Its just another month-end. What's the bloody big deal? Eh?
Go home. Sleep. Wake up. Its just another day!
Go home. Sleep. Wake up. Its just another day!
Saturday, December 30
Wednesday, December 27
Tarot
You are the Hanged Man
Self-sacrifice, Sacrifice, Devotion, Bound.
With the Hanged man there is often a sense of fatalism, waiting for something to happen. Or a fear of
loss from a situation, rather than gain.
The Hanged Man is perhaps the most fascinating card in the deck. It reflects the story of Odin who offered himself as a sacrifice in order to gain knowledge. Hanging from the world tree, wounded by a spear, given no bread or mead, he hung for nine days. On the last day, he saw on the ground runes that had fallen from the tree, understood their meaning, and, coming down, scooped them up for his own. All knowledge is to be found in these runes.
The Hanged Man, in similar fashion, is a card about suspension, not life or death. It signifies selflessness, sacrifice and prophecy. You make yourself vulnerable and in doing so, gain illumination. You see the world differently, with almost mystical insights.
What Tarot Card are You?
Take the Test to Find Out.
Yeah Right!!! :))
Tuesday, December 26
Sultans of swing
And a crowd of young boys theyre fooling around in the corner
Drunk and dressed in their best brown baggies & their platform soles
They dont give a damn about any trumpet playing band
It aint what they call rock and roll
And the sultans played creole
It is very scary to let go. Let go of something you didn't realise to be an extrinsic part of your life. But some wiseguy (wise-ass?) said: "If you love something, then let it be." ... Or something like that. Maybe I am just plain cynical. Maybe I am not positive enough. Maybe I am too pragmatic. But whatever the case, I belive that , the solution lies in the above statement.
Remember the old man and the butterfly's cocoon? Everyone has their own cocoon. Some break out. Some are reluctant. Some are way too vigorous. Some... just die in their cocoons. Never make it out. But each one who makes it out, albiet at different level of enthusiasm, has its own unique beauty. A vivid mesmerising pattern of colours and hues. Some flit around together. Some go in search for nectar all alone. Some just go on to a whole new forest. This isn't something to be sad about or overtly happy about. Its just something that happens.
And there is the account of the hanging of three men, and a scuba diver, and a suicide. There are stories of coincidence and chance, and intersections and strange things told, and which is which and who only knows? And we generally say, "Well, if that was in a movie, I wouldn't believe it." Someone's so-and-so met someone else's so-and-so and so on. And it is in the humble opinion of this narrator that strange things happen all the time. And so it goes, and so it goes. And the book says, "We may be through with the past, but the past ain't through with us."
These things happen all the time. Its just big when they happen to you or around you.
The tighter you close your fist, the faster the sand slips out.
Let go.
And then the man he steps right up to the microphone
And says at last just as the time bell rings
thank you goodnight now its time to go home
And he makes it fast with one more thing
we were the sultans of swing
Wednesday, December 20
Careful.
Be very VERY very VERY very VERY V-E-R-Y careful what you wish for.
You might actually get it.
Btw, Did I remind you to be very careful what you wish for?
You might actually get it.
Btw, Did I remind you to be very careful what you wish for?
Saturday, November 25
PJ updates
Two noteworthy ones.
This is an Original:
Q> While landing in which country, are your flights ALWAYS bound to be late?
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A> Qatar .... (Aaap Qatar mein hain, kripiya pratiksha keejiye) :D :D :D
This is heard elsewhere and properly reframed:
Q> Who was the first Indian woman to fly abroad?
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A> Mrs. Sita Ramachandra ;-)
Deadly no? Me thinks so too... :D :D :D
This is an Original:
Q> While landing in which country, are your flights ALWAYS bound to be late?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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A> Qatar .... (Aaap Qatar mein hain, kripiya pratiksha keejiye) :D :D :D
This is heard elsewhere and properly reframed:
Q> Who was the first Indian woman to fly abroad?
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
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A> Mrs. Sita Ramachandra ;-)
Deadly no? Me thinks so too... :D :D :D
Saturday, November 18
Mostly harmless, Huh?
In the beginning the Universe was created.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.
Wednesday, November 8
Ka-Ching!!!
Clean shaven. Red and Black are the colours. Sharp. Capped. Has 3 Shiny golden paper stars pinned on his chest. There is a place for a fourth.
Good evening sir, How may I help you?
Hmmm ... *squints at the bright candy-coloured menus* ... One McVeggie burger please..
Would like extra cheese and lettuce with it? Medium fries or large?
I'll take the extra cheese and lettuce, no fries please.
That will be Rs.62 please.
Hmmm... *ogles at more of the graphics* Can I have a strawberry milkshake with that, please?
Sure sir, That will be Rs.108. Will that be all sir?
Yes, Thank you.
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.
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Sir, your order. One McVeggie burger. Extra Cheese and lettuce. One straberry milkshake.
Thanks. I don't have change. Can u break a 500 please?
Sure sir. Do you have 3 rupees?
Sure. Here.
Here's your change. 392 Rupees. Thank you for coming to McDonald's. Have a nice meal.
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Rugged. Facial hair bordering between a stuble and full-blown beard. A kurta which was once white and had buttons. One sleeve rolled up showing a black thread holding a tiny brass cylinder wrapped around the arm.
Good evening sir, How may I help you?
Boliye saahab... kya lenge?
Hmmm ... *squints at the bright candy-coloured menus* ... One McVeggie burger please..
Hmmm ... *grimaces for effect* ... Hmmmm.... Bhindi kaise diya?
Would like extra cheese and lettuce with it? Medium fries or large?
Leejiye saab... Bahut badhiya hai... *snaps the end* ... ekdum taaza hai... leejiye?
I'll take the extra cheese and lettuce, no fries please.
Haan haan... Theek hai... Kaisa diya??
That will be Rs.62 please.
12 rupaiah ka aadha kilo hai saab... bilkul badhiya hai... kitna doon?
Hmmm... *ogles at more of the graphics* Can I have a strawberry milkshake with that, please?
Kis baat ka 12 rupaiah bol rahe ho yaar? Purana maal hai bilul... Chalo... Aadha kilo daal do. Ek kheera, Do nimbu aur thoda dania-kadipatha bhi de dena.
Sure sir, That will be Rs.108. Will that be all sir?
Haan saab, mein nikalta hoon saab... Ekdum badhiya.
Yes, Thank you.
Arre re ruko... Mein khud nikal leta hoon.
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.
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.
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Sir, your order. One McVeggie burger. Extra Cheese and lettuce. One straberry milkshake.
Leejiye saab. 19 rupaiah hua.
Thanks. I don't have change. Can u break a 500 please?
19 rupaiah?? Kiska ??? 16 rupaiah mein kar do sab. Masala ka thodi koi paisa leta hai?
Sure sir. Do you have 3 rupees?
Arre saab... 12 ka bhindi. 3 ka kheera. 3 rupaiah Nimbu aur Ek rupaiah Masala ka.
Sure. Here.
Arre kuch nahi... 16 rupaiah mein kar do sab. Yeh lo 10... aur yeh 5 aur Yeh 1. Ho gaya 16.
Here's your change. 392 Rupees. Thank you for coming to McDonald's. Have a nice meal.
Deejiye... Leejiye sabzi.
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I realised I was being the confused bourgeois through and through. Aren't our perspectives misplaced? Highly skewed? We silently endure the facade. But we not only ignore, we exploit the reality.
"All men are born equal"... Yeah right! Try telling that without any guilt deep within.
"All men are born equal"... Yeah right! Try telling that without any guilt deep within.
Wednesday, October 18
Give me justice...
I really am offended today. I feel that there is no justice in this world anymore. It is a sad sad day in the history of the world of blogs, my dear friends... A sad sad day.
The reason is THIS.
Go visit it first.
Have you seen the photos of the flowers? Those blue bonnety flowers? What about the loooongg list of ingredients for all those recipes? and the Photos that taunt you if you are a poor hungry soul gawking at them at the middle of the night. I am sure these must not be revolting to you. On the contrary, any of the fairer sex out there might have quite enjoyed the flowers. And the desis abound would be copy-pasting those recipes (if they have the taste). Which is why I repeat again... Give me justice!!!
For, ladies and gentlemen, that very blog belongs to my loving , caring, doting elder sister. "Oh really? How nice yaar!" "Abe, Didi ka blog hai... sahi hai be..." ... Arrgghhh...
I spend over a year carefully manipulating and scheming on my blog. A selective assortment of posts interspersed with humour, memories and of course some sensitive moments (According to m, this should be more often). I scheme and plot, design and deploy, ponder and write... I even design (proudly so!) my own blog template with Fantabulous Calvin and the Incorrigble Hobbes as the theme characters (A duo that everyone loves to love). By doing all this jugglery and trickery, I manage to garner a select group of readers (thank you guys! **sniff sniff**) and somehow make my blog counter touch the higher side of 2000.
And here, this sister of mine... starts her blog this late summer. Writes about recipes and only recipes (there is one about some blue-coloured hat-shaped flowers too). Has listed god-knows-how-many similar recipe-crazy blogger friends of hers! (if any of you are reading this, I am just bashing her blog... Welcome to mine. :D, Do read. Comment. Repeat.)
And by doing all this, not only does she have a group of foodloggers... ahaa, nice word--> see, In how many foodlogs would you find an instantaneous contribution to her majesty's language? ... Like I was saying, not only does she have a group of foodloggers who visit regularly and start chirping "Oh... What a nice recipe!!! I'll surely try this out" ... "I had the same recipe book, but its collecting dust. I'll dig out that recipe and add some of that dust and kitchen grime as flavouring" ... "I had tried a similar sambhar when I was desperately short of anything better to make. But I had reduced 0.0000000001 grammes of tamarind and added 0.0000002 grammes of fenugreek as seasoning. I will surely try ur suggestion of toning down on the tamarind a little more!"
And you know what? They actually go and do it! Now who in god's name would actually sit and go through those gazillion foodlogs (don't believe the gazillion, go see the list on the side of my sis's blog) and make those dishes with those recommended changes take pictures and acknowledge the original author. As in, I really wonder what must go on in their minds....
Common ladies! Are there really so many of you out there who complain of not having time to cook as you work late but nevertheless you have time to go through all these blogs before cooking to find out which recipe is fast to cook and maintains your cholesterol levels? Do you really need a flower listing blog to cheer you up in those morose grey settings outside our country? Is this really happening? And why do you HAVE to use such difficult ingredient names like fenugreek and arse0fartida ... or was it asafoetida??? Hmmm... I wonder what such complex names could cook up in the hands of a novice cook....
She makes this blogging mafia of hers, doesn't even work on the template (its literally a cherry) and she gets almost 6000 visitors already??????????? She has a fan club et al?????? No! This is not fair!!!
And worse, I get to see only the snaps. :(
Give me justice......
Ammmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! Waaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
************************************************************************************
Author's disclaimer:
Before any malicious comment is thrown out onto the public domain about how cooking is an art and one needs to actually practice it before writing about/criticising it, the author would like to state that recently due to dire need and sheer gastronomical desperation, he has learnt to cook and isn't as bad as the bangla boys . He makes it clear that the astronomical exaggerations and desperate attempt at humour is simply a nauseating effort to get back to blogging and trap some foodloggers too. This post is an outcome of sitting in the office at 2 AM and looking at photos on a sibling's blog. And ESPECIALLY this post.
Peace.
************************************************************************************
The reason is THIS.
Go visit it first.
Have you seen the photos of the flowers? Those blue bonnety flowers? What about the loooongg list of ingredients for all those recipes? and the Photos that taunt you if you are a poor hungry soul gawking at them at the middle of the night. I am sure these must not be revolting to you. On the contrary, any of the fairer sex out there might have quite enjoyed the flowers. And the desis abound would be copy-pasting those recipes (if they have the taste). Which is why I repeat again... Give me justice!!!
For, ladies and gentlemen, that very blog belongs to my loving , caring, doting elder sister. "Oh really? How nice yaar!" "Abe, Didi ka blog hai... sahi hai be..." ... Arrgghhh...
I spend over a year carefully manipulating and scheming on my blog. A selective assortment of posts interspersed with humour, memories and of course some sensitive moments (According to m, this should be more often). I scheme and plot, design and deploy, ponder and write... I even design (proudly so!) my own blog template with Fantabulous Calvin and the Incorrigble Hobbes as the theme characters (A duo that everyone loves to love). By doing all this jugglery and trickery, I manage to garner a select group of readers (thank you guys! **sniff sniff**) and somehow make my blog counter touch the higher side of 2000.
And here, this sister of mine... starts her blog this late summer. Writes about recipes and only recipes (there is one about some blue-coloured hat-shaped flowers too). Has listed god-knows-how-many similar recipe-crazy blogger friends of hers! (if any of you are reading this, I am just bashing her blog... Welcome to mine. :D, Do read. Comment. Repeat.)
And by doing all this, not only does she have a group of foodloggers... ahaa, nice word--> see, In how many foodlogs would you find an instantaneous contribution to her majesty's language? ... Like I was saying, not only does she have a group of foodloggers who visit regularly and start chirping "Oh... What a nice recipe!!! I'll surely try this out" ... "I had the same recipe book, but its collecting dust. I'll dig out that recipe and add some of that dust and kitchen grime as flavouring" ... "I had tried a similar sambhar when I was desperately short of anything better to make. But I had reduced 0.0000000001 grammes of tamarind and added 0.0000002 grammes of fenugreek as seasoning. I will surely try ur suggestion of toning down on the tamarind a little more!"
And you know what? They actually go and do it! Now who in god's name would actually sit and go through those gazillion foodlogs (don't believe the gazillion, go see the list on the side of my sis's blog) and make those dishes with those recommended changes take pictures and acknowledge the original author. As in, I really wonder what must go on in their minds....
Here I am ..... slicing & dicing ... dicing & slicing the spring onions when..... OOPS! A whole bunch of salted turnips meant for the sabzi finds its way into the perfectly simmering sambhar..... eeks! what will I do?? My foodlogger friends will think I am useless! They'll say I drop turnips into sambhars!... I'll be 'nipslip' for the rest of my foodlogging days!!! waaahhh!!... Wait a sec, So what if its stinks of salted turnips, my tamarind and fenugreek levels are that recommended by H. I'll filter out the turnip pieces, take a few snaps and post it. No one can 'see' an extra can of salt in it. And, now that I have tried her recipe, H will be bound till eternity to visit my blog and comment on it!! Buhahahahahahha....
Common ladies! Are there really so many of you out there who complain of not having time to cook as you work late but nevertheless you have time to go through all these blogs before cooking to find out which recipe is fast to cook and maintains your cholesterol levels? Do you really need a flower listing blog to cheer you up in those morose grey settings outside our country? Is this really happening? And why do you HAVE to use such difficult ingredient names like fenugreek and arse0fartida ... or was it asafoetida??? Hmmm... I wonder what such complex names could cook up in the hands of a novice cook....
She makes this blogging mafia of hers, doesn't even work on the template (its literally a cherry) and she gets almost 6000 visitors already??????????? She has a fan club et al?????? No! This is not fair!!!
And worse, I get to see only the snaps. :(
Give me justice......
Ammmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!! Waaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!
************************************************************************************
Author's disclaimer:
Before any malicious comment is thrown out onto the public domain about how cooking is an art and one needs to actually practice it before writing about/criticising it, the author would like to state that recently due to dire need and sheer gastronomical desperation, he has learnt to cook and isn't as bad as the bangla boys . He makes it clear that the astronomical exaggerations and desperate attempt at humour is simply a nauseating effort to get back to blogging and trap some foodloggers too. This post is an outcome of sitting in the office at 2 AM and looking at photos on a sibling's blog. And ESPECIALLY this post.
Peace.
************************************************************************************
Sunday, October 15
Mulligatawny
Run little rabbit, Hurry!, Run!
No, there is no safe sheltered hole,
Stark to the sun and rain,
Run little rabbit..... Run!
Who spawned hunters and kings and seers?
You are cursed to live, to feel and act.
You; run from you, your soul; fool!
No, there is no safe sheltered hole,
Stark to the sun and rain,
Run little rabbit..... Run!
Escape; the thunder, the lightning, the wind
Not; glowing eyes in the darkness; there
Save; the fur, the pink; yourself
You; have to strive and hide; fool!
Don't hunt the furry flesh too long,
The sun , the rain on you are too
Run you mangy wolf..... RUN!
Escape; the thorns, the jagged stones,
Not; torches and shouts abound; there!
Save; your gut, your clan; yourself.
You; have to turn and run; fool!
Who spawned hunters and kings and seers?
You are cursed to live, to feel and act.
You; run from you, your soul; fool!
Tuesday, September 26
A few hours of solitude...
Its apparently been over 2 months since I penned anything down here... Not that nothing happened in these past months. On the contrary, its been one heck of a weird time. Around 7th August, I was under house arrest due to the Surat floods. Over a week without power, running water, new provisions, milk and absolutely no way of communicating beyond the range of your own voice (our relatives all over were super worried, apparently). Thankfully (for both of us), my parents had landed here just a day earlier and I had bought provisions for them. We peacefully 'survived' the flood.
One of the things I did in those 7 days is what would take any sane person over a month to do; I read "Of human bondage" by Somerset Maugham. Its a marvellous book, drawing from the author's life experiences and containing vignettes of astute observations. The drawback is that its a VERY slow book. Its in stark contrast to any rivetting novel that you would've held on to through the night (Not as rubbery as Ayn Rand though). The flood situation with its extremely limited set of distractions gave me a good chance to finish the book in one go.
One other amazing thing was learning to cook! Amma is an excellent teacher. The testament to this is the praise accorded to my sabji preparation by my co-workers today. And the best part is that I discovered that I actually enjoy cooking! yay!
Which brings me back to the topic of this post. My parents moved into where I live, early last month. It consisted of 2 rooms with walls, the decent kitchen and of course, the loo. But when they left it yesterday, I could in a very slight way call it home. Home with a grouchy landlord (they live in the floor below), a leakin roof, absolutely no furniture... But home nevertheless. Suddenly am shrouded in solitude until I set out on almost a week long work (and fun in between) trip. And solitude in qutie scary at first. The worst is the silence. Not necessarily because you would be yapping otherwise, but just the presence was enough. The silence here suddenly turns eerie. Thank goodness for my computer which is working perfectly , showering me with the flourescent aura of Chandler's snide remarks and Jerry's repeated victories over Tom.
What I am trying to say is.... Heck... I am not trying to say anything. Its just that the home's empty, but I am going to enjoy every ounce of solitude that I can. The chirpy phone will keep me connected regularly, but I have the gift that many others crave for and even crib about at all times. Here's to living a grandpa's life at 22! :)
One of the things I did in those 7 days is what would take any sane person over a month to do; I read "Of human bondage" by Somerset Maugham. Its a marvellous book, drawing from the author's life experiences and containing vignettes of astute observations. The drawback is that its a VERY slow book. Its in stark contrast to any rivetting novel that you would've held on to through the night (Not as rubbery as Ayn Rand though). The flood situation with its extremely limited set of distractions gave me a good chance to finish the book in one go.
One other amazing thing was learning to cook! Amma is an excellent teacher. The testament to this is the praise accorded to my sabji preparation by my co-workers today. And the best part is that I discovered that I actually enjoy cooking! yay!
Which brings me back to the topic of this post. My parents moved into where I live, early last month. It consisted of 2 rooms with walls, the decent kitchen and of course, the loo. But when they left it yesterday, I could in a very slight way call it home. Home with a grouchy landlord (they live in the floor below), a leakin roof, absolutely no furniture... But home nevertheless. Suddenly am shrouded in solitude until I set out on almost a week long work (and fun in between) trip. And solitude in qutie scary at first. The worst is the silence. Not necessarily because you would be yapping otherwise, but just the presence was enough. The silence here suddenly turns eerie. Thank goodness for my computer which is working perfectly
What I am trying to say is.... Heck... I am not trying to say anything. Its just that the home's empty, but I am going to enjoy every ounce of solitude that I can. The chirpy phone will keep me connected regularly, but I have the gift that many others crave for and even crib about at all times. Here's to living a grandpa's life at 22! :)
Thursday, August 3
Thursday, July 27
Sunday, July 23
Schhhuuummmm....
A deep breath...
The eyes blink...
Eyelids close, A moment of silence... Thoughts regarding the past few hours stream back to him...
Its the last pitstop before it ends... He's done this 49 times already... Just one more...
The path is seared into his memory... each contour... each straight...
He can do this.
The eyes open.
It is met with a rush of sound and fast movement... The engine is rumbling just under him... He can see some of the others... He knows which ones will cause trouble... That guy in the white car has a very reluctant engine... and the other one in the yellow stripes barely has the guts... Doesn't matter. Today is his day. Nothing is going to stop his glorious rush to the chequered flag. Today.... he will outdo his own past....
Its time to go! He barely lets the brown elixir into the starved engine and it shoots off!!! He cajoles his baby into the mainstream... Its time to RACE!!!
A slalom is coming up!!! A left and then manouvering in for a cut on the right!!!.... (that was close)... Audience starts noticing him... he can't hear it... but he's sure that individuals are heaving and sighing as they watch his show...
Its near!! The end is near...
He gives it his all... YES! He's bettered his own previous record! A surge of joy and pride within him goes unnoticed by all those not populating his mind... A satisfaction creases across his otherwise mundane life...
A screeeeeeeeeeeching stop.
Me: "Kitna hua?"
Him: "15 rupaya"
Me: "Arre roj tho 10 rupaya deta hoon... Yeh lo!"
He takes it... bends down, restarts his baby... looks at the fool who didn't think the ride of the day worth five extra bucks... ha! Fools ... all of them!! The evening rush is over anyway... made 50 trips today... a good day... time for some chai...
And so the great Indian challenger trudges on... phatt phatt phatt phatt...
P.S. A humble tribute to Surat's auto-rickshaw walaas... For the daily thrill ride to the office and back... :D
Friday, July 14
Roy number Zero ... :)
All that is gold does not glitter,
not all those who wander are lost;
the old that is strong does not wither,
deep roots are not reached by the frost.
From the ashes a fire shall be woken,
a light from the shadows shall spring;
renenwed shall be 'the nib' that was broken,
the crownless again shall be king!
This is for Indrava Roy, lovingly known to all as I.Roy .
For being the closest thing to a mathematics freak, I know of.
For being maybe one of the few souls who is going to pursue his true love (literally AND figuritively) and his passion after graduation.
For being the craziest son-of-bitch and sticking to his guns during the darkest hours.
May future maths students curse him the way we curse other great theoriticians (Saala leibnitz... C*****) :))
Love ya be!!! :)
Jo Gumshuda.... Sa Khwab tha! :D
P.S. Amazing how one great news can change one's mood drastically!
Coma.
Where do I even begin?
The events seem like a distant dream. Happening in some place where I was until recently( Barely for a month, but I fell in love with the temptress). I shudder to imagine the present psyche of the gregarious and focussed lot, that are Mumbaikars. It would be too cliche to repeat the absolute horror of the events that have taken place on the Eleventh of this month. Also, it would be a slight to the memories of those who died, to just provide lip-service through some anonymous portal in the labyrinth of the net. But I have safely blocked myself from accepting that it has actually happened. I still believe that when I go back to the churn and grind, that is the city of Mumbai, I shall see no difference.
Apparently, this time around the city of infinite strength is buckling. This incident has shaken the most resilient residents of the city. I believe, that the unrest and a general foreboding still prevalent amongst the citizens is not due to the heavy death toll or the actual Modus Operandi of the incident. It's just because they don't know whom to blame! Whenever we are attacked or insulted, the surge of anger and caution that follows the intial shock and backfoot, needs a focussed target. In the 1993 blasts, we had one. In the 9/11 attacks we had one. The parliament attacks also had a fixed target.
But right now, there is no outfit claiming responsibility. No sect supporting the attacks even the least bit. So whom do the innocents blame? Do they blindly fall back upon their favourite targets, the Mohemmedans? Do they agree with the saffronites that this particular minority is the only one capable of such inhuman activities? But how can they even slightly trust the saffronites who until the previous day were themselves causing havoc on the slightest pretext? How do they believe the government when it says that Pakistan (our evil sister) is most likely to have a hand in the blasts which shook everyone from Tehran to Timbuktoo? How can they believe a system which allowed such a gruesome act to be commited? Mind you, I am not blaming the already stretched police force or the IB... The system,per se, was... and is... at fault.
How the HELL can you expect any form of coordination amongst ranks if u have intelligence coming in from 10 diferent terrorist tracking units? How can't a uniformed personnel even with a moiety of intelligence realise that we are at war, when some one recovers One and a half tonne of RDX from the hinterland close to the city (FYI, experts reckon it doesn't take more than a few kilos of RDX for the damage that was done on the trains)? And most of all, How can one endear oneself to a Chief Minister, the elected benefactor of millions, whose primary reaction to the blasts are: "Rs. 50,000/- for the injured and Rs. 1 Lakh for the dead". 1 lakh??? Is that all an innocent bourgeoisie is worth in our country? For a system which spends crores of rupees during its election rallies, the sheer agony of a life ripped apart and a family shred to destitution is 1 lakh? Aren't we all a part of this hypocritic system? What else am I going to do other than rave and rant on this personal space of mine viewed by a close few? How can I step into the jungle and prove Darwin wrong?
I am just biding my time.
The events seem like a distant dream. Happening in some place where I was until recently( Barely for a month, but I fell in love with the temptress). I shudder to imagine the present psyche of the gregarious and focussed lot, that are Mumbaikars. It would be too cliche to repeat the absolute horror of the events that have taken place on the Eleventh of this month. Also, it would be a slight to the memories of those who died, to just provide lip-service through some anonymous portal in the labyrinth of the net. But I have safely blocked myself from accepting that it has actually happened. I still believe that when I go back to the churn and grind, that is the city of Mumbai, I shall see no difference.
Apparently, this time around the city of infinite strength is buckling. This incident has shaken the most resilient residents of the city. I believe, that the unrest and a general foreboding still prevalent amongst the citizens is not due to the heavy death toll or the actual Modus Operandi of the incident. It's just because they don't know whom to blame! Whenever we are attacked or insulted, the surge of anger and caution that follows the intial shock and backfoot, needs a focussed target. In the 1993 blasts, we had one. In the 9/11 attacks we had one. The parliament attacks also had a fixed target.
But right now, there is no outfit claiming responsibility. No sect supporting the attacks even the least bit. So whom do the innocents blame? Do they blindly fall back upon their favourite targets, the Mohemmedans? Do they agree with the saffronites that this particular minority is the only one capable of such inhuman activities? But how can they even slightly trust the saffronites who until the previous day were themselves causing havoc on the slightest pretext? How do they believe the government when it says that Pakistan (our evil sister) is most likely to have a hand in the blasts which shook everyone from Tehran to Timbuktoo? How can they believe a system which allowed such a gruesome act to be commited? Mind you, I am not blaming the already stretched police force or the IB... The system,per se, was... and is... at fault.
How the HELL can you expect any form of coordination amongst ranks if u have intelligence coming in from 10 diferent terrorist tracking units? How can't a uniformed personnel even with a moiety of intelligence realise that we are at war, when some one recovers One and a half tonne of RDX from the hinterland close to the city (FYI, experts reckon it doesn't take more than a few kilos of RDX for the damage that was done on the trains)? And most of all, How can one endear oneself to a Chief Minister, the elected benefactor of millions, whose primary reaction to the blasts are: "Rs. 50,000/- for the injured and Rs. 1 Lakh for the dead". 1 lakh??? Is that all an innocent bourgeoisie is worth in our country? For a system which spends crores of rupees during its election rallies, the sheer agony of a life ripped apart and a family shred to destitution is 1 lakh? Aren't we all a part of this hypocritic system? What else am I going to do other than rave and rant on this personal space of mine viewed by a close few? How can I step into the jungle and prove Darwin wrong?
I am just biding my time.
P.S. Have not enabled commenting.
Sunday, July 9
The moot point.
Was scrap-chatting with a friend today. Found out what the 'moot' actually is. Just pasting her description here fyi :
Now that we have that in the clear... I'd like to draw your attention to one segment that struck me , other than the fact that lawyers, medicos, desginers etc have amazing hands on experience (damn engineering) ... we are told beforehand which side we are to represent ...
Hmmm... told beforehand which side to take? Agreed that its just a college competition and more of a learning experience. But still, for people with zoolch idea about the judicial system (read: The Bourgeois Buffoon), its sorta weird. To me, a stand can be taken based on three circumstances. Either you have studied the situation and chosen a side of the argument using logic and rationale. Or you just blindly accept a trustworthy person's opinion on an unkown subject. Of course, most common of all is the way we refuse to change our stance no matter how much ever logic or reasoning is introduced either way (Its easier for our personal social fabric this way).
But imagine the plight of a young lawyer, passionate about... say, the environment, when he/she is asked to defend a factory which releases enough carbon everyday to cover the vatican city ten times over! Now this lawyer has two choices. Either chuck a good career in this prestigious firm and hold steadfast to his/her beliefs. Else mutely execute the order with a silent vow to never take up such a case when he/she has a firm of his/her own.
I don't know if any other profession would face such a moral grind with such a regular basis as these lawyers do. And knowing the fickleness of the human morality, this explains why lawyers often turn out to be the most hated group of them all. Not that the other guys don't face tough ethical decisions. Like Jeffrey Wigand, an executive in the tobacco industry who showed inside information on what additives are added by tobacco companies intentionally... so that smokers are addicted to their brands of ciggarettes, something that any common worker should be inspired by. He brought a the cartel of Tobacco companies to heel. A $264 billion settlement against them. The movie 'The insider', beautifully potrays his struggle to get the truth heard. With only a handful of lawyers actually coming to his aid. Rest of the law community in the pockets of the cartel. Although the evidence is mounted against them.
A fictious problem is given (say 2-3 pages long)... with lots of legal issues and 2 parties... one that goes to court and the other been taken to court...we are told beforehand which side we are to represent and after some 10 days of work ... we submit our memorial with arguments on facts and law for our side...a day after that we argue out the case in front of a bench of "judges" .. who may be seniors, faculty or lawyers from outside...then we're ranked on the basis of our performance..right now selections are on... we have some 3 rounds of internal moots.. after which the "moot team" is formed.. consisting 30 speakers and 10 researchers... these people pick national and international moots based on their ranks and the prestige involved in the said moot!
Now that we have that in the clear... I'd like to draw your attention to one segment that struck me , other than the fact that lawyers, medicos, desginers etc have amazing hands on experience (damn engineering) ... we are told beforehand which side we are to represent ...
Hmmm... told beforehand which side to take? Agreed that its just a college competition and more of a learning experience. But still, for people with zoolch idea about the judicial system (read: The Bourgeois Buffoon), its sorta weird. To me, a stand can be taken based on three circumstances. Either you have studied the situation and chosen a side of the argument using logic and rationale. Or you just blindly accept a trustworthy person's opinion on an unkown subject. Of course, most common of all is the way we refuse to change our stance no matter how much ever logic or reasoning is introduced either way (Its easier for our personal social fabric this way).
But imagine the plight of a young lawyer, passionate about... say, the environment, when he/she is asked to defend a factory which releases enough carbon everyday to cover the vatican city ten times over! Now this lawyer has two choices. Either chuck a good career in this prestigious firm and hold steadfast to his/her beliefs. Else mutely execute the order with a silent vow to never take up such a case when he/she has a firm of his/her own.
I don't know if any other profession would face such a moral grind with such a regular basis as these lawyers do. And knowing the fickleness of the human morality, this explains why lawyers often turn out to be the most hated group of them all. Not that the other guys don't face tough ethical decisions. Like Jeffrey Wigand, an executive in the tobacco industry who showed inside information on what additives are added by tobacco companies intentionally... so that smokers are addicted to their brands of ciggarettes, something that any common worker should be inspired by. He brought a the cartel of Tobacco companies to heel. A $264 billion settlement against them. The movie 'The insider', beautifully potrays his struggle to get the truth heard. With only a handful of lawyers actually coming to his aid. Rest of the law community in the pockets of the cartel. Although the evidence is mounted against them.
Unfortunate. I guess that's why its a Devil's advocate.I am each and every lawyer/judge understands this. I just
hope he/she realises it. In time.
Saturday, July 8
Rx
Here is the history of medicine.
"I have a sore throat."
2000 BC : "eat this root"
1200 AD : "That root is heathen, say this prayer."
1500 AD : "That prayer is superstition, drink this elixir."
1800 AD : "That elixir is snake oil, Take this pill."
1900 AD : "That pill is ineffective, Take this antibiotic."
2000 AD : "That antibiotic is artificial, Here why dont you eat this root."
Saturday, July 1
Alma Mater.
To thy happy children of the future,
those of the past,
Send tidings...
those of the past,
Send tidings...
The hope-giving tidings being an excerpt from an article on the economictimes.com on 30th June, regarding the changing trends in JEE due to various modifications:
"This increase could be attributed to the reforms made in the conduct of these examinations. The number of candidates qualified in their first attempt is 2,761, which is 43.5 per cent of the total number of qualified candidates," said the statement. Last year, 28.49 per cent were first timers.
The participation of female candidates also increased from 29,291 in 2005 to 58,997 this year, as entrance fee for them was halved, it said. "
About time, I say. Quite timely w.r.t DD's post.
May my Alma mater's happy children prosper... :)
Tuesday, June 27
'Life's damn weird re'
I couldn't agree more! Of course, I have my own reasons... Its been just over a month since it was 'Tadaa' to the village... and life's changed. Totally. I knew it would. Everyone told me it would. I didn't even realise it when it started changing... But that statement above just made me realise it.
Over 20 days in 'Corporate induction'. A desperate attempt by Mssrs Godrej Inc. to mold 40 individuals using their dies. Various terms flying thick in the air ... 'Economic Value Added' ... 'Total Quality Management' ... 'Theory of Constraints'... etcetra etcetra... There was this Outbound programme. Simple funda. Take 40 odd achievers and take them too a secluded place (pun not intended) where there is no mobile or net or any such communication mode. And then divide them into teams, make them play neanderthal games which require different aspects of teamwork and leadership, the 'facilitator' sits back and observes everyone and plays the cat and mouse psychological game with everyone about their teamwork skills etc... Was nice actually we had LOADS of fun... And I DID learn a few things!
The best revelation was the way all us engineer trainees bonded... And of course how the management grads bonded amongst themselves and then the senior-junior thing developed between us... It was almost like clockwork. I am sure it is not necessary that this would've happened with other people. But for sure... it got me thinking about one thing.
Is it a mold which helped us bond? What ARE experiences? Just die-casts? To put us into a mold? Just imagine... U don't feel connected to a person because you shared a nurse in the hospital as a baby or even because both of you pee-ed all over each other in pre nursery or your favourite toy in the play area was the same. You feel connected to them when you share moments and events in a stage in life AFTER you've started forming opinions. It starts right back when you think that Robocop is cooler than He-man ( or some pikachu crap these days). It moves ahead unto all the groups you fall into in the school days (Muggoos, fad chaps, sport guys and morons, of course). And then the common activities and simmering raw opinions you form about life make some of the best bonds. Most important of all these die-casts is that of the family. No other bond is as instantaneous as growing up in similar family systems (hostel life is but an extension). And of course, I'm going to steer clear of the effects of matters of the heart!
Over 20 days in 'Corporate induction'. A desperate attempt by Mssrs Godrej Inc. to mold 40 individuals using their dies. Various terms flying thick in the air ... 'Economic Value Added' ... 'Total Quality Management' ... 'Theory of Constraints'... etcetra etcetra... There was this Outbound programme. Simple funda. Take 40 odd achievers and take them too a secluded place (pun not intended) where there is no mobile or net or any such communication mode. And then divide them into teams, make them play neanderthal games which require different aspects of teamwork and leadership, the 'facilitator' sits back and observes everyone and plays the cat and mouse psychological game with everyone about their teamwork skills etc... Was nice actually we had LOADS of fun... And I DID learn a few things!
The best revelation was the way all us engineer trainees bonded... And of course how the management grads bonded amongst themselves and then the senior-junior thing developed between us... It was almost like clockwork. I am sure it is not necessary that this would've happened with other people. But for sure... it got me thinking about one thing.
Is it a mold which helped us bond? What ARE experiences? Just die-casts? To put us into a mold? Just imagine... U don't feel connected to a person because you shared a nurse in the hospital as a baby or even because both of you pee-ed all over each other in pre nursery or your favourite toy in the play area was the same. You feel connected to them when you share moments and events in a stage in life AFTER you've started forming opinions. It starts right back when you think that Robocop is cooler than He-man ( or some pikachu crap these days). It moves ahead unto all the groups you fall into in the school days (Muggoos, fad chaps, sport guys and morons, of course). And then the common activities and simmering raw opinions you form about life make some of the best bonds. Most important of all these die-casts is that of the family. No other bond is as instantaneous as growing up in similar family systems (hostel life is but an extension). And of course, I'm going to steer clear of the effects of matters of the heart!
We have just been clearing cut-offs to fit into supposedly better casts? Wriggle through the shapes and contours of that cast... To be molded into a finished product. The rough edges being some of the few individualities left?
Will we end up as a suit?
Will I?
<...Shudder...>
Sahi mein... "Life is damn weird re!"
Wednesday, June 14
Aila!
Well,
I should've updated it earlier, but my quintessential lethargy, you know...
Life's O.K. . Joined Godrej Industries Ltd. at Mumbai. Its a 109 year 'young' company (ya ya that's company tempo crap). Pretty nice place. But I can't compare it with any other company as I don't have any experiences to benchmark it against. The area is pretty good... VERY green... which is again very unlike rest of Bombay.
Went to Ahmedabad for a weekend and caught up with dear old buddies. And almost did a few wild things! :D... But its difficult to go wild in ahmedabad.
Have had many amazing experiences which I have wanted to share here, but this crampy cyber cafe near the accomodation they have provided (which is very decent) isn't the place for long bouts of blogging. Wanted to write about Mumbai (obv!), the trains here, the party we had on the first day (I dined with Adi Godrej!! :D), IIT Vs IIT, and other crap that I normally spew out here...
The best part is the amazing set of people who have joined with me (that includes me too!). In a short span of 15 odd days we have gelled as if we've known each other for a few years or something! I guess all college hostel lives are the same... else by picking exactly like-minded people, Godrej's HR has proved its brilliant. But I have sincere doubts about the latter!!
Please pray that I can get a nice comfy comp with net to rave and rant on this page and consequently dodge the brickbats.
Which actually gets me wondering... Have any of you seen brickbats? Wht the hell are they? I know Bricks and I know bats... but what is a brickbat??? Hmmm... dekhna padega...
Keep jiving!!! :D
I should've updated it earlier, but my quintessential lethargy, you know...
Life's O.K. . Joined Godrej Industries Ltd. at Mumbai. Its a 109 year 'young' company (ya ya that's company tempo crap). Pretty nice place. But I can't compare it with any other company as I don't have any experiences to benchmark it against. The area is pretty good... VERY green... which is again very unlike rest of Bombay.
Went to Ahmedabad for a weekend and caught up with dear old buddies. And almost did a few wild things! :D... But its difficult to go wild in ahmedabad.
Have had many amazing experiences which I have wanted to share here, but this crampy cyber cafe near the accomodation they have provided (which is very decent) isn't the place for long bouts of blogging. Wanted to write about Mumbai (obv!), the trains here, the party we had on the first day (I dined with Adi Godrej!! :D), IIT Vs IIT, and other crap that I normally spew out here...
The best part is the amazing set of people who have joined with me (that includes me too!). In a short span of 15 odd days we have gelled as if we've known each other for a few years or something! I guess all college hostel lives are the same... else by picking exactly like-minded people, Godrej's HR has proved its brilliant. But I have sincere doubts about the latter!!
Please pray that I can get a nice comfy comp with net to rave and rant on this page and consequently dodge the brickbats.
Which actually gets me wondering... Have any of you seen brickbats? Wht the hell are they? I know Bricks and I know bats... but what is a brickbat??? Hmmm... dekhna padega...
Keep jiving!!! :D
Thursday, May 25
27 hours
Its 5 A.M.
There is a slight temperate breeze waltzing into my room. I walk out, stand in the corridor.
A small but lush green ground. A rarity in peak summer, brought about by the evening storms in the village.
A cricket pitch on the eastern side. The net is still hanging on it. The sun is a Red ball.
Already the warmth of the rising summer sun can be felt. There is a dampness in the air. I step down onto the grass. Its wet. Dew, you see.
A simple string quartet is playing in my room. The volume is high. As there is no one around whom I can disturb. It's the theme of 'October sky'. A story of one boy who inspired his whole community with his passion for what was considered out of his reach, Rocketry. The boy ended up in the design team of the Space Shuttle.
The music reflects the passion. The tremolos on the violin, the chords on the other strings and the build-up of the cello... All of them channel the protagonist's passion through notations.
It's been 5 years. 5 long years? 5 tumultous years? 5 unforgettable years? 5 joyous years?
It doesn't seem like 5 years. It seems like a lifetime. I don't remember the 16 year old who walked in with nothing more than a slight mix of desire, accomplishment and passion. Neither do I remember any of the latter two emotions. The desire remains. Accomplishment has been dragged into the mud and drained into the gutters. Passion was shot in the head. All it was looking for was a path to attach itself onto. Many were tried. Few were mistakes due to lack of talent. Few were thorny and hence were shunned. Few were blocked viciously. One lapped it up vigorously
5 years have left the 16 year old bereft of passion. The one thing he prided upon. Fool.
He'll live.
I try to remember some incidents. Strands of memory are stoked by nostalgia and flare up into salty drops just to be contained in time. Overwhelming. Now's not the time to think about it. Now's just the time to wonder... 'How?'
Too many thoughts. Too little time.
Its orange now. Quite bright. Can't look at it without squinting. The dew is long gone. It'll be warm soon. Already the birds are in full choral swing.
The last day.
Good Morning, My Village.
Wednesday, May 24
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Prof. R.K.Panda, Agriculture and Food engineering department for being a constant source of guidance. He has always been motivating me at critical points of the project.
I would like to thank Dr. B. C. Mal, Professor and Head, Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur for providing all the necessary facilities for the successful completion of my project. I also thank Prof. S.N. Panda, Prof. R.Singh, Prof. K.N.Tiwari, Prof.N.S.Raghuwanshi, Prof. M.K.Jha and Prof C.Chaterjee for their help and invigorating discussions.
I thank all my wingmates and other close friends on campus for knocking sense into me on a regular basis. Heartfelt acknowledgements are due to
I am indebted to all who have been directly or indirectly involved in this project.
(A.G.Sudarshan)
May , 2006
P.S. Trauma is over. Thanks to the bold ones.
Monday, April 10
*Surprise!*
Its finally happened. It took us over 56 years and 3 months to do it. But we managed to do it. Surely you know what I am talking about? What else can I talk about? What else can every hot-blooded youth worth his salt talk about? Everyone I know has had 'the discussion'. In various forms, in various varying levels of emotions, but they've had it. I am just going a step further and registering my opinion in a sea of opinions which frankly speaking doesn't matter two annas.
See, my dear ladies and gentleman, it has taken just 13 articles (Articles 330-342) of the 444 articles in the constitution to kill the spirit of the sovereign secular republic of India. It was bound to happen. It was supposed to be a measure only for 10 years. But if you let some wolves smell easy prey and tell them that they have a time lock on the hunt, they certainly are not going to take it well. They are going to do what is in their power to catch hold of the jugular vein and ravage the innards of the prey to their satisfy their carnal instincts. That has happened. Why is there such a hullaballoo all of a sudden? Don't tell me all of us were so busy in the admiring the newly burnished land that is our India. Didn't you see it everywhere? When the Supreme court had to categorically state that 49.5 is the magic figure, that meant there were huge backers who would've given half their constituencies for the remaining 0.5%. When there was an embarrasing voice in our 'reformist' government which suggested the call centres should also shed some percentages , did you not see this shameful era being declared?
Well, we apparently did not. Hence all the spikes in instances of blogging by Indians (it took me out of my hiatus for one). Hence all the protests (both silent and vehement). Hence the media houses having their hands full to the brim. Everyone is oh-so-very-shocked. Even the bourgeoisie apparently has a talent for feigning suprise. Everyone wants to give in their $0.02 as often as possible. Some whohave taken the film 'Rang De Basanti' to heart feel this is their clarion call to revolution. I hope no bloke does something abysmally stupid as was potrayed on the screen. Many also apparently feel that the three letter abbreviation O B C was spawned by Ravana himself so that he can enjoy the slow but marked decadence that is creeping into the minds of the policy makers. "Reservations for truly deserving, economically bacward communities is fine, but OBCs are not them. OBCs are the progeny/fraternity/sorority of Lallu Yadav, Mayawati, Uma Bharti et al.". Tch Tch.
But one thing holds. Never before has the youth of this country felt so violated. Never before has it ever felt its future being traded for a few more zeros in front of wily swiss bankers. Where are our Meritocrats. The government, which is led by an economist and a rocket scientist suddenly has muted the voices that of its leaders itself. What do they feel? Do they see something that our inexperienced, easily ruffled minds do not? Why don't they share their profound thoughts with us?
Personally, I don't care if Arjun Singh declares that every alternate year IITs and IIMs shall play host to only to tribals from remotest corners of the country. Even if in the future, the glorious 50 years of these institutes, remind us only of all that could have been. Really. I don't care if the IIT/IIM/NIT/REC/AIIMS/NLS/NID names are dragged to the mud and every shine and every glimmer of hope for the nation that was once seen through them was smudged out. But as a citizen of the country, raised with the staple of essays and debate topics of 'Mera Bharat Mahaan' / 'Brain drain' / 'Unity in diversity' , I would just want our respected elders to grant us one wish.
Please let there be atleast one place in the country where foolhardy youth of my age can experience what we have experienced in these past few years. Just give few of them a refuge where it would just be Merit that mattered. A place with closed walls and open minds. Where everyone rubs shoulder with everyone else, without a grudge. Playgrounds rooted on 'equality of status' which would grow into symbols so magnificent that each would be a lodestone for the sea of talent that resides in this land.
Sounds familiar?
See, my dear ladies and gentleman, it has taken just 13 articles (Articles 330-342) of the 444 articles in the constitution to kill the spirit of the sovereign secular republic of India. It was bound to happen. It was supposed to be a measure only for 10 years. But if you let some wolves smell easy prey and tell them that they have a time lock on the hunt, they certainly are not going to take it well. They are going to do what is in their power to catch hold of the jugular vein and ravage the innards of the prey to their satisfy their carnal instincts. That has happened. Why is there such a hullaballoo all of a sudden? Don't tell me all of us were so busy in the admiring the newly burnished land that is our India. Didn't you see it everywhere? When the Supreme court had to categorically state that 49.5 is the magic figure, that meant there were huge backers who would've given half their constituencies for the remaining 0.5%. When there was an embarrasing voice in our 'reformist' government which suggested the call centres should also shed some percentages , did you not see this shameful era being declared?
Well, we apparently did not. Hence all the spikes in instances of blogging by Indians (it took me out of my hiatus for one). Hence all the protests (both silent and vehement). Hence the media houses having their hands full to the brim. Everyone is oh-so-very-shocked. Even the bourgeoisie apparently has a talent for feigning suprise. Everyone wants to give in their $0.02 as often as possible. Some whohave taken the film 'Rang De Basanti' to heart feel this is their clarion call to revolution. I hope no bloke does something abysmally stupid as was potrayed on the screen. Many also apparently feel that the three letter abbreviation O B C was spawned by Ravana himself so that he can enjoy the slow but marked decadence that is creeping into the minds of the policy makers. "Reservations for truly deserving, economically bacward communities is fine, but OBCs are not them. OBCs are the progeny/fraternity/sorority of Lallu Yadav, Mayawati, Uma Bharti et al.". Tch Tch.
But one thing holds. Never before has the youth of this country felt so violated. Never before has it ever felt its future being traded for a few more zeros in front of wily swiss bankers. Where are our Meritocrats. The government, which is led by an economist and a rocket scientist suddenly has muted the voices that of its leaders itself. What do they feel? Do they see something that our inexperienced, easily ruffled minds do not? Why don't they share their profound thoughts with us?
Personally, I don't care if Arjun Singh declares that every alternate year IITs and IIMs shall play host to only to tribals from remotest corners of the country. Even if in the future, the glorious 50 years of these institutes, remind us only of all that could have been. Really. I don't care if the IIT/IIM/NIT/REC/AIIMS/NLS/NID names are dragged to the mud and every shine and every glimmer of hope for the nation that was once seen through them was smudged out. But as a citizen of the country, raised with the staple of essays and debate topics of 'Mera Bharat Mahaan' / 'Brain drain' / 'Unity in diversity' , I would just want our respected elders to grant us one wish.
Please let there be atleast one place in the country where foolhardy youth of my age can experience what we have experienced in these past few years. Just give few of them a refuge where it would just be Merit that mattered. A place with closed walls and open minds. Where everyone rubs shoulder with everyone else, without a grudge. Playgrounds rooted on 'equality of status' which would grow into symbols so magnificent that each would be a lodestone for the sea of talent that resides in this land.
Sounds familiar?
Friday, March 24
Wednesday, March 22
Sweden... Taiwan... USA... and India, of course
After facing the ravages of the Department of Agricultural and Food engineering for over 3 and a half years, of being threatened by professors, being de-registered and re-registered, of reporting to the HoD with a seemingly sorry face, of watching batchmates being flunked to maintain the pulse of the faculty's ego, I did the brave thing. I took both my courses outside the department (I still have to face the Grand viva and the Project eval). Both these courses are in the School of Management, in fields in which I want to build my forte in the future. Its not that such aspirations have made me attend more classes or take them more seriously or anything....
Today evening (5.30-7.30 pm) we had the class for Engineering Entrepreneurship.The professor is the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of IIT, Kharagpur. Yes, yes... we have one... I too found out only recently.Today the class was surprisingly full ( I assume if I could be there, anybody could) and a tad unruly. As the classroom lost all interest as the clock neared 7:30, the poor guy was trying hard to explain his slides (ironically, on motivation).
Finally after warning for a couple of times, he gets exasperated. Says: "Please behave yourself, and understand that this is the first time I am taking a course in India. I have previously taken many courses in Sweden, Taiwan and the US. This is the first time I am taking a course here, please behave yourself". At this point the students look at him incredulity of his statement and after it sinks in to them what he actually said, they don't even bother to understand it and start guffawing loudly. The poor man is hassled but still tudges on with his slides. And in one of the most ironical moments I have seen in classroom for any professor, the power goes out (later realised it went out in the whole campus).
Hahahaha... poor guy. Standing there... was just talking about India. And the wily one that she is, she gave him the taste of India. Thank goodness it was very dark, else one could've seen the redness in his cheeks as the students hooted and just left the class.
It'was soooo much fun!
----------------******---------******----------******---------******---------------------
As I was writing all this, wishing to potray initially how "It happens only in India" jingle still holds, C-125 sent me this article link. I am just copying the introductory paragraph:
"On your left is the stuffed specimen of Engineerias IITius. He (99% of the time, the specimen is male) mostly sleeps on whatever surface he finds, and can also go without food and sleep for extended periods of time when they spot Pandas with bamboos in their paws. Their pet fear is failure"
"On your right is Bloodsuckerus Netais. A species which thrives on other subordinate species. Mostly sports white colour garments, is led by a foreign bred species and finds indigenous uses for fodder and guns. Some large specimens has a fetish for shoes and may possess upto 600 pairs of various types."
"Next up is Cricketix Inditeamus. Clad in blue, these are amongst the most thriving of the species and is known throughout India's 1 billion fauna. A good number genetically advanced specimens of the Cricketix genus are from this country. In a recent experiment by Moronus Bccis (pronounced as: mOrOnus bitches), mixing up the team with a senior specimen from Cricketix Ausiteamus caused the latter to injure a finger in its paw."
Seriously, I really don't see what I can learn about other cultures from such classes. I am sure the grey hairs at Harvard would have their reasons. But I sure want to see the recording of such a class.
Why recording, you ask?? Why attend an extra class? :D
Mera Bharat mahaaan!
P.S.Damn! I wanted to make this a serious post about India and its perceptions.... but what the heck!
.
Today evening (5.30-7.30 pm) we had the class for Engineering Entrepreneurship.The professor is the CTO (Chief Technology Officer) of IIT, Kharagpur. Yes, yes... we have one... I too found out only recently.Today the class was surprisingly full ( I assume if I could be there, anybody could) and a tad unruly. As the classroom lost all interest as the clock neared 7:30, the poor guy was trying hard to explain his slides (ironically, on motivation).
Finally after warning for a couple of times, he gets exasperated. Says: "Please behave yourself, and understand that this is the first time I am taking a course in India. I have previously taken many courses in Sweden, Taiwan and the US. This is the first time I am taking a course here, please behave yourself". At this point the students look at him incredulity of his statement and after it sinks in to them what he actually said, they don't even bother to understand it and start guffawing loudly. The poor man is hassled but still tudges on with his slides. And in one of the most ironical moments I have seen in classroom for any professor, the power goes out (later realised it went out in the whole campus).
Hahahaha... poor guy. Standing there... was just talking about India. And the wily one that she is, she gave him the taste of India. Thank goodness it was very dark, else one could've seen the redness in his cheeks as the students hooted and just left the class.
It'was soooo much fun!
----------------******---------******----------******---------******---------------------
As I was writing all this, wishing to potray initially how "It happens only in India" jingle still holds, C-125 sent me this article link. I am just copying the introductory paragraph:
This sets me off laughing. Imagine the hallowed classrooms of the illustrious institution. In the darkened classrooms, the glow of the projector falls on the audience. They are being shown 'India' in a nice capsulated form. By the some of the shining sons and daughters of the nation. I wonder what they would learn... What would the lab be like? Would they have specimens?
America’s oldest institution of higher learning, Harvard University, will soon have India as a subject. And teachers will include visiting faculty members like Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, Gardiner professor of history at Harvard Sugata Bose and Harvard Business School professor Tarun Khanna.
"On your left is the stuffed specimen of Engineerias IITius. He (99% of the time, the specimen is male) mostly sleeps on whatever surface he finds, and can also go without food and sleep for extended periods of time when they spot Pandas with bamboos in their paws. Their pet fear is failure"
"On your right is Bloodsuckerus Netais. A species which thrives on other subordinate species. Mostly sports white colour garments, is led by a foreign bred species and finds indigenous uses for fodder and guns. Some large specimens has a fetish for shoes and may possess upto 600 pairs of various types."
"Next up is Cricketix Inditeamus. Clad in blue, these are amongst the most thriving of the species and is known throughout India's 1 billion fauna. A good number genetically advanced specimens of the Cricketix genus are from this country. In a recent experiment by Moronus Bccis (pronounced as: mOrOnus bitches), mixing up the team with a senior specimen from Cricketix Ausiteamus caused the latter to injure a finger in its paw."
Seriously, I really don't see what I can learn about other cultures from such classes. I am sure the grey hairs at Harvard would have their reasons. But I sure want to see the recording of such a class.
Why recording, you ask?? Why attend an extra class? :D
Mera Bharat mahaaan!
P.S.Damn! I wanted to make this a serious post about India and its perceptions.... but what the heck!
.
Monday, March 20
200 things that you might have done
Saw this in a few blogs... Liked it... Thought i'd put it up. Things I have done in Red. Things I have done similar to description in Green. And one particular thing I want to do in Blue.
Score are: 51 10 1
And this score is going to increase WAY more...
01.Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game.
17.Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (Siggh... the librarian sure still remembers me)
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run ('Match'-winning Six runs!)
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment (Yes, there was a time when...)
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (10 bucks in my pocket... But was grinning all the
way!)
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip (Was over in a day...)
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach (Sat on teh beach with friends till late night)
62. Sky diving.
63.Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records (MP3 folders surely count)
70. Pretended to be a superhero (long time back... don't ask)
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered
your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played Counter-Strike(& AOE & IGI & MOHAA & NFS & HL2) for more than 6 hours
straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch (Does cake count? While your helping your elder sis i.e. :D)
99. Won first prize in a costume contest (Was a ventriloquoist)
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo (Not permanent though, some stuff in goa...)
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage (Yay!)
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report (As of now, it is verrry simple)
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. …more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a seizure
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being (I wish)
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle ( Yeah baby! )
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph (greater than 100 kmph anyway )
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (NCC in 6th class :D)
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than Indian states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad (First book I issued in the CL... Forgot most of it though...)
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read (Will do this my whole life)
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed
them
183. …and gotten 86′ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch (Amateur greeting card making! :D)
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language (Singapore-la!)
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts (Love you, my super-problematic comp.!)
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair(Some fete...)
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
P.S. Some of them have not been answered intentionally
Score are: 51 10 1
And this score is going to increase WAY more...
01.Bought everyone in the pub a drink
02. Swam with wild dolphins
03. Climbed a mountain
04. Taken a Ferrari for a test drive
05. Been inside the Great Pyramid
06. Held a tarantula.
07. Taken a candlelit bath with someone
08. Said ‘I love you’ and meant it
09. Hugged a tree
10. Done a striptease
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Stayed up all night long, and watch the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sports game.
17.Walked the stairs to the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
19. Touched an iceberg
20. Slept under the stars
21. Changed a baby’s diaper
22. Taken a trip in a hot air balloon
23. Watched a meteor shower
24. Gotten drunk on champagne
25. Given more than you can afford to charity
26. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
27. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment (Siggh... the librarian sure still remembers me)
28. Had a food fight
29. Bet on a winning horse
30. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
31. Asked out a stranger
32. Had a snowball fight
33. Photocopied your bottom on the office photocopier
34. Screamed as loudly as you possibly can
35. Held a lamb
36. Enacted a favorite fantasy
37. Taken a midnight skinny dip
38. Taken an ice cold bath
39. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
40. Seen a total eclipse
41. Ridden a roller coaster
42. Hit a home run ('Match'-winning Six runs!)
43. Fit three weeks miraculously into three days
44. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
45. Adopted an accent for an entire day
46. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
47. Actually felt happy about your life, even for just a moment (Yes, there was a time when...)
48. Had two hard drives for your computer
49. Visited all 50 states
50. Loved your job for all accounts
51. Taken care of someone who was shit faced
52. Had enough money to be truly satisfied (10 bucks in my pocket... But was grinning all the
way!)
53. Had amazing friends
54. Danced with a stranger in a foreign country
55. Watched wild whales
56. Stolen a sign
57. Backpacked in Europe
58. Taken a road-trip (Was over in a day...)
59. Rock climbing
60. Lied to foreign government’s official in that country to avoid notice
61. Midnight walk on the beach (Sat on teh beach with friends till late night)
62. Sky diving.
63.Visited Ireland
64. Been heartbroken longer than you were actually in love
65. In a restaurant, sat at a stranger’s table and had a meal with them
66. Visited Japan
67. Benchpressed your own weight
68. Milked a cow
69. Alphabetized your records (MP3 folders surely count)
70. Pretended to be a superhero (long time back... don't ask)
71. Sung karaoke
72. Lounged around in bed all day
73. Posed nude in front of strangers
74. Scuba diving
75. Got it on to “Let’s Get It On” by Marvin Gaye
76. Kissed in the rain
77. Played in the mud
78. Played in the rain
79. Gone to a drive-in theater
80. Done something you should regret, but don’t regret it
81. Visited the Great Wall of China
82. Discovered that someone who’s not supposed to have known about your blog has discovered
your blog
83. Dropped Windows in favor of something better
84. Started a business
85. Fallen in love and not had your heart broken
86. Toured ancient sites
87. Taken a martial arts class
88. Swordfought for the honor of a woman
89. Played Counter-Strike(& AOE & IGI & MOHAA & NFS & HL2) for more than 6 hours
straight
90. Gotten married
91. Been in a movie
92. Crashed a party
93. Loved someone you shouldn’t have
94. Kissed someone so passionately it made them dizzy
95. Gotten divorced
96. Had sex at the office
97. Gone without food for 5 days
98. Made cookies from scratch (Does cake count? While your helping your elder sis i.e. :D)
99. Won first prize in a costume contest (Was a ventriloquoist)
100. Ridden a gondola in Venice
101. Gotten a tattoo (Not permanent though, some stuff in goa...)
102. Found that the texture of some materials can turn you on
103. Rafted the Snake River
104. Been on television news programs as an “expert”
105. Got flowers for no reason
106. Masturbated in a public place
107. Got so drunk you don’t remember anything
108. Been addicted to some form of illegal drug
109. Performed on stage (Yay!)
110. Been to Las Vegas
111. Recorded music
112. Eaten shark
113. Had a one-night stand
114. Gone to Thailand
115. Seen Siouxsie live
116. Bought a house
117. Been in a combat zone
118. Buried one/both of your parents
119. Shaved or waxed your pubic hair off
120. Been on a cruise ship
121. Spoken more than one language fluently
122. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
123. Bounced a check
124. Performed in Rocky Horror
125. Read - and understood - your credit report (As of now, it is verrry simple)
126. Raised children
127. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
128. Followed your favorite band/singer on tour
129. Created and named your own constellation of stars
130. Taken an exotic bicycle tour in a foreign country
131. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
132. Called or written your Congress person
133. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
134. …more than once? - More than thrice?
135. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
136. Sang loudly in the car, and didn’t stop when you knew someone was looking
137. Had an abortion or your female partner did
138. Had plastic surgery
139. Survived an accident that you shouldn’t have survived
140. Wrote articles for a large publication
141. Lost over 100 pounds
142. Held someone while they were having a seizure
143. Piloted an airplane
144. Petted a stingray
145. Broken someone’s heart
146. Helped an animal give birth
147. Been fired or laid off from a job
148. Won money on a T.V. game show
149. Broken a bone
150. Killed a human being (I wish)
151. Gone on an African photo safari
152. Ridden a motorcycle ( Yeah baby! )
153. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100mph (greater than 100 kmph anyway )
154. Had a body part of yours below the neck pierced
155. Fired a rifle, shotgun, or pistol (NCC in 6th class :D)
156. Eaten mushrooms that were gathered in the wild
157. Ridden a horse
158. Had major surgery
159. Had sex on a moving train
160. Had a snake as a pet
161. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
162. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
163. Slept for more than 30 hours over the course of 48 hours
164. Visited more foreign countries than Indian states
165. Visited all 7 continents
166. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
167. Eaten kangaroo meat
168. Fallen in love at an ancient Mayan burial ground
169. Been a sperm or egg donor
170. Eaten sushi
171. Had your picture in the newspaper
172. Had 2 (or more) healthy romantic relationships for over a year in your lifetime
173. Changed someone’s mind about something you care deeply about
174. Gotten someone fired for their actions
175. Gone back to school
176. Parasailed
177. Changed your name
178. Petted a cockroach
179. Eaten fried green tomatoes
180. Read The Iliad (First book I issued in the CL... Forgot most of it though...)
181. Selected one “important” author who you missed in school, and read (Will do this my whole life)
182. Dined in a restaurant and stolen silverware, plates, cups because your apartment needed
them
183. …and gotten 86′ed from the restaurant because you did it so many times, they figured out it was you
184. Taught yourself an art from scratch (Amateur greeting card making! :D)
185. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
186. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
187. Skipped all your school reunions
188. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language (Singapore-la!)
189. Been elected to public office
190. Written your own computer language
191. Thought to yourself that you’re living your dream
192. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
193. Built your own PC from parts (Love you, my super-problematic comp.!)
194. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn’t know you
195. Had a booth at a street fair(Some fete...)
196: Dyed your hair
197: Been a DJ
198: Found out someone was going to dump you via LiveJournal
199: Written your own role playing game
200: Been arrested
P.S. Some of them have not been answered intentionally
Saturday, March 18
When the skies were purple....
Sometime I wish I had been born in the medieval ages (latter half of the previous millenium) in Europe (or mebbe I already did and am really just longing for that lifetime). I love the no nonsense attitude that those people had. Everything was fixed in a person's life the moment he was born. As a peasant boy you could become and apprentice at some skill shop (like blacksmith etc) at best. Else you could serve as the servant of the Chef of the Esquire of the Baron of the friggin land. It was simple. No ambition required. You would have a rugged drunk as a father (so you wouldn't have to love him or respect him too much). Guys of my size would have made an excellent right-hand man of the wily bully up the street. And by the time I was 21, frequent fights would've made it unnecessary for me to have a dentist.
Also amazing is what I would have to do even if I was a member of the intelligensia. As an artist I would have to paint potraits of rich fat balding nobles and make them look like debonaire conquerors of yore else paint vivid potrayals of what today would be called PG-18. As a musician, I would write pieces as and when they struck me and dedicate them to people and places to gain money and glory (Bach's brandenburg concerts are an excellent eexample of this). Medicine would also be supremely lucrative. Setting a bone would have very simple instructions: Twist, pull, pivot the affected joint/ligament until there is a resounding crack. The side-advantage of medicine would be exploring new frontiers of medicine by experimenting with various herbs (if you know what I mean). Best would've been science. There was no perceivable way in which I would've been busy. My sole duty would've been to learn how old farts talk about the purpose of this world and the related metaphysics... of course, I would occassionally have to wait for the apple to fall on my head.
But, as I was telling Psycho and C-125 today, I personally wanted to be in the Emperor's Elite torture division. Any stupid idiot would be slapped just for the heck of it. And some morons could be hung from a tree by their arms and then beaten with an iron pestle... Ya just imagine... There is this tree just in front of my room... with two thick gnarled branches hanging out from either side... Two amazingly stupid imbeciles who dared to displease the Baron would be hanging from there.. One of them with his arms strung up to a branch and the other with his feet to the other. And me with the Iron pestle.
I know that by this point, the scene would've become very disturbing for many of you. Where as some of you repressed frustrated souls would actually want the pestle in your hand and the persons hanging there to resemble someone you know.
But as I said... I only wish I had been born in that age. Times when morons would not be suffered for the sake of decency.
Publisher's note: The author of this article is known to be a very gentle, loving and caring person. These thoughts potrayed above are, but just the manifestations of the dark undercurrents in his psyche. The publisher wishes to categorically state that the Author has never intentionally harmed any living soul. Except red ants... and them friggin mosquitoes. *cough cough* and the occassional mental strain on his wingies.
Also amazing is what I would have to do even if I was a member of the intelligensia. As an artist I would have to paint potraits of rich fat balding nobles and make them look like debonaire conquerors of yore else paint vivid potrayals of what today would be called PG-18. As a musician, I would write pieces as and when they struck me and dedicate them to people and places to gain money and glory (Bach's brandenburg concerts are an excellent eexample of this). Medicine would also be supremely lucrative. Setting a bone would have very simple instructions: Twist, pull, pivot the affected joint/ligament until there is a resounding crack. The side-advantage of medicine would be exploring new frontiers of medicine by experimenting with various herbs (if you know what I mean). Best would've been science. There was no perceivable way in which I would've been busy. My sole duty would've been to learn how old farts talk about the purpose of this world and the related metaphysics... of course, I would occassionally have to wait for the apple to fall on my head.
But, as I was telling Psycho and C-125 today, I personally wanted to be in the Emperor's Elite torture division. Any stupid idiot would be slapped just for the heck of it. And some morons could be hung from a tree by their arms and then beaten with an iron pestle... Ya just imagine... There is this tree just in front of my room... with two thick gnarled branches hanging out from either side... Two amazingly stupid imbeciles who dared to displease the Baron would be hanging from there.. One of them with his arms strung up to a branch and the other with his feet to the other. And me with the Iron pestle.
I know that by this point, the scene would've become very disturbing for many of you. Where as some of you repressed frustrated souls would actually want the pestle in your hand and the persons hanging there to resemble someone you know.
But as I said... I only wish I had been born in that age. Times when morons would not be suffered for the sake of decency.
Publisher's note: The author of this article is known to be a very gentle, loving and caring person. These thoughts potrayed above are, but just the manifestations of the dark undercurrents in his psyche. The publisher wishes to categorically state that the Author has never intentionally harmed any living soul. Except red ants... and them friggin mosquitoes. *cough cough* and the occassional mental strain on his wingies.
Friday, March 10
I know not who I am...
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am…
Nor am I the believer in the mosque
Nor am I in the rituals of the infidel
Nor am I the pure in the impure
Nor am I inherent in the Vedas
Nor am I present in intoxicants
Nor am I the lost, nor the corrupt
Nor am I union, nor grief
Nor am I intrinsic in the pure/impure
Nor am I of the water, nor of the land
Nor am I fire, nor air
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am…
Nor am I from Arabia, nor Lahore
Nor am I from the Indian city of nagaur
Nor a hindu, nor a turk
Nor did I create the difference of faith
Nor did I create adam and eve
Nor did I name myself
Beginning or the end, I know just the self
Do not acknowledge duality
There’s none wiser than I…
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am…
I am not moses or the pharaoh
I am not sleep or wakefulness
I am not fire or the wind
I do not stay in Nether
I am not inertia or travel
Who is this Bullah shah?
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am.
The sufi poet Bulleh shah was a resident of Kasur, Pakistan in the 17th-18th century. He wrote mainly in Punjabi
This is a translation of one of his works, which was given music by Rabbi Shergill, a newly successful singer
The translation was taken (painstakingly) from the music video.
I know not who I am…
Nor am I the believer in the mosque
Nor am I in the rituals of the infidel
Nor am I the pure in the impure
Nor am I inherent in the Vedas
Nor am I present in intoxicants
Nor am I the lost, nor the corrupt
Nor am I union, nor grief
Nor am I intrinsic in the pure/impure
Nor am I of the water, nor of the land
Nor am I fire, nor air
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am…
Nor am I from Arabia, nor Lahore
Nor am I from the Indian city of nagaur
Nor a hindu, nor a turk
Nor did I create the difference of faith
Nor did I create adam and eve
Nor did I name myself
Beginning or the end, I know just the self
Do not acknowledge duality
There’s none wiser than I…
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am…
I am not moses or the pharaoh
I am not sleep or wakefulness
I am not fire or the wind
I do not stay in Nether
I am not inertia or travel
Who is this Bullah shah?
I know not who I am…
I know not who I am.
The sufi poet Bulleh shah was a resident of Kasur, Pakistan in the 17th-18th century. He wrote mainly in Punjabi
This is a translation of one of his works, which was given music by Rabbi Shergill, a newly successful singer
The translation was taken (painstakingly) from the music video.
Saturday, March 4
Wednesday, March 1
Intruder!
BBbbRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr......
I hate snakes... I loathe them... and I love the geezer who gave them the worst role in the bible.
This outpouring has been caused by the experiences of the past week...
Sometime last week:
My room neighbour (C-125), walks down our dear wing corridor (ground floor). He has just woken up and is breathing in dollops of fresh morning (read 11 am) air. He walks past C-122 and notices a 3 foot long greenish-silverish thing just below the cement corridor. He pauses, realises its a snake. Not just A snake, but a snake with its fangs deep into a fat frog. As neither are moving, he assumes both are dead. To share this viewing pleasure with other wingies, he calls out to a couple of people. As he does so, he notices that he can see the pulse on the frog's upturned body. Slowly realising that this means the snake just bit the frog meaning the slithery bastard is still alive, he takes a step back. At this juncture, our slimy friend decides to open its mouth out wide baring its fangs et al. Poor C-125 just froze. And before a voice (let alone a scream) could come out from his sunken gut, the biblical scourge slithers right off into the ground in front of our wing. At this point C-123 finally comes out to avail of the viewing pleasure mentioned above and finds that it has slithered away leaving behind a dumbstruck C-125.
At this very point I enter the scene (I had gone to class... i think :D). And I am narrated the entire happenings of the past 5-10 minutes. After looking at the upturned frog (still beating its vein), a chill last seen or heard of in the Ice age runs right down my spine "BBbbRRrrrrr". C-123 bravely goes out into the ground with his matchsticks and sets the dry leaves aflame. For the next hour we breath in smoke as the dry leaves on the ground in front of our rooms burns away to glory. The hostel sweeper is instructed to throw away the frog (preferably into the flames).
As the flames died out leaving behind the blackened ground, All of decide that we should be more careful as this very same snake was spotted the previous day by another junior. There are discussions as to whether this is a poisonous variety (a minor detail which simply spikes my already risen hair). There are arguments as to if it has enough goodies only to make a meal or for a human too. Slowly as we all melt away into our rooms, we try to forget the happenings. But later in the night, as C-127 wakes up to breath in his fresh dollops of air, he knocks on my door lightly and asks me to come out... I first open the door a little... peek out to see if he is ready to run or anything which would imply only one thing. As he was not, I step out and follow his pointed hand. Our dear scourge of eve was right where he was hoping his lunch would be... sprawled out 3 feet. Glistening brownish in the flickering tubelight of the corridor. Gulp No.1 ... Gulp No.2.... The bloody reptile started slithering out into the ground again... Gulp No.3... And it was gone... Gulp No.4... and no traces seen... Gulp Gulp Gulp...
Till now I was only scared. Now I was petrified. Every night (even day) whenever I leave the room, I peak out with ears perked up for any sounds. I have reduced water consumption evening onwards as our bathrooms have been the best place to find frogs. Why the hell are there are so many frogs? If only we were a medical school...
Bottomline: I Hate snakes. I Loather snakes. I am SHIT SCARED of snakes.
I hate snakes... I loathe them... and I love the geezer who gave them the worst role in the bible.
This outpouring has been caused by the experiences of the past week...
Sometime last week:
My room neighbour (C-125), walks down our dear wing corridor (ground floor). He has just woken up and is breathing in dollops of fresh morning (read 11 am) air. He walks past C-122 and notices a 3 foot long greenish-silverish thing just below the cement corridor. He pauses, realises its a snake. Not just A snake, but a snake with its fangs deep into a fat frog. As neither are moving, he assumes both are dead. To share this viewing pleasure with other wingies, he calls out to a couple of people. As he does so, he notices that he can see the pulse on the frog's upturned body. Slowly realising that this means the snake just bit the frog meaning the slithery bastard is still alive, he takes a step back. At this juncture, our slimy friend decides to open its mouth out wide baring its fangs et al. Poor C-125 just froze. And before a voice (let alone a scream) could come out from his sunken gut, the biblical scourge slithers right off into the ground in front of our wing. At this point C-123 finally comes out to avail of the viewing pleasure mentioned above and finds that it has slithered away leaving behind a dumbstruck C-125.
At this very point I enter the scene (I had gone to class... i think :D). And I am narrated the entire happenings of the past 5-10 minutes. After looking at the upturned frog (still beating its vein), a chill last seen or heard of in the Ice age runs right down my spine "BBbbRRrrrrr". C-123 bravely goes out into the ground with his matchsticks and sets the dry leaves aflame. For the next hour we breath in smoke as the dry leaves on the ground in front of our rooms burns away to glory. The hostel sweeper is instructed to throw away the frog (preferably into the flames).
As the flames died out leaving behind the blackened ground, All of decide that we should be more careful as this very same snake was spotted the previous day by another junior. There are discussions as to whether this is a poisonous variety (a minor detail which simply spikes my already risen hair). There are arguments as to if it has enough goodies only to make a meal or for a human too. Slowly as we all melt away into our rooms, we try to forget the happenings. But later in the night, as C-127 wakes up to breath in his fresh dollops of air, he knocks on my door lightly and asks me to come out... I first open the door a little... peek out to see if he is ready to run or anything which would imply only one thing. As he was not, I step out and follow his pointed hand. Our dear scourge of eve was right where he was hoping his lunch would be... sprawled out 3 feet. Glistening brownish in the flickering tubelight of the corridor. Gulp No.1 ... Gulp No.2.... The bloody reptile started slithering out into the ground again... Gulp No.3... And it was gone... Gulp No.4... and no traces seen... Gulp Gulp Gulp...
Till now I was only scared. Now I was petrified. Every night (even day) whenever I leave the room, I peak out with ears perked up for any sounds. I have reduced water consumption evening onwards as our bathrooms have been the best place to find frogs. Why the hell are there are so many frogs? If only we were a medical school...
Bottomline: I Hate snakes. I Loather snakes. I am SHIT SCARED of snakes.
Saturday, February 25
The BourgeoisBuffoon!
So after many comments on my yesterday's experiment, the common denominator was...
"What a morbid background photograph!"
As I am not in the undertaking business here...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my original background based on the famous .... nay VERY FAMOUS ... the one and only Calvin and Hobbes a.k.a Spaceman Spiff...
Of course this whole thing based on the amazing basic template designed at BlogspotTemplates, I had fun working on the background image...
Kindly note it has a shaded reading area also! :P :P :P
If any of my juniors is reading this... Get a better hobby... this is how much 'abject joblessness' you will be facing in your final year!
Now all of you can sod off... as I am going to sleep... ZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzz.......
"What a morbid background photograph!"
As I am not in the undertaking business here...
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you my original background based on the famous .... nay VERY FAMOUS ... the one and only Calvin and Hobbes a.k.a Spaceman Spiff...
Of course this whole thing based on the amazing basic template designed at BlogspotTemplates, I had fun working on the background image...
Kindly note it has a shaded reading area also! :P :P :P
If any of my juniors is reading this... Get a better hobby... this is how much 'abject joblessness' you will be facing in your final year!
Now all of you can sod off... as I am going to sleep... ZZZzzzzZZZzzzzzzzzzz.......
Thursday, February 23
Set out to dry...
Just experimenting with the blog template... I like the floating text thingie... don't know about you guys...
This basic design is taken from a site called Bloggspottemplates. Me and a friend broke its workings down... So i selected this pic. And the colours for the shading and so on so forth...
Comments are openly invited...
Bouquets to me... keep your brickbats!
This basic design is taken from a site called Bloggspottemplates. Me and a friend broke its workings down... So i selected this pic. And the colours for the shading and so on so forth...
Comments are openly invited...
Bouquets to me... keep your brickbats!
I like the word 'Indolence'...
... it makes my laziness seem classy. For all those of you who know me.... know him?
"...he is at once very lazy, mournfully ambitious and illustriously unfortunate; for all his life he has scarcely had any complete ideas.The sun of his idleness shines with constant splendour within him,vapourizes and consumes that moiety of genius with which heaven had endowed him.How can I let you see the depths of that tenebrous nature; a mind in which paradox often assumed the proportions of naivette, yet whose imagination is as vast as absolute solitude and laziness..."
- Charles Baudelaire
(French poet , 1821-67)
in La Fanfarlo
Haven't put up anything orginal for a while... will do so soon...
Wednesday, February 15
Paragraph.
A friend sent this... it apparently brought clarity into his thought... I am putting it up for comments purposes only ... I personally have had no reason to comment on it... except, i like some of the one-liners.
“Have you ever been in love? Horrible isn't it? It makes you so vulnerable. It opens your chest and it opens up your heart and it means that someone can get inside you and mess you up. You build up all these defenses, you build up a whole suit of armor, so that nothing can hurt you, then one stupid person, no different from any other stupid person, wanders into your stupid life...You give them a piece of you. They didn't ask for it. They did something dumb one day, like kiss you or smile at you, and then your life isn't your own anymore. Love takes hostages. It gets inside you. It eats you out and leaves you crying in the darkness, so simple a phrase like 'maybe we should be just friends' turns into a glass splinter working its way into your heart. It hurts. Not just in the imagination. Not just in the mind. It's a soul-hurt, a real gets-inside-you-and-rips-you-apart pain. I hate love.”
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