I Dream a journey towards freedom from everything

The Hindu : Opinion / Open Page : We were pranksters, thank god no one shot us

2012-02-05T03:49:00.000-05:00

The Hindu : Opinion / Open Page : We were pranksters, thank god no one shot us

Ajeet babu @ home

2010-07-08T12:03:00.000-04:00

When people asks for directions

2010-02-06T07:50:00.000-05:00

Image by Parvati via Flickr

There are people who always beg to tell what to do - are they better people? Ok, let me tell you another breed of people - who just want to do each and everything on their own. The later set of people have certain thoughts in their mind but their approach as a result of their tendency to achieve everything on their own many a time lead them to achieve less than what they could have achieved had they trusted their peers and seniors.

The first set of people - who look for directions can win the trust and many a time get more than their initial capabilities. But, if they say "If you tell me what to do, the responsibility for the outcome is yours, not mine. I'm safe." When asked, resist - that is what Seth Godin says in one of his blog post. Yes, that is true, this means sheer selfishness and we need to be careful. But if the request is genuine you should help and guide the person.

We have to plan for human failure

2009-12-08T11:01:00.010-05:00

Image by http://www.prestonlee.com/archives/67 via CrunchBase

I got the following email - i don't know how to react - a complement or a complain - whatever it is i am going to take it very positively.

I should be thankful to you.You are the ROLE MODEL for "How a Leader/Team member shouldn't be?"Because of your nature, today i am acting as a Project Leader in the current project.

Thanks for everything. Have a good day :)

Then, I was lucky that I went to Seth's blog and read the following lines -
and that gave me my answer

Fallback for the 2%

If you ask one hundred people to do a task (particularly one that involves following instructions or using a computer or both), figure that two of them will mess it up.

It doesn't matter if you use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS. It doesn't matter if your instructions are crystal clear. It doesn't matter if you ask them to sign a release. Two percent will mess it up. And it won't always be the same two percent either, so the idea of kicking the clueless out won't work.

Which means you only have two choices:

Design systems that have the good sense and gracefulness to permit the 2% to proceed, or
Annoy, demonize or lose these people

Technologists hate this choice, but it's true. We have to plan for human failure and part of our job is to have the resources and back up to allow these people to remain in our tribe even though they're unable to follow a simple instruction.

And, thanks to God, I got the message. So, here is the point - God always gives the message at the right time - you just need to keep your eyes open.

Few lines shared by Kakashi - san (my online buddy)

2009-11-29T01:24:00.001-05:00

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Let me not to the marriage of true minds

Admit impediments. Love is not love

Which alters when it alteration finds,

Or bends with the remover to remove.

O, no! It is an ever-fixed mark,

That looks on tempests and is never shaken;

It is the star to every wandering bark,

Whose worth's unknown, although his height be taken.

Love's not Time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks

Within his bending sickle's compass come;

Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,

But bears it out even to the edge of doom.

If this be error, and upon me prov'd,

I never writ, nor no man ever lov'd.

Shakespeare, Sonnet CXVI.

Courtesy:Kakashi-san

And here is one quote that I love a lot

"Burning desire to be or do something gives us staying power, a reason to get up every morning or to pick ourselves up and start in again after a disappointment."

"The Professional" By Subroto Bagchi now in my hands

2009-11-29T00:52:00.005-05:00

Image by dump9x via www.mindtree.com

We had a promotional offers on book inside the premises of our organization last week. It was my opportunity to buy the latest book by Subroto - 'The Professioanl'. It is his third book. I have already purchased the original copies of his last two book ('The high performer entrepreneur' and 'Go kiss the world'). Both the books are very good.

The best thing that I like about a writer - how well they connect with their readers. The more a writer writes from his own experiences - the more he connects. Subroto's articles in various newspapers, magazines and his blogs are a good testimony.

Another India novelist that has done the magic is Chetan Bhagat - read is debut novel - Five Point Someone'. No surprise, if he is considered one of the most read writer in contemporary India.

Looking forward to finish reading 'The professional'

Met with Sunil Gavaskar today

2009-11-04T07:16:00.002-05:00

Image by Jace via Flickr

Sunil Gavaskar visited our office today as Deutsche Bank's brand ambassador. And this gave us an opportunity to have a one hour interactive session with him. He is fit, smart, confident and speaks with full command. There was 20 question cricket quiz and when asked to take it, he just took few minutes to answer them.

What I didn't know that he can do good mimicry as well. His act included Madan Lal, G. Boycott & Caribbean taxi driver conversation and one of the incident where Javed Miandaad was talking to him at the end of the test match... All this was hilarious.

Celebrated deepawali and birthday together

2009-10-17T12:11:00.001-04:00

October 17, 2009 Birthday and Diwali - what a coincidence. The last time something exciting happened on my birthday was sometime in 2004 when it was Sunday and I went to watch India Vs Aus cricket test match at Chepauk stadium in Chennai.

The best thing that happened on this birthday that I felt relaxed after a very long time. Somehow, days had been very tiring for me in recent past and I was not able to relax. So, I took a sound sleep after a delicious lunch at home. Meanwhile, received some telephone calls (birthday and dipawali wishes).

In the evening went for some shopping along with my mother. Then, the custom pooja at home and lighting, aarti etc. replied to some orkut wishes. Recieved the surprise gift (rasagulla, flowers) from sister. Good, first time this kind of high tech gift :)

On the eve of my birthday, I had dinner in Barbeque Nation along with my friends Mahesh, Biswa and younger brother Ajeet. The funny part about this kind of dinner is that you know how much you are going to pay - that is fixed.. so, you tend to take maximum out of it and finally end up with the heavy dinner :)

Time to regain the youthful look

2009-10-04T11:31:00.007-04:00

I was trying Firefox thunderbird utility. I had installed it and gave my email id and it started downloading all the emails to my local desktop. While it was still downloading, I got to see some of my old emails (because it downloads the oldest mails first). I read few old emails (2002 emails) and had mixed feelings. For a second, I developed the temptation to read all my emails but there were so many things and I didn't want to just go back down the memory lane.

Here was the photo that I came across during that exercise. I think this was the first photo during my first visit to my hometown in Varanasi after I had started my professional career in Chennai (June 2003). I visited to Varanasi during Diwali (Nov 2003) and this had been taken during that time. I see myself in this photo and literally get surprized - I was so thin. What has happened to my body in all these 6 and 1/2 years. Overweight !!! If I have to describe in one word.

Good - Time to take inspiration and shed some weight to regain the youthful look :)

Blog description changed

2009-10-04T04:24:00.005-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

I changed the blog description today.

Old Blog Description - 'It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting'. So I dream to be in that 1%. What about you? This world is a place full of life, beauty and fun. It's a wonderful journey where we meet new people, make new friends. Sometimes we miss the golden moments spent with our friends & parents. I can't agree more that it is an interesting journey full of challenges.

New Blog Description - This blog started as my first experiment with blogging and has now become a sort of my companion. I blog here my thoughts, reactions, emotions and happiness in this beautiful journey of life.

The top ten professional attributes

2009-10-04T02:39:00.003-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Here is the top 10 professional attributes based on Subroto's new book 'The Professional'

1. Integrity
2. Commitment and ownership
3. Action orientation and goal seeking
4. Continuous learning
5. Professional knowledge/skills
6. Communication
7. Planning, organizing and punctuality
8. Quality of work
9. A positive attitude, approachability, responsiveness and
10. Being an inspiring reference to others, thought leadership

Swine flu & I learnt how to sneeze politely

2009-09-19T11:27:00.005-04:00

Swine, the deadly flu created the panic among everybody from the time it claimed its first victim. We received clear guidelines in our workplace what should be done in case a person shows any flu kind of symptoms. In a hurried decision, the support staff in our office were asked to wear masks. Next day, the decision was taken back, when the news flashed that swine flu can't be cured by masks. By the time, common people realized it, the masks sellers had done the business of their lifetime. Washing hands frequently was the very good suggestion and received wide acceptance. Time for liquid handwash and hand-sanitizers to make money this time.

What I learnt from Swine Flu? I got know the art of sneezing politely. If you are new to this, you can watch the video on you tube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ao7eyqoiIYs about 'how to sneeze' - What is this? Make a 45 degree angle by bending your head towards your right arm and bringing your right shoulder towards your nose. Then, sneeze in your arm cloth. This is considered a polite way of sneezing in society. Like any other rule, there will be exceptions - what about those sleeveless dresses worn by ladies!!!

Celebrating Jyotish birthday

2009-08-03T03:56:00.005-04:00

Jyotish is a great cook. His birthday celebration gave us another chance to taste the fish fry, chicken fry and chicken curry.

There were three of us, Gopi, Jyotish and myself and we enjoyed to that extent that Jyotish's owner has to come in midnight to remind us that we are making lot of noise and that is disturbing thier sleep.

The height of the celebration reached when Jyotish called his friend Manish on his cell who in spite of commiting to join the party has not turned up at the last moment. The call started with emotional pitch and then Gopi and then finally I took the phone to explain Manish how badly we are missing him. (Neither I nor Gopi know Manish )

At last, at 3:00 AM in the morning after having the dinner, we went to bed - and only wok up at 10:00 AM in the morning.

Those 10 months - 5 at onsite & 5 at offshore

2009-06-11T00:39:00.005-04:00

Some projects are demanding. Yes, my last assignment was one of those that brought a mixed experience and it was demanding. Read my earlier post Bye Bye after two years & New Assignment - August 4, 2008 where I had expected this to happen 10 months back. I completed my part in the project and handed over to the new member in the team to take it forward. UAT and Go Live is planned sometime this month and I wish the team all the best. They have really worked hard - day & night - sometimes working without knowing if there is any end. But, they have shown the character and I am sure they will come as a winner.

It was a good learming experience for me where I got a first hand opportunity to understand a customer need and expectation by being at their place for the first half of my association with this project. If we see it from a distance, they look rude and demanding but actually they are NOT. Yes, they are human and understand us. I learnt the importance of 'creating win-win situation'. And I know and I am confident that this learning will go a long long distance in my career. Thanks to all of those whom I had interacted there as a consultant. Everyday, there was something to learn. It feels great when you genuinely understand customer's concern and they acknowledge it. Then, you become part of one team and you yourself start understanding why this requirement is changing and so and so... I tried my best to do the justice with my role.

I came back on Jan 3, 2009 and joined from Jan 5, 2009 as a track lead for one of the tracks. It was not planned but I took it as a challenge and thought of adding value to this project with my full capacity. I would be lying if I said that I found it easy because I was having a first hand knowledge of customer need. The challenge was to excel in operational - day to day execution & planning the task and handle the dependency. So, it was as if I was getting a chance to see two different sides of the same project. This was the fun. I put my best foot forward to help the team with best of my ability. One thing I realized in my last 5 months that telling the team members upfront what is expected out of them clearly brings lot of agility and focus in the team. A captain of the ship knows where he is taking the ship and his crew members are just given the directions which they perform as part of their duty and the ship reaches to its destination. It was May 31, 2009 when I got released and will be joining a new team from the coming monday. Taking lots of good memories out of this engagement.

Abins marriage

2009-06-09T05:34:00.009-04:00

All my friends are getting married and Abins is the latest in this category. Even though there were lots of problems at home but I managed to attend this ceremony as per the previous plan. In this way, it becomes one of those memorable moments.

The marriage took place in Ernakulam - Kerala. Myself and Mahesh went from Bangalore to attend this marriage. We started on Friday evening (5:30 PM) by train and reached on Saturday and we spent the whole day at Mahesh's house in Kottayam. This gave me a chance to visit the Kumarakom Backwater which was 45 minutes by bus from his place. A very good place. There were lots of houseboats that we just watched but we actually enjoyed the boating (Rs 300/- per hour for 5 person). It was evening time and it gave a good view of sunset.

Next day, it was marriage ceremony at Abins place which is around 1 hr train journey from Kottayam. It is totally different from all North Indian marriages where you spend whole night waiting to complete the function. Here it all started at 11:00 AM in the morning and by 3:00 PM you are back home with bride. Believe it!!

While coming back home, it was a comfortable journey by Kallada Travels to Bangalore. There seats are comfortable and customer service is good.

Recession 2009 in India

2009-06-08T00:34:00.003-04:00

India has started feeling the heat of recession and I believe Indian Software industry is among the first to get affected by US economy. Around five months back, I got the first hand experience about it and then I had written about it in My earlier post about recession one of my Hindi blog.

When everything is going good, it doesn't matter how you perform or what work you are doing but the situation changes as soon as the economy changes. But as the time changes, there will be people who will question each and every action of yours. Sometimes, you feel bad as this is new to you and you never expected that it will happen toyou in your career. Why? Because, you have always followed your supervisor's instruction and have performed your duty as good as was expected out of you. No matter, how hard you try to defend, nobody listens. Surprisingly, the people who question you will not be your supervisors for whom you had spent sleepless nights in office but it will be some unknown face - your first encounter, who only means business. You cry, you shout on yourself, you think you have wasted your life here.

Yes, how much effort you put in making these processes that will safeguard everyone's interest, it can't be full proof. So, it is always good to work towards keeping yourself up to date always. Whatever you work, you should always balance your effort in updating your skills and contribution to the organization.

Time will change for betterment but this hard time will surely teach us a life long lesson.

Upcoming Horror movies in IT Sector.......

2009-04-02T09:18:00.003-04:00

1. Gone with the release
2. Curious case of an ichhadhari bug
3. The Developer's wife [Like "Bishop's Wife"]
4. Blood on the Server
5. Developers don't Cry
6. Dark Tester [Like “Dark Knight]
7. Turnstiles ka abhishaap
8. Sitam Client Ka
9. Zaherilla PC
10. Tarapta Coffee Machine
11. Appraisal main bheekh, SE ki cheekh
12. Tu Coder Main Tester
13. Maine Code Kiya
14. Coder tera Computer maila
15. Coder, tester, Client (as in Amar, Akbar Anthony.)
16. Deadline --The race against time
17. Rab ne bhula di technology
18. Project ho na ho
19. Ichadhari Bug
20. Zahereelee Defect
21. Prod Release ki Raat
22. Do Hazar Code Ke Neeche
23. REGRESSION - RELOADED
24. Bug - Mano ya na Mano
25. Silence Of the Coders
26. Adam khor developer
27. Bhut wala DC
28. I know what you CODED last summer
29. I still know what you CODED last summer
30. Coding- The mystery continues
31. Darinda manager, tadapta developer
32. Andha code
33. Gayab coder - A murder mystery
34. Zahreela food court
35. Recession - Jaani dushman
36. Recession ki Aaag
37. Appraisal Ki Pyaas
38. Badla Developer Ka
39. Tester Bana Shaitaan
40. Manager ki Cheekh
41. Tadapti Delivery
42. Client Ka Qaher
43. Viraana Cubicle
44. Khooni Call
45. Phir aaya recession
46. Recession reloaded
47. Badalta requirement
Received as a forwarded email with following contributors. Last 3 are mine :)

Contributors:Neeraj,Ajeet,Deepak Sharma ,Vaibhav_sharma01, Gaurav Sharma22 ,Lokesh Tripathi ,Amit Tripathi ,Sahil Jain ,Ashish_Malhotra01 ,Amit_Dua ,Gaurav Azad ,Aditya Bhushan Mahajan ,Amit Tripathi ,Krishan Kumar Chauhan ,Arka Deb Nag,Rajveer Singh Prajapati,Sumit Singh06,Ajinkya Suresh Bhosale,Piyush Kumar Jain,Parag Dattatraya Deshmukh,Pradeep Singh Rajput,RajeshSuresh Thakur,Waseem Mukhtar Shaikh,Sonal Shivkrishnakumar Dighe,Ajinkya Suresh Bhosale,Waseem Mukhtar Shaikh

After coming back, getting adjusted to normal life

2009-01-15T03:47:00.006-05:00

How was your US visit? What's new you saw? blah...blah... there will be many such kind of questions people ask you when you return from your first visit. This is one thing but if you ask me I am more interested in answering how I feel returning back to my country. No one asked this favorite question of mine to me, so I thought of writing out here.

I felt really wonderful breathing under the open free skies of your own country. There are lots of infrastructure related issues in our country, we are not even competing but for the reasons not known to me, in spite of all this, I felt relaxed when I landed in Bangalore Internation Airport during midnight.

The first thing that I did for the first two weeks - eat out - eat out... all those Indian food that I missed in all those days became my first priority. I even didn't care that it's all oily food full of sugar content etc. Who cares, I loved it.

After that, it was the people who took the center stage. My life has always revolved around people, good people. They gave us a chance to improve ourelves. Good company does make a lot of difference. I missed these regular chit chat a lot. So, long chat sessions during weekends happened.

Advantages: Once you are not in your country, you realize the importance of living an independent life with minimum support. You learn how to become more organized. You start planning each and eveything. In small bits, life teaches you a lot. I learned a lot in that sense.

Apart from other regular good and and not so good things, there is lot of politeness and courtesy that other communities not only have but they practice it in their day to day life- if only we could practice it here also!!

Random thoughts...

2009-01-07T07:09:00.005-05:00

Time is passing so fast that sometimes I don't have any control. When I was young, I used to have all the time in this world to do anything I liked. With the passage of time, I have moved to different levels in my life. The responsibilities and expectations have been redefined. This is obvious but losing control over the situations around ourselves is something I'd never like to welcome in life. Challenges have always been there but it is becoming difficult to find the right people to whom you can look for help. Everyone is busy. Really, very busy.

This provides us with an opportunity to take some time out and think what is important for us. Then, take one step at one time. We need to focus on what we really want in life. Everybody wants to be happy but we don't know what exactly is required for that.

I am not trying to act as subject matter expert. I am trying to figure out what is important to me. What I can do to feel better. May be that's the reason to write this random thoughts in this random manner here :)

Last few days in Boston

2008-12-30T15:04:00.026-05:00

All set and getting ready for a safe flight back home. It has been almost 19 weeks. Surprisingly, I survived in this new environment and culture. The biggest challenge was to be alone - something that I had never done before in my life.

My friends and family know that I need friends to talk. In fact, everybody needs. When you are new to some place, there will be lots of excitement and ample learning opportunity. And I enjoyed each and every bit of it.

Cooking was the next big thing that happened. We need to plan well either it is your project schedule or it is your cooking. I gained some confidence in cooking.

Mostly, I preferred to be at hotel room during this trip. Though I had the car, I didn't feel like going outside. Once I went to NY City to meet Gyanu and once I drove to Hartford, CT to meet Alok. Then, few nearby places in and around my place with Rahul whom I met in hotel. He took me to few places like Wrentham factory outlet, Burlington Mall, Target Store - Framingham‎, Barnes & Noble Booksellers Framingham‎, Burlington Coat Factory, Qunicy Market area, iMax, harbor, subway, Copley Place & Prudential Center etc. Just two weeks but it was quite happening. I must thank him for his time spent with him. Before that, the first time it was one of my colleague who took me to Boston downtown. Unfortunately, on both these occasions, we didn't have camera.

TV & some of the free channels along with Internet were my favorite time pass in hotel. I thought that I would be able to read some books as well but couldn't read anything. One reason might be my overspending time on Internet articles, blogging etc. After tiering office hours, it is a difficult hobby to follow. During my last week, I got CDs of Chanakya and finished watching all the 47 episodes during Christmas break. I got to know some of the old TV serials and immediately fell in love. Everybody loves raymond, Sienfield, Friends & Reba became my favorites. I even purchased the last season (#9) DVD of Everybody Loves Raymond.

My NY City trip was nothing less than heroic. It was my 3rd or 4th week and I didn't know much about the place. But when I came to know about Gyanu being in New Jersey, it took no time to make the plans. Actually, nothing was planned and it just happened. Took the bus 'Fung Wah' (Chinese Travel) from the South staion for NY City. Got down on time but couldn't get the yellow cab as directed to reach the decided place. Then, some change in the plan and we decided to meet at Times Square. Got timely and economical suggestion from a local fruit seller to take the subway in $2. I did follow the instructions and was able to make it to 42nd street. For the next two days, we went to some of the usual landmarks of the city enjoying the rain and sunny day equally. The cab drive from South station to my hotel whle my journey back home was the most costly affair during this trip. It really was more than the to and fro bus journey from Boston-NY City. Thanks to dear Gyanu for his hospitality.

It was my sheer good luck to get a chance watching Red Sox playing against Yankees at Fenway Park, Boston. It happened the same week I reached Boston. It was undoubtedly one of the life time experience.

Alok was in Hartford and we managed to meet this time after a very long gap.

And now when I am packing, Boston saw its second snow fall of this winter on Dec 31, 2008. Last weekend it was really bad. But this time I was prepared and didn't try anything heroic like last time when I had to drive back home from office in snow storm. The memorable thing about this snow fall - Going out during this weather for lunch. Courtesty - one of my colleagues from my customer side. In spite of being the weather really challenging, it was only due to him, we had some really good time and good send off lunch.

Let us hope a safe journey back home. God is great!

Remembering my grandmother

2008-12-21T17:56:00.004-05:00

I loved my grandmother a lot and when I got a news of her demise last Friday (Dec 19, 2008), I didn't have any emotions. It ended one complete generation and suddenly it appeared to me that I had grown older. Even though, she was bed ridden for the last 6 months but just a sense of her being with us always gave me strength. No one can explain these feelings.

Being the eldest grandchild of her only son, I always enjoyed her special package of love especially tailored for me. I have lots of fond memories since my childhood. She seemed to enjoy each and every bit of my sheer presence. Others suspected that I would get spoiled by this extra care and affection. Who cares? I was privileged to be in the company of my grandparents. I must say that it contributed to my learning and what I am today.

I want to write more and more as there are so many stories but I am not finding the words. Life will go on and I know with the time the memories will fade. I will get busy in my own life's problems. But I can't deny that she would always remain alive in my actions & character. Her unconditional love has become my guiding force. I know that the soul never dies. Yes, now she can't tell bed time stories to me nor I can fight with her on some crazy stuff. The best thing a person can do is to carry the legacy and pass it to the next generation.

Mumbai attacks coverage on US News channels

2008-11-27T21:02:00.003-05:00

I have access to a few news channels including CNN and Fox in my hotel room here in Boston. The major stories till now have been US economic crisis, bail outs and presidential elections. I could never understand this piece of puzzle if they ever cared about what was happening in other parts of the world.

Nothing comes for free. It takes a lot to become a good news that can be sold to the viewers.

And, then Mumbai attack news came and it was the only thing being telecasted by all these channels. They have their sister channels in India. For e.g. CNN had CNN-IBN, Fox had NDTV / Star News. For an instance, it appeared to me that I was in India. I was taken by surprise by the kind of prominence and coverage it was getting here in US. We were getting live pictures of this face-off.

Had it been US, first thing, you don't see this happening now and then and even when it happens government doesn't give permissions to cover this so closely. This so called 'story' has everything to become a so called 'story'. Still it is going on for last 30 hrs or so while I am writing it. And they have been telling the world how these terrorists were looking for US and Briton nationals. The targets have been those places frequented by western business man and tourists. Had I not been here, I would have never known how much these news channles and their analysts cared about this.

Earlier I cursed them for their indifference towards other major world news. But, I always unde-estimated my country India that it has got so much potential to become a major news now and then. It is giving so much business to these news channels here in their time of crisis when their country economy is at its backfoot.

This attack took away the lives of two MBA classmates of one of my very good and old friend. Then one of my another close friend lost one of his post graduate (IIT - KGP) senior. My another friend who had a train reservation at the same time got lucky when he had to cancel his reservations because of some official commitments at the last moment earlier in the day.

Hope....

2008-11-08T07:02:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I lie awake at night, and I ask, "Where have I gone wrong?" Then a voice says to me, "This is going to take more than one night." There is no problem so big it cannot be run away from. My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right? If I were given the opportunity to present a gift to the next generation, it would be the ability for each individual to learn to laugh at himself. I think I've discovered the secret of life - you just hang around until you get used to it. A whole stack of memories never equal one little hope.

America got painted black

2008-11-06T20:01:00.003-05:00

Image via WikipediaUltimately, Barack Obama made it to White House and I was here to witness it all. People are calling ita historic election here. Almost every news channel have its own way of coverage. I wanted to hear some qualities about the new elected president, but mostly they covered the stories about his black origin. No issues, it is a big occasion but as they said, he presented himself as an American and didn't try to sell his color.

The news channels will always be the same all around the world. The next couple of days and they started covering the stories about the new room in white house for the princes (Obama's two daughter), will Mr. Prez send his daughter to public or private school?, and so many other things that didn't make any sense to me at least.

Here in America, I didn't see much craze among people. No 'narebaajee', no big gatherings. In election, mostly all the rallies will be run by presidential candidate. In contrast to what we see in India, where lots of leaders do rally in support of their candidate.

The campaign is also very decent purely based on facts. I was really impressed by the 30 minute TV commercial from democrat presidential nominee, Barack Obama. It was truly professional. Its very important to be a good actor to be a good poitician in this age. I happened to saw some debates and noticed that Obama were able to do the stage management better than his counterpart.

Good things - troops from Iraq will be called back. He will work for the middle class (only US) - so don't day dream.. our country India will be the same.. I was expecting to hear some congrats message from Indian PM and its coverage - couldn't see..

A day in Hartford, CT

2008-11-01T13:01:00.006-04:00

Hartford is called Insurance city. Almost all the major insurance companies have their footprint in this city. 'The Hartford' is one of the biggest names in insurance world. It is around 2 and half hours drive from Boston. Why am I telling you about all this? My friend Alok was in Hartford and in last 6 years this was the first time that we were so near to each other (distance wise) :)

I drove for the first time 2 and half hour to reach Hartford. It was saturday morning and I got delayed by 2 hrs from my actual schedule. I reached around 1:45 PM in the afternoon. It was nice meeting with one of your school friend in a different country.

It was really nice time spent there. Next day, we went to one of the shopping malls in the city. This was my first visit to any shopping mall in last two and half month. heee.... heeee... i am so lazy

So, let me tell you about the best part of this trip. The food... the food.., Gap Shap and meeting your friend after such a long time.

Diwali @ Waltham

2008-11-01T12:53:00.002-04:00

It is almost difficult to digest that there can be some diwali without crackers and sweets. This time, it was at least without crackers. Time comes when you start realizing what we used to do in our childhood, either that was all stupid or now we have become more wise. What I mean, earlier, I remember that we used to collect crackers at least 2-3 weeks before the diwali festival. Now, it is just a day. We will be inside our home watching TV, wishing others over phone 'Happy Diwali'

Anyway, I don't want to get into all those. I was telling that this time I celebrated Diwali inside my hotel room. Was feeling tired so slept as early as 9:00 PM :) The best part is that I got sweets from one of my office colleague here at client place. Good. Home made sweets, it has got its own sweetness. Thanks - Thanks...

So, when we least expect anything, something happens and you just feel happy. This is one of those incidents. When we are away from our home, we start feeling the importance of being near to our dear ones.

A completely new experience this year...

Hindi fever

2008-11-01T12:48:00.005-04:00

These days I am suffering from Hindi fever. This is because I am not getting any chance to talk to anybody in Hindi. Result - I stopped writing in this blog and started giving my complete focus towards Hindi blogging for past one month (http://panchayatnama.blogspot.com)

Now, I am back.. I cannot leave this place that has given me a space in past.. more to follow.

हिन्दी में ब्लॉग लिखना है

2008-09-19T16:06:00.005-04:00

अब मैं पिछले हफ्ते में मैं कुछ लिख ही नहीं पाया. एक कारण था, की मैं सोच नहीं पा रहा था, की हिन्दी में लिखूं की इंग्लिश में लिखूं. मेरे को एक सलाह दी गई की, मैं हिन्दी में ही लिखूं. फिर मैंने सोचा हाँ, क्यों नहीं. वैसे भी जब से मैं यहाँ कुछ समय के लिए जो देश के बाहर आया हूँ, तो हिन्दी के प्रति कुछ और प्रेम बढ़ गया है.

फिर मैंने इधर बीच हिन्दी के कई ब्लॉग भी पढ़े. वो देखा की वो लोग कहते हैं 'चिठ्ठा', बस यहीं मेरे को एक संदेह है, अब जब दुनिया ब्लॉग कह रही है, तो क्या दिक्कत है, उसी को adopt क्यों नहीं करते हैं. हिन्दी ठीक है, पर मेरा सवाल ये है, की एकदम ही strict नहीं होना चाहिए. थोड़ा accomodate करने आना चाहिए. ये हिन्दी के लिए ही अच्छा है. आख़िर, लोग हिन्दी में भी तो ट्रेन ही कहते हैं. 'लौह पथ गामिनी' कहकर आख़िर कितने लोग बुलाते हैं? देहात से आओ, या गाँधी वाद को मानाने वाले हो, या कोई भी हो, ट्रेन को तो ट्रेन ही कह के बुलाते हैं.

लेकिन हद तो तब हो गई, जब मैंने देखा की लोगों ने Internet जैसे प्रचलित शब्द को भी 'अंतरजाल' कह के संबोधित कर रहे हैं. मेरा तो दिमाग ही घूम गया. ये तो अति है. अरे भाई, जरा सोचो, कम से कम मेरे जैसे लोगों को. मैं हिन्दी में ठीक ठाक ही जनता हूँ, पर मेरे लिए कई ब्लॉग को पढ़ पाना अति मुश्किल हो गया. अब बताइये comment को अगर आप 'टिप्पणी' लिखेंगे तो मैं तो इसको अति ही कहूँगा.

मैं आपको बताऊँ, जो लोग साउथ में रहते हैं. या यही कहिये की non-hindi speaking indians को कितनी दिक्कत होगी, मैं तो कम से कम समझ सकता हूँ, आख़िर, वो तो समझ भी नहीं पायेंगे. तो क्या बस आप चाहते हैं, की हिन्दी के नाम पर आप अपने ब्लॉग को कम से कम लोगों तक ही सीमित रखना चाहते हैं? शायद नहीं. तो आइये, थोड़ा इंग्लिश को अपनाएँ. Internet को Internet ही कहने से हम हिन्दी का अपमान नहीं कर रहे हैं.

तुम तो हंसने की कोशिश में मर जाओगे

2008-09-14T16:04:00.004-04:00

जिंदगी में बिखर कर संवर जाओगे

आंख से जो गिरे तो किधर जाओगे।

पानियों की कोई शक्ल होती नहीं

जिस भी बरतन में ढालेगा ढल जाओगे।

तुम तो सिक्के हो बस उसकी टकसाल के,

वो उछालेगा और तुम उछल जाओगे।

लाख बादल सही आसमानों के तुम,

जिंदगी की जमीं पे बिखर जाओगे।

मैं तो गम में भी हंसकर निकल जाउंगा

तुम तो हंसने की कोशिश में मर जाओगे।

मशवरा है कि डर छोड़ करके जियो

हर कदम मौत है तुम जो डर जाओगे।

एक कोशिश करो उसके होकर जियो

उसके होकर जियोगे संवर जाओगे।

डा. कन्हैया लाल नंदन

Our sight-seeing expedition to the Burning Ghat.

2008-09-13T19:43:00.016-04:00

Book cover via Amazon

I came across the following book yesterday in Google Book. The first chapter that was available for free reading was 'Burning is Learning' - about the Manikarnika Ghat (मणिकर्णिका घाट), which he has referred as Burning Ghat in his story.

I believe lot of people including me have the first hand experience what is written in his story. Starting from describing the scene, he has expressed about his feeling that is a general feeling of detatchment when you are at the place.

He had already been to this place 20 years back. He thinks that his kids will like this place as well. He writes -

"I'd told my wife: you'll see, the Burning Ghat is going to be a pick hit."

"It was a rare chance to stand at sacred crosswords of existence, I told the children. "

But the story turned out to be totally different.

The complete story has been written in a very touchy manner. I took the time to write it here. I hope that this will be a good read from any perspective.

Few lines from this story:

you can follow your nose, pick up the smell of incese or, if the wind is
right, charring flesh.

the fuel for his trip to heaven had run out.

Here, even the transmigration of souls did not have a fixed price.

No, when I look at my particular life, all that I have accomplished and not accomplished, when I draw a bottom line between the debits and credits, the most tangible, irrefutable sum is them: The three of them.

...In search of The Real, it was important to screen out the Too Real.

It is easy to get lost in the mucky dung-strewn back alleyways in Varanasi’s Holy City, but finding the Burning Ghat is never a problem. You just follow the corpses.

Some dead bodies, wrapped round and round in snow-white gauze, sit upright like solitary commuters in the backseat of slowly pedaled bicycle rickshaws. Others swathed in bright orange, lie on garland-decked pallets that are borne high by crowds of weeping relatives. They all will lead you to the river, the Holy River Ganges,. Failing that, you can follow your nose, pick up the smell of incese or, if the wind is right, charring flesh.

So there we were, the world travelers, watching dead people on fire.

It was a rare chance to stand at sacred crosswords of existence, I told the children. The Infinite Round of Being was playing out before us. A billion believing Hindus dreamed of coming to this very place, to de and be cremated. To have one’s body burned here, the ashes tossed into the Holy River, was to assure a good burial, a release from the endless karmic cycle of birth and rebirth. Here, it was possible for souls to attain nirvana, which was the goal of all souls.

In difference to these vast, humbling forces, we should be quiet and respectful at the Burning Ghat, I said.

Not that the locals appeared to be observing such decorum. An argument had broken out near one of the three ten-foot- high pyres. A family was screaming at a fat middle-aged man in a deeply soiled dhoti. Pointing at a clipboard, the man screamed back.

It was fight over money. After all, it takes more than three tons of wood, cit into one hundred-pound railroad tic-size pieces, to properly burn a body. Lumber is not cheap. With the deforestation crisis throughout the Gangetic Plain, it was getting more expensive all the time. The lumber has to be lorried in from the south, or floated down the river from Himalayan foothills in ominous, black-hulled boats Aware of this ever-rising cost, Hindu pilgrims save for years for their funeral pyres. Apparently the particular pilgrim currently on the fire had not saved enough. Head and torso blackened but still intact, the fuel for his trip to heaven had run out.

If the cremation was to continue, the man with the clipboard, who identified himself as “the captain of the Burning Ghat”, said he would require further payment. Otherwise, he told the deceased’s weeping, railing relatives, he would have no choice bit to remove the half-incinerated body and replace it with another, of which there as no shortage, corpses being stacked up in several places on the steps leading to the river. The dead man’s sons and daughters were claiming extortion, screaming they had already paid the agreed amount.

So, it was a negotiation, still another sub continental bargaining session. Here, even the transmigration of souls did not have a fixed price. Ah, India. Just when you feel you’ve weathered today’s onslaught of the bizarre, things ratchet up one more notch. What a country! They didn’t have this back in Brooklyn.

Still, I could tell, the Burning Ghat was not making it as a family fun destination.

“This is horrible! Disgusting!” critiqued the then-sixteen-year-old, Rae.

“Bad,”, chimed in twelve-year-old Rosalie.

“Really bad”, assented Billy, nine at the time.

The three of them were united on this point. They were all going to throw up if we didn’t get out of there immediately.

The really dumb thing was: I wasn’t about Tuol Sleng (wife), but I really thought they were going to like the Burning Ghat.

It wasn’t just the heat and filth. …. But this was different……

In New York, they didn’t bargain over whether over whether or not to throw half-burned dead people into the river, not every day anyway. And if they did, you didn’t have to watch it with your parents.

In the context of the Great Round of Existence, the Burning Ghat connoted a specific familial symmetry. The Burning Ghat spoke of The Eternal Return.

It was here that my wife and I spent our honeymoon.

So, now we were back at the Burning Ghat, with The Future in tow, the three of them.

What more accurate accounting of the future could there be? What else has really happened in the twenty years between then and now?

For my part, there were a few books written, none immortal. Some movies written and rewritten. The range of experience was wide, often very rewarding, in a city-boy journalist sort of way:…………… But what, in the end, are these things worth? What is the DNA of experience? How do you package it, send it along? How many times can you tell those same moldy stories?

No, when I look at my particular life, all that I have accomplished and not accomplished, when I draw a bottom line between the debits and credits, the most tangible, irrefutable sum is them:

The three of them.

… As it was, the transitional journey of the pilgrim currently on pyre was not progressing smoothly. As the dead man’s relatives continued to protest, several workers were removing the body from the cremation pile with long sticks, in preparation for tossing the partially charred remains into the river. Nothing was left bit a blackened torso, a skull and the stump of a single arm. The pilgrim’s eyes had been dissolved in their sockets, a sight I attempted to shield from the kid’s views.

In search of The Real, it was important to screen out the Too Real.

“This is terrible. Can’t we just give them the money?” exclaimed Rae, horrified at the proceedings.

The other kids took up the cry. Only moments before, they expressed no other desire than to get away. If Hindus wanted to throw their dead mothers and fathers on the fire like a Memphis barbeque, that was their business. Now, the tune had changed.

It’s their father! How much money do they need? Why can’t we just give it to them?”

Mr Sen (guide) looked surprised. He said he was unsure whether the course of a burial could be changed at this late juncture, especially due to the intervention of a stranger, a non-Hindu.

“Do you have money?” he asked the children.

“He does!” the kids exclaimed, pointing at me.

Regardless, it was too late now. The body was thrown into the river. Splash. The pilgrim’s relatives stood stock-still and mute, watching the ripples in the water. Already attendants were bringing down another stiff, wrapped in white gauze.

This about concluded our sight-seeing expedition to the Burning Ghat.

Varanasi - an excerpt from a foreigner's blog

2008-09-13T16:21:00.012-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

These are the excerpts from a blog posting. It is so funny that I couldn't stop from posting here. One of the reason is that I belong to Varanasi and even though the guy is a foreigner who has written his first hand experience but whatever it is - a learning for us. I have seen in past lots of foreigners visiting Varanasi and having totally different experience... I can understand his feelings. But the question that I would like to ask - WHy do you stay in those filthy streets? Why do you take food outside when you can't digest. You should not have written bad about my favorite 'lassi' yaar. I loved it. Go and take lassi at BHU gate or Ramnagar in Varanasi.

But, whatever, it was a good read about the city after a long time.

so i'm in varanasi. spiritual varanasi. one of the oldest cities on earth apparently (it looks the part). oh, and extremely filthy varanasi. i'm staying in shanti guesthouse in the old quarter near the ghats. behind the burning ghat to be exact. . these ghats are basically steep staircases leading to the (again, extremely filthy) ganga river, the 'mother' and source to hindus. there were reputed to have been a hundred of them but apparently quite a few have crumbled away in time. the burning ghat is the ghat where they burn the bodies of dead people, hence the name. this practice takes place round the clock, and i've witnessed short processions of people carrying and following their dead along the old narrow (claustrophobic) streets at all times of day, accompanied by chanting.

Image via Wikipedia

on the day we got here we went down to the burning ghat to take in the sight (and extreme, pungent heat) whereby i was instantly accosted by an indian guy in jeans who claimed to be the owner of the burning ghat. (hey hey hey, i was luckyy!) this guy presented himself as "being no businessman" and gave me a 'tour' of the place, showing me the fire that "has been going on continuous for four thousand five hundred years." pretty impressive, especially when one considers that during the monsoon period the ganga swells up to immense heights, the highest having been recorded (1948 & 1979) having undoubtedly drowned the whole burning ghat. after this 'tour' and his explanation that the wood cost varies between 160 and 2000 rupees a kilo he asked me for money for his collection for poor people. he also explained that an american had donated some thousands of rupees that morning. poor gullible sod. when i showed no signs of falling for it he followed me out of the ghat repeating his crap about good karma. (it's an interesting turn of events when one considers the fact that they preach and advise about good karma in an attempt to screw you.) when he saw he was getting nowhere he told me to fuck off, in his own words: "go fucking!" so much for karma.

an hour or so later, while i was walking towards the same burning ghat from another side (with the inscrupulous intent to take a forbidden photo - which didn't work) i was advised, more than once, by other indians that the people who ask for money at the cremation site are scammers and drug addicts and that the wood costs 5 rupees a kilo!later that evening i witnessed the daily 'aarti' celebration where they offer their prayers to the ganga. it's quite a feat and a beautiful sight to behold. needless to say i took loads of photos, though it was difficult to take good ones due to the amount of light and movement. but i managed a few photos in focus :o)

these past few days carm and i have been at the height of sarcasm and had loads of fun with it. some basic facts: the weather here is stifling hot at a daily average of 45 degrees celcius; the narrow streets in the old quarter (where we're staying) are filthy - rubbish strewn everywhere and cow dung all over; the people wash the pots and pans on the floor in the streets(!); people on motorbikes or bicycles pass through these narrow narrow streets (sometimes trying to speed) as well as cows, goats and dogs. so we'd be walking and i'd yell, "oh my god carm look! a cow!!" or "jesus christ (should i say 'shiva'??) there's cowshit on the street!" or "fuck it's cold, i wish i had a good snow jacket with me." silly things like these which we're finding funny. (and why not)

Varanasi Photos - Probably covers his bad experience

Ganga Aarti Photo - He liked it

Source:http://peachandfuzz.blogspot.com/2008/04/varanasi-cremation-filth-and-more.html

संक्षिप्त जीवन परिचय - तब और अब

2008-09-13T15:04:00.004-04:00

When we were studying in class 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, I still remember that in Hindi we were asked to write the jeevani (short biography) of the hindi poet and writers in our half yearly and annual exams. I accept that that used to be one of the very difficult questions for me.

We had to learn by heart all those details about their life, their literary work and other petty details. I always wondered if these should be part of the syllabus. I always considered myself unlucky that I had to go through all this. Even today, sometimes, their life comes in my dream. I still remember that Rahul Sānkrityāyana (राहुल संकृत्यायन) was one of the most widely-traveled scholars of India. In Hindi, we used to call (घुमक्कड़)

But then as the saying goes - whatever happens, always happen for good.

I was going through one article where they said that there are chapters in school syllabus on Lalu Yadav and the new government has removed it from the syllabus. Now, I consider myself lucky as had I had studied during current period, I would have to study all this crap. I would prefer that Mahadevi Varma, Premchand and Sharat Chandra come in my dream rather Lalu and Rabri.

Bhojpuri world and Bhojpuri Cinema

2008-09-13T14:35:00.005-04:00

Image via Wikipedia

Bhojpuri (भोजपुरी) is a regional language spoken in parts of north-central and eastern India. It is spoken in the western part of state of Bihar, the northwestern part of Jharkhand, and the Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh. And as I belong to Purvanchal region of Uttar Pradesh - I am talking about it here.

Got a chance to read the following article on Bhojpuri. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhojpuri). Hats off to Wikipedia for their unbiassed reporting. It gives a clear insight into the Bhojpuri speaking people and bhojpuri cinema. Some of the interesting facts taken from the above article.

- According to an article published in Times of India, an estimated 70 million people of Uttar Pradesh and a further 80 million people in Bihar speak Bhojpuri as their first or second language. There are 6 million Bhojpuri speaking people are living outside the Bhojpuri heartlands of Bihar and Purvanchal.

- Famous People from this region includes first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad, politicians and humanitarians like Dr. Krishna Dev Upadhyaya, Bhartendu Harishchandra, laureates such as Mahavir Prasad Dwivedi and Munshi Premchand from the Bhojpuri-speaking region, The eminent nationalist, writer, scholar, dandi sanyasi Swami Sahajanand Saraswati belonged to the Bhojpur region of Uttar Pradesh, former Indian prime minister Chandra Shekhar, Manoj Bajpai

- As of 2008, BBC reports that Bhojpuri songs have also become very popular.

-the government of India is preparing to grant it statutory status as a national scheduled language.

-The eminent scholar and polyglot, Mahapandit Rahul Sankrityayan had written some works in Bhojpuri.

So, One of my favorite time pass has been listening to Manoj Tiwari songs and it is interesting to know that he has now become the superstar in Bhojpuri cine-jagat. Sometime back, I saw him hosting a television show on one of the private channels.

I remember the first time I heard about him after my 10+2 when I was in B.H.U. Broacha hostel. The song title if I remember correctly was something goes like this ... laika BA men le ke admission competition dewela... '

Some of his all time hits includes bagalwali, samnewali, uparwali... :) Just like for Govinda No.1 worked - looks like this wali is lucky for Manoj Tiwari.

One of the other superstar in Bhojpuri cinema is Ravi Kishan. I came to know about him when he was invited in an Inidan version of the 'Big Brother' show. THen, I checked some of his movies.

If you google Bhojpuri Songs Download Manoj Tiwari, you will be surprised to know that there are so many links available in Internet. So many videos available. Hmmmn.. I was surprised to see all this. But, then it is called, globalization. I can listen to any of these online videos anywhere in the world. Thanks Internet for giving everyone an even playground to compete.

Some facts from Bhojpuri Cinema

- Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, himself a Bhojpuri native from Purvanchal administrative zone of Uttar Pradesh, has been a big supporter of the cinema and has acted in the acclaimed film Ganga

-- a film made on a budget of $65,000, Sasura Bada Paisawela took in over $3m at the box office. Daroga Babu took almost $900,000 on a similar budget

- Ajay Devgan , Saroj Khan, Tinnu Verma, Udit Narayan are all growing their involvement in the film industry.

Actors like Ravi Kishan, Manoj Tiwari are superstars of Bhojpuri film industry and are as popular as Shahrukh Khan.

- The BBC reported that Ukrainian model Tanya has already played a Russian girl in love with a Bihari boy in Firangi Dulhania (Foreign Bride) and 24-year-old Cambridge-educated British actress Jessica Bath has signed for two Bhojpuri films.

-In 2008 there are expected to be 70 new Bhojpuri releases, up from 2007’s one a week.

Those Pressure days

2008-09-11T13:03:00.003-04:00

Image via Wikipedia Karan: changs

Neeraj: haan dost kaho

Karan: hw r u doin

Neeraj: abhi idhar release ka pressure aa gaya hai
kal raat main so hi nahin paaayaaa... kuch tension ho gaya tha
abhi subah se caall aur meeting chal rahi hai
man kar raha hai ki main Hudson river men kood ke jaan hi de dooon

Karan: koi nahi

Neeraj: ?
koi nahi = koi nahi royega.?

Karan: KOI NAHI se matlab hee tension mat kar

Neeraj: achaa samajh gaya.. thodi dikkat hui coded message samazhne men

Good Evening NY City

2008-09-06T12:01:00.016-04:00

It was a quick plan. It had to be as there was no other way I could have planned better for visit to NY City. It took 4 and 1/2 hours from Boston to NY City by Fungwa Bus. I boarded the bus from the South Station in Boston at 4:00 PM and it dropped me at China Town at 8:30 PM.

Not carrying the mobile when you and you land in world's biggest city for the first time, it would not be considered as a wise decision. But I did.

Here is the complete slide show of the photos taken during this trip.

In Progress.............

Another Video

मेला - एक प्यारी सी कविता

2008-09-03T16:07:00.002-04:00

Image via Wikipedia घर वापस जाने की सुध-बुध बिसराता है मेले में
लोगों की रौनक में जो भी रम जाता है मेले में

किसको याद आते हैं घर के दुखड़े, झंझट और झगडे
हर कोई खुशियों में खोया मदमाता है मेले में

नीले-पीले, लाल-गुलाबी पहनावे हैं लोगों के
इन्द्र धनुष का सागर जैसे लहराता है मेले में

सजी सजाई हाट-दुकानें खेल - तमाशे और झूले
कैसा- कैसा रंग सभी का भरमाता है मेले में

जेबें खाली कर जाते हैं क्या बच्चे और क्या बूढे
शायद ही कोई कंजूसी दिखलाता है मेले में

तन तो क्या मन भी मस्ती में झूम उठता है हर इक का
जब बचपन का दोस्त अचानक मिल जाता है मेले में

जाने अनजाने लोगों में फर्क नहीं दिखता कोई
जिस से बोलो वो अपनापन दिखलाता है मेले में

डरकर हाथ पकड़ लेती है हर माँ अपने बच्चे का
ज्यों ही कोई बिछुड़ा बच्चा चिल्लाता है मेले में

ये दुनिया और दुनियादारी एक तमाशा है भाई
हर बंजारा भेद जगत के समझाता है मेले में

रब ना करे कोई बेचारा मुहँ लटकाए घर लौटे
जेब अपनी कटवाने वाला पछताता है मेले में

राम करे हर गाँव - नगर में मेला हर दिन लगता हो
निर्धन और धनी का अन्तर मिट जाता है मेलेमें

स्रोत - अज्ञात

चंद लम्हे - बंटी की किताबों के कुछ पन्ने

2008-09-01T16:06:00.008-04:00

Image via Wikipedia [भाग - 2 प्रारंभ]

सच में जायज है, जिंदगी हर मुकाम एक सी तो नहीं हो सकती.
ये समझ लेना ही होगा.

गुजरे वक्त के लिफाफे समेटते समेटते इतना वक्त गुज़र गया की कभी वो फुर्सत लम्हे मिले ही नहीं, की दूसरा ख़त लिखने बैठते

अफसाना बयाँ करने से जाहिर कुछ न होगा, ये तो वक्त है जो बस गुजर ही जाता है.

सबने जिंदगी में अलग किताबें पढ़ी हैं
तो फिर ज़रा मुश्किल है साथ बैठ के पन्ने पलटना

बस दिल है जो कभी कहीं कुछ खोज रहा होता है.
जब भी देखा तो लगा उंगलियाँ अभी छूटी नहीं है, हाथ अभी हटा नहीं है.
इसी आस में जिए जाते हैं.

हम दोनों की तबियत आजकल मैच करती नहीं वैसे अजीब बात हुई है रास्ते बदल देने से.
बस कुछ बात है ऐसी की हस्ती मिटी नहीं, वरना कुछ भी अब एक जैसा नहीं.

तुम्हे पता है वक्त बेवक्त बेमौसम बदल जाने में भी मज़ा है.
अजीब से मोड़ पे आके खड़ी हो गई जिंदगी जहाँ रास्ता कम और वक्त ज्यादा दिख रहा है.
मुझे घबराहट होती है ऐसे जीने में.

एक बुढिया चाँद में बैठी धागे काता-तागा करती थी.
और एक गुडिया खाट पे बैठ के सपने बुना करती थी.
बताओ कौन सही या अच्छा था.

धूप से रंग निचोड़ के मौसमों से कहती, ये लो मुट्ठी भर रंग मेरे पास है.
उसके चरखे की गूँज यहाँ तक सुनाई देती है - सच!

[भाग - 2 समाप्त ]

[भाग - १ प्रारंभ ]

चाँद साँसें खरीदने के लिए रोज थोडी सी जिंदगी देखी
कभी आंसू कभी खुशी देखी
जब रुलाने लगे मुझे साए
मैंने उकता के रौशनी देखी

नींद वालों को क्या ख़बर इसकी,
कौन जागा है रात भर तनहा
लोग सोये थे बंद कमरों में,
चाँद भटका है दर बदर तन्हा

जितनी बार मैं टूटा हूँ वो टूटा है
इधर उधर जो बिखरा है सब उसका है
मुझमे जो कुछ अच्छा है सब उसका है
मेरा जितना चर्चा है सब उसका है
उसका मेरा रिश्ता बड़ा पुराना है
मैंने जो कुछ सोचा है सब उसका है

हंसने वाले तुझे आंसू नजर आए कैसे
अपने चहरे से जो जाहिर है छुपायें कैसे
कोई अपनी ही नजर से हमें देखेगा,
एक कतरे को समुन्दर नजर आए कैसे
तेरे मर्जी के मुताबिक नजर आए कैसे.

साथ देता है कौन मंजिल तक,
साथ चलती है राहगुजर तन्हा

शहर का शहर बुझता जाता है
जा रहा था वो अपने घर तन्हा

ऐ ग़म - ए - जिंदगी की रात के चाँद
ढूँढ मुझको नगर- नगर तन्हा - तन्हा

याद आए हजार शहर मुझे
जब भी देखा कोई खंडहर तन्हा

भूखे बच्चों की तसल्ली के लिए माँ ने फिर पानी पकाया देर तक

गुनगुनाता जा रहा था एक फकीर
धूप रहती है न साया देर तक

लब पे आती है दुआ बनके तमन्ना मेरी
जिंदगी शमा के सूरत को खुदाया मेरी

हो मेरे दम से यूँ मेरे वतन की जीनत
जिस तरह फूल से होती है चमन की जीनत

जिंदगी हो मेरे परवान की सूरत या रब
इल्म के शमा से हो मुझको मोहब्बत या रब
हो मेरा काम गरीबों की हिमायत करना
दर्दमंदों से जईफों से मोहब्बत करना

मेरे अल्लाह, हर बुरे से बचाना मुझको
नेक जो राह हो, उस राह पे चलाना मुझको

अब अभिव्यक्ति के सारे खतरे
उठाने ही होंगे।
तोड़ने होंगे मठ और गढ़ सब।
पहुँचना होगा दुर्गम पहाड़ों के उस पार
तब कहीं देखने मिलेंगी बाँहें
जिसमें कि प्रतिपल काँपता रहता
अरुणकमल एक॰॰॰॰

क्या हुस्न ने समझा है,
क्या इश्क़ ने जाना है,
हम खाकनशीनों की
ठोकर में ज़माना है....

सोज़ में भी वही एक नग्मा है जो साज़ में है,
फ़र्क नज़दीक की और दूर की आवाज़ में है...

मिसरा गालिब का है,और कैफ़ियत अपनी अपनी

सोज़ में भी वही एक नग्मा है जो साज़ में है,
फ़र्क नज़दीक की और दूर की आवाज़ में है...

लबपे आती है दुआ बनके तमन्ना मेरी,
जिंदगी शम्मा की सूरत हो खुदाया मेरी...!!!!

[भाग - १ समाप्त ]

4th Anniversary of blogging

2008-09-01T10:42:00.004-04:00

I just checked today that last month (Aug 19, 2008), I finished my 4 years of blogging. It has been a fantastic journey.

Came across this photograph. It's sometime in September 2004 when we visited P'cherry. Time passes so fast. Remembering one of those relaxed moments.

अन्तरराष्ट्रीय पर्यटक स्थल बनेगा वाराणसी???

2008-08-30T10:44:00.010-04:00

चलो भाई, आज सुबह सुबह एक बार फिर अपने शहर बनारस (काशी, वाराणसी) के बारे में कुछ अच्छा सुनाने को मिला. अगर रोड सही हो जाएँ तो बहुत ही समस्या हल हो जायेगी. आशा करना चाहिए कि, कुछ नया होगा. वरना एक ख़ास बात है कि हमारी भोले बाबा कि नगरी को सभी ने उन्ही के आसरे छोड़ दिया है. और भोले बाबा ने संभाला भी है.

मैं अक्सर एक बात लोगों से कहता हूँ, कि वास्तव में अगर कहीं भगवान् है तो वो हमारी कशी नगरी में ही है. वरना बिना किसी विकास के पिचले १५ सालों से वहां आख़िर जिन्दगी कैसे चल रही है? बनारस पूरे उत्तर प्रदेश का सबसे ज्यादा जनसँख्या घनत्व वाला शहर है. एक भी फ्लाई ओवर नहीं बना. रोड्स चौडी नहीं हुईं. सिग्नल काम नहीं करते हैं. आवारा पशुवों कि समस्या है. और अगर समस्या गिनने बैठेंगे तो बस हो गया..

लखनऊ, जाब्यू: प्रदेश सरकार ने वाराणसी को अन्तरराष्ट्रीय पर्यटक स्थल के रूप में विकसित करने की कवायद शुरू कर दी है। इसी के साथ बौद्ध परिपथ पर भी काम तेज करने का निर्देश दिया गया है। सतीश चन्द्र मिश्रा की अध्यक्षता में हुई राज्य सलाहकार परिषद की बैठक में उक्त फैसला किया गया। श्री मिश्र ने कहा कि सभी विभाग दोनों कामों के लिए प्रस्तावित कार्य योजना के अतिरिक्त अन्य संभावित परियोजनाओं का प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत करें। उन्होंने वृन्दावन के विकास की योजना में गोवर्धन परिक्रमा क्षेत्र विकास योजना को भी सम्मिलित करने के निर्देश दिये। वाराणसी शहर में मूलभूत सुविधाओं के विस्तार एवं सुदृढ़ीकरण के लिए विभिन्न योजनाओं की विस्तार से समीक्षा करते हुये निर्देश दिया कि इन्हें समय से पूरा किया जाए। सतीश मिश्र ने परिवहन सेवाओं के विस्तार पर विशेष बल देते हुए कहा कि वाराणसी नगर के एयरपोर्ट और रेलवे स्टेशन से बाहर आते ही पर्यटक को उच्च कोटि की परिवहन सेवा उपलब्ध करायी जाये और पर्यटक को रूट चार्ट एवं टूर कार्यक्रम दिये जायें। परिषद ने 45.08 करोड़ की गंगा सेतु हेतु, रामनगर मार्ग योजना के लिए 10.49 करोड़ रेलवे उपरिगामी सेतु मडुआडीह के लिए 13.45 करोड़ चौकाघाट से पड़ाव मार्ग एवं कैन्ट से लंका मार्ग के चौड़ीकरण व सुदृढ़ीकरण हेतु 22.63 करोड़ की योजना को स्वीकृति प्रदान की। सीवर योजना के लिए 14.60 करोड़, की नगवा ड्रेन के डाइवर्जन हेतु 6.03 करोड़ की रमना में 37 एमएलडी क्षमता के सीवेज ट्रीटमेंट प्लांट के लिए111 करोड़ पेयजल योजना के लिए 48.43 करोड़ की सालिड वेस्ट मैनेजमेन्ट योजना 3.78 करोड़ की संतरविदास घाट का निर्माण योजना और 3.55 करोड़ देने की घोषणा की। परिषद ने गंगाघाट पर फ्लड लाइट की व्यवस्था, वाराणसी में अर्जन हाट की स्थापना, सारनाथ में ध्वनि एवं प्रकाश का कार्य आदि योजनाओं की भी समीक्षा कर इनसे सम्बंधित कार्यो की निर्धारित समय सीमा में पूरा करने का निर्देश दिया। बैठक में नगर विकास मंत्री नकुल दूबे, प्रमुख सचिव मुख्य मंत्री विजय शंकर पाण्डेय, शैलेश कृष्ण सचिव मुख्यमंत्री नवनीत सहगल, सलाहकार परिषद के सचिव आरपी सिंह सहित अन्य विभागों के वरिष्ठ अधिकारी उपस्थित थे।

अगर इस तरह के समाचार आ रहे हैं, तो कुछ अच्छा लगता है. झूठां ही सही. पर सबसे बड़ा सवाल मैं ये करता हूँ कि इन सब बातों में कहीं भी बिजली कि समस्या से जूझ रहे बनारस को इससे राहत दिलाने के बारे में कहीं भी एक लाइन नहीं लिखी है. और अभी जब कि शहर में जिस प्रकार से ७-८ घंटे बिजली नहीं रहती है तो ये कहाँ का विकास है. कैसे बनेगा पर्यटक स्थल. लोगों को आप टॉर्च और मोम-बत्ती ले के आने के लिए कहेंगे. बोलिए? और ये जो आप कह रहे हैं कि गंगा घाट और सारनाथ में लैंप और बत्ती जलाएंगे वो क्या ज़न्रेटर से चलाएंगे क्या? अगर मेरी बात पे भरोसा नहीं तो ये लीजिये, मेरे घर के काफी करीब का ये न्यूज़ पढिये, एकदम उसी दिन का है.

बंधक बनाते ही तीन दिनों से गुम बिजली लौटी
वाराणसी, जागरण संवाद : सिकरौल गांव महिलाओं ने जब शुक्रवार को अपराह्न एक बजे पन्नालाल पार्क उपकेंद्र में कर्मचारियों को बंधक बनाया तो बिजली बहाल कर दी गई। तीन दिनों से जला ट्रांसफार्मर भी ठीक हो गया। तीनों फेज की लाइन भी दुरुस्त हो गई। ं इंजीनियरों की लापरवाही से गांव के निवासी पिछले तीन दिनों से बिजली-पानी के लिए तरस रहे थे। जानकारी के मुताबिक बिजली दु‌र्व्यवस्था से आजिज लोगों ने बुधवार को अर्दलीबाजार मोड़ पर चक्काजाम किया किन्तु उस दिन आश्वासन देकर टरका दिया गया था। भारी संख्या में बेहाल महिलाएं व पुरुष आज सबस्टेशन पहुंचे और मौके पर उपस्थित कर्मचारियों को बंधक बना लिया। महिलाएं उपकेंद्र को घेर लीं और अंदर घुस कर धरना पर बैठ गई। इसकी सूचना पुलिस को दी गई। कैंट के क्षेत्राधिकारी आधा दर्जन पुलिस के जवानों के साथ मौके पर पहुंचे और बिजली इंजीनियरों से बातचीत कर तीन घंटे में समस्या निबटाने का आश्र्वासन दिया। इसके पश्चात बंधक कर्मचारी मुक्त किए गए। आक्रोशित ग्रामीण नारेबाजी करते वापस चले गए। सायंकाल 5:30 बजे तक गांव में बिजली आपूर्ति बहाल हो गई। इसके बाद लोगों ने राहत की सांस ली।

Source: Jagran ePaper (http://in.jagran.yahoo.com/)

जैसी दुनिया वैसे लोग

2008-08-29T13:50:00.005-04:00

पहली बात सेहत की. तो मैं बताऊँ की मैं यहाँ आने के पहले जो समझता था की मोटापा क्या होता है, तो मैं ग़लत था . गज़ब गज़ब के मोटे मोटे आदमी और औरतों को देखा. क्या सेहत है भगवान् की दुआ से. भगवान् बनाए रखें. मैं तो पहले उन लोगों से सवाल करना चाहता हूँ, जिन्होंने मेरे को मोटा कहा है. भाई मैं तो उतना मोटा हो ही नहीं सकता. मस्ती में झूमते हुए चलते हैं. वाह मालिक तेरी बसाई दुनिया भी क्या गज़ब है :)

दूसरी बात मैंने देखा है उन लोगों को, जो की सिर्फ़ काम करते हैं. मेरा मतलब मजदूरों से नहीं है, बल्कि उन लोगों से है जो की हम लोगों की तरह ही technical काम करते हैं. तो इन टेक्नीकल लोगो के चेहरे को देख कर एक ख्याल आता है. चिरकुट ख्याल. इन सारे लोगों का चेहरा जब भी मैं देखता हूँ तो मुझको क्या लगता है - लीजिये सुनिए. हम लोग जो technical किताबें पढ़ते हैं , अक्सर उनके पीछे उसके लेखक की फोटो छपी रहती है. एकदम उन लोगों के ही भाई बहन लगते हैं ये लोग. और ये लोग बातें कैसे करते हैं? एक बात, की जब ये लोग बातें शुरू करेंगे तो एकदम उसी में डूब के बातें करते हैं. एकदम core technical बातें ... ह्म्म्म्मं.. बिना दायें बाएँ सोचे. काफी नया experience है. हम लोग काफी दुनियादारी का ख्याल रखते हुए ही टेक्नीकल बातें भी करते हैं. Culture है क्या करें?

तीसरी बात मैंने जो notice की है वो ये है, की सबको अपने बॉस से उतना ही डर लगता है, चाहे वो कोई जगह हो. लोगों से जानकारी लेने के लिए उसी तरह से चिरौरी करनी पड़ती है. लोगों को गुस्सा भी एक तरह से ही आता है. कुछ लोग बहुत सेंसिटिव होते हैं तो कुछ लोग एकदम घांघ. हर जगह कुछ लोग बहुत helpful होते हैं तो कुछ लोग अहम् का दूसरा रूप.

वैसे चौथी और सबसे अजीब बात ये है की मैं एक ऐसी जगह हूँ जहाँ कि सिर्फ़ मैं ही हूँ जो कि coding नहीं कर रहा हूँ.. वरना नजर उठा के देखता हूँ तो काफी उमर-दराज लोगों कि एक लम्बी फेहरिस्त है, और सभी कंप्यूटर खोल के कोडिंग कर रहे हैं. अजीब बात लगती है. अभी मेरा जो काम है, और मैं जिस काम से यहाँ हूँ, वो थोड़ा अलग है, वो बात तो समझ में आती है. पर फिर भी एक इंसान का जो basic चरित्र होता है वो इतना जल्दी तो नहीं न बदल सकता. अब इसमें किसका दोष है कि मैं जहाँ हूँ, वो जगह पूरी तरह से technical लोगों से भरी हुई है. सभी लोग उसी तरह कोडिंग का काम कर रहे हैं, जैसा की हम लोग करते हैं. तो मैं अक्सर confuse हो जाता हूँ. पर एक अन्तर है, वो ये है, की इन सारे लोगों की उमर काफी ज्यादा है. अपने यहाँ इस उमर में लोग ज्यादातर कोडिंग का काम नहीं करते हैं या ये कहो कि इज्ज़त कि बात हो जाती है. अगर पसंद हो तो system बहुत उमर हो जाने पे दूसरा काम दे देता है. आप चाह के भी या ये कहिये कि चाहत develop हो ही नहीं पाती है. पर यहीं तो यहाँ की अच्छी बात है , की जिसको जो पसंद है वो उस काम को करने के लिए आजाद है.

ये तो रही कुछ ज्ञान की बातें :) जैसी दुनिया वैसे लोग

All the photos posted on this blog as a slideshow

2008-08-27T21:45:00.002-04:00

Testing out this feature of picasa :)

Missing RajaRajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore

2008-08-27T07:45:00.006-04:00

Staying in hotel all alone is more challenging than anything. Even more challenging than boring meetings (at least you have people there).

So, based on some valuable suggestion, I thought of giving it a try. Looking for a roommate or rather willing to be a roommate. But before I could make up my mind, the following bulletin board entry appeared today when I was checking our organization's intranet portal

Surely missing the fun and comfort of RajaRajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore. Never got a chance to write about the place. When you come out from there then only you realize it's importance in life.

I don't want to start my day with Meetings

2008-08-26T10:43:00.003-04:00

Meetings Meetings Meetings.... and sometimes it is interesting and sometimes it is boring but this is one thing you can't avoid. Meetings will be through con call and also when people come together in a room. Also, there is a combo version when people from many places join together over a bridge. All these have their own flavor. Few excerpts (repeated/funny)

I would say that's a bad example (rare in some part of the world but common in some part)

Hoping to figure out by the end of this call

Ooops.. Mr X dropped from the call.... "I was talking.... hearing .... and nobody was hearing me..." some of these light moments really help a lot...

Meetings are always helpful when you have prepared it well... But obviously you don't want to start your day with meetings / concall

On the way to Fenway Park - Few Photographs

2008-08-24T17:10:00.003-04:00

Baseball match coverage - first experience

2008-08-24T16:33:00.003-04:00

कोई दीवाना कहता है कोई पागल समझता है - By Dr. Kumar Vishvas

2008-08-24T12:31:00.013-04:00

१० फरवरी (बसंत-पंचमी ) को पिलखुवा (गाज़ियाबाद) में जन्में डाँ कुमार विश्वास का नाम हिन्दी कविता-प्रेमियों के लिए परिचय का मोहताज नहीं है। कवि-सम्मेलन के मंचों पर उनकी लोकप्रियता का कारण उनकी वाक्-पटुता, विद्वता, और समय-अवसर पर अपनी विराट स्मरण-शक्ति का प्रयोग है। श्रोताओं को अपने जादुई सम्मोहन में लेने का उनका अदभुत कौशल, उन्हें समकालीन हिन्दी कवि-सम्मेलनों का सबसे दुलारा कवि बनाता है। आई.आई.टी , आई.आई.एम या कॉरपरेट-जगत के अधिक सचेत श्रोता हों, या कोटा-मेले के बेतरतीब फैले दो लाख के जन समूह का विस्तार हो , प्रत्येक मंच को अपने संचालन में डॉ कुमार विश्वास इस तरह लयबद्ध कर देते हैं कि पूरा समारोह अपनी संपूर्णता को जीने लगता है। स्व० धर्मवीर भारती ने उन्हें हिन्दी की युवतम पीढ़ी का सर्वाधिक संभावनाशील गीतकार कहा था। महाकवि नीरज जी उनके संचालन को निशा नियामक कहते हैं। तो प्रसिद्ध हास्य कवि सुरेन्द्र शर्मा के अनुसार वे इस पीढ़ी के एकमात्र ISO 2006 कवि हैं। हास्यरसावतार लालू यादव, अभिनेता राजबब्बर, गोविन्दा, खिलाड़ी राहुल द्रविड़, मुख्यमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी, नीतिश कुमार, टेली न्यूज के चेहरो, उद्योगपतियों से लेकर भोपाल स्टेशन के कुलियों और मंदसौर मध्यप्रदेश की अनाज मंडी के पल्लेदारों तक फैला उनका प्रशंसक परिवार ही डॉ कुमार विश्वास की सचेत प्रज्ञा का परिचायक है। यह समूह डॉ कुमार विश्वास के देश दुनियां में फैले उन लाखों दीवानों का है जिन्हें उन्होंने बार-बार अपनी क्षमताओं से सम्मोहित किया है और जिनके दिलों की दास्तां को अपनी मीठी-आवाज , खास-अदायगी और खूबसूरत-लफ़्जों में बयान किया है।आइये , मोहब्बत , अहसास , शायरी और दोस्ती की इस बेहद खूबसूरत दुनियां में आपका स्वागत है। [taken from http://www.drkv.in/information.htm

His performance can be found at http://www.drkv.in/performance.htm

कोई दीवाना कहता है

2008-08-24T12:20:00.006-04:00

This weekend I came across the following wonderful poem written by Dr. Kumar Vishvas.

कोई दीवाना कहता है कोई पागल समझता है
मगर धरती की बेचैनी को बस बादल समझता है,
मैं तुझसे दूर कैसा हुँ तू मुझसे दूर कैसी है
ये मेरा दिल समझता है या तेरा दिल समझता है !!!

समुँदर पीर का अंदर है लेकिन रो नहीं सकता
ये आसुँ प्यार का मोती है इसको खो नहीं सकता ,
मेरी चाहत को दुल्हन तू बना लेना मगर सुन ले
जो मेरा हो नहीं पाया वो तेरा हो नहीं सकता !!!

मुहब्बत एक एहसानों की पावन सी कहानी है
कभी कबीरा दीवाना था कभी मीरा दीवानी है,
यहाँ सब लोग कहते है मेरी आँखों में आसूँ हैं
जो तू समझे तो मोती है जो न समझे तो पानी है !!!

भ्रमर कोई कुमुदनी पर मचल बैठा तो हँगामा
हमारे दिल में कोई ख्वाब पला बैठा तो हँगामा,
अभी तक डूब कर सुनते थे हम किस्सा मुहब्बत का
मैं किस्से को हक़ीक़त में बदल बैठा तो हँगामा !!!

His performance can be found at http://www.drkv.in/performance.htm

techorati test

2008-08-24T08:14:00.001-04:00

Technorati Profile

फर्क सिर्फ़ इतना सा था

2008-08-23T20:50:00.003-04:00

तेरी डोली उठी, मेरी मय्यत उठी,
फूल तुझ पर भी बरसे ,
फूल मुझ पर भी बरसे,
फर्क सिर्फ़ इतना सा था,
तू सज गई, मुझे सजाया गया ,

तू भी घर कों चली ,
मैं भी घर को चला,
फर्क सिर्फ़ इतना सा था,
तू उठ के गई, मुझे उठाया गया ,

महफिल वहां भी थी,
लोग यहाँ भी थे,
फर्क सिर्फ़ इतना सा था,
उनका हसना वहां, इनका रोना यहाँ,

काजी उधर भी था,
मोलवी इधर भी था,
दो बोल तेरे पड़े,
दो बोल मेरे पड़े,
तेरा निकाह पड़ा, मेरा जनाजा पड़ा,
फर्क सिर्फ़ इतना सा था,
तुझे अपनाया गया , मुझे दफनाया गया

As shared by Ajeet

One of my dummy car driving experience

2008-08-23T19:28:00.002-04:00

Super crazy day

2008-08-21T13:16:00.005-04:00

A super crazy day is a day when you need to wake up at 6:00 AM, You have to skip your breakfast, you need to concentrate double because you have just started driving car on unknown roads. You reach office at 7:45 AM and start attending meeting continuously from 8:00 AM onwards till evening.

On any super crazy day, there is a high probability that you would miss your lunch. Mostly on these days the meetings and the discussions don't make any sense to you still you have to nod and agree to unknown things - many a time when they say - does it make sense - actually it doesn't mean to you anything.

There is a higher chance that you will be called for some of those unplanned meetings for which you are completely unprepared. To make the meeting more interesting - the topic and expertise will vary to such an extent that other than you everyone will be doing some or other talk. You will be silent because you are supposed to understand everything that is NOT conveyed by directly addressing you.

In the evening, you will realize that you have not done some of the important work that was assigned to you. You start finishing the task one by one only to notice that the files that you have started copying from your machine is taking indefinite time. By the time you kill the process it is already 9:00 PM .

When you come out from the office you notice that it is full dark and you have no prior experience of driving in night. Also, you feel hungry because you didn;t have anything in your lunch. Then, you recollect your courage and start the car and drive it to a restaurant for dinner and on the way while taking the turn by mistake you come to the wrong lane. Then you say thanks to that car driver who was completely taken aback by your courageous and foolish driving. You say thanks to God and reach the restaurant and select the option "for here" among the two options (for here / to go). While you start driving back with full confidence, you realize that you have lost your way. It's the first time you are driving in the night in a new place and you have lost your way - It starts getting more interesting. Thanks to your GPS that helped and you feel proud of yourself. You remember the time when you made this decision that you will never drive without GPS.

Finally you reach to your freeway and find that the traffic is moving at the rate of 0-5 miles per hour. There were police cars and only two lanes were free due to some construction work and you start thinking that there could not have been a better way to end this super crazy day.

The next day you have call from 6:00 AM to 9:00 AM

On special occassion of Rakhi....

2008-08-19T15:16:00.003-04:00

राखी का त्यौहार सकुशल पूर्वक निपट गया .सभी प्रेम और सौहार्द्य से राखी बांधे बंधाये . बच्चा सिंह की तो कलाई खूब भरी.तुमको जो भेजा था वो ही बाँधा और जो उसको भेजे थे भूल गया था.मैंने याद दिलाया तो उसे याद आया. संजीत ने भी बाँधी राखी उसमे से.और मेरी संजीत से बात हुई. मैंने उससे पुछा की क्या वो भे भूल गया था की जिस दिन तुम जा रहे थे उस दिन राखी नही थी, या...तो उसने मुजहे बताया की , "दीदी भइया जा रहा है तो कुछ शुभ होना चाहिए था.और राखी से बड़ा शुभ क्या होगा जो उस वक्त पहुँच गई.तो मैंने कहा की भइया राखी बाँध कर शुभ कर के घर से निकले ." मैंने संजीत को thanks कहा,की राखी का सही वक्त वही दिन था और जिस भावना से राखी बाँधी गई वही उसका उद्देश्य था.

जो बात हमारे दिमाग में शायद नही आती वो उसके दिमाग में बाबा ने दाल दी.और तुमने भी feel किया की तुम्हारी रक्चा हुई air port पे.और आगे भे होती रहेगी . राखी का मतलब सिर्फ़ भाई तो बहन रक्चा ही नही बल्कि बहन तो भाई भी होता है.मैंने ये घटना कल बताई सबको , तो baba ने कहा वो दिन ही राखी का सही दिन था...जहाँ राखी की पवित्र भावना जुड़ी थी.बाकी तो दिन , मुहूर्त सब लोगों की भावना पैदा कराने के लिए होता है. real भावना जब हो जाए समज्हो वही उपायुक्त मुहूर्त है और समय भी.

Thanks for these nice and encouraging words... and I have to add following to this

वैसे मेरे को बस यही कहना है, की संजीत-वा का दिमाग मेरे साथ रहते रहते एकदम ही ख़राब हो गया है. वो आदमी बस देखता है की ऐसा क्या करें और कहें की पिटाई से बच जाएँ. और फिर बस "कर बुरा - हो भला" - बांकेलाल की तर्ज़ पे उसका भगवान् किनारा लगाये दे रहे हैं :-)
वैसे राखी के बारे में सभी बातें बहुत ही सही है. और इधर जब मैं freeway पे कार दौड़ा रहा हूँ तो राखी से ले के राखी बांधने वाली और राखी के बारे में उत्तम विचार प्रकट करने वाले बाबा सभी की बराबर याद आती है.. ये कहना उपयुक्त होगा की - नानी के अलावा सब याद आता है.

Last weekend with Praveen

2008-08-18T14:43:00.003-04:00

Finally the day arrived when Praveen was supposed to leave back for India. We could spend only one week time together but at the botton of our heart we both were feeling - had there been one more weekend...

It takes time to mix up with new people and it was nothing different here and we understood each other in a real quick time. One reason might be - he has been working for last 5 years in the same organization where my tenure is somewhere 3 years 3 months... so a common chord may be.. It all started with more formal chat and then we got open enough to talk about anything... We had our breakfast in Mc Donald on Sunday morning. He had his flight at 7:20 PM and he had booked the Taxi at 2:45 PM

I went to his hotel room and he gave me some of the food stuffs that he could not utilize. He also gifted me many minutes of calling card.. I helped him in his packing. Last weekend he had gone for shopping with some of his friends. He had got a beautiful e-album.. It's cost was around Rs 4000/- and it was looking very good. Then we came downstairs where we sit together outside near the pool and discussed the trivial stuffs... what others / comapany / client should have done.. what is bad .. how we can perform better ,,, and then some random tips.. around 1 hour...time -- People who know me - know it well that I am good at it....

Now.. Monday will be all alone.. there will not be anyone who would direct me while I would be driving..

Kabab & Tandoor - Indian Restaurant in Waltham

2008-08-16T15:23:00.002-04:00

First weekend and we took Buffet at an Indian restaurant near to our Hotel - Kabab & Tandoor.

The total cost for one plate is around $12.99 I knew that it is going to be costly but can't help much. Praveen wanted to show me the place so it was anyway worth going there. Food was good. Especially the biryaani and the kheer (sweet) was very good. The menu contained

Chicken Biryani
Vegetable Biryani
2 Chicken Dishes
2 Vegetable Dishes
Bread & Desert

It costs $8.99 on weekdays and $12.99 on weekends.

It was a very small restaurant but the food was good. They said that they will be moving shortly to a new address 699, Main Street, Waltham , MA 02453

Well - so tasted something different , something desi after almost a week. Feeling sleepy.

Now one more important work is left - i.e. take a mobile - the preference is T mobile connection as suggested by Biswa (my Raja Rajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore neighbour and office colleague who is currently in Texax for another assignment).

I would like to quote the following lines from one of the mails that I had written couple of days back...
"
aaaj ke baad se yahaan se wo ladka bhi chala jaayega. Phir mere ko akele>office aana jaaanaaa, kaam karna aur baaki saara kaam karna padega... kaafi>kuch naya hai.. bas ek acchi cheez hai, ki aadmi ko ekdam se changed>environment men kaam karne ka mauka milta hai... life me experience badhta>hai..>>may be all this will help me in future. "

Ford Focus is the rented car

2008-08-16T15:09:00.001-04:00

मैंने शायद ही कभी इतना regular ईमेल - व्यवहार किया है पहले कभी. ये भी एक अलग अनुभव है. होटल की मेज पे लैपटॉप पड़ा है. घर में घुसे ON किया और ईमेल चेक करने लगे. अभी ठीक ऐसा ही हुआ. मैं अभी उस दोस्त के साथ जो कल इंडिया वापस चला जायेगा, के साथ उसकी कार return करने और मेरे लिए कार रेंट पे लेने गए थे. काम हो गया और बस अभी कार होटल के Parking men पार्क कर के कमरे में घुसे और ईमेल चेक करने लगे.. in fact अभी मैंने सोचा की मेल भी चेक करून और blog में भी पोस्ट कर दूँ. कार है Ford Focus. मैं compact car चाहता था. तो हम लोगों ने एक जीपीएस और एक ये कार ले ली.

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focus/gallery/

http://www.fordvehicles.com/cars/focus/

Mine is red in color.....

Donnoo much of the driving and the features.. hope in one week time it will be like training on job.. I mean I will be learning the inticracies of driving while driving from my hotel to office (9 miles) - one freeway, few yields and 4-5 signals with couple of STOP sign is one list of signboards that will be waiting for me. Offcourse there will be other cars on the road.

So, the first plan is to start early from the office. Hopefully, I would be able to manage it rest is in God's hand.

Lunch @ Not Your Average Joe's

2008-08-14T17:58:00.002-04:00

Another lunch in outside in a restaurant called "Not Your Average Joe's " near to our office in Needham, MA.

Just posting after coming from that place. It was from Praveen side. Friday, he is going back to India. K o o L. THe place was suggested by our client here. THree of them accompanied us... I took Pizza, though it was not that heavy as I had expected. But two full glass of Pepsi was too much for me. I am not a big fan of cold drinks.

Usually, when we go to any restaturant in India, we are given water - may be at some places as soon as you take your seat and in some cases, only after you place the order. The later happens in the case of more sphisticated hotels.. So, here when a guest takes his seat - you won't get any drink for free. You need to order some drink - pepsi, cola, lemonade (nimbu pani)

So - that's the life, if you are going to a restaurant, be prepared to pay for everything.

The waiter/waitress came in between three times and said to everyone on the table - "Hey, everything is going good" - "I will be around, just feel free to gimme a call" - how about something to drink while I am bringing the lunch for you." Fully professional - or rather I would say professioanly gelled with the business and service that you don't realize if you are actually being serviced or being tortured (i think torture is rather harsh word here :))

Anyway, the bottom line is this that I am still not able to eat anything in the night. Who says that you don't get food when you are outside of your country. I have brought rice and I can cook it anytime. May be this is the feeling that keeps me satisfied during the dinner time.

Fenway park - Boston Vs Texas Baseball match

2008-08-13T22:56:00.006-04:00

Game - Baseball match

Vs - Boston (Red Sox) Vs Texas

Where - Fenway Park - It was built in 1912 (http://boston.redsox.mlb.com/bos/ballpark/index.jsp)

When - Wednesday (Aug 13, 2008)

Tickets - 2 - Thanks to Matt.....

Accomapanied by - Praveen, my office colleague.

Here is the slide show of all the pictures

Last (First) three days - no dinner

2008-08-13T13:38:00.006-04:00

Not feeling like having dinner. May be because of some change in routine or due to heavy (bread) breakfast and lunch.

Also, waking up quite early in the morning. Brother has advised me to sleep early or else I will not be able to concentrate in office.. Worth an advice.

Today also, I went to a nearby restaurant Panera Bread for lunch it is very near to office.. Liked the Barcolli soup.

Excerpt from one of my mail to my brother

"Haan yaar ye baat to tum sahi kah rahe ho... main thoda zaldi uth jaa raha hooon.. zabki main kal der se 12:00 baje raat men soya tha... shaayad.. zaldi hi theek ho jaayega.. bas neend khul jaati hai..

aaaj subah ka kissa to main bata sakta hoon ki kya hua hoga.. actually, main abhi pichale 3 dinon se raat men khaana nahin khaa raha hoon (kyonki pet bhaari rahta tha.. din men bread item ka bhojan kar ke) . 2 din to chal gaya.. abhi kal raat men shaayad khaya ja sakta tha...par main aise hi so gaya, subah thodi bhookh lag aai :)

Anyway, kuch dinon men adjust ho jaana chaahiye."

"Aaage ... likhta rahunga.. kuch mail men ... to kuch blog men... aise hi time beetega...kyonki yahaan aur koi ofice ka nahin hai.. office men bhi koi Indian nahin hai.. to weekend men main kahin jaaane waala nahin hooon.. most probably,,,, those will be most boring days... but will try to cook something.. to fight with the boredom..

Anyway, the first priority is to rent a car and take a mobile connection."

मजेदार मेल कम्युनिकेशन मेरे और मेरे शुभचिंतकों के बीच के

2008-08-13T06:19:00.011-04:00

[1] जब मैं यहाँ बोस्टन पहुँचा तब मेरे साथ ऐसे सहानुभूति जतायी गई

ki wahaan tumhaare paas room to hai par room partner nahi hai..,car to hai par driver nahi hai...,pados me room aur ghar hain par apane vatan ka koi nahi hai..........kitchen to hai par cook nahi hai...... : -)

khair isaka bhi maza lo....hume tumhari pratibha pe poora bharosa hai....jadi hi tum goron ke saath bhe
BC karane ki community bana loge...

waise jaldi se jaldi driving waala kaam
aur raast batane waali machine ka function samazh lo....us ladake ke waapas aane se pahale..
fir to bas mauz hogi....aur tum us ki mast road pe car chala ke song gana..( kyon...chalati hai pawan....
kyon machalata hai man ....n tum jaano n hum...) ha......ha......ha......

[2] एक बार जब बहुत दिनों से दोस्तों के मेल नहीं आ रहे थे तब
और माहौल ठीक है इधर. मैं ही बस update देता रहता हूँ और baaki reply men सब लोग मेरे को सलाह देते हैं और उस पर विद्वान - टिप्पणी करते हैं..

आख़िर मेरा नम्बर कब आएगा.. जब मैं दूसरे को सलाह दूँ.. और वो तब आएगा जब आप लोग मेल करेंगे और अपने बारे में पंचाईत सुनायेंगे ... अब ऐसा तो हो नहीं सकता कि life में कुछ हो ही न रहा हो .... बस notice करना चाहिए... बिना किसी reason का कुछ नहीं होता है... life को बड़े perspective में देखना चाहिए. रोज रोज की च्हिल पों से परेसान नहीं होना चाहिए

बस अब मैं नहीं चाहता कि कोई टिप्पणी हो इसके ऊपर... बजाय इसके थोड़ा वक्त लीजिये और मेल करिए :)

3) मेरी तबियत का ख्याल रखते हुए एक सलाह

बाबा, ये चिंता का विषय है. आप ठण्ड के प्रति सेंसिटिव हैं. हम आपको बीमार होते हुए नहीं देख सकते विदेश में. कडुआ तेल कि बोतल अगर ले जाना भूल गए हो तो तुंरत वहां से ले लीजियेगा. साले सब ओलिव आयल use करते हैं. आप वाला तेलवा सस्ते में मिल जायेगा हमको लगता है.
अपना ख्याल रखिये बाबा. कम्बल गमछा सब लपेट कर रहा करिए.

4) मेरे को मेरी ताक़त का एहसास कराती हुई एक दहकती मेल

*बड़ी पियरी वाले बाबा
**बनारस वाले बाबा
***बंगलुरु वाले बाबा
****बोस्टन वाले बाबा

ये चमतकारी और अपरं अलंकारी बाबा की कहानी है विदेशी पानी से भी बाबा को कुछ फरक नहीं होता जो एक अलग मति के इंसान हैं

एक बाबा भक्त बम्बई से

*बड़ी पियरी (बनारस का मोहल्ला जहाँ मेरा शुरुवाती बचपन बीता है )
**बनारस (हिंदुस्तान में एक शहर जहाँ का मैं हूँ)
***बंगलुरु जहाँ मैंने १ साल पढ़ाई की और करीब ३ साल से आजिव्कोपर्जन कर रहा हूँ.
****बोस्टन - अमेरिका का एक शहर जहाँ मेरे को ऑफिस के काम से कुछ वक्त के लिए आना पड़ा.

5)जब एक पुराने मित्र को पता चला मेरे travel के बारे में - एक बधाई संदेश

बधाई हो भाई,आख़िर बरसों की तपस्या रंग लायी .Now do one thing,dom't act like uncle in that dream land. Do all the activities wat a youngster does. hope your .............

6) एक विचार और मेरे को उत्साहित करने के लिए
बाबा बाबा बाबा आपने चमत्कार कर रखा है. पूरी टीम को अकेले टक्कर दे रहे हैं बाबा.
नए मुल्क में कुछ नया करने का .
जय भारत,

7) जब दोस्त को गुस्सा आता है तो वो क्या लिखते हैं - मैं बेक़सूर हूँ.

साला बाबा की तो.....दुनिया बदल गई, कहाँ से कहाँ पहुँच गई, साला ख़ुद बाबा बड़ी पियरी से बोस्टन पहुँच गए.साला अभी भी नाटक है. पकड़ के दो लगाये सुबह रोज नास्ते में, सारी चर्बी उतर जायेगीसाला बाबा की ऐसी की तैसी हल्ला बोल.

8) मेरे ब्लॉग के बारे में प्यार भरे दो शब्द

कैसा लग रहा है वहां? आपका ब्लॉग पढ़ के तो समझ लीजिये कि हम भी USA में ही विचरण कर रहे हैं.

कवि कालिदास भी इतना बेहतरीन नहीं लिख पाते.

जुग जुग जियो मेरे लाल.

9) Best wishes from elders / seniors

Get over with your Jet Lag. There is lot that you can achieve there. Have a nice time and a wonderful experience with the customer.

All the very best!!!!!

10) Some don't trust. An excerpt from the mail communication

Coooool!!!
Enjoy your stay and behave yourself :D

I replied
Yep… that’s a very useful piece of advice….

Hahaha…As long as you ensure you don’t show up on any news channel, I will assume you are behaving yourself :)

11) कुछ लोग ये कहते हैं

Good to see that you remembered us after reaching there! Wish you all the best!

ग्राहक को थोड़ी हिन्दी सिखा देना. :D:D

तो मैंने कहा -
This ‘Graahak’ is very technical sir... First I am trying to learn their language (Content Managment), before I could give it a try…

मेरी कमजोर नस है - राजराजेश्वरी नगर इन बंगलोर - और अगला जबाब उसी से जुड़ा था - कोई आश्चर्य नहीं

Hehe Sahi hai !!
Tell him about the RR nagar and tell him it’s a must visit when he comes down to Blore :)

12) एक पुराने मित्र ने ऐसे अपनी शुभकामनाएं दीं

हे चंगू बाबा उर्फ़ नीरज भाई उर्फ़ मुखिया जी !!!

आदमी एक और नाम अनेक :)

सुन कर काफ़ी अच्छा लगा की भाई साहब के पासपोर्ट की वर्जिनिटी अब ख़त्म हो गई है... लेकिन मियाँ अपना बचा के ही रखना :)

हमें आपके ऊपर पूरा विश्वास है. आप जाके वहां भी rocking performance दीजियेगा और विजयी हो के लौटियेगा !!!

13) ये अंदाजे बयाँ भी कुछ कम नहीं...

हेलो सर जी..

यहाँ का हाल चाल मजे में है.. finally आपका भी गदहा जनम छूट ही गया मतलब देश से बाहर हो ही लिए.. :)

वैसे कहाँ गए हैं .. कोई detail तो भेजिए .. पाकिस्तान या अफगानिस्तान तो नहीं चले गए, जो आपको हमारे देश का कोई नहीं दिखा.. :))

Goof Ups - That could have been avoided

2008-08-12T19:13:00.003-04:00

Everyone does one or two sometime here and there but the beauty lies in sharing it with others...

1. The very first day - may be it was 3rd or probably 4th handshake in total. It was my first meeting and a new person entered the meeting room. I also raised my hand for the handshake. What happened that my ink pen (PARKER) had exploded and I was not aware about that. And I could realize only when someone pointed it out. By that time I had already done the job. His hand was painted in the navy blue ink. My hand was too. I didn't know what to do next after saying sorry. One person went out to bring some napkins and it was a subject of discussion for sometime in the conference call as well.

2. I was going in our client's car for having lunch. I was sitting on the back seat. I thought of putting seat belts. Once the client who was driving the car noticed the belt that I was holding in my hand, he politely pointed it out that its the wrong one. I didn't have any answers - I guess no one does have.. For me, it was the first time in my life I was going to put belts while sitting on the back seat - the only learning is that I was trying out this for the first time on a wrong occassion.

Lunch and Coffee

2008-08-12T13:59:00.004-04:00

Got a chance to grab a coffee during the lunch in one of the restaurant outside. Had some usual talks and I got an opportunity to open up a bit. That's my problem. If you let me in, its gone. I can't stop myself. A typical talkative guy in a foreign country. My ex project teammates know my weakness as they have suffered a lot in past.

So, two important things worth notice -

1. Pedestrians are given due respect. Cars stop / slow down when they see someone crossing thr road. First time I got really surprised. And why should I be not? I am not a VIP.

2. In the restaurant - first I collected my ordered items and then went to pay. ANd then went ahead to have my lunch. The process was completely different from what I usually see in Bangalore self service restaurants. First we pay and then with that slip, we go to collect our items.

3. Its a custom or as a matter of fact, it's a way to show courtesy that you hold the door if you see anyone coming.

4. We don't honk.. it's considered rude..

We also can follow all these small small things -- it also doesn't require any patent.. it's not patented. Moreover as a country we all give utmost priority to our old culture and customs - where are all they? What's wrong in adapting these good things.. it does really feel good.

A nice gesture indeed.

Jet Lag

2008-08-12T09:27:00.002-04:00

While coming to Boston, I had met with few of my office colleague at Bangalore airport who was travelling to New York for some other assignment. During the conversation, we started talking about the Jet Lag.

He asked us 'what is this Jet Lag ?'

It has something to do with your change in timelines and the way your body respond to it. 'I replied with my little knowledge'.

He said what if a person has the habit of waking up in the night and sleeping during the day. And he cited the example from his college days. I didn't know the answer.

I had read and heard from my well wishers a lot about the various tested techniques on how to beat the jet lag. But at the bottom of my heart I knew for sure that -- I will sleep.

It started showing its effect from the evening of my first day in office. We left early (thanks to Praveen) from office and as soon as I reached hotel I directly jumped to the bed. I woke up by phone call on my hotel phone. I was not sure who is this. It was getting cut after three rings before I could go to attend it. Then I saw a voice message - the red light was blinking - that means someone has left a voice message. I was not sure how to retrieve that. And a thought occurred in my mind that it is due to this voice message, I am getting this automated ring.

As shailu usually mentions whenever he calls me in the night that --"Neeraj, don't put pressure on your mind while you are trying to keep your self awake during the phone conversation". So, without thinking much I just went ahead and slept once again.

In the morning 5:00 AM, I woke up and first thing that I did was to solve the voice message riddle. I could solve it in 5 minutes. It was one of my friend in Dallas who has left the voice message. And when I came to office, Kearan called me up on my office extension and told that he was trying out my number in the night... so, no more confusions...

Day 1 in office

2008-08-11T15:13:00.003-04:00

Got up early. Checked the mail. I don't know why suddenly you start feeling that others should send you more mails. Because, we are quite far from our place? Is it? Whatever, I also think so. there is a feeling and I can't help it.

Offices are same. People are more busy in their work. No access card needed in office. No security guard at the gate. I never felt at home in my office back Bangalore because of so much security. They look at you as if you are an intruder.

People who are technical here, they just do technical talks. They don't need to dress up in formals. Just the dress should be decent enough.

I need to learn car driving as soon as possible otherwise I will have a hard time once I am alone here. Today, Praveen (office colleague who is here and whom I'd be replacing) took me to one of the restaurant for lunch.. just a normal one...

During the day, I got a chance to chat with Shailu -- below is the highlight of the same

shailu : saher kaisa lag ra tha atyadhunik
me: yaar aisa kuch nahin, bas man ki uddaan hai.. agar sab control men hai, to kya Bangalore aur Kya Boston...

Then, it was Karan who also came on line. He is in Florida... He called me on my office extension.. Here is the chat excerpts

2:41 PM Karan: abee number do call karte hee mene tumne saturday ko call kiya tha

me: oyee office men hooon... client hai.. maarega

Karan: pagal ho tum2:42 PM kuch nahi hota

me: aaj pahla din hai

Karan: mee kaunsa sasur ki dukaan par hu

me: tu purana ho gayu ah hotel men ahunch ke

Karan: kuch nahi hota mene first din AD se aur bhi 2-3 jano se bakar kari thi office mee ghusne kee 2 ghante ke under samjhe2:43 PM

me: ok... theek hai... let me check

Reached Hotel in Waltham

2008-08-10T23:05:00.003-04:00

So, finally, I landed in Boston. The flight experience was good. Got to know one thing that I really need to talk slow. THis was once again pointed out by the officer in charge in immigration office at Logan Boston Airport.

He was asking me some question and I was replying very fast. He said. 'please speak slowly, if you speak this much fast, I will not be able to understand anything'

There were 4-5 questions - finally, I got it...

Then took the taxi and came to a hotel... Need to start work right away, no time to relax..

Cheers,
Neeraj

Bangalore - Paris - Boston

2008-08-10T22:36:00.003-04:00

Reporting From: Paris Airport
When: Aug 10, 2008 – 10:30 AM local time (During Transit)
Waiting for my next flight to Boston – MA, USA at 12:45 PM

I heard someone talking in Hindi as soon as I started writing and it felt good in a new place. “Muzhko Boston men hi utarna hai, nahin wo log wahin lene aa jayenge”, “Software Engineer, wo California men hai”, “MBA Kiya hai” an excerpt from the talk that I overheard. And, then I started thinking if I had my exchange given to me in the right pocket. Yes, it was. I had replaced all my INR (Indian National Rupee) with the $ (dollars). I am yet to do my first shopping with this $500 given to us by our travel desk in office.

Yes, the mention of Travel desk reminded me how it all started 2-3 weeks back. First it was confusion over the type of Visa. Remember, we don’t need a new Visa for B1 in lieu of H, the existing B1 works. Anyway, I went through all this so called ‘Panchayat’ (confusion/hassle) and now it is clarified.

Laptop battery is very low and I need to log off now.

It was 9 and ½ hour journey from Bangalore, India to Paris, France. I boarded the flight 2:00 AM and landed around 11:45 AM local time. There is 3 hours 30 minutes time difference.

At the Bangalore Airport, at the time of Check in, I was told that my baggage is overweigh, so, I removed three KG (2 kg toor daal, 1/2 kg chana, 1/2 kg green daal) and given it to one of the ground support staff. Further, I was told that hand baggage cannot be more than 12 KG. So, I put some of the woolen clothes, towel and all the books in an air bag and gave it to Vasu’s brother. It was nothing less than a divine help. Vasu also works in the same organization as I am and I met him for the first time at the airport. Also, just by accident or you may call it because of my observation skill J , I quickly noticed him saying bye – bye to his brother. I put my request and it was generously accepted. Thanks to Vasu. Thanks a lot.

So, till now.. things are going welll. Flight was good. Food was good. I was surprised to get parotha and chola as a breakfast in the flight.

Now, waiting for the next flight – hope, I would be able to write here whenever I get time. I had no books now. One of the very important technical book that I thought I would refer once I reach there, that also, I had lost now. No worries. May be as we believe, whatever happens always happens for the good.

Bye Bye after two years

2008-08-08T06:29:00.004-04:00

So, it was August 1, 2008 when I got released from my last assignment. I was there for almost two years and had lots of mixed experience.

I was lucky that during the tenure the account grown and I was offered to contribute in different capacities in three assignments.

First was the enhancement project for 3 months - first in the account. We got very good feedback for our work from the client.

THen, it was a maintenance work - on a completely new technology for me. I was there for almost one year. Worked as a team lead there . It was a two person team including me.

And the last one was the new development project where I played the role of a Module lead. THis was the same project (my first enhancement project). It came to be redesigned in a completely new architecture. Worked with new tech lead and a comparatively young and energetic team. Over all good experience.

During the farewell, got a gift "7 habits of highly effective people" book and a card.

Thanks to everybody with whom I had worked......

Then, the next assignment is on a completely new technlogy for me.. Have been given a chance to play a challenging role at client's place...

New Assignment - August 4, 2008

2008-08-04T00:47:00.006-04:00

Now, I have to leave to US for one of the new assignments on a short notice. I had never thought that it will happen in this way.But I understand that it’s all business and once the requirement comes, they will call the people from moon to send on assignment. We had wondered in the past when we saw this trend. I am no exception. Looking forward to make some good contributions in coming days. The only thing is that I could not get any free time in between my last project and this new assignment.

The client is mainly into technical content management and publishing business. In a way, they are all quite aware about the technical complexities in their business. It will be quite exciting working with them. More on this later….

ye bhi khoob rahi - “Aaap Beeti”

2008-07-29T04:55:00.001-04:00

Shailu ki kalam se ---- This has been shared by shailu via email
------------------------------------------------------------------
JAI BAJRANG BALI...aur sab khatre tal gaye...bajrangbali pe yad aya ek mast kissa huapichle dino raj-rajeshwari nagar me...mere aage wale naye kirayedar ne darwaja khula chod diya to ek bandarsham ko pahle kitchen me ghus gaya to jo lady hai unhone bacho kobedroom me band kar diya aur wait karne lagi ke bandar bahar nikaljaye thodi der me 20-25 bandar ghar me ghus gaye aur unhone bhayanakutpat machaya ...todfod kitched etc me...1 ghante chala ye khel..kisi ki himmat nai ho rahe the ke kya karein..koi gents nahi thamummy upar ghar me aur kirayedar kamre me band...fir lallan bhaiyake sale saheb jo samne wale ashu ke makan me rahte hai unhonehimmat ke danda lekar ghumaya aur ghar me aakar sare bandaro ko bhagaya....sach bahut himmat wala kaam tha...fir bandar kheej kar mummy upar se jhankrahi the to unhe katne dauda ..to mummy kisi tarah daud ke bachi..is tarah raj rajeshwari nagar me bandro ka atank badhta hua aajkalaur neeraj singh khatra bhanp ke bhagwan ko yad kar rahe hai..thoda himmat lao...marna to ek din sabko hai lekin jiyo sar utha ke"""baat aise bani"""""bacho ke mukh se""""dindahade""sarita ke ek aur kahani khatam huegnight!!

Shailu ki kalam se ----

Went to Varanasi to meet Grandmother

2008-07-25T01:38:00.000-04:00

Had to rush to Varanasi last weekend.... Grandmother was not keeping well... more to comeeee

My visit to Ongole (AP) distt

2008-07-25T01:37:00.001-04:00

Sometime back, I visited Ongole.... more to comeeeee

Mind Over Matter - Why you should forgive

2008-06-30T01:26:00.003-04:00

An article published in Sunday Times of India, Bangalore on June 20, 2008

Concepts of right and wrong are not based upon any specific truth, but upon the perception of the moment, says David Nlmes

Have you ever forgiven anyone? You may quickly say ‘Yes’, which indicates you still remember the issue, which means it is not totally forgotten… and so therefore, it’s not truly forgiven. We say we forgive, but we rarely do. We ‘excuse’, we ‘permit’, we ‘look past’, we ‘understand’, we ‘learn to live with’, but we never really forgive. We simply exchange our dislike of an event with the hope of returning to the more pleasant times. What then, would you have to do to forgive? Is it possible to forgive while not totally forgetting the problem that created the reason for forgiveness in the first place? How do you forgive? How do I forgive?

To understand why total forgiveness seems almost impossible, or at least, very difficult, we need to ask why we value the concept of forgiveness in the first place. We need to look at what motivates us to either run from it or embrace it depending upon which end of the problem we see ourselves in. Let’s tear apart the whole concept of forgiveness and look at it the way it is.

What triggers the need to forgive or to be forgiven? Having done something wrong, you will experience the sensation of guilt. It might not happen immediately and it may take some time, but once you have done something wrong, the door is open for you to eventually feel guilty about it. The understanding of guilt is totally necessary for you to be on either side of the forgiving exchange. Now, having embraced the concepts of doing a ‘wrong’ or ‘bad’ thing and then associating them with guilt, this opens the doors for multiple levels of forgiveness to exist. For example, once the wrong deed has occurred, an opportunity suddenly appears for somebody to forgive you, and you can also forgive yourself.

What triggers the sensation of guilt? Somewhere, we were taught that certain things were ‘right’ and certain things were ‘wrong’. Later, we then create connections to events we experience and use our past examples of right and wrong to inform us of whether our actions or the actions of the people around us are proper. In time, we can easily see who has done something wrong and we know they are guilty and should admit to their crime and admit they are guilty. This then opens the door for us to forgive them and for them to forgive themselves, Our society and many religious structures look upon guilt as a mighty and necessary force that us used to help us maintain an orderly society, It can be difficult seeing how out world could exist without us taking turns being either the receiver or the distributor of guilt. What else could possibly motivate anyone to change? What if you were taught about right and wrong, in error? Imagine being in a country where it is ‘wrong’ for a woman to show her face in public. Imagine a situation where it is ‘wrong’ to cross the boundary from one country to another when you are not welcome.

Imaging a moment where it is ‘wrong’ to kill another person. Imagine a moment where it is ‘wrong’ to purposely exceed the speed limit while driving. Imagine being in a country where it is ‘not wrong’ for a woman to show her face in public. Imagine a situation where it is ‘not wrong’ to cross the boundary from one country to another because you are welcome. Imagine a moment where it is ‘not wrong’ to kill another person who is attacking you. Imagine a moment where is ‘not wrong’ to purposely exceed the speed limit while driving, so that lives may be saved.

These examples clearly show how something that is ‘wrong’ in one instance, it ‘not wrong’ in another instance, which means our concepts of right and wrong are not based upon any specific truth, but solely upon the perception of the moment. With this being the case ‘being right’ or ‘being wrong’ are totally transient in the eye of the beholder and have no absolute state of being. Truth is eternal and unchangeable spiritual point of view; this means the whole concept of right and wrong is not real and simply does not exist.

What if you never did anything wrong? If the concept of ‘right and wrong’ is not a solid spiritual truth, since they change with perception, then these concepts are neither seen, nor experienced and they aren’t true. When we say somebody is wrong we are viewing things from an extremely narrow and erroneous perception. So, if there is nothing ‘wrong’ with killing, should we just let the world run amok with violence and terror and do nothing to stop it? In a perfect world, you would not fear that you had to stop it, but likewise, in a perfect world, the concept of ‘wrong’ or ‘fear’ would not exist in the first place and no threats would be perceived. To understand the concept it would be helpful to see that all improper behavior and events are mistakes that occur due to our perception of an act.

Instead of using the perception tainted variables of to judge ourselves and others, let’s instead look at improper events simply as ‘mistakes’. For example, if I were on a train to Philadelphia and happened to mention to a fellow passenger about how I excited I was to be heading for Chicago, it would be obvious to this man that I had made a mistake and had gotten on the improper rain. This does not make me bad. This does not require any sensation of guild and this does not require forgiveness.

All this requires is that I get off that train and get on the proper train. When the fellow passenger informs me of my mistake, he has not judged me, but is simply informing me of an error I have made. Since I have done nothing wrong, there is no reason to associate gilt or fear with what he tells me. Being open for truth, I will not feel attacked and I will feel no need to defend m mistake, Instead, I will be happy and thankful to the passenger for helping me see and undo this mistake. Truth frees because there is no judgment of any kind and it eliminates the need to be forgiven. Likewise, guilt binds because it is dependent upon judgment and it requires your need to be forgiven. All concepts and origins of guilt, sin, right, wrong, etc are of our own making and are based upon fear. Only your mistaken perceptions have created these concepts, which are not true. They are simply errors of thinking. To change your course, all you need to do is to be open to see where you may be mistaken and then and it will heal your perception of this world and of yourself. There is really nothing at all to forgive in the first place.

My friends marriage invitation

2008-06-27T05:03:00.007-04:00

Read On.......... AN interesting way to say that I am getting married.

As life is taking a new turn......... I am turning a new leaf....... The next stage of the metamorphosis is knocking at my door......... As I unlatch the ticking hands of time........ A new voyage…..... A new direction…..... A new destination beckons me........ Into a new world...… It’s a new beginning ….When I would need the love and support of the most important people of my lifemy friends, who’ve journeyed with me so far to help me, cheer me, bless meI seek your blessings, support & encouragement.

Here goes the info for the background above……………(was writing a simple mail then an idea struck n I shared this way)

Belongs to [place]
Working in [place] now.
Family-Mother, Father & a younger sis.

Now don’t make judgments buddies it s a complete arranged marriage through matrimonial ad with all in sync :)

Here goes the dates you all are welcome everywhere…don’t stick to formal invitations now.

11th July, 08- Engagement at Varanasi
7th Dec, 08 - Marriage at Indore
10th Dec, 08 –Reception at Varanasi

A Pic of hers attached for you only & rest post engagement :)

You all are sitting at distant places so am sending the info this odd way (very formal) or else would have loved to shared sitting together.

Bunty ki kalam se!!

Baki batein aur khabar aage baatcheet me ... :)

My First Vijayawada Visit

2008-06-24T03:57:00.000-04:00

It was Feb, 2002 when I first visited Vijayawada in A.P, my first encounter with any southern city in India. The purpose was to write the P.G. entrance exam for a well known college in Coimbatore. Even though the visit was for a very short duration but we didn’t fail to make the maximum out of it. As we were in a very large group, I need not mention about the entire train journey that was nothing less than a fun filled long but obviously not tiring journey. On the way, when someone updated us that Chennai is yet 24 hours from Vijayawada, it challenged our Geography knowledge. At least for me, it was just a beginning and my first footstep anywhere outside the North India. Until we come out of our home, we never realize how different and interesting this world is. It helps us in changing some long held perceptions about people living in different parts of India. Experience is experience irrespective of its nature. We learn more from our bad experiences; however we always deny it and remember it as a disgusting moment of our life.

Once we got down at the station in the morning, the decision making to search for a hotel for the group stay was not an easy job when you don’t know the local language. Then, there are always people at the railway station who will surprise you when they offer (or I’d rather call it challenge) to negotiate in a language that we as an outsider are comfortable in. Yes, we met one of them, negotiations started, went on for sometime and finally he took us to show a nearby hotel. It was good and well within our budget. When you are ten people in a group, everyone is paying from their pocket; they also need participation in the final decision. But, we were lucky to have very understanding friends. We decided to give Rs 100/- to the person who have helped us.

We had come there to write an exam but looked like it is a team outing. We had a full day with us as our exams were scheduled for the next day. All of us took no time to utilize the two bathrooms to freshen ourselves. It was an example of optimum utilization and coordination. What next, breakfast time, and we tasted for the first time the chilli in chutney served along with the Idly & Vada. It tasted good though it was from a road side hotel. Next plan was to go to the beach that was around 70 KM from the railway station. We hired two autos and everyone somehow adjusted themselves inside it as third auto was out of question when we checked our budget that was already tight.

This was the first time when I was at a beach and we spent good amount of time there. I remembered one of my friends’ predictions that he had made after seeing my signature almost 3 months before – “Neeraj, you will be at near to sea shore very soon”. KooL – I was there and it felt so good. Then we went to a place called Amravati. There was a temple that was situated on the bank of river Krishna. Auto driver suggested if we delay we will miss to visit the temple that was our last tourist spot for the day. It was situated in the city on a hill and looked really good in the evening. We took the blessings of Goddess in the temple and returned back to our hotel, had dinner and slept.

Next day, we appeared for the entrance exam. For few of us it was good for some of us it was struggling. But, all of us took back home the very fond memory of Vijaywada. We enjoyed the food and people hospitality. Few things that we came across the very first time were - the decorated big wine shops. The very big posters of the Telgu movie stars and the way the posters were designed. There were lots of juice shops & much more. There were people in different attire and speaking native language that we don’t understand.

For me, it was just the starting and this experience helped me when I stayed one year in Bangalore, then two years in Chennai and now I am in Banglore for the past three years. It’s all about developing the liking towards something and then you don’t feel that you are an outsider. You start understanding the culture of the city and start mixing with the people and then you realize that people are the same just the language and food habit is different. Once I landed here, I have developed a good time taste for Idly, Dosa etc. Few of my friends who are from South but have stayed either in North India or North Indian friends, like Chapati (Roti) more than Idly. Surprised! But it’s the truth. You can’t tell stories about people until you have been there, lived with them and understood them.

Komal's last day in the organization

2008-06-23T01:51:00.010-04:00

At last, Komal decided to move on after enjoying his almost 4 years tenure with us. We sat in CCD for his farewell. We had spent many evenings in the same CCD where he used to order his favorite lime tea (I could never develop a taste for that).

We wish him all the very best for his new challenges in life. I am sure he would do better in all walks of his life.

Read More Posts that have a mention of Komal
http://neeraj-fortune.blogspot.com/search?q=komal

Good Luck - Komal

Movie review - Sarkar Raj

2008-06-18T05:19:00.002-04:00

We know what R G Varma is capable of and we always have a huge expectation when he tries something in a subject that he can handle the best. The subject of Underword, don, underworld – politicians nexus has always been his favorite. He gave us gems like ‘Company’ and ‘Satya’. Then it was ‘Sarkar’, Bollywood version of Hollywood blockbuster ‘The Godfather’. It was a good try and was an instant hit. Amitabh and Abhishek’s role got huge appreciation. We saw less dialogues and more acting. We had been told that songs are the integral part of Indian cinema but the success of ‘Sarkar’ according to me had broken this myth. Indian Bollywood audience is getting matured by the time.

‘Sarkar Raj’ is the sequel of ‘Sarkar’ directed by Ram Gopal Varma. I watched this movie on DVD at home last week. Though it was a sequel but it lacked the greatness of Sarkar. There were loop holes in the story. It appeared as if showing Abhi-Aish in one frame on various occasions was more important than the movie itself. As an intelligent viewer of RGV movies, we expect a certain level of maturity from the director as well. He failed to create the magic. Though Amitabh’s performance was perfect, Abhi couldn’t do justice. Or he was put down by the storyline and loose script. Movie looked good in parts and it could have done better, had there been less focus on highlighting the first ever appearance of Bachhan family trio after Abhi –Aish marriage. Overall, it’s an entertaining movie much better than low grade comedy movies flooding multiplexes these days.

A meeting with my cousin Chitranjan

2008-06-09T01:06:00.004-04:00

Chitranjan is the name of my cousin who is four-five years younger than me. Chitranjan never got a chance to study in a big city. He completed his studies in village Sherwan, our ancestral place in Bhadohi District of UP – India. Being elder son and the challenging economic conditions at home compelled him to take responsibilities on his shoulder earlier than expected. He moved to Lucknow to work as a sales representative with the help of one of his relatives. It was his first experience at that early age. Having spent good amount of time there, he came back to Sherwan to try his luck in nearby town.

Last time when I was in Varanasi, Chitranjan visited our house for some work. It was a long time since we had met last time. I was curious to know about him. He told that he was working as a sales executive for a car dealer. We talked about the nature of work he was doing there and the good progress he had made there by winning the owner’s confidence. He had been promoted where he took care of the customers visiting the showroom. There seemed to be only one hindrance in terms of his spoken English capabilities. Otherwise, according to him, the next level, the manager post was well with in his reach. I could see the confidence oozing out of his expression. I was happy to know all this and was thanking to the Indian progress that had made possible for even a small town youths to taste the success and become the part of next generation India.

I asked him about the challenges faced by him working in a town and how the sales ratio is as compared to comparatively big cities like Varanasi. He looked confident and impressive and gave a balanced reply to my question as a seasoned sales guy. Then he went on to explain one of the constant challenge he faced while supervising his juniors. There were local guys for the field level job. One of their primary responsibilities was to visit different showrooms in the town and collect the sales related data and some other information from there. They sometimes lie and mislead that they visited the showroom but couldn’t meet the concerned person. ‘They simply hang out and watch the cricket match instead of visiting the showroom.’ said experienced Chitranjan with a smile on his face. ‘How did you handle a situation like this?’ this was my next question. He told me how he never scolded them for not performing their duty honesty but at the same time ensured that he was getting the right status each time from them. This was his simple solution. Whenever he had a doubt he instructed them to give him a call once they reached the showroom. He would tell them that he had some personal work with the showroom manager and he needed to talk to them. This way he ensured that they are actually visiting the shops and not just fooling around.

It may sound simple solution but has got so many things to learn. First, he didn’t hurt anyone of his helping hand by scolding them. This would have demotivated them. Had he pointed out their mistakes publicly, they would have tried out some other tricks. However, he focused on the basic principle of a manager – to ensure that the job is getting done. He did it nicely. Even though he never went to any MBA college but he learnt the very basic management lesson.

Art of showing your gratitude

2008-06-09T01:05:00.002-04:00

Everyone wants to hear good things about them. At least it does matter with people with whom we interact in our day today life. We would have noticed people using sweet and respectful words when they need any favor from somebody. There is a psychology behind it and few of us understand it. It’s an art of genuinely identifying the good aspect about a person and praising it whenever he does that. All of us love to do one or other thing really good and need some recognition for that. Most people will recognize it once and then they forget to notice it because these good things are being done so nicely that it becomes common and go unnoticed. Intelligent people never fail to acknowledge the person every time they do something good. It creates a strong bond of relationship beyond the professional, social and cultural hierarchy. It is all about learning the art of showing your gratitude towards someone who has made your life even 1% better.

If you go to Pizza Hut, you will find a bell hanging near the main entrance. This is a medium through which you can express your good experience at the restaurant. If you enjoyed the food and were happy with the service, you could press the bell and let everyone know about it.

World is very small - My Friend Komal's experience

2008-06-09T01:04:00.001-04:00

This is the story told by Komal Singh C about one of the experience in his life. He wanted me to write it so that it helps others. If we do something bad with others, we need to pay back here in the same life. This story is a real time experience that tells one of the real time incident in Komal’s life when he was studying in Engineering college. This story has been told to me many times and I decided that I would post it here and send its link to Komal. He need not tell the same story to others; he will be able to send the link to others. Here goes the story in Komal’s own word.

I (Komal) had an account in National Cooperative Bank when I was an engineering student. Bank was located one and half hour from my college. Once I required the bank statement from the same branch. It’s difficult in Mumbai to travel this much distance after your college. But I had to as it was an important work and this document was to be given to our CA for some accounting purpose. First time when I went to the bank they asked me to fill the financial year duration on the application form and I did the same. They said that three days is the lead time for processing the request. I returned back home happily thinking that I need to go only once after three days. So, I again went all the way after three days and requested to provide my statement. I got the statement but the duration was not correct. I requested the officer in charge to carry out the necessary correction and give it to me that day itself. He didn’t entertain my request and asked me to come tomorrow to collect the corrected document. I told them that I had to travel a long distance and this document is very important for us. But my arguments fell on deaf ears. So, I thought of meeting branch manager, Mr. Kotiyan and entered his room and explained the whole story once again. This time my tone was complaining and I thought that I would get some reprieve here. I said it will not take much time to rectify the mistake but he too didn’t pay any attention to my request. I was accompanied by one of my friend Ajay Govind and he thought of supporting my point of view and the Manager interrupted him in between – ‘it’s none of your business’, he instructed. I asked if this is the kind of service they provide. To my surprise, ‘Yes’, he said. Things were not going anywhere so I thought of ending this whole argument. I asked his name and he happily gave me his visiting card. I still remember the lines that crossed my mind at that moment – “The world is very small.” – And a famous saying in Hindi (Ek din aayega oont pahaad ke neeche) I silently went back home and came the next day to collect the statement.

More than two years had passed since this incident happened and I had completely forgotten about it. Once I got a call from my dad and he told me about his interest in opening LIC. One of his schemes got matured and one of the agents was helping him in getting the official paper work done in time. As we had promised that we will open three four policies with the same agent, he had given the relaxation in the current commission. As promised, we had signed the document and submitted it to that LIC agent. Dad asked him to collect the cheque in next three days. After three days, dad called me at home and enquired about the agent if he came to collect the cheque. Once he told me the name of the agent, it didn’t take me long to recollect that this is the same name – the manager with whom I had an argument two years back. No, I do not have a good memory, so I went to find the visiting card. I generally keep the important things at the important places and I found it when I searched the drawer. Now I was sure that he was the same person – Yes, the same manager whom I had an argument two years back.

It was my turn and I did some thinking to make up my mind how I would treat that guy. I had many options. The immediate option would be to simply send him back as soon as he came. But my conscience suggested me if I do the same, there will not be any difference between both of us. At the decided time he came to my house. I asked my mom to arrange the refreshments and asked him to sit comfortably. I asked him if he had worked in that bank. He was surprised how I knew this. I told him when I was studying in Terna Engineering College, I had an account in your branch. When I show him his old visiting card, he was stunned and speechless. Once we finished the tea, I said that the cheque for which you have come is not yet ready and told politely to come tomorrow. The next day he called me and I said the same thing. He called many times and I didn’t respond and he would have understood that he had lost the business and he never called me again.

I took on my revenge in this manner. People should not misuse their power and position. Who knows when our road will cross once again because world is very small.

Q for Quality

2008-06-05T01:12:00.002-04:00

Total quality experience = Total quality management

Quality – We always talk about it in one way or other, won’t we? We look for and expect quality in almost everything. When we go to multiplex and pay a handsome sum for a movie show, we expect quality of service in return. There are many multiplexes in our city that run the same movie show – given an option to opt for one multiplex where you would like to watch your favorite movie – as a customer you would choose the one that offer you a better value for your money and a better overall experience.

Quality is value as perceived by the customer. We need to start from the standardization to bring quality.

So the real challenge is in identifying these stated and unstated customer needs and bringing standardization in whatever we do. Quality (Standardization) helps in removing variation out of process. Quality works in a push pull method. Quality should be present everywhere starting from design, manufacture and ending in services as well.

Customer as a normal human being nature doesn’t like ugly surprises

There is a man coming at different times from his office. How does his wife think? May be - not so good. Now suppose, he starts coming at the right time – he delivered standardization. If he carries on with it then we say it is continuous improvement and when he is trying out new things (bringing flowers, gifts etc), it’s about providing new functionalities.*

There are two types of customer expectations – Stated and unstated.

There is a man, say on her 25th anniversary takes her wife out and asks what she wants. She as per Indian culture looks down and says nothing. If the husband doesn’t do anything after that, he is missing all the unstated things (like - take me to those places where you used to take me before marriage or take me for a dinner at some place or watching movies etc.) So, we need to understand both kinds of requirements.*

Purpose of quality revolves around Organization Profit and Customer Satisfaction

We know that a defect is nothing but the cost of poor quality (COPQ). Art of anticipative management helps in meeting this challenge. We can learn a good lesson on quality from Japanese who blend Zen with culture and celebrate quality.

Quality is all about continuous improvement.

There is a story of a monk who was throwing twig out of the garden. A man sees the monk doing this activity daily. Out of his curiosity, he asked the monk, ‘When do you think, you will finish your job?’, ‘Once I throw the last twig out of this garden’, replied the monk. We know that it is not possible. Achieving the last end in quality is about continuous improvement.

*These examples have been taken from one of the Subrato’s session

Success will come to us in one or some other form

2008-06-04T02:50:00.002-04:00

Success is all about moving from one failure to another with enthusiasm – and that’s the reason I consider myself lucky to be successful.

When we think very hard about something, it may or may not happen with us at that time. It doesn’t mean that we are not prepared for taking this challenge in our life. It may be possible that this may not be the right time for that. Or we may not be ready to sustain the success if it comes to us at this time.

I don’t know what we should call it. It is the phenomenon that happens with all of us but we don’t realize it. When things go in our favour without putting enough effort, we never take a moment to think about it. Some people call it luck. So, how many times we acknowledge about our being lucky? Our ego doesn’t allow us to do so. It reflects that we are weak and we are not the one behind our success. But when things don’t turn as per our wish, we become impatient, get tensed and frustrated. Our mind is programmed to think only in one direction. We start looking for friends who can listen to us and agree to our reasoning against God injustice.

There are many philosophers and this world is full of their sayings. Pick anyone of those books and you will find one thing common. All of them say that we should only think about doing our best. They tell about the importance of listening to our conscience and taking directions from it. It guides us in the time of our difficulty. The only thing in our control is to do our best because the results are not in our hand. Why is it that result not in our hand? There are lot many environmental positive factors that decide the best result for us. Our effort is just one of the factors. Also, all these other factors are constantly looking for the best result for us. We sometimes are not the right judge because, we live in a society that has got some unsaid standards and our definition of success and happiness is influenced by that. We become so much result oriented that we lose our heart when we meet to some initial failures. We stop trying because we get tired. Let us not do that. We need not stop. God has always got better plans for us and we need to consistently apply all our efforts so that we may fit in one of the best of His plans for us at the earliest.

Success will come to us in one or some other form. In case, we had some wrong conceptions or bad definitions about success, God will help us in re-defining success or tailoring the definition of happiness as per our need. So what is that we are supposed to do? Let us not forget about the joy that the life and time has to offer. If we don’t enjoy, we miss a lot. Let us work hard and keep helping others. When we start seeing and acknowledging good things happening with others, we find that we are also part of that. God will not come from some other planet. Let us do whatever we feel that God would have done to us and others. If by helping others, talking good about others and respecting your parents make us feel good, let us continue doing that. Who knows someone at some other place is trying hard by doing the same Godly things at his end for our happiness.

Successful completion of 5 years of professional career

2008-06-02T01:36:00.012-04:00

Today is June 02, 2008. Exactly five years back the same day in Chennai, we started our professional career.

Time has passed so fast. In these five years, many challenges came to us and we have come as winner. 5 years and 2 organizations. So, if you ask, I don't have wider organization experiences but surely, inside the organization, I explore to its maximum extent.

We had little freedom to choose the technology and domain when we started our career and now people look at it as so many years of experience in such and such technology. So, enjoy - enjoy it hard :-)

There are lots of fond memories and I am happy that I have enjoyed every bit of it.

What Friends say...

Sunil - my friend who also started his career along with me has this to say -

Hey Congratulations to you all ....... Do remember the fist day @ Mascot Systems :-), the forms we signed .. the conf room etc etc...and free Coffee

Hope you all have many more successful years in all your professions.

thanks Neeraj for remembering :)

Karan - Thanks and I wish you all the same.....:).....

Five years is a very very long time ...Sunil, even I do remember that first day...seems like as if it was just couple of days back.....

yaar Rajeev kaha hee .....beta Rajeev aapki taraf see bhi 1-2 shabd iss mauke par hone chaiye....

Rajeev - Look it was not that I forgot this memorable day …………and im really actually I did a bit of celebration here abt the mail from me cming in late was due to the bank holiday here……it was long weekend for me and I didn’t have access to my mails yesterday………

Wish you all again a very successful and happy future ….the first day at Mascot is smthing which will never get of our head …..:)

Hey didn’t we missed Mrs. Kalpana M ?????

Binita - Hey All,

U all are the most amazing guys I have ever met in my life!!!! I thot remembering dates was a girls job :)

Frankly I totally forgot…it was at the back of my mind that there is something special abt 2nd June but…

But thanx to ur mails I was reminded of this important day of my life… We all have moved on wid time to different companies, but this special day keeps us together no matter how far we are…and it is always a pleasure to remember such days…

Thought Process
I read some of the previous posts in my blog and few good things that were told by my previous supervisor. "Control your emotions" was one of the three things. I had thought that it would be an easy thing to manage but surely not that easy.

At a time when I am starting a new year - it's good to take a pledge to improve on some of those very important things in anyones professional career.

Let us improve and work towards our success.

Related posts

1) Last Day in my first company

2) Completing 3 years in my organization

3) Three years completion

IPL - My Experience

2008-06-02T01:26:00.002-04:00

I had thought that I would not be watching IPL matches 45 days back at the time of its inauguration. I surely had some thoughts and I had expressed my views about it in some of my previous posts (Read Here). I am not changing my stands but let me honestly tell how actually this twenty20 cricket league silently crept in my daily routine.

I was alone at home and once you come from office, it provided one of the great fillers though it didn’t add any value. May be there were no other good programs on tv during that time and watching IPL matches was one of the best things. Slowly, it affected my morning walk routine. I started waking late. .
Let me share some of my take from this tournament. No doubt, it was a high profile tournament full of glamour, money and a stage for the upcoming players. At the time when tournament started, none of the eight teams were my favorite. Game by game, it picked up and some of the tournament favorites lost the battle or you can say that they were never in the battle. There was one team ‘Rajasthan Royals’. They were referred underdogs. But they played some fantastic cricket this season and came as winner in the title clash with Chennai Super Kings on June 1, 2008 (Sunday) at D Y Patil Cricket ground, Navi Mumbai. One of the reasons of feeling attached with the team was their simplicity and a team that gelled so well as a team. Shane Warne led the team from the front and inspired every team member who gave their best in every match they played. They only focused on their cricket. No high profile stars in the team, no one knew till end about their promoters were because they never came in limelight.

IPL was a good example how you can sell anything if you package it well. It was well promoted and supported by media and entertainment industry. It would have never been possible, had ICL had launched a rival league. So, we always get the best until we get challenged. Now onus is on BCCI as they have become a trend setter, to maintain the standard. Some other sports and events should also come up with similar ideas and we should hope of some big time entertainments in near future

Game Theory in real life

2008-06-02T01:25:00.003-04:00

In every game there is process and every process will have planning and execution of the plan as the two most important aspects. Sometimes planning will be correct but execution is not perfect. While in other cases planning is itself wrong but whatever we have planned, we have executed it perfectly.

If you take any game – they have got a process and thus – planning and execution. The percentage of planning and execution varies from game to game. There are some extreme cases, for e.g in a running game; everything is all about the execution. In a chess game, everything is all about planning.

This is applicable in our day to day life as well. And if we try to bring the above discussed analogy in our life, we will find that there is a nice match. If we are not getting the desired or rather expected results out of your life or work, it is obvious that there is problem. Everybody will tell that. But, the most important thing is to find the problem more specifically and address that. The best way is to isolate the problem first and then address that. You may ask why – Answer is simple – you get the result.

I will take an example from my dance and Taekwondo classes where I struggled a lot initially. People pointed out that my steps are not matching. What I did, I isolated the problem. I divided the training instructions into different steps and then further divided each steps into different parts and found that few of the parts I was doing very well and some was not as per the mark and that as a whole was spoiling the whole output. I worked on my weak points and soon I improved and was at par with others.

This example doesn’t cover much about planning and execution but surely comes from a real life experience. It may look quite obvious to most of you but this is the simplest mistake we all do – by not dividing the problem into different smaller steps.

- As told to me by Balaji Nalamothu (nalambalaji AT yahoo DOTcom)

Sarveshwari Times

2008-06-02T01:25:00.002-04:00

I have subscribed for Sarveshwari Times (www.aghoryaan.org ). The most interesting part of this fortnight magazine which is meant for spiritual talks, conveys a different message each time I receive its edition here in Bangalore. Its being a Bangalore postal address, it was important that they write the address in English so that the postman can read the address properly and deliver it here.

Each time, my name and postal address written on the top of it is in different handwriting and it gives a wonderful feeling when I see it. It will be written by someone with a Basic English writing skills. The writer somehow manages to write those two lines each time they send it to my address. I remember the day one year back when I visited the ashram in Padav, Varanasi, and the manager had told me that it was difficult to get someone who could write in English. And each time I get the newsletter, I remember those lines and the effort that goes in writing those lines. We get a sense of personal attachment that conveys much more than the sayings in the newsletter.

I am thankful to them as I have rarely missed it in last one year. Small town – small ashram – honesty – prevails. This may look very trivial but has got lots of importance when we think how much we value our commitments.

Niranjan's birthday celebration in office

2008-05-30T07:30:00.002-04:00

Time to celebrate Niranjan's Birthday in office. Attended by 40+ team members. Memorable moment - Abani - Niranjan cake exchange ceremony - Place - Phase 3, 6th floor, MindTree, Bangalore

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted

2008-05-29T04:45:00.000-04:00

When I Asked God for Strength
He Gave Me Difficult Situations to Face

When I Asked God for Brain & Brown
He Gave Me Puzzles in Life to Solve

When I Asked God for Happiness
He Showed Me Some Unhappy People

When I Asked God for Wealth
He Showed Me How to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Favors
He Showed Me Opportunities to Work Hard

When I Asked God for Peace
He Showed Me How to Help Others

God Gave Me Nothing I Wanted
He Gave Me Everything I Needed

3 years completion - team lunch with colleagues @ Airawat restaurant

2008-05-23T07:58:00.004-04:00

May 23, 2008 - completed three years in my organization. Here is the team photo having team lunch with colleagues at Airavat Restaurant, Mysore Road, Bangalore.

shailu ki kalam se

2008-05-23T05:30:00.002-04:00

देता रहूँ निगाह रौशनी बुझने के बाद भी
बज्म -ऐ -फिक्र -फन का वो तनहा चिराग हूँ मैं .."""
मुलैयेजा फर्म्यें भाई लोग ...ये दिल की आवाज है !!

मेरी चुनरी में परिगयो दाग पिया
पांच तट कि बनी चुनरिया
सोरह सो बैद लाग किया
यह चुनरी मेरे मैके ते आयी
ससुरे में मनवा खोये दिया
मळ मळ धोये दाग न छूटे
ज्ञान का साबुन लाये पिया
कहत कबीर दाग टैब छूती है
जब साहिब अपनाए लिया

SECTOR- 25 NOIDA में आरुशी मार दी जाती है

2008-05-23T01:49:00.004-04:00

SECTOR- 25 NOIDA में आरुशी मार दी जाती है , १ घंटे बाद पुलिस वहाँ पे आती है , नौकर को फरार पाती है , इल्जाम नौकर पे आता है , पुलिस टीम नेपाल जाने में लग जाती है , फिर एक RETIRED DSP वहाँ आता है , नौकर को छत पे मरा पाता है , पुलिस की आँख फटी की फटी रह जाती है , REPORT ऊपर तक जाती है , S.P का ट्रान्सफर किया जाता है , ये आरुशी की नही कानून की मौत है ,हमें S.P. के साथ कानून भी बदलना होगा , तभी अपना भारत CRIME FREE होगा .

- Manish

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कानून की मौत
ये मुद्दा जो आज बब्बू (manish) ने उठाया ये पुराना नही ...पर ये ज़रूरी है की हम क्या कर रहे है और क्या कर सकते है इसके लिए इतने सारे news channel पे सुबह शाम आरुशी के खबर ...पर कुछ नही हुआ ..

let us try n add some value to social rules at least if we cant help to our wrecked judiciary system.. hope am not just talking too much...but am really frustrated to c this poor status of ourn society. let s stop at least frm our side..not to ever abuse or tease ny women or even stare at them.....n avoid ppl who do tht..

respect women
howz tht!!

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मैं भी कई दिनों से इस न्यूज़ को देख रहा हूँ. पर मैं जिस चीज़ की बात कर रहा हूँ, वो कुछ अलग है. मैं सोच रहा हूँ, कि कितने बेहतरीन तरीके से आज तक ने इसका coverage किया कि उसका कुछ ज़बाब ही नहीं है.

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manish ka reply

लेकिन बाबा इस बात से मैं खफा हूँ कि मीडिया किसी भी हद तक घुस के सारी मान मर्यादाएँ ताक पे रख के अपनी TRP RATING बढ़ाने का घटिया षडयंत्र कर रहा है और संवेदनहीनता की स्थिति इस हद तक पहुँच गई है की छोटी बच्ची को भी उन्होंने नही छोरा है ….आख़िर उनको कहीं पे तो अपनी LIMIT ख़ुद ही DEFINe करनी चाहिए …किसी की PERSONAL LIFE सारी दुनिया सामने खोल के रख देना , ख़ास कर के जब उसकी आवश्यकता ना हो …या फ़िर संबंधित अधिकारियों की ये जिम्मेवारी बनती है की उनमे नकेल कसें …

पेंशन मिली और मर गए

2008-05-21T02:49:00.001-04:00

जिंदगी में शौक क्या कारे- नुमाया कर गए; बी.ए. किया, नौकर हुए, पेंशन मिली और मर गए.

ठीक ही किया

2008-05-21T02:40:00.004-04:00

ईसा तुमने ठीक ही किया मृत्यु के लिए सलीब़ को चुन लिया

आज तुम होते!
किसी उग्रवादी की गोली से या, पुलिस की खौफ़नाक ठिठोली से
कैंसर से भी अधिक असाध्य महंगाई से
या किसी महंगी मिलावटी दवाई से
किसी आकस्मिक रेल दुर्घटना में
या फिर किसी जुलूस की अगुआई करते हुए कानपुर या पटना में मृत्यु से तुम्हारा साक्षात्कार होता
इस सदी में ऐसे ही तुम्हारा उद्धार होता

और,
तुम्हारी मृत्यु की खबर दुनिया में नहीं देश में नहीं यहाँ तक कि मुहल्ले में भी कोई नहीं जान पाता
फिर तुम्हे कोई कैसे पहचान पाता?

ईसा!
तुम प्रारब्ध के बहुत खरे थे सिर्फ़ एक बार मरे थे
वर्ना, मेरे मुहल्ले का हर आदमी हर रोज़ सुबह अपने मरने की खबर खुद अखबार में पढ़ता है
देश कोई हो, मजहब कोई हो, नाम कोई हो, मरना तो उसे ही पड़ता है
वो भी इस तरह… उसे महसूस तक नहीं होता कि वो मर गया है
अभी थोड़ी ही देर पहले अपनी ही लाश के ऊपर से गुजर गया है

वो लाश… जिसे जीवित रखने के लिए कितना चीखा-चिल्लाया था
कभी आतंकवादियों के सामने कभी तानाशाहों के पैरों पर रोया गिड़गिड़ाया था
वो उस लाश को बचा नहीं सका एक इंसान बनकर इंसानियत का गीत गा न सका

प्रस्तुति- सिद्धार्थ (http://satyarthmitra.blogspot.com/)

वो वक्त कब आएगा ज़ब लोग एक दूसरे में मस्त होंगे

2008-05-21T01:19:00.001-04:00

एक चीज़ जो की ज़बरदस्त है , वो ये है की , सब लोग अपने में मस्त हैं .. वो वक्त कब आएगा ज़ब लोग एक दूसरे में मस्त होंगे .
------------------------------------------------
हाँ बाबा बोले " वो दिन कब आएगा जब लोग एक दुसरे मे मस्त होंगे ..."
ये एक सवाल है आज के ख़ुद पे केंद्रित इस समाज पे ..इसमे इन्सान दुखी क्यूंकि वो दुखी ...सुखी क्यूंकि वो सुखी ..

एक अजीब सी स्थिति है बाबा ने गंभीर बातो को एक line मे पिरोकर अपनी दार्शनिक क्षमता का बेहतरीन उदारहण दिया है ..

If you want to change the world start from yourselves.

2008-05-21T01:07:00.001-04:00

If you get angry soon, it's time to control. The more we get angry the more chances are that we will lose something important in our life.

What it takes to have full control over your emotions is an art and doesn't come easy. Initial set backs should not break your spirit. Keep trying and keep trying. When things doesn't go your way - wise people advise to just hang on - don't do anything extra - just keep the things simple for the time being. Take the most easy thing and finish it one by one.

We become angry when we see that other fellow is not treating you as expected and you are worth more than what you are being valued. It happens in our social and professional life equally and it surely requires our dedicated attention to handle it nicely.

There are different people who are from different background and from different culture. They have been brought up differently and as per their trait they will act differently given a situation. What we expect in our society that people are more sensitive to our feelings. They honour our experiences. When we don't see that happening and find ourselves sourounded by a bunch of selfish people, we are hurt and may get angry. Let us work on this and try to change it. I remember one good saying that we cannot change others but ourselves. If you want to change the world start from yourselves.

Completing three years in my organization

2008-05-20T04:51:00.001-04:00

It's May - and after few days, it will be May 23, 2008 - and it's the time to celebrate - I will be reaching to the milestone of my career. Three years in my organization.

Everyone takes a decision in their life and then the time comes and he looks back at that moments when he had made that decision. It may or may not be 100% as per our expectation but the key is to stand by your decision and try your best to come as a winner.

The last three years have been very happy moments in my life. The time passed away so fast - really past. I made so many friends - interacted with so many new faces. There has always been obstacles then there were winning moments.

Be happy and smiling is the guiding force - Never say die attitude is the winning force. No surprises that I am in the most challenging and deciding phase of my career. Lots of opportunities and very less time to work.

THis is also the time when people gets worried about the most permanent thought in their life - yes - The marriage - Its not that far. With friends getting married at a fast pace in the last three years, leaves very less scope of freedom. Not worried about it - Let it happen - Things will be normal.

Looking forward for a happier and inspired life in coming days.

Good story with old version…

2008-05-17T06:20:00.001-04:00

There was once a washer man who had a donkey and a dog. One night when the whole world was sleeping, a thief broke into the house, the washer man was fast asleep but the donkey and the dog were awake. The dog decided not to bark since the master did not take good care of him and wanted to teach him a lesson. The donkey got worried and said to the dog that if he doesn’t bark, the donkey will have to do something himself. The dog did not change his mind and the donkey started braying loudly. Hearing the donkey bray, the thief ran away, the master woke up and started beating the donkey for braying in the middle of the night for no reason.

Moral of the story “ One must not engage in duties other than his own”

Now take a new look at the same story…

The washer man was a well educated man from a premier management institute. He had the fundas of looking at the bigger picture and thinking out of the box. He was convinced that there must be some reason for the donkey to bray in the night. He walked outside a little and did some fact finding, applied a bottom up approach, figured out from the ground realities that there was a thief who broke in and the donkey only wanted to alert him about it. Looking at the donkey’s extra initiative and going beyond the call of the duty, he rewarded him with lot of hay and other perks and became his favorite pet. The dog’s life didn’t change much, except that now the donkey was more motivated in doing the dogs duties as well. In the annual appraisal the dog managed a “ meets requirement” Soon the dog realized that the donkey is taking care of his duties and he can enjoy his life sleeping and lazing around. The donkey was rated as “star performer”. The donkey had to live up to his already high performance standards. Soon he was over burdened with work and always under pressure and now is looking for a job rotation…

As shared by Anupam via email

"Param Vichaar"

2008-05-17T04:11:00.009-04:00

Image by blipars via Flickr

**New Dec 4, 2008

हम तो अधीर हो गए हैं …. इन लोगो से गलती होती है तो कहते हैं कि.. “it was funny” … और जब हम लोगो से गलती हो तो “why did not you find it in previous build””... वैसे इस बार…. बंगलोर से लोगो ने गजब का काम किया है.

***

हम तो पागल हो गए हैं यहाँ ... क्या बकवास लोग हैं .... सब अपने आप को बचाने के पीछे लगे रहते हैं ...

दुनिया में काम कुछ नही बस people handling ही सुब कुछ है

अभी data create ही हुआ था बड़ी मुश्किल से ... तो मेनेजरआइन ने environment ही change करवा दिया ... लो मज़ा अब .... दूसरे team वाले फ़िर गुस्सायेंगे ...
Image via Wikipedia

आज तो ऑफिस से आके ही सो गए थे .. अभी 25 मिनट पहले उठे ... ODC वाले call करेंगे पता नही क्यों .... उसी का wait कर रहे हैं ...

bug ना ही आए तो ठीक है ... otherwise bug क्यों आया उसको explain करना भी मुसीबत ...

ABC system में कुछ change हुआ है ... और ये AS400 system बहुत बड़ा भूत दिखता है ...

अब वो चाहते हैं कि अभी से ही हम उस project की भी KT शुरू कर दें .... अगर ऐसा हुआ टू 7.2.2 का में काम कब करेंगे ...

आज बड़े दिन बाद अच्छी सब्जी बनी .. आज time से घर आ गए थे ...फ़िर टहलने भी गए थे .. फ़िर आके सब्जी बना दिए ...आलू गोभी टमाटर की ...

आज यहाँ Car भी चलाये हम ... एक बड़ी खतरनाक car चलाये ... बहुत आसान है car but अभी hotel में ही थोडी जगह है वही चलाते हैं कभी कभी ... जब कोई मेरे साथ होता है car चलने वाला ...

यहाँ कई लोग है होटल में टू कोई problem नहीं होती ... सब अच्छे हैं .. helping हैं ...कुछ चीज़ यहाँ बहुत सस्ती है तो कुछ महंगी ...

और ऋतू क्या करती हैं दिन भर .... अब Internet घर पर लग गया तब भी time नहीं मिलता ....तुम्हारे लिए blackberry लेते आयें क्या .....

कल से कुछ काम है जो हमे पता भी नही की कैसे करते हैं .... यहाँ लोग अजीब हैं ... काम दे देंगे और मुहं देखेंगे ... ये कोई नही पूछता कि आत्ता है कि नहीं काम इसको ... :) अब हम भी नहीं बोलते कि नहीं करेंगे ... करेंगे जरूर

managerine भी मस्त है .. अचानक आ जायेगी और पूछेगी कुछ भी जैसे कि हम उसके PA हैं ... और कभी mail करेगी कि ये काम करके बताओ ..जैसे कि हम बरसों से उसे करते आए हैं ... :) ...

बस यही चलता है यहाँ ... कुछ कर देंगे ये लोग कि आदमी बस पागल कि तरह काम कैसे करना है यही सोचता रहे ..... आज तक जो लिए वो करने को कोई बोलता ही नही ..:)

चलो अभी बहुत हो गया .. बाकी बाद में ..अगले मेल में कुछ अच्छी बातें भी लिखेंगे ...

इस बार Friday और Saturday को घूमने गए थे बाहर .... करीब 10 लोग थे ...बाकी सब ठीक है . .. काफ़ी थकान हो जाती है ... लोग घुमाने के लिए पागल हैं यहाँ ...

कुछ दिन बाद ये जगह भी हमें Bangalore जैसे ही लगने लगी है ... कोई अन्तर नही है ... यहाँ मेरे साथ जो लोग हैं वो कुछ ज्यादे ही American हैं ... उनको यह के culture के बारे में

कुछ ज्यादे ही पता है ... इधर बीच हम कोशिश कर रहे हैं कि हम सो लिया करें नींद भर ...नहीं तो यहाँ सोने का time ही नही मिलता ... ..

बवाल हो गया .... इसी को कहते हैं luck .....आखों के सामने कुछ अच्छा होता हुए देखना .... :)

यहाँ से delhi का direct करवाएंगे तो भी ये लोग उतना पैसा काट ही लेंगे …. शायद ….. हम पूछ के बता सकते हैं ….otherwise Bangalore आके भी ठीक रहेगा ….

लगता है Monday (July 21, 2008) की सुबह 9:30 AM पे Bangalore आ जायेंगे … फ़िर वहां से RR Nagaraye. फ़िर 4 दिन office करने के बाद छुट्टी लें … देखते हैं .. कब छुट्टी ली जाए .. अभी तो कोई idea नही

आज सुबह 8 बजे यहाँ एक बहुत बड़ा जलसा था .... जहा सारे business party, सारा company को बुलावा रहता हेई .... और इस meeting को मरी

टीम (यानी QA) को host करना था .. और हम लोगो को अपने आप को introduce भी करना था ..और अपने बारे में कुछ बताना था .. मेरा introduction सभी को अच्छा लगा ... लोग तारीफ किए भी ....और अच्छा कहे .... मेरी तो तबियत ख़राब थी .. और हमे पता भी नही था .. सब अचानक हुआ ...पर सब ठीक हो गया ... मेरी तबियत ख़राब है इधर बीच ... दवा लिये हैं . . देखते हैं क्या होता है ... जब तक है जान ...जाने जहा ... मैं नाचूंगी ... :) यही वाली हालत हुई हेई ... बुखार है और गला ख़राब ...बाकी सब ठीक है :) अब हम project की बकवास लेके फ़िर रोना नही चाहते ... जो है ठीक ही है .. हमे कौन सा system ठीक करना है .. बस बन्दूक होती हो दो चार को उड़ा देते .. सुब अपने आप ठीक हो जाता ..

The Unsafe Waters of Muthathi

2008-05-13T08:39:00.001-04:00

Taken from the presentation created by Technologists for Social Action (TSA @ MindTree) in public interest.

Attractions

Muthathi is only 100 kilometers away from Bangalore

It is also one of the nearest water spots to Bangalore, attracting college and IT professionals in large numbers on weekends

Breath-taking places in and around Muthathi beckon picnickers unaware of the dangers

Hard facts

The river looks harmless, but there are 40-50 feet deep dangerous spots of whirlpools across the stretch, which are known only to the local fishermen

These spots are located a few meters away from the shores

Reports the largest number of deaths in a year in any tourist spot across Karnataka

Good swimmers have been unable to rescue friends and some have also paid with their lives in the process

No visible sign boards exist alerting you of danger

Alcohol Bottles strewn all over the place – many drown after drinking

The nearest tourist spot is Bheemeshwari Fishing Camp which is, safety conscious and open to the public, but at a cost

Muthathi, on the other hand is open free to the public and also to its dangers

Counting the death toll!

2006 34 people

2007 38 people

2008 16 people – who knows what rest of the year would see!

80% of the dead are young IT professionals

TOI, dated 26th April, 2008 carried reports of 3 more deaths of BBM college students in Muthathi

Long Weekends invariably bring adventure seekers and death by drowning in Muthathi

Precautions

Please exercise caution and restrain while venturing into water
Respect signboards
Do not drink – it will increase the risk of drowning
Listen to counsel
Even swimmers drown in Muthathi

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

2008-05-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

Ever heard the story of the giant ship engine that failed? The ship's owners tried one expert after another, but none of them could figure but how to fix the engine. Then they brought in an old man who had been fixing ships since he was a youngster. He carried a large bag of tools with him, and when he arrived, he immediately went to work. He inspected the engine very carefully, top to bottom.

Two of the ship's owners were there, watching this man, hoping he would know what to do. After looking things over, the old man reached into his bag and pulled out a small hammer. He gently tapped something. Instantly, the engine lurched into life. He carefully put his hammer away. The engine was fixed! A week later, the owners received a bill from the old man for ten thousand dollars.

"What?!" the owners exclaimed. "He hardly did anything!"

So they wrote the old man a note saying, "Please send us an itemized bill."

The man sent a bill that read:

Tapping with a hammer ........................ $ 2.00
Knowing where to tap ............................ $ 9998.00

Effort is important, but knowing where to make an effort in your life makes all the difference.

Shared By Aravind C

Wonderful respponse of my wishes

2008-05-13T08:33:00.001-04:00

I said -

Many More Happy Returns of the day dear :-)

Here is the response I got - special :-)

Thanks! I am very much blessed to receive your wishes. God lives in the heart of people who wishes for the others wellness. I admire with you for showering me Divine power on your wishes.

Be Blessed by the Divine Bliss

Have a pleasant day!

Neeraj in Action @ Panache

2008-03-31T10:24:00.000-04:00

This is Neeraj in action @ 'Panache' - MindTree cricket tournament. Giving support to our tired start of the day - Thiru