Every person has a melting point, where they overcome the sea of temptation and go for the splash. That was just my moment today. Should I, shouldnt I - was the big question in my mind.
iPhone caught my eye a year before, when I was thinking of buying an iPod. I told myself, I will wait and buy the iPhone, even if it takes time. Cometh the time, cometh the opportunity!
It came in the guise of one of my mates Bon Footweak (name changed) who incidentally didnt really like the iPhone he managed to smuggle from US. We met up in one of those dark alleys near the river, the ones your mom always warned you of. Showing off the new piece, the rugged and wide-eyed dark man shrugged with a hoarse voice - 'You wanna check this out. I like it, but you know, in my line of work, there's place for just one gun. This aint fitting in'.
After a lot of intro and externospection... I went for the fair price that he offered me. Surely this line is just to make him feel good about the sale ;). There it was, all mine. A couple of tricks were needed to get it working and I quickly realised that yours sincerely wasnt exactly 'Nimble fingered Dinkle'. Embarassment followed when Footweak showed me how to get the 'job' done. He was just too good at it. Hail the Wigan Cowboy!
Came home to realise that my MacBook Pro had already scented 'the second apple' in the home. With a grin, I broke the news of the arrival. MP wanted to see what it was all about. Surely one could sense the competitition in the room. 2 apples and poor human me! Soon, the introductions were made. MP didnt really seem happy to see most of the dashboard functionalities in 'iP'.
It struck me like 'a short circuit on fire' - machines are just like humans!!! Explaining my point of view for this expansion in my personal space, I promised them that I will bring out distinct roles and responsibilities so that both could know what were their new 'areas of influence'. A meeting is lined up early next month, once I got well acquainted with iPhone's capabilities.
What can only be my first and last Leap day in London comes tomorrow.. and I made the iLeap in eager anticipation of the moment. If I could keep this iPhone until the next leap day arrives, I would have done some iJustice to it.
My 'phone' is brilliant
My 'player' is pure
I saw a 'combo', of that I am sure
She smiled at me on the subway, she was with another man
But I won't lose no sleep on that, 'cause I have another plan..
U'r beautiful, U'r beautiful, U'r beautiful - its true...!!
I saw your face in a crowded 'webpage',
And I didn't know what to do,
'Cause I thought I'll never be with you.
Yes, she caught my eye
As I browsed on by
She could see from my face that I was, happy and high
And I don't think that I'll 'lose' her again
Should we share a moment, it wont be in vain..
U'r my iPhone, U'r my iPhone, U'r my iPhone - iThankU!!!
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Take 2!
American Gangster
A movie of some intense scenes. Lots of words spoken and less number of bullets shot. Now thats a change for a start. A true story, it speaks of the mind of two distinct characters - assumingly a true story of the 1970s.
Denzel steals the scene with his new style of intense business sense. 'My Man' is a dialogue which will remain with the audience much after they have left the cinema hall. Very rare to see him in a negative role, he infuses that rare bit of insight into the mind of a 'driver' who rises to run the drug business in America.
Russell on the other hand, is that 'Kamalhassan' kind of cop, the man who lives and breathes honesty in his work while not being a good family man. Guess this was the time before AIDS came to the world. The scenes where he is asked if he reported the 1 million dollars he found during a raid - are really hilarious. The final scenes where he is seen negotiating with Denzel with style and precision dialogues, tops the act.
In all, a very engrossing movie with a lot of powerful scenes, not for the weak hearted. And yeah, it is deservedly a 'must watch'.
3:10 to Yuma
Another movie. Russell Crowe steals the show as the cool, arrogant WANTED cow-boy bandit. At first go, the movie was damn boring, so I switched it and was watching something else. But then, better sense prevailed later in the flight and I managed to watch a substantial part of the movie.
Lots of bullets, lots of style and some real heart stopping action. Thats how the summary should be. Honestly, since the flight landed before the movie got over, I havent seen the full movie. So the summary here, should also be equally incomplete.
The Last King of Scotland
Man, this is a movie which has a lot of 'brutal scenes in it'. I wouldnt recommend it to my wife. That much is sure. A lot of powerful acting by Whitaker. I remember seeing him in some smaller roles and this time he has iced the caked and eaten it too! A leader, of whom no one has an idea what he would do next. Some of his dialogues are not audibly clear. Thats probably the only post-production glitch.
Real drama unfolds between the dictator and the doctor. A lot of super scenes dot the movie from the start to the end including the assassination attempts and the final scene where the doctor escapes from Uganda. Watch the movie for Whitakar. He deserves the Oscar he received for this role.
A movie of some intense scenes. Lots of words spoken and less number of bullets shot. Now thats a change for a start. A true story, it speaks of the mind of two distinct characters - assumingly a true story of the 1970s.
Denzel steals the scene with his new style of intense business sense. 'My Man' is a dialogue which will remain with the audience much after they have left the cinema hall. Very rare to see him in a negative role, he infuses that rare bit of insight into the mind of a 'driver' who rises to run the drug business in America.
Russell on the other hand, is that 'Kamalhassan' kind of cop, the man who lives and breathes honesty in his work while not being a good family man. Guess this was the time before AIDS came to the world. The scenes where he is asked if he reported the 1 million dollars he found during a raid - are really hilarious. The final scenes where he is seen negotiating with Denzel with style and precision dialogues, tops the act.
In all, a very engrossing movie with a lot of powerful scenes, not for the weak hearted. And yeah, it is deservedly a 'must watch'.
3:10 to Yuma
Another movie. Russell Crowe steals the show as the cool, arrogant WANTED cow-boy bandit. At first go, the movie was damn boring, so I switched it and was watching something else. But then, better sense prevailed later in the flight and I managed to watch a substantial part of the movie.
Lots of bullets, lots of style and some real heart stopping action. Thats how the summary should be. Honestly, since the flight landed before the movie got over, I havent seen the full movie. So the summary here, should also be equally incomplete.
The Last King of Scotland
Man, this is a movie which has a lot of 'brutal scenes in it'. I wouldnt recommend it to my wife. That much is sure. A lot of powerful acting by Whitaker. I remember seeing him in some smaller roles and this time he has iced the caked and eaten it too! A leader, of whom no one has an idea what he would do next. Some of his dialogues are not audibly clear. Thats probably the only post-production glitch.
Real drama unfolds between the dictator and the doctor. A lot of super scenes dot the movie from the start to the end including the assassination attempts and the final scene where the doctor escapes from Uganda. Watch the movie for Whitakar. He deserves the Oscar he received for this role.
Monday, February 18, 2008
Playing God!
Not a day goes by when we dont think/thank/curse or blame God. If anything by that description exists, is a totally different perspective. The fact is that we do include and embrace this concept as if it were an extension of our day-to-day life. Life, in its truest manifest is really a miracle, no one denies - but to 'offshore' its success to a '3rd Party' source called 'God' isnt 100% fair. It wasnt fair during the days of the Harappa culture, nor it is in our current 'nuclear' landscape.
Nothing of this thought was in my mind when we went out to have fun at the pottery class in Merton Abbey. The one hour journey it was, it revealed a lot more than just pots and pans. It all starts with a piece of 'clay' - something which we can easily ignore if found in a dirty road corner. How often have we seen this in odd places, never to even consider it worth thinking about!!!
When this totally irrelevant and insignificant thing was placed in the centre of a wheel - even then nothing major was different about it. Start the motor and then - lo' behold - you are creating 'something' out of 'perceived nothing'. The first few moments would be dealt in creating a solid base and then you go about expanding your dreams and thats creativity at its finesse.
Nothing of this thought was in my mind when we went out to have fun at the pottery class in Merton Abbey. The one hour journey it was, it revealed a lot more than just pots and pans. It all starts with a piece of 'clay' - something which we can easily ignore if found in a dirty road corner. How often have we seen this in odd places, never to even consider it worth thinking about!!!
When this totally irrelevant and insignificant thing was placed in the centre of a wheel - even then nothing major was different about it. Start the motor and then - lo' behold - you are creating 'something' out of 'perceived nothing'. The first few moments would be dealt in creating a solid base and then you go about expanding your dreams and thats creativity at its finesse.
Its only a matter of time when the right composition of 'water','clay' 'circular motion' and most importantly - 'your intent' helps create a totally valuable thing. Its as good as bringing something to life. Initiating life, is how I would term it. Once this blueprint is done, its time to take it off and then let it dry and settle. The shine would be applied over this piece in a matter of a few days. Thats when it takes one of its many positions in someone's world as 'my nanny's favorite tea set' or 'my doggy's food plate', as the case maybe. Thats light years from where it all started!
My wife created a very good bowl, but when she was trying to take it off the wheel, probably a minor dent was made to the outer surface. She was very specific about it as she knew it had happened. To me, it was invisible as the ether that surrounds us. I never saw it. To clarify, even if I did manage to see it, I wouldnt have thought of it from an 'imperfection' perspective.
'Zoom out a bit' and look at each human as starting off as that piece of clay. The right amount of 'ingredients' are put to create his core constituent - soul - and the next steps are to expand laterally into other spheres of 'individual personality'. No two humans are the same, neither are two bowls. All of us have some imperfections, caused intentionally or unintentionally. Sometimes these 'not good enough' qualities in us might not be looked at, in the same way, by others.
Irrespective of what we have in us as 'pre-paid', we can always 'top-up' our lives, by finding ourselves different situations, in which we best-apply the 'messages' of 'our mobile life' - making the experience worth it to others. Even the material world we live in, tells us this simple thing all the time. The Karmic life was always preaching this even before the wheel started spinning.
The wheel of God!
Every aspect of why we are, has a reason and cant be changed. But nothing of what we can be, has a cut-off limit. The eagle never touched the sky and never will! The waves never got tired of 'reaching out' to the shore. Simple things in nature reveal the power within. Understand this and move on to make your dream and all the while, reach out to as many people as possible and touch their lives for the better. In simpler words, start 'playing God'.
If you play it seriously enough, this is probably the one game which wont just end...not today...not tomorrow!!!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Win Win.
Waving a hand, beaming a smile, winking an eye.. body language is indeed a very natural extension of what we intend to mean and the tone of it. Being among the adult populace, this might not come out as brightly as a 100 watt lampie.
Throw in a child (preferably around 2 years old) and try talking to him/her and thats when it hits you like a live lightning strike coupled with 'power-ridden' magnetic waves. 'Yes' can be the heavy shaking of the head up and down four times in the blink of an eye. 'No' being the cousin of 'Yes' in the right left direction. 'Come here' can be the frantic waving of the hand as if there is no tomorrow, and 'sit down' will always end up with a thumping series of pats at mother earth, irrespective of which floor you live in.
'Rejection or fear' will echo in your ears like the never-ending reverberation in a hollow cave. It will take many a minute to subside down. 'Laughter' can thrill you like the pleasant sound of the wave hitting the beach, on a lonely quiet tropical island.
Thats pure communication. Something which one can relish as the essence of the true soul. Pure in what it means and effective in the way it is exercised. Babies are indeed the gateway to God.
Walking down the street, I was looking at a couple of youngsters, in their single-digit ages, running and dancing in joy. Their parents were around, which made them feel secure, but it was their natural expression of a 'hop' and a 'smile' which livened the faces of everyone who were watching them. As I was entering the workplace, the security guard caught my eye. He was visibly grinning looking at the small girls dance and walk. A moment of joy. However brief, such moments make a lifetime. Or atleast, they make part of a good movie.
We have all been children at some point and must have hopefully brought smiles to some people around us. If they have forgotten our mischiefs, that is! Its our turn to look at generation next and re-live those sublime acts of bliss. So next time you see a baby or a child, let your 'time-driven life' come to a halt - spend that extra second enjoying that positive smile and grin. Cant be nothing but win win!!
Throw in a child (preferably around 2 years old) and try talking to him/her and thats when it hits you like a live lightning strike coupled with 'power-ridden' magnetic waves. 'Yes' can be the heavy shaking of the head up and down four times in the blink of an eye. 'No' being the cousin of 'Yes' in the right left direction. 'Come here' can be the frantic waving of the hand as if there is no tomorrow, and 'sit down' will always end up with a thumping series of pats at mother earth, irrespective of which floor you live in.
'Rejection or fear' will echo in your ears like the never-ending reverberation in a hollow cave. It will take many a minute to subside down. 'Laughter' can thrill you like the pleasant sound of the wave hitting the beach, on a lonely quiet tropical island.
Thats pure communication. Something which one can relish as the essence of the true soul. Pure in what it means and effective in the way it is exercised. Babies are indeed the gateway to God.
Walking down the street, I was looking at a couple of youngsters, in their single-digit ages, running and dancing in joy. Their parents were around, which made them feel secure, but it was their natural expression of a 'hop' and a 'smile' which livened the faces of everyone who were watching them. As I was entering the workplace, the security guard caught my eye. He was visibly grinning looking at the small girls dance and walk. A moment of joy. However brief, such moments make a lifetime. Or atleast, they make part of a good movie.
We have all been children at some point and must have hopefully brought smiles to some people around us. If they have forgotten our mischiefs, that is! Its our turn to look at generation next and re-live those sublime acts of bliss. So next time you see a baby or a child, let your 'time-driven life' come to a halt - spend that extra second enjoying that positive smile and grin. Cant be nothing but win win!!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
The Principal's principle.
Sitting in the many exams we wrote during an year in school, there was nothing new about this one. Except we wrote it outside the classrooms and in the corridor. The reason being simple. There was no power that day in school, because of the torrential rain. This is how the North East monsoon dictates its arrival in Pondicherry, the land of Pi.
I remember the school principal standing outside the school, dressed in a white flowing gown, holding a black umbrella, his face stern and eyes dead serious. He wanted to get the exam completed that day. Typically, my school, always has a history of defying all these natural or man-made interventions. Many a college bandhs or strikes as we also know them, didnt really have an impact on our schooling. It was all down to one person's conviction and thinking. If he said 'no' and he would do it many a time, everything around him supported him without a whinge or a frown.
He owned the world around him and there was nothing more fascinating for a student of age 13 than to see one man dictate all that he could within his powers and do it very well. He was a very young man, and could slap a student real hard. He was known to remember faces/names very well and it was always thought to avoid meeting him in any kind of 'grey' or 'dark grey' light.
The streets in Pondicherry tend to get swollen with water, but faster than the current of the water on the road, used to be the message of a school closed or open that day. Having to cycle nearly 5 miles, it wasnt very often that I got to school finding it closed. This wasnt exactly the time of the internet and broadband, nor was this the era of the mobile phone and sms. The black telephone with its cyclic rotars, to dial the numbers. Thats where this time belonged to. The new fancy rectangular phones were slowly appearing in some remote houses.
What stood out, in all that rain, in all that adversity for every student, deep in their heart, was the fear of not being the 'odd one out'. No one wanted to be seen as taking advantage of the 'drops from the sky', lest they have to take it up 1-on-1 with the principal, the very next day morning. So no rain, thunder or storm - and Pi land had its share of these fancy 70 kms/hour speed winds - came in the way of the 'road to school'. It, from the principal's point of view was always free and safe for every student to come, as was ideal.
The corridor was unusually cool winded, and the rain drops were occasionally landing on the guys sitting in the front of the three rows. But the spirit of the school was 'at par' with any exam. The students were laboriously writing sheets after sheets, especially for those 10 mark questions. I think this was a 'Science' exam.
The exam got over, like any other - but to be fair to this one, I can remember it many years later and still manage to live it today. A testimony to the power of determination. Not mine, but that of my school principal. The Principal's principle - thats what this is all about!.
I remember the school principal standing outside the school, dressed in a white flowing gown, holding a black umbrella, his face stern and eyes dead serious. He wanted to get the exam completed that day. Typically, my school, always has a history of defying all these natural or man-made interventions. Many a college bandhs or strikes as we also know them, didnt really have an impact on our schooling. It was all down to one person's conviction and thinking. If he said 'no' and he would do it many a time, everything around him supported him without a whinge or a frown.
He owned the world around him and there was nothing more fascinating for a student of age 13 than to see one man dictate all that he could within his powers and do it very well. He was a very young man, and could slap a student real hard. He was known to remember faces/names very well and it was always thought to avoid meeting him in any kind of 'grey' or 'dark grey' light.
The streets in Pondicherry tend to get swollen with water, but faster than the current of the water on the road, used to be the message of a school closed or open that day. Having to cycle nearly 5 miles, it wasnt very often that I got to school finding it closed. This wasnt exactly the time of the internet and broadband, nor was this the era of the mobile phone and sms. The black telephone with its cyclic rotars, to dial the numbers. Thats where this time belonged to. The new fancy rectangular phones were slowly appearing in some remote houses.
What stood out, in all that rain, in all that adversity for every student, deep in their heart, was the fear of not being the 'odd one out'. No one wanted to be seen as taking advantage of the 'drops from the sky', lest they have to take it up 1-on-1 with the principal, the very next day morning. So no rain, thunder or storm - and Pi land had its share of these fancy 70 kms/hour speed winds - came in the way of the 'road to school'. It, from the principal's point of view was always free and safe for every student to come, as was ideal.
The corridor was unusually cool winded, and the rain drops were occasionally landing on the guys sitting in the front of the three rows. But the spirit of the school was 'at par' with any exam. The students were laboriously writing sheets after sheets, especially for those 10 mark questions. I think this was a 'Science' exam.
The exam got over, like any other - but to be fair to this one, I can remember it many years later and still manage to live it today. A testimony to the power of determination. Not mine, but that of my school principal. The Principal's principle - thats what this is all about!.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
The Sun Gods!!
AR Rahman is one of the most renowned musicians globally today. But when he started off, he was simply put appealingly 'new and refreshing'. That was when he started off with Roja and Thiruda Thiruda. The instant success of these two albums was so huge that the audience of all ages turned a head to 'who this new guy was'.
Till then, I distinctly remember, there used to be an informal sentiment that a movie with Ilayaraja as the music director was considered a good movie, and something worth watching. There have been innumerable instances when we used to go as a family and choose based on this kind of a factor.
Roja released in 1992 in Pondicherry in Raja theatre. It wasnt one of the theatres renowned for screening the big movies. I remember watching the posters every day, to and from school. I had to pass that way. The distinct photography was all too evident and I was desperately trying to find out who was the music director, as always.
That I didnt watch the movie, until after a few years - is a testimony to this fact. I was into songs, but not into Background scores. Thiruda Thiruda changed all that. I must have watched that movie like 100 times till date, just to enjoy the BGM. One of the times, me and Premjit, ran like desperate fans, to the ticket counter, once the gate was opened. Good moments those!
ARR is now a part of my life. A person who sits with me always, through every single emotion of mine. So much so, I like to play songs, when I study, when I work (not of late) and when I sleep. I heard much later, that one of my elder cousins, Jays, used to do it too. It runs in the family? Maybe..!!
The greatness about Rahman is that there will be so many music tracks, all interwined that it would be so difficult to recognise and relish all of them in one go. You had to hear it again and again. As schoolmates, we all used to meet up at one of our friends' place and hear the latest album, together. And there used to be that intellectual discussion about beats and pace, rhythm and melody. None of us were educated in music ofcourse. One of my buddies remarked - 'I hope he lives for a long time!!'
Often Rahman would hit it big with that one suttle flute or that timely tabla mix. For a person, who says, he composes music through meditation, I guess its possible for him to go into those minute details for each and every song/BGM.
I dont know if Rahman did the trick or it was just co-incidental. But there are theories that music can help our brain think better and for me, that was where Rahmanism fitted perfectly. Its like that ideal dose of energy and power, which one needs, every now and then. Whenever his influence was not that much around me, I havent done well, or atleast I havent done things decently well.
Ilayaraja wasnt really inspirational in any sense, without disrespect to his class. But Rahman has it all and still has it fresh and lively, even after 16 years or so. Jodha Akbar is the latest on the list of his musical albums, which leave you with a lot of impact and influence. As you can imagine, I am listening to it as I type this line. I wish the broadband was better today though!
The second 'R' I have always got inspired from is none other than Rajnikanth. Needless to say, I am just another Tamil guy, when it comes to idolising him. Its not because he has style or because he has that 'zing' thing about it. I guess Rajni in some ways, has played the 'optimist', 'how to succeed in life in 3 hours' card, very well. Its very difficult to explain to someone who hasn't undertaken this journey as a 'movie-goer', following his films with interest.
For most of the people, who havent, he is just the 'ideal' joker who can defy gravity and do stunts which include - stopping a comet from hitting the earth and so on. The irony is, most of these people, still like the unbelievable stunts of Matrix or Superman. But again, thats not why the masses like him. I guess its the persona of positivity. I remember once, my friend, telling me, he felt so super-charged, after watching 'Annamalai' - to go out and achieve something in life!!
That was the hidden mantra, behind the man and his rise to superdom.
Honestly, in a place like Tamil Nadu, there are not too many others, whom we could look forward to as 'role models'. Thats really the state of the state!!!! Cricket is the closest which comes as a place holder for heroes. Else its only movies and music, and thats where the limits lay.
Accepting this as a limit is one aspect, adapting to it and picking your models from them is another. I like, many of my friends, chose the latter.
Incidentally both of my heRRoes did win the NDTV Indian of the year. Its a sign that south India has moved on beyond 'Madras'. Also a sign, that they still inspire millions like me, in whatever little way possible.
'RA' in ancient Egyptian mythology stands for the sun god, the most important of all gods. In many ways, RA-hman and RA-jni are my sun gods.
Lucky me, I have two suns and both help brighten my day, everyday!!
Till then, I distinctly remember, there used to be an informal sentiment that a movie with Ilayaraja as the music director was considered a good movie, and something worth watching. There have been innumerable instances when we used to go as a family and choose based on this kind of a factor.
Roja released in 1992 in Pondicherry in Raja theatre. It wasnt one of the theatres renowned for screening the big movies. I remember watching the posters every day, to and from school. I had to pass that way. The distinct photography was all too evident and I was desperately trying to find out who was the music director, as always.
That I didnt watch the movie, until after a few years - is a testimony to this fact. I was into songs, but not into Background scores. Thiruda Thiruda changed all that. I must have watched that movie like 100 times till date, just to enjoy the BGM. One of the times, me and Premjit, ran like desperate fans, to the ticket counter, once the gate was opened. Good moments those!
ARR is now a part of my life. A person who sits with me always, through every single emotion of mine. So much so, I like to play songs, when I study, when I work (not of late) and when I sleep. I heard much later, that one of my elder cousins, Jays, used to do it too. It runs in the family? Maybe..!!
The greatness about Rahman is that there will be so many music tracks, all interwined that it would be so difficult to recognise and relish all of them in one go. You had to hear it again and again. As schoolmates, we all used to meet up at one of our friends' place and hear the latest album, together. And there used to be that intellectual discussion about beats and pace, rhythm and melody. None of us were educated in music ofcourse. One of my buddies remarked - 'I hope he lives for a long time!!'
Often Rahman would hit it big with that one suttle flute or that timely tabla mix. For a person, who says, he composes music through meditation, I guess its possible for him to go into those minute details for each and every song/BGM.
I dont know if Rahman did the trick or it was just co-incidental. But there are theories that music can help our brain think better and for me, that was where Rahmanism fitted perfectly. Its like that ideal dose of energy and power, which one needs, every now and then. Whenever his influence was not that much around me, I havent done well, or atleast I havent done things decently well.
Ilayaraja wasnt really inspirational in any sense, without disrespect to his class. But Rahman has it all and still has it fresh and lively, even after 16 years or so. Jodha Akbar is the latest on the list of his musical albums, which leave you with a lot of impact and influence. As you can imagine, I am listening to it as I type this line. I wish the broadband was better today though!
The second 'R' I have always got inspired from is none other than Rajnikanth. Needless to say, I am just another Tamil guy, when it comes to idolising him. Its not because he has style or because he has that 'zing' thing about it. I guess Rajni in some ways, has played the 'optimist', 'how to succeed in life in 3 hours' card, very well. Its very difficult to explain to someone who hasn't undertaken this journey as a 'movie-goer', following his films with interest.
For most of the people, who havent, he is just the 'ideal' joker who can defy gravity and do stunts which include - stopping a comet from hitting the earth and so on. The irony is, most of these people, still like the unbelievable stunts of Matrix or Superman. But again, thats not why the masses like him. I guess its the persona of positivity. I remember once, my friend, telling me, he felt so super-charged, after watching 'Annamalai' - to go out and achieve something in life!!
That was the hidden mantra, behind the man and his rise to superdom.
Honestly, in a place like Tamil Nadu, there are not too many others, whom we could look forward to as 'role models'. Thats really the state of the state!!!! Cricket is the closest which comes as a place holder for heroes. Else its only movies and music, and thats where the limits lay.
Accepting this as a limit is one aspect, adapting to it and picking your models from them is another. I like, many of my friends, chose the latter.
Incidentally both of my heRRoes did win the NDTV Indian of the year. Its a sign that south India has moved on beyond 'Madras'. Also a sign, that they still inspire millions like me, in whatever little way possible.
'RA' in ancient Egyptian mythology stands for the sun god, the most important of all gods. In many ways, RA-hman and RA-jni are my sun gods.
Lucky me, I have two suns and both help brighten my day, everyday!!
Saturday, February 02, 2008
The 'F' word
Another week goes by. Another weekend has arrived. It has brought the winds of change with it.
Its going to be a good, well-cherished 3 years in my present company in another couple of months. I have been all along in the same project, drilling my way through the scope of my project and my role(s). Having started off with nothing and landed up where I am today, I took some moments, in the recent weeks, to look back at some of the big highlights of this journey.
Its fair to say, that in this journey, I have also taken a jolly ride on my personal front. Shloka being the epitome of that. So put in a lot of goodies and some baddies and thats where I stand now. Its probably a checkpoint, better known as the 'Cross-road'. The interesting thing to note is: every result is possible at this point of time. Staying on, moving to a different role/location, moving on. And thats the order in which I am going to take it through the system.
Mixed thoughts are running in as to what I want from life. Is it the methodical running behind work 'Indian' mindset, putting family as an 'also ran'.... or is it time to set the record straight and learn to practice 'Work-Life Balance' all over again, on a clean slate, a new page??
Most Hindustani IT folks probably face this dilemma.. not sure why I shouldnt include other professions within the sub-continent. What is that ideal 'combination' which one wants in one's lifetime? Some of my friends said - success at work, some said - family, one even said - giving something back to the society.
What I want to know may not be that different from any of you tired souls, churning out your mechanical life in the different corners of the 'third rock from the sun'.
The chase for the dollar or the pound or the rupee - as maybe your currency of interest - has left us in a delusioned state of 'perceived satisfaction'. It truly doesnt exist and we only try to chase that elusive 'dew in the grass', only to find that it dries off before noon. Too much to achieve, too little time - actually we dont know the 'time' aspect - else our lives would be a lot more organised and planned. In the times of the Vedas, they didnt really run behind money. They only wanted to learn the 'truth', atleast the noble souls did that. Dont think we are that unnoble to be discounted here.
The next few weeks will probably emerge as a new chapter in my life as I go about analysing 'what i want'. Before I draw out the roadmap, there is one important thing I need to do - 'FOCUS'.
The 'F' word.
On what I have done so far..... On what I could have..... On what I should have.
Between these three variants, I am sure, lies the key to the future.
Its going to be a good, well-cherished 3 years in my present company in another couple of months. I have been all along in the same project, drilling my way through the scope of my project and my role(s). Having started off with nothing and landed up where I am today, I took some moments, in the recent weeks, to look back at some of the big highlights of this journey.
Its fair to say, that in this journey, I have also taken a jolly ride on my personal front. Shloka being the epitome of that. So put in a lot of goodies and some baddies and thats where I stand now. Its probably a checkpoint, better known as the 'Cross-road'. The interesting thing to note is: every result is possible at this point of time. Staying on, moving to a different role/location, moving on. And thats the order in which I am going to take it through the system.
Mixed thoughts are running in as to what I want from life. Is it the methodical running behind work 'Indian' mindset, putting family as an 'also ran'.... or is it time to set the record straight and learn to practice 'Work-Life Balance' all over again, on a clean slate, a new page??
Most Hindustani IT folks probably face this dilemma.. not sure why I shouldnt include other professions within the sub-continent. What is that ideal 'combination' which one wants in one's lifetime? Some of my friends said - success at work, some said - family, one even said - giving something back to the society.
What I want to know may not be that different from any of you tired souls, churning out your mechanical life in the different corners of the 'third rock from the sun'.
The chase for the dollar or the pound or the rupee - as maybe your currency of interest - has left us in a delusioned state of 'perceived satisfaction'. It truly doesnt exist and we only try to chase that elusive 'dew in the grass', only to find that it dries off before noon. Too much to achieve, too little time - actually we dont know the 'time' aspect - else our lives would be a lot more organised and planned. In the times of the Vedas, they didnt really run behind money. They only wanted to learn the 'truth', atleast the noble souls did that. Dont think we are that unnoble to be discounted here.
The next few weeks will probably emerge as a new chapter in my life as I go about analysing 'what i want'. Before I draw out the roadmap, there is one important thing I need to do - 'FOCUS'.
The 'F' word.
On what I have done so far..... On what I could have..... On what I should have.
Between these three variants, I am sure, lies the key to the future.
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