday, someone had shared some snippets of an old documentary which accused SSS of fake materialization. I immediately realized that SSS had passed away and this is just a crude attempt at maligning him. A few other articles digging some old dirt found its way through the blogosphere as well.
Personally, I am not a devotee of SSS -- I neither adore him nor do I abhor him. For me, he is someone whom I am just aware of - just like I am aware of any other famous personality. So, considering that I have nothing to lose, I started digging through the dirt to see if some truth can be unearthed.
I watched the video from the documentary carefully and could see that solely based off what was shown in that documentary, something iffy was going on. With every passing minute of the video, my doubts were gaining conviction and I was getting convinced of the accusations. I got angry of how these self proclaimed enlightened individuals, with same number of limbs and organs like us, trick a common man and earn crores and crores and live lavishly.
Thats when the rational part of the brain got stimulated and I started thinking of something on an entirely tangential trajectory. Why does the common man believe in these godmen? Why is it that he/she is ready to donate thousands or lakhs or sometimes even crores. Why is it that sportsmen, politicians, doctors, engineers, lawyers, CAs -- and no average individuals, the most respected and successful ones -- are such big devotees of SSS? There has to be something more than what meets the eye.
And then I realized - you dont need a publicized proof to believe in someone. Ask a mother who finally gave birth to a baby after umpteen heart wrenching failed attempts. Ask a businessman who is successful today after almost contemplating bankruptcy. Ask a sportsman who is tired of perennially ending up with the runner up's trophy. Ask a politician who can leap frog from the post of Leader of Opposition to the Chief Minister's chair. Ask a engineer who can get a job which can fulfill all his dreams. Or ask a student who gets admission to a good medical school.
In a scientific world, the concept of faith does not exist because faith can not be measured in hormones and serums. But in a spiritual world, faith does exist. Faith in an entity can tune the mind to perform miracles. And once a miracle happens, it gets attributed to a magician. Probably, SSS was the lucky magician who was at the right place at the right time when these miracles happened in the lives of millions of his followers, however implausible it sounds. Probably, he really did have the charisma to make life better.
I will never know the real truth - but if there is a debate, I know what side of the dais I am going to sit. The only reason why I am going to speak for SSS -- he built lots and lots of hospitals which tend to the poor and needy, all for free.
Personally, I have seen the SSS hospital in Whitefield Bangalore where world class medical care is given for free. The best doctors in the world visit the hospitals and take care of poor patients who could have never even considered visiting these super specialists in their dreams. The facilities are so much cleaner, hygienic and professional compared to the government clinics. No wonder people throng in hundreds to each of these centers.
If one SSS, however fake the documentary make thinks him to be, can create such a miracle in a poor man's life, I would never mind one SSS in each city of India. It is going to make my country such a better place to live.
And I would never question why people "fall" for his "fake materialization".
Heroes and Actors
What happens when something - that you are not ready for - happens. For a moment, lets leave the sad and the bad "somethings" aside and lets focus on the "good", "awesome" and "amazing" somethings for now...
What happens when something too-good-to-be-true happens? We just do not know how to react. Or do we just choose not to react? There may have been so many such good moments in everyone's life --
1 - When you get that phone call that you have been selected for that dream job.
2 - When you see your name on that admission list of that highly esteemed engineering college.
3 - When you get the phone call stating that your sister's alliance has worked out.
4 - When you see the email that you have received a prestigious award.
Probably, at that point of time, I know that the most important peak has been scaled, now the rest of it is just a matter of time. The job paperwork, induction training, admission formalities, wedding preparations or actual award ceremony -- however difficult a task -- , you know that they will fall in place. If you are good enough to scale the peak, the downward journey from that point onwards is not going to be that difficult.
May be, your mind thinks - Let me just relax and soak in the moment. There are no words to explain that feeling. May be, your body is so exhausted by then that it does not have an ounce of strength left to do anything. But the fact is, the real achiever at that stage has the most sober reaction - either they are silent, or give a shy grin or just cry. More often than not, they will never be in the limelight, they prefer to hide behind the veil of anonymity even at the zenith - because they know that for the people who matter, the real author of this epic is evident.
Within the realm of this post, lets term these people as the HEROES...
And then, there are the shallow pseudo achievers who howl the loudest at that moment. These are the people who always hover in the periphery of the real achievers and choose the right moment to step into the limelight and take the plaudits. Either their body has not done the heavy lifting and that is precisely the reason why they have strength left to pump their fists. May be they were not fully invested mentally in the achievement, and thats why they have the mental space to think about a speech right at that instant. More often than not, they will be in front of the lenses and the shutterbugs giving bites about how their role was so critical in this journey.
Within the realm of this post, lets term these people as the ACTORS...
In reality though, it is not difficult to call out the Heroes from the Actors. If you know what achievement you are witnessing, it is very easy to separate the wheat from the chaff. But that rarely happens in real life though. In real life, the heroes and actors benefit almost equally from every success.
This fact was proven so truly after yesterday's World Cup Final Game - the heroes from yesterday's game Dhoni was almost absent during the celebration. For that matter, after accepting the trophy from Sharad Pawar, he handed it over to someone else and then the trophy was never seen with him the entire night. He never emoted aggressively, never pumped his fists, never cried vehemently, and for that matter, he was virtually invisible during the entire celebration. He was so happy to take the back seat and let the others bathe in the limelight. A true hero for the day.
Same about Gary Kirsten, he was the mastermind behind this success - yet he was so happy with the virtual invisibility. He is not keen on cashing in on the success - he is leaving this role even though the BCCI would agree to pay him anything to continue as a coach. No wonder every player was so full of words in praising him. A true hero in every sense.
I am not saying the rest of the team is a motley of impersonators or that they are the "actors" here. This is not a moment for that - the autopsy can be done on some other day.
In a strange coincidence, movies are supposed to be a reflection of real life. And ironically, in movies, the words heroes and actors are used almost alternatively. No wonder.
Unknown Devil, Known Devil and Known Monster
Scene 1 - My Office. Regular work day, time around 3.30 pm. Few people grabbing that extra cup of fresh Starbucks brew and keep them going until the clock ticks 5. Few others, who usually leave work early, are bringing their work to a halt to sign off for the day. The rest going through the routine grind of conference calls, deadlines and issues. In a gist, just another day at the office.
Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off and the strobe starts flashing at an interval of every second. It takes the staff a few seconds to realize that there is something wrong and the office needs to be evacuated, immediately. Some had the presence of mind to grab a jacket, just in case it is cold outside the office. Others were smart enough to bring their car keys, just in case the security team does not allow access back into the building soon. And some were diligent enough to bring their laptop, jacket, lunch bag and one cup of coffee before they evacuated the building.
When we were walking (yes, walking, not running) out of the building, the nostrils could detect something weird - most probably electric short circuit - in the air. There was no panic what so ever with anyone, except one person - our Security in charge. And he had not panicked - but he was running to every single cube in the entire office to ensure that it has been thoroughly evacuated.
Soon, the firemen arrived. Donning their fireman suit and a helmet, armed with an ax and a flashlight, they walked into a empty building where there were sparks flying close to a gas line. I was so amazed how they could do that - without knowing the magnitude of what is waiting for them inside there, how can they go in? This is courage, I thought, stepping on to the battlefield to tackle an unknown devil.
Scene 2 - 9/11 WTC. Hundreds of FDNY firemen jump into a blazing building trying to save thousands of people trapped in the building. There is this 88 storey building that has caught fire due to a huge plane crashing into it. There is a ball of fire already engulfing the top 20 odd floors. There is a good chance that you will not come alive into it.
And still, to step into this battlefield to tackle the known devil - This is bravery, I thought.
Scene 3 - Japan Nuclear Reactor - Atleast 10000 people have died and thousands more have been displaced in one of the biggest natural disasters of all times. A nuclear reactor has developed problems where it is emitting radiations so high that it can cause severe problems for generations. An area of about 50 mile radius has been evacuated. And right in the middle of that reactor, are 40 engineers trying to get things back in order. At one point of time, things turned so bad that they had to be airlifted out of there. The moment things turned a bit better, they returned back to the reactor, to resume their efforts.
With the radiation exposure they are already subjected to, they know that they have been affected for life - and not just them, but anyone and everyone that they will ever come in contact with as long as they stand a risk of being infected as well. Their future generations will have so many genetic disorders that the sheer thought of it all is mind-numbing. And if you are lucky, you will escape the suffering and die immediately.
I have no words to describe these noble men - who step into the battlefield to tackle the known monster.
Suddenly, the fire alarm goes off and the strobe starts flashing at an interval of every second. It takes the staff a few seconds to realize that there is something wrong and the office needs to be evacuated, immediately. Some had the presence of mind to grab a jacket, just in case it is cold outside the office. Others were smart enough to bring their car keys, just in case the security team does not allow access back into the building soon. And some were diligent enough to bring their laptop, jacket, lunch bag and one cup of coffee before they evacuated the building.
When we were walking (yes, walking, not running) out of the building, the nostrils could detect something weird - most probably electric short circuit - in the air. There was no panic what so ever with anyone, except one person - our Security in charge. And he had not panicked - but he was running to every single cube in the entire office to ensure that it has been thoroughly evacuated.
Soon, the firemen arrived. Donning their fireman suit and a helmet, armed with an ax and a flashlight, they walked into a empty building where there were sparks flying close to a gas line. I was so amazed how they could do that - without knowing the magnitude of what is waiting for them inside there, how can they go in? This is courage, I thought, stepping on to the battlefield to tackle an unknown devil.
Scene 2 - 9/11 WTC. Hundreds of FDNY firemen jump into a blazing building trying to save thousands of people trapped in the building. There is this 88 storey building that has caught fire due to a huge plane crashing into it. There is a ball of fire already engulfing the top 20 odd floors. There is a good chance that you will not come alive into it.
And still, to step into this battlefield to tackle the known devil - This is bravery, I thought.
Scene 3 - Japan Nuclear Reactor - Atleast 10000 people have died and thousands more have been displaced in one of the biggest natural disasters of all times. A nuclear reactor has developed problems where it is emitting radiations so high that it can cause severe problems for generations. An area of about 50 mile radius has been evacuated. And right in the middle of that reactor, are 40 engineers trying to get things back in order. At one point of time, things turned so bad that they had to be airlifted out of there. The moment things turned a bit better, they returned back to the reactor, to resume their efforts.
With the radiation exposure they are already subjected to, they know that they have been affected for life - and not just them, but anyone and everyone that they will ever come in contact with as long as they stand a risk of being infected as well. Their future generations will have so many genetic disorders that the sheer thought of it all is mind-numbing. And if you are lucky, you will escape the suffering and die immediately.
I have no words to describe these noble men - who step into the battlefield to tackle the known monster.
Stunned!!!
One of my favorite reality shows on Indian Television channels is MTV Roadies. And the best part of any reality show is the audition - be it Indian Idol or India's got Talent or MTV Roadies.
So, obviously, the auditions of MTV Roadies is so much fun. You will find the weirdest of characters there, getting blasted by Raghu and Rajiv. They make a poor show of themselves and face the ignominy right on national television, in front of millions of viewers. And 90% of the applicants fall in that category. The remaining 10%, from the sensible lot, probably never make it to the auditions.
But this post is not about the norm, this post is dedicated to the exception. I was so stunned when I saw this fellow's audition.
Only if 10% of India's next gen is made up of such people.
Edited on 03/21/2011 -- A friend pointed me to this link which says that the entire story narrated by this fellow is untrue. I did not know the reality when I posted the blog - neither do I know the truth today.
Edited on 03/23/2011 -- And here it is, from the horse's mouth.
So, obviously, the auditions of MTV Roadies is so much fun. You will find the weirdest of characters there, getting blasted by Raghu and Rajiv. They make a poor show of themselves and face the ignominy right on national television, in front of millions of viewers. And 90% of the applicants fall in that category. The remaining 10%, from the sensible lot, probably never make it to the auditions.
But this post is not about the norm, this post is dedicated to the exception. I was so stunned when I saw this fellow's audition.
Only if 10% of India's next gen is made up of such people.
Edited on 03/21/2011 -- A friend pointed me to this link which says that the entire story narrated by this fellow is untrue. I did not know the reality when I posted the blog - neither do I know the truth today.
Edited on 03/23/2011 -- And here it is, from the horse's mouth.
Facts...
Here is one rule of any and every business --
Organizations choose to live in denial that this triple crown can be achieved, and sustained, and continue to pursue this goal. The day any company realizes the facts, and accepts it as a truth, it will make a lot of money. They will stop spending a lot of money to achieve this elusive trio, instead choose their top 2 attributes, compromise on the 3rd one, plan accordingly, and be successful.
A lot of people today are making money (writing books, become management gurus, conduct seminars) or even make a living riding on this elusive chase. They sell nonsense, and organizations buy it - year after year, decade after decade.
I am reading a book on this today, and within a few pages, I have to admit that the book is full of nonsense.
Everyone wants work done faster, cheaper and better. And, only (up to) 2 of these 3 attributes can be achieved in reality.Either you can get it faster and cheaper, but the work will lack quality. You can get it done faster and better, but it will be expensive. Or You can it cheaper and better, but it will take time. Sometimes, in an attempt to chase all the 3 desirable attributes, companies lose on 2 fronts, and occasionally it can be a disaster where you never get any product.
Organizations choose to live in denial that this triple crown can be achieved, and sustained, and continue to pursue this goal. The day any company realizes the facts, and accepts it as a truth, it will make a lot of money. They will stop spending a lot of money to achieve this elusive trio, instead choose their top 2 attributes, compromise on the 3rd one, plan accordingly, and be successful.
A lot of people today are making money (writing books, become management gurus, conduct seminars) or even make a living riding on this elusive chase. They sell nonsense, and organizations buy it - year after year, decade after decade.
I am reading a book on this today, and within a few pages, I have to admit that the book is full of nonsense.
Anyone who says that this triple whammy can be achieved is telling that there can be a electric car which on one charge can drive 1000 miles, give 1000 bhp of raw power and is also very affordable. And yes, this car can go up to 300K+ miles.
Give me this book to read when such a car hits the market.
10 years...
Today is 2/5/11.
Exactly 10 years ago, a tall, thin boy, all of 21, boarded a bus in Aundh, Pune and began a journey.
The waiting in a queue to get into that bus, the orderly way of sitting in the bus, wearing a tie etc was all too intimidating for him. But even though he was nervous, he was enjoying the moment. He soaked himself in that experience and within a few days, he knew that he belonged there.
Every day, week, month and year that he spent there, of the 5 long years that he did, he learnt something new. Some bad experiences, some good ones and a few memorable ones.
His sis got married from the savings of his first overseas tour. He got married to someone whom he met there. He made friends of a lifetime there and got a solid platform to build a good future for himself.
The man who walked out of the office after putting down his papers, was a much confident and a polished version of the boy who stepped into that bus. It might be ironical that on his first day at work and the last day at work, he was wearing a sky blue shirt and a cream trouser - a good indication that not much had changed on the exterior, although a lot had changed in the mind and the body.
Today, 10 years later, a lot has changed, although nothing really seems to have changed. A lot of water has flown under the bridge that I once camped on for 5 long years. The bridge is not that attractive to others, but it is still very charming for me.
It is still one of the most revered companies in India. When I joined, there were around 9000 employees, today it has 126000 employees. So, it may not be as employee friendly as it was 10 years ago. Employees may not be as proud to carry that badge, as I was on the day.
But I know one thing for sure - I might be out of Infosys, Infosys will never be out of me. What that company taught me, will never be forgotten. What I got from that company, I can never squander.
Thank you so much for everything.
Exactly 10 years ago, a tall, thin boy, all of 21, boarded a bus in Aundh, Pune and began a journey.
The waiting in a queue to get into that bus, the orderly way of sitting in the bus, wearing a tie etc was all too intimidating for him. But even though he was nervous, he was enjoying the moment. He soaked himself in that experience and within a few days, he knew that he belonged there.
Every day, week, month and year that he spent there, of the 5 long years that he did, he learnt something new. Some bad experiences, some good ones and a few memorable ones.
His sis got married from the savings of his first overseas tour. He got married to someone whom he met there. He made friends of a lifetime there and got a solid platform to build a good future for himself.
The man who walked out of the office after putting down his papers, was a much confident and a polished version of the boy who stepped into that bus. It might be ironical that on his first day at work and the last day at work, he was wearing a sky blue shirt and a cream trouser - a good indication that not much had changed on the exterior, although a lot had changed in the mind and the body.
Today, 10 years later, a lot has changed, although nothing really seems to have changed. A lot of water has flown under the bridge that I once camped on for 5 long years. The bridge is not that attractive to others, but it is still very charming for me.
It is still one of the most revered companies in India. When I joined, there were around 9000 employees, today it has 126000 employees. So, it may not be as employee friendly as it was 10 years ago. Employees may not be as proud to carry that badge, as I was on the day.
But I know one thing for sure - I might be out of Infosys, Infosys will never be out of me. What that company taught me, will never be forgotten. What I got from that company, I can never squander.
Thank you so much for everything.
Broadway, here we come
Heard that Disney's Lion King is in town and did not want to miss the opportunity to catch musical extravaganza. I had heard a lot about it, but did not get a chance to catch the movie in my teens.
Such is the repute of the play that within a week of opening of the booking, almost all the shows were sold out. And there were at least 6-7 shows per week - for 5 weeks. But still, most the shows were sold out and only few of them (weekdays only btw) had some open seats. These seats were either in silos or in some deep corners. So, I had virtually given all hope of catching this show.
But as luck would have had it, things just fell in place. I came in from Boston 1 day ahead of the scheduled arrival date, someone cancelled fabulous seats on the next day and I just called 10 minutes after the cancellation call. Luckily, both S and I had no plans for the evening. And within 6 hours, we were at the DPAC arena watching a show that we had given up any hope of seeing this year.
The 3 hour show was amazing - the synchronization of 100+ artists was superb. Everyone was energetic, yet rhythmic. The concept was familiar, yet novel. The experience was memorable. A must do for anyone and everyone.
It was a surprise for S which delighted her. She flashed her 1000 watt smile again. And I managed to complete one more item of the bucket list - watching a Broadway show.
Such is the repute of the play that within a week of opening of the booking, almost all the shows were sold out. And there were at least 6-7 shows per week - for 5 weeks. But still, most the shows were sold out and only few of them (weekdays only btw) had some open seats. These seats were either in silos or in some deep corners. So, I had virtually given all hope of catching this show.
But as luck would have had it, things just fell in place. I came in from Boston 1 day ahead of the scheduled arrival date, someone cancelled fabulous seats on the next day and I just called 10 minutes after the cancellation call. Luckily, both S and I had no plans for the evening. And within 6 hours, we were at the DPAC arena watching a show that we had given up any hope of seeing this year.
The 3 hour show was amazing - the synchronization of 100+ artists was superb. Everyone was energetic, yet rhythmic. The concept was familiar, yet novel. The experience was memorable. A must do for anyone and everyone.
It was a surprise for S which delighted her. She flashed her 1000 watt smile again. And I managed to complete one more item of the bucket list - watching a Broadway show.
DEJA VU...
Some things never change... Like these...
Some do... The only thing that has changed since is that we are now allowed denims every day...
Happy New Year!!!
Some do... The only thing that has changed since is that we are now allowed denims every day...
Happy New Year!!!
Kya kare kya na kare
Last day of the year... Driving to have breakfast at one of my favorite delis... Not a very cold day - at least not enough to start the heater in the car, yet cold enough to have the AC knob turned fully towards warm... Sunny day yet the snow from the previous snow shower had not fully melted from the freeway... Probably, nature's way of showing us how balance is achieved...
I was driving my wife's car and just hit the CD player button... It took a couple of seconds for the CD player to choose the song to play and it chose "Kya kare kya na kare" from Rangeela... And as soon as I heard the opening tune, my mind took a super-quick flashback to 1995...
In the junior college, we were a group of 5 good friends, amongst whom are S and V... V is the quintessential lively, beautiful and spirited gal who has been depicted in umpteen Bollywood flicks... S is the typical boy, present in each of those bollywood flick, who has likes V but still chooses to admire her from a distance... S chooses to keep his emotions close to himself and does not dare to say it... A typical teenage romance...
It has been a little more than 2 years and now both S and V are looking for admission to medical schools. S has done very well and is on his way to one of the best schools of Mumbai whereas V might have to look outside Mumbai for a medical school or has to choose a para-medical school (ayurvedic or homeopathy etc)... S is worried that V might meet other "friends" and some talker might just swoop in and sweep her off her feet, away from him, forever...
When chided by his friends, yours truly included, S played the same song on the car stereo... He played the antara of this song - atleast 10 times for us -
Today, when I heard the same lines, it was such a sweet memory... What better ending to this story that today S and V are both doctors, happily married with a doll of a daughter named Aria... We are still very good friends and every time I hear the song, the trip down the memory lane is so enjoyable...
Thanks S and V for such a good time...
I was driving my wife's car and just hit the CD player button... It took a couple of seconds for the CD player to choose the song to play and it chose "Kya kare kya na kare" from Rangeela... And as soon as I heard the opening tune, my mind took a super-quick flashback to 1995...
In the junior college, we were a group of 5 good friends, amongst whom are S and V... V is the quintessential lively, beautiful and spirited gal who has been depicted in umpteen Bollywood flicks... S is the typical boy, present in each of those bollywood flick, who has likes V but still chooses to admire her from a distance... S chooses to keep his emotions close to himself and does not dare to say it... A typical teenage romance...
It has been a little more than 2 years and now both S and V are looking for admission to medical schools. S has done very well and is on his way to one of the best schools of Mumbai whereas V might have to look outside Mumbai for a medical school or has to choose a para-medical school (ayurvedic or homeopathy etc)... S is worried that V might meet other "friends" and some talker might just swoop in and sweep her off her feet, away from him, forever...
When chided by his friends, yours truly included, S played the same song on the car stereo... He played the antara of this song - atleast 10 times for us -
koi baDi baat nahi hamein kahana tha jo bhi
voh to ham yun bhi kahate magar
phir bhi kahaan nahi vajah us ki hai yehi
bas inkaar se ham ko tha Dar
ab kahe ya tab kahe
kahaa kahe kab kahe
soch soch main hi voh gayi nikal
Today, when I heard the same lines, it was such a sweet memory... What better ending to this story that today S and V are both doctors, happily married with a doll of a daughter named Aria... We are still very good friends and every time I hear the song, the trip down the memory lane is so enjoyable...
Thanks S and V for such a good time...
Bourne and others...
Holiday time, lots of pending leaves and super cold weather... What better recipe for hoards of movies...
S and I decided to catch up a lot of movies which were on our watch list for a long long time...
1 - Bourne trilogy -- Each one is good, although they follow a similar pattern... Still, the movies are worth watching... The way he manipulates the system is kind of unbelievable, but still, its best kept outside the realm of this movie... What happens when a super-trained spy turns (or is suspected of turning) rogue, how they overwhelm the creators... All this is depicted nicely in these movies...
Somehow, seeing these movies reminded me of how it is difficult to tame the forces of nature... We humans think that we have wind, water and fire under our control, so much so that we think that we have created them... The day these creations of god decide to prove who is their master, we know how wrong we are... Probably, CIA went through the same thought process when they could not curb Bourne's movement...
2 - Spy Game -- How spies do not lose their sharp mind even though they turn old... How difficult is it to leave your emotions for your job as a spy... And to what extent can a spy go for their loved one... Or to what extent a senior spy can go to help out a junior spy, even on the last day at work... So so good... Worth a watch, atleast one watch...
3 - Duplicity -- If you want to be confused, confounded and surprised every 15 minutes... And shocked in the last 15 minutes, this is the movie... Only 1 word, amazing...
4 - Tees Maar Khan -- One word... Useless... if I meet Farha khan, I am going to demand my $20 back... And then sue her for mental torture...
8 more days of vacation and cold weather until 2011 dawns... Wait to read about more flicks here... Watch this space...
S and I decided to catch up a lot of movies which were on our watch list for a long long time...
1 - Bourne trilogy -- Each one is good, although they follow a similar pattern... Still, the movies are worth watching... The way he manipulates the system is kind of unbelievable, but still, its best kept outside the realm of this movie... What happens when a super-trained spy turns (or is suspected of turning) rogue, how they overwhelm the creators... All this is depicted nicely in these movies...
Somehow, seeing these movies reminded me of how it is difficult to tame the forces of nature... We humans think that we have wind, water and fire under our control, so much so that we think that we have created them... The day these creations of god decide to prove who is their master, we know how wrong we are... Probably, CIA went through the same thought process when they could not curb Bourne's movement...
2 - Spy Game -- How spies do not lose their sharp mind even though they turn old... How difficult is it to leave your emotions for your job as a spy... And to what extent can a spy go for their loved one... Or to what extent a senior spy can go to help out a junior spy, even on the last day at work... So so good... Worth a watch, atleast one watch...
3 - Duplicity -- If you want to be confused, confounded and surprised every 15 minutes... And shocked in the last 15 minutes, this is the movie... Only 1 word, amazing...
4 - Tees Maar Khan -- One word... Useless... if I meet Farha khan, I am going to demand my $20 back... And then sue her for mental torture...
8 more days of vacation and cold weather until 2011 dawns... Wait to read about more flicks here... Watch this space...
One more step...
A few days back, I was checking out a website when I found out that a local doctor, who is also a connoisseur and a aficionado of Marathi literature, has donate 250+ Marathi books to the regional library. A quick glance on the list and I jumped our of sheer excitement... There were so many Marathi books which I had virtually given any hope of reading... There were many other books which I had wanted to read once again... There are a few things that can get me really excited and finding
The first one was Radheya, suggested by a very good friend... This book is Mahabharat from Karna's point of view... After having read this and this, I wanted to read Mahabharata from Karna's point of view... Karna is the most tragic character of this epic and one of the most illustrious of the lot, so it made it so much more necessary to see this story from his point of view...
And though it was not great, it was a very good perspective... Someone who has always been on the misunderstood side of life, someone who has always been defaulted to be at fault, someone who was always doomed to be slapped with the blame... Thats Karna for us...
He was the bravest of the lot, but he was also the most loyal of them all... He was the most talented of the lot, but he was the most fateful of the lot... He was the most understanding of the lot, but he was the most misunderstood of the lot...
How he was insulted umpteen times by different individuals... how he was denied what he deserved at crucial junctures of life... How he justified his righteousness to each one of those plaintiffs...
There were umpteen memorable such passages in the book, but the one which really captured the essence of Karna was -- when Kunti comes to Karna and tells him how she wants her eldest son back more than anything... and how he can be the king if he defects to the Pandava side... At that time, Karna rejects the offer stating that he craves Duryodhan's friendship more than the kingdom... And as far as Kunti needing her eldest son, she can get it if she defects to his side...
This is quintessential Karna... Someone who chose righteousness over comfort...
Radheya, the book, is all about this choice... Dont miss it...
The first one was Radheya, suggested by a very good friend... This book is Mahabharat from Karna's point of view... After having read this and this, I wanted to read Mahabharata from Karna's point of view... Karna is the most tragic character of this epic and one of the most illustrious of the lot, so it made it so much more necessary to see this story from his point of view...
And though it was not great, it was a very good perspective... Someone who has always been on the misunderstood side of life, someone who has always been defaulted to be at fault, someone who was always doomed to be slapped with the blame... Thats Karna for us...
He was the bravest of the lot, but he was also the most loyal of them all... He was the most talented of the lot, but he was the most fateful of the lot... He was the most understanding of the lot, but he was the most misunderstood of the lot...
How he was insulted umpteen times by different individuals... how he was denied what he deserved at crucial junctures of life... How he justified his righteousness to each one of those plaintiffs...
There were umpteen memorable such passages in the book, but the one which really captured the essence of Karna was -- when Kunti comes to Karna and tells him how she wants her eldest son back more than anything... and how he can be the king if he defects to the Pandava side... At that time, Karna rejects the offer stating that he craves Duryodhan's friendship more than the kingdom... And as far as Kunti needing her eldest son, she can get it if she defects to his side...
This is quintessential Karna... Someone who chose righteousness over comfort...
Radheya, the book, is all about this choice... Dont miss it...
Good bye Ajji...
I never had the luxury of a maternal grandmom, she passed away a few years before I was born. My paternal grandmom passed away exactly 2 days before my 21st birthday.
I remember that day very well because I had my 8th semester engineering exams going on then. After the exam, Dad and I went to Nasik to perform her last rites.
When she passed away, I was very sad because from that day onwards, there was no one who would run behind me on the stairs with a cup of milk. From that day onwards, there was no one who would make potato chips for me with the same enthusiasm 3 times a day. From that day onwards, there was no one who would read Shravan katha every day of Shravan month and from that day onwards, there was no one who would tell my mom to not scold me just because I was still a kid.
But somehow I did not miss my grandma that much. Because...
The day I came back from Nasik after completing the last rites, my neighbor Ajji was standing right in the door. She told me - "I know you must be sad after your loss, but I am here for you... I want you to know that you still have an Ajji"...
My home and her home were exactly opposite each other. So I used to call my grandmom just Ajji and I used to call the neighbor grandmom -- samorchi Ajji (the Ajji from opposite home)... She used to get really angry with that word "samorchi"... She felt alienated and ostracized by that word... But after my grandmom passed away, the word "samorchi" just vanished...
She was just Ajji from then onwards... Not just me, but my sis, my parents, the entire neighborhood used to call her Ajji... She was the Ajji of the entire 300 apartments in our residential neighborhood... And I just realized, I dont know her first name even today -- she was just Ajji...
She knew pretty much everyone in the area and everyone knew her... If a baby is born somewhere, she would know the weight and the gender of the baby... She would be there on the street with a bowl of curd for every student going for his/her 10th or 12th standard exam... And she would know the percentage of every student -- right on the day of the result and the college where the kid got admission -- right on the day when the kid got it... She would be there to tie the sari for every girl if an alliance was coming home to "see" her... And she would know the moment the wedding was fixed -- and the wedding date... If someone was sick and admitted to the hospital, she would know the hospital, ward number and the visiting hours timing... If someone died, she would be the first person in the deceased home saying what she told me that day -- "I know you must be sad after your loss, but I am here for you... I want you to know that you still have an Ajji"...
She was with my mom in her cab on her way to the hospital for her first delivery... My sis was too small for a woolen garment purchased from a store, so OVERNIGHT she knitted a ultra small woolen cap / sweater / socks to keep her warm in the January cold... When my family suffered a severe bout of food poisoning, and the entire family was hospitalized, she cleaned and sanitized the whole house and attended 7 ppl for 4 full days at the hospital -- all by herself...
I loved her Valachi Khichdi (beans and rice) and even now, every time I visited Mumbai, my mom never prepared breakfast on the first day, because without fail, 2 servings of Valachi Khichdi used to be ready at 8 am... The day she knew that my nephew is coming home, his favorite fish curry would be ready... And on my dad's birthday, a special pomfret curry used to be waiting on the dining table...
But all good things have to come to an end... Today, she passed away after a brief illness... She was admitted but even on her way to the hospital, she was telling my mother - J, just see, I will be perfectly healthy in a few days and will come back very soon... but somehow, that was not to be...
Today, I really feel how it is to be without a grandparent... It has been particularly hard on my parents because my dad has spent 40 full years with her and my mom has spent 35 years... My mom has actually spent more time with Ajji than with her own mom... Not a soul today returned from her home without a teary eye...
I can not wish anything more than a special place in heaven for Ajji... May your soul rest in peace Ajji... Keep your smile and blessings showering on us from up there...
Weird things from life
1. A friend finishes his graduation and a couple of days before the graduation ceremony, his mom suffers a mild heart attack. He chooses not to go and see his mom (stays very far away btw) and instead chooses to go on a pre-planned vacation. BTW, he has to take along (and pay for) a friend along on that vacation, and that means that the credit card company is richer.
2. A friend's grandfather is very serious and might pass any time. She is waiting for the news to strike so that she can go home for the funeral.
3. A young man wants to get his Swastika tattoo removed. Its fine, except, he wants to get rid of the tattoo because he wants to create a good impression on the jury. The jury has been convened to meet justice on a double murder committed by this guy. Whats worse - the jail authorities are paying for the tattoo removal procedure.
There are so many weird things all around and the only one that bothers me is --
I take my wife to show my office and she starts cleaning my desk. She gives me tips for keeping it clean. I get a -- see how fat you have become -- instead of gratitude for keeping our beautiful picture on the desk.
2. A friend's grandfather is very serious and might pass any time. She is waiting for the news to strike so that she can go home for the funeral.
3. A young man wants to get his Swastika tattoo removed. Its fine, except, he wants to get rid of the tattoo because he wants to create a good impression on the jury. The jury has been convened to meet justice on a double murder committed by this guy. Whats worse - the jail authorities are paying for the tattoo removal procedure.
There are so many weird things all around and the only one that bothers me is --
I take my wife to show my office and she starts cleaning my desk. She gives me tips for keeping it clean. I get a -- see how fat you have become -- instead of gratitude for keeping our beautiful picture on the desk.
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