It's about love for each other

I speak a language..
She speaks a different language..
But both of us, and together with our children speak only one language.
And thats the language of love.

காலமாற்றம்

ராமன் இருக்குமிடமே சீதைக்கு அயோத்தி - இது பழமை.
சீதை இருக்குமிடமே ராமனுக்கு மிதிலை - இது புதுமை !

How many?

How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.

Questioning one's own self on life's changing moments

How could you say life has changed now?
Life changing moments are not from now.
But they were. And since long back.

The first time you met her, you felt nothing.
And when you started to feel something, that's when you also started to feel the butterflies.

Now - That's a life changing moment !

And over the years, Butterflies have only gone on to produce more Butterflies and happiness.

Meeting her everyday - still the same feeling,
seeing her everytime - still the same feeling,
talking to her everytime - still the same feeling.
It was happiness, then, today and hopefully, everyday.
After all, Life hasn't changed much. Do you agree?

Caught napping in the middle.

This is a term very often used by cricket commentators. It could mean getting out to an LBW that might otherwise gone on to cartwheel the stumps or an inglorious exit due to an Inzamam-esque run out. But my take is going to be very different and dry.

Recently, I visited a Lord Balaji temple far away from his popular abode at Thirumala hills. This temple was built fairly recently and so the paint hadn't any aspiring student registration numbers nor one-sided lovey-dovey couple names. Being an auspicious month, it was not a surprise that a thousand heads had come to seek his blessings. People from all walks of life had merged together and shared the same podium irrespective of one's background. After all, isn't a temple the culmination of a cultural mix of people? Divergence not only in different skin colours, languages, dialects, food habits, nativity and communal setup but also in different generations ranging from the 60s and 70s, the 30s and 40s, the 20s and the less than 10s.

Between all this, I could notice 'India' that is heavily steeped in tradition, soaked in culture, stagnated in values and still trying to shed its conservative image against the threat of being treated like an outcast for respecting family structures. Yes, India is changing.

Changing to the extent that you could now drive a Toyota or a Honda on the same bullock cart spec road. A Mercedes plying over a cowdung littered highway. An India where you could now wear a Sachin Tendulkar or Christiano Ronaldo T-Shirt to a temple and assume you could make it to the 'who is who' list one day. And an India where a Nokia or Samsung phone may play MS's Suprabaatham that tannoys would have done until a few years back.

But what has not changed is the social fabric. The very essence of what we are made of. The lifeline and backbone of the system we were brought up in. For the temple is also the simplest place for conversations that could range from "Where does your son work?", "How much does he earn?", "Which school is he studying in?", "Where did you buy this dress?", "Is that silk saree border tested zari?". These are not bizaare but quite testing conversations.

Meanwhile, the young generation, fresh with enthusiasm and fervour tried its hand at crowd control, albeit, very badly. That too without a proper plan, prowess or principle. In the process, the young usurp old values while the old stick to their proven doctrine.

Little do they realise that India survives in chaos, gets averse to being orderly and remains confused in congruence. That's conservativeness at its best.

But the middle aged ones are in my view the nobodies here. Looking at (or having to look at) both sides of the field. For this is the generation that saw chaos reign control and command in complicity. For this is the generation that could neither go forward nor step backward. For this is the generation that is constantly handholding the lost and new generations. For this is the generation that has 'change' as its very own twin.

At this moment, I have no clues to questions like when will India change completely. But at the same time, I have other questions like "Why should India change?" and "Should it? - if only - could it?"

Old Inflicts. Young deflects. And the rest - are caught napping in the middle!

Lessons learnt for a never again exam

From where else?

When each day breaks -
My eyes open up and only want to see you,
My ears desire only to hear you,
My mouth speaks only to you,
My hands reach out only to hold you, and
My heart cries out and longs only for you.

All these years, when the mind wandered, senses numbed and the heart warmed up to the swelter, where else did I seek happiness from?

From all within - Because that is where you were in. Where you are in. And that is where you will be in.

And for me, today, doesn't the Sun & Moon rise and set in the west?

तेरे बिना ज़िन्दगी से कोई शिकवा तो नहीं
शिकवा नहीं, शिकवा नहीं, शिकवा नहीं ....

பல்லவியின் பிரதிபலிப்பு

மடி மீது தலை வைத்து துயிலுரங்கச்செய்யவில்லை
அரை தூக்கத்தில் எழுந்து ஆறுதல் கூற வலையில்லை
தோள் மீது தோள் சாய்த்து துயர் நீக்க அருகிலில்லை
பரிவுடன் கரம் பிடித்து கண்ணீர் துடைக்க வழியில்லை

எனினும் எனினும்
அவள் மட்டும்
என்றென்றும்
நீங்காதிருக்கிறாள் !

விந்தையின் வியப்பு அவளல்லவா?

அவள் பெயர் பல்லவி

சனி, ஞாயிறு - சிறு வயதில் அந்த இரண்டு நாட்கள் எப்படி உருண்டோடும் என்பதே ஒரு புதிராக இருக்கும். திங்கள் என்றாலே பார்வையும் புத்தியும் மங்கலாகிவிடும். வெள்ளியை விடிவெள்ளியாகவே எதிர்நோக்கச்செய்யும்.

வாரங்களை வெறுத்த எனக்கு விடுமுறை என்றாலோ மிக விருப்பம். விடிகாலையில் எழ வேண்டாம். பள்ளிக்கு செல்ல வேண்டாம். விரும்பாத ஆசிரியர்களையும் பார்க்க வேண்டாம்.

வருடங்கள் கழிந்தன, விருப்பு வெறுப்புகள் இடம் மாறின.
சனி சலித்தது. திங்களும் தித்தித்தது.

இதெற்கெல்லாம் காரணம் அவள் தானோ?
அதில் என்ன சந்தேகம்?

வாழ்க்கையில் வர்ணங்களை தந்தவள்,
வசந்தங்களை வரவழைத்தவள்,
அவள், வாரங்களில் தானே வருகிறாள்......

வியக்கவைக்கும் - அவள் வருகை.
படபடக்கவைக்கும் - என் மனதை !

இந்தியா வல்லரசு நாடு !

தமிழக காங்., தலைவர் தங்கபாலு: இந்தியாவை வல்லரசு நாடாக உயர்த்துவதற்கு நேரு, இந்திரா, ராஜிவ் அரும்பாடுபட்டனர். அவர்களின் வழியில், சோனியாவின் வழிகாட்டுதலில் சிறப்பான ஆட்சி நடந்து வருகிறது.



யாரோ:
அவங்க மட்டும் தான் அரும்பாடுபட்டாங்களா?

நீங்க கேப்டன் விஜயகாந்தோட வல்லரசு படம் பாக்கலன்னு நினைக்கறேன்.
இந்தியா எப்பவோ வல்லரசு நாடாயிடிச்சு.

உங்களுக்கு எப்படி தெரியும். உங்கள உங்க கட்சியில இருந்து வெளியே வழிகாட்றதே உங்களுக்கு தெரியாது !

Message from the train

Found this writing in a small piece of paper left in the seat on my train this morning

Ever absent, ever near;
Still I see thee, still I hear;
Yet I cannot reach thee, dear!

In many ways, symbolised my life.

Thoughtful, short and sweet, purpose built left over - very much bang on target for the right person. Thanks, keep littering.

Importance of Strategy !

I probably use the word strategy in my life more often than most others around me. But I wouldnt know how and from where I picked it up. And there were times I realise that I had wrongly used the word strategy to simply mean 'plans'. Going to Ranganathan street in T Nagar for shopping is a plan. But the plan does not address parking woes. Parking your car at Panagal Park, then walking down or taking an autorickshaw from Panagal Park to Ranganathan st is a strategy.

You see? How easy it is to misuse these two words freely, but they actually mean an entirely different aspect. A strategy can simply mean a successful approach towards a solution. Whereas, a plan can be a broken down view of the strategy.

There were many strategic events in life that I had come across and have defined the way what I am today. And sometimes, it leads me to believe that strategy is nothing but the art of deception. Deceiving an opponent or competition or your own boss or your subordinate. Leading them to believe something that isn't actually what it is. Unfortunately, this is the bitter truth and I can count myself to be an un-strategic person and probably score a grace mark 5/100 in my 'never sat' strategy exam.

I recollect some strategic moves from our own mythology (Ramayana & Mahabaratha) resulting in significant events, and pick such specific instances to explain what can be considered as a strategy. There's not much common between these two, except may be for the presence of Hanuman, Lord Shiva & perhaps Lord Ganesh who appear on either and confuse anyone trying to work out time periods.

If you wear an analytical hat and look at Ramayana, it is nothing but a simple case of abduction. And a reactive, but legitimate, effort to repossess what was stolen. The objectives were very clear from the start. Neither power struggles nor ego clashes. No property disputes. No inheritance troubles. A single hero vs single villain. And thankfully, no side characters (atleast not many). But a very idealistic hero whom most would like to emulate. He approaches the whole mission in a very straightforward way much like he is as a person. No short cuts no tricks and no hideous games. Despite all the simplicity, in my view, the hero struggles to achieve his mission. Moreover, the end result was debated and put to public scrutiny too. With all respect and reverence due, there was nothing strategic about the hero's approach (or so it is being perceived!). But if I were to take sides, I'll certainly stick with him. He is a simple, ideal, uncomplicated and yet a very powerful role model. Grace and glory exemplified.

Now to the main topic - Mahabaratha. A very complex family feud. An ultimate boss. Too many power centres. Too many friends. Too many experts. Too many egos. And also too many complex problems apart from Property, Power and Pride. Despite the multidimensional fracas, the ultimate boss handles all of it with deft and care. Its only symbolical that he reigns the chariot, spins a wheel and plots the next strategy. A brilliant mastermind, capable multitasker, a complex character driving the theme of practicality and above all, he's simply the ultimate boss. Now taking out some leaves out of his power plays :

The art of Chakravyugam, Abhimanyu's death and Arjuna's revenge :
To begin with, you can assume the Chakravyugam to be a spiral formation of one's troops. A specific pattern to protect, defend and eventually liberate and attack. Being an art in itself, not many mastered this technique. But for Arjuna, a few others and perhaps, the 'know-all' ultimate boss. Arjuna explains the art of chakravyugam to Subhadra while Abhimanyu is still in Subhadra's womb. And so Abhimanyu successfully learns how to enter the spiral. But by the time Arjuna explains how to exit the formation, Subhadra had long been asleep and so Abhimanyu never gets to know about the escapes or exits.

During the Kurukshetra war Abhimanyu happens to enter the Chakravyugam formation and eventually dies when he is unable to escape from it. Why the Pandavas were never able to rescue Abhimanyu is just one piece of the puzzle. But it is understood that Abhimanyu happened to be an incarnation of a demon and had to be killed in the kurukshetra war lest he could become mightier than Lord Krishna himself. And it is only too apparent that the 'know-all' ultimate boss carefully crafted the life time of Abhimanyu from being inside the womb till death did him at the battle fields. Hatching such a complex plan laid out with strategic booby traps - who else could achieve with such perfection and finesse?

The other reason why Abhimanyu couldnt be rescued was due to one of the Gauravas called Jayadrata. The Pandavas had long held grudges against Jayadrata and hence this was the moment for him.

Arjuna enraged at the news of Abhimanyu's death, vows to kill Jayadrata the very next day before sunset. And if he couldnt succeed, he promises to throw himself on fire. A highly overambitious expectation.

The Gauravas knew well that the success of war very much hinged on Arjuna and if only they could succeed in keeping Jayadrata alive the next day, they could get rid of Arjuna (through his vow) and thereby win the war. During the next day war Jayadrata is heavily protected. Had it been for our modern day politicians, Jayadrata would have simply been abducted and kept alive in safe confines until the day passed. Jayadrata is also protected by his father's curse that whoever puts his son's head to earth would die too.

With time running out the next day and the sun about to set anytime, Lord Krishna himself spins his magic (once again!) to make the sun disappear momentarily. His chakra would now block the sun and make it dark much to the enchantment of the Gauravas who now believe that the day has ended and lay down their arms. While they celebrate the moment, Krishna pulls out his chakra and Jayadrata is now caught glaring like a rabbit in front of full beam trucks on a dark road. Arjuna seizes the moment, slices off Jayadrata's head and makes it fall on Jayadrata's father's lap who by now is in deep prayer. Having been disturbed during his prayer he rises up only to let his son's head fall down. Father-son duo dead. Arjuna emerges victorious and the ultimate boss's deception, strategy and master plan all work perfectly. A superb plot, cast and climax.

How on earth can one conceive such complex happenings? Synchronising the chain of several events and make them happen like falling dominoes. Its like firing one bullet and killing 200 birds. Well, that's Lord Krishna, the ultimate boss. If only one could strategise like he does, then I am sure, they'll certainly be a modern day genius.

But for me, although I am amused by such photo finish actions falling in place, I would always prefer the simplistic and straightforward approach of our Ramayana's hero.

Disclaimer: It is not my intention to weigh up/down on different deighties. I merely intend to highlight the importance of strategy in one's life, its existence and use since mythology. Use strategy at your own risk.

Some of my understanding comes from reading mythology in my childhood days, versions of Ramayana and many Bhavan's journal books. It is quite possible that my understanding has got distorted over time, and my ability to to fathom events and condense all of it in one page may be far from perfect.

They better use the hat rack for something better than bitching

So what? It wasn't a big crime - was it?.

I liked the lane I was in and would have liked to drive straight ahead too. But then, only a few days earlier, I willingly got shunted to take the next exit!

Like most things in life, by the time you know what you like and then when you feel you want to carry on and drive on the road straight ahead to what you like, you are made to realise that you've already been programmed to take the next left to something else.

Another battle between head and heart. Heart wanted to win but head didnt lose.

Scores: Head 1-0

தமிழ் மொழிக்கு செம்மொழி அந்தஸ்து

அரசு வெளியீடு: மத்திய அரசும் தமிழக அரசும் இணைந்து போராடி தமிழ் மொழிக்கு செம்மொழி அந்தஸ்து பெற்றுத்தந்தது எமது ஆட்சியின் 121 சாதனைகளில் முக்கியமான ஒன்று.


யாரோ: ரொம்ப சந்தோஷம்! - அப்படியே நம்ம மாயாண்டிக்கும் முனியாண்டிக்கும் இதனால என்ன பலன்னு சொல்லிட்டீங்கன்னா ரொம்ப புண்ணியமா போகும்.

உணவு தட்டுபாடு - இந்தியாவின் வெட்கக்கேடு !

"பிரதமர் அலுவலகசெய்தி: இந்தியாவில் உணவு தட்டுபாடு இல்லவே இல்லை"

ம மோ சி : என்ன செய்யட்டும் சொல்லுங்க. எங்க நாட்டுல முட்டாள்கள் ரொம்ப அதிகம். அடிக்கடி இப்படி ஏதாவது பொய் சொன்னா தான் காலம் தள்ள முடியும்.

ஒ : பொய் சொல்றதுல உங்கள மிஞ்ச முடியுமா?

வருங்கால ராஜா !!

என்னடா இவன் குல்லா போட்டிருக்கானேனு பார்த்தீங்களா ? சும்மா ஒத்திகை பார்கிறேன் அவ்வளவுதான் !

குல்லா போடறதும் கும்பிடு போடறதும் எங்களுக்கு கை வந்த கலை.

அறுபது வருஷமா மாத்தி மாத்தி குல்லாவையும் கும்பிடையும் போட்டு போட்டு நாட்டையே கூறு போட்ட குடும்பம்.

ஞாபகம் இருக்கட்டும் !

Then and Now

Rahu, Eclipses, Lord Anjaneya and my Hindi teacher

Today I bumped into my 'once upon a time Hindi teacher' in a nearby Supermarket. She asked me if I had read the lesson about Eclipses that she'd taught during the previous week(as part of my Rashtrabasha Hindi exam).

Jolting from my bed, I woke up to realise it was just a dream probably culminating from my reading about the 3 Solar Eclipses, the 2nd of which would happen later this month. The Hindi teacher being a muslim lady, whose name I do not even remember today, could not continue teaching us after that since we were growing up to be bigger boys then (due to her cultural reasons). But I had not forgotten some of her teaching and so decided to pen down something about Eclipses that I learnt years back.

Once the Gods and Demons (aka Asuras) decided to join together and extract Amruta or the Divine nectar, which could supposedly give immortality to whoever consuming it. They decide to use a large mountain called Mandara and churn the sea to extract it. All the while, the Gods were conspicuous of not letting the Demons have access to Amruta. However, contrary to their intentions, it ends up with the Demons.

The Gods realising that the Demons with the power to immortality will not only compromise the power of Gods but also spell doom to everyone decide to confront Lord Vishnu on this.

After much reasoning, Lord Vishnu spins his magic, distracts the Demons and steals the Amruta away from the Demons. However, it so happens that one of the Demons named Rahu, who is in the form a snake, also employs the same trick (as that of Lord Vishnu) and has a go at it. The Sun apparently observes this and warns Lord Vishnu. But by now, Rahu had already consumed a bit of the Divine nectar. So Lord Vishnu uses his chakra and decides to slice off Rahu just beneath the head. The lower part of Rahu's body drops to the earth and eventually gets called Ketu. Enraged by the Sun's act, Rahu, the now immortal head of a snake, decides to seek vengeance by swallowing the Sun. But since it didn't have a body the Sun always emerged out after a short while. Realising its folly, Rahu submits itself to Lord Vishnu who in turn forgives and allows it to swallow the Sun whenever it felt hungry. This act happened after Rahu's long fasts and that's when we experience the Eclipses.

Now to connect another mythological concept with the above - before one such eclipse, a tiny little baby monkey, carelessly left to fend for itself by its mother, looks at the Sun and assumes it to be a bright coloured attractive fruit. It then decides to jump to the sky towards eating the Sun. During the process, the monkey accidentally pokes one of the eyes of Rahu, which was just about to eat the Sun after a long fast. The injured Rahu approaches Indra who rides his huge elephant Ayravath and confronts the monkey. The monkey now sees an even bigger fruit in the form of Ayravath and turns its attention towards it. Indra now shows off his arsenal and thunder-bolts the monkey. The little monkey falls to the ground and remains lifeless.

Looking at all this, Vayu - the monkey's father gets enraged. In a fit of rage, he decides to carry the little monkey and locks himself inside a cave by sucking up all the air resulting in the entire universe unable to breath. Lord Brahmma, along with other Gods, visits the cave and powers the little monkey back to life and thereby please Vayu much to the relief of the universe. Brahmma also blesses the monkey to ever remain invincible and be immortal. That's how the little monkey, known as Lord Anjaneya, also came to be known as Chiranjeevi (meaning immortal).

I now think - had Vayu demanded a better deal, may be, we may not have had Eclipses at all. But for now, let's pray to Lord Anjaneya !

Liberté, égalité, fraternité

History had long become one of my favourite topics in life.

It is indeed an irony considering the amount of trouble I gave my history teacher. Dont ask me if I had spared the others. They all hated me as much as I did them, except for my English teachers - who liked me always.

Some years back I was inspired by reading the Chronology of the Great Wars. Starting with the First World War and immediately trench warfare comes to one's mind. In contrast, the Second world war was a strategic battle between distributed empires. As usual, abruptly silenced after the Americans illegally used the atomic siblings to show who were the bosses in modern warfare.

Having read about the effects, it was time to explore the cause and so I got hold of a Mein Kampf book. Reading Mein Kampf gave an opportunity to understand the building blocks of a holocaust and what it took to create one. The actions were still not justified though.

Incidentally, a friend of mine borrowed the Mein Kampf and had offered me another book (which was actually a Birthday gift). The birthday gift ended up with me and that's how I came to know about the Anne Frank's diary - a related book on the holocaust. It was more than a survival guide. And as you near reading the last pages, it almost carried you to the actual place where Anne & families secretly remained hidden and eventually left your eyes moist.

Recently, the Bastille day was celebrated in France and the highlight was the participation of Indian Armed forces leading the pack. This very friend who probably knew more French than me and may have eaten more croissants than I, had a lot to tell about Avenue des Champs-Élysées. So watching the Indian forces march through the long road (figuratively its a long road) I decided to march on myself with some French revolutionary history.

It all started due to a typical discrimination around the 1780s. The elite nobles and the clergy formed a mere 10% of France's population and they decided to impose Chidambaramesque taxes on the 90% peasants. Contrastingly, the elite were exempt from taxes themselves. In effect, people who were hardly eating anything for a meal had to pay huge sums of money and agriculture/ poultry produce to the elite who did nothing but frame the rules.

After a 3 course meal of Sama, Dana, and Bheda, Danda dessert eventually took control and the french revolution had begun. Guillotines were used like toothpicks and attempts were made to crush the revolution. But by now the revolution had become powerful and the ruling King Louis was executed. Neighbouring countries were now afraid of similar revolutions spreading out. Hostile reactions ensued leading to wars with Austria and Italy. France got badly defeated in the wars. A convention was now formed to focus on stabilising the economy. It all seemed fine for a shortwhile before the convention's leader got wary of anti-revolutionaries and in due course gets executed anyway.

Successive committees were created but only to be thrown over. After a few rounds of restructuring executive powers were minimalised and the Directory was formed. But it was another Cabernet Sauvignon in a new bottle. By then, the french armies led by Napolean were getting successful abroad.

Finally, Napolean leading a coup against the Directory, takes over the reins of France and there ends the French revolution.

Liberté, égalité and fraternité were born to ensure Liberty, equality and fraternity.

For several centuries to come, victory marches were made through the Champs-Élysées until the Arc de Triomphe, including after the Great Wars of WWI and WWII.

Vent, vent and more vent !

I am writing this article after reading a blog from my friend and rightly so, any disgust, filth or rotten tomato should be directed at her and not me. Don't we all believe its the instigator who is more accountable than the gullible?

Yes, cricket is my blood, breath, sweat and scar. Especially after we won the 1983 Prudential cup which was a turning point for the game. I have physical scars in me to remind great victories and excitement. Thankfully, we haven't had many victories before I switched my loyalties elsewhere. I have a gash in my forehead when we were playing the 1983 wc semifinal - although I do admit it was partly due to the induction of a new device called Solidaire B&W in our homes. A 4 inch long streak under my right knee when we lifted the Benson & Hedges and when I type this, I can still see the wedge like marks on my knuckles when fellow Veggie Venkatesh Prasad bowled a send off to Aamir Sohail in the quarter finals against Pakistan. Wonder how I got that ? In the heat, I jumped to the roof and the fan blades did the rest.

As a die-hard, I cannot stand ads related to cricket. There are many instances when I think these cricket ads were out of context, meaningless and misleading.

Who can forget the Hamara Bajaj ad with a tri-colour when we were losing wickets in Sharjah against the Paks? What was the ad supposed to convey - buy a bajaj and you will see India winning ?

Reliance cup 1987 - Graham Gooch swept everything that came his way to fineleg boundaries. No wonder England is a cleaner place. To add insult to injury - we were busy showing 'Only Vimal' from Reliance ads after every Indian wicket. I still remember the 'Dinesh suitings' ad was also shown repeatedly when Sunny Gavaskar left home for the day leaving his job unfinished.

2007 world cup - when the brothers in arms (India & Pakistan) were busy making early exits, the little canine was busy chasing kiddies to their schools and running behind school buses. How frustrating can it ever get ? Hind sight, if you get one cricket run for every such chase, you will have beaten the opponent before breakfast.

Ads have to be creative. Yes agreed - they are far more creative today. But are they timed at all? Never. I propose ads to cover every possibility or outcome and transmit appropriate ads during appropriate times.

The present day ads are reminiscent of hunting for photo films for a normal weekend get away when you can as well carry a tiny digi-cam in your pocket.

There is another angle to the ad story that I am angry about, but one I will leave it for later.

Fast fasting...

Recently, I was intrigued by a well known politician fasting with much publicity, stunt and fanfare. Albeit, his fast lasted a mere few hours. And that too for a genuine cause. I seriously wished if the fast would ever become a real fast unto death kind of issue. Nay!. I was once again disappointed.

I have never held any regard for the sufferings of these people until some time back. However, having aged and mellowed, I started looking at things in different light in the last few years. Humanity and realism hit me hard when I was busy jay walking on the life freeway.

And on this crisis, I feel some of the photographs I happened to see can simply rock the star liner cruises we are all in. And it is not an overstatement.

While most of us are yet to be satiated with our innate desires to grab more wealth, the other side of the spectrum reveals a very contrasting picture. People, families, children, kids, babies, lost lives, maimed, impaired and so on. All of them indiscriminatingly caught in the web of geo-political (and ethnical) conflict. What is important for such people ? They have become mere instruments at the hands of someone who could provide shelter for a week or a month, a bottle of water or a packet of stale food. What is to come beyond that - nobody knows.

When someone tells me to dream of a better life, I imagine what do these people dream about if they ever did? Dreams occur only when you have a peaceful sleep. Don't it. Otherwise, it may only be a nightmare.

Despite my middle-class upbringing, thanks to my parents who nailed rivets on my legs to stay grounded quite early on, I still feel there have been times when I had forgotten to see the other side of the world. A tasty meal and shelter to me, considered a necessity, happens to be a luxury to many. It has often led me question the presence of divinity and its omnipotent force to protect innocent people. I question my Hindu deities "How is it that so many people have committed sins to be born in such a troubled piece of land?" or is it that "Only sinners have been carefully made to be born there as a pay back to their earlier deeds?"

Answers to these questions are simply beyond my reach and understanding. Both spiritually and logically. Any amount of reasoning only flies out of the window and gets quickly swallowed by the preying sea gull.

However, I compare the present to the future. And I will strongly want to believe that the present generation Sinners who enact dramas from emotional outcry to being institutional saviors and 'Fast - Fasters' will duly have to get their pay back in their next incarnations. I am sure God is busy tilling a piece of land somewhere in far outreach and seeding with enough trouble to let these butchers be born there and experience the pain for themselves.

Although I feel I definitely cannot make a difference to their lives, I wish and hope life gets better for the innocents. For that to happen soon - God has to wake up.

He has been quite lazy for years and he rather make a difference right now, right away and rightly!

Geography and how crazy can you get ?

I have had the most nightmarish starts in life. But equally nightmarish ends that one could ever do to himself.

I confess my Geography skills wont even help scratch over a cup of double cream. Add 2 spoons of my hatred towards the Geography teacher at school (Geography teacher is not the only one that can fit in here - every teacher at school can vie for no.1 position). Top it off with my dislike towards studies and anything to do with education.

Now you get it - that's the perfect recipe for being a school drop out.

But goodness gracious - we are all tied to the fabric of a social system called Education. And for such's sake, I had to continue my toil, albeit with contempt oozing through my ears. Gushing would be more appropriate.

It happens to be my Geography exam today. I mean the ultimate Geography test in one's life. 10th standard Final exam or what we call as public exam. Needless to remind my IQ once again. And today is the last 10th standard public exam. The beautiful imagination of 2 month holidays ahead has already filled my mind and slowly lifting its veil.

And guess what - it had rained a few days before this exam. My school exam hall was flooded and so it was announced that the exam would start half hour late. It need not be an IIT aspirant, but even an average student would make use of this delay and flip through the books to etch their memories intact.

But me and my 3 other good friends at school (who also have to be like me right?) decided to have a go at a game of soccer. 4 a side. We couldnt convince more than that to join us.

Well, imagine what a lovely game we had. And half hour passes. We have 2 drop outs - from the game I mean. Unabated, we continue the game. Another 20 minutes, another 3 drop out. Another 15 minutes. Another one goes. Now, just the 2 of us. Me and my friend. Each of us for our sides. Our flags flying high. Electrifying scores - netting goals every 2 minutes. And it rains again. The rain soaked up our fever and we played for some more time until we decided to call it quits.

The school electric bell rings hard. Ooops - the exam had started long hour back. We already lost 1 hour in a 2.5 hr exam.

I managed to answer a few questions, didnt have time for a few. I am not sharing how much I got in my exam, though I passed.

Now I have a question? How it rained during the month of March in Chennai. Infact, it did. Puzzling Geography.

Can it get any crazier than this ?

School bunks

How many of you had the opportunity to 'bunk' school and go to the beach ? If I were to ask today's generation I should rephrase my question - how many of you give the beach a miss once a while to seek refuge in a school....

I wasn't that lucky really. Infact, when Robinson Crusoe visited the beach, I didnt even get to meet him. Wont say which beach it was. It didnt matter anyway.

Just that it so happened my school decided to let go people off a bit early. And that too at 10.30 in the morning. My brother's friend, my brother and I being the little musketeer decided to rock the beach. Little did we know that we were still at risk of being closely watched by folks from the school. Damn the uniforms !

Less than 10 minutes into the beach, we realised we had committed the 'cardinal sin'. And my school, in a bid to show off their responsibility, decided to send a messenger to our homes first. I strongly condemn their attitude here. Aint they ought to bring us back from the beach first ? Well such things are for logical thinkers.

Having been noticed by school and having made to realise our sins, we decided to rush to our homes. The messenger was coolly sipping a cup of coffee much to our disgust. And before he left, my mom stashed a tenner into his palm for being prompt and 'caring'.

And the rest is all history as it happens between every dad and son. Some wooden foot long measuring devices were broken in the process. And promptly replaced with anything handy and in the vicinity. With me being the most naughtiest at home and equally response-less, I had to be given more weightage. Lucky brother always managed less than me. Even so this time.

Finally, the storm subsided after crisscrossing the beach several times.

Swollen legs, welled eyes and an extra hour of study (pretension infact) had to follow for a few days hence.

There you go - Robinson Crusoe II never made it to sea again during school and Daniel Defoe still is on the hunt. And if you thought my college exploits were any better - even worse. But that's for a different day.

10+ years - a short journey back to where it started

Today, for various reasons I installed a software on my PC. And I was reminded about this software that I had already used 10 or more years back. This software had a peculiar aspect of playing a music in the background whenever it ran. I used to listen to this music for long hours then especially during late working hours.

Today, listening to the music again, it simply reminded me of those years of endless toil. Feeling physically tiresome, fatigued and emotionally wrenched I took a few decisions then.

Now, 10+ years later, I find myself not made any progress. Life has come back a full circle. There was an equal amount of good and bad times during the last 10+ years. But I can't really believe that time has flown such quick.

10+ years. I looked back at what happened from around 30000 ft height, no change in my circumstances whatsoever.

Is this a subtle message to me?

Whether I get better or not, I only hope the next 10+ years slow down a bit - for that matter, even eating a few Gol Gappas seems to be needing more time now.

Squeaky clean cricketers

Now stop it if the title made you laugh your belly inside out. Cricketers are no doubt money greedy! Otherwise, how nice are they to the sport which has given them their identities and how many times have they hit headlines for the wrong reasons....

But, I personally am impressed with a few cricketers who have so far managed to walk over the fine line. Our own Rahul Dravid, Adam Gilchrist and Mike Hussey.

Whilst there are too many contenders who can top in How to be a LOUT contest (like Harbhajan, Sreesanth and Warne to name a few ....) these guys, in my view, will surely fail and that too miserably. These cricketers have been known to find it embarassing and uncomfortable for themselves to get indulged in activities that may befall their credibility. Sometimes, they don't even take credits for what they deserve to. By being cowards in this uncouth world, they still make me follow this sport.

And, I will sorely miss them after they retire for good for it is getting really tough for me to find apt replacements.

Ripoff in the name of Aam Aadmi !

First, read this link

http://janataparty.org/soniaintro.html

Although there need not be much credo to such articles, there is not an iota of doubt in my mind about this one. Politicians, too often, do nothing and still see their wealth grow. Come on - I find this very amusing, intriguing and irritating. How on earth is that possible ? Can I become a member of one such "do nothing and still find your wealth grow" club ?

My personal wealth hasn't risen much despite being in a full time job during the last few years. And I ain't a big spendthrift either.

Rahul Gandy was worth 40 lakh Rupees in 2004. Now finds himself at 2.5 crores in 2009. 2 crores in 5 years ? Which job pays so much. Can I apply for one ?

Mamta Bannerjee - is only worth 45 lakhs today !

Sonia owns so many flats in New Delhi and still her property is worth only 2 crores all together. Is New Delhi located in the middle of Somalia ?

Before you conclude me to be associated with the so called Communal parties, the other side of the table is equally bad. Now take it clear - I would like to sit across the table of Politicos. And most importantly, would like to see them till the door.

And for the educated class - rise up, move yourself and go vote !

Stop Rip off in the name of Aam Aadmi. Encourage development policies for a better India. Ensure your future !

Fairer Economic Future !

People today are struggling with spiralling debts, rising food and energy bills and unaffordable costs. A decade of complacency across the world has meant that falling growth, inflation problems and rising unemployment has never looked so bleak since the Great Depression.

So what do I propose :)

Cut taxes from the bottom up - to help families to make ends meet and boost the economy.

Cut wasteful government spending - it simply means don't have one ! Whatever governance that happens in India is pilfered. The LS Elections 2009 could possible be the biggest spend on this planet yet seen.

Cut the greediness - try becoming an inch poorer than your neighbour.

And spend !